Acid Form Research Articles

Effects of Different Technological Forms of the Perilla frutescens in the Diet on Ruminal Fermentation, Milk and Plasma Fatty Acid Composition, Ruminal Biohydrogenation and Milk Quality in Dairy Goats.

Fatty acids can be protected by changing their structure or form against microbial activity, and the different forms of fatty acids can modulate the ruminal biohydrogenation rate and contribute to the desired fatty acid profile in milk fat. The study investigated the effects of perilla (Perilla frutescens) dietary supplementation in the diet in different technological forms (seed, oil and formaldehyde-treated oil) on milk, plasma and ruminal fatty acid composition, and milk quality in lactating goats. The four dietary treatments consisted of (1) no supplementation, basal diet (CON); (2) perilla supplementation as seed at 44.7g/kg (consisting of 20g/kg oil (PS)); (3) perilla supplementation as oil at 20g/kg (PO); (4) perilla supplementation as formaldehyde treated oil at 20g/kg (protected perilla oil [PPO]). The experiment was implemented in a double 4×4 Latin square trial design, and sampling was carried out for 7 days after 21 days of adaptation. Performance parameters were not affected by P. frutescens supplementation to the diet. PO decreased milk fat, whereas PPO increased milk fat. Milk cholesterol was not affected by P. frutescens dietary supplementation. Perilla oil supplementation in different forms to the diet did not affect ruminal pH, VFA and methane production. Perilla oil supplementation in different forms to the diet did not also affect the concentration of blood serum glucose, cholesterol and non-esterified fatty acids. Perilla supplementation to the diet increased the milk conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), C18:3n-3, C22:5n-3, C20:5n-3, C22:6n-3 and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations, and PPO group showed the greatest values. Ruminal palmitic (C16:0) acid was decreased, and in perilla groups, stearic acid (C18:0) concentration had the lowest, and ruminal c-9, t-11 CLA concentration had the highest value in PPO. It has been found that the most effective form of perilla oil in increasing milk quality is that with formaldehyde treatment (protected form). Perilla oil, which is a rich source of omega 3 in the diet, can be used to increase milk quality in goats without adversely affecting performance, ruminal fermentation and blood parameters.

Folates, bacteria and ageing: insights from the model organism C. elegans in the study of nutrition and ageing.

The relationship between nutrition and ageing is complex. The metabolism and synthesis of micronutrients within the gut microbiome can influence human health but is challenging to study. Furthermore, studying ageing in humans is time-consuming and difficult to control for environmental factors. Studies in model organisms can guide research efforts in this area. This review describes how the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans can be used to study how bacteria and diet influence ageing and inform follow-on studies in humans. It is known that certain bacteria accelerate ageing in C. elegans. This age-accelerating effect is prevented by inhibiting folate synthesis within the bacteria, and we propose that in the human microbiome, certain bacteria also accelerate ageing in a way that can be modulated by interfering with bacterial folate synthesis. Bacterial-derived folates do not promote ageing themselves; rather, ageing is accelerated by bacteria in some way, either through secondary metabolites or other bacterial activity, which is dependent on bacterial folate synthesis. In humans, it may be possible to inhibit bacterial folate synthesis in the human gut while maintaining healthy folate status in the body via food and supplementation. The supplement form of folic acid has a common breakdown product that can be used by bacteria to increase folate synthesis. Thus, supplementation with folic acid may not be good for health in certain circumstances such as in older people or those with an excess of proteobacteria in their microbiome. For these groups, alternative supplement strategies may be a safer way to ensure adequate folate levels.

Diammonium glycyrrhizinate ameliorates alcohol-induced liver injury by reducing oxidative stress, steatosis, and inflammation

Alcohol-induced liver injury (ALI) is a serious global health issue. Diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG), a pharmaceutical form of glycyrrhizic acid, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress properties. We investigated the potential hepatoprotective effects of DG against ALI and explored the mechanisms of it. In vivo, C57BL/6J mice were used to investigate the protective effect of DG on ALI induced by chronic plus binge alcohol exposure. In vitro, AML-12 cells were applied to evaluate the role of DDX5 in the hepatic protection of DG and explore the possible mechanism of STAT1 activation regulated by DDX5. The results showed that DG significantly alleviated liver injury, inflammation, and lipid deposition in hepatocytes. It also beneficially influenced oxidative stress dysregulation. RNA-seq expression in mouse liver tissue indicated that Dead-box helicase 5 (DDX5) might be a potential target of DG. Compared with the control group, the expression of DDX5 decreased significantly in the ethanol-fed group, while DDX5 was restored in the DG treatment group. In addition, the protective effects of DG against ALI were impaired by DDX5 deficiency. DDX5 inhibited the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) by recruiting the protein inhibitor of activated STAT1 (PIAS1) to STAT1. The protective effect of DG against ALI associated with oxidative stress, steatosis, and inflammation was probably via regulating the DDX5/STAT1 axis.

