Ejecta from the DART-produced active asteroid Dimorphos.

Some active asteroids have been proposed to be formed as a result of impact events1. Because active asteroids are generally discovered by chance only after their tails have fully formed, the process of how impact ejecta evolve into a tail has, to our knowledge, not been directly observed. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission of NASA2, in addition to having successfully changed the orbital period of Dimorphos3, demonstrated the activation process of an asteroid resulting from an impact under precisely known conditions. Here we report the observations of the DART impact ejecta with the Hubble Space Telescope from impact time T + 15 min to T + 18.5 days at spatial resolutions of around 2.1 km per pixel. Our observations reveal the complex evolution of the ejecta, which are first dominated by the gravitational interaction between the Didymos binary system and the ejected dust and subsequently by solar radiation pressure. The lowest-speed ejecta dispersed through a sustained tail that had a consistent morphology with previously observed asteroid tails thought to be produced by an impact4,5. The evolution of the ejecta after the controlled impact experiment of DART thus provides a framework for understanding the fundamental mechanisms that act on asteroids disrupted by a natural impact1,6.

Momentum transfer from the DART mission kinetic impact on asteroid Dimorphos.

The NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission performed a kinetic impact on asteroid Dimorphos, the satellite of the binary asteroid (65803) Didymos, at 23:14 UTC on 26 September 2022 as a planetary defence test1. DART was the first hypervelocity impact experiment on an asteroid at size and velocity scales relevant to planetary defence, intended to validate kinetic impact as a means of asteroid deflection. Here we report a determination of the momentum transferred to an asteroid by kinetic impact. On the basis of the change in the binary orbit period2, we find an instantaneous reduction in Dimorphos's along-track orbital velocity component of 2.70 ± 0.10 mm s-1, indicating enhanced momentum transfer due to recoil from ejecta streams produced by the impact3,4. For a Dimorphos bulk density range of 1,500 to 3,300 kg m-3, we find that the expected value of the momentum enhancement factor, ß, ranges between 2.2 and 4.9, depending on the mass of Dimorphos. If Dimorphos and Didymos are assumed to have equal densities of 2,400 kg m-3, [Formula: see text]. These ß values indicate that substantially more momentum was transferred to Dimorphos from the escaping impact ejecta than was incident with DART. Therefore, the DART kinetic impact was highly effective in deflecting the asteroid Dimorphos.

GAUSS - genesis of asteroids and evolution of the solar system: A sample return mission to Ceres.

The goal of Project GAUSS (Genesis of Asteroids and evolUtion of the Solar System) is to return samples from the dwarf planet Ceres. Ceres is the most accessible candidate of ocean worlds and the largest reservoir of water in the inner Solar System. It shows active volcanism and hydrothermal activities in recent history. Recent evidence for the existence of a subsurface ocean on Ceres and the complex geochemistry suggest past habitability and even the potential for ongoing habitability. GAUSS will return samples from Ceres with the aim of answering the following top-level scientific questions: What is the origin of Ceres and what does this imply for the origin of water and other volatiles in the inner Solar System?What are the physical properties and internal structure of Ceres? What do they tell us about the evolutionary and aqueous alteration history of dwarf planets?What are the astrobiological implications of Ceres? Is it still habitable today?What are the mineralogical connections between Ceres and our current collections of carbonaceous meteorites?

Hypertension is associated with osteoporosis: a case-control study in Chinese postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are age-related diseases. It is reported that patients with CVD have a higher risk of bone loss. This retrospective study sought to reveal the association between osteoporosis and CVD in Chinese women. Although epidemiological evidence has indicated a relationship between the two, clinical data in southeast China are lacking. METHODS: In total, 2873 participants completed the baseline survey from January 2007 to October 2019, and 2039 were included in this retrospective study. We divided all subjects into an osteoporosis group and a non-osteoporosis group based on their bone mineral density (BMD). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to examine BMD. The general information came from the questionnaire survey. Cardiovascular diseases were defined by asking participants at the first visit and checking relevant medical records if they had suffered from hypertension, coronary heart disease, or cerebral infarction. RESULTS: According to the criterion, the osteoporosis group had 678 subjects, and the non-osteoporosis group had 1361 subjects. Subjects in the osteoporosis group had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension and coronary heart disease. Besides, the proportion of subjects who drank tea and drank milk were relatively higher in the osteoporosis group. The odds ratio (OR) for suffering from osteoporosis was high if the patients had hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that Chinese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis had a higher prevalence of hypertension. Hypertension was significantly associated with osteoporosis.

