Standard Conditions Research Articles

Exploring the molecular interactions of dorzolamide hydrochloride in aqueous solutions: a comprehensive study using thermophysical techniques and molecular simulations across various temperatures

This research begins with the initial assessment of key physical properties—density ( ρ), speed of sound ( u), and refractive index ( nD ) in binary aqueous solutions of dorzolamide hydrochloride. These properties were measured in solutions with varying molalities, ranging from 0.0 to 0.0276, under standard atmospheric conditions and at temperatures between 300.15 and 320.15 K. From these measurements, we were able to calculate a range of important parameters, including the apparent molar volume ( Vϕ), its limiting values ([Formula: see text]), limiting apparent molar expansivity ([Formula: see text]), Helper’s constant ([Formula: see text]), apparent molar isentropic compression ( κϕ), and its limiting values ([Formula: see text]), specific refraction ( RD), molar refraction ( RM), and hydration number ( nh). These calculated values provided insights into the strong interactions between the solute and solvent in the liquid system. They also shed light on the presence of various molecular interactions, such as inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds, dipole–dipole, and dipole-induced-dipole interactions, as well as the ability of the solute to influence the structure of the surrounding water molecules. Additionally, we derived the densities of dorzolamide hydrochloride solutions from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which showed a strong correlation with our experimental findings, underscoring the reliability of MD simulations in such studies. In the end, our combined study on dorzolamide hydrochloride in water demonstrates that it shapes structures because it has lower volumetric properties and stronger hydrogen bonds in MD simulations. More alchemical free energy calculations show that there are big changes in solvation energies. This is important for understanding how dorzolamide hydrochloride works in water.

EFFECT OF SUBZERO STORAGE ON THE QUALITY OF MUTTON FROM SHEEP AND GOATS IN D.I KHAN DISTRICT, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA

Mutton is widely recognized for its excellent nutritional value, containing essential components such as proteins, vitamins, and minerals. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of subzero storage on the freshness and quality of mutton. To evaluate the attributes of frozen and stored mutton, we employed fresh control samples that underwent standard freezing procedures at -18°C. Determining the quality and freshness of the product required the evaluation of numerous parameters over a five-month storage period. Drip loss (comprising boiling and thawing loss), water-holding capacity (WHC), texture profile analysis (TPA), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total volatile basic nitrogen encompassed these parameters. Temperature influenced leak loss and water holding capacity (WHC), with severe freezing resulting in a reduction in moisture loss during frozen storage in comparison to standard freezing conditions. Extremely low-temperature freezing and subsequent storage of lamb resulted in a notable enhancement in tenderness when compared to standard freezing conditions. More precisely, sheep that underwent freezing at temperatures below -60℃ exhibited a tenderness akin to that of recently slaughtered mutton. Following a five-month period, frozen samples of mutton exhibited no indications of lipid oxidation, irrespective of temperature. The storage temperature of the samples, nevertheless, had an impact on the TVBN (total volatile basic nitrogen) concentration. In conclusion, our research indicates that mutton can maintain its freshness for a period of five months through the utilization subzero temperatures. A temperature of -60℃ is determined to be the most favorable condition for freezing and storing frozen mutton, taking into account both economic and qualitative considerations.

Assessing new microalgae species as potential feed for bivalve spat in nursery culture

