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Comprehensive Summary: Advanced radiative cooling materials with both heating and cooling mode is of pivotal importance for all‐season energy‐saving in buildings. In this work, we report the design and fabrication of bacterial cellulose‐based Janus films (J‐BC) with radiative cooling and solar heating properties, which were developed by two‐step vacuum‐assisted filtration of modified MXene‐doped bacterial cellulose and modified silicon nitride (Si3N4)‐doped bacterial cellulose, followed by hot‐pressing and drying treatments. The as‐prepared J‐BC films show a unique Janus structure where modified MXene nanosheets and cellulose nanofibers are on the bottom surface, and modified silicon nitride (Si3N4) nanoparticles and cellulose nanofibers are on the top surface. The radiative cooling effect of J‐BC films is enabled by the Si3N4‐doped bacterial cellulose due to the high mid‐infrared emissivity of Si3N4 nanoparticles, which shows a high solar reflection of ~98.1% and high emissivity of ~93.6% in the atmospheric transparency window (8—13 μm). Thanks to the enhanced photothermal conversion of the modified MXene nanosheets, a reduced solar reflection (6.6%) and relatively low thermal emissivity in the atmospheric window (71.4%) are achieved, making sure the solar heating effect of J‐BC films. In the outdoor tests, J‐BC films achieve a sub‐ambient temperature drop of ~3.8 °C and an above‐ambient temperature rise of ~14.2 °C. Numerical prediction demonstrated that the J‐BC films with dual modes have great potential of all‐season energy saving for buildings and a corresponding energy‐saving map in China is also created. The work disclosed herein can provide an avenue for the shaping of advanced radiative cooling materials for emerging applications of personal thermal management, sustainable energy‐efficient buildings, and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Advanced radiative cooling materials with both heating and cooling mode is of pivotal importance for all‐season energy‐saving in buildings. In this work, we report the design and fabrication of bacterial cellulose‐based Janus films (J‐BC) with radiative cooling and solar heating properties, which were developed by two‐step vacuum‐assisted filtration of modified MXene‐doped bacterial cellulose and modified silicon nitride (Si3N4)‐doped bacterial cellulose, followed by hot‐pressing and drying treatments. The as‐prepared J‐BC films show a unique Janus structure where modified MXene nanosheets and cellulose nanofibers are on the bottom surface, and modified silicon nitride (Si3N4) nanoparticles and cellulose nanofibers are on the top surface. The radiative cooling effect of J‐BC films is enabled by the Si3N4‐doped bacterial cellulose due to the high mid‐infrared emissivity of Si3N4 nanoparticles, which shows a high solar reflection of ~98.1% and high emissivity of ~93.6% in the atmospheric transparency window (8—13 μm). Thanks to the enhanced photothermal conversion of the modified MXene nanosheets, a reduced solar reflection (6.6%) and relatively low thermal emissivity in the atmospheric window (71.4%) are achieved, making sure the solar heating effect of J‐BC films. In the outdoor tests, J‐BC films achieve a sub‐ambient temperature drop of ~3.8 °C and an above‐ambient temperature rise of ~14.2 °C. Numerical prediction demonstrated that the J‐BC films with dual modes have great potential of all‐season energy saving for buildings and a corresponding energy‐saving map in China is also created. The work disclosed herein can provide an avenue for the shaping of advanced radiative cooling materials for emerging applications of personal thermal management, sustainable energy‐efficient buildings, and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are emerging contaminants and widely used in human healthcare, livestock, and aquaculture. The toxicity posed by antibiotics and their mixtures in sediments depends on their bioavailability. Now, the bioavailability of organic materials can be determined accurately by the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique. This technique was used for the first time ever in this study to evaluate in detail the integral toxicity of antibiotics in sediments to aquatic biota. Zhelin Bay was selected as a case study, because it is the largest mariculture area in eastern Guangdong, South China. Two antibiotics, chlortetracycline (CTC) (A) and sulfachlorpyridazine (SCP), were detected at average concentrations of 2.83 and 1.14 ng/ml, respectively. The other fifteen antibiotics were undetectable. The single risk assessment based on the risk quotient (RQ) of CTC and SCP shows that a relatively low risk has occurred. After this careful assessment of probabilistic ecotoxicological risks, the combined toxicity of antibiotic mixtures (CTC and SCP) clearly indicates that the toxicity probability of surface sediments to aquatic organisms was relatively low (0.23%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to (1) analyze heavy metals (Cr, As, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in the rhizosphere soil and roots, leaves, stems, and grains of maize and wheat crops using different methods; (2) evaluate the advantages of diffusive gradients in thin films technology (DGT) for predicting the bioavailability of heavy metals; and (3) compare the characteristics of DGT with other methods. Materials and Methods: In this study, we collected maize and wheat samples and their rhizosphere soil over a pollution gradient in Kaifeng City, China. Six heavy metal (Cr, As, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) levels in rhizosphere soil were determined using DGT, EDTA, soil solution, and total amount methods, respectively. The heavy metal content in the roots, leaves, stems, and grains of maize and wheat was also analyzed. The relationships between six heavy metal soils concentrations detected by different methods, and their contents in the different parts of wheat and maize, were analyzed using statistical methods. The characteristics and application scope of the different methods were evaluated. Results and Discussion: The accumulation of heavy metals in maize and wheat was generally higher in the roots than in the above-ground parts (i.e., stems, leaves, and grains). For the soil solution method, only soil As levels showed a significantly positive correlation with its content in different parts of wheat and corn. For the EDTA method and the soil total amount method, only As, Zn, and Pb levels were significantly correlated with their contents in different parts of wheat and corn. Six heavy metal concentrations detected by DGT were all significantly positively correlated with their contents in the different parts of wheat and maize. Furthermore, DGT was less affected by the soil pH than EDTA. Conclusions: DGT was more accurate in simultaneously predicting plant-available Cr, As, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb. However, other methods, like EDTA, soil solution, and total amount methods, can also be considered when predicting the bioavailability of a single