Large Yield Research Articles

AN ATTEMPT TO CONSERVE A VULNERABLE TREE SPECIES OF Santalum album L. THROUGH MICROPROPAGATION

A rare kind of tropical plant in the Santalaceae family is Santalum album. The active ingredient in S. album, santalol, is also referred to as sandalwood oil and is highly prized in the fragrance business for its fixative qualities and pleasant, enduring scent. Out of all the species in the genus Santalum, S. album has the greatest oil concentration (about 6%). The wild plants are overharvested for their wood, which is used to make santalol, as well as for other uses including woodcarving and traditional medicine. S. album is an easily hurt plant. Thus, the creation of an in vitro mass propagation protocol for this valuable species is necessary in order to generate homozygous clones with large yields for the establishment of sandalwood plantations. In this study, a full-strength MS medium supplemented with varying concentrations of BAP and Kn (0.5-2.5 mg/l) was used to cultivate the shoot tip and intermodal portions of S. album that were collected from the wild. The maximum shoot development (4.50±0.50) occurred at a BAP concentration of 1.5 mg/l. IBA and IAA were added to the rooting medium along with the developing shoots. IBA (2.0 mg/l) had the highest mean number of roots (4.90±0.25) and root length (5.75±0.47 cm). Shoots that had been successfully rooted were moved to the field to harden. According to the current study, MS medium with 1.5 mg/l of BAP and 2.0 mg/l of IBA is an appropriate technique for micropropagating and conserving S. album is fragile tree species.

Evaluation of dry milling characteristics and polyphenolic contents of fourteen conventionally bred colored corn varieties for value-added coproducts recovery

Corn pericarp is a low value cellulosic coproduct. However, colored corn pericarp contains disproportionately higher amounts of polyphenolic compounds such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, flavonols, tannins and phenolic acids, and can be selectively utilized for their economic recovery. Due to the diverse industrial applications of these value-added phytochemicals, colored corn can supplement the lower economic value of conventional yellow dent corn. In this study, dry milling characteristics and polyphenolic contents (anthocyanins, total phenols, and condensed tannins) of fourteen conventionally bred and midwestern US grown colored varieties and their milling coproducts were ascertained and compared with a commercial purple corn. With mean large grits yield of 22.98% (db), colored varieties had a dominant softer endosperm, suitable for wet milling and dry grind industry. The mean starch content of colored varieties was lower than conventional yellow dent corn (∼9.91%, db), and the mean protein content was higher (∼1.70%, db). Although purple corn contained the highest amounts, four experimental varieties had high concentrations of polyphenols. Through HPLC analyses, a diverse mix of various anthocyanin forms, phenolic acids, and flavonoids were identified. The antioxidant potential of polyphenolic extracts from five varieties were evaluated using four different assays, and significant antioxidant activities were observed. Histological analysis was conducted on polyphenol-rich varieties, and most of the pigments were found to be concentrated in pericarp. The pericarp thickness was greatest for the variety containing the maximum polyphenolic compounds. Adapted colored corn varieties can be valorised to recover value-added polyphenolic compounds in line with the circular bioeconomic paradigm.

Evaluating antibacterial efficacy of extracts from Ludwigia hyssopifolia against pathogenic bacteria

Ludwigia hyssopifolia extracts have historically been consumed as a healthful drink and rich in biomass. Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine the most effective fractionated extracts of L. hyssopifolia against pathogens. The whole plants of L. hyssopifolia were extracted various fractions with methanol, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous. The total phenolics and flavonoids was screened using quantitative approaches. The extracts tested for antibacterial activity against pathogens, including Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhi, and Helicobacter pylori through the agar diffusion technique and the microtiter broth dilution method. The largest yield was obtained from the aqueous fractional extract. The phytochemical composition discovered in ethyl acetate was more abundant in phenolics and flavonoid compounds. Fractionation enhanced the antibacterial effect of the extract. The extracts showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against all the bacteria tested, particularly H. pylori. In parallel, ethyl acetate extract showed antibacterial activity. The current results could provide rational support for the traditional use of L. hyssopifolia to treat infectious diseases and provide data for developing natural products.

