Xiaojie Liang^1,2, Wei An², Yuekun Li², Yajun Wang², Xiaoya Qin², Yanhong Cui¹, Shuchai Su^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.3, pp. 467-486, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.047628

Abstract

Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) is substantially dependent on nitrogen fertilizer application, which can significantly enhance fruit yield and Goji berry industrial development in Ningxia, China. This study aimed to analyze the functions of differential nitrogen application rates including low (N1), medium (N2), and high (N3) levels in soil microbial community structure (bacterial and fungal) at 2 diverse soil depths (0–20, 20–40 cm) through high-throughput sequencing technology by targeting 16S RNA gene and ITS1 & ITS2 regions. All the observed physicochemical parameters exhibited significant improvement (p < 0.05) with increased levels of nitrogen and the highest values for most parameters… More >

RABIRANJAN MURMU^a,b, DEBASHIS ROY^a, HAREKRUSHNA SUTAR^b, PRAGYAN SENAPATI^c, SWETAK ABHISEK MOHAPATRA^b

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.39, No.1-2, pp. 89-109, 2022, DOI:10.32381/JPM.2022.39.1-2.6

Abstract In this work, we have successfully cross-linked the different weight ratio of Chitosan-PVA blend with sulfuric acid. The effect of cross-linker on the properties of blends are studied by using different experimental technique. The cross-linked membrane provides higher ion exchange capacity due to the procurement of extra ionic hooping sites in the membrane. The compatibility of the blends are confirmed from the FTIR and DSC analysis. The crosslinking reaction fastening the phase transition behavior of the blends which reduces the glass transition temperature. The highly compatiblized cross-linked blend provides higher tensile strength and lower modulus at moderate temperature. The significant… More >

John Freddy Gelves-Díaz^1,*, Ludovic Dorkis², Richard Monroy-Sepúlveda¹, Sandra Rozo-Rincón¹, Yebrail Alexis Romero-Arcos¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.10, pp. 3769-3787, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.029270

Abstract Secondary lignocellulosic biomass has proved to be useful as an energy source through its oxidation by means of combustion processes. In accordance with the above, in this paper, we wanted to study the ash from urban pruning residues that are generated in cities in the Neotropics. Species such as Licania tomentosa, Azadirachta indica, Ficus benjamina, Terminalia catappa, Leucaena leucocephala, Prosopis juliflora and Pithecellobium dulce were selected because they have been previously studied and showed potential for thermal energy generation. These materials were calcined in an oxidizing atmosphere and characterized by X-ray diffraction and fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy with microchemistry, BET… More > Graphic Abstract

S. E. Burruel-Ibarra¹, R. A. Esquer-Osuna², R. G. Valdez-Melchor², D. A. Cuevas-Acuña², L. QuihuiCota³, J. Juárez⁴, J. C. Campos-García², E. Valbuena-Gregorio², M. A. López-Mata^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.6, pp. 2647-2663, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.027372

Abstract This study aimed to characterize the physical-chemical and biological properties of pectin (PC)/chia seed mucilage (CM) membranes. PC/CM [100/0 (control), 80/20%, 60/40%, and 40/60% w/w] membranes were prepared using the casting method. The membranes (PC/CM) were thin, yellow, lightly opaque (≈10%) and capable of blocking light UVB (between 66 at 52%). SEM analysis showed the presence of aggregates in the shape of a sphere (≈13 µm) and ovoid (≈25 µm). The proportion of 80/20 showed an increase in tensile strength (29%) and elastic modulus (19%) when compared to the control. FTIR analysis exhibited intermolecular interactions between PCPC, PC-CM, and CM-CM… More > Graphic Abstract

Abdellah Asbayou^*, Ahmed Ihlal, Ismail Isknan, Ahmed Soussi, Lahoussine Bouhouch

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.11, No.5, pp. 2249-2264, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2023.025456

Abstract Experiments of soiling effects on the performances of a PV panel have been performed using dust collected from two sites in the region of Agadir-Morocco. The optical transmittance of the front glass was found to depend on the nature and density of dust. The nature of dust was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. It was found that the granulometry of dust particles depends on the study area. For a dust density of around 20 g/m², the maximum power Pmax of the solar panel decreases drastically from 30 to 20 W for the (HP)… More > Graphic Abstract

