Search

Binary CaO‐MgO‐Al2O3‐SiO2 (CMAS) ceramics composites of anorthite‐cordierite composition were synthesized from natural raw materials (kaolin and dolomite rock). The change of SiO2/Al2O3 ratio in kaolin/dolomite mixtures (12, 24, and 36 wt.%) and synthesized composites along with analysis of their phase composition transformations (X‐ray diffraction) during heat treatment (thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis) give the controlled design of aluminosilicate matrices. The obtained ceramic composites are represented by anorthite, a cordierite‐like phase whose ratio varies from 1.3:1 to 2.8:1. Mullite crystals, also included in the composition, reinforce the anorthite‐cordierite matrix. The morphostructural features of the samples were studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The porosity ranges from 7.8% to 24.2% depending on dolomite content. The impurities of iron and titanium interfering with obtaining a qualitative product are leveled by the presented technique including the heat treatment scheme justified by thermogravimetric analysis. Obtained CMAS‐ceramics of anorthite‐cordierite composition correspond to industrial international standards by their technical characteristics and exceed the requirements for heat‐insulating and chemically resistant materials by compressive strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dinoflagellate birefringent chromosomes (BfCs) contain some of the largest known genomes, yet they lack typical nucleosomal micrococcal-nuclease protection patterns despite containing variant core histones. One BfC end interacts with extranuclear mitotic microtubules at the nuclear envelope (NE), which remains intact throughout the cell cycle. Ultrastructural studies, polarized light and fluorescence microscopy, and micrococcal nuclease-resistant profiles (MNRPs) revealed that NE-associated chromosome ends persisted post-mitosis. Histone H3K9me3 inhibition caused S-G2 delay in synchronous cells, without any effects at G1. Differential labeling and nuclear envelope swelling upon decompaction indicate an extension of the inner compartment into telosomal anchorages (TAs). Additionally, limited effects of low-concentration sirtinol on bulk BfCs, coupled with distinct mobility patterns in MNase-digested and psoralen-crosslinked nuclei observed on 2D gels, suggest that telomeric nucleosomes (TNs) are the primary histone structures. The absence of a nucleosomal ladder with cDNA probes, the presence of histone H2A and telomere-enriched H3.3 variants, along with the immuno-localization of H3 variants mainly at the NE further reinforce telomeric regions as the main nucleosomal domains. Cumulative biochemical and molecular analyses suggest that telomeric repeats constitute the major octameric MNRPs that provision chromosomal anchorage at the NE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have prepared composite nanomaterials based on opal matrices with silica particles with a diameter of 300 nm and compounds of metals of group 10 of the periodic table (Pt and Pd). The first time dichlorodiamminepalladium and its water-ammonia solutions as a source of palladium for filling opal matrices are used. In addition, experiments were carried out on the introduction of platinum and palladium into a silica matrix with nano-sized pores using amino groups. Conditions have been found for obtaining materials with various forms of metal incorporation, both in the form of isolated particles in the voids of the opal matrix, and in the form of a continuous coating of the surface of a silica particle. A study of the electromagnetic properties of these samples showed a significant change in impedance and dielectric constant compared to the original opal matrix. The resulting composite nanomaterials, such as metal-filled inverse opal, can find wide application in various fields of optics, electronics, and catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil contamination by uranium presents a burgeoning global environmental concern, exerting detrimental effects on both agricultural production and soil health. Biochar, a carbonaceous material derived from biomass pyrolysis, exhibits considerable potential for remediating uranium-contaminated soils. However, a comprehensive review of the effects of biochar on the fate and accumulation of uranium in soil–plant systems remains conspicuously absent. In this paper, uranium sources and contamination are reviewed, and the impact of biochar on uranium immobilization and detoxification in soil–plant systems is analyzed. We reviewed the status of uranium contamination in soils globally and found that mining activities are currently the main sources. Further meta-analysis revealed that biochar addition significantly reduced the soil uranium bioavailability and shoot uranium accumulation, and their effect value is 58.9% (40.8–76.8%) and 39.7% (15.7–63.8%), respectively. Additionally, biochar enhances the soil microenvironment, providing favourable conditions for promoting plant growth and reducing uranium mobility. We focused on the mechanisms governing the interaction between biochar and uranium, emphasising the considerable roles played by surface complexation, reduction, ion exchange, and physical adsorption. The modification of biochar by intensifying these mechanisms can promote uranium immobilisation in soils. Finally, biochar alleviates oxidative stress and reduces uranium accumulation in plant tissues, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of uranium on plant growth and development. Overall, our review highlights the capacity of biochar to remediate uranium contamination in soil–plant systems through diverse mechanisms, providing valuable insights for sustainable environmental remediation. Highlights Biochar reduces uranium mobility through a variety of mechanisms, including surface complexation, reduction, ion exchange, and physical adsorption. Biochar significantly reduces uranium bioavailability in soil and limits its accumulation in plants. Modified biochar has been shown to enhance its effectiveness in immobilising uranium. Biochar application to soil not only promotes uranium remediation but also improves soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cu2O/Cu modified shungite (ShC) absorbent (Cu2O/Cu-ShC) was synthesized by hydrothermal method, benefiting from the mineral backbone and Cu2O/Cu particles, Cu2O/Cu-ShC can remove ~ 96% of I− within 