Growth Process Research Articles

Insight into solvent effects on growth morphology of MgCO3·3H2O in CO2 mineralization: Molecular dynamics simulations and DFT studies

Experimental evidence shows that the solvent effect greatly affects the MgCO3·3H2O morphology, but the atomic-level mechanism still remains elusive. In this study, the influence mechanisms of H2O and EtOH on MgCO3·3H2O morphology were systematically investigated by a combination of crystal growth experiments, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and DFT calculations. In contrast to the traditional DFT calculations, the interface microenvironments were introduced to the crystal growth model first. The modified attachment energy (MAE) model proved that (1 0 1), (-1 0 1), and (0 1 1) surfaces dominate MgCO3·3H2O morphology in vacuum, H2O, and EtOH/H2O environments. The solvent molecules created an extensive H-bond network at solid-liquid interfaces, which greatly changed diffusion and combination during the crystal growth process. Compared to the H2O molecule, EtOH only forms H-bonds through the hydroxyl group. The CH3- end created some hydrophobic cavities, which led to weaker H-bond connectivity. The weaker H-bond network facilitated the removal of water from the crystal surface and strengthened the connection between the growth unit and surface, while reducing the solvent effect on the growth unit, thereby accelerating crystal growth and changing morphology. This study reveals the significant role of solvent in the crystallization process of MgCO3·3H2O, providing valuable insights for controlling the MgCO3·3H2O morphology at the atomic level.

Coexistence and Interplay of Two Ferroelectric Mechanisms in Zn1-xMgxO.

Ferroelectric materials promise exceptional attributes including low power dissipation, fast operational speeds, enhanced endurance, and superior retention to revolutionize information technology. However, the practical application of ferroelectric-semiconductor memory devices has been significantly challenged by the incompatibility of traditional perovskite oxide ferroelectrics with metal-oxide-semiconductor technology. Recent discoveries of ferroelectricity in binary oxides such as Zn1-xMgxO and Hf1-xZrxO have been a focal point of research in ferroelectric information technology. This work investigates the ferroelectric properties of Zn1-xMgxO utilizing automated band excitation piezoresponse force microscopy. This findings reveal the coexistence of two ferroelectric subsystems within Zn1-xMgxO. A "fringing-ridge mechanism" of polarization switching is proposed that is characterized by initial lateral expansion of nucleation without significant propagation in depth, contradicting the conventional domain growth process observed in ferroelectrics. This unique polarization dynamics in Zn1-xMgxO suggests a new understanding of ferroelectric behavior, contributing to both the fundamental science of ferroelectrics and their application in information technology.

Epitaxial growth in one dimension.

. The final structure and properties of layers grown by epitaxy techniques are determined in the very early stage of the process. This review describes one-dimensional models for epitaxial growth, emphasizing the basic theoretical concepts employed to analyze nucleation and aggregation phenomena in the submonolayer regime. The main findings regarding the evolution of quantities defining the properties of the system, such as monomer and island densities, and the associated island size, gap length, and capture zone distributions are discussed, as well as the analytical tools used to evaluate them. A concise overview of the most extended algorithms used to simulate the growth processes is provided. Some relevant experimental results are discussed, establishing connections with existing theoretical studies.

Electron diffraction of foam-like clusters between xenon and helium in superfluid helium droplets.

We report electron diffraction results of xenon clusters formed in superfluid helium droplets, with droplet sizes in the range of 105-106 atoms/droplet and xenon clusters from a few to a few hundred atoms. Under four different experimental conditions, the diffraction profiles can be fitted using four atom pairs of Xe. For the two experiments performed with higher helium contributions, the fittings with one pair of Xe-He and three pairs of Xe-Xe distances are statistically preferred compared with four pairs of Xe-Xe distances, while the other two experiments exhibit the opposite preference. In addition to the shortest pair distances corresponding to the van der Waals distances of Xe-He and Xe-Xe, the longer distances are in the range of the different arrangements of Xe-He-Xe and Xe-He-He-Xe. The number of independent atom pairs is too many for the small xenon clusters and too few for the large clusters. We consider these results evidence of xenon foam structures, with helium atoms stuck between Xe atoms. This possibility is confirmed by helium time-dependent density functional calculations. When the impact parameter of the second xenon atom is a few Angstroms or longer, the second xenon atom fails to penetrate the solvation shell of the first atom, resulting in a dimer with a few He atoms in between the two Xe atoms. In addition, our results for larger droplets point toward a multi-center growth process of dopant atoms or molecules, which is in agreement with previous proposals from theoretical calculations and experimental results.

