Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zheng Chen, Yuan Liu, Hui Zhang, Zhongran Liu, He Tian, Yanqiu Sun, Meng Zhang, Yi Zhou, Jirong Sun, Yanwu Xie
Summary: The study shows that the superconducting state at the oxide interface between LaAlO3 and KTaO3(111) can be tuned by applying a gate voltage across KTaO3, resulting in a dome-shaped dependence of transition temperature on gate voltage. The electric gating affects mobility more than carrier density. As the temperature decreases, the resistance saturates at the lowest temperature on both superconducting and insulating sides, indicating the emergence of a quantum metallic state associated with a failed superconductor and/or fragile insulator.
Article
Plant Sciences
Moshieng Ntswane, Maryke Labuschagne, Siphiwokuhle F. Shandu, Ntombokulunga W. Mbuma
Summary: Phenotypic characterization and diversity analysis of cowpea germplasm collections were conducted to identify superior mutants and accessions for grain yield and yield components. The study also revealed significant correlations between measured characteristics and indicated the possibility of simultaneous improvement of these traits. The findings provide valuable guidance for cowpea genetic improvement.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Moshieng Ntswane, Maryke Labuschagne, Siphiwokuhle F. Shandu, Ntombokulunga W. Mbuma
Summary: Phenotypic characterization of cowpea germplasm collections was conducted to determine the diversity and superiority of cowpea mutants and accessions for grain yield and yield components. Significant genotype, environment, and genotype by environment interaction effects were observed. The identified superior cowpea mutants can be used for cowpea improvement.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Julius Siwale, Maryke Labuschagne, Abe Shegro Gerrano, Ntombokulunga W. Mbuma
Summary: Bambara groundnut is a highly nutritious and underutilized legume crop with the potential to grow in unfavorable environments. This study characterized a southern African bambara groundnut germplasm collection and identified high-yielding accessions with positive correlations among measured traits.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Hyeong Seop Shim, Minji Ko, Sangwon Nam, Jun Hwan Oh, Seonghyun Jeong, Yoonji Yang, Seung Min Park, Young Rag Do, Jae Kyu Song
Summary: In order to achieve suitable quantum yield and color purity for visible emitters in display devices, the optical features of indium phosphide (InP) quantum dots (QDs) are improved. Two types of InP cores are synthesized using different phosphorus precursors, and then gradient-alloyed inner and outer shells are fabricated to complete the environmentally friendly QDs structure. The quantum yields of the two types of QDs are comparable to state-of-the-art InP QDs, with bandwidths of 35 and 36 nm respectively. The results suggest strategies to enhance the quantum yield and color purity of InP QDs for display device applications.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
C. Russo, A. Ciajolo, F. Stanzione, A. Tregrossi, B. Apicella
Summary: The optical features of pyrogenic carbons as flame-formed carbon particulate matter were studied using a method that involves size exclusion chromatography coupled with UV-Visible absorption and fluorescence spectrometers. This method allowed for the separation and identification of blue- and green-fluorescent components typical of carbon dots (CDs). It also enabled the online determination of quantum yield and optical band gap of fluorescent components in carbon suspensions. The results showed that aromatic species with molecular weight greater than 1000 u and band gap less than 1-1.5 eV had little to no fluorescence. The method can assist in optimizing CD formation and purification processes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bumho Kim, Yue Luo, Daniel Rhodes, Yusong Bai, Jue Wang, Song Liu, Abraham Jordan, Baili Huang, Zhaochen Li, Takashi Taniguchi, Kenji Watanabe, Jonathan Owen, Stefan Strauf, Katayun Barmak, Xiaoyang Zhu, James Hone
Summary: In MoSe2 monolayers, the quantum yield of trions increases with decreasing defect density, with a long lifetime of approximately 230 ps allowing for direct observation of their diffusion.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiu Lin, Rui Wang, Sujuan Pan, Hongqin Yang, Yiru Peng
Summary: Two novel polymeric nanoparticles co-loaded with three components, including tetra-(4-bromine thiophenol) phthalocyanine zinc/magnesium, gold particles, and curcumin, were assembled through hydrophobic interaction and Au-S bonds. The polymeric nanoparticles exhibited higher singlet oxygen quantum yield and encapsulation ratios due to the synergistic effect between curcumin and gold nanoparticles within the nanoparticles, providing a new strategy to enhance the properties of polymeric nanoparticles.
ARABIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xiaheng Huang, Zidong Li, Xiao Liu, Jize Hou, Jongchan Kim, Stephen R. Forrest, Parag B. Deotare
Summary: A method to neutralize mid-gap defect states in MoS2 monolayers using laser soaking of an organic/transition metal oxide blend thin film is reported. The treated monolayers show negligible emission from defect states and a significant improvement in photoluminescence quantum yield. The method is effective due to polaron pair generation at the organic/TMO interface, diffusion of free electrons, and formation of TMO radicals at the MoS2 monolayer.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Elizabeth J. Dresselhaus, Bjorn Sbierski, Ilya A. Gruzberg
Summary: The study of the IQHT transition is challenging due to the difficulty in determining critical exponents; Zirnbauer's conformal field theory provides insights for explaining the IQHT transition; Numerical evidence and model parameters are crucial for understanding the impact on critical exponents.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qilong Cui, Ziyu Luo, Qirui Cui, Wen Zhu, Hongwei Shou, Chuanqiang Wu, Zhanfeng Liu, Yunxiang Lin, Pengjun Zhang, Shiqiang Wei, Hongxin Yang, Shuangming Chen, Anlian Pan, Li Song
Summary: An in situ defect engineering strategy was reported to reduce the impact of intrinsic sulfur vacancy on tungsten disulfide (WS2) monolayer, resulting in oxygen doped WS2 monolayer with significantly improved optical properties and high PLQY which surpasses mechanically exfoliated counterparts. The method also provides materials with superior environment stability, with the high PLQY lasting up to 3 months under ambient conditions. Insights from first-principle calculations indicate that the enhancement mechanism involves the suppression of nonradiative recombination and conversion from trion to neutral, with excellent stability attributed to repaired saturated coordination bonds at sulfur vacancy sites.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiangru Kong, Wei Luo, Linyang Li, Mina Yoon, Tom Berlijn, Liangbo Liang
Summary: Using ab initio tight-binding approaches, the researchers investigated the Floquet band engineering of transition metal dichalcogenides monolayers under irradiation. They found that light can induce important transitions in the topological phases of these materials.
Article
Optics
Qiushi Feng, Ying Sun, Yuanzheng Li, Jiaxu Yan, Weiheng Zhong, Guochun Yang, Weizhen Liu, Haiyang Xu, Yichun Liu
Summary: A novel organic superacid, trifluoromethanesulfonic (TFMS), has been found to significantly increase the photoluminescence quantum yields of monolayer MoS2 and WS2, with the mechanism attributed to TFMS-induced p-type doping and sulfur vacancy reparation. The results not only enrich the functional superacid family for improving the luminescence performance of transition-metal dichalcogenides, but also clearly reveal the photoluminescence enhancement mechanism of superacid-treated TMDs.
LASER & PHOTONICS REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shahar Kasirer, Yigal Meir
Summary: The nature of the superconductor-insulator transition (SIT) in thin-film disordered superconductors is still debated despite being observed more than 30 years ago. This study focuses on the insulating side of the transition and reveals that the traditional two-dimensional array model fails to explain the observed behavior. By incorporating finite relaxation time into the model, the study successfully reproduces hysteresis and multiple jumps in the current-voltage relation.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sivagowri Shanmugaratnam, Elilan Yogenthiran, Ranjit Koodali, Punniamoorthy Ravirajan, Dhayalan Velauthapillai, Yohi Shivatharsiny
Summary: Transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs) with particle sizes in the 1-100 nm range have shown potential for applications in hydrogen production due to their quantum confinement effect, optoelectronic behavior, and stability. Their heterostructures could be an emerging inexpensive and sustainable alternative to metal-based catalysts.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laura Bertini, Silvia Proietti, Francesca Focaracci, Fabiana Canini, Leon A. Bravo, Claudia Rabert, Carla Caruso
Summary: The Antarctic ecotype of Colobanthus quitensis, a vascular plant highly adapted to harsh environmental conditions, is facing rapid local warming, making the identification of molecular mechanisms crucial. Suitable reference genes for quantification are important for accurate analysis, and this study evaluated their stability under different stress conditions. Identified reference genes will enhance qRT-PCR accuracy for gene expression studies of C. quitensis and potentially other cold-adapted ecotypes.
