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To improve the feature extraction of ship-radiated noise in a complex ocean environment, a novel feature extraction method for ship-radiated noise based on complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive selective noise (CEEMDASN) and refined composite multiscale fluctuation-based dispersion entropy (RCMFDE) is proposed. CEEMDASN is proposed in this paper which takes into account the high frequency intermittent components when decomposing the signal. In addition, RCMFDE is also proposed in this paper which refines the preprocessing process of the original signal based on composite multi-scale theory. Firstly, the original signal is decomposed into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) by CEEMDASN. Energy distribution ratio (EDR) and average energy distribution ratio (AEDR) of all IMF components are calculated. Then, the IMF with the minimum difference between EDR and AEDR (MEDR) is selected as characteristic IMF. The RCMFDE of characteristic IMF is estimated as the feature vectors of ship-radiated noise. Finally, these feature vectors are sent to self-organizing map (SOM) for classifying and identifying. The proposed method is applied to the feature extraction of ship-radiated noise. The result shows its effectiveness and universality.

Ytterbium (Yb) containing magnesium alloys have aroused extensive interest due to their excellent mechanical properties after thermomechanical processing and heat treatment. Unfortunately, the sole effect of Yb addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of pure Mg matrix remains uncertain to date. In this work, the effects of Yb concentration on the texture development and tensile properties of pure Mg matrix during hot extrusion and the subsequent annealing were systematically investigated. The results revealed that the constitutional supercooling induced by Yb addition refined the as-cast microstructure but exerted a negligible effect on the original columnar grain morphology. When extruded at 300 °C, the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) process was considerably retarded. The in-grain misorientation axes (IGMA) analysis combined with TEM observation indicated that non-basal slips operated with increasing Yb concentration. Specifically, the prismatic 〈a〉 slip should be robustly activated in Mg–1.0 Yb extrudate, promoting the formation of the texture with {10–10} plane normal to the extrusion direction (ED), while for the Mg–2.0 Yb counterpart, the increased activity of pyramidal 〈c + a〉 slip and the relaxation of basal/ dislocations generated an ED-tilted texture component. The preferential grain growth dominated the subsequent annealing texture development at 400 °C when a comparable grain size was achieved. An obvious ED-tilted texture intensity with the peak around 〈–12–13〉 was observed in Mg–2.0 Yb alloy, which was primarily caused by grains with the basal orientation vanished and with the non-basal orientations intensified due to a higher concentration of Yb solute. Favored by the grain refinement, the Mg–2.0 Yb extrudate exhibited a high tensile yield strength of 304 ± 3.5 MPa, while the subsequently annealed counterpart presented a favorable elongation to failure of 14.8 ± 1.2%, which mainly due to the homogeneous grain structure, weak ED-tilted texture, and dissolution of coarse phases after high-temperature annealing.

In this study, normal values of semen analysis were set for a general infertile population of couples among which most women had normal ovulation. The predictive capacity values of sperm quality, including concentration, motile count, progressive motile count, and morphology, are unclear for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A secondary analysis was conducted based on a randomized controlled trial investigating infertility among women with PCOS experiencing ovulatory disorder between 2011 and 2016 in China. A total of 1000 women received ovulation induction (acupuncture and clomiphene). We randomized the women with PCOS in 27 hospitals in China who received one of four interventions (acupuncture plus clomiphene, sham acupuncture plus clomiphene, acupuncture plus placebo, or sham acupuncture plus placebo). Semen analysis was performed for every male partner according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. The outcomes included conception, clinical pregnancy, and live birth. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the predictive value of semen analysis among ovulatory women for conception, clinical pregnancy, and live birth. Among the 1000 couples, the number of couples who attained ovulation, conception, clinical pregnancy, and live birth were 780, 320, 235, and 205, respectively. Semen volume and motility were applied and used as prediction parameters for conception (area under the curve (AUC) of 0.62 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.55–0.69)), clinical pregnancy (AUC of 0.67 (95%CI: 0.61–0.73)), and live birth (AUC of 0.57 (95%CI: 0.50–0.64)). No poor calibration was shown for these models in Hosmer–Lemeshow tests. The predictive capacity of semen analysis for treatment outcome in PCOS women with PCOS experiencing with ovulatory dysfunction is limited.

Benefitting from the large interlayer spacing, ultrahigh conductivity and abundant surface chemistry, Ti3C2Tx has been a promising electrode material for supercapacitors (SCs). CoS has attracted much attention due to its low cost, weak Co-S bond and relatively high theoretical capacity. Herein, CoS nanowires were grown on few-layered Ti3C2Tx by one-step solvothermal method as a SC electrode. Within the composite, Ti3C2Tx could function as conductive network and buffer matrix to provide ultra-fast electronic transport and relieve volume expansion of CoS nanowires. Simultaneously, the active CoS nanowires with high capacitance act as interlayer spacer to restrain the restacking of Ti3C2Tx nanosheets. As a result, CoS/Ti3C2Tx-5 electrode exhibits a remarkable improvement specific capacitance of 528 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 and ultrahigh capacitance retention of 99.3% after 20 000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g−1. The attempts and efforts made in this work provide a prototype for achieving excellent electrochemical properties.

In response to the shortcomings of cobalt-rich cathodes, iron-based perovskite oxides appear as promising alternatives for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). However, their inferior electrochemical performance at reduced temperatures (

The C (Cys) 2H (His) 2-type transcription factor is one of the most important transcription factors in plants and plays a regulatory role in the physiological responses of rice to abiotic stresses. A novel rice C2H2-type zinc finger protein, abscisic acid (ABA)-drought-reactive oxygen species (ROS) 3 (OsADR3), was found to confer drought stress tolerance by enhancing antioxidant defense and regulating OsGPX1. Overexpression of OsADR3 in rice increased tolerance to drought stress by increasing ROS scavenging ability and ABA sensitivity. In contrast, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of osadr3 increased the sensitivity of rice to drought and oxidative stress. An exogenous ROS-scavenging reagent restored the drought-stress tolerance of osadr3-CRISPR plants. Global transcriptome analysis suggested that OsADR3 increased the expression of OsGPX1 under drought stress. Electrophoretic mobility shift, yeast one-hybrid, and dual-luciferase reporter assays revealed that OsADR3 modified the expression of OsGPX1 by directly binding to its promoter. Knockdown of OsGPX1 repressed ROS scavenging ability under drought stress in OsADR3-overexpression plants. These findings suggest that OsADR3 plays a positive regulatory role in drought-stress tolerance by inducing antioxidant defense and associated with the ABA signaling pathway in rice.

