Energy Research Institute (ERI), UK
People are relying upon oil for primary energy and this will continue for a few more decades. Other conventional sources may be more enduring, but are not without serious disadvantages. The renewable energy resources are particularly suited for the provision of rural power supplies and a major advantage is that equipment such as flat plate solar driers, wind machines, etc., can be constructed using local resources. Without the advantage results from the feasibility of local maintenance and the general encouragement such local manufacture gives to the build-up of small-scale rural based industry. This communication comprises a comprehensive review of energy sources, the environment and sustainable development. It includes the renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency systems, energy conservation scenarios, energy savings in greenhouses environment and other mitigation measures necessary to reduce climate change. This study gives some examples of small-scale energy converters, nevertheless it should be noted that small conventional, i.e., engines are currently the major source of power in rural areas and will continue to be so for a long time to come. There is a need for some further development to suit local conditions, to minimise spares holdings, to maximise the interchangeability of the engine parts, and of the engine applications. Emphasis should be placed on full local manufacture. It is concluded that renewable environmentally friendly energy must be encouraged, promoted, implemented and demonstrated by a full-scale plant (device) especially for use in remote rural areas.
Biography:
Abdeen Mustafa Omer (BSc, MSc, PhD) is an Associate Researcher at Energy Research Institute (ERI). He obtained both his PhD degree in the Built Environment and Master of Philosophy degree in Renewable Energy Technologies from the University of Nottingham. He is qualified Mechanical Engineer with a proven track record within the water industry and renewable energy technologies. He has been graduated from University of El Menoufia, Egypt, BSc in Mechanical Engineering. His previous experience involved being a member of the research team at the National Council for Research/Energy Research Institute in Sudan and working director of research and development for National Water Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Sudan. He has been listed in the book WHOʼS WHO in the World 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2010. He has published over 300 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 200 review articles, 15 books and 150 chapters in books.
1School of Biotechnology, SKUAST Jammu, India
2Division of Plant Biotechnology, SKUAST Kashmir, India
Common bean is considered as one of the most valuable food consumed worldwide owing to innumerable nutritional and therapeutic benefits. Heretofore, multiple yield associated markers have been detected all over the world; even so, the present work is looked on as the first report on identification of novel/new potent markers associated with yield traits by exploiting the common bean germplasm of Northern India. Both the GLM and MLM were used to identify signifcant marker-trait associations using a panel of one hundred and thirty-five genotypes and ninety-eightmicrosatellite markers; a set of ninety six diverse common bean genotypes was selected for association analysis. The study here reports a total of 61 marker trait associations (p≤0.005) for the selected yield traits those were found distributed on all the chromosomes except chromosome 1. Only one marker PVBR213 associated with days to bud initiation was found common while using both the approaches. However, eighteen markers showed association with more than one trait.Phenotypic variation ranging from 3.31% to 32.7% strongly indicates the genetic complexity of the yield trait and supports the fact that such quantitative trait is controlled by several major (R2≥25) and minor (R2≤25) QTLs with small but cumulative effects. The authentication and stability of detected SSRs across environments comes from the previous reports where different genetic backgrounds were examined for analysis. Desirable traits such as early maturity and high yield detected in our study is highlyrecommended for the purpose of enhancement of agronomic trait performance, trait selection, development of bi-parental populations and in back cross breeding programs to achieve superior and sustainable genotypes for future generations.
Keywords: Common bean, Association mapping, Yield, Microsatellite markers
1University of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
2University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon
In order to develop cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris seeds with faster cooking time, knowledge of genetic information susceptible to improve this trait will be help in the application strategies of selection. An experiment was conducted at Dang University of Ngaoundéré (Cameroon). Five dry beans genotypes resulting from ten varieties genetically diverse and ten hybrids F1 synthesized from 5 x 5 half diallel cross were assessed in a Randomized Complete Block Designed (RCBD) with three replications. The analysis of variance showed that, the difference among the genotype for cooking time at T= 0 and T= 10 days after storage were highly significant (P< 0.0001) indicating the presence of wide genetic variability. High broad sense heritability was obtained for this trait, suggesting that, the population can be improved through recurrent selection. Highlighted Narrow sense heritability indicated the prevalence of additive gene action involved in the governing of cooking time of dry beans. The ratio GCA/SCA was greater than unity, confirming the importance of additive genetic variance for this character. The lines CT and PN were the best combiners. Among all crosses, the crosses PB x BI, PB x PN, CT x PR and BI x PN had considerably specific combining ability. Improvement of methods to predict genetic advance and assess cooking time of beans without the environmental factors is also needed.
