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[Display omitted] • Ir-PCN/IrO 2 photocatalyst is prepared based on one-step dual-modulation strategy. • IrO 2 nanodots as hole collector are modified at the edge of PCN nanosheets. • Ir atoms as electron collector are implanted in the skeleton of PCN. • The carrier separation efficiency and reaction kinetics are improved. • The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance is propelled greatly. It is a challenging issue for the creation of photogenerated carrier collectors on the photocatalyst to drive charge separation and promote reaction kinetics in the photocatalytic reaction. Herein, based on one-step dual-modulation strategy, IrO 2 nanodots are modified at the edge of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) nanosheets and atomically dispersed Ir atoms are implanted in the skeleton of PCN to obtain a unique Ir-PCN/IrO 2 photocatalyst. IrO 2 nanodots and atomically dispersed Ir atoms act as hole and electron collectors to synergistically promote the carrier separation and reaction kinetics, respectively, thereby greatly improving the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) performance. As a result, without adding additional cocatalyst, the PHE rate over the optimal Ir-PCN/IrO 2 -2% sample reaches up to 1564.4 μmol h−1 g−1 under the visible light irradiation, with achieving an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 15.7% at 420 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Molecular-level surface active centers are created on PCN. • Au-bpy/PCN composite can effectively impel spatial charge separation. • The photocatalytic CO 2 reduction performance is improved dramatically. • Au-bpy/PCN composite has about 100% selectivity for CO 2 reduction to CO. The directional design of constructing surface active centers has been a challenging issue in the development of efficient photocatalysts. In the contribution, the molecular-level surface active centers are created on polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) through π-π interaction with organic conjugated small molecule complex Au-bpy. In the prepared Au-bpy/PCN composite, Au-bpy is decorated on the surface of PCN in the molecular state and molecularly aggregated nanocrystal. Strikingly, the investigations of the optical properties and charge transport behaviors indicate that the modification of Au-bpy effectively extends the light response range, narrows the band gap and improves the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. At the same time, the structural evolution of Au-bpy/PCN composite reveals that the Au-bpy in the molecular state can be served as the surface active centers, and Au-bpy nanocrystal is reduced to Au nanoparticles that can induce local surface plasmonic resonance effect, thus significantly boosting the photocatalytic activity with about 100 % selectivity for CO 2 reduction to CO. As a consequence, the average CO evolution rate increases from 39.7 μmol g-1h−1 over primitive PCN up to 113.2 μmol g-1h−1 over the optimal Au-bpy/PCN-3 in the photocatalytic CO 2 reduction reaction. This work opens a new avenue for the design of surface active sites on the photocatalysts on the molecular scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The γ-Fe 3 O 4 -N-BC improved the adsorption properties of biochar effectively. • Nutrient removal was improved by inoculating γ-Fe 3 O 4 -N-BC in MBR. • Effective membrane fouling alleviation was achieved in γ-Fe 3 O 4 -N-BC-MBR. • Increase of sludge size and zeta potential in 500-MBR reduced gel layer formation. • The reduction PN/PS ratio in 500-MBR contributed to alleviate membrane fouling. In this study, a new type of iron–nitrogen doped biochar (γ- Fe 3 O 4 -N-BC) was developed to improve nutrient removal efficiency and mitigate membrane fouling in combination with MBR. The characteristion of γ-Fe 3 O 4 -N-BC, N-BC, and BC revealed that the BET surface area (S BET) of γ-Fe 3 O 4 -N-BC, which was 1320.86 m2/g, was greater than that of N-BC (702.75 m2/g) and BC (1033.63 m2/g). The excellent S BET exhibited by γ-Fe 3 O 4 -N-BC compared to that of the other biochars is attributed to hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. Compared to the addition of N-BC or BC or the absence of biochar, the addition of γ-Fe 3 O 4 -N-BC in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) resulted in superior wastewater treatment performance, for which the average removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH 4 +-N), and total phosphorus (TP) were 94.65 %, 82.56 %, and 65.90 %, respectively. Moreover, after inoculation with γ-Fe 3 O 4 -N-BC, the TMP increase rate and time required to reach 42.37 kPa were 2.35 kPa/d and 18 d, respectively. The investigation of the effect of the γ-Fe 3 O 4 -N-BC concentration on MBR performance showed that the nutrient removal efficiency in the 500-MBR greater than that in the 350-MBR, 650-MBR, and 800-MBR, and that the membrane fouling was more ameliorative. A mechanistic investigation demonstrated that the 500-MBR had a beneficial influence on sludge biomass growth and helped to improve the nutrient removal capacity of the MBR. The 500-MBR improved the flocculability and stability of the sludge flocs in the MBR by increasing particle size and zeta potential. Changes in the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) concentration and the smaller protein (PN) / polysaccharide (PS) ratio in 500-MBR also had significant impacts on alleviating the adhesion and accumulation of fouling layers on the improved membrane surface. Consequently, this study provides a new method for nutrient removal and membrane fouling mitigation in the MBR process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shaker-type K+ channels are critical for plant K+ acquisition and translocation that play key roles during plant growth and development. However, molecular mechanisms towards K+ channels are extremely rare in fruit trees, especially in peach. In this study, we identified 7 putative shaker-type K+ channel genes from peach, which were unevenly distributed on 5 chromosomes. The peach shaker K+ channel proteins were classified into 5 subfamilies, I-V, and were tightly clustered with pear homologs in