O2 Flux Research Articles

REVIEW ON TAIL REGENERATION MECHANISM OF XENOPUS LAEVIS AND CLINOTARSUS CURTIPESAS A THERAPEUTIC MODEL FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

The augmentation of regenerative capability is a powerful method for pursuing for the regulation of degeneration, traumatic injury and cancer. The tadpole, Clinotarsus curtipes and Xenopus laevis is a significant model system for addressing the fundamental regeneration mechanism that enables to understand the key aspects of regeneration medicine. The selected creatures Clinotarsus curtipes and Xenopus laevis could able to obtain both tissue regeneration and scar free healing during larval stage in spite of its predominant loss of such ability during the metamorphic process. Such transient capability associated with the evolutionary correlation with humans creates Clinotarsus curtipes and Xenopus a very good attractive model for uncovering the functional regeneration mechanisms. The study analysed the existing literatures on change in the levels of ROS that is required for the proper wnt-signaling in every regeneration system. Apart from that the paper provided the comprehensive review on the histopathological view, regeneration signals like TGFβ, FGF, BMP, Wnt etc for successful regeneration. Factors that affect the tail regeneration like O2 influx, epigenetics and HDAC activity have also been provided. Significant other such criteria like role of TRKA signaling, profiling and intracellular protein expression followed by its corresponding challenges adds value to the paper.The study presents an overview of Xenopus and Clinotarsus curtipesas a model organism for the research and highlighted the new insights.

Summer Oxygen Dynamics on a Southern Arabian Gulf Coral Reef

During the summer the Arabian Gulf is the world's warmest sea, also characterized by hypersalinity and extreme annual temperature fluctuations (12–35oC), making it marginal for coral growth. Yet extensive reefs occur in all eight nations bordering the Gulf. Here we present data demonstrating recurrent summer hypoxia events [oxygen concentration (O2) <2 mg l−1] at a reef in the southern Gulf. Currently these episodes are short enough (median 3 h, max 10 h) to preclude mass mortality. Will this always be the case? Predicting future Gulf hypoxia risk for coral reef ecosystems requires diagnosing the underlying causes driving the timing and magnitude of O2 swings. To this end, we compare our data with the output of a simple coupled 1-D water column/biogeochemical model of the reef environment. This allows us to give quantitative estimates of the O2 fluxes produced by photosynthesis both in the water column and within the coral framework, by respiration processes in the benthos, and from the atmosphere. We demonstrate the role of turbulent mixing, and in particular of tides, in shaping the temporal variability of the amplitude of the diel O2 cycle. We find that, in spite of significant turbulent mixing, which maintains the temperature vertically well-mixed, the biological O2 production and consumption is dominant over the atmospheric O2 flux, and is sufficient to generate vertical differences of 1 to 5 mg l−1 between the bottom and 1.5 m above it. While estimating future trends of hypoxia frequency will require further study, the present findings single out the relevant physical and biological processes (and their interplay) which deserve further scrutiny. The Gulf today experiences temperatures expected to occur across much of the tropics by the end of the century, and the observation of recurrent hypoxia events in the Gulf suggests that similar hypoxic phenomena may represent an important, but to date underappreciated, threat to the future of global coral reefs.

Nitrogen transformations in constructed wetlands: A closer look at plant-soil interactions using chemical imaging

