Surface Enlargement Research Articles

Driving Analysis and Multi Scenario Simulation of Ecosystem Carbon Storage Changes Based on the InVEST-PLUS Coupling Model: A Case Study of Jianli City in the Jianghan Plain of China

The carbon storage capacity of terrestrial ecosystems serves as a crucial metric for assessing ecosystem health and their resilience to climate change. By evaluating the effects of land use alterations on this storage, carbon management strategies can be improved, thereby promoting carbon reduction and sequestration. While county-level cities are pivotal to ecological conservation and high-quality development, they often face developmental challenges. Striking a balance between economic growth and meeting peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality objectives is particularly challenging. Consequently, there is an urgent need to bolster research into carbon storage management. The study focuses on Jianli City, employing the InVEST model and land use data to examine the response patterns of land use changes and terrestrial system carbon storage from 2000 to 2020. Using the PLUS model, the study simulated the land use and carbon storage in Jianli City for the year 2035 under three scenarios: Natural Development scenario, Urban Expansion scenario, and Ecology and food security scenario. Our findings indicate the following: (1) Between 2000 and 2020, significant shifts in land use were observed in Jianli City. These changes predominantly manifested as the interchange between Cropland and Water areas and the enlargement of impervious surfaces, leading to a decrease of 691,790.27 Mg in carbon storage. (2) Under the proposed scenarios—Natural Development scenario, Urban Expansion scenario, and Ecology and food security scenario—the estimated carbon storage capacities in Jianli City were 39.95 Tg, 39.90 Tg, and 40.14 Tg, respectively. When compared with the 2020 data, all these estimates showed an increase. In essence, our study offers insights into optimizing land use structures from a carbon storage standpoint to ensure stability in Jianli’s carbon storage levels while mitigating the risks associated with carbon fixation. This has profound implications for the harmonious evolution of regional eco-economies.

Morphometric and Enzymatic Changes in Gills of Rainbow Trout after Exposure to Elevated Temperature-Indications for Gill Remodeling.

Seven-month-old rainbow trout acclimated to 9 °C were used. The fish were gradually adapted to a water temperature of 20 °C over a period of seven days and then exposed to this temperature for 32 days. Changes in gill morphometry and histology and in enzyme activities in comparison to fish kept at 9 °C were investigated. No histopathological abnormalities were discerned at the heightened temperature. The gill epithelium thickened by approximately 40%, suggesting an increase in the branchial diffusion barrier for ions, water, and gases. Concurrently, there was a significant decrease in the activities of gill H+-ATPase and Na+/K+-ATPase, indicative of a reduction in osmoregulation under elevated temperatures. Carbonic anhydrase activity exhibited an increase following the 32-day exposure to 20 °C, potentially mitigating the adverse effects of increased gill epithelium thickness on gaseous exchange. There were no indications of gill surface enlargement as the measurements of the length of the primary and secondary lamellae, as well as of the distances between them, were similar at 9 and 20 °C. The activities of the gill enzymes associated with glycolysis and the citric acid cycle displayed a varied response following the 32-day exposure of rainbow trout to 20 °C. Pyruvate kinase decreased, while lactate dehydrogenase increased, and malate dehydrogenase remained constant. This might suggest a decrease in the glycolytic rate, a greater reliance on anaerobic pathways at 20 °C compared to 9 °C, and the consistent efficiency of the citric acid cycle in the gills of rainbow trout in response to elevated temperatures. In summation, the data suggest a remodeling of rainbow trout gills in response to elevated temperatures, affecting both morphometric and metabolic aspects.

Influence of Surface Waves on Liquid-to-Gas Mass Transfer in Molten Silicon

Abstract The paper focuses on the numerical analysis of the mass transfer of impurities from the wavy surface of molten silicon to the gas phase. The mathematical model is described herein, with the modelling of a wavy silicon melt surface being done with the moving mesh technique. The model employs assumptions about the mass transfer process on the surface, namely, that it can be modelled with effective diffusion across the interface. The assumption is verified against limited experimental data for a stationary melt surface, and reasonable agreement is obtained. Thereafter, numerical studies are undertaken for a wavy melt surface. The dependence of impurity removal rate on the wave amplitude, wavelength and frequency is analysed. It is shown that the waves on the surface of the liquid increase the mass transfer rate in a certain parameter range. Finally, results are analysed to find an explanation for this increase and to determine technological factors that impact it. Surface enlargement due to waves and altered flow patterns near the silicon melt are determined as potential reasons for the improved impurity removal rate. A dimensionless criterion for the minimal wave amplitude required to obtain improved impurity removal is found and discussed.