Diagnostic yield from symptomatic lower gastrointestinal endoscopy in the UK: A British Society of Gastroenterology analysis using data from the National Endoscopy Database.

The value of lower gastrointestinal endoscopy (LGIE; colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy) relates to its ability to detect clinically relevant findings, predominantly cancers, preneoplastic polyps or inflammatory bowel disease. There are concerns that many LGIEs are performed on low-risk patients with limited benefit. To determine the diagnostic outcomes of LGIE for common symptoms. We performed a cross-sectional study of diagnostic LGIE between March 2019 and February 2020 using the UK National Endoscopy Database. We used mixed-effects logistic regression models, incorporating random (endoscopist) and fixed (symptoms, patient age, and sex) effects upon two dependent variables (large polyp [≥10 mm] and cancer diagnosis). Adjusted positive predictive values (aPPVs) were calculated. We analysed 384,510 LGIEs; 33.2% were performed on patients aged under 50 and 53.6% on women. Regarding colonoscopies, the unadjusted PPV for cancer was 1.5% (95% CI: 1.4-1.5); higher for men than women (1.9% vs. 1.1%, p < 0.01). The PPV for large polyps was 3.2% (95% CI: 3.1-3.2). The highest colonoscopy cancer aPPVs were in the over 50s (1.9%) and in those with rectal bleeding (2.5%) or anaemia (2.1%). Cancer aPPVs for other symptoms were <1% despite representing 54.3% of activity. In patients under 50, aPPVs were 0.4% for cancer and 1.6% for large polyps. Results were similar for sigmoidoscopy. Most colonoscopies were performed on patients with low-risk symptoms, where cancer risk was similar to the general population. Cancer and large polyp yield was highest in elderly patients with rectal bleeding or anaemia, although still fell short of FIT-based screening yields.

Large scale water yield assessment for sparsely monitored river basins: A case study for Afghanistan

This paper presents results from a study on water yield assessment across five major river basins of Afghanistan. The study was conducted using GR4J and GR4JSG precipitation-runoff models. The river basins were divided into 207 subcatchments and each subcatchment was divided into multiple functional units. The model was calibrated using observed streamflow data from 2008 to 2015 and validated over the 2016 to 2020 period. Model parameters were calibrated for an unregulated subcatchment in each basin and calibrated parameters from the best-performing subcatchment were transferred to other subcatchments. Results show that modelled water yield across the five basins varies from 0.3 mm in the Helmand basin to 248 mm in the Panj-Amu basin, with an average of 72.1 mm for the entire country. In the period of 2008 to 2020, area averaged water yield in the five basins varies from 36 to 174 mm. For the same period, mean annual precipitation for the entire country is 234.0 mm, indicating a water yield of 30.8%. The nation-wide average water yield of 72.1 mm is equivalent to 46.3 billion cubic meters (BCM) of surface water for the country. In addition, about 28.9 BCM generates annually in the neighbouring Tajikistan and Pakistan from snow and glaciers of the Hindu-Kush mountains. The elevated northern parts of Afghanistan, including parts of neighbouring Tajikistan are the primary water source. Water yield across the country varies between years but there is no consistent increasing or decreasing trends. About 60 to 70% of flow occurs between March to June. The study identified the high water yield areas and investigated variability at monthly, seasonal, and annual time scales. An importance finding is the large spatial and temporal variability of water yield across the basins. This information is crucial for long-term water resources planning and management for agricultural development.

Cross-dataset discriminant subspace learning algorithm for apple leaf diseases identification

Apple has a large planting area and high yield in China, but it is easily affected by diseases. Artificial intelligence technology has achieved good results in apple leaf disease identification. However, the training and testing data in complex environments often come from different collection scenarios. There are significant differences in the training and testing datasets, which leads to a significant decline in the identification performance. To improve the generalization ability of apple leaf disease identification, we develop a cross-dataset discriminant subspace learning (CDDSL) algorithm by utilizing the idea of transfer learning, low-rank sparse representation, and maximum margin neighborhood preserving embedding (NPE) to cross-dataset scenarios. Firstly, based on the transfer learning and low-rank sparse representation, each target sample can be represented by a linear combination of source domain samples. The sparse constraint on the noise matrix weakens the influence of noise in the sample data. Then, CDDSL progressively projects the subspace features into the semantic space and establishes a discriminant classifier. Meanwhile, CDDSL utilizes the maximal margin NPE to improve the intraclass compactness and interclass separability of projection features, which can enhance the image identification performance. The experiments conducted on real-world apple leaf datasets verify the effectiveness of the CDDSL algorithm in cross-dataset scenario.