Review
Agronomy
Celian Roman-Figueroa, Leon Bravo, Manuel Paneque, Rodrigo Navia, Mara Cea
Summary: Frost is a significant abiotic stress for plants and crops, with two mechanisms for protection: freezing avoidance and freezing tolerance. While there are many products available for crop protection against freezing, more information is needed to determine their effectiveness.
JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Olman Gomez-Espinoza, Daniel Gonzalez-Ramirez, Jairo Mendez-Gomez, Rossy Guillen-Watson, Alejandro Medaglia-Mata, Leon A. Bravo
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the ecotypic variability of CaOx crystal accumulation in Colobanthus quitensis and found significant differences in crystal accumulation among different populations, possibly linked to processes of ecotypic differentiation and plant adaptation to harsh environments.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jorge Gonzalez-Villagra, Marjorie M. Reyes-Diaz, Ricardo Tighe-Neira, Claudio Inostroza-Blancheteau, Ana Luengo Escobar, Leon A. Bravo
Summary: The application of salicylic acid (SA) was found to enhance plant growth and improve photosynthetic performance and enzyme activity in A. chilensis plants subjected to moderate drought stress. SA also increased total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity in drought-stressed plants.
Article
Plant Sciences
Carolina Sanhueza, Daniela Cortes, Danielle A. Way, Francisca Fuentes, Luisa Bascunan-Godoy, Nestor Fernandez Del-Saz, Patricia L. Saez, Leon A. Bravo, Lohengrin A. Cavieres
Summary: Projected rises in atmospheric CO2 concentration and minimum night-time temperatures may have important effects on plant carbon metabolism in the Antarctic Peninsula. The response of the two vascular plant species, Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica, to elevated CO2 levels and nocturnal warming were assessed. The results showed that C. quitensis had reduced photosynthesis under elevated CO2 or nocturnal warming, while D. antarctica was not affected. Changes in mitochondrial size and number were observed in both species. The study suggests that D. antarctica may be more successful than C. quitensis in adapting to climate change.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Krzysztof Herman, Mauricio Montanares, Leon Bravo, Joanna Plenzler
Summary: This article documents a custom sensor-actuator network used to study the long-term phenological response of Antarctic plants. The study provides an introduction to the research background and experimental methods, followed by a detailed description of the network and its results obtained during Antarctic summer seasons. The results show a nighttime temperature difference of 5 degrees Celsius for plants that were actively warmed using thermal actuators.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jorge Gago, Miquel Nadal, Maria Jose Clemente-Moreno, Carlos Maria Figueroa, David Barbosa Medeiros, Neus Cubo-Ribas, Lohengrin Alexis Cavieres, Javier Gulias, Alisdair Robert Fernie, Jaume Flexas, Leon Aloys Bravo
Summary: Deschampsia antarctica is a native vascular plant in Antarctica, and the availability of nutrients in the soil affects its photosynthetic and stress tolerance mechanisms. Plants growing on low-nutrient availability soils have more limiting photosynthetic and stress tolerance performances, while plants in nutrient-rich soils show vigorous growth without appreciable levels of stress.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Paulina Pradel, Leon A. Bravo, Carolina Merino, Nicole Trefault, Rodrigo Rodriguez, Heike Knicker, Claudia Jara, Giovanni Larama, Francisco Matus
Summary: The impacts of rapid warming on soil organic matter decomposition in King George Island, Maritime Antarctic, remain unclear. Most vegetation cover is dominated by mosses, which contribute carbohydrates and C-alkyl but lack lignin for aromatic compounds and humus formation. The response of Antarctic microbial respiration to substrate and temperature increase is not yet understood.