Ni-rich layered oxide LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 (x ≥ 0.8) is the most promising cathodes for future high energy automotive lithium-ion batteries. However, its application is hindered by the undesirable cycle stability, mainly due to the irreversible structure change at high voltage. Herein, we demonstrate that F substitution with the appropriate amount (1 at%) is capable for improve the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2 cathode significantly. It is revealed that F substitution can reduce cation mixing, stabilize the crystal structure and improve Li transport kinetics. The resulted LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O1.99F0.01 cathode can deliver a high capacity of 194.4 mAh g−1 with capacity retention of 95.5% after 100 cycles at 2C and 165.2 mAh g−1 at 5C. In-situ synchrotron X-ray technique proves that F ions in the cathode materials can suppress the irreversible phase transition from H2 phase to H3 phase in high voltage region by preventing oxygen gliding in a-b planes, ensuring a long-term cycle stability.

This present work aims to understand the strengthening mechanism of TiB2p reinforced rheological forming of Al matrix composites. The mechanism of in-situ TiB2p on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties strengthening of semi-solid Al–20Si (wt%) alloy was studied. The experiments show that the primary Si phase, α-Al phase, and eutectic Si are refined by in-situ TiB2p combined semi-solid forming. The primary Si phase is distributed uniformly in the matrix and the morphology of eutectic Si phase changed from needle-like to short rod-like. In addition, the Si/TiB2p interface is clear and well-bonded but no orientation relationship existed. On the contrary, the TiB2 are tightly bound to the α-Al and exist good lattice matching coherence in (01-1-1)TiB2p//(200)α-Al. The tensile strength and elongation are an increase from 110 MPa to 2.3% to 215.7 MPa and 4.2% with the content of in-situ TiB2p from 0 to 6%, respectively, own to dislocation strengthening, fine grain strengthening, and second phase grain strengthening induced by TiB2p. The fracture form from cleavage fracture to cleavage-ductile mixed-mode fracture due to the incorporation of TiB2p inhibits the crack propagation.

The aircraft system has recently gained its reputation as a reliable and efficient tool for sensing and parsing aerial scenes. However, accurate and fast semantic segmentation of high-resolution aerial images for remote sensing applications is still facing three challenges: the requirements for limited processing resources and low-latency operations based on aerial platforms, the balance between high accuracy and real-time efficiency for model performance, and the confusing objects with large intra-class variations and small inter-class differences in high-resolution aerial images. To address these issues, a lightweight and dual-path deep convolutional architecture, namely Aerial Bilateral Segmentation Network (Aerial-BiSeNet), is proposed to perform real-time segmentation on high-resolution aerial images with favorable accuracy. Specifically, inspired by the receptive field concept in human visual systems, Receptive Field Module (RFM) is proposed to encode rich multi-scale contextual information. Based on channel attention mechanism, two novel modules, called Feature Attention Module (FAM) and Channel Attention based Feature Fusion Module (CAFFM) respectively, are proposed to refine and combine features effectively to boost the model performance. Aerial-BiSeNet is evaluated on the Potsdam and Vaihingen datasets, where leading performance is reported compared with other state-of-the-art models, in terms of both accuracy and efficiency.

Scalable pressureless sintering of nanocrystalline alumina (Al2O3) ceramics is a challenging problem with great scientific and technological interest. This challenge was addressed in our recent works utilizing ultrafine α-Al2O3 nanopowders with exceptional sinterability combined with two-step sintering technique. Here the sintering mechanism and kinetic parameters (grain boundary diffusivity and its activation energy) were analyzed from constant heating-rate sintering experiments by three different sintering models and compared with existing sintering data in the literature. We found that the low-temperature sintering of 4.7 nm α-Al2O3 nanopowders can be well explained by conventional sintering mechanism via grain boundary diffusion, with reasonable activation energy of 4–5 eV that is smaller than that of coarse Al2O3 powders and enhanced diffusivity. However, unphysically small activation energy could be obtained if an inappropriate model was used. Lastly, successful two-step sintering was demonstrated under different heating rates. Our work illustrates that the exceptional sinterability of ultrafine α-Al2O3 nanopowders are most likely contributed by small size (short diffusion distance), large surface area (large sintering driving force) and good dispersity rather than new sintering mechanism, and highlights the importance of fast firing and the non-equilibrium nature for the low-temperature sintering of such nanopowders.

Aerobic glycolysis, also known as the Warburg effect, is a hallmark of cancer and essential for metabolism in malignancies, but its regulation and modulation in cancer cells remain poorly understood. Here, using large-scale functional screening, we identified a tumor-associated and broadly expressed oncogenic long noncoding RNA LINC00973. Notably, knocking down LINC00973 significantly inhibits the proliferation of multiple types of cancer cells and reduces tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC00973 directly binds to lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), an essential glycolytic enzyme, and enhances its enzymatic activity, thereby promoting glycolysis. Clinically, high expression of LINC00973 is significantly associated with poor prognosis in many types of human cancers. This work demonstrates that LINC00973 modulates cancer-specific regulation of the Warburg effect, and may represent a potential target for broad-acting anti-cancer therapies.

The harvest method of shelling corn (Zea mays L.) kernels in the field decreases labor costs associated with transporting, drying and threshing the crop. However, it was previously found that the kernel moisture content increased after field harvest, which decreased the value of corn kernels. To identify the reasons underlying the increase, we conducted a multiyear and -area trial in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, China and performed a staged-harvest test at several phases of kernel dry-down. The test investigated a range of parameters such as the kernel moisture content pre- and post-harvest, the kernel breakage rate, the amount of impurities, and the moisture content of various other plant tissues. An analysis of 411 pairs of pre- and post-harvest samples found that kernel moisture content after harvest was 2.2% higher than that before harvest. In the staged-harvest test, however, a significant increase was only observed when the kernel moisture content before harvest was higher than 23.9%. The increase in post-harvest kernel moisture content was positively associated with the pre-harvest kernel moisture content, breakage rate and impurity rate. Typically, at harvest time in this region, there is a significant fraction of immature crops with a high moisture content, resulting in kernels that are prone to breakage or impurities that ultimately lead to increases in water content after harvest. Therefore, we suggest using hybrids that quickly wither late in the growing stage. Additionally, farmers should delay harvest in order to minimize the pre-harvest kernel moisture content and thus reduce breakages and impurities, thereby improving the quality of kernels after harvest and the efficiency of corn kernel farming in China.

