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A biomimetic nanoreactor of catalyst Cu(II)–PNxOy was prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) starting from chiral amino acid. Characterizations of this catalyst disclosed a clear biomimetic thermoresponsive behavior in water. The biomimetic chiral oxazoline Cu single-chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) could undergo self-folding in water to form nanoreactors which were capable to catalyze the asymmetric Henry reaction. Dramatical acceleration of reaction rate by “concentrator effect” and outstanding catalytic efficiency were observed in this nanoreactor system. Almost quantitative conversion (96%) of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde with high enantioselectivity (ee value, 95%) was achieved by using only 2.0 mol% this newly developed catalyst within 18 h in water. Remarkably, this biomimetic nanoreactor could be easily recovered by regulating local temperature and reused for at least 6 times without significant decrease of reactivity. Utilizing this new catalyst, the asymmetric Henry reaction of benzaldehyde compounds with nitromethane could perform efficiently in pure water without any addition of organic solvent. This protocol offers an efficient and environmentally benign method for the asymmetric Henry reaction which exhibits high potential for industrial applications.

Citizen science is a popular method for the long-term monitoring of the distribution of wild animals. The application of these methods in different species and environments still poses challenges, especially for aquatic animals. In this study, we investigated the distribution of the Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) in the Beibu Gulf of China by using scientific boat-based surveys and citizen science approaches using two different methods of data collection. First, we built our mobile app (Whale Guard) and installed it on fishermen's phones. Second, we used a popular instant messaging app (WeChat) to create an online fisherman community. We found that the mobile phone app collected far fewer reports (5 reports) than the online community group (42 reports, p

We have demonstrated that cellulosic CuI nanoparticles could perform as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of useful organoboron compounds. Desired β-borylation products were all obtained in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. This catalyst could be recovered easily and still work effectively in six runs. Notably, asymmetric synthesis of organoboron compounds was accomplished by applying a chiral phosphine ligand. This newly developed protocol provides an efficient and sustainable pathway for the formation of C-B bonds and largely extends the applied range of cellulose. Asymmetric and efficient synthesis of organoboron compounds was accomplished by cellulosic CuI nanoparticles combining with a chiral phosphine ligand. This newly reported strategy provides a green and sustainable method for the construction of C–B bonds and largely extends the applied range of cellulose.

White-light emitting lanthanide(iii) metal-organic coordination polymers (LMOCPs) were prepared via a green synthesis method performed in pure aqueous solution at room temperature without using toxic solvent and reagents. This kind of LMOCP, denoted as adenosine monophosphate (AMP)/Ln-CIP, was composed of Ln3+ {Ln = Tb (1), Eu (2), and Gd (3)}, hydrosoluble biomolecule of AMP, and nonpoisonous antenna ligand of CIP (ciprofloxacin). The complex of Tb(1), Eu(2), and Gd(3) in AMP/Ln-CIP emits strong green, red, and blue light, respectively. With careful adjustment of the doping mole ratio of the three lanthanide ions {Ln = Tb:Eu:Gd = 0.1:0.9:99.0} in one framework, white light-emission can indeed be achieved. AMP/Ln-CIP is network-structural and amorphous by transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction analysis. The fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield of AMP/Ln-CIP are 4.36 ms and 36.5%, respectively.

Genetic stochasticity and bottlenecking in the course of Pleistocene glaciations have been identified as threatening the survival of local endemics. However, the mechanisms by which local endemic species balance the influences of these two events remain poorly understood. Here, we generated a double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD-seq) data set, mined mitochondrial sequences and constructed ecological niche models for the island endemic water strider Metrocoris esakii (Hemiptera: Gerridae). We found that M. esakii comprised three divergent lineages (i.e., north, central and south) isolated by geographical barriers and generally experienced population declines with the constriction of suitable areas during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Further demographic model testing and stairway plots revealed a history of recent gene flow among the neighbouring lineages and rapid recovery at the end of the LGM, indicating that M. esakii at least had the potential for an adaptive response to population fragmentation and bottlenecking. The northern lineage did not show genetic bottlenecking during the LGM, which was probably due to its large effective population size (Ne ) from migration, which improved its adaptive potential. Relative to the ddRAD-seq data set, the demographic results based on mitochondrial sequences were less conclusive, showing weak differentiation and oversimplified demographic trajectories for the three genetic lineages. Overall, this study provides some degree of optimism for the survival of island endemic water striders from a demographic perspective, but further evaluation of their extinction risk under the impacts of human activities is required.

