Strengthening crop stems: New insights from pepper plant genetics

Nanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science

 

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CaSLR1 regulates the expression of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin biosynthesis related genes in pepper stems. (a) The expression-related heatmap of genes involved in the cellulose biosynthesis pathway and cell wall structural proteins. (b) The expression-related heatmap of genes involved in the hemicellulose biosynthesis pathway. (c) The expression-related heatmap of genes involved in the lignin biosynthesis pathway. (d) qRT-PCR analysis verified the down-regulated genes related to SCW formation pathways using RNA-seq. The results were expressed as the mean ± SE (n = 3). **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001, as determined by the Student's t-test. (e) A hypothesis suggests that CaSLR1 regulated the stem lodging resistance. In WT, CaNAC6 binds to SNBE elements in the promoter of CaSLR1, thereby inducing its transcription. As a result, the stem accumulated cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which promotes the deposition of the SCW and increases stem strength, enabling the stem remain upright. In contrast, in the mutant slr1, a deletion of CaSLR1 and its promoter abolished the binding of CaNAC6 to the SNBEs. The transcription of CaSLR1 was inhibited, and the accumulation of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in stems was reduced. Accordingly, it resulted in the thinning of the SCW, weakening of stem strength, and finally, stem lodging. ‘×’ marked that the effect was cancelled. CESA: cellulose synthase; COBL4: COBRA-like 4; IRX9: irregular xylem 9; XTH30: xyloglucan endotransglucosylase protein 30; CCoAOMTL: caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase 1ike; laccase 2 L: laccase 2-like; 4CL1: 4-coumarate-Co-A ligase 1; CAD1: cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase 1; 4CCL7: 4-coumarate-Co-A ligase like 7; AAE2: Acyl-activating enzyme 2; ACSL4: Long chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4-like; IRX15LL: IRX15 − LIKE − like.

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Credit: Horticulture Research

A recent study has identified CaSLR1, a gene in pepper plants, as a key regulator of stem strength by controlling cell wall development. This discovery offers significant potential for agriculture, paving the way for breeding crops with enhanced resistance to lodging. Such improvements can lead to increased yield stability and reduced production costs, providing substantial benefits for farmers.

Stem lodging is a major challenge in agricultural production, especially in crops like peppers with heavy above-ground biomass. Lodging reduces stem strength and stability, severely affecting crop yield and quality. Research has shown that cell wall components—cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin—are crucial for structural support. However, the genetic mechanisms behind stem lodging in the Solanaceae family remain largely unknown, highlighting the urgent need for deeper exploration into the genes that regulate stem strength and lodging resistance.

Scientists from Hunan Agricultural University have pinpointed a gene linked to stem strength in Capsicum annuum, as reported (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae169) in Horticulture Research on June 20, 2024. The study zeroes in on CaSLR1, a MYB family transcription factor identified through genetic analysis of a pepper mutant prone to lodging. The findings reveal that CaSLR1 plays a crucial role in regulating cell wall biosynthesis, thereby enhancing stem strength and minimizing lodging. The gene's function was validated in both pepper and tomato, demonstrating its broader relevance in promoting stem stability.

The research identified CaSLR1 through analysis of a stem lodging-resistant pepper mutant, showing that this MYB transcription factor is essential for secondary cell wall formation. Silencing CaSLR1 led to a significant decrease in cell wall thickness and stem strength, with similar outcomes observed in tomatoes when the homologous gene SlMYB61 was disrupted. Further analysis revealed that CaNAC6, a gene involved in cell wall formation, positively regulates CaSLR1 expression. Experimental validation confirmed that CaNAC6 binds to the CaSLR1 promoter, highlighting the importance of the CaNAC6-CaSLR1 module in maintaining stem integrity. This research advances our understanding of stem development and offers new targets for breeding resilient crops.

Dr. Xuexiao Zou, a lead researcher on the study, noted, “This discovery uncovers a critical genetic factor in the battle against stem lodging in peppers. By understanding how CaSLR1 regulates cell wall biosynthesis, we can develop precise breeding strategies to strengthen stems and boost crop yield. Our findings not only enhance plant genetic knowledge but also hold significant promise for sustainable agriculture.”

