Non-Negligible Ecological Risks of Urban Wetlands Caused by Cd and Hg on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China.

The Huangshui National Wetland Park (HNWP) is a unique national wetland park in a city on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, containing three zones: Haihu, Beichuan, and Ninghu. In this study, a total of 54 soil samples (18 sampling points with depths of 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-30 cm) were collected in these three zones, and the contents of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, and As) of each sample were determined. The ecological risk of eight kinds of heavy metals was evaluated by using the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), and the ecological risk-controlling effect of the Xining urban wetlands on heavy metals was explored by comparative analysis, and the possible sources of heavy metals in the soil were analyzed via correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA).

Identifying the Role of the Cationic Geometric Configuration in Spinel Catalysts for Polysulfide Conversion in Sodium-Sulfur Batteries.

An ABX spinel structure, with tetrahedral A and octahedral B sites, is a paradigmatic class of catalysts with several possible geometric configurations and numerous applications, including polysulfide conversion in metal-sulfur batteries. Nonetheless, the influence of the geometric configuration and composition on the mechanisms of catalysis and the precise manner in which spinel catalysts facilitate the conversion of polysulfides remain unknown. To enable controlled exposure of single active configurations, herein, Co and Co in CoO catalysts for sodium polysulfide conversion are in large part replaced by Fe and Fe, respectively, generating FeCoO and CoFeO.

Modular Metabolic Engineering of by the 2A Peptide Platform to Improve Arachidonic Acid Production.

Arachidonic acid (ARA) is an essential fatty acid in human nutrition. , a filamentous fungus, has been widely used for the production of ARA. Here, we report a modular engineering approach that systematically eliminates metabolic bottlenecks in the multigene elongase/desaturase pathway and has led to significant improvements of the ARA titer.

Insights into blue-light activated red-emitting persistent luminescence from Pr-doped phosphors.

In recent years, a series of persistent luminescence materials excitable by blue light have been developed and widely used in many fields such as optical information storage, AC-LEDs, anti-counterfeiting and bio-imaging. However, it is still a long-standing challenge to develop a superior red-emitting persistent phosphor that can be efficiently excited by blue light. In this work, a novel blue-light excited red-emitting persistent phosphor CaCdGaGeO:Pr was successfully synthesized by using a solid-state method, showing excellent luminescence properties.

Biological Interactions and Environmental Influences Shift Microeukaryotes in Permafrost Active Layer Soil Across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Permafrost active layer soils are harsh environments with thaw/freeze cycles and sub-zero temperatures, harboring diverse microorganisms. However, the distribution patterns, assembly mechanism, and driving forces of soil microeukaryotes in permafrost remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated microeukaryotes in permafrost active layer across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) using 18S rRNA gene sequencing.

An efficient strategy for large-scale preparation of low polarity gingerols directly from ginger crude extract by high-speed countercurrent chromatography with different rotation mode.

This study presents an efficient strategy for large-scale preparation of low polarity gingerols directly from ginger crude extract by high-speed countercurrent chromatography with different rotation mode. The ultrasonic-assisted extraction conditions were optimized by response surface methodology and the results showed the major low polarity gingerols could be well enriched under the optimized extraction conditions. Then the crude extract without any pretreatment was directly separated by high-speed countercurrent chromatography with different rotation mode using n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (6:4:6:4, v/v/v/v) as the solvent system.

Overlooked CO emissions induced by air pollution control devices in coal-fired power plants.

China's efforts to mitigate air pollution from its large-scale coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) have involved the widespread use of air pollution control devices (APCDs). However, the operation of these devices relies on substantial electricity generated by CFPPs, resulting in indirect CO emissions. The extent of CO emissions caused by APCDs in China remains uncertain.

Single-Particle Irradiation Effect and Anti-Irradiation Optimization of a JLTFET with Lightly Doped Source.

