Distinct Products Research Articles

Enabling productivity goals through construction 4.0 skills: Theories, debates, definitions

Construction 4.0, derived from Industry 4.0, was introduced to the construction industry as a means of addressing current issues and enhancing industry productivity. Adoption of this concept has placed a significant demand on Construction 4.0 skills, as the industry is undergoing a transformation that calls for new strategies and specialized skill sets. While Construction 4.0 promises significant productivity gains, its widespread adoption often overlooks the crucial role of specialized skills, leading to a mismatch in expected outcomes. The often-underexplored theoretical dimensions of Construction 4.0 skills has the potential to bridge the gap between these skills and formulation of productivity goals and achieving them, highlighting the profound importance of understanding and integrating these skills in the context of Construction 4.0. While there has been a recent interest in Construction 4.0 skills across various national contexts, the theoretical dimensions of skills within the realm of Construction 4.0 remains unexplored. Therefore, this study examines the definitions, interpretations, and theories of skills within the context of Construction 4.0. Through a conceptual review of existing academic literature and policy documents, this research offers profound understanding of defintions and how the theories of Construction 4.0 intersect with skills development and thus impact the formulation of productivity goals. The definitions of Industry 4.0/Construction 4.0 formulated in various national frameworks are defined in accordance with their geographical, social, and cultural contexts and that have distinct production aims and scopes. The identified theoretical underpinnings of Construction 4.0 include digital building ecosystem, lean construction, circular economy, smart cities, and skills-related theories such as social learning theory, human capital theory, cognitive load theory, situated learning theory, and lifelong learning theory. The examination brings forth novel insights that promise to shape the future of Construction 4.0 skills development. By bridging the gap between theoretical constructs and productivity goals (labour efficiency, process efficiency, time efficiency, waste reduction, energy and water efficiency) within the context of Construction 4.0, this study offers a fresh perspective that integrates technology, sustainability, and collaboration to propel productivity goals. The research also emphasizes the varying prioritization of Construction 4.0 skill sets in different national contexts, and underscores the need for sector-specific frameworks for Construction 4.0 skills. Moreover, potential avenues for future research in the field of Construction 4.0 skills include perspectives of workers, real-world impacts on the industry, policy advancements, skills frameworks, ethical evaluations, and scenario planning.

An adaptive large neighborhood search metaheuristic for the Generalized Bin Packing problem with incompatible categories

This paper addresses the Generalized Bin Packing Problem with Incompatible Categories (GBPPIC), a challenging optimization problem related to last-mile distribution in large cities. We aim to determine the best assignment of deliveries of distinct products to a homogeneous fleet of capacitated vehicles to minimize the number of required vehicles (bins), considering the concept of incompatible categories (i.e., types of items that cannot be transported together). Unlike the Bin Packing Problem with Compatible Categories (BPCC), deliveries to be assigned to the vehicles can be of two types: to regular or sporadic customers; the former must be serviced while the latter does not necessarily need to be serviced but may bring additional revenue that does not offset the cost of an additional vehicle. Due to the difficulty in solving to optimality large instances found in practice, an Adaptive Large Neighborhood Search (ALNS) metaheuristic is proposed. It is applied to new benchmark instances derived from the BPCC, and the results are compared to exact solutions. The computational experiments indicate that our ALNS algorithm can effectively solve the GBPPIC in very short running times, even for larger instances that require significantly longer times for the exact approach. The ALNS also outperforms a previous VNS heuristic for the BPCC.

Molecular structure determination of Nickel(II) isomers bearing bis(thiosemicarbazone) ligands: X-ray, DFT calculations and kinetic groundwork