The discovery of CaSLR1's role in enhancing stem strength opens new opportunities for breeding programs aimed at improving lodging resistance in peppers and tomatoes. By focusing on this gene, breeders can develop varieties that minimize stem breakage, reducing yield losses and boosting overall productivity. Furthermore, insights into the genetic pathways regulating stem strength can inform strategies for enhancing resilience in other crops, contributing to more sustainable and stable agricultural practices in response to environmental challenges.

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References

DOI

10.1093/hr/uhae169

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae169

Funding information

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32172584), the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (2021JJ30339), the Hunan Provincial Innovation Foundation for Postgraduate (CX20200655), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32002040).

About Horticulture Research

Horticulture Research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number two in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Reports ™ from Clarivate, 2023. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, comments, correspondence articles and letters to the editor related to all major horticultural plants and disciplines, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology, and the origination and domestication of crops.

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Journal

Horticulture Research

DOI

10.1093/hr/uhae169 

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Stem lodging Resistance-1 controls stem strength by positively regulating the biosynthesis of cell wall components in Capsicum annuum L.

WOMENS HEALTH

The Menopause Society launches Making Menopause Work™ Initiative

 THIS IS A UNION ISSUE

Unique educational and designation initiative based on new science-based Consensus Recommendations to help employers retain workers and recoup $1.8 billion in lost workdays by supporting menopausal women in the workplace

The Menopause Society

CHICAGO (Sept 13, 2024)—Menopause is a natural life transition occurring when many women are at the “top of their game.” Unsupported menopause symptoms drive up employer healthcare costs and cause roughly $1.8 billion in missed workdays. To help employers retain these valued workers and build cultures of well-being, The Menopause Society launched Making Menopause Work™ based on new science-based Consensus Recommendations. The Recommendations are published online in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.

“More employers—from large corporations to small organizations—are supporting workers during menopause,” Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director of The Menopause Society and director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Women’s Health, said today at The Menopause Society’s Annual Meeting in Chicago.

“But more menopause-supportive workplaces are urgently needed,” Faubion continued. “Women ages 50 and older are the fastest-growing demographic group, making essential contributions to society, families, communities, and the paid and unpaid workforces. This is a moment of tremendous opportunity.”

The Menopause Society builds on its 35-year, science-based track record with the creation of Making Menopause Work. The program—which includes a free Employer Guide, an assessment, planning tools, and other resources, with an employer designation program to come—incorporates recommendations based on new scientific consensus recommendations from a multidisciplinary panel of leading medical, legal, and human resource experts.

“Employers need to take menopause symptoms seriously and also know that they’re manageable and temporary,” said Jill K. Bigler, labor attorney at Epstein Becker Green and a member of the advisory panel for the Consensus Recommendations. “Making Menopause Work is a smart, strategic move for employers. It safeguards workers’ opportunities for leadership and financial security. It retains workers and productivity. And it builds a multigenerational workplace where midlife employees hold institutional knowledge, bring calm under stress, and make wise decisions.”

Understanding menopause and creating menopause-responsive workplaces

Menopause, the end of menstrual periods, usually occurs between ages 45 and 55; although perimenopause can start as early as age 35. Symptoms are different for each person. For some, periods become irregular and then stop. Others may experience hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, memory problems, mood disturbances, vaginal dryness, or weight gain.

The Society’s Consensus Recommendations cite a survey by the Society for Women’s Health Research showing that two out of five people had considered looking for or had found a new job because of menopause symptoms. Not only do employers risk losing talent and revenues when they ignore menopause, they also face greater costs for healthcare as well as the cost of replacing and training workers.

Creating a supportive workplace culture is the first step in turning these numbers around. The Employer Guide supports employers, managers, and supervisors to do this, including opening conversations for those who want it, understanding how to hear and support people’s needs, and recognizing menopause as a normal part of life for half the population.

