Tube Morphology Research Articles

Functional characterization reveals the importance of Arabidopsis ECA4 and EPSIN3 in clathrin mediated endocytosis and wall structure in apical growing cells

Summary Localized clathrin mediated endocytosis is vital for secretion and wall deposition in apical growing plant cells. Adaptor and signalling proteins, along with phosphoinositides, are known to play a regulatory, yet poorly defined role in this process. Here we investigated the function of Arabidopsis ECA4 and EPSIN3, putative mediators of the process, in pollen tubes and root hairs. Homozygous eca4 and epsin3 plants exhibited altered pollen tube morphology (in vitro) and self‐pollination led to fewer seeds and shorter siliques. These effects were augmented in eca4/epsin3 double mutant and quantitative polymerase chain reaction data revealed changes in phosphoinositide metabolism and flowering genes suggestive of a synergistic action. No visible changes were observed in root morphology, but atomic force microscopy in mutant root hairs showed altered structural stiffness. Imaging and FRET‐FLIM analysis of ECA4 and EPSIN3 X‐FP constructs revealed that both proteins interact at the plasma membrane but exhibit slightly different intracellular localization. FT‐ICR‐MS metabolomic analysis of mutant cells showed changes in lipids, amino acids and carbohydrate composition consistent with a role in secretion and growth. Characterization of double mutants of eca4 and epsin3 with phospholipase C genes (plc5, plc7) indicates that phosphoinositides (e.g. PtdIns(4,5)P2) are fundamental for a combined and complementary role of ECA4‐EPSIN3 in cell secretion.

Enhanced Adsorption and Photocatalytic Activity of Vertically Oriented TiO2 Nanotube Arrays by Li Incorporation

A highly efficient, solid, and easily maneuverable adsorbent and photocatalyst, Li‐incorporated titanate nanotubes that manifest adsorption efficiency of 98.1% and photocatalytic efficiency of 99.6% in 60 min and 97.8% and 98.5%, respectively, in a shorter duration of 20 min, is synthesized by a facile two‐stage electrochemical technique. The modified nanotubes exhibit good cyclic stability of 93.7% photodegradation of malachite green dye after three continuous cycles. The adsorption data show the highest correlation for second‐order pseudo kinetics and Freundlich isotherm, suggesting multilayer chemisorption with an adsorption capacity of kF ≈ 219.51 mg1–1/nL1/ng−1. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of the adsorbent before and after the adsorption corroborates the findings. X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals the formation of a larger number of oxygen vacancies (Ti3+/Ti2+) that facilitate more carrier release for the production of reactive oxygen species during photocatalysis. X‐Ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis confirm a secondary rutile phase formation on Li doping that promotes heterogeneous multilayer adsorption. Field‐emission spectroscopic studies reveal a change in the morphology of the doped tubes with porous aggregate formation on the surface. The structural, morphological, and compositional change brought about by Li incorporation facilitates the use of titania nanotubes as an efficient adsorbent cum photocatalyst in the removal of malachite green dye.

A Twin Spiral Coil Phase Transfer Heat Exchanger for Storing Heat Should Be Designed and Tested in The Lab.

Abstract This in-depth study of thermal energy storage (TES) systems examines their function in resolving time, temperature, power, and location problems within the immense energy system design. With its incredible growth, TES creates a shadow over the future, projecting optimism for a better economy and more reliable energy infrastructure. The study is concentrated on a state-of-the-art heat exchanger that has circular double coils with various diameters, with a reliance on charging process amplification. The trial stage is decorated like a well-coordinated ensemble, integrating shell-and-tube design together with intense evaluation of varied tube morphologies, HTF flow designs, and protecting processes. The TES device effortlessly reveals its many components, such as a gas heater, control valves, a pump, a circular container with spiral HTF tubes, and a chorus of music. The PCM heat storage unit’s performance improved in two resonant cases that evaluated the effect of the HTF input temperature and coil charge in great detail. Case 2 and Case 1’s connections exhibit the significant heat absorption and PCM liquification by creating a web of various temperature differences while charging. With its improved temperature performance and straightforward design, Case 2 displays rapid removal and quicker charging periods. In addition, the study examines the HTF input parameters, which cast light on the constant HTF departure temperatures and demonstrate the importance of temperature during the charging opera. While the total energy storage rate rises with increasing temperatures, the expected scores are in accord with the mood fluctuations at the beginning and end of HTF. This review functions as a folder of vital insights, analyzing notes towards constructing PCM charging processes for higher energy storage efficiency - ultimately placing a limelight on the endless possibilities that TES systems predict in the present spectrum of energy uses.

