Microbially induced separation of quartz from calcite using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and their metabolites were successfully utilized to achieve selective separation of quartz and calcite through microbially induced flotation and flocculation. S. cerevisiae was adapted to calcite and quartz minerals. Adsorption studies and electrokinetic investigations were carried out to understand the changes in the surface chemistry of yeast cells and the minerals after mutual interaction. Possible mechanisms in microbially induced flotation and flocculation are outlined.     

Effect of dose and dose rate of gamma radiation on catalytic activity of catalase

Catalytic activity of gamma irradiated catalase from bovine liver was studied for hydrogen peroxide decomposition at constant temperature and pressure. The measurement was performed at temperatures 27, 32, 37, 42 and 47 °C. Solutions containing 1 and 0.01 g dm⁻³ of catalase in phosphate buffer were used for the study. Repeatability of both sample preparation and kinetics measurement was experimentally verified. Rate constants of the reaction were determined for all temperatures and the activation energy was evaluated from Arrhenius plot. Gamma irradiation was performed using ⁶⁰Co radionuclide source Gammacell 220 at two different dose rates 5.5 and 70 Gy h⁻¹, with doses ranging from 10 to 1000 Gy. The observed reaction of irradiated and non-irradiated catalase with hydrogen peroxide is of the first order. Irradiation significantly decreases catalytic activity of catalase, but the activation energy does not depend markedly on the dose. The effect of irradiation is more significant at higher dose rate.     

Estimation of the committed radiation dose resulting from gamma radionuclides ingested with food

The objective of the study was to estimate the value of the radiation dose absorbed in consequence of consumption of popular food products for individual age groups. Potatoes, corn and sugar beet were selected for the study. Edible parts of these plants were collected in experimental fields of the KWS Lochów Polska Sp. z o.o. seeding company in Kondratowice (Poland). On the basis of the obtained study results, it can be stated that in consequence of consumption of the selected food products, people may receive increased doses from both natural and artificial radioactive isotopes. The doses calculated for several age groups do not show any health hazards in consequence of consumption of the tested food. One of the determined radionuclides was ¹³⁷Cs; however, its presence in the absorbed dose is lower than the doses from natural radioactive isotopes, in particular ⁴⁰K.     

Production of ceramide with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The possibility of producing the biologically active material of the skin, ceramide, was studied using yeasts. The yeast strain that produced the most ceramide, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (KCCM 50515), was selected, and the optimal conditions for ceramide production were determined using shakeflask culture and batch fermentation. By measuring the production rate of ceramide at various pH values and temperatures, the optimal conditions for ceramide production were found to be pH 6.0 and 30°C. When heat shock was applied to the cells for 1 h by increasing the culture temperature from 30 to 40°C after cell growth, the amount of ceramide produced was increased 5.9-fold. A cell growth and ceramide production model was developed with Monod kinetics and the Leudecking-Piret model. It showed that ceramide production was increased when the cells were in the stationary phase.     

CCRI supplementary comparison of standards for absorbed dose to water in 60Co gamma radiation at radiation processing dose levels

Six national standards for absorbed dose to water in ⁶⁰Co gamma radiation at the dose levels used in radiation processing have been compared over the range from 5 to 30 kGy using the alanine dosimeters of the NIST and the NPL as the transfer dosimeters. The standards are in agreement at the level of around 0.5%, which is significantly smaller than the stated standard uncertainties.     

Temperature-controlled enhancement of oxygen uptake from water using oxygen carrier solution

Development of an artificial gill, for the uptake of oxygen from water to air, requires an increase in oxygen transfer rate. In the present study, oxygen transfer rate was enhanced using a washed red blood cell suspension as a thermo-responsive oxygen carrier solution, which changes oxygen affinity with temperature. Oxygen dissolved in water first combined with the oxygen carrier solution at a low temperature using a membrane module. The oxygen carrier solution was then heated to release oxygen into the air using a second membrane module. The water flow rate required to sustain a human being at rest was greatly reduced by heating the oxygen carrier solution due to increase in the limit of the oxygen partial pressure of water of which can be transferred, compared with when oxygen was transferred directly from water. The required membrane surface area is 225 m², sufficient for the development of a compact artificial gill.     

