Optimization of Bacillus subtilis natto growth parameters in glycerol-based medium for vitamin K (Menaquinone-7) production in biofilm reactors

Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering - Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) is the key form of vitamin K used as a dietary supplement and its production revolves around Bacillus subtilis natto. Current...     

High‐Performance and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells Based on Dopant‐Free Arylamine‐Substituted Copper(II) Phthalocyanine Hole‐Transporting Materials

A power conversion efficiency (PCE) as high as 19.7% is achieved using a novel, low‐cost, dopant‐free hole transport material (HTM) in mixed‐ion solution‐processed perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Following a rational molecular design strategy, arylamine‐substituted copper(II) phthalocyanine (CuPc) derivatives are selected as HTMs, reaching the highest PCE ever reported for PSCs employing dopant‐free HTMs. The intrinsic thermal and chemical properties of dopant‐free CuPcs result in PSCs with a long‐term stability outperforming that of the benchmark doped 2,2′,7,7′‐Tetrakis‐(N,N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamine)‐9,9′‐Spirobifluorene (Spiro‐OMeTAD)‐based devices. The combination of molecular modeling, synthesis, and full experimental characterization sheds light on the nanostructure and molecular aggregation of arylamine‐substituted CuPc compounds, providing a link between molecular structure and device properties. These results reveal the potential of engineering CuPc derivatives as dopant‐free HTMs to fabricate cost‐effective and highly efficient PSCs with long‐term stability, and pave the way to their commercial‐scale manufacturing. More generally, this case demonstrates how an integrated approach based on rational design and computational modeling can guide and anticipate the synthesis of new classes of materials to achieve specific functions in complex device structures.     

Family Ismaridae Thomson (Hymenoptera,Diaprioidea), new to fauna of Iran

Occurrence of the family Ismaridae Thomson is recorded for the first time from Iran, represented by a single species, Ismarus rugulosus Förster, 1850. A series of diagnostic characters and morphometric ratios for this species is presented, as well as a distribution map throughout the Holarctic region.     

Composition and Variation of the Human Milk Microbiota Are Influenced by Maternal and Early-Life Factors

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Cross talk between energy cost and expression of Methyl Jasmonate-regulated genes: from DNA to protein

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Plant cell balances energy consumption for its different biological processes under oxidative circumstances. The aim of the present study is to...     

Global genetic diversity,lineage distribution,and Wolbachia infection of the alfalfa weevil Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica) is a well‐known example of a worldwide‐distributed pest with high genetic variation. Based on the mitochondrial genes, the alfalfa weevil clusters into two main mitochondrial lineages. However, there is no clear picture of the global diversity and distribution of these lineages; neither the drivers of its diversification are known. However, it appears likely that historic demographic events including founder effects played a role. In addition, Wolbachia, a widespread intracellular parasite/symbiont, likely played an important role in the evolution of the species. Wolbachia infection so far was only detected in the Western lineage of H. postica with no information on the infecting strain, its frequency, and its consequences on the genetic diversity of the host. We here used a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear sequences of the host and sequence information on Wolbachia to document the distribution of strains and the degree of infection. The Eastern lineage has a higher genetic diversity and is found in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and eastern America, whereas the less diverse Western lineage is found in Central Europe and the western America. Both lineages are infected with the same common strain of Wolbachia belonging to Supergroup B. Based on neutrality tests, selection tests, and the current distribution and diversification of Wolbachia in H. postica, we suggested the Wolbachia infection did not shape genetic diversity of the host. The introduced populations in the United States are generally genetically less diverse, which is in line with founder effects.     

The Physiological,Biochemical, and Molecular Modifications of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Seedlings Under Freezing Stress

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Fall cultivation of field crops such as chickpea is prone to the risk of freezing stress. It is required to identify the mechanisms through which plants can...     

Mathematical Models of Localized Muscle Fatigue: Sensitivity Analysis and Assessment of Two Occupationally-Relevant Models

Muscle fatigue models (MFM) have broad potential application if they can accurately predict muscle capacity and/or endurance time during the execution of diverse tasks. As an initial step toward facilitating improved MFMs, we assessed the sensitivity of selected existing models to their inherent parameters, specifically that model the fatigue and recovery processes, and the accuracy of model predictions. These evaluations were completed for both prolonged and intermittent isometric contractions, and were based on model predictions of endurance times. Based on a recent review of the literature, four MFMs were initially chosen, from which a preliminary assessment led to two of these being considered for more comprehensive evaluation. Both models had a higher sensitivity to their fatigue parameter. Predictions of both models were also more sensitive to the alteration of their parameters in conditions involving lower to moderate levels of effort, though such conditions may be of most practical, contemporary interest or relevance. Although both models yielded accurate predictions of endurance times during prolonged contractions, their predictive ability was inferior for more complex (intermittent) conditions. When optimizing model parameters for different loading conditions, the recovery parameter showed considerably larger variability, which might be related to the inability of these MFMs in simulating the recovery process under different loading conditions. It is argued that such models may benefit in future work from improving their representation of recovery process, particularly how this process differs across loading conditions.