A Gold Needle Tip Array Ultrafast Electron Source with High Beam Quality.

Electron sources are crucial elements in diverse applications such as electron microscopes, synchrotrons, and free-electron lasers. Nanometer-sharp needle tips are electron emitters with the highest beam quality, yet for a single needle the current is limited. Combining the emission of multiple needles promises large current yields while preserving the individual emitters' favorable properties. We present an ultrafast electron source consisting of a lithographically fabricated array of sharp gold tips illuminated with 25 fs laser pulses. The source provides up to 2000 electrons per pulse for moderate laser peak intensities of 1011 W/cm2 and a narrow energy width of 0.5 ± 0.05 eV at low current. The electron beam has a well-behaved Gaussian profile and is highly collimated, yielding a small normalized emittance on the order of nm·rad. These properties are well suited for applications requiring both high current and spatial resolution, such as free-electron light sources and chip-based particle accelerators.

Enhancing Summer Soybean Yield through Evaluation of Herbicidal Weed Management Options

The farmers of Gujarat have turned to soybean cultivation as soybean demand is increasing promisingly. Improper weed management is one of the reasons for the large yield gap between the potential and the actual yield of soybean harvested by the farmers. So, the selection of different herbicides in soybean is necessary for effective management of complex weed flora. An experiment was plotted with an aim of enhancing summer soybean yield through evaluation of herbicidal weed management options on medium black calcareous soil at Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh during summer season of 2021. The experiment comprised 12 treatments that were arranged in randomized block design with 3 replications. The outcomes of the results revealed that following to weed-free treatment, pre-mix pendimethalin + imazethapyr 750+50 g/ha as pre-emergence (PE) fb hand-weeding (HW) &amp; inter-culturing (IC) at 30 days after sowing (DAS), HW at 15 DAS fb pre-mix propaquizafop + imazethapyr 50+75 g/ha as post-emergence (PoE) at 30 DAS, HW at 15 DAS fb pre-mix fluazifop-p-butyl + fomesafen 125+125 g/ha (PoE) at 30 DAS and pre-mix pendimethalin + imazethapyr 750+50 g/ha (PE) fb pre-mix fluazifop-p-butyl + fomesafen 125+125 g/ha (PoE) at 30 DAS enhanced growth parameters viz., plant height, branches per plant; yield attributes i.e., number of pods per plant and ultimately lead to greater seed yield and stover yield. These herbicidal weed management options also reduced population in addition to dry matter of weeds and had less reduction in yield due to better control of weeds, less crop-weed competition and higher weed control efficiency.

Large-Size ultrathin mica nanosheets: Reinforcements of biobased PEF polyester

Due to the superior physical properties and high-level alignment of the nanoscale building blocks, assembly of high-quality two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets into macroscopic engineering structure materials can achieve many unexpected performance. Natural mica nanosheets (MNSs) are abundant and with superlative properties, showing huge prospect for engineering structural materials. However, the difficulty of the mass production with large size and high aspect ratio are the current factors that limit this. Inspired by the well-known scotch-tape exfoliation, herein we develop a gummy-tape exfoliation (GTE) method by using liquid oligomers as mediums in ball-milling process to massively produce large-size and ultrathin MNSs. As a confirmation, the obtained MNSs show a record high aspect ratio of ≈1320 and a large actual yield of ∼ 80 %. A transparent biobased aromatic polyester nanocomposite film made of such MNSs and polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF) matrix possesses remarkably improved mechanical, barrier properties, and UV-shielding performances at an extremely low filler loading (≤0.5 vol%), making it a novel potential engineering material for packing fields in foods, drugs, and electronic products, etc.

