Discovery Of Oxygen Research Articles

From "processing" and "fermentation" to oxidative metabolism

The theory of the four humors or humorism (Hippocrates of Kos) viewed disease as an imbalance of the humors. Galen of Pergamon further developed the theory by describing digestion as a sequence of chemical reduction processes that convert into the various humours. Theophrastus von Hohenheim attempted to overcome humorism in the 16th century and establish medicine on a natural-philosophical-alchemical basis. The era of empirical-experimental chemically oriented medicine began with "iatrochemistry" in the 17th century. Franciscus Sylvius' concept of disease is based on an imbalance of acidic and alkaline fermentation. It was Lazarro Spallanzani who understood the digestive processes in the stomach as a chemical dissolution of food. The discovery of oxygen and the process of oxidation by Lavoisier laid the foundation for our understanding the physiology of metabolism.

The Road to Discovery of the Pulmonary Gas Exchange - From the "Phlogiston-" to the "Oxygen Theory"

The discovery of oxygen and pulmonary gas exchange was a major advancement in our understanding of breathing. For centuries it was believed that the lungs were primarily necessary to cool the heart or to "refine" the blood. Richard Lower (1631-1691) observed that the blood had a different colour before and after passage through the lung. His assumption was that breathing must have been added a special substance to the blood. Georg Ernst Stahl (1660-1734) formulated a fire substance "phlogiston" (phlox = flame) with his phlogiston theory. He postulated that phlogiston is contained in all combustible substances and escapes when burned. John Mayow (1641-1679) recognised that about one fifth of the breathing gas is important for the breathing process. He called the gas "spiritus nitro aerius". Oxygen was first discovered in the early 1770 s by the Swedish-German pharmacist Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786) and the English chemist Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) - independently of each other. Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794) recognised oxygen as element and for the first time described the oxidation process accurately.

Memorandum concerning Joseph Priestley

Abstract A previously unpublished memorandum on the life of Dr. Joseph Priestley written by Priestley’s former student, Benjamin Vaughan. Vaughan, who participated in the negotiations of the Treaty of Paris and served as a member of parliament, recounts the academic accomplishments, research interests and character of one of England’s most famous eighteenth-century polymaths. Vaughan’s reflections provide a first-hand account of the personal nature of Priestley, who helped fuel the scientific discoveries of the Enlightenment, including experiments that led to the discovery of oxygen. The original manuscript is available in the Benjamin Vaughan papers at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia.

History of Fire

Abstract The history of fire is an important and fascinating topic, yet it is not covered in any school or university syllabus. In the present article, the author argues a case for its inclusion in chemistry teaching programs. He outlines some key points relating to investigations on the nature of combustion processes and the discovery of oxygen. Details are included for a class experiment with gunpowder, which is suitable for school pupils aged 13 to 15.

Discovery of two novel hetero-tricyclic lead scaffolds as PDE5A inhibitor: virtual screening, molecular docking and pharmacophore modeling approach

Phosphodiesterase 5A enzyme has been the upcoming and promising target in hypertension management. In this research, reported 270 bioactive natural products having antihypertensive potential were selected and docked against PDE5A using vLife MDS 4.6 software. Based on docking score, π-stacking, H-bond and ionic interactions with PDE5A, 82 tricyclic compounds were selected for further study. Protein residue Gln817A was associated in H-boding, Leu804A in ionic interaction whereas Val782A and Phe820A were associated in π-stacking interaction with ligand. In silico docking studies resulted in discovery of oxygen containing naphthofuran and nitrogen and oxygen containing pyrano quinolizine tricyclic lead scaffolds as novel PDE5A inhibitors. Additionally, developed pharmacophore model suggested that one centre of hydrogen bond acceptor, one aromatic centre and two aliphatic centres are minimum pharmacophoric features required in the molecule so as to show sildenafil like activity. The identified lead scaffolds would provide novel platform for drug discovery of bioactive natural products.

Foundational insights into the estimation of whole-body metabolic rate.

