Growth Morphology Research Articles

Elucidating Bile Acid Tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Effects on Sterol Biosynthesis and Transport Protein Expression

The tolerance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to high concentrations of bile acids is intricately linked to its potential as a probiotic. While the survival of yeast under high concentrations of bile acids has been demonstrated, the specific mechanisms of tolerance remain inadequately elucidated. This study aims to elucidate the tolerance mechanisms of S. cerevisiae CEN.PK2-1C under conditions of elevated bile acid concentrations. Through growth curve analyses and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we examined the impact of high bile acid concentrations on yeast growth and cellular morphology. Additionally, transcriptomic sequencing and molecular docking analyses were employed to explore differentially expressed genes under high bile acid conditions, with particular emphasis on ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Our findings indicate that high concentrations of bile acids induce significant alterations in the sterol synthesis pathway and transporter protein expression in S. cerevisiae. These alterations primarily function to regulate sterol synthesis pathways to maintain cellular structure and sustain growth, while enhanced expression of transport proteins improves tolerance to elevated bile acid levels. This study elucidates the tolerance mechanisms of S. cerevisiae under high bile acid conditions and provides a theoretical foundation for optimizing fermentation processes and process control.

The secreted protein FonCHRD is essential for vegetative growth, asexual reproduction, and pathogenicity in watermelon Fusarium wilt fungus

Fungal pathogens often secrete numerous effectors to interfere with and/or suppress plant immunity to promote their infection. Watermelon Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon), is one of the devastating diseases that severely affect the watermelon industry. Here, we report the function of a candidate effector protein, FonCHRD, in Fon. FonCHRD harbors a chordin (CHRD) domain of unknown function and has a signal peptide with secretion activity. FonCHRD shows a relatively high expression level in Fon marcoconidia and is inducible by watermelon root tissues. Phenotypic analysis of the targeted deletion mutant revealed that FonCHRD plays roles in vegetative growth, asexual reproduction, and conidial morphology of Fon, while it is not involved in spore germination as well as cell wall, oxidative and salt stress responses. Deletion of FonCHRD impaired the ability to colonize and spread within host plants, significantly reducing its virulence on watermelon. FonCHRD is distributed across multiple compartments of plant cells but can target to the apoplast space in plants. FonCHRD inhibits the INF1- and Bcl2-associated X protein-triggered cell death and defense gene expression in transiently expressed Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. These findings suggest that FonCHRD is essential for Fon pathogenicity by modulating invasive growth and spreading abilities as well as by suppressing plant immune responses.

Effects of poultry by-product meal and complete replacement of fish oil with alternative oils on growth performance and gut health of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): a FEEDNETICS™ validation study

BackgroundAquaculture, traditionally a form of biotechnology, has evolved to integrate innovative biotechnological applications, such as advanced feed formulations, aimed at improving the growth performance and health of farmed fish species. In the present study, the effects of feeding rainbow trout with novel feed formulations were investigated. Fish growth, gut and liver morphology, the concentration of fatty acids in the fillet, and volatile fatty acids in the gut were assessed. The study also validated scenarios from in vivo experiments using a nutrient-based model called FEEDNETICS™. This globally used model serves as a tool for data interpretation and decision support in the context of precision fish farming.MethodsAlternative protein and oil sources, including poultry by-product meal (PBM) and natural algae oil, were explored as sustainable replacements for fishmeal (FM) and fish oil (FO). A 90-day feeding trial was conducted using rainbow trout, comparing two isoproteic, isolipidic and isoenergetic diets. The control diet contained 15% FM, 5% PBM, and 8% FO, while the test diet replaced FM with 15% PBM and 5% feather meal hydrolysate (FMH), and fully substituted FO with VeraMaris® natural algae oil and rapeseed oil.ResultsPBM successfully replaced FM protein without negatively affecting feed intake, growth performance or feed utilization in trout. The combination of PBM and natural algae oil was well tolerated by the trout and showed no negative effects on gut health. A detailed analysis of fatty acids in the fillet revealed that PUFAs of the n3 and n6 series were significantly higher in the PBM group than in the FM group. Values of fatty acid-related health indexes, including atherogenicity index, and thrombogenicity index, confirmed the high nutritional value of trout filet, thus representing a healthy product for human. In addition, the predictions using the FEEDNETICS™ indicated that the tested novel alternative formulations are economically viable. The validation of the model for fish growth resulted in a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 8%.ConclusionsThe FEEDNETICS™ application enhances our ability to optimize feeding strategies and improve production efficiency in the aquaculture industry. VeraMaris® algae oil and PBM could serve as viable and sustainable raw materials for fish feed, promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture practices.

