Academic literature on the topic 'Redox-type Mechanism'

A Knoevenagel based redox-reaction promoted by intramolecular phosphine sources is presented for the first time. The influence of different diketones, aldehydes, bases and acids was investigated. The effects of different substituents were evaluated based on their electronical influence on the diketone structure. With the obtained results a mechanism is proposed, giving information about transition states formed during the reaction, which can lead to different products. This type of an internal redox transformation with a phosphine oxide moiety remaining in the molecule after the redox reaction represents a new type of reaction.

P2-type sodium layered transition metal oxides have been intensively investigated as promising cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) by virtue of their high specific capacity and high operating voltage. However, they suffer from problems of voltage decay, capacity fading, and structural deterioration, which hinder their practical application. Therefore, a mechanistic understanding of the cationic/anionic redox activity and capacity fading is indispensable for the further improvement of electrochemical performance. Here, a prototype cathode material of P2-type Na0.6Mg0.3Mn0.7O2 is comprehensively investigated, which presents both cationic and anionic redox behaviors during the cycling process. By a combination of soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electroanalytical methods, we unambiguously reveal that only oxygen redox reaction is involved in the initial charge process, then both oxygen and manganese participate in the charge compensation in the following discharge process. In addition, a gradient distribution of Mn valence state from surface to bulk is disclosed, which could be mainly related to the irreversible oxygen activity during the charge process. Furthermore, we find that the average oxidation state of Mn is reduced upon extended cycles, leading to the noticeable capacity fading. Our results provide deeper insights into the intrinsic cationic/anionic redox mechanism of P2-type materials, which is vital for the rational design and optimization of advanced cathode materials for SIBs.

The rollfront type deposits are crescent shaped accumulation of mineralization including uranium, selenium, molybdenum in reduced permeable sandstones. It generally forms within a geochemical barrier between mostly reduced and predominantly oxidized environments. Redox reactions between oxidant and reductant creates favorable conditions for uranium precipitation, while constant flow of oxidant continuously dissolves uranium minerals thereby creating a reactive transport. Several previous works had either focused on the characteristics of the rollfront type deposits, or on the description of chemical and geological processes involved in their genesis. Based on these previous works, authors aimed to mimic laboratory experiments numerically by reactive flow and numerical simulation. Data from one particular experiment was used to determine reaction rates between reactants to produce a model of reactive transport and chemical processes involved in the formation of rollfront type deposits. The resulting model was used to identify the causes of crescent like formations and to determine main mechanisms influencing rollfront evolution. A better understanding and simulation of the mechanism involved in the formation of rollfront type deposits and their properties would contribute to decreased exploration and production costs of commodities trapped within such accumulations. The results of this work can be used to model other deposits formed through infiltration and subsequent precipitation of various minerals at the redox interface.

We reviewed mechanisms that determine reactive oxygen species (redox) homeostasis, redox information signaling and metabolic/regulatory function of autocrine insulin signaling in pancreaticβcells, and consequences of oxidative stress and dysregulation of redox/information signaling for their dysfunction. We emphasize the role of mitochondrion inβcell molecular physiology and pathology, including the antioxidant role of mitochondrial uncoupling protein UCP2. Since in pancreaticβcells pyruvate cannot be easily diverted towards lactate dehydrogenase for lactate formation, the respiration and oxidative phosphorylation intensity are governed by the availability of glucose, leading to a certain ATP/ADP ratio, whereas in other cell types, cell demand dictates respiration/metabolism rates. Moreover, we examine the possibility that type 2 diabetes mellitus might be considered as an inevitable result of progressive self-accelerating oxidative stress and concomitantly dysregulated information signaling in peripheral tissues as well as in pancreaticβcells. It is because the redox signaling is inherent to the insulin receptor signaling mechanism and its impairment leads to the oxidative and nitrosative stress. Also emerging concepts, admiting participation of redox signaling even in glucose sensing and insulin release in pancreaticβcells, fit in this view. For example, NADPH has been firmly established to be a modulator of glucose-stimulated insulin release.

