Colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by a pro-inflammatory microenvironment and features high energy supply molecules that assure tumor growth. A still underestimated macromolecule is the Inorganic Polyphosphate (iPolyP), a high-energy linear polymer that is ubiquitous in all forms of life. Made up of hundreds of repeated orthophosphate units, iPolyP is essential for a wide variety of functions in mammalian cells, including the regulation of proliferative signaling pathways. Some evidence has suggested its involvement in carcinogenesis, although more studies need to be pursued. In this study, we tested the role of iPolyP on CRC proliferation, using in-vitro and ex-vivo approaches, in order to evaluate its effect on tumor growth. We found that iPolyP is significantly increased in tumor tissues compared to the corresponding peritumoral counterparts. In addition, iPolyP signaling occurs through the TRPM8 receptor, promoting CRC cell proliferation. Pharmacological inhibition of TRPM8 or RNA interference experiments showed that the involvement of TRPM8 is essential, greater than that of the other two known iPolyP receptors, P2Y1 and RAGE. The presence of iPolyP drives cancer cells towards the mitotic phase of the cell cycle by enhancing the expression of ccnb1, which encodes for the Cyclin B protein. In-vitro 2D and 3D data reflected the ex-vivo results, obtained by the generation of CRC-derived organoids, which increased in size. These results indicate that iPolyP may be considered a novel and unexpected early biomarker supporting colorectal cancer cell proliferation.

Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is an important factor of stress tolerance in microbial cells. In yeast, the major enzyme of polyP biosynthesis is Vtc4, a subunit of the vacuole transporter chaperone (VTC) complex. In this study, we demonstrated that Vtc4 knockout in Saccharomyces cerevisiae not only decreased polyP content but also caused shifts in the composition of the intracellular polyP pool and changed the stress tolerance profile. In the mutant S. cerevisiae, the level of short-chain acid-soluble polyPs was decreased nearly 10-fold, whereas that of longer acid-insoluble polyPs was decreased only 2-fold, suggesting the existence of other enzymes compensating the production of long-chain polyPs. The Δvtc4 mutant showed inhibition of Mg2+-dependent phosphate uptake and decreased resistance to alkaline stress but increased tolerance to oxidation and heavy metal ions, especially Mn2+. Quantitative PCR revealed the upregulation of the DDR2 gene implicated in multiple stress responses and downregulation of PHO84 encoding a phosphate and Mn2+ transporter, which could account for the effects on phosphate uptake and Mn2+-related stress response in the Δvtc4 mutant. Our study indicates that short-chain polyPs, plays an important role in the regulation of stress response in yeast.

Background: During normal development, epithelial cells can experience alterations at transcriptional and morphological levels, which can trigger a process named the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The EMT underpins changes in cytoskeleton dynamics that are characteristic of neoplastic transformation. Described in many tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC), over the past ten years, although it is an essential process in cancer development it is still poorly understood. Once initiated, the EMT regulates metastasis, the microenvironment and immune system resistance in CRC. Overexpression of the pro-inflammatory molecule inorganic polyphosphate (iPolyP) has been shown to play important role in CRC progression, alongside its binding receptor called transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M (melastatin) member 8 (TRPM8). In this study we tested whether iPolyP/TRPM8 axis regulates EMT changes as well as NLRP3 inflammasome activation within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of CRC. Methods: To investigate these issues, western blotting, fixed and live cells immunofluorescence, 2D and 3D cell culture on CRC-patient derived biopsies, ELISA and wound healing assays were performed. Results: iPolyP triggers the expression of several EMT markers in CRC cell lines compared to control. Pharmacological inhibition of TRPM8 receptor restricts the migratory effects of cancer cells due to the presence of iPolyP. Moreover, the iPolyP/TRPM8 axis also displays an indirect pro-tumorigenic performance through shaping the immune microenvironment. By triggering NLRP3 inflammasome activation, iPolyP ensures high levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1, which foster CRC carcinogenesis. Conclusion: This study suggests that the iPolyP/TRPM8 signaling axis is a promising target for impeding CRC progression and spread.

Arsenic is a prevalent environmental pollutant with recognized carcinogenic properties. Liver fibrosis is a frequent consequence of arsenic poisoning, with the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) being a central event. Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11 (SLC7A11), a pivotal regulator of ferroptosis, may be involved in the process of arsenic-induced liver fibrosis. This study utilized lentiviral vector-mediated SLC7A11 silencing in LX-2 cells (a type of human hepatic stellate cells) to establish an SLC7A11 knockout cell model, which was then exposed to sodium arsenite (NaAsO2). Protein interactions were assessed through Protein Immunoprecipitation (IP), and protein levels were evaluated via Western blot analysis. It was found that NaAsO2 decreased cellular Fe2+ levels and nuclear receptor co-activator 4 (NCOA4) expression, with SLC7A11 silencing reversing these effects. Additionally, IP analysis revealed an interaction between Beclin1 and SLC7A11 proteins in LX-2 cells exposed to NaAsO2. Silencing SLC7A11 attenuated the reduction in Tumor Protein p53(P53), and p-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) protein levels, along with the rise in Beclin1, Phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) induced by NaAsO2. Consequently, SLC7A11 silencing promoted cellular ferroptosis, reduced autophagy levels through the P53/AMPK/mTOR pathway, and inhibited HSC activation by NaAsO2, potentially mitigating liver fibrosis.

Thin supported inorganic mesoporous membranes are used for removal of salts, small molecules (PFAS, dyes, polyanions) and particulate species (oil droplets) from aqueous sources with high flux and selectivity. Nano-filtration membranes can reject simple salts with 80-100% selectivity through a space charge mechanism. Rejection by size selectivity can be near 100% since the membranes can have a very narrow size distribution. Mesoporous membranes have received par-ticular interest due to their (potential) stability at operational conditions and defouling operations. More recently membranes with extreme stability became interesting with the advent of in-situ fouling mitigation by means of ultrasound, emitted from within the membrane structure. For this reason we explored the stability of available and new membranes with accelerated lifetime tests in aqueous solutions at various temperatures and pH values. Of the available ceria, titania, mag-netite membranes none were actually stable at all test conditions. In earlier work, it was already established that meso-porous alumina membranes have very poor stability. A new nano-filtration membrane was made of cubic zirconia membranes that exhibited a near perfect stability. A new ultra-filtration membrane was made of amorphous silica that was fully stable in ultrapure water at 80°C. This work provides details of membrane synthesis, stability characterization and actual sta-bility data.

Fluorescent hydrogels are promising candidate materials for portable biosensors to be used in point-of-care diagnosis because (1) they have a greater capacity for binding organic molecules than immunochromatographic test systems, determined by the immobilization of affinity labels within the three-dimensional hydrogel structure; (2) fluorescent detection is more sensitive than the colorimetric detection of gold nanoparticles or stained latex microparticles; (3) the properties of the gel matrix can be finely tuned for better compatibility and detection of different analytes; and (4) hydrogel biosensors can be made reusable and suitable for studying dynamic processes in real time. Water-soluble fluorescent nanocrystals are widely used for in vitro and in vivo biological imaging due to their unique optical properties, and hydrogels based on them allow preserving these properties in bulk composite macrostructures. Here we review the techniques for obtaining analyte-sensitive fluorescent hydrogels based on nanocrystals, the main methods used for detecting the fluorescent signal changes, and the approaches to the formation of inorganic fluorescent hydrogels via sol–gel phase transition using surface ligands of the nanocrystals.

Microalgae are naturally adapted to fluctuating availability of phosphorus (P) being capable to opportunistically uptake large amounts of inorganic phosphate (Pi) and safely store it in the cell as polyphosphate. Hence, many microalgal species are remarkably resilient to high concentrations of external Pi. Here we report on an exception from this pattern comprised by a failure of the high Pi-resilience in a strain Micractinium simplicissimum IPPAS C-2056 normally coping with a very high Pi concentrations. This phenomenon occurred after abrupt re-supplementation of Pi to the M. simplicissimum culture pre-starved of P. This was the case even if Pi was re-supplemented in a concentration far below the level toxic to the P-sufficient culture. We hypothesize that this effect can be mediated by a rapid formation of the potentially toxic short-chain polyphosphate following the mass influx of Pi into the P-starved cell. A possible reason for this is that the preceding P starvation impairs the capacity of the cell of converting the newly absorbed Pi into a “safe” storage form of long-chain polyphosphate. We believe that findings of this study can help to avoid sudden culture crashes, they are also of potential significance for development of algae-based technologies for efficient bioremoval of P from P-rich waste streams.

