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Enzyme-mediated solvent extraction of carotenoids from marigold flower (Tagetes erecta).

Marigold flowers are the most important source of carotenoids for application in the food industry. However, the extraction gives almost 50% losses of the carotenoids depending on conditions for silaging, drying, and solvent extraction. In the past decades, macerating enzymes have been successfully applied to improve the extraction yield of valued compounds from natural products. In this work, an alternative extraction process for carotenoids is proposed, consisting of a simultaneous enzymatic treatment and solvent extraction. The proposed process employs milled fresh flowers directly as raw material, eliminating the inefficient silage and drying operations as well as the generation of hard to deal with aqueous effluents present in traditional processes. The process developed was tested at the 80 L scale, where under optimal conditions a carotenoid recovery yield of 97% was obtained.

Asteraceae↗

Acidophiles in bioreactor mineral processing.

Mineral processing in bioreactors has become established in several countries during the past decade with industrial application of iron- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria to release occluded gold from mineral sulfides. Cobalt extraction in bioreactors has also been commercialized, and development of high-temperature biooxidation of copper sulfides has reached pilot-plant scale. A variety of potentially useful mineral sulfide-oxidizing thermophiles have been recognized, but the most active strains have not been fully characterized.

Acids↗

Genomics, metagenomics and proteomics in biomining microorganisms.

The use of acidophilic, chemolithotrophic microorganisms capable of oxidizing iron and sulfur in industrial processes to recover metals from minerals containing copper, gold and uranium is a well established biotechnology with distinctive advantages over traditional mining. A consortium of different microorganisms participates in the oxidative reactions resulting in the extraction of dissolved metal values from ores. Considerable effort has been spent in the last years to understand the biochemistry of iron and sulfur compounds oxidation, bacteria-mineral interactions (chemotaxis, quorum sensing, adhesion, biofilm formation) and several adaptive responses allowing the microorganisms to survive in a bioleaching environment. All of these are considered key phenomena for understanding the process of biomining. The use of genomics, metagenomics and high throughput proteomics to study the global regulatory responses that the biomining community uses to adapt to their changing environment is just beginning to emerge in the last years. These powerful approaches are reviewed here since they offer the possibility of exciting new findings that will allow analyzing the community as a microbial system, determining the extent to which each of the individual participants contributes to the process, how they evolve in time to keep the conglomerate healthy and therefore efficient during the entire process of bioleaching.

Bacteria↗

Recovery of copper from contaminated soil by flushing.

In this work the development of a process for the recovery of copper from contaminated industrial soils is presented. Experimental tests on a standard soil contaminated with a solution of copper chloride were carried out. The metal was extracted from the contaminated soil by flushing with a 0.1 M aqueous solution of an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) sodium salt. A maximum copper extraction efficiency of about 60% was observed. Copper was then separated from the extracted solution by precipitation with sodium hydroxide after addition of ferric sulfate.

Chelating Agents↗

[Study on extraction conditions for minute powder of processed rhizome of Corydalis with vinegar].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the factors in extracting the minute powder of processed rhizome of Corydalis with vinegar for its application. METHOD: The one-way variation analysis was used for experimental design. Tetrahydropalmatine was determined with HPLC method. The samples were separated on a Diamonsil C18 column with mobile phase of acetonitrile-TEA phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) (50:50) and detection wavelength was 280 mm. RESULT: The extraction conditions were established as follows: extraction temperature is 60 degrees C, water-added amount is 20 times the weight of the powder, and extraction time is 30 minutes. CONCLUSION: The extraction rate of the tetrahydropalmatine in the minute power is about 10% higher than that of the processed rhizome with vinegar. But less water amount, less time, and lower temperature were needed for extraction. The application of minute powder can reduce energy consumption and raise economic benefit in industrial production.

Acetic Acid↗

Can commercial peanut assay kits detect peanut allergens?