Li2MoO3 (LMO) is a promising stabilization block for constructing high performance lithium-rich layered oxides. However, its poor electronic conductivity, surface instability in air, and capacity degradation are drawbacks for the application. To solve these issues, non-equivalent Nb5+ dopants were introduced into the LMO lattice. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations combined with experimental characterizations have confirmed that Nb5+ doping not only enhances the Mo–O bonds of LMO but also reduces its band gap and further suppresses the oxidation of surface Mo4+, leading to a much-improved lattice and surface stabilities. Therefore, the electrochemical performances of LMNO are improved obviously. The initial discharge capacities of LMO, LMNO-0.01, LMNO-0.02, and LMNO-0.03 are 232.6, 234.7, 251.6, and 246.3 mAh·g−1, respectively. LMNO-0.02 exhibits the best performance, and its specific capacities at the 1st and 100th cycles reach 144.13 and 72.06 mA g−1 under a 3C charging rate and a 5C discharging rate. Our results have demonstrated that non-equivalent cationic doping is an effective strategy to modulate the bonding characteristics of LMO and therefore to improve its electrochemical performance.

A high-entropy alloy coating of AlCoCrFeNi was prepared by plasma spraying and then remelted via laser remelting. The effect of laser remelting on the microstructure, mechanical properties and wear resistance of the AlCoCrFeNi coating was investigated. Particularly, the effect of surface free energy on the wear resistance of the coatings before and after remelting was explored. The results showed that the remelted AlCoCrFeNi coating retained the same single BCC solid solution structure as the as-sprayed AlCoCrFeNi coating. Besides, the defects in the coating were basically eliminated by laser remelting, leading to the porosity of the coating decreased from 4.8 to only 0.3%. Consequently, the hardness, elastic modulus and fracture toughness of the coating were enhanced by 38%, and the wear loss of the remelted AlCoCrFeNi coating was only 22% of that of the as-sprayed one. Therefore, laser remelting is a feasible method to improve the microstructure and enhance the wear resistance of the AlCoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy coating.

Background Effective tiller number (ETN) has a pivotal role in determination of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain yield. ETN is a complex quantitative trait regulated by both genetic and environmental factors. Despite multiple tillering-related genes have been cloned previously, few of them have been utilized in practical breeding programs. Results In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for ETN using a panel of 490 rice accessions derived from the 3 K rice genomes project. Thirty eight ETN-associated QTLs were identified, interestingly, four of which colocalized with the OsAAP1, DWL2, NAL1, and OsWRKY74 gene previously reported to be involved in rice tillering regulation. Haplotype (Hap) analysis revealed that Hap5 of OsAAP1, Hap3 and 6 of DWL2, Hap2 of NAL1, and Hap3 and 4 of OsWRKY74 are favorable alleles for ETN. Pyramiding favorable alleles of all these four genes had more enhancement in ETN than accessions harboring the favorable allele of only one gene. Moreover, we identified 25 novel candidate genes which might also affect ETN, and the positive association between expression levels of the OsPILS6b gene and ETN was validated by RT-qPCR. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis on data released on public database revealed that most ETN-associated genes showed a relatively high expression from 21 days after transplanting (DAT) to 49 DAT and decreased since then. This unique expression pattern of ETN-associated genes may contribute to the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth of tillers. Conclusions Our results revealed that GWAS is a feasible way to mine ETN-associated genes. The candidate genes and favorable alleles identified in this study have the potential application value in rice molecular breeding for high ETN and grain yield.

The injection molding process of a mold with multiple cavities can reduce the mold space, but the process is complicated and the product is prone to warpage. In order to reduce the transparent parts warpage of such a mold, by optimizing injection molding process parameters, an optimization technique combining orthogonal experiment, Kriging model and an optimization algorithm is proposed. First, the orthogonal experiment is designed, based on Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) simulation results, while the significant factors affecting the warpage are selected. On this basis, the Kriging model is established to map the nonlinear function relationship between the significant factors and the warpage. Specifically in this paper, four types of correlation functions, affecting the model precision accuracy, are used to establish the Kriging model and the high-precision accuracy model is selected. A numerical optimization algorithm, direct search approach and global exploration method are used to optimize the model, so as to obtain the optimal injection molding parameters producing the minimum warpage. Finally, CAE simulation and experimental validation prove the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed optimization method.

Renewable and biodegradable linear polyesters with oxabicyclic units based on the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) have attracted considerable interest as alternatives to petrochemical-based polye...

In this paper, the microstructures, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior of xTiB2/Al-9Si-3Cu-0.8Zn composites after T6 heat treatment were invested in detail through the combination of different technologies, including optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), tensile testing, corrosion testing, etc. The research results showed that the average size of the α-Al grains gradually decreased with the increase of TiB2 particles (TiB2p) content. In addition, there was a semi-coherent relationship between TiB2p and the α-Al matrix, and the nanoscale precipitates were identified as θ and θʹ phases by virtue of their crystal orientation relationship. Tensile testing results revealed that an increase in TiB2 content caused the elastic modulus, yield strength and tensile strength of the composites to increase and then decrease. And with a TiB2p content of 4 wt%, they reached 85.7 GPa, 360 MPa and 398 MPa, reflecting increases of 26.2%, 60.0%, and 30.9%, respectively. The contributions of thermal mismatch, grain boundary and Orowan strengthening mechanisms to the overall yield strength of the 4%TiB2/Al-9Si-3Cu-0.8Zn composite were 72.1, 3.8, and 35.6 MPa, respectively. Unfortunately, the corrosion resistance of xTiB2/Al-9Si-3Cu-0.8Zn composites gradually decreased with increasing TiB2p content. The corrosion morphology analysis indicated that the agglomeration of TiB2p and Si weakened the protection afforded by the oxide film, evolving into a point of nucleation for the subsequent corrosion reaction. Moreover, point-pair correlation was observed between the TiB2p and Al matrix, exacerbating the corrosion. The results implied that extra factors be considered in industrial application of TiB2 ceramic particles in a metallic system.

Fe-Al compounds possess a combination of high strength and corrosion resistance at high temperatures. However, increasing Al content to make them lighter results in embrittlement. Here, we investigate the high-temperature behavior of a novel, lightweight, ultra-fine-layered FeAl/FeAl2 material. We report a transition from unstable to stable plasticity at 450 °C. Below 450 °C, deformation is dominated by localized shear deformation within the soft FeAl layers, while above 450 °C, it proceeds by co-deformation between FeAl and the brittle FeAl2 layers. We show that co-deformation is associated with the temperature at which the interface converts from sliding to sourcing dislocations for FeAl2.

