A comparison between high temperature catalytic and persulfate oxidation for the determination of total dissolved nitrogen in natural waters

Total dissolved nitrogen(TDN) is an important parameter for assessing the nutrient cycling and status of natural waters.The accurate determination of TDN in natural waters is essential for assessing its contents and distinguishing different forms of nitrogen in the water.The TDN in various systems has been largely documented,and the concentrations of TDN are usually obtained using high-temperature catalytic(HTC) or persulfate oxidation(PO).However,the accuracy of these methods and their suitability for all types of natural waters are still unclear.To explore both methods in-depth,assorted samples were tested,including eight solutions composed of nitrogen-containing compounds(3 dissolved inorganic nitrogen fractions:NO_(3)^(-),NO_(2)^(-)and NH_(4)^(+);5 organic compounds:EDTA-2Na,vitamin B1,vitamin B12,amino acids,and urea) and 105 natural waters which were collected from an open ocean(Northwest Pacific Ocean,28),a marginal sea(Yellow Sea,34),an estuary(Huanghe River mouth,31),rivers(Huanghe River,4;Licun River,4),and precipitations(4 samples).The results showed that heterocycles and molecular dimensions had certain effects on the oxidation efficiency of the PO method but had little effect on HTC.There was no significant difference between the two methods for natural waters,but HTC was more suitable for deep-sea samples with low TDN concentrations(less than 10 μmol/L) and low organic activity.Overall,HTC has a relatively simple measurement process,a high degree of automation,and low error.Therefore,HTC can be recommended to determine the TDN of samples in freshwater and seawater.

Biomimetic natural biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine:new biosynthesis methods,recent advances,and emerging applications

Biomimetic materials have emerged as attractive and competitive alternatives for tissue engineering(TE)and regenerative medicine.In contrast to conventional biomaterials or synthetic materials,biomimetic scaffolds based on natural biomaterial can offer cells a broad spectrum of biochemical and biophysical cues that mimic the in vivo extracellular matrix(ECM).Additionally,such materials have mechanical adaptability,micro-structure interconnectivity,and inherent bioactivity,making them ideal for the design of living implants for specific applications in TE and regenerative medicine.This paper provides an overview for recent progress of biomimetic natural biomaterials(BNBMs),including advances in their preparation,functionality,potential applications and future challenges.We highlight recent advances in the fabrication of BNBMs and outline general strategies for functionalizing and tailoring the BNBMs with various biological and physicochemical characteristics of native ECM.Moreover,we offer an overview of recent key advances in the functionalization and applications of versatile BNBMs for TE applications.Finally,we conclude by offering our perspective on open challenges and future developments in this rapidly-evolving field.

Genetic and epigenetic targets of natural dietary compounds as anti-Alzheimer's agents

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia that principally affects older adults.Pathogenic factors,such as oxidative stress,an increase in acetylcholinesterase activity,mitochondrial dysfunction,genotoxicity,and neuroinflammation are present in this syndrome,which leads to neurodegeneration.Neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease are considered late-onset diseases caused by the complex combination of genetic,epigenetic,and environmental factors.There are two main types of Alzheimer’s disease,known as familial Alzheimer’s disease(onset<65 years)and late-onset or sporadic Alzheimer’s disease(onset≥65 years).Patients with familial Alzheimer’s disease inherit the disease due to rare mutations on the amyloid precursor protein(APP),presenilin 1 and 2(PSEN1 and PSEN2)genes in an autosomaldominantly fashion with closely 100%penetrance.In contrast,a different picture seems to emerge for sporadic Alzheimer’s disease,which exhibits numerous non-Mendelian anomalies suggesting an epigenetic component in its etiology.Importantly,the fundamental pathophysiological mechanisms driving Alzheimer’s disease are interfaced with epigenetic dysregulation.However,the dynamic nature of epigenetics seems to open up new avenues and hope in regenerative neurogenesis to improve brain repair in Alzheimer’s disease or following injury or stroke in humans.In recent years,there has been an increase in interest in using natural products for the treatment of neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease.Through epigenetic mechanisms,such as DNA methylation,non-coding RNAs,histone modification,and chromatin conformation regulation,natural compounds appear to exert neuroprotective effects.While we do not purport to cover every in this work,we do attempt to illustrate how various phytochemical compounds regulate the epigenetic effects of a few Alzheimer’s disease-related genes.

