CRISPR/CasΦ2-mediated gene editing in wheat and rye

The recent advancements in developing the CRISPR/Cas9 system and various derivative tools(e.g.,base editors)have accelerated basic plant science research and crop improvement by creating multiple types of genetic variations(Li et al.,2023a).

Effects of acid,acid-ZVI/PMS,Fe(Ⅱ)/PMS and ZVI/PMS conditioning on the wastewater activated sludge(WAS)dewaterability and extracellular polymeric substances(EPS)

The effects of four conditioning approaches:Acid,Acid-zero-valent iron(ZVI)/peroxydisulfate(PMS),Fe(Ⅱ)/PMS and ZVI/PMS,on wastewater activated sludge(WAS)dewatering and organics distribution in supernatant and extracellular polymeric substances(EPS)layers were investigated.The highest reduction in bound water and the most WAS destruction was achieved by Acid-ZVI/PMS,and the optimum conditions were pH 3,ZVI dosage 0.15 g/g dry solid(DS),oxone dosage 0.07 g/g DS and reaction time 10.6 min with the reductions in capillary suction time(CST)and water content(Wc)as 19.67%and 8.49%,respectively.Four conditioning approaches could result in TOC increase in EPS layers and supernatant,and protein(PN)content in tightly bound EPS(TB-EPS).After conditioning,organics in EPS layers could migrate to supernatant.Polysaccharide(PS)was easier to migrate to supernatant than PN.In addition,Acid,Acid-ZVI/PMS or Fe(Ⅱ)/PMS conditioning promoted the release of some polysaccharides containing ring vibrations v P=O,v C-O-C,v C-O-P functional groups from TB-EPS.ESR spectra proved that both radicals of SO4-·and·OH contributed to dewatering and organics transformation and migration.CST value of WAS positively correlated with the ratios of PN/PS in LB-EPS and total EPS,while it negatively correlated with TOC,PN content and PS content in TB-EPS,as well as PS content in supernatant and LB-EPS.BWC negatively correlated to zeta potential and TOC value,PN content,and HA content in supernatant.

Brazing of WC–8Co cemented carbide to steel using Cu–Ni–Al alloys as filler metal: Microstructures and joint mechanical behavior

Three novel Cu-Ni-A1 brazing filler alloys with Cu/Ni weight ratio of 4：1 and 2.5-10 wt% Al were developed and characterized, and the wetting of three Cu-Ni-Al alloys on WC-8Co cemented carbide were investigated at 1190-1210 ℃ by the sessile drop technique. Vacuum brazing of the WC-8Co cemented carbide to SAE1045 steel using the three Cu-Ni-Al alloys as filler metal was further carried out based on the wetting test results. The interfacial interactions and joint mechanical behaviors involving microhardness, shear strength and fracture were analyzed and discussed. The experimental results show that all the three wetting systems present excellent wettability with final contact angles of less than 5 °and fast spreading. An obvious degeneration layer with continuous thin strip forms in the cemented carbide adjacent to the Cu-Ni-A1/WC-8Co interface. The variation of microhardness in the joint cross-section is closely related to the interactions （such as diffusion and solid solution） of WC-8Co/Cu-Ni-Al/steel sys- tem. Compared with the other two brazed joints, the WC-8Co/Cu-19Ni-SAl/steel brazed joint presents more reliable interlayer microstructure and mechanical property while brazing at the corresponding wetting temperatures for 5 rain, and its average shear strength is over 200 MPa after further optimizing the brazing temperature and holding time. The joint shear fracture path passes along the degeneration layer, Cu-Ni-A1/WC-8Co interface and brazing interlayer, showing a mixed ductile-brittle fracture.2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science ＆ Technology.

