Carbon threads sweat-based supercapacitors for electronic textiles

ERC-POC-2019, CAPSEL, 855018 UID/CTM/50025/2019Flexible and stretchable energy-storage batteries and supercapacitors suitable for wearable electronics are at the forefront of the emerging field of intelligent textiles. In this context, the work here presented reports on the development of a symmetrical wire-based supercapacitor able to use the wearer's sweat as the electrolyte. The inner and outer electrodes consists of a carbon-based thread functionalized with a conductive polymer (polypyrrole) which improves the electrochemical performances of the supercapacitor. The inner electrode is coated with electrospun cellulose acetate fibres, as the separator, and the outer electrode is twisted around it. The electrochemical performances of carbon-based supercapacitors were analyzed using a simulated sweat solution and displayed a specific capacitance of 2.3 F.g-1, an energy of 386.5 mWh.kg-1 and a power density of 46.4 kW.kg-1. Moreover, cycle stability and bendability studies were performed. Such energy conversion device has exhibited a stable electrochemical performance under mechanical deformation, over than 1000 cycles, which make it attractive for wearable electronics. Finally, four devices were tested by combining two supercapacitors in series with two in parallel demonstrating the ability to power a LED.publishersversionpublishe

Effects of the inoculation with soil microbiota onmaize grown in saline soils

food and energetic needs will thus increase dramatically, while conventional agriculture is, even actually, facing drastic reductions in production yields and/or severe increases in cost to compensate losses in productivity due to lower soil fertility

Application of maize and efficient rhizospheric microorganisms for the remediation of saline soils

Soil salinity is a serious problem causing loss of fertility, as plants facing salt stress suffer alterations in physiology that adversely affects its growth. This work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combinations of microorganisms for the recovery of crop productivity in soils affected by different levels of salinity (0, 2.5 and 5 gNaCl.kg-1). The strategy relied on the culture in greenhouse conditions of a high value food and energetic crop (maize) inoculated with soil plant growth promoting microbiota – an arbuscular mychorrizal fungi (Rhizophagus irregularis), a rhizobacteria (Pseudomonas reactans) and a bacterial endophyte (Pantoea ananatis). Plant biomass was assessed at harvest and differences between treatments were analysed. As the work also aimed to relate the effects of bioinoculation to alterations in plant response to salt stress, further parameters were assessed. Elevated salt levels induce ionic stress, with consequent nutrient imbalance; therefore, levels of Na, K and Ca were determined in plant tissues. As salt is also a major stress to soil organisms, rhizosphere samples were analysed to follow up of microbiota survival by molecular biology techniques (DGGE), assessing the effect of soil salinity at the different tested levels on the inoculated soil microorganisms persistence and relationship with the existing community. The collected information allowed understanding the effects of the applied biologically based treatments in the quality of the tested saline soils, on the dynamics of the present microbiota and on maize growth, focusing on the further development of cropping strategies for saline soils, grounded on sustainable agriculture practices.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Growth promotional traits of three pgpr: possible uses for phytoremediation of degraded soils

Maize is a fast-growing and high yield crop with both energy value and remediation potential. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a biological tool available to enhance plant establishment in degraded or depleted environments such as the case of saline soils or heavy-metal contaminated land. Although PGPR are able to produce metabolites such as siderophores, HCN and ammonia, or solubilize nutrients such as phosphate, these beneficial traits for the plant may be influenced by exposure to excessive levels of such contaminants. In this study, three PGPR (Pseudomonas fluorescens, Ralstonia eutropha and Cryseobacterium humi) were screened for those traits in the presence of different levels of Cd and Zn, and also to different salinization conditions. Their ability to influence maize germination and root and shoot elongation was also analyzed. Results showed that the level of exposure generally affected the ability of the tested strains to produce plant growth promoting substances. However, dissimilar sensibilities in the behavior of the different strains were observed when exposed to similar stress conditions. These differences were also noticeable in the plant development, with the tested PGPR generally positively influencing the analyzed parameters. Results suggest that PGPR can be exploited to promote stress relief of maize when grown in degraded land. Such knowledge may provide a new insight concerning the advantages of such biotechnologically based tools for phytoremediation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

L-asparaginase production review: bioprocess design and biochemical characteristics

