Search

The TATA-box binding protein (TBP) and TBP-associated factors (TAFs) constitute the transcription factor IID (TFIID), a crucial component of RNA polymerase II, essential for transcription initiation and regulation. Several TFIID subunits are shared with the Spt–Ada–Gcn5–acetyltransferase (SAGA) coactivator complex. Recent research has revealed the roles of TBP and TAFs in organogenesis and stress adaptation. In this study, we identified 1 TBP and 21 putative TAFs in the mungbean genome, among which VrTAF5, VrTAF6, VrTAF8, VrTAF9, VrTAF14, and VrTAF15 have paralogous genes. Their potential involvement in abiotic stress responses was also investigated here, including high salinity, water deficit, heat, and cold. The findings indicated that distinct genes exerted predominant influences in the response to different abiotic stresses through potentially unique mechanisms. Specifically, under salt stress, VrTBP, VrTAF2, and VrTAF15–1 were strongly induced, while VrTAF10, VrTAF11, and VrTAF13 acted as negative regulators. In the case of water-deficit stress, it was likely that VrTAF1, VrTAF2, VrTAF5–2, VrTAF9, and VrTAF15–1 were primarily involved. Additionally, in response to changes in ambient temperature, it was possible that genes such as VrTAF5–1, VrTAF6–1, VrTAF9–2, VrTAF10, VrTAF13, VrTAF14b–2, and VrTAF15–1 might play a dominant role. This comprehensive exploration of VrTBP and VrTAFs can offer a new perspective on understanding plant stress responses and provide valuable insights into breeding improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a growing number of PCMs and new, suitable PCM candidates, an overview is not only important, but also increasingly complex. Classification of PCM was thus changed significantly in the past decades. A review of classification of PCMs from recent years shows that not only different classification criteria are used, but more important that they are often mixed, used inconsistently, even without a clear goal. Focusing on the main goal of current classification schemes, to give an overview of the material options for the search for new, suitable PCM candidates, including already established PCMs, a consistent classification is developed in a desktop study. For this, first, the general options for classification criteria are reviewed, and then the appropriate ones selected. Then, based on them a new, revised PCM classification is suggested. It is specifically detailed with regard to mixtures; for binary mixtures it is based on a literature review performed within the study. The result also stresses the importance of specific R&D: for pure substances the sources and the chemical modification, and for mixtures their optimization by new compositions, additives, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-Al porous materials were fabricated by thermal explosion (TE) reactions from Co and Al powders in a 1:1 ratio using NaCl as a space retainer. The effects of the NaCl content on the temperature profiles, phase structure, volume change, density, pore distribution and antioxidation behavior were investigated. The results showed that the sintered product of Co and Al powders was solely Co-Al intermetallic, while the final product was Co4Al13 with an abundant Co phase and minor Co2Al5 and Co-Al phases after added NaCl dissolved out, due to the high Tig and low Tc. The open porosity of sintered Co-Al compound was sensibly improved to 79.5% after 80 wt.% of the added NaCl dissolved out. Moreover, porous Co-Al intermetallic exhibited an inherited pore structure, including large pores originating from the dissolution of NaCl and small pores in the matrix caused by volume expansion due to TE reaction. The interconnected large and small pores make the open cellular Co-Al intermetallic suitable for broad application prospects in liquid–gas separation and filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction of sodium chloride (NaCl) content, commonly known as salt, in processed meat products is one of the objectives of health organizations and government authorities to achieve healthier products. This reformulation of traditional meat products with protected designations poses more constraints, as they have a more consolidated quality image and less margin for change, since consumers appreciate the products for their unique sensory characteristics. The aim of this work is to present some of the strategies that have been explored to obtain meat products with low sodium content. Information related to the characteristics of traditional meat products with quality marks and geographical indications in different studies is discussed in opposition to the information recorded in their product specifications. It was found that the product specifications of meat products with Portuguese Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) show a wide variation in the NaCl content, much higher than the recommended values. Thus, one of the requirements to be implemented will be the parameterization of NaCl levels and their monitorization by control and certification organizations as a way to ensure product quality. It is also urgent to examine whether healthy innovation strategies may affect the quality of traditional PDO or PGI meat products and whether they can be included in the respective product specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the key physicochemical parameters of polyelectrolyte microcapsules (PMCs) is their buffer capacity (BC). The BC of the microcapsules allows for an assessment of the change in protonation state across the entire polyelectrolyte system, which directly impacts the buffer barrier of PMCs, as well as the stability and physical properties of their shell. However, the buffer capacity of PMCs and their behavior under changes in ionic strength and temperature can differ depending on the type of core used to form the microcapsules. As part of this study, we revealed the buffer capacity (BC) of polyelectrolyte microcapsules formed on polystyrene cores (PMCPs) and studied the influence of ionic strength and environmental temperature on the BC of these capsules. We found that the buffer capacity of PMCPs differs from the BC of water at a pH above 8; the addition of sodium chloride leads to an increase in buffer capacity in alkaline conditions, and conversely, thermal treatment leads to its decrease at a pH of 9. The results obtained are different from the BC of polyelectrolyte microcapsules formed on CaCO3 cores, which suggests a difference in the physicochemical properties of these types of capsules. The buffer capacity of polyelectrolyte microcapsules depends on the type of template used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death in Croatia, are linked to the high prevalence of hypertension. Both are associated with high salt intake, which was determined almost two decades ago when Croatian Action on Salt and Health (CRASH) was launched. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate salt, potassium, and iodine intake using a single 24 h urine sample in a random sample of the adult Croatian population and to analyse trends in salt consumption after the CRASH was intensively started. Methods: In this study, we analysed data on 1067 adult participants (mean age 57.12 (SD 13.9), men 35%). Results: Mean salt and potassium intakes were 8.6 g/day (IQR 6.2–11.2) and 2.8 g/day (IQR 2.1–3.5), respectively, with a sodium-to-potassium ratio of 2.6 (IQR 1.8–3.3). We detected a decrease of 17.6% (2 g/day less) in salt consumption compared with our previous salt-mapping study. However, only 13.7% and 8.9% met the WHO salt and potassium recommended targets of 5 g/day and 3.5 g/day, respectively. Salt intake was higher, and potassium ingestion was lower, in rural vs. urban regions and in continental vs. Mediterranean parts of Croatia. Moderate to severe iodine insufficiency was determined in only 3% of the adult participants. Conclusion: In the last fifteen years, salt consumption has been significantly reduced in the Croatian adult population because of the intensive and broad CRASH program. However, salt intake is still too high, and potassium ingestion is too low. Salt reduction programs are the most cost-effective methods of cardiovascular disease prevention and merit greater consideration by the government and health policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon plays a pivotal role in numerous technological applications, including energy storage, energy conversion, and different fields of material science. The transformation of amorphous carbon into graphitic carbon, a process known as graphitization, is important for optimizing the properties of carbon materials. In this study, we explore the catalytic graphitization of polyacrylonitrile (PANs) using various metal salts (LiNO3, Ca(NO3)2·4H2O, and Ni(NO3)2·6H2O). We prepared dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions of PAN with different salt concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 wt.