Iodine Biofortification of Dandelion Plants (Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wiggers Coll.) with the Use of Inorganic and Organic Iodine Compounds.

Iodine is a crucial microelement necessary for the proper functioning of human and animal organisms. Plant biofortification has been proposed as a method of improving the iodine status of the population. Recent studies in that field have revealed that iodine may also act as a beneficial element for higher plants. The aim of the work was to evaluate the efficiency of the uptake and accumulation of iodine in the plants of dandelion grown in a pot experiment. During cultivation, iodine was applied through fertigation in inorganic (KI, KIO3) and organic forms (5-iodosalicylic acid, 5-ISA; 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid, 3,5-diISA) at two concentrations (10 and 50 µM). The contents of total iodine and iodosalicylic acids, as well the plant biomass and antioxidant capacity of dandelion leaves and roots, were analyzed. The uptake of inorganic and organic forms by dandelion plants was confirmed with no negative effect on plant growth. The highest efficiency of improving iodine content in dandelion leaves and roots was noted for 50 µM KI. The applicability of iodosalicylates, especially 5-ISA, for plant biofortification purposes was confirmed, particularly as the increase in the iodine content after the application of 5-ISA was higher as compared to that with commonly used KIO3. The chemical analyses have revealed that iodosalicylates are endogenous compounds of dandelion plants.

Transcriptomic and metabolic studies on the role of inorganic and organic iodine compounds in lettuce plants.

Iodine (I) is considered a beneficial element or even micronutrient for plants. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular and physiological processes of uptake, transport, and metabolism of I applied to lettuce plants. KIO3, KIO3 + salicylic acid, 5-iodosalicylic acid and 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid were applied. RNA-sequencing was executed using 18 cDNA libraries constructed separately for leaves and roots from KIO3, SA and control plants. De novo transcriptome assembly generated 1937.76 million sequence reads resulting in 27,163 transcripts with N50 of 1638 bp. 329 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in roots were detected after application of KIO3, out of which 252 genes were up-regulated, and 77 were down-regulated. In leaves, 9 genes revealed differential expression pattern. DEGs analysis indicated its involvement in such metabolic pathways and processes as: chloride transmembrane transport, phenylpropanoid metabolism, positive regulation of defense response and leaf abscission, and also ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, circadian rhythm including flowering induction as well as a putative PDTHA (i.e. Plant Derived Thyroid Hormone Analogs) metabolic pathway. qRT-PCR of selected genes suggested their participation in the transport and metabolism of iodine compounds, biosynthesis of primary and secondary metabolites, PDTHA pathway and flowering induction.

Effectiveness of enriching lettuce with iodine using 5-iodosalicylic and 3,5-diiodosalicylic acids and the chemical composition of plants depending on the type of soil in a pot experiment.

Iodine is a beneficial element for humans, animals and plants. This study was a comparison of the effectiveness of iodosalicylate uptake by lettuce. The experiment included two sub-blocks: organic soil and mineral soil with the addition of the same fertigation of plants (8 times every 7 days) with 10 µM solutions (100 mL/per one plant/one application) of potassium iodate (KIO3), salicylic acid (SA) alone or together with KIO3, 5-iodosalicylic acid (5-ISA) or 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid (3,5-diISA). None of the tested iodine compounds negatively affected the yield of lettuce. When growing plants on mineral soil, plants accumulated more iodine in the leaves than plants grown on peat substrate. The use of 5-ISA allowed for achieving better efficiency of plant biofortification in iodine than the application of KIO3 and 3,5-diISA. The type of soil significantly modified the chemical composition of lettuce.

New Aspects of Uptake and Metabolism of Non-organic and Organic Iodine Compounds-The Role of Vanadium and Plant-Derived Thyroid Hormone Analogs in Lettuce.

