Addition Of Phosphate Research Articles

Contrasting patterns of community-weighted mean traits and functional diversity in driving grassland productivity changes under N and P addition.

Fertilization could influence ecosystem structure and functioning through species turnover (ST) and intraspecific trait variation (ITV), especially in nutrient limited ecosystems. To quantify the relative importance of ITV and ST in driving community functional structure and productivity changes under nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) addition in semiarid grasslands. In this regard, we conducted a four-year fertilizer addition experiment in a semiarid grassland on the Loess Plateau, China. We examined how fertilization affects species-level leaf and root trait plasticity to evaluate the ability of plants to manifest different levels of traits in response to different N and P addition. Also, we assessed how ITV or ST dominated community-weighted mean (CWM) traits and functional diversity variations and evaluated their effects on grassland productivity. The results showed that the patterns of plasticity varied greatly among different plant species, and leaf and root traits showed coordinated variations following fertilization. Increasing the level of N and P increased CWM_specific leaf area (CWM_SLA), CWM_leaf N concentration (CWM_LN) and CWM_maximum plant height (CWM_Hmax) and ITV predominate these CWM traits variations. As a results, increased CWM_Hmax, CWM_LN and CWM_SLA positively influenced grassland productivity. In contrast, functional divergence decreased with increasing N and P and showed negative relationships with grassland productivity. Our results emphasized that CWM traits and functional diversity contrastingly drive changes in grassland productivity under N and P addition.

Industrial Use of Phosphate Food Additives: A Mechanism Linking Ultra-Processed Food Intake to Cardiorenal Disease Risk?

The consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF) keeps rising, and at the same time, an increasing number of epidemiological studies are linking high rates of consumption of UPF with serious health outcomes, such as cardiovascular disease, in the general population. Many potential mechanisms, either in isolation or in combination, can explain the negative effects of UPF. In this review, we have addressed the potential role of inorganic phosphate additives, commonly added to a wide variety of foods, as factors contributing to the negative effects of UPF on cardiorenal disease. Inorganic phosphates are rapidly and efficiently absorbed, and elevated serum phosphate can lead to negative cardiorenal effects, either directly through tissue/vessel calcification or indirectly through the release of mineral-regulating hormones, parathyroid hormone, and fibroblast growth factor-23. An association between serum phosphate and cardiovascular and bone disease among patients with chronic kidney disease is well-accepted by nephrologists. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between serum phosphate and dietary phosphate intake and mortality, even in the general American population. The magnitude of the role of inorganic phosphate additives in these associations remains to be determined, and the initial step should be to determine precise estimates of population exposure to inorganic phosphate additives in the food supply.

Cultivation of Chlorella minutissima under a novel phosphate application strategy for biodiesel production: A pilot scale study

Microalgal biodiesel is considered as a carbon-neutral and renewable energy source for replacing/blending with petroleum-based diesel fuel. Selection of a microalgal species for its potential to produce biodiesel relies significantly on its acclimatization to grow in outdoor condition with high lipid productivity. The present investigation undertakes outdoor experiments in a raceway pond system involving a local isolate of green microalga, Chlorella minutissima, throughout varied seasonal changes and culture depth. The variations in climatic and cultural parameters were documented; the optimum culture depth of 30 cm was taken for further investigation. A novel cultivation approach incorporating the sequential addition of low-dose phosphate (LDSPA) projected a lipid productivity of 5.88 ton hectare−1 year−1, which was ∼40% higher than its batch culture counterpart, along with a 14-fold reduction in phosphate application. The biodiesel exhibited the dominance of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid methyl esters, and the fuel qualities were confirmed to be within the stipulated limitations of European, American and Indian biodiesel standards, thus nominating C. minutissima as an attractive feedstock for generating high-quality biodiesel.

