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Introduction Spinal infection (SI) is uncommon and patients present with varied clinical features. In this review, the presentation, investigation, treatment and outcome of patients with SI in the north-east of Scotland were assessed. Methods Electronic medical records of adult patients with SI hospitalised at a health board in the north-east of Scotland between 2014 and 2018 were analysed retrospectively. Collected variables included demographics, presenting clinical features, risk factors, comorbidities, admission blood results, microbiological investigations, imaging, treatment and outcomes. Results Seventy-two patients were included. Mean age (±sd) was 63.3 years (±14.5). The lumbar spine was the most commonly involved region (51.4%). Back pain (84.7%), altered mobility (33.3%) and fever (29.2%) were the most frequent presenting features. Thoracic spine involvement (p = 0.041), urinary symptoms (p = 0.033), cauda equina syndrome (CES) (p = 0.027) and limb weakness (p = 0.026) were associated with poorer outcome. A better outcome was associated with back pain at presentation (p = 0.03) and underlying malignancy (p = 0.045). Diabetes (15.3%), recent falls (15.3%) and immunosuppression (12.5%) were common. A likely causative organism was found in 54 patients (75.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 41.7% of patients. Penicillins were used in 56.3% of patients and 20.8% underwent surgery. Outcomes were full recovery (38.2%), residual symptoms or neurological deficits (50.0%), paraplegia (4.4%) and death (7.4%). Conclusions Poorer outcomes occurred in patients with thoracic disease, limb weakness, urinary symptoms or CES, whereas better outcomes were associated with the presence of back pain on presentation and malignancy. This analysis highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of SI, alerting clinicians to key factors associated with prognosis.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural biodegradable, eco-friendly fiber, lying within the nanoscale range. It is reputable for its various physical and chemical qualities, like high hydrophilicity, immense crystallinity, ease of sterility, being toxin-free, and extremely pure. Adding to its wide applicability in different fields, this study evaluated the applicability of a developed gelling substitute for plant tissue culture media. The BC matrix was characterized under the acronym PLATIBACGEL (PLAnt TIssue Culture BActerial Cellulose GEL), formed by Komagataeibacter hansenii AS.5, preisolated from rotten apple waste. Scanning electron microscope, Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray diffractometer, and tensile strength analyses confirmed the formation of purified, porous, and heterogeneous densely packed multiple network polymers possessing cellulose properties. The water holding capacity (WHC) values of wet and dried BC membranes were 9179% and 226.9%, respectively, and the water absorption rate (WAR) of dry BC membranes was higher than that of wet membranes. Using BC as a tissue culture gelling agent, six genotypes from tomato and wheat seeds were cultured in vitro, for guaranteeing explant genetic diversity, over seven treatments. Treatment 5, included PLATIBACGEL as the main constituent, improved and sustained all in vitro seed germination, root penetration, and plant support. Likewise, repeated tomato micropropagation subcultures were successful. Results demonstrated applying PLATIBACGEL as a promising, reusable, cheap, and reliable alternative plant micropropagation media gelling agent. Wherefore, plant cellular developers and tissue-culturists can utilize bio-polymers like BC for better understanding plant cell response to different in vitro culturing conditions, with expected beneficial returns on gelling agents industry and markets as well. Graphical abstract

The traditional method of isolating enzymes from pure cultures only allows for the studying of a subset of the total naturally occurring microbiota in microorganism-rich environmental samples. Conventional methods are known to be able to cultivate less than 1% of all microorganisms found in nature. With the aim of isolating new enzymes and creating a special library for the amylase enzyme that has special capabilities from previously transplanted organisms, the metagenome technology has been directed. Soil DNA was isolated and the pUC19 vector was used for a metagenomic library creation. The resulted libraries were tested for enzymatic hydrolysis, and 8 clones out of 177 recombinant Escherichia coli clones found to have amylase activity by the fast traditional method for amylase screening. The libraries were examined for enzymes capable of breaking down starch. The best clones were selected to produce amylase. Two clones gave the highest amylase activity using quantitative methods. The inserted gene into clones were sequenced, and turned out to be an amylolytic enzyme that is new generated by a novel gene. For characterization, the amylase gene (SNSY) was over expressed and purified. The best Amyl SNSY enzyme activity was found at pH (8.0), temperature (55°C) and resistance to NaCl up to 3 M. This research provided a simple and reliable method for cloning recent amylase genes from ecological metagenomes. In the future, the Metagenomics guide method may be useful in increasing the collection of novel amylase from the environment.