Association of cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells with bone mineral density and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Recent research has suggested that cardiotrophin-like cytokine factor 1 (CLCF1) may be an important regulator of bone homeostasis. Furthermore, a whole gene chip analysis suggested that the expression levels of CLCF1 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were downregulated in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. This study aimed to assess whether the expression levels of CLCF1 in PBMCs can reflect the severity of bone mass loss and the related fracture risk. METHODS: In all, 360 postmenopausal women, aged 50 to 80 years, were included in the study. A survey to evaluate the participants' health status, measurement of bone mineral density (BMD), routine blood test, and CLCF1 expression level test were performed. RESULTS: Based on the participants' bone health, 27 (7.5%), 165 (45.83%), and 168 (46.67%) participants were divided into the normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups, respectively. CLCF1 protein levels in the normal and osteopenia groups were higher than those in the osteoporosis group. While the CLCF1 mRNA level was positively associated with the BMD of total femur (r = 0.169, p = 0.011) and lumbar spine (r = 0.176, p = 0.001), the protein level was positively associated with the BMD of the lumbar spine (r = 0.261, p < 0.001), femoral neck (r = 0.236, p = 0.001), greater trochanter (r = 0.228, p = 0.001), and Ward's triangle (r = 0.149, p = 0.036). Both the mRNA and protein levels were negatively associated with osteoporosis development (r = - 0.085, p = 0.011 and r = - 0.173, p = 0.014, respectively). The association between CLCF1 protein level and fracture risk was not significant after adjusting for BMD. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first clinical study to show that CLCF1 expression levels in the PBMCs of postmenopausal women can reflect the amount of bone mass or the severity of bone mass loss.

Ketobacter nezhaii sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from coastal sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, aerobic and heterotrophic bacterium, designated as GYS_M3HT, was isolated from marine coastal sediment sampled at Xiamen Island. Cells were rod-shaped with one polar flagellum and weakly positive for oxidase and catalase. Growth of the strain occurred at pH 6-9 (optimum, pH 7-8), at 15-37 °C (optimum, 28 °C) and with NaCl concentrations of 1.0-6.0 % (optimum, 2.0 %). It had highest 16S rRNA similarity (97.7 %) to Ketobacter alkanivorans GI5T, followed by the members of the genus Alcanivorax (lower than 91.2 %). The results of phylogenetic analysis indicated that it belonged to the genus Ketobacter within the family Alcanivoracaceae. In addition, the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain GYS_M3HT and K. alkanivorans GI5T were 71.4 and 19.7 %, respectively, indicating that strain GYS_M3HT belonged to a novel species. Its genome consisted of 5 318 758 bp, with a genomic DNA G+C content of 50.0 mol%. The respiratory quinone was Q-8 and the dominant fatty acids were identified as iso-C15 : 0 (25.4 %), C16 : 1 ω6c/C16 : 1 ω7c (14.4 %) and iso-C13 : 0 (7.2 %). The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Therefore, based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results, strain GYS_M3HT represents a novel species within the genus Ketobacter, for which the name Ketobacter nezhaii sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain GYS_M3HT (=MCCC 1A13808T=KCTC 72247T).

Pseudooceanicola pacificus sp. nov., isolated from deep-sea sediment of the Pacific Ocean.

