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As an infrastructure of biochemical laboratories, EP tube label plays a significant role in information extraction to meet the limitations of computing power in offline devices and solve the problem that the EP tube label cannot be accurately identified before identification because the label belongs to multi-angle random placement. This paper proposes a light-weight neural network YOLOv4-tiny-ECA to position tubes and a tilt correction method based on Hough transform. First, the EP tube rack is roughly positioned based on the diffuse filling algorithm combined with digital morphological corrosion, and then the EP tubes in the rack are precisely positioned using the light-weight YOLO target detection algorithm combined with the attention mechanism. Next, the baseline is added to the label as the basis for determining the tilt angle. For the valid target, the baseline is extracted using the Hough transform and the tilt angle is calculated by vector fork multiplication. Finally, baseline is removed using image processing algorithm for better recognition results. Our results show that the light-weight YOLO algorithm reduces the network parameters by 56% and computation by 55% while keeping the accuracy rate largely unchanged, the offline positioning tilt correction method can achieve 98.8% accuracy and 0.076 s processing speed for a single test tube on average, which meets the real-time requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main challenge facing the anodic electro-Fenton through the 2e– water oxidation reaction (WOR) for toxics degradation lies in the electrode's stability, because the anodic oxygen evolution (OER) generated O 2 will inevitably exfoliate the electro-active components loaded on the electrode substrate. To address this point, two aspects need attention: 1) Identifying a catalyst that exhibits both excellent electrocatalytic activity and selectivity can improve the faradaic efficiency of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2); 2) Employing novel methods for fabricating highly stable electrodes, where active sites can be firmly coated. Consequently, this study utilized microarc oxidation (MAO) to prepare a ceramic film electrode Zn 2 SnO 4 @Ti at 300 V. Zn 2 SnO 4 acts as an WOR electrocatalyst and further improved the generation of H 2 O 2 for treating real wastewater containing Unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine (UDMH). From the perspective of characterization of electrode structure, Zn 2 SnO 4 @Ti forms a stable active coating, the electrochemical yield of H 2 O 2 is high up to 78.4 μmol h−1 cm−2, and the selectivity of H 2 O 2 is over 80% at 3.3 V vs. RHE, which can be fully applied to scenarios where it is inconvenient to transport H 2 O 2 and need in-situ safe production. Additionally, the prepared electrodes exhibit significant stability, suitable for various applications, providing insightful preparation strategies and experiences for constructing highly stable anodes. • Highly active and selective 2e– WOR electrodes were prepared using Zn 2 SnO 4 with TC4. • Zn 2 SnO 4 @Ti–300V achieved a high H 2 O 2 yield of 78.4 μmol h−1 cm−2 at 3.3 V vs. RHE voltage. • Zn 2 SnO 4 improved its 2e– WOR stability by MAO device. • Zn 2 SnO 4 @Ti can effectively degrade UDMH wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As soybean plays an indispensable role in the supply of vegetable oil and protein, balancing the relationship between seed quality and yield traits according to human demand has become an important breeding goal for soybean improvement. Here, 256 intraspecific recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from a cross between Qi Huang No.34 (QH34) and Ji Dou No.17 (JD17), were used for quantitative trait loci (QTLs) mapping with remarkable four chemical and physical properties with a purpose for exploring the distribution of excellent alleles in germplasm resources in China. A total of 25 QTLs were detected, of which 10 QTLs inherited the alleles from the parent QH34. Pedigree research on favorable alleles on these QTLs showed the process of excellent alleles pyramided into QH34. Meta-analysis of the 25 QTLs by comparing with existed QTLs in previous study identified 17 novel QTLs. QTLs with pleiotropic effects have been detected. Furthermore, three representative elite recombinant inbred lines in different locations that have great potential in soybean breeding were selected, and finally, four seed weight-related candidate genes were identified. The discovery of these QTLs provides a new guidance for combining the diversity and rarity of germplasm resources, which can effectively increase population genetic diversity and broaden genetic basis of varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to historical information, more than 300 metal smelting enterprises have been in the southwest of Xiongan for 300 years; however, these polluting enterprises have been gradually closed with the increased intensity of environmental protection. In the paper, 264 soil samples were collected and analyzed in the range of 400 nm–2500 nm by the spectra vista corporation (SVC), and the spectral noise was smoothed by the Savitzky–Golay filter. In order to enhance the spectral differences and curve shapes, mathematical transformations, such as the standard normal