Characterization of isoniazid resistance and genetic mutations in isoniazid-resistant and rifampicin-susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis in China.

Background: Patients with tuberculosis resistant to isoniazid but susceptible to rifampicin (Hr-Rs TB) remain a neglected demographic, despite a high disease burden and poor outcomes of these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of isoniazid-resistance-related mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and resistance rates to drugs included in WHO-recommended regimens for Hr-Rs patients. Methods: Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates (n = 4922) obtained from national tuberculosis drug-resistance surveillance were subjected to whole-genome sequencing to identify Hr-Rs strains. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were established for the Hr-Rs strains to determine the isoniazid resistance levels. We also identified drug-resistance-associated mutations for five drugs (fluoroquinolones, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, streptomycin, and amikacin) in the Hr-Rs strains. Results: Of the 4922 strains, 384 (7.8 %) were Hr-Rs. The subculture of seven strains failed, so 377 (98.2 %) strains underwent phenotypic MIC testing. Among the 384 genotypic Hr-Rs strains, 242 (63.0 %) contained the katG Ser315Thr substitution; 115 (29.9 %) contained the -15C>T in the promoter region of the fabG1 gene; and 16 (4.2 %) contained Ser315Asn in the katG gene. Of the 239 strains with the Ser315Thr substitution, 229 (95.8 %) had MIC ≥ 2 µg/mL, and of the 114 strains with the -15C>T mutation, 103 (90.4 %) had 0.25 µg/mL ≤ MIC ≤ 1 µg/mL. The genotypic resistance rates were 0.8 % (3/384) for pyrazinamide, 2.3 % (9/384) for ethambutol and fluoroquinolones; 39.6 % (152/384) of the strains were resistant to streptomycin, but only 0.5 % (2/384) of the strains were resistant to amikacin. Conclusion: Ser315Thr in katG was the predominant mutation conferring the Hr-Rs phenotype, followed by the fabG1 -15C>T mutation. The combination of rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, and levofloxacin should be effective in the treatment of patients with Hr-Rs tuberculosis because the resistance rates for these drugs in China are low.

Differential detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants and influenza a viruses utilizing a dual lateral flow strip based on colloidal gold-labeled monoclonal antibodies.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the seasonal influenza virus are spreading among humans concurrently, especially with the ongoing replacement of mutant strains. It is challenging to differentiate between symptoms for therapy due to the comparable symptoms following infection with the SARS-CoV-2 variants and influenza viruses. Meanwhile, in order to achieve rapid point-of-care testing (POCT) to manage the spread of the disease, we developed a dual lateral flow strip based on colloidal gold-labeled monoclonal antibodies that can perform differential detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants and influenza A viruses (IAV) in this study. High-affinity monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting SARS-CoV-2 and IAV were prepared to capture antigens and labeled with colloidal gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Based on high-affinity mAbs, two targets were immobilized on one nitrocellulose (NC) to establish the lateral flow strip (LFS) for differential diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and IAV. With no reactivity to other viruses, this LFS is extremely specific and can only identify SARS-CoV-2 and IAV. The LFS showed a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.88 ng/mL for the Omicron BA.2 RBD protein and 2.44 ng/mL for the nucleoprotein (NP) protein of H1N1. When analyzing 16 SARS-CoV-2 positive clinical samples, eight IAV positive clinical samples, and six negative samples that had already been pre-confirmed by commercial kits, its clinical application is effectively and accurately proven. These results demonstrated that the LFS integrated with AuNPs has great potential to facilitate quick, easy, and reliable POCT diagnosis for promoting the control of infectious diseases.

A drug delivery system of HIF-1α siRNA nanoparticles loaded by mesenchymal stem cells on choroidal neovascularization.

Aim: To assess mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as carriers for HIF-1α siRNA-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) for targeted therapy of experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV).Materials & methods: A poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-core/lipid-shell hybrid NP was designed. The transfection efficacy of MSCs with the hybrid NPs was assessed. Mice were intravenously injected with MSCs after laser photocoagulation and CNV was assessed at 7 days post-injection.Results & conclusion: The transfection efficiency of hybrid NPs into MSCs was 72.7%. HIF-1α mRNA expression in 661w cells co-cultured with MSC-hybrid-siRNA NPs was significantly lower. Intravenous delivery of MSC-hybrid-siRNA NPs greatly reduced CNV area and length. Intravenous injection of MSC-hybrid-siRNA NPs achieved therapeutic efficacy in reducing CNV area. The MSC-mediated homing enabled targeted inhibition of ocular angiogenesis.

