Solar steam generation-is an emerging water purification technology because it is environment-friendly and cost-effective. Continuous efforts have been made to improve its efficiency, but there are ...still challenges in terms of material costs, manufacturing processes, recycling, and scalable production. In this paper, inspired by the spontaneous transpiration of corn straw, the interfacial solar steam generation device was constructed under the skeleton made of cheap corn straws. Owing to outstanding hydrophilicity improved by citric acid (the water absorption rate of corn straw is 1.4 times that of natural straw), corn straw enjoys feasible water transport with vascular bundles and screens. Besides, it has excellent light absorption and photothermal conversion properties due to carbon black layer formed after sulfuric acid carbonization. The experimental results show that, based on the modified corn straws, the solar evaporator achieved an evaporation rate of 1.422 kg m−2 h−1 and corresponding solar conversion efficiency of 89.3%under 1 sun (1 kW m−2) illumination. Moreover, the evaporator performed reliable reusability and excellent desalination capacity. Therefore, using cost-effective corn straws as high efficiency solar steam generator is promising in water purification and wastewater treatment.
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•The solar evaporator was constructed under the skeleton made of cheap corn straws.•Citric acid was employed to amplify hydrophilic of corn straws.•The carbon layer was obtained via sulfuric acid carbonization method.•The solar steam generation device performs reliable reusability and high-efficient water purification capacity.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The reproductive process in various species has undergone evolutionary adaptations at both the physiological and molecular levels, playing a significant role in maintaining their populations. In ...lepidopteran insects, the spermatophore is a unique structure formed in the female reproductive system, in which sperm storage and activation take place. It is known that the formation of the spermatophore is regulated by seminal fluid proteins derived from males. However, studies investigating the genetic mechanisms behind spermatophore formation in lepidopterans have been limited. In this study, our focus was on SPSL1, a gene that encodes a trypsin-type seminal fluid protein in Spodoptera frugiperda, a pest species with global invasive tendencies. Our findings revealed that SPSL1 expression was predominantly observed in the male reproductive tracts, and the disruption of this gene resulted in male sterility. Surprisingly, fluorescence analysis indicated that the absence of SPSL1 did not affect spermatogenesis or sperm migration within the male reproductive system. However, when females mated with SPSL1-mutant males, several defects were observed. These included disruptions in spermatophore formation, sperm activation in the copulatory bursae, and sperm migration into the spermathecae. Additionally, mass spectrometry analysis highlighted reduced levels of energy-related metabolites, suggesting that SPSL1 plays an essential role in promoting hydrolysis reactions during copulation. Consequently, our study demonstrates that SPSL1 is crucial for male fertility due to its functions in spermatophore formation and sperm activation. This research provides valuable insights into the genetic factors underlying reproductive processes in lepidopteran insects and sheds light on potential strategies for controlling invasive pest populations.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Several Late Viséan-Serpukhovian coral reefs were identified in Langping, Tianlin. They provided an opportunity to investigate paleo-environments suitable for the development of reef-building ...communities and the construction of coral reefs in Langping. In this paper, part of the reef-building environmental and the ecological characteristics of coral reefs then were elaborated by analyzing the development settings, palaeogeography, sedimentation of reefs, the response to hydrodynamic conditions of reef-building corals, effects of disturbance and non-reef-building organism on reef communities, and the influence of coral morphology on reef development. It is considered that the sedimentary environment of Langping in Late Viséan-Serpukhovian is suitable for the development of benthic communities. The current appearance of reefs is determined by both coral populations ecological characteristics and reef-building environment.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
•Functionalized magnetic covalent organic framework composite was facilely prepared.•Magnetic composites were employed for highly effective fluoroquinolones enrichment.•MSPE-HPLC–MS/MS method was ...developed for fluoroquinolones detection in food samples.
Most of the reported covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are hydrophobic, limiting their adsorption application in sample pretreatment field. In this work, sulphonate functionalized magnetic covalent organic frameworks (COFs) composites were first synthesized by loading gold nanoparticles on Fe3O4@COF(TpBD) surface and then functionalized by sodium 3-mercaptopropanesulphonate immobilization via Au-S bonding formation (denoted as Fe3O4@COF(TpBD)@Au-MPS nanocomposites), which were further utilized as adsorbents for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of fluoroquinolones. Compared with Fe3O4@COF(TpBD), the composites exhibited higher affinity to fluoroquinolones. Under optimized conditions, the developed MSPE method coupled with HPLC–MS/MS showed good linearity (R2 ≥0.9989) and yielded low limits of detection (0.1–1.0 μg kg−1) for fluoroquinolones. Moreover, the proposed method was successfully applied to extract fluoroquinolones from spiked meats (pork, chicken and bovine). The satisfactory recoveries were in the range of 82–110.2% with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) lower than 7.7%. These results indicated that the Fe3O4@COF(TpBD)@Au-MPS is a promising magnetic adsorbent for trace fluoroquinolones determination in meat samples. This work not only provided a facile strategy for COF functionalization, but also developed an efficient method for detecting fluoroquinolones in foodstuffs.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Oil spills are becoming a global challenge since the viscous oil is difficult to clean up by the conventional absorbents because of their high viscosity. To overcome this dilemma, we report the novel ...fabrication of a polypyrrole (PPy)-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-polymerized octadecylsiloxane (PODS) coated sponge using versatile chemical polymerization and dip-coating methods, employing the photothermal property of PPy to heat the viscous oil. The benefits from photothermal composite lie in that they can reduce the viscosity of oil, increase the oil-diffusion coefficient, and speed up the oil-absorption rate. The formation of obtained products was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the wettability. The experiments indicate that the oil-absorption capacity was increased by 32.6%, and the time was reduced by 40.0% compared with that nonheated PPy–PEG-PODS-MS. More importantly, we presented a method of in situ pumping for oil recovery. The amount of oil recovery was increased 47.0%, and the oil recovery time was reduced by 70.0% compared with the method of squeezing.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Characterization of the structure and pharmacological activity of
