Maximum Activity Research Articles

Fabrication and Characterization of Agar- and Seaweed-Derived Biomembrane Films for Biomedical and Other Applications.

This study focused on seaweed-based biomembrane development. The physical, mechanical, thermal, and biological properties of the fabricated films with different combinations of materials, such as agar, chitosan, poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA), and quercetin, were characterized. The surface morphology of the films was analyzed using SEM. The maximum tensile strength (53.11 N/mm2), elongation at break (3.42%), and Young's modulus (15.52) of the biomembrane were recorded for the agar + chitosan combination. FT-Raman analysis confirmed the functional groups shift between the biopolymer and plasticizer used in this study. TG-DSC analysis of the biomembranes revealed a Tg in the range of 92.80°C-115°C. The maximum antioxidant activity was reported for quercetin (58.62%), and the maximum antimicrobial activity was observed for the chitosan and quercetin compounds against E. coli. A minimum hemolysis of 0.95% was achieved for the combination of agar + quercetin (AQ), agar + PEG (APE), Gracilaria corticata extract + PVA + quercetin (GCPQ) and agar + chitosan (AC) biomembranes. The minimum cytotoxicity of the biomembrane was 62.51% and 63.87% for Gracilaria corticata extract + PVA + quercetin (GCPQ), and agar + PVA, respectively. The proposed biomembrane films were found to be suitable for biomedical and packaging applications.

Elucidation of Domain Function of a Novel Multifunctional Glycoside Hydrolase and Its Use in Efficient Preparation of Oligosaccharides from Kelp Powder.

Kelp contained laminarin, cellulose, and alginate as major polysaccharides and could be utilized as functional oligosaccharides. A new multifunctional glycoside hydrolase CelA was identified and characterized for the efficient degradation of kelp powder. It displayed cellulase (2308.38 U/mg), alginate lyase (578.68 U/mg), and laminarinase (720.97 U/mg) activities. It exhibited maximal activity on both sodium alginate and laminarin at 50 °C and pH 8.0, while it could degrade sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) by maximal activity at 40 °C and pH 7.0. The action mode analysis by thin layer chromatography and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry indicated that CelA adopted an endolytic manner to degrade CMC-Na, sodium alginate, and laminarin releasing oligosaccharides with degrees of polymerization (Dps) of 2-5. According to domain analysis, CelA contained a GH5 module and a PL6 module, and both of them exhibited glycoside hydrolase and polysaccharide lyase activity. The docking results revealed that Glu163 and Glu250 are essential in cellulose and laminarin degradation. As to the degradation of alginate, Asn376, Lys436, Arg464, Asp496, and Asn551 could bind alginate and Tyr492 and Lys529 acted as catalytic sites. CelA displayed high hydrolysis efficiency for cellulose, β-glucan, laminarin, alginate, and kelp powder. Thus, it has strong potential in food and feed industries as a catalyst for bioconversion of algal biomass into value-added products oligosaccharides.

The effect of temperature on the activity of microorganisms in the area of the Bureiskiy Landslide

The manuscript presents the results of experimental studies of the adaptive potential of microorganisms that are part of the bacterioplankton of the surface and bottom water layers of the Bureiskoe Reservoir in the zone of the landslide that descended in the winter of 2018. In the summer of 2022, the structure and activity of microbial complexes from area near the landslide were studied. More than 60 strains of microorganisms of different physiological groups were isolated. On the example of 4 strains isolated from different habitats (above and below the landslide body, surface and bottom layers of water) after 30 days of freezing at a temperature of –18°C, their viability and activity in the utilization of easily available nitrogen-containing organic substances were shown. In experimental cyclic freezing-thawing, two variants of thawing were used: slow thawing in a refrigerator from –18°C to +4°C; fast defrosting over a wide temperature range from –18°C to +23°C (at room temperature). Regardless of location, all strains grew vigorously in vitro with use of a readily available peptone carbon source before and after freezing. The maximum activity on peptone was shown by strain 40 BB (below the landslide body, bottom water) in the absence of substrate change. Utilization of peptone as a source of amino acids and peptides could be accompanied by activation of the protective function against cold stress. The selected strains of microorganisms differed in their ability to transform sodium humate molecules depending on the conditions of the freeze/thaw cycles. According to the spectral characteristics, significant changes in the aliphatic and aromatic components of the humate molecule occurred with the participation of strains 45 AB and 40 BB isolated from the bottom water. These strains were more active at low thawing temperatures, which actually corresponded to the in situ temperature of the bottom water layers, which is 4–6°C. Strain 13 BS from surface water sampled below the landslide body is characterized by active transformation of the aromatic component of humic substances in a wide range of thawing temperatures (from –18 to +23°C). The results indicate that in different regions during the thawing of permafrost and the influx of specific organic substances the specific mechanisms of formation of the quality of natural waters may manifest.

