Desert to Fertile Land: Developing TEPA‐modified montmorillonite clay as an efficient CO2 adsorbent to enhance soil fertility
Global warming is a phenomenon in which the Earth's overall temperature rises as a result of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Among the major greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming [1,2]. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rising due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), as well as changes in land use and vegetation [3]. Carbon dioxide and other gases, such as methane and nitrogen monoxide absorb infrared radiation and redirect it back to Earth, warming the planet [4]. This rise in temperature can impact ecosystems, climate, water resources, agriculture, public health, and societies in general [5]. To combat global warming and reduce carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, many countries around the world, including Saudi Arabia, are working to achieve a vision to reduce carbon emissions by reducing their carbon emissions by 278 million tons per year by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement, for climate. The Kingdom is committed to generating 50% of its electrical energy from renewable sources by 2030. In addition to the shift in the local energy mix, the Saudi Green Initiative is implementing a number of ambitious programs and projects to reduce emissions. These programs include investing in new energy sources, promoting energy efficiency, and expanding carbon capture and storage programs [6]. Through these initiatives, the Kingdom will be able to achieve its climate goals and establish a sustainable future (Figure 1). In addition, the Paris Climate Change Agreement includes 196 countries and the European Union, covering most of the world. This agreement aims to achieve carbon neutrality by taking measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions [7].
In silico Investigation of Cyclosporine Conjugates as Potential Anti-angiogenic Agents via NFAT Inhibition
Calcineurin (CN) activation is a main cause of cancerous tumor formation, one of the leading causes of death globally. Cyclosporine-A (CsA) is a commercially available oral drug that inhibits CN activation; however, low bioavailability limits its use. Nine patented CsA conjugates are potential alternatives to CsA as they have improved cytotoxicities and bioavailabilities but unknown CN-binding affinity. This study aimed to identify the CNinhibition strength and bioavailability of CsA conjugates in silico drug-likeness evaluation via modified Lipinski’s Rule of Five was done on CsA, voclosporin, and CsA conjugates to test bioavailability. The binding affinities of bioavailable compounds were computed via docking to CN in five trials, and the binding affinities were compared. The Water-soluble, RVal, IIA, Alpha, and MeBmt 2 conjugates showed improved bioavailabilities compared to CsA as they passed the drug-likeness screening. After five trials of computational docking to CN, the IIA and RVal conjugates showed improved binding affinities at -15.8 kcal/mol and -15.2 kcal/mol, respectively, compared to CsA at -14.3 kcal/mol. Notably, IIA also showed an improved binding affinity compared to voclosporin at -15.5 kcal/mol. These results suggest that CsA conjugates may be better oral chemotherapeutic drugs than CsA.
DIVE&CLEAN - Intervention Possible
The DIVE&CLEAN project is an educational and innovative initiative aimed at addressing a significant environmental challenge: marine pollution. With oceans covering over 70% of the Earth’s surface and providing a home to 50–80% of life on the planet, their health is critical. However, marine ecosystems are under threat due to plastic pollution, which impacts wildlife, coastal communities, and global biodiversity. This project centers around the idea of introducing underwater trash bins, especially in areas frequented by recreational divers. While most divers explore the seas without specific tools to collect trash, they could contribute significantly with the right infrastructure. The vision of DIVE&CLEAN is to inspire behavioral change, encourage collaboration, and promote actionable solutions to reduce ocean pollution. Using interactive robotics and storytelling, the project tells the story of divers rescuing animals entangled in plastic and collecting trash from the ocean floor using underwater bins. Through creative performances, it seeks to educate and motivate individuals, resorts, and authorities to adopt sustainable practices.
AI時光機-利用照片轉換技術重溫在地歷史
目前網路上流傳許多使用人工智慧修復照片的網站或應用軟體。然而,由於這些訓練資料多數來自國外,導致修復中式建築照片的效果欠佳。此外,許多老舊照片因氧化、潮濕而泛黃,使得修復程序比起修復純黑白相片更加困難。因此,本研究旨在建🖂一個專門修復中式建築物的機器學習模型,主要分為以下三個部分:首先,使用機器學習模型對老舊照片進行修復,包括著色、去模糊化和降噪;其次,分析使用不同比例之有色調照片(模擬泛黃照片)訓練模型的效果;最後,研究不同的修復順序(著色、去模糊化、降噪)和模型執行次數對照片修復效果的影響,發現「著色、去噪、去模糊化」的順序修復效果最佳。此外，許多老舊照片因為受損等原因，只剩下極少的特徵，因此本研究採用機器學習模型，以延伸重建原始照片。透過這種方法，我們能夠重新建構當時建築物周圍可能的場景和情境。