The formation of isomers can be stimulated by many factors and their properties are often used in the development of new catalysts, optical devices and drugs. Herein, reactions between benzyl-bis(thiosemicarbazones) ligands, so called H2LR (R = Me or Et), were investigated with different NiII starting materials and conditions, affording solids with divergent colors. They were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, UV–Vis and 1H NMR spectroscopies, as well as cyclic voltammetry, which revealed distinct products from the respective NiII starting precursors. However, the ESI(+)-MS the products of each ligand presented almost identical m/z patterns, independently from their precursors. Remarkably, the structures of both products were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, showing the formation of two isomers of the type NiIIN2S2, coordinated symmetrically (5–5–5 membered chelate rings) when NiCl2·6H2O or Ni(Ac)2·4H2O were used as precursors or asymmetrically (4–6–5 membered chelate rings) upon reaction with [Ni(acac)2]. Theoretical calculations by DFT were also accomplished to explain the electronic spectra of the two products and to calculate the thermodynamic parameters related to the stability of the two isomers. Finally, a kinetic study was performed to investigate the formation of the asymmetrical and the symmetrical complexes.

Vaccinating Health Care Supply Chains Against Market Failure: The Case of Civica Rx

Summary This article focuses on the value of introducing novel business models into health care to address market failures that are hurting people — delving deeply into learning from real-world examples within the generic drug supply chain and its failure to supply critical medicines reliably at a low cost. Some problems in health care are so complex that traditional private-sector or governmental interventions alone have not been able to solve the problems. In an original response to ongoing generic drug shortages, in 2018, seven U.S. health systems and three philanthropic organizations founded a novel not-for-profit drug manufacturer, Civica Rx, to address the issue. Civica is a new entrant in this supply chain and utilizes a new business model called a health care utility that prioritizes access over profit. The company has been scaled rapidly and now provides more than 75 critical medications that are most at risk for shortages to more than 55 health systems across the United States. This article provides the first empirical evidence of Civica’s effect on security and cost of supply for one of its member health systems by utilizing internal supply chain, pharmacy, and external market data between 2016 and 2022. Results show that Civica was able to improve generic drug access above the wholesaler model. Using data related to 55 Civica orders of 20 distinct products between 2020 and 2022, the authors estimate Civica’s fulfillment of its contractually guaranteed volume at 96% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 92%–100%), whereas data on 302 wholesale orders for the same products over the same period estimate the wholesaler order fulfillment rate at 86% (95% CI = 82%–90%); the difference between these rates is statistically significant (P = 0.03). In addition, through its reserve supply of product, Civica offered a product access benefit of a further 43% above the Civica-guaranteed minimum viable volume floor. Wholesaler prices, at the order level, were estimated to be on average 46% above the Civica price for the same product in the same year (95% CI = 27%–64%, N = 302), with a P value of the difference of less than 0.001. However, through optimizing its wholesaler orders by buying more volume when prices were low from the 62 different non-Civica manufacturers, this closed the actual achieved cost-savings gap between the wholesalers and Civica to 2.7% in aggregate, with Civica still being the lower-cost option.

Dilution rates and their transition modes influence organic acid productivity and bacterial community structure on continuous meta-fermentation using complex microorganisms

We investigated the effect of dilution rates (D) (0.05, 0.15, and 0.4h-1) and its transition mode strategies (constant, up, and down modes) on organic acid productivity and bacterial community structure on continuous meta-fermentation using complex microorganisms. The number of bacterial species decreased with increasing D in the constant mode while up and down modes maintained high and low values, respectively, regardless of the changing D values. Caldibacillus hisashii was the predominant species in all modes at all D values, while other bacterial species, including Anaerosalibacter bizertensis and Clostridium cochlearium were predominant in only certain modes and D values. The highest total organic acid productivity of 3.16gL-1h-1 was obtained with 82.2% lactic acid selectivity at D=0.4h⁻1 in constant mode. Heterofermentation occurred in the up mode, while the down mode exhibited the maximum butyric acid productivity of 0.348gL-1h-1 with 43.8% selectivity at D=0.05h-1. The constant, up, and down modes showed the distinct main products of lactic, acetic and formic, and butyric acids, respectively. In this study, we proposed a new parameter of species-specific productivity (SSP) to estimate which species and how much a bacterium quantitatively contributes to the targeted organic acid productivity in continuous meta-fermentation. SSP was determined based on the abundance of functional genes encoding key enzymes from the results of 16S amplicon analysis. In conclusion, D values and their transition modes affect productivity by changing the bacterial community structure, and are a significant factor in establishing a highly productive process in continuous meta-fermentation.

