Effective Purification of Cerrena unicolor Laccase Using Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration and Acetone Precipitation

Microfiltration followed by concentration and diafiltration on ultrafiltration membranes (Biomax-100, Biomax-10 and Ultracel-10) was used to recover extracellular laccase (EC 1.10.3.2) from culture broth of wood-rotting fungus Cerrena unicolor. Feed, permeate, retentate and membrane wash-out solutions were analysed for the presence of laccase, proteases, protein and brown impurities. An easy, cheap and short-term procedure was proposed to obtain retentates with low yields of total proteins (less than 14%), proteases activity (less than 15%) and brown impurities (from 2% to 29%) with a simultaneous laccase recovery above 73%. The degree of laccase purification varied from 6.7 to 11.0 and depended on the type of membrane used and content of brown pigments in the feed. Subsequent protein precipitation with cold acetone increased the degree of purification about twice and reduced proteases and brown impurities to some extent. Ultracel-10 membrane was recommended as the best solution to prevent fouling of membranes and to obtain laccase-enriched fraction with a very low content of proteases and brown pigments.     

Comparison of Calculated Values of the Lipophilicity of 2,6-Disubstituted 7-Methylpurines with Values Determined by RPTLC

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - The lipophilicity of 2,6-disubstituted 7-methylpurines and 6-mer-captopurine has been determined by reversed-phase thin-layer...     

The Effect of Metal Salts on the Separation of Carbohydrates by TLC

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Carbohydrates have been examined by TLC on layers modified with metal ions, in the form of salts, by dipping commercial plates in...     

From vicious to virtuous circles: problem structuring for quantified decision making in operationalization of corporate social responsibility

There is no formalised approach for problem structuring and quantitative decision support to operationalise corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation. In this paper, techniques for considering criteria relationships are outlined and a holistic, systematic framework combining a qualitative and quantitative method for practical CSR integration is provided. Cognitive mapping (CM) is applied to structure the problem picture, and the cause–effect relationships between decision elements. Soft CM methodology is employed to assess the cross-criteria interactions, at both an individual and a collective level. The interactions of criteria can have a significant impact upon CSR implementation. Such impacts can be direct or indirect through their close linkages to other criteria. The causal strategic map serves as an input to the analytic network process (ANP) to carry out the multi-criteria decision analysis. Then, CM and ANP are applied in a comparative analysis to verify whether the measures of criteria significance do correspond. The key criteria in networks are identified using centrality in CM and single limited priorities in ANP. This study demonstrates that using criteria without considering their interactions will result in shortcomings in the evaluation and assessment of CSR programmes. The holistic framework, combining CM and ANP proposed in this work, enhances the process of problem structuring and supports preference-based evaluation of decision alternatives. The results of our study yield that the mapping procedure has an influence on the criteria significance in networks. The correspondence between CM and ANP is stronger when cause relationships are rigidly interpreted. More unambiguous interpretations of causal relations can be achieved if methods are used jointly and common peaks of importance in both CM and ANP could potentially serve as indications of key decision elements.     

Structure-Based Design and Synthesis of Dipeptide Analogues as New Inhibitors of Leucine Aminopeptidase

The structure-based design, synthesis and activity prediction of new leucine aminopeptidase inhibitors, the phosphonamidate and phosphinate dipeptide analogues are presented.     

A hybrid multiple-criteria decision analysis framework for corporate social responsibility implementation applied to an extractive industry case study

Integration of corporate social responsibility (CSR) into a company’s mainstream strategy is a complex task. Practical implementation of CSR requires analysis of both the external and internal environments to determine the prospects and challenges significantly influencing integration of sustainability into business strategy. In order to overcome limitations of single multiple-criteria decision analysis models, this paper proposes a hybrid integrated framework combining cognitive mapping and analytic networks process (ANP) to determine, prioritise and select CSR programmes for implementation. The strategic cognitive map serves as a foundation to build the ANP network and identify the importance of CSR programmes. A knapsack optimisation method is then used to optimally assign resources to CSR alternatives. We demonstrate the usefulness of the framework through a case study in the extractive sector. The framework was empirically tested with 61 respondents using postal and online surveys, MBA workshops, and conference networking.