58 research outputs found
Trait evaluation and trial cultivation of Dongfang No. 2, the hybrid of a male gametophyte clone of Laminaria longissima (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) and a female one of L. japonica
Direct cultivation of the first filial generation of gametophyte clones from different Laminaria species is a highly effective way of utilizing kelp heterozygous vigor (heterosis). A male gametophyte clone of L. longissima Miyabe and a female one of L. japonica Areschoug were hybridized, generating Dongfang No. 2 hybrid kelp. This hybrid kelp was used directly in trial cultivation, and its agronomical traits were evaluated. L. longissima and L. japonica are obviously different and complement each other in their morphological characteristics and ecological performances. The hybrid of their gametophyte clones, Dongfang No. 2, showed 56.8% heterozygous vigor in yield. It also showed increased yields of 41.0 and 76.4% compared to the widely used commercial kelps Variety 1 and Variety 2, respectively. In large-scale cultivation trials at different locations and in different years, Dongfang No. 2 attained significantly higher yields than Varieties 1 and 2, increasing yield by 26.4% on average over Variety 1 and by 65.0% over the other. Dongfang No. 2 has a robust holdfast and a wide, long and deep-brown uniform blade, which shows a distinct middle groove. In addition to yield, Dongfang No. 2 also demonstrates obvious heterozygous vigor in other agronomic traits. It is resistant to strong irradiance, as the two commercial varieties are, has an appropriate vegetative maturation time, and adapts well to a range of different culture conditions. The parentage analysis using AFLP of total DNA and SNP of the ITS region of ribosomal RNA transcription unit showed that Dongfang No. 2 is the real hybrid of L. japonica and L. longissima
Renewable Chemicals: Dehydroxylation of Glycerol and Polyols
The production of renewable chemicals is gaining attention over the past few years. The natural resources from which they can be derived in a sustainable way are most abundant in sugars, cellulose and hemicellulose. These highly functionalized molecules need to be de-functionalized in order to be feedstocks for the chemical industry. A fundamentally different approach to chemistry thus becomes necessary, since the traditionally employed oil-based chemicals normally lack functionality. This new chemical toolbox needs to be designed to guarantee the demands of future generations at a reasonable price. The surplus of functionality in sugars and glycerol consists of alcohol groups. To yield suitable renewable chemicals these natural products need to be defunctionalized by means of dehydroxylation. Here we review the possible approaches and evaluate them from a fundamental chemical aspect
Molecular imprinting science and technology: a survey of the literature for the years 2004-2011
Optimization of Si Content to Inhibit Inhomogeneous Deformation in Al-Mg-Si Alloy Fabricated via Twin-Roll Casting
Herein, the effects of Si content on the microstructure evolution of Al-Mg-Si alloys during twin-roll casting (TRC) and subsequent heat treatment were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, emission electron probe micro analysis, electron backscatter diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of insoluble Si particles, solute gradient, and recrystallization on the mechanical properties of the alloy in the T4P state were analyzed. An inhomogeneous deformation in the thickness direction of the TRC strip was observed during the pre-strain test. A premature local deformation at the element barren region (EBR) in the middle of the strip was considered to be the origin of the limited mechanical properties. By increasing the Si from 0.7 wt% to 1.1 wt%, the content and uniformity of the solute in the EBR can be effectively improved. The stronger work-hardening ability weakens the inhomogeneous deformation. Si addition significantly increased the number of insoluble Si particles during the heat treatment. The structure with a hard shell and soft core in the TRC strip significantly reduced the negative effect of insoluble Si particles on the mechanical properties. The tensile strength and uniform elongation of the strip increased from 159.44 MPa and 18.36% to 209.96 MPa and 29.791%, respectively
Dysregulation of the gut-brain-skin axis and key overlapping inflammatory and immune mechanisms of psoriasis and depression
The occurrence, progression and recurrence of psoriasis are thought to be related to mood and psychological disorders such as depression. Psoriasis can lead to depression, and depression, in turn, exacerbates psoriasis. No specific mechanism can explain the association between psoriasis and depression. The gut-brain-skin axis has been used to explain correlations among the gut microbiota, emotional states and systemic and skin inflammation, and this axis may be associated with overlapping mechanisms between psoriasis and depression. Therefore, in the context of the gut-brain-skin axis, we systematically summarized and comparatively analysed the inflammatory and immune mechanisms of psoriasis and depression and illustrated the dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the gut microbiota. This review provides a theoretical basis and new targets for the treatment of psoriasis and depression
Highly Stretchable Composite Foams via Sustainable Utilization of Waste Tire Rubbers for Temperature-Dependent Electromagnetic Wave Absorption
Recently, the sustainable utilization of waste resources has become a low-cost and effective strategy to design high-performance functional materials to solve the increasingly serious environmental pollution problem. Herein, the flexible and highly stretchable polyurethane (PU) composite foams assisted by one-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and zero-dimensional Fe3O4 were fabricated using waste tire rubbers (WTRs) as reinforcements during a simple self-foaming process. The collaborative introduction of conductive CNTs, magnetic Fe3O4, and WTRs with three-dimensional cross-linked structures enabled the construction of an efficient electronic transmission path and heterointerfaces inside the composite foam. The resulting composite foam possessed a desired minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −47.43 dB, and also exhibited superior mechanical properties with a tensile strength of >3 MPa and multiple tensile deformation recovery abilities. In addition, increasing the temperature could significantly improve the electromagnetic wave absorption performance of the composite foam. This comprehensive composite foam derived from WTRs has shown a promising development potential for using waste materials to relieve electromagnetic pollution
Effect of Sophorolipid Adsorption on the Coal Microstructure: Experimental and Wettability Mathematical Model Discussion
Green
biosurfactants are emerging as a promising area
of research.