Elucidating sulfate radical-induced oxidizing mechanisms of solid-phase pharmaceuticals: Comparison with liquid-phase reactions

As a class of organic micropollutants of global concern, pharmaceuticals have prevalent distributions in the aqueous environment (e.g., groundwater and surface water) and solid matrices (e.g., soil, sediments, and dried sludge). Their contamination levels have been further aggravated by the annually increased production of expired drugs as emerging harmful wastes worldwide. Sulfate radicals (SO4•−)-based oxidation has attracted increasing attention for abating pharmaceuticals in the environment, whereas the transformation mechanisms of solid-phase pharmaceuticals remain unknown thus far. This investigation presented for the first time that SO4•−, individually produced by mechanical force-activated and heat-activated persulfate treatments, could effectively oxidize three model pharmaceuticals (i.e., methotrexate, sitagliptin, and salbutamol) in both solid and liquid phases. The high-resolution mass spectrometric analysis suggested their distinct transformation products formed by different phases of SO4•− oxidation. Accordingly, the SO4•−-mediated mechanistic differences between the solid-phase and liquid-phase pharmaceuticals were proposed. It is noteworthy that the products from both systems were predicted with the remaining persistence, bioaccumulation, and multi-endpoint toxicity. Therefore, some post-treatment strategies need to be considered during practical applications of SO4•−-based technologies in remediating different phases of micropollutants. This work has environmental implications for understanding the comparative transformation mechanisms of pharmaceuticals by SO4•− oxidation in remediating the contaminated solid and aqueous matrices.

Competitive Advantage Practices and Performance of Commercial Banks in Nairobi County Kenya

Over the recent years, competition in the Kenyan banking industry has increased, resulting to various banks adapting key practices to increase their competitive advantage. Hence, this research focused on the competitive advantage practices and performance of commercial banks, in Nairobi County Kenya; a case of Equity Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, Absa and Family Bank. Over the recent past, the performance of commercial banks has been influenced by different factors such as liquidity, capital inadequacy and the efficiency of operational costs. The study’s objective was; to find out how differentiation strategy, innovation, focus strategy and cost leadership. Some of the theories applied include porters five forces, resource-based view, stakeholder, and balanced scorecard model. The research applied a case study method, with detailed questionnaires which examines the respondents on practices used by Commercial banks in Nairobi County. Also, it examined on how such practices enhance performance in the county. The summary of the regression model correlation coefficient explains the interdependence between the independent variables, differentiation, focus strategy, cost leadership, innovation and the dependent variable, which is performance. Key respondents of this study were employees and customers of the sampled Commercial banks in Nairobi County, with a focus of Branch managers, regional managers and departmental managers. Data was collected using questionnaires, with open ended questions. Reliability test was undertaken, and analysis done through multiple regression and inferential statistics. The expected outcome is that the four main practices would become useful to Equity Bank management, future researchers, and the government. The study concluded that commercial banks use differentiation strategy to provide customers with something unique, different and distinct from items their competitors may offer in the marketplace. Innovation plays a key role in introducing novelty to existing product lines or processes, leading to increased market share, revenue, and customer satisfaction. Focus strategy identifies the market segments where the bank can compete effectively. Implementing Cost Leadership Strategy creates a different market size for each product and each industry. The study recommended that the commercial banks need to produce or design extremely unique or distinctive products or services that create increased value for the consumer. Commercial banks should ensure that they truly understand their customers’ needs; establish collaborative relationships with their business partners, allocate resources for training and development etc. The commercial banks should use customer satisfaction ratings from past months what led to high scores, and what could use improvement to develop a proper focus strategy and also consider the demographics of their current clientele.

Structure-based mining of a chitosanase with distinctive degradation mode and product specificity.

