Calcium Conductance Research Articles

Assessing the Impact of Saline Irrigation Water on Durum Wheat (cv. Faraj) Grown on Sandy and Clay Soils

In Morocco, saline irrigation significantly affects soil quality and reduces crop yields. This study evaluates the effect of salt stress on soil properties and the overall performance of the durum wheat variety “Faraj”, aiming to optimize production under saline conditions. A greenhouse experiment was conducted during the 2023–2024 season, using a completely randomized design (CRD) to assess soil properties, plant growth, and yield. Five salinity levels (0.2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 dS m−1) were applied to two soil types: silty-clay (S1) and sandy (S2). Results showed significant changes in soil properties, including increased pH, electrical conductivity, and accumulation of potassium, calcium, and magnesium in soil. Grain yield decreased significantly with increasing salinity, from 1.12 t ha−1 in freshwater to 0.12 t ha−1 at 16 dS m−1 in S1, and from 0.56 t ha−1 in freshwater to 0.12 t ha−1 at 16 dS m−1 in S2. Straw yield was less affected, with values of 1.24 and 1.16 t ha−1 for S1 and S2 at 12 dS m−1, decreasing to 0.80 and 0.55 t ha−1 at 16 dS m−1. The “Faraj” variety shows good tolerance to salinity up to 8 dS m−1 for grain yield and 12 dS m−1 for straw yield, making it particularly suitable for moderately saline environments.

Sustainable agriculture through qanat systems in Karabakh: Water and soil characteristics in the context of climate change

This study investigates the water quality and soil characteristics associated with qanat systems in the Cebrail district of the Karabakh region, Azerbaijan. Qanat systems, traditional underground channels designed for water transport, play a crucial role in providing reliable water sources for drinking and irrigation. Water and soil samples were collected from seven qanat systems and analyzed for various physicochemical properties. Water quality parameters included pH, electrical conductivity, hardness, mineralization, and concentrations of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and other ions. Soil analyses focused on pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, salinization degree, and the presence of key ions like sulfate and nitrate. The results indicated that qanat water is generally of high quality, with pH levels suitable for both drinking and irrigation. However, some qanat systems exhibited high electrical conductivity and mineralization levels, suggesting potential salinity issues for sensitive crops. Soil samples showed favorable conditions for agriculture, with good pH levels, low salinity, and high organic matter content. The analysis revealed a significant interaction between water quality and soil characteristics, emphasizing the importance of integrated management practices. In the context of climate change, the sustainability of qanat systems is critical. Recommendations include regular monitoring of water and soil quality, soil amendments to mitigate salinity, efficient irrigation techniques, and the use of climate-resilient infrastructure. This study underscores the importance of qanat systems in arid and semi-arid regions and provides practical recommendations for sustainable land and water resource management, enhancing the socio-economic well-being of local communities.

Astrocytic NMDA Receptors.

Astrocytic NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are heterotetramers, whose expression and properties are largely determined by their subunit composition. Astrocytic NMDARs are characterized by a low sensitivity to magnesium ions and low calcium conductivity. Their activation plays an important role in the regulation of various intracellular processes, such as gene expression and mitochondrial function. Astrocytic NMDARs are involved in calcium signaling in astrocytes and can act through the ionotropic and metabotropic pathways. Astrocytic NMDARs participate in the interactions of the neuroglia, thus affecting synaptic plasticity. They are also engaged in the astrocyte-vascular interactions and contribute to the regulation of vascular tone. Astrocytic NMDARs are involved in various pathologies, such as ischemia and hyperammonemia, and their blockade prevents negative changes in astrocytes during these diseases.

Individual NMDA receptor GluN2 subunit signaling domains differentially regulate the postnatal maturation of hippocampal excitatory synaptic transmission and plasticity but not dendritic morphology.

