Exploration of highly selective fluorogenic ‘on–off' chemosensor for H2PO4− ions: ICT‐based sensing and ATPase activity profiling

Abstract In this study, the recognition contour of Chemosensor 1 was investigated using semiaqueous methanol (X_H, mole fraction = 0.31) for a range of anions and bioactive species. Host–receptor signalling based on the internal charge transfer mechanism for Chemosensor 1 was explored and reported. Structure of Chemosensor 1 and its plausible anion coordination based on hydrogen bonding is complemented with density functional theory. Consequently, we investigated the applicability of the synthesized probe in blood plasma, urine, tap water samples, and for monitoring of ATP in lysosomes by apyrase enzyme.     

Science out of the classroom

A recent survey estimates that 65% of secondary-age school children (11–16 years) in the UK have access tothe Internet at home.Most pupils are, therefore, already learning through information and communicationtechnology (ICT). Butthere are still questions about how ICT is being used for teaching science in schoolswithin the UK.     

Some ideas for activities involving the construction of computer-based identification keys

Conserving global biodiversity depends on public awareness, hence the vital role of education and the recent thinking that biodiversity conservation should form part of a new and general scientific literacy taught in schools. A crucial aspect of biodiversity conservation is species identification. Taxonomy in general, and identification keys in particular, are often seen as boring and outdated. Indeed, curricula focused on contemporary areas of biology tend to give a low priority to taxonomy or ignore it completely. However, concern for diminishing global biodiversity has provoked a renewed interest in both traditional and more innovative identification methods, including computer-aided taxonomy.

Some ideas for applying information and communication technology (ICT) to constructing identification keysare discussed. The use of linked web pages is proposed as the most easily used and readily accessible method for Year 8 pupils (ages 12 – 13). It is suggested that there is more educational value in pupils then testing and evaluating each other's keys rather than simply using them and that to facilitate this, web-based keys can easily be exchanged via a network.

It is concluded that this approach promotes a wide range of transferable ICT skills, but applies them in the context of a current problem facing real biologists, so illustrating how computer technology is assisting biodiversity research.     

A highly selective colorimetric and long‐wavelength fluorescent probe for the detection of Hg2+

Currently, the fluorescent probe is an important method for detecting heavy metal ions, especially mercury ion (Hg²⁺), which is harmful to the health of humans and the environment due to its toxicity and extensive use. In this paper, we designed and synthesized a colorimetric and long‐wavelength fluorescent probe Hg‐P with high sensitivity and excellent selectivity, which could detect Hg²⁺ by the changes of visual color, fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy. With the addition of Hg²⁺ to probe Hg‐P solution, its color changed from yellow to pink, and showed a 171 nm red‐shifted absorption spectrum. Probe Hg‐P was used in real water and soil solution samples to detect Hg²⁺, and the result is satisfactory. Therefore, this new probe shows great value and application in detecting Hg²⁺ in the environment.     

Consequences of Future Data Center Deployment in Canada on Electricity Generation and Environmental Impacts: A 2015–2030 Prospective Study

The environmental impacts of data centers that provide information and communication technologies (ICTs) services are strongly related to electricity generation. With the increasing use of ICT, many data centers are expected to be built, causing more absolute impacts on the environment. Given that electricity distribution networks are very complex and dynamic systems, an environmental evaluation of future data centers is uncertain. This study proposes a new approach to investigate the consequences of future data center deployment in Canada and optimize this deployment based on the Energy 2020 technoeconomic model in combination with life cycle assessment methodology. The method determines specific electricity sources that will power the future Canadian data centers and computes related environmental impacts based on several indicators. In case‐study scenarios, the largest deployment of data centers leads to the smallest impact per megawatt of data centers for all of the environmental indicators. It is found that an increase in power demand by data centers would lead to a reduction in electricity exports to the United States, driving the United States to generate more electricity to meet its energy demand. Given that electricity generation in the United States is more polluting than in Canada, the deployment of data centers in Canada is indirectly linked to an increase in overall environmental impacts. However, though an optimal solution should be found to mitigate global greenhouse gas emissions, it is not clear whether the environmental burden related to U.S. electricity generation should be attributed to the Canadian data centers.     

