Displaying publications 501 - 520 of 942 in total

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  1. Kinetic modeling of bioregeneration of chlorophenol-loaded granular activated carbon in simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation processes
    Oh WD, Lim PE, Seng CE, Sujari AN
    Bioresour Technol, 2012 Jun;114:179-87.
    PMID: 22503192 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.03.065
    A kinetic model incorporating adsorption, desorption and biodegradation processes was developed to describe the bioregeneration of granular activated carbon (GAC) loaded with 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), respectively, in simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation processes. The model was numerically solved and the results showed that the kinetic model was well-fitted (R(2)>0.83) to the experimental data at different GAC dosages and at various initial 4-CP and 2,4-DCP concentrations. The rate of bioregeneration in simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation processes was influenced by the ratio of initial chlorophenol concentration to GAC dosage. Enhancement in the rate of bioregeneration was achieved by using the lowest ratio under either one of the following experimental conditions: (1) increasing initial chlorophenol concentration at constant GAC dosage and (2) increasing GAC dosage at constant initial chlorophenol concentration. It was found that the rate enhancement was more pronounced under the second experimental condition.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria, Aerobic/metabolism*
  2. Calculation of the release of total organic matter and total mineral using the hydrodynamic equations applied to palm oil mill effluent treatment by cascaded anaerobic ponds
    Fulazzaky MA
    Bioprocess Biosyst Eng, 2013 Jan;36(1):11-21.
    PMID: 22622964 DOI: 10.1007/s00449-012-0756-7
    Anaerobic treatment processes to remove organic matter from palm oil mill effluent (POME) have been used widely in Malaysia. Still the amounts of total organic and total mineral released from POME that may cause degradation of the receiving environment need to be verified. This paper proposes the use of the hydrodynamic equations to estimate performance of the cascaded anaerobic ponds (CAP) and to calculate amounts of total organic matter and total mineral released from POME. The CAP efficiencies to remove biochemical oxygen demands, chemical oxygen demands, total solids and volatile solids (VS) as high as 94.5, 93.6, 96.3 and 98.2 %, respectively, are estimated. The amounts of total organic matter and total mineral as high as 538 kg VS/day and 895 kg FS/day, respectively, released from POME to the receiving water are calculated. The implication of the proposed hydrodynamic equations contributes to more versatile environmental assessment techniques, sometimes replacing laboratory analysis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria, Anaerobic/metabolism*
  3. An agar diffusion study comparing the antimicrobial activity of Nanoseal with some other endodontic sealers
    Aal-Saraj AB, Ariffin Z, Masudi SM
    Aust Endod J, 2012 Aug;38(2):60-3.
    PMID: 22827817 DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-4477.2010.00241.x
    The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of a new experimental nano-hydroxyapatite epoxy resin-based sealer (Nanoseal) with several other commercially available sealers; AH26, Tubliseal, Sealapex and Roekoseal against Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and Escherichia coli for up to 7 days. Agar diffusion was used in this study. Fifty Muller-Hinton agar plates were prepared and divided into five experimental groups (n = 10), for each micro-organism. Another 10 agar plates were used as positive and negative controls. Endodontic sealers were tested against each micro-organism. Inhibition zones produced were recorded. The results of this study showed that all test materials exhibited inhibition zones towards the tested micro-organisms for 7 days except for Roekoseal, which showed no inhibition zones. Nanoseal and AH26 exhibited similar zones of inhibition. Significant difference was found between Nanoseal and the other tested sealers (P < 0.001).
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria, Anaerobic/drug effects*
  4. Optimization of thermo-alkaline disintegration of sewage sludge for enhanced biogas yield
    Shehu MS, Abdul Manan Z, Alwi SR
    Bioresour Technol, 2012 Jun;114:69-74.
    PMID: 22444634 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.135
    Optimization of thermo-alkaline disintegration of sewage sludge for enhanced biogas yield was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken design of experiment. The individual linear and quadratic effects as well as the interactive effects of temperature, NaOH concentration and time on the degree of disintegration were investigated. The optimum degree of disintegration achieved was 61.45% at 88.50 °C, 2.29 M NaOH (24.23%w/w total solids) and 21 min retention time. Linear and quadratic effects of temperature are most significant in affecting the degree of disintegration. The coefficient of determination (R(2)) of 99.5% confirms that the model used in predicting the degree of disintegration process has a very good fitness with the experimental variables. The disintegrated sludge increased the biogas yield by 36%v/v compared to non-disintegrated sludge. The RSM with Box-Behnken design is an effective tool in predicting the optimum degree of disintegration of sewage sludge for increased biogas yield.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria, Anaerobic/metabolism*
  5. Role of phosphate solubilizing bacteria on rock phosphate solubility and growth of aerobic rice
    Panhwar QA, Radziah O, Zaharah AR, Sariah M, Razi IM
    J Environ Biol, 2011 Sep;32(5):607-12.
