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In order to study the effect of exogenous 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on the expression of genes associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis in the transcriptome of ‘Crimson Seedless’ grape (Vitis vin...

Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) are widely acknowledged as global environmental threat while determination methods for MNPs are still lacking and becoming a growing concern. This study provides a novel method for MNPs identification/quantification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Factors affecting the measurement were optimized, including laser energy, matrix (M), analyte (A), cationization agent (C), and MAC volume ratio. Under the optimal conditions, the peaks representative of polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were identified, and the mass differences were consistent with the molecular weight of the corresponding oligomer. A quantitative correlation was built between normalized signal intensity and ln[polymer concentration] with a correlation coefficient above 0.96 for low-molecular-weight polymers and 0.98 for high-molecular-weight polymers. Furthermore, two types of environmental MNP samples were prepared, including aviation cup particles as fresh plastics and aged MNPs extracted from river sediment. By using MALDI-TOF MS, the PS-related MNPs (in both aviation cup and sediment) consisted of C8H8 and C16H16O oligomers, while the PET-related MNPs (only found in sediment) were identified with repeated units of C10H8O4 and C12H12O4. According to the quantitative correlation curve, the contents of PS and PET MNPs were quantified as 8.56 ± 0.04 and 28.71 ± 0.20 mg·kg-1, respectively, in the collected sediment. This study is the first attempt to propose a quantification method with the employment of MALDI-TOF MS for aged MNPs analysis in environmental samples, which can not only supply an effective method for MNP analysis but also inspire future studies on the in situ distribution and transformation of MNPs in environmental and biological samples.

Two methods used to subtract the effect of the decay of different nuclear reaction products on the cross-section measurement of the studied nuclear reaction were given. Taking the cross-section measurement of the $^{91}\mathrm{Zr}(n,p)^{91\mathrm{m}}\mathrm{Y}$ reaction as an example, the accurate and reliable cross section of the $^{91}\mathrm{Zr}(n,p)^{91\mathrm{m}}\mathrm{Y}$ reaction in the neutron energy range of 13.5--14.8 MeV was measured by using the activation technique and the above two methods. Moreover, the excitation function in the neutron energies from the threshold to 21 MeV was calculated by using the nuclear theoretical model program system talys--1.9 with the adjusted relevant parameters. The measured cross-section values were discussed and compared with previous experiments by other researchers and with the theoretical values based on talys--1.9. The experimental values obtained by the above two methods were highly consistent within experimental error, and at some neutron energies they were consistent, within experimental error, with those of the fitting line of previous experiments at the corresponding energies, and were also consistent with those of theoretical excitation curve at the corresponding energies. The obtained theoretical excitation curve can match most of the experimental data.

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has prompted a worldwide pandemic and poses a great threat to public safety and global economies. Most present personal protective equipment (PPE) used to intercept pathogenic microorganisms is deficient in biocidal properties. Herein, we present green nanofibers with effective antibacterial and antiviral activities that can provide sustainable bioprotection by continuously producing reactive oxygen species (ROS). The superiority of the design is that the nanofibers can absorb and store visible light energy and maintain the activity under light or dark environment. Moreover, the nanofibers can uninterruptedly release ROS in the absence of an external hydrogen donor, acting as a biocide under all weather conditions. A facile spraying method is proposed to rapidly deploy the functional nanofibers to existing PPE, such as protective suits and masks. The modified PPE exhibit stable ROS production, excellent capacity for storing activity potential, long-term durability, and high bactericidal (>99.9%) and viricidal (>99.999%) efficacies.

The first experimental cross-section data for the 180Hf(n,γ)181Hf reaction have been measured within the neutron energies range of 13.5–14.8 MeV using the activation technique. The fast neutrons were produced by the T(d,n)4He reaction. Induced activities were measured by a high-resolution γ-ray spectrometer with high-purity germanium detector. The neutron fluence was determined by using the monitor reaction 93Nb(n,2n)92mNb. The neutron energies in the measurements were determined beforehand by the method of cross section ratios for the 90Zr(n,2n)89m+gZr and 93Nb(n,2n)92mNb reactions. The experimentally determined cross-section values were compared with the evaluation nuclear data in several major libraries of International Atomic Energy Agency and the theoretically calculated results by using the Talys1.8 code.

The cross sections of the 180Hf(n,p)180Lu and 90Zr(n,2n)89mZr reactions were measured around the neutron energies of 13.5–14.8 MeV by using the activation technique. The excitation functions of the above reactions in the neutron energies from the threshold to 20 MeV were calculated by using the nuclear theoretical model program system Talys-1.9 with the adjusted relevant parameters. The measured results were discussed and compared with previous experiments by other researchers and with the evaluated data of ENDF/B-VIII.0, CENDL-3.1, JEFF-3.3, JENDL-4.0u2, BROND-3.1 as well as the theoretical values based on Talys-1.9. The obtained experimental values at some neutron energies, within experimental error, are consistent with those of the fitting line of the results of previous experiments and are also consistent with those of theoretical excitation curve at the corresponding energies. The obtained theoretical excitation curves match well with most of the experimental data.

The cross sections for the 94Zr(n,d*)93m+gY, 96Zr(n,γ)97Z, 96Zr(n,2n)95Zr, 90Zr(n,α)87mSr, 94Zr(n,α)91Sr,90Zr(n,p)90mY, 92Zr(n,p)92Y, and 94Zr(n,p)94Y reactions have been measured in the neutron energy range of 13.5-14.8 MeV by means of the activation technique. The neutrons were produced via the D-T reaction. A high-purity germanium detector with high energy resolution was used to measure the induced γ activities. In combination with the nuclear reaction theoretical models, the excitation curves of the above-mentioned eight nuclear reactions within the incident neutron energy range from the threshold to 20 MeV were obtained by adopting the nuclear theoretical model program system Talys-1.9. The resulting experimental cross sections were analyzed and compared with the experimental data from published studies. Calculations were performed using Talys-1.9 and are in agreement with our experimental results, previous experimental values, as well as results of the theoretical excitation curves at the corresponding energies. The theoretical excitation curves generally match the experimental data well.

In view of the fact that the fast-neutron experimental cross-section data of hafnium which is an important structural material of fusion reactor are few and there are the great differences in their evaluation values, several activation cross sections of (n, 2n), (n, p), (n, a) and (n, n′) reactions on hafnium isotopes have been investigated by neutrons generated from the T(d, n)4He reaction at the K-400 Neutron Generator at China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). The gamma activities of the product nuclei were measured by a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer with a coaxial high-purity germanium detector. The 93Nb(n, 2n)92mNb reaction was used as neutron fluence standard, these experimental cross sections of the 174Hf(n, 2n)173Hf, 176Hf(n, 2n)175Hf, 178Hf(n, α)175m+gYb, 178Hf(n, p)178gLu, 178Hf(n, p)178mLu, 180Hf(n, 2n)179m2Hf, 180Hf(n, α)177m+gYb and 180Hf(n, n′)180mHf reactions were obtained in the neutron energy range of 13.5–14.8 MeV. These measured cross sections were discussed and compared with some previous experimental results from the literature and with the evaluation data from ENDF/B-VIII.0, CENDL-3.1, JEFF-3.3 and the theoretical results by using the computer code system Talys-1.9.