Optimization of protocol for analysis of dicarboxylic acids in ambient aerosol samples using GC-MS: method comparison and application.

Dicarboxylic acids (DCAs), with their deliquescence and hygroscopic nature, can function as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei (IN), affecting rainfall patterns. DCA analysis can serve as organic molecular markers for anthropogenic and biogenic sources. Very few studies deal with the optimization of the protocol for qualitative and quantitative analysis of DCAs using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Wintertime aerosol properties of urban desert region of western India: Implications in regional climate assessment.

This study assessed the inter-relation between physiochemical and optical characteristics of aerosols measured at a desert-urban region affected by anthropogenic sources and desert dust during October 2020 to January 2021. Based on horizontal visibility and measured PM concentration, clear (37 %), light (33 %) and high (31 %) pollution periods were identified. Elemental and organic carbon (50 ± 15 μgm 31 %) and secondary inorganics (53 ± 21 μgm; 33 %) dominated the PM mass (160 ± 4 μgm) during high pollution period with low dust (14 ± 7 μgm; 8 %) content.

Chemical characterization and stable nitrogen isotope composition of nitrogenous component of ambient aerosols from Kanpur in the Indo-Gangetic Plains.

Measurements of water-soluble total nitrogen (WSTN), water-soluble inorganic nitrogen (WSIN), water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) and ẟN (total N) was carried out on PM aerosol samples during wintertime to understand the major sources of ambient nitrogenous species at a heavily polluted location of Kanpur in north India. During the nighttime sampling campaign, WSON and NH_N contributed dominantly to the WSTN. Ammonium-rich condition persisted during sampling (NH/SO average equivalent mass ratio = 3.

Accelerated and scarless wound repair by a multicomponent hydrogel through simultaneous activation of multiple pathways.

Scarless healing of injury remains a clinical challenge because of its complicated and overlapping phases of inflammation, clearing, and regeneration. Curcumin has been already established as a potential wound healing agent for normal and diabetic-impaired wounds. Herein, the question has been addressed whether a well-known antioxidant cerium oxide nanoparticle (CNP) can potentiate the activity of curcumin to promote a cellular program for scarless healing.

Ozone pollution in Chinese cities: Assessment of seasonal variation, health effects and economic burden.

The ground-level ozone (O) concentration in the urban regions of China has become an increasingly noticeable environmental problem in recent years. Many epidemiological studies have reported the association between O pollution and mortality, only a few studies have focused on the O-related mortality and corresponding economic effects at the Chinese city and province level. This study reports the seasonal variation of ground-level O in 338 cities of China during the year 2016 and evaluates its effect on premature mortality and economic loss.

PM-related health and economic loss assessment for 338 Chinese cities.

China is in a critical stage of ambient air quality management after global attention on pollution in its cities. Industrial development and urbanization have led to alarming levels of air pollution with serious health hazards in densely populated cities. The quantification of cause-specific PM-related health impacts and corresponding economic loss estimation is crucial for control policies on ambient PM levels.

Curcumin loading potentiates the chemotherapeutic efficacy of selenium nanoparticles in HCT116 cells and Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma bearing mice.

The anticancer properties of selenium (Se) and curcumin nanoparticles in solo formulations as well as in combination with other therapeutic agents have been proved time and again. Exploiting this facet of the two, we clubbed their tumoricidal characteristics and designed curcumin loaded Se nanoparticles (Se-CurNPs) to achieve an enhanced therapeutic effect. We evaluated their therapeutic effects on different cancer cell lines and Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma mouse model.

Performance assessment of improved composting system for food waste with varying aeration and use of microbial inoculum.

Wet waste recycling at generation point will alleviate burden on the overflowing waste dumpsites in developing nations. Drum composting is a potential treatment option for such waste at individual or community level. The present study was aimed to produce compost from wet waste (primarily comprising food waste) in composting drums modified for improved natural air circulation.

One year record of bioaerosols and particles concentration in Indo-Gangetic Plain: Implications of biomass burning emissions to high-level of endotoxin exposure.

Previous studies worldwide have suggested the potential role of bioaerosols as ice-nuclei and cloud-condensation nuclei. Furthermore, their participation in regulating the global carbon cycle urges systematic studies from different environmental conditions throughout the globe. Towards this through one-year study, conducted from June 2015-May 2016, we report on atmospheric abundance and variability of viable bioaerosols, organic carbon (OC) and particles number and deduced mass concentrations from Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP; at Kanpur).

Evaluation of recycled concrete aggregates for their suitability in construction activities: An experimental study.

Construction and demolition waste disposal is a major challenge in developing nations due to its ever increasing quantities. In this study, the recycling potential of waste concrete as aggregates in construction activities was studied. The metal leaching from the recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) collected from the demolition site of a 50year old building, was evaluated by performing three different leaching tests (compliance, availability and Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure).

Hyaluronic acid grafted PLGA copolymer nanoparticles enhance the targeted delivery of Bromelain in Ehrlich's Ascites Carcinoma.

Rapidly increasing malignant neoplastic disease demands immediate attention. Several dietary compounds have recently emerged as strong anti-cancerous agents. Among, Bromelain (BL), a protease from pineapple plant, was used to enhance its anti-cancerous efficacy using nanotechnology.

Start-up of sequencing batch reactor with Thiosphaera pantotropha for treatment of high-strength nitrogenous wastewater and sludge characterization.