heavy metal (e.g., As or Zn) in rhizosphere soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Development of new binding gels for rapid and simultaneous quantification of bioavailability concentrations of various heavy metals in soils by diffusive gradients in thin film technique. Methods: Four binding gels including zinc-aluminum hydrogel (ZnAl-LDH), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid intercalated zinc-aluminum hydrogel (ZnAl-EDTA-LDHs), polyglutamic acid (PGA), and polyglutamic acid–sodium alginate resin (SA-PGA) were prepared and used for the simultaneous measurement of Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Pb. Results: The adsorption process reached equilibrium in 2 h, which could be considered a pseudo-second-order reaction. Three mol L−1 nitric acid was the best eluent with elution efficiency over 91% for the five heavy metals. Then, SA-PGA gel was assembled into DGT device (SA-PGA-DGT). Its performance was virtually unaffected by pH (5–9), ionic strength (1–50 mM), and soil properties with adsorption capacities 5.02 μg cm−2, 11.38 μg cm−2, 8.16 μg cm−2, 17.11 μg cm−2, and 89.43 μg cm−2 for Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Pb, respectively. A good linear correlation was observed between the concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, and Pb determined by SA-PGA-DGT in soil samples from Tanggu District in China and the exchangeable contents of the five metals determined by the Tessier method, with R values of 0.64, 0.63, 0.59, 0.72, and 0.64 (p < 0.01). Conclusion: SA-PGA gel exhibited the best adsorption properties among the four gels. SA-PGA-DGT can be used as a reliable tool for rapid and simultaneous quantification of bioavailability concentrations of multiple heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, as the abuse of antibiotics, hormones, and herbicides has worsened in aquaculture industry, it is important to monitor the concentrations of those trace contaminants in aquaculture water more effortlessly. The aim of this study was to develop a reliable sampling method for chemical monitoring in aquaculture ponds based on the technique of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT). A binding material (XDA-1 resin) with high adsorption capacity for antibiotics, hormones, and herbicides was selected. In laboratory, the diffusion coefficients of 11 antibiotics, 3 hormones, and 3 herbicides of the XDA-1-DGT devices were tested and ranged from 1.0×10−6 to 8.7×10−5 cm2/s. During the in situ application of XDA-1-DGT devices in different aquaculture ponds, concentrations of 11 antibiotics, 3 hormones, and 3 herbicides in aquaculture water (CSOLN) via grab sampling were also analyzed and found ranging from 0.03 to 6.3 ng/L, lower than the results based on DGT (CDGT) (1.2–1.3×102 ng/L). The values of CDGT/CSOLN were larger than one unit, suggesting that the rates of resupply of target chemicals (antibiotics, hormones, and herbicides) by the desorption and diffusion of pond water were higher than the rates of uptake by XDA-1-DGT, and pond water was proved a sufficient reservoir of antibiotics for DGT application. The value of Log (CDGT/CSOLN) of 1.1 derived from the application in the aquaculture ponds of 14 regions in Eastern China can be a reference value for future chemical monitoring based on DGT technique. And the accuracy of this value was found hardly affected by the physical and chemical properties of chemicals with pKa ranging from −1 to 12, Log Kow ranging from 0 to 4.5, and Log solubility ranging from 0.0 to 4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landfilling is the most commonly used option for waste disposal in China but occupies massive land resources and solar landfills could be a win-win solution by installing photovoltaic (PV) systems on the closed landfills. This paper theoretically studies the feasibility of solar landfills and compares two possible PV technologies, which are polycrystalline silicon (p-Si) and thin film PVs, from the aspects of energy and financial performance. Based on the research, the capacity factors of p-Si and thin film PV are 19.706% and 17.825%, while the conversion efficiency of them are 12.52% and 10.05%, respectively. The financial analysis indicates that the discounted payback period of p-Si PV is 13.42 years while that of thin film PV is 18.56 years. From another aspect, the levelized cost of electricities of p-Si and thin film PV are 0.87 and 0.92 CNY. The conclusion that can be drawn from the above research is that solar landfills are feasible for the case in Qingyuan energetic and financially. Compared with the thin film PV, the p-Si PV is the optimal choice for solar landfills no matter from the aspects of performance or financial consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active control of the optical parameters in strontium titanate (SrTiO3, STO) thin films is highly desirable for tunable terahertz (THz) integrated devices such as filters, phase modulators, and electro-optical devices. In this work, optically tuned dielectric parameters of a STO thin film epitaxially grown on a silicon wafer were characterized in the THz region with an 800 nm laser pump-THz detection system. The refractive index, extinction coefficient, and complex dielectric constant of the STO thin film were calculated using thin-film parameter extraction. Owing to carrier transportation and soft-mode oscillation, the above optical parameters changed notably with the pump power of the external laser. This study is of great significance for rapid and non-contact THz phase-modulation technology and may serve as a powerful tool to tune the dielectric properties of the STO thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) are easily released from sediments to overlying water and cause secondary contamination. In general, Hg concentrations are low in natural aquatic environments, but Hg toxicity is high. Therefore, it is important to assess the mobility and release risks of Hg and MeHg from surface sediment using in situ high-resolution sampling techniques. Methods: The profile distribution of Hg and MeHg was obtained for samples from Weishan sub-lake (WL) and Dushan sub-lake (DL) of Nansi Lake, China, by high-resolution dialysis (HR-Peeper probes) and the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique at mm-resolution. Furthermore, Hg mobility and release risks in sediments were evaluated by combining BCR (European Community Reference Bureau) extraction and DGT-measured data. Results: The soluble concentrations of Hg in surface sediments in WL and DL were 21.70 and 19.38 ng L−1 and the DGT-labile concentration of Hg were 8.21 and 10.30 ng L−1, respectively. The soluble and labile Hg and MeHg concentrations were higher in the surface sediments (from −40 to 0 mm) than in deep sediments. The distribution of the labile-Hg was controlled by the ferrimanganic (hydr)oxide and total nitrogen rather than organic carbon content. The non-residual components accounted for a greater proportion of the interface, which further confirmed Hg was more active on the surface layer of the sediment. The