Cellulose Acetates in Hydrothermal Carbonization: A Green Pathway to Valorize Residual Bioplastics.

Bioplastics possess the potential to foster a sustainable circular plastic economy, but their end-of-life is still challenging. To sustainably overcome this problem, this work proposes the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of residual bioplastics as an alternative green path. The focus is on cellulose acetate - a bioplastic used for eyewear, cigarette filters and other applications - showing the proof of concept and the chemistry behind the conversion, including a reaction kinetics model. HTC of pure and commercial cellulose acetates was assessed under various operating conditions (180-250 °C and 0-6 h), with analyses on the solid and liquid products. Results show the peculiar behavior of these substrates under HTC. At 190-210 °C, the materials almost completely dissolve into the liquid phase, forming 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and organic acids. Above 220 °C, intermediates repolymerize into carbon-rich microspheres (secondary char), achieving solid yields up to 23 %, while itaconic and citric acid form. A comparison with pure substrates and additives demonstrates that the amounts of acetyl groups and derivatives of the plasticizers are crucial in catalyzing HTC reactions, creating a unique environment capable of leading to a total rearrangement of cellulose acetates. HTC can thus represent a cornerstone in establishing a biorefinery for residual cellulose acetate.

P57Kip2 Phosphorylation Modulates Its Localization, Stability, and Interactions.

p57Kip2 is a member of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) Interacting Protein/Kinase Inhibitory Protein (CIP/Kip) family that also includes p21Cip1/WAF1 and p27Kip1. Different from its siblings, few data are available about the p57Kip2 protein, especially in humans. Structurally, p57Kip2 is an intrinsically unstructured protein, a characteristic that confers functional flexibility with multiple transient interactions influencing the metabolism and roles of the protein. Being an IUP, its localization, stability, and binding to functional partners might be strongly modulated by post-translational modifications, especially phosphorylation. In this work, we investigated by two-dimensional analysis the phosphorylation pattern of p57Kip2 in different cellular models, revealing how the human protein appears to be extensively phosphorylated, compared to p21Cip1/WAF1 and p27Kip1. We further observed clear differences in the phosphoisoforms distributed in the cytosolic and nuclear compartments in asynchronous and synchronized cells. Particularly, the unmodified form is detectable only in the nucleus, while the more acidic forms are present in the cytoplasm. Most importantly, we found that the phosphorylation state of p57Kip2 influences the binding with some p57Kip2 partners, such as CDKs, LIMK1 and CRM1. Thus, it is necessary to completely identify the phosphorylated residues of the protein to fully unravel the roles of this CIP/Kip protein, which are still partially identified.

Formation and Applications of Typical Basic Protein-Based Heteroprotein Complex Coacervations.

Lactoferrin, lysozyme, and gelatin are three common basic proteins known for their ability to interact with acidic proteins (lactoglobulin, ovalbumin, casein, etc.) and form various supramolecular structures. Their basic nature makes them highly promising for interaction with other acidic proteins to form heteroprotein complex coacervation (HPCC) with a wide range of applications. This review extensively examines the structure, properties, and preparation methods of these basic proteins and delves into the internal and external factors influencing the formation of HPCC, including pH, ionic strength, mixing ratio, total protein concentration, temperature, and inherent protein properties. The applications of different HPCCs based on these three basic proteins are discussed, including the encapsulation of bioactive molecules, emulsion stabilization, protein separation and extraction, nanogel formation, and the development of formulas for infants. Furthermore, the challenges and issues that are encountered in the formation of heteroprotein complexes are addressed and summarized, shedding light on the complexities and considerations involved in utilizing HPCC technology in practical applications. By harnessing the basic proteins to interact with other proteins and to form complex coacervates, new opportunities arise for the development of functional food products with enhanced nutritional profiles and functional attributes.

Orthosilicic acid inhibits human osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption.