Current status and obstacles of narrowing yield gaps of four major crops.

Maize, wheat, rice and soybean production are intimately linked to food security. Identifying the key factors affecting crop yields and determining the countries where increased irrigation and nitrogen application most effectively enhance yields are essential steps towards achieving sustainable development goals and ensuring food security. Identifying these areas is crucially dependent on yield gaps. However, the lack of comparability between different regions in current regional-scale yield gap studies stems from varied methodologies. Moreover, global yield gap research, relying on statistical models and regression methods, tends to neglect the crop growth process. In this study, we used a random forest model, based on statistical and meteorological data, to pinpoint the key factors influencing crop yields. Subsequently, using unified yield data from the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP), derived from crop models simulations, we applied the yield gap method to calculate the potential yield increase for four crops across countries, under conditions of full irrigation and nitrogen application. Our research finds that nitrogen application is the main factor affecting yields globally, while irrigation plays a crucial role in the major producing countries. The countries with high potential for yield increases are located at the border between Africa and Eurasia. The global average yield of the four major crops increased 13.7-29.8% under full irrigation, 2.9-39.1% under full nitrogen application and 29.4-97.8% under both conditions. This study provides crucial insights into global crop yield changes and their determinants, which are highly important for global sustainable agriculture and food security efforts. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cooler Is Better: The Role of Temperature in the Reproductive Biology of Persian Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Studied in a Hungarian-Bred Cultivar

AbstractThe aim was to determine the growth of pollen tubes throughout the transmitting tissue and the process of fertilization in open, optimal and over pollination on the 3rd, 6th and 9th day after pollination of pistillate flowers, together with apomixis. The experiment was carried out over 2 years in Lovasberény, Fejér district, Hungary, which differed in temperature conditions. The average number of pollen tubes in the locule of the ovary was significantly higher in 2017 (1.3%) than in 2019 (1%). A higher percentage of fruit set was recorded in 2017 compared to 2019. The percentage of apomictic fruits from variant of unpollination was higher in 2017 (10%) than in 2019 (3.7%). Based on these results it can be concluded that pollen tube growth and post-fertilization processes together with apomixis of cultivar ‘AK’ are better adaptable to lower temperatures. These findings may help us to move walnut production to the north or to higher altitudes, where the climate is more continental.

Examining Sigma and Beta Convergence in Emerging Market Economies

This study examines convergence among the select emerging market economies (EMEs) over two decades, from 2000 to 2020. The coefficient of variation was used to measure sigma convergence. Cross-sectional and panel regression analyses were performed to examine unconditional and conditional beta convergence, respectively. The macroeconomic variables chosen for the panel regression analysis were gross fixed capital formation, current account balance, inflation, research and development expenditure, world governance index and life expectancy index. The results supported the presence of convergence (both sigma and beta) among the EMEs over the selected period. In addition, it was found that, except for the current account balance, all selected variables contributed significantly to the growth process of EMEs.

