Theory-driven design of cadmium mineralizing layered double hydroxides for environmental remediation †

The environmental concern posed by toxic heavy metal pollution in soil and water has grown. Ca-based layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have shown exceptional efficacy in eliminating heavy metal cations through the formation of super-stable mineralization structures (SSMS). Nevertheless, it is still unclear how the intricate coordination environment of Ca2+ in Ca-based LDH materials affects the mineralization performance, which hinders the development and application of Ca-based LDH materials as efficient mineralizers. Herein, we discover that, in comparison to a standard LDH, the mineralization efficiency for Cd2+ ions may be significantly enhanced in the pentacoordinated structure of defect-containing Ca-5-LDH utilizing both density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. Furthermore, the calcination-reconstruction technique can be utilized to successfully produce pentacoordinated Ca-5-LDH. Subsequent investigations verified that Ca-5-LDH exhibited double the mineralization performance (421.5 mg g−1) in comparison to the corresponding pristine seven coordinated Ca-7OH/H2O-LDH (191.2 mg g−1). The coordination-relative mineralization mechanism of Ca-based LDH was confirmed by both theoretical calculations and experimental results. The understanding of LDH materials and their possible use in environmental remediation are advanced by this research

Enhanced lutein stability under UV-Light and high temperature by loading it into alginate-chitosan complex

Lutein is one of the carotenoids found in various fruits, green leafy vegetables, and egg yolk. Lutein has multiple functions, including preventing age-related macular degeneration in the human body. However, lutein is susceptible to high temperature, light, and oxygen. The objective of this study was to produce lutein-loaded polysaccharide complexes to increase the stability of lutein. The physical and chemical properties of lutein-polysaccharide complexes were characterized. The entrapment efficiency (EE%) and loading capacity (LC%) of ltuein, and the lutein's stability to high temperatures and UV light were tested. The results showed that the lutein-loaded complexes had greater than 98% entrapment efficiency and 35% loading capacity. The AL/CS complexes showed significantly higher thermal (70 °C, 3 h) and UV-light stabilities than the free lutein. The SEM, FTIR, and XRD results suggested that the lutein-loaded AL/CS complexes had a flake-like structure, and lutein was inserted into the AL/CS complexes as amorphous forms. The main forces that incorporated and stabilized lutein inside the AL/CS complexes were the hydrophobic environments caused by the neutralization of net charge on the alginate and chitosan and the intermolecular hydrogen bonds between lutein, alginate, and chitosan.This article is published as Xiao, Shulan, and Dong Uk Ahn. "Enhanced lutein stability under UV-Light and high temperature by loading it into alginate-chitosan complex." LWT 164 (2022): 113663. doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2022.113663. Posted with permission. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

New Oligonucleotide Probes for ND-FISH Analysis to Identify Barley Chromosomes and to Investigate Polymorphisms of Wheat Chromosomes

Oligonucleotide probes that can be used for non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) analysis are convenient tools for identifying chromosomes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its relatives. New oligonucleotide probes, Oligo-HvT01, Oligo-pTa71-1, Oligo-s120.1, Oligo-s120.2, Oligo-s120.3, Oligo-275.1, Oligo-275.2, Oligo-k566 and Oligo-713, were designed based on the repetitive sequences HVT01, pTa71, pTa-s120, pTa-275, pTa-k566 and pTa-713. All these probes can be used for ND-FISH analysis and some of them can be used to detect polymorphisms of wheat chromosomes. Probes Oligo-HvT01, Oligo-pTa71-1, Oligo-s120.3, Oligo-275.1, Oligo-k566 and Oligo-713 can, respectively, replace the roles of their original sequences to identify chromosomes of some barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) and the common wheat variety Chinese Spring. Oligo-s120.1, Oligo-s120.2 and Oligo-275.2 produced different hybridization patterns from the ones generated by their original sequences. In addition, Oligo-s120.1, Oligo-s120.2 and Oligo-s120.3, which were derived from pTa-s120, revealed different signal patterns. Likewise, Oligo-275.1 and Oligo-275.2, which were derived from pTa-275, also displayed different hybridization patterns. These results imply that differently arranged or altered structural statuses of tandem repeats might exist on different chromosome regions. These new oligonucleotide probes provide extra convenience for identifying some wheat and barley chromosomes, and they can display polymorphisms of wheat chromosomes

