Improving paste stabilities of cassava starch through molecular density after maltogenic amylase and transglucosidase.

To improve paste stability of cassava starch, including acid resistance, high-temperature shear resistance and freeze-thaw stability, cassava starch was modified by sequential maltogenic amylase and transglucosidase to form an optimally denser structure, or branched density (12.76 %), molecular density (15.17 g/mol/nm3), and the proportions of short-branched chains (41.41 % of A chains and 44.01 % of B1 chains). Viscosity stability (88.52 %) of modified starch was higher than that (64.92 %) of native starch. After acidic treatment for 1 h, the viscosity of modified starch and native starch decreased by 56.53 % and 65.70 %, respectively. Compared to native starch, modified starch had lower water loss in freeze-thaw cycles and less viscosity reduction during high-temperature and high-shear processing. So, the appropriate molecular density and denser molecule structure enhanced paste stabilities of modified starch. The outcome expands the food and non-food applications of cassava starch.

Modification of metals and ligands in two-dimensional conjugated metal-organic frameworks for CO2 electroreduction: A combined density functional theory and machine learning study.

Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a promising technology to establish an artificial carbon cycle. Two-dimensional conjugated metal-organic frameworks (2D c-MOFs) with high electrical conductivity have great potential as catalysts. Herein, we designed a range of 2D c-MOFs with different transition metal atoms and organic ligands, TMNxO4-x-HDQ (TM = Cr∼Cu, Mo, Ru∼Ag, W∼Au; x  = 0, 2, 4; HDQ = hexadipyrazinoquinoxaline), and systematically studied their catalytic performance using density functional theory (DFT). Calculation results indicated that all of TMNxO4-x-HDQ structures possess good thermodynamic and electrochemical stability. Notably, among the examined 37 MOFs, 6 catalysts outperformed the Cu(211) surface in terms of catalytic activity and product selectivity. Specifically, NiN4-HDQ emerged as an exceptional electrocatalyst for CO production in CO2RR, yielding a remarkable low limiting potential (UL) of -0.04 V. CuN4-HDQ, NiN2O2-HDQ, and PtN2O2-HDQ also exhibited high activity for HCOOH production, with UL values of -0.27, -0.29, and -0.27 V, respectively, while MnN4-HDQ, and NiO4-HDQ mainly produced CH4 with UL values of -0.58 and -0.24 V, respectively. Furthermore, these 6 catalysts efficiently suppressed the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction. Machine learning (ML) analysis revealed that the key intrinsic factors influencing CO2RR performance of these 2D c-MOFs include electron affinity (EA), electronegativity (χ), the first ionization energy (Ie), p-band center of the coordinated N/O atom (εp), the radius of metal atom (r), and d-band center (εd). Our findings may provide valuable insights for the exploration of highly active and selective CO2RR electrocatalysts.

Constructing nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots embedded in CNT supported layered (Ni0.5Co0.5)3V2O8 self-supporting film for high-performance supercapacitor.

To improve the electrochemical performance of positive electrode materials, constructing graded nanostructures is a worthwhile approach. This study successfully synthesized nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQD) modified (Ni0.5Co0.5)3V2O8 on a carbon nanotube (CNT) substrate to construct self-supporting electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors. The (Ni0.5Co0.5)3V2O8 nanosheets were successfully wrapped onto the CNT surface through a solution impregnation process, which increased the specific surface area and interlayer spacing of the material. Furthermore, the electrochemical properties of the electrode material underwent significant enhancement due to the synergistic interplay between metal ions and the numerous redox centers. The embedding of the NGQD enriched the materials with active sites and further improved its specific capacity without compromising the structure intergrity of the layer configuration. Using CNT as the substrate ensured the self-supporting nature of the electrode. Consequently, the (Ni0.5Co0.5)3V2O8/NGQD@CNT composite exhibits an ultra-high specific capacitance of 3018.2 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 and 2332 F g-1 at 10 A g-1. The asymmetric supercapacitor constructed with (Ni0.5Co0.5)3V2O8/NGQD@CNT and activated carbon (AC) presented an impressive energy density of 160.2 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 800 W kg-1. After 8000 charge-discharge cycles, the capacity retention rate was 78.5 %, with a Coulo mbic efficiency consistently above 98 %.

