Mineral Binding Research Articles

ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PEPTIDES FORMED DURING THE HYDROLYSIS OF CASEIN BY PROTEASES OF THE ENTEROCOCCUS FAECALIS AN1

Much attention is paid to the study of biologically active peptides from milk caseins, which are usually obtained by partial hydrolysis by the proteolytic system of lactic acid bacteria. These peptides have a wide range of beneficial properties, including mineral binding, antidiabetic, satiating, immunomodulating, opioid, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. In this work, we investigated the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of peptides obtained during the hydrolysis of milk caseins by Enterococcus faecalis AN1 proteases. SDS PAAG electrophoretic analysis of peptide fractions after 8 hours of milk casein proteolysis showed that proteases of this strain cleave all casein fractions (αs1-, αs2 and β-casein). RP-HPLC profile elution revealed a large amount of small, medium and long cationic and anionic peptides. Some fractions of these peptides have antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes EGDe 107776, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli CCM 4517 and Aspergillus niger CCM 8189. Peptide fractions obtained during the hydrolysis of caseins possessed strong antioxidant activity and surpassed native casein by 4.5 times. These data stimulate further research in the field of biomedicine and food technology with the aim of developing new and effective preparations and products for maintaining the health and safety of consumers.

Soil organic matter persistence in hyperhumic colluvial soils caused by palaeofires, root inputs and mineral binding

Understanding the formation of long-term persistent soil organic matter (SOM) is key to optimizing soil management and predicting the response of the terrestrial organic carbon (OC) pool to climate change, yet our knowledge of the soil-type dependent weight of different stabilization pathways (e.g., recalcitrance and mineral binding) is fragmentary. Owing to their stratigraphy, the exceptionally SOM-rich (up to 2 m of mineral soil with >5% OC) colluvial slope deposits of Atlantic Europe (Haplic Umbrisol [colluvic/hyperhumic]) are archives of palaeo-environmental conditions including SOM formation pathways. The objective of this study was to determine how the different drivers of persistent SOM formation influenced the formation of these organic-rich soils. For this purpose, we use Holocene (∼9000 yrs) molecular composition records obtained from pyrolysis-GC–MS (Py-GC–MS) and thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (THM-GC–MS). The results emphasize three pathways to stability (i.e., persistence on millennial timescales): 1) palaeofires that generated recalcitrant pyrogenic SOM, 2) release of root-derived aliphatic macromolecules (suberin-like SOM), and 3) formation of microbial necromass. Pathways 1 and 2 are controlled by land use: Pathway 1 was relatively important under intense anthropogenic fire regimes and pyrophytic shrubland expansion; Pathway 2 was stimulated during early forest phases and under pasture conditions, when past societies focused vegetation management on grazing instead of fire; Pathway 3 was controlled by binding with aluminium-dominated mineral phases. However, we found indications that Pathway 2 (suberin input and preservation) relied partially on sorptive preservation as well. Aided by structured equation modeling (SEM), we show that the formation of persistent SOM pools was driven by balanced weights of i) microbial vs. plant-derived SOM and ii) intrinsic chemical properties of SOM (recalcitrance continuum) vs. mineral binding/occlusion, which varied in keeping with interactions between past land use, topography and vegetation. These findings are inconsistent with the prevalent paradigm of persistent SOM formation by sorptive/occlusive preservation of microbial necromass alone.

Trace Mineral Source Influences Trace Mineral Solubility in Water and Mineral Binding Strength to Ruminal Digesta.

Two experiments were conducted to examine the impact of trace mineral (TM) source on in vitro and in vivo solubility characteristics. Experiment 1: Hydroxy TM (HTM) and sulfate TM (STM) sources of Cu, Mn, and Zn were incubated separately in water for 24 h. Immediately after mixing, initial pH of each solution was greater (P < 0.03) for HTM compared to STM for all elements. Final pH tended to be greater for Cu (P = 0.09) and Zn (P = 0.07) from HTM compared to STM. Water solubility of Cu, Mn, and Zn from STM was greater (P < 0.01) than HTM sources. Experiment 2: Eight steers fitted with rumen cannula were blocked by body weight and randomly assigned to treatments. Treatments consisted of 10 mg Cu, 40 mg Mn, and 60 mg Zn/kg DM from either STM or HTM sources. Steers were individually fed a cracked corn-corn silage-based diet. Treatments were top-dressed daily. Rumen contents were collected at 0, 2, and 4 h post-feeding on d 1 and 14. On d 15, strained ruminal fluid and particle-associated microorganisms were obtained. Zinc was more tightly bound (P = 0.01) to the digesta in HTM-supplemented steers compared to STM on d 14. These data indicate that TM source influences pH and solubility of Cu, Mn, and Zn in water and may affect rumen soluble Cu concentrations and binding strength of Zn to solid digesta.