Silicon (Si), which is present in the diet in the bioavailable form of orthosilicic acid (OSA) and is detected as a dissolution product of certain bone-substitute materials, is suggested to promote bone health, and enhance bone healing, respectively. Silicon has been shown to stimulate osteoblastic cell differentiation and function, although the effect of Si on human osteoclasts is unclear. The present study investigated the direct effects of Si on human osteoclast differentiation, gene expression, and bone resorption. Human CD14+ monocytes were isolated from buffy coats and cultured with M-CSF and RANKL in medium without or with Si (50 μg/ml; constituting 75% OSA). The effects of Si on osteoclast differentiation were evaluated by TRAP-staining and the expression levels of CtsK, CalcR, TRAP, and DC-STAMP measured by RT-qPCR. The effect of Si on the expression level of AQP9, which encodes a potential Si transporter, was also analyzed. Bone resorption was determined based on the number of resorption pits formed when the RANKL-stimulated monocytes were cultured on bone slices, and by the levels of type I collagen fragments released into the cell culture medium. Silicon significantly inhibited the number of TRAP+ multinucleated cells and the expression of osteoclast related genes but increased the late expression of AQP9. Furthermore, Si significantly inhibited the number of resorption pits and the amount of collagen fragments in the medium when cells were cultured on bone slices. Our results demonstrate that OSA inhibits RANKL-stimulated human osteoclast differentiation, gene expression of osteoclast phenotypic markers, and bone resorption.

Neural network cognitive analysis of accumulation metals by marigold

The article presents the results of studies to assess the effect of humic acids, taken at a concentration of 250 ppm, on the process of induced phytoextraction of heavy metals from soils selected near Norilsk. Phytoxtraction was carried out by different types of marigold plants: Tagetes patula and Tagetes erecta. The studies were carried out in greenhouse conditions under controlled spectral illumination (light culture). The duration of the experiment was 21 days. A short vegetation period was chosen based on the conditions of a short summer period typical for this region, where it is more rational to keep records of the systemic removal of toxicants from contaminated soils by several cycles of their sowing/cutting per season, already at the juvenile phase of ontogenesis. For elemental analysis, the method of atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma was used. To assess the level of efficiency of metal accumulation, the authors developed and used the original computing neural network CompNN, which allows calculating the cognitive significance index (CSI) based on empirical data on the accumulation of toxicants, both in shoots and roots of plants. The results of the study showed that the introduction of an organic additive in the form of humic acids into the soil led to inhibition of the growth of the above-ground part of T. patula. As for T. erecta, the rate of accumulation of green plant biomass did not change when humic acids were added. The decrease in the biomass of shoots of T. patula plants is explained by an increase in the accumulation of metals in them by an average of 91.6% for the variants. The content of metals in the shoots of T. erecta under the influence of humic acids, on the contrary, decreased by 17.3% on average. A similar result was observed in relation to the root zone: the trend of change in the fixation of metals for both plant species here was 40.8 and 10.8%, respectively. Calculation of CSI indices also showed that the addition of humic acids in T. patula increases the intensity of metal accumulation from the soil in its biomass in all variants, while in T. erecta, on the contrary, it decreases. The performed cluster analysis demonstrated the fixation of metals in the main buffer zone of plants, and also made it possible to isolate nickel into a separate homogeneous series. With regard to the distribution of this element in the shoots by variants, experience has shown that it has demonstrated here the proximity of convergence with copper. The correlation coefficients of their accumulation with the CSI index in the shoots of both plants were r = 0.82; 0.87 for Cu and r = 0.87; 0.83 for Ni. The proximity of these values indicates the priority nature of the accumulation of these metals in the plant biomass of marigolds, and also characterizes the manifestation of certain interactions between them in contaminated soil by the type of antagonism or synergism.

Vapor Phase Electrochemistry 2: Spherical and Spheroidal Air Plasmas

Among the rare meteorological phenomena that exist are long-lived spheroidal air plasmas. Of these, lightning balls are best characterized. Closely related are earth-lights, tornadic lights and Unpredictable Flying Objects (UFOs). Early physicists took all such phenomena to be plasmas and would refer to them as electric fire or fireballs. Many physicists today do not accept that these light emitting objects are plasmas because they neglect a variety of influences that result from chemical change. Stability results mainly from entropy production as an ionized, metastable form of nitrous acid, produced at an air plasma surface, refrigerates the surface through its conversion to the stable acid. It is then oxidized to nitric acid in an aerosol form, which restricts the inflow of air to the plasma surface. This can explain the “ surface tension” of lightning balls early, as hypothesized by Stakhanov (1979). Studies of earth-lights (Teodorani, 2004) imply that these are plasma balls held together by the same forces as those providing mechanical stability to lightning balls. Studies of flame balls in space support this view. UFOs and earth-lights are structured similarly but the plasma components of UFOs can be held together by far stronger forces. Potentially, air plasmas have important technological implications since they are all powered by extracting and using chemical energy from the air. Crucially, this energy can only be extracted from air whose temperature is below 150 C. If air plasmas could be prepared artificially, they would prove invaluable in supplying ample carbon-free electrical energy.