Unusual Defect Chemistry of Thorium Doping of PbS.

The unusual defect chemistry of thorium doping in the PbS system was investigated computationally to answer several open questions arising from the experimental observations. These include finding Th in a +4 oxidation state in contrast to Pb, attracting more than two oxygen atoms on average per thorium and affecting the growth morphology of PbS and its electronic properties. We find Th to be energetically stable at the lead lattice position in PbS and to attract 2-3 oxygens, including in the adjacent interstitial position, which binds strongly to Th. This adjacent interstitial atom allows the +4 oxidation state of Th in PbS as observed experimentally. Furthermore, the bandgap of the ideal material increased due to Th incorporation, in agreement with experimental observations. Finally, we calculated the surface energies of the (100), (110), and (111) surfaces for the systems with and without thorium incorporation. Surfaces (100) and (110) were found to have negative surface energies; however, (111) surface energy was positive and, thus, preferred for the growth of Th-doped PbS thin films. These results correlate well with the experimentally observed surface topography change for PbS thin film growth from the (100) to the (111) surfaces with addition of Th.

Frozen dough steamed products: Deterioration mechanism, processing technology, and improvement strategies.

Fresh dough products lead to instability in product quality, high production costs, and more production time, which seriously affects the industrial production of the food industry. The frozen dough technology mitigates the problems of short shelf-life and easy deterioration of quality during storage and transportation. It has shown a series of advantages in large-scale industrialization, high-quality standardization, and chain operation. However, the further development of frozen dough is restricted by the deterioration of the main components (gluten, starch, and yeast) caused by freezing. This review summarizes the main production process of frozen steamed bread and buns, and the deterioration reasons for the main component of frozen dough. The improvement mechanisms of raw ingredients, processing technology, processing equipment, and additives on frozen dough quality were analyzed from the perspective of improving gluten network integrity and yeast freeze tolerance. From prefermented frozen raw to steamed products without thawing has become the preferred production process to improve production efficiency. Wheat flour mixed with other flour can maintain the gluten network continuity of frozen dough. The freeze tolerance of yeast was improved by treatment with yeast suspension, yeast cell encapsulation, screening hybridization, and genetic engineering. Process optimization and new technology-assisted fermentation and freezing effectively reduce freezing damage. Various additives improve the freeze resistance of the gluten-starch matrix by promoting protein cross-linking and inhibiting water migration. In addition, ice structural proteins and ice nucleating agents have been proven to change the growth morphology and formation temperature of ice crystals. More new technologies and additive synergies need to be further explored.

Growth kinetics and microstructure evolution of network-like Cu3Sn during thermal aging in Ni/Sn–3.5Ag/Cu transient liquid-phase bonding

The growth kinetics and morphology of network-like Cu3Sn in Ni/SA/Cu system were discussed in this study. After reflowing at 270 °C for 300 s, the solder was completely transformed into full Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) composed of (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 and Cu3Sn phases. During the short-term aging stage, the morphology of Cu3Sn was planar-like, and the growth mechanism was reaction-controlled. With aging treatment time exceeding 120 h, the network-like Cu3Sn emerged, and the growth mechanism transformed to diffusion-controlled. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the grain boundaries of (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 adjacent to the network-like Cu3Sn were high angle.

Rapid prediction of interface morphology and oxygen transportation in crystal growth based on the response surface method

In this paper, a two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric model subjected to the gas shear effect and thermal Marangoni effect is developed. It is highlighted that the growth conditions of pulling rate, gas flow rate, crucible, and crystal rotation rates play important roles in determining the crystal behaviors of interface morphology and oxygen transportation during the crystal growth process. A Kriging-based response surface method (RSM) is proposed to rapidly predict the crystal growth behaviors, indicating that the outputs of interface morphology and oxygen concentration can be predicted by the corresponding input growth conditions. By global sensitivity analysis, the pulling rate is identified as the key factor in determining the interface morphology, while gas flow rate and crucible rotation rate have a greater effect on oxygen transportation. Furthermore, these two inputs with the highest sensitivities are used to construct the response surface and predict unknown oxygen transportation. When compared with the numerical simulations, the presented model proves to be an effective tool for reducing measurement time and improving accuracy in predicting crystal behaviors. Our findings provide important insights into understanding the crystal growth process under different growth conditions and inspire a data-driven method for crystal growth prediction.