Competitive adsorption of heavy metals onto xanthate-modified sludge hydrochar and its solidification as secondary minerals

In this study, a sulfur-modified magnetic hydrochar was synthesized by grafting thiol-containing groups onto the sludge-derived hydrochar. The modified hydrochar exhibited effective adsorption of Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ over a wide pH range and in the presence of coexisting ions, and showed almost no secondary leaching in three acidic solutions. In the mult-metal ion system, the modified hydrochar exhibited maximum adsorption capacities were 39.38, 105.74, 26.53, and 38.11 mg g−1 for Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+, respectively. However, the binding capacity and adsorption amount of modified hydrochar for metal ions were lower in the mult-metal ion system compared to the unit-metal ion system. Notably, Pb2+ showed a strong inhibitory effect on the adsorption of other heavy metal ions by modified hydrochar due to strong competition for xanthate functional groups. The Pb2+ occupied the xanthate and native functional groups (–OH, –NH2, and Fe–O etc.), leaving only a small amount of adsorption sites for Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+. Simulation results further supported these findings, indicating that Pb2+ had the highest density profiles near the four functional groups, and the density profiles of the four heavy metals near the xanthate functional groups were greater compared to the other three functional groups. Furthermore, the SEM-EDS, TOF-SIMI, and XPS results indicated that modified hydrochar achieved excellent mineral binding mainly through electrostatic interaction, ion exchange, and chelation. Overall, these results highlight the sulfur-modified magnetic hydrochar as a highly efficient adsorbent for heavy metals in environmental applications.

Recovering short DNA fragments from minerals and marine sediments: A comparative study evaluating lysis and isolation approaches

AbstractMarine sediments as excellent climate archives, contain among other biomolecules substantial amounts of extracellular DNA. Through mineral binding, some of the DNA remains protected from degradation which aids its preservation. While this pool of DNA represents genomic ecosystem fingerprints spanning over millions of years, the capability of current DNA extraction methods in recovering mineral‐bound DNA remains poorly understood. We evaluated current sedimentary DNA extraction approaches and their ability to recover short DNA fragments from artificially created DNA‐mineral complexes involving pure clay minerals or quartz, as well as from different types of natural marine sediments. We separately investigated lysis (DNA release) and isolation steps (purification of DNA) comparing five different lysis buffers across two commonly used DNA isolation approaches: silica magnetic beads and liquid‐phase organic extraction and purification. The choice of lysis buffer significantly impacted the amount of recovered mineral‐bound DNA and facilitated selective desorption of DNA fragments. High molarity EDTA and phosphate lysis buffers recovered on average an order of magnitude more DNA from clay minerals than other tested buffers, while both isolation approaches recovered comparable amounts of DNA. In marine sediments, however, liquid‐phase organic extraction caused inhibitory effects in subsequent downstream applications (e.g., PCR), across all assessed DNA extracts, while silica magnetic beads induced inhibition only in half of the tested DNA extracts. Thus, the isolation approach, together with the lysis buffer, played a decisive role in successful library preparation with lysis buffer choice ultimately impacting final library fragment distribution. With this study, we underscore the critical importance of lysis buffer selection to maximize the recovery of mineral‐bound DNA and show its profound impact on recovered fragment lengths in sedimentary DNA extractions, a crucial factor alongside existing isolation approaches in facilitating high‐quality DNA extracts for downstream analysis related to ancient environmental DNA research.