[Box: see text].

Hepatocellular carcinoma-specific epigenetic checkpoints bidirectionally regulate the antitumor immunity of CD4 + T cells.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant tumor with significant global health implications. The role of CD4+ T cells, particularly conventional CD4+ T cells (Tconvs), in HCC progression remains unexplored. Furthermore, epigenetic factors are crucial in immune regulation, yet their specific role in HCC-infiltrating Tconv cells remains elusive. This study elucidates the role of MATR3, an epigenetic regulator, in modulating Tconv activity and immune evasion within the HCC microenvironment. Reanalysis of the scRNA-seq data revealed that early activation of CD4+ T cells is crucial for establishing an antitumor immune response. In vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that Tconv enhances cDC1-induced CD8+ T-cell activation. Screening identified MATR3 as a critical regulator of Tconv function, which is necessary for antitumour activity but harmful when overexpressed. Excessive MATR3 expression exacerbates Tconv exhaustion and impairs function by recruiting the SWI/SNF complex to relax chromatin in the TOX promoter region, leading to aberrant transcriptional changes. In summary, MATR3 is an HCC-specific epigenetic checkpoint that bidirectionally regulates Tconv antitumour immunity, suggesting new therapeutic strategies targeting epigenetic regulators to enhance antitumour immunity in HCC.

Modes of occurrence of beryllium in the Ge-rich coal deposit, Lincang, SW China: Theoretical insight into organic association and distribution.

The coal-hosted germanium (Ge) deposit in Lincang, China, contains an abnormally high concentration of beryllium (Be), which is of significant organic affinity. However, the specific species of Be at the atomic scale remain unclear. In this study, thirteen model compounds representing O/S/N-containing functional groups in coal were calculated to probe the local environment of Be. The results indicate that hydroxyl and carboxyl groups are the primary acceptors of Be. Various Be-O complexes with a saturated four coordination of Be can achieve best stabilization. In contrast, the heteroatoms S and N are less likely to act as the acceptors for Be. In addition, the calculation results provide theoretical insights into the vertical distribution of Be. Unlike the upper coal seam, a fraction of Be in the middle and lower seams occurs in a mineral phase, which can be attributed to the limited capacity of organic matter to bond with all available Be. Furthermore, competition from other organically-associated metals, such as Ge and W, for bonding sites affects the local distribution of Be. This study reveals the molecular mechanism for Be enrichment in the organic matter of the Lincang Ge deposit, and suggests potential strategies for the removal of organically bonded Be in coal through the destruction of O-bridged complexes.

Prediction of EGFR-TP53 genes co-mutations in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) by 18F-FDG PET/CT radiomics.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was undertaken to assess the predictive efficacy of 18F-FDG PET/CT -derived radiomic features concerning the co-mutation status of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and TP53 in LUAD. METHODS: A cohort of 150 LUAD patients underwent pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT scans with known mutation status of EGFR and TP53 were collected. The feature extraction based on their PET/CT images utilized the Pyradiomics package based on the 3D Slicer. The optimal radiomic features were selected through correlation analysis and the Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) algorithm, followed by the construction of the radiomic model. The clinical model incorporated meaningful clinical variables, whereas the complex model integrated both the radiomic and clinical models. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) facilitated the comparison of prediction performance across the three models. The DCA gauged the clinical utility of these models. RESULTS: The patient cohort was randomly allocated into a training set (n = 105) and a validation set (n = 45) in a 7:3 ratio. Eleven PET and eleven CT optimal radiomic features were selected to construct the radiomic model. The model showed a good ability to discriminate the co-occurrence of EGFR and TP53, with AUC equal to 0.850 in the training set, and 0.748 in the validation set, compared with 0.750 and 0.626 for the clinical model. The complex model exhibited the highest AUC values, with 0.880 and 0.794 in both sets, but there were no significant differences compared to the radiomic model. The DCA revealed favorable clinical value.

