A Modified Leather Processing Method for Water and Pollution Reduction in Tannery

Current practice of leather manufacture subjects the hides/skins to repeated acid and alkali treatments. Conventional process protocol results in high total dissolved solid (TDS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the wastewater. Further, the process employs huge amount of water and subsequently discharges the same as wastewater. The cost for the treatment of wastewater is directly proportional to the volume of wastewater generated. In this study, the leather processing sequence has been modified for water and pollution reductions as well as better quality leather production. The modified process treats the delimed pelt with post-tanning chemicals first followed by chrome tanning salt. This is possible due to appropriate choice of charge of the hide matrix and post tanning chemicals and pH profiles of leather processing. This process logic eventually eliminates several acid and alkali treatment and washing steps that are followed in the conventional process. The percentage offer of post tanning chemicals is determined based on pelt weight to split weight relation. The leather from modified process is characterized through stratigraphic distribution of chromium, percentage oils and fats, scanning electron microscopy, softness and physical testing. The performance of the leathers is found to be on par with that of conventionally processed leathers through hand and physical evaluation. The modified process significantly reduces the usage and discharge of water by 62 and 62%, respectively. It also enjoys the reduction in COD and (TDS) loads by 49 and 70%, respectively. Further, the process reduces the usage of chemicals by 41% by avoiding acid and alkali treatment steps. The modified process appears to be technically feasible and economically viable.ResumenLas presentes prácticas de fabricación del cuero someten a las pieles a repetidos tratamientos con ácido y álcali. El protocolo convencional resulta en altos valores de sólidos solubles totales (SST) y demanda química de oxígeno (DQO) en los efluentes. Más aun, el proceso utiliza enormes cantidades de agua que subsecuentemente se descargan en las aguas residuales. El costo de tratamiento del agua residual es proporcional al volumen del agua residual generado. En este estudio, la secuencia de procesamiento del cuero se ha modificado para así reducir la generación de agua y contaminación como también para producir una mejor calidad de cuero. El proceso modificado trata la piel ya desencalada con agentes químicos recurtientes luego de ser tratada con sal de cromo curtiente. Esto es posible dada la acertada carga seleccionada para la matriz de la piel y los recurtientes que le siguen en términos de los perfiles del pH en el proceso. La lógica tras el proceso permite eliminar varios tratamientos con ácido y álcali y los lavados posteriores que siguen en el proceso convencional. El porcentaje de recurtientes ofrecidos se determina por la relación basada en los pesos de la piel desencalada a la piel ya dividida. El cuero obtenido en el proceso modificado es caracterizado a través de la distribución estratigráfica del cromo, porcentaje de aceites y grasas, microscopía electrónica por barrido, blandura y pruebas físicas. Los rendimientos del cuero se encontraron ser a la par con cueros convencionalmente procesados tanto por tacto como por evaluación física. El proceso modificado reduce el uso y la descarga de agua en 62 y 62% respectivamente. También goza de una reducción de la carga en DQO y SST del 49 y 70%, respectivamente. Adicionalmente, el proceso reduce el consumo de de agentes químicos en un 41% evitando tratamientos concurrentes ácidos y alcalinos. El proceso modificado aparenta ser técnicamente factible y económicamente viable

NATURAL DYEING OF LEATHERS USING NATURAL MATERIALS

Environmental constraints on discharge of dye containing wastewater has forced us to look for natural dyes, which have several advantages like low toxicity, cheap and easy availability etc. Natural dyes are obtained from plants (e.g., Alizarin, Catechu, Indigo and Logwood), from animals (e.g., cochineal, kermes and tyrian purple) and from certain naturally occurring minerals (e.g., Ocher and Prussian blue). In this study, an attempt has been made to develop leathers, colored using natural dyes such as Rhine, Rhine M, Indus, Pacific, Caspian, Henna and modified Logwood. This study would be more beneficial to the leather industry. Also, an effort has been made to produce wide range of shades through mordanting with eco-benign metals such as aluminium, copper and tin. Twenty four shades were developed using combination of seven natural colorants by mordanting with three metal ions. The reflectance spectra for all colors have been studied. The visual appearance and their fastness properties have also been evaluated and the test results are satisfactory. Developed colors have potential value in the global leather market in the context of environmentally benign leather processing.Resumen:Limitaciones en relación al medio ambiente sobre las descargas líquidas que contengan colorantes nos han obligado a buscar colorantes naturales, los cuales tienen ciertas ventajas como baja toxicidad, bajo costo y fácil disponibilidad, etc. Colorantes naturales son obtenibles de plantas (Vg. Alizarina, [extracto de] Mimosa, Índigo, Haematoxylum campechianum), de animales (Vg. Cochinilla, Kermés Ilicis y/oVemilio, Bolinus brandaris [púrpura]) y de minerales de natural ocurrencia (Vg. Ocre y Azul de Prusia). En este estudio se trató de desarrollar cueros, el coloreado utilizado por medio de colorantes naturales tales como [El río] Rin, Rin M, Indus, Pacifico, Caspio, Henna y Púrpura modificado. Este estudio sería más benéfico a la industria de cuero. Un esfuerzo también se ha hecho para producir una extensa gama de tonos por medio de mordientes metálicos eco-benignos tales como el aluminio, cobre y estaño. Veinticuatro tonos fueron desarrollados utilizando combinaciones de siete colorantes naturales amordantados con tres iones metálicos. Los espectros de reflexión de todos los colores fueron estudiados. El aspecto y propiedades de firmeza también fueron evaluados y los resultados son satisfactorios. Los colores desarrollados tienen potencial valor en el mercado mundial debido al contexto benigno del procesamiento en el medio-ambiente

