Experimental and theoretical constraints on amino acid formation from PAHs in asteroidal settings

Laboratory astrophysics and astrochemistr

Size Doesn't Matter: Towards a More Inclusive Philosophy of Biology

notes: As the primary author, O’Malley drafted the paper, and gathered and analysed data (scientific papers and talks). Conceptual analysis was conducted by both authors.publication-status: Publishedtypes: ArticlePhilosophers of biology, along with everyone else, generally perceive life to fall into two broad categories, the microbes and macrobes, and then pay most of their attention to the latter. ‘Macrobe’ is the word we propose for larger life forms, and we use it as part of an argument for microbial equality. We suggest that taking more notice of microbes – the dominant life form on the planet, both now and throughout evolutionary history – will transform some of the philosophy of biology’s standard ideas on ontology, evolution, taxonomy and biodiversity. We set out a number of recent developments in microbiology – including biofilm formation, chemotaxis, quorum sensing and gene transfer – that highlight microbial capacities for cooperation and communication and break down conventional thinking that microbes are solely or primarily single-celled organisms. These insights also bring new perspectives to the levels of selection debate, as well as to discussions of the evolution and nature of multicellularity, and to neo-Darwinian understandings of evolutionary mechanisms. We show how these revisions lead to further complications for microbial classification and the philosophies of systematics and biodiversity. Incorporating microbial insights into the philosophy of biology will challenge many of its assumptions, but also give greater scope and depth to its investigations

Research designs considerations for chronic pain prevention clinical trials: IMMPACT recommendations

Although certain risk factors can identify individuals who aremost likely to develop chronic pain, few interventions to prevent chronic pain have been identified. To facilitate the identification of preventive interventions, an IMMPACTmeeting was convened to discuss research design considerations for clinical trials investigating the prevention of chronic pain. We present general design considerations for prevention trials in populations that are at relatively high risk for developing chronic pain. Specific design considerations included subject identification, timing and duration of treatment, outcomes, timing of assessment, and adjusting for risk factors in the analyses.We provide a detailed examination of 4 models of chronic pain prevention (ie, chronic postsurgical pain, postherpetic neuralgia, chronic low back pain, and painful chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy). The issues discussed can, inmany instances, be extrapolated to other chronic pain conditions. These examples were selected because they are representative models of primary and secondary prevention, reflect persistent pain resulting from multiple insults (ie, surgery, viral infection, injury, and toxic or noxious element exposure), and are chronically painful conditions that are treated with a range of interventions. Improvements in the design of chronic pain prevention trials could improve assay sensitivity and thus accelerate the identification of efficacious interventions. Such interventions would have the potential to reduce the prevalence of chronic pain in the population. Additionally, standardization of outcomes in prevention clinical trials will facilitate meta-analyses and systematic reviews and improve detection of preventive strategies emerging from clinical trials

Amino acid composition, petrology, geochemistry, C-14 terrestrial age and oxygen isotopes of the Shi∫r 033 CR chondrite

We have analyzed Shi∫r 033, a CR chondrite from the Omani desert, using several different analytical techniques designed to study the degree of terrestrial alteration of this meteorite and also its petrologic classification. Bulk chemical analyses (including organic carbon and mean total H2O content) are consistent with a CR classification. Additionally, oxygen isotope analysis on a bulk sample indicates that Shi∫r 033 is of type CR2. Amino acid analysis using liquid chromatography with UV fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD) and liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ToF-MS) show that the absolute and the relative amino acid content of Shi∫r 033 is distinct from other carbonaceous chondrites. Oxygen isotope analysis of a phyllosilicate-rich dark inclusion shows that this inclusion is closer to CV3 or CO3 chondrites. The effects of terrestrial weathering in Shi∫r 033 are evident from the dark inclusion carbon isotopic data, bulk chemistry (through the elevated concentrations of Sr and Ba), and amino acid data, which suggests extensive amino acid contamination of the meteorite from the fall site soil. Nevertheless, Shi∫r 033 contains a small fraction of indigenous components, as indicated by the presence of the extraterrestrial amino acid α-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) that was not detected in the Shi∫r soils. Finally, the terrestrial age of Shi∫r 033 was determined and is discussed in the context of high levels of contamination

Dilution Effects in a Spin Crossover System, Modelled in Terms of Direct and Indirect Intermolecular Interactions

We have studied by $^{57}$Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements the spin transition exhibited by the series: , consisting of a spin-crossover iron(II) system diluted in a high-spin cobalt(II) matrix. We performed Monte Carlo simulations of the thermal variation of the high-spin fraction, using a two-level Ising-type Hamiltonian. A good agreement with experiment is obtained by the introduction of an indirect interaction of the spin-crossover units via the non-spin crossover unit, the origin of which is discussed in steric terms

Molecular distribution and 13C isotope composition of volatile organic compounds in the Murchison and Sutter's Mill carbonaceous chondrites

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon-containing chemicals that may evaporate rapidly at room temperature and standard pressure. Such organic compounds can be preserved inside carbonaceous chondrite matrices. However, unlike meteoritic soluble organic matter (SOM) and insoluble organic matter (IOM), VOCs are typically lost (at least in part) during sample processing (meteorite crushing) and exposure to terrestrial atmosphere and/or solvents. Like SOM and IOM, VOCs can provide valuable insights into the chemical inventory of the meteorite parent body and even the presolar cloud from which our solar system formed, as well as the composition and processes that occurred during the early formation of our solar system and the asteroidal stage. Thus, in this work, we designed and built an instrument that allowed us to access the VOCs present in samples of the carbonaceous chondrites Murchison and Sutter's Mill after mineral disaggregation by means of freeze–thaw cycling. We simultaneously evaluated the abundances and compound-specific 13C-distributions of the volatiles evolving after meteorite powdering at ~20, 60, and 100°C. Carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) were released from these meteorites as the most abundant VOCs. They were combusted together for analysis and showed positive δ13C values, indicative of their extraterrestrial origins. Carbon dioxide (CO2) was also an abundant VOC in both meteorites, and its isotopic values suggest that it was mainly formed from dissolved carbonates in the samples. We also detected aldehydes, ketones, and aromatic compounds in low amounts. Contrary to Murchison, which mostly yielded VOCs with positive δ13C values, Sutter's Mill yielded VOCs with negative δ13C values. The less enriched 13C isotope composition of the VOCs detected in Sutter's Mill suggest that they are either terrestrial contaminants, such as VOCs in compressed gas dusters and common laboratory solvents, or compounds disconnected from interstellar sources and/or formed through parent body processing. Understanding the relative abundances and determining the molecular distributions and isotopic compositions of free meteoritic VOCs are key in assessing their extraterrestrial origins and those of chondritic SOM and IOM. Our newly developed technique will be valuable in the study of the samples brought to the Earth from carbonaceous asteroid Bennu by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission. © 2024 The Authors. Meteoritics & Planetary Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Meteoritical Society. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.Open access articleThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]