24 CFR 902.50 - Resident service and satisfaction assessment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Resident service and satisfaction... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Indicator #4: Resident Service and Satisfaction § 902.50 Resident service and satisfaction assessment. (a) Objective. The objective of the Resident...

Assessment of DSN Communication Coverage for Space Missions to Potentially Hazardous Asteroids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kegege, Obadiah; Bittner, David; Gati, Frank; Bhasin, Kul

2012-01-01

A communication coverage gap exists for Deep Space Network (DSN) antennas. This communication coverage gap is on the southern hemisphere, centered at approximate latitude of -47deg and longitude of -45deg. The area of this communication gap varies depending on the altitude from the Earth s surface. There are no current planetary space missions that fall within the DSN communication gap because planetary bodies in the Solar system lie near the ecliptic plane. However, some asteroids orbits are not confined to the ecliptic plane. In recent years, Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) have passed within 100,000 km of the Earth. NASA s future space exploration goals include a manned mission to asteroids. It is important to ensure reliable and redundant communication coverage/capabilities for manned space missions to dangerous asteroids that make a sequence of close Earth encounters. In this paper, we will describe simulations performed to determine whether near-Earth objects (NEO) that have been classified as PHAs fall within the DSN communication coverage gap. In the study, we reviewed literature for a number of PHAs, generated binary ephemeris for selected PHAs using JPL s HORIZONS tool, and created their trajectories using Satellite Took Kit (STK). The results show that some of the PHAs fall within DSN communication coverage gap. This paper presents the simulation results and our analyses

77 FR 47707 - Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS): Physical Condition Scoring Notice and Revised Dictionary...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-09

... Standards (UPCS) inspection protocol was designed to be a uniform inspection process and standard for HUD's... frequency of inspections based on the results the UPCS inspection. UPCS was designed to assess the condition... physical assessment score. HUD Response: The UPCS inspection protocol as designed assesses the physical...

76 FR 63640 - Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS): Proposed Physical Condition Interim Scoring Notice

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-13

... call-for-aid is a system designed to provide elderly residents the opportunity to call for help in the... open. This bars that are change also rewrites designed to open the Level 3 should open. If they...

Metabolic engineering and applications of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Williams, S.F.; Gerngross, U.T.; Peoples, O.P.

1995-11-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have been recognized for many years as naturally occurring biodegradable plastics. The PHA plastics range from those that resemble polypropylene to other that are more elastomeric. A fundamental understanding of the genetic and biochemical pathways involved in PHA synthesis has now made it possible to produce PHAs commercially at an attractive cost and scale, using Metabolix`s transgenic technology. This technology, which was pioneered at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, allows PHAs to be produced in the short-term by highly efficient fermentation systems, and ultimately, in plant crops. Production of PHAs in plant crops offers the promise of costsmore » competitive with petroleum derived polymers. Millions of acres of transgenic plant crops could provide millions of tonnes of PHAs, increasing the use of renewable resources, and decreasing the U.S. reliance on imported oil. Furthermore, through the production of new PHA products, this technology provides new outlets to expand the U.S. industrial agricultural base. An overview of the scientific and industrial importance of PHAs, including the molecular genetics, biosynthesis, applications, and markets for these materials will be presented.« less

24 CFR 902.23 - Physical condition standards for public housing-decent, safe, and sanitary housing in good repair...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... water, electrical system, elevators, emergency power, fire protection, HVAC, and sanitary system. Each..., call-for-aid, ceiling, doors, electrical systems, floors, hot water heater, HVAC (where individual... HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Indicator #1: Physical Condition § 902.23 Physical condition standards for...

24 CFR 902.33 - Financial reporting requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as further defined by HUD in supplementary... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Financial reporting requirements... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Indicator #2: Financial Condition § 902.33...

24 CFR 902.43 - Management operations performance standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Management operations performance... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Indicator #3: Management Operations § 902.43 Management operations performance standards. (a) Management operations sub-indicators. The following sub...

24 CFR 902.45 - Management operations scoring and thresholds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Management operations scoring and... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Indicator #3: Management Operations § 902.45 Management operations scoring and thresholds. (a) Scoring. The Management Operations Indicator score provides...

24 CFR 902.26 - Physical Inspection Report.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Physical Inspection Report. 902.26... DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Indicator #1: Physical Condition § 902.26 Physical Inspection Report. (a) Following the physical inspection and computation of the score under this subpart...

24 CFR 902.60 - Data collection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Data collection. 902.60 Section 902.60 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (CONTINUED... PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Scoring § 902.60 Data collection. (a) Fiscal year reporting period...

Food waste conversion to microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates.

PubMed

Nielsen, Chad; Rahman, Asif; Rehman, Asad Ur; Walsh, Marie K; Miller, Charles D

2017-11-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biopolymers with desirable material properties similar to petrochemically derived plastics. PHAs are naturally produced by a wide range of microorganisms as a carbon storage mechanism and can accumulate to significantly high levels. PHAs are an environmentally friendly alternative to their petroleum counterparts because they can be easily degraded, potentially reducing the burden on municipal waste systems. Nevertheless, widespread use of PHAs is not currently realistic due to a variety of factors. One of the major constraints of large-scale PHA production is the cost of carbon substrate for PHA-producing microbes. The cost of production could potentially be reduced with the use of waste carbon from food-related processes. Food wastage is a global issue and therefore harbours immense potential to create valuable bioproducts. This article's main focus is to examine the state of the art of converting food-derived waste into carbon substrates for microbial metabolism and subsequent conversion into PHAs. © 2017 The Authors. Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Society for Applied Microbiology.

24 CFR 902.60 - Data collection.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Data collection. 902.60 Section 902... PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Scoring § 902.60 Data collection. (a) Fiscal Year reporting period... transmission of the data. (c) Financial condition information. Year-end financial information to conduct the...

The Pollution Hazard Assessment System Version 20: Documentation and Users Manual

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-03-15

block number) FIELD GROUP SUB-ROUP Risk Assessment BASIC -- Public Health Baseline Assessments Environmental Effects Su r und 19. ABSTRACT (Continue...PHAS20 health - effects related concepts and operational instructions. Appendix A presents a glossary of terms and data identifications. Appendix B...Computerization) in the Environmental Quality Research Branch of the Health Effects Research Division. The author acknowledges the support of Jesse J. Barkley, Jr

Enhanced Polyhydroxybutyrate Production for Long-Term Spaceflight Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Putman, Ryan J.; Rahman, Asif; Miller, Charles D.; Hadi, Masood Z.

2015-01-01

Synthetic biology holds the promise of advancing long term space fight by the production of medicine, food, materials, and energy. One such application of synthetic biology is the production of biomaterials, specifically polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), using purposed organisms such as Escherichia coli. PHAs are a group of biodegradable bioplastics that are produced by a wide variety of naturally occurring microorganisms, mainly as an energy storage intermediate. PHAs have similar melting point to polypropylene and a Youngs modulus close to polystyrene. Due to limited resources and cost of transportation, large-scale extraction of biologically produced products in situ is extremely cumbersome during space flight. To that end, we are developing a secretion systems for exporting PHA from the cell in order to reduce unit operations. PHAs granules deposited inside bacteria are typically associated with proteins bound to the granule surface. Phasin, a granule bound protein, was targeted for type I secretion by fusion with HlyA signal peptide for indirect secretion of PHAs. In order to validate our secretion strategy, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) was tagged to the PHA polymerase enzyme (phaC), this three part gene cassette consists of phaA and phaB and are required for PHA production. Producing PHAs in situ during space flight or planet colonization will enable mission success by providing a valuable source of biomaterials that can have many potential applications thereby reducing resupply requirements. Biologically produced PHAs can be used in additive manufacturing such as three dimensional (3D) printing to create products that can be made on demand during space flight. After exceeding their lifetime, the PHAs could be melted and recycled back to 3D print other products. We will discuss some of our long term goals of this approach.

24 CFR 902.62 - Failure to submit data.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Failure to submit data. 902.62... DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Scoring § 902.62 Failure to submit data. (a) Failure to... receive a presumptive rating of failure for its unaudited information and shall receive zero points for...

24 CFR 902.62 - Failure to submit data.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Failure to submit data. 902.62... DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Scoring § 902.62 Failure to submit data. (a) Failure to... receive a presumptive rating of failure for its unaudited information and shall receive zero points for...

24 CFR 902.62 - Failure to submit data.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Failure to submit data. 902.62... DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT SYSTEM PHAS Scoring § 902.62 Failure to submit data. (a) Failure to... receive a presumptive rating of failure for its unaudited information and shall receive zero points for...

76 FR 10055 - Changes to the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS): Physical Condition Scoring Notice

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-23

... Weights and Criticality Levels, and Dictionary of Deficiency Definitions The Item Weights and Criticality Levels tables and the Dictionary of Deficiency Definitions, currently in use, were published as... Dictionary of Deficiency Definitions is found at http://www.hud.gov/offices/reac/pdf/pass_dict2.3.pdf . V...

An Atlas of Soybean Small RNAs Identifies Phased siRNAs from Hundreds of Coding Genes[W

PubMed Central

Kakrana, Atul; Huang, Kun; Zhai, Jixian; Yan, Zhe; Valdés-López, Oswaldo; Prince, Silvas; Musket, Theresa A.; Stacey, Gary

2014-01-01

Small RNAs are ubiquitous, versatile repressors and include (1) microRNAs (miRNAs), processed from mRNA forming stem-loops; and (2) small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), the latter derived in plants by a process typically requiring an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. We constructed and analyzed an expression atlas of soybean (Glycine max) small RNAs, identifying over 500 loci generating 21-nucleotide phased siRNAs (phasiRNAs; from PHAS loci), of which 483 overlapped annotated protein-coding genes. Via the integration of miRNAs with parallel analysis of RNA end (PARE) data, 20 miRNA triggers of 127 PHAS loci were detected. The primary class of PHAS loci (208 or 41% of the total) corresponded to NB-LRR genes; some of these small RNAs preferentially accumulate in nodules. Among the PHAS loci, novel representatives of TAS3 and noncanonical phasing patterns were also observed. A noncoding PHAS locus, triggered by miR4392, accumulated preferentially in anthers; the phasiRNAs are predicted to target transposable elements, with their peak abundance during soybean reproductive development. Thus, phasiRNAs show tremendous diversity in dicots. We identified novel miRNAs and assessed the veracity of soybean miRNAs registered in miRBase, substantially improving the soybean miRNA annotation, facilitating an improvement of miRBase annotations and identifying at high stringency novel miRNAs and their targets. PMID:25465409

76 FR 10053 - Changes to the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS): Capital Fund Scoring Notice

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-23

...-3055 (this is not a toll-free number). Individuals with speech or hearing impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service, toll-free, at 800-877-8339. Copies of..., Washington, DC 20410 at 202-475-8830 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or speech...

76 FR 10050 - Changes to the Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS): Management Operations Scoring Notice

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-23

... Division at 202-402-3055 (this is not a toll-free number). Individuals with speech or hearing impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service, toll-free, at 800-877... 100, Washington, DC 20410 at 202-475-8830 (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or...

24 CFR 903.12 - What are the streamlined Annual Plan requirements for small PHAs?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Plan requirements for small PHAs? 903.12 Section 903.12 Housing and Urban Development Regulations... HOUSING, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY PLANS PHA Plans § 903.12 What are the streamlined Annual Plan requirements for small PHAs? (a) General. PHAs with less than 250...

Microbial bio-based plastics from olive-mill wastewater: Generation and properties of polyhydroxyalkanoates from mixed cultures in a two-stage pilot scale system.

PubMed

Ntaikou, I; Valencia Peroni, C; Kourmentza, C; Ilieva, V I; Morelli, A; Chiellini, E; Lyberatos, G

2014-10-20

The operational efficiency of a two stage pilot scale system for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production from three phase olive oil mill wastewater (OMW) was investigated in this study. A mixed anaerobic, acidogenic culture derived from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, was used in the first stage, aiming to the acidification of OMW. The effluent of the first bioreactor that was operated in continuous mode, was collected in a sedimentation tank in which partial removal of the suspended solids was taking place, and was then forwarded to an aerobic reactor, operated in sequential batch mode under nutrient limitation. In the second stage an enriched culture of Pseudomonas sp. was used as initial inoculum for the production of PHAs from the acidified waste. Clarification of the acidified waste, using aluminium sulphate which causes flocculation and precipitation of solids, was also performed, and its effect on the composition of the acidified waste as well as on the yields and properties of PHAs was investigated. It was shown that clarification had no significant qualitative or quantitative effect on the primary carbon sources, i.e. short chain fatty acids and residual sugars, but only on the values of total suspended solids and total chemical oxygen demand of the acidified waste. The type and thermal characteristics of the produced PHAs were also similar for both types of feed. However the clarification of the waste seemed to have a positive impact on final PHAs yield, measured as gPHAs/100g of VSS, which reached up to 25%. Analysis of the final products via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed the existence of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxyoctanoate (HO) units, leading to the conclusion that the polymer could be either a blend of P3HB and P3HO homopolymers or/and the 3HB-co-3HO co-polymer, an unusual polymer occurring in nature with advanced properties. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Creation of High-Yield Polyhydroxyalkanoates Engineered Strains by Low Energy Ion Implantation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Shiquan; Cheng, Ying; Zhu, Suwen; Cheng, Beijiu

2008-12-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), as a candidate for biodegradable plastic materials, can be synthesized by numerous microorganisms. However, as its production cost is high in comparison with those of chemically synthesized plastics, a lot of research has been focused on the efficient production of PHAs using different methods. In the present study, the mutation effects of PHAs production in strain pCB4 were investigated with implantation of low energy ions. It was found that under the implantation conditions of 7.8 × 1014 N+/cm2 at 10 keV, a high-yield PHAs strain with high genetic stability was generated from many mutants. After optimizing its fermentation conditions, the biomass, PHAs concentration and PHAs content of pCBH4 reached 2.26 g/L, 1.81 g/L, and 80.08% respectively, whereas its wild type controls were about 1.24 g/L, 0.61 g/L, and 49.20%. Moreover, the main constituent of PHAs was identified as poly-3-hydroxybutyrates (PHB) in the mutant stain and the yield of this compound was increased up to 41.33% in contrast to that of 27.78% in the wild type strain.

Current trends in polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) biosynthesis: insights from the recombinant Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Leong, Yoong Kit; Show, Pau Loke; Ooi, Chien Wei; Ling, Tau Chuan; Lan, John Chi-Wei

2014-06-20

Pursuing the current trend, the "green-polymers", polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) which are degradable and made from renewable sources have been a potential substitute for synthetic plastics. Due to the increasing concern towards escalating crude oil price, depleting petroleum resource and environmental damages done by plastics, PHAs have gained more and more attractions, both from industry and research. From the view point of Escherichia coli, a microorganism that used in the biopolymer large scale production, this paper describes the backgrounds of PHA and summarizes the current advances in PHA developments. In the short-chain-length (scl) PHAs section, the study of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] [P(3HB)] as model polymer, ultra-high-molecular-weight P(3HB) which rarely discussed, and P(3HB-co-3HV), another commercialized PHA polymer are included. Other than that, this review also shed some light on the new members of PHA family, lactate-based PHAs and P(3HP) with topics such as block copolymers and invention of novel biopolymers. Flexibility of microorganisms in utilizing different carbon sources to accumulate medium-chain-length (mcl) PHAs and lastly, the promising scl-mcl-PHAs with interesting properties are also discussed. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cost-effective defined medium for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates using agricultural raw materials.

PubMed

Suwannasing, Waranya; Imai, Tsuyoshi; Kaewkannetra, Pakawadee

2015-10-01

According to the cost of carbon substrate for producing biopolymer of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) still has a barrier to extend in an industrial scale. The aim of this work was to evaluate the defined PHAs media containing the agricultural raw materials of pineapple and sugarcane to produce PHAs by Bacillus strain. Batch fermentation was carried out in flask scale to compare the efficiency of defined media using statistical methodology. The defined medium 8 of pineapple was achieved the highest PHAs concentration and productivity (1.86 g/L and 0.077 g/Lh). The effect of pH and aeration was extensively studied in a fermentor. The results were revealed that PHAs production would be increased from the condition of uncontrolled pH and at higher aeration rate. The extracted PHAs clearly showed in a homopolymer structure of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with melting temperature (Tm) of 172°C 54.39% crystallinity. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Crystallization behaviours of bacterially synthesized poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s in the presence of oxalamide compounds with different configurations.

PubMed

Xu, Pengwu; Feng, Yongqi; Ma, Piming; Chen, Yongjun; Dong, Weifu; Chen, Mingqing

2017-11-01

Bacterially synthesized poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs) suffers from low crystallization rate which is enhanced by using tailor-made oxalamide compounds as nucleators. The influence of nucleator configurations on the crystallization behaviour of the PHAs was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The oxalamide compounds with ringy terminal structures (cyclohexyl and phenyl), notably the phenyl group, show higher nucleation efficiency and a better compatibility in the PHAs matrix, while the linear terminal structure (n-hexane) has poor nucleation effect. The crystallization temperature (T c ) and the crystallinity (X c ) of the PHAs are increased from 58°C to 71°C and from 5% to 48%, respectively, after addition of 0.75wt% of the nucleator (phenyl group) upon cooling from the melt. Meanwhile, the half-life isothermal crystallization time (t 0.5 ) of the PHAs at 110°C is decreased by 70%. The oxalamide compounds increases the nuclei density of the PHAs accompanied with a reduction in spherulitic size. In addition, the crystal form and crystallization mechanism of the PHAs are not altered obviously after addition of the nulceators as confirmed by the POM, XRD and Avrami analysis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344, a cyanide-degrading bacterium with by-product (polyhydroxyalkanoates) formation capacity.

PubMed

Manso Cobos, Isabel; Ibáñez García, María Isabel; de la Peña Moreno, Fernando; Sáez Melero, Lara Paloma; Luque-Almagro, Víctor Manuel; Castillo Rodríguez, Francisco; Roldán Ruiz, María Dolores; Prieto Jiménez, María Auxiliadora; Moreno Vivián, Conrado

2015-06-10

Cyanide is one of the most toxic chemicals produced by anthropogenic activities like mining and jewelry industries, which generate wastewater residues with high concentrations of this compound. Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 is a model microorganism to be used in detoxification of industrial wastewaters containing not only free cyanide (CN(-)) but also cyano-derivatives, such as cyanate, nitriles and metal-cyanide complexes. Previous in silico analyses suggested the existence of genes putatively involved in metabolism of short chain length (scl-) and medium chain length (mcl-) polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) located in three different clusters in the genome of this bacterium. PHAs are polyesters considered as an alternative of petroleum-based plastics. Strategies to optimize the bioremediation process in terms of reducing the cost of the production medium are required. In this work, a biological treatment of the jewelry industry cyanide-rich wastewater coupled to PHAs production as by-product has been considered. The functionality of the pha genes from P. pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 has been demonstrated. Mutant strains defective in each proposed PHA synthases coding genes (Mpha(-), deleted in putative mcl-PHA synthases; Spha(-), deleted in the putative scl-PHA synthase) were generated. The accumulation and monomer composition of scl- or mcl-PHAs in wild type and mutant strains were confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The production of PHAs as by-product while degrading cyanide from the jewelry industry wastewater was analyzed in batch reactor in each strain. The wild type and the mutant strains grew at similar rates when using octanoate as the carbon source and cyanide as the sole nitrogen source. When cyanide was depleted from the medium, both scl-PHAs and mcl-PHAs were detected in the wild-type strain, whereas scl-PHAs or mcl-PHAs were accumulated in Mpha(-) and Spha(-), respectively. The scl-PHAs were identified as homopolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate and the mcl-PHAs were composed of 3-hydroxyoctanoate and 3-hydroxyhexanoate monomers. These results demonstrated, as proof of concept, that talented strains such as P. pseudoalcaligenes might be applied in bioremediation of industrial residues containing cyanide, while concomitantly generate by-products like polyhydroxyalkanoates. A customized optimization of the target bioremediation process is required to gain benefits of this type of approaches.

A Pilot Test of a Church-Based Intervention to Promote Multiple Cancer-Screening Behaviors among Latinas

PubMed Central

Allen, Jennifer D.; Pérez, John E.; Tom, Laura; Leyva, Bryan; Diaz, Daisy; Torres, Maria Idali

2013-01-01

We assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and initial impact of a church-based educational program to promote breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening among Latinas ages 18 and over. We used a one-group pre/post evaluation within a low-income, Latino Baptist church in Boston, MA. Participants completed interviewer-administered assessments at baseline and at the end of the six-month intervention. Under the guidance of a patient navigator (PN), women from the church (peer health advisors, or PHAs) were trained to deliver evidence-based screening interventions, including one-to-one outreach, small group education, client reminders, and reduction of structural barriers to screening. The PN and PHAs also implemented a health fair and the pastor integrated health information into regular sermons. At pre-intervention, nearly half of the sample did not meet screening guidelines. The majority (97%, n = 35) of those who completed the post-intervention assessment participated in intervention activities. Two-thirds (67%) reported talking with the PN or PHAs about health issues. Participation in small group education sessions was highest (72%), with health fairs (61%), and goal setting (50%) also being popular activities. Fourteen percent also reported receiving help from the PN to access screening tests. This study supports the feasibility and acceptability of churches as a setting to promote cancer screening among Latinas. PMID:24132541

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope as a Near-Earth Object discovery machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, R. Lynne; Slater, Colin T.; Moeyens, Joachim; Allen, Lori; Axelrod, Tim; Cook, Kem; Ivezić, Željko; Jurić, Mario; Myers, Jonathan; Petry, Catherine E.

2018-03-01

Using the most recent prototypes, design, and as-built system information, we test and quantify the capability of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) to discover Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) and Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). We empirically estimate an expected upper limit to the false detection rate in LSST image differencing, using measurements on DECam data and prototype LSST software and find it to be about 450 deg-2. We show that this rate is already tractable with current prototype of the LSST Moving Object Processing System (MOPS) by processing a 30-day simulation consistent with measured false detection rates. We proceed to evaluate the performance of the LSST baseline survey strategy for PHAs and NEOs using a high-fidelity simulated survey pointing history. We find that LSST alone, using its baseline survey strategy, will detect 66% of the PHA and 61% of the NEO population objects brighter than H = 22 , with the uncertainty in the estimate of ± 5 percentage points. By generating and examining variations on the baseline survey strategy, we show it is possible to further improve the discovery yields. In particular, we find that extending the LSST survey by two additional years and doubling the MOPS search window increases the completeness for PHAs to 86% (including those discovered by contemporaneous surveys) without jeopardizing other LSST science goals (77% for NEOs). This equates to reducing the undiscovered population of PHAs by additional 26% (15% for NEOs), relative to the baseline survey.

24 CFR 902.47 - Management operations portion of total PHAS points.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Management operations portion of... Operations § 902.47 Management operations portion of total PHAS points. Of the total 100 points available for a PHAS score, a PHA may receive up to 30 points based on the Management Operations Indicator. ...

75 FR 29571 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Training Evaluation Form

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-26

... public housing agencies (PHAs) and establishes requirements for PHAs to convert to asset management... regarding asset management. Under Sec. 990.260(a), PHAs that own and operate 250 or more dwelling rental units must operate using an asset management model consistent with the subpart H regulations. However...

24 CFR 902.68 - Technical review of results of PHAS physical condition indicator.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Technical review of results of PHAS physical condition indicator. 902.68 Section 902.68 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO... review of results of PHAS physical condition indicator. (a) Request for technical reviews. This section...

Microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and its copolymers: A review of recent advancements.

PubMed

Anjum, Anbreen; Zuber, Mohammad; Zia, Khalid Mahmood; Noreen, Aqdas; Anjum, Muhammad Naveed; Tabasum, Shazia

2016-08-01

Traditional mineral oil based plastics are important commodity to enhance the comfort and quality of life but the accumulation of these plastics in the environment has become a major universal problem due to their low biodegradation. Solution to the plastic waste management includes incineration, recycling and landfill disposal methods. These processes are very time consuming and expensive. Biopolymers are important alternatives to the petroleum-based plastics due to environment friendly manufacturing processes, biodegradability and biocompatibility. Therefore use of novel biopolymers, such as polylactide, polysaccharides, aliphatic polyesters and polyhydroxyalkanoates is of interest. PHAs are biodegradable polyesters of hydroxyalkanoates (HA) produced from renewable resources by using microorganisms as intracellular carbon and energy storage compounds. Even though PHAs are promising candidate for biodegradable polymers, however, the production cost limit their application on an industrial scale. This article provides an overview of various substrates, microorganisms for the economical production of PHAs and its copolymers. Recent advances in PHAs to reduce the cost and to improve the performance of PHAs have also been discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

76 FR 30182 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Section 5(h) Homeownership Program...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-24

... Its Proposed Use: Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) maintain sales and financial records of their plan... comments on the subject proposal. Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) maintain sales and financial records of their plan. Residents may apply to PHAs to purchase units. DATES: Comments Due Date: June 23, 2011...

Spaceflight Ground Support Equipment Reliability & System Safety Data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fernandez, Rene; Riddlebaugh, Jeffrey; Brinkman, John; Wilkinson, Myron

2012-01-01

Presented were Reliability Analysis, consisting primarily of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), and System Safety Analysis, consisting of Preliminary Hazards Analysis (PHA), performed to ensure that the CoNNeCT (Communications, Navigation, and Networking re- Configurable Testbed) Flight System was safely and reliably operated during its Assembly, Integration and Test (AI&T) phase. A tailored approach to the NASA Ground Support Equipment (GSE) standard, NASA-STD-5005C, involving the application of the appropriate Requirements, S&MA discipline expertise, and a Configuration Management system (to retain a record of the analysis and documentation) were presented. Presented were System Block Diagrams of selected GSE and the corresponding FMEA, as well as the PHAs. Also discussed are the specific examples of the FMEAs and PHAs being used during the AI&T phase to drive modifications to the GSE (via "redlining" of test procedures, and the placement of warning stickers to protect the flight hardware) before being interfaced to the Flight System. These modifications were necessary because failure modes and hazards were identified during the analysis that had not been properly mitigated. Strict Configuration Management was applied to changes (whether due to upgrades or expired calibrations) in the GSE by revisiting the FMEAs and PHAs to reflect the latest System Block Diagrams and Bill Of Material. The CoNNeCT flight system has been successfully assembled, integrated, tested, and shipped to the launch site without incident. This demonstrates that the steps taken to safeguard the flight system when it was interfaced to the various GSE were successful.

24 CFR 902.5 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Housing Quality Standards. (ii) Management Assessment Score. A PHA will receive an assessment score on the... RMCs and AMEs. This part applies to PHAs, Resident Management Corporations (RMCs) and Alternate Management Entities (AMEs), as described in this section. As described in this section, this part is also...

Design and production of functionalized biopolyesters by Methylobacterium extorquens ATCC 55366: Toward new tissue engineering materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoefer, Heinrich Friedrich Philipp Till Nikolaus

Vascular networks are required to support the formation and function of three-dimensional tissues. Biodegradable scaffolds are being considered in order to promote vascularization where natural regeneration of lost or destroyed vascular networks fails. Particularly; composite materials are expected to fulfill the complex demands of a patient's body to support wound healing. Microbial biopolyesters are being regarded as such second and third generation biomaterials. Methylobacterium extorquens is one of several microorganisms that should be considered for the production of advanced polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). M. extorquens displays a distinct advantage in that it is able to utilize methanol as an inexpensive substrate for growth and biopolyester production. The design of functionalized PHAs, which would be made of both saturated short-chain-length (scl, C ≤ 5) and unsaturated medium-chain-length (mcl, 6 ≤ C ≤ 14) monomeric units, aimed at combining desirable material properties of inert scl/mcl-PHAs with those of functionalized mcl-PHAs. By independently inserting the phaC1 or the phaC2 gene from Pseudomonas fluorescens GK13, recombinant M. extorquens strains were obtained which were capable of producing PHAs containing C-C double bonds. A fermentation process was developed to obtain gram quantities of biopolyesters employing the recombinant M. extorquens ATCC 55366 strain which harbored the phaC2 gene of P. fluorescens GK13, the better one of the two strains at incorporating unsaturated monomeric units. The PHAs produced were found in a blend of scl-PHAs and functionalized scl/mcl-PHAs (4 ≤ C ≤ 6), which were the products of the native and of the recombinant PHA synthase, respectively. Thermo-mechanical analysis confirmed that the functionalized scl/mcl-PHAs exhibited the desirable material properties expected. This project contributed to current research on polyhydroxyalkanoates at different levels. The terminal double bonds of the functionalized scl/mcl-PHAs are amenable to chemical modifications and could be transformed into reactive functional groups for covalently linking other biomacromolecules. It is anticipated that these biopolyesters will be utilized as tissue engineering materials in the future, due to their functionality and thermo-mechanical properties. Keywords: biopolyesters, functionalized polyhydroxyalkanoates, Methylobacterium extorquens, genetic modification, fermentation in pilot-scale operators, material characterization, thermo-mechanical properties, tissue engineering

Data to Action: Using Environmental Public Health Tracking to Inform Decision Making

PubMed Central

Qualters, Judith R; Strosnider, Heather M; Bell, Rosalyn

2017-01-01

Context Public health surveillance includes dissemination of data and information to those who need it to take action to prevent or control disease. The concept of data to action is explicit in the mission of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program (Tracking Program). CDC has built a National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (Tracking Network) to integrate health and environmental data to drive public health action (PHA) to improve communities’ health. Objective To assess the utility of the Tracking Program and its Network in environmental public health practice and policy-making. Design We analyzed information on how Tracking has been used to drive PHAs within funded states and cities (grantees). Two case studies illustrate such use. Setting Analyses included all grantees funded between 2005 and 2013. Participants The number of grantees varied from 17 for 2006–2008 to 24 for 2010–2013. Main Outcome Measures We categorized each PHA reported to determine how grantees became involved, their role, the problems addressed, and the overall action. Results Tracking grantees reported 178 PHAs from 2006–2013. The most common overall action was “provided information in response to concern” (n=42) followed by “improved a public health program, intervention, or response plan” (n=35). Tracking’s role was most often to enhance surveillance (24%) or to analyze data (23%). In 47% of PHAs, the underlying problem was a concern about possible elevated rates of a health outcome, a potential exposure, or a potential association between a hazard and health. PHAs were started by a request for assistance (48%), in response to an emergency (8%), and though routine work by Tracking programs (43%). Conclusion Our review shows that the data, expertise, technical infrastructure, and other resources of the Tracking Program and its Network are driving state and local PHAs. PMID:25621441

Current trends in biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates.

PubMed

Chanprateep, Suchada

2010-12-01

The microbial polyesters known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) positively impact global climate change scenarios by reducing the amount of non-degradable plastic used. A wide variety of different monomer compositions of PHAs has been described, as well as their future prospects for applications where high biodegradability or biocompatibility is required. PHAs can be produced from renewable raw materials and are degraded naturally by microorganisms that enable carbon dioxide and organic compound recycling in the ecosystem, providing a buffer to climate change. This review summarizes recent research on PHAs and addresses the opportunities as well as challenges for their place in the global market. Copyright © 2010 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Challenges and Opportunities for Customizing Polyhydroxyalkanoates.

PubMed

Singh, Mamtesh; Kumar, Prasun; Ray, Subhasree; Kalia, Vipin C

2015-09-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) as an alternative to synthetic plastics have been gaining increasing attention. Being natural in their origin, PHAs are completely biodegradable and eco-friendly. However, consistent efforts to exploit this biopolymer over the last few decades have not been able to pull PHAs out of their nascent stage, inspite of being the favorite of the commercial world. The major limitations are: (1) the high production cost, which is due to the high cost of the feed and (2) poor thermal and mechanical properties of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), the most commonly produced PHAs. PHAs have the physicochemical properties which are quite comparable to petroleum based plastics, but PHB being homopolymers are quite brittle, less elastic and have thermal properties which are not suitable for processing them into sturdy products. These properties, including melting point (Tm), glass transition temperature (Tg), elastic modulus, tensile strength, elongation etc. can be improved by varying the monomeric composition and molecular weight. These enhanced characteristics can be achieved by modifications in the types of substrates, feeding strategies, culture conditions and/or genetic manipulations.

24 CFR 990.290 - Compliance with asset management requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... an independent assessment. (1) The assessment is to be conducted by a professional familiar with... professional is to be procured by HUD. (2) The professional review and recommendation will then be forwarded to... compliance with the project-based accounting and budgeting requirements in this subpart by FY 2007. PHAs must...

24 CFR 990.290 - Compliance with asset management requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... an independent assessment. (1) The assessment is to be conducted by a professional familiar with... professional is to be procured by HUD. (2) The professional review and recommendation will then be forwarded to... compliance with the project-based accounting and budgeting requirements in this subpart by FY 2007. PHAs must...

24 CFR 990.290 - Compliance with asset management requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... an independent assessment. (1) The assessment is to be conducted by a professional familiar with... professional is to be procured by HUD. (2) The professional review and recommendation will then be forwarded to... compliance with the project-based accounting and budgeting requirements in this subpart by FY 2007. PHAs must...

24 CFR 990.290 - Compliance with asset management requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... an independent assessment. (1) The assessment is to be conducted by a professional familiar with... professional is to be procured by HUD. (2) The professional review and recommendation will then be forwarded to... compliance with the project-based accounting and budgeting requirements in this subpart by FY 2007. PHAs must...

24 CFR 990.290 - Compliance with asset management requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... an independent assessment. (1) The assessment is to be conducted by a professional familiar with... professional is to be procured by HUD. (2) The professional review and recommendation will then be forwarded to... compliance with the project-based accounting and budgeting requirements in this subpart by FY 2007. PHAs must...

76 FR 43219 - Public Housing: Physical Needs Assessment

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-20

... measures (ECMs), and incorporate cost-effective data from energy audits and PNAs into their assessment. The... energy conservation measures (ECMs) identified in the energy audit. While HUD proposes to require PHAs to... energy conservation measures (ECMs) identified in the energy audit. For each ECM reviewed as part of an...

24 CFR Appendix to Part 972 - Methodology of Comparing Cost of Public Housing With the Cost of Tenant-Based Assistance

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... justified by a newly created property-based needs assessment (a life-cycle physical needs assessments... calculated as the sum of total operating cost, modernization cost, and costs to address accrual needs. Costs... assist PHAs in completing the assessments. The spreadsheet calculator is designed to walk housing...

24 CFR Appendix to Part 972 - Methodology of Comparing Cost of Public Housing With the Cost of Tenant-Based Assistance

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... justified by a newly created property-based needs assessment (a life-cycle physical needs assessments... calculated as the sum of total operating cost, modernization cost, and costs to address accrual needs. Costs... assist PHAs in completing the assessments. The spreadsheet calculator is designed to walk housing...

77 FR 32015 - Revision to the Section 8 Management Assessment Program Lease-Up Indicator

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-31

... of this bias, and is also more consistent with HUD's renewal funding policy in recent years that... overcome. The commenter recommended that HUD provide temporary exclusions from PHAs' HCV baseline, on a...

Effect of saturated and unsaturated fatty acid supplementation on bio-plastic production under submerged fermentation.

PubMed

Srivastava, S K; Tripathi, Abhishek Dutt

2013-10-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are intracellular reserve material stored by gram-negative bacteria under nutrient-limited condition. PHAs are utilized in biodegradable plastics (bio-plastics) synthesis due to their similarity with conventional synthetic plastic. In the present study, the effect of addition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid) on the production of PHAs by the soil bacterium Alcaligenes sp. NCIM 5085 was studied. Fatty acid supplementation in basal media produced saturated and unsaturated PHAs of medium and short chain length. Gas chromatography analysis of palmitic acid-supplemented media showed the presence of short chain length (scl) PHAs which could potentially serve as precursors for bio-plastic production. The scl PHA was subsequently characterized as PHB by NMR and FTIR. On the other hand, oleic acid and linoleic acid addition showed both saturated and unsaturated PHAs of different chain lengths. Palmitic acid showed maximum PHB content of 70.8 % at concentration of 15 g l -1 under shake flask cultivation. When shake flask cultivation was scaled up in a 7.5-l bioreactor (working volume 3 l), 7.6 g l -1 PHA was produced with a PHB yield (Y P/X ) and productivity of 75.89 % and 0.14 g l -1  h, respectively.

An evaluation of the phosphorus storage capacity of an anaerobic/aerobic sequential batch biofilm reactor.

PubMed

Chiou, Ren-Jie; Yang, Yi-Rong

2008-07-01

The aim of this work was to assess the phosphorus storage capability of the polyphosphate (poly-P) accumulating organisms (PAO) in the biofilm using a sequential batch biofilm reactor (SBBR). In the anaerobic phase, the specific COD uptake rates increases from 0.05 to 0.22 (mg-COD/mg-biomass/h) as the initial COD increases and the main COD uptake activity occurs in the initial 30 min. The polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) accumulation from 18 to 38 (mg-PHA/g-biomass) and phosphorus release from 20 to 60 (mg-P/L) share a similar trend. The adsorbed COD cannot be immediately transformed to PHAs. Since the PHAs' demand per released phosphorus is independent of the initial COD, the enhancement of the PHA accumulation would be of benefit to phosphorus release. The only requirement is to have an initial amount of substrate that will result in sufficient PHA accumulation (approximately 20 mg-PHA/g-biomass) for phosphorus release. During the aerobic phase, the aeration should not only provide sufficient dissolved oxygen, but should also enhance the mass transfer and the diffusion. In other words, the limitation to the phosphorus storage capability always occurs during the anaerobic phase, not the aerobic phase.

Polyesters from microorganisms.

PubMed

Kim, Y B; Lenz, R W

2001-01-01

Bacterial polyesters have been found to have useful properties for applications as thermoplastics, elastomers, and adhesives and are biodegradable and biocompatible. Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) and poly(beta-malate) are the most representative polyesters synthesized by microorganisms. PHAs containing a wide variety of repeating units can be produced by bacteria, including those containing many types of pendant functional groups which can be synthesized by microorganisms that are grown on unnatural organic substrates. Poly(beta-malate) is of interest primarily for medical applications, especially for drug delivery systems. In this chapter, the bacterial production and properties of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) and poly(beta-malate) are described with emphasis on the former.

24 CFR 905.10 - Capital Fund formula (CFF).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Grant formula system or the Comprehensive Improvement Assistance Program (CIAP) formula system will be... formula share had the FFY 1999 formula system been applied to these CFF eligible units. The FFY 1999 formula system is based upon the FFY 1999 Comprehensive Grant formula system for PHAs with 250 or more...

Metabolic Engineering of Poly(3-Hydroxyalkanoates): From DNA to Plastic

PubMed Central

Madison, Lara L.; Huisman, Gjalt W.

1999-01-01

Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) are a class of microbially produced polyesters that have potential applications as conventional plastics, specifically thermoplastic elastomers. A wealth of biological diversity in PHA formation exists, with at least 100 different PHA constituents and at least five different dedicated PHA biosynthetic pathways. This diversity, in combination with classical microbial physiology and modern molecular biology, has now opened up this area for genetic and metabolic engineering to develop optimal PHA-producing organisms. Commercial processes for PHA production were initially developed by W. R. Grace in the 1960s and later developed by Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., in the United Kingdom in the 1970s and 1980s. Since the early 1990s, Metabolix Inc. and Monsanto have been the driving forces behind the commercial exploitation of PHA polymers in the United States. The gram-negative bacterium Ralstonia eutropha, formerly known as Alcaligenes eutrophus, has generally been used as the production organism of choice, and intracellular accumulation of PHA of over 90% of the cell dry weight have been reported. The advent of molecular biological techniques and a developing environmental awareness initiated a renewed scientific interest in PHAs, and the biosynthetic machinery for PHA metabolism has been studied in great detail over the last two decades. Because the structure and monomeric composition of PHAs determine the applications for each type of polymer, a variety of polymers have been synthesized by cofeeding of various substrates or by metabolic engineering of the production organism. Classical microbiology and modern molecular bacterial physiology have been brought together to decipher the intricacies of PHA metabolism both for production purposes and for the unraveling of the natural role of PHAs. This review provides an overview of the different PHA biosynthetic systems and their genetic background, followed by a detailed summation of how this natural diversity is being used to develop commercially attractive, recombinant processes for the large-scale production of PHAs. PMID:10066830

Metabolic engineering of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates): from DNA to plastic.

PubMed

Madison, L L; Huisman, G W

1999-03-01

Poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) are a class of microbially produced polyesters that have potential applications as conventional plastics, specifically thermoplastic elastomers. A wealth of biological diversity in PHA formation exists, with at least 100 different PHA constituents and at least five different dedicated PHA biosynthetic pathways. This diversity, in combination with classical microbial physiology and modern molecular biology, has now opened up this area for genetic and metabolic engineering to develop optimal PHA-producing organisms. Commercial processes for PHA production were initially developed by W. R. Grace in the 1960s and later developed by Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., in the United Kingdom in the 1970s and 1980s. Since the early 1990s, Metabolix Inc. and Monsanto have been the driving forces behind the commercial exploitation of PHA polymers in the United States. The gram-negative bacterium Ralstonia eutropha, formerly known as Alcaligenes eutrophus, has generally been used as the production organism of choice, and intracellular accumulation of PHA of over 90% of the cell dry weight have been reported. The advent of molecular biological techniques and a developing environmental awareness initiated a renewed scientific interest in PHAs, and the biosynthetic machinery for PHA metabolism has been studied in great detail over the last two decades. Because the structure and monomeric composition of PHAs determine the applications for each type of polymer, a variety of polymers have been synthesized by cofeeding of various substrates or by metabolic engineering of the production organism. Classical microbiology and modern molecular bacterial physiology have been brought together to decipher the intricacies of PHA metabolism both for production purposes and for the unraveling of the natural role of PHAs. This review provides an overview of the different PHA biosynthetic systems and their genetic background, followed by a detailed summation of how this natural diversity is being used to develop commercially attractive, recombinant processes for the large-scale production of PHAs.

Advancing Renewable Materials by Integrated Light and X-ray Scattering - Final Technical Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Akpalu, Yvonne A.

Polyhydroxyalkanotes (PHAs), a group of newly developed, commercially available biopolymers, and their composites have the potential to replace petroleum-based amorphous and semicrystalline polymers currently in use for consumer packaging, adhesives, and coating applications and to have significant advantages in medical applications such as tissue engineering. While the potential of PHAs is recognized in the literature and has even been realized in some cases, knowledge of these systems is decades behind that of synthetic polymers. Composites based on PHAs, furthermore, are just emerging in the research community. We argue that widespread adoption of nano-enhanced PHA materials can only be achieved throughmore » a proper characterization of the nanofiller morphology and its impact on the polymer matrix. Our goal is to build a robust understanding of the structure-processing relationships of PHAs to make it possible to achieve fundamental control over the final properties of these biopolymers and their bionanocomposites and to develop cost-effective manufacturing technologies for them. With the ultimate goal to design PHA polymer nanocomposites with tailored properties, we have performed a systematic study of the influence of cooling rate on the thermal properties and morphology of linear PHAs (PHB Mw = 690,000 g/mol; PHBV Mw = 407,000 g/mol, 8 mol % HV) and branched (PHBHx, Mw = 903, 000 g/mol, 7.2 mol % Hx) copolymers. Structure-property relations for silica/PHBHx nanocomposites were also investigated. Our studies show that simple two-phase composite models do not account for the molecular weight dependent enhancement in the modulus. Although improvement of the mechanical properties (stiffness/modulus and toughness) must be due to alteration of the matrix by the nanoparticle filler, the observed improvement was not caused by the change of crystallinity or spherulitic morphology. Since the mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites can be affected by many factors, such as the interaction between particles and a polymer matrix, crystallinity of the polymer, spherulitic morphology, molecular weight of the polymer matrix, the PHA system studied can serve as a model system for determining the unique influence of particle characteristics on the morphology and mechanical properties of renewable polymer matrices. Motivated by our promising results, we have initiated a systematic morphology characterization studies on a series of branched PHA polymers to uncover conceptual models that predict reinforcement and toughening in renewable polymer nanocomposites as a function particle characteristics, molecular weight and polymer backbone structure. Thus how enhancement in the mechanical properties occurs in PHAs is the focus of our work. In March 2010, the PI discovered a process that will allow better control of particle dispersion in PHA matrices. A graduate student (Sandip Argekar) was added to the project to help test this discovery and the scale up potential for the low-cost manufacture of renewable polymer nanocomposite films. If successful, the PI and co-PI will submit an SBIR proposal to facilitate technology transfer of the discoveries under this award.« less

The role of graphene oxide and graphene oxide-based nanomaterials in the removal of pharmaceuticals from aqueous media: a review.

PubMed

Khan, Ayub; Wang, Jian; Li, Jun; Wang, Xiangxue; Chen, Zhongshan; Alsaedi, Ahmed; Hayat, Tasawar; Chen, Yuantao; Wang, Xiangke

2017-03-01

In this review paper, the ill effects of pharmaceuticals (PhAs) on the environment and their adsorption on graphene oxide (GO) and graphene oxide-based (GO-based) nanomaterials have been summarised and discussed. The adsorption of prominent PhAs discussed herein includes beta-blockers (atenolol and propranolol), antibiotics (tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole), pharmaceutically active compounds (carbamazepine) and analgesics such as diclofenac. The adsorption of PhAs strictly depends upon the experimental conditions such as pH, adsorbent and adsorbate concentrations, temperature, ionic strength, etc. To understand the adsorption mechanism and feasibility of the adsorption process, the adsorption isotherms, thermodynamics and kinetic studies were also considered. Except for some cases, GO and its derivatives show excellent adsorption capacities for PhAs, which is crucial for their applications in the environmental pollution cleanup.

Marine sponge-associated bacteria as a potential source for polyhydroxyalkanoates.

PubMed

Sathiyanarayanan, Ganesan; Saibaba, Ganesan; Kiran, George Seghal; Yang, Yung-Hun; Selvin, Joseph

2017-05-01

Marine sponges are filter feeding porous animals and usually harbor a remarkable array of microorganisms in their mesohyl tissues as transient and resident endosymbionts. The marine sponge-microbial interactions are highly complex and, in some cases, the relationships are thought to be truly symbiotic or mutualistic rather than temporary associations resulting from sponge filter-feeding activity. The marine sponge-associated bacteria are fascinating source for various biomolecules that are of potential interest to several biotechnological industries. In recent times, a particular attention has been devoted to bacterial biopolymer (polyesters) such as intracellular polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) produced by sponge-associated bacteria. Bacterial PHAs act as an internal reserve for carbon and energy and also are a tremendous alternative for fossil fuel-based polymers mainly due to their eco-friendliness. In addition, PHAs are produced when the microorganisms are under stressful conditions and this biopolymer synthesis might be exhibited as one of the survival mechanisms of sponge-associated or endosymbiotic bacteria which exist in a highly competitive and stressful sponge-mesohyl microenvironment. In this review, we have emphasized the industrial prospects of marine bacteria for the commercial production of PHAs and special importance has been given to marine sponge-associated bacteria as a potential resource for PHAs.

Impaired Endothelial Repair Capacity of Early Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Hypertensive Patients With Primary Hyperaldosteronemia: Role of 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydrobiopterin Oxidation and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Uncoupling.

PubMed

Chen, Long; Ding, Mei-Lin; Wu, Fang; He, Wen; Li, Jin; Zhang, Xiao-Yu; Xie, Wen-Li; Duan, Sheng-Zhong; Xia, Wen-Hao; Tao, Jun

2016-02-01

Although hyperaldosteronemia exerts detrimental impacts on vascular endothelium in addition to elevating blood pressure, the effects and molecular mechanisms of hyperaldosteronemia on early endothelial progenitor cell (EPC)-mediated endothelial repair after arterial damage are yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the endothelial repair capacity of early EPCs from hypertensive patients with primary hyperaldosteronemia (PHA). In vivo endothelial repair capacity of early EPCs from PHAs (n=20), age- and blood pressure-matched essential hypertension patients (n=20), and age-matched healthy subjects (n=20) was evaluated by transplantation into a nude mouse carotid endothelial denudation model. Endothelial function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilation of brachial artery in human subjects. In vivo endothelial repair capacity of early EPCs and flow-mediated dilation were impaired both in PHAs and in essential hypertension patients when compared with age-matched healthy subjects; however, the early EPC in vivo endothelial repair capacity and flow-mediated dilation of PHAs were impaired more severely than essential hypertension patients. Oral spironolactone improved early EPC in vivo endothelial repair capacity and flow-mediated dilation of PHAs. Increased oxidative stress, oxidative 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin degradation, endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling and decreased nitric oxide production were found in early EPCs from PHAs. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunit p47(phox) knockdown or 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin supplementation attenuated endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling and enhanced in vivo endothelial repair capacity of early EPCs from PHAs. In conclusion, PHAs exhibited more impaired endothelial repair capacity of early EPCs than did essential hypertension patients independent of blood pressure, which was associated with mineralocorticoid receptor-dependent oxidative stress and subsequently 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin degradation and endothelial nitric oxide synthase uncoupling. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Perna, D.; Barucci, M. A.; Fornasier, S.

Through their delivery of water and organics, near-Earth objects (NEOs) played an important role in the emergence of life on our planet.  However, they also pose a hazard to the Earth, as asteroid impacts could significantly affect our civilization. Potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) are those that, in principle, could possibly impact the Earth within the next century, producing major damage. About 1600 PHAs are currently known, from an estimated population of 4700 ± 1450. However, a comprehensive characterization of the PHA physical properties is still missing. Here we present spectroscopic observations of 14 PHAs, which we have used to derive their taxonomy,more » meteorite analogs, and mineralogy. Combining our results with the literature, we investigated how PHAs are distributed as a function of their dynamical and physical properties. In general, the “carbonaceous” PHAs seem to be particularly threatening, because of their high porosity (limiting the effectiveness of the main deflection techniques that could be used in space) and low inclination and minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) with the Earth (favoring more frequent close approaches). V-type PHAs also present low MOID values, which can produce frequent close approaches (as confirmed by the recent discovery of a limited space weathering on their surfaces). We also identified those specific objects that deserve particular attention because of their extreme rotational properties, internal strength, or possible cometary nature. For PHAs and NEOs in general, we identified a possible anti-correlation between the elongation and the rotational period, in the range of P{sub rot} ≈ 5–80 hr. This would be compatible with the behavior of gravity-dominated aggregates in rotational equilibrium. For periods ≳80–90 hr, such a trend stops, possibly under the influence of the YORP effect and collisions. However, the statistics is very low, and further observational and theoretical work is required to characterize such slow rotators.« less

24 CFR 943.130 - What are the responsibilities of participating PHAs?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... in a consortium, each participating PHA remains responsible for its own obligations under its ACC... is a breach of the ACC with each of the participating PHAs, so each PHA is responsible for the...

24 CFR 943.130 - What are the responsibilities of participating PHAs?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... in a consortium, each participating PHA remains responsible for its own obligations under its ACC... is a breach of the ACC with each of the participating PHAs, so each PHA is responsible for the...

24 CFR 901.35 - Indicator #6, financial management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Indicator #6, financial management... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM § 901.35 Indicator #6, financial management. This indicator examines the amount of cash reserves available for operations and, for PHAs...

24 CFR 990.255 - Overview.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Asset Management § 990.255 Overview. (a) PHAs shall manage their properties according to an asset management model, consistent with the management norms in the broader multi-family management industry. PHAs shall also implement project-based management, project-based budgeting, and project...

24 CFR 990.255 - Overview.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Asset Management § 990.255 Overview. (a) PHAs shall manage their properties according to an asset management model, consistent with the management norms in the broader multi-family management industry. PHAs shall also implement project-based management, project-based budgeting, and project...

24 CFR 902.55 - Resident service and satisfaction portion of total PHAS points.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Resident service and satisfaction... Service and Satisfaction § 902.55 Resident service and satisfaction portion of total PHAS points. Of the... Service and Satisfaction Indicator. ...

Fast procedure for the analysis of poly(hydroxyalkanoates) in bacterial cells by off-line pyrolysis/gas-chromatography with flame ionization detector.

PubMed

Torri, Cristian; Cordiani, Helena; Samorì, Chiara; Favaro, Lorenzo; Fabbri, Daniele

2014-09-12

Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) are polyesters formed by saturated short chain hydroxyacids, among which 3-hydroxybutanoic (HB) and 3-hydroxypentanoic (3-hydroxyvalerate, HV) are the most common monomers of homopolymers (e.g. poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), PHB) and copolymers (e.g. poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate), PHB-HC). The most widely used approach for their determination is the polymer methanolysis followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the methylated monomers; this procedure generally requires the use of additional reagents (e.g. sulfuric acid) and is performed with harmful chlorinated solvents, such as chloroform. The development of fast routine solventless methods for the quantitative determination of PHAs and their monomeric composition is highly desirable to reduce sample pretreatment, speed up the analysis and decrease overall costs. It has been reported that under thermal treatment (e.g. pyrolysis, Py), PHAs are degraded in high yield (>40%, w/wPHA) into the corresponding 2-alkenoic acid (e.g. crotonic acid from PHB). This work aimed at investigating this reaction for direct analysis of PHAs in bacterial cells. The sample was directly subjected to pyrolysis and trapped pyrolysis products were analyzed by GC-FID. Off-line Py/GC-FID was first optimized on pure polymers with different monomer composition (PHB, PHB-HV, PHB-HC) and then applied to bacterial samples deriving from both mixed microbial cultures or selected strains, containing various types and amounts of PHAs. The Py/GC-FID method provided RSD <15% range, limit of detection of 100μg (1% PHAs in biomass), and results comparable to that of methanolysis (R(2)=0.9855), but with minimal sample pretreatment. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biomass Biorefinery for the production of Polymers and Fuels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dr. Oliver P. Peoples

The conversion of biomass crops to fuel is receiving considerable attention as a means to reduce our dependence on foreign oil imports and to meet future energy needs. Besides their use for fuel, biomass crops are an attractive vehicle for producing value added products such as biopolymers. Metabolix, Inc. of Cambridge proposes to develop methods for producing biodegradable polymers polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in green tissue plants as well as utilizating residual plant biomass after polymer extraction for fuel generation to offset the energy required for polymer extraction. The primary plant target is switchgrass, and backup targets are alfalfa and tobacco. Themore » combined polymer and fuel production from the transgenic biomass crops establishes a biorefinery that has the potential to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil imports for both the feedstocks and energy needed for plastic production. Concerns about the widespread use of transgenic crops and the grower’s ability to prevent the contamination of the surrounding environment with foreign genes will be addressed by incorporating and expanding on some of the latest plant biotechnology developed by the project partners of this proposal. This proposal also addresses extraction of PHAs from biomass, modification of PHAs so that they have suitable properties for large volume polymer applications, processing of the PHAs using conversion processes now practiced at large scale (e.g., to film, fiber, and molded parts), conversion of PHA polymers to chemical building blocks, and demonstration of the usefulness of PHAs in large volume applications. The biodegradability of PHAs can also help to reduce solid waste in our landfills. If successful, this program will reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil, as well as contribute jobs and revenue to the agricultural economy and reduce the overall emissions of carbon to the atmosphere.« less

Cloud-point extraction of green-polymers from Cupriavidus necator lysate using thermoseparating-based aqueous two-phase extraction.

