High photothermal conversion efficiency of RF sputtered TiO Magneli phase thin films and its linear correlation with light absorption capacity.

RF-sputtering is used to deposit TiO-Magneli-phase films onto various substrates at deposition temperatures (T) ranging from 25 to 650 °C. Not only the structural, but also electrical conductivity, optical absorbance and photothermal properties of the TiO films are shown to change significantly with T. A T of 500 °C is pointed out as the optimal temperature that yields highly-crystalized pure-TiO-Magneli phase with a densely-packed morphology and a conductivity as high as 740 S/cm.

Intraoperative patellar tracking assessment during image-based robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty: technical note and reliability study.

Introduction: Restoration of the anterior knee compartment is increasingly studied with the development of personalized surgery. However, evaluating the patellar tracking during the surgery is still subjective and at the surgeon's discretion. This study aimed 1) to describe the assessment of the patellar tracking during robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA), 2) to describe a new measurement technique for evaluating the evolution of this patellar tracking, and 3) to assess its reliability and repeatability.

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) eternal pollutants: Sources, environmental impacts and treatment processes.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a growing environmental concern due to their tangible impacts on human health. However, due to the large number of PFAS compounds and the analytical difficulty to identify all of them, there are still some knowledge gaps not only on their impact on human health, but also on how to manage them and achieve their effective degradation. PFAS compounds originate from man-made chemicals that are resistant to degradation because of the presence of the strong carbon-fluorine bonds in their chemical structure.

Heterologous expression and purification of keratinase from Actinomadura viridilutea DZ50: feather biodegradation and animal hide dehairing bioprocesses.

The keratin-degrading bacterium Actinomadura viridilutea DZ50 secretes a keratinase (KERDZ) with potential industrial interest. Here, the kerDZ gene was extracellularly expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)pLysS using pTrc99A vector. The recombinant enzyme (rKERDZ) was purified and biochemically characterized.

Identification of a novel protease from the thermophilic Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis M1V and its application as laundry detergent additive.

A thermostable extracellular alkaline protease (called SAPA) was produced (4600 U/mL) by Anoxybacillus kamchatkensis M1V, purified to homogeneity, and biochemically characterized. SAPA is a monomer with a molecular mass of 28 kDa estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Native-PAGE, casein-zymography, and size exclusion using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The sequence of its NH-terminal amino-acid residues showed high homology with those of Bacillus proteases.

Purification and biochemical characterization of a novel thermostable protease from the oyster mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju strain CTM10057 with industrial interest.

Background: Proteases are hydrolytic enzymes that catalyze peptide linkage cleavage reactions at the level of proteins and peptides with different degrees of specificity. This group draws the attention of industry. More than one protease in three is a serine protease.

Gene cloning, expression, molecular modeling and docking study of the protease SAPRH from Bacillus safensis strain RH12.

The sapRH gene, which encodes the serine alkaline protease SAPRH, from Bacillus safensis RH12, was isolated and its DNA sequence was determined. The deduced amino-acid sequence showed strong homology with other Bacillus proteases. The highest sequence identity value (97%) was obtained with SAPB from B.

Physical and enzymatic properties of a new manganese peroxidase from the white-rot fungus Trametes pubescens strain i8 for lignin biodegradation and textile-dyes biodecolorization.

A new manganese peroxidase-producing white-rot basidiomycete fungus was isolated from symptomatic wood of the camphor trees Cinnamomum camphora (L.) at the Hamma Botanical Garden (Algeria) and identified as Trametes pubescens strain i8. The enzyme was purified (MnP TP55) to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity and biochemically characterized.

Production, purification and biochemical characterization of a novel detergent-stable serine alkaline protease from Bacillus safensis strain RH12.

A novel extracellular protease (SAPRH) was hyper-produced (9000 U/mL) from Bacillus safensis RH12, a newly isolated enzyme from a Tunisian offshore oil field. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity, using salt-precipitation, heat-treatment and FPLC anion-exchange chromatography. The purified enzyme was a monomer of molecular mass of ~28 kDa.

Biochemical and molecular characterization of a novel metalloprotease from Pseudomonas fluorescens strain TBS09.

A novel extracellular protease called MPDZ was purified and characterized from Pseudomonas fluorescens strain TBS09. The enzymatic properties of MPDZ were investigated using biochemical and biophysical methods. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) analysis revealed that it was a monomer with a molecular mass of 50013.

Purification and characterization of two novel peroxidases from the dye-decolorizing fungus Bjerkandera adusta strain CX-9.

Two extracellular peroxidases from Bjerkandera adusta strain CX-9, namely a lignin peroxidase (called LiP BA45) and manganese peroxidase (called MnP BA30), were purified simultaneously by applying successively, ammonium sulfate precipitation-dialysis, Mono-S Sepharose anion-exchange and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration and biochemically characterized. The sequence of their NH-terminal amino acid residues showed high homology with those of fungi peroxidases. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) analysis revealed that the purified enzymes MnP BA30 and LiP BA45 were a monomers with a molecular masses 30125.