From there, the Employer Guide helps employers update policies, benefits, and environments, including offering the following:

• Health insurance plans that include adequate and affordable coverage for menopause-related care 
• Access to adequate bathrooms and flexible breaks to use them—vital for people with heavy or unpredictable bleeding
• Improved ventilation and updated uniforms with breathable, flexible fabrics—a game changer for people experiencing hot flashes
• Quiet work environments and flexible deadlines, which improve focus for people experiencing insomnia, anxiety, or brain fog
• Peer support networks, employee resource groups and employee assistance programs, which can help people know they’re not going through menopause alone

Employers or employees interested in learning more about this important initiative should visit menopause.org/workplace.

The Menopause Society (formerly The North American Menopause Society) is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering health care professionals to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond. Employers who support Making Menopause Work become part of a movement that includes more than 2,000 health care professionals who have earned The Menopause Society’s Certified Practitioner (MSCP) credential, along with tens of thousands of people who rely on The Menopause Guidebook, the most complete consumer menopause resource available.

 

Not in the mood for sex after menopause?

A new study suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy could be key in improving sexual function in postmenopausal women

The Menopause Society

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Sept 10, 2024)—Many women report a decline in sexual function, including desire, when transitioning through menopause. Such problems can contribute to poor self-image and negatively affect physical and emotional well-being. A new study suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy may be a safe and effective treatment for mitigating sexual concerns during this period. Results of the study will be presented at the 2024 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Chicago September 10-14.  

Partially due to declining estrogen levels, 68% to 87% of peri- and postmenopausal women express sexual concerns. Despite such high prevalence and negative impacts, treatment options–particularly nonpharmacological ones–are quite limited. In response, researchers initiated a small study to evaluate the efficacy of a four-session individual cognitive behavioral therapy protocol for improving sexual functioning (eg, desire, arousal, pain, satisfaction). Secondary objectives included assessing body image, relationship satisfaction, menopause symptoms (such as hot flashes), depression, and anxiety during peri- and postmenopause.

The researchers found that participants in this study experienced a significant improvement in multiple areas of sexual functioning, body image and couple satisfaction, as well as a significant decrease in menopause symptoms, depression, and anxiety, and self-reported overall health. In addition, 100% of participants indicated they were very satisfied with the treatment and that it helped them cope with their symptoms more effectively.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study that has examined the efficacy of a cognitive behavioral therapy protocol specifically aimed to improve sexual concerns experienced during peri- and postmenopause,” says Dr. Sheryl Green, lead study author from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. “Results suggest that this type of therapy leads to significant improvements across several important sexual concern domains, and we hope this study will provide the basis for larger randomized clinical trials in the future.”

More detailed results will be discussed at the 2024 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society as part of the Top Scoring Abstract Session presentation titled “Cognitive behavioral therapy for sexual concerns during peri- and postmenopause, a clinical trial.”

“This study is important to women experiencing sexual health related issues and provides their healthcare professionals with another nonpharmacologic treatment option to discuss with their patients,” says Dr. Stephanie Faubion, medical director for The Menopause Society.

Both Drs. Green and Faubion are available for interviews prior to the Annual Meeting.

For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit the newly redesigned www.menopause.org.

The Menopause Society (formerly The North American Menopause Society) is dedicated to empowering healthcare professionals and providing them with the tools and resources to improve the health of women during the menopause transition and beyond. As the leading authority on menopause since 1989, the nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization serves as the independent, evidence-based resource for healthcare professionals, researchers, the media, and the public and leads the conversation about improving women’s health and healthcare experiences. To learn more, visit menopause.org. 

 

CRISPR/Cas9 modifies euglena to create potential biofuel source

Mutant microalgae produce wax esters for biofuel feedstock with improved cold flow

Osaka Metropolitan University

 

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Genome editing of Euglena gracilis led to stable mutants that produced wax esters with shorter carbon chains, giving the esters properties more suitable for use in biofuel.

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Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University

News about biofuels sometimes mentions used cooking oil as a feedstock, but if these substances contain animal fat, they can solidify in colder temperatures. This happens because, chemically, the fatty acids of these and many other saturated fats have long carbon chains with single bonds. Enter the euglena. An Osaka Metropolitan University team has found a way to have one species of this microalgae produce wax esters with shorter carbon chains than usual.