%. The different prepared metal salt-mixed PAN/DMSO solutions were dried at 45 °C and this was followed by carbonization processes at 950 °C, with a heating rate of 1 °C min−1 for 1 h under an N2 atmosphere. The resulting graphitic carbon was characterized to determine the influence of salt type and concentration on the degree of graphitization. Our findings provide valuable insights into PAN-derived graphitic carbon's structural and compositional properties. This work underscores the influence of salt concentration in optimizing the graphitization process, offering a pathway to design facile and cost-effective graphitic carbon materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane distillation is a novel membrane-based separation technology with the potential to produce pure water from high-salinity brine. It couples transport behaviors along the membrane and across the membrane. The brine in the feed is gradually concentrated due to the permeate flux across the membrane, which is a significant factor in initiating the scaling behavior on the membrane surface along the feed flow direction. It is of great interest to investigate and estimate the development of scaling on the membrane surface. This work specifically focuses on a long-distance membrane distillation process with a sodium chloride solution as the feed. A modeling approach has been developed to estimate the sodium chloride scaling development on the membrane surface along the flow direction. A set of experiments was conducted to validate the results. Based on mathematical simplification and analytical fitting, a simplified model was summarized to predict the initiating position of sodium chloride scaling on the membrane, which is meaningful for scaling control in industrial-scale applications of membrane distillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Albendazole (ABZ) is a highly effective yet poorly water-soluble antiparasitic drug known to form salts (ABZ-FMA, ABZ-DTA, and ABZ-HCl) with fumaric acid (FMA), D-tartaric acid (DTA), and hydrochloric acid (HCl). This research utilized a range of analytical techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (1H NMR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), dynamic vapor sorption (DVS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), to validate and characterize the solid-state properties of these drug salts. This study also assessed the solubility and intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) of these salts under different pH conditions compared to the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and conducted stability studies. Moreover, the in vivo pharmacokinetic performance of ABZ salt was evaluated. The results of this study reveal that the new solid form of ABZ is primarily associated with amino acid esters and benzimidazole groups, forming intermolecular interactions. All three ABZ salts significantly improved the solubility and dissolution rate of ABZ, with ABZ-HCl demonstrating the optimal performance. Importantly, the drug salt exhibited robust physical stability when exposed to adverse conditions, including strong light irradiation (4500 ± 500 lux), high humidity (92.5 ± 5% relative humidity), elevated temperatures (50 ± 2 °C), and accelerated test conditions (40 °C/75 ± 5% relative humidity). Lastly, the in vivo pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that ABZ salt led to a substantial increase in AUC(0–24) and Cmax compared to ABZ. This elevation in solubility in aqueous solvents signifies that ABZ salt exhibits characteristics that can enhance oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetics. These findings provide potential solutions for the development of more effective and innovative drug formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is a major constraint limiting the yield of tomatoes. However, grafting strategies may help to overcome the salt toxicity of this important horticultural species if appropriate rootstocks are identified. The present study aimed to test a new rootstock, JUPAFORT1, obtained by crossing the glycophyte Solanum lycopersicum (cv. Poncho Negro) with the halophyte wild-related species Solanum chilense to improve the salinity tolerance of the Chilean tomato landrace Old Limachino Tomato (OLT). Intact OLT plants were exposed to 0, 80, or 160 mM of NaCl for 21 days at the vegetative stage and compared with self-grafted (L/L) and Limachino plants grafted on JUPAFORT1 rootstock (L/R) under a completely randomized design. JUPAFORT1 increased OLT scion vigor in the absence of salt but did not significantly increase fresh weight under stress conditions. However, JUPAFORT1 confers to the scion an anisohydric behavior contrasting with the isohydric behavior of L and L/L plants as indicated by measurements of stomatal conductance; L/R plants were able to maintain their metabolic status despite a slight decrease in the leaf's relative water content. JUPAFORT1 rootstock also enabled the maintenance of photosynthetic pigment concentrations in the scion in contrast to L and L/L plants, which exhibited a decrease in photosynthetic pigments under stress conditions. L/R plants encountered oxidative stress at the highest stress intensity (160 mM of NaCl) only, while L and L/L plants suffered from oxidative damage at a lower dose (80 mM of NaCl). L/R plants behaved as includer plants and did not sequester Na+ in the root system, in contrast to L and L/L, which behaved as excluder plants retaining Na+ in the root system to avoid its translocation to the shoots. The expression of genes coding for ion transporters (HKT1.1, HKT1.2, LKT1, SKOR, SOS2, and SOS3) in the root system was not modified by salinity in L/R. In contrast, their expression varied in response to salinity in L and L/L. Overall, L/R plants exhibited higher physiological stability than L/L or L plants in response to an increasing NaCl dose and did not require additional energy investment to trigger an adaptative response to salinity. This suggests that the constitutive salinity tolerance of the halophyte S. chilense was maintained in the interspecific rootstock. JUPAFORT1 issued from S. lycopersicum x S. chilense may thus improve salt-stress resilience in OLT tomatoes. Additional studies are required to identify the molecular components involved in the root-to-shoot signaling pathway in this promising material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases account for almost 18 million deaths annually, the most of all non-communicable diseases. The reduction of dietary salt consumption is a modifiable risk factor. The WHO recommends a daily sodium intake of <2000 mg but average consumption exceeds this in many countries globally. Strategies proposed to aid effective salt reduction policy include product reformulation, front of pack labelling, behavioural change campaigns and establishing a low-sodium-supportive environment. Yet, salt for household and processed food use is, in countries wholly or partially adopting a universal salt iodisation policy, the principal vehicle for population-wide iodine fortification. With salt reduction policies in place, there is concern that iodine deficiency disorders may re-emerge. Recognising the urgency to tackle the rising prevalence of NCDs yet not risk the re-emergence and detrimental effect of inadequate iodine intakes, this review lays out the feasibility of integrating both salt reduction and salt iodine fortification strategies. Reducing the burden of health risks associated with an excessive sodium intake or inadequate iodine through population-tailored, cost-effective strategies involving salt is both feasible and achievable, and represents an opportunity to improve outcomes in public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw fibers are renowned for their cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and durability. They represent a promising natural reinforcement option for reactive powder concrete (RPC). This paper investigated the impact of straw fibers on RPC's workability, mechanical performance (mechanical strength and flexural toughness), and electrical properties (electrical resistance and AC impedance spectroscopy curves). The straw fiber volumes ranged from 1% to 4.0% of the total RPC volume. Specimens were cured under standard curing conditions for 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. Mechanical and electrical properties of the specimens were tested before chloride salt erosion. The mass loss and ultrasonic velocity loss of the samples were measured under NaCl freeze–thaw cycles (F-Cs). The mass loss, ultrasonic velocity loss, and mechanical strengths loss of the samples were measured under NaCl dry–wet alternations (D-As). The findings indicated that incorporating straw fibers enhanced RPC's flexural strength, compressive strength, and flexural toughness by 21.3% to 45.76%, −7.16% to 11.62%, and 2.4% to 32.7%, respectively, following a 28-day curing period. The addition of straw fibers could augment the AC electrical resistance of the RPC by 10.17% to 58.1%. The electrical characteristics of the RPC adhered to series conduction models. A power function relationship existed between the electrical resistance and mechanical strengths of the RPC. After 10 NaCl D-As, the mass loss rate, ultrasonic velocity loss rate, flexural strength, and compressive strength loss rates of the RPC decreased by 0.42% to 1.68%, 2.69% to 6.73%, 9.6% to 35.65%, and 5.41% to 34.88%, respectively, compared to blank samples. After undergoing 200 NaCl F-Cs, the rates of mass loss and ultrasonic velocity loss of the RPC decreased by 0.89% to 1.01% and 6.68% to 8.9%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus, P, is a vital element of paramount importance for both humans and for the Environment. Wastewater contains often relatively high concentrations of P which can be recovered as crystalline struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O, MAP). This option is quite attractive in assisting sustainable development because struvite can be used as a slow-release fertilizer. Domestic wastewater is usually high in P and nitrogen, N, but relatively poor in magnesium, Mg. It is necessary to develop low-cost solutions for the enrichment of wastewater with Mg. In the present work, sacrificial magnesium anodes were used, which dissolve upon anodic polarization, releasing sufficient magnesium for the selective precipitation of MAP. The application of constant current between two electrodes of which