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Ethylene plays a pivotal role in plant stress resistance and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) is the rate-limiting enzyme in ethylene biosynthesis. Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is the most important natural fiber crop, but the function of ACS in response to abiotic stress has rarely been reported in this plant. We identified 18 GaACS, 18 GrACS, and 35 GhACS genes in Gossypiumarboreum, Gossypium raimondii and Gossypiumhirsutum, respectively, that were classified as types I, II, III, or IV. Collinearity analysis showed that the GhACS genes were expanded from diploid cotton by the whole-genome-duplication. Multiple alignments showed that the C-terminals of the GhACS proteins were conserved, whereas the N-terminals of GhACS10 and GhACS12 were different from the N-terminals of AtACS10 and AtACS12, probably diverging during evolution. Most type II ACS genes were hardly expressed, whereas GhACS10/GhACS12 were expressed in many tissues and in response to abiotic stress; for example, they were highly and hardly expressed at the early stages of cold and heat exposure, respectively. The GhACS genes showed different expression profiles in response to cold, heat, drought, and salt stress by quantitative PCR analysis, which indicate the potential roles of them when encountering the various adverse conditions, and provide insights into GhACS functions in cotton’s adaptation to abiotic stress.

This study identified 13 GhTIR1/AFB members in G. hirsutum through bioinformatics methods and divided them into three subgroups by phylogenetic tree analysis. Motif and gene structure analysis showed that the genes in this family were highly conserved. Promoter cis-acting element analysis found that the promoters of GhTIR1/AFBs contained a large number of cis-acting elements in response to growth and development and abiotic stress. Further RT-qPCR results showed that GhTIR1/AFB genes responded to various abiotic stresses such as IAA, ABA, cold, and heat, and the expression levels of each gene changed obviously, especially Gh_D08G0763 (GhTIR1), which responded significantly to cold injury. Using VIGS (virus-induced gene silencing) technology to silence Gh_D08G0763 in the cold-tolerant cotton variety ZM36, it was found that the resistance of ZM36 to cold damage was significantly reduced. The physiological response mechanism of the Gh_D08G0763 in resisting cold damage was further analyzed through trypan blue staining of leaves and determination of enzyme activity levels. This study provided effective genetic resources for cotton cold-tolerance breeding.

This study identified 13 GhTIR1/AFB members in G. hirsutum through bioinformatics methods and divided them into three subgroups by phylogenetic tree analysis. Motif and gene structure analysis showed that the genes in this family were highly conserved. Promoter cis-acting element analysis found that the promoters of GhTIR1/AFBs contained a large number of cis-acting elements in response to growth and development and abiotic stress. Further RT-qPCR results showed that GhTIR1/AFB genes responded to various abiotic stresses such as IAA, ABA, cold, and heat, and the expression levels of each gene changed obviously, especially Gh_(D)08G0763 (GhTIR1), which responded significantly to cold injury. Using VIGS (virus-induced gene silencing) technology to silence Gh_(D)08G0763 in the cold-tolerant cotton variety ZM36, it was found that the resistance of ZM36 to cold damage was significantly reduced. The physiological response mechanism of the Gh_(D)08G0763 in resisting cold damage was further analyzed through trypan blue staining of leaves and determination of enzyme activity levels. This study provided effective genetic resources for cotton cold-tolerance breeding.

A large amount of nano-ZnO with a thin sheet-like morphology has been manufactured by a simple citric acid assisted hydrothermal route. The influences on the morphologies and structures of ZnO products for the introduction of citric acid in the reaction system have been investigated. A dye-sensitized solar cell assembled by the ZnO nanosheets as photoanode shows an efficiency of 1.82 % with a short-circuit current density of 7.48 mA cm −2 which is over 1.5 times higher than the one without adding citric acid during the synthetic process. This result is mainly connected to the unique superiority of the two-dimensional sheet-like ZnO nanostructures for light scattering and dye loading.

This study identified 13 GhTIR1/AFB members in G. hirsutum through bioinformatics methods and divided them into three subgroups by phylogenetic tree analysis. Motif and gene structure analysis showed that the genes in this family were highly conserved. Promoter cis-acting element analysis found that the promoters of GhTIR1/AFBs contained a large number of cis-acting elements in response to growth and development and abiotic stress. Further RT-qPCR results showed that GhTIR1/AFB genes responded to various abiotic stresses such as IAA, ABA, cold, and heat, and the expression levels of each gene changed obviously, especially Gh_D08G0763 (GhTIR1), which responded significantly to cold injury. Using VIGS (virus-induced gene silencing) technology to silence Gh_D08G0763 in the cold-tolerant cotton variety ZM36, it was found that the resistance of ZM36 to cold damage was significantly reduced. The physiological response mechanism of the Gh_D08G0763 in resisting cold damage was further analyzed through trypan blue staining of leaves and determination of enzyme activity levels. This study provided effective genetic resources for cotton cold-tolerance breeding.

A large amount of ZnO with a three-dimensional sphere-like morphology has been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal route and applied as the photoanode material in CdS quantum dots sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). After the modification of the dye co-sensitized process, an overall power conversion efficiency of 2.32 % with a short-circuit current density of 9.25 mA/cm 2 was obtained in ZnO/CdS/dye-QDSSC, which shows 66.9 and 49.4 % respective improvement over that of pure ZnO/CdS–QDSSC. This result is attributed to its superiority in light absorption and charge–hole separation for the ZnO/CdS/dye-QDSSC.

Three-dimensional nanoparticles-based ZnO hierarchical spheres (ZnO-HS) with strong light harvesting and dye loading abilities have been fabricated by a simple hydrothermal method in this paper. These ZnO-HS were designed as the overlayer for light blocking and applied to the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on bare ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) or TiO 2 nanoparticles (TiO 2 -NP). The results show that the values of the short-circuit current density ( J sc ) and the power conversion efficiency ( η ) have been heightened up to 12.6 mA cm −2 and 3.40 % for the ZnO-NP/ZnO-HS double-layered DSSC, far higher than the bare ZnO-NP DSSC. However, another DSSC assembled by the TiO 2 -NP/ZnO-HS double-layered film displays an adverse result for the decreasing of J sc and η even though the ZnO-HS light blocking layer has been established on the TiO 2 -NP film. According to the electrochemical impedance data compared between the ZnO-NP/ZnO-HS double-layered and TiO 2 -NP/ZnO-HS double-layered DSSC, it is found that the former possesses less possibility for the occurrence of charge recombination and electronic loss, which is responsible for its better photovoltaic response.

* DPAA sorption followed pseudo-secondary and intra-particle diffusion models. * Chemical bonding and intra-particle diffusion were dominant rate-limiting steps. * DPAA simultaneously formed inner- and outer-sphere complexes on siderite. * DPAA predominantly formed occluded inner-sphere complexes on magnetite. * Bidentate binuclear bond was identified for DPAA on siderite and magnetite. Diphenylarsinic acid (DPAA) is both the prime starting material and major metabolite of chemical weapons (CWs). Because of its toxicity and the widespread distribution of abandoned CWs in burial site, DPAA sorption by natural Fe minerals is of considerable interest. Here we report the first study on DPAA sorption by natural magnetite and siderite using macroscopic sorption kinetics, sequential extraction procedure (SEP) and microscopic extended X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). Our results show that the sorption pseudo-equilibrated in 60 minutes and that close to 50% and 20%-30% removal can be achieved for magnetite and siderite, respectively, at the initial DPAA concentrations of 4-100 mg/L. DPAA sorption followed pseudo-secondary and intra-particle diffusion kinetics models, and the whole process was mainly governed by intra-particle diffusion and chemical bonding. SEP and EXAFS results revealed that DPAA mainly formed inner-sphere complexes on magnetite (>80%), while on siderite it simultaneously resulted in outer-sphere and inner-sphere complexes. EXAFS analysis further confirmed the formation of inner-sphere bidentate binuclear corner-sharing complexes ( 2 C) for DPAA. Comparison of these results with previous studies suggests that phenyl groups are likely to impact the sorption capacity and structure of DPAA by increasing steric hindrance or affecting the way the central arsenic (As) atom maintains charge balance. These results improve our knowledge of DPAA interactions with Fe minerals, which will help to develop remediation technology and predict the fate of DPAA in soil-water environments.