A recent breakthrough in preparation of immobilized enzyme based biocatalysts achieving highly enhanced enzymatic activities and stabilities has become a great alternative to conventional immobilization techniques. The functional hybrid nanobiocatalysts (FHNs) fabricated in this immobilization composed of organic components (amino acid, peptide, protein, enzyme and plant extract) and inorganic components (various metal ions) give flower-like morphology with narrow size distribution and porous structure. The enzyme incorporated FHNs exhibite greatly enhanced catalytic activities and stabilities compared to free and conventionally immobilized enzymes under various experimental conditions. In addition to that, the FHNs consisting of other organic components act as Fenton-like reagents and show peroxidase-like activity owing to presence of metal ions and porous structure in the FHNs. This report basically focuses on preparation, characterization, and bioanalytical applications of the FHNs and explain mechanism of the FHNs formation and thier enhanced activities and stabilities.

This study examined the thermal reflective properties and mechanisms of composite inorganic coatings applied to various wall types. It evaluated the influence of these coatings on the thermal insulation and reflectivity of walls. The findings indicate that coating application markedly enhances the wall's thermal insulation capabilities and increases the heat flux reflection ratio. These results offer crucial theoretical backing and practical guidance for the future use of coating technologies in construction. By refining the coating formulations and application processes, the thermal insulation properties of walls can be further enhanced, thus making a significant contribution to building energy efficiency and environmental protection. Consequently, this research provides essential references and insights for advancing coating technology in the construction industry.

The influence of the ligands in coupled organic-inorganic nanostructures (COINs) on the performance of optoelectronic devices is investigated. We fabricated photodiodes based on pentacene and PbS nanocrystals coupled to organic ligands like 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT) and tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) and a combination of both, EDT and TBAI, as a heterostructure. These ligands were first separately used to fabricate single ligand-type of organic-inorganic devices and later compared with a heterostructure of PbS-EDT and PbS-TBAI. To tune the optical energy gap of COINs to align with the triplet level of pentacene, it was necessary to choose a suitable particle size. For this purpose, ultraviolet photo-emission spectroscopy (UPS) was used to determine the energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the work function of COINs, while the energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of COINs was estimated subsequently by adding the exciton binding energy and the optical band gap to the measured HOMO energy. Devices with heterostructure COINs achieve a higher short circuit current than COINs with a single type of the ligands. Finally, even if the requirements of proper energy level alignment are satisfied, the photodiodes' performance was affected by the morphology of COINs. This finding has been demonstrated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) shows a shift for the excitonic absorption peaks in the visible range at opposite applied voltages. The IPCE signal for the double heterostructure device is higher than the single type device.

Development of rovers and development of infrastructure which enables them to probe other planets (such as Mars) have sparked a lot of interest recently specially with increasing public attention in Moon and Mars program by National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This is designed to be achieved by various means such as advanced spectroscopy and artificial intelligent techniques such as deep learning and transfer learning to enable the rover to not only map the surface of planet but to get a detailed information about its chemical makeup in layers beneath (deep learning) and in areas around point of observation (transfer learning). In this work, which is part of a proposal, later approach is explored. A systematic strategy is presented which make use of aforementioned techniques developed for metallic glass matrix composites as benchmark and helps develop algorithms for chemistry mapping of actual Martian surface on Perseverance Rover launching shortly.

Intensive greenhouse horticulture can cause various environmental problems. Among them, the management, storage and processing of crop residues can provoke aquifer contamination, pest proliferation, bad odors or the abuse of phytosanitary treatments. Biosolarization put in value any fresh plant residue and is an efficient technique for the control of soil-borne diseases. This study aims to examine an alternative means of managing greenhouse crop residues through biosolarization and to investigate the influence of organic matter on yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, L.) fruit. With this purpose, the following nutritional systems were evaluated: inorganic fertilization with and without brassica pellets (Fert, Fert + and Fert ++), fresh tomato plant debris with and without brassica pellets (Rest, Rest + and Rest ++) and no fertilizer application (Control). The addition of organic matter equaled all the treatments except for control with regard to yield and quality of the tomato fruit. In light of these results, the application of tomato plant debris to the soil through biosolarization is postulated as an alternative for the management of crop residues, solving an environmental problem and having a favorable impact on the production and quality of tomatoes as a commercial crop.

Regenerative medicine is an interdisciplinary field that combines stem cell technology and tissue engineering to replace or regenerate human cells, tissues, or organs and restore normal functions. The term 'regenerative medicine' was coined by William Haseltine at a 1999 conference on Lake Como. Since its inception in 1968, the field has offered clinical benefits for the regeneration, repair, and restoration of bones, skin, cartilage, neural tissue, and heart, as well as scaffold fabrication. Inorganic biomaterials play a crucial role in regenerative medicine, often surpassing traditional synthetic materials due to their adjustable intrinsic properties, such as size, topography, charge, and chemical stability. These properties enable a flexible cellular response within intracellular matrix environments and provide structural support for cell adhesion and tissue regeneration. Given the wide gamut of near-future potential applications of inorganic biomaterials, this article gives an overview of their emerging roles in stem cell regenerative research, tissue engineering, artificial skin and cartilage regeneration, neural nerve injuries, 3D bioprinting, and development of new inorganic bio-scaffolds. The review also addresses the challenges related to the clinical application and tissue compatibility of inorganic biomaterials, utilizing current state-of-the-art techniques.

The reduction in rheological parameters and dissolution rate of precursors in geopolymer coatings during early hydration significantly contributes to sagging. This study aims to improve the sag resistance of these coatings by incorporating diatomite filler. Rheological testing was conducted to assess the impact of diatomite and its concentration on yield stress, plastic viscosity, and thixotropy of the geopolymer coatings. The results indicated that diatomite's large specific surface area and high reactivity have a significant influence on the rheological parameters and early dissolution rate of precursors. With a diatomite concentration of 1.1%, the coating exhibited a yield stress of 2.749 Pa and a plastic viscosity of 0.921 Pa·s, maintaining stability, homogeneity, and no sagging at a thickness of 600 μm. Furthermore, the highly active SiO2 in diatomite participates in the secondary hydration reaction of the geopolymer materials, leading to the formation of substantial C-(A)-S-H gel. This gel enhances internal interconnectivity within the coating, thereby improving its rheological and mechanical properties.

In this study, the concentrations of metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were deter-mined in two freshwater fish species. The same fish were also used to determine the content of fatty acids (FA), including saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). We investigated the species-specific relationship between bioaccumulation of metals and the content of FA. Roach and white bream were caught at two different sites in the Serbian part of the Danube. The measured metal concentrations were below the standard concentrations recommended in the guidelines of the EU and the Republic of Ser-bia. Among the non-essential metals, Ni had the highest concentration, ranging from 0.158 to 0.591 µg g-1. The muscle of the two fish species contained high concentrations of SFA, ranging from 36.31 to 51.79%, and MUFA, ranging from 33.56 to 43.70%. Polyunsaturated fatty acids were represented with the lowest percentage (5.32 - 27.18). Four of the nine metals studied (As, Hg, Ni and Pb) in one fish species and five of the nine metals studied (A, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the other fish species showed correlations with fatty acid content. These results help to reveal potential biomarkers of metal stress in lipid composition.

The addition of biocarriers can improve the biological processes appearing in a bioreactor since their surface allows the immobilization, attachment, protection, and growth of microorganisms. In addition, the development of a biofilm layer allows the colonization of microorganisms in the biocarriers. The structure, composition, and roughness of the biocarriers' surface are crucial factors that affect the development of the biofilm. In the current work, the aluminosilicate zeolites 13X and ZSM-5 were examined as the main building components of the biocarrier scaffolds, using bentonite, montmorillonite, and halloysite nanotubes as inorganic binders in various combinations. 3D printing was utilized to form pastes into monoliths that underwent heat treatment. The 3d-printed biocarriers were subjected to a mechanical analysis, including density, compression, and nanoindentation tests. Furthermore, the 3d-printed biocarriers were morphologically and structurally characterized using nitrogen adsorption at 77 K (LN2), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The stress-strain response of the materials being studied was obtained through nanoindentation tests combined with finite element analysis (FEA). These tests were also utilized to simulate the lattice geometries under compression loading conditions to investigate their deformation and stress distribution in relation to experimental compression testing. The results indicated that the 3d-printed biocarrier 13X/halloysite nanotubes was endowed with high specific surface area and extended mesoporous structure. Due to these assets, its bulk density was one of the lowest observed amongst the biocarriers derived from the various combinations of materials. The biocarriers based on the 13X zeolite exhibited the highest mechanical stability and appropriate morphological features. The 13X/halloysite nanotubes scaffold exhibits a moderate hardness value compared to the rest, while it presents the highest value of modulus of elasticity. In conclusion, Aluminosilicate zeolites and their combination with clays and inorganic nanotubes afford 3d-printed biocarriers of various textural and structural properties, which can be utilized to improve biological processes.