The purpose of this review is to show that (cooperative) ligand radical reactivity can be effectively employed in synthetic organometallic chemistry and catalysis to achieve selectivity in radical-type transformations. The ‘redox non-innocence’ of ligands, and the controlled reactivity of ‘ligand radicals’ – giving rise to new, intriguing substrate transformations – allow unusual and selective radical-type substrate coupling reactions, ligand rearrangements and C-Y bond formations. In this review, several examples of fast and selective ligand-centered radical transformations in the open-shell organometallic chemistry of transition metals are described, focussing on radical-type reactions of olefin-, vinylidene-, vinyl-, alkyne-, allyl-, propargyl-, carbonyl-, and carbene ligands. Intriguing and selective substrate-substrate coupling reactions, (covalent) carbon-metal bond formations and hydrogen atom transfer reactions from and to ligand radicals are summarized. To conclude this chapter, an overview of recently disclosed new insights in the catalytic mechanism of CoII(por) catalysed olefin cyclopropanation is presented, showing that enzyme-like cooperative metal-ligand-radical reactivity is no longer reserved to real enzymes, but is a useful new concept to steer and control radical-type transformations in future bio-inspired organometallic catalysis.

Syngas production via a two-step H2O/CO2-splitting thermochemical cycle based on FeO/Fe3O4 redox reactions is considered using highly concentrated solar process heat. The closed cycle consists of: 1) the solar-driven endothermic dissociation of Fe3O4 to FeO; 2) the non-solar exothermic simultaneous reduction of CO2 and H2O with FeO to CO and H2 and the initial metal oxide; the latter is recycled to the first step. The second step was experimentally investigated by thermogravimetry for reactions with FeO in the range 973–1273 K and CO2/H2O concentrations of 15–75%. The reaction mechanism was characterized by an initial fast interface-controlled regime followed by a slower diffusion-controlled regime. A rate law of Langmuir-Hinshelwood type was formulated to describe the competitiveness of the reaction based on atomic oxygen exchange on active sites, and the corresponding Arrhenius kinetic parameters were determined by applying a shrinking core model.

Recently, our research group has proposed a MEMS-based solid state corrosion sensor based on the carbon black and metal particle polymer composite materials. The chemical and dimensional properties of the particles and polymer matrix will provide the tailorability in sensor sensitivity, selectivity, time response, and operating life-span. This paper will analyze the electrical resistivity of the sensor relative to the percentage of different type of particles in PDMS matrix in order to understand the effect of corrosion mechanism on metal particle polymer composites. This paper will also present the electrical quantification techniques for the micro corrosion sensors, the understanding of which is need for the transduction from corrosion to electronic output. Electronic transduction is the natural form of output due to the redox reactions of the electrochemical corrosion of particles and the electric current generated is directly proportional to the rate of the reaction.

External pitting corrosion constitutes the degradation mechanism responsible for about 66% of the incidents reported in the last decade for oil and gas pipelines in Mexico. Thus, major efforts are underway to improve the characterization and modeling of pitting corrosion of buried pipelines. Special attention is devoted to estimate the average corrosion rate and corrosion rate variance because they are the key parameters in the estimation of the trend in pipeline reliability. This work presents the results of field and simulation studies in which soil and pipe data were gathered together with the maximum depth of external corrosion pits found at more than 250 excavation sites across southern Mexico. The distributions of parameters such as chloride, bicarbonate and sulfate levels, resistivity, pH, pipe/soil potential, humidity, redox potential, soil texture and coating type have been used to predict the distribution of pitting corrosion rate of pipelines in contact with clay, clay-loam and sandy-clay-loam soils. The time dependence of the pitting corrosion rate was fitted to a power law through a multivariate regression analysis with the maximum pit depth as the dependent variable and the pipeline age and the soil and coating properties as the independent variables. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted in which random values drawn from the distributions fitted to the field data were used to evaluate the power law model proposed for the corrosion rate. For each soil type, the distribution that best fitted the corrosion rate data was found. The results of this study will provide reliability analysts with a more accurate description of the growth rate of external corrosion pits. It is expected that this information will positively impact on integrity management plans addressing the threat posed by this damage mechanism.