60 min, the batch experiments showed that the I− adsorption process follows pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir model with maximum adsorption capacity of 10.99 mg/g. The high binding affinity between Cu+ and I− contributes effective removal of I− and excellent selectivity at high concentrations of competing ions. This work highlights the feasibility of Cu2O/Cu-ShC for the radioactive iodine separation, and provides a promising sorbent material for large-scale purification of radioactive iodine anions in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pickering emulsion method is used to construct photo-responsive metal-free microcapsules comprising graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets dispersed in montmorillonite (Mt) colloidosomes. Morphology characterization revealed a spherical-shaped microcapsule with diameter ranges from 5 to 50 µm. Cr (VI) was employed as a target contaminant to evaluate the photocatalytic performance of the microcapsules. Batch investigation showed pH 3 to be the optimal condition with a complete Cr (VI) removal. XPS analysis proved that the as-prepared microcapsule is able to reduce Cr (VI) to Cr (III). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible skin with an elastomer face sheet and corrugated core is considered the key component in achieving aerodynamic bearing and continuous large deformation of the morphing wings. However, during the bending deformation process, the compressed face of the corrugated-core rubber flexible skin is prone to wrinkling, which affects the aerodynamic shape of the wing. This study investigated the critical wrinkling load of a silicone face sheet under three-point bending. A flexible skin composed of a corrugated core and silicone face sheet was prepared for the three-point bending test. The transverse strain curve of the face sheet was obtained using the digital image correlation method. A finite-element model of flexible skin with a corrugated core was established. The wrinkling critical loads obtained by the simulation model and theoretical analysis are in good agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, two improved silicone face sheets were obtained by increasing the partial thickness. The simulation and experiment results show that the improved face sheets can effectively suppress wrinkling. Meanwhile, the tenon structure formed by the trapezoidal silicone face sheet can enlarge the bonding area between the face sheet and corrugated core, and control the weight of the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Montmorillonite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron composite functionalized by thiols (nZVI/Mt-SH) was synthesized by a two-step co-precipitation method for uranium (IV) removal from water. The SEM investigation showed that the morphology of nZVI/Mt was successfully modified by the (3-Mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane. The optimal adsorption efficiencies could be attributed to the synergetic behavior between SH-functionalized clay and iron nanoparticles. Analysis of the removal kinetics indicated the feature of monolayer chemisorption. The intraparticle diffusion exploration by Weber-Morris model illustrated a multi-phase removal process. This work suggests that the as-synthesized particles could be used as an efficient adsorbent to remove U(VI) from contaminated water sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on full-size folding wings is limited by many factors, and the similar model has an irreplaceable role in its development and manufacturing process. In this study, a folding wing with core board and dimensional structure is designed and manufactured based on the principle of functional similarity and structural similarity, and the similar model can accomplish continuous folding from 0° to 90°. Based on the designed model, the finite element model simulation calculation and ground knocking modal test are completed, and the correction of the finite element model (FEM) is completed by comparing the test and simulation data. Finally, the full-component finite element model with small vibration frequency error and high matching of vibration MAC value is obtained and compared with the manufactured model. Since the gradient analysis of the full-component finite element model is extremely inefficient, a fast method of building the finite element model is proposed based on the simplified finite element model as a case study, which not only improves the efficiency of the FEM modeling and simulation analysis without changing the model structure and function, but also provides a good agreement of the vibration mode compared with the test data. In addition, the influence of the geometric parameters of the spring plate on the vibration mode of the finite element model is explored based on the simplified model to meet the demand for modal control of the similar model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty reduction is a world-wide concern. At the end of 2017, according to the rural poverty standard in China, there were 30.46 million poor in China. However, complete poverty alleviation by the end of 2020 had been achieved. This is significant and complicated, especially as poverty-stricken areas and ecologically fragile areas overlap. During the process of poverty alleviation, the development of forestry projects was not only conducive to improving the environment but also an important way to reduce poverty. Therefore, based on an analysis of the causes of poverty-stricken areas, this study examined successful cases in different regions and proposed ways to promote economic growth: providing state subsidies for tree planting and forest maintenance; developing undergrowth economy; and/or initiating an industrial chain. It also introduces principles to promote forestry progress, according to local conditions, keeping a balance between economic development and the environment. This study provides effective ways to promote forestry development and rural poverty alleviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of nanozymes as multifunctional hybrid nanomaterials for modern industrial applications is necessary to meet the demands of emerging technologies and overcome the limitations of natural enzymes. In this study, an aminopropyl-functionalized copper-containing phyllosilicate (ACP) was facilely synthesized as a novel laccase-mimicking nanozyme, which