Synthesis of nearly spherical AlN particles by an in-situ nitriding combustion route

Spherical AlN powders with micrometer size have attracted great attention owing to their good fluidity and dispersity. However, the industrial preparation methods usually require high temperature and long soaking time, which lead to the high cost and limit the wide application of the products. Herein, nearly spherical AlN particles with the average size of 2.5 μm were successfully synthesized via an in-situ combustion synthesis method. The effect of N_(2) pressure, NH_(4)Cl content, and Al particle size on the combustion reaction procedure, phase composition, and microstructure of the products was systematically investigated. The results showed that the decreased N_(2) pressure, increased NH_(4)Cl content, and Al particle size led to the decreasing of combustion temperature and speed, which further affected the morphology of the products. As a result, low N_(2) pressure(0.2 MPa), a small amount of NH4Cl(0.5 wt%), and fine Al particles(~2.5 μm) contributed to a moderate combustion temperature and facilitated the formation of nearly spherical AlN particles. In addition, based on the gas-releasing assisted quenching experiments and thermo-kinetic analysis, a two-step growth mechanism for the nearly spherical AlN particles was rationally proposed. The present method shows the advantages of low cost and high efficiency for preparing nearly spherical AlN particles, which can be used as raw materials for electronic substrates and fillers for packaging materials.

Mullite whiskers prepared by molten salt method using Si powders

Mullite whiskers were prepared from Si powders in molten Al2(SO4)3-Na2SO4 mixture salts with different Al/Si molar ratio(R)of raw materials.The resulting mullite whiskers,had been investigated using X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS)and infrared spectroscopy analysis(FT-IR).Mullite phase was obtained in molten salts when the temperature reached at 850℃.SEM and EDS results revealed that two kinds of microstructures were formed in the final product,Al-rich mullite pellets and clusters of tiny mullite crystals,and the content of Al-rich mullite pellets increased with the higher Al/Si molar ratio(R)adopted in raw materials.A new oxidation-dissolution mechanism was proposed to explain mullite whiskers growth.According to thermodynamic analysis,mullite phase might be spontaneously formed as the temperature reached the decomposition temperature of aluminum sulfate(1023 K).

The size distribution of airborne bacteria and human pathogenic bacteria in a commercial composting plant

Composting plants are regarded as one of the important sources of environmental bioaerosols.However,limitations in the size distribution of airborne bacteria have prevented our comprehensive understanding of their risk to human health and their dispersal behavior.In this study,different sizes of airborne bacteria were collected using an eight-stage impactor from a full-scale composting facility.Size-related abundance and communities of airborne bacteria as well as human pathogenic bacteria(HPB)were investigated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing coupled with droplet digital PCR.Our results indicate that the bacterial concentrations from the eight stages were approximately 10^(4)-105copies/m^(3).Although no statistical correlation was detected between the particle size and the Shannon index,the influence of size on bacterial lineages was observed in both composting and packaging areas.For airborne bacteria from different stages,the dominant phyla were Firmicutes,Proteobacteria,and Actinobacteria,and the dominant genera was Bacillus.Seven out of eight HPB with a small geometric mean aerodynamic diameter had a high concentration in composting areas.Based on diameters of 2.42 to 5.09μm,most HPB in the composting areas were expected to be deposited on the bronchus and secondary bronchus.However,in the packaging areas,the deposition of HPB(diameters 3.70 to 8.96μm)occurred in the upper part of the respiratory tract.Our results on the size distribution,abundance,and diversity of these bacteria offer important information for the systematic evaluation of bacterial pathogenicity and the potential health impacts on workers in composting plants and the surrounding residents.

Corrigendum to ‘Effects of acid, acid-ZVI/PMS, Fe(Ⅱ)/PMS and ZVI/PMS conditioning on the wastewater activated sludge (WAS) dewaterability and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)' [J. Environ. Sci. 91 (2020) 73-84]

The authors regret'In the acknowledgments of this manuscript,the Nos.51678035 and 51478041 of the National NaturalScience Foundation of China are wrong.The correct Nos.are 51678053 and 51478041'.The authors would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused.