Unveiling Phytoplankton Diversity: Taxonomy, Functional Groups, and Environmental Drivers in North China Lakes.

Functional groups (FGs) represent a classification scheme designed to study the ecological adaptations of phytoplankton. However, FG dynamics studies in phytoplankton are often conducted independent of taxonomic studies, so the factors influencing community dynamics have not been sufficiently investigated or compared between the two classification systems. In this study, we compared the intricate relationship between taxonomic and FG compositions in North China lakes and delve into the key environmental drivers shaping phytoplankton community dynamics.

Mechanism of one-step hydrothermal nitric acid treatment for producing high adsorption capacity porous materials from coal gasification fine slag.

The increasing amount of coal gasification fine slag (CGFS) necessitates its resource utilization. CGFS, mainly composed of porous carbonaceous particles and partially fused spherical or agglomerated ash particles, is an inexpensive and high-quality raw material for preparing adsorbent materials. However, the challenge remains in developing a simple, low-cost, and environmentally friendly method to produce high-performance porous materials from CGFS.

Enhancing color saturation in photonic glasses through optimized absorption.

Photonic glasses, isotropically assembled nanoparticles with short-range correlation, can produce angle independent structural colors. They show broader reflectance spectra and lower saturated colors, compared to photonic crystals. Low color saturation creates barriers for photonic glasses to be used for coatings, cosmetics, and colors.

Armored Superhydrophobic Surfaces with Excellent Drag Reduction in Complex Environmental Conditions.

Superhydrophobic surfaces (SHSs) have possibilities for achieving significantly reduced solid-liquid frictional drag in the marine sector due to their excellent water-repelling properties. Although the stability of SHSs plays a key role in drag reduction, little consideration was given to the effect of extreme environments on the ability of SHSs to achieve drag reduction underwater, particularly when subjected to acidic conditions. Here, we propose interconnected microstructures to protect superhydrophobic coatings with the aim of enhancing the stability of SHSs in extreme environments.

Suppressed Droplet Splashing on Positively Skewed Surfaces for High-Efficiency Evaporation Cooling.

Two types of functional surfaces with the same roughness but completely different surface topographies are prepared, namely positively skewed surfaces filled with micropillar arrays (Sa ≈4.4 µm, Ssk >0) and negatively skewed surfaces filled with microcavity arrays (Sa ≈4.4 µm, Ssk <0), demonstrating promoting droplet splashing.

Nitric Acid-Treated Blue Coke-Based Activated Carbon's Structural Characteristics and Its Application in Hexavalent Chromium-Containing Wastewater Treatment.

This study primarily focused on the efficient transformation of low-priced blue coke powder into a high-capacity adsorbent and aimed to address the pollution issue of hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI))-laden wastewater and to facilitate the effective utilization of blue coke powder. A two-step method was utilized to fabricate a blue coke-based nitric acid-modified material (LCN), and the impact of nitric acid modification on the material's structure and its efficacy in treating Cr (VI)-contaminated wastewater was evaluated. Our experimental results illustrated that, under identical conditions, LCN exhibited superior performance for Cr (VI) treatment compared to the method employing only potassium hydroxide (LCK).

Characterising baseflow signature variability in the Yellow River Basin.

Baseflow is pivotal in maintaining catchment ecological health and improving sustainable economic development. The Yellow River Basin (YRB) is northern China's most important water supplier. However, it faces water shortage due to synergistic effects between natural conditions and anthropogenic activities.

Research on the performance of modified blue coke in adsorbing hexavalent chromium.

To solve the issue of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination in water bodies, blue coke powder (LC) was chemically changed using potassium hydroxide to create the modified material (GLC), which was then used to treat a Cr(VI)-containing wastewater solution. The differences between the modified and unmodified blue coke's adsorption characteristics for Cr(VI) were studied, and the impact of pH, starting solution concentration, and adsorption period on the GLC's adsorption performance was investigated. The adsorption behavior of the GLC was analyzed using isothermal adsorption models, kinetic models, and adsorption thermodynamic analysis.

