scholarly journals Biosensors in Monitoring Water Quality and Safety: An Example of a Miniaturizable Whole-Cell Based Sensor for Hg2+ Optical Detection in Water

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuele Luigi Sciuto ◽  
Maria Anna Coniglio ◽  
Domenico Corso ◽  
Jan Roelof van der Meer ◽  
Fabio Acerbi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inorganic Mercury ◽  
Reporter Cell ◽  
Sensing Element ◽  
Silicon Photomultiplier ◽  
Optical Detector ◽  
Portable Technology ◽  
Time Required ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Health Field

Inorganic mercury (Hg2+) pollution of water reserves, especially drinking water, is an important issue in the environmental and public health field. Mercury is reported to be one of the most dangerous elements in nature since its accumulation and ingestion can lead to a series of permanent human diseases, affecting the kidneys and central nervous system. All the conventional approaches for assaying Hg2+ have some limitations in terms of bulky instruments and the cost and time required for the analysis. Here, we describe a miniaturizable and high-throughput bioluminescence sensor for Hg2+ detection in water, which combines the specificity of a living bacterial Hg2+ reporter cell, used as sensing element, with the performance of a silicon photomultiplier, used as optical detector. The proposed system paves the basis for portable analysis and low reactants consumption. The aim of the work is to propose a sensing strategy for total inorganic mercury evaluation in water. The proposed system can lay the basis for further studies and validations in order to develop rapid and portable technology that can be used in situ providing remote monitoring.

Quantifying percentage cover of subtidal organisms on rocky coasts: a comparison of the costs and benefits of standard methods

2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 865 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Drummond ◽  
S. D. Connell
Keyword(s):  
Benthic Algae ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Percentage Cover ◽  
Sessile Invertebrates ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Regular Arrays ◽  
Laboratory Time

This study compares the cost (time and funds) and benefits (precision and accuracy) of methods commonly used to estimate percentage cover of sessile marine organisms. We applied nine methods to morphological groups of benthic algae and broad taxonomic groups of sessile invertebrates; including varying the intensity of sampling (25 v. 50 v. 100 point-intercepts), random v. regular arrays, in situ v. laboratory v. photographic sampling v. computer digitising. We detected little to no difference in estimates of percentage cover among methods, indicating that accuracy is unlikely to be an important issue that distinguishes methods. Precision was generally unaffected by the intensity of sampling within quadrats (25 v. 50 v. 100 point-intercepts) or between environments (in situ v. on photographs v. within the laboratory) and appeared to be of secondary concern to decisions about replication. Computer digitising (estimates of surface area of each taxon) provided the least precise estimates and did not justify the additional laboratory time required to process them. Depending on whether field expenses or laboratory expenses are of the greatest concern, the techniques that permit the greatest coverage of area (greatest replication) are likely to produce the most representative (accurate) and reliable (precise) estimates.

scholarly journals A Miniaturized Microbe-Silicon-Chip Based on Bioluminescent Engineered Escherichia coli for the Evaluation of Water Quality and Safety

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7580
Author(s):  
Emanuele Luigi Sciuto ◽  
Domenico Corso ◽  
Sebania Libertino ◽  
Jan Roelof van der Meer ◽  
Giuseppina Faro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Inorganic Mercury ◽  
Heavy Metal Accumulation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Sensing Element ◽  
Silicon Photomultiplier ◽  
Engineered Escherichia Coli ◽  
Health Organization

Conventional high throughput methods assaying the chemical state of water and the risk of heavy metal accumulation share common constraints of long and expensive analytical procedures and dedicated laboratories due to the typical bulky instrumentation. To overcome these limitations, a miniaturized optical system for the detection and quantification of inorganic mercury (Hg2+) in water was developed. Combining the bioactivity of a light-emitting mercury-specific engineered Escherichia coli—used as sensing element—with the optical performance of small size and inexpensive Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM)—used as detector—the system is able to detect mercury in low volumes of water down to the concentration of 1 µg L−1, which is the tolerance value indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO), providing a highly sensitive and miniaturized tool for in situ water quality analysis.