New insights into the deposition of natural gas hydrate on pipeline surfaces:A molecular dynamics simulation study

Natural gas hydrate(NGH)can cause pipeline blockages during the transportation of oil and gas under high pressures and low temperatures.Reducing hydrate adhesion on pipelines is viewed as an efficient way to prevent NGH blockages.Previous studies suggested the water film can greatly increase hydrate adhesion in gas-dominant system.Herein,by performing the molecular dynamics simulations,we find in water-dominant system,the water film plays different roles in hydrate deposition on Fe and its corrosion surfaces.Specifically,due to the strong affinity of water on Fe surface,the deposited hydrate cannot convert the adsorbed water into hydrate,thus,a water film exists.As water affinities decrease(Fe>Fe_(2)O_(3)>FeO>Fe_(3)O_(4)),adsorbed water would convert to amorphous hydrate on Fe_(2)O_(3)and form the ordered hydrate on FeO and Fe_(3)O_(4)after hydrate deposition.While absorbed water film converts to amorphous or to hydrate,the adhesion strength of hydrate continuously increases(Fe<Fe_(2)O_(3)<FeO<Fe_(3)O_(4)).This is because the detachment of deposited hydrate prefers to occur at soft region of liquid layer,the process of which becomes harder as liquid layer vanishes.As a result,contrary to gas-dominant system,the water film plays the weakening roles on hydrate adhesion in water-dominant system.Overall,our results can help to better understand the hydrate deposition mechanisms on Fe and its corrosion surfaces and suggest hydrate deposition can be adjusted by changing water affinities on pipeline surfaces.

Spatiotemporal variations of ecosystem services and driving factors in the Tianchi Bogda Peak Natural Reserve of Xinjiang,China

Nature reserves play a significant role in providing ecosystem services and are key sites for biodiversity conservation.The Tianchi Bogda Peak Natural Reserve(TBPNR),located in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China,is an important ecological barrier area in the temperate arid zone.The evaluation of its important ecosystem services is of great significance to improve the management level and ecological protection efficiency of the reserve.In the present study,we assessed the spatiotemporal variations of four ecosystem services(including net primary productivity(NPP),water yield,soil conservation,and habitat quality)in the TBPNR from 2000 to 2020 based on the environmental and social data using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs(InVEST)model.In addition,the coldspot and hotspot areas of ecosystem services were identified by hotspot analysis,and the trade-off and synergistic relationships between ecosystem services were analyzed using factor analysis in a geographic detector.During the study period,NPP and soil conservation values in the reserve increased by 48.20%and 25.56%,respectively;conversely,water yield decreased by 16.56%,and there was no significant change in habitat quality.Spatially,both NPP and habitat quality values were higher in the northern part and lower in the southern part,whereas water yield showed an opposite trend.Correlation analysis revealed that NPP showed a synergistic relationship with habitat quality and soil conservation,and exhibited a trade-off relationship with water yield.Water yield and habitat quality also had a trade-off relationship.NPP and habitat quality were affected by annual average temperature and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI),respectively,while water yield and soil conservation were more affected by digital elevation model(DEM).Therefore,attention should be paid to the spatial distribution and dynamics of trade-off and synergistic relationships between ecosystem services in future ecological management.The findings of the present study provide a reference that could facilitate the sustainable utilization of ecosystem services in the typical fragile areas of Northwest China.

