VAR Fabric Modification: Inducing Antibacterial Properties, Altering Wettability/Water Repellence, and Understanding Reactivity at the Molecular Level.

The present work focuses on the surface coating of VAR technical fibers, consisting of 64% viscose (cellulose), 24% Kevlar, 10% other types of polyamides, and 2% antistatic polymers. Kevlar is an aramid material exhibiting excellent mechanical properties, while cellulose is a natural linear polymer composed of repeating β-d-glucose units, having several applications in the materials industry. Herein, we synthesized novel, tailor-designed organic molecules possessing functional groups able to anchor on VAR fabrics and cellulose materials, thus altering their properties on demand.

Kevlar, Nomex, and VAR Modification by Small Organic Molecules Anchoring: Transfusing Antibacterial Properties and Improving Water Repellency.

The surface modification of fabrics composed of Kevlar, Nomex, or VAR was extensively investigated. Kevlar and Nomex are widely-utilized aramid materials, whereas VAR is a technical fabric comprising 64% viscose, 24% para-aramid (Kevlar), 10% polyamide, and 2% antistatic fibers. Both aramid materials and cellulose/viscose exhibit exceptional mechanical properties that render them valuable in a wide range of applications.

Identification and genetic diversity of grapevine virus L in Greece.

In this study, grapevine virus L (GVL) was identified for the first time in Greece through the application of high-throughput sequencing of total RNA from grapevine samples. Further investigation of the prevalence of GVL in Greek vineyards by RT-PCR revealed its presence in 5.5% (31/560) of the tested samples, which originated from six viticultural areas of the country.

Ion-Based Metal/Graphene Antibacterial Agents Comprising Mono-Ionic and Bi-Ionic Silver and Copper Species.

Design of novel and more efficient antibacterial agents is a continuous and dynamic process due to the appearance of new pathogenic strains and inherent resistance development to existing antimicrobial treatments. Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are highly investigated, yet the role of released ions is crucial in the antibacterial activity of the NP-based systems. We developed herein ion-based, metal/graphene hybrid structures comprising surface-bound Ag and Cu mono-ionic and Ag/Cu bi-ionic species on functionalized graphene, without involvement of NPs.

Investigation of the Phaseolus vulgaris circadian clock and the repressive role of the PvTOC1 factor by a newly established in vitro system.

The circadian clock is crucial for the synchronization of an organism's physiology and metabolism with the geophysical time. In plants, previous work on the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) has identified various differing aspects of clock function compared to the widely studied Arabidopsis thaliana clock. However, transformation of legumes for the study of the circadian clock regulatory mechanisms is extremely laborious.