Nanobiofertilization as a novel technology for highly efficient foliar application of Fe and B in almond trees

Nanofertilization is postulated as a new technology to deal with the environmental problems caused by the intensive use of traditional fertilizers. One of the aims of this new technology is to improve foliar fertilization, which has many environmental advantages, but currently there are numerous factors that limit its efficiency. In this research, the objective was to study the potential of membrane vesicles derived from plant material as nanofertilizers of iron (Fe) and boron (B) for foliar application in almond trees (Prunus dulcis L.). The results show that the application of vesicles caused invaginations in the plasma membrane of the leaf cells. Also, the increase in leaf B and Fe was greater when these elements were applied in an encapsulated form rather than in a non-encapsulated form. The distribution of these elements in leaf tissues indicated the existence of an intracellular element transport pathway and accumulation areas, enabling greater element entry and mobility.

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Bacterial outer membrane vesicles engineered with lipidated antigens as a platform for Staphylococcus aureus vaccine

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1905112116 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 116 (43) ◽

pp. 21780-21788 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Carmela Irene ◽

Laura Fantappiè ◽

Elena Caproni ◽

Francesca Zerbini ◽

Andrea Anesi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Outer Membrane ◽

Membrane Vesicles ◽

Outer Membrane Vesicles ◽

Vaccine Platform ◽

Transport Pathway ◽

Protective Antigens ◽

Tlr4 Agonist ◽

Engineering Strategy ◽

Bacterial Outer Membrane

Bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) represent an interesting vaccine platform for their built-in adjuvanticity and simplicity of production process. Moreover, OMVs can be decorated with foreign antigens using different synthetic biology approaches. However, the optimal OMV engineering strategy, which should guarantee the OMV compartmentalization of most heterologous antigens in quantities high enough to elicit protective immune responses, remains to be validated. In this work we exploited the lipoprotein transport pathway to engineer OMVs with foreign proteins. Using 5 Staphylococcus aureus protective antigens expressed in Escherichia coli as fusions to a lipoprotein leader sequence, we demonstrated that all 5 antigens accumulated in the vesicular compartment at a concentration ranging from 5 to 20% of total OMV proteins, suggesting that antigen lipidation could be a universal approach for OMV manipulation. Engineered OMVs elicited high, saturating antigen-specific antibody titers when administered to mice in quantities as low as 0.2 μg/dose. Moreover, the expression of lipidated antigens in E. coli BL21(DE3)ΔompAΔmsbBΔpagP was shown to affect the lipopolysaccharide structure, with the result that the TLR4 agonist activity of OMVs was markedly reduced. These results, together with the potent protective activity of engineered OMVs observed in mice challenged with S. aureus Newman strain, makes the 5-combo-OMVs a promising vaccine candidate to be tested in clinics.

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New technology for developing a lightweight refiner plate for hardwood kraft pulp fibers

BioResources ◽

10.15376/biores.15.4.9128-9142 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 9128-9142

Author(s):

Byeong-Geol Min ◽

Ji-Young Lee ◽

Chul-Hwan Kim ◽

See-Han Park ◽

Min-Seok Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stainless Steel ◽

Fiber Length ◽

Kraft Pulp ◽

New Technology ◽

Strength Properties ◽

Pulp Fibers ◽

Low Intensity ◽

Novel Technology ◽

Draft Angle ◽

Reducing Energy

Sand casting makes it difficult to manufacture a fine bar plate for low intensity refining. This study introduced a novel technology for manufacturing lightweight fine bar plates and compared the effects to traditional bar plates. The lightweight fine bar plate base was manufactured using a lightweight aluminum alloy and stainless-steel. Because the bars were inserted into the plate vertically without the draft angle, the stock throughput was improved by approximately 27% compared to the sand-casted bar plates. Additionally, the lightweight fine bar plate maximized internal and external fibrillation while minimizing fiber length loss. In conclusion, the lightweight fine bar plate was shown to be more effective in improving the strength properties of paper and reducing energy consumption.

