Effect of nano-metal doped calcium peroxide on biomass pretreatment and green hydrogen production from rice straw.

In this study, calcium peroxide was modified and doped with metal-based nanoparticles (NP) to enhance the efficiency of pretreatment and biohydrogen generation from RS. The findings revealed that the addition of MnO2-CaO2 NPs (at a dosage of 0.02 g/g TS of RS) had a synergistic effect on the breakdown of biomass and the production of biohydrogen. This enhancement resulted in a maximum hydrogen yield (HY) of 58 mL/g TS, accompanied by increased concentrations of acetic acid (2117 mg/L) and butyric acid (1325 mg/L). In contrast, RS that underwent pretreatment without the use of chemicals or NP exhibited a lower HY of 28 mL/g TS, along with the lowest concentrations of acetic acid (1062 mg/L) and butyric acid (697 mg/L). The outcome showed that supplementation of NP stimulated the pretreatment of RS and improved the formation of acetic and butyric acid through the regulation of metabolic pathways during acidogenic fermentation.

Non-invasive estimation of hemoglobin, bilirubin and oxygen saturation of neonates simultaneously using whole optical spectrum analysis at point of care.

The study was aimed to evaluate the performance of a newly developed spectroscopy-based non-invasive and noncontact device (SAMIRA) for the simultaneous measurement of hemoglobin, bilirubin and oxygen saturation as an alternative to the invasive biochemical method of blood sampling. The accuracy of the device was assessed in 4318 neonates having incidences of either anemia, jaundice, or hypoxia. Transcutaneous bilirubin, hemoglobin and blood saturation values were obtained by the newly developed instrument which was corroborated with the biochemical blood tests by expert clinicians. The instrument is trained using Artificial Neural Network Analysis to increase the acceptability of the data. The artificial intelligence incorporated within the instrument determines the disease condition of the neonate. The Pearson's correlation coefficient, r was found to be 0.987 for hemoglobin estimation and 0.988 for bilirubin and blood gas saturation respectively. The bias and the limits of agreement for the measurement of all the three parameters were within the clinically acceptance limit.

Unrevealing the role of metal oxide nanoparticles on biohydrogen production by Lactobacillus delbrueckii.

The positive interaction between Clostridium sp. and lactic acid-producing bacteria (Lactobacillus sp) is commonly seen in various high-rate hydrogen production systems. However, the exact role of the hydrogen production ability of Lactobacillus sp in a dark fermentation production system is rarely studied. Lactobacillus delbrueckii was herein used for the first time, to the best of the author's knowledge, to demonstrate biohydrogen production under anaerobic conditions. At first, the pH condition was optimized, followed by the addition of nanoparticles for enhanced biohydrogen production. Under optimized conditions of pH 6.5, substrate concentration 10 g/L, and 100 mg/L of NiO/Fe2O3, the maximum hydrogen yield (HY) of 1.94 mol/mol hexose was obtained, which is 18 % more than the control. The enhanced H2 production upon the addition of nanoparticles is supported via the external electron transfer (EET) mechanism, which regulates the metabolic pathway regulation with increased production of acetate and butyrate and reduced formation of lactate.

"Seeing" invisible volatile organic compound (VOC) marker of urinary bladder cancer: A development from bench to bedside prototype spectroscopic device.

Urinary bladder cancer (UBC) is one of the most common cancers and has notoriously high risk of recurrence and mortality across the globe. Current clinical initial diagnostic approaches are either invasive or lacks sensitivity. In this study, an attempt has been made to invent a cost-effective, novel, portable diagnostic device based on the environmental sensitive fluorophores namely Nile Red (NR), Eosin Y (EY) and Rose Bengal (RB). They act as sensing agents for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOC) exclusively present in the urine sample of UBC patients and differentiate the UBC samples from the healthy control group. Upon exposure with a particular group of VOCs, a significant amount of increment in fluorescence intensities of NR, EY and RB were detected and recorded in our indigenously developed "NABIL" device. To check the performance of NABIL, the data collected from the device was compared with the conventional techniques by arranging a clinical trial with 21 healthy controls and 52 UBC patients. With the assistance of our analysis technique based on LabVIEW platform, very high sensitivity and accuracy from healthy controls have been achieved. For UBC patients, it shows impressive diagnostic results. In addition, depending on the sample processing mechanism, NABIL device can also reveal the grade of UBC and prognosis under treatment. Overall, this study contributes a novel, non-invasive, easy-to-use, inexpensive, real-time, accurate method for selectively UBC diagnosis, which can be useful for personalized care/diagnosis and postoperative surveillance, resulting in saving more lives.