Combined Di-Ammonium Phosphate and Straw Return Increase Yield in Sweet Corn

Straw returning is an environmentally friendly method to improve soil health and agricultural productivity by reusing organic waste products. However, fields are often also treated with inorganic fertilizers, and the effect of the interaction between phosphate fertilizer application and straw return on crop yield remains unclear. Therefore, a full-factorial, two-year field experiment was conducted on sweet corn (NARC-16 in late 2021 and Kashmeri-19 in early 2022) to explore how crop yield may be optimized by combining straw return with efficient phosphate fertilization. The experiment involved the application of DAP, SSP, and NP (three different types of phosphates) and the application of crop waste byproducts, namely the residual stover left after sorghum and maize harvesting. We compared control fields with no crop waste or phosphate addition (CR0 and PS0) to experimental plots treated with various phosphates and straw return. Growth parameters such as days to emergence, tasseling, silking and maturity, emergence rate (emergence m−2), height of plant, number of leaves, leaf area per plant, and yield were evaluated, and the influence of the treatment on the economic value of crops was estimated. Phosphorus and straw return were applied at rates of 90 kg per hectare and 5 tons per hectare, respectively. The best P-crop straw combination treatment involved DAP (90 kg ha−1) with the incorporation of 5 tons’ ha−1 of maize straw, which resulted in delayed tasseling (50 days), early silking (68 days), taller plants (178 cm), improved thousand-grain weight (233 g), maximum biological yield (11,349 kg ha−1) and grain yield (3760 kg ha−1). The application of DAP with maize straw return resulted in the highest plant height, biological yield, and grain yield of sweet corn during the second year of the experiment, despite the first year’s yield being influenced by a natural disaster. This combined management strategy (using either DAP or crop residuals) was found to have a more a favorable cost–benefit ratio (BCR) efficiency. In conclusion, increasing the use of crop residuals can help reduce the expensive application of synthetic mineral fertilizers like SSP and NP, while significantly increasing sweet corn production and improving profit margins. Considering the importance of environmental friendliness and sustainable agriculture, the combined use of DAP and straw return is considered a viable method.

Influence of the type of phosphate additive and its concentration on the setting kinetics of CA cement bonded refractory castables with special regard to the resulting pH value

During the hydration of CA cement exists a dormant period, which is responsible for the setting kinetics of CA cement bonded refractory castables. The dormant period is believed to be caused by an Al–O–H passivation layer on the CA cement particles. Recent publications indicate that the dissolution (aging) of the passivation layer is closely connected to the prevailing pH value of the pore solution during setting. The higher the pH value, the faster the dissolution of the passivation layer.As phosphate additives, frequently used as dispersing agent, differ in their pH value when dissolved in water it is reasonable that they change the setting kinetics of CA cement bonded refractory castables. Commonly used sodium polyphosphate (S-PP, special case S-TPP for sodium tripolyphosphate) dispersing agents mainly differ in chain length, and therefore in Na+ and phosphate concentration, with different setting kinetics as a result.To investigate the influence of S-(T)PP on setting kinetics, sonic velocity and pH measurements were conducted on S-(T)PP/citric acid dispersed and CA cement bonded refractory castables during their setting. Different phosphates, differing in portion of Na+ to phosphate and medium chain length of the phosphate molecules, were used in varied concentrations within refractory castables to quantify the shift in setting kinetics and verify the role of the pH value during the hydration of CA cement.It was found that the chain length of the phosphate molecule of S-(T)PP influences the setting kinetics, and especially the length of the dormant period of the hydration of CA cement, in an indistinct way. Minor differences within the Na+ concentration at differing chain length S-(T)PP showed a comparable tendency to influence the hydration kinetics of CA cement as the chain length of the phosphate molecule was varied. However, an increase of the concentration of the applied S-(T)PP, which goes along with a distinctly increased Na+ concentration, resulted in a significant shorter dormant period and correspondingly an accelerated main hydration of CA cement. The corresponding pH value during the dormant period of the hydration of CA cement increased concurrently to the increase of the S-(T)PP and Na+ concentration.It is discussed that this increase of the pH value of the pore solution of the refractory castable results from an increase of the Na+ concentration from the S-(T)PP, while phosphate molecules are precipitated as Ca-phosphate. This indicates that the dissolution of the Al–O–H passivation layer accelerates with an increasing Na+ concentration (equivalent to increasing pH value) in the pore solution. Thereby, the dormant period is shorter and the hydration of CA cement starts earlier.The general tendency that additives of alkaline nature are accelerating the setting kinetics could be linked to the pH value during the dormant period. Therefore, the theory of the pH dependent aging of the Al–O–H passivation layer on CA cement particles was confirmed. As a directly applicable result, S-(T)PP may be used as accelerator (accelerating the CA cement hydration) beside their dispersing effect.