The low dielectric constant, limited breakdown strength, and large polarization hysteresis and conduction loss constrain discharged energy density and efficiency of polymer-based dielectric capacitors at elevated temperatures. To address these challenges, the [0.8(Na 0.2 Bi 0.2 Ba 0.2 Sr 0.20 Ca 0.2 )TiO 3 -0.2NaNbO 3 ]@Al 2 O 3 high-entropy ferroelectric nanoparticles/polyetherimide-AlN/polyetherimide-triptycene bilayer nanocomposites are designed. The bilayer nanocomposites capitalize on advantages of high-entropy ferroelectric fillers, which contribute to the high dielectric constant and minimal hysteresis at high temperatures. Additionally, they also benefit from high thermal conductivity of AlN, enhanced rigidity and charge carrier traps in polyetherimide-triptycene, and suppressed carrier transport at the bilayer film interfaces. Consequently, the bilayer nanocomposites exhibit significantly improved dielectric constant and breakdown strength, and marked reduction in conduction loss at elevated temperatures. Remarkably, a record-high discharged energy density of 12.35 J cm −3 is achieved in the optimized bilayer nanocomposites at 150 °C, accompanied by a large efficiency of 90.25% under an electric field of 6341 kV cm −1 . The authors realize high dielectric energy storage properties at high temperatures in the polymer nanocomposites via the combined approach of adding high-entropy ferroelectric nanofillers and constructing a bilayer structure.

Understanding the sources and dynamics of past biomass burning remain a significant challenge due to variations in paleofire combustion patterns across different temporal and spatial scales. This study integrates black carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) records from the Lubei Plain in the Shandong Peninsula, Lower Yellow River, to reconstruct Holocene fire regimes and their relationship with climatic shifts and human activities over the past 5000 years. During the mid-to-late Holocene (5000–3000 year BP. (calendar years before 1950)), a biomass burning levels were generally low, with a pronounced peak in low-molecular-weight PAHs (3-ring PAHs) and charcoal fluxes between 5000 and 4500 year BP, indicating increased fire activity likely driven by a short-term cold-dry event around 5000 year BP. From 3500 to 1000 year BP, three distinct episodes of low-temperature smoldering fires are identified, coinciding with deforestation and persistent droughts during the Shang Dynasty (3600–3046 year BP), the Qin and Western Han Dynasties (2200–2000 year BP), and the Sui and Tang Dynasties (1400–1100 year BP). In contrast, high-temperature flaming fires are associated with periods of intensified warfare and social upheaval, compounded by cold, arid climates during the Warring States period (2500–2400 year BP), the Eastern Han Dynasty (2000–1800 year BP), and the Wei, Jin, and Southern-Northern Dynasties (1800–1400 year BP). Over the past millennium, anthropogenic biomass burning remained elevated, reflecting sustained human influence on fire regimes. Meanwhile, Pollen and n-alkane records reveal a transition from primary forests to secondary shrubland during the late Holocene, driven by declining seasonal precipitation linked to a weakening East Asian monsoon and increased anthropogenic burning. Principal component analysis indicates that long-term deforestation primarily drove low-temperature smoldering fires, whereas high-temperature fires were more closely linked to periods of conflict. Seasonal precipitation variability, regulated by monsoonal dynamics, emerged as a fundamental control on fire regimes. This integrated analysis of PAHs, black carbon, and charcoal, coupled with multivariate statistical approaches, offers a robust framework for reconstructing fire-climate-human interactions in East Asia. The findings provide new insights into the mechanisms driving fire regimes and their long-term ecological and societal impacts.