Brine is a critical type of an important mineral resource. Taking groundwater around the E11 Salt Field of the Lop Nur (Xinjiang) as the research object, this study adopted hydrochemical analysis, correlation analysis, self-organizing map (SOM) clustering, and positive matrix factorization (PMF) model to investigate hydrochemical characteristics and genetic mechanisms of groundwater surrounding the salt field in arid regions. The results reveal that groundwater in the study area is mainly composed of Na+, Cl-, and SO4 2-, with weakly alkaline properties and extremely high total dissolved solids (TDS > 311.38 g/L). Groundwater samples are classified into four clusters (C1-C4) via SOM clustering. The hydrochemical type evolves from Na-Cl type (C3 and C4) to Mg-Cl type (C1). Intense evaporation and concentration control the overall groundwater evolution. At the current evolutionary stage, groundwater undergoes halite precipitation and gradually transitions toward sylvite precipitation. Water-rock interactions such as reverse cation exchange are the critical factors causing spatial differences in hydrochemical compositions. The infiltration boundary of dikes and spatial distribution characteristics of radon isotopes (222Rn) verify the lateral leakage of salt field brine. Groundwater with high TDS and low radon concentrations (C1 and C2) is substantially affected by brine mixing, which acts as the core driving force for groundwater salinization. PMF source apportionment indicates that evaporation, reverse cation exchange, and brine leakage mixing jointly control groundwater hydrochemistry. Groundwater in Cluster C4 is dominated by water-rock interactions (70.93% contribution), whereas the hydrochemistry of Cluster C1 is primarily controlled by brine leakage-mixing (73.79% contribution). This study provides theoretical support for interpreting groundwater hydrochemical genesis in arid salt lake areas and possesses significant scientific value for efficient exploitation of regional mineral resources.
Water source and quality is the most important factor for region sustainable development, especially in the water-scarce arid agricultural regions. In the agricultural area of arid Qaidam Basin, water quality remains inadequately studied. Focusing on the Xiangride River Watershed in the southeastern Qaidam Basin, this research explores the recharge sources, hydrogeochemical evolution, and quality of river water and groundwater integrating correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and inverse geochemical modeling. Stable isotopic analysis indicates that river water and groundwater are derived from mountainous precipitation, and groundwater is recharged by lateral runoff and river seepage in the plain area. Most river water and groundwater samples exhibit relatively low TDS values of < 1000 mg/L, and groundwater exhibits more complex hydrochemistry compared with river water. Along the flow path, the hydrochemical types are marked by the HCO3·Cl·SO4-Na·Mg type for river water, which groundwater shows an evolution from Cl·HCO3-Na·Mg to Cl·HCO3·SO4-Na·Ca·Mg and ultimately to HCO3·Cl·SO4-Na·Ca·Mg. The comprehensive analysis by PCA, major ions relationships and inverse geochemical modeling identifies that water-rock interactions including dissolution and precipitation of evaporites, carbonates, and silicates, together with cation exchange and mixing control the hydrochemical compositions. Water quality assessment based on EQWI, SAR, and Na% values classifies most river water and groundwater as "good" without obvious spatial variation, indicating that the overall water quality is adequate for domestic and agricultural uses. The attention needs to be made in certain area with relatively elevated groundwater NO3 -. These findings provide a basis for the sustainable management of water resource in arid agricultural zones.
Clarifying the hydrochemical attributes and genesis of groundwater within arid endorheic basins is crucial for ensuring its sustainable utilization locally. This research examines the hydrochemical properties, evolutionary processes, and water quality suitability of groundwater in a representative arid closed basin located on the Tibetan Plateau. Findings indicate that groundwater exhibits neutral to weakly alkaline conditions, with TDS and major ions showing marked spatial heterogeneity, increasing from the river valley alluvial plain to the alluvial-lacustrine plain. Hydrochemical types transition from mixed ClMg·Ca to ClNa type along the groundwater flow path. Groundwater chemistry is co-influenced by natural factors and human activities. Evaporative concentration is the dominant natural factor (composition contribution of 38.1%), followed by evaporite dissolution (composition contribution of 27.7%) and silicate weathering, while agricultural activities and domestic pollution contribute significantly to nitrate and ammonium contamination. EWQI assessment indicates most groundwater is unsuitable for direct drinking, with only 23.33% of samples rated as good or excellent. Nitrate is identified as the primary health risk factor, particularly threatening children and infants. This study recommends targeted nitrate control measures in high-risk areas to ensure drinking water safety.
