Vibrational spectroscopy characterization of impregnated activated carbon adsorption of HS.

Activated carbon filters are used for the removal of hazardous gases from the air. This research applied vibrational spectroscopy methods, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy to characterize hydrogen sulfide adsorption on impregnated carbon materials with metals having reactivity toward hydrogen sulfide. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results demonstrated the formation of a new chemical bond between the impregnating metals and the sulfur, indicated by the appearance of a new band at 618 cm.

Targeting editing of tomato cis-regulatory regions generates plants with altered stomatal density in response to changing climate conditions.

Flexible developmental programs enable plants to customize their organ size and cellular composition. In leaves of eudicots, the stomatal lineage produces two essential cell types, stomata and pavement cells, but the total numbers and ratio of these cell types can vary. Central to this flexibility is the stomatal lineage initiating transcription factor, SPEECHLESS (SPCH).

Phosphate Additives for Aging Inhibition of Impregnated Activated Carbon against Hazardous Gases.

Impregnated activated carbons (IACs) used in air filtration gradually lose their efficacy for the chemisorption of noxious gases when exposed to humidity due to impregnated metal deactivation. In order to stabilize IACs against aging, and to prolong the filters' shelf life, inorganic phosphate compounds (phosphoric acid and its three salts, NaHPO, NaHPO, and NaPO) were used as anti-aging additives for two different chromium-free IACs impregnated with copper, zinc, molybdenum, and triethylenediamine (TEDA). Phosphoric acid, monosodium, and disodium phosphate were found to be very efficient in inhibiting the aging of IACs over long periods against cyanogen chloride (the test agent) chemisorption, with the latter being the most efficient.

Studying the Physical and Chemical Properties of Polydimethylsiloxane Matrix Reinforced by Nanostructured TiO Supported on Mesoporous Silica.

In this study, a reactive adsorbent filler was integrated into a polymeric matrix as a novel reactive protective barrier without undermining its mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. For this purpose, newly synthesized TiO/MCM/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites were prepared, and their various properties were thoroughly studied. The filler, TiO/MCM, is based on a (45 wt%) TiO nanoparticle catalyst inside the pores of ordered mesoporous silica, MCM-41, which combines a high adsorption capacity and catalytic capability.

Explosive vapour/particles detection using SERS substrates and a hand-held Raman detector.

We developed and optimized surface-enhanced Raman spectrometry (SERS) methods for trace analysis of explosive vapour and particles using a hand-held Raman spectrometer in the field. At first, limits of detection (LODs) using SERS methods based on a colloidal suspension of gold nanoparticles were measured under alkaline conditions and are as follows: pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) (1.5 × 10 M, 6.

Evolution of polarity protein BASL and the capacity for stomatal lineage asymmetric divisions.

Asymmetric and oriented stem cell divisions enable the continued production of patterned tissues. The molecules that guide these divisions include several "polarity proteins" that are localized to discrete plasma membrane domains, are differentially inherited during asymmetric divisions, and whose scaffolding activities can guide division plane orientation and subsequent cell fates. In the stomatal lineages on the surfaces of plant leaves, asymmetric and oriented divisions create distinct cell types in physiologically optimized patterns.

Characterization of the cytokinin sensor TCSv2 in arabidopsis and tomato.

Background: Hormones are crucial to plant life and development. Being able to follow the plants hormonal response to various stimuli and throughout developmental processes is an important and increasingly widespread tool. The phytohormone cytokinin (CK) has crucial roles in the regulation of plant growth and development.

Colloidal-like aggregation of a functional amyloid protein.

Functional amyloid proteins are self-secreted by microbial cells that aggregate into extracellular networks and provide microbial colonies with mechanical stability and resistance to antibiotic treatment. In order to understand the formation mechanism of functional amyloid networks, their aggregation has been studied in vitro under different physical conditions, such as temperature, salt concentration, and pH. Typical aggregates' morphologies include fibers or plaques, the latter resembling amyloid aggregates in neurodegenerated brains.

Bacillus subtilis biofilms characterized as hydrogels. Insights on water uptake and water binding in biofilms.

Biofilms are aggregates of cells that form on surfaces or at the air-water interface. Cells in a biofilm are encased in a self-secreted extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides them with mechanical stability and protects them from antibiotic treatment. From a soft matter perspective, biofilms are regarded as colloidal hydrogels, with the cells playing the role of colloids and the ECM compared with a cross-linked hydrogel.

