Abstract: Purple non-sulphur bacteria (PNSB) are phototrophic microorganisms, which increasingly gain attention in plant production due to their ability to produce and accumulate high-value compounds that are beneficial for plant growth. Remarkable features of PNSB include the accumulation of polyphosphate, the production of pigments and vitamins and the production of plant growth-promoting substances (PGPSs). Scattered case studies on the application of PNSB for plant cultivation have been reported for decades, yet a comprehensive overview is lacking. This review highlights the potential of using PNSB in plant production, with emphasis on three key performance indicators (KPIs): fertilization, resistance to stress (biotic and abiotic) and environmental benefits. PNSB have the potential to enhance plant growth performance, increase the yield and quality of edible plant biomass, boost the resistance to environmental stresses, bioremediate heavy metals and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Here, the mechanisms responsible for these attributes are discussed. A distinction is made between the use of living and dead PNSB cells, where critical interpretation of existing literature revealed the better performance of living cells. Finally, this review presents research gaps that remain yet to be elucidated and proposes a roadmap for future research and implementation paving the way for a more sustainable crop production.

Abstract: We study ballistic electron transport through a finite chain of quantum circular rings in the presence of spin-orbit interaction (SOI) of strength alpha. The transmission and reflection coefficients for a single ring, obtained analytical lylead to the conductance for a chain of rings as a function of alpha and of the wave vector k of the incident electron. Due to destructive spin interferences the chain can be totaly opaque for certain ranges of k the width of which depends on the value of alpha. A periodic modulation of a widens up the gaps considerably and produces a nearly binary conductance output.

Abstract: We have developed a sustainable method to produce NH3 directly from air using a plasma tandem-electrocatalysis system that operates via the N2−NOx−NH3 pathway. To efficiently reduce NO2− to NH3, we propose a novel electrocatalyst consisting of defective N-doped molybdenum sulfide nanosheets on vertical graphene arrays (N-MoS2/VGs). We used a plasma engraving process to form the metallic 1T phase, N doping, and S vacancies in the electrocatalyst simultaneously. Our system exhibited a remarkable NH3 production rate of 7.3 mg h−1 cm−2 at −0.53 V vs RHE, which is almost 100 times higher than the state-of-the-art electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction and more than double that of other hybrid systems. Moreover, a low energy consumption of only 2.4 MJ molNH3−1 was achieved in this study. Density functional theory calculations revealed that S vacancies and doped N atoms play a dominant role in the selective reduction of NO2− to NH3. This study opens up new avenues for efficient NH3 production using cascade systems.

Abstract: Synthetic glucocorticoids (GC) are the mainstay therapy for treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. Due to the high adverse effects associated with long-term use, GC pharmacology has focused since the nineties on more selective GC ligand-binding strategies, classified as selective glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonists (SEGRAs) or selective glucocorticoid receptor modulators (SEGRMs). In the current study, GSK866 analogs with electrophilic covalent-binding warheads were developed with potential SEGRA properties to improve their clinical safety profile for long-lasting topical skin disease applications. Since the off-rate of a covalently binding drug is negligible compared to that of a non-covalent drug, its therapeutic effects can be prolonged and typically, smaller doses of the drug are necessary to reach the same level of therapeutic efficacy, thereby potentially reducing systemic side effects. Different analogs of SEGRA GSK866 coupled to cysteine reactive warheads were characterized for GR potency and selectivity in various biochemical and cellular assays. GR- and NFκB-dependent reporter gene studies show favorable anti-inflammatory properties with reduced GR transactivation of two non-steroidal GSK866 analogs UAMC-1217 and UAMC-1218, whereas UAMC-1158 and UAMC-1159 compounds failed to modulate cellular GR activity. These results were further supported by GR immuno-localization and S211 phospho-GR western analysis, illustrating significant GR phosphoactivation and nuclear translocation upon treatment of GSK866, UAMC-1217, or UAMC-1218, but not in case of UAMC-1158 or UAMC-1159. Furthermore, mass spectrometry analysis of tryptic peptides of recombinant GR ligand-binding domain (LBD) bound to UAMC-1217 or UAMC-1218 confirmed covalent cysteine-dependent GR binding. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations, as well as glucocorticoid receptor ligand-binding domain (GR-LBD) coregulator interaction profiling of the GR-LBD bound to GSK866 or its covalently binding analogs UAMC-1217 or UAMC-1218 revealed subtle conformational differences that might underlie their SEGRA properties. Altogether, GSK866 analogs UAMC-1217 and UAMC-1218 hold promise as a novel class of covalent-binding SEGRA ligands for the treatment of topical inflammatory skin disorders.

