Cylinder-shaped NaY zeolite was used as an adsorbent for eradicating both heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, and Co2+) and proteins from the waste streams. As a pseudo-metal ion affinity adsorbent, NaY zeolite was used in the capture of heavy metal ions in the first stage. The amount (molar basis) of metal ions adsorbed onto NaY zeolite decreased in the order of Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Co2+ > Ni2+. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was utilized as a model of proteins used in the waste adsorption process by NaY zeolite. The adsorption capacities of NaY zeolite and Cu/NaY zeolite for BSA were 14.90 mg BSA/g zeolite and 84.61 mg BSA/g zeolite, respectively. Moreover, Cu/NaY zeolite was highly stable in the solutions made of 2 M NaCl, 500 mM imidazole or 125 mM EDTA solutions. These conditions indicated that the minimal probability of secondary contamination caused by metal ions and soluble proteins in the waste stream. This study demonstrates the potential of Cu/NaY zeolite complex as an efficient pseudo-metal chelate adsorbent that could remove metal ions and water-soluble proteins from wastewater concurrently.
Industrial enzymes are important for various biotechnological applications. Currently, the diversity of industrial enzymes-producing marine bacteria from Malaysia remains mostly unknown. This study investigated the diversity of industrial enzyme-producing marine bacteria from culture collections at the Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. Out of 200 bacterial isolates revived, 163 bacteria isolate were successfully growth. Marine bacteria produced enzymes with total scoring higher than four were selected for molecular identification using 16S rDNA. About 161 bacteria isolate secreted amylase (68.7 %), lipase (88.3 %) and protease (68.7 %). The phylogenetic analysis led to the identification of three major phyla, namely Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. These phyla were differentiated into nine genera consisted of Bacillus, Chryseomicrobium, Photobacterium, Pseudoalteromonas, Ruegeria, Shewanella, Solibacillus, Tenacibaculum and Vibrio. Genetic variation was more likely to occur within similar marine bacteria species. The microbial community was found to affect the production of industrial enzymes and the diversity of marine bacteria.
Deciding between palliative and overly aggressive therapies for advanced cancer patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with acute issues requires a prediction of their short-term survival. Various scoring systems have previously been studied in hospices or intensive care units, though they are unsuitable for use in the ED. We aim to examine the use of a shock index (SI) in predicting the 60-day survival of advanced cancer patients presenting to the ED. Identified high-risk patients and their families can then be counseled accordingly. Three hundred and five advanced cancer patients who presented to the EDs of three tertiary hospitals were recruited, and their data retrospectively analyzed. Relevant data regarding medical history and clinical presentation were extracted, and respective shock indices calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to evaluate the predictive performance of the SI. Nonsurvivors within 60 days had significantly lower body temperatures and blood pressure, as well as higher pulse rates, respiratory rates, and SI. Each 0.1 SI increment had an odds ratio of 1.39 with respect to 60-day mortality. The area under the ROC curve was 0.7511. At the optimal cut-off point of 0.94, the SI had 81.38% sensitivity and 73.11% accuracy. This makes the SI an ideal evaluation tool for rapidly predicting the 60-day mortality risk of advanced cancer patients presenting to the ED. Identified patients can be counseled accordingly, and they can be assisted in making informed decisions on the appropriate treatment goals reflective of their prognoses.
Serratia marcescens subsp.sakuensisstrain K27 was isolated from sponge (Haliclona amboinensis). The genome of this strain consists of 5,325,727 bp, with 5,140 open reading frames (ORFs), 3 rRNAs, and 67 tRNAs. It contains genes for the production of amylases, lipases, and proteases. Gene clusters for the biosynthesis of nonribosomal peptides and thiopeptide were also identified.