In this study, mitogenome of Somena scintillans (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) were sequenced and compared with other Noctuoidea species. The mitogenome is 15,410 base pairs in length. All 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) are initiated by ATN codons except cox1 with CGA and all of PCGs terminate with TAA except nad4 with TAG. The codons ACG and CGC are absent. All the tRNA genes could be folded into the typical cloverleaf secondary structure except the trnS1 which not only loses dihydrouridine (DHU) arm but also mutates its anticodon into TCT. In the AT-rich region of the mitogenome the motif ‘ATAGA’ mutates to ‘ATATA’ and two copies of 161 bp-tandem repeats and two ‘TA’ short tandem repeats are founded. Phylogenetic analyses showed that S. scintillans is clustered into subfamily Lymatriinae. The phylogenetic relationships within Noctuoidea is (((Nolidae + (Euteliidae + Noctuidae)) + Erebidae) + Notodontidae)

Let G = ( V , E ) be a connected graph. The h-restricted edge connectivity λ h ( G ) of G is defined as the minimum size | F | of a set F of edges such that G − F is disconnected and every component of G − F contains at least h vertices. G is said to be λ h -connected if λ h ( G ) exists. Let ξ h ( G ) = m i n { | ω ( A ) | : G [ A ] is connected and | A | = h } , where ω ( A ) is the subset of edges having exactly one end node in A and G [ A ] is the subgraph induced by the node set A. A λ h -connected graph G is said to be λ h -optimal if λ h ( G ) = ξ h ( G ) . A λ h -optimal graph G is said to be m- λ h -optimal if G − F is still λ h -optimal for any edge subset F ⊆ E ( G ) with | F | ≤ m . The edge fault tolerance of a λ h -optimal graph G with respect to the λ h -optimal property, denoted by ρ h ( G ) , is the maximum integer m such that G is m- λ h -optimal. In this paper, we give the lower and upper bounds of ρ 2 for λ 2 -optimal graphs. As applications, we determine exact values of ρ 2 for two families of networks.

In order to feed a population of nearly 1.4 billion people with limited arable land resources, China's high crop production has been maintained by an intensive cropping system with excessive inputs of chemical fertilizers, resulting in high environmental costs. This study attempted to explore the reasonable balance between yield increase and nitrogen (N) inputs in the intensive wheat–maize cropping system in the North China Plain, which is one of the most important grain production regions in China. Based on yield simulations with the DSSAT-CERES-Wheat and DSSAT-CERES-Maize models and a household survey of 241 farmers' fields, we conducted a coupled analysis of the regional crop yields, N fertilizer inputs, and farmers' technical conversion efficiency with respect to winter wheat and summer maize production in four representative study areas. We also conducted a quantitative analysis of the equilibrium relationship between fertilizer application rates and expected yields, and the optimum N fertilization amounts for wheat and maize were recommended. The results indicated that farmers' average yields had reached almost 80% of the attainable yields, which meant that there was little room for farmers to increase their yields. However, we found that the yield gaps among the different farmers were still large, and most farmers applied excessive amounts of N while obtaining unsatisfactory yields due to poor fertilizer management techniques. Only 15% of winter wheat and 4% of summer maize on farmers' fields had achieved the synergy of high crop yields and efficient fertilization, and farmers' technical conversion efficiency was still relatively low. Therefore, farmers should be guided to appropriately lower their yield expectations and reduce the overuse of N fertilizer. In the future, if farmers receive necessary education and training and adopt advanced fertilizer management techniques, sustainable intensification of agricultural production with lower environmental costs will be feasible in China.

To improve the separation efficiency of fluffy flocs during coagulation of fracturing wastewater with high concentration of dissolved organic matter, a novel nucleation-induced pelleting coagulation (NPC) process is proposed based on pelleting coagulation in this study. In the NPC process, nucleation agents were added to act as pellet seeds to generate high-density pellet flocs. The results implied that the necessary condition for the NPC process was to control the metastable state, i.e. zeta potential around −10 mV after addition of the coagulant, polyaluminium chloride (PAC). Diatomite, which was added after rapid mixing, was used as the nucleation agent, and its optimal dosage was about 100 mg/L with particle size 100–200 μm. In addition, the dosage of the coagulant aid, polyacrylamide (PAM), significantly affected the performance of the NPC process, and the optimal PAM dosage was 10 mg/L in this study. It was found that 60 rpm (G = 55.1 s−1) was the optimal hydraulic condition for pellet growth during slow mixing. The pellet floc settling velocity reached 14.9 mm/s and the particle size (d50) reached 4.6 mm with an effective density of 0.021 g/cm3 at the optimal condition, which was one order higher than that of conventional aluminium flocs.