resupply ability indicated that the release of Hg from sediment was insufficient to maintain the initial concentration in the porewater before consumption. The MeHg fluxes in WL (6.18 ng m−2 day−1) were twice those in DL (2.89 ng m−2 day−1), and the risk assessment code revealed a higher risk in the surface layer (25.21–61.88%) than in the deep layer (0–27.75%). Conclusions: Dissolved Hg and MeHg accumulated on the surface of the sediments and were more active than in the deeper sediments. The DGT-labile state can be used for a better understanding of the bioavailability and mobility of Hg. The diffusion direction of Hg and MeHg was from sediment to the overlying water. The release risks of Hg and MeHg from surface sediments (especially in WL) were found to be worthy of concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, reservoirs in southern China are witnessing incidents involving black water, which are harmful to the aquatic ecosystem. This study unravels the cause of the black water events by studying the occurrence and the ecological risks of contaminants (Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn, Ni, TFe, Mn, S, P, and DOC) in sediments of Tianbao reservoir. Due to the significantly high concentration of TFe, Mn, and P in the sediments, the study further used the thin film diffusion gradient (DGT) technology and high-resolution dialysis method to investigate the movement of Fe2+, Mn2+, S2−, and reactive P within the sediments. The ecological risk assessment (threshold effect level and probable effect level) showed that the sediments had a low concentration of Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn, and Ni. High organic matter from the Eucalyptus plantation surrounding the reservoir, as well as the intense thermal stratification of the reservoir, caused the hypolimnion to be hypoxic (DO < 2 mg/L). The diffusion fluxes at the water–sediment boundary (WSB) demonstrated a significant movement of Fe2+, Mn2+, and PO43− from the sediments into the overlying water, while the movement of S2− was in both directions due to hypoxia. A high correlation Fe–DOC (r = 0.9), Fe–S (r = 0.8), and Mn–S (r = 0.7) and the redox interaction of Fe2+, Mn2+, S2−, P, and DOC at the hypoxic WSB caused the production of black substances in the hypolimnion contributing to the so-called black water reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The New Vacuum Solar Telescope is one of the most important solar telescopes in China. However, in the process of reconstructing high-resolution solar data, the data may be distorted by thin film interference fringes. In this paper, an automatic classification method based on deep learning is proposed to distinguish fringe-contained data and fringe-free data, employing the Adaptive Wavelet Transform to construct the sample data set while transfer learning is utilized to train the classification model. The experimental results show that classification accuracy of the proposed method can reach up to 99.3%. This proposed method can make the high-resolution reconstruction pipeline run automatically whether the solar data contains fringes or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heavy metal contamination of the aquatic ecosystem is still prevalent even after reduction of the external anthropogenic inputs of the metals. The release of labile heavy metals from the sediments into the water is a potential risk, responsible for the contamination of the aquatic system. Herein, samples of sedimentary column cores were collected in Nansi Lake, and the distribution profiles of the labile and soluble metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were obtained by the diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) and the high-resolution dialysis (HR-peeper) technique. Furthermore, the mobility, bioavailability and release risk of the heavy metals were assessed using the results of geochemical sequential extraction, DGT as well as the DGT-induced fluxes in sediments (DIFS) model. The results showed that the profile characteristics of the DGT-labile and soluble heavy metals showed irregular distribution in the sediment cores and Cd, Pb, Zn had an obvious positive correlation with Fe/Mn (p < 0.05). Ni, Cu, and Zn existed primarily in the residual fraction (accounting for 58–76%), while Cd and Pb existed in the reducible fraction (accounting for 50–67%). The Cd and Ni (0.027–0.185) had higher mobility coefficients compared with Pb, Cu, and Zn (0–0.011), and positive diffusive fluxes also proved that Cd and Ni were easy to be released from the sediments. In addition, the R values of five metals (0.18–0.85) ranged between Rdiff to 0.95, indicating that all the metals had partially sustained case from the sediments solid phase. Based on the DIFS model, the five metals had weak mobility from the sediment to pore water, but the release risks in the Nansi Lake should also be of concern, especially for the highly mobile Cd and Ni in the Dushan Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the efforts to establish a reliable fabrication process of superconducting integrated circuits at Center for Excellence in Superconducting Electronics (CENSE) in China, we investigated the influences of various deposition conditions on the properties of molybdenum (Mo) thin films. Thin-film resistors were fabricated based on these films by using a lift-off process. It was found that Mo structures made from films peeled off easily from the substrate after lift-off. We have optimized the deposition conditions to grow Mo films with compressive or weakly tensile stress. Mo thin-film resistors with a sheet resistance of several ohm/square and surface roughness of less than 1 nm were successfully fabricated and were used in the fabrication of superconducting quantum interference devices and small-scale superconducting integrated circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the differential effects of online reviews on actual sales in cases where information regarding source identity and brand equity is accessible. The data were collected from an influential online film review platform in China. Two distinctive features of this study are: (1) source identity is expressed as "verified user" or "unverified user" according to posters' ticket payment status and (2) the interactive effect between source identity and brand equity on box-office success is examined. Using econometric estimations, the results reveal the following: (1) the positive effect of verified users' online review valences on the number of tickets purchased for films decreases in association with high brand strength; (2) the variance of verified users' online reviews positively affects the number of tickets purchased for films with high brand strength, but such an effect is negative with low brand strength; (3) the variance of unverified users' online reviews positively influences the number of tickets purchased for films with low brand strength, but it negatively influences the number of tickets purchased for films with high brand strength. Thus, these findings suggest that it is better for business