    PMID: 22319876
    Use of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) as inoculants has concurrently increased phosphorous uptake in plants and improved yields in several crop species. The ability of PSB to improve growth of aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.) through enhanced phosphorus (P) uptake from Christmas island rock phosphate (RP) was studied in glasshouse experiments. Two isolated PSB strains; Bacillus spp. PSB9 and PSB16, were evaluated with RP treatments at 0, 30 and 60 kg ha(-1). Surface sterilized seeds of aerobic rice were planted in plastic pots containing 3 kg soil and the effect of treatments incorporated at planting were observed over 60 days of growth. The isolated PSB strains (PSB9 and PSB16) solubilized significantly high amounts of P (20.05-24.08 mg kg(-1)) compared to non-inoculated (19-23.10 mg kg(-1)) treatments. Significantly higher P solubilization (24.08 mg kg(-1)) and plant P uptake (5.31 mg plant(-1)) was observed with the PSB16 strain at the highest P level of 60 kg ha(-1). The higher amounts of soluble P in the soil solution increased P uptake in plants and resulted in higher plant biomass (21.48 g plant(-1)). PSB strains also increased plant height (80 cm) and improved root morphology in aerobic rice. The results showed that inoculation of aerobic rice with PSB improved phosphate solubilizing activity of incorporated RP.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/metabolism*
  6. Antibacterial effects of ellagitannins from Acalypha wilkesiana var. macafeana hort.: surface morphology analysis with environmental scanning electron microscopy and synergy with antibiotics
    Din WM, Jin KT, Ramli R, Khaithir TM, Wiart C
    Phytother Res, 2013 Sep;27(9):1313-20.
    PMID: 23109276 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.4876
    The present study served to gain further insight into the bactericidal effects of ellagitannins from Acalypha wilkesiana var. macafeana hort. against pathogenic bacteria. Ellagitannins from the aerial parts of A. wilkesiana var. macafeana hort. (EAW) inhibited the growth of Bacillus cereus (ATCC 11778), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 11632) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical strain with inhibition zones equal to 11.01 ± 1.53 mm, 16.63 ± 0.11 mm, 11.40 ± 1.10 mm and 8.22 ± 0.19 mm, respectively. The minimal inhibition concentration and the minimal bactericidal concentration of ellagitannins from A. wilkesiana var. macafeana hort. (EAW) against MRSA were 750 µg/mL and 3000 µg/mL, respectively. We then examined the synergistic effect of EAW with three antibiotics, i.e. ampicillin, streptomycin and tetracycline, via the checkerboard assay and time-kill assay and observed that EAW is synergistic with ampicillin against S. aureus (ATCC 11632). Environmental electron scanning microscopy analysis showed cell lysis against S. aureus (ATCC 11632) upon treatment with the ellagitannin fraction. The ellagitannin fraction from A. wilkesiana var. macafeana hort. is bactericidal against gram-positive bacteria tested and works synergistically with ampicillin against S. aureus. Morphology analysis of the cell suggests that the bactericidal property of the ellagitannin fraction mechanism involves lysis of the cell wall. In summary, our studies demonstrate that A. wilkesiana var. macafeana hort. produces bactericidal ellagitannins of clinical and/or cosmetological value.
    Matched MeSH terms: Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects*
  7. Stream ecosystem integrity is impaired by logging and shifting agriculture in a global megadiversity center (Sarawak, Borneo)
    Jinggut T, Yule CM, Boyero L
    Sci Total Environ, 2012 Oct 15;437:83-90.
