Crop residue is an abundant and lucrative biomass resource in China, which is expected to decrease its reliance on coal and petroleum through the use of crop residue. This study was conducted with ...the data of crop production released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China and 1417 valid face-to-face questionnaires on residue utilizations. It was found that the crop residue increased from 725.47 Mt in 2007 to 897.06 Mt in 2016 at the annual rate of 2.63%. It amounted for 897.06 Mt including 781.32 Mt field residue and 115.74 Mt and process residue, respectively in 2016. Field residue retained in field exhibited the highest ratio (35.19%), for bioenergy use was less than 1%. A total amount of available field residue (AFR) for bioethanol was 254.57 Mt in 2016. Maize provided the greatest quantity of AFR (95.00 Mt), followed by rice (78.90 Mt) and wheat (18.89 Mt), sum of three accounted for 76% AFR in China. The largest AFR was found in Heilongjiang (39.79 Mt), followed by Henan (31.03 Mt) and Jilin (22.51 Mt). The density of AFR exhibited high in NEC and CSC and southeast provinces of SWC. The bioethanol potential was 124.3 Mt in 2016, with maize, rice and wheat residues representing 77.8% of the total. The four top-ranked provinces of bioethanol potential were Heilongjiang, Henan, Jilin, and Sichuan. It was suggested that financial and taxation support are necessary to promote cellulosic bioethanol research and industrial use in its early stage.
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•China's crop residue increased from 725.47 Mt in 2007 to 897.06 Mt in 2016.•Available residue of maize, rice, and wheat were shared 75.7% of total in 2016.•Field residue retained (35.19%) and burnt (25.20%) in the field were the highest.•Heilongjiang, Henan and Jilin produced the highest available residues with 93.3 Mt.•Bioethanol production potential from field residue was 124.3 Mt in total.
Much attention has been paid to restaurant food waste (RFW) in recent years, due to its environmental impact and concerns about pollution, and its illegal use as animal feed. An evaluation of the ...quantity of RFW and its potentially availability for biogas production will not only improve the environment, but also contribute to energy security and human health. Based on a structured face-to-face survey in a representative sample of 12 provinces in six regions, the present study evaluated the quantity and utilization of RFW and its availability for biogas production in mainland China. The results showed that the total quantity of fresh RFW was 44.1 million metric ton annually based on the survey from 2014 to 2016. This comprised 27.4 million ton (62%) from commercial restaurants and 16.7 million ton (38%) from internal canteens. The RFW was distributed among the six regions as follows, in ascending order: Northwest China (3.0 million ton, 6.9%) < Northeast China (3.7 million ton, 8.5%) < North China (5.4 million ton, 12.2%) < Southwest China (6.7 million ton, 15.2%) < Central-South China (11.8 million ton, 26.9%) < East China (13.3 million ton, 30.3%). The annual biogas production potential from available RFW was estimated at 4209 million m3 in total and varied from 20.8 million m3 to 377.0 million m3 across all the provinces. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis shows that the availability of food waste has great potential for biogas production, even though there are limiting factors that present risks for food waste commercial utilization. The findings of this study will help policy makers and enterprise managers to understand the current state of RFW, and to optimize the utilization of RFW.
Metastasis is a multistep process by which tumor cells disseminate from their primary site and form secondary tumors at a distant site. The pathophysiological course of metastasis is mediated by the ...dynamic plasticity of cancer cells, which enables them to shift between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes through a transcriptionally regulated program termed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reverse process, mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET). Using a mouse model of spontaneous metastatic breast cancer, we investigated the molecular mediators of metastatic competence within a heterogeneous primary tumor and how these cells then manipulated their epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity during the metastatic process. We isolated cells from the primary mammary tumor, the circulation, and metastatic lesions in the lung in TA2 mice and found that the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) H19 mediated EMT and MET by differentially acting as a sponge for the microRNAs miR-200b/c and let-7b. We found that this ability enabled H19 to modulate the expression of the microRNA targets
and
, respectively, which encode regulators of the RAS superfamily member adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) ribosylation factor (ARF), a guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) that promotes cell migration associated with EMT and disseminating tumor cells. Decreasing the abundance of H19 or manipulating that of members in its axis prevented metastasis from grafts in syngeneic mice. Abundance of H19, GIT2, and CYTH3 in patient samples further suggests that H19 might be exploited as a biomarker for metastatic cells within breast tumors and perhaps as a therapeutic target to prevent metastasis.