Fe-loaded activated carbon (AC) has high surface acidity and more active sites, while manganese-loaded AC has high oxygen content. Coconut husk AC modified by Fe–Mn was studied with the aim of revealing the modification mechanism. First, HNO3/AC was prepared using the nitric acid immersion method. Second, Fe–Mn/AC was prepared using the Fe(NO3)3 and Mn(NO3)2 sequential immersion. The effects of HNO3, Fe(NO3)3, and Mn(NO3)2 on the pore texture and surface chemical characteristics of carbon materials were examined by scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The surface topography, pore structure, active material, and functional groups of AC, HNO3/AC, and Fe–Mn/AC were systematically studied. The following results were obtained. The surface of HNO3/AC has more ditches and air voids; the micropores of HNO3/AC are deformed and flattened compared to those of AC. The surface of Fe–Mn/AC exhibits an accumulation phenomenon. MnFe2O4 and FeMn2O4 formed more pore structures. AC and HNO3/AC have numerous micropores. The higher loading quantity of Fe–Mn results in bigger specific surface. The active components of Fe–Mn/AC-1, Fe–Mn/AC-2, Fe–Mn/AC-3, and Fe–Mn/AC-4 are MnFe2O4, Mn0.43Fe2.57O4, Mn3O4, and α-Fe2O3, respectively. The surface functional groups of AC and HNO3/AC are oxygen-containing functional groups. The effect of Fe–Mn modifying conditions on functional group species is rare; however, Fe/AC has more oxygen-containing functional groups. These research findings can aid in the desulfurization and denitrification of the Fe–Mn/AC catalyst.

The first observation of surface metallization of TiO2-x induced by fluoride ions is presented. The emerging metallic states are contributed by the 3d orbital of surface Ti and the 2p orbital of surface bridging F, which are intrinsically originated from the strong electron repulsion between F- and adjacent Ti3+ . The metalized TiO2-x with reduced work function and downward band bending possesses high electron-donating power to supported Ru species via atomic-scale ohmic contacts, exhibiting unprecedented photocatalytic performances for ammonia synthesis across the entire solar spectrum region (200-1550 nm) at room temperature. Mechanism and kinetic analysis revealed that the loaded Ru could behave as efficient electron sinks to accumulate photogenerated electrons and that the metallic surface markedly enhanced the dissociation of H2 and N2 by the hot electrons generated by the visible or even infrared light irradiation.

Developing highly efficient electro-catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) by an economic and green manner is vital for the practical application of fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Herein, inspired by the manufacturing process of sponge tofu (Chinese Food), we develop a sponge tofu-like graphene-carbon hybrid supporting Pt–Co nanoparticles catalyst (denoted as Pt–Co/CB + RGO-3D) by a cheap and environment-friendly freeze-drying technology using ice as the template. The electrochemical tests show that Pt–Co/CB + RGO-3D exhibits approximately 16-fold higher ORR activity and better stability compared with Pt/C. Its excellent performance could be attributed to the high mass transfer efficiency and enhanced electron transfer capacity, which roots in its unique structure. Furthermore, the Pt–Co/CB + RGO-3D-based Zn-air battery exhibits superior performance, corroborating its commercial application potential. This work not only provides a prospective method to fabricate catalysts with porous structure but also offers an effective strategy to design highly efficient electrocatalysts with special structure.

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are obligate parasites that infect a broad range of insect species. Host-seeking is a crucial step for EPN infection success and survival. Yet, the identity and ecological functions of chemicals involved in host-seeking by EPNs remain overlooked. In this review, we report known CO2, plant-derived and insect-derived cues shaping EPN host-seeking and recognition. Despite species-specific response to environmental cues, we highlight a hierarchical integration of chemicals by EPNs. We further emphasize the impact of EPN selection pressure, age, and experience on their responsiveness to infochemicals. Finally, we feature that EPN chemical ecology can translate into powerful sustainable strategies to control insect herbivores in agriculture.

Nanoplastics in the environment and their effect on the ecosystem has aroused wide concern. This study investigated the effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on activated sludge properties, including nutrient removal, dewaterability, and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production potential. The results indicated that the nanoplastics inhibited the ammonia oxidation rate and nitrate generation rate during nitrification. The denitrification rate was also inhibited in the presence of nanoplastics, while the percentage of total inorganic nitrogen removed was not affected. The phosphorus absorption rates during the aerobic stage were 75.52 %, 76.19 %, 60.69 %, 71.58 %, and 49.48 % for nanoplastics concentrations of 0, 10, 50, 100, and 1,000 μg/L. The phosphorus release was inhibited in the reactors where nanoplastics were added during denitrification. These results indicate that bacteria, including nitrifiers, denitrifiers, and phosphorus-accumulating bacteria are affected by the nanoplastics. This probably attributed to the nanosize of the polystyrene effect on bacterial cells or overproduction of reactive oxygen species that caused dysfunction of microbial metabolism. SCFA production was inhibited by adding nanoplastics, particularly at a concentration of 10 μg/L, suggesting that the hydrolysis and acidification processes were affected by the nanosized polystyrene. The dewaterability of the activated sludge was improved after adding nanoplastics, this probably attributed to the aggregation of polystyrene and its function as a sludge skeleton builder. The results of this study reveal that nanoplastics have a negative effect on activated sludge properties, which should be considered for practical applications.

The solid-solid conversion of Li2S2 to Li2S is a crucial and rate-controlling step that provides one-half of the theoretical capacity of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The catalysts in the Li-S batteries are often useless in the solid-solid conversion due to the poor contact interfaces between solid catalysts and insoluble solid Li2S2. Considering that ultrafine nanostructured materials have the properties of quantum size effects and unconventional reactivities, we design and synthesize for the pomegranate-like sulfur nanoclusters@nitrogen-doped carbon@nitrogen-doped carbon nanospheres (S@N-C@N-C NSs) with a seed-pulp-peel nanostructure. The ultrafine S@N-C subunits (diameter ≈5 nm) and effects of a spatial structure perfectly realize the rapid conversion of ultrafine Li2S2 to Li2S. The S@N-C@N-C seed-pulp-peel NS cathodes exhibit excellent sulfur utilization, superb rate performance (760 mAh g-1 at 10.0 C), and an ultralow capacity decay rate of about 0.016% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 4.0 C. The proposed strategy based on ultrafine nanostructured materials can also inform material engineering in related energy storage and conversion fields.