can be used instead of natural laccase in the field of environmental remediation. ACP exhibited greater stability than laccase over broad ranges of pH (3.0–10.0), temperature (30–90 °C), and salinity (0–500 mM). Moreover, ACP showed good recyclability, with nearly 50% of the catalytic activity maintained after 13 consecutive cycles. Kinetic experiments revealed that although ACP possessed a considerably lower affinity for the substrate, its specific activity was still 51% that of laccase. Based on the excellent laccase-like activity of ACP, a bioinspired route to remove aqueous hydroquinone (HQ) by catalytic oxidative polymerization was constructed. The results showed that ACP achieved an HQ removal efficiency of approximately 100% within 30 min, which is much higher than that of natural laccase. This rapid, low-cost biomimetic process gives rise to new possibilities for the rational design of biomimetic nanozyme systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia results in the formation of nitrogen‐fixing root nodules. Endoreduplication is essential for nodule development and efficient nitrogen fixation; however, the cellular mechanism by which rhizobial infection causes endoreduplication in symbiotic nodules and the roles of the resulting polyploid cells in nitrogen fixation remain largely unknown.Here, we developed a series of different approaches to separate infected cells (ICs) and uninfected cells (UCs) and determined their ploidy levels in soybean (Glycine max) developing nodules. We demonstrated that 4C nuclei exist in both UCs and ICs of developing nodules and that these 4C cells are primarily invaded by rhizobia and subsequently undergo endoreduplication.Furthermore, RNA‐sequencing analysis of nuclei with different ploidy levels from soybean nodules at 12 d post‐infection (dpi) and 20 dpi showed that 4C cells are predominantly ICs in 12‐dpi nodules but UCs in 20‐dpi nodules.We conclude that the infection of 4C cells by rhizobia is critical for initiating endoreduplication. These findings provide significant insight into rhizobial infection, nodule endoreduplication and nitrogen fixation in symbiotic nodules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandwich composites are susceptible to interfacial delamination, owing to the mismatches in the material properties between the face sheets and core. Previous studies have shown that stitching can improve the performance of sandwich composites. In this study, an analysis approach was developed to investigate the fracture behaviour of stitched foam sandwich composites. The stitched foam sandwich composites were manufactured by a vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding process. Interlaminar tension tests revealed the effects of the linear thread density on the failure mechanisms of the stitched foam sandwich composites. Asymmetric double cantilever beam tests were performed to investigate the influences of the stitch thread reinforcement on the fracture behaviour. An analytical approach combining extended finite element method and nonlinear spring elements was proposed to predict the failure behaviour of the stitched sandwich composites. Experiment and simulation approaches were employed to investigate the influences of the stitch parameters (stitch pitch and linear thread density) on the ultimate load and energy absorption. The results show that stitched method can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of sandwich composites. The energy absorption and ultimate load values of the specimens tend to increase with an increase in the linear thread density or a decrease in the stitch pitch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kind of amino groups modified polyacrylonitrile fibers (PAN-A) was prepared to extract uranium from organic-containing low-level radioactive wastewater (OC-LLRW). SEM/EDS and FTIR characterization conformed that amino group was triumphant grafed on polyacrylonitrile fibers (PAN) surface. Its adsorption capacity was 492.1 mg g−1 (pH 6.0) and can endure at least five adsorption/desorption cycles under condition of 0.1 mol L−1 HCl solution. This PAN-A can work efficiently in the organic containing waste water (urea, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol), while the polyvinylalcohol (PVA) exhibited an apparently suppressive effect. This phenomenon was mainly with respect to the sticky nature of PVA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of nanozymes for ultrasensitive detection of contaminate has resulted in considerable attention. Herein, a carboxyl- and aminopropyl-functionalized copper organophyllosilicate (Cu-CAP) was synthesized by a facile, one-pot sol–gel method. The bifunctional groups endow it with superior catalytic activity than that of natural enzyme. Besides, it possesses outstanding catalytic stability under harsh conditions such as high temperature, extremely high or low pH, and high salinity. Apart from laccase-mimetic activity, Cu-CAP also shows oxidation of the peroxidase substrate 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to the blue-colored TMBox in the presence of H2O2, which is similar to natural horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Interestingly, this colorimetric system was suppressed by hydroquinone (HQ) specifically. Inspired by this, Cu-CAP was used to develop a highly sensitive and selective colorimetric method for the determination of HQ. This assay displayed an extremely low detection limit of 23 nM and was applied for the detection of HQ in environmental water with high accuracy. This approach offers a new route for the rational design of high performance nanozymes for environmental and biosensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a downlink transmission scheme exploiting robust beamforming in conjunction with non-orthogonal multiple access for multibeam satellite systems to enhance the spectral efficiency and user fairness. Specifically, by employing the imperfect channel state information and considering the fairness among multiple satellite terminals (STs), we first formulate an optimization problem to maximize the sum $\alpha$ -fair utility, while guaranteeing the transmit power budget and quality-of-service requirement of each ST. Since the original problem is nonconvex, we then adopt a discretization method to convert the channel uncertainty into deterministic forms, and propose an iterative penalty function algorithm combined