Aparecida Silva Almeida, C., Regina Baggio, S., Regina Barros Mariutti, L., Bragagnolo, N., 2020. One-step rapid extraction of phytosterols from vegetable oils. Food Research International 130, 108891.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096399691930777X The conditions for the extraction of phytosterols (campesterol, stigmasterol and β -sitosterol) from vegetal oils 4 were optimized by means of response surface methodology (RSM). A 2 central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used to investigate the effects of four independent variables: sample weight (g), saponification o temperature ( C), saponification time (h) and number of extractions (n). The CCRD was carried out in 27 trials, including eight axial and three central points; and the response variables were the contents of campesterol, stigmasterol, β -sitosterol and total phytosterols. The optimized conditions established by the RSM were 0.3 g of n sample, saponification for 3 h at 50 °C and 4 extractions with -hexane. Satisfactory values for linearity, recovery, repeatability, accuracy, precision, limits of detection (2.0-2.3 mg/100g) and quantification (6.5-7.7 mg/100g) were achieved. The optimized method was also validated by comparison with the official AOCS p method, and the contents of stigmasterol and β -sitosterol did not show significant differences ( >0.05) when p determined by both methods. However, low values ( <0.05) for campesterol were found when the samples were analyzed by the AOCS method. The method optimized and validated in the present work is easy to carry out, fast and accurate. The method was successfully applied to sunflower, canola, corn, soybean and olive oils, and the lowest contents of total phytosterols were found in olive oil while and the highest amounts, in corn oil.

Archer, S.D.J., Pointing, S.B., 2020. Anthropogenic impact on the atmospheric microbiome. Nature Microbiology 5, 229-231.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-019-0650-z The atmosphere has undergone extensive physico-chemical change due to anthropogenic emissions. The impact on the ecology of the atmospheric microbiome has so far not been considered. Here, we define the scope of change to the atmosphere and identify potential microbial responses.

Arevalo Jr, R., Ni, Z., Danell, R.M., 2020. Mass spectrometry and planetary exploration: A brief review and future projection. Journal of Mass Spectrometry 55, e4454.

https://doi.org/10.1002/jms.4454 Since the inception of mass spectrometry more than a century ago, the field has matured as analytical capabilities have progressed, instrument configurations multiplied, and applications proliferated. Modern systems are able to characterize volatile and nonvolatile sample materials, quantitatively measure abundances of molecular and elemental species with low limits of detection, and determine isotopic compositions with high degrees of precision and accuracy. Consequently, mass spectrometers have a rich history and promising future in planetary exploration. Here, we provide a short review on the development of mass analyzers and supporting subsystems (eg, ionization sources and detector assemblies) that have significant heritage in spaceflight applications, and we introduce a selection of emerging technologies that may enable new and/or augmented mission concepts in the coming decades.

Arif, M., Bai, Y., Usman, M., Jalalah, M., Harraz, F.A., Al-Assiri, M.S., Li, X., Salama, E.-S., Zhang, C., 2020. Highest accumulated microalgal lipids (polar and non-polar) for biodiesel production with advanced wastewater treatment: Role of lipidomics. Bioresource Technology 298, 122299.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852419315299 Microalgal lipids consist of non-polar and polar lipids. Triacyleglyceride (TAG), a non-polar lipid, is convertible to biodiesel, whereas glycolipids and phospholipids are polar and not convertible to biodiesel lowing to their high degree of unsaturation (polyunsaturated fatty acids), which makes the production process insufficient and expensive. In this review, microalgal species that contain the highest lipid content (≥40%) in