Transferability of the Structure–Property Relationships from Laser-Pretreated Metal–Polymer Joints to Aluminum–CFRP Hybrid Joints

The transferability of structure–property relationships for laser-pretreated metal adhesive joints to laser-pretreated metal–carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) bonds was investigated. Single-lap shear tests were performed on hybrid AW 6082-T6–CFRP specimens pretreated with the same pulsed laser surface parameter sets on the metal surface as previously tested, AW 6082-T6–E320 metal adhesive joints. The fracture surfaces were characterized to determine the type of failure and elucidate differences and commonalities in the link between surface structures and single-lap shear strengths. Digital image analyses of the hybrid specimens’ fractured surfaces were used to quantify remaining CFRP fragments on the metallic joint side. The results indicate that high surface enlargements and the presence of undercut structures lead to single-lap shear strengths exceeding 40 MPa and 35 MPa for unaged and aged hybrid specimens, respectively. Whereas for the metal–polymer joints, the trend from high strength to weakly bonded specimens is largely continuous with the degree of surface structuring, hybrid metal–CFRP joints exhibit a drastic drop in joint performance after aging if the laser-generated surface structures are less pronounced with low surface enlargements and crater depths. Surface features and hydrothermal aging determine whether the specimens fail cohesively or adhesively.

Tool Surface Degradation and Adhesion in Aluminium Forging

Tool surface deterioration is a crucial effect limiting the efficiency of forging processes. Prior work on wear is limited to steel forging while investigations on tribology in aluminium forging are limited to an abstract or simplified level. The presented work aims at contributing to filling this gap with a holistic analytic approach including ball-on-disc (BoD) tests, ring compression (RC) tests and serial forging (SF) tests close to industrial applications in order to gain insights on effects and influences of surface deterioration and evaluate the suitability of different tool coatings. The results show that the primary influence on surface adhesion in aluminium forging is the superposition of surface enlargement and contact pressure of the material flow. Duplex-treated tools with the combination of a nitriding in the first step and an additional coating with chromium nitride (CrN) afterwards show a significant reduction of aluminium adhesion in ring compression and serial forging tests, representing a promising approach to tool life enhancement in forging applications.

Relationship between laser-generated micro- and nanostructures and the long-term stability of bonded epoxy-aluminum joints

ABSTRACT To improve the mechanical performance and to address current shortcomings of adhesive bonds such as bond degradation due to aging, a pulsed laser surface pretreatment of the metal surfaces of aluminum AW 6082-T6 joints with epoxy adhesive E320 is investigated. The surface treatment of the specimens resulted in increased single-lap shear (SLS) strengths before and after hydrothermal aging in 80°C hot water compared to non-pretreated reference specimens. In order to reveal the correlations of laser parameters, resulting surface morphologies and the SLS strength, differently laser pretreated surfaces were characterized at the micro- and nanoscale using optical and scanning electron microscopies. The surface enlargement was quantified with a digital image analysis of cross-sections prepared from the joint interfaces. An analysis of variances (ANOVA) of the SLS results indicated that the laser parameters power and pulse frequency were most critical for obtaining high SLS strengths. Pretreated joint surfaces with a high micro- and nano-surface enlargement and deep solidification structures provide high SLS strengths of up to 50 MPa and almost negligible aging losses of merely 4%. Undercut structures on the pretreated surfaces were found to be beneficial for the mechanical and aging properties when only limited micro- and nanostructuring was applied.