The constant growth of livestock husbandry in China in recent years has raised grave concerns about severe environmental pollution. A countrywide, comprehensive assessment of the quantity and ...distribution of livestock excrement (LE) production could significantly promote contamination control methods and biogas development in China. Previous researchers have reported an excessively wide range of LE quantities and have failed to reach a consensus conclusion. By using the latest updated LE definitions and calculation coefficients, LE and its biogas potential were assessed for 14 types of livestock in this study according to China’s husbandry statistics data. LE increased by 10.9% from 1563.2 Mt in 2007 to 1755.0 Mt in 2015 at a rate of 12.3% in fresh weight and increased by 12.8% from 367.1 Mt to 414.5 Mt in dry weight. The mean annual LE from 2013 to 2015 was estimated on a dry weight basis as 414.9 Mt. Most of the LE produced from 2013 to 2015 was by cattle (including draft cattle, beef cattle, and dairy cows), followed by sheep (including goats), poultry (including broiler chickens, egg chickens, ducks, and geese), pigs, and other livestock (including horses, donkeys, mules, camels, and rabbits). Among the six regions, from 2013 to 2015, the LE was distributed in ascending order in the Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, North, Central-south, and East regions on a dry weight basis. The average LE produced among the 31 provinces in China ranged widely from just 0.8 Mt (Shanghai) up to 42.4 Mt (Shandong), with the latter having the highest LE density distribution (275.7 t km-2) on a dry weight basis. The east-middle provinces, Liaoning, Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Tianjin, Jiangsu, and Anhui, exhibited relatively higher levels of LE density distribution (111.2–275.7 t km-2) than those of other regions. The yearly total LE generated from commercial scale husbandry feedlots (CSHF) for 2015 was estimated at 141.5 Mt, which amounts to a biogas potential of 60.6 billion m3 (Billion refers 1 × 109). Scenario analysis predicts that by 2030, the annual LE from CSHF could range from 201.1 to 258.9 Mt, corresponding to biogas potential of 86–111 billion m3. The results of this countrywide study suggest that there are significant opportunities to improve LE management and to achieve ecological livestock husbandry in China.
•Livestock excrement rose by 12.8% from 367 to 414 Mt (dry) in 2007–2015 in China.•In 2013–2015, 36% of it was from cattle and 18–19% from sheep, pigs, and poultry.•The 7 provinces in east-middle area showed highest excrement density distribution.•The biogas potential of excrement from commercial feedlots was 6.1 × 1010 m3 in 2015.•Biogas from it could range from 8.6 × 1010 to 1.1 × 1011 m3 under 4 scenarios by 2030.
Age-associated changes in immune cells have been linked to an increased risk for infection. However, a global and detailed characterization of the changes that human circulating immune cells undergo ...with age is lacking. Here, we combined scRNA-seq, mass cytometry and scATAC-seq to compare immune cell types in peripheral blood collected from young and old subjects and patients with COVID-19. We found that the immune cell landscape was reprogrammed with age and was characterized by T cell polarization from naive and memory cells to effector, cytotoxic, exhausted and regulatory cells, along with increased late natural killer cells, age-associated B cells, inflammatory monocytes and age-associated dendritic cells. In addition, the expression of genes, which were implicated in coronavirus susceptibility, was upregulated in a cell subtypespecific manner with age. Notably, COVID-19 promoted age-induced immune cell polarization and gene expression related to inflammation and cellular senescence. Therefore, these findings suggest that a dysregulated immune system and increased gene expression associated with SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility may at least partially account for COVID-19 vulnerability in the elderly.
Panax notoginseng (Burk) F.H. Chen is an economically and medicinally important plant of the family Araliacease, with seed dormancy being a key factor limiting the extended cultivation of P. ...notoginseng. The seeds belong to the morphophysiological dormancy (MPD) group, and it has also been described as the recalcitrant seed. To date, the molecular mechanism of dormancy release in the recalcitrant seed of P. notoginseng is unknown. In the present study, the transcript profiles of seeds from different after‐ripening stages (0, 20, 40 and 60 days) were investigated using Illumina Hiseq 2500 technology. 91 979 946 clean reads were generated, and 81 575 unigenes were annotated in at least one database. In addition, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by the pairwise comparisons. We screened out 2483 DEGs by the three key groups of 20 days vs 0 d, 40 d vs 0 d and 60 d vs 0 d. The DEGs were analyzed by gene ontology enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway annotation. Meanwhile, we obtained 78 DEGs related to seeds dormancy release at different after‐ripening stages of P. notoginseng, of which 15 DEGs were associated with abscisic acid and gibberellin. 26 DEGs that encode late embryogenesis abundant protein and antioxidant enzyme were correlated with desiccation tolerance in seeds. In summary, the results obtained here showed that PECTINESTERASE‐2‐LIKE, GA‐INSENSITIVE, ENT‐KAURENE SYNTHASE, PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2C, GIBBERELLIN 2‐BETA‐DIOXYGENASE, SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE, L‐ASCORBATE PEROXIDASE, CATALASE, LATE EMBRYOGENESIS ABUNDANT PROTEIN DC3 and DEHYDRIN 9 were potentially involved in dormancy release and desiccation sensitivity of P. notoginseng seeds. The data might provide a basis for researches on MPD.
