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Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024L. is a perennial herbaceous plant that plays critical roles in protecting the ecological environment in arid, semi-arid, and desert areas. Although the seed...
L. is a perennial herbaceous plant that plays critical roles in protecting the ecological environment in arid, semi-arid, and desert areas. Although the seed germination characteristics of in response to environmental factors (i.e., drought, temperature, and salt) have been investigated, the response mechanism of seed germination to drought conditions has not yet been revealed. In this study, the changes in the physiological characteristics and transcriptional profiles in seed germination were examined under different polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentrations (0-25%). The results show that the seed germination rate was significantly inhibited with an increase in the PEG concentration. Totals of 3726 and 10,481 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were, respectively, generated at 5% and 25% PEG vs. the control (C), with 1642 co-expressed DEGs, such as drought stress (15), stress response (175), and primary metabolism (261). The relative expression levels (RELs) of the key genes regulating seed germination in response to drought stress were in accordance with the physiological changes. These findings will pave the way to increase the seed germination rate of in drought conditions.
PubMed: 38931081
DOI: 10.3390/plants13121649 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Antimony (Sb) contamination poses significant environmental and health concerns due to its toxic nature and widespread presence, largely from anthropogenic activities....
Antimony (Sb) contamination poses significant environmental and health concerns due to its toxic nature and widespread presence, largely from anthropogenic activities. This study addresses the urgent need for an accurate speciation analysis of Sb, particularly in water sources, emphasizing its migration from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic materials. Current methodologies primarily focus on total Sb content, leaving a critical knowledge gap for its speciation. Here, we present a novel analytical approach utilizing frontal chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FC-ICP-MS) for the rapid speciation analysis of Sb(III) and Sb(V) in water. Systematic optimization of the FC-ICP-MS method was achieved through multivariate data analysis, resulting in a remarkably short analysis time of 150 s with a limit of detection below 1 ng kg. The optimized method was then applied to characterize PET leaching, revealing a marked effect of the plastic aging and manufacturing process not only on the total amount of Sb released but also on the nature of leached Sb species. This evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of the FC-ICP-MS approach in addressing such an environmental concern, benchmarking a new standard for Sb speciation analysis in consideration of its simplicity, cost effectiveness, greenness, and broad applicability in environmental and health monitoring.
Topics: Antimony; Polyethylene Terephthalates; Mass Spectrometry; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Environmental Monitoring
PubMed: 38930935
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122870 -
Micromachines Jun 2024This study developed a novel dielectric wetting microfluidic operation platform combining parallel-plate and coplanar-plate regions with a curved surface structure as...
This study developed a novel dielectric wetting microfluidic operation platform combining parallel-plate and coplanar-plate regions with a curved surface structure as the connection structure. With the new electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) platform, "droplet pull-out" has been successfully achieved and viewed as an essential new operation for microfluidics with the dielectric wetting technique. The EWOD system is divided into a PDMS substrate top plate and an indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate as a bottom layer on this chip. In the parallel-plate region, the droplets can be generated and transported through the square parallel electrodes; in the single-plate area, the droplets can be pulled out from the parallel structure, transported and mixed through the common grounded coplanar electrodes. In dielectric wetting performance testing, coplanar electrodes can apply a maximum driving force of 31.22 µN to DI water and 13.38 µN to propylene carbonate (PC). This driving force is sufficient to detach the sample from the top cover and pull the sub-droplet from the parallel plate structure for DI water, PC and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) buffer. The novel EWOD system also possesses the advantage of precise volume control for liquid samples; the volume error of the generated droplet can be controlled within 0.1% to 2%.
PubMed: 38930767
DOI: 10.3390/mi15060797 -
Micromachines May 2024Recently, various kinds of micro- and nanofluidic functional devices have been proposed, where a large surface-to-volume ratio often plays an important role in nanoscale...