Optimizing photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance by rationally constructing S-scheme heterojunction to modulate the D-band center.

The research in the field of photocatalysis has progressed, with the development of heterojunctions being recognized as an effective method to improve carrier separation efficiency in light-induced processes. In this particular study, CuCo2S4 particles were attached to a new cubic CdS surface to create an S-scheme heterojunction, thus successfully addressing this issue. Specifically, owing to the higher conduction band and Fermi level of CuCo2S4 compared to CdS, they serve as the foundation and driving force for the formation of an S-scheme heterojunction. Through in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance analysis, the direction of charge transfer in the composite photocatalyst under light exposure was determined, confirming the charge transfer mechanism of the S-scheme heterojunction. By effectively constructing the S-scheme heterojunction, the d-band center of the composite photocatalyst was adjusted, reducing the energy needed for electron filling in the anti-bonding energy band, promoting the transfer of photogenerated carriers, and ultimately enhancing the photocatalytic hydrogen production. performance. After optimization, the hydrogen evolution activity of the composite photocatalyst CdS-C/CuCo2S4-3 reached 5818.9 µmol g-1h-1, which is 2.6 times higher than that of cubic CdS (2272.3 µmol g-1h-1) and 327.4 times higher than that of CuCo2S4 (17.8 µmol g-1h-1), showcasing exceptional photocatalytic activity. Electron paramagnetic resonance and in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have established a theoretical basis for designing and constructing S-scheme heterojunctions, offering a viable method for adjusting the D-band center to enhance the performance of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Exploring PtAg onto silanized biogenic silica as an electrocatalyst for H2 evolution: A combined experimental and theoretical investigation.

The task of creating a remarkably stable and effective electrochemical catalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution is arduous, primarily due to the multitude of factors that need to be taken into account for the industrial utilization of Pt. In this work, hybrid formation through in-situ reduction of Pt onto biogenic porous silica (Pt-SiO2) is tested for its use as an efficient catalyst for hydrogen production. Exceptionally high electrocatalytic activity and excellent reusability of catalysts up to 200 cycles have been demonstrated. Pt-SiO2 with low Pt content of 0.48 to 0.82 at% with active catalytic sites exhibit superior catalytic activity with a Tafel slope of 22 mV dec-1 and an overpotential of 28 mV (vs. RHE at 10 mA cm-2) as compared to the Pt wire and previously reported bare Pt-SiO2 (0.65 at% and 0.48 at% of Pt), and hybrid (Pt/Ag) structures formed onto two different biogenic porous SiO2 substrates. The best catalytic performance of the Pt1Ag3 cluster, representing a low Pt concentration, has been validated by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. Here, the high production from the Pt1Ag3 cluster is assigned to the mutual synergistic effect between Pt/Ag atoms. The Pt atoms transfer the excess charge to the nearest Ag neighbors inside the cluster, facilitating hydrogen diffusion on the activated sites. These important findings authenticate the superior hydrogen production at reduced Pt concentration on amine-functionalized biogenic porous silica.

Interfacial study and modulation of high-voltage layered cathode based all-solid-state batteries.

Employing layered materials as the cathodes for solid-state batteries (SSBs) is vital in enhancing the batteries' energy density, whereas numerous issues are present regarding the compatibilities between cathode electrode and modified solid electrolyte (ME) in this battery configuration. By investigating the electrochemical performance and interfacial properties of SSBs using various cathodes, the fundamental reason for the poor compatibility between layered cathodes, especially LiCoO2 with ME is revealed. Because of the Li(solvent)+ intercalation environments formed in the ME, the resultant weak-interacted TFSI- could be adsorbed and destabilized by Co ions on the surface. Besides, the high energy level offsets between LiCoO2 and ME lead to Li-ion transferring from the bulk electrode to the electrolyte, resulting in a pre-formed interface on the cathode particles before the electric current is applied, affects the formation of effective cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) film during electrochemical process and deteriorated overall battery performance. From this view, an interlayer is pre-added on the LiCoO2 surface through an electrostatic adsorption method, to adjust the energy level offsets between the cathode and ME, as well as isolate the direct contact of surface Co ions to TFSI-. The cycling properties of the SSB using modified LiCoO2 are greatly enhanced, and a capacity retention of 68.72 % after 100 cycles could be achieved, against 8.28 % previously, certifying the rationality of the understanding and the effectiveness of the proposed modification method. We believe this research could provide basic knowledge of the compatibility between layered cathodes and MEs, shedding light on designing more effective strategies for achieving SSBs with high energy density.