Unveiling the Potential of Phytocannabinoids: Exploring Marijuana’s Lesser-Known Constituents for Neurological Disorders

Cannabis sativa is known for producing over 120 distinct phytocannabinoids, with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) being the most prominent, primarily in their acidic forms. Beyond Δ9-THC and CBD, a wide array of lesser-known phytocannabinoids, along with terpenes, flavonoids, and alkaloids, demonstrate diverse pharmacological activities, interacting with the endocannabinoid system (eCB) and other biological pathways. These compounds, characterized by phenolic structures and hydroxyl groups, possess lipophilic properties, allowing them to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) effectively. Notably, their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuro-modulatory effects position them as promising agents in treating neurodegenerative disorders. While research has extensively examined the neuropsychiatric and neuroprotective effects of Δ9-THC, other minor phytocannabinoids remain underexplored. Due to the well-established neuroprotective potential of CBD, there is growing interest in the therapeutic benefits of non-psychotropic minor phytocannabinoids (NMPs) in brain disorders. This review highlights the emerging research on these lesser-known compounds and their neuroprotective potential. It offers insights into their therapeutic applications across various major neurological conditions.

Valorization of oil refinery by-products: production of sophorolipids utilizing fatty acid distillates and their potential antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and antifungal activities.

Starmerella bombicola is a native yeast strain producing sophorolipids as secondary metabolites. This study explores the production, characterization, and biological activities of sophorolipids and investigates the antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and antifungal properties of sophorolipids produced from oil refinery wastes by the yeast Starmerella bombicola. The present work demonstrated that S. bombicola MTCC 1910 when grown in oil refinery wastes namely palm fatty acid distillates and soy fatty acid distillates enhanced the rate of sophorolipids production drastically in comparison to vegetable oil, sunflower oil used as hydrophobic feedstock. Sophorolipid yields were 18.14, 37.21, and 46.1g/L with sunflower oil, palm, and soy fatty acid distillates respectively. The crude biosurfactants were characterized using TLC, FTIR, and HPLC revealing to be acetylated sophorolipids containing both the acidic and lactonic isomeric forms. The surface lowering and emulsifying properties of the sophorolipids from refinery wastes were significantly higher than the sunflower oil-derived sophorolipids. Also, all the sophorolipids exhibited strong antibacterial properties (minimum inhibitory concentrations were between 50 and 200µgmL-1) against Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis and were validated with morphological analysis by Scanning electron microscopy. All the sophorolipids were potent biofilm inhibitors and eradicators (minimum biofilm inhibitory and eradication concentrations were between12.5to1000µgmL-1) for all the tested organisms. Furthermore, antifungal activities were also found to exhibit about 16-56% inhibition at 1mgmL-1 for fungal mycelial growth. Therefore, this endeavour of sophorolipids production using palm and soy fatty acid distillates not only opens up a window for the bioconversion of industrial wastes into productive biosurfactants but also concludes that sophorolipids from oil refinery wastes are potent antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and antifungal agents, highlighting their potential in biotechnological and medical applications.

Structural and Dynamical Properties of Nucleic Acid Hairpins Implicated in Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion Diseases.

Dynamic mutations in some human genes containing trinucleotide repeats are associated with severe neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders-known as Trinucleotide (or Triplet) Repeat Expansion Diseases (TREDs)-which arise when the repeat number of triplets expands beyond a critical threshold. While the mechanisms causing the DNA triplet expansion are complex and remain largely unknown, it is now recognized that the expandable repeats lead to the formation of nucleotide configurations with atypical structural characteristics that play a crucial role in TREDs. These nonstandard nucleic acid forms include single-stranded hairpins, Z-DNA, triplex structures, G-quartets and slipped-stranded duplexes. Of these, hairpin structures are the most prolific and are associated with the largest number of TREDs and have therefore been the focus of recent single-molecule FRET experiments and molecular dynamics investigations. Here, we review the structural and dynamical properties of nucleic acid hairpins that have emerged from these studies and the implications for repeat expansion mechanisms. The focus will be on CAG, GAC, CTG and GTC hairpins and their stems, their atomistic structures, their stability, and the important role played by structural interrupts.