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Microstructural Approach Application for Morphological Change Determinations of Grapes during Drying

Grape dehydration is practiced widely in the food industry with large yields of sultanas produced globally. This paper proposes an investigation into the microstructure changes of grapes as they are dried by imaging specimens at intervals during dehydration at two temperatures using scanning electron microscopy. Two main methods were developed to obtain the complex boundaries of cells present in grape tissue in over 36 SEM images. Segmentation of the binary image using an adapted watershed function obtained the most consistent and accurate morphological shape. This was compared to a secondary method which used Canny’s edge detection function, morphological closing and skeletonizing to outline the cellular microstructure. MATLAB was utilised to convert these boundaries into measurable areas so that quantitative data on average cell area, perimeter and cell axis lengths were acquired. It was found that over the drying time, the cell area and perimeter were reduced as expected. Some variability in the data was clear due to only single samples being analysed for each temperature and time combination. Trends in cell perimeter, diameter and shape will be used to demonstrate relationships between morphological structure, drying temperature, and duration. Detailed images of the microstructure were obtained, and a unique image processing algorithm was developed to quantitatively analyse the properties of this microstructure. The development of automatic image processing techniques and algorithms will enable quantitative data to be extracted from any image and extend to any plant/food material.

Utilization of Modified Touchdown qPCR to Enhance Sensitivity and Specificity for Genes with Restricted Expression and Low Optimum Temperature Primers

Abstract Background: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is one of the most used methods to analyze gene expression. However, if the annealing temperature in the qPCR cycle is lower than 55°C, nonspecific amplification may occur. On the other hand, some sets of primers can only function optimally at the annealing temperature below 55°C. Thus, a protocol allowing both specific amplification and large yield in low annealing temperature is needed. Methods: qPCR on the target ribosomal protein L13a (rpl13a) and natriuretic peptide A (nppa) from samples of zebrafish embryos and larvae was performed in triplicates using three different protocols: routine qPCR, gradient qPCR, and modified touchdown qPCR. The cycle of quantification (Cq) value and melt peak data were compared between the routine or gradient qPCR and the modified touchdown qPCR. Results: For rpl13a that was adequately and specifically amplified by both routine and touchdown qPCR, modified touchdown qPCR decreased the average Cq by 3.68–4.66 (P &lt; 0.05). For nppa, a gene with restricted expression that could only be amplified substantially but nonspecifically at the annealing temperature of 50°C, modified touchdown qPCR increased the amplification specificity by forming only one melt peak during melt curve analysis and yielding a substantial amount of amplicon with the Cq of 22.48–22.51. Conclusions: The modified touchdown qPCR with low final annealing temperature was able to produce specific amplification with better yield and detection sensitivity. This method is especially useful for primer sets with low optimum annealing temperature.

Polyoxometalate-Intercalated Tremella-Like CoNi-LDH Nanocomposites for Electrocatalytic Nitrite-Ammonia Conversion.

The electrocatalytic reduction of NO2- (NO2RR) holds promise as a sustainable pathway to both promoting the development of emerging NH3 economies and allowing the closing of the NOx loop. Highly efficient electrocatalysts that could facilitate this complex six-electron transfer process are urgently desired. Herein, tremella-like CoNi-LDH intercalated by cyclic polyoxometalate (POM) anion P8W48 (P8W48/CoNi-LDH) prepared by a simple two-step hydrothermal-exfoliation assembly method is proposed as an effective electrocatalyst for NO2- to NH3 conversion. The introduction of POM with excellent redox ability tremendously increased the electrocatalytic performance of CoNi-LDH in the NO2RR process, causing P8W48/CoNi-LDH to exhibit large NH3 yield of 0.369 mmol h-1 mgcat-1 and exceptionally high Faradic efficiency of 97.0% at -1.3 V vs the Ag/AgCl reference electrode in 0.1 M phosphate buffer saline (PBS, pH = 7) containing 0.1 M NO2-. Furthermore, P8W48/CoNi-LDH demonstrated excellent durability during cyclic electrolysis. This work provides a new reference for the application of POM-based nanocomposites in the electrochemical reduction of NO2- to obtain value-added NH3.

