Self-Reconstructed Two-Dimensional Cluster-Based Co-Organic Layer Heterojunctions for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reactions.

When it comes to an efficient catalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the production of renewable energy and chemicals, the construction of heterogeneous structures is crucial to break the linear scalar relationship of a single catalyst. This heterogeneous structure construction helps creatively achieve high activity and stability. However, the synthesis process of heterogeneous crystalline materials is often complex and challenging to capture and reproduce, which limits their application. Here, the dynamic process of structural changes in Co-MOFs in alkali was captured by in situ powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, and several self-reconfigured MOF heterogeneous materials with different structures were stably isolated. The created ß-Co(OH)2/Co-MOF heterojunction structure facilitates rapid mass-charge transfer and exposure of active sites, which significantly enhanced OER activity. Experimental results show that this heterogeneous structure achieves a low overpotential of 333 mV at 10 mA cm-2. The findings provide new insights and directions for the search for highly reactive cobalt-based MOFs for sustainable energy technologies.

Highly Stable Two-Dimensional Cluster-Based Ni/Co-Organic Layers for High-Performance Supercapacitors.

Basic requirements for advanced and practical supercapacitors need electrode materials with strong stability, high surface area, well-defined porosity, and enhanced capability of ion insertion and electron transfer. It is worth mentioning that the two-dimensional cluster-based Ni/Co-organic layer (Ni0.7Co0.3-CMOL) inherits high stability from the Kagóme lattice and shows excellent pseudocapacitance behavior. As an optimized atomic composition, this crystalline CMOL exhibits excellent performance and stability both in 1.0 M KOH and All-Solid-State Flexible Asymmetric Supercapacitor (ASCs). The specific capacitance values are 1211 and 394 F g-1 and the energy density is 54.67 Wh kg-1 at 1 A g-1. Good cycling stability is characterized by its capacitance retention, maintained at 92.4% after 5000 cycles in a three-electrode system and 90% after 2000 cycles at 20 A g-1 for assembled All-Solid-State Flexible ASCs. An in situ XRD technique was used in the three-electrode system, which showed that there was no signal of crystalline substance that affected the cyclic stability of the material while charging and discharging. These superior results prove that Ni0.7Co0.3-CMOL is a promising candidate for supercapacitor applications.

Glycocaulis albus sp. nov., a moderately halophilic dimorphic prosthecate bacterium isolated from petroleum-contaminated saline soil.

Two novel bacterial strains, SLG210-30A1(T) and SLG210-19A2, which shared 99.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with each other, were isolated from petroleum-contaminated saline soil in Shengli Oilfield, eastern China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, motile, aerobic, mesophilic and moderately halophilic. They could grow chemoheterotrophically with oxygen as an electron acceptor. Morphologically, cells were typical Caulobacteria-type dimorphic prosthecate bacteria. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains SLG210-30A1(T) and SLG210-19A2 were 61.8 mol% and 61.6 mol% respectively. Strain SLG210-30A1(T) had Q10 as the predominant respiratory ubiquinone, and C16 : 0 (28.4 %), C17 : 0 (11.6 %), C18 : 0 (22.1 %) and C18 : 1ω7c (14.0 %) as the major cellular fatty acids. The polar lipids of the two isolates were some glycolipids, a lipid, a phospholipid, an aminoglycolipid and an aminophospholipid (all unidentified). The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains SLG210-30A1(T) and SLG210-19A2 showed the highest similarities with Glycocaulis abyssi MCS 33(T) (99.8-99.9 %), but low sequence similarities (<94.7 %) with type strains of other members of the family Hyphomonadaceae. However, the DNA-DNA relatedness of G. abyssi MCS 33(T) to strains SLG210-30A1(T) and SLG210-19A2 was 37.4±4.4 % and 36.1±1.1 %, respectively. Based on different physiological, biochemical, and phylogenetic characteristics, strains SLG210-30A1(T) and SLG210-19A2 represent a novel species of the genus Glycocaulis. The name Glycocaulis albus is therefore proposed with strain SLG210-30A1(T) ( = LMG 27741(T) = CGMCC 1.12766(T)) as the type strain. An emended description of the genus Glycocaulis is also provided.

