Relative Content Research Articles

Inter-subspecies diversity of maize to drought stress with physio-biochemical, enzymatic and molecular responses.

Drought is the most significant factor limiting maize production, given that maize is a crop with a high water demand. Therefore, studies investigating the mechanisms underlying the drought tolerance of maize are of great importance. There are no studies comparing drought tolerance among economically important subspecies of maize. This study aimed to reveal the differences between the physio-biochemical, enzymatic, and molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance in dent (Zea mays indentata), popcorn (Zea mays everta), and sugar (Zea mays saccharata) maize under control (no-stress), moderate, and severe drought stress. Three distinct irrigation regimes were employed to assess the impact of varying levels of drought stress on maize plants at the V14 growth stage. These included normal irrigation (80% field capacity), moderate drought (50% field capacity), and severe drought (30% field capacity). All plants were grown under controlled conditions. The following parameters were analyzed: leaf relative water content (RWC), loss of turgidity (LOT), proline (PRO) and soluble protein (SPR) contents, membrane durability index (MDI), malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, the antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and catalase (CAT). Additionally, the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) was examined at the transcriptional and translational levels. The effects of severe drought were more pronounced in sugar maize, which had a relatively high loss of RWC and turgor, membrane damage, enzyme activities, and HSP90 gene expression. Dent maize, which is capable of maintaining its RWC and turgor in both moderate and severe droughts, and employs its defense mechanism effectively by maintaining antioxidant enzyme activities at a certain level despite less MDA and H2O2 accumulation, exhibited relatively high drought tolerance. Despite the high levels of MDA and H2O2 in popcorn maize, the up-regulation of antioxidant enzyme activities and HSP70 gene and protein expression indicated that the drought coping mechanism is activated. In particular, the positive correlation of HSP70 with PRO and HSP90 with enzyme activities is a significant result for studies examining the relationships between HSPs and other stress response systems. The discrepancies between the transcriptional and translational findings provide an opportunity for more comprehensive investigations into the role of HSPs in stress conditions.

Combination of recycled cellulose with nano-thick flower layered double hydroxides: Biomass water retention slow-release fertilizer for sustainable agriculture

The development of crop nutrient, water utilization and increasing the renewability of waste resources sustainable agriculture is essential for improving sustainable agriculture. In this study, a type of nanothick floral layered double hydroxides (nLDHs) for fast and effective pesticide adsorption was created using cyclodextrin (CD) induction. After that, it was composited with recycled cellulose (PCe) derived from waste biomass (pomelo peel). A novel slow-release hydrogel fertilizer (N@nLDHs/PCe-PAA) was synthesized through the graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA), which was then employed as a nutrient (urea) carrier in the nLDHs/PCe composite. The swelling, water retention and slow-release capabilities of slow-release fertilizer was evaluated. Additionally, crop cultivation tests were conducted on the material to ascertain its potential use in sustainable agriculture. The results shown that N@nLDHs/PCe-PAA had a swelling rate of 197.02 g/g at 600 min, the water retention rate reached 21.02 % in soil at 60 d, and a nutrient release of 68.78 % in soil at 60 d, which were in accordance with European Committee for Standardization (CEN) standards. Besides, the experiment of crop cultivation showed that N@nLDHs/ CPE-PAA had obvious promotion effect on plant growth, which could improve the root system, rhizomes, chlorophyll content, and relative water content in the leaves of the plants. Therefore, this novel slow-release hydrogel fertilizer (N@nLDHs/PCe-PAA) not only promotes resource reproducibility, but also has excellent soil water retention, slow-release nutrient properties and a function of promoting plant growth. It has great value in promoting the sustainable development of agriculture.

Greenwashed Cigarette Ad Text and Imagery Produce Inaccurate Harm, Addictiveness, and Nicotine Content Perceptions: Results from a Randomized Online Experiment.

