Biodegradable, Colorless, and Odorless PLA/PBAT Bioplastics Incorporated with Corn Stover

The effective use of agricultural lignocellulose resources in biodegradable bioplastics has become the focus of people’s attention due to the inappropriate disposal of agricultural waste and plastic materials. However, the repulsive smell and uncontrollable color of agricultural lignocellulose-based materials limit their potential to replace common consumer plastics. In this study, when the corn stover (CS) meal enforced the PLA/PBAT matrix using the melt blending method, the lignin and hemicellulose components were shown to substantially impact the color darkening and unsavory odor release for the resultant bioplastic; therefore, an optimized scalable alkaline hydrogen peroxide oxidation that can be performed using traditional pulp and paper production lines was used to modify CS on a large scale (LCS) to enhance the properties of bioplastics fabricated with the PLA/PBAT matrix. As a result, the appearance color and odor character of the bioplastic enforced by LCS have been significantly improved compared to those of natural CS. In addition, the bioplastic (LCS/PLA/PBAT) exhibited good tensile strength (9.7 MPa), flexural strength (18.1 MPa), elongation at break (61.8%), and surface hydrophobicity with a contact angle value of 91.6°, which could meet the requirement of the Chinese National Standard for Packaging. The reinforcing effect of LCS on these performances lay in its rigid structure with a strong fiber network, high content of cellulose crystalline, and hydrophobic nature of lignin after treatment, as proven by FTIR, XRD, and SEM results. Therefore, our bioplastics filled with treated agricultural waste are attractive appearance-wise, economically competitive, and biodegradable, making them a sustainable alternative to common consumer plastics

Additional file 1 of Breastfeeding by a mother taking cyclosporine for nephrotic syndrome

Supplementary Material

Table2_Whole-genome resequencing reveals genetic diversity, differentiation, and selection signatures of yak breeds/populations in Qinghai, China.xlsx

The Qinghai Province of China is located in the northeast region of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and carries abundant yak genetic resources. Previous investigations of archaeological records, mitochondrial DNA, and Y chromosomal markers have suggested that Qinghai was the major center of yak domestication. In the present study, we examined the genomic diversity, differentiation, and selection signatures of 113 Qinghai yak, including 42 newly sequenced Qinghai yak and 71 publicly available individuals, from nine yak breeds/populations (wild, Datong, Huanhu, Xueduo, Yushu, Qilian, Geermu, Tongde, and Huzhu white) using high-depth whole-genome resequencing data. We observed that most of Qinghai yak breeds/populations have abundant genomic diversity based on four genomic parameters (nucleotide diversity, inbreeding coefficients, linkage disequilibrium decay, and runs of homozygosity). Population genetic structure analysis showed that Qinghai yak have two lineages with two ancestral origins and that nine yak breeds/populations are clustered into three distinct groups of wild yak, Geermu yak, and seven other domestic yak breeds/populations. FST values showed moderate genetic differentiation between wild yak, Geermu yak, and the other Qinghai yak breeds/populations. Positive selection signals were detected in candidate genes associated with disease resistance (CDK2AP2, PLEC, and CYB5B), heat stress (NFAT5, HSF1, and SLC25A48), pigmentation (MCAM, RNF26, and BOP1), vision (C1QTNF5, MFRP, and TAX1BP3), milk quality (OPLAH and GRINA), neurodevelopment (SUSD4, INSYN1, and PPP1CA), and meat quality (ZRANB1), using the integrated PI, composite likelihood ratio (CLR), and FST methods. These findings offer new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying target traits in yak and provide important information for understanding the genomic characteristics of yak breeds/populations in Qinghai.</p

Table1_Whole-genome resequencing reveals genetic diversity, differentiation, and selection signatures of yak breeds/populations in Qinghai, China.xlsx

