Mangroves are one of the most carbon‐dense forests on the Earth and have been highlighted as key ecosystems for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Hundreds of studies have investigated how ...mangroves fix, transform, store, and export carbon. Here, we review and synthesize the previously known and emerging carbon pathways in mangroves, including gains (woody biomass accumulation, deadwood accumulation, soil carbon sequestration, root and litterfall production), transformations (food web transfer through herbivory, decomposition), and losses (respiration as CO2 and CH4, litterfall export, particulate and dissolved carbon export). We then review the technologies available to measure carbon fluxes in mangroves, their potential, and their limitations. We also synthesize and compare mangrove net ecosystem productivity (NEP) with terrestrial forests. Finally, we update global estimates of carbon fluxes with the most current values of fluxes and global mangrove area. We found that the contributions of recently investigated fluxes, such as soil respiration as CH4, are minor (<1 Tg C year−1), while the contributions of deadwood accumulation, herbivory, and lateral export are significant (>35 Tg C year−1). Dissolved inorganic carbon exports are an order of magnitude higher than the other processes investigated and were highly variable, highlighting the need for further studies. Gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) per area of mangroves were within the same order of magnitude as terrestrial forests. However, ER/GPP was lower in mangroves, explaining their higher carbon sequestration. We estimate the global mean mangrove NEP of 109.1 Tg C year−1 (7.4 Mg C ha−1 year−1) or through a budget balance, accounting for lateral losses, a global mean of 66.6 Tg C year−1 (4.5 Mg C ha−1 year−1). Overall, mangroves are highly productive, and despite losses due to respiration and tidal exchange, they are significant carbon sinks.
Abstract
Aims
This study aimed to investigate the effect of palm oil mill effluent (POME) final discharge on the active bacterial composition, gene expression, and metabolite profiles in the ...receiving rivers to establish a foundation for identifying potential biomarkers for monitoring POME pollution in rivers.
Methods and results
The POME final discharge, upstream (unpolluted by POME), and downstream (effluent receiving point) parts of the rivers from two sites were physicochemically characterized. The taxonomic and gene profiles were then evaluated using de novo metatranscriptomics, while the metabolites were detected using qualitative metabolomics. A similar bacterial community structure in the POME final discharge samples from both sites was recorded, but their composition varied. Redundancy analysis showed that several families, particularly Comamonadaceae and Burkholderiaceae Pr(>F) = 0.028, were positively correlated with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The results also showed significant enrichment of genes regulating various metabolisms in the POME-receiving rivers, with methane, carbon fixation pathway, and amino acids among the predominant metabolisms identified (FDR < 0.05, PostFC > 4, and PPDE > 0.95). This was further validated through qualitative metabolomics, whereby amino acids were detected as the predominant metabolites.
Conclusions
The results suggest that genes regulating amino acid metabolism have significant potential for developing effective biomonitoring and bioremediation strategies in river water influenced by POME final discharge, fostering a sustainable palm oil industry.
Physical development planning is a powerful tool for determining and shaping the living environment of any area, including on campus. If the growing social concern with sustainability is to be ...addressed by physical planning initiatives, the effectiveness of such initiatives must be assessed soon. The objective of this research is to study the effectiveness of the physical development planning of four research university campuses in Malaysia. These universities have undergone changes to enhance their sustainability. The scope of this research is limited to the physical planning of the campus. Four research universities have been chosen: National University of Malaysia (UKM), University Sains Malaysia(USM), University of Malaya (UM) and University Putra Malaysia (UPM). The research methods used consisted of a questionnaire, behavioral observations and a visual study. A total of 400 respondents were included and were divided equally among the campuses. The resulting data were statistically analyzed. The results from each campus were compared. The results obtained by questionnaire were cross-referenced with the findings obtained from other techniques (behavioral observation and visual study) to obtain a detailed explanation. The research found that many similar problems in physical development planning have arisen on each campus. However, the extent and severity of the problems vary based on the individual approach taken toward physical development planning. The results show that the most compact campus, USM has the fewest problems when compared to the other campuses. This finding supports previous research and indicates that a compact campus tends to create a sustainable pattern of life on campus.
