A novel efficient multi-walled carbon nanotubes/gibberellic acid composite for enhancement vase life and quality of Rosa hybrida cv. 'Moonstone'.

The postharvest life of cut flowers is limited, which is a major challenge and varies greatly depending on plant varieties, cut flower stage, flower length of the harvested shoots, and storage conditions including postharvest treatments. As a result, improving the vase life and quality of cut flowers in regulating postharvest characteristics and overcoming these challenges is critical to the horticulture business. Novel engineered nanocomposites were created and tested for possible impacts on flower bud opening, postharvest life extension, longevity regulation, and preservation and enhancement of the strength and appearance of cut flowers. The experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment using a completely randomized design (CRD) with two factors. The first factor was two holding solutions (without or with sucrose at 20 gL-1). The second factor was 12 pulsing treatments for 24 h; distilled water as a control, 75 ppm GA3, multi-walled carbon nanotubes MWCNTs at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ppm, and MWCNTs (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ppm)/GA3 (75 ppm) composites; each treatment had 3 replicates, for a total of 72 experimental units. In the present study, gibberellic acid (GA3) was synthesized in functionalized (MWCNT/GA3 composites) as a novel antisenescence agent, and their effect on the vase life quality of cut rose flowers Rosa hybrida cv. 'Moonstone' was compared by assaying several parameters critical for vase life. The adsorption of GA3 on MWCNTs was proven by performing FTIR spectroscopy which ensures that the formation of the MWCNTs/GA3 composite preserves the nanostructure and was examined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The results revealed that sucrose in the holding solution showed a significant increase in fresh weight, flower diameter, and vase life by 10.5, 10.6, and 3.3% respectively. Applying sucrose with MWCNTs 20 ppm/GA3 75 ppm composites or MWCNTs 20 ppm alone, was critical for the significant increase in flower opening by 39.7 and 28.7%, and longevity by 34.4 and 23.2%, respectively, and significantly increased chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, anthocyanin, total phenolic content, and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity as compared to the control.

Study of the Oxygen Evolution Reaction at Strontium Palladium Perovskite Electrocatalyst in Acidic Medium.

The catalytic activity of Sr2PdO3, prepared through the sol-gel citrate-combustion method for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in a 0.1 M HClO4 solution, was investigated. The electrocatalytic activity of Sr2PdO3 toward OER was assessed via the anodic potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The glassy carbon modified Sr2PdO3 (GC/Sr2PdO3) electrode exhibited a higher electrocatalytic activity, by about 50 times, in comparison to the unmodified electrode. The order of the reaction was close to unity, which indicates that the adsorption of the hydroxyl groups is a fast step. The calculated activation energy was 21.6 kJ.mol-1, which can be considered a low value in evaluation with those of the reported OER electrocatalysts. The Sr2PdO3 perovskite portrayed a high catalyst stability without any probability of catalyst poisoning. These results encourage the use of Sr2PdO3 as a candidate electrocatalyst for water splitting reactions.

The Sorption Performance of Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide-Capped La0.9Sr0.1FeO3 Perovskite for Organic Pollutants from Industrial Processes.

La0.9Sr0.1FeO3 perovskite, prepared by the microwave-assisted method, was capped with cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) cationic surfactant, and applied as a sorbent for the removal of the anionic Congo red (CR) dye from aqueous solutions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that the perovskite structure was not affected by capping; however, the particle size increased. There was a hipsochromic shift in the value of λmax of the CR absorption spectrum in the presence of CTAB, which indicated the formation of an oppositely charged dye-surfactant complex. The adsorption efficiency of CTAB-capped La0.9Sr0.1FeO3 was independent of the pH of the solution-equilibrium was reached after a few minutes. The value of the maximum adsorption capacity, qm, was 151.52 mg.g-1, which was 10-times higher than that of the pure perovskite. The proposed sorbent maintained its excellent sorption ability in the presence of the sample matrix; therefore, it can be regenerated and reused with unchanged performance.

Ameliorative effects of oral ginger and/or thyme aqueous extracts on productive and reproductive performance of V-line male rabbits.