Constructed wetlands have long been used for domestic wastewater treatment. Despite the widespread application of constructed wetlands for wastewater remediation, they are still regarded as a black box in terms of the complex biogeochemical processes occurring internally, particularly with respect to plant-soil (and nitrogen) interactions. Additionally, many critical processes pertaining to nitrogen transformations in constructed wetlands are thought to occur in microzones within the rhizosphere, highlighting the need for studies with sub-cm spatial resolution. In this study we coupled nitrogen porewater measurements with chemical imaging to determine spatio-temporal patterns in porewater O2 and pH to assess the extent of plant-induced changes in soil redox dynamics that influence nitrogen biogeochemical cycling during dosed application of nitrogen-rich artificial wastewater. Planar optode imaging revealed extensive O2 fluxes to otherwise anoxic sediment via radial oxygen loss (ROL) from Typha latifolia roots. The contribution of photosynthetic O2 from this plant species was minimal as a strong oxic signal persisted in darkness (diel cycles). NH4+ and NOx− removal were strongly correlated with the extent of oxic and anoxic areas, a function largely attributed to the presence of plants and the associated enhanced microbial communities supported. The distribution of nitrogen species within the Typha rhizosphere exhibited reproducible trends as a function of distance from roots, with concentrations highest close to roots (1–5 mm from root surface) and subsequently decreasing at greater distances. Microscale spatio-temporal redox heterogeneity within the rhizosphere due to ROL imposed by plants promoted nitrogen removal likely by stimulating the coupling between nitrification and denitrification in these systems. Collectively, this study highlights the profound importance of plants in exerting controls on soil conditions and nitrogen cycling in constructed wetland systems. With careful considerations, constructed wetlands designed to promote wetland plants' functions may enhance nitrogen removal and mitigate nitrogen pollution.

Surface functionalization of polypropylene nanoparticles in a pulsed low pressure air plasma discharge

One dimensional multi-fluid model is combined with a surface model to study the functionalization of polypropylene nanoparticles immersed in a repetitively pulsed low pressure air plasma. It is found that, the number densities of the charged and metastable species show periodic variations with time, whereas the concentrations of radicals increase in successive pulses. O2+ is the most important positive ion and O, OH, O3, and HO2 are the most important radicals in the functionalization of the polypropylene nanoparticle. The surface coverages of all functional groups are increased with increase in the pulse number, while the coverage of alkyl sites decreases after 200 pulses. At high pressures, the most important functional group with highest surface coverage is peroxy, followed by carbonyl, alcohol, alkoxy, and hydroperoxy. The electron number density and the incident fluxes of O2+ ions and O, OH, O3, and HO2 radicals, as well as the surface coverages of all functional groups are increased with increase in the gas pressure. Completely reverse effects were observed with increase in the gas temperature such that the incident ion and radical fluxes and all surface coverages decrease with increase in the gas temperature.

Coupling and pathway control of coenzyme Q redox state and respiration in isolated mitochondria

Redox states of the mitochondrial coenzyme Q pool, which reacts with the electron transfer system, reflect the balance between (1) reducing capacities of electron flow from fuel substrates converging at the Q-junction, (2) oxidative capacities downstream of Q to O2, and (3) the load on the OXPHOS system utilizing or dissipating the protonmotive force. A three-electrode sensor (Rich 1988; Moore et al 1988) was implemented into the NextGen-O2k to monitor continuously the redox state of CoQ2 added as a Q-mimetic simultaneously with O2 consumption. The Q-Module was optimized for high signal-to-noise ratio, minimum drift, and minimum oxygen diffusion. CoQ2 equilibrates in the same manner as Q at Complexes CI, CII and CIII. The CoQ2 redox state is monitored amperometrically with the working electrode, which is poised at CoQ2 redox peak potentials determined by cyclic voltammetry. The voltammogram also provides quality control of the Q-sensor and reveals chemical interferences. The CoQ2 redox state and O2 consumption were measured simultaneously in isolated mouse cardiac and brain mitochondria. CoQ2 ― and by implication mitochondrial Q ― was more oxidized when O2 flux was stimulated by coupling control: when energy demand increased from LEAK to OXPHOS and electron transfer capacities in the succinate pathway. In contrast, CoQ2 was more reduced when O2 flux was stimulated by pathway-control of electron input capacities, increasing from the NADH (N)- to succinate (S)-linked pathway which converge at the Q-junction, with CI-Q-CIII and CII-Q-CIII segments, respectively. N- and S- respiratory pathway capacities were not completely additive, compatible with partitioning of Q intermediary between the solid-state and liquid-state models of supercomplex organization. The direct proportionality of CoQ2 reduction and electron input capacities through the CI-Q-CIII and CII-Q-CIII segments suggests that CoQ2 is accurately mimicking mitochondrial Q-redox changes. Cite: Komlodi T, Cardoso LHD, Doerrier C, Moore AL, Rich PR, Gnaiger E (2021) Coupling and pathway control of coenzyme Q redox state and respiration in isolated mitochondria. Bioenerg Commun 2021.3. https://doi.org/10.26124/bec:2021-0003

Changes in hemoglobin function and isoform expression during embryonic development in the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis.