Inverse-sandwich structures have been observed recently for dilanthanide boride clusters, in which two Ln atoms sandwich a monocyclic Bx ring for x = 7-9. An interesting question is if larger Bx rings are possible to form such inverse-sandwich clusters. Here we address this question by investigating La2B10- and La2B11- using photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio quantum chemical calculations. Photoelectron spectra of La2B10- and La2B11- show complicated, but well-resolved, spectral features that are used to compare with theoretical calculations. We have found that global minimum structures of the two clusters are based on the octa-boron ring. The global minimum of La2B10- consists of two chiral enantiomers with C1 symmetry, which can be viewed as adding a B2 unit off-plane to the B8 ring, whereas that of La2B11- can be viewed as adding a B3 unit in-plane to the B8 ring in a second coordination shell. Chemical bonding analyses reveal localized B-B bonds on the edge of the clusters and delocalized bonds in the expanded boron frameworks. The interactions between the La atoms and the boron frameworks include the unique (d-p)δ bonding, which was found to be the key for inverse-sandwich complexes with monocyclic boron rings. The current study confirms that the largest monocyclic boron ring to form the inverse-sandwich structures is B9 and provide insights into the structural evolutions of larger lanthanide boride clusters.

The preparation of small molecule compounds with a high value from biomass has always been the focus of research, and catalysts with high activity and stability are an essential part of biomass con...

LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 (x ≥ 0.5) layered oxide materials are generally considered as one of the most prospective candidates for lithium-ion battery (LIBs) cathodes due to their high specific capacity and working voltage. However, surface impurity species substantially degrade the electrochemical performance of LIBs. Herein, surface reconstruction from layered structure to disordered layer and rock-salt coherent region together with a uniform Li2CO3-dominant coating layer is first in situ constructed on the single-crystal LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM) material by a simple water treatment procedure. The unique surface structure is elucidated by Ar-sputtering-assisted X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (spherical aberration-corrected-scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and TEM). Meanwhile, neutron powder diffraction (NPD) indicates that the antisite defect concentration is mitigated in the treated materials. The modified samples display superior cycle stability with a capacity retention of up to 87.5% at 1C after 300 cycles, a high rate capacity of 151 mAh g-1 at 5C, an elevated temperature (45 °C) cycling property with 80% capacity retention (4.5 V), and improved full-cell performance with 91% after 250 cycles at 1C. Importantly, postmortem examination on the cycled cathodes by time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS), XPS, TEM, and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) pattern further demonstrate that these results are mainly attributed to the thin cathode electrolyte interface (CEI) film and low solubility of transition-metal ions. Therefore, this expedition provides an opportunity to construct an effective armor for the interface compatibility and stability of LIBs.

Trimethylated histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) is a repressive histone marker that regulates a variety of developmental processes, including those that determine flowering time. However, relatively little is known about the mechanism of how H3K27me3 is recognized to regulate transcription. Here, we identified BAH domain-containing transcriptional regulator 1 (BDT1) as an H3K27me3 reader. BDT1 is responsible for preventing flowering by suppressing the expression of flowering genes. Mutation of the H3K27me3 recognition sites in the BAH domain disrupted the binding of BDT1 to H3K27me3, leading to de-repression of H3K27me3-enriched flowering genes and an early-flowering phenotype. We also found that BDT1 interacts with a family of PHD finger-containing proteins, which we named PHD1-6, and with CPL2, a Pol II carboxyl terminal domain (CTD) phosphatase responsible for transcriptional repression. Pull-down assays showed that the PHD finger-containing proteins can enhance the binding of BDT1 to the H3K27me3 peptide. Mutations in all of the PHD genes caused increased expression of flowering genes and an early-flowering phenotype. This study suggests that the binding of BDT1 to the H3K27me3 peptide, which is enhanced by PHD proteins, is critical for preventing early flowering.

The tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous pest with a highly selective and sensitive chemosensory system involved in complex physiological behaviors such as searching for food sources, feeding, courtship, and oviposition. However, effective management strategies for controlling the insect pest populations under threshold levels are lacking. Therefore, there is an urgent need to formulate eco-friendly pest control strategies based on the disruption of the insect chemosensory system. In this study, we identified 158 putative chemosensory genes based on transcriptomic and genomic data for S. litura, including 45 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs, nine were new), 23 chemosensory proteins (CSPs), 60 odorant receptors (ORs, three were new), and 30 gustatory receptors (GRs, three were new), a number higher than those reported by previous transcriptome studies. Subsequently, we constructed phylogenetic trees based on these genes in moths and analyzed the dynamic expression of various genes in head capsules across larval instars using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Nine genes–SlitOBP8, SlitOBP9, SlitOBP25, SlitCSP1, SlitCSP7, SlitCSP18, SlitOR34, SlitGR240, and SlitGR242–were highly expressed in the heads of 3- to 5-day-old S. litura larvae. The genes differentially expressed in olfactory organs during larval development might play crucial roles in the chemosensory system of S. litura larvae. Our findings substantially expand the gene inventory for S. litura and present potential target genes for further studies on larval feeding in S. litura.

Mitochondrial redox homeostasis plays a vital role in many biological processes. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), one of the most important components for the balance between oxidizing species and reducing species, also acts as the messenger of mitochondrial damage. Thus, an accurate in situ quantitative detection of H2O2 in mitochondria is very important for the evaluation of mitochondrial redox homeostasis. Here, we develop robust surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) nanoprobes based on Au nanoparticles as SERS substrate and functionalized carrier, which is further modified with a phenylboronic acid pinacol ester for specific H2O2 response and a location peptides for mitochondrial targeting by creating a robust Au-Se interface. The SERS nanoprobes show good resistance to abundant thiol under biological conditions and superior performance for mitochondria H2O2 monitoring in living cells than the SERS nanoprobes with the traditional Au-S interface, which enables us to achieve in situ quantification of mitochondrial H2O2 and obtain its real-time dynamic change under oxidative stress.

Leaf morphology influences photosynthesis, transpiration, and ultimately crop yield. However, the molecular mechanism of leaf development is still not fully understood. Here, we identified and characterized the narrow leaf21 (nal21) mutant in rice (Oryza sativa), showing a significant reduction in leaf width, leaf length and plant height, and increased tiller number. Microscopic observation revealed defects in the vascular system and reduced epidermal cell size and number in the nal21 leaf blade. Map-based cloning revealed that NAL21 encodes a ribosomal small subunit protein RPS3A. Ribosome-targeting antibiotics resistance assay and ribosome profiling showed a significant reduction in the free 40S ribosome subunit in the nal21 mutant. The nal21 mutant showed aberrant auxin responses in which multiple auxin response factors (ARFs) harboring upstream open-reading frames (uORFs) in their 5′-untranslated region were repressed at the translational level. The WUSCHEL-related homeobox 3A (OsWOX3A) gene, a key transcription factor involved in leaf blade lateral outgrowth, is also under the translational regulation by RPS3A. Transformation with modified OsARF11, OsARF16, and OsWOX3A genomic DNA (gDNA) lacking uORFs rescued the narrow leaf phenotype of nal21 to a better extent than transformation with their native gDNA, implying that RPS3A could regulate translation of ARFs and WOX3A through uORFs. Our results demonstrate that proper translational regulation of key factors involved in leaf development is essential to maintain normal leaf morphology.