With the increasing demand for antimicrobial agents and the spread of antibiotic resistance in pathogens, the exploitation of plant oils to partly replace antibiotic emerges as an important source of fine chemicals, functional food utility and pharmaceutical industries. This work introduces a novel catalytic method of plant oils hydroxylation by Fe(III) citrate monohydrate (Fe3+-cit.)/Na2S2O8 catalyst. Methyl (9Z,12Z)-octadecadienoate (ML) was selected as an example of vegetable oils hydroxylation to its hydroxy-conjugated derivatives (CHML) in the presence of a new complex of Fe(II)-species. Methyl 9,12-di-hydroxyoctadecanoate 1, methyl-9-hydroxyoctadecanoate 2 and methyl (10E,12E)-octadecanoate 3 mixtures is produced under optimized condition with oxygen balloon. The specific hydroxylation activity was lower in the case of using Na2S2O8 alone as a catalyst. A chemical reaction has shown the main process converted of plantoils hydroxylation and (+ 16 Da) of OH- attached at the methyl linoleate (ML-OH). HPLC and MALDI-ToF-mass spectrometry were employed for determining the obtained products. It was found that adding oxidizing agents (Na2S2O8) to Fe3+ in the MeCN mixture with H2O would generate the new complex of Fe(II)-species, which improves the C-H activation. Hence, the present study demonstrated a new functional method for better usage of vegetable oils.Producing conjugated hydroxy-fatty acids/esters with better antipathogenic properties. CHML used in food industry, It has a potential pathway to food safety and packaging process with good advantages, fundamental to microbial resistance. Lastly, our findings showed that biological monitoring of CHML-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) inhibited growth of various gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in vitro study. The produced CHML profiles were comparable to the corresponding to previousstudies and showed improved the inhibition efficiency over the respective kanamycin derivatives.

Aiming at the problem of cross-professional information barriers and insufficiency of targeted services caused by the massive emergence of ubiquitous power Internet of Things perception information, this article implements multi-domain distributed data through rapid information collection, classification, and clustering of distributed data low-cost clusters, secure information exchange, and cluster autonomy. And detailed analysis of its application in the field of new energy accommodation is carried out.

Optical aspheric components are inevitably affected by various disturbances during their precision machining, which reduces the actual machining accuracy and affects the optical performance of components. In this paper, based on the theory of multi-body system, we established a machining error model for optical aspheric surface machined by fast tool servo turning and analyzed the effect of the geometric errors on the machining accuracy of optical aspheric surface. We used the method of ray tracing to analyze the effect of the surface form distortion caused by the machining error on the optical performance, and identified the main machining errors according to the optical performance. Finally, the aspheric surface was successfully applied to the design of optical lens components for an aerial camera. Our research has a certain guiding significance for the identification and compensation of machining errors of optical components.

A new gamma ray spectrometer with high energy and time resolutions has been developed and installed on the EAST tokamak to study fast ion and runaway electron behaviors. The spectrometer is based on a LaBr3(Ce) scintillator detector and a fully digital data acquisition system that is based on a digitizer with digital pulse processing algorithms. The energy resolution of the spectrometer is about 3.9% at 662 keV, and the spectrometer can operate stably at a counting rate as high as 1 MHz, monitored by using a light emitting diode monitoring system. The measured gamma ray spectrum is simulated based on Geant4 and unfolded with the high-resolution boosted Gold deconvolution algorithm, aiming at reconstructing the energy distribution functions of fast ions and runaway electrons.

Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae), one of the main insect pests, causes severe damage in cotton and many other economic crops. As is well-known, legs play important roles in the chemoreception of insects. In this study, the putative chemosensory proteins in legs of A. lucorum involved in close or contact chemical communication of adult bugs were investigated using RNA transcriptome sequencing and qPCR methods. Transcriptome data of forelegs, middle legs and hind legs of adult bugs demonstrated that 20 odorant binding protein (OBP) genes, eight chemosensory protein (CSP) genes, one odorant receptor (OR) gene, one ionotropic receptor (IR) gene and one sensory neuron membrane protein (SNMP) gene were identified in legs of A. lucorum. Compared to the previous antennae transcriptome data, five CSPs, IR21a and SNMP2a were newly identified in legs. Results of qPCR analysis indicated that all these putative chemosensory genes were ubiquitously expressed in forelegs, middle legs and hind legs of bugs. Furthermore, four types of sensilla on legs of A. lucorum including sensilla trichodea (subtypes: long straight sensilla trichodea, Str1; long curved sensilla trichodea, Str2), sensilla chaetica (subtypes: sensilla chaetica 1, Sch1; sensilla chaetica 2, Sch2; and sensilla chaetica 3, Sch3), sensilla basiconca (subtypes: medium-long sensilla basiconca, Sba1; short sensilla basiconca, Sba2) and Bohm bristles (BB) were found using scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the largest number of sensilla was observed on hind legs, while the forelegs had the smallest number of sensilla. Our data provide valuable insights into understanding the chemoreception of legs in A. lucorum.