Several grape varieties and red wines were found to contain large concentration of phenolic compounds which work as antioxidant in-vitro and in-vivo. Wastes from wine production contain antioxidants in large amounts, between 2-6% on dry material basis. Red wines but also white wines were found to prevent lipid peroxidation of turkey muscle tissues stored at 5oC. The antioxidant reaction of flavonoids found in red wines against lipid peroxidation were found to depend on the structure of the molecule. Red wine flavonoids containing an orthodihydroxy structure around the B ring were found highly active against LDL and membrane lipid peroxidation. The antioxidant activity of red wine polyphenols were also found to be dependent on the catalyzer used. In the presence of H2O2-activated myoglobin, the inhibition efficiency was malvidin 3-glucoside>catechin>malvidin>resveratol. However, in the presence of an iron redox cycle catalyzer, the order of effectiveness was resveratol>malvidin 3-glucoside = malvidin>catechin. Differences in protein binding were found to affect antioxidant activity in inhibiting LDL oxidation. A model protein such as BSA, was investigated on the antioxidant activity of phenolic compounds, grape extracts, and red wines in a lecithin-liposome model system. Ferulic acid followed by malvidin and rutin were the most efficient in inhibiting both lipid and protein oxidation. Catechin, a flavonal found in red-wines in relatively high concentration was found to inhibit myoglobin catalyzed linoleate membrane lipid peroxidation at a relatively very low concentration. This effect was studied by the determination of the by-products generated from linoleate during oxidation. The study showed that hydroperoxides are catalytically broken down, not to an alcohol but most probably to a non-radical adduct. The ability of wine-phenolics to reduce iron and from complexes with metals were also demonstrated. Low concentration of wine phenolics were found to inhibit lipoxygenase type II activity. An attempt to understand the bioavailability in humans of antocyanins from red wine showed that two antocyanins from red wine were found unchanged in human urine. Other antocyanins seems to undergo molecular modification. In hypercholesterolemic hamsters, aortic lipid deposition was significantly less in animals fed diets supplemented with either catechin or vitamin E. The rate of LDL accumulation in the carotid arteries was also significantly lower in the catechin and vitamin E animal groups. These results suggested a novel mechanism by which wine phenolics are associated with decreased risk of coronary heart diseases. This study proves in part our hypothesis that the "French Paradox" could be explained by the action of the antioxidant effects of phenolic compounds found at high concentration in red wines. The results of this study argue that it is in the interest of public health to increase the consumption of dietary plant falvonoids. Our results and these from others, show that the consumption of red wine or plant derived polyphenolics can change the antioxidant tone of animal and human plasma and its isolated components towards oxidative reactions. However, we need more research to better understand bioavailability and the mechanism of how polyphenolics affect health and disease.

