In this study, the physico-chemical characteristics of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) produced by Arthrospira platensis were evaluated. Elemental analysis and a bicinchoninic acid (BCA) reaction indicated that the EPS were heteropolysaccharides that contain carbohydrate (13%) and protein (55%) moieties. Analysis of the infrared spectrum and elemental analysis revealed the presence of a sulfate group (0.5%). The UV-visible spectrum showed high UV absorption at 190~230 nm and a shoulder at 260~280 nm. In addition, this spectrum indicated that EPS can form aggregates with mycosporine-like amino acids and/or scytonemin. Gas chromatography analysis of the carbohydrate portion of the EPS indicated that it was composed of seven neutral sugars: galactose (14.9%), xylose (14.3%), glucose (13.2%), frucose (13.2%), rhamnose (3.7%), arabinose (1%), and mannose (0.3%) and two uronic acids, galacturonic acid (13.5%) and glucuronic acid (0.9%). © KSBB

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The effects of light intensity and temperature on Arthrospira platensis growth and production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in batch culture were evaluated using a three-level, full-factorial design and response surface methodology. Three levels were tested for each parameter (temperature: 30, 35, 40°C; light intensity: 50, 115, 180 μmol photons m −2 s −1 ). Both growth and EPS production are influenced mainly by the temperature factor but the interaction term temperature*light intensity also had a significant effect. In addition, conditions optimising EPS production are different from those optimising growth. The highest growth rate (0.414±0.003 day −1 ) was found at the lowest temperature (30°C) and highest light intensity (180 μmol photons m −2 s −1 ) tested, no optima were detectable within the given test range. Obviously, optima for growth must be at a temperature lower than 30°C and a light intensity higher than 180 μmol photons m −2 s −1 . For EPS production, light intensity had a positive linear effect (optimum obviously higher than 180 μmol photons m −2 s −1 ), but for the temperature parameter a maximum effect was detectable at 35°C.

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The aim of this work was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Arthrospira platensis Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) for colon cancer and kidney cell lines. Results showed that EPS were free from cytotoxic effects. A variety of solvents were assessed for their ability to extract the bioactive ingredients from EPS. Methanol gave the highest yield (75.75%) than other solvents. The extracts were tested for activities against a collection of Gram+/- bacteria. The methanol extract exhibited a more potent activity than the other organic extracts, whereas the aqueous extract was active against Staphylococcus epidermis (Gram+) and Salmonella typhimurium (Gram-). Finally, The extracts were also tested for the antioxidant activity, using the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Activity assay. The methanol extract displayed a moderate antioxidant activity (TEAC = 0.027 mg/ml). The HPLC analysis of this extract revealed two distinct peaks: 8.1 kDa (8.31 min) and 4.1 kDa (8.54 min)

For nearly all the states dissociating into Cs (6s, 6p, 5d, 7s, 7p, 6d, 8s) and Li (2s, 2p, 3s), we present an extensive adiabatic study for (1,3)Sigma(+), (1,3)Pi, and (1,3)Delta symmetries of the LiCs molecule. We have used an ab initio approach based on nonempirical pseudopotentials, parametrized l-dependent polarization potentials, and full configuration interaction calculations. A diabatisation procedure based on the effective Hamiltonian theory and an effective metric is used to produce the quasi-diabatic potential energy for all studied states. The spectroscopic constants (R(e), D(e), T(e), omega(e), omega(e)x(e), and B(e)) of these states are derived and compared with the available theoretical and experimental works. In addition to the potential energies, accurate permanent and transition dipole moment have been determined for a wide range of internuclear distances. The adiabatic permanent dipole moment for the first 10 (1)Sigma(+) electronic states has revealed ionic characters relating to electron transfer and yielding both Li(-)Cs(+) and Li(+)Cs(-) arrangements. The quasi-diabatic permanent moments show linear behaviors, especially at intermediate and large distance. The transition dipole moment between neighbor states has revealed many peaks located around the avoided crossing positions.

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Tunisian microalgae are diverse and rarely been studied. This study reports a first investigation of thermophile Chlorophyta isolated from mats community colonizing the geothermal springs in the north of Tunisia at water temperature 60 °C. In the study, the combined effect of temperature and light intensity was investigated on the cell growth, the mother and daughter cells abundance and the extracellular polymeric substances synthesis in batch culture of the isolated species. Three levels were tested for each factor, 20, 30, 40 °C for temperature; and 20, 70, 120 μmol photons m(-2) s(-1) for light intensity, using full factorial design and response surface methodology. The thermophile strain was identified as a genus Graesiella and showed 99.8% similarity with two Graesiella species: Graesiella emersonii and Graesiella vacuolata based on the 18S rDNA molecular identification. The optimal growth condition was found at 30 °C and 120 µmol photons m(-2) s(-1) (7 MC mL(-1) day(-1)), with the abundance of vegetative cells (daughter cells). In contrast, the number of mother cells increased significantly as the growth decreased; consequently, the highest ratio of auto spore mother cells versus daughter cells (19.4) was obtained at 20 °C and 20 µmol photons m(-2) s(-1). The highest yield of EPS production (11.7 mg L(-1) day(-1)) was recorded at the highest temperature (40 °C) and lowest light intensity (20 µmol photons m(-2)s(-1)). These results revealed how the species respond to high and low temperatures and suggest that the species should be considered as facultative thermophile.