Comprehensive reutilization of herbal waste:Coproduction of magnolol,honokiol,and β-amyrin from Magnolia officinalis residue

Herbal extraction residues(HERs)cause serious environmental pollution and resource waste.In this study,a novel green route was designed for the comprehensive reutilization of all components in HERs,taking Magnolia officinalis residues(MOR)as an example.The reluctant structure of MOR was first destroyed by alkali pretreatment to release the functional ingredients(magnolol and honokiol)originally remaining in MOR and to make MOR more accessible for hydrolysis.A metal–organic frame material MIL-101(Cr)with a maximum absorption capacity of 255.64 mg g^(-1)was synthesized to absorb the released honokiol and magnolol from the pretreated MOR solutions,and 40 g L^(-1)reducing sugars were obtained with 81.8%enzymatic hydrolysis rate at 10%MOR solid loading.Finally,382 mg L-1β-amyrin was produced from MOR hydrolysates by an engineered yeast strain.In total,1 kg honokiol,8 kg magnolol,and 7.64 kg β-amyrin could produce from 1 ton MOR by this cleaner process with a total economic output of 170,700 RMB.

Functional characterization and key residues engineering of a regiopromiscuity O-methyltransferase involved in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis in Nelumbo nucifera

Lotus(Nelumbo nucifera),an ancient aquatic plant,possesses a unique pharmacological activity that is primarily contributed by benzylisoquinoline alkaloids(BIAs).However,only few genes and enzymes involved in BIA biosynthesis in N.nucifera have been isolated and characterized.In the present study we identified the regiopromiscuity of an O-methyltransferase,designated NnOMT6,isolated from N.nucifera;NnOMT6 was found to catalyze the methylation of monobenzylisoquinoline 6-O/7-O,aporphine skeleton 6-O,phenylpropanoid 3-O,and protoberberine 2-O.We further probed the key residues affecting NnOMT6 activity via molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation.Verification using site-directed mutagenesis revealed that residues D316,N130,L135,N176A,D269,and E328 were critical for BIA O-methyltransferase activities;furthermore,N323A,a mutant of NnOMT6,demonstrated a substantial increase in catalytic efficiency for BIAs and a broader acceptor scope compared with wild-type NnOMT6.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first study to report the O-methyltransferase activity of an aporphine skeleton without benzyl moiety substitutions in N.nucifera.The study findings provide biocatalysts for the semisynthesis of related medical compounds and give insights into protein engineering to strengthen O-methyltransferase activity in plants.

Roles of G protein-coupled receptors in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a complex disease with multiple pathogenic factors.Although the pathogenesis of IBD is still unclear,a current hypothesis suggests that genetic susceptibility,environmental factors,a dysfunctional immune system,the microbiome,and the interactions of these factors substantially contribute to the occurrence and development of IBD.Although existing and emerging drugs have been proven to be effective in treating IBD,none can cure IBD permanently.G protein-coupled receptors(GPCRs)are critical signaling molecules implicated in the immune response,cell proliferation,inflammation regulation and intestinal barrier maintenance.Breakthroughs in the understanding of the structures and functions of GPCRs have provided a driving force for exploring the roles of GPCRs in the pathogenesis of diseases,thereby leading to the development of GPCR-targeted medication.To date,a number of GPCRs have been shown to be associated with IBD,significantly advancing the drug discovery process for IBD.The associations between GPCRs and disease activity,disease severity,and disease phenotypes have also paved new avenues for the precise management of patients with IBD.In this review,we mainly focus on the roles of the most studied proton-sensing GPCRs,cannabinoid receptors,and estrogen-related GPCRs in the pathogenesis of IBD and their potential clinical values in IBD and some other diseases.