The overall goal of this project was to elucidate the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soil retention, bioavailability and plant uptake of silver and cerium oxide NPs. The environmental risks of manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) are attracting increasing attention from both industrial and scientific communities. These NPs have shown to be taken-up, translocated and bio- accumulated in plant edible parts. However, very little is known about the behavior of NPs in soil-plant system as affected by dissolved organic matter (DOM). Thus DOM effect on NPs behavior is critical to assessing the environmental fate and risks related to NP exposure. Carbon-based nanomaterials embedded with metal NPs demonstrate a great potential to serve as catalyst and disinfectors. Hence, synthesis of novel carbon-based nanocomposites and testing them in the environmentally relevant conditions (particularly in the DOM presence) is important for their implementation in water purification. Sorption of DOM on Ag-Ag₂S NPs, CeO₂ NPs and synthesized Ag-Fe₃O₄-carbon nanotubebifunctional composite has been studied. High DOM concentration (50mg/L) decreased the adsorptive and catalytic efficiencies of all synthesized NPs. Recyclable Ag-Fe₃O₄-carbon nanotube composite exhibited excellent catalytic and anti-bacterial action, providing complete reduction of common pollutants and inactivating gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria at environmentally relevant DOM concentrations (5-10 mg/L). Our composite material may be suitable for water purification ranging from natural to the industrial waste effluents. We also examined the role of maize (Zeamays L.)-derived root exudates (a form of DOM) and their components on the aggregation and dissolution of CuONPs in the rhizosphere. Root exudates (RE) significantly inhibited the aggregation of CuONPs regardless of ionic strength and electrolyte type. With RE, the critical coagulation concentration of CuONPs in NaCl shifted from 30 to 125 mM and the value in CaCl₂ shifted from 4 to 20 mM. This inhibition was correlated with molecular weight (MW) of RE fractions. Higher MW fraction (> 10 kDa) reduced the aggregation most. RE also significantly promoted the dissolution of CuONPs and lower MW fraction (< 3 kDa) RE mainly contributed to this process. Also, Cu accumulation in plant root tissues was significantly enhanced by RE. This study provides useful insights into the interactions between RE and CuONPs, which is of significance for the safe use of CuONPs-based antimicrobial products in agricultural production. Wheat root exudates (RE) had high reducing ability to convert Ag+ to nAg under light exposure. Photo-induced reduction of Ag+ to nAg in pristine RE was mainly attributed to the 0-3 kDa fraction. Quantification of the silver species change over time suggested that Cl⁻ played an important role in photoconversion of Ag+ to nAg through the formation and redox cycling of photoreactiveAgCl. Potential electron donors for the photoreduction of Ag+ were identified to be reducing sugars and organic acids of low MW. Meanwhile, the stabilization of the formed particles was controlled by both low (0-3 kDa) and high (>3 kDa) MW molecules. This work provides new information for the formation mechanism of metal nanoparticles mediated by RE, which may further our understanding of the biogeochemical cycling and toxicity of heavy metal ions in agricultural and environmental systems. Copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuSNPs) at 1:1 and 1:4 ratios of Cu and S were synthesized, and their respective antifungal efficacy was evaluated against the pathogenic activity of Gibberellafujikuroi(Bakanae disease) in rice (Oryza sativa). In a 2-d in vitro study, CuS decreased G. fujikuroiColony- Forming Units (CFU) compared to controls. In a greenhouse study, treating with CuSNPs at 50 mg/L at the seed stage significantly decreased disease incidence on rice while the commercial Cu-based pesticide Kocide 3000 had no impact on disease. Foliar-applied CuONPs and CuS (1:1) NPs decreased disease incidence by 30.0 and 32.5%, respectively, which outperformed CuS (1:4) NPs (15%) and Kocide 3000 (12.5%). CuS (1:4) NPs also modulated the shoot salicylic acid (SA) and Jasmonic acid (JA) production to enhance the plant defense mechanisms against G. fujikuroiinfection. These results are useful for improving the delivery efficiency of agrichemicals via nano-enabled strategies while minimizing their environmental impact, and advance our understanding of the defense mechanisms triggered by the NPs presence in plants.