Using CRISPR/Cas9 to edit the genome of Euglena gracilis, Dr. Masami Nakazawa and her team at the Graduate School of Agriculture’s Department of Applied Biochemistry produced stable mutants that created wax esters two carbons shorter than the wild-type species.

This improvement in the cold flow of the wax esters makes them more applicable as feedstock for biofuels. Among the factors favorable to using Euglena gracilis as a biofuel source are its ability to grow easily through photosynthesis and anaerobic production of wax esters.

“This achievement is expected to serve as a fundamental technology for replacing some petroleum-based production of wax esters with biological sources,” Dr. Nakazawa affirmed.

The findings were published in Bioresource Technology.

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About OMU 

Established in Osaka as one of the largest public universities in Japan, Osaka Metropolitan University is committed to shaping the future of society through “Convergence of Knowledge” and the promotion of world-class research. For more research news, visit https://www.omu.ac.jp/en/ and follow us on social media: X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.

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Journal

Bioresource Technology

DOI

10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131255 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Cells

Article Title

Genome editing-based mutagenesis stably modif

 

Energy transmission in quantum field theory requires information

Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe

 

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Diagram of a boundary surface shows how in order to transmit energy, information must also be transmitted.

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Credit: Yuya Kusuki

An international team of researchers has found a surprisingly simple relationship between the rates of energy and information transmission across an interface connecting two quantum field theories. Their work was published in Physical Review Letters on August 30.

The interface between different quantum field theories is an important concept that arises in a variety of problems in particle physics and condensed matter physics. However, it has been difficult to calculate the transmission rates of energy and information across interfaces. 

Hirosi Ooguri, Professor at the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU, WPI) at the University of Tokyo and Fred Kavli Professor at the California Institute of Technology, together with his collaborators, Associate Professor Yuya Kusuki at Kyushu University, and Professor Andreas Karch and graduate students Hao-Yu Sun and Mianqi Wang at the University of Texas, Austin, showed that for theories in two dimensions with scale invariance there are simple and universal inequalities between three quantities: Energy transfer rate, Information transfer rate, and the size of Hilbert space (measured by the rate of increase of the number of states at high energy). Namely,

[ energy transmittance ] ≤ [ information transmittance] ≤ [ size of the Hilbert space ].

These inequalities imply that, in order to transmit energy, information must also be transmitted, and both require a sufficient number of states. They also showed that no stronger inequality is possible.

Both energy and information transmissions are important quantities, but they are difficult to calculate, and no relationship between them was known. By showing the inequality between these quantities, this paper sheds new light on this important but difficult problem.

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Journal

Physical Review Letters

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.091604 

Article Title

Universal bound on effective central charge and its saturation

Charging ahead towards future low-cost polymer zinc-ion batteries

More sustainable solutions for future power sources

Flinders University

 

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Associate Professor Zhongfan Jia, who leads a research group working on Sustainable Polymers for Energy and Environment at Flinders University.

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Credit: Flinders University

With global demand for lithium-ion batteries fast depleting reserves of raw materials, experts are seeking safe, affordable and reliable alternatives for rechargeable batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) could be the answer to producing low-cost alternatives from abundant feedstocks, and Flinders University scientists are paving the way for the production of simple and practical polymer AZIBs using organic cathodes for more sustainable energy storage technology.

“Aqueous zinc-ion batteries could have real-world applications,” says Associate Professor in Chemistry Zhongfan Jia, a nanotech researcher at the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University.

From electric vehicles to portable electronic devices, the demand and consumption of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have led to resource shortages and supply-chain issues of strategic metals including lithium and cobalt.  

Meanwhile, millions of spent batteries, most of which are not properly recycled, have caused enormous waste and environmental risks - which future alternatives such as AIZBs promise to reduce.

“Among these alternatives, AZIBs stand out because of the much higher abundance of zinc in the earth's crust (ten times more than lithium), and their low toxicity and high safety.”