variate (SNV), first-order differential (FD), second-order differential (SD), multiple scattering correction (MSC), and continuum removal (CR), were performed on the data, and the correlation between spectral transformation and contents of REEs was analyzed. Moreover, three machine learning models—partial least-squares (PLS), random forest (RF), back propagation neural network (BPNN)—were used to predict the contents of REEs. Experimental results prove that REEs are combined with spectral active substances, such as organic compounds, clay minerals, and iron oxide, and it is possible to determine the contents of REEs using the reflection spectrum. The R2 between the predicted values and measured contents reached 0.986 by using BPNN after FD transformation. More importantly, the predicted values basically agree with the actual situation for CASI/SASI airborne hyperspectral images, and this is an effective technique to obtain the contents of REEs in soil at the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is a global health challenge characterized by bone loss and microstructure deterioration, which urgently requires the development of safer and more effective treatments due to the significant adverse effects and limitations of existing drugs for long-term treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine, like Epimedium, offers fewer side effects and has been used to treat osteoporosis, yet its active compounds and pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, 65 potential active compounds, 258 potential target proteins, and 488 pathways of Epimedium were identified through network pharmacology analysis. Further network analysis and review of the literature identified six potential active compounds and HIF-1α for subsequent experimental validation. In vitro experiments confirmed that 2″-O-RhamnosylIcariside II is the most effective compound among the six potential active compounds. It can promote osteoblast differentiation, bind with HIF-1α, and inhibit both HIF-1α gene and protein expression, as well as enhance COL1A1 protein expression under hypoxic conditions. In vivo experiments demonstrated its ability to improve bone microstructures and reduce bone loss by decreasing bone marrow adipose tissue, enhancing bone formation, and suppressing HIF-1α protein expression. This study is the first to describe the therapeutic effects of 2-O-RhamnosylIcariside II on osteoporosis, which was done, specifically, through a mechanism that targets and inhibits HIF-1α. This study provides a scientific basis for the clinical application of Epimedium and offers a new candidate drug for the treatment of osteoporosis. Additionally, it provides new evidence supporting HIF-1α as a therapeutic target for osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Eggshell conditioning enhanced the VFAs production from FW anaerobic fermentation. • FW solubilization, hydrolysis and acidification were synchronously enhanced. • Eggshell conditioning greatly improved the environmental conditions (i.e pH, ORP). • The key enzymes involved in carbohydrates and energy metabolisms were improved. • The functional genes distributed in fatty acid biosynthesis pathway were enhanced. A novel strategy of utilizing eggshell wastes to condition food wastes (FW) anaerobic fermentation for efficient volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production was proposed. The VFAs production, especially acetic and butyric acids, was significantly accelerated and enhanced by eggshell conditioning. The enhanced effects were dose-dependent and improved by approximate 13-folds with optimal dose when compared with that in control. Eggshell conditioning synchronously enhanced the FW solubilization, hydrolysis and acidification steps, resulting in high VFAs production. Further analysis found that the environmental conditions (i.e., pH, ORP, trace elements, etc.) were significantly improved by eggshell conditioning. Hence, the microbial activities (i.e., hydrolases, acidogenic enzymes and ATP) and functional fermentative bacteria related with VFAs generation were enhanced and enriched. The massive accumulation of H 2 and CO 2 in eggshell conditioning reactors stimulated the homoacetogenesis, which also contributed to the VFAs promotion. Metatranscriptomic analysis indicated that 3 carbohydrate-active enzymes (Glycoside hydrolases, carbohydrate esterases and carbohydrate binding modules), which participate in carbohydrates and energy metabolisms, were improved. Moreover, 10 kinds of synthetase, hydrolase and oxidoreductase genes, and 4 kinds of acetyl-CoA carboxylase genes that distributed throughout the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway (especially the acetic and butyric acids generation) were all enhanced. It was the highly expressed genes and metabolic enzymes that contributed to high microbial activities and subsequent efficient VFAs production in eggshell conditioning reactors. Besides, the improvement of dewaterability and phosphorus fixation in fermentation residues further increased the added-value of conditioning FW fermentation by eggshell wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) has gained significant interest in the removal of organic pollutants. However, traditional methods usually suffer from drawbacks such as secondary contamination and high energy requirements. In