Abdul Sattar Laghari¹, Mohammad Waqas Chandio¹, Laveet Kumar^2,*, Mamdouh El Haj Assad³

Energy Engineering, Vol.121, No.8, pp. 2023-2038, 2024, DOI:10.32604/ee.2024.051082

Abstract The selection of working fluid significantly impacts the geothermal ORC’s Efficiency. Using a mixture as a working fluid is a strategy to improve the output of geothermal ORC. In the current study, modelling and thermodynamic analysis of ORC, using geothermal as a heat source, is carried out at fixed operating conditions. The model is simulated in the Engineering Equation Solver (EES). An environment-friendly mixture of fluids, i.e., R245fa/R600a, with a suitable mole fraction, is used as the operating fluid. The mixture provided the most convenient results compared to the pure working fluid under fixed operating More >

Haoping Yao¹, Xinyu Zhong², Chunxia He^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 993-1006, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.047758

Abstract To make full use of plant shell fibers (rice husk, walnut shell, chestnut shell), three kinds of wood-plastic composites of plant shell fibers and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were prepared. X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out on three kinds of plant shell fibers to test their crystallinity. The aging process of the composites was conducted under 2 different conditions. One was artificial seawater immersion and xenon lamp irradiation, and the other one was deionized water spray and xenon lamp irradiation. The mechanical properties (tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength), changes in color, water absorption, Fourier transform… More >

Qian Tao, Guiqi Han, Bujin Ma, Hongmei Jia, Can Zhao, Wenshang Li, Zhuyun Yan^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.6, pp. 1297-1310, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.051923

Abstract Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don (Liliaceae) is an endangered perennial bulbous plant and its dry bulb is a valuable medicinal material with antitussive and expectorant effects. Nevertheless, lack of resources and expensive prices make it difficult to meet clinical needs. This study presents a regeneration system aimed at overcoming the challenge of inadequate supply in F. cirrhosa, focusing on: (1) callus induction, (2) bulblets and adventitious bud induction, and (3) artificial seed production. Callus development was achieved in 84.93% on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with 1.0 mg·L picloram. The optimal medium for callus differentiation into regenerated… More >

Cinthia T. Lucero¹, María de los Á. Ruíz², Fabiola Pagliero¹, Carolina Castaño¹, Mariela L. Ambrosino¹, Graciela S. Lorda^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.6, pp. 1081-1099, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.050762

Abstract Beneficial microbes can improve soil health by promoting soil structure, nutrient cycling, and disease suppression. In addition, a wide array of rhizospheric microbes are responsible for producing metabolically active compounds including various types of plant growth regulators. So, microbial biodiversity studies could contribute to the improvement of agricultural practices in deprived areas, such as the Pampean semiarid region. The vast majority of studies conducted on endophytic microorganisms have focused on intensive crop legume species. In contrast, little attention has been paid to microorganisms of native legumes, whose ecology is not directly affected by human action.… More >

Chuang Liu^1,2, Jing Xie², Hao Liu², Can Zhong², Gen Pan², Shuihan Zhang², Jian Jin^2,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.6, pp. 1221-1236, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.050759

Abstract Medicinal plants have aroused considerable interest as an alternative to chemical drugs due to the beneficial effects of their active secondary metabolites. However, the extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in pursuit of yield has caused serious pollution to the environment, which is not conducive to sustainable development in the field of medicinal plants. Microbial fertilizers are a type of “green fertilizer” containing specific microorganisms that can improve the soil microbial structure, enhance plant resistance to biological and abiotic stresses, and increase the yield of medicinal plants. The root exudates of medicinal plants attract… More >

Zhengyang Zhang^#, Weixue Liu^#, Yinran Huang^*, Ping Li^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.6, pp. 1263-1274, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.050755

Abstract Plant antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are special proteins that can protect plant cells from ice crystal damage in low-temperature environments, and they play a crucial role in the process of plants adapting to cold environments. Proteins with these characteristics have been found in fish living in cold regions, as well as many plants and insects. Although research on plant AFPs started relatively late, their application prospects are broad, leading to the attention of many researchers to the isolation, cloning, and genetic improvement of plant AFP genes. Studies have found that the distribution of AFPs in different species… More >

Muhammad Saleem¹, Jianhua Zhang¹, Muhammad Qasim², Rashid Iqbal³, Li Song^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.6, pp. 1325-1344, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.048493

Abstract Variations in the nutrients and water that plants require for metabolism, development, and the maintenance of cellular homeostasis are the main causes of abiotic stress in plants. It has, however, hardly ever been studied how these transporter proteins, such as aquaporin which is responsible for food and water intake in cell plasma membranes, interact with one another. This review aims to explore the interactions between nutrient transporters and aquaporins during water and nutrient uptake. It also investigates how symbiotic relationships influence the plant genome’s responses to regulatory processes such as photoperiodism, senescence, and nitrogen fixation. More >

Abderrezzaq Benalia^1,2,*, Kerroum Derbal², Zahra Amrouci^2,3, Ouiem Baatache², Amel Khalfaoui⁴, Antonio Pizzi^5,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 667-698, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.048306

Abstract This review describes the mechanisms of natural coagulants. It provides a good understanding of the two key processes of coagulation-flocculation: adsorption and charge neutralization, as well as adsorption and bridging. Various factors have influence the coagulation/flocculation process, including the effect of pH, coagulant dosage, coagulant type, temperature, initial turbidity, coagulation speed, flocculation speed, coagulation and flocculation time, settling time, colloidal particles, zeta potential, the effects of humic acids, and extraction density are explained. The bio-coagulants derived from plants are outlined. The impact of organic coagulants on water quality, focusing on their effects on the physicochemical… More > Graphic Abstract

YUANYUAN LIAO^1,2,3, XINSI LI^2,3, QIAN LI^2,3, YIZHONG WANG⁴, XIUJUN TAN^1,2,3, TING GONG^2,3,5,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.6, pp. 873-887, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.050324

Abstract As we are facing an aging society, anti-aging strategies have been pursued to reduce the negative impacts of aging and increase the health span of human beings. Gut microbiota has become a key factor in the anti-aging process. Modulation of gut microbiota by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to prevent frailty and unhealthy aging has been a hot topic of research. This narrative review summarizes the benefits of FMT for health span and lifespan, brains, eyes, productive systems, bones, and others. The mechanisms of FMT in improving healthy aging are discussed. The increased beneficial bacteria and More >

Quiroga Mendiola Mariana^1,2,*, Tálamo Andrés^3,4

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.93, No.5, pp. 1067-1080, 2024, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2024.050556

Abstract The Puna grasslands support grazing systems that produce meat and wool in multi-species herds, especially from llama (Lama glama) and sheep. However, it is yet unknown whether grazing pressure can modify grassland structure and Plant Functional Types diversity and cover in Puna grasslands. We analyzed the relationship between grazing pressure and Plant Functional Types by comparing transects located near stockyards (high grazing pressure) and far from them (low pressure) and by evaluating the relationship between the Plant Functional Types cover to a Grazing Pressure Index (GPI). This index incorporates the heterogeneity of traditional pastoral management. At… More >