AZIBs usually use zinc metal as an anode and inorganic or organic compounds as a cathode. While substantial work has been devoted to improving the stability of zinc anodes, high-performing cathodes are needed and remain a major challenge.

“Our research is building conductivity using nitroxide radical polymer cathodes made from cheap commercial polymer and optimised the battery performance using low-cost additives,” says Associate Professor Jia, who leads a research group working on Sustainable Polymers for Energy and Environment.

“Our work reevaluated the use of high redox potential nitroxide radical polymers cathodes in AZIBs, and produced the highest mass loading so far,” he says, about a new online journal article in the Journal of Power Resources.

The study, led by Flinders master student Nanduni Gamage and postdoc fellow Dr Yanlin Shi, developed a lab-made pouch battery using scaled-up polymer (at approx. cost $20 / kg), a non-fluoro Zn(ClO4)2 electrolyte, and BP 2000 carbon black ($1 / kg) without binder to provide a capacity of nearly 70 mAh g-1 and a middle discharge voltage of 1.4 V.

With a mass loading of 50 mg cm-2, the pouch battery had a capacity of 60 mAh, which can easily power a small electric fan and a model car (see videos in the article).  

Collaborators in the study, including Dr Jesús Santos-Peña, from the Université Paris Est Creteil CNRS in France, worked with other experts from the Flinders University Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology.

The article Converting a low-cost industrial polymer into organic cathodes for high mass-loading aqueous zinc-ion batteries (2024) by Nanduni SW Gamage, Yanlin Shi, Chanaka J Mudugamuwa, Jesús Santos-Peña, David A Lewis, Justin M Chalker and Zhongfan Jia has been published in Energy Storage Materials. DOI: 10.1016/j.ensm.2024.103731.

In collaboration with Griffith University, the team has also recently developed organic radical/K dual-ion batteries, a technique that can also relieve dependence on lithium-ion batteries.

This article Morphological engineering of PTAm@CNTs cathode for high-rate potassium dual-ion battery (2024) by Zhenzhen Wu, Yanlin Shi, Chanaka J. Mudugamuwa, Pan Yang, Hao Chen, Yuhui Tian, Milton Kiefel, Shanqing Zhang, Zhongfan Jia has been published in the Journal of Power Resources. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2024.235134.

 Acknowledgements: This project is supported by funding from the Australian Research Council (DP230100587, DP230100642, LE230100168) and the French-Australian International Research Network on Conversion and Energy Storage (IRN-FACES). The authors also acknowledge the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) SA node for supporting the electroanalytical and electrochemical synthesis labs at Flinders University.

 

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Journal

Energy Storage Materials

DOI

10.1016/j.ensm.2024.103731 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Converting a low-cost industrial polymer into organic cathodes for high mass-loading aqueous zinc-ion batteries

 

New 'PVDF alternative battery binder' surpasses EU environmental regulations!

National Research Council of Science & Technology

 

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The research results of KERI's 'PVDF Replacement Battery Binder Technology' have been published as the cover article in the prestigious journal ‘Advanced Functional Materials’.

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Credit: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute

A team led by Dr. Hyeon-Gyun Im and Dr. Dong Jun Kang from the Insulation Materials Research Center of Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), in collaboration with Dr. Jung-keun Yoo from KIST and Professor Jong-soon Kim from Sungkyunkwan University, have developed a technology that enhances the performance of binders—often the 'unsung heroes' in the field of secondary batteries—while using environmentally friendly materials. This technology has been published in a prestigious international journal.

The electrode, which has the greatest impact on the performance of secondary batteries, is manufactured by mixing an 'active material' that generates electricity, a 'conductive material' that facilitates the flow of electricity, and a 'binder' with a solvent. The role of the binder is to help the active material and conductive material adhere well to the metal plate (current collector) and to physically stabilize the electrode.

The binder has a relatively small proportion in the electrode, which has led to slower research progress in the past. However, with the increasing demand for high-capacity and high-performance batteries, interest in binders is growing. Currently, Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), a fluoropolymer material, is predominantly used as the binder material for lithium-ion battery positive electrodes. However, PVDF is dominated by some global companies in Japan and Europe, and there have been ongoing functional issues, such as decreased battery stability, associated with its use.

