High Content Research Articles

Identification and Functional Analysis of Key Genes Regulating Organic Acid Metabolism in Jujube Fruit

Organic acids are crucial indicators of fruit flavor quality, but the metabolic characteristics and regulatory genes of organic acids during jujube fruit development remain largely unexplored. In this study, the cultivar ‘Heigeda’ with a high organic acid content was used as the experimental material. The organic acid content was quantified, and key candidate genes were identified through transcriptome analysis. The results indicated that malic acid and citric acid were the main organic acid content in jujube fruit and increased gradually with fruit development. Transcriptome analysis identified nine genes associated with malic acid and seven with citric acid, with four genes co-regulating malic acid and citric acid. Functional assays by transient overexpression and silencing of these four genes in the jujube fruits revealed that overexpression significantly upregulated the malic and citric acid content. However, only the silencing of aconitase1 (ZjACO1) and aconitase3 (ZjACO3) significantly downregulated the content of malic and citric acids. Therefore, aconitase1 (ZjACO1) and aconitase3 (ZjACO3) are considered the key genes that regulate the metabolism of citric acid and malic acid in jujube fruits. Our study can enrich the regulation mechanism of the organic acid metabolism of jujube fruit and provide theoretical support for the efficient cultivation of jujube fruit.

Comparative Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Possible Roles of Rice Phospholipase A Genes in the Accumulation of Oil in Grains

The phospholipase A (PLA) gene family plays a crucial role in the regulation of plant growth, development and stress response. Although PLA genes have been identified in various plant species, their specific functions and characteristics in oil quality formation of rice grains (Oryza sativa L.) have not been studied yet. Here, we identified and characterized 35 rice PLA genes, which were divided into three subgroups based on gene structures and phylogenetic relationships. These genes are distributed unevenly across 11 rice chromosomes. The promoter sequence of rice PLAs contain multiple plant hormones and stress-related elements. Gene expression analyses in various tissues and under stress conditions indicated that PLAs may be involved in rice growth, development and stress response. In addition, metabolomics, transcriptomics and qRT-PCR analyses between two rice varieties Guang8B (G8B, high oil content) and YueFengB (YFB, low oil content) revealed that the different expressional levels of rice PLA genes were closely related to the differences in the oil content between ‘G8B’ and ‘YFB’ grains. The findings of this study provide potential novel insights into the molecular information of the phospholipase A gene family in rice, and underscore the potential functions of PLA genes in rice oil content accumulation, providing valuable resources for future genetic improvement and breeding strategies.

Effect of Heat Input on Tin Bronze-Induced Intergranular Cracks During Arc Cladding Process

This work aimed to figure out the effect of heat input on the characteristics, formation, and elimination of liquid tin bronze-induced intergranular cracks in steel sheets with a thickness of 2 mm. Tin bronze cladding layers were prepared using an arc cladding technique on the steel. A statistical method was adopted to analyze the severity of intergranular cracks. Microstructures and intergranular cracks were characterized by SEM and TEM. The tensile experiments were carried out using an electronic universal testing machine. For the bare steel sheets, the intergranular cracks originated from the cladding layer and propagated into the interior of the steel along the grain boundaries. The intergranular cracks could evolve into macrocracks and lead to the failure of steel. With the increase in heat input, the maximum temperature, maximum stress, and contact time between steel and liquid tin bronze increased. The severity of intergranular cracks was also increased, and the longest crack reached 520 μm. The mechanical properties of the steel sheets decreased with the increase in heat input. For nickel-plated steel sheets, intergranular cracks were eliminated under low heat input, and a transition layer with a nickel content of 12.32 wt.% was generated. The intergranular cracks generated under high heat input and nickel content in the transition layer were only 1.34 wt.%. The strength of the nickel-plated steel also decreased drastically, and the ductility was almost zero.