A CFD Model to Evaluate Near-Surface Oil Spill from a Broken Loading Pipe in Shallow Coastal Waters

Oil spills continue to generate various issues and concerns regarding their effect and behavior in the marine environment,owing to the related potential for detrimental environmental,economic and social implications.It is essential to have a solid understanding of the ways in which oil interacts with the water and the coastal ecosystems that are located nearby.This study proposes a simplified model for predicting the plume-like transport behavior of heavy Bunker C fuel oil discharging downward from an acutely-angled broken pipeline located on the water surface.The results show that the spill overall profile is articulated in three major flow areas.The first,is the source field,i.e.,a region near the origin of the initial jet,followed by the intermediate or transport field,namely,the region where the jet oil flow transitions into an underwater oil plume flow and starts to move horizontally,and finally,the far-field,where the oil re-surface and spreads onto the shore at a significant distance from the spill site.The behavior of the oil in the intermediate field is investigated using a simplified injection-type oil spill model capable of mimicking the undersea trapping and lateral migration of an oil plume originating from a negatively buoyant jet spill.A rectangular domain with proper boundary conditions is used to implement the model.The Projection approach is used to discretize a modified version of the Navier-Stokes equations in two dimensions.A benchmark fluid flow issue is used to verify the model and the results indicate a reasonable relationship between specific gravity and depth as well as agreement with the aerial data and a vertical temperature profile plot.

Natural Silicate as a Solid Support for the Calix[4]Thiophosphorus Derivative for Removal Mercury (II), as Picrate from Water

Currently a technique widely used for gold extraction is mercury by amalgamation technique, the tailing produced pollutes water of all kinds, so it is necessary to develop a form of selective mitigation, for which it is necessary to use complexing agents based on calixarene functionalized with mercury sequestering agents. These are immobilized by adding supports based on natural silica to form polymers and make them insoluble in all types of solvents, so that they can be used as an extractor and at the same time regenerate to their original properties for continuous reuse.

Perceptions of Bark Beetle Landscape Disturbance Effects on Natural Resources and Drinking Water: Assessing Communication and Knowledge Exchange in the Rocky Mountain Region, USA

Widespread changes to forested watersheds affected by the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) epidemic across western North America raised concerns about the effects of this climate-induced disturbance on drinking water and natural resources. Effective communication and knowledge exchange across scientists and stakeholders (i.e., drinking water managers) is essential for constructively responding to such landscape scale disturbances, providing improved adaptive capacity through knowledge sharing. An assessment of stakeholder knowledge levels, information needs, primary concerns, and suggested communication strategies were conducted via an online elicitation survey and World Science Café workshops. Knowledge levels, assessed via a survey of local water managers and experts, were relatively low with approximately half of the respondents reporting little to no knowledge of the effects of mountain pine beetle on drinking water quality and quantity, thereby indicating limited knowledge exchange between scientists and drinking water stakeholders. Increased accessibility and dissemination of research findings pertinent to the mountain pine beetle epidemic’s effects on drinking water quality and quantity is necessary for natural resource management. Recommendations for improved communication among scientists and drinking water stakeholders in particular and forest health in general include dispersal of non-academic research summaries, information exchange through existing media and community resources, demonstration projects, and information clearinghouses. This information provides a better understanding of the challenges, concerns, and first-hand experience of stakeholders of a landscape disturbance issue to apply this knowledge to enhance land management practice and how researchers on this overall project enhanced science communication efforts.