Ediacaran-type non-mineralized tube-dwelling organisms persisted into the early Cambrian (Terreneuvian) in Baltica

The Ediacaran taxon Conotubus hemiannulatus has been discovered in the Terreneuvian blue clays of Estonia. Alongside Conotubus, Gaojiashania-like tubes are also found in these clays. These tubes are fully compressed and pyritized. The well-developed peristomes of Conotubus might have provided stability if the living worm was partially buried in the soft sea floor, suggesting that Conotubus was a sessile suspension feeder. The presence of the archaic Conotubus hemiannulatus in the Fortunian of Estonia indicates that the tube morphology of some cloudinids did not change between the Ediacaran and the Terreneuvian. The existence of these old-fashioned cloudinids in the Terreneuvian suggests either that the early Cambrian ecosystem in Baltica was not significantly different from that of the Ediacaran, or that cloudinids with organic tubes were more resilient to ecological changes than previously thought. Most Terreneuvian faunas originate from lower latitudes, whereas Baltica, during the Terreneuvian, was located at middle-high latitudes and experienced a cold climate. We hypothesize that the cold climate zone ecosystem was more archaic in the Fortunian than the tropical ecosystem, providing a final refuge for the Ediacaran non-mineralized tubicolous organisms. The increased competition pressure from diverse modern animals in the tropics could have driven Ediacaran-type non-mineralized tubicolous organisms to seek refuge in the colder regions of the ocean, where the competition from more advanced animals was less intense.

Self-Assembled Synthesis of Graphene Tubes from Melamine Catalyzed by Calcium Carbonate

This study investigates the carbon products generated by melamine under various heat-treatment temperatures with the catalysis of calcium carbonate. We discovered that the cost-effective precursor melamine readily self-assembles and curls into graphene tubes when catalyzed by the alkaline earth salt CaCO3 at elevated temperatures. Under heat-treatment conditions of 1100 °C and 1200 °C, the growth morphology of graphene tubes with open structures and exceptionally large diameters was observed, and the diameters reached the micron level. These products exhibit a high degree of carbonization and an extremely low nitrogen content, as low as 1.7%. Further, the intensity ratio (ID/IG) of the D band and the G band is as low as 0.79 in Raman characterization. The results show that the products have a certain graphite structure, which proves the catalytic activity of CaCO3. This is attributed to the incorporation of CaCO3 into the raw material system, which impedes the complete thermal decomposition of melamine. On the other hand, the resulting CaO particles are evenly distributed along the tubular products, providing certain support for their self-assembly and growth, thereby achieving the efficient growth of graphene tubes.

Three new species of Isodon (Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae) from China.

Three new species of Isodon (Lamiaceae) from China are described and illustrated, based on both morphological evidence and our recent phylogenomic studies of the genus. Isodonattenuatus, a herbaceous new species known only from the Fanjing Mountain, is shown to be sister to I.villosus, but they can be easily distinguished by leaf and inflorescence indumentum, calyx teeth shape and corolla tube morphology. Isodongongshanensis, a herbaceous new species collected from the Hengduan Mountains in southwest China, represents a distinct lineage within the genus. Isodonsukungii, a shrubby new species also endemic to the Hengduan Mountains, was previously misidentified as I.tenuifolius, but they are phylogenetically distantly related and differ in lamina size and margin, inflorescence type and corolla length and shape.

