Pseudomonas Lipopeptide-Mediated Biocontrol: Chemotaxonomy and Biological Activity

Pseudomonas lipopeptides (Ps-LPs) play crucial roles in bacterial physiology, host–microbe interactions and plant disease control. Beneficial LP producers have mainly been isolated from the rhizosphere, phyllosphere and from bulk soils. Despite their wide geographic distribution and host range, emerging evidence suggests that LP-producing pseudomonads and their corresponding molecules display tight specificity and follow a phylogenetic distribution. About a decade ago, biocontrol LPs were mainly reported from the P. fluorescens group, but this has drastically advanced due to increased LP diversity research. On the one hand, the presence of a close-knit relationship between Pseudomonas taxonomy and the molecule produced may provide a startup toolbox for the delineation of unknown LPs into existing (or novel) LP groups. Furthermore, a taxonomy–molecule match may facilitate decisions regarding antimicrobial activity profiling and subsequent agricultural relevance of such LPs. In this review, we highlight and discuss the production of beneficial Ps-LPs by strains situated within unique taxonomic groups and the lineage-specificity and coevolution of this relationship. We also chronicle the antimicrobial activity demonstrated by these biomolecules in limited plant systems compared with multiple in vitro assays. Our review further stresses the need to systematically elucidate the roles of diverse Ps-LP groups in direct plant–pathogen interactions and in the enhancement of plant innate immunity.     

Palladium nanoparticles supported on mesoporous natural phosphate: An efficient recyclable catalyst for nitroarene reduction

We report the preparation of palladium nanoparticles supported on mesoporous natural phosphate (Pd@NP) using a wetness impregnation method. The prepared catalyst was characterized using various techniques. Furthermore, the reduction and preparation of the palladium nanoparticles was followed using UV–visible spectra. Based on the Scherrer equation, the crystallite size of the as‐synthesized palladium nanoparticles was 10.88 nm. The performance of the synthesized catalyst was investigated in the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol as a model substrate to 4‐aminophenol using NaBH₄ as a hydrogen source. Moreover, catalytic reduction of various nitroarenes was studied and monitored using UV–visible spectroscopy and gas chromatography. The Pd@NP catalyst showed a high activity for the selected reaction and could be recycled.     

Polymer Photochromic Composites and Their Spectral and Kinetic Properties

A method for the synthesis of polymer photochromic composites containing photochromic nitro-substituted spiropyran via mechanical mixing in melt is developed, and dependences of the spectral and kinetic properties of the samples on the nature of chosen thermoplastic polymer matrices (polyolefins, polycarbonate) and their processing temperatures are studied.     

α-Zirconium orthophosphate as a new Zn-free anticorrosive pigment in organic coatings

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In the framework of the anticorrosive pigment research without heavy metals like zinc or chromium, a new lamellar phosphate pigment, namely zirconium...     

Assessment of Corrosion Inhibition Performance and Adsorption Thermodynamics of Hydrogen Phosphate (HPO42−) and Molybdate (MoO42−) Oxyanions on Tin in Maleic Acid

The influence of hydrogen phosphate (HPO₄²⁻) and molybdate ions (MoO₄²⁻) on the behavior of tin corrosion in 0.2 M maleic acid was compared using experimental and theoretical techniques. The experimental studies consisted of the electrochemical investigations (potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)), along with the surface analytical techniques (SEM and EDX). Additionally, the theoretical analysis (the chemical quantum computations at MP4/SDD level of theory in the aqueous phase), was conducted. The experimental outcomes illustrated that the inhibition efficiency (η%) increases with the concentration of the inhibitors, reaching 88 % and 81 % at 2×10⁻² M concentration of MoO₄²⁻ and HPO₄²⁻, respectively. The potentiodynamic polarization curves revealed that HPO₄²⁻ performance is a cathodic-type inhibitor, while MoO₄²⁻ shows a mixed-type behavior. The increase in temperature decreased the η% values of both inhibitors. Based on surface analysis and thermodynamic study, the presence of the two inhibitors formed protective films on the tin surface through a physisorption mechanism. The chemical quantum computations using the complete fourth-order Møller Plesset perturbation theory (MP4 with SDD basis) method results outlined the favorable affinity of the investigated inorganic inhibitors to interact with the tin surface, which interprets the well-observed inhibition efficiencies.     

Negative Magnetoresistance Phenomenon in Diluted Granular Multilayers Co80Fe20(t)|Al2O3

Physics of the Solid State - Several complex theories explaining the phenomenon of negative magnetoresistance (NMR) are discussed, observed in insulating diluted granular multilayers...     

Adhesion and Young’s Modulus Estimation for Chemically Treated Argan Nut Shell Particles Reinforced Poly-Lactic Acid Polymer

Abstract

The use of natural fillers as reinforcements for polymer plastics takes place in a variety of industrial applications. Henceforth, the use of theoretical models to predict the properties of such bio-composites is essential. In this work, we estimated the Young’s modulus of poly-lactic acid (PLA) bio-composites reinforced with argan nut shell (ANS) chemically treated particles (successive alkali treatment, bleaching and silane treatments) using five theoretical models and compared the predicted results with our prior experimental results. These models allowed us to study the assumed spherical form of the ANS particles and the adhesion/distribution of these particles in a PLA matrix. The results indicated that the ANS chemically treated particles could be considered as spherical particles having good adhesion with the PLA matrix. In addition, three other mathematical models were used to predict Young’s modulus of the ANS chemically treated particles. The results showed that the highest value of Young modulus among the three treatments was obtained for the ANS alkali-bleached particles. In addition, the silane treatment enhanced the adhesion between the ANS particles and the PLA matrix, but decreased the Young’s modulus value compared to the other two treatments.     

Structural and morphological study of ZnO thin films electrodeposited on n-type silicon

In this work, we report on the electrodeposition of ZnO thin films on n-Si (1 0 0) and glass substrates. The influence of the deposition time on the morphology of ZnO thin films was investigated. The ZnO thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show a variation of ZnO texture from main (0 0 2) at 10 min to totally (1 0 1) at 15 min deposition time. The photoluminescence (PL) studies show that both UV (∼382 nm) and blue (∼432 nm) luminescences are the main emissions for the electrodeposited ZnO films. In addition, the film grown at 15 min indicates an evident decrease of the yellow-green (∼520 nm) emission band comparing with that of 10 min. Finally, transmittance spectra show a high transmission value up to 85% in the visible wavelength range. Such results would be very interesting for solar cells applications.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric syntheses of functionalized tetrahydropyridazines

Four tetrahydropyridazines, respectively, substituted at the C-3 position with hydroxymethyl, a silyloxymethyl, a carboxylic acid, and a methyl ester have been prepared in good yields and high enantiomeric purities using organocatalytic α-amination of aldehydes as the key step. These compounds have then been tested as organocatalysts for the same reaction.