Neem (Azadirachta indica) extract is well-known as a natural pesticide for the control of agricultural pests. Azadirachtin A and its structural analogues are considered as active compounds. However, the amounts of azadirachtins varies in neem extracts, providing a variety of insecticidal activities. In this study, a novel method of automated online solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SPE-LC–Q-TOF–MS) was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of five azadirachtins (azadirachtins A, B, D, H and I) in seed and leaf extracts of A. indica. Different experimental parameters (such as SPE cartridge, injection volume and washing step) were optimized. The optimized SPE-LC–Q-TOF–MS method showed good recovery (82.0–102.8%), linearity (r2 ≥ 0.9991) and precision (0.83–4.83%). The limit of detections (LODs) for the five analytes ranged from 0.34 to 0.76 ng mL−1. The validated method was successfully applied for determination of the analytes in the neem leaves and seeds from different locations and a neem formulation. The online SPE-LC–Q-TOF–MS method was found to be a simple, precise and accurate and can be used as a powerful tool for quality control of neem extracts or its formulations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13065-018-0453-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In the present study, the complete mitogenome of Theretrajaponica was sequenced and compared with other sequenced mitogenomes of Sphingidae species. The mitogenome of T.japonica, containing 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes) and a region rich in adenine and thymine (AT-rich region), is a circular molecule with 15,399 base pairs (bp) in length. The order and orientation of the genes in the mitogenome are similar to those of other sequenced mitogenomes of Sphingidae species. All 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) are initiated by ATN codons except for the cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) which is initiated by the codon CGA as observed in other lepidopteran insects. Cytochrome C oxidase subunit 2 gene (cox2) has the incomplete termination codon T and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene (nad1) terminates with TAG while the remainder terminates with TAA. Additionally, the codon distributions of the 13 PCGs revealed that Ile and Leu2 are the most frequently used codon families and codons CGG, CGC, CCG, CAG, and AGG are absent. The 431 bp AT-rich region includes the motif ATAGA followed by a 23 bp poly-T stretch, short tandem repeats (STRs) of TC and TA, two copies of a 28 bp repeat ‘ATTAAATTAATAAATTAA TATATTAATA’ and a poly-A element. Phylogenetic analyses within Sphingidae confirmed that T.japonica belongs to the Macroglossinae and showed that the phylogenetic relationship of T.japonica is closer to Ampelophagarubiginosa than Daphnisnerii. Phylogenetic analyses within Theretra demonstrate that T.japonica, T.jugurtha, T.suffusa, and T.capensis are clustered into one clade.

The Daping gold deposit, the most representative gold deposit in the Ailaoshan metallogenic belt, is located between the southeast Sanjiang region (three rivers: Jinshajiang, Lancangjiang and Nujiang) and the western Yangtze block. Ore bodies in the Daping gold deposit are mainly vein types, hosted in the Late Proterozoic diorite and Silurian limestone, and controlled by NW-trending faults. LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating of granodiorite yielded a late Eocene age of 36.76 ± 0.38 Ma, constraining the upper limit of the main mineralization. Quartz has δD values ranging from −80‰ to −50.4‰ (average: −63.1‰) and δ18Ofluid values ranging from 7.29‰ to 8.29‰ in the early stage of mineralization; In the late stage, quartz has δD values ranging from −87‰ to −67‰ (average: −77.4‰) and δ18Ofluid values ranging from −0.24‰ to 3.86‰. Carbonate minerals have δ13CPDB and δ18OSMOW values ranging from −2.3‰ to −7.6‰ (average: −5.1‰) and + 9‰ to + 14.9‰ (mean: +12.6‰). The sulfides have a narrow range of δ34S values (+0.2‰ to +6.7‰, average + 3.51‰) in the main stages of mineralization. The 206Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb values of the sulfides range from 18.685 to 18.765, 15.653 to 15.728 and 39.014 to 39.280. In general, according to the H-O-C-S-Pb isotopic compositions, the ore-forming fluids are dominated by metamorphic fluids, and the ore-forming fluids and materials might have been mainly derived from the mantle and lower crust, with a small input of wall rock material; they were affected by meteoric water in the late stage of mineralization. Given the regional geology, ore geology, ore-forming fluids, material features, and ore-forming age, the Daping gold deposit can be classified as a typical orogenic gold deposit.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate diverse aspects of plant growth. However, their potential role in reproductive development remains elusive. Here, we discovered an unique role of SlMPK20, a plant-specific group D MAPK, in pollen development in tomato. RNAi-mediated suppression of SlMPK20 or its knockout using CRISPR/Cas9 significantly reduced or completely abolished pollen viability, respectively, with no effects on maternal fertility. Cell biology and gene expression analyses established that SlMPK20 exerts its role specifically at the uni-to-binucleate transition during microgametogenesis. This assertion is based on the findings that the transgenic pollen was largely arrested at the binucleate stage with the appearance of subcellular abnormality at the middle uninucleate microspore stage; and SlMPK20 mRNA and SlMPK20-GUS signals were localized in the tetrads, uninuclear microspores and binuclear pollen grains but not in microspore mother cells or mature pollen grains. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that knockout of SlMPK20 significantly reduced the expression of a large number of genes controlling sugar and auxin metabolism and signaling in anthers. Finally, protein-protein interaction assays identified SlMYB32 as a putative target protein of SlMPK20. We conclude that SlMPK20 specifically regulates post-meiotic pollen development through modulating sugar and auxin metabolism and signaling.