Peanut is the food group mostly associated with severe and fatal allergic reactions. In the United States, more than 90% of peanut-allergic individuals' serum IgE recognized peanut proteins Ara h 1 and Ara h 2, thus establishing these proteins as major peanut allergens. The amount of Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 in 3 varieties of peanut cultivars that are commonly processed in the industrialized countries was determined to be 12-16 and 6-9%, respectively. Current commercial peanut test kits use polyclonal peanut-specific antibodies to detect soluble or buffer extractable peanut proteins. Because the 2 major peanut allergens Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 are isolated from soluble peanut proteins, it is generally assumed that these commercial kits can detect peanut allergens, although none of these kits claims to detect peanut allergen. This study showed for the first time that the peanut test kits could, in fact, detect major peanut allergens Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 in both native or heat-denatured structures; therefore, these kits qualified to be classified as peanut allergen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

2S Albumins, Plant↗

Methadone at tapered doses for the management of opioid withdrawal.

BACKGROUND: Despite use in many countries of tapered methadone for detoxification from opiate, the evidence of efficacy to prevent relapse and promote lifestyle change has not been systematically evaluated. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether tapered methadone is effective to manage withdrawal from opioids. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched: Cochrane Controlled Trial Register (Issue 1, 2000), MEDLINE (OVID 1966-2000), EMBASE (1980-2000); reference list of relevant articles; personal communication; conference abstracts; trials from pharmaceutical industry; Internet. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials on the use of tapered methadone versus all other detoxification treatments, placebo and different modalities of methadone detoxification programs for the treatment of opiate withdrawal. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: One reviewer assessed studies for inclusion and undertook data extraction. The overall process were confirmed by consultation between reviewers. MAIN RESULTS: 20 studies were included, with 1357 people randomised. 10 studies compared methadone with adrenergic agonists, 7 compared different modalities of methadone detoxification, 2 compared methadone with other opioid agonists, 1 study compared methadone with chlordiazepoxide one with placebo. 10 studies that compared methadone with adrenergic agonists showed clinical differences of the treatments; 6 studies that compared different methadone schedules, showed different withdrawal responses; 2 studies that compared methadone and other opioid agonists showed that methadyl acetate performed similarly to methadone, while propoxyphene produced more severe withdrawal symptoms and more drop-outs than methadone; chlordiazepoxide and methadone (1 study) resulted similar in terms of overall effectiveness; more severe withdrawal and more drop outs in the placebo group than in methadone one (1 study). The results indicate that tapered methadone and other medications used are effective although symptoms experienced differed according to the medication used and the program adopted. The medications are similar in terms of overall effectiveness. Improvements were achieved when other services supporting services were offered contemporaneously with detoxification. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Data from literature are hardly comparable; programs vary widely with regard to duration, design and treatment objectives, along with reporting impairing the application of meta-analysis. The studies included confirm that slow tapering with temporary substitution of long acting opioid can reduce withdrawal severity. Nevertheless the majority of patients relapsed to heroin use, abstinence cannot be considered a goal as heroin dependence is a chronic, relapsing disorder and the purpose of detoxification should be to remove or reduce dependence on heroin in a controlled and human fashion and not a treatment for heroin dependence.

Humans↗

Effluents from oil production activities contain chemicals that interfere with normal function of intra- and extra-cellular estrogen binding proteins.

Some environmental pollutants have the ability to alter the endocrine function in fish through interaction with the estrogen receptor (ER). Many of these chemicals are also able to interfere with the endocrine system through other mechanisms of action, however. The plasma sex steroid-binding protein (SBP), which is involved in regulating circulating levels of endogenous sex steroids, has recently been proposed to contribute to pollutant induced disruption of endocrine homeostasis. The objective of the present work was to determine whether industrial effluents contain chemicals that are able to modulate the endocrine system through interference with the function of the ER and SBP using in vitro biological assays (bioassays) from rainbow trout. The results show that solid phase extracts of process water (produced water) from an oil production facility in the North Sea and a land-based oil refinery contain chemicals that are able to induce estrogenic effects as well as displace natural sex steroid 17beta-estradiol from the SBP. The bioactive chemicals were found to be partly resistant to biological degradation, but the identity of the chemicals was not determined. The alkylphenol 4-tert-butylphenol, which is known to occur in effluents from various oil production facilities, was found to be estrogenic and displace 17beta-estradiol from the SBP and may thus contribute to the observed endocrine disrupting activity.

Animals↗

Exposure to carcinogens for defined job categories in Norway's offshore petroleum industry, 1970 to 2005.