N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) at hippocampal excitatory synapses undergo a late postnatal shift in subunit composition, from an initial prevalence of GluN2B subunit incorporation to a later predominance of GluN2A. This GluN2B to GluN2A shift alters NMDAR calcium conductance dynamics and intracellular molecular signaling that are individually regulated by distinct GluN2 signaling domains and temporally align with developmental alterations in dendritic and synaptic plasticity. However, the impacts of individual GluN2B to GluN2A signaling domains on neuronal development remain unknown. Ionotropic and intracellular signaling domains of GluN2 subunits were separated by creating chimeric GluN2 subunits that were expressed in two transgenic mouse lines. Western blot and immunoprecipitation revealed that roughly one third of native synaptic NMDARs were replaced by transformed NMDARs without altering total synaptic NMDAR content. Schaffer collateral synaptic strength was transiently increased in acutely prepared hippocampal slices at just over 3 weeks of age in animals overexpressing the GluN2B carboxy terminus. Long-term potentiation (LTP) induction following lower frequency stimulation was regulated by GluN2 ionotropic signaling domains in an age-dependent manner and LTP maintenance was enhanced by overexpression of the GluN2B CTD in mature animals. After higher frequency stimulation, the induction and maintenance of LTP were increased in young adult animals overexpressing the GluN2B ionotropic signaling domains but reduced in juveniles just over 3 weeks of age. Confocal imaging of green fluorescent protein (GFP)- labeled CA1 pyramidal neurons revealed no alterations in dendritic morphology or spine density in mice expressing chimeric GluN2 subunits. These results illustrate how individual GluN2 subunit signaling domains do or do not control physiological and morphological development of hippocampal excitatory neurons and better clarify the neurobiological factors that govern hippocampal maturation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: A developmental reduction in the magnitude of hippocampal long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) and a concomitant improvement in spatial maze performance coincide with greater incorporation of GluN2A subunits into synaptic NMDARs. Corroborating our prior discovery that overexpression of GluN2A-type ionotropic signaling domains enables context-based navigation in immature mice, GluN2A-type ionotropic signaling domain overexpression reduces LTP induction threshold and magnitude in immature mice. Also, we previously found that GluN2B carboxy terminal domain (CTD) overexpression enhances long-term spatial memory in mature mice and now report that the GluN2B CTD is associated with greater amplitude of LTP after induction in mature mice. Thus, the late postnatal maturation of context encoding likely relies on a shift toward GluN2A-type ionotropic signaling and a reduction in the threshold to induce LTP while memory consolidation and LTP maintenance are regulated by GluN2B subunit CTD signaling.

The application of aeration and ozonation for E. coli inactivation in dairy manure slurry

Dairy industry is important for milk production and has substantial contribution to the California's economy. Dairy manure contains carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, which are beneficial to soil, however, dairy farms also produce manure, which impacts environment negatively, and manure-borne pathogens poses risks to public and animal health. In this research, a lab scale experiment was designed and a series of experiments were conducted to determine the impact of ozone and air injection on E. coli inactivation in liquid manure. Liquid manure was exposed to ozone and air for multiple durations (0 min, 60 min, 120 min, and 240 min) and E. coli levels were determined. Further, manure samples were analyzed for pH, salt content, potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), nitrate (NO3−), calcium (Ca2+), and electrical conductivity (EC, mS/cm). Results showed that Ozonation can be an effective treatment method to reduce E. coli levels in liquid manure. Further nitrate ions were reduced substantially by Ozonation. The analysis of variance (one way and two way) revealed significance difference in E. coli and nitrate reductions in liquid slurry among ozone and air treatments (p < 0.05). The study's results carry significance importance in terms of developing a simple field-scale method for reducing microbial and nutrient pollutions from dairy lagoon manure.

Water and sediment chemistry drivers of chlorophyll-a dynamics within a Ramsar declared floodplain pan wetland system.