Biodiesel Production from Waste Oil Through Efficient Enzymatic Synthesis Using Yarrowia lipolytica Lipase 2 in the Presence of Glucose, β-Cyclodextrin, or G50.

In this study, the liquid lipase Yarrowia lipolytica lipase 2 (YLLip2) expressed by Pichia pastoris GS115 was used to produce biodiesel from waste oil. Four signal peptides were compared to express YLLip2 in P. pastoris, among which SP23 exhibited greater secretion performance. In a 1.3-L bioreactor with FM22 medium for 7days incubation, the maximum YLLip2 activity and total protein content reached 895.44 ± 27.31 U/mL and 3.83 ± 0.31g/L, respectively. Under the optimal reaction conditions of 30°C, 20% moisture content, 50 U/g oil of enzyme dosage, and distributed methanol addition, the reaction yield reached 80.99% after 12h. To further improve the biodiesel yield, some additives were used to assist with YLLip2. The results showed that adding G50 (approximately 1/20 of YLLip2) increased the yield by approximately 90% after 6h cultivation without changing the enzyme dosage. Compared with previous studies, the reaction time for biodiesel production from waste oil in this study was significantly shortened. This study provides a workable method for converting low-quality feedstocks containing high free fatty acids into biodiesel using a liquid lipase as the catalyst.

Inactivation kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica on specialty mushroom garnishes based on ramen soup broth temperature

Recent listeriosis and salmonellosis outbreaks in the U.S. have been associated with consumption of specialty mushrooms, including enoki and wood ear. These mushrooms are commonly consumed in Asian dishes such as ramen noodle soup and are often used as raw garnishes. No current guidelines exist for the serving temperature of ramen broth in restaurants for safety. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inactivation of both Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica on enoki and wood ear mushrooms based on the ramen broth temperature. Fresh mushrooms were chopped into pieces, inoculated with four-strain cocktails of L. monocytogenes or S. enterica, dried at ambient conditions for 30 min, then placed into bowls. Ramen broth (i.e., pork bone broth, Tonkotsu) at initial temperatures of 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100°C was poured over the mushrooms, submerging them. The bowls were held at ambient conditions while the broth temperatures were monitored, and mushrooms were sampled at intervals up to 60 min. From the broth temperature profiles and the pathogen log reductions of each mushroom type, the non-isothermal log-linear model was used to obtain maximum inactivation rates. The maximum pathogen inactivation on both mushroom types occurred within the first 5 min, regardless of the initial broth temperature. Broth temperatures of 60 and 70°C resulted in reductions of only 1–3 log CFU/g (inactivation rates of 0.33–4.72 log CFU/g/min), while reductions of 4–5 log CFU/g (inactivation rates of 8.74–17.21 log CFU/g/min) were observed with 80°C broth. The use of 90 and 100°C broth resulted in higher reductions of >5 log CFU/g (inactivation rates of 8.56–28.08 log CFU/g/min). In all cases, surviving populations, often >2.4 log CFU/g, were observed after 60 min. The results from this study can assist in the development of guidelines on the safe serving temperature of ramen soup at restaurants.

Structure-optimized sgRNA selection with PlatinumCRISPr for efficient Cas9 generation of knockouts.

