Droplet-like Fermi surfaces in the anti-ferromagnetic phase of EuFe2_2As2_2, an Fe-pnictide superconductor parent compound

Using angle resolved photoemission it is shown that the low lying electronic states of the iron pnictide parent compound EuFe$_2$As$_2$ are strongly modified in the magnetically ordered, low temperature, orthorhombic state compared to the tetragonal, paramagnetic case above the spin density wave transition temperature. Back-folded bands, reflected in the orthorhombic/ anti-ferromagnetic Brillouin zone boundary hybridize strongly with the non-folded states, leading to the opening of energy gaps. As a direct consequence, the large Fermi surfaces of the tetragonal phase fragment, the low temperature Fermi surface being comprised of small droplets, built up of electron and hole-like sections. These high resolution ARPES data are therefore in keeping with quantum oscillation and optical data from other undoped pnictide parent compounds.Comment: 4 figures, 6 page

Persistent Organic Chemicals in the Environment: Status and Trends in the Pacific Basin Countries I Contamination Status

Environmental pollution by man-made Persistent Organic Chemicals (POCs) has been a serious global issue for over half a century. Exposure to POCs may result in health effects, including, endocrine disruption leading to birth defects, intellectual disability, low testosterone, childhood obesity, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Therefore, POCs have been the subject of an intensive regional, national, and international efforts to limit the production, use, and disposal of these chemicals. Since POCs are ubiquitous and recalcitrant, and cause long-term effects on wildlife and humans, trend monitoring studies are valuable in making clear the behavior and fate of these compounds and to protect our environment and living resources. The Pacific Basin is a unique geographical region representing tropical, temperate and polar zones. This region is home to 2/3 of the world’s population and consists of rapidly growing economies (countries) and highly developed countries. Due to this diversity of climatic and socio-economic conditions, environment and biota in different countries in this basin have varying degrees of environmental contamination and effects on wildlife and humans. The Pacific Rim countries play a pivotal role in governing global POC contamination and resulting harmful health effects. Because articles on POCs and their effect on environment and health are published in a large number of different journals, it is useful to have a book that includes original papers and reviews on the latest advances by well-known scientists in the field, especially focusing on the countries in the Pacific Rim

Persistent Organic Chemicals in the Environment: Status and Trends in the Pacific Basin Countries II Temporal Trends

Environmental pollution by man-made Persistent Organic Chemicals (POCs) has been a serious global issue for over half a century. Exposure to POCs may result in health effects, including, endocrine disruption leading to birth defects, intellectual disability, low testosterone, childhood obesity, autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Therefore, POCs have been the subject of an intensive regional, national, and international efforts to limit the production, use, and disposal of these chemicals. Since POCs are ubiquitous and recalcitrant, and cause long-term effects on wildlife and humans, trend monitoring studies are valuable in making clear the behavior and fate of these compounds and to protect our environment and living resources. The Pacific Basin is a unique geographical region representing tropical, temperate and polar zones. This region is home to 2/3 of the world’s population and consists of rapidly growing economies (countries) and highly developed countries. Due to this diversity of climatic and socio-economic conditions, environment and biota in different countries in this basin have varying degrees of environmental contamination and effects on wildlife and humans. The Pacific Rim countries play a pivotal role in governing global POC contamination and resulting harmful health effects. Because articles on POCs and their effect on environment and health are published in a large number of different journals, it is useful to have a book that includes original papers and reviews on the latest advances by well-known scientists in the field, especially focusing on the countries in the Pacific Rim

Enhanced oxidation of antibiotic residuals (Levofloxacin) using a green composite of ZnO@polyaniline/bentonite (Zn@PA/BE) as multifunctional photocatalyst under visible light

© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Green nanocomposite of ZnO supported into polyaniline/bentonite hybrid structure (Zn@/PA/BE) was synthesised and characterised and assessed as a multifunctional photocatalyst of 1.86 eV as bandgap energy. The Zn@/PA/BE catalyst was applied in the oxidation of the levofloxacin (LV) residuals in water in the presence of visible light. The recognised oxidation results demonstrate significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity by using the polyaniline/bentonite composite as a carrier for ZnO catalyst. Using the Zn@/PA/BE at 0.5 g/L as dosage resulted in complete oxidation for 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 mg/L after illumination intervals of 25, 40, 60, 70, and 85 min, respectively. This was confirmed by the significant declination in the TOC content of the treated sample (10 mg/L) until the complete removal after 45 min reflecting the complete degradation and mineralisation. The formed secondary organic compounds during the incomplete oxidation reactions were identified. The intermediate compounds suggested oxidation pathways of carboxylation/de-carboxylation, hydroxylation, de-methylation, de-piperazinylation, and defluorination mechanisms. The hydroxyl radicals were detected as the most effective oxidising species during the reactions based on the active trapping tests and probe molecule investigation. The recyclability experiments reflected the significant stability and reusability of Zn@/PA/BE as a photocatalyst during the oxidation of LV molecules.N

Enhanced decontamination of Levofloxacin residuals from water using recycled glass based a green zinc oxide/mesoporous silica nanocomposite; adsorption and advanced oxidation studies