The process of uptake and translocation of non-organic iodine (I) ions, I- and IO3 -, has been relatively well-described in literature. The situation is different for low-molecular-weight organic aromatic I compounds, as data on their uptake or metabolic pathway is only fragmentary. The aim of this study was to determine the process of uptake, transport, and metabolism of I applied to lettuce plants by fertigation as KIO3, KIO3 + salicylic acid (KIO3+SA), and iodosalicylates, 5-iodosalicylic acid (5-ISA) and 3,5-diiodosalicylic acid (3,5-diISA), depending on whether additional fertilization with vanadium (V) was used. Each I compound was applied at a dose of 10 µM, SA at a dose of 10 µM, and V at a dose of 0.1 µM. Three independent 2-year-long experiments were carried out with lettuce; two with pot systems using a peat substrate and mineral soil and one with hydroponic lettuce. The effectiveness of I uptake and translocation from the roots to leaves was as follows: 5-ISA > 3,5-diISA > KIO3. Iodosalicylates, 5-ISA and 3,5-diISA, were naturally synthesized in plants, similarly to other organic iodine metabolites, i.e., iodotyrosine, as well as plant-derived thyroid hormone analogs (PDTHA), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). T3 and T4 were synthesized in roots with the participation of endogenous and exogenous 5-ISA and 3,5-diISA and then transported to leaves. The level of plant enrichment in I was safe for consumers. Several genes were shown to perform physiological functions, i.e., per64-like, samdmt, msams5, and cipk6.

Biofortification of Six Varieties of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) With Iodine and Selenium in Combination With the Application of Salicylic Acid.

The agrotechnical methods of biofortification of plants, i.e., enriching them in iodine (I) and selenium (Se) could be effective methods to enrich food products in these elements. The advantage of agrotechnical methods of biofortification is the incorporation of elements in organic compounds in plants; therefore, they have better health-promoting properties than pure technical salts. Two-year studies were conducted in a greenhouse with hydroponic cultivation of three botanical varieties of lettuce in an NFT (nutrient film technique) system: two cultivars butterhead lettuces (abb. BUTL) 'Cud Voorburgu' and 'Zimujaca,' two cultivars iceberg lettuces (abb. ICEL) 'Maugli' and 'Królowa lata' (all this four cultivars are classified as Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata) as well two cultivars Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa L. cultivars (abb. REDL) 'Lollo rossa' and 'Redin' having little red leaves. The study included the application of I (as KIO3), Se (as Na2SeO3), and SA into the nutrient solution. The tested treatments were as follows: (1) control, (2) I+Se, (3) I+Se+0.1 mg SA dm-3, (4) I+Se+1.0 mg SA dm-3, and (5) I+Se+10.0 mg SA dm-3. KIO3 was used at a dose of 5 mg I dm-3, while Na2SeO3 was 0.5 mg Se dm-3. Regardless of the kind of the applied compound, the highest biomass of heads was produced by the REDL 'Redin' variety. Furthermore, this variety, as the only one in six varieties tested, reacted with the decrease in yield to the application of I+Se and I+Se+three concentrations of SA. In the heads of all cultivars, the level of I accumulation was 10-30 times higher than of Se. The level of I accumulation formed the following order: REDL 'Lollo rossa' > REDL 'Redin' = BUTL 'Cud Voorburgu' > BUTL 'Zimujaca' > ICEL 'Maugli' > ICEL 'Królowa lata'. The order of Se content in leaves was as follows: REDL 'Redin' = BUTL 'Cud Voorburgu' > REDL 'Lollo rossa' > ICEL 'Maugli' > BUTL 'Zimujaca' > ICEL 'Królowa lata'. The obtained results indicate that the introduction of SA to the nutrient solutions in hydroponic systems may allow an improve the effectiveness of - biofortification.

Determination of heavy metals and their availability to plants in soil fertilized with different waste substances.

Field trials were conducted in 2004-2015, in Balcyny, on haplic Luvisol formed out of light boulder clay. The experiment consisted of the following treatments: control (no fertilization), NPK, manure (FYM), dried pelleted sewage sludge (DPSS), composted sewage sludge (CSS), compost made from municipal sewage sludge and straw (SSCS), compost Dano made from unsorted household waste (CUHW), and compost produced from urban green waste (CUGW). Over a period of 12 years, 30 t DM/ha of each manure and composts were used, that is, 10 t DM/ha in each rotation of a crop rotation sequence. Nitrogen fertilization was kept on the same level on all experimental plots. Soil samples from the 0- to 20-cm horizon were collected after the third rotation crop, which was winter wheat harvested in 2015. It has been demonstrated that CUHW raised the soil total Cu content the highest, while the soil content of Zn was elevated the most by DPSS. The content of the remaining heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Fe) increased as well, but to a lesser extent. The soil abundance of phytoavailable forms of copper improved even greater (from 75% when fertilized with CUGW or CSS, up to 124% when treated with CUHW). Soil content of soluble forms of such metals as Zn, Pb, Cr, Mn, and Fe changed less. The content of all analyzed heavy metals in soil (a form approximating the total content) was significantly positively correlated with the content of organic carbon (C-org.). This is the evidence for stronger adsorption of the above elements in soil richer in organic matter. On the other hand, the content of available forms of heavy metals depended more on the soil pH than on its content of C-org.

