Distribution and diversity of classical deacylases in bacteria.

Classical Zn-dependent deac(et)ylases play fundamental regulatory roles in life and are well characterized in eukaryotes regarding their structures, substrates and physiological roles. In bacteria, however, classical deacylases are less well understood. We construct a Generalized Profile (GP) and identify thousands of uncharacterized classical deacylases in bacteria, which are grouped into five clusters.

Toward structure and metabolism of glycogen C-C in humans at 7 T by localized C MRS using low-power bilevel broadband H decoupling.

This work aims to develop and implement a pulse-acquire sequence for three-dimensional (3D) single-voxel localized C MRS in humans at 7 T, in conjunction with bilevel broadband H decoupling, and to test its feasibility in vitro and in vivo in human calf muscle with emphasis on the detection of glycogen C-C. A localization scheme suitable for measuring fast-relaxing C signals in humans at 7 T was developed and implemented using the outer volume suppression (OVS) and one-dimensional image selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS-1D) schemes, similar to that which was previously reported in humans at 4 T. The 3D C localization scheme was followed by uniform C adiabatic excitation, all complemented with an option for bilevel broadband H decoupling to improve both C sensitivity and spectral resolution at 7 T.

Acids from fruits generate photoactive Fe-complexes, enhancing solar disinfection of water (SODIS): A systematic study of the novel "fruto-Fenton" process, effective over a wide pH range (4 - 9).

This study aimed to enhance solar disinfection (SODIS) by the photo-Fenton process, operated at natural pH, through the re-utilization of fruit wastes. For this purpose, pure organic acids present in fruits and alimentary wastes were tested and compared with synthetic complexing agents. Owing to solar light, complexes between iron and artificial or natural chelators can be regenerated through ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) during disinfection.

Sustainable polyesters via direct functionalization of lignocellulosic sugars.

The development of sustainable plastics from abundant renewable feedstocks has been limited by the complexity and efficiency of their production, as well as their lack of competitive material properties. Here we demonstrate the direct transformation of the hemicellulosic fraction of non-edible biomass into a tricyclic diester plastic precursor at 83% yield (95% from commercial xylose) during integrated plant fractionation with glyoxylic acid. Melt polycondensation of the resulting diester with a range of aliphatic diols led to amorphous polyesters (M = 30-60 kDa) with high glass transition temperatures (72-100 °C), tough mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strengths of 63-77 MPa, tensile moduli of 2,000-2,500 MPa and elongations at break of 50-80%) and strong gas barriers (oxygen transmission rates (100 µm) of 11-24 cc m day bar and water vapour transmission rates (100 µm) of 25-36 g m day) that could be processed by injection moulding, thermoforming, twin-screw extrusion and three-dimensional printing.

Identifying the mediators of intracellular E. coli inactivation under UVA light: The (photo) Fenton process and singlet oxygen.

Solar disinfection (SODIS) was probed for its underlying mechanism. When Escherichia coli was exposed to UVA irradiation, the dominant solar fraction acting in SODIS process, cells exhibited a shoulder before death ensued. This profile resembles cell killing by hydrogen peroxide (HO).

A critical review on N-modified TiO limits to treat chemical and biological contaminants in water. Evidence that enhanced visible light absorption does not lead to higher degradation rates under whole solar light.

Intensive research has been focused on the synthesis of N-modified TiO materials having visible light absorption in order to get higher solar photocatalytic degradation rates of pollutants in water. However, an exhaustive revision of the topic underlines several controversial issues related to N-modified TiO materials; these issues concern (a) the methodology used for preparation, (b) the assessment of the structural characteristics, (c) the mechanistic action modes and (d) the raisons argued to explain the limited performances of the prepared materials for organic and biological targets photodegradation in water. Taking advantage of last year's progress in analytical chemistry and in material characterization methods, the authors show, for example, that some works in the literature controversially attribute the term nitrogen doping without enough analytical evidence.

Chromophore of an Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein Can Play a Photoprotective Role Due to Photobleaching.

Under stress conditions, elevated levels of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) may impair crucial cellular structures. To counteract the resulting oxidative damage, living cells are equipped with several defense mechanisms, including photoprotective functions of specific proteins. Here, we discuss the plausible ROS scavenging mechanisms by the enhanced green fluorescent protein, EGFP.

NICEpath: Finding metabolic pathways in large networks through atom-conserving substrate-product pairs.

Motivation: Finding biosynthetic pathways is essential for metabolic engineering of organisms to produce chemicals, biodegradation prediction of pollutants and drugs, and for the elucidation of bioproduction pathways of secondary metabolites. A key step in biosynthetic pathway design is the extraction of novel metabolic pathways from big networks that integrate known biological, as well as novel, predicted biotransformations. However, the efficient analysis and the navigation of big biochemical networks remain a challenge.

An innovative, highly stable Ag/ZIF-67@GO nanocomposite with exceptional peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation efficacy, for the destruction of chemical and microbiological contaminants under visible light.

In this work, Ag nanoparticles were loaded on ZIF-67 covered by graphene oxide (Ag/ZIF-67@GO), and its catalytic performance was studied for the heterogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) under visible-light. The catalyst surface morphology and structure were analyzed by FT-IR, XRD, XPS, DRS, FE-SEM, EDX, TEM, BET, ICP-AES and TGA analysis. The efficacy of PMS activation by the Ag/ZIF-67@GO under visible light was assessed by phenol degradation and E.

Homeostatic mini-intestines through scaffold-guided organoid morphogenesis.