Effects of different culture media on growth, composition, quality and palatability of the green algae Ulva sp. cultivated in cylindrical photobioreactors

Ulva spp. are valuable seaweeds with recognized commercial applications, including food, feed, and ecosystem services. Ensuring a sustainable and consistent supply of biomass with desirable profiles aligned with intended uses is fundamental for the successful applications of this seaweed. In this study, the growth rate, morphology, physiology, and composition of Ulva sp. produced by propagation in indoor cylindrical photobioreactors using four different culture media (lagoon water - LW, lagoon water enriched with Guillard medium (LF), with sea urchin wastewater - LU, and cow digestate - LD) was assessed; moreover, the nutrient uptake potential of the species was evaluated. The palatability and attractivity of the produced biomass towards the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus were investigated. It was found that the media influenced all the parameters examined, the LF biomass weight was double compared to the other treatments and showed a slightly higher absorbance. Colorimetric analyses reported a significant darker color in Ulva sp. grown under enriched media. Ulva sp. showed higher nutrient removal potential in LF. The lipid content did not vary (2–3 % dry weight, DW), while the protein content ranged from 21 % in LF to 6–9 % in the other treatments. Carbohydrates and fiber content were significantly lower in LF (16 % and 30 %) compared to the other treatments, 27–34 %, and 41–48 %, respectively. Pigment content significantly varied, being higher in biomass grown in LF and LU. Sea urchins showed preferences for biomass grown under LU, followed by LD. This study shows how different nutrient sources affect the biochemical composition, growth, quality, and palatability of Ulva sp.. When cultivated under the synthetic enriched media (LF) the species exhibits characteristics better suitable for human consumption, although requiring a higher economic investment for production, while biomass derived from wastewater nutrients (LD, LU) confirms potential applications of the seaweed as valuable feed and for bioremediation services.

Probing microstructural evolution behaviors in laser welding of dissimilar GH4169/GH3039 subjected to varied preheating temperatures

The present study examined the evolution of interfacial microstructure and on the element distribution of GH4169/GH3039 dissimilar joints by laser welding under different preheating temperatures. The results indicated that the microstructure observed in the interface layer on the GH4169 side exhibited distinct layers, namely diffusion layer and transition layer, which varied depending on the varied preheating temperature. Within the weld seam (WS), two types of dendrites were predominantly present: lath-like columnar dendrite and cellular dendrite. In the GH3039 side, the grain structure was mainly dominated by columnar dendrites, exhibits perpendicular growth to the fusion line and demonstrates a certain epitaxial growth morphology. Moreover, excessive preheating temperature intensified the migration of elements and phase transition behavior. As the preheating temperature increased, the low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) percentage decreased from 13% to 9.4%. The average grain size of the WS at room temperature, 200°C and 400°C is 44.1 μm, 53.3 μm and 58.2 μm, respectively. This paper provides a basis for tuning microstructure and element behavior via preheating temperature optimization in laser welding of dissimilar GH4169/GH3039 for further engineering application.

Self-Assembled Synthesis of Graphene Tubes from Melamine Catalyzed by Calcium Carbonate

This study investigates the carbon products generated by melamine under various heat-treatment temperatures with the catalysis of calcium carbonate. We discovered that the cost-effective precursor melamine readily self-assembles and curls into graphene tubes when catalyzed by the alkaline earth salt CaCO3 at elevated temperatures. Under heat-treatment conditions of 1100 °C and 1200 °C, the growth morphology of graphene tubes with open structures and exceptionally large diameters was observed, and the diameters reached the micron level. These products exhibit a high degree of carbonization and an extremely low nitrogen content, as low as 1.7%. Further, the intensity ratio (ID/IG) of the D band and the G band is as low as 0.79 in Raman characterization. The results show that the products have a certain graphite structure, which proves the catalytic activity of CaCO3. This is attributed to the incorporation of CaCO3 into the raw material system, which impedes the complete thermal decomposition of melamine. On the other hand, the resulting CaO particles are evenly distributed along the tubular products, providing certain support for their self-assembly and growth, thereby achieving the efficient growth of graphene tubes.