Capillary rise behavior of lubricant in micropores with spiral bulge structures.

The highly efficient exudation of lubricant in porous self-lubricating materials significantly influences the formation of self-lubricating films. In this paper, micropores with inner spiral bulge structures are considered, and their influence on the capillary behaviors of the lubricant is discussed to reveal the capillary rising mechanism. The results show that the Taylor capillary lift phenomenon is produced in the spiral bulge structure of the micropore, and the capillary lift force is enhanced.

[Photochemical Mechanism and Control Strategy Optimization for Summertime Ozone Pollution in an Industrial City in the North China Plain].

To investigate the characteristics and formation mechanism of ozone (O) pollution in an industrial city, an extensive one-month field campaign focusing on O and its precursors (e.g., volatile organic compounds[VOC] and nitrogen oxides[NO]) was conducted in Zibo City, a highly industrializd city in the North China Plain, in June 2021.

Integrating ambient carbonyl compounds provides insight into the constrained ozone formation chemistry in Zibo city of the North China Plain.

Quantifying the impact of carbonyl compounds (carbonyls) on ozone (O) photochemical formation is crucial to formulating targeted O mitigation strategies. To investigate the emission source of ambient carbonyls and their integrated observational constraint on the impact of O formation chemistry, a field campaign was conducted in an industrial city (Zibo) of the North China Plain from August to September 2020. The site-to-site variations of OH reactivity for carbonyls were in accordance with the sequence of Beijiao (BJ, urban, 4.

Fused Deposition Modeling and Characterization of Heat Shape Memory Poly(lactic) Acid-Based Porous Vascular Scaffold.

Shape memory polymers have received widespread attention from researchers because of their low density, shape variety, responsiveness to the environment, and transparency. This study deals with heat-shape memory polymers (SMPs) based on polylactic acid (PLA) for designing and fabricating a novel porous vascular scaffold to treat vascular restenosis. The solid isotropic material penalization method (SIMP) was applied to optimize the vascular scaffolds.

[Size Distribution and Source Appointment of Road Particles During Winter in Tianjin].

The significant role of traffic emissions mixed from various sources in urban air pollution has been widely recognized. However, the corresponding contributions to the roadside particle distribution are poorly understood due to the mixed impacts of various sources. Particle number concentrations of different sizes at the roadside in Nankai District of Tianjin were continuously monitored using a portable aerosol particle spectrometer during the morning rush hour (07:30-09:20) from Nov.

Design of co-continuous structure of cellulose/PAA-based alkaline solid polyelectrolyte for flexible zinc-air battery.

In order to prepare high ionic conductivity and robust mechanical properties of alkaline solid polyelectrolyte (ASPE) for applications in flexible wearable devices, a co-continuous structure membrane was designed using in-situ polymerization to introduce cross-linked polyacrylic acid (N-PAA) into the cellulose network constructed by regenerated degreasing cotton (RDC). The resultant ASPE membrane showed high ionic conductivity (430 mS·cm at 25 °C), strong mechanical properties, and excellent alkaline stabilities, proving the viability of cellulose for use in energy storage systems. Surprisingly, the sandwich-shaped zinc-air battery assembled using RDC/N-PAA/KOH membranes as electrolytes exhibits superior values of cycling stability, discharge time, specific capacity (731.

Short-term effects of the toxic component of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on lung function in healthy adults using a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR).

Short-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) are associated with reduced lung function. However, TRAP is a mixture of various gaseous pollutants and particulate matter (PM), and therefore it is unknown that which components of TRAP are responsible for the respiratory toxicity. Using a powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), we conducted a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial in which 40 adults were exposed to TRAP for 2 h at the sidewalk of a busy road.

Investigation of water-soluble organic constituents and their spatio-temporal heterogeneity over the Tibetan Plateau.

Investigating the migration and transformation of carbonaceous and nitrogenous matter in the cryosphere areas is crucial for understanding global biogeochemical cycle and earth's climate system. However, water-soluble organic constituents and their transformation in multiple water bodies are barely investigated. Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and organic nitrogen (WSON), and particulate black carbon (PBC) in multiple types of water bodies in eastern Tibetan Plateau (TP) cryosphere for the first time have been systematically investigated.