Boosting supercapacitive performance of pristine covalent organic frameworks via phenolic hydroxyl groups: A two-in-one strategy.

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are ideal electrode materials for electrochemical energy storage devices due to their unique structures and properties, and the accessibility and utilization efficiency of the redox-active sites within COFs are critical determinants of their pseudocapacitive performance. Via introducing meticulously designed phenolic hydroxyl (Ar-OH) groups with hydrogen-bond forming ability onto the imine COF skeletons, DHBD-Sb-COF exhibited improved hydrophilicity and crystallinity than the parent BD-Sb-COF, the redox-active sites (SbPh3 moieties) in COF electrodes could thus be highly accessed by aqueous electrolyte with a high active-site utilization of 93%. DHBD-Sb-COF//AC provided an excellent supercapacitive performance with an energy density of 78 Wh Kg-1 at the power density of 2553 W Kg-1 and super cycling stability, exceeding most of the previously reported pristine COF electrode-based supercapacitors. The "two-in-one" strategy of introducing hydroxyl groups onto imine COF skeletons to enhance both hydrophilicity and crystallinity provides a new avenue to improve the electrochemical performance of COF-based electrodes for high-performance supercapacitors.

γδ T-Cell Immunophenotype for the Study of Human Aging.

Flow cytometry serves as a crucial tool in immunology, allowing for the detailed analysis of immune cell populations. γδ T cells, a subset of T cells, play pivotal roles in immune surveillance and immune aging. Assessing the phenotype and functional capabilities of γδ T cells isolated from whole blood or tissue within the context of human aging yields invaluable insights into the dynamic changes affecting immune function, tissue homeostasis, susceptibility to infections, and inflammatory responses.

Effect of surface species on the alcohol-acid adsorption from FTS wastewater on graphene: A structure-capacity study.

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) wastewater retaining low-carbon alcohols and acids are organic pollutants as a limiting factor for FTS industrialization. In this work, the structure-capacity relationships between alcohol-acid adsorption and surface species on graphene were reported, shedding light into their intricate interactions. The graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were synthesized via improved Hummers method with flake graphite (G). The physicochemical properties of samples were characterized via SEM, XRD, XPS, FT-IR, and Raman. The alcohol-acid adsorption behaviors and adsorption quantities on G, GO, and rGO were measured via theoretical and experimental method. It was revealed that the presence of COOH, C=O and CO species on graphene occupy the adsorption sites and increase the interactions of water with graphene, which are unfavorable for alcohol-acid adsorption. The equilibrium adsorption quantities of alcohols and acids grow in pace with carbon number. The monolayer adsorption occurs on graphene was verified via model fitting. rGO has the highest FTS modeling wastewater adsorption quantity (110 mg/g) due to the reduction of oxygen species. These novel findings provide a foundation for the alcohol-acid wastewater treatment, as well as the design and development of high-performance carbon-based adsorbent materials.

Bone density as a risk of early loss of correction after percutaneous posterior spinal fixation for traumatic thoracolumbar fracture: a study on the usefulness of Hounsfield unit values on computed tomography scan.