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Daily and seasonal courses of leaf conductance and abscisic acid in the xylem sap of almond trees [Prunus dulcis (Miller) D. A. Webb] under desert conditions

New Phytologist ◽

10.1111/j.1469-8137.1990.tb00542.x ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 116 (4) ◽

pp. 581-587 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

A. WARTINGER ◽

H. HEILMEIER ◽

W. HARTUNG ◽

E.-D. SCHULZE

Keyword(s):

Abscisic Acid ◽

Xylem Sap ◽

Prunus Dulcis ◽

Leaf Conductance ◽

Almond Trees

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Abstract 302: First of It's Kind Capillary Refill Monitoring Device to Guide Resuscitation

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.142.suppl_4.302 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 (Suppl_4) ◽

Author(s):

David C Sheridan

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Light Transmission ◽

New Technology ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Prospective Trial ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Capillary Refill Time ◽

Capillary Refill ◽

Novel Technology ◽

Innovation Approach

Background: Capillary refill is an early reflection of decreased end organ perfusion resulting in shunt of blood from the extremities to vital organs. Physicians rate this as the most important factor to guide therapeutic resuscitation efforts. However, literature shows that providers have significant variability in their bedside measurement of capillary refill. Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a novel technology to detect capillary refill in a noninvasive and rapid manner through an iterative, problem-based innovation approach. Methods: This was a prospective study at a level 1 tertiary care hospital of patients presenting to an emergency department. The research team used in a new technology that utilizes light transmission and pressure to objectively quantify extremity capillary refill time. This measurement was compared to manual refill time performed by a trained study provider. Results: Through an iterative approach the team developed a platform technology and enrolled 63 subjects in this prospective trial. 9 subjects had inadequate data and so the final cohort consisted of 54 subjects with both manual capillary refill time and the new novel technology measurement. The device measured capillary refill time showed a high degree of correlation to manual estimate of capillary refill time with a Pearson coefficient of 0.7. Conclusions: Novel technology to measure capillary refill time can significantly improve the treatment and care of multiple medical conditions that rely on timely diagnosis and initiation of resuscitation in the emergency department and other care settings. This study shows a modest correlation of technology with automated signal processing algorithms for noninvasive measurement of capillary refill. Integration of this technology into standard hospital monitors has broad applicability to make capillary refill a standard vital sign.

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Foliar Application of Boron to Almond Trees Affects Pollen Quality

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science ◽

10.21273/jashs.125.2.265 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 125 (2) ◽

pp. 265-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

A.M.S. Nyomora ◽

P.H. Brown ◽

K. Pinney ◽

V.S. Polito

Keyword(s):

Pollen Germination ◽

Foliar Application ◽

Culture Media ◽

Pollen Viability ◽

Prunus Dulcis ◽

Pollen Tubes ◽

Tube Growth ◽

Mature Trees

The effect of boron (B) on in vivo and in vitro development of almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb (syn. P. amygdalus Batsch)] pollen and pollen tubes and the resultant effect on fruit set was studied in mature trees. The cultivars Mono (pistil donor) and Butte (pollinizer) in an orchard with low soil B in Fresno, California were sprayed with B at 0, 0.8, 1.7, or 2.5 kg·ha-1 during Fall 1993. Pollen viability as indicated by the fluorescein diacetate method (FDA) was >85% and was not affected by field-applied B, however, in vivo pollen germination and tube growth were enhanced by foliar-applied B. More effect of applied B on in vivo growth appeared as pollen tubes progressed toward the ovary. For in vitro germination, foliar-applied B reduced bursting of tubes, and addition of B to the culture media significantly increased pollen germination and pollen tube growth.

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Physical mechanisms produced in the development of nursery almond trees (Prunus dulcis Miller) as a response to the plant adaptation to different substrates

Rhizosphere ◽

10.1016/j.rhisph.2016.12.002 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 44-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alba Mondragón-Valero ◽

Isabel Lopéz-Cortés ◽

Domingo M. Salazar ◽

Pascual Fernández de Córdova

Keyword(s):

Prunus Dulcis ◽

Plant Adaptation ◽

Physical Mechanisms ◽

Almond Trees

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Gap junction internalization and processing in vivo: a 3D immuno-electron microscopy study

Journal of Cell Science ◽

10.1242/jcs.252726 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. jcs.252726

Author(s):

Rachael P. Norris ◽

Mark Terasaki

Keyword(s):