this study, we propose a green and cost-effective approach utilizing calcium oxide (CaO) to activate PMS, aiming to construct a simple and reliable PMS based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). The proposed CaO/PMS system achieved fast degradation of methylene blue (MB), where the degradation rate of CaO/PMS system (0.24 min−1) was nearly 2.67 times that of PMS alone (0.09 min−1). Under the optimized condition, CaO/PMS system exhibited remarkable durability against pH changes, co-exists ions or organic matters. Furthermore, singlet oxygen (1O 2) was identified as the dominant reactive oxygen species by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and quenching tests. Accordingly, the degradation pathways of MB are proposed by combing the results of LC/MS analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the predicted ecotoxicity of the generated byproducts evaluated by EOCSAR could provide systematic insights into the fates and environmental risks of MB. Overall, the study provides an eco-friendly and effective strategy for treating dyeing wastewater, which should shed light on the application of PMS based AOPs. [Display omitted] • CaO/PMS process was effective and applicable for MB removal. • The key factors affecting the MB degradation rate were distinguished. • 1O 2 was the main activate species for the degradation of MB. • The main intermediates and reaction pathways of MB were proposed. • The toxicity of MB's intermediates were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed oil content is one of the most important quantitative traits in soybean (Glycine max) breeding. Here, we constructed a high-density single nucleotide polymorphism linkage map using two genetically similar parents, Heinong 84 and Kenfeng 17, that differ dramatically in their seed oil contents, and performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of seed oil content in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from their cross. We detected five QTL related to seed oil content distributed on five chromosomes. The QTL for seed oil content explained over 10% of the phenotypic variation over two years. This QTL was mapped to an interval containing 20 candidate genes, including a previously reported gene, soybean RING Finger 1a (RNF1a) encoding an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Notably, two short sequences were inserted in the GmRNF1a coding region of KF 17 compared to that of HN 84, resulting in a longer protein variant in KF 17. Our results thus provide information for uncovering the genetic mechanisms determining seed oil content in soybean, as well as identifying an additional QTL and highlighting GmRNF1a as candidate gene for modulating seed oil content in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ultrasonication-homogenization synergistically assisted antisolvent method was effective. • Ultrafine nobiletin particle with a minimum particle size of 521.02 nm. • Ultrafine nobiletin particle had better enzyme inhibition effect than raw. To further enhance the application of nobiletin (an important active ingredient in Citrus fruits), we used ultrasonic homogenization-assisted antisolvent precipitation to create ultrafine particles of nobiletin (UPN). DMSO was used as the solvent, and deionized water was used as the antisolvent. When ultrasonication (670 W) and homogenization (16000 r/min) were synergistic, the solution concentration was 57 mg/mL, and the minimum particle size of UPN was 521.02 nm. The UPN samples outperformed the RN samples in terms of the inhibition of porcine pancreatic lipase, which was inhibited (by 500 mg/mL) by 68.41 % in the raw sample, 90.34 % in the ultrafine sample, and 83.59 % in the positive control, according to the data. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed no chemical changes in the samples before or after preparation. However, the crystallinity of the processed ultrafine nobiletin particles decreased. Thus, this work offers significant relevance for applications in the realm of food chemistry and indirectly illustrates the expanded application potential of nobiletin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Seed morphology and quality of cultivated soybean (Glycine max) have changed dramatically during domestication from their wild relatives, but their relationship to selection is poorly understood. Here, we describe a semi‐dominant locus, ST1 (Seed Thickness 1), affecting seed thickness and encoding a UDP‐D‐glucuronate 4‐epimerase, which catalyses UDP‐galacturonic acid production and promotes pectin biosynthesis. Interestingly, this morphological change concurrently boosted seed oil content, which, along with up‐regulation of glycolysis biosynthesis modulated by ST1, enabled soybean to become a staple oil crop. Strikingly, ST1 and an inversion controlling seed coat colour formed part of a single selective sweep. Structural variation analysis of the region surrounding ST1 shows that the critical mutation in ST1 existed in earlier wild relatives of soybean and the region containing ST1 subsequently underwent an inversion, which was followed by successive selection for both traits through hitchhiking during selection for seed coat colour. Together, these results provide direct evidence that simultaneously variation for seed morphology and quality occurred earlier than variation