with sequential convex approximation to obtain the optimal solution. Finally, simulation results are given to confirm the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed scheme over some existing works. It is also shown that our scheme can achieve a good balance between the system performance and user fairness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining areas are suffering from serious environmental hazards, such as soil erosion, water pollution as well as land degradation. In this study, two types of mining areas in Anhui Province, China—one a copper mining area and the other a coal mining area—were selected to compare the soil properties under different vegetation restoration conditions, which can be generally classified into reclaimed and non-reclaimed areas. Soil catalase and urease activities and soil chemical properties were chosen to be the main indicators of soil quality. Principal component analysis was used to evaluate the overall soil fertility in the copper and coal mining areas. Results showed that in the copper mining area soil catalase activity was between 12.36 and 19.17 μg g−1 h−1 and urease activity was between 0.03 and 12.05 μg g−1 h−1. And in coal mining area, soil catalase activity was between 3.52 and 9.72 μg g−1 h−1 and urease activity was between 2.71 and 10.81 μg g−1 h−1. Moreover, soil catalase and urease activities in degraded areas were lower than those in reclaimed areas. Soil catalase activity and soil urease activity were significantly correlated with total potassium and total nitrogen, respectively. Soil quality in land types with vegetation restoration was higher than in non-reclaimed areas and old subsidence areas, while soil quality in the copper mining area was generally higher than in the coal mining area. Thus, the optimum measure in this region to ameliorate these degraded soils is vegetation restoration, which helps not only to improve the environment, but also to enhance soil quality in these degraded lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipase is an industrial enzyme, the catalytic efficiency of which is restricted by various environmental factors. To improve this efficiency, immobilization technology has been utilized in the past to improve the stability of lipase in harsh conditions. Immobilization technology can be divided into physical methods and chemical methods. Some unsolved problems remain in current immobilization technology. The interaction between enzyme and immobilization support is weak and reversible during physical adsorption, resulting in poor stability of the immobilized enzyme and the contamination of substrate solution by leached enzymes. In chemical methods, enzyme-active sites might be inactivated due to the chemical reactions between enzyme molecules and support, resulting in a decrease in the enzymes' catalytic activity (Liu et al., 2018a). The objective of the current study was to construct a nanostructured lipase via Mg-amino-clay as a carrier and improve the catalytic activity and stability of lipase by immobilization. Lipase produced by Aspergillus oryzae was immobilized on aminopropyl functionalized magnesium phyllosilicate (a 2:1 trioctahedral talc-like silicate Mg-amino-clay) via a 1-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethyl-carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) coupling agent. The physical and chemical properties of the Mg-amino-clay and Mg-amino-clay-based nanostructured biocatalyst (Mg-clay-lipase) were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Optimal immobilization conditions were determined by taking into account the following variables: amount of initial lipase, EDC concentration, and reaction time. The results revealed that the optimum temperature, pH, and thermal stability of Mg-clay-lipase were greater than equivalent values for free lipase under optimal conditions (described below – Process for Immobilization of Lipase on Mg-amino-clay). The Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) values were 5.25 mM and 7.42 mM while the maximum reaction rates (vmax) were 30.58 mM/(L·min) and 55.87 mM/(L·min) for free lipase and Mg-clay-lipase, respectively. The present study provided a new nanostructured biocatalyst and demonstrated that the enzyme activity and stability of Mg-clay-lipase were superior to those of free lipase due to the mechanism of 'interface activation'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socio-economic development in China is not balanced. After the absolute poverty (in accordance with the current criteria) has been eliminated, helping the poor and alleviating poverty has always been the pressing assignment. Bamboo is an important forest resource, widely distributed in China and many other countries. It not only provides raw materials for economic development, but also provides kinds of nutritious foods. Moreover, bamboo is widely used in the construction industry, in transportation, agriculture, fisheries, paper-making, and in household products. Thus, developing bamboo industry is helpful to alleviate rural poverty in mountainous regions and to push up local socio-economic progress. Based on field survey, actual social investigation and literature review, by aid of SWOT and PEST(EL) analysis, this article concludes several bamboo industries practiced in the country that help to increase farmers' incomes and promote economic development. Generally, bamboo industry can be divided into five catalogs: food, manufacturing industry, eco-tourism, energy and construction. Besides, eco-efficiency, carbon footprint and water footprint also discussed during its development process. Furthermore, the application prospects of bamboo and actual examples to create benefits are analyzed. It is expected that this paper could provide practicable experience and available pathway to improve economy and combat poverty for impoverished areas in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: auxin signal; lamina joint; leaf angle; LIGULELESS 2s; LIGULELESS 1; organogenesis; Oryza sativa EN auxin signal lamina joint leaf angle LIGULELESS 2s LIGULELESS 1 organogenesis Oryza sativa 1832 1839 8 01/21/21 20210215 NES 210215 The lamina joint (LJ) is a grass-specific organ that connects the leaf blade to the sheath and causes the leaf blade to bend away from the vertical axis. Notably, the regulation of LJ differentiation by I OsLG1 i is dependent on the LJ position determination by I OsLG2 i and I OsLG2L i , because the LJ differentiation was absent in I OsLG2-cri;OsLG2L-cri i . I OsLG2 i and I OsLG2L i are essential for determining the LJ position; I OsLG1 i is necessary to initiate LJ differentiation, which depends on the LJ positioning determined by I OsLG2/2L i . [Extracted from the article]