PubMed

Leong, Yoong Kit; Lan, John Chi-Wei; Loh, Hwei-San; Ling, Tau Chuan; Ooi, Chien Wei; Show, Pau Loke

2017-03-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a class of renewable and biodegradable green polymers, have gained attraction as a potential substitute for the conventional plastics due to the increasing concern towards environmental pollution as well as the rapidly depleting petroleum reserve. Nevertheless, the high cost of downstream processing of PHA has been a bottleneck for the wide adoption of PHAs. Among the options of PHAs recovery techniques, aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) outshines the others by having the advantages of providing a mild environment for bioseparation, being green and non-toxic, the capability to handle a large operating volume and easily scaled-up. Utilizing unique properties of thermo-responsive polymer which has decreasing solubility in its aqueous solution as the temperature rises, cloud point extraction (CPE) is an ATPE technique that allows its phase-forming component to be recycled and reused. A thorough literature review has shown that this is the first time isolation and recovery of PHAs from Cupriavidus necator H16 via CPE was reported. The optimum condition for PHAs extraction (recovery yield of 94.8% and purification factor of 1.42 fold) was achieved under the conditions of 20 wt/wt % ethylene oxide-propylene oxide (EOPO) with molecular weight of 3900 g/mol and 10 mM of sodium chloride addition at thermoseparating temperature of 60°C with crude feedstock limit of 37.5 wt/wt %. Recycling and reutilization of EOPO 3900 can be done at least twice with satisfying yield and PF. CPE has been demonstrated as an effective technique for the extraction of PHAs from microbial crude culture. Copyright © 2016 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

24 CFR 901.105 - Computing assessment score.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... substantial rehabilitation within the past ten years are not eligible to be included in the calculation of... past ten years and are eligible for an adjusted score for the physical condition factor. (6) PHAs shall... ten years old that require major capital investment in order to meet local codes or minimum HQS...

Characterization of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis by Pseudomonas mosselii TO7 using crude glycerol.

PubMed

Liu, Ming-Hsu; Chen, Yi-Jr; Lee, Chia-Yin

2018-03-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biopolyesters produced by microorganisms that are environmentally friendly. PHAs can be used to replace traditional plastic to reduce environmental pollution in various fields. PHA production costs are high because PHA must be produced from a carbon substrate. The purpose of this study was to find the strain that can used the BDF by-product as the sole carbon source to produce high amounts of medium-chain-length PHA. Three isolates were evaluated for potential PHA production by using biodiesel-derived crude glycerol as the sole carbon source. Among them, Pseudomonas mosselii TO7 yielded high PHA content. The PHA produced from P. mosselii TO7 were medium-chain-length-PHAs. The PHA content of 48% cell dry weight in 48 h with a maximum PHA productivity of 13.16 mg PHAs L -1  h -1 . The narrow polydispersity index value of 1.3 reflected the homogeneity of the polymer chain, which was conducive to industrial applications.

Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates from Sludge Palm Oil Using Pseudomonas putida S12.

PubMed

Kang, Du-Kyeong; Lee, Cho-Ryong; Lee, Sun Hee; Bae, Jung-Hoon; Park, Young-Kwon; Rhee, Young Ha; Sung, Bong Hyun; Sohn, Jung-Hoon

2017-05-28

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable plastics produced by bacteria, but their use in diverse applications is prohibited by high production costs. To reduce these costs, the conversion by Pseudomonas strains of P HAs from crude s ludge p alm oil ( SPO) a s an inexpensive renewable raw material was tested. Pseudomonas putida S12 was found to produce the highest yield (~41%) of elastomeric medium-chain-length (MCL)-PHAs from SPO. The MCL-PHA characteristics were analyzed by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. These findings may contribute to more widespread use of PHAs by reducing PHA production costs.

78 FR 26801 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Section 901 Notice of Intent and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-08

... Congress extended this funding flexibility to address the impacts of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. Some PHAs... all ninety-six PHAs in the areas impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita would opt to use it. A later...

75 FR 32495 - Operating Fund Subsidies Allocation Formula

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-08

... DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5376-N-49] Operating Fund Subsidies... establishes an Operating Fund for the purpose of making assistance available to public housing agencies (PHAs) which assistance is determined using a formula approach under the Operating Fund Program. PHAs compute...

24 CFR 902.63 - PHAS scoring.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... indicators. (b) Adjustments to the PHAS score. (1) Adjustments to the score may be made after a PHA's audit... changed by HUD in accordance with data included in the independent audit report, or obtained through such... adjustments determined necessary as a result of the independent public accountant (IPA) audit, as provided in...

24 CFR 902.68 - Technical review of results of PHAS physical condition indicator.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... physical condition indicator. 902.68 Section 902.68 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO... review of results of PHAS physical condition indicator. (a) Request for technical reviews. This section describes the process for requesting and granting technical reviews of physical inspection results. (1) For...

24 CFR 902.68 - Technical review of results of PHAS physical condition indicator.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... physical condition indicator. 902.68 Section 902.68 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO... review of results of PHAS physical condition indicator. (a) Request for technical reviews. This section describes the process for requesting and granting technical reviews of physical inspection results. (1) For...

24 CFR 902.68 - Technical review of results of PHAS physical condition indicator.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... physical condition indicator. 902.68 Section 902.68 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO... review of results of PHAS physical condition indicator. (a) Request for technical reviews. This section describes the process for requesting and granting technical reviews of physical inspection results. (1) For...

24 CFR 990.260 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... THE PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Asset Management § 990.260 Applicability. (a) PHAs that own... units, are required to operate using an asset management model consistent with this subpart. (b) PHAs... project. However, if a PHA selects this option, it will not receive the add-on for the asset management...

Public Housing: A Tailored Approach to Energy Retrofits

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

J. Dentz; Conlin, F.; Podorson, D.

2016-02-23

The Building America research team Advanced Residential Integrated Energy Solutions Collaborative (ARIES) worked with four public housing authorities (PHAs) to develop packages of energy-efficiency retrofit measures that the PHAs can cost-effectively implement with their own staffs during the normal course of housing operations when units are refurbished between occupancies.

24 CFR 902.1 - Purpose, scope, and general matters.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... agencies (PHAs), public housing residents, and the general public, by providing a management tool for... requirements for poor performers. (b) Scope. PHAS is a strategic measure of the essential housing operations of... indicators, which are more fully addressed in § 902.9: Physical condition, financial condition, management...

75 FR 59284 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Financial Standards for Housing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-27

... (PHAs) could purchase insurance coverage without regard to competitive selection procedures, if the insurance was purchased from a nonprofit insurance entity owned and controlled by PHAs approved HUD, in... staff have certain levels of experience. DATES: Comments Due Date: October 27, 2010. ADDRESSES...

Identification of phasiRNAs in wild rice (Oryza rufipogon).

PubMed

Liu, Yang; Wang, Yu; Zhu, Qian-Hao; Fan, Longjiang

2013-08-01

Plant miRNAs can trigger the production of phased, secondary siRNAs from either non-coding or protein-coding genes. In this study, at least 864 and 3,961 loci generating 21-nt and 24-nt phased siRNAs (phasiRNAs),respectively, were identified in three tissues from wild rice. Of these phasiRNA-producing loci, or PHAS genes, biogenesis of phasiRNAs in at least 160 of 21-nt and 254 of 24-nt loci could be triggered by interaction with miRNA(s). Developing seeds had more PHAS genes than leaves and roots. Genetic constrain on miRNA-triggered PHAS genes suggests that phasiRNAs might be one of the driving forces contributed to rice domestication.

Bacillus subtilis as potential producer for polyhydroxyalkanoates

PubMed Central

Singh, Mamtesh; Patel, Sanjay KS; Kalia, Vipin C

2009-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers produced by microbes to overcome environmental stress. Commercial production of PHAs is limited by the high cost of production compared to conventional plastics. Another hindrance is the brittle nature and low strength of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), the most widely studied PHA. The needs are to produce PHAs, which have better elastomeric properties suitable for biomedical applications, preferably from inexpensive renewable sources to reduce cost. Certain unique properties of Bacillus subtilis such as lack of the toxic lipo-polysaccharides, expression of self-lysing genes on completion of PHA biosynthetic process – for easy and timely recovery, usage of biowastes as feed enable it to compete as potential candidate for commercial production of PHA. PMID:19619289

Bacillus subtilis as potential producer for polyhydroxyalkanoates.

PubMed

Singh, Mamtesh; Patel, Sanjay Ks; Kalia, Vipin C

2009-07-20

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers produced by microbes to overcome environmental stress. Commercial production of PHAs is limited by the high cost of production compared to conventional plastics. Another hindrance is the brittle nature and low strength of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), the most widely studied PHA. The needs are to produce PHAs, which have better elastomeric properties suitable for biomedical applications, preferably from inexpensive renewable sources to reduce cost. Certain unique properties of Bacillus subtilis such as lack of the toxic lipo-polysaccharides, expression of self-lysing genes on completion of PHA biosynthetic process - for easy and timely recovery, usage of biowastes as feed enable it to compete as potential candidate for commercial production of PHA.

75 FR 65197 - Use of Public Housing Capital Funds for Financing Activities

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-21

..., lenders cannot view PHAs or their stand-alone projects as market-rate financing, but rather that private.... Response: This CFFP final rule permits PHAs to size their financing either on the project level, or on an... Funds for Financing Activities; Final Rule #0;#0;Federal Register / Vol. 75 , No. 203 / Thursday...

77 FR 70181 - Request for Information on Adopting Smoke-Free Policies in Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-23

... DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5597-N-02] Request for Information on Adopting Smoke-Free Policies in Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and Multifamily Housing: Reopening of Public Comment Period AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel, HUD. ACTION: Request for Information, Reopening of...

Social Psychological Dynamics of Enhanced HIV Risk Reduction among Peer Interventionists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dickson-Gomez, Julia; Weeks, Margaret R.; Convey, Mark; Li, Jianghong

2011-01-01

The authors present a model of interactive social psychological and relational feedback processes leading to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk reduction behavior change among active drug users trained as Peer Health Advocates (PHAs). The model is supported by data from qualitative interviews with PHAs and members of their drug-using networks…

Characterization of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Produced by Bacillus megaterium VB89 Isolated from Nisargruna Biogas Plant.

PubMed

Baikar, Vishakha; Rane, Ashwini; Deopurkar, Rajendra

2017-09-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are naturally occurring biodegradable polymers that can curb the extensive use of polypropylene based plastics. In contrast to chemically synthesized polypropylene plastics, PHAs are biodegradable and thus environmentally safe. PHAs have attracted much attention as biocompatible and biodegradable thermoplastics. The present study involves isolation of bacteria from different environments capable of synthesizing PHAs. The bacterium producing highest yield of PHA (0.672 ± 0.041 g/L) was identified as Bacillus megaterium VB89 by biochemical and molecular techniques such as 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Strain VB89 produced polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) as revealed by FTIR and NMR. This PHB had an average molecular weight of 2.89 × 10 5  Da and a polydispersity index of 2.37. Thermal properties of the PHB included a glass transition temperature of 13.97 °C, a melting temperature of 181.74 °C, and a decomposition temperature of 234 °C. All these properties indicated that VB89 produced PHB of high purity and good thermal stability.

Public Housing: A Tailored Approach to Energy Retrofits

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dentz, Jordan; Conlin, Francis; Podorson, David

2014-06-01

More than 1 million HUD-supported public housing units provide rental housing for eligible low-income families across the country. A survey of over 100 public housing authorities (PHAs) across the country indicated that there is a high level of interest in developing low-cost solutions that improve energy efficiency and can be seamlessly included in the refurbishment process. Further, PHAs, have incentives (both internal and external) to reduce utility bills. ARIES worked with two PHAs to develop packages of energy efficiency retrofit measures the PHAs can cost effectively implement with their own staffs in the normal course of housing operations when unitsmore » are refurbished between occupancies. The energy efficiency turnover protocols emphasized air infiltration reduction, duct sealing and measures that improve equipment efficiency. ARIES documented implementation 10 ten housing units. Total source energy consumption savings was estimated at 6%-10% based on BEopt modeling with a simple payback of 1.7 to 2.2 years. At typical housing unit turnover rates, these measures could impact hundreds of thousands of units per year nationally.« less

24 CFR 905.507 - Streamlined application requirements for standard and high-performing PHAs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... not be required to submit: (1) A third-party management assessment under § 905.505(e); (2) A third-party fairness opinion under § 905.505(k); (3) An assurance of financial controls and construction management under § 905.505(l). (b) Notwithstanding § 905.507(a), if HUD determines that interest or other...

24 CFR 905.507 - Streamlined application requirements for standard and high-performing PHAs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... not be required to submit: (1) A third-party management assessment under § 905.505(e); (2) A third-party fairness opinion under § 905.505(k); (3) An assurance of financial controls and construction management under § 905.505(l). (b) Notwithstanding § 905.507(a), if HUD determines that interest or other...

24 CFR 905.507 - Streamlined application requirements for standard and high-performing PHAs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... not be required to submit: (1) A third-party management assessment under § 905.505(e); (2) A third-party fairness opinion under § 905.505(k); (3) An assurance of financial controls and construction management under § 905.505(l). (b) Notwithstanding § 905.507(a), if HUD determines that interest or other...

24 CFR 905.507 - Streamlined application requirements for standard and high-performing PHAs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... not be required to submit: (1) A third-party management assessment under § 905.505(e); (2) A third-party fairness opinion under § 905.505(k); (3) An assurance of financial controls and construction management under § 905.505(l). (b) Notwithstanding § 905.507(a), if HUD determines that interest or other...

77 FR 60712 - Request for Information on Adopting Smoke-Free Policies in PHAs and Multifamily Housing

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-04

... Adopting Smoke-Free Policies in PHAs and Multifamily Housing AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for... comment regarding how HUD can best continue to support the implementation of smoke-free policies for both... impacted by or involved with the implementation of smoke-free policies in both public housing and...

24 CFR 943.148 - What procurement standards apply to PHAs selecting partners for a joint venture?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... INDIAN HOUSING, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY CONSORTIA AND JOINT... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false What procurement standards apply to PHAs selecting partners for a joint venture? 943.148 Section 943.148 Housing and Urban Development...

77 FR 65009 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Public Housing Operating Subsidy...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-24

... new operating fund formula, PHAs submit a ``stop-loss'' package to HUD demonstrating conversion to asset management. To appeal the amount of subsidy on any one of the permitted bases of appeal, PHAs...) appeal of formula income for economic hardship; (c) appeal for specific local conditions; (d) appeal for...

24 CFR 943.148 - What procurement standards apply to PHAs selecting partners for a joint venture?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false What procurement standards apply to PHAs selecting partners for a joint venture? 943.148 Section 943.148 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (CONTINUED) OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AND...

Genome characteristics dictate poly-R-(3)-hydroxyalkanoate production in Cupriavidus necator H16.

PubMed

Kutralam-Muniasamy, Gurusamy; Peréz-Guevara, Fermín

2018-05-24

Cupriavidus necator H16 is a well-recognized enterprise with efficient manufacturing machineries to produce diverse polymers belonging to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) family. The genome fingerprints, including PHA machinery proteins and fatty acid metabolism, had educated engineering strategies to enhance PHAs production. This outstanding progress has enlightened us to present an exhaustive examination of the ongoing research, addressing the great potential design of genome features towards PHA production and furthermore, we show how those acquired knowledge have been explored in other biotechnological applications. This updated-review concludes that the combination of an optimal strain selection, suitable metabolic engineering and a large-scale fermentation on oil substrates is critical to endow the ability of incorporating mcl-PHAs monomers in this organism.

Structure reveals regulatory mechanisms of a MaoC-like hydratase from Phytophthora capsici involved in biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).

PubMed

Wang, Huizheng; Zhang, Kai; Zhu, Jie; Song, Weiwei; Zhao, Li; Zhang, Xiuguo

2013-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have attracted increasing attention as "green plastic" due to their biodegradable, biocompatible, thermoplastic, and mechanical properties, and considerable research has been undertaken to develop low cost/high efficiency processes for the production of PHAs. MaoC-like hydratase (MaoC), which belongs to (R)-hydratase involved in linking the β-oxidation and the PHA biosynthetic pathways, has been identified recently. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of (R)-hydratase catalysis is critical for efficient production of PHAs that promise synthesis an environment-friendly plastic. We have determined the crystal structure of a new MaoC recognized from Phytophthora capsici. The crystal structure of the enzyme was solved at 2.00 Å resolution. The structure shows that MaoC has a canonical (R)-hydratase fold with an N-domain and a C-domain. Supporting its dimerization observed in structure, MaoC forms a stable homodimer in solution. Mutations that disrupt the dimeric MaoC result in a complete loss of activity toward crotonyl-CoA, indicating that dimerization is required for the enzymatic activity of MaoC. Importantly, structure comparison reveals that a loop unique to MaoC interacts with an α-helix that harbors the catalytic residues of MaoC. Deletion of the loop enhances the enzymatic activity of MaoC, suggesting its inhibitory role in regulating the activity of MaoC. The data in our study reveal the regulatory mechanism of an (R)-hydratase, providing information on enzyme engineering to produce low cost PHAs.

24 CFR 990.280 - Project-based budgeting and accounting.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... all data needed to complete project-based financial statements in accordance with Accounting... accounting. 990.280 Section 990.280 Housing and Urban Development Regulations Relating to Housing and Urban... budgeting and accounting. (a) All PHAs covered by this subpart shall develop and maintain a system of...

24 CFR 990.320 - Audits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Audits. 990.320 Section 990.320... HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Financial Management Systems, Monitoring, and Reporting § 990.320 Audits. All PHAs that receive financial assistance under this part shall submit an acceptable audit and comply...

77 FR 71439 - Regulatory and Administrative Waivers Granted for Public and Indian Housing Programs To Assist...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-30

... Authority 1. Extension of Deadline for Obligation and Expenditure of Capital Funds. Section 9(j)(2) of the U... time period for obligation of Capital Funds by PHAs, as set forth in section 9(j)(1), for such period... Register. Pursuant to section 9(j)(1) of the 1937 Act, PHAs are required to obligate Capital Funds not...

Hypothalamic-pituitary sarcoidosis with vision loss and hypopituitarism: case series and literature review.

PubMed

Anthony, Jeremy; Esper, Gregory J; Ioachimescu, Adriana

2016-02-01

Hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) neurosarcoidosis (NS) accounts for 0.5 % cases of sarcoidosis and 1 % of HP masses. Correlative data on endocrine and neurological outcomes is lacking. Retrospective case series and literature review of presentation, treatment and outcome of HP NS. Our series includes 4 men, ages 34-59, followed for a median of 7.3 years (range 1.5-17). All had optic neuropathy, multiple pituitary hormone abnormalities (PHAs) and other organ involvement by sarcoidosis (lung, sino-nasal, brain/spine and facial nerve). Two patients had central diabetes insipidus and one impaired thirst with polydipsia. After treatment with high-dose glucocorticoids, optic neuropathy improved in one case and stabilized in the others. After treatment, HP lesions improved radiologically, but PHAs persisted in all cases. Review of four published series on HP NS in addition to ours yielded 46 patients, age 37 ± 11.8 years, 65 % male. PHAs consisted of anterior hypopituitarism (LH/FSH 88.8 %, TSH 67.4 %, GH 50.0 %, ACTH 48.8 %), hyperprolactinemia (48.8 %) and diabetes insipidus (65.2 %). PHAs were the first sign of disease in 54.3 % patients. Vision problems occurred in 28.3 % patients, but optic neuropathy was not well documented in previous series. Most patients (93.5 %) received high-dose glucocorticoids followed by taper; 50 % also received other immunomodulators, including methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine, azathioprine, infliximab and hydrochloroquine. Only 13 % patients showed improvement in PHAs. All-cause mortality was 8.7 %. HP NS is a serious disease requiring multidisciplinary treatment and lifelong follow-up. Prospective multicentric studies are needed to determine a more standardized approach to HP NS and outline predictors of disease outcome.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight vs. fast-atom bombardment and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the structural characterization of bacterial poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates).

PubMed

Impallomeni, Giuseppe; Ballistreri, Alberto; Carnemolla, Giovanni Marco; Franco, Domenico; Guglielmino, Salvatore P P

2015-05-15

Bacterial poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) are an emergent class of plastic materials available from renewable resources. Their properties are strictly correlated with the comonomeric composition and sequence, which may be determined by various mass spectrometry approaches. In this paper we compare fast-atom bombardment (FAB) and electrospray ionization (ESI) to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) of partially pyrolyzed samples. We determined the compositions and sequences of the medium-chain-length PHAs (mcl-PHAs) prepared by bacterial fermentation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 cultured in media containing fatty acids with 8, 12, 14, 18, and 20 carbon atoms as carbon sources by means of MALDI-TOFMS of pyrolyzates, and compared the results with those obtained by FAB- and ESI-MS in previous studies. MALDI matrices used were 9-aminoacridine (9-AA) and indoleacrylic acid (IAA). MALDI-TOFMS was carried out in negative ion mode when using 9-AA as a matrix, giving a semi-quantitative estimation of the 3-hydroxyacids constituting the PHAs, and in positive mode when using IAA, allowing us, through statistical analysis of the relative intensity of the oligomers generated by pyrolysis, to establish that the polymers obtained are true random copolyesters and not a mixture of homopolymers or copolymers. MALDI-TOFMS in 9-AA and IAA of partial pyrolyzates of mcl-PHAs represents a powerful method for the structural analysis of these materials. In comparison with FAB and ESI, MALDI provided an extended mass range with better sensitivity at higher mass and a faster method of analysis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Analysis of Medium-Chain-Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate-Producing Bacteria in Activated Sludge Samples Enriched by Aerobic Periodic Feeding.

PubMed

Lee, Sun Hee; Kim, Jae Hee; Chung, Chung-Wook; Kim, Do Young; Rhee, Young Ha

2018-04-01

Analysis of mixed microbial populations responsible for the production of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (MCL-PHAs) under periodic substrate feeding in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was conducted. Regardless of activated sludge samples and the different MCL alkanoic acids used as the sole external carbon substrate, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis indicated that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the dominant bacterium enriched during the SBR process. Several P. aeruginosa strains were isolated from the enriched activated sludge samples. The isolates were subdivided into two groups, one that produced only MCL-PHAs and another that produced both MCL- and short-chain-length PHAs. The SBR periodic feeding experiments with five representative MCL-PHA-producing Pseudomonas species revealed that P. aeruginosa has an advantage over other species that enables it to become dominant in the bacterial community.

Cloning and heterologous expression of a novel subgroup of class IV polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase genes from the genus Bacillus.

PubMed

Mizuno, Kouhei; Kihara, Takahiro; Tsuge, Takeharu; Lundgren, Benjamin R; Sarwar, Zaara; Pinto, Atahualpa; Nomura, Christopher T

2017-01-01

Many microorganisms harbor genes necessary to synthesize biodegradable plastics known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). We surveyed a genomic database and discovered a new cluster of class IV PHA synthase genes (phaRC). These genes are different in sequence and operon structure from any previously reported PHA synthase. The newly discovered PhaRC synthase was demonstrated to produce PHAs in recombinant Escherichia coli.

Public Housing: A Tailored Approach to Energy Retrofits

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dentz, J.; Conlin, F.; Podorson, D.

2014-06-01

Over one million HUD-supported public housing units provide rental housing for eligible low-income families across the country. A survey of over 100 PHAs across the country indicated that there is a high level of interest in developing low cost solutions that improve energy efficiency and can be seamlessly included in the refurbishment process. Further, PHAs, have incentives (both internal and external) to reduce utility bills. ARIES worked with two public housing authorities (PHAs) to develop packages of energy efficiency retrofit measures the PHAs can cost effectively implement with their own staffs in the normal course of housing operations at themore » time when units are refurbished between occupancies. The energy efficiency turnover protocols emphasized air infiltration reduction, duct sealing and measures that improve equipment efficiency. ARIES documented implementation in ten housing units. Reductions in average air leakage were 16-20% and duct leakage reductions averaged 38%. Total source energy consumption savings was estimated at 6-10% based on BEopt modeling with a simple payback of 1.7 to 2.2 years. Implementation challenges were encountered mainly related to required operational changes and budgetary constraints. Nevertheless, simple measures can feasibly be accomplished by PHA staff at low or no cost. At typical housing unit turnover rates, these measures could impact hundreds of thousands of unit per year nationally.« less

Potential and Prospects of Continuous Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Production

PubMed Central

Koller, Martin; Braunegg, Gerhart

2015-01-01

Together with other so-called “bio-plastics”, Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are expected to soon replace established polymers on the plastic market. As a prerequisite, optimized process design is needed to make PHAs attractive in terms of costs and quality. Nowadays, large-scale PHA production relies on discontinuous fed-batch cultivation in huge bioreactors. Such processes presuppose numerous shortcomings such as nonproductive time for reactor revamping, irregular product quality, limited possibility for supply of certain carbon substrates, and, most of all, insufficient productivity. Therefore, single- and multistage continuous PHA biosynthesis is increasingly investigated for production of different types of microbial PHAs; this goes for rather crystalline, thermoplastic PHA homopolyesters as well as for highly flexible PHA copolyesters, and even blocky-structured PHAs consisting of alternating soft and hard segments. Apart from enhanced productivity and constant product quality, chemostat processes can be used to elucidate kinetics of cell growth and PHA formation under constant process conditions. Furthermore, continuous enrichment processes constitute a tool to isolate novel powerful PHA-producing microbial strains adapted to special environmental conditions. The article discusses challenges, potential and case studies for continuous PHA production, and shows up new strategies to further enhance such processes economically by developing unsterile open continuous processes combined with the application of inexpensive carbon feedstocks. PMID:28955015

78 FR 14106 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment Enterprise Income Verification (EIV...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-04

... Public Housing Agency (PHA). The information is used by PHAs to determine a family's suitability for... Information Collection for Public Comment Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) Systems--Debts Owed to Public Housing Agencies and Terminations AGENCY: Office of the Assistance Secretary for Public and Indian Housing...

75 FR 4100 - Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) System-Debts Owed to PHAs and Terminations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-26

... Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. This information collection is required to identify families who no longer participate in a HUD rental assistance program due to adverse termination of tenancy and/or assistance, land owe a debit to a Public Housing...

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF ENHANCED HIV RISK REDUCTION AMONG PEER INTERVENTIONISTS

PubMed Central

Dickson-Gomez, Julia; Weeks, Margaret R.; Convey, Mark; Li, Jianghong

2014-01-01

The authors present a model of interactive social psychological and relational feedback processes leading to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk reduction behavior change among active drug users trained as Peer Health Advocates (PHAs). The model is supported by data from qualitative interviews with PHAs and members of their drug-using networks in the Risk Avoidance Partnership (RAP) project. Results suggest three mutually reinforcing social psychological processes that motivate PHAs to provide HIV prevention intervention to their peers and to reduce their own risk behaviors: development of a prosocial identity, positive social reinforcement from drug users and community members, and cognitive dissonance associated with continued risk behavior while engaging in health advocacy. These processes directly influence peer interventionists’ motivation and efficacy to continue giving intervention to their peers, and to reduce their HIV risk behaviors. The authors discuss implications of the model for continued research on effective HIV prevention in high-risk groups. PMID:25414528

The metabolic response of P. putida KT2442 producing high levels of polyhydroxyalkanoate under single- and multiple-nutrient-limited growth: Highlights from a multi-level omics approach

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Pseudomonas putida KT2442 is a natural producer of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which can substitute petroleum-based non-renewable plastics and form the basis for the production of tailor-made biopolymers. However, despite the substantial body of work on PHA production by P. putida strains, it is not yet clear how the bacterium re-arranges its whole metabolism when it senses the limitation of nitrogen and the excess of fatty acids as carbon source, to result in a large accumulation of PHAs within the cell. In the present study we investigated the metabolic response of KT2442 using a systems biology approach to highlight the differences between single- and multiple-nutrient-limited growth in chemostat cultures. Results We found that 26, 62, and 81% of the cell dry weight consist of PHA under conditions of carbon, dual, and nitrogen limitation, respectively. Under nitrogen limitation a specific PHA production rate of 0.43 (g·(g·h)-1) was obtained. The residual biomass was not constant for dual- and strict nitrogen-limiting growth, showing a different feature in comparison to other P. putida strains. Dual limitation resulted in patterns of gene expression, protein level, and metabolite concentrations that substantially differ from those observed under exclusive carbon or nitrogen limitation. The most pronounced differences were found in the energy metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, as well as stress proteins and enzymes belonging to the transport system. Conclusion This is the first study where the interrelationship between nutrient limitations and PHA synthesis has been investigated under well-controlled conditions using a system level approach. The knowledge generated will be of great assistance for the development of bioprocesses and further metabolic engineering work in this versatile organism to both enhance and diversify the industrial production of PHAs. PMID:22433058

Building America Case Study: Philadelphia Housing Authority Energy-Efficiency Turnover Protocols, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

2016-02-01

Over one million HUD-supported public housing units provide rental housing for eligible low-income families across the country. A survey of over 100 public housing authorities (PHAs) across the country indicated that there is a high level of interest in developing low-cost solutions that improve energy efficiency and can be seamlessly included in the refurbishment process. Further, PHAs, have incentives (both internal and external) to reduce utility bills. ARIES worked with four PHAs to develop packages of energy efficiency retrofit measures the PHAs can cost-effectively implement with their own staffs in the normal course of housing operations at the time whenmore » units are refurbished between occupancies. The energy efficiency turnover protocols emphasized air infiltration reduction, duct sealing, and measures that improve equipment efficiency. ARIES documented implementation in 18 housing units. Reductions in average air leakage were 16 percent and duct leakage reductions averaged 23 percent. Total source energy consumption savings due to implemented measures was estimated at 3-10 percent based on BEopt modeling with a simple payback of 1.6 to 2.5 years. Implementation challenges were encountered mainly related to required operational changes and budgetary constraints. Nevertheless, simple measures can feasibly be accomplished by PHA staff at low or no cost. At typical housing unit turnover rates, these measures could impact hundreds of thousands of units per year nationally.« less

Islip Housing Authority Energy Efficiency Turnover Protocols, Islip, New York (Fact Sheet)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

2014-08-01

More than 1 million HUD-supported public housing units provide rental housing for eligible low-income families across the country. A survey of over 100 PHAs across the country indicated that there is a high level of interest in developing low cost solutions that improve energy efficiency and can be seamlessly included in the refurbishment process. Further, PHAs, have incentives (both internal and external) to reduce utility bills. ARIES worked with two public housing authorities (PHAs) to develop packages of energy efficiency retrofit measures the PHAs can cost effectively implement with their own staffs in the normal course of housing operations atmore » the time when units are refurbished between occupancies. The energy efficiency turnover protocols emphasized air infiltration reduction, duct sealing and measures that improve equipment efficiency. ARIES documented implementation in ten housing units. Reductions in average air leakage were 16-20% and duct leakage reductions averaged 38%. Total source energy consumption savings was estimated at 6-10% based on BEopt modeling with a simple payback of 1.7 to 2.2 years. Implementation challenges were encountered mainly related to required operational changes and budgetary constraints. Nevertheless, simple measures can feasibly be accomplished by PHA staff at low or no cost. At typical housing unit turnover rates, these measures could impact hundreds of thousands of unit per year nationally.« less

Public Housing: A Tailored Approach to Energy Retrofits

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dentz, J.; Conlin, F.; Podorson, D.

2016-02-18

Over one million HUD-supported public housing units provide rental housing for eligible low-income families across the country. A survey of over 100 public housing authorities (PHAs) across the country indicated that there is a high level of interest in developing low-cost solutions that improve energy efficiency and can be seamlessly included in the refurbishment process. Further, PHAs, have incentives (both internal and external) to reduce utility bills. ARIES worked with four PHAs to develop packages of energy efficiency retrofit measures the PHAs can cost-effectively implement with their own staffs in the normal course of housing operations at the time whenmore » units are refurbished between occupancies. The energy efficiency turnover protocols emphasized air infiltration reduction, duct sealing, and measures that improve equipment efficiency. ARIES documented implementation in 18 housing units. Reductions in average air leakage were 16% and duct leakage reductions averaged 23%. Total source energy consumption savings due to implemented measures was estimated at 3-10% based on BEopt modeling with a simple payback of 1.6 to 2.5 years. Implementation challenges were encountered mainly related to required operational changes and budgetary constraints. Nevertheless, simple measures can feasibly be accomplished by PHA staff at low or no cost. At typical housing unit turnover rates, these measures could impact hundreds of thousands of units per year nationally.« less

Synthesis Gas (Syngas)-Derived Medium-Chain-Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate Synthesis in Engineered Rhodospirillum rubrum

PubMed Central

Heinrich, Daniel; Raberg, Matthias; Fricke, Philipp; Kenny, Shane T.; Morales-Gamez, Laura; Babu, Ramesh P.; O'Connor, Kevin E.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT The purple nonsulfur alphaproteobacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum S1 was genetically engineered to synthesize a heteropolymer of mainly 3-hydroxydecanoic acid and 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid [P(3HD-co-3HO)] from CO- and CO2-containing artificial synthesis gas (syngas). For this, genes from Pseudomonas putida KT2440 coding for a 3-hydroxyacyl acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (phaG), a medium-chain-length (MCL) fatty acid coenzyme A (CoA) ligase (PP_0763), and an MCL polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase (phaC1) were cloned and expressed under the control of the CO-inducible promoter PcooF from R. rubrum S1 in a PHA-negative mutant of R. rubrum. P(3HD-co-3HO) was accumulated to up to 7.1% (wt/wt) of the cell dry weight by a recombinant mutant strain utilizing exclusively the provided gaseous feedstock syngas. In addition to an increased synthesis of these medium-chain-length PHAs (PHAMCL), enhanced gene expression through the PcooF promoter also led to an increased molar fraction of 3HO in the synthesized copolymer compared with the Plac promoter, which regulated expression on the original vector. The recombinant strains were able to partially degrade the polymer, and the deletion of phaZ2, which codes for a PHA depolymerase most likely involved in intracellular PHA degradation, did not reduce mobilization of the accumulated polymer significantly. However, an amino acid exchange in the active site of PhaZ2 led to a slight increase in PHAMCL accumulation. The accumulated polymer was isolated; it exhibited a molecular mass of 124.3 kDa and a melting point of 49.6°C. With the metabolically engineered strains presented in this proof-of-principle study, we demonstrated the synthesis of elastomeric second-generation biopolymers from renewable feedstocks not competing with human nutrition. IMPORTANCE Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural biodegradable polymers (biopolymers) showing properties similar to those of commonly produced petroleum-based nondegradable polymers. The utilization of cheap substrates for the microbial production of PHAs is crucial to lower production costs. Feedstock not competing with human nutrition is highly favorable. Syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen, can be obtained by pyrolysis of organic waste and can be utilized for PHA synthesis by several kinds of bacteria. Up to now, the biosynthesis of PHAs from syngas has been limited to short-chain-length PHAs, which results in a stiff and brittle material. In this study, the syngas-utilizing bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum was genetically modified to synthesize a polymer which consisted of medium-chain-length constituents, resulting in a rubber-like material. This study reports the establishment of a microbial synthesis of these so-called medium-chain-length PHAs from syngas and therefore potentially extends the applications of syngas-derived PHAs. PMID:27520812

Synthesis Gas (Syngas)-Derived Medium-Chain-Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate Synthesis in Engineered Rhodospirillum rubrum.

PubMed

Heinrich, Daniel; Raberg, Matthias; Fricke, Philipp; Kenny, Shane T; Morales-Gamez, Laura; Babu, Ramesh P; O'Connor, Kevin E; Steinbüchel, Alexander

2016-10-15

The purple nonsulfur alphaproteobacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum S1 was genetically engineered to synthesize a heteropolymer of mainly 3-hydroxydecanoic acid and 3-hydroxyoctanoic acid [P(3HD-co-3HO)] from CO- and CO 2 -containing artificial synthesis gas (syngas). For this, genes from Pseudomonas putida KT2440 coding for a 3-hydroxyacyl acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase (phaG), a medium-chain-length (MCL) fatty acid coenzyme A (CoA) ligase (PP_0763), and an MCL polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase (phaC1) were cloned and expressed under the control of the CO-inducible promoter P cooF from R. rubrum S1 in a PHA-negative mutant of R. rubrum P(3HD-co-3HO) was accumulated to up to 7.1% (wt/wt) of the cell dry weight by a recombinant mutant strain utilizing exclusively the provided gaseous feedstock syngas. In addition to an increased synthesis of these medium-chain-length PHAs (PHA MCL ), enhanced gene expression through the P cooF promoter also led to an increased molar fraction of 3HO in the synthesized copolymer compared with the P lac promoter, which regulated expression on the original vector. The recombinant strains were able to partially degrade the polymer, and the deletion of phaZ2, which codes for a PHA depolymerase most likely involved in intracellular PHA degradation, did not reduce mobilization of the accumulated polymer significantly. However, an amino acid exchange in the active site of PhaZ2 led to a slight increase in PHA MCL accumulation. The accumulated polymer was isolated; it exhibited a molecular mass of 124.3 kDa and a melting point of 49.6°C. With the metabolically engineered strains presented in this proof-of-principle study, we demonstrated the synthesis of elastomeric second-generation biopolymers from renewable feedstocks not competing with human nutrition. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural biodegradable polymers (biopolymers) showing properties similar to those of commonly produced petroleum-based nondegradable polymers. The utilization of cheap substrates for the microbial production of PHAs is crucial to lower production costs. Feedstock not competing with human nutrition is highly favorable. Syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen, can be obtained by pyrolysis of organic waste and can be utilized for PHA synthesis by several kinds of bacteria. Up to now, the biosynthesis of PHAs from syngas has been limited to short-chain-length PHAs, which results in a stiff and brittle material. In this study, the syngas-utilizing bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum was genetically modified to synthesize a polymer which consisted of medium-chain-length constituents, resulting in a rubber-like material. This study reports the establishment of a microbial synthesis of these so-called medium-chain-length PHAs from syngas and therefore potentially extends the applications of syngas-derived PHAs. Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Biotechnological approaches for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates in microorganisms and plants - a review.

PubMed

Suriyamongkol, Pornpa; Weselake, Randall; Narine, Suresh; Moloney, Maurice; Shah, Saleh

2007-01-01

The increasing effect of non-degradable plastic wastes is a growing concern. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), macromolecule-polyesters naturally produced by many species of microorganisms, are being considered as a replacement for conventional plastics. Unlike petroleum-derived plastics that take several decades to degrade, PHAs can be completely bio-degraded within a year by a variety of microorganisms. This biodegradation results in carbon dioxide and water, which return to the environment. Attempts based on various methods have been undertaken for mass production of PHAs. Promising strategies involve genetic engineering of microorganisms and plants to introduce production pathways. This challenge requires the expression of several genes along with optimization of PHA synthesis in the host. Although excellent progress has been made in recombinant hosts, the barriers to obtaining high quantities of PHA at low cost still remain to be solved. The commercially viable production of PHA in crops, however, appears to be a realistic goal for the future.

The role of people living with HIV as patient instructors - reducing stigma and improving interest around HIV care among medical students.

PubMed

Jaworsky, Denise; Gardner, Sandra; Thorne, Julie G; Sharma, Malika; McNaughton, Nancy; Paddock, Suzanne; Chew, Derek; Lees, Rick; Makuwaza, Tutsirai; Wagner, Anne; Rachlis, Anita

2017-04-01

People living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) are increasingly recognized as experts in HIV and their own health. We developed a simulated clinical encounter (SCE) in which medical students provided HIV pre- and post-test counselling and point-of-care HIV testing for PHAs as patient instructors (PHA-PIs) under clinical preceptor supervision. The study assessed the acceptability of this teaching tool with a focus on assessing impact on HIV-related stigma among medical students. University of Toronto pre-clerkship medical students participated in a series of SCEs facilitated by 16 PHA-PIs and 22 clinical preceptors. Pre- and post-SCE students completed the validated Health Care Provider HIV/AIDS Stigma Scale (HPASS). HPASS measures overall stigma, as well as three domains within HIV stigma: stereotyping, discrimination, and prejudice. Higher scores represented higher levels of stigma. An additional questionnaire measured comfort in providing HIV-related care. Mean scores and results of paired t-tests are presented. Post-SCE, students (n   =   62) demonstrated decreased overall stigma (68.74 vs. 61.81, p   <   .001) as well as decreased stigma within each domain. Post-SCE, students (n   =   67) reported increased comfort in providing HIV-related care (10.24 vs. 18.06, p   <   .001). Involving PHA-PIs reduced HIV-related stigma among medical students and increased comfort in providing HIV-related care.

Human Factors Engineering. Student Supplement,

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-08-01

a job TASK TAXONOMY A classification scheme for the different levels of activities in a system, i.e., job - task - sub-task, etc. TASK-AN~ALYSIS...with the classification of learning objectives by learning category so as to identify learningPhas III guidelines necessary for optimum learning to...correct. .4... .the sequencing of all dependent tasks. .1.. .the classification of learning objectives by learning category and the Identification of

Selective enrichment of a methanol-utilizing consortium using pulp & paper mill waste streams

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gregory R. Mockos; William A. Smith; Frank J. Loge

Efficient utilization of carbon inputs is critical to the economic viability of the current forest products sector. Input carbon losses occur in various locations within a pulp mill, including losses as volatile organics and wastewater . Opportunities exist to capture this carbon in the form of value-added products such as biodegradable polymers. Waste activated sludge from a pulp mill wastewater facility was enriched for 80 days for a methanol-utilizing consortium with the goal of using this consortium to produce biopolymers from methanol-rich pulp mill waste streams. Five enrichment conditions were utilized: three high-methanol streams from the kraft mill foul condensatemore » system, one methanol-amended stream from the mill wastewater plant, and one methanol-only enrichment. Enrichment reactors were operated aerobically in sequencing batch mode at neutral pH and 25°C with a hydraulic residence time and a solids retention time of four days. Non-enriched waste activated sludge did not consume methanol or reduce chemical oxygen demand. With enrichment, however, the chemical oxygen demand reduction over 24 hour feed/decant cycles ranged from 79 to 89 %, and methanol concentrations dropped below method detection limits. Neither the non-enriched waste activated sludge nor any of the enrichment cultures accumulated polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) under conditions of nitrogen sufficiency. Similarly, the non-enriched waste activated sludge did not accumulate PHAs under nitrogen limited conditions. By contrast, enriched cultures accumulated PHAs to nearly 14% on a dry weight basis under nitrogen limited conditions. This indicates that selectively-enriched pulp mill waste activated sludge can serve as an inoculum for PHA production from methanol-rich pulp mill effluents.« less

Selective Enrichment of a Methanol-Utilizing Consortium Using Pulp and Paper Mill Waste Streams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mockos, Gregory R.; Smith, William A.; Loge, Frank J.; Thompson, David N.

Efficient utilization of carbon inputs is critical to the economic viability of the current forest products sector. Input carbon losses occur in various locations within a pulp mill, including losses as volatile organics and wastewater. Opportunities exist to capture this carbon in the form of value-added products such as biodegradable polymers. Wasteactivated sludge from a pulp mill wastewater facility was enriched for 80 days for a methanol-utilizing consortium with the goal of using this consortium to produce biopolymers from methanol-rich pulp mill waste streams. Five enrichment conditions were utilized: three high-methanol streams from the kraft mill foul condensate system, one methanol-amended stream from the mill wastewater plant, and one methanol-only enrichment. Enrichment reactors were operated aerobically in sequencing batch mode at neutral pH and 25°C with a hydraulic residence time and a solids retention time of 4 days. Non-enriched waste activated sludge did not consume methanol or reduce chemical oxygen demand. With enrichment, however, the chemical oxygen demand reduction over 24-h feed/ decant cycles ranged from 79 to 89%, and methanol concentrations dropped below method detection limits. Neither the non-enriched waste-activated sludge nor any of the enrichment cultures accumulated polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) under conditions of nitrogen sufficiency. Similarly, the non-enriched waste activated sludge did not accumulate PHAs under nitrogen-limited conditions. By contrast, enriched cultures accumulated PHAs to nearly 14% on a dry weight basis under nitrogen-limited conditions. This indicates that selectively enriched pulp mill waste activated sludge can serve as an inoculum for PHA production from methanol-rich pulp mill effluents.

Short-chain fatty acids and poly-beta-hydroxyalkanoates: (New) Biocontrol agents for a sustainable animal production.

PubMed

Defoirdt, Tom; Boon, Nico; Sorgeloos, Patrick; Verstraete, Willy; Bossier, Peter

2009-01-01

Because of the risk of antibiotic resistance development, there is a growing awareness that antibiotics should be used more carefully in animal production. However, a decreased use of antibiotics could result in a higher frequency of pathogenic bacteria, which in its turn could lead to a higher incidence of infections. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have long been known to exhibit bacteriostatic activity. These compounds also specifically downregulate virulence factor expression and positively influence the gastrointestinal health of the host. As a consequence, there is currently considerable interest in SCFAs as biocontrol agents in animal production. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polymers of beta-hydroxy short-chain fatty acids. Currently, PHAs are applied as replacements for synthetic polymers. These biopolymers can be depolymerised by many different microorganisms that produce extracellular PHA depolymerases. Interestingly, different studies provided some evidence that PHAs can also be degraded upon passage through the gastrointestinal tract of animals and consequently, adding these compounds to the feed might result in biocontrol effects similar to those described for SCFAs.

Production and degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates in waste environment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, S.Y.; Choi, J.

1999-06-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are energy/carbon storage materials accumulated under unfavorable growth condition in the presence of excess carbon source. PHAs are attracting much attention as substitute for non-degradable petrochemically derived plastics because of their similar material properties to conventional plastics and complete biodegradability under natural environment upon disposal. In this paper, PHA production and degradation in waste environment as well as its role in biological phosphorus removal are reviewed. In biological phosphorus removal process, bacteria accumulating polyphosphate (poly P) uptake carbon substrates and accumulate these as PHA by utilizing energy from breaking down poly P under anaerobic conditions. In the followingmore » aerobic condition, accumulated PHA is utilized for energy generation and for the regeneration of poly P. PHA production from waste has been investigated in order to utilize abundant organic compounds in waste water. Since PHA content and PHA productivity that can be obtained are rather low, PHA production from waste product should be considered as a coupled process for reducing the amount of organic waste. PHAs can be rapidly degraded to completion in municipal anaerobic sludge by various microorganisms.« less

Emerging bone tissue engineering via Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-based scaffolds.

PubMed

Lim, Janice; You, Mingliang; Li, Jian; Li, Zibiao

2017-10-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of biodegradable polymers derived from microorganisms. On top of their biodegradability and biocompatibility, different PHA types can contribute to varying mechanical and chemical properties. This has led to increasing attention to the use of PHAs in numerous biomedical applications over the past few decades. Bone tissue engineering refers to the regeneration of new bone through providing mechanical support while inducing cell growth on the PHA scaffolds having a porous structure for tissue regeneration. This review first introduces the various properties PHA scaffold that make them suitable for bone tissue engineering such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, mechanical properties as well as vascularization. The typical fabrication techniques of PHA scaffolds including electrospinning, salt-leaching and solution casting are further discussed, followed by the relatively new technology of using 3D printing in PHA scaffold fabrication. Finally, the recent progress of using different types of PHAs scaffold in bone tissue engineering applications are summarized in intrinsic PHA/blends forms or as composites with other polymeric or inorganic hybrid materials. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Beyond decision making: class, community organizations, and the healthwork of people living with HIV/AIDS. Contributions from institutional ethnographic research.

PubMed

Mykhalovskiy, Eric

2008-01-01

The consolidation of antiretroviral therapy as the primary biomedical response to HIV infection in the global North has occasioned a growing interest in the health decision making of people living with HIV (PHAs). This interest is burdened by the weight of a behaviorist theoretical orientation that limits decision making to individual acts of rational choice. This article offers an alternative way to understand how PHAs come to take (or not take) biomedical treatments. Drawing on institutional ethnographic research conducted in Toronto, Canada, it explores how the "healthwork" of coming to take (or not take) treatments is organized by extended relations of biomedical knowledge. The article focuses on two aspects of the knowledge relations of coming to take pharmaceutical medications that transcend the conceptual and relational terrain of rational decision-making perspectives. First, it explores disjunctures between the everyday healthwork of poor, socially marginalized PHAs and the terms of biomedical decision making. Second, it investigates the knowledge-mediating activities of community-based organizations that help mitigate those disjunctures.

The problem of "significant risk": exploring the public health impact of criminalizing HIV non-disclosure.

PubMed

Mykhalovskiy, Eric

2011-09-01

Using criminal law powers to respond to people living with HIV (PHAs) who expose sexual partners to HIV or transmit the virus to them is a prominent global HIV public policy issue. While there are widespread concerns about the public health impact of HIV-related criminalization, the social science literature on the topic is limited. This article responds to that gap in knowledge by reporting on the results of qualitative research conducted with service providers and PHAs in Canada. The article draws on a studies in the social organization of knowledge perspective and insights from critical criminology and work on the "medico-legal borderland." It investigates the role played by the legal concept of "significant risk" in coordinating criminal law governance and its interface with public health and HIV prevention. In doing so, the article emphasizes that exploring the public health impact of criminalization must move past the criminal law--PHA dyad to address broader social and institutional processes relevant to HIV prevention. Drawing on individual and focus group interviews, this article explores how criminal law governance shapes the activities of providers engaged in HIV prevention counseling, conceptualized as a complex of activities linking clinicians, public health officials, front-line counselors, PHAs, and others. It emphasizes three key findings: (1) the concept of significant risk poses serious problems to risk communication in HIV counseling and contributes to contradictory advice about disclosure obligations; (2) criminalization discourages PHAs' openness about HIV non-disclosure in counseling relationships; and (3) the recontextualization of public health interpretations of significant risk in criminal proceedings can intensify criminalization. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and characterization of poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) from Brassica carinata oil with high content of erucic acid and from very long chain fatty acids.

PubMed

Impallomeni, Giuseppe; Ballistreri, Alberto; Carnemolla, Giovanni Marco; Guglielmino, Salvatore P P; Nicolò, Marco Sebastiano; Cambria, Maria Grazia

2011-01-01

Pseudomonas aeruginosa produced medium chain length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (mcl-PHAs) when grown on substrates containing very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA, C>20). Looking for low cost carbon sources, we tested Brassica carinata oil (erucic acid content 35-48%) as an intact triglyceride containing VLCFA. Oleic (C18:1), erucic (C22:1), and nervonic (C24:1) acids were also employed for mcl-PHA production as model substrates. The polymers obtained were analyzed by GC of methanolyzed samples, GPC, 1H and 13C NMR, ESI MS of partially pyrolyzed samples, and DSC. The repeating units of such polymers were saturated and unsaturated, with a higher content of the latter in the case of the PHA obtained from B. carinata oil. Statistical analysis of the ion intensity in the ESI mass spectra showed that the PHAs from pure fatty acids are random copolymers, while the PHA from B. carinata oil is either a pure polymer or a mixture of polymers. Weight-average molecular weight varied from ca. 56,000 g/mol for the PHA from B. carinata oil and oleic acid, to about 120,000 g/mol for those from erucic and nervonic acids. The PHAs from erucic and nervonic acids were partially crystalline, with rubbery characteristics and a melting point (Tm) of 50°C, while the PHAs from oleic acid and from B. carinata oil afforded totally amorphous materials, with glass transition temperatures (Tg) of -52°C and -47°C, respectively. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biofunctionalization of polymers and their applications.

PubMed

Chen, Guo-Qiang

2011-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of biopolyesters synthesized by many types of bacteria as carbon and energy reserve materials. PHAs combine properties of thermal processibility, biodegradability, biocompatibility and sustainability. They have attracted attention from fermentation, materials and biomedical industries. Recent environmental concerns such as CO(2) emissions and plastic pollution as well as rapid exhaustion of petroleum resources have increased public and industrial interests in these unique materials. In fact, PHA has slowly evolved into an industrial value chain ranging from microbial fermentation, bioplastic packaging, biofuel, medical implants, drug delivery, protein purification, chiral chemicals and drug development. This chapter will discuss microbial PHA production and its applications in various fields.

Biopolymer - A beginning towards back to nature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gautam, S.; Gautam, A.

2018-05-01

Biopolymer is regarded as a polymer which can be biodegradable. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) is one of the biopolymer which can be recovered from biomass. PHAs are naturally conserved in the cytoplasm of the bacterial cell during the growth. Bacteria/microbes store their energy from carbon sources in the form of hydrocarbons. Intracellular stored compounds are tightly linked with entire cell resulting difficulty of separation. The work aims to extract PHAs from biomass effectively. Chemical and mechanical separation of PHA can be done from biomass. A pretreatment of cells before chemical and mechanical separation is also effective for separation of PHA and has been carried out. Chemical extraction of PHA includes digestion of cell wall in acidic or alkaline medium and releasing PHA in broth, later sedimentation recovers PHA. In recent work different chemical methods were carried out to extract PHA of medium chain length. In one of these, sodium hypochlorite was used to denature the protein and chloroform was used for extraction of purified PHA. A recovery upto 96.6%, PHA by dried weight of cell, was obtained which is quite high comparing to reported literature. Other chemical disruption by sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide with and without pretreatment have also been carried out.

DEEP-South: Preliminary Lightcurves of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids from the First Year Operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moon, Hong-Kyu; Kim, Myung-Jin; Choi, Young-Jun; Yim, Hong-Suh; Park, Jintae; Roh, Dong-Goo; Lee, Hee-Jae; Oh, Young-Seok; Bae, Young-Ho

2016-10-01

Deep Ecliptic Patrol of the Southern Sky (DEEP-South) observation is being made during the off-season for exoplanet search. It started in October 2015, using Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet), a network of three identical telescopes with 1.6 m aperture equipped with 18K × 18K CCDs located in Chile (CTIO), South Africa (SAAO), and Australia (SSO). The combination of KMTNet's prime focus optics and the 340 million pixel CCD provides four square degree field of view with 0.4 arcsec/pixel plate scale.Most of the allocated time for DEEP-South is devoted to targeted photometry of PHAs and NEAs to increase the number of those objects with known physical properties. It is efficiently achieved by multiband, time series photometry. This Opposition Census (OC) mode targets objects near their opposition, with km-sized PHAs in early stage and goes down to sub-km objects. Continuous monitoring of the sky with KMTNEt is optimized for spin characterization of various kinds of asteroids, including binaries, slow/fast- and non-principal axis- rotators, and hence expected to facilitate the debiasing of previously reported lightcurve observations. We present the preliminary lightcurves of PHAs from year one of the DEEP-South Project.

Mixed culture polyhydroxyalkanoates production from sugar molasses: the use of a 2-stage CSTR system for culture selection.