Study on the Structural Characteristics of Mesh Filter Cake in Drip Irrigation: Based on the Growth Stage of Filter Cake

Mesh filters are frequently employed in water-saving irrigation fields. Studies addressing the method of cake formation and the characteristics of the cake during the mesh filter’s growing phase are still missing. One-way and orthogonal experiments were carried out using mesh filters with 220 μm and 320 μm aperture sizes as the research objects, taking particle concentrations, inlet flow, and growth phases as experimental factors. According to the variation rule of seed pressure drop in the formation process of filter cake, the growth process of filter cake is divided into four stages, which are as follows: slow blockage first and second stages (M1, M2), fast blockage stage (M3), and filter cake filtration stage (M4). Moreover, the size distribution, porosity (ε), pore-to-particle ratio (KP), and median size (d50) of the filter cake were used to represent the structural characteristics. The results show that the growth of filter cake was a process that started with the filling of mesh pores by intercepted particles and progressed to the filling of large-particle skeleton pores by subsequently filtered particles. During this process, the proportion of intercepted particles gradually decreased, while the proportion of filtered particles increased incrementally, and the median size (d50) and porosity (ε) decreased. Meanwhile, the smaller the aperture size of the screen, the smaller the filter cake’s median size (d50) was, but the larger the pore-to-particle ratio (KP) was. As the flow rate increased, the porosity (ε) was augmented in the M1 and M2 stages; however, it decreased in the M3 and M4 stages. The concentration had a minor influence on the filter cake’s porosity. Lastly, the regression model for filter cake porosity under two aperture size conditions was established, based on factors such as flow rate, concentration, and growth stage. The coefficients of determination, R2, for the model were 90.33% and 80.73%, indicating a good fit.

Study on the relationship between net primary productivity and site quality in Japanese larch plantations in mountainous areas of eastern Liaoning

Plantation forests enhance carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems in China. Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carrière (Lamb.) (Larix olgensis Henry) is the main species for afforestation in the eastern Liaoning Province. Therefore, it is important to understand the correlation between the site class and carbon sink potential of Larix kaempferi plantations in Liaoning Province for afforestation and carbon sink in this area. The model was fitted using three classical theoretical growth equations: the Richards model, the Korf model, and the Hossfeld model. This study used the forest resource inventory data for management in Liaoning Province in 2011 to build six dynamic height-age models for a Larix kaempferi plantation in Dandong City regardless of base-age. The optimal model derived by the generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) method was compared with the model derived by the algebraic difference approach (ADA) method. The superiority of GADA was demonstrated by comparison. The Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm was used to fit the model. The statistical and biological characteristics were considered synthetically when comparing the models. The best model was screened out by statistical analysis and graphic analysis. The results show that the differential height-age model derived from Richards equation can well explain the growth process of Larix kaempferi in Dandong City, Liaoning Province under different conditions. The site index model based on Richards equation and derived by GADA was used to calculate the site class of a Larix kaempferi plantation in Dandong City. The net primary productivity (NPP) value from the past ten years was extracted from the MOD17A3HGF data set. Spearman correlation analysis and Kendall correlation analysis were used to show that there is a significant positive correlation between NPP value and site class of Larix kaempferi plantation in Dandong City. Among them, the highest growth occurred in 2016; NPP increased by about 3.914 gC/m2/year for every two increases in height-age grade; the lowest increase in NPP was in 2014; NPP increased by about 2.113 gC/m2/year for every two increases in height-age grade; and for every two increases in height-age grade in the recent ten years, the average NPP value increased by about 2.731 gC/m2/year.

BMI z-score as a prognostic factor for height velocity in children treated with recombinant human growth hormone due to idiopathic growth hormone deficiency.

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) causes growth disturbances during childhood. The most recommended treatment of GHD is the administration of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Recent studies have proved that well-nourished GHD children respond better to rhGH therapy compared to undernourished individuals. The aim of this study was to analyze nutritional status along with height velocity in GHD children during the first two years of rhGH therapy, and to estimate the optimal BMI z-score range in which these children achieve the best growth results. This retrospective analysis included 80 prepubertal idiopathic GHD children treated with rhGH. Anthropometric data were obtained from medical records made at an initial visit and then follow-up visits after 12 and 24 months of treatment. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated and standardized into z-score, basing on Cole's LMS method. Then, the BMI z-score was analyzed in relation to the parameters of growth response. The higher the BMI z-score at treatment entry, the greater the increase in height during the first twelve months of rhGH therapy. BMI z-score ≥0 noted at the beginning of each year of the treatment are associated with significantly better growth increments throughout the first and the second years of the therapy. Prepubertal idiopathic GHD children with BMI z-score below 0 would probably benefit from the improvement of their nutritional status prior to the rhGH treatment beginning. It seems that increasing BMI z-score to obtain values between 0 and 1 would be optimal for the growth process.

