TEC

About: TEC is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5119 publications have been published within this topic receiving 84696 citations.

An open thermo-electrochemical cell enabled by interfacial evaporation

Abstract: This work explores an alternative approach to generate electric energy from a solar-driven interfacial water evaporation system. A thermo-electrochemical redox couple was combined with an evaporation system to take advantage of the temperature difference between the air–liquid interface and the bulk solution of water. An open thermo-electrochemical cell (TEC) was demonstrated to achieve the parallel processes of clean water generation and also electricity generation. Both deionized (DI) water and seawater (from the East China Sea) were used for the preparation of the electrolyte of the TEC system. Under one-sun illumination, the peak output electric power of the TEC with the seawater-based electrolyte was ∼0.5 mW m−2. The electric output of the TEC with the solution of seawater still reached ∼2.3 × 10−2 mW m−2 even without solar illumination due to the temperature difference generated by natural evaporation, which provides a possibility for electricity generation at night. The TECs can also be connected in series to increase the output voltage to charge capacitors or power LEDs, as demonstrated in the work.

Vertical E × B drift velocity variations and associated low-latitude ionospheric irregularities investigated with the TOPEX and GPS satellite data

Abstract: . With a well-selected data set, the various events of the vertical E × B drift velocity variations at magnetic-equator-latitudes, the resultant ionospheric features at low-and mid-latitudes, and the practical consequences of these E × B events on the equatorial radio signal propagation are demonstrated. On a global scale, the development of a equatorial anomaly is illustrated with a series of 1995 global TOPEX TEC (total electron content) maps. Locally, in the Australian longitude region, some field-aligned TOPEX TEC cross sections are combined with the matching Guam (144.86° E; 13.59° N, geographic) GPS (Global Positioning System) TEC data, covering the northern crest of the equatorial anomaly. Together, the 1998 TOPEX and GPS TEC data are utilized to show the three main events of vertical E × B drift velocity variations: (1) the pre-reversal enhancement, (2) the reversal and (3) the downward maximum. Their effects on the dual-frequency GPS recordings are documented with the raw Guam GPS TEC data and with the filtered Guam GPS dTEC/min or 1-min GPS TEC data after Aarons et al. (1997). During these E × B drift velocity events, the Port Moresby (147.10° E; - 9.40° N, geographic) virtual height or h'F ionosonde data (km), which cover the southern crest of the equatorial anomaly in the Australian longitude region, show the effects of plasma drift on the equatorial ionosphere. With the net ( D ) horizontal (H) magnetic field intensity parameter, introduced and called D H or Hequator-Hnon-equator (nT) by Chandra and Rastogi (1974), the daily E × B drift velocity variations are illustrated at 121° E (geographic) in the Australian longitude region. The results obtained with the various data show very clearly that the development of mid-latitude night-time TEC increases is triggered by the westward electric field as the appearance of such night-time TEC increases coincides with the E × B drift velocity reversal. An explanation is offered with the F-region dynamo theory and electrodynamics, and with the ionospheric-plasmaspheric coupling. A comparison is made with the published model results of SUPIM (Sheffield University Plasmasphere-Ionosphere Model; Balan and Bailey, 1995) and experimental results of Park (1971), and the good agreement found is highlighted. Key words. Ionosphere (electric fields; equatorial ionosphere; mid-latitude ionosphere)

The Y137H mutation in the cytochrome P450 FgCYP51B protein confers reduced sensitivity to tebuconazole in Fusarium graminearum.

Abstract: Background Fusarium graminearum is the main pathogen of Fusarium head blight (FHB), a worldwide plant disease and one of the most significant wheat diseases in China. Demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides, such as tebuconazole (TEC), are widely used to control FHB, but long-term use leads to low efficacy against FHB. Earlier studies showed that DMI resistance is associated with the fungal sterol 14α-demethylase (cytochrome P450 CYP51) gene, and that point mutations in the CYP51 gene are the primary mechanism of resistance to DMI fungicides. The aims of this study were to clarify the molecular mechanisms of resistance to TEC and identify the binding sites on the FgCYP51B protein. Results Site-directed mutagenesis was used to change the FgCYP51B gene of wild-type strain PH-1 from tyrosine to histidine at residue 137 (Y137H) to generate a mutant transformant, which was confirmed to be resistant to TEC compared with the parental strains. A three-dimensional FgCYP51B model was constructed, and molecular docking simulation studies were conducted to identify the optimum binding mode with TEC. The wild-type FgCYP51B protein displayed stronger affinity to TEC than that of the mutated FgCYP51B in the molecular docking analysis. Conclusion These results indicate that a Tyr137 amino acid mutation in the cytochrome P450 FgCYP51B could lead to resistance to TEC and that Y137 forms part of the tebuconazole-binding pocket. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.