leaders to understand not only why producers of online reviews are satisfied or dissatisfied, but also how consumers interpret and interact with different types of online reviews and which are important. This requires a smart and flexible collaboration among different business units within film company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Differences in trophic status can lead to different water quality and sediment geochemistry characteristics, influencing antimony (Sb) mobility in sediments and its release into the water column. In this study, seasonal sampling was conducted in algal- and macrophyte-dominated zones of Lake Taihu, China. High-resolution dialysis (HR-Peeper) and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) techniques were used to measure soluble Sb and DGT-labile Sb in the sediment-water profiles at a 4 mm vertical resolution. Results showed that total Sb in sediments from the two zones were on average 3.50 mg/kg and 3.21 mg/kg in the algal- and macrophyte-dominated zones, respectively, with the residual fraction being 96.3% and 95.4% of the total Sb contents in the two zones. In winter, soluble Sb concentrations in both zones increased. This was probably due to the oxidation of Sb(III) to Sb(V) by Mn and Fe oxides. In summer and autumn, soluble Sb concentrations in the algal-dominated region remained low. This is attributed to the dominance of insoluble Sb(III) in sediments under anoxic conditions under eutrophic environments. In contrast, soluble Sb concentrations in the macrophyte-dominated zone were significantly high in summer and were 4.15-times higher than limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). This likely resulted from the photochemical and rhizospheric oxidation of insoluble Sb(III) compounds. It is suggested that Sb contamination in the sediment-water system of the macrophyte-dominated zone deserves additional attention. Highlights • Antimony (Sb) mobility differed in algae- and macrophyte-dominated (MD) regions. • Photochemical and rhizospheric oxidation increased Sb mobility in the MD region in summer. • Mn and Fe oxide oxidation increased Sb mobility in two regions during winter. • Sb mobilization manifested mainly in the transition between Sb(III) and Sb(V). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reservoirs tend to accumulate phosphorus (P) originating from agriculture, industry, and other upstream sources in sediment, with this stored P later released. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of sediment P release in reservoirs remains unclear. This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics in P of the sediment and water of three cascade reservoirs in the Weiyuan River (Tuojiang tributary). The results showed elevated P in sediment [total P (TP): 1208.93 mg kg−1] and water (TP: 0.23 mg L−1) during the low-water season (LWS), which could be attributed to notably higher organic matter content (9.65%), finer particle size (20.95 μm), and extended hydraulic retention time (HRT: 13.13 days) downstream of the cascade reservoirs. Further study employing static in-situ diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) and dynamic ex-situ adsorption kinetic experiments confirmed that the downstream release of P from sediments [diffusion flux (F d): 1.67 mg m−2 d−1, equilibrium P concentrations (EPC 0): 0.22 ± 0.10 mg L−1] greatly exceeded those upstream (−0.66 ± 0.17 mg m−2 d−1, 0.07 ± 0.001 mg L−1), Fe (II) was a critical factor in regulating sedimentary P release. The combined effects of high P in overlying water and sediment significantly stimulated downstream phytoplankton growth, particularly among cyanobacteria (26.48%) and green algae (8.33%). Further regulatory steps are needed to regulate LWS algal blooms downstream of cascade reservoirs. [Display omitted] • High levels of phosphorus (P) were found downstream of cascade reservoirs. • There was higher risk of sediment P release downstream of cascade reservoirs. • DGT was effective for evaluating the risk of P release from sediments. • Ferrous ion was a key factor regulating P release in cascade reservoir sediments. • Increased monitoring downstream of cascade reservoirs is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Groundwater was divided into 4 types, including brackish water and fresh water containing PTEs. • Evaporative, water–rock interactions, and human activities have affected groundwater system. • The in suit DGT monitoring is suitable for the detection of low concentrations of PTEs Mn and Cd. Acid mine drainage (AMD) resulting from pyrite mining causes hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater and, in particular, the consequent release of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), posing health risks to populations dependent on groundwater. In this study, hydrogeochemical characteristics and evolutionary mechanisms were systematically illustrated via multivariate statistical methods and hydrogeochemical methods based on groundwater samples (n = 40) collected in a pyrite mining area in southern China. The diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique was applied to evaluate the accuracy of metal content detection in groundwater at low concentrations. Based on principal component analysis (PCA), the groundwater dataset was classified into four types: brackish water dominated by sulfate, brackish water dominated by Ca-HCO 3 , low-mineralized water with the presence of PTEs, and freshwater in its natural state. The main controlling factors of hydrogeochemistry are evaporative crystallization and water–rock interactions. Fe, Mn, Pb, and Cd were detected in groundwater in the study area at levels exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) parameter values, and the highly toxic trace metal Tl was detected at levels up to 20 μg/L. The assessment of the applicability of the DGT technique to groundwater systems showed that reliable DGT detection results could be obtained under neutral or alkaline conditions at low Mn and Cd levels. This study highlights the evolution of the groundwater hydrogeochemistry under the combined influences of human activities such as mining and remediation management. In particular, the release of PTEs can affect human health, while the adoption of in situ DGT technology can provide strong support for studying these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illicit drugs constitute a class of emerging contaminants that has been drawing significant concern due to its potent pharmacological and biological activities. In this study, an in situ passive sampling approach that uses diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) was successfully tested for measuring ketamine (KET), methamphetamine (METH), and amphetamine (AMP) in water. The diffusion coefficients of KET, METH, and AMP in diffusive gel were (8.13 ± 0.12) x 10-6, (8.55 ± 0.14) x 10-6, and (7.72 ± 0.18) x 10-6 cm² s[sup -1] at 22 °C, respectively. The capacities of an XAD binding gel for KET, METH, and AMP were 92, 57, and 45 μg per binding gel disc, which were suitable for long-term environmental