the anode is a low-cost magnesium cylindrical rod (4 cm2 exposed surface area) and the other a platinum cathode electrode, both immersed in ammonium phosphate solutions, without adjustment of the solution pH, was investigated. Constant current density over the range 10–100 A·m−2, between the Mg- Pt electrodes immersed in solutions of ammonium hydrogen phosphate of exactly known initial concentration, was applied using a potentiostat. In the presence of sodium chloride solutions, on the magnesium anode and in the bulk solution, Mg(OH)2 (brucite) formed because of the passivation of the Mg electrode. In dilute ammonium hydrogen phosphate solutions, the magnesium anode dissolution resulted in struvite precipitation, even at a low applied current (10 mA). Struvite crystals with an average size of 20 μm were precipitated. The behavior of the cell for the electrolyte solutions used was Faradaic as long as the surface coverage of the anode was relatively low. The anodic dissolution of Mg resulted in high pH values (pH 11) eliminating the need for alkali addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: The main problem of vascular preservation is the maintenance of vessel graft quality and function following extended storage. Conventional preservation solutions such as histidine–tryptophan–ketoglutarate (HTK) solution, Phosphate-Buffer Solution (PBS), or sodium chloride 0.9% has been shown to be inadequate in preserving vascular physiological function after 3 days of cold storage. This study aimed to evaluate whether adenosine and lidocaine (AL) in a modified Krebs–Henseleit (KH) solution can preserve the function and histological structure of rat aortic rings after 6 days. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five aortic rings from male Wistar rats (200–300 g) were harvested and immediately immersed in one of the assigned cold preservation solutions: standard KH, modified KH (mod KH) with lower calcium (Ca2+) and higher magnesium content (Mg2+) with or without adenosine and lidocaine (mod KH-AL), and modified KH with AL, insulin, and melatonin (Mod KH-ALMI). The contraction and relaxation function of the aortic rings were examined using an isometric force transducer after 6 days of cold preservation. Hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to analyze the rings' histological structure. Results: Vascular contraction and relaxation functions were severely affected after a 6-day cold storage period in standard KH. Modifying the KH solution by reducing the Ca2+ and increasing the Mg2+ levels greatly recovered the vessel functions. The addition of AL or ALMI to the modified KH did not further recover vascular contractility. However, only the addition of AL to the modified KH increased the ACh-induced relaxation at 6 days when compared to the conventional KH, suggesting that endothelium preservation is improved. From histological analysis, it was found that the addition of AL but not ALMI further improved the endothelial lining and the structure of the elastic membrane layers of the preserved vessels after 6 days of cold preservation. Conclusions: The addition of AL to low calcium-high magnesium KH solution significantly enhanced endothelial preservation and improved endothelial-induced relaxation of preserved vessels after 6 days of cold storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to experimentally investigate the process of chloride binding and its sulfate-induced release in cementitious materials. The cementitious materials were replaced with hardened cement paste particles (HCPs) with water-to-cement ratios (w/c) of 0.35 and 0.45. A long-term immersion experiment of HCPs in 0.1 M sodium chloride solution was performed to investigate its chloride-binding capacity, and then it was immersed in sodium sulfate solutions with concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 M to explore the release of chloride binding induced by sulfates. Silver nitrate titration and quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD) were used to measure the concentration of free chlorides in the solutions and the content of bound chlorides in HCPs, respectively. The results show that there is a higher chloride-binding capacity in HCPs with a w/c ratio of 0.45 compared to 0.35, and the content of chemically bound chlorides is associated with the formation and decomposition of Friedel's and Kuzel's salts in HCPs. The presence of sulfates can easily result in the release of bound chlorides in Friedel's salt, but it cannot cause a complete release of bound chlorides in Kuzel's salt. Physically bound chlorides are more easily released by sulfates than chemically bound chlorides, and a high w/c ratio or sulfate concentration can increase the release rate of bound chlorides in HCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is indispensable for agricultural production but has been seriously polluted by cadmium and salt in recent years. Many crops are suffering from this, including rapeseed, the third largest global oilseed crop. However, genes simultaneously related to both cadmium and salt stress have not been extensively reported yet. In this study, BnaA10.WRKY75 was screened from previous RNA-seq data related to cadmium and salt stress and further analyses including sequence comparison, GUS staining, transformation and qRT-PCR were conducted to confirm its function. GUS staining and qRT-PCR results indicated BnaA10.WRKY75 was induced by CdCl2 and NaCl treatment. Sequence analysis suggested BnaA10.WRKY75 belongs to Group IIc of the WRKY gene family and transient expression assay showed it was a nuclear localized transcription factor. BnaA10.WRKY75-overexpressing Arabidopsis and rapeseed plants accumulated more H2O2 and O2− and were more sensitive to CdCl2 and NaCl treatment compared with untransformed plants, which may be caused by the downregulation of BnaC03.CAT2. Our study reported that BnaA10.WRKY75 increases sensitivity to cadmium and salt stress by disrupting the balance of reactive oxygen species both in Arabidopsis and rapeseed. The results support the further understanding of the mechanisms underlying cadmium and salt tolerance and provide BnaA10.WRKY75 as a valuable gene for rapeseed abiotic stress breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphological adjustments of euhalophytes are well-known to be influenced by the soil-soluble salt variation; however, whether and how these changes in morphological traits alter the biomass allocation pattern remains unclear, especially under different NaCl levels. Therefore, an allometric analysis was applied to investigate the biomass allocation pattern and morphological plasticity, and the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometric characteristics of the euhalophyte Suaeda Salsa (S. salsa) at the four soil-soluble salt levels of no salt (NS), light salt (LS), moderate salt (MS), and heavy salt (HS). The results showed that soil-soluble salts significantly change the biomass allocation to the stems and leaves (p < 0.05). With the growth of S. salsa, the NS treatment produced a downward leaf mass ratio (LMR) and upward stem mass ratio (SMR); this finding was completely different from that for the salt treatments. When S. salsa was harvested on the 100th day, the HS treatment had the highest LMR (61%) and the lowest SMR (31%), while the NS treatment was the opposite, with an LMR of 44% and an SMR of 50%. Meanwhile, the soil-soluble salt reshaped the morphological characteristics of S. salsa (e.g., root length, plant height, basal stem diameter, and leaf succulence). Combined with the stoichiometric characteristics, N uptake restriction under salt stress is a vital reason for inhibited stem growth. Although the NS treatment had the highest biomass (48.65 g root box−1), the LS treatment had the highest salt absorption (3.73 g root box−1). In conclusion, S. salsa can change its biomass allocation pattern through morphological adjustments to adapt to different saline–alkali habitats. Moreover, it has an optimal biological desalting effect in lightly saline soil dominated by NaCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting high-yielding tomato varieties onto stress-tolerant rootstocks can mitigate the adverse effects of saline water irrigation on plant tomato productivity in arid regions like Saudi Arabia. This study investigates the efficacy of grafting tomatoes onto both novel and commercial rootstocks to enhance salinity tolerance and its impact on growth, physiological parameters, and yield in a soilless culture system. The experiment involved two water quality levels, 2 (S1) and 4 (S2) dS m−1, two growth media types, volcanic rock (M1) and sand (M2), and six grafting treatments: Tone Guitar F1 non-grafted (G1) (commercial scion), grafted onto itself (G2), Tone Guitar F1* Maxifort F1 (G3) (commercial rootstock), and grafting the scion onto three novel rootstocks, X-218 (G4), X-238 (G5), and Alawamiya365 (G6). Growth, physiology, photosynthetic pigments, and yield improved with lower salinity (2 dS m−1) in volcanic rock and with the grafting treatments (G2–G6) compared to the non-grafted treatment (G1). The best results were achieved with the S1M1G5 treatment, where yield increased by 53% compared to the lowest yield in non-grafted plants grown in sand under higher salinity (S2M2G1). All studied traits were adversely affected under high salinity (S2) in sandy media, with the G1 treatment resulting in the lowest values for these traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium chloride (LiCl) is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly salt abundant in the ocean. However, the insolubility of LiCl in conventional electrolyte solvents prevents the practical use of LiCl for lithium-ion