Application of Pyroligneous Acid as a Plant Growth Stimulant Can Improve the Nutritional Value of Soybean Seed

Farmers today are using biochemical treatments to improve their crop yields. Commercialized organic biostimulants exist in the form of pyroligneous acid generated by burning agricultural waste products. During the 2023 growing season, we demonstrated that soil treatment with a commercial pyroligneous acid product, Coriphol™, manufactured by Corigin Solutions, Inc., stimulated plant growth and significantly improved yield with an optimal treatment dose of 2 gal. acre−1. In the present work, we examined the effect of this treatment on soybean nutritional content using seed harvested from the 2023 season. Total mean seed protein content for untreated control plants was 32.26 ± 0.49% of dry mass and increased 10.8% to 35.64 ± 0.64% with treatment. This increase resulted in a net reduction in total free amino acid content, although levels of the essential dietary amino acid, lysine, were boosted 6-fold. Total lipid content was unaffected by treatment with mean levels of 21.61 ± 0.70% of dry mass noted. Treatment, however, reduced saturated fatty acid content by roughly 40%, and reduced the polyunsaturated content of linoleic acid in favor of the monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid. Finally, Coriphol™ treatment did not impact seed content of eight essential micronutrients including Na, Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Mo, but did significantly boost Zn and Mn levels. Altogether, these results demonstrate that soil treatment with the growth stimulant Coriphol™ has the potential to improve the dietary nutritional value of soybean.

Structural Analysis and Substrate Specificity of D-Carbamoylase from Pseudomonas.

The synthesis of enantiomeric forms of D-amino acids can be achieved by a two-step "hydantoinase process" based on the sequential catalysis of substrates by specific enzymes, D-carbamoylase and D-hydantoinase. Here, we describe the structural features of D-carbamoylase from Pseudomonas, the encoded gene of which was chemically synthesized and cloned into Escherichia coli. A significant fraction of the overexpressed recombinant protein forms insoluble inclusion bodies, which are partially converted to a soluble state upon treatment with N-lauroylsarcosine or upon incubation of cells at 28 °C. Purified His-tagged protein exhibits the highest activity towards N-carbamoyl-D-alanine and N-carbamoyl-D-tryptophan. Comprehensive virtual analysis of the interactions of bulky carbamylated amino acids with D-carbamoylase provided valuable information. Molecular docking analysis revealed the location of the substrate binding site in the three-dimensional structure of D-carbamoylase. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the binding pocket of the enzyme in complex with N-carbamoyl-D-tryptophan was stabilized within 100 nanoseconds. The free energy data showed that Arg176 and Asn173 formed hydrogen bonds between the enzyme and substrates. The studies of D-carbamoylases and the properties of our previously obtained D-hydantoinase suggest the possibility of developing a harmonized biotechnological process for the production of new drugs and peptide hormones.

Effects of Cosolvent on the Intermolecular Interactions between an Analyte and a Gold Nanostar Surface Studied Using SERS.

For surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), reproducible solution-phase results are typically obtained using nanoparticles functionalized with surface-stabilizing molecules that can prevent the adsorption of analyte molecules with surface affinities lower than those of the stabilizing agent. Herein, we investigate the effects of intermolecular interactions between a nonthiolated analyte and cosolvent to facilitate and modulate analyte adsorption to gold nanostars. SERS, extinction spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations are employed in this regard. Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is utilized as a cosolvent in water to facilitate the detection of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) on anisotropic gold nanoparticles. Intermolecular interactions between the analyte, solvent, and surface are modulated by changing the solution composition to understand how THF facilitates the SERS detection of aspirin in THF-water cosolvents. SERS signals for 5 mM aspirin arise only in the presence of THF at and above 60 mM, while no signal with or without THF below 60 mM is observed. SERS detection of aspirin is hypothesized to depend on THF forming a hydrogen-bonded complex with aspirin that reduces aspirin hydrophobicity, thus stabilizing the acid form of the molecule and allowing it to weakly interact with the gold nanoparticles. The aspirin-THF complex adsorbs to the gold surface through π-orbital overlap between the aromatic ring and gold, where additional THF weakens orbital overlap. Understanding the mechanism by which organic cosolvents facilitate the SERS detection of nonthiolated analytes such as aspirin, in aqueous media, allows other cosolvents, nonthiolated analytes, and other surfaces to obtain a SERS signal in a variety of systems.