The aim of this research project was to obtain information on the role of the cytochrome b559 in the function of Photosystem-II (PSII) with special emphasis on the light induced photo inactivation of PSII and turnover of the photochemical reaction center II protein subunit RCII-D1. The major goals of this project were: 1) Isolation and sequencing of the Chlamydomonas chloroplast psbE and psbF genes encoding the cytochrome b559 a and b subunits respectively; 2) Generation of site directed mutants and testing the effect of such mutation on the function of PSII under various light conditions; 3) To obtain further information on the mechanism of the light induced degradation and replacement of the PSII core proteins. This information shall serve as a basis for the understanding of the role of the cytochrome b559 in the process of photoinhibition and recovery of photosynthetic activity as well as during low light induced turnover of the D1 protein. Unlike in other organisms in which the psbE and psbF genes encoding the a and b subunits of cytochrome b559, are part of an operon which also includes the psbL and psbJ genes, in Chlamydomonas these genes are transcribed from different regions of the chloroplast chromosome. The charge distribution of the derived amino-acid sequences of psbE and psbF gene products differs from that of the corresponding genes in other organisms as far as the rule of "positive charge in" is concerned relative to the process of the polypeptide insertion in the thylakoid membrane. However, the sum of the charges of both subunits corresponds to the above rule possibly indicating co-insertion of both subunits in the process of cytochrome b559 assembly. A plasmid designed for the introduction of site-specific mutations into the psbF gene of C. reinhardtii. was constructed. The vector consists of a DNA fragment from the chromosome of C. reinhardtii which spans the region of the psbF gene, upstream of which the spectinomycin-resistance-conferring aadA cassette was inserted. This vector was successfully used to transform wild type C. reinhardtii cells. The spectinomycin resistant strain thus obtained can grow autotrophically and does not show significant changes as compared to the wild-type strain in PSII activity. The following mutations have been introduced in the psbF gene: H23M; H23Y; W19L and W19. The replacement of H23 involved in the heme binding to M and Y was meant to permit heme binding but eventually alter some or all of the electron transport properties of the mutated cytochrome. Tryptophane W19, a strictly conserved residue, is proximal to the heme and may interact with the tetrapyrole ring. Therefore its replacement may effect the heme properties. A change to tyrosine may have a lesser affect on the potential or electron transfer rate while a replacement of W19 by leucine is meant to introduce a more prominent disturbance in these parameters. Two of the mutants, FW19L and FH23M have segregated already and are homoplasmic. The rest are still grown under selection conditions until complete segregation will be obtained. All mutants contain assembled and functional PSII exhibiting an increased sensitivity of PSII to the light. Work is still in progress for the detailed characterization of the mutants PSII properties. A tobacco mutant, S6, obtained by Maliga and coworkers harboring the F26S mutation in the b subunit was made available to us and was characterized. Measurements of PSII charge separation and recombination, polypeptide content and electron flow indicates that this mutation indeed results in light sensitivity. Presently further work is in progress in the detailed characterization of the properties of all the above mutants. Information was obtained demonstrating that photoinactivation of PSII in vivo initiates a series of progressive changes in the properties of RCII which result in an irreversible modification of the RCII-D1 protein leading to its degradation and replacement. The cleavage process of the modified RCII-D1 protein is regulated by the occupancy of the QB site of RCII by plastoquinone. Newly synthesized D1 protein is not accumulated in a stable form unless integrated in reassembled RCII. Thus the degradation of the irreversibly modified RCII-D1 protein is essential for the recovery process. The light induced degradation of the RCII-D1 protein is rapid in mutants lacking the pD1 processing protease such as in the LF-1 mutant of the unicellular alga Scenedesmus obliquus. In this case the Mn binding site of PSII is abolished, the water oxidation process is inhibited and harmful cation radicals are formed following light induced electron flow in PSII. In such mutants photo-inactivation of PSII is rapid, it is not protected by ligands binding at the QB site and the degradation of the inactivated RCII-D1 occurs rapidly also in the dark. Furthermore the degraded D1 protein can be replaced in the dark in absence of light driven redox controlled reactions. The replacement of the RCII-D1 protein involves the de novo synthesis of the precursor protein, pD1, and its processing at the C-terminus end by an unknown processing protease. In the frame of this work, a gene previously isolated and sequenced by Dr. Pakrasi's group has been identified as encoding the RCII-pD1 C-terminus processing protease in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The deduced sequence of the ctpA protein shows significant similarity to the bovine, human and insect interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding proteins. Results obtained using C. reinhardtii cells exposes to low light or series of single turnover light flashes have been also obtained indicating that the process of RCII-D1 protein turnover under non-photoinactivating conditions (low light) may be related to charge recombination in RCII due to back electron flow from the semiquinone QB- to the oxidised S2,3 states of the Mn cluster involved in the water oxidation process.

