Search

Transparent soil (TS) presents immense potential for root phenotyping due to its ability to facilitate high-resolution imaging. However, challenges related to transparency, mechanical properties, and cost hinder its development. Herein, we introduce super-transparent soil (s-TS) prepared via the droplet method using low acyl gellan gum and hydroxyethyl cellulose crosslinked with magnesium ions. The refractive index of the hydroxyethyl cellulose solution (1.345) closely aligns with that of water (1.333) and the low acyl gellan gum solution (1.340), thereby significantly enhancing the transmittance of hydrogel-based transparent soil. Optimal transmittance (98.45%) is achieved with polymer concentrations ranging from 0.8 to 1.6 wt.% and ion concentrations between 0.01 and 0.09 mol·L−1. After 60 days of plant cultivation, s-TS maintains a transmittance exceeding 89.5%, enabling the detailed visualization of root growth dynamics. Furthermore, s-TS exhibits remarkable mechanical properties, withstanding a maximum compressive stress of 477 kPa and supporting a maximum load-bearing depth of 186 cm. This innovative approach holds promising implications for advanced root phenotyping studies, fostering the investigation of root heterogeneity and the development of selective expression under controlled conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high level of organic and inorganic phosphorus exists in discharged circulating cooling water (DCCW), therefore, the efficient removal of phosphorus from DCCW is necessary. Herein, the adsorption performance and mechanism of hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid (HEDP) and phosphate from DCCW on pyrolysis biochar derived from agricultural waste (wheat and corn straw wastes, and peanut shell powder) were systematically investigated. Among them, biochar prepared from wheat straw and modified with MgCl 2 and CeCl 3 (molar ratio 3:1), i.e., WS-3Mg/Ce, showed optimal phosphorus removal from DCCW. The pseudo-second-order and Freundlich model well described the adsorption of HEDP, PO 4 3−, and total phosphorus (TP) on WS-3Mg/Ce. Further, negative Gibbs free energy (Δ G) indicated that WS-3Mg/Ce adsorbed HEDP and phosphate through physical adsorption and chemical reactions, with the chemical reaction being dominant. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction results revealed that CePO 4 and Mg 3 (PO 4) 2 appeared on WS-3Mg/Ce after adsorption, and the diffraction bands of metal oxides or hydroxides decreased. Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that O–H, M-O, M-O-P, and O–P on the surface of WS-3Mg/Ce participate in the reaction. This suggests that the adsorption of HEDP and phosphate on WS-3Mg/Ce mainly involves metal binding via Ce and Mg, and chemical complex via OH−. This study provides a promising approach for removing different forms of phosphorus simultaneously from DCCW via biochar and contributes to the resource recovery of agricultural and forestry waste. Future work is needed for the optimization of the biochar to promote the adsorption capacity and renewability in treating real DCCW. [Display omitted] • Biochar derived from agriculture waste and used for phosphate removal from water. • Biochar from wheat straw modified with MgCl 2 and CeCl 3 had best phosphorus removal. • Simultaneous adsorption removal of organic and inorganic phosphorus from DCCW was achieved. • Phosphorus adsorption mechanism was simultaneous chemical and physical adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports a rapid formation of nanosized polyaniline membranes on the surface‐modified glass substrates during dispersion polymerization of aniline. Poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was used to prevent the formation of the large agglomerates of polyaniline and then improve the smoothness of the membranes. Octa decyltrichlorosilane(OTS) changed the surface of the glass substrate from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, accelerating the deposition of polyaniline and enhancing the thickness of the membrane. FT‐IR results proved the doped emeraldine oxidation state of the polyaniline membranes. The prepared nanosized membranes had the conductivity exceeding 10° S · cm-1. The high conductivity and the integrity of membranes render them potential applications in microelectronics, photoelectronics and gas separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HCl-doped polyaniline nanofibers having a long nanosize fibril structure were prepared by an inverse microemulsion polymerization process using nanosize Ni particles as inorganic template. Powders of the polyaniline nanofibers were pressed to pellets in thickness of about 0.3 mm and in diameter of 13 mm. Micromorphology and conductive property of the pellets were studied by using scanning electron microscopy as well as by measuring the conductivity at room temperature and the variation of conductivity with temperature in 80–290 K. The pellets consist of granular particles and nanofibers. An array direction of the polyaniline nanofibers in the pellet is random. The conductivity of the pellets at room temperature is 0.55 ± 0.03 S/cm. The variation of conductivity with temperature reveals that the conductive mechanism can be considered to be three-dimensional variable-range-hopping (3D-VRH). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nowadays the increasing demand of energy storage devices leads to consumption of a large number of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), it is an urgent topic about how to deal with the large quantity of discarded LIBs. In this work, the spent-LiNi 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 O 2 (SNCM) cathode material was directly re-synthesized by one-pot molten salt-assisted regeneration. The effect of various quantity ratios of molten salts and the spent-LiNi 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 O 2 (SNCM) material on preparation and electrochemical properties of the regenerated submicron-sized LiNi 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 O 2 crystals has been studied in detailed. The lithium deficiency, degraded crystal structure and impure surface of SNCM are successfully restored in liquid medium of lithium-contained molten salt. The structural restoring, structure stability and capacity recovering of the regenerated samples are determined by the environment of molten salts. The optimized regenerated sample MS1.1 delivers the highest initial capacity of 152.5 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C rate, and it remains 86% capacity after 100 cycles. MS1.1 with the smallest charge transfer resistance delivers the highest capacity of 133.4 mAh g−1 at 5 C rate, and it presents excellent cyclic stability for 500 cycles. After 100 cycles, stable crystal morphology of MS1.1 is still maintained, and MS1.1 induces less side reactions and low quantity of by-products. The restored electrochemical performances of MS1.1 sample prove that the molten salt-assisted regeneration maybe a facial and effective method for other spent cathode materials. The structure and electrochemical performance of spent cathode material are directly recovered by one-pot molten salt-assisted regeneration. Image 1 • Spent-LiNi 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 O 2 material was re-synthesized by one-pot molten salt-assisted regeneration. • Lithium deficiency and degraded structure restored in liquid molten salt medium. • The sample delivers 133.4 mAh g-1 at 5 C rate and it presents excellent cyclic stability for 500 cycles. • Molten salt-assisted regeneration is facial and effective for other spent cathode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is characterized by repeated, stereotypical vomiting episodes. It is possibly associated with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants. We examined the phenotype, disease burden, treatment and performed mtDNA analysis in pediatric CVS.Methods: This retrospective study included 42 children with CVS in a tertiary care center. Information regarding medical history, clinical features, laboratory tests, and treatment were collected. mtDNA sequencing was performed among 13 patients.Results: Mean age of onset among patients was 4.0±3.4 years, and mean age at diagnosis was 6.7±4.2 years. CVS episodes in onset and features were stereotypic. Recognizable prodromes were reported in 54.8% patients. Neuroimaging showed previously unknown intracranial abnormalities. Gastrointestinal infection was found in four patients. Mean duration of hospitalization was 7.0±2.4 days, and mean hospitalization cost was 10,891 RMB. Sequencing showed that 4/13 patients had C16519T mtDNA polymorphism, and 2/13 patients had G3010A mtDNA polymorphism.Conclusions: Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a disabling disorder, which causes huge disease burdens to the patients and their families. Early clinical suspicion and prompt diagnosis are crucial. mtDNA polymorphisms were found in some patients, but they were not significantly associated with pediatric CVS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]