PURPOSE: Vertebral Hounsfield unit values on computed tomography scan (CT values) have been found to be correlated with bone density measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We hypothesized that low preoperative CT values are risk factors for early loss of correction after percutaneous posterior spinal fixation (PPSF). This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of measuring preoperative CT values. METHODS: In total, 104 patients underwent PPSF due to traumatic thoracolumbar fracture. Among them, 53 with a range of fixation that was within two vertebrae above and below the fractured vertebra were selected. CT values were measured preoperatively from the most cephalad vertebrae on the fixed vertebrae. Vertebral wedge angle (VWA) and local kyphosis angle (LKA) were measured before and after surgery. participants were classified into progression (P) and nonprogression (NP) groups. The P group comprised patients with LKA progressing > 10° from the immediate postoperative period to 3 months postoperatively. Meanwhile, the NP group included patients without progression. RESULTS: Eight (15.1%) patients were included in the P group. The vertebral CT values were 102.2 ± 36.7 in the P group and 162.4 ± 59.7 in the NP group (p < 0.01). The pedicle CT values were 114.4 ± 45.9 in the P group and 170.8 ± 72.3 in the NP group (p < 0.05). At 2 weeks postoperatively, VWA and LKA of the P group progressed to 9.8° ± 7.0° and 10.9° ± 7.6°, respectively. CONCLUSION: CT values can predict progressive loss of correction after PPSF.

Rise and Decay of Photoluminescence in Upconverting Lanthanide-Doped Nanocrystals.

Nanocrystals (NCs) doped with lanthanides are capable of efficient photon upconversion, i.e., absorbing long-wavelength light and emitting shorter-wavelength light. The internal processes that enable upconversion are a complex network of electronic transitions within and energy transfer between dopant centers. In this work, we study the rise and decay dynamics of upconversion emission from ß-NaYF4 NCs codoped with Er3+ and Yb3+. The rise dynamics of the red and green upconverted emissions are nonlinear, reflecting the nonlinear nature of upconversion and revealing the mechanisms that populate the emitting states. The excited-state decay dynamics are nonexponential. We unravel the underlying decay pathways using photonic experiments. These reveal the contributions of different upconversion pathways visually, as each pathway exhibits a distinct response to systematic variation of the local density of optical states. Moreover, the effect of the local density of optical states on core-only NCs is qualitatively different from core-shell NCs. This is due to the different balance between feeding and decay of the electronic levels that produce upconverted emission. The understanding of the upconversion dynamics provided here could lead to better imaging and sensing methods relying on upconversion lifetimes or guide the rational optimization of the dopant concentrations for brighter upconversion.

Oxidation-induced graded bandgap narrowing in Two-dimensional tin sulfide for high-sensitivity broadband photodetection.

Two-dimensional (2D) layered group-IV monochalcogenides with large surface-to-volume ratio and high surface activity make that their structural and optoelectronic properties are sensitive to air oxidation. Here, we report the utilization of oxidation-induced gradient doping to modulate electronic structures and optoelectronic properties of 2D group-IV monochalcogenides by using SnS nanoplates grown by physical vapor deposition as a model system. By a precise control of oxidation time and temperature, the structural transition from SnS to SnSOx could be driven by the layer-by-layer oxygen doping and intercalation. The resulting SnSOx with a graded narrowing bandgap exhibits the enhanced optical absorption and photocurrent, leading to the fabricated SnSOx photodetector with remarkable photoresponsivity and fast response speed (<64 µs) at a broadband spectrum range of 520-1550 nm. The peak responsivity (7294 A/W) and detectivity (9.54 × 109 Jones) of SnSOx device are at least two orders of magnitude larger than those of SnS photodetector. Moreover, its photodetection performance can be competed with state-of-the-art of 2D materials-based photodetectors. This work suggests that the air oxidation could be utilized as an efficient strategy to engineer the electronic and optical properties of SnS and other 2D group-IV monochalcogenides for the development of high-performance broadband photodetectors.

Content-based clustering of hallucinations across sensory modalities in a large online survey.