In the developing embryos of egg-laying vertebrates, O2 flux takes place across a fixed surface area of the eggshell and the chorioallantoic membrane. In the case of crocodilians, the developing embryo may experience a decrease in O2 flux when the nest becomes hypoxic, which may cause compensatory adjustments in blood O2 transport. However, whether the switch from embryonic to adult hemoglobin isoforms (isoHbs) plays some role in these adjustments is unknown. Here, we provide a detailed characterization of the developmental switch of isoHb synthesis in the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis. We examined the in vitro functional properties and subunit composition of purified alligator isoHbs expressed during embryonic developmental stages in normoxia and hypoxia (10% O2). We found distinct patterns of isoHb expression in alligator embryos at different stages of development, but these patterns were not affected by hypoxia. Specifically, alligator embryos expressed two main isoHbs: HbI, prevalent at early developmental stages, with a high O2 affinity and high ATP sensitivity, and HbII, prevalent at later stages and identical to the adult protein, with a low O2 affinity and high CO2 sensitivity. These results indicate that whole blood O2 affinity is mainly regulated by ATP in the early embryo and by CO2 and bicarbonate from the late embryo until adult life, but the developmental regulation of isoHb expression is not affected by hypoxia exposure.

O2 permeability of lipid bilayers is low, but increases with membrane cholesterol

Oxygen on its transport route from lung to tissue mitochondria has to cross several cell membranes. The permeability value of membranes for O2 (PO2), although of fundamental importance, is controversial. Previous studies by mostly indirect methods diverge between 0.6 and 125 cm/s. Here, we use a most direct approach by observing transmembrane O2 fluxes out of 100 nm liposomes at defined transmembrane O2 gradients in a stopped-flow system. Due to the small size of the liposomes intra- as well as extraliposomal diffusion processes do not affect the overall kinetics of the O2 release process. We find, for cholesterol-free liposomes, the unexpectedly low PO2 value of 0.03 cm/s at 35 °C. This PO2 would present a serious obstacle to O2 entering or leaving the erythrocyte. Cholesterol turns out to be a novel major modifier of PO2, able to increase PO2 by an order of magnitude. With a membrane cholesterol of 45 mol% as it occurs in erythrocytes, PO2 rises to 0.2 cm/s at 35 °C. This PO2 is just sufficient to ensure complete O2 loading during passage of erythrocytes through the lung’s capillary bed under the conditions of rest as well as maximal exercise.

A chemically stable La0.2Sr0.8Fe0.9Mo0.1O3-δ-molten carbonate dual-phase membrane for CO2 separation

We report here a mixed oxygen ionic-electronic conductor-molten carbonate composite membrane for high temperature CO2 separation. Mo-doping at Fe-site of La0.2Sr0.8FeO3-δ (LSF) is attempted to address its stability issue in CO2 or carbonate-containing environment. The La0.2Sr0.8Fe0.9Mo0.1O3-δ (LSFM)-molten carbonate membrane with 1 mm thickness delivers a CO2 permeation flux of 1.57 × 10−3 mol m−2 s−1 at 800 °C with 50% CO2 + 50 % N2 (total 1 atm) as feeding gas and pure He (1 atm) as sweeping gas, compared to 0.737 × 10−3 mol m−2 s−1 for the LSF counterpart. The CO2 permeation flux further increases to 2.25 × 10−3 mol m−2 s−1 for membrane prepared with Al2O3 coated LSFM substrate. An even higher CO2 permeability of 2.69 × 10−3 mol m−2 s−1 is demonstrated for LSFM-molten carbonate membrane at 800 °C when using simulated flue gas (15% CO2 + 10% O2 + 75 % N2 in total 1 atm) as feeding gas. The membrane also exhibits relatively stable CO2 and O2 fluxes during 50 h test at 750 °C. The designed LSFM-molten carbonate membrane can be potentially used as a reactor for dry methane reforming and partial oxidation of methane with flue gas as direct feedstock.