A single guide RNA (sgRNA) directs Cas9 nuclease for gene-specific scission of double-stranded DNA. High Cas9 activity is essential for efficient gene editing to generate gene deletions and gene replacements by homologous recombination. However, cleavage efficiency is below 50% for more than half of randomly selected sgRNA sequences in human cell culture screens or model organisms. We used in vitro assays to determine intrinsic molecular parameters for maximal sgRNA activity including correct folding of sgRNAs and Cas9 structural information. From the comparison of over 10 data sets, we find major constraints in sgRNA design originating from defective secondary structure of the sgRNA, sequence context of the seed region, GC context, and detrimental motifs, but we also find considerable variation among different prediction tools when applied to different data sets. To aid selection of efficient sgRNAs, we developed web-based PlatinumCRISPr, an sgRNA design tool to evaluate base-pairing and sequence composition parameters for optimal design of highly efficient sgRNAs for Cas9 genome editing. We applied this tool to select sgRNAs to efficiently generate gene deletions in Drosophila Ythdc1 and Ythdf, that bind to N 6 methylated adenosines (m6A) in mRNA. However, we discovered that generating small deletions with sgRNAs and Cas9 leads to ectopic reinsertion of the deleted DNA fragment elsewhere in the genome. These insertions can be removed by standard genetic recombination and chromosome exchange. These new insights into sgRNA design and the mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing advance the efficient use of this technique for safer applications in humans.

English

Paddy residues burning is a common practice in the sub-continent to manage paddy waste,which results in deterioration of air quality in the surrounding areas and causes smog issue. In situ decomposition could be a viable option to manage this problem. About thirteen (13) cellulose degrading bacterial strains were selected and further screened based on various enzymatic activities. Finally, two strains (GW7 and HA 121) with highest enzymatic potential were selected for optimization of factors to enhance cellulase production. The selected bacterial strain GW7 was found positive for urease, protease, catalase, phosphates and cellulase activity. While HA121 strain was positive for urease, protease, phosphatase and cellulase enzymes. The strains GW7 and HA121 exhibited maximum cellulose activity of 23 U mL-1 and 19 U mL-1, respectively, at optimized conditions. The optimal conditions for GW7 were temperature 35°C, pH 8, 1.5% glucose and 0.5% urea concentration. However, for HA121 the highest cellulase activity was attained when 1% glucose and 0.5% urea as co-inducers were used at a temperature of 35 °C and pH 8 where cellulase enzyme production was found to be 19 U mL-1. The optimization of cellulolytic bacterial cultures for enhanced cellulase production has established its potential utilization for field application.

Alkaline Proteases from Rose Snapper (Lutjanus guttatus): Evaluation of Their Stability to Chemical Denaturants and Potential Application to Hydrolyze Seafood Waste Proteins.

Large quantities of by-products are generated after processing of rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus), such as viscera, head, tail, skin, and bones, which are considered a potential source of valuable molecules. Therefore, the aim of the present study was the biochemical characterization of alkaline proteases isolated from the intestines of L. guttatus and the evaluation of their stability against different chemical denaturants (salts, surfactants/reducing agents, organic solvents, and commercial detergent formulations). In addition, the efficiency to hydrolyze proteins from rose snapper wastes (head, tail, skin, and muscle trimmings) by Alcalase® and alkaline protease extract (APE) isolated from Lutjanus guttatus intestine was evaluated. The APE exhibited a maximum activity at pH 12 and 45°C and high stability at pH and temperature ranges from 9 to 12 and 10 to 40°C, respectively. Assays with specific protease inhibitors indicated that trypsin and chymotrypsin are the main types of proteases in APE. An 80% of the proteolytic activity was retained in the presence of 25% NaCl and was stable in the presence of the reducing agent DTT; however, it lost around 70% of proteolytic activity in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. The enzymatic activity of APE was maintained above 60% in methanol, ethanol, and propanol as well as in liquid commercial detergents. Alkaline proteases from rose snapper exhibited higher hydrolytic efficiency, compared to the microbial enzyme Alcalase when protein from L. guttatus wastes were hydrolyzed. According to these results, the integral exploitation of rose snapper could be reached by proper usage of its by-products, creating a baseline to promote circular economy.