Designing and implementing a new advanced level biology course

Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology is a new advanced level biology course, piloted from September 2002 in England with around 1200 students. This paper discusses the reasons for developing a new advanced biology course at this time, the philosophy of the project and how the materials are being written and the specification devised. The aim of the project is to provide an up-to-date course that interests students, is considered appropriate by teachers and other professionals in biology, and takes full advantage of modern developments in biology and in teaching.     

Identification of novel allosteric inhibitors of mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 by cross docking-based virtual screening

IDH1 mutation (mIDH1) occurs in 20–30% of gliomas and is a promising target for the cancer therapy. In this article, a cross docking-based virtual screening was employed to identify seven small molecules for the allosteric site of mIDH1. Compounds ZX01, ZX05 and ZX06 exhibited the potent inhibitory activity and the high selectivity against WT-IDH1, providing a good starting point for the further development of highly selective mIDH1 inhibitors. Importantly, the parallel artificial membrane permeation assay of the blood-brain barrier (PAMPA-BBB) identified ZX06 with a good ability to penetrate BBB. These findings indicate that ZX06 deserves further optimization as a lead compound for the treatment of patients with IDH1 mutated brain cancers.     

Structural basis of translation termination,rescue, and recycling in mammalian mitochondria

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Life Cycle Assessment of a Magazine,Part II: A Comparison of Print and Tablet Editions

The rapid development of information and communications technology (ICT) is providing new ways to access media content. Electronic media are sometimes more advantageous from an environmental perspective than paper‐based media solutions, but ICT‐based media can also bring environmental burdens. This study compared the potential environmental impacts in a life cycle perspective of a print edition of a magazine and that of its electronic edition read on a tablet device. Important objectives were to identify activities giving rise to the main environmental impacts for both the print and tablet editions, determine the key factors influencing these impacts, and address data gaps and uncertainties. A detailed assessment of the tablet edition is provided in a previous article (part 1), whereas this article compares it with the print edition. The methodology used was life cycle assessment and the environmental impacts assessed included climate change, cumulative energy/exergy demand, metal depletion, photochemical oxidant formation, particulate matter formation, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication, marine eutrophication, and fossil depletion. Use of different functional units to compare the print and tablet editions of the magazine resulted in different relative environmental impacts. In addition, emerging (low number of readers and low reading time per copy) and mature (higher number of readers and higher reading time per copy) tablet editions yielded varying results. The emerging tablet edition resulted in higher potential environmental impacts per reader than the print edition, but the mature tablet edition yielded lower impacts per reader in half the impact categories assessed. This illustrates the importance of spreading the environmental impacts over a large number of readers. The electricity mix used in product system processes did not greatly affect the results of tablet/print comparisons, but overall number of readers for the tablet edition, number of readers per copy for the print edition, file size, and degree of use of the tablet device proved crucial for the comparison results.     

X-ray structures of the peridinin-chlorophyll-protein reconstituted with different chlorophylls

The peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein (PCP) from dinoflagellates is a soluble light harvesting antenna which gathers incoming photons mainly by the carotenoid peridinin. In PCPs reconstituted with different chlorophylls, the peridinin to chlorophyll energy transfer rates are well predicted by a Förster-like theory, but only if the pigment arrangements are identical in all PCPs. We have determined the X-ray structures of PCPs reconstituted with Chlorophyll-b (Chl-b), Chlorophyll-d (Chl-d) and Bacteriochlorophyll-a (BChl-a) to resolutions ?2 Å. In all three cases the pigment arrangements are essentially the same as in native PCP. Hydrogen bonding is not responsible for preferential incorporation of “non-native” chlorophylls over Chl-a.