Biomass pretreatment represents a key step for overcoming structural recalcitrance and enhancing saccharification towards biofuel and bioenergy production, but is currently limited by high-cost and non-recyclable material streams. This study presents a full-chain strategy that couples biomass pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial fermentation to produce sugars and value-added lipids, so as to maximise resource efficiency. Crude glycerol, a biodiesel byproduct, was employed not only as a pretreatment medium but also as an integral component in downstream co-valorisation. Microwave pretreatment of sugarcane bagassein crude glycerol enabled a remarkable lignin removal from 29.2% to 15.3% and boosted subsequent enzymatic glucose yield from 7.8% to 75.7%. Moreover, glycerol recovered from the pretreatment liquor served as an effective fermentable carbon source, enabling a lipid yield of 3.7 g/L byCryptococcus curvatus, which significantly outperformed pure glycerol. This work establishes an integrated framework to synergisticallyconvert two types of agro-wastes into multiple products for high-efficiency and low-cost biorefineries.
Soil magnesium (Mg) deficiency limits sugarcane yield and quality, underscoring the need for optimized Mg fertilization. A field experiment was conducted to compare the effects of three types of Mg fertilizer (magnesium sulfate, silicon-magnesium, and boron-magnesium-zinc) on sugarcane yield, nutrient utilization, and the microbial community. Compared with the optimized fertilization treatment (OPT), all three Mg application treatments increased the 2-year average sugarcane yield, with the greatest increase observed in the OPT plus boron-magnesium-zinc fertilizer treatment (OPT+BMgZn). The use efficiencies of phosphorus, potassium, and Mg fertilizer were significantly greater in the OPT+BMgZn treatment than in OPT. Compared with the OPT, the bacterial Chao1 index increased in the Mg application treatments, whereas the fungal Chao1 and Shannon indices were unaffected (P < 0.05). Moreover, compared with OPT, the relative abundances of the plant growth-promoting microorganisms Bradyrhizobium, Acidothermus, and Conexibacter increased in the OPT+BMgZn treatment, whereas those of the pathogenic microorganisms Fusarium and Vanrija decreased in all Mg application treatments. Functional prediction revealed enrichment of predatory or exoparasitic functions in the bacterial community and reduced fungal pathotrophs in all Mg application treatments compared with OPT. Correlation analysis revealed that sugarcane yield and nutrient uptake were positively correlated with exchangeable Mg2+; bacterial community composition and function were primarily affected by available phosphorus and pH, whereas fungal composition and function were mainly influenced by available potassium and exchangeable Mg2+. Overall, integrating sugarcane yield, nutrient use efficiency, and microbial community structure and function identified OPT+BMgZn as the optimal Mg fertilization strategy for acidic red soils in South China.
Insect dormancy (diapause) is a state of developmental arrest triggered by environmental signals and serves as a vital survival strategy for insects facing harsh seasonal conditions. This article provides a comprehensive review of how photoperiod and temperature regulation of insect dormancy works, covering molecular signaling pathways (such as circadian clock genes, hormone regulation, and the insulin–FoxO pathway), epigenetic mechanisms (like DNA methylation and histone modification), physiological changes (including metabolism inhibition and buildup of cold-hardiness substances), and ecological adaptation strategies. Research indicates that insects sense shifts in photoperiod and temperature to activate intricate endocrine and gene regulatory networks, enabling the precise initiation or termination of dormancy. Although considerable progress has been made recently in understanding the molecular basis of dormancy, challenges remain, including significant variation among species, complex regulatory networks, and unclear mechanisms of climate response. Future research should integrate multi-omics approaches, conduct cross-species comparisons, and develop ecological models to deepen theoretical understanding of dormancy, thereby supporting green agricultural pest management and biodiversity conservation.
High entropy alloys (HEAs) have no less than four principal elements in (near) equal atomic percentage, exhibiting a solid solution state with fine precipitates, as well as distinct material properties. HEAs material design method influences its mechanical and corrosion behaviors significantly, but the underlying mechanism needs further investigation. It has been reported that the second-phase precipitates, work hardening behavior, and corrosion resistance of HEAs are vary depending on the amount of alloying element and heat treatment. The research progress of HEAs and their unique characteristics are reviewed, including microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, and corrosion behaviors. Also the description of HEA’s solid solution and precipitates strengthening will be highlighted. Furthermore, the effects of alloying and heat treatment, on the above-mentioned properties, are discussed. In addition, the challenges, prospects, and industrial applications of HEAs will be discussed. Furthermore, this work points out the future developments of HEAs, fulfilling the strict requirement from industries.
Biodegradable magnesium (Mg) alloys have been widely considered for orthopedic implantation; yet persistent challenge of excessively rapid degradation in physiological environments hinder clinical application. In this study, an Fe78Si9B13 amorphous coating (FeAC) was fabricated on ZK60A alloy via high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) spraying to regulate degradation kinetics while enhancing bioactivity. The FeAC exhibited a dense and homogeneous architecture with a thickness of approximately 170.03 μm, an ultralow porosity of 0.95
