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Introduction Non-combustible nicotine products (NCNPs), such as heated tobacco products (HTPs) and nicotine vaping products (NVPs) have gained a significant nicotine market share in South Korea. This descriptive study examined patterns of regular cigarette and NCNP use among South Korean adults. Methods Data were from the 2020 International Tobacco Control Korea Survey and included 4016 adults (aged ≥19 years) in the Republic of Korea who were regularly (at least weekly) using at least one NCNP (NVP/HTP, n=2117) and/ or smoked cigarettes (n=3763) at the time of the survey. Weighted descriptive estimates were computed to assess respondents’ nicotine product use among all respondents (exclusive, dual, or triple use). Thereafter, we identified sociodemographic characteristics associated with NCNP use (n=2117). Results Among Korean adults who were smoking cigarettes, 83.1% (95% CI: 81.6– 84.6) did so exclusively, and 16.9% (95% CI: 15.4–18.4) smoked cigarettes and used NCNPs. Among those who used HTPs (n=1877), 14.9% (95% CI: 11.5–18.4) did so exclusively, 59.6% used HTPs and smoked cigarettes (95% CI: 55.4–63.1), 4.2% used HTPs and vaped (95% CI: 11.5–18.4), and 21.6 % (95% CI: 18.9–24.2) used all three products. Of adults who used HTPs and smoked cigarettes, 86.6% smoked daily. Among those who vaped (n=865), 13.3% did so exclusively (95% CI: 9.4–17.1), 55.6% (95% CI: 49.6–61.5) vaped and smoked cigarettes, 5.1% (95% CI: 1.7–8.6) used HTPs and vaped, and 26.1% (95% CI: 22.1–30.1) used all three products. Of adults who vaped and smoked cigarettes, 82.4% (95% CI: 77.1–87.7) smoked daily. Conclusions Cigarettes remain the most commonly used nicotine product in South Korea, and among adults using heated tobacco and/or vaping products, the majority were also smoking. Research is urgently needed to assess whether adults who are using an NCNP are doing so to quit, or rather to complement their cigarette smoking.

Soft magnetic composites (SMCs) play a crucial role in modern electronics and electrical devices, for which challenges remain in maintaining magnetic performance and reducing loss at megahertz (MHz) frequencies. Here, CeFeCo/FeSiAl@ polyurethane (PU) SMCs have been rationally designed with the simultaneous achievement of large relative permeability, high domain-wall resonance frequency, and low power loss. As a rare-earth soft magnetic alloy, the CeFeCo is promising for high-frequency applications due to its easy-plane anisotropy, whereas FeSiAl is advantageous with increased electrical resistivity as well as approaching-zero magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetostriction. Hot pressing has been adopted to achieve a dense and homogeneous distribution of CeFeCo and FeSiAl powders in the PU for reduced magnetic dilution and eddy current loss. The resultant SMCs exhibit optional soft magnetic performance with large relative permeability of 21.0, low power loss of 3677.5 kW·m−3 at 5 MHz, and high domain-wall resonance frequency of 386.1 MHz. As such this work provides insights into the design of high-frequency SMCs incorporating novel rare-earth soft magnetic alloys.

Abstract Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major disease that threatens the life and health of neonates. Vitamin A (VA) can participate in early fetal lung development and affect lung immune function. Researches revealed that the serum VA level in premature infants with ARDS was lower than that in premature infants without ARDS of the same gestational age, and premature infants with VA deficiency (VAD) were more likely to develop ARDS. Moreover, the VA levels can be used as a predictor of the development and severity of neonatal ARDS. However, the critical question here is; Does ARDS develop due to VAD in these systemic diseases? Or does ARDS develop because these diseases cause VAD? We hypothesize that VAD may aggravate neonatal ARDS by affecting immunity, metabolism, barriers and other pathways. In this article, we used multiomics analysis to find that VAD may aggravate ARDS mainly through the Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway, the HIF-1 signaling pathway, glutathione metabolism, and valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation signaling pathways, which may provide the molecular pathogenic mechanism behind the pathology of VAD-aggravated ARDS and can also provide potential molecular targets for subsequent research on ARDS.

Abstract The practical implementation of aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (ZIBs) for large‐scale energy storage is impeded by the challenges of water‐induced parasitic reactions and uncontrolled dendrite growth. Herein, we propose a strategy to regulate both anions and cations of electrolyte solvation structures to address above challenges, by introducing an electrolyte additive of 3‐hydroxy‐4‐(trimethylammonio)butyrate (HTMAB) into ZnSO4 electrolyte. Consequently, the deposition of Zn is significantly improved leading to a highly reversible Zn anode with paralleled texture. The Zn/Zn cells with ZnSO4/HTMAB exhibit outstanding cycling performance, showcasing a lifespan exceeding 7500 h and an exceptionally high accumulative capacity of 16.47 Ah cm−2. Zn/NaV3O8·1.5H2O full cell displays a specific capacity of ~130 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1 maintaining a capacity retention of 93% after 2000 cycles. This work highlights the regulation on both cations and anions of electrolyte solvation structures in optimizing interfacial stability during Zn plating/stripping for high performance ZIBs.

Abstract The templating method holds great promise for fabricating surface nanopatterns. To enhance the manufacturing capabilities of complex surface nanopatterns, it is important to explore new modes of the templates beyond their conventional masking and molding modes. Here, we employed the metal-organic framework (MOF) microparticles assembled monolayer films as templates for metal electrodeposition and revealed a previously unidentified guiding growth mode enabling the precise growth of metallic films exclusively underneath the MOF microparticles. The guiding growth mode was induced by the fast ion transportation within the nanochannels of the MOF templates. The MOF template could be repeatedly used, allowing for the creation of identical metallic surface nanopatterns for multiple times on different substrates. The MOF template-guided electrochemical growth mode provided a robust route towards cost-effective fabrication of complex metallic surface nanopatterns with promising applications in metamaterials, plasmonics, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensing fields.

Highlights The synergistic “anchor-capture” mechanism of polar groups on Zn stripping/plating process is firstly proposed. The amino group firmly anchors on Zn surface and the carboxyl group strongly captures Zn2+, constructing a robust anode–electrolyte interface and inducing uniform Zn deposition. The ultra-stable cycle lifespan of Zn–Zn symmetric cell (over 2800 h) and high utilization rate of Zn anode (the depth of discharge up to 68% for 200 h) are achieved under the proposal of synergistic “anchor-capture.”

The industrial landscape constitutes a crucial aspect of a region’s historical and cultural identity, serving as a valuable asset in the development of industrial tourism. Exploring the industrial landscape supports initiatives in industrial tourism, acts as a catalyst for community revitalization, and contributes to sustainable urban progress. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the spatial distribution characteristics and underlying determinants of China’s industrial landscape (CIL) to inform urban planning, cultural heritage preservation, and sustainable development initiatives. This study utilized analytical tools, such as the nearest neighbor index, geographic concentration index, and hot spot analysis, to comprehensively examine the spatial distribution of CIL. Additionally, Geodetector was employed to explore the correlating factors behind this distribution. The findings reveal the following: (1) CIL exhibited a pronounced agglomerative spatial pattern characterized by a high degree of concentration, significant disparities, and substantial spatial autocorrelation. (2) Over time, the agglomeration of CIL varied, intensifying initially and then diminishing, with the center of gravity of its distribution shifting eastward before subsequently moving westward in a directional trend resembling “northeast–southwest”. (3) There was a diverse array of industrial landscape types within China, with notable disparities in the prevalence of different categories. The manufacturing and transportation sectors boasted the highest number of heritage sites. (4) The distribution pattern of CIL was shaped by factors such as the level of economic development, socio-demographic conditions, transportation infrastructure, and cultural milieu. The interplay between these factors had a substantial impact on this distribution pattern.