Long-term fertilization is widely recognized as an effective strategy for enhancing soil fertility and carbon sequestration; however, its depth-dependent impacts on soil biogeochemical processes remain insufficiently understood. Here, the responses of soil physicochemical properties, carbon and nitrogen pools, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities to different fertilization regimes (control, chemical fertilizer, manure, and their combination) were investigated across a 0-100 cm soil profile in apple orchards during 2023, and 2024. The results indicated that most soil properties exhibited significant depth-dependent patterns (p < 0.05-0.001), with soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), microbial biomass, and enzyme activities decreasing significantly with depth, while soil pH and water content increased. Compared to chemical fertilizer alone, combined manure and chemical fertilizer (MCF) significantly increased SOC, TN, AP, and AK across both surface and subsurface layers (p < 0.05), whereas chemical fertilizer showed no significantly increased SOC, TN, AP, and AK across both surface and subsurface layers (p < 0.05), whereas chemical fertilizer showed no significant improvement below 40 cm. These changes have driven significant increases in microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, as well as enzyme activities involved in carbon (β-glucosidase), nitrogen (N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase), and (alkaline phosphatase) cycling under MCF (p < 0.01). In contrast, mineral nitrogen forms showed weaker and partially non-significant associations with other soil variables. Notably, multivariate and network analyses revealed that integrated fertilization significantly strengthened the coupling among soil carbon, nitrogen, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities, particularly in 2024, indicating enhanced system stability. Overall, combined organic-inorganic fertilization promotes a vertically extended and functionally resilient soil system, providing new insights into sustainable nutrient management and soil health in orchard ecosystems.
The therapeutic and health benefits of geothermal water are widely recognized; its specific chemical components, particularly fluoride (F-) and the increasing levels of nitrate (NO3-), have raised growing concerns about potential risks. Nevertheless, scientific understanding of the enrichment mechanisms and associated health threats of F- and NO3- in geothermal water remains limited in Northwestern Shandong Province (NWS). This study systematically investigates geothermal waters in NWS by integrating hydrogeochemical analysis with deterministic-probabilistic health risk assessment models. The objectives are to reveal their hydrochemical characteristics, elucidate the enrichment mechanisms of F- and NO3-, and evaluate their potential non-carcinogenic health risks to humans. The results indicate that the enrichment of F- in NWS geothermal water is primarily governed by natural hydrogeochemical processes, manifested as the synergistic effects of fluoride dissolution, calcium-bearing mineral precipitation, alkaline environment, and positive cation exchange. In contrast, the elevated NO3- levels are clearly attributed to anthropogenic influences such as agricultural activities. Under the conventional exposure scenario of skin contact (e.g., bathing), both deterministic and probabilistic risk assessments consistently demonstrate that the non-carcinogenic risks for adults and children are generally acceptable (mean HI < 1, with zero exceedance probability). However, the critical risk arises from non-routine exposure pathways: assessment of accidental geothermal water ingestion reveals a significantly elevated non-carcinogenic risk for children, with the HQ exceedance probabilities (> 1) for F- and NO3- reaching 44.25% and 43.68%, respectively, whereas the corresponding probabilities for adults are only 2.6% and 12.16%. Sensitivity analysis indicates that exposure duration and frequency (exposure opportunity) are the primary controlling factors for adults, whereas children exhibit extreme sensitivity to body weight parameters, with their lower exposure dose per unit body weight significantly amplifying health risks. This study reveals that accidental ingestion (especially by children) constitutes a significant but long-neglected health threat. Accordingly, it is recommended that geothermal resource management prioritize protective measures and educational interventions targeting children in areas lacking public awareness.