Growth, survival and reproductive traits of two genetically improved allotriploid oysters derived from Crassostrea gigas and C. angulata

Allotriploid oysters between Crassostrea gigas and C. angulata have been utilized in commercial culture in China. The prevalence of this allotriploids is attributed to fast growth and extensive temperature adaptability, however its drawbacks are low meat ratio and slightly restored fecundity. To tackle these problems, two types of allotetraploids were produced in a previous study. Here, a comparative assessment of the growth, survival and reproductive traits was made for genetically improved allotriploids (based on allotetraploids), traditional allotriploids, and autotriploids (C. gigas and C. angulata). The results showed that the survival rates of larvae for all crosses were >80% on day 15. Genetically improved allotriploids survived better than autotriploids during juvenile and adult stages. The whole weights, wet meat weights, and meat ratios of genetically improved allotriploids were larger than traditional allotriploids on day 390 and day 510. The condition indexes, infertile percentages and fecundity of genetically improved allotriploids were lower than C. gigas autotriploids but higher than that of traditional allotriploids. At the end of the experiment, genetically improved allotriploids (GIT1) had the largest yield (56.79 kg) among all the six crosses. Overall, this study demonstrated that GIT1 exhibited superior growth and survival characteristics, as well as higher sterility compared with traditional allotriploids, which could be used as a potential variety in northern China.

Harnessing the Synergetic Effects of Ag, Mn Dopants in Eco-Friendly Ultraviolet Selective Quantum Dots for Luminescent Solar Concentrators.

Quantum dots (QDs) are promising building blocks for luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), yet most QD-based LSCs suffer from toxic metal composition and color tinting. UV-selective harvesting QDs can enable visible transparency, but their development is restricted by large reabsorption losses and low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). The developed here Ag, Mn: ZnInS2/ZnS QDs show a high PLQY of 53% due to the passivating effect of ZnS shell. These QDs selectively absorb UV light and emit orange-red light with a large Stokes shift of 180nm. A LSC of 5×5×0.2cm3, fabricated using a poly(lauryl methacrylate) (PLMA) as a matrix, maintains 87% of integrated PL after 7h of UV exposure. The QD-PLMA achieved 90.7% average visible transparency (AVT) and a color rendering index (CRI) of 95.8, which is close to plain PLMA (AVT=90.8%; CRI=99.5), yielding excellent visible light transparency. Incorporating Si-PVs at LSC edges, the Ag, Mn: ZIS/ZnS QD-LSC achieved an optical efficiency of 1.42%, ranking competitively among high-performing UV-harvesting LSCs.

Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping for Bacterial Wilt Resistance and Plant Height in Tomatoes.

Bacterial wilt (BW) of tomatoes, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is a devastating disease that results in large annual yield losses worldwide. Management of BW of tomatoes is difficult due to the soil-borne nature of the pathogen. One of the best ways to mitigate the losses is through breeding for disease resistance. Moreover, plant height (PH) is a crucial element related to plant architecture, which determines nutrient management and mechanical harvesting in tomatoes. An intraspecific F2 segregating population (NC 11212) of tomatoes was developed by crossing NC 84173 (tall, BW susceptible) × CLN1466EA (short, BW resistant). We performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping using single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers and the NC 11212 F2 segregating population. The QTL analysis for BW resistance revealed a total of three QTLs on chromosomes 1, 2, and 3, explaining phenotypic variation (R2) ranging from 3.6% to 14.9%, whereas the QTL analysis for PH also detected three QTLs on chromosomes 1, 8, and 11, explaining R2 ranging from 7.1% to 11%. This work thus provides information to improve BW resistance and plant architecture-related traits in tomatoes.

