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Nowadays, significant research effort is being dedicated to explore environmentally friendly block materials with high strength and high-temperature resistance. Ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) is produced during the iron smelting waste process and can be activated to form the environment friendly alkali-activated slag cementitious material (AASCM) when mixed with alkaline activator. The aggregate consists of particles of different sizes, which are crushed and are screened using the paste of AASCM. In this study, the compressive strengths of 234 block specimens during and after high-temperature treatment were investigated. The test results showed that the compressive strength of the blocks gradually decreased slowly when the temperature was lower than 600°C, and decreased rapidly when the temperature was above 600°C. The reduction coefficient of compressive strength of the blocks during and after 900°C exposure were 14.2% ~ 28.1% and 15.3% ~ 28.7% of the ambient temperature strength, respectively. The steel fibre reduced the compressive strength loss of the blocks during and after the high-temperature exposure. With the increase of temperature, the steel fibre lost its effect gradually. Moreover, the compressive strength of the block after the high-temperature treatment was higher than that during the treatment when the strength level and temperature remained constant, the ratio was between 0.99 and 1.14. The high-temperature strength loss of the alkali-activated slag crushed aggregate concrete block was lower than that of the alkali-activated slag ceramsite concrete block. The fitted equations for calculating the compressive strength during and after the high-temperature treatment provided a basis for evaluating the fire resistance of this new type of block. The microstructure and composition of the block were analysed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results provide theoretical basis and data support for the application of AASCM in masonry blocks in high-temperature environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene duplications have long been recognized as a driving force in the evolution of genes, giving rise to novel functions. The soybean (Glycine max) genome is characterized by a large number of duplicated genes. However, the extent and mechanisms of functional divergence among these duplicated genes in soybean remain poorly understood. In this study, we revealed that 4 MYB genes (GmMYBA5, GmMYBA2, GmMYBA1, and Glyma.09g235000)—presumably generated by tandem duplication specifically in the Phaseoleae lineage—exhibited a stronger purifying selection in soybean compared to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). To gain insights into the diverse functions of these tandemly duplicated MYB genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis, we examined the expression, transcriptional activity, induced metabolites, and evolutionary history of these 4 MYB genes. Our data revealed that Glyma.09g235000 is a pseudogene, while the remaining 3 MYB genes exhibit strong transcriptional activation activity, promoting anthocyanin biosynthesis in different soybean tissues. GmMYBA5, GmMYBA2, and GmMYBA1 induced anthocyanin accumulation by upregulating the expression of anthocyanin pathway-related genes. Notably, GmMYBA5 showed a lower capacity for gene induction compared to GmMYBA2 and GmMYBA1. Metabolomics analysis further demonstrated that GmMYBA5 induced distinct anthocyanin accumulation in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves and soybean hairy roots compared to GmMYBA2 and GmMYBA1, suggesting their functional divergence leading to the accumulation of different metabolites accumulation following gene duplication. Together, our data provide evidence of functional divergence within the MYB gene cluster following tandem duplication, which sheds light on the potential evolutionary directions of gene duplications during legume evolution. Tandemly duplicated MYB genes in regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis exhibit functional divergence and a strong purifying selection in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of blast furnace slag improves resource utilization and supports the achievement of sustainable development goals. The use of alkali-activated slag cementitious material (AASCM) provides a new direction for improving the fire resistance of masonry structures. The masonry investigated in this study was alkali-activated slag crushed aggregate concrete masonry (ASCCM) in which aggregates of blocks and mortars were crushed and screened using AASCM paste specimens. The compression behavior of 12 specimens during and after exposure to high temperatures, specifically 300, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900°C was investigated. The specimens were maintained under the target temperature for 2 h. The compressive strength and axial deformation of the specimen were recorded. The compressive strength losses during exposure to 300, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900°C are 15.9, 20.3, 38.3, 43.9, 63.3 and 73.8%, respectively. The compressive strength losses after exposure to 300, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900°C are 10.6, 15.8, 34.0, 37.2, 58.6 and 72.2%, respectively. The rate of loss in elastic modulus is greater than that in compressive strength. During exposure to 300, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900°C, the loss rates of elastic modulus are 56.5, 74.4, 83.3, 86.3, 92.9 and 93.9%, respectively. After exposure to 300, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900°C, the loss rates of elastic modulus are 49.6, 67.3, 77.5, 82.0, 90.7 and 94.5%, respectively. The peak compressive strain values are 9.9 and 11.1 times that at room temperature. Equations for calculating the compressive strength, elastic modulus, peak compressive strain, and ascending section curve