Nitratireductor shengliensis sp. nov., isolated from an oil-polluted saline soil.

Two Gram-negative, non-motile, short-rod-shaped bacterial isolates, designated 110399(T) and 110248, were isolated from an oil-polluted saline soil in Shengli Oilfield, Eastern China. The two strains shared 99.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the DNA-DNA relatedness value being 80.0 %. They were both capable to grow at 20-40 °C, pH 7-9, and 1-9 % (w/v) NaCl with the optimum growth happened at 30 °C, pH 8, and 2-6 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the two strains were members of Nitratireductor and most closely related to Nitratireductor pacificus pht-3B(T) and N. basaltis J3(T) with the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities being 97.1 and 97.0 %. The DNA-DNA relatedness between the novel strains and two type strains were below 27 ± 7 %. The strains 110399(T) and 110248 also differed from N. pacificus and N. basaltis in nitrate reduction, salt tolerance, enzyme activities, and utilization of carbon sources. The major cellular fatty acids of strain 110399(T) were C19:0ω8c cyclo (10.5 %) and Summed Feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c, 41.5 %) which are typical in the genus Nitratireductor. The predominant ubiquinone was Q-10. The genome DNA G+C content of strain 110399(T) and 110248 was 61.1 and 61.7 mol%. On the basis of genetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic analyses, strains 110399(T) and 110248 represent a novel species within the genus Nitratireductor, for which the name Nitratireductor shengliensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 110399(T) (=CGMCC 1.12519(T) = LMG 27405(T)).

Responses of photosynthetic characteristics of Phragmites australis to simulated warming in salt marshes of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, China.

Coastal wetlands are highly efficient in blue carbon sequestration. The impacts of climate warming on photosynthetic rates and light response characteristics of wetland plants would change the magnitude of carbon sequestration in coastal wetlands. We constructed warming observation stations in Phragmites australis (Phragmites) wetlands located in the Yellow River Delta in Dongying with dry climate, and in Yancheng by the Yellow Sea with wet climate. By using a Li-6800 photosynthesis system, we investigated the responses of simulated warming on photosynthetic characteristics of Phragmites in both wetlands, and compared the difference between months (June and August) in Dongying wetland. The results showed the photosynthetic rates of Phragmites were higher in June than in August. Warming increased net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (gs) and intercellular carbon dioxide concentration (Ci) in the two months, but the variability of Pn to warming was lower in August. The Pn and water use efficiency (WUE) of Phragmites in the Yancheng wetland were higher than Dongying wetland, and the maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pn max), light saturation point (LSP), apparent quantum efficiency (AQY), and dark respiration rate (Rd) of the former responded more positively to warming. The values of AQY, LSP and Pn max of Phragmites in the Yancheng wetlands were increased by 16.7%, 53.6% and 30.3%, respectively, in the warming plots. Our results suggested that warming could improve the utilization efficiency of weak light, the adaptability to strong light and photosynthetic potential of Phragmites under rainy and humid conditions. This study is of importance for accurately quantifying carbon sequestration of coastal wetlands at the regional and seasonal scales in the context of climate warming.