A Gram-strain-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, designated 216_PA32_1T, was isolated from deep-sea sediment of the Pacific Ocean. Cells of strain 216_PA32_1T were non-motile, oxidase-positive and catalase-negative. The strain could grow at temperatures of 10-45 °C (optimum, 32-35 °C), at pH 5.0-10.0 (optimum, 6.0-7.0) and at salinities of 0-10% (optimum, 2-8%). The principal fatty acid (>10 %) was summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω6c/ω7c). The sole respiratory quinone was Q10 (100 %). The polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, two unidentified phospholipids and five unidentified aminolipids. The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 66.3 mol%. According to the 16S rRNA gene similarity, strain 216_PA32_1T showed the highest sequence similarity to Pseudooceanicola nitratireducens JLT 1210T (97.3 %), followed by Pseudooceanicola nanhaiensis SS011B1-20T (97.1 %). Phylogenetic trees indicated that strain 216_PA32_1T clustered with strain P. nanhaiensis SS011B1-20T. The average nucleotide identity and the DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain 216_PA32_1T and all species of the genus Pseudooceanicola were below 79.5 and 20.6%, respectively. A combination of the phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic evidence demonstrated that strain 216_PA32_1T represents a novel species of the genus Pseudooceanicola, for which the name Pseudooceanicola pacificus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 216_PA32_1T (=MCCC 1A14128T=KCTC 72688T).

Sunxiuqinia indica sp. nov., isolated from deep sea.

A Gram-stain-negative, facultative anaerobic, red-pigmented, rod-shaped and non-motile strain (RC1_OXG_1FT) was isolated from deep sea water of the Indian Ocean. It was able to grow at pH 5-8 (optimum, pH 7), at 5-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), and at salinity (% NaCl, w/v) of 0.5-5 % (optimum, 1-2 %). Catalase- and oxidase-positive. It had highest 16S rRNA gene similarity (96.7 %) to 'Sunxiuqinia dokdonensis' DH1T, followed by Sunxiuqinia faeciviva JAM-BA0302T (96.6 %), Sunxiuqinia elliptica CGMCC 1.9156T (96.2 %), Sunxiuqinia rutila HG677T (96.0 %) and species (less than 92.3 %) of other genera. It belongs to the genus Sunxiuqinia within the phylum Bacteroidetes, based on the phylogenetic analysis. The results of digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity analyses indicated that the strain belonged to a novel species. Its genome size is 5,250, 885 bp, with DNA G+C content of 40.5 mol%. Genome analysis revealed that the strain possessed many genes involved in polysaccharide degradation, especially hemicellulose degradation, indicating that the strain could maintain its normal metabolism by using recalcitrant organic matter in the oligotrophic deep sea environment. Its principal fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified glycolipids, three unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified polar lipids. The isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, the strain represents a novel species within the genus Sunxiuqinia, for which the name Sunxiuqinia indica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RC1_OXG_1FT (=MCCC 1A13858T=KCTC 62805T).

Wocania indica gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from deep sea hydrothermal sulfide in the northwest Indian Ocean, and proposal to reclassify Flaviramulus ichthyoenteri as Wocania ichthyoenteri comb. nov.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal sulfide in the northwest Indian Ocean Ridge and designated as strain IOP_32T. Strain IOP_32T could grow at 4-40 °C (optimum, 37 °C), pH 5-9 (optimum, pH 7-8) and salinity of 0-12 % NaCl (w/v; optimum, 2-3 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain IOP_32T is most similar to Bizionia fulviae EM7T, Bizionia berychis RA3-3-1T, Bizionia paragorgiae KMM 6029T and Oceanihabitans sediminis S9_10T with 95.5-95.3 % similarity. The phylogenomic analysis indicated that strain IOP_32T forms a distinct lineage with Flaviramulus ichthyoenteri Th78T within the family Flavobacteriaceae. The average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity and percentage of conserved protein values between strain IOP_32T and the type strains of close genera were 72.3-78.5 %, 67.4-76.9 % and 56.3-61.6 %, respectively. The major cellular fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0. The respiratory quinone was MK-6. The polar lipids were mainly composed of phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid and five unidentified polar lipids. Strain IOP_32T is significantly different from related genera, which is reflected by the wide adaptability to temperature and salinity levels, the composition of phospholipids and fatty acids, and the results of phylogenetic analyses. The phenotypic properties and phylogenetic data suggest that the lineage represents a novel genus and species within the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Wocania indica gen. sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain IOP_32T (=MCCC 1A14017 T=KCTC 62660 T). We also propose the reclassification of Flaviramulus ichthyoenteri as Wocania ichthyoenteri comb. nov. (Th78T=DSM 26285T=JCM 18634T=KCTC 32142T).