PubMed

Albuquerque, M G E; Concas, S; Bengtsson, S; Reis, M A M

2010-09-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are promising biodegradable polymers. The use of mixed microbial cultures (MMC) and low cost feedstocks have a positive impact on the cost-effectiveness of the process. It has typically been carried out in Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBR). In this study, a 2-stage CSTR system (under Feast and Famine conditions) was used to effectively select for PHA-storing organisms using fermented molasses as feedstock. The effect of influent substrate concentration (60-120 Cmmol VFA/L) and HRT ratio between the reactors (0.2-0.5h/h) on the system's selection efficiency was assessed. It was shown that Feast reactor residual substrate concentration impacted on the selective pressure for PHA storage (due to substrate-dependent kinetic limitation). Moreover, a residual substrate concentration coming from the Feast to the Famine reactor did not jeopardize the physiological adaptation required for enhanced PHA storage. The culture reached a maximum PHA content of 61%. This success opens new perspectives to the use of wastewater treatment infrastructure for PHA production, thus valorizing either excess sludge or wastewaters. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Noise as a Public Health Problem: Proceedings of the International Congress (4th) Held at Turin (Italy) on June 21-25, 1983. Volume 2.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-11-01

qtuote the elect rophyc jol oI;l and cardiovascular responses to noise. The fdirect re loiti,,al;i thatf exists between noisme and the modifRi cat ...changes, hut also on more hi!-torche toldt I - cat ions such as act ivat io(n phases or phas ic FEl6f eventi iK tot; lox lor example). The s ignalIe d...this volume) . These phas ic mod i ’i cat ions are a orziet imes ’.:oder’ate arid their ei .u depends mainly an the number arid the i titerrs ity at the

Microbial Cometabolism and Polyhydroxyalkanoate Co-polymers.

PubMed

Ray, Subhasree; Kalia, Vipin Chandra

2017-03-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHAs) are natural, biodegradable biopolymers, which can be produced from renewable materials. PHAs have potential to replace petroleum derived plastics. Quite a few bacteria can produce PHA under nutritional stress. They generally produce homopolymers of butyrate i.e., polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), as a storage material. The biochemical characteristics of PHB such as brittleness, low strength, low elasticity, etc. make these unsuitable for commercial applications. Co-polymers of PHA, have high commercial value as they overcome the limitations of PHBs. Co-polymers can be produced by supplementing the feed with volatile fatty acids or through hydrolysates of different biowastes. In this review, we have listed the potential bacterial candidates and the substrates, which can be co-metabolized to produce PHA co-polymers.

Synthesis, Production, and Biotechnological Applications of Exopolysaccharides and Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Archaea

PubMed Central

Poli, Annarita; Di Donato, Paola; Abbamondi, Gennaro Roberto; Nicolaus, Barbara

2011-01-01

Extreme environments, generally characterized by atypical temperatures, pH, pressure, salinity, toxicity, and radiation levels, are inhabited by various microorganisms specifically adapted to these particular conditions, called extremophiles. Among these, the microorganisms belonging to the Archaea domain are of significant biotechnological importance as their biopolymers possess unique properties that offer insights into their biology and evolution. Particular attention has been devoted to two main types of biopolymers produced by such peculiar microorganisms, that is, the extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs), considered as a protection against desiccation and predation, and the endocellular polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) that provide an internal reserve of carbon and energy. Here, we report the composition, biosynthesis, and production of EPSs and PHAs by different archaeal species. PMID:22007151

Biotechnological conversion of spent coffee grounds into polyhydroxyalkanoates and carotenoids.

PubMed

Obruca, Stanislav; Benesova, Pavla; Kucera, Dan; Petrik, Sinisa; Marova, Ivana

2015-12-25

Coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages and has been growing steadily in commercial importance. Nowadays, coffee is the second largest traded commodity in the world, after petroleum. Hence, coffee industry is responsible for the generation of large amounts of waste, especially spent coffee grounds (SCG). Various attempts to valorize this waste stream of coffee industry were made. This article summarizes our research and publications aiming at the conversion of SCG into valuable products - polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and carotenoids. At first, oil extracted from SCG (approx. 15 wt% oil in SCG) can be efficiently (YP/S=0.82 g/g) converted into PHA employing Cupriavidus necator H16. Further, the solid residues after oil extraction can be hydrolyzed (by the combination of chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis) yielding fermentable sugars, which can be further used as a substrate for the production of PHAs employing Bacillus megaterium (YP/S=0.04 g/g) or Burkholderia cepacia (YP/S=0.24 g/g). Alternatively, SCG hydrolysate can be used as a substrate for biotechnological production of carotenoids by carotenogenic yeast Sporobolomyces roseus. Solid residues after either oil extraction or hydrolysis can be used as fuel in industrial boilers to generate heat and energy. Therefore, entire biomass of SCG can be used for sustainable production of PHAs and/or carotenoids employing bio-refinery approach. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Advances in cyanobacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates production.

PubMed

Singh, Akhilesh Kumar; Mallick, Nirupama

2017-11-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have received much attention in the current scenario due to their attractive material properties, namely biodegradability, biocompatibility, thermoplasticity, hydrophobicity, piezoelectricity and stereospecificity. All these properties make them highly competitive for various industrial applications similar to non-degradable conventional plastics. In PHA biosynthesis, PHA synthase acts as a natural catalyst for PHA polymerization process using the (R)-hydroxyacyl-CoA as substrate. Cyanobacteria can accumulate PHAs under photoautotrophic and/or mixotrophic growth conditions with organic substrates such as acetate, glucose, propionate, valerate, and so on. The natural incidence of PHA accumulation by the cyanobacteria is known since 1966. Nevertheless, PHA accumulation in cyanobacteria based on the cell biomass and volumetric productivity is critically lower than the heterotrophic bacteria. Consequently, cyanobacteria are nowadays not considered for commercial production of PHAs. Thus, strain improvements by genetic modification, new cultivation and harvesting techniques, advanced photobioreactor development, efficient and sustainable downstream processes, alternate economical carbon sources and usage of various metabolic inhibitors are suggested for enhancing cyanobacterial PHA accumulation. In addition, identification of transcriptional regulators like RNA polymerase sigma factor (SigE) and a response regulator (Rre37) together with the recent major scientific breakthrough on the existence of complete Krebs cycle in cyanobacteria would be helpful in taking PHA production from cyanobacteria to a new-fangled height in near future. © FEMS 2017. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Perspectives on the production, structural characteristics and potential applications of bioplastics derived from polyhydroxyalkanoates.

PubMed

Albuquerque, Priscilla B S; Malafaia, Carolina B

2018-02-01

Since the last two decades, the use of synthetic materials has increased and become more frequent in this capitalist system. Polymers used as raw materials are usually disposed very rapidly and considered serious damages when they return to the environment. Because of this behaviour, there was an increasing in the global awareness by minimizing the waste generated, in addition to the scientific community concern for technological alternatives to solve this problem. Alternatively, biodegradable polymers are attracting special interest due to their inherent properties, which are similar to the ones of the conventional plastics. Bioplastics covers plastics made from renewable resources, including plastics that biodegrade under controlled conditions at the end of their use phase. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are polyesters composed of hydroxy acids, synthesized by a variety of microorganisms as intracellular carbon and energy storage. These environmentally friendly biopolymers have excellent potential in domestic, agricultural, industrial and medical field, however their production on a large scale is still limited. This review considered the most recent scientific publications on the production of bioplastics based on PHAs, their structural characteristics and the exploitation of different renewable sources of raw materials. In addition, there were also considered the main biotechnological applications of these biopolymers. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A holistic view of polyhydroxyalkanoate metabolism in Pseudomonas putida.

PubMed

Prieto, Auxiliadora; Escapa, Isabel F; Martínez, Virginia; Dinjaski, Nina; Herencias, Cristina; de la Peña, Fernando; Tarazona, Natalia; Revelles, Olga

2016-02-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) metabolism has been traditionally considered as a futile cycle involved in carbon and energy storage. The use of cutting-edge technologies linked to systems biology has improved our understanding of the interaction between bacterial physiology, PHA metabolism and other cell functions in model bacteria such as Pseudomonas putida KT2440. PHA granules or carbonosomes are supramolecular complexes of biopolyester and proteins that are essential for granule segregation during cell division, and for the functioning of the PHA metabolic route as a continuous cycle. The simultaneous activities of PHA synthase and depolymerase ensure the carbon flow to the transient demand for metabolic intermediates to balance the storage and use of carbon and energy. PHA cycle also determines the number and size of bacterial cells. The importance of PHAs as nutrients for members of the microbial community different to those that produce them is illustrated here via examples of bacterial predators such as Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus that prey on PHA producers and produces specific extra-cellular depolymerases. PHA hydrolysis confers Bdellovibrio ecological advantages in terms of motility and predation efficiency, demonstrating the importance of PHA producers predation in population dynamics. Metabolic modulation strategies for broadening the portfolio of PHAs are summarized and their properties are compiled. © 2014 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Back to work: vocational issues and strategies for Canadians living with HIV/AIDS.

PubMed

McGinn, Fred; Gahagan, Jacqueline; Gibson, Elaine

2005-01-01

Much has been written since the first appearance of HIV/AIDS in 1981 about its effects on the Canadian health care and social services systems. However, researchers have given limited attention to issues of entry or re-entry to the competitive job market for HIV positive individuals. The emergence of highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) has allowed a significant number of persons who are HIV positive to experience a major recovery in health and energy. This increase in physical health has in turn led to a re-examination of the possibility of returning to former types and levels of activity, including the prospect of going back to work or entering the competitive workforce for the first time. The purpose of this paper is to outline some of the issues and concerns that impact HIV positive individuals' attempts to return to or enter the competitive workforce, particularly those relating to disability policies and public insurance. Data from in-depth interviews with a sample of people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) are used to help illustrate the disconnect between these policies and the lived experiences of PHAs. Also discussed are the opportunities for Canadian policies and practices to employ a functional definition of disability and a philosophy of early intervention in vocational rehabilitation.

24 CFR 902.7 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... points available for PHAS Indicator #1 (established in subpart B of this part). Alternative management... to support its certification for HUD post review. Tenant Receivable Outstanding is defined in § 902...

Effective drinking water collaborations are not accidental: interagency relationships in the international water utility sector.

PubMed

Jalba, D I; Cromar, N J; Pollard, S J T; Charrois, J W; Bradshaw, R; Hrudey, S E

2014-02-01

The role that deficient institutional relationships have played in aggravating drinking water incidents over the last 30 years has been identified in several inquiries of high profile drinking water safety events, peer-reviewed articles and media reports. These indicate that collaboration between water utilities and public health agencies (PHAs) during normal operations, and in emergencies, needs improvement. Here, critical elements of these interagency collaborations, that can be integrated within the corporate risk management structures of water utilities and PHAs alike, were identified using a grounded theory approach and 51 semi-structured interviews with utility and PHA staff. Core determinants of effective interagency relationships are discussed. Intentionally maintained functional relationships represent a key ingredient in assuring the delivery of safe, high quality drinking water. © 2013.

Update on Spacewatch Observations of Near-Earth Objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brucker, Melissa; McMillan, Robert S.; Bressi, Terry; Larsen, Jeff; Mastaler, Ron; Read, Mike; Scotti, Jim; Tubbiolo, Andrew

2017-10-01

Spacewatch performs targeted astrometric follow-up of near-Earth objects, primarily asteroids (NEAs), to improve knowledge of their orbits. We have a noteworthy history of asteroid and comet observations beginning in 1984 as the first survey to use CCDs to scan the sky for asteroids and comets. Currently, we measure simultaneous astrometry and photometry of observations during an average of 24 nights per lunation (dark and gray time) as the exclusive users of a 1.8-m telescope and a 0.9-m telescope on Kitt Peak. In addition, we use bright time on the 2.3-m Bok Telescope and the 4-m Mayall Telescope on Kitt Peak to chase fainter targets. Continued astrometric follow-up helps to prevent potentially hazardous objects and scientifically interesting NEAs from becoming lost.We prioritize virtual impactors, MPC confirmation page objects, potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) with close approaches within 0.03 AU in the next 30 years, upcoming radar targets with astrometry requests, Yarkovsky effect candidates, NEAs with existing characterization data (WISE, Spitzer, SMASS, MANOS), possible spacecraft destinations (NHATS), and requests from the community.In mid October 2015, we switched from survey mode to targeted astrometry on the 0.9-m telescope. From 2015 October 15 through 2017 June 29 (1.7yr), Spacewatch (observatory codes 291, 691, and ^695) had 20951 MPC-accepted NEO lines of astrometry corresponding to measurements of 2647 different NEOs. This includes 4801 PHA lines of astrometry corresponding to 426 different PHAs, of which 223 lines were at apparent magnitudes V>=22.5. We observed 43% of all NEAs and 52% of all unnumbered NEAs that were observed by any observatory during that period. We observed 50% of all PHAs and 64% of all unnumbered PHAs observed during that period. These statistics do not include submitted measurements of confirmation page objects that were not confirmed as NEAs.Support of Spacewatch is from NASA/NEOO grants, the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory, the Brinson Foundation of Chicago, IL, the estates of R. S. Vail and R. L. Waland, and other private donors. We are also indebted to the MPC and JPL for their web services.

Biosynthesis of 2-Hydroxyacid-Containing Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Employing butyryl-CoA Transferases in Metabolically Engineered Escherichia coli.

PubMed

David, Yokimiko; Joo, Jeong Chan; Yang, Jung Eun; Oh, Young Hoon; Lee, Sang Yup; Park, Si Jae

2017-11-01

The authors previously reported the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) containing 2-hydroxyacid monomers by expressing evolved Pseudomonas sp. 6-19 PHA synthase and Clostridium propionicum propionyl-CoA transferase in engineered microorganisms. Here, the authors examined four butyryl-CoA transferases from Roseburia sp., Eubacterium hallii, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Anaerostipes caccae as potential CoA-transferases to support synthesis of polymers having 2HA monomer. In vitro activity analyses of the four butyryl-CoA transferases suggested that each butyryl-CoA transferase has different activities towards 2-hydroxybutyrate (2HB), 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), and lactate (LA). When Escherichia coli XL1-Blue expressing Pseudomonas sp. 6-19 PhaC1437 along with one butyryl-CoA transferase is cultured in chemically defined MR medium containing 20 g L -1 of glucose, 2 g L -1 of sodium 3-hydroxybutyrate, and various concentrations of sodium 2-hydroxybutyrate, PHAs consisting of 3HB, 2HB, and LA are produced. The monomer composition of PHAs agreed well with the substrate specificities of butyryl-CoA transferases from E. hallii, F. prausnitzii, and A. caccae, but not Roseburia sp. When E. coli XL1-Blue expressing PhaC1437 and E. hallii butyryl-CoA transferase is cultured in MR medium containing 20 g L -1 of glucose and 2 g L -1 of sodium 2-hydroxybutyrate, P(65.7 mol% 2HB-co-34.3 mol% LA) is produced with the highest PHA content of 30 wt%. Butyryl-CoA transferases also supported the production of P(3HB-co-2HB-co-LA) from glucose as the sole carbon source in E. coli XL1-Blue strains when one of these bct genes is expressed with phaC1437, cimA3.7, leuBCD, panE, and phaAB genes. Butyryl-CoA transferases characterized in this study can be used for engineering of microorganisms that produce PHAs containing novel 2-hydroxyacid monomers. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Transforming Public Health Systems: Using Data to Drive Organizational Capacity for Quality Improvement and Efficiency

PubMed Central

Steinwachs, Donald M.

2014-01-01

Introduction: This paper examines the organization, services, and priorities of public health agencies and their capacity to be learning public health systems (LPHS). An LPHS uses data to measure population health and health risks and to evaluate its services and programs, and then integrates its own research with advances in scientific knowledge to innovate and improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Public Health Agencies and Impact for LPHS: Public health agencies’ (PHA) organizational characteristics vary across states, as does their funding per capita. Variations in organization, services provided, and expenditures per capita may reflect variations in community needs or may be associated with unmet needs. The status of legal statutes defining responsibilities and authorities and their relationships to other public and private agencies also vary. Little information is available on the efficiency and effectiveness of state and local PHAs, in part due to a lack of information infrastructure to capture uniform data on services provided. There are almost no data on the relationship of quality of services, staff performance, and resources to population health outcomes. By building a capacity to collect and analyze data on population health within and across communities, and by becoming a continuous learning PHA, the allocation of resources can more closely match population health needs and improve health outcomes. Accreditation of every PHA is an important first step toward becoming a learning PHA. Conclusions: Public Health Services and Systems Research (PHSSR) is beginning to shed light on some of these issues, particularly by investigating variation across PHAs. As this emerging discipline grows, there is a need to enhance the collection and use of data in support of building organized, effective, and efficient LPHSs with the PHA capacity to continually improve the public’s health. PMID:25995990

24 CFR 985.103 - SEMAP score and overall performance rating.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... high performer may receive national recognition by the Department and may be given competitive advantage under notices of fund availability. (b) Standard rating. PHAs with SEMAP scores of 60 to 89...

Sustainable Operation of Arterial Networks

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-07-14

This report describes operational data analysis and modeling of arterial networks with signalized intersections as follows: The setup for data collection, analysis and simulation is presented in Section 2.1. Detailed analysis of collected signal phas...

Production of microbial polyester by fermentation of recombinant microorganisms.

PubMed

Lee, S Y; Choi, J I

2001-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) can be produced from renewable sources and are biodegradable with similar material properties and processibility to conventional plastic materials. With recent advances in our understanding of the biochemistry and genetics of PHA biosynthesis and cloning of the PHA biosynthesis genes from a number of different bacteria, many different recombinant bacteria have been developed to improve PHA production for commercial applications. For enhancing PHA synthetic capacity, homologous or heterologous expression of the PHA biosynthetic enzymes has been attempted. Several genes that allow utilization of various substrates were transformed into PHA producers, or non-PHA producers utilizing inexpensive carbon substrate were transformed with the PHA biosynthesis genes. Novel PHAs have been synthesized by introducing a new PHA biosynthesis pathway or a new PHA synthase gene. In this article, recent advances in the production of PHA by recombinant bacteria are described.

Synthesis of High-Molecular-Weight Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Marine Photosynthetic Purple Bacteria

PubMed Central

Higuchi-Takeuchi, Mieko; Morisaki, Kumiko; Toyooka, Kiminori; Numata, Keiji

2016-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a biopolyester/bioplastic that is produced by a variety of microorganisms to store carbon and increase reducing redox potential. Photosynthetic bacteria convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds using light energy and are known to accumulate PHA. We analyzed PHAs synthesized by 3 purple sulfur bacteria and 9 purple non-sulfur bacteria strains. These 12 purple bacteria were cultured in nitrogen-limited medium containing acetate and/or sodium bicarbonate as carbon sources. PHA production in the purple sulfur bacteria was induced by nitrogen-limited conditions. Purple non-sulfur bacteria accumulated PHA even under normal growth conditions, and PHA production in 3 strains was enhanced by nitrogen-limited conditions. Gel permeation chromatography analysis revealed that 5 photosynthetic purple bacteria synthesized high-molecular-weight PHAs, which are useful for industrial applications. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that mRNA levels of phaC and PhaZ genes were low under nitrogen-limited conditions, resulting in production of high-molecular-weight PHAs. We conclude that all 12 tested strains are able to synthesize PHA to some degree, and we identify 5 photosynthetic purple bacteria that accumulate high-molecular-weight PHA molecules. Furthermore, the photosynthetic purple bacteria synthesized PHA when they were cultured in seawater supplemented with acetate. The photosynthetic purple bacteria strains characterized in this study should be useful as host microorganisms for large-scale PHA production utilizing abundant marine resources and carbon dioxide. PMID:27513570

24 CFR 902.35 - Financial condition scoring and thresholds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Financial Condition Scoring Process that is currently in effect can be found at the REAC Internet site at... toll free number). (2) PHAs with fiscal years ending on or before June 30, 2000, will receive an...

24 CFR 943.122 - How is a consortium organized?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY CONSORTIA AND JOINT VENTURES Consortia § 943.122 How is a... participating PHAs, specifying a lead agency (see § 943.124), and submit a joint PHA Plan (§ 943.118). HUD...

75 FR 52543 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Requirements for Designating...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-26

... designation before they designate projects for elderly families only, non-elderly disabled families only, or elderly and disabled families. In this plan, PHAs must document why the designation is needed, information...

77 FR 28400 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment on the Study of Public Housing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-14

... number of homeless households served or targeting homeless households for priority housing assistance... PHAs, to develop strategies to expand access to mainstream housing opportunities for [[Page 28401...

Biofilm lifestyle enhances diesel bioremediation and biosurfactant production in the Antarctic polyhydroxyalkanoate producer Pseudomonas extremaustralis.

PubMed

Tribelli, Paula M; Di Martino, Carla; López, Nancy I; Raiger Iustman, Laura J

2012-09-01

Diesel is a widely distributed pollutant. Bioremediation of this kind of compounds requires the use of microorganisms able to survive and adapt to contaminated environments. Pseudomonas extremaustralis is an Antarctic bacterium with a remarkable survival capability associated to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production. This strain was used to investigate the effect of cell growth conditions--in biofilm versus shaken flask cultures--as well as the inocula characteristics associated with PHAs accumulation, on diesel degradation. Biofilms showed increased cell growth, biosurfactant production and diesel degradation compared with that obtained in shaken flask cultures. PHA accumulation decreased biofilm cell attachment and enhanced biosurfactant production. Degradation of long-chain and branched alkanes was observed in biofilms, while in shaken flasks only medium-chain length alkanes were degraded. This work shows that the PHA accumulating bacterium P. extremaustralis can be a good candidate to be used as hydrocarbon bioremediation agent, especially in extreme environments.

An investigation of the effect of processing conditions on the lamellar and spherulitic morphology of polyhydroxyalkanoates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Yuping; Akpalu, Yvonne A.

2007-03-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have recently attracted much interest because of their biodegradability and biocompatibility. Since the ultimate properties of polymers can be controlled by processing conditions, particularly cooling rates, the systematic and thorough understanding of the effects of cooling rates on the final morphology and the resulting mechanical properties of PHAs is necessary and important. In this presentation, the lamellar (tens of nanometers), fibrillar (several hundred nanometers) and spherulitic (˜μm) morphologies of poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB) and the copolymer poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid-co-3-hydroxyvaleric acid) (PHBV) crystallized under different cooling rates were studied using small angle X-ray scattering, ultra small angle X-ray scattering, and polarized optical microscopy, respectively. The morphology was observed to depend strongly on cooling rate. The influence of cooling rate on the morphology and mechanical properties such as toughness, tensile strength and overall stress-strain behavior will be discussed.

Biosynthesis and characterization of polyhydroxyalkanoates in the polysaccharide-degrading marine bacterium Saccharophagus degradans ATCC 43961.

PubMed

González-García, Yolanda; Nungaray, Jesús; Córdova, Jesús; González-Reynoso, Orfil; Koller, Martin; Atlic, Aid; Braunegg, Gerhart

2008-06-01

The marine bacterium Saccharophagus degradans was investigated for the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), using glucose as the sole source of carbon in a two-step batch culture. In the first step the microorganism grew under nutrient balanced conditions; in the second step the cells were cultivated under limitation of nitrogen source. The biopolymer accumulated in S. degradans cells was detected by Nile red staining and FT-IR analysis. From GC-MS analysis, it was found that this strain produced a homopolymer of 3-hydroxybutyric acid. The cellular polymer concentration, its molecular mass, glass transition temperature, melting point and heat of fusion were 17.2+/-2.7% of dry cell weight, 54.2+/-0.6 kDa, 37.4+/-6.0 degrees C, 165.6+/-5.5 degrees C and 59.6+/-2.2 J g(-1), respectively. This work is the first report determining the capacity of S. degradans to synthesize PHAs.

Ralstonia eutropha H16 in progress: Applications beside PHAs and establishment as production platform by advanced genetic tools.

PubMed

Raberg, Matthias; Volodina, Elena; Lin, Kaichien; Steinbüchel, Alexander

2018-06-01

Ralstonia eutropha strain H16 is a Gram-negative non-pathogenic betaproteobacterium ubiquitously found in soils and has been the subject of intensive research for more than 50 years. Due to its remarkable metabolically versatility, it utilizes a broad range of renewable heterotrophic resources. The substrate utilization range can be further extended by metabolic engineering as genetic tools are available. It has become the best studied "Knallgas" bacterium capable of chemolithoautotrophic growth with hydrogen as the electron donor and carbon dioxide as the carbon source. It also serves as a model organism to study the metabolism of poly(β-hydroxybutyrate), a polyester which is accumulated within the cells for storage of both carbon and energy. Thermoplastic and biodegradable properties of this polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) have attracted much biotechnical interest as a replacement for fossil resource-based plastics. The first applications of R. eutropha aimed at chemolithoautotrophic production of single cell protein (SCP) for food and feed and the synthesis of various PHAs. The complete annotated genome is available allowing systematic biology approaches together with data provided by available omics studies. Besides PHAs, novel biopolymers of 2-hydroxyalkanoates and polythioesters or cyanophycin as well as chemicals such as alcohols, alkanes, alkenes, and further interesting value added chemicals significantly recently extended the range of products synthesized by R. eutropha. High cell density cultivations can be performed without too much effort and the available repertoire of genetic tools is rapidly growing. Altogether, this qualifies R. eutropha strain H16 to become a production platform strain for a large spectrum of products.

Edge-on View of Near-Earth Asteroids

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-05-16

NEOWISE, the asteroid-hunting portion of NASA WISE mission, illustrates the differences between orbits of a typical near-Earth asteroid blue and a potentially hazardous asteroid, or PHA orange. PHAs are a subset of the near-Earth asteroids NEAs.

24 CFR 811.104 - Approval of Public Housing Agencies (other than agency or instrumentality PHAS).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... AND SECTION 811 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM) TAX EXEMPTION OF OBLIGATIONS... independent public accountant of its books and records in connection with the financing of the project within...

77 FR 55488 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment: Study of Public Housing Agencies...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-10

... served or targeting homeless households for priority housing assistance; and (4) identify mechanisms to... the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which funds PHAs, to develop strategies to...

76 FR 70471 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment on the: Study of Public Housing...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-14

... barriers to, or concerns about, increasing the number of homeless households served or targeting homeless... Urban Development (HUD), which funds PHAs, to develop strategies to expand access to mainstream housing...

New Bio-Composites Based on Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Posidonia oceanica Fibres for Applications in a Marine Environment.

PubMed

Seggiani, Maurizia; Cinelli, Patrizia; Mallegni, Norma; Balestri, Elena; Puccini, Monica; Vitolo, Sandra; Lardicci, Claudio; Lazzeri, Andrea

2017-03-23

Bio-composites based on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and fibres of Posidonia oceanica (PO) were investigated to assess their processability by extrusion, mechanical properties, and potential biodegradability in a natural marine environment. PHAs were successfully compounded with PO fibres up to 20 wt % while, at 30 wt % of fibres, the addition of 10 wt % of polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) was necessary to improve their processability. Thermal, rheological, mechanical, and morphological characterizations of the developed composites were conducted and the degradation of composite films in a natural marine habitat was evaluated in a mesocosm by weight loss measure during an incubation period of six months. The addition of PO fibres led to an increase in stiffness of the composites with tensile modulus values about 80% higher for composites with 30 wt % fibre (2.3 GPa) compared to unfilled material (1.24 GPa). Furthermore, the impact energy markedly increased with the addition of the PO fibres, from 1.63 (unfilled material) to 3.8 kJ/m² for the composites with 30 wt % PO. The rate of degradation was markedly influenced by seawater temperature and significantly promoted by the presence of PO fibres leading to the total degradation of the film with 30 wt % PO in less than six months. The obtained results showed that the developed composites can be suitable to manufacture items usable in marine environments, for example, in natural engineering interventions, and represent an interesting valorisation of the PO fibrous wastes accumulated in large amounts on coastal beaches.

New Bio-Composites Based on Polyhydroxyalkanoates and Posidonia oceanica Fibres for Applications in a Marine Environment

PubMed Central

Seggiani, Maurizia; Cinelli, Patrizia; Mallegni, Norma; Balestri, Elena; Puccini, Monica; Vitolo, Sandra; Lardicci, Claudio; Lazzeri, Andrea

2017-01-01

Bio-composites based on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and fibres of Posidonia oceanica (PO) were investigated to assess their processability by extrusion, mechanical properties, and potential biodegradability in a natural marine environment. PHAs were successfully compounded with PO fibres up to 20 wt % while, at 30 wt % of fibres, the addition of 10 wt % of polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) was necessary to improve their processability. Thermal, rheological, mechanical, and morphological characterizations of the developed composites were conducted and the degradation of composite films in a natural marine habitat was evaluated in a mesocosm by weight loss measure during an incubation period of six months. The addition of PO fibres led to an increase in stiffness of the composites with tensile modulus values about 80% higher for composites with 30 wt % fibre (2.3 GPa) compared to unfilled material (1.24 GPa). Furthermore, the impact energy markedly increased with the addition of the PO fibres, from 1.63 (unfilled material) to 3.8 kJ/m2 for the composites with 30 wt % PO. The rate of degradation was markedly influenced by seawater temperature and significantly promoted by the presence of PO fibres leading to the total degradation of the film with 30 wt % PO in less than six months. The obtained results showed that the developed composites can be suitable to manufacture items usable in marine environments, for example, in natural engineering interventions, and represent an interesting valorisation of the PO fibrous wastes accumulated in large amounts on coastal beaches. PMID:28772689

Utilization of cellulosic waste from tequila bagasse and production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics by Saccharophagus degradans.

PubMed

Alva Munoz, Luis Esteban; Riley, Mark R

2008-08-01

Utilization of wastes from agriculture is becoming increasingly important due to concerns of environmental impact. The goals of this work were to evaluate the ability of an unusual organism, Saccharophagus degradans (ATCC 43961), to degrade the major components of plant cell walls and to evaluate the ability of S. degradans to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs, also known as bioplastics). S. degradans can readily attach to cellulosic fibers, degrade the cellulose, and utilize this as the primary carbon source. The growth of S. degradans was assessed in minimal media (MM) containing glucose, cellobiose, avicel, and bagasse with all able to support growth. Cells were able to attach to avicel and bagasse fibers; however, growth on these insoluble fibers was much slower and led to a lower maximal biomass production than observed with simple sugars. Lignin in MM alone did not support growth, but did support growth upon addition of glucose, although with an increased adaptation phase. When culture conditions were switched to a nitrogen depleted status, PHA production commences and extends for at least 48 h. At early stationary phase, stained inclusion bodies were visible and two chronologically increasing infrared light absorbance peaks at 1,725 and 1,741 cm(-1) confirmed the presence of PHAs. This work demonstrates for what we believe to be the first time, that a single organism can degrade insoluble cellulose and under similar conditions can produce and accumulate PHA. Additional work is necessary to more fully characterize these capabilities and to optimize the PHA production and purification. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

75 FR 61253 - Final Fair Market Rents for Fiscal Year 2011 for the Housing Choice Voucher Program and Moderate...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-04

... local HUD program staff. Questions on how to conduct FMR surveys or further methodological explanations... version of the RDD survey methodology for smaller, nonmetropolitan PHAs. This methodology is designed to...

76 FR 51049 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Public Housing Admissions...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-17

... Agencies (PHAs) enter into an Annual Contribution Contract (ACC) with HUD to assist low-income tenants. HUD... Contract (ACC) with HUD to assist low-income tenants. HUD regulations, part 960, provide policies and...

Screening of polyhydroxyalkanoate-producing bacteria and PhaC-encoding genes in two hypersaline microbial mats from Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

PubMed

Martínez-Gutiérrez, Carolina A; Latisnere-Barragán, Hever; García-Maldonado, José Q; López-Cortés, Alejandro

2018-01-01

Hypersaline microbial mats develop through seasonal and diel fluctuations, as well as under several physicochemical variables. Hence, resident microorganisms commonly employ strategies such as the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in order to resist changing and stressful conditions. However, the knowledge of bacterial PHA production in hypersaline microbial mats has been limited to date, particularly in regard to medium-chain length PHAs (mcl-PHAs), which have biotechnological applications due to their plastic properties. The aim of this study was to obtain evidence for PHA production in two hypersaline microbial mats of Guerrero Negro, Mexico by searching for PHA granules and PHA synthase genes in isolated bacterial strains and environmental samples. Six PHA-producing strains were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing; three of them corresponded to a Halomonas sp. In addition, Paracoccus sp., Planomicrobium sp. and Staphylococcus sp. were also identified as PHA producers. Presumptive PHA granules and PHA synthases genes were detected in both sampling sites. Moreover, phylogenetic analysis showed that most of the phylotypes were distantly related to putative PhaC synthases class I sequences belonging to members of the classes Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria distributed within eight families, with higher abundances corresponding mainly to Rhodobacteraceae and Rhodospirillaceae. This analysis also showed that PhaC synthases class II sequences were closely related to those of Pseudomonas putida , suggesting the presence of this group, which is probably involved in the production of mcl-PHA in the mats. According to our state of knowledge, this study reports for the first time the occurrence of phaC and phaC1 sequences in hypersaline microbial mats, suggesting that these ecosystems may be a novel source for the isolation of short- and medium-chain length PHA producers.

Reinforced cementitous composite with in situ shrinking microfibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Eric S.; Lee, Jason K.; Lee, Patrick C.; Huston, Dryver R.; Tan, Ting; Al-Ghamdi, Saleh

2017-03-01

This paper describes an innovative fiber reinforcement technology for cementitious composite structures that employs in situ shrinking microfibers to provide supplemental strength-enhancing compressive stresses. Reinforced concrete is one of the most commonly used structural materials in construction industry, primarily due to its cost, durability, ability to be easily fabricated into a variety of shapes on site, and locally abundant raw material availability almost everywhere. Unlike incumbent passive reinforcing microfiber technology, in situ shrinking microfibers that respond to an in situ stimulus such as heat, pH, or moisture variations can induce pre-compression to matrix and create additional resistance from external loads, creating stronger composite structures. In this paper, heat-activated-shrinking (HAS) microfibers made from polyolefin, and pH-activated-shrinking (pHAS) microfibers made from chitosan powder were used to study effects of shrinking microfiber reinforcing in concrete. Shrinking ratios and tensile strengths of both microfibers were measured. Cementitious specimens with active shrinking microfibers, passive non shrinking fibers, as well as control samples were made. Mechanical properties of the samples were compared with compression and three-point bending tests. The optimum microfiber weight percentages for HAS microfibers were 0.5 wt% in compression tests, and 1.0 wt% in three-point bending tests. For pHAS microfibers, the optimum weight percentages were 0.5 wt% in three-point bending tests. Compared to heat passive microfibers specimens, 45% increase in the maximum compression strengths, and 124% increase in the maximum bending strengths were achieved at the optimum weight percentages of HAS microfibers. In addition, with 0.5 wt% of pHAS microfibers, 145% increase in the maximum bending strengths of three-point bending tests resulted compared to pH passive microfibers specimens.

Municipal wastewater biological nutrient removal driven by the fermentation liquid of dairy wastewater.

PubMed

Liu, Hui; Chen, Yinguang; Wu, Jiang

2017-11-01

Carbon substrate is required by biological nutrient removal (BNR) microorganism, but it is usually insufficient in the influent of many municipal wastewater treatment plants. In this study the use of ethanol-enriched fermentation liquid, which was derived from dairy wastewater, as the preferred carbon substrate of BNR was reported. First, the application of dairy wastewater and food processing wastewater and their fermentation liquid as the carbon substrate of BNR was compared in the short-term tests. The fermented wastewater showed higher BNR performance than the unfermented one, and the fermentation liquid of dairy wastewater (FL-DW), which was obtained under pH 8 and fermentation time of 6 day, exhibited the highest phosphorus (95.5%) and total nitrogen (97.6%) removal efficiencies due to its high ethanol content (57.9%). Then, the long-term performance of FL-DW acting as the carbon substrate of BNR was compared with that of acetate and ethanol, and the FL-DW showed the greatest phosphorus and total nitrogen removal. Further investigation showed that the use of FL-DW caused the highest polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) synthesis in BNR microbial cells, and more PHAs were used for phosphorus uptake and denitrification rather than glycogen synthesis and microbial growth. The FL-DW can be used as a preferred carbon substrate for BNR microbes. AB: aerobic end sludge active biomass; BNR: biological nutrient removal; DW: dairy wastewater; FL-DW: fermentation liquid of dairy wastewater; FPW: food processing wastewater; FL-FPW: fermentation liquid of food processing wastewater; PHAs: polyhydroxyalkanoates; PHB: poly-3-hydroxybutyrate; PHV: poly-3-hydroxyvalerate; PH2MV: poly-3-hydroxy-2- methylvalerate; PAOs: phosphorus accumulating organisms; SBR: sequencing batch reactor; SOP: soluble ortho-phosphorus; TN: total nitrogen; TSS: total suspended solids; VSS: volatile suspended solids; VFAs: volatile fatty acids; WWTPs: wastewater treatment plants.

24 CFR 990.270 - Asset management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Asset management. 990.270 Section... THE PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Asset Management § 990.270 Asset management. As owners, PHAs have asset management responsibilities that are above and beyond property management activities. These...

24 CFR 990.270 - Asset management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Asset management. 990.270 Section... THE PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Asset Management § 990.270 Asset management. As owners, PHAs have asset management responsibilities that are above and beyond property management activities. These...

24 CFR 990.270 - Asset management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Asset management. 990.270 Section... THE PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Asset Management § 990.270 Asset management. As owners, PHAs have asset management responsibilities that are above and beyond property management activities. These...

24 CFR 965.405 - Actions affecting residents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... that will be advantageous to residents who conserve energy. (d) A transition period of at least six... service to individual metering, explaining the national policy objectives of energy conservation, the... established. (e) During and after the transition period, PHAs shall advise and assist residents with high...

24 CFR 965.405 - Actions affecting residents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... that will be advantageous to residents who conserve energy. (d) A transition period of at least six... service to individual metering, explaining the national policy objectives of energy conservation, the... established. (e) During and after the transition period, PHAs shall advise and assist residents with high...

24 CFR 965.405 - Actions affecting residents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... that will be advantageous to residents who conserve energy. (d) A transition period of at least six... service to individual metering, explaining the national policy objectives of energy conservation, the... established. (e) During and after the transition period, PHAs shall advise and assist residents with high...

24 CFR 965.405 - Actions affecting residents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... that will be advantageous to residents who conserve energy. (d) A transition period of at least six... service to individual metering, explaining the national policy objectives of energy conservation, the... established. (e) During and after the transition period, PHAs shall advise and assist residents with high...

24 CFR 965.405 - Actions affecting residents.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... that will be advantageous to residents who conserve energy. (d) A transition period of at least six... service to individual metering, explaining the national policy objectives of energy conservation, the... established. (e) During and after the transition period, PHAs shall advise and assist residents with high...

Existing Whole-House Solutions Case Study: Islip Housing Authority Energy Efficiency Turnover Protocols, Islip, New York

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

J. Dentz, F. Conlin, D. Podorson, and K. Alaigh

2014-08-01

In this project, Building America team ARIES worked with two public housing authorities (PHA) to develop packages of energy efficiency retrofit measures the PHAs can cost effectively implement at the time when units are refurbished between occupancies.

24 CFR 5.321 - Lease provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... GENERAL HUD PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; WAIVERS Pet Ownership for the Elderly or Persons With Disabilities General Requirements § 5.321 Lease provisions. (a) Lease provisions. (1) PHAs which have established pet... persons with disabilities: (i) State that tenants are permitted to keep common household pets in their...

24 CFR 5.321 - Lease provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... GENERAL HUD PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; WAIVERS Pet Ownership for the Elderly or Persons With Disabilities General Requirements § 5.321 Lease provisions. (a) Lease provisions. (1) PHAs which have established pet... persons with disabilities: (i) State that tenants are permitted to keep common household pets in their...

24 CFR 5.321 - Lease provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... GENERAL HUD PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; WAIVERS Pet Ownership for the Elderly or Persons With Disabilities General Requirements § 5.321 Lease provisions. (a) Lease provisions. (1) PHAs which have established pet... persons with disabilities: (i) State that tenants are permitted to keep common household pets in their...

24 CFR 5.321 - Lease provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... GENERAL HUD PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; WAIVERS Pet Ownership for the Elderly or Persons With Disabilities General Requirements § 5.321 Lease provisions. (a) Lease provisions. (1) PHAs which have established pet... persons with disabilities: (i) State that tenants are permitted to keep common household pets in their...

24 CFR 5.321 - Lease provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... GENERAL HUD PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS; WAIVERS Pet Ownership for the Elderly or Persons With Disabilities General Requirements § 5.321 Lease provisions. (a) Lease provisions. (1) PHAs which have established pet... persons with disabilities: (i) State that tenants are permitted to keep common household pets in their...

Natural product diversity associated with the nematode symbionts Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus species produce many specialized metabolites derived from non-ribosomal synthetase (NRPS) or polyketide synthase (PKS) with utilities in maintaining a complex life cycle. Both bacteria undergo a symbiosis with nematodes which is then followed by an insect pathogenic phas...

24 CFR 990.270 - Asset management.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Asset management. 990.270 Section... THE PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Asset Management § 990.270 Asset management. As owners, PHAs have asset management responsibilities that are above and beyond property management activities. These...

Advanced functionalization of polyhydroxyalkanoate via the UV-initiated thiol-ene click reaction.

PubMed

Tajima, Kenji; Iwamoto, Kosuke; Satoh, Yasuharu; Sakai, Ryosuke; Satoh, Toshifumi; Dairi, Tohru

2016-05-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) incorporating vinyl-bearing 3-hydroxyalkanoates were prepared in 8.5-12.9 g L(-1) yield. The molar ratios (0-16 mol%) of the vinyl-bearing 3-hydroxyalkanoate derivatives were controlled by the continuous feeding of undecylenate at various concentrations. Subsequently, the PHAs were functionalized by UV-initiated thiol-ene click reaction and chemical modification. (1)H NMR spectra suggested that 3-mercaptopropionic acid and 2-aminoethanethiol were successfully introduced into the vinyl-bearing PHA. Subsequently, chemical modification using fluorescein or a fibronectin active fragment (GRGDS) was attempted. The former yielded a PHA derivative capable of emitting fluorescence under UV irradiation, which was useful for determining the miscibility of PHA in a composite film comprising poly-ʟ-lactic acid (PLLA) and PHA. In the latter case, PHA bearing GRGDS peptides exhibited cell adhesiveness, suggesting that its biocompatibility was improved upon peptide introduction. Taken together, the UV-initiated thiol-ene click reaction was demonstrated to be useful in PHA modification.

24 CFR 943.100 - What is the purpose of this part?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY CONSORTIA AND JOINT VENTURES General § 943.100 What is the purpose of this part? This part authorizes public housing agencies (PHAs) to form consortia, joint ventures, affiliates, subsidiaries, partnerships, and other business arrangements under section 13 of the...

24 CFR 990.235 - PHAs that will experience a subsidy increase.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... URBAN DEVELOPMENT THE PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Transition Policy and Transition Funding... the difference between the two funding levels in the first year following implementation of the...) For example, a PHA's subsidy increased from $900,000 under the formula in effect prior to...

24 CFR 990.235 - PHAs that will experience a subsidy increase.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... URBAN DEVELOPMENT THE PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Transition Policy and Transition Funding... the difference between the two funding levels in the first year following implementation of the...) For example, a PHA's subsidy increased from $900,000 under the formula in effect prior to...

24 CFR 990.235 - PHAs that will experience a subsidy increase.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... URBAN DEVELOPMENT THE PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Transition Policy and Transition Funding... the difference between the two funding levels in the first year following implementation of the...) For example, a PHA's subsidy increased from $900,000 under the formula in effect prior to...

24 CFR 945.103 - General policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... will not be housed in a designated project, PHAs shall utilize housing resources that they own, control... utilize, to the extent practicable, any housing facilities that they own or control in which supportive... housing, group homes, and congregate housing. (3) Exemption of mixed population projects. A PHA with a...

24 CFR 945.103 - General policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... will not be housed in a designated project, PHAs shall utilize housing resources that they own, control... utilize, to the extent practicable, any housing facilities that they own or control in which supportive... housing, group homes, and congregate housing. (3) Exemption of mixed population projects. A PHA with a...

24 CFR 945.103 - General policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... will not be housed in a designated project, PHAs shall utilize housing resources that they own, control... utilize, to the extent practicable, any housing facilities that they own or control in which supportive... housing, group homes, and congregate housing. (3) Exemption of mixed population projects. A PHA with a...

24 CFR 945.103 - General policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... will not be housed in a designated project, PHAs shall utilize housing resources that they own, control... utilize, to the extent practicable, any housing facilities that they own or control in which supportive... housing, group homes, and congregate housing. (3) Exemption of mixed population projects. A PHA with a...

24 CFR 945.103 - General policies.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... will not be housed in a designated project, PHAs shall utilize housing resources that they own, control... utilize, to the extent practicable, any housing facilities that they own or control in which supportive... housing, group homes, and congregate housing. (3) Exemption of mixed population projects. A PHA with a...

24 CFR 902.51 - Updating of public housing unit address information.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Service and Satisfaction § 902.51 Updating of public housing unit address information. (a) Electronic updating. The survey process for the Resident Service and Satisfaction Indicator is dependent upon... any points for the PHAS Resident Service and Satisfaction Indicator. (c) Electronic updating of the...

24 CFR 965.205 - Qualified PHA-owned insurance entity.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... a PHA could purchase insurance coverage without regard to competitive selection procedures when it purchases it from a nonprofit insurance entity owned and controlled by PHAs approved by HUD in accordance... of experience in large risk (exceeding $100,000 in annual premiums) commercial underwriting or at...

An integrative study on biologically recovered polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and simultaneous assessment of gut microbiome in yellow mealworm.

PubMed

Ong, Su Yean; Kho, Hui-Pheng; Riedel, Sebastian L; Kim, Seok-Won; Gan, Chee-Yuen; Taylor, Todd D; Sudesh, Kumar

2018-01-10

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are produced in microbes as a source of carbon and energy storage. They are biodegradable and have properties similar to synthetic plastics, which make them an interesting alternative to petroleum-based plastics. In this study, a refined method of recovering PHA from Cupriavidus necator biomass was proposed by incorporating the use of the yellow mealworm (the larval phase of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor) as partial purification machinery, followed by washing of the fecal pellets with distilled water and sodium hydroxide. The PHA contents of the cells used in this study were 55wt% (produced from palm olein) and 60 wt% (produced from waste animal fats). The treatment of distilled water and NaOH further increased the purity of PHA to 94%. In parallel, analysis of the 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing of the mealworm gut microbiome has revealed remarkable changes in the bacterial diversity, especially between the mealworms fed with cells produced from palm olein and waste animal fats. This biological recovery of PHA from cells is an attempt to move towards a green and sustainable process with the aim of reducing the use of harmful solvents and strong chemicals during polymer purification. The results obtained show that - purities of >90%, without a reduction in the molecular weight, can be obtained through this integrative biological recovery approach. In addition, this study has successfully shown that the cells, regardless of their origins, were readily consumed by the mealworms, and there is a correlation between the feed type and the mealworm gut microbiome. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

24 CFR 582.340 - Other Federal requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

..., PHAs and IHAs, a disclosure of the nature of the conflict, accompanied by an assurance that there has... finds necessary or appropriate. (b) Conflict of interest. (1) In addition to the conflict of interest....300 of this part does not constitute a conflict of interest. (2) Upon the written request of the...

75 FR 44003 - Financial Standards for Housing Agency-Owned Insurance Entities

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-27

... Housing Agency-Owned Insurance Entities AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian... Housing Agency-Owned Insurance Entities. OMB Control Number: 2577-0186. Description of the need for the... procedures, if the insurance was purchased from a nonprofit insurance entity owned and controlled by PHAs...

24 CFR 971.9 - Tenant and local government consultation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Tenant and local government... REQUIRED BY LAW § 971.9 Tenant and local government consultation. (a) PHAs are required to proceed in... approved by the local officials as not inconsistent with the Consolidated Plan. ...

CHLOROBENZENES, CHLOROPHENOLS, PHAS AND LOW CHLORINATED DIOXIN/FURAN POST-BOILER TOXICITY INDICATORS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE INCINERATORS

EPA Science Inventory

Research has sought indicator compounds for fast and less costly predictive monitoring of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and furans, PCDD/F, toxic equivalent concentrations or TEQs. Studies have shown chlorobenzenes and chlorophenols had a good correlation with TEQ, suggesting ...

24 CFR 990.230 - PHAs that will experience a subsidy reduction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... URBAN DEVELOPMENT THE PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND PROGRAM Transition Policy and Transition Funding... percent of the difference between the two funding levels in the first year of implementation of the formula contained in this part; (2) 24 percent of the difference between the two funding levels in the...

24 CFR 905.204 - Emergencies and natural disasters.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Emergencies and natural disasters... natural disasters. (a) General. PHAs are required by the CF ACC to carry various types of insurance to... repair or replacement costs associated with emergencies and natural disasters. Where the Department's...

24 CFR 943.124 - What elements must a consortium agreement contain?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false What elements must a consortium agreement contain? 943.124 Section 943.124 Housing and Urban Development Regulations Relating to Housing and... elements must a consortium agreement contain? (a) The consortium agreement among the participating PHAs...

24 CFR 943.124 - What elements must a consortium agreement contain?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false What elements must a consortium agreement contain? 943.124 Section 943.124 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO HOUSING AND... elements must a consortium agreement contain? (a) The consortium agreement among the participating PHAs...

24 CFR 943.124 - What elements must a consortium agreement contain?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false What elements must a consortium agreement contain? 943.124 Section 943.124 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO HOUSING AND... elements must a consortium agreement contain? (a) The consortium agreement among the participating PHAs...

24 CFR 943.124 - What elements must a consortium agreement contain?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false What elements must a consortium agreement contain? 943.124 Section 943.124 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO HOUSING AND... elements must a consortium agreement contain? (a) The consortium agreement among the participating PHAs...

24 CFR 943.124 - What elements must a consortium agreement contain?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false What elements must a consortium agreement contain? 943.124 Section 943.124 Housing and Urban Development REGULATIONS RELATING TO HOUSING AND... elements must a consortium agreement contain? (a) The consortium agreement among the participating PHAs...

76 FR 4932 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Capital Fund Education and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-27

... Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Capital Fund Education and Training Community Facilities AGENCY... (PHAs) for modernization, development, financing, and management improvements. Beginning in FY 2010, Congress set aside up to $40 million of the Capital Fund for Education and Training Community Facilities...

24 CFR 902.5 - Applicability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...(s) for which they assumed management responsibilities. (2) ACC. The ACC makes a PHA legally... the PHA and not the RMC or AME is ultimately responsible to HUD under the ACC, the PHAS score of a PHA will be based on all of the projects covered by the ACC, including those with management operations...

24 CFR 990.200 - Determination of formula amount.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... part) and its formula income (as calculated under subpart D of this part). (b) Use of HUD databases to calculate formula amount. HUD shall utilize its databases to make the formula calculations. HUD's databases... units in HUD's databases. (c) PHA responsibility to submit timely data. PHAs shall submit data used in...

24 CFR 990.200 - Determination of formula amount.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... part) and its formula income (as calculated under subpart D of this part). (b) Use of HUD databases to calculate formula amount. HUD shall utilize its databases to make the formula calculations. HUD's databases... units in HUD's databases. (c) PHA responsibility to submit timely data. PHAs shall submit data used in...

24 CFR 990.200 - Determination of formula amount.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... part) and its formula income (as calculated under subpart D of this part). (b) Use of HUD databases to calculate formula amount. HUD shall utilize its databases to make the formula calculations. HUD's databases... units in HUD's databases. (c) PHA responsibility to submit timely data. PHAs shall submit data used in...

24 CFR 990.200 - Determination of formula amount.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... part) and its formula income (as calculated under subpart D of this part). (b) Use of HUD databases to calculate formula amount. HUD shall utilize its databases to make the formula calculations. HUD's databases... units in HUD's databases. (c) PHA responsibility to submit timely data. PHAs shall submit data used in...

24 CFR 990.200 - Determination of formula amount.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... part) and its formula income (as calculated under subpart D of this part). (b) Use of HUD databases to calculate formula amount. HUD shall utilize its databases to make the formula calculations. HUD's databases... units in HUD's databases. (c) PHA responsibility to submit timely data. PHAs shall submit data used in...

24 CFR 990.230 - PHAs that will experience a subsidy reduction.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... limit). (d) If a PHA can demonstrate a successful conversion to the asset management requirements of... demonstration of conversion to asset management for discontinuation of PHA subsidy reduction is reflected in the... to asset management directly to HUD for determination of compliance. (5) The Assistant Secretary for...

75 FR 32494 - Energy Conservation for PHA-Owned or Leased Project-Audits, Utility Allowances

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-08

...-Owned or Leased Project-Audits, Utility Allowances AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD... complete energy audits, benefit/cost analyses for individual vs. master metering. PHAs review tenant...-Audits, Utility Allowances. OMB Approval Number: 2577-0062. Form Numbers: HUD-50078. Description of the...

75 FR 16161 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Energy Conservation for PHA-Owned...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-31

... Information Collection for Public Comment; Energy Conservation for PHA-Owned or Leased Projects--Audits... or Leased Projects--Audits, Utility Allowances. OMB Control Number: 2577-0062. Description of the... surcharges (and revisions thereof) are established. PHAs complete energy audits, benefit/cost analyses for...

24 CFR 941.209 - Audit.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Audit. 941.209 Section 941.209... HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PHA Eligibility and Program Requirements § 941.209 Audit. All PHAs that receive funds under this part for the development of low-income housing shall comply with audit requirements in 24 CFR...

24 CFR 882.124 - Audit.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Audit. 882.124 Section 882.124...) SECTION 8 MODERATE REHABILITATION PROGRAMS Applicability, Scope and Basic Policies § 882.124 Audit. PHAs receiving financial assistance under this part are subject to audit requirements in 24 CFR part 44. [50 FR...

78 FR 75366 - 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Public Housing Energy Audits and Utility...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-11

... Information Collection: Public Housing Energy Audits and Utility Allowances AGENCY: Office of the Chief... Title of Information Collection: Public Housing Energy Audits and Utility Allowances. OMB Approval... C, Energy Audit and Energy Conservation Measures, requires PHAs to complete energy audits once every...

24 CFR 905.400 - Capital Fund formula (CF formula).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... PHAs. (c) Allocation for existing modernization needs under the CF formula. HUD shall allocate one-half... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Capital Fund formula (CF formula... URBAN DEVELOPMENT THE PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND PROGRAM Capital Fund Formula § 905.400 Capital Fund...

24 CFR 965.302 - Requirements for energy audits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Requirements for energy audits. 965... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PHA-OWNED OR LEASED PROJECTS-GENERAL PROVISIONS Energy Audits and Energy Conservation Measures § 965.302 Requirements for energy audits. All PHAs shall complete an energy audit for each PHA...

24 CFR 965.302 - Requirements for energy audits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Requirements for energy audits. 965... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PHA-OWNED OR LEASED PROJECTS-GENERAL PROVISIONS Energy Audits and Energy Conservation Measures § 965.302 Requirements for energy audits. All PHAs shall complete an energy audit for each PHA...

24 CFR 965.302 - Requirements for energy audits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Requirements for energy audits. 965... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PHA-OWNED OR LEASED PROJECTS-GENERAL PROVISIONS Energy Audits and Energy Conservation Measures § 965.302 Requirements for energy audits. All PHAs shall complete an energy audit for each PHA...