1Hassan II University, Morocco
2Chouaïb Doukkali University, Morocco
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) are the most harmful neurotoxins create a serious public health problem. It is important to assess PSP in Shellfish destined for human consumption. However, recommended methods have some limitations for example in the case of Mouse Bioassay (MBA) showed a low sensitivity and reproducibility, and undesirability for ethical reasons; while physicochemical techniques rest expensive and time-consuming. The main objective of this study, after discovering that PSP inhibited the luminescence of Vibrio fischeri, was the quantification of PSP by using Bioluminescence Inhibition Assay (BIA), and comparing the results obtained with those determined by MBA and LC-MS. Bivalve used were collected from Corniche Martil, Kabila, and Oued Laou, along with the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Results showed a weak correlation between LC-MS and MBA with r = 0.11, while, the correlation between LC-MS and BIA was very strong with r = 0.97, which suggests that, BIA could offer an interesting additional assessment of PSP risk. In addition, after seen its rapidity, ease, reliability, sensitivity, reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness, it would be eligible to use for monitoring in surveillance programs.
Biography:
M. Blaghen is the Director of Laboratory of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Environment. He received from Strasbourg, Louis Pasteur University his first Ph.D.degree in Biochemestry with an emphasis in Toxicology and his secod Ph.D.degree in Biotechnology with a an emphasis on Microbiology.
Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia
Bahir Dar is a rapidly urbanizing city of the Amhara National Regional State in Ethiopia. Generation of municipal solid waste is increasing annually at anxious rate. The accumulation of hazardous wastes, shortage of available landfill sites, and lack of environmental regulations are the main problems concerning solid waste disposal. The federal and regional bureaus of the environmental regulations are forcing the Bahir Dar city administrator to search for possible landfilling sites. Diverting waste from disposal sites into useful products can generate income and employment opportunities for the urban poor youths living in the cities. This review study disclosed the possible treatment technology options that can be utilized for conversion of municipal solid waste into useful products of various forms of Waste to Energy (WTE) technologies, such as thermal processing technologies, biological processing technologies; and bio-methanation methods. The main feedstock requirements, process conditions and treatments of products are briefed and summarized. The challenges and trends in each particular technology and applicability in the cities in the context of low- and middle- income countries are discussed in detail based on a review of the literature and from the expertsʼ experience. Therefore, this review study tries to reflect the WTE potential in the city together with the possible technologies, business and job opportunities, and at last keep the city environment clean and safe for the people living therein. More unbiased, well-structured and reproducible evidence from case studies at a scale could foster knowledge transfer to practitioners and enhance the exchange between academia, policy and practice. Therefore, the WTE policies of the city should be improved, evolved or modified to encourage the suggested WTE process industries along with a few recommendations. The actions in the WTE sector can support the WTE project developer, investors, suppliers, decision-makers and the policymakers for further betterment of the city waste management and planning.
Keywords: Biochemical conversion, hazardous wastes, municipal solid waste, treatment technology, useful products
Biography:
Biruk Abate is a PhD candidate, lecturer and researcher at Bahir Dar University. Mr. Biruk has published papers on the subject areas of waste management and water quality. He is a recognized in the waste management chapter from book of Social and Ecological System Dynamics Characteristics, Trends, and Integration in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia and acknowledged by Bahir Dar University. After obtaining his Bachler Degree in Chemical Engineering from Bahir Dar University in 2008, he started and completed his Master Degree in Chemical Engineering from Addis Ababa University in 2010; he started work at Bahir Dar University Bahir Dar Institute Faculty of Chemical and Food Engineering at lecturer position and Bahir Dar University Biotechnology Research Institute as a senior researcher. Mr. Biruk continued his PhD work in Post-harvest Technology in the area of perishables cold storage and processing with HGGP Program running by Bahir Dar Technology Institute, Ethiopia and Ku Leuven, Belgium.