Water pollution is exacerbated due to irrational human activities in China. Restoring and rebuilding river basin ecosystems are major ecological strategies at present. Controlling the non-point source pollution (NPSP) by reasonable management of land use in the basin and phytoremediation of contaminated waters is the optimum approach. Thus, it is significant to study on the relationship that between landscape change and the aquatic environment, as well as further to analyze on the combined effect of the landscape and water quality. This paper describes the application and development of the "source–sink" landscape theory in China, and the role of the theory in controlling NPSP. From this perspective, a landscape capable of generating NPSP would be a "source" landscape, such as farmland, while another capable of preventing NPSP would be a "sink" landscape, such as forests and wetland. Applying the source-sink landscape theory, it is possible to exert the ecological benefits of the landscape while playing the esthetic value of the landscape. Also, the purification mechanism of plants in contaminated water is discussed. Besides, it is vital that research on water body restoration should focus not only on single discipline but also on integration and coordination between various ones such as ecology, environmental science, and geography to jointly push up researches related to water body phytoremediation. Hopefully, this paper could help to control water pollution from a new perspective, also to improve water environment and benefit human lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell division is precisely regulated and highly tissue‐specific; studies have suggested that diverse signals in the epidermis, especially the epidermal brassinosteroids (BRs), can regulate root growth. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that integrate hormonal cues such as BR signaling with other endogenous, tissue‐specific developmental programs to regulate epidermal cell proliferation remain unclear. In this study, we used molecular and biochemical approaches, microscopic imaging and genetic analysis to investigate the function and mechanisms of a P‐type cyclin in root growth regulation. We found that CYCP3;1, specifically expressed in the root meristem epidermis and lateral root cap, can regulate meristem cell division. Mitotic analyses and biochemical studies demonstrated that CYCP3;1 promotes cell division at the G2‐M duration by associating and activating cyclin‐dependent kinase B2‐1 (CDKB2;1). Furthermore, we found that CYCP3;1 expression was inhibited by BR signaling through BRI1‐EMS‐SUPPRESSOR1 (BES1), a positive downstream transcription factor in the BR signaling pathway. These findings not only provide a mechanism of how root epidermal‐specific regulators modulate root growth, but also reveal why the excess of BRs or enhanced BR signaling inhibits cell division in the meristem to negatively regulate root growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional nanosized structures based on titanium dioxide are a desirable product because of their physical and chemical properties. The article considers production of titanium dioxide nanotubes based on ilmenite-leucoxene ores and products of their processing. Titanium dioxide nanotubes were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment in an alkaline solution from a gravity concentrate of ilmenite-leucoxene ore from the Pizhemskoe deposit. In the samples we found phases of quartz and sodium titanate Nax H2–xTi3O7. Nanostructuring results in increasing specific surface area and decreasing band gap. We evaluated effectiveness of synthesized samples in the photocatalytic decomposition of organic pollutants in aqueous solutions. We showed that they were not inferior to commercial analogues by their effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors have examined how the properties are changing using different sintering temperature based on the kaolin. Kaolin powder and a mixture of kaolin and 10 m% alumina was made and measured their sintering properties (TG, DTG, DTA, height). Pellets were compacted from the powders and sintered at 450 °C, 575 °C, 775 °C, 870 °C, 1100 °C temperature. The volume shrinkage, sintering weight losses, microstructure and phase composition of sintered specimens were investigated. In the case of sintering at 450 °C the volume of the samples increased; with a further increase of the temperature a continuous volume decrease can be observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient nanocomposite of CoFe2O4 diatomite for electromagnetic microwave adsorption was assembled by CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) and diatomite via a simple citric acid-nitrate sol-gel auto-combustion method. The electronic microscopy results show that the magnetic CoFe2O4 NPs are uniformly dispersed in the surface and porous structure of diatomite to form stable CoFe2O4/diatomite nanocomposite. The magnetic and dielectric properties with various mass ratios of CoFe2O4 to diatomite was investigated. It was showed that nanocomposite of CoFe2O4/ diatomite has strong superparamagnetic and electromagnetic microwave absorbing properties with optimized conditions of coercive force of 837.07 Oe, the saturation magnetization of 96.5 emu/g, and the remanence ratio (Mr/Ms) of 0.52, respectively. The maximum reflection loss is -12dB, and <-10dB frequency ranges from 10Hz to 12Hz when the ratio of CoFe2O4 to Diatomite is 1:10. The results indicate that CoFe2O4/diatomite composites can be used as the highly efficient microwave absorption materials, which expanded the application field of diatomite-based functional nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice tillering, a key architecture trait determining grain yield, is highly regulated by a class of newly identified phytohormones, strigolactones (SLs). However, the whole SL signaling pathway from the receptor to downstream transcription factors to finally inhibit tillering remains unrevealed. In this study, we first found that brassinosteroids (BRs) strongly enhance tillering by promoting