Wheat respiratory O2 consumption falls with night warming alongside greater respiratory CO2 loss and reduced biomass.

Warming nights are correlated with declining wheat growth and yield. As a key determinant of plant biomass, respiration consumes O2 as it produces ATP and releases CO2 and is typically reduced under warming to maintain metabolic efficiency. We compared the response of respiratory O2 and CO2 flux to multiple night and day warming treatments in wheat leaves and roots, using one commercial (Mace) and one breeding cultivar grown in controlled environments. We also examined the effect of night warming and a day heatwave on the capacity of the ATP-uncoupled alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway. Under warm nights, plant biomass fell, respiratory CO2 release measured at a common temperature was unchanged (indicating higher rates of CO2 release at prevailing growth temperature), respiratory O2 consumption at a common temperature declined, and AOX pathway capacity increased. The uncoupling of CO2 and O2 exchange and enhanced AOX pathway capacity suggest a reduction in plant energy demand under warm nights (lower O2 consumption), alongside higher rates of CO2 release under prevailing growth temperature (due to a lack of down-regulation of respiratory CO2 release). Less efficient ATP synthesis, teamed with sustained CO2 flux, could thus be driving observed biomass declines under warm nights.

Technical note: Novel triple O<sub>2</sub> sensor aquatic eddy covariance instrument with improved time shift correction reveals central role of microphytobenthos for carbon cycling in coral reef sands

Abstract. The aquatic eddy covariance technique stands out as a powerful method for benthic O2 flux measurements in shelf environments because it integrates effects of naturally varying drivers of the flux such as current flow and light. In conventional eddy covariance instruments, the time shift caused by spatial separation of the measuring locations of flow and O2 concentration can produce substantial flux errors that are difficult to correct. We here introduce a triple O2 sensor eddy covariance instrument (3OEC) that by instrument design eliminates these errors. This is achieved by positioning three O2 sensors around the flow measuring volume, which allows the O2 concentration to be calculated at the point of the current flow measurements. The new instrument was tested in an energetic coastal environment with highly permeable coral reef sands colonised by microphytobenthos. Parallel deployments of the 3OEC and a conventional eddy covariance system (2OEC) demonstrate that the new instrument produces more consistent fluxes with lower error margin. 3OEC fluxes in general were lower than 2OEC fluxes, and the nighttime fluxes recorded by the two instruments were statistically different. We attribute this to the elimination of uncertainties associated with the time shift correction. The deployments at ∼ 10 m water depth revealed high day- and nighttime O2 fluxes despite the relatively low organic content of the coarse sediment and overlying water. High light utilisation efficiency of the microphytobenthos and bottom currents increasing pore water exchange facilitated the high benthic production and coupled respiration. 3OEC measurements after sunset documented a gradual transfer of negative flux signals from the small turbulence generated at the sediment–water interface to the larger wave-dominated eddies of the overlying water column that still carried a positive flux signal, suggesting concurrent fluxes in opposite directions depending on eddy size and a memory effect of large eddies. The results demonstrate that the 3OEC can improve the precision of benthic flux measurements, including measurements in environments considered challenging for the eddy covariance technique, and thereby produce novel insights into the mechanisms that control flux. We consider the fluxes produced by this instrument for the permeable reef sands the most realistic achievable with present-day technology.

Density and size-dependent bioturbation effects of the infaunal polychaete Nephtys incisa on sediment biogeochemistry and solute exchange