Recently, various kinds of micro- and nanofluidic functional devices have been proposed, where a large surface-to-volume ratio often plays an important role in nanoscale ion transport phenomena. Ionic current analysis methods for ions, molecules, nanoparticles, and biological cells have attracted significant attention. In this study, focusing on ionic current rectification (ICR) caused by the separation of cation and anion transport in nanochannels, we successfully induce electrodiffusioosmosis with concentration differences between protons separated by nanochannels. The proton concentration in sample solutions is quantitatively evaluated in the range from pH 1.68 to 10.01 with a slope of 243 mV/pH at a galvanostatic current of 3 nA. Herein, three types of micro- and nanochannels are proposed to improve the stability and measurement accuracy of the current-voltage characteristics, and the ICR effects on pH analysis are evaluated. It is found that a nanochannel filled with polyethylene glycol exhibits increased impedance and an improved ICR ratio. The present principle is expected to be applicable to various types of ions.
PubMed: 38930669
DOI: 10.3390/mi15060698 -
Micromachines May 2024The inkjet printing of water-based graphene and graphene oxide inks on five substrates, two rigid (silicon and glass) and three flexible (cellulose, indium tin...
The inkjet printing of water-based graphene and graphene oxide inks on five substrates, two rigid (silicon and glass) and three flexible (cellulose, indium tin oxide-coated polyethylene terephthalate (ITO-PET) and ceramic coated paper (PEL paper)), is reported in this work. The physical properties of the inks, the chemical/topographical properties of selected substrates, and the inkjet printing (IJP) of the graphene-based materials, including the optimisation of the printing parameters together with the morphological characterisation of the printed layers, are investigated and described in this article. Furthermore, the impact of both the chemical and topographical properties of the substrates and the physical properties of graphene-based inks on the morphology, wettability and surface coverage of the inkjet-printed graphene patterns is studied and discussed in detail.
PubMed: 38930651
DOI: 10.3390/mi15060681 -
Microorganisms May 2024Considering current global climate change, drought stress is regarded as a major problem negatively impacting the growth of soybeans, particularly at the critical stages...
Drought-Tolerant Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Mitigate the Detrimental Effects of Drought Stress Induced by Withholding Irrigation at Critical Growth Stages of Soybean (, L.).
Considering current global climate change, drought stress is regarded as a major problem negatively impacting the growth of soybeans, particularly at the critical stages R3 (early pod) and R5 (seed development). Microbial inoculation is regarded as an ecologically friendly and low-cost-effective strategy for helping soybean plants withstand drought stress. The present study aimed to isolate newly drought-tolerant bacteria from native soil and evaluated their potential for producing growth-promoting substances as well as understanding how these isolated bacteria along with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could mitigate drought stress in soybean plants at critical growth stages in a field experiment. In this study, 30 isolates and 30 rhizobacterial isolates were isolated from the soybean nodules and rhizosphere, respectively. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 was used for evaluating their tolerance to drought, and then the production of growth promotion substances was evaluated under both without/with PEG. The most effective isolates (DTB4 and DTR30) were identified genetically using 16S rRNA gene. A field experiment was conducted to study the impact of inoculation with DTB4 and DTR30 along with AMF (, , and ) on the growth and yield of drought-stressed soybeans. Our results showed that the bioinoculant applications improved the growth traits (shoot length, root length, leaf area, and dry weight), chlorophyll content, nutrient content (N, P, and K), nodulation, and yield components (pods number, seeds weight, and grain yield) of soybean plants under drought stress ( ≤ 0.05). Moreover, proline contents were decreased due to the bioinoculant applications under drought when compared to uninoculated treatments. As well as the count of bacteria, mycorrhizal colonization indices, and the activity of soil enzymes (dehydrogenase and phosphatase) were enhanced in the soybean rhizosphere under drought stress. This study's findings imply that using a mixture of bioinoculants may help soybean plants withstand drought stress, particularly during critical growth stages, and that soybean growth, productivity, and soil microbial activity were improved under drought stress.