A two-year(2020–2021)observation of marine phycotoxins in phytoplankton in typical mariculture areas of East China Sea

To learn the marine phycotoxins(MPTs)contamination status in mariculture areas in the East China Sea(ECS),from May 2020 to October 2021,80 net-concentrated phytoplankton samples were collected from 12 stations in three typical areas with high incidence of red tides,namely,Gouqi Island,Sandu’ao-Lianjiang,and Zhangzhou-Dongshan Island in ECS,and MPTs of the samples were detected.Six types of toxins were detected in 24 samples from 9 stations.Lipophilic marine toxins(LMTs)were more common and diverse in these areas.Pectenotoxin 2(PTX2)was the main lipophilic marine toxin(LMT)in the concentrated phytoplankton samples and the occurrence showed seasonal differences from north to south.According to the potential risks of pectenotoxin(PTXs)to seafood safety,it is suggested to execute regular monitoring on PTXs in ECS and a mandatory standard should be formulated based on the comprehensive analysis of in-situ monitoring and lab research.Meanwhile,contamination risks of cyclic imine toxins in the north and domoic acid(DA)in the south of ECS should also be paid with attention to.Only 2 paralytic shellfish toxins(PSTs),N-sulfocarbamoyl toxin C2(C2),and decarbamoyl gonyatoxin 3(dcGTX3),were found from spring samples in the north of ECS.As the biggest mussel culture county of China,Gouqi Island showed higher toxin diversity and the toxin detection rate was higher than the other two areas.In Gouqi Island area,PSTs were a serious potential threat in spring,and LMTs instead of PSTs became the main risk in summer-autumn seasons.To ensure the safety of seafood and marine environmental health,it is recommended to conduct long-term targeted tracking and monitoring of MPTs in this and similar mariculture areas.

Triterpenoid Saponins from the Seeds of Aesculus chinensis and Their Cytotoxicities

Six new triterpenoid saponins,aesculusosides A-F(1-6),together with 19 known ones,were isolated from the seeds of Aesculus chinensis.The new structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analyses and by comparison with previously reported data.Some of the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against MCF-7 cell line by an MTT assay,and compounds 15,16,19,and 23-25 exhibited inhibitory activities against MCF-7 with IC50 values ranging from 7.1 to 31.3μM.

Concomitant extrahepatic autoimmune diseases do not compromise the long-term outcomes of primary biliary cholangitis

Background:Primary biliary cholangitis(PBC)patients often have concomitant extrahepatic autoimmune(EHA)diseases including Sjögren’s syndrome(SS),systemic sclerosis(SSc),rheumatoid arthritis(RA),and autoimmune thyroid disease.The present study aimed to describe the prevalence of EHA diseases in PBC and explore the impact of EHA diseases on the long-term outcomes of PBC in Chinese patients.Methods:Medical records of PBC patients diagnosed in our institute were retrospectively reviewed.Pa-tients were followed up by a standardized telephone interview.The endpoints were defined as liver-related death and/or liver transplantation.Results:Totally 247 of the 985(25.1%)PBC patients enrolled in the study had at least one concomi-tant EHA disease.Sjögren’s syndrome(n=140,14.2%)was the most frequent one,followed by rheuma-toid arthritis(RA)(n=56,5.7%)and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis(n=45,4.6%).Patients with EHA dis-eases were more common in females(P<0.001)and in those with a family history of autoimmune disease(P=0.017).Overall,no differences were found between PBC patients with and without EHA dis-eases in terms of biochemical response rates to ursodeoxycholic acid,the incidence of hepatic events,or transplant-free survival.RA and EHA≥2 were protective factors for hepatic events in univariate Cox analysis,but the results became insignificant in multivariate analysis.Conclusions:Concomitant EHA diseases were common in PBC patients but did not compromise the long-term outcomes of PBC.

Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Primary Biliary Cholangitis (2021)

In 2015, the Chinese Society of Hepatology and the Chinese Society of Gastroenterology published a consensus on pri-mary biliary cholangitis (PBC). In the past years, numerous clinical studies have been published in the field of PBC. To guide the clinical diagnosis and management of PBC patients, the Chinese Society of Hepatology invited a panel of experts to assess the new clinical evidence and formulate the current guidelines.