Effect of artificial natural light on the development of myopia among primary school-age children in China:a three-year longitudinal study

AIM:To assess the efficacy of artificial natural light in preventing incident myopia in primary school-age children.METHODS:This is a prospective,randomized control,intervention study.A total of 1840 students from 39 classes in 4 primary schools in Foshan participated in this study.The whole randomization method was adopted to include classes as a group according to 1:1 randomized control.Classrooms in the control group were illuminated by usual light,and classrooms in the intervention group were illuminated by artificial natural light.All students received uncorrected visual acuity and best-corrected visual acuity measurement,non-cycloplegic autorefraction,ocular biometric examination,slit lamp and strabismus examination.Three-year follow-up,the students underwent same procedures.Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refraction≤-0.50 D and uncorrected visual acuity<20/20.RESULTS:There were 894 students in the control group and 946 students in the intervention group with a mean±SD age of 7.50±0.53y.The three-year cumulative incidence rate of myopia was 26.4%(207 incident cases among 784 eligible participants at baseline)in the control group and 21.2%(164 incident cases among 774 eligible participants at baseline)in the intervention group[difference of 5.2%(95%CI,3.7%to 10.1%);P=0.035].There was also a significant difference in the three-year change in spherical equivalent refraction for the control group(-0.81 D)compared with the intervention group[-0.63 D;difference of 0.18 D(95%CI,0.08 to 0.28 D);P<0.001].Elongation of axial length was significantly different between in the control group(0.77 mm)and the intervention group[0.72 mm;difference of 0.05 mm(95%CI,0.01 to 0.09 mm);P=0.003].CONCLUSION:Artificial natural light in the classroom of primary schools can result in reducing incidence rate of myopia during a period of three years.

How topography and neighbor shape the fate of trees in subtropical forest restoration:Environmental filtering and resource competition drive natural regeneration

The structure of plant communities at local scales depends on both the spatial heterogeneity of abiotic environmental factors and the biotic interactions within the community.However,although environmental filtering due to microtopographic heterogeneity and resource competition among plants caused by spatial variation in tree density and size are considered to be very important in explaining the mechanisms of community assembly,their effects on the processes of individual mortality and recruitment in natural forest regeneration,as well as their relative contributions,are still poorly understood.To address this,we established a 12-ha permanent plot in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest area and measured microtopographic variables such as elevation,slope,aspect,and terrain position index(TPI)using a total station.We monitored the individual mortality and recruitment in forest natural regeneration through repeated surveys at 5-year intervals.We fitted spatial covariance models to jointly use multiple factors from three groups of variables(microtopographic effect,neighborhood density effects,neighborhood size effects)as explanatory variables to analyze their roles in driving the mortality and recruitment of all individual and 12 dominant species in forest natural regeneration at the neighborhood scale.Our results show that:(1)In the crucial early stages of secondary forest restoration,natural regeneration is influenced by a synergy of environmental filtering,due to microtopographic heterogeneity,and resource competition among plants.(2)For distinct species responses,evergreen dominant species'mortality is largely explained by neighborhood effects,while deciduous species are more affected by topographic factors.Furthermore,the adverse effects of larger conspecific trees on younger trees indicate a pattern of competitive pressure leading to mortality among regenerating trees,such pattern emphasis the influence of parent trees on natural regeneration.(3)As trees grow,their interaction with these stressors evolves,suggesting a shift in their resource acquisition strategies and response to neighborhood effects and environmental factors.Despite these changes,the relative importance of topographic factors in determining survival and recruitment success remains constant.This research highlights the importance of considering both environmental and neighborhood effects in forest management,particularly in early secondary forest restoration.

Literature classification and its applications in condensed matter physics and materials science by natural language processing

The exponential growth of literature is constraining researchers’access to comprehensive information in related fields.While natural language processing(NLP)may offer an effective solution to literature classification,it remains hindered by the lack of labelled dataset.In this article,we introduce a novel method for generating literature classification models through semi-supervised learning,which can generate labelled dataset iteratively with limited human input.We apply this method to train NLP models for classifying literatures related to several research directions,i.e.,battery,superconductor,topological material,and artificial intelligence(AI)in materials science.The trained NLP‘battery’model applied on a larger dataset different from the training and testing dataset can achieve F1 score of 0.738,which indicates the accuracy and reliability of this scheme.Furthermore,our approach demonstrates that even with insufficient data,the not-well-trained model in the first few cycles can identify the relationships among different research fields and facilitate the discovery and understanding of interdisciplinary directions.