Antimicrobial Activity of Biohardened Plant Extracts of Albizia Amara

Albizia amara is an important medicinal plant commonly found in dry forests of India. It belongs to leguminaceae and its common name in telugu is Nallaregoo (or) Chigaraku. All of the plant parts i.e., roots, shoots, leaves, flowers, seeds and bark, were exclusively used in traditional medicine for curing different diseases like diarrhea, skin diseases gonorrhea, poisonous bites and leprosy. Due to its wide pharmacological activities and presence of several therapeutic constituents, Albizia amara has been selected for tissue culture studies in the present investigation. A systemic approach for increasing the survival rate of tissue culture raised A.amara plantlets using bioinoculants was explored . The studies reported that biohardening of tissue cultured plantlets with mixed inoculum of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride enhanced plant survival rate (82 %). This microbial association helped in inducing systemic resistance in plants to overcome abiotic and biotic stress caused during acclimatization. The phytochemical studies of biohardened plants exhibited high antimicrobial activity due to the presence of more secondary metabolites. These secondary metabolites probably due to their antagonistic properties gave protection against pathogenic attack during transplantation. Phytochemical analysis of different plant extracts like, ethyl acetate, chloroform, methanolic, and petroleum ether extracts were studied. The ethyl acetate extract of dual inoculant treated plants showed maximum antimicrobial activity. In bacteria, it showed maximum zone of inhibition on B.cereus (11.5±1.73), followed by E.coli (10±0.82 mm) . In fungi, it showed maximum inhibition on F.oxysporum (13.25±0.28mm) followed by C.albicans (8.5±0.17mm). The above strategy helped in overall improvement of morphological, physiological and phytochemical characteristics of tissue culture plantlets.

Characterization of heat- and alkali-resistant feruloyl esterase from Humicola insolens and application in the production of high-strength kraft straws.

The application of feruloyl esterase (FAE) in biobleaching can effectively hydrolyze the feruloyl ester bond between hemicellulose and lignin, thereby partially disrupting the dense structure of the fiber, reducing the use of chemical reagents, and obtaining high-performance pulp fibers. Here, we successfully expressed the thermostable alkaline feruloyl esterase from Humicola insolens (H. insolens) in Pichia pastoris GS115, with an enzyme activity yield of 2.36 ± 0.21U/mL. The highest activity of FAE for the hydrolysis of ethyl ferulate was observed at pH7.5 and 70°C. It retained about 56% of its maximum activity in the pH range of 11.0. After being incubated at 50-55°C for 1h, it retained 70.05% of its maximum activity. The addition of bio-enzyme pretreatment before chemical bleaching can reduce chemical reagents by 20%, result in a 10.64% reduction in kappa value, and increase the delignification rate of the pulp by 6.36%. In addition, the surface of the enzyme-treated pulp showed rougher broom-like fiber filaments, and the viscosity of the enzyme-pretreated pulp (ECP) before chemical treatment increased by 131.51% compared to the chemically treated pulp (CP), further indicating that the enzyme-pretreated pulp had higher pulp strength.

Characterization of the three-phase partitioned laccase from Trametes versicolor strain with antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cells.

An extracellular laccase from T. versicolor was 20.4-fold purified by three-phase partitioning with high recovery (245 %) and biochemically characterized in detail for the first time. Its molecular weight was found to be 66.39 kDa. The enzyme showed activity towards the substrates ABTS, 2,6-DMP, guaiacol and hydroquinone. The substrates with the highest catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) were ABTS and 2,6-DMP. The maximum laccase activity value was reached at 70 °C for all substrates; at 80 °C even an activity of >60 % could be maintained. The optimum pH values were 4.5, 5 and 5.5 for ABTS, 2,6-DMP and guaiacol, respectively. In solutions with pH values of 3.5 to 5, it was active for up to 6 h. Laccase activity was negatively affected by L-cysteine, kojic acid, β-mercaptoethanol, sodium azide and SDS. In contrast, non-ionic detergents showed no significant effects on the enzyme. The enzyme showed activity when exposed to low concentrations (<5 %) of the solvent's methanol, ethanol and DMSO. Among the metal ions, the enzyme showed strong sensitivity to Fe2+, while Ni2+ and Mn2+ showed increased activity. Biochemical analyses have shown that the laccase enzyme has superior properties compared to its commercial form (such as high temperature and pH stability, high affinity to its substrates and relatively high catalytic efficiency). Its anticancer effect on breast cancer cell lines was also investigated. The results emphasize the potential of pure laccase as an anticancer agent due to its selective lethal effect on breast cancer cells.

Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV by hydrolysates of beta-lactoglobulin isolated from Gir cow milk

The current study attempts to assess the dipeptidyl peptidase – IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory potential of β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) isolated from milk of Gir cow. Whey was separated from skim milk by precipitation of casein followed by ultrafiltration (UF) to remove lactose and salts as permeate. β-Lg was separated from the UF retentate using salting out technique. Its purity was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC. Hydrolysates of β-Lg were prepared using three different enzymes viz., pepsin, trypsin and Flavourzyme at different enzyme to substrate (E:S) ratios (1:25, 1:50, 1:100) and treated for 2-12 h durations. Pepsin-treated hydrolysate showed maximum DPP-IV inhibition of 77.62 ± 0.98 % (IC50 =3.78 mg/mL). Hydrolysate was passed serially through UF filters of 10 and 3 kDa. The permeate of 3 kDa, which exhibited 52.10 ± 0.72 % DPP-IV inhibition was fractionated through RP-HPLC and time based fractions were collected. All 41 fractions were again analysed for DPP-IV inhibition activity and 3 fractions which showed maximum DPP-IV inhibition activity were chosen for LC-MS/MS analysis. One novel peptide was identified through LC-MS/MS, which showed adequate DPP-IV inhibition (IC50 = 6.64 mmolL-1).

Computational Studies and Antimicrobial Activity of 1-(benzo[d]oxazol-2- yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan Derivatives.

Due to the biological importance of the benzoxazole derivatives, some 1- (benzo[d]oxazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenyl-formazans 4a-f were synthesized and screened for in-silico studies and in-vitro antibacterial activity. The benzo[d]oxazole-2-thiol (1) was prepared by reacting with 2-aminophenol and carbon disulfide in the presence of alcoholic potassium hydroxide. Then 2-hydrazinylbenzo[d] oxazole (2) was synthesized from the reaction of compound 1 with hydrazine hydrate in the presence of alcohol. Compound 2 was reacted with aromatic aldehydes to give Schiff base, 2-(2- benzylidene-hydrazinyl)benzo[d]oxazole derivatives 3a-f. The title compounds, formazan derivatives 4a-f, were prepared by a reaction of benzene diazonium chloride. All compounds were confirmed by their physical data, FTIR, 1H-NMR, and 13CNMR spectral data. All the prepared title compounds were screened for in-silico studies and in-vitro antibacterial activity on various microbial strains. Molecular docking against the 4URO receptor demonstrated that molecule 4c showed a maximum dock score of (-) 8.0 kcal/mol. MD simulation data reflected the stable ligand-receptor interaction. As per MM/PBSA analysis, the maximum free binding energy of (-) 58.831 kJ/mol was exhibited by 4c. DFT calculation data confirmed that most of the molecules were soft molecules with electrophilic nature. The synthesized molecules were validated using molecular docking, MD simulation, MMPBSA analysis, and DFT calculation. Among all the molecules, 4c showed maximum activity. The activity profile of the synthesized molecules against tested micro-organisms was found to be 4c>4b>4a>4e>4f>4d.

Gene cloning and characterization of N-carbamyl-l-glutamic acid amidohydrolase involved in ergothioneine utilization in Burkholderia sp. HME13.