of the stress–strain relationship with temperature were derived. The research results provide a new choice for high temperature resistant masonry materials, and provide theoretical basis and data support for the application of AASCM in masonry structures in high-temperature environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Background and Objectives With the extension of healthy life expectancy, promoting active aging has become a policy response to rapid population aging in China. Yet, it has been inconclusive about the relative importance of the determinants of active aging. By applying a machine learning approach, this study aims to identify the most important determinants of active aging in 3 domains, i.e. paid/unpaid work, caregiving, and social activities, among Chinese older adults. Research Design and Methods Data were drawn from the first wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, which surveys a nationally representative sample of adults aged 60 years and older (N = 7,503). We estimated Random Forest and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression models (LASSO) to determine the most important factors related to active aging. Results Health has a generic effect on all outcomes of active aging. Our findings also identified the domain-specific determinants of active aging. Urban/rural residency is among the most important factors determining the likelihood of engaging in paid/unpaid work. Living in a multigenerational household is especially important in predicting caregiving activities. Neighborhood infrastructure and facilities have the strongest influence on older adults' participation in social activities. Discussion and Implications The application of feature selection models provides a fruitful first step in identifying the most important determinants of active aging among Chinese older adults. These results provide evidence-based recommendations for policies and practices promoting active aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

• NaDCC contributed to pathogens inactivation and VFAs promotion cost-effectively. • NaDCC caused WAS disintegration and organics release for microbial metabolism. • The microbial community and metabolic traits for VFAs were selectively upregulated. • Microbial adaptive systems were activated to counteract unfavorable NaDCC stress. Harmless and resourceful treatment of waste activated sludge (WAS) have been the crucial goal for building environmental-friendly and sustainable society, while the synergistic realization approach is currently limited. This work skillfully utilized the disinfectant sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) to simultaneously achieve the pathogenic potential inactivation (decreased by 60.1 %) and efficient volatile fatty acids (VFAs) recovery (increased by 221.9 %) during WAS anaerobic fermentation in rather cost-effective way (Chemicals costs:0.4 USD/kg VFAs versus products benefits: 2.68 USD/kg chemical). Mechanistic analysis revealed that the C=O and N Cl bonds in NaDCC could spontaneously absorb sludge (binding energy -4.9 kJ/mol), and then caused the sludge disintegration and organic substrates release for microbial utilization due to the oxidizability of NaDCC. The disruption of sludge structure along with the increase of bioavailable fermentation substrates contributed to the selectively regulation of microbial community via enriching VFAs-forming microorganisms (e.g., Pseudomonas and Streptomyces) and reducing VFAs-consuming microorganisms, especially aceticlastic methanogens (e.g., Methanothrix and Methanospirillum). Correspondingly, the metabolic functions of membrane transport, substrate metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and fatty acid biosynthesis locating in the central pathway of VFAs production were all upregulated while the methanogenic step was inhibited (especially acetate-type methanogenic pathway). Further exploration unveiled that for those enriched functional anaerobes were capable to activate the self-adaptive systems of DNA replication, SOS response, oxidative stress defense, efflux pump, and energy metabolism to counteract the unfavorable NaDCC stress and maintain high microbial activities for efficient VFAs yields. This study would provide a novel strategy for synergistic realization of harmless and resourceful treatment of WAS, and identify the interrelations between microbial metabolic regulations and adaptive responses. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ZPT occurred in WAS facilitated the VFAs production during anaerobic digestion. • The particular impacts of ZPT on the main steps for VFAs yield were distinguished. • ZPT enriched functional species and improved microbial metabolic traits for VFAs. • ZPT contributed more prominently to the proteins metabolism for VFAs biosynthesis. • The microbial adaptation (QS and TCSs regulation) to ZPT toxicity was unveiled. The massive use of zinc pyrithione (ZPT, as broad-spectrum bactericides) resulted in its high levels in waste activated sludge (WAS) and affected subsequent WAS treatment. This work revealed the effects of ZPT on the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) during WAS anaerobic digestion, in which VFAs yield was enhanced by approximately 6-9 folds (from 353 mg COD/L in control to 2526-3318 mg COD/L with low level of ZPT (20-50 mg/g TSS)). The ZPT occurred in WAS enabled the acceleration of solubilization, hydrolysis and acidification processes while inhibited the methanogenesis. Also, the low ZPT contributed to the enrichment of functional hydrolytic-acidifying microorganisms (e.g., Ottowia and Acinetobacter) but caused the reduction of methanogens (e.g., Methanomassiliicoccus and Methanothrix). Meta-transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that the critical genes relevant to extracellular hydrolysis (i.e. CLPP and ZapA), membrane transport (i.e. gltI , and gltL), substrates metabolisms (i.e. fadj , and acd), and VFAs biosynthesis (i.e. porB and porD) were all upregulated by 25.1-701.3% with low level of ZPT. Specifically, the ZPT stimulus on amino acids metabolism for VFAs transformation was prominent over carbohydrates. Moreover, the functional species enabled to regulate the genes in QS and TCS systems to maintain favorable cell chemotaxis to adapt the ZPT stress. The cationic antimicrobial peptide resistance pathway was upregulated to blunt ZPT with the secretion of more lipopolysaccharide and activate proton pumps to maintain ions homeostasis to antagonize the ZPT toxicity for high microbial activities, the abundance of related genes was up-regulated by 60.5 to 524.5%. This work enlightened environmental behaviors of emerging pollutants on WAS anaerobic digestion process with interrelations of microbial metabolic regulation and adaptive responses. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• With the addition of the (Convolutional Block Attention Module) CBAM, the proposed model can obtain attention at both spatial and channel scales, focusing on the features of the SBPH itself. The process of multi-feature fusion was introduced through the use of ASFF(Adaptively Spatial Feature Fusion), which allowed the fusion of different levels of information and interaction with the Yolov5 multi-scale detection module. • Yolov5s + CBAM + ASFF was proposed and improved the small insect detection ability, compared with Yolov5s. What's more, the performance of Yolov5s + CBAM + ASFF is also better than Yolov5m, Yolov5l, Yolov5x while the volume is much smaller. • A mobile APP was designed and developed, which can not only detect SBPH on photos or videos but also has a counting function, which can help non-researchers identify SBPH and estimate SBPH explosive degree in the field quickly and easily. Laodelphax striatellus (small brown planthopper, SBPH) is a pest feeding mainly on rice, wheat and corn. Meanwhile, SBPH transmits plant viruses during feeding, which may take more serious damage to the agriculture. The research of SBPH control has great significance. Most of the traditional SBPH detection and counting problems are conducted manually, which is inefficient. In this paper, we proposed the improved YOLOv5s algorithm to implement the recognition and counting the system of SBPH. We improve the YOLOv5s based on the channel attention and spatial attention, adding the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) to YOLOv5s. In order to fuse the feature information of different scales to improve the model, we add the Adaptively Spatial Feature Fusion (ASFF). Experiments prove that the improved model volume is not much different from YOLOv5s, which is one-seventh of YOLOv5x, but the mAP of the improved model is approximately 4 % better than YOLOv5s and 2 % better than YOLOv5x. Finally, an APP was developed using Android Studio. We developed image recognition, counting module, real-time recognition and counting module, which were migrated to the mobile phone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

• Dolomite flotation was enhanced with CaCl 2 at pH 5. • Ca2+ ions are beneficial for fluorapatite flotation. • NaOL was more strongly adsorbed on dolomite with Ca2+ ions. In this study, the effects of common ions, especially Ca2+, on the reverse flotation of fluorapatite and dolomite in acidic conditions with NaOL collector were investigated using micro-flotation, zeta potential, contact angle, adsorption analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory-based first principal calculations. It is found that the dolomite flotation recovery was enhanced and the fluorapatite flotation was depressed by the addition of CaCl 2 at pH 5. For dolomite, in the presence of CaCl 2 , the solubility of metal ions was increased, especially for Ca2+. The Ca and Mg sites exposed on the dolomite surface, increased the NaOL adsorption, thus, enhancing the dolomite flotation. However, the formation of Ca(H 2 PO 4) 2 species on fluorapatite surface inhibit its flotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigate the thermal conductivity of fluorinated graphene using molecular dynamics simulations. We find that fluorination reduces the thermal conductivity of graphene, with the amount of reduction strongly depending on both distribution and coverage of fluorination. The thermal conductivity shows a somewhat U-shaped change with coverage from 0% to 100%. At the same coverage, random fluorination results in a larger reduction in thermal conductivity than patterned fluorination, and the patterned strips oriented perpendicular to heat flux cause a stronger reduction than the strips parallel to heat flux. We also find that fluorination makes the thermal conductivity less sensitive to strain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Evidence on the association between oral health and mortality is inconclusive, and few studies have accounted for the nonrandom selection bias in estimating their relationship. This study aims to investigate the link between oral health and mortality in community-dwelling older adults by adjusting for confounding factors with a doubly robust survival estimation. Data came from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–1994) and were linked to the National Death Index mortality data through December 2015. The analytic sample consisted of 4,880 adults aged ≥60 years. Oral health measures included objective clinical indicators (edentulism, periodontitis, and untreated dental caries) and self–rated oral health. Cox proportional hazards regression models and inverse probability weighting with regression adjustment for observational survival-time estimation were utilized to assess the relationship between oral health and mortality. Analyses were conducted in 2021. Edentulism (average treatment effect= −26.13, 95% CI= −48.69, −3.57) was associated with a reduction in survival time. Periodontal conditions and dental caries were related to all-cause mortality in Cox models but became nonsignificant