BackgroundHealthcare professionals have shown more psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression due to the nature of work, which can cause job burnout, decrease the quality of medical services, and even endanger medical safety. The aim of the study is to explore the serial multiple mediating role of effort- reward imbalance and resilience between perceived stress and psychological disorders among healthcare professionals.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in China from February to April 2023. A total of 2098 healthcare professionals at a tertiary general hospital was investigated by the following self-reported questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), The Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI), Healthcare professionals Resilience Scale (MSRS).ResultsAnxiety and depression are interrelated (r = 0.362, p

Abstract The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) is predicted to weaken under global warming. Whether it is caused by heat flux or freshwater flux is under debate. Here we separate these two processes in changing the AMOC under global warming. The simulated AMOC is weakened during the first 600 years and then gradually recovered to its initial state, with heat flux and freshwater feedback dominating at different timescales. Global warming immediately puts freshwater into the Southern Ocean, which triggers the initial AMOC weakening via altering surface temperature. Concurrently, the extensive heat into the ocean surface increases the temperature over the subpolar North Atlantic, reducing the deep convection and thus the AMOC in the subsequent 50–150 years. Meanwhile, the Arctic sea ice melt leads to the AMOC shutdown. Subsequently, the salinity accumulation in the subtropical North Atlantic propagating northward to restart the North Atlantic deep convection is responsible for the AMOC recovery.

Abstract Accumulation of inorganic nanoparticles in living organisms can cause an increase in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose-dependent manner. Low doses of nanoparticles have shown possibilities to induce moderate ROS increases and lead to adaptive responses of biological systems, but beneficial effects of such responses on metabolic health remain elusive. Here, we report that repeated oral administrations of various inorganic nanoparticles, including TiO2, Au, and NaYF4 nanoparticles at low doses, can promote lipid degradation and alleviate steatosis in the liver of male mice. We show that low-level uptake of nanoparticles evokes an unusual antioxidant response in hepatocytes by promoting Ces2h expression and consequently enhancing ester hydrolysis. This process can be implemented to treat specific hepatic metabolic disorders, such as fatty liver in both genetic and high-fat-diet obese mice without causing observed adverse effects. Our results demonstrate that low-dose nanoparticle administration may serve as a promising treatment for metabolic regulation.

Asian soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi is an important plant pathogen, but an accurate genome assembly for this fungus has been lacking. This study sequenced three independent P. pachyrhizi isolates and generated reference quality assemblies and genome annotations, representing a critical step for further in-depth studies of this pathogen and the development of new methods of control.

Sodium nitrate passivation has been developed as a new insulation technology for the production of FeSiAl soft magnetic composites (SMCs). In this work, the evolution of coating layers grown at different pH values is investigated involving analyses on their composition and microstructure. An insulation coating obtained using an acidic NaNO3 solution is found to contain Fe2O3, SiO2, Al2O3, and AlO(OH). The Fe2O3 transforms into Fe3O4 with weakened oxidizability of the NO3– at an elevated pH, whereas an alkaline NaNO3 solution leads to the production of Al2O3, AlO(OH), and SiO2. Such growth is explained from both thermodynamic and kinetic perspectives and is correlated to the soft magnetic properties of the FeSiAl SMCs. Under tuned passivation conditions, optimal performance with an effective permeability of 97.2 and a core loss of 296.4 mW∙cm−3 is achieved at 50 kHz and 100 mT.

Energetic complexes represent a crucial research direction for the design and synthesis of novel energetic materials. In this work, 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105), a significant explosive compound with exceptional comprehensive properties, was selected as the ligand for coordinating with various metal ions. Four novel energetic complexes, Ni(C4H3N6O5)2·DMF (1), Co(C4H3N6O5)2·2DMF (2), Mn(C4H3N6O5)3·3/2DMF (3), and Cu3(C4H2N6O5)3·3DMF (4) were successfully synthesized, and their crystal structures were identified by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The structural analyses illustrated that LLM-105 can form either a mononuclear metal complex after the deprotonation of one amino group or a trinuclear metal complex after the deprotonation of two amino groups. Compound 1 exhibits a planar quadrilateral geometry, while both compounds 2 and 3 display distorted octahedral configurations. Compound 4 has three metal centers and exhibits two coordination configurations of distorted tetragonal pyramid geometry and planar quadrilateral geometry. The detonation performances of compounds 1–4 were also theoretically calculated, revealing their favorable explosive properties. These findings emphasize the diverse coordination modes of LLM-105 and the structural variability and adjustability of its complexes, offering valuable insights for regulating both the structure and performance of the LLM-105 complex as well as researching its deprotonation.

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effect of ultrasound and enzymatic cross-linking on the freeze-thaw (FT) stability and release properties of whey protein isolate hydrogels. We evaluated the FT stability by the changes in the microstructure, riboflavin retention, syneresis, water holding capacity (WHC), and texture of gels subjected to 3 FT cycles. High-intensity ultrasound (HUS) and transglutaminase (TGase)-mediated cross-linking improved the FT stability of whey protein isolate hydrogels loaded with riboflavin (WPISAR), as demonstrated by a more uniform and denser porous structure, significantly higher riboflavin retention, WHC, and textural properties, and lower syneresis after 3 FT cycles than those of untreated hydrogels. Furthermore, HUS- and TGase-mediated cross-linking decreased protein erosion and swelling ratio of WPISAR in simulated gastrointestinal fluids (SGIF) and reduced the riboflavin release rate in SGIF both with and without the addition of digestive enzymes. After 3 FT cycles, faster riboflavin release occurred due to a more porous structure induced by ice crystal formation compared with their unfrozen counterparts as detected by confocal laser scanning microscopy. High-intensity ultrasound- and TGase-mediated cross-linking alleviated the FT-induced faster riboflavin release rate in SGIF. High-intensity ultrasound- and TGase-treated gel samples showed that both diffusion and network erosion were responsible for riboflavin release regardless of FT. These results suggest that HUS- and TGase-mediated cross-linking improved the FT stability of WPISAR with a high riboflavin retention, and might be a good candidate as a controlled-release vehicle for riboflavin delivery to overcome undesired FT processing.

Polymorphs of energetic materials generally exhibit distinct features, such as density, thermal stability, sensitivity, and detonation performance. These features are important in determining the appropriate applications of a given polymorph. To understand the thermal stability of new high explosive 4,4′,5,5′-tetranitro-1H,1′H- [2,2′-biimidazole]-1,1′-diamine (DATNBI), we systematically investigated its polymorphic transition (PT) under thermal stimulation and discovered a novel stable γ form of DATNBI. The results showed that the solid-solid PT path was β→α→γ. In this study, the three polymorphs of DATNBI were prepared through solvent recrystallization, and their PT processes in solution were explored. Crystal structure analysis of γ-DATNBI suggested that its special cross-cross grid crystal packing may be the main reason for its stable existence at room temperature and its lack of PT process before chemical decomposition, which starts at 240 ​°C. To further explore the PT process of DATNBI, the solid phase transition mechanism of DATNBI was analyzed using non-isothermal kinetics. The results demonstrated that the two high-temperature PT processes—β→α and α→γ—were not single-step reactions but complex multi-step reactions. The PT activation energy of the β→α process was slightly higher than that of the α→γ process. In addition, the influences of different polymorphs on the performance of DATNBI were explored. The results revealed that safety and detonation performance should decrease as a result of the incorporation of γ-DATNBI. This study contributes to understanding the PT behavior and the crystal structure evolutionary mechanism of DATNBI. This study provides practical support for formula design, process condition selection, and thermal stability evaluation of DATNBI explosives.