Oligonucleotides and ND-FISH Displaying Different Arrangements of Tandem Repeats and Identification of Dasypyrum villosum Chromosomes in Wheat Backgrounds

Oligonucleotide probes and the non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) technique are widely used to analyze plant chromosomes because they are convenient tools. New oligonucleotide probes, Oligo-Ku, Oligo-3B117.1, Oligo-3B117.2, Oligo-3B117.2.1, Oligo-3B117.3, Oligo-3B117.4, Oligo-3B117.5, Oligo-3B117.6, Oligo-pTa71A-1, Oligo-pTa71A-2, Oligo-pTa71B-1, Oligo-pTa71B-2, Oligo-pTa71C-1, Oligo-pTa71C-2, Oligo-pTa71C-3 and Oligo-pTa71D were designed based on the repetitive sequences KU.D15.15, pSc119.2-like sequence 3B117 and pTa71. Oligonucleotide probe (GT)7 was also used. Oligo-Ku and (GT)7 can be together used to identify Dasypyrum villosum from wheat chromosomes and to distinguish individual D. villosum chromosomes. The oligonucleotide probes that were derived from the same repeat sequence displayed different signal intensity and hybridization sites on the same chromosomes. Both the length and the nucleotide composition of oligonucleotide probes determined their signal intensity. For example, Oligo-3B117.2 (25 bp) and Oligo-pTa71A-2 (46 bp) produced the strongest signals on chromosomes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rye (Secale cereale L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) or D. villosum, the signal of Oligo-3B117.4 (18 bp) on the short arm of 7B chromosome was weaker than that of Oligo-3B117.2.1 (15 bp) and Oligo-3B117.3 (16 bp), and Oligo-pTa71A-1 (38 bp) produced the same strong signals as Oligo-pTa71A-2 did on 1B and 6B chromosomes, but its signals on 1R and 1V chromosomes were weaker than the ones of Oligo-pTa71A-2. Oligonucleotide probes and ND-FISH analysis can reflect the distribution and structural statues of different segments of tandem repeats on chromosomes. The possible reasons why different segments derived from the same repeat sequence produced different signal patterns are discussed

Quercetin as an inhibitor of hemoglobin-mediated lipid oxidation: Mechanisms of action and use of molecular docking

The antioxidant effect of quercetin on hemoglobin(Hb)-mediated lipid oxidation and the mechanisms involved were investigated. Quercetin strongly inhibited Hb-mediated lipid oxidation in washed muscle. Quercetin showed effective hydroxyl radical scavenging ability similar to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Quercetin reduced metHb resulting in formation of oxyHb. Bound quercetin decreased heme dissociation from metHb. Conversion to oxyHb and decreased heme dissociation represent routes to limit Hb-mediated lipid oxidation. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) indicated one molecule of quercetin was covalently bound to Hb α-chain. Quercetin quinone docked 3.3 \uc5 from the thiol of αCys(H15) but not near any other Cys residues of turkey Hb. At the docking site, hydrogen bonding between quercetin quinone and amino acids of α- and β-chain was demonstrated. This represents a path by which quercetin became covalently bound to α-chain. Molecular docking of heme proteins to polyphenols provides a template to better understand antioxidant interactions in muscle foods

Fast response detection of H2S by CuO-doped SnO2 films prepared by electrodeposition and oxidization at low temperature

Fast response detection of H2S by CuO-doped SnO2 films prepared was prepared by a simple two-step process: electrodeposition from aqueous solutions of SnCl2 and CuCl2, and oxidization at 600 °C. The phase constitution and morphology of the CuO-doped SnO2 films were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. In all cases, a polycrystalline porous film of SnO2 was the product, with the CuO deposited on the individual SnO2 particles. Two types of CuO-doped SnO2 films with different microstructures were obtained via control of oxidation time: nanosized CuO dotted island doped SnO2 and ultra-uniform, porous, and thin CuO film coated SnO2. The sensor response of the CuO doped SnO2 films to H2S gas at 50–300 ppm was investigated within the temperature range of 25–125 °C. Both of the CuO-doped SnO2 films show fast response and recovery properties. The response time of the ultra-uniform, porous, and thin CuO coated SnO2 to H2S gas at 50 ppm was 34 s at 100 °C, and its corresponding recovery time was about 1/3 of the response time