Role of hydrogen in China's energy transition towards carbon neutrality target:IPAC analysis

China announced its intention to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 in 2020,and there is an urgent need to understand the viability of emission pathways to reach this goal.This study presents the IPAC modelling team's scenario analysis on China's hydrogen utilisation as a key option for carbon neutrality pathways.In contrast to other studies,this study examines the demand for hydrogen as a feedstock and process material in the industrial sector and as a source of energy in the transportation sector in relation to China's energy system transition.The process of manufacturing hydrogen from carbon-free power generation was also analysed.The finding indicates that the demand for hydrogen could reach 52.4 Mt by 2050 and that the hydrogen will come from renewable power generation and nuclear energy,increasing the demand for electricity by 1884.8 TW h.There are several regions in China with abundant renewable energy and low power generation costs,which will make the hydrogen-based industry competitive in these regions after 2035.

Quantitative evaluation framework and application for regional water sustainability under local energy transition

Quantitatively analysing the impacts on regional water sustainability under the energy transition is vital to regional water management and specific technology selection,which is also relevant to dealing with climate change.This study proposed a new multi-indicator evaluation framework for regional water sustainability under local energy transition to quantitatively evaluate the water withdrawal and water environment during the energy transition from a lifecycle perspective.An integrated regional energy-water evaluation model was also developed based on the Low Emissions Analysis Platform with a combination of lifecycle assessment and water footprint analysis.Shaanxi province in China was then taken as a case study,and the impacts of its energy transition on regional water environmental sustainability,including quantity and quality,were investigated under five scenarios.Results showed that the large-scale application of carbon capture,utilisation and storage technology and bio-energy equipped with carbon capture and storage technology could have additional advantages regarding CO_(2) emissions.However,such technologies exhibit a minimal effect on improving water environmental quality and reducing water demand for the first time due to the leakage of absorbents,CO_(2) and other risky substances during capture,transportation and storage from a lifecycle perspective.This finding drives the innovation of related breakthrough technologies with the promotion of water and end-treatment technologies in the future.

中性植酸酶对鲫鱼生长及磷利用的影响（英文）

目的:比较研究在无机磷(磷酸二氢钙)添加不足时,添加不同剂量中性植酸酶对鲫鱼生长和磷利用的影响,为水产养殖更好地应用植酸酶提供依据并减少磷的排放,保护环境。创新点:试验采用的中性植酸酶能够耐受饲料加工温度,并从营养物质消化及磷利用等方面研究中性植酸酶对鲫鱼的影响,探究低磷日粮在水产养殖的应用。方法:384条鲫鱼((1.50±0.01)g)随机分为6组,分别饲喂对照组(未添加中性植酸酶)跟试验组(添加不同剂量中性植酸酶)日粮63天,比较3组间各项指标差异。结论:在以植物蛋白为主的日粮中,添加中性植酸酶能够促进植酸磷水解,提高鲫鱼对饲粮中磷、粗蛋白等营养物质的利用,促进钙、磷等矿物质在鲫鱼体中的沉积,降低粪磷排出量,促进鲫鱼生长。说明可以在鲫鱼日粮中添加中性植酸酶,减少无机磷的添加,降低粪磷排放,从而减轻环境污染。

Generating broad-spectrum tolerance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in rice by base editing

Herbicide-tolerant rice varieties generated by genome editing are highly desirable for weed control.We have used a cytosine base editor to create a series of missense mutations in the P171 and/or G628 codons of the acetolactate synthase(ALS)gene to confer herbicide tolerance in rice.The four different missense mutations in the P171 codon,P171S,P171A,P171Yand P171F,exhibited different patterns of tolerance towards five representative herbicides from five chemical families of ALS inhibitors.For example,P171S and P171A had lower levels of tolerance than P171Y and P171F to bispyribac but not to the other herbicides.Interestingly,a novel triple mutant(P171F/G628E/G629S)had the highest tolerance to all five tested herbicides.Field trials showed that both P171F and P171F/G628E/G629S could potentially be used with nicosulfuron.Our work illustrates an effective way of using base editing to generate herbicide tolerance in elite rice varieties.

Are China's Nationally Determined Contributions(NDCs) so bad?

A recent article by Robiou du Pont and Meinshausen [1](hereafter RM2018) declared that when taken as benchmark by other countries, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of India, the EU, the USA and China lead to 2.6, 3.2, 4 and over 5.1 °C warmings. RM2018 was quickly referred in media that China's NDC is "one of the worst to contribute to the global effort to reach the targets under Paris Agreement”.