Preparation of whey protein isolate-iron-curcumin ternary composite nanoparticles and investigation of formation mechanism

Whey protein isolate (WPI) exhibits mineral binding and acts as a potentially versatile carrier of the nutritional properties of curcumin. This study aimed to investigate the synthesis of WPI-Fe-Curcumin by combining iron and curcumin with WPI, to determine whether the antioxidant capacity of curcumin can protect the high-quality iron source Fe2+ when it binds to divalent iron ions, to describe the mechanism of WPI-Fe-Curcumin complex formation and to investigate the solubility stability of the complex. The results showed that (i) The iron content was 3.561 mg/g protein, and the encapsulation efficiency for curcumin was 99.98% efficiency. (ii) After dehydration, the high solubility of the WPI-Fe-Curcumin dry powder was 85.41% at 0 day and 82.84% at day 30. (iii) The addition of curcumin resulted in a 6.04% increase in Fe2+ content, indicating that curcumin provided an antioxidant reducing environment for the iron ions. (iv) The introduction of iron reduced the particle size and promoted the formation of β-sheet structures of whey protein. These results suggest that WPI-Fe-Curcumin can facilitate the development of effective nutrient delivery systems for applications in food, iron supplement, and pharmaceutical industries.

Survival of environmental DNA in sediments: Mineralogic control on DNA taphonomy

AbstractThe extraction of environmental DNA (eDNA) from sediments is providing ground‐breaking views of past ecosystems and biodiversity. Despite this rich source of information, it is still unclear which sediments favor preservation and why. Here, we used atomic force microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations to explore the DNA‐mineral interaction to assess how mineralogy and interfacial geochemistry play a role in the preservation of environmental DNA on mineral substrates. We demonstrate that mineral composition, surface topography, and surface charge influence DNA adsorption behavior as well as preservation. Modeling and experimental data show that DNA damage can be induced by mineral binding if there is a strong driving force for adsorption. The study shows that knowledge of the mineralogical composition of a sediment and the environmental conditions can be useful for assessing if a deposit is capable of storing extracellular DNA and to what extent the DNA would be preserved. Our data adds to the understanding of eDNA taphonomy and highlights that, for some mineral systems, fragmented DNA may not represent old DNA.

Enhancing Zinc Uptake through Dual-Modification of Cicer arietinum Protein

Zinc is crucial for physiological processes; however, deficiency persists globally. Binding zinc to plant proteins enhances absorption, minimizing toxicity risks and offering a potential solution for deficiency. Mineral binding efficiency of the unmodified protein is limited; hence, dual modification (succinylation and ultrasonication) is potentially used to achieve higher binding efficiency. Enhancing zinc uptake is crucial for cellular health due to its vital roles in various biological processes including enzymatic activity, DNA repair, immune function, antioxidant defense, hormone regulation, brain function, signaling, growth, gene expression, and reproduction. Therefore, this research aimed to develop a chickpea protein-zinc complex and to evaluate the influence of dual modification on their physiochemical, bioavailability, and cellular mineral uptake attributes. Succinylation exhibited significant improvements in the water-holding capacity by 28.73%, oil-holding capacity by 34.09%, and solubility by 5.46% of the chickpea protein-zinc complex as compared to the native complex. Mineral bioavailability increased by 8.32%, and there were notable increases in cellular uptake of zinc by 2.10%, retention by 5.80%, and transport by 3.96%, respectively. Furthermore, the dual modification approach resulted in a notable decrease in the particle size of the chickpea protein-zinc complex, with a substantial reduction of 73.25% and an increased zeta potential value of −21 mV compared to the succinylated complex. As well, dual modification concurrently led to a substantial decline of 48.04% in the sulfhydryl (SH) content, coupled with a marked increase of 21.92% in the surface hydrophobicity. In addition, zinc bioavailability, cellular uptake, retention, and transport were further enhanced by 1.89, 3.34, and 4.8% through dual modification. Our findings highlight that the dual modification of the chickpea protein-zinc complex shows a promising strategy for enhancing the techno-functional characteristics, bioavailability, and cellular uptake of zinc, which could be a better platform for developing vegan foods.

Development of tetracycline-modified nanoparticles for bone-targeted delivery of anti-tubercular drug.