Optimized production and characterization of a detergent-stable protease from Lysinibacillus fusiformis C250R.

In this study, we aimed to optimize the cultural and nutritional conditions for protease production by Lysinibacillus fusiformis strain C250R in submerged fermentation process using statistical methodology. The most significant factors (gruel, wheat bran, yeast extract, and FeSO) were identified by Plackett-Burman design. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimum levels of the screened factors and their interaction.

Characterization of a novel protease from Aeribacillus pallidus strain VP3 with potential biotechnological interest.

The present study investigates the purification and physico-chemical characterization of an extracellular protease from the Aeribacillus pallidus strain VP3 previously isolated from a geothermal oil-field (Sfax, Tunisia). The maximum protease activity recorded after 22h of incubation at 45°C was 3000U/ml. Pure enzyme, designated as SPVP, was obtained after ammonium sulfate fractionation (40-60%)-dialysis followed by heat-treatment (70°C for 30min) and UNO Q-6 FPLC anion-exchange chromatography.

Biochemical and molecular characterization of new keratinoytic protease from Actinomadura viridilutea DZ50.

A new extracellular thermostable keratinolytic protease, designated KERDZ, was purified and characterized from a thermophilic actinomycetes Actinomadura viridilutea DZ50 isolated from Algerian fishing port. The isolate exhibited high keratinase production when grown in chicken-feather meal media (18,000U/ml) after 96-h of incubation at 45°C. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation (35-55%)-dialysis and heat treatment (30min at 75°C) followed by UNO S-1 FPLC cation exchange chromatography and size exclusion HPLC column.

A novel organic solvent- and detergent-stable serine alkaline protease from Trametes cingulata strain CTM10101.

A protease-producing fungus was isolated from an alkaline wastewater of chemical industries and identified as Trametes cingulata strain CTM10101 on the basis of the ITS rDNA gene-sequencing. It was observed that the fungus strongly produce extracellular protease grown at 30°C in potato-dextrose-broth (PDB) optimized media (13500U/ml). The pure serine protease isolated by Trametes cingulata (designated SPTC) was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation-dialysis followed by heat-treatment and UNO S-1 FPLC cation-exchange chromatography.

[Difficulties of the care of public antigen alloimmunization].

Alloimmunization against high-frequency erythrocyte antigens is a problematic situation in terms of laboratory diagnosis, transfusion and obstetrical management. We report the case of a pregnant woman alloimmunized against public Ag. We detail the difficulties of alloantibody (Ab) identification and transfusion management of the deliveries.

A novel keratinase from Bacillus tequilensis strain Q7 with promising potential for the leather bating process.

The present paper reports on the purification and characterization of an extracellular keratinase (KERQ7) newly purified from Bacillus tequilensis Q7. Pure protein was obtained after ammonium sulfate fractionation (30-60%), followed by Mono S Sepharose cation-exchange chromatography. MALDI-TOF/MS analysis revealed that the purified enzyme was a monomer with a molecular mass of 28,355.

Purification and biochemical characterization of two detergent-stable serine alkaline proteases from Streptomyces sp. strain AH4.

Streptomyces sp. strain AH4 exhibited a high ability to produce two extracellular proteases when cultured on a yeast malt-extract (ISP2)-casein-based medium. Pure proteins were obtained after heat treatment (30 min at 70 °C) and ammonium sulphate fractionation (30-60 %), followed by size exclusion HPLC column.

Characterization of a purified decolorizing detergent-stable peroxidase from Streptomyces griseosporeus SN9.

A novel extracellular lignin peroxidase (called LiP-SN) was produced and purified from a newly isolated Streptomyces griseosporeus strain SN9. The findings revealed that the pure enzyme was a monomeric protein with an estimated molecular mass of 43 kDa and a Reinheitzahl value of 1.63.

Probing the crucial role of Leu31 and Thr33 of the Bacillus pumilus CBS alkaline protease in substrate recognition and enzymatic depilation of animal hide.

The sapB gene, encoding Bacillus pumilus CBS protease, and seven mutated genes (sapB-L31I, sapB-T33S, sapB-N99Y, sapB-L31I/T33S, sapB-L31I/N99Y, sapB-T33S/N99Y, and sapB-L31I/T33S/N99Y) were overexpressed in protease-deficient Bacillus subtilis DB430 and purified to homogeneity. SAPB-N99Y and rSAPB displayed the highest levels of keratinolytic activity, hydrolysis efficiency, and enzymatic depilation. Interestingly, and at the semi-industrial scale, rSAPB efficiently removed the hair of goat hides within a short time interval of 8 h, thus offering a promising opportunity for the attainment of a lime and sulphide-free depilation process.

Acute hemodialysis effects on doppler echocardiographic indices.

Conventional echocardiographic (ECHO) parameters of systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricular (LV) have been shown to be load dependent. However, the impact of pre-load reduction on tissue Doppler (TD) parameters of LV function is incompletely understood. To evaluate the effect of a single hemodialysis (HD) session on LV systolic and diastolic function using pulsed Doppler echocardiography and pulsed tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), we studied 81 chronic HD patients (40 males; mean age 52.