Engineering safe anti-CD19-CD28ζ CAR T cells with CD8a hinge domain in serum-free media for adoptive immunotherapy

BackgroundDespite the curative potential, high cost of manufacturing and the toxicities limits the wider access of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in global medicine. CARs are modular synthetic antigen receptors integrating the single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of an immunoglobulin molecule to the TCR signaling. CARs allow HLA independent, T cell mediated destruction of tumor cells independent of tumor associated-HLA downregulation and survive within the patient as ‘living drug.’ Here we report a safer approach for engineering alpha beta T cells with anti- CD19-CD28ζ CAR using self-inactivating (SIN) lentiviral vectors for adoptive immunotherapy.Methodαβ T cells from the peripheral blood (PB) were lentivirally transduced with CAR construct containing hinge domain from CD8α, transmembrane and co-stimulatory domain from CD28 along with signaling domain from CD3ζ and driven by human UBC promoter. The cells were pre-stimulated through CD3/CD28 beads before lentiviral transduction. Transduction efficiency, fold expansion and phenotype were monitored for the CAR T cells expanded for 10–12 days. The antigen-specific tumor-killing capacity of CD19 CAR T cells was assessed against a standard CD19 expressing NALM6 cell lines with a flow cytometry-based assay optimized in the lab.Results and conclusionWe have generated high titer lentiviral vectors of CAR with a titer of 9.85 ± 2.2×107 TU/ml (mean ± SEM; n=9) generating a transduction efficiency of 27.57 ± 2.4%. (n=7) at an MOI of 10 in total T cells. The product got higher CD8+ to CD4+ CAR T cell ratio with preponderance of an effector memory phenotype on day 07 and day 12. The CAR-T cells expanded (148.4 ± 29 fold; n=7) in serum free media with very high viability (87.8 ± 2.2%; n=7) on day 12. The antitumor functions of CD19 CAR T cells as gauged against percentage lysis of NALM6 cells at a 1:1 ratio is 27.68 ± 6.87% drawing up to the release criteria. CAR T cells produced IFNγ (11.23 ± 1.5%; n=6) and degranulation marker CD107α (34.82 ± 2.08%; n=5) in an antigen-specific manner. Furthermore, the sequences of WPRE, GFP, and P2A were removed from the CAR construct to enhance safety. These CAR T cells expanded up to 21.7 ± 5.53 fold with 82.7±5.43% viability (n=4).ConclusionWe have generated, validated, and characterized a reproducible indigenous workflow for generating anti-CD19 CAR T cells in vitro. This approach can be used for targeting cancer and autoimmune diseases in which CD19+ B lineage cells cause host damage

Sample preparation procedure for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in petroleum vacuum residue and bitumen

This paper describes a novel method of sample preparation for the determination of trace concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in high-boiling petroleum products. Limits of quantitation of the investigated PAHs in materials of this type range from tens of nanograms per kilogram to <20 μg/kg. The studies revealed that in order to separate most of interferences from the analytes without a significant loss of PAHs, it is necessary to use size exclusion chromatography as the first step of sample preparation, followed by adsorption using normal-phase liquid chromatography. The use of orthogonal separation procedure described in the paper allows the isolation of only a group of unsubstituted and substituted aromatic hydrocarbons with a specific range of molar mass. The lower the required limit of quantitation of PAHs, the larger is the scale of preparative liquid chromatography in both steps of sample preparation needed. The use of internal standard allows quantitative results to be corrected for the degree of recovery of PAHs during the sample preparation step. Final determination can be carried out using HPLC-FLD, GC-MS, or HPLC-UV–VIS/DAD. The last technique provides a degree of identification through the acquired UV–VIS spectra

Distinguishing Type 2 Diabetes from Type 1 Diabetes in African American and Hispanic American Pediatric Patients