This study investigated bioethanol production from rice straw (RS) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) which containing 72.8 and 73.2% holocellulose, 56.8 and 58.6% α-cellulose, and 14.9 and 25.1% lignin for RS and SCB, respectively. To eliminate the lignin content, different pretreatment conditions, such as hot water, dilute acid, and acid-alkali, were designed. Acid-alkali was characterized as the best pretreatment for removing ∼79 and 70% of lignin, α-cellulose increased 91.4 and 91%, and holocellulose reached 90.8 and 90% for RS and SCB, respectively. The results revealed that acid-alkali was highly efficient than other pretreatment used for both RS and SCB. After enzymatic hydrolysis of acid-alkali-treated RS and SCB with cellulase, glucose concentrations reached 45 and 42 g/l, respectively. Pichia occidentalis AS.2 was isolated and identified based on 18S rRNA sequencing as a bioethanol producer. Maximization of bioethanol production by P. occidentalis AS.2 using the resulting glucose as a carbon source from RS and SCB was studied using an experimental design. The pH, incubation period, and inoculum size were optimized using Box-Behnken designs (BBD), the final conditions for bioethanol production used 100 g/l acid-alkali-treated fibers, 10 ml cellulase enzyme at 50°C for 5 days at 75 rpm for enzymatic hydrolysis. After time consumed and adjusting the pH to 6, the mixture was inoculated with 2.5% P. occidentalis AS.2 and incubated at 35°C for 24 h at 200 rpm to increase the bioethanol yield by 1.39-fold to 23.7 and 21.4 g/l compared to initial production (17 and 15.3 g/l) between RS and SCB, respectively.

This study highlighted the exploitation of mathematical models for optimizing the growth conditions that give the highest phosphatase productivity from a newfound Lysinibacillus sp. strain APSO isolated from a slime sample. Mathematical models facilitate data interpretation and provide a strategy to solve fermentation problems. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) throughput was enhanced by 16.5-fold compared to basal medium based on a sequential optimization strategy that depended on two-level Plackett–Burman design and central composite design. The additional improvement for volumetric productivity and specific production yield was followed in a 7 L bench-top bioreactor to evaluate microbial growth kinetics under controlled and uncontrolled pH conditions. The pH-controlled batch cultivation condition neither supported cell growth nor enhanced ALP productivity. In contrast, the uncontrolled pH batch cultivation condition provided the highest ALP output (7119.4 U L−1) and specific growth rate (µ = 0.188 h−1) at 15 h from incubation time, which was augmented > 20.75-fold compared to the basal medium. To the authors’ knowledge, this study is the second report that deals with how to reduce the production cost of the ALP production process via utilization of agro-industrial waste, such as molasses and food waste (eggshell), as a nutrimental source for the improvement of the newfound Lysinibacillus sp. strain APSO ALP throughput.

Background Lateness in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) results in significant disability and pressure on affected children and their families. We aimed to detect the preschool children who have high-risk criteria for ASD in Sharkia Governorate in Egypt and assess the prevalence and risk factors of ASD. A cross-sectional community-based study was done in 39 kindergartens throughout Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, using a multi-stage random sampling technique. The study included two phases, the screening phase, where 3722 preschool children were screened by Modified Check List for Toddlers/Revised (M-CHAT-R), and the diagnostic phase where the diagnosis of ASD among the high-risk children was made according to the research diagnostic criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (DSM-5) of ASD administrated by experienced psychiatrists and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Results This study showed that 2.8% of children were at high risk for ASD. The prevalence of ASD in Sharkia Governorate was 5.4/1000. The significant risk factors for the disorder were the presence of factories near the house, first and middle child order, congenital anomalies, child medication during the first year of life, child chronic medical condition, child attachment to TV, a medical condition affecting mother during pregnancy, and psychiatric disorders history in the family. Conclusion Autism spectrum disorder is prevalent in preschool children in Sharkia, Egypt, and multiple risk factors contribute to this prevalence.