ABSTRACT Microalgae remains a primary food source for hatchery and nursery culture of juvenile bivalves. However, there is a mismatch between the characteristics of the microalgae currently used in nursery culture and the feeding abilities and nutritional requirements of juveniles of some bivalve species, such as the green-lipped mussel, Perna canaliculus. Therefore, there is a need to identify new species of microalgae for this purpose that have favourable cell size, good growth performance under culture conditions and appropriate nutritional content for juvenile bivalves by using these characteristics as primary selection criteria. In this study, the growth performance under standard culture conditions of four microalgae species (Chrysochromulina camella, Gymnodinium simplex, Pyramimonas parkeae and Stephanodiscus niagarae) which are of a sufficiently large cell size to meet the needs of juvenile mussels (i.e. 10–20 µm size range) were tested in comparison to three commonly cultured commercial species (Chaetoceros muelleri, Diacronema lutheri and Tisochrysis lutea). Results show that G. simplex, S. niagarae and the two strains of P. parkeae (P. parkeae (C) and P. parkeae (I)) can achieve similar biomass as the reference species in the intermediate (1 L) culture stages despite the large difference in cell densities. The poor growth of C. camella in F/2 media indicates a necessity of determining its appropriate culture conditions before further assessing its suitability as a nursery feed for juvenile bivalves. The proximate analysis of S. niagarae, G. simplex and P. parkeae (I) reveals nutritional profiles conducive to spat development. However, the P. parkeae (C) strain contained low carbohydrate content, suggesting inferior nutritional value compared to the P. parkeae (I) strain, showing that variants of the same species can have different biochemical composition and suggesting the former might have limited suitability for feeding in nursery culture. The findings indicate that G. simplex, S. niagarae and P. parkeae (C) hold sufficient promise as spat feed in nursery culture to warrant further testing to confirm their efficacy as live microalgal feed for bivalve spat.

Neurofeedback Training in Children with ADHD: A Systematic Review of Personalization and Methodological Features Facilitating Training Conditions.

Objective. Current research on the effectiveness of neurofeedback (NFB) in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is divided. Personalized NFB (pNFB), using pre-recorded individual electroencephalogram (EEG) features, is hypothesized to provide more reliable results. Our paper reviews available evidence on pNFB effectiveness and its methodological quality. Additionally, it explores whether other methodological features implying personalization are related to successful NFB. Methods. We conducted a systematic literature review on PubMed, PSYNDEX, PsycInfo and PsycArticles until November, 30, 2023. Studies that focused on pNFB in children with ADHD were selected, deviant studies excluded. Quality ratings by independent raters using Loney's1 criteria were conducted. Pooled effect sizes for NFB effects and methodological features were calculated. Results. Three of 109 studies included personalization and were reviewed in the full-text. In two studies, theta/beta-NFB was personalized using individual alpha peak frequencies (iAPF), whereas in one study, individual beta rhythms were trained. All three studies demonstrated significant short- and long-term improvements in ADHD symptoms, as assessed by questionnaires and objective performance tests, when compared to standard protocols (SP), sham-NFB, and control conditions. Twelve of 111 studies reported methodological features consistently related to NFB effectiveness. These features, including self-control instructions, feedback animations, timing of feedback presentation, behavioral performance, pre-recorded individual ERP-components and stimulant medication dosage, can be used to personalize NFB and enhance training success. Conclusion. Personalizing NFB with iAPF appears promising based on the existing -albeit small- body of research. Future NFB studies should include iAPF and other personalized features facilitating implementation consistently associated with treatment success.

Comparison of machine learning methods for genomic prediction of selected Arabidopsis thaliana traits.

We present a comparison of machine learning methods for the prediction of four quantitative traits in Arabidopsis thaliana. High prediction accuracies were achieved on individuals grown under standardized laboratory conditions from the 1001 Arabidopsis Genomes Project. An existing body of evidence suggests that linear models may be impeded by their inability to make use of non-additive effects to explain phenotypic variation at the population level. The results presented here use a nested cross-validation approach to confirm that some machine learning methods have the ability to statistically outperform linear prediction models, with the optimal model dependent on availability of training data and genetic architecture of the trait in question. Linear models were competitive in their performance as per previous work, though the neural network class of predictors was observed to be the most accurate and robust for traits with high heritability. The extent to which non-linear models exploit interaction effects will require further investigation of the causal pathways that lay behind their predictions. Future work utilizing more traits and larger sample sizes, combined with an improved understanding of their respective genetic architectures, may lead to improvements in prediction accuracy.