Intrachain TiIV-oxazoline complexation together with hydrophobic interaction triggered the self-folding of an oxazoline-containing single polymeric chain in water. The formed TiIV-folded single-chain polymeric nanoparticles (SCPNs) acted as metalloenzyme-mimetic catalysts in asymmetric sulfoxidation in water owing to their organized, compartmentalized structure, effective site isolation, and also secondary coordination sphere provided by a copolymer backbone. In addition, they also could be facilely recovered for reuse by simple thermo-controlled separation.

A kind of phosphorus doped nitrogenous porous carbon material (CNP) has been prepared from lotus leaves to fabricate a novel electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA). Detailed characteristics of the as-prepared porous carbon were investigated by SEM, BET, XPS, XRD and Raman analysis. The electrochemical behaviors of the modified electrode were explored by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The CNP/GCE demonstrated linear response ranges of 20 μM–250 μM for AA, 10 μM–480 μM for DA, and 25 μM–2500 μM for UA, with detection limits (S/N = 3) of 4.25 μM, 0.86 μM, and 0.20 μΜ, respectively. Furthermore, the CNP/GCE has been successfully applied to determine AA, DA and UA in real serum samples, which exhibited excellent reproducibility, anti-interference and stability.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries attract much attention due to its high specific capacity and energy density compared to lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). Herein, a novel composite named as (void/nano-Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 pieces)@C [(v/n-L)@C] was designed and prepared as a sulfur host. Spinel Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 here as a multifunctional additive played as polysulfide adsorbent agent and fast Li + conductor, and carbon shell was designed as electronic conductor, as well as volume barrier to limit the volume expansion caused by sulfur. As-prepared (S/nano-Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 pieces)@C [(S/n-L)@C] are core-shell spheres, which are about 200 nm in size. Nano-Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 and sulfur were coated by the outer carbon shell with a thickness of about 20 nm. The experimental results show that electrochemical performances of (S/n-L)@C cathode were enhanced effectively compared to S@C cathode. At 0.5C and 1C, the discharge capacity of (S/n-L)@C was 33.5% and 40.1% higher than that of S@C at 500 th cycle. Even at 2C, its capacity reached 600.9 mAh g −1 at 1000 th cycle. Li + conductivity of (S/n-L)@C was one order of magnitude higher than that of S@C, which was reach to 2.55 × 10 −8 S cm −1 . The experiment results indicate Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 plays a promotional role on electrochemical performances of sulfur cathode, especially for stable cycling performance and high rate performance.

Tetragonal FeSbO 4 with a coating carbon layer of ∼20 nm (FeSbO 4 /C) was synthesized via simple solid state method. The physical properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission microscopy (TEM). The electrochemical characteristics were studied via cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) and galvanostatic charge/discharge. Compared to FeSbO 4 , electronic conductivity of FeSbO 4 /C was obviously increased by coating a thin carbon layer. Furthermore, its reversible capacity and cycle performance were also improved. At 50 mA g −1 , the capacity of FeSbO 4 /C reached to 201.1 mAh g −1 at 200th cycle, while the value of FeSbO 4 was 107.2 mAh g −1 . The results indicate that FeSbO 4 /C is a potential anode material for lithium ion batteries.

Our aim in this study is to show that IgY antibody based immunoassays could be used to detect antibiotic residues in animal-derived food. Briefly, full antigens of gentamicin (Gent) and kanamycin (Kana) were used to immunize the laying chickens to prepare IgY antibodies. Then, these antibodies were evaluated by FPIA and ic-ELISA to detect Gent/Kana in animal-derived samples. The IC50 of FPIA and ic-ELISA based anti-Gent IgY were 7.70±0.6μg/mL and 0.32±0.06μg/mL, respectively. The IC50 of FPIA and ic-ELISA based anti-Kana IgY were 7.97±0.9μg/mL and 0.15±0.01μg/mL. The limits of detection (LOD, IC10) for FPIA based anti-Gent/Kana IgY were 0.17 and 0.007μg/mL, respectively. The LOD for ic-ELISA were both 0.001μg/mL. These results indicated that the ic-ELISA might more suitable for antibiotic residues detection than FPIA.