Incubation parameters used for the creation of a protein lysate from enzymatically degraded waste feathers using crude keratinase produced by the Laceyella sacchari strain YNDH were optimized using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM); amino acids quantification was also estimated. The optimization elevated the total protein to 2089.5 µg/ml through the application of the following optimal conditions: a time of 20.2 h, a feather concentration (conc.) of 3 g%, a keratinase activity of 24.5 U/100 ml, a pH of 10, and a cultivation temperature of 50 °C. The produced Feather Protein Lysate (FPL) was found to be enriched with essential and rare amino acids. Additionally, this YNDH enzyme group was partially purified, and some of its characteristics were studied. Crude enzymes were first concentrated with an Amicon Ultra 10-k centrifugal filter, and then concentrated proteins were applied to a "Q FF" strong anion column chromatography. The partially purified enzyme has an estimated molecular masses ranging from 6 to 10 kDa. The maximum enzyme activity was observed at 70 °C and for a pH of 10.4. Most characteristics of this protease/keratinase group were found to be nearly the same when the activity was measured with both casein and keratin-azure as substrates, suggesting that these three protein bands work together in order to degrade the keratin macromolecule. Interestingly, the keratinolytic activity of this group was not inhibited by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), or iron-caused activation, indicating the presence of a mixed serine–metallo enzyme type.

The present study addresses isolation, optimization, partial purification, and characterization of a haloalkaline serine protease from a newly isolated haloarchaeal strain isolated from Wadi El Natrun in Egypt. We expected that a two-step sequential statistical approach (one variable at a time, followed by response surface methodology) might maximize the production of the haloalkaline serine protease. The enzyme was partially purified using Hiprep 16/60 sephacryl S-100 HR gel filtration column. Molecular identification revealed the newly isolated haloarchaeon to be Natrialba hulunbeirensis strain WNHS14. Among several tested physicochemical determinants, casamino acids, KCl, and NaCl showed the most significant effects on enzyme production as determined from results of the One-Variable-At-A-time (OVAT) study. The Box- Behnken design localized the optimal levels of the three key determinants; casamino acids, KCl, and NaCl to be 0.5% (w/v), 0.02% (w/v), and 15% (w/v), respectively, obtaining 62.9 U/ml as the maximal amount of protease produced after treatment at 40℃, and pH 9 for 9 days with 6-fold enhancement in yield. The enzyme was partially purified after size exclusion chromatography with specific activity, purification fold, and yield of 1282.63 U/mg, 8.9, and 23%, respectively. The enzyme showed its maximal activity at pH, temperature, and NaCl concentration optima of 10, 75℃, and 2 M, respectively. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF, 5 mM) completely inhibited enzyme activity.

Investment in green chemistry to convert agro-industrial residues into value-added products could be economically feasible. The present study proved the utility of sugarcane bagasse as an inexpensive and easily available raw material for large-scale production of extracellular laccase from a newfound bacterial strain Lysinibacillus macroides LSO isolated from Alexandria paper and pulp industry effluents. To maximize the efficiency of laccases, a sequential optimization strategy focused on computational experimental designs accompanied by a bench-scale bioreactor batch cultivation strategy was adopted. Among the twelve variables analysed, sugarcane bagasse, NH4Cl, CuSO4·5H2O, and MnSO4·H2O were chosen based on their high positive significant impact on laccase productivity via the 2-level Plackett–Burman design (PBD). Rotatable Central Composite Design (RCCD) was exploited to create a polynomial quadratic model correlating the relationship between the four variables and the productivity of laccase. The highest extracellular laccase productivity and specific growth rate (µ) were achieved at the early period of the incubation time through cultivation Lysinibacillus macroides LSO in a 10-L stirred tank bioreactor under batch operation conditions. Laccase yield 7653.2 U L−1 min−1 and µ = 0.024 h−1, respectively, were obtained after 28 h that increased more than 70.861-, 4.181-, and 1.934-fold compared to basal media, PBD, and RCCD, respectively. Utilization of bio-waste for scaling up the production of extracellular bacterial laccase from Lysinibacillus macroides strain LSO via bioreactor scale