Background: Since the poor response to existing anti-tuberculosis drugs and low drug concentration in local bone tissues, the traditional drug therapy does not result in satisfactory treatment of osteoarticular tuberculosis. Thus, we report a rifapentine release system with imparted bone targeting potential using tetracycline (TC) -modified nanoparticles (NPs). Methods: TC was conjugated to PLGA-PEG copolymer via a DCC/NHS technique. Rifapentine-loaded NPs were prepared by premix membrane emulsification technique. The resulting NPs were characterized in terms of physicochemical characterization, hemolytic study, cytotoxicity, bone mineral binding ability, in vitro drug release, stability test and antitubercular activity. The pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies were also performed in mice. Results: Rifapentine loaded TC-PLGA-PEG NPs were proved to be 48.8nm in size with encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of 83.3% ± 5.5% and 8.1% ± 0.4%, respectively. The release of rifapentine from NPs could be maintained for more than 60h. Most (68.0%) TC-PLGA-PEG NPs could bind to HAp powder in vitro. The cellular studies revealed that NPs were safe for intravenous administration. In vivo evaluations also revealed that the drug concentration of bone tissue in TC-PLGA-PEG group was significantly higher than that in other groups at all time (p < 0.05). Both NPs could improve pharmacokinetic parameters without evident organ toxicity. The minimal inhibitory concentration of NPs was 0.094μg/mL, whereas this of free rifapentine was 0.25μg/mL. Conclusion: Rifapentine loaded TC-PLGA-PEG NPs could increase the amount of rifapentine in bone tissue, prolong drug release in systemic circulation, enhance anti-tuberculosis activity, and thereby reducing dose and frequency of drug therapy for osteoarticular tuberculosis.

Duration of continuous cropping with straw return affects soil organic carbon

AbstractUnderstanding the impact of continuous cropping with straw return on soil organic matter functional groups is of great importance for maintaining chemical stabilization of SOC in arid regions. Infrared spectral characteristics of cotton field soil with different continuous cropping durations (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years) were determined with Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy for fields in Manasi River Basin, Xinjiang province, China. The effects of continuous cropping duration on the stability and chemical composition of soil organic carbon (SOC) were analysed. The results indicate an initial increase in the SOC, soil particulate organic carbon (POC), and mineral‐associated organic carbon (MOC) content of soil under continuous cropping with straw return. However, as continuous cropping duration increased, the levels of SOC, POC, and MOC in soil began to decrease. The soil POC content and POC/MOC were highest after 5 years of straw return, and started to decrease as the continuous cropping duration increased. The SOC and MOC contents were highest after 10 years of continuous cropping, and were 3.30 and 1.84 times higher than the control, respectively. As continuous cropping duration increased, the relative peak intensities for polysaccharides and aromatic groups in soil organic matter decreased, while the relative peak intensities for aliphatic compounds and hydroxyketone increased. In conclusion, continuous cropping with straw return in cotton fields promotes SOC but only for about 10 years. An increase in straw return duration boosts the degree of esterification in soil organic matter. Moreover, enhanced protection by mineral binding was observed for soil organic matter, increasing organic matter stabilization. This study aimed to provide an empirical foundation for the management of the SOC pool and the establishment of rational straw return practices for cotton fields in arid areas.

Peptide Engraftment on PEGylated Nanoliposomes for Bone Specific Delivery of PTH (1-34) in Osteoporosis

Bone-specific functionalization strategies on liposomes are promising approaches to delivering the drug in osteoporotic conditions. This approach delivers the drug to the bone surface specifically, reduces the dose and off-target effects of the drug, and thereby reduces the toxicity of the drug. The purpose of the current research work was to fabricate the bone-specific peptide conjugated pegylated nanoliposomes to deliver anabolic drug and its physicochemical evaluations. For this, a bone-specific peptide (SDSSD) was synthesized, and the synthesized peptide was conjugated with a linker (DSPE-PEG2000-COOH) to obtain a bone-specific conjugate (SDSSD-DSPE). Purified SDSSD-DSPE was characterized by HPLC, Maldi-TOF, NMR, and Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Further, peptide-conjugated and anabolic drug-encapsulated liposomes (SDSSD-LPs) were developed using the ethanol injection method and optimized by Central Composite Design (CCD) using a statistical approach. Optimized SDSSD-LPs were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, including surface morphology, particle size, zeta potential, in vitro drug release, and bone mineral binding potential. The obtained results from these studies demonstrated that SDSSD-DSPE conjugate and SDSSD-LPs were optimized successfully. The particle size, % EE, and zeta potential of SDSSD-LPs were observed to be 183.07 ± 0.85 nm, 66.72 ± 4.22%, and -25.03 ± 0.21 mV, respectively. SDSSD-LPs demonstrated a sustained drug release profile. Further, the in vitro bone mineral binding assay demonstrated that SDSSD-LPs deliver the drug to the bone surface specifically. These results suggested that SDSSD-LPs could be a potential targeting approach to deliver the anabolic drug in osteoporotic conditions.