In this article, the particle irradiation effect of a lightly doped Gaussian source heterostructure junctionless tunnel field-effect transistor (DMG-GDS-HJLTFET) is discussed. In the irradiation phenomenon, heavy ion produces a series of electron-hole pairs along the incident track, and then the generated transient current can overturn the logical state of the device when the number of electron-hole pairs is large enough. In the single-particle effect of DMG-GDS-HJLTFET, the carried energy is usually represented by linear energy transfer value (LET).

Study on Enhancing the Thermoelectric Stability of the β-CuSe Phase by Mn Doping.

CuSe is a promising thermoelectric (TE) material due to its low cost, Earth abundance, and high thermoelectric properties. However, the biggest problem of CuSe is its unstable chemical properties. In particular, under the action of an electric field or gradient temperature field, the chemical potential of copper ions inside the material increases.

Nuclear magnetic resonance-based solvent system selection for counter-current chromatography separation of compounds present in the same high-performance liquid chromatography peak: Flavonoids in barley seedlings as an example.

Partition coefficient is a key parameter for counter-current chromatography separation. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most commonly used tool for the screening of partition coefficients. However, HPLC technology is not applicable to the compounds present in the same chromatographic peak.

Effect of permafrost degradation on carbon sequestration of alpine ecosystems.

Permafrost degradation profoundly affects carbon storage in alpine ecosystems, and the response characteristics of carbon sequestration are likely to differ at the different stages of permafrost degradation. Furthermore, the sensitivity of different stages of permafrost degradation to climate change is likely to vary. However, related research is lacking so far on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP).

Scale Effect of Land Cover Classification from Multi-Resolution Satellite Remote Sensing Data.

Land cover data are important basic data for earth system science and other fields. Multi-source remote sensing images have become the main data source for land cover classification. There are still many uncertainties in the scale effect of image spatial resolution on land cover classification.

Transcriptome Screening of Long Noncoding RNAs and Their Target Protein-Coding Genes Unmasks a Dynamic Portrait of Seed Coat Coloration Associated with Anthocyanins in Tibetan Hulless Barley.

Many plants have the capability to accumulate anthocyanins for coloration, and anthocyanins are advantageous to human health. In the case of hulless barley ( L. ), investigation into the mechanism of anthocyanin formation is limited to the level of protein-coding genes (PCGs).

Perspective on Iron-Based Phosphate Cathode for Commercial Sodium-Ion Cells.

Sodium (Na)-ion batteries (SIBs) have been considered as a potential device for large-scale energy storage. To date, some start-up companies have released their first-generation SIBs cathode materials. Among them, phosphate compounds, particularly iron (Fe)-based mixed phosphate compounds, present great potential for commercial SIBs owing to its low cost, environment friendly.

Performance Assessment of a Junctionless Heterostructure Tunnel FET Biosensor Using Dual Material Gate.

Biosensors based on tunnel FET for label-free detection in which a nanogap is introduced under gate electrode to electrically sense the characteristics of biomolecules, have been studied widely in recent years. In this paper, a new type of heterostructure junctionless tunnel FET biosensor with an embedded nanogap is proposed, in which the control gate consists of two parts, namely the tunnel gate and auxiliary gate, with different work functions; and the detection sensitivity of different biomolecules can be controlled and adjusted by the two gates. Further, a polar gate is introduced above the source region, and a P+ source is formed by the charge plasma concept by selecting appropriate work functions for the polar gate.

Geochemical distributions of natural radionuclides in surface soils and sediments impacted by lead-zinc mining activity.

This study investigated the distribution features of uranium-238 (U), radium-226 (Ra), thorium-232 (Th), and potassium-40 (K) and evaluated the associated environmental radiological hazards of the topsoil and river sediments in the Jinding lead-zinc (Pb-Zn) mine catchment from Southwest China. The activity concentrations of U, Ra, Th, and K ranged from 24.0 ± 2.

The efficacy of different interventions in the treatment of sarcopenia in middle-aged and elderly people: A network meta-analysis.

