AcEXPA1, an α-expansin gene, participates in the aluminum tolerance of carpetgrass (Axonopus compressus) through root growth regulation.

KEY MESSAGE: AcEXPA1, an aluminum (Al)-inducible expansin gene, is demonstrated to be involved in carpetgrass (Axonopus compressus) root elongation under Al toxicity through analyzing composite carpetgrass plants overexpressing AcEXPA1. Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a major mineral toxicity that limits plant productivity in acidic soils by inhibiting root growth. Carpetgrass (Axonopus compressus), a dominant warm-season turfgrass widely grown in acidic tropical soils, exhibits superior adaptability to Al toxicity. However, the mechanisms underlying its Al tolerance are largely unclear, and knowledge of the functional genes involved in Al detoxification in this turfgrass is limited. In this study, phenotypic variation in Al tolerance, as indicated by relative root elongation, was observed among seventeen carpetgrass genotypes. Al-responsive genes related to cell wall modification were identified in the roots of the Al-tolerant genotype 'A58' via transcriptome analysis. Among them, a gene encoding α-expansin was cloned and designated AcEXPA1 for functional characterization. Observed Al dose effects and temporal responses revealed that Al induced AcEXPA1 expression in carpetgrass roots. Subsequently, an efficient and convenient Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation method was established to generate composite carpetgrass plants with transgenic hairy roots for investigating AcEXPA1 involvement in carpetgrass root growth under Al toxicity. AcEXPA1 was successfully overexpressed in the transgenic hairy roots, and AcEXPA1 overexpression enhanced Al tolerance in composite carpetgrass plants through a decrease in Al-induced root growth inhibition. Taken together, these findings suggest that AcEXPA1 contributes to Al tolerance in carpetgrass via root growth regulation.

Seasonal studies of aquatic humic substances from Amazon rivers: characterization and interaction with Cu (II), Fe (II), and Al (III) using EEM-PARAFAC and 2D FTIR correlation analyses.

Aquatic humic substances (AHS) are defined as an important components of organic matter, being composed as small molecules in a supramolecular structure and can interact with metallic ions, thereby altering the bioavailability of these species. To better understand this behavior, AHS were extracted and characterized from Negro River, located near Manaus city and Carú River, that is situated in Itacoatiara city, an area experiencing increasing anthropogenic actions; both were characterized as blackwater rivers. The AHS were characterized by 13C nuclear magnetic ressonance and thermochemolysis GC-MS to obtain structural characteristics. Interaction studies with Cu (II), Al (III), and Fe (III) were investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy applied to parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (2D-COS FTIR). The AHS from dry season had more aromatic fractions not derived from lignin and had higher content of alkyls moities from microbial sources and vegetal tissues of autochthonous origin, while AHS isolated in the rainy season showed more metals in its molecular architecture, lignin units, and polysacharide structures. The study showed that AHS composition from rainy season were able to interact with Al (III), Fe (III), and Cu (II). Two fluorescent components were identified as responsible for interaction: C1 (blue-shifted) and C2 (red-shifted). C1 showed higher complexation capacities but with lower complexation stability constants (KML ranged from 0.3 to 7.9 × 105) than C2 (KML ranged from 3.1 to 10.0 × 105). 2D-COS FTIR showed that the COO- and C-O in phenolic were the most important functional groups for interaction with studied metallic ions.

Exogenous silicon induces aluminum tolerance in white clover (Trifolium repens) by reducing aluminum uptake and enhancing organic acid secretion.

Excessive aluminum (Al) in acidic soils is a primary factor that hinders plant growth. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect and physiological mechanism of exogenous silicon (Si) in alleviating aluminum toxicity. Under hydroponic conditions, 4 mM Al significantly impeded the growth of white clover; however, pretreatments with 1 mM Si mitigated this inhibition, as evidenced by notable changes in growth indicators and physiological parameters. Exogenous silicon notably increased both shoot and root length of white clover and significantly decreased electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content compared to aluminum treatments. This positive effect was particularly evident in the roots. Further analysis involving hematoxylin staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and examination of organic acids (OAs) demonstrated that silicon relieved the accumulation of bioactive aluminum and ameliorated damage to root tissues in aluminum-stressed plants. Additionally, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis revealed that additional silicon was primarily distributed in the root epidermal and cortical layers, effectively reducing the transport of aluminum and maintaining the balance of exchangeable cations absorption. These findings suggest that gradual silicon deposition in root tissues effectively prevents the absorption of biologically active aluminum, thereby reducing the risk of mineral nutrient deficiencies induced by aluminum stress, promoting organic acids exudation, and compartmentalizing aluminum in the outer layer of root tissues. This mechanism helps white clover alleviate the damage caused by aluminum toxicity.

