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Current Issues in Molecular Biology May 2024Plants being sessile are exposed to different environmental challenges and consequent stresses associated with them. With the prerequisite of minerals for growth and... (Review)
Review
Plants being sessile are exposed to different environmental challenges and consequent stresses associated with them. With the prerequisite of minerals for growth and development, they coordinate their mobilization from the soil through their roots. Phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) are macro- and micronutrient; P serves as an important component of biological macromolecules, besides driving major cellular processes, including photosynthesis and respiration, and Fe performs the function as a cofactor for enzymes of vital metabolic pathways. These minerals help in maintaining plant vigor via alterations in the pH, nutrient content, release of exudates at the root surface, changing dynamics of root microbial population, and modulation of the activity of redox enzymes. Despite this, their low solubility and relative immobilization in soil make them inaccessible for utilization by plants. Moreover, plants have evolved distinct mechanisms to cope with these stresses and coregulate the levels of minerals (Fe, P, etc.) toward the maintenance of homeostasis. The present study aims at examining the uptake mechanisms of Fe and P, and their translocation, storage, and role in executing different cellular processes in plants. It also summarizes the toxicological aspects of these minerals in terms of their effects on germination, nutrient uptake, plant-water relationship, and overall yield. Considered as an important and indispensable component of sustainable agriculture, a separate section covers the current knowledge on the cross-talk between Fe and P and integrates complete and balanced information of their effect on plant hormone levels.
PubMed: 38920984
DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060312 -
Gels (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Effective forest fire suppression remains a critical challenge, necessitating innovative solutions. Temperature-sensitive hydrogels represent a promising avenue in this...
Effective forest fire suppression remains a critical challenge, necessitating innovative solutions. Temperature-sensitive hydrogels represent a promising avenue in this endeavor. Traditional firefighting methods often struggle to address forest fires efficiently while mitigating ecological harm and optimizing resource utilization. In this study, a novel intelligent temperature-sensitive hydrogel was prepared specially for forest fire extinguishment. Utilizing a one-pot synthesis approach, this material demonstrates exceptional fluidity at ambient temperatures, facilitating convenient application and transport. Upon exposure to elevated temperatures, it undergoes a phase transition to form a solid, barrier-like structure essential for containing forest fires. The incorporation of environmentally friendly phosphorus salts into the chitosan/hydroxypropyl methylcellulose gel system enhances the formation of temperature-sensitive hydrogels, thereby enhancing their structural integrity and firefighting efficacy. Morphological and thermal stability analyses elucidate the outstanding performance, with the hydrogel forming a dense carbonized layer that acts as a robust barrier against the spread of forest fires. Additionally, comprehensive evaluations employing rheological tests, cone calorimeter tests, a swelling test, and infrared thermography reveal the multifaceted roles of temperature-sensitive hydrogels in forest fire prevention and suppression strategies.
PubMed: 38920936
DOI: 10.3390/gels10060390 -
Gels (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024In energy applications, the use of materials with hierarchical porous structures and large surface areas is essential for efficient charge storage. These structures... (Review)
Review
In energy applications, the use of materials with hierarchical porous structures and large surface areas is essential for efficient charge storage. These structures facilitate rapid electron and ion transport, resulting in high power density and quick charge/discharge capabilities. Carbon-based materials are extensively utilized due to their tunable properties, including pore sizes ranging from ultra- to macropores and surface polarity. Incorporating heteroatoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, and boron modifies the carbon structure, enhancing electrocatalytic properties and overall performance. A hierarchical pore structure is necessary for optimal performance, as it ensures efficient access to the material's core. The microstructure of carbon materials significantly impacts energy storage, with factors like polyaromatic condensation, crystallite structure, and interlayer distance playing crucial roles. Carbon aerogels, derived from the carbonization of organic gels, feature a sponge-like structure with large surface area and high porosity, making them suitable for energy storage. Their open pore structure supports fast ion transfer, leading to high energy and power densities. Challenges include maintaining mechanical or structural integrity, multifunctional features, and scalability. This review provides an overview of the current progress in carbon-based aerogels for energy applications, discussing their properties, development strategies, and limitations, and offering significant guidance for future research requirements.
PubMed: 38920935
DOI: 10.3390/gels10060389 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2024Waterlogging is one vast environmental constraint that limits crop growth and yield worldwide. Most major crop species are very sensitive to waterlogging, leading to...
INTRODUCTION
Waterlogging is one vast environmental constraint that limits crop growth and yield worldwide. Most major crop species are very sensitive to waterlogging, leading to enormous yield losses every year. Much is already known about wheat, barley or maize; however, hardly any data exist on oat and its tolerance against waterlogging. Thus, this study aimed to investigate if oats can be an adequate alternative in crop rotation under conditions of temporal submergence and if cultivar differences exist. Furthermore, this study was to test (1) whether yield was differently affected when stress is applied at different developmental stages (BBCH 31 and 51), and (2) nutrient imbalances are the reason for growth restrictions.