The tobacco industry has a long history of circumventing regulations to present their products, inaccurately, as less harmful. Greenwashing (portraying a product as natural/eco-friendly) is increasingly used by tobacco companies and may mislead consumers to believe that certain cigarettes are less harmful than others. This study assesses the effect of some common greenwashing tactics on consumer product perceptions. We conducted an online experiment with 1,504 participants ages 18-29, randomized to view a cigarette ad manipulated for presence/absence of a combination of 4 different greenwashing techniques: greenwashed ad text, greenwashed ad imagery, recycled paper ad background, and image of greenwashed cigarette pack. Participants rated perceived absolute harm, relative harm to other cigarettes, absolute addictiveness, relative addictiveness, and relative nicotine content. Participants who viewed ads containing greenwashed text were more likely to have inaccurate perceptions about absolute harm (AOR=1.72), relative harm (AOR=3.92), relative addictiveness (AOR=2.93) and nicotine content (AOR=2.08). Participants who viewed ads containing greenwashed imagery were more likely to have inaccurate perceptions of relative harm (AOR=1.55), absolute addictiveness (AOR=1.72), relative addictiveness (AOR=1.60) and nicotine content (AOR=1.48). Forty-two percent of those who saw an ad with all greenwashed features believed the product was less harmful than other cigarettes vs. 2% of those who saw an ad without greenwashed features. We found greenwashed text and imagery produced inaccurate risk perceptions. More active U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) enforcement against such greenwashing and new FDA rulemaking to prohibit unnecessary imagery in tobacco advertising and establish plain packaging requirements would help protect consumers and public health. These findings provide evidence that greenwashing tactics used by the tobacco industry increase inaccurate product risk perceptions. These tactics could be a way for the industry to make implicit modified risk claims, despite applicable U.S. Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act prohibitions. Findings from this study support the need for prohibitions on these tactics, and the potential for such prohibitions to help protect public health.

Optimizing pH sensor performance with PANI/PMMA composite thin films: Impedimetric and capacitive transduction approaches

The continuous search for novel materials to meet the requirements of modern technological applications has led to the widespread use of polyaniline (PANI) composites for sensing purposes. Although research has been carried out on both chemical sensors using PANI/polymer composites and chemical sensors with impedimetric/capacitive transduction using PANI composites, there is still a gap in the use of PANI/polymer composites in impedimetric and capacitive transduction platforms for pH sensing. In this study, the influence of composite thin films consisting of PANI and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) on the sensitivity and linearity of pH sensors based on electrochemical impedance and capacitance spectroscopy (EIS/ECS) was evaluated. The sensitivity and linearity of the devices showed a dependence on the polymer content. For PANI:PMMA equal to 30:70, the EIS and ECS sensitivity reached 12.6 ± 2.7 and 18.7 ± 4.9 %/pH, respectively, after reaching its minimum value for the 50:50 sample. Similarly, the linearity values for the 30:70 sample were 92.7 % and 99.8 % for EIS and ECS, respectively. We were able to encapsulate the PANI in the PMMA matrix, which improved the control of ion diffusion and analyte access to the active redox quinoid rings on the PANI. As a result, the saturation effect of the polymer was reduced. By adjusting the relative content of PANI and PMMA, the structure and properties of the composite can be controlled, directly affecting the sensor parameters. These materials have potential applications in sensors for various fields such as food, biomedical and environmental monitoring, with the ability to tailor their properties for optimal response.

Chemotaxonomic variation of volatile components in Zanthoxylum Bungeanum peel and effects of climate on volatile components

BackgroundZanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. is widely distributed across China, and the aroma of its peel is primarily determined by its volatile components. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of volatile components in Z. bungeanum peels from different regions and investigated their correlation with climatic factors.ResultsThe results identified 126 compounds in Z. bungeanum, with 27 compounds exhibiting distinct odor characteristics. Linalool was the most abundant, with an average relative content of 21.664%. The volatile oil of Z. bungeanum predominantly features spicy, floral, citrus, and mint aromas. The classification results indicated a significant difference in elevation at the ZB10 collection points in Shaanxi Province compared to other groups. Temperature, average annual precipitation, and wind speed were crucial factors influencing the accumulation of volatile components.ConclusionsThis study is beneficial for enhancing the quality of Z. bungeanum, expanding the understanding of how climatic factors influence the accumulation of volatile substances, and promoting agricultural practices in regions with similar climatic conditions.