Genome-wide characterization, transcriptome profiling, and functional analysis of the ALMT gene family in Medicago for aluminum resistance.

Aluminum (Al) is the major limiting factor affecting plant productivity in acidic soils. Al3+ ions exhibit increased solubility at a pH below 5, leading to plant root tip toxicity. Alternatively, plants can perceive very low concentrations of Al3+, and Al triggers downstream signaling even at pH 5.7 without causing Al toxicity. The ALUMINUM-ACTIVATED-MALATE-TRANSPORTER (ALMT) family members act as anion channels, with some regulating the secretion of malate from root apices to chelate Al, which is a crucial mechanism for plant Al resistance. To date, the role of the ALMT gene family within the legume Medicago species has not been fully characterized. In this study, we investigated the ALMT gene family in M. sativa and M. truncatula and identified 68 MsALMTs and 18 MtALMTs, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis classified these genes into five clades, and synteny analysis uncovered genuine paralogs and orthologs. The real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that MtALMT8, MtALMT9, and MtALMT15 in clade 2-2b are expressed in both roots and root nodules, and MtALMT8 and MtALMT9 are significantly upregulated by Al in root tips. We also observed that MtALMT8 and MtALMT9 can partially restore the Al sensitivity of Atalmt1 in Arabidopsis. Moreover, transcriptome analysis examined the expression patterns of these genes in M. sativa in response to Al at both pH 5.7 and pH 4.6, as well as to protons, and found that Al and protons can independently induce some Al-resistance genes. Overall, our findings indicate that MtALMT8 and MtALMT9 may play a role in Al resistance, and highlight the resemblance between the ALMT genes in Medicago species and those in Arabidopsis.

Microhardness and elemental analysis of ion-releasing restoration/ dentin interface following enzymatic chemomechanical caries excavation.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to compare chemical, elemental and surface properties of sound and carious dentin after application of two restorative materials resin-modified glassionomer claimed to be bioactive and glass hybrid restorative material after enzymatic chemomechanical caries removal (CMCR) agent. METHODS: Forty carious and twenty non-carious human permanent molars were used. Molars were randomly distributed into three main groups: Group 1 (negative control) - sound molars, Group 2 (positive control) - molars were left without caries removal and Group 3 (Test Group) caries excavated with enzymatic based CMCR agent. After caries excavation and restoration application, all specimens were prepared Vickers microhardness test (VHN), for elemental analysis using Energy Dispersive Xray (EDX) mapping and finally chemical analysis using Micro-Raman microscopy. RESULTS: Vickers microhardness values of dentin with the claimed bioactive GIC specimens was statistically higher than with glass hybrid GIC specimens. EDX analysis at the junction estimated: Calcium and Phosphorus of the glass hybrid GIC showed insignificantly higher mean valued than that of the bioactive GIC. Silica and Aluminum mean values at the junction were significantly higher with bioactive GIC specimens than glass hybrid GIC specimen. Micro-raman spectroscopy revealed that bioactive GIC specimens showed higher frequencies of v 1 PO 4, which indicated high level of remineralization. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that ion-releasing bioactive resin-based restorative material had increased the microhardness and remineralization rate of carries affected and sound dentin. In addition, enzymatic caries excavation with papain-based CMCR agent has no adverse effect on dentin substrate.

Genome wide identification and expression profiling of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters gene family in lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) under aluminium stress condition.

Adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporters (ABC transporters) are involved in regulating plant growth, development and tolerance to environmental stresses. In this study, a total of 138 ABC transporter genes were identified in the lentil genome that were classified into eight subfamilies. Four lentil ABC transporters from subfamily B and I were clustered together with the previously characterized ABC transporter proteins related to aluminium (Al) detoxification. Lentil ABC transporter genes were distributed across the chromosomes. Tandem duplication was the main driving force for expansion of the ABC gene family. Collinearity of lentil with soybean indicated that ABC gene family is closely linked to Glycine max. ABC genes in the same subfamily showed similar gene structure and conserved motifs. The ABC promoter regions harboured a large number of plant hormones and multiple stress responsive cis-regulatory elements. The qRT-PCR showed that ABC genes had varied expression in roots of lentil at different time points under Al stress. This is the first report on genome wide identification and expression analyses of genes encoding ABC transporter genes in lentil which has provided in-depth insight for future research on evolution and elucidation of molecular mechanisms for aluminium tolerance.

