Emerging sensing, imaging, and computational technologies to scale nano-to macroscale rhizosphere dynamics - Review and research perspectives.

The soil region influenced by plant roots, i.e., the rhizosphere, is one of the most complex biological habitats on Earth and significantly impacts global carbon flow and transformation.

Droplet Microfluidic-Based Analyzer for Monitoring Free Nitrate in Soil.

Monitoring nutrients in the soil can provide valuable information for understanding their spatiotemporal variability and informing precise soil management. Here, we describe an autonomous analyzer for the real-time monitoring of nitrate in soil. The analyzer can sample soil nitrate using either microdialysis or ultrafiltration probes placed within the soil and quantify soil nitrate using droplet microfluidics and colorimetric measurement.

A mathematical model of biofilm growth and spread within plant xylem: Case study of Xylella fastidiosa in olive trees.

Xylem-limited bacterial pathogens cause some of the most destructive plant diseases. Though imposed measures to control these pathogens are generally ineffective, even among susceptible taxa, some hosts can limit bacterial loads and symptom expression. Mechanisms by which this resistance is achieved are poorly understood.

Dearomative Spirocyclization of Tryptamine-Derived Isocyanides via Iron-Catalyzed Carbene Transfer.

Tryptamine-derived isocyanides are valuable building blocks in the construction of spirocyclic indolenines and indolines via dearomatization of the indole moiety. We report the BuN[Fe(CO)NO]-catalyzed carbene transfer of α-diazo esters to 3-(2-isocyanoethyl)indoles, leading to ketenimine intermediates that undergo spontaneous dearomative spirocyclization. The utility of this iron-catalyzed carbene transfer/spirocyclization cascade was demonstrated by its use as a key step in the formal total synthesis of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (±)-aspidofractinine, (±)-limaspermidine, (±)-aspidospermidine, and (±)-17-demethoxy--acetylcylindrocarine.

Statistical Effective Diffusivity Estimation in Porous Media Using an Integrated On-site Imaging Workflow for Synchrotron Users.

Unlabelled: Transport in porous media plays an essential role for many physical, engineering, biological and environmental processes. Novel synchrotron imaging techniques and image-based models have enabled more robust quantification of geometric structures that influence transport through the pore space. However, image-based modelling is computationally expensive, and end users often require, while conducting imaging campaign, fast and agile bulk-scale effective parameter estimates that account for the pore-scale details.