Chitosan derivates with varying degrees of polymerization (DP) have attracted great concern due to their excellent biological activities. Increasing the abundance of chitosanases with different degradation modes contributes to revealing their catalytic mechanisms and facilitating the production of chitosan derivates. However, the identification of endo-chitosanases capable of producing chitobiose and D-glucosamine (GlcN) from chitosan substrates has remained elusive. Herein, an endo-chitosanase (CsnCA) belonging to the GH46 family was identified based on structural analysis in phylogenetic evolution. Moreover, we demonstrate that CsnCA acts in a random endo-acting manner, producing chitosan derivatives with DP ≤ 2. The in-depth analysis of CsnCA revealed that (GlcN)3 serves as the minimal substrate, undergoing cleavage in the mode that occupies the subsites - 2 to + 1, resulting in the release of GlcN. This study succeeded in discovering a chitosanase with distinctive degradation modes, which could facilitate the mechanistic understanding of chitosanases, further empowering the production of chitosan derivates with specific DP. KEY POINTS: • Structural docking and evolutionary analysis guide to mining the chitosanase. • The endo-chitosanase exhibits a unique GlcN-producing cleavage pattern. • The cleavage direction of chitosanase to produce GlcN was identified.

Synthesis of a Porous [14]Annulene Graphene Nanoribbon and a Porous [30]Annulene Graphene Nanosheet on Metal Surfaces.

The electrical and mechanical properties of graphene-based materials can be tuned by the introduction of nanopores, which are sensitively related to the size, morphology, density, and location of nanopores. The synthesis of low-dimensional graphene nanostructures containing well-defined nonplanar nanopores has been challenging due to the intrinsic steric hindrance. Herein, we report the selective synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) containing periodic nonplanar [14]annulene pores on Ag(111) and two-dimensional (2D) porous graphene nanosheet containing periodic nonplanar [30]annulene pores on Au(111), starting from a same precursor. The formation of distinct products on the two substrates originates from the different thermodynamics and kinetics of coupling reactions. The reaction mechanisms were confirmed by a series of control experiments, and the appropriate thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for optimizing the reaction pathways were proposed. In addition, the combined scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed the electronic structures of porous graphene structures, demonstrating the impact of nonplanar pores on the π-conjugation of molecules.

Synthesis of a Porous [14]Annulene Graphene Nanoribbon and a Porous [30]Annulene Graphene Nanosheet on Metal Surfaces

AbstractThe electrical and mechanical properties of graphene‐based materials can be tuned by the introduction of nanopores, which are sensitively related to the size, morphology, density, and location of nanopores. The synthesis of low‐dimensional graphene nanostructures containing well‐defined nonplanar nanopores has been challenging due to the intrinsic steric hindrance. Herein, we report the selective synthesis of one‐dimensional (1D) graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) containing periodic nonplanar [14]annulene pores on Ag(111) and two‐dimensional (2D) porous graphene nanosheet containing periodic nonplanar [30]annulene pores on Au(111), starting from a same precursor. The formation of distinct products on the two substrates originates from the different thermodynamics and kinetics of coupling reactions. The reaction mechanisms were confirmed by a series of control experiments, and the appropriate thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for optimizing the reaction pathways were proposed. In addition, the combined scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed the electronic structures of porous graphene structures, demonstrating the impact of nonplanar pores on the π‐conjugation of molecules.

Distinct secondary ice production processes observed in radar Doppler spectra: insights from a case study

Abstract. Secondary ice production (SIP) has an essential role in cloud and precipitation microphysics. In recent years, substantial insights were gained into SIP by combining experimental, modeling, and observational approaches. Remote sensing instruments, among them meteorological radars, offer the possibility of studying clouds and precipitation in extended areas over long time periods and are highly valuable to understand the spatiotemporal structure of microphysical processes. Multi-modal Doppler spectra measured by vertically pointing radars reveal the coexistence, within a radar resolution volume, of hydrometeor populations with distinct properties; as such, they can provide decisive insight into precipitation microphysics. This paper leverages polarimetric radar Doppler spectra as a tool to study the microphysical processes that took place during a snowfall event on 27 January 2021 in the Swiss Jura Mountains during the ICE GENESIS campaign. A multi-layered cloud system was present, with ice particles sedimenting through a supercooled liquid water (SLW) layer in a seeder–feeder configuration. Building on a Doppler peak detection algorithm, we implement a peak labeling procedure to identify the particle type(s) that may be present within a radar resolution volume. With this approach, we can visualize spatiotemporal features in the radar time series that point to the occurrence of distinct mechanisms during different stages of the event. By focusing on three 30 min phases of the case study and by using the detailed information contained in the Doppler spectra, together with dual-frequency radar measurements, aircraft in situ images, and simulated profiles of atmospheric variables, we narrow down the possible processes that could be responsible for the observed signatures. Depending on the availability of SLW and the droplet sizes, on the temperature range, and on the interaction between the liquid and ice particles, various SIP processes are identified as plausible, with distinct fingerprints in the radar Doppler spectra. A simple modeling approach suggests that the ice crystal number concentrations likely exceed typical concentrations of ice-nucleating particles by 1 to 4 orders of magnitude. While a robust proof of occurrence of a given SIP mechanism cannot be easily established, the multi-sensor data provide various independent elements each supporting the proposed interpretations.