Anthropogenic, Carbon-Reinforced Soil as a Living Engineered Material.

In recent years, the simple synthesis of artificial humic substances (A-HS) by alkaline hydrothermal processing of waste biomass was described. This A-HS was shown to support water and mineral binding, to change soil structure, to avoid fertilizer mineralization, and to support plant growth. Many of the observed macroscopic effects could, however, not be directly related to the minute amounts of A-HS which have been added, and an A-HS stimulated microbiome was found to be the key for understanding. In this review, we describe such anthropogenic soil in the language of the modern concept of living engineered materials and identify natural and artificial HS as the enabler to set up the interactive microbial system along the interfaces of the mineral grains. In that, old chemical concepts as surface activity, redox mediation, and pH buffering are the base of the system structure build-up and the complex self-adaptability of biological systems. The resulting chemical/biological hybrid system has the potential to address world problems as soil fertility, nutrition of a growing world population, and climate change.

Application of the mineral-binding protein fetuin-A for the detection of calcified lesions.

Rationale: Calcium plays an essential role in the biology of vertebrates. Calcium content in body fluids is maintained within a narrow physiologic range by feedback control. Phosphate is equally important for metabolism and is likewise controlled, albeit over a wider range. This results in a nearly supersaturated state of calcium phosphate in body liquids driving mineral precipitation in soft tissues, which is actively prevented by calcification inhibitors. The hepatic plasma protein fetuin-A is a circulating mineralization inhibitor regulating calcium phosphate crystal growth and calcified matrix metabolism. Ectopic mineralization is associated with many pathological conditions aggravating their outcome. Current diagnostic methods lack sensitivity towards microcalcifications representing the initial stages of the process. Given the irreversibility of established calcifications, novel diagnostic tools capable of detecting nascent calcium phosphate deposits are highly desirable. Methods: We designed fluorescent fusion proteins consisting of fetuin-A coupled to a green or red fluorescent protein derivate, mEmerald or mRuby3, respectively. The proteins were expressed in mammalian cell lines. Sequence optimization resolved folding issues and increased sensitivity of mineral binding. Chimeric proteins were tested for their ability to detect calcifications in cell cultures and tissue sections retrieved from calcification-prone mice. Results: We employed novel genetically labeled fetuin-A-based fluorescent proteins for the detection of ectopic calcifications. We show that fetuin-A-based imaging agents are non-toxic and suitable for live imaging of microcalcifications beyond the detection limit of conventional staining techniques. The ability of fetuin-A to preferentially bind nascent calcium phosphate crystals allowed the resolution of histopathological detail of early kidney damage that went previously undetected. Endogenous expression of fetuin-A fluorescent fusion proteins allowed extended live imaging of calcifying cells with unprecedented sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: Ectopic microcalcifications represent a major clinical concern lacking effective diagnostic and treatment options. In this paper, we describe novel highly sensitive fetuin-A-based fluorescent probes for imaging microcalcifications. We show that fusion proteins consisting of a fetuin-A mineral binding moiety and a fluorescent protein are superior to the routine methods for detecting calcifications. They also surpass in continuous live cell imaging the chemically fluorescence labeled fetuin-A, which we established previously.

Antibacterial and Proliferative Effects of NaOH-Coated Titanium, Zirconia, and Ceramic-Reinforced PEEK Dental Composites on Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Several metallic and polymer-based implants have been fabricated for orthopedic applications. For instance, titanium (Ti), zirconia (Zr), and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) are employed due to their excellent biocompatibility properties. Hence, the present study aimed to compare the functional and biological properties of these three biomaterials with surface modification. For this purpose, Ti, Zr, and ceramic-reinforced PEEK (CrPEEK) were coated with NaOH and tested for the biological response. Our results showed that the surface modification of these biomaterials significantly improved the water contact, protein adhesion, and bioactivity compared with uncoated samples. Among the NaOH-coated biomaterials, Ti and CrPEEK showed higher protein absorption than Zr. However, the mineral binding ability was higher in CrPEEK than in the other two biomaterials. Although the coating improved the functional properties, NaOH coating did not influence the antibacterial effect against E. coli and S. aureus in these biomaterials. Similar to the antibacterial effects, the NaOH coating did not contribute any significant changes in cell proliferation and cell loading, and CrPEEK showed better biocompatibility among the biomaterials. Therefore, this study concluded that the surface modification of biomaterials could potentially improve the functional properties but not the antibacterial and biocompatibility, and CrPEEK could be an alternative material to Ti and Zr with desirable qualities in orthopedic applications.