土曲霉来源的β-葡萄糖苷酶的酶学特性及其对大豆异黄酮的水解（英文）

目的:分离纯化土曲霉来源的β-葡萄糖苷酶(At-Bgl),探究其酶学特性及其对大豆异黄酮的水解效果。创新点:成功将At-Bgl分离纯化出来,并首次将分离纯化后的At-Bgl应用于水解大豆异黄酮糖苷。方法:利用超滤、透析、阴离子交换柱层析和聚丙烯酰氨凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)等手段分离纯化土曲霉来源的β-葡萄糖苷酶(表1),并用解析电离串联飞行时间质谱技术(MALDI-TOF/TOF MS)鉴定蛋白条带。以对硝基苯基β-D-葡萄糖苷(p NPG)为底物进行酶学特性研究;以p NPG和纤维二糖为底物,进行酶动力学参数研究(表2);以胃蛋白酶和胰蛋白酶模拟动物胃肠道酸性环境,进行酸耐受性研究。通过高效液相色谱(HPLC)检测At-Bgl对大豆异黄酮糖苷的水解效果(表3)。结论:At-Bgl属糖苷水解酶第三家族(GH3),分子量约为120 k Da(图1),最适酶解条件为p H 5.0和65°C,具有良好的热稳定性和p H稳定性(图2),且胃蛋白酶和胰蛋白酶耐受性强(图3)。At-Bgl可将大豆异黄酮糖苷高效转化为异黄酮苷元(图4)。综上所述,At-Bgl在增强动物胃肠道对大豆异黄酮的水解方面具有重要应用价值。

Carbon dioxide adsorption behaviors of aluminum-pillared montmorillonite-supported alkaline earth metals

The Al-pillared montmorillonite-supported alkaline earth metal 5M/Al-PILC(PILC = pillared clay, M = Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) and x Mg/Al-PILC( x = 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt.%) samples were prepared using an impregnation method. Physical properties of the materials were determined by means of X-ray diffraction(XRD) and N2 adsorption-desorption, and their CO2 adsorption behaviors were investigated using the thermogravimetric analyzer(TG), CO2 temperatureprogrammed desorption(CO2-TPD), and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared transform spectroscopy(in situ-DRIFTS) techniques. It is shown that 5 Mg/Al-PILC possessed the highest CO2 adsorption capacity(2.559 mmol/g). The characterization results indicate that Alpillaring increased the specific surface area of montmorillonite, which was beneficial for the adsorption of CO2. The CO2 adsorption process on the sample was mainly chemical adsorption, and alkalinity was the main factor influencing its adsorption capacity. The alkalinity of the sample was enhanced by loading an appropriate amount of alkaline earth metal, and the adsorbed CO2 was present in the form of bicarbonate and carbonate. In addition, the 5Mg/Al-PILC sample exhibited an excellent regeneration efficiency. We believe that the outcome of this research would provide a good option for developing highly effective CO2 adsorption materials.

Erratum to:Generating broad-spectrum tolerance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides in rice by base editing

This paper contains an error in Figure 2, where P171Y and P171A under treatment of pyroxsulam have a duplicated picture.This picture is for P171Y but not for P171A.We provide the correct picture for P171A as follows. This new picture does not affect the conclusion of this article.

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of silver nanoparticles in water using ionic liquid1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

Using the ionic liquid（IL）1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as the extractant and methanol as the dispersion solvent,a dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method was developed to extract silver nanoparticles（AgN Ps）from environmental water samples.Parameters that influenced the extraction efficiency such as IL concentration,pH and extraction time were optimized.Under the optimized conditions,the highest extraction efficiency for AgN Ps was above 90% with an enrichment factor of 〉90.The extracted AgN Ps in the IL phase were identified by transmission electron microscopy and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy,and quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after microwave digestion,with a detection limit of 0.01 μg/L.The spiked recovery of AgN Ps was 84.4% with a relative standard deviation（RSD）of 3.8%（n = 6）at a spiked level of 5 μg/L,and 89.7% with a RSD of 2.2%（n = 6）at a spiked level of 300 μg/L,respectively.Commonly existed environmental ions had a very limited influence on the extraction efficiency.The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of Ag NPs in river water,lake water,and the influent and effluent of a wastewater treatment plant,with recoveries in the range of 71.0%–90.9% at spiking levels of 0.11–4.7 μg/L.