METHODS
In a large-scale container experiment, three different oat varieties were cultivated and exposed to 14 consecutive days of waterlogging stress at two developmental stages.
RESULTS
Even though vegetative growth was impaired after early waterlogging and which persists till maturity, mainly due to transient nutrient deficiencies, growth performance after late waterlogging and grain yield of all three oat varieties at maturity was not affected. A high tolerance was also confirmed after late waterlogging in the beginning generative stage: grain yield was even increased.
DISCUSSION
Overall, all oat varieties performed well under both stress treatments, even though transient nutrient imbalances occurred, but which were ineffective on grain yield. Based on these results, we conclude that oats, independently of the cultivar, should be considered a good alternative in crop production, especially when waterlogging is to be expected during the cultivation phase.
PubMed: 38919823
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1386039 -
Risk Management and Healthcare Policy 2024The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors of postmenopausal special uterine leiomyoma pathological types or leiomyosarcoma and to develop a nomogram for...
Development and Validation of a Nomogram to Predict the Risk of Special Uterine Leiomyoma Pathological Types or Leiomyosarcoma in Postmenopausal Women: A Retrospective Study.
PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors of postmenopausal special uterine leiomyoma pathological types or leiomyosarcoma and to develop a nomogram for clinical risk assessment, ultimately to reduce unnecessary surgical interventions and corresponding economic expenses.
METHODS
A total of 707 patients with complete information were enrolled from 1 August 2012 to 1 August 2022. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyse the association between variables and special uterine leiomyoma pathological types or leiomyosarcoma in postmenopausal patients. A nomogram for special uterine leiomyoma pathological types or leiomyosarcoma in postmenopausal patients was developed and validated by bootstrap resampling. The calibration curve was used to assess the accuracy of the model and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA) were compared with the clinical experience model.
RESULTS
The increasing trend after menopause, the diameter of the largest uterine fibroid, serum carcinoembryonic antigen 125 concentration, Serum neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, and Serum phosphorus ion concentration were independent risk factors for special uterine leiomyoma pathological types or leiomyosarcoma in postmenopausal patients. We developed a user-friendly nomogram which showed good diagnostic performance (AUC=0.724). The model was consistent and the calibration curve of our cohort was close to the ideal diagonal line. DCA indicated that the model has potential value for clinical application. Furthermore, our model was superior to the previous clinical experience model in terms of ROC and DCA.
CONCLUSION
We have developed a prediction nomogram for special uterine leiomyoma pathological types or leiomyosarcoma in postmenopausal patients. This nomogram could serve as an important warning signal and evaluation method for special uterine leiomyoma pathological types or leiomyosarcoma in postmenopausal patients.
PubMed: 38919406
DOI: 10.2147/RMHP.S461773 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024The bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE) originating from spontaneous charge polarizations can reach high conversion efficiency exceeding the Shockley-Queisser limit....
The bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE) originating from spontaneous charge polarizations can reach high conversion efficiency exceeding the Shockley-Queisser limit. Emerging van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures provide the ideal platform for BPVE due to interfacial interactions naturally breaking the crystal symmetries of the individual constituents and thus inducing charge polarizations. Here, we show an approach to obtain ultrafast BPVE by taking advantage of dual interfacial polarizations in vdW heterostructures. While the in-plane polarization gives rise to the BPVE in the overlayer, the charge carrier transfer assisted by the out-of-plane polarization further accelerates the interlayer electronic transport and enhances the BPVE. We illustrate the concept in MoS/black phosphorus heterostructures, where the experimentally observed intrinsic BPVE response time achieves 26 ps, orders of magnitude faster than that of conventional non-centrosymmetric materials. Moreover, the heterostructure device possesses an extrinsic response time of approximately 2.2 ns and a bulk photovoltaic coefficient of 0.6 V, which is among the highest values for vdW BPV devices reported so far. Our study thus points to an effective way of designing ultrafast BPVE for high-speed photodetection.
PubMed: 38918419
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49760-6 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024In general, the P-centered ring-opening of quaternary phosphirenium salts (QPrS) predominantly leads to hydrophosphorylated products, while the C-centered ring-opening...
