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The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Glomus mosseae on chlorophyll (Chl) content, Chl fluorescence parameters and chloroplast ultrastructure of beach plum seedlings under 2% NaCl stress. The results showed that compared to control, both Chl a and Chl b contents of NaCl + G. mosseae treatment were significantly lower during the salt stress, while Chl a/b ratio increased significantly. The increase of minimal fluorescence of darkadapted state (F), and the decrease of maximal fluorescence of dark-adapted state (F) and variable fluorescence (F) values were inhibited. The maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (F/F), the maximum energy transformation potential of PSII photochemistry (F/F) and the effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Φ) increased significantly, especially the latter two variables. The values of the photochemical quenching coefficient (q) and the nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) were similar between G. mosseae inoculation and noninoculation. It could be concluded that G. mosseae inoculation could protect the photosystem II (PSII) of beach plum, enhance the efficiency of primary light energy conversion and improve the primitive response of photosynthesis under salinity stress. Meanwhile, G. mosseae inoculation was beneficial to maintain the integrity of thylakoid membrane and to protect the structure and function of chloroplast, which suggested that G. mosseae can alleviate the damage of NaCl stress to chloroplast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An artificial superhydrophobic Poly-p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO) fiber bundles were designed and prepared using chemical surface modification. Water contact angles as high as 166.3° were achieved. The loading capacities and pressure resistances of these PBO fiber bundle boats were characterized. The highest loading weight of our superhydrophobic boats was more than 9.42g, which was attributed to the air film trapped around the PBO boat surfaces. The depth of the water pressure resistance was about 656.4mm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A comprehensive analytical model is proposed to provide a relationship between the macroscopic roughness and contact angle, which is used to develop macroscopic rough surface and to create biomimetic superhydrophobic surfaces. Using chemical surface modification of steel wires, an artificial hydrophobic surface was prepared. A steel mesh mimicking the Asparagus setaceus leaf was created by lowing the surface energy and enhancing macroscopic surface roughness. Water contact angles as high as 129.0° were achieved on the steel mesh with 200μm×200μm pore size. Bad agreement between the predictions based on the original Cassie–Baxter model and experiments was obtained. The version of the Cassie–Baxter model in current use could not be applied to this problem since the roughness magnitude changes from nano/microscopic to macroscopic. A new model, called macroscopic Cassie–Baxter (MCB) model, is constructed by the introduction of contact area density (δ) to original Cassie–Baxter model. It is shown that the measured data is in good agreement with the predicted data based on the MCB model. This model not only for solving macroscopic hydrophobic problems of meshes, but also can be used to solve that of other materials with macroscopic roughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: According to the reformed Cassie–Baxter equation, the superhydrophobic phenylenebenzobisoxazole (PBO) fiber bundle boats were fabricated from mimicking the lotus leaf venation using chemical surface modifications and roughness introduction. Water contact angles as high as 152.3° were achieved for PBO fiber bundles. Furthermore, the loading capacities of the superhydrophobic PBO fiber bundle boats were also measured. And the highest loading weight, 8.36g, was obtained by the boats treated with 2.0wt.% (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2,-tetradecyl)trimethoxysilane (HFTES). The large loading capacities were believed to arise from the air film surrounding the superhydrophobic surfaces of boats. The results of this study presented new applications of artificial hydrophobic surfaces in areas of miniature aquatic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]