Chemical Vapor Deposition of Thin, Conductive, and Fouling-Resistant Polymeric Films.

Fouling has been a persistent issue within applications ranging from membrane separation to biomedical implantation. Research to date focuses on fouling-resistant coatings, where electrical conductivity is unnecessary. In this study, we report the synthesis of multifunctional thin films with both fouling resistance and electrical conductivity for their potential applications in the electrolysis-based self-cleaning of separation membranes and in the field of bioelectronics. This unique combination of properties results in multifunctional coatings that are a zwitterionic derivative of intrinsically conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) synthesized via oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD). Their fouling resistance is shown to be comparable to that of known dielectric fouling-resistant surfaces, such as a poly(4-vinylpyridine)-co-divinylbenzene (p4VP-DVB)-derived zwitterionic coating, an amphiphilic poly(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl acrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pPFDA-HEMA) coating, and a glass surface, and are far superior to the fouling resistance of gold or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces. The fouling resistances of seven surfaces are quantitatively characterized by molecular force probe (MFP) analysis. In addition, four-point probe electrical measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), profilometry, water contact angle (WCA) measurements, surface ζ-potential measurements, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed to characterize the physiochemical properties and morphology of the different surfaces.

Monolithic Flexible Supercapacitors Integrated into Single Sheets of Paper and Membrane via Vapor Printing.

A novel approach to fabricate supercapacitors (SCs) via vapor printing, specifically oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD), is demonstrated. Compared to stacking multiple layers into a SC, this method enables the monolithic integration of all components into a single-sheet substrate, minimizing the inactive materials and eliminating the possibility of multilayer delamination. Electrodes comprised of pseudocapacitive material, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), are deposited into both sides of a sheet of flexible porous substrate. The film deposition and patterning are achieved in a single step. The oCVD PEDOT penetrates partially into the porous substrate from both surfaces, while leaving the interior of the substrate serving as a separator. Near the surface, the PEDOT coating conforms to the substrate's structure without blocking the pores, resembling the substrate's intrinsic morphology with high surface area. The porously structured PEDOT coating, paired with in situ ion gel electrolyte synthesis, gives enhanced electrode-electrolyte interfaces. The monolithic device demonstrates high volumetric capacitance (11.3 F cm-3 ), energy density (2.98 mWh cm-3 ), and power density (0.42 W cm-3 ). These outstanding performance metrics are attributed to the large loading of active materials, minimization of inactive materials, and good electrode-electrolyte interfaces. SC arrays can be printed on a single substrate without the use of wire interconnects.

The effects of vegetation cover on soil nematode communities in various biotopes disturbed by industrial emissions.

Better understanding of interactions among belowground and aboveground components in biotopes may improve our knowledge about soil ecosystem, and is necessary in environment assessment using indigenous soil organisms. In this study, we proposed that in disturbed biotopes, vegetation play important role in the buffering of contamination impact on soil communities and decrease the ecological pressure on soil biota. To assess the effects of these interactions we compared nematode communities, known for their bioindication abilities, from four types of disturbed and undisturbed biotopes (coniferous forest, permanent grassland, agricultural field, clearings), where the main stress agent was represented by long-term acidic industrial emissions containing heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, and Pb). To understand the ecological interactions taking place in studied biotopes, we studied abiotic factors (soil properties) and biotic factors (vegetation, nematode communities). Except significant increase in metals total and mobile concentrations in disturbed biotopes soil, we found acidification of soil horizon, mainly in the clearings (pH=3.68), due to SO2 precipitation. These factors has caused in clearings degradation of native phytocoenoses and decrease in decomposition rate characterized by high amount of organic matter (Cox=4.29%). Nematodes reacts to these conditions by shifts in trophic structure (bacteriovores to fungal feeders), increase in c-p 2 genera (Aphelenchoides, Acrobeloides, and Cephalobus), absence of sensitive groups (c-p 3-5, omnivores, predators), and decrease in ecological indices (SI, MI, MI2-5, H'). Similar contamination was found in forest biotope, but the nematodes composition indicates more suitable conditions; more complex community structure (presence of sensitive trophic and higher c-p groups), higher abundance and indices values, comparable with less stressed field and grassland biotopes. As showed our results, the vegetation undoubtedly plays an important role not only as a resource of services indispensable for the ecosystem, but also as a significant buffer of negative impacts acting within.