In general, the P-centered ring-opening of quaternary phosphirenium salts (QPrS) predominantly leads to hydrophosphorylated products, while the C-centered ring-opening is primarily confined to intramolecular nucleophilic reactions, resulting in the formation of phosphorus-containing cyclization products instead of difunctionalized products generated through intermolecular nucleophilic processes. Here, through the promotion of ring-opening of three-member rings by iodine anions and the quenching of electronegative carbon atoms by iodine cations, we successfully synthesize β-functionalized vinylphosphine oxides by the P-addition of QPrS intermediates generated in situ. Multiple β-iodo-substituted vinylphosphine oxides can be obtained with exceptional regio- and stereo-selectivity by reacting secondary phosphine oxides with unactivated alkynes. In addition, a variety of β-functionalized vinylphosphine oxides converted from C-I bonds, especially the rapid construction of benzo[b]phospholes oxides, demonstrates the significance of this strategy.
PubMed: 38918418
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49640-z -
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Jun 2024Riverine phytoplankton takes up phosphate, dissolved silicate, and nitrate. We investigated which nutrients are depleted during a Lagrangian sampling in the free-flowing...
Riverine phytoplankton takes up phosphate, dissolved silicate, and nitrate. We investigated which nutrients are depleted during a Lagrangian sampling in the free-flowing part of the River Elbe in 2023. As part of this study, we tested the hypotheses that nutrient depletion might be caused by (1) above-average phytoplankton biomass or by (2) decreased nutrient load of the river during previous years. Phytoplankton biomass increased up to 350 km in rivers and stopped increasing exactly when soluble reactive phosphorus had been completely consumed, and molar carbon to phosphorus ratios of seston indicated the beginning phosphorus limitation. The concentrations of dissolved silicate and nitrate dropped below the detection limit as well. In contrast to the results from eight previous longitudinal samplings taken in 2018-2022, nitrate exhaustion was detected for the first time in 2023 within the transect. This was caused neither by an above-average phytoplankton biomass nor by a declined overall nutrient load of the river in 2018-2023. Instead, denitrification appears to be the most plausible explanation for the downstream decrease of nitrate and the loss of total nitrogen which was supported by enrichment of nitrate stable isotopes and a decreasing ratio of nitrate N/O.
Topics: Rivers; Environmental Monitoring; Phytoplankton; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Phosphorus; Nitrates; Biomass; Nitrogen; Phosphates; Nutrients; Silicates
PubMed: 38916758
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12834-5 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jun 2024Physicochemical methods for remediating phenol-contaminated soils are costly and inefficient, making biodegradation an environmentally friendly alternative approach....
Physicochemical methods for remediating phenol-contaminated soils are costly and inefficient, making biodegradation an environmentally friendly alternative approach. This study aims to screen for potential phenol-degrading bacteria and to verify the removal capacities of a selected strain in a bioaugmentation experiment at the greenhouse level using L. (Chinese cabbage) as the model plant and phenol-contaminated soil. In parallel, pot experiments were conducted using a collaborative approach based on this model system. We found that strain H13 showed a high degradation capability, with a 97.67% efficiency in degrading 100 mg/L phenol. Under shaking flask conditions, H13 facilitated the solubilization of tricalcium phosphate and potassium feldspar powder. Pot experiments suggested a phenol removal percentage of 89.22% and enhanced availability of soil phosphorus and potassium for plants with H13 inoculation. In this case, the abundance of soil microbes and the activity of soil enzymes significantly increased as well. Furthermore, both photosynthesis and the antioxidant system in Chinese cabbage were enhanced following H13 inoculation, resulting in its increased yield and quality. Partial least squares path modeling revealed that H13 can primarily affect plant root growth, with a secondary impact on photosynthesis. These findings highlight the potential of biodegradation from phenol-degrading bacteria as a promising strategy for efficient phenol removal from soil while promoting plant growth and health.IMPORTANCEThis study is significant for environmental remediation and agriculture by its exploration of a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective bio-strategy in treating phenol-contaminated soil. These findings have essential implications for environmental remediation efforts and sustainable agriculture. By utilizing the biodegradation capabilities of strain H13, it is possible to remove phenol contaminants from the soil efficiently, reducing their negative effects. Furthermore, the enhanced growth and health of the Chinese cabbage plants indicate the potential of this approach to promote sustainable crop production.
PubMed: 38916316
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00266-24 -
Reumatismo Jun 2024In this case report, a novel N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 3 homozygous mutation (c.782 G>A; p.R261Q) associated with hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral...
In this case report, a novel N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 3 homozygous mutation (c.782 G>A; p.R261Q) associated with hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis/hyperostosis-hyperphosphatemia syndrome is described. The patient had elbow, pelvis, and lower limb pain and a hard mass in the hip and olecranon regions. Increased levels of inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and C-reactive protein were observed. After treating the patient with conventional drugs, we tested denosumab, which reduced but did not normalize the Pi.
Topics: Humans; Hyperphosphatemia; Denosumab; Calcinosis; N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases; Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase; Bone Density Conservation Agents; Female; Mutation; Male; Hyperostosis, Cortical, Congenital
PubMed: 38916164
DOI: 10.4081/reumatismo.2024.1687