This study was conducted to investigate the effects of organic copper (copper-methionine chelate) in combination with synbiotics (SYN) on the growth performance, morphology, intestinal microbial population, immune response, and meat quality of broiler chickens. 360 mixed-sex, one-day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned to three levels of organic Cu (8, 16, and 32 mg/kg) and two levels of SYN (0 and 200 mg/kg) in a 3×2 factorial arrangement of treatments, with five replicates of 12 birds each at 6 weeks of age. Interaction effects indicated that from 11 to 24 and 25 to 42 days of age, diets containing higher copper levels (16 and 32 mg/kg) combined with SYN resulted in greater body weight gain compared to diets with 8 or 16 mg/kg of copper without SYN (p<0.05). Birds fed a diet containing 8 mg/kg of Cu without SYN exhibited the highest coliform population and pH in the ileum (p<0.05). Elevated Cu levels or SYN supplementation improved intestinal morphology, particularly increasing villus surface area and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth. The total antibody titer and IgM in the serum of chickens fed a diet containing 16 mg/kg of Cu along with SYN were significantly higher compared to those fed diets containing 8 and 16 mg/kg of Cu without SYN. Meat analysis (thigh muscle) showed that the percentage of cooking loss in the meat of chickens fed diets containing 32 mg/kg of Cu with SYN was significantly lower compared to chickens fed diets containing 8 mg/kg of Cu without SYN. The inclusion of Cu-methionine chelate alongside SYN significantly improved the performance, morphology, intestinal microbial population, immune response, and meat quality of broiler chickens. These findings provide a basis for the simultaneous application of organic copper and SYN in the diet of broiler chickens.

Genetic context-dependent regulation of FlbE enhances morphology modulation and citric acid production in Aspergillus niger.

Analysis of the carotenoid cycle during microbial growth by combining fluorescence imaging and deep learning.

Abstract. Urban expansion in India has accelerated significantly over the past two decades, leading to widespread changes in land use and land cover patterns. This study examines the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban expansion and land cover changes from 2001 to 2022 using a dual-resolution geospatial framework. MODIS MCD12Q1 (500 m) data were used for national-scale assessment across twenty Tier- I urban growth centres, while GLC_FCS30D (30 m) data supported high-resolution assessment in the Hyderabad metropolitan region. At the national level, the study revealed a steady increase in built-up areas, often exceeding 30–80% growth across key urban growth centres. Croplands were identified as the primary land category converted into urban use, followed by losses in grasslands and shrublands. The Hyderabad case study demonstrated the limitations of coarse-resolution datasets in detecting fragmented growth and peri-urban development. In contrast, the high-resolution GLC_FCS30D data enabled more detailed mapping of edge expansion, spatial fragmentation, and heterogeneous growth morphology. Unlike prior studies limited to either national or local focus, this work develops a unified, dual-resolution LULC analysis framework with pixel-level transition tracking enables cross-scale insights into urban expansion patterns in India. The integration of both datasets facilitated a comprehensive understanding of urban land changes, combining long-term trend detection with local-level spatial clarity. This approach underscores the importance of resolution–aware methods in urban monitoring and supports evidence–based decision–making in sustainable urban planning, infrastructure development, and land governance. The findings highlight the need for scalable geospatial strategies to address the challenge of rapid urbanization in India, particularly in developing countries undergoing intense land transformation.

Effect of solution components on the surface morphology in the solution growth of n-type 4H-SiC crystals