Introduction: Mushroom-forming fungi comprise diverse species that develop complex multicellular structures. In cultivated species, both ecological adaptation and artificial selection have driven genome evolution. However, little is known about the connections among genotype, phenotype and adaptation in mushroom-forming fungi. Objectives: This study aimed to (1) uncover the population structure and demographic history of Lentinula edodes, (2) dissect the genetic basis of adaptive evolution in L. edodes, and (3) determine if genes related to fruiting body development are involved in adaptive evolution. Methods: We analyzed genomes and fruiting body-related traits (FBRTs) in 133 L. edodes strains and conducted RNA-seq analysis of fruiting body development in the YS69 strain. Combined methods of genomic scan for divergence, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and RNA-seq were used to dissect the genetic basis of adaptive evolution. Results: We detected three distinct subgroups of L. edodes via single nucleotide polymorphisms, which showed robust phenotypic and temperature response differentiation and correlation with geographical distribution. Demographic history inference suggests that the subgroups diverged 36,871 generations ago. Moreover, L. edodes cultivars in China may have originated from the vicinity of Northeast China. A total of 942 genes were found to be related to genetic divergence by genomic scan, and 719 genes were identified to be candidates underlying FBRTs by GWAS. Integrating results of genomic scan and GWAS, 80 genes were detected to be related to phenotypic differentiation. A total of 364 genes related to fruiting body development were involved in genetic divergence and phenotypic differentiation. Conclusion: Adaptation to the local environment, especially temperature, triggered genetic divergence and phenotypic differentiation of L. edodes. A general model for genetic divergence and phenotypic differentiation during adaptive evolution in L. edodes, which involves in signal perception and transduction, transcriptional regulation, and fruiting body morphogenesis, was also integrated here.

Abstract Background Depression is the most common mental disorder in patients with advanced cancer, which may lead to poor prognosis and low survival rate. This study aims to explore the serial multiple mediating roles of social support and spiritual coping between hope and depression among patients with advanced cancer. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in China between May and August 2020. A total of 442 advanced cancer patients were investigated by the following self-reported questionnaires: Herth Hope Index (HHI), Spiritual Coping Questionnaire (SCQ, Chinese version), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results Depression was negatively correlated with hope, social support, and positive spiritual coping (P

ABSTRACT In 1970, the Southern Corn Leaf Blight epidemic ravaged U.S. fields to great economic loss. The outbreak was caused by never-before-seen, supervirulent, Race T of the fungus Cochliobolus heterostrophus. The functional difference between Race T and O, the previously known, far less aggressive strain, is production of T-toxin, a host-selective polyketide. Supervirulence is associated with ~1 Mb of Race T-specific DNA; only a fraction encodes T-toxin biosynthetic genes (Tox1). Tox1 is genetically and physically complex, with unlinked loci (Tox1A, Tox1B) genetically inseparable from breakpoints of a Race O reciprocal translocation that generated hybrid Race T chromosomes. Previously, we identified 10 genes for T-toxin biosynthesis. Unfortunately, high-depth, short-read sequencing placed these genes on four small, unconnected scaffolds surrounded by repeated A+T rich sequence, concealing context. To sort out Tox1 topology and pinpoint the hypothetical Race O translocation breakpoints corresponding to Race T-specific insertions, we undertook PacBio long-read sequencing which revealed Tox1 gene arrangement and the breakpoints. Six Tox1A genes are arranged as three small islands in a Race T-specific sea (~634 kb) of repeats. Four Tox1B genes are linked, on a large loop of Race T-specific DNA (~210 kb). The race O breakpoints are short sequences of race O-specific DNA; corresponding positions in race T are large insertions of race T-specific, A+T rich DNA, often with similarity to transposable (predominantly Gypsy) elements. Nearby, are ‘Voyager Starship’ elements and DUF proteins. These elements may have facilitated Tox1 integration into progenitor Race O and promoted large scale recombination resulting in race T. IMPORTANCE In 1970 a corn disease epidemic ravaged fields in the United States to great economic loss. The outbreak was caused by a never-before seen, supervirulent strain of the fungal pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus. This was a plant disease epidemic, however, the current COVID-19 pandemic of humans is a stark reminder that novel, highly virulent, pathogens evolve with devastating consequences, no matter what the host-animal, plant, or other organism. Long read DNA sequencing technology allowed in depth structural comparisons between the sole, previously known, much less aggressive, version of the pathogen and the supervirulent version and revealed, in meticulous detail, the structure of the unique virulence-causing DNA. These data are foundational for future analysis of mechanisms of DNA acquisition from a foreign source.

Introduction Malaysia has the largest e-cigarette (EC) market in Southeast Asia, and it has been estimated that 17% of adult daily cigarette smokers also used ECs on a daily basis in 2020. However, few studies have examined the reasons people use ECs in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study of adult cigarette smokers from Malaysia assessed reasons for EC use and their support for key proposed EC regulations. Material and Methods Data are from the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia Wave 1 Survey of adult (aged ≥18 years) smokers who reported that they used ECs at least monthly (N=459 out of 1047 smokers). Weighted analyses were conducted on EC users’ reasons for using ECs and their support for various EC regulations. Results Smokers who used ECs at least monthly were more likely to be male, aged 25–39 years, of Malay ethnicity, married, more highly educated, and living in Peninsular Malaysia. Smokers who used ECs daily reported using ECs to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked (91.3%), pleasant taste (90.1%), to quit smoking (87.9%), and enjoyment (87.5%). Smokers who used ECs less than daily reported using ECs for their pleasant taste (weekly 89.4%, monthly 87.5%), curiosity (weekly 79.5%, monthly 88.8%), being offered EC by someone (weekly 76.3%, monthly 81.6%), and to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked (weekly 76.2%, monthly 77.6%). Smokers who also used ECs were most likely to support EC regulations requiring a minimum purchasing age (88.3%) and limiting nicotine concentration (79.6%), and least likely to support regulations banning EC fruit and candy flavors (27.1%). Conclusions The most prevalent reasons for using ECs in Malaysia are comparable to those of other ITC countries, including Canada, US, England, and Australia. An understanding of use patterns of ECs, especially their interaction with cigarettes, are important in developing evidence-based regulations in Malaysia.