monitoring. The DGT measurement of these drugs was not influenced by the pH (4 to 9) and the ionic strength (0.001 M - 0.1 M) and unaffected by the water flow, demonstrating the effectiveness of the XAD-based DGT for the in situ monitoring of illicit drugs. DGT samplers were deployed in a WWTP influent and natural rivers in Beijing, China. The ng L-1 levels of the drugs were high in the wastewater influent and low in river waters, with an insignificant fluctuation during the seven-day monitoring. The DGT-measured concentrations were comparable to the average concentrations determined by SPE method, which suggested that the average data measured by DGT could be substituted for high-frequency grab sampling. This study has demonstrated systematically for the first time that DGT is effective and accurate for monitoring illicit drugs in wastewater and surface waters, and provides a powerful tool to investigating the presence, transport, and environmental behaviors of these drugs in the aquatic ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of the understanding of the transfer of phosphate (PO 4 -P), ammonium (NH 4 -N) and nitrate (NO 3 -N) at the millimeter scale in sediments related to internal loadings in the semi-arid and cold Lake Hulun in China. In this paper, a passive sampling technique-diffusion gradients in thin films (DGT) has been used for the biogeochemical behaviors and dynamic transfer of PO 4 -P, NH 4 -N and NO 3 -N in sediments in this lake. The two-sided DGT probe (AMP-TH&ZrO-Chelex) and ZrO DGT piston are designed for sediment/water interface. Based on change characters of DGT concentration profiles (nutrients, Fe and Mn) related to redox status and chemical properties, N and P mobilizations are derived. The reductive dissolution of Mn(IV) or Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides accounts for subsequent P release is corresponded with the oxic or anoxic status in sediment layers; Fe(III)-reduction is the main reason for P remobilization. The breakdown of algae biomass deposited on the uppermost sediment and phosphatase enzymes activity enhanced by NH 4 -N also lead to P remobilization. In sub-anoxic or anoxic layer, denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) induce exchangeable ammonium (NH 4 ex) enrichment and NH 4 -N release, while, anammox depletes NH 4 -N mobility. Aerobic nitrification results in NO 3 -N remobilization. Organic matter favors NH 4 -N release. DGT induced fluxes in sediments (DIFS) model is used to derive the labile P pool (51.5–465.5 cm3 g−1), resupply constant (0.186–0.734), response time (54–11,070 s) and Dspt rate (32–382,517 nmol cm−3 d−1) for describing dynamic P transfers with two opposite types of "slow" and "fast" resupplies. The diffusive fluxes across sediment/water interface in ranges of 67.9–498.7 μg m−2 d−1 (PO 4 -P), −1416–106.8 (NH 4 -N) and –2147–301.1 μg m−2 d−1 (NO 3 -N) and DIFS parameters can be used for release risks in lake regions and the sediment remediation strategies are recommended. [Display omitted] • AMP-TH&ZrO-Chelex DGT probe and ZrO piston are used for nutrients in lake sediment. • P release is mainly due to Fe reduction and then Mn affected by redox status. • DNRA, anammox, nitrification and organic matter control NH 4 -N and NO 3 -N mobility. • Labile P pool, resupply constant and desorption rate are evaluated by DIFS model. • Lake management strategies are proposed based on diffusive flux and DIFS parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly used in the high-tech sectors in the world and are therefore called burgeoning contaminants. As diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) can be used to assess the bioavailability of inorganic matters, in this paper, we evaluated, for the first time, the ecotoxicology risks of REEs and their mixtures in river sediments of China's old industrial base by DGT. During our research, taking the Songhua River system (SRS) as an example, we detected its surficial sediments, of which the DGT-labile concentration of REEs (∑REEs) was 2.07–8.76 μg/L. As for the single toxicity, the risk quotient (RQ) values of Y at all sites were significantly greater than 1; while the values of Nd and Pr in some upstream reaches were all significantly greater than the threshold (1), indicating that these adverse effects of single REEs were not neglected. In terms of the combined toxicity of REEs mixtures, we carried out an assessment of the risks of probabilistic ecotoxicology, which showed that the SRS superficial sediments had a low probability of toxicity to aquatic organisms (0.54%). • Rare earth elements (REEs) in sediments were assessed based on DGT. • Combined toxicity of REEs in sediments of an old industrial base were firstly studied. • Potential toxicities of individual REEs and mixtures have emerged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of the speciation and remobilization mechanisms of chromium (Cr) in sediment is essential for accurate estimation of its ecological risks in aquatic systems. In this work, a three-step chemical extraction procedure and diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) technique were combined to investigate the geochemical speciation, mobility potentials, and release characteristics of sediment Cr. The geochemical speciation of sediment Cr decreased in the following order: oxidizable > reducible > residual > acid-soluble fraction. Dissociation of OM-bound Cr(III) and oxidation by Mn oxides contributed to higher labile Cr(III) and Cr(VI) levels in winter, with the labile Cr(III) being the dominant species and accounting for 48.1% 65.5% of the total concentration of labile Cr; whereas, reductive dissolution of Mn oxides was responsible for the remobilization of labile Cr(VI) in summer, leading to a shift in dominant Cr species to Cr(VI) (48.9% 65.7%) due to rapid precipitation of Cr(III). Sediment acted as a major sink for labile Cr(VI) in two sampling campaigns. For labile Cr(III), sediment converted from source in winter to sink in summer. The diffusive release of labile Cr(III) deserves preferential concern due to its potential to be re-oxidized to more toxic Cr(VI) under the oxic conditions of river water in winter. [Display omitted] • Reduction of Mn oxides was responsible for remobilization of Cr (VI) in summer. • Dissociation of OM-bound Cr(III) likely contributed to higher Cr(III) level in winter. • Sediment was identified as the major sink for labile Cr(VI) in the Xizhi River basin. • Sediment acted as a source to water Cr(III) in winter and shifted to a sink in summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Known as burgeoning contaminants, the bioavailability of rare earth elements (REEs) can be determined using diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT). As Daya Bay (South China) has been under serious anthropogenic influences, the present study examined the distribution of REEs in surface sediments and their possible ecological risks in the bay. The range of DGT-labile concentrations of REEs (∑REEs) was from 5.67 μg/L to 8.41 μg/L, with an average of 7.34 μg/L. Results of assessment of single REE