Effect of Rosemary on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Fatty Acid Content, Intestinal Flora, and Antioxidant Capacity of Broilers.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a natural spice plant with an aromatic flavor and antioxidant properties that can help enhance the flavor and texture of food, as well as be used as an antioxidant source in pet feed. This study explored the effect of rosemary on the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of broiler chickens. In total, 144 healthy 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into four groups: The control group was fed a basic diet, while the positive control group was fed a basic diet supplemented with 30 mg/kg kitasamycin, and the treatment groups were fed a basic diet supplemental with 0.5% rosemary, or 2% rosemary. The average daily feed intake of broilers fed with 0.5% and 2% rosemary in 1-42 days was higher than that in the basal diet group (p < 0.05). The pH was lower in the rosemary groups than in the 30 mg/kg kitasamycin group as measured in the thigh muscle tissue (p < 0.05), and the monounsaturated fatty acid C17:1 heptadecanoic acid content of the 2% rosemary group was higher than that of the other groups (p < 0.05). With 0.5% rosemary supplementation, the activities of the serum and liver antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) increased (p < 0.05); malondialdehyde content decreased (p < 0.05). The serum activities of CAT, total superoxide dismutase, and T-AOC increased with 2% rosemary supplementation (p < 0.05). The relative expression of liver antioxidant genes, the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2, glutathione catalase 1, and superoxide dismutase 1 increased (p < 0.05) with 0.5% rosemary supplementation. The addition of rosemary resulted in higher intestinal lactobacilli counts and lower E. coli counts. In summary, adding 0.5% or 2% rosemary to the diet improved the growth performance of Arbor Acres broilers and increased the number of intestinal probiotics, and supplementing with 0.5% rosemary yielded better results than adding 2% rosemary. This study provides valuable insights into the broader application of plant-derived antioxidants in promoting sustainable and health-focused animal farming practices.

Myxobolus dabryi n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae) Infecting the Gills of Chanodichthys dabryi, Bleeker, 1871 (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) in Hunan Province, China.

Culters are a popular and economically important carnivorous freshwater fish, widely distributed in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in China. An investigation of Myxozoa was conducted to enhance the understanding of Myxozoan diversity in Culters in China, as only 15 Myxosporean species have been previously reported in 6 Culters species. A new species with typical Myxobolus characteristics was discovered exclusively in the gills of Chanodichthys dabryi, Bleeker, 1871, and no other species were found in other Culters fish or organs. The new species elicited whitish plasmodia in the serosa layer of the gill arch, with no distinct inflammatory reaction observed. This species is morphologically different from all reported Myxobolus spp. from Culters, differing in plasmodium and spore size, as well as the coils of polar filaments. Molecular analysis further supports that it does not match any sequences available in GenBank. Therefore, we identified it as a new species and named it Myxobolus dabryi n. sp.

Ion-Sieving Separator Functionalized by Natural Mineral Coating toward Ultrastable Zn Metal Anodes.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) exhibit promising prospects in becoming large-scale energy storage systems due to environmental friendliness, high security, and low cost. However, the growth of Zn dendrites and side reactions remain heady obstacles for the practical application of AZIBs. To solve these challenges, a functionalized Janus separator is successfully constructed by coating halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) on glass fiber (GF). Impressively, the different electronegativity on the inner and outer surfaces of HNTs endows the HNT-GF separator with ion-sieving property, leading to a significantly high transference number of Zn2+ (tZn2+ = 0.71). Meanwhile, the HNT-GF separator works as an interfacial ion comb to regular Zn2+ flux and realizes multisite progressive nucleation, bringing decreased nucleation overpotential and uniform Zn2+ deposition. Consequently, the HNT-GF separator enables the Zn anode to display an ultralong plating/stripping life of 3000 h and high rate tolerance with a stable long cycle life even under a density of 50 mA cm-2. Moreover, the Zn∥HNT-GF∥MnO2 full cell represents an ultrastable cycling stability with a high capacity retention of 93.4% even after 1000 cycles at a current density of 2 A g-1. This work provides a convenient method for the separator modification of AZIBs.

Toward More Realistic Estimates of Product Displacement in Life Cycle Assessment.