Halophilic archaea are a promising natural source of carotenoids. However, little information is available about the biological impacts of these archaeal metabolites. Here, carotenoids of Natrialba sp. M6, which was isolated from Wadi El-Natrun, were produced, purified and identified by Raman spectroscopy, GC-mass spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, LC–mass spectrometry and Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The C50 carotenoid bacterioruberin was found to be the predominant compound. Because cancer and viral hepatitis are serious diseases, the anticancer, anti-HCV and anti-HBV potentials of these extracted carotenoids (pigments) were examined for the first time. In vitro results indicated that the caspase-mediated apoptotic anticancer effect of this pigment and its inhibitory efficacy against matrix metalloprotease 9 were significantly higher than those of 5-fluorouracil. Furthermore, the extracted pigment exhibited significantly stronger activity for eliminating HCV and HBV in infected human blood mononuclear cells than currently used drugs. This antiviral activity may be attributed to its inhibitory potential against HCV RNA and HBV DNA polymerases, which thereby suppresses HCV and HBV replication, as indicated by a high viral clearance % in the treated cells. These novel findings suggest that the C50 carotenoid of Natrialba sp. M6 can be used as an alternative source of natural metabolites that confer potent anticancer and antiviral activities.

Halophilic archaea is considered an promising natural source of many important metabolites. This study focused on one of the surface-active biomolecules named biosurfactants produced by haloarchaeon Natrialba sp. M6. The production trend was optimized and the product was partially purified and identified using GC–Mass spectrometry. Sequential optimization approaches, Plackett–Burman (PB) and Box–Behnken Designs (BBD) were applied to maximize the biosurfactants production from M6 strain by using 14 factors; pH, NaCl, agitation and glycerol; the most significant factors that influenced the biosurfactant production were used for Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The final optimal production conditions were agitation (150 rpm), glycerol (3%), NaCl (20.8%), pH (12) and cultivation temperature (37°C). GC–Mass spectrometry for the recovered extract revealed the presence of a diverse group of bipolar nature, hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain and charged function group. The majority of these compounds are fatty acids. Based on results of GC–MS, compositional analysis content and Zetasizer, it was proposed that the extracted biosurfactant produced by haloarchaeon Natrialba sp. M6 could be a cationic lipoprotein. The antiviral activity of such biosurfactant was investigated against hepatitis C (HCV) and herpes simplex (HSV1) viruses at its maximum safe doses (20 μg/mL and 8 μg/mL, respectively). Its mode of antiviral action was declared to be primarily via deactivating viral envelopes thus preventing viral entry. Moreover, this biosurfactant inhibited RNA polymerase- and DNA polymerase-mediated viral replication at IC50 of 2.28 and 4.39 μg/mL, respectively also. Molecular docking studies showed that surfactin resided well and was bound to the specified motif with low and accepted binding energies (ΔG = − 5.629, − 6.997 kcal/mol) respectively. Therefore, such biosurfactant could be presented as a natural safe and effective novel antiviral agent.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an ecofriendly biopolymer with diverse commercial applications. Its use is limited by the capacity of bacterial production strains and cost of the medium. Mining for novel organisms with well-optimized growth conditions will be important for the adoption of BC. In this study, a novel BC-producing strain was isolated from rotten fruit samples and identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum from 16S rRNA sequencing. Culture conditions were optimized for supporting maximal BC production using one variable at a time, Plackett-Burman design, and Box Behnken design approaches. Results indicated that a modified Yamanaka medium supported the highest BC yield (2.7 g/l), and that yeast extract, MgSO