when inverse probability weighting with regression adjustment survival estimation was applied. Good self–rated oral health was significantly related to an increase in survival time (average treatment effect=21.50; 95% CI= 4.92, 38.07). Both objective and subjective oral health are risk factors for mortality among older adults. Improving access to dental screening and treatment among community-dwelling older adults has the potential to reduce oral health‒related risks of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Cervical cancer is one of the most aggressive female cancers. RNA methylation is a necessary epigenetic modification in biological process. This study aimed to construct an RNA methylation regulator‐based risk model for predicting the prognosis of cervical cancer patients. Methods: The transcriptome profiles of cervical cancer data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GSE44001. An RNA methylation‐related risk model was constructed and assessed by the Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso)‐penalized Cox regression model and receiver operating characteristic (ROC). Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic effect of the risk model and calculated scores. The immune infiltration difference was further analyzed between the subgroups with a single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Results: A total of 63 methylation modulators were included in this study, and 618 cervical cancer patients were identified from TCGA and GSE44001. Differential expression genes profiling RNA methylation regulators between normal and tumor samples were distinct. A four‐gene signature panel was constructed to predict the prognostic risk. The predictive ability was satisfactory. Cervical cancer patients were classified into high‐ or low‐risk subgroups according to the median risk score. Moreover, the immune infiltration patterns between them differed. Conclusions: A risk model including four RNA methylation regulators was constructed, which will provide new perspectives for further investigation of the relationship between RNA methylation and cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anaerobic treatment of food wastes (FW) for resource recovery has been extensively studied. However, the information on the traits of functional genes and enzymes for substrates metabolisms and their associations with microbial community are little. In this study, the influences of eggshells conditioning on the substrates metabolism for volatile fatty acids production (VFAs) in the process of FW fermentation were investigated at genetic levels by using the metatranscriptomic approach. The obtained results suggested that the critical genes involved in the carbohydrate and protein metabolisms (i.e. pgmB , GPI , glsA , pyrB and etc.) were up-regulated in the eggshell-conditioned reactor, which were beneficial to the bioconversion of macromolecule organics during FW fermentation. Moreover, the functional genes related with the intermediate products metabolism (i.e. pyruvate acid, butanoate) also exhibited differential genetic expression levels, which resulted in the alteration of microbial metabolic pathways and contributed to the acetic and butyric acids accumulation. In addition, a preliminary association of microbial distribution and genetic expressions was analyzed. The distinct distribution of microbial community in different FW fermentation systems affected the corresponding microbial contribution to those genetic expression levels of metabolic enzymes involved in VFAs production. This study would provide new insights of the underlying mechanism of VFAs promotion in the eggshell-conditioned FW fermentation process from the perspectives of substrates metabolisms at genetic and functional traits. Unlabelled Image • Eggshells affected the VFAs production and distribution during FW fermentation. • The key genes related with substrates metabolism were up-regulated with eggshells. • The metabolic pathway was affected to benefit acetic and butyric acids production. • The association of microbial distribution and genetic expressions was analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of hypochlorites (NaClO and Ca(ClO) 2) on the reduction of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during waste activated sludge (WAS) fermentation was determined by the quantitative PCR. NaClO and Ca(ClO) 2 exhibited distinct effects on ARGs fates. Ca(ClO) 2 was effective in removing all investigated ARGs, and the efficiency was highly dose-dependent. Unexpectedly, the NaClO treatment attenuated ARGs with lower efficiency and even caused the propagation of certain ARGs (i.e. , aad A1 and tet Q) at higher doses. The extracellular polymeric substances dissolution and membrane integrity suggested that unstable NaClO had acute effects on bacteria initially, while it was ineffective to further attenuate ARGs released from hosts due to the rapid consumption of oxidative ClO-. Without lasting and strong oxidative stress, the microbial activities of tolerant ARGs hosts will partially recover and then contribute to the ARGs dissemination across genera. In contrast, solid-state Ca(ClO) 2 was slowly released and exhibited prolonged effects on bacteria by disrupting cell membranes and removing the susceptible ARGs released from hosts. Furthermore, bacterial taxa-ARG network analysis indicated that Ca(ClO) 2 reduced the abundance of potential hosts, and the metabolic pathway and gene expression related to ARGs propagation were significantly downregulated by Ca(ClO) 2 , which contributed to efficient ARGs attenuation. ga1 • Ca(ClO) 2 treatments are more effective in ARGs attenuation during WAS fermentation. • NaClO treatments with acute effects result in the propagation of certain ARGs. • Ca(ClO) 2 exhibits prolonged effects with high activity on ARGs reduction. • Ca(ClO) 2 and NaClO exhibit distinctive effects on microbial structure alternation. • The down-regulations of relevant genes and pathways result in the decrease of ARGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