The impact of bioturbation on the geochemistry of aquatic sediments is known to depend on the benthic infauna species that are present. However, burrowing and activity patterns of each species may also change during the different stages of a life cycle. In this study, we examined the effects of four size classes of the polychaete Nephtys incisa on burrow networks and sediment biogeochemistry. In our experimental aquaria, the total biovolume (~ biomass) of Nephtys was kept constant, but different age classes were introduced, so the size and abundance varied between treatments. Despite differences in the geometry of burrow networks (due to varying density and size of burrows as revealed by X-radiography), the transport of nonreactive solutes (Br–) showed little difference between treatments. In contrast, the depth distribution of reactive solutes (Fe2+, Mn2+, TPO3– 4, TCO2, O2, pH) depended on oxidized sediment volumes and on spatial micro-heterogeneity related to burrowing patterns. Net fluxes of O2, TCO2, and NO– 3 fluxes were strongly affected by age-dependent burrowing patterns. Carbonate dissolution and remineralization rates (reflected by TCO 2fluxes) were enhanced as the size of individuals increased. NO– 3fluxes showed progressive change from dominance of nitrification (release) to denitrification (uptake) as burrow densities decreased with larger individuals. We conclude that different age-size classes of a single species at identical biovolume affect biogeo- chemical cycling differently, due to changes in burrow sizes and burrow densities. Because of redox reaction coupling associated with burrow geometries (Fe2+, Mn2+ oxidation patterns), similar magnitudes of nonlocal transport may be a misleading indicator of biogenic impacts. Our observations demonstrate that biogeochemical impacts must be evaluated in the context of size (age-) specific traits and population densities rather than biomass or biovolume alone.

Novel Boronate Probe Based on 3-Benzothiazol-2-yl-7-hydroxy-chromen-2-one for the Detection of Peroxynitrite and Hypochlorite.

Derivatives of coumarin, containing oxidant-sensitive boronate group, were recently developed for fluorescent detection of inflammatory oxidants. Here, we report the synthesis and the characterization of 3-(2-benzothiazolyl)-7-coumarin boronic acid pinacol ester (BC-BE) as a fluorescent probe for the detection of peroxynitrite (ONOO–), with high stability and a fast response time. The BC-BE probe hydrolyzes in phosphate buffer to 3-(2-benzothiazolyl)-7-coumarin boronic acid (BC-BA) which is stable in the solution even after a prolonged incubation time (24 h). BC-BA is slowly oxidized by H2O2 to form the phenolic product, 3-benzothiazol-2-yl-7-hydroxy-chromen-2-one (BC-OH). On the other hand, the BC-BA probe reacts rapidly with ONOO−. The ability of the BC-BA probe to detect ONOO– was measured using both authentic ONOO– and the system co-generating steady-state fluxes of O2•– and •NO. BC-BA is oxidized by ONOO– to BC-OH. However, in this reaction 3-benzothiazol-2-yl-chromen-2-one (BC-H) is formed in the minor pathway, as a peroxynitrite-specific product. BC-OH is also formed in the reaction of BC-BA with HOCl, and subsequent reaction of BC-OH with HOCl leads to the formation of a chlorinated phenolic product, which could be used as a specific product for HOCl. We conclude that BC-BA shows potential as an improved fluorescent probe for the detection of peroxynitrite and hypochlorite in biological settings. Complementation of the fluorescence measurements by HPLC-based identification of oxidant-specific products will help to identify the oxidants detected.

Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition: Correlating O2 plasma parameters and species to blister formation and conformal film growth

Plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition has gained a lot of attraction over the past few years. A myriad of processes have been reported, several reviews have been written on this topic, and there is a lot of interest for industrial applications. Still, when developing new processes, often heuristic approaches are used, choosing plasma parameters that worked for earlier processes. This can result in suboptimal plasma process conditions. In order to rationally decide which parameters to use, we systematically studied an inductively coupled RF oxygen plasma source (13.56 MHz) for powers up to 300 W, a pressure range between 10−4 and 10−2 mbar, and a flow range between 10 and 400 sccm. We discerned between chemically active “radical” species (atomic O and excited, metastable O2) and ionic particles (O2+, O+, O2−, and O−), which can have an additional physical effect to the film. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was used to study the generation of O2+ and atomic O in the plasma source region. It is shown that the concentration of plasma species increases in a linear way with the plasma power and that the atom-to-ion fraction increases with both the power and the gas flow. To study the effect of plasma species in the remote region, near the sample position, an electrostatic quadrupole analyzer was used to gauge fluxes of O2+, O+, O2−, and O−. Even a moderate increase in pressure can drastically reduce the ion flux toward the substrate. The formation of bubbles or blisters in films can be linked to ion-induced compressive stress, and, hence, it can be mitigated by an increase in the gas pressure. Finally, Al2O3 was deposited in lateral high-aspect ratio structures to investigate the effect of plasma power and gas pressure on the partial pressure of radical species. Simulated profiles were fitted to experimental deposition profiles to estimate trends in the radical partial pressure, and a linear relationship between radical partial pressure and the power was found. This correlated with the density of atomic O species as observed in the OES measurements in the plasma source region. The methods presented in this work are also applicable to characterize other reactor geometries, plasma sources, and gas mixtures.