A 3D hydrogel scaffold with adjustable interlayer spacing for the formation of compact myocardial tissue

AbstractThe design and optimization of three‐dimensional tissue scaffolds have presented a persistent challenge for myocardial tissue engineering. While current scaffolds have made strides in mimicking in vivo three‐dimensional environments, the presence of interlayer spacing has limited the formation of densely packed tissue, impeding cell‐to‐cell connections. We proposed a novel dynamic three‐dimensional myocardial tissue engineering scaffold with adjustable interlayer spacing, aiming to improve the uniformity of cell distribution and facilitate effective cell communication. The device was composed of hydrogel scaffolds that were fabricated with poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and flexible elastomer actuators that composed of polyurethane acrylate (PUA). Human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes mixed with gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) were seeded onto the multi‐layered scaffold with initial spacing of 100–500 μm. Experimental results indicated the seeding efficiency was maximized at an initial spacing of 400 μm. By decreasing the interlayer spacing, cell growth morphology and gap junction protein expression was improved. This work demonstrated the effect of interlayer spacing modulation to the tissue density and provided a potential approach for cultivation of compact and multi‐layered myocardial tissue.

Host Material Viscoelasticity Determines Wrinkling of Fungal Films.

Microbial organisms react to their environment and are able to change it through biological and physical processes. For example, fungi exhibit various growth morphologies depending on their host material. Here, we show how the rheological properties of the host material influence the fungal wrinkling morphology. Rheological data of the host material was set in relation to the growth morphology. On host material with high storage modulus, the fungal film was flat, whereas on host material with low storage modulus, the fungus showed a morphology made of folds and wrinkles. We combined our findings with mechanical instability theories and found that the formation of wrinkles and folds is dependent on the storage modulus of the host material. The connection between the wrinkling morphology and the storage modulus of the host material is shown with simple scaling theories. The amplitude, number of wrinkles, and wrinkle length follow geometrical laws, and the mechanical properties of the fungal film are expected to increase with increasing host material elasticity. The obtained results show the connection between living biological films, how they react to their surroundings, and the underlying physical mechanisms. They can provide a framework to further design fungal materials with specific surface morphologies.

Twinning and homo-epitaxy cooperation in the already rich growth morphology of CaCO3 polymorphs. II. Calcite.

The two most abundant CaCO3 polymorphs, calcite and aragonite, are universally recognized for the richness of their morphology to which different twins make relevant contributions. The epitaxial transformation calcite ↔ aragonite has long been debated. While the twinning has been thoroughly treated, the homo-epitaxy occurring within each of these minerals has, inexplicably, been overlooked to date, both experimentally and theoretically. Twinning can be deceptive to the point where it can be mistaken for homo-epitaxy, thus making the proposed growth mechanism in the crystal aggregate wrong. Within the present work, the first aim is a theoretical investigation of the homo-epitaxies among the three {10.4}-cleavage, {01.2}-steep and {01.8}-flat rhombohedra of calcite. Accordingly, the specific adhesion energies were calculated between facing crystal forms, unequivocally showing that the {01.2}/{01.8} homo-epitaxy competes with the generation of both {01.2} and {01.8} contact twins. Secondly, the calculation of the specific adhesion energy was extended to consider homo-epitaxy for the {10.4} rhombohedron. The two-dimensional geometric lattice coincidence has been tried for the {00.1} pinacoidal form as well.

Prolonged Post-Harvest Preservation in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by Reducing Water Loss Rate and Chlorophyll Degradation Regulated through Lighting Direction-Induced Morphophysiological Improvements.

