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A yellow-pigmented, Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, non-motile, moderately thermophilic, rodshaped bacterium, designated strain CC-HSB-11 T , was isolated from a coastal hot spring of Green Island (Lutao), located off Taituang, Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that it shared ,94.4 % sequence similarity with Muricauda species. Menaquinone with six isoprene units (MK-6) was the major respiratory quinone and iso-C 15 : 0 , iso-C 15 : 1 G, iso-C 15 : 0 3-OH, iso-C 16 : 0 3-OH, iso-C 17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C 15 : 0 2-OH and/or C 16 : 1 v7c/t) were the predominant fatty acids. The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Six unidentified phospholipids and glycolipids also occurred as minor components. The DNA G+C content of strain CC-HSB-11 T was 46.4±1 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with other Muricauda species and differentiating fatty acid compositions and other phenotypic data, strain CC-HSB-11 T represents a novel species in the genus Muricauda, for which the name Muricauda lutaonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-HSB-11 T (5BCRC 17850 T 5KCTC 22339 T ).

Toxic releases from medical waste incineration comprising organic emissions such as polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxin/furan (PCDD/Fs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), inorganic emissions and ashes containing toxic metals have been reviewed. Attempts made by various investigators to reduce/eliminate emissions have also been included. Legislations concerning emission standards for medical waste incinerators have been discussed.

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Enteric fever due to Salmonella Typhi is a major public health problem. Typhoid carriers have high titres of Vi agglutinins in their sera. We worked out the baseline data for Vi agglutinins from 705 healthy blood donors (controls) by ELISA and compared it with 446 patients with biliary, gastrointestinal and other related diseases (cases). The samples were divided into five groups based on the disease condition of the patients from whom they were collected. Group A (n = 196) consisted of patients with stones in the gall bladder/common bile duct and Group B (n=27) with gall bladder carcinoma. Group C (n=33) comprised patients with carcinoma of the pancreas/ampulla, obstructive jaundice and/or cholangiocarcinoma. Group D (n = 112) had patients with acute/chronic pancreatitis, abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, peritonitis, carcinoma oesophagus, chronic diarrhoea, gastrointestinal bleeding and dyspepsia. Group E (n=78) included patients with miscellaneous diseases. The mean absorbance value obtained for healthy subjects +3 standard deviations was taken as the cut‐off value for a positive typhoid carrier. In Group A, 10.2% samples were positive; in Group B, 7.4%; in Group C, 12.0%; in Group D, 9.8% and in Group E, 9.0%. There was a highly significant (P<0.001) increase in the presence of Vi agglutinins in the cases compared to the controls. High prevalence of typhoid carriers occurs in patients with biliary, gastrointestinal and other related diseases. Vi serology employing highly purified Vi antigen offers a practical and cost‐effective way of screening for S. Typhi carriers.

Composites play significant role as engineering material and their use has been increasing day by day due to their specific properties such as high strength to weight ratios, high modulus to weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance. In present work, an attempt is made to hybridize the material using synthetic (glass) as well as natural fibres (chemically treated jute), such that to reduce the overall use of synthetic reinforcement, to reduce the overall cost, and to enhance the mechanical properties. All composite specimens with different weight percentages of fibres were manufactured using hand lay-up process and testing was done by using ASTM standards. Experimental results revealed that hybridization of composite with natural and synthetic fibres shows enhanced tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength. The content of natural reinforcement was found to be in the range of 25–33.3% for best results. The effect of treated jute on flexural properties was more than that on tensile properties, which was due to greater stiffness of jute fibers. Chemical treatment of jute fibers lowers the water absorption and results were comparable to glass fiber reinforced polyester composites. The addition of jute also reduced the overall cost by 22.18%.

This study was conducted with an objective to find the prevalence of extended spectrum betalactamase (ESBL) and metallobetalactamase (MBL) in P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii isolates obtained from various clinical samples. It was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bathinda, over a period of two years from July 2014 to June 2016. Clinical specimens including urine, pus, blood, high vaginal swabs, respiratory samples, and various body fluids were processed and P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii isolates were identified by standard protocols. Antibiotic sensitivity testing for all isolates was done using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Disc potentiation test was performed to check ESBL and MBL production in these bacteria. Maximum ESBL positive isolates of P. aeruginosa were observed among pus samples and maximum MBL positive isolates were detected in tracheal aspirates. A. baumannii showed maximum positivity for ESBL and MBL production in endotracheal secretions. This study gives an alarming sign towards high prevalence of cephalosporin and carbapenem resistance due to production of extended spectrum betalactamases and metallobetalactamases, respectively. Early detection, stringent antibiotic policies, and compliance towards infection control practices are the best defenses against these organisms.