bud outgrowth in rice, which is largely different from the function of BRs in Arabidopsis. Genetic and biochemical analyses indicated that both the SL and BR signaling pathways control rice tillering by regulating the stability of D53 and/or the OsBZR1–RLA1–DLT module, a transcriptional complex in the rice BR signaling pathway. We further found that D53 interacts with OsBZR1 to inhibit the expression of FC1 , a local inhibitor of tillering, and that this inhibition depends on direct DNA binding by OsBZR1, which recruits D53 to the FC1 promoter in rice buds. Taken together, these findings uncover a mechanism illustrating how SLs and BRs coordinately regulate rice tillering via the early responsive gene FC1. This study reports that BRs play an important role in promoting rice tillering. It is shown that SLs and BRs antagonistically regulate rice tillering by regulating FC1 expression in rice buds, which depends on the D53–OsBZR1 complex, and that OsBZR1 directly binds the FC1 promoter and recruits D53 to inhibit FC1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encapsulation of two enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and glucose oxidase (GOx), within peroxidase-like tourmaline microparticle (TM)-based colloidosomes was used to construct a functionalized microsystem capable of sustainable cascade cycling of nicotinamide cofactor (NAD+/NADH) via chemical signaling between spatially confined dual-enzyme and active membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network flow classification is a key function in high-speed switches and routers. It directly determines the performance of network devices. With the development of the Internet and various kinds of applications, the flow classification needs to support multi-dimensional fields, large rule sets, and sustain a high throughput. Software-based classification cannot meet the performance requirement as high as 100 Gbps. FPGA-based flow classification methods can achieve a very high throughput. However, the range matching is still challenging. For this, this paper proposes a range supported bit vector (RSBV) method. First, the characteristic of range matching is analyzed, then the rules are pre-encoded and stored in memory. Second, the fields of an input packet header are used as addresses to read the memory, and the result of range matching is derived through pipelined Boolean operations. On this basis, bit vector for any types of fields (AFBV) is further proposed, which supports the flow classification for multi-dimensional fields efficiently, including exact matching, longest prefix matching, range matching, and arbitrary wildcard matching. The proposed methods are implemented in FPGA platform. Through a two-dimensional pipeline architecture, the AFBV can operate at a high clock frequency and can achieve a processing speed of more than 100 Gbps. Simulation results show that for a rule set of 512-bit width and 1 k rules, the AFBV can achieve a throughput of 520 million packets per second (MPPS). The performance is improved by 44% compared with FSBV and 30% compared with Stride BV. The power consumption is reduced by about 43% compared with TCAM solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coccolithophore species Emiliania huxleyi has one of the most global distributions in the modern oceans. They are characteristically covered with calcite scales called coccoliths. In this study, stable strontium immobilization during the calcification process was investigated to indirectly assess a proposed bioremediation approach for removing Sr2+ contamination from marine environments. Results indicate that E. huxleyi has high Sr2+ tolerance and removal efficiency in response to Sr2+ stress ranging from 5.6 to 105.6 ppm. Sr2+ immobilization during E. huxleyi calcification indicates a concentration-dependent synergistic mechanism. At lower concentrations of Sr2+ (25.6 ppm), Sr2+ is incorporated into coccoliths through competitive supply between Sr2+ and Ca2+. In addition, calcite productivity decreases with increased Sr2+ removal efficiency due to crystallographic transformation of coccoliths from hydrated calcite into aragonite at 55.6 ppm Sr2+. Further formation of strontianite at 105.6 ppm Sr2+ is due to precipitation of Sr2+ on the edge of the rims and radial arrays of the coccoliths. Our study implies that coccolithophores are capable of significant removal of Sr2+ from the marine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There is 18,000 km of coastline in China. It is extremely important to construct coastal shelterbelts as they have a unique and irreplaceable role in the prevention and mitigation of natural disasters and in maintaining the ecological balance of coastal regions. A coastal shelterbelt was constructed near Yuyao City, Zhejiang Province, and three plots (wasteland, farmland, and forest) were studied to investigate the effects of environmental factors on the diversity of herbaceous plants. The environmental benefits were analyzed by field surveys and soil sampling. A total of 31 species from 30 genera and 14 families of halophyte and salt‐tolerant grasses were found in the survey area. The wasteland included 21 species from 20 genera and 9 families, whereas the shelterbelt forest had 19 species from 19 genera and 8 families, with Poaceae and Asteraceae dominating. Moreover, the Sørensen coefficient for the shelterbelt forest and wasteland was 65 and that for the shelterbelt forest and farmland was 55.56. Additionally, the salinity decreased from 0.52% to 0.02% after 2 years, similar to the value for farmland that has been cultivated for decades. The organic matter content increased from 5.1 to 9.5 g/kg, and the total nitrogen content increased from 0.34 to 0.47 g/kg. We concluded that coastline shelterbelts could be successfully established on the muddy coast. With coastline shelterbelts growing, the structure and diversity of herbaceous plants were affected, and the soil conditions were improved. Therefore, the construction of shelterbelt forest would improve the coastal landscape and enhance soil properties, accelerating the succession of herbaceous plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice includes 93 nitrate and peptide transporters family (NPF) members that facilitate the soil uptake and internal reallocation of nitrogen for growth and development. This study demonstrated that OsNPF7.7 had two splicing variants, and altered expression