Maxim., a traditional Tibetan medicinal and edible fruit, has not yet been reported. In this study, central composite design (CCD) ...combined with response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the extraction conditions of
oil (BDSO) using the supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO
) extraction method, and the results were compared with those obtained by the petroleum ether extraction (PEE) method. The chemical characteristics of BDSO were analyzed, and its antioxidant activity and in vitro cellular viability were studied by DPPH, ABTS, reducing power assay, and MTT assay. The results showed that the maximum yield of 12.54 ± 0.56 g/100 g was obtained at the optimal extraction conditions, which were: pressure, 25.00 MPa; temperature 59.03 °C; and CO
flow rate, 2.25 SL/min. The Gas chromatography (GC) analysis results showed that BDSO extracted by the SC-CO
method had higher contents of unsaturated fatty acids (85.62%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (57.90%) than that extracted by the PEE method. The gas chromatography used in conjunction with ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) results showed that the main volatile compounds in BDSO were aldehydes and esters. BDSO also exhibited antioxidant ability in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, normal and cancer cells incubated with BDSO had survival rates of more than 85%, which indicates that BDSO is not cytotoxic. Based on these results, the BDSO extracted by the SC-CO
method could potentially be used in other applications, e.g., those that involve using berries of
.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Amino acids are indispensable components of living organisms. The high amino acid content in
Bobr. fruit distinguishes it from other berry plants and is of great significance to its nutritional ...value. Herein, using 10-ethyl-acridine-3-sulfonyl chloride as a fluorescent pre-column labeling reagent, a method for the efficient and rapid determination of amino acid content in
by pre-column fluorescence derivatization and on-line mass spectrometry was established and further validated. The limits of detection (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) were between 0.13 and 1.13 nmol/L, with a linear coefficient greater than 0.997 and a relative standard deviation between 1.37% and 2.64%. In addition, the method required a short analysis time, separating 19 amino acids within 20 min. Subsequently, the method was used to analyze the amino acid content of
Bobr. from tissues retrieved from seven regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Bobr. was shown to contain a large amount of amino acids, with the total content and main amino acid varying between the different tissues. This research supports the nutritional evaluation, quality control, and development and utilization of
Bobr.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
Tobacco stalk contained large amount of lignin, which is resistant to microbial degradation and limit the composting efficiency during composting. The purpose of this study is to enhance the ...lignin degradation efficiency, and consequently improve the composting efficiency and product quality.
Methods
Lignin degrading microorganisms (LDMs) were screened and inoculated to tobacco stalk compost, lignin degradation enzyme activities and lignin degradation rate were measured to evaluate the lignin degradation efficiency, other physico-chemical characters were determined as well to evaluate the composting efficiency and product quality.
Results
Two white-rot fungi
Trametes hirsuta
S13 and
Pleurotus ostreatus
S18 were screened as LDM according to their high lignin degradation efficiency. After inoculation, lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase were raised from (U g
−1
) 105.9, 372.9 and 460.68 to 374.7, 1095.6 and 1420.8, respectively. Consequently, lignin degradation rate increased nearly 2-fold (from 23.7 to 41.1%). In addition, organic matter degradation rate was increased from 26.5 to 31.2% with the addition of fungal inoculants. Degree of polymerization, humification index and germination index were also elevated, from 2.0, 17.8% and 108.3% to 3.5, 24.2% and 123.8%, respectively.
Conclusions
In this study,
T. hirsuta
S13 and
P. ostreatus
S18 were used as LDM and inoculated to tobacco stalk composting. After inoculation, the lignin degradation rate was increased, with the composting efficiency and the quality of composting product was improved as well.
Graphical Abstract
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Summary
Strigolactones (SLs) play a critical role in regulating plant tiller number. LATERAL BRANCHING OXIDOREDUCTASE (LBO) encodes an important late‐acting enzyme for SL biosynthesis and regulates ...shoot branching in Arabidopsis. However, little is known about the function of LBO in monocots including switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a dual‐purpose fodder and biofuel crop.
We studied the function of PvLBO via the genetic manipulation of its expression levels in both the wild‐type and miR156 overexpressing (miR156OE) switchgrass. Co‐expression analysis, quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), transient dual luciferase assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation‐qPCR were all used to determine the activation of PvLBO by miR156‐targeted Squamosa Promoter Binding Protein‐like 2 (PvSPL2) in regulating tillering of switchgrass.
PvLBOtranscripts dramatically declined in miR156OE transgenic switchgrass, and the overexpression of PvLBO in the miR156OE transgenic line produce fewer tillers than the control. Furthermore, we found that PvSPL2 can directly bind to the promoter of PvLBO and activate its transcription, suggesting that PvLBO is a novel downstream gene of PvSPL2.
We propose that PvLBO functions as an SL biosynthetic gene to mediate tillering and acts as an important downstream factor in the crosstalk between the SL biosynthetic pathway and the miR156‐SPL module in switchgrass.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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