for seed coat colour during soybean domestication. The identification of ST1 thus sheds light on a crucial phase of human empirical selection in soybeans and provides evidence that our ancestors improved soybean based on taste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male‐sterile plants are used in hybrid breeding to improve yield in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Developing the capability to alter fertility under different environmental conditions could broaden germplasm resources and simplify hybrid production. However, molecular mechanisms potentially underlying such a system in soybean were unclear. Here, using positional cloning, we identified a gene, MALE STERILITY 3 (MS3), which encodes a nuclear‐localized protein containing a plant homeodomain (PHD)‐finger domain. A spontaneous mutation in ms3 causing premature termination of MS3 translation and partial loss of the PHD‐finger. Transgenetic analysis indicated that MS3 knockout resulted in nonfunctional pollen and no self‐pollinated pods, and RNA‐seq analysis revealed that MS3 affects the expression of genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism. Strikingly, the fertility of mutant ms3 can restore under long‐d conditions. The mutant could thus be used to create a new, more stable photoperiod‐sensitive genic male sterility line for two‐line hybrid seed production, with significant impact on hybrid breeding and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean seed appearance quality greatly affects the marketability. The objective of this study was to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that control the appearance quality of soybean seeds. A total of 256 recombinant inbred lines from Qi Huang No.34 × Ji Dou No.17 were utilized for QTL mapping. We innovatively applied a machine vision system to quantify the seed appearance of each line. As a result of QTL mapping, a total of 145 QTLs for the machine vision parameters were detected across three environments. We integrated QTLs mapped overlapped and obtained 16 QTL hotspots in total. Of these hotspots, hotspot-4–1 was suggested to be a major locus controlling seed size, and hotspot-15 was identified to affect the seed color and texture. The mapping for principal components of the seed appearance also supported it. This study comprehensively dug up the QTLs for seed appearance quality of soybean cultivars while providing an efficient method for phenotyping of seed appearance. These results would contribute to dissecting the genetic bases of seed appearance quality for the improvement of soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal activating sulfite system has attracted widespread attention as a novel advanced oxidation process recently. In this study, a silica-supported highly dispersed cobalt catalyst was prepared using Co ammine complex as precursor, characterized by transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and so forth, and used to activate sulfite for the removal of organic pollutants. The as-prepared catalyst displayed a durable and remarkable catalytic activation of sulfite for organic degradation in sequential experiments. The mechanistic study corroborated the dual roles of sulfite as a complexing ligand on catalyst surface and a precursor of oxysulfur radicals. The surface-bound and free SO 4 •− were found to be the dominating radicals responsible for organic degradation. The steady-state approximation of SO 4 •− were examined and the apparent reaction rate constant of SO 4 •− generation was 0.60 ± 0.07 M−1 s−1 at 0.25 g L−1 catalyst. The influencing factors and operating parameters, including catalyst dosage, sulfite/contaminant ratio, pH, temperature, anions and natural organic matter were investigated and optimized systematically. As conclusion, the as-prepared catalyst to efficient activation of sulfite can be proposed as a promising advanced oxidation process based on oxysulfur radicals for the treatment of wastewater. Image 1 • The silica-supported cobalt catalyst is synthesized via a complexation process. • CoASi shows an effective performance in sulfite activation for organic degradation. • Sulfite acts as a complexing ligand and a radical precursor in activation process. • Surface-bound and free sulfate radicals are responsible for dye degradation. • The optimal operating conditions are obtained for further application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the engineering properties of alkali-activated slag (AAS) pastes prepared by mixing an activator consisting of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide at room temperature. The water-to-slag ratio of AAS paste was kept constant at 0.35 by mass. AAS pastes were prepared using the activator with five different silicate moduli of 1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, and 1.8 and three different Na2O contents of 6%, 8%, and 10%. The results showed that both the silicate moduli and Na2O contents had significant effects on the engineering properties of AAS pastes. All the AAS pastes exhibited properties such as fast setting, good workability, and high early compressive strength. The final setting time varied from 9 to 36 min, and the fluidity was in the range of 147–226 mm. The 1 d compressive strength of all the AAS pastes, which could be easily achieved, had values above 55 