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of ginger and/or thyme aqueous extracts administration on the growth rate, caecum activity, reproductive performance and semen quality of rabbits. A total of 24 V-line male rabbits at the age of 12 weeks were divided randomly into four equal groups (6/each) until 24 weeks of age. Treatments were as follows: drinking fresh water and served as control (G1); drinking water supplemented with 100 mg/kg b. wt. of ginger aqueous extract (G2); drinking water supplemented with 50 mg/kg b. wt. of thyme aqueous extract (G3); drinking water supplemented with 100 mg/kg b. wt. of ginger aqueous extract plus 50 mg/kg b. wt. of thyme aqueous extract (G4). Administration of aqueous thyme extract with 50 mg/kg b. wt. improved (p < 0.001) feed intake and growth performance compared to control. The highest average daily gain (p < 0.001) was found for G3 rabbits followed by G4, G2 and G1 respectively. While the most efficient feed conversion ratio was found in G4. Group 3 and group 4 had significant (p < 0.05) positive effect on caecum pH, ammonia and TVFAs concentration. Data indicated that treated groups had hastened the age with heavier body weight, larger testicular size and higher testosterone level. Also, most semen characteristics (volume, progressive motility, sperm concentration and normal spermatozoa) were higher in treated groups compared with the control group. Furthermore, gathering of the spermatozoa in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, expanded epithelial cells stature of the epididymis with stuffed lumens with sperms in treated groups. In conclusion, aqueous extracts of ginger and/or thyme can be used as a growth promoter for improving reproductive performance of V-line male rabbits.

Administration of ginger and/or thyme has ameliorative effects on liver and kidney functions of V-line rabbits: Histological and biochemical studies.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Zingiber officinale and Thymus vulgaris aqueous extracts as a natural antioxidant on liver and kidney functions and antioxidant status of growing rabbits. A total of 24 V-line male rabbits, 3 months old, 1.465 ± 0.12 kg average body weight (BW) were used in a complete randomized design. The rabbits were weighed individually and assigned randomly to four groups (6 animals/each). The first group (G1) was taken fresh water and served as control, rabbits of the second group (G2) were taken 100 mg/kg BW in drinking water of the Z. officinale aqueous extract daily. The third group (G3) was taken 50 mg/kg BW in drinking water of the T. vulgaris aqueous extract daily and the fourth group (G4) was taken 100 mg/kg BW of the Z. officinale aqueous extract plus 50 mg/kg BW of the T. vulgaris aqueous extract in drinking water daily. The oral administration of ginger and/or thyme aqueous extracts increased (p < .001) serum protein profile compared with control group. Moreover, results of group 2 showed significant (p < .001) decrease in cholesterol, triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with group 3 and 4. Serum urea, uric acid and creatinine levels were significantly (p < .001) decreased in treated groups compared with control group. Oral administration of ginger and/or thyme aqueous extracts to growing rabbits increased (p < .001) total antioxidant capacity and glutathione content and the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase compared with the control group. In conclusion, the current study showed that oral administration of ginger and thyme aqueous extracts to growing rabbits showed no adverse effects on liver and kidney function parameters, histological structures and improved antioxidant status.

Poly(glycerol methacrylate)-based degradable nanoparticles for delivery of small interfering RNA.

Nucleic acids therapeutic efficiency is generally limited by their low stability and intracellular bioavailability, and by the toxicity of the carriers used to deliver them to the target sites. Aminated poly(glycerol methacrylate) polymers are biodegradable and pH-sensitive polymers that have been used previously to deliver antisense oligonucleotide and show high transfection efficiency. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficiency and toxicity of aminated linear poly(glycerol methacrylate) (ALT) biodegradable polymer to the most commonly used cationic degradable (i.e. chitosan) and non-degradable (i.e. polyethylenimine (PEI)) polymers for delivery of short interfering RNA (siRNA). ALT, PEI and chitosan polymers were able to form nanosized particles with siRNA. Size, size-distribution and zeta-potential were measured over a wide range of nitrogen-to-phosphate (N/P) ratios, and the stability of the formed nanoparticles in saline and upon freeze-drying was also assessed. No significant cytotoxicity at the range of the tested concentrations of ALT and chitosan nanoparticles was observed, whereas the non-degradable PEI showed significant toxicity in huh-7 hepatocyte-derived carcinoma cell line. The safety profiles of the degradable polymers (ALT and chitosan) over non-degradable PEI were demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. In addition, ALT nanoparticles were able to deliver siRNA in vivo with significantly higher efficiency than chitosan nanoparticles. The results in the present study give evidence of the great implications of ALT nanoparticles in biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, high stability and simple preparation method.