­Two-Stage Hydrothermal Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotubes with Variations of TiO<sub>2</sub>/NaOH Molar Ratio

TiO2 nanomaterial is a semiconductor material that exhibits promising photocatalysis activity. TiO2 nanomaterials can be converted into several forms, including TiO2 nanotubes, which have a larger surface area and more applications. In this study, TiO2 nanotubes were synthesized hydrothermally using TiO2 micro powder precursors. The synthesis involved two hydrothermal stages: the first to synthesize TiO2 nanoparticles from TiO2 micro powder precursors, and the second to synthesize TiO2 nanotubes from TiO2 nanoparticle precursors. TiO2 micro powder was added to the synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles by hydrothermal at mole ratios of TiO2/NaOH of 0.01, 0.025, and 0.04, respectively. The TiO2 nanoparticles obtained exhibit a morphology in the form of short fibers, with particle sizes increasing as the mole ratios are added. Furthermore, they possess an anatase crystal structure at all mole ratios of TiO2/NaOH. Subsequently, the TiO2 nanoparticles are calcined at 450°C. The results of the TiO2 nanoparticle calcination show that the morphology is in the form of short fibers, which are smaller than those of the uncalcinated sample. The calcinated sample also has larger particle sizes and an anatase crystal structure, compared to the uncalcinated sample. The TiO2 nanotubes obtained exhibit an elongated tube morphology with outer diameters ranging from 3.93 to 11.44 nm, inner diameters ranging from 2.5 to 4.25 nm, and a wall thickness of 1.09 to 3.4 nm. The surface area of the TiO2 nanotubes is 256.744 m2/g.

Study on the effect of multi-factor compound action on long-term tensile performance of GFRP composite pipe and life prediction analysis

In this work, the glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite pipes used as sewerage pipes in oil and gas field environments were studied. The accelerated aging experiments were carried out under the simulated environments of three typical oil field media which including circulating air, simulated produced water and standard simulated oil. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was adopted to observe the microscopic morphology of the aged GFRP tubes under the three conditions. The microstructural characteristics of the aged tubes and the evolution process of internal defects were also analyzed and evaluated in combination with micro-CT technology. The attenuation pattern of the hoop tensile strength of the aged pipes was measured via the separation disk method, and the service life prediction was carried out based on the Arrhenius theory with the hoop strength as the life index. The results show that the accumulation of aging time and continuous heat input will aggravate the expansion of internal pores and cause the aggregation of small-volume defects into large-volume defects. Especially in the simulated oil environment, which has the highest sensitivity to defects. The maximum porosity reaching 1.5 % and the maximum volume of individual defects exceeding 106 μm3 after aging for 4000 h at 95 °C. The thermal aging process under the three environmental conditions had similar aging characteristics, and interfacial damage of the glass fibers was observed in all of them. The variability of hydrothermal aging is related to the hydrolytic behavior of the glass fibers, which is associated with the progressive dissolution damage of the SiO2 network in the glass fibers, as well as the breaking of silane bonds. Thus, the hydrothermal environment had the most significant effect on the hoop tensile strength decay. Ultimately, 75 % strength retention was taken as the end-of-life indicator. The predicted service life based on the Arrhenius model for the three environments of thermo-oxygen, hydrothermal and simulated oil were 23.5, 23.1 and 28.5 years at 20 °C, and 12.2, 4.9 and 10.3 years at 40 °C, respectively.

Crashworthiness analysis and morphology of hybrid hollow tubes reinforced by aluminum mesh with hybrid woven fibre composites (basalt, jute, hemp, banana, bamboo) using roll-wrapping technique

Crashworthiness analysis and morphology of hybrid hollow tubes reinforced by aluminum mesh with hybrid woven fibre composites (basalt, jute, hemp, banana, bamboo) using roll-wrapping technique

Fabrication and characterization of thin self-rolling film for anti-inflammatory drug delivery