1University of Monastir, Tunisia
2University of Monastir, Tunisia
3University of Monastir, Tunisia
4Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal
5Sahloul University Hospital, Tunisia
A series of enantiopureisoxazolidines (3a-c) were synthesized by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between a (–)-menthone-derived nitrone and various terminal alkenes. The screened compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activityby two in vitro antioxidant assays, including β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (TBARS). The results revealed that compound 3b (EC50 = 0.55 ± 0.09 mM) was the most potent antioxidant as compared to the standard drug (EC50 = 2.73 ± 0.07 mM) using the TBARS assay. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity was assessed using disc diffusion and microdilution methods. Among the synthesized compounds, 3c was found to be the most potent antimicrobial agent as compared to the standard drug. Subsequently, the acute toxicity study has also been carried out for the newly synthesized compounds and the experimental studies revealed that all compounds were safe up to 500 mg/kg and no death of animals were recorded. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was assessed by the MTT cell proliferation assay against the continuous human cell lines HeLa and compound 3c (GI50 = 46.2 ± 1.2 µM) appeared to be more active than compound 3a (GI50 = 200 ± 2.8 µM) and 3b (GI50 = 1400 ± 7.8 µM).
Interestingly, all tested compounds displayed a good α-amylase inhibitory activity in competitive manner with IC50 values ranging between 23.7 and 64.35 µM when compared to the standard drug acarbose (IC50 = 282.12 µM). In addition, molecular docking studies were performed to understand the possible binding and the interaction of the most active compounds to the α-amylase pocket.
Keywords: Enantiopureisoxazolidines; Antioxidant activity; Antimicrobial activity; Acute toxicity; Cytotoxicity; α-amylase inhibition; Molecular docking.
Biography:
Boulbaba SELMI obtained a PhD in Biochemistry in 1998 from the University of Technology of Compiegne (mentor: Pr. Daniel THOMAS), and post-doctoral training in 1998-2004 at different research centers (Houston Medical Center, University of Texas, USA; the National Center of Scientific Research-ENSBANA, University of Dijon, France; National Center of Scientific Research-AFMB, University of Mediterranean Aix Marseille II, France; National Center of Scientific Research –IBMC, University of Strasbourg, France). He has got Young Investigator Awards; HIV DART 2000 Frontiers in Drug Development for Antiviral Therapies, Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, USA. December 2000. Back to Tunisia, he obtained an Associate Professor in Biochemistry in Biotechnology Center of Sfax, Tunisia (2005-2007), then he mutated to the Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, Tunisia, where he became a Full Professor (January 2011) in Biochemistry and Molecular Virology. Currently, he is a Director of the Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia. His current interests are the biological activities of extracts and pure molecules obtained from medicinal plants.
Womenʼs Christian College, India
Aim: This study aims to examine the microorganisms that generally contaminate the mobile phone and to raise the level of awareness among the people regarding the need to clean it periodically by following proper hygienic measures.
Purpose of Study: The dissertation investigates the dangerous causes and effects of the microorganisms associated with mobile phones. The purpose of this study is to observe the microbial contamination of mobile phones and also to identify the most important microbial species associated with these phones. In turn this will help take the necessary measures to curb the potential transmission of diseases.
Methodology: 31 mobile phone samples were collected from 30 volunteers on the basis of two groups- Group A (doctors and clinicians) and Group B (workers, receptionist, security guard, and student involved in current study) and immediately streaked in Mac Conkey and blood agar plates. Identification of microorganisms were done using Biochemical test, gram staining and colony morphology.
Results: Results show that, out of 31 samples, 16 were contaminated with bacteria. In this findings, unexpectedly the most abundant microorganisms were found to be Non-Fermenting Gram Negative Bacilli followed by Gram Positive Bacilli, Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.677% each) and Aerobic Spore Forming bacteria and Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (6.4516 % each). Group A showed the highest rate of contamination (13 positive growth) when compared to Group B as people in Group A are in direct contact with the patients.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that mobile phones can act as reservoirs of both pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms. It is therefore necessary to take remedial hygienic measures while using mobile phones as people rarely disinfect their own. Also, doctors and clinicians should regularly disinfect their phones as they are more prone to diseases and infections when compared to other people and it serve as vectors or fomites for the microorganisms to grow.