toxicity revealed that the risk quotient (RQ) values of Y, Ce and Yb were >1, indicating that their potential negative impacts on the nearby environment. However, analysis of the integral toxicity of REE mixtures through assessment of probabilistic ecotoxicological risks showed that there was a negligibly low probability of toxicity of PRE surface sediments to aquatic organisms in the study area. [Display omitted] • Combined toxicity of REEs in sediments with DGT from Daya Bay was firstly studied. • DGT-labile light REE concentrations exceeded that of heavy REE concentrations. • Potential toxicities for REEs mixtures had a a negligible probability of toxic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Recovery of Al 2 O 3 from a large-scale-reserved non-bauxite resource. • An intensified Bayer process was utilized during the leaching process. • The effects of technical factors on the recovery process were discussed in details. • Fine nano-layer-structured Al 2 O 3 powders with high purity were successfully fabricated. An intensified Bayer process (high temperature, high pressure, and high alkalinity) was used to recover Al 2 O 3 to prepare nano-layer-structure Al 2 O 3 powders using Al 2 O 3 concentrate separated from large-scale pyrite tailings as the raw material. This process consisted of four main steps: pretreatment of the concentrate, leaching of the Al 2 O 3 , decomposition of the sodium aluminate solution, and sintering of the decomposed product at a high temperature. The results of the orthogonal leaching experiment revealed that the relative leaching efficiency (η R) of Al 2 O 3 reached 98.28% under the optimum conditions: T L = 280 °C, t L = 90 min, c NaOH = 9 N, and L/S = 4. The results of the kinetic analysis indicated that the leaching reactions followed the unreacted-shrinkage-nuclear-reaction model controlled by solid film diffusion. After decomposition and sintering under proper conditions, fine Al 2 O 3 powders composed of many tiny clusters with a nano-layer structure were finally prepared. The purity of the Al 2 O 3 products reached 99.23%, and all of the chemical compositions of the Al 2 O 3 products nearly met the grade I quality standard requirement in China. Additionally, TiO 2 was effectively enriched to 9.74% in the leaching residue. This study demonstrated that the concentrates with abundant reserves were an important Al 2 O 3 resource. [Display omitted]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2000, total PV production increased almost by two orders of magnitude, with a compound annual growth rate of over 52%. The most rapid growth in annual cell and module production over the last five years could be observed in Asia, where China and Taiwan together now account for about 60% of worldwide production. Between 2005 and 2009, thin film production capacity and volume increased more than the overall industry but did not keep up in 2010 and 2011 due to the rapid price decline for solar modules. Prices for photovoltaic electricity generation systems have more than halved over the last five years making the technology affordable to an ever-increasing number of customers worldwide. With worldwide over 60 GW cumulative installed photovoltaic electricity generation capacity installed in November 2011, photovoltaics still is a small contributor to the electricity supply, and another 10 to 15 years of sustained and aggressive growth will be required for photovoltaic solar electricity to become one of the main providers of electricity. To achieve this, a continuous improvement of the current solar cell technologies will be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Southeast Asian macaques are hosts of a number of Plasmodium infections, some of which are transmittable to humans. During examination of blood films of five wild-caught long-tailed macaques Macaca fascicularis from South China, malaria infection was detected in one of the monkeys. In order to isolate this parasite for identification and characterization, we experimentally passed this parasite through both Assamese (M. assamensis) and rhesus (M. mulatta) monkeys by intravenous injection of infected blood. This parasite morphologically resembled Plasmodium inui, and had a typical 72h quartan periodicity. This parasite was infective to Anopheles dirus mosquitoes, and salivary gland sporozoites appeared 13 days post feeding. Feeding by 20 infected An. dirus mosquitoes on another Assamese monkey produced infection with a prepatent period of 8 days. Molecular analysis of the small subunit rRNA genes and the mitochondrial genome confirmed this parasite as an isolate of P. inui. In spleen-intact macaques, the infection had a protracted duration with parasites being detected during the rearing of the infected monkeys for over two years. In summary, this study identified a P. inui isolate and successfully passed this parasite through Assamese monkeys by both intravenous inoculation and mosquito transmission. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Algal blooms (ABs) can affect the migration of phosphorus (P) among sediments, interstitial water and overlying water. It is important to analyze the characteristics of P and their interactions in the three media during ABs. A 5-month field study (June to October in 2016) was conducted in Zhushan Bay of Lake Taihu. P fractions, P adsorption characteristics and P diffusion fluxes at the sediment-water interface (SWI) were investigated. During the outbreak period of ABs from June to August, labile P concentrations in the sediment measured by diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT-labile P) and its diffusion fluxes across the SWI increased significantly. The equilibrium P concentration (EPC 0) of the sediment was higher than the PO 4 3--P concentration in the overlying water. During the period of decline of ABs from September to October, the concentrations and diffusion fluxes of DGT-labile P sharply decreased. However, the sediment total P (TP), overlying water TP, total dissolved P (TDP) and PO 4 3--P concentrations increased. These results show that the ability of sediment solids to supplement interstitial water labile P was significantly enhanced by the outbreak of ABs. Labile P was then intensively released into the overlying water by interstitial water. Degraded algae became a crucial P source during the period of decline of ABs. P from the degraded algae was re-released to the sediment and overlying water. The observed DGT-labile P and DGT-labile Fe coupling in June, September and October confirmed the Fe redox-driven P release mechanism in sediment during these periods. The decoupling of DGT-labile P and DGT-labile Fe was observed in July and August and was probably caused by algal decomposition, labile organic P degradation and/or sulfate reduction in sediment stimulated by the ABs outbreak. [Display omitted] • Sediment P was strongly influenced by the outbreak and decline of algal blooms. • Labile P diffusion flux at SWI increased first and then decreased during algal blooms. • The decoupling of labile P and labile Fe occurred in July and August. • P migration in