Mutations in the tomato gibberellin receptors suppress xylem proliferation and reduce water loss under water-deficit conditions.

Low gibberellin (GA) activity in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) inhibits leaf expansion and reduces stomatal conductance. This leads to lower transpiration and improved water status under transient drought conditions. Tomato has three GIBBERELLIN-INSENSITIVE DWARF1 (GID1) GA receptors with overlapping activities and high redundancy.

The Tomato DELLA Protein PROCERA Acts in Guard Cells to Promote Stomatal Closure.

Plants employ stomatal closure and reduced growth to avoid water deficiency damage. Reduced levels of the growth-promoting hormone gibberellin (GA) lead to increased tolerance to water deficit, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Here, we show that the tomato () DELLA protein PROCERA (PRO), a negative regulator of GA signaling, acts in guard cells to promote stomatal closure and reduce water loss in response to water deficiency by increasing abscisic acid (ABA) sensitivity.

Uncovering DELLA-Independent Gibberellin Responses by Characterizing New Tomato procera Mutants.

Gibberellin (GA) regulates plant development primarily by triggering the degradation/deactivation of the DELLA proteins. However, it remains unclear whether all GA responses are regulated by DELLAs. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) has a single DELLA gene named PROCERA (PRO), and its recessive pro allele exhibits constitutive GA activity but retains responsiveness to external GA.

Decontamination of adsorbed chemical warfare agents on activated carbon using hydrogen peroxide solutions.

Mild treatment with hydrogen peroxide solutions (3-30%) efficiently decomposes adsorbed chemical warfare agents (CWAs) on microporous activated carbons used in protective garments and air filters. Better than 95% decomposition of adsorbed sulfur mustard (HD), sarin, and VX was achieved at ambient temperatures within 1-24 h, depending on the H2O2 concentration. HD was oxidized to the nontoxic HD-sulfoxide.

The Arabidopsis gibberellin methyl transferase 1 suppresses gibberellin activity, reduces whole-plant transpiration and promotes drought tolerance in transgenic tomato.

Previous studies have shown that reduced gibberellin (GA) level or signal promotes plant tolerance to environmental stresses, including drought, but the underlying mechanism is not yet clear. Here we studied the effects of reduced levels of active GAs on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant tolerance to drought as well as the mechanism responsible for these effects. To reduce the levels of active GAs, we generated transgenic tomato overexpressing the Arabidopsis thaliana GA METHYL TRANSFERASE 1 (AtGAMT1) gene.

W/O microemulsions as dendrimer nanocarriers: an EPR study.

A complex system, based on a dendrimer solubilized in the aqueous core of water-in-oil microemulsion, may combine the advantages of both dendrimers and microemulsions to provide better control of drug release. We report for the first time the use of EPR technique to determine the effect of solubilized dendrimer on the structure of the microemulsion. The solubilized poly(propyleneimine) (PPI-G2) interacts with sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT).

Type and location of interaction between hyperbranched polymers and liposomes. Relevance to design of a potentially advanced drug delivery nanosystem (aDDnS).

Advanced drug delivery nanosystems (aDDnSs) combining liposomal and dendritic materials have only recently appeared in the research field of drug delivery. The nature and localization of the interactions between the components of such systems are not yet fully described. In this study, liposomes are combined with hyperbranched polyesters for the development of new aDDnSs.

Solubilization of a dendrimer into a microemulsion.

The present work investigates, for the first time, a system comprising a dendrimer incorporated into the water core of water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion (ME). A second generation (G-2) poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer (PPI) was solubilized into W/O ME composed of AOT (sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate), heptane, and water. Such a model system possessing the benefits of both dendrimers and ME, can potentially offer superior control of drug administration.

Decomposition of adsorbed VX on activated carbons studied by 31P MAS NMR.

The fate of the persistent OP nerve agent O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate (VX) on granular activated carbons that are used for gas filtration was studied by means of 31P magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. VX as vapor or liquid was adsorbed on carbon granules, and MAS NMR spectra were recorded periodically. The results show that at least 90% of the adsorbed VX decomposes within 20 days or less to the nontoxic ethyl methylphosphonic acid (EMPA) and bis(S-2-diisopropylaminoethane) {(DES)2}.