Sustainable, thermoplastic and hydrophobic coating from natural cellulose and cinnamon to fabricate eco-friendly catering packaging

Non-degradable polymers cause serious environmental pollution problem,such as the widely-used while unrecyclable coatings which significantly affect the overall degradation performance of products.It is imperative and attractive to develop biodegradable functional coatings.Herein,we proposed a novel strategy to successfully prepare biodegradable,thermoplastic and hydrophobic coatings with high transparence and biosafety by weakening the interchain interactions between cellulose chain.The natural cellulose and cinnamic acid were as raw materials.Via reducing the degree of polymerization(DP)of cellulose and regulating the degree of substitution(DS)of cinnamate moiety,the obtained cellulose cinnamate(CC)exhibited not only the thermalflow behavior but also good biodegradability,which solves the conflict between the thermoplasticity and biodegradability in cellulose-based materials.The glass transition temperature(T_(g))and thermalflow temperature(T_(f))of the CC could be adjusted in a range of 150–200℃ and 180–210℃,respectively.The CC with DS<1.2 and DP≤100 degraded more than 60%after an enzyme treatment for 7 days,and degraded more than 80%after a composting treatment for 42 days.Furthermore,CC had no toxicity to human epidermal cells even at a high concentration(0.5 mg mL^(-1)).In addition,CC could be easily fabricated into multifunctional coating with high hydrophobicity,thermal adhesion and high transparence.Therefore,after combining with cellophane and paperboard,CC coating with low DP and DS could be used to prepare fully-biodegradable heat-sealing packaging,art paper,paper cups,paper straws and food packaging boxes.

Facile synthesis of hierarchical NaX zeolite from natural kaolinite for efficient Knoevenagel condensation

Zeolite catalysts have found extensive applications in the synthesis of various fine chemicals.However,the micropores of zeolites impose diffusion limitations on bulky molecules,greatly reducing the catalytic efficiency.Herein,we explore an economic and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing hierarchical NaX zeolite that exhibits improved catalytic performance in the Knoevenagel condensation reaction for producing the useful fine chemical 2-cyano-3-phenylacrylate.The synthesis was achieved via a low-temperature activation of kaolinite and subsequent in-situ transformation strategy without any template or seed.Systematic characterizations reveal that the synthesized NaX zeolite has both intercrystalline and intra-crystalline mesopores,smaller crystal size,and larger external specific surface area compared to commercial NaX zeolite.Detailed mechanism investigations show that the inter-crystalline mesopores are generated by stacking smaller crystals formed from in-situ crystallization of the depolymerized kaolinite,and the intra-crystalline mesopores are inherited from the pores in the depolymerized kaolinite.This synthesis strategy provides an energy-saving and effective way to construct hierarchical zeolites,which may gain wide applications in fine chemical manufacturing.

OSDA-free synthesis of FeZSM-22 zeolite from natural minerals for n-octane hydroisomerization

A seed-directed approach to synthesizing Fe ZSM-22 zeolite without organic structure directing agent(OSDA)was developed by using Fe-rich diatomite as all aluminum and iron sources.The Fe ZSM-22zeolite with optimal crystallinity and purity can be obtained by systematically adjusting feed composition and synthesis conditions.Characterizations show that Fe ZSM-22 zeolite synthesized with OSDA-free owns high crystallinity,obvious thin needle-shaped morphology and high Bronsted/Lewis acid ratio.Significantly,when used for n-octane hydroisomerization reaction,its derived catalyst exhibits the best catalytic performance reflected by the highest selectivity to C_(8)isomers compared to the two reference catalysts prepared based on a Fe-containing and a Fe-free ZSM-22 synthesized through an OSDA-directed route from natural diatomite and conventional chemicals,respectively.This work provides an alternative route to sustainably synthesizing heteroatomic zeolites with high performance.