Sustainable biopolymer soil stabilisation: the effect of microscale chemical characteristics on macroscale mechanical properties

Sustainable biopolymer additives offer a promising soil stabilisation methodology, with a strong potential to be tuned to soil’s specific nature, allowing the tailoring of mechanical properties for a range of geotechnical applications. However, the biopolymer chemical characteristics driving soil mechanical property modifications have yet to be fully established. Within this study we employ a cross-scale approach, utilising the differing galactose:mannose (G:M) ratios of various Galactomannan biopolymers (Guar Gum G:M 1:2, Locust Bean Gum G:M 1:4, Cassia Gum G:M 1:5) to investigate the effect of microscale chemical functionality upon macroscale soil mechanical properties. Molecular weight effects are also investigated, utilising Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC). Soil systems comprising of SiO2 (100%) (SiO2) and a Mine Tailing (MT) exemplar composed of SiO2 (90%) + Fe2O3 (10%) (SiO2 + Fe) are investigated. The critical importance of biopolymer additive chemical functionality for the resultant soil mechanical properties, is demonstrated..For Galactomannan G:M 1:5 stabilised soils the ‘high-affinity, high-strength’, mannose-Fe interactions at the microscale (confirmed by mineral binding characterisation) are attributed to the 297% increase in the SiO2 + Fe systems Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), relative to SiO2 only. Conversely for SiO2 Galactomannan-stabilised soils, when increasing the G:M ratio from 1:2 to 1:5, a 85% reduction in UCS is observed, attributed to mannose’s inability to interact with SiO2. UCS variations of up to a factor of 12 were observed across the biopolymer–soil mixes studied, in line with theoretically and experimentally expected values, due to the differences in the G:M ratios. The limited impact of molecular weight upon soil strength properties is also shown in CMC-stabilised soils. When considering a soil’s stiffness and energy absorbance, the importance of biopolymer–biopolymer interaction strength and quantity is discussed, further deciphering biopolymer characteristics driving soil property modifications. This study highlights the importance of biopolymer chemistry for biopolymer stabilisation studies, illustrating the use of simple low-cost, accessible chemistry-based instrumental tools and outlining key design principles for the tailoring of biopolymer–soil composites for specific geotechnical applications.Graphical abstract

Sustainable biopolymer soil stabilization in saline rich, arid conditions: a \u2018micro to macro\u2019 approach

Water scarcity in semi-arid/arid regions is driving the use of salt water in mining operations. A consequence of this shift, is the potentially unheeded effect upon Mine Tailing (MT) management. With existing stabilization/solidification methodologies exhibiting vulnerability to MT toxicity and salinity effects, it is essential to explore the scope for more environmentally durable sustainable alternatives under these conditions. Within this study we investigate the effects of salinity (NaCl, 0–2.5 M) and temperatures associated with arid regions (25 °C, 40 °C), on Locust Bean Gum (LB) biopolymer stabilization of MT exemplar and sand (control) soil systems. A cross-disciplinary ‘micro to macro’ pipeline is employed, from a Membrane Enabled Bio-mineral Affinity Screen (MEBAS), to Mineral Binding Characterisation (MBC), leading finally to Geotechnical Verification (GV). As predicted by higher Fe2O3 LB binding affinity in saline in the MEBAS studies, LB with 1.25 M NaCl, results in the greatest soil strength in the MT exemplar after 7 days of curing at 40 °C. Under these most challenging conditions for other soil strengthening systems, an overall UCS peak of 5033 kPa is achieved. MBC shows the critical and direct relationship between Fe2O3-LB in saltwater to be ‘high-affinity’ at the molecular level and ‘high-strength’ achieved at the geotechnical level. This is attributed to biopolymer binding group’s increased availability, with their ‘salting-in’ as NaCl concentrations rises to 1.25 M and then ‘salting-out’ at higher concentrations. This study highlights the potential of biopolymers as robust, sustainable, soil stabilization additives in challenging environments.

