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Intercepting signalling mechanism to control environmental biofouling
No full textBiofouling in environmental systems employs bacterial quorum sensing signals (autoinducers) and extracellular polymeric substances to onset the event. The present review has highlighted on the fundamental mechanisms behind biofilm formation over broad spectrum environmental niches especially membrane biofouling in water systems and consequent chances of pathogenic contamination leading to global economic loss. It has broadly discussed on bioelectrical signal (via, potassium gradient) and molecular signal (via, AHLs) mediated quorum sensing which help to propagate biofilm formation. The review has illustrated the potential of genomic intervention towards biofouled membrane microbial community and has uncovered possible features of biofilm microenvironment like quorum quenching bacteria, bioelectrical waves capture, siderophores arrest and surface modifications. Based on information, the concept of interception of quorum signals (AHLs) and bioelectrical signals (K+) by employing electro-modified (negative charges) membrane surface have been hypothesized in the present review to favour anti-biofouling
Removal of organic pollutants by peroxicoagulation
No full textPeroxicoagulation is an electrochemical advanced oxidation processes in which both ferrous ions and hydrogen peroxide are
generated in the cell. Organic pollutants are thus removed by degradation and coagulation. The peroxicoagulation process
is a combination of electro-Fenton and electrocoagulation processes. The peroxicoagulation process is very efcient for the
removal of aniline and herbicides from water and for the treatment of landfll leachate and textile wastewaters. Under acidic
conditions, electro-Fenton is the predominant removal means, whereas electrocoagulation is the main removal means under
neutral and alkaline conditions. As a consequence, pH regulation to acidic conditions is essential for the mineralization of
organic pollutants
Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes for the abatement of persistent organic pollutants
No full textTargeted Delivery of siRNA Therapeutics using Ligand Mediated Biodegradable Polymeric Nanocarriers
No full textBackground: Cancer poses a major public health issue, is linked with high mortality rates across the
world, and shows a strong interplay between genetic and environmental factors. To date, common therapeutics,
including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy, have made significant contributions to cancer treatment,
although diverse obstacles for achieving the permanent “magic bullet” cure have remained. Recently, various
anticancer therapeutic agents designed to overcome the limitations of these conventional cancer treatments
have received considerable attention. One of these promising and novel agents is the siRNA delivery system;
however, poor cellular uptake and altered siRNA stability in physiological environments have limited its use in
clinical trials. Therefore, developing the ideal siRNA delivery system with low cytotoxicity, improved siRNA
stability in the body’s circulation, and prevention of its rapid clearance from bodily fluids, is rapidly emerging as
an innovative therapeutic strategy to combat cancer. Moreover, active targeting using ligand moieties which bind
to over-expressed receptors on the surface of cancer cells would enhance the therapeutic efficiency of siRNA.
Conclusion: In this review, we provide 1) an overview of the non-viral carrier associated with siRNA delivery for
cancer treatment, and 2) a description of the five major cancer-targeting ligands
Localizing SDGs in India using Nature based Solutions (NbS)
Full text linkA report on the South Asia level workshop
on ‘Ecosystem Management, Nature Based
Solutions and SDGs: Perspectives from South
Asia’ jointly organized by CSIR-National
Environmental Engineering Research Institute,
IUCN Commission on Ecosystems Management
and Leaders for Nature programme
by IUCN, India Office at India Habitat Centre,
New Delhi on 4 December 2017
Copper Oxide Nanograss for Efficient and Stable Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production by Water Splitting
No full textA biphasic copper oxide thin film of grass-like appendage morphology is synthesized
by two-step electro-deposition method and later investigated for
photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting for hydrogen production. Further,
the thin film was characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction
(XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and PEC techniques. The XRD
analysis confirms formation of biphasic copper oxide phases, and SEM reveals
high surface area grass appendage-like morphology. These grass appendage
structures exhibit a high cathodic photocurrent of � 1.44 mAcm�2 at an applied
bias of � 0.7 (versus Ag/AgCl) resulting in incident to photon current
efficiency (IPCE) of � 10% at 400 nm. The improved light harvesting and
charge transport properties of grass appendage structured biphasic copper
oxides makes it a potential candidate for PEC water splitting for hydrogen
production
Common effluent treatment plant (CETP): Reliability analysis and performance evaluation
Full text linkCommon effluent treatment plants (CETPs) have been installed and are in operation at numerous industrial clusters
throughout India. They serve to reduce effluent treatment cost, provide better collective treatment, and reduce land cost for
small-scale industrial facilities that cannot afford individual treatment plants. Optimum working conditions for treatment of