Since 2013, this journal has promoted the publication of thematic reviews (Taylor in Eur J Appl Physiol 113:1634, 2013), where leading groups were invited to review the critical literature within each of several sub-topics. The current theme is historically based, and is focussed on estimating the metabolic rate in humans. This review charts the development of our understanding of those methods, from the discovery of oxygen and carbon dioxide, to the introduction of highly sophisticated modern apparatus to examine the composition of expired gas and determine respiratory minute volume. An historical timeline links the six thematic vignettes on this theme. Modern advances have greatly enhanced data collection without significant decrements in measurement accuracy. At the same time, however, conceptual errors, particularly steady-state requirements, are too often ignored. Indeed, it is recognised that we often neglect the past, leading to errors in research design, experimental observations and data interpretation, and this appears to be increasingly prevalent within the open-access literature. Accordingly, the Editorial Board, in recognition of a widening gap between our experimental foundations and contemporary research, embarked on developing a number of thematic review series, of which this series is the first. The intent of each accompanying overview is to introduce and illuminate seminal investigations that led to significant scientific or intellectual breakthroughs, and to thereby whet the appetite of readers to delve more deeply into the historical literature; for it is only when the foundations are understood that we can best understand where we are now, and in which directions we should head.

Pulmo uterinus: a history of ideas on fetal respiration.

Theories about fetal respiration began in antiquity. Aristotle characterized pneuma as warm air, but also as the enabler of vital functions and instrument of the soul. In Galen's system of physiology, the vital spirit was carried by the umbilical arteries, the nutrients by the umbilical vein from the placenta to the fetus. In 1569 Aranzio postulated that the maternal and fetal vasculatures are distinct. From 1670 to 1690, a century before the discovery of oxygen, researchers understood that during respiration some form of exchange with the air must occur, naming the substance biolychnium, phlogiston, sal-nitro, or nitro-aerial particles. An analogy of placental and pulmonary gas exchange was described in 1674 by Mayow. In 1779, Lavoisier understood the discovery of oxygen, discarded the phlogiston theory, and based respiration physiology on gas exchange. With the invention of the spectroscope, it became possible to measure hemoglobin oxygenation, and in 1876 Zweifel proved fetal oxygen uptake. Major progress in understanding fetal gas exchange was achieved in the 20th century by the physiologists Barcroft in Cambridge and Dawes in Oxford.

Fire in the mind: changing understandings of fire in Western civilization.

For most of human history, fire has been a pervasive presence in human life, and so also in human thought. This essay examines the ways in which fire has functioned intellectually in Western civilization as mythology, as religion, as natural philosophy and as modern science. The great phase change occurred with the development of industrial combustion; fire faded from quotidian life, which also removed it from the world of informing ideas. Beginning with the discovery of oxygen, fire as an organizing concept fragmented into various subdisciplines of natural science and forestry. The Anthropocene, however, may revive the intellectual role of fire as an informing idea or at least a narrative conceit.This article is part of the themed issue 'The interaction of fire and mankind'.

Considerations on combustion and fire behaviour of materials: A change of mind during the 18th century

Our knowledge of fire has advanced rapidly over the last few decades to a point where we now have a good understanding of the complex interactions between combustion chemistry, fluid dynamics and heat transfer. It took many centuries before the basic principles were resolved and we should not forget the remarkable achievements of early generations of scientists in the 17th and 18th centuries. This article traces the ideas that led to the development of our understanding oxidation, combustion and fire, from the age of the alchemist to the discovery of oxygen at the end of the 18th century. Fire was first understood in terms of its chemical aspect before its thermal one, but the discovery took time, as earlier theories adopted by alchemists were only replaced at the end of the 17th century by the ‘phlogiston’ theory from Becher and Stahl. This theory has been replaced less than a century after by the actual theory of oxidation, established on the basis of a rigorous theoretical and experimental work from Lavoisier and the discovery of oxygen by Priestley. In a few years, this theory passed from being marginal and resisted strongly by partisans of phlogiston, to being the only one commonly adopted. This history is an excellent example of how science advances, with conflicting theories being tested until one gains general acceptance after careful experimental work and subjection to the peer-review process.