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is one of the most widely applied methods for sustainability assessment. A main application of LCA is to compare alternative products to identify and promote those that are more environmentally friendly. Such comparative LCA studies often rest on, explicitly or implicitly, an idealized assumption, namely, 1:1 displacement between functionally equivalent products. However, product displacement in the real world is much more complicated, affected by various factors such as the rebound effect and policy schemes. Here, we quantitatively review studies that have considered these aspects to evaluate the magnitude and distribution of realistic displacement estimates across several major product categories (biofuels, electricity, electric vehicles, and recycled products). Results show that displacement ratios concentrate around 40-60%, suggesting considerable overestimation of the benefits of alternative products if the 1:1 displacement assumption was used. Overall, there have been a small number of modeling studies on realistic product displacement and their scopes were limited. Additional research is needed to cover more product categories and geographies and improve the modeling of market and policy complexities. As such research accumulates, their displacement estimates can form a database that can be drawn upon by comparative LCA studies to more accurately determine the environmental impacts of alternative products.

Electroacupuncture combined with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is beneficial for the expulsion of ureteral calculi: a prospective randomized trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in treating ureteral calculi. METHODS: This prospective randomized controlled trial included 207 patients with ureteral calculi who were randomly allocated to an experimental group that underwent EA plus ESWL (n = 95) and a control group that underwent only ESWL (n = 112). Imaging examinations were performed at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the operation, followed by comparing the stone-clearance rate, time to first stone expulsion, and incidence of major complications between the two groups. RESULTS: The stone-clearance rates at 1 (59.1 vs. 37%, P = 0.002), 2 (86.4 vs. 59.3%, P = 0.000), and 4 (90.9 vs. 77.8%, P = 0.013) weeks after the operation in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The time to first stone expulsion in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.29 ± 1.55 vs. 2.45 ± 3.11 days, respectively; P = 0.001). However, we found no difference in the incidence of major complications between the two groups (15.9 vs. 17.6%, P = 0.754). CONCLUSION: EA-assisted ESWL significantly improved stone clearance and shortened the time to stone expulsion without elevating the complication risk. However, a large-scale multicenter, prospective study is required to corroborate our conclusions.

[Rainwater harvesting effect of biocrusted soil-surfaces and the key influencing factors in the hilly region of Chinese Loess Plateau]. / é»„åœŸä¸˜é™µåŒºç”Ÿç‰©ç»“çš®é›†é›¨é¢çš„é›†é›¨æ•ˆæžœåŠå ¶å ³é”®å½±å“å› å­.

In the hilly region of Chinese Loess Plateau, rainwater harvesting is a common ecological engineering measure utilized to reduce soil erosion and amplify the efficiency of water resource utilization. However, the effects on rainwater harvesting and the chief influencing factors of biocrusts as a potential material are unclear. In this study, we conducted a field simulation experiment with intensities of 40, 60, 80, and 100 mm·h-1 between bare soil and biocrusts developed in aeolian soils, with bare soil as a control to explore the differences of the initial abstraction time, cumulative rainfall amount, and rainfall harvesting efficiency. We further analyzed the influencing factors of the rainwater harvesting effect. The results showed that the biocrusted soil-surfaces significantly decreased the initial abstraction time. When compared with the cyano biocrusts and bare soil, the reduction of the initial abstraction time of moss biocrusts was decreased by 49.7%-77.5% and 89.7%-110.0% when the rainfall intensities ranged from 40 to 100 mm·h-1 and the slope was 40°. In addition, biocrusted soil surfaces significantly increased the cumulative rainfall amount and rainfall harvesting efficiency. These differences were considerable amongst the dissimilar surface cover types. In comparison to bare soil, when the rainfall intensity was 100 mm·h-1 and the slope was 40°, the cumulative rainfall harvesting efficiency of moss and cyano biocrusts was increased by 29.6% and 7.8%, respectively. Both moss and cyano biocrusts increased rainfall harvesting efficiency of 25.7% and 6.8%, respectively. Variance analysis demonstrated that the rainfall harvesting efficiency was appreciably affected by surface cover type, slope, and rainfall intensity. The interaction between these factors was considerable except for slope and rainfall intensity. Additionally, important considerations for the actual construction included slope length, slope, and biocrust cultivation. In conclusion, biocrusted soil-surfaces have a high rainfall harvesting efficiency, but moss biocrusts have a much greater rain-collecting effect that improves even more as the slope and intensity of the rain increases.