Background: Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) remains a global public health problem. The liver is the main target organ of arsenic, leading to arsenic-induced liver fibrosis. Autophagy is involved. Phosphatase and tensin homology deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) may participate in arsenic-induced liver fibrosis by regulating autophagy, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear. We established a mouse model of arsenic poisoning through the drinking water, and a fibrosis model using the huma stellate cell (HSC) line LX-2, which was exposed to NaAsO₂ for 24h. HE and Masson staining was adopted to observe the degree of liver fibrosis. The cells were transfected using PTEN overexpression plasmid. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to determine the levels of protein/mRNA expression. The in vivo results were confirmed in HSCs exposed to NaAsO₂, with changes suggesting fibrosis as seen in mice. NaAsO₂ upregulated the expression of the autophagic markers microtubule-associated protein light chain A/B (LC3), recombinant human autophagy effector protein (Beclin-1), hairy and enhancer of split homolog-1 (HES1), but downregulated PTEN. α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression was significantly upregulated in all NaAsO₂ groups. PTEN overexpression altered NaAsO₂-induced autophagy which LC3, Beclin-1 were downregulated. Notch1, HES1, α-SMA, and collagenⅠexpression were all downregulated in the NaAsO₂ groups. In conclusion, PTEN overexpression might decrease autophagy and inhibit fibrosis progression caused by this toxin. The NOTCH1/HES1 pathway is likely to be involved in this process. Most previous studies did not investigate PTEN and arsenic-induced liver fibrosis specifically. The present study highlights the importance of targeting PTEN for the management of arsenic exposure.

This work aimed to carry out a bioremediation study to evaluate the resistance of Penicillium sp. isolated from kefir grains for the treatment of copper. The fungal culture medium was prepared using a 2% malt-agar medium at pH 7.0 in which Penicillium sp. was inoculated. Penicillium sp. growing in a liquid medium showed a decrease in biomass in presence of Cu(NO3)2 (800 mg.L-1), suggesting that the metal impacts the growth rate of the fungus. Moreover, the combined factors of pH and the presence of the inorganic contaminant impacted the radial growth of the fungus, causing inhibition of 73% at pH 4.0, 75% at pH 7.0, and 77% at pH 9.0 in liquid medium compared to control. However, images obtained with scanning electron microscopy showed the integrity of the fungus cell, even at high doses of copper in the medium. Therefore, it can be concluded that Penicillium sp. isolated from kefir grain can bioremediate the environment and that the harmful effects of heavy metals can be minimized as a result biosorption. Although the growth of Penicillium sp. is inhibited, such retardation requires high doses of copper nitrate, thus ensuring the use of this microorganism for protection against the harmful effects of non-essential copper in the environment.

Developing new technologies is essential for advancement in solar cell technologies due to their ability to only absorb light mainly in the visible light spectrum. Super crystals Nd³⁺- Eu³⁺ optical characteristics display higher absorption of light waves than single crystals of Eu³⁺ and Nd³⁺ due to a two-photon absorption energy transfer mechanism known as upconversion. Super crystals Nd³⁺- Eu³⁺ display higher absorption due to fewer light waves being transmitted through materials as reported in spectra data. Transmission spectra data reflects that Nd³⁺- Eu³⁺ nanoparticles are great candidates to enhance light absorption in solar cell devices.

Inorganic polymeric materials react slowly at room temperature and as a result usually require high-temperature curing. This study used the Arrhenius equation to analyze the correlation between curing temperature and curing duration during high-temperature curing. The test results show that optimal values exist for each alkali equivalent of the activator (weight ratio of Na2O/glass powder), curing temperature, and curing duration. Extending the curing duration and increasing the curing temperature have positive effects when the alkali equivalent is lower than the optimal value. However, over-curing results in invisible cracking in the specimens. Furthermore, despite exhibiting high strength initially, the strength of specimens gradually diminishes after standing in air. To ensure the durability of glass-based geopolymer, the curing temperature should not exceed 70℃, and the curing duration should be less than one day.

Inorganic and organic – inorganic (hybrid) perovskite semiconductor materials have attracted the worldwide scientific attention and research effort as the new wonder material in optoelectronics. Their excellent physical and electronic properties have been exploited to boost the solar cells efficiency beyond 23% and captivate their potential as competitors to the dominant silicon solar cells technology. However, the fundamental principles in Physics dictate that an excellent material for photovoltaic applications must be also an excellent light emitter. This has been realized for the case of perovskite based light emitting diodes (LEDs) but much less for the case of the respective laser devices. Here, the strides have been made since 2014 are presented for the first time. The solution processability, low temperature crystallization, formation of nearly defect free, nanostructures, the long range ambipolar transport, the direct energy band gap, the high spectral emission tunability over the entire visible spectrum and the almost 100% external luminescence efficiency show perovskite semiconductors’ potential to transform the nanophotonics sector. The operational principles, the various adopted material and laser configurations along the future challenges are reviewed and presented in this paper.

Best horticulture management has been practiced to reduce the amount of inorganic fertilizer in connection with net (mosquito net) for higher production of Indian spinach. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture promoted negative effect on the environment and human health in Bangladesh. The experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh during the period February to May 2016. Two factor experiments were conducted on nettings: control (N₀), Netting (N₁) and different fertilizers: control (F₀), Vermicompost 10 t/ha (F₁), Vermicompost 15 t/ha (F₂), 2/3^rdof F₂+ 1/3^rdof F₄ (F₃), Inorganic fertilizer (F₄). Combination of mosquito net and combined of organic and inorganic fertilizers (N₁F₃) gave the significantly higher growth and yield of Indian spinach compared to other treatment combination. The maximum vine length (77.71 cm), after 45 days after sowing was found from N₁F₃ which was 72% higher compared to control. The highest yield of Indian spinach was 38.67 t/ha from N₁F₃ which was 80% higher compared to control. The treatment combination of N₁F₃ provided maximum leaf numbers per plant, leaf length.

The stability issues in the widely known organic inorganic halide perovskite, CH₃NH₃PbI_3, lead to the development of alternative halide double perovskite materials which get great attention in recent times. Although the stability issue seems promising, both materials and device performance of these photovoltaic materials remain inferior and challenging for improvements. Furthermore, the power conversion efficiency of single junction organic inorganic halide perovskite is now 24.2% and 29.15% for textured monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell, but for all-inorganic halide perovskite solar cell is 7.11% and halide double perovskite solar cells based on Cs₂AgBiBr₆ and Cs₂TiBr₆ is 2.8% and 3.3%, respectively, which is far less than 24.2% and 29.15%, respectively. This creates big question and concern that can both all-inorganic halide perovskite solar cell and halide double perovskites solar cells really be an acceptable alternatives to replace organic inorganic halide perovskite solar cells or lead based perovskite solar cells in the market in order to realize the sustainable practical applications? Not only this concern, but also there are many other big challenges facing by halide double perovskite solar cells. Such big challenges include: a) geometric constraints and limited integration with interfacial materials, b) dynamic disorder and a wide band gap and localized conduction band caused by cubic unit cell which restrains the interactions of orbitals, c) high processing temperature which may limit on the diverse applications, d) low electronic dimensionality making them less appropriate for single junction solar cell purpose and etc. Moreover, origin of electronic and optical properties such as the polarizability, the presence of molecular dipoles and their influence on the dynamics of the photo-excitations in the halide double perovskites remains unlock concern that need to be elucidated. Now, another big question is how to develop overcoming mechanisms for such challenges. Can we really overcome these current limitations faced by halide double perovskites so that we use them for sustainable commercialization? This research roadmap for performance improvement is suggested focusing on: materials surface and bulk engineering, band gap engineering, interfacial engineering, composition engineering, doping engineering, device architectural engineering, polar and domain order engineering. This was the reason that this review was developed in order to forward great contributions to the readers and commercial ventures.

