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To examine the impact of in situ water maceration in macerating ponds on the degumming process and fiber quality of freshly kenaf and jute whole plants. Different kenaf/jute fresh samples (whole plant, bast fresh hides) were subjected to distinct maceration treatments: padded film + cover film, cover film only, and no film. Water temperature, degumming bacterial colony counts, and fiber quality were assessed. Results revealed that composting pools with padded film + cover film maintained the highest water temperature. For colony count, padded film + cover film treatment displayed the highest colony count for kenaf, and no film treatment had the highest for jute. Kenaf whole fresh rods treated with padded film + cover film and cover film alone demonstrated the highest fiber strengths at 489.01 N and 494.85 N, respectively. Jute whole fresh rods macerated in padded film + cover film achieved the greatest strength at 392.32 N. Comparisons of fresh fiber strength between whole fresh rod and bastshowed a maximum difference of 150.69 N (kenaf) and 152.88 N (jute). Comprehensive analysis concluded, that the most effective degumming method involved using the whole fresh rods of red hemp/jute in maceration ponds equipped with padded film + cover film.

The WRKY transcription factors comprise one of the most extensive gene families and serve as pivotal regulators of plant responses to heavy metal stress. They contribute significantly to maintaining plant growth and development by enhancing plant tolerance. However, research on the role of WRKY genes in response to cadmium (Cd) stress in mustard is minimal. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of the mustard WRKY gene family using bioinformatics. The results revealed that 291 WRKY putative genes (BjuWRKYs) were identified in the mustard genome. These genes were categorized into seven subgroups (I, IIa-e and III) through phylogenetic analysis, with differences in motif composition between each subgroup. Homology analysis indicated that 31.62% of the genes originated from tandem duplication events. Promoter analysis revealed an abundance of abiotic stress-related elements and hormone-related elements within the BjuWRKY genes. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that most BjuWRKY genes exhibited differential expression patterns at different Cd treatment stages in mustard. Furthermore, 10 BjuWRKY genes were confirmed to respond to Cd stress through the construction of a BjuWRKY protein interaction network, prediction of hub genes, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR analysis, indicating their potential involvement in Cd stress. Our findings provide a comprehensive insight into the WRKY gene family in mustard and establish a foundation for further studies of the functional roles of BjuWRKY genes in Cd stress response.

In order to investigate the effects of various treatments on the growth of kenaf in saline soil, this study employed a comprehensive experimental design incorporating a dual approach of soil amendment and mulching techniques. Soil treatment of saline and alkaline land, as well as biological material mulching treatment after sowing kenaf, were conducted. The growth dynamics of kenaf were assessed before the mid-term investigation, and the harvest period was examined. Soil physicochemical properties were measured and analysed at different periods. The results show that in the analysis of red sesame yield traits, the differences mainly appeared between soil treatments. There is no significant difference between the different mulching treatments within each soil treatment. In the mid-term study, significant differences were observed in kenaf plant height. Plant height was the most affected by soil conditioners, while other yield traits did not show significant variations. During harvest, only stem thickness and dry weight of a single plant did not show significant differences, whereas other yield traits did. The application of soil conditioners resulted in a 58.15% increase in dry hull yield compared to organic fertilizers and a 22.66% increase compared to regular fertilizers. Soil conditioners also led to higher levels of effective phosphorus, quick-acting potassium, organic matter, and total nitrogen throughout the kenaf growth period compared to organic and regular fertilizers. This is beneficial for enhancing soil quality and reducing soil alkalinity. Combined with the results of kenaf yield and soil physical and chemical properties analysis, it has been proven that the application of soil conditioner has the best effect, followed by the application of compound fertilizer, with organic fertilizer treatment being the least effective.