OBJECTIVES: To identify and describe the exposure to selected known and suspected carcinogenic agents, mixtures and exposure circumstances for defined job categories in Norway's offshore petroleum industry from 1970 to 2005, in order to provide exposure information for a planned cohort study on cancer. METHODS: Background information on possible exposure was obtained through company visits, including interviewing key personnel (n = 83) and collecting monitoring reports (n = 118) and other relevant documents (n = 329). On the basis of a previous questionnaire administered to present and former offshore employees in 1998, 27 job categories were defined. RESULTS: This study indicated possible exposure to 18 known and suspected carcinogenic agents, mixtures or exposure circumstances. Monitoring reports were obtained on seven agents (benzene, mineral oil mist and vapour, respirable and total dust, asbestos fibres, refractory ceramic fibres, formaldehyde and tetrachloroethylene). The mean exposure level of 367 personal samples of benzene was 0.037 ppm (range: less than the limit of detection to 2.6 ppm). Asbestos fibres were detected (0.03 fibres/cm3) when asbestos-containing brake bands were used in drilling draw work in 1988. Personal samples of formaldehyde in the process area ranged from 0.06 to 0.29 mg/m3. Descriptions of products containing known and suspected carcinogens, exposure sources and processes were extracted from the collected documentation and the interviews of key personnel. CONCLUSIONS: This study described exposure to 18 known and suspected carcinogenic agents, mixtures and exposure circumstances for 27 job categories in Norway's offshore petroleum industry. For a planned cohort study on cancer, quantitative estimates of exposure to benzene, and mineral oil mist and vapour might be developed. For the other agents, information in the present study can be used for further assessment of exposure, for instance, by expert judgement. More systematic exposure surveillance is needed in this industry. For future studies, new monitoring programmes need to be implemented.

Asbestos↗

Baclofen-loaded microspheres: preparation and efficacy testing in a new rabbit model.

Intrathecal baclofen is the reference treatment for severe spasticity. This drug has to be injected chronically in the intrathecal space by implanted pumps which are very expensive, uncomfortable and sometimes lead to side effects. Previous work has been performed by our group to assess the feasibility of encapsulating baclofen into poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres and injecting these preparations in the intrathecal space of rabbits. The aims of the present study were to improve the encapsulation process for industrial application (scale-up), and to set up an animal model to assess the duration of effect of the new formulations. Modifications included the replacement of methylene chloride by a less toxic solvent, ethyl acetate, and the use of high molecular weight polymers to extend the release rate of the drug. The temperature and organic solvent extraction rate were fully controlled during the whole manufacturing process. All these modifications resulted in high quality microsphere batches with a CV inferior to 5% for encapsulation efficiency and drug loading. Encapsulation efficiency and release patterns were dependent on the drug payload and the polymer used. A formulation displaying a sustained release of baclofen over 174 days and a moderate burst effect of 16% in the first day in vitro was evaluated in a new reliable model of baclofen activity based on electrophysiological measurement of H-reflex in the rabbit. The activity of a very low dose of baclofen microspheres in vivo was sustained over 35 days. Furthermore, the preparation was well tolerated. These newly developed preparations are a very promising approach for enhancing the efficacy and comfort of patients undergoing spasticity treatment.

Animals↗

In situ bioremediation of naphthenic acids contaminated tailing pond waters in the athabasca oil sands region--demonstrated field studies and plausible options: a review.

Currently, there are three industrial plants that recover oil from the lower Athabasca oil sands area, and there are plans in the future for several additional mines. The extraction procedures produce large volumes of slurry wastes contaminated with naphthenic acids (NAs). Because of a "zero discharge" policy the oil sands companies do not release any extraction wastes from their leases. The process-affected waters and fluid tailings contaminated with NAs are contained on-site primarily in large settling ponds. These fluid wastes from the tailing ponds can be acutely and chronically toxic to aquatic organisms, and NAs have been associated with this toxicity. The huge tailings containment area must ultimately be reclaimed, and this is of major concern to the oil sands industry. Some reclamation options have been investigated by both pioneering industries (Syncrude Energy Inc. and Suncor Inc.) with mixed results. The bioremediation techniques have limited success to date in biodegrading NAs to levels below 19 mg/L. Some tailing pond waters have been stored for more than 10 years, and it appears that the remaining high molecular weight NAs are refractory to the natural biodegradation process in the ponds. Some plausible options to further degrade the NAs in the tailings pond water include: bioaugmentation with bacteria selected to degrade the more refractory classes of NAs; the use of attachment materials such as clays to concentrate both the NA and the NA-degrading bacteria in their surfaces and/or pores; synergistic association between algae and bacteria consortia to promote efficient aerobic degradation; and biostimulation with nutrients to promote the growth and activity of the microorganisms.