Thin films have been identified as an alternative approach for targeting sensitive site as drug delivery tool. In this work, the preparation of self-rolling thin films to form tubes for wound healing and easy placement (e.g. in the colon via colonoscopy) have been studied. We explored the use of thin films as a protective dressing combined to local release of an anti-inflammatory in order to improve drug efficacy and limit the side effects of the oral route. Non-cytotoxic poly(ethylene) glycol and poly(lactic acid) photo-crosslinkable star copolymers were used for rapid UV crosslinking of bilayered films loaded with prednisolone. The films, crosslinked under UV lamp without the need of photoinitiator, are optimized and compared in terms of water uptake, swelling ratio, final tube diameter and morphology, anti-inflammatory drug loading and release. Our studies showed the spontaneous rolling of bilayer constructs directly after immersion in water. Tubular geometry allows application of the patch through minimally invasive procedures such as colonoscopy. Moreover, the rolled-up bilayers highlighted efficient release of encapsulated drug following Fickian diffusion mechanism. We also confirmed the anti-inflammatory activity of the released anti-inflammatory drug that inhibits the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated by Escherichia coli (E. coli).

MoS2@MWCNTs with Rich Vacancy Defects for Effective Piezocatalytic Degradation of Norfloxacin via Innergenerated-H2O2: Enhanced Nonradical Pathway and Synergistic Mechanism with Radical Pathway.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)-based materials for piezocatalysis are unsatisfactory due to their low actual piezoelectric coefficient and poor electrical conductivity. Herein, 1T/3R phase MoS2 grown in situ on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was proposed. MoS2@MWCNTs exhibited the interwoven morphology of thin nanoflowers and tubes, and the piezoelectric response of MoS2@MWCNTs was 4.07 times higher than that of MoS2 via piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) characterization. MoS2@MWCNTs exhibited superior activity with a 91% degradation rate of norfloxacin (NOR) after actually working 24 min (as for rhodamine B, reached 100% within 18 min) by pulse-mode ultrasonic vibration-triggered piezocatalysis. It was found that piezocatalysis for removing pollutants was attributed to the synergistic effect of free radicals (•OH and O2•-) and nonfree radical (1O2, key role) pathways, together with the innergenerated-H2O2 promoting the degradation rate. 1O2 can be generated by electron transfer and energy transfer pathways. The presence of oxygen vacancies (OVs) induced the transformation of O2 to 1O2 by triplet energy transfer. The fast charge transfer in MoS2@MWCNTs heterostructure and the coexistence of sulfur vacancies and OVs enhanced charge carrier separation resulting in a prominent piezoelectric effect. This work opens up new avenues for the development of efficient piezocatalysts that can be utilized for environmental purification.

Tectorotularia hexagona (Polychaeta, Serpulidae) co-existing with Rhynchostreon suborbiculatum (Bivalvia, Gryphaeidae) in a river-dominated marginal marine environment of Cenomanian–Turonian age in Slovakia: An example of Late Cretaceous amensalism or competition?

The mutual relationship and co-occurrence of the tube-dwelling polychaete Tectorotularia hexagona and the oyster Rhynchostreon suborbiculatum in an instance of fluctuating marginal marine environment, represented by the Orlové Sandstone in the Western Carpathians (Pieniny Klippen Belt), is recorded. As a consequence of climate change during the Cenomanian and early Turonian, changes over time in key ecological factors (e.g., decrease in freshwater inflow and increase in temperature and water mass salinity) led to critical trophic alterations in the marginal marine system studied. The environmental change from polyhaline/eutrophic to euhaline/lower nutrient conditions led to a reduction in the pioneer palaeopopulation of R. suborbiculatum, and Tectorotularia hexagona and other stenohaline marine recliners took over the ecological niches originally occupied by the oyster. In this respect, the relationship between T. hexagona and R. suborbiculatum may be considered a Late Cretaceous example of competition between two groups of sessile-benthic recliners. In the present work, two different tube morphologies of T. hexagona from Hôrka are described, and the tube microstructure of this species is documented for the first time. In addition, the material from Hôrka is compared with that from the type locality, Essen in Germany, and ‘Hamulus’ hexagonus and Tectorotularia ‘westfalica’ are considered to constitute one and the same species. The wider ecological and systematic context of this serpulid species is discussed as well.

