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Recovery of metals from e-waste forms a major focus of circular economy thinking and aligns well with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). While hydrometallurgical extraction from electronic printed circuit boards (PCBs) is well established, the separation of metals from the leach liquors, which are complex mixtures, remains a challenge. To achieve selective separation, ion exchange resins with chelating functional groups were employed in the present study. Batch and column studies for selective recovery of Cu2+ from a given mixed metals leach solution were conducted using Dowex M4195 resin, and both the adsorption isotherm and kinetics were studied. The process involves three major steps: selective recovery of Cu2+ by M4195 at low pH and elution with H2SO4; sorption of Ni2+ from the raffinate by Dowex M4195 at pH 2 and removal of Fe3+ from raffinate. The batch experimental results showed appreciable and selective recovery of copper (51.1%) at pH 0.7 and 40.0% Ni2+ was sorbed from raffinate at pH 2.0 with co-adsorption of Fe3+ as impurity. The batch adsorption data could be fitted with both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and exhibited pseudo-second-order kinetics. Column studies agreed with the Yoon–Nelson model and indicated that Cu2+ break-through time in the column decreased with an increase in flowrate from 3.0 to 10.0 min/mL and decreased in sorption capacity, while it was delayed with increased bed heights from 20 to 30 mm. Complete elution of Ni2+ was obtained with 2.0 M H2SO4 after selective elution of trace impurities with dilute HCl. Iron in the raffinate was removed via the addition of Ca (OH)2 at pH 4.0 leaving Zn-Al in the solution.

Lysine acylation is a ubiquitous post-translational modification (PTM) that plays pivotal roles in various cellular processes, such as transcription, metabolism, protein localization and folding. Thousands of lysine acylation sites have been identified based on advances in antibody enrichment strategies, highly sensitive analysis by mass spectrometry (MS), and bioinformatics. However, only 27 lysine methacrylation (Kmea) sites have been identified exclusively in histone proteins. It is hard to separate, purify and differentiate the Kmea modification from its structural isomer lysine crotonylation (Kcr) using general biochemical approaches. Here, we identify Kmea sites on a non-histone protein, Cyclophillin A (CypA). To investigate the functions of Kmea in CypA, we develop a general genetic code expansion approach to incorporate a non-canonical amino acid (ncAA) ε - N -Methacryllysine (MeaK) into target proteins and identify interacting proteins of methacrylated CypA using affinity-purification MS. We find that Kmea at CypA site 125 regulates cellular redox homeostasis, and HDAC1 is the regulator of Kmea on CypA. Moreover, we discover that genetically encode Kmea can be further methylated to ε - N -methyl- ε - N -methacrylation (Kmemea) in live cells. It is challenging to purify and prepare large amount of methacrylated proteins from cells. Here, the authors develop genetic code expansion technology to site-specifically incorporate ε - N -Methacryllysine into proteins and identify the post-translational modification ε - N -methyl- ε - N -methacrylation.

The processing and extraction of critical metals from black mass is important to battery recycling. Separation and recovery of critical metals (Co, Ni, Li, and Mn) from other metal impurities must yield purified metal salts, while avoiding substantial losses of critical metals. Solvent extraction in batch experiments were conducted using mixed metal sulphates obtained from the leach liquor obtained from spent and shredded lithium-ion batteries. Selective extraction of Mn2+, Fe3+, Al3+ and Cu2+ from simulated and real leached mixed metals solution was carried out using di-2-ethylhexylphophoric acid (D2EPHA) and Cyanex-272 at varying pH. Further experiments with the preferred extractant (D2EPHA) were performed under different conditions: changing the concentration of extractant, organic to aqueous ratio, and varying the diluents. At optimum conditions (40% v/v D2EPHA in kerosene, pH 2.5, O:A = 1:1, 25 °C, and 20 min), 85% Mn2+, 98% Al3+, 100% Fe3+, and 43% Cu2+ were extracted with losses of only trace amounts (<5.0%) of Co2+, Ni2+, and Li+. The order of extraction efficiency for the diluents was found to be kerosene > Exxal-10 >>> dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) > toluene. Four stages of stripping of metals loaded on D2EPHA were performed as co-extracted metal impurities were selectively stripped, and a purified MnSO4 solution was produced. Spent extractant was regenerated after Fe3+ and Al3+ were completely stripped using 1.0 M oxalic acid (C2H2O4).