Simplified Semantics for Further Relevant Logics I

This paper shows that the relevant logics E and Π′ are strongly sound and complete with regards to a version of the “simplified” Routley-Meyer semantics. Such a semantics for E has been thought impossible. Although it is impossible if an admissible rule of E  the rule of restricted assertion or equivalently Ackermann’s δ-rule  is solely added as a primitive rule, it is very much possible when E is axiomatized in the way Anderson and Belnap did. The simplified semantics for E and Π′ requires unreduced frames. Contra what has been claimed, however, no additional frame component is required over and above what’s required to model other relevant logics such as T and R. It is also shown how to modify the tonicity requirements of the ternary relation so as to allow for the standard truth condition for both fusion – the intensional conjunction ◦ – as well as the converse conditional ←.

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, DFT, Molecular Docking, Catechol Oxidase Activity, and Anti-SARS-CoV-2 of Acylhydrazone Derivatives

In the present work, five pyrazole-hydrazone biomolecule ligands (L1–L5) were synthesized by condensation between 1H-pyrazole-3-carbohydrazide (2) and aromatic benzaldehydes. Their corresponding structures were elucidated employing NMR and FT-IR spectra and ESI-MS data. Li-Cu(II) complexes (i = 1–5) were evaluated for catecholase activity in situ at standard conditions. The findings disclose that the catecholase oxidation rate varies with the substituted functional groups in ligand and the anion type in the copper (II) salt. Catecholase activity results showed that the L(i = 1–5) -Cu(II)SO4 complexes exhibited efficient catalytic activity, and a maximum activity of 105 ± 42 µM.min−1 is obtained with L5-Cu(II)SO4. DFT and NBO calculations have been carried out to identify the global reactivity and the strength of interaction bonds between the donors and acceptors in L1–L5. The optimized structure of L1–L3 and L5 were found planar, while that of L4 is out of the molecular plan and forms a torsion angle of 18 degrees due to the presence of methoxy and hydroxyl group at meta and para. In L4, the 5-methyl-1H-pyrazole moiety. NBO findings show that the strongest interactions in L1–L5 are those involved in the electronic transition from π-bonding → π*-antibonding and LP → π*- antibonding molecular orbitals. Further, the anti-SARS-CoV-2 of L1–L5 are investigated by estimating their binding affinities into its binding. The docking results reveal that L1–L5 may act as SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors with estimated binding energies in the −6.00 to −8.0 kcal.mol−1 range.

Renal L-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase activity promotes hypoxia tolerance and mitochondrial metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster

The mitochondrial enzyme L-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase (L2HGDH) regulates the abundance of L-2-hydroxyglutarate (L-2HG), a potent signaling metabolite capable of influencing chromatin architecture, mitochondrial metabolism, and cell fate decisions. Loss of L2hgdh activity in humans induces ectopic L-2HG accumulation, resulting in neurodevelopmental defects, altered immune cell function, and enhanced growth of clear cell renal cell carcinomas. To better understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie these disease pathologies, we used the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to investigate the endogenous functions of L2hgdh. Our studies revealed that while L2hgdh is not essential for growth or viability under standard culture conditions, L2hgdh mutants are hypersensitive to hypoxia and expire during the reoxygenation phase with severe disruptions of mitochondrial metabolism. Moreover, we find that the fly renal system (Malpighian tubules; MTs) is a key site of L2hgdh activity, as L2hgdh mutants that express a rescuing transgene within the MTs survive hypoxia treatment and exhibit normal levels of mitochondrial metabolites. We also demonstrate that even under normoxic conditions, L2hgdh mutant MTs experience significant metabolic stress and are sensitized to aberrant growth upon Egfr activation. Overall, our findings present a model in which renal L2hgdh activity limits systemic L-2HG accumulation, thus indirectly regulating the balance between glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism, enabling successful recovery from hypoxia exposure, and ensuring renal tissue integrity.