Research objectives : Identify genetic potential and community structure of soil and rhizosphere microbial community structure as affected by treated wastewater (TWW) irrigation. This objective was achieved through the examination soil and rhizosphere microbial communities of plants irrigated with fresh water (FW) and TWW. Genomic DNA extracted from soil and rhizosphere samples (Minz laboratory) was processed for DNA-based shotgun metagenome sequencing (Green laboratory). High-throughput bioinformatics was performed to compare both taxonomic and functional gene (and pathway) differences between sample types (treatment and location). Identify metabolic pathways induced or repressed by TWW irrigation. To accomplish this objective, shotgun metatranscriptome (RNA-based) sequencing was performed. Expressed genes and pathways were compared to identify significantly differentially expressed features between rhizosphere communities of plants irrigated with FW and TWW. Identify microbial gene functions and pathways affected by TWW irrigation*. To accomplish this objective, we will perform a metaproteome comparison between rhizosphere communities of plants irrigated with FW and TWW and selected soil microbial activities. Integration and evaluation of microbial community function in relation to its structure and genetic potential, and to infer the in situ physiology and function of microbial communities in soil and rhizospere under FW and TWW irrigation regimes. This objective is ongoing due to the need for extensive bioinformatics analysis. As a result of the capabilities of the new PI, we have also been characterizing the transcriptome of the plant roots as affected by the TWW irrigation and comparing the function of the plants to that of the microbiome. *This original objective was not achieved in the course of this study due to technical issues, especially the need to replace the American PIs during the project. However, the fact we were able to analyze more than one plant system as a result of the abilities of the new American PI strengthened the power of the conclusions derived from studies for the 1ˢᵗ and 2ⁿᵈ objectives. Background: As the world population grows, more urban waste is discharged to the environment, and fresh water sources are being polluted. Developing and industrial countries are increasing the use of wastewater and treated wastewater (TWW) for agriculture practice, thus turning the waste product into a valuable resource. Wastewater supplies a year- round reliable source of nutrient-rich water. Despite continuing enhancements in TWW quality, TWW irrigation can still result in unexplained and undesirable effects on crops. In part, these undesirable effects may be attributed to, among other factors, to the effects of TWW on the plant microbiome. Previous studies, including our own, have presented the TWW effect on soil microbial activity and community composition. To the best of our knowledge, however, no comprehensive study yet has been conducted on the microbial population associated BARD Report - Project 4662 Page 2 of 16 BARD Report - Project 4662 Page 3 of 16 with plant roots irrigated with TWW – a critical information gap. In this work, we characterize the effect of TWW irrigation on root-associated microbial community structure and function by using the most innovative tools available in analyzing bacterial community- a combination of microbial marker gene amplicon sequencing, microbial shotunmetagenomics (DNA-based total community and gene content characterization), microbial metatranscriptomics (RNA-based total community and gene content characterization), and plant host transcriptome response. At the core of this research, a mesocosm experiment was conducted to study and characterize the effect of TWW irrigation on tomato and lettuce plants. A focus of this study was on the plant roots, their associated microbial communities, and on the functional activities of plant root-associated microbial communities. We have found that TWW irrigation changes both the soil and root microbial community composition, and that the shift in the plant root microbiome associated with different irrigation was as significant as the changes caused by the plant host or soil type. The change in microbial community structure was accompanied by changes in the microbial community-wide functional potential (i.e., gene content of the entire microbial community, as determined through shotgun metagenome sequencing). The relative abundance of many genes was significantly different in TWW irrigated root microbiome relative to FW-irrigated root microbial communities. For example, the relative abundance of genes encoding for transporters increased in TWW-irrigated roots increased relative to FW-irrigated roots. Similarly, the relative abundance of genes linked to potassium efflux, respiratory systems and nitrogen metabolism were elevated in TWW irrigated roots when compared to FW-irrigated roots. The increased relative abundance of denitrifying genes in TWW systems relative FW systems, suggests that TWW-irrigated roots are more anaerobic compare to FW irrigated root. These gene functional data are consistent with geochemical measurements made from these systems. Specifically, the TWW irrigated soils had higher pH, total organic compound (TOC), sodium, potassium and electric conductivity values in comparison to FW soils. Thus, the root microbiome genetic functional potential can be correlated with pH, TOC and EC values and these factors must take part in the shaping the root microbiome. The expressed functions, as found by the metatranscriptome analysis, revealed many genes that increase in TWW-irrigated plant root microbial population relative to those in the FW-irrigated plants. The most substantial (and significant) were sodium-proton antiporters and Na(+)-translocatingNADH-quinoneoxidoreductase (NQR). The latter protein uses the cell respiratory machinery to harness redox force and convert the energy for efflux of sodium. As the roots and their microbiomes are exposed to the same environmental conditions, it was previously hypothesized that understanding the soil and rhizospheremicrobiome response will shed light on natural processes in these niches. This study demonstrate how newly available tools can better define complex processes and their downstream consequences, such as irrigation with water from different qualities, and to identify primary cues sensed by the plant host irrigated with TWW. From an agricultural perspective, many common practices are complicated processes with many ‘moving parts’, and are hard to characterize and predict. Multiple edaphic and microbial factors are involved, and these can react to many environmental cues. These complex systems are in turn affected by plant growth and exudation, and associated features such as irrigation, fertilization and use of pesticides. However, the combination of shotgun metagenomics, microbial shotgun metatranscriptomics, plant transcriptomics, and physical measurement of soil characteristics provides a mechanism for integrating data from highly complex agricultural systems to eventually provide for plant physiological response prediction and monitoring. BARD Report