Polymer Thin Films and Surface Modification by Chemical Vapor Deposition: Recent Progress.

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymerization uses vapor phase monomeric reactants to synthesize organic thin films directly on substrates. These thin films are desirable as conformal surface engineering materials and functional layers. The facile tunability of the films and their surface properties allow successful integration of CVD thin films into prototypes for applications in surface modification, device fabrication, and protective films. CVD polymers also bridge microfabrication technology with chemical and biological systems. Robust coatings can be achieved via CVD methods as antifouling, anti-icing, and antihydrate surfaces, as well as stimuli-responsive or biocompatible polymers and novel nanostructures. Use of low-energy input, modest vacuum, and room-temperature substrates renders CVD polymerization compatible with thermally sensitive substrates and devices. Compared with solution-based methods, CVD is particularly useful for insoluble materials, such as electrically conductive polymers and controllably crosslinked networks, and has the potential to reduce environmental, health, and safety impacts associated with solvents. This review discusses the relevant background and selected applications of recent advances by two methods that display and use the high retention of the organic functional groups from their respective monomers, initiated CVD (iCVD) and oxidative CVD (oCVD) polymerization.

Avoiding a lost generation of scientists.

By sharing their experiences, early-career scientists can help to make the case for increased government funding for researchers.

Small-Area, Resistive Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Sensors Using Metal-Polymer Hybrid Film Based on Oxidative Chemical Vapor Deposition (oCVD).

We report a novel room temperature methanol sensor comprised of gold nanoparticles covalently attached to the surface of conducting copolymer films. The copolymer films are synthesized by oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD), allowing substrate-independent deposition, good polymer conductivity and stability. Two different oCVD copolymers are examined: poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-co-thiophene-3-aceticacid)[poly(EDOT-co-TAA)] and poly(3,4-ehylenedioxythiophene-co-thiophene-3-ethanol)[poly(EDOT-co-3-TE)]. Covalent attachment of gold nanoparticles to the functional groups of the oCVD films results in a hybrid system with efficient sensing response to methanol. The response of the poly(EDOT-co-TAA)/Au devices is found to be superior to that of the other copolymer, confirming the importance of the linker molecules (4-aminothiophenol) in the sensing behavior. Selectivity of the sensor to methanol over n-pentane, acetone, and toluene is demonstrated. Direct fabrication on a printed circuit board (PCB) is achieved, resulting in an improved electrical contact of the organic resistor to the metal circuitry and thus enhanced sensing properties. The simplicity and low fabrication cost of the resistive element, mild working temperature, together with its compatibility with PCB substrates pave the way for its straightforward integration into electronic devices, such as wireless sensor networks.

Effect of a polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor on the quality of grape and red wine.

BACKGROUND: The quality of berries and red wines is influenced by the cultivar. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a polyamine biosynthesis (PA) inhibitor on some red grapevine cultivars with a genetically lower quality of grapes and wines. O-Phosphoethanolamine was used as a PA inhibitor because of its positive effect on the quality of some small berries. RESULTS: The PA inhibitor at a foliar dose treatment of 7.0 g ha(-1) significantly increased the peroxidation inhibition of berries (1.16- to 1.56-fold), the color density (from 1.66% to 69.14%) and the sensory quality of the wines with a lower genetically programmed color quality (André, Saint Laurent and Zweigeltrebe), but not the higher-quality Alibernet variety. The PA inhibitor predominantly decreased the total phenolic and anthocyanin contents (from 37.0% to 27.5%), and it significantly decreased the contents of free polyamines in all varieties-very dramatically in Saint Laurent grapes (17.16- to 1.58-fold). CONCLUSIONS: Foliar treatment of red grapevine varieties of a low quality, using O-phosphoethanolamine, can help produce higher-quality wines.

Vacuum-deposited planar heterojunction polymer solar cells.

The vacuum thermal evaporation of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) for application in photovoltaic cells is demonstrated. Structural changes before and after evaporation are determined using GPC, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, NMR, and FTIR. GPC showed that the polymer molecular weight is reduced during evaporation, leading to a blue-shift of the absorption spectra. FTIR and NMR were used to examine the change in chemical structure: it was found that conjugation remains mostly intact; however, the conjugation length decreases and side chains dissociate from the backbone. Bilayer heterojunction solar cells were fabricated by sequential deposition of P3HT and C60 and the photovoltaic response measured.