Comparative analysis of Scarb1 and Cd36 in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus): Implications for DHA uptake

The polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) significantly influences fish growth and lipid metabolism. Nevertheless, the specific mechanism by which DHA is transported and exerts its effects remains unclear. Scavenger receptor class B type I (SCARB1) is essential for maintaining cellular cholesterol levels and regulating the immune system in mammals, as well as facilitating the uptake of fatty acids (FAs). Another class B scavenger receptor, cluster-determinant 36 (CD36), is involved in promoting the uptake and transport of long-chain fatty acids. However, the molecular characteristics of the grass carp scarb1 gene have not yet been reported, and the potential role of Scarb1 and Cd36 in mediating DHA transport and metabolism remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Scarb1 and Cd36 on DHA transport. Initially, grass carp scarb1–1 and scarb1–2 were cloned. Predictions were made regarding their structural characteristics, including number and presence of transmembrane domains and glycosylation sites. Furthermore, gene structure analysis revealed that scarb1–1 has two additional exons in the 3′-region compared to scarb1–2. The multiple sequence alignment indicated that Scarb1 exhibits conserved motifs and amino acid residues across vertebrates. mRNA expression of scarb1–1 was the highest in the intestine, while scarb1–2 was highest expressed in adipose tissue, with both having lower expression levels in muscle tissue. Scarb1–1 was primarily localized on the cell membrane, whereas Scarb1–2 was found in both the cell membrane and cytoplasm. After overexpression of grass carp Scarb1–1, Scarb1–2, and Cd36 in HEK 293 T cells, DHA incubation showed that only Cd36 significantly increased cellular DHA relative content, suggesting a potential role of Cd36 in DHA transport. These findings will serve as a basis for further research on fatty acid transport in fish.

Increasing salinity sequentially induces salt tolerance responses in Szarvasi-1 energy grass

Soil salinity causes severe physiological disorders, decline in biomass, and crop production worldwide becoming more critical with global climate change. Consequently, salt-tolerant varieties received major focus in all sectors of agriculture. Biomass plants such as Szarvasi-1 energy grass (Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus cv. Szarvasi-1) may play an important role in energy production if they are tolerant to environmental stresses. In this study, Szarvasi-1 energy grass has been investigated to reveal its tolerance to 50–200 mM NaCl in hydroponics. Significant decline in stomatal conductance appeared at 100 mM NaCl treatment but fresh and dry weight and the maximal quantum efficiency of PSII decreased only at 200 mM NaCl. Relative water content and total chlorophyll concentration did not change compared to the control. Leaf water potential was maintained at the control level for one week NaCl exposure, decrease became significant only after two weeks. Malondialdehyde concentration did not refer to oxidative stress. In the element composition of the plants, remarkable increase was found only for Mo whereas Ca, K, S, P, Mn decreased compared to the control. K to Na ratio remained higher than one in the shoot even at 200 mM NaCl. Salt treatment caused temporal and concentration-dependent changes in the expression of genes in the phenylpropanoid pathway, Na transport, photosynthesis, and cellular protection and repair. Szarvasi-1 was found to be fairly tolerant to NaCl which induced a sequential response switching on vacuolar compartmentalization at 50 mM, Na efflux at 100 mM, and cellular protection and repair at 200 mM.

Understanding the leaf rolling of paddy and exploring its management options under aerobic rice

Rice is a staple food in the diets of more than half of the world's population. With India's irregular rainfall patterns and continual environmental anomalies, particularly in Kerala, the identification of climate-smart management practices which can withstand drought is critical. In this context, atrial was conducted in the experimental plots to evolve effective water and nutrient management practices under aerobic rice in lateritic soils of Kerala. However, during the experiment in a few treatments, rolling of leaves was observed, and when explored for the reasons, it was due to soil moisture deficit and plant water stress. When compared to other crop species, rice is highly vulnerable to water deficit. In this regard, an attempt has been made to study the leaf rolling pattern in aerobic rice and how this can be managed with a few soil amendments so that rice productivity can be sustained. The results showed that plant growth parameters, relative water content (RWC), membrane leakage (ML) and spectral signatures were significantly affected by the leaf rolling. It was found that leaf rolling affected plants have less RWC and higher ML and are under drought stress. Pearson correlation analysis showed a strong positive correlation (P < 0.05) of key spectral indices with other physiological traits such as RWC and negatively correlated with ML. Moisture absorbent media such as cocopeat, compost, saw dust and vermiculite were attempted as management strategies to overcome this stress. Results showed that among the absorbents attmepted, cocopeat was found to be better in managing the stress. These results suggest that for aerobic rice under lateritic soil, moisture absorbent media such as cocopeat, has to be incorporated so that it can reduce the rate of leaf rolling thereby sustaining the paddy yield.