However, there is a limited focus on the adsorption and wetting characteristics
of biosurfactants on coal dust. This study explores the effects of
sophorolipid (SL) biosurfactants on the microstructure and wettability
of different coalification degree coal. The microstructure parameters
of SL adsorbed on coal dust were measured using a surface tensiometer,
contact angle analyzer, and particle size analyzer. The results indicate
that SL has the lowest critical surface tension, leading to a 9.25°
decrease in the contact angle for low-rank bituminous coal (YZ-LRBC).
Furthermore, SL significantly altered the particle size distribution
of lignite (NM-LC) and YZ-LRBC. The pore size structure of SL-infiltrated
coal dust was quantified using a specific surface area analyzer, revealing
a decrease in the specific surface area and an increase in the average
pore size. The infrared analysis demonstrated that SL permeation significantly
increased the percentage of hydrophilic functional groups (hydroxyl
structures) while reducing the hydrophobic functional groups (aliphatic
hydrocarbon and aromatic structure). Based on the measured microstructure
parameters, a regression equation for contact angle was established:
[contact angle (°)] = 73.800 – 0.860 × [D10 (nm)]
+ 4.280 × [specific surface area (m2/g)]. Notably,
the characteristic particle size D10 had a significant negative effect
on the contact angle, while the specific surface area had a significant
positive effect. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for
the application of biosurfactants in water injection to reduce dust
and improve the wetting efficiency
Catalytic routes towards acrylic acid, adipic acid and ε-caprolactam starting from biorenewables
The majority of bulk chemicals are derived from crude oil, but the move to biorenewable resources is gaining both societal and commercial interest. Reviewing this transition, we first summarise the types of today's biomass sources and their economical relevance. Then, we assess the biobased productions of three important bulk chemicals: acrylic acid, adipic acid and epsilon-caprolactam. These are the key monomers for high-end polymers (polyacrylates, nylon 6.6 and nylon 6, respectively) and are all produced globally in excess of two million metric tons per year. The biobased routes for each target molecule are analysed separately, comparing the conventional processes with their sustainable alternatives. Some processes have already received extensive scientific attention. Other, more novel routes are also being considered. We find several common trends: For all three compounds, there are no commercial methods for direct conversion of biobased feedstocks. However, combinations of biotechnologically produced platform chemicals with subsequent chemical modifications are emerging and showing promising results. We then discuss several distinct strategies for implementing biorenewable processes. For each biotechnological and chemocatalytic route, current efficiencies and limitations are presented, but we urge that these routes should be assessed mainly on their potential and prospects for future application. Today, biorenewable routes cannot yet compete with their petrochemical equivalents. However, given that most of them are still in the early stages of development, we foresee their commercial implementation in the next two decades
Fatty acid-binding protein 4 predicts gestational hypertension and preeclampsia in women with gestational diabetes mellitus
<div><p>Objective</p><p>Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) has been proposed to be a potential predictive factor of gestational hypertension or preeclampsia (GH/PE) because of its integrating metabolic and inflammatory responses. Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are more likely to develop both GH/PE, than the normal population. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between plasma FABP4 in the second trimester of pregnancy and the risk of GH/PE in women with GDM.</p><p>Methods</p><p>This was a nested case-control study conducted within a large on-going prospective cohort study conducted at Peking University First Hospital. A total of 1344 women, who were diagnosed with GDM, according to a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test, participated in the GDM One-Day Clinic at Peking University First Hospital from February 24, 2016 to February 9, 2017. Of the 748 GDM women who agreed to the blood sample collection, 637 were followed until their delivery. The cases included GDM patients who developed gestational hypertension or preeclampsia (GDM-GH/PE group, n = 41). Another 41 matched GDM women without major complications were selected as the control group (GDM group).</p><p>Results</p><p>The incidence of GH/PE was 6.44% and 3.30% for preeclampsia. The level of the second trimester plasma FABP4 in the GDM-GH/PE group was significantly higher than the GDM group (17.53±11.35 vs. 12.79±6.04 ng/ml, P = 0.020). The AUC ROC for the second trimester plasma FABP4 predicted GH/PE in the GDM patients alone was 0.647 (95%CI 0.529–0.766). Multivariate analysis showed that the elevated second trimester FABP4 level was independently associated with GH/PE in the GDM patients (OR 1.136 [95% CI 1.003–1.286], P = 0.045).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Increased second trimester plasma FABP4 independently predicted GH/PE in GDM patients.</p></div
Plasma FABP4 concentrations in the second trimester with AUC of each model.
<p>Plasma FABP4 concentrations in the second trimester with AUC of each model.</p
- …