Crystal‐Facet Manipulation and Interface Regulation via TMP‐Modulated Solid Polymer Electrolytes toward High‐Performance Zn Metal Batteries

AbstractRechargeable Zn‐ion batteries (ZIBs), prospective candidates for broad‐scale energy storage, still encounter many challenges such as hydrogen evolution corrosion, Zn dendrite growth, and capacity fading. Therefore, one specific strategy for tuning the internal structure of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) via organic additives is proposed to address these urgent bottlenecks simultaneously. With trimethyl phosphate (TMP) addition, the coordination environment of Zn2+in SPEs is altered and exists as Zn2+(TMP)x(OTf−)ycoordinated molecules. Meanwhile, the strong interaction between TMP and Zn enables the preferential growth of Zn(002) planes during electrodeposition, which is proved based on first‐principles calculations, finite element simulations, and multiple in situ characterizations. Such excellent interfacial engineering in situ forms the solid electrolyte interface rich in Zn3(PO4)2fast ion conductor and guarantees one ultra‐long cycle life for more than 6000 h in a Zn|Zn symmetric cell at 0.1 mA cm−2. Moreover, the universality of TMP‐modified SPEs shows 1000 times stable cycling of VO2(B)|Zn full cells at 1 A g−1under 0 °C with 95.24% capacity retention, which satisfies potential applications of wide‐ranging energy storage based on solid‐state ZIBs.

The erosive effect of various drinks, foods, stimulants, medications and mouthwashes on human tooth enamel

Two forms of non-carious dental disorder - erosive tooth hard tissue loss and dental erosion - have been increasingly observed in recent years. Dental erosion is the chemical loss of dental hard substances caused by exposure to acids not derived from oral bacteria. Mechanical forces from, for example, the tongue, the cheeks or toothbrushing, increase loss of partly-demineralized tooth surfaces and the cumulative loss of dental hard tissue is defined as erosive tooth wear (ETW). Dental hard tissue losses which occur because of very frequent acid exposure, such as through increased vomiting, but without mechanical stress, are also assigned to tooth erosion. Without prior softening, practically no loss of enamel takes place due to abrasion with the modern Western diet. The present work is a continuation of earlier work. A total of 226 beverages, food, stimulants as well as medicines and mouthwashes were tested for their erosive potential on premolars and deciduous molars covered with a human pellicle. The influence of temperature, phosphate and calcium was also investigated in additional experiments. The change in hardness before and after immersion in the respective test substance was measured and the erosive potential was classified. For each test product, we determined pH and other properties which were possibly related to erosive potential. There were considerable and sometimes surprising differences between the tested products. The addition of phosphate did not influence the erosive potential of the liquids, but calcium did. A modified erosion scheme is presented, which incorporates these and other new findings.
 Accepted for publication: February 6, 2023
 Published online: February 21, 2023

The erosive effect of various drinks, foods, stimulants, medications and mouthwashes on human tooth enamel.

Two forms of non-carious dental disorder - erosive tooth hard tissue loss and dental erosion - have been increasingly observed in recent years. Dental erosion is the chemical loss of dental hard substances caused by exposure to acids not derived from oral bacteria. Mechanical forces from, for example, the tongue, the cheeks or toothbrushing, increase loss of partly-demineralized tooth surfaces and the cumulative loss of dental hard tissue is defined as erosive tooth wear (ETW). Dental hard tissue losses which occur because of very frequent acid exposure, such as through increased vomiting, but without mechanical stress, are also assigned to tooth erosion. Without prior softening, practically no loss of enamel takes place due to abrasion with the modern Western diet. The present work is a continuation of earlier work. A total of 226 beverages, food, stimulants as well as medicines and mouthwashes were tested for their erosive potential on premolars and deciduous molars covered with a human pellicle. The influence of temperature, phosphate and calcium was also investigated in additional experiments. The change in hardness before and after immersion in the respective test substance was measured and the erosive potential was classified. For each test product, we determined pH and other properties which were possibly related to erosive potential. There were considerable and sometimes surprising differences between the tested products. The addition of phosphate did not influence the erosive potential of the liquids, but calcium did. A modified erosion scheme is presented, which incorporates these and other new findings.