Self-assembled metallomicelles with ultraviolet (UV)-controlled morphologies were constructed from a synthesized azobenzene-containing amphiphilic chiral salen TiIV catalyst. The morphologies of the metallomicelles could be well adjusted by changing the UV irradiation time, and this was confirmed by TEM analyses. The UV-induced change in morphology potentially adjusted the catalyst concentration and/or accessibility in real-time, allowing photocontrollable catalysis of asymmetric sulfoxidation in water. UV-responsive catalytic activities with excellent selectivities were observed over the metallomicelles for a wide range of alkyl aryl sulfides. Moreover, a thermo-responsive NIPAAm block in the catalyst enables it to be easily recovered for steady reuse by thermo-controlled separation. This work constructed a photo-responsive metallomicellar system to carry out metallomicellar catalysis in a controllable way.

Single Au nanowire electrodes and single Pt@Au nanowire electrodes showed steady-state voltammetric responses and a fast electron-transfer rate, which have been used to fabricate an E-DNA sensor and investigate the oxygen reduction reaction at the single nanowire level.

A series of bio-inspired single-chain polymeric nanoparticles (SCPNs) containing a chiral salen TiIV complex in their hydrophobic cavity were constructed from the synthesized amphiphilic copolymers of poly(NIPAAm-co-IL/Ti(salen)) (NIPAAm, N-isopropylacrylamide; IL/Ti(salen), vinylimidazolium ionic liquid-modified chiral salen TiIV complex). These SCPNs behaved as enzyme-mimetic catalysts due to compartmentalization and site isolation, mediating enantioselective oxidation of various sulfides in water with excellent yields (90–99%) and enantioselectivities (ee, 88–99%). In particular, the ee values observed for electron-rich substrates (>95% ee) represented the best results so far in titanium–salen systems. Moreover, the catalysts could be easily recovered for steady reuse by thermo-controlled separation due to thermo-responsive properties. This work first constructed titanium-containing biomimetic SCNPs for biocatalysis of enantioselective sulfoxidation in water.

Single platinum covered Au nanowire electrodes (Pt@AuNWEs) were fabricated by a Cu under-potential deposition (UPD)/Pt redox replacement technique using a single Au nanowire as a template, and were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electrochemical method and finite-element simulation. Electrochemical experiments showed that a steady-state current could be achieved for common redox species, such as ferrocene (Fc), ferrocenemethanol (FcCH2OH), K3Fe(CN)6 and Ru(NH3)6Cl3. The prepared single Pt@AuNWEs exhibited unusual electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of H2O2, and were used to fabricate a nanosensor for the detection of H2O2 with good stability and high selectivity. The as-prepared nanosensor was applied to monitor H2O2 released from living cells stimulated by ascorbic acid with a satisfactory performance.

In this study, the complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of Parum colligata (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae: Smerinthinae) was sequenced firstly. The mitogenome is 15,288 bp in size, containing 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and an A+T-rich region. In the mitogenome, Ile, Leu2, and Phe are the most frequently used codon families, while codons GCG, TGC, GGC, CTG, AGG, and ACG are absent. The A+T-rich region is 358 bp in length including a motif ‘ATAGA’, an 18 bp poly-T stretch, three copies of a 12 bp ‘TATATATATATA’, and a short poly-A element. The nucleotides sequence of A+T-rich region is closer to Sphinginae than Macroglossinae. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the PCGs by using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) methods, generated consistent results that Smerinthinae was clustered together with Sphinginae to be the sister groups rather than Macroglossinae.

A new genus with a new species of the tribe Hoplocampini of Hoplocampinae was described from China:Analcellicampa xanthosomaWei & Niu,gen. et sp. nov.Hoplocampa danfengensisG. Xiao 1994 was designated as the type species of the new genus. The characters ofAnalcellicampa danfengensis(G. Xiao)comb. nov.were briefly discussed. A key to the tribes and known genera of Hoplocampinae was provided. The nearly complete mitochondrial genome ofA. xanthosomawas characterized as having a length of 15,512 bp and containing 37 genes (22 tRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 2 rRNAs). The gene order of this new specimen was the same as that in the inferred insect ancestral mitochondrial genome. All PCGs were initiated by ATN codons and ended with TAA or T stop codons. All tRNAs had a typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except fortrnS1. Remarkably, the helices H991 ofrrnSand H47 ofrrnLwere redundant, while helix H563 ofrrnLwas highly conserved. A phylogeny based on previously reported symphytan mitochondrial genomes showed thatA. xanthosomais a sister group toMonocellicampa pruni, with high support values. We suggest thatA. xanthosomaandM. prunibelong to the tribe Hoplocampini of Hoplocampinae.