Carbon nanofiber mesoporous films: efficient platforms for bio-hydrogen oxidation in biofuel cells

The discovery of oxygen and carbon monoxide tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenases was the first necessary step toward the definition of a novel generation of hydrogen fed biofuel cells. The next important milestone is now to identify and overcome bottlenecks limiting the current densities, hence the power densities. In the present work we report for the first time a comprehensive study of herringbone carbon nanofiber mesoporous films as platforms for enhanced biooxidation of hydrogen. The 3D network allows mediatorless hydrogen oxidation by the membrane-bound hydrogenase from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Aquifex aeolicus. We investigate the key physico-chemical parameters that enhance the catalytic efficiency, including surface chemistry and hierarchical porosity of the biohybrid film. We also emphasize that the catalytic current is limited by mass transport inside the mesoporous carbon nanofiber film. Provided hydrogen is supplied inside the carbon film, the combination of the hierarchical porosity of the carbon nanofiber film with the hydrophobicity of the treated carbon material results in very high efficiency of the bioelectrode. By optimization of the whole procedure, current densities as high as 4.5 mA cm(-2) are reached with a turnover frequency of 48 s(-1). This current density is almost 100 times higher than when hydrogenase is simply adsorbed at a bare graphite electrode, and more than 5 times higher than the average of the previous reported current densities at carbon nanotube modified electrodes, suggesting that carbon nanofibers can be efficiently used in future sustainable H2/O2 biofuel cells.

The founding of ISOTT: the Shamattawa of engineering science and medical science.

The founding of ISOTT was based upon the blending of Medical and Engineering sciences. This occurrence is portrayed by the Shamattawa, the joining of the Chippewa and Flambeau rivers. Beginning with Carl Scheele's discovery of oxygen, the medical sciences advanced the knowledge of its importance to physiological phenomena. Meanwhile, engineering science was evolving as a mathematical discipline used to define systems quantitatively from basic principles. In particular, Adolf Fick's employment of a gradient led to the formalization of transport phenomena. These two rivers of knowledge were blended to found ISOTT at Clemson/Charleston, South Carolina, USA, in 1973.The establishment of our society with a mission to support the collaborative work of medical scientists, clinicians and all disciplines of engineering was a supporting step in the evolution of bioengineering. Traditional engineers typically worked in areas not requiring knowledge of biology or the life sciences. By encouraging collaboration between medical science and traditional engineering, our society became one of the forerunners in establishing bioengineering as the fifth traditional discipline of engineering.

The rate of oxygen utilization by cells

The discovery of oxygen is considered by some to be the most important scientific discovery of all time—from both physical–chemical/astrophysics and biology/evolution viewpoints. One of the major developments during evolution is the ability to capture dioxygen in the environment and deliver it to each cell in the multicellular, complex mammalian body—on demand, i.e., just in time. Humans use oxygen to extract approximately 2550 calories (10.4MJ) from food to meet daily energy requirements. This combustion requires about 22mol of dioxygen per day, or 2.5×10−4 mol s−1. This is an average rate of oxygen utilization of 2.5×10−18 mol cell−1 s−1, i.e., 2.5 amol cell−1 s−1. Cells have a wide range of oxygen utilization, depending on cell type, function, and biological status. Measured rates of oxygen utilization by mammalian cells in culture range from <1 to >350 amol cell−1 s−1. There is a loose positive linear correlation of the rate of oxygen consumption by mammalian cells in culture with cell volume and cell protein. The use of oxygen by cells and tissues is an essential aspect of the basic redox biology of cells and tissues. This type of quantitative information is fundamental to investigations in quantitative redox biology, especially redox systems biology.

Hyperbaric oxygen in neurosurgery

The therapeutic use of pure oxygen, even under hyperbaric conditions, has been well established for about 50 years, whereas the discovery of oxygen occurred 250 years earlier. Many neurosurgical patients suffer from brain tissue damage, due to reduced blood flow, obstructive vessel disease, or as a result of traumatic brain injury. The application of pure oxygen in these patients is the only method of increasing the O(2) concentration in tissue with impaired blood supply and can minimize secondary impairment of brain tissue. In this brief historical overview we focus on the development and evidence of hyperbaric oxygenation in this specific field of insufficient oxygen supply to the central neural tissue. With the use of modern biological methods and new study designs, HBO has a place in evidence-based treatment of patients with neural tissue damage.

Singlet Oxygen in Photosensitization

Oxygen is a ubiquitous element and a vitally important substance for life on the Earth, and especially for human life. Living organisms need oxygen for most, if not all, of their cellular functions. On the other hand, oxygen can produce metabolites that are toxic and potentially lethal to the same cells. Being reactive and chemically unstable reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the most important metabolites that initiate reduction and oxidation (redox) reactions under physiological conditions. Oxygen in its excited singlet state (1O2) is probably the most important intermediate in such reactions. Since the discovery of oxygen by Joseph Priestley in 1775 it has been recognized that oxygen can be both beneficial and harmful to life.