Low levels of Al stimulate the aboveground growth of Davidia involucrata saplings.

Davidia involucrata is a woody perennial and the only living species in the Genus Davidia. It is native to southern China where it holds cultural and scientific importance. However, D. involucrata is now an endangered species and its natural range includes low pH soils which are increasingly impacted by acid rain, nitrogen deposition and imbalanced nutrient cycling. The combination of these stresses also poses the additional risk of aluminum (Al) toxicity. Since the responses of D. involucrata to low pH and aluminum toxicity have not been investigated previously, a hydroponic experiment was conducted to examine the growth of one year old D. involucrata saplings after 50 d growth in a range of pH and Al conditions. Plant biomass, morphology, antioxidant enzyme activity, mineral concentrations and plant ecological strategy were compared at pH 5.8 and pH 4.0 without added Al (AlCl3) and in 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 mM Al at pH 4.0. Our results showed that compared with pH 5.8, pH 4.0 (without added Al) not only inhibited root and shoot growth but also limited accumulation of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in leaves of D. involucrate. However, low Al concentrations (0.1 and 0.2 mM Al) at pH 4.0 partially restored the aboveground growth and leaf N concentrations, suggesting an alleviation of H+ toxicity by low Al concentrations. Compared with low Al concentrations, 0.5 mM Al treatment decreased plant growth and concentrations of N, P, and magnesium (Mg) in the leaves, which demonstrated the toxicity of high Al concentration. The results based on plant ecological strategy showed that D. involucrate decreased the competitiveness and favored its stress tolerance as pH changed from 5.8 to 4.0. Meanwhile, the competitiveness and stress tolerance of D. involucrata increased and decreased at low Al concentrations, respectively, and decreased and increased at high Al concentration, respectively. These trade-offs in ecological strategy were consistent with the responses of growth and antioxidant enzyme activity, reflecting a sensitive adaptation of D. involucrata to acid and Al stresses, which may aid in sustaining population dynamics. These findings are meaningful for understanding the population dynamics of D. involucrata in response to aluminum toxicity in acid soils.

Evaluating optimal quality assurance and quality control conditions of activation measurements at the accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy system employing a lithium target.

Evaluating neutron output is important to ensure proper dose delivery for patients in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). It requires efficient quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) while maintaining measurement accuracy. This study investigated the optimal measurement conditions for QA/QC of activation measurements using a high-purity germanium (HP-Ge) detector in an accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (AB-BNCT) system employing a lithium target. The QA/QC uncertainty of the activation measurement was evaluated based on counts, reproducibility, and standard radiation source uncertainties. Measurements in a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) cylindrical phantom using aluminum-manganese (Al-Mn) foils and aluminum-gold (Al-Au) foils and measurements in a water phantom using gold wire with and without cadmium cover were performed to determine the optimal measurement conditions. The QA/QC uncertainties of the activation measurements were 4.5% for Au and 4.6% for Mn. The optimum irradiation proton charge and measurement time were determined to be 36 C and 900 s for measurements in a PMMA cylindrical phantom, 7.0 C and 900 s for gold wire measurements in a water phantom, and 54 C and 900 s at 0-2.2 cm depth and 3,600 s at deeper depths for gold wire measurements with cadmium cover. Our results serve as a reference for determining measurement conditions when performing QA/QC of activation measurements using HP-Ge detectors at an AB-BNCT employing a lithium target.

Selective preparation of lithium carbonate from overhaul slag by high temperature sulfuric acid roasting - Water leaching.

An efficient recycling process is developed to recover valuable materials from overhaul slag and reduce its harm to the ecological environment. The high temperature sulfuric acid roasting - water leaching technology is innovatively proposed to prepare Li2CO3 from overhaul slag. Under roasting conditions, fluorine volatilizes into the flue gas with HF, lithium is transformed into NaLi(SO4), aluminum is firstly transformed into NaAl(SO4)2, and then decomposed into Al2O3, so as to selective extraction of lithium. Under the optimal roasting - leaching conditions, the leaching rate of lithium and aluminum are 95.6% and 0.9%, respectively. Then the processes of impurity removal, and settling lithium are carried out. The Li2CO3 with recovery rate of 72.6% and purity of 98.6% could be obtained under the best settling lithium conditions. Compared with the traditional process, this work has short flow, high controllability, remarkable technical, economic, and environmental benefits. This comprehensive recycling technology is suitable for overhaul slag, and has great practical application potential for the disposal of other hazardous wastes in electrolytic aluminum industry.