The Qinghai Province of China is located in the northeast region of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and carries abundant yak genetic resources. Previous investigations of archaeological records, mitochondrial DNA, and Y chromosomal markers have suggested that Qinghai was the major center of yak domestication. In the present study, we examined the genomic diversity, differentiation, and selection signatures of 113 Qinghai yak, including 42 newly sequenced Qinghai yak and 71 publicly available individuals, from nine yak breeds/populations (wild, Datong, Huanhu, Xueduo, Yushu, Qilian, Geermu, Tongde, and Huzhu white) using high-depth whole-genome resequencing data. We observed that most of Qinghai yak breeds/populations have abundant genomic diversity based on four genomic parameters (nucleotide diversity, inbreeding coefficients, linkage disequilibrium decay, and runs of homozygosity). Population genetic structure analysis showed that Qinghai yak have two lineages with two ancestral origins and that nine yak breeds/populations are clustered into three distinct groups of wild yak, Geermu yak, and seven other domestic yak breeds/populations. FST values showed moderate genetic differentiation between wild yak, Geermu yak, and the other Qinghai yak breeds/populations. Positive selection signals were detected in candidate genes associated with disease resistance (CDK2AP2, PLEC, and CYB5B), heat stress (NFAT5, HSF1, and SLC25A48), pigmentation (MCAM, RNF26, and BOP1), vision (C1QTNF5, MFRP, and TAX1BP3), milk quality (OPLAH and GRINA), neurodevelopment (SUSD4, INSYN1, and PPP1CA), and meat quality (ZRANB1), using the integrated PI, composite likelihood ratio (CLR), and FST methods. These findings offer new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying target traits in yak and provide important information for understanding the genomic characteristics of yak breeds/populations in Qinghai.</p

Electronically Activated Fe₅C₂ via N‑Doped Carbon to Enhance Photothermal Syngas Conversion to Light Olefins

Solar-driven CO hydrogenation to light olefins holds great potential as a petroleum-independent process. Herein, a series of Fe5C2 loading on tunable N-doped carbon as photothermal catalysts are developed to achieve an efficient Fischer–Tropsch synthesis to olefin (FTO) reaction. Under light irradiation, the optimized catalyst delivers a selectivity of 55.3% for light olefins (CO2 free) at a CO conversion of 22.3%, showing 3.5 times the activity of pristine Fe5C2 catalyst. Experimental characterizations reveal electron transfer from the N atoms in support to the active phase of Fe5C2 to construct electron-rich active sites and therefore to boost the catalytic performance. N-concentration-dependent activity evaluation and density functional theory calculations ascertain that pyrrolic N plays a dominant role in promoting CO adsorption and activation. This study provides an alternative strategy of rational modulation of support to enhance solar-to-chemical conversion

Immunostaining of CDX2.

<p>Day 7 SCNT blastocysts developed from control oocytes (control group), BCB+ oocytes (BCB+ group), and BCB− oocytes (BCB− group) were stained with DAPI and CDX2, a marker for trophectoderm. Original magnification was ×200. Bar = 20 µm. n = 35, 36, and 22 in the control, BCB+, and BCB− groups, respectively.</p

Immunostaining of CDX2.

<p>Each blastocyst in the IVF, 0 µM Oxamflatin treated SCNT (C-NT), and 1 µM Oxamflatin treated SCNT groups (T-NT) was stained with DAPI and CDX2, a marker for trophectoderm. Original magnification was ×200. n = 30, 38, and 44 in the IVF, C-NT, and T-NT group, respectively.</p

BCB+ oocytes support higher developmental competence of bovine cloned embryos <i>in vivo</i>.

<p>Three replicates were performed. The numbers of replicates were 22, 23, and 23 in control group, 25, 27, and 30 in BCB+ group, 11, 11, and 11 in BCB− group, respectively.</p><p>Day-7 blastocysts were non-surgically transferred (one embryo per recipient) to synchronized recipient cows.</p>a, b, c<p>Values with different superscripts within columns are significantly different from each other (P<0.05).</p

Effect of oocyte selection by BCB staining on the development of bovine cloned embryos <i>in vitro</i>.

<p>50 replicates were performed. Maturation rate, cleavage rate, and blastocysts were showed as mean ± SEM%. Maturation rate: No. MII oocytes/No. oocytes. Cleavage rate: No. cleaved embryos/No. SCNT embryos cultured. Blastocyst rate: No. blastocysts/No. SCNT embryos cultured. Cleavage and blastocyst rates were monitored at 48 and 168 h of culture, respectively (0 h being the time embryos were transferred to G1.5).</p>a, b, c<p>Values with different superscripts within columns are significantly different from each other (P<0.05).</p