Nox4 Knockout Does Not Prevent Diaphragm Atrophy, Contractile Dysfunction, or Mitochondrial Maladaptation in the Early Phase Post-Myocardial Infarction in Mice.

Diaphragm dysfunction with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) occurs within 72 hrs post-myocardial infarction (MI) in mice and may contribute to loss of inspiratory maximal pressure and endurance in patients. We used wild-type (WT) and whole-body Nox4 knockout (Nox4KO) mice to measure diaphragm bundle force in vitro with a force transducer, mitochondrial respiration in isolated fiber bundles with an O2 sensor, mitochondrial ROS by fluorescence, mRNA (RT-PCR) and protein (immunoblot), and fiber size by histology 72 hrs post-MI. MI decreased diaphragm fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) (~15%, p = 0.015) and maximal specific force (10%, p = 0.005), and increased actin carbonylation (5-10%, p = 0.007) in both WT and Nox4KO. Interestingly, MI did not affect diaphragm mRNA abundance of MAFbx/atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 but Nox4KO decreased it by 20-50% (p < 0.01). Regarding the mitochondria, MI and Nox4KO decreased the protein abundance of citrate synthase and subunits of electron transport system (ETS) complexes and increased mitochondrial O2 flux (JO2) and H2O2 emission (JH2O2) normalized to citrate synthase. Mitochondrial electron leak (JH2O2/JO2) in the presence of ADP was lower in Nox4KO and not changed by MI. Our study shows that the early phase post-MI causes diaphragm atrophy, contractile dysfunction, sarcomeric actin oxidation, and decreases citrate synthase and subunits of mitochondrial ETS complexes. These factors are potential causes of loss of inspiratory muscle strength and endurance in patients, which likely contribute to the pathophysiology in the early phase post-MI. Whole-body Nox4KO did not prevent the diaphragm abnormalities induced 72 hrs post-MI, suggesting that systemic pharmacological inhibition of Nox4 will not benefit patients in the early phase post-MI.

Nicotinamide riboside has minimal impact on energy metabolism in mouse models of mild obesity.

Supplementation with precursors of NAD has been shown to prevent and reverse insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and liver damage in mouse models of diet-induced obesity. We asked whether the beneficial effects of supplementation with the NAD precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR) are dependent on mouse strain. We compared the effects of NR supplementation on whole-body energy metabolism and mitochondrial function in mildly obese C57BL/6N and C57BL/6J mice, two commonly used strains to investigate metabolism. Male C57BL/6N and C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or standard chow with or without NR supplementation for 8 weeks. Body and organ weights, glucose tolerance, and metabolic parameters as well as mitochondrial O2 flux in liver and muscle fibers were assessed. We found that NR supplementation had no influence on body or organ weight, glucose metabolism or hepatic lipid accumulation, energy expenditure, or metabolic flexibility but increased mitochondrial respiration in soleus muscle in both mouse strains. Strain-dependent differences were detected for body and fat depot weight, fasting blood glucose, hepatic lipid accumulation, and energy expenditure. We conclude that, in mild obesity, NR supplementation does not alter metabolic phenotype in two commonly used laboratory mouse strains.