Lewis acid zeolites play an important role in industrially important green reactions closely related to fine chemicals and biomass conversion. Titanium-doped TS-1 zeolite is a milestone Lewis acid zeolite, which widely uses in industrially significant green oxidation processes with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant under mild conditions. TS-1 Zeolites are normally synthesized in basic condition under hydrothermal treatment. Up to now, it is still not successful to synthesize active TS-1 Lewis acid zeolite by using inorganic alkali, e.g. NaOH or KOH as base, which are cheaper and more stable compared with quaternary ammonium hydroxide or organic amines used in the traditional synthesis. Here, inorganic base of NaOH was firstly employed in synthesizing active TS-1 zeolites. The crucial factor was the control of adverse effects of sodium cations on the incorporation of active titanium cations. A higher catalytic activity could be achieved by further reducing the size of the TS-1 crystal by seed-added strategy, which could approach the catalytic activity of commercial catalyst while the production cost was much lower than the commercial TS-1 catalysts, indicating great commercial potential and the possibility of preparing other cheap Lewis acid catalysts by using inorganic alkali.

Biogeochemical models estimate soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, crop growth, and yield. The DeNitrification and DeComposition (DNDC) model was used to simulate soil SOC dynamics and harvested C-biomass in rice-wheat rotation under organic/inorganic fertilizations with conventional tillage (CT) and reduced tillage (RT). Before calibration, DNDC under-predicted harvestable grain C-biomass of rice by 29.22% to 42.14% and over-simulated grain C-biomass of wheat by 55.01% with equal amounts of NPK and animal manure applied under CT. However, after calibration by adjusting default values of soil/crop parameters, DNDC simulated harvestable grain C-biomass of both crops very close to observed values (only -2.81% to -6.17% less). DNDC also predicted effects of nutrient management practices on grain C-biomass of rice/wheat under CT/RT using d-index (0.76 to 0.96) and the calculated root mean squared error (RMSE of 165.36 to 494.18 kg C ha-1). DNDC simulated SOC trends for rice-wheat using measured values of several statistical indices. Regression analysis between modeled and observed SOC dynamics was significant with R2 ranging from 0.35 to 0.46 (p < 0.01), and intercept ranging from 0.30 to 1.34 (p < 0.65). DNDC demonstrated that combined inorganic and organic fertilization may result in higher C-biomass and more SOC sequestration in rice-wheat systems.

Chemical fertilizers are commonly used to meet the nutritional demands of the crops and boost their yield. However, their high costs and excessive application in soils increases the cost of production and have negative effects on the soil and environmental health. Vermicompost is an organic amendment that can potentially lessen the dependence on chemical fertilizers with additional advantages of sustainable nutrient supply to crops and maintaining soil health. To evaluate the potential of two diverse vermicomposts, sole and combined application of these vermicomposts with reduced rates of chemical fertilizers were used for tomato cultivation in a field study. The results indicated that vermicompost produced from cow dung combined with chemical fertilizers proved to be more effective in improving tomatoes' growth, physiology, yield and nutritional attributes. Combined application of vermicompost and chemical fertilizer significantly improved root length (21.6%), plant height (167%), SPAD value (13.5%),chlorophyll 'a' (96%), chlorophyll 'b' (161%), relative water content (16%), membrane stability index (18%), carotenoid (87%), yield (82%), photosynthetic rate (148%), and fruit diameter (83%) protein (89%), fat (27.5%), fiber (12%), vitamin C (52%), calcium (54%), magnesium (117%), phosphorus (38%), potassium (128%), as compared to control treatment (NP applied). In addition, significant improvements in different soil physico-chemical properties were also pragmatic. The results suggest that vermicompost application with reduced doses of chemical fertilizers can be used to improve crop yield and soil physico-chemical properties.

The study was carried out to determine the influence of organic and inorganic fertilizers on maize yield and soil fertility; to determine economically optimum organic and inorganic fertilizer combinations for maize production. The study was performed in a randomized complete block design consisting of 10 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments were: Control, 100% of R-NP (138 N and 92 P), 100% of vermicompost,100% of conventional compost, 25% R-NP +75% of vermicompost, 50% of R-NP + 50% of vermicompost, 75% of R-NP+25% of from vermicompost, 25% of R-NP +75% of conventional compost, 50% of R-NP+50% of conventional-compost, 75% of R-NP +25% of conventional-compost. All rates of vermicompost and conventional compost were applied based on N equivalence. Results indicate that applications of inorganic fertilizers with a combination of organic source fertilizers were increases maize yield and yield components and improves the nutrient status of the soil. The highest maize grain yield (7494.3 kg ha-1) and above-ground biomass yield (18718.0 kg ha-1) were obtained from the applications of 50% recommended NP fertilizer plus 50% vermicompost which is based on the recommended N equivalent respectively. Similarly, we found that a combination of both inorganic and organic fertilizers application also is the best strategy to improve major soil nutrients, maintain soil fertility. The economic analysis revealed that the highest net benefit of (108,872.0 ETB ha-1) was obtained from the application of 50% recommended NP fertilizer plus 50% vermicompost based on the recommended N equivalence. Yet, the lowest yield and net benefit value were attained from the control or unfertilized plot. Therefore, this study suggests that an appropriate proportion of organic fertilizer with inorganic fertilizer not only for higher yield maize production with an assurance of potential economic returns to the small hold farmers but also improve and maintain the soil fertility and should be adopted with similar soil type and agro-ecologies.

Three polyimides and six inorganic fillers in a form of nanometer-sized particles were studied as thick film solution cast mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for transport of CO₂, CH₄ and H₂O. Gas transport properties and electron microscopy images indicate good polymer-filler compatibility for all membranes. The only filler type which demonstrated good distribution throughout the membrane thickness at 10 wt. % loading was BaCe_0.2Zr_0.7Y_0.1O₃ (BCZY). The influence of this filler on MMM gas transport properties was studied in detail for 6FDA-6FpDA in a filler content range from 1 to 20 wt.% and for Matrimid^® and P84^® at 10 wt. % loading. The most promising result was obtained for Matrimid^® - 10wt% BCZY MMM, which showed improvement in CO₂ and H₂O permeabilities accompanied by increased CO₂/CH₄ selectivity and high water selective membrane at elevated temperatures without H₂O/permanent gas selectivity loss.

The aim of the study was to determine the maximum safe concentration of calcium and phosphate in neonatal parenteral nutrition (PN) solutions when various combinations of inorganic and organic salts are applied. Twelve PN solutions for neonatal use were aseptically prepared. Increasing concentration of inorganic and organic calcium and phosphate were added to the standard formulas. Each admixture was separately tested according to following conditions; after mixing, 37°C for 24 h, and maximum safe combination of calcium and phosphate were stored at 4°C for 30 days and followed by 24 h at 37°C. Visual inspections against a black and white contrast background, microscopic observation of undiluted PN solutions as well as the membrane filter after filtration of the PN solution, pH evaluation, and spectrophotometry at 600 nm were examined in triplicate. Safe maximum concentration of organic and inorganic calcium and phosphate was proposed individually for each composition of parenteral nutrition solutions. Surprisingly organic calcium with organic phosphate showed precipitation but over the therapeutic range. The protective effect of amino acid was observed and higher concentrations of calcium and phosphate were free of precipitation.