Axial compression behavior of mechanized filament-wound GFRP-steel tubed concrete stub columns

Filament-wound is presently the prevailing and efficient process in the field of molding, known for its ability to achieve optimal molding effects. This technique offers numerous advantages, including high precision, a high fiber content. Traditional FRP-steel tubed concrete stub columns (FSTCSCs) are fabricated by longitudinally wrapping FRP sheet, which results in low production efficiency. This paper introduces a mechanized filament-wound FSTCSC, which can achieve overall molding and effectively improve production efficiency. This paper presents an examination of the axial compression performance of mechanically wound FSTCSC. Two variables were considered including FRP wrapping angle and concrete strength. The experimental results reveal that fiber fracture of mechanized filament-wound FSTCSC is a gradual process, with damage starting from the outermost layer. When GFRP undergoes fracture, a higher wrapping angle results in enhanced restraint stiffness but reduced ductility. Moreover, the validated finite element model is used to analyze the parameters such as the wrapping angle and the thickness of GFRP tube, and it is found that adjusting both upward and downward wrapping angles plays a role in boosting the peak load carrying capacity. Furthermore, five models for predicting ultimate strengths were evaluated using test results, followed by the provision of recommendations for practical design.

Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly for the Synthesis of Polyisoprene-Polystyrene Block and Random Copolymers: Towards High Molecular Weight and Conversion.

In this study, reversible addition-fragmentation chain- transfer (RAFT) polymerization combined with the polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA) technique is used to synthesize polyisoprene (PI)-based block and random copolymers with polystyrene (PS), aiming for high molecular weight and monomer conversion. The focus is to optimize the polymerization conditions to overcome the existing challenge of cross-linking and Diels-Alder reactions during the polymerization of isoprene, which typically constrain the reaction conversion and molecular weight of the final polymers. Using a poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) macroRAFT agent synthesized in ethanol at 80°C, random and block copolymers of PS-PI with a target molecular weight of 50000gmole-1 and a high monomer conversion of ≈80% are achieved under optimized conditions in water-emulsion at 35°C. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) verified the successful synthesis as well as the high content of 1,4 microstructure in polyisoprene. The thermal analysis via differential scanning calorimetry indicated distinct glass transitions for the microphase-separated PI-PS block copolymer, while a single transition for PI-PS random copolymer, indicating no microphase separation. Furthermore, dynamic light scattering analysis together with transmission electron microscopy provided further insight into the self-assembled emulsion nanoparticles of the polymers indicating a particle size in the range 70 to 130nm.

Sedimentary 17O‐Nitrate Evidence for Phanerozoic Aridity and Humidity Oscillations in South China

AbstractClimate changes are known to have been a key regulator of the biodiversity in Earth's history. However, the dry‐humid degrees and alternating patterns throughout the Phanerozoic remain largely unconstrained. In this study, we report high contents (2.4 ± 3.8 mg N kg−1) and 17O anomalies (11.0 ± 7.4‰) of nitrate (NO3−) in the early Cambrian black shale from South China, likely caused by atmospheric NO3− intrusion under dry climates that followed tectonic uplift. By developing new methods to quantify aridity indices (AI, 0.06 ± 0.08) in combination with observational data with paleoclimate models, we reconstructed the historical AI variations. Our analyses revealed three significant dry‐to‐humid transitions which include Cambrian‐Ordovician to Silurian‐Permian, Permian‐Triassic boundary to middle Triassic‐early Jurassic, and Jurassic‐Paleogene to Neogene. This study quantitatively unlocked the Phanerozoic climate changes in South China, offering important evidence for understanding the co‐evolution of ecological and climatic systems in Earth's history.

Selenicereus undatus (Dragon Fruit) Phytochemicals for Managing Three Human Pathogenic Bacteria: An In Vitro and In Silico Approach

Objectives: Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are a growing global concern. A natural remedy for bacterial infections could be available in the Selenicereus undatus fruit, but its antibacterial and biochemical properties are not fully known. Methods: In this study, the biochemical composition and antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of the Jindu No. 1 (JD) and Bird’s Nest (YW) dragon fruit varieties and their potential effects against E. coli, Pseudomonas sp., and Staphylococcus sp. were scrutinized. Results: The JD fruit extract showed higher antibacterial activity than the YW variety against E. coli, Pseudomonas sp., and Staphylococcus sp. in vitro. Additionally, the JD variety demonstrated more significant antioxidant activity than the YW variety and showed less cytotoxic activity. The JD variety had a higher glucose content, while the YW variety had a higher fructose content, and the phytoconstituents analysis confirmed 659 metabolites in total from the two varieties. Through in silico analyses, phytoconstituents were evaluated to identify potential drug molecules against the selected bacterial strain. Moreover, the molecular docking study revealed that riboprobe and Z-Gly-Pro might be effective against E. coli, 4-hydroxy retinoic acid, and that succinyl adenosine may target Pseudomonas sp., and xanthosine and 2′-deoxyinosine-5′-monophosphate may be effective against Staphylococcus sp. These results were further validated by 100 ns Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation, and all of the selected compounds exhibited acceptable ADMET features. Conclusions: Therefore, phytoconstituents from S. undatus fruit varieties could be employed to fight human bacterial diseases, and future studies will support the continuation of other biological activities in medical research.