Burkholderia sp. HME13 utilizes ergothioneine, a strong antioxidant, as the nitrogen source. We have previously shown that ergothionase (ErtA), thiourocanate hydratase (ErtB), 3-(5-oxo-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-yl) propionic acid desulfhydrase (ErtC), and hydantoin-5-propionic acid amidohydrolase (ErtD) may be involved in ergothioneine utilization in this strain. In this study, we identified the ertE gene in Burkholderia sp. HME13, which encodes a bivalent metal-dependent N-carbamyl-l-glutamic acid amidohydrolase. ErtE showed maximum activity at 60°C and pH 7.0 and was stable at temperatures up to 55°C and pH 6.5-8.0. The Km and Vmax values of ErtE for N-carbamyl-l-glutamic acid were 0.74 mM and 140 U/mg, respectively. EDTA-treated ErtE showed no enzymatic activity, which was restored upon the addition of Co2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, and Fe2+. Expression analyses and enzymatic assays suggested that ErtE is involved in ergothioneine utilization in this strain. Finally, we propose a mechanism for ergothioneine utilization in Burkholderia sp. HME13.

Heliospheric Effect on Solar Activity Parameters during Maximum Phase of Solar Cycle 24 (2012–2015)

The time series of daily data on solar activity proxies, namely the sunspot number (SSN), sunspot area (SSA), solar radio flux (F10.7), modified coronal index (MCI), solar flare index (FI), and cosmic ray intensity (CRI), were analyzed to understand the solar activity modulations and short-term periodicities therein. Rieger-type and other short-term periods include the solar rotational period that covers the maximum activity phase period (maximum phase of solar cycle 24). The wavelet power spectra and Periodogram of SSN, SSA, F10.7, MCI, FI, and CRI exhibited a significant short-term period. The heliospheric effects exist for a particular period (∼27 days) and they are related to the solar activity phenomena. The cross-correlation coefficients and time lags between the CRI and solar activity parameters were estimated to be ∼200, 46, 281, 39, and 47 days for SSN, SSA, F10.7, MCI, and FI respectively during the time series 2012–2015 (maximum phase of solar cycle 24).

Voluntary activation of maximal single and all finger power grip contractions.

When all 4 fingers are engaged together during a grip strength contraction, the force produced by an individual finger is less than the force produced when it acts in isolation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the reduced force output of a digit during an all-finger grip contraction is due to a decline in voluntary activation. Fifteen young adults (n=7 females) completed voluntary contractions of the index finger in isolation and all fingers together in a dynamometer capable of separately recording forces from each finger during voluntary and electrically evoked contractions. The median and ulnar nerves were electrically stimulated simultaneously at the elbow to record individual finger flexion forces from doublet (100 Hz) pulses. Doublet stimulations were applied during and immediately following contractions at 50, 65, 85, and 100% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) forces. Two-way ANOVAs were used to compare the effects of sex and finger (single vs all) on flexion forces and voluntary activation. The index finger produced ∼25% more force when engaged in isolation compared to the all-finger contraction; however, there were no differences in voluntary activation between the single and all finger MVCs (p=0.344). The index finger force deficit was larger in females compared to males (34 vs 18%, p=0.030), but this was not explained by sex-related differences in voluntary activation. These data indicate that the additional force produced during single-finger contractions is not due to an alteration in voluntary activation, as all-finger contractions display near maximal activation of each digit.

Optimizing Oxygen Redox Activity by Local Chemical Disorder toward Robust Co-Free Li-Rich Cathode with High Voltage Stability.

Despite extensive investigation on the lattice oxygen redox (LOR) in Li-rich cathodes, significant challenges remain in utilizing LOR activity without compromising structural and electrochemical stability. Related breakthroughs are hindered by the lack of understanding regarding how different LOR activity influences the structural evolution and electrochemical stability, and what is the optimal LOR activity. Herein, the degree of LOR activity is successfully regulated from 22% to 92% in Co-free Li-rich cathodes (Li1+xMn0.62Ni0.18O2) by controlling local chemical disorder, and the relationship between LOR activity and cycling stability is revealed. Conventional consensus is challenged by new findings that the over-suppressive LOR activity also undermines electrochemical/structural stability, and even causes more severe voltage fading compared to cases with excessive LOR. However, their failure mechanisms related to lattice strain present different characteristics. Based on the established understanding, the appropriate LOR activation is necessary to balance the maximum reversible LOR activity and good stability, and the optimal degree is identified as 86% in Li1.18Mn0.62Ni0.18O2 (LR-78). LR-78 exhibits remarkable voltage retention of 96% after 400 cycles at 1 C, and superior high-rate cyclability without capacity decay within 600 cycles at 5 C. These findings significantly broaden the understanding of LOR mechanisms and provide critical guidance for designing durable LOR-based cathodes.