Floodplain pans are hydrologically dynamic in nature and characterised by variables such as chlorophyll-a (chl-a), water, and sediment chemistry over their hydroperiods. The present study investigated the spatio-temporal variations in water and sediment physico-chemical, and chlorophyll-a concentration characteristics of six floodplain pans found in the Ramsar declared Makuleke wetlands, Kruger National Park, South Africa. The water and sediment physico-chemical variable values were generally elevated during the high-water period, whereas chlorophyll-a concentrations varied across pans and hydroperiod. Benthic chl-a concentration significantly varied across pans with concentrations ranging from 161 to 1036.2mg m2. The two-way ANOVA showed significant differences in benthic chl-a concentration among hydroperiods, and no significant differences were observed in pelagic chl-a across pans and hydroperiods. Generally, pelagic and benthic chl-a concentration increased as water and sediment chemistry variables increased. Furthermore, three sediment variables, i.e. pH, calcium, and magnesium, and water conductivity were found to be significant in structuring benthic chlorophyll-a dynamics in pans. However, none of the sediment and water variables had a significant effect on pelagic chl-a. Hydroperiod had a significant effect on influencing chl-a concentration, with high and low water level periods being characterised by low and high chl-a concentration, respectively. The n-MDS results showed strong overlaps in chl-a biomass among the Makuleke floodplain pans across hydroperiods. The increasing chl-a concentration in these floodplain pans due to potential bioturbation effects as a result of large mammals could potentially lead to eutrophication, which in turn could affect the system's primary productivity and aquatic biota. Therefore, it is important to establish a continuous monitoring programme on these pans to inform sound management decisions.

Encapsulation of flexible organic solar cells via parylene and alumina dyads

Robust encapsulation is indispensable for flexible organic solar cells (OSCs) moving into practical applications because the materials and interfaces of the cells are susceptible to water vapor and oxygen under illumination. Fleixble barrier films are one of the key parts of the encapsulation. In this work, we report the fabrication of flexible barrier films comprising of alternating parylene C and alumina dyads, and the application of these barrier films to encapsulate flexible OSCs. Parylene C layers are deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and dense alumina layers are grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD). The fabricated film comprising of three dyads of parylene C and alumina shows a low water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of 8.7 × 10−4 g m−2 day−1 (25 °C, 100% RH) devrived by calcium conductance test. Encapsulated OSCs could retain 80% of their initial efficiency after immersed into water for 624 h, and could retain 81% of their initial efficiency under continuous illumination for 1156 h in ambient atmosphere.

Effects of ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate on cardiac and mitochondrial function during donation after circulatory death heart transplantation

Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) allows assessment of therapeutic interventions prior to donation after circulatory death transplantation. Sodium-3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) increases cardiac output in heart failure patients and diminishes ischemia–reperfusion injury, presumably by improving mitochondrial metabolism. We investigated effects of 3-OHB on cardiac and mitochondrial function in transplanted hearts and in cardiac organoids. Donor pigs (n = 14) underwent circulatory death followed by NRP. Following static cold storage, hearts were transplanted into recipient pigs. 3-OHB or Ringer’s acetate infusions were initiated during NRP and after transplantation. We evaluated hemodynamics and mitochondrial function. 3-OHB mediated effects on contractility, relaxation, calcium, and conduction were tested in cardiac organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. Following NRP, 3-OHB increased cardiac output (P < 0.0001) by increasing stroke volume (P = 0.006), dP/dt (P = 0.02) and reducing arterial elastance (P = 0.02). Following transplantation, infusion of 3-OHB maintained mitochondrial respiration (P = 0.009) but caused inotropy-resistant vasoplegia that prevented weaning. In cardiac organoids, 3-OHB increased contraction amplitude (P = 0.002) and shortened contraction duration (P = 0.013) without affecting calcium handling or conduction velocity. 3-OHB had beneficial cardiac effects and may have a potential to secure cardiac function during heart transplantation. Further studies are needed to optimize administration practice in donors and recipients and to validate the effect on mitochondrial function.