the phylogenetic tree. Various cis-acting regulatory elements were detected in the promoter region of the shaker-type K+ channel genes, including phytohormone-responsive, abiotic stress-responsive, and development regulatory elements. The peach shaker K+ channel genes were expressed differentially in distinct tissues, and PpSPIK was specifically expressed in the full-bloom flowers; PpKAT1 and PpGORK were predominantly expressed in the leaves, while PpAKT1, PpKC1, and PpSKOR were majorly expressed in the roots. The peach shaker K+ channel genes were differentially regulated by abiotic stresses in that K+ deficiency, and ABA treatment mainly increased the shaker K+ channel gene expression throughout the whole seedling, whereas NaCl and PEG treatment reduced the shaker K+ channel gene expression, especially in the roots. Moreover, electrophysiological analysis demonstrated that PpSKOR is a typical voltage-dependent outwardly rectifying K+ channel in peach. This study lays a molecular basis for further functional studies of the shaker-type K+ channel genes in peach and provides a theoretical foundation for K+ nutrition and balance research in fruit trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gut is the first barrier to infection by viruses that are internally borne and transmitted persistently by arthropod vectors to plant and animal hosts. Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), a plant-pathogenic virus, is transmitted exclusively by thrips vectors in a circulative-propagative manner. Frankliniella occidentalis (western flower thrips), the principal thrips vector of TSWV, is transmission-competent only if the virus is acquired by young larvae. To begin to understand the larval gut response to TSWV infection and accumulation, a genome-assisted, transcriptomic analysis of F. occidentalis gut tissues of first (early L1) and second (early L2 and late L2) instar larvae was conducted using RNA-Seq to identify differentially-expressed transcripts (DETs) in response to TSWV compared to non-exposed cohorts. Results: The larval gut responded in a developmental stage-dependent manner, with the majority of DETs (71%) associated with the early L1 stage at a time when virus infection is limited to the midgut epithelium. Provisional annotations of these DETs inferred roles in digestion and absorption, insect innate immunity, and detoxification. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis using all assembled transcripts of the gut transcriptome revealed eight gene modules that distinguish larval development. Intra-module interaction network analysis of the three most DET-enriched modules revealed ten central hub genes. Droplet digital PCR-expression analyses of select network hub and connecting genes revealed temporal changes in gut expression during and post exposure to TSWV. Conclusions: These findings expand our understanding of the developmentally-mediated interaction between thrips vectors and orthotospoviruses, and provide opportunities for probing pathways for biomarkers of thrips vector competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphid feeding behavior and performance on a given host plant are influenced by the plants' physical and chemical traits, including structural characters such as trichomes and nutritional composition. In this study, we determined the feeding behavior and performance of soybean aphids (Aphis glycines) on the stem, the adaxial (upper), and the abaxial (lower) leaf surfaces during early vegetative growth of soybean plants. Using the electrical penetration graph technique, we found that aphids feeding on the stem took the longest time to begin probing. Once aphids began probing, the sieve elements were more conducive to feeding, as evidenced by less salivation on the stem than either leaf surface. In whole-plant assays, stems harbored higher aphid populations, and aphids had shorter development time on stems than the adaxial and the abaxial leaf surfaces. We compared trichome density and length on the stem, the adaxial, and the abaxial leaf surfaces to investigate whether plant trichomes affected aphid feeding and performance. There were higher density and longer trichomes on stems, which likely resulted in aphids taking a longer time to probe. Still a negative impact on aphid population growth was not observed. Analysis of phloem sap composition revealed that vascular sap-enriched exudates from stems had higher sugars and amino acids than exudates from leaves. In artificial diet feeding assays, the population of aphids reared on a diet supplemented with stem exudates was higher than on a diet supplemented with leaf petiole exudates which is in agreement with results of the whole-plant assays. In summary, our findings suggest that the performance of soybean aphids on a specific plant location is primarily driven by accessibility and the quality of phloem composition rather than structural traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional membrane distillation (MD) membranes are hydrophobic and challenged by severe membrane fouling and wetting. Current surface modification strategies for anti-fouling and anti-wetting purposes, usually complex and time-consuming, often compromise the MD flux. Herein, we propose a modified interfacial polymerization (mIP) approach to fabricate Janus membranes with rapid and robust MD performance. In the mIP process, a dry hydrophobic substrate is first immersed in an oil-phase monomer solution and then in contact with an aqueous monomer solution to trigger the mIP reaction. The as-fabricated Janus membrane (e.g., IP2@PTFE) comprised an ultrathin, underwater oleophobic, and defect-free polyamide (PA) layer and a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrate. Compared with the unmodified PTFE membrane, the vacuum MD flux of the IP2@PTFE membrane held a 177.4 % increase when tackling a NaCl solution (3.5 wt%) at 60 °C. When the NaCl solution contained sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant or/and mineral oil, the IP2@PTFE membrane exhibited fouling and wetting resistance simultaneously; conversely, severe oil fouling and quick SDS-induced wetting occurred on the pristine PTFE membrane. The mIP process does not require any pretreatment of the hydrophobic