The Phosphate Additives Phosphoric Acid and Sodium Phosphate Lead to Hyperphosphatemia as well as Increased FGF23 and Renal Phosphate Excretion in Healthy Cats

The Phosphate Additives Phosphoric Acid and Sodium Phosphate Lead to Hyperphosphatemia as well as Increased FGF23 and Renal Phosphate Excretion in Healthy Cats

A Simple and Effective Purification Method for Removal of U(VI) from Soil-Flushing Effluent Using Precipitation: Distillation Process for Clearance

Background: The purpose of this study is to purify uranium (U[VI])-contaminated soil-flushing effluent using the precipitation–distillation process for clearance. Precipitation and distillation are commonly used techniques for water treatment. We propose using a combination of these methods for the simple and effective removal of U(VI) ions from soil-flushing effluents. In addition, the U concentration (Bq/g) of solid waste generated in the proposed treatment process was analyzed to confirm whether it satisfies the clearance level.Materials and Methods: Uranium-contaminated soil was decontaminated by soil-flushing using 0.5 M sulfuric acid. The soil-flushing effluent was treated with sodium hydroxide powder to precipitate U(VI) ions, and the remaining U(VI) ions were removed by phosphate addition. The effluent from which U(VI) ions were removed was distilled for reuse as a soil-flushing eluent.Results and Discussion: The purification method using the precipitation–distillation process proposed in this study effectively removes U(VI) ions from U-contaminated soil-flushing effluent. In addition, most of the solid waste generated in the purification process satisfied the clearance level.Conclusion: The proposed purification process is considered to have potential as a soil-flushing effluent treatment method to reduce the amount of radioactive waste generated.

A Method to Reduce the Occurrence of Egg Translucency and Its Effect on Bacterial Invasion.

Translucent egg consumption is low due to consumer acceptance and quality concerns, which is a problem that egg producers need to address. This study was performed to evaluate the reasons for the high occurrence of egg translucency in summer, as well as whether the addition of mono-dicalcium phosphate (MDCP) to the diet can relieve eggshell translucency and whether eggshell translucency is associated with the risk of bacterial invasion. A total of 72 laying hens that were 36 weeks old were randomly divided into control (CON) and MDCP groups and fed in the same environment. Results showed that the number of translucent eggs increases in July and August as the temperature and humidity increase. Compared with the CON group, in July, August, and October, the translucent egg grade (TEG) of the MDCP group was lower than that of the CON group (p < 0.05). TEG was correlated with mastoid space height (MSH), width (MSW), and area (MSA) (correlation coefficients 0.63, 0.59, and 0.68, respectively, p ≤ 0.05). There was no significant difference in the invasion rate of E. coli between translucent and non-translucent egg groups (47.2% vs. 39.33%), and translucent area and non-translucent area (13.49% vs. 15.08%). In conclusion, our results show that dietary MDCP may alleviate eggshell translucency and that eggshell translucency would not increase the probability of E. coli cross-shell penetration rate.

Inference of Rock Phosphate, Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria and Lime on Phosphorus Content and Economic Yield of Green Gram