Demand for livestock products in East Africa is anticipated to triple by 2050. Therefore, sustainable intensification of livestock production systems for increased productivity is necessary in line with minimal negative environmental consequences. An agronomic field experiment was set up at the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, and the effects of organic and inorganic soil amendments on greenhouse gas emissions (particularly N2O) from a Humic Nitisol planted with Brachiaria brizantha cv. xaraes were evaluated between October 2018 and August 2019. The treatments comprised mineral NPK fertilizer, Lablab intercrop, FYM, FYM-BC, Bioslurry, and control. Fertilizer treatments were applied at a rate of 45 kg N ha-1 following each harvest. GHG emissions were measured using the static vented chamber technique. Treatment and season significantly influenced daily N2O emissions. The lowest (4.51±3.30 µg N m-2 h-1) and highest (27.16±3.61 µg N m-2 h-1) mean N2O emissions were recorded under NPK and Control treatments during the short rains and dry seasons, respectively. Cumulative N2O emissions and the corresponding yield-scaled emissions were similar across all the treatments but varied significantly (p < 0.001) between the wet and dry seasons. Cumulative N2O emissions were 0.31±1.49, 0.33±1.47, 0.33±1.74, and 0.37±1.74, 0.38±2.3 and 0.42±1.81 Kg N ha-1 under FYM-BC, Lablab, NPK fertilizer, and FYM, Bioslurry and control treatments respectively. The corresponding yield-scaled emissions were also higher during the wet (0.23±1.16 g N kg-1 DM) than in the dry seasons (0.16±0.50 g N kg-1 DM). Higher (-21.86±4.47 mg CH4-Ch-1) CH4 uptake was recorded under the control treatment whereas the lowest (-2.69±17.97 mg CH4-Ch-1) uptake was recorded under Bioslurry (P < 0.01). Treatment and season exhibited individual effects on daily CO2 emissions (P < 0.001), with a significant interaction effect (P < 0.001). The highest (157.5±28.76 mg CO2-C m-2h-1) and lowest (44.33±8.37 mg CO2-C m-2h-1) CO2 emissions were recorded under Control and FYM treatments during the October 2018-January 2019 and January-March 2019 HD. Since the experiment was newly established via ploughing a field which had been used as a permanent pasture during previous years, did not expect considerable yield differences between treatments. Yet, it is interesting to see first effects of fertilizer amendments, pointing to their potential as climate-smart forage intensification strategies. The study established that Manure + biochar is a better strategy for forage soil amendments in mitigating soil N2O emissions.

This study represents a significant stride in advancing furan chemistry, presenting the synthesis of high-molecular-weight polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) resin (Mw = 118,959 g/mol) from furfuryl alcohol (FA) using a co-catalytic system as against the conventional single-catalytic methods. The resulting PFA resin is fully characterised, and we conclude that it exhibits good shelf life and potential in diverse applications, serving as a standalone moulded material or contributing to composites, coatings, adhesives, and nanostructured carbons.

A hybrid organic molecules as ligands and inorganic NCs in this research combines the chemical properties of organic semiconductors with the chemical stability of inor- ganic nanoparticles like PbS. It is possible to improve the ligand exchange and PbS-NCs' distribution by adding Amino phynel anchor group to TIPs-pentacene and Carboxylic anchor group to Tetraphenylporphyrin molecules. By adding anchor groups to one or two sides of these molecules, they would convert the molecules to ecient ligands to obtain superlattice coupled organic-inorganic nanostrcuture semicondcutor layers (COINs). Adding on side group would cap the PbS nanoparticles while adding two an- chor group would play a linker role between two PbS NCs. This morophology enhance- ment paves the way to manipulate the physical properties of the COINs and fabricate solar cells. Singlet ssion phenomena demonstrates pentacene molecule's advantage for high eciency in organic solar cells and its ability to overcome the Schockley-Queisser limit. Ultraviolet photo-emission spectroscopy (UPS) determines the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the work function of COINs, while the lowest unoccu- pied molecular orbital (LUMO) of COINs were calculated subsequently by adding both the exciton binding energy and the optical band gap to the measured HOMO energy. The current versus voltage characteristics and impedance spectroscopy were studied for these molecules as well.

This study investigated the ability of a HYDRUS 1D model for predicting the vertical distribution of potassium iodine (200 ppm) in soil columns after amendment with five different common remediation materials (gypsum, lime, fly ash, charcoal and sawdust) at a rate of 2.5% (w/w), relative to an unamended control soil. Results shows that relative to the unamended soil, iodine leaching was decreased by all amendments but that the magnitude of the decreases varied with the soil amendment applied. Iodine content was highest in the upper layer of the soil columns and decreased progressively with soil depth. The model was evaluated via comparison of the model simulated values with measured values from the soil column studies. The results showed that the HYDRUS 1D model efficiency was near to 1, indicating that the stimulated results were near to the measured values. Therefore, this study showed that iodine leaching through a soil could be ascertained well using a HYDRUS 1D model. The model over predicted iodine leaching, resulting to a weak correspondence between the simulated and the measured results for iodine leaching. This suggests that the HYDRUS-1D model does not explain accurately different organic and inorganic amended soil and the preferential flow that occurs in these columns. This may be due to the fact that Freundlich isotherm, which is part of the transport equations, does not sufficiently describe the mechanism of iodine adsorption onto the soil particles. This study would help to select amendments for an effective management strategy to reduce exogenous iodine losses from agro-ecosystems. This would also improve understanding of iodine transport in soil profile.

Two novel inorganic–organic hybrid supramolecular assemblies, namely, (4-HNA)(18-crown-6)(HSO₄) (1) and (4-HNA)₂(18-crown-6)₂(PF₆)₂(CH₃OH) (2) (4-HNA = 4-nitroanilinium), were synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, single X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and temperature-dependent dielectric measurements. The two compounds underwent reversible phase transitions at about 255 K and 265 K, respectively. These phase transitions were revealed and confirmed by the thermal anomalies in DSC measurements and abrupt dielectric anomalies during heating. The phase transition may have originated from the [(4-HNA)(18-crown-6)]⁺ supramolecular cation. The inorganic anions tuned the crystal packings and thus influenced the phase-transition points and types. The variable-temperature X-ray diffraction data for crystal 1 revealed the occurrence of a phase transition in the high-temperature phase with the space group of P2₁/c and in the low-temperature phase with the space group of P2₁/n. Crystal 2 exhibited the same space group P2₁/c at different temperatures. The results indicated that crystals 1 and 2 both underwent an iso-structural phase transition.

Three kinds of inorganic alkali are introduced into tetraethylenepentamine (TPEA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) modified MCM-41 as the CO2 adsorbents. FT-IR and TGA are used to characterize the surface groups and the thermal stability of adsorbents. Chemical titration method is used to measure the alkali amounts of adsorbents. Thermo-gravimetric analysis with 10%CO2/N2 as the simulated flue gas is used to test the CO2 adsorption performance of adsorbents. The results show that all three kinds of inorganic alkali containing adsorbents exhibit promoted CO2 adsorption capability than traditional TPEA and PEI modified samples. Ca(OH)2 and PEI modified samples exhibit the highest adsorption capacity and stable regeneration property. The introduction of inorganic alkali changes the chemical adsorption mechanism between CO2 and increases the effective alkali amounts due to its hydroxyl groups. The CO2 adsorption capacities have a linear dependence relation with the alkali amounts of adsorbents, indicating that alkali amount is a critical factor for novel adsorbents exploring.

Phosphorus (P) concentration in rivers and lakes receives greater attention due to its significance in contributing to eutrophication. This study aimed at profiling phosphorus species in Vembanad lake (Ramsar site) and its adjoining rivers. Four phosphorus fractions (total reactive phosphorus (TRP), total acid hydrolysable phosphorus (TAHP), total organic phosphorus (TOP) and total phosphorus (TP)) were monitored according to premonsoon and postmonsoon seasons. Meenachil river mouth is a hotspot for eutrophication with high values of most of the phosphorus fractions. Among the four fractions TRP, TOP and TP were recorded maximum concentration during the premonsoon and postmonsoon seasons. Each fraction of TRP, TAHP, TOP, and TP had an average concentration of more than 300 µgL-1 P throughout two seasons, which is highly eutrophic. The result reveals that the surface water of Vembanad lake is highly polluted with phosphorus input and it may trigger algal growth and consequent destruction of the biodiversity rich wetland system.

The saltmarsh plant Halimione portulacoides was shortly exposed to realistic levels of inorganic mercury (iHg), aiming to investigate adaptative processes of the roots and leaves regarding re-dox homeostasis, physiology, and Hg accumulation. Plants were collected at a contaminated (CONT) and a reference (REF) site, addressing the interference of contamination background. The influence of major abiotic variables (i.e., temperature and light) was also examined. Total Hg lev-els, antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and photosynthetic activity were analyzed after 2 and 4 hours of exposure. Accumulation of iHg in the roots was noticed poorly, and no translocation to stems and leaves was found, but plants from CONT seemed more prone to iHg uptake (in winter). Despite that, antioxidant modulation in roots and leaves was found, disclos-ing, in winter, higher thresholds for the induction of enzymatic antioxidants in CONT leaves compared to REF, denoting that the former are better prepared to cope with iHg redox pressure. Consistently, CONT leaves exposed to iHg had remarkably lower LPO levels. Exposure did not impair the photosynthetic activity, pinpointing H. portulacoides ability to cope with iHg toxicity under a very short-term exposure. Biochemical changes were noticed before enhancements in ac-cumulation, reinforcing the relevance of these responses in precociously signaling iHg toxicity.