Epithelial organoids, such as those derived from stem cells of the intestine, have great potential for modelling tissue and disease biology. However, the approaches that are used at present to derive these organoids in three-dimensional matrices result in stochastically developing tissues with a closed, cystic architecture that restricts lifespan and size, limits experimental manipulation and prohibits homeostasis. Here, by using tissue engineering and the intrinsic self-organization properties of cells, we induce intestinal stem cells to form tube-shaped epithelia with an accessible lumen and a similar spatial arrangement of crypt- and villus-like domains to that in vivo.

Enhancing solar disinfection (SODIS) with the photo-Fenton or the Fe/peroxymonosulfate-activation process in large-scale plastic bottles leads to toxicologically safe drinking water.

Solar disinfection (SODIS) in 2-L bottles is a well-established drinking water treatment technique, suitable for rural, peri‑urban, or isolated communities in tropical or sub-tropical climates. In this work, we assess the enlargement of the treatment volume by using cheap, large scale plastic vessels. The bactericidal performance of SODIS and two solar-Fe based enhancements, namely photo-Fenton (light/HO/Fe) and peroxymonosulfate activation (light/PMS/Fe) were assessed in 19-L polycarbonate (PC) and 25-L polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, in ultrapure and real water matrices (tap water, lake Geneva water).

Employing bacterial mutations for the elucidation of photo-Fenton disinfection: Focus on the intracellular and extracellular inactivation mechanisms induced by UVA and HO.

The bacterial inactivation mechanisms by solar light and the photo-Fenton process is still a matter of debate. In this study, we bring evidence towards the elucidation of the mechanisms that govern photo-Fenton disinfection at near-neutral pH. With the use of porin-deficient and catalase over-producing E.

Visible light plays a significant role during bacterial inactivation by the photo-fenton process, even at sub-critical light intensities.

The aim of this research is to clarify the contribution of sunlight wavelengths, irradiance and Fe/HO during bacterial disinfection by the photo-Fenton process in clear surface waters. We considered different solar spectrum distributions (visible, UVA-Visible), sub-critical irradiances (0-400 W/m), focusing on the action modes of E. coli inactivation by the constituents involved in the composite process, at low μM reactants concentration (Fe/HO) in in ultrapure (MQ) water.

Kinetic modeling of lag times during photo-induced inactivation of E. coli in sunlit surface waters: Unraveling the pathways of exogenous action.

This work presents a kinetic analysis of the exogenous photo-induced disinfection of E. coli in natural waters. Herein, the inactivation of bacteria by light and photo-generated transient species, i.

Enhanced mineralization of atrazine by surface induced hydroxyl radicals over light-weight granular mixed-quartz sands with ozone.

A light-weight granular mixed-quartz sand (denoted as L-GQS) combined with stirring-assisted bubble column reactor was firstly applied in catalytic ozonation of atrazine. The L-GQS, with a density of 2.36 g cm and average diameter of ca.

Photoinduced disinfection in sunlit natural waters: Measurement of the second order inactivation rate constants between E. coli and photogenerated transient species.

This work uncovers the implications of the estimation of exogenous inactivation rates for E. coli after the initial lag phase, and presents a strategy for the determination of the second-order inactivation rate constants (k) of these bacteria with relevant transient species promoted by solar light in natural waters. For this purpose, specific precursors were considered (nitrate ion, rose bengal, anthraquinone-2-sulfonate) as well as the respective photo-generated transient species (i.

Solar photo-Fenton disinfection of 11 antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and elimination of representative AR genes. Evidence that antibiotic resistance does not imply resistance to oxidative treatment.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance represents a major threat to human health. In this work we investigated the elimination of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) by solar light and solar photo-Fenton processes. As such, we have designed an experimental plan in which several bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae) possessing different drug-susceptible and -resistant patterns and structures (Gram-positive and Gram-negative) were subjected to solar light and the photo-Fenton oxidative treatment in water.

Effect of μM Fe addition, mild heat and solar UV on sulfate radical-mediated inactivation of bacteria, viruses, and micropollutant degradation in water.

In this work, solar disinfection (SODIS) was enhanced by moderate addition of Fe and sodium peroxydisulfate (PDS), under solar light. A systematic assessment of the activating factors was performed, firstly isolated, then in pairs and concluded in the combined Fe/heat/solar UV-PDS activation process. Solar light was the most effective (single) activator, and its combination with Fe and heat (double activation) yielded high level of synergies (up to S = 2.

Analogies and differences among bacterial and viral disinfection by the photo-Fenton process at neutral pH: a mini review.

Over the last years, the photo-Fenton process has been established as an effective, green alternative to chemical disinfection of waters and wastewaters. Microorganisms' inactivation is the latest success story in the application of this process at near-neutral pH, albeit without clearly elucidated inactivation mechanisms. In this review, the main pathways of the combined photo-Fenton process against the most frequent pathogen models (Escherichia coli for bacteria and MS2 bacteriophage for viruses) are analyzed.

Hollow Mesoporous Plasmonic Nanoshells for Enhanced Solar Vapor Generation.

In the past decade, nanomaterials have made their way into a variety of technologies in solar energy, enhancing the performance by taking advantage of the phenomena inherent to the nanoscale. Recent examples exploit plasmonic core/shell nanoparticles to achieve efficient direct steam generation, showing great promise of such nanoparticles as a useful material for solar applications. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel technique for fabricating bimetallic hollow mesoporous plasmonic nanoshells that yield a higher solar vapor generation rate compared with their solid-core counterparts.