The Discovery of Oxygen and Other Priestley Matters

Joseph Priestley has been the subject of several JCE papers, including a bicentennial celebration by Roy G. Neville (JCE, 1974, 51, 428-31) of Priestley's discovery of oxygen. This look to the past revisits Neville's account and other sources on the multi-faceted life of Joseph Priestley.

Introduction: science, technology and society studies - from the European and American north to the Latin American south

Introduction: science, technology and society studies - from the European and American north to the Latin American south

Rachel Littler Bodley: A Charter Member of the American Chemical Society and Revolutionizer of Chemical and Medical Education for Women

Rachel Littler Bodley was an important contributor to the study of chemistry and the work of women in science. In 1862, she undertook the cataloging of an extensive plant collection at Cincinnati Female Seminary. Her work was praised by many eminent botanists of that time. In 1865, Bodley became a professor of chemistry at Woman’s Medical College. While at that college, her work and student addresses revealed her belief in the possibilities of synthetically made “cures.” In 1874, Rachel became dean of Woman’s Medical College. During 1874, Bodley proposed that American chemists meet at Joseph Priestley’s birthplace to celebrate his discovery of oxygen. Her suggestion led to the formation of the American Chemical Society. She was elected as a charter member of the society and was its only female member until the 1890s. In 1880, Bodley became a member of the Franklin Institute and lectured there on household chemistry. In 1881, she wrote and published The College Story, a survey on the lives of women in the medical profession. It was the first survey of its kind done by a woman. Rachel was a devoted Christian and promoter of foreign medical mission work among students, colleagues, and others. Her leadership and foresight allowed Woman’s Medical College to become one of the foremost women’s medical institutions in America. Her diligence and encouragement made the work of single women as Christian missionaries both possible and extremely productive. Her achievements helped to better the possibilities for women in the medical field and in the world. Finally, the American Chemical Society had its birth from an idea that Rachel Bodley proposed.

Historical perspectives of cellular oxygen sensing and responses to hypoxia.

The responses to acute and chronic hypoxia begin with oxygen sensing, and this historical perspective is written in line with this concept. The earliest pertinent work started with studies on fermentation in yeast in the 17th century, before the discovery of oxygen. It required 200 yr to localize the oxygen sensing within the cells and another 100 yr to discover the cellular oxidation reactions. Today, the consensus is that the mitochondrial respiratory chain is in part the site of oxygen sensing. In addition, membrane-bound NAD(P)H oxidase possibly takes part in oxygen sensing. Oxygen-sensing mechanisms occur in a tissue-specific fashion. For example, the carotid body responds to hypoxia promptly by eliciting a ventilatory response, whereas erythropoietin production in response to hypoxia requires more time, involving new expression of genes. The mechanism has therefore moved from the cells to genes.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of osteoradionecrosis of the mandible.

The history surrounding hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy generally, and its use in mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN) specifically, is not new and can be traced back many years. Since Henshaw described compressed air in 1662 and Priestly’s discovery of oxygen a century later, HBO has been used for the treatment of many maladies. Mandibular ORN has been recognized as a complication of radiotherapy since the early part of this century. Regaud first provided a clinical discussion of ORN in 1922 and since that time a variety of treatment modalities have been used to arrest or reverse this entity [1, 2]. This discussion will comprehensively review ORN in the mandible; specifically dealing with its incidence, pathophysiology, clinical presentation and its diagnosis. Then we will look realistically at the management of ORN with HBO, its protocol and its results in arresting this disease.

Priestley House dedicated as historic chemical landmark

American Chemical Society president Ned D. Heindel (left) presents plaque to Brent D. Glass, executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, at dedication of Joseph Priestley's home in Northumberland, Pa., as the third National Historic Chemical Landmark. The ceremony is one of the events commemorating the 200th anniversary of the arrival in the U.S. from England of the discoverer of oxygen (1733-1804). The house was built in 1794-98 and was Priestley's home until his death. Priestley's 1,600-volume library and chemical lab-where he first isolated carbon monoxide-were probably the best in the nation at the time. The house now attracts visitors interested in the beginnings of chemical research in the U.S.-and also of ACS. In 1874, the centennial of Priestley's discovery of oxygen, U.S. chemists met at the Priestley House to discuss forming a national society; ACS was formed two years later. Earlier in his career, ...