Origin of the Oligocene–Miocene Sailipu ultrapotassic volcanic rocks in southern Tibet: Melting of Asian mantle pyroxenites triggered by eastward tearing of the subducting Indian continental slab

Widely distributed Oligocene−Miocene ultrapotassic volcanic rocks in the Lhasa terrane of southern Tibet have been associated with the melting of the lithospheric mantle, plateau uplift, and porphyry Cu-Au mineralization. This study presents the mineral chemistry of olivine and clinopyroxene phenocrysts, whole-rock major and trace element data, and zircon U-Pb geochronological and Hf isotopic data for the Sailipu primitive ultrapotassic volcanic rocks. The Sailipu volcanic rocks exhibit high MgO (5.6−11.4 wt%), Cr (386−981 ppm), Co (22−43 ppm), and Ni (95−423 ppm) concentrations and have highly fractionated rare earth elements [REEs; (La/Yb)N = 23−73] and high-Fo (89.1−90.8) olivine phenocrysts containing elevated NiO (up to 0.59 wt%), which suggests a pyroxenitic mantle source that partially melted in the garnet stability field. Their high K2O contents (4.8−8.0 wt%) and global subduction sediment-like trace element patterns suggest that the metasomatic agents, which reacted with mantle peridotites to form phlogopite-bearing pyroxenites, were dominantly derived from the melting of subducted continental sediments. Their high whole-rock Ba/La and Th/Nd ratios are consistent with this hypothesis. The Sailipu ultrapotassic volcanic rocks also exhibit low initial 176Hf/177Hf ratios that resemble those of Himalayan leucogranites, and high Ca contents in olivine phenocrysts, which is consistent with contributions from the subducted carbonate-rich sedimentary strata on top of the thinned Greater Indian continental crust. The zircon U-Pb chronological data yielded concordant ages of 24.33 ± 0.19 Ma, 21.20 ± 0.62 Ma, and 17.05 ± 0.31 Ma for different exposures of the Sailipu volcanic rocks, which establishes a maximum age of ca. 24 Ma for these rocks. The northwest−southeast spatial distribution and the southeastward decrease in age (80°E−90°E) suggest west-to-east tearing of the thinned Greater Indian slab, which caused asthenospheric upwelling and melting of the Tibetan lithospheric mantle. Geothermometric calculations show relatively high primary magma temperatures (∼1250 °C) that are consistent with asthenospheric upwelling. We propose a mechanism that could genetically link the coeval Cu-Au ore-forming granitoids with the ultrapotassic magmatism of the Gangdese belt. The ultrapotassic rocks supply a large-volume of external magmatic volatiles, particularly H2O, which could trigger melting of the Tibetan lower crust and lead to the generation of the ore-forming granitoids and the establishment of oxidizing conditions for porphyry deposits. The oxygen fugacity (log ƒO2 values of ΔFMQ) of the primitive Sailipu ultrapotassic volcanic rocks (ΔFMQ = 0.48 ± 0.51 based on the Dol/melt V oxybarometer and ΔFMQ = 0.33 ± 1.19 according to the magmatic zircon U-Ce-Ti oxybarometer) is slightly lower than that of porphyry Cu-Au ore-forming granitoids in the eastern Gangdese (ΔFMQ = +0.8 to +2.9), which suggests that the direct injection of ultrapotassic melts into ore-forming granitoids played a limited role in changing oxygen fugacity, but more oxidized fluids/volatiles exsolved from these ultrapotassic melts may have facilitated the remelting of sulfide-bearing lower crust and/or directly scavenged sulfides from the mush-state reservoirs of the ore-forming granitoids in the middle−upper crust.