Host-Assisted Delivery of a Model Drug to Genomic DNA: Key Information from Ultrafast Spectroscopy and in silico Study.

Drug delivery to a target without adverse effects is one of the major criteria for clinical use. Herein, we have made an attempt to explore the delivery efficacy of SDS surfactant in a monomer and micellar stage during the delivery of the model drug, Toluidine Blue (TB) from the micellar cavity to DNA. Molecular recognition of pre-micellar SDS encapsulated TB with DNA occurs at a rate constant of k1 ∼652 s-1 . However, no significant release of encapsulated TB at micellar concentration was observed within the experimental time frame. This originated from the higher binding affinity of TB towards the nano-cavity of SDS at micellar concentration which does not allow the delivery of TB from the nano-cavity of SDS micelles to DNA. Thus, molecular recognition controls the extent of DNA recognition by TB which in turn modulates the rate of delivery of TB from SDS in a concentration-dependent manner.

Large scale validation of a new non-invasive and non-contact bilirubinometer in neonates with risk factors.

The study was aimed to evaluate the performance of a newly developed non-invasive and non-contact bilirubin measurement device (AJO-Neo) as an alternative to the conventional invasive biochemical method of total serum bilirubin (TSB) estimation in preterm and term neonates suffering from hyperbilirubinemia associated with risk factors, and/or undergoing phototherapy. The safety and efficacy of the device were assessed in 1968 neonates with gestational ages ranging from 28 to 41 weeks and suffering from incidences of hyperbilirubinemia. Linear regression analysis showed a good correlation between AJO-Neo and the conventional method of TSB (Pearson's coefficient, r = 0.79). The small bias (0.27 mg/dL) and limits of agreements (- 3.44 to 3.99 mg/dL) were within the range of clinical acceptance. The device was also precise in the measurement of bilirubin levels in all subgroups of the study. The receiver operator curve (ROC), that takes account of both sensitivity and specificity of a device showed high efficacy of the device (area under the curve, AUC = 0.83) in the detection of bilirubin. While monitoring the bilirubin level during phototherapy, the device indicated promising results showing good agreement with TSB. Specificities and sensitivities of the device indicated a much higher accuracy in neonates with associated risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia. Hence, the newly developed device (AJO-Neo) is reliable in measuring bilirubin level in preterm, and term neonates irrespective of gestational or postnatal age, sex, risk factors, feeding behavior or skin color.

A Novel Whole Spectrum-Based Non-Invasive Screening Device for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia.

OBJECTIVE: Careful screening of bilirubin level in newborns is mandatory as per American Academy of Pediatrics (2004), to reduce incidents of kernicterus and acute bilirubin encephalopathy. Although, invasive capillary collection of blood and subsequent biochemical test is considered a gold standard for jaundice detection in neonates, transcutaneous bilirubin measurement using various non-invasive instruments is also used sporadically across the globe. The major aim of this study was to develop a non-invasive spectrometry-based technique for measurement of neonatal bilirubin level as an alternative of total serum bilirubin (TSB) test without limitations of other available bilirubinometers. METHODS: The instrument comprises of a light source and a spectroscopic detector. A light beam from source incident on the neonatal nail plate through optical fibers. The retro reflected light is acquired using the detector. An indigenously developed software is used to acquire and analyze the optical signal and to calculate the bilirubin value. The instrument was calibrated and validated in reference to TSB on 1033 subjects. MAJOR RESULTS: The result (r = 0.95 and P < 0.001) indicates a strong correlation between the bilirubin value obtained from our method and TSB. Time variant analysis of the subjects undergoing phototherapy provided a good correlation (r = 0.98). The repeatability test result shows the mean coefficient of variation is less than 5.0%. CONCLUSIONS: The indigenously developed non-invasive technique successfully detects the bilirubin level in newborns under various physiological conditions with high accuracy and precision.

A study of twins--in search of an optimal age for delivery.

The question regarding the optimal age of delivery in twins remains unanswered. A prospective observational study was carried out in the gynaecology and obstetrics department of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata during 2008-2009 to arrive at a logical conclusion to this question. The objective of this study was to evaluate the optimal timing of delivery in twins and compare the perinatal outcome in these babies by dividing them into 3 groups: 34 weeks to 35 weeks 6 days, 36 weeks to 37 weeks 6 days and >38 weeks. Perinatal outcome was also compared between different modes of delivery. Few maternal complications like pre-eclampsia, anaemia, premature rupture of membrane, preterm labour and antepartum haemorrhage were also evaluated.