Abstract Background and objective Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) formation in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or cardiomyopathies is not uncommon. The optimal oral anticoagulation therapy for resolving LVT has been under intense debate. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) remain the anticoagulant of choice for this condition, according to practice guidelines. Evidence supporting the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in the management of LVT continues to grow. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of DOACs versus VKAs. Methods A comprehensive literature search was carried out in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases in July 2023. The efficacy outcomes of this study were thrombus resolution, ischemic stroke, systemic embolism, stroke/systemic embolism, all-cause mortality, and adverse cardiovascular events. The safety outcomes were any bleeding, major bleeding, and intracranial hemorrhage. A total of twenty-seven eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis. Data were analyzed utilizing Stata software version 15.1. Results There was no significant difference between DOACs and VKAs with regard to LVT resolution (RR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.95–1.05, P = 0.99). In the overall analysis, DOACs significantly reduced the risk of stroke (RR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.57–0.96, P = 0.021), all-cause mortality (RR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.57–0.86, P = 0.001), any bleeding (RR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.61–0.92, P = 0.006) and major bleeding (RR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.52–0.85, P = 0.001) when compared to VKAs. Meanwhile, in the sub-analysis examining randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the aforementioned outcomes no longer differed significantly between the DOACs and VKAs groups. The incidences of systemic embolism (RR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.54–1.22, P = 0.32), stroke/systemic embolism (RR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.72–1.00, P = 0.056), intracranial hemorrhage (RR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.23–1.54, P = 0.28), and adverse cardiovascular events (RR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.63–1.56, P = 0.92) were comparable between the DOACs and VKAs groups. A subgroup analysis showed that patients treated with rivaroxaban had a significantly lower risk of stroke (RR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.08–0.72, P = 0.011) than those in the VKAs group. Conclusion With non-inferior efficacy and superior safety, DOACs are promising therapeutic alternatives to VKAs in the treatment of LVT. Further robust investigations are warranted to confirm our findings.

BackgroundIron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency, with little research on its prevalence and long-term outcomes in the general population and those with heart failure (HF). Both the relationships between dietary iron and ID, as well as dietary folate and ID, are understudied.MethodsWe used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2002 to investigate the prevalence, prognosis, and relationship between dietary and ID defined by different criteria in the general population (n = 6,660) and those with HF (n = 182).ResultsThere was no significant difference in the prevalence of ID between HF patients and the general population after propensity score matching. Transferrin saturation (TSAT)

Highlights A hybrid electrocatalyst consisting of PtNi-W alloy nanocrystals loaded on carbon surface with atomically dispersed W sites was realized. Single-atomic W formed protonic acid sites and established an extended proton transport network at the catalyst surface. Peak power density is enhanced by 64.4% compared to that with the commercial Pt/C catalyst in fuel cell as cathode at ultra-low loading of 0.05 mgPt cm−2.

Abstract Dual‐metal single‐atom catalysts (DACs), featuring high atomic utilization efficiency, excellent selectivity, and stability originating from the atomically dispersed nature, have emerged as a new frontier in heterogeneous electrocatalysis due to the synergistic effect between diversified metal active sites in promoting their catalytic activity. In this review, the recent progress and development on the syntheses, characterizations, theoretical uniqueness, and applications for various catalytic reactions and devices (oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, CO2 reduction reaction, N2 reduction reaction, proton exchange membrane fuel cells) are summarized and reviewed. Specifically, the synergistic effect between the two metal centers and electronic structures of catalysts is systematically discussed. Moreover, the future challenges and prospects in developing practical DACs are proposed as a possible direction for further investigation.