24 CFR 965.302 - Requirements for energy audits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Requirements for energy audits. 965... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PHA-OWNED OR LEASED PROJECTS-GENERAL PROVISIONS Energy Audits and Energy Conservation Measures § 965.302 Requirements for energy audits. All PHAs shall complete an energy audit for each PHA...

24 CFR 965.302 - Requirements for energy audits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Requirements for energy audits. 965... URBAN DEVELOPMENT PHA-OWNED OR LEASED PROJECTS-GENERAL PROVISIONS Energy Audits and Energy Conservation Measures § 965.302 Requirements for energy audits. All PHAs shall complete an energy audit for each PHA...

24 CFR 902.53 - Resident service and satisfaction scoring and thresholds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Resident service and satisfaction... Service and Satisfaction § 902.53 Resident service and satisfaction scoring and thresholds. (a) Scoring... Service and Satisfaction Survey Scoring Process (PHAS RASS Notice 3), which will be published in the...

78 FR 5478 - Notice of Revised Information Collection for Public Comment; Public Housing Authority Executive...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-01-25

... INFORMATION CONTACT: Arlette Mussington, Office of Policy, Programs and Legislative Initiatives, PIH... compensated employees, similar to the information that non-profit organizations receiving federal tax exemptions are required to report to the IRS annually. Since PHAs receive significant direct federal funds...

Enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of poly[(R)-(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate]: Formation of macroscopic granules in vitro

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gerngross, T.U.; Martin, D.P.

A combined chemical and enzymatic procedure has been developed to synthesize macroscopic poly[(R)-(-)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) granules in vitro. The granules form in a matter of minutes when purified polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase from Alcaligenes eutrophus is exposed to synthetically prepared (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl coenzyme A, thereby establishing the minimal requirements for PHB granule formation. The artificial granules are spherical with diameters of up to 3 {mu}m and significantly larger than their native counterparts (0.5 {mu}m). The isolated PHB was characterized by {sup 1}H and {sup 13}C NMR, gel-permeation chromatography, and chemical analysis. The in vitro polymerization system yields PHB with a molecular mass >more » 10 x 10{sup 6} Da, exceeding by an order of magnitude the mass of PHAs typically extracted from microorganisms. We also demonstrate that the molecular mass of the polymer can be controlled by the initial PHA synthase concentration. Preliminary kinetic analysis of de novo granule formation confirms earlier findings of a lag time for the enzyme but suggests the involvement of an additional granule assembly step. Minimal requirements for substrate recognition were investigated. Since substrate analogs lacking the adenosine 3{prime}, 5{prime}-bisphosphate moiety of (R)-3-hydroxybutyryl coenzyme A were not accepted by the PHA synthase, we provide evidence that this structural element of the substrate is essential for catalysis. PHAs provide a range of natural, renewable, biodegradable thermoplastics with a broad range of useful material properties. 33 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.« less

Enhanced primary sludge sonication by heat insulation to reclaim carbon source for biological phosphorous removal.

PubMed

Tian, Qing; Wang, Qi; Zhu, Yanbing; Li, Fang; Zhuang, Lin; Yang, Bo

2017-01-01

Ultrasound pretreatment is a potent step to disintegrate primary sludge (PS). The supernatant of sonicated PS is recycled as an alternative carbon source for biological phosphorus removal. In this study, we investigated the role of temperature on PS disintegration during sonication. We found that a temperature of 60°C yielded a dissolution rate of about 2% soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) as compared to 7% SCOD using sonication at the specific energy (SE) of 7359kJ/kg TS. Using the SE of 6000kJ/kg TS with heat insulation during sonication, the SCOD dissolution rate of PS was similar to the result at the SE of 7051kJ/kg TS without heat insulation. Upon treatment with sonication, the PS released low concentrations of Cu and Zn into the supernatant. The phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs) used the supernatant of sonicated PS as the carbon source. Supplementation with the diluted sonicated PS supernatant (SCOD≈1000mg/L) in anaerobic phase resulted in the release of phosphorus (36mg/L) and the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) (0.36g PHA/g SS). Compared with sodium acetate, higher polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV) faction in the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) was observed in the biomass when incubated with sonicated PS as the carbon source. This work provides a simple pathway to conserve energy and to enhance efficiencies of ultrasonic pretreatment and the recovery of carbon source from the sludge for improving the phosphorus removal in the ENR system. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

78 FR 13077 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Section 901 Implementation

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-26

... PHAs in federally declared disaster areas as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to combine their... Act) to assist families who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina or Rita. HUD determined that this... most heavily affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita the flexibility to combine funds through calendar...

24 CFR 990.190 - Other formula expenses (add-ons).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... described in subpart H of this part by FY 2011 will forfeit this fee. (g) Information technology fee. Each... the resident participation component of the formula will be adjusted accordingly. (f) Asset management fee. Each PHA with at least 250 units shall receive a $4 PUM asset management fee. PHAs with fewer...

24 CFR 990.190 - Other formula expenses (add-ons).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... described in subpart H of this part by FY 2011 will forfeit this fee. (g) Information technology fee. Each... the resident participation component of the formula will be adjusted accordingly. (f) Asset management fee. Each PHA with at least 250 units shall receive a $4 PUM asset management fee. PHAs with fewer...

24 CFR 990.190 - Other formula expenses (add-ons).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... described in subpart H of this part by FY 2011 will forfeit this fee. (g) Information technology fee. Each... the resident participation component of the formula will be adjusted accordingly. (f) Asset management fee. Each PHA with at least 250 units shall receive a $4 PUM asset management fee. PHAs with fewer...

24 CFR 990.195 - Calculation of formula income.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Calculation of formula income. 990... fiscal year-end information: (1) April 1, 2003, through March 31, 2004; (2) July 1, 2003, through June 30... communications with the respective PHAs. (e) Inapplicability of 24 CFR 85.25. Formula income is not subject to...

75 FR 29570 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment Public Housing Agency Plan Revisions...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-26

... PHA and the goals, objectives, policies, or programs for servicing victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and submit the template every 5 years. Qualified PHAs no... Violence Against Women Act (Section 5.3); incorporates a table identifying all Annual PHA Plan elements...

Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis in plants

DOEpatents

Srienc, Friedrich; Somers, David A.; Hahn, J. J.; Eschenlauer, Arthur C.

2000-01-01

Novel transgenic plants and plant cells are capable of biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Heterologous enzymes involved in PHA biosynthesis, particularly PHA polymerase, are targeted to the peroxisome of a transgenic plant. Transgenic plant materials that biosynthesize short chain length monomer PHAs in the absence of heterologous .beta.-ketothiolase and acetoacetyl-CoA reductase are also disclosed.

77 FR 33760 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Public Housing Capital Fund Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-07

... that are not subject to Independent Public Accountant (IPA) audit requirements. DATES: Comments Due... numerous PHAs that are not subject to Independent Public Accountant (IPA) audit requirements. Number of... Proposed Information Collection to OMB Public Housing Capital Fund Program AGENCY: Office of the Chief...

24 CFR 965.406 - Benefit/cost analysis for similar projects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Benefit/cost analysis for similar... Existing PHA-Owned Projects § 965.406 Benefit/cost analysis for similar projects. PHAs with more than one project of similar design and utilities service may prepare a benefit/cost analysis for a representative...

77 FR 39722 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment: Housing Choice Voucher Program...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-05

... Information Collection for Public Comment: Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Fee Study Data... is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. This request is for the clearance of on-site and telephone data collection from public housing agencies (PHAs) in support of the Housing Choice...

77 FR 10763 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Application for the Resident...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-23

... DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5603-N-16] Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Application for the Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency... Program and Family Self-Sufficiency for Public Housing. Eligible applicants are PHAs, Tribes/TDHEs, Non...

75 FR 5620 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Public Housing Contracting With...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-03

... hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal... documents (this is not a toll-free number.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department will submit the... exceed a combined dollar value of $1,000,000. The alternative procurement method requires PHAs to collect...

24 CFR 5.318 - Discretionary pet rules.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... PHAs may include, but are not limited to, consideration of the following factors: (a) Definitions of... reasonable definition of a common household pet. (2) For Housing programs. Project owners wishing to define “common household pet” in their pet rules must use the Housing programs definition of the term in § 5.306...

76 FR 17663 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Application for the Resident...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-30

... and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting...-Profits and Resident Associations. Information collected will be used to evaluate applications and award... Family Self-Sufficiency for Public Housing. Eligible applicants are PHAs, Tribes/TDHEs, Non-Profits and...

24 CFR 902.64 - PHAS scoring and audit reviews.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... necessary as a result of the independent public accountant (IPA) audit. (2) Each PHA (or RMC) shall post a... review. HUD may undertake a quality control review of the audit work papers or as part of the Department... Attestation Engagements issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or Generally Accepted...

24 CFR 902.64 - PHAS scoring and audit reviews.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... necessary as a result of the independent public accountant (IPA) audit. (2) Each PHA (or RMC) shall post a... review. HUD may undertake a quality control review of the audit work papers or as part of the Department... Attestation Engagements issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or Generally Accepted...

24 CFR 902.64 - PHAS scoring and audit reviews.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... necessary as a result of the independent public accountant (IPA) audit. (2) Each PHA (or RMC) shall post a... review. HUD may undertake a quality control review of the audit work papers or as part of the Department... Attestation Engagements issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or Generally Accepted...

24 CFR 902.64 - PHAS scoring and audit reviews.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... necessary as a result of the independent public accountant (IPA) audit. (2) Each PHA (or RMC) shall post a... review. HUD may undertake a quality control review of the audit work papers or as part of the Department... Attestation Engagements issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or Generally Accepted...

Impact of intercontinental pollution transport on North American ozone air pollution: an HTAP phase 2 multi-model study

EPA Science Inventory

The recent update on the US National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of the ground-level ozone (O3/ can benefit from a better understanding of its source contributions in different US regions during recent years. In the Hemispheric Transport of Air Pollution experiment phas...

76 FR 71592 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Moving to Work Demonstration

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-18

... Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Moving to Work Demonstration AGENCY: Office of the Chief... required to submit annual plans, however, PHAs with Moving to Work demonstration agreements (29 at the time... Following Information Title of Proposal: Moving to Work Demonstration. OMB Approval Number: 2577-0216. Form...

76 FR 35232 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Housing Choice Voucher Program...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-16

... Information Collection for Public Comment; Housing Choice Voucher Program Administrative Fee Study Pretest... Program Administrative Fee Study Pretest. Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use... collection approaches at between 5 and 10 PHAs across the country. The results of the pretest will be used to...

78 FR 16278 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Family Report, Moving-To-Work...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-14

... Proposed Information Collection to OMB Family Report, Moving-To-Work Family Report AGENCY: Office of the... the Paperwork Reduction Act. HUD is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. HUD's Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH) provides funding to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) to administer...

78 FR 59049 - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Public Housing Energy Audits and Utility...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-25

... Information Collection: Public Housing Energy Audits and Utility Allowances AGENCY: Office of the Assistant.... Overview of Information Collection Title of Information Collection: Public Housing Energy Audits and... proposed use: 24 CFR 965.301, Subpart C, Energy Audit and Energy Conservation Measures, requires PHAs to...

24 CFR 906.39 - Contents of a homeownership program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... applicable to the particular factual situation: (a) Method of Sale: The PHA should indicate how units will be sold, including a description of the exact method of sale, such as, for example, fee simple conveyance, lease-purchase, or sale of a cooperative share. PHAs may sell units directly to a tenant or eligible...

24 CFR 905.10 - Capital Fund formula (CFF).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

...-based assistance in accordance with section 8 of the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f). (3) The... Federal Register notice. (c) Formula allocation based on relative needs. After determining the amounts to... Capital Fund amount based on the relative existing modernization needs of PHAs, determined in accordance...

Polyhydroxyalkanoate-associated phasins as phylogenetically heterogeneous, multipurpose proteins.

PubMed

Maestro, Beatriz; Sanz, Jesús M

2017-11-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are natural polyesters of increasing biotechnological importance that are synthesized by many prokaryotic organisms as carbon and energy storage compounds in limiting growth conditions. PHAs accumulate intracellularly in form of inclusion bodies that are covered with a proteinaceous surface layer (granule-associated proteins or GAPs) conforming a network-like surface of structural, metabolic and regulatory polypeptides, and configuring the PHA granules as complex and well-organized subcellular structures that have been designated as 'carbonosomes'. GAPs include several enzymes related to PHA metabolism (synthases, depolymerases and hydroxylases) together with the so-called phasins, an heterogeneous group of small-size proteins that cover most of the PHA granule and that are devoid of catalytic functions but nevertheless play an essential role in granule structure and PHA metabolism. Structurally, phasins are amphiphilic proteins that shield the hydrophobic polymer from the cytoplasm. Here, we summarize the characteristics of the different phasins identified so far from PHA producer organisms and highlight the diverse opportunities that they offer in the Biotechnology field. © 2017 The Authors. Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Society for Applied Microbiology.

Poly(3-Hydroxypropionate): a Promising Alternative to Fossil Fuel-Based Materials

PubMed Central

Andreeßen, Björn; Taylor, Nicolas

2014-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are storage compounds synthesized by numerous microorganisms and have attracted the interest of industry since they are biobased and biodegradable alternatives to fossil fuel-derived plastics. Among PHAs, poly(3-hydroxypropionate) [poly(3HP)] has outstanding material characteristics and exhibits a large variety of applications. As it is not brittle like, e.g., the best-studied PHA, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [poly(3HB)], it can be used as a plasticizer in blends to improve their properties. Furthermore, 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP) is considered likely to become one of the new industrial building blocks, and it can be obtained from poly(3HP) by simple hydrolysis. Unfortunately, no natural organism is known to accumulate poly(3HP) so far. Thus, several efforts have been made to engineer genetically modified organisms capable of synthesizing the homopolymer or copolymers containing 3HP. In this review, the achievements made so far in efforts to obtain biomass which has accumulated poly(3HP) or 3HP-containing copolymers, as well as the properties of these polyesters and their applications, are compiled and evaluated. PMID:25149521

Effect of sludge retention time on continuous-flow system with enhanced biological phosphorus removal granules at different COD loading.

PubMed

Li, Dong; Lv, Yufeng; Zeng, Huiping; Zhang, Jie

2016-11-01

The effect of sludge retention time (SRT) on the continuous-flow system with enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) granules at different COD loading was investigated during the operation of more than 220days. And the results showed that when the system operated at long SRT (30days) and low COD loading (200mg·L(-1)), it could maintain excellent performance. However, long SRT and high COD loading (300mg·L(-1)) deteriorated the settling ability of granules and the performance of system and resulted in the overgrowth of filamentous bacteria. Meanwhile, the transformation of poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and glycogen in metabolism process was inhibited. Moreover, the results of pyrosequencing indicated that filamentous bacteria had a competitive advantage over polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) at high COD loading and long SRT. The PAOs specious of Candidatus_Accumlibater and system performance increased obviously when the SRT was reduced to 20days at high COD loading. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Production of targeted poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) copolymers by glycogen accumulating organisms using acetate as sole carbon source.

PubMed

Dai, Yu; Yuan, Zhiguo; Jack, Kevin; Keller, Jurg

2007-05-01

One of the main limitations in bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production with mixed cultures is the fact that primarily polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) homopolymers are generated from acetate as the main carbon source, which is brittle and quite fragile. The incorporation of different 3-hydroxyalkanoate (HA) components into the polymers requires the addition of additional carbon sources, leading to extra costs and complexity. In this study, the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB)-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV)-co-3-hydroxy-2-methylvalerate (3HMV)), with 7-35C-mol% of 3HV fractions from acetate as the only carbon source was achieved with the use of glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs). An enriched GAO culture was obtained in a lab-scale reactor operated under alternating anaerobic and aerobic conditions with acetate fed at the beginning of the anaerobic period. The production of PHAs utilizing the enriched GAO culture was investigated under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. A polymer content of 14-41% of dry cell weight was obtained. The PHA product accumulated by GAOs under anaerobic conditions contained a relatively constant proportion of non-3HB monomers (30+/-5C-mol%), irrespective of the amount of acetate assimilated. In contrast, under aerobic conditions, GAOs only produced 3HB monomers from acetate causing a gradually decreasing 3HV fraction during this aerobic feeding period. The PHAs were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The data demonstrated that the copolymers possessed similar characteristics to those of commercially available poly(3HB-co-3HV) (PHBV) products. The PHAs produced under solely anaerobic conditions possessed lower melting points and crystallinity, higher molecular weights, and narrower molecular-weight distributions, compared to the aerobically produced polymers. This paper hence demonstrates the significant potential of GAOs to produce high quality polymers from a simple and cheap carbon source, contributing considerably to the growing research body on bacterial PHA production by mixed cultures.

Occurrence, metabolism, metabolic role, and industrial uses of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates.

PubMed

Anderson, A J; Dawes, E A

1990-12-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), of which polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is the most abundant, are bacterial carbon and energy reserve materials of widespread occurrence. They are composed of 3-hydroxyacid monomer units and exist as a small number of cytoplasmic granules per cell. The properties of the C4 homopolymer PHB as a biodegradable thermoplastic first attracted industrial attention more than 20 years ago. Copolymers of C4 (3-hydroxybutyrate [3HB]) and C5 (3-hydroxyvalerate [3HV]) monomer units have modified physical properties; e.g., the plastic is less brittle than PHB, whereas PHAs containing C8 to C12 monomers behave as elastomers. This family of materials is the centre of considerable commercial interest, and 3HB-co-3HV copolymers have been marketed by ICI plc as Biopol. The known polymers exist as 2(1) helices with the fiber repeat decreasing from 0.596 nm for PHB to about 0.45 nm for C8 to C10 polymers. Novel copolymers with a backbone of 3HB and 4HB have been obtained. The native granules contain noncrystalline polymer, and water may possibly act as a plasticizer. Although the biosynthesis and regulation of PHB are generally well understood, the corresponding information for the synthesis of long-side-chain PHAs from alkanes, alcohols, and organic acids is still incomplete. The precise mechanisms of action of the polymerizing and depolymerizing enzymes also remain to be established. The structural genes for the three key enzymes of PHB synthesis from acetyl coenzyme A in Alcaligenes eutrophus have been cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. Polymer molecular weights appear to be species specific. The factors influencing the commercial choice of organism, substrate, and isolation process are discussed. The physiological functions of PHB as a reserve material and in symbiotic nitrogen fixation and its presence in bacterial plasma membranes and putative role in transformability and calcium signaling are also considered.

Occurrence, metabolism, metabolic role, and industrial uses of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates.

PubMed Central

Anderson, A J; Dawes, E A

1990-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), of which polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is the most abundant, are bacterial carbon and energy reserve materials of widespread occurrence. They are composed of 3-hydroxyacid monomer units and exist as a small number of cytoplasmic granules per cell. The properties of the C4 homopolymer PHB as a biodegradable thermoplastic first attracted industrial attention more than 20 years ago. Copolymers of C4 (3-hydroxybutyrate [3HB]) and C5 (3-hydroxyvalerate [3HV]) monomer units have modified physical properties; e.g., the plastic is less brittle than PHB, whereas PHAs containing C8 to C12 monomers behave as elastomers. This family of materials is the centre of considerable commercial interest, and 3HB-co-3HV copolymers have been marketed by ICI plc as Biopol. The known polymers exist as 2(1) helices with the fiber repeat decreasing from 0.596 nm for PHB to about 0.45 nm for C8 to C10 polymers. Novel copolymers with a backbone of 3HB and 4HB have been obtained. The native granules contain noncrystalline polymer, and water may possibly act as a plasticizer. Although the biosynthesis and regulation of PHB are generally well understood, the corresponding information for the synthesis of long-side-chain PHAs from alkanes, alcohols, and organic acids is still incomplete. The precise mechanisms of action of the polymerizing and depolymerizing enzymes also remain to be established. The structural genes for the three key enzymes of PHB synthesis from acetyl coenzyme A in Alcaligenes eutrophus have been cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. Polymer molecular weights appear to be species specific. The factors influencing the commercial choice of organism, substrate, and isolation process are discussed. The physiological functions of PHB as a reserve material and in symbiotic nitrogen fixation and its presence in bacterial plasma membranes and putative role in transformability and calcium signaling are also considered. PMID:2087222

Extensive Families of miRNAs and PHAS Loci in Norway Spruce Demonstrate the Origins of Complex phasiRNA Networks in Seed Plants

PubMed Central

Xia, Rui; Xu, Jing; Arikit, Siwaret; Meyers, Blake C.

2015-01-01

In eudicot plants, the miR482/miR2118 superfamily regulates and instigates the production of phased secondary small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) from NB-LRR (nucleotide binding leucine-rich repeat) genes that encode disease resistance proteins. In grasses, this miRNA family triggers siRNA production specifically in reproductive tissues from long noncoding RNAs. To understand this functional divergence, we examined the small RNA population in the ancient gymnosperm Norway spruce (Picea abies). As many as 41 miRNA families in spruce were found to trigger phasiRNA (phased, secondary siRNAs) production from diverse PHAS loci, with a remarkable 19 miRNA families capable of targeting over 750 NB-LRR genes to generate phasiRNAs. miR482/miR2118, encoded in spruce by at least 24 precursor loci, targets not only NB-LRR genes to trigger phasiRNA production (as in eudicots) but also noncoding PHAS loci, generating phasiRNAs preferentially in male or female cones, reminiscent of its role in the grasses. These data suggest a dual function of miR482/miR2118 present in gymnosperms that was selectively yet divergently retained in flowering plants. A few MIR482/MIR2118 precursors possess an extremely long stem-loop structure, one arm of which shows significant sequence similarity to spruce NB-LRR genes, suggestive of an evolutionary origin from NB-LRR genes through gene duplication. We also characterized an expanded miR390-TAS3 (TRANS-ACTING SIRNA GENE 3)-ARF (AUXIN RESPONSIVE FACTOR) pathway, comprising 18 TAS3 genes of diverse features. Finally, we annotated spruce miRNAs and their targets. Taken together, these data expand our understanding of phasiRNA network in plants and the evolution of plant miRNAs, particularly miR482/miR2118 and its functional diversification. PMID:26318183

75 FR 9244 - Fungibility Plan and Follow-Up Reporting To Implement Section 901 on Voucher Funds for Displaced...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-01

...-Up Reporting To Implement Section 901 on Voucher Funds for Displaced Hurricane Katrina and Rita... comments on the subject proposal. Eligible PHAs in areas most heavily impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and... purposes to Aid Formerly Assisted Families Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. OMB Approval Number...

76 FR 59711 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Housing Choice Voucher Program...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-27

... review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the... households, at a total subsidy cost of $18.2 billion per year. The HCV program is administered federally by..., and regional housing agencies, known collectively as public housing agencies (PHAs). Funding for the...

77 FR 50151 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Public Housing Operating Fund...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-20

... used for eligible expenditures. PHAs use the information as a financial summary and analysis [email protected] . Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the..., (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number via...

77 FR 21795 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Public Housing Agency Plan

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-11

... been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork... comprehensive guide to PHA policies, programs, operations, and strategies for meeting local housing needs and... proposals. It is expected that Qualified PHAs, as a matter of good business practice, continue to keep their...

75 FR 53324 - Notice of Availability: Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for HUD's Fiscal Year (FY) 2010...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-31

... DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5415-N-07] Notice of Availability... purpose of HOPE VI Revitalization grants is to: (1) Assist PHAs to improve the living environment for... eligibility requirements can be found using the Department of Housing and Urban Development agency link on the...

Sequence analysis, structure prediction and functional validation of phaC1/phaC2 genes of Pseudomonas sp. LDC-25 and its importance in polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are attractive biomaterials in both conventional medical devices and tissue engineering. PHA synthase is responsible for catalyzing the formation of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), but its structural information is limited. Hence, the focus of this study is to predict 3D mo...

77 FR 17086 - Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers: Revised Implementation of the HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-23

... poor performance by the PHA and/or the VAMC in serving this population, as evidenced by a lack of... acts also provide that funding be distributed based on PHA administrative performance, and other... veterans; and (3) performance data from local PHAs and VAMCs. As noted, the VA, in consultation with HUD...

24 CFR 968.320 - HUD review and approval of comprehensive plan (including five-year action plan).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 24 Housing and Urban Development 4 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false HUD review and approval of... Grant Program (for PHAs That Own or Operate 250 or More Public Housing Units) § 968.320 HUD review and... inadequate PHA performance, audit findings, or civil rights compliance findings; (2) Acceptance for review...

78 FR 78376 - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Exigent Health and Safety Deficiency Correction...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-26

... TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT... access this number via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Copies of.... Using the electronic format, PHAs are to notify HUD within three business days of the date of inspection...

75 FR 27808 - Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program-Demonstration Project of Small Area Fair Market Rents in...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-18

... voucher programs, but it is unclear what the net effect will be. For example, small area FMRs are likely... standards for definition of CBSAs are based on a review of journey-to-work data, or commuting patterns, as... adequate technical assistance to the participating PHAs and monitor the effects and effectiveness of the...

A Resource for Using Real-World Examples in the Physics Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Van Dongen, Janelle; Rieger, Georg

2013-01-01

Physics Teaching for the 21st Century (://c21.phas.ubc.ca) is a free online resource for teachers who are interested in teaching physics concepts in real-world contexts. The materials on this site were developed by a team of physics faculty and graduate and undergraduate students at the Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British…

The Molecular Level Characterization of Biodegradable Polymers Originated from Polyethylene Using Non-Oxygenated Polyethylene Wax as a Carbon Source for Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production.

PubMed

Johnston, Brian; Jiang, Guozhan; Hill, David; Adamus, Grazyna; Kwiecień, Iwona; Zięba, Magdalena; Sikorska, Wanda; Green, Matthew; Kowalczuk, Marek; Radecka, Iza

2017-08-28

There is an increasing demand for bio-based polymers that are developed from recycled materials. The production of biodegradable polymers can include bio-technological (utilizing microorganisms or enzymes) or chemical synthesis procedures. This report demonstrates the corroboration of the molecular structure of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) obtained by the conversion of waste polyethylene (PE) via non-oxygenated PE wax (N-PEW) as an additional carbon source for a bacterial species. The N-PEW, obtained from a PE pyrolysis reaction, has been found to be a beneficial carbon source for PHA production with Cupriavidus necator H16. The production of the N-PEW is an alternative to oxidized polyethylene wax (O-PEW) (that has been used as a carbon source previously) as it is less time consuming to manufacture and offers fewer industrial applications. A range of molecular structural analytical techniques were performed on the PHAs obtained; which included nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Our study showed that the PHA formed from N-PEW contained 3-hydroxybutyrate (HB) with 11 mol% of 3-hydroxyvalerate (HV) units.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate from marine Bacillus megaterium using CSMCRI's Dry Sea Mix as a novel growth medium.

PubMed

Dhangdhariya, Jaykishan H; Dubey, Sonam; Trivedi, Hiral B; Pancha, Imran; Bhatt, Jwalant K; Dave, Bharti P; Mishra, Sandhya

2015-05-01

Oceans have significant potential to empower mankind and thus marine organisms are believed to be an enormous source for useful biomolecules. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biological macromolecules that can be applied in nearly all fields. In the present study, Bacillus megaterium strain JK4h has been exploited for maximum PHB production using novel Dry Sea Mix (DSM) via Central Composite Design (CCD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) approach. The isolate was found to be producing 56.77% Cell Dry Weight (CDW) of PHAs within 24h, with optimized combinations of peptone, yeast extract and glucose. The PHB yield had been increased 2.61 fold compared to un-optimized experiments. The obtained PHA/PHB had been chemically characterized through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The results indicate the successful optimization for maximum production of biological macromolecule and it was found to be highly pure polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Thus, DSM can be served as a novel and cost effective medium for PHA production offering the use of marine resources as a "green" sustainable alternative. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Molecular Level Characterization of Biodegradable Polymers Originated from Polyethylene Using Non-Oxygenated Polyethylene Wax as a Carbon Source for Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production

PubMed Central

Johnston, Brian; Jiang, Guozhan; Hill, David; Adamus, Grazyna; Zięba, Magdalena; Sikorska, Wanda; Green, Matthew; Kowalczuk, Marek

2017-01-01

There is an increasing demand for bio-based polymers that are developed from recycled materials. The production of biodegradable polymers can include bio-technological (utilizing microorganisms or enzymes) or chemical synthesis procedures. This report demonstrates the corroboration of the molecular structure of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) obtained by the conversion of waste polyethylene (PE) via non-oxygenated PE wax (N-PEW) as an additional carbon source for a bacterial species. The N-PEW, obtained from a PE pyrolysis reaction, has been found to be a beneficial carbon source for PHA production with Cupriavidus necator H16. The production of the N-PEW is an alternative to oxidized polyethylene wax (O-PEW) (that has been used as a carbon source previously) as it is less time consuming to manufacture and offers fewer industrial applications. A range of molecular structural analytical techniques were performed on the PHAs obtained; which included nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Our study showed that the PHA formed from N-PEW contained 3-hydroxybutyrate (HB) with 11 mol% of 3-hydroxyvalerate (HV) units. PMID:28952552

Block and Graft Copolymers of Polyhydroxyalkanoates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marchessault, Robert H.; Ravenelle, François; Kawada, Jumpei

2004-03-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) were modified for diblock copolymer and graft polymer by catalyzed transesterification in the melt and by chemical synthesis to extend the side chains of the PHAs, and the polymers were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Catalyzed transesterification in the melt is used to produce diblock copolymers of poly[3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) and monomethoxy poly[ethylene glycol] (mPEG) in a one-step process. The resulting diblock copolymers are amphiphilic and self-assemble into sterically stabilized colloidal suspensions of PHB crystalline lamellae. Graft polymer was synthesized in a two-step chemical synthesis from biosynthesized poly[3-hydroxyoctanoate-co-3-hydroxyundecenoate] (PHOU) containing ca. 25 mol chains. 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid reacts with the side chain alkenes of PHOU by the radical addition creating thioether linkage with terminal carboxyl functionalities. The latter groups were subsequently transformed into the amide or ester linkage by tridecylamine or octadecanol, respectively, producing new graft polymers. The polymers have different physical properties than poly[3-hydroxyoctanoate] (PHO) which is the main component of the PHOU, such as non-stickiness and higher thermal stability. The combination of biosynthesis and chemical synthesis produces a hybrid thermoplastic elastomer with partial biodegradability.

Poly(3-hydroxypropionate): a promising alternative to fossil fuel-based materials.

PubMed

Andreessen, Björn; Taylor, Nicolas; Steinbüchel, Alexander

2014-11-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are storage compounds synthesized by numerous microorganisms and have attracted the interest of industry since they are biobased and biodegradable alternatives to fossil fuel-derived plastics. Among PHAs, poly(3-hydroxypropionate) [poly(3HP)] has outstanding material characteristics and exhibits a large variety of applications. As it is not brittle like, e.g., the best-studied PHA, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [poly(3HB)], it can be used as a plasticizer in blends to improve their properties. Furthermore, 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP) is considered likely to become one of the new industrial building blocks, and it can be obtained from poly(3HP) by simple hydrolysis. Unfortunately, no natural organism is known to accumulate poly(3HP) so far. Thus, several efforts have been made to engineer genetically modified organisms capable of synthesizing the homopolymer or copolymers containing 3HP. In this review, the achievements made so far in efforts to obtain biomass which has accumulated poly(3HP) or 3HP-containing copolymers, as well as the properties of these polyesters and their applications, are compiled and evaluated. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s-Based Hydrophobic Coatings for the Protection of Stone in Cultural Heritage

PubMed Central

Andreotti, Serena; Fabbri, Paola

2018-01-01

Reversibility is a mandatory requirement for materials used in heritage conservation, including hydrophobic protectives. Nevertheless, current protectives for stone are not actually reversible as they remain on the surfaces for a long time after their hydrophobicity is lost and can hardly be removed. Ineffective and aged coatings may jeopardise the stone re-treatability and further conservation interventions. This paper aims at investigating the performance of PHAs-based coatings for stone protection, their main potential being the ‘reversibility by biodegradation’ once water repellency ended. The biopolymer coatings were applied to three different kinds of stone, representative of lithotypes used in historic architecture: sandstone, limestone and marble. Spray, poultice and dip-coating were tested as coating techniques. The effectiveness and compatibility of the protectives were evaluated in terms of capillary water absorption, static and dynamic contact angles, water vapour diffusion, colour alteration and surface morphology. The stones’ wettability after application of two commercial protectives was investigated too, for comparison. Finally, samples were subjected to artificial ageing to investigate their solar light stability. Promising results in terms of efficacy and compatibility were obtained, although the PHAs-based formulations developed here still need improvement for increased durability and on-site applicability. PMID:29361721

The effect of COD loading on the granule-based enhanced biological phosphorus removal system and the recoverability.

PubMed

Yu, Shenjing; Sun, Peide; Zheng, Wei; Chen, Lujun; Zheng, Xiongliu; Han, Jingyi; Yan, Tao

2014-11-01

In this study, the effect of varied COD loading (200, 400, 500, 600 and 800 mg L(-1)) on stability and recoverability of granule-based enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) system was investigated during continuously 53-d operation. Results showed that COD loading higher than 500 mg L(-1) could obviously deteriorate the granular EBPR system and result in sludge bulking with filamentous bacteria. High COD loading also changed the transformation patterns of poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and glycogen in metabolism process of polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) and inhibited the EPS secretion, which completely destroyed the stability and integrality of granules. Results of FISH indicated that glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs) and other microorganisms had a competitive advantage over PAOs with higher COD loading. The community composition and EBPR performance were recovered irreversibly in long time operation when COD loading was higher than 500 mg L(-1). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An X-Ray Diffraction Investigation of alpha-Al2O2 Addition to Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) Thermal Barrier Coatings Subject to Destabilizing Vanadium Pentoxide (V2O5) Exposure

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-09-01

which is found in several electrical ceramics. flu I ’I I I’ p Figuve 8. System A1aO3-ZrOa Phase Diagram. 11 S. A240.gOiV20 Phas DtagZM The Al3O- V2O5 ...Raot=Lon of V,05 With Y20, Assuming that V205 and Y203 react on an equimolar basis, the creation of yttria vanadate is: V2O5 + YZO3 - 2YV0 4 (2) As...that with a glass phase formation that some phases were "hidden" from XRD analysis and were under-counted, while other phases were over- counted

A survey of the governance capacity of national public health associations to enhance population health.

PubMed

Chauvin, James; Shukla, Mahesh; Rice, James; Rispel, Laetitia

2016-03-11

National public health associations (PHAs) are key partners with governments and communities to improve, protect and promote the public's health. Governance and organizational capacity are among the key determinants of a PHA's effectiveness as an advocate for appropriate public health policies and practice. During 2014, the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) conducted an on-line survey of its 82 PHA members, to identify the state of organizational governance of national public health associations, as well as the factors that influence optimal organizational governance. The survey consisted of 13 questions and focused on the main elements of organizational governance: cultivating accountability; engaging stakeholders; setting shared direction; stewarding resources; and, continuous governance enhancement. Four questions included a qualitative open-ended response for additional comments. The survey data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic content analysis Responses were received from 62 PHAs, constituting a 75.6 % response rate. The two most important factors that support governance effectiveness were a high degree of integrity and ethical behavior of the PHA's leaders (77 %) and the competence of people serving on the PHA's governing body (76 %). The lack of financial resources was considered as the most important factor that negatively affected organizational governance effectiveness (73 %). The lack of mentoring for future PHA leaders; ineffective or incompetent leadership; lack of understanding about good governance practices; and lack of accurate information for strategic planning were identified as factors influencing PHA governance effectiveness. Critical elements for PHA sustainability included diversity, gender-responsiveness and inclusive governance practices, and strategies to build the future generation of public health leaders. National PHA have a responsibility to put into place the practices and infrastructure that enhance organizational governance. This will enhance their ability to be effective advocates for policies and practices that enhance, protect and promote the public's health. The WFPHA has an important role to play in providing the technical assistance and financial resources to assist PHAs in attaining and sustaining a higher level of governance capacity.

Around 1500 near-Earth-asteroid orbits improved via EURONEAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vaduvescu, O.; Hudin, L.; Birlan, M.; Popescu, M.; Tudorica, A.; Toma, R.

2014-07-01

Born in 2006 in Paris, the European Near Earth Asteroids Research project (EURONEAR, euronear.imcce.fr) aims ''to study NEAs and PHAs using existing telescopes available to its network and hopefully in the future some automated dedicated 1--2 m facilities''. Although we believe the first aim is fulfilled, the second was not achieved yet, requiring serious commitment from the European NEA researchers and funding agencies. Mainly using free labor by about 30 students and amateur astronomers (from Romania, Chile, UK, France, etc), the PI backed up by his associates M. Birlan (IMCCE Paris) and J. Licandro (IAC Tenerife) and a few other astronomers of the EURONEAR network having access to a few telescopes are approaching around 1,500 observed NEAs whose orbits were improved based on our astrometric contributions. To achive this milestone, we used two main resources and a total of 15 facilities: i) Observing time obtained at 11 professional 1--4 m class telescopes (Chile, La Palma, France, Germany) plus 3 smaller 30--50 cm educational/public outreach telescopes (Romania and Germany) adding about 1,000 observed NEAs; and ii) astrometry obtained from data mining of 4 major image archives (ESO/MPG WFI, INT WFC, CFHTLS Megacam and Subaru SuprimeCam) adding about 500 NEAs recovered in archival images. Among the highlights, about 100 NEAs, PHAs and VIs were observed, recovered or precovered in archives at their second opposition (up to about 15 years away from discovery) or have their orbital arc much extended, and a few VIs and PHAs were eliminated. Incidentally, about 15,000 positions of almost 2,000 known MBAs were reported (mostly in the INT, ESO/MPG and Blanco large fields). About 40 new (one night) NEO candidates and more than 2,000 (one night) unknown MBAs were reported, including about 150 MBAs credited as EURONEAR discoveries. Based on the INT and Blanco data we derived some statistics about the MBA and NEA population observable with 2m and 4m telescopes, proposing a model to rate the NEO candidates observed close to opposition. Based on this work, 10 papers and around 100 MPC circulars were published since 2006.

LEPER: Library of Experimental PhasE Relations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, F.; Gordon, S.; Mukherjee, S.; Hirschmann, M.; Ghiorso, M.

2006-12-01

The Library of Experimental PhasE Relations (LEPER) seeks to compile published experimental determinations of magmatic phase equilibria and provide those data on the web with a searchable and downloadable interface. Compiled experimental data include the conditions and durations of experiments, the bulk compositions of experimental charges, and the identity, compositions and proportions of phases observed, and, where available, estimates of experimental and analytical uncertainties. Also included are metadata such as the type of experimental device, capsule material, and method(s) of quantitative analysis. The database may be of use to practicing experimentalists as well as the wider Earth science community. Experimentalists may find the data useful for planning new experiments and will easily be able to compare their results to the full body of previous experimentnal data. Geologists may use LEPER to compare rocks sampled in the field with experiments performed on similar bulk composition or with experiments that produced similar-composition product phases. Modelers may use LEPER to parameterize partial melting of various lithologies. One motivation for compiling LEPER is for calibration of updated and revised versions of MELTS, however, it is hoped that the availability of LEPER will facilitate formulation and calibration of additional thermodynamic or empirical models of magmatic phase relations and phase equilibria, geothermometers and more. Data entry for LEPER is occuring presently: As of August, 2006, >6200 experiments have been entered, chiefly from work published between 1997 and 2005. A prototype web interface has been written and beta release on the web is anticipated in Fall, 2006. Eventually, experimentalists will be able to submit their new experimental data to the database via the web. At present, the database contains only data pertaining to the phase equilibria of silicate melts, but extension to other experimental data involving other fluids or sub-solidus phase equilibria may be contemplated. Also, the data are at present limited to natural or near-natural systems, but in the future, extension to synthetic (i.e., CMAS, etc.) systems is also possible. Each would depend in part on whether there is community demand for such databases. A trace element adjunct to LEPER is presently in planning stages.

Impact of Medium on the Development and Physiology of Pseudomonas fluorescens Biofilms on Polyurethane Paint

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-01

including P. fluorescens are known to make several types of intracellular storage granules, including polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), polyphosphates, and... polyhydroxyalkanoates in Pseudomonas putida KT2442 and the fundamental role of PhaZ depolymerase for the metabolic balance. Environ Microbiol. 12(1... polyhydroxyalkanoates by bacteria. Biotechnol Lett. 11(7):471-476. Herigstad B, Hamilton M, Heersink J. 2001. How to optimize the drop plate method for

24 CFR 903.11 - Are certain PHAs eligible to submit a streamlined Annual Plan?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... streamlined Annual Plan must include the information required by § 903.7(a), (b), (c), (d), (g), (h), (k), (m), (n), (o), (p) and (r). The information required by § 903.7(m) must be included only to the extent... § 903.7(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (k), (l), (o), (p) and (r). [65 FR 49484, Aug. 14, 2000, as amended...

Functional Stability Of A Mixed Microbial Consortia Producing PHA From Waste Carbon Sources

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

David N. Thompson; Erik R. Coats; William A. Smith

2006-04-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), naturally-occurring biological polyesters that are microbially synthesized from a myriad of carbon sources, can be utilized as biodegradable substitutes for petroleum-derived thermoplastics. However, current PHA commercialization schemes are limited by high feedstock costs, the requirement for aseptic reactors, and high separation and purification costs. Bacteria indigenous to municipal waste streams can accumulate large quantities of PHA under environmentally controlled conditions; hence, a potentially more environmentally-effective method of production would utilize these consortia to produce PHAs from inexpensive waste carbon sources. In this study, PHA production was accomplished in sequencing batch bioreactors utilizing mixed microbial consortia from municipal activatedmore » sludge as inoculum, in cultures grown on real wastewaters. PHA production averaged 85%, 53%, and 10% of the cell dry weight from methanol-enriched pulp-and-paper mill foul condensate, fermented municipal primary solids, and biodiesel wastewater, respectively. The PHA-producing microbial consortia were examined to explore the microbial community changes that occurred during reactor operations, employing denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S-rDNA from PCR-amplified DNA extracts. Distinctly different communities were observed both between and within wastewaters following enrichment. More importantly, stable functions were maintained despite the differing and contrasting microbial populations.« less

Halotolerant bacteria in the São Paulo Zoo composting process and their hydrolases and bioproducts

PubMed Central

Oliveira, Lilian C.G.; Ramos, Patricia Locosque; Marem, Alyne; Kondo, Marcia Y.; Rocha, Rafael C.S.; Bertolini, Thiago; Silveira, Marghuel A.V.; da Cruz, João Batista; de Vasconcellos, Suzan Pantaroto; Juliano, Luiz; Okamoto, Debora N.

2015-01-01

Halophilic microorganisms are able to grow in the presence of salt and are also excellent source of enzymes and biotechnological products, such as exopolysaccharides (EPSs) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Salt-tolerant bacteria were screened in the Organic Composting Production Unit (OCPU) of São Paulo Zoological Park Foundation, which processes 4 ton/day of organic residues including plant matter from the Atlantic Rain Forest, animal manure and carcasses and mud from water treatment. Among the screened microorganisms, eight halotolerant bacteria grew at NaCl concentrations up to 4 M. These cultures were classified based on phylogenetic characteristics and comparative partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as belonging to the genera Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Brevibacterium. The results of this study describe the ability of these halotolerant bacteria to produce some classes of hydrolases, namely, lipases, proteases, amylases and cellulases, and biopolymers. The strain characterized as of Brevibacterium avium presented cellulase and amylase activities up to 4 M NaCl and also produced EPSs and PHAs. These results indicate the biotechnological potential of certain microorganisms recovered from the composting process, including halotolerant species, which have the ability to produce enzymes and biopolymers, offering new perspectives for environmental and industrial applications. PMID:26273248

Medium Chain-Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate Copolymer Modified by Bacterial Cellulose for Medical Devices.

PubMed

Panaitescu, Denis Mihaela; Lupescu, Irina; Frone, Adriana Nicoleta; Chiulan, Ioana; Nicolae, Cristian Andi; Tofan, Vlad; Stefaniu, Amalia; Somoghi, Raluca; Trusca, Roxana

2017-10-09

Medium chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mPHAs) are flexible elastomeric biopolymers with valuable properties for biomedical applications like artificial arteries and other medical implants. However, an environmentally friendly and high productivity process together with the tuning of the mechanical and biological properties of mPHAs are mandatory for this purpose. Here, for the first time, a melt processing technique was applied for the preparation of bionanocomposites starting from poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) (PHO) and bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BC). The incorporation of only 3 wt % BC in PHO improved its thermal stability with 25 °C and reinforced it, increasing the Young's modulus with 76% and the tensile strength with 44%. The percolation threshold calculated with the aspect ratio of the fibers after melt processing was very low and close to 3 wt %. We showed that this bionanocomposite is able to preserve the ductile behavior during storage, no important aging being noted between 3 h and one month after compression-molding. Moreover, this study is the first to investigate the melt processability of PHO nanocomposite for tube extrusion. In addition, biocompatibility study showed no proinflammatory immune response and better cell adhesion for PHO/BC nanocomposite with 3 wt % BC and demonstrated the high feasibility of this bionanocomposite for in vivo application of tissue-engineered blood vessels.

Influence of nitrogen on growth, biomass composition, production, and properties of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by microalgae.

PubMed

Costa, Samantha Serra; Miranda, Andréa Lobo; Andrade, Bianca Bomfim; Assis, Denilson de Jesus; Souza, Carolina Oliveira; de Morais, Michele Greque; Costa, Jorge Alberto Vieira; Druzian, Janice Izabel

2018-05-12

This study sought to evaluate influence of nitrogen availability on cell growth, biomass composition, production, and the properties of polyhydroxyalkanoates during cultivation of microalgae Chlorella minutissima, Synechococcus subsalsus, and Spirulina sp. LEB-18. The cellular growth of microalgae reduced with the use of limited nitrogen medium, demonstrating that nitrogen deficiency interferes with the metabolism of microorganisms and the production of biomass. The biochemical composition of microalgae was also altered, which was most notable in the degradation of proteins and chlorophylls and the accumulation of carbonaceous storage molecules such as lipids and polyhydroxyalkanoates. Chlorella minutissima did not produce these polymers even in a nitrogen deficient environment. The largest accumulations of the polyhydroxyalkanoates occurred after a 15 days culture, with a concentration of 16% (dry cell weight) produced by the Synechococcus subsalsus strain and 12% by Spirulina sp. LEB-18. Polyhydroxyalkanoates produced by Synechococcus subsalsus and Spirulina sp. LEB-18 presented different thermal and physical properties, indicating the influence of producing strain on polyhydroxyalkanoates properties. The polymers obtained consisted of long chain monomers with 14 to 18 carbon atoms. This composition is novel, as it has not previously been found in PHAs obtained from Synechococcus subsalsus and Spirulina sp. LEB-18. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Isolation and Characterization of PHA-Producing Bacteria from Propylene Oxide Saponification Wastewater Residual Sludge.

PubMed

Li, Ruirui; Gu, Pengfei; Fan, Xiangyu; Shen, Junyu; Wu, Yulian; Huang, Lixuan; Li, Qiang

2018-03-21

A polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-producing strain was isolated from propylene oxide (PO) saponification wastewater activated sludge and was identified as Brevundimonas vesicularis UJN1 through 16S rDNA sequencing and Biolog microbiological identification. Single-factor and response surface methodology experiments were used to optimize the culture medium and conditions. The optimal C/N ratio was 100/1.04, and the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources were sucrose (10 g/L) and NH 4 Cl (0.104 g/L) respectively. The optimal culture conditions consisted of initial pH of 6.7 and an incubation temperature of 33.4 °C for 48 h, with 15% inoculum and 100 mL medium at an agitation rate of 180 rpm. The PHA concentration reached 34.1% of the cell dry weight and increased three times compared with that before optimization. The only report of PHA-producing bacteria by Brevundimonas vesicularis showed that the conversion rate of PHAs using glucose as the optimal carbon source was 1.67%. In our research, the conversion rate of PHAs with sucrose as the optimal carbon source was 3.05%, and PHA production using sucrose as the carbon source was much cheaper than that using glucose as the carbon source.

Quantitative measurement of the growth rate of the PHA-producing photosynthetic bacterium Rhodocyclus gelatinous CBS-2[PolyHydroxyAlkanoate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wolfrum, E.J.; Weaver, P.F.

Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have been investigating the use of model photosynthetic microorganisms that use sunlight and two-carbon organic substrates (e.g., ethanol, acetate) to produce biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers as carbon storage compounds. Use of these biological PHAs in single-use plastics applications, followed by their post-consumer composting or anaerobic digestion, could impact petroleum consumption as well as the overloading of landfills. The large-scale production of PHA polymers by photosynthetic bacteria will require large-scale reactor systems utilizing either sunlight or artificial illumination. The first step in the scale-up process is to quantify the microbial growth rates andmore » the PHA production rates as a function of reaction conditions such as nutrient concentration, temperature, and light quality and intensity.« less

Changing access to mental health care and social support when people living with HIV/AIDS become service providers.

PubMed

Li, Alan Tai-Wai; Wales, Joshua; Wong, Josephine Pui-Hing; Owino, Maureen; Perreault, Yvette; Miao, Andrew; Maseko, Precious; Guiang, Charlie

2015-01-01

As people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) achieve more stable health, many have taken on active peer support and professional roles within AIDS service organizations. Although the increased engagement has been associated with many improved health outcomes, emerging program and research evidence have identified new challenges associated with such transition. This paper reports on the results of a qualitative interpretive study that explored the effect of this role transition on PHA service providers' access to mental health support and self care. A total of 27 PHA service providers of diverse ethno-racial backgrounds took part in the study. Results show that while role transition often improves access to financial and health-care benefits, it also leads to new stress from workload demands, emotional triggers from client's narratives, feeling of burnout from over-immersion in HIV at both personal and professional levels, and diminished self care. Barriers to seeking support included: concerns regarding confidentiality; self-imposed and enacted stigma associated with accessing mental health services; and boundary issues resulting from changes in relationships with peers and other service providers. Evolving support mechanisms included: new formal and informal peer support networks amongst colleagues or other PHA service providers to address both personal and professional challenges, and having access to professional support offered through the workplace. The findings suggest the need for increased organizational recognition of HIV support work as a form of emotional labor that places complex demands on PHA service providers. Increased access to employer-provided mental health services, supportive workplace policies, and adequate job-specific training will contribute to reduced work-related stress. Community level strategies that support expansion of social networks amongst PHA service providers would reduce isolation. Systemic policies to increase access to insurance benefits and enhance sector-wide job preparedness and post-employment support will sustain long-term and meaningful involvement of PHAs in service provision.

Selection of Type I and Type II Methanotrophic Proteobacteria in a Fluidized Bed Reactor under Non-Sterile Conditions

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-08-01

2009). Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which can be used as bioplastics (Reddy et al., 2003), are intracellular granules that accumulate in some bacteria...Dawes, E., 1990. Occurrence, metabolism, metabolic rate, and industrial uses of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates . Microbiol. Rev. 54, 450–472. Araki...bacteria? Progress and prospects for polyhydroxyalkanoate production in bacteria. TibTechnology 14, 431–438. Madison, L., Huisman, G., 1999. Metabolic

Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates Using Hydrolyzates of Spruce Sawdust: Comparison of Hydrolyzates Detoxification by Application of Overliming, Active Carbon, and Lignite

PubMed Central

Kucera, Dan; Benesova, Pavla; Ladicky, Peter; Pekar, Miloslav; Sedlacek, Petr; Obruca, Stanislav

2017-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are bacterial polyesters which are considered biodegradable alternatives to petrochemical plastics. PHAs have a wide range of potential applications, however, the production cost of this bioplastic is several times higher. A major percentage of the final cost is represented by the price of the carbon source used in the fermentation. Burkholderia cepacia and Burkholderia sacchari are generally considered promising candidates for PHA production from lignocellulosic hydrolyzates. The wood waste biomass has been subjected to hydrolysis. The resulting hydrolyzate contained a sufficient amount of fermentable sugars. Growth experiments indicated a strong inhibition by the wood hydrolyzate. Over-liming and activated carbon as an adsorbent of inhibitors were employed for detoxification. All methods of detoxification had a positive influence on the growth of biomass and PHB production. Furthermore, lignite was identified as a promising alternative sorbent which can be used for detoxification of lignocellulose hydrolyzates. Detoxification using lignite instead of activated carbon had lower inhibitor removal efficiency, but greater positive impact on growth of the bacterial culture and overall PHA productivity. Moreover, lignite is a significantly less expensive adsorbent in comparison with activated charcoal and; moreover, used lignite can be simply utilized as a fuel to, at least partially, cover heat and energetic demands of fermentation, which should improve the economic feasibility of the process. PMID:28952532

Characterization of Bioderived Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Size Exclusion Chromatography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Negulescu, Ioan; Cueto, Rafael; Rusch, Kelly; Gutierrez-Wing, Teresa; Stevens, Benjamin

2008-03-01

The plant derived polyesters, better known as polyhydroxyalkanoates, PHAs, are renewable and sustainable: [-O-CH(CH3)-(CH2)x-CO-]n. If x = 0 PHA is Poly(lactic acid), PLA; if x = 1 or 2 it is Poly(hydroxy butyrate), PHB, or Poly(hydroxy valerate), PHV. SEC and light scattering have been used before for determination of the absolute molecular mass of PLA dissolved in CHCl3 (Malmgren et al., J. Thermal Anal. Calorim., 2006, 83, 35-40). To our best knowledge there is no publication on the determination of the absolute MW of other PHAs. The bioderived polymers analyzed in this work were four catalog PHA samples: PHB Fluka 81329, PHB Natural Aldrich 363502, 95PHB/5PHV Aldrich 403105, and 92PHB/8PHV Aldrich 403113. SEC/LS instrumentation used: three Phenogel (1K-10000K) columns + a guard column, an Agilent pump and Wyatt Heleos MALS, QUELS (DLS), ViscoStar and rEX DRI detectors, all in series. The experimental dn/dc of PHB in CHCl3 (0.0336 ml/g at 658nm) allowed the determination of absolute MW of all PHA samples: PHB Fluka Mw 345,100 Mn 218,400; PHB Aldrich Mw 335,700 Mn 185,000; 92PHB/8PHV Mw 144,700 Mn 91,970; 95PHB/5PHV Mw 253,000 Mn 193,800.

Development of a Novel Process Integrating the Treatment of Sludge Reject Water and the Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).

PubMed

Frison, Nicola; Katsou, Evina; Malamis, Simos; Oehmen, Adrian; Fatone, Francesco

2015-09-15

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from activated sludge and renewable organic material can become an alternative product to traditional plastics since they are biodegradable and are produced from renewable sources. In this work, the selection of PHA storing bacteria was integrated with the side stream treatment of nitrogen removal via nitrite from sewage sludge reject water. A novel process was developed and applied where the alternation of aerobic-feast and anoxic-famine conditions accomplished the selection of PHA storing biomass and nitrogen removal via nitrite. Two configurations were examined: in configuration 1 the ammonium conversion to nitrite occurred in the same reactor in which the PHA selection process occurred, while in configuration 2 two separate reactors were used. The results showed that the selection of PHA storing biomass was successful in both configurations, while the nitrogen removal efficiency was much higher (almost 90%) in configuration 2. The PHA selection degree was evaluated by the volatile fatty acid (VFA) uptake rate (-qVFAs) and the PHA production rate (qPHA), which were 239 ± 74 and 89 ± 7 mg of COD per gram of active biomass (Xa) per hour, respectively. The characterization of the biopolymer recovered after the accumulation step, showed that it was composed of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) (60%) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) (40%). The properties associated with the produced PHA suggest that they are suitable for thermoplastic processing.