The condition of agricultural soils in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia

In the context of sustainability and the use of natural resources, it has been often shown that agricultural soils do not reach their productive function to their full potential. The ability of the soil to provide plants with appropriate growing conditions is reduced due to soil degradation. Documenting soil conditions aimed at determining soil quality indicators in relation to soil management enables to identify the type and location of degradation in order to suggest corrective measures to farmers for the soil fertility improvement. Since the basis for the successful agricultural production is appropriate soil quality from one side, and the soil quality improvement, monitoring and protection are priority according to the current legal acts, the new European Soil Strategy for 2030 and the Soil Act planned for 2023 from another side, the soil testing laboratory of the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGKC) conducted the initial studies in 2019. Soil samples from the agricultural field in PGKC were tested using fast methods for following parameters: soil pH, total CaCO3, nitrate content, content of plant available phosphorus, potassium and magnesium, total calcium, aggregate stability and electrical conductivity. The test results idnicated the relative condition of the soil at different locations and in different crops. In addition, the results served as a basis for the sustainable soil management measures suggestion to the farmers in PGKC.

Effect of the transient voltage-dependent calcium conductance time constant on dynamical states in a mathematical model of snail RPa1 neurons

Effect of the transient voltage-dependent calcium conductance time constant on dynamical states in a mathematical model of snail RPa1 neurons

Distinguishing Different Hydrogen-Bonded Helices in Proteins by Efficient 1H-Detected Three-Dimensional Solid-State NMR.

Helical structures in proteins include not only α-helices but also 310 and π helices. These secondary structures differ in the registry of the C═O···H-N hydrogen bonds, which are i to i + 4 for α-helices, i to i + 3 for 310 helices, and i to i + 5 for π-helices. The standard NMR observable of protein secondary structures are chemical shifts, which are, however, insensitive to the precise type of helices. Here, we introduce a three-dimensional (3D) 1H-detected experiment that measures and assigns CO-HN cross-peaks to distinguish the different types of hydrogen-bonded helices. This hCOhNH experiment combines efficient cross-polarization from CO to HN with 13C, 15N, and 1H chemical shift correlation to detect the relative proximities of the COi-Hi+jN spin pairs. We demonstrate this experiment on the membrane-bound transmembrane domain of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein (ETM). We show that the C-terminal five residues of ETM form a 310-helix, whereas the rest of the transmembrane domain have COi-Hi+4N hydrogen bonds that are characteristic of α-helices. This result confirms the recent high-resolution solid-state NMR structure of the open state of ETM, which was solved in the absence of explicit hydrogen-bonding restraints. This C-terminal 310 helix may facilitate proton and calcium conduction across the hydrophobic gate of the channel. This hCOhNH experiment is generally applicable and can be used to distinguish not only different types of helices but also different types of β-strands and other hydrogen-bonded conformations in proteins.

Role of Divalent Co-Dopant as Structure Stabilizer in Scandia-Stabilized Zirconia Electrolyte for SOFC

The present investigation reports the role of divalent binary co-dopant (Ca2+) in 11 mol% scandia stabilized zirconia (11SSZ) electrolytes to resolve its severe long-term aging issue for application in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Dense electrolytes were formulated via the solid-state reaction method and their crystal structure was identified by X-ray diffractometer (XRD). To examine total electrical conductivity and its stability in oxidizing and reducing atmosphere DC four-point probe measurement was used. Among all the compositions, 0.2Ca11SSZ demonstrates the highest conductivity of 0.075 S cm−1 at 800 °C, with excellent stability of 6.7%/100 h in a reducing (97 vol% H2/3 vol% H2O) atmosphere. However, the presence of 0.5 mol% calcium in 11SSZ results in more than threefold suppression of aging rate compared to undoped11SSZ i.e. 2.19%/200 h in air atmosphere at 800 °C. Additionally, the doping of divalent Ca2+ widens the electrolytic domain up to pO2 ∼ 10−26 atm at 1000 °C compared to state-of-art 8YSZ (pO2 ∼ 10−22 atm), with 0.024% linear expansion on phase transition and 172 MPa flexural strength. Convincingly, the excellent structure stability and ionic conductivity of calcium co-doped 11SSZ compared to state-of-the-art electrolytes make them potential candidates to be used as an electrolyte for SOFC application.