Hallucinations can have rather heterogeneous aetiology and presentation. This inspired the concept of different subtypes based on symptom profiles, especially in the field of auditory hallucinations. As many people experience hallucinations in more than one sensory modality, it seems important to investigate potential hallucination subtypes across different sensory modalities. We assessed the content of hallucinations as part of a large survey among the general Dutch population (n = 10,448) using the Questionnaire for Psychotic Experiences. Based on their descriptions, thematic categories were created in a data-driven cluster analysis. 2594 participants who experienced hallucinations over the past week that contained at least 2 different thematic categories were selected. Clustering of their hallucination content was performed with the HDBSCAN method. We identified 4 clusters, i.e., subtypes, which can be typified as 1. hallucinations of foul odors, 2. complex visual scenes, 3. a vast variety of rather common hallucinations possibly related to heightened alertness, and 4. possibly bereavement hallucinations. The bereavement subtype showed an increase in emotional loneliness and the presence of delusions. Our findings suggest that the content of hallucinations can be informative, especially when investigated across sensory modalities. Such subtypes may help to better understand their underlying mechanisms.

Spatiotemporal evolution and driving factors of the coupling coordination of the population‒land‒water‒industry system in the lower Yellow River.

Exploring the interaction and coupling effects within the population‒land‒water‒industry (PLWI) system is conducive to promoting high-quality regional sustainable development. Taking the lower Yellow River during the period from 2000 to 2020 as a research sample, this study used the entropy weight TOPSIS method, the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model and kernel density estimation to synthetically evaluate the CCD of the PLWI system. The GeoDetector model was applied to explore the factors influencing the CCD of the PLWI system considering the nonlinear relationship. The major results can be summarized as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the comprehensive development index (CDI) of the population, land, water and industry subsystems followed a gradual upward trend in the lower Yellow River, increasing by 0.293, 0.033, 0.111 and 0.369, respectively. However, the CDI of the land subsystem varied greatly between regions. Some cities, such as Jinan, Jining and Binzhou, experienced large declines in the CDI of the land subsystem, from 0.433, 0.534 and 0.572 to 0.358, 0.481 and 0.522, respectively. (2) The CCD of the PLWI system in the lower Yellow River showed an upward trend, increasing from 0.481 to 0.678, and became more concentrated during 2000-2020. Most of the region transitioned from near disorder to primary coordination. (3) Factors such as number of health technicians per 10,000 people, average salary, number of college students per 10,000 people, per capita GDP and per capita education expenditure were critical to the coordinated development of the PLWI system, the explanatory powers were 0.644, 0.639, 0.610, 0.498 and 0.455, respectively. Finally, this study proposed three policy recommendations to improve coupling coordination in the lower Yellow River Basin: Improving population quality, promoting green technology and rational land planning.

Electronic, optical, and thermoelectric behaviour of KCuX (X = S, Se, Te) monolayers.

In the past few decades, two-dimensional (2-D) materials gained huge deliberation due to their outstanding electronic and heat transport properties. These materials have effective applications in many areas such as photodetectors, battery electrodes, thermoelectrics, etc. In this work, we have calculated structural, electronic, optical, and thermoelectric properties of KCuX (X = S, Se, Te) monolayers (MLs) with the help of first-principles-based calculations and semi-classical Boltz- mann transport equation (BTE). The phonon dispersion calculations demonstrate the dynamical stability of the KCuX (X = S, Se, Te) MLs. Our results show that the monolayers of KCuX (X = S, Se, Te) are semiconductors with band gaps of 0.193 eV, 0.26 eV, and 1.001 eV respectively, and therefore they are suitable for photovoltaic applications. The optical analysis illustrates that the maximum absorption peaks of the KCuX (X = S, Se, Te) MLs are located in visible and ultraviolet (UV) regions, which may serve as a promising candidate for designing advanced optoelectronic devices. Furthermore, thermoelectric properties of the KCuS and KCuSe MLs, including See- beck coefficient, electrical conductivity, electronic thermal conductivity, power factor, and figure of merit, are calculated at different temperatures 300 K, 600 K, and 800 K. Additionally, we also focus on the analysis of Gru ̈neisen parameter and various scattering rates to further explain their ultra-low thermal conductivity. Our results show that KCuS and KCuSe possess ultra-low lattice thermal conductivity value of 0.15 Wm-1K-1 and 0.06 Wm-1K-1 respectively, which is lower than those of recently reported KAgSe (0.26 Wm-1K-1 at 300 K) and TlCuSe (0.44 Wm-1K-1 at 300 K), indicating towards the large value of ZT. These materials are found to possess desirable thermoelectric and optical properties, making them suitable candidates for efficient thermoelectric and optoelectronic device applications.