Research progress on natural products against hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)remains a prevalent and challenging malignancy globally,characterized by its numerous causal factors and generally unfavorable prognosis.In the relentless pursuit of effective treatment modalities,natural products have emerged as a promising and relatively non-toxic alternative,garnering significant interest.The integration of natural products with contemporary medical research has yielded encouraging therapeutic outcomes in the management of HCC.This review offers a comprehensive overview of the causal factors underlying HCC,and the diverse treatment options available,and highlights the advancements made by natural products in anti-HCC research.Particularly,we provide an outline of the various types of natural products,their corresponding nomenclature,target molecules,and mechanisms of action that exhibit anti-HCC activities.Natural products are anticipated to play a pivotal role in future comprehensive treatment plans for liver cancer,potentially offering patients improved survival rates and an enhanced quality of life.

Catch organism assemblages along artificial reefs area and adjacent waters in Haizhou Bay

To better understand the community patterns mediated by connectivity in artificial reefs of coastal areas, it is necessary to understand the distribution and coexistence of organisms with artificial reefs area and adjacent waters. This study was conducted to examine main catches assemblages collected by trawls in Haizhou Bay,which included five habitats: the artificial reef area(AR), aquaculture area(AA), natural area(NA), estuary area(EA) and comprehensive effect area(CEA). The result shows that the total abundances of species in the five habitats were highly different(univariate PERMANOVA: P = 0.001, n = 24), but some species were also unique in their habitat(e.g. Scapharca subcrenata and Glossaulax didyma in AA). The body size distribution of specific species between habitats are different. For Collichthys lucidus, their body size in AR(14.63 cm ± 1.64 cm) and EA(14.3 cm ± 0.85 cm) is higher than that in NA(10.65 cm ± 1.64 cm), CEA(11.28 cm ± 1.85 cm) and AA(12.1 cm ±0.43 cm), which indicates the potential connection from AR to EA mediated by their adult population. We concluded that artificial reefs in AR can be considered key components that have the ability to support species assemblages in adjacent habitats. This study has implications for the conservation and monitoring of species assemblages in coastal areas in terms of that artificial reefs can be applied in different stages of habitat protection implementation and in different combinations of scenarios.

Simultaneous purification of minor components in natural products using twin-column recycling chromatography with a step solvent gradient

The isolation of minor components from complex natural product matrices presents a significant challenge in the field of purification science due to their low concentrations and the presence of structurally similar compounds.This study introduces an optimized twin-column recycling chromatography method for the efficient and simultaneous purification of these elusive constituents.By introducing water at a small flowing rate between the twin columns,a step solvent gradient is created,by which the leading edge of concentration band would migrate at a slower rate than the trailing edge as it flowing from the upstream to downstream column.Hence,the band broadening is counterbalanced,resulting in an enrichment effect for those minor components in separation process.Herein,two target substances,which showed similar peak position in high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)and did not exceed 1.8%in crude paclitaxel were selected as target compounds for separation.By using the twin-column recycling chromatography with a step solvent gradient,a successful purification was achieved in getting the two with the purity almost 100%.We suggest this method is suitable for the separation of most components in natural produces,which shows higher precision and recovery rate compared with the common lab-operated separation ways for natural products(thin-layer chromatography and prep-HPLC).

Modelling analysis embodies drastic transition among global potential natural vegetations in face of changing climate