Keywords: Mobile phones, Contamination, Non-fermenting Gram Negative Bacilli.
1University of Liège, Belgium
2Artechno sa. rue Hermann Meganck, Belgium
3University of Liège, Belgium
B acillus probiotic have been extensively studied and isolated since many years from different food products. Although generally used in dairy products, they also widely used in various commercial food such as fermented meats, cereals, baby foods, fruits juices and ice creams.
The interest to study the Bacillus species is related to their ability to produce spores that have several advantages compared to non-spores-forming Lactobacillus species which are used as probiotics. Their benefits are linked to spore resistance to heat, chemical agents and enzyme degradation. In the form of spore, Bacillus species can be stored at room temperature, without any deleterious effect on their viability. They can survive in acid conditions of the stomach and so grow in the intestines in which they can play the role of probiotics.
In the present study, we follow the expression of spoIIE gene, which plays a crucial role in B. subtilis, B. licheniformis and B. coagulans sporulation, by following the expression of a chimeric gfp gene under the control of spoIIE promoter. In our studies, cultures were carried out in Erlenmeyer flasks (250 ml), in the absence and in presence of two carbon sources: glucose and xylose.
Our results shows that in both B. licheniformis DSM13 /PspoIIE-gfp and B. subtilis PspoIIE-gfp, the expression of spoIIE gene was slightly affected by the presence of xylose in the culture media. While the presence of glucose inhibit the expression of spoIIE gene and the sporulation of the strain.
Biography:
Kabanyana Jeanne-Françoise was born in Rwanda, in 1977. She received the advanced diploma in biomedical sciences from Kigali health Institute, in 2004, and the bachelor degree in biotechnology in Institute of higher education of Ruhengeri, in 2010. Since 2006 till 2012 she has walked in Rwanda standard board as quality testing laboratory officer. In october 2012, she joined the University of Liège where she received the master's degree in biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, bioindustry specialisation, in 2014. Her current Ph.D. research interest include bacillus probiotics, bacteria transformation and spore production.
1CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), India
2Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), India
Background: For several decades the medicinal plants have been widely explored for the development of lead compounds with no or lesser side effects compared to the existing anticancer drugs. Epoxyazadiradione is a limonoid found in neem plant, with several pharmacological properties.
Aim: To investigate the anticancer activity of Epoxyazadiradione (EAD) on human triple negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231).
Methodology: MTT, staining techniques (DAPI, Acridine orange/EtBr, Annexin V, JC-1), LDH release assay, caspase 3 &9 activity assay, ELISA, gelatin zymography, scratch wound assay, western blotting, FACS analysis, colony formation assay, Anoikis assay and Immunostaining were employed.
Result & conclusion: The results revealed that EAD caused 50% inhibition in MDA-MB-231 cells at 12±1.04μM, with no significant toxicity on normal cell lines (H9C2) up to 50 μM. The apoptotic cell death was revealed by increased nuclear fragmentation, membrane breakage, phosphatidyl serine translocation, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, activation of caspases (3,9) and upregulation of apoptosis -indicator proteins (bax, cleaved parp). The EAD also reduced cell migration, matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP9) activity, fibronectin expression and colony formation, which in turn indicates the compoundʼs antimetastatic potential. EAD was also found to reduce glucose uptake, increase intracellular ROS, induce cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and revert anoikis resistance. And finally nuclear translocation of NF-kb and EGFR is found to be reduced under the treatment in a dose dependent manner. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that EAD has dose- and time-dependent antineoplastic effects, suggesting its potential usage against triple negative breast cancer.
Biography:
Lakshmi S did her graduation in zoology (2008) from St. Xavierʼs college for women, Aluva and post -graduation in Bioinformatics (2010) from Union Christian college, Aluva. She is qualified CSIR-NET (eligibility for lectureship) in 2012 and joined for PhD under Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam in 2013. She is currently doing PhD in Biological sciences (final year) under AcSIR (Academy of scientific and innovative research).
Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, México
Fluorescent proteins have been used as molecular tools like reporter genes or localization markers since a few years ago. Because of the research needs, a huge variety of fluorescent proteins have been generated, most of them have their origin on the Aequoreavictoria GFP. Some of these proteins have been conferred improvements in their structural properties or their color emission has been modified. Laboratories, which employ these techniques, spend a lot of time and money. The first one, due to the prolonged obtaining process and the second one because they need to have more than one kind of fluorescent proteins coding genes and they have an expensive cost. In this work we obtain a GFPuv color variant, using a low cost cloning techniques that increases the usual speed of the process. We use E. coli DH5α for the plasmids propagation and assembly. For the color responsible amino acid codons modification we made a site-directed mutagenesis, we add to our PCR mutagenic primers designed for having between them homolog regions in their 5' extreme to recircularize the PCR fragment by in-vivo recombination. We transformed the bacterial strain by thermal shock. The recombinant protein was expressed in the same bacterial strain cultured in LB agar supplemented with 2% L (+)-arabinose and 100 ug/mL ampicillin for 24 hours at 37 °C. When we illuminated them with UV light of 390 nm, we observe the mutants bright blue. In conclusion, through this method we substantially decreases costs and time inmutagenesis process.
Biography:
Lucelly studies Biotechnology at the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, México since 2018. She works in the research group of Dra. MaríadelRayoSantellánOlea at the Micoplasmas Laboratory on the Research Center for Microbiological Sciences.
University of Central Punjab, Pakistan
Microbial existence and survival requires the ability to sense and respond to environmental changes, including changes in physical forces. This is because microbes inhabit an amazingly diverse range of ecological niches and therefore must constantly adapt to a wide variety of changing environmental conditions, including alterations in temperature, pH, nutrient availability, oxygen levels, and osmotic pressure gradients. Microbes sense their environment through a variety of sensors and receptors which serve to integrate the different signals into the appropriate cellular responses that is optimal for survival. While numerous environmental stimuli have been examined for their effect on microorganisms, effects due to changes in mechanical and/or physical forces are also becoming increasingly apparent. Lactobacilli are probiotics that, among other health-promoting effects, have been ascribed immunostimulating and virus-preventive properties. Certain Lactobacillus spp. have been shown to possess strong interleukin-12 (IL-12) -inducing properties.
Spaceflight represents a unique inhabited semi-closed environment, most notably characterized by a decreased gravitational force. Moreover, human presence in space, whether permanent or transient, is accompanied by the presence of microbes. Evaluations of the microbial ecology aboard Mir and the International Space Station suggested a predominance of common members of the environmental flora [4], although the appearance of medically significant organisms has been documented. Whether we are considering the true weightlessness of deep space or the microgravity observed in Low-Earth orbit, it would be reasonable to predict that the microgravity-induced decrease in stress on the surface of microorganisms might affect the gene expression and physiology of both commensal and pathogenic organisms.
L.acidophilus has the ability to induce anti-viral defense gene expression in DC. We analyzed the gene expression profile of TLR-3 and IFN-β, key players involved in viral defense, in murine bone-marrow-derived DCs stimulated in vitro with L. acidophilus NCFM.
Biography:
Sadia Zia is currently working as Lecturer Biotechnology at University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. She is an Executive Member of Asia Pacific Institute of Food Professionals (APIFP) New Zealand. Moderator/Co-Lead of Disease Characterization Group for COVID-19 Pandemic, The Global Health Network, University of Oxford.
Recently completed my Post Graduate Certification in Public Health Policy and Planning from Health Services Academy, Islamabad. I Obtained M. PHIL Degree (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) from University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. I completed Baccalaureate (Hons) in Biotechnology from Forman Christian College University, Lahore. I was USAID Merit Scholar at FCCU for 4 years. I won the Cultural Exchange Special Nomination from Embassy of China in Pakistan for Modern Teaching Methodologies and Chinese Language from Beijing International Studies University, Beijing, China. I have 8 years (Including 3 years in UCP since, 2017) of Teaching / Administrative experience, 3 years of Research experience as Research Assistant.
My Research Interests are in Molecular Epidemiology of infectious diseases, SNPs, Epigenetics of Human Cancers and emergent infectious diseases and vulnerabilities in populations.
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