MPa, whereas the highest strength obtained was 102 MPa with the silicate modulus of 1 and Na2O content of 8% at room temperature. The drying shrinkage increased as the silicate modulus increased. Furthermore, the hydration products and microstructures of AAS pastes were explained according to the microanalysis methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortars were prepared using pottery sand as a fine aggregate in a ratio of 1 : 1.75 using a blend of sodium silicate and NaOH as an alkaline activator at room temperature. The effects of sodium oxide content and silicate moduli on the setting time, fluidity, consistency, compressive strength, and drying shrinkage of different AAS mortars were determined. These results revealed that sodium oxide content and silicate modulus had little effect on the setting time and workability of the mortar; however, they did have a significant effect on their mechanical performance and drying shrinkage levels. All the AAS mortars exhibited faster setting times, better workability, and higher early and late compressive strength compared to traditional mortars. Optimum compressive strength was achieved at 93 and 123 MPa after 1 d and 28 d, respectively, using a silicate modulus of 1.2 and Na2O content of 8%. The microstructures of mortars were characterized using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometric (SEM/EDS) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). These results reveal that AAS mortars containing pottery sand as a fine aggregate may represent a promising building material with improved properties for use in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weighted maximum satisfiability and (unweighted) partial maximum satisfiability (PMS) are two significant generalizations of maximum satisfiability (MAX-SAT), and weighted partial maximum satisfiability (WPMS) is the combination of the two, with more important applications in practice. Recently, great breakthroughs have been made on stochastic local search (SLS) for weighted MAX-SAT and PMS, resulting in several state-of-the-art SLS algorithms CCLS , Dist and DistUP . However, compared to the great progress of SLS on weighted MAX-SAT and PMS, the performance of SLS on WPMS lags far behind. In this paper, we present a new SLS algorithm named CCEHC for WPMS. CCEHC employs an extended framework of CCLS with a heuristic emphasizing hard clauses, called EHC. With strong accents on hard clauses, EHC has three components: a variable selection mechanism focusing on configuration checking based only on hard clauses, a weighting scheme for hard clauses, and a biased random walk component. Extensive experiments demonstrate that CCEHC significantly outperforms its state-of-the-art SLS competitors. Further experimental results on comparing CCEHC with a state-of-the-art complete solver show the effectiveness of CCEHC on a number of application WPMS instances, and indicate that CCEHC might be beneficial in practice. Also, empirical analyses confirm the effectiveness of each component underlying the EHC heuristic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PCMX promote WAS solubilization, hydrolysis and acidification but inhibit methanogenesis. • PCMX interact with EPS and cause the release of organics (especially proteins). • The hydrolytic-acidifying bacteria are enriched while the methanogens are reduced. • Microbial metabolic profiles related with VFAs biosynthesis (i.e. , critical enzymatic and genetic traits) are enhanced. • Anaerobes adapt the PCMX stimulus by regulating two-component and quorum sensing system. Para-chloro- meta -xylenol (PCMX), as a massively used antimicrobial agent, exhibited dose-dependent effects on the sludge fermentation for volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The presence of PMCX at environmental levels (10–20 mg/g TSS) promoted the VFAs production by 2.5–3.0 folds but caused evident inhibition at high level (100 mg/g TSS). PCMX synchronously promoted the sludge solubilization, hydrolysis, and acidification but inhibited methanogenesis. Mechanistic investigations revealed that PCMX could interact with the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in sludge and cause the release of biodegradable substrates (especially proteins) by altering the WAS structures. Moreover, the functional fermentative bacteria (i.e. , Firmicutes and Chloroflexi) were enriched while those VFAs consumers (i.e. , Methanothrix and Methanomassiliicoccus) were reduced with low level of PCMX exposure. The microbial enzymatic activities (i.e. , protease) and critical genes relevant to the substrates transport (i.e. , glu C and lhp N) and metabolisms (especially the proteins, i.e. , pck A), and VFAs biosynthesis (i.e. , fab G) were all upregulated with the low PCMX stimulus. The microbial response and adaptation to PCMX toxicity were mainly attributed to the regulation of two-component and quorum sensing systems. Overall, PCMX contributed to the VFAs accumulation during sludge fermentation by mainly interacting and disrupting the sludge structures, and improving the microbial metabolic function traits. This work provided new insights into exogenous pollutants' interactions, potential influences, and reaction mechanisms in the complicated sludge matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crawfish shell wastes (CSW) are abundant