Ethylene and Nitric Oxide Involvement in the Regulation of Fe and P Deficiency Responses in Dicotyledonous Plants

Iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) are two essential elements for plant growth. Both elements are abundant in soils but with poor availability for plants, which favor their acquisition by developing morphological and physiological responses in their roots. Although the regulation of the genes related to these responses is not totally known, ethylene (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) have been involved in the activation of both Fe-related and P-related genes. The common involvement of ET and NO suggests that they must act in conjunction with other specific signals, more closely related to each deficiency. Among the specific signals involved in the regulation of Fe- or P-related genes have been proposed Fe-peptides (or Fe ion itself) and microRNAs, like miR399 (P), moving through the phloem. These Fe- or P-related phloem signals could interact with ET/NO and confer specificity to the responses to each deficiency, avoiding the induction of the specific responses when ET/NO increase due to other nutrient deficiencies or stresses. Besides the specificity conferred by these signals, ET itself could confer specificity to the responses to Fe- or P-deficiency by acting through different signaling pathways in each case. Given the above considerations, there are preliminary results suggesting that ET could regulate different nutrient responses by acting both in conjunction with other signals and through different signaling pathways. Because of the close relationship among these two elements, a better knowledge of the physiological and molecular basis of their interaction is necessary to improve their nutrition and to avoid the problems associated with their misuse. As examples of this interaction, it is known that Fe chlorosis can be induced, under certain circumstances, by a P over- fertilization. On the other hand, Fe oxides can have a role in the immobilization of P in soils. Qualitative and quantitative assessment of the dynamic of known Fe- and P-related genes expression, selected ad hoc and involved in each of these deficiencies, would allow us to get a profound knowledge of the processes that regulate the responses to both deficiencies. The better knowledge of the regulation by ET of the responses to these deficiencies is necessary to properly understand the interactions between Fe and P. This will allow the obtention of more efficient varieties in the absorption of P and Fe, and the use of more rational management techniques for P and Fe fertilization. This will contribute to minimize the environmental impacts caused by the use of P and Fe fertilizers (Fe chelates) in agriculture and to adjust the costs for farmers, due to the high prices and/or scarcity of Fe and P fertilizers. This review aims to summarize the latest advances in the knowledge about Fe and P deficiency responses, analyzing the similarities and differences among them and considering the interactions among their main regulators, including some hormones (ethylene) and signaling substances (NO and GSNO) as well as other P- and Fe-related signals.     

On Iron Metabolism and Its Regulation

Iron is a critical metal for several vital biological processes. Most of the body’s iron is bound to hemoglobin in erythrocytes. Iron from senescent red blood cells is recycled by macrophages in the spleen, liver and bone marrow. Dietary iron is taken up by the divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) in enterocytes and transported to portal blood via ferroportin (FPN), where it is bound to transferrin and taken up by hepatocytes, macrophages and bone marrow cells via transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1). While most of the physiologically active iron is bound hemoglobin, the major storage of most iron occurs in the liver in a ferritin-bound fashion. In response to an increased iron load, hepatocytes secrete the peptide hormone hepcidin, which binds to and induces internalization and degradation of the iron transporter FPN, thus controlling the amount of iron released from the cells into the blood. This review summarizes the key mechanisms and players involved in cellular and systemic iron regulation.     

Preparation of Iron Filler-Based Photocomposites and Application in 3D Printing

The introduction of metallic fillers to polymers via the photopolymerization approach can endow the composite materials with some unique properties, but the relevant research is still scarce due to the issue of light penetration and inner filter effect. Herein, for the first time the fabrication of photocomposites based on fine iron powder (i.e., a typical kind of metallic filler) is reported in this work. The free radical polymerization of two different acrylate monomers, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate and trimethylolpropane triacrylate, is performed in the presence of iron filler under mild conditions (i.e., light emitting diode (LED)@405 nm irradiation at room temperature under air). And the real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveals remarkable photopolymerization kinetics of acrylates with high final conversions and fast polymerization rates despite the increasing contents of iron filler in the composites. Interestingly, the 3D printing technique is applied to the iron filler-based composites to produce tridimensional patterns with excellent spatial resolution. This work not only paves the way for the investigation of photocomposites based on metallic fillers through photochemical methods, but also broadens the potential application prospects.     