Utility of Radiographic Parameter in Assessing Bone Density and Subsequent Fractures in Patients With Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of radiological parameter canal bone ratio (CBR) to assess bone mineral density and to differentiate between patients with primary and multiple osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on OVCF patients treated at our hospital. CBR was measured through full-spine x-rays. Patients were categorized into primary and multiple fracture groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and area under the curve (AUC) calculation were used to assess the ability of parameters to predict osteoporosis and multiple fractures. Predictors of T values were analyzed by multiple linear regression, and independent risk factors for multiple fractures were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: CBR showed a moderate negative correlation with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry T values (r = -0.642, p < 0.01). Higher CBR (odds ratio [OR], -6.483; 95% confidence interval [CI], -8.234 to -4.732; p < 0.01) and lower body mass index (OR, 0.054; 95% CI, 0.023-0.086; p < 0.01) were independent risk factors for osteoporosis. Patients with multiple fractures had lower T values (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: -3.76 ± 0.73 vs. -2.83 ± 0.75, p < 0.01) and higher CBR (mean ± SD: 0.54 ± 0.07 vs. 0.46 ± 0.06, p < 0.01). CBR had an AUC of 0.819 in predicting multiple fractures with a threshold of 0.53. T values prediction had an AUC of 0.816 with a threshold of -3.45. CBR > 0.53 was an independent risk factor for multiple fractures (OR, 14.66; 95% CI, 4.97-43.22; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: CBR is negatively correlated with bone mineral density (BMD) and can be a novel opportunistic BMD assessment method. It is a simple and effective measurement index for predicting multiple fractures, with predictive performance not inferior to T values.

Osteoprotective effect of Achyranthes bidentata root extract on osteoporotic rats: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Achyranthes bidentata Blume (ABB), a plant of Amaranthaceae family, has been one of the more commonly used phytomedicine remedies for thousands of years, and recent studies have highlighted the efficacy of its extracts in the treatment of osteoporosis. Nonetheless, a thorough analysis of its benefits is currently absent. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis assessed the effects of ABB root extract (ABBRE) on osteoporotic rats and provides a rationale for future clinical studies. METHODS: Searches were conducted in seven different Chinese and English databases, and the search period was from their establishment to January 2024. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023418917). Selected research regarding the ABBRE treatment of osteoporotic rats, and the corresponding research has distinctly reported outcomes, and the data on the bone mineral density (BMD), bone histomorphometrics, biomechanical parameters, and bone biochemical markers of osteoporotic rats can be extracted. RESULTS: Through screening, 11 studies met the eligibility requirements for inclusion, in which 222 animals were studied. The treatment group with ABBRE exhibited increased bone mineral density (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.64, 95% CI = 0.52 to 2.77). Based on subgroup analysis, the greatest increase in bone mineral density was observed when the dose of ABBRE was ≤ 400 mg/kg/day and the duration of treatment was ≤ 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: ABBRE is a phytomedicine that can effectively promote the enhancement of bone mineral density and ease osteoporosis. It can be developed into a new alternative therapy by conducting experiments and clinical studies on larger samples.

Synergetic light and cytokinin treatments mitigate the recombinant protein yield depression induced by high-density cultivation of hydroponically-grown Nicotiana benthamiana.