of each variant could regulate shoot branching and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE) in rice. The expression of both variants was down-regulated in the buds by increased nitrogen level in the Japonica rice variety ZH11. The expression level of long-variant OsNPF7.7-1 was higher in panicles at reproductive stage, however, the expression level of short-variant OsNPF7.7-2 was higher in buds and leaves at vegetative stage compared to each other in ZH11. OsNPF7.7-1 was localized in the plasma membrane, whereas OsNPF7.7-2 was localized in the vacuole membrane. Furthermore, the results indicated that the expression level of each variant for OsNPF7.7 determined axillary bud outgrowth, and then influenced the rice tiller number. Overexpression of OsNPF7.7-1 could promote nitrate influx and concentration in root, whereas overexpression of OsNPF7.7-2 could improve ammonium influx and concentration in root. RNAi and osnpf7.7 lines of OsNPF7.7 showed an increased amount of amino acids in leaf sheaths, but a decreased amount in leaf blades, which affected nitrogen allocation and plant growth. The elevated expression of each variant for OsNPF7.7 in ZH11 enhanced NUtE using certain fertilization regimes under paddy field conditions. Moreover, overexpression of each variant for OsNPF7.7 in KY131 increased significantly the filled grain number per plant. Thus, increased each variant of OsNPF7.7 has the potential to improve grain yield and NUtE in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioinspired design and construction of enzyme@capsule microreactors with specific cell-like functionality has generated tremendous interest in recent years. Inspired by their fascinating complexity, scientists have endeavored to understand the essential aspects of a natural cell and create biomimicking microreactors so as to immobilize enzymes within the hierarchical structure of a microcapsule. In this study, simultaneous encapsulation of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) was achieved during the preparation of microcapsules by the Pickering emulsion method using amphiphilic modified TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) as building blocks for assembling the photocatalytic microcapsule membrane. The ADH@TiO2 NP microreactors exhibited dual catalytic functions, i.e., spatially confined enzymatic catalysis and the membrane-associated photocatalytic oxidation under visible light. The sustainable cycling of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) coenzyme between NADH and NAD+ was realized by enzymatic regeneration of NADH from NAD+ reduction, and was provided in a form that enabled further photocatalytic oxidation to NAD+ under visible light. This bioinspired ADH@TiO2 NP microreactor allowed the linking of a semiconductor mineral-based inorganic photosystem to enzymatic reactions. This is a first step toward the realization of sustainable biological cycling of NAD+/NADH coenzyme in synthetic functional microsystems operating under visible light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new strategy for the design and construction of artificial photoresponsive protocells based on the encapsulation and activation of metallized peptide/porphyrin self-assembled nanofilaments within silica nanoparticle-stabilized colloidosomes. The protocells exhibit high light sensitivity and can utilise day light (700 lux) for the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) by photo-mediated reduction of NAD+ within the colloidosomes. The results provide a promising step towards artificial photosynthetic micro-compartmentalized devices with integrated functional structures and photoresponsive behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcified coccolithophores, a diverse and widely distributed group of marine microalgae, produce biogenic calcite in the form of coccoliths located on the cell surface. Using batch incubations of the coccolithophorid Pleurochrysis carterae, we investigated the responses of this calcification process to iron concentrations by changing the iron supply in the initial culture media from a normal concentration to 1 ppm (parts per million), 5 ppm, and 10 ppm. Time-dependent measurements of cell population, production of inorganic carbon (coccoliths), and organic carbon (organic cellular components) showed that elevated iron supply in the growth medium of P. carterae stimulates carbon sequestration by increasing growth along enhanced photosynthetic activity and calcification. In addition, the acquired time-dependent UV-Vis and FT-IR spectra revealed that iron fertilization-enhanced coccolith calcification is accompanied by a crystalline phase transition from calcite to aragonite or amorphous phase. Our results suggest that iron concentration has a significant influence on the marine carbon cycle of coccolithophores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eutrophic sediment is a serious problem in ecosystem restoration, especially in shallow lake ecosystems. We present a novel bioleaching approach to treat shallow eutrophic sediment with the objective of preventing the release of nitrate, phosphate, and organic compounds from the sediment to the water column, using porous mineral-immobilized photosynthetic bacteria (PSB). Bioactivity of bacteria was maintained during the immobilization process. Immobilized PSB beads were directly deposited on the sediment surface. The deposited PSB utilized pollutants diffused from the sediment as a nutritive matrix for growth. We evaluated the effects of light condition, temperature, initial pH, amount of PSB beads, and frequency of addition of PSB beads for contaminant removal efficiency during bioleaching operations. The presented study indicated that immobilized PSB beads using porous minerals as substrates have considerable application potential in bioremediation of shallow eutrophic lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal behavior of U(VI) by Shewanella putrefaciens was investigated in this study. Our results demonstrated the formation of uranium phosphate biomineral, predominantly existed as chernikovite [H(UO)(PO)·8HO], on the cell surface of S. putrefaciens. The lamellar chernikovite was found at slightly acid pH, but not at pH > 7.0. Phosphate-containing groups played the key role in the formation of chernikovite based on the analysis of IR. After ashing and hydrothermal process, bacterially mediated chernikovite can