Effects of N-application on utilization of 15N and 13C and quality in two wheat cultivars

We studied N uptake and distribution in wheat, and the incorporation of nitrogen and carbon into gluten and non-gluten proteins using a double-labelling approach with 15N and 13C. Doses of N-fertilizer were split and applied at emergence, onset of stem elongation, and heading at rates of 280/140/140 mg N pot(-1), respectively simulating 90/45/45 kg N ha(-1). Five different combinations of N-fertilizations containing no or 10 % 15N were performed. The recovery of 15N added at the stages emergence, stem elongation or heading were 42, 60, and 64 %. Application of 15N at all three stages yielded in 51 % recovery. Remobilisation of straw N was greater for Golia. The 15N concentration in gluten proteins of Golia show higher values than Gonen. The ratio of 15N gluten/15N non-gluten proteins of Golia were higher, which implies a lower non-gluten protein activity during grain filling. The 13C concentration in gluten and non-gluten proteins did not differ between both cultivars.     

Cytotoxic constituents from Vicia monantha subsp. monantha seeds

Chemical investigation of Vicia monantha subsp. monantha Retz. revealed isolation of one new hydroxy- fatty acid (6) identified as (6-Z, 10-E)-9-hydroxy henicosa-6,10-dienoic acid in addition to six known metabolites; hexadecanoic acid (1), β-sitosterol (2), β-amyrin (3), β-sitosterol-glucoside (4), 2,3-dihydroxypropyl tetradecanoate (5) and (Z)-9-hydroxypentadec-6-enoic acid (7). The cytotoxic effect of the isolated compounds was assessed by MTT assay using lung cancer A-549, prostate cancer PC3, breast cancer MCF-7, colon cancer HCT-116 and liver cancer HepG2 cell lines. Only compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed cytotoxic effect on HCT-116 cells where compound 2 was the most active with IC₅₀ value of 22.61 μg/mL. In addition, compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 showed promising cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 21.03, 15.42, 10.089, and 11.34 μg/mL, respectively.     

Effect of heat treatment on the optical and electrical transport properties of Ge15Sb10Se75 and Ge25Sb10Se65 thin films

The effect of heat treatment on the optical and electrical properties of Ge₁₅Sb₁₀Se₇₅ and Ge₂₅Sb₁₀Se₆₅ thin films in the range of annealing temperature 373-723 K has been investigated. Analysis of the optical absorption data indicates that Tauc's relation for the allowed non-direct transition successfully describes the optical processes in these films. The optical band gap (E_g^opt.) as well as the activation energy for the electrical conduction (ΔE) increase with the increase of annealing temperature (T_a) up to the glass transition temperature (T_g). Then a remarkable decrease in both the E_g^opt. and ΔE values occurred with a further increase of the annealing temperature (T_a>T_g). The obtained results were explained in terms of the Mott and Davis model for amorphous materials and amorphous to crystalline structure transformations. Furthermore, the deduced value of E_g^opt. for the Ge₂₅Sb₁₀Se₆₅ thin film is higher than that observed for the Ge₁₅Sb₁₀Se₇₅ thin film. This behavior was discussed on the basis of the chemical ordered network model (CONM) and the average value for the overall mean bond energy 〈E〉 of the amorphous system Ge_xSb₁₀Se_90−x with x=15 and 25 at%. The annealing process at T_a>T_g results in the formation of some crystalline phases GeSe, GeSe₂ and Sb₂Se₃ as revealed in XRD patterns, which confirms our discussion of the obtained results.     

Effective-field theory of the Ising model with three alternative layers on the honeycomb and square lattices

The Ising model with three alternative layers on the honeycomb and square lattices is studied by using the effective-field theory with correlations. We consider that the nearest-neighbor spins of each layer are coupled ferromagnetically and the adjacent spins of the nearest-neighbor layers are coupled either ferromagnetically or anti-ferromagnetically depending on the sign of the bilinear exchange interactions. We investigate the thermal variations of the magnetizations and present the phase diagrams. The phase diagrams contain the paramagnetic, ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic phases, and the system also exhibits a tricritical behavior.     