    PMID: 22922133 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.07.062
    In common with most of Borneo, the Bakun region of Sarawak is currently subject to heavy deforestation mainly due to logging and, to a lesser extent, traditional slash-and-burn farming practices. This has the potential to affect stream ecosystems, which are integrators of environmental change in the surrounding terrestrial landscape. This study evaluated the effects of both types of deforestation by using functional and structural indicators (leaf litter decomposition rates and associated detritivores or 'shredders', respectively) to compare a fundamental ecosystem process, leaf litter decomposition, within logged, farmed and pristine streams. Slash-and-burn agricultural practices increased the overall rate of decomposition despite a decrease in shredder species richness (but not shredder abundance) due to increased microbial decomposition. In contrast, decomposition by microbes and invertebrates was slowed down in the logged streams, where shredders were less abundant and less species rich. This study suggests that shredder communities are less affected by traditional agricultural farming practices, while modern mechanized deforestation has an adverse effect on both shredder communities and leaf breakdown.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/metabolism
  8. Fulltext Antimicrobial activity of mangrove plant (Lumnitzera littorea)
    Saad S, Taher M, Susanti D, Qaralleh H, Rahim NA
    Asian Pac J Trop Med, 2011 Jul;4(7):523-5.
    PMID: 21803301 DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(11)60138-7
    OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antimicrobial activities of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the leaves of Lumnitzera littorea (L. littorea) against six human pathogenic microbes.

    METHODS: The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using disc diffusion and microdilution methods.

    RESULTS: The antimicrobial activities of the crude extracts were increased with increasing the concentration. It is clear that n-hexane extract was the most effective extract. Additionally, Gram positive Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) appear to be the most sensitive strain while Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and the yeast strains (Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans)) appear to be resistance to the tested concentrations since no inhibition zone was observed. The inhibition of microbial growth at concentration as low as 0.04 mg/mL indicated the potent antimicrobial activity of L. littorea extracts.

    CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results are considered sufficient for further study to isolate the compounds responsible for the activity and suggesting the possibility of finding potent antibacterial agents from L. littorea extracts.

    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/drug effects
  9. Membrane separations
    Walter JK, Jin Z, Jornitz MW, Gorrschalk U
    Methods Biochem Anal, 2011;54:281-317.
    PMID: 21954783
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/isolation & purification
  10. Crude protein extraction protocol for phage N15 protelomerase in vitro enzymatic assays
    Chen Q, Narayanan K
    Anal Biochem, 2011 Jul 1;414(1):169-71.
    PMID: 21396906 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2011.03.006
    The phage N15 protelomerase enzyme (TelN) is essential for the replication of its genome by resolution of its telRL domain, located within a telomerase occupancy site (tos), into hairpin telomeres. Isolation of TelN for in vitro processing of tos, however, is a highly complex process, requiring multiple purification steps. In this study a simplified protocol for crude total protein extraction is described that retains the tos-cleaving activity of TelN for at least 4 weeks, greatly simplifying in vitro testing of its activity. This protocol may be extended for functional analysis of other phage and bacterial proteins, particularly DNA-processing enzymes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/virology
  11. Respirometric analysis of activated sludge models from palm oil mill effluent
    Damayanti A, Ujang Z, Salim MR, Olsson G, Sulaiman AZ
    Bioresour Technol, 2010 Jan;101(1):144-9.
    PMID: 19734044 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.08.034
    Activated sludge models (ASMs) have been widely used as a basis for further model development in wastewater treatment processes. Values for parameters to be used are vital for the accuracy of the modeling approach. A continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), as open respirometer with continuous flow for 20 h is used in ASMs. The dissolved oxygen (DO) profile for 11 days was monitored. It was found the mass transfer coefficient K(La) is 0.3 h(-1) during lag and start feed phase and 0.01 h(-1) during stop feed phase, while the heterotrophic yield coefficient Y(H) is 0.44. Some of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) fractionations of palm oil mill effluent (POME) using respirometric test in ASM models are S(s) 50 mg/L, S(I) 16,600 mg/L, X(S) 25,550 mg/L, and X(I) 2,800 mg/L. The comparison of experimental and ASM1 from OUR concentration is found to fit well.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria, Aerobic/metabolism*
  12. Development of anaerobic digestion methods for palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment
    Poh PE, Chong MF
    Bioresour Technol, 2009 Jan;100(1):1-9.
    PMID: 18657414 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2008.06.022
    Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a highly polluting wastewater that pollutes the environment if discharged directly due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) concentration. Anaerobic digestion has been widely used for POME treatment with large emphasis placed on capturing the methane gas released as a product of this biodegradation treatment method. The anaerobic digestion method is recognized as a clean development mechanism (CDM) under the Kyoto protocol. Certified emission reduction (CER) can be obtained by using methane gas as a renewable energy. This review aims to discuss the various anaerobic treatments of POME and factors that influence the operation of anaerobic treatment. The POME treatment at both mesophilic and thermophilic temperature ranges are also analyzed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria, Anaerobic/metabolism*
  13. Evaluation of the routine use of the anaerobic bottle when using the BACTEC blood culture system
    Karunakaran R, Raja NS, Quek KF, Hoe VC, Navaratnam P
    J Microbiol Immunol Infect, 2007 Oct;40(5):445-9.