Abstract: The limitations of the loading of the porous metalorganic framework [Zn4O(bdc)3] (bdc = benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate; MOF-5 or IRMOF-1) with Pd nanoparticles was investigated. First, the volatile organometallic precursor [Pd(5-C5H5)(3-C3H5)] was employed to get the inclusion compound [Pd(5-C5H5)(3-C3H5)]x@MOF-5 via gas-phase infiltration at 10-3 mbar. A loading of four molecules of [Pd(5-C5H5)(3-C3H5)] per formula unit of MOF-5 (x = 4) can be reached (35 wt.% Pd). Second, the metalorganic precursor [Pd(acac)2] (acac = 2,4-pentanedionate) was used and the inclusion materials [Pd(acac)2]x@MOF-5 of different Pd loadings were obtained by incipient wetness infiltration. However, the maximum loading was lower as compared with the former case with about two precursor molecules per formula unit of MOF-5. Both loading routes are suitable for the synthesis of Pd nanoparticles inside the porous host matrix. Homogeneously distributed nanoparticles with diameter of 2.4(±0.2) nm can be achieved by photolysis of the inclusion compounds [Pd(5-C5H5)(3-C3H5)]x@MOF-5 (x 4), while the hydrogenolysis of [Pd(acac)2]x@MOF-5 (x 2) leads to a mixture of small particles inside the network (< 3 nm) and large Pd agglomerates (40 nm) on the outer surface of the MOF-5 specimens. The pure Pdx@MOF-5 materials proved to be stable under hydrogen pressure (2 bar) at 150 °C over many hours. Neither hydrogenation of the bdc linkers nor particle growth was observed. The new composite materials were characterized by 1H/13C-MAS-NMR, powder XRD, ICP-AES, FT-IR, N2 sorption measurements and high resolution TEM. Raising the Pd loading of a representative sample Pd4@MOF-5 (35 wt.% Pd) by using [Pd(5-C5H5)(3-C3H5)] as precursor in a second cycle of gas-phase infiltration and photolysis was accompanied by the collapse of the long-range crystalline order of the MOF.

Abstract: Uniaxial straining experiments were performed on a rolled and annealed Si-alloyed TRIP (transformation-induced plasticity) steel sheet in order to assess the role of its microstructure on the mechanical stability of austenite grains with respect to martensitic transformation. The transformation behavior of individual metastable austenite grains was studied both at the surface and inside the bulk of the material using electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) by deforming the samples to different strain levels up to about 20%. A comparison of the XRD and EBSD results revealed that the retained austenite grains at the surface have a stronger tendency to transform than the austenite grains in the bulk of the material. The deformation-induced changes of individual austenite grains before and after straining were monitored with EBSD. Three different types of austenite grains can be distinguished that have different transformation behaviors: austenite grains at the grain boundaries between ferrite grains, twinned austenite grains, and embedded austenite grains that are completely surrounded by a single ferrite grain. It was found that twinned austenite grains and the austenite grains present at the grain boundaries between larger ferrite grains typically transform first, i.e. are less stable, in contrast to austenite grains that are completely embedded in a larger ferrite grain. In the latter case, straining leads to rotations of the harder austenite grain within the softer ferrite matrix before the austenite transforms into martensite. The analysis suggests that austenite grain rotation behavior is also a significant factor contributing to enhancement of the ductility. (C) 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Vertically aligned nitrogen-doped nanocrystalline diamond nanorods are fabricated from nitrogen-doped nanocrystalline diamond films using reactive ion etching in oxygen plasma. These nanorods show enhanced thermionic electron emission (TEE) characteristics, viz.. a high current density of 12.0 mA/cm(2) and a work function value of 4.5 eV with an applied voltage of 3 Vat 923 K. The enhanced TEE characteristics of these nanorods are ascribed to the induction of nanographitic phases at the grain boundaries and the field penetration effect through the local field enhancement from nanorods owing to a high aspect ratio and an excellent field enhancement factor.

Abstract: We study the phase transition into the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov state in high magnetic field in quasi-one dimensional superconductors within the quasi-classical formalism, taking into account the interchain Josephson coupling and the paramagnetic spin splitting. We show that anomalies in the field-direction dependence of the upper critical field when the magnetic field length equals to the FFLO period, previously described in [29], are characterized by the lock-in effect of the FFLO modulation wave vector, which is governed by the magnetic length.

Abstract: In this study, a recently developed model accounting for intracellular nitrate storage kinetics was thoroughly studied to understand and compare the storage capacity of Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Amphora coffeaeformis. In the first stage the identifiability of the biokinetic parameters was examined. Next, the kinetic model was calibrated for both microalgal species based on experimental observations during batch growth experiments. Two kinetic parameters were calibrated, namely the maximum specific growth rate (mu(max)) and the nitrate storage rate (k(sto)). A significant difference was observed for the nitrate storage rate between both species. For P. tricornutum, the nitrate storage rate was much higher (k(sto) = 0.036m(3) g(-1) DW d(-1)) compared to A. coffeaeformis (k(sto) = 0.0004m(3) g(-1) DW d(-1)). This suggests that P. tricornutum has a more efficient nitrate uptake ability and intracellular nitrate storage capacity and also indicates the need for determination of k(sto) in order to quantify nitrate storage.