Climate change does not impact the water flow of barley at the vegetative stage, ameliorates at anthesis and worsens after subsequent drought episodes

Climate change will bring the interaction of stresses such as increased temperature and drought under high [CO2] conditions. This is likely to impact on crop growth and productivity. This study aimed to (i) determine the response of barley water relations to vegetative and anthesis drought periods under triple interaction conditions, (ii) test the possibility to prime barley plants for drought, and (iii) analyse the involvement of aquaporins in (i) and (ii). The water status of barley was not affected by drought at the vegetative stage, regardless of the environmental conditions. At the anthesis stage, when the water shortage period was more severe, barley plants growing under combined elevated CO2 and temperature conditions were able to maintain a better water status compared with plants grown under current conditions. Elevated CO2 and temperature conditions reduced the stomatal conductance and slowed down the plant water flow through a root-leaf hydraulic conductivity coordination. Leaf HvPIP2;1 and HvTIP1;1 aquaporins seemed to play a key role regulating barley's water flow, while leaf and root HvPIP2;5 provided basic level of water flow. At anthesis drought and under future combined conditions, plants showed a reduced cell dehydration and decrease in leaf relative water content compared with plants grown under current conditions. Exposure to a previous drought did not prime the water status of barley plants to a subsequent drought, but instead worsened the response under future conditions. This was due to an imbalance between the roots versus shoot development.

Effects of intercropping with Fenlong tillage “145” mode on ratoon sugarcane photosynthesis, growth, and yield

AbstractSoil compaction and resource competition are bottlenecks in the improvement of sugarcane productivity in intercropping systems. Fenlong tillage improves crop yields by alleviating soil compaction and ensuring water supply. Wide‐narrow rows are an effective solution for light competition. An efficient intercropping system with Fenlong tillage technology as the core needs to be constructed. A two‐cycle field study was conducted to investigate the effects of planting methods [sole ratoon sugarcane (S) and ratoon sugarcane‐soybean intercropping (I)] combined with tillage [conventional rotary tillage (RT), Fenlong tillage “145” mode (FL145)] on soil physical characteristics, photosynthesis, and growth of ratoon sugarcane, as well as crop yields. For the ratoon sugarcane, compared to RT‐I, FL145‐I decreased bulk density and increased porosity in the 0–40 cm soil layer. Root growth parameters were improved under FL145‐I in the 0–20 cm soil layer. FL145‐I positively affected the stomatal conductance, causing increases in the net photosynthetic and transpiration rates. The increased leaf area index, chlorophyll relative content, and photosynthesis under FL145‐I caused higher dry matter accumulation. The increased single stalk weight under FL145‐I resulted in 17.13%–22.55% higher stalk yield with similar quality. Intercropping under the wide‐narrow row planting pattern had no negative effects on the growth and stalk yield of ratoon sugarcane. For the soybean, compared to RT‐I, the increased 100‐seed weight under FL145‐I resulted in 11.14% higher seed yield with similar quality. Therefore, FL145‐I presents a promising and novel management practice for sustainably increasing ratoon sugarcane productivity in China.

Effect of Cr on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of nickel-based alloys in hydrochloric acid

Nickel-base alloy is a type of metal material with excellent properties and is widely used in many fields. However, in the harsh environment of the acid solution, corrosion causes the reduction of the service life of the alloys, thereby limiting the alloys' use and development. In this paper, the effect of Chromium (Cr) content on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of nickel-based alloys in hydrochloric acid (HCl) was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and electrochemical workstation. Meanwhile, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the composition and properties of the surface passive films. For the Cr20 and Cr30 alloys with a single face-centered cubic (FCC) structure, the Cr2O3 content in the passive films increased with the Cr content, effectively improving the corrosion resistance. As the Cr content continued to increase, the second phases having a body-centered cubic (BCC) lattice were precipitated both in the Cr40 and Cr50 samples, inducing microgalvanic corrosion, thus deteriorating the corrosion resistance. XPS results showed that, in the Cr30 alloy, the relative content of Cr2O3 and the bound water were the highest, indicating that its passive film had the best corrosion resistance. For the passive film, the pitting resistance was related to Cr content, appropriate Cr content improved the corrosion resistance.