Application of the all-in-one electrode for in situ H2O2 generation in hydroxylation catalyzed by unspecific peroxygenase from Agrocybe aegerita

The versatile unspecific peroxygenase from the fungus Agrocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) is capable to perform hydroxylation of various substrates, even unactivated CH bonds. The technical application of AaeUPO is still limited due to an instability towards its co-substrate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Electrochemical synthesis of H2O2 is an attractive approach that provides controllable in situ generation of H2O2. The aims of this study are to promote catalyst efficiency and develop an individually tailored system for H2O2-dependent reactions. Herein, an All-in-One electrode (AiO) system with a carbon felt cathode is used to generate H2O2in situ and combined for the first time with an enzymatic hydroxylation. The AiO electrode combines the counter and working electrode in a single rod structure. This shape provides convenient integration into conventional bioreactors, thus, converting them into bioelectrochemical systems (BES). Hydroxylation of 4-ethylbenzoic acid (EBA) catalyzed by the recombinant AaeUPO (rAaeUPO) was chosen as the model reaction. Total turnover number (TTN) up to 450,000 mol mol−1 and turnover frequency (TOF) up to 7.7 s − 1 were achieved using the AiO electrode system. The H2O2 productivity was identified as the limiting factor in the hydroxylation of EBA. However, with numbering-up or surface enlargement, this process could have great potential as an optimizable platform for H2O2-dependent enzymatic reactions.

Surface enlargement of tantalum capacitor foils by pulsed direct current etching and laser cladding

Electrochemical etching for the surface enlargement of tantalum capacitor foils has always been a challenge, due to the ultra-high chemical stability of tantalum foils. Herein, pulsed direct current etching of tantalum capacitor foils assisted by laser cladding was investigated and high surface area enlargement was achieved. The effects of electrolyte composition, power supply parameters and external environment on the etching process of tantalum foil were systematically studied, to screen out the best experimental conditions. Furthermore, iron particles with diameters of 3–5 μm were successfully laser cladded on the surface of tantalum foils. These particles will be easily etched in the electrochemical process to form more previous pores, which can serve as etching sites for further tantalum foil etching. Under the best conditions, high-specific capacitance tantalum foils with a capacitance of 155.1 nF/mm2 were obtained at a high forming voltage of 100 V, which were 8 times larger than the unetched light foils. The surface enlargement of tantalum capacitor foils is expected to realize the development of novel tantalum capacitors with both high operating voltage and high capacitance.

The Effect of Sexes and Seasons on the Morphological Structures of the Ruminant Digestive System of Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur)

Constant adaptation to environmental changes is required by ruminants to allow them to adapt to different ecological niches and feeding habits. In addition, the morphology and function of ruminant digestive systems reveal some adaptive evolutionary characteristics. Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) display a variety of morpho-physiological adaptations that are typical of grazers. In this study, we collected 64 adult blue sheep samples (whole animal carcasses) from the Helan Mountains, China, during different seasons. The external morphological parameters, digestive system morphological indexes, and rumen surface enlargement factors were determined. Our results reveal that the rumen and reticulum weights were positively correlated with the body weight (p = 0.004), while the food channel aperture, intestinal length, and weight of the blue sheep digestive tract presented no significant differences between different seasons (p > 0.05) and sexes (p > 0.05). There were significant differences (p < 0.001) in the density, length, and width of mastoids, and the rumen surface enlargement factor was 2.85 ± 1.37, which is typical of roughage feeders. The nutritional and ecological characteristics of blue sheep represent obvious morphological and physiological adaptations to an herbivorous diet. Adopting a quick foraging strategy allows blue sheep to rapidly consume and excrete large amounts of feed, thus obtaining the required energy for their activities and facilitating better adaption to environmental changes.

Enhanced OER Performance and Dynamic Transition of Surface Reconstruction in LaNiO3 Thin Films with Nanoparticles Decoration.

In an electrocatalytic process, the cognition of the active phase in a catalyst has been regarded as one of the most vital issues, which not only boosts the fundamental understanding of the reaction procedure but also guides the engineering and design for further promising catalysts. Here, based on the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the stepwise evolution of the dominant active phase is demonstrated in the LaNiO3 (LNO) catalyst once the single-crystal thin film is decorated by LNO nanoparticles. It is found that the OER performance can be dramatically improved by this decoration, and the catalytic current density at 1.65V can be enhanced by ≈1000% via ≈109 cm-2 nanoparticle adhesion after extracting the contribution of surface enlargement. Most importantly, a transition of the active phase from LNO to NiOOH via surface reconstruction with the density of LNO nanoparticles is demonstrated. Several mechanisms in terms of this active phase transition are discussed involving lattice orientation-induced change of the surface energy profile, the lattice oxygen participation, and the A/B-site ions leaching during OER cycles. This study suggests that the active phases in transition metal-based OER catalysts can transform with morphology, which should be corresponding to distinct engineering strategies.