ABSTRACTThe emergence and dissemination of aquatic pathogens pose significant risks to farmed species. Francisella halioticida, initially reported in abalones and Yesso scallops, was recently isolated from mussels in France, with some isolates showing high virulence. This study aimed to characterize and compare several F. halioticida isolates from mussels using phenotypic and genotypic approaches. Phenotypic analysis was performed using growth curves, biochemical profiles (API strips), and morphology assessed by electron microscopy. Genetic analysis has been performed through whole‐genome comparison using classification methods and virulence markers seeking. Phenotypic analyses highlighted similarities among FR22 isolates and notable differences with FR21 and AG1. Notably, AG1 displayed distinct features. Antibiotic resistance profiling revealed the species' capacity to withstand multiple antimicrobial agents with various modes of action. Complete, circular genomes were assembled and compared using targeted and untargeted approaches. These analyses confirmed the affiliation of FR22 isolates with the F. halioticida species, while FR21 and AG1 taxonomy need to be further investigated. Virulence factor screening revealed the presence of secretion system components (types I, IV, and VI) in all isolates. A novel variant of the Francisella Pathogenicity Island (FPI) was described, shared by all virulent isolates. However, this FPI was absent in the low virulence isolate FR22b. In conclusion, this study discriminates against F. halioticida isolates and proposes new hypotheses on their virulence, contributing to improved detection tools and expanding our understanding of this emerging aquatic pathogen.

Recruitment is a crucial process for the recovery of coral populations after large-scale disturbances causing mass mortality events such as coral bleaching. This study examined the juvenile coral community of the remote Huvadhoo Atoll (southern Maldives, Indian Ocean) 11 years apart (2009 and 2020). Coral recruits (≤5 cm) and juveniles (5–15 cm) were surveyed at eight reef sites located in both lagoon- and ocean-facing environments, under the hypothesis that density and survival of recruits differ with respect to exposure. The total mean number of recruits differed slightly between years, with densities of 25 individuals·m−2 in 2009 and 30 individuals·m−2 in 2020. However, Acropora populations, which represented 60% of juvenile corals in 2009, halved in 2020, particularly in ocean reefs. The decrease in Acropora recruits seems to have favoured other corals: Pocillopora doubled compared to 2009, and species with massive growth morphologies became dominant. In all, the juvenile coral community structure underwent substantial changes between the two surveys. The comparison between the number of recruits and that of juvenile corals suggested higher survival of the species with massive growth morphologies. Whether branching corals will also have the ability to adapt to increasingly frequent climatic disturbances deserves attention in the future.

Can patient-derived organoid models be reliably established from diverse surgical phenotypes of endometriosis, and how do clinical factors such as hormonal treatment affect their growth success and morphology? Endometriosis organoids can be established across all major surgical phenotypes with variable efficiency, and hormonal treatment at the time of biospecimen collection significantly reduces organoid establishment success. Organoid cultures have been developed from eutopic endometrium and select endometriosis tissue biospecimens previously, but their feasibility as pre-clinical models of endometriosis across diverse tissue types and clinical presentations remains unclear. Twenty-eight endometriosis tissue biospecimens were obtained from 23 patients undergoing surgery, with organoid cultures assessed through successive stages of establishment, passage, and cryopreservation. Endometriosis biospecimens, including deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), ovarian endometrioma (OMA), and superficial peritoneal (SUP) biospecimens, were processed into organoid cultures using a validated low-Wnt culture system. Organoid viability, morphology, hormone receptor expression, and cellular composition were evaluated by microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative morphometric analysis. Overall, 22/28 (78.6%) biospecimens established 3-dimensional structures, with 15/28 (53.6%) remaining viable after cryopreservation. Establishment success differed by phenotype (OMA 71.4%, DIE 63.6%, SUP 30%). Progesterone receptor expression was retained in SUP and DIE-derived organoids (7/7, 100%), while OMA-derived organoids showed substantial reductions (4/5 cases). Biospecimens from patients receiving hormonal treatment were smaller (P = 0.038) and had reduced organoid establishment success (3/13, 23.1% vs 12/15, 80.0%, P = 0.003). Organoids exhibited distinct morphological patterns correlating with disease phenotype. Uniform culture conditions may limit growth of certain subtypes, and the in vitro organoid models may not fully represent in vivo tissue complexity. Sample sizes were modest, and pooling tissues from the same patient could mask intra-patient heterogeneity. These organoid models offer a promising platform for studying subtype-specific endometriosis biology, including hormone resistance mechanisms, and could inform personalized therapeutic development. The impact of hormonal treatment on organoid viability underscores the need to consider clinical context in pre-clinical models of endometriosis. This work was supported by the National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific Trials (NECST) Network, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (Grant 4-I66SNMA), and by a research grant from Endometriosis Australia to C.E.F., D.L., and J.A.A. K.G. is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and a NECST Network Top-Up Scholarship, which did not influence the conduct or outcomes of this study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. J.A.A. has received consulting fees from Hologic, Gedeon Richter, and BD, personal payments from Hologic, Bayer, Organon, and Gedeon Richter, travel support from Gedeon Richter, and participated on data safety monitoring advisory boards for Hologic and Gideon Richter. He was the former chair of the Australian Endometriosis Guideline Committee and is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynaecology. All other authors declare no competing interests. N/A.