Background: In this study, a meta-analysis system was used to evaluate the effects of 7 methods of treating sarcopenia, including resistance exercise, aerobic exercise, mixed exercise, nutrition, resistance combined with nutrition, mixed exercise combined with nutrition, and electric stimulation combined with nutrition, and their effects on physical function.

Methods: According to the PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and other foreign databases, as well as Chinese databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wan Fang, the literatures of randomized controlled trials with different intervention measures were searched. ADDIS software was used to compare and rank the results of the network meta-analysis.

Flavonoid synthesis in Lamiophlomis rotata from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is influenced by soil properties, microbial community, and gene expression.

Lamiophlomis rotata is a medicinal plant in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, in which flavonoid compounds are the major medicinal components. However, it remains unclear how flavonoid metabolism of L. rotata is influenced by soil properties and microbial community.

Tracing metal footprints via global renewable power value chains.

The globally booming renewable power industry has stimulated an unprecedented interest in metals as key infrastructure components. Many economies with different endowments and levels of technology participate in various production stages and cultivate value in global renewable power industry production networks, known as global renewable power value chains (RPVCs), complicating the identification of metal supply for the subsequent low-carbon power generation and demand. Here, we use a multi-regional input-output model (MRIO) combined with a value chain decomposition model to trace the metal footprints (MFs) and value-added of major global economies' renewable power sectors.

Assessing Transboundary Impacts of Energy-Driven Water Footprint on Scarce Water Resources in China: Catchments under Stress and Mitigation Options.

The energy supply chains operating beyond a region's jurisdiction can exert pressure on the availability of water resources in the local area. In China, however, there is a lack of transboundary assessments that investigate the effects of energy consumption on water stress within and across river basins. In this study, we therefore investigate transboundary impacts on scarce water resources that are induced by energy demands (i.

Effects of antibiotics on the endophyte and phyllosphere bacterial communities of lotus from above and below surface water in a typical shallow lake.

Antibiotics are ubiquitous pollutants that are widely found in aquatic ecosystems, where the bacterial community of aquatic plants is influenced by antibiotics. However, differences between endophyte and phyllosphere bacteria of Lotus from above and below surface water remains unclear. Lotus samples from above and below the surface water were collected to investigate the differences in endophyte and phyllosphere bacteria and dominant environmental factors in regions with low (L-) and high (H-) total antibiotic levels.

Changes in global food consumption increase GHG emissions despite efficiency gains along global supply chains.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to food consumption complement production-based or territorial accounts by capturing carbon leaked through trade. Here we evaluate global consumption-based food emissions between 2000 and 2019 and underlying drivers using a physical trade flow approach and structural decomposition analysis. In 2019, emissions throughout global food supply chains reached 30 ±9% of anthropogenic GHG emissions, largely triggered by beef and dairy consumption in rapidly developing countries-while per capita emissions in developed countries with a high percentage of animal-based food declined.

Study on the structure, antioxidant activity and degradation pattern of polysaccharides isolated from lotus seedpod.

The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is the largest aquatic vegetable in Asia. The lotus seedpod (LS) is an inedible part of the mature flower receptacle of the lotus plant.

Mesoporous Mixed-Metal-Organic Framework Incorporating a [Ru(Phen)] Photosensitizer for Highly Efficient Aerobic Photocatalytic Oxidative Coupling of Amines.

[Ru(Phen)] (phen = phenanthroline) as a very classical photosensitizer possesses strong absorption in the visible range and facilitates photoinduced electron transfer, which plays a vital role in regulating photochemical reactions. However, it remains a significant challenge to utilize more adequately and exploit more efficiently the ruthenium-based materials due to the uniqueness, scarcity, and nonrenewal of the noble metal. Here, we integrate the intrinsic advantages of the ruthenium-based photosensitizer and mesoporous metal-organic frameworks (meso-MOFs) into a [Ru(Phen)] photosensitizer-embedded heterometallic Ni(II)/Ru(II) meso-MOF () via the metalloligand approach.