substrate, so it is facile and scalable. We believe that this study will facilitate the design of robust MD membranes. [Display omitted] • A facile construction strategy via mIP for preparing hydrophilic/hydrophobic Janus membranes • The Janus membranes have obviously higher VMD fluxes than the pristine PTFE membrane. • A two-step mIP process can effectively control the defects of hydrophilic top layer. • The IP2@PTFE membrane has both oil-fouling and SDS-wetting resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of drought stress on tripartite plant‐pathogen‐vector interactions constitutes a complex and largely understudied field of plant‐insect interaction. A number of studies explored these topics using aphid vectors of plant pathogens, but few have considered the interactions between drought‐stressed plants and pathogen‐transmitting psyllids. The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), is one of the key pests of solanaceous crops in the USA that causes direct injury as well as indirect injury through transmission of a bacterial pathogen, Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (Lso), the causal agent of zebra chip. Previous studies explored the impact of Lso infection and drought stress on B. cockerelli development and reproductive rate separately, but no research to date has evaluated whether drought stress and Lso infection alter feeding behavior of the insects. We explored this using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique and monitored feeding behavior of Lso‐infected and uninfected potato psyllids on well‐watered and drought‐stressed tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., Solanaceae). We found that drought stress had a significant effect on feeding behavior associated with salivation into the phloem and phloem ingestion, both linked to Lso transmission. Furthermore, infected potato psyllids in particular produced a higher number of events associated with these feeding behaviors and remained in these phases longer in well‐watered plants than in plants that were under drought stress. We also reported a new and previously undescribed waveform H of unknown biological function that was produced by the psyllids. This is the first study that considered the impact of bacterial infection and concomitant drought stress on feeding behavior of an insect quantified using EPG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The effect of MK based materials on the steam cured high performance concrete is investigated. • The XRD and TG analysis were applied to quantify the content of CH and AFt after curing. • The MK based admixtures remarkably refines the ITZ and optimize the pore structure of concrete after heat treatment. Abstract High performance pipe piles are widely used in precast industry. In order to improve the production efficiency and performances of the products, steam curing and mineral admixtures are usually applied. This paper evaluates the performances of HPC pipe piles produced with metakaolin-based admixtures. Quantitative phase composition analysis shows that the addition of 10 wt% metakaolin reduces the portlandite content by up to 57.1%, while increases the content of ettringite to some extent. The addition of metakaolin or metakaolin-slag/limestone blends improves the mechanical properties, especially the hybrid usage of metakaolin and limestone filler. Pore structure and microscope analyze confirm the remarkably-refined pore characteristics caused by the addition of metakaolin-based admixtures, in which case the gel pores accounts up to 85% of the total pores. Those remarkably improved properties caused by the addition of metakaolin-based admixtures indicate a promising future for their applications in producing high performance pipe piles with further modified properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon monoxide is a promising anode material of lithium-ion battery, but the poor cycling performance caused by volume expansion and inferior electrical conductivity has been criticized. In this work, graphene-like carbon layers coated SiO particles as anode materials were rationally designed and originally prepared via a layer-by-layer strategy, in which the negatively charged SiO particles was firstly covered by a layer of positively charged ferric ions, and then the sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate was adsorbed on the surface of SiO particles due to the electrostatic force. After calcination, the graphene-like carbon layers were formed on the surface of SiO particles under the catalysis of iron by adjusting the amounts of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate. It is demonstrated that the swelling of SiO is inhibited and the electrical conductivity is enhanced by the graphene-like carbon layers. A reversible specific capacity of graphene-like carbon layers coated SiO particles can keep 699 mAh/g at a current density of 1 A/g after 700 cycles with a retention of 85%, which indicates the enhanced capacity and cycling stability of anode materials. This work might open a feasible door to practical applications for silicon monoxide as a good lithium-ion battery anode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reclaimed water is widely concerned as an effective recharge of groundwater and surface water, but trace organic pollutants produced by traditional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) would cause environmental pollution (water and soil) during infiltration. Therefore, the effects of reclaimed water containing ofloxacin (OFL) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) in antibiotics polluted natural soil (APNS) were investigated by simulating soil aquifer treatment systems (SATs). The experiment results showed that OFL and CIP in water were adsorbed and microbially degraded mainly at 30 cm, and the concentration of OFL and CIP in soil increased with depth, which were mainly due to the desorption from APNS. Concurrently, the change in replenishment water concentration also significantly affected OFL and CIP in pore water and soil. Although OFL and CIP inhibited the diversity of soil microbial community, they also promoted the growth of some microorganisms. As the dominant