Exploring the Potential of Bimetallic PtPd/C Cathode Catalysts to Enhance the Performance of PEM Fuel Cells.

Bimetallic platinum-containing catalysts are deemed promising for electrolyzers and proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). A significant number of laboratory studies and commercial offers are related to PtNi/C and PtCo/C electrocatalysts. The behavior of PtPd/C catalysts has been studied much less, although palladium itself is the metal closest to platinum in its properties.

Polyvinyl chloride microplastics and drought co-exposure alter rice growth by affecting metabolomics and proteomics.

Microplastics, interacting with drought stress, have become threat to crops by altering soil environment. Currently, the effect of combined microplastic and drought stress on crop growth remain poorly understood. In this work, the mechanism of multi-stress responses was investigated under the exposure of polvinylchloride microplastic (PV) and drought (D) individually and in combination (DPV) on rice varieties Hanyou73 and Q280 through proteomics and metabolomic analysis.

Directed Design, Screening and Antiglycation Activity for 3-Substituted Thiazolium Derivatives, New Analogs of Alagebrium.

Preliminary ab initio calculations led to the synthesis of novel substituted thiazolium salts, analogs of Alagebrium, which were further explored in vitro for their potential as inhibitors of the glycation reaction utilizing three distinct assays: inhibition of fluorescent AGEs formation, anticrosslinking, and deglycation. Despite the unidirectionality of the assays, distinct differences were observed in the mechanisms of interference and activity manifestation by the compounds. The gathered data permitted the formation of hypotheses about the molecular fragments of the studied antiglycators that are of utmost significance in each assay, thereby guiding future design endeavors.

RCLNet: an effective anomaly-based intrusion detection for securing the IoMT system.

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has revolutionized healthcare with remote patient monitoring and real-time diagnosis, but securing patient data remains a critical challenge due to sophisticated cyber threats and the sensitivity of medical information. Traditional machine learning methods struggle to capture the complex patterns in IoMT data, and conventional intrusion detection systems often fail to identify unknown attacks, leading to high false positive rates and compromised patient data security. To address these issues, we propose RCLNet, an effective Anomaly-based Intrusion Detection System (A-IDS) for IoMT.

Assessment of the impact of smoke from thermal destruction of materials of different origins on soil health.

The results of the study of the influence of smoke from the thermal destruction of materials of vegetable and synthetic origin on the enzymatic activity of ordinary chernozem are presented. The decrease of activity of investigated indicators (catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, invertase) from thermal destruction of pine sawdust, straw, coniferous and leaf fall, peat, and materials based on polystyrene, rubber, and polyvinyl chloride was revealed. A significant decrease in the activity of soil enzymes after exposure to gaseous products of combustion during 15-60 min of soil fumigation was found.

Electrostatic interactions and structural transformations in viral shells.

Structural transformations occurring in proteinaceous viral shells (capsids) can be induced by changing the pH of bathing solution, thus modifying the dissociation equilibrium of ionizable amino acids in proteins. To analyze the effects of electrostatic interactions on viral capsids, we construct a model of 2D isotropic elastic shells with embedded point charges located in the centers of mass of individual proteins. We find that modification of the electrostatic interactions between proteins affects not only the size and shape of capsids, but in addition induces substantial deformations of hexamers in capsid structures.

Expression of Rhodococcus erythropolis stress genes in planctonic culture supplemented with various hydrocabons.

Studying Rhodococcus erythropolis stress response is of significant scientific interest, since this microorganism is widely used for bioremediation of oil-contaminated sites and is essential for environmental biotechnology. In addition, much less data was published on molecular mechanisms of stress resistance and adaptation to effects of pollutants for Gram-positive oil degraders compared to Gram-negative ones. This study provided an assessment of changes in the transcription level of the soxR, sodA, sodC, oxyR, katE, katG, recA, dinB, sigF, sigH genes in the presence of decane, hexadecane, cyclohexane, benzene, naphthalene, anthracene and diesel fuel.

Analysis of the Current State of Research on Bio-Healing Concrete (Bioconcrete).

The relatively small tensile strength of concrete makes this material particularly vulnerable to cracking. However, the reality is that it is not always possible and practically useful to conduct studies on high-quality sealing cracks due to their inaccessibility or small opening width. Despite the fact that currently there are many technologies for creating self-healing cement composites, one of the most popular is the technology for creating a biologically active self-healing mechanism for concrete.