Pusillimonas maritima sp. nov., isolated from surface seawater.

Two Gram-stain-negative, short rod-shaped and non-flagellated strains, designated 17-4AT and L52-1-41, were isolated from the surface seawater of the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, respectively. The 16S rRNA genes of the two strains shared sequence similarity of 99.45 %. Strain 17-4AT shared the highest 16S rRNA gene similarity of 98.02 % with Pusillimonas caeni EBR-8-1T, followed by Pusillimonas noertemannii BN9T (97.47 %), Pusillimonas soli MJ07T (96.93 %), Parapusillimonas granuli Ch07T (96.68 %), Pusillimonas ginsengisoli DCY25T (96.65 %), Eoetvoesia caeni PB3-7BT (96.63 %), Paracandidimonas caeni 24T (96.34 %), Castellaniella defragrans 54PinT (96.28 %) and Pusillimonas harenae B201T (96.05 %). L52-1-41 shared the highest 16S rRNA gene similarity of 97.74 % with Pusillimonas caeni EBR-8-1T, followed by Pusillimonas noertemannii BN9T (97.47 %), Pusillimonas soli MJ07T (96.65 %), Parapusillimonas granuli Ch07T (96.41 %), Pusillimonas ginsengisoli DCY25T (96.37 %), Eoetvoesia caeni PB3-7BT (96.35 %), Pusillimonas harenae B201T (96.28 %), and Paracandidimonas caeni 24T (96.06 %). The results of phylogenetic analyses indicated that 17-4AT and L52-1-41 formed a stable, distinct and highly supported lineage affiliated to the genus Pusillimonas. The results of the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analyses indicated that they represented a single species. They featured similar genomic DNA G+C contents of 53.2-53.4 mol%. Activities of catalase and oxidase were negative for both strains. The fatty acids patterns of 17-4AT and L52-1-41 were most similar, mostly comprised of C16 : 0, C17 : 0cyclo, C18 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c). The major polar lipids of the two strains were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and unidentified aminolipids. The respiratory quinone of the two strains was Q-8. Hence, on the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data presented in this study, we proposed the classification of both strains as representatives of a novel species named Pusillimonas maritima sp. nov., with the type strain 17-4AT (=MCCC 1A12670T=KCTC 62121T=NBRC 113794T), and another strain L52-1-41 (=MCCC 1A05046=KCTC 52313).

Georhizobium profundi gen. nov., sp. nov., a piezotolerant bacterium isolated from a deep-sea sediment sample of the New Britain Trench.

A novel alphaproteobacterium, strain WS11T, was isolated from a deep-sea sediment sample collected from the New Britain Trench. The full-length 16S rRNA gene of strain WS11T had the highest sequence similarity of 97.6 % to Rhizobium subbaraonis JC85T, followed by Mycoplana ramosa DSM 7292T (96.9 %) and Rhizobium azooxidifex Po 20/26T (96.8 %). Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated 16S rRNA, atpD and recA gene sequences showed that strain WS11T was deeply separated from the species within the family Rhizobiaceae. Phylogenomic analysis based on the whole-genome protein sequences showed that strain WS11T formed an independent monophyletic branch in the family Rhizobiaceae, paralleled with the species in the families Brucellaceae and Phyllobacteriaceae within the order Rhizobiales. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, and aerobic short rods (1.5-2.4×0.9-1.0 µm). Growth was observed at salinities ranging from 0 to 5% (optimum, 1 %), from pH 6.5 to 9 (optimum, pH 7) and at temperatures between 20 and 30 °C (optimum, 28 °C). Strain WS11T was piezotolerant, growing optimally at 0.1 MPa (range 0.1-70 MPa). The main fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c/C18  : 1 ω 6c). The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, two unidentified aminophospholipids and an unidentified phospholipid. The genome size was about 4.36 Mbp and the G+C content was 62.3 mol%. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data show that strain WS11T represents a novel species of a novel genus in the family Rhizobiaceae, for which the name Georhizobium profundi gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed (type strain WS11T=MCCC 1K03498T=KCTC 62439T).