sediment, pore water, overlying water was accelerated by algal blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: After investigation and analysis of the practice of pesticide application in the protected horticultural fields of the Agricultural Experimental Zone in Pudong district, Shanghai, China, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was applied to evaluate 5 alternative pest-control strategies (including three gray insect-proof net rooms (with mesh) of different height, white insect-proof thin film rooms (without mesh) and normal control and prevention areas (without any covering nets or thin films)). Comprehensive Profit (CP) and Comprehensive Cost (CC) were used in this paper to analyze the superiority of different strategies in protected horticultural fields for pest management. CP and CC of the pest-control strategies were used as the targets of AHP, in which CP was classified into economic, social and ecological profit, while CC was split into economic, social and ecological cost. Ratio of Comprehensive Cost to Comprehensive Profit (RCCCP) was calculated by dividing Comprehensive Cost (CC) by Comprehensive Profits (CP). According to the analysis, the best strategy was to apply gray insect-proof net rooms of 2.2 m high and 360 (12 m×30 m) square meters in protected horticultural fields for pest management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article reports on the 17th Annual Symposium on Integrated Ferroelectrics, which is to be held during April 17-20, 2005 at Shanghai in China. This symposium aims to provide a forum for presentation and discussion of the state-of-the-art of those topics as memory materials and devices, pyroelectric sensors, electro-optical components, nano-technology theory, ab-initio calculations and the research and exploitation of nano-size effects. The worldwide increase in commercial application of the science and technology of ferroelectric thin film is a symbol of both the maturity and the acceptance of the technology.

Studies the rupturing of polymer films with surface defects that are induced by rubbing. Key issues of interest; Analysis of pertinent topics and relevant issues; Implications on Chinese studies of polymer science.

Identifying the mobilization mechanisms and predicting the potential toxicity risk of metals in sediment are essential to contamination remediation in river basins. In this study, a sequential extraction procedure and diffusive gradients in thin film (DGT) were employed to investigate the mobilization mechanisms, release characteristics, and potential toxicity of sediment metals (Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb). Acid-soluble and reducible fractions were the dominant geochemical species of Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb in sediments, indicating high mobility potentials for these metals under reducing conditions. In summer, the sediment acted as a source of water-column metals due to mineralization of organic matter and reductive dissolution of iron/manganese oxides in surface sediments, and the formation of metal sulfide precipitates markedly lowered DGT-labile metal concentrations with depth, while localized sulfide oxidation was responsible for fluctuating labile metal concentrations. Stable distribution patterns of labile metals resulted from the weak reducing conditions of sediment in winter, when the sediment shifted to a metal sink. The interstitial water criteria toxicity unit (IWCTU), calculated from DGT measurements, indicated no and low-to-moderate toxic risk of sediments in summer and winter seasons, respectively, and Pb was the major contributor to the predicted toxic effects in the soft interstitial water. [Display omitted] • Mineralization of OM and reduction of Fe/Mn oxides drove release of sediment metals. • Localized oxidation of sulfides resulted in metals mobilization in bottom sediments. • Sediment acted as a source of water metals in July and shifted to a sink in November. • DGT-labile Pb was mainly responsible for elevated toxic risk in the soft pore water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Regenerated cellulose films was prepared from parenchyma cells of the bamboos. • Parenchyma cellulose had a relatively better dissolvability than fibrous one. • Parenchyma cellulose could be dissolved in DMAc system with LiCl usage as low as 6 %. • This study provided a feasible proposal for the comprehensive utilization of plant cells. In this study, regenerated cellulose (RC) thin films were obtained using parenchyma cellulose from large clustered bamboos which were endemic to Xishuangbanna area in Yunnan province, China. The bamboo parenchyma cells were separated from their low-temperature (140 ℃ of the maximum temperature) kraft pulps through multi-screening. The cellulose was dissolved in N,N -dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) solvent with LiCl amount from 6 % to 10 %, then regenerated in the glycerol-water solution. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the crystalline forms of RC films were transited from cellulose I to cellulose II. TGA analysis suggested that lower LiCl usage take an advantage on the higher thermal stability of the RC films. The DMAc-related solvent with a relatively lower LiCl dosage displayed a stronger capacity of cellulose dissolution, shed light on its considerable industrial application prospects and facilitated the high value-added utilization of waste biomass resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether flowback bottom water can form effective traps has a significant effect on the effective sequestration of injected supercritical carbon dioxide (SC–CO 2) in anticline reservoirs. An in-depth core flooding experiment was conducted to investigate the flow behavior characteristics of SC-CO 2 in a heterogeneous tight glutenite sample. Three NMR/MRI pulse sequences (CPMG, GR-HSE and SE-SPI) were used to monitor the flooding processes. The CPMG pulse sequence provided T 2 spectra for the whole sample and the results show that the injected fluid always displaced the initial existing fluid from the larger macropores first. However, as water could form thin films on the pore surfaces or isolated beads in the middle of pores, the T 2 spectra did not truly reflect the water distribution in different size pores during the drainage and imbibition processes. The GR-HSE sequence gave the saturation profiles as a function of lateral position along the core allowing the migration front of fluid along the flooding direction to be determined. These profiles provided direct evidence of the different influence of viscosity difference between SC-CO 2 and water causing on heterogeneity-induced fingering during the drainage and imbibition processes. During the imbibition process, the extent of viscous fingering was reduced significantly. The SE-SPI sequence gave the T 2 spectra for individual layers and provided a new perspective to determine the partial wettability of these layers. MRI imaging shows that the drainage and imbibition processes occurred mainly in the matrix, while the gravels were largely devoid