    PMID: 17932606
    The established practice of sending blood cultures in an aerobic-anaerobic pair of bottles has been questioned in recent years, and this study was conducted to evaluate the routine use of an anaerobic bottle in the BACTEC blood culture set at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, from January to December 2004. A total of 11,663 paired blood culture sets were received, of which 3326 were from pediatric patients and 8337 were from adult patients. The overall positive isolation rate was 15%; the positive isolation rate on excluding the anaerobic bottles was 13%. Overall, there were significantly more organisms isolated from the aerobic bottle (p<0.05); however, the best yield was obtained on using the paired aerobic-anaerobic bottles. Among the positive blood culture sets, organisms were isolated from the anaerobic bottle alone in 15.2% of the pediatric sets and in 18.1% of the adult sets. Organisms that grew more frequently in the anaerobic bottle were anaerobes and some facultative anaerobes; however, the difference was not statistically significant except for anaerobes in the adult sets. We recommend that when culturing blood, an aerobic-anaerobic pair of bottles be used rather than an aerobic-aerobic pair, to optimize the recovery of a wider spectrum of organisms, including obligatory anaerobes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria, Anaerobic/growth & development*
  14. Biodegradation of hydrocarbon contamination by immobilized bacterial cells
    Rahman RN, Ghaza FM, Salleh AB, Basri M
    J Microbiol, 2006 Jun;44(3):354-9.
    PMID: 16820766
    This study examined the capacity of immobilized bacteria to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons. A mixture of hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial strains was immobilized in alginate and incubated in crude oil-contaminated artificial seawater (ASW). Analysis of hydrocarbon residues following a 30-day incubation period demonstrated that the biodegradation capacity of the microorganisms was not compromised by the immobilization. Removal of n-alkanes was similar in immobilized cells and control cells. To test reusability, the immobilized bacteria were incubated for sequential increments of 30 days. No decline in biodegradation capacity of the immobilized consortium of bacterial cells was noted over its repeated use. We conclude that immobilized hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria represent a promising application in the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/metabolism*
  15. Evaluation of sequencing batch reactor performance with aerated and unaerated FILL periods in treating phenol-containing wastewater
    Chan CH, Lim PE
    Bioresour Technol, 2007 May;98(7):1333-8.
    PMID: 16822665
    Performance of the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treating synthetic phenolic wastewater at influent phenol concentrations from 100 to 1000 mg/L was evaluated. Two identical SBRs were built and operated with FILL, REACT, SETTLE and DRAW periods in the ratio of 4:6:1:1 for a cycle time of 12h. One of the reactors was operated with aerated FILL (R1) and the other with unaerated FILL (R2). The treated effluent quality and the rate of degradation during REACT were the criteria for evaluating performance of the two reactors. The results showed that the FILL mode had no significant influence on the treatment efficiency of phenol and COD for the entire range of influent phenol concentrations investigated. However, reactor R1 required a relatively shorter REACT time for phenol removal as compared to R2. This meant that R1 had the advantage of providing treatment at a higher organic loading rate.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/metabolism*
  16. Fulltext Chemical composition and antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of Allium hirtifolium Boiss
    Ismail S, Jalilian FA, Talebpour AH, Zargar M, Shameli K, Sekawi Z, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2013;2013:696835.
    PMID: 23484141 DOI: 10.1155/2013/696835
    Allium hirtifolium Boiss. known as Persian shallot, is a spice used as a traditional medicine in Iran and, Mediterranean region. In this study, the chemical composition of the hydromethanolic extract of this plant was analyzed using GC/MS. The result showed that 9-hexadecenoic acid, 11,14-eicosadienoic acid, and n-hexadecanoic acid are the main constituents. The antibacterial activity of the shallot extract was also examined by disk diffusion and microdilution broth assays. It was demonstrated that Persian shallot hydromethanolic extract was effective against 10 different species of pathogenic bacteria including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Specifically, the minimum concentration of the extract which inhibited bacterial growth (MIC values) was 1.88 mg/mL for most of the gram-positive bacteria. This concentration was not much different from the concentration that was safe for mammalian cells (1.50 mg/mL) suggesting that the hydromethanolic extract of Persian shallot may be a safe and strong antibacterial agent.