Inorganic nanoparticles are utilized for therapeutic, diagnostic, or in combination, theranostic purposes. The latter involves simultaneous sensing, imaging, or tracking of drug delivery. Furthermore, these nanoparticles can differ in their morphologies, which affect outcomes such as the effectiveness of hyperthermia, induction, drug loading, circulation time by escaping the body's immune system, imaging modality clarity, and biosensing. However, design of these theranostics is limited by the lack of a method to predict their therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we report a simple and novel computational approach via algebraic and geometric calculations of surface area (SA) to volume (V) ratios (SA:V) which can help predict the efficacy of the inorganic nanoparticles of the investigated morphologies. The approach comprises a coding platform for the program and uses Python 3 on a Windows 10 operating system. Analyses of 29 polyhedral morphologies that inorganic nanoparticles could assume ex silico showed that only particular concave and convex morphologies in this size regime are more productive over the standard sizes as well as a few noted in literature for baseline comparison. Our results provide a method that can aid in predicting the efficacy of inorganic nanoparticles with certain morphology giving rise to their fundamental basis and eventual implementation ex silico.

This study used the sol–gel method to synthesize a non-halogenated hyperbranched flame retardant containing nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon, HBNPSi, which was then added to a polyurethane (PU) matrix to form an organic–inorganic hybrid material. Using 29Si nuclear magnetic resonance, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of P- and Si-mapping, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, this study determined the organic and inorganic dispersity, morphology, and flame retardance mechanism of the hybrid material. The condensation density of the hybrid material PU/HBNPSi was found to be 74.4%. High condensation density indicates a dense network structure of the material. The P- and Si-mapping showed that adding inorganic additives in quantities of either 20% or 40% results in homogeneous dispersion of the inorganic fillers in the polymer matrix without agglomeration, indicating that the organic and inorganic phases had excellent compatibility. In the burning test, adding HBNPSi to PU resulted in the material passing the UL-94 standard at the V2 level, unlike the pristine PU, which did not meet the standard. The results demonstrated that after non-halogenated flame retardant was added to PU, the material’s flammability and dripping were lower, thereby proving that flame retardants containing elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicon exert an excellent flame retardant synergistic effect.

Excessive nutrient discharge to tropical island coastlines drives eutrophication and algal blooms with significant implications for reef ecosystem condition and provision of ecosystem services. Management actions to address nutrient pollution in coastal ecosystems include setting water quality standards for discharging surface waters. However, these standards do not account for the effects of groundwater discharge, variability in flow, or dilution, all of which may influence assessment of true nutrient impacts on nearshore reef habitats. We developed a method to estimate dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) loads to coastal zones by integrating commonly available datasets within a geospatial modeling framework for Tutuila, American Samoa. The DIN loading model integrated an open-source water budget model, water sampling results, and publically available streamflow data to predict watershed-scale DIN loading to the island’s entire coastline. When compared to surface water pathways, submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) was determined to be the most important coastal delivery mechanism of terrigenous DIN, which supports findings from other tropical islands. Onsite wastewater disposal systems were also found to be the primary anthropogenic sources DIN to coastal waters. Our island-wide DIN loading model provides a simple and robust metric to define spatially-explicit sources and delivery mechanisms of nutrient pollution to nearshore reef habitats. Understanding the sources and primary transport modes of inorganic nitrogen to nearshore reef ecosystems can have significant implications for place-based management interventions aimed at increasing the adaptive capacity of unique island ecosystems to environmental variation and disturbances.

Background: School meals represent a significant supply of nutrients for children in Brazil, especially those in conditions of social vulnerability. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in meals served in public elementary schools in four municipalities in the state of Bahia, Brazil, and assess the risk posed to children's health. Methods: Ninety-six samples were collected from 16 schools, freeze-dried, and subjected to microwave-assisted digestion. The As, Cd, and Pb levels were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The risk assessment was based on calculating each element's hazard quotient (HQ). Results: None of the samples reached or exceeded the tolerable levels for the elements analyzed. Pb was the metal that obtained the most significant result, reaching maximum levels of 39-157 µg.kg-¹. Conclusions: No element exceeded the PTWI proposed by JECFA; thus, the toxic metal content in school meals poses a negligible risk to children´s health.

Human exposure to foodborne inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) is a growing concern. However, identifying potential hazards linked to NP ingestion often requires long-term exposure in animals. Owing these constraints, intestinal organoids are a promising alternative to in vivo experiments, as such an in vitro approach should enable rapid and reliable assessment of the effects on the gut of ingested chemicals. However, this remains to be validated for inorganic substances. In our study, a transcriptomic analysis and immunofluorescence staining were performed to compare the effects of food-grade TiO2 (fg-TiO2) on enteroid-derived monolayers (EDMs) from murine intestinal organoids to known impacts of TiO2 on intestinal epithelium. After validating their ability to dose-dependently respond to a pro-inflammatory cytokine cocktail, EDMs were exposed to 0.1, 1 or 10 µg fg-TiO2/mL for 24h. In line with known data, a dose-related increase of muc2, vilin 1 and chromogranin A gene markers of cell differentiation was observed. In addition, fg-TiO2 induced apoptosis and dose-dependent genotoxicity, while a decreased expression of genes encoding for antimicrobial peptides, and of genes related to tight junction function was observed. These results validated the use of EDMs as a reliable model for toxicity testing of foodborne NPs likely to affect the intestinal barrier.

Towards better understanding of factors controlling carbon (C) exchange between inland waters and atmosphere, we addressed inorganic carbon cycle in semi-arid lakes of Central Eurasia, subjected to strong impact of on-going climate change. For this, we assessed the hydrochemical vari-ability and quantified its control on formation of authigenic carbonate minerals, occurring within the upper layer of sediments in 43 semiarid lakes located in the southwest of Western Siberia (Central Eurasia). Based on measurements of pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), cationic and anionic composition, dissolved organic and inorganic C, as well as textural and mineralogical characterization of bottom sediments using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, we demonstrate that lake water pH and TDS are primarily controlled by both lithological and climatic context of the lake watershed. We have not revealed any direct relationships between lake morphology and water chemistry. The most common authigenic carbonates scavenging atmospheric CO2 in the form of insoluble minerals in lake sediments were calcite, aragonite, Mg-calcite, dolomite and hydro-magnesite. The calcite was the most common component, aragonite mainly appears in lakes with sediments enriched in gastropod shells or artemia cysts, while hydromagnesite was most common in lakes with high Mg/Ca molar ratios, as well at high DIC concentrations. The relationships between mineral formation and water chemistry established in this study can be generalized to a wide suite of arid and semi-arid lakes in order to characterize current status of inorganic C cycle and predict its possible modification under on-going climate warming such as water temperature rise and change of hydrological connectivity, primary productivity and nutrient regime.

This study introduces an innovative approach to designing membranes capable of separating CO2 from industrial gas streams at higher temperatures. The novel membrane design seeks to leverage the well-researched high-temperature CO2 adsorbent, hydrotalcite, by transforming it into a membrane. This is achieved by combining it with an amorphous organo-silica-based matrix, extending the polymer-based Mixed Matrix Membrane concept to inorganic compounds. Following the membrane material preparation and investigation of the individual membrane in Part 1 of this study, we examine its permeation and selectivity here. The pure 200 nm thick hydrotalcite membrane exhibits Knudsen behavior due to large intercrystalline pores. In contrast, the organo-silica membrane demonstrates a permselectivity of 13.5 and permeance for CO2 of 1.3 107 mol m2 s1 Pa1 at 25°C, at 150°C the good separation behavior is reduced. Combining both components results in a hybrid microstructure, featuring selective surface diffusion in the microporous regions and unselective Knudsen diffusion in the mesoporous regions. Further attempts to bridge both components to form a purely microporous microstructure are outlined.