Use of electron microscopy on microstructure characterization of high chromium cast irons

The physical metallurgy underlying the development of cast microstructures in abrasion resistant high chromium cast irons, and their structural modification by thermal treatments is relatively complex. Structural characterisation via electron microscopy therefore has a key role to play in furthering our understanding of the phase transformations that control the microstructures and hence the service performances of these irons as wear parts. This paper shows how both scanning and especially transmission electron microscopy can provide valuable information on the nature of eutectic and secondary carbides and on the matrix structures in these irons. Particular attention is given to current characterisation research on conventionally cast 30%Cr irons that are used for applications involving corrosive wear e.g. slurry pumps and on a semi-solid cast 27%Cr iron that has a potential for applications in industry.     

扫描速度对硼铸铁气缸套表面钨极氩弧硬化效果的影响

研究了钨极氩弧扫描速度对硼铸铁表面硬化效果的影响规律。结果表明：扫描速度增加,硬化层宽度、深度减小,而硬度提高,裂纹率增大；硬化层硬度沿层深的分布是从表及里由高而低,在过渡区下降缓慢；沿层宽的分布是层中心最高,向两侧逐渐降低,直至硼铸铁基体达到最低值；在保证不出现裂纹的条件下,硬化层表面的最高硬度值可达61．4HRC,硬化层最高显微硬度值可达1156．4HV0．1；硼铸铁材料采用氩弧热源淬火时,淬硬层与基体之间过渡区明显,硬化区组织为莱氏体,过渡区为马氏体、残余奥氏体和少量石墨。     

高强度高韧性球铁曲轴的生产

研究了合金化，二次孕育，热处理工艺及圆角滚压对球铁曲轴性能的影响，经实际生产验证，此工艺可使抗拉强度超过800MPa，伸长率超过5％。     

准贝氏体铸钢正火热处理工艺的研究

研究了准贝氏体铸钢不同奥氏体温度正火对其组织与力学性能的影响 ,结果表明 ,随奥氏体化温度的提高 ,准贝氏体铸钢的强韧性改善 ,在 10 4 0℃正火 ,准贝氏体铸钢具有最佳强韧性配合。分析了高温奥氏体化正火强韧性提高的原因。     

用攀枝花钛矿和云南钛矿冶炼钛渣工业试验研究

通过磁性测量和X-射线衍射研究了Gd2(Co，Al)17化合物的结构和磁晶各向异性。当x≤4时，样品具有菱方Th2znl7型结构，x=5时，具有六方CaCu5型结构。随着Al浓度增加，晶格常数和单胞体积单调增大，而居里温度和自发磁化强度近似线性地减小；在x≥l时，观察到Co亚点阵的磁晶各向异性变号，室温易磁化方向由易面转变为易轴，且易轴各向异性场和各向异性常数随Al原子浓度增加出现极大值；基于补偿温度(65K)下自由粉末颗粒的磁化曲线，导出了亚点阵间的分子场系数和Gd-co交换耦合常数，结果表明，Al原子对Gd-Co交换耦合作用的影响较小。根据Al原子在Co亚点阵4种晶位的择优占位，分析了磁晶各向异性的演变。     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of high strength as—cast Ti—15—3 alloy

The effects of heat treatment and solidification cooling rate on the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast Ti-15-3 alloy prepared by induction skull melting method were investigated.Results show that the microstructure of as-cast Ti-15-3 alloy changes from the features of simplified and larger size of beta grains to finer grain size with increasing solidification cooling rate.After solution treatment and different ageing treatment,alpha phase precipitates in grains interior as well as in grain boundaries.Due to the modification of the precipitate phase,the tensile stength and elongation of the alloy are improved simultaneously.A good combination of the values of 1.406GPa of σb and 4.5% of δ was obtained,which will be satisfied the use of this kind of alloy in critical areas.     

高温精炼处理对铸造镍基高温合金组织与性能的影响

研究了高温精炼处理对铸造镍基高温合金组织与性能的影响.普通铸造镍基合金枝晶组织粗大,晶界碳化物呈链状分布,晶内碳化物呈草体汉字状密集分布于枝晶间,是合金塑性低的主要原因.经高温精炼处理后,合金的枝晶组织细化,晶界及枝晶间的碳化物数量减少,γ γ共晶相数量增加,晶界碳化物呈不连续质点状分布,晶内碳化物的密集程度下降,拉伸塑性和蠕变(持久)寿命得以明显提高.经1 650℃,5 min高温熔体处理后,合金室温延伸率由3.5%提高到9.2%,700℃高温塑性由2.0%提高到8.0%,900℃高温塑性由2.8%提高到9.6%,蠕变寿命由34 h提高到52 h,蠕变塑性由4.3%提高到6.11%.推荐的最佳高温精炼处理制度为1 650℃保温4 h.分析了高温精炼处理对合金液态结构、凝固组织与性能的影响机理.