High-resolution aerosol data from the top 3.8 kyr of the East Greenland Ice coring Project (EGRIP) ice core

Abstract. Here we present the high-resolution continuous flow analysis (CFA) data from the top 479 m of the East Greenland Ice coring Project (EGRIP) ice core covering the past 3.8 kyr. The data consist of 1 mm depth-resolution profiles of calcium, sodium, ammonium, nitrate, and electrolytic conductivity as well as decadal averages of these profiles. The nominally 1 mm data represent an oversampling of the record as the true resolution is limited by the analytical setup to approximately 1 cm. Alongside the data we provide a description of the measurement setup, procedures, the relevant references for the specific methods as well as an assessment of the precision of the measurements, the sample-to-depth assignment, and the depth and temporal resolution of the data set. The error in absolute depth assignment of the data may be on the order of 2 cm; however, relative depth offsets between the records of the individual species are only on the order of 1 mm. The presented data have sub-annual resolution over the entire depth range and have already formed part of the data for an annually layer-counted timescale for the EGRIP ice core used to improve and revise the multi-core Greenland ice-core chronology (GICC05) to a new version, GICC21 (Sinnl et al., 2022). The data are available in full 1 mm resolution and decadal averages on PANGAEA (https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.945293, Erhardt et al., 2022b).

Research on the structuring of water clusters in Chlorella vulgaris water suspension

Many bioactive compounds of natural origin have beneficial effects on human health and are used to treat different diseases. Chlorella is a genus of green algae with a high potential for producing biologically active substances. Exposure to extreme conditions can enhance its antioxidant activity and the production of concrete metabolites. C. vulgaris is cultivated in plantations. It is accessible in pharmacies and drugstores. The Health Act of 2005 in Bulgaria allows the therapeutic and prophylactic use of herbs, both independently by patients and as prescribed by a doctor. This study performed comparative spectral analyses of C. vulgaris using a 1% suspension of C. vulgaris in deionized water (v/v) by the methods of Non-equilibrium energy spectrum (NES) and Differential non-equilibrium energy spectrum (DNES). The research was performed in order to make indirect studies of the biological effects of C. vulgaris, which are connected with calcium conductivity and anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. The effects of structuring of water clusters by C. vulgaris were examined. The data from spectral analyses, connected with a peak at (E =-0.1312 eV)(?=9.45 ?m) (?=1058 cm-1), revealed anti-inflammatory effects. The anti-oxidant and anti-tumor effects of C. vulgaris were shown at (E=-0.1387 eV)(?=8.95 ?m)(?=1117 cm-1). The results showed effects of improvement of calcium conductivity and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumor effects of C. vulgaris on human health.

Participation of the cannabinoid system and the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway in serotonin-induced peripheral antinociception

It has already been shown that serotonin can release endocannabinoids at the spinal cord level, culminating in inhibition of the dorsal horn. At the peripheral level, cannabinoid receptors modulate primary afferent neurons by inhibiting calcium conductance and increasing potassium conductance. Studies have shown that after the activation of opioid receptors and cannabinoids, there is also the activation of the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway, inducing cellular hyperpolarization. In this study, we evaluated the participation of the cannabinoid system with subsequent activation of the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway in the peripheral antinociceptive effect of serotonin. The paw pressure test of mice was used in animals that had their sensitivity to pain increased due to an intraplantar injection of PGE2 (2 μg). Serotonin (250 ng/paw), administered locally in the right hind paw, induced antinociceptive effect. CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors antagonists, AM251 (20, 40 and 80 μg) and AM630 (25, 50 and 100 μg), respectively, reversed the serotonin-induced antinociceptive effect. MAFP (0.5 μg), an inhibitor of the FAAH enzyme that degrades anandamide, and JZL184 (3.75 μg), an inhibitor of the enzyme MAGL that degrades 2-AG, as well as the VDM11 (2.5 μg) inhibitor of anandamide reuptake, potentiated the antinociceptive effect induced by a low dose (62. 5 ng) of serotonin. In the evaluation of the participation of the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway, the antinociceptive effect of serotonin was reversed by the administration of the non-selective inhibitor of NOS isoforms L-NOarg (12.5, 25 and 50 μg) and by the selective inhibitor for the neuronal isoform LNPA (24 μg), as well as by the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ (25, 50 and 100 μg). Among potassium channel blockers, only Glibenclamide (20, 40 and 80 μg), an ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker, reversed the effect of serotonin. In addition, intraplantar administration of serotonin (250 ng) was shown to induce a significant increase in nitrite levels in the homogenate of the plantar surface of the paw of mice. Taken together, these data suggest that the antinociceptive effect of serotonin occurs by activation of the cannabinoid system with subsequent activation of the NO/cGMP/KATP pathway.