Pyrenean ice caves are the least studies cryogenic environments that preserve perennial ice. These caves host microbial communities adapted to extreme oligotrophy, low temperatures, and episodic water availability, making them valuable analogues for subsurface habitats on icy planetary bodies. This study investigated four ice caves in the Central Pyrenees (Devaux, Cotiella A294, Sarrios 1 and Somola SO-01) to (i) characterize bacterial and microeukaryotic assemblages, (ii) assess how ice origin, physicochemical gradients, and cave geology structure these communities, and (iii) evaluate their relevance as terrestrial analogs for cold oligotrophic ecosystems. Amplicon sequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA genes, combined with detailed chemical profiling, revealed marked cave-specific differences associated with pH, major ions, short-chain organics, and ice-formation processes. Liquid water samples contained distinct assemblages dominated by ultra-small Patesibacteria, whereas firn-derived and congelation ice hosted stratified or hydrologically entrained communities. Microeukaryotic diversity was highest in light-exposed ice from Cotiella A294 and lowest in Sarrios 1, where fungal taxa prevailed. Redundancy analyses identified acetate, nitrate, sulfate, pH, and trace metals as the environmental variables most strongly aligned with microbial gradients. These findings provide a data-driven characterization of microbial organization in Pyrenean ice caves and offer empirical baseline parameters to inform future studies of microbial persistence and biosignature formation in cold terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments.
Malappuram district, Kerala, ranked 7th among the most landslide-prone districts in India, according to the Landslide Atlas of India 2023 from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC). The aim of this study is to map landslide susceptibility zones at the district level in Malappuram, Kerala, using GIS-based Weighted Overlay Analysis (WOA). The most commonly used factors for slope failure preparation were slope, elevation, aspect, curvature, land use/land cover, annual rainfall, distance to road, distance to river, soil depth, geology, LS factor, drainage density, Stream Power Index, and Topographic Wetness Index. The AHP technique has been applied to weight the 14 conditioning factors, and Pearson correlation has been used to assess the relation among these variables and between these variables and the landslide points. We have found that most variables are independent, with a maximum correlation coefficient of 0.72. Five respondents ranked 14 conditioning variables using a structured AHP matrix in a paired comparison. The Consistency Ratio obtained is 0.047, which is < 0.10. Slope was given the highest weightage (18%), followed by geology (13%) and annual rainfall (10%), which have the highest contributions to slope failures. The 14 conditioning factors were reclassified into five categories with values ranging from 1 to 5. The 14 classified factors were then combined to produce the landslide susceptibility map of the study area. The landslide susceptible maps were classified into low (39%, ~ 1384 km2), moderate (51%, ~ 1811 km2), and high landslide susceptibility zones (10%, ~ 355 km2). The high landslide susceptible areas are distributed over, in, and around the north-east highland of the district and are characterised by a combination of high slopes, charnockite geology, and high rainfall. The model has been validated using historical landslides point and random non-landslide points. The ratio of landslide and non-landslide points is 70:30 for training and testing, respectively. We obtained AUC values of 0.921 and 0.897 for training and testing, respectively. At the village level, the most affected villages due to landslides have been selected based on the percentage of land area falling within the highly landslide susceptible zones among all 135 revenue villages of the district. The most susceptible villages, in descending order, are Kerala Estate, Chokkad, Akampadam, Karulai, and Kurumbalangode. A detailed landslide susceptibility map of Malappuram district will enable scientists and authorities to plan mitigation actions, regulate construction activities in highly affected areas, and implement an early warning system at the local level.
Microbial communities inhabiting hydraulically fractured subsurface waters are increasingly recognized as important components of unconventional oil and gas systems because they can influence water quality, infrastructure integrity, and biogeochemical processes during flowback and production. However, a quantitative cross-basin understanding of their taxonomic diversity, ecological organization, and potential functional variation remains limited. In this study, we analyzed 16S rRNA gene amplicons, metagenomes, and geochemical data from flowback and produced water (FPW) from the Sichuan Basin, China, and conducted a quantitative comparison to data previously reported from the same basin and hydraulic fracturing (HF) regions in North America. Our findings revealed strong co-occurrence patterns among fermentative, sulfidogenic, and methanogenic microorganisms, which emerged as core members of microbial communities across all fractured subsurface environments. Notably, microbial diversity and selected metabolic traits differed across basins in the low-salinity systems of China, whereas high-salinity basins in North America exhibited reduced diversity and more constrained metabolic capabilities. These differences are consistent with salinity acting as an important ecological filter across the analyzed basins. Our results indicate that basin-specific geochemical context, particularly salinity, is closely associated with cross-basin differences in microbial diversity, community composition, and selected metabolic traits in fractured subsurface waters. These findings support the value of integrating geological, geochemical, and microbiological information when interpreting microbial risks and water-management strategies in hydraulic fracturing systems.
Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (DESI-MSI) is increasingly used for in situ chemical imaging of geological and planetary materials. However, quantitative comparisons across mineral and rock substrates are often complicated by matrix effects. For geological samples, these effects can arise not only from ion suppression caused by indigenous compounds but also from substrate-dependent variations in signal response imposed by the physical and chemical properties of mineral and rock surfaces. Here, we focus on the latter and systematically evaluate DESI matrix effects across 25 representative mineral and rock substrates by continuously infusing a six-component internal-standard mixture into the spray solvent and quantifying ion responses. The signals of different internal standards generally changed in the same direction across the substrate series. Signal intensities decrease with increasing surface roughness, indicating that physical sampling and transfer efficiency exert first-order control. At comparable roughness, different mineral classes still exhibit systematic response differences, consistent with additional crystal-chemical modulation through substrate-derived ionic backgrounds and thin-film interfacial chemistry. Substrates also systematically shift ion-form distributions among protonated and deprotonated species, as well as Na/K/Cl/formate adducts. Together, these findings demonstrate that substrate properties systematically shape DESI signal behavior, affecting both ion yield and ion-form partitioning, and provide a practical basis for mitigating matrix effects in geological and planetary DESI imaging, for example, through normalization using spray-added internal standards to reduce substrate-driven variability in analyte ion intensities.
This study presents the first systematic analysis of the molecular architecture of asphaltenes isolated from Garabagh petroleum (Azerbaijan) by integrating multi-spectroscopic experimental methods with quantum-chemical modeling. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) results reveal a heteroatom-rich (O + N + S = 22.2%), highly functionalized (CO, SO, NH), moderately aromatic (far = 0.478), and highly substituted (Σ = 0.54) structural framework. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) indicates a broad molecular weight distribution within the 145-800 Da range and confirms the presence of 4-6 fused aromatic-naphthenic fragments. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms an amorphous structure with coexisting aliphatic/aromatic domains and no crystalline order. Shows strong 300-600 nm absorbance, indicating pronounced π-π⁎ interactions. Thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) analyses show thermal stability up to 296 °C, decomposition in the 463-500 °C range, and 39.49% coke residue, which may be related to the presence of condensed aromatic nuclei. Density functional theory (DFT) optimized structural archetypes yield fragment-dependent HOMO-LUMO gaps (1.689-3.227 eV) and intramolecular H···O distances (1.647-1.693 Å). Hard fractions (η ≈ 1.614 eV) govern intrinsic chemical stability, while soft electrophilic isomers (σ ≈ 0.592 eV-1) exhibit enhanced reactive propensities. Collectively, the cross-validated results define an archipelago-dominant architecture, offering a unified molecular-level framework for interpreting the intrinsic electronic properties and molecular heterogeneity of asphaltenes.
Shale gas flowback wastewater (SGFW), characterized by high salinity, refractory organics, and complex dissolved constituents, poses significant challenges for conventional wastewater treatment technologies. In this study, a novel dual-photoelectrode photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) system was constructed using a binder-free C/WO3/ZnFe2O4 photoanode coupled with a Cu2O/Cu photocathode for simultaneous pollutant degradation and electricity generation. The ternary photoanode was fabricated via hydrothermal synthesis combined with electrochemical deposition and systematically characterized. The results demonstrated that ZnFe2O4 incorporation and carbon mediation effectively enhanced visible-light absorption, promoted interfacial charge separation, and regulated the electronic structure of the WO3-based photoanode. Active species capture experiment together with band-structure analysis supported a Z-scheme charge-transfer mechanism. Among the prepared samples, 10-CWZ-30 (ZnFe2O4 deposition time is 30 s) exhibited the optimal photocatalytic performance, achieving Rhodamine B degradation efficiency of 93.5% within 4 h under visible-light irradiation. When applied to shale gas flowback wastewater, the system realized 81% chemical oxygen demand removal along with excellent energy output (an open-circuit voltage of 255.7 mV, short-circuit current density of 475 mA/m2, and maximum power density of 12.3 mW/m2). Comparative analysis with representative WO3-based and related PFC systems demonstrates that the proposed dual-photoelectrode PFC exhibits competitive degradation and electricity-generation performance under realistic high-salinity SGFW conditions. This work demonstrates the practical potential of PFC technology for simultaneous wastewater treatment and energy recovery from complex industrial wastewater.