Prediction of Sunspot Activity Based on Differential Evolution Algorithm and BP Neural Network Model

In this research report, the prediction method of sunspot activity is deeply discussed, and a variety of statistical and data science models are used to make comprehensive prediction. Research focuses include the start time and duration of the solar maximum in the solar cycle, as well as the prediction of the number and area of sunspots. By capturing the periodicity of solar activity, Pearson correlation coefficient is used to analyze the relationship between the maximum solar activity and the number of sunspots, and the adaptive multivariate nonlinear regression-BP neural network model and particle swarm optimization BP neural network are combined to make high-precision prediction. The research results provide a scientific basis for the prediction of space weather, ionospheric state and communication system reliability.

A practitioner's guide to isometric hip adduction and abduction test selection: Maximal force, asymmetry, and muscle activity comparisons between assessment positions.

The purpose of this study was to compare maximal adduction (ADD) and abduction (ABD) force, ADD to ABD ratio (ADD:ABD), inter-limb asymmetries and muscle activity between five isometric hip strength assessment positions. Twenty male athletes performed the following positions: seated (SE), supine at knees with 0° hip flexion (SK0°) and 45° hip flexion (SK45°), and supine at ankles bilaterally (SABI) and unilaterally (SAUNI). Normalised muscle activity (%EMGmax) of adductor longus (ADDLONG), gracilis (GRAC), gluteus medius (GMED), sartorius (SAR), and lower rectus abdominis (RECABD) were also assessed. Significant main effects of assessment position were identified for relative peak force (rPF) and torque (rT), ADD:ABD, ADD asymmetry, and %EMGmax. Significantly greater ADD and ABD rPF and rT were observed in SE and SK45° compared to SABI and SAUNI. SK45° elicited the highest ADDLONG and GRAC %EMGmax during ADD, with SE and SK45° evoking the highest GMED %EMGmax during ABD. SK0° exhibited significantly higher ADD:ABD compared to all positions except SAUNI. ADD asymmetry was significantly largest in SAUNI, and RECABD %EMGmax was highest in SABI during ADD. This data can inform selection of assessment positions based on whether the primary measures of interest are maximal force and muscle activity, or identifying asymmetries.

Hierarchically ordered truncated single crystal mesoporous ZIF-8 as a solid platform for lipase immobilization

Most pristine metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are inherently microporous. To introduce desired porosity for easy enzyme infiltration and immobilization, polystyrene spheres was used as sacrificial template to design hierarchical ordered micro-mesoporous truncated single-crystalline ZIF-8 (SOM-ZIF-8). The surface area and pore diameter of the SOM-ZIF-8 were 821 m2/g and 7.09 nm which changed to 669 m2/g and 4.98 nm respectively, after lipase immobilization, suggesting the pores and surface of the SOM-ZIF-8 served as binding sites for the enzyme, and could reach a loading capacity of 134 mg/g after 24 h. The optimal conditions for achieving maximum lipase activity for free LipaseELP, ZIF-8@LipaseELP and SOM-ZIF-8@LipaseELP were pH 7.8 at 45 °C, and maintained 33.67 %, 45.6 % and 57.78 % residual activity after incubation at 80 °C for 2 h. The specific activity towards tributyrin and p-nitrophenyl acetate were observed to be SOM-ZIF-8@LipaseELP (0.25 and 45.85 U/mg) compared to ZIF-8@LipaseELP (0.211 and 43.62 U/mg) and LipaseELP (0.179 and 41.09 U/mg) respectively. The SOM-ZIF-8@LipaseELP could further be recovered and reused for 9 rounds while maintaining 73.8 % of its original activity. This study demonstrates that introducing mesoporous structures into ZIF-8 could improve its binding enzyme property for enhanced hydrolytic function.