Gap Junctions ◽

Gap Junction ◽

Connexin 43 ◽

New Technology ◽

Cell Communication ◽

Membrane Vesicles ◽

Microscopy Study ◽

Electron Microscopy Study ◽

Annular Gap

Gap junctions have well-established roles in cell-cell communication by way of forming permeable intercellular channels. Less is understood about their internalization, which forms double membrane vesicles containing cytosol and membranes from another cell, called connexosomes or annular gap junctions. Here, we systematically investigated the fate of connexosomes in intact ovarian follicles. High pressure frozen, serial sectioned tissue was immunogold labeled for Connexin 43. Within a volume corresponding to ∼35 cells, every labeled structure was categorized and its surface area was measured. Measurements support the concept that multiple connexosomes form from larger invaginated gap junctions. Subsequently, the inner and outer membranes separate, Cx43 immunogenicity is lost from the outer membrane, and the inner membrane appears to undergo fission. One pathway for processing involves lysosomes, based on localization of Cathespin B to some processed connexosomes. In summary, this study demonstrates new technology for high-resolution analyses of gap junction processing.

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Leaf mass per unit leaf area decreases as light is eliminated within almond trees (Prunus dulcis)

Acta Horticulturae ◽

10.17660/actahortic.2018.1219.26 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 157-162

Author(s):

D. Monks ◽

C. Taylor ◽

M.T. Treeby

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Prunus Dulcis ◽

Unit Leaf Area ◽

Leaf Mass ◽

Unit Leaf ◽

Almond Trees

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Influence of Inoculation Date on the Colonization of Xylella fastidiosa and the Persistence of Almond Leaf Scorch Disease Among Almond Cultivars

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-05-10-0327 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 95 (2) ◽

pp. 158-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Tiesen Cao ◽

Joseph H. Connell ◽

Margot Wilhelm ◽

Bruce C. Kirkpatrick

Keyword(s):

Xylella Fastidiosa ◽

Prunus Dulcis ◽

Current Season ◽

Leaf Scorch ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Almond Trees ◽

Cultivar Susceptibility ◽

June July ◽

July August September ◽

Almond Leaf Scorch

Field grown 2-year-old almond trees (Prunus dulcis cvs. Butte, Carmel, Mission, Ne Plus Ultra, Padre, Peerless, Price, Solano, Sonora, and Thompson) were mechanically inoculated with Xylella fastidiosa in the growing seasons of 2002 and 2003 to study the effect of inoculation date on the movement and colonization of X. fastidiosa and the overwintering persistence of almond leaf scorch disease (ALS) in these cultivars. X. fastidiosa was inoculated into the base of current-season growing shoots in April, May, June, July, August, September, and October. Almond trees inoculated in spring months developed more ALS-symptomatic leaves and more extensive within-plant spread of X. fastidiosa by the end of the current growing season compared with trees inoculated in July, August, September, and October. Trees inoculated in June developed the most severe ALS symptoms during the season in which they were inoculated. Trees inoculated in June and July 2002 had significantly higher disease ratings in 2003 than inoculations made in August and October 2002. Based on disease ratings observed in 2003, 1 year after inoculation, Sonora and Solano were the most ALS susceptible, Mission and Price intermediate, and Carmel, Padre, Ne Plus Ultra, Butte, Peerless, and Thompson were the least susceptible cultivars for allowing X. fastidiosa to overwinter and cause disease the following year. Assessment of all trees in August 2004 indicated that trees inoculated in June and July 2002 had a significantly higher amount of ALS-infected branches than trees inoculated in other months. Butte, Carmel, Padre, and Thompson cultivars had no symptomatic branches, while X. fastidiosa infections persisted or colonized new branches in Sonora, Solano, Peerless, Price, Mission, and Ne Plus Ultra. Based on the 2004 assessment, Sonora was the most susceptible cultivar. Surveys of a diseased orchard in Chico, CA showed large differences in ALS incidence in four almond cultivars. Nonpareil and Peerless had significantly greater incidence of disease than Butte and Carmel over the 2 years surveyed. These data suggest that cultivar susceptibility and the time of X. fastidiosa infection are important factors in determining the persistence of ALS in almond trees.

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