Marine biofouling is a major environmental and economic challenge for shipping and marine infrastructure, driving the need for effective and sustainable antifouling strategies. In this study, bio-based amphiphilic-designed polymer coatings were synthesized from renewable platform chemicals via an energy-efficient free-radical polymerization approach, thereby avoiding hazardous solvents. The coatings were designed by tuning the hydrophilic-hydrophobic balance to modulate antifouling performance, with crosslinking introduced in selected formulations to improve coating integrity and durability. Polymer synthesis proceeded with high yields (65-83%) and almost successful monomer incorporation, resulting in coatings with suitable chemical properties, controlled surface wettability (>90°), and no detectable acute toxicity against Artemia sp. The environmental sustainability of the synthetic approach was evaluated using green chemistry metrics, including solvent recovery sensitivity scenarios. At the same time, a preliminary user-perception survey was conducted to assess the practical relevance and societal demand for safer antifouling solutions. Laboratory assays revealed strong inhibition of diatom adhesion in predominantly hydrophobic formulations (>90% inhibition), whereas amphiphilic-designed systems exhibited variable, formulation-dependent performance. Static field exposure on PVC panels showed that the tested amphiphilic formulations did not prevent fouling accumulation under prolonged natural immersion, as both microfouling and macrofouling communities developed similarly to those on untreated panels. Microbial community analyses further indicated that bacterial assemblages were more responsive to coating chemistry than fungal communities during early colonization. These results demonstrate the importance of combining renewable feedstocks, green synthesis and multilevel assessment to identify promising bio-based antifouling coatings and guide their future optimization for suitable applications.
The Southern green stink bug Nezara viridula, a significant pest affecting various plants, secretes an egg glue that secures eggs together to diverse substrates. This study investigates the mechanical properties of egg glue, its polymerization time, the development of adhesion strength during polymerization, and the effect of humidity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) of the polymerized glue indicated a proteinaceous nature, consistent with a β-sheet structure and C-O related vibrations associated with carbohydrates. Brillouin micro-spectrometry revealed rapid polymerization within minutes of air exposure, accompanied by a time-dependent increase in adhesion strength as measured with a force sensor. Once polymerized, the glue was analyzed to obtain mechanical maps, which revealed a micrometric-scale mechanical heterogeneity, with ∼2% variations in Brillouin frequency shift between thicker and thinner regions, accompanied by corresponding Raman spectral differences indicating variations in chemical composition. Nanoindentation measurements showed that the polymerized glue exhibits high stiffness, approximately twice than that of polymerized chicken egg albumen. Furthermore, when the glue was subjected to various humidity levels during and after polymerization, no significant differences in adhesion strength were observed. Collectively, these findings shed light on the mechanical design of this natural adhesive and lay the groundwork for further research on biomimetic adhesive development and insect egg adhesion mechanisms. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The natural egg glue of the Southern green stink bug Nezara viridula is a biological adhesive that firmly attaches eggs to various surfaces. This study investigated its polymerization time, development of adhesion strength, elasticity, hardness, humidity response, and chemical structure using FT-IR spectroscopy. The polymerized glue exhibits high stiffness and microscale mechanical heterogeneity and a proteinaceous network with β-sheet structural features. These findings provide a fundamental insight into the structure-function relationship of this natural adhesive, contribute to understanding insect adhesive systems, and provide a basis for future studies on biomimetic adhesives and insect egg adhesion mechanisms.
This report compiles geochemical data from major salt formations and associated beds occurring in the subsurface (∼200-2000 m) of sedimentary basins within onshore Canada. Included are new project data (obtained since 2022), those published in research papers, and non-confidential data from national and provincial databases. Rock materials are primarily diamond-bit cores from wells drilled for oil and gas, salt mines, salt caverns, or potash exploration. Four data categories are reported: (1) lithogeochemistry data are whole-rock analytical results acquired predominantly with 4-acid digestion on ICP instrumentation; (2) brined cores - salt samples put into solution with deionised water and analysed with ICP instrumentation; (3) a small set of real industrial brines from salt/potash mines and salt cavern storage operations. The category (4) includes new semi-quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) data made on whole rocks (3 clay-fraction samples also included), as well as insoluble residues from brined samples. The brined core data simulate the chemical composition of brines produced by industrial solution mining; they are reported in NaCl saturated notation. A large portion of lithogeochemistry data comes from non-salt beds associated with salt deposits: silty marls, carbonates ("red beds"), and anhydrites. The range of reported elements varies between datasets. New analyses were performed to assess trace elements from the "Critical Minerals" list (Li, Rb, … REE+Y), along with major elements that make up lithic impurities in salts. This compilation provides data support for ongoing Government of Canada research programs, analytical publications, and is intended for broader industry (solution mining, etc.) and public use.