Introduction E-cigarettes (ECs) have become increasingly common in many countries, including Malaysia. The prevalence of EC use increased in Malaysia from 0.8% in 2011 to 4.9% in 2019. Three quarters of Malaysian EC users also smoke combustible cigarettes, and the prevalence of EC use among Malaysian smokers in 2014 was consistent with the prevalence of use among smokers from Canada and the US in 2016. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of EC use among Malaysian adults aged ≥18 years in 2020 and the types of EC products and flavors used by cigarette smokers who also used ECs at least monthly. Methods Data came from 1253 adults aged ≥18 years who participated in the 2020 International Tobacco Control Malaysia Wave 1 Survey. Weighted descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of adults who reported ever using ECs and the prevalence who used ECs either monthly, weekly, or daily. The types of EC products and flavors used were compared by frequency of EC use among current smokers who used ECs at least monthly (n=459). Results Overall, 5.4% (95% CI: 3.7–7.5) of Malaysian adults reported using ECs on a daily basis in 2020. Among current cigarette smokers who used ECs daily, 81.0% (95% CI: 72.5–87.7) used nicotine in their ECs, 46.2% (95% CI: 37.8–54.7) used pre-filled ECs, and 60.4% (95% CI: 51.9–68.6) reported being somewhat/very addicted to ECs. The most common EC flavors were fruit, coffee, and menthol/ mint. Conclusions Continued surveillance of EC use is necessary to monitor EC use in non-tobacco using populations while longitudinal research is needed to determine the extent to which ECs are, or are not, related to quitting smoking.

Finding energetic materials with tailored properties is always a significant challenge due to low research efficiency in trial and error. Herein, a methodology combining domain knowledge, a machine learning algorithm, and experiments is presented for accelerating the discovery of novel energetic materials. A high-throughput virtual screening (HTVS) system integrating on-demand molecular generation and machine learning models covering the prediction of molecular properties and crystal packing mode scoring is established. With the proposed HTVS system, candidate molecules with promising properties and a desirable crystal packing mode are rapidly targeted from the generated molecular space containing 25 112 molecules. Furthermore, a study of the crystal structure and properties shows that the good comprehensive performances of the target molecule are in agreement with the predicted results, thus verifying the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. This work demonstrates a new research paradigm for discovering novel energetic materials and can be extended to other organic materials without manifest obstacles.

Abstract Anaerobic fungi and methanogenic archaea are two classes of microorganisms found in the rumen microbiome that metabolically interact during lignocellulose breakdown. Here, stable synthetic co-cultures of the anaerobic fungus Caecomyces churrovis and the methanogen Methanobacterium bryantii (not native to the rumen) were formed, demonstrating that microbes from different environments can be paired based on metabolic ties. Transcriptional and metabolic changes induced by methanogen co-culture were evaluated in C. churrovis across a variety of substrates to identify mechanisms that impact biomass breakdown and sugar uptake. A high-quality genome of C. churrovis was obtained and annotated, which is the first sequenced genome of a non-rhizoid-forming anaerobic fungus. C. churrovis possess an abundance of CAZymes and carbohydrate binding modules and, in agreement with previous studies of early-diverging fungal lineages, N6-methyldeoxyadenine (6mA) was associated with transcriptionally active genes. Co-culture with the methanogen increased overall transcription of CAZymes, carbohydrate binding modules, and dockerin domains in co-cultures grown on both lignocellulose and cellulose and caused upregulation of genes coding associated enzymatic machinery including carbohydrate binding modules in family 18 and dockerin domains across multiple growth substrates relative to C. churrovis monoculture. Two other fungal strains grown on a reed canary grass substrate in co-culture with the same methanogen also exhibited high log2-fold change values for upregulation of genes encoding carbohydrate binding modules in families 1 and 18. Transcriptional upregulation indicated that co-culture of the C. churrovis strain with a methanogen may enhance pyruvate formate lyase (PFL) function for growth on xylan and fructose and production of bottleneck enzymes in sugar utilization pathways, further supporting the hypothesis that co-culture with a methanogen may enhance certain fungal metabolic functions. Upregulation of CBM18 may play a role in fungal–methanogen physical associations and fungal cell wall development and remodeling.

Marc Van Goethem et al. combine short- and long-read sequencing from biocrust samples to report nearly 3,000 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) encoding microbial secondary metabolites. Their results demonstrate the advantage of integrated metatranscriptomic and long-read metagenomic sequencing in analyzing BGCs and provides insight into the role of secondary metabolites in maintaining phylogenetic niches in biocrusts.

Industrial heritage serves as a poignant testament to the historical narrative of industrial civilization. The European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) is a pan-European network that connects industrial sites and museums to enhance public awareness of the significance of the industrial heritage sector and to promote sustainable development practices in urban areas through collaboration and cooperation between these sites. The ERIH is crucial in promoting economic, cultural, and social values associated with industrial heritage and creating opportunities for tourism and education in Europe. Taking the ERIH as the research object, the nearest-neighbor index, kernel density, geographic detector, and other methods are used in this study to explore the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of European industrial heritage. The results of this study have implications for urban and regional planning endeavors aimed at advancing sustainable urban development. Furthermore, they contribute to cultivating a sense of place and identity by identifying and preserving industrial heritage institutions while fostering social cohesion and community identity practices. The results show that (1) the spatial distribution of European industrial heritage presents a cohesive distribution, and the spatial distribution is uneven; (2) the spatial distribution of European industrial heritage forms “dual cores, dual centers, one belt, three zones and multiple scattered points”—the center of gravity shows a trend of “first north and then east” and the north–south movement is relatively small; and (3) a combination of natural and social factors shape the spatial distribution of industrial heritage. Natural conditions, such as altitude, topography, and hydrological characteristics, influence the distribution patterns of industrial heritage sites. Meanwhile, human factors, including infrastructure level, cultural tourism potential, and social development, play a pivotal role in determining spatial distribution patterns. Among these factors, the socio-economic level exhibits the strongest influence, with an explanatory power of 0.763. The results of this study can contribute to the conservation and tourism practices regarding industrial heritage sites, thus promoting sustainable urban development practices.

Syngas from biomass gasification is being developed for alternative feedstock in the chemical industry. Palm kernel shell which is generated from palm oil industry can be potentially used as raw material for gasification process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of modified natural zeolite catalysts in steam gasification of palm kernel shells. Mordenite type zeolite was modified by acid leaching to be used as a tar cracking catalyst. Steam gasification was conducted at the temperature range of 750–850 °C and the steam to biomass ratio was in the range of 0–2.25. The result showed that steam gasification of palm kernel shell with the addition of zeolite catalyst at 750 °C and steam to biomass ratio 2.25 could reduce tar content up to 98% or became 0.7 g/Nm3. In this study, gasification of palm kernel shells produced syngas with the hydrogen concentration in the range of 52–64% and H2/CO ratio of 2.7–5.7. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Abstract Magnesium metal anode holds great potentials toward future high energy and safe rechargeable magnesium battery technology due to its divalent redox and dendrite-free nature. Electrolytes based on Lewis acid chemistry enable the reversible Mg plating/stripping, while they fail to match most cathode materials toward high-voltage magnesium batteries. Herein, reversible Mg plating/stripping is achieved in conventional carbonate electrolytes enabled by the cooperative solvation/surface engineering. Strongly electronegative Cl from the MgCl2 additive of electrolyte impairs the Mg…O = C interaction to reduce the Mg2+ desolvation barrier for accelerated redox kinetics, while the Mg2+-conducting polymer coating on the Mg surface ensures the facile Mg2+ migration and the effective isolation of electrolytes. As a result, reversible plating and stripping of Mg is demonstrated with a low overpotential of 0.7 V up to 2000 cycles. Moreover, benefitting from the wide electrochemical window of carbonate electrolytes, high-voltage (> 2.0 V) rechargeable magnesium batteries are achieved through assembling the electrode couple of Mg metal anode and Prussian blue-based cathodes. The present work provides a cooperative engineering strategy to promote the application of magnesium anode in carbonate electrolytes toward high energy rechargeable batteries.