Power Cycling Performance of 3.3 kV SiC-MOSFETs and the Impact of the Thermo-Mechanical Stress on Humidity Induced Degradation

Recently, silicon carbide (SiC) power modules of the 3.3 kV voltage class became available and are a promising candidate to replace silicon power modules in traction applications. However, the more than three times higher Young’s Modulus compared to silicon leads to a reduced lifetime under thermo-mechanical stress. This could pose a significant obstacle in their implementation, since traction applications are particularly demanding in their mission profiles with respect to load cycling, but also to environmental conditions. Thus, the thermo-mechanical stress is not just limiting the lifetime itself, but might also promote the humidity induced degradation due to delamination or micro-cracks. In this work, multiple power cycling tests at different temperature swings on 3.3 kV SiC MOSFET chips in a power module were performed, to assess their ruggedness under thermo-mechanical stress. Before or afterwards, these modules were tested under standard HV-H3TRB conditions to verify the interaction between thermo-mechanical and humidity stress on the robustness of the modules.

Perceptibility and acceptability thresholds for color differences of light and dark maxillofacial skin replications

The aim of this study was to assess the perceptibility and acceptability thresholds of maxillofacial silicones for light and dark skin colors and to evaluate the effect of gender and professional experience on these thresholds. Two different sets of specimens (as light and dark) each, consisting of 14 (25 × 25 × 6-mm3) silicone skin replications, were produced. Four specimens of each set were produced from the same silicon mixture of the relevant set and polymerized simultaneously to provide standardized fabrication conditions. These 4 light/dark specimens were assigned as “baseline color specimens (BCs)” in each set, while the other 10 specimens were produced with a color difference level that increased gradually from BC. These stepped levels were obtained by controlled increasing of the pigment concentration in the relevant baseline silicon mixture. Color difference levels of specimens were calculated by using the CIELAB and CIEDE2000 formulas. Observers comprised of 3 different professional experiences as first-year dental students, interns, and dentists (n = 30/group, gender-balanced) were included. Combinations consisting of 5 specimens with 4 BCs and 1 different color were shown to the observers to assess whether the color difference was perceptible or acceptable. Perceptibility and acceptability percentages were regressed with color difference levels to estimate the best fit curve and confidence intervals were calculated (α = 0.05). The highest estimation of the coefficient of determination (R2) was found in the cubic curve for all parameters. A significant difference was found between the light and dark colors. The perceptibility thresholds (ΔE*ab/ΔE00) were 0.8/0.59 and 2.63/1.75 for light and dark colors, respectively. The acceptability thresholds (ΔE*ab/ΔE00) were 3.35/2.25, 10.07/7.04 for light and dark colors, respectively. No significant differences were found between gender and among experience groups concerning visual thresholds. Regardless of gender and experience, observers could perceive color differences more easily in light skin colors.

On the dynamic shear failure of Ti-6Al-4V in different test specimen geometries

In this paper, the dynamic shear response and failure of Ti-6Al-4V using four different test specimen geometries, viz. Hat-Shaped Specimen (HSS), Flat Hat-Shaped Specimen (FHSS), Chip Hat-Shaped Specimen (CHSS) and Double Shear Specimen (DSS), are critically examined and compared. Through a combination of experiments (using the standard Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar system), finite-element simulations and metallographic examinations of their fracture morphology, the dynamic shear characteristics (strain hardening, strain rate strengthening effect and failure strain) of Ti-6Al-4V obtained using the different specimen geometries are critically examined, compared and analyzed. It will be shown that differences in the stress/strain uniformity, the plastic deformation zone, and the stress state induced by the different specimen geometries lead to discrepancies in the measured shear response and failure that were observed. The shear stress–strain curve obtained using the DSS will be shown to be more precise than the other specimen geometries.

The Freshwater Cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 Does Not Require an Active External Carbonic Anhydrase.

Under standard laboratory conditions, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 lacks EcaASyn, a periplasmic carbonic anhydrase (CA). In this study, a S. elongatus transformant was created that expressed the homologous EcaACya from Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142. This additional external CA had no discernible effect on the adaptive responses and physiology of cells exposed to changes similar to those found in S. elongatus natural habitats, such as fluctuating CO2 and HCO3- concentrations and ratios, oxidative or light stress, and high CO2. The transformant had a disadvantage over wild-type cells under certain conditions (Na+ depletion, a reduction in CO2). S. elongatus cells lacked their own EcaASyn in all experimental conditions. The results suggest the presence in S. elongatus of mechanisms that limit the appearance of EcaASyn in the periplasm. For the first time, we offer data on the expression pattern of CCM-associated genes during S. elongatus adaptation to CO2 replacement with HCO3-, as well as cell transfer to high CO2 levels (up to 100%). An increase in CO2 concentration coincides with the suppression of the NDH-14 system, which was previously thought to function constitutively.