An Integrated Study for the Utilization of Anthraquinone Compounds Extract“Heshouwu”In vivo and their Comparative Metabolism in Liver Microsomes Using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF/MS^(n)

Objective: Anthraquinone(AQ), a major bioactive component of the traditional Chinese medicine He ShouW u, has widespread applications in industry and medicine. The objective of the current study is to explore the differences in the bioavailability of anthraquinones in vivo and the metabolism in liver microsomes. Materials and Methods: In vivo, we used a reliable UPLC?ESI?Qq Q?MS/MS method to measure seven AQ compounds in the jugular vein plasma of rats following oral administration of He Shou Wu. Furthermore, in order to quantify the bioavailability of AQs in vivo and to further understand the metabolism of these compounds, we compared the in vitro metabolism of AQ in different species with respect to metabolic profiles, the enzymes involved, and catalytic efficiency using liver microsomes from human(HLM), mouse(MLM), rat(RLM), and beagle dog(DLM). Results: We identified two metabolic pathways, including the hydroxylation and glucuronidation of AQ, in the liver microsomes of humans and other species using UPLC?ESI?Q?TOF. We found that substitutions on the AQ ring were crucial to the activity and regioselectivity of its hydroxylation. In general, hydroxylation activity decreased greatly with β?COOH(rhein) and enhanced dramatically with β?OH(emodin). We also found that glucuronidation of the compound emodin?8?O?β?D?glucoside acts as the main isoform in AQ hydroxylation in HLM and DLM. Total microsomal intrinsic clearance values for AQ were greatest in mouse microsomes, followed by those in dog, human, and rat microsomes. Conclusion: The absorption of different anthrquinone compounds varied based on the compound structure, the metabolism types and products of anthraquinones in liver microsomes were different in different species. These findings provide vital information for a deeper unuunderstanding of the metabolism of AQs.

The earliest Timematids in Burmese amber reveal diverse tarsal pads of stick insects in the mid-Cretaceous

Many extant insects have developed pad structures, euplantulae or arolia on their tarsi to increase friction or enhance adhesion for better mobility. Many polyneopteran insects with euplantulae, for example, Grylloblattodea, Mantophasmatodea and Orthoptera, have been described from the Mesozoic. However, the origin and evolution of stick insects' euplantulae are poorly understood due to rare fossil records. Here, we report the earliest fossil records of Timematodea hitherto, Tumefactipes prolongates gen. et sp. nov. and Granosicorpes Urates gen. et sp. nov., based on three specimens from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber. Specimens of Tumefactipes prolongates gen. et sp. nov. have extremely specialized and expanded euplantulae on their tarsomere II. These new findings are the first known and the earliest fossil records about euplantula structure within Phasmatodea, demonstrating the diversity of euplantulae in Polyneoptera during the Mesozoic. Such tarsal pads might have increased friction and helped these mid-Cretaceous stick insects to climb more firmly on various surfaces, such as broad leaves, wetted tree branches or ground. These specimens provide more morphological data for us to understand the relationships of Timematodea, Euphasmatodea, Orthoptera and Embioptera, suggesting that Timematodea might be monophyletic with Euphasmatodea rather than Embioptera and Phasmatodea should have a closer relationship with Orthoptera rather than Embioptera.

Disaster prevention and reduction in Anthropocene

Natural disasters cause considerable property damage and loss of life as well as destruction of ecosystem and natural resources. In the context of global change, extreme events are expected to increase in both frequency and intensity. To prevent natural disasters and mitigate the loss, we need to act quickly and effectively. It would be conducive to achieve sustainable economic development, reduce disaster vulnerabilities and risks, and build resilience through implementing effective measures of disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.