bacteria, Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota can effectively participate in the degradation of OFL and CIP. The degradation effects of soil microorganisms on OFL and CIP were 45.48% and 42.39%, respectively, indicating that soil microorganisms selectively degraded pollutants. This experiment was carried out on APNS, which provided a reference for future studies on the migration of trace organic pollutants under natural conditions. • OFL and CIP adsorption degradation mainly occurred in the surface of ANPS. • The microorganism degradation of OFL and CIP were 45.28% and 42.39% in APNS. • OFL and CIP infiltration significantly affected the microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel series of compounds containing fluoranthene and triphenylamine were designed and synthesized as electroluminescent materials or sensitizers. Photophysical and electrochemical measurements were carried out on these compounds. DPBF exhibited a maximum current efficiency of 1.3cd/A (1.00lm/W at 5.17V) and D2 had the maximum light-to-electricity efficiency of 4.57% under AM 1.5 solar simulator (100mWcm−2). The results suggest that bistriphenylamine-substituted fluoranthene derivatives have the potential application in optoelectronic materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Three novel donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) metal-free organic dyes ( TB, TS and TF) based on tri(triphenylamine)-substituted styrene as donor with various conjugated linkers (benzene, thiophene and furan) were synthesized, characterized and used for the application of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Under the same condition, The photo-to-electrical conversion efficiency of the DSSCs sensitized with TB, TS and TF reach 1.84%, 4.10% and 4.52%, respectively, which are lower than that sensitized with R1 (5.02%) with one triphenylamine unit. The results suggest that these bulky donor-based sensitizers are unfavorable to DSSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, three highly efficient combination systems, including constructed wetland microbial fuel cell (CWMFC), hydrolytic sludge acidification coupling with constructed wetland microbial fuel cell (HSA-CWMFC) and hydrolytic filler acidification coupling with constructed wetland microbial fuel cell (HFA-CWMFC), were applied to the removal of pollutants from domestic sewage. The three combination systems could effectively treat domestic sewage and generate clean energy. The power generated by CWMFC, HSA-CWMFC, and HFA-CWMFC was 0.36 W/m2, 0.40 W/m2, and 0.43 W/m2, respectively. The results indicated that the removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), total phosphorus (TP), ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 –N), and nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 −-N) in HFA-CWMFC could achieve the optimal values of 91.01%, 90.63%, 95.35%, 86.11%, and 91.01%, respectively. In addition, HFA-CWMFC produced more organic acids than HSA-CWMFC, which was beneficial to the follow-up reaction. Through qualcomm sequencing analysis, it could be seen that Firmicutes , which could enhance power generation capacity and increase removal rates of pollutants, played an important role in HFA-CWMFC. The results demonstrated that the three combined systems had excellent application prospects for sewage treatment and energy generation. [Display omitted] ● The hydrolytic combination systems had remarkable effect on pollutants removal. ● The hydrolytic filler combination system could obviously remove pollutants. ● Microbial community in the hydrolytic filler combination system was more abundant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A concise synthesis of the sex pheromones of elm spanworm as well as painted apple moth has been achieved. The key steps were the alkylation of acetylide ion, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and Brown's P2-Ni reduction. This approach provided the sex pheromone of the elm spanworm (1) in 31% total yield and those of the painted apple moth (2, 3) in 26% and 32% total yields. The ee values of three final products were up to 99%. The synthesized pheromones hold promising potential for use in the management and control of these pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. belongs to Ranunculaceae, and its root can be divided into two categories according to different processing methods, which included that one was directly dried without peeling the root of the P. lactiflora (PR), and the other was peeled the root of the P. lactiflora (PPR) after boiled and dried. To evaluate the difference of chemical components, UPLC-ESI-Q-Exactive Focus-MS/MS and UPLC-QQQ-MS were applied. The distribution of chemical components in different tissues was located by laser microdissection (LMD), especially the different ingredients. A total of 86 compounds were identified from PR and PPR. Four kind of tissues were isolated from the fresh root of the P. lactiflora (FPR), and 54 compounds were identified. Especially the content of gallic acid, albiflorin, and paeoniflorin with high biological activities were the highest in the cork, but they were lower in PR than that in PPR, which probably related to the process. To illustrate the difference in pharmacological effects of PR and PPR, the tonifying blood and analgesic effects on mice were investigated, and it was found that the tonifying blood and analgesic effects of PPR was superior to that of PR, even though PR had more constituents. The material basis for tonifying blood and analgesic effect of the root of P. lactiflora is likely to be associated with an increase in constituents such as paeoniflorin and paeoniflorin lactone after boiled and peeled. The study was likely to provide some theoretical support for the standard and clinical application. [Display omitted] • 86 compounds were identified from two different processing root by LC-MS. • The different compounds were located in four tissues by LMD and LC-MS. • The content of compounds such as paeoniflorin and albiflorin were higher in PPR. • The effects of tonifying blood and analgesic became more pronounced in PPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sub-synchronous resonance (SSR) characteristics and countermeasures of