Comparison of Filter Media for Wastewater Treatment by a Prototype Trickling Filter

The microbial process of wastewater treatment, attached growth, has significantly improved during recent years. Different filter media are used for microbial attached growth in trickling filters (TF) in the world. One of the main functions of filter media is the high surface area for the attachment of microorganisms to grow. Major wastewater treatment plants use stones as a medium for increasing the surface area in TFs. The proper grade of stone could not always be found within a reasonable distance from the wastewater treatment plant sites, significantly increasing transportation costs. Low-cost substitute materials, instead of stones, can reduce the cost of TF while increasing their treatment efficiency. This study attempted to use crushed waste polythene as a low-cost substitute material for stones. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of prototype TF with crushed waste polythene and; to compare the treatment efficiency of two prototype TFs (with stone and with crushed waste polythene). Two prototype TFs were prepared using plastic barrels (250L) with two types of filter materials. The flow rate of the filters was 922mL/min and trickling filters were evaluated for two months for treatment efficiency. Water samples were taken before and after the trickling filter to determine the treatment efficiency. During the process of trickling filters, COD removal appeared to increase and it may be due to the adaptation of microbes to the new environment. The COD removal was comparatively higher in trickling filters with crushed polythene (62%) than in stones (42.6%). Almost similar results of pH and EC were found in both trickling filters. Total solids in treated wastewater were also almost similar in the two trickling filters. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that crushed polythene is a good alternative for stones in trickling filters.  Keywords: Crushed polythene, Filter material, Stone, Trickling filter, Wastewater&nbsp

Early breast cancer screening using iron/iron oxide-based nanoplatforms with sub-femtomolar limits of detection

Citation: Udukala, D. N., Wang, H. W., Wendel, S. O., Malalasekera, A. P., Samarakoon, T. N., Yapa, A. S., . . . Bossmann, S. H. (2016). Early breast cancer screening using iron/iron oxide-based nanoplatforms with sub-femtomolar limits of detection. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 7, 364-373. doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.33Additional Authors: Ortega, R.;Toledo, Y.;Bossmann, L.;Robinson, C.;Janik, K. E.;Koper, O. B.;Motamedi, M.;Zhu, G. H.Proteases, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue serine proteases, and cathepsins (CTS) exhibit numerous functions in tumor biology. Solid tumors are characterized by changes in protease expression levels by tumor and surrounding tissue. Therefore, monitoring protease levels in tissue samples and liquid biopsies is a vital strategy for early cancer detection. Water-dispersable Fe/Fe3O4-core/shell based nanoplatforms for protease detection are capable of detecting protease activity down to sub-femtomolar limits of detection. They feature one dye (tetrakis(carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP)) that is tethered to the central nanoparticle by means of a protease-cleavable consensus sequence and a second dye (Cy 5.5) that is directly linked. Based on the protease activities of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), MMPs 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, and 13, as well as CTS B and L, human breast cancer can be detected at stage I by means of a simple serum test. By monitoring CTS B and L stage 0 detection may be achieved. This initial study, comprised of 46 breast cancer patients and 20 apparently healthy human subjects, demonstrates the feasibility of protease-activity-based liquid biopsies for early cancer diagnosis

Shift-Volatility Transmission in East Asian Equity Markets

This paper attempts to provide evidence of "shift-volatility" transmission in the East Asian equity markets. By shift-volatility, we mean the volatility shifts from a low level to a high level, corresponding respectively to tranquil and crisis periods. We examine the interdependence of equity volatilities between Hong-Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. Our main issue is whether shift-volatility needs to be considered as a regional phenomenon, or from a more global perspective. We find that the timing/spans of high volatility regimes correspond adequately to years historically documented as those of crises (the Asian crisis and the years following the 2008 crisis). Moreover, we suggest different indicators that could be useful to guide the investors in their arbitrage behavior in the different regimes: the duration of each state, the sensitivity of the volatility in a market following a change in the volatility in another market. Finally, we are able to identify which market can be considered as leading markets in terms of volatility