scholarly journals Bioturbation of Thalassinoides from the Lower Cambrian Zhushadong Formation of Dengfeng area, Henan Province, North China

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Chao Fan ◽  
Yong-An Qi ◽  
Ming-Yue Dai ◽  
Da Li ◽  
Bing-Chen Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractBioturbation plays a critical role in sediment mixing and biogeochemical cycling between sediment and seawater. An abundance of bioturbation structures, dominated by Thalassinoides, occurs in carbonate rocks of the Cambrian Series 2 Zhushadong Formation in the Dengfeng area of western Henan Province, North China. Determination of elemental geochemistry can help to establish the influence of burrowing activities on sediment biogeochemical cycling, especially on changes in oxygen concentration and nutrient regeneration. Results show that there is a dramatic difference in the bioturbation intensity between the bioturbated limestone and laminated dolostone of the Zhushadong Formation in terms of productivity proxies (Baex, Cu, Ni, Sr/Ca) and redox proxies (V/Cr, V/Sc, Ni/Co). These changes may be related to the presence of Thalassinoides bioturbators, which alter the particle size and permeability of sediments, while also increase the oxygen concentration and capacity for nutrient regeneration. Comparison with modern studies shows that the sediment mixing and reworking induced by Thalassinoides bioturbators significantly changed the primary physical and chemical characteristics of the Cambrian sediment, triggering the substrate revolution and promoting biogeochemical cycling between sediment and seawater.

Author(s):  
O.S. Bezuglova ◽  

Rostov Region belongs to the highly protected natural territories characterized by the continuous plowing. There territories are the only reserves with the soils preserved in their natural state. However, these areas often lack detailed information about the soils quality and composition. Surveying soils on these territories is crucial for determination of their basic physical and chemical properties. The resulted compilation of soil maps could lay a foundation for creating the Red Book of Soils and the formation of a section in the soil-geographical database of the Russian Federation. Subsequently, such information can be used as a background data for the main types of soils in the region. It will be also valuable during monitoring and justification of conservation measures.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 2755
Author(s):  
Kyuhwe Kang ◽  
Gyung-Min Choi

The electron-phonon coupling (g) parameter plays a critical role in the ultrafast transport of heat, charge, and spin in metallic materials. However, the exact determination of the g parameter is challenging because of the complicated process during the non-equilibrium state. In this study, we investigate the g parameters of ferromagnetic 3d transition metal (FM) layers, Fe and Co, using time-domain thermoreflectance. We measure a transient increase in temperature of Au in an FM/Au bilayer; the Au layer efficiently detects the strong heat flow during the non-equilibrium between electrons and phonons in FM. The g parameter of the FM is determined by analyzing the temperature dynamics using thermal circuit modeling. The determined g values are 8.8–9.4 × 1017 W m−3 K−1 for Fe and 9.6–12.2 × 1017 W m−3 K−1 for Co. Our results demonstrate that all 3d transition FMs have a similar g value, in the order of 1018 W m−3 K−1.


Author(s):  
Abhisek Dwivedy ◽  
Bhavya Jha ◽  
Khundrakpam Herojit Singh ◽  
Mohammed Ahmad ◽  
Anam Ashraf ◽  
...  

Bacterioferritins (Bfrs) are ferritin-like molecules with a hollow spherical 24-mer complex design that are unique to bacterial and archaeal species. They play a critical role in storing iron(III) within the complex at concentrations much higher than the feasible solubility limits of iron(III), thus maintaining iron homeostasis within cells. Here, the crystal structure of bacterioferritin from Achromobacter (Ach Bfr) that crystallized serendipitously during a crystallization attempt of an unrelated mycobacterial protein is reported at 1.95 Å resolution. Notably, Fe atoms were bound to the structure along with a porphyrin ring sandwiched between the subunits of a dimer. Furthermore, the dinuclear ferroxidase center of Ach Bfr has only a single iron bound, in contrast to the two Fe atoms in other Bfrs. The structure of Ach Bfr clearly demonstrates the substitution of a glutamate residue, which is involved in the interaction with the second Fe atom, by a threonine and the consequent absence of another Fe atom there. The iron at the dinuclear center has a tetravalent coordination, while a second iron with a hexavalent coordination was found within the porphyrin ring, generating a heme moiety. Achromobacter spp. are known opportunistic pathogens; this structure enhances the current understanding of their iron metabolism and regulation, and importantly will be useful in the design of small-molecule inhibitors against this protein through a structure-guided approach.