YAJIE LIU, LINLIN FANG, CHUNXUE YANG^*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.11, pp. 2475-2488, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.021477

Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are widely distributed in various habitats, and the community composition varies in response to the changing environmental conditions. To explore the response of community composition to the succession of saline-alkali land, soil samples were collected from three succession stages of Songnen saline-alkali grassland. Subsequently, the soil characteristics were determined and the AM fungi in soil samples were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. Then, the response relationship between community composition and soil characteristics was studied by Canonical correlation and Pearson analyses. The soil properties improved with the succession of saline-alkali grassland. There was no significant difference in alpha… More >

LORIS RIZZELLO^1,2,3, VALERIA DE MATTEIS^4,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.11, pp. 2369-2380, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.021059

Abstract The SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks highlighted the need for effective, reliable, fast, easy-to-do and cheap diagnostics procedures. We pragmatically experienced that an early positive-case detection, inevitably coupled with a mass vaccination campaign, is a milestone to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can indeed play a crucial role in this context, as their physicochemical, optics and electronics properties are being extensively used in photothermal therapy (PTT), radiation therapy (RT), drug delivery and diagnostic. AuNPs can be synthesized by several approaches to obtain different sizes and shapes that can be easily functionalized with many kinds of molecules such as antibodies, proteins, probes,… More >

YUNHUI ZHOU, YAJIE LIU, YUDAN WANG, CHUNXUE YANG^*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.8, pp. 1967-1978, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.019304

Abstract To investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the growth and saline–alkaline tolerance of Potentilla anserina L., the seedlings were inoculated with Claroideoglomus etunicatum (W.N. Becker & Gerd.) C. Walker & A. Schüßler in pot cultivation. After 90 days of culture, saline–alkaline stress was induced with NaCl and NaHCO₃ solution according to the main salt components in saline–alkaline soils. Based on the physiological response of P. anserina to the stress in the preliminary experiment, the solution concentrations of 0 mmol/L, 75 mmol/L, 150 mmol/L, 225 mmol/L and 300 mmol/L were treated with stress for 10 days, respectively. The… More >

MURTAZA KHAN^1,*, TIBA NAZAR IBRAHIM AL AZZAWI², MUHAMMAD IMRAN³, ADIL HUSSAIN⁴, BONG-GYU MUN¹, ANJALI PANDE¹, BYUNG-WOOK YUN^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.45, No.5, pp. 1413-1423, 2021, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2021.015954

Abstract

In rice, high concentration of lead (Pb) can cause phyto-toxicity affecting several physiological functions. Cultivation of rice varieties that are resistant to Pb-induced oxidative stress is an important management strategy in Pb-contaminated soils. In the current study, we evaluated four different rice cultivars for their response to Pb-induced stress. Three japonica type cultivars X-Jigna, Ediget, and Furat, and one Indica type cultivar Amber 33 were grown in soil containing different Pb concentrations (0 mM, 0.6 mM, and 1.2 mM). The soil was treated with 0 mM or 0.6 mM or 1.2 mM Pb solution one month prior to rice seedling… More >

ALFONSO BLÁZQUEZ-CASTRO^1,2,*, JUAN CARLOS STOCKERT^2,3

BIOCELL, Vol.45, No.4, pp. 849-862, 2021, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2021.015900

Abstract Melanins (eumelanin, pheomelanin, and allomelanin) represent a very, if not the most, important group of biological pigments. Their biological roles are multiple, from photoprotection to antioxidant activity, heavy metal disposal or the myriad uses of color in organisms across all Phyla. In the first part of this review, eumelanin biology and some chemical aspects will be presented, as well as key physico-chemical features that make this biological pigment so interesting. The principal characteristics of the melanocyte, the melanin-synthesizing cell in mammals, will also be introduced. Transformed melanocytes are the cause of one of the most devastating known cancers: the malignant… More >