batteries. Here, we report a novel method to increase the solubility of LiCl in a conventional electrolyte. The solubility of LiCl in ethylene carbonate (EC)/dimethyl carbonate (DMC) (1/1, v/v) is about quadrupled by adding a small amount of anion receptor with two urea moieties as recognition sites connecting with an ether chain. Anion receptor is an organic molecule that can associate with anions. Our anion receptor is able to associate with chloride anion. The ionic conductivity of LiCl in EC/DMC increased from 0.023 mS cm−1 (without an anion receptor) to 0.075 mS cm−1 (with a 0.05 M anion receptor). The electrolyte in the presence of a 0.05 M receptor exhibits higher ionic conductivity, rate capability, and cyclability than the electrolyte without the receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic hydrated salt phase change materials (PCMs) hold promise for improving the energy conversion efficiency of thermal systems and facilitating the exploration of renewable thermal energy. Hydrated salts, however, often suffer from low thermal conductivity, supercooling, phase separation, leakage and poor solar absorptance. In recent years, compounding hydrated salts with functional carbon materials has emerged as a promising way to overcome these shortcomings and meet the application demands. This work reviews the recent progress in preparing carbon-enhanced hydrated salt phase change composites for thermal management applications. The intrinsic properties of hydrated salts and their shortcomings are firstly introduced. Then, the advantages of various carbon materials and general approaches for preparing carbon-enhanced hydrated salt PCM composites are briefly described. By introducing representative PCM composites loaded with carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, graphene oxide, graphene, expanded graphite, biochar, activated carbon and multifunctional carbon, the ways that one-dimensional, two-dimensional, three-dimensional and hybrid carbon materials enhance the comprehensive thermophysical properties of hydrated salts and affect their phase change behavior is systematically discussed. Through analyzing the enhancement effects of different carbon fillers, the rationale for achieving the optimal performance of the PCM composites, including both thermal conductivity and phase change stability, is summarized. Regarding the applications of carbon-enhanced hydrate salt composites, their use for the thermal management of electronic devices, buildings and the human body is highlighted. Finally, research challenges for further improving the overall thermophysical properties of carbon-enhanced hydrated salt PCMs and pushing towards practical applications and potential research directions are discussed. It is expected that this timely review could provide valuable guidelines for the further development of carbon-enhanced hydrated salt composites and stimulate concerted research efforts from diverse communities to promote the widespread applications of high-performance PCM composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examined the response of flax-fiber-reinforced composites (FFRCs) to simulated outdoor conditions involving repeated exposure to salt fog and drying. The study investigated the effect of cycles on the toughness of the FFRCs. To achieve this, the composites were exposed to humidity (salt fog) for 10 days, followed by 18 days of drying in cycles. A total of up to 3 cycles, each lasting 4 weeks, were conducted over a 12-week period. Throughout this process, changes in the material's weight, water absorption, and mechanical properties were monitored by water uptake and three-point bending tests. The findings revealed the significant impact of these humid–dry cycles on the mechanical response of the FFRCs. When exposed to humid environments without drying, the composite's toughness increased significantly, due to a weakening effect more pronounced for stiffness, with strength reductions of about 20%. However, subsequent drying partially restored the material's performance. After 18 days of drying, the composite regained most of its initial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are often exposed to biotic or abiotic stress, which can seriously impede their growth and development. In recent years, researchers have focused especially on the study of plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress. As one of the most widely planted grapevine rootstocks, 'Beta' has been extensively proven to be highly resistant to stress. However, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms of abiotic stress in 'Beta' rootstocks. In this study, we isolated and cloned a novel WRKY transcription factor, VhWRKY44, from the 'Beta' rootstock. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that VhWRKY44 was a nuclear-localized protein. Tissue-specific expression analysis indicated that VhWRKY44 had higher expression levels in grape roots and mature leaves. Further research demonstrated that the expression level of VhWRKY44 in grape roots and mature leaves was highly induced by salt and cold treatment. Compared with the control, Arabidopsis plants overexpressing VhWRKY44 showed stronger resistance to salt and cold stress. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were significantly increased, and the contents of proline, malondialdehyde (MDA) and chlorophyll were changed considerably. In addition, significantly higher levels of stress-related genes were detected in the transgenic lines. The results indicated that VhWRKY44 was an important transcription factor in 'Beta' with excellent salt and cold tolerance, providing a new foundation for abiotic stress research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the demand for lithium, essential to the high-tech and battery sectors, has increased rapidly. The majority of lithium carbonate is now sourced from continental brines in Latin America, owing to the lower production costs and reduced environmental impact. In Europe, often overlooked but promising lithium resources could include highly mineralized underground waters. Therefore, this study investigates the enrichment of these low-grade solutions (<100 mg/L Li) through evaporation followed by solvent extraction (SX) processes under specific conditions. The effectiveness and the technical feasibility of lithium extraction were evaluated using binary synthetic, multicomponent semi-synthetic, and real brine samples. The popular tributyl phosphate/methyl isobutyl ketone (TBP/MIBK) system, supplemented with FeCl3 and AlCl3 as co-extractants, was employed as the organic phase. Evaporation resulted in significant lithium losses (up to 80%), reduced to ~10% by washing the crystallisate obtained during evaporation with ethanol. The results from SX tests revealed differences between the synthetic and real brines. While the synthetic brines exhibited satisfactory lithium extraction yields (91%), the real brines showed a significantly lower extraction efficiency (~32%), rendering the tested system ineffective. Solid phase precipitation during the SX trials was observed for both the synthetic and real brines, which were concentrated before the SX stage, highlighting the challenges in lithium-recovery processes. However, semi-synthetic brine trials yielded promising results, with a satisfactory extraction efficiency (76%), and the absence of physical problems (emulsion, long disengagement, etc.). This reveals the importance of the chemical composition of brines and emphasizes the need for varied procedural approaches in lithium-recovery processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to address the issue of the low solubility in the model drug probenecid (PRO) and its impact on bioavailability. Two salts of probenecid (PRO), 4-aminopyridine (4AMP), and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (4DAP) were synthesized and characterized by PXRD, DSC, TGA, FTIR, and SEM. The crystal structures of the two salts were determined by SCXRD, demonstrating that the two salts exhibited different hydrogen bond networks, stacking modes, and molecular conformations of PRO. The solubility of PRO and its salts in a phosphate-buffered solution (pH = 6.8) at 37 °C was determined, the results showed that the solubility of PRO salts increased to 142.83 and 7.75 times of the raw drug, respectively. Accelerated stability experiments (40 °C, 75% RH) showed that the salts had good phase stability over 8 weeks. Subsequently, Hirshfeld surface (HS), atom in molecules (AIM), and independent gradient model (IGM) were employed for the assessment of intermolecular interactions. The analyses of salt-forming sites and principles were conducted using molecular electrostatic potential surfaces (MEPs) and pKa rules. The lattice energy (EL) and hydration-free energy (EHF) of PRO and its salts were calculated, and the relationships between these parameters and melting points and the solubility changes were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, considerable research has been conducted on extracting energy from superhot geothermal reservoirs, where temperatures are higher than at the critical point of water. A major challenge when operating wells under such conditions is managing scaling in an effective manner. In this study, the thermodynamics of the precipitation and scaling of crystalline NaCl (halite) under superhot conditions is explored using the H 2 O – NaCl system as a proxy. Phase diagrams in pressure–enthalpy and pressure–entropy coordinates are used to illustrate how scaling occurs in idealized processes, such as the isenthalpic expansion of geothermal fluid to the wellhead or the isentropic power generation of a steam turbine. Particular emphasis is placed on explaining