Comments on recently published papers reporting on the growth of bulk crystals based on aromatic amines or optically active forms of ascorbic acid

Comments on recently published papers reporting on the growth of bulk crystals based on aromatic amines or optically active forms of ascorbic acid

Late-life dietary folate restriction reduces biosynthesis without compromising healthspan in mice.

Folate is a vitamin required for cell growth and is present in fortified foods in the form of folic acid to prevent congenital abnormalities. The impact of low-folate status on life-long health is poorly understood. We found that limiting folate levels with the folate antagonist methotrexate increased the lifespan of yeast and worms. We then restricted folate intake in aged mice and measured various health metrics, metabolites, and gene expression signatures. Limiting folate intake decreased anabolic biosynthetic processes in mice and enhanced metabolic plasticity. Despite reduced serum folate levels in mice with limited folic acid intake, these animals maintained their weight and adiposity late in life, and we did not observe adverse health outcomes. These results argue that the effectiveness of folate dietary interventions may vary depending on an individual's age and sex. A higher folate intake is advantageous during the early stages of life to support cell divisions needed for proper development. However, a lower folate intake later in life may result in healthier aging.

Study on the preparation of a novel acrylic modified magnetic chitosan adsorbent and the adsorption behavior on Ga (III)

In the current study, a novel acrylic modified magnetic chitosan adsorbent (M- AA −CTS) was prepared, and then characterized using SEM, FTIR, and XPS. The preparation conditions, adsorption conditions, adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics were also studied. FTIR results indicate that acrylic acid is grafted onto the amino groups of chitosan in the form of poly acrylic acid and the amino groups are also crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. For the preparation process, the removal efficiency of Ga (III) ions is higher when the amount of acrylic acid is 3 mL, the reaction temperature is 308 K, the crosslinking time is 80 min, and the amount of glutaraldehyde is 0.6 mL. During the adsorption process, the higher adsorption capacity of Ga (III) ions can be achieved under the condition of the initial concentration of Ga (III) ions 50 mg/L, the adsorbent dose 0.05 g, the oscillation temperature 308 K and pH 3. The study on the adsorption kinetic indicates that the adsorption follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The study on isotherm adsorption and thermodynamic indicates that the adsorption isotherm fits the Langmuir isotherm model better and the saturated adsorption capacity of Ga (III) ions on M−CTS−AA can reach 183.09 mg/g. Study on desorption and regeneration shows that after four cycles of desorption and reuse, the regeneration rate decreased from the initial 91.47 % to 73.3 %.

MONITORING OF BENZOIC ACID LEVELS IN SOFT DRINKS CONSUMED IN ADEN, YEMEN

Benzoic acid is widely used as a food preservative due to its effectiveness in inhibiting the growth of yeast and mold. The undissociated form of benzoic acid is the most potent. In acidic beverages like soft drinks, benzoic acid can react with additives such as ascorbic acid to release benzene, which can pose health concerns. This study aimed to determine the levels of benzoic acid in soft drink samples commonly consumed in Aden, Yemen. Eighteen soft drink samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with a UV detector. The highest benzoic acid concentration was found in a FIFA orange sample at 173.87 ppm, while the lowest was 8.40 ppm in a DREAM red sample. Some samples, including MIRINDA orange, FANTA apple, and DILSI red, had no detectable levels of benzoic acid, despite their labels indicating its presence. Overall, the benzoic acid concentrations in all tested samples were within the permissible limits set by local, regional, and international standards.

Highly Transparent, Mechanically Robust, and Conductive Eutectogel Based on Oligoethylene Glycol and Deep Eutectic Solvent for Reliable Human Motions Sensing.

Recently, eutectogels have emerged as ideal candidates for flexible wearable strain sensors. However, the development of eutectogels with robust mechanical strength, high stretchability, excellent transparency, and desirable conductivity remains a challenge. Herein, a covalently cross-linked eutectogel was prepared by exploiting the high solubility of oligoethylene glycol in a polymerizable deep eutectic solvent (DES) form of acrylic acid (AA) and choline chloride (ChCl). The resulting eutectogel exhibited high transparency (90%), robust mechanical strength (up to 1.5 MPa), high stretchability (up to 962%), and desirable ionic conductivity (up to 1.22 mS cm-1). The resistive strain sensor fabricated from the eutectogel exhibits desirable linear sensitivity (GF: 1.66), wide response range (1-200%), and reliable stability (over 1000 cycles), enabling accurate monitoring of human motions (fingers, wrists, and footsteps). We believe that our DES-based eutectogel has great potential for applications in wearable strain sensors with high sensitivity and reliability.