Biochar Regulates the Humification of Kitchen Waste and the Effects of the Humic Acid Structure of Products on Black Soil

Kitchen waste is a misplaced resource that is characterized by a high organic matter content, high water content, and a tendency to rot easily. Biochar is a black solid substance produced under high-temperature, anaerobic conditions using agricultural organic wastes as the raw material. It possesses a large specific surface area, a loose and porous structure, and functional groups, which confer high thermal stability and strong adsorption capabilities. However, little is known about how humic products made from biochar affect the composition and structure of soil humus. To solve the above problems, this study carried out a two-year outdoor field experiment by means of element analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and differential thermal analysis (0.4 kg/m2 (W4), 0.8 kg/m2 (W8), 1.2 kg/m2 (W12), 1.6 kg/m2 (W16), and 2.0 kg/m2 (W20)); CK was the blank control (no application). The samples were collected one year and two years after they returned to the field. The results showed that the application of organic materials facilitated the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and increased the total nitrogen (TN) content. The highest SOC content in the W20 treatment was 12.39 g/kg and 14.67 g/kg in one and two years, respectively. The maximum relative HA content in the W20 treatment was 22.99% one year after returning to the field. The PQ value (the ratio of HA/(fulvic acid (FA) + HA)) for the W20 treatment was 88.21%. The W20 treatment greatly increased the SOC and humus carbon contents. Compared with the CK treatment, all the organic materials applied for one year improved the structure of the humic acid to varying degrees, increased the degree of oxidation, reduced the degree of condensation and thermal stability of the HA in the soil, and gradually simplified the structure of the humic acid; among all the treatments, the W20 treatment had the greatest effect.

DNA profiling, nutritional value and phytochemical investigation of Cissus rotundifolia Lam. growing in Yemen

Cissus rotundifolia Lam. (Vitaceae) is a wild plant that is commonly used as food and medicine. There are limited studies on the phytochemical composition of this plant. So, this study aims to investigate C. rotundifolia growing in Yemen phytochemically. HPLC analysis of C. rotundifolia aerial parts led to the identification and quantification of four compounds (isoorientin, quercetrin, quercetin, and linarin), among which isoorientin and quercetrin were the major. Proximate analysis showed high fibre content and low moisture content, whereas the nutritional values showed a high carbohydrate content which gave rise to higher nutritional value (266.39 Kcal.). Potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamin E were present in high concentrations. Investigation of the methylene chloride and n-butanol fractions lead to the isolation of seven compounds: β-sitosterol, magnificol, β-sitosterol-glucoside, quercetin, quercetrin, isoorientin, and linarin. This is the first report on isolating these compounds from the investigated plant.

Evaluating the role of feedstock composition and component interactions on biomass gasification

Biomass gasification offers a solution to waste concerns while generating clean energy. This study examines the gasification of pine sawdust (PS), used ground coffee (UGC), and wheat straw (WS) under identical conditions. The compositions of the biomass samples are determined, and the gasification of individual components (hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin) are conducted to understand the process’ dependency on the biomass characteristics. The results suggest cellulose and cellulose-rich biomass (PS) produces more tar and less hydrogen than lignin and lignin-rich biomass (UGC and WS). High lignin and hemicellulose content leave more char. Gasification of PS, UGC, and WS yields 12.7, 15.7, and 17.2 vol% hydrogen, respectively. Additionally, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin gasification yield 10.5, 22.1, and 30.4 vol% hydrogen, respectively. Comparing experimental and theoretical values for the three biomass samples reveals significant differences due to component interactions. Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) indicates significant degradation interactions between hemicellulose-lignin, cellulose-hemicellulose, and cellulose-lignin. It is concluded that high cellulose content biomass shows more predictable results, while high lignin and hemicellulose biomass increases secondary reactions or interactions, exacerbating predictability. These findings assist in estimating gasification performance for better biomass selection.

Comparison of nutritional value of the wild and cultivated spiny loaches at three growth stages.