Epidemiological analysis of primary liver cancer in the early 21st century in Guangxi province of China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In Guangxi province, from 1970s to 1990s, the mortality of primary liver cancer (PLC) ranked the first among a variety of malignant tumors. Investigating the epidemiological characteristics of PLC is very important for developing reasonable and effective treatment strategy, allocating health resources rationally, and evaluating the quality of PLC prevention and control. This study was to analyze the mortality and epidemiological characteristics of PLC in Guangxi province between 2004 and 2005. METHODS: Multi stage stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 9 counties (cities or urban areas) as sample points. The residents' death causes between 2004 and 2005 were analyzed, and the epidemiological characteristics of PLC were investigated. RESULTS: In the period of 2004-2005, the crude mortality of PLC was 34.39/100,000 in Guangxi province population (55.30/100,000 in men and 13.21/100,000 in women). The national population standardized mortality in 1964 was 22.17/100,000. The man to woman ratio of mortality was 4.19:1. PLC ranked as the first death cause among a variety of malignant tumors, and PLC related death accounted for 30.70% of all tumor related death cases. Age specific mortality of PLC was increased with age, rising significantly from 30 year old (from 25 year old in men and from 40 year old in women), and reached a peak at 75 year old. CONCLUSIONS: The mortality of PLC shows a decreasing trend in Guangxi province in the early 21st century, and the starting age of PLC death peak postpones about 10 years than that in 1990s. It shows that the comprehensive prevention and control measures of PLC implemented in Guangxi province are fruitful. However, the PLC mortality in Guangxi province is still significantly higher than the national average level, and it still ranks as the first death cause in a variety of malignant tumors in Guangxi province. PLC mainly occurs in middle aged and elderly people. The prevention and treatment research of PLC still has a long way to go.

[Emissions of methyl halides from coastal salt marshes: A review].

Methyl halides are the major carrier of halogens in the atmosphere, and they play an important role in tropospheric and stratospheric ozone depletion. Meanwhile, methyl halides can act as greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and they are also environmentally significant because of their toxicity. Coastal salt marshes, the important intertidal ecosystems at the land-ocean interface, have been considered to be a large potential natural source of methyl halides. In this paper, the research status of the natural source or sink of methyl halides, the mechanisms of their emission from coastal salt marshes and affecting factors were summarized. In view of this, the following research fields need to be strengthened in the future: 1) Long time-scale and large region-range researches about the emission of methyl halides and the evaluation of their source and sink function, 2) Accurate quantification of contribution rates of different plant species and various biological types to fluxes of methyl halides, 3) Further researches on effects of the tidal fluctuation process and flooding duration on methyl halides emission, 4) Effects of the global change and human activities on methyl halides emission.

[Research advances in methyl bromide in the ocean].

Methyl bromide is an important atmospheric trace gas, which plays significant roles in the global warming and atmospheric chemistry. The ocean plays important and complex roles in the global biogeochemical cycles of methyl bromide, not only the source of atmospheric methyl bromide, but also the sink. Therefore, developing the chemical research of the soluble methyl bromide in the ocean, will not only have a certain guiding significance to the atmospheric ozone layer protection, but also provide a theoretical basis for estimating methyl bromide's contribution to the global environmental change on global scale. This paper reviewed the research advances on methyl bromide in the ocean, from the aspects of the biogeochemical cycle of methyl bromide in the ocean, the analysis and determination method, the concentration distribution, the sea-to-air flux and its sources and sinks in the atmosphere. Some deficiencies in the current studies were put forward, and the directions of the future studies were prospected.

[Hydrochemical characteristics and formation mechanism of shallow groundwater in the Yellow River Delta].