To investigate the relationship between the lighting direction-induced morphophysiological traits and post-harvest storage of lettuce, the effects of different lighting directions (top, T; top + side, TS; top + bottom, TB; side + bottom, SB; and top + side + bottom, TSB; the light from different directions for a sum of light intensity of 600 μmol·m-2·s-1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD)) on the growth morphology, root development, leaf thickness, stomatal density, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll fluorescence, as well as the content of nutrition such as carbohydrates and soluble proteins in lettuce were analyzed. Subsequently, the changes in water loss rate, membrane permeability (measured as relative conductivity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content), brittleness (assessed by both brittleness index and β-galactosidase (β-GAL) activity), and yellowing degree (evaluated based on chlorophyll content, and activities of chlorophyllase (CLH) and pheophytinase (PPH)) were investigated during the storage after harvest. The findings indicate that the TS treatment can effectively reduce shoot height, increase crown width, enhance leaves' length, width, number, and thickness, and improve chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, photosynthetic capacity, and nutrient content in lettuce before harvest. Specifically, lettuce's leaf thickness and stomatal density showed a significant increase. Reasonable regulation of water loss in post-harvested lettuce is essential for delaying chlorophyll degradation. It was utilized to mitigate the increase in conductivity and hinder the accumulation of MDA in lettuce. The softening speed of leafy vegetables was delayed by effectively regulating the activity of the β-GAL. Chlorophyll degradation was alleviated by affecting CLH and PPH activities. This provides a theoretical basis for investigating the relationship between creating a favorable light environment and enhancing the post-harvest preservation of leafy vegetables, thus prolonging their post-harvest storage period through optimization of their morphophysiological phenotypes.

Multifunctional fluorinated phosphonate-based localized high concentration electrolytes for safer and high-performance lithium-based batteries

This study introduces a novel fluorinated phosphonate-based additive, Bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)(methoxycarbonylmethyl)phosphonate (BTCMP), in a localized high-concentration electrolyte (LHCE) to address key challenges in lithium metal batteries (LMBs), such as dendritic lithium growth and porous electrode morphology. The pristine LHCE forms a fluorine-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, primarily composed of lithium fluoride (LiF). However, the pristine LHCE suffers from severe electrolyte decomposition, forming a thicker and more resistive cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI), leading to increased impedance and reduced cyclability. Interestingly, Density Functional Theory (DFT) investigations revealed that the BTCMP inclusion modifies the solvation structure by dispersing the aggregates into smaller fragments, facilitating easier Li+ migration than the pristine LHCE. The addition of BTCMP suppresses solvent decomposition as confirmed by an increasing trend in the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of corresponding LHCE molecules. Further, the presence of BTCMP results in a thinner and more stable CEI, reducing electrolyte decomposition, maintaining better ion transport, and preserving the cathode's structural integrity, as supported by TEM and XPS analysis. The BTCMP-based F-rich LHCE retained 82 % of its initial capacity while maintaining a coulombic efficiency of 99.5 % after 200 cycles in a Li||LNMO cell while the pristine LHCE only retained 47.2 % of initial capacity post-150 cycles. Additionally, the flame-retardant properties of BTCMP-based LHCE highlight its safety compared to commercial electrolytes.

Investigating the influence of varied ratios of red and far-red light on lettuce (Lactuca sativa): effects on growth, photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence.

Far red photon flux accelerates photosynthetic electron transfer rates through photosynthetic pigments, influencing various biological processes. In this study, we investigated the impact of differing red and far-red light ratios on plant growth using LED lamps with different wavelengths and Ca1.8Mg1.2Al2Ge3O12:0.03Cr3+ phosphor materials. The control group (CK) consisted of a plant growth special lamp with 450 nm blue light + 650 nm red light. Four treatments were established: F1 (650 nm red light), F2 (CK + 730 nm far-red light in a 3:2 ratio), F3 (650 nm red light + 730 nm far-red light in a 3:2 ratio), and F4 (CK + phosphor-converted far-red LED in a 3:2 ratio). The study assessed changes in red and far-red light ratios and their impact on the growth morphology, photosynthetic characteristics, fluorescence characteristics, stomatal status, and nutritional quality of cream lettuce. The results revealed that the F3 light treatment exhibited superior growth characteristics and quality compared to the CK treatment. Notably, leaf area, aboveground fresh weight, vitamin C content, and total soluble sugar significantly increased. Additionally, the addition of far-red light resulted in an increase in stomatal density and size, and the F3 treatments were accompanied by increases in net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and stomatal conductance (Gs). The results demonstrated that the F3 treatment, with its optimal red-to-far-red light ratio, promoted plant growth and photosynthetic characteristics. This indicates its suitability for supplementing artificial light sources in plant factories and greenhouses.

The Positional Effect of an Immobilized Re Tricarbonyl Catalyst for CO2 Reduction.