Green technology for conversion of food scraps to biodegradable thermoplastic polyhydroxyalkanoates.

PubMed

Du, Guocheng; Yu, Jian

2002-12-15

A new technology is developed and demonstrated that couples anaerobic digestion of food scraps with production of biodegradable thermoplastics, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The food wastes were digested in an anaerobic reactor producing four major organic acids. The concentrations of acetic, propionic, butyric, and lactic acids reached 5.5, 1.8, 27.4, and 32.7 g/L, respectively. The fermentative acids were transferred through membranes via molecule diffusion into an air-bubbling reactor where the acids were utilized to produce PHAs in an enriched culture of Ralstonia eutropha. With a silicone rubber membrane, butyric acid and small amounts of acetic and propionic acids were transferred and used, producing a homopolymer PHA, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate). The dry cell weight and PHA content reached 11.3 g/L and 60.2% (w/w), respectively. With a dialysis membrane, the mass transfer rates of fermentative acids were enhanced, and the PHA production was significantly improved. The dry cell weight and its PHA content reached 22.7 g/L and 72.6% (w/w), respectively. The formed PHA was a copolymer of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxyvalerate (HV) with 2.8 mol % HV monomer unit. The polymer content (72.6% of dry cell mass) reported in this study is the highest one obtained from organic wastes and is comparable with the PHA content from pure glucose fermentation.

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from waste frying oil by Cupriavidus necator

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biopolymers, which can replace petrochemical plastics in many applications. However, these bioplastics are currently far more expensive than petrochemical plastics. Many researchers are investigating the use of inexpensive substrates derived from waste streams. Waste frying oil is abundant and can be used in PHA production without filtration. Cupriavidus necator (formerly known as Ralstonia eutropha) is a versatile organism for the production of PHAs. Small-scale batch fermentation studies have been set up, using different concentrations of pure vegetable oil, heated vegetable oil and waste frying oil. These oils are all rapeseed oils. It has been shown that Cupriavidus necator produced the homopolymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from the rapeseed oils. The achieved PHB concentration from waste frying oil was 1.2 g/l, which is similar to a concentration that can be obtained from glucose. The PHB harvest from pure oil and heated oil was 0.62 g/l and 0.9 g/l respectively. A feed of waste frying oil could thus achieve more biopolymer than pure vegetable oil. While the use of a waste product is beneficial from a life-cycle perspective, PHB is not the only product that can be made from waste oil. The collection of waste frying oil is becoming more widespread, making waste oil a good alternative to purified oil or glucose for PHB production. PMID:21906352

Polyhydroxyalkanoates production with Ralstonia eutropha from low quality waste animal fats.

PubMed

Riedel, Sebastian L; Jahns, Stefan; Koenig, Steven; Bock, Martina C E; Brigham, Christopher J; Bader, Johannes; Stahl, Ulf

2015-11-20

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable and biocompatible polyesters considered as alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. Ralstonia eutropha is a model organism for PHA production. Utilizing industrially rendered waste animal fats as inexpensive carbon feedstocks for PHA production is demonstrated here. An emulsification strategy, without any mechanical or chemical pre-treatment, was developed to increase the bioavailability of solid, poorly-consumable fats. Wild type R. eutropha strain H16 produced 79-82% (w/w) polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) per cell dry weight (CDW) when cultivated on various fats. A productivity of 0.3g PHB/(L × h) with a total PHB production of 24 g/L was achieved using tallow as carbon source. Using a recombinant strain of R. eutropha that produces poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate) [P(HB-co-HHx)], 49-72% (w/w) of PHA per CDW with a HHx content of 16-27 mol% were produced in shaking flask experiments. The recombinant strain was grown on waste animal fat of the lowest quality available at lab fermenter scale, resulting in 45 g/L CDW with 60% (w/w) PHA per CDW and a productivity of 0.4 g PHA/(L × h). The final HHx content of the polymer was 19 mol%. The use of low quality waste animal fats as an inexpensive carbon feedstock exhibits a high potential to accelerate the commercialization of PHAs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Concentration measurement in a road tunnel as a method to assess "real-world" vehicles exhaust emissions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zanini, G.; Berico, M.; Monforti, F.; Vitali, L.; Zambonelli, S.; Chiavarini, S.; Georgiadis, T.; Nardino, M.

An experiment aimed at comparing particulate matter (PM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations produced in a road tunnel by buses is described. The experiment took place in 2001 in Bologna when a couple of buses belonging to the public transport fleet where driven backwards and forwards in a road tunnel closed to all other vehicles. Buses run in the tunnel for 8 h a day for 4 experiment days, each day using a different fuel: biodiesel, diesel-water emulsion, diesel-water emulsion with low sulphur content and commercial diesel. Average daily concentrations of PM of different sizes and of 12 PHAs were measured and comparison between different fuels was attempted in order to assess "real-world" exhaust emissions of different fuels. Due to heterogeneity of experimental conditions in different days and the relatively large measurement uncertainties, the effort was only partially successful, and it was not possible to state any firm conclusion on fuels reliability even if some indications in agreement with literature were found. Nevertheless, the experiment and the data analysis method developed could be of interest as a methodological approach for future experiments aimed at evaluating "real-world" exhaust emissions of single vehicles.

Advancing Renewable Materials by Light and X-ray Scattering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Akpalu, Yvonne A

With the ultimate goal to design PHA polymer nanocomposites with tailored properties, we have completed systematic study of the influence of cooling rate [Xie et al, J. Appl. Poly. Sci., 2008] and nanofiller [Xie et al, Polymer 2009] characteristics on model bionanocomposites. Structure-property relationships for a model bionanocomposites system were investigated. These results yielded new fundamental knowledge that supports the discovery of cost-effective manufacturing technologies for a family of promising polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) polyesters, with the potential to replace polyethylene and polypropylene (see Noda letter). Our results show that simple two-phase composite models do not account for the data. Although improvementmore » of the mechanical properties (stiffness/modulus and toughness) must be due to alteration of the matrix by the nanoparticle filler, the observed improvement was not caused by the change of crystallinity or spherulitic morphology. Instead, improvement depends on the molecular weight of the polymer matrix and unknown filler-matrix interactions.« less

Cyanobacterial PHA Production—Review of Recent Advances and a Summary of Three Years’ Working Experience Running a Pilot Plant

PubMed Central

Troschl, Clemens; Meixner, Katharina; Drosg, Bernhard

2017-01-01

Cyanobacteria, as photoautotrophic organisms, provide the opportunity to convert CO2 to biomass with light as the sole energy source. Like many other prokaryotes, especially under nutrient deprivation, most cyanobacteria are able to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) as intracellular energy and carbon storage compounds. In contrast to heterotrophic PHA producers, photoautotrophic cyanobacteria do not consume sugars and, therefore, do not depend on agricultural crops, which makes them a green alternative production system. This review summarizes the recent advances in cyanobacterial PHA production. Furthermore, this study reports the working experience with different strains and cultivating conditions in a 200 L pilot plant. The tubular photobioreactor was built at the coal power plant in Dürnrohr, Austria in 2013 for direct utilization of flue gases. The main challenges were the selection of robust production strains, process optimization, and automation, as well as the CO2 availability. PMID:28952505

Administration of Interleukin-6 Stimulates Multilineage Hematopoiesis and Accelerates Recovery from Radiation-Induced Hematopoietic Depression

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-02-01

Htirano T, Kishimoto T, Nakahata T. Asano S: In vitro hernatopoietic growth factors. J1 Natl Cancer Inst 81: t370. 1989 expansion of the murine...a.i phas S. %’ink A. Billiau A. VanSnick 1: Identification of the nutohlbyrcmiatntrekn.Cllmuolt12. human Zh-kd protein, interferon beta ,, as a B... beta . B-cell %timulatory factor type 2 shares identity T. Takaku F. Akivama Y: In vivo effects of recombinant human with rnsanc~tc-derived

Biodegradability and mechanical properties of poly-([beta]-hyroxybutyrate-Co-[beta]-hydroxyvalerate)-starch blends

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ramsay, B.A.; Langlade, V.; Carreau, P.J.

1993-04-01

PHAs, biodegradable thermoplastics, are a promising option to synthetic resins such as polyethylene, in combination with starch, to produce biodegradable plastics. This paper describes the mechanical properties and biodegradability of blends of wheat starch and P(HB-co-HV). The results indicate that the addition of starch to P(HB-co-HV) not only reduces the cost but also leads to a completely biodegradable material whose degradation can be tailored by adjusting the starch/PHA ratio. 15 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.

The effect of poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates degradation rate on nitrous oxide production in a denitrifying phosphorus removal system.

PubMed

Wei, Yan; Wang, Shuying; Ma, Bin; Li, Xiyao; Yuan, Zhiguo; He, Yuelan; Peng, Yongzhen

2014-10-01

Poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and free nitrous acid (FNA) have been revealed as significant factors causing nitrous oxide (N2O) production in denitrifying phosphorus removal systems. In this study, the effect of PHA degradation rate on N2O production was studied at low FNA levels. N2O production always maintained at approximately 40% of the amount of nitrite reduced independent of the PHA degradation rate. The electrons distributed to nitrite reduction were 1.6 times that to N2O reduction. This indicated that electron competition between these two steps was not affected by the PHA degradation rate. Continuous feed of nitrate was proposed, and demonstrated to reduce N2O accumulation by 75%. While being kept low, a possible compounding effect of a low-level FNA could not be ruled out. The sludge used likely contained both polyphosphate- and glycogen-accumulating organisms, and the results could not be simply attributed to either group of organisms. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhanced agarose and xylan degradation for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by co-culture of marine bacterium, Saccharophagus degradans and its contaminant, Bacillus cereus

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sawant, Shailesh S.; Salunke, Bipinchandra K.; Taylor, II, Larry E.

Over reliance on energy or petroleum products has raised concerns both in regards to the depletion of their associated natural resources as well as their increasing costs. Bioplastics derived from microbes are emerging as promising alternatives to fossil fuel derived petroleum plastics. The development of a simple and eco-friendly strategy for bioplastic production with high productivity and yield, which is produced in a cost effective manner utilising abundantly available renewable carbon sources, would have the potential to result in an inexhaustible global energy source. Here we report the biosynthesis of bioplastic polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in pure cultures of marine bacterium, Saccharophagusmore » degradans 2-40 ( Sde 2-40), its contaminant, Bacillus cereus, and a co-culture of these bacteria ( Sde 2-40 and B. cereus) degrading plant and algae derived complex polysaccharides. Sde 2-40 degraded the complex polysaccharides agarose and xylan as sole carbon sources for biosynthesis of PHAs. The ability of Sde 2-40 to degrade agarose increased after co-culturing with B. cereus. The association of Sde 2-40 with B. cereus resulted in increased cell growth and higher PHA production (34.5% of dry cell weight) from xylan as a carbon source in comparison to Sde 2-40 alone (22.7% of dry cell weight). Lastly, the present study offers an innovative prototype for production of PHA through consolidated bioprocessing of complex carbon sources by pure and co-culture of microorganisms.« less

Enhanced agarose and xylan degradation for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by co-culture of marine bacterium, Saccharophagus degradans and its contaminant, Bacillus cereus

DOE PAGES

Sawant, Shailesh S.; Salunke, Bipinchandra K.; Taylor, II, Larry E.; ...

2017-02-28

Over reliance on energy or petroleum products has raised concerns both in regards to the depletion of their associated natural resources as well as their increasing costs. Bioplastics derived from microbes are emerging as promising alternatives to fossil fuel derived petroleum plastics. The development of a simple and eco-friendly strategy for bioplastic production with high productivity and yield, which is produced in a cost effective manner utilising abundantly available renewable carbon sources, would have the potential to result in an inexhaustible global energy source. Here we report the biosynthesis of bioplastic polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in pure cultures of marine bacterium, Saccharophagusmore » degradans 2-40 ( Sde 2-40), its contaminant, Bacillus cereus, and a co-culture of these bacteria ( Sde 2-40 and B. cereus) degrading plant and algae derived complex polysaccharides. Sde 2-40 degraded the complex polysaccharides agarose and xylan as sole carbon sources for biosynthesis of PHAs. The ability of Sde 2-40 to degrade agarose increased after co-culturing with B. cereus. The association of Sde 2-40 with B. cereus resulted in increased cell growth and higher PHA production (34.5% of dry cell weight) from xylan as a carbon source in comparison to Sde 2-40 alone (22.7% of dry cell weight). Lastly, the present study offers an innovative prototype for production of PHA through consolidated bioprocessing of complex carbon sources by pure and co-culture of microorganisms.« less

Characterisation of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers with controllable four-monomer composition.

PubMed

Dai, Yu; Lambert, Lynette; Yuan, Zhiguo; Keller, Jurg

2008-03-20

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers comprising the four monomers 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV), 3-hydroxy-2-methylvalerate (3HMV) and 3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyrate (3HMB) were generated using the recently discovered Defluviicoccus vanus-related glycogen accumulating organisms (DvGAOs) under anaerobic conditions without applying any nutrient limitations. The composition could be manipulated in a defined range by modifying the ratio of propionate and acetate provided in the feed stream. The PHAs produced were characterised as random copolymers (from propionate alone) or a mixture of random copolymers (from mixture of propionate and acetate) through microstructure analysis using 13C NMR spectroscopy. The sequence distribution of all eight comonomer pairs in the carbonyl region of 3HB and 3HV was identified and assigned with confidence utilising two-dimensional heteronuclear multiple bond coherence (HMBC) spectroscopy. Weight average molecular weights were in the range 390-560 kg/mol. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) traces showed that the melting temperature (Tm) varied between 70 and 161 degrees C and glass transition temperature (Tg) ranged from -8 to 0 degrees C. The incorporation of considerable amounts of 3HMV and 3HMB monomer units introduced additional "defects" into the PHBV copolymer structure and hence greatly lowered the crystallinity. The data indicate the potential of these four-monomer PHAs to be employed for practical applications, considering their favourable properties and the cost-effective production process using a mixed culture and simple carbon sources.

Near-Earth asteroids orbits using Gaia and ground-based observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bancelin, D.; Hestroffer, D.; Thuillot, W.

2011-05-01

Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are Near-Earth Asteroids caraterised by a Minimum Orbital Intersection Distance (MOID) with Earth less to 0.05 A.U and an absolute magnitude H<22. Those objects have sometimes a so significant close approach with Earth that they can be put on a chaotic orbit. This kind of orbit is very sensitive for exemple to the initial conditions, to the planetary theory used (for instance JPL's model versus IMCCE's model) or even to the numerical integrator used (Lie Series, Bulirsch-Stoer or Radau). New observations (optical, radar, flyby or satellite mission) can improve those orbits and reduce the uncertainties on the Keplerian elements.The Gaia mission is an astrometric mission that will be launched in 2012 and will observe a large number of Solar System Objects down to magnitude V≤20. During the 5-year mission, Gaia will continuously scan the sky with a specific strategy: objects will be observed from two lines of sight separated with a constant basic angle. Five constants already fixed determinate the nominal scanning law of Gaia: The inertial spin rate (1°/min) that describe the rotation of the spacecraft around an axis perpendicular to those of the two fields of view, the solar-aspect angle (45°) that is the angle between the Sun and the spacecraft rotation axis, the precession period (63.12 days) which is the precession of the spin axis around the Sun-Earth direction. Two other constants are still free parameters: the initial spin phase, and the initial precession angle that will be fixed at the start of the nominal science operations. These latter are constraint by scientific outcome (e.g. possibility of performing test of fundamental physics) together with operational requirements (downlink to Earth windows). Several sets of observations of specific NEOs will hence be provided according to the initial precession angle. The purpose here is to study the statistical impact of the initial precession angle on the error propagation and on the collision probability, especially for PHAs. We will also analyse the advantage of combining space-based to ground-based observation over long term, as well as in short term from observations in alert.

Near-Earth Asteroids Astrometry with Gaia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bancelin, D.; Hestroffer, D.; Thuillot, W.

2011-05-01

Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are Near-Earth Asteroids caraterised by a Minimum Orbital Intersection Distance (MOID) with Earth less to 0.05 A.U and an absolute magnitude H<22. Those objects have sometimes a so significant close approach with Earth that they can be put on a chaotic orbit. This kind of orbit is very sensitive for exemple to the initial conditions, to the planetary theory used (for instance JPL's model versus IMCCE's model) or even to the numerical integrator used (Lie Series, Bulirsch-Stoer or Radau). New observations (optical, radar, flyby or satellite mission) can improve those orbits and reduce the uncertainties on the Keplerian elements.The Gaia mission is an astrometric mission that will be launched in 2012 and will observe a large number of Solar System Objects down to magnitude V≤20. During the 5-year mission, Gaia will continuously scan the sky with a specific strategy: objects will be observed from two lines of sight separated with a constant basic angle. Five constants already fixed determinate the nominal scanning law of Gaia: The inertial spin rate (1°/min) that describe the rotation of the spacecraft around an axis perpendicular to those of the two fields of view, the solar-aspect angle (45°) that is the angle between the Sun and the spacecraft rotation axis, the precession period (63.12 days) which is the precession of the spin axis around the Sun-Earth direction. Two other constants are still free parameters: the initial spin phase, and the initial precession angle that will be fixed at the start of the nominal science operations. These latter are constraint by scientific outcome (e.g. possibility of performing test of fundamental physics) together with operational requirements (downlink to Earth windows). Several sets of observations of specific NEOs will hence be provided according to the initial precession angle. The purpose here is to study the statistical impact of the initial precession angle on the error propagation and on the collision probability, especially for PHAs. We will also analyse the advantage of combining space-based to ground-based observation over long term, as well as in short term from observations in alert.

Rapid and qualitative fluorescence-based method for the assessment of PHA production in marine bacteria during batch culture.

PubMed

Elain, Anne; Le Fellic, Magali; Corre, Yves-Marie; Le Grand, Adélaïde; Le Tilly, Véronique; Audic, Jean-Luc; Bruzaud, Stéphane

2015-10-01

The expansion of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) into the biodegradable polymers market is mainly prevented by their production process which is still complicated with a low efficiency, resulting in relatively expensive products. In this study, we developed a method that used the lipophilic fluorescent probe Nile Red (1 mg l(-1) solution in DMSO) directly into the culture broth to stain the PHA inclusions inside bacterial cells followed by detection of the emitted fluorescence by both microscopic and spectrometric techniques. Epifluorescence microscopy provides a rapid tool to distinguish producing from non-producing bacterial species and the relative fluorescence intensity (FI) determined at the maximum of emission spectra in the wavelength region of 560-710 nm (λ(ex): 543 nm), allows a fast assessment of the cultural conditions that may enhance PHA production yield. During two-step cultivation in 500-ml flasks with glucose as the sole carbon source, the method aimed to select bacterial strains efficient for PHA synthesis among a marine collection. Subsequently, the NR assay was used to determine the C0/N0 ratio of the producing media that may improve the polymer yield as well as to follow the time course of fermentation. Characterization by GC-MS and DSC confirmed the production of the P(3-HB) homopolymer.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates production from waste biomass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nor Aslan, A. K. H.; Ali, M. D. Muhd; Morad, N. A.; Tamunaidu, P.

2016-06-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) is a group of biopolymers that are extensively researched for such purpose due to the biocompatibility with mammal tissue and similar properties with conventional plastic. However, commercialization of PHA is impended by its high total production cost, which half of it are from the cost of pure carbon source feedstock. Thus, cheap and sustainable feedstocks are preferred where waste materials from various industries are looked into. This paper will highlight recent studies done on PHA production by utilizing crop and agro waste material and review its potential as alternative feedstock.

Short term impact risk assessment for asteroids 2011 AG5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bancelin, D.; Pravec, P.; Nolan, M.

2013-04-01

Among the potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) in orbit around the Earth, some of them can become a real threat. The most famous PHA presently known is asteroid (99942) Apophis which briefly presented an unusually high impact probability (up to 2.3 %) for a collision with the Earth in 2029. It remains the only asteroid to have reached level 4 of the Torino Scale. Even if Apophis is not a threat anymore, other PHAs are still monitored and now, only one asteroid is scaled to 1 with the highest impact probability. Asteroid 2011 AG5 has 1 chance over 500 to hit the Earth on 2040. This asteroid is challenging because it will remain of faint magnitude around 23.0 until its close encounter with the Earth in February 2023. It will come close to the Earth by 0.012 AU. Intensive ground-based (optical and mainly radar measurements) will be performed. Before this date, optical measurements would be possible (provided that large telescopes are used) and orbital refinement could be performed in order to improve the orbital uncertainty of this asteroid. Nevertheless, no physical data can be derived before 2023 and therefore, the influence of non gravitational forces, mainly Yarkovsky effect, can not be precisely determined. This non gravitational effect produces a secular drift da/dt (positive or negative) of the semi-major axis due to the anisotropic re-emission of the incident solar radiation. We propose here a dynamical study of the asteroid 2011 AG5. We discuss first the location of primary and secondary keyholes in the target plane of 2023 as well as the quantification of the impact probability. Secondary keyholes are due to two consecutive close encounters, the second usually happening near a keyhole or a resonant return. Then, we will address how those quantities evolve with future dedicated ground-based measurements. In a second part, we will discuss non gravitational perturbations through Yarkovsky effect. Assuming that this asteroid is a C or S-type, we can statistically derive some maximum intensity of Yarkovsky force, without any assumptions on the physical parameters. This will help to assess the maximum deviation expected on the geocentric distance expressed in the 2023 target plane. This deviation will have a direct consequence on the impact probability. Finally, a deeper study will include a Monte Carlo test on the orbital fit in order to compute virtual asteroids (VA) moving under gravity, relativistic and Yarkovsky perturbations. Using a simple model of Yarkovsky force as a perturbation along the transverse component and inversely proportional to the heliocentric square distance of the asteroid, we include a random deviation da/dt to assess the number of VA becoming virtual impactors (VI). We will compare this number to the one obtained with VA moving only under gravity and relativistic perturbations.

Molecular spectroscopy of CH Cygni in the 1998-2000 active phas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kotnik-Karuza, D.; Jurdana-Sepic, R.; Majlinger, Z.

The subject of this study is the very peculiar symbiotic binary CH Cygni, in particular the physical conditions in the photosphere of its cool component. The latter has been classified as an M late type giant due to its spectral appearance in the optical and near IR spectral region during quiescent and active phases. Several consecutive spectra obtained with different exposure times covering the region lambda 4800-9000 A were obtained on 24/25 November 1999 which means that they belong to the 1998-2000 active phase. We have concentrated our investigations on the TiO absorption bands which are the most outstanding feature in these spectra. The bands, some of which give evidence of a partly resolved rotational structure, have been identified as members of the alpha, gamma, gamma prim, beta, delta, phi and epsilon band systems. Measurement of the band head relative intensities and some other features in their structure have led to determination of temperatures of the coolest layers in the red giant's photosphere.

Transesterification of PHA to oligomers covalently bonded with (bio)active compounds containing either carboxyl or hydroxyl functionalities.

PubMed

Kwiecień, Iwona; Radecka, Iza; Kowalczuk, Marek; Adamus, Grażyna

2015-01-01

This manuscript presents the synthesis and structural characterisation of novel biodegradable polymeric controlled-release systems of pesticides with potentially higher resistance to weather conditions in comparison to conventional forms of pesticides. Two methods for the preparation of pesticide-oligomer conjugates using the transesterification reaction were developed. The first method of obtaining conjugates, which consist of bioactive compounds with the carboxyl group and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) oligomers, is "one-pot" transesterification. In the second method, conjugates of bioactive compounds with hydroxyl group and polyhydroxyalkanoates oligomers were obtained in two-step method, through cyclic poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) oligomers. The obtained pesticide-PHA conjugates were comprehensively characterised using GPC, 1H NMR and mass spectrometry techniques. The structural characterisation of the obtained products at the molecular level with the aid of mass spectrometry confirmed that both of the synthetic strategies employed led to the formation of conjugates in which selected pesticides were covalently bonded to PHA oligomers via a hydrolysable ester bond.

Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking with the Maui Space Surveillance System (NEAT/MSSS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Helin, Eleanor F.; Pravdo, Steven H.; Lawrence, Kenneth J.; Hicks, Michael D.

2001-01-01

Over the last year the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL) Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT) program has made significant progress and now consists of two simultaneously-operating, autonomous search systems on the 1.2-m (48") telescopes: on the Maui Space Surveillance System (NEAT/MSSS) and NEAT/Palomar on the Palomar Observatory's Oschin telescope. This paper will focus exclusively on the NEAT/MSSS system. NEAT/MSSS is operated as a partnership between NASA/JPL and the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), utilizing the AFRL 1.2-m telescope on the 3000-m summit of Haleakala, Maui, The USAF Space Command (SPCMD) contributed financial support to build and install the 'NEAT focal reducer' on the MSSS 1.2-m telescope giving it a large field of view (2.5 square degrees), suitable for the near-earth object (NEO),both asteroids and comets, survey. This work was completed in February 2000. AFRL has made a commitment to NEAT/MSSS that allows NEAT to operate full time with the understanding that AFRL participate as partners in NEAT/MSSS and have use of the NEAT camera system for high priority satellite observations during bright time (parts of 12 nights each month). Currently, NEAT has discovered 42 NEAs including 12 larger than 1-km, 5 Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs), 6 comets, and nearly 25,000 asteroid detections since March 2000.

ATLAS: A High-cadence All-sky Survey System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tonry, J. L.; Denneau, L.; Heinze, A. N.; Stalder, B.; Smith, K. W.; Smartt, S. J.; Stubbs, C. W.; Weiland, H. J.; Rest, A.

2018-06-01

Technology has advanced to the point that it is possible to image the entire sky every night and process the data in real time. The sky is hardly static: many interesting phenomena occur, including variable stationary objects such as stars or QSOs, transient stationary objects such as supernovae or M dwarf flares, and moving objects such as asteroids and the stars themselves. Funded by NASA, we have designed and built a sky survey system for the purpose of finding dangerous near-Earth asteroids (NEAs). This system, the “Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System” (ATLAS), has been optimized to produce the best survey capability per unit cost, and therefore is an efficient and competitive system for finding potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) but also for tracking variables and finding transients. While carrying out its NASA mission, ATLAS now discovers more bright (m < 19) supernovae candidates than any ground based survey, frequently detecting very young explosions due to its 2 day cadence. ATLAS discovered the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst independent of the high energy trigger and has released a variable star catalog of 5 × 106 sources. This is the first of a series of articles describing ATLAS, devoted to the design and performance of the ATLAS system. Subsequent articles will describe in more detail the software, the survey strategy, ATLAS-derived NEA population statistics, transient detections, and the first data release of variable stars and transient light curves.

Detection of the enzymatically-active polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase subunit gene, phaC, in cyanobacteria via colony PCR.

PubMed

Lane, Courtney E; Benton, Michael G

2015-12-01

A colony PCR-based assay was developed to rapidly determine if a cyanobacterium of interest contains the requisite genetic material, the PHA synthase PhaC subunit, to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The test is both high throughput and robust, owing to an extensive sequence analysis of cyanobacteria PHA synthases. The assay uses a single detection primer set and a single reaction condition across multiple cyanobacteria strains to produce an easily detectable positive result - amplification via PCR as evidenced by a band in electrophoresis. In order to demonstrate the potential of the presence of phaC as an indicator of a cyanobacteria's PHA accumulation capabilities, the ability to produce PHA was assessed for five cyanobacteria with a traditional in vivo PHA granule staining using an oxazine dye. The confirmed in vivo staining results were then compared to the PCR-based assay results and found to be in agreement. The colony PCR assay was capable of successfully detecting the phaC gene in all six of the diverse cyanobacteria tested which possessed the gene, while exhibiting no undesired product formation across the nine total cyanobacteria strains tested. The colony PCR quick prep provides sufficient usable DNA template such that this assay could be readily expanded to assess multiple genes of interest simultaneously. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of the length of the cycle on biodegradable polymer production and microbial community selection in a sequencing batch reactor.

PubMed

Dionisi, Davide; Majone, Mauro; Vallini, Giovanni; Gregorio, Simona Di; Beccari, Mario

2007-01-01

The effect of the length of the cycle on the enrichment and selection of mixed cultures in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) has been studied, with the aim of biodegradable polymers (namely, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)) production from organic wastes. At a fixed feed concentration (20 gCOD/L) and organic loading rate (20 gCOD/L/day), the SBR was operated at different lengths of the cycle, in the range 1-8 h. Process performance was measured by considering the rates and yields of polymer storage and of the competing phenomenon of growth. The selected biomass was enriched with microorganisms that were able to store PHAs at high rates and yields only when the length of the cycle was 2 or 4 h, even though in these conditions the process was unstable. On the other hand, when the length of the cycle was 1 or 8 h, the dynamic response of the selected microorganisms was dominated by growth. The best process performance was characterized by storage rates in the range 500-600 mgCOD/gCOD/h and storage yields of 0.45-0.55 COD/COD. The corresponding productivity of the process was in the range 0.25-0.30 gPHA/L/h, the highest values obtained until now for mixed cultures. The microbial composition of the selected biomasses was analyzed through denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and reverse-transcriptase denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (RT-DGGE). The instability of the runs characterized by high storage rate was associated with a higher microbial heterogeneity compared to the runs with a stable growth response.

Biocompatibility of polyhydroxyalkanoate as a potential material for ligament and tendon scaffold material.

PubMed

Rathbone, S; Furrer, P; Lübben, J; Zinn, M; Cartmell, S

2010-06-15

There is a strong need for new biodegradable materials that are suitable for scaffolds in tissue engineering of tendons and ligaments. In many cases, quick degradation rates are favorable, however, with respect to ligament and tendon replacement, slowly degrading polymers are clearly favored. Prime candidates are members of the large class of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which are thermoplastic/elastomeric biopolyesters that are slowly degraded by surface erosion. Moreover, their physico-mechanical properties can be tailored during biosynthesis in bacteria or by chemical modifications. They may be spun into fibers, coated on surfaces or be part of composites. This study has investigated the biocompatability of seven different thermoplastic or elastomeric PHAs using L929 murine fibroblast cells. Cell viability and proliferation over 7 days was analyzed with live/dead staining and a picogreen assay. In addition, extracellular matrix production was measured with the hydroxyproline assay after 14 days. It was found that cell attachment to the PHA film ranged from 85-99% after 7 days. Three PHA films (PHBV (92/8), PHOUE-POSS and PHUE-O3) supported similar cell viability in comparison to the controls performed on tissue culture plastic (polystyrene), whereas the biomaterials (PHUA, PHUE, PHB and PHOUE) showed fewer viable cells than in controls. PHB, PHUE-O3, and PHBV with a water contact angle below 85 degrees supported a similar amount of collagen production in comparison to the tissue culture plastic controls. PHUA, PHUE, PHOUE, and PHOUE-POSS showed a decrease in collagen production in comparison to the controls after 14 days. Overall, PHB, PHBV, and PHUE-O3 demonstrated good performance with regards to potential use as a tissue-engineering scaffold. (c) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis by Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava DSM1034 from structurally unrelated carbon sources.

PubMed

Povolo, Silvana; Romanelli, Maria Giovanna; Basaglia, Marina; Ilieva, Vassilka Ivanova; Corti, Andrea; Morelli, Andrea; Chiellini, Emo; Casella, Sergio

2013-09-25

In the present paper we report the exclusive microbial preparation of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) containing 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) and 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) as comonomers through the use of unexpensive carbon sources such as whey from dairy industry. Polymers were produced by growing H. pseudoflava DSM 1034 in minimal medium supplemented with sucrose, lactose or whey without any co-substrate added. The chemical and physical properties of the polymers were fully characterized by GPC, DSC, TGA analyses and the composition by GC and (1)H NMR examinations to especially confirm the content of different monomeric units. The presence of 4HB units into PHA samples is particularly aimed in thermoplastic applications where greater flexibility is required and conventional rigid PHAs tend to fail. Usually the insertion of 4HB into chain backbone consisting of 3-hydroxyalkanoates requires expensive carbon sources mostly of petrochemical origin. According to our study the production of P(3HB-co-3HV-co-4HB) terpolymer can be obtained directly by the use of lactose or waste raw materials such as cheese whey as carbon sources. Although the amount of 4HB in the produced terpolymers was usually low and not exceeding 10% of the total molar composition, a PHA containing 18.4% of 4HB units was produced in 1 step fermentation process from this structurally unrelated carbon sources. The crystallinity of the terpolymer is basically to be markedly affected with respect to that of conventional PHAs, thus obtaining a comparatively less rigid material and easier to be processed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

NEA impactors: what direction to they come from?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, Alan

2018-04-01

One might expect, if Earth-crossing NEAs are "thermalized" by prior close scattering encounters with the Earth, that final impact trajectories would be isotropic in direction. But orbital perturbations and other sources of entry and exit to the Earth-crossing zone are faster acting that thermalization, so the actual distribution of impacting orbits is quite anisotropic. I have studied impactor directions by adjusting the orbits of known Earth-crossing PHAs slightly to put them on intersecting orbits and then computed the direction of approach to the Earth. This arguably suffers from "looking under the lamp post", since NEAs are mostly discovered close to the opposition direction, so I also took the distribution of NEA orbits recently derived by Granvik and others and extracted, from a set of 100,000 synthetic orbits they provided, a subset of Earth-crossing PHAs and similarly adjusted them to be intersecting orbits. This should represent an unbiased set of orbits. I then weighted the impact directions by the individual Opik impact probability to obtain a distribution of impact directions weighted by actual impact probabilities. The result was that more than 40% of incoming trajectories clustered within 60 degrees of the opposition direction, and a similar fraction come from within 60 degrees of the solar direction. Thus ~80% of impactors come from only about 1/3 of the sky area, with almost none coming from 60-120 degrees solar elongation. The message is that existing ground-based surveys can hardly be improved upon by greater sky coverage with respect to detecting "death plunge" objects, and even space-based instruments offer very little improvement due to the very low solar elongation of most objects approaching from the solar direction.

Development of environmentally friendly coatings and paints using medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) as the polymer binder.

PubMed

van der Walle, G A; Buisman, G J; Weusthuis, R A; Eggink, G

1999-01-01

Unsaturated medium-chain-length poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (mcl-PHAs) produced by Pseudomonas putida from linseed oil fatty acids (LOFA) and tall oil fatty acids (TOFA), were used as the polymer binder in the formulation of high solid alkyd-like paints. The relatively high concentration of unsaturated alkyl side chains incorporated into the PHA resins resulted in oxidative drying PHA paints having excellent coating properties. The homogeneously pigmented PHA coatings yielded high-gloss, smooth and strong films upon curing and showed an excellent flexibility, a good adhesion to different substrates, cohesive film properties and resistance to chipping.

DEEP-South: Preliminary Photometric Results from the KMTNet-CTIO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Myung-Jin; Moon, Hong-Kyu; Choi, Young-Jun; Yim, Hong-Suh; Bae, Young-Ho; Roh, Dong-Goo; Park, Jin Tae; Moon, Bora

2016-01-01

Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) successfully completed the development of Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet, Park et al. 2012) in mid-2015, following which it conducted test runs for several months. `DEep Ecliptic Patrol of the Southern sky' (DEEP-South, Moon et al. 2015), which will be used for asteroid and comet studies, will not only characterize targeted asteroids, carrying out blind surveys toward the sweet spots, but will also mine the data of such bodies using the KMTNet archive. We report preliminary lightcurves of four Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) from test runs at KMTNet-CTIO in the February - May 2015 period.

Metabolic engineering for microbial production and applications of copolyesters consisting of 3-hydroxybutyrate and medium-chain-length 3-hydroxyalkanoates.

PubMed

Zou, Xiang Hui; Chen, Guo-Qiang

2007-02-12

Poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs) are a class of microbially synthesized polyesters that combine biological properties, such as biocompatibility and biodegradability, and non-bioproperties such as thermoprocessability, piezoelectricity, and nonlinear optical activity. PHA monomer structures and their contents strongly affect the PHA properties. Using metabolic engineering approaches, PHA structures and contents can be manipulated to achieve controllable monomer and PHA cellular contents. This paper focuses on metabolic engineering methods to produce PHA consisting of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and medium-chain-length 3-hydroxyalkanoates (3HA) in recombinant microbial systems. This type of copolyester has mechanical and thermal properties similar to conventional plastics such as poly(propylene) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). In addition, pathways containing engineered PHA synthases have proven to be useful for enhanced PHA production with adjustable PHA monomers and contents. The applications of PHA as implant biomaterials are briefly discussed here. In the very near term, metabolic engineering will help solve many problems in promoting PHA as a new type of plastic material for many applications.

Cell system engineering to produce extracellular polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerase with targeted applications.

PubMed

Martínez, Virginia; Dinjaski, Nina; de Eugenio, Laura I; de la Peña, Fernando; Prieto, María Auxiliadora

2014-11-01

Novel platforms based on the application of bacterial cell systems as factories for production of new bioproducts open avenues and dramatically expand the catalogue of existing biomaterials. Herein, we designed the strategy based on in vivo production of extracellular Pseudomonas fluorescens GK13 (PhaZGK13) depolymerase to degrade previously biosynthesized polyhydroxyalkanotes (PHAs) or to obtain 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids (HAs). With this aim, extracellular PhaZGK13 was produced in recombinant strains and the optimal conditions for controlled release of HAs and oligomers by growing cells were set up with a particle suspension of (14)C-labelled PHA, being maximal after 24h of incubation. Genetic modification of key factors involved in fatty acids metabolism revealed the influence of an active β-oxidation pathway on the extracellular degradation of PHA and subsequent HAs isolation. The highest HAs production was obtained using Pseudomonas putida KT2442 fadB mutant (0.27mg/mL) due to the reduced ability of this strain to metabolize the degradation products. The system was applied to produce new added value HAs harboring thioester groups in the side chain from the functionalized mcl-PHA, PHACOS. Remarkably, hydrolyzed PHACOS showed greater potential to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus(T) growth when compared to that of degradation products of non functionalized polyhydroxyoctanoate-co-hexanoate P(HO-co-HH). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Functional Stability of a Mixed Microbial Consortium Producing PHA From Waste Carbon Sources

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

David N. Thompson; Erik R. Coats; William A. Smith

2006-04-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represent an environmentally-effective alternative to synthetic thermoplastics; however, current production practices are not sustainable. In this study, PHA production was accomplished in sequencing batch bioreactors utilizing real wastewaters and mixed microbial consortia from municipal activated sludge as inoculum. Polymer production reached 85%, 53%, and 10% of the cell dry weight from methanol-enriched pulp-and-paper mill foul condensate, fermented municipal primary solids, and biodiesel wastewater, respectively. Employing denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S-rDNA from PCR-amplified DNA extracts, distinctly different communities were observed between and within wastewaters following enrichment. Most importantly, functional stability was maintained despite differing and contrasting microbial populations.

Functional Stability of a Mixed Microbial Consortium Producing PHA From Waste Carbon Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coats, Erik R.; Loge, Frank J.; Smith, William A.; Thompson, David N.; Wolcott, Michael P.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represent an environmentally effective alternative to synthetic thermoplastics; however, current production practices are not sustainable. In this study, PHA production was accomplished in sequencing batch bioreactors utilizing real wastewaters and mixed microbial consortia from municipal activated sludge as inoculum. Polymer production reached 85, 53, and 10% of the cell dry weight from methanol-enriched pulp and paper mill foul condensate, fermented municipal primary solids, and biodiesel wastewater, respectively. Using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S-rDNA from polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA extracts, distinctly different communities were observed between and within wastewaters following enrichment. Most importantly, functional stability was maintained despite differing and contrasting microbial populations.

Methods for the isolation of genes encoding novel PHB cycle enzymes from complex microbial communities.

PubMed

Nordeste, Ricardo F; Trainer, Maria A; Charles, Trevor C

2010-01-01

Development of different PHAs as alternatives to petrochemically derived plastics can be facilitated by mining metagenomic libraries for diverse PHA cycle genes that might be useful for synthesis of bioplastics. The specific phenotypes associated with mutations of the PHA synthesis pathway genes in Sinorhizobium meliloti allows for the use of powerful selection and screening tools to identify complementing novel PHA synthesis genes. Identification of novel genes through their function rather than sequence facilitates finding functional proteins that may otherwise have been excluded through sequence-only screening methodology. We present here methods that we have developed for the isolation of clones expressing novel PHA metabolism genes from metagenomic libraries.

Methods for the Isolation of Genes Encoding Novel PHA Metabolism Enzymes from Complex Microbial Communities.

PubMed

Cheng, Jiujun; Nordeste, Ricardo; Trainer, Maria A; Charles, Trevor C

2017-01-01

Development of different PHAs as alternatives to petrochemically derived plastics can be facilitated by mining metagenomic libraries for diverse PHA cycle genes that might be useful for synthesis of bio-plastics. The specific phenotypes associated with mutations of the PHA synthesis pathway genes in Sinorhizobium meliloti and Pseudomonas putida, allows the use of powerful selection and screening tools to identify complementing novel PHA synthesis genes. Identification of novel genes through their function rather than sequence facilitates the functional proteins that may otherwise have been excluded through sequence-only screening methodology. We present here methods that we have developed for the isolation of clones expressing novel PHA metabolism genes from metagenomic libraries.

The ‘LipoYeasts’ project: using the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica in combination with specific bacterial genes for the bioconversion of lipids, fats and oils into high‐value products

PubMed Central

Sabirova, Julia S.; Haddouche, R.; Van Bogaert, I. N.; Mulaa, F.; Verstraete, W.; Timmis, K. N.; Schmidt‐Dannert, C.; Nicaud, J. M.; Soetaert, W.

2011-01-01

Summary The oleochemical industry is currently still dominated by conventional chemistry, with biotechnology only starting to play a more prominent role, primarily with respect to the biosurfactants or lipases, e.g. as detergents, or for biofuel production. A major bottleneck for all further biotechnological applications is the problem of the initial mobilization of cheap and vastly available lipid and oil substrates, which are then to be transformed into high‐value biotechnological, nutritional or pharmacological products. Under the EU‐sponsored LipoYeasts project we are developing the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica into a versatile and high‐throughput microbial factory that, by use of specific enzymatic pathways from hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria, efficiently mobilizes lipids by directing its versatile lipid metabolism towards the production of industrially valuable lipid‐derived compounds like wax esters (WE), isoprenoid‐derived compounds (carotenoids, polyenic carotenoid ester), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and free hydroxylated fatty acids (HFAs). Different lipid stocks (petroleum, alkane, vegetable oil, fatty acid) and combinations thereof are being assessed as substrates in combination with different mutant and recombinant strains of Y. lipolytica, in order to modulate the composition and yields of the produced added‐value products. PMID:21255371

Asymmetry and anisotropy of surface effects of mining induced seismic events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lasocki, Stanislaw; Orlecka-Sikora, Beata

2013-04-01

Long-lasting exploitation in underground mines and the complex system of goaf - unmined areas - excavation may cause the occurrence of seismic events, whose influence in the excavation and on the free surface is untypical. We present here the analysis of surface effects of a series of ten seismic events that occurred in one panel of a copper-ore mine. The analysis bases on a comparison of the observed ground motion due to the studied events with the estimates from Ground Motion Prediction Equations for peak horizontal (PHA) and vertical (PVA) acceleration of motion in the frequency band up to 10Hz, local for that mining area. The GMPE-s take into account also relative site amplification factors. The posterior probabilities that the observed PHA-s are not attained according to GMPE-s are calculated and mapped. Although all ten considered events had comparable magnitudes and were located close one to another their ground effects were very diverse. The analysis of anomalies of surface effects shows strong asymmetry of ground motion propagation and anisotropy of surface effects of the studied tremors. Based on similarities of surface effects anomalies, expressed in terms of the posterior probabilities, the events are split into distinct groups. In case of four events the actual PHA-s on most of the stations are greater than the respective estimated medians, especially in the sector N-SE. The PHA values of the second group are at short epicentral distances mostly on the same level as the predicted estimates from GMPE. The observed effects, however, become abnormally strong with the increase of epicentral distances in the sector NE-SE. The effects of events from next groups abnormally increase either in NE or NE - SE direction and the maximum anomalies appear about 3km from the epicenter. The extreme discrepancies can be attributed neither to local site effects nor to preferential propagation conditions along some wavepaths. Therefore it is concluded that the observed anomalies of ground motion result from sources properties. Integrated analysis of source mechanism of these events indicates that their untypical and diverse surface effects result from complexity of their sources expressed by tensile source mechanisms, finite sources, directivity of ruptures and nearly horizontal rupture planes. The above features seem to be implied by a superposition of coseismic alterations of stress field and stress changes due to mining. This work has been done in the framework of the research project No. NN525393539, financed by the National Science Centre of Poland for the period 2010-2013.

Effects of phenobarbital on aniline metabolism in primary liver cell culture of rats with ethionine-induced liver disorder.

PubMed

Noguchi, M; Nitoh, S; Mabuchi, M; Kawai, Y

1996-04-01

In experiment 1, the amount of aniline (AN) metabolites in the primary cell culture medium of the liver cells obtained from ethionine (ET)-treated rats was compared with that of the control (normal) rats. Although the metabolites detected in both groups were p-aminophenol (p-AP), N-acetyl-p-AP (AAP), acetoanilide (AAN), AAP-glucuronide (AAPG), phenylhydroxylamine sulfate (PHAS) and p-AP-glucuronide (p-APG), the amount of AAP was lower and that of p-APG was markedly higher in the ET-treated rats than in the control rats. In experiment 2, phenobarbital (PB) was orally administered to the ET-treated and control rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg. The time course changes in AN metabolites in the primary cell culture medium of liver cells obtained at 2 or 48 hr after PB treatment were compared with those without PB treatment. In the ET-treated rats, the amount of PHAS was slightly higher at 2 hr after PB treatment, and that of AAP was lower and that of p-APG was higher at 48 hr after PB treatment as compared with those without PB treatment. In the control rats, the amounts of AAP, AAN, p-AP and p-APG at 2 hr after PB treatment remained lower than those without PB treatment, and that of AAP was markedly lower and that of p-APG was higher at 48 hr after PB treatment as compared with those without PB treatment. These findings indicated greater detoxication in the primary liver cell culture in the ET-treated rats than in the control rats. Furthermore, detoxication was greater in the primary cell culture of liver cell obtained from the ET-treated rats after PB treatment than from those without PB treatment, because the production of acetylates (AAP) decreased and p-APG increased (induction of conjugated enzyme) in the PB treatment group.

Ralstonia eutropha's Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)(PHB) polymerase PhaC1 and PHB depolymerase PhaZa1 are phosphorylated in vivo.

PubMed

Jüngert, Janina R; Patterson, Cameron; Jendrossek, Dieter

2018-04-20

In this study, we screened PHB synthase PhaC1 and PHB depolymerase PhaZa1 of Ralstonia eutropha for the presence of phosphorylated residues during the PHB accumulation and PHB degradation phase. Thr373 of PHB synthase PhaC1 was phosphorylated in the stationary growth phase but was not modified in the exponential and PHB accumulation phases. Ser35 of PHB depolymerase PhaZa1 was identified in phosphorylated form both in the exponential and in the stationary growth phase. Additional phosphosites were identified for both proteins in sample-dependent forms. Site-directed mutagenesis of the codon for Thr373 and other phosphosites of PhaC1 revealed a strong negative impact on PHB synthase activity. Modification of Thr26 and Ser35 of PhaZa1 reduced the ability of R. eutropha to mobilize PHB in the stationary growth phase. Our results show that phosphorylation of PhaC1 and PhaZa1 can be important for modulation of the activities of PHB synthase and PHB depolymerase. Importance Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and related polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are important intracellular carbon and energy storage compounds in many prokaryotes. The accumulation of PHB or PHAs increases the fitness of cells during periods of starvation and other stress conditions. The simultaneous presence of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) synthase (PhaC1) and PHB depolymerase (PhaZa1) on synthesized PHB granules in Ralstonia eutropha (alternative designation Cupriavidus necator ) has been previously shown in several laboratories. These findings imply that the activities of PHB synthase and PHB depolymerase should be regulated to avoid a futile cycle of simultaneous synthesis and degradation of PHB. Here, we addressed this question by identifying phosphorylation sites on PhaC1 and PhaZa1 and by site-directed mutagenesis of identified residues. Furthermore, we conducted in vitro and in vivo analysis of PHB synthase activity and PHB contents. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

Heat capacities and thermodynamic functions for beryl, Be3Al2Si6O18, phenakite, Be2SiO4, euclase, BeAlSiO4(OH), bertrandite, Be4Si2O7(OH)2, and chrysoberyl, BeAl2O4.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hemingway, B.S.; Barton, M.D.; Robie, R.A.; Haselton, H.T.

1986-01-01

The heat capacities of beryl, phenakite, euclase and bertrandite have been measured between approx 5 and 800 K by combined quasi-adiabatic cryogenic calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The heat capacities of chrysoberyl have been measured from 340 to 800 K. The resulting data have been combined with solution and phase-equilibrium experimental data and simultaneously adjusted using the programme PHAS20 to provide an internally consistent set of thermodynamic properties for several important beryllium phases. The experimental heat capacities and tables of derived thermodynamic properties are presented.-J.A.Z.

Poly(hydroxy alkanoate)s in Medical Applications

PubMed Central

Luef, K. P.; Stelzer, F.; Wiesbrock, F.

2017-01-01

This review summarizes the state-of-the-art knowledge of the usage of poly(hydroxy alkanoate)s in medical and sanitary applications. Depending on the monomers incorporated into the polymers and copolymers, this class of polymers exhibits a broad range of (thermo-)plastic properties, enabling their processing by, e.g., solution casting or melt extrusion. In this review, strategies for the polymer analogous modification of these materials and their surfaces are highlighted and correlated with the potential applications of the corresponding materials and blends. While the commercial availability of purified PHAs is addressed in brief, special focus is put on the (bio-)degradability of these polymers and ways to influence the degradation mechanism and/or the duration of degradation. PMID:28239227

Probing the Solar System with LSST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harris, A.; Ivezic, Z.; Juric, M.; Lupton, R.; Connolly, A.; Kubica, J.; Moore, A.; Bowell, E.; Bernstein, G.; Cook, K.; Stubbs, C.

2005-12-01

LSST will catalog small Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs), survey the main belt asteroid (MBA) population to extraordinarily small size, discover comets far from the sun where their nuclear properties can be discerned without coma, and survey the Centaur and Trans-Neptunian Object (TNO) populations. The present planned observing strategy is to ``visit'' each field (9.6 deg2) with two back-to-back exposures of ˜ 15 sec, reaching to at least V magnitude 24.5. An intra-night revisit time of the order half an hour will distinguish stationary transients from even very distant ( ˜ 70 AU) solar system bodies. In order to link observations and determine orbits, each sky area will be visited several times during a month, spaced by about a week. This cadence will result in orbital parameters for several million MBAs and about 20,000 TNOs, with light curves and colorimetry for the brighter 10% or so of each population. Compared to the current data available, this would represent factor of 10 to 100 increase in the numbers of orbits, colors, and variability of the two classes of objects. The LSST MBA and TNO samples will enable detailed studies of the dynamical and chemical history of the solar system. The increase in data volume associated with LSST asteroid science will present many computational challenges to how we might extract tracks and orbits of asteroids from the underlying clutter. Tree-based algorithms for multihypothesis testing of asteroid tracks can help solve these challenges by providing the necessary 1000-fold speed-ups over current approaches while recovering 95% of the underlying moving objects.

In vivo deuteration of a native bacterial biopolymer for structural elucidation using SANS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holden, P. J.; Russell, R. A.; Stone, D. J. M.; Garvey, C. J.; Foster, L. J. R.

2004-07-01

In order to facilitate future structural studies, biodeuteration of bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) was investigated. We report here the in vivo deuteration of poly 3-hydroxyoctanoate (PHO) produced by its native host, the bacterium Pseudomonas oleovorans. Bacterial biomass was produced in bioreactor studies by growth on hydrogenated substrates and PHO was subsequently produced intracellularly (10-20% w/w) during batch fed growth on deuterated octanoic acid under oxygen limitation. GC-MS analyses of the PHO demonstrated that 13 of the 15 hydrogen atoms had been replaced with deuterium (except in position 3), the remaining two hydrogen presumably being derived from water. A SANS contrast variation study was conducted on whole cells and the results indicate the potential to discriminate inclusion bodies formed from deuterated precursor from an otherwise hydrogenated background.

Improved detergent-based recovery of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs).

PubMed

Yang, Yung-Hun; Brigham, Christopher; Willis, Laura; Rha, ChoKyun; Sinskey, Anthony

2011-05-01

Extracting polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymer from bacterial cells often involves harsh conditions, including use of environmentally harmful solvents. We evaluated different detergents under various conditions to extract PHA from Ralstonia eutropha and Escherichia coli cells. Most detergents tested recovered highly pure PHA polymer from cells in amounts that depended on the percentage of polymer present in the cell. Detergents such as linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (LAS-99) produced a high yield of high purity polymer, and less detergent was needed compared to the amount of SDS to produce comparable yields. LAS-99 also has the advantage of being biodegradable and environmentally safe. Chemical extraction of PHA with detergents could potentially minimize or eliminate the need to use harsh organic solvents, thus making industrial PHA production a cleaner technology process. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Polyhydroxyalkanoate production as a side stream process on a municipal waste water treatment plant.

PubMed

Pittmann, T; Steinmetz, H

2014-09-01

This work describes the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) as a side stream process on a municipal waste water treatment plant (WWTP) at different operation conditions. Therefore various tests were conducted regarding a high PHA production and stable PHA composition. Influence of substrate concentration, temperature, pH and cycle time of an installed feast/famine-regime were investigated. The results demonstrated a strong influence of the operating conditions on the PHA production. Lower substrate concentration, 20°C, neutral pH-value and a 24h cycle time are preferable for high PHA production up to 28.4% of cell dry weight (CDW). PHA composition was influenced by cycle time only and a stable PHA composition was reached. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Degradation of microbial polyesters.

PubMed

Tokiwa, Yutaka; Calabia, Buenaventurada P

2004-08-01

Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), one of the largest groups of thermoplastic polyesters are receiving much attention as biodegradable substitutes for non-degradable plastics. Poly(D-3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is the most ubiquitous and most intensively studied PHA. Microorganisms degrading these polyesters are widely distributed in various environments. Although various PHB-degrading microorganisms and PHB depolymerases have been studied and characterized, there are still many groups of microorganisms and enzymes with varying properties awaiting various applications. Distributions of PHB-degrading microorganisms, factors affecting the biodegradability of PHB, and microbial and enzymatic degradation of PHB are discussed in this review. We also propose an application of a new isolated, thermophilic PHB-degrading microorganism, Streptomyces strain MG, for producing pure monomers of PHA and useful chemicals, including D-3-hydroxycarboxylic acids such as D-3-hydroxybutyric acid, by enzymatic degradation of PHB.