the non-trivial graphical composition of these phase diagrams in an accessible manner. A wellhead sample and an estimate of the downhole conditions are used as points of reference in the discussion of scaling. All thermodynamic properties, including the solubility of NaCl in water vapor, are calculated using a newly developed equation of state by the same authors as in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structures of two newly synthesized nitrilotriacetate oxidovanadium(IV) salts, namely [QH][VO(nta)(H2O)](H2O)2 (I) and [(acr)H][VO(nta)(H2O)](H2O)2 (II), were determined. Additionally, the cytotoxic effects of four N-heterocyclic nitrilotriacetate oxidovanadium(IV) salts—1,10-phenanthrolinium, [(phen)H][VO(nta)(H2O)](H2O)0.5 (III), 2,2′-bipyridinium [(bpy)H][VO(nta)(H2O)](H2O) (IV), and two newly synthesized compounds (I) and (II)—were evaluated against prostate cancer (PC3) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. All the compounds exhibited strong cytotoxic effects on cancer cells and normal cells (HaCaT human keratinocytes). The structure–activity relationship analysis revealed that the number and arrangement of conjugated aromatic rings in the counterion had an impact on the antitumor effect. The compound (III), the 1,10-phenanthrolinium analogue, exhibited the greatest activity, whereas the acridinium salt (II), with a different arrangement of three conjugated aromatic rings, showed the lowest toxicity. The increased concentrations of the compounds resulted in alterations to the cell cycle distribution with different effects in MCF-7 and PC3 cells. In MCF-7 cells, compounds I and II were observed to block the G2/M phase, while compounds III and IV were found to arrest the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. In PC3 cells, all compounds increased the rates of cells in the G0/G1 phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To decrease the lipid content in water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, high internal phase Pickering W/O emulsions (HIPPE) were fabricated using magnetic stirring using a combination of monoglyceride (MAG) oleogel and polyglycerol polyacrylate oleate (PGPR) as stabilizers. Effects of MAGs (glyceryl monostearate-GMS, glycerol monolaurate-GML and glycerol monocaprylate-GMC) and internal phase components on the formation and properties of HIPPEs were investigated. The results showed that milky-white stabilized W/O HIPPE with up to 85 wt% aqueous phase content was successfully prepared, and the droplet interfaces presented a network of MAG crystals, independent of the MAG type. All HIPPEs exhibited great stability under freeze–thaw cycles but were less plastic. Meanwhile, GML-oleogel-based HIPPEs had larger particle size and were less thermal stable than GMS and GMC-based HIPPEs. Compared to guar gum, the internal phase components of sodium chloride and sucrose were more effective in reducing the particle size of HIPPEs, improving their stability and plasticity, and stabilizing them during 100-day storage. HIPPEs presented great spreadability, ductility and plasticity after whipping treatment. This knowledge provides a new perspective on the use of oleogels as co-stabilizers for the formation of W/O HIPPEs, which can be used as a potential substitute for creams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monascus ruber is an important fungus that causes spoilage in table olives, resulting in the darkening of the brine, the softening of the fruit, increased pH, and apparent mycelial growth. This study aimed to evaluate this resistance, providing a model to determine the optimal processing conditions for mitigating fungal contamination and prolonging shelf life without antifungal agents while optimizing pasteurization to reduce energy consumption. The resistance in brine (3.5% NaCl; pH 3.5) from Arauco cultivar green olives imported from Argentina was assessed. Four predictive models (log linear, log linear + shoulder, log linear + tail, log linear + shoulder + tail) estimated kinetic parameters for each survival curve. Log linear + shoulder + tail provided the best fit for 70 °C and 75 °C, with low RMSE (0.171 and 0.112) and high R2 values (0.98 and 0.99), respectively, while the log linear model was used for 80 °C. Decimal reduction times at 70, 75, and 80 °C were 24.8, 5.4, and 1.6 min, respectively, with a z-value of 8.2 °C. The current regulatory processes are insufficient to eliminate M. ruber at requisite levels, considering reduced antifungal agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The holly Ilex dabieshanensis K. Yao & M. B. Deng, a tree endemic to the Dabieshan Mountains region in China, is a commonly used landscaping plant. Like other crops, its growth is affected by salt stress. The molecular mechanism underlying salt tolerance in holly is still unclear. In this study, we used NaCl treatment and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) at different times to identify the salt stress response genes of holly. A total of 4775 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of the DEGs obtained at different salt treatment times (3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h), as compared to control (ck, 0 h), showed that plant hormone signal transduction and carotenoid biosynthesis were highly enriched. The mechanism by which holly responds to salt stress involves many plant hormones, among which the accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) and its signal transduction may play an important role. In addition, ion homeostasis, osmotic metabolism, accumulation of antioxidant enzymes and nonenzymatic antioxidant compounds, and transcription factors jointly regulate the physiological balance in holly, providing important guarantees for its growth and development under conditions of salt stress. These results lay the foundation for studying the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in holly and for the selection of salt-tolerant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the effects of salt stress on the growth physiology and plant-cell ultrastructure of Isatis indigotica Fort. (I. indigotica) to evaluate its adaptability under salt stress. The effects of different concentrations of salt (NaCl; 0, 25, and 300 mmol·L−1) on the agronomic traits, activities of related enzymes, ion balance, and mesophyll-cell ultrastructure of I. indigotica were studied in a controlled pot experiment. Results showed that compared with those of the control group, the aerial-part fresh weight, underground fresh weight, tiller number, root length, root diameter, plant height, and leaf area of salt-stressed I. indigotica increased at 25 mmol·L−1 and then decreased at 300 mmol·L−1. The changes in levels of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase showed a similar trend, with significant differences compared with control group. Salt stress altered the ion balance of I. indigotica, resulting in a significant increase in Na+ content and a significant decrease in K+ content. The contents of Ca2+ and Mg2+ changed to varying degrees. The analysis of the microstructure of the root showed that under salt treatment, the epidermal cells of the root significantly thickened and the diameter of the xylem decreased. The results of ultrastructural analysis of mesophylls showed that salt stress can cause cell-membrane contraction, cell-gap enlargement, disorder in the structures of chloroplasts and mitochondria, and an increase in the number of osmiophilic particles. These changes were aggravated by the increase in NaCl concentration. This study reveals the response of I. indigotica to salt stress and provides a basis for further study on the salt-tolerance mechanism of I. indigotica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of a study on lithium mineralization in salt flats and underground aquifers of the Shu–Sarysu depression. Analysis of brine samples collected from 2022 to 2023, utilizing spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, reveals elevated concentrations that hold commercial promise. These findings may have significant implications for exploration efforts and estimation regarding the lithium resource potential, which is currently in high demand. This article examines data regarding lithium brine deposits worldwide, focusing on their geology. The research methodology involves delineating regions of salt flat distribution through remote sensing data interpretation, fieldwork, and laboratory analysis, particularly for surface brines. Underground lithium-bearing brines are detected within oil and gas structures. The article presents findings from analytical studies conducted on saline and co-produced formation brines collected during the 2022 field season, with a specific focus on the epiplatform regions of Kazakhstan, encompassing the Shu–Sarysu depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association between salt-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) and salt excretion using the 24-hour (24 h) urinary collection method. Data were utilized from the Community-Based Management of Non-Communicable Diseases in Nepal (COBIN) Salt Survey, a community-based cross-sectional study conducted among a sub-sample of COBIN cohort in Pokhara Metropolitan City, Western Nepal, from July to December 2018, among adults aged 25–70 years. A total of 451 adults participated in the study, and a single 24 h urine sample was collected from each participant. The mean [(standard deviation (SD)] age of the participants was 49.6 (9.82) years, and the majority were female (65%). The mean urinary salt excretion was 13.28 (SD: 4.72) g/day, with 98% of participants consuming ≥5 g of salt/day. Although 83% of participants knew the risks of