Predictors of Mobile News Consumption through News Applications (Apps): The Impacts of Audience Characteristics, Media Usage, and Motivations

This study investigates news audiences’ platform preferences, usage patterns, and factors affecting their mobile news consumption through news apps. Four explanatory factors, news app users’ demographics, news media usage, perceptions, and motivations, are proposed to predict adoption intention. By surveying 698 mobile news app users in the US, this study’s findings indicate that user perceptions of news apps (i.e., perceived ease of use, compatibility, relative content advantage, and observability) and instrumental motivations of news consumption (i.e., information-seeking and opinion needs) best predict news consumers’ willingness to continue using mobile news apps. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed to offer new insights into mobile news audience behavior and inform current digital publishers on cross-media strategies in the highly competitive mobile news market.

Implementation of the optometry Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health curriculum framework.

There is now an Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand (OCANZ) accreditation requirement for Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand optometry programs to ensure students can provide culturally safe care for First Nations Peoples. To assist programs, OCANZ developed the Optometry Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Curriculum Framework (Optometry Framework). The objective of this study was to evaluate early progress towards the implementation. All seven Australian optometry programs were invited to complete a modified version of the OCANZ curriculum mapping tool. Where available, online unit outlines were reviewed to verify and supplement the data. Curriculum maps were synthesised using qualitative content analysis. None of the five participating programs had a standalone Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health unit; instead, programs were integrating content into core units. Only 25% of the units with relevant content had a directly related learning outcome. All programs had at least some content that was either directly or indirectly related to each of the Optometry Framework themes, and included some content related to novice and intermediate levels of learning. Four programs had content related to entry to practice levels of learning. The average total duration of directly related content in programs (excluding clinical placements) was 18 hours. Not all programs offered an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health setting clinical placement opportunity. Directly related assessment was minimal in most programs, where the format was predominantly reflective journals or questions within written examinations. Progress has been made in implementing the Optometry Framework; however, further efforts are required. Programs need to integrate additional directly related learning outcomes, content (particularly entry to practice level learning), and assessment. Further curriculum enhancements will improve the likelihood of optometry students acquiring the necessary capabilities for providing culturally safe care.

Experimental research on biogenic methane generation pathway and microflora constraints based on in-situ gas-water-microbe

Biogenic coalbed methane (CBM), generated through the biodegradation process of coal organic matter, is a relatively clean and environment-friendly unconventional natural gas resource. To investigate the differences in microbial communities (bacteria and archaea) as well as their environmental influencing factors between the Permian Shanxi Formation (P1s) and Taiyuan Formation (P1t), we systematically collected in-situ CBM samples along with coalbed water and microbial samples from a representative biogenic CBM field – the Baode block locked in the Ordos basin in China. The relative content of biogenic CBM was quantitatively calculated while analyzing gas composition, stable isotope, ion content, and high-throughput sequencing analysis to discuss the generation pathway for biogenic CBM and environmental control factors affecting microbial community structure. The results indicate that P1s and P1t are mixed with early thermogenic gas and secondary biogenic gas genetic types within their respective CBMs. The average proportion for biogenic gas within current coal seams is approximately 62.24 % for P1s, while it reaches around 64.37 % for P1t. Water quality type primarily consists of Na-HCO3 type with total dissolved solids (TDS) measuring at approximately 1015.86 mg/L for P1s, whereas P1t exhibits Na-Ca-HCO3-Cl water type with TDS content reaching about 2314.85 mg/L. Combining dominant Methanobacterium species, along with Δ13C(CO2-CH4) ratios and δD(CH4) versus δD(H2O) indexes, represents the biogenic CBM primarily generated through the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis pathway. The in-situ bacterial communities of P1s are mainly influenced by Ni, pH, and TDS. The archaeal communities exhibit higher sensitivity to environmental factors (such as Co, pH, Ni, and dissolved organic carbon) than bacteria. These findings hold significant implications for understanding the generation process of biogenic CBM in middle and low-rank coal areas.