Use of cold tolerant eucalyptus species as a partial replacement for southern mixed hardwoods

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 29-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER W. HART ◽  
DALE E. NUTTER
Keyword(s):  
Potential Method ◽  
The United States ◽  
Partial Replacement ◽  
Growth Time ◽  
Eucalyptus Species ◽  
Cold Tolerant ◽  
Hardwood Pulp ◽  
Time Required ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Operational Data

During the last several years, the increasing cost and decreasing availability of mixed southern hardwoods have resulted in financial and production difficulties for southern U.S. mills that use a significant percentage of hardwood kraft pulp. Traditionally, in the United States, hardwoods are not plantation grown because of the growth time required to produce a quality tree suitable for pulping. One potential method of mitigating the cost and supply issues associated with the use of native hardwoods is to grow eucalyptus in plantations for the sole purpose of producing hardwood pulp. However, most of the eucalyptus species used in pulping elsewhere in the world are not capable of surviving in the southern U.S. climate. This study examines the potential of seven different cold-tolerant eucalyptus species to be used as replacements for, or supplements to, mixed southern hardwoods. The laboratory pulping and bleaching aspects of these seven species are discussed, along with pertinent mill operational data. Selected mill trial data also are reviewed.

scholarly journals Seawater Absorption and Adhesion Properties of Hydrophobic and Superhydrophobic Thermoset Epoxy Nanocomposite Coatings

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
Ayman M. Atta ◽  
Mohamed H. El-Newehy ◽  
Meera Moydeen Abdulhameed ◽  
Mohamed H. Wahby ◽  
Ahmed I. Hashem
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Stability ◽  
Oleic Acid ◽  
Salt Spray ◽  
Adhesion Properties ◽  
In Situ Modification ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Seawater Environment ◽  
Thermoset Epoxy ◽  
The Cost

The enhancement of both thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy materials using nanomaterials becomes a target in coating of the steel to protect it from aggressive environmental conditions for a long time, with reducing the cost. In this respect, the adhesion properties of the epoxy with the steel surfaces, and its proper superhyrophobicity to repel the seawater humidity, can be optimized via addition of green nanoparticles (NPs). In-situ modification of silver (Ag) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) NPs with oleic acid (OA) was carried out during the formation of Ag−OA and CaCO3−OA, respectively. The epoxide oleic acid (EOA) was also used as capping for Ca−O3 NPs by in-situ method and epoxidation of Ag−OA NPs, too. The morphology, thermal stability, and the diameters of NPs, as well as their dispersion in organic solvent, were investigated. The effects of the prepared NPs on the exothermic curing of the epoxy resins in the presence of polyamines, flexibility or rigidity of epoxy coatings, wettability, and coatings durability in aggressive seawater environment were studied. The obtained results confirmed that the proper superhyrophobicity, coating adhesion, and thermal stability of the epoxy were improved after exposure to salt spray fog for 2000 h at 36 °C.

scholarly journals Black Soldier Fly Larval Valorization Benefitting from Ex-Situ Fungal Fermentation in Reducing Coconut Endosperm Waste

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 275
Author(s):  
Chung Yiin Wong ◽  
Kunlanan Kiatkittipong ◽  
Worapon Kiatkittipong ◽  
Seteno K. O. Ntwampe ◽  
Man Kee Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Principal Component ◽  
Correlation Study ◽  
Statistical Correlation ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Larval Feeding ◽  
Rhizopus Oligosporus ◽  
Black Soldier Fly ◽  
The Cost

Oftentimes, the employment of entomoremediation to reduce organic wastes encounters ubiquitous shortcomings, i.e., ineffectiveness to valorize recalcitrant organics in wastes. Considering the cost-favorability, a fermentation process can be employed to facilitate the degradation of biopolymers into smaller organics, easing the subsequent entomoremediation process. However, the efficacy of in situ fermentation was found impeded by the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) in the current study to reduce coconut endosperm waste (CEW). Indeed, by changing into ex situ fermentation, in which the fungal Rhizopus oligosporus was permitted to execute fermentation on CEW prior to the larval feeding, the reduction of CEW was significantly enhanced. In this regard, the waste reduction index of CEW by BSFL was almost doubled as opposed to in situ fermentation, even with the inoculation of merely 0.5 wt % of Rhizopus oligosporus. Moreover, with only 0.02 wt % of fungal inoculation size to execute the ex situ fermentation on CEW, it could spur BSFL growth by about 50%. Finally, from the statistical correlation study using principal component analysis, the presence of Rhizopus oligosporus in a range of 0.5–1.0 wt % was regarded as optimum to ferment CEW via ex situ mode, prior to the valorization by BSFL in reducing the CEW.