Discoidin domain receptor-2 enhances secondary alveolar septation in mice by activating integrins and modifying focal adhesions.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of the pulmonary parenchyma must maintain the structural relationships among resident cells during the constant distortion imposed by respiration. This dictates that both the ECM and cells adapt to changes in shape, while retaining their attachment. Membrane-associated integrins and discoidin domain receptors (DDR) bind collagen and transmit signals to the cellular cytoskeleton. Although the contributions of DDR2 to collagen deposition and remodeling during osseous development are evident, it is unclear how DDR2 contributes to lung development. Using mice (smallie, Slie/Slie, DDR2Δ) bearing a spontaneous inactivating deletion within the DDR2 coding region, we observed a decrease in gas-exchange surface area and enlargement of alveolar ducts. Compared with fibroblasts isolated from littermate controls, DDR2Δ fibroblasts, spread more slowly, developed fewer lamellipodia, and were less responsive to the rigidity of neighboring collagen fibers. Activated β1-integrin (CD29) was reduced in focal adhesions (FA) of DDR2Δ fibroblasts, less phospho-zyxin localized to and fewer FA developed over ventral actin stress fibers, and the adhesions had a lower aspect ratio compared with controls. However, DDR2 deletion did not reduce cellular displacement of the ECM. Our findings indicate that DDR2, in concert with collagen-binding β1-integrins, regulates the timing and location of focal adhesion formation and how lung fibroblasts respond to ECM rigidity. Reduced rigidity sensing and mechano-responsiveness may contribute to the distortion of alveolar ducts, where the fiber cable-network is enriched and tensile forces are concentrated. Strategies targeting DDR2 could help guide fibroblasts to locations where tensile forces organize parenchymal repair.

A dialdehyde starch-based adhesive for medium-density fiberboards

Bio-based adhesives have gained considerable attention in the last years as more sustainable and healthier alternatives to the formaldehyde-based adhesives used today in wood-based panel manufacturing. In this study, dialdehyde starch (DAS) with various aldehyde contents was prepared by using sodium metaperiodate as an oxidizing agent. Characterizations were performed by employing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermal stability analysis. Different adhesive compositions were used for making medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panels. They were based on DAS (12 wt% based on fiber), emulsifiable diphenylmethane diisocyanate (eMDI, 2-4 wt% based on DAS), and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC, 0.5-1.0 wt% based on DAS). Fibers and the adhesive components were mixed with a combination of dry mixing and wet spraying. The physical and mechanical properties of MDF panels bonded with different DAS-based adhesives were compared with those of melamine urea-formaldehyde (MUF) adhesive and sole eMDI. The results showed that the MDF panels made with DAS-MFC-eMDI of 99.52% bio-based content showed comparable properties to standard panels with a commercial MUF adhesive. It was implied that DAS in the presence of small amount of eMDI can create strong bonds with wood fibers, while an additional positive effect on bonding was due to the contact surface enlargement of MFC.

The Presence of Ascites and Irregular Tumor Surface as Strong Predictors for Ovarian Malignancy

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is the most dangerous gynecologic cancer and one of the top five causes of cancer death in women. One of the intraoperative strategies to diagnose and manage women with ovarian cancer is by doing intraoperative frozen section examination during surgery, but not all hospitals in Indonesia have this facilities, thus makes it difficult to achieve intraoperative diagnosis, which lead to substandard management of patients with ovarian cancer. AIM: The purpose of this study is to investigate if one can determine whether an ovarian tumor is benign or not based on the gross appearance of the tumor. METHODS: This study is a comparative, analytic, and cross-sectional study to compare the results of operator’s assessment with the results of intraoperative frozen section examination in determining malignancy during surgery. After the tumor was removed, it was assessed by operator based on the gross appearance of the tumor whether the tumor was benign or not, then the tumor underwent frozen section examination, and based on the frozen section examination results, the patient was treated accordingly. Both of the results then compared to the histopathologic (paraffin block) results, as the gold standard of pathologic diagnosis. RESULTS: This study shows that variables ascites, tumor seedings, tumor surface, tumor consistency, tumor lobes, and lymph node enlargement are statistically significant (p &lt; 0.05). The combinations of highly significant variables (p &lt; 0.01) show that a combination of ascites and irregular tumor surface give the suggestions that an ovarian is highly likely a non-benign tumor. CONCLUSION: In the absence of intraoperative frozen section examination in a hospital, operator’s assessment based on gross appearance of the tumor can be used as a substitute for intraoperative frozen section examination to determine the malignancy of an ovarian tumor during surgery.

Asymmetric mucosal structure, mesenteric versus antimesenteric, in mouse, rat, and human small intestines.

The morphology of the small intestinal mucosa is reflected by the degree of stimuli. Previous studies have come to different conclusion about whether the mucosa is equally symmetrical. The aim of the study is to investigate whether there are structural differences in the mesenteric versus antimesenteric mucosa in mice, rats, and humans. Jejunal biopsies from mice and rats were saved. Samples from human small intestine were obtained from patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Fixed samples were used to morphologically evaluate villus height and enlargement factor due to villi. The number of goblet cells, mast cells, enteroendocrine cells, and Paneth cells were histologically analyzed in the villus structure. Cell turnover was analyzed by Ki-67 staining. There was a significant increased villi height and villus enlargement factor antimesenterically in mice, rats, and human small intestines. The distribution of goblet cells, mast cells, and Paneth cells were equal while the number of enteroendocrine cells was increased antimesenteric in the human samples. The crypt mitotic activity was almost 20% higher in the antimesenteric part of jejunum. In summary we found longer villi, greater surface enlargement, and increased number of enteroendocrine cells as well as increased cell turnover antimesenterically. These differences may be of importance in understanding normal gastrointestinal physiology in health and disease.

A key factor in determining the effectiveness of etchants for electrochemical surface enlargement of Ta foil for electrolytic capacitor

For electrochemical etching, it is often assumed intuitively that the high specific surface area (SSA) is largely dependent on the aggressiveness of the corrosive agent. Today, however, we present a different perspective. In this study, we combine theoretical calculations and electrochemical experiments to fully understand the mechanisms of Cl- and Br- in the three stages of the tantalum (Ta) pitting process, including passivation film breakdown, Ta anodic dissolution and re-passivation. The results show that both Cl- and Br- cause the breakdown of the passivation film and the dissolution of Ta atoms, with the former having a more pronounced effect. However, MD simulations show that the re-passivation of Ta occurs only in Br- containing media but not in Cl- containing media. This means that Ta is protected by adsorption of dissolved oxygen while being destroyed by Br-, but is only dissolved in NaCl solution. The same result is observed in our electrochemical experiments. In addition, the specific capacity of etched Ta foil in NaBr solution is as high as 325μF/cm2 while it is only 48μF/cm2 in NaCl. It is precisely the protective rather than the destructive effect of the etchant that is more important for obtaining high SSA.

Innovative molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor for the nanomolar detection of Tenofovir as an anti-HIV drug

Tenofovir (TNF) is an antiviral medicine that is utilized to treat the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, its level must be controlled in the human body and environment at the risk of causing kidney and liver problems. Therefore, determining TNF concentration in real samples with more advanced, inexpensive, and accurate sensing systems is essential. In this work, a novel electrochemical nanosensor for TNF determination based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) on the screen-printed electrode modified with functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes, graphite carbon nitride, and platinum nanoparticles (MIP-Pt@g-C3N4/F-MWCNT/SPE) was constructed through the electro-polymerization approach. The molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared on the electrode surface with TNF as the template molecule and 2-aminophenol (2-AP) as the functional monomer. Moreover, factors that affect sensor response were optimized. Pt@g-C3N4/F-MWCNT nanocomposite had an excellent synergistic effect on MIP, allowing rapid and specific identification of the test substance. The results demonstrated that the electro-polymerization of 2-AP supplies large amounts of functional groups for the binding of the template molecules, which remarkably enhances the sensitivity and specific surface area of the MIP sensor. This surface enlargement increased the analyte accessibility to imprinted molecular cavities. Under optimum conditions, the oxidation peak current had a linear relationship with TNF concentration ranging from 0.005 to 0.69 μM with a low detection limit of 0.0030 μM (S/N = 3). The results demonstrated that the designed MIP sensor possesses acceptable sensitivity, repeatability, and reproducibility toward TNF determination. Moreover, the developed sensor was applied to biological and water samples to determine TNF, and satisfactory recovery results of 95.6–104.8% were obtained (RSD less than 10.0%). We confirm that combining as-synthesized nanocomposite Pt@g-C3N4/F-MWCNT with MIP improves the limitations of MIP-based nanosensors. The proposed electrode is also compatible with portable potentiostats, allowing on-site measurements and showing tremendous promise as a point-of-care (POC) diagnostic platform.