To test the hypothesis that clinical observations made at patient presentation can distinguish type 2 diabetes (T2D) from type 1 diabetes (T1D) in pediatric patients aged 2 to 18.Medical records of 227 African American and 112 Hispanic American pediatric patients diagnosed as T1D or T2D were examined to compare parameters in the two diseases. Age at presentation, BMI z-score, and gender were the variables used in logistic regression analysis to create models for T2D prediction.The regression-based model created from African American data had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 89%; testing of a replication cohort showed 91% sensitivity and 93% specificity. A model based on the Hispanic American data showed 92% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Similarities between African American and Hispanic American patients include: (1) age at onset for both T1D and T2D decreased from the 1980s to the 2000s; (2) risk of T2D increased markedly with obesity. Racial/ethnic-specific observations included: (1) in African American patients, the proportion of females was significantly higher than that of males for T2D compared to T1D (p<0.0001); (2) in Hispanic Americans, the level of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was significantly higher in T1D than in T2D (p<0.002) at presentation; (3) the strongest contributor to T2D risk was female gender in African Americans, while the strongest contributor to T2D risk was BMI z-score in Hispanic Americans.Distinction of T2D from T1D at patient presentation was possible with good sensitivity and specificity using only three easily-assessed variables: age, gender, and BMI z-score. In African American pediatric diabetes patients, gender was the strongest predictor of T2D, while in Hispanic patients, BMI z-score was the strongest predictor. This suggests that race/ethnic specific models may be useful to optimize distinction of T1D from T2D at presentation

Collagen based magnetic nanocomposites for oil removal applications

A stable magnetic nanocomposite of collagen and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) is prepared by a simple process utilizing protein wastes from leather industry. Molecular interaction between helical collagen fibers and spherical SPIONs is proven through calorimetric, microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. This nanocomposite exhibited selective oil absorption and magnetic tracking ability, allowing it to be used in oil removal applications. The environmental sustainability of the oil adsorbed nanobiocomposite is also demonstrated here through its conversion into a bi-functional graphitic nanocarbon material via heat treatment. The approach highlights new avenues for converting bio-wastes into useful nanomaterials in scalable and inexpensive ways

L-Ergothioneine Protects Hepatocytes Against Azathioprine-Induced Toxicity Via NIK/NF-ΚB Signaling Axis

This research study has major implications for the development of ESH as a safe and holistic hepatoprotectant and could be used as an adjuvant in the treatment of IBD to minimize DILI. We demonstrate that ESH regulates oxidative stress, NIK/NF-κB-mediated inflammatory axis, and improves the hepatocellular integrity against AZA-provoked deleterious events in the hepatocytes (Figure 5). However, further research is warranted to elucidate the efficacy, specificity, and safety of ESH in AZA-treated patients with normal genetic makeup and gene polymorphisms

Effective Prediction of Rheumatoid Arthritis (Ra) Diagnosis Using Hybrid Harmony Search with Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System

Abstract One of the severe auto immune diseases that affects the entire human body is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), the disease triggers one’s immune system to attack the inner linings of bones and causes severe inflammation of the synovium. The continuous erosion of bone lining leads to permanent loss of the joint, accounting this severity the early prognosis of the disease is a significant and inevitable process. But, the sign and symptoms of the disease are always uncertain. The symptom of RA disease is similar to other inflammatory diseases, so highly experienced experts can identify the disease in its early stage. To support the clinicians and technicians for early prognosis of the disease, a computer-aided decision support model based on Harmony Search –Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System is presented in this study. The Harmony search algorithm is employed to select the optimal features, and ANFIS is adopted to perform classification. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the model, metrics such as Accuracy, Sensitivity, Specificity, Precision, Recall, F-measure, Positive Predictive Value, Negative Predictive Value, Root Mean Square Error, and Mean Absolute Error are employed and evaluated in MATLAB simulation environment. The proposed HS-ANFIS outperformed other models developed in this research and existing works of literature.</jats:p

Fuzzy based optimized itemset mining in high dimensional transactional database using adaptable FCM

One of the extremely deliberated data mining processes is HUIM (High Utility Itemset Mining). Its applications include text mining, e-learning bioinformatics, product recommendation, online click stream analysis, and market basket analysis. Likewise lot of potential applications availed in the HUIM. However, HUIM techniques could find erroneous patterns because they don’t look at the correlation of the retrieved patterns. Numerous approaches for mining related HUIs have been presented as an outcome. The computational expense of these methods continues to be problematic, both in terms of time and memory utilization. A technique for extracting weighted temporal designs is therefore suggested to rectify the identified issue in HUIM. Preprocessing of time series-based information into fuzzy item sets is the first step of the suggested technique. These feed the Graph Based Ant Colony Optimization (GACO) and Fuzzy C Means (FCM) clustering methodologies used in the Improvised Adaptable FCM (IAFCM) method. The suggested IAFCM technique achieves two objectives: optimal item placement in clusters using GACO; and ii) IAFCM clustering and information decrease in FCM cluster. The proposed technique yields high-quality clusters by GACO. Weighted sequential pattern mining, which considers facts of patterns with the highest weight and low frequency in a repository that is updated over a period, is used to locate the sequential patterns in these clusters. The outcomes of this methodology make evident that the IAFCM with GACO improves execution time when compared to other conventional approaches. Additionally, it enhances information representation by enhancing accuracy while using a smaller amount of memory.</jats:p