be transformed into inorganic uranium phosphate and UO, respectively. The findings can provide a potential strategy for in situ bioremediation of uranium in aerobic environment. Graphical abstract: Biomineralization process of uranium on S. putrefaciens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansins participate in the regulation of the growth and development of the plant. Csexpansin 10 (CsEXP10) was cloned from cucumber young fruits after pollination. In order to determine the effects of expression of CsEXP10 gene on the growth and development of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants, T1 generation transgenic tomato lines of CsEXP10 gene were identified by β-glucuronidase (GUS) analysis, and the growth and physiological indexes were estimated between T1 generation transgenic tomato plants and wild-type (WT). The results showed that T1 generation transgenic tomato plants leaves exhibited a lower chlorophyll contents, in comparison with WT plants. While the transgenic plants displayed a higher soluble protein contents, soluble sugar contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, peroxidase (POD) activities and fruits size than WT. All of these results suggest that CsEXP10 gene plays an important role in tomato growth and fruits development, and has an application potential in plant breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin tissues (or called webs) of short aramid fibers were added at the adhesive joints between carbon-fiber face sheets and aluminum-foam core to form aramid-fiber ‘composite adhesive joints’ for improving the interfacial bonding strength of sandwich structures and therefore other structural properties. In-plane critical compression loads and failure modes of carbon-fiber aluminum-foam sandwich beams with short aramid-fiber composite adhesive joints are investigated and discussed in this study. Improvements in critical compression loads were achieved for all specimens with aramid-fiber composite adhesive joints of different densities. It is suggested that the composite adhesive joints using low-density short aramid fibers is effective in promoting reinforcements against cracking and delamination at the interface between carbon-fiber face sheets and aluminum-foam core. The underlying interfacial strengthening and toughening mechanisms were discussed and analyzed based on observations from optical image and scanning electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phaseolus vulgaris L. (bean) is a promising species for uranium rhizofiltration with high tolerance and accumulation ability. To further understand the mechanisms involved in uranium tolerance and detoxification, the present study investigated subcellular distribution and compartmentalization of uranium in bean. Subcellular fractionation of uranium containing tissues indicated that both in roots and shoots, the concentration of uranium in each subcellular fractions increased evidently with increasing solution uranium level, and the majority of uranium was located in cytosol and cell wall fraction, while a minor part of uranium associated with the organelle fraction. Meanwhile, with uranium concentration increasing from 100 to 1,000 μM, the proportion of uranium distribution in cytosol fraction was decreased but it was increased in cell wall fraction. However, the proportion of uranium distribution in organelle fraction is always less than 5 %. These results suggest that stored in the cytosol (such as uranium compartmentalization with organo-ligands in vacuole) and bound to the cell walls (may be integrated with polyose and protein) might play an important role in tolerance and detoxification of uranium in bean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid crystalline phases of DNA and nucleosome core particles can be formed in vitro, indicating the crucial roles of these phases in the maintenance and compaction of genomes in vivo. In the present study, sequential levels of liquid crystalline decompaction were identified in highly purified nuclei of Karenia papilionacea in response to the gradual chelation of divalent counterions by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); the decompaction was observed using polarizing light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy and further confirmed utilizing microcalorimetry. Nested fibrous coils in 150 nm arc-like bands of chromatin were observed in the early stages of chromosomal decompaction. The microcalorimetry spectra of isolated nuclei revealed that the dynamic processes of nuclear decompaction occurred in a nonlinear manner; in addition, an EDTA-sensitive thermal transition between 60°C-70°C, corresponding to a liquid-crystalline-phase transition of chromosomes, was found. The results suggested that nested coils of fibrous chromatin filaments are responsible for the establishment and stabilization of the liquid crystalline and birefringence features of the chromosomes of dinoflagellates. The results also indicated that positively charged divalent counterions play significant roles in modulating liquid crystalline phases to compact the chromosomes of dinoflagellates. Sequential levels of liquid crystalline decompaction of DNA were identified in highly purified nuclei in response to chelation of divalent counterions by EDTA. Techniques used to examine this process included polarizing light microscopy, confocal laser microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and microcalorimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

sandwich beam model consisting of two face sheets and a foam core bonded by a viscoelastic adhesive layer is considered in order to investigate interfacial fracture behavior. Firstly, a cohesive zone model in conjunction with a Maxwell element in parallel, or with a Kelvin element in series, respectively, is employed to describe the characteristics of viscoelasticity for the adhesive layer. The models can be implemented into the implicit finite element code. Next, the parametric study shows that the influences of loading rates on the cohesive zone energy and strength are quite different for different models. Finally, a sandwich double cantilever beam model is adopted to simulate the interface crack growth between the face sheet and core. Numerical examples are presented for various loading rates to demonstrate the efficacy of the rate-dependent cohesive models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]