Muscular and Vascular Fallopian Tube Morphology in Ectopic Tubal Pregnancy

Muscular and Vascular Fallopian Tube Morphology in Ectopic Tubal Pregnancy

Template assisted sol-gel synthesis of BiFeO3 hollow tubes: Introducing kapok fiber as a bio-template

Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) is a perovskite material well known for its multifunctional properties and related applications. The recent research on this material includes the synthesis of hollow-structured BiFeO3 using various methods and exploring their applications in photocatalysis and sensing. Here, we introduce a facile method for the synthesis of BiFeO3 hollow tubes using the sol-gel method, where kapok fiber collected from Ceiba pentandra is used as a biotemplate for the first time. In the procedure, the annealing path was modified by introducing intermediate holding steps besides varying the final annealing temperature. The structural analysis was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman analysis, whereas the formation of hollow tube morphology was confirmed with the help of FESEM analysis. The complete decomposition of the kapok fiber template during the annealing process was confirmed with the help of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The XRD analysis indicated that monitoring both the annealing pathway and the final annealing temperature is pivotal in attaining the formation of phase pure BiFeO3. The proposed method eliminates the requirement for additional procedures for extracting the synthesized hollow tubes from the parent template, in addition to providing a less expensive strategy for the synthesis of BiFeO3 hollow tubes.

S doping in CoOHS modified hollow fiber membranes boosting electron transfer between activated PMS and pollutants in a continuous flow reactor

The surface-sulfurized CoAl-LDH (CoOHS) modified hollow fiber membranes (HFM@(PDA/PEI)@CoOHS) demonstrated excellent peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation for oxytetracycline (OTC) degradation, with high removal efficiency and detoxification capacities, thanks to the coexistence of S-doping species, flower-like microstructures, and hollow fiber membrane support. Meanwhile, the hollow tube morphology of HFM@(PDA/PEI)@CoOHS is easily separated for recycling. With the combination of competitive radical quenching experiments, EPR, and electrochemical analysis, the 1O2 and enhanced electron transfer can be accounted for OTC oxidation. Therein, S doping species are able to promote the Co(III)/Co(II) redox cycle by forming more metastable catalyst/PMS* complexes to enhance electron transfer between OTC and PMS* complexes. A continuous flow reactor with hollow fiber membranes was used to evaluate the OTC removal in practice. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), the flow within the modified hollow fiber membrane was modeled. Additionally, HFM@(PDA/PEI)@CoOHS is recyclable after 5 cycles with a degradation efficiency of 86.17%. This research paves the way for an innovative strategy for designing continuous flow reactors functioning as PMS activators, opening up possibilities for practical applications in organic pollutant removal.

Substrate-Free Growth of N-Doped Bamboo Tube Morphology on CoNi Alloy Nanoparticles as an Electrocatalyst for Anion Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

In the realm of fuel cell technology, the quest for durable and economical electrocatalysts persists as a critical endeavour. Herein, we introduce a durable electrocatalyst boasting a resilient knotted bamboo...

Cluster effect through the oligomerisation of bioactive disaccharide AMOR on pollen tube capacitation in Torenia fournieri.

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are plant-specific glycoproteins involved in cellular mechanics and signal transduction. There has been major progress in understanding the structure, synthesis, and molecular functions of their carbohydrate chains; however, the mechanisms by which they function as signalling molecules remain unclear. Here, methyl-glucuronosyl arabinogalactan (AMOR; Me-GlcA-β(1,6)-Gal), a disaccharide structure at the end of AGP carbohydrate chains, was oligomerised via chemical synthesis. The biological activity of AMOR oligomers was enhanced via clustering of the carbohydrate chains. Furthermore, AMOR oligomers yielded a pollen tube morphology (i.e., callose plug formation) similar to that when cultured with native AMOR, suggesting it may be functionally similar to native AMOR.

Embryonic exposure to decitabine induces multiple neural tube defects in developing zebrafish.