Paracoccus amoyensis sp. nov., isolated from the surface seawater along the coast of Xiamen Island, China.

Strain 11-3T was isolated from the surface seawater along the coast of Xiamen Island, China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, short and rod-shaped, nonmotile, 0.5-1.0 µm in width and 1.0-2.0 µm in length. Growth of strain 11-3T was at temperature of 15-37°C (optimum 28-35°C), at pH of 5.0-11.0 (optimum 7.0-9.0) and at salinity range of 0-10 (optimum 0.5-1). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain 11-3T belonged to the genus Paracoccus and had the highest similarity with Paracoccus caeni MJ17T (98.1 %), followed by Paracoccus xiamenensis 12-3T (97.1 %), Paracoccus zeaxanthinifaciens ATCC 21588T (97.1 %), Paracoccus aestuarii DSM 19484T (97.0 %), Paracoccus liaowanqingii 2251T (97.0 %), Paracoccus fistulariae KCTC 22803T (97.0 %) and other species of the genus Paracoccus (95.2-96.8 %). The DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain 11-3T and the selected strains (P. caeni MJ17T, P. xiamenensis 12-3T, P. zeaxanthinifaciens ATCC 21588T, P. aestuarii DSM 19484T and P. liaowanqingii 2251T) were 19.4, 19.5, 21.6, 19.3 and 19.8 %, respectively. Corresponding, their ANI values were 77.53, 75.61, 75.36, 75.73 and 75.33 %, respectively. The major fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω6c/ω7c). The major respiratory quinone was Q10. The polar lipids included phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), unidentified glycolipid (GL) and unidentified aminolipid (AL). The DNA G+C content of strain 11-3T was 60.1 %. Based on results of the phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain 11-3T represents a novel species of the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus amoyensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 11-3T (=MCCC 1A16380T=KCTC 72689T).

Oceaniglobus indicus gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Rhodobacteraceae isolated from surface seawater.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic and heterotrophic strain, designated 1-19bT, was isolated from surface seawater in the Indian Ocean. The cells were ovoid or coccus (0.8-1.0 µm in diameter) with no flagellum. Activities of catalase and oxidase were positive. Growth was observed at salinity of 0.5-10 (%NaCl, w/v) with an optimum of 3-4, at pH 5-10 with an optimum of 7-8, and at 5-37 °C with an optimum of 28-35 °C. It accumulated poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate granules inside the cell. Bacteriochlorophyll a was absent. The respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the dominant fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The major polar lipids comprised phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified polar lipids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 1-19bT belonged to the family Rhodobacteraceae and formed a distinct monophyletic clade with 'Oceaniovalibus guishaninsula' JLT2003 and Pontibaca methylaminivorans GRP21T, exhibiting similarities of 94.7 and 92.2 %, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content was 64.2 mol%. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, strain 1-19bT represents a novel species in a new genus of the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Oceaniglobus indicus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain 1-19bT (=MCCC 1A11863T=KCTC 52709T).

A TiO2 nanotube network electron transport layer for high efficiency perovskite solar cells.

The electron transport layer (ETL) plays a critical role in high efficiency perovskite solar cells. In this study, an anodic TiO2 nanotube film was transformed into a TiO2 nanotube network film, which maintained its advantage as an efficient ETL for perovskite solar cells. Compared with the mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticle ETL, the TiO2 nanotube network ETL can increase the efficiency of perovskite solar cells by 26.6%, which is attributed to its superior charge collection property and light trapping ability. The results confirm the importance of optimizing the electron collecting layer and suggest another way to design and fabricate novel perovskite solid state solar cells, potentially by using a TiO2 nanotube network film as an alternative high efficiency electrode.