PubMed: 38930505
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061123 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Plastic pollution has escalated into a critical global issue, with production soaring from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 400.3 million metric tons in 2022. The... (Review)
Review
Plastic pollution has escalated into a critical global issue, with production soaring from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 400.3 million metric tons in 2022. The packaging industry alone accounts for nearly 44% of this production, predominantly utilizing polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Alarmingly, over 90% of the approximately 1 million PET bottles sold every minute end up in landfills or oceans, where they can persist for centuries. This highlights the urgent need for sustainable management and recycling solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of PET waste. To better understand PET's behavior and promote its management within a circular economy, we examined its chemical and physical properties, current strategies in the circular economy, and the most effective recycling methods available today. Advancing PET management within a circular economy framework by closing industrial loops has demonstrated benefits such as reduced landfill waste, minimized energy consumption, and conserved raw resources. To this end, we identified and examined various strategies based on R-imperatives (ranging from 3R to 10R), focusing on the latest approaches aimed at significantly reducing PET waste by 2040. Additionally, a comparison of PET recycling methods (including primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary recycling, along with the concepts of "zero-order" and biological recycling techniques) was envisaged. Particular attention was paid to the heterogeneous catalytic glycolysis, which stands out for its rapid reaction time (20-60 min), high monomer yields (>90%), ease of catalyst recovery and reuse, lower costs, and enhanced durability. Accordingly, the use of highly efficient oxide-based catalysts for PET glycolytic degradation is underscored as a promising solution for large-scale industrial applications.
PubMed: 38930360
DOI: 10.3390/ma17122991 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The integration of recycled polymers into additive manufacturing (AM) processes offers a promising opportunity for advancing sustainability within the manufacturing... (Review)
Review
The integration of recycled polymers into additive manufacturing (AM) processes offers a promising opportunity for advancing sustainability within the manufacturing industry. This review paper summarizes existing research and developments related to the use of recycled materials in AM, focusing on distinct polymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), among others. Key topics explored include the availability of recycled filaments on the market, challenges associated with material variability and traceability, and efforts toward establishing ethical product standards and sustainability characterization methodologies. Regulatory considerations and standards development by organizations such as ASTM and ISO are discussed, along with recommendations for future advancements in improving the sustainability of filament recycling and achieving net-zero emissions in AM processes. The collective efforts outlined in this paper underscore the potential of recycled polymers in AM to foster a more sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing industry.
PubMed: 38930283
DOI: 10.3390/ma17122915 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024A novel UV-light-curable poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate matrix composite material with unmodified and methacryloxyl-grafted TiO and TiO-ZrO systems was developed and...
A novel UV-light-curable poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate matrix composite material with unmodified and methacryloxyl-grafted TiO and TiO-ZrO systems was developed and tested as a potential coating material for medical components. The main goal of the research was to evaluate how the addition of (un)modified inorganic oxide fillers affects the properties of the composition (viscosity, UV/Vis spectra), the kinetics of photocuring (photo-DSC), and the morphological (SEM), physicochemical, and thermal properties (DSC, TGA) of the resulting composites. The applied filler functionalization process decreased their polarity and changed their size, BET surface area, and pore volume, which influenced the viscosity and kinetics of the photocurable system. In addition, the addition of synthesized fillers reduced the polymer's glass transition temperature and increased its thermal stability. It was also observed that additional UV irradiation of the tested composite changed its surface, resulting in hydrophobic properties (with the addition of 7 wt.% filler, an increase in the contact angle by more than 45% was observed).
PubMed: 38930277
DOI: 10.3390/ma17122908 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs)-the segregated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based composites with hybrid filler-decorated with FeO were developed....
Graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs)-the segregated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)-based composites with hybrid filler-decorated with FeO were developed. Using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, it was shown that the decorated component has the shape of separate granules, or their clusters were distributed evenly over the GNPs surface. The individual FeO nanoparticles are predominantly rounded, with diameters of approximately 20-60 nm. The use of GNPs/FeO as a filler leads to significant decreases in the percolation limit φc, 0.97 vol% vs. 0.56 vol% for GNPs/UHMWPE- and (GNPs/FeO)/UHMWPE segregated composite material (SCM), respectively. Modification of the GNP surface with FeO leads to an essential improvement in the electromagnetic interference shielding due to enhanced microwave absorption in the 26-37 GHz frequency range in its turn by abundant surface functional groups and lattice defects of GNPs/FeO nanoparticles.
PubMed: 38930178
DOI: 10.3390/ma17122808