Specifically, PVDF is composed of a very strong carbon-fluorine (C-F) bond and is almost indestructible in nature, earning it the nickname 'zombie compound.' Due to its difficulty in decomposition, it remains in the environment for extended periods and is known to emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases when burned. Due to these environmental concerns, the European Union (EU) is considering regulating the use of PVDF. Therefore, the development of binder materials that surpass PVDF is extremely urgent.

KERI has addressed this issue by applying 'siloxane' to positive electrode binders. Siloxane is a compound composed of silicon and oxygen, known for its excellent electrical properties and chemical stability. Dr. Hyeon-Gyun Im and Dr. Dong Jun Kang’s team has secured a 'hybrid siloxane resin manufacturing technology' that combines the advantages of both organic and inorganic materials* through years of research on nanocomposites. They have also developed molecular structure design and synthesis control technologies applicable to positive electrode binders.
* Organic and Inorganic Materials: In chemical structure, if a material lacks carbon atoms, it is classified as inorganic; if it contains carbon atoms, it is classified as organic. Inorganic materials are known for their strength and durability, making them suitable for use in aircraft parts and construction materials. Organic materials, due to the numerous bonds formed by carbon atoms, have complex molecules and exhibit a variety of physical properties (such as resistance and elasticity). Because of these characteristics, organic materials are widely used in electronics, clothing, and other products.

The research team conducted multiple validations by producing full cells using the applied technology. As a result, it was confirmed that the KERI technology exhibits over 1.4 times higher lifespan stability compared to conventional binders with PVDF. While PVDF is known for its physical and chemical stability and good adhesion properties, it has faced issues such as swelling and unwanted side reactions between internal materials as batteries have progressed toward higher capacity and performance. However, KERI's technology has surpassed these limitations.

The major advantage of this achievement is that it does not contain fluorine, making it environmentally friendly and safe for human health. The new technology is expected to not just avoid the EU's environmental regulations aimed at limiting the use of PVDF but significantly contribute to reducing the reliance on imported positive electrode binders.

Dr. Hyeon-Gyun Im from KERI stated, "While Korea’s battery industry is world-class, we currently rely entirely on imports for positive electrode binders due to the lack of specialized technology and companies domestically. Our environmentally friendly binder technology using siloxane has the potential to replace existing PVDF and enhance the safety and lifespan of products requiring high-capacity batteries, such as electric vehicles."

Additionally, the research results have been recognized for their excellence and were recently published as a back cover article in the prestigious journal ‘Advanced Functional Materials’. The “JCR Impact Factor” of the journal is 18.5, ranking in the top 5% of the field.

The research team anticipates that this achievement will attract significant interest from the secondary battery industry and plans to identify potential demand partners to facilitate technology transfer. Furthermore, they plan to apply the developed technology to dry positive electrode binder materials and continue research to extend its use to various areas, including zinc batteries and sodium batteries.

 

KERI has developed a battery positive electrode binder that can replace PVDF using siloxane.

 

KERI researchers are developing a battery positive electrode binder that can replace PVDF using siloxane.

Credit

Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute

<KERI is a government-funded research institute under the National Research Council of Science & Technology of the Ministry of Science and ICT.>

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Journal

Advanced Functional Materials

DOI

10.1002/adfm.202410866 

Article Title

A Fluorine-Free Binder with Organic-Inorganic Crosslinked Networks Enabling Structural Stability of Ni-Rich Layered Cathodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries

 

The ethics of biobanking for conservation: BioRescue adjusts ethical assessment tool for the use of genome research banks

Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)

 

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Cryostorage of biomaterial at the Leibniz-IZW

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Credit: Photo by Jon A. Juarez/Leibniz-IZW

In the face of the global biodiversity crisis, more and more biobanks are being set up to safeguard and potentially restore genetic diversity. Preserved tissue or cells allow scientists and conservationists to overcome spatial and even temporal fragmentations of dwindling wildlife populations and employ assisted reproduction technologies – as long as biobanks can be used in a safe and ethically appropriate manner. In a new scientific paper in the journal “Cryobiology”, the BioRescue team systematically evaluates these ethical considerations related to, among others, animal welfare, sample ownership and good scientific practice. The team also presents a modification of its “ETHAS” tool as a clear, easy-to-adopt and standardised technique for a structured and organised ethical assessment and decision making in the context of biobanking.