High-Protein Concentrated Pro-Yogurt (Pro-WPI) Enriched With Whey Protein Isolate Improved Athletic Anemia and Performance in a Placebo-Controlled Study.

Upcoming developments are attracting attention to both high-protein and probiotics supplementation for the sports community to promote good health and exercise performance. This study aimed at the production of high-protein concentrated pro-yogurt (Pro-WPI) enriched with 10 and 20% whey protein isolate (WPI) and investigation of the response of daily consumption on anthropometric, hematology parameters, and athletic performance in parallel with safety consideration assessment. Twenty-four athletes (19.6 ± 1.45 years; 175.96 ± 5.24 cm; 73.16 ± 8.65 kg) were participated in a randomized placebo-control study. They consumed Pro-WPI products with 10 (T1) and 20% (T2) WPI for treatments G1 (Pro-WPI30) and G2 (Pro-WPI60), respectively, 3 times per day/5 days per week/9 weeks. The taste of Pro-WPI products was sour and cheesy, while mouthfeel was described as soft and thick because of the increased protein content in T1 and T2 (14.15 and 22.58%). The hemoglobin of the athletes increased significantly from a baseline of 12.69 g/dl to 16 and 16.66 g/dl in G1 and G2, respectively. Furthermore, the athletic performance was enhanced in vertical jump, long jump, sprinting velocity, half squats, and pushups, which reached 58.75 cm, 255 cm, 3.5 m/s, 218.75 counts, and 85 counts, respectively in G2. The healthy gut microbiome (probiotics) in parallel with increased iron bioavailability by mineral binding (whey bioactive peptides), influenced iron status and can represent a healthy practice to improve athletic anemia and performance. On the other hand, urinary albumin exceeded the border of reference range (<30 mg/g) and reached 38.25 and 44.13 mg/g in G1 and G2, while urine pH was in the normal range (4.5–8). Increased urinary albumin might be due to high rates of protein metabolism that follow high protein intake. This study provided preliminary information on metabolic responses to high protein concentrated yogurt intake in athletes who engaged in daily exercise. Further studies are needed to determine the recommended intensity of 10 and 20% Pro-WPI product consumption to achieve its benefits and avoid implications on kidney function.

Interface Engineering through Adhesion and Remineralization for Dental Composites using Mineral Binding Peptides

Interface Engineering through Adhesion and Remineralization for Dental Composites using Mineral Binding Peptides

НОВЫЕ ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНЫЕ ВЯЖУЩИЕ МАТЕРИАЛЫ НА ОСНОВЕ СЕРПЕНТИНИТА

Based on the results of the study of composite compositions based on cement and low-temperature silicate hydrate magnesium (based on serpentinite) plasticizing zatvoritelya, salt and acid-basic type, the proposed new areas of recycling enrichment of chrysotile asbestos mine and serpentinite in mineral binding construction materials and for special purposes

Highly porous building ceramics based on «clay-ash microspheres» and «zeolite-ash microspheres» mixtures

The possibility of obtaining highly porous heat-insulating ceramic materials based on compositions of mineral binding components (clay and zeolite rock) with ash-containing waste from the combustion of solid fuel (ash microspheres) is considered.It has been established that the pore-forming effect of ash microspheres in mixtures with low-melting clay is due to both the porous macrostructure of the ash component (the presence of hollow spherical particles) and the nature of physicochemical processes in the “clay – ash microspheres” and “zeolite – ash microspheres” systems (the synthesis of anorthite and mullite proceeding with an increase in molar volume).The creation of highly porous ceramic structures from mixtures of ash microspheres with zeolite rock, in addition to the structural features of microspheres, is also due to the structural (channel) porosity of zeolite minerals. The established pore-forming effect of zeolite rock and ash microspheres made it possible to develop a method for preparing a semi-dry masses from these compositions and to propose a technological scheme for obtaining a highly porous ceramic brick.The use of zeolite rock as a binder in a mixture with ash microspheres in content up 60–95 wt%, modified with zeolite-lignosulfonate slip, makes it possible to obtain a highly efficient constraction and thermal insulation ceramic brick with a compressive strength of 18–30 MPa, volume weight 930–1100 kg/m3 and thermal conductivity 0.22–0.31 W/m·K at a firing temperature of 950–1000 °C.