Understanding the chemical characteristics of groundwater in the Yellow River Delta is very important. It can provide a useful reference for the development and construction of the Yellow River Delta High-efficiency Ecological Economic Zone and ecological regulation in the lower Yellow River. Based on partitioning the sediment environment and the recharge-runoff-discharge system, we studied the hydrochemical features and causes of shallow groundwater in the Yellow River Delta by mathematical statistics and geostatistics, Piper diagram, ion ratios and so on. Following results are obtained: 1) Major cations and anions such as Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl(-), SO4(2-), HCO3(-) and TDS concentrations range from 0.1-25.0 g x L(-1), 3.6-3 815.0 mg x L(-1), 5.6-3 377.0 mg x L(-1), 0.1-45.1 g x L(-1), 24.2-4 947.0 mg x L(-1), 62.6-850.0 mg x L(-1) and 0.4-80.7 g x L(-1). Average ion concentrations further indicate that Cl(-), Na+ and TDS concentrations are high while HCO3(-), CO3(2-) and K+ concentrations are very low in the study area. 2) The Cl(-) and TDS concentrations of shallow groundwater possess conspicuous directional spatial variability and gradually increase along the groundwater flow direction, showing that Cl(-) is the most critical ion of shallow groundwater. 3) From the recharge area to the discharge area, shallow groundwater changes from the Na+ -Mg2+ -Ca2+ -Cl(-) -SO4(2-) facies to the Na -Mg2 + -Ca2+ -Cl(-), Mg2+ -Na+ -Ca2+ -Cl(-) and Na+ -Mg2+ -Cl(-) facies, finally evolves into Na+ -Cl(-) facies in the coast. 4) Ion ratios indicate that the following main hydrochemical processes are inferred to control the shallow groundwater chemical composition: mixing, evaporation concentrating, mineral dissolution, cation exchange and adsorption and human activities. These findings strongly suggest that changes of the Yellow River water course and seawater intrusion are key drivers to form the chemical characteristics of shallow groundwater in the region.

[Study on the relationship between familial clustering of hepatocellular carcinoma and polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2E1 gene in Zhuang population, Guangxi].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between familial clustering of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2El gene (CYP2E1) as well as of other relevant risk factors to the cancer. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 91 members of 10 HCC clustering families and 102 of 10 control families, among Zhuang population, in Guangxi. The area had been with high incidence rate of HCC. Genotypes and allele frequencies of CYP2E1 Rsa I site were determined by polymerase chain reaction, combined with restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP). Serum HBsAg was tested by means of ELISA. Data on relevant risk factors of the cancer were collected as well, through a unique questionnaire. RESULTS: Frequencies of c1/c1 and c1/c2 genetypes of CYP2E1 Rsa I site were 63.7% and 36.3%, respectively, in the members of families with cancer clustering phenomena. In the members of the control families, these two rates were 48.0% and 52.0%, respectively (OR = 1.901, 95% CI: 1.067-3.387). Difference of genotypes frequencies of CYP2E1 Rsa I site between the members in these two groups was statistically significant (chi2 = 4.797, P = 0.029). According to the results from non-condition logistic regression analysis, the major risk factors on familial clustering of HCC could be listed as: intake of corns, HBsAg carrying status and CYP2E1 c1/c1 genotype. CONCLUSION: The relationship seemed to exist between familial clustering of HCC and the frequencies of polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2E1 gene (CYP2E1). The frequencies of CYP2E1 Rsa I site were neither the only nor the major factor, causing the familial clustering phenomenon of cancer. More possible, it was the affect of syntheses with the involvement of multiple factors.

[Study on the groundwater petroleum contaminant biodegradation by high efficient microorganism].

The groundwater petroleum contaminant biodegradation effect by high efficient hybrid microorganism was. investigated and the groundwater contaminant biodegradation transportation mathematical model was established in this study. The high efficient bacteria was separated and filtrated from the soil contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbon, and it was identified as Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium and Micrococcus. The petroleum degradation rates by these three kinds microorganism were 62%, 56% and 62% respectively in 24 h, and the high petroleum biodegradation rate 85% could be achieved by the hybrid microorganism constituted by these three kinds of microorganism, which was higher than that of any other each single bacteria community. The hybrid microorganism in-flowed into the reactor imitating the aquifer media with the petroleum wastewater, and it could form a steady microorganism zone in the foreside of the reactor. The petroleum biodegradation rate could achieve 60% when the petroleum wastewater flowed through this microorganism zone and the average petroleum biodegradation rate could reach up to 90% in the effluent. The groundwater contaminant biodegradation transportation mathematical model can predict the biodegradation of the wastewater through the microorganism zone effectively, of which the calculating values have good relativity with those of measurement.