Environmental pollution mitigation through utilization of carbon dioxide by microalgae.

Anthropogenic emissions of CO2 have reached a critical level and the global surface temperature is expected to rise by 1.5 °C between 2030 and 2050. To ameliorate the current global warming scenario, the research community has been struggling to find more economical and innovative solutions for carbon sequestration. Among such techniques, the use of microalgal species such as Chlorella sp., Dunaliella tertiolecta, Spirulina platensis, Desmodesmus sp., and Nannochloropsis sp., among others have shown high carbon tolerance capacity (10-100%) for establishing carbon capture, utilization and storage systems. To make microalgal-based carbon capture more economical, the microalgal biomass (∼2 g/L) can be converted biofuels, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals through biorefinery approach with product yield in the range of 60-99.5%. Further, CRISPR-Cas9 has enabled the knockout of specific genes in microalgal species that can be used to generate low pH tolerant strains with high lipid production. Inspite of the emerging developments in pollution control by microalgae, only limited investigations are available on its economic aspects which indicate a production cost of ∼$ 0.5-15/kg microalgal biomass. This review intends to summarize the advancements in different carbon sequestration techniques while highlighting their mechanisms and major research areas that need attention for economical microalgae-based carbon sequestration.

Neonatal Meningitis with Septicemia by Elizabethkingia meningoseptica : A Case Report.

Elizabethkingia is ubiquitary aerobic bacillus abundantly found in the community as well as hospital environments. Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an emerging nosocomial pathogen with an elemental ability to acclimate and survive in diversified environmental circumstances. Prompt diagnosis and an early therapeutic intervention are preponderant in the management of these infections. We report a case of meningitis with septicemia caused by E. meningoseptica in a 1-day-old outborn neonate. The child was stabilized with anticonvulsants and, based on laboratory findings, the neonate was started on ciprofloxacin in addition to symptomatic management. The child responded well to the treatment and was discharged on day 7 after treatment initiation. Perceptive treatment protocols backed with accurate laboratory evidence remain instrumental to avert unpropitious outcomes while combatting rare multidrug-resistant opportunistic infections.

Significance of Convection and Internal Heat Generation on the Thermal Distribution of a Porous Dovetail Fin with Radiative Heat Transfer by Spectral Collocation Method.

A variety of methodologies have been used to explore heat transport enhancement, and the fin approach to inspect heat transfer characteristics is one such effective method. In a broad range of industrial applications, including heat exchangers and microchannel heat sinks, fins are often employed to improve heat transfer. Encouraged by this feature, the present research is concerned with the temperature distribution caused by convective and radiative mechanisms in an internal heat-generating porous longitudinal dovetail fin (DF). The Darcy formulation is considered for analyzing the velocity of the fluid passing through the fin, and the Rosseland approximation determines the radiation heat flux. The heat transfer problem of an inverted trapezoidal (dovetail) fin is governed by a second-order ordinary differential equation (ODE), and to simplify it to a dimensionless form, nondimensional terms are utilized. The generated ODE is numerically solved using the spectral collocation method (SCM) via a local linearization approach. The effect of different physical attributes on the dimensionless thermal field and heat flux is graphically illustrated. As a result, the temperature in the dovetail fin transmits in a decreasing manner for growing values of the porosity parameter. For elevated values of heat generation and the radiation-conduction parameter, the thermal profile of the fin displays increasing behavior, whereas an increment in the convection-conduction parameter downsizes the thermal dispersal. It is found that the SCM technique is very effective and more conveniently handles the nonlinear heat transfer equation. Furthermore, the temperature field results from the SCM-based solution are in very close accordance with the outcomes published in the literature.

Assessment of thermal distribution through an inclined radiative-convective porous fin of concave profile using generalized residual power series method (GRPSM).

The thermal distribution in a convective-radiative concave porous fin appended to an inclined surface has been examined in this research. The equation governing the temperature and heat variation in fin with internal heat generation is transformed using non-dimensional variables, and the resulting partial differential equation (PDE) is tackled using an analytical scheme, generalized residual power series method (GRPSM). Moreover, a graphical discussion is provided to examine the consequence of diverse non-dimensional variables including the parameters of convection-conduction, ambient temperature, radiation, heat generation, and porosity effect on the thermal field of the fin. Also, a graph is plotted to analyze the variations in unsteady temperature gradient using the finite difference method (FDM) and generalized residual power series method (GRPSM). The major result of this investigation unveils that as the convection-conduction parameter scale upsurges, the distribution of temperature in the fin diminishes. For the heat-generating parameter, the thermal distribution inside the fin increases.

Deregulation of hepatic lipid metabolism associated with insulin resistance in rats subjected to chronic monocrotophos exposure.