Intrinsic promotion mechanism of calcium oxide on ketone production during catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass via experiment and density functional theory simulation

CaO modified with acetic acid solution or sodium hydroxide (H-CaO/OH-CaO) was used to explore the relationship between the physical and chemical properties of CaO and the components of bio-oil during the pyrolysis of rice straw (RS) and model compounds via experiment and density functional theory(DFT) simulation. The results showed that the modification changed the properties of CaO, and thus the catalytic performance on production of bio-oil components. H-CaO with the larger number of strong basic sites (1.10 ∼ 2 times than commercial CaO) and the longer Ca-O bond length showed the better selectivity and performance on formation of ketones (the maximum relative content in bio-oil reached 43 %). The conversion pathway of cellulose/hemicellulose was changed by H-CaO, which promoted the formation of ketones. The easier combining of H-CaO with the pyrolysis primary products due to the longer Ca-O bond was the key to its better performance.

The impact of volcanic eruptions, pyrocumulonimbus plumes, and the Arctic polar vortex intrusions on aerosol loading over Tomsk (Western Siberia, Russia) as observed by lidar from 2018 to 2022

ABSTRACT Long-term ground-based lidar observations are important in estimating the contribution of different sources (mostly volcanic eruptions and wildfires) to aerosol loading of the atmosphere and in developing and improving various climate models. In this paper, we carefully analyse aerosol scattering ratio profiles and aerosol layers, observed with 532-nm lidar measurements at the Siberian Lidar Station in Tomsk (56.48°N, 85.05°E) over the period 2018–2022, and identify the layers’ potential sources. To compare aerosol loading over Tomsk for the last five years (2018–2022) with that for previous years, we also present and discuss time series of integrated aerosol backscatter coefficient (IABC) for three altitude ranges. The first range (15–30 km) reveals the pure stratospheric aerosol loading provided by volcanic eruptions, the second range (11–15 km) is responsible mainly for aftereffects of wildfire smoke plumes, and the third one (11–30 km) demonstrates aerosol contribution from both sources. In particular, we found for the period 2001–2022 that the annual average IABC reached its maximal values of 2.91 × 10−4 sr−1 (15–30 km) and 8.21 × 10−4 sr−1 (11–30 km) in 2022 due to the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption. The period 2020–2022 exhibited a significant increase in the relative aerosol content at altitudes of 11–15 km in the total aerosol loading at 11–30 km over Tomsk from 54.4% in 2020 to 64.8% in 2022, which indicates a shift of the main part of aerosol loading to altitudes of 11–15 km due to the increased wildfire activity in North America and north-eastern Asia. The Arctic polar vortex is also revealed to distort the real aerosol vertical distribution over Tomsk by replacing it with the aerosol distribution inside the vortex on measurement days when the vortex is over the lidar site.

Zinc Seed Priming Alleviates Salinity Stress and Enhances Sorghum Growth by Regulating Antioxidant Activities, Nutrient Homeostasis, and Osmolyte Synthesis

Salinity is a serious abiotic stress that limits crop production and food security. Micronutrient application has shown promising results in mitigating the toxic impacts of salinity. This study assessed the impacts of zinc seed priming (ZSP) on the germination, growth, physiological and biochemical functioning of sorghum cultivars. The study comprised sorghum cultivars (JS-2002 and JS-263), salinity stress (control (0 mM) and 120 mM)), and control and ZSP (4 mM). Salinity stress reduced germination and seedling growth by increasing electrolyte leakage (EL: 60.65%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: 109.50%), malondialdehyde (MDA; 115.30%), sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl) accumulation and decreasing chlorophyll synthesis, relative water contents (RWC), total soluble proteins (TSPs), and potassium (K) uptake and accumulation. Nonetheless, ZSP mitigated the deleterious impacts of salinity and led to faster germination and better seedling growth. Zinc seed priming improved the chlorophyll synthesis, leaf water contents, antioxidant activities (ascorbate peroxide: APX, catalase: CAT, peroxidase: POD, superoxide dismutase: SOD), TSPs, proline, K uptake and accumulation, and reduced EL, MDA, and H2O2 production, as well as the accumulation of toxic ions (Na and Cl), thereby promoting better germination and growth. Thus, these findings suggested that ZSP can mitigate the toxicity of salinity by favoring nutrient homeostasis, antioxidant activities, chlorophyll synthesis, osmolyte accumulation, and maintaining leaf water status.

Enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties of diamond particles via vanadium carbide coatings

Vanadium carbide coated diamonds were successfully fabricated by molten salt method. The effect of temperature (from 700 °C to 1000 °C) and molar ratio (carbon:vanadium, from 7:1 to 1:1) on the mechanical and thermal performance of vanadium carbide coatings and coated diamond particles were systematically investigated by SEM, EDS, XRD and XPS. The results showed that, compared with uncoated diamonds, the static compressive strength and oxidation resistance of the coated diamonds increased by 42.27 % and 158.82 °C, respectively. The vanadium carbide coatings were mainly composed of V2C and VC. As the temperature rose, the thickness of the coatings increased and cracks and holes appeared on the surface of the coating under thermal stress. With the increasing of the relative content of vanadium in raw materials, the crystal structure of vanadium carbide coatings changed from microcrystalline structure to reticular structure and the microcrystalline structure vanadium carbide coatings showed better performance.

Enhancing chromium resistance and bulb quality in onion (Allium cepa L.) through copper nanoparticles and possible health risk

Chromium (Cr) is a toxic metal in soil–plant system, hence causing possible health risks prominently in the areas with forgoing industrial activities. Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) have been reported as an excellent adsorbent for pollutants. Therefore, this study investigates how copper nanoparticles enhance onion growth while decreasing chromium uptake in onion plants. Additionally, it examines the potential health risks of consuming onion plants with elevated chromium levels. The results demonstrated that the addition of CuNPs at 15 mg kg−1 significantly improved the plant height (48%), leaf length (37%), fresh weight of root (61%), root dry weight (70%), fresh weight of bulb (52%), bulb dry weight (59%), leaves fresh weight (52%) and dry weight of leaves (59%), leaf area (72%), number of onion leaves per plant (60%), Chl. a (42%), chl. b (36%), carotenoids (40%), total chlorophyll (40%), chlorophyll contents SPAD value (56%), relative water contents (35%), membrane stability index (16%), total sugars (25%), crude protein (21%), ascorbic acid (19%) and ash contents (64%) at 10 mg kg−1 Cr. Whereas, maximum decline of Cr by 46% in roots, 68% in leaves and 92% in bulb was found with application of 15 mg kg−1 of Cu NPs in onion plants under 10 mg kg−1 Cr toxicity. The health risk assessment parameters of onion plants showed minimum values 0.0028 for average daily intake (ADI), 0.001911 for Non-cancer risk (NCR), and 0.001433 for cancer risk (CR) in plants treated with Cu NPs at 15 mg kg−1 concentration grown in soil spiked with 10 mg kg−1 chromium. It is concluded that Cu NPs at 15 mg kg−1 concentration improved growth of plants in control as well as Cr contaminated soil. Therefore, use of Cu NPs at 15 mg kg−1 concentration is recommended for improving growth of plants under normal and metal contaminated soils.

Metabolomics Reveals Glycerophospholipids, Peptides, and Flavonoids Contributing to Breast Meat Flavor and Benefit Properties of Beijing-You Chicken.

Unique metabolites contribute to the performance of meat flavor and potential function. In this study, UHPLC-Q Exactive HF-X-based metabolomics and multivariate analysis were applied to explore the characteristic metabolites in the breast meat of Beijing-You chicken (BYC) aged 150, 300, and 450 days (D150, D300, and D450). Based on the criteria of variable importance in the projection (VIP) > 1 and p < 0.05, a total of 154 and 97 differential metabolites (DMs) were screened out compared with D450 (D450 vs. D150, D450 vs. D300), respectively. In general, the relative content of carnosine, L-L-homoglutathione, demethyloleuropein, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, 7-chloro-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-4H-chromen-4-one, glycerophospholipids, exhibited the highest abundance at D450, while balenine, anserine, L-beta-aspartyl-L-leucine, glutathione, oxidized glutathione, stearoylcarnitine, ganoderic acid alpha, oleuroside, Lysoglycerophospholipid species (LGP) presented a downward trend with age. These 210 DMs were involved in 10 significantly enriched pathways related to the synthesis and metabolism of amino acids, peptides, and glycerophospholipid, such as glutathione metabolism, histidine metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and lysine degradation. In conclusion, this work could not only facilitate a better understanding of the differences of chicken flavor and benefit properties with age, but also provide potential valuable bioactive compounds for further research.