Cryo-Assisted Nitrogen Treatment for the Fabrication of Nanoengineered, Mixed Transition Metal Oxide Anode from Inorganic Domestic Waste, for Lithium-Ion Batteries

AbstractA novel method for the fabrication of nanoengineered, mixed transition metal oxide anode active material is proposed based on implementing liquid nitrogen treatment during the chemical precipitation process, for the first time in open literature. Such interference in the precipitation is believed to change the surface energy of the nuclei leading to differentiation in the growth process. To exemplify this hypothesis with an environmentally friendly approach, kitchen scourer pads, an existing waste, are used as a starting material instead of using a mixture of primary quality metals’ salts. Therefore, in this study, firstly, an optimization is realized to leach the scouring pad with 100% efficiency. Then, by applying a conventional chemical precipitation to this leachate at pH 5.5, Sample 1-P is produced. Herein, innovatively liquid nitrogen treatment is carried out during the chemical precipitation to produce Sample 2-P. Lastly, these precipitates (Samples 1-P, 2-P) are calcinated in the air to form mixed transition metal oxide powders: Samples 1 and 2, respectively. Structural, chemical, and morphological characterizations are carried out to examine the effect of liquid nitrogen treatment on the powders’ properties. To discuss the effect of nitrogen treatment on the electrochemical performances of the anode active materials (Sample 1 and Sample 2), galvanostatic tests are realized. The results show that Sample 2 demonstrates a higher 1st discharge capacity (1352 mAh/g) and retains 62% of its performance after 200 cycles when 50 mA/g current load is applied. Moreover, this electrode delivers around 500 mAh/g at 1 A/g current load. The remarkable cycle performance of Sample 2 is believed to be related to the superior chemical, structural, and physical properties of the electrode active material. Graphical Abstract

The essential roles of lncRNAs/PI3K/AKT axis in gastrointestinal tumors

The role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in tumors, particularly in gastrointestinal tumors, has gained significant attention. Accumulating evidence underscores the interaction between various lncRNAs and diverse molecular pathways involved in cancer progression. One such pivotal pathway is the PI3K/AKT pathway, which serves as a crucial intracellular mechanism maintaining the balance among various cellular physiological processes for normal cell growth and survival. Frequent dysregulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in cancer, along with aberrant activation, plays a critical role in driving tumorigenesis. LncRNAs modulate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through diverse mechanisms, primarily by acting as competing endogenous RNA to regulate miRNA expression and associated genes. This interaction significantly influences fundamental biological behaviors such as cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. Abnormal expression of numerous lncRNAs in gastrointestinal tumors often correlates with clinical outcomes and pathological features in patients with cancer. Additionally, these lncRNAs influence the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy in multiple types of gastrointestinal tumors through the abnormal activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal tumors and potential therapeutic targets. However, gastrointestinal tumors remain a significant global health concern, with increasing incidence and mortality rates of gastrointestinal tumors over recent decades. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest research on the interactions of lncRNA and the PI3K/AKT pathway in gastrointestinal tumor development. Additionally, it focuses on the functions of lncRNAs and the PI3K/AKT pathway in carcinogenesis, exploring expression profiles, clinicopathological characteristics, interaction mechanisms with the PI3K/AKT pathway, and potential clinical applications.