Band gap opening and semiconductor-metal phase transition in (n, n) single-walled carbon nanotubes with distinctive boron-nitrogen line defect.

Band gap opening and modulating are critical in dictating the functionalities of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in a broad array of nano-devices. Using first-principles density functional theory calculations, a class of semiconducting armchair SWCNTs with a distinctive BN line defect are studied, showing a super capacity to open the band gap of (4, 4) SWCNT to as large as 0.86 eV, while the opened band gap are found decreasing with the increasing diameters of SWCNTs. The opened band gap of SWCNTs can also be successfully modulated through both mechanical and electrical approaches by applying compressive uniaxial strain and electric field. This study provides novel insights into the large band gap opening and modulating of SWCNTs and could be useful in facilitating future applications of SWCNTs in electronic, optical and thermoelectric devices.

Life cycle environmental impact of high-capacity lithium ion battery with silicon nanowires anode for electric vehicles.

Although silicon nanowires (SiNW) have been widely studied as an ideal material for developing high-capacity lithium ion batteries (LIBs) for electric vehicles (EVs), little is known about the environmental impacts of such a new EV battery pack during its whole life cycle. This paper reports a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a high-capacity LIB pack using SiNW prepared via metal-assisted chemical etching as anode material. The LCA study is conducted based on the average U.S. driving and electricity supply conditions. Nanowastes and nanoparticle emissions from the SiNW synthesis are also characterized and reported. The LCA results show that over 50% of most characterized impacts are generated from the battery operations, while the battery anode with SiNW material contributes to around 15% of global warming potential and 10% of human toxicity potential. Overall the life cycle impacts of this new battery pack are moderately higher than those of conventional LIBs but could be actually comparable when considering the uncertainties and scale-up potential of the technology. These results are encouraging because they not only provide a solid base for sustainable development of next generation LIBs but also confirm that appropriate nanomanufacturing technologies could be used in sustainable product development.

Intermolecular interactions in mixed dye systems and the effects on dye wastewater treatment processes.

Dye wastewater discharge is a critical concern across textiles, paper, cosmetics, and other industries. This study explores the impact of dye-dye interactions on chemical coagulation and ultrafiltration process. Using basic and reactive dyes, representing cationic and anionic compounds, the intricate interplay between these dyes was examined through spectroscopic analysis. Remarkably, interactions between dyes of opposite charges exhibited significant effects on both techniques. Electrostatic attractions played a key role. Positive coagulant hydrolysates selectively attracted negative dyes, while negatively charged membranes effectively captured positive dyes. Combining dyes with opposite charges resulted in enhanced removal efficiency, addressing challenging dyes collectively. This discovery offers a novel approach to improving dye removal, utilizing opposite-charged dye mixtures can tackle stubborn dyes unmanageable by conventional methods.

The levels of IL1RN is a factor influencing the onset of rheumatoid arthritis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

With the improvement of global dietary conditions, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has gradually become prevalent. As the number of NAFLD patients increases, the coexistence of diseases associated with it has come into focus. In this study, based on immune phenotypes, intercellular communication activities, and clinical manifestations of NAFLD patients, IL1RN was identified as a central pro-inflammatory factor. Subsequently, potential downstream biological pathways of IL1RN in liver tissues and various cell types were enriched to describe its functions. Transcription factors Nfkb1, Jun, and Sp1, significantly associated with these functions, were also enriched. Functional studies of IL1RN suggest its potential to trigger autoimmune diseases. Given this, Mendelian randomization analysis was used to explore the causal relationship between NAFLD and various autoimmune diseases, with IL1RN considered as an intermediary introduced into Mendelian randomization studies. The results indicate that IL1RN and its partially related proteins play a certain mediating role in the process of NAFLD inducing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Finally, additional research results suggest that intrahepatic ALT levels may influence IL1RN levels, possibly through amino acid metabolism.