Laboratory aging method for simulating the extracted aged asphalt from reclaimed asphalt pavement

This study compared the performance of extracted asphalt and laboratory aged asphalt. The five-year service asphalt mixtures were used for extraction in this study. The laboratory aged asphalt experienced the Rolling thin film oven (RTFO) aging the Pressure aging vessel (PAV) aging with variable duration (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 hours). By comparing the softening point, viscosity, and rheological properties of both, an aging simulation protocol was established. For laboratory aged asphalt binder, the softening point increases by 3.56 %, 5.68 %, 7.43 %, 8.16 %, and 8.74 % at PAV aging times of 5 h, 10 h, 15 h, 20 h, and 25 h, respectively. The rutting index and viscosity of the aged asphalt gradually increases with the PAV duration. There is a substantial increase in creep recovery rate and a significant decrease in non-recoverable creep compliance for aged asphalt. The rheological aging index demonstrates a linear increasing trend. The sulfoxide (SO) and aromatic (CO) aging indexes of the laboratory-simulated aged asphalt progressively rise with prolonged PAV aging time. The SO and CO aging indexes of the extracted asphalt consistent with RTFO aged asphalt experienced PAV aging 20 and 25 hours. The extracted asphalt can be simulated in the laboratory under standard RTFO conditions and a 22.26 hours PAV duration at a pressure of 2.1 MPa ± 0.1 MPa. This study introduces a methodology for simulating asphalt aging in an authentic service environment by adjusting the laboratory aging test conditions.

Effect of shrinkage-mitigating additive and curing condition on flexural and fracture behavior of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) unnotched beam

The study aims to examine how the flexural and fracture behavior of UHPC is impacted when shrinkage is mitigated by adding shrinkage-mitigating additives. Furthermore, due to the consistent use of UHPC for structural repair and reinforcement throughout the year, including emergency construction in winter, it is necessary to carry out construction operations in winter conditions. Thus, this study adopts the natural cold curing condition of UHPC specimens to mimic real-world outdoor construction settings, while also using the standard curing condition as a comparison. The bending test was performed on three different types of UHPC materials: material 1 without a shrinkage-reducing agent (SRA) or expansive agent (EA), material 2 with 1 % SRA, and material 3 with 1 % SRA and 7.5 % EA. Fracture and flexural behavior of UHPC beams were studied, and Spearman's correlation between shrinkage and flexural/fracture toughness was evaluated. The study revealed that adding SRA/EA decreased the mean flexural tensile strength of specimens cured in standard conditions. Additionally, specimens cured in natural conditions showed less flexural tensile strength when SRA/EA was added. Furthermore, when compared to material 1, the addition of SRA and EA greatly reduced the fracture energy of UHPC, resulting in reductions of 21.9 % and 26.6 %, respectively, for materials 2 and 3. The fracture toughness showed a modest correlation with the shrinkage behavior, and the fracture energy exhibited a high association with the shrinkage behavior. The research findings can provide references for UHPC applications in natural winter conditions when the material contains shrinkage-mitigating additives.

Late-Stage Glycosylation of Peptides by Methionine-Directed β-C(sp3)-H Functionalization with 1-Iodoglycals.

Using l-methionine (Met) as the endogenous directing group, we developed Pd-catalyzed β-C(sp3)-H glycosylation of peptides with 1-iodoglycals. A wide range of tri- to hexapeptides containing the Ala-Met motifs underwent Ala C-H glycosylation under the standard conditions to give the glycopeptides smoothly. 15 proteinogenic amino acids (with easily removable protecting groups) were well tolerated. Control experiments indicated that Met acted as a N,S-bidentate directing group and exhibited an effect superior to other amino acid residues such as l-aspartic acid (Asp), l-asparagine (Asn), and S-protected l-cysteine (Cys). In addition, further transformation by HFIP-promoted 1,4-elimination furnished another type of glycopeptide with the 1,3-diene motif, which provides a handle for further derivatization.