    Matched MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry*; Bacteria/growth & development*
  17. Sorption of Cr(VI), Cu(II) and Pb(II) by growing and non-growing cells of a bacterial consortium
    Sannasi P, Kader J, Ismail BS, Salmijah S
    Bioresour Technol, 2006 Mar;97(5):740-7.
    PMID: 16324841
    This paper reports the sorption of three metallic ions, namely Cr(VI), Cu(II) and Pb(II) in aqueous solution by a consortium culture (CC) comprising an acclimatised mixed bacterial culture collected from point and non-point sources. Metal sorption capability of growing and non-growing cells at initial pH of between 3 and 8 in the 1-100mg/L concentration range were studied based on Q(max) and K(f) values of the Langmuir and linearised Freundlich isotherm models, respectively. Maximal metal loading was generally observed to be dependent on the initial pH. Growing cells displayed significant maximal loading (Q(max)) for Pb(II) (238.09 mg/g) and Cu(II) (178.87 mg/g) at pH 6 and at pH 7 for Cr(VI) (90.91 mg/g) compared to non-growing cells (p < 0.05). At the pH range of 6-8, growing cells showed higher loading capacity compared to non-growing cells i.e. 38-52% for Cr, 17-28% for Cu and 3-17% for Pb. At lower metal concentrations and at more acidic pH (3-4) however, non-growing cells had higher metal loading capacity than growing cells. The metal sorption capacity for both populations were as follows: Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Cr(VI).
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/metabolism*
  18. Baseline study of methane emission from open digesting tanks of palm oil mill effluent treatment
    Yacob S, Hassan MA, Shirai Y, Wakisaka M, Subash S
    Chemosphere, 2005 Jun;59(11):1575-81.
    PMID: 15894045
    Anthropogenic release of greenhouse gases, especially CO2 and CH4 has been recognized as one of the main causes of global warming. Several measures under the Kyoto Protocol 1997 have been drawn up to reduce the greenhouse gases emission. One of the measures is Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) that was created to enable developed countries to cooperate with developing countries in emission reduction activities. In Malaysia, palm oil industry particularly from palm oil mill effluent (POME) anaerobic treatment has been identified as an important source of CH4. However, there is no study to quantify the actual CH4 emission from the commercial scale wastewater treatment facility. Hence, this paper shall address the CH4 emission from the open digesting tanks in Felda Serting Hilir Palm Oil Mill. CH4 emission pattern was recorded for 52 weeks from 3600 m3 open digesting tanks. The findings indicated that the CH4 content was between 13.5% and 49.0% which was lower than the value of 65% reported earlier. The biogas flow rate ranged between 0.8l min(-1)m(-2) and 9.8l min(-1)m(-2). Total CH4 emission per open digesting tank was 518.9 kgday(-1). Relationships between CH4 emission and total carbon removal and POME discharged were also discussed. Fluctuation of biogas production was observed throughout the studies as a result of seasonal oil palm cropping, mill activities, variation of POME quality and quantity discharged from the mill. Thus only through long-term field measurement CH4 emission can be accurately estimated.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria, Anaerobic/metabolism*
  19. A polyisoprenylated ketone from Calophyllum enervosum
    Taher M, Idris MS, Ahmad F, Arbain D
    Phytochemistry, 2005 Mar;66(6):723-6.
    PMID: 15771897
    A polyisoprenylated ketone named enervosanone has been isolated from the stem bark of Calophyllum enervosum together with three known compounds, cambogin, osajaxanthone and epicatechin. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. The antimicrobial evaluations of the isolated compounds were also reported.
    Matched MeSH terms: Anti-Bacterial Agents/isolation & purification; Bacteria/drug effects
  20. Fulltext Detection of antibiotic resistance in probiotics of dietary supplements
    Wong A, Ngu DY, Dan LA, Ooi A, Lim RL
    Nutr J, 2015;14:95.
    PMID: 26370532 DOI: 10.1186/s12937-015-0084-2
    Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer nutrition- and health-promoting benefits if consumed in adequate amounts. Concomitant with the demand for natural approaches to maintaining health is an increase in inclusion of probiotics in food and health products. Since probiotic bacteria act as reservoir for antibiotic resistant determinants, the transfer of these genes to pathogens sharing the same intestinal habitat is thus conceivable considering the fact that dietary supplements contain high amounts of often heterogeneous populations of probiotics. Such events can confer pathogens protection against commonly-used drugs. Despite numerous reports of antibiotic resistant probiotics in food and biological sources, the antibiogram of probiotics from dietary supplements remained elusive.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacteria/drug effects*; Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
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