Abstract Nanoparticles are applied as versatile platforms for drug/gene delivery in many applications owing to their long‐retention and specific targeting properties in living bodies. However, the delivery mechanism and the beneficial effect of nanoparticle‐retention in many organisms remain largely uncertain. Here, the transport and metabolism of mineral nanoparticles in mammary gland during lactation are explored. It is shown that maternal intravenous administration of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs; diameter: ≈11.0 nm, surface charge: −29.1 mV, surface area: 1.05 m2 g−1) provides elevated iron delivery to mammary gland and increased iron secretion into breast milk, which is inaccessible by classical iron‐ion transport approaches such as the transferrin receptor‐mediated endocytic pathway. Mammary macrophages and neutrophils are found to play dominant roles in uptake and delivery of IONPs through an unconventional leukocyte‐assisted iron secretion pathway. This pathway bypasses the tight iron concentration regulation of liver hepcidin‐ferroportin axis and mammary epithelial cells to increase milk iron‐ion content derived from IONPs. This work provides keen insight into the metabolic pathway of nanoparticles in mammary gland while offering a new scheme of nutrient delivery for neonate metabolism regulation by using nanosized nutrients.

In order to improve the safety of outdoor natural gas stations and detect the natural gas leakage in the process area of the stations in time, a laser gas leakage monitoring system was designed according to the principle of absorbing the methane spectrum with laser, and a leakage monitoring method with high reliability and real-time that is applicable to the gas stations of West-East Pipeline was explored. Based on the long-term tracking of field application effect, the feasibility of application and popularization of the system was studied by comparison and observation. The results show that the laser gas leakage monitoring system can detect the gas leakage at natural gas stations more accurately from the levels of principle and application, and solve the problem of micro-leakage which cannot be automatically detected by the original technology, which reduces the potential safety risks of the natural gas stations and further lays a theoretical foundation for large-scale application in gas pipeline network in the future.

Abstract The function and application of β‐glucosidase attract attention nowadays. β‐glucosidase was confirmed of transforming ginsenoside Rb1 to rare ginsenoside, but the interaction mechanism remains not clear. In this work, β‐glucosidase from GH1 family of Paenibacillus polymyxa was selected, and its gene sequence bglB was synthesized by codon. Then, recombinant plasmid was transferred into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and expressed. The UV–visible spectrum showed that ginsenoside Rb1 decreased the polarity of the corresponding structure of hydrophobic aromatic amino acids (Trp) in β‐glucosidase and increased new π‐π* transition. The fluorescence quenching spectrum showed that ginsenoside Rb1 inhibited intrinsic fluorescence, formed static quenching, reduced the surface hydrophobicity of β‐glucosidase, and KSV was 8.37 × 103 L/M (298K). Circular dichroism (CD) showed that secondary structure of β‐glucosidase was changed by the binding action. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) showed that β‐glucosidase and Rb1 had strong binding power which KD value was 5.24 × 10–4 (±2.35 × 10–5) M. Molecular docking simulation evaluated the binding site, hydrophobic force, hydrogen bond, and key amino acids of β‐glucosidase with ginsenoside Rb1 in the process. Thus, this work could provide basic mechanisms of the binding and interaction between β‐glucosidase and ginsenoside Rb1.

In order to reduce the frequency of false shutoff of the block valve in a long-distance gas pipeline and improve the reliability of the leakage detection system in a valve chamber, the leakage simulation model of a long-distance gas pipeline was established with SPS simulation software by referring to the theory of gas fluid mechanics based on the analysis on causes of a large number of false shutoff events occurred in valve chambers. With this simulation model, the influence rules of the conditions including the leakage location and operating pressure of a pipeline on the process of pressure drop during the leakage of a long-distance gas pipeline was studied, and on that basis, the process data of the possible maximum pressure drop during the leakage of a pipeline was calculated. Then, a judgment algorithm for false shutoff of block valves in a natural gas pipeline was designed, and a control procedure was developed for shutoff of block valves in a leaked pipeline. The simulation data and experimental results show that with the method, the false shutoff signal and the real leakage signal can be distinguished according to the characteristics of pressure change, and the rate of false shutoff of the system could be reduced.

The autumn rainfall over Southwest China is important for its agricultural and social effects. Studying the mechanism of its formation helps to improve its future prediction. A set of experiments, including eight stages of mountain uplift, is used to analyze the role of mountain uplift in the formation and development of autumn rainfall over Southwest China. The results show that the mountain uplift, especially the Tibetan Plateau is an essential factor in the formation and development of the autumn rainfall over Southwest China. The amount of the rainfall increases gradually with the mountain uplift. Being the transition season from summer to winter, the rainfall in autumn is influenced by the mountain uplift through dynamic and thermodynamic mechanisms in a different way from that in summer and/or in winter. Dynamically, with the Tibetan Plateau uplift, the upstream westerly is split into two branches, and the southern branch gets enhanced gradually and brings more water vapor from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal into the Southwest China region (the summer mode). Meanwhile, the East Asian trough is also strengthened, with the strengthened meridional circulation over mid-high latitudes, which favors the cold air from the north flowing into Southwest China (the winter mode) to converge with the warm humid air from the south (summer mode), resulting in the phenomenon of autumn rainfall over Southwest China. From the thermodynamic perspective, the surface heat source increases over the western part while decreases over the east part with Tibetan Plateau uplift, which promotes the ascending air flow over this area, and plays positive feedback on the increased autumn rainfall.

Mycorrhizal symbioses have evolved repeatedly in diverse fungal lineages. A large phylogenomic analysis sheds light on genomic changes associated with transitions from saprotrophy to symbiosis, including divergent genetic innovations underlying the convergent origins of the ectomycorrhizal guild.

Abstract Background Particular species of the genus Coniochaeta (Sordariomycetes) exhibit great potential for bioabatement of furanic compounds and have been identified as an underexplored source of novel lignocellulolytic enzymes, especially Coniochaeta ligniaria. However, there is a lack of information about their genomic features and metabolic capabilities. Here, we report the first in-depth genome/transcriptome survey of a Coniochaeta species (strain 2T2.1). Results The genome of Coniochaeta sp. strain 2T2.1 has a size of 74.53 Mbp and contains 24,735 protein-encoding genes. Interestingly, we detected a genome expansion event, resulting ~ 98% of the assembly being duplicated with 91.9% average nucleotide identity between the duplicated regions. The lack of gene loss, as well as the high divergence and strong genome-wide signatures of purifying selection between copies indicates that this is likely a recent duplication, which arose through hybridization between two related Coniochaeta-like species (allopolyploidization). Phylogenomic analysis revealed that 2T2.1 is related Coniochaeta sp. PMI546 and Lecythophora sp. AK0013, which both occur endophytically. Based on carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZy) annotation, we observed that even after in silico removal of its duplicated content, the 2T2.1 genome contains exceptional lignocellulolytic machinery. Moreover, transcriptomic data reveal the overexpression of proteins affiliated to CAZy families GH11, GH10 (endoxylanases), CE5, CE1 (xylan esterases), GH62, GH51 (α-l-arabinofuranosidases), GH12, GH7 (cellulases), and AA9 (lytic polysaccharide monoxygenases) when the fungus was grown on wheat straw compared with glucose as the sole carbon source. Conclusions We provide data that suggest that a recent hybridization between the genomes of related species may have given rise to Coniochaeta sp. 2T2.1. Moreover, our results reveal that the degradation of arabinoxylan, xyloglucan and cellulose are key metabolic processes in strain 2T2.1 growing on wheat straw. Different genes for key lignocellulolytic enzymes were identified, which can be starting points for production, characterization and/or supplementation of enzyme cocktails used in saccharification of agricultural residues. Our findings represent first steps that enable a better understanding of the reticulate evolution and “eco-enzymology” of lignocellulolytic Coniochaeta species.