Neural tube defects are severe congenital disorders of the central nervous system that originate during embryonic development when the neural tube fails to close completely. It affects one to two infants per 1000 births. The aetiology is multifactorial with contributions from both genetic and environmental factors. Dysregulated epigenetic mechanisms, in particular the abnormal genome-wide methylation during embryogenesis, have been linked to developmental abnormalities including neural tube defects. The current study investigated the influence of decitabine (DCT), a DNA methylation inhibitor, on embryonic development in zebrafish, with a focus on neural tube formation. The developing zebrafish embryos were exposed to graded concentrations of decitabine (from 13.69 μM to 1 mM) before the onset of neurulation. The developmental process was monitored at regular time intervals post fertilization. At 120 h post fertilization, the developing embryos were inspected individually to determine the incidence and severity of neural tube defects. Using alizarin red staining, the cranial and caudal neural tube morphology was examined in formaldehyde fixed larvae. Anomalies in neural tube and somite development, as well as a delay in hatching, were discovered at an early stage of development. As development continued, neural tube defects became increasingly evident, and there was a concentration-dependent rise in the prevalence and severity of various neural tube defects. 90% of growing embryos in the group exposed to decitabine 1 mM had multiple neural tube malformations, and 10% had isolated neural tube defects. With several abnormalities, the caudal region of the neural tube was seriously compromised. The histopathological studies supported the malformations in neural tube. Our study revealed the harmful impact of decitabine on the development of the neural tube in growing zebrafish. Moreover, these findings support the hypothesis that the hypomethylation during embryonic development causes neural tube defects.

Unilateral cross-incompatibility between Camellia oleifera and C. yuhsienensis provides new insights for hybridization in Camellia spp.

Camellia yuhsienensis was used to cross with Camellia oleifera to improve the resistance of oil camellia anthracnose. However, unilateral cross-incompatibility (UCI) between C. oleifera and C. yuhsienensis was found during the breeding process. Five C.oleifera cultivars and four C. uhsienensis materials were tested to confirm the UCI between C. oleifera and C. yuhsienensis. 'Huashuo' (HS) and 'Youza 2' (YZ2) were used to represent these two species to characterize the UCI, including pollen tube growth, fertilization and fruit development. The results demonstrated that UCI was prevalent between C. oleifera and C. yuhsienensis. The asynchronous flowering period was a pre-pollination barrier that limited mating between these two species under natural conditions. Interspecific pollen tubes were observed through the styles of these two plants, though the growth rates differed considerably. At 96 hours after pollination, the pollen tube of YZ2 barely entered the ovule, but remained at the base of the style and became swollen. However, the HS pollen tube entered the ovule 48 hours after pollination, double fertilization was observed, and the fruit and seeds developed commonly. Relative to compatible combinations, most unfertilized ovules in incompatible combinations failed to grow, turned brown 150 days after pollination, and the fruits were smaller than expected with uneven enlargement. Investigations on both semi-in vivo and in vitro pollen tubes gave us new idea for thought: the HS style has a stronger inhibitory effect on the interspecific pollen tubes, while calcium alleviates the inhibitory of styles but failed to prevent the appearance of abnormal pollen tube morphology. This study provides useful information on interspecific hybridization between C. oleifera and C. yuhsienensis for understanding reproductive isolation mechanisms and breeding programs in genus Camellia.

Neovermilia gundstrupensis sp. nov. (Polychaeta, Serpulidae) from the Selandian (middle Paleocene) of Fyn, Denmark

Tubes of a new serpulid species, Neovermilia gundstrupensis sp. nov., from the lower part of the Kerteminde Marl Formation (Selandian, middle Paleocene) of Gundstrup gravel pit, Fyn, Denmark, represent the first serpulids of this group from the Selandian of Denmark. Within the long-ranging genus Neovermilia (Oxfordian to Recent), the new finds extend the last recorded occurrence of an informal sub-group of closely related serpulids from the upper Danian to the lower Selandian. Neovermilia gundstrupensis is characterized by a tube increasing only slowly in diameter reaching up to approximately 5 mm and possessing small, often densely spaced annular striae occasionally merging into weakly but never strongly developed annular peristomes. Almost all specimens found so far are attached to siliceous sponges of the genus Ventriculites. The tube morphology of the new species and the microstructure of the tube wall, as well as its palaeoecology are discussed.