Alberta↗

Scope and impact of financial conflicts of interest in biomedical research: a systematic review.

CONTEXT: Despite increasing awareness about the potential impact of financial conflicts of interest on biomedical research, no comprehensive synthesis of the body of evidence relating to financial conflicts of interest has been performed. OBJECTIVE: To review original, quantitative studies on the extent, impact, and management of financial conflicts of interest in biomedical research. DATA SOURCES: Studies were identified by searching MEDLINE (January 1980-October 2002), the Web of Science citation database, references of articles, letters, commentaries, editorials, and books and by contacting experts. STUDY SELECTION: All English-language studies containing original, quantitative data on financial relationships among industry, scientific investigators, and academic institutions were included. A total of 1664 citations were screened, 144 potentially eligible full articles were retrieved, and 37 studies met our inclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: One investigator (J.E.B.) extracted data from each of the 37 studies. The main outcomes were the prevalence of specific types of industry relationships, the relation between industry sponsorship and study outcome or investigator behavior, and the process for disclosure, review, and management of financial conflicts of interest. DATA SYNTHESIS: Approximately one fourth of investigators have industry affiliations, and roughly two thirds of academic institutions hold equity in start-ups that sponsor research performed at the same institutions. Eight articles, which together evaluated 1140 original studies, assessed the relation between industry sponsorship and outcome in original research. Aggregating the results of these articles showed a statistically significant association between industry sponsorship and pro-industry conclusions (pooled Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio, 3.60; 95% confidence interval, 2.63-4.91). Industry sponsorship was also associated with restrictions on publication and data sharing. The approach to managing financial conflicts varied substantially across academic institutions and peer-reviewed journals. CONCLUSIONS: Financial relationships among industry, scientific investigators, and academic institutions are widespread. Conflicts of interest arising from these ties can influence biomedical research in important ways.

Academies and Institutes↗

A hybrid artificial neural network as a software sensor for optimal control of a wastewater treatment process.

For control and automation of biological treatment processes, lack of reliable on-line sensors to measure water quality parameters is one of the most important problems to overcome. Many parameters cannot be measured directly with on-line sensors. The accuracy of existing hardware sensors is also not sufficient and maintenance problems such as electrode fouling often cause trouble. This paper deals with the development of software sensor techniques that estimate the target water quality parameter from other parameters using the correlation between water quality parameters. We focus our attention on the preprocessing of noisy data and the selection of the best model feasible to the situation. Problems of existing approaches are also discussed. We propose a hybrid neural network as a software sensor inferring wastewater quality parameter. Multivariate regression, artificial neural networks (ANN), and a hybrid technique that combines principal component analysis as a preprocessing stage are applied to data from industrial wastewater processes. The hybrid ANN technique shows an enhancement of prediction capability and reduces the overfitting problem of neural networks. The result shows that the hybrid ANN technique can be used to extract information from noisy data and to describe the nonlinearity of complex wastewater treatment processes.

Automation↗

Data on the carcinogenicity of chemicals in the IARC Monographs programme.

Data were extracted from IARC Monographs volumes 1-38 on chemicals and exposures for which some data on carcinogenicity in humans, or sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals existed. In all, 288 chemicals, industrial processes and complex mixtures fulfilled these criteria. For 30 chemicals or mixtures of chemicals, and nine industrial processes, there was sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans; and for 63 chemicals and mixtures of chemicals and for five industrial processes, there was evidence that these exposures were probably carcinogenic to humans. For 61 chemicals or groups of chemicals and six industrial processes or occupations, no evaluation of carcinogenicity to humans could be made. For 115 chemicals there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity to experimental animals, but no epidemiological data are available. Publications not earlier referred to on the carcinogenicity of these chemicals and exposures were found for approximately 70. A call is made for further information on these exposures with a view to updating the IARC Monographs.