Abstract Tritium permeation into and through materials poses a critical challenge for the development of nuclear fusion reactors. Minimizing tritium permeation is essential for the safe and efficient use of available fuel supplies. In this work, we present the design, construction, and validation of custom atomic layer deposition (ALD) and deuterium permeation measurement systems aimed at developing thin-film hydrogen permeation barriers. Using the ALD system, we deposited conformal \ce{Al2O3} films on copper foil substrates and characterized their growth behavior, morphology, and composition. ALD growth rates of $\sim$1.1\AA/cycle were achieved for temperatures between 100°C and 210°C. Permeation measurements on bare and alumina coated copper foils revealed a significant reduction in deuterium flux with the addition of a ∽10nm Al 2 O 3 layer. While bare copper followed diffusion-limited transport consistent with Sievert’s law, the alumina-coated samples exhibited surface-limited, pore-mediated transport with linear pressure dependence. Arrhenius analysis showed distinct differences in activation energy for the two transport regimes, and permeation reduction factors exceeding an order of magnitude were observed. These results demonstrate the potential of ALD-grown Al 2 O 3 films as effective hydrogen isotope barriers and provide a foundation for future studies on film optimization and integration into fusion-relevant components.

Lithium-oxygen batteries (Li-O2) present a compelling prospect for the next generation of batteries owing to their exceptionally high theoretical energy density.[1] However, the current-dependent morphology of Li2O2 has emerged as a primary factor contributing to energy density limitations in Li-O2 batteries.[2-3] Existing mathematical models grounded in Butler-Volmer kinetics exhibit considerable uncertainties and inaccuracies.[4-5] A more in-depth understanding of the Li2O2 formation process is critical to address the prevailing challenges in Li-O2 battery technology.In this work, we incorporate recently developed Coupled Ion-Electron Transfer (CIET) theory[6] with a phase-field model to describe the voltage profiles, morphological evolutions, and roles of solvation energy of Li2O2 formation. The CIET-based model provided improved predictions of both voltage profiles and growth patterns compared to BV kinetics, in good agreement with experimental observations. Importantly, our models, for the first time, captures a periodic nucleation-merging-nucleation growing behavior, which is further confirmed by SEM analysis.Furthermore, we identified that increasing solvation reorganization energy can shift the thin-film morphology to higher current densities, enabling enhanced capacity under high-rate conditions. The consistency between model predictions and experimental results validates our approach. This study offers new insights onto the Li2O2 formation mechanism and provides guidance for future Li-O2 battery design.[1] Bruce, P. G., Freunberger, S. A., Hardwick, L. J., & Tarascon, J.-M. (2012). Nucleation and growth of lithium peroxide in the Li-O2 battery. Nature Materials, 11, 19–29.[2] Read, J. (2002). Characterization of the Lithium/Oxygen Organic Electrolyte Battery. Journal of Electrochemical Society, 149, A1190–A1195.[3] Kraytsberg, A., & Ein-Eli, Y. (2011). Review on Li-air batteries - Opportunities, limitations and perspective. Journal of Power Sources, 196, 886–893.[4] Lau, S., & Archer, L. A. (2015). Nucleation and growth of lithium peroxide in the Li-O2 battery. Nano Letters, 15(9), 6108–6114.[5] Horstmann, B., Gallant, B., Mitchell, R., Bessler, W. G., Shao-Horn, Y., & Bazant, M. Z. (2013). Rate-dependent morphology of Li2O2 growth in Li-O2 batteries. Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 4(24), 4227–4232.[6] Fraggedakis, D.; McEldrew, M.; Smith, R.; Krishnan, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Bai, P.; Chueh, W.; Shao-Horn, Y.; Bazant, M. Z. Theory of Coupled Ion-Electron Transfer Kinetics. J. Chem. Phys. 2020, 152, 184703.