Biological treatment of high-strength nitrogenous wastewater is challenging due to low growth rate of autotrophic nitrifiers. This study reports bioaugmentation of Thiosphaera pantotropha capable of simultaneously performing heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification (SND) in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). SBRs fed with 1:1 organic-nitrogen (N) and NH-N were started up with activated sludge and T.

Photoprotective efficiency of PLGA-curcumin nanoparticles versus curcumin through the involvement of ERK/AKT pathway under ambient UV-R exposure in HaCaT cell line.

Curcumin (Cur) has been demonstrated to have wide pharmacological window including anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, phototoxicity under sunlight exposure and poor biological availability limits its applicability. We have synthesized biodegradable and non-toxic polymer-poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) encapsulated formulation of curcumin (PLGA-Cur-NPs) of 150 nm size range.

Isolation of phenazine 1,6-di-carboxylic acid from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain HRW.1-S3 and its role in biofilm-mediated crude oil degradation and cytotoxicity against bacterial and cancer cells.

Pseudomonas sp. has long been known for production of a wide range of secondary metabolites during late exponential and stationary phases of growth. Phenazine derivatives constitute a large group of secondary metabolites produced by microorganisms including Pseudomonas sp.

Estimation of carbon dioxide sequestration potential of microalgae grown in a batch photobioreactor.

The carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration potential of two microalgae, Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Scenedesmus abundans was evaluated in a tubular batch photobioreactor with provision for continuous flow of 10% CO2 enriched air through the headspace. CO2 sequestration and biomass growth was affected by gas flow rate over the range 20-60ml/min and 40ml/min was found to maximize algal growth and CO2 sequestration. Moles of CO2 sequestered over 20h at a gas flow rate of 40ml/min was estimated using a novel rapid screening approach as 0.

Biodegradation of pyrene by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain RS1 isolated from refinery sludge.

High molecular weight (HMW) polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with more than three rings are inherently difficult to degrade. Degradation of HMW PAHs is primarily reported for actinomycetes, such as, Rhodococcus and Mycobacterium. This study reports pyrene degradation by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain isolated from tank bottom sludge in a refinery.

Evaluation of bioaugmentation and biostimulation effects on the treatment of refinery oily sludge using 2(n) full factorial design.

Bioremediation approaches for the treatment of oily sludge from a refinery were evaluated using a 2(3) factorial design. The three strategies tested were bioaugmentation with indigenous microbial consortia (MO) isolated from oily sludge, biostimulation with nutrients (NP) and biostimulation with the surfactant Triton X-100 (TX). Eight experimental runs were conducted in triplicate with factor settings ± (high/low) as per the 2(3) design.

Assessment and rationalization of water quality monitoring network: a multivariate statistical approach to the Kabbini River (India).

Unlabelled: The establishment of an efficient surface water quality monitoring (WQM) network is a critical component in the assessment, restoration and protection of river water quality. A periodic evaluation of monitoring network is mandatory to ensure effective data collection and possible redesigning of existing network in a river catchment. In this study, the efficacy and appropriateness of existing water quality monitoring network in the Kabbini River basin of Kerala, India is presented.

Surfactant aided biodegradation of NAPLs by Burkholderia multivorans: comparison between Triton X-100 and rhamnolipid JBR-515.

Both chemical surfactants and biosurfactants have been effectively used for the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Chemical surfactants are known to enhance biodegradation effectively while activity of biosurfactants is also comparable and they have the additional advantage of being biodegradable. However, the mode of action of chemical surfactants and biosurfactants may vary.

Degradation of phenolics, nitrogen-heterocyclics and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in a rotating biological contactor.

The degradation of phenolics, heterocyclics and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a synthetic biomass gasifier wastewater with average COD of 1388 mg/L was studied in a three stage rotating biological contactor (RBC) using the pyrene degrader, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum and activated sludge consortia (1:3 v/v). As the organic loading rate (OLR) was varied from 3.3 to 14 g/m(2)/d, the COD removal ranged from 63.

Biodegradation of oil in oily sludges from steel mills.

Lab-scale batch studies were conducted to determine the biodegradability of oil associated with oily sludge from a steel mill using two microbial cultures enriched in the laboratory. After 60 days of biodegradation the residual oil content in mill sludge was reduced from 4.5-5% to 2.

Treatment of hydrocarbon-rich wastewater using oil degrading bacteria and phototrophic microorganisms in rotating biological contactor: effect of N:P ratio.

Treatment of hydrocarbon-rich industrial wastewater in bioreactors using heterotrophic microorganisms is often associated with various operational problems. In this study, a consortium of phototrophic microorganisms and a bacterium is developed on the discs of a rotating biological contactor (RBC) for treatment of wastewater containing diesel oil. The reactor was fed with oil degrading bacterium, Burkholderia cepacia and oil tolerant phototrophic microorganisms.

Biodegradation of diesel oil by an Arabian Sea sediment culture isolated from the vicinity of an oil field.

Laboratory scale batch studies were performed to test the diesel oil biodegradation ability of ES1 cultures isolated from Arabian Sea sediments obtained from the vicinity of an oil field. This culture could utilize diesel as the sole source of carbon and energy. Under aerobic conditions, 39% loss of diesel oil was observed over 8 days where 80% of the loss was due to aliphatic constituents.