Effects of intracranial artery stenosis of anterior circulation on cognition-A CT perfusion-based study.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is one of the most important independent risk factors for stroke that is closely related to the occurrence of cognitive impairment. The relationship between ICAS and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) remains unclear. Cerebral hemodynamic changes are one of the main causes of cognitive impairment. Computed tomographic perfusion (CTP) imaging can quantitatively analyze cerebral blood perfusion and quantify cerebral hemodynamic changes. Previous research on the relationship between hypoperfusion induced by ICAS and cognitive impairment, as well as its underlying mechanisms, remains relatively insufficient. This study is dedicated to elucidating the characteristics and potential mechanisms of cognitive impairment in ICAS patients with abnormal perfusion, utilizing CTP imaging as our primary investigative tool. METHODS: This study recruited 82 patients who suffer from non-disabling ischemic stroke (IS group) and 28 healthy controls. All participants underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments both collectively and individually, in addition to CTP imaging. Within the patient group, we further categorized individuals into two subgroups: the ischemic penumbra group (IP, N = 28) and the benign oligemia group (BO, N = 54), based on CTP parameters-Tmax. The correlations between cognitive function and abnormal perfusion were explored. RESULTS: The cognitive function, including the overall cognitive, memory, attention, executive functions, and language, was significantly impaired in the IS group compared with that in the control group. Further, there are statistical differences in the stroop color-word test-dot (Stroop-D) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) sub-items (memory + language) between the BO and IP groups. In the BO group, the score of Stroop-D is lower, and the MoCA sub-items are higher than the IP group. There is no correlation between CTP parameters and cognitive function. CONCLUSION: Cognitive function is significantly impaired in patients with ICAS, which is related to cerebral perfusion. Executive, memory, and language function were better preserved in ICAS patients without IP. Hence, this study posits that managing hypoperfusion induced by ICAS may play a pivotal role in the development of VCI.

Nickel-Mediated Divergent Trifluoromethylation of Chlorinated and Brominated Phenol Derivatives through Chemoselective Cleavage of Ar-O and Ar-Cl(Br) Bonds.

We report herein that nickel-mediated trifluoromethylation of chlorinated and brominated phenol derivatives ClArOTs and BrArOTf gave chloro(bromo)trifluoromethylarenes through the chemoselective cleavage of Ar-O bonds. Furthermore, under similar reaction conditions, the chemoselective trifluoromethylation of Ar-Cl and Ar-Br bonds of ClArOPiv and BrArOTs was achieved to give trifluoromethylated phenol derivatives.

Therapeutic agents for steroid-refractory immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis: a narrative review.

Background and Objective: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become one of the cornerstones of current oncology treatment, and immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis (IRM) is the most fatal of all immune checkpoint inhibitor-related adverse events (irAEs). Methylprednisolone pulse therapy (500-1,000 mg/day) is the initial treatment for IRM recommended by almost all relevant guidelines. However, subsequent treatment regimens remain unclear for patients who do not respond to methylprednisolone pulse therapy (who are defined as steroid-refractory patients). We propose a potential treatment approach for steroid-refractory IRM. Methods: The PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases were searched using keywords related to IRM. Relevant English-language articles published from January 2000 to February 2024 were included in this narrative review. Key Content and Findings: Abatacept is the preferred choice for the treatment of isolated steroid-refractory IRM. For rapidly progressive or interleukin-6 abnormally elevated steroid-refractory IRM, alemtuzumab or tocilizumab/tofacitinib are the preferred therapeutic agents, respectively. For steroid-refractory IRM comorbid with myositis or comorbid with myasthenia gravis, abatacept + ruxolitinib/mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)/intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), or MMF + pyridostigmine/IVIG are the preferred therapeutic agents, respectively. Conclusions: The pathogenesis of steroid-refractory IRM and the treatment regimen remain unclear. A large number of studies need to be conducted to validate or update our proposed treatment approach.