high salt intake and 87% believed it was important to reduce their intake, only 10% reported doing so. Salt-related attitude i.e., self-perceived salt intake was significantly associated with urinary salt excretion, adding extra salt to food, consuming processed foods, and taking actions to salt control. Participants who perceived themselves as consuming high salt had higher urinary salt excretion [(14.42 g/day; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 13.45, 15.39, p = 0.03)], were more likely to add extra [(Odds ratio (OR) = 3.59; 95% CI: 2.03, 6.33, p < 0.001)], and consume processed foods more often (OR = 1.90; 95% CI: 1.06, 3.40, p < 0.05) compared to those who self-perceived consuming a normal amount of salt. Conversely, participants who perceived themselves as consuming low salt were more likely to take actions to control salt intake (OR = 4.22; 95% CI: 1.90, 9.37, p < 0.001) compared to their counterparts who perceived consuming a normal amount of salt. There existed a gap between salt-related knowledge, attitudes, and actual behaviors, resulting in a high salt intake among the Nepalese population. Nepal urgently requires tailored national salt reduction programs that comprise both policy and community-level interventions to achieve a 30% reduction in mean population salt intake by 2025. Further validation studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of community-based intervention in Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the main characteristics of white brine cheeses from different manufacturers and changes in their quality indicators. These characteristics include the active acidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, oxidation–reduction potential, and organoleptic assessment. In this context, the connection to biomimetics lies in the approach of integrating multiple sensory modalities, similar to how biological systems often use multiple senses to perceive and understand their environment. For this purpose, spectral, ultrasonic, and gas characteristics were used, from which informative indices were extracted, united at a later stage in a vector of features. Based on the classification, it was found that the optical characteristics of cheeses from different manufacturers overlap, thus making it possible to predict the main indicators for each type of cheese. The results show that the use of a multimodal approach combining features from different sensors contributes to a better understanding of the variations in cheese properties, while improving the predictive abilities of the created models. The obtained results give a clear idea of the quality of the cheese, thus enabling adequate decisions to be made during the production process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is an attractive platform for bioremediation with versatile growth substrate and tolerance capabilities. The limited research on the salt tolerance of strain KT2440 hinders its application in bioremediation in high-salinity environments, where the composition of pollutants becomes increasingly complex and wastewater salinity often remains high. Therefore, the salt tolerance of strain KT2440 was explored in this work. By analyzing transcriptomic data from the high-salinity minimal salts medium, we identified key salt-tolerance genes and used them to improve the salt tolerance of strain KT2440 under 4% w/v NaCl. With co-expression of salt-tolerant genes, the maximum salt tolerance of strain KT2440 increased to 5% w/v NaCl. Further addition of compatible solutes increased the salt tolerance of the strain to 6% w/v NaCl. The engineered strain KT2440 could degrade common pollutants under 4% w/v NaCl in 48 h, and could be a promising platform for bioremediation in high-salinity environments. Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is a popular platform for bioremediation due to its robust tolerance to environmental stress and strong biodegradation capacity. Limited research on the salt tolerance of P. putida KT2440 has hindered its application. In this study, the strain KT2440 was tested to tolerate a maximum of 4% w/v NaCl cultured with minimal salts medium. Transcriptomic data in a high-salinity environment showed significant expression changes in genes in membrane components, redox processes, chemotaxis, and cellular catabolic processes. betB-encoding betaine-aldehyde dehydrogenase was identified from the transcriptome data to overexpress and enhance growth profile of the strain KT2440 in minimal salts medium containing 4% w/v NaCl. Meanwhile, screening for exogenous salt-tolerant genes revealed that the Na+/H+ antiporter EcnhaA from Escherichia coli significantly increased the growth of the strain KT2440 in 4% w/v NaCl. Then, co-expression of EcnhaA and betB (KT2440-EcnhaA-betB) increased the maximum salt tolerance of strain KT2440 to 5% w/v NaCl. Further addition of betaine and proline improved the salt tolerance of the engineered strain to 6% w/v NaCl. Finally, the engineered strain KT2440-EcnhaA-betB was able to degrade 56.70% of benzoic acid and 95.64% of protocatechuic acid in minimal salt medium containing 4% w/v NaCl in 48 h, while no biodegradation was observed in the normal strain KT2440 in the same conditions. However, the strain KT2440-EcnhaA-betB failed to degrade catechol in minimal salt medium containing 3% w/v NaCl. This study illustrated the improvement in the salt tolerance performance of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 and the feasibility of engineered strain KT2440 as a potential salt-tolerant bioremediation platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The streaming potential effect has a wide range of applications in geophysics. The core streaming potential experiment requires that there is no external circuit at both ends of the core, but a measurement circuit must be introduced to measure the voltage between both ends of the core which will cause an external circuit. In order to analyze the effect of measurement circuits on the streaming potential experiment, this paper proposes a core current source model, i.e., the core in the streaming potential experiment is regarded as a circuit composed of a current source whose output current is equal to the seepage current and the core resistance. By changing the resistance value of the external circuit, it is found that the seepage current is not affected by the external resistance but by the excitation pressure. Experiments on the streaming potential of 20 sandstone cores under distilled water, 0.01 mol/L, 0.02 mol/L, 0.05 mol/L, 0.1 mol/L, 0.2 mol/L, 0.4 mol/L, and 0.6 mol/L sodium chloride solutions revealed that the effect of the external circuit on the streaming potential signal increased with decreasing mineralization. For distilled water-saturated sandstone cores, the effect of the external circuit was about 2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prohexadione calcium (EA) and gibberellin (GA) are two different types of plant growth regulators that have different effects on the regulation of plant development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of EA and GA on rice plant growth, development and morph-physiological traits in two rice varieties: 'Huang Huazhan' and 'Guang Hong 3'. At the three-leaf seedling stage, the plants were treated with 50 mM NaCl 24 h after foliar application of EA (100 mg·L−1) and GA (1 mg·L−1). Data on morphological indexes, osmotic regulators and antioxidant activities were compared with the treatment of EA and GA on the 4th, 7th, 10th and 13th days after NaCl stress. Our data analysis showed that NaCl stress inhibited the leaf area growth of rice seedlings, altered the microstructure and disrupted the antioxidant system, ion uptake and transport balance. The significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide anion production rate (O2 · ¯) indicated that NaCl stress caused a severe oxidative stress response to rice seedlings. Treatment with EA and GA activated the antioxidant system under NaCl stress, significantly elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities and suppressed the increase in MDA content and the O2 · ¯ production rate. Under NaCl stress, EA and GA treatments improved the osmoregulatory balance, significantly increased soluble protein and proline contents and maintained lower Na+/K+ levels. EA and GA treatments significantly increased the K+ and Ca2+ contents, thereby maintaining ionic balance, which was favorable for maintaining the growth of rice seedlings. In this study, moth plant growth regulators maintained the growth and development of rice seedlings under NaCl stress by inducing an increase in osmoregulation and antioxidant levels, reducing the degree of membrane damage and regulating the selective uptake of ions by rice seedlings. Current findings also clarified that foliar application of EA was more effective than GA in three-leaf seedlings by enhancing the morph-physiological and antioxidant parameters under NaCl stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The axial compressive behaviours of coal gangue concrete-filled steel tube (GCFST) columns after chloride salt corrosion were investigated numerically. Numerical modelling was conducted through the static analysis method by finite element (FE) analysis. The failure mechanism, residual strength, and axial load–displacement curves were validated against tests of the coal gangue aggregate concrete-filled steel tube (GCFST) columns at room and natural aggregate concrete-filled steel tube (NCFST) columns after salt corrosion circumstance. According to the analysis on the stress distribution of the steel tube, the stress value of the steel tube decreased as the corrosion rate increased at the same characteristic