Pyrene (PYR) as one of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has attracted increasing attention due to their carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and toxicity. A novel Schiff base porous organic nanocomposite is successfully synthesized via the encapsulating and etching processes. Nano-scale calcium carbonate was used as the solid core in Schiff base derived by condensation of 1, 4-Diaminobenzene and Benzene-1, 4-dicarboxaldehyde. After that, the solid state calcium carbonate was etched by low concentration hydrochloric acid. Finally, Schiff base polymer with porous structure was obtained through filtration, rinsing and drying. XRD, SEM, BET, XPS, Raman, FTIR and TGA technologies were used to characterize the samples. As expected, the novel Schiff base porous organic polymer (SBPP-0.5) exhibited excellent adsorption capacity for PYR. Based on adsorption isotherms and kinetics investigation, PYR adsorption on Schiff base porous organic polymer is mainly affected by chemical interactions. The adsorption sites are uniform and the aromatic structure of planer PYR molecules could inevitably present intense π-π interactions with the aromatic nucleus of Schiff base porous organic polymer. The adsorption process is multi-stage and film diffusion dominated the adsorption process, which is mainly occurred in the initial adsorption stage. This work shows that Schiff base polymer with complicated microstructure can be used for PAHs removing.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) oxidation of glucose on bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) electrode for sensor application and solar-to-electricity production was investigated in this work. The BiVO4-based PEC sensor displays a sensitivity of 17.38 μA cm−2 mM−1 for glucose sensing in the concentration range of 5–35 mM. Furthermore, electricity can be collected by extracting solar energy and bioenergy in a certain photo fuel cell (PFC) device via anodic reaction of photo-oxidizing glucose and cathodic reaction of oxygen reduction. This study offers a promising strategy for glucose sensing and provides a cost-effective way for solar-to-electricity generation.

A series of novel chiral salen Ti IV catalysts with thermo-responsive surfactant properties were prepared by covalently appending a chiral salen Ti IV complex on the hydrophobic block of thermo-responsive amphiphilic copolymers of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide- co -N,N-dimethyl acrylamide) (poly (NIPAAM- co -DMAAM)). Characterization results suggested self-assembly behavior of the catalysts in water at room temperature. The self-assembled metallomicelles induced a micellar catalytic approach in asymmetric sulfoxidation in water using H 2 O 2 as an oxidant, leading to significant rate acceleration and remarkable high selectivity. Quantitative conversion (>99%) of methyl phenyl sulfide with up to 96% chemoselectivity and 95% enantioselectivity was achieved over 0.5 mol% of PN 70 D 7 -C even within 30 min, whereas neat complex was far less efficient (9% conversion with 72% chemoselectivity and 79% enantioselectivity). Moreover, the catalysts could be easily recovered by thermo-controlled separation and be efficiently reused for several cycles.

Low porosity TiB 2 ⿿SiC ceramics were prepared by Cold Isostatic Pressing⿿Pressureless Sintering (CIP⿿PS). The crack-healing behavior of these ceramics was investigated by pre-oxidizing the samples at 800⿿1200 °C in air for various durations ranging from 5 to 240 min. The effects of pre-oxidation temperature and time on the microstructure and mechanical properties of porous TiB 2 ⿿SiC ceramics were studied. The strength of porous ceramics obviously improved after pre-oxidation, with a maximum increase in strength of 134.4% for samples pre-oxidized at 1200 °C for 120 min. The strengthening mechanism of porous TiB 2 ⿿SiC ceramics after pre-oxidation was also investigated and discussed. This study provides a novel concept for improving the strength and structural integrity of porous ceramics in practical applications.

A series of cooperative chiral salen TiIV catalysts with inherent phase-transfer capability were prepared by covalently bridging double chiral salen TiIV units with various polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based dicationic ionic liquid (IL) linkers. Characterization results suggested the presence of polyether-based IL spacers and intact active sites in the catalysts. The polyether-based dicationic IL spacer not only enforced an intramolecular, cooperative reaction pathway favored for the asymmetric suloxidation, but also endowed the bimetallic catalysts with built-in phase transfer capability. High yields of chiral sulfoxides (in the range of 74–90%) with excellent ee values (in the range of 85–91%) were achieved within 45 min when the asymmetric oxidation of methyl phenyl sulfide, methyl p-methoxyphenyl sulfide, and methyl o-methoxyphenyl sulfide were performed in water. The catalytic efficiency was significantly higher than that over neat complex (yields, 10–16% and ee values, 77–79%). More attractively, the phase transfer catalysts could be facilely recovered by solvent precipitation for efficient reuse.