2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karsten Schacht ◽  
Bernd Marschner

Abstract The use of treated wastewater (TWW) for agricultural irrigation becomes increasingly important in water stressed regions like the Middle East for substituting fresh water (FW) resources. Due to elevated salt concentrations and organic compounds in TWW this practice has potential adverse effects on soil quality, such as the reduction of hydraulic conductivity (HC) and soil aggregate stability (SAS). To assess the impact of TWW irrigation in comparison to FW irrigation on HC, in-situ infiltration measurements using mini disk infiltrometer were deployed in four different long-term experimental orchard test sites in Israel. Topsoil samples (0-10 cm) were collected for analyzing SAS and determination of selected soil chemical and physical characteristics. The mean HC values decreased at all TWW sites by 42.9% up to 50.8% compared to FW sites. The SAS was 11.3% to 32.4% lower at all TWW sites. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) were generally higher at TWW sites. These results indicate the use of TWW for irrigation is a viable, but potentially deleterious option, as it influences soil physical and chemical properties.


Еnzymes are able to effectively interact with various organophosphorus compounds (OPC), entering into (bio)chemical reactions with them. Changes in the initial activity of enzymes as a result of their inhibition by OPC, the formation of OPC degradation products under the action of hydrolytic enzymes, etc. can be determined using different physical and chemical methods and used in bioanalytic systems to determine the concentrations of OPC. The purpose of the review is to analyze the main scientific results achieved over the past 10 years in the development of analytical systems based on enzymes intended for the determination of OPC. It is shown in the article, that the requirements for the sensitivity of biosensors are based on the norms of the content of the analyzed substances detected in/at the objects of mandatory control. The cholinesterases compose a basis for the development of the largest number of ultra-sensitive biosensors, although other enzymes can be successfully used as a biosensitive element. The most technologically advanced solution that is close to the practical implementation seems to be bioanalytical systems using immobilized enzymes. Improving the detection limits of the OPC can be achieved by using nanoobjects together with modern methods of signal transducers, for example, with nanomechanical detectors and signal converters. This combination of technical solutions ensures the sensitivity of the OPC analysis up to pg/l. At present, «reagentless» systems have received significant development, which have become the basis for the production of a large number of commercially available strips for the express determination of OPC. Modern demands stimulate the rapid development of portable and, especially, wearable biosensors that can be attached to various surfaces, including a clothing. The progress in the development of affine amino acid sequences, in the future, will allow the creation of enzyme biosensors on any surface.


2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-481
Author(s):  
Elif Ayazoglu Demir ◽  
Ahmet Colak ◽  
Aylin Kalfa ◽  
Ahmet Yasar ◽  
Olcay Bekircan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Tyrosinase plays a central role in the biosynthesis pathway of melanin pigment. Melanin protects human skin against radiation and its unusual levels cause some skin disorders such as pregnancy scar, oldness spots and melanoma. Tyrosinase has also been linked to Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, melanin plays a critical role as a defense molecule for insects during wound healing and is important for their life. Therefore, determination of inhibitor molecules for tyrosinase has a promising potential for therapies of some diseases and is an alternative method for keeping insects under control. Material and methods In this study, 1-hepthyl-3-(4-methoxybenzyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-5-one derivative (A6, A8, A15) and 3-(4-chlorophenyl)- 5-(4-methoxybenzyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole (B5, B9, B13) derivative compounds were evaluated in terms of their potential for mushroom tyrosinase inhibition. IC50 values of these six molecules were determined. Results It was seen that B9 molecule was the most effective inhibitor. Docking studies also nearly supported this end result. Tyrosinase inhibition type and Ki value were found to be uncompetitive and 370.7±0.3 μM, respectively, in the presence of B9 compound. Conclusion These results suggest that B9 compound is a potential tyrosinase inhibitor.


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