Synthesis and Characterization of Nano-Conducting Copolymer Composites: Efficient Sorbents for Organic Pollutants.

Nano-conducting copolymers of aniline (ANI) and pyrrole (Py) with silica of different starting monomer ratios are prepared by oxidative chemical polymerization. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data showed that polyaniline (PANI) is the predominant phase in copolymer composites with a higher starting ANI monomer ratio while polypyrrole (PPy) is the major phase for other prepared samples. Transmission and scanning electron microscope images ascertained XRD results where hexagonal-shaped particles are assigned to PANI/SiO2 and poly(9ANI-co-1Py)/SiO2 samples; the cauliflower morphology can be observed for PPy/SiO2, poly(1ANI-co-9Py)/SiO2, poly(1ANI-co-2Py)/SiO2, and poly(1ANI-co-1Py)/SiO2 samples. One-dimensional nano-fibers can be obtained by using a starting monomer ratio of 2ANI:1Py during synthesis. Thermal analysis showed that copolymerization increases the thermal stability as compared with PANI/SiO2 and PPy/SiO2 composites. All prepared samples were applied as sorbents for Congo red dye from aqueous solutions. It was found that the sorption capacity value was affected by the starting monomer ratio; poly(2ANI-co-1Py)/SiO2 has the highest sorption capacity; the qm value is 142.9 mg g-1 due to its highly-stabilized nano-structure.

Removal of Pb(II) ions by cellulose modified-LaFeO3 sorbents from different biomasses.

LaFeO3 perovskite is prepared by the cellulose-modified microwave-assisted citrate method using two different biomasses as a cellulose source; rice straw (RS) and banana peel (BP). The prepared samples are assigned as LaFeO3/cellulose-RS and as LaFeO3/cellulose-BP, respectively. Raman Spectra prove the presence of perovskite and cellulose phases, as well as biochar resulted from the thermal treatment of the cellulose. LaFeO3/cellulose-RS has a cauliflower morphology while, two phases are observed for LaFeO3/cellulose-BP, mesoporous cellulose phase and octahedral LaFeO3 nanoparticles as shown by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. LaFeO3/cellulose-BP has higher porosity and larger BET surface area than LaFeO3/cellulose-RS. Both samples are applied for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution by adsorption. The adsorption follows Langmuir isotherm, with maximum adsorption capacities of 524 and 730 mg/g for LaFeO3/cellulose-RS and LaFeO3/cellulose-BP, respectively. Cellulose precursors from different biomasses affect structural and morphological properties of LaFeO3/cellulose samples as well as the sorption performance for Pb(II) ions. BP is more recommended than RS, as a biomass, in the present study.

A correlation of the adsorption capacity of perovskite/biochar composite with the metal ion characteristics.

LaFeO3/biochar composite is prepared by cellulose-modified microwave-assisted method at 450 °C. The structure is identified by Raman spectrum which, consists of characteristics biochar bands and octahedral perovskite chemical shifts. The morphology is examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM); two phases are observed, rough microporous biochar and orthorhombic perovskite particles. The BET surface area of the composite is 57.63 m2/g. The prepared composite is applied as a sorbent for the removal of Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+ ions from aqueous solutions and wastewater. The adsorption ability reaches a maximum at pH > 6 for Cd2+, and Cu2+ ions, and is pH-independent for Pb2+ ions adsorption. The adsorption follows pseudo 2nd order kinetic model, Langmuir isotherm for Pb2+ ions, and Temkin isotherms for Cd2+, and Cu2+ ions. The maximum adsorption capacities, qm, are 606, 391, and 112 mg/g for Pb2+, Cd2+, and Cu2+ ions, respectively. The electrostatic interaction is responsible for the adsorption of Cd2+, and Cu2+ ions on LaFeO3/biochar composite. In case of Pb2+ ions form a complex with the surface functional groups of the adsorbate. LaFeO3/biochar composite shows high selectivity for the studied metal ions and excellent performance in real samples. The proposed sorbent can be easily regenerated and effectively reused.