Aim: To study the effect of Rock Phosphate, Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria, and Lime on phosphorus content in the soil, Phosphorus Uptake, and Economic yield of green gram (var. DGGS-4).&#x0D; Study Design: This experiment was conducted through a completely randomized design with 10 treatments and 3 replications.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Central Agricultural University, Imphal between February 2019- November 2019.&#x0D; Methodology: Available phosphorus content in soil was estimated spectrophotometrically by Bray and Kurtz No. 1 method, the Active Phosphorus was determined by the addition of Saloid-bound phosphate, Aluminum phosphate, iron phosphate, and calcium phosphate, and total Inorganic P is the summation of all the inorganic forms of P. Total Phosphorus (Total P) in Soil was estimated by using Murphy-Riley solution and 5M NaOH and the intensity of yellow color was read at 730 nm in a spectrophotometer, organic P was calculated from the difference between total phosphorus and total mineral P, and the uptake of phosphorus was computed from the data on P concentration and dry matter yield.&#x0D; Results: The release and fixation pattern of different forms of phosphorus, its uptake, and the economic yield of green gram were significantly affected by the application of rock phosphate singly or combination with PSB and lime. Comparing among the different treatments, significantly higher accumulation of available Phosphorus, Phosphorus uptake, and economic yield were recorded in soil treated with Rock phosphate in combination with Phosphocare, Bacillus megatherium, and lime which is at par with treatment with Rock phosphate in combination with Bacillus megatherium and lime.&#x0D; Conclusion: The investigation revealed that the release and fixation pattern of different forms of phosphorus, its uptake, and the yield of green gram are significantly affected by the application of RP singly or combination with PSB and lime.

The regulation of generation rate facilitates the win–win of ROS yield and utilization efficiency in heterogeneous persulfate catalytic oxidation system

Heterogeneous catalytic oxidation is one of the most effective methods to degrade various and complex organic pollutants in aqueous solution. Increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) yield has always been the main objective to improve the oxidation efficiency. However, the mass production of ROS in a short time is inevitably faced with self-quenching and ineffective consumption. Herein, Cu-based composite oxides (CuOMOx) (M = Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn) were synthesized and used for catalytic activation of permonosulfate (PMS). Although the introduction of unreducible metal oxides significantly improved the activation efficiency of PMS, the abnormal phenomenon of lower substrate degradation efficiency and PMS stoichiometry appeared. The underlying mechanism is that the rapid production of ROS results in a mismatch of the production/effective consumption ratio, which causes massive ROS disappeared naturally before attacking the substrate. In this scenario, reasonable regulation of ROS generation rate by phosphate addition improved the utilization efficiency of ROS without affecting its yield. Our finding is beneficial to achieve a win–win situation of ROS yield and utilization efficiency in heterogeneous catalytic oxidation systems.

Effect of sodium phosphate on stability and electrochemical performance of the positive electrolyte for a vanadium redox flow battery at 50°C

This report suggests that the addition of sodium phosphate (Na3PO4) into the electrolyte of vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) can effectively enhance the thermal stability of the electrolyte and significantly improve the discharge capacity at high temperatures. The introduction of Na3PO4 enables the positive electrolytes with 2 M vanadium ions to maintain stability at 50 °C for over 7 days, while the electrolytes without Na3PO4 show significant precipitation on the first day. In addition, a cell containing 0.3 M Na3PO4 exhibits a capacity retention of 83.02% after undergoing 100 cycles, which is nearly 13.2% higher than the pristine cell. After investigating the electrochemical performance of a cell containing 0.3 M Na3PO4 at 50 °C, it is discovered that the energy efficiency of 80% can be maintained at 150 mA cm−2. Additionally, the capacity retention rate of the cell after 100 cycles is 28.47% higher than that of the pristine cell. Therefore, Na3PO4 is a potentially effective additive for VRFB in long-term thermal stability and capacity retention, thereby reducing the thermal management cost of energy storage systems and providing a broad prospect for the application of VRFB.

REGULATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF SAND-CLAY MOLDING MIXTURES BY SODIUM PHOSPHATE ADDITIONS

Purpose. Study of the effect of sodium phosphate additives on the properties of a reversible sand-clay mixture in the green and dry state to improve the quality of castings from iron-carbon and aluminum alloys.&#x0D; Research methods. A reversible molding mixture based on quartz sand and kaolin clay was used. The effect of three additives (sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate) in amounts from 0.5 to 2.0% was studied. Properties of mixture were determined using standard methods: clay component content, strength, gas permeability, crumbleness, flowability, formability, packing.&#x0D; Results. Effective additives have been studied to ensure the possibility of multiple use of reversible molding sand-clay mixtures. Special attention is paid to the regulation of the properties of the mixture in the dry state, since this issue has been much less researched today. For this purpose, sodium phosphates, which are produced by the chemical industry in sufficient quantities, were used for the first time. As materials that affect the properties of the mixture as a whole, they have not been considered before.&#x0D; Scientific novelty. For the first time, the positive effect of sodium phosphate additives on the physical and mechanical properties such as strength and crumbleness of reversible sand-clay mixtures was established. This effect is manifested in the fact that additives contribute to a slight improvement of properties of the green mixture and a very significant improvement of these properties of the dry mixture. There is practically no effect on important technological properties (flowability, formability, packing).&#x0D; Practical value. Based on the results of the experiments, it is recommended to use sodium tripolyphosphate or hexametaphosphate additives in the amount of 0.5 to 1.0 % to significantly improve the properties of dry sand-clay foundry molds. The use of these additives eliminates the appearance of surface defects in cast parts from aluminum and iron-carbon alloys.