Marketing and Promotion Methods of Different Products Taking Instagram as an Example

With the gradual improvement of people's quality of life, various distinctive products have appeared one after another, and the competition has become more and more fierce. Merchants are looking for the most suitable marketing method in order to promote their products. This article will study the three marketing channels of TV commercials, promotions and social media platforms and the promotion methods of the two major product types of beauty products and daily necessities. This article will compare the contemporary applicability and effectiveness of these three marketing channels to analyze the best contemporary marketing channel and then start with the characteristics of three different types of products to analyze the role of different products in this marketing channel. The best way to market. The study found that social media platform promotion stands out as the most effective promotion method in the contemporary era; the marketing methods of beauty products and daily necessities are all based on blogger promotion and photo promotion.

Longitudinal analysis of differences and similarities in antimicrobial resistance among commensal Escherichia coli isolated from market swine and sows at slaughter in the United States of America, 2013–2019

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance in swine enteric bacteria poses a significant public health challenge. Our study evaluated publicly available data collected by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System for Enteric Bacteria (NARMS) between 2013 and 2019 at slaughter plants across the United States of America, focusing on commensal E. coli isolated from swine cecal contents originating from two distinct swine production systems: market hogs (n = 2090) and sows (n = 1147). In both production types, the highest pairwise correlations were detected among β-lactam antimicrobials, including resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone, and cefoxitin, suggesting a co-selection for resistance. Compared to 2013, an increase in the rate of E. coli isolates that were resistant to β-lactam antimicrobials was higher in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and this increase was more pronounced in isolates obtained from market hogs. Differences in antimicrobial resistance between these two distinct swine production systems warrant production-type focused mitigation efforts.

Revitalizing Rural China: Research on The Development Status and Communication Strategy of Geographical Indication Brands with A Case Study of Jingyang Fu Tea

Geographical indications of agricultural products are legal signs used to identify distinctive agricultural products from specific regions, with the product’s name being linked to its geographical origins. Since 2008, China has been managing the geographical indications of agricultural products, turning ordinary crops such as fruits and vegetables into geographical indication brands. This management approach not only promotes rural economic development but also accelerates rural industry development. This research aims to analyze factors that limit agricultural product development and present a communication strategy using the case of Jingyang Fu Tea to explore how to promote the long-term development of the tea industry in the specific context of China’s rural revitalization.

Semantic processing during continuous speech production: an analysis from eye movements and EEG.

Speech production involves neurological planning and articulatory execution. How speakers prepare for articulation is a significant aspect of speech production research. Previous studies have focused on isolated words or short phrases to explore speech planning mechanisms linked to articulatory behaviors, including investigating the eye-voice span (EVS) during text reading. However, these experimental paradigms lack real-world speech process replication. Additionally, our understanding of the neurological dimension of speech planning remains limited. This study examines speech planning mechanisms during continuous speech production by analyzing behavioral (eye movement and speech) and neurophysiological (EEG) data within a continuous speech production task. The study specifically investigates the influence of semantic consistency on speech planning and the occurrence of "look ahead" behavior. The outcomes reveal the pivotal role of semantic coherence in facilitating fluent speech production. Speakers access lexical representations and phonological information before initiating speech, emphasizing the significance of semantic processing in speech planning. Behaviorally, the EVS decreases progressively during continuous reading of regular sentences, with a slight increase for non-regular sentences. Moreover, eye movement pattern analysis identifies two distinct speech production modes, highlighting the importance of semantic comprehension and prediction in higher-level lexical processing. Neurologically, the dual pathway model of speech production is supported, indicating a dorsal information flow and frontal lobe involvement. The brain network linked to semantic understanding exhibits a negative correlation with semantic coherence, with significant activation during semantic incoherence and suppression in regular sentences. The study's findings enhance comprehension of speech planning mechanisms and offer insights into the role of semantic coherence in continuous speech production. Furthermore, the research methodology establishes a valuable framework for future investigations in this domain.

