Microbial abatement of toluene using Aspergillus niger in upflow bioreactor

Microbial abatement of toluene using Aspergillus niger in coir packed upflow bioreactor was investigated in this study. Toluene degrading microbes were isolated from municipal sewage effluent and identified by 16s rRNA sequencing method. The microbes were cultured in 2% (v/v) toluene input per day, which exhibited 95% removal efficiency with the kinetic correction value (R²) of 0.9024 at the optimum flow rate of about 0.4m³h^-1. Various parameters such as effect of flow rate, column height, elimination capacity and EBRT with removal efficiency for 50 day cycle were also optimized. The plug flow model for toluene degradation was properly expressed and the Monod kinetics constant K_m and r_max values were determined as 2.25gm^-3 and 67.773gm^-3h^-1 respectively for microbial growth rate.

A recent record of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Sousa chinensis (Osbeck, 1765), (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla: Delphinidae) from the western shores of Kachchh, Gujarat, India

A total of six individuals of S.chinensis were observed near the Jakhau creek, which is the western part of Gulf of Kachchh. The GPS location of the sighting is 23°14’28.5” N and 68°35’54.0" E. The dolphins were spotted in the mid-high tide time on 03 December 2014 at 9.53 hrs (IST). These dolphins were found less than 10 m away from the shore at a depth of 1-10 m. The dolphins were observed for a time period of 20 minutes. The dolphins while leaping continuously, kept following the boat for sometime and approaching as close as five meters during certain occasions. These dolphins were also observed at the same time on the same location on the following day. A questionnaire survey with nearby fishermen had confirmed that these dolphins were seen in this part of Gujarat during winter. Therefore, it is assumed that weather condition and prey availability is favorable for this species during this period. This is the first record of S. chinensis in western shore of Kachchh district detailed study regarding the distribution of this species is required across the creek system of Western Kachchh.

Relationships among supply chain strategies, organizational performance, and technological and market turbulences

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a relational view of supply chain management strategy (RSCMS) and its impact on organizational performance and examine the moderating role of technological and market turbulences on these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors propose a conceptual model that links supply chain (SC) strategies to operational and relational outcomes of organizational performance. The authors follow an interdisciplinary approach by integrating insights from domains such as supply chain management (SCM), operations, marketing, management, management information systems, and technology management.

Findings

– The proposed RSCMS framework presents 15 propositions that examine SCM strategies and their interrelationships, and examine how these strategies result in superior organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

– Through the RSCMS framework, the authors conceptualize transformation as a higher order SC strategy resulting from collaborative and integrative SCs, and tie the relational SC mix first to operational and relational outcomes and then to organizational performance.

Practical implications

– The research provides a better understanding of SC strategies of collaboration, integration, and transformation, along with market and technological turbulences for more efficient and effective SCs.

Originality/value

– In this research, the authors propose a unified RSCMS framework of SC mix strategies of collaboration, integration, and transformation and their influence on organizational performance; and explore how the RSCMS framework contributes to theory development, provide insights for managers, and explore avenues for further research.

Biodegradation of toluene vapor in coir based upflow packed bed reactor by Trichoderma asperellum isolate

In the present study, a new biofiltration system involving a selective microbial strain isolated from aerated municipal sewage water attached with coir as packing material was developed for toluene degradation. The selected fungal isolate was identified as Trichoderma asperellum by 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequencing method, and pylogenetic tree was constructed using BLASTn search. Effect of various factors on growth and toluene degradation by newly isolated T. asperellum was studied in batch studies, and the optimum conditions were found to be pH 7.0, temperature 30 °C, and initial toluene concentration 1.5 (v/v)%. Continuous removal of gaseous toluene was monitored in upflow packed bed reactor (UFPBR) using T. asperellum. Effect of various parameters like column height, flow rate, and the inlet toluene concentration were studied to evaluate the performance of the biofilter. The maximum elimination capacity (257 g m(-3) h(-1)) was obtained with the packing height of 100 cm with the empty bed residence time of 5 min. Under these optimum conditions, the T. asperellum showed better toluene removal efficiency. Kinetic models have been developed for toluene degradation by T. asperellum using macrokinetic approach of the plug flow model incorporated with Monod model.

Antimicrobial Activity and Phylogenetic Analysis of Streptomyces Parvulus Dosmb-D105 Isolated from the Mangrove Sediments of Andaman Islands

Actinomycetes, especially species of Streptomyces are prolific producers of pharmacologically significant compounds accounting for about 70% of the naturally derived antibiotics that are presently in clinical use. In this study, we used five solvents to extract the secondary metabolites from marine Streptomyces parvulus DOSMB-D105, which was isolated from the mangrove sediments of the South Andaman Islands. Among them, ethyl acetate crude extract showed maximum activity against 11 pathogenic bacteria and six fungi. Presence of bioactive compounds in the ethyl acetate extract was determined using GC-MS and the compounds detected in the ethyl acetate extract were matched with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library. Totally eight compounds were identified and the prevalent compounds were 2 steroids, 2 alkaloids, 2 plasticizers, 1 phenolic and 1 alkane. Present study revealed that S. parvulus DOSMB-D105 is a promising species for the isolation of valuable bioactive compounds to combat pathogenic microbes.

Anion assisted supramolecular self-assemblies of succinate and malate adducts: crystal structures and theoretical modelling

A series of five dicarboxylic acid complexes of succinic acid and malic acid with various substituted amines have been synthesized and structurally analyzed; also the supramolecular organizations within their crystalline solids have been studied.

A process-output classification for customer participation in services

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a classification for customer participation (CP) in services. Furthermore, it develops research propositions examining the moderating role of the proposed classification on the link between the magnitude of CP and service outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– Building on the process-output framework, the paper explores the contingent nature of the effect of CP magnitude on service outcomes (satisfaction and efficiency).

Findings

– The research propositions suggest that specific output enhances the positive effect of CP magnitude on satisfaction but also intensifies the negative effect of CP magnitude on efficiency; conversely, generic output diminishes the positive effect of CP magnitude on satisfaction but mitigates the negative effect of CP magnitude on efficiency. The effect of CP magnitude on satisfaction is stronger for a structured participation process than for an unstructured process; while the negative effect of CP magnitude on efficiency is stronger for an unstructured participation process than for a structured process. Further, process structure has an asymmetric enhancing effect on the negative link between CP magnitude and efficiency such that the enhancing effect of process structure is stronger for specific output than for generic output; likewise, process structure has an asymmetric enhancing effect on the positive link between CP magnitude and satisfaction such that the enhancing effect of structure is stronger for generic output than for specific output.

Research limitations/implications

– The research provides a conceptual approach to classify CP. Further research can focus on empirical validation as well as expanding the scope and variables examined.

Practical implications

– The research points to guidelines to structure CP activities based on the nature of the participation process and the type of service output to achieve the competing goals of customer satisfaction and efficiency.

Originality/value

– The proposed classification offers a new method to visualize CP in services. The framework is applicable to a wide variety of services, service contexts, and resources contributed by customers during their participation.