Modulatory effects of selenium nanoparticles against drought stress in some grapevine rootstock/scion combinations

BackgroundDrought is a significant abiotic stress that adversely affects plant growth, development, and metabolic processes, thereby reducing plant yield, quality, and production, and threatening global food security. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome the existing environmental challenges and has been tested on some plant species. But it is still awaiting investigation for grapevines. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) to modulate some morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters in grapevine saplings (5 BB/Crimson Seedless, 41 B/Crimson Seedless, and 1103 P/Crimson Seedless) under drought stress conditions.ResultsIn the study, Se-NP solutions at different concentrations (0 (control), 1, 10, and 100 ppm) were applied by the spray method to wet the entire green surface of grapevine saplings grown under well-irrigated (90–100% field capacity) and drought stress (40–50% field capacity) conditions. Our results showed that 10 ppm Se-NP concentration had the most positive effect, 1 ppm concentration showed limited effects, and 100 ppm concentration led to toxic effects, especially when combined with drought conditions. Se-NP applications at 10 ppm concentration improved the growth parameters (leaf number, leaf area, root fresh and dry weight, shoot fresh and dry weight, etc.) and increased the SPAD index of grapevine saplings under both normal and drought conditions. Additionally, 10 ppm Se-NP applications improved the relative water content (RWC) and stomatal conductance values, proportional to the increases in protein content. On the other hand, under drought conditions, the drought index, leaf temperature, membrane damage index, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels significantly decreased as a result of 10 ppm Se-NP applications, showing an opposite trend. Furthermore, the levels of proline, total phenolics, and antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, and APX) that rose significantly due to drought stress were reduced by 10 ppm Se-NP applications, which also helped to lessen the oxidative stress caused by the drought.ConclusionThe study concluded that foliar application of Se-NPs at 10 ppm significantly enhances drought tolerance in grapevine saplings by improving antioxidant defense, proline and protein accumulation, and overall growth, while lower concentrations are less effective and higher concentrations can cause phytotoxicity. These findings indicate that Se-NPs applications may hold promise not only for grapevines but also for mitigating drought stress effects and improving productivity in other economically important fruit species, warranting further exploration across diverse crop systems.Graphical

Up-regulation of growth-related gene expression in tobacco by volatile compounds released by Bacillus velezensis WSW007

In order to investigate the mechanism of plant growth promoting (PGP) effects of strain Bacillus velezensis WSW007, its PGP traits and production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were tested. The effects of VOCs produced by strain WSW007 on plant growth were observed by co-culturing this strain with tobacco seedlings in I-plates. Meanwhile, the effects of VOCs on tobacco gene expression were analysed by a transcriptome analysis and VOCs were identified by solid phase micro extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) analysis. As results, strains WSW007 produced acetic acid and siderophore, and could solubilize phosphate; while it also significantly increased the fresh weight of tobacco seedlings via production of VOCs. In transcriptome analysis, plants co-cultured with strain WSW007 presented the highest up-regulated expression for the genes involved in plant growth and development processes, implying that the bacterial VOCs played a role as regulator of plant gene expression. Conclusively, the up-regulation in expression of growth- and development-related genes via VOCs production is an important PGP mechanism in strain B. velezensis WSW007.

Supplementary Far-Red Light for Photosynthetic Active Radiation Differentially Influences the Photochemical Efficiency and Biomass Accumulation in Greenhouse-Grown Lettuce

Adding far-red (FR, 700–800 nm) light to photosynthetic active radiation (400–700 nm) proved to be a possible approach to increasing plant biomass accumulation for lettuce production in indoor vertical farms with artificial lighting as a sole-source lighting. However, how FR light addition influences plant growth, development, and metabolic processes and the optimal value of FR photon flux density for greenhouse-grown lettuce under sunlight are still unclear. This work aims to quantify the value of supplementary FR light with different intensities on lettuce morphological and physiological characteristics in a greenhouse. Lettuce ‘Dasusheng’ (Lactuca sativa L.) was grown in a greenhouse under seven light treatments, including white plus red LEDs with FR photon flux density at 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90 µmol m−2 s−1 (WR, WR + FR10, WR + FR30, WR + FR50, WR + FR70, and WR + FR90, respectively), and lettuce grown with sunlight only was marked as natural light (NL). FR light addition improved the electron transport flux per cross section and performance index (PIabs, PItotal) and decreased the changes in relative variable fluorescence of lettuce leaves compared to plants under NL. Specifically, the PIabs of lettuce leaves were 41%, 41%, 38%, 33%, 26%, and 25% lower under control than in plants under treatments WR + FR90, WR + FR70, WR + FR50, WR + FR30, WR + FR10, and WR, respectively. Leaf number, leaf area, and biomass accumulation of lettuce followed a quadratic function with increasing FR light intensity and were the highest under treatment WR + FR50. The shoot fresh weight and dry weight of lettuce were increased by 111% and 275%, respectively, under treatment WR + FR50 compared to NL. The contents of vitamin C, reducing sugar, total soluble sugar, and starch in lettuce showed a similar trend with biomass accumulation. In conclusion, with commonly used photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD, 400–700 nm) around 200 μmol m−2 s−1, supplementary FR light intensity of 30~50 μmol m−2 s−1 was suggested to enhance the photochemistry efficiency, biomass accumulation, and carbohydrates’ contents in greenhouse-grown lettuce.