Resource utilization of drinking water treatment aluminum sludge in green cementing materials: Hydration characteristics and hydration kinetics.

As a byproduct of water treatment, drinking water treatment aluminum sludge (DWTAS) has challenges related to imperfect treatment and disposal, which has caused potential harm to human health and the environment. In this paper, heat treatment DWTAS as a supplement cementitious material was used to prepare a green cementing material. The results show that the 800°C is considered as the optimum heat treatment temperature for DWTAS. DWTAS-800°C is fully activated after thermal decomposition to form incompletely crystallized highly active γ-Al2O3 and active SiO2. The addition of DWTAS promoted the formation of ettringite and C-(A)-S-H gel, which could make up for the low early compressive strength of cementing materials to a certain extent. When cured for 90 days, the compressive strength of the mortar with 30% DWTAS-800°C reached 44.86 MPa. The dynamic process was well simulated by Krstulovic-Dabic hydration kinetics model. This study provided a methodology for the fabrication of environmentally friendly and cost-effective compound cementitious materials and proposed a "waste-to-resource" strategy for the sustainable management of typical solid wastes.

Inertia of Technology Stocks: A Technology-Explicit Model for the Transition toward a Low-Carbon Global Aluminum Cycle.

Low-carbon technologies are essential for the aluminum industry to meet its climate targets despite increasing demand. However, the penetration of these technologies is often delayed due to the long lifetimes of the industrial assets currently in use. Existing models and scenarios for the aluminum sector omit this inertia and therefore potentially overestimate the realistic mitigation potential. Here, we introduce a technology-explicit dynamic material flow model for the global primary (smelters) and secondary (melting furnaces) aluminum production capacities. In business-as-usual scenarios, we project emissions from smelters and melting furnaces to rise from 710 Mt CO2-eq./a in 2020 to 920-1400 Mt CO2-eq./a in 2050. Rapid implementation of inert anodes in smelters can reduce emissions by 14% by 2050. However, a limitation of emissions compatible with a 2 °C scenario requires combined action: (1) an improvement of collection and recycling systems to absorb all the available postconsumer scrap, (2) a fast and wide deployment of low-carbon technologies, and (3) a rapid transition to low-carbon electricity sources. These measures need to be implemented even faster in scenarios with a stronger increase in aluminum demand. Lock-in effects are likely: building new capacity using conventional technologies will compromise climate mitigation efforts and would require premature retirement of industrial assets.

Bone aluminum accumulation in the current era.

In the last few years, evidence from the Brazilian Registry of Bone Biopsy (REBRABO) has pointed out a high incidence of aluminum (Al) accumulation in the bones of patients with CKD under dialysis. This surprising finding does not appear to be merely a passive metal accumulation, as prospective data from REBRABO suggest that the presence of Al in bone may be independently associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. This information contrasts with the perception of epidemiologic control of this condition around the world. In this opinion paper, we discussed why the diagnosis of Al accumulation in bone is not reported in other parts of the world. We also discuss a range of possibilities to understand why bone Al accumulation still occurs, not as a classical syndrome with systemic signs of intoxication, as occurred it has in the past.

An energy efficiency assessment of Yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser in vitro.

To study the effect range of the Nd:YAG laser through various levels of cloudy medium for targets with varying grayscale values in vitro. The coated paper cards with grayscale values of 0, 50, 100, and 150 were used as the laser's targets, which were struck straightly with varying energies using three burst modes (single pulse, double pulse, and triple pulse). Six filters (transmittances of 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90) were applied to simulate various levels of cloudy refractive medium. Image J software was used to measure the diameters and regions of the laser spots. The ranges of the Nd:YAG laser spots increased with energy in the same burst mode (P < 0.05). Under the same amount of energy, the ranges of the Nd:YAG laser spot increased with the grayscale value of the targets (P < 0.05). The greater the transmittance of the filters employed, the larger the range of the Nd: YAG laser spots produced. Assuming that the total pulse energy is identical, the effect ranges of multi-pulse burst modes were significantly larger than those of single-pulse burst mode (P < 0.05). The effect range of a Nd:YAG laser grows with increasing energy and the target's grayscale value. A cloudy refractive medium has a negative impact on the effect range of the Nd: YAG laser. The single pulse mode has the narrowest and safest efficiency range.