Microplastics such as monofilament fishing lines (MFLs) are major pollutants in the marine environment and affect marine life and water quality. To solve this global menace, many researchers have been working on several ways to recycle these wastes and convert them into value-added products such as nanofibers. In this study, we produced novel nanofibers through the electrospinning of a polymeric solution consisting of MFL, hydroxyapatite (HAP), and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). These fabricated nanofibers were further characterized to study their wettability, surface morphology, surface chemistry, thermal degradation, and antibacterial capability. Results from the incorporation of HAP and AgNPs showed increased fiber diameter and scattered fiber orientation. The addition of 0.4 and 1.5 wt% AgNPs to the nanofibers improved their thermal stabilities for temperatures above 350 °C. The MFL + HAP + 1.5 wt% AgNPs nanofibers showed the best antibacterial performance against Escherichia coli (gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive), with bactericidal efficiencies of 70.5% and 68.6%, respectively. Also, increasing the size of the nanofiber aids cell proliferation. These fabricated nanofibers could be used for biomedical and water purification applications.

The Hippo pathway has important roles in organ development, tissue homeostasis and tumour growth. Its downstream effector TAZ is a transcriptional coactivator that promotes target gene expression through the formation of biomolecular condensates. However, the mechanisms that regulate the biophysical properties of TAZ condensates to enable Hippo signalling are not well understood. Here using chemical crosslinking combined with an unbiased proteomics approach, we show that FUS associates with TAZ condensates and exerts a chaperone-like effect to maintain their proper liquidity and robust transcriptional activity. Mechanistically, the low complexity sequence domain of FUS targets the coiled-coil domain of TAZ in a phosphorylation-regulated manner, which ensures the liquidity and dynamicity of TAZ condensates. In cells lacking FUS, TAZ condensates transition into gel-like or solid-like assembles with immobilized TAZ, which leads to reduced expression of target genes and inhibition of pro-tumorigenic activity. Thus, our findings identify a chaperone-like function of FUS in Hippo regulation and demonstrate that appropriate biophysical properties of transcriptional condensates are essential for gene activation. Shao et al. report that FUS interacts with the transcriptional coactivator TAZ, maintaining liquid-like properties of TAZ biomolecular condensates and enhancing TAZ transcriptional activity.

Apolipoprotein E ( ) and Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells 2 ( ) are the two strongest genetic risk factors of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. ApoE binds to the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) to facilitate the uptake of ApoE-lipoprotein particles. TREM2 is a cell surface receptor expressed on microglia in the brain. The activation of TREM2 is essential for microglia to carry out protective functions against AD pathology. Several studies have shown that TREM2 signaling is activated through direct interaction between TREM2 and ApoE. In addition to its important role in AD pathogenesis, the ApoE/TREM2 interaction has been shown to induce immunosuppression of neutrophils within the tumor microenvironment. Despite its clinical importance, a high-resolution molecular understanding of the complex remains elusive. Here, we carried out chemical cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) analysis of the ApoE3/TREM2 complex to identify intra- and inter-protein cross-links, which were used as restraints to guide integrative protein-protein docking. Our data support a binding model in which a helix-loop-helix motif within the ApoE3 hinge and C-terminal region forms a transient hydrophobic pocket that wraps around the hydrophobic tip of the TREM2 ectodomain. This model is further supported by -designed mini-protein binders, which show the same binding mode as identified by our XL-MS experiment. These results establish a robust framework for developing mini-protein-based TREM2 agonists.

Although the relationship between socio-economic wellbeing and health status is well-established in Western industrialized countries, but, few studies have examined this association in developing countries particularly among older persons in Lagos State, Nigeria. National and International Organizations have expressed concerns on the older persons worldwide, and suggested measures for improving their health status and overall wellbeing within the framework of sustainable development. However, older persons are not homogenous category. It has been observed that the gender of the individual affects their access and opportunities to the available health services in the society on the one hand and overall socio-economic wellbeing on the other. This study focuses on the differences in the situations and capabilities of the older persons in the society rather than discussing them as homogeneous group. Inequalities experienced in earlier life, for example in access to education, employment, and health care, as well as those based on gender which, have a critical bearing on status and well being in old age were critically examined. Triangulation method was used for the collection of research information. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select the respondents included in the study. The data collected were analysed using qualitative, quantitative, and percentage analyses. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to code and organise the data collected. Cross-tabulations of social and economic characteristics were done to allow for a general description of the respondents and their household characteristics. Hypotheses testing were done using logistic regression technique to determine the net effect of explanatory factors on the probability that the gender of the older persons would influence their overall socio-economic wellbeing or otherwise. The study found that the life course experiences of individuals is an important determinant of overall wellbeing. The study also found that older men are more likely to enjoy good health status and socio-economic wellbeing than older female. The study therefore conclude that inequality in personal income and socio-economic wellbeing is structured by gender, health status and life course experiences.