with valuable substrates, which possess great resource potentials. This work has revealed the feasibility of CSW reutilization for effective volatile fatty acids (VFAs) generation with waste active sludge (WAS) via anaerobic fermentation. The maximum VFAs generation reached 17963 mg COD/L when the CSW/WAS mass ratio was 3.25:1, while it was 784 mg COD/L in the control reactor. Meanwhile, each gram of CSW could be transformed into 264 mg COD equivalent VFAs. The feed of CSW brought in massive organic substrates, which significantly promoted the solubilization, hydrolysis and acidification processes in the CSW/WAS co-fermentation systems simultaneously. The metabolism of carbohydrates took priority over proteins in contributing to the VFAs promotion. More importantly, the functional anaerobes (i.e. , Paludicola sp. and Macellibacteroides sp.), which participated in the main substrates decomposition with the VFAs as the primary metabolites, were evidently enriched in the presence of CSW. The critical hydrolases and acid-forming enzymes relevant to VFAs biosynthesis were all enhanced. Moreover, the key genes encoding for the main substrates metabolisms (i.e., chitin) and VFAs production were remarkably up-regulated. The evident promotion of microbial activities and metabolic functions was mainly ascribed to the favorable fermentation conditions (i.e., pH, ORP and C/N) induced by CSW conditioning. This study proposed an innovative strategy to recover high-value products from CSW, and in-depth insights of microbial traits and genetic functions in CSW/WAS co-fermentation systems. [Display omitted] • Each gram of CSW can be transformed into 264 mg COD equivalent VFAs. • The solubilization, hydrolysis and acidification steps are synchronously promoted. • The VFAs promotion is mainly attributed to the carbohydrates metabolism. • The functional anaerobes involved in VFAs generation are enriched. • The critical metabolic activities (i.e. enzymes and genes) are enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A facile preparation method of flexible phenolic aerogel was reported. • Commercial resins and ambient pressure drying can reduce preparation period. • The FPA possesses low thermal conductivity, excellent compressibility. An ambient pressure drying, cost-effective and environment-friendly synthesis method for aerogels has been continuously pursued by scholars. However, phenolic aerogels are usually rigid and prepared from phenol and aldehyde monomers through complicated and long-time supercritical drying processes, which limit their production efficiency. This paper introduces an ambient pressure drying method for preparing lightweight and low-thermal-conductivity phenolic aerogels with excellent flexibility. The prepared flexible phenolic aerogels (FPAs) have a complete 3D network structure, low thermal conductivity (approximately 0.03 W/(m·K)) and excellent compressibility and recovery performance (compression strain can reach 50%, and rebound rate can reach 80%). Given their simple synthesis, simple scaling up and excellent mechanical properties, such flexible phenolic aerogels may have great potential to serve as thermal insulating materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the approach of stimulating the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) during food wastes (FW) fermentation by linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS) is proposed and the underlying mechanisms from a metagenomic perspective are analyzed. The results show that with an appropriate level of LAS (50 mg/L), VFA production is greatly enhanced (11854 versus 1825 mg COD/L) with the increased proportions of high-value long-chain ones. Mechanistic explorations indicate that LAS contributes to the solubilization/hydrolysis of the main organic components in FW (i.e., carbohydrates, proteins and lipids) due to the amphipathic features. Besides, LAS would interact with the cell membranes and increase the cell permeability to promote the membrane transport of substrates into the functional microorganisms for further metabolisms. The metagenomic analysis demonstrates that the critical genes involved in hydrolase secretion (i.e., bglX, pepD and lip), ABC transporter (i.e., rfbA and lolD), main substrate metabolism (especially the proteins and lipids, i.e., glsA and glpK) and fatty acid biosynthesis (i.e., accA , accC and accD) all highly expressed in LAS-conditioned reactors. The upregulation of these encoding genes stimulates microbial metabolic activities and improves the production rates of VFAs. Besides, the distribution of functional microbial populations and their associations with genetic expressions in different reactors were investigated. This study provides profound information on the stimulating effects of LAS on FW fermentation for VFA production from genetic and functional perspectives. [Display omitted] • Linear alkylbenzene sulphonates (LAS) enhanced volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production. • The organics solubilization/hydrolysis and membrane transport process were improved. • LAS mainly upregulated the genetic expressions of proteins and lipids metabolism. • The encoding genes involved in VFAs biosynthesis were enriched. • The microbial structure and its association with genetic expressions were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]