The effectiveness of β-lactam antibiotics as chemotherapeutic agents to treat bacterial infections is gradually threatened with the emergence of antibiotic resistance mechanism among pathogenic ...bacteria through the production metallo-β-lactamase (MBL). In this study, we discovered a novel hypothetical protein (HP) termed Bleg1_2437 from the genome of alkaliphilic Bacillus lehensis G1 which exhibited MBL-like properties of B3 subclass; but evolutionary divergent from other circulating B3 MBLs. Domain and sequence analysis of HP Bleg1_2437 revealed that it contains highly conserved Zn2+-binding residues such as H54, H56, D58, H59, H131 and H191, important for catalysis, similar with the subclass B3 of MBL. Built 3-D Bleg1_2437 structure exhibited an αββα sandwich layer similar to the well-conserved global topology of MBL superfamily. Other features include a ceiling and floor in the model which are important for accommodation and orientation of β-lactam antibiotics docked to the protein model showed interactions at varying degrees with residues in the binding pocket of Bleg1_2437. Hydrolysis activity towards several β-lactam antibiotics was proven through an in vitro assay using purified recombinant Bleg1_2437 protein. These findings highlight the presence of a clinically important and evolutionary divergent antibiotics-degrading enzyme within the pools of uncharacterized HPs.
The structure of BPSL1549, a protein of unknown function from Burkholderia pseudomallei, reveals a similarity to Escherichia coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1. We found that BPSL1549 acted as a ...potent cytotoxin against eukaryotic cells and was lethal when administered to mice. Expression levels of bpsl1549 correlate with conditions expected to promote or suppress pathogenicity. BPSL1549 promotes deamidation of glutamine-339 of the translation initiation factor eIF4A, abolishing its helicase activity and inhibiting translation. We propose to name BPSL1549 Burkholderia lethal factor 1.
A new series of liquid crystals whose molecular structure consists of a U-shaped unit as a central core and two rod-like azobenzenes as the peripheral units are synthesized. The mesomorphic ...properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarizing optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The existence of nematic and smectic A phase was confirmed by textures and X-ray diffraction. The trans-form of azo compounds showed a strong band in the UV region at ~365nm for the π–π* transition, and a weak band in the visible region at ~450nm due to the n–π* transition. These molecules exhibit a strong photoisomerization behavior in which trans–cis take 50 and 55s for compounds L4/5 and L4/6, respectively, whereas cis–trans take place almost 29 and 30h, respectively. Long thermal back relaxation allows us to realize that optical storage devices with these materials which need longer periods.
X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the U-shaped molecule with azobenzene chromophores is derived from 1,2-phenylene unit which exhibits nematic and smectic A phases. Long thermal back relaxation realized that optical storage devices are possible with these materials. Display omitted
•A series of U-shaped molecules unit having azobenzene chromophores is synthesized.•The molecules showed a nematic and smectic A phase.•Long thermal back relaxation allows to realize a permanent optical storage devices.The compounds shows trans to cis isomerization in 50-55 s, reverse take place 30 h.•Long thermal back relaxation allows to realize a permanent optical storage devices.
Escherichia coli
—the powerhouse for recombinant protein production—is rapidly gaining status as a reliable and efficient host for secretory expression. An improved understanding of protein ...translocation processes and its mechanisms has inspired and accelerated the development of new tools and applications in this field and, in particular, a more efficient secretion signal. Several important characteristics and requirements are summarised for the design of a more efficient signal peptide for the production of recombinant proteins in
E
.
coli
. General approaches and strategies to optimise the signal peptide, including the selection and modification of the signal peptide components, are included. Several challenges in the secretory production of recombinant proteins are discussed, and research approaches designed to meet these challenges are proposed.
The construction sector is among the most hazardous industry due to the working environment which exposes workers to high risk of accidents. Statistics by the Malaysian Ministry of Human Resource had ...shown that the number of mortality and disability cases involving construction workers were the highest among the other sectors. Most of the cases were caused by unidentified hazards around the construction sites. The literature had documented that environmental factors were responsible for most of the cases. This paper aims to highlight on the causation factors of accidents and injuries at the construction sites based on the human factor. Selected journals and research papers related with accidents at construction sites were reviewed and human error was found to be the main causation factor of accidents at construction sites. This study urges for more in depth study on the actions or interventions that could be taken to minimize the occurrence of human error in the construction site, thus, minimizing the occurrence of accidents, injuries and even mortality.
A novel dual-band single-layer substrate and diamond-shaped antenna is presented. The proposed antenna operates in dual-band frequency at UHF band (from 902 to 920 MHz) and ISM band (from 2.4 to 2.5 ...GHz), which is suitable for RFID application. Antenna frequencies were controlled by the shape and size of the radiating element. The proposed prototype antenna also has acceptable performances in terms of gain, efficiency, and directional radiation pattern. The antenna's gain and efficiency are 7.8 dBi and 87 %, respectively, at the lower frequency band, while the corresponding values are 9.4 dBi and 94 % at the higher band. When compared to the simulated results, the measurements show good agreement in terms of return loss and radiation pattern.
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