Glass solid wastes were recycled in the synthesis of green zinc oxide/mesoporous silica (MCM-41) composite with significant surface area (661 m(2)/g) and bandgap energy (2.43 eV). It was assessed as a potential adsorbent and photocatalyst for Levofloxacin. The Levofloxacin adsorption reaction is of First-order kinetic (R-2 = 0.99) and Langmuir isotherm properties (R-2 > 0.95). A monolayer model with two energy sites was applied for more details about the adsorption process (R-2 = 0.999). Considering the steric parameters, the adsorbed Levofloxacin molecules (n) are higher than 1 on both sites (n1 (2.6-5.15) and n2 (2.99-3.18)). This suggested vertical adsorption of several Levofloxacin molecules per site by a multimolecular mechanism. The active site densities of zinc oxide as the first site (Nm1) and saturation capacity (Qsat1) increased with temperature up to 45 & nbsp;C (Nm1 = 17.8 mg/g and Qsat1 = 57.49 mg/g). The reverse occurred for the second sites (MCM-41) and the best values were reported at 25 & nbsp;C (Nm2 = 23.35 mg/g and Qsat2 = 69.8 mg/g). The adsorption energy (-8.16 to-25.9 kJ/mol) and thermodynamic functions declare physical Levofloxacin uptake mechanisms of spontaneous and exothermic properties. G.Zn/MCM as photocatalyst (0.5 g/L) achieved 100% oxidation of Levofloxacin (50 mg/L) and 100% mineralization after 160 min and 240 min, respectively.N

Enhanced adsorption and visible light photocatalytic removal of 5-Fluoro-uracil residuals using environmental NiO/geopolymer nanocomposite: Steric, energetic, and oxidation studies

Synthetic kaolinite-based geopolymer structure was impeded with NiO nanoparticles (NiO/GP) for promising decontamination of 5-Fluorouracil drug residuals (5-Fu) either by adsorption or oxidation. The adsorption of 5 -Fu by NiO/GP follows the kinetic assumption of the Pseudo-First order model (R2 > 0.99). The equilibrium behaviors of 5-Fu uptake reactions were illustrated by the classic Langmuir and advanced Monolayer model of one energy site (R2 > 0.99). The steric parameters including both the active sites density (Nm) and 5-Fu satu-ration capacity (Qsat) increase regularly with the test temperature up to 40 oC (Nm = 323 mg/g and Qsat =329.7 mg/g) reflecting the exothermic properties of the reaction. The number of the captured 5-Fu molecules per site (n > 1) suggested vertical uptake of 1???2 molecules by a multimolecular mechanism. The estimated values of adsorption energy (14.6-16.55 kJ/mol) and Gaussian energy (1.3???3.18 kJ/mol) reflect the physisorption of 5-Fu by NiO/GP. The energetic parameters of internal energy, free enthalpy, and entropy demonstrate sponta-neous, feasible, and endothermic uptake reactions. As photocatalyst, the NiO/GP (0.1 g/L) caused complete oxidation for 5-Fu residuals (50 mg/L) after 20 min while the complete mineralization was achieved after 100 min under a visible light source. Based on the detected intermediate compounds, the 5-Fu oxidation pathway over NiO/GP occurred by hydroxylation and fluorine release processes considering the hydroxyl radicals as the main oxidizing species. <comment>Superscript/Subscript Available</commentN

Genetic divergence of two casein genes and correlated milk traits in Maghrebi camels

© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS), Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAS).Despite the key role of casein genes and their effect on quantitative traits and technological assets of milk, few studies manipulated it in camels, unlike other ruminants. Thus, this investigation was performed to lighten up the genetic polymorphism of CSN2 and CSN3 genes, in Maghrebi camels, via PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing tools, by measuring the impacted milk composition traits. Sixty-eight blood samples were collected from Maghrebi camels in Mersa Matrouh, Egypt. Also, 68 milk samples were collected at different stages of the lactation period. Protein, fat, lactose, total solid, and ash were estimated in all milk samples by biochemical methods. The results of the PCR-SSCP and the sequence analysis showed two genotypes (CC and CA) in CSN2 gene with one SNP (41 T > G) for CC genotype and two SNPs (41 T > G and 462A > C) for CA genotype, as showed three genotypes (AA, AT, and TT) in CSN3 gene with two SNPs (42C > A and 346 T > A) for AA genotype, two SNPs (42C > A and 100 C > T) for TT genotype, and four SNPs (42C > A, 100C > T, 238 T > G, and 346 T > A) for AT genotype. Allele C of CSN2 gene affected milk fat only at the first day and the first seven days of lactation period, while allele T of CSN3 gene affected both the studied milk composition initiated from the first seven days to the end of the lactation period. The genetic discrimination of the understudied genes may be utilized as a valuable marker in the selection of superior animals, through the favorable alleles and genotypes to improve the camel milk composition.N

Insight into the Effect of Sulfonation Techniques on the Adsorption Properties of −SO₃H Surface-Functionalized Coal as Adsorbent for Malachite Green Dye: Steric and Energetic Investigation

Natural coal (N.C) was sulfonated with sulfuric acid by normal stirring (MS.C) and sonication waves (SS.C) to obtain −SO3H functionalized coal as enhanced adsorbents of malachite green dye (MG). The sulfonated products exhibit enhanced surface area (MS.C (27.2 m2/g) and SS.C (45.8 m2/g)) as compared to N.C. SS.C achieved higher acid density (14.2 mmol/g) and sulfur content (13.2 wt. %) as compared to MS.C. The impact of the sulfonation processes on the adsorption of MG was assessed based on the monolayer isotherm model of one energy. The MG Qsat of N.C (121.3 mg/g), MS.C (226.3 mg/g), and SS.C (296.4 mg/g) validate the significant effect of the sulfonation processes by the sonication waves. This is in agreement with the active site densities that reflect the saturation of SS.C by more active sites (180.74 mg/g) than MS.C (120.38 mg/g) and N.C (70.84 mg/g). The MS.C and SS.C can adsorb three MG molecules as compared to two molecules per site of N.C. The Gaussian energy (<8 kJ/mol) and adsorption energy (<40 kJ/mol)) reflects the physisorption of MG involving van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, and dipole bonding forces. The thermodynamic functions demonstrate the uptake of MG by exothermic, spontaneous, feasible reactions