Optimization of an electrochemical direct air capture process with decreased CO2 desorption pressure and addition of background electrolyte

An electrochemical process based on pH-swing has been proposed recently to regenerate spent alkaline absorbent from direct air capture (DAC). In this work, we experimentally investigated and theoretically simulated two optimization strategies to further reduce the energy consumption of such novel electrochemical process. First, partial vacuum was applied to the gas phase during CO2 desorption to increase the gas production rate. The energy consumption of the electrochemical cell decreased by 12 to 15% when the CO2 partial pressure in the gas phase was reduced from 0.9 to 0.3 atm. Second, phosphate and sulphate were tested as background electrolyte to the alkaline absorbent, reducing the energy consumption by minimizing the ohmic losses in the electrochemical cell. The optimal concentration for phosphate was 0.1 M, while the CO2 production rate was limited by either the total carbon feeding rate or the high acidifying solution pH at higher concentrations of phosphate. Moreover, due to the low pKa and high molar conductivity of sulphate compared to phosphate, sulphate addition showed an even lower energy consumption than phosphate addition. Finally, the lowest experimental energy consumption was 247 kJ mol−1 CO2 achieved with CO2 partial pressure of 0.3 atm and 0.1 M of sulphate addition at current density of 150 A m−2 while our mathematical model predicted a theoretical minimum energy consumption of 138 kJ mol−1 under the same condition. Overall, the investigated optimization strategies advanced the development of an energy-efficient electricity-driven process for direct air capture.

PHOSPHATE AND NITRITE - THE MOST COMMONLY USED ADDITIVES IN THE MEAT INDUSTRY

Food additive is any substance that, regardless of its nutritional value, is not used as food, nor is a characteristic ingredient of food, but is added to food for technological reasons during production, processing, preparation, packaging, transport or storage. Thus, through its intermediate products, it becomes or can become a food ingredient. The most commonly used additives are nitrites and phosphates, due to their multiple role in the meat industry. According to the Regulation on food additives (Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska, 96/20), the maximum accepted amount of phosphoric acid and phosphate (E 338 - E 452), which can be added to meat products individually or in combination (expressed as P2O5), is 5 g/kg. Many studies have confirmed the connection between a high intake of phosphate additives and various diseases in humans. Nitrites are preservatives that are added to meat products in order to improve the quality, durability and safety of the products, and they must not be added in an amount higher than 150 mg/kg in most meat products. Due to the possibility, under certain conditions, of the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in meat products, there is a potential danger to human health. The aim of the study was to determine the content of residual nitrite and added phosphates (expressed as phosphorus pentoxide P2O5) in meat products originating from the market of Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and compliance with regulatory requirements. The results showed that the determined amounts of residual nitrite and added phosphates were within the acceptable limits for addition to different categories and types of meat products according to current regulations. This confirms that the application of nitrite and phosphate is adequate and that the product is healthy. In order to protect the health of consumers, it is important to continuously monitor the use of phosphates and nitrites in the meat industry.