Environmental pollution and overfishing of wild spiny loach have led to the increased demand for breeding the fish. However, the nutritional value between the wild and cultivated spiny loaches was unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the nutritional components among the wild and cultivated spiny loaches at different growth stages by analyzing and comparing the proximate compositions, fatty acids, amino acids and volatile compounds. Results showed that the cultivated ones had significantly higher energy and fat contents than the wild. Particularly, the cultivated second-age spiny loach contained the highest contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (4.83 ± 0.01%) and EPA + DHA (0.85 ± 0.02%). Besides, the total essential amino acid content of cultivated second-age spiny loach was 2201.28, exceeding that recommended in the FAO/WTO scoring pattern (2,190). And it had the highest flavor amino acid (6.24 ± 0.04 g/100 g), essential amino acid index value (71.82) and higher contents of volatile compounds. Overall, the cultivated spiny loach, especially that at the second growth stage, displayed the highest nutritional value. The findings of this study would help farmers to harvest the suitable breeding stage of spiny loaches from the perspective of nutritional value, which is beneficial to the sustainable fish farming.

A Study on the Potential for the Application of Peanut Shells as a Reducer in the Process of Metal Recovery from Metallurgical Slags

Copper production technology is a complex process consisting of many stages. The combination of pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical stages, on the one hand, complicates production while, on the other hand, allowing for a relatively selective separation of intermediate or waste materials that can be subjected to the process of recovery of useful components. Materials of this type are characterised by a much higher copper content relative to the ore material. On the other hand, due to the oxide form, reduction processes are used in which coke is mainly applied. Reduction of the unfavourable phenomenon of CO2 emissions, in this case, can be performed through the use of bioreducers, which are characterised by an inert carbon footprint since the generation of carbon dioxides is the same as its absorption at the stage of vegetation and growth. In this paper, the topic of determining the feasibility of using selected bioreducers, such as peanut shells, to verify their suitability in the process of reducing copper oxides as well as the impact on the working components of the laboratory reactor in which the process is carried out are discussed. In this case, raw materials with a composition similar to the that of slags produced at the copper production stage in a flash furnace were tested for reduction. The results referring to reducing lead and copper contents above 88% Pb and 98% Cu indicate the great potential of this type of bioreducer. An additional advantage is the relatively wide availability of peanut resources. The effects of the copper reduction time on the degree of decopperisation performed with a constant reducer addition at 1300 °C were studied in this paper. Following 1 h of the process, the copper content in the slag was 0.78 wt%, while the longer process duration resulted in a copper fraction of 0.19 wt%. Considering lead, its content was 0.33 wt% after the reduction process.

Assessing the Impact of Shredded Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Post-Consumer Plastic as a Partial Replacement for Coarse Aggregates in Unreinforced Concrete

This study investigates the feasibility of incorporating shredded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) post-consumer plastic waste as a partial replacement for coarse aggregates in unreinforced concrete such as masonry blocks. Standard concrete blocks were produced with varying PET content (0%, 5%, 25%, 35%, 50%) and tested for workability, air content, density, compressive strength, flexural strength, and thermal conductivity. Results indicated that replacing up to 25% of traditional aggregates with PET maintains adequate compressive strength for non-load-bearing applications and enhances thermal insulation by reducing the thermal conductivity from 0.7 W/m·°K to 0.27 W/m·°K at 25% replacement level, representing a significant improvement of approximately 61%. Higher PET content (35–50%) resulted in reduced structural integrity but improved insulation, suggesting its suitability for non-structural applications. This research highlights the potential of using PET plastic waste in unreinforced concrete, promoting sustainable construction practices by reducing plastic waste and conserving natural resources.

Structural Characteristics of Active Quicklime Flux and Optimization of Quasiparticle Granulation Performance in Thick‐Bed Sintering

The deterioration of sintering bed permeability is an important factor that hinders thick‐bed sintering. Flux is one of the key factors that determines the bonding degree of quasiparticles. Selecting high‐quality flux is an effective way to improve both the permeability and thickness of the sintering bed. Herein, the hydration activity of quicklime flux is used as a criterion to assess quality. Two types of quicklimes with different activity levels are selected for comparative analysis in three aspects: microstructure, sinter quasiparticle granulation performance, and the sinter mineralization process. The experimental results show that active quicklime has a higher CaO content and fewer impurities. The small and dense CaO particles give active quicklime significant advantages in raw material granulation and sinter mineral formation. The application of active quicklime can effectively improve the permeability of the sintering bed; notably, the drying fines’ removal rate decreases from 22.81% to 2.42% with an increase in the ratio of active quicklime addition. However, this affects the average particle size of quasiparticles. To address this issue, solutions are determined by adjusting the condition parameters. It is concluded that active quicklime plays an important role in enhancing the permeability of the sintering bed during thick‐bed sintering production.