[Headnote] Abstract Although the relationship between socioeconomic wellbeing and health status is well-established in Western industrialized countries, but, few studies have examined this association in developing countries particularly among older persons in Lagos State, Nigeria. National and International Organizations have expressed concerns on the older persons worldwide, and suggested measures for improving their health status and overall well-being within the framework of sustainable development. However, older persons are not homogenous category. It has been observed that the gender of the individual affects their access and opportunities to the available health services in the society on the one hand and overall socioeconomic wellbeing on the other. This study focuses on the differences in the situations and capabilities of the older persons in the society rather than discussing them as homogeneous group. Inequalities experienced in earlier life, for example in access to education, employment, and health care, as well as those based on gender which, have a critical bearing on status and well being in old age were critically examined. Triangulation method was used for the collection of research information. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select the respondents included in the study. The data collected were analysed using qualitative, quantitative, and percentage analyses. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to code and organise the data collected. Cross-tabulations of social and economic characteristics were done to allow for a general description of the respondents and their household characteristics. Hypotheses testing were done using logistic regression technique to determine the net effect of explanatory factors on the probability that the gender of the older persons would influence their overall socio-economic well being or otherwise. The study found that the life course experiences of individuals is an important determinant of overall wellbeing. The study also found that older men are more likely to enjoy good health status and socio-economic well being than older female. The study therefore conclude that inequality in personal income and socio-economic well being is structured by gender, health status and life course experiences. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

National and international organizations continue to express concerns on older persons worldwide, and have suggested measures for improving their lives and overall well-being within the framework of sustainable development. Citizenship cannot be assumed to have the same significance for the young and old. A common experience is that of disentitlements of the older persons regarding their person and other rights. Theoretically, older persons are not a homogenous group. It has been observed that the gender of the individual affects access and opportunities to the available old age security system. For a significant proportion of older persons in Nigeria, socio-economic, socio-demographic, and socio-cultural factors play important roles in influencing their life- course experiences and overall socio-economic well being in later life. This study focuses on the differentials in the situations and capabilities of older persons in Lagos State rather than viewing them as a homogeneous group. Gender is particularly believed to be implicated in the varying experiences of older persons. Inequalities experienced in earlier life, for example in access to education, employment, and health care, as well as those based on gender which have a critical bearing on status and well being in old age were critically examined. The triangulation method was used for the collection of research information; these include interview method based on the structured questionnaire, focus group discussion method, and In-depth Interview method.The data for the study were collected between November 2005 and March 2006. A multi-stage sampling procedure was adopted to select the respondents included in the study. The data collected were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10.0. Cross-tabulations of social and economic characteristics were done to allow for a general description of the respondents and their household characteristics. Hypotheses testing were done at two levels, using both the chi-square and logistic regression analysis. Chi-square was used to test the level of significant relationship between independent and dependent variables; while the logistic regression technique was used to determine the net effect of explanatory factors on the probability that the gender of the older persons would influence their overall socio-economic well being. This study found that male and female older persons exhibited differences in socio-economic well-being in their later lives. The study further found that inequality in personal income and socio-economic well being is influenced by gender and life course experiences. The study also found that, women have experienced a greater increase in life expectancy than men, and because women frequently outlive their husbands, they experience a distinct drop in their standards of living on the death of their spouses because much of their societal access to resources had been channeled through their spouses resulting in the feminization of later life.

The treatment of diabetes involves the use of herbal plants, attracting interest in their cost-effectiveness and efficacy. An aqueous extract of Persea americana seeds (AEPAS) was explored in this study as a possible therapeutic agent in rats with diabetes mellitus. The induction of diabetes in the rats was achieved by injecting 65 mg/kg body weight (BWt) of alloxan along with 5% glucose. This study was conducted using thirty-six (36) male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into 6 equal groups, ( n  = 6) and treated for 14 days. In vitro assays for total flavonoid, phenols, FRAP, DPPH, NO, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase, were performed. Biochemical indices fasting blood sugar (FBS), BWt, serum insulin, liver hexokinase, G6P, FBP, liver glycogen, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-ĸB in the serum, were investigated as well as the mRNA expressions of PCNA, Bcl2, PI3K/Akt in the liver and pancreas. The in vitro analyses showed the potency of AEPAS against free radicals and its enzyme inhibitory potential as compared with the positive controls. AEPAS showed a marked decrease in alloxan-induced increases in FBG, TG, LDL-c, G6P, F-1, 6-BP, MDA, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-ĸB and increased alloxan-induced decreases in liver glycogen, hexokinase, and HDL-c. The diabetic control group exhibited pancreatic dysfunction as evidenced by a reduction in serum insulin, HOMA-β, expressions of PI3K/AKT, Bcl-2, and PCNA combined with an elevation in HOMA-IR. The HPLC revealed luteolin and myricetin to be the phytochemicals that were present in the highest concentration in AEPAS. The outcome of this research showed that the administration of AEPAS can promote the activation of the PI3K/AkT pathway and the inhibition of β-cell death, which may be the primary mechanism by which AEPAS promotes insulin sensitivity and regulates glycolipid metabolism.