A free-standing paper-like three-dimensional graphene framework (3DGF) with orientated laminar structure and interconnected macropores, was obtained by the hard template-directed ordered assembly. As the sacrificial templates, polystyrene (PS) latex spheres were assembled with graphene oxide (GO) to build up a sandwich type composite film, followed by heat removal of which with a simultaneous reduction of GO. The 3DGF exhibited high specific surface area of 402.5 m2/g, controllable pores and mechanical flexibility, which was employed as the binder-free supercapacitor electrode and shows high specific gravimetric capacitance of 95 F/g at 0.5 A/g, with enhanced rate capability in 3 electrode KOH system.

A novel thermoresponsive surfactant-type chiral salen MnIII catalyst was developed by axially grafting “smart” poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) onto the metal center of a neat chiral salen MnIII complex. Characterization data suggests thermoresponsive micellization behavior of the obtained catalyst in water. The chiral metallomicellar catalyst acted as a nanoreactor to carry out asymmetric epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins in water and dramatically accelerated reaction rates. Outstanding catalytic efficiency was observed in the nanoreactor system. In particular, quantitative conversion (99%) of styrene with high enantioselectivity (39%) was achieved over 0.8 mol% of the catalyst within 3 min, giving an unprecedented TOF value (2.48 × 103 h−1) which is significantly higher than that obtained over previously reported homogeneous or heterogeneous systems. Moreover, the catalyst could be easily recovered by thermocontrolled separation and reused with high activity for five cycles.

We assess the distribution of gold and investigate the physicochemical controls on gold enrichment in the Okinawa Trough, an immature back-arc basin. We conducted a systematic study of gold and other trace-element concentrations using in situ laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) for various minerals in hydrothermal sulfide samples from the Iheya North Knoll and the Yonaguni Knoll IV hydrothermal fields. Orpiment, colloform pyrite, and colloform sphalerite are relatively enriched in Au (mean contents of 30.60, 17.48, and 8.68 ppm, respectively) compared with gold-poor massive chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and pyrite. Based on gold budget estimation, colloform pyrite is the most important Au host, followed by colloform sphalerite and orpiment, with these three minerals containing the majority of gold in hydrothermal sulfides. Gold occurs as “invisible” in host minerals: as lattice-bound and submicron inclusions in colloform pyrite, as homogeneously distributed lattice-bound or nano-inclusions in colloform sphalerite, and generally as lattice-bound in orpiment and tetrahedrite. Three sets of gold host minerals are identified with distinct ore-formation temperatures. Colloform sulfides and orpiment incorporate the majority of gold at low temperatures, whereas tetrahedrite and massive sulfides incorporate only minor or trace amounts of gold at medium and high temperatures, respectively. Our results show that gold enrichment in Si–Ba–Fe-rich hydrothermal sulfides at low temperatures is a significant contributor to gold enrichment in hydrothermal sulfide deposits in the Okinawa Trough, along with the more common Zn- and Cu-rich hydrothermal sulfides. Thermodynamic modeling calculations suggest that the near-neutral pH of hydrothermal fluids and the dominant transport species, namely Au–HS complexes rather than Au–Cl complexes, are likely responsible for gold enrichment in low-temperature mineral assemblages in hydrothermal precipitates from the Okinawa Trough.

In this study, complete mitogenomes of P. increta and M. stellatarum (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) were sequenced and compared with other Sphingidae species. The mitogenomes containing 37 genes and a AT rich region are circular molecules with 15,252 and 15,290 base pairs in length respectively. Except cox1 all 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) are initiated by ATN codons. Most of PCGs terminate with TAA except nad5 and cox1 in P. increta and nad5 and cox2 in M. stellatarum. Ile and Leu2 are the most frequently used codon families in both species and codons CGC, CCG, TCG and ACG are absent in P. increta while in M. stellatarum CGC, CCG, CTG, AGG are absent. All the tRNA genes could be folded into the typical cloverleaf secondary structure except the trnS1 of P. increta which lost dihydrouridine (DHU) stem. The AT-rich region of both insects includes the motif ATAGA followed by a 18–19 bp polyT stretch and 2–3 short tandem repeats (STRs) of TA, and a poly-A element. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the phylogenetic relationships are (((Sphinx morio + Manduca sexta) + (P. increta + Notonagemia analis scribae)) + (Agrius convolvuli) + (M. stellatarum + (Ampelophaga rubiginosa + Daphnis nerii)).

In order to recycle the industrial waste, silica fume of industrial waste was modified with r-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane coupling agent (KH590). The adsorption of modified silica fume on lead ions (Pb2+) was studied. The structures were characterized by FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). FTIR showed that the surface of silica fume was successfully grafted with KH590. XPS showed that the Pb2+ adsorbed on the surface of modified silica fume with coordination Pb-S bond. The effects of reaction time, Pb2+ initial concentration, pH value and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption rate were investigated. The results showed that silica fume modified by KH590 was an efficient lead ion adsorbent and the absorption rate of modified silica fume was up to 96.7%.