In the past decades, production of biopharmaceuticals has gained high interest due to its high sensitivity, specificity and lower risk of negative effects to patients. Biopharmaceuticals are mostly therapeutic recombinant proteins produced through biotechnological processes. In this context, L-Asparaginase (L-Asparagine amidohydrolase, L-ASNase (E.C. 3.5.1.1)) is a therapeutic enzyme that has been abundantly studied by researchers due to its antineoplastic properties. As a biopharmaceutical, L-ASNase has been used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) and other lymphoid malignancies, in combination with other drugs. Besides its application as a biopharmaceutical, this enzyme is widely used in food processing industries as an acrylamide mitigation agent and as a biosensor for the detection of L-Asparagine in physiological fluids at nano-levels. The great demand for L-ASNase is supplied by recombinant enzymes from Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi. However, production processes are associated to low yields and proteins associated to immunogenicity problems, which leads to the search for a better enzyme source. Considering the L-ASNase pharmacological and food importance, this review provides an overview of the current biotechnological developments in L-ASNase production and biochemical characterization aiming to improve the knowledge about its production.publishe

Factor structure and proposed scoring revision of the ThreeDimensional Psychological Pain Scale

Abstract: The development of psychometrically sound measures to assess mental pain are important because research has consistently demonstrated a robust relationship to suicide risk. The current research evaluated the Three-Dimensional Psychological Pain Scale (TDPPS) structure, a suicide-relevant measure intended to articulate pain into affective, cognitive, and behavioral facets. As the first Western study to evaluate the TDPPS structure with non-Chinese respondents, six samples comprising 1,627 adults participated. Neither confirmatory factor analyses nor exploratory structural equation modeling supported the hypothesized three-dimensional structure of the TDPPS but, instead, identified two dimensions: pain escape and pain emotions. Scales based on these two dimensions demonstrated replicability in crossvalidation and score internal consistency reliability. Furthermore, validity for scores on these two scales was confirmed through moderate associations with another pain measure and scales of suicidal behavior and depression. Findings extend knowledge of TDPPS’s structure of psychological pain and suggest a scale scoring revision

Effect of rice grain (Oryza sativa L.) enrichment with selenium on foliar leaf gas exchanges and accumulation of nutrients

grant number 101-030671An agronomic itinerary for Se biofortification of two rice cultivars (Ariete and Ceres) through foliar fertilization with sodium selenate and sodium selenite with different concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 g Se.ha−1), was implemented in experimental fields. The selenium toxicity threshold was not exceeded, as shown by the eco-physiological data obtained through leaf gas exchanges. The highest Se enrichment in paddy grains was obtained with selenite for both cultivars, especially at the highest doses, i.e., 75 and 100 g Se.ha−1, with approximately a 5.0-fold increase compared with control values. In paddy grains, Zn was the most affected element by the treatments with Se with decreases up to 54%. When comparing the losses between rough and polished grains regardless of the cultivars, Se species and concentrations, it was observed that only Cu, Mg and Zn exhibited losses 70%. The loss of Se is more pronounced in Ceres cultivar than in Ariete but rarely exceeds 50%. The analysis by µ-EDXRF showed that, in Ariete cultivar, Se is mostly homogeneously distributed in the grain regardless of any treatments, while in Ceres cultivar, the Se distribution seems to favor accumulation in the periphery, perhaps in the bran.publishersversionpublishe

Quantification and tissue localization of selenium in rice (Oryza sativa l., poaceae) grains: A perspective of agronomic biofortification

grant number 101-030671In worldwide production, rice is the second-most-grown crop. It is considered a staple food for many populations and, if naturally enriched in Se, has a huge potential to reduce nutrient deficiencies in foodstuff for human consumption. This study aimed to develop an agronomic itinerary for Se biofortification of Oryza sativa L. (Poaceae) and assess potential physicochemical deviations. Trials were implemented in rice paddy field with known soil and water characteristics and two genotypes resulting from genetic breeding (OP1505 and OP1509) were selected for evaluation. Plants were sprayed at booting, anthesis and milky grain phases with two different foliar fertilizers (sodium selenate and sodium selenite) at different concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 g Se·ha−1). After grain harvesting, the application of selenate showed 4.9–7.1 fold increases, whereas selenite increased 5.9–8.4-fold in OP1509 and OP1505, respectively. In brown grain, it was found that in the highest treatment selenate or selenite triggered much higher Se accumulation in OP1505 relatively to OP1509, and that no relevant variation was found with selenate or selenite spraying in each genotype. Total protein increased exponentially in OP1505 genotype when selenite was applied, and higher dosage of Se also increased grain weight and total protein content. It was concluded that, through agronomic biofortification, rice grain can be enriched with Se without impairing its quality, thus highlighting its value in general for the industry and consumers with special needs.publishersversionpublishe

Portuguese propolis: a source of valuable bioactivities

To FEDER/COMPETE/POCI– Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme, under Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958 and FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project UID/AGR/04033/2013