Simulation Photosynthesis Improves the Photoresponse Performance of Cr2Ge2Te6 Nanosheets for High-Performance Self-Powered Photoelectrochemical Photodetectors

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor materials have been extensively studied as excellent candidates for future optoelectronic devices. Cr2Ge2Te6, as a two-dimensional semiconductor material, has attracted extensive interest in the field of photodetectors due to its excellent light absorption properties and suitable band gap. Inspired by biological photosynthesis, this study constructed a high-performance biomimetic self-powered photoelectrochemical-type flexible photodetector using liquid-stripped Cr2Ge2Te6 nanosheets as the photoanode. The device exhibits obvious self-powered photoresponse behavior and excellent photoresponse performance with a responsivity of 54.4 μA/W. Furthermore, the addition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) effectively consumes the photo-excited holes on the Cr2Ge2Te6 nanosheets to inhibit the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and the cyclic regeneration of NADPH is realized by adding adenosine triphosphate. In addition, the flexible photodetector also exhibits excellent stability and durability, and it still maintains good photoresponse characteristics after 1000 times of bending and folding. Our work fully confirms that it is an effective means to improve the photoresponse performance of 2D materials by simulating biological photosynthesis, and it also provides theoretical and experimental guidance for the research and development of high-performance biomimetic devices.

Organic waste recycling by vermicomposting amended with rock phosphate impacts the stability and maturity indices of vermicompost

ABSTRACT Recycling organic waste can help the land be nourished, properly disposed of, and protected from the negative impacts of chemical fertilizers. Organic additions like vermicompost can help restore and preserve the quality of the soil, however, producing vermicompost of a high enough standard is difficult. This study was planned to prepare vermicompost by utilizing two different organic wastes viz. household waste and organic residue amended with rock phosphate and further evaluate their stability and maturity indices during vermicomposting for quality of produce. For this study, the organic wastes were collected and vermicompost was prepared by using earthworm (Eisenia fetida) and with or without enriching with rock phosphate. Results showed that pH, bulk density, and biodegradability index were decreased and water holding capacity and cation exchange capacity was increased with the gradual progress of composting starting from 30 to 120 days of sampling/composting (DAS). Initially (upto 30 DAS) water-soluble carbon and water-soluble carbohydrate increased with rock phosphate enrichment. The population of the earthworms and enzymatic activities (CO2 evolution, dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase) were also increased on enriching with rock phosphate and with the progression of the composting period. Rock phosphate addition (enrichment) also reflected the higher content of phosphorus (106% and 120% for household waste and organic residue, respectively) in the final product of vermicompost. The vermicompost prepared from household waste and enriched with rock phosphate showed greater maturity and stability indices. Overall, this can be concluded that the maturity and stability of vermicompost depend on the substrate used and improves on enriching with rock phosphate. Implications: Our study concludes that the quality of vermicompost depends on different substrates, composting period, and enrichment with rock phosphate. The qualities of vermicompost were best found under household waste-based vermicompost enriched with rock phosphate. The efficiency of vermicomposting process using earthworms was found maximum for enriched and without enriched household-based vermicompost. The study also indicated that several stability and maturity indices are influenced by different parameters and hence cannot be determined by a single parameter. The addition of rock phosphate increased the cation exchange capacity, phosphorus content, and alkaline phosphatase. Nitrogen, zinc, manganese, dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase were found higher under household waste-based vermicompost relative to organic residue-based vermicompost. All four substrates promoted earthworm growth and reproduction in vermicompost.

Investigation into the Mechanism of Action of the Tuberculosis Drug Candidate SQ109 and Its Metabolites and Analogues in Mycobacteria.

We tested a series of SQ109 analogues against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. smegmatis, in addition to determining their uncoupling activity. We then investigated potential protein targets, involved in quinone and cell wall biosynthesis, using "rescue" experiments. There was little effect of menaquinone on growth inhibition by SQ109, but there were large increases in the IC50 of SQ109 and its analogues (up to 20×) on addition of undecaprenyl phosphate (Up), a homologue of the mycobacterial decaprenyl (C50) diphosphate. Inhibition of an undecaprenyl diphosphate phosphatase, an ortholog of the mycobacterial phosphatase, correlated with cell growth inhibition, and we found that M. smegmatis cell growth inhibition could be well predicted by using uncoupler and Up-rescue results. We also investigated whether SQ109 was metabolized inside Mycobacterium tuberculosis, finding only a single metabolite, previously shown to be inactive. The results are of general interest since they help explain the mechanism of SQ109 in mycobacteria.