Coexistence mechanisms of sympatric ungulates: Behavioral and physiological adaptations of blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and red deer (Cervus elaphus alxaicus) in Helan Mountains, China

Studying the coexistence mechanisms of sympatric wildlife helps to shed light on why the earth has so many different species. When ungulates share ranges, food and habitat requirements may partially or fully overlap. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine how sympatric ungulates share limited resources. Carcasses of 27 adult blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and three adult red deer (Cervus elaphus alxaicus) were collected in the Helan Mountains, China. Nutritive indices of plant species foraged and morphometric measurements of the digestive system of the two sympatric ungulates were determined. In addition, 120 passive, infrared motion-triggered cameras recorded spatial overlap and temporal overlap between the two species. Camera trapping revealed relatively limited spatial overlap and significantly different activity rhythms between blue sheep and red deer. Differences were also observed in stomach weight, surface enlargement factor of the rumen, and intestine length between the two species. However, the combined relative weight of the stomach and intestine was not different between species. The low spatiotemporal overlap decreased opportunities for encounters between sympatric blue sheep and red deer, and significant differences in digestive systems allowed the two species to consume different plant species or different parts of the same species. Thus, the two sympatric ungulates coexist harmoniously in the Helan Mountains because of long-term evolutionary behavioral and physiological adaptations that eliminate negative effects on the survival of the other species.

Enhanced oxygen evolution reaction by stacking single-crystalline freestanding SrRuO3

Single-crystalline transition metal oxide thin film has been employed to perceive the fundamental functions of electronic structure and charge transfer processes in water splitting processes. However, the surface area enlargement and strain tunability in a single-crystalline transition metal oxide are restricted in conventional epitaxy. In this study, we report the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) enhancement by a stack of multilayer SrRuO3 featured single-crystallinity, flexibility, and stackability. The controllable stack of multiple cylindrical SrRuO3 for surface enlargement in a magnitude of order and the emergent electronic structure transition, from t2g(3↑, 1↓) to t2g(3↑)eg(1↑), of Ru efficiently enhances the OER performance, the overpotential can be reduced by ~74 % and ~78 % in KOH and HClO4 respectively at 5 mA/cm2. Our study provides an approach for fine manipulation of single-crystalline freestanding oxide morphologically, and an efficient strategy aiming at the extreme enhancement of the electrochemically active surface area and the electronic structure engineering by strain.

Endocytic trafficking promotes vacuolar enlargements for fast cell expansion rates in plants.

The vacuole has a space-filling function, allowing a particularly rapid plant cell expansion with very little increase in cytosolic content (Löfke et al., 2015; Scheuring et al., 2016; Dünser et al., 2019). Despite its importance for cell size determination in plants, very little is known about the mechanisms that define vacuolar size. Here, we show that the cellular and vacuolar size expansions are coordinated. By developing a pharmacological tool, we enabled the investigation of membrane delivery to the vacuole during cellular expansion. Our data reveal that endocytic membrane sorting from the plasma membrane to the vacuole is enhanced in the course of rapid root cell expansion. While this 'compromise' mechanism may theoretically at first decelerate cell surface enlargements, it fuels vacuolar expansion and, thereby, ensures the coordinated augmentation of vacuolar occupancy in dynamically expanding plant cells.

Building an extensible cell wall.

This article recounts, from my perspective of four decades in this field, evolving paradigms of primary cell wall structure and the mechanism of surface enlargement of growing cell walls. Updates of the structures, physical interactions, and roles of cellulose, xyloglucan, and pectins are presented. This leads to an example of how a conceptual depiction of wall structure can be translated into an explicit quantitative model based on molecular dynamics methods. Comparison of the model’s mechanical behavior with experimental results provides insights into the molecular basis of complex mechanical behaviors of primary cell wall and uncovers the dominant role of cellulose–cellulose interactions in forming a strong yet extensible network.