grid-forming permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSGs) controlled by DC voltage synchronization control (DVSC) are investigated in this paper. First, small-signal models of two PMSGs connected to a series-compensated network are established, where a recently developed grid-forming control, i.e., DVSC is applied. Then, a modal-analysis method is conducted to evaluate the impacts of the control parameters, series compensation level (SCL), and electrical distances on stability. It is interesting to see that PMSGs with DVSC exhibit unstable SSR like traditional synchronous generators. Moreover, the dominant wind turbine (WT) is investigated using participate factor analysis. Then, a simple but effective SSR damping controller (SSRDC) is designed using feedforward control signals, which is only activated when SSR occurs. It is shown that the designed controller can provide strong damping support for SSR suppression. Electromagnetic transient simulations are performed in different scenarios to find the unstable SSR conditions, as well as to verify the correctness of the SSR analysis and the effectiveness of the proposed SSR damping scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined water balance characteristics and the influence of desiccating conditions on the physiology and behavior of adult western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Western flower thrips are globally invasive and likely to contend with shifts in water availability across their expansive geographic range. Basic water balance characteristics, including water mass and dry mass, were established for adult males and females, revealing a distinct sexual dimorphism wherein females are larger, and males retain a larger percentage of their body mass as water. Males lose relative water mass more quickly and their survival times are shorter compared to females. RNA‐seq analysis identified significant enrichment of a multitude of factors including carbohydrate transport and metabolism in dehydrated males and females. This was validated by altered glycogen levels, suggesting a rapid depletion in glycogen during dehydration. The probability of thrips feeding significantly increases when desiccation occurs, potentially to replenish water content and nutrient reserves. Our results establish the fundamental water balance characteristics of adult thrips and indicate that dehydration significantly influences the survivorship and feeding behavior of thrips; all of which being crucial factors that contribute to their capacity as vectors for plant pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adaptations by arthropod pests to host plant defenses of crops determine their impacts on agricultural production. The larval host range of western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is restricted to maize and a few grasses. Resistance of D. v. virgifera to crop rotation practices and multiple insecticides contributes to its status as the most damaging pest of cultivated maize in North America and Europe. The extent to which adaptations by this pest contributes to host plant specialization remains unknown. Results: A 2.42 Gb draft D. v. virgifera genome, Dvir_v2.0, was assembled from short shotgun reads and scaffolded using long-insert mate-pair, transcriptome and linked read data. K-mer analysis predicted a repeat content of ≥ 61.5%. Ortholog assignments for Dvir_2.0 RefSeq models predict a greater number of species-specific gene duplications, including expansions in ATP binding cassette transporter and chemosensory gene families, than in other Coleoptera. A majority of annotated D. v. virgifera cytochrome P450s belong to CYP4, 6, and 9 clades. A total of 5,404 transcripts were differentially-expressed between D. v. virgifera larvae fed maize roots compared to alternative host (Miscanthus), a marginal host (Panicum virgatum), a poor host (Sorghum bicolor) and starvation treatments; Among differentially-expressed transcripts, 1,908 were shared across treatments and the least number were between Miscanthus compared to maize. Differentially-expressed transcripts were enriched for putative spliceosome, proteosome, and intracellular transport functions. General stress pathway functions were unique and enriched among up-regulated transcripts in marginal host, poor host, and starvation responses compared to responses on primary (maize) and alternate hosts. Conclusions: Manual annotation of D. v. virgifera Dvir_2.0 RefSeq models predicted expansion of paralogs with gene families putatively involved in insecticide resistance and chemosensory perception. Our study also suggests that adaptations of D. v. virgifera larvae to feeding on an alternate host plant invoke fewer transcriptional changes compared to marginal or poor hosts. The shared up-regulation of stress response pathways between marginal host and poor host, and starvation treatments may reflect nutrient deprivation. This study provides insight into transcriptomic responses of larval feeding on different host plants and resources for genomic research on this economically significant pest of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng), a perennial plant cultivated extensively across the globe, exhibits diverse pharmacological properties and holds notable economic significance. Water stress can potentially impact the accumulation of ginsenosides, which are the primary pharmacological component of P. quinquefolium. In this study, the morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of two-year-old seedlings of P. quinquefolius cultivar "LYS1" under different soil relative water contents (RWCs) of 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% for 21 days were characterized. Additionally, the transcriptional responses to 30%, 70%, and 100% RWC were analyzed at 7 and 21 days. The results showed that both drought (30% and 50% RWC) and waterlogging (100% RWC) stress had a significant detrimental effect on root biomass and root activity, while simultaneously enhancing efficacy of the antioxidant protection system, which suggested that 70% RWC is optimal for the cultivation of P. quinquefolius. Drought stress induced – but waterlogging stress reduced – ginsenoside accumulation in P. quinquefolius root. In