The present work reports the effective method for removal of inorganic and organic pollutants using membranes based on different carbonaceous materials. The membranes were prepared based on cellulose acetate (18 wt. %), polyvinylpyrrolidone as a pore generating agent (2 wt. %) and activated carbon (1 wt.%). Activated carbons were developed from residues after extraction of mushroom Inonotus obliguus using microwave radiation. It has been shown that addition of activated carbon the physical (porosity, equilibrium water content and permeability) and chemical (content of the surface oxygen group) properties of the membranes. The addition of carbon material has a positive effect on the removal of copper ions from their aqueous solutions by the cellulose-carbon composites obtained. Moreover, the membranes were proved to be more effective in removal of copper ions than iron ones and phenol. The membranes were found to show higher effectiveness in copper removal from a solution of the initial concentration 800 mg/L. The most efficient in copper ions removal was the membrane containing urea-enriched activated carbon.

Background: Initial phases of molecular and cellular maladaptive bone response at early CKD remain mostly unknown. Methods: We induced mild CKD in SHRs by either arterial hypertension lasting six months (sham-operated rats, SO6) or in its’ combination with 3/4 nephrectomy lasting two and six months (Nx2 and Nx6, correspondently). Sham operated SHRs (SO2) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY2) with two-month follow-up served as controls. Animals were fed standard chow containing 0.6% phosphate. We measured creatinine clearance, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, renal interstitial fibrosis, inorganic phosphate (Pi) exchange, intact PTH and FGF23, Klotho, dickkopf-1, sclerostin. And assessed bone response by static histomorphometric indices and gene expression profiles. Results: Mild CKD groups had no increase in renal Pi excretion, FGF23 and PTH levels. Serum Pi, dickkopf-1, and sclerostin were higher in Nx6. Decrease in trabecular bone area and osteocyte number was obvious in SO6. Nx2 and Nx6 had additionally lower osteoblast number. The decline in eroded perimeter was only apparent in Nx6. Significant downregulation of genes related to Pi transport, MAPK, WNT, and BMP signaling accompanied histological alterations in Nx2 and Nx6. Conclusions: We found an association of mild CKD with histological and molecular features suggesting lower bone turnover, which occurred at normal levels of systemic Pi-regulating factors.

The most massive and fast-eroding thaw slump of the Northern Hemisphere located in the Yana uplands of northern Yakutia was investigated to assess in detail the cryogenic inventory and carbon pools of two distinctive Ice Complex stratigraphic units and the uppermost cover deposits. Differentiating into modern and Holocene near-surface layers (active layer and shielding layer), highest total carbon contents were found in the active layer (18.7 kg m-2), while the shielding layer yielded much lower carbon content of 1.8 kg m-2. The late Pleistocene upper Ice Complex contained 10.4 kg m-2 total carbon, and the mid-Pleistocene lower Ice Complex 17.7 kg m-2. The proportion of organic carbon from total carbon content is well above 70% in all studied units with 94 % in the active layer, 73% in the shielding layer, 83% in the upper Ice Complex and 79% in the lower Ice Complex. Inorganic carbon is low in the overall structure of the deposits.

Carbon and nitrogen contents and their isotopic components and AMS radiocarbon dating ages were measured for 57 coastal sediments from Weizhou Island to analyze the distribution of total inorganic carbon (TIC) and its carbon and oxygen isotopic components (δ13Ccarb and δ18Ocarb), total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents and their stable isotopic components (δ13CTOC and δ15NTN) and environmental significance. The results showed that the oldest age of coastal sediments on Weizhou Island was 2750 cal. a BP, and the average TIC contents of A1, A2, B1, C1, and D1 in the intertidal zone were all greater than 5%, where δ13Ccarb and δ18Ocarb were enriched, while the TIC contents in A3, C2, and D2 of the supra-tidal zone were low, where δ13Ccarb and δ18Ocarb were depleted. Moreover, TIC decreased sharply from the estuary to upstream region in the C1-C2 section. The average C/N ratio was 7.02, and δ13CTOC and δ15NTN were between -14.96‰~-27.26‰ and -14.38‰~4.12‰, respectively. These measurements indicated that the TIC in coastal sediments mainly came from seawater. A1, A2, and B1 in the northern intertidal zone exhibited organic terrestrial signals because of C3 and C4 plant inputs, which proved that the important source of the northern coast of Weizhou Island came from the island. The lacustrine facies deposits were mainly distributed in the upper reaches of the river, the northern coastline was rapidly advancing toward the sea, and part of the southwestern coastal sediments rapidly accumulated to the shore under the influence of a storm surge. The relative sea level of the Weizhou Island area has continuously declined at a rate of approximately 2.07 mm/a, using beach rock as a marker, since the Holocene.

This study investigates the petroleum potential of the Middle Jurassic Khatatba Formation (Fm) in the Matruh Basin, northwestern Egypt. This formation shows in situ dual source and reservoir characteristics, where alternations of fine and coarse clastics were deposited during semi-arid and semi-humid conditions due to climate changes and Tethyan sea level fluctuations. The organic-rich shales and argillaceous siltstones are fair to very good/excellent (TOCm wt%: 0.91–3.07) source rocks. They are rich in late mature to early postmature mostly gas-prone organic facies C, which sourced the juxtaposing intraformational coarse clastics of the Lower Safa Member with gas and condensates. The source rocks show poor to fair gas generation potential (S2: 0.38–1.96, mg HC/g rock). The middle part of the Lower Safa Member shows excellent organic richness (TOCm wt%: 5.39 and 22.90) of early postmature gas-prone carbonaceous material and coal deposits. These coaly shale layers exhibit fair to excellent wet gas and condensate generation potential (S2: 4.51–27.43, mg HC/g rock). Maturation of the source rocks was related to the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Tethyan rifting. The onset of oil generation occurred in the Early Cretaceous (~ 116 Ma ago), while the onset of gas generation occurred in the Oligocene (~ 24 Ma ago). Shales of the Lower Cretaceous Alam El Bueib Fm are primary sealing rocks, while carbonates and shales of the Khatatba Fm are secondary sealing rocks. Trap types are structural, formed during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous rifting of the Matruh Basin. Sandstones of the Upper Safa Member show upward increases in kaolinite and exhibit low-quality tight sandstone reservoirs. The Lower Safa Member sandstones show better gas reservoir quality with lower shale volumes. Operationally, the Lower Safa sandstone reservoirs in the Imhotep W-1X well are not suitable for gas production because they are ductile and show a high decline in production and pressure. Overall, the petroleum system of the Khatatba Fm shows mainly fair hydrocarbon potential in the study area.

Abstract: Unusual methane emission and spontaneous combustion of coal induced by the air leakage are both hazards during mining. The most common practice has been to improve mine safety is sealing the mining fractures. In this paper, the methane and geology, coal spontaneous combustion characteristics and the coexistence of methane emission and spontaneous combustion of coal were analyzed. The preparation system of inorganic solidified foam (ISF) in field applications is studied and the working principle of generating device consists of foam generator and mixer was expounded. The technical plan of site construction is that the foam fluids was injected to respectively seal the mining fractures behind hydraulic supports, the cavities of air return corner, and the fractures nearby the coal pillar. After the foam fluids injection, the two stress values in the coal pillar eventually maintained above 15.5Mpa and 13Mpa, respectively. It indicated that the ISF can enhance the bearing stress ability of the coal pillar by transforming the stress state from two dimensional to three dimensional. The methane concentration in the air return corner and air return roadway declined significantly to 0.63% and 0.25%. The differential pressure inside and outside of the 4301(1) goaf fluctuated between -100pa to 150pa and the concentration of CO and O2 declined to 9ppm and 6%. The CO concentration in the air return corner finally reached a stable level of 6ppm. What that all means, the foam fluids can seal the air leakage and inhibit spontaneous combustion of coal effectively.

membrane separation technology shows promise, particularly gas separation membranes, including ceramic membrane. Ceramic membranes are increasingly gaining attention for their acid and alkali stability, corrosion resistance, high-temperature tolerance, and mechanical strength. This study focuses on alumina support ceramic membrane for CO2 capture. The membranes were characterized using contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The contact angle measurements confirmed the hydrophilic, while SEM analysis showed even particle distribution in the alumina ceramic membranes respectively. EDAX analysis revealed the elemental composition in the alumina support matrix. FTIR analysis demonstrated chemical interactions of the support membrane. Single gas permeation experiments were conducted. It can be observed that Nitrogen gas permeated faster with increase in feed pressure through the unmodified ceramic inorganic hydrophobic membrane more than the other two single gases, O2, and CO2). As a result, only high permeance separation membranes with realistic size and pressure conditions may be considered of as a practical alternative for CO2 capture. However, the presence of non-selective defects limited the improvement in selectivity of hydrophilic ceramic membrane. In this case, there is need to modify the ceramic membrane used to increase the flux, permeance of CO2, and selectivity of CO2.