Absorption-based highly sensitive and reproducible biochemical oxygen demand measurement method for seawater using salt-tolerant yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ARIF KD-003

Salt-tolerant yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae ARIF KD-003 was applied to highly sensitive and reproducible absorbance-based biochemical oxygen demand (BOD_AB-ScII) measurement for seawater. In the previous work, we have studied the BOD_AB-ScI method using normal Baker's yeast S. cerevisiae, and the excellent feature of the Baker's yeast as uniformly sustainable in solution could successfully be utilized. However, the BOD_AB-ScI responses were disappeared by the existence of chloride ion as well as seawater. In the present method, uniformity in solution was also observed with S. cerevisiae ARIF KD-003, and salt-tolerance of the yeast was observed even in saturate concentration of sodium chloride. Next, characterizations of the influences of pH and incubation temperature were investigated. After optimum conditions were obtained, two calibration curves were made between 0.33 and 22 mg O₂ L⁻¹ BOD using standard solution of glucose glutamic acid (GGA) or mixture of GGA and artificial seawater. Then, excellent reproducibility as the averages of relative standard deviation (R.S.D._av) in two calibration curves (nine points each) was successfully obtained at 1.10% at pure water or 1.03% at artificial seawater standard, respectively. In addition, the 3σ lower detection limit was calculated to be 0.07 mg O₂ L⁻¹ BOD, and 0.11 mg O₂ L⁻¹ BOD was experimentally detected by increase of the sample volume at 1.5-folds. The storage stability of the S. cerevisiae ARIF KD-003 was obtained at least 4 weeks.     

Distribution patterns of gamma radiation dose rate in the high background radiation area of Odisha,India

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Absorbed dose rates in air for 20 residential areas in Odisha were measured using a vehicle-mounted NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometer. The...     

Response of portable gamma monitors for dose rate measurements under various radiation conditions

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Responses of the hand-held gamma monitors available for the ambient dose equivalent rate measurements in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...     

Atomic Force Microscopy Study of the Adhesion of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The influence of the liquid properties and the operating variables on the intrinsic volumetric flow rate, q(0), of the droplets at the liquid-atmosphere interface in nonfoaming adsorptive bubble separation and that, W(f0), of the liquid in foam at the liquid-foam interface in foam separation was studied to estimate the enrichment ratio of surface-active substance in the two techniques. Each intrinsic flow rate was determined by the extrapolation method, which the authors proposed previously, and was mainly influenced by superficial gas velocity, liquid viscosity, and surface tension. Although the changes in the surface tension and the liquid viscosity were small, they greatly affected the intrinsic flow rates for both the droplets and the liquid in foam. The experimental results were applied to a dimensional analysis. Dimensionless volumetric flow rates, q(0)/Q and W(f0)/Q, were successfully correlated with a dimensionless number (Ohnesorge number, Z=&mgr;(L)/(rho(L)sigmad(b))(0.5)). q(0)/Q=6.66 Z(1.46) and W(f0)/Q=2.53Z(0.533) were obtained for the nonfoaming and the foaming regions within errors of 30 and 35%, respectively. The enrichment ratio of surface-active substance in the droplets and the liquid in foam to the bulk liquid was derived by using these correlations for the nonfoaming and the foaming regions, respectively. A good agreement of the experimental enrichment ratio and the calculated ones was obtained by using the correlations for nonfoaming and foaming. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Comparison of degradation effects induced by gamma radiation and electron beam radiation in two cable jacketing materials

The radiation degradation behavior of commercial low density polyethylene (LDPE) and ethylene–vinylacetate (EVA) cable materials has been investigated. The changes of mechanical properties, thermooxidative stability and density exhibit different radiation stability towards ⁶⁰Co-gamma radiation and 160 keV electron beam radiation. This difference reflects much higher penetration of the gamma radiation through the polymeric material as a function of sample thickness. These results are discussed with respect to the role of beta radiation during design basis events in a nuclear power plants. In case when total accidental design basis event (DBE) dose (involving about 80% soft beta radiation) is simulated by ⁶⁰Co-gamma radiation the conservatism is reached.     

Influence of dose on particle size of colloidal silver nanoparticles synthesized by gamma radiation

Colloidal silver nanoparticles were synthesized by γ-irradiation-induced reduction method of an aqueous solution containing silver nitrate as a precursor in various concentrations between 7.40×10^?4 and 1.84×10^?3 M, polyvinyl pyrrolidone for capping colloidal nanoparticles, isopropanol as radical scavenger of hydroxyl radicals and deionised water as a solvent. The irradiations were carried out in a ⁶⁰Co γ source chamber at doses up to 70 kGy. The optical absorption spectra were measured using UV–vis spectrophotometer and used to study the particle distribution and electronic structure of silver nanoparticles. As the radiation dose increases from 10 to 70 kGy, the absorption intensity increases with increasing dose. The absorption peak λ_max blue shifted from 410 to 403 nm correspond to the increase of absorption conduction electron energy from 3.02 to 3.08 eV, indicating the particle size decreases with increasing dose. The particle size was determined by photon cross correlation spectroscopy and the results showed that the particle diameter decreases exponentially with the increase of dose. The transmission electron microscopy images were taken at doses of 20 and 60 kGy and the results confirmed that as the dose increases the diameter of colloidal silver nanoparticle decreases and the particle distribution increases.     