Rhythmidia: A modern tool for circadian period analysis of filamentous fungi.

Circadian rhythms are ubiquitous across the kingdoms of life and serve important roles in regulating physiology and behavior at many levels. These rhythms occur in ~24-hour cycles and are driven by a core molecular oscillator. Circadian timekeeping enables organisms to anticipate daily changes by timing their growth and internal processes. Neurospora crassa is a model organism with a long history in circadian biology, having conserved eukaryotic clock properties and observable circadian phenotypes. A core approach for measuring circadian function in Neurospora is to follow daily oscillations in the direction of growth and spore formation along a thin glass tube (race tube). While leveraging robust phenotypic readouts is useful, interpreting the outputs of large-scale race tube experiments by hand can be time-consuming and prone to human error. To provide the field with an efficient tool for analyzing race tubes, we present Rhythmidia, a graphical user interface (GUI) tool written in Python for calculating circadian periods and growth rates of Neurospora. Rhythmidia is open source, has been benchmarked against the current state-of-the-art, and is easily accessible on GitHub.

Twin Peaks: Interrogating Otolith Pairs to See Whether They Keep Their Stories Straight

To tackle the question of the reliability of otoliths as recorders of individual life events, we compared the information enclosed in otolith pairs: the sagittae pair and the sagitta/lapillus pair. We used the synchrotron XRF scanning imaging method, which enabled the comparison of this information at both global and hyperfine scales. Using otoliths of diadromous pipefish, we compared element incorporation in each pair with a focus on (i) environment and transition between water bodies with strontium (Sr) and heavy metals, (ii) temporal information and age estimation based on sulphur (S) incorporation, and (iii) otolith growth and biomineralization processes with zinc (Zn). Results show that the global information in terms of Sr and heavy metals given by both otoliths of a pair is the same and that any otolith may be used to retrieve such global data. In terms of S-based growth increment counts, the numbers are the same between two otoliths of the same kind, but the sagitta/lapillus pairs show a significant difference. Hyperfine-scale analysis of element distribution reveals that a given otolith is under the control of specific growth mechanisms, which can lead to heterogeneous elemental incorporation. The present results lead us to consider otolith growth dynamics and biomineralization processes in the context of a fluid mosaic perspective.

Genome-Wide Identification of the Brassinosteroid Signal Kinase Gene Family and Its Profiling under Salinity Stress