particular, drought stress changed the distribution of monomer saponins Rd, Re, Rb1, Rb2, and Rb3, while waterlogging stress altered the distribution of Rd, Re, and Rc. Drought and waterlogging specifically regulated genes involved in several pathways underlying stress tolerance, including phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, signal pathways and ginsenoside biosynthesis in roots. The integration of physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic evidence resulted in a selection of candidate genes with potential for enhancing stress tolerance in P. quinquefolius. Meanwhile, some candidate genes were found to play potential roles in ginsenoside biosynthesis, including several CYP450s and UDP-dependent glycosyltransferase genes as well as AP2/ERF, bHLH, NAC, MYB, and WRKY transcription factor members. These findings may provide theoretical references for effectively implementing cultivation strategies by regulating soil water conditions and give valuable insights for further investigation into ginsenoside biosynthesis in P. quinquefolius. [Display omitted] • Experimental tests address the response of P. quinquefolius to soil water stress. • Drought and waterlogging stress influence ginsenoside accumulation. • Candidate genes that have the potential to enhance stress tolerance were identified. • Provides a new strategy to effectively implement cultivation for P. quinquefolius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Six new organic dyes, TBS1–TBS6, have been synthesized and characterized by optical, electrochemical, and theoretical studies. Among these dyes, DSSCs based on a dye containing N-hexylcarbazole and furan moieties (TBS4) showed the best performance, with light-to-electricity conversion efficiency up to 5.91% under AM 1.5 solar simulator, much higher than the reference dye TPS (4.24%). The high V oc contributed to the good performance for TBS4, which may be ascribed to the combined effects of twisted structure and hexyl chain. Additionally, for TBS4 based DSSCs, under optimized conditions, the light-to-electricity conversion efficiency was enhanced up to 7.09%. The results suggest that dibenzo heterocycles containing dyes are promising candidates for application in DSSCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dendrite penetration in ceramic lithium conductors severely constrains the development of solid‐state batteries (SSBs) while its nanoscale origin remains unelucidated. An in situ nanoscopic electrochemical characterization technique is developed based on conductive‐atomic force microscopy (c‐AFM) to reveal the local dendrite growth kinetics. Using Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) as a model system, significant local inhomogeneity is observed with a hundredfold decrease in the dendrite triggering bias at grain boundaries compared with that at grain interiors. The origin of the local weakening is assigned to the nanoscale variation of elastic modulus and lithium flux detouring. An ionic‐conductive polymeric homogenizing layer is designed which achieves a high critical current density of 1.8 mA cm–2 and a low interfacial resistance of 14 Ω cm2. Practical SSBs based on LiFePO4 cathodes can be stably cycled over 300 times. Beyond this, highly reversible electrochemical dendrite healing in LLZO is discovered using the c‐AFM electrode, based on which a model memristor with a high on/off ratio of ≈105 is demonstrated for >200 cycles. This work not only provides a novel tool to investigate and design interfaces in SSBs but also offers opportunities for solid electrolytes beyond energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The moderate KMnO 4 /Fe(Ⅱ) pre-oxidation process was quantified. • The KMnO 4 /Fe(Ⅱ) pretreatment delays the formation of cake layer blockage. • In-situ formed MnO 2 has the best effect for organic removal. • In-situ formed Fe(III) has the best effect on algal aggregation. Moderate KMnO 4 /Fe(II) pre-oxidation is a promising technique to mitigate membrane fouling and avoid the environmental risk brought by the breakage of algae cells, which often happens in the practical application of pre-oxidation techniques. Various components, i.e., KMnO 4 , in-situ formed MnO 2 and in-situ formed Fe(III), are involved in this technique, and how they mitigate membrane fouling is still unclear. In this work, we investigated their performances on the mitigation of membrane fouling and their influences on the physiochemical characteristics of the organic foulants and fouling layers individually. It was found that Fe(III) formed in situ showed the best performance in controlling membrane fouling among the various components, and the total fouling resistance was reduced by 87.6%. MnO 2 formed in situ was most effective in enhancing the organic matter removal performance of ultrafiltration, and the removal rate of the dissolved organic matter reached 39.9%. In addition, after the KMnO 4 /Fe(II) pretreatment, the electrostatic repulsion between algal foulants was decreased, facilitating the aggregation of foulants. Based on the physicochemical changes of the characteristics of foulants and fouling layers on the membrane surface, we concluded that KMnO 4 /Fe(II) alleviated the algae-derived membrane fouling mainly in two ways: (1) enhancing the interception effect of ultrafiltration membrane on hydrophobic organic matter, which reduced the blockage of membrane pores; (2) enhancing the sparseness of the cake layer on the membrane surface, which reduced the cake fouling resistance. Our work not only shows that the KMnO 4 /Fe(II) pretreatment technique has considerable applicative potential in alleviating the membrane fouling caused by algae-laden water, but also gives a comprehensive understanding of the fouling mitigation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diclofenac (DFC) is a pharmacologically active compound frequently detected in various receiving waters. To improve the efficiency of constructed wetlands in removing DFC, biochar (BC) is added as a substrate. The study mainly involved the effect of adding wetland plant-derived BC to vertical subsurface flow constructed wetlands (VSF-CWs) on the DFC removal process. In addition, the study discussed the effects of the initial DFC