Molecular Biology: Open Access

A series of activated carbon pellets (ACPs) prepared from pre-carbonized palm leaves treated with KOH having a concentration of (0.0 - 0.07) by moles (M) for carbonization at different temperatures from 500°C to 1000°C in a nitrogen environment, using a milt step heating profile. The experimental sets were carried out to characterize the crystallite units, specific surface area and spring length between two cubic volume granular structures. The crystallite units such as interlayer spacing (d₀₀₂), layer height (L_c) and layer diameter (L_a) were analyzed using the wide-angle X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The ultrasonic technique was used to measure the longitudinal velocity (V). The XRD analysis found that the structure of all the ACPs produced is turbostratic, showing that the activated carbon prepared below 1000oC has a disordered structure containing defective layer planes, which is expected to occur in small crystallite units. The d₀₀₂ values were increased with KOH concentration and decreased with increasing carbonization temperature and becomes very dependent on 1/L_a at a higher carbonization temperature. The L_c and L_a values were found to increase linearly with increasing carbonized temperature. The specific surface areas (SSA) were estimated by the layer height (Lc) and bulk density (ρ). The specific surface areas (SSA1) were further estimated by a mathematical model given by Emmerich FG and CA Luengo by substituting the bulk density (ρ). The results show fair agreement between SSA and SSA1 for the ACPs, treated with 0.02 M, 0.06 M and 0.07 M KOH. The spring length of two cubic volume granular structures was decreased with increasing KOH concentration. Our results proved the capability of the mathematical model to estimate specific surface area in terms of longitudinal velocity and crystallite units. The results also show that it is possible to prepare activated carbon with high surface area.

Due to its numerous applications in numerous branches of technology, medicine and other study domains, nanotechnology is regarded as a highly developed technology. The main objectives of this work are to synthesize silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate using methanolic Salvia Officinalis L. aerial parts extract, to characterize the synthesized nanoparticles using Ultra Violet and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopies and to test its antibacterial activity compared with standard antibiotics. The manufacture of silver nanoparticles was done using methanolic extract of Salvia officinalis L. (mramia). Two Gram negative bacteria E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 2 Gram positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus were used in this study. The creation of nanoparticles is indicated by a change in color from yellow to brown. The maximum absorption was found to be at 220 nm. The spectra of S. officinalis extracts displayed a broad and strong absorbance peaks at 995.20 cm^-1 that corresponds to Amines, 2929.67 aldehyde, 2360.17 carboxyl acid, 1691.46 aldehyde, 1456.46 is NO₂, 1382.87 ether and 1031.85 alcohol. The methanolic extract of the S. officinalis and the synthesized nanoparticles were tested against the studied bacteria, the results of the methanolic extracts were higher in its antibacterial activity than the activity of the synthesized silver nanoparticle and this explains the reason for using this plant in folk therapy.

Series of activated carbon pellets were prepared from date palm leaves (Phoenix dactylifera L.) (DPL) primarily pre-carbonized at lower temperature and converted into fine grain powder to produce self-adhesive properties. The grain powder produced was chemically activated with KOH having a concentration of (0.0 - 0.09) by moles (M) converted into a pellet by applying 12 metric tons of pressure, before being carbonized at 1000oC in a nitrogen environment, using a multi-step heating profile. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the crystalline structure and estimate the crystallite parameters (d₀₀₂, L_c and L_a) and amorphous contents of the activated carbon produced. The surface function groups were analyzed by FTIR transmission spectra. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the structure of the activated carbon produced is non-graphitic. The interlayer spacing (d₀₀₂) increased linearly with increasing KOH concentrations, while stack diameter (L_a) and stack height (L_c) of the graphitic like crystal were observed to decrease with increasing KOH concentrations. The amorphous contents were decreased for AC treated with 0.1 M and 0.2 M of 49% and 48% respectively and further increased from 0.02 M to 59% amorphous. The KOH treatment process, The FTIR transmission spectrum of the carbon pellets showed the presence of some bands related to organic compounds, which were still not completely released in the AC pellets. Implies that the surface organic functional groups occurring were due to the change in surface nature caused by the KOH treatment process.

Microbial contamination can affect any kind of water in any way: water from the surface, ground, sea, and even ice. Numerous sources of contamination exist, the majority of which are connected to human activities: reuse of effluents that have not been sufficiently treated, the use of animal waste as manure, and the disposal of wastewater that has not been treated for all living things to survive, water is essential. However, various types of water pollution, including chemical, microbiological, and other types can harm human and creature wellbeing and disturbs the trustworthiness of the climate many infectious pathogens that are excreted by infected hosts (humans or animals) can be transmitted through water to new hosts. Water-borne diseases, such as gastroenteritis, cholera, typhoid, and amebiasis, can be caused by these pathogens. These infectious diseases are typically spread through direct or indirect contact. These diseases are thought to be the primary cause of human morbidity and mortality worldwide and they may occasionally cause epidemics.

In biochemistry, especially at a research-intensive institution, setting an example and supporting the department's goals are essential components of leadership. At UNL, faculty members had a clear expectation of this: leadership that had been in the trenches and understood the specifics of the interrelated academic missions. Being merely a unit administrator cannot be considered academic leadership in a department with a strong emphasis on research. Maintaining a robust research program with undergraduate and graduate students and leading by example was essential to the development of biochemistry (e.g., see references). Supporting the educational mission and fostering teamwork. It also required proactive discussions with the deans and upper university administration, as well as ongoing engagement with the faculty, staff, and students. Meeting the requirements and achieving the faculty's vision with the assistance of the university's resources was like balancing on marbles. Biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, metabolic biochemistry, plant biochemistry, and systems biology and biochemical informatics were the primary areas in which significant faculty appointments were made following the first academic program review.