P2-layered Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2 (NNMO) material has emerged as a promising positive electrode materials for sodium ion batteries due to its appealing electrochemical properties. Synthesis of polycrystalline NNMO (PC-NNMO) materials through conventional calcination of solid precursors remain the prevailing method, where heating occurs in dry environment with air or O2. On the other hand, molten salt method, where precursors are submerged in molten salt medium during calcination, emerged in recent years, to be a scalable technique for more controlled crystal growth and uniform morphology in a variety of materials. Here, we utilize the molten salt method to synthesize single crystalline NNMO (SC-NNMO) materials with enhanced electrochemical properties. The SC-NNMO material exhibits an initial specific discharge capacity of 95 mAh g−1 at 0.1C rate, retaining approximately 88.5% of its capacity after 100 cycles over a wide voltage range of 2.0-4.2 V. Furthermore, SC-NNMO maintains a capacity retention of 83.9% after 300 cycles at 1C compared to 66.6% for PC-NNMO, indicating an excellent long-term cycling stability. This stability is further confirmed by the performance of an SC-NNMO//hard carbon full cell, which retains 90.3% of its capacity after 200 cycles at 1C within a voltage window of 1.9-4.1 V. The enhancement in stability of SC-NNMO sample is attributed to that the single crystalline structure suppresses the undesired P2 -O2 phase transition at high voltage. This study also presents an easy, efficient and straightforward molten salt preparation process for SC-NNMO material preparation, offering valuable insights into the potential application of such methodology for the large-scale, cost-effective production of various universal sodium-layered transition metal oxide positive electrode materials for SIBs.

The successful application of metallic lithium as anode material, also in anode-free batteries, is currently impeded by the loss of electrochemically active lithium during the continuous formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) as well as a short lifetime caused by formation of dendritic lithium and internal shorting.[1, 2] A deeper understanding of the solid-electrolyte interphase formation and its properties is essential to tackle these challenges. In particular, understanding the correlation between SEI properties, electrolyte composition and growth morphology of lithium metal is a great asset for advantageous electrolyte design to achieve dendrite-free batteries.In this contribution, we investigated the morphology of deposited Li while simultaneously probing the mechanical stability of the outer surface layer by in-operando atomic force microscopy (AFM). An advanced in-operando mode of AFM is demonstrated to assess the morphology as well as mechanical properties such as Young´s modulus of the lithium metal surface simultaneously under operating conditions in carbonate-based electrolytes and a protective gas atmosphere. In particular, the influence of the additive vinylene carbonate (VC) on the electrodeposition of lithium metal is probed. We demonstrate an impact of electrolyte composition on the deposition morphology. Furthermore, we analyse the mechanical properties of the outer surface layer.[3,4] Importantly, a “mechanical fingerprint” is identified for each electrolyte, which is obtained for surface layers on both copper and lithium surfaces. Moreover, the influence of native passivation layers on SEI formation and its mechanical properties is assessed. Their heterogeneity requires careful experimental design for studies of specific SEI properties. A careful comparison of the SEI properties obtained in-situ and after drying revealed a significant difference in mechanical data. This observation underlines the necessity for in-situ characterisation techniques and is critically discussed.