HER2 expression in upper tract urothelial carcinoma and the relationship with clinicopathological characteristics-an analysis of 155 patients in Southwest China.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the expression of HER2 in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in Southwest China by using a relatively large cohort, and to determine the relationship between HER2 expression and clinicopathological characters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled the clinical data of 155 UTUC patients who have undergone radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) from March 2019 to September 2022. HER2 expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry and scored according to the HercepTest (Scores of 0 or 1 + were considered as negative and 2 + or 3 + as positive). Tumor molecular phenotype was classified by the panel of CK20, CK5/6, and CD44. RESULTS: HER2 was overexpressed in 55 (35.5%) patients. It was associated with pathologic characteristics such as grade (p = 0.017), tumor molecular phenotype (p < 0.001) and Ki-67 expression (p = 0.017). On univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis, HER2 overexpression remained associated with higher grade (HR, 10.6; 95% CI 1.0-112.6; p = 0.050) and luminal molecular phenotype (HR, 8.0; 95% CI 1,6-38.4; p = 0.010). During disease progression after nephroureterectomy, the phenotype of the tumor might change and a switch phenomenon in phenotype after recurrence in the bladder was reported. CONCLUSION: According to our study, in Southwest China, one-third of UTUC patients overexpressed HER2. Tumors with high grade or luminal phenotype tended to be HER2 positive. HER2 may represent a promising target for therapy in UTUC.

Revisiting sustainable resources in the combustion products of alumina-rich coal: Critical metal (Li, Ga, Nb, and REY) potential of ash from the Togtoh Power Plant, Inner Mongolia, China.

Coal fly ash has gained much attention as a potential alternative source for extracting critical metals such as Li, Ga, Nb, and lanthanides and yttrium (REY). This study investigates their distribution characteristics and modes of occurrence in alumina-rich fly ashes from the Togtoh Power Plant in Inner Mongolia, using various analytical methods. The objective was to provide a reference for the pre-enrichment of critical metals in fly ash. Lithium is primarily present in the glass phase, and its concentration is extremely low in the crystalline phases. Lithium is mainly concentrated in "pure" aluminosilicate glass, and is present but at a low level in Ca-rich aluminosilicate glass. Gallium is primarily present in the glass phase and in corundum, while Nb mainly exists in submicron zircon particles surrounded by Si-Al-Ca glass. Lanthanides and yttrium primarily occur in the glass phase and in crystalline phases, including an intermediate phase composed of the three end-member minerals of the gorceixite-crandallite-florencite series, as well as in monazite, crystalline forms of iron oxides and REY oxides. The Li concentrations in the alumina-rich fly ashes range from 562 to 894 µg/g for Li2O, from 43.9 to 81.9 µg/g for Ga, from 58.7 to 70.6 µg/g for Nb2O5, and from 258 to 450 µg/g for REY oxides, respectively, indicating their substantial potential for resource recovery. Especially, the 2nd row fly ash has the highest contents of these metals, allowing for direct extraction without the necessity for complex pre-processing. Physical separation can further enrich Li, Ga, Nb, and REY in the fly ash. In particular, particle size separation enriches these elements in the < 20 µm size range and magnetic separation enriches Li, Ga, Nb, and REY (except Ce) in the non-magnetic fraction. However, Ce is significantly enriched in the magnetic fraction compared to the original fly ash.

A Multiferroic Spin-Crossover Molecular Crystal.

Spin-crossover (SCO) ferroelectrics with dual-function switches have attracted great attention for significant magnetoelectric application prospects. However, the multiferroic crystals with SCO features have rarely been reported. Herein, a molecular multiferroic Fe(II) crystalline complex [FeII(C8-F-pbh)2] (1-F, C8-F-pbh = (1Z,N'E)-3-F-4-(octyloxy)-N'-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)-benzo-hydrazonate) showing the coexistence of ferroelectricity, ferroelasticity, and SCO behavior is presented for the first time. By H/F substitution, the low phase transition temperature (270 K) of the non-fluorinated parent compound is significantly increased to 318 K in 1-F, which exhibits a spatial symmetry breaking 222F2 type ferroelectric phase transition with clear room-temperature ferroelectricity. Besides, 1-F also displays a spin transition between high- and low-spin states, accompanied by the d-orbital breaking within the t2g 4eg 2 and t2g 6eg° configuration change of octahedrally coordinated FeII center. Moreover, the 222F2 type ferroelectric phase transition is also a ferroelastic one, verified by the ferroelectric domains reversal and the evolution of ferroelastic domains. To the knowledge, 1-F is the first multiferroic SCO molecular crystal. This unprecedented finding sheds light on the exploration of molecular multistability materials for future smart devices.