Influence of land-use types and topographic slopes on the physico-chemical characteristics of soils in Northwestern Ethiopia

AimsThis study examines the effects of land-use types and slope position on selected soil physico-chemical properties in the Ageza Watershed, Northwestern Ethiopia, focusing on soil fertility depletion and its impact on agricultural productivity.Materials and methodsThe experiment utilized a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, involving three land-use types and slope positions. A total of 27 soil samples (both disturbed and undisturbed) were collected, prepared, and analyzed for selected physico-chemical properties following standard laboratory procedures. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with SAS software.ResultsSignificant variations in most soil physico-chemical properties were observed across land-use types and slope positions. Soil bulk density, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (Av. P), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and exchangeable bases significantly (P ≤ 0.001) differed among the land-use types and slope positions. The main effects showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences in sand, silt, and clay contents across the land-use types. However, pH did not show significant differences (P > 0.05). Soil bulk density, silt content, Av. P, exchangeable bases, and CEC all showed significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences among the slope positions. Forest land had the highest values for clay (46.11%), OC (6.08%), Av. P (20.60 mg/kg), CEC (33.89 cmol (+) kg-¹), and exchangeable cations: Ca²+ (23.72 cmol (+) kg-¹), Mg²+ (4.40 cmol (+) kg-¹), K+ (1.18 cmol (+) kg-¹), and Na+ (0.77 cmol (+) kg-¹). Grazing land exhibited higher silt and bulk density, while cultivated land had higher sand content. Lower slope positions recorded the highest values for clay (47.33%), silt (20.77%), pH (4.90), Av. P (16.61 mg/kg), Ca²+ (20.10 cmol (+) kg-¹), Mg²+ (3.73 cmol (+) kg-¹), K+ (1.00 cmol (+) kg-¹), Na+ (0.66 cmol (+) kg-¹), and CEC (28.71 cmol (+) kg-¹), while bulk density was higher in the upper slope position.ConclusionLand-use types and slope positions significantly influence variations in soil physico-chemical properties and overall soil fertility status. Forest preservation and management are essential to improve the soil fertility in this region.

Features of the Synthesis of Few-Layer Phosphorene Structures During Plasma Electrochemical Cleavage of Black Phosphorus

A comparative study of the emission spectra of cathode electrolysis plasma during plasma electrochemical cleavage of black phosphorus and graphite under maximally identical experimental conditions has been carried out. A significantly lower concentration of active intermediates (OH radicals and O atoms) in the electrolysis plasma during the cleavafe of black phosphorus was found compared with a graphite electrode. It is assumed that this effect is due to a significantly higher rate of interaction of these intermediates with synthesized phosphorene structures than with graphene-like particles. This is confirmed by the detection of a much higher oxygen content in the products of black phosphorus cleavage than in synthesized carbon nanoparticles.

Investigation of the Influence of Different Filler Contents of Wine Pomace in PBS on Fracture Mechanics Properties

Biobased polybutylene succinate (PBS) represents a promising alternative to petrochemical-based polymers. The use of this biopolymeris limited in many areas by its low resilience against environmental influences. With the help of bio-based stabilizers the thermo-oxidative degradation process can be slowed down. Suitable stabilizing additives are natural antioxidants present in plant extracts with a high flavonoid content, which can be found in grapes, wine and wine by-products. PBS was modified with two different bio-stabilizers based on wine grape pomace. The highest filler content tested was 20 wt.-%. In addition to improving stability, the additives also impact the polymer’s mechanics. The influence of these functional fillers on the fracture mechanical properties was examined in a quasi-static test. The crack growth was recorded using integrated video monitoring. Based on the results, the corresponding crack resistance curve and tearing modulus were determined depending on filler type and content. Additional optical analysis was used to correlate fracture mechanics and structure. The two bio-stabilizers based on red (RWP) and white wine pomace (WWP) differs distinctly in terms of their influence on fracture mechanical properties. The Influence of RWPon the fracture toughness is significantly higher than that of WWP. Especially at lower filler contents with RWP, there is a strong increase in the fracture mechanics parameter tearing modulus (TJ) and an increase in the slope of the R-curve. With 5 wt.% RWP DOM the TJ is 13.64 x 102, whereas with WWP Silv a value of only 6.39 x 102 can be achieved. This difference is also reflected in the increase in the R-curves. With 5 wt.% a slope of the fitted R-curve of 265.59 (RWP DOM) and 121.02 (WWP Silv) could be determined with the first derivative. In the optical analysis it was noticeable that the RWP particles were more homogeneously dispersed in the matrix while the WWP filler tended to agglomerate. The inhomogeneous distribution and strong agglomeration tendency can be attributed to a higher sugar content of WWP and a higher particle size distribution. The top cut (D97) of WWP Silv is 62.37 ± 0.05 µm and that of RWP DOM is 51.97 ± 0.09 µm.