of fluids. The displacement efficiencies during drainage and imbibition processes (calculated by averaging the values obtained from the CPMG and GR-HSE sequences) were 65.6% and 92.3%, respectively. • Tight heterogenous glutenite samples from China's Mahu oilfield were investigated. • NMRMRI core flooding experiments were used to understand pore-scale behavior. • CMPG, GR-HSE and SE-SPI sequences were applied together for the analysis. • The partial wettability of individual layers can be studied using SE-SPI sequence. • Drainage-imbibition and residual storage efficiency were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cycling of phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) in sediments has been previously investigated, but its impacts on the formation of black-odorous waterbodies remains unclear. Here, high-resolution (i.e., 2 mm for P and Fe, and 0.042 mm for S of 2D presentation) simultaneous measurements of P, Fe, and S profiles in river sediments based on the diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) technique were conducted in the Pearl River Delta region, South China. Similar distribution trends and significant positive correlations (R = 0.67–0.93, p < 0.01) were observed between Fe and P. Considering the high diffusion fluxes of Fe and P together, it revealed that P release was promoted by the Fe reduction. The two-dimensional labile S profiles showed that their concentrations in sediments were higher by factors of 1.6–20 than those in overlying water. The minor diffusion fluxes of S and the accumulation of acid volatile sulfide indicated that S2− combining with Fe2+ occurred prior to diffusion. Furthermore, the formation mechanisms of black-odorous waterbodies were explored: (i) oxygen depletion by COD and NH 4 +‒N and large amounts of sulfate input were the main exogenous driving factors. (ii) Reduction of Fe and S to form ferrous sulfide accompanied with P release in sediments were the dominant endogenous causes. These observations together with mechanism analysis can provide a basis for the governance of black-odorous rivers. Image 1 • P release in black-odorous sediments was largely controlled by iron reduction. • The distribution of labile S in sediments presented large degrees of heterogeneity. • Fe(III) & SO 4 2− reduction coupled with P release leads to black-odor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internal P cycling in coastal sediments during early diagenesis is of great importance to aquatic ecosystems, but its relationship with sulfate reduction is still unclear and lacks visualized evidence. In this study, diffusive gradients in thin films (Zr-oxide DGT and AgI DGT) techniques at a two-dimensional (2D) submillimeter resolution were utilized to synchronously characterize the in situ labile P and dissolved sulfide in coastal sediments around Xiamen Bay, China. The distributions of dissolved sulfide formed from sulfate reduction showed large vertical and horizontal variations, which are mainly controlled by the reactive organic carbon (OC) and redox conditions at different sampling sites. Multiple correlation analysis revealed that significant and linear correlations exist between dissolved sulfide and DGT-labile P, demonstrating that P mobilization is predominantly regulated by sulfide-dependent reductive dissolution of Fe(III)-bound P and sulfate reduction-associated OC mineralization. Both labile P and dissolved sulfide showed lower values at intertidal sites, due to oxic/suboxic conditions favoring weak sulfate reduction and strong P sequestration. Labile P accumulation during flood tides and removal during ebb tides on tidal timescales indicate that the mobilization and detention of P in surface sediment are regulated by tidal cycles and consequential S and Fe redox cycling. The apparent diffusion flux of P implies that the internal P loading can act as a P source to aquatic ecosystems. • High-resolution depth profiles of labile S and P were obtained using the diffusive gradients in thin films technique. • Redox condition and organic carbon contents mainly control sulfate reduction and labile S distributions. • P mobilization is predominantly regulated by sulfate reduction. • Tidal cycle affects mobilization and detention of P in surface sediment. • Internal P loading is an important P source to coastal water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxicities of heavy metals in sediments are related to their bioavailability, which is critical for deriving reliable sediment quality guidelines. To evaluate the bioavailability of the metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn), sediments were collected from Taihu Lake, one of the largest and most important freshwater lakes in China. Concentrations of simultaneously extracted metals (1-M HCl extraction, C SEM) in the sediments, metals released from sediment to pore waters and accumulated by diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT, C DGT), and dissolved metals in the overlying water (C OLW) were measured separately. Sediment toxicity was assessed with tubificids (Monopylephorus limosus) and chironomids (Chironomus kiiensis and Chironomus tentans). Significant relationships existed between the total metal concentrations and C SEM , C DGT , and C OLW measurements (r 2 = 0.43–0.95, n = 27, p < 0.001), with stronger relationships with C SEM (r 2 = 0.91–0.95) than C DGT (r 2 = 0.56–0.85) and C OLW (r 2 = 0.43–0.71). Risk quotients were derived by dividing C SEM by sediment quality guideline values (SQGVs), and by dividing both C DGT and C OLW by water quality criteria (WQC). Toxicity of the sediments to the three species was better explained by the C SEM -based risk quotient than those derived from C DGT and C OLW. The study indicated that DGT piston probes deployed face down in sediments did not accumulate metals in proportion to the bioavailable metal fraction that caused toxicity to these freshwater benthic organisms, and that single measurements of metals in overlying waters are not adequate for predicting risks of toxicity from sediments. The measurement of C SEM was determined to be effective for assessing the risk posed by the metals in the Taihu Lake sediments, but offered limited improvement over measurement of total metal concentrations. • DGT and SEM were used to measure the bioavailable metal contaminants in the freshwater sediments of Taihu Lake, China. • DGT and SEM concentrations of the metals of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn significantly correlated with the total concentrations. • Risk quotients derived by normalizing SEM with SQGV showed significant correlations with the toxicity of the sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the development of a versatile loudspeakers as thin as paper by researchers in China. It was found that thermoacoustic effect, very thin films of carbon nanotubes could emit loud sounds when an audio frequency current is applied, thus they built a loudspeaker by placing a thin film of carbon nanotubes, which is about 10 nanometers in diameter, on top of two electrodes and applying a sinusoidal voltage.