• The Ca(OCl) 2 & NaOCl effects on VFAs promotion from WAS fermentation are compared. • Hypochlorite treatments enhance the WAS solubilization, hydrolysis & acidification. • Ca(OCl) 2 and NaOCl exhibit distinctive effects on microbial community and activity. • Ca(OCl) 2 might exhibit a slow but accumulative effect on WAS fermentation. • Ca(OCl) 2 shows advantages over NaOCl in WAS dewatering and VSS reduction. The effects of different hypochlorite types (namely Ca(OCl) 2 and NaOCl) on the waste activated sludge (WAS) anaerobic fermentation, and microbial community and activity were investigated. The results indicated that both Ca(OCl) 2 and NaOCl contributed to volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production by simultaneously enhancing the solubilization, hydrolysis and acidification processes. The maximal VFAs was respectively 1379.5 (at 10 d) and 1621.5 (at 8 d) mg COD/L at the optimal dose of NaOCl and Ca(OCl) 2 while it was merely 157.4 (at 6 d) mg COD/L in the control. However, the Ca(OCl) 2 might affect the anaerobic process in a continuous mode while the NaOCl was relatively transient, which caused distinctive influences on the microbial structure and activity, and subsequently VFAs production in WAS fermentation systems. Moreover, Ca(OCl) 2 treatments showed advantages over NaOCl on WAS dewatering and VSS reduction, implying the superiority of utilizing Ca(OCl) 2 as additives for WAS disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatments of peroxydisulfate (PDS) activated with different iron forms (zero-valent iron (ZVI), ferrous iron (Fe2+) and nano zero-valent iron (NZVI)) all contributed to the generation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) during waste activated sludge (WAS) anaerobic fermentation. The maximal VFAs generation was 3036, 5537 and 3533 mg COD/L in the PDS/ZVI, PDS/Fe2+ and PDS/NZVI reactors, respectively, while it was only 702 mg COD/L in the control. The enhancing effects followed the order of PDS/Fe2+ > PDS/NZVI > PDS/ZVI. ZVI and NZVI showed no dual promoting effects with PDS on the VFAs production. Mechanisms exploration indicated that the simultaneous improvement of WAS solubilization and hydrolysis (high concentrations of soluble proteins and carbohydrates) and enrichment of fermentative bacteria (i.e. Bacteroides , Clostridium , Fonticella , and etc.) involved in VFAs generation were the main causes of VFAs promotion in the PDS treated systems. However, the reductive ZVI and NZVI partially consumed the generated free radicals (i.e. SO 4 − and/or OH), which possess strong oxidative potentials and are the main contributors to extracellular polymeric substances disintegration in WAS. This consumption of free radicals accounted for the lower efficiency of solubilization and hydrolysis and consequently reduced VFAs production in the PDS/NZVI and PDS/ZVI reactors compared with that in PDS/Fe2+ reactor. Moreover, the treatment of PDS activated by different forms of iron improved the VSS reduction extent and dewaterability of fermented sludge compared with that of the control, which is advantageous to the ultimate disposal of WAS. Unlabelled Image • PDS activated by different iron forms treatment promoted VFAs production. • The enhancing effects for VFAs were in the order of PDS/Fe2+ > PDS/NZVI > PDS/ZVI. • WAS solubilization and hydrolysis were improved by radicals-based EPS disruption. • The anaerobes responsible for VFAs yields were enriched in PDS-treated reactors. • The PDS treatments improved the VSS reduction and dewaterability of fermented WAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Radiation therapy is a primary treatment for cancer, but radioresistance remains a significant challenge in improving efficacy and reducing toxicity. Accumulating evidence suggests that deubiquitinases (DUBs) play a crucial role in regulating cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Traditional small-molecule DUB inhibitors have demonstrated radiosensitization effects, and novel deubiquitinase-targeting chimeras (DUBTACs) provide a promising strategy for radiosensitizer development by harnessing the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This review highlights the mechanisms by which DUBs regulate radiosensitivity, including DNA damage repair, the cell cycle, cell death, and hypoxia. Progress on DUB inhibitors and DUBTACs is summarized, and their potential radiosensitization effects are discussed. Developing drugs targeting DUBs appears to be a promising alternative approach to overcoming radioresistance, warranting further research into their mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

• Allicin affected the VFAs generation and composition during WAS fermentation. • Allicin improved the particular fermentation processes for VFAs generation. • Allicin enhanced gene expressions involved in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. • Allicin enhanced environmental adaptation of microbes. • The core microbial community and encoding functional genes for VFAs were disclosed. As a frequently used product with antimicrobial activity, consumed allicin might be discharged and concentrated in waste-activated sludge (WAS). However, the influence of allicin (as an exogenous pollutant) on WAS fermentation has not been clearly revealed. This study aimed to disclose the impacts of allicin on volatile fatty acid (VFA) generation during WAS fermentation. The results showed that the appropriate presence of allicin (10 mg/g TSS) significantly enhanced the VFA yield (1894 versus 575 mg COD/L in the control) with increased acetate proportion (24.3%). Further exploration found that allicin promoted WAS solubilization, hydrolysis and acidification simultaneously. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the key genes involved in extracellular hydrolysis metabolism (i.e., CAZymes), membrane transport (i.e., gtsA and ytfT), substrate metabolism (i.e., yhdR and pfkC) and fatty acid synthesis (i.e., accA and accD) were all highly expressed. Allicin also induced the bacteria to produce more signalling molecules and regulate cellular functions, thereby enhancing the microbial adaptive and regulatory capacity to the unfavourable environment. Moreover, the variations in fermentative microbes and their contributions to the upregulation of functional genes (i.e., ytfR, g ltL, INV, iolD and pflD) for VFA generation were disclosed. Overall, the simultaneous stimulation of functional microbial abundances and metabolic activities contributed to VFA production in allicin-conditioned reactors. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is the most prevalent viral pathogen in soybean. In China, the SMV strains SC and N are used simultaneously in SMV resistance assessments of soybean cultivars, but the pathogenic relationship between them is unclear. In this study, SMV strains N1 and N3 were found to be the most closely related to SC18. Moreover, N3 was found to be more virulent than N1. A global pathotype classification revealed the highest level of genetic diversity in China. The N3 type was the most frequent and widespread worldwide, implying that SMV possibly originated in China and spread across continents through the dissemination of infected soybean. It also suggests that the enhanced virulence of N3 facilitated its spread and adaptability in diverse geographical and ecological regions worldwide. Phylogenetic analysis revealed prominent geographical associations among SMV strains/isolates, and genomic nucleotide diversity analysis and neutrality tests demonstrated that the whole SMV genome is under negative selection, with the P1 gene being under the greatest selection pressure. The results of this study will facilitate the nationwide use of SMV-resistant soybean germplasm and could provide useful insights into the molecular variability, geographical distribution, phylogenetic relationships, and evolutionary history of SMV around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Purpose: Urinary incontinence is a syndrome common in older adults, but it is not clear whether urinary incontinence is associated with the risk for mortality in elderly nursing home residents. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis in PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science databases. The Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The meta‐analysis was summarized using a random‐effects or fixed‐effects model, and the heterogeneity among studies was examined using the I2 statistic. Findings: Six cohort studies with 1,656 participants were included in the final analysis. The NOS score for each study was greater than 6. Urinary incontinence was significantly associated with a higher risk for mortality in nursing homes, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–1.28, I2 = 41.6%). The significant association of urinary incontinence with increased mortality risk was observed in subgroup analysis according to region, status of dementia, and follow‐up period, with a pooled HR of 2.02 (95% CI 1.32–3.11, I2 = 0%) for Asian countries, 1.18 (95% CI 1.11–1.26, I2 = 41.6%) for Western countries, 1.17 (95% CI 1.09–1.26, I2 = 0%) for patients with dementia, 1.35 (95% CI 1.13–1.60, I2 = 58.9%) for patients without dementia, 1.16 (95% CI 1.07–1.25, I2 = 43.2%) for studies with a follow‐up period of 1 year, and 1.30 (95% CI 1.15–1.48, I2 = 24.5%) for studies with a follow‐up period of more than 1 year. Conclusions: Urinary incontinence is associated with an increased risk for death among residents of care facilities. Therefore, it was necessary to screen the elderly dwelling in nursing homes who were experiencing or at risk for urinary incontinence with useful tools (e.g., overactive bladder symptom score, bladder control self‐assessment questionnaire, three incontinence questions). In addition, early interventions strategies, such as weight loss, stopping smoking, pelvic floor muscle training, and medical and surgical treatments would contribute to decreasing the risk for urinary incontinence and preventing adverse outcomes in nursing home residents. Clinical Relevance: In our study, we found that the elderly with urinary incontinence who resided in nursing homes had a higher risk for mortality than those without urinary incontinence. Therefore, urinary incontinence in the elderly residing in nursing homes is of particular concern. Early detection and intervention are important for the elderly with urinary incontinence, and caregivers should be made aware of this importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

• Bond properties of alkali-activated slag concrete hollow block masonry are studied. • Shear strength, flexural strength and axis tensile strength of masonry were tested. • The effect of mortar strength grade on bond properties of masonry was evaluated. • Higher mortar strength lead to higher bond strengths of masonry. • Practical equations were developed to estimate mechanical properties of masonry. The shear, flexural and axial tensile bond strengths of alkali-activated slag concrete hollow block (AASCHB) masonry layered with alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortar were investigated in this study. A comprehensive experimental investigation was conducted to assess the effect of the AAS mortar strength on the bond characteristics of the masonry. The bond strength of the AASCHB masonry was found to be directly related to the compressive strength of the AAS mortar, where higher compressive strength led to higher bond strength. In addition, new expressions for the bond strength were developed for AASCHB masonry based on the compressive strength of AAS mortar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A mixture of Na 2 CO 3 and NaOH was used as alkaline activator for AAS mortars. • Properties and microstructural characteristics of AAS mortars were investigated. • Characteristics of