Cell cycle arrest combined with CDK1 inhibition suppresses genome-wide mutations by activating alternative DNA repair genes during genome editing

Cells regularly repair numerous mutations. However, the effects of CRISPR/Cas9-induced double-strand DNA breaks on the repair processes of naturally occurring genome-wide mutations is unclear. In this study, we used TSCE5 cells with the heterozygous thymidine kinase genotype (TK+/-) to examine these effects. We strategically inserted the target sites for guide RNA (gRNA)/Cas9 and I-SceI into the functional allele and designed the experiment such that deletions of > 81 bp or base substitutions within exon 5 disrupted the TK gene, resulting in a TK-/- genotype. TSCE5 cells in the resting state exhibited 16 genome-wide mutations that affected cellular functions. After gRNA/Cas9 editing, these cells produced 859 mutations, including 67 high-impact variants that severely affected cellular functions under standard culture conditions. Mutation profile analysis indicated a significant accumulation of C to A substitutions, underscoring the widespread induction of characteristic mutations by gRNA/Cas9. In contrast, gRNA/Cas9-edited cells under conditions of S∼G2/M arrest and cyclin dependent kinase 1 inhibition showed only 5 mutations. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the downregulation of DNA replication genes and upregulation of alternative DNA repair genes, such as zinc finger protein 384 (ZNF384) and dual specificity phosphatase (DUSP), under S∼G2/M conditions. Additionally, activation of nucleotide and base excision repair gene, including O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC), was observed. This study highlights the profound impact of CRISPR/Cas9 editing on genome-wide mutation processes and underscores the emergence of novel DNA repair pathways, Finally, our findings provide significant insights into the maintenance of genome integrity during genome editing.

Neonatal overfeeding promotes anxiety, impairs episodic-like memory, and disrupts transcriptional regulation of hippocampal steroidogenic enzymes

The objective of our study was to investigate the impact of neonatal overfeeding on cognitive functions and neurosteroidogenesis in male rats. Offspring were assigned to either small litters (SL; 4 pups/mother), resulting in increased milk intake and body weight gain, or normal litters (NL; 10 pups/mother). On postnatal day (PND) 21, half of the male rats were euthanized, while the remaining were kept under standard conditions (4 rats/cage) until PND70. At this stage, subjects underwent assessments for locomotor activity, anxiety levels via the elevated plus maze, and episodic-like memory (ELM) tests. By PND90, the rats were euthanized for brain dissection. Utilizing micropunch techniques, dentate gyrus (DG), CA1, and CA3 regions were extracted for analysis of mRNA expression and methylation patterns. At PND21, SL rats exhibited increased body and adipose tissue weights, alongside elevated cholesterol, glucose, and triglyceride levels compared to NL counterparts. By PND90, although metabolic disparities were no longer evident, SL rats demonstrated heightened anxiety-like behavior and diminished performance in ELM tests. Early life changes included a decreased expression of aromatase (P450arom) and 3α-HSD in CA1, with increased levels in CA3 and DG among SL rats. Additionally, PND90 rats from SL exhibited increased P450arom and decreased 5α-reductase 1 (5αR-1) expression in DG. Notably, some of these variations were correlated with changes in methylation patterns of their promoter regions. Our findings reveal that neonatal overfeeding exerts a long-term adverse effect on cognitive abilities and neurosteroidogenic pathways, underscoring the lasting impact of nutritional experiences during critical early postnatal development periods.