Evaluation of natural gamma radiation and absorbed gamma dose in soil and rocks of Perambalur district (Tamil Nadu,India)

The activity concentrations and absorbed gamma dose of primordial radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were determined employing γ-ray spectrometry in 31 soil samples from the land area earmarked for house construction in Perambalur district and 14 rock samples from quarries that supply stones for the entire district. The soil samples registered relatively a higher mean value of 13.2 Bq kg^?1 for ²³⁸U, 66 Bq kg^?1 for ²³²Th and 340.3 Bq kg^?1 for ⁴⁰K as compared to mean values for rock samples (²³⁸U—8.0 Bq kg^?1; ²³²Th—65.1 Bq kg^?1; ⁴⁰K—199.1 Bq kg^?1). The mean absorbed gamma dose rate for soil (61.4 nGy h^?1) marginally exceeded the prescribed limit of 55 nGy h^?1 while, rocks registered the mean absorbed gamma dose rate of 10.4 nGy h^?1. The mean radium equivalent activity was distinctly higher in soil (130.6 Bq kg^?1) than in rock (20.0 Bq kg^?1). However, these values were lower than the limit (370 Bq kg^?1) set by OECD for building materials. It is evident from the data that the soil and rocks do not pose any radiological risk for house constructions in Perambalur district.     

Evidence for enhancement of corrosion resistance of carbon steel after exposure to high-dose gamma radiation

This paper reports the effect of gamma radiation on carbon-steel corrosion in a synthetic sodium-chloride electrolyte [0.6 M] which is a suitable candidate for thick-wall radioactive waste containers. The corrosion properties were studied by linear polarization (LP), Tafel plots, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Carbon steel exposed to a high irradiation dose was found to have enhanced corrosion resistance, which is consistent with the formation of Fe₂O₃ (hematite) and microstructural development observed by X-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, the mechanism of irradiation influence is proposed. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed spherical grains, the sizes and numbers of which varied with the irradiation dose.     

Genotyping of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains by interdelta sequence typing using automated microfluidics

Amplification of genomic sequences flanked by delta elements of retrotransposons TY1 and TY2 is a reliable method for characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of microfluidic electrophoresis (Caliper LabChip) to assess the factors that affect interlaboratory reproducibility of interdelta sequence typing for S. cerevisiae strain delimitation. We carried out experiments in two laboratories, using varying combinations of Taq DNA polymerases and thermal cyclers. The reproducibility of the technique is evaluated using non-parametric statistical tests and we show that the source of Taq DNA polymerase and technical differences between laboratories have the highest impact on reproducibility, whereas thermal cyclers have little impact. We also show that the comparative analysis of interdelta patterns is more reliable when fragment sizes are compared than when absolute and relative DNA concentrations of each band are considered. Interdelta analysis based on a smaller fraction of bands with intermediate sizes between 100 and 1000 bp yields the highest reproducibility.     

Assessment of terrestrial gamma radiation dose rate (TGRD) of Kelantan State,Malaysia: Relationship between the geological formation and soil type to radiation dose rate

Terrestrial gamma radiation dose rates (TGRD) of Kelantan State were measured in situ using a portable [NaI(TI)] micro roentgen (µR) survey meter. The TGRD rates ranged between 44 and 500 nGy h^?1 with a mean value of 209 ± 8 nGy h^?1. The distribution of these measurements in various districts of the state shows the statistically the influence of geology and soil types on the dose rate values. The data obtained could be used in formulating safety standard and radiological guidelines.     

Activation analysis based on characteristic and soft gamma radiation using differential filters

The potentialities of the activation analysis based on the characteristic and soft γ-radiation are discussed for the case of long-lived isotopes produced by irradiation with thermal neutrons. The proposed method is investigated by analyzing natural rock and mineral samples with known contents of elements.     

Determination of carbohydrates present in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using mid-infrared spectroscopy and partial least squares regression

A fast and simple method to control variations in carbohydrate composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, baker's yeast, during fermentation was developed using mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectroscopy. The method allows for precise and accurate determinations with minimal or no sample preparation and reagent consumption based on mid-IR spectra and partial least squares (PLS) regression. The PLS models were developed employing the results from reference analysis of the yeast cells. The reference analyses quantify the amount of trehalose, glucose, glycogen, and mannan in S. cerevisiae. The selection and optimization of pretreatment steps of samples such as the disruption of the yeast cells and the hydrolysis of mannan and glycogen to obtain monosaccharides were carried out. Trehalose, glucose, and mannose were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a refractive index detector and total carbohydrates were measured using the phenol–sulfuric method. Linear concentration range, accuracy, precision, LOD and LOQ were examined to check the reliability of the chromatographic method for each analyte.