AAS mortar depend on Na 2 CO 3 -to-NaOH ratios and Na 2 O contents. • Na 2 CO 3 can prolong the setting time and improve compressive strength of AAS mortar. • Both Na 2 CO 3 -to-NaOH ratio and Na 2 O content obviously affected drying shrinkage. Abstract Recently, alkali-activated slag mortars have attracted considerable attention as environmentally friendly materials. The objective of this paper was to explore the influence of an alkaline activator (NaOH or NaOH/Na 2 CO 3 solutions) on the performance of alkali-activated slag (AAS) mortars with pottery sand as fine aggregate. Five Na 2 CO 3 -to-NaOH ratios of 0/100, 20/80, 40/60, 60/40, and 80/20, and three Na 2 O contents of 4%, 6%, and 8%, were used to prepare AAS mortars. The water-to-slag ratio and slag-to-aggregate ratio were kept constant, at 0.38 and 0.8, respectively. The setting time, fluidity, compressive strength, and drying shrinkage were measured. The reaction hydrates were analyzed using microscopy and elemental analysis, while the pore structures were characterized using mercury intrusion porosimetry. The experimental results showed that both the Na 2 CO 3 -to-NaOH ratio and Na 2 O content had a significant effect on the fresh and hardened properties of AAS mortars. A high Na 2 CO 3 -to-NaOH ratio and low Na 2 O content resulted in AAS mortars with longer initial and final setting times. The higher Na 2 CO 3 -to-NaOH ratios led to a higher late compressive strength of AAS mortars, where the 6% Na 2 O samples showed the best performance with Na 2 O contents of 4–8%. In addition, the drying shrinkage behavior of AAS mortars as a function of Na 2 CO 3 -to-NaOH ratio was dependent on the Na 2 O content. Moreover, the compressive strength and drying shrinkage have a direct relationship with the microstructure of AAS mortars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

An optimal proportion of austenitic and martensitic phases is achieved in isometric-phase steels through meticulously designed and elaborately calculated surface nanotechnology. Such isometric-phase steels with nanolamellaed structures and nanograins, exhibit surpassing combinations of strength, hardness and ductility (with yield strength of 1215 MPa, surface hardness of 8.6 GPa, and favorable ductility of 31%). A microstructure-based constitutive model is developed to investigate the deformation mechanism and mechanical performance in isometric-phase steels. We believe the light-weight isometric-phase steels in this work can be regarded as a finer counterpart of dual phase steels for applications in automobile, aircraft and nuclear industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the properties of alkali-activated slag (AAS) pastes with NaOH and a blend of NaOH and Na 2 CO 3 as the alkaline activator. The effects of five different Na 2 CO 3 to NaOH molar ratios (0:10, 0.9:10, 2.5:10, 5.7:10 and 15:10) and three different Na 2 O contents (4%, 6% and 8%) in the alkaline activator on the setting time, mechanical performance and drying shrinkage were tested. The water to slag ratio was 0.35 by weight. The results showed that both the Na 2 CO 3 to NaOH molar ratios and Na 2 O contents are major factors influencing the fresh and hardened pastes. Higher Na 2 CO 3 to NaOH molar ratios yielded a longer setting time and higher compressive strength. The Na 2 O content of 6% was more sensitive to the properties compared with 4% and 8% Na 2 O. When the Na 2 O content was 4%, the drying shrinkage increased as the Na 2 CO 3 to NaOH molar ratio increased; however, when the Na 2 O content increased to 6% and 8%, the drying shrinkage decreased as the Na 2 CO 3 to NaOH molar ratio increased. The main hydration products were C-S-H(I), hydrotalcite, calcite and gaylussite. There was a strong relationship between the drying shrinkage and pore structures of AAS. Consequently, the Na 2 CO 3 to NaOH molar ratio of 15:10 and Na 2 O content of 6% can be regarded as the optimum mix proportion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Alkaline pH regulation efficiently enhanced solubilization and hydrolysis stages. • The toxicity of limonene from OPW to functional anaerobes was alleviated. • The metabolisms of pectin and protein degradation were enhanced. • Functional fermentive bacteria were enriched with upregulated metabolic functions. The anaerobic co-fermentation of orange peel waste (OPW) and waste activated sludge (WAS) for useful short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) generation presents an environmentally friendly and efficient method for their disposal. This study amied to investigate the effects of pH regulation on OPW/WAS co-fermentation, and found that the alkaline pH regulation (pH 9) significantly enhanced the promotion of SCFAs (11843 ± 424 mg COD/L), with a high proportion of acetate (51%). Further analysis revealed that alkaline pH regulation facilitated solubilization, hydrolysis, and acidification while simultaneously inhibiting methanogenesis. Furthermore, the functional anaerobes, as well as the expressions of corresponding gene involved in SCFAs biosynthesis, were generally improved under alkaline pH regulation. Alkaline treatment might played a critical role in alleviating the toxicity of OPW, resulting in improving microbial metabolic activity. This work provided an effective strategy to recover biomass waste as high-value products, and insightful understanding of microbial traits during OPW/WAS co-fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

In this work, we identify a new potential Mg battery cathode structure Mo3(PO4)3O, which is predicted to exhibit ultra-fast Mg2+ diffusion and relatively high voltage based on first-principles density functional theory calculations. Nudged elastic band calculations reveal that the migration barrier of the percolation channel is only ∼80 meV, which is remarkably low, and comparable to the best Li-ion conductors. This low barrier is verified by ab initio molecular dynamics and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. The voltage and specific energy are predicted to be ∼1.98 V and ∼173 W h kg−1, respectively. If confirmed by experiments, this material would have the highest known Mg mobility among inorganic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