Platinum (II) N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes: Synthesis,characterization and cytotoxic properties

Platinum (II) complexes bearing N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been widely used in catalytic chemistry, but there are very few reports of biological properties of this type of complexes. A series of [PtCl₂(NHC)(PEt₃)] complexes were synthesized. The structures of all compounds were characterized by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, IR and elemental analysis techniques, which supported the proposed structures. The single crystal structures of complexes 1a and 1e were determined. The title complexes show slightly distorted square‐planar coordination around the platinum (II) metal center. The cytotoxic properties of the platinum (II)–NHC complexes have been assessed in various human cancer lines, including cisplatin‐sensitive and resistant cells. IC₅₀ values of these four complexes were determined by the MTS‐based assay on three human cell lines—brain (SHSY5Y), colon (HTC116) and liver (HEP3B). These complexes have been highlighted cancer therapeutic agent with unique structures and functions.     

Electrical and electrochemical characteristics of La<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>CoO<Subscript>3-δ</Subscript> cathode materials synthesized by a modified citrate-EDTA sol-gel method assisted with activated carbon for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell application

The electrical conductivity and electrochemical performance of a La_0.6Sr_0.4CoO_3-δ (LSC) cathode produced by a modified citrate-EDTA sol-gel method assisted with activated carbon are characterized for a proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell (H⁺??SOFC) application at intermediate temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the decomposition of the unrequired intermediate compounds in the precalcined powder was completed at 800?°C. A single LSC perovskite phase was formed at a calcination temperature of 900?°C, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The particle size, crystallite size, and BET-specific surface area of the powder are 219–221?nm, 18?nm, and 9.87?m²?g^?1, respectively. The high index value of the extent of agglomeration (5.53) showed that the powder was barely agglomerated. Bulk LSC sintered at 1200?°C for 2?h showed the highest direct-current electrical conductivity (σ_d.c) compared to that of bulk LSC sintered at 1000?°C and 1100?°C. The value of σ_d.c was affected by the density and porosity of the sintered samples. The area specific resistance (ASR) of screen-printed LSC working on a proton conductor of BaCe_0.54Zr_0.36Y_0.1O_2.95 (BCZY) decreased from 5.0?Ω?cm²–0.06?Ω?cm² as the temperature increased from 500?°C to 800?°C with an activation energy of 1.079?eV. Overall, in this work, the LSC material produced with the aid of activated carbon meet the requirements for the application as a cathode in an intermediate temperature H⁺-SOFC.

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Surfactant-assisted polyol preparation of nickel powders with different morphologies

Sub-micrometer nickel powders of controlled size and morphology were produced by a surfactant-assisted polyol method, using ethylene glycol (EG) as solvent and reductant in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant and NaOH. The resultant Ni powders were characterized by XRD, SEM, EDS, and FTIR. Spherical, hexagonal, and triangular fcc Ni powders from 0.30 to 0.60 μm were obtained in the presence of SDS; irregular spherical fcc Ni powders were obtained in its absence. The concentrations of SDS, NaOH and Ni(CH₃COO)₂·4H₂O greatly influence the product morphology and size.      

In Situ Polymerized 1,3-Dioxolane Electrolyte for Integrated Solid-State Lithium Batteries

Solid-state lithium batteries are promising and safe energy storage devices for mobile electronics and electric vehicles. In this work, we report a facile in situ polymerization of 1,3-dioxolane electrolytes to fabricate integrated solid-state lithium batteries. The in situ polymerization and formation of solid-state dioxolane electrolytes on interconnected carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and active materials is the key to realizing a high-performance battery with excellent interfacial contact among CNTs, active materials and electrolytes. Therefore, the electrodes could be tightly integrated into batteries through the CNTs and electrolyte. Electrons/ions enable full access to active materials in the whole electrode. Electrodes with a low resistance of 4.5 Ω □⁻¹ and high lithium-ion diffusion efficiency of 2.5×10⁻¹¹ cm² s⁻¹ can significantly improve the electrochemical kinetics. Subsequently, the batteries demonstrated high energy density, amazing charge/discharge rate and long cycle life.