Abstract: membrane separation technology shows promise, particularly gas separation membranes, including ceramic membrane. Ceramic membranes are increasingly gaining attention for their acid and alkali stability, corrosion resistance, high-temperature tolerance, and mechanical strength. This study focuses on alumina support ceramic membrane for CO2 capture. The membranes were characterized using contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The contact angle measurements confirmed the hydrophilic, while SEM analysis showed even particle distribution in the alumina ceramic membranes respectively. EDAX analysis revealed the elemental composition in the alumina support matrix. FTIR analysis demonstrated chemical interactions of the support membrane. Single gas permeation experiments were conducted. It can be observed that Nitrogen gas permeated faster with increase in feed pressure through the unmodified ceramic inorganic membrane more than the other two single gases, O2, and CO2). As a result, only high permeance separation membranes with realistic size and pressure conditions may be considered of as a practical alternative for CO2 capture. However, the presence of non-selective defects limited the improvement in selectivity of hydrophilic ceramic membrane. In this case, there is need to modify the ceramic membrane used to increase the flux, permeance of CO2, and selectivity of CO2.

In this review, we focus on a small section of the extensive literature that deals with the materials containing pristine defective CNs and those incorporated in the hybrid materials. We will discuss only those topics that focus on structural defects related to the introduction of perturbation into the surface topology of a nanostructure. We focus mainly on the method using microwave (MW) irradiation, which is a powerful tool for synthesizing and modifying carbon-based solid materials. In addition, the simplicity of the technique, economy, and the possibility of conducting the reaction in solvents and solid phase, in the presence of components of different chemical nature, allows use in various combinations. In this review, we will emphasize the advantages of synthesis using MW-assisted heating and indicate the influence of the structure of the obtained materials on their physical and chemical properties. We will also highlight the role of the occurrence of defects in the carbon material and the implication in designing their properties and applications.

The possibility of deep radiochemical purification of Li2CO3 has been examined in the frame of the purification program of AMoRE collaboration. In this experiment, commercial Li2CO3 was converted into LiNO3. Co-precipitation with inorganic salt-based carriers followed by membrane filtration and sorption using MDM inorganic sorbent methods were tested for the removal of alkaline-earth and transition metals, potassium, magnesium, aluminum, uranium, thorium, and radium. The calcium molybdate-based carrier was the most efficient for removing Th, U, and K. Subsequently, the radium, calcium, and barium contaminations were removed with MDM sorbent. After the impurities’ removal, the final Li2CO3 product was synthesized with NH4HCO3 sludge. The separation factors were derived by means of ICP-MS and HPGe analyses of the initial material, intermediate and final products. The study showed the optimum conditions of co-precipitation and sorption to reach a high yield and radiopurity of lithium carbonate used for low radioactive background experiments.

Lead-based ternary chalcogenide thin films of the (PbTe)1-x(PbS)x system were obtained by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique (PECVD) under conditions of a nonequilibrium low-temperature argon plasma of an RF discharge (40.68 MHz) at a reduced pressure (0.01 Torr). High-purity elements were directly used as starting materials – Pb, S and Te. Plasma-chemical synthesis was carried out on the surface of of c-sapphire and silicon substrate. The physicochemical properties of the films were studied by various analytical methods. The dependence of the Seebeck coefficient, resistivity, and power factor on the structural properties and composition has been studied. The thermoelectric characteristics were found to be dependent on the film composition. Upon the selection of optimal sulfur concentration one can increase the power factor as compared to single phase PbS ot PbTe films.

Nanotechnology is an emerging field of modern science based on the use of nanoparticles (NPs) with a huge potential in many sectors, including nanomedicine. Their small size confers them unique properties because they are subject to physical laws that are in the middle between classical and quantum physics. In this context, NPs project plays a pivotal role because the composition, size, shape and surface proprieties need to be carefully considered for their optimal design and application. As reported in this review, NPs are classified in inorganic (metallic NPs; quantum dots; carbon-based nanostructures; mesoporous silica nanoparticles) and organic (liposomes and micelles, dendrimers and polymer nanoparticles) ones. Here, we report an accurate description of the potential of each NPs type focusing on their multiple areas of application like theranostics drug delivery, imaging, tissue engineering, antimicrobial techniques and nanovaccines, and therefore they represent a promise to revolutionize the new era of nanomedicine, especially in cancer research.

In this report, we establish a straightforward method for estimating the equilibrium constant for the CK reaction over wide but physiologically and experimentally relevant ranges of pH, Mg2+ and temperature. Our empirical formula for CK Keq” is based on experimental measurements. It can be used to estimate [ADP] when [ADP] is below the resolution of experimental measurements, a typical situation because [ADP] is on the order of micromolar concentrations in living cells, and may be much lower in many in vitro experiments. Accurate prediction of [ADP] is essential for in vivo studies of cellular energetics and metabolism, and for in vitro studies of ATP-dependent enzyme function under near-physiological conditions. With [ADP], we could estimate ΔGATP. Application to actomyosin force generation in muscle provides support for the hypothesis that, when [Pi] varies but not when pH is altered, maximum Ca2+-activated isometric force depends on ΔGATP in both living and permeabilized muscle preparations. Further analysis of the pH studies introduces a novel hypothesis for the role of submicromolar ADP in force generation.

The Mediator is composed of multiple subunits conserved from yeast to humans and plays a central role in transcription. The tail components are not required for basal transcription but are required for response to different stresses. While some stresses are familiar such as heat, desiccation, and starvation, others are exotic, yet yeast can elicit a successful stress response. MCHM is a hydrotrope that induces growth arrest in yeast. We found that a naturally occurring variation in the Med15 allele, a component of the Mediator tail, altered the stress response to many chemicals in addition to MCHM. Med15 contains two polyglutamine repeats (polyQ) of variable lengths that change the gene expression of diverse pathways. Med15 protein existed in multiple isoforms and its stability was dependent on Ydj1, a protein chaperone. The protein level of the Med15 with longer polyQ tracts was lower and turned over faster than the allele with shorter polyQ repeats. MCHM sensitivity via variation of Med15 was regulated by Snf1 in a Myc tag dependent manner. Tagging Med15 with Myc altered its function in response to stress. Genetic variation in transcriptional regulators magnifies genetic differences in response to environmental changes. These polymorphic control genes are master variators.

We report the synthesis and characterization of Poly Methyl-Meth-Acrylate (PMMA)/Poly vinylalcohol (PVA) polymeric blend doped with different concentrations of Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs). The (PMMA-PVA)/CuO nanocomposite hybrid thin films (wt. % = 0%, 2%, 4%, 8%, and 16%) of CuO NPs are deposited on glass substrates via dip-coating technique. The transmittance (T%), reflectance (R%), the absorption coefficient (α), the optical constants [refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k)], optical dielectric functions [ɛ',ɛ''] are investigated and interpreted. Tauc, Urbach, Spitzer-Fan, and Drude models are employed to calculate the optical bandgap energy (Eg) and the optoelectronic parameters of the nanocomposite thin films. The refractive index and optical bandgap energy of of (PMMA-PVA) polymeric thin film are found to be (1.5 to 1.85) and 4.101 eV, respectively. Incorporation of specific concentrations of CuO-NPs in (PMMA-PVA) polymeric thin films leads to a noticeable decrease in the optical bandgap energy and to an increase of the refractive index. Moreover, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) transmittance spectra are measured and analyzed for undoped and doped polymeric thin films to pinpoint the major vibrational modes in the spectral range (500 and 4000 cm-1), as well as, the nature of network bonding in both systems. Thermal stability of thin films is investigated by performing thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The TGA thermograms confirm that both doped polymeric thin films are thermally stable at temperatures below 110°C which enables them to be attractive for a wide range of optical and optoelectronic applications. Our results indicate that optical, vibrational and thermal properties of both polymeric thin films can be tuned for specific applications by the appropriate corporation of particular concentrations of CuO-NPs.