Unlike conventional energy-intensive physical/chemical soil remediation, dietary regulation of As oral bioavailability represents a cost-effective, sustainable downstream intervention in environmental risk management and control. However, how distinct dietary structures regulate As bioavailability remains unelucidated, hindering a holistic understanding of corresponding exposure and health risks. To address this, a mouse bioassay was conducted to evaluate the relative bioavailability (RBA) of As in two soils with four typical diet structures (high-fat, high-protein, high-carbohydrate, and high-dietary fiber diets). The results showed that although the four diets promoted the gastrointestinal As dissolution by 1.1-1.7-fold, the high-dietary fiber diet decreased As-RBA by 9.49-13.2% and lowered the health risk by 0.50-0.70-fold, which was more effective than high-protein and high-carbohydrate diets. The decrease was associated with lower intestinal permeability, which correlated with a significant increase in the relative abundance of Roseburia and Lachnospiraceae, and a decrease in the apoptosis rate of mouse intestinal epithelial cells. In contrast, a high-fat diet increased As-RBA by 8.72-11.9% and raised the health risk by 1.33-1.38-fold, which was associated with a significant proliferation of Dubosiella and a significant inhibition of Roseburia. This study shows that a high-dietary fiber diet is associated with reduced As exposure and potential health risks, in parallel with favorable changes in gut microbiota, oxidative status, and intestinal permeability.
Carbon dots (CDs) are zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials with sizes below 10 nm, with high fluorescence quantum yields, variable emission colours, and excellent photostability. Due to their different structural origins and complex surface chemicals, CDs display complex photoluminescence behaviors (PL) and different fluorescence suppression responses. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in understanding the PL mechanisms of CDs, including carbon-core emission, surface emission, molecular emission and crosslink emission. In addition, fluorescence quenching processes triggered by various analytical techniques are discussed, including dynamic quenching, static quenching, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), photoinduced electron transfer (PET), and the inner filter effect (IFE). Emphasis is placed on mechanistic understanding and experimental differentiation strategies. A clear understanding of these fundamental mechanisms is essential for optimizing the fluorescence properties of CDs and the design of highly sensitive and selective fluorescence sensors. Finally, potential research directions and applications of CDs based on these mechanical insights are also highlighted.
With the widespread application of electronic devices in complex environments-facing multiple challenges such as chemical corrosion, noise and electromagnetic radiation pollution-developing new electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials combining high performance with durability become an urgent requirement. To address this, this study utilized natural basalt fibers (BF) and sodium alginate (SA) as substrates to construct a nano-Fe₃O₄@CNT conductive-magnetic network, taking advantage of the cross-linking reaction between SA and Ca2+ via coordination interactions, which enabled the coating to adhere onto the surface of BF fabrics. This fabric exhibited outstanding comprehensive properties, achieving an excellent EMI shielding of 39.44 dB, an EMI shielding effectiveness per unit thickness of 788.8 dB·cm-1, a sound absorption coefficient of 0.87, a mechanical strength of 229 MPa and stable joule heating capacity (approximately 70 °C). More importantly, after immersion in seawater, HCl, and NaOH, its SE retention rates reached 88%, 72%, and 87%, respectively, and the average sound absorption coefficient remained nearly unchanged. The multifunctional fabrics, "derived from nature and designed for nature", will provide a material that combines electromagnetic and acoustic protection for wearable clothing as well as short-term protected environments such as ship compartments and offshore platforms.
Hydrothermal systems likely played an essential role in the origin of life, both on Earth and potentially on other planets. They form anywhere that heat and aqueous fluids interact, including within cooling hypervelocity impact craters. Longer periods of hydrothermal activity will generate extended windows of opportunity for prebiotic chemical reactions to occur, life to develop, and micro-organisms to thrive and propagate beyond their point of origin. Here, we present radioisotopic age constraints and numerical simulations for the duration of post-impact hydrothermal activity in and around the peak ring of the ~200 km diameter 66 Ma Chicxulub impact structure. We find that hydrothermal activity persisted for at least 8 million years (Myr), which is approximately four times longer than previously estimated by numerical simulations, palaeomagnetic records, and petrographic interpretations at Chicxulub, making it the longest-lived impact generated hydrothermal system documented