Intrinsic polysulfide shuttling is the most fatal problem with Li-S batteries but it can be suppressed by functionalizing the separators with strong lithium polysulfide absorbents. Carbon nanotube (CNT)-supported MoSe2 nanoflakes with a large interlayer spacing were coated on a commercial polypropylene separator to build an efficient barrier (M/C-PP) to polysulfide shuttling for Li-S batteries. The battery with the separator had initial specific capacities of 1 485 and 880 mAh g−1 at 0.1 and 2 C, respectively, and an excellent long-term cycling stability with a low decay rate of 0.093% per cycle at 0.5 C after 300 cycles. This excellent performance was attributed to the strong adsorption of polysulfides by MoSe2 and the fast charge transport channels provided by the CNTs.

The flourishing development and fast-growing consumption of flexible electronics has brought great pressure to the fragile environment owing to the large amount of plastic waste generated by their non-degradable petroleum-derived polymeric substrates. To alleviate environmental burdens, there’s an urgent need to develop bio-based and biodegradable polymers to replace the petroleum-derived ones used in flexible electronics. In this work, a fully biodegradable polymer, stereocomplex-type polylactide (SC-PLA), together with silver nanowire (AgNW) was exploited to fabricate conductive composite film and the application of this film in flexible electronics was explored. By thermal annealing in the protection of a zinc oxide (ZnO) layer, the AgNW/SC-PLA film with 100% stereocomplex crystallites was obtained. The ZnO/AgNW/SC-PLA film exhibited the sheet resistance of 39.3 Ω/sq with good stability under bending and tape tests. As contrasted with PLA, the film based on SC-PLA presented better mechanical properties and hydrolysis resistance. Specially, a pressure sensor based on the ZnO/AgNW/SC-PLA film was successfully fabricated and it showed considerable flexibility, high sensitivity, and good stability. This work provided an effective way to fabricate biodegradable AgNW/SC-PLA film with high performances and great application potentials, which could help broaden the applications of SC-PLA and develop degradable flexible electronics.

The fractured volcanic aquifer of the Abaya Chamo basin in the southern Ethiopian Rift represents an important source for water supply. This study investigates the geochemical evolution of groundwater and the groundwater flow system in this volcanic aquifer system using hydrochemistry and environmental tracers. Water types of groundwater were found to transform from Ca-Mg-HCO3 (western part of Lake Abaya area) to Na-HCO3 (northwestern part), from the highland down to the Rift Valley. Silicate hydrolysis and Ca/Na ion exchange are the major geochemical processes that control groundwater chemistry along the flow path. Groundwaters are of meteoric origin. The δ18O and δD content of groundwater ranges from −4.9 to −1.1‰ and –27 to 5‰, respectively. The δ18O and δD values that lie on the summer local meteoric water line indicate that the groundwater was recharged mainly by summer rainfall. δ13CDIC values of cold groundwater range from −12 to −2.7‰, whereas δ13CDIC of thermal groundwater ranges from −8.3 to +1.6‰. The calculated δ13CCO2(g) using δ13CDIC and DIC species indicates the uptake of soil CO2 for cold groundwater and the influx of magmatic CO2 through deep-seated faults for thermal groundwater. In the western part of Lake Abaya area, the shallow and deep groundwater are hydraulically connected, and the uniform water type is consistent with a fast flow of large gradient. In contrast, in the northern part of Lake Abaya area, water underwent deep circulation and slow flow, so the water types—e.g. high F− (up to 5.6 mg/L) and Na+—varied laterally and vertically.

Cost-effective electrocatalysts are imperative to the large-scale hydrogen evolution reaction. Herein, 1T/2H–MoSe2/Ti3C2 composites are integrated via a hydrothermal method by taking advantage of the tunable phases of MoSe2 and high conductivity of Ti3C2. Consequently, the 1T/2H–MoSe2/Ti3C2 composites exhibit an optimal overpotential of 150 mV at 10 mA cm−2, a low Tafel slope of 90 mV dec−1, and a steady catalytic activity for over 30 h in an alkaline environment. The improved HER performances can be ascribed to the introduction of the Ti3C2 support in a proper proportion, which not only makes the charge transfer process more convenient but also helps the dispersion of MoSe2. Furthermore, the formation of MoSe2/Ti3C2 heterogeneous interfaces and the synergistic effects stemming from the intimate interactions between the individual components ultimately boost the H2O dissociation in the Volmer step. This study indicates that Ti3C2 is an ideal conductive support for improving HER catalytic activity, and paves a new way for other transition metal selenides and MXenes to build highly efficient HER electrocatalysts.

Bulbophyllum is the largest genus in Orchidaceae with a pantropical distribution. Due to highly significant diversifications, it is considered to be one of the most taxonomically and phylogenetically complex taxa. The diversification pattern and evolutionary adaptation of chloroplast genomes are poorly understood in this species-rich genus, and suitable molecular markers are necessary for species determination and phylogenetic analysis. A natural Asian section Macrocaulia was selected to estimate the interspecific divergence of chloroplast genomes in this study. Here, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of four Bulbophyllum species, including three species from section Macrocaulia. The four chloroplast genomes had a typical quadripartite structure with a genome size ranged from 156,182 to 158,524 bp. The chloroplast genomes included 113 unique genes encoding 79 proteins, 30 tRNAs and 4 rRNAs. Comparison of the four chloroplast genomes showed that the three species from section Macrocaulia had similar structure and gene contents, and shared a number of indels, which mainly contribute to its monophyly. In addition, interspecific divergence level was also great. Several exclusive indels and polymorphism SSR loci might be used for taxonomical identification and determining interspecific polymorphisms. A total of 20 intergenic regions and three coding genes of the most variable hotspot regions were proposed as candidate effective molecular markers for future phylogenetic relationships at different taxonomical levels and species divergence in Bulbophyllum. All of chloroplast genes in four Bulbophyllum species were under purifying selection, while 13 sites within six genes exhibited site-specific selection. A whole chloroplast genome phylogenetic analysis based on Maximum Likelihood, Bayesian and Parsimony methods all supported the monophyly of section Macrocaulia and the genus of Bulbophyllum. Our findings provide valuable molecular markers to use in accurately identifying species, clarifying taxonomy, and resolving the phylogeny and evolution of the genus Bulbophyllum. The molecular markers developed in this study will also contribute to further research of conservation of Bulbophyllum species., Highlights • The first study on comparative chloroplast genomes analysis in four Chinese Bulbophyllum species. • The chloroplast genomes of Bulbophyllum section Macrocaulia showed both conservative and divergence. • A number of exclusive SSRs were identified for taxonomical identification and interspecific polymorphisms determination. • A number of hotspot regions were identified for phylogenetic and evolutionary studies.