Alfalfa (Medicago L.) is a high-quality perennial leguminous forage with the advantages of salt tolerance, mowing tolerance, high protein content, and other economically valuable characteristics. As the sixth class of plant hormones, brassinosteroids (BRs) play indispensable roles in modulating a variety of plant growth, maturation, and environmental adaptation processes, thereby influencing vegetal expansion and development. Brassinosteroid signal kinases (BSKs) are key cytoplasmic receptor kinases downstream of the BR signaling transduction pathway, participating in plant growth, development, and stress regulation. However, the phylogenetic and expression pattern analyses of the BSK gene family among the five alfalfa species have rarely been reported; in this study, 52 BSK family members were found in the genomes of the five subspecies, and phylogenetic trees were constructed according to protein sequences, allowing us to categorize all BSKs into seven distinct groups. Domain, conserved motif, and exon–intron structural analyses showed that most BSK members were relatively conserved, except for MtBSK3-2, MtBSK7-1, and MtBSK7-2, which may be truncated members. Intra-species collinearity and Ka/Ks analyses showed that purifying selection influenced BSK genes during evolution; most of the cis-acting elements in the promoter region were associated with responses, such as light, defense, and stress, anaerobic induction, MeJA, and abscisic acid. Expression pattern analysis indicated that the majority of alfalfa genes exhibited downregulation after reaching a peak at 0.5 h after treatment with 250 mM NaCl, especially for MsBSK14, MsBSK15, MsBSK17, MsBSK19, and MsBSK21; meanwhile, MsBSK4, MsBSK7, and MsBSK9 increased and were highly expressed at 12 h, demonstrating significantly altered expression patterns under salt stress; furthermore, MsBSK4, MsBSK7, and MsBSK9 exhibited expression specifically in the leaves. qRT-PCR analysis confirmed the expression trends for MsBSK4, MsBSK7, MsBSK9, MsBSK14, MsBSK15, and MsBSK16 matched the transcriptome data. However, the trends for MsBSK17, MsBSK19, and MsBSK21 diverged from the transcriptome data. Our study may provide a foundation for further functional analyses of BSK genes in growth, development, and salt stress tolerance in alfalfa.

Theorizing Outside the Lines: A Self-Study of Collaborative Learning in a Critical Posthuman Reading Group

ABSTRACT Neoliberal conditions in academia often preclude space for ongoing processes of collective reflection and growth, particularly for women faculty. In this qualitative self-study, three women faculty members examine working outside the lines of neoliberal institutions and theoretical traditions to nurture onto-epistemological development through a reading group that has now spanned two years. Drawing on critical feminist posthuman lenses, we inquired into the ways in which we worked and talked through challenging philosophical and theoretical texts in community and connected to our everyday experience as researchers/instructors in ongoing conversations. Specifically, we asked: What opportunities were presented through this different approach to reading and thinking together? What connections to practice and scholarship were created? How did these inform our ways of knowing and being? Our analysis of reflections and meeting notes demonstrates the ways our work ‘outside the lines’ allowed us to do academia differently, in big and small ways – helping us disrupt the isolation and competition of the academy by developing an immanent and relational orientation, working to decenter our (white) selves, and folding our complexifying understandings into research and teaching praxis. Ultimately, we recognize our ‘working outside the lines’ as a form of productive resistance to the devastating effects of neoliberal capitalism, a form of affirmative ethics of care connecting into a larger movement of creating a more relational, supportive academia.

The morphology of liquid CO2 hydrate films at different temperatures under saturation pressure

CO2 hydrate film formed on the surface of water droplets in liquid CO2 was studied via digital microscope system and in situ Raman spectrometer. Temperature significantly affects the initial morphology and lateral growth rate of hydrate film. In the temperature range of 273.15–279.15 K under corresponding saturation pressure of liquid CO2, the growth and development process is primarily separated into three stages, that is, rapid lateral growth, rapid thickening, and slow development. However, in the temperature range of 280.15–282.15 K, the growth and evolution of hydrated film is dominated by rapid lateral growth and slow development processes, while the rapid thickening disappears on our experimental scale, caused by the decrease in the driving force. Each of these two temperature ranges has unique characteristics and interesting discoveries during the hydrate film formation and development. For hydrate film formed at 283.15 K, the formation of hydrate is very difficult. It needs to nucleate inside the droplet with the assistance of the hydrate crystal seeds remaining in the water droplet after decomposition, so that the small hydrate crystals can grow in the water phase, and as the crystals get larger, they will eventually emerge on the droplet’s surface and produce a complete hydrate film. Combining the experimental phenomena during the growth and development of hydrate films at various temperatures, the further growth of the hydrate phase during the generation process mainly depends on the mass transfer process of water molecules through the hydrate film. This work provides valuable information on the mechanism of nucleation, growth and decomposition of liquid CO2 hydrate crystals, which is of great significance for applications in seafloor CO2 gas sequestration.