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The aim of this study was to determine the effect of sorption of Basic Red 46 (BR46) dye by lignocellulosic biomass on the susceptibility of the sorbed waste to anaerobic decomposition by anaerobic digestion. The research material used in the experiment consisted of two types of biomass: stalks with leaves and inflorescences after mowing Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) (GB), and rapeseed hulls (RHs) after oil pressing. During the anaerobic decomposition of RHs, 732.30 NmL/gVS and 646.63 NmL/gVS of methane were obtained from the non-sorbed substrate and the plant material after dye sorption, respectively. Similarly, in the variants using Canadian goldenrod, the production was 220.70 NmL/gVS and 183.20 NmL/gVS. The GB sorbent sorbed 34% more BR46 dye than the RH sorbent, which is likely to have resulted in the accumulation of VFA and contributed to the partial inhibition of methane production. In light of the obtained results and the literature data, it is concluded that there is a possibility of effective use of dye sorption waste for methane production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, microwave radiation has been successfully used to support the chemical hydrolysis of organic substrates in the laboratory. There is a lack of studies on large-scale plants that would provide the basis for a reliable evaluation of this technology. The aim of the research was to determine the effectiveness of using microwave radiation to support the acidic and alkaline thermohydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass prior to anaerobic digestion on a semi-industrial scale. Regardless of the pretreatment options, similar concentrations of dissolved organic compounds were observed, ranging from 99.0 ± 2.5 g/L to 115.0 ± 3.0 in the case of COD and from 33.9 ± 0.92 g/L to 38.2 ± 1.41 g/L for TOC. However, these values were more than twice as high as the values for the substrate without pretreatment. The degree of solubilisation was similar and ranged between 20 and 28% for both monitored indicators. The highest anaerobic digestion effects, ranging from 99 to 102 LCH4/kgFM, were achieved using a combined process consisting of 20 min of microwave heating, 0.10–0.20 g HCl/gTS dose, and alkaline thermohydrolysis. For the control sample, the value was only 78 LCH4/kgFM; for the other variants, it was between 79 and 94 LCH4/kgFM. The highest net energy gain of 3.51 kWh was achieved in the combined alkaline thermohydrolysis with NaOH doses between 0.10 and 0.20 g/gTS. The use of a prototype at the 5th technology readiness level made it possible to demonstrate that the strong technological effects of the thermohydrolysis process, as demonstrated in laboratory tests to date, do not allow for positive energy balance in most cases. This fact considerably limits the practical application of this type of solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research to date has mainly focused on the properties and efficiency of the production of selected, individual types of biofuels from microalgae biomass. There are not enough studies investigating the efficiency of the production of all energy sources synthesised by these microorganisms in a single technological cycle. The aim of this research was to determine the possibilities and efficiency of the production of hydrogen, bio-oil, and methane in the continuous cycle of processing T. subcordiformis microalgae biomass. This study showed it was feasible to produce these three energy carriers, but the production protocol adopted was not necessarily valuable from the energy gain standpoint. The production of bio-oil was found to be the least viable process, as bio-oil energy value was only 1.3 kWh/MgTS. The most valuable single process for microalgae biomass conversion turned out to be methane fermentation. The highest specific gross energy gain was found after applying a protocol combining biomass production, hydrogen biosynthesis, and subsequent methane production from T. subcordiformis biomass, which yielded a total value of 1891.4 kWh/MgTS. The direct methane fermentation of T. subcordiformis biomass enabled energy production at 1769.8 kWh/MgTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies indicate that autobiographical memory is impaired in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Successful recollection of information referring to one's own person requires the intact ability to re-activate representation of the past self. In the current fMRI study we investigated process of conscious reflection on the present self, the past self, and a close-other in the ASD and typically developing groups. Significant inter-group differences were found in the Past-Self condition. In individuals with ASD, reflection on the past self was associated with additional engagement of the posterior cingulate and posterior temporal structures. We hypothesize that this enhanced activation of widely distributed neural network reflects substantial difficulties in processes of reflection on one's own person in the past.

Cereal grains are an important source of food and feed. To provide comprehensive spatiotemporal information about biological processes in developing seeds of cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L. subsp. vulgare), we performed a transcriptomic study of the embryo, endosperm, and seed maternal tissues collected from grains 4–32 days after pollination. Weighted gene co-expression network and motif enrichment analyses identified specific groups of genes and transcription factors (TFs) potentially regulating barley seed tissue development. We defined a set of tissue-specific marker genes and families of TFs for functional studies of the pathways controlling barley grain development. Assessing selected groups of chromatin regulators revealed that epigenetic processes are highly dynamic and likely play a major role during barley endosperm development. The repressive H3K27me3 modification is globally reduced in endosperm tissues and at specific genes related to development and storage compounds. Altogether, this atlas uncovers the complexity of developmentally regulated gene expression in developing barley grains. A transcriptomic atlas for developing barley seeds provides in-depth insight into the gene regulation in embryo, endosperm, and seed maternal tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atenolol β‐blocker drug (ATN) to treat hypertension and cardiovascular disorders such as angina pectoris is manufactured commercially in a racemic form, while only its (S)‐enantiomer shows selective β1‐blocking activity. Here, a new axially chiral thiolated naphthalene diimide derivatives (HS‐BIN‐NDI) for the rapid, simple, and sensitive detection of ATN enantiomers is presented. The Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) experiments show that interactions between a chiral selector and a chiral analyte occur only when their configurations are opposite. The extensive computational simulations support this finding. The association coefficient determined by SPR is high (105‐106 M−1 s−1) and indicates that the interactions are electrostatic. The analytical utility of atropisomeric HS‐BIN‐NDIs is proven, and the voltammetric sensors designed to determine ATN enantiomers are constructed. The developed sensors are characterized by a wide analytical operating range from 5.0·10−3 to 1.0 µm, nanomolar detection limit, high selectivity, and a long lifetime. Several additives like urea, creatinine, glucose, human albumin, and hemoglobin do not affect ATN sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]