In this article, we report robust vector soliton bunches arising in a passively mode-locked fiber laser based on carbon nanotube (CNT). By introducing a polarization-route-assisted module (PRAM) and finely adjusting the cavity birefringence, the soliton bunches can be flexibly manipulated to operate with controllable soliton numbers and positions. Moreover, the potential bandwidth resource provided by the concept of soliton bunches for the ease of breaks a new path for the enhancement of data-carrying capacity. Our research is helpful to extend the theory of vector soliton dynamics in fiber lasers and promotes the promising application in optical communication systems.

Summary Group-III nitrides, touted as the next-generation semiconductors beyond Si, have brought dramatic changes to our everyday life over the past 3 decades. With revolutionary applications in LED lighting and power electronics, the use of III-nitride semiconductors as catalysts for chemical reactions has also attracted extensive interests. However, while inorganic reactions, such as water-splitting, CO2 reduction, and N2 fixation, have made impressive achievements, the use of III-nitrides as organic reaction catalysts has received much less attention. In this review, we summarize the use of III-nitrides in the activation of covalent bonds in organic molecules to achieve more efficient or greener reactivity. With both thermal-driven and photo-driven reactions covered for a wide range of substrates, this review could inspire more innovations in the exploration of catalysis using “the semiconductors of the future,” while at the same time help bridge the boundaries of electronics and chemistry, sparking more interdisciplinary collaborations.

Ternary transition metal chalcogenides (TTMDCs), a novel type of two-dimensional (2D) three-element materials, possess multiple physical and chemical properties and have promising potentials in basic physics and devices. Herein, the usage of WxNb(1−x)Se2 nanosheets as a rising ultrafast photonic device to generate high power mode-locked and Q-switched pulses in a fiber laser is demonstrated. The WxNb(1−x)Se2 nanosheets were successfully prepared by the liquid exfoliation method with thickness less than 3 nm. The nonlinear optical absorption of the WxNb(1−x)Se2-based device was investigated with the saturable intensity of 40.93 MW cm−2 and modulation depth of 5.43%. After integrating the WxNb(1−x)Se2-based device into an Er-doped fiber (EDF) laser cavity, mode-locking and Q-switching laser pulses were formed. In the mode-locked mechanism output, the pulse width is as narrow as 131 fs and the output power is 52.93 mW. In Q-switched operation, the shortest pulse duration is 1.47 μs with the largest pulse energy of 257 nJ. Compared to recent studies, our results showed some improvements. This study suggests that 2D TTMDC-based devices could be developed as efficient ultrafast photonics candidates and widely used in nonlinear optical applications.

In this study, based on silica hollow sphere photonic crystals (SHSPCs), a simple and selective fluorescence sensor for high-performance diethylamine detection was developed. The sensor does not involve complicated integration of arrays or tedious synthetic work. During the detection, the SHSPCs could significantly enhance the fluorescence intensity of rhodamine 6G (Rh6G), and meanwhile, adsorb some Rh6G on their surface. Due to the competitive adsorption, diethylamine could free the Rh6G which was adsorbed on the surface of the SHSPCs, thus enhancing the fluorescence emission intensity with the increase of Rh6G concentration. The second enhancement of the fluorescence emission enabled the selective detection of diethylamine. It is remarkable that a simple and readily available dye (Rh6G) facilitates the efficient detection of diethylamine. Moreover, the sensor has good interference immunity, stability and reusability.

Two series of completely furfural-based poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PBF) ternary-copolyesters were obtained by melt polycondensation of succinic anhydride (SA) or 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) with 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) and tricyclic diacid (TCDA), leading to a total carbon utilization of furfural. Notably, a practical furfural-to-FDCA conversion process was demonstrated via K2CO3 promoted C–H carboxylation of furoate in molten sodium formate. The novel copolyesters displayed controllable thermal, mechanical and gas barrier properties over a wide range, in addition to crystallization behavior, by varying polymer composition using different feeds of the linear SA, planar FDCA and stereoscopic TCDA building blocks. In addition, a series of novel quadri-copolyesters (PBTCx(SnFm)y) with comparable properties to petrochemical-based plastics were synthesized from SA, FDCA, TCDA and 1,4-BDO. In particular, PBTC15(S10F90)85 exhibited satisfactory Tg (36.7 °C) and tensile strength (46.9 MPa) comparable to those of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), in addition to superior ductility (eb = 830%) and CO2 barrier properties (0.029 barrer) when compared with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). A strategy to convert furfural biomass into polymerizable monomers provides a feasible route in commercializing furfural and accessing a variety of novel renewable polyesters that are promising alternatives to existing commercial petrochemical-based polyesters.

Highly permeable organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) membranes are desired to be used in an efficient and energy-saving chemical separation process. Herein, we fabricated a high-flux OSN membrane by synthesizing 7,7′-dihydroxy-2,2′-binaphthol (7,7′-OH-BINOL) as an aqueous phase monomer to react with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) via interfacial polymerization. The unique structures of 7,7′-OH-BINOL having a rotatable highly kinked unit and a rigid binaphthol ring endow the fabricated polyarylate membrane with very high microporosity and super-high Young's modulus. Both simulated and experimental results demonstrate that the BINOL-based polyarylate (PAR-BINOL) membrane has two types of micropores including cross-linked pores and stacked pores. Our results find that the PAR-BINOL membrane exhibits very high solvent permeance over a wide range of solvents with diverse polarity, and also possesses a long-term stable separation performance in solvents. Impressively, the membrane solvent permeance can reach up to 28.7 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, 9.2 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 and 6.7 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 for acetone, methanol, and dimethylformamide (DMF), respectively. The rejection of tetracycline (TC, Mw = 444 g mol−1) is 98.2%. Our work provides some insights into the molecular engineering of monomers with unique contorted and rigid structures for the fabrication of highly permeable OSN membranes.

