Leveraging the synergistic effects of bimetallic atoms in dual single-atom catalysts (DACs) and the efficient charge transfer of S-scheme heterojunctions, we have designed and systematically evaluated a series of DACsupported carbon nitride/black TiO2 S-scheme heterojunctions (DAC-TCN) for photocatalytic glucose reforming to hydrogen. Among these catalysts, CuNi 0.5-TCN3 exhibited the highest hydrogen evolution rate of 1104.15 mu mol center dot g-1 center dot h-1, which is 34 times higher than pristine carbon nitride and 3.6 times higher than TiO2-X. This superior performance arises from the atomic-level dispersion of bimetallic species and the intimate S-scheme interface, which effectively suppresses electron-hole recombination and extends the lifetime of charge carriers. The catalyst retained over 80% of its activity after four consecutive cycles, demonstrating excellent stability. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed enhanced water adsorption on CuNi-TCN, further stabilizing the system. This work opens up a promising strategy for high-performance hydrogen generation by rationally tuning the structure to combine DACs with S-scheme heterojunctions, which effectively enhances both the efficiency and durability of photocatalytic hydrogen production.
Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, commonly known as the pine wood nematode (PWN), is a globally significant quarantine pest that causes severe damage to pine species. Owing to the lack of effective biocontrol agents targeting this pathogen, an endophyte identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens AW3 was isolated from modified Brassica rapa roots. In vitro bioassays demonstrated that treatment with AW3 fermentation broth at a concentration of 0.8 & times; 10(8) CFU/mL for 48 h resulted in a corrected mortality rate of 83.21% (P < 0.05) against third-stage PWN juveniles. Optical microscopy revealed pronounced morphological deformities, including body distortion, rigidity, cuticular rupture, and leakage of internal contents. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed significant upregulation of antioxidant enzyme-encoding genes such as Bxy-Mn-SOD, Bxy-Ec-SOD, and Bxy-Cu-SOD in the nematodes. Whole-genome sequencing of AW3 using the PacBio Single-Molecule Real-Time platform identified 13 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, including non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS, 37.8 kb), polyketide synthases (PKS, 34.2 kb), terpenes, and bacteriocins. These clusters were presumed to contribute to the nematode-killing activity of this strain. These findings suggest that AW3 exerts nematode-killing nematicidal effects by damaging the nematode cuticle and intestinal structure, causing body-fluid leakage and altering antioxidant defense-related gene expression. This study provides a theoretical framework and a candidate bacterial resource for the development of novel AW3-based biocontrol agents against PWN.
The phosphoric acid (H3 PO4 ) industry involves extensive metal equipment, making corrosion prevention a critical concern. To address the protection needs of cold-rolled steel (CRS) in H3 PO4 environments, this study proposes three progressively optimized approaches based on two oil meals. At ambient temperatures, 400 mg L-1 RJFME (refluxed extract from Jatropha curcas fruit seed meals, JFM) achieved an inhibition efficiency exceeding 90.0%, while RRME (refluxed extract from Rapeseed meals, RM) attained a comparable effect with half dosage (200 mg L-1 ). For pickling applications involving thick rust layers or severely corroded components, RCDs (carbon dots from RM) with enhanced structural property and superior resistance was introduced. This RCDs was blended with homologous RRME at a 1:1 mass concentration ratio (Mix). Under elevated temperature, high-concentration H3 PO4 , and prolonged pickling duration, 200 mg L-1 Mix demonstrated significantly improved performance, with a synergetic coefficient greater than 1.0. This synergy is ascribed to the strong inhibition of extracts and the more effective electron transfer capability of nano-CDs, as supported by first-principles calculations. The work validates the superior inhibition ability of CDs materials over conventional organic molecules, and for the first time, develops an "extract + CDs" coordination synergy that enhances inhibition in harsh environments. (c) 2026 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.
It is highly challenging to achieve polylactic acid (PLA)-based bioplastics with integrated mechanical properties through a melt-blending modification method. This work effectively combined the complementary advantages of PLA and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) by constructing a co-continuous structure guided by the phase inversion point. The co-continuous PLA/CAB (50/50, w/w; denoted as 5P5C) blend exhibits a high elongation at break of 98.6% (approximately 19-fold higher than that of neat PLA), while maintaining a high tensile strength of 79.1 MPa (87.8 MPa for neat PLA). Structure-property relationship analysis indicates that this advantage arises from the synergistic deformation of the interpenetrating PLA/CAB networks in 5P5C under tensile loading. Additionally, the co-continuous 5P5C exhibits favorable heat resistance, with a Vicat softening temperature (VST) of 132.3 degrees C, which is much higher than that of neat PLA (VST = 59.8 degrees C). This work provides a viable strategy for developing high-performance PLA-based materials, and the resulting co-continuous PLA/CAB blend shows strong potential for agricultural and packaging applications.
Understanding how endangered tree species respond to rapid warming is essential for assessing their future survival. Here, we build up a 282 years tree-ring width chronology of Rhododendron protistum var. giganteum in southeastern Tibetan Plateau to test whether rising temperatures have reshaped the climatic controls on radial growth. Structural equation modeling shows that pre-growing-season warming enhances atmospheric dryness, intensifying the negative effect of vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on growth. Segmented analyses around a 1988–1989 breakpoint reveal a clear regime shift: before the late 1980s, tree growth was primarily constrained by growing-season climate; after warming accelerated, growth became dominated by pre-growing-season temperature, VPD, and moisture availability. The strengthened negative impacts of early-season temperature and VPD, together with the reduced influence of growing-season climate, demonstrate that warming has fundamentally altered the climate-growth sensitivity of this species. Because R. giganteum already occupies a narrow ecological niche and exhibits slow growth, increasing pre-growing-season warming and atmospheric drying pose a substantial threat to its persistence under future climate scenarios. Our findings highlight the urgent need to incorporate early-season climatic stress into conservation strategies for this critically endangered R. giganteum.