Animals↗

Extractables from filter components in model solvent streams for pharmaceutical filtration processes.

Drug manufacturers use filters widely in their manufacturing processes for bioburden reduction and sterility assurance. In implementing a pharmaceutical filtration, it is essential to determine and profile the filter extractables that could be introduced into the product. There is an ongoing industry effort to explore the analysis of extractables. Toward this end, the use of complementary analytical techniques was evaluated to aid in extractables identification by determining whether the analysis of filters in the form of components, rather than entire assemblies, facilitated the profiling of extractables. The study examines filter components of 10-inch, 0.22-microm Durapore cartridge filters using Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), as well as determines the non-volatile residues (NVR) and total organic carbon contents (TOC) of the extractables. The complementary techniques of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/UV) and liquid chromatography nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (LC/NMR) were also used. The results of the tests indicated very low levels of extractables.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗

Changes in the chemical composition of water-extractable organic matter during composting: distribution between stable and labile organic matter pools.

Aerobic decomposition and stabilization of organic matter during the composting of waste materials is primarily due to the biochemical transformation of water-soluble compounds in the liquid phase by the microbial biomass. For this reason water-soluble organic matter represents the most active fraction of compost, both biologically and chemically, and thus should directly reflect the biochemical alteration of organic matter. This work aims to elucidate the microbial-mediated processes responsible for the distribution of soluble organic matter between stable and labile pools with composting time. Accordingly, chemical analysis as well as UV absorption, and 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopy of samples collected during the industrial composting of urban waste revealed microbial induced transformation of water-extractable organic matter over time. The chemical composition changed from labile, hydrophilic, plant-derived organic compounds in the beginning to predominately stable, hydrophobic moieties comprising lignin-derived phenols and microbially-derived carbohydrates at later stages of composting.

Carbon Isotopes↗

Recovery of rhodium(III) from solutions and industrial wastewaters by a sulfate-reducing bacteria consortium.

A quantitative analysis of the rate of removal of rhodium(III) by a resting sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) consortium under different initial rhodium and biomass concentrations, pH, temperature, and electron donor was studied. Rhodium speciation was found to be the main factor controlling the rate of its removal from solution. SRB cells were found to have a higher affinity for anionic rhodium species, as compared to both cationic and neutral species, which become abundant when speciation equilibrium was reached. Consequently, a pH-dependent rate of rhodium removal from solution was observed. The maximum SRB uptake capacity for rhodium was found to be 66 mg of rhodium per gram of resting SRB biomass. Electron microscopy studies revealed a time-dependent localization and distribution of rhodium precipitates, initially intracellularly and then extracellularly, suggesting the involvement of an enzymatic reductive precipitation process. When a purified hydrogenase enzyme was incubated with rhodium chloride solution under hydrogen, 88% of the rhodium was removed within 1 h, whereas with a soluble extract from SRB 77% was removed within 10 min. Due to the low pH of the industrial effluent (1.31), the enzymatic reduction of rhodium by the purified hydrogenase was greatly limited, and it was apparent that an industrial effluent pretreatment was necessary before the application of an enzymatic treatment. In the present study, however, it was established that SRB are good candidates for the enzymatic recovery of rhodium from both aqueous solution and industrial effluent.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Application of toxicity identification evaluation procedures on wastewaters and sludge from a municipal sewage treatment works with industrial inputs.

A comparison of influent and effluent wastewater toxicities to Daphnia magna was undertaken to determine the most representative aqueous fraction for future toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) studies. Wastewater samples originated from a wastewater treatment plant which receives mainly domestic wastewater and industrial effluents. The TIE results reveal that the key toxicant contained in the influent was 2-propylbezaldehyde oxime. Results suggest that greater attention needs to be given to the receiving influent containing 2-propylbezaldehyde oxime to avoid damaging the bacterial populations in the primary activated sludge process. In addition, in order to evaluate the applicability of the reuse of activated sludge as a fertilizer in agriculture, TIE studies were also performed on water extracts from surplus sludge.

Animals↗