Mechanistic Skin Modeling of Plasma Concentrations of Sunscreen Active Ingredients Following Facial Application

Sunscreen products constitute two distinct categories. Recreational sunscreens protect against high-intensity, episodic sun exposure, often applied over the entire body. In contrast, facial sunscreen products are designed for sub-erythemal, low-intensity daily sun exposure. Such different exposures necessitate distinctive product safety assessments. Building on earlier methods for predicting dermal disposition, a mechanistic model was developed to simulate plasma concentrations of seven organic sunscreen active ingredients: avobenzone, ensulizole, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone, following facial application. In vitro permeation testing (IVPT) was performed with two different vehicles using a subset of the UV filters. These IVPT results, in addition to previously published IVPT data and published in vivo Maximal Usage Trial (MUsT) data for the UV filters, were used to train the mechanistic dermal model via a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method. An external validation of the trained model with real-world in vivo datasets demonstrated that the model's predicted UV filter plasma concentrations align well with experimental measurements and capture the observed inter-individual variability. Predictions of steady-state UV filter plasma concentrations under facial application scenarios at 5% concentration and at the maximal allowable concentrations were then generated by the trained model. Oxybenzone had the greatest predicted plasma concentration following facial application. Homosalate and octisalate predictions had high uncertainty associated with the absence of data. Several application scenarios pertaining to avobenzone, ensulizole, octocrylene and octinoxate were identified in which median plasma concentration levels were at 0.5 ng/ml or below when applied in the recreational or facial product. Model limitations include uncertainty in vehicle/water partitioning, formulation metamorphosis, and UV filter systemic clearance, all of which can be refined with additional data. For UV filters, limiting exposure to facial application reduces human safety concerns based on FDA established thresholds.

Calculation of EPD for individual AAC product classes

AbstractIn fact, climate change is increasing the relevance of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Currently, product‐specific EPDs are coming into vogue instead of average‐based EPDs. Individual EPDs for distinct products can be beneficial, but the data preparation upfront is crucial to avoid greenwashing through the use of false data. Adjustments to the standards for calculating EPDs are currently under development.The starting point for the calculation of EPD according to EN 15804+A2 is always the annual production and associated consumption of raw materials and energy. The raw material input per product is calculated from recipe data and the respective production quantities as a first step. This shall be done for all products of a plant. Now, the summarized consumptions have to be related with the purchased raw material quantities, correction factors have to be calculated and applied to specify the actual input per product. The use of correction factors is mandatory to avoid inaccuracy and underestimation of actual consumption. Hence, the calculation of one product‐specific EPD requires product‐specific source data preparation for all products.In AAC production, the correction of the consumed raw materials is particularly important concerning internal recycling. For example, the actual consumption of aluminum is of specific interest. While ground sand within the recycled sludge is unchanged and binders still react in the autoclave, the aluminum is no longer reactive. This can lead to additional aluminum consumption that deviates by one‐third and more from the recipe values.In the presentation, a comprehensive approach to the calculation of correction factors for different AAC product classes will be introduced. The final calculations for the EPD are not based on recipe data alone but are corrected using procurement data. Thus, the total consumption of a plant can be adequately allocated to all products in the production program.