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is considered suitable for the remediation of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated farmlands, because of its large biomass and resistance to Cd stress. The addition of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is an important measure used to increase crop yields, and it may also affect Cd accumulation in plants. To clarify the effects of different forms and concentrations of N on plant growth and Cd absorption in kenaf, a hydroponic experiment was conducted using three N forms (NH4+–N, NO3−–N and urea–N) at four concentrations (0, 2, 4 and 8 mM, 0 mM as control) under Cd stress (30 μM). The plant growth, the antioxidant enzyme activity and the Cd contents of various parts of the kenaf seedlings were measured. The results showed that the N form had the greatest impact on the growth of the kenaf and the absorption and transport of the Cd, followed by the interaction effect between the N type and the concentration. Compared to the control, the addition of N fertilizer promoted the growth of kenaf to varying degrees. Among all the treatments, the use of 2 mM of NO3−–N enhanced the biomass and Cd accumulation to the greatest extent compared to CK from 2.02 g to 4.35 g and 341.30 μg to 809.22 μg per plant, respectively. The NH4+–N significantly reduced the Cd contents of different parts but enhanced the translocation factors of Cd stem to root (TF S/R) and leaf to stem (TF L/S) by 34.29~78.57% and 45.10~72.55%, respectively. The peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities of the kenaf increased with the N treatments, especially with NH4+–N. Overall, applying low concentrations of NO3−–N can better promote the extraction of Cd by kenaf.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) is the world’s most widely cultivated crop and an important staple food for humans, accounting for one-fifth of calories consumed. Proteins encoded by the regulator of chromosome condensation 1 (RCC1) are highly conserved among eukaryotes and consist of seven repeated domains that fold into a seven-bladed propeller structure. In this study, a total of 76 RCC1 genes of bread wheat were identified via a genome-wide search, and their phylogenetic relationship, gene structure, protein-conserved domain, chromosome localization, conserved motif, and transcription factor binding sites were systematically analyzed using the bioinformatics approach to indicate the evolutionary and functional features of these genes. The expression patterns of 76 TaRCC1 family genes in wheat under various stresses were further analyzed, and RT-PCR verified that RCC1-3A (TraesCS3A02G362800), RCC1-3B (TraesCS3B02G395200), and RCC1-3D (TraesCS3D02G35650) were significantly induced by salt, cold, and drought stresses. Additionally, the co-expression network analysis and binding site prediction suggested that Myb-7B (TraesCS7B02G188000) and Myb-7D (TraesCS7D02G295400) may bind to the promoter of RCC1-3A/3B and upregulate their expression in response to abiotic stresses in wheat. The results have furthered our understanding of the wheat RCC1 family members and will provide important information for subsequent studies and the use of RCC1 genes in wheat.

Kenaf is one of the most important natural cannabis plants. Molecular marker-assisted breeding is vital for accelerating the breeding process of kenaf. However, the number of kenaf markers is insufficient for molecular marker-assisted breeding. Using transcriptome sequencing data for salt-stressed kenaf plants, the number and distribution of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and single nucleotide variations (SNVs) in the expressed sequences were determined. The objectives of this study were to elucidate the sequence variations in kenaf genes expressed in response to salt stress and to identify stable and dependable molecular markers. Primers were designed for SSR loci and then EST-SSR molecular markers were generated. The subsequent analyses revealed that 30.50% of the unigenes contained SSR motifs, most of which were single nucleotides followed by trinucleotides and dinucleotides. The unigenes containing SSRs were mostly associated with kenaf salt tolerance. Additionally, 10,483 SNVs were detected in contig sequences. Of the 3995 differentially expressed genes encoding interacting proteins, 1297 contained SSRs. Most of these genes were associated with metabolic pathways (e.g., 03000 transcription factors, B09132 signal transduction, and 04122 sulfur relay system). We designed 20 pairs of EST-SSR primers to genotype 30 kenaf varieties (lines), of which 9 primer pairs were ideal for genotyping (e.g., 1 highly polymorphic marker and 2 moderately polymorphic markers). The primer pairs designed for the EST-SSR markers in the kenaf genome may be useful SSR molecular markers for future research on kenaf. The verified polymorphic markers may be applicable to the molecular marker-assisted breeding of salt-tolerant kenaf varieties.

Ramie is a perennial bast fiber crop. Plant tissue culture and genetic transformation have become powerful tools for scientific research and important means of agricultural production. In this study, the research progresses on several aspects of tissue culture and genetic transformation were generalized. The existing problems and prospects have also been discussed to provide scientific basis for the promotion of research on ramie tissue culture and genetic transformation.

WRKY gene family is one of the largest transcription factor families involved in various physiological processes of plants. Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is an important stem fiber crop, and it is also an economically important crop in natural fiber and textile industries around the world. In this study, 105 WRKY genes were obtained by screening the whole genome of flax. There were 26 in group I, 68 in group II, 8 in group III and 3 in group UN. The characteristics of the WRKY motif and gene structure in each group are similar. The promoter sequence of WRKY genes includes photoresponsive elements, core regulatory elements and 12 cis-acting elements under abiotic stress. Similar to A. thaliana and Compositae plants, WRKY genes are evenly distributed on each chromosome, with segmental and tandem repeated events, which play a major role in the evolution of WRKY genes. The flax WRKY gene family is mainly concentrated in group I and group II. This study is mainly based on genome-wide information to classify and analyze the flax WRKY gene family, laying a foundation for further understanding the role of WRKY transcription factors in species evolution and functional analysis.