Parabolic dish solar collectors gain higher solar to thermal conversion efficiency due to their maximum concentration ratio. The present research focuses by integrating the parabolic dish solar collector to the steam cycle producing power and rate of process heating. Pressurized water, therminol VP1, and supercritical carbon dioxide are the examined working fluids in the parabolic dish solar collector. The aim of the current research is to observe the optimal operating conditions for each heat transfer fluid by varying inlet temperature and flow rate of the working fluid in the parabolic dish solar collector, and combination of these parameters is predicted to lead to the maximum energy and exergy efficiencies of the collector. The operating parameters are varied to investigate the overall system efficiencies, work output, and process heating rate. Findings of the study declare that water is an efficient heat transfer fluid at low temperature levels, whereas therminol VP1 is effective for a higher temperature range. The integrated system efficiencies are higher at maximum flow rates and low inlet temperatures. The efficiency map of solar collector is located at the end of study, and it shows that maximum exergy efficiency gains at inlet temperature of 750 K and it is observed to be 37.75%.

Retaining chemical heterogeneity of 2:14:1 grains and forming continuous grain boundaries are two critical contributions to the strong magnetism in multi-main-phase (MMP) magnets. However, the ideal grain boundary microstructure is usually achieved at the expense of weakening the chemical heterogeneity, which poses a big challenge. Here we report a versatile strategy to balance the chemical heterogeneity and microstructure of MMP Nd-Ce-La-Fe-B magnets through tailoring liquid-phase-sintering. At optimum 1040 °C sintering, MMP magnet with 27 wt% Ce–La substitution level exhibits an equivalent weight-bearing capacity to 40MGOe commercial Nd-Fe-B, which is attributed to the joint contributions from retained chemical heterogeneity, essential densification, homogeneous grain size distribution and continuous intergranular phase network with ordered Ia3¯ structure. When shifting sintering temperature Ts towards the higher or lower range, the deteriorated magnetic properties are dominated by distinct restraints. With Ts above 1040 °C, the decreased coercivity is mainly restrained by the negative role of gradual chemical homogenization and abnormal grain growth, as verified by experimental and simulated results. However, with Ts below 1040 °C, the unsatisfactory magnetic performance mainly roots in insufficient densification and discontinuous grain boundary. These advances may deepen our understanding on designing high-performance MMP magnets with balanced contributions from modified microstructure and retained chemical heterogeneity. Keywords: Multi-main-phase, Liquid-phase-sintering, Chemical heterogeneity, Microstructure

Objective Since iQOS was introduced in Japan in 2014, the heated tobacco product (HTP) market has expanded in Japan and globally. Tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) restrictions in Japan are self-regulated by the industry, and no forms of TAPS are banned under national law. This study examines awareness of cigarette and HTP marketing, and support for TAPS bans in Japan. Methods Data are from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Japan Wave 1 (2018) Survey, a web-based survey of adult cigarette smokers, dual users of cigarettes and HTPs, and non-smokers/non-HTP users (n=4,684). Measures included noticing cigarette and HTP advertising in the last 6 months; and support for bans on cigarette and HTP POS displays, cigarette advertising, and price promotions in stores. Weighted logistic regression models examined exposure to cigarette and HTP marketing and support for TAPS bans among HTP users (n=555 dual users and n=207 HTP-only users) and HTP non-users (n=3,306 cigarette smokers and n=616 non-smokers). Results Retail stores were the most common source of cigarette and HTP advertising with higher exposure among HTP users compared to non-users (58% vs. 48% for cigarette advertising; 57% vs. 31% for HTP advertising). At least 1 in 5 HTP users and non-users noticed HTPs and cigarettes advertised on TV, in newspapers/magazines, and on posters/billboards. With a few exceptions, more HTP users noticed HTP advertising than non-users, whereas there were few differences in exposure to cigarette advertising. Non-users had stronger support for TAPS bans than HTP users: POS display bans for HTPs (74% vs. 47%) and cigarettes (65% vs. 49%); bans on cigarette advertising in stores (69% vs. 53%); and price promotions (76% vs. 65%). Conclusions TAPS restrictions are not effective for reducing exposure to HTP and cigarette advertising in Japan. Findings suggest that the public would support a comprehensive TAPS ban.

Summary: Non-lithium energy storage devices, especially sodium ion batteries, are drawing attention due to insufficient and uneven distribution of lithium resources. Prussian blue and its analogs (Prussian blue analogs [PBAs]), or hexacyanoferrates, are well-known since the 18th century and have been used for hydrogen storage, cancer therapy, biosensing, seawater desalination, and sewage treatment. Owing to their unique features, PBAs are receiving increasing interest in the field of energy storage, such as their high theoretical specific capacity, ease of synthesis, as well as low cost. In this review, a general summary and evaluation of the applications of PBAs for rechargeable batteries are given. After a brief review of the history of PBAs, their crystal structure, nomenclature, synthesis, and working principle in rechargeable batteries are discussed. Then, previous works classified based on the combination of insertion cations and transition metals are analyzed comprehensively. The review includes an outlook toward the further development of PBAs in electrochemical energy storage. : Organometallic Chemistry; Electrochemical Energy Storage; Energy Materials Subject Areas: Organometallic Chemistry, Electrochemical Energy Storage, Energy Materials

Magnetism deterioration is usually expected in all ferromagnetic materials with increasing temperature. Here, Maet al. report a Fe-Ga alloy with highly thermal-stable magnetization up to 880 K and with nearly no deterioration over a wide temperature range in magnetostriction.

ABSTRACT The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica undergoes a morphological transition from yeast-to-hyphal growth in response to environmental conditions. A forward genetic screen was used to identify mutants that reliably remain in the yeast phase, which were then assessed by whole-genome sequencing. All the smooth mutants identified, so named because of their colony morphology, exhibit independent loss of DNA at a repetitive locus made up of interspersed ribosomal DNA and short 10- to 40-mer telomere-like repeats. The loss of repetitive DNA is associated with downregulation of genes with stress response elements (5′-CCCCT-3′) and upregulation of genes with cell cycle box (5′-ACGCG-3′) motifs in their promoter region. The stress response element is bound by the transcription factor Msn2p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We confirmed that the Y. lipolytica msn2 (Ylmsn2) ortholog is required for hyphal growth and found that overexpression of Ylmsn2 enables hyphal growth in smooth strains. The cell cycle box is bound by the Mbp1p/Swi6p complex in S. cerevisiae to regulate G1-to-S phase progression. We found that overexpression of either the Ylmbp1 or Ylswi6 homologs decreased hyphal growth and that deletion of either Ylmbp1 or Ylswi6 promotes hyphal growth in smooth strains. A second forward genetic screen for reversion to hyphal growth was performed with the smooth-33 mutant to identify additional genetic factors regulating hyphal growth in Y. lipolytica. Thirteen of the mutants sequenced from this screen had coding mutations in five kinases, including the histidine kinases Ylchk1 and Ylnik1 and kinases of the high-osmolarity glycerol response (HOG) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade Ylssk2, Ylpbs2, and Ylhog1. Together, these results demonstrate that Y. lipolytica transitions to hyphal growth in response to stress through multiple signaling pathways. IMPORTANCE Many yeasts undergo a morphological transition from yeast-to-hyphal growth in response to environmental conditions. We used forward and reverse genetic techniques to identify genes regulating this transition in Yarrowia lipolytica. We confirmed that the transcription factor Ylmsn2 is required for the transition to hyphal growth and found that signaling by the histidine kinases Ylchk1 and Ylnik1 as well as the MAP kinases of the HOG pathway (Ylssk2, Ylpbs2, and Ylhog1) regulates the transition to hyphal growth. These results suggest that Y. lipolytica transitions to hyphal growth in response to stress through multiple kinase pathways. Intriguingly, we found that a repetitive portion of the genome containing telomere-like and rDNA repeats may be involved in the transition to hyphal growth, suggesting a link between this region and the general stress response.