Thermophysical, interfacial and decomposition analyses of polyhydroxyalkanoates introduced against organic and inorganic surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dagnon, Koffi Leonard

The development of a "cradle-to-cradle" mindset with both material performance during utilization and end of life disposal is a critical need for both ecological and economic considerations. The main limitation to the use of the biopolymers is their mechanical properties. Reinforcements are therefore a good alternative but disposal concerns then arise. Thus the objective of this dissertation is to investigate a biopolymer nanocomposite where the filler is a synthetically prepared layer double hydroxide (inorganic interface); and a biopolymer paper (organic interface) based coating or laminate. The underlying issues driving performance are the packing density of the biopolymer and the interaction with the reinforcement. Since the polyhydroxyalkanoates or PHAs (the biopolymers used for the manufacture of the nanocomposites and coatings) are semicrystalline materials, the glass transition was investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and dielectric spectroscopy (DES), whereas the melt crystallization, cold crystallization and melting points were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to estimate crystallinity in the coated material given the low thermal mass of the PHA in the PHA coating. The significant enhancement of the crystallization rate in the PHA nanocomposite was probed using DSC and polarized optical microscopy (POM) and analyzed using Avrami and Lauritzen-Hoffman models. Both composites showed a significant improvement in the mechanical performance obtained by DMA, tensile and impact testing. The degradation and decomposition of the two composites were investigated in low microbial activity soil for the cellulose paper (to slow down the degradation rate that occurs in compost) and in compost. An in-house system according to the American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM D-98 (2003) was engineered. Soil decomposition showed that PHA coating into and onto the cellulose paper can be considered to be a useful method for the assessment of the degradability of the biopolymer. PHA nanocomposite showed enhanced compostability.

Elucidation of innovative antibiofilm materials.

PubMed

Marcano, Aracelys; Ba, Ousmane; Thebault, Pascal; Crétois, Raphaël; Marais, Stéphane; Duncan, Anthony C

2015-12-01

It is known for roughly a decade that bacterial communities (called biofilms) are responsible for significant enhanced antibiotherapy resistance. Biofilms are involved in tissue persistent infection, causing direct or collateral damage leading to chronic wounds development and impairing natural wound healing. In this study, we are interested in the development of supported protein materials which consist of asymmetric membranes as reservoir supports for the incorporation and controlled release of biomolecules capable of dissolving biofilms (or preventing their formation) and their use as wound dressing for chronic wound treatment. In a first step, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) asymmetric membranes were prepared using wet phase inversion technique. Scanning microscopy (SEM) analysis has showed the influence of different processing parameters. In a second step, the porous side of the membranes were functionalized with a surface treatment and then loaded with the antibiofilm agent (dispersin B). In a third step, the properties and antibiofilm performance of the loaded-membranes were evaluated. Exposure of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms to such systems weakly inhibited biofilm formation (weak preventive effect) but caused their detachment and disaggregation (strong curative effect). These initial results are promising since they open the way to a new generation of effective tools in the struggle against persistent bacterial infections exhibiting enhanced antibiotherapy resistance, and in particular in the case of infected chronic wounds. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Link between microbial composition and carbon substrate-uptake preferences in a PHA-storing community

PubMed Central

Albuquerque, Maria G E; Carvalho, Gilda; Kragelund, Caroline; Silva, Ana F; Barreto Crespo, Maria T; Reis, Maria A M; Nielsen, Per H

2013-01-01

The microbial community of a fermented molasses-fed sequencing batch reactor (SBR) operated under feast and famine conditions for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) was identified and quantified through a 16 S rRNA gene clone library and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The microbial enrichment was found to be composed of PHA-storing populations (84% of the microbial community), comprising members of the genera Azoarcus, Thauera and Paracoccus. The dominant PHA-storing populations ensured the high functional stability of the system (characterized by high PHA-storage efficiency, up to 60% PHA content). The fermented molasses contained primarily acetate, propionate, butyrate and valerate. The substrate preferences were determined by microautoradiography-FISH and differences in the substrate-uptake capabilities for the various probe-defined populations were found. The results showed that in the presence of multiple substrates, microbial populations specialized in different substrates were selected, thereby co-existing in the SBR by adapting to different niches. Azoarcus and Thauera, primarily consumed acetate and butyrate, respectively. Paracoccus consumed a broader range of substrates and had a higher cell-specific substrate uptake. The relative species composition and their substrate specialization were reflected in the substrate removal rates of different volatile fatty acids in the SBR reactor. PMID:22810062

Enrichment of a mixed microbial culture for polyhydroxyalkanoates production: Effect of pH and N and P concentrations.

PubMed

Montiel-Jarillo, Gabriela; Carrera, Julián; Suárez-Ojeda, María Eugenia

2017-04-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biopolymers that can be an alternative against conventional plastics. The study reported herein evaluated the enrichment of a mixed microbial culture (MMC) operated under feast/famine regime and different pHs in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) using acetate as sole carbon source to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The enrichment step was evaluated at controlled pH of 7.5 and also without pH control (averaged value of 9.0). The acetate uptake rate (-q S ) of both enrichments at the end of the experimental period exhibited similar behaviour being about 0.18CmolAcCmolX -1 h -1 and 0.19CmolAcCmolX -1 h -1 for SBR-A and SBR-B, respectively. However, the PHA-storing capacity of the biomass enriched without pH control was better, exhibiting a maximum PHA content of 36% (gPHAg -1 VSS) with a PHA production rate (q PHA ) of 0.16CmolPHACmolX -1 h -1 . Batch experiments were performed to evaluate PHA-storing capacity of the enriched culture at different pHs and nutrients concentrations. In the pH experiments (without nutrient limitation), it was found that in the absence of controlled pH, the enriched biomass exhibited a PHA content of 44% gPHAg -1 VSS with -q S and PHA to substrate yield (Y PHA/Ac ) of 0.57CmolAcCmolX -1 h -1 and 0.33CmolPHACmolAc -1 , respectively. Regarding the experiments at variable nutrients concentration (pH ranging 8.8 to 9.2), the results indicate that the PHA content in the enriched biomass is significantly higher being around 51% gPHAg -1 VSS under nitrogen limitation. This work demonstrated the feasibility of the enrichment of a MMC with PHA storage ability without pH control. Results also suggest that better PHAs contents and substrate uptake rates are obtained without controlling the pH in the accumulation step. Finally, this work also highlights the importance of understanding the role of nutrients concentration during the accumulation step. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Toxicity Assessment of Common Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Widely Consumed by Tunisian Population.

PubMed

Nciri, Nader; Cho, Namjun; El Mhamdi, Faiçal; Ben Ismail, Hanen; Ben Mansour, Abderraouf; Sassi, Fayçal Haj; Ben Aissa-Fennira, Fatma

2015-09-01

This research aimed at assessing the content and the functional properties of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in different varieties of beans widely consumed in Tunisia through soaking, cooking, autoclaving, germination, and their combinations. This study was carried out on three varieties of white beans grown in different localities of Tunisia, namely Twila, Coco, and Beldia, as well as on imported and local canned beans. All bean samples underwent biochemical and immunological evaluation by employing several techniques such as indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hemagglutinating assay, Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Biochemical and immunological analyses indicated that raw dry beans contained a considerable amount of proteins and PHAs. ELISA demonstrated that soaking, either in plain water or in alkaline solution, caused an increase in the concentration of PHA. A slight increase of PHA was produced equally by germination during 4 days in all bean varieties. Cooking or autoclaving of presoaked beans resulted in a complete disappearance of PHA. ELISA test also proved that both imported and local canned beans contained fingerprints of PHA. Hemagglutination assays showed that not only cooked and autoclaved presoaked beans lacked the ability to agglutinate red blood cells but also autoclaved unsoaked beans did. In agar gel immunodiffusion using rabbit anti-PHA serum, raw, soaked, cooked unsoaked, and sprouted beans gave precipitin arc reactions, indicating that PHA existed in immunoreactive form in the tested seeds. SDS-PAGE electrophoretograms showed protein isolates of Twila and Beldia beans to have different profiles through soaking, cooking, and autoclaving processes. This work revealed that the combination of soaking and cooking/autoclaving was the best way in reducing PHA content and its activity in all bean varieties when compared with germination.

THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ASTEROID 2004 BL86: A FRAGMENT OF A DIFFERENTIATED ASTEROID

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reddy, Vishnu; Sanchez, Juan A.; Takir, Driss

The physical characterization of potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) is important for impact hazard assessment and evaluating mitigation options. Close flybys of PHAs provide an opportunity to study their surface photometric and spectral properties that enable the identification of their source regions in the main asteroid belt. We observed PHA (357439) 2004 BL86 during a close flyby of the Earth at a distance of 1.2 million km (0.0080 AU) on 2015 January 26, with an array of ground-based telescopes to constrain its photometric and spectral properties. Lightcurve observations showed that the asteroid was a binary and subsequent radar observations confirmed themore » binary nature and gave a primary diameter of 300 m and a secondary diameter of 50–100 m. Our photometric observations were used to derive the phase curve of 2004 BL86 in the V-band. Two different photometric functions were fitted to this phase curve, the IAU H–G model and the Shevchenko model. From the fit of the H–G function we obtained an absolute magnitude of H = 19.51 ± 0.02 and a slope parameter of G = 0.34 ± 0.02. The Shevchenko function yielded an absolute magnitude of H = 19.03 ± 0.07 and a phase coefficient b = 0.0225 ± 0.0006. The phase coefficient was used to calculate the geometric albedo (Ag) using the relationship found by Belskaya and Schevchenko, obtaining a value of Ag = 40% ± 8% in the V-band. With the geometric albedo and the absolute magnitudes derived from the H–G and the Shevchenko functions we calculated the diameter (D) of 2004 BL86, obtaining D = 263 ± 26 and D = 328 ± 35 m, respectively. 2004 BL86 spectral band parameters and pyroxene chemistry are consistent with non-cumulate eucrite meteorites. A majority of these meteorites are derived from Vesta and are analogous with surface lava flows on a differentiated parent body. A non-diagnostic spectral curve match using the Modeling for Asteroids tool yielded a best-match with non-cumulate eucrite Bereba. Three other near-Earth asteroids (1993 VW, 1998 KK17, and 2000 XH44) that were observed by Burbine et al. also have spectral properties similar to 2004 BL86. The presence of eucrites with anomalous oxygen isotope ratios compared to the howardites, eucrites, and diogenites meteorites from Vesta suggests the possible presence of multiple differentiated bodies in the inner main belt or the contamination of Vesta’s surface with exogenic material. The spectral properties of both anomalous and Vestan eucrites are degenerate, making it difficult to identify the parent bodies of anomalous eucrites in the main belt and the NEO population using remote sensing. This makes it difficult to link 2004 BL86 directly to Vesta, although the Vesta family is the largest contributor of V-types to near-Earth space.« less

The Arctic Vortex in March 2011: A Dynamical Perspective

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hurwitz, Margaret M.; Newman, Paul A.; Garfinkel,Chaim I.

2011-01-01

Despite the record ozone loss observed in March 2011, dynamical conditions in the Arctic stratosphere were unusual but not unprecedented. Weak planetary wave driving in February preceded cold anomalies in t he polar lower stratosphere in March and a relatively late breakup of the Arctic vortex in April. La Nina conditions and the westerly phas e of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) were observed in March 201 1. Though these conditions are generally associated with a stronger vortex in mid-winter, the respective cold anomalies do not persist t hrough March. Therefore, the La Nina and QBO-westerly conditions cannot explain the observed cold anomalies in March 2011. In contrast, po sitive sea surface temperature anomalies in the North Pacific may ha ve contributed to the unusually weak tropospheric wave driving and s trong Arctic vortex in late winter 2011.

Near Earth Asteroids- Prospection, Orbit Modification and Mining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grandl, W.; Bazso, A.

2014-04-01

The number of known Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs) has increased continuously during the last decades. Now we understand the role of asteroid impacts for the evolution of life on Earth. To ensure that mankind will survive in the long run, we have to face the "asteroid threat" seriously. On one hand we will have to develop methods of detection and deflection for Hazardous Asteroids, on the other hand we can use these methods to modify their orbits and exploit their resources. Rare-earth elements, rare metals like platinum group elements, etc. may be extracted more easily from NEAs than from terrestrial soil, without environmental pollution or political and social problems. In a first step NEAs, which are expected to contain resources like nickel-iron, platinum group metals or rare-earth elements, will be prospected by robotic probes. Then a number of asteroids with a minimum bulk density of 2 g/cm^3 and a diameter of 150 to 500 m will be selected for mining. Given the long duration of an individual mission time of 10-20 years, the authors propose a "pipeline" concept. While the observation of NEAs can be done in parallel, the precursor missions of the the next phase can be launched in short intervals, giving time for technical corrections and upgrades. In this way a continuous data flow is established and there are no idle times. For our purpose Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) seem to be a favorable choice for the following reasons: They have frequent closeencounters to Earth, their minimum orbit intersection distance is less than 0.05 AU (Astronomic Units) and they have diameters exceeding 150 meters. The necessary velocity change (delta V) for a spaceship is below 12 km/s to reach the PHA. The authors propose to modify the orbits of the chosen PHAs by orbital maneuvers from solar orbits to stable Earth orbits beyond the Moon. To change the orbits of these celestial bodies it is necessary to develop advanced propulsion systems. They must be able to deliver high thrust and specific impulse to move the huge masses of the asteroids. Such a propulsion system could be the Bussard Fusion System, also known as the quiet-electricdischarge (QED) engine. It uses electrostatic fusion devices to generate electrical power. The fuel consists of Deuterium and Helium3 that are fusing to Helium4 plus protons releasing 18.3 MeV of energy per reaction. The charged protons escape from the confinement; their kinetic energy can be converted to electricity or be used directly as a plasma beam for generating thrust. For the reaction a specific energy of 3.5x1014 Joule/kg can be computed, i.e. orders-ofmagnitude higher than for any existing propulsion system. As an example we take the Asteroid with the designation 2008 EV5. It is classified as an Aten group asteroid with a mean diameter of 450 meters and belongs to spectral type S (stony asteroids). Our mass estimate (using a bulk density of 3 g/cm^3) is 1.4x1011 kg. To transfer 2008 EV5 to an Earth-like orbit the energy required is estimated to be in the order of 2.8x1018 Joule. This is the difference in Kepler energy between the NEA's current orbit and the Earth's orbit around the sun. Using the Bussard Fusion System the amount of fuel would be approx. 8000 kg of Helium3. To move an asteroid by remote control the authors propose to design unmanned space tugs which are propelled by Bussard Fusion Engines. A pair of space tugs is docked to each asteroid using drilling anchors. The fusion engines of the tugs then apply the thrust forces for the maneuvers. The first tug, which carries the main fuel quantity, applies the primary force for the orbital maneuvers. The second one adjust the flight track by short engine thrusts.

Novel polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers produced in Pseudomonas putida by metagenomic polyhydroxyalkanoate synthases.

PubMed

Cheng, Jiujun; Charles, Trevor C

2016-09-01

Bacterially produced biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with versatile properties can be achieved using different PHA synthases (PhaCs). This work aims to expand the diversity of known PhaCs via functional metagenomics and demonstrates the use of these novel enzymes in PHA production. Complementation of a PHA synthesis-deficient Pseudomonas putida strain with a soil metagenomic cosmid library retrieved 27 clones expressing either class I, class II, or unclassified PHA synthases, and many did not have close sequence matches to known PhaCs. The composition of PHA produced by these clones was dependent on both the supplied growth substrates and the nature of the PHA synthase, with various combinations of short-chain-length (SCL) and medium-chain-length (MCL) PHA. These data demonstrate the ability to isolate diverse genes for PHA synthesis by functional metagenomics and their use for the production of a variety of PHA polymer and copolymer mixtures.

Production of novel biopolymers in plants: recent technological advances and future prospects.

PubMed

Snell, Kristi D; Singh, Vijay; Brumbley, Stevens M

2015-04-01

The production of novel biopolymers in plants has the potential to provide renewable sources of industrial materials through agriculture. In this review we will highlight recent progress with plant-based production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), silk, elastin, collagen, and cyanophycin with an emphasis on the synthesis of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB), a renewable biodegradable PHA polymer with potential commercial applications in plastics, chemicals, and feed markets. Improved production of PHB has required manipulation of promoters driving expression of transgenes, reduction in activity of endogenous enzymes in competing metabolic pathways, insertion of genes to increase carbon flow to polymer, and basic plant biochemistry to understand metabolic limitations. These experiments have increased our understanding of carbon availability and partitioning in different plant organelles, cell types, and organs, information that is useful for the production of other novel molecules in plants. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preparation and characterization of six calixarene bonded stationary phases for high performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Ding, Chenghua; Qu, Kang; Li, Yongbo; Hu, Kai; Liu, Hongxia; Ye, Baoxian; Wu, Yangjie; Zhang, Shusheng

2007-11-02

Six calixarene bonded silica gel stationary phases were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Their chromatographic performance was investigated by using PAHs, aromatic positional isomers and E- and Z-ethyl 3-(4-acetylphenyl) acrylate isomers as probes. Separation mechanism based on the different interactions between calixarenes and analytes were discussed. The chromatographic behaviors of those analytes on the calixarene columns were influenced by the supramolecular interaction including pi-pi interaction, space steric hindrance and hydrogen bonding interaction between calixarenes and analytes. Notably, the presence of polar groups (-OH, -NO(2) and -NH(2)) in the aromatic isomers could improve their separation selectivity on calixarene phase columns. The results from quantum chemistry calculation using DFT-B3LYP/STO-3G* base group were consistent with the retention behaviors of PHAs on calix[4]arene column.

Influence of sludge retention time on tolerance of copper toxicity for polyphosphate accumulating organisms linked to polyhydroxyalkanoates metabolism and phosphate removal.

PubMed

Tsai, Yung-Pin; Chen, Hsiu-Ting

2011-12-01

This study explored the influence of sludge retention time (SRT) on tolerance of copper invasion for polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) in an enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). The experimental data showed the anaerobic polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) storage for the sludge at 10d SRT was less influenced by copper invasion than those at 5d and 15d SRTs. The reaction of PAOs aerobically taking up phosphate for the sludge at 5d or 15d SRT almost ceased at 2 mg Cu L(-1), whereas PAOs in the sludge at 10d SRT retained half of the ability to take up phosphate. Both the PHAs degradation and synthesis rates decreased with increasing copper concentration, regardless of the SRTs. However, the copper inhibition of the former was greater than that of the later. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Asymmetric ZnO panel-like hierarchical architectures with highly interconnected pathways for free-electron transport and photovoltaic improvements.

PubMed

Shi, Yantao; Zhu, Chao; Wang, Lin; Li, Wei; Fung, Kwok Kwong; Wang, Ning

2013-01-02

Through a rapid and template-free precipitation approach, we synthesized an asymmetric panel-like ZnO hierarchical architecture (PHA) for photoanodes of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). The two sides of the PHA are constructed differently using densely interconnected, mono-crystalline and ultrathin ZnO nanosheets. By mixing these PHAs with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), we developed an effective and feasible strategy to improve the electrical transport and photovoltaic performance of the composite photoanodes of DSCs. The highly crystallized and interconnected ZnO nanosheets largely minimized the total grain boundaries within the composite photoanodes and thus served as direct pathways for the transport and effective collection of free electrons. Through low-temperature (200 °C) annealing, these novel composite photoanodes achieved high conversion efficiencies of up to 5.59% for ZnO-based quasi-solid DSCs. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Lessons learned from process incident databases and the process safety incident database (PSID) approach sponsored by the Center for Chemical Process Safety.

PubMed

Sepeda, Adrian L

2006-03-17

Learning from the experiences of others has long been recognized as a valued and relatively painless process. In the world of process safety, this learning method is an essential tool since industry has neither the time and resources nor the willingness to experience an incident before taking corrective or preventative steps. This paper examines the need for and value of process safety incident databases that collect incidents of high learning value and structure them so that needed information can be easily and quickly extracted. It also explores how they might be used to prevent incidents by increasing awareness and by being a tool for conducting PHAs and incident investigations. The paper then discusses how the CCPS PSID meets those requirements, how PSID is structured and managed, and its attributes and features.

Large scale extraction of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) from Ralstonia eutropha H16 using sodium hypochlorite

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Isolation of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from bacterial cell matter is a critical step in order to achieve a profitable production of the polymer. Therefore, an extraction method must lead to a high recovery of a pure product at low costs. This study presents a simplified method for large scale poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), poly(3HB), extraction using sodium hypochlorite. Poly(3HB) was extracted from cells of Ralstonia eutropha H16 at almost 96% purity. At different extraction volumes, a maximum recovery rate of 91.32% was obtained. At the largest extraction volume of 50 L, poly(3HB) with an average purity of 93.32% ± 4.62% was extracted with a maximum recovery of 87.03% of the initial poly(3HB) content. This process is easy to handle and requires less efforts than previously described processes. PMID:23164136

Pressure induced Ag 2Te polymorphs in conjunction with topological non trivial to metal transition

DOE PAGES

Zhu, J.; Oganov, A. R.; Feng, W. X.; ...

2016-08-01

Silver telluride (Ag 2Te) is well known as superionic conductor and topologica insulator with polymorphs. Pressure induced three phase transitions in Ag 2Te hav been reported in previous. Here, we experimentally identified high pressure phas above 13 GPa of Ag 2Te by using high pressure synchrotron x ray diffraction metho in combination with evolutionary crystal structure prediction, showing it crystallize into a monoclinic structure of space group C2/m with lattice parameters a = 6.081Å b = 5.744Å, c = 6.797 Å, β = 105.53°. The electronic properties measurements of Ag 2Te reveal that the topologically non-trivial semiconducting phase I andmore » semimetalli phase II previously predicated by theory transformed into bulk metals fo high pressure phases in consistent with the first principles calculations« less

Optical and mechanical properties of UV-weathered biodegradable PHBV/PBAT nanocomposite films containing halloysite nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scarfato, P.; Avallone, E.; Acierno, D.; Russo, P.

2014-05-01

Recently, the increasing use of plastics, stringent environmental issues and the awareness of the progressive reduction of available petrochemical resources have ever more guided the research interest towards the investigation and development of innovative materials intrinsically biodegradable or derived from renewable sources, and generally known as bio-based polymers. Amongst the biobased and biodegradable polymers, many investigations were reported in literature about a family of polyesters known as poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs), one of whose most prevalent is poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV). In this context, here we report the results of a photo-degradation study performed on biodegradable blown film samples based on a commercial grade PHBV/PBAT formulation. The films, subjected to photo-oxidative weathering in a climatic chamber under UV exposure, were systematically analysed in order to check the chemico-physical changes induced by the aging protocol, taking the as-produced films as the reference materials.

A process for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production from municipal wastewater treatment with biological carbon and nitrogen removal demonstrated at pilot-scale.

PubMed

Bengtsson, Simon; Karlsson, Anton; Alexandersson, Tomas; Quadri, Luca; Hjort, Markus; Johansson, Peter; Morgan-Sagastume, Fernando; Anterrieu, Simon; Arcos-Hernandez, Monica; Karabegovic, Lamija; Magnusson, Per; Werker, Alan

2017-03-25

A process was developed for biological treatment of municipal wastewater for carbon and nitrogen removal while producing added-value polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The process comprised steps for pre-denitrification, nitrification and post-denitrification and included integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) with biofilm carrier media to support nitrification. In a pilot-scale demonstration (500-800L), wastewater treatment performance, in line with European standards, were achieved for total chemical oxygen demand (83% removal) and total nitrogen (80% removal) while producing a biomass that was able to accumulate up to 49% PHA of volatile suspended solids with acetic acid or fermented organic residues as substrates. Robust performance in wastewater treatment and enrichment of PHA-producing biomass was demonstrated under realistic conditions including influent variability during 225days of operation. The IFAS system was found to be advantageous since maintaining nitrification on the biofilm allowed for a relatively low (2days) solids retention time (SRT) for the suspended biomass in the bulk phase. Lower SRT has advantages in higher biomass yield and higher active fraction in the biomass which leads to higher PHA productivity and content. The outcomes show that production of added-value biopolymers may be readily integrated with carbon and nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The DEEP-South: Preliminary Photometric Results from the KMTNet-CTIO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Myung-Jin; Moon, Hong-Kyu; Choi, Young-Jun; Yim, Hong-Suh; Bae, Youngho; Roh, Dong-Goo; the DEEP-South Team

2015-08-01

The DEep Ecliptic Patrol of the Southern sky (DEEP-South) will not only conduct characterization of targeted asteroids and blind survey at the sweet spots, but also utilize data mining of small Solar System bodies in the whole KMTNet archive. As round-the-clock observation with the KMTNet is optimized for spin characterization of tumbling and slow-rotating bodies as it facilitates debiasing previously reported lightcurve observations. It is also most suitable for detection and rapid follow-up of Atens and Atiras, the “difficult objects” that are being discovered at lower solar elongations.For the sake of efficiency, we implemented an observation scheduler, SMART (Scheduler for Measuring Asteroids RoTation), designed to conduct follow-up observations in a timely manner. It automatically updates catalogs, generates ephemerides, checks priorities, prepares target lists, and sends a suite of scripts to site operators. We also developed photometric analysis software called ASAP (Asteroid Spin Analysis Package) that aids to find a set of appropriate comparison stars in an image, to derive spin parameters and reconstruct lightcurve simultaneously in a semi-automatic manner. In this presentation, we will show our preliminary results of time series analyses of a number of km-sized Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs), 5189 (1990 UQ), 12923 (1999 GK4), 53426 (1999 SL5), 136614 (1993 VA6), 385186 (1994 AW1), and 2000 OH from test runs in February and March 2015 at the KMTNet-CTIO.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis by mixed microbial consortia cultured on fermented dairy manure: Effect of aeration on process rates/yields and the associated microbial ecology.

PubMed

Coats, Erik R; Watson, Benjamin S; Brinkman, Cynthia K

2016-12-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers that can substitute for petroleum-based plastics in a variety of applications. One avenue to commercial PHA production involves coupling waste-based synthesis with the use of mixed microbial consortia (MMC). In this regard, production requires maximizing the enrichment of a MMC capable of feast-famine PHA synthesis, with the metabolic response induced through imposition of aerobic-dynamic feeding (ADF) conditions. However, the concept of PHA production in complex matrices remains unrefined; process operational improvements are needed, along with an enhanced understanding of the MMC. Research presented herein investigated the effect of aeration on feast-famine PHA synthesis, with four independent aeration state systems studied; MMC were fed volatile fatty acid (VFA)-rich fermented dairy manure. Regardless of the aeration state, all MMC exhibited a feast-famine response based on observed carbon cycling. Moreover, there was no statistical difference in PHA synthesis rates, with q PHA ranging from 0.10 to 0.19 CmmolPHA gVSS -1 min -1 ; VFA uptake rates exhibited similar statistical indifferences. PHA production assessments on the enriched MMC resulted in maximum intracellular concentrations ranging from 22.5 to 90.7% (mgPHA mgVSS -1 ); at maximum concentration, the mean hydroxyvalerate mol content was 73 ± 0.6%. While a typical feast-famine dissolved oxygen (DO) pattern was observed at maximum aeration, less resolution was observed at decreasing aeration rates, suggesting that DO may not be an optimal process monitoring parameter. At lower aeration states, nitrogen cycling patterns, supported by molecular investigations targeting AOBs and NOBs, indicate that NO 2 and NO 3 sustained feast-famine PHA synthesis. Next-generation sequencing analysis of the respective MMC revealed numerous and diverse genera exhibiting the potential to achieve PHA synthesis, suggesting functional redundancy embedded in the diverse MMC. Ultimately, results demonstrate that aeration can be controlled in waste-based ADF systems to sustain PHA production potential, while enriching for a diverse MMC that exhibits potential functional redundancy. Reduced aeration could also enhance cost competitiveness of waste-based PHA production, with potential further benefits associated with nitrogen treatment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genome editing of Ralstonia eutropha using an electroporation-based CRISPR-Cas9 technique.

PubMed

Xiong, Bin; Li, Zhongkang; Liu, Li; Zhao, Dongdong; Zhang, Xueli; Bi, Changhao

2018-01-01

Ralstonia eutropha is an important bacterium for the study of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) synthesis and CO 2 fixation, which makes it a potential strain for industrial PHA production and attractive host for CO 2 conversion. Although the bacterium is not recalcitrant to genetic manipulation, current methods for genome editing based on group II introns or single crossover integration of a suicide plasmid are inefficient and time-consuming, which limits the genetic engineering of this organism. Thus, developing an efficient and convenient method for R. eutropha genome editing is imperative. An efficient genome editing method for R. eutropha was developed using an electroporation-based CRISPR-Cas9 technique. In our study, the electroporation efficiency of R. eutropha was found to be limited by its restriction-modification (RM) systems. By searching the putative RM systems in R. eutropha H16 using REBASE database and comparing with that in E. coli MG1655, five putative restriction endonuclease genes which are related to the RM systems in R. eutropha were predicated and disrupted. It was found that deletion of H16_A0006 and H16_A0008 - 9 increased the electroporation efficiency 1658 and 4 times, respectively. Fructose was found to reduce the leaky expression of the arabinose-inducible pBAD promoter, which was used to optimize the expression of cas9 , enabling genome editing via homologous recombination based on CRISPR-Cas9 in R. eutropha . A total of five genes were edited with efficiencies ranging from 78.3 to 100%. The CRISPR-Cpf1 system and the non-homologous end joining mechanism were also investigated, but failed to yield edited strains. We present the first genome editing method for R. eutropha using an electroporation-based CRISPR-Cas9 approach, which significantly increased the efficiency and decreased time to manipulate this facultative chemolithoautotrophic microbe. The novel technique will facilitate more advanced researches and applications of R. eutropha for PHA production and CO 2 conversion.

Near-Earth Asteroids Astrometry with Gaia and Beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bancelin, D.; Hestroffer, D.; Thuillot, W.

2010-05-01

Gaia is an astrometric mission from the European Space Agency (ESA) that will be launched in Spring 2012. The Gaia telescope and spectrometer will operate in the visible wavelength scanning the whole sky during 5 years (nominal mission duration). It will observe about one billion stars and QSOs but also a large number of solar system bodies, mainly asteroids, and a few comets and planetary satellites. The unprecedented accuracy of the measures both astrometric and photometric (note that the spectroscopic observations are of little scientific value for Solar System objects science) will enable to significantly improve the knowledge of the dynamics and physical properties for a large number of asteroids. With a relatively limiting magnitude somewhat reduced to V≤20 (compared to other future or ongoing surveys) Gaia will mainly oserve main-belt asteroids (MBAs), and very few TNOs or Centaurs. The Gaia telescope will also be able to observe several thousands of Near- Earth Objects (NEOs) down to low solar elongation (observation of solar system objects are performed with elongation 45° ≤ L ≤ 135°). Gaia will not be a ''big'' NEO discover, however it can possibly discover inner-Earth orbiting objects (IEOs) or sub-Atens, from atmosphereless low solar-elongation observations. In the case of discovering a new NEO target, ground-based observations in network could be needed to avoid confusion in identifying the object in the database, or loss of the target. We are aiming to generate VO-alert for such eventuality. Ground-based observations of NEOs would also more generally enter into the operational centre in construction at the IMCCE that will deal with data mining, astrometric reduction, orbit computation, alerts, etc. On the other hand, in the framework of ESA Space Situational Awareness (SSA), ground-based astrometry, possibly complemented by Gaia data, is needed to refine the orbits and collision assessment of PHAs. High accuracy astrometric and colour-photometry observations of NEOs will provide information on their taxonomy, spin state and shape, and detailed information of their orbits. Small effects acting on their dynamics can then be measured; these include link of reference frame (kinematically non rotating and dynamically non rotating one), local tests of the General Relativity and measure of the solar quadrupole J2 basically from the drift of the perihelion, test of the variation of the constant of gravity dG/dt, and detection of non gravitational effect such as the thermal Yarkovsky effect and cometary activity. Dedicated ground-based observations can be used on specific targets to complement the limited wavelength, time resolution and imaging capabilities of the Gaia telescope.

Molecular Characterization of the Bacterial Community in Biofilms for Degradation of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyhexanoate) Films in Seawater

PubMed Central

Morohoshi, Tomohiro; Ogata, Kento; Okura, Tetsuo; Sato, Shunsuke

2018-01-01

Microplastics are fragmented pieces of plastic in marine environments, and have become a serious environmental issue. However, the dynamics of the biodegradation of plastic in marine environments have not yet been elucidated in detail. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers that are synthesized by a wide range of microorganisms. One of the PHA derivatives, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) has flexible material properties and a low melting temperature. After an incubation in seawater samples, a significant amount of biofilms were observed on the surfaces of PHBH films, and some PHBH films were mostly or partially degraded. In the biofilms that formed on the surfaces of unbroken PHBH films, the most dominant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed high similarity with the genus Glaciecola in the family Alteromonadaceae. On the other hand, the dominant OTUs in the biofilms that formed on the surfaces of broken PHBH films were assigned to the families Rhodobacteraceae, Rhodospirillaceae, and Oceanospirillaceae, and the genus Glaciecola mostly disappeared. The bacterial community in the biofilms on PHBH films was assumed to have dynamically changed according to the progression of degradation. Approximately 50 colonies were isolated from the biofilm samples that formed on the PHBH films and their PHBH-degrading activities were assessed. Two out of three PHBH-degrading isolates showed high similarities to Glaciecola lipolytica and Aestuariibacter halophilus in the family Alteromonadaceae. These results suggest that bacterial strains belonging to the family Alteromonadaceae function as the principal PHBH-degrading bacteria in these biofilms. PMID:29386425

Molecular Characterization of the Bacterial Community in Biofilms for Degradation of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyhexanoate) Films in Seawater.

PubMed

Morohoshi, Tomohiro; Ogata, Kento; Okura, Tetsuo; Sato, Shunsuke

2018-03-29

Microplastics are fragmented pieces of plastic in marine environments, and have become a serious environmental issue. However, the dynamics of the biodegradation of plastic in marine environments have not yet been elucidated in detail. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers that are synthesized by a wide range of microorganisms. One of the PHA derivatives, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBH) has flexible material properties and a low melting temperature. After an incubation in seawater samples, a significant amount of biofilms were observed on the surfaces of PHBH films, and some PHBH films were mostly or partially degraded. In the biofilms that formed on the surfaces of unbroken PHBH films, the most dominant operational taxonomic units (OTUs) showed high similarity with the genus Glaciecola in the family Alteromonadaceae. On the other hand, the dominant OTUs in the biofilms that formed on the surfaces of broken PHBH films were assigned to the families Rhodobacteraceae, Rhodospirillaceae, and Oceanospirillaceae, and the genus Glaciecola mostly disappeared. The bacterial community in the biofilms on PHBH films was assumed to have dynamically changed according to the progression of degradation. Approximately 50 colonies were isolated from the biofilm samples that formed on the PHBH films and their PHBH-degrading activities were assessed. Two out of three PHBH-degrading isolates showed high similarities to Glaciecola lipolytica and Aestuariibacter halophilus in the family Alteromonadaceae. These results suggest that bacterial strains belonging to the family Alteromonadaceae function as the principal PHBH-degrading bacteria in these biofilms.

Transcriptional profile of a myotube starvation model of atrophy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stevenson, Eric J.; Koncarevic, Alan; Giresi, Paul G.; Jackman, Robert W.; Kandarian, Susan C.

2005-01-01

Skeletal muscle wasting is a pervasive phenomenon that can result from a wide range of pathological conditions as well as from habitual muscular inactivity. The present work describes a cell-culture condition that induces significant atrophy in skeletal muscle C2C12 myotubes. The failure to replenish differentiation media in mature myotubes leads to rapid atrophy (53% in diameter), which is referred to here as starvation. Affymetrix microarrays were used to develop a transcriptional profile of control (fed) vs. atrophied (nonfed) myotubes. Myotube starvation was characterized by an upregulation of genes involved in translational inhibition, amino acid biosynthesis and transport, and cell cycle arrest/apoptosis, among others. Downregulated genes included several structural and regulatory elements of the extracellular matrix as well as several elements of Wnt/frizzled and TGF-beta signaling pathways. Interestingly, the characteristic transcriptional upregulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, calpains, and cathepsins known to occur in multiple in vivo models of atrophy were not seen during myotube starvation. With the exception of the downregulation of extracellular matrix genes, serine protease inhibitor genes, and the upregulation of the translation initiation factor PHAS-I, this model of atrophy in cell culture has a transcriptional profile quite distinct from any study published to date with atrophy in whole muscle. These data show that, although the gross morphology of atrophied muscle fibers may be similar in whole muscle vs. myotube culture, the processes by which this phenotype is achieved differ markedly.

Additive manufacturing of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-(R)-3-hydroxyhexanoate] scaffolds for engineered bone development.

PubMed

Mota, Carlos; Wang, Shen-Yu; Puppi, Dario; Gazzarri, Matteo; Migone, Chiara; Chiellini, Federica; Chen, Guo-Qiang; Chiellini, Emo

2017-01-01

A wide range of poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs), a class of biodegradable polyesters produced by various bacteria grown under unbalanced conditions, have been proposed for the fabrication of tissue-engineering scaffolds. In this study, the manufacture of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-(R)-3-hydroxyhexanoate] (or PHBHHx) scaffolds, by means of an additive manufacturing technique based on a computer-controlled wet-spinning system, was investigated. By optimizing the processing parameters, three-dimensional scaffolds with different internal architectures were fabricated, based on a layer-by-layer approach. The resulting scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, which showed good control over the fibre alignment and a fully interconnected porous network, with porosity in the range 79-88%, fibre diameter 47-76 µm and pore size 123-789 µm. Moreover, the resulting fibres presented an internal porosity connected to the external fibre surface as a consequence of the phase-inversion process governing the solidification of the polymer solution. Scaffold compressive modulus and yield stress and strain could be varied in a certain range by changing the architectural parameters. Cell-culture experiments employing the MC3T3-E1 murine pre-osteoblast cell line showed good cell proliferation after 21 days of culture. The PHBHHx scaffolds demonstrated promising results in terms of cell differentiation towards an osteoblast phenotype. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Mediterranean Diet and Phase Angle in a Sample of Adult Population: Results of a Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Barrea, Luigi; Muscogiuri, Giovanna; Macchia, Paolo Emidio; Di Somma, Carolina; Falco, Andrea; Savanelli, Maria Cristina; Colao, Annamaria; Savastano, Silvia

2017-01-01

The Mediterranean diet is a healthy dietary pattern known to actively modulate the cell membrane properties. Phase angle (PhA) is a direct measure by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) used as marker of cell membrane integrity. Both food behaviour and PhA are influenced by age, sex and body weight. The aim of this study was to cross-sectionally evaluate the association between the adherence to Mediterranean diet and PhA in 1013 healthy adult patients stratified according to sex, age, and body mass index (BMI). The adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated using the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) questionnaire. PhA was calculated by BIA phase-sensitive system (50 kHz BIA 101 RJL, Akern Bioresearch, Florence, Italy Akern). In both sexes, at ROC analysis a PREDIMED score ≥ 6 predicted a PhA beyond the median value. At the multivariate analysis, among PREDIMED score, age, and BMI, the PREDIMED score was the major determinant of PhA, explaining 44.5% and 47.3% of PhA variability, in males and females respectively (p < 0.001). A novel association was reported between the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and PhA, independently of sex, age, and body weight. This association uncovered a new potential benefit of the Mediterranean diet on health outcomes, as in both sexes higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated to larger PhAs, as expression of cell membrane integrity. PMID:28218645

Mediterranean Diet and Phase Angle in a Sample of Adult Population: Results of a Pilot Study.

PubMed

Barrea, Luigi; Muscogiuri, Giovanna; Macchia, Paolo Emidio; Di Somma, Carolina; Falco, Andrea; Savanelli, Maria Cristina; Colao, Annamaria; Savastano, Silvia

2017-02-17

The Mediterranean diet is a healthy dietary pattern known to actively modulate the cell membrane properties. Phase angle (PhA) is a direct measure by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) used as marker of cell membrane integrity. Both food behaviour and PhA are influenced by age, sex and body weight. The aim of this study was to cross-sectionally evaluate the association between the adherence to Mediterranean diet and PhA in 1013 healthy adult patients stratified according to sex, age, and body mass index (BMI). The adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated using the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) questionnaire. PhA was calculated by BIA phase-sensitive system (50 kHz BIA 101 RJL, Akern Bioresearch, Florence, Italy Akern). In both sexes, at ROC analysis a PREDIMED score ≥ 6 predicted a PhA beyond the median value. At the multivariate analysis, among PREDIMED score, age, and BMI, the PREDIMED score was the major determinant of PhA, explaining 44.5% and 47.3% of PhA variability, in males and females respectively ( p < 0.001). A novel association was reported between the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and PhA, independently of sex, age, and body weight. This association uncovered a new potential benefit of the Mediterranean diet on health outcomes, as in both sexes higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated to larger PhAs, as expression of cell membrane integrity.

Biocompatible Synthetic and Semi-synthetic Polymers - A Patent Analysis.

PubMed

Ranganathan, Balu; Miller, Charles; Sinskey, Anthony

2018-01-01

Bioengineering has come of ages by setting up spare parts manufacturing units to be used in human body such as invasive implants and interventional controlled drug delivery in vivo systems. As a matter of fact patients on basis of their fiscal strength have the option to undergo prophylactic tactical manoeuvre for longer life spans. In this sphere of invasive implants, biocompatible polymer implants are a state of the art cutting edge technology with outstanding innovations leading to number of very successful start-up companies with a plethora of patent portfolios. From 2000 onwards, patent filings and grants for biocompatible polymers are expanding. Currently definition of biocompatibility is quite ambiguous with respect to the use of FDA approved polymeric materials. This article analysed patent portfolios for the trend patterns of prolific biocompatible polymers for capitalization and commercialization in the forthcoming years. Pair Bulk Data (PBD) portal was used to mine patent portfolios. In this patent preliminary analysis report, patents from 2000 to 2015 were evaluated using 317(c) filings, grants and classifications data for poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA). This patent portfolio preliminary analysis embarks into patent analysis for New Product Development (NPD) for corporate R&D investment managerial decisions and on government advocacy for federal funding which is decisive for developmental advances. An in-depth patent portfolio investigation with return of investment (RoI) is in the pipeline. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Natural and engineered polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase: key enzyme in biopolyester production.

PubMed

Zou, Huibin; Shi, Mengxun; Zhang, Tongtong; Li, Lei; Li, Liangzhi; Xian, Mo

2017-10-01

With the finite supply of petroleum and increasing concern with environmental issues associated with their harvest and processing, the development of more eco-friendly, sustainable alternative biopolymers that can effectively fill the role of petro-polymers has become a major focus. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) can be naturally produced by many species of bacteria and the PHA synthase is believed to be key enzyme in this natural pathway. Natural PHA synthases are diverse and can affect the properties of the produced PHAs, such as monomer composition, molecular weights, and material properties. Moreover, recent studies have led to major advances in the searching of PHA synthases that display specific properties, as well as engineering efforts that offer more efficient PHA synthases, increased PHA compound production, or even novel biopolyesters which cannot be naturally produced. In this article, we review the updated information of natural PHA synthases and their engineering strategies for improved performance in polyester production. We also speculate future trends on the development of robust PHA synthases and their application in biopolyester production.

Reduced peroxisomal citrate synthase activity increases substrate availability for polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis in plant peroxisomes.

PubMed

Tilbrook, Kimberley; Poirier, Yves; Gebbie, Leigh; Schenk, Peer M; McQualter, Richard B; Brumbley, Stevens M

2014-10-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are bacterial carbon storage polymers used as renewable, biodegradable plastics. PHA production in plants may be a way to reduce industrial PHA production costs. We recently demonstrated a promising level of peroxisomal PHA production in the high biomass crop species sugarcane. However, further production strategies are needed to boost PHA accumulation closer to commercial targets. Through exogenous fatty acid feeding of Arabidopsis thaliana plants that contain peroxisome-targeted PhaA, PhaB and PhaC enzymes from Cupriavidus necator, we show here that the availability of substrates derived from the β-oxidation cycle limits peroxisomal polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) biosynthesis. Knockdown of peroxisomal citrate synthase activity using artificial microRNA increased PHB production levels approximately threefold. This work demonstrates that reduction of peroxisomal citrate synthase activity may be a valid metabolic engineering strategy for increasing PHA production in other plant species. © 2014 Society for Experimental Biology, Association of Applied Biologists and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Designing a personal health application for older adults to manage medications: a comprehensive case study.

PubMed

Siek, Katie A; Khan, Danish U; Ross, Stephen E; Haverhals, Leah M; Meyers, Jane; Cali, Steven R

2011-10-01

Older adults with multiple chronic conditions often go through care transitions where they move between care facilities or providers during their treatment. These transitions are often uncoordinated and can imperil patients by omitted, duplicative, or contradictory care plans. Older adults sometimes feel overwhelmed with the new responsibility of coordinating the care plan with providers and changing their medication regimes. In response, we developed a Lesser General Public License (LGPL) open source, web-based Personal Health Application (PHA) using an iterative participatory design process that provided older adults and their caregivers the ability to manage their personal health information. In this paper, we document the PHA design process from low-fidelity prototypes to high-fidelity prototypes over the course of six user studies. Our findings establish the imperative need for interdisciplinary research and collaboration among all stakeholders to create effective PHAs. We conclude with design guidelines that encourage researchers to gradually increase functionality as users become more proficient.

Increasing polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) yields from Cupriavidus necator by using filtered digestate liquors.

PubMed

Passanha, Pearl; Esteves, Sandra R; Kedia, Gopal; Dinsdale, Richard M; Guwy, Alan J

2013-11-01

The production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) using digestate liquor as culture media is a novel application to extend the existing uses of digestates. In this study, two micro-filtered digestates (0.22 μm) were evaluated as a source of complex culture media for the production of PHA by Cupriavidus necator as compared to a conventional media. Culture media using a mixture of micro-filtered liquors from food waste and from wheat feed digesters showed a maximum PHA accumulation of 12.29 g/l PHA, with 90% cell dry weight and a yield of 0.48 g PHA/g VFA consumed, the highest reported to date for C. necator studies. From the analysis of the starting and residual media, it was concluded that ammonia, potassium, magnesium, sulfate and phosphate provided in the digestate liquors were vital for the initial growth of C. necator whereas copper, iron and nickel may have played a significant role in PHA accumulation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A study on thermal properties of biodegradable polymers using photothermal methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siqueira, A. P. L.; Poley, L. H.; Sanchez, R.; da Silva, M. G.; Vargas, H.

2005-06-01

In this work is reported the use of photothermal techniques applied to the thermal characterization of biodegradable polymers of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) family. This is a family of polymer produced by bacteria using renewable resources. It exhibits thermoplastic properties and therefore it can be an alternative product for engineering plastics, being also applied as packages for food industry and fruits. Thermal diffusivities were determined using the open photoacoustic cell (OPC) configuration. Specific heat capacity measurements were performed monitoring temperature of the samples under white light illumination against time. Typical values obtained for the thermal properties are in good agreement with those found in the literature for other polymers. Due to the incorporation of hydroxyvalerate in the monomer structure, the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity increase reaching a saturation value, otherwise the specific thermal capacity decreases as the concentration of the hydroxyvalerate (HV) increases. These results can be explained by polymers internal structure and are allowing new applications of these materials.

Processing and characterization of bio-based composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Hong

Much research has focused on bio-based composites as a potential material to replace petroleum-based plastics. Considering the high price of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), PHA/ Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) composite is a promising economical and high-performance biodegradable material. In this paper, we discuss the effect of DDGS on PHA composites in balancing cost with material performance. Poly (lactic acid) PLA/DDGS composite is another excellent biodegradable composite, although as a bio-based polymer its degradation time is relatively long. The goal of this research is therefore to accelerate the degradation process for this material. Both bio-based composites were extruded through a twin-screw microcompounder, and the two materials were uniformly mixed. The morphology of the samples was examined using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM); thermal stability was determined with a Thermal Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA); other thermal properties were studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA). Viscoelastic properties were also evaluated using a Rheometer.

Final Report: Development of Renewable Microbial Polyesters for Cost Effective and Energy-Efficient Wood-Plastic Composites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

David N. Thompson, Robert W. Emerick, Alfred B. England, James P. Flanders, Frank J. Loge, Katherine A. Wiedeman, Michael P. Wolcott

The forestry, wood and paper industries in the United States provide thousands of productive well-paying jobs; however, in the face of the recent economic downturn it faces significant challenges in remaining economically viable and competitive. To compete successfully on a global market that is increasingly driven by the need for sustainable products and practices, the industry must improve margins and diversify product lines while continuing to produce the staple products. One approach that can help to accomplish this goal sustainably is the forest biorefinery. In the forest biorefinery, traditional waste streams are utilized singly or in combination to manufacture additionalmore » products in a profitable and environmentally sustainable manner. In this project, we proposed to produce wood fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (WFRTCs) using microbial thermoplastic polyesters in place of petroleum-derived plastic. WFRTCs are a rapidly growing product area, averaging a 38% growth rate since 1997. Their production is dependent on substantial quantities of petroleum based thermoplastics, increasing their overall energy costs by over 230% when compared to traditional Engineered Wood Products (EWP). Utilizing bio-based thermoplastics for these materials can reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum. Renewable microbial polyesters are not currently used in WFRTCs primarily because their production costs are several times higher than those of conventional petrochemical-derived plastics, limiting their use to small specialty markets. The strategy for this project was to economically produce WFRTCs using microbial polyesters by reducing or eliminating the most costly steps in the bio-plastic production. This would be achieved by producing them in and from waste effluents from the municipal and forest products sectors, and by eliminating the costly purification steps. After production the plasticladen biosolids would be dried and used directly to replace petroleum-derived plastics in WFRTCs. Using this strategy, we could greatly reduce the cost of producing and utilizing these renewable plastics in WFRTCs. This was a collaborative project among the Idaho National Laboratory, Washington State University, the University of California-Davis, Glatfelter Corporation, Strandex Corporation, and ECO:LOGIC Engineering, Inc. The project was comprised of five tasks. The first four tasks addressed PHA production, extrusion, and composite properties. Feedstock performance and compositional properties were determined in the laboratory by WSU. Both pure commercial PHAs (Task 1) and unpurified effluentderived PHAs (Task 4) were used. Results were used to define appropriate effluent feedstocks (Task 2) and optimize supplements (Task 3) to produce biosolids for the preferred composite formulations. Task 5 included a pilot-scale extrusion of wood-PHA-biosolids composites.« less

[Preparation and characterization of polyhydroxyalkanoate bioplastics with antibacterial activity].

PubMed

Lou, Qiuli; Ma, Yiming; Che, Xuemei; Zhong, Jin; Sun, Xiaoxia; Zhang, Haoqian

2016-08-25

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), as a novel class of biopolymer, are attracting more attention due to their diverse material properties and environment-independent biodegradability. Here we report the preparation of PHA exhibiting efficient antibacterial activity by embedding Nisin, a food additive generally recognized as safe, into poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx), a type of PHA with high biocompatibility. We first prepared Nisin-containing PHBHHx films using solvent casting method. Confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis showed that a well-mixed integrated structure of the films with an even distribution of the Nisin particles in the PHBHHx matrices. Then the antimicrobial activity of PHBHHx/Nisin films against Micrococcus luteus was quantified on agar plate by measuring the size of inhibition zone. Cultivation in liquid media further confirmed the releasing of Nisin from the films and the long-time antibacterial activity. Results showed that the threshold of Nisin concentration for long-time and effective inhibition against bacteria growth is 25 μg/g. These results altogether establish a technological foundation for the application of PHA in biomedicine and food industry.

Simple and rapid method for isolation and quantitation of polyhydroxyalkanoate by SDS-sonication treatment.

PubMed

Arikawa, Hisashi; Sato, Shunsuke; Fujiki, Tetsuya; Matsumoto, Keiji

2017-08-01

We developed a new method for isolation and quantitation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from culture broth. In this method, the cells were sonicated in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution and centrifuged to recover PHA. The recovered PHA was rinsed with deionized water and ethanol, and then weighed after drying. Hazardous chemicals such as chloroform, methanol, and sulfuric acid were not used, and no expensive analytical instruments were needed. We applied this method to Cupriavidus necator culture broths that included various amounts of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) or poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) from flasks and jar fermentors. The quantitation by this method was practical for use with a wide range of production amounts and PHA monomer compositions compared to the conventional whole-cell methanolysis method with gas chromatographic analysis, and besides, the recovered PHAs were adequately pure (≥96% purity). Therefore, this new method would be valuable not only for quantitation of PHA but also for preparation of samples to characterize their mechanical properties. Copyright © 2017 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biological Effects of Spirulina (Arthrospira) Biopolymers and Biomass in the Development of Nanostructured Scaffolds

PubMed Central

de Morais, Michele Greque; Vaz, Bruna da Silva; de Morais, Etiele Greque; Costa, Jorge Alberto Vieira

2014-01-01

Spirulina is produced from pure cultures of the photosynthetic prokaryotic cyanobacteria Arthrospira. For many years research centers throughout the world have studied its application in various scientific fields, especially in foods and medicine. The biomass produced from Spirulina cultivation contains a variety of biocompounds, including biopeptides, biopolymers, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, minerals, oligoelements, and sterols. Some of these compounds are bioactive and have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal properties. These compounds can be used in tissue engineering, the interdisciplinary field that combines techniques from cell science, engineering, and materials science and which has grown in importance over the past few decades. Spirulina biomass can be used to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), biopolymers that can substitute synthetic polymers in the construction of engineered extracellular matrices (scaffolds) for use in tissue cultures or bioactive molecule construction. This review describes the development of nanostructured scaffolds based on biopolymers extracted from microalgae and biomass from Spirulina production. These scaffolds have the potential to encourage cell growth while reducing the risk of organ or tissue rejection. PMID:25157367

76 FR 17661 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Public/Private Partnerships for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-30

...The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. In 1998, the HUD Reform Act allowed Mixed-Finance public and affordable housing development. Mixed-Finance is the process where public housing funds are mixed with other government and non-government financing in order to encourage the development of mixed-income housing that includes public housing units. In addition, Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) may use other sources of financing to supplement their development or rehabilitation of public housing units. The form and agreements in this Information Collection pertain to the financial closing of a Mixed-Finance housing project's development or rehabilitation. They describe the ownership of, type, size and number of, construction period and permanent financing of, the restrictions on the usage of, and HUD and Federal Government rights to, the public, affordable and market rate rental housing units that are being developed or rehabilitated.

Design of Spacecraft Missions to Test Kinetic Impact for Asteroid Deflection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hernandez, Sonia; Barbee, Brent W.