An approach for quantifying the calcium leaching effect on service performance of concrete cutoff wall of embankment dams

Calcium leaching is one of the essential diseases of concrete impermeable structures; therefore, an effective numerical approach to quantifying the effect of calcium leaching on concrete impermeable structures is critical for evaluating the long-term service performance of the structure. To this end, a seepage and dissolution coupling model for simulating the degradation of hydraulic concrete properties is proposed in this paper by introducing performance parameter evolutionary models based on saturated–unsaturated seepage and calcium dissolution and migration theories. The model is developed in COMSOL with a staggered solution scheme, and a detailed numerical implementation method is presented. The effectiveness of the proposed method is examined by laboratory calcium leaching tests. On this basis, the model was applied to evaluate the effect of calcium leaching on the service performance of a concrete cutoff wall (CCW) of an embankment dam in Shaanxi Province, China. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively reproduce the calcium leaching process of concrete, and the variation of leaching depth based on model simulations is highly consistent with the experimental results. Calcium leaching primarily occurs at the CCW’s upstream waterfront surface, bypass seepage area and the partition of adjacent soil layers where the permeability varies greatly. Under seepage dissolution, the amount of leached calcium, average porosity, diffusion coefficient and hydraulic conductivity of the CCW increased exponentially with service duration, and solid-phase calcium leaching was the underlying cause of structural performance degradation. The length of the seepage path in the CCW decreases as the service duration increases, and the hydraulic gradient within it gradually increases. Based on the allowable hydraulic gradient of CCW, the safe service life of the CCW considering the calcium leaching effect was determined to be approximately 52a.

Possibilities of re-use of spent shiitake (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegl.) mushroom substrate as an additive to the soil for blueberry growing

The efficiency of using spent shiitake mushroom substrate (SMS) (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegl.) for soil fertilization in blueberry cultivation technology has been investigated. A comparative analysis of the chemical composition of SMS and peat, as well as the chemical composition of the soil after their application for three years, was conducted. The study also assessed the microbial population and the content of total microbial biomass, as well as the direction of microbiological processes in the soil. In terms of chemical composition, SMS showed comparable results to peat, with a pH of 3.7, moisture content of 58–59%, organic matter content (expressed as Carbon) of 48%, total Nitrogen content of 1–1.7%, and a C:N ratio of 44.7–51.8 :1. Additionally, the SMS contained 0.43% total potassium, 0.37% total phosphorus, 0.42% calcium, and 0.17% magnesium. The evaluation of agrochemical and physical parameters of the loamy-podzolic soil after the application of SMS and peat showed that they were mostly at the same level. However, the soil treated with SMS exhibited advantages in organic matter content, nitrate nitrogen, water-soluble calcium, magnesium, sodium, and electrical conductivity, being 1.5–3 times higher compared to peat application. The results of the microbiological study indicated that the total microbial biomass and the number of microorganisms of the main ecological-trophic groups were higher in the soil with SMS application compared to the soil treated with peat. The introduction of SMS increased the population of mycelial organisms, such as micromycetes by 4.1 times and actinomycetes by nearly three times. Moreover, the application of SMS resulted in the deceleration of destructive processes in the loamypodzolic soil due to the presence of available sources of carbon and nitrogen for plants and microorganisms. This was evidenced by a 1.6-fold decrease in the coefficient of oligotrophy and a 1.4-fold decrease in pedotrophy. Based on the obtained data, the application of spent shiitake mushroom substrate for fertilizing loamy-podzolic soil was found to be beneficial, showing a positive impact on agrochemical and biological properties of the soil.