point. A parametric analysis was carried out to determine the effect of crucial variation on residual strength. It indicated that material strength, the steel ratio, and the corrosion rate made a profound impact on the residual strength from the FE. The residual strength of the columns exposed to chloride salt was in negative correlation with the corrosion rate. The impact on the residual strength of the column was little, obvious by the replacement rate of the coal gangue. A simplified design formula for predicting the ultimate strength of GCFST columns after chloride salt corrosion exposure was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer microspheres with temperature and salt resistance were synthesized using the anti-suspension polymerization method, incorporating the functional monomers AMPS, AM, and AA. To enhance their self-gelling properties, the microspheres were designed with a core–shell structure. The shell is composed of a polymeric surfactant, fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether methacrylate (AEOMA), which serves as a thermosensitive crosslinking agent, enabling self-crosslinking upon shell decomposition, addressing compatibility with reservoir pore throat dimensions. Comprehensive characterizations including infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, and laser particle size analysis were conducted. The microspheres exhibited successful synthesis, a nanoscale size, and regular spherical morphology. They demonstrated excellent temperature and salt resistance, making them suitable for high-temperature, high-salinity reservoir profile control. With a stable three-dimensional network structure, the microspheres displayed good expansion behavior due to hydrophilic groups along the polymer chains, resulting in favorable water affinity. Even after aging, the microspheres maintained their gelling state with a distinct and stable microscopic network skeleton. They exhibited superior plugging performance in low-permeability reservoirs, while effectively improving water absorption profiles in reservoirs with permeability contrasts of 10 to 80, thereby enhancing oil recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is triggered by bactericidal antibiotics, which contributes significantly to the killing of bacterial cells and increasing mutations in surviving cells. In this study, we hypothesized that exposure of Salmonella to sublethal concentrations of hypochlorite (NaOCl), a commonly used sanitizer in household and food industries increases mutation rates, leading to the development of antibiotic resistance. We found that a sublethal concentration (20 ppm) of NaOCl increased the mutation rates of S. typhimurium 14028s significantly (p < 0.05), which was prevented by the ROS scavenger thiourea, supporting that the increased mutation was due to NaOCl-triggered ROS production. We further found that the exposure of S. typhimurium 14028s to the same sublethal concentration of NaOCl increases resistance to kanamycin among the 3 antibiotics evaluated. The results of this study suggest that when NaOCl applied as a sanitizer fails to kill Salmonella due to diluted local concentrations or presence of organic materials, it can cause an adverse outcome of developing antibiotic resistance of the pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their immobility and possession of underground parts, plants have evolved various mechanisms to endure and adapt to abiotic stresses such as extreme temperatures, drought, and salinity. However, the contribution of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) to different abiotic stresses and distinct rice seedling parts remains largely uncharacterized beyond the protein-coding gene (PCG) layer. Using transcriptomics and bioinformatics methods, we systematically identified lncRNAs and characterized their expression patterns in the roots and shoots of wild type (WT) and ososca1.1 (reduced hyperosmolality-induced [Ca2+]i increase in rice) seedlings under hyperosmolarity and salt stresses. Here, 2937 candidate lncRNAs were identified in rice seedlings, with intergenic lncRNAs representing the largest category. Although the detectable sequence conservation of lncRNAs was low, we observed that lncRNAs had more orthologs within the Oryza. By comparing WT and ososca1.1, the transcription level of OsOSCA1.1-related lncRNAs in roots was greatly enhanced in the face of hyperosmolality stress. Regarding regulation mode, the co-expression network revealed connections between trans-regulated lncRNAs and their target PCGs related to OsOSCA1.1 and its mediation of hyperosmolality stress sensing. Interestingly, compared to PCGs, the expression of lncRNAs in roots was more sensitive to hyperosmolarity stress than to salt stress. Furthermore, OsOSCA1.1-related hyperosmolarity stress-responsive lncRNAs were enriched in roots, and their potential cis-regulated genes were associated with transcriptional regulation and signaling transduction. Not to be ignored, we identified a motif-conserved and hyperosmolarity stress-activated lncRNA gene (OSlncRNA), speculating on its origin and evolutionary history in Oryza. In summary, we provide a global perspective and a lncRNA resource to understand hyperosmolality stress sensing in rice roots, which helps to decode the complex molecular networks involved in plant sensing and adaptation to stressful environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization is a major abiotic stress factor that negatively impacts plant growth, development, and crop yield, severely limiting agricultural production and economic development. Cotton, a key cash crop, is commonly cultivated as a pioneer crop in regions with saline-alkali soil due to its relatively strong tolerance to salt. This characteristic renders it a valuable subject for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying plant salt tolerance and for identifying genes that confer salt tolerance. In this study, focus was placed on examining a salt-tolerant variety, E991, and a salt-sensitive variety, ZM24. A combined analysis of transcriptomic data from these cotton varieties led to the identification of potential salt stress-responsive genes within the glutathione S-transferase (GST) family. These versatile enzyme proteins, prevalent in animals, plants, and microorganisms, were demonstrated to be involved in various abiotic stress responses. Our findings indicate that suppressing GhGSTF9 in cotton led to a notably salt-sensitive phenotype, whereas heterologous overexpression in Arabidopsis plants decreases the accumulation of reactive oxygen species under salt stress, thereby enhancing salt stress tolerance. This suggests that GhGSTF9 serves as a positive regulator in cotton's response to salt stress. These results offer new target genes for developing salt-tolerant cotton varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional inland salinas in Spain and Portugal are often located in rural, isolated areas with low agricultural value, and very few have survived in coastal areas under high land use change pressure. Before the advent of efficient transportation networks, about 500 small inland and ca. 250 coastal saltworks existed there. During the 20th century, these sites were gradually abandoned in favor of industrial salt from mines or larger coastal salinas. Only a few were able to transform a productive activity into a multifunctional, services-oriented landscape. This contribution discusses the recovery and patrimonialization processes of nine inland salinas in Spain and Portugal protected as monuments, plus three other successful cases in Denmark, France, and Slovenia. With an indicator-based tool, the degree of patrimonialization of each site was quantified. In recent decades, these cultural landscapes have invested in gastronomy, wellness, tourism, and innovation, transforming a cultural landscape in decline into a living landscape for the future. The different stages in their patrimonialization process have been characterized, helping identify the hinges and tipping points at which a traditional productive activity in danger can evolve into a consolidated heritage-based successful initiative. Good practices have been detected and described. Potential pitfalls and challenges in patrimonialization were also identified, serving as early warning signs. Although focused on traditional salinas, the results of this study may help manage and preserve similar cultural landscapes in Europe. Some ideas for future management and research on productive cultural landscapes are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical impedance of dilute aqueous solutions containing extracts from five brands of canned tuna is analyzed using impedance spectroscopy in order to analyze their salt content and detect the potential presence of other salts beyond the well-stated NaCl. A complex electrical impedance is modeled with an equivalent electrical circuit, demonstrating good agreement with experimental data. This circuit accounts for the contribution of ions in the bulk solution, as well as those contributing to electrode polarization. The parameters describing the equivalent circuits, obtained through fitting data to the electrical impedance, are discussed in terms of the various ion contributions to both the electrical double layer at the electrode interface and the electrical conductivity of each solution. The ionic contribution to the electrical impedance is compared with that of a pure NaCl solution at the same concentration range. This comparison, when extended to real samples, allows for the development of a model to estimate the electrical conductivity of canned tuna samples, thereby determining the salt concentration in tuna. The model