In this study, the role of AD 1258 Samalas mega volcanic eruption in the summer hydroclimate change over Europe and the corresponding mechanisms are investigated through multi-member ensemble climate simulation experiments based on the Community Earth System Model (CESM). The results show that the CESM simulations are consistent with the reconstructed Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and the historical records of European climate. Europe experiences significant summer cooling in the first three years after the Samalas mega volcanic eruption, peaking at −3.61 °C, −4.02 °C, and −3.21 °C in year 1 over the whole Europe, Southern Europe, and Northern Europe, respectively. The summer surface air temperature (SAT, °C) changes over the European continent are mainly due to the direct weakening of shortwave solar radiation induced by volcanic aerosol. The summer precipitation over the European continent shows an obvious dipole distribution characteristic of north-south reverse phase. The precipitation increases up to 0.42 mm/d in year 1 over Southern Europe, while it decreases by −0.28 mm/d in year 1 over Northern Europe, respectively. Both simulations and reconstructions show that the centers with the strongest increase in precipitation have always been located in the Balkans and Apennine peninsulas along the Mediterranean coast over Southern Europe, and the centers with the strongest precipitation reduction are mainly located in the British Isles and Scandinavia over northwestern Europe. The negative response of North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) with significant positive sea level pressure (SLP) anomaly in the north and negative SLP anomaly in the south is excited in summer. The low tropospheric wind anomaly caused by the negative phase of NAO in summer affects the water vapor transport to Europe, resulting in the distribution pattern of summer precipitation in Europe, which is drying in the north and wetting in the south. The knowledge gained from this study is crucial to better understand and predict the potential impacts of single mega volcanic eruption on the future summer hydroclimate change in Europe.

The upper-level jet stream, a narrow band of maximum wind speed in the mid-latitude westerlies, exerts a considerable influence on the global climate by modulating the transport and distribution of momentum, heat and moisture. In this study by using four high-resolution models in the Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project phase 3, the changes of position and intensity of the northern hemisphere westerly jet at 200 hPa in summer during the mid-Holocene (MH), as well as the related mechanisms, are investigated. The four models show similar performance on the westerly jet. At the hemispheric scale, the simulated westerly jet has a poleward shift during the MH compared to the preindustrial period. The warming in arctic and cooling in the tropics during the MH are caused by the orbital changes of the earth and the precipitation changes, and it could lead to the weakened meridional temperature gradient and pressure gradient, which might account for the poleward shift of the westerly jet from the thermodynamic perspective. From the dynamic perspective, two maximum centers of eddy kinetic energy are simulated over the North Pacific and North Atlantic with the north deviation, which could cause the northward movement of the westerly jet. The weakening of the jet stream is associated with the change of the Hadley cell and the meridional temperature gradient. The largest weakening is over the Pacific Ocean where both the dynamic and the thermodynamic processes have weakening effects. The smallest weakening is over the Atlantic Ocean, and it is induced by the offset effects of dynamic processes and thermodynamic processes. The weakening over the Eurasia is mainly caused by the dynamic processes.

High moisture content along with poor dewaterability are the main challenges for sewage sludge treatment and utilization. In this study, the effect of hydrothermal treatment at various temperature (120-200 ˚C) on the properties of sewage sludge derived solid fuel was investigated in the terms of mechanical dewatering character, drying character, calorific value and heavy metal distribution. Hydrothermal treatment (HT) followed by dewatering process significantly reduced moisture content and improved calorific value of sewage sludge with the optimum condition obtained at 140˚C. No significant alteration of drying characteristic was produced by HT. Heavy metal enrichment in solid particle was found after HT that highlighted the importance of further study regarding heavy metal behavior during combustion. However, it also implied the potential application of HT on sewage sludge for heavy metal removal from wastewater.

Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand.-Mazz. is a famous traditional Chinese medicine that has positive effects on the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. With the increase of market demand (RMB 500 million per year) and the sharp decrease of wild resources, it is an urgent task to cultivate high-quality and high-yield varieties of E. breviscapus. However, it is difficult to obtain homozygous lines in breeding due to the self-incompatibility (SI) of E. breviscapus. Here, we first proved that E. breviscapus has sporophyte SI (SSI) characteristics. Characterization of the ARC1 gene in E. breviscapus showed that EbARC1 is a constitutive expression gene located in the nucleus. Overexpression of EbARC1 in Arabidopsis thaliana L. (Col-0) could cause transformation of transgenic lines from self-compatibility (SC) into SI. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays indicated that EbARC1 and EbExo70A1 interact with each other in the nucleus, and the EbARC1-ubox domain and EbExo70A1-N are the key interaction regions, suggesting that EbARC1 may ubiquitinate EbExo70A to regulate SI response. This study of the SSI mechanism in E. breviscapus has laid the foundation for further understanding SSI in Asteraceae and breeding E. breviscapus varieties.

In this study, the influences on persistent droughts over Eastern China from tropical volcanic eruptions with three categories of magnitudes, i.e., 25 Tg, 50 Tg, and 100 Tg, were investigated through three groups of volcanic sensitivity experiments based on the Community Earth System Model (CESM). The results showed that, the 25 Tg tropical volcanic eruptions are too weak to significantly influence the regional precipitation changes over Eastern China, while the 50 Tg tropical volcanic eruptions can strongly intensify droughts and prolong the drought conditions for about five years. Both the extension and intensification of the drought conditions induced by 100 Tg tropical volcanic eruption are the largest among the three sensitivity experiments. These drought conditions are mainly caused by the weakened East Asia Summer Monsoon (EASM), and their extension and intensification depend on the strength of the volcanic eruptions. The intensities of weakened EASMs after volcanic eruptions are associated with the distinct ocean−land thermal contrast after eruptions. The ocean−land thermal contrast is the largest after the 100 Tg tropical volcanic eruptions, while it is much weaker after the 25 Tg volcanic eruptions. The durations of drought extensions are determined by the recovery rates of the West Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH), which are associated with the magnitudes of the volcanic eruptions.