2011-01-01

There are currently over 8,000 known near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), and more are being discovered on a continual basis. More than 1,200 of these are classified as Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) because their Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) with Earth's orbit is <= 0.05 AU and their estimated diameters are >= 150 m. To date, 178 Earth impact structures have been discovered, indicating that our planet has previously been struck with devastating force by NEAs and will be struck again. Such collisions are aperiodic events and can occur at any time. A variety of techniques have been proposed to defend our planet from NEA impacts by deflecting the incoming asteroid. However, none of these techniques have been tested. Unless rigorous testing is conducted to produce reliable asteroid deflection systems, we will be forced to deploy completely untested -- and therefore unreliable -- deflection missions when a sizable asteroid on a collision course with Earth is discovered. Such missions will have a high probability of failure. We propose to address this problem with a campaign of deflection technology test missions deployed to harmless NEAs. The objective of these missions is to safely evaluate and refine the mission concepts and asteroid deflection system designs. Our current research focuses on the kinetic impactor, one of the simplest proposed asteroid deflection techniques in which a spacecraft is sent to collide with an asteroid at high relative velocity. By deploying test missions in the near future, we can characterize the performance of this deflection technique and resolve any problems inherent to its execution before needing to rely upon it during a true emergency. In this paper we present the methodology and results of our survey, including lists of NEAs for which safe and effective kinetic impactor test missions may be conducted within the next decade. Full mission designs are also presented for the NEAs which offer the best mission opportunities.

Colombia an approach to create a national space agency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arenales, O.

Space exploration is a great human adventure: culturally, scientifically, technologically and industrially. Since the earliest of times, civilizations have been united in their awe of, and inspiration by, the cosmos, as testified in particularly by the peoples and cultures of the Central and South American continent in pre- Columbian times. Today, space systems have become an essential tool for the scientific disciplines related to the knowledge of the universe, including our own planet and its close or its remote environment. The main objective of this research is to explain the way in which Colombia, rich in myths and secular legends connecting mankind to the universe, must in the present tackle the issue of its development of space activities. The context in which it could be carried out is also described, along with a perspective of the current state of science and technology in the space sector on a global scale. Any modern nation is concerned with its independence, whether political, economic, or intellectual. That is why we support the concept of countries in the process of development becoming actively involved in the international space scene. Indeed, having limitations in industrial and technological exchange, we feel excluded today from key fields for our tomorrow. This paper thus proposes to demonstrate how in a time that can be regarded as one of the most serious crises in its history, Colombia could, in an atmosphere free from fratricidal conflicts, exploit its space matter capabilities. We do not limit our focus to the scientific field, but also consider the social, economic and cultural aspects. The results of this research delineate how Colombia could start a new optimistic phas e of its development, joining the international space programs within the framework of agreements among the regional governments in Latin America.

Re-thinking risk communication: information needs of patients, health professionals and the public regarding MRSA--the communicative behaviour of a public health network in Germany responding to the demand for information.

PubMed

Dickmann, P; Wittgens, K; Keeping, S; Mischler, D; Heudorf, U

2016-02-01

Multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO), including Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and health care associated infections (HCAIs) are pressing issues for health care systems across the world. Information and communication are considered key tools for the prevention and management of infectious diseases. Public Health Authorities (PHA) are in a unique position to communicate with health care professionals, patients and the public regarding the health risks. We used PHA helpdesk interaction data to first ascertain the information requirements of those getting in contact with the service, and secondly to examine the communicative behaviour of the PHA, with a view to improving the quality of communication strategies. Data on helpdesk interactions between 2010 and 2012 were obtained from a MDRO network of nine German PHAs. 501 recordings were coded and descriptive statistics generated for further qualitative thematic analysis. Our analysis revealed a similar pattern of questions among different groups. Key areas of need for information were around eradication, cleaning and isolation measures. Reported problems were a lack of expert knowledge and continuity of treatment. The helpdesk response was mainly a conversation offering scientific advice, but also included other communication services that went beyond the provision of scientific facts, such as follow-up calls, referral suggestions and consultations on behalf of the caller. These social communication activities seem to have an important impact on the acceptability of public health recommendations and use of the helpdesk. Our findings support a broader discussion about the role of information in the communication process and underline the importance of social elements in the communication process, such as relationship and trust building. Copyright © 2015 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Production and characterization of a biodegradable poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-co-PHV) copolymer by moderately haloalkalitolerant Halomonas campisalis MCM B-1027 isolated from Lonar Lake, India.

PubMed

Kulkarni, S O; Kanekar, P P; Nilegaonkar, S S; Sarnaik, S S; Jog, J P

2010-12-01

Several microorganisms produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). They are accumulated intracellularly as energy storage compounds. The PHAs are of interest because of their potential in biomedical applications. Halophilic bacteria and archaea are known to produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). This paper describes production of a biodegradable copolymer, PHB-co-PHV by a moderately haloalkalitolerant Halomonas campisalis, isolated from Lonar Lake, India. The production of PHA was in the range of 45-81% on dry cell weight basis when the organism was grown in a production medium containing 1% (w/v) maltose and 0.1% (w/v) yeast extract, at pH ranging from 6 to 9 with an inoculum density of 10(5)-10(7) cells/ml of medium, for incubation period of 15-30 h and at 37 degrees C. The polymer produced by the organism is a hydroxyester with molecular weight of 1.3014 x 10(6). Its melting temperature was 171 degrees C. The (1)H NMR analysis revealed that the polymer was a copolymer of PHB-co-PHV. This could be achieved by providing simple carbon source viz. maltose. Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Opportunity for High-Performance Biomaterials from Methane

PubMed Central

Strong, Peter James; Laycock, Bronwyn; Mahamud, Syarifah Nuraqmar Syed; Jensen, Paul Douglas; Lant, Paul Andrew; Tyson, Gene; Pratt, Steven

2016-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers are widely recognised as outstanding candidates to replace conventional petroleum-derived polymers. Their mechanical properties are good and can be tailored through copolymer composition, they are biodegradable, and unlike many alternatives, they do not rely on oil-based feedstocks. Further, they are the only commodity polymer that can be synthesised intracellularly, ensuring stereoregularity and high molecular weight. However, despite offering enormous potential for many years, they are still not making a significant impact. This is broadly because commercial uptake has been limited by variable performance (inconsistent polymer properties) and high production costs of the raw polymer. Additionally, the main type of PHA produced naturally is poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), which has limited scope due to its brittle nature and low thermal stability, as well as its tendency to embrittle over time. Production cost is strongly impacted by the type of the feedstock used. In this article we consider: the production of PHAs from methanotrophs using methane as a cost-effective substrate; the use of mixed cultures, as opposed to pure strains; and strategies to generate a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) copolymer (PHBV), which has more desirable qualities such as toughness and elasticity. PMID:27681905

The Opportunity for High-Performance Biomaterials from Methane.

PubMed

Strong, Peter James; Laycock, Bronwyn; Mahamud, Syarifah Nuraqmar Syed; Jensen, Paul Douglas; Lant, Paul Andrew; Tyson, Gene; Pratt, Steven

2016-02-03

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biopolymers are widely recognised as outstanding candidates to replace conventional petroleum-derived polymers. Their mechanical properties are good and can be tailored through copolymer composition, they are biodegradable, and unlike many alternatives, they do not rely on oil-based feedstocks. Further, they are the only commodity polymer that can be synthesised intracellularly, ensuring stereoregularity and high molecular weight. However, despite offering enormous potential for many years, they are still not making a significant impact. This is broadly because commercial uptake has been limited by variable performance (inconsistent polymer properties) and high production costs of the raw polymer. Additionally, the main type of PHA produced naturally is poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), which has limited scope due to its brittle nature and low thermal stability, as well as its tendency to embrittle over time. Production cost is strongly impacted by the type of the feedstock used. In this article we consider: the production of PHAs from methanotrophs using methane as a cost-effective substrate; the use of mixed cultures, as opposed to pure strains; and strategies to generate a poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) copolymer (PHBV), which has more desirable qualities such as toughness and elasticity.

Does the tissue engineering architecture of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) scaffold affects cell-material interactions?

PubMed

Masaeli, Elahe; Morshed, Mohammad; Rasekhian, Parsa; Karbasi, Saeed; Karbalaie, Khadije; Karamali, Fereshte; Abedi, Daryoush; Razavi, Shahnaz; Jafarian-Dehkordi, Abbas; Nasr-Esfahani, Mohammad Hossein; Baharvand, Hossein

2012-07-01

A critical element in tissue engineering involves the fabrication of a three-dimensional scaffold. The scaffold provides a space for new tissue formation, supports cellular ingrowth, and proliferation and mimics many roles of the extracellular matrix. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is the most thoroughly investigated member of the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) family that has various degrees of biocompatibility and biodegradability for tissue engineering applications. In this study, we fabricated PHB scaffolds by utilizing electrospinning and salt-leaching procedures. The behavior of monkey epithelial kidney cells (Vero) and mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) on these scaffolds was compared by the MTS assay and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, this study investigated the mechanical and physical properties of these scaffolds by measuring tensile strength and modulus, dynamic contact angle and porosity. According to our results, the salt-leached scaffolds showed more wettability and permeability, but inferior mechanical properties when compared with nanofibrous scaffolds. In terms of cell response, salt-leached scaffolds showed enhanced Vero cell proliferation, whereas both scaffolds responded similarly in the case of mMSCs proliferation. In brief, nanofibrous scaffolds can be a better substrate for cell attachment and morphology. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Utilization of Sugarcane Bagasse by Halogeometricum borinquense Strain E3 for Biosynthesis of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)

PubMed Central

Salgaonkar, Bhakti B.; Bragança, Judith M.

2017-01-01

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB), one of the major lignocellulosic agro-industrial waste products, was used as a substrate for biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) by halophilic archaea. Among the various wild-type halophilic archaeal strains screened, Halogeometricum borinquense strain E3 showed better growth and PHA accumulation as compared to Haloferaxvolcanii strain BBK2, Haloarcula japonica strain BS2, and Halococcus salifodinae strain BK6. Growth kinetics and bioprocess parameters revealed the maximum PHA accumulated by strain E3 to be 50.4 ± 0.1 and 45.7 ± 0.19 (%) with specific productivity (qp) of 3.0 and 2.7 (mg/g/h) using NaCl synthetic medium supplemented with 25% and 50% SCB hydrolysate, respectively. PHAs synthesized by strain E3 were recovered in chloroform using a Soxhlet apparatus. Characterization of the polymer using crotonic acid assay, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy analysis revealed the polymer obtained from SCB hydrolysate to be a co-polymer of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [P(3HB-co-3HV)] comprising of 13.29 mol % 3HV units. PMID:28952529

Bioconversion of fish solid waste into PHB using Bacillus subtilis based submerged fermentation process.

PubMed

Mohapatra, S; Sarkar, B; Samantaray, D P; Daware, A; Maity, S; Pattnaik, S; Bhattacharjee, S

2017-12-01

Currently, one of the major problem affecting the world is solid waste management, predominantly petroleum-based plastic and fish solid waste (FSW). However, it is very difficult to reduce the consumption of plastic as well as fish products, but it is promising to convert FSW to biopolymer to reduce eco-pollution. On account of that, the bioconversion of FSW extract to polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) was undertaken by using Bacillus subtilis (KP172548). Under optimized conditions, 1.62 g/L of PHB has been produced by the bacterium. The purified compound was further characterized by advanced analytical technologies to elucidate its chemical structure. Results indicated that the biopolymer was found to be PHB, the most common homopolymer of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). This is the first report demonstrating the efficacy of B. subtilis to utilize FSW extract to produce biopolymer. The biocompatibility of the PHB against murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 demonstrated that, it was comparatively less toxic, favourable for surface attachment and proliferation in comparison with poly-lactic acid (PLA) and commercially available PHB. Thus, further exploration is highly indispensable to use FSW extract as a substrate for production of PHB at pilot scale.

Increased Flow of Fatty Acids toward β-Oxidation in Developing Seeds of Arabidopsis Deficient in Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase Activity or Synthesizing Medium-Chain-Length Fatty Acids1

PubMed Central

Poirier, Yves; Ventre, Giovanni; Caldelari, Daniela

1999-01-01

Synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from intermediates of fatty acid β-oxidation was used as a tool to study fatty acid degradation in developing seeds of Arabidopsis. Transgenic plants expressing a peroxisomal PHA synthase under the control of a napin promoter accumulated PHA in developing seeds to a final level of 0.06 mg g−1 dry weight. In plants co-expressing a plastidial acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase from Cuphea lanceolata and a peroxisomal PHA synthase, approximately 18-fold more PHA accumulated in developing seeds. The proportion of 3-hydroxydecanoic acid monomer in the PHA was strongly increased, indicating a large flow of capric acid toward β-oxidation. Furthermore, expression of the peroxisomal PHA synthase in an Arabidopsis mutant deficient in the enzyme diacylglycerol acyltransferase resulted in a 10-fold increase in PHA accumulation in developing seeds. These data indicate that plants can respond to the inadequate incorporation of fatty acids into triacylglycerides by recycling the fatty acids via β-oxidation and that a considerable flow toward β-oxidation can occur even in a plant tissue primarily devoted to the accumulation of storage lipids. PMID:10594123

Increased flow of fatty acids toward beta-oxidation in developing seeds of Arabidopsis deficient in diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity or synthesizing medium-chain-length fatty acids.

PubMed

Poirier, Y; Ventre, G; Caldelari, D

1999-12-01

Synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from intermediates of fatty acid beta-oxidation was used as a tool to study fatty acid degradation in developing seeds of Arabidopsis. Transgenic plants expressing a peroxisomal PHA synthase under the control of a napin promoter accumulated PHA in developing seeds to a final level of 0. 06 mg g(-1) dry weight. In plants co-expressing a plastidial acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase from Cuphea lanceolata and a peroxisomal PHA synthase, approximately 18-fold more PHA accumulated in developing seeds. The proportion of 3-hydroxydecanoic acid monomer in the PHA was strongly increased, indicating a large flow of capric acid toward beta-oxidation. Furthermore, expression of the peroxisomal PHA synthase in an Arabidopsis mutant deficient in the enzyme diacylglycerol acyltransferase resulted in a 10-fold increase in PHA accumulation in developing seeds. These data indicate that plants can respond to the inadequate incorporation of fatty acids into triacylglycerides by recycling the fatty acids via beta-oxidation and that a considerable flow toward beta-oxidation can occur even in a plant tissue primarily devoted to the accumulation of storage lipids.

Are we producing PHAs? On the target selection for a proposed mitigation demo-mission within the NEO-Shield project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eggl, S.; Hestroffer, D.; Thuillot, W.

2013-09-01

The Chelyabinsk event on February 15th, 2013 has shown once again that even small near earth objects (NEOs) can become a real safety concern. Eventhough we believe to have the capabilities to avert larger potentially disastrous asteroid impacts, only the realization of mitigation demonstration missions can confirm this claim. The target selection process for such deflection demonstrations is a demanding task, as physical, dynamical and engineering aspects have to be considered in great detail. One of the top priorities of such a demonstration mission is, of course, that a harmless asteroid should not be turned into a potentially hazardous object (PHO). Given the potentially large uncertainties in the asteroid's physical parameters as well as the additional uncertainties introduced during the deflection attempt, an in depth analysis of the impact probabilities over the next century becomes necessary, in order to exclude an augmentation of potential risks. Assuming worst case scenarios regard- ing the orbital, physical and mitigation induced uncertainties, we provide a keyhole and impact risk analysis of a list of potential targets for the mitigation demomission proposed in the framework of the NEO-Shield project.

Chloroform induces outstanding crystallization of poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) vesicles within bacteria.

PubMed

Rebois, Rolando; Onidas, Delphine; Marcott, Curtis; Noda, Isao; Dazzi, Alexandre

2017-03-01

Poly[(R)-3-hydroxyalkanoate]s or PHAs are aliphatic polyesters produced by numerous microorganisms. They are accumulated as energy and carbon reserve in the form of small intracellular vesicles. Poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) is the most ubiquitous and simplest PHA. An atomic force microscope coupled with a tunable infrared laser (AFM-IR) was used to record highly spatially resolved infrared spectra of commercial purified PHB and native PHB within bacteria. For the first time, the crystallinity degree of native PHB within vesicle has been directly evaluated in situ without alteration due to the measure or extraction and purification steps of the polymer: native PHB is in crystalline state at 15% whereas crystallinity degree reaches 57% in commercial PHB. Chloroform addition on native PHB induces crystallization of the polymer within bacteria up to 60%. This possibility of probing and changing the physical state of polymer in situ could open alternative ways of production for PHB and others biopolymers. Graphical abstract An atomic force microscope coupled with a tunable infrared laser (AFM-IR) has been used to record local infrared spectra of biopolymer PHB within bacteria. Deconvolution of those spectra has allowed to determine in situ the crystallinity degree of native PHB.

77 FR 16048 - Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Public/Private Partnerships for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-19

...The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. The 1998 Public Housing Reform Act allowed the Mixed-Finance development of public housing units. This meant that Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) could create public housing projects using public housing grant or capital funds and non-HUD sources of funds, subject to HUD's approval. This Information Collection pertains to the information that HUD collects to perform due diligence in order to approve the mixed-finance development of public housing prior to a financial closing and the start of construction or rehabilitation activities. Applicants describe ownership, the type, size, and number of units, construction schedule, construction and permanent financing, property management, how public housing operating subsidy will be provided to the project and other operation plans. New developments may be made up of a variety of housing types: rental, homeownership, private, subsidized, and public housing. These new communities are built for residents with a wide range of incomes, and are designed to fit into the surrounding community.

77 FR 1497 - Notice of Proposed Information for Public Comment for: Public/Private Partnerships for the Mixed...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-10

...The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. The 1998 Public Housing Reform Act allowed the Mixed-Finance development of public housing units. This meant that Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) could create public housing projects using public housing grant or capital funds and non-HUD sources of funds, subject to HUD's approval. This Information Collection pertains to the information that HUD collects to perform due diligence in order to approve the mixed-finance development of public housing prior to a financial closing and the start of construction or rehabilitation activities. Applicants describe ownership, the type, size, and number of units, construction schedule, construction and permanent financing, property management, how public housing operating subsidy will be provided to the project and other operation plans. New developments may be made up of a variety of housing types: rental, homeownership, private, subsidized, and public housing. These new communities are built for residents with a wide range of incomes, and are designed to fit into the surrounding community.

A Statistical approach to optimize the production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates from Wickerhamomyces anomalus VIT-NN01 using Response Surface Methodology.

PubMed

Ojha, Nupur; Das, Nilanjana

2018-02-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are three-level group of biodegradable polymers and attractive substitutes over conventional plastics to avoid the pollution problems. The yeast strain isolated from sugarcane juice, identified as Wickerhamomyces anomalus VIT-NN01, was used for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Response surface methodology (RSM), three-level six variables Box-Behnken design (BBD), was employed to optimize the factors such as pH 8.0, temperature 37°C, sugarcane molasses (35g/L) supplemented with co-substrate palm oil (0.5%),corn steep liquor (2%) after a period of 96h of incubation for the maximum yield (19.50±0.3g/L) of PHA. It was well in close agreement with the predicted value obtained by RSM model yield (19.55±0.1g/L).Characterization of the extracted polymer was done using FTIR, GC-MS, XRD, TGA and AFM analysis. NMR spectroscopic analysis revealed that the biopolymer was poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), copolymer of PHA. This is the first report on optimization of PHA production using yeast strain isolated from natural sources. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bio-plastic (P-3HB-co-3HV) from Bacillus circulans (MTCC 8167) and its biodegradation.

PubMed

Phukon, Pinkee; Saikia, Jyoti Prasad; Konwar, Bolin Kumar

2012-04-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are naturally occurring polyesters synthesized by bacteria for carbon and energy storage and it has commercial potential as bioplastic. The bacterial species Bacillus circulans MTCC 8167, isolated from crude oil contaminated soil, can efficiently produce medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoates (P-3HB-co-3HV) from cheap carbon sources like dextrose. The molecular mass of P-3HB-co-3HV was reported as 5.1×10(4)Da with polydispersity index of 1.21 by gel permeation chromatography. In the present investigation different bacteria and fungi species were used for testing the biodegradability of the extracted polymer. The FTIR spectra of the biodegraded PHBV film showed a decrease in the peak from 1735 cm(-1) (untreated film) to 1675 cm(-1), and disappearance of a peak present in the control at 2922 cm(-1) indicating the breakdown of ester (>C=O) or O-R group and -C=H bond, respectively. From biodegradability testing, the tested microorganisms were found to have decisive contribution to the biodegradation of P-3HB-co-3HV polymer. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The conversion of BTEX compounds by single and defined mixed cultures to medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate.

PubMed

Nikodinovic, Jasmina; Kenny, Shane T; Babu, Ramesh P; Woods, Trevor; Blau, Werner J; O'Connor, Kevin E

2008-09-01

Here, we report the use of petrochemical aromatic hydrocarbons as a feedstock for the biotechnological conversion into valuable biodegradable plastic polymers--polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). We assessed the ability of the known Pseudomonas putida species that are able to utilize benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene (BTEX) compounds as a sole carbon and energy source for their ability to produce PHA from the single substrates. P. putida F1 is able to accumulate medium-chain-length (mcl) PHA when supplied with toluene, benzene, or ethylbenzene. P. putida mt-2 accumulates mcl-PHA when supplied with toluene or p-xylene. The highest level of PHA accumulated by cultures in shake flask was 26% cell dry weight for P. putida mt-2 supplied with p-xylene. A synthetic mixture of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, and styrene (BTEXS) which mimics the aromatic fraction of mixed plastic pyrolysis oil was supplied to a defined mixed culture of P. putida F1, mt-2, and CA-3 in the shake flasks and fermentation experiments. PHA was accumulated to 24% and to 36% of the cell dry weight of the shake flask and fermentation grown cultures respectively. In addition a three-fold higher cell density was achieved with the mixed culture grown in the bioreactor compared to shake flask experiments. A run in the 5-l fermentor resulted in the utilization of 59.6 g (67.5 ml) of the BTEXS mixture and the production of 6 g of mcl-PHA. The monomer composition of PHA accumulated by the mixed culture was the same as that accumulated by single strains supplied with single substrates with 3-hydroxydecanoic acid occurring as the predominant monomer. The purified polymer was partially crystalline with an average molecular weight of 86.9 kDa. It has a thermal degradation temperature of 350 degrees C and a glass transition temperature of -48.5 degrees C.

A Resource for Using Real-World Examples in the Physics Classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Van Dongen, Janelle; Rieger, Georg

2013-02-01

Physics Teaching for the 21st Century (://c21.phas.ubc.ca) is a free online resource for teachers who are interested in teaching physics concepts in real-world contexts. The materials on this site were developed by a team of physics faculty and graduate and undergraduate students at the Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia, based on issues of great current concern—reusable energy, climate change, and medical advancement. Topics on the website also focus on applications of physics in the natural world around us. There are currently about 70 different topics on the website and it is not possible to justly give a sense of the website in total here. Instead we will present one complete example of the resources available on our website and show how it can be used in the classroom or in lecture. The example discussed here is suitable for a first-year university course and focuses on diffraction through a circular aperture and Rayleigh's resolution criterion by looking at the effect of pupil size on the minimum angle of resolution. The original idea came from reading a book on zoological physics,2 and a short example was later found in a first-year physics textbook.3

Characterization and identification of the proteins bound to two types of polyhydroxyalkanoate granules in Pseudomonas sp. 61-3.

PubMed

Hokamura, Ayaka; Fujino, Kanako; Isoda, Yoshiko; Arizono, Koji; Shiratsuchi, Hideki; Matsusaki, Hiromi

2015-01-01

Pseudomonas sp. 61-3 accumulates two types of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)], and poly(3HB-co-3-hydroxyalkanoates) [P(3HB-co-3HA)], and some proteins associated with their PHA granules have been identified. To date, PhaFPs (GA36) and PhaIPs (GA18) were identified from P(3HB-co-3HA) granules. In this study, the gene encoding GA24 associated with P(3HB) granule was identified as phbPPs. PhbPPs was composed of 192 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 20.4 kDa and was assumed to be a phasin. phbFPs gene and unknown ORF were also found on phb locus. PhbFPs was anticipated to be the transcriptional repressor of phbPPs gene. PhbPPs was bound to the P(3HB-co-3HA) granules with 3HB composition of more than 87 mol%, and PhaIPs and PhaFPs were bound to the P(3HB-co-3HA) granules with 3HA (C6-C12) composition of more than 13 mol% in the producing cells, suggesting that localization of these proteins is attributed to the monomer compositions of the copolymers.

Effects of sludge retention time, carbon and initial biomass concentrations on selection process: From activated sludge to polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulating cultures.

PubMed

Chen, Zhiqiang; Huang, Long; Wen, Qinxue; Zhang, Huichao; Guo, Zirui

2017-02-01

Four sequence batch reactors (SBRs) fed by fermented sugar cane wastewater were continuously operated under the aerobic dynamic feeding (ADF) mode with different configurations of sludge retention time (SRT), carbon and initial biomass concentrations to enrich polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) accumulating mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) from municipal activated sludge. The stability of SBRs was investigated besides the enrichment performance. The microbial community structures of the enriched MMCs were analyzed using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). The optimum operating conditions for the enrichment process were: SRT of 5days, carbon concentration of 2.52g COD/L and initial biomass concentration of 3.65g/L. The best enrichment performance in terms of both operating stability and PHA storage ability of enriched cultures (with the maximum PHA content and PHA storage yield (Y PHA/S ) of 61.26% and 0.68mg COD/mg COD, respectively) was achieved under this condition. Effects of the SRT, carbon concentration and initial biomass concentration on the PHA accumulating MMCs selection process were discussed respectively. A new model including the segmentation of the enrichment process and the effects of SRT on each phase was proposed. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Carbon and Sulfur Isotopic Composition of Yellowknife Bay Sediments: Measurements by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Franz, H. B.; Mahaffy, P. R.; Stern, J. C.; Eigenbrode, J. L.; Steele, A.; Ming, D. W.; McAdam, A. C.; Freissinet, C.; Glavin, D. P.; Archer, P. D.;

Small RNAs Derived from the T-DNA of Agrobacterium rhizogenes in Hairy Roots of Phaseolus vulgaris

PubMed Central

Peláez, Pablo; Hernández-López, Alejandrina; Estrada-Navarrete, Georgina; Sanchez, Federico

2017-01-01

Agrobacterium rhizogenes is a pathogenic bacteria that causes hairy root disease by transferring bacterial DNA into the plant genome. It is an essential tool for industry and research due to its capacity to produce genetically modified roots and whole organisms. Here, we identified and characterized small RNAs generated from the transfer DNA (T-DNA) of A. rhizogenes in hairy roots of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Distinct abundant A. rhizogenes T-DNA-derived small RNAs (ArT-sRNAs) belonging to several oncogenes were detected in hairy roots using high-throughput sequencing. The most abundant and diverse species of ArT-sRNAs were those of 21- and 22-nucleotides in length. Many T-DNA encoded genes constituted phasiRNA producing loci (PHAS loci). Interestingly, degradome analysis revealed that ArT-sRNAs potentially target genes of P. vulgaris. In addition, we detected low levels of ArT-sRNAs in the A. rhizogenes-induced calli generated at the wound site before hairy root emergence. These results suggest that RNA silencing targets several genes from T-DNA of A. rhizogenes in hairy roots of common bean. Therefore, the role of RNA silencing observed in this study has implications in our understanding and usage of this unique plant-bacteria interaction. PMID:28203245

Multiple β-Ketothiolases Mediate Poly(β-Hydroxyalkanoate) Copolymer Synthesis in Ralstonia eutropha

PubMed Central

Slater, Steven; Houmiel, Kathryn L.; Tran, Minhtien; Mitsky, Timothy A.; Taylor, Nancy B.; Padgette, Stephen R.; Gruys, Kenneth J.

1998-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of carbon and energy storage polymers produced by numerous bacteria in response to environmental limitation. The type of polymer produced depends on the carbon sources available, the flexibility of the organism’s intermediary metabolism, and the substrate specificity of the PHA biosynthetic enzymes. Ralstonia eutropha produces both the homopolymer poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and, when provided with the appropriate substrate, the copolymer poly(β-hydroxybutyrate-co-β-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV). A required step in production of the hydroxyvalerate moiety of PHBV is the condensation of acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) and propionyl-CoA to form β-ketovaleryl-CoA. This activity has generally been attributed to the β-ketothiolase encoded by R. eutropha phbA. However, we have determined that PhbA does not significantly contribute to catalyzing this condensation reaction. Here we report the cloning and genetic analysis of bktB, which encodes a β-ketothiolase from R. eutropha that is capable of forming β-ketovaleryl-CoA. Genetic analyses determined that BktB is the primary condensation enzyme leading to production of β-hydroxyvalerate derived from propionyl-CoA. We also report an additional β-ketothiolase, designated BktC, that probably serves as a secondary route toward β-hydroxyvalerate production. PMID:9555876

Post-processing optimization of electrospun submicron poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) fibers to obtain continuous films of interest in food packaging applications.

PubMed

Cherpinski, Adriane; Torres-Giner, Sergio; Cabedo, Luis; Lagaron, Jose M

2017-10-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are one of the most researched family of biodegradable polymers based on renewable materials due to their thermoplastic nature and moisture resistance. The present study was targeted to investigate the preparation and characterization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) films obtained through the electrospinning technique. To convert them into continuous films and then to increase their application interest in packaging, the electrospun fiber mats were subsequently post-processed by different physical treatments. Thus, the effect of annealing time and cooling method on morphology, molecular order, thermal, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties of the electrospun submicron PHB fibers was studied. Annealing at 160°C, well below the homopolyester melting point, was found to be the minimum temperature at which homogeneous transparent films were produced. The film samples that were cooled slowly after annealing showed the lowest permeability to oxygen, water vapor, and limonene. The optimally post-processed electrospun PHB fibers exhibited similar rigidity to conventional compression-molded PHA films, but with enhanced elongation at break and toughness. Films made by this electrospinning technique have many potential applications, such as in the design of barrier layers, adhesive interlayers, and coatings for fiber- and plastic-based food packaging materials.

Biological Production of a Hydrocarbon Fuel Intermediate Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from a Process Relevant Lignocellulosic Derived Sugar (Poster)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, W.; Mittal, A.; Mohagheghi, A.

PHAs are synthesized by many microorganisms to serve as intracellular carbon storage molecules. In some bacterial strains, PHB can account for up to 80% of cell mass. In addition to its application in the packaging sector, PHB also has great potential as an intermediate in the production of hydrocarbon fuels. PHB can be thermally depolymerized and decarboxylated to propene which can be upgraded to hydrocarbon fuels via commercial oligomerization technologies. Cupriavidus necator is the microorganism that has been most extensively studied and used for PHB production on an industrial scale; However the substrates used for producing PHB are mainly fructose,more » glucose, sucrose, fatty acids, glycerol, etc., which are expensive. In this study, we demonstrate production of PHB from a process relevant lignocellulosic derived sugar stream, i.e., saccharified slurry from pretreated corn stover. The strain was first investigated in shake flasks for its ability to utilize glucose, xylose and acetate. In addition, the strain was also grown on pretreated lignocellulose hydrolyzate slurry and evaluated in terms of cell growth, sugar utilization, PHB accumulation, etc. The mechanism of inhibition in the toxic hydrolysate generated by the pretreatment and saccharification process of biomass, was also studied.« less

Biological Production of a Hydrocarbon Fuel Intermediate Polyhydroxybutyrate (Phb) from a Process Relevant Lignocellulosic Derived Sugar

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Wei; Mohagheghi, Ali; Mittal, Ashutosh

PHAs are synthesized by many microorganisms to serve as intracellular carbon storage molecules. In some bacterial strains, PHB can account for up to 80% of cell mass. In addition to its application in the packaging sector, PHB also has great potential as an intermediate in the production of hydrocarbon fuels. PHB can be thermally depolymerized and decarboxylated to propene which can be upgraded to hydrocarbon fuels via commercial oligomerization technologies. In recent years a great effort has been made in bacterial production of PHB, yet the production cost of the polymer is still much higher than conventional petrochemical plastics. Themore » high cost of PHB is because the cost of the substrates can account for as much as half of the total product cost in large scale fermentation. Thus searching for cheaper and better substrates is very necessary for PHB production. In this study, we demonstrate production of PHB by Cupriavidus necator from a process relevant lignocellulosic derived sugar stream, i.e., saccharified hydrolysate slurry from pretreated corn stover. Good cell growth was observed on slurry saccharified with advanced enzymes and 40~60% of PHB was accumulated in the cells. The mechanism of inhibition in the toxic hydrolysate generated by pretreatment and saccharification of biomass, will be discussed.« less

Evaluation of medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate production by Pseudomonas putida LS46 using biodiesel by-product streams.

PubMed

Fu, Jilagamazhi; Sharma, Umesh; Sparling, Richard; Cicek, Nazim; Levin, David B

2014-07-01

Medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA) production by Pseudomonas putida LS46 was analyzed in shake-flask-based batch reactions, using pure chemical-grade glycerol (PG), biodiesel-derived "waste" glycerol (WG), and biodiesel-derived "waste" free fatty acids (WFA). Cell growth, substrate consumption, mcl-PHA accumulation within the cells, and the monomer composition of the synthesized biopolymers were monitored. The patterns of mcl-PHA synthesis in P. putida LS46 cells grown on PG and WG were similar but differed from that of cells grown with WFA. Polymer accumulation in glycerol-based cultures was stimulated by nitrogen limitation and plateaued after 48 h in both PG and WG cultures, with a total accumulation of 17.9% cell dry mass and 16.3% cell dry mass, respectively. In contrast, mcl-PHA synthesis was independent of nitrogen concentration in P. putida LS46 cells cultured with WFA, which accumulated to 29% cell dry mass. In all cases, the mcl-PHAs synthesized consisted primarily of 3-hydroxyoctanoate (C(8)) and 3-hydroxydecanoate (C(10)). WG and WFA supported similar or greater cell growth and mcl-PHA accumulation than PG under the experimental conditions used. These results suggest that biodiesel by-product streams could be used as low-cost carbon sources for sustainable mcl-PHA production.

Analysis of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase gene and PHA-producing bacteria in activated sludge that produces PHA containing 3-hydroxydodecanoate.

PubMed

Yang, Chao; Zhang, Wei; Liu, Ruihua; Zhang, Chi; Gong, Ting; Li, Qiang; Wang, Shufang; Song, Cunjiang

2013-09-01

Activated sludge is an alternative to pure cultures for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production due to the presence of many PHA-producing bacteria in activated sludge community. In this study, activated sludge was submitted to aerobic dynamic feeding in a sequencing batch reactor. During domestication, the changes of bacterial community structure were observed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Furthermore, some potential PHA-producing bacteria, such as Thauera, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, were identified by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis. The constructed PHA synthase gene library was analyzed by DNA sequencing. Of the 80 phaC genes obtained, 76 belonged to the Class I PHA synthase, and four to the Class II PHA synthase. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed that PHA produced by activated sludge was composed of three types of monomers: 3-hydroxybutyrate, 3-hydroxyvalerate and 3-hydroxydodecanoate (3HDD). This is the first report of production of medium-chain-length PHAs (PHAMCL ) containing 3HDD by activated sludge. Further studies suggested that a Pseudomonas strain may play an important role in the production of PHAMCL containing 3HDD. Moreover, a Class II PHA synthase was found to have a correlation with the production of 3HDD-containing PHAMCL . © 2013 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.

Alpha-hydroxyacid chemical peeling agents: case studies and rationale for safe and effective use.

PubMed

Briden, M Elizabeth

2004-02-01

Chemical peeling is an in-office procedure that involves the application of a chemical agent to the skin to induce controlled destruction or exfoliation of old skin and stimulation of new epidermal growth with more evenly distributed melanin. When peel agents reach the dermal layer, important wound-healing activities occur that cause skin remodeling and skin smoothing, both antiaging benefits. There are a number of key factors in selecting a peeling agent and procedure, and each is discussed. Variables to consider are the peeling agent and its formulation, the concentration of the agent, the patient's skin type, the site to be peeled, the skin preparation procedure prior to and immediately preceding the application of the agent, the application method, the duration of contact, and the patient's medical history and lifestyle. Various types of peels are discussed. Of particular interest are superficial chemical peels, which offer great flexibility over a range of skin types and conditions with minimal to no "downtime." Alpha-hydroxyacid (AHA) peels are superficial and can be combined with other cosmetic procedures in the office to maximize benefits. In addition, AHA peels work well when combined with supportive homecare products including AHAs or polyhydroxy acids (PHAs), topical retinoids, and antiacne/antirosacea treatments. Case studies are presented of patients using AHA peels for the treatment of acne and hyperpigmentation in a variety of skin types, including Asian skin.

The Crc protein inhibits the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates in Pseudomonas putida under balanced carbon/nitrogen growth conditions.

PubMed

La Rosa, Ruggero; de la Peña, Fernando; Prieto, María Axiliadora; Rojo, Fernando

2014-01-01

Pseudomonas putida synthesizes polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) as storage compounds. PHA synthesis is more active when the carbon source is in excess and the nitrogen source is limiting, but can also occur at a lower rate under balanced carbon/nitrogen ratios. This work shows that PHA synthesis is controlled by the Crc global regulator, a protein that optimizes carbon metabolism by inhibiting the expression of genes involved in the use of non-preferred carbon sources. Crc acts post-transcriptionally. The mRNAs of target genes contain characteristic catabolite activity (CA) motifs near the ribosome binding site. Sequences resembling CA motifs can be predicted for the phaC1 gene, which codes for a PHA polymerase, and for phaI and phaF, which encode proteins associated to PHA granules. Our results show that Crc inhibits the translation of phaC1 mRNA, but not that of phaI or phaF, reducing the amount of PHA accumulated in the cell. Crc inhibited PHA synthesis during exponential growth in media containing a balanced carbon/nitrogen ratio. No inhibition was seen when the carbon/nitrogen ratio was imbalanced. This extends the role of Crc beyond that of controlling the hierarchical utilization of carbon sources and provides a link between PHA synthesis and the global regulatory networks controlling carbon flow. © 2013 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Country watch: Mexico.

PubMed

Brito Lemus, A

1996-01-01

"LETRA S. SIDA. Cultura y Vida Cotidiana" is a monthly 16-page supplement that appears in the Mexican national newspaper "La Jornada." The supplement is produced by a nongovernmental organization (NGO) of the same name, and advertisements pay for the costs of production. Each issue studies a different AIDS theme, including women, indigenous people, migration, safe sex, homophobia, religion, and education. Each theme is approached from various perspectives, including epidemiology, medicine, sexuality, human rights, social science research, culture, and the arts. Populations most at risk are targeted. The aim is to arouse cultural criticism of taboos, prejudice and discrimination, sexual inequality, and gender issues that facilitate the transmission of HIV. Official health policies and the activities of groups, conservative and religious, which reject prevention programs are scrutinized. Each issue of the supplement includes a journalistic investigation providing statistics, facts, and opinions; interviews with health and education officials, politicians, state governors, and NGO staff; background articles by intellectuals, researchers, and well-known persons in Mexican society; PHA testimonies; reports on research and conferences; letters to the editor; cultural reviews relating to the theme of the issue; and a directory of NGOs doing HIV/AIDS work and of health institutions serving PHAs. The supplement has gone from a print run of 25,000 copies, when it was published as part of "El Nacional" (another government newspaper), to 70,000 in "La Jornada." The NGO has recently won the "Francisco Estrada Valle" award for its work.

COMPOSITION OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ASTEROID (214869) 2007 PA8: AN H CHONDRITE FROM THE OUTER ASTEROID BELT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sanchez, Juan A.; Reddy, Vishnu; Corre, Lucille Le

Potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) represent a unique opportunity for physical characterization during their close approaches to Earth. The proximity of these asteroids makes them accessible for sample-return and manned missions, but could also represent a risk for life on Earth in the event of collision. Therefore, a detailed mineralogical analysis is a key component in planning future exploration missions and developing appropriate mitigation strategies. In this study we present near-infrared spectra (∼0.7–2.55 μm) of PHA (214869) 2007 PA8 obtained with the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility during its close approach to Earth on 2012 November. The mineralogical analysis of this asteroidmore » revealed a surface composition consistent with H ordinary chondrites. In particular, we found that the olivine and pyroxene chemistries of 2007 PA8 are Fa{sub 18}(Fo{sub 82}) and Fs{sub 16}, respectively. The olivine–pyroxene abundance ratio was estimated to be 47%. This low olivine abundance and the measured band parameters, close to the H4 and H5 chondrites, suggest that the parent body of 2007 PA8 experienced thermal metamorphism before being catastrophically disrupted. Based on the compositional affinity, proximity to the J5:2 resonance, and estimated flux of resonant objects we determined that the Koronis family is the most likely source region for 2007 PA8.« less

Model-Based Nutrient Feeding Strategies for the Increased Production of Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) by Alcaligenes latus.

PubMed

Gahlawat, Geeta; Srivastava, Ashok K

2017-10-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polymers which are considered as an effective alternative for conventional plastics due to their mechanical properties similar to the latter. However, the widespread use of these polymers is still hampered due to their higher cost of production as compared to plastics. The production cost could be overcome by obtaining high yields and productivity. The goal of the present research was to enhance the yield of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) with the help of two simple fed-batch cultivation strategies. In the present study, average batch kinetic and substrate limitation/inhibition study data of Alcaligenes latus was used for the development of PHB model which was then adopted for designing various off-line nutrient feeding strategies to enhance PHB accumulation. The predictive ability of the model was validated by experimental implementation of two fed-batch strategies. One such dynamic strategy of fed-batch cultivation under pseudo-steady state with respect to nitrogen and simultaneous carbon feeding strategy resulted in significantly high biomass and PHB concentration of 39.17 g/L and 29.64 g/L, respectively. This feeding strategy demonstrated a high PHB productivity and PHB content of 0.6 g/L h and 75%, respectively, which were remarkably high in comparison to batch cultivation. The mathematical model can also be employed for designing various other nutrient feeding strategies.

Engineering cyanobacteria for photosynthetic production of 3-hydroxybutyrate directly from CO2.

PubMed

Wang, Bo; Pugh, Shawn; Nielsen, David R; Zhang, Weiwen; Meldrum, Deirdre R

2013-03-01

(S)- and (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) are precursors to synthesize the biodegradable plastics polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and many fine chemicals. To date, however, their production has been restricted to petroleum-based chemical industry and sugar-based microbial fermentation, limiting its sustainability and economical feasibility. With the ability to fix CO2 photosynthetically, cyanobacteria have attracted increasing interest as a biosynthesis platform to produce fuels and chemicals from alternative renewable resources. To this end, synthesis metabolic pathways have been constructed and optimized in cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to photosynthetically produce (S)- and (R)-3HB directly from CO2. Both types of 3HB molecules were produced and readily secreted from Synechocystis cells without over-expression of transporters. Additional inactivation of the competing pathway by deleting slr1829 and slr1830 (encoding PHB polymerase) from the Synechocystis genome further promoted the 3HB production. Up to 533.4mg/L 3HB has been produced after photosynthetic cultivation of the engineered cyanobacterium Synechocystis TABd for 21 days. Further analysis indicated that the phosphate consumption during the photoautrophic growth and the concomitant elevated acetyl-CoA pool acted as a key driving force for 3HB biosynthesis in Synechocystis. For the first time, the study has demonstrated the feasibility of photosynthetic production of (S)- and (R)-3HB directly from sunlight and CO2. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optimization of polyhydroxybutyrate production by Bacillus sp. CFR 256 with corn steep liquor as a nitrogen source.

PubMed

Vijayendra, S V N; Rastogi, N K; Shamala, T R; Anil Kumar, P K; Kshama, L; Joshi, G J

2007-06-01

Polyhydroxyalkanotes (PHAs), the eco-friendly biopolymers produced by many bacteria, are gaining importance in curtailing the environmental pollution by replacing the non-biodegradable plastics derived from petroleum. The present study was carried out to economize the polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production by optimizing the fermentation medium using corn steep liquor (CSL), a by-product of starch processing industry, as a cheap nitrogen source, by Bacillus sp. CFR 256. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the fermentation medium using the variables such as corn steep liquor (5-25 g l(-1)), Na(2)HPO(4) 2H(2)O (2.2-6.2 g l(-1)), KH(2)PO(4) (0.5-2.5 g l(-1)), sucrose (5-55 g l(-1)) and inoculum concentration (1-25 ml l(-1)). Central composite rotatable design (CCRD) experiments were carried out to study the complex interactions of the variables.The optimum conditions for maximum PHB production were (g l(-1)): CSL-25, Na(2)HPO(4) 2H(2)O-2.2, KH(2)PO(4) - 0.5, sucrose - 55 and inoculum - 10 (ml l(-1)). After 72 h of fermentation, the amount of PHA produced was 8.20 g l(-1) (51.20% of dry cell biomass). It is the first report on optimization of fermentation medium using CSL as a nitrogen source, for PHB production by Bacillus sp.

HAMLET forms annular oligomers when deposited with phospholipid monolayers.

PubMed

Baumann, Anne; Gjerde, Anja Underhaug; Ying, Ming; Svanborg, Catharina; Holmsen, Holm; Glomm, Wilhelm R; Martinez, Aurora; Halskau, Oyvind

2012-04-20

Recently, the anticancer activity of human α-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells (HAMLET) has been linked to its increased membrane affinity in vitro, at neutral pH, and ability to cause leakage relative to the inactive native bovine α-lactalbumin (BLA) protein. In this study, atomic force microscopy resolved membrane distortions and annular oligomers (AOs) produced by HAMLET when deposited at neutral pH on mica together with a negatively charged lipid monolayer. BLA, BAMLET (HAMLET's bovine counterpart) and membrane-binding Peptide C, corresponding to BLA residues 75-100, also form AO-like structures under these conditions but at higher subphase concentrations than HAMLET. The N-terminal Peptide A, which binds to membranes at acidic but not at neutral pH, did not form AOs. This suggests a correlation between the capacity of the proteins/peptides to integrate into the membrane at neutral pH-as observed by liposome content leakage and circular dichroism experiments-and the formation of AOs, albeit at higher concentrations. Formation of AOs, which might be important to HAMLET's tumor toxic action, appears related to the increased tendency of the protein to populate intermediately folded states compared to the native protein, the formation of which is promoted by, but not uniquely dependent on, the oleic acid molecules associated with HAMLET. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dynamic change of pH in acidogenic fermentation of cheese whey towards polyhydroxyalkanoates production: Impact on performance and microbial population.

PubMed

Gouveia, Ana R; Freitas, Elisabete B; Galinha, Cláudia F; Carvalho, Gilda; Duque, Anouk F; Reis, Maria A M

2017-07-25

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics that can be obtained from industrial wastes/by-products using mixed microbial cultures (MMC). MMC PHA production is commonly carried out in a 3-stage process of acidogenesis, PHA culture selection and accumulation. This research focused on the possibility of tailoring PHA by controlling the acidogenic reactor operating conditions, namely pH, using cheese whey as model feedstock. The objective was to investigate the impact that dynamically varying the acidogenic pH, when targeting different PHA monomer profiles, had on the performance and microbial community profile of the anaerobic reactor. To accomplish this, an anaerobic reactor was continuously operated under dynamic pH changes, ranging from pH 4 to 7, turning to pH 6 after each change of pH. At pH 6, lactate and acetate were the dominant products (41-48% gCOD basis and 22-44% gCOD basis, respectively). At low pH, lactate production was higher while at high pH acetate production was favoured. Despite the dynamic change of pH, the fermentation product composition at pH 6 was always similar, showing the resilience of the process, i.e. when the same pH value was imposed, the culture produced the same metabolic products independently of the history of changes occurring in the system. The different fermentation product fractions led to PHAs of different compositions. The microbial community, analysed by high throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene fragments, was dominated by Lactobacillus, but varied markedly when subjected to the highest and lowest pH values of the tested range (4 and 7), with increase in the abundance of Lactococcus and a member of the Candidate Division TM7. Different bacterial profiles obtained at pH 6 during this dynamic operation were able to produce a consistent profile of fermentation products (and consequently a constant PHA composition), demonstrating the community's functional redundancy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Results from the Pan-STARRS1 Sky Surveys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chambers, Kenneth C.; PS1 Science Consortium

2015-01-01

Results from the Pan-STARRS1 Sky Surveys spanning the field of astronomy from Near Earth Objects to Cosmology will be presented.Scientific highlights from the PS1 Sky Surveys include: the photometric and astrometric reference catalog with unprecedented size, accuracy, and dynamic range discovery of 1200 NEO's, 120 PHAs, 60 comets; discovery of rotational break up as the origin of catastrophic disruption of solar system bodies; first free floating planet PSO 318-22 and other ultra-cool objects; first 3-dimensional map of dust in the Milky Way; new distances to molecular clouds; new stellar streams in the Milky Way and new globular clusters; new satellite galaxies of M31; eclipsing binaries in M31 - an important step for the distance ladder; micro-lensing events and other variables in M31: super-luminous and under-luminous stellar explosions; first clear tidal disruption of star by supermassive black hole; many new high redshift quasars; and a new determination of the dark energy equation of state from SnIa photometry.The nearly 4 year Pan-STARRS1 Science Mission has now completed. The reprocessing of the entire data set is underway. The Public Release of the entire image, catalog and metadata set of the PS1 Sky Surveys is scheduled for April 1, 2015 from the STScI MAST archive. It is expected that a great many more scientific results will come with community access to the data set.The Pan-STARRS1 Surveys have been made possible through contributions of the Institute for Astronomy of the University of Hawaii; the Max-Planck Society and its participating institutes: the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, Garching; The Johns Hopkins University; Durham University; the University of Edinburgh; Queen's University Belfast; the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network Incorporated; the National Central University of Taiwan; the Space Telescope Science Institute; NASA Grant No. NNX08AR22G; the National Science Foundation under Grant No. AST-1238877; the University of Maryland; the Eotvos Lorand University; and the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

High-throughput kinase assays with protein substrates using fluorescent polymer superquenching.

PubMed

Rininsland, Frauke; Stankewicz, Casey; Weatherford, Wendy; McBranch, Duncan

2005-05-31

High-throughput screening is used by the pharmaceutical industry for identifying lead compounds that interact with targets of pharmacological interest. Because of the key role that aberrant regulation of protein phosphorylation plays in diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension, kinases have become one of the main drug targets. With the exception of antibody-based assays, methods to screen for specific kinase activity are generally restricted to the use of small synthetic peptides as substrates. However, the use of natural protein substrates has the advantage that potential inhibitors can be detected that affect enzyme activity by binding to a site other than the catalytic site. We have previously reported a non-radioactive and non-antibody-based fluorescence quench assay for detection of phosphorylation or dephosphorylation using synthetic peptide substrates. The aim of this work is to develop an assay for detection of phosphorylation of chemically unmodified proteins based on this polymer superquenching platform. Using a modified QTL Lightspeed assay, phosphorylation of native protein was quantified by the interaction of the phosphorylated proteins with metal-ion coordinating groups co-located with fluorescent polymer deposited onto microspheres. The binding of phospho-protein inhibits a dye-labeled "tracer" peptide from associating to the phosphate-binding sites present on the fluorescent microspheres. The resulting inhibition of quench generates a "turn on" assay, in which the signal correlates with the phosphorylation of the substrate. The assay was tested on three different proteins: Myelin Basic Protein (MBP), Histone H1 and Phosphorylated heat- and acid-stable protein (PHAS-1). Phosphorylation of the proteins was detected by Protein Kinase Calpha (PKCalpha) and by the Interleukin -1 Receptor-associated Kinase 4 (IRAK4). Enzyme inhibition yielded IC50 values that were comparable to those obtained using peptide substrates. Statistical parameters that are used in the high-throughput community to determine assay robustness (Z'-value) demonstrate the suitability of this format for high-throughput screening applications for detection of inhibitors of enzyme activity. The QTL Lightspeed protein detection system provides a simple mix and measure "turn on" assay for the detection of kinase activity using natural protein substrates. The platform is robust and allows for identification of inhibitors of kinase activity.

Microbial fixation of CO2 in water bodies and in drylands to combat climate change, soil loss and desertification.

PubMed

Rossi, Federico; Olguín, Eugenia J; Diels, Ludo; De Philippis, Roberto

2015-01-25

The growing concern for the increase of the global warming effects due to anthropogenic activities raises the challenge of finding novel technological approaches to stabilize CO2 emissions in the atmosphere and counteract impinging interconnected issues such as desertification and loss of biodiversity. Biological-CO2 mitigation, triggered through biological fixation, is considered a promising and eco-sustainable method, mostly owing to its downstream benefits that can be exploited. Microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, green algae and some autotrophic bacteria could potentially fix CO2 more efficiently than higher plants, due to their faster growth. Some examples of the potential of biological-CO2 mitigation are reported and discussed in this paper. In arid and semiarid environments, soil carbon sequestration (CO2 fixation) by cyanobacteria and biological soil crusts is considered an eco-friendly and natural process to increase soil C content and a viable pathway to soil restoration after one disturbance event. Another way for biological-CO2 mitigation intensively studied in the last few years is related to the possibility to perform carbon dioxide sequestration using microalgae, obtaining at the same time bioproducts of industrial interest. Another possibility under study is the exploitation of specific chemotrophic bacteria, such as Ralstonia eutropha (or picketii) and related organisms, for CO2 fixation coupled with the production chemicals such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). In spite of the potential of these processes, multiple factors still have to be optimized for maximum rate of CO2 fixation by these microorganisms. The optimization of culture conditions, including the optimal concentration of CO2 in the provided gas, the use of metabolic engineering and of dual purpose systems for the treatment of wastewater and production of biofuels and high value products within a biorefinery concept, the design of photobioreactors in the case of phototrophs are some of the issues that, among others, have to be addressed and tested for cost-effective CO2 sequestration. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel extracellular medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate depolymerase from Streptomyces exfoliatus K10 DSMZ 41693: a promising biocatalyst for the efficient degradation of natural and functionalized mcl-PHAs.

PubMed

Martínez, Virginia; de Santos, Patricia Gómez; García-Hidalgo, Javier; Hormigo, Daniel; Prieto, M Auxiliadora; Arroyo, Miguel; de la Mata, Isabel

2015-11-01

Cloning and biochemical characterization of a novel extracellular medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA) depolymerase from Streptomyces exfoliatus K10 DSMZ 41693 are described. The primary structure of the depolymerase (PhaZSex2) includes the lipase consensus sequence (serine-histidine-aspartic acid) which is known for serine hydrolases. Secondary structure analysis shows 7.9 % α-helix, 43.9 % β-sheet, 19.4 % β-turns, and 31.2 % random coil, suggesting that this enzyme belongs to the α/β hydrolase fold family, in agreement with other PHA depolymerases and lipases. The enzyme was efficiently produced as an extracellular active form in Rhodococcus and purified by two consecutive hydrophobic chromatographic steps. Matrix-assisted laser desorption-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis of the purified enzyme revealed a monomer of 27.6 kDa with a midpoint transition temperature of 44.2 °C. Remarkably, the activity is significantly enhanced by low concentrations of nonionic and anionic detergents and thermal stability is improved by the presence of 10 % glycerol. PhaZSex2 is an endo-exohydrolase that cleaves both large and small PHA molecules, producing (R)-3-hydroxyoctanoic acid monomers as the main reaction product. Markedly, PhaZSex2 is able to degrade functionalized polymers containing thioester groups in the side chain (PHACOS), releasing functional thioester-based monomers and oligomers demonstrating the potentiality of this novel biocatalyst for the industrial production of enantiopure (R)-3-hydroxyalkanoic acids.

Unusual poly(3-hydroxyalkanoate) (PHA) biosynthesis behavior of Pseudomonas putida Bet001 and Delftia tsuruhatensis Bet002 isolated from palm oil mill effluent.