A novel route of carburizing through microwave hybrid heating

Abstract Carburizing is a surface treatment process by diffusing carbon into the steel. These days, manufacturing industries demand highly efficient processes that consume low power. Microwave processing is a newly evolving process that consumes low power. This study proposes a novel route for carburizing mild steel (substrate) through experimental and simulation studies using a microwave heating. Charcoal powder was used as a susceptor to convert microwave energy into heat energy and to deposit carbon on the surface of the specimen. The mild steel specimens were exposed to the microwave power input of 900 W and 360 W for exposure time of 1500 s and 1980 s naming it as S2 and S3 respectively. The microstructural analysis of specimens S2 and S3 confirms the formation of pearlite structures at the surface. However, the amount of pearlite structure was significantly higher for the S3. The higher carbon content is confirmed through energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of specimen S3. The average hardness of the S3 specimen was determined to be 220.8 HV, which shows an increase of 38.36% compared to the S1 (base metal). x-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate the additional cementite peaks (Fe3C) and ferrite-confirming phase transformations for carburized samples. The wear analysis of S2 and S3 was conducted through pin-on-disk testing. The peak COF of 0.73 and 0.64 was observed for S2 and S3 respectively. The hard surface of S3 resists the penetration of the counter body to a greater extent due to the fine morphology of pearlite. From the FEM study, the maximum value of 7.96 × 10 3 (V/m) was determined at the center region for the electric field distribution in the microwave cavity, which is the optimum value for efficient heating. The maximum temperature of the mild steel obtained during the carburization process was 900 °C in 1800 s. The microwave carburizing process requires relatively less time than the conventional carburizing process which will save energy consumption.

Comparison of direct cDNA and PCR-cDNA Nanopore sequencing of RNA from Escherichia coli isolates.

Whole-transcriptome (long-read) RNA sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technologies, ONT) holds promise for reference-agnostic analysis of differential gene expression in pathogenic bacteria, including for antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). However, direct cDNA ONT sequencing requires large concentrations of polyadenylated mRNA, and amplification protocols may introduce technical bias. Here we evaluated the impact of direct cDNA- and cDNA PCR-based ONT sequencing on transcriptomic analysis of clinical Escherichia coli. Four E. coli bloodstream infection-associated isolates (n=2 biological replicates per isolate) were sequenced using the ONT Direct cDNA Sequencing SQK-DCS109 and PCR-cDNA Barcoding SQK-PCB111.24 kits. Biological and technical replicates were distributed over eight flow cells using 16 barcodes to minimize batch/barcoding bias. Reads were mapped to a transcript reference and transcript abundance was quantified after in silico depletion of low-abundance and rRNA genes. We found there were strong correlations between read counts using both kits and when restricting the analysis to include only ARGs. We highlighted that correlations were weaker for genes with a higher GC content. Read lengths were longer for the direct cDNA kit compared to the PCR-cDNA kit whereas total yield was higher for the PCR-cDNA kit. In this small but methodologically rigorous evaluation of biological and technical replicates of isolates sequenced with the direct cDNA and PCR-cDNA ONT sequencing kits, we demonstrated that PCR-based amplification substantially improves yield with largely unbiased assessment of core gene and ARG expression. However, users of PCR-based kits should be aware of a small risk of technical bias which appears greater for genes with an unusually high (>52%)/low (<44%) GC content.