ASSESSMENT OF TRACE AND RARE EARTH ELEMENT DISTRIBUTION AND SPECIATION IN BAUXITE DEPOSITS ACROSS EKITI AND ONDO STATES, NIGERIA

The growing significance of rare earth elements (REEs) in advanced electronic technologies and the nuclear industry, coupled with concerns about geopolitical dynamics and supply market vulnerabilities, has reignited global interest in securing domestic and economically viable sources of REEs through dedicated research and developmental pursuits. Bauxite, a naturally occurring mineral primarily composed of aluminum, has been identified to harbor an abundance of sought-after rare earth minerals, thereby rendering it a promising unconventional reservoir of REEs contingent upon geological and mineralogical characteristics. Nigeria, endowed with substantial bauxite deposits prominently situated in Ondo and Ekiti states, stands to offer an intriguing avenue for exploration. In this study, the utilization of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) facilitated the quantification of trace elements within samples obtained from six distinct production sites spanning Ondo and Ekiti states in Nigeria. The aim was to elucidate correlations between multi-elemental REE compositions and geographical origins. Employing both single quadrupole (SQ) and multi-collection sector field (MS) modes, concentrations of Pb, Cd, As, Zn, Mn, Al, Ca, Ni, K, Na, Mg, Cu, Fe, Ti, P, Cr, and Si were rigorously determined. Remarkably, ICP-MS analysis consistently revealed a palladium (Pd) concentration of 228.05 ppb across all sampled materials, factoring in a dilution factor of 175x. Consequently, the actual concentration of the digested solution was established at 39.91 ppm mg/L. The outcomes of this investigation hold potential significance in categorizing Nigerian bauxite deposits as viable REE sources, as well as in engineering tailored techniques to efficiently recover these elements. Such findings harbor promising economic prospects for the nation, positioning the solid mineral sector as a pivotal driver of Nigeria's burgeoning economy.

Biochemical characterization of glycoside hydrolase family 31 α-glucosidases from Myceliophthora thermophila for α-glucooligosaccharide synthesis

The transglucosidase activity of GH31 α-glucosidases is employed to catalyze the synthesis of prebiotic isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs) using the malt syrup prepared from starch as substrate. Continuous mining for new GH31 α-glucosidases with high stability and efficient transglucosidase activity is critical for enhancing the supply and quality of IMO preparations. In the present study, two α-glucosidases (MT31α1 and MT31α2) from Myceliophthora thermophila were explored for biochemical characterization. The optimum pH and temperature of MT31α1 and MT31α2 were determined to be pH 4.5 and 65 °C, and pH 6.5 and 60 °C, respectively. Both MT31α1 and MT31α2 were shown to be stable in the pH range of 3.0 to 10.0. MT31α1 displayed a high thermostability, retaining 60 % of activity after incubation for 24 h at 55 °C. MT31α1 is highly active on substrates with all types of α-glucosidic linkages. In contrast, MT31α2 showed preference for substrates with α-(1→3) and α-(1→4) linkages. Importantly, MT31α1 was able to synthesize IMOs and the conversion rate of maltose into the main functional IMOs components reached over 40 %. Moreover, MT31α2 synthesizes glucooligosaccharides with (consecutive) α-(1→3) linkages. Taken together, MT31α1 and MT31α2, showing distinct substrate and product specificity, hold clear potential for the synthesis of prebiotic glucooligosaccharides.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK): its structure, characteristics, and signaling in skeletal system

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase and distributes important regulatory functions in skeletal system. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) possesses significant migration and differentiation capacity, is an important source of distinctive bone cells production and a prominent bone development pathway. MSC has a wide range of applications in tissue bioengineering and regenerative medicine, and is frequently employed for hematopoietic support, immunological regulation, and defect repair, although current research is insufficient. FAK has been identified to cross-link with many other keys signaling pathways in bone biology and is considered as a fundamental “crossroad” on the signal transduction pathway and a “node” in the signal network to mediate MSC lineage development in skeletal system. In this review, we summarized the structure, characteristics, cellular signaling, and the interactions of FAK with other signaling pathways in the skeletal system. The discovery of FAK and its mediated molecules will lead to a new knowledge of bone development and bone construction as well as considerable potential for therapeutic use in the treatment of bone-related disorders such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and osteosarcoma.