La and Ce substitution for Nd in the 2:14:1-type sintered magnet is of commercial interest to reduce the material cost and to balance the utilization of rare earth (RE) sources. As hydrogen decrepitation (HD) is widely utilized to prepare the magnetic powders during magnets fabrication, incorporating La and Ce into the Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets, however, may exert complex influences on the decrepitation behavior. In the present work, through a comparative study of the HD behaviors between the (La, Ce)-Fe-B strips and the conventional Nd-Fe-B ones, we find that similar to the Nd-Fe-B system, increasing hydrogen pressures from 2.5 to 5.5 MPa do not break the 2:14:1 tetragonal structure of (La, Ce)-Fe-B strips. The enhanced hydrogen absorption behaviors are observed with increasing pressure, which are still inferior to that of the Nd-Fe-B strips. This should be ascribed to the higher oxygen affinity of La and Ce than that of Nd, leading to the decreased amount of active RE-rich phase and limited hydrogen diffusion channel. As a result, the hydrogen absorption of 2:14:1 matrix phase is significantly suppressed, dramatically weakening the exothermic effect. This finding suggests that La and Ce with stable 2:14:1 tetragonal structure upon HD process are promising alternatives for Nd, despite that more precise oxygen control is necessary for the microstructure modification and magnetic performance enhancement of (La, Ce)-Fe-B sintered magnets.

Background Intentions to quit is the strongest predictor of a future quit attempt. Therefore, identifying factors that are positively or negatively related to quit intentions is important to health care providers and researchers to develop effective smoking session services. Brazil has been a global leader in many tobacco control domains but has recognized the need to strengthen its cessation services. This study examined the factors associated with quit intentions among Brazilian smokers. Methods Data were analyzed from Wave 3 (2016-17) of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Brazil Survey, a longitudinal cohort survey of representative samples of adult smokers in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Porto Alegre (N=1,216). Main outcome was having a quit intention. Results Having a quit intention within the next 6 months in Brazil was 49%, the highest of 25 ITC countries. 43% had made quit attempts in the past year. The following variables were positively associated with intentions to quit: being older (55+years; OR=3.07,p=0.04), having low (OR=2.51,p=0.03) or moderate (OR=2.53,p=0.01) income, attempting to quit in the past year (OR=3.20,p< .0001), believing that quitting is beneficial (OR=5.09, p< .0001), worrying about future health consequences of smoking (OR=3.26,p=0.01), and reporting that smoking is not enjoyable (OR=1.98,p=0.001). Gender, education, and nicotine dependence were unrelated to quit intentions. 67% of smokers who had seen a health care professional in the past year reported being given advice to quit. 79% of smokers wanted the government to do more to help smokers quit. Conclusions Quit intentions are high in Brazil, and predictors of intentions are similar to those of many ITC countries (high-income and low-and middle-income countries). The vast majority of Brazilian smokers want the government to do more to help them quit. These findings support the need to strengthen cessation services to meet the growing demand of smokers who want to quit.

Background China's health warnings do not meet the FCTC Article 11 guidelines. They are small (< 35% of the pack) and do not include pictorial images, which research has shown to have greater impact. Four rounds of warnings have been implemented between 1992-2016. This study examines warning impact over 9 years (2006-15), including the third round (April 2012), which increased font size while maintaining overall warning size and replaced the English text with Chinese on the back. Methods Data are from Waves 1-5 (2006-15) of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) China Survey, a cohort survey of 800 adult smokers in each of five cities, adding five rural areas at Wave 5 (2013-15) (total N=8000). GEE logistic regression models tested changes in key indicators of warning impact over time. Results Over 9 years, there has been little change in impact of the Chinese warnings. Indeed, the percentage of smokers who noticed warnings 'often' actually DECREASED from 51% (2006) to 38% (2013-15) ( p < .001), and fewer than one-third of smokers reported cognitions or behaviours related to quitting because of the warnings. The April 2012 revision did not improve any of the warning impact indicators. Warning noticing/salience did not differ between cities and rural areas, but rural smokers were more likely to think 'a lot' about harms of smoking (17% vs 11%, p < .001) and about quitting (14% vs 6%, p < .001) because of the warnings. Conclusions China's text-only warnings continue to be extremely weak. The minor changes in 2012 did not increase warning impact. Global evidence is clear that large pictorial warnings depicting specific harms of cigarettes would greatly enhance warning impact in China, including increasing knowledge and motivation to quit among the 300M Chinese smokers. These benefits would be especially important for the large rural population, where there are fewer other sources of health information.

Background Menthol and other flavorings are appealing to young people. They mask the adverse effects of cigarette smoke, such as throat irritation, and are marketed as less harmful to appeal to health-concerned smokers. In March 2012, Brazil banned all flavors in tobacco products, including menthol, but the ban has not been implemented due to industry legal challenges. This is the first study in Brazil to examine menthol use and beliefs about menthols (particularly harm perceptions). Such research can increase an understanding of menthol use to inform/support regulatory action in Brazil and other countries. Methods Data were from Wave 3 (2016-17) of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Brazil Survey, a cohort survey of adult smokers and non-smokers in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Porto Alegre. This study analyzed responses from 1216 smokers on prevalence and predictors of menthol use, beliefs about harmfulness, and support for banning additives. Results In 2016-17, 7.8% of smokers with a regular cigarette brand reported that they smoked menthols (lowest of 10 ITC LMICs). 12.5% of smokers erroneously believed that menthol cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes (lowest of 7 ITC middle-income countries); 33.4% believed menthols are smoother on the throat and chest (lowest of 4 LMICs). 59.6% of smokers support a complete ban on all additives including flavorings (3rd highest among 14 ITC countries). Conclusions These findings support Brazil's effort to ban all additives including menthol: menthol prevalence is comparatively low, erroneous beliefs that menthols are less harmful is low, and support for an additive ban is high. Brazilian media reporting of the risks of additives in the context of the tobacco industry injunction may have raised public awareness of the harms of additives and support for the ban. Also, the 2014 ban on advertising at points of sale may have reduced exposure to marketing of menthols.

Background In 2000, Brazil implemented a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising (except point-of-sale), promotion, and sponsorship, including sponsorship by tobacco brands of national sporting and arts events, then in 2005 adding international sport events. However, a loophole in the law permits company names for sponsorship. This study examines whether this loophole has been exploited by the industry via Brazilians' awareness of tobacco company sponsorship of sporting and arts events between 2009 and 2016-17. Methods Data were from Waves 1 to 3 (2009, 2012-13, 2016-17) of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Brazil Survey - a cohort survey of approximately 1200 adult smokers and 600 non-smokers in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Porto Alegre. At all three waves, respondents were asked whether they had seen or heard about (1) sport or sporting events and/or (2) music, theatre, art or fashion events sponsored by or connected with cigarette companies. At Waves 2 and 3, tobacco company name recognition was tested by asking respondents whether the following are tobacco companies: Souza Cruz, Nestle, and Pirelle. Data were analyzed using GEE logistic regression models. Results Awareness of a sport or sporting event sponsored by a cigarette company decreased between 2009 and 2016-17 among both smokers (from 8.7% to 4.7%; p=0.004) and non-smokers (from 11.8% to 5.7%; p=0.008). Awareness of an arts event sponsored by a tobacco company decreased among smokers (from 6.3% to 1.4%; p< .001), but not significantly among non-smokers (from 6.1% to 3.8%; p=0.235). Over 93% of smokers and non-smokers correctly stated that Souza Cruz is a tobacco company and over 98% correctly stated that Nestle and Pirelle are not. Conclusions Although Brazil has not specifically banned tobacco company sponsorship, public awareness of tobacco company sponsorship has decreased over 7 years, possibly suggesting that the industry has not (yet) taken advantage of the loophole.