PERMAFROST AND PERIGLACIAL PROCESSES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
C. Hernandez-Fuentes, J. Galmes, L. A. Bravo, L. A. Cavieres
Summary: The study analyzed the intrinsic traits of Phacelia secunda populations from different elevations in the Chilean Andes and their acclimation of photosynthesis to warmer temperatures. The results showed that plants from higher elevations had slightly lower CO2 assimilation rates but increased diffusive components of photosynthesis compared to plants from lower elevations. Moreover, plants from high elevations had lower photosynthetic acclimation to warmer temperatures, indicating higher susceptibility to global warming.
Article
Plant Sciences
Dariel Lopez, Carolina Sanhueza, Haroldo Salvo-Garrido, Luisa Bascunan-Godoy, Leon A. Bravo
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of diurnal and nocturnal warming on the freezing resistance of Antarctic vascular plants. The results showed that nocturnal warming weakened the freezing resistance of Deschampsia antarctica and Colobanthus quitensis, leading to reduced expression of dehydrin-like peptides and decreased sucrose content in both species. Therefore, while both species still have some freezing resistance during summer freezing events, C. quitensis may reach its freezing vulnerability limits in the near future if warming in the Antarctic Peninsula continues.
Review
Plant Sciences
Humberto A. Gajardo, Olman Gomez-Espinoza, Pedro Boscariol Ferreira, Helaine Carrer, Leon A. Bravo
Summary: Worldwide food security is threatened by climate change, as major staple crops are not adapted to harsh climatic and soil conditions. Traditional breeding and molecular techniques have been used to maintain crop yield, but additional strategies are needed to meet future food demand. CRISPR/Cas technology and its variants have emerged as alternatives for genetically modifying crops to withstand abiotic stress. This review summarizes current advancements in CRISPR/Cas applications for addressing hostile soil conditions and explores the potential of extreme plants for developing new molecular mechanisms for stress tolerance in crops.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dariel Lopez, Giovanni Larama, Patricia L. Saez, Leon A. Bravo
Summary: Warming in the Antarctic Peninsula is rapidly increasing and expected to become more imbalanced. It has already affected the growth and reproduction of Antarctic plants, leading to decreased freezing tolerance. Limited evidence exists about the effects of diurnal and nocturnal warming on freezing tolerance-related gene expression in D. antarctica.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Genesis Parada-Pozo, Leon A. Bravo, Patricia L. Saez, Lohengrin A. Cavieres, Marjorie Reyes-Diaz, Sebastian Abades, Fernando D. Alfaro, Rodrigo De la Iglesia, Nicole Trefault
Summary: This study characterized the diversity and composition of microorganisms in the rhizosphere of Antarctic vascular plants and evaluated the effect of soil warming on microbial communities. The results showed that eukaryotic communities in the rhizosphere were more sensitive to warming compared to bacterial communities.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
Thanh Phuong Pham Nguyen, Licia A. Bravo, Pedro Gonzalez-Alegre, Allison W. Willis
Article
Plant Sciences
Pieter A. Arnold, Veronica F. Briceno, Kelli M. Gowland, Alexandra A. Catling, Leon A. Bravo, Adrienne B. Nicotra
Summary: Plant thermal tolerance is a critical research area in response to climate change, and a high-throughput method for measuring critical temperatures for leaf photosynthetic performance has been developed and tested. The study shows that experimental conditions such as wet or dry surfaces and heating/cooling rates impact the critical temperatures for different plant species. This research provides insights into the mechanisms behind leaf temperature tolerance and offers recommendations for future studies in this field.
FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY
(2021)