PubMed

Razaif-Mazinah, Mohd Rafais Mohd; Anis, Siti Nor Syairah; Harun, Hazwani Izzati; Rashid, Khairunnisa Abdul; Annuar, Mohamad Suffian Mohamad

2017-03-01

Pseudomonas putida Bet001 and Delftia tsuruhatensis Bet002, isolated from palm oil mill effluent, accumulated poly(3-hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) when grown on aliphatic fatty acids, sugars, and glycerol. The substrates were supplied at 20:1 C/N mole ratio. Among C-even n-alkanoic acids, myristic acid gave the highest PHA content 26 and 28 wt% in P. putida and D. tsuruhatensis, respectively. Among C-odd n-alkanoic acids, undecanoic gave the highest PHA content at 40 wt% in P. putida and 46 wt% in D. tsuruhatensis on pentadecanoic acid. Sugar and glycerol gave <10 wt% of PHA content for both bacteria. Interestingly, D. tsuruhatensis accumulated both short- and medium-chain length PHA when supplied with n-alkanoic acids ranging from octanoic to lauric, sucrose, and glycerol with 3-hydroxybutyrate as the major monomer unit. In P. putida, the major hydroxyalkanoates unit was 3-hydroxyoctanoate and 3-hydroxydecanoate when grown on C-even acids. Conversely, 3-hydroxyheptanoate, 3-hydrxoynonanoate, and 3-hydroxyundecanoate were accumulated with C-odd acids. Weight-averaged molecular weight (M w ) was in the range of 53-81 kDa and 107-415 kDa for P. putida and D. tsuruhatensis, respectively. Calorimetric analyses indicated that both bacteria synthesized semicrystalline polymer with good thermal stability with degradation temperature (T d ) ranging from 178 to 282 °C. © 2016 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate production from sucrose by Cupriavidus necator strains harboring csc genes from Escherichia coli W.

PubMed

Arikawa, Hisashi; Matsumoto, Keiji; Fujiki, Tetsuya

2017-10-01

Cupriavidus necator H16 is the most promising bacterium for industrial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) because of their remarkable ability to accumulate them in the cells. With genetic modifications, this bacterium can produce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx), which has better physical properties, as well as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) using plant oils and sugars as a carbon source. Considering production cost, sucrose is a very attractive raw material because it is inexpensive; however, this bacterium cannot assimilate sucrose. Here, we used the sucrose utilization (csc) genes of Escherichia coli W to generate C. necator strains that can assimilate sucrose. Especially, glucose-utilizing recombinant C. necator strains harboring the sucrose hydrolase gene (cscA) and sucrose permease gene (cscB) of E. coli W grew well on sucrose as a sole carbon source and accumulated PHB. In addition, strains introduced with a crotonyl-CoA reductase gene (ccr), ethylmalonyl-CoA decarboxylase gene (emd), and some other genetic modifications besides the csc genes and the glucose-utilizing mutations produced PHBHHx with a 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HHx) content of maximum approximately 27 mol% from sucrose. Furthermore, when one of the PHBHHx-producing strains was cultured with sucrose solution in a fed-batch fermentation, PHBHHx with a 3HHx content of approximately 4 mol% was produced and reached 113 g/L for 65 h, which is approximately 1.5-fold higher than that produced using glucose solution.

High-resolution identification and abundance profiling of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) microRNAs.

PubMed

Khatabi, Behnam; Arikit, Siwaret; Xia, Rui; Winter, Stephan; Oumar, Doungous; Mongomake, Kone; Meyers, Blake C; Fondong, Vincent N

2016-01-28

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are endogenous sRNAs that play regulatory roles in plant growth, development, and biotic and abiotic stress responses. In plants, one subset of sRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) exhibit tissue-differential expression and regulate gene expression mainly through direct cleavage of mRNA or indirectly via production of secondary phased siRNAs (phasiRNAs) that silence cognate target transcripts in trans. Here, we have identified cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) miRNAs using high resolution sequencing of sRNA libraries from leaf, stem, callus, male and female flower tissues. To analyze the data, we built a cassava genome database and, via sequence analysis and secondary structure prediction, 38 miRNAs not previously reported in cassava were identified. These new cassava miRNAs included two miRNAs not previously been reported in any plant species. The miRNAs exhibited tissue-differential accumulation as confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis, largely reflecting levels observed in sequencing data. Some of the miRNAs identified were predicted to trigger production of secondary phased siRNAs (phasiRNAs) from 80 PHAS loci. Cassava is a woody perennial shrub, grown principally for its starch-rich storage roots, which are rich in calories. In this study, new miRNAs were identified and their expression was validated using qRT-PCR of RNA from five different tissues. The data obtained expand the list of annotated miRNAs and provide additional new resources for cassava improvement research.

Fungal degradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates and a semiquantitative assay for screening their degradation by terrestrial fungi.

PubMed

Matavulj, M; Molitoris, H P

1992-12-01

The current problems with decreasing fossile resources and increasing environmental pollution by petrochemical-based plastics have stimulated investigations to find biosynthetic materials which are also biodegradable. Bacterial reserve materials such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) have been discovered to possess thermoplastic properties and can be synthesized from renewable resources. Poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) is at present the most promising PHA; and BIOPOL, its copolymer with poly-beta-hydroxy-valerate (PHV), is already industrially produced (ICI, UK), and used as packaging material (WELLA, FRG). According to the literature, PHA degradation has so far mainly been observed in bacteria; only under certain environmental conditions has fungal degradation of PHAs been indicated. Since fungi constitute an important part of microbial populations participating in degradation processes, a simple screening method for fungal degradation of BIOPOL, a PHA-based plastic, was developed. Several media with about 150 fungal strains from different terrestrial environments and belonging to different systematic and ecological groups were used. PHA depolymerization was tested on three PHB-based media, each with 0.1% BIOPOL or PHB homopolymer causing turbidity of the medium. The media contained either a comparatively low or high content of organic carbon (beside PHA) or were based on mineral medium with PHA as the principal source of carbon. The degradation activity was detectable due to formation of a clear halo around the colony (Petri plates) or a clear zone under the colony (test tubes).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Optimization of nitrogen and phosphorus limitation for better biodegradable plastic production and organic removal using single fed-batch mixed cultures and renewable resources.

PubMed

Din, M F M; Ujang, Z; van Loosdrecht, M C M; Ahmad, A; Sairan, M F

2006-01-01

The process for the production of biodegradable plastic material (polyhydroxyalkanoates, PHAs) from microbial cells by mixed-bacterial cultivation using readily available waste (renewable resources) is the main consideration nowadays. These observations have shown impressive results typically under high carbon fraction, COD/N and COD/P (usually described as nutrient-limiting conditions) and warmest temperature (moderate condition). Therefore, the aim of this work is predominantly to select mixed cultures under high storage responded by cultivation on a substrate - non limited in a single batch reactor with shortest period for feeding and to characterize their storage response by using specific and kinetics determination. In that case, the selected-fixed temperature is 30 degrees C to establish tropical conditions. During the accumulated steady-state period, the cell growth was inhibited by high PHA content within the cells because of the carbon reserve consumption. From the experiments, there is no doubt about the PHA accumulation even at high carbon fraction ratio. Apparently, the best accumulation occurred at carbon fraction, 160 +/- 7.97 g COD/g N (PHAmean, = 44.54% of dried cells). Unfortunately, the highest PHA productivity was achieved at the high carbon fraction, 560 +/- 1.62 g COD/g N (0.152 +/- 0.17 g/l. min). Overall results showed that with high carbon fraction induced to the cultivation, the PO4 and NO3 can remove up to 20% in single cultivation.

Cassava stillage and its anaerobic fermentation liquid as external carbon sources in biological nutrient removal.

PubMed

Bu, Fan; Hu, Xiang; Xie, Li; Zhou, Qi

2015-04-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of one kind of food industry effluent, cassava stillage and its anaerobic fermentation liquid, on biological nutrient removal (BNR) from municipal wastewater in anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Experiments were carried out with cassava stillage supernatant and its anaerobic fermentation liquid, and one pure compound (sodium acetate) served as an external carbon source. Cyclic studies indicated that the cassava by-products not only affected the transformation of nitrogen, phosphorus, poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and glycogen in the BNR process, but also resulted in higher removal efficiencies for phosphorus and nitrogen compared with sodium acetate. Furthermore, assays for phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAOs) and denitrifying phosphorus accumulating organisms (DPAOs) demonstrated that the proportion of DPAOs to PAOs reached 62.6% (Day 86) and 61.8% (Day 65) when using cassava stillage and its anaerobic fermentation liquid, respectively, as the external carbon source. In addition, the nitrate utilization rates (NURs) of the cassava by-products were in the range of 5.49-5.99 g N/(kg MLVSS⋅h) (MLVSS is mixed liquor volatile suspended solids) and 6.63-6.81 g N/(kg MLVSS⋅h), respectively. The improvement in BNR performance and the reduction in the amount of cassava stillage to be treated in-situ make cassava stillage and its anaerobic fermentation liquid attractive alternatives to sodium acetate as external carbon sources for BNR processes.

Cassava stillage and its anaerobic fermentation liquid as external carbon sources in biological nutrient removal*

PubMed Central

Bu, Fan; Hu, Xiang; Xie, Li; Zhou, Qi

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of one kind of food industry effluent, cassava stillage and its anaerobic fermentation liquid, on biological nutrient removal (BNR) from municipal wastewater in anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Experiments were carried out with cassava stillage supernatant and its anaerobic fermentation liquid, and one pure compound (sodium acetate) served as an external carbon source. Cyclic studies indicated that the cassava by-products not only affected the transformation of nitrogen, phosphorus, poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and glycogen in the BNR process, but also resulted in higher removal efficiencies for phosphorus and nitrogen compared with sodium acetate. Furthermore, assays for phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAOs) and denitrifying phosphorus accumulating organisms (DPAOs) demonstrated that the proportion of DPAOs to PAOs reached 62.6% (Day 86) and 61.8% (Day 65) when using cassava stillage and its anaerobic fermentation liquid, respectively, as the external carbon source. In addition, the nitrate utilization rates (NURs) of the cassava by-products were in the range of 5.49–5.99 g N/(kg MLVSS∙h) (MLVSS is mixed liquor volatile suspended solids) and 6.63–6.81 g N/(kg MLVSS∙h), respectively. The improvement in BNR performance and the reduction in the amount of cassava stillage to be treated in-situ make cassava stillage and its anaerobic fermentation liquid attractive alternatives to sodium acetate as external carbon sources for BNR processes. PMID:25845364

Patient-reported outcomes in a large community-based pain medicine practice: evaluation for use in phenotype modeling.

PubMed

Juckett, David A; Davis, Fred N; Gostine, Mark; Reed, Philip; Risko, Rebecca

2015-05-28

An academic, community medicine partnership was established to build a phenotype-to-outcome model targeting chronic pain. This model will be used to drive clinical decision support for pain medicine in the community setting. The first step in this effort is an examination of the electronic health records (EHR) from clinics that treat chronic pain. The biopsychosocial components provided by both patients and care providers must be of sufficient scope to populate the spectrum of patient types, treatment modalities, and possible outcomes. The patient health records from a large Midwest pain medicine practice (Michigan Pain Consultants, PC) contains physician notes, administrative codes, and patient-reported outcomes (PRO) on over 30,000 patients during the study period spanning 2010 to mid-2014. The PRO consists of a regularly administered Pain Health Assessment (PHA), a biopsychosocial, demographic, and symptomology questionnaire containing 163 items, which is completed approximately every six months with a compliance rate of over 95%. The biopsychosocial items (74 items with Likert scales of 0-10) were examined by exploratory factor analysis and descriptive statistics to determine the number of independent constructs available for phenotypes and outcomes. Pain outcomes were examined both in the aggregate and the mean of longitudinal changes in each patient. Exploratory factor analysis of the intake PHA revealed 15 orthogonal factors representing pain levels; physical, social, and emotional functions; the effects of pain on these functions; vitality and health; and measures of outcomes and satisfaction. Seven items were independent of the factors, offering unique information. As an exemplar of outcomes from the follow-up PHAs, patients reported approximately 60% relief in their pain. When examined in the aggregate, patients showed both a decrease in pain levels and an increase in coping skills with an increased number of visits. When examined individually, 80-85% of patients presenting with the highest pain levels reported improvement by approximately two points on an 11-point pain scale. We conclude that the data available in a community practice can be a rich source of biopsychosocial information relevant to the phenotypes of chronic pain. It is anticipated that phenotype linkages to best treatments and outcomes can be constructed from this set of records.

Phase of Target Scattering for Wetland Characterization using Polarimetric C-Band SAR

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Touzi, R; Deschamps, Mireille C; Rother, Gernot

2009-09-01

Wetlands continue to be under threat, and there is a major need for mapping and monitoring wetlands for better management and protection of these sensitive areas. Only a few studies have been published on wetland characterization using polarimetric synthetic aperture radars (SARs). The most successful results have been obtained using the phase difference between HH and VV polarizations, phi{sub HH} - phi{sub VV}, which has shown promise for separating flooded wetland classes. Recently, we have introduced a new decomposition, the Touzi decomposition, which describes target scattering type in terms of a complex entity, the symmetric scattering type. Huynen's target helicitymore » is used to assess the symmetric nature of target scattering. In this paper, the new complex-scattering-type parameters, the magnitude alphas and phase Phi{sub alpha} s, are investigated for wetland characterization. The use of the dominant-scattering-type phase Phi{sub alpha} s makes it possible to discriminate shrub bogs from poor (sedge or shrub) fens. These two classes cannot be separated using phi{sub HH} - phi{sub VV}, or the radiometric scattering information provided by alphas, the Cloude alpha, the entropy H, and the multipolarization HH-HV-VV channels. phi{sub alpha} s, which cannot detect deep (45 cm below the peat surface) water flow in a bog, is more sensitive to the shallower (10-20-cm) fen beneath water, and this makes possible the separation of poor fens from shrub bogs. Phi{sub alpha} s also permits the discrimination of conifer-dominated treed bog from upland deciduous forest under leafy conditions. Target helicity information is exploited to introduce a new parameter, the target asymmetry. The latter is shown very promising for detection of forest changes between leafy and no-leaf conditions. The analysis of low-entropy marsh scattering showed that both the scattering-type magnitude and phas- - e alphas and Phi{sub alpha} s, respectively, as well as the maximum polarization intensity of the dominant scattering m, are needed for a better understanding of marsh complex scattering mechanisms. The unique information provided by the new roll-invariant decomposition parameters are demonstrated using repeat-pass Convair-580 polarimetric C-band SAR data collected in June and October 1995 over the RAMSAR Mer Bleue wetland site near Ottawa (Canada).« less

Biodegradable and Biocompatible Biomaterial, Polyhydroxybutyrate, Produced by an Indigenous Vibrio sp. BM-1 Isolated from Marine Environment

PubMed Central

Wei, Yu-Hong; Chen, Wei-Chuan; Wu, Ho-Shing; Janarthanan, Om-Murugan

2011-01-01

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is one of the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) which has biodegradable and biocompatible properties. They are adopted in the biomedical field, in, for example, medical implants and drug delivery carriers. This study seeks to promote the production of PHB by Vibrio sp. BM-1, isolated from a marine environment by improving constituents of medium and implementing an appropriate fermentation strategy. This study successfully developed a glycerol-yeast extract-tryptone (GYT) medium that can facilitate the growth of Vibrio sp. BM-1 and lead to the production of 1.4 g/L PHB at 20 h cultivation. This study also shows that 1.57 g/L PHB concentration and 16% PHB content were achieved, respectively, when Vibrio sp. BM-1 was cultivated with MS-GYT medium (mineral salts-supplemented GYT medium) for 12 h. Both cell dry weight (CDW) and residual CDW remained constant at around 8.2 g/L and 8.0 g/L after the 12 h of cultivation, until the end of the experiment. However, both 16% of PHB content and 1.57 g/L of PHB production decreased rapidly to 3% and 0.25 g/L, respectively from 12 h of cultivation to 40 h of cultivation. The results suggest that the secretion of PHB depolymerase that might be caused by the addition of mineral salts reduced PHB after 12 h of cultivation. However, work will be done to explain the effect of adding mineral salts on the production of PHB by Vibrio sp. BM-1 in the near future. PMID:21731553

Biodegradable and biocompatible biomaterial, polyhydroxybutyrate, produced by an indigenous Vibrio sp. BM-1 isolated from marine environment.

PubMed

Wei, Yu-Hong; Chen, Wei-Chuan; Wu, Ho-Shing; Janarthanan, Om-Murugan

2011-01-01

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is one of the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) which has biodegradable and biocompatible properties. They are adopted in the biomedical field, in, for example, medical implants and drug delivery carriers. This study seeks to promote the production of PHB by Vibrio sp. BM-1, isolated from a marine environment by improving constituents of medium and implementing an appropriate fermentation strategy. This study successfully developed a glycerol-yeast extract-tryptone (GYT) medium that can facilitate the growth of Vibrio sp. BM-1 and lead to the production of 1.4 g/L PHB at 20 h cultivation. This study also shows that 1.57 g/L PHB concentration and 16% PHB content were achieved, respectively, when Vibrio sp. BM-1 was cultivated with MS-GYT medium (mineral salts-supplemented GYT medium) for 12 h. Both cell dry weight (CDW) and residual CDW remained constant at around 8.2 g/L and 8.0 g/L after the 12 h of cultivation, until the end of the experiment. However, both 16% of PHB content and 1.57 g/L of PHB production decreased rapidly to 3% and 0.25 g/L, respectively from 12 h of cultivation to 40 h of cultivation. The results suggest that the secretion of PHB depolymerase that might be caused by the addition of mineral salts reduced PHB after 12 h of cultivation. However, work will be done to explain the effect of adding mineral salts on the production of PHB by Vibrio sp. BM-1 in the near future.

Multicenter Prospective Study of Angiogenesis Polymorphism Validation in HCC Patients Treated with Sorafenib. An INNOVATE Study Protocol.

PubMed

Casadei Gardini, Andrea; Faloppi, Luca; Aprile, Giuseppe; Brunetti, Oronzo; Caparello, Chiara; Corbelli, Jody; Chessa, Luchino; Bruno, Daniele; Ercolani, Giorgio; Leonetti, Alessandro; de Stefano, Giorgio; Farella, Nunzia; Foschi, Francesco Giuseppe; Lanzi, Arianna; Dadduzio, Vincenzo; Marisi, Giorgia; Masi, Gianluca; Negri, Francesca V; Pagan, Flavia; Santini, Daniele; Scarpi, Emanuela; Silletta, Marianna; Silvestris, Nicola; Tamburini, Emiliano; Tassinari, Davide; Vivaldi, Caterina; Gentilucci, Umberto Vespasiani; Zagonel, Vittorina; Calvetti, Lorenzo; Cascinu, Stefano; Frassineti, Giovanni Luca; Scartozzi, Mario

2017-12-01

Introduction Although sorafenib is the upfront standard of care for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), molecular predictors of efficacy have not been identified yet. In the ALICE-1 study, rs2010963 of VEGF-A and VEGF-C proved to be independent predictive factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in multivariate analysis. The ALICE-1 study results were confirmed in the ALICE-2 study, in which VEGF and VEGFR SNPs were analyzed. In the ePHAS study we analyzed the SNPs of eNOS. In univariate analysis, patients homozygous for an eNOS haplotype (HT1: T-4b at eNOS-786/eNOS VNTR) had significantly shorter median PFS and OS than those with other haplotypes. These data were confirmed in the validation set. Methods This nonpharmacological, interventional, prospective multicenter study aims to determine whether eNOS, HIF-1, VEGF, Ang2 and VEGFR polymorphisms play a role in predicting the objective response rate, PFS, and OS of advanced HCC patients treated with sorafenib. The study will involve 160 advanced HCC patients with Child-Pugh class A disease. The primary aim is to validate the prognostic or predictive roles of eNOS, Ang2, HIF-1, VEGF and VEGFR polymorphisms in relation to the clinical outcome (PFS) of HCC patients treated with sorafenib. Conclusions Overall, our data may suggest that polymorphism analysis of the VEGF, VEGFR-2, HIF and eNOS genes can identify HCC patients who are more likely to benefit from sorafenib.

Cloning of the Alcaligenes latus polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis genes and use of these genes for enhanced production of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) in Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Choi, J I; Lee, S Y; Han, K

1998-12-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are microbial polyesters that can be used as completely biodegradable polymers, but the high production cost prevents their use in a wide range of applications. Recombinant Escherichia coli strains harboring the Ralstonia eutropha PHA biosynthesis genes have been reported to have several advantages as PHA producers compared with wild-type PHA-producing bacteria. However, the PHA productivity (amount of PHA produced per unit volume per unit time) obtained with these recombinant E. coli strains has been lower than that obtained with the wild-type bacterium Alcaligenes latus. To endow the potentially superior PHA biosynthetic machinery to E. coli, we cloned the PHA biosynthesis genes from A. latus. The three PHA biosynthesis genes formed an operon with the order PHA synthase, beta-ketothiolase, and reductase genes and were constitutively expressed from the natural promoter in E. coli. Recombinant E. coli strains harboring the A. latus PHA biosynthesis genes accumulated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), a model PHA product, more efficiently than those harboring the R. eutropha genes. With a pH-stat fed-batch culture of recombinant E. coli harboring a stable plasmid containing the A. latus PHA biosynthesis genes, final cell and PHB concentrations of 194.1 and 141.6 g/liter, respectively, were obtained, resulting in a high productivity of 4.63 g of PHB/liter/h. This improvement should allow recombinant E. coli to be used for the production of PHB with a high level of economic competitiveness.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis in transgenic plants as a new tool to study carbon flow through beta-oxidation.

PubMed

Mittendorf, V; Bongcam, V; Allenbach, L; Coullerez, G; Martini, N; Poirier, Y

1999-10-01

Transgenic plants producing peroxisomal polyhydroxy- alkanoate (PHA) from intermediates of fatty acid degradation were used to study carbon flow through the beta-oxidation cycle. Growth of transgenic plants in media containing fatty acids conjugated to Tween detergents resulted in an increased accumulation of PHA and incorporation into the polyester of monomers derived from the beta-oxidation of these fatty acids. Tween-laurate was a stronger inducer of beta-oxidation, as measured by acyl-CoA oxidase activity, and a more potent modulator of PHA quantity and monomer composition than Tween-oleate. Plants co-expressing a peroxisomal PHA synthase with a capryl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase from Cuphea lanceolata produced eightfold more PHA compared to plants expressing only the PHA synthase. PHA produced in double transgenic plants contained mainly saturated monomers ranging from 6 to 10 carbons, indicating an enhanced flow of capric acid towards beta-oxidation. Together, these results support the hypothesis that plant cells have mechanisms which sense levels of free or esterified unusual fatty acids, resulting in changes in the activity of the beta-oxidation cycle as well as removal and degradation of these unusual fatty acids through beta-oxidation. Such enhanced flow of fatty acids through beta-oxidation can be utilized to modulate the amount and composition of PHA produced in transgenic plants. Furthermore, synthesis of PHAs in plants can be used as a new tool to study the quality and relative quantity of the carbon flow through beta-oxidation as well as to analyse the degradation pathway of unusual fatty acids.

Prospecting for Marine Bacteria for Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production on Low-Cost Substrates

PubMed Central

Takahashi, Rodrigo Yoji Uwamori; Castilho, Nathalia Aparecida Santos; da Silva, Marcus Adonai Castro; Miotto, Maria Cecilia; Lima, André Oliveira de Souza

2017-01-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of biopolymers with numerous applications, but the high cost of production has prevented their use. To reduce this cost, there is a prospect for strains with a high PHA production and the ability to grow in low-cost by-products. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate marine bacteria capable of producing PHA. Using Nile red, 30 organisms among 155 were identified as PHA producers in the medium containing starch, and 27, 33, 22 and 10 strains were found to be positive in media supplemented with carboxymethyl cellulose, glycerol, glucose and Tween 80, respectively. Among the organisms studied, two isolates, LAMA 677 and LAMA 685, showed strong potential to produce PHA with the use of glycerol as the carbon source, and were selected for further studies. In the experiment used to characterize the growth kinetics, LAMA 677 presented a higher maximum specific growth rate (µmax = 0.087 h−1) than LAMA 685 (µmax = 0.049 h−1). LAMA 677 also reached a D-3-hydroxybutyrate (P(3HB)) content of 78.63% (dry biomass), which was 3.5 times higher than that of LAMA 685. In the assay of the production of P(3HB) from low-cost substrates (seawater and biodiesel waste glycerol), LAMA 677 reached a polymer content of 31.7%, while LAMA 685 reached 53.6%. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the selected marine strains have the potential to produce PHA, and seawater and waste glycerol may be alternative substrates for the production of this polymer. PMID:28952539

Synthesis of Medium-Chain-Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate Homopolymers, Random Copolymers, and Block Copolymers by an Engineered Strain of Pseudomonas entomophila.

PubMed

Wang, Ying; Chung, Ahleum; Chen, Guo-Qiang

2017-04-01

Medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHAs), widely used in medical area, are commonly synthesized by Pseudomonas spp. This study tries to use β-oxidation pathways engineered P. entomophila to achieve single source of a series of mcl-monomers for microbial production of PHA homopolymers. The effort is proven successful for the first time to obtain a wide range of mcl-PHA homopolymers from engineered P. entomophila LAC23 grown on various fatty acids, respectively, ranging from poly(3-hydroxyheptanoate) to poly(3-hydroxytetradecanoate). Effects of a PHA monomer chain length on thermal and crystallization properties including the changes of T m , T g , and T d5% are investigated. Additionally, strain LAC23 is used to synthesize random copolymers of 3-hydroxyoctanoate (3HO) and 3-hydroxydodecanoate (3HDD) or 3-hydroxytetradecanoates, their compositions could be controlled by adjusting the ratios of two related fatty acids. Meanwhile, block copolymer P(3HO)-b-P(3HDD) is synthesized by the same strain. It is found for the first time that even- and odd number mcl-PHA homopolymers have different physical properties. When the gene of the PHA synthase in the engineered P. entomophila is replaced by phaC from Aeromonas hydrophila 4AK4, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-30 mol%-3-hydroxyhexanoate) is synthesized. Therefore, P. entomophila can be used to synthesize the whole range of PHA (C7-C14) homopolymers, random- and block copolymers. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Bio-oil upgrading strategies to improve PHA production from selected aerobic mixed cultures.

PubMed

Moita Fidalgo, Rita; Ortigueira, Joana; Freches, André; Pelica, João; Gonçalves, Magarida; Mendes, Benilde; Lemos, Paulo C

2014-06-25

Recent research on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) has focused on developing cost-effective production processes using low-value or industrial waste/surplus as substrate. One of such substrates is the liquid fraction resulting from pyrolysis processes, bio-oil. In this study, valorisation of bio-oil through PHA production was investigated. The impact of the complex bio-oil matrix on PHA production by an enriched mixed culture was examined. The performance of the direct utilization of pure bio-oil was compared with the utilization of three defined substrates contained in this bio-oil: acetate, glucose and xylose. When compared with acetate, bio-oil revealed lower capacity for polymer production as a result of a lower polymer yield on substrate and a lower PHA cell content. Two strategies for bio-oil upgrade were performed, anaerobic fermentation and vacuum distillation, and the resulting liquid streams were tested for polymer production. The first one was enriched in volatile fatty acids and the second one mainly on phenolic and long-chain fatty acids. PHA accumulation assays using the upgraded bio-oils attained polymer yields on substrate similar or higher than the one achieved with acetate, although with a lower PHA content. The capacity to use the enriched fractions for polymer production has yet to be optimized. The anaerobic digestion of bio-oil could also open-up the possibility to use the fermented bio-oil directly in the enrichment process of the mixed culture. This would increase the selective pressure toward an optimized PHA accumulating culture selection. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Binary polyhydroxyalkanoate systems for soft tissue engineering.

PubMed

Lukasiewicz, Barbara; Basnett, Pooja; Nigmatullin, Rinat; Matharu, Rupy; Knowles, Jonathan C; Roy, Ipsita

2018-04-15

Progress in tissue engineering is dependent on the availability of suitable biomaterials. In an effort to overcome the brittleness of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P(3HB), a natural biodegradable polyester, and widen its biomedical applications, plasticising of P(3HB) with oligomeric substances of related structure has been studied. A biosynthesised medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA) copolymer, the plasticiser precursor, was obtained using vegetable waste frying oil as a sole carbon source. The mcl-PHA was transformed into an oligomeric derivative by acid hydrolysis. The plasticising effect of the oligomeric mcl-PHA on P(3HB) was studied via characterisation of thermal and mechanical properties of the blends in the course of ageing at ambient conditions. Addition of oligomeric mcl-PHA to P(3HB) resulted in softer and more flexible materials based entirely on PHAs. It was shown that the oligomeric mcl-PHA transformed highly crystalline P(3HB) into materials with a dominant amorphous phase when the content of oligomeric mcl-PHA exceeded 10 wt%. In vitro biocompatibility studies of the new binary PHA materials showed high viability and proliferation of C2C12 myoblast cells. Thus, the proposed approach for P(3HB) plasticisation has the potential for the generation of more pliable biomaterials based on P(3HB) which can find application in unique soft tissue engineering applications where a balance between stiffness, tensile strength and ductility is required. Polyhydroxyalkanoates, a broad family of natural biodegradable and biocompatible polymers, have emerged as highly promising biomaterials both for bulk and biomedical applications. Here we describe an approach to tune the mechanical properties of stiff and brittle poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and thereby to expand its potential biomedical applications. Plasticisation, a common practice in the plastic industry to modify polymer mechanical properties, has been used very cautiously for biomedical applications due to plasticiser toxicity and migration. We have developed a plasticiser for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) based on a structurally related but softer and pliable medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate. Additives of oligomeric derivatives of this polymer improved ductility of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), greatly widening the future applicability of this well-established biomaterial. In parallel, the binary polyhydroxyalkanoate materials also exhibited improved cell attachment and proliferation, a highly desirable outcome. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Public Health Activist Skills Pyramid: A Model for Implementing Health in All Policies.

PubMed

Damari, Behzad; Ehsani Chimeh, Elham

2017-01-01

Affecting public health for society requires various competencies. In fact, the prerequisite for the implementation of health in all policies should be effectiveness of public health activists (PHAs) in these competencies. This study aims to determine the competencies of the activists in public health. The present qualitative study reviewed the literature and adopted qualitative methods like content analysis, stakeholder interviews, and conducted focus group discussions with related experts. In each stage, the required competencies were extracted through drawing the main action processes of a PHA. Thereafter, the authors reached an ultimately best-suited working model by classifying and approving extracted competencies. The competencies comprise a pyramid set of three main categories of basic, specialized/professional, and individual updating competencies. Personal management, communication, teamwork, project management, ability to apply principles and concepts of public health, anatomy, physiology, and pathology in the organizations of the society should be included in the basic category. Specialized skills should include ability to plan, public participation, intersectoral collaboration, social marketing, working with the media/media friendly attitude, advocacy, research management and knowledge translation, evaluation of health programs, network establishment and management, deployment and institutionalization, operational research, empowerment and consultation, and protocol and service pack design. Last but not least, individual updating is defined as being informed of the latest scientific articles and reports about health and its situation in different countries as well as determinants that affect health. Implementation of this pyramid requires design and establishment of specific centers for transferring effective public health competencies. This pyramid has also functional use for the revision of educational curriculums in all health study fields. Moreover, it is helpful in designing virtual health education courses and the update of employees in entire parts of society pertaining to the health sector.

Polyhydroxyalkanoate production by a novel bacterium Massilia sp. UMI-21 isolated from seaweed, and molecular cloning of its polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene.

PubMed

Han, Xuerong; Satoh, Yasuharu; Kuriki, Yumi; Seino, Teruyuki; Fujita, Shinji; Suda, Takanori; Kobayashi, Takanori; Tajima, Kenji

2014-11-01

We successfully isolated one microorganism (UMI-21) from Ulva, a green algae that contains starch. The strain UMI-21 can produce polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from starch, maltotriose, or maltose as a sole carbon source. Taxonomic studies and 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that strain UMI-21 was phylogenetically related to species of the genus Massilia. The PHA content under the cultivation condition using a 10-L jar fermentor was 45.5% (w/w). This value was higher than that obtained after cultivation in a flask, suggesting the possibility of large-scale PHA production by UMI-21 from starch. A major issue for the industrial production of microbial PHAs is the very high production cost. Starch is a relatively inexpensive substrate that is also found in abundant seaweeds such as Ulva. Therefore, the strain isolated in this study may be very useful for producing PHA from seaweeds containing polysaccharides such as starch. In addition, a 3.7-kbp DNA fragment containing the whole PHA synthase gene (phaC) was obtained from the strain UMI-21. The results of open reading frame (ORF) analysis suggested that the DNA fragment contained two ORFs, which were composed of 1740 (phaC) and 564 bp (phaR). The deduced amino acid sequence of PhaC from strain UMI-21 shared high similarity with PhaC from Ralstonia eutropha, which is a representative PHA-producing bacterium with a class I PHA synthase. This is the first report for the cloning of the PHA synthase gene from Massilia species. Copyright © 2014 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Community proteomics provides functional insight into polyhydroxyalkanoate production by a mixed microbial culture cultivated on fermented dairy manure.

PubMed

Hanson, Andrea J; Guho, Nicholas M; Paszczynski, Andrzej J; Coats, Erik R

2016-09-01

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are bio-based, biodegradable polyesters that can be produced from organic-rich waste streams using mixed microbial cultures (MMCs). To maximize PHA production, MMCs are enriched for bacteria with a high polymer storage capacity through the application of aerobic dynamic feeding (ADF) in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR), which consequently induces a feast-famine metabolic response. Though the feast-famine response is generally understood empirically at a macro-level, the molecular level is less refined. The objective of this study was to investigate the microbial community composition and proteome profile of an enriched MMC cultivated on fermented dairy manure. The enriched MMC exhibited a feast-famine response and was capable of producing up to 40 % (wt. basis) PHA in a fed-batch reactor. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a microbial community dominated by Meganema, a known PHA-producing genus not often observed in high abundance in enrichment SBRs. The application of the proteomic methods two-dimensional electrophoresis and LC-MS/MS revealed PHA synthesis, energy generation, and protein synthesis prominently occurring during the feast phase, corroborating bulk solution variable observations and theoretical expectations. During the famine phase, nutrient transport, acyl-CoA metabolism, additional energy generation, and housekeeping functions were more pronounced, informing previously under-determined MMC functionality under famine conditions. During fed-batch PHA production, acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase and PHA granule-bound phasin proteins were in increased abundance relative to the SBR, supporting the higher PHA content observed. Collectively, the results provide unique microbial community structural and functional insight into feast-famine PHA production from waste feedstocks using MMCs.

[Improving Agricultural Safety of Soils Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by In Situ Bioremediation].

PubMed

Jiao, Hai-huan; Pan, Jian-gang; Xu, Shena-jun; Bai, Zhi-hui; Wang, Dong; Huang, Zhan-bin

2015-08-01

In order to reduce the risk of enrichment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in crops, reduce the potential hazards of food-sourced PAHs to human and increase the agricultural safety of PAHs contaminated soils, the bio-augmented removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was investigated through in situ remediation by introducing Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RS) into the agricultural soil contaminated by PAHs. The 50-times diluted RS was sprayed on leaf surface (in area B) or irrigated to roots (in area D). The treatment of spraying water of the equal amount was taken as the control (A) and the wheat field without any treatment as the blank (CK). Treatments were conducted since wheat seeding. Soil and wheat samples were collected in the mature period to analyze the changes of community structure of the soil microorganisms and the concentration of PAHs in soils and investigate the strengthening and restoration effects of RS on PAHs contaminated soils. Compared to the CK Area, the areas B and D revealed that the variation ratio of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) that were the biomarker of soil microorganisms was 29.6%, and the ratio of total PAHs removed was increased 1.59 times and 1.68 times, respectively. The dry weight of wheat grain of 50 spikes was increased by 8.95% and 12.5%, respectively, and the enrichment factor of total PAHs was decreased by 58.9% and 62.2% respectively in the wheat grains. All the results suggested that RS reduced enrichment of PAHs in wheat grains and increased wheat yield, which had great exploitation and utilization potentiality in repairing and improving the agricultural safety of the soils contaminated with PHAs.

Molecular cloning of the mouse gene coding for {alpha}{sub 2}-macroglobulin and targeting of the gene in embryonic stem cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Umans, L.; Serneels, L.; Hilliker, C.

1994-08-01

The authors have cloned the mouse gene coding for {alpha}{sub 2}-macroglobulin in overlapping {lambda} clones and have analyzed its structure. The gene contains 36 exons, coding for the 4.8-kb cDNA that we cloned previously. Including putative control elements in the 5{prime} flanking region, the gene covers about 45 kb. A region of 3.8 kb, stretching from 835 bases upstream of the cDNA start site to exon 4, including all intervening sequences, was sequenced completely. The analysis demonstrated that the putative promoter region of the mouse A2M gene differed considerably from the known promoter sequences of the human A2M gene andmore » of the rat acute-phas A2M gene. Comparison of the exon-intron structure of all known genes of the A2M family confirmed that the rat acute phase A2M gene is more closely related to the human gene than to the mouse A2M gene. To generate mice with the A2M gene inactivated, an insertion type of construct containing 7.5 kb of genomic DNA of the mouse strain 129/J, encompassing exons 16 to 19, was synthesized. A hygromycin marker gene was embedded in intron 17. After electroporation, 198 hygromycin-resistant ES cell lines were isolated and analyzed by Southern blotting. Five ES cell lines were obtained with one allele of the mouse A2M gene targeted by this insertion construct, demonstrating that the position and the characteristics of the vector served the intended goal.« less

Improved intracellular PHA determinations with novel spectrophotometric quantification methodologies based on Sudan black dye.

PubMed

Porras, Mauricio A; Villar, Marcelo A; Cubitto, María A

2018-05-01

The presence of intracellular polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) is usually studied using Sudan black dye solution (SB). In a previous work it was shown that the PHA could be directly quantified using the absorbance of SB fixed by PHA granules in wet cell samples. In the present paper, the optimum SB amount and the optimum conditions to be used for SB assays were determined following an experimental design by hybrid response surface methodology and desirability-function. In addition, a new methodology was developed in which it is shown that the amount of SB fixed by PHA granules can also be determined indirectly through the absorbance of the supernatant obtained from the stained cell samples. This alternative methodology allows a faster determination of the PHA content (involving 23 and 42 min for indirect and direct determinations, respectively), and can be undertaken by means of basic laboratory equipment and reagents. The correlation between PHA content in wet cell samples and the spectra of the SB stained supernatant was determined by means of multivariate and linear regression analysis. The best calibration adjustment (R 2  = 0.91, RSE: 1.56%), and the good PHA prediction obtained (RSE = 1.81%), shows that the proposed methodology constitutes a reasonably precise way for PHA content determination. Thus, this methodology could anticipate the probable results of the above mentioned direct PHA determination. Compared with the most used techniques described in the scientific literature, the combined implementation of these two methodologies seems to be one of the most economical and environmentally friendly, suitable for rapid monitoring of the intracellular PHA content. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quantification of polyhydroxyalkanoates in mixed and pure cultures biomass by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy: comparison of different approaches.

PubMed

Isak, I; Patel, M; Riddell, M; West, M; Bowers, T; Wijeyekoon, S; Lloyd, J

2016-08-01

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used in this study for the rapid quantification of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in mixed and pure culture bacterial biomass. Three different statistical analysis methods (regression, partial least squares (PLS) and nonlinear) were applied to the FTIR data and the results were plotted against the PHA values measured with the reference gas chromatography technique. All methods predicted PHA content in mixed culture biomass with comparable efficiency, indicated by similar residuals values. The PHA in these cultures ranged from low to medium concentration (0-44 wt% of dried biomass content). However, for the analysis of the combined mixed and pure culture biomass with PHA concentration ranging from low to high (0-93% of dried biomass content), the PLS method was most efficient. This paper reports, for the first time, the use of a single calibration model constructed with a combination of mixed and pure cultures covering a wide PHA range, for predicting PHA content in biomass. Currently no one universal method exists for processing FTIR data for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) quantification. This study compares three different methods of analysing FTIR data for quantification of PHAs in biomass. A new data-processing approach was proposed and the results were compared against existing literature methods. Most publications report PHA quantification of medium range in pure culture. However, in our study we encompassed both mixed and pure culture biomass containing a broader range of PHA in the calibration curve. The resulting prediction model is useful for rapid quantification of a wider range of PHA content in biomass. © 2016 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Industrial energy systems and assessment opportunities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barringer, Frank Leonard, III

Industrial energy assessments are performed primarily to increase energy system efficiency and reduce energy costs in industrial facilities. The most common energy systems are lighting, compressed air, steam, process heating, HVAC, pumping, and fan systems, and these systems are described in this document. ASME has produced energy assessment standards for four energy systems, and these systems include compressed air, steam, process heating, and pumping systems. ASHRAE has produced an energy assessment standard for HVAC systems. Software tools for energy systems were developed for the DOE, and there are software tools for almost all of the most common energy systems. The software tools are AIRMaster+ and LogTool for compressed air systems, SSAT and 3E Plus for steam systems, PHAST and 3E Plus for process heating systems, eQUEST for HVAC systems, PSAT for pumping systems, and FSAT for fan systems. The recommended assessment procedures described in this thesis are used to set up an energy assessment for an industrial facility, collect energy system data, and analyze the energy system data. The assessment recommendations (ARs) are opportunities to increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption for energy systems. A set of recommended assessment procedures and recommended assessment opportunities are presented for each of the most common energy systems. There are many assessment opportunities for industrial facilities, and this thesis describes forty-three ARs for the seven different energy systems. There are seven ARs for lighting systems, ten ARs for compressed air systems, eight ARs for boiler and steam systems, four ARs for process heating systems, six ARs for HVAC systems, and four ARs for both pumping and fan systems. Based on a history of past assessments, average potential energy savings and typical implementation costs are shared in this thesis for most ARs. Implementing these ARs will increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption for energy systems in industrial facilities. This thesis does not explain all energy saving ARs that are available, but does describe the most common ARs.

42 CFR 493.1299 - Standard: Postanalytic systems quality assessment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Standard: Postanalytic systems quality assessment... Nonwaived Testing Postanalytic Systems § 493.1299 Standard: Postanalytic systems quality assessment. (a) The....1291. (b) The postanalytic systems quality assessment must include a review of the effectiveness of...

42 CFR 493.1249 - Standard: Preanalytic systems quality assessment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Standard: Preanalytic systems quality assessment... Nonwaived Testing Preanalytic Systems § 493.1249 Standard: Preanalytic systems quality assessment. (a) The....1241 through 493.1242. (b) The preanalytic systems quality assessment must include a review of the...

Assessing Energy Efficiency Opportunities in US Industrial and Commercial Building Motor Systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rao, Prakash; Sheaffer, Paul; McKane, Aimee

2015-09-01

In 2002, the United States Department of Energy (USDOE) published an energy efficiency assessment of U.S. industrial sector motor systems titled United States Industrial Electric Motor Systems Market Opportunities Assessment. The assessment advanced motor system efficiency by providing a greater understanding of the energy consumption, use characteristics, and energy efficiency improvement potential of industrial sector motor systems in the U.S. Since 2002, regulations such as Minimum Energy Performance Standards, cost reductions for motor system components such as variable frequency drives, system-integrated motor-driven equipment, and awareness programs for motor system energy efficiency have changed the landscape of U.S. motor system energymore » consumption. To capture the new landscape, the USDOE has initiated a three-year Motor System Market Assessment (MSMA), led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). The MSMA will assess the energy consumption, operational and maintenance characteristics, and efficiency improvement opportunity of U.S. industrial sector and commercial building motor systems. As part of the MSMA, a significant effort is currently underway to conduct field assessments of motor systems from a sample of facilities representative of U.S. commercial and industrial motor system energy consumption. The Field Assessment Plan used for these assessments builds on recent LBNL research presented at EEMODS 2011 and EEMODS 2013 using methods for characterizing and determining regional motor system energy efficiency opportunities. This paper provides an update on the development and progress of the MSMA, focusing on the Field Assessment Plan and the framework for assessing the global supply chain for emerging motors and drive technologies.« less

42 CFR 493.1289 - Standard: Analytic systems quality assessment.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 42 Public Health 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Standard: Analytic systems quality assessment. 493... Nonwaived Testing Analytic Systems § 493.1289 Standard: Analytic systems quality assessment. (a) The... through 493.1283. (b) The analytic systems quality assessment must include a review of the effectiveness...

Strategies for efficiently selecting PHA producing mixed microbial cultures using complex feedstocks: Feast and famine regime and uncoupled carbon and nitrogen availabilities.

PubMed

Oliveira, Catarina S S; Silva, Carlos E; Carvalho, Gilda; Reis, Maria A

2017-07-25

Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) by open mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) has been attracting increasing interest as an alternative technology to PHA production by pure cultures, due to the potential for lower costs associated with the use of open systems (eliminating the requirement for sterile conditions) and the utilisation of cheap feedstock (industrial and agricultural wastes). Such technology relies on the efficient selection of an MMC enriched in PHA-accumulating organisms. Fermented cheese whey, a protein-rich complex feedstock, has been used previously to produce PHA using the feast and famine regime for selection of PHA accumulating cultures. While this selection strategy was found efficient when operated at relatively low organic loading rate (OLR, 2g-CODL -1 d -1 ), great instability and low selection efficiency of PHA accumulating organisms were observed when higher OLR (ca. 6g-CODL -1 d -1 ) was applied. High organic loading is desirable as a means to enhance PHA productivity. In the present study, a new selection strategy was tested with the aim of improving selection for high OLR. It was based on uncoupling carbon and nitrogen supply and was implemented and compared with the conventional feast and famine strategy. For this, two selection reactors were fed with fermented cheese whey applying an OLR of ca. 8.5g-CODL -1 (with 3.8g-CODL -1 resulting from organic acids and ethanol), and operated in parallel under similar conditions, except for the timing of nitrogen supplementation. Whereas in the conventional strategy nitrogen and carbon substrates were added simultaneously at the beginning of the cycle, in the uncoupled substrates strategy, nitrogen addition was delayed to the end of the feast phase (i.e. after exogenous carbon was exhausted). The two different strategies selected different PHA-storing microbial communities, dominated by Corynebacterium and a Xantomonadaceae, respectively with the conventional and the new approaches. The new strategy originated a more efficient PHA-production process than the conventional one (global PHA productivity of 6.09g-PHAL -1 d -1 and storage yield of 0.96 versus 2.55g-PHAL -1 d -1 and 0.86, respectively). Dissociation between the feast to famine length ratio (F/F) and storage efficiency was shown to be possible with the new strategy, allowing selection of an efficient PHA-storing culture with complex feedstock under high organic loading rates. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The System of Systems Architecture Feasibility Assessment Model

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

OF SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT MODEL by Stephen E. Gillespie June 2016 Dissertation Supervisor Eugene Paulo THIS PAGE...Dissertation 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE THE SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS ARCHITECTURE FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT MODEL 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 6. AUTHOR(S) Stephen E...SoS architecture feasibility assessment model (SoS-AFAM). Together, these extend current model- based systems engineering (MBSE) and SoS engineering

Architecture and Design Process of the Individualized Assessment System Integrable to Distance Education Softwares

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ozyurt, Hacer; Ozyurt, Ozcan; Baki, Adnan

2012-01-01

Assessment is one of the methods used for evaluation of the learning outputs. Nowadays, use of adaptive assessment systems estimating ability level and abilities of the students is becoming widespread instead of traditional assessment systems. Adaptive assessment system evaluates students not only according to their marks that they take in test…

42 CFR 431.832 - Reporting requirements for claims processing assessment systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... assessment systems. 431.832 Section 431.832 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES... GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Quality Control Medicaid Quality Control (mqc) Claims Processing Assessment System § 431.832 Reporting requirements for claims processing assessment systems. (a) The agency must submit...

21 CFR 866.6050 - Ovarian adnexal mass assessment score test system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Ovarian adnexal mass assessment score test system... immunological Test Systems § 866.6050 Ovarian adnexal mass assessment score test system. (a) Identification. An ovarian/adnexal mass assessment test system is a device that measures one or more proteins in serum or...

42 CFR 431.834 - Access to records: Claims processing assessment systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... ADMINISTRATION Quality Control Medicaid Quality Control (mqc) Claims Processing Assessment System § 431.834 Access to records: Claims processing assessment systems. The agency, upon written request, must provide HHS staff with access to all records pertaining to its MQC claims processing assessment system reviews...

Configuration Management Process Assessment Strategy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Henry, Thad

2014-01-01

Purpose: To propose a strategy for assessing the development and effectiveness of configuration management systems within Programs, Projects, and Design Activities performed by technical organizations and their supporting development contractors. Scope: Various entities CM Systems will be assessed dependent on Project Scope (DDT&E), Support Services and Acquisition Agreements. Approach: Model based structured against assessing organizations CM requirements including best practices maturity criteria. The model is tailored to the entity being assessed dependent on their CM system. The assessment approach provides objective feedback to Engineering and Project Management of the observed CM system maturity state versus the ideal state of the configuration management processes and outcomes(system). center dot Identifies strengths and risks versus audit gotcha's (findings/observations). center dot Used "recursively and iteratively" throughout program lifecycle at select points of need. (Typical assessments timing is Post PDR/Post CDR) center dot Ideal state criteria and maturity targets are reviewed with the assessed entity prior to an assessment (Tailoring) and is dependent on the assessed phase of the CM system. center dot Supports exit success criteria for Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews. center dot Gives a comprehensive CM system assessment which ultimately supports configuration verification activities.*

Applicability of Performance Assessment Tools to Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force C4 System of Systems Performance Assessment

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-01

application of existing assessment tools that may be applicable to Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Command, Control, Communications and...of existing assessment tools that may be applicable to Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4...assessment tools and analysis concepts that may be extended to the Marine Corps’ C4 System of Systems assessment methodology as a means to obtain a

42 CFR 431.836 - Corrective action under the MQC claims processing assessment system.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... assessment system. 431.836 Section 431.836 Public Health CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT... ADMINISTRATION Quality Control Medicaid Quality Control (mqc) Claims Processing Assessment System § 431.836 Corrective action under the MQC claims processing assessment system. The agency must— (a) Take action to...

An Improved Database System for Program Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Haga, Wayne; Morris, Gerard; Morrell, Joseph S.

2011-01-01

This research paper presents a database management system for tracking course assessment data and reporting related outcomes for program assessment. It improves on a database system previously presented by the authors and in use for two years. The database system presented is specific to assessment for ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and…

Comprehensive Assessment Systems: Purposes and Implementation. Research Watch. E&R Report No. 11.10

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Troy, Talbot

2011-01-01

A comprehensive assessment system is one in which three types of assessments: summative, benchmark, and formative assessments are routinely administered to all students in K-12 classrooms. The first part of this report summarizes the research on comprehensive assessment systems and provides clarity in terms of how each individual assessment type…

E-Assessment and Software Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Usener, Claus A.; Majchrzak, Tim A.; Kuchen, Herbert

2012-01-01

Purpose: To overcome the high manual effort of assessments for teaching personnel, e-assessment systems are used to assess students using information systems (IS). The purpose of this paper is to propose an extension of EASy, a system for e-assessment of exercises that require higher-order cognitive skills. The latest module allows assessing…

Exploring Moodle Functionality for Managing Open Distance Learning E-Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koneru, Indira

2017-01-01

Current and emerging technologies enable Open Distance Learning (ODL) institutions integrate e-Learning in innovative ways and add value to the existing teaching-learning and assessment processes. ODL e-Assessment systems have evolved from Computer Assisted/Aided Assessment (CAA) systems through intelligent assessment and feedback systems.…

12 CFR 607.4 - Assessment of other System entities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 6 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Assessment of other System entities. 607.4... APPORTIONMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES § 607.4 Assessment of other System entities. (a)(1) Unless otherwise... section, other System entities will be assessed for estimated direct expenses plus an allocated portion of...

12 CFR 607.4 - Assessment of other System entities.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 12 Banks and Banking 6 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Assessment of other System entities. 607.4... APPORTIONMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES § 607.4 Assessment of other System entities. (a)(1) Unless otherwise... section, other System entities will be assessed for estimated direct expenses plus an allocated portion of...

Development of Physical Therapy Practical Assessment System by Using Multisource Feedback

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hengsomboon, Ninwisan; Pasiphol, Shotiga; Sujiva, Siridej

2017-01-01

The purposes of the research were (1) to develop the physical therapy practical assessment system by using the multisource feedback (MSF) approach and (2) to investigate the effectiveness of the implementation of the developed physical therapy practical assessment system. The development of physical therapy practical assessment system by using MSF…

Rethinking and Restructuring an Assessment System via Effective Deployment of Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Okonkwo, Charity

2010-01-01

Every instructional process involves a strategic assessment system for a complete teaching-learning circle. Assessment system which is seriously challenged calls for a change in the approach. The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) assessment system at present is challenged. The large number of students and numerous courses offered by NOUN…

Technology for School-Based Assessment and Assessment for Learning: Development Principles from New Zealand

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hattie, John A. C.; Brown, Gavin T. L.

2008-01-01

National assessment systems can be enhanced with effective school-based assessment (SBA) that allows teachers to focus on improvement decisions. Modern computer-assisted technology systems are often used to deploy SBA systems. Since 2000, New Zealand has researched, developed, and deployed a national, computer-assisted SBA system. Eight major…

Assessment of capabilities in persons with advanced stage of dementia: Validation of The Montessori Assessment System (MAS).

PubMed

Erkes, Jérôme; Camp, Cameron J; Raffard, Stéphane; Gély-Nargeot And, Marie-Christine; Bayard, Sophie

2017-01-01

This study evaluated the validity and reliability of the Montessori Assessment System. The Montessori Assessment System assesses preserved abilities in persons with moderate to severe dementia. In this respect, this instrument provides crucial information for the development of effective person-centered care plans. A total of 196 persons with a diagnosis of dementia in the moderate to severe stages of dementia were recruited in 10 long-term care facilities in France. All participants completed the Montessori Assessment System, the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale and/or the Mini Mental State Examination and the Severe Impairment Battery-short form. The internal consistency and temporal stability of the Montessori Assessment System were high. Additionally, good construct and divergent validity were demonstrated. Factor analysis showed a one-factor structure. The Montessori Assessment System demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties while being a useful instrument to assess capabilities in persons with advanced stages of dementia and hence to develop person-centered plans of care.

Assessment of Operational Automated Guideway Systems - Airtrans (Phase II)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1980-01-01

This study, Phase II, completes the assessment of AIRTRANS, the automated guideway system located at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. The Phase I assessment report: "Assessment of Operational Automated Guideway Systems--AIRTRANS (Phase I)" (PB-261 339)...

"Winsight"™ Assessment System: Preliminary Theory of Action. Research Report. ETS RR-17-26

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wylie, E. Caroline

2017-01-01

The "Winsight"™Assessment System integrates summative, interim (including both benchmark assessments and testlets), and formative assessment components initially focused on mathematics and English language arts (ELA) in Grades 3-8 and high school.This report provides a preliminary theory of action for the Winsight Assessment System. A…