The rechargeable zinc ion battery poses particular interest due to its aqueous compatibility, allowing for the use of cheap, safe, and sustainable electrolytes, as well as high capacity metal anodes. While the use of the aqueous electrolyte largely avoids the risks found with other battery chemistries that employ a metal anode, such as continued overgrowth of a solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, or the formed SEI layer being an ionically insulating passivation layer, challenges remain to be overcome. Dendrite growth remains a persistent issue, in common with other metal anodes from other battery chemistries, and the aqueous electrolyte causes corrosion reactions. Understanding the role of the electrolyte is essential, as by designing a suitable electrolyte we may be able to address these sources of performance degradation [1].Diagnosing these issues requires detailed characterisation, with in situ and operando approaches granting greater insight while avoiding the potentially confounding interpretations that post-cycling ex situ techniques can yield. Operando electrochemical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can reveal structural changes that occur at the electrode-electrolyte interface while it is undergoing electrical cycling in the electrolyte of interest. We use this to investigate the role of electrolyte additives in suppressing dendrite growth [2], by showing that the addition of a suitable additive can lead to electrostatic shielding of the metal anode. Our TEM experiments allowed us to directly observe the nucleation and growth of the electroplated Zn metal on the electrode from a standard electrolyte and from an electrolyte with additional additive, starkly demonstrating the change in nucleation and growth morphology achieved with the inclusion of LiCl salt in the electrolyte. We propose that the cations act to screen the plated zinc, halting secondary nucleation events on existing zinc deposits, and thereby promoting a more planar deposition structure.We also use operando electrochemical TEM to explore how the aqueous electrolyte causes corrosion reactions on electroplated zinc. By carefully correlating with control lab benchtop experiments, we link the observed corrosion of zinc to the evolving local pH at the electrode surface. This evolving pH is due to the dynamic consumption of protons, forming hydrogen, and hydroxides, forming zinc hydroxide sulphate byproduct, with the balance changing at different stages of cycling or cell rest. We show that the inclusion of a small amount of pH buffer in the electrolyte prevents this local pH evolution, and as a result halts the corrosion of zinc.[1] Z. Li, A. W. Robertson. Electrolyte engineering strategies for regulation of the Zn metal anode in aqueous Zn‐ion batteries. Battery Energy, 2, 20220029 (2023).[2] Y. Yuan, S. D. Pu, M. A. Perez-Osorio, Z. Li, S. Zhang, S. Yang, B. Liu, C. Gong, A. S. Menon, L. F. J. Piper, X. Gao, P. G. Bruce, A. W. Robertson. Diagnosing the electrostatic shielding mechanism for dendrite suppression in aqueous zinc batteries. Advanced Materials, 36, 2307708 (2024).

Nonconventional epitaxial techniques, such as van der Waals epitaxy and remote epitaxy, have attracted substantial attention in the semiconductor research community for their capability to repeatedly produce high-quality freestanding films from a single mother wafer. Successful implementation of these techniques depends on creating a robust, uniform two-dimensional (2D) material surface. The conventional method for fabricating graphene on silicon carbide (SiC) is high-temperature graphitization. However, the extremely high temperature required for silicon sublimation (typically above 1500°C) causes step bunching, forming nonuniform multilayer graphene stripes and an unfavorable surface morphology for epitaxial growth. Here, we developed a wafer-scale graphitization technique that allows fast synthesis of single-crystalline graphene at low temperatures by metal-assisted graphitization. In contrast to previous reports, we found annealing conditions enabling SiC dissociation while avoiding silicide formation, producing uniform single-crystalline graphene while maintaining the pristine surface morphology of the substrate. We successfully produce high-quality freestanding single-crystalline III-N (AlN and GaN) membranes on graphene/SiC via the 2D material–based layer transfer technique.

Purification of antifreeze proteins from tussah silkworm (Antheraea pernyi) via polyethylene glycol precipitation coupled with aqueous two-phase extraction.

The influence of music on living things is extensive, as it has been shown to enhance mood, improve cognitive abilities, and promote physical health. At the same time, people are also paying attention to the potential impact of music on plants. Studies have shown that plants can sense and respond to sound and vibration, and respond to the rhythm, frequency, and sound intensity of music, such as changing growth rate, morphology, leaf size, and shape etc. These findings suggest that music can have an impact on plant growth and development. This article mainly reviews the effects of music on plant growth.

Ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) nodules, characterized by rapid growth and diverse morphologies, are widespread on the Baltic Sea seafloor. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the bulk elemental composition, internal structures, and organic matter (OM) characteristics based on n-alkane distributions in Fe-Mn nodules and their underlying sediments from the Gulf of Finland. The investigated nodules are of diagenetic origin and include both Fe-rich and Mn-rich types. The have spheroidal and discoidal morphologies with pronounced concentric layering. The results indicate that the nodules accumulate both terrestrial and bacterially derived OM which undergoes active diagenetic transformation. Regularized Canonical Correlation Analysis (rCCA) applied to this integrated dataset revealed a strong multivariate relationship between organic matter and elemental composition. The analysis of Internal microstructures revealed microglobular, twisted fibrous, and colloform textures, alongside biomorphic features. These textures reflect coupled abiotic and biological mineralization processes. The absence of correlation between nodule morphology, geochemical type, and underlying sediment properties demonstrates that highly localized microenvironments control nodule formation. This study refines the genetic model of shallow-water fast-growing Fe-Mn nodules, highlighting the crucial role of organic matter-driven diagenesis under dynamic redox conditions in ore formation.

Abstract Carbon‐based films are widely used in technologies requiring surfaces with controlled wettability. These films can be synthesized by depositing carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) onto substrates intermittently inserted into rich premixed flames, where thermophoresis drives particle capture. Depending on flame conditions, this method yields either hydrophilic films (from incipient sooting flames) or superhydrophobic films (from fully sooting flames). However, under incipient sooting conditions, the low concentration and small size of CNPs result in slow deposition, limiting practical applications. This study explores Electric Field‐Assisted Thermophoretic Flame Synthesis (E‐ThFS) as a strategy to enhance deposition. Rich ethylene/air flames are used, and the effect of an external electric field is investigated. UV–vis spectroscopy, profilometry, and contact angle measurements show that applying a −3 kV electric field accelerates deposition up to fivefold and alters surface morphology, producing more heterogeneous textures. The hydrophilic character of films from incipient sooting flames is preserved, although it may be preceded by a brief metastable superhydrophobic state whose duration decreases as voltage increases. In fully sooting flames, the electric field similarly enhances deposition and roughness while maintaining superhydrophobicity. These findings demonstrate the potential of E‐ThFS as a scalable, one‐step method for creating carbon coatings with tunable wettability and morphology.

Laser-MIG hybrid welding experiments were performed on 10 mm thick Invar36 alloy plates. The influence of three different types of welding grooves (V-shape, rectangle, and X-shape) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the welded joints were analyzed. The results indicated that the grain growth morphologies and grain sizes varied among the grooves. The average grain size at the center of the weld seam was 177.97 μm, which was smaller than the top grain size of 317.29 μm and the bottom grain size of 233.59 μm. In V-shape and rectangle grooves, the dimensions of grain the first weld pass was obviously smaller than the top region of the second pass. Microstructural characterization and tensile test showed no vertically columnar grains along the weld centerline in rectangle grooves which significantly affected the mechanical properties of welded joints. As a result of this phenomenon, V-shape groove joints demonstrated better mechanical properties than rectangle groove joints. The highest average tensile strength for V-shape groove, X-shape groove, and rectangle groove joints were 429.0 MPa, 419.3 MPa, and 395.4 MPa, respectively. Based on the Abaqus software, three-dimensional finite element analyses of three groove types were performed to investigate the relationship between microstructure and groove geometries. It was observed that the higher KAM regions in the EBSD results correlated with the higher effective plastic deformation in the finite element analysis. Furthermore, it was inferred from the thermal cycle curves that variations in thermal cycles across different regions resulted differences in grain size and grain growth morphology.

Effect of oil-soluble emulsifiers on the self-assembly behaviors of citric acid esters in bulk and emulsified systems.