Stem Photosynthesis—A Key Element of Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) Acclimatisation to Salinity

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is a leguminous plant of outstanding tolerance to abiotic stress. The aim of the presented study was to describe the mechanism of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) photosynthetic apparatus acclimatisation strategies to salinity stress. The seedlings were cultivated in a hydroponic system in media containing various concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, and 100 mM), imitating none, moderate, and severe salinity, respectively, for three weeks. In order to characterise the function and structure of the photosynthetic apparatus, Chl a fluorescence, gas exchange measurements, proteome analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis were done inter alia. Significant differences in the response of the leaf and stem photosynthetic apparatus to severe salt stress were observed. Leaves became the place of harmful ion (Na⁺) accumulation, and the efficiency of their carboxylation decreased sharply. In turn, in stems, the reconstruction of the photosynthetic apparatus (antenna and photosystem complexes) activated alternative electron transport pathways, leading to effective ATP synthesis, which is required for the efficient translocation of Na⁺ to leaves. These changes enabled efficient stem carboxylation and made them the main source of assimilates. The observed changes indicate the high plasticity of grass pea photosynthetic apparatus, providing an effective mechanism of tolerance to salinity stress.     

Fire safe,sustainable loose furnishing

The aim of this exploratory study has been to investigate the fire properties and environmental aspects of different upholstery material combinations, mainly for domestic applications. An analysis of the sustainability and circularity of selected textiles, along with lifecycle assessment, is used to qualitatively evaluate materials from an environmental perspective. The cone calorimeter was the primary tool used to screen 20 different material combinations from a fire performance perspective. It was found that textile covers of conventional fibres such as wool, cotton and polyester, can be improved by blending them with fire resistant speciality fibres. A new three‐dimensional web structure has been examined as an alternative padding material, showing preliminary promising fire properties with regard to ignition time, heat release rates and smoke production.     

Effect of complexation of oxidised corn starch with mineral elements on physicochemical properties

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of complexation of oxidised starch with mineral elements on its physicochemical properties. Corn starch was oxidised with sodium hypochlorite and, afterwards, modified with ions of potassium, magnesium and iron. Thus, native and modified starches were analysed for: contents of mineral elements, colour parameters (L*a*b*), water binding capacity and solubility in water at temperature of 60 and 80 °C. Thermodynamic characteristics of gelatinisation by DSC, molecular weight distribution by GPC, intrinsic viscosity and pasting properties by RVA were studied. The efficiency of incorporation of metal ions into oxidised corn starch was about 30%, 20% and 20% for potassium, magnesium and iron ions, respectively. The complexation with potassium ions caused the greatest changes in the molecular weight distribution and the intrinsic viscosity of starches and viscosity of starch pastes. Only modification of starch with iron ions affected the colour parameters of the starch. Incorporation of metal ions into starch resulted also in changes in its water binding capacity and solubility in water.     

The influence of sonication time on the biogenic amines formation as a critical point in uncured dry-fermented beef manufacturing

In this study, the influence of sonication time on the biogenic amines formation as a critical point in uncured dry-fermented beef manufacturing was studied. Samples of musculus semimembranosus were sonicated at different times (5 and 10 min) using ultrasound cold bath (4 °C) in acid whey (US 40 kHz and acoustic power 480 W). The effect of sonication on biogenic amine (BA) formation was investigated during 93 days of ripening period. Other parameters (pH value, water activity, microbial counts) that might provide further information on the product under study were also determined. The use of ultrasound during beef marinating in acid whey has a positive effect on retarding histamine (HIS), cadaverine (CAD), tyramine (TYR) and putrescine (PUT) formation. Moreover, the sonication treatment did not inhibit the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in dry-fermented beef during the whole ripening period. The pathogen bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium sp., Listeria monocytogenes) were not detected in all samples neither after 31 nor after 93 days of ripening period.     

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in children

The authors presented the cases of two children with inflammatory myofibroblastic (IMF) tumor and reviewed the literature to facilitate the preoperative recognition, delineate the clinical features, and describe the natural history of this entity. The first child had IMF tumor arising from the mesentery of the small intestine. He presented with an abdominal mass associated with severe inflammatory response manifested by fever, impaired growth, thrombocytosis, and microcytic, hypochromic anemia. After surgical resection, his fever resolved and his growth rate and the laboratory abnormalities normalized. Five months after initial diagnosis, the fever, anemia, and thrombocytosis recurred along with two tumors arising from the omentum and the abdominal soft tissue. After the second surgery, he remains free of recurrent disease for 30 months. The second child presented with a lung mass that was radiologically indistinguishable from pulmonary sequestration. After surgical resection, she remains free of recurrent disease for 18 months. IMF tumor should be considered in any solid tumor that occurs in association with a chronic inflammatory response. IMF tumor should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration.     

LEICA: a low energy ion composition analyzer for the study of solarand magnetospheric heavy ions

The SAMPEX (Solar, Anomalous, and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer) LEICA instrument is designed to measure ~0.5-5-MeV/nucleon solar and magnetospheric ions over the range from He-Ni. The instrument is a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer, which measures particle TOF over an ~0.5-m path and the residual energy deposited in an array of Si solid state detectors. Large-area microchannel plates are used, resulting in a large geometrical factor for the instrument (0.6 cm² sr), which is essential for accurate compositional measurements in small solar flares and in studies of precipitating magnetospheric heavy ions     

Characterization of rectangular waveguide with a pseudochiral /spl Omega/ slab

A mode matching approach has been employed for evaluating the matrix S of the section of rectangular waveguide with pseudochiral /spl Omega/ slab. Scattering characteristics for different localizations of the /spl Omega/ slab in the guide are predicted numerically and verified by measurements. Based on the numerical analysis, the scattering properties of the guides are discussed. Scattering parameters are next applied in an optimization procedure to extract constitutive parameters of the /spl Omega/ slab used in experiment.     

Formation of Self-Assembled Sidewall Nanowires on Shallow Patterned GaAs (100)

The formation of "sidewall nanowires" on shallow patterned mesa strips with a modulation depth of only 35 nm on GaAs (100) was demonstrated using molecular beam epitaxy. While self-assembled GaAs sidewall nanowire formation is observed near mesa strips running along [011], relatively thinner AlAs/GaAs layers are formed on identical mesa strips running along [01-1]. Cross-sectional atomic force microscopy (XAFM) on (011) and (01-1) and AFM on (100) are used to understand the formation of the different morphology of the nanostructures, depending on the direction of the mesas. The data indicates that anisotropic surface diffusion of adatoms, resulting from the characteristic (2times4) GaAs (100) surface reconstruction, is responsible for the sidewall nanowire formation and for the different morphology observed along different directions