Polyvinylidene fluoride nanofiber coated polypropylene nonwoven fabric as a membrane for lithium-ion batteries

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) membranes in spite of having many critical properties necessary for lithium-ion batteries, do not have satisfying thermal and mechanical resistance. The goal of this study was to combine the good mechanical and thermal properties of PP nonwoven fabric with the excellent electrochemical properties of PVdF nanofibers to exploit a high-performance membrane for lithium-ion batteries. This work reports the preparation of PVdF nanofiber membranes using electrospinning on a polypropylene (PP) spunbonded nonwoven fabric and an aluminum foil followed by a hot-pressing treatment. The morphology and size of the membranes were studied by the scanning electron microscopy. The tensile strength of the membrane with the PP support was superior to the PVdF membrane. Thermal stability of the prepared membranes was determined using the TGA method and the dimensional stability was investigated by measuring the shrinkage ratio at 105 °C. The results have shown that the PVdF/PP membrane was thermally more stable than the PVdF and the commercial Celgard 2325 membranes. The batteries using PVdF/PP membrane exhibited higher electrochemical oxidation limit, better cycling performance and less discharge capacity fading during 100 cycles compared to PVdF and Celgard membranes. The results of this study showed that PVdF/PP membrane is a promising advanced membrane in lithium-ion batteries.     

Effects of vermicompost and salinity stress on growth and physiological traits of Medicago rigidula L.

The use of vermicompost as a biological fertilizer under salinity stress conditions was tested in this research. Accordingly, the seeds of Medicago rigidula were grown in the greenhouse. The experiment was performed based on factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design using 5 replications. Application rates of vermicompost were 0, 10, 20 and 30%. Salinity stress was conducted in three levels (0, 50 and 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)). The highest and the lowest values of the plant survival capacity (%), shoot dry weight (g), leaf relative water content (LRWC) (%), total chlorophyll content (%), leaf area (cm²), total nitrogen content (TNC) (%) and potassium (K) content (%) of the plant tissues were found in VC4 × SL1 and VC1 × SL3 treatments, respectively. Whereas, the maximum and minimum values of root dry weight and root:shoot ratio were seen in VC1 × SL3 and VC4 × SL1 treatments, respectively.     

Shortening transplantation periods of potato plantlets by use of potassium humate and kadostim and their effects on mini-tuber production

Plantlets produced from meristem culture of six advanced cultivars (Agria, Advanced clone 397007-9, Marfona, Sante, Satina and Ceaser) propagated by single node cuttings arranged in a RCBD base factorial design with ten replications. Factor A was plantlets produced from meristem culture of advanced cultivars and factor B was seven treatments (four concentrations of potassium humate as 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mL, one concentrations of kadostim as 1 mL, compound concentration of potassium humate and kadostim as 1 ml L(-1) MS media culture and without them as control). Produced plantlets transplanted into the planting beds of Pitmass (Biolan) with punce (1:1 v/v) in the greenhouse. Some of traits measured such as average weight and number of mini-tuber per plant after harvesting. Results of analysis of variances showed the significant differences between effects of kadostim and potassium humate on advanced cultivars, for transplantation into the greenhouse, stem solidity and rhizo-genesis characters. So transplantation days decreased from 30 to 13 days in MS media culture with compound of potassium humate + kadostim by concentration of 1 ml L(-1) MS media culture, also decreased to 15 days in MS media culture with kadostim by concentration of 1 ml L(-1) MS media culture and also decreased to 22 days in MS culture with potassium humate by concentration of 1 and 1.5 ml L(-1) MS media culture and plantlets had the highest stem solidity and better rhizo-genesis in all of treatments. Agria, Sante and Marfona transplanted earlier and Ceaser transplanted later than others to the greenhouse. Compound concentration of potassium humate and kadostim 1 ml L(-1) MS media culture had the highest number of mini-tubers per plant and potassium humate 0.5 ml L(-1) MS and Kadostim 1 ml L(-1) MS had the highest mini-tuber weight per plant and average of mini-tuber weight per plant. Agria had the highest number and average of weight of mini-tubers per plant. Potassium humate 0.5 ml L(-1) MS in satina, kadostim 1 ml L(-1) MS in marfona and potassium humate + kadostim 1 ml L(-1) MS in Agria had the highest number of mini-tubers per plant. Increasing rate of weight and number of mini-tubers per plant with potassium humate and kadostim in all of advanced cultivars were more than control.     

A review of the contemporary knowledge of bovine tuberculosis and government policy in Iran

In 1931 Carpantier reported bovine TB (BTB) in Iranian cattle. Some eighty years on with a national test-and-slaughter programme in place for over four decades, the efforts to vanquish Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in cattle have been in vain as the vast majority of the 30 Iranian provinces still have reports of BTB in their cattle herds every year. This paper reviews the present epidemiology of BTB in Iran and in the region and evaluates the success of government policy in controlling this disease.     