Oliviculture and Viticulture Crop Byproducts Use for Peat Partial Substitution for Carnation Production

The intensive cultivation of olive trees and grapevines in the Mediterranean region not only results in large yields but also generate wastes, with high restrictions on their impact on people’s well-being and the environment. The current study sought to investigate the potential use of olive-mill waste (OW), grape-mill waste (GW) and their mixtures (OW + GW) at different levels (0%, 5%, 10% and 20% v/v) for partial peat substitution in the production of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) plants. The presence of OW, GW and OW + GW wastes raised the pH, the electrical conductivity, the content of organic matter and mineral content in substrate mixtures, while they decreased the total porosity and the available free air. The use of OW had more negative impacts than GW, while the OW + GW mixture alleviated, to some extent, the negative OW impacts. The use of high levels of residues decreased plant growth, chlorophyll content and mineral accumulation in plant tissue due to inappropriate growing media properties. The increased OW presence caused oxidative stress to the plants, as verified by the increased malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide content. This resulted in an upsurge in the total phenolics. However, GW presence did not impact any oxidative stress. It can be suggested that 10% OW, 10% GW or 20% OW + GW can be used in growing media, as they resulted in suitable plant growth. To ensure sufficient yields, nevertheless, the growing media’s characteristics also need to be enhanced.

Understanding the dynamic rheological property of cement paste blended with steel slag powder: From interparticle force and physico-chemical parameters of view

The blending of steel slag powder with cement can mitigate the carbon footprint of cementitious composites. The rheological properties of cement pastes are well known to be related to interparticle forces. However, the magnitude of the interparticle force depends on many physico-chemical factors. The influence of various factors on interparticle forces is not yet clear, making it difficult to control the rheological properties. In this paper, the interparticle force of steel slag powder blended cement paste was quantified and its relationships with dynamic rheological properties and basic physico-chemical parameters were explored. By means of this, the interparticle force was confirmed to could explain the effect of steel slag powder on the dynamic rheological properties of cement paste within 1 h. Moreover, how physico-chemical parameters affect the interparticle forces was clarified. A cement paste with large particle size and apolar surface energy, as well as small potential square, Debye length and small polar surface energy, can exhibit large interparticle force and high dynamic yield stress and plastic viscosity. A simple formula calculating interparticle force from basic parameters was proposed, which is believed to effectively and practically regulate the interparticle force. The relationships between interparticle forces, physico-chemical parameters, and rheological properties provide an effective reference for regulating the dynamic rheological properties of cement paste through fundamental parameters.

Distinctive p-d Orbital Hybridization in CuSb Porous Nanonetworks for Enhanced Nitrite Electroreduction to Ammonia.

Electrochemical nitrite reduction reaction ( ), as a green and sustainable ammonia synthesis technology, has broad application prospects and environmental friendliness. Herein, an unconventional p-d orbital hybridization strategy is reported to realize the fabrication of defect-rich CuSb porous nanonetwork (CuSb PNs) electrocatalyst for . The crystalline/amorphous heterophase structure is cleverly introduced into the porous nanonetworks, and this defect-rich structure exposes more atoms and activated boundaries. CuSb PNs exhibit a large NH3 yield ( ) of 946.1 µg h-1 and a high faradaic efficiency (FE) of 90.7%. Experimental and theoretical studies indicate that the excellent performance of CuSb PNs results from the defect-rich porous nanonetworks structure and the p-d hybridization of Cu and Sb elements. This work describes a powerful pathway for the fabrication of p-d orbital hybrid defect-rich porous nanonetworks catalysts, and provides hope for solving the problem of nitrogen oxide pollution in the field of environment and energy.

Synthesis, insertion, and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein within lipid bilayers.

Throughout history, coronaviruses have posed challenges to both public health and the global economy; nevertheless, methods to combat them remain rudimentary, primarily due to the absence of experiments to understand the function of various viral components. Among these, membrane (M) proteins are one of the most elusive because of their small size and challenges with expression. Here, we report the development of an expression system to produce tens to hundreds of milligrams of M protein per liter of Escherichia coli culture. These large yields render many previously inaccessible structural and biophysical experiments feasible. Using cryo-electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, we image and characterize individual membrane-incorporated M protein dimers and discover membrane thinning in the vicinity, which we validated with molecular dynamics simulations. Our results suggest that the resulting line tension, along with predicted induction of local membrane curvature, could ultimately drive viral assembly and budding.