In our previous study, we demonstrated the potential of monocrotophos (MCP), an organophosphorus insecticide (OPI), to induce glucose intolerance, insulin resistance (IR), and dyslipidemia with hyperinsulinemia in rats after chronic exposure. As hyperinsulinemia is likely to exert an impact on hepatic lipid metabolism, we carried out this study to establish the effect of chronic MCP exposure (0.9 and 1.8 mg/kg/day for 180 days) on hepatic lipid metabolism in rats. The state of IR induced by MCP in rats was associated with an increase in the liver lipid content (triglyceride and cholesterol) and expression levels of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins, PPARγ, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and fatty acid synthase in the liver. Similarly, activities of key enzymes (acetyl-COA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, lipin 1, malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), which regulate lipogenesis, were enhanced in livers of pesticide-treated rats. A strong correlation was observed between insulin levels, hepatic lipid content, and plasma lipid profile in treated rats. Our study suggests that long-term exposure to OPIs not only has a propensity to induce a state of hyperinsulinemic IR, but it is also associated with augmented hepatic lipogenesis, which may explain dyslipidemia induced by chronic exposure to MCP.

Flow of hybrid nanofluid across a permeable longitudinal moving fin along with thermal radiation and natural convection.

BACKGROUND: The numerical investigation of nanoparticles embedded water based hybrid nanoliquid flow over porous longitudinal fin moving with constant velocity is carried out together with thermal radiation and natural convection condition. Darcy's model is implemented for the flow behaviour. The two types of boundary conditions are considered at the tip i.e., insulated tip fin and fin with known convective condition. METHOD: The modelled ordinary differential equation is non-dimensionalized and tackled mathematically by applying RKF (Runge Kutta Fehlberg) technique. RESULTS: The parametric evaluation is carried out through graphs and interpreted physically. From obtained outcomes, it is noticed that, fin with known convective coefficient at the tip shows greater heat transfer rate than fin with insulated tip.

Detection of carbapenemase production in Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas species by carbapenemase Nordmann-Poirel test.

PURPOSE: Multidrug-resistant organisms causing community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections are increasing at a dangerous rate. Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas species are an important source of concern since these organisms are not only resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics but also show cross-resistance to other groups of antibiotics. In the present study, rapid detection of these carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas species by carbapenemase Nordmann-Poirel (Carba NP) test was evaluated by comparing with modified Hodge test (MHT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Imipenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas species isolated from various samples such as pus, blood, sputum, urine, and endotracheal aspirates were processed for carbapenemase detection by MHT and Carba NP test. Kappa analysis was done to evaluate the percentage agreement between the two tests. RESULTS: Seventy imipenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas isolates were analyzed in the present study for carbapenemase production. 63.41% of Enterobacteriaceae and 34.48% of Pseudomonas species were carbapenemase producers considering both the methods. By MHT, 36 (51.42%) isolates and, by Carba NP test, 35 (50%) isolates were positive for carbapenemase production out of the 70 isolates. CONCLUSION: Carba NP test when compared to MHT is a simple, rapid, cost-effective biochemical test which can be used in all laboratories in the identification of life-threatening carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria.

Analysis of silver binding nucleolar organizer regions in exfoliative cytology smears of potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions.

Nucleolar organizer regions are nucleolar components that contain proteins that are stained selectively by silver methods; they can be identified as black dots throughout the nucleolus and are known as silver binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR). The number of AgNOR is related to the cell cycle and the proliferative activity of the cells. We investigated AgNOR using exfoliative cytology smears of potentially malignant oral lesions. Eighty individuals were divided into four equal groups: healthy controls, oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The mean number of AgNOR in each study group gradually increased from control to oral leukoplakia to oral submucous fibrosis to oral squamous cell carcinoma. The proliferative index was increased in the oral premalignant and malignant patients compared to normal subjects. The mean AgNOR size gradually increased from control to oral leukoplakia to oral submucous fibrosis to oral squamous cell carcinoma. Spherical shaped AgNOR were most common in controls, whereas large, clustered and kidney shapes were most common in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Multiparameter analysis of AgNOR in oral exfoliative smears is a simple, sensitive and cost-effective method for differentiating premalignant from malignant lesions and can be used in conjunction with routine cytomorphological evaluation.