Together with recent advances in assisted reproduction technologies (ART), biobanks promise to be a technique of last resort for maintaining genetic diversity in dwindling wildlife populations and even for saving species from the brink of extinction. For example, the rescue mission for the northern white rhinoceros (the BioRescue project) relies both on new developments of techniques such as oocyte collection, in vitro fertilisation, embryo transfer and stem cell differentiation for rhinos, and on the possibility to safely store egg cell, semen or tissue samples in liquid nitrogen. Biobanking is a guarantee to have biomaterial at the team’s disposal to develop these new techniques and employ them at suitable places and times. “We can bring together semen collected 20 years ago in North America with oocytes which were freshly collected in Kenya, create embryos in Italy and store them again in liquid nitrogen until we can transfer them into a surrogate mother”, says BioRescue project head Prof Thomas Hildebrandt from the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW). “None of that would be possible without cryostorage, so we are in fact building and using an icy bridge across space and time and overcome the severe fragmentation of the species’ genetic heritage for our mission.”

However, these new technological possibilities raise new ethical questions, which the BioRescue team has addressed by adjusting and extending its Ethical Assessment tool for ART procedures “ETHAS” to biobanking. “If we establish new opportunities for conservation by the use of new technologies such as biobanking, we need to ensure that we make wise and transparent decisions for the environment and the ecosystem, for the welfare of the animals involved, for society and its institutions and regulations, as well as for good scientific practice”, says Prof Barbara de Mori of Padua University, who heads the ethical research pillar in BioRescue. This includes issues such as

• how to select biomaterial that is stored in so-called genome research banks (GRBs) – to avoid a skewed representation of individuals and species for a broader conservation perspective;
• how to ensure the welfare of all animals involved – from the individuals from which samples are obtained to the individuals that will carry the preserved genetic information or act as surrogates in the context of ART;
• how to deal with ownership  and benefit sharing when established storage and relatively easy transport opens doors to potentially exploitative parachute science – exporting biological and cultural heritage and generating profit at the expense of local communities with no benefits to these communities.

“Last but not least we need to make sure that we meet high scientific and material standards, prevent misuse, conduct our research and conservation activities with the required transparency and listen carefully to societal stakeholders in complex ethical questions of what should be done”, sum up Hildebrandt and de Mori.

To help address these issues within scientific projects for conservation, BioRescue modified the established ethical assessment tool ETHAS so that it can be applied to biobanking of various types of biomaterial such as tissue, reproductive cells and embryos as well as cell cultures. “ETHAS is a checklist-based, systematic self-assessment tool that covers environmental ethics, animal welfare ethics, social ethics and research ethics of biobanking procedures”, explains Dr Pierfrancesco Biasetti, scientist at the Leibniz-IZW. “ETHAS connects and integrates all ethical and regulatory considerations into a single framework and thereby provides a clear, relatively easy-to-adopt and standardised method for structuring and organising ethical analysis and ethical decision making.” The goal is to ensure the highest ethical standards possible with a practical tool that can be incorporated in standard operating procedures.

The ethical evaluation of biobanking activities remains in its infancy, the BioRescue team sums up in the scientific paper; as does the integration of GRBs into the management of species of conservation concern. There is a pressing need not only to enhance ethical training for conservationists and biobanking practitioners but also to facilitate the establishment of GRBs as a pivotal strategy in supporting species conservation objectives. The collection and storage of samples and the development of living cell lines could then be seen as an integral part of routine conservation efforts rather than as exceptions – as should be its ethical evaluation.

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Journal

Cryobiology

DOI

10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104956 

Method of Research

Content analysis

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Ethical assessment of genome resource banking (GRB) in wildlife conservation