Poly(4-aminodiphenylamine) (P(4-ADPA)) is a kind of polyaniline derivative and is promising as one of the alternatives to polyaniline because its monomer has a lower oxidation standard potential for oxidation and a faster oxidation rate than that of the aniline monomer. Herein, to explore the factors affecting the structural and electrochemical properties of novel conducting P(4-ADPA) materials, a series of P(4-ADPA) has been prepared by using different organic or inorganic proton acids as dopants and a cationic surfactant as the structure-directing agent. The result shows that the shape and stability of the self-assembled surfactant lamellar micelles are strongly affected by the species and the counter-ion size of proton acids, which in turn affects the morphology, crystallinity and the electrochemical properties of P(4-ADPA). Specifically, P(4-ADPA)-L with lactic acid as the dopant under a mild polymerization environment possesses a uniform intertwined nanosheet morphology and shows superior electrochemical properties with a high specific capacitance of 388 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and a superlong cycle stability. In addition, P(4-ADPA)-S and P(4-ADPA)-P with sulfuric acid and perchloric acid as dopants, respectively, exhibit high conductivity and specific capacitance, and due to the high acidity of reaction solutions, a large size of counter-ions and thereby good crystallinity.

Synthesizing amines via the hydroaminomethylation (HAM) reaction of olefins, a multicomponent reaction, has been regarded as one of the most attractive methods compared with the traditional methods considering the atom economy and environmental friendliness. However, the use of homogeneous catalysts, complex ligands containing diphosphine or nitrogen, and base or acid additives has severely hampered the utilization of these methods. Herein, an efficient heterogeneous Ru/TiO2-catalyzed HAM reaction of olefins is developed without any additives. Various amines, including secondary and tertiary amines, can be successfully obtained from olefins including aromatic and aliphatic olefins. Systematic studies demonstrate the lower electron density of Ruδ+ and the higher number of acid sites of Ru/TiO2, leading to the high HAM reaction activity of olefins. Most importantly, nitrobenzene derivatives can also be transformed to the corresponding products over Ru/TiO2 in excellent yields.

To amend the oxidation and ablation resistance of C/C composites, HfC-ZrC biphase coating was synthesized by CVD. Influences of deposition temperature and CH4 flow rate on the deposition rate, phase constitution and microstructure of the HfC-ZrC coating were investigated. Ablation behavior and ablation mechanism of the HfC-ZrC coating with different ZrC contents were examined. With the deposition temperature rising, the deposition rate and grain size of the HfC-ZrC coating increased. High flow rate of CH4 was beneficial to improving the deposition rate and reducing the grain size of the HfC-ZrC coating. Moderate ZrC content in the HfC-ZrC coating was conducive to the process of solid solution sintering among HfO2 and ZrO2 grains, leading to generating a continuous and compact oxide layer. The coating with HfC/ZrC mole ratio of 1:1 exhibited superior anti-ablation performance, owing to its flat and compact structure and sufficient solid solution sintering among the oxide grains during ablation.

The timing of Barleik Formation in Xinjiang, NW China, has not been constrained by accurate geochronology yet, while this work is of great significance to help reconstruct the geological tectonic evolution of Western Junggar. Based on the LA-ICP-MS U–Pb geochronology study, the weighted average age of magmatic zircons collected from the tuff in Barleik Formation, which reflects the formation age of the tuff, is 372 ± 2 Ma (N = 57, mean square of weighted deviates (MSWD) = 1.15). The first report in this study of the zircon U–Pb dating result indicates that Barleik Formation along the West Junggar tectonic belt occurred in the Late Devonian rather than in the middle Devonian period as previously claimed. Meanwhile, chronology data and the geochemical features comparing with the Island Arc-related rocks in the adjacent area, as well as stratigraphic structural relationship, suggest that volcanic activities may exist in the Late Devonian, and the relevant volcanic ash deposited in the Barleik forearc basin may be derived from the adjacent island arc (current geographic coordinate). In addition, the fossil assemblage dominated by bathyal-abyssal invertebrate fossils and bathyal-abyssal facies indicates that the Barleik Formation is a bathyal-abyssal sedimentary environment.

As biocatalysts, enzymes are characterized by their high catalytic efficiency and strong specificity but are relatively fragile by requiring narrow and specific reactive conditions for activity. Synthetic catalysts offer an opportunity for more chemical versatility operating over a wider range of conditions but currently do not reach the remarkable performance of natural enzymes. Here we consider some new design strategies based on the contributions of nonlocal electric fields and thermodynamic fluctuations to both improve the catalytic step and turnover for rate acceleration in arbitrary synthetic catalysts through bioinspired studies of natural enzymes. With a focus on the enzyme as a whole catalytic construct, we illustrate the translational impact of natural enzyme principles to synthetic enzymes, supramolecular capsules, and electrocatalytic surfaces., Designed strategies based on electric fields and thermodynamic fluctuations are considered to improve the catalytic step and turnover in synthetic catalysts through bioinspired studies of natural enzymes.

Insects employ a sensitive chemosensory system to accurately recognize external odorants, which help them to make a behavioral response quickly. Semiothisa cinerearia has caused serious damages to Sophora japonica L. in recent years, and there is still a lack of effective strategy to control the pest. Although the two type-II sex pheromones of S. cinerearia, 6Z,9Z-cis-3,4-epoxy-17:H and 3Z,6Z,9Z-17:H, have been identified for 30 years, the molecular mechanisms underlying the chemosensation of the two sex pheromones are still unknown. Here, we found that there are differences in the types of antennae sensilla between sexes, and revealed 146 putative chemosensory genes in the antennal transcriptome. Among these genes, 11 and 40 of them displayed male-biased and female-biased expression, respectively. Our findings greatly improve the chemosensory gene resources for S. cinerearia and provide a foundation for functional studies of these sex-biased genes on the chemosensation of sex pheromones and on other sex-related behaviors.

The microstructure and dry sliding wear performance of as-cast TiCp/Ti-1100-0.5Nb composite at 25 °C, 500 °C and 600 °C were systematically investigated. Results show that the solidification matrix microstructure is the typical Widmanstatten structure. The eutectic TiC particles are uniformly distributed in the matrix in the form of feathery, long rod and strip-like shapes. Meanwhile, the interface between TiC and titanium matrix is clear and without any reaction. The wear rate of TiCp/Ti-1100-0.5Nb at 600 °C and 500 °C is reduced by 95.8% and 79.9%, respectively, compared with that of the value of 51.8×10−6 mm3·mm−1 at 25 °C. The friction coefficient of the steady-state period at 25 °C, 500 °C, 600 °C is 0.48, 0.8, 1.2, respectively, and the variation extent of the friction coefficient at elevated temperatures is greater than at 25 °C. The wear mechanism is changed from the mixture of adhesive wear and abrasive wear to mild oxidation wear with rising temperature. It can also be concluded that the composite possesses excellent high temperature wear resistance. The high-wear resistance of the composite is attributed to the Fe2O3 and TiO2. The presence of Fe2O3 and TiO2 reduces the wear rate, increases the friction coefficient, and also improves the range-ability of the friction coefficient.