Effects of vermicompost and urea fertilizers on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of Vetiveria zizanioides stapf. grown under drought stress conditions

The use of vermicompost as a bio-fertilizer and urea (as chemical fertilizer) under drought stress conditions was tested in this research. Accordingly, a pot experiment was carried out and the seedlings of vetivergrass (Vetiveriazizanioides stapf.) were grown in the greenhouse at Malayer University. The experiment was conducted based on factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design using five replications. Irrigation levels included field capacity (FC) (as control), 60% FC and 30% FC. Vermicompost applications included zero (as control), 40, and 60% which were expressed as VC1, VC2, and VC3. Urea application levels included zero (0), 100, or 200 mg per kg per pot which were expressed as U1, U2, and U3, respectively. The highest and the lowest values of total protein contents (μMg-1 fresh weight (FW)), calcium and magnesium concentrations (mg g^?1 dry weight (DW)), and survival capacity (%) of the vetivergrass were found in the FC × VC3 × U3 and 30% FC × VC1 × U1 treatments, respectively, whereas the maximum and the minimum values of essential oil contents (%) were seen in the 60% FC × VC3 × U3 and FC × VC1 × U1 treatments, respectively. A different trend was seen in the changes of total chlorophyll content (%) values and the highest and the lowest values were found in the 60% FC × VC3 × U3 and 30% FC × VC1 × U1 treatments, respectively. However, the root dry weight increased significantly as the soil moisture content, percentage of vermicompost, or urea addition decreased.     

Effects of salinity,drought, and priming treatments on seed germination and growth parameters of Lathyrus sativus L.

Germination of plants is one of the most important stages during their growth, which is often influenced by environmental stresses, especially drought and salinity. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of salinity and drought on seed germination and growth of Lathyrus sativus. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement in four replications. Salinity treatments were 0, 2, and 4 dS/m and drought treatments included 0, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 MPa. Salinity and drought treatments were prepared by using sodium chloride and polyethylene glycol 6000, respectively. The results showed that salinity and drought stresses decreased germination percentage, and root and radicle length.     

Effect of drought stress on total protein,essential oil content,and physiological traits of Levisticum officinale Koch

Levisticum officinale Koch is one of the most important plants producing essential oil. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of drought stress on growth, total protein and essential oil content of L. officinale. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in a completely randomized design using five replications. Aridity levels of field capacity irrigation (as control), ?0.6 and ?1.0 MPa were applied. There was a significant effect of aridity on the leaf area in L. officinale. The highest leaf area values were found in the lowest aridity (FC) level. The root weight and root length in the ?0.6 MPa aridity level were more than that of the control aridity level, but shoot height and shoot weight were highest in the control treatment. The total soluble protein content under ?0.6 MPa drought stress was numerically lower than that in the control treatment, but statistically there was no significant difference between protein contents in the ?0.6 MPa and the control treatment. Compared to the control treatment, the total soluble protein content of L. officinale significantly decreased in the ?1.0 MPa drought treatment. The essential oil content of L. officinale was significantly increased in the ?0.6 MPa drought treatment compared to the control. Compared to control treatment, a significant reduction was found in essential oil content of L. officinale in the ?1.0 MPa aridity treatment. The results suggest that in the drought levels between ?0.6 and ?1.0 MPa, L. officinale could be used for arid and semi-arid lands economical use.     

Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Seedling Growth and Physiological Traits of Melilotus officinalis L. Grown Under Salinity Stress Conditions

This study was conducted to determine the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inoculation on the leaf relative water content (LRWC), survival capacity, mycorrhizal dependency (MD), essential oil content and total protein content of Melilotus officinalis grown in a greenhouse under salinity stress. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized factorial arrangement design using five replications. Zero (0), 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) and two AM fungal levels were applied. Control (without inoculation) and inoculated (with AM fungi) treatments were considered two mycorrhizal levels. LRWC and survival capacity values in AM Melilotus officinalis were significantly higher than that in the non-AM-inoculated plants. Generally, MD, essential oil content and total protein content values were significantly higher in the AM-inoculated Melilotus officinalis compared with the non-AM-inoculated plants in all treatments. Results suggest that Melilotus officinalis could be used for the economic usage of the saline lands.     

Growth,Survival, Protein Content,and Phytoremediation Potency of Various Rangeland Plant Species (Medicago polymorpha L., Medicago rigidula L., and Onobrychis sativa L.) Grown in Vermicompost-Containing Potting Media

A pot experiment based on completely randomized factorial arrangement design with four replications was conducted under greenhouse condition at Malayer University, Malayer, Iran. Pots contained a mixture of soil and different concentrations (0% and 60% w/w) of vermicompost. Plants were exposed to three lead nitrate concentrations: 0, 4, and 8 mM. Based on the results of this research, shoot height and root length of the studied plants significantly decreased with increased lead concentrations in all vermicompost application levels. Generally, plants exposed to lower levels of lead and vermicompost application had higher root:shoot ratio. The survival capacity of all the studied plants was significantly reduced with increased lead concentrations, but increased with increased vermicompost application level. The total protein content increased with decrease in lead nitrate concentration, but decreased with decrease in vermicompost application. Generally, translocation factor increased significantly as vermicompost application rate increased. The highest root concentration factor of lead was found in V1×Pb2 as compared to the other treatment levels. Generally, tolerance index values of all the studied plants were significantly higher in the lower lead concentration treatments.     

Evaluation of two types of superabsorbent polymer on soil water and some soil microbial properties

Paddy and Water Environment - In this study, two types of superabsorbent polymers, Luquasorb (Luqua) and Stockosorb (Stock), at 180 kg ha−1 were applied by scattering and...