With the increasing enthusiasm for the hydrogen economy and zero-emission fuel cell technologies, intensive efforts have been dedicated to the development of high-performance electrocatalytic materials for the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Some major fundamental breakthroughs have been made in the past few years. Therefore, reviewing the most recent development of platinum-group-metal (PGM) ORR electrocatalysts is of great significance to pushing it forward. It is known that the ORR on the fuel cell electrode is a heterogeneous reaction occurring at the solid/liquid interface, wherein the electron reduces the oxygen along with species in the electrolyte. Therefore, the ORR kinetic is in close correlation with the electronic density of states and wave function, which are dominated by the localized atomic structure including the atomic distance and coordination number (CN). In this review, the recent development in the regulation over the localized state on the catalyst surface is narrowed down to the following structural factors whereby the corresponding strategies include: the crystallographic facet engineering, phase engineering, strain engineering, and defect engineering. Although these strategies show distinctive features, they are not entirely independent, because they all correlate with the atomic local structure. This review will be mainly divided into four parts with critical analyses and comparisons of breakthroughs. Meanwhile, each part is described with some more specific techniques as a methodological guideline. It is hoped that the review will enhance an insightful understanding on PGM catalysts of ORR with a visionary outlook.

The transformation law of autogenous volume deformation of MgO-admixed concrete with specimen size was revealed through continuous observation on standard-size (Φ200 mm × 500 mm), medium-size (Φ250 mm × 500 mm), and large-size specimens (Φ250 mm × 600 mm) over 6 years. Besides, the pore parameters of concrete core samples obtained from autogenous volume deformation specimens in the 1st, 3rd, and 6th years of age were investigated. The results show that the autogenous volume deformation of MgO-admixed concrete increases with the increase in the MgO content or age. The expansion rate of the concrete specimen decreases after the age of 360 days, and the autogenous volume expansion deformation of the specimen tends to be stable after about 2 years. When the size of the specimen changes, the autogenous volume deformation of MgO-admixed concrete decreases with the increase of specimen size. During the age of 2–6 years, the expansion of medium- and large-size specimens is reduced by 6–10 and 15–20%, respectively, compared with the standard-size specimens under the same MgO content. With the condition of an appropriate MgO content, regardless of the size of the specimen, the pore structure of the concrete becomes better and better with the growth of age, the concrete becomes denser and denser, and the expansion caused by MgO hydration will not cause damage to concrete structures.

The halide perovskite (PVSK) material, an excellent light absorber with fast carrier kinetics, has received increased attention as a potential photocatalyst for organic synthesis. Herein, we report a straightforward synthesis of chemically modified halide perovskite and its application as an efficient photocatalyst to convert styrene into benzaldehyde. A simple method is employed to synthesize the chemically modified CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 nanosheets by using ZrCl4 to simultaneously achieve the Cl doping and the surface modification with Zr species. The photocatalytic oxidation rate of styrene to benzaldehyde catalyzed by surface-modified CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 nanosheets under visible light can reach 1,098 μmol g−1 h−1, 2.9 times higher than that of pristine CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 nanosheets (372 μmol g−1 h−1). The enhanced photocatalytic performance may originate from the modified band structure induced by the synergistic effect of Cl doping and surface modification, whereby the same methodology can be applied to MAPbBr3. This work demonstrates the surface modification of PVSK materials and their potential as efficient photocatalyst toward organic synthesis.

The molecular mechanisms that underlie drought stress responses in kenaf, an important crop for the production of natural fibers, are poorly understood. To address this issue, we describe here the first iTRAQ‐based comparative proteomic analysis of kenaf seedlings. Plants were divided into the following three treatment groups: Group A, watered normally (control); Group B, not watered for 6 days (drought treatment); and Group C, not watered for 5 days and then rewatered for 1 day (recovery treatment). A total of 5014 proteins were detected, including 4932 (i.e., 98.36%) that were matched to known proteins in a BLAST search. We detected 218, 107, and 348 proteins that were upregulated in Group B compared with Group A, Group C compared with Group A, and Group B compared with Group C, respectively. Additionally, 306, 145, and 231 downregulated proteins were detected during the same comparisons. Seventy differentially expressed proteins were analyzed and classified into 10 categories: photosynthesis, sulfur metabolism, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, ribosome, fatty acid elongation, thiamine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, plant–pathogen interaction, and propanoate. Kenaf adapted to stress mainly by improving the metabolism of ATP, regulating photosynthesis according to light intensity, promoting the synthesis of osmoregulators, strengthening ion transport signal transmission, and promoting metabolism and cell stability. This is the first study to examine changes in protein expression in kenaf plants exposed to drought stress. Our results identified key drought‐responsive genes and proteins and may provide useful genetic information for improving kenaf stress resistance.