Identifying active concentrations of biopolymers for enhancing membrane nanofiltration performance: From bench-scale tests to real production considerations.

In the last decades, membrane-based nanofiltration (NF) technique has been widely applied for safe and high-quality drinking water production worldwide. NF membrane fouling has become one of the main obstacles in its application due to high operation cost, and thus numerous efforts have been made. However, there is still a large disconnect between academic findings and their applications.

Temporal evolution of the hydromechanical properties of soil-root systems in a forest fire in China.

Plant roots generally enhance soil strength and stabilize slopes through hydro-mechanical effects, especially in forested areas prone to shallow slope failure. Forest fires can severely weaken the hydro-mechanical contribution of roots to slopes, however, the hydro-mechanical characteristics of soil-root systems (SRS) affected by wildfire remain poorly understood. To obtain insight into the post-fire hydro-mechanical characteristics of SRS, a subalpine conifer forested area in Sichuan Province, China that suffered a wildfire on March 30, 2019 was continuously monitored over two consecutive years.

Composite Polymer Anion Exchange Membranes with Sandwich Structure and Improved Performance for Zn-Air Battery.

In this study, we fabricated a composite polymer anion exchange membrane (AEM) with a sandwich structure. This prepared AEM demonstrated high ionic conductivity (0.25 Scm), excellent alkali resistance (8 M KOH), and good mechanical properties (tensile strength of 0.

New insights into trace elements in the water cycle of a karst-dominated glacierized region, southeast Tibetan Plateau.

Trace elements (TEs) in water are crucial parameters for assessing water quality. However, detailed studies are limited on TEs in the hydrological system of the Tibetan plateau (TP). Here, we sampled snow, river water, and groundwater in Yulong Snow Mountain (Mt.

Changes in hydrological behaviours triggered by earthquake disturbance in a mountainous watershed.

Landslides induced by strong earthquakes often destroy large amounts of landscape vegetation which can trigger significant changes in runoff potential and flood flow. Little is known about hydrological behaviours imposed by co-seismic landslides and their post-earthquake evolution. Therefore, we collected time-series datasets (2007-2018) of underlying surface conditions (USC) changes including landslide expansion and recovery in a watershed affected by the Wenchuan earthquake to further quantify how the large physical disturbance affected the flood hydrological behaviours.

SIRT1 Mediates Neuropathic Pain Induced by Sciatic Nerve Chronic Constrictive Injury in the VTA-NAc Pathway.

Background: Mounting evidence has shown that sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a class III histone deacetylase, alleviated several types of neuropathic pain in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion and regulated some aberrant behaviors in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc).

Methods: In this context, the effect of SIRT1 on neuropathic pain in the VTA-NAc pathway was investigated in the model of chronic constrictive injury (CCI).

Results: SIRT1 was localized in the VTA neurons in naive mice.

Investigation of the spatio-temporal heterogeneity and optical property of water-soluble organic carbon in atmospheric aerosol and snow over the Yulong Snow Mountain, southeastern Tibetan Plateau.

Atmospheric aerosols are a branch of active research in recent decades. The deposition of light-absorbing substances on high-altitude glaciers causes substantial adverse impacts on the cryospheric environment, cryosphere-hydrology, and climate system. Although, the concentrations of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) in snow/ice on glaciers of Tibetan Plateau (TP) have been reported, their transfer processes and optical properties in the context of summer precipitation-atmosphere-snow-river water continuum are seldom studied.

Light-absorbing impurities accelerating glacial melting in southeastern Tibetan Plateau.

Deposition of light-absorbing particles on glacier surfaces poses a series of adverse impacts on the cryospheric environment, climate and human health. Broad attention of the scientific community has been paid on insoluble light-absorbing impurities (ILAIs) in snow and ice on glaciers over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, systematic investigation of ILAIs in snowpack of glaciers on the TP is scarce.