With ongoing economic development and population growth in China, large quantities of wastewater are discharged and substantial amounts of sewage sludge are generated, which is a potential biomass ...resource for methane production. This study used data from statistics yearbooks and literatures to evaluate the spatio-temporal distribution of sludge generation, potential and distribution of methane production from sludge, and the potential of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction (PGER) from sludge treatment and disposal in provinces in mainland China. The results showed that a total of 6.03 Mt of dry solids in 2015. The eastern part of the country produced more sludge than that the western part. The standard coal equivalence of sludge was 3.5 Mt, ranged from 0.7 to 399.8 Kt, among the 31 provinces of mainland China. Total sludge could produce 1.27 billion m3 of methane per year through anaerobic digestion (AD). The distribution of methane density exhibited that the east part was higher than the west part in China. The GHG emissions totaled 18.82 Mt CO2-eq as a baseline for the current sludge disposal methods without AD technology. The PGER was 10.77 Mt CO2-eq for the sludge disposal routes with AD technology. The sludge disposal for the project route of building material exhibited the highest PGER of 4.24 Mt CO2-eq among the disposal methods. As the least GHG emissions method, sludge treated by AD and the residue disposed for land using as fertilizer should be recommended. Our findings provide a sludge disposal reference for the government and industries. For further study, it is suggested to take the co-digestion technology into consideration for sewage sludge to produce methane, which would perform a higher methane production and GHG emissions reduction potential.
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•A total of 6.03 Mt dry solids of sludge were generated in China in 2015.•Dry sludge with calorific value of 3.5 Mt was generated in 2015.•Methane production potential from sludge was estimated at 1.27 billion m3 in 2015.•Land application after anaerobic digestion can reduce GHG by 177.7 Kt CO2-eq.
This study was conducted to explore the therapeutic potential of human adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) irradiated with a low‐level laser (LLL). Cultured ADSCs were treated with 650‐nm GaAlAs laser ...irradiation at 2, 4 and 8 J cm−2. Cell proliferation was quantified by MTT assays, cytokine secretion was determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, and adipogenic differentiation was examined by oil red O staining. Additionally, the expression profiles of putative ADSC surface markers were analyzed by quantitative real‐time PCR. In addition, a mouse photoaged skin model was established by UVB irradiation. Effects of GaAlAs laser–treated ADSCs on the thicknesses of the epidermis and dermis were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The results showed that GaAlAs laser treatment of cells at a radiant exposure of 4 J cm−2 enhanced ADSC proliferation and adipogenic differentiation and increased secretion of growth factors. Furthermore, GaAlAs laser irradiation upregulated the expression of putative ADSC surface markers. In the mouse model of photoaged skin, ADSCs treated with GaAlAs laser irradiation had markedly decreased the epidermal thickness and increased the dermal thickness of photoaged mouse skin. Our data indicate that LLL irradiation is an effective biostimulator of ADSCs and might enhance the therapeutic potential of ADSCs for clinical use.
GaAlAs laser treatment of cells at a radiant exposure of 4 J cm−2 enhanced adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSC) proliferation and adipogenic differentiation and increased the secretion for growth factor of vascular endothelial growth factor, TGF‐β and platelet‐derived growth factor. Additionally, GaAlAs laser irradiation at the dosage upregulated the expression profiles of putative ADSC surface markers. Furthermore, in a mice model of photoaging skin, the ADSCs treated by GaAlAs laser irradiation markedly decreased the epidermal thickness and increased the dermal thickness in photoaged mouse skin. GaAlAs laser irradiation enhanced the antiaging effects of ADSCs. Low‐level laser irradiation might enhance the therapeutic potential of ADSCs for clinical use.
Although perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are promising for next-generation displays and lighting, their efficiency is still considerably below that of conventional inorganic and organic ...counterparts. Significant efforts in various aspects of the electroluminescence process are required to achieve high-performance PeLEDs. Here, we present an improved flexible PeLED structure based on the rational interface engineering for energy-efficient photon generation and enhanced light outcoupling. The interface-stimulated crystallization and defect passivation of the perovskite emitter are synergistically realized by tuning the underlying interlayer, leading to the suppression of trap-mediated nonradiative recombination losses. Besides approaching highly emissive perovskite layers, the outcoupling of trapped light is also enhanced by combining the silver nanowires-based electrode with quasi-random nanopatterns on flexible plastic substrate. Upon the collective optimization of the device structure, a record external quantum efficiency of 24.5% is achieved for flexible PeLEDs based on green-emitting CsPbBr3 perovskite.
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