concentration (0.05–1.00 mg L−1), pH (5.5–8.5), and hydraulic retention times (HRTs, 1–7 d) on the removal process and fluctuations in the microbial community. Preliminary results of the study showed optimal removal (>90%) achieved at an initial DFC concentration of 0.75–1 mg L−1, a pH of 6.5–7.5, and an HRT of 7 d. Moreover, no significant effects on the removal efficiency of conventional water quality parameters were observed. Non-metric multidimensional scaling results revealed a reshaped community structure, which was altered by the initial DFC concentration. DFC concentration is a key factor in the variation of microbial communities and controls the quantitative evolution of the species in experimental units. Therefore, the addition of BC to CWs effectively enhanced the removal efficiency of DFC and provided a viable and effective improvement of the CWs. [Display omitted] • Biochar addition enhances removal of diclofenac from constructed wetlands. • Slight reduction in removal efficiency for conventional water quality parameters. • Microbial community colonization varies significantly between substrates. • Higher doses of diclofenac have a greater impact on microbial community reshaping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ingenious strategy for the recycling of Cr(VI)-enriched sorbents is presented herein. These adsorbents, which are Zn/Al-based nanocomposites with a Zn to Al ratio of 4:1, have shown great promise as a type of “Janus material” in which they not only behave as a sorbent, but a photocatalytic function can be evolved by calcination. The Zn/Al composite sorbents were prepared via a co-precipitation method followed by calcination at 500 °C to show good removal capacity for Cr(VI) even after repeated absorption cycles. The Cr(VI)-saturated adsorbent could then be transduced to a highly crystallized Cr(VI)-containing ZnO/ZnAl 2 O 4 nanocomposite by calcination at 900 °C. It was found that the resultant Cr(VI)-containing ZnO/ZnAl 2 O 4 nanocomposites possess a photocatalytic performance that is very similar to titania P25 and not compromised by the co-localization of Cr(VI). In fact, the adsorbed Cr(VI) is sufficiently well bound to not easily release into aqueous medium, while also, it can be serendipitously photo-reduced to a less toxic valency, i.e., Cr(III), after the application of the nanocomposites as a photocatalyst. Therefore, the nanocomposites exhibit a very promising Janus-like chemical behavior as exhibited by absorption of highly toxic Cr(VI) and subsequent evolved photocatalysis and remediation of Cr(VI) to Cr(II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, Ti/SnO 2 –RuO 2 stable anode was successfully prepared by thermal decomposition method, and low concentration cefotaxime sodium (CFX) was degraded by green and sustainable electrocatalytic oxidation technology. The electrocatalytic activity and stability of the Ti/SnO 2 –RuO 2 coating electrode were studied according to the polarization curve of oxygen and chlorine evolution. The effects of current density, initial concentration, pH, electrolyte concentration, and other technological parameters on the degradation efficiency were discussed. Orthogonal experiment results indicated that when the current density was 25 mA cm−2, concentration of electrolyte was 5 mM and the pH value was 7, the best CFX removal rate of 86.33% could be obtained. The degradation efficiency of electrocatalytic oxidation was discussed through electrochemical analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to analyze the different inlet and outlet stages before and after the degradation of CFX, and the possible degradation process was discussed. Therefore, the electrocatalytic oxidation of Ti/SnO 2 –RuO 2 electrode was a clean and efficient technology, which could be widely used in the treatment of CFX wastewater. [Display omitted] • SnO 2 and RuO 2 are used as dopant to DSA to the degradation of cefotaxime sodium. • Ti/SnO 2 –RuO 2 anode displays excellent stability and electrochemical activity. • ·OH and ClO− play a decisive role in the removal of cefotaxime sodium. • Cefotaxime sodium removal efficiency of 86.33% is reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Heavy metals and microplastics were treated through interpenetrating bipolar plate electrocoagulation (IBPE). • Changes of current density and initial pH value were proved to affect the experimental results. • Reaction mechanism of IBPE reactor for removing heavy metals and microplastics was analyzed. • IBPE reactor could effectively remove heavy metals and microplastics in secondary effluent of WWTP. In this study, the mixed pollutants of microplastics and heavy metals from secondary effluent of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) were removed by interpenetrating bipolar plate electrocoagulation (IBPE) reactor. Heavy metals and microplastics in the wastewater were simultaneously removed during the experimental process with high removal efficiency. The influences of current density, initial pH and reaction time on the removal rate were analyzed. When the current density was 12 mA / cm2, the initial pH was 6 and the reaction time was 20 min, the optimal removal efficiency of heavy metals and microplastics were obtained with removal rates of 95.16% and 97.5%, respectively. Under the condition of different current densities, the change of removal rate with time was fitted through mathematical model. The complexation forms of heavy metals and surface groups of microplastics were analyzed through pseudo-voltammetry curve. The operation cost of removing microplastics and heavy metals through IBPE reactor was 0.91 $·L−1 under the optimal experimental conditions. The experimental results suggested that this process reduced the potential harm of microplastics and heavy metals to aquatic organisms and human beings. The IBPE could be applied as a clean technology for simultaneous removal of microplastics and heavy metals from secondary effluent of WWTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PVA modification has adverse effect on the compressive strength of ECC. • Nanomaterials act on the early stage of ECC toughness improvement. • Modified PVA act on the whole cycle of ECC toughness improvement. Nanomaterial