effluent to be at par with discharge standards is a major mandate for any CETP. In this study, the reliability and removal
efficiencies (REs) of a CETP in the industrial area of Maharashtra State in India were examined. An established methodology was
adopted to determine the effectiveness of the CETP in terms of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand
(COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and oil and grease (O&G) concentrations. The CETP’s compliance with respect to design
standards and its operation were studied in detail. This paper highlights the results of RE and the coefficient of determination (R2)
values obtained from the CETP data, estimates the pollutants removed at the highest and lowest rates over a period of time, and
highlights the reasons for problem areas along with remedial measures. It was observed that, except O&G, all the parameters
(BOD, COD, and TSS) showed fluctuations in removal efficiencies and their reliabilities. This situation can be improved by
releasing effluent containing hydraulic and organic loading to the CETP as per standards and optimizing treatment processes,
especially primary clari-flocculators and aeration tanks, both of which are important units of any CETP
Mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae to enhance the quality of lipid for biodiesel application: effects of scale of cultivation and light spectrum on reduction of α-linolenic acid
No full textThe research on microalgal biodiesel is focused not only on getting the highest lipid productivity but also desired quality of
lipid. The experiments were initially conducted on flask scale (1L) using acetate carbon source at different concentrations
viz. 0.5, 2, 3 and 4 g L−
1. The optimum concentration of acetate was considered for further experiments in two airlift photobioreactors
(10 L) equipped separately with red and white LED lights. The Feasibility Index (FI) was derived to analyze
the scalability of mixotrophic cultivation based on net carbon fixation in biomass per consumption of total organic carbon.
The experimental strategy under mixotrophic mode of cultivation lowered the α-linolenic acid content of lipid by 60–80%
as compared to autotrophic cultivation for Scenedesmus abundans species and yielded the highest biomass and lipid productivities,
59 ± 2 and 17 ± 1.8 mg L−
1 day−1, respectively. The TOC, nitrate, and phosphate reduction rates were 74.6 ± 3.0,
11.5 ± 1.4, 9.6 ± 2.4 mg L−
1 day−
1, respectively. The significant change was observed in lipid compositions due to the scale,
mode of cultivation, and light spectra. As compared to phototrophic cultivation, biodiesel obtained under mixotrophic cultivation
only met standard biodiesel properties. The FI data showed that the mixotrophic cultivation was feasible on moderate
concentrations of acetate (2–3 g L−
1)
Assessment of Heterogeneous Road Traffic Noise in Nagpur
No full textThe objective of the study is to assess the noise scenario and evaluate prediction model for heterogeneous traffic conditions. In the past few years, road traffic of Nagpur has increased significantly due to the rapid increase in the number of vehicles. Noise levels are monitored at six different squares, characterized as interrupted traffic flow due to traffic signals, high population density and heavy traffic where the major sources of noise are engines, exhausts, tires interacting with the road, horns, sound of gear boxes, breaks, etc. The A-weighted time-average sound levels (LAeq;T) are measured at the different time of day during peak and off-peak traffic hours. To assess the traffic noise more precisely, the noise descriptors such as L10, L50, L90, LAeq;T, TNI (Traffic Noise Index), NPL (Noise Pollution Level) and NC (Noise Climate) are used. In the present study, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) noise prediction model is used for prediction of noise levels and it is observed that one-hour duration measured LAeq;T ranged from 71 to 76 dB(A) and 71.6 to 76.3 dB(A) during peak and off peak hours respectively. Due to the heavy traffic the peak hour Sound Exposure Levels (LAE) at all locations are exceeding permissible limit of 70 dB(A) prescribed by the World Health Organization (W.H.O). Off-peak traffic hour noise levels are within permissible limit except at two locations, Jagnade and HB town square. Significant correlation was obtained when best fit lines generated between measured and predicted values gives R2 of 0.455 for all time intervals. Chi-Square test (χ2) was also computed to investigate the noise levels at different squares. The results show that the inhabitants of Nagpur city are exposed to high transportation noise during daytime
Towards developing a representative biochemical methane potential (BMP)assay for landfilled municipal solid waste – A review
No full textThe applicability of slurry-based (semi-liquids) BMP assay in determining biodegradation kinetic parameters of
landfilled waste is critically reviewed. Factors affecting the amount and rate of methane (CH4) production during
anaerobic degradation of municipal solid waste (MSW) and optimal values of these factors specific to landfill
conditions are presented. The history of conventional BMP, and some existing procedures are reviewed. A
landfill BMP (LBMP) assay is proposed that manipulates some of the key factors, such as moisture content,
particle and sample size, that affects the rate of CH4 production and the CH4 generation potential of landfilled
MSW (LMSW). By selecting proper conditions for these factors, a representative BMP assay could be conducted
to ensure accurate determinations of CH4 potential and the kinetic parameters k; first order rate coefficient and
Lo; methane generation potential