enables differentiation among the various samples of tuna studied. Subsequently, the potential presence of other ions besides Na+ and Cl− and their contribution to the electrical properties of each canned tuna extract is considered, especially for samples with a higher ratio of the sum of K+ and phosphates to Na+ concentration. This analysis shows the potential of impedance spectroscopy for on-site and rapid analysis of salt content and/or detection of additives in canned tuna fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of inoculating lactic acid bacteria (LAB), specifically Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Latilactobacillus sakei, Latilactobacillus curvatus, and Weissella hellenica on the flavor, texture, and color formation of dry sausages in which NaCl was partially substituted by 40% KCl, were explored in this study. It was found that LAB inoculation increased the presence of ketones, alcohols, acids, esters, and terpenes. It also reduced the pH, moisture, protein, and fat content, improving the b*-value, flavor, and texture of the sausages. Notably, L. sakei inoculation showed the most significant improvement in dry sausages with NaCl substitutes, especially on the reduction of bitterness. Meanwhile, there was a close positive correlation between the LAB count with the alcohols and esters formation of dry sausage with NaCl substitution (p < 0.05). These findings offer insight into improving the product characteristics of dry sausages using NaCl substitutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive salt intake, primarily from sodium chloride prevalent in modern food processing, poses a significant public health risk associated with hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Researchers worldwide are exploring approaches to reduce salt consumption without compromising food flavor. One promising method is to enhance salty taste perception using multisensory synergies, leveraging gustatory, olfactory, auditory, visual, tactile and trigeminal senses to decrease salt intake while preserving food taste. This review provides a comprehensive overview of salt usage in foods, mechanisms of salty taste perception and evaluation methods for saltiness. Various strategies for reducing salt consumption while maintaining food flavor are examined, with existing salt reduction methods' advantages and limitations being critically analyzed. A particular emphasis is placed on exploring the mechanisms and potential of multisensory synergy in salt reduction. Taste interactions, olfactory cues, auditory stimulation, visual appearance and tactile sensations in enhancing saltiness perception are discussed, offering insights into developing nutritious, appealing low-sodium foods. Furthermore, challenges in current research are highlighted, and future directions for effective salt reduction strategies to promote public health are proposed. This review aims to establish a scientific foundation for creating healthier, flavorful low-sodium food options that meet consumer preferences and wellness needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Douchi is a Chinese traditional fermented food with a unique flavor. Methyl anthranilate (MA) plays an important role in formation of this flavor. However, the complicated relationship between the MA formation and the metabolic mechanism of the key functional microorganisms remains unclear. Here, we elucidated the response mechanism of aroma production driven by high salt stress in Trichomonascus ciferrii WLW (T. ciferrii WLW), which originates from the douchi fermentation process. The highest production of MA was obtained in a 10% NaCl environment. The enhanced expression of the key enzyme genes of the pentose phosphate pathway and shikimic acid pathway directed carbon flow toward aromatic amino acid synthesis and helped sustain an increased expression of metK to synthesize a large amount of the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine, which promoted methyl anthranilate yield. This provides a theoretical basis for in-depth research on the applications of the flavor formation mechanisms of fermented foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to cleanly and efficiently extract zirconium from zircon sand (the main component is ZrSiO4), sodium hydroxide sub-molten salt was used to decompose ZrSiO4 in this study. When ZrSiO4 reacts with sodium hydroxide sub-molten salt, the formation of Na2ZrSiO5 (a water-insoluble product) considerably affects the separation efficiency of Zr and Si and increases production cost. Thus, it is necessary to control the formation of Na2ZrSiO5. The influence of NaOH content, reaction temperature, reaction time, and NaOH/ore mass ratio on the formation of Na2ZrSiO5 were systematically investigated. The optimum reaction parameters for the inhibition of Na2ZrSiO5 formation were as follows: 80% NaOH content, 245 °C reaction temperature, 4:1 NaOH/ore mass ratio, 10 h reaction time, and 400 r/min agitation speed. These results indicate that ZrSiO4 is decomposed to Na2ZrO3 and Na2SiO3 by reacting with NaOH, realizing the separation of Zr and Si, and then the reactions between Na2ZrO3 and Na2SiO3 result in the formation of Na2ZrSiO5, during the decomposition of ZrSiO4 using NaOH sub-molten salt. The sub-molten salt decomposition process can realize the clean extraction of zirconium, which is conducive to the sustainable development of zirconium resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

p-Coumaric acid (p-CA) is a phenolic compound that plays a crucial role in mediating multiple signaling pathways. It serves as a defense strategy against plant wounding and is also presumed to play a role in plant development and lignin biosynthesis. This study aimed to investigate the physiological and ionomic effect of p-CA on chia seedlings under salt stress. To this end, chia seedlings were supplemented with Nitrosol® containing 100 μM of p-CA, 100 of mM NaCI, and their combined (100 mM NaCI + 100 μM p-CA) solutions in 2-day intervals for a period of 14 days along with a control containing Nitrosol® only. The treatment of chia seedlings with 100 mM of NaCI decreased their growth parameters and the content of the majority of the essential macro-elements (K, P, Ca, and Mg), except for that of sodium (Na). The simultaneous application of p-CA and a salt stress treatment (p-CA + NaCI) alleviated the effect of salt stress on chia seedlings' shoots, and this was indicated by the increase in chia biomass. Furthermore, this combined treatment significantly enhanced the levels of the essential microelements Mg and Ca. In summary, this brief report is built on the foundational work of our previous study, which demonstrated that p-CA promotes growth in chia seedlings via activation of O2−. In this brief report, we further show that p-CA not only promotes growth but also mitigates the effects of salt stress on chia seedlings. This mitigation effect may result from the presence of Mg and Ca, which are vital nutrients involved in regulating metabolic pathways, enzyme activity, and amino acid synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress severely reduces photosynthetic efficiency, resulting in adverse effects on crop growth and yield production. Two key thylakoid membrane lipid components, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), were perturbed under salt stress. MGDG synthase 1 (MGD1) is one of the key enzymes for the synthesis of these galactolipids. To investigate the function of OsMGD1 in response to salt stress, the OsMGD1 overexpression (OE) and RNA interference (Ri) rice lines, and a wild type (WT), were used. Compared with WT, the OE lines showed higher chlorophyll content and biomass under salt stress. Besides this, the OE plants showed improved photosynthetic performance, including light absorption, energy transfer, and carbon fixation. Notably, the net photosynthetic rate and effective quantum yield of photosystem II in the OE lines increased by 27.5% and 25.8%, respectively, compared to the WT. Further analysis showed that the overexpression of OsMGD1 alleviated the negative effects of salt stress on photosynthetic membranes and oxidative defense by adjusting membrane lipid composition and fatty acid levels. In summary, OsMGD1-mediated membrane lipid remodeling enhanced salt tolerance in rice by maintaining membrane stability and optimizing photosynthetic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate-driven challenges facing Earth necessitate a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms facilitating plant resilience to environmental stressors. This review delves into the crucial role of ubiquitin-like modifiers, particularly focusing on ATG8-mediated autophagy, in bolstering plant tolerance to salt stress. Synthesising recent research, we unveil the multifaceted contributions of ATG8 to plant adaptation mechanisms amidst salt stress conditions, including stomatal regulation, photosynthetic efficiency, osmotic adjustment, and antioxidant defence. Furthermore, we elucidate the interconnectedness of autophagy with key phytohormone signalling pathways, advocating for further exploration into their molecular mechanisms. Our findings underscore the significance of understanding molecular mechanisms underlying ubiquitin-based protein degradation systems and autophagy in salt stress tolerance, offering valuable insights for designing innovative strategies to improve crop productivity and ensure global food security amidst increasing soil salinisation. By harnessing the potential of autophagy and other molecular mechanisms, we can foster sustainable agricultural practices and develop stress-tolerant crops resilient to salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]