An Atmospheric Constraint on the Seasonal Air‐Sea Exchange of Oxygen and Heat in the Extratropics

AbstractThe air‐sea exchange of oxygen (O2) is driven by changes in solubility, biological activity, and circulation. The total air‐sea exchange of O2 has been shown to be closely related to the air‐sea exchange of heat on seasonal timescales, with the ratio of the seasonal flux of O2 to heat varying with latitude, being higher in the extratropics and lower in the subtropics. This O2/heat ratio is both a fundamental biogeochemical property of air‐sea exchange and a convenient metric for testing earth system models. Current estimates of the O2/heat flux ratio rely on sparse observations of dissolved O2, leaving it fairly unconstrained. From a model ensemble we show that the ratio of the seasonal amplitude of two atmospheric tracers, atmospheric potential oxygen (APO) and the argon‐to‐nitrogen ratio (Ar/O2), exhibits a close relationship to the O2/heat ratio of the extratropics (40–). The amplitude ratio, /, is relatively constant within the extratropics of each hemisphere due to the zonal mixing of the atmosphere. / is not sensitive to atmospheric transport, as most of the observed spatial variability in the seasonal amplitude of APO is compensated by similar variations in (Ar/). From the relationship between /heat and / in the model ensemble, we determine that the atmospheric observations suggest hemispherically distinct /heat flux ratios of 3.3 0.3 and 4.7 0.8 nmol between 40 and in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres respectively, providing a useful constraint for and heat air‐sea fluxes in earth system models and observation‐based data products.

Effect of oxygen stoichiometry on the threshold switching of RF-sputtered NbOx (x = 2.0–2.5) films

In this study, we report the Poole-Frenkel induced threshold switching characteristics of niobium dioxide (NbO2) films by tuning oxygen stoichiometry. Similar to correlated oxides, NbO2 is also found sensitive to oxygen related defects. The oxygen stoichiometry of NbO2 films was varied by changing the oxygen flux during its synthesis in reactive RF-sputter. Nb2O5 dominant phase of as-grown films was detected during Raman spectroscopy. For the reduction of Nb2O5 films, we chose tungsten as a top electrode due to its considerable oxygen affinity. After the required forming process, stable threshold switching was observed which is attributed to the reduction of Nb2O5 phase to NbO2 due to interfacial WOx layer formation between top electrode and Nb2O5. Increase of O2 flux during deposition leads to an increase in the selectivity, threshold voltage and off-state resistance. These devices showed good thermal stability up to 160 °C making them useful for RRAM and neuromorphic computing applications.

Assessment of ozone risk to Central European forests: Time series indicates perennial exceedance of ozone critical levels

In this study, the stomatal ozone (O3) fluxes were investigated at five low-elevation forest sites in Western Germany (Rhineland Palatinate) over the time period 1998–2019. The Phytotoxic Ozone Dose with an hourly threshold of uptake (Y), to represent the detoxification capacity of trees (POD1 in mmol m−2 per leaf area, with Y = 1 nmol O3 m−2 s−1), and the number of exceedances of the O3 critical level of 5.2 mmol O3 m−2 per leaf area for European beech and 9.2 mmol O3 m−2 per leaf area for Norway spruce were calculated by using the DO3SE model. A Principal Component Analysis revealed strong correlations between daily O3 concentrations, daytime O3 (for hours with global radiation exceeding 50 W m−2), POD1, global radiation, vapor pressure deficit and air temperature. Moreover, a significant correlation was obtained between POD1 and soil water content (SWC) at all sites (r = 0.51–0.74). The Random Forests Analysis confirmed that the SWC is the most important predictor of stomatal O3 fluxes. The soil water supply is very important for POD1 estimation, because drought decreases stomatal conductance, leading to a reduction of transpiration, as well as to lower O3 uptake through stomata. Between 1998 and 2019, the drier and warmer climate induced a soil drought (on average, SWC - 0.15 % per year) leading to lower stomatal O3 uptake by forests (- 0.36 mmol O3 m−2 per year). Hence, during growing seasons with sufficient water supply and often lower O3 levels compared to hot and dry periods, forests are at higher O3 risk than during hot and dry periods when the drought stress is more significant than O3 stress despite relatively higher O3 levels. Irrespective of these differences in O3 uptake between relatively cool and humid as compared to relatively hot and dry years in the study region, the Critical Level for O3 was exceeded in late spring/early summer (May/June) during all 22 years. Risk assessment for the protection of European forests, which is urgently needed due to the forests current critical state after several successive years of drought and exceedance of the O3 critical level in large areas of Europe, should therefore become flux-based to account for the inter-twined effects of drought and O3 on the physiology and health of forest trees in the region. For stomatal O3 fluxes estimation, a better soil water and leaf parameterization is needed e.g., by taking into account both O3- and drought-induced effects.