Prevalence and characterization of opportunistic candidal infections among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Although Candida albicans remains the most common cause of human candidiasis, the frequency of infection attributed to other members of the genus is also increasing. Hence, the present study was carried out to know the prevalence of opportunistic candidal infection in tuberculosis, and if positive, the species of Candida that is most commonly associated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study comprised sixty pulmonary tuberculosis patients who were divided into (1) fresh or untreated group, (2A) chronic or treated group having no complications and (2B) having complications, comprising twenty patients each, respectively. The collected sputum samples were initially stained with Ziehl-Neelsen stain for confirmation of presence of tubercle Bacilli. Primary isolation was done on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). The candidal colonies were confirmed microscopically for the presence of pseudohyphae. Further speciation of the positive candidal samples was carried out using ChromAgar. RESULT: The total fungal prevalence among 60 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis on SDA was 33 (55%) Candida and 3 (5%) Aspergillus. The prevalence of different candidal species on ChromAgar showed C. albicans as the predominant one, followed by Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei. Freshly diagnosed or untreated group was less commonly associated with pulmonary mycoses than chronic or treated group. The prevalence of Candida had increased with treatment, duration and age, and it was more in males than females. CONCLUSION: The present study confirms the phenomenon of opportunistic candidal infections in pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Rapid and reliable identification of Candida species is essential as they differ in their virulence and sensitivity to antifungal drugs.

A case of unilateral atypical orofacial pain with Eagle's syndrome.

Eagle's syndrome is not an uncommon condition, but less known to physicians, where an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament compresses the adjacent anatomical structures leading to orofacial pain. Diagnosis is made with appropriate radiological examination. Nonsurgical treatment options include reassurance, analgesia, and anti.inflammatory medications; and the surgical option includes a transoral or external approach. Here, we present a case report of a male patient, of age38 years, with a chief complaint of unilateral atypical orofacial pain on the right side of his face radiating to the neck region, for the last two months.

Touch imprint cytology: a rapid diagnostic tool for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Techniques for intraoperative pathologic examination of oral squamous cell carcinoma are rare in the literature. We evaluated the advantages and limitations of touch imprint cytology for intraoperative diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. We used 30 incisional biopsies of clinically diagnosed oral squamous cell carcinoma and compared touch imprint cytology to histopathological sections. Touch imprint cytology showed 24 specimens positive for malignancy, two suspicious for malignancy and four inadequate specimens. The accuracy of the test was 93.2%. Touch imprint cytology is an accurate, simple, rapid and cost-effective method that aids diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma during operation, but it does not replace incisional biopsy.

Oral focal mucinosis: a rare case with literature review.

Oral focal mucinosis (OFM) is an unusual disease that affects diverse localised areas of the mouth, where the connective tissue undergoes focal degeneration. It was described for the first time by Tomich in 1974. It presents as an asymptomatic pedunculated or sessile growth, commonly on the gingiva, with most cases being in women. Its pathogenesis is linked to overproduction of hyaluronic acid by fibroblasts during collagen production, ensuing in focal myxoid degeneration. It has no characteristic features and diagnosis depends on histological scrutiny. We report a rare case of oral focal mucinosis affecting a 54-year-old man who presented with a sessile gingival growth mimicking a common tumour-like lesion.

Management of Oro-Nasal Fistula Using Andrew's Bridge: A Case Report.

Oro-nasal fistula is the most common complication following the surgical closure of the cleft palate. Retention is the paramount factor in the successful prosthodontic habilitation of cleft palate patients. Various precision attachments have provided us with the opportunity to make the prosthesis fixed removable type; giving a double advantage to the patient i.e. comfort through fixed type and easy maintenance through removal type. This case report describes a case of oro-nasal fistula habilitated with an obturator attached to Andrew's bridge, which had good retention and esthetics.

Collagenase-3 expression in periapical lesions: an immunohistochemical study.

Collagenase-3 (matrix metalloproteinase-13) is a metalloproteinase (MMP) that is associated with bone lesions and exhibits variable expression patterns in odontogenic cysts; it may play a role in regulating focal proliferation and maturation of jaw cyst epithelium. We studied the localization, staining intensity and distribution of collagenase-3 in 13 periapical granulomas with epithelium, 16 periapical granulomas without epithelium and 10 radicular cysts using archived formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues. A monoclonal antibody against human collagenase-3 was used to evaluate its expression. Immunohistochemical staining intensities of collagenase-3 in all periapical lesions were (-), 4 (10%); (+), 1 (3%); (++), 22 (56%) and (+++), 12 (31%); differences were not statistically significant. Immunohistochemical distribution of collagenase-3 in epithelial cells was (-), 17 (44%); (+), 17 (44%); (++), 5 (13%); in fibroblasts it was (-), 8 (20%); (+), 23 (59%); (++), 8 (21%); in plasma cells it was (-), 7 (18%); (+), 22 (56%); (++), 10 (26%); in macrophages it was (-), 7 (18%); (+), and 15 (38%); and (++), 17 (44%). Statistically significant differences were found in epithelial cells (p = 0.00) and fibroblasts (p = 0.02), whereas differences were not statistically significant for plasma cells and macrophages. Collagenase-3 may play a role in the conversion of a periapical granuloma with epithelium to radicular cyst. MMP's influence not only epithelial rest cell migration, but also invasion of various stromal cells into granulomatous tissue.