Kenaf is an annual bast fiber crop. Drought stress influences the growth of kenaf stems and causes a marked decrease in fiber yield and quality. Research on the drought resistance of kenaf is therefore important, but limited information is available on the response mechanism of kenaf to drought stress. In this study, a transcriptome analysis of genes associated with the drought stress response in kenaf was performed. About 264,244,210 bp high-quality reads were obtained after strict quality inspection and data cleaning. Compared with the control group, 4,281 genes were differentially expressed in plants treated with drought stress for 7 d (the drought stress group). Compared with the control group, 605 genes showed differential expression in plants subjected to drought stress for 6 d and then watered for 1 d (the rewatering group). Compared with the rewatering group, 5,004 genes were differentially expressed in the drought stress group. In the comparisons between the drought stress and control groups, and between the drought stress and rewatering groups, the pathway that showed the most highly significant enrichment was plant hormone signal transduction. In the comparison between the rewatering and control groups, the pathways that showed the most highly significant enrichment were starch and sucrose metabolism. Eight transcription factors belonging to the AP2/ERF, MYB, NAC, and WRKY families (two transcription factors per family) detected in the leaf transcriptome were associated with the drought stress response. The identified transcription factors provide a basis for further investigation of the response mechanism of kenaf to drought stress.

In order to accelerate the application of magnesium oxide (MgO) expanding admixture in roller compacted concrete (RCC), aiming at common three-grading RCC used in water conservancy and hydropower engineering, the autoclave expansion of mortar specimens and the compressive strength of the autoclaved mortar specimens were studied by means of autoclave test and compressive strength test. Results showed that the balanced MgO content in RCC, which cannot be determined by the MgO content corresponding to 0.5% autoclave expansion rate of mortar specimens or the inflection point of the curve of autoclave expansion changing with MgO content like normal concrete, should be determined by the MgO content corresponding to the inflection point of the curve that compressive strength of autoclaved mortar specimens changes with MgO content to ensure long-term safe operation of RCC dams.

To investigate the genetic diversity of jute germplasm resources across different varieties (lines) and enhance the efficiency of comprehensive utilization of jute germplasm resources, this study employed a randomized block design to examine and analyze various agronomic traits of 15 jute varieties (lines) collected and to determine the fiber strength.The results demonstrated that the coefficients of variation for 22 agronomic traits across 15 varieties varied between 6.48% and 56.82%. The highest coefficient of variation was recorded for breaking work, followed closely by the number of branches, while the sun-drying rate of fresh bones exhibited the lowest coefficient. Principal component analysis indicated that the cumulative contribution rate of the first six principal components reached 90.98%. Additionally, affiliation function analysis revealed that “Mowei 1” demonstrated the highest affiliation function value, closely followed by “83–1” and “Jute 179.” This suggests that these varieties possess superior overall performance and significant potential for further development and utilization. This study provides a scientific basis for the selection, preservation and popularization of jute germplasm resources in China.

At present, the stiffness and damping identification for active magnetic bearings (AMBs) are still in the stage of theoretical analysis. The theoretical analysis indicates that if the mechanical structure and system parameters are determined, AMBs stiffness and damping are only related to frequency characteristic of control system, ignoring operating condition. More importantly, few verification methods are proposed. Considering the shortcomings of the theoretical identification, this paper obtains these coefficients from the experiment by using the magnetic bearing as a sine exciter. The identification results show that AMBs stiffness and damping have a great relationship with the control system and rotating speed. Specifically, at low rotating speed, the stiffness and damping can be obtained from the rotor static suspension by adding the same excitation frequency. However, at high speed, different from the static suspension situation, the AMBs supporting coefficients are not only related to the frequency characteristics of control system, but also related to the system operating conditions.