Comparison of the shear bond strengths of two different polyetheretherketone (PEEK) framework materials and CAD-CAM veneer materials.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the shear bond strength (SBS) of two different polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and CAD-CAM materials after aging. METHODS: A total of 42 frameworks were designed and milled from 2 different PEEK discs (Copra Peek, P and BioHPP, B). P and B frameworks were divided into 3 subgroups (n = 7). 14 slices were prepared each from feldspathic ceramic (Vitablocs Mark II, VM), hybrid nanoceramic (Cerasmart, CS), and polymer-infiltrated ceramic (Vita Enamic, VE) blocks. After surface preparations, the slices were cemented to P and B surfaces. The samples were subjected to thermal aging (5000 cycles). SBS of all the samples was measured. Fractured surfaces were examined by SEM/EDX analysis. The Shapiro-Wilk, Two-way Robust ANOVA and Bonferroni correction tests were used to analyze the data (a = .05). RESULTS: Frameworks, ceramics, and frameworks x ceramics had significant differences (p < 0.05). The highest SBS value was seen in B-VM (p < 0.05). VM offered the highest SBS with both P and B. The differences between P-VM, P-CS, P-VE and B-CS and B-VE were insignificant (p > 0.05). According to EDX analysis, ytterbium and fluorine was seen in B content, unlike P. While VM and CS contained fluorine, barium, and aluminum; sodium and aluminum were observed in the VE structure. CONCLUSION: Bonding of P and B with VM offers higher SBS. VM, CS and VE did not make any difference in SBS for P, however VM showed a significant difference for B.

[Treatment of early capsular blockage syndrome with Nd:YAG laser anterior capsulotomy containing neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet in a case].

A 62-year-old female patient presented with no improvement in vision 10 days after undergoing cataract extraction in the right eye. The unaided visual acuity in the right eye was 0.1, and examination with a slit lamp revealed the presence of the intraocular lens with an increased gap between the intraocular lens and the posterior capsule. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography showed a distance of 3.236 mm between the posterior capsule and the posterior surface of the intraocular lens. Based on the medical history, ocular examination, and auxiliary examinations, a diagnosis of right eye capsular blockage syndrome was made. Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy was performed at the anterior capsule outside the optical zone of the intraocular lens. One week later, the posterior capsule adhered to the posterior surface of the intraocular lens, and there was a significant improvement in vision compared to before the procedure.

Degradation of the neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid by electrocoagulation and ultrasound.

Imidacloprid is still a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide that is banned in many countries because of the associated environmental risks. Due to the inefficiency of conventional wastewater treatments for pesticide removal, new treatment methods are being investigated. Electrochemical methods, including electrocoagulation (EC), seem to be promising alternatives considering their effectiveness in removing various pollutants from wastewater. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of electrode material, current density, ultrasound, and operation time on the efficiency of imidacloprid removal from a model solution by EC. The combination of aluminum electrodes and 20 A of applied current for 20 min resulted in total imidacloprid degradation. A simplified energy balance was introduced as a form of process evaluation. Combining ultrasound with EC resulted in 7% to 12% greater efficacy than using only EC.

Analyzing global research trends and focal points in the utilization of laser techniques for the treatment of urolithiasis from 1978 to 2022: visualization and bibliometric analysis.

Laser lithotripsy is gaining global prominence and is a dynamically progressing field marked by a continual influx of new and comprehensive research each year. Recently, there has been a noticeable shift toward the adoption of various kinds of lasers, such as holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) and thulium fiber (TFL) lasers. Consequently, we aim to conduct a bibliometric analysis to analyze key areas of research activity within scientific publications that center on the utilization of laser techniques in urolithiasis. A search of the literature spanning from 1978 to 2022 was carried out on 25 December 2023 using the Scopus database to explore research related to the application of laser techniques for urolithiasis treatment. Visualization analysis was performed using VOSviewer software (version 1.6.20). We examined 962 publications that met the specified criteria, 791 (82.22%) of which were original articles. The analysis of the retrieved publications indicated a consistent increase in research output from 1978 to 2022; a particularly noteworthy surge occurred after 2003. In particular, the U.S. claimed the leading position as the most productive country, contributing 211 articles (21.93%). However, India had the highest research productivity according to the adjustment index of 19.08. In the European region, 324 publications (33.68% of the total) originated from 25 countries. The Journal of Endourology contributed the most between 1978 and 2022 (n = 96, 9.98%). The most cited paper examined the effectiveness of holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) lasers, while a subsequent study focused on the use of a thulium fiber laser (TFL), an emerging laser technology that has gained increased recognition. Co-occurrence analysis revealed three distinct clusters focusing on the types of laser technology, minimally invasive approaches, and success rate/postoperative complications. This comprehensive investigation delves into the global landscape of laser use for the treatment of urolithiasis. This review supports the emerging clinical concept of using various types of laser technology for urolithiasis treatment. Moreover, the hot issues that researchers should focus on based on the findings of this study are the use of different types of laser lithotripsy in view of the surgical approach, success rate and complications.