[Display omitted] • PM/CS pretreatment resulted in acetate-enriched VFAs with improved sludge dewatering. • EPS-binding effects of Ca2+ in PM/CS restrained solubilization and hydrolysis process. • Both PM and PM/CS altered the microbial community structure for VFAs generation. • The low ORP value in PM/CS reactor was favor to enrich acetate-producing bacteria. • The microbial features were shifted to acetate generation in PM/CS reactor. Anaerobic fermentation is a low-carbon strategy for waste activated sludge (WAS) treatment with resource recovery. This study compared the effects of potassium permanganate (PM) and calcium sulfite-assisted PM (PM/CS) pretreatment on volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production during WAS fermentation. The effects of combined PM/CS on the total VFAs production were observed to be inferior to sole PM (2689 versus 3507 mg COD/L), but PM/CS pretreatment resulted in acetate-enriched VFAs (88.2% ratio) with improved sludge dewatering. The scavenging effects of interfering compounds on free radicals, which are previously speculated for extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) disruption, and the EPS-binding effects of Ca2+ in PM/CS reactors might both restrain the effective WAS solubilization and hydrolysis efficiencies in comparison with that of PM, and thus resulted in the reduced VFAs production. Moreover, both PM and PM/CS pretreatment altered the microbial community structure and metabolic traits, which were beneficial to the VFAs generation. However, the PM/CS pretreatment was more conducive to the enrichment of acetate-producing bacteria (e.g., Proteiniclasticum and Christensenellaceae_R_7_group) and acetate-forming metabolic functions (e.g., pyruvate metabolism and propanoate and butanoate degradation). Also, methanogenesis, which is an acetate-consumption process, was remarkably inhibited in PM/CS reactor, thereby promoting acetic acid accumulation effectively. This study demonstrated the distinct effects of different PM-based pretreatment on WAS fermentation and provided guidance on the appropriate pretreatment selection for WAS disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

[Display omitted] • Co-fermentation of OPW and SS is feasible for VFAs promotion. • The solubilization and hydrolysis are facilitated but restrain the methanogenesis. • The positive roles of limonene on the OPW/SS co-fermentation are elucidated. • The functional bacteria for VFAs biosynthesis are significantly enriched. • The microbial metabolic traits associated with VFAs generation are unveiled. Orange peel waste (OPW) and sewage sludge (SS) valorization for volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production from anaerobic co-fermentation are attractive and feasible. The highest VFAs reached 11996.3 mg COD/L within 10 d at the mass ratio (TS/TS) of 1:1, which was approximately 30-fold of that in sole SS fermentation. The OPW provided plenty of organic substrates and facilitated the fermentation processes by disintegrating SS structure and inhibiting methanogenesis due to the abundant limonene. Also, the OPW feeds reshaped the microbial community and enriched fermentative bacteria, especially those saccharolytic ones (i.e. Prevotella-7). The key genes involved in membrane transport (i.e. ptsG), glycolysis (i.e. pgk), pyruvate metabolism (i.e. ace), and fatty acid biosynthesis (i.e. accA), which are associated with VFAs biosynthesis, were up-regulated in OPW/SS reactors. Overall, it was the increase in bioavailable organic matter and functional microorganisms, and the simultaneous enhancement of metabolic activity that improved the efficient VFAs production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various pollutants commonly co-exist in the waste active sludge (WAS), but the interactive effects and mechanisms of co-occurrence pollutants on the WAS treatment remain unclear. This work mainly investigated the impacts of different surfactants (i.e., HTAB and SDBS) and CeO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) co-occurrence on the WAS fermentation for short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production, and found that the CeO 2 NPs coexisting with surfactants caused antagonistic effects on the SCFAs generation (10.7% and 33.9% inhibition by HTAB and SDBS, respectively). The surfactants and CeO 2 NPs co-occurrence restrained the solubilization, hydrolysis, and acidification steps simultaneously. Moreover, the functional hydrolytic-acidogenic bacterial (e.g., Haliangium and Bacteroidetes sp.) and the microbial metabolic networks involved in extracellular hydrolysis (e.g., pepd and NEU1), substrate metabolism (e.g., ALDO and asdA), and fatty acid biosynthesis (e.g. , aarC and pct) were all downregulated by 4.3–53.8% in the reactors with surfactants and CeO 2 NPs co-occurrence. The presence of surfactants enhanced the dispersibility and stability of CeO 2 NPs and the Ce dissolution (1.5–3.0 times higher). Also, surfactants contributed to the WAS disintegration, which could improve the interactive chances of microorganisms entrapped in WAS and CeO 2 NPs by promoting the transportation channels, and therefore aggravated the toxicity towards anaerobic species. [Display omitted] • Surfactants and CeO 2 NPs co-occurrence caused antagonistic effects on SCFAs yield. • The WAS solubilization, hydrolysis, and acidification steps were all inhibited. • The microbial community and metabolic traits for SCFAs yield were down-regulated. • Surfactants enhanced the dispersity and stability of CeO 2 NPs and Ce4+ dissolution. • The mechanisms for aggravated toxicity of surfactants and CeO 2 NPs were unveiled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]