In situ enzymatic removal of orthophosphate by the nucleoside phosphorylase catalyzed phosphorolysis of nicotinamide riboside

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (9) ◽  
pp. 917-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Shriver ◽  
Brian D. Sykes
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Nucleoside Phosphorylase ◽  
Nicotinamide Riboside ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Removal System ◽  
Nuclear Magnetic

An enzymatic orthophosphate removal system is described which can be effectively used to continuously remove orthophosphate from biochemical samples. The phosphorolysis of nicotinamide riboside is catalyzed by calf spleen nucleoside phosphorylase to give ribose-1-PO4 and nicotinamide along with a proton. At pH 8 the production of ribose-1-PO4 from orthophosphate is essentially quantitative. This reaction can be monitored optically or by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Equations are given for determining the time required to remove a given amount of phosphate from a typical NMR sample with a known amount of nucleoside phosphorylase. The effects of a competing orthophosphate-producing reaction are considered.

Fate and transport of faecal contamination microbial indicators, pathogenic protozoa and Campylobacter in the artificially recharged fractured aquifer of Salento, Italy

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 849-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. La Mantia ◽  
C. Masciopinto ◽  
C. Levantesi ◽  
V. Tandoi
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Fate And Transport ◽  
Fractured Aquifer ◽  
Specific Detection ◽  
Microbial Indicators ◽  
Faecal Contamination ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Indicators Of Faecal Contamination ◽  
Campylobacter Spp

The study investigates the fate and transport of microorganisms introduced by artificial groundwater recharge at the Nardò fractured aquifer in Salento, Italy. Microbial indicators of faecal contamination, parasitic protozoa (Giardia and Cryptosporidium) and pathogenic bacteria (Campylobacter spp.), were monitored into injected water and groundwater to test the efficiency of the “natural disinfection” into the fractured aquifer. A remarkable decrease of microbial indicators and pathogens was observed suggesting that pathogens removal or inactivation may be possible during water flow in fractured aquifer. The recently described PNA probe CJE195 (Lehtola et al. 2005) was utilised for the rapid and specific detection of Campylobacter spp. by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) after enrichment. FISH results were consistent with those of traditional cultural method (ISO 17995) applied in parallel: time required for Campylobacter identification was reduced of 4 days.

In-Situ, Time Resolved, Kinetics of Reactions in Co-Ge thin Films

1991 ◽  
Vol 237 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Walser ◽  
Byung-Hak Lee ◽  
Alaka Valanju ◽  
Winston Win ◽  
M. F. Becker
Keyword(s):  
Depth Profiling ◽  
Laser Interferometry ◽  
Semiconductor Interface ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Interface Reactions ◽  
Valuable Adjunct ◽  
Diffusion Controlled ◽  
Sputter Deposited ◽  
Time Required

ABSTRACTWe report the first kinetic study of metal-semiconductor interface reactions using in-situ, time resolved, laser interferometry. Diffusion couples with Co/Ge thicknesses of 1500 Å/1500 Å were sputter deposited on silicon wafers, and vacuum-annealed at temperatures between 300°C-400°C. Under these conditions polycrystalline CoGe was expected to form [1]. Real time laser (HeNe 6328 Å) interferograms for each anneal were recorded in-situ. These data were supplemented by information from AES and X-ray.For temperatures below 400°C the diffusion controlled formation of CoGe was observed. The composition was confirmed by Auger depth profiling that showed uniform Co and Ge concentrations when the reaction went to completion. The well defined interferences fringes were formed by the dissolution of amorphous Ge. The activation energy = 1.6 eV for the formation of CoGe were determined with precision from the temperature dependence of the time required to anneal the fixed λ/4 distance between adjacent minima and maxima of the interferogram. We discuss the evidence for formation of an intermediate Co-rich compound following the initial diffusion of Co into Ge. The results of these experiments indicate that optical interferometry will be a valuable adjunct to other techniques used to study metal-semiconductor interface reactions.

Sample sizes for point, double sampling

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 980-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G. Oderwald ◽  
Elizabeth Jones
Keyword(s):  
Basal Area ◽  
Double Sampling ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Measuring Volume ◽  
Sample Points ◽  
Time Required ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Minimum Ratio

Formulas are derived for determining the total number of sample points and the number of volume points for a point, double sample with a ratio of means estimator to replace a point sample and achieve the same variance. A minimum ratio of the cost of measuring volume to the cost of measuring basal area at a point is determined for which the point, double sample will be less costly, in terms of time required to measure points, than the point sample.

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