Potential natural vegetation(PNV)is a valuable reference for ecosystem renovation and has garnered increasing attention worldwide.However,there is limited knowledge on the spatio-temporal distributions,transitional processes,and underlying mechanisms of global natural vegetation,particularly in the case of ongoing climate warming.In this study,we visualize the spatio-temporal pattern and inter-transition procedure of global PNV,analyse the shifting distances and directions of global PNV under the influence of climatic disturbance,and explore the mechanisms of global PNV in response to temperature and precipitation fluctuations.To achieve this,we utilize meteorological data,mainly temperature and precipitation,from six phases:the Last Inter-Glacial(LIG),the Last Glacial Maximum(LGM),the Mid Holocene(MH),the Present Day(PD),2030(20212040)and 2090(2081–2100),and employ a widely-accepted comprehensive and sequential classification sy–stem(CSCS)for global PNV classification.We find that the spatial patterns of five PNV groups(forest,shrubland,savanna,grassland and tundra)generally align with their respective ecotopes,although their distributions have shifted due to fluctuating temperature and precipitation.Notably,we observe an unexpected transition between tundra and savanna despite their geographical distance.The shifts in distance and direction of five PNV groups are mainly driven by temperature and precipitation,although there is heterogeneity among these shifts for each group.Indeed,the heterogeneity observed among different global PNV groups suggests that they may possess varying capacities to adjust to and withstand the impacts of changing climate.The spatio-temporal distributions,mutual transitions and shift tendencies of global PNV and its underlying mechanism in face of changing climate,as revealed in this study,can significantly contribute to the development of strategies for mitigating warming and promoting re-vegetation in degraded regions worldwide.

Research progress of CO_(2) capture and mineralization based on natural minerals

Natural minerals,such as kaolinite,halloysite,montmorillonite,attapulgite,bentonite,sepiolite,forsterite,and wollastonite,have considerable potential for use in CO_(2) capture and mineralization due to their abundant reserves,low cost,excellent mechanical prop-erties,and chemical stability.Over the past decades,various methods,such as those involving heat,acid,alkali,organic amine,amino sil-ane,and ionic liquid,have been employed to enhance the CO_(2) capture performance of natural minerals to attain high specific surface area,a large number of pore structures,and rich active sites.Future research on CO_(2) capture by natural minerals will focus on the full utiliza-tion of the properties of natural minerals,adoption of suitable modification methods,and preparation of composite materials with high specific surface area and rich active sites.In addition,we provide a summary of the principle and technical route of direct and indirect mineralization of CO_(2) by natural minerals.This process uses minerals with high calcium and magnesium contents,such as forsterite(Mg_(2)SiO_(4)),serpentine[Mg_(3)Si_(2)O(OH)_(4)],and wollastonite(CaSiO_(3)).The research status of indirect mineralization of CO_(2) using hydro-chloric acid,acetic acid,molten salt,and ammonium salt as media is also introduced in detail.The recovery of additives and high-value-added products during the mineralization process to increase economic benefits is another focus of future research on CO_(2) mineralization by natural minerals.

Natural variation of GmFNSII-2 contributes to drought resistance by modulating enzyme activity in soybean

As an essential crop that provides vegetable oil and protein,soybean(Glycine max(L.)Merr.)is widely planted all over the world.However,the scarcity of water resources worldwide has seriously impacted on the quality and yield of soybean.To address this,exploring excellent genes for improving drought resistance in soybean is crucial.In this study,we identified natural variations of GmFNSII-2(flavone synthase II)significantly affect the drought resistance of soybeans.Through sequence analysis of GmFNSII-2 in 632 cultivated and 44 wild soybeans nine haplotypes were identified.The full-length allele GmFNSII-2^(C),but not the truncated allele GmFNSII-2^(A) possessing a nonsense nucleotide variation,increased enzyme activity.Further research found that GmDREB3,known to increase soybean drought resistance,bound to the promoter region of GmFNSII-2^(C).GmDREB3 positively regulated the expression of GmFNSII-2^(C),increased flavone synthase abundance and improved the drought resistance.Furthermore,a singlebase mutation in the GmFNSII-2^(C) promoter generated an additional drought response element(CCCCT),which had stronger interaction strength with GmDREB3 and increased its transcriptional activity under drought conditions.The frequency of drought-resistant soybean varieties with Hap 1(Pro:GmFNSII-2^(C))has increased,suggesting that this haplotype may be selected during soybean breeding.In summary,GmFNSII-2^(C) could be used for molecular breeding of drought-tolerant soybean.