Enzyme immobilization onto nanomaterials is a strategy to overcome the difficulties of the free enzymes applications where the immobilization process affords excellent reusability and operational stability against temperature and pH, and high surface area for the catalytic reaction. In this work, poly(Acrylonitrile-co-Styrene/Pyrrole), (poly(AN-co-ST/ Py)), copolymer nanofibers were successfully fabricated using the electrospinning technique. Laccase enzyme from Trametes versicolor was immobilized onto functionalized poly(AN-co-ST/Py) nanofibers by covalent attachment using polyethylenediamine (PEI) via physical adsorption and multipoint covalent attachment to the functional groups onto the polymeric surface. Since the relative activity of the immobilized Laccase depends on the amount of the coupled PEI onto the polymeric nanofibers, a colorimetric assay via copper ions complex formation was applied for the estimation of the process yield. Accordingly, the various factors affecting the PEI coupling process such as concentration, time, pH and temperature were investigated; Besides their influence on the morphology of the resultant nanofibers. Furthermore, thermal and pH stability, storage stability, and reusability were evaluated and compared. The optimum reaction temperature and pH for the immobilized enzyme were 70 °C and 6.0, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the modified nanofibers with PEI have kept its nanofibers structure and uniform morphology with an average diameter of approximately 559.2 nm. Within 35 days, the immobilization process reduces the activity loss from 59 % to 29 %, while thermal incubation at 50 °C for 2 hrs causes activity loss for the free and immobilized enzymes by 65 % and 30 % respectively. Therefore, the prepared copolymer nanofibers proposed in this work showed promising potential for applications to enzyme immobilization.

We present GlobSed, a new global 5‐arc‐minute total sediment thickness grid for the world's oceans and marginal seas. GlobSed covers a larger area than previously published global grids and incorporates updates for the NE Atlantic, Arctic, Southern Ocean, and Mediterranean regions, which results in a 29.7% increase in estimated total oceanic sediment volume. We use this new global grid and a revised global oceanic lithospheric age grid to assess the relationship between the total sediment thickness and age of the underlying oceanic lithosphere and its latitude. An analytical approximation model is used to mathematically describe sedimentation trends in major oceanic basins and to allow paleobathymetric reconstructions at any given geological time. This study provides a much‐needed update of the sediment thickness distribution of the world oceans and delivers a model for sedimentation rates on oceanic crust through time that agrees well with selected drill data used for comparison.

Incubation parameters used for the production of a protein lysate from enzymatically degraded waste feather using crude keratinase produced by laceyella sacchari YNDH was optimized using RSM, amino acids quantification was estimated as well. The optimization resulted in total soluble protein 2089.5µg/ml. The optimal conditions were, time 20.2h, feather concentration 3g% and keratinase activity 24.5U/100ml at pH, 10; and cultivation temperature 50oC. The FPL was found enriched with essential and rare amino acids.In parallel, this YNDH enzyme group had been partially purified and some characteristics of it were studied. Crude enzymes were first concentrated with Amicon Ultra 10k centrifugal filter, and then concentrated proteins were applied to "QFF" strong anion column chromatography. The partially purified enzyme has an estimated molecular masses ranged 6 to 10 kDa. The maximum enzyme activity was observed at 70°C and pH 10.4 when measured by both casein and keratin azure as substrates. Interestingly, keratinolytic activity of this group was not affect by EDTA, PMSF and DTT. Generally the overall characters of this group protease/keratinase nearly the same when its activity was measured with both substrates suggesting that all these 3 protein bands working together as a group of keratinases.

Weninggalih Village is one of the villages that experiences repeated droughts every year and the conversion of land functions into built areas, this has an impact on the decline in village rice production. While most of the land cover in Weninggalih Village is rice fields. This study aims to determine the land conservation policy in Weninggalih Village, Jonggol District, Bogor Regency, and West Java. The survey method was used to collect data from the field. The sample was determined by proportional sampling as many as thirty farmer households. The Analytical Hierarchy Process method was used to determine the appropriate land conservation policy for farmer households in Weninggalih Village. Based on the results of the study, it is known that those that influence land conservation policies are education, farming experience, conservation attitudes, expansion education, and cost sharing. The land in Weninggalih Village requires land conservation considering that the physical condition of the village land tends to be dry, based on observations. Land conservation policy efforts can be used as material for consideration in planning appropriate land use.

In this study, an optimization of the culture parameters used for the production of bacterial cellulose (BC) by G.hansenii ATCC 23769 was carried out. This is the first study reported statistical optimization of the fermentation medium by Plackett–Burman Design (PBD) and Box–Behnken Designs (BBD) for BC production by type strain G.hansenii ATCC 23769. The effect of seven culture parameters on BC production was evaluated by implementing PBD, where the results revealed that, the most significant variables affecting BC production were yeast extract, temperature and incubation time. Response surface methodology (RSM) using BBD was applied to find out the optimum level of each significant variable. The optimal levels of the three significant components were found to be yeast extract 13 g/l, temperature 26.3°C and incubation time 12 days with a predicted yield 2.91 g/l. According to the results of the PBD and BBD the following medium composition is expected to be optimum (g/l): mannitol 25, yeast extract 13, ethanol 7 ml/l, pH 7, inoclume size 7%, temperature 26.3°C and incubation time 12 days. Characterization of dried BC membrane was carried out to determine the morphological structure and purity by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), crystallinity by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), chemical structure and functional group by Fourier -Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermal stability by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). In addition, mechanical properties such as: the Young’s modulus, tensile strength, elongation at beak % and thickness of BC membrane obtained from G.hansenii ATCC 23769 were determined.

Introduction Serum Pentraxin3 Level As A recent Biomarker Of Diabetic Retinopathy In Egyptian patients with diabetes. Objective To evaluate the association between elevated levels of plasma pentraxin 3 and the development and/or progression of diabetic retinopathy. Subjects and methods: This case control study was carried out in internal medicine department, outpatient clinic of internal medicine and outpatient clinic of ophthalmology, at Zagazig university Hospital, 2018. Serum PTX3 level, HsCRP, HbA1c, lipid profile, serum creatinine were determined in 20 normal subjects, 20 patients with prediabetes, 20 patients with diabetes without diabetic retinopathy (DR), 20 patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and 20 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Results Serum PTX3 level significantly increased in patients with DR more than patients without DR with cut off point 1150 pg/ml, sensitivity 93.3%and specificity 72%. Serum HsCRP level significantly increased in patients with DR more than patients without DR with cut off point of 7.60 pg/ml has sensitivity 93.3% and specificity 68%.. Combined use of PTX3 and HsCRP decreases sensitivity to 76.7%, but combined use increases specificity to 90%.Significant relation between poor glycemic control and development of DR and its severity as showed by HbA1c. Conclusion Serum PTX3 levels mayt have significant role in the development of DR and its severity. Serum HsCRP increased with DR progression. Poor glycemic control significantly associated with high incidence of diabetic retinopathy and its severity. Longer diabetes duration is associated with progression of DR.

Optimization of the culture parameters used for biocellulose (BC) production by a previously isolated bacterial strain (Komagataeibacter hansenii AS.5) was carried out. The effect of nine culture parameters on BC production was evaluated by implementing the Plackett-Burman design, and the results revealed that, the most significant variables affecting BC production were MgSO4, ethanol, pH and yeast extract. A three-level and four-factor Box–Behnken design was applied to determine the optimum level of each significant variable. According to the results of the Plackett–Burman (PBD) and Box–Behnken designs (BBD), the following medium composition and parameters were calculated to be optimum (g/l): glucose 25, yeast extract 13, MgSO4 0.15, KH2PO4 2, ethanol 7.18 ml/l, pH 5.5, inoclume size 7%, cultivation temperature 20 °C and incubation time 9 days. Characterization of purified BC was performed to determine the network morphology by scanning electron microscopy, crystallinity by X-ray diffraction, chemical structure and functional groups by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal stability by thermogravimetric analysis and mechanical properties such as Young's modulus, tensile strength and elongation at beak % of BC.

Alkaline phosphatases producing microbes are wide spread in nature; ALP is a hydrolase enzyme functioning at alkaline pH, able to hydrolyze phosphates from many types of molecules; this initiating many applications. Experimental designs were applied to evaluate the culture conditions affecting ALP production by Geobacillus thermodenitrificans strain I2, where glucose, yeast-extract and agitation were the most significant variables according to Plackett-Burman design (PBD). The optimum levels of these variables were assessed through Box–Behnken design (BBD) to be (g/L): glucose 26.4, yeast-extract 29.72 and agitation 150rpm, with a predicted enzyme activity of 8.149U/ml. The measured activity upon application the optimized medium was 7.896U/ml. Enzyme was partially purified (42%; 12 fold) through precipitation by ammonium sulfate and anion column, with two protein bands (>70 & ~40kDa) in SDS-PAGE. A partial gene translated sequence proved that the natively expressed ALP by studied strain is related to the band with ~40kDa. The partially purified enzyme exhibited maximum activity at 60°C and pH9.0, with remarkable temperature stability up to 65°C. The results indicated an enhancement in enzyme activity with metals (Mg2+, Mn2+) and reducing agents (DTT & s-mercaptoethanol) whereas, other metals (Zn2+, Hg2+), and anionic surfactant (SDS); EDTA; and PMSF inhibited the enzyme activity. The dependence on enzyme and substrate concentration was represented in Lineweaver-Burk plot where, Km and Vmax were 40mM and 25U/mg protein, respectively. In conclusion, the promising traits of studied ALP would underpin its efficient exploitation in several industries to cope with demands of worldwide enzyme markets.

Oil spills besides the discarding of oil refineries byproducts directly into the environment is a major source of nature pollution which contributes to environmental contamination and health problems. Firstly for solving this problem oil degrading bacterial consortium (Pseudomonas sp. sp48 and Bacillus cereus M12 which were isolated from soil samples from Bahary area, SidiKerir branch, Alexandria, Egypt, respectively) was immobilized with different carriers, where rice straw was selected as the best one for oil degradation. Conditional optimization for immobilized bacterial consortium has been explored by testing various amounts of preculture (2, 3, 4, 5.5 and 7%), different incubation time with rice straw (1-5 h), enumeration of viable cells immobilized and different oil concentrations (1, 2, 3, and 4%). The degradation of crude oil (1% concentration) reached to 61.6% due to biological action alone while it raised to 97.14% by binary actions of biological and physical after 6 days incubation time and applying the optimum conditions (4% bacterial consortium preculture and 3 h incubation time with the carrier). Finally application study has been carried out using the ideal model conditions in small batch bioreactor and continuous to treat oil contaminated water in an open system. The results showed that the crude oil degradation biologically only and biologically/ physically reached to 56.2% and 87.2%, respectively. Whereas the continuous addition of 1% oil concentration for three times the removal reached to 81.27%. This technique of immobilization produces a promising result for solving the oil pollution problem due to the collaborating effects for both physical and biological actions.

Despite of the great efforts that move forward to clarify the pathophysiologic mechanisms in autism, the cause of this disorder, however, remains largely unknown. There is an increasing body of literature concerning neurochemical contributions to the pathophysiology of autism. We aimed to determine blood and brain levels of glutamate in children with autistic disorder and to correlate between them. The study included 10 children with autism and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Blood glutamate levels were measured using high performance liquid chromatography technique. Brain glutamate levels were measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The mean blood and brain glutamate levels were significantly higher in patients than controls ( p p

The Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) is the European Space Agency's (ESA)satellite gravity mission to determine the Earth's mean gravity field. GOCE delivers gravity gradients, anew type of satellite data. We study how these data can improve modeling of the Earth's lithosphere. We discuss the use of the original GOCE gravity gradients versus the use of gravity gradients in grids at satellite altitude or close the Earth's surface and conclude that grids are easier to handle than the original data because one does not have to deal with very different error characteristics of the different gradients, given in a rotating frame at varying heights. The downward continuation to the surface enhances signaland better reflects the near-surface geology. But this does not outweigh the amplification of noise and omission errors, which is why we recommend using the field at mean satellite altitude for lithospheric modeling. The North-East Atlantic region is ideal to analyze the additional value of GOCE gravity gradients because it is a well-studied region in terms of regional geophysics. We calculated the gradient sensitivity for crustal depth slices using a 3D lithospheric model. This reveals that especially interfaces with large density contrasts have a distinct signal in the gravity gradients, but that they are quite insensitive to intra-crustal density sources, which can have quite a large effect on surface gravity data. We also show thatthe satellite gradients have a depth sensitivity well suited to study the upper mantle density structure, making them complementary to gravity and seismic tomography. In the underexplored Rub'al-Khaliarea the GOCE vertical gradient was used to invert for crustal thickness. The updated Moho model givesa good fit to four of the six gradients and independent depths from seismic stations. The Moho modelwas used to update the heat flow model and source rock maturity maps, which are generally consistent with known source rock maturity trends in the surrounding regions. GOCE gradients are therefore usefulto map crustal thickness and deep regional structures for frontier areas. In combination with other data, heat flow can be modeled which is essential for basin maturity evaluation. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.