Plant molecular farming is currently operating a transition from soil-based cultures toward hydroponic systems. In this study, we designed a whole-plant NFT (nutrient film technique) platform for the transient expression of influenza virus-like particles harboring hemagglutinin H1 proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana. In particular, we examined the effects of plant density during the post-infiltration expression phase on plant growth and H1 yield in relation to the daily light integral (DLI) received by the crop and the exogenous application of 6-BAP cytokinin (CK). We expected from previous work that high DLI and CK treatments would stimulate the development of highly productive leaves on axillary (secondary) stems and thereby improve the H1 yield at the whole-plant scale. Increasing plant density from 35.7 to 61 plants m-2 during the post-infiltration phase significantly decreased the proportion of axillary leaf biomass by 30% and H1 yield per plant by 39%, resulting in no additional yield gain on a whole-crop area basis. Adding CK to the recirculated nutrient solution decreased the harvested leaf biomass by 31% and did not enhance the relative proportion of S leaves of the plants as previously reported with foliar CK application. There was a 36% increase in H1 yield when doubling the DLI from 14 to 28 mol m-2 s-1, and up to 71% yield gain when combining such an increase in DLI with the hydroponic CK treatment. Contrary to our expectations, leaves located on the main stem, particularly those from the upper half of the plant (i.e., eighth leaf and above), contributed about 80% of total H1 yield. Our study highlights the significantly different phenotype (~30% less secondary leaf biomass) and divergent responses to light and CK treatments of NFT-grown N. benthamiana plants compared to previous studies conducted on potted plants.

Performance of yellow and pink oyster mushroom dyes in dye sensitized solar cell.

A solar photovoltaic (PV) cell, is an electrical device that uses the PV effect to convert light energy into electricity. The application of oyster mushroom dyes in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a novel strategy to substitute the costly chemical production process with easily extractable, environmentally acceptable dyes. Both dyes of yellow and pink oyster mushrooms were extracted using the same process but dried into powder form using two techniques, warm drying and freeze drying. The characterization was carried out utilizing current-voltage (I-V) characterization for electrical properties, Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer for optical properties, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for the structural properties. It was found that freeze-dried pink and yellow oyster mushroom had shown the good properties for DSSC application as it produced energy bandgap which lies within the range of efficient dye sensitizer; 1.7 eV and 2.2 eV, the most uniform distribution of pores and a nearly spherical form in FESEM analysis, and AFM result obtained with the highest root mean square (RMS) roughness value (26.922 and 34.033) with stereoscopic morphologies. The data proved that mushroom dyes can be incorporated in DSSC with the optimization of drying method in the extraction process, dilution of dye and the layer of deposition on the glass substrate. The current density-voltage (J-V) characteristics of fabricated DSSC was characterized using Newport Oriel Sol3A solar simulator under AM 1.5 Sun condition (100 mW/cm2, 25 oC). From the result obtained by solar simulator, the fabricated FTO/TiO2/Pleurotus djamor dye/Pt indicated the Voc of 0.499 V and Jsc of 0.397 mA/cm2.

Comparison of snack characteristics by diet quality findings from a nationally representative study of Australian adolescents.

Snacking is a common dietary behaviour among adolescents contributing to more than one quarter of their total energy intake; however, the relationship between snacks and diet quality remains unclear. Hence, this study aimed to examine the characteristics of snacks among adolescents with different levels of diet quality. Dietary data collected from a nationally representative sample of Australian adolescents (12-18 years old, n = 935) using one 24-hour dietary recall in the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey were analysed. Snacks were defined based on participant-identified eating occasions, and diet quality was assessed using the Dietary Guideline Index for Children and Adolescents (DGI-CA). Marginal means and proportion of snack characteristics including snack frequency, snack energy density (ED), and commonly consumed foods at snack from the five food groups and discretionary foods at snack across DGI-CA tertiles (highest tertile indicating high guideline adherence) were estimated for both boys and girls using linear regression and logistic regression. Differences in means were tested using the F-test. The results showed no significant differences in the mean frequency of snacks across tertiles of DGI-CA scores. The mean ED of snacks decreased as DGI-CA scores increased in both boys (lowest tertile = 8.4, 95% CI [7.1, 10.0] kJ/g, highest tertile = 6.3 [5.4, 7.4] kJ/g) and girls (lowest tertile = 9.0 [7.8, 10.3] kJ/g, highest tertile = 5.9 [5.1, 6.9] kJ/g). As diet quality improved, the proportion of adolescents consuming discretionary (i.e., unhealthy) foods and foods from the five food group foods as snacks decreased and increased, respectively. In conclusion, adolescents with higher diet quality consumed snacks with a lower ED while lower proportion of them consume discretionary foods, and higher proportion of them consume from the five food groups. Encouraging the consumption of foods from the five food groups with lower ED as snacks presents an opportunity to enhance adolescent diet quality.