modification and fiber reinforcement are both effective modifications for concrete toughening. In this study, the cement matrix was reinforced by a combination of nanomaterials and surface-modified polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The modification of PVA involves the treatment of interface weakening, which is based on the enhancement of the slip effect. The workability and static mechanical properties of engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) were studied, and the micromorphology of the fiber and matrix after bending failure was observed through scanning electron microscopy. Different nanomaterial contents and concentrations of PVA were designed in the experiment, the purpose of which is to investigate the mechanism of the effect of multiple superposed on the toughening effect of ECCs. The research demonstrated that the direct addition of traditional PVA fiber and nanomaterials adversely affects the workability of ECCs, but it can be improved by fiber modification and ultrasonic dispersion of nanomaterials. An experimental study on the compressive properties showed that, with the increase in PVA fiber modification concentration, the compressive strength decreased, but the addition of nano-CaCO 3 improved the strength of the matrix, thereby compensating for the strength loss. Four-point bending and tensile tests demonstrated that both PVA fiber modification and the addition of nano-CaCO 3 affected the flexural properties of ECCs to some extent. PVA fibers modified with 1% and 2% nano-CaCO 3 at vinyl acetate ethylene concentrations of 25% and 50% can improve the toughness of ECCs. Nano-CaCO 3 can improve the toughness of ECCs by improving the compactness of the matrix structure and fiber interface, while PVA fiber can supplement the defects of the matrix structure by bridging and sliding and have a positive superposition effect on the toughness of the material after proper treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-State Batteries: Modulating Nanoinhomogeneity at Electrode-Solid Electrolyte Interfaces for Dendrite-Proof Solid-State Batteries and Long-Life Memristors (Adv. Keywords: conductive-atomic force microscope; critical current density; lithium filament; memristor; solid-state batteries EN conductive-atomic force microscope critical current density lithium filament memristor solid-state batteries 1 1 1 04/29/21 20210428 NES 210428 In article number 2003811, Ziheng Lu, Chunlei Yang, Wenjie Li and co-workers develop a high-resolution in-situ electrochemical characterization technique to reveal the nanoscale kinetics of lithium dendrites in solid-state batteries. Conductive-atomic force microscope, critical current density, lithium filament, memristor, solid-state batteries. [Extracted from the article]

Quarry stone powder is one of the solid waste, which can create obvious environmental risks. To solve this problems, 22.2%–44.4% of cement is replaced by two types of quarry stone powder (basalt and limestone powders) in producing an environmentally-friendly ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) in this study. The material mix design is followed on the basis of the modified Andreasen and Andersen (MAA) model. Then, the impact of the quarry stone powders on fresh and hardened properties of UHPC are investigated, including flowability, compressive strength, early hydration kinetics, and durability. The results indicate that the incorporation of quarry stone powder can significantly improve the flowability, slow down the early hydration rate of cement and decrease autogenous shrinkage of UHPC during early age. Besides, the addition of quarry stone powder could decrease the strength of UHPC at 7 days, while its strength is comparable with the reference mix at 56 days. The carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions calculation shows that application of quarry limestone powder can significantly reduce the environmental burden of UHPC, which means the produced UHPC can be treated as a green building material with advanced properties in the near future. • Quarry stone powders can be used to produce eco-friendly UHPC. • The flowability of UHPC was improved by including stone powder. • Autogenous shrinkage of UHPC can be reduced by adding quarry stone powder. • The produced UHPC with quarry stone powders has good durability. • The microstructure of the produced UHPC with quarry stone powders is dense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Liquid-liquid-refining extraction assisted the bioassay-guided separation. • Consecutive HSCCC was used to prepare the active compound. • Separation efficiency was improved. • Luteolin with α-amylase inhibitory activity was obtained from T. mongolicum. • Theoretical explanation of luteolin against α-amylase was studied by docking. The research of natural active substances is facing the problems of low separation efficiency and active component loss due to the complex composition of natural extracts. In this study, a strategy based on liquid-liquid-refining extraction and high-speed counter-current chromatography was established to solve this problem. Separation of an active compound with the α-amylase inhibitory activity from Taraxacum mongolicum Hand. -Mazz. was presented as an example. The ethyl acetate extract (FA) from T. mongolicum exhibited the potential effect on α-amylase and was divided into 8 fractions (FB-FI) by liquid-liquid-refining extraction. The results showed that the activity of FE was higher than the others. According to the results of liquid-liquid-refining extraction, a two-phase solvent system with a slightly higher polarity was selected to separate the fraction by HSCCC, and 110 mg of compound was separated from 900 mg FA using the model of consecutive separation. The compound was identified as luteolin by 1H NMR and 13C NMR. The IC 50 of luteolin against α-amylase was 42.33±0.82 μg/mL. Then, molecular docking was introduced to study the relationship between the activity and the structure. The results showed that luteolin enfolded in the catalytic site of α-amylase through hydrogen bonds, van der Waals force and hydrophobic interaction, thus inhibiting the activity of the enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]