Surface Water Assessment using Water Quality Index: A case Study of the Euphrates River, Najafi, Iraq, by using the GIS Technique

The Water Quality Index (WQI) is a single, deferential metric for describing the state of water quality as a whole, which aids in the selection of effective remediation strategies. Fifteen surface water samples were taken from the Euphrates in the AlHaydria neighborhood of AL-Najaf (Iraq). Various physicochemical parameters, including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), calcium, chloride, sulfate, and electrical conductivity (EC), were measured to evaluate the quality of the surface water. All samples have a WQI between 25.92 and 47.22. Hasan - alsab (SW 14), Ali-Hajj Hassan (SW 4, SW 8), El-Hajj Abdel-Sayed (SW 10 to SW 12), and El-Hajj Abdel-Sayed (SW 12) have all recorded exceptionally high WQI values. There was generally good to moderate water quality across the research region.

The Effect of Biochar on the Salinity Reduction in Mung Bean Plant

The aim of research was investigation of biochar effect on salinity reduction in mung bean plant. The experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design with two replications and three treatments of saline, non-saline and saline + biochar. A silty soil was used for the plant substrate while calcium chloride and sodium chloride salts were employed in order to create the salinity levels in it. The results of variance analysis associated with the studied traits showed that the simple effects of salinity and plant organs as well as the interaction of salinity×plant organs on the calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sodium, potassium, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) levels are significant at a level of 1%. Also, the results of comparing the mean interaction of salinity×organ indicated that the highest calcium content in most cases is associated with the shoots. The biochar consumption has been found to reduce the calcium adsorption at high salinity in leaves and roots and increase it in the stem and pod. Increasing the calcium chloride and sodium chloride salinities in plant organs, the concentration of potassium decreased compared to calcium and with increasing salinity levels, the concentration of all mentioned elements increased in most treatments. The results showed that EC value was found to be improved by applying biochar. According to the results, effect of organ, salinity and organ× salinity on all characteristics was significant. It has been found that the salinity resistance mechanism of this plant is the salt tolerance through the accumulation of ions in its organs. Therefore, biochar can be used in the improvement of saline soils, for the optimal use of soil resources and saline waters.

Pore residues of transient receptor potential channels canonical 1 and 4 heteromer determine channel properties.

Transient receptor potential channels canonical 1 and 4 (TRPC1 and TRPC4) are proteins belonging to the same TRPC channel family, and the two are known to form a heterotetrameric channel. TRPC4 can form a homotetrameric, nonselective cation channel by itself, but the involvement of the TRPC1 subunit changes several major characteristics of the channel. In this study, we focused on the pore region (selectivity filter, pore helix, and S6 helix) of TRPC1 and TRPC4 as a determinant of the identity and characteristics of a heteromeric TRPC1/4 channel: decreased calcium permeability of the channel and outward-rectifying current-voltage (I-V) curve. Mutants and chimeras of the pore residues were created, and their currents were recorded using whole cell patch clamp. The lower gate mutants of TRPC4 exhibited diminished calcium permeability as measured by GCaMP6 fluorescence. Also, chimeric channels substituting the pore region of TRPC1 to TRPC4 were made to locate the pore region that is critical in the production of an outward-rectifying I-V curve characteristic of TRPC1/4 heteromeric channels.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Heteromer research has been a challenging field due to lack of structural studies. Using chimeras and single mutants, we present evidence that the pore region of TRPC1/4 heteromer contributes to determining the channel's characteristics such as calcium permeability, I-V curve, and conductance.