Arcobacteraceae are ubiquitous mixotrophic bacteria playing important roles in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling in global oceans.

Mixotrophy is an important trophic strategy for bacterial survival in the ocean. However, the global relevance and identity of the major mixotrophic taxa remain largely elusive. Here, we combined phylogenetic, metagenomic, and metatranscriptomic analyses to characterize ubiquitous Arcobacteraceae based on our deep-sea in situ incubations and the global data. The phylogenomic tree of Arcobacteraceae is divided into three large clades, among which members of clades A and B are almost all from terrestrial environments, while those of clade C are widely distributed in various marine habitats in addition to some terrestrial origins. All clades harbor genes putatively involved in chitin degradation, sulfide oxidation, hydrogen oxidation, thiosulfate oxidation, denitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium, microaerophilic respiration, and metal (iron/manganese) reduction. Additionally, in clade C, more unique pathways were retrieved, including thiosulfate disproportionation, ethanol fermentation, methane oxidation, fatty acid oxidation, cobalamin synthesis, and dissimilatory reductions of sulfate, perchlorate, and arsenate. Within this clade, two mixotrophic Candidatus genera represented by UBA6211 and CAIJNA01 harbor genes putatively involved in the reverse tricarboxylic acid pathway for carbon fixation. Moreover, the metatranscriptomic data in deep-sea in situ incubations indicated that the latter genus is a mixotroph that conducts carbon fixation by coupling sulfur oxidation and denitrification and metabolizing organic matter. Furthermore, global metatranscriptomic data confirmed the ubiquitous distribution and global relevance of Arcobacteraceae in the expression of those corresponding genes across all oceanic regions and depths. Overall, these results highlight the contribution of previously unrecognized Arcobacteraceae to carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling in global oceans.IMPORTANCEMarine microorganisms exert a profound influence on global carbon cycling and ecological relationships. Mixotrophy, characterized by the simultaneous utilization of both autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition, has a significant impact on the global carbon cycling. This report characterizes a group of uncultivated bacteria Arcobacteraceae that thrived on the "hot time" of bulky particulate organic matter and exhibited mixotrophic strategy during the in situ organic mineralization. Compared with clades A and B, more unique metabolic pathways were retrieved in clade C, including the reverse tricarboxylic acid pathway for carbon fixation, thiosulfate disproportionation, methane oxidation, and fatty acid oxidation. Global metatranscriptomic data from the Tara Oceans expeditions confirmed the ubiquitous distribution and extensive transcriptional activity of Arcobacteraceae with the expression of genes putatively involved in carbon fixation, methane oxidation, multiple sulfur compound oxidation, and denitrification across all oceanic regions and depths.

Design of Inhibitors Targeting Chitin-Degrading Enzymes by Bioisostere Substitutions and Scaffold Hopping for Selective Control of Ostrinia furnacalis.

Chitin-degrading enzymes are critical components in regulating the molting process of the Asian corn borer and serve as potential targets for controlling this destructive pest of maize. Here, we used a scaffold-hopping strategy to design a series of efficient naphthylimide insecticides. Among them, compound 8c exhibited potent inhibition of chitinase from OfChi-h and OfChtI at low nanomolar concentrations (IC50 = 1.51 and 9.21 nM, respectively). Molecular docking simulations suggested that 8c binds to chitinase by mimicking the interaction of chitin oligosaccharide substrates with chitinase. At low ppm concentrations, compound 8c performed comparably to commercial insecticides in controlling the highly destructive plant pest, the Asian corn borer. Tests on a wide range of nontarget organisms indicate that compound 8c has very low toxicity. In addition, the effect of inhibitor treatment on the expression of genes associated with the Asian corn borer chitin-degrading enzymes was further investigated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of 8c as a novel chitinase-targeting insecticide for effective control of the Asian corn borer, providing a promising solution in the quest for sustainable pest management.