The storage of renewable energy through the conversion of CO2 to CO provides a viable solution for the intermittent nature of these energy sources. The immobilization of rhenium(I) tricarbonyl molecular complexes is presented through the reductive coupling of bis(diazonium) aryl substituents. The heterogenized complex was characterized through ultra-visible, attenuated total reflectance, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to probe the electronic structure of the immobilized complex. In addition, studies of cyclic voltammetry, controlled potential electrolysis, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were conducted to examine the CO2 reduction activity. The structure and CO2 reduction performance were compared with a previously reported immobilized rhenium(I) tricarbonyl molecular complex to probe the effect of varying the tethering of the aryl substituent from the 5,5'-position to the 4,4'-position of the 2,2'-bipyridine backbone. The immobilized complex on carbon cloth at the 4,4'-position provided excellent selectivity (FECO > 99%) and maximum TONCO and TOFCO values of 3359 and 0.9 s-1, respectively, without the addition of a Bro̷nsted acid source. A nonaqueous flow cell demonstrated the stability of this complex during a 5 h electrolysis. Tethering at the 4,4'-position, compared to the 5,5'-position, yielded lower overall activity for CO2 reduction and was attributed to the difference in growth morphology and formation of aggregations, due to Re-Re dimer formation and π-π stacking interactions within the metallopolymer matrix. For carbon cloth substrates, an optimized catalyst loading was determined to be 44.6 ± 11 nmol/cm2.

Heterogeneity in establishment of polyethylene glycol-mediated plasmid transformations for five forest pathogenic Phytophthora species.

Plasmid-mediated DNA transformation is a foundational molecular technique and the basis for most CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing systems. While plasmid transformations are well established for many agricultural Phytophthora pathogens, development of this technique in forest Phytophthoras is lacking. Given our long-term research objective to develop CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in a forest pathogenic Phytophthora species, we sought to establish the functionality of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated plasmid transformation in five species: P. cactorum, P. cinnamomi, P. cryptogea, P. ramorum, and P. syringae. We used the agricultural pathogen P. sojae, a species for which PEG-mediated transformations are well-established, as a transformation control. Using a protocol previously optimized for P. sojae, we tested transformations in the five forest Phytophthoras with three different plasmids: two developed for CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and one developed for fluorescent protein tagging. Out of the five species tested, successful transformation, as indicated by stable growth of transformants on a high concentration of antibiotic selective growth medium and diagnostic PCR, was achieved only with P. cactorum and P. ramorum. However, while transformations in P. cactorum were consistent and stable, transformations in P. ramorum were highly variable and yielded transformants with very weak mycelial growth and abnormal morphology. Our results indicate that P. cactorum is the best candidate to move forward with CRISPR-Cas9 protocol development and provide insight for future optimization of plasmid transformations in forest Phytophthoras.

Photocatalytic activity of green synthesis ZnO nanoparticles from Chitosan and investigating the growth mechanism

In this study, we investigate the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using Chitosan, a bio-based precursor, with a green and sustainable production technique. ZnO nanoparticles are produced by magnetic mixing of Chitosan and zinc acetate in a solvent containing acetic acid and distilled water. The effects of chitosan on the growth mechanisms, morphologies and orientations of the particles during the formation of ZnO nanoparticles by heat treatment were examined at the molecular level. Another important focus of this study is the effect of round morphology ZnO nanoparticles on photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles produced from measurements provided by UV–Vis analyzes are examined in detail.This research aims to assess the photocatalytic efficacy of ZnO nanoparticles in the degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation. An 88.05 % degradation is found during 90 min of irradiation under ambient conditions. The period of greatest degradation intensity was shown to be between 30 and 45 min.

Temperature-dependent hydrothermal processing of WS2 nanorods with controlled growth morphology, crystallography and optical properties

WS2 nanorods with uniform size-distribution of width 120 nm and length 600–950 nm were successfully processed at 230 °C by reliable and cost-effective hydrothermal method. Two more temperatures (±10 °C) were employed to understand its influence on structural- and optical-properties. Consequences achieved from crystallography and spectroscopy analyses suggest that formation of hexagonal-phase of crystalline WS2 with direct allowed band-gap values in upward manner as temperature increased. In light of temperature-dependent studies achieved from experimental evidences, plausible growth-mechanism of WS2 nanorods was proposed. It will provide potential reference for future studies in both basic- and applied-WS2 research.