Treatment of tomato paste wastewater by electrochemical and membrane processes: process optimization and cost calculation.

This study investigated the treatment of wastewater from tomato paste (TP) production using electrocoagulation (EC) and electrooxidation (EO). The effectiveness of water recovery from the pretreated water was then investigated using the membrane process. For this purpose, the effects of independent control variables, including electrode type (aluminum, iron, graphite, and stainless steel), current density (25-75 A/m2), and electrolysis time (15-120 min) on chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color removal were investigated. The results showed that 81.0% of COD and 100% of the color removal were achieved by EC at a current density of 75 A/m2, a pH of 6.84 and a reaction time of 120 min aluminum electrodes. In comparison, EO with graphite electrodes achieved 55.6% of COD and 100% of the color removal under similar conditions. The operating cost was calculated to be in the range of $0.56-30.62/m3. Overall, the results indicate that EO with graphite electrodes is a promising pretreatment process for the removal of various organics. In the membrane process, NP030, NP010, and NF90 membranes were used at a volume of 250 mL and 5 bar. A significant COD removal rate of 94% was achieved with the membrane. The combination of EC and the membrane process demonstrated the feasibility of water recovery from TP wastewater.

Portable tri-color ratiometric fluorescence paper sensor for intelligent visual detection of dual-antibiotics and aluminium ion.

The toxicological effect between co-existed antibiotics and metal ions was dangerous to the ecological environment and public health. However, the rapid quantification tools with convenience, accuracy and low cost for the detection of multiple targets were still challenging. Herein, a portable tri-color ratiometric fluorescence paper sensor was constructed by coupling of blue carbon dots and fluorescence imprinted polymer for down/up conversion simultaneous detection of tetracycline and sulfamethazine. Interestingly, the cascade detection of aluminum ion was also realized based on the individual detection system of tetracycline without the assistance of complex coupling reagents. The detection limits of smartphone method for the visual detection of tetracycline, sulfamethazine and aluminum ion were calculated as 0.014 µM, 0.004 µM and 0.019 µM, respectively. The portable fluorescence paper sensor was applied for the visual detection of tetracycline, sulfamethazine and aluminum ion in actual samples successfully with satisfactory recoveries. With the advantages of rapidness, low cost, and portability, the developed portable fluorescence paper sensor provided a new strategy for the visual real-time detection of multiple targets.

Physiological and proteomic characterization revealed the response mechanisms underlying aluminium tolerance in lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus).

Aluminium (Al) toxicity causes major plant distress, affecting root growth, nutrient uptake and, ultimately, agricultural productivity. Lentil, which is a cheap source of vegetarian protein, is recognized to be sensitive to Al toxicity. Therefore, it is important to dissect the physiological and molecular mechanisms of Al tolerance in lentil. To understand the physiological system and proteome composition underlying Al tolerance, two genotypes [L-4602 (Al-tolerant) and BM-4 (Al-sensitive)] were studied at the seedling stage. L-4602 maintained a significantly higher root tolerance index and malate secretion with reduced Al accumulation than BM-4. Also, label-free proteomic analysis using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer exhibited significant regulation of Al-responsive proteins associated with antioxidants, signal transduction, calcium homeostasis, and regulation of glycolysis in L-4602 as compared to BM-4. Functional annotation suggested that transporter proteins (transmembrane protein, adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transport-related protein and multi drug resistance protein), antioxidants associated proteins (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dependent oxidoreductase, oxidoreductase molybdopterin binding protein & peroxidases), kinases (calmodulin-domain kinase & protein kinase), and carbohydrate metabolism associated proteins (dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase) were found to be abundant in tolerant genotype providing protection against Al toxicity. Overall, the root proteome uncovered in this study at seedling stage, along with the physiological parameters measured, allow a greater understanding of Al tolerance mechanism in lentil, thereby assisting in future crop improvement programmes.