Enhanced CO2 Capture Potential of Chitosan-Based Composite Beads by Adding Activated Carbon from Coffee Grounds and Crosslinking with Epichlorohydrin.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture has been identified as a potential technology for reducing the anthropic emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly in post-combustion processes. The development of adsorbents for carbon capture and storage is expanding at a rapid rate. This article presents a novel sustainable synthesis method for the production of chitosan/activated carbon CO2 adsorbents. Chitosan is a biopolymer that is naturally abundant and contains amino groups (-NH2), which are required for the selective adsorption of CO2. Spent coffee grounds have been considered as a potential feedstock for the synthesis of activated coffee grounds through carbonization and chemical activation. The chitosan/activated coffee ground composite microspheres were created using the emulsion cross-linking method with epichlorohydrin. The effects of the amount of chitosan (15, 20, and 25 g), activated coffee ground (10, 20, 30, and 40%w/w), and epichlorohydrin (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 g) were examined. The CO2 capture potential of the composite beads is superior to that of the neat biopolymer beads. The CO2 adsorbed of synthesized materials at a standard temperature and pressure is improved by increasing the quantity of activated coffee ground and epichlorohydrin. These findings suggest that the novel composite bead has the potential to be applied in CO2 separation applications.

Influence of air temperature and interrelationship with greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) over Iraq using AIRS data

Global and regional observations of air temperature (AT) and specific atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are required for a variety of applications, including constraining global or regional estimates of their significant impacts on the climate system. The present study employs Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) -Level3 monthly products for AT, CH4, and CO2, at two standard pressure levels (925 and 500 hPa) over Iraq during 2010–2016. Both CO2 and CH4 shows significant seasonal variation, with maximum (minimum) CO2 observed in June (October), while CH4 recorded three maximum peaks during April, August, and November, and a minimum in February. CH4 shows a negative correlation during winter (DJF), spring (MAM), summer (JJA), and autumn (SON) with correlation coefficients (R) −0.627, −0.734, −0.491, and −0.688, respectively. The P-value is below 0.05 (4.14 × 10−15, 2.13 × 10−22, 1.1 × 10−8, and 5.2 × 10−19) for the four seasons, indicating a negative linear relationship. CO2 shows a low negative correlation in DJF and SON, and a low positive correlation in MAM and JJA seasons, with R values equal to −0.315, −0.221, 0.059, and 0.079, for DJF, SON, MAM and JJA seasons, respectively. The P-value was greater than 0.05 (0.061, 0.728, 0.647, and 0.195) for the four seasons, respectively, indicating a nonlinear relationship with AT. The monthly averaged time-series for CH4 and CO2 shows an evident increase, with an annual average increase of 1.81% (4.75) ppbv/year and 3.31% (1.84) ppm/year, respectively. Analysis reveals that the major sink and sources for CH4 are the presence of hydroxyl (OH) radicals and vegetation, whereas the major sources for CO2 are anthropogenic emissions, burning fossil fuels, and land-use change. The satellite observations of AIRS can efficiently show the spatiotemporal variations of air temperature versus CH4 and CO2 for the study area.

Iron starvation results in up-regulation of a probable Haloferax volcanii siderophore transporter.

The response of the haloarchaeal model organism Haloferax volcanii to iron starvation was analyzed at the proteome level by data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry. Cells grown in minimal medium with normal iron levels were compared to those grown under low iron conditions, with samples being separated into membrane and cytoplasmic fractions in order to focus on import/export processes which are frequently associated with metal homeostasis. Iron starvation not only caused a severe retardation of growth but also altered the levels of many proteins. Using a comprehensive annotated spectral library and data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS), we found that iron starvation resulted in significant changes to both the membrane and the soluble proteomes of Hfx. volcanii. The most affected protein is the RND family permease HVO_A0467, which is 44-fold enriched in cells grown under iron starvation. The gene HVO_A0467 can be deleted suggesting that it is not essential under standard conditions. Compared to wild type cells the deletion strain shows only slight changes in growth and cell morphologies show no differences. Molecular docking predictions indicated that HVO_A0467 may be an exporter of the siderophore schizokinen for which a potential biosynthesis cluster is encoded in the Hfx. volcanii genome. Together, these findings confirm the importance of iron for archaeal cells and suggest HVO_0467 as a siderophore exporter.