Electrogeneration of hydrogen peroxide by oxygen reduction using anodized graphite felt

BackgroundElectrocatalytic synthesis of H2O2 by oxygen reduction is regarded as the most promising alternative to AO process, and thus, design of a cost-effective and highly active cathode of vital significance. MethodsThis work modified graphite felts via anodic oxidation process in NH4HCO3 aqueous, and demonstrated the electrogeneration of H2O2 by using modified graphite felt cathode. The surface properties of different modified graphite felt were investigated. Various conditions of the process, including potential, reaction pH, and O2 flux, were optimized. Significant findingsThrough the modification, the beneficial functional groups COO and C=O has considerable increased, which lead the kinetics of ORR enhanced and H2O2 electrochemical production increased. The maximum accumulation rate of H2O2 achieved 2.00 mg/h/cm2 at the conditions of -0.60 V (vs.SCE), 0.4 L/min oxygen flow rate and pH 3. The modified cathode kept a stable performance for H2O2 electrochemical synthesis during 5 cycles.

Sexual dimorphism in vascular ATP-sensitive K+ channel function supporting interstitial via convective and/or diffusive O2 transport.

Inhibition of pancreatic ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP ) channels is the intended effect of oral sulphonylureas to increase insulin release in diabetes. However, pertinent to off-target effects of sulphonylurea medication, sex differences in cardiac KATP channel function exist, whereas potential sex differences in vascular KATP channel function remain unknown. In the present study, we assessed vascular KATP channel function (topical glibenclamide superfused onto fast-twitch oxidative skeletal muscle) supporting blood flow and interstitial O2 delivery-utilization matching ( is) during twitch contractions in male, female during pro-oestrus and ovariectomized female (F+OVX) rats. Glibenclamide decreased blood flow (convective O2 transport) and interstitial in male and female, but not F+OVX, rats. Compared to males, females also demonstrated impaired diffusive O2 transport and a faster fall in interstitial . Our demonstration, in rats, that sex differences in vascular KATP channel function exist support the tentative hypothesis that oral sulphonylureas may exacerbate exercise intolerance and morbidity, especially in premenopausal females. Vascular ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP ) channels support skeletal muscle blood flow ( ), interstitial O2 delivery ( )-utilization ( ) matching (i.e. interstitial-myocyte O2 flux driving pressure; is) and exercise tolerance. Potential sex differences in skeletal muscle vascular KATP channel function remain largely unexplored. We hypothesized that local skeletal muscle KATP channel inhibition via glibenclamide superfusion (5mg kg-1 GLI; sulphonylurea diabetes medication) in anaesthetized female Sprague-Dawley rats, compared to males, would demonstrate greater reductions in contracting (1Hz, 7V, 180s) fast-twitch oxidative mixed gastrocnemius (97% type IIA+IID/X+IIB) (15μm microspheres) and is (phosphorescence quenching), resulting from more compromised convective ( ) and diffusive ( ) O2 conductances. Furthermore, these GLI-induced reductions in ovary-intact females measured during pro-oestrus would be diminished following ovariectomy (F+OVX). GLI similarly impaired mixed gastrocnemius in both males (↓28%) and females (↓33%, both P<0.032) via reduced (male: ↓31%, female: ↓35%, both P<0.020), (male: 5.6±0.5 vs. 4.0±0.5, female: 6.4±1.1 vs. 4.2±0.6mL O2 min-1 100g tissue-1 , P<0.022) and the resulting is, with females also demonstrating a reduced (0.40±0.07 vs. 0.30±0.04mL O2 min-1 100g tissue-1 , P<0.042) and a greater GLI-induced speeding of is fall (mean response time: Sex×Drug interaction, P=0.026). Conversely, GLI did not impair the mixed gastrocnemius of F+OVX rats. Therefore, in patients taking sulphonylureas, these results support the potential for impaired vascular KATP channel function to compromise muscle and therefore exercise tolerance. Such an effect, if present, would likely contribute to adverse cardiovascular events in premenopausal females more than males.