New Piezoceramic SrBiNbWSnO: Crystal Structure, Microstructure and Dielectric Properties.

By using the method of high-temperature solid-phase reaction, the new piezoceramic SrBiNbWSnO was obtained, where partial substitution of niobium (Nb) atoms with Sn and W atoms in the compound SrBiNbO occurred in the octahedra of the perovskite layer (-position). X-ray diffraction investigations showed that these compounds are single-phase SrBiNbWSnO ( = 0.1, 0.

Exploring the insights of bioslurry-Nanoparticle amalgam for soil amelioration.

In response to global agricultural challenges, this review examines the synergistic impact of bioslurry and biogenic nanoparticles on soil amelioration. Bioslurry, rich in N, P, K and beneficial microorganisms, combined with zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized through eco-friendly methods, demonstrates remarkable soil improvement capabilities. Their synergistic effects include enhanced nutrient availability through increased soil enzymatic activities, improved soil structure via stable aggregate formation, stimulated microbial activity particularly beneficial groups, enhanced water retention due to increased organic matter and modified soil surface properties and reduced soil pH fluctuations.

Metabolomics combined with proteomics reveals phytotoxic effects of norfloxacin under drought stress on Oryza sativa.

In recent decades, plants enduring abiotic stresses such as drought and chemical stresses. Currently, the mechanism of combined antibiotic and drought stress response and its impact on crop growth and food security remains poorly understood. Here, the mechanism of stress responses under the exposure of norfloxacin (NF) and drought (D) individually and in combination (DNF) were explored on rice (Oryza sativa) cultivar Hanyou73 through proteomics and metabolomic analysis.

Alternative agar substitutes for culturing unculturable microorganisms.

Gelling agents are necessary for the preparation of solid or semisolid media. For more than a hundred years, agar has been the primary gelling agent. However, a substantial body of evidence has accumulated suggesting that agar-based media inhibit the growth of many microbial species through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), toxic organic contaminants, or competitive exclusion effects.

Bridge-Dependent Donor-Metal-Acceptor-Metal-Donor (D-M-A-M-D) Systems: From Charge Transfer to Electron Transfer in Dioxolene-Ge-Diimine Complexes.

Synthesis and structural characterization of a family of germanium-dioxolene complexes with ditopic N-donor ligands (L-L) (L=1,2-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)hydrazine L=1,6-bis-(pyridin-2-yl)-2,5-diaza-1,5-hexadiene, L=N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)-1,4-benzenediamine, L=N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)-(biphenyl)-4,4-diamine, L=2,2'-azopyridine) is reported. The reaction of germanium bis-catecholate with bridging ligands L - L, differing by the nature of the linker between pyridine sites gives rise to dinuclear digermanium complexes (36CatGe)L (36Cat=dianion of 3,6-di-tert-butylcatechol) 1-4 of DMAMD type (donor-metal-acceptor-metal-donor) with a charge transfer in the UV-Vis region. In opposite, the interaction of the 36CatGe with 2,2'-azopyridine (L) results in the two-electron transfer from the donor 36Cat ligands to the azopyridine bridge forming stable open-shell complex 5 [(36SQ)(36CatGe)](L) (36SQ=radical-anionic semiquinonate ligand).

Quinolone antibiotics stimulate bacterial mercury methylation by Geobacter metallireducens GS-15.

Bacterial mercury (Hg) methylation is critical for bioremediating Hg pollution, but the impact of emerging antibiotics on this process has rarely been reported. This study innovatively investigated the interactions between Hg-methylating bacteria of Geobacter metallireducens GS-15 and two quinolone antibiotics: lomefloxacin (LOM) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) at 5 μg/L. Short-term LOM exposure increased methylmercury (MeHg) yield by 36 % compared to antibiotic-free conditions, caused by hormesis to alter bioactivities of single GS-15 cells.

Solubilizer of bacterial origin surfactin increases the biological activity of C fullerene.

Currently, there exists conflicting data regarding the biological activity of unmodified fullerene C. Various sources report its toxicity, geroprotective activity, and potential interaction with DNA. Contradictory findings regarding the toxicity of C may arise from the use of toxic solvents, as well as the influence of bioavailability and bioactivity on the preparation conditions of C suspensions.

Effect of Three Different Types of Biochar on Bioelectricity Generated from Plant Microbial Fuel Cells under Unsaturated Soil Condition.

Plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC) is an emerging technology, showing promise for environmental biosensors and sustainable energy production. Despite its potential, PMFCs struggle with issues like low power output and limited drought resistance. Recent studies proposed that integrating biochar may enhance PMFC performance due to its physicochemical properties.

Exploring the Potential of Ellagic Acid in Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention: Recent Advances and Future Directions.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are a significant global health concern with diverse etiologies and limited treatment options. Ellagic acid (EA), a natural polyphenolic compound, exhibits promising anticancer properties against various GI malignancies. In this article, we have reviewed recent research on the anticancer potential of EA across esophageal, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and liver cancers.

Contrasting Magnetic Characteristics of Disordered NdBaMnFeO and 112-Type Ordered NdBaMnFeO Perovskites.

The magnetic properties of disordered NdBaMnFeO and ordered NdBaMnFeO perovskites were investigated through temperature- and field-dependent DC-magnetization measurements. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibilities revealed that antiferromagnetic ordering occurs at temperatures below 185 K for the disordered NdBaMnFeO sample, whereas the ordered NdBaMnFeO perovskite exhibited a paramagnetic state throughout the entire temperature range examined. Notably, the disordered sample exhibited a glassy state, even at room temperature, which transformed into an antiferromagnetic state under higher applied magnetic fields.

New Aspects of the Effects of Climate Change on Interactions Between Plants and Microbiomes: A Review.

One of the most talked about issues of the 21st century is climate change, as it affects not just our health but also forestry, agriculture, biodiversity, the ecosystem, and the energy supply. Greenhouse gases are the primary cause of climate change, having dramatic effects on the environment. Climate change has an impact on the function and composition of the terrestrial microbial community both directly and indirectly.

Challenges in LncRNA Biology: Views and Opinions.

This is a mini-review capturing the views and opinions of selected participants at the 2021 IEEE BIBM 3rd Annual LncRNA Workshop, held in Dubai, UAE. The views and opinions are expressed on five broad themes related to problems in lncRNA, namely, challenges in the computational analysis of lncRNAs, lncRNAs and cancer, lncRNAs in sports, lncRNAs and COVID-19, and lncRNAs in human brain activity.

Spatiotemporal shifts in humidification zones: assessing climate impact on bioclimatic landscapes.

Climate change is a global problem that is accompanied by the significant changes in humidification conditions in many regions all over the world. The study examined spatiotemporal changes in humidification zones in southern Russia in the period 1961-2020. Humidification zones were determined in accordance with the classification of the Selyaninov hydrothermal coefficient.

Bacterial mercury methylation modulated by vitamin B9: An overlooked pathway leads to increased environmental risks.

There has been a serious health and environmental concern in conversion of inorganic mercury (Hg) to the neurotoxin, methylmercury (MeHg) by anaerobic microbes, while very little is known about the potential role of vitamin B9 (VB9) regulator in the biochemical generation of MeHg. This study innovatively investigated bacterial Hg methylation by Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA in the presence of VB9 under two existing scenarios. In the low-complexing scenario, the bacterial MeHg yield reached 68 % higher than that without VB9 within 72 h, which was attributed to free VB9-protected PCA cells relieving oxidative stress, as manifested by the increased expression of Hg methylation gene (hgcAB cluster by 19-48 %).

Light green leaf sectors of variegated Dracaena fragrans plants show similar rates of oxygenic photosynthesis tо that of normal, dark green leaf sectors.

Adaptation and functional significance of chlorophyll deficit in the light green leaf sectors of variegated plants are little known. Efficiency of photosystem II for dark and light adapted states (F/F and ΔF/F') and fluorescence decrease rates (R) of light green leaf sectors of Dracaena fragrans L. were studied by methods of PAM-fluorometry and video registration.

DFOS Technology in Geoengineering Monitoring in the Past 35 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis.

DFOS (distributed fiber-optic sensing) technology has shown the potential to increase the accuracy of measurement after years of development and experimenting in geoengineering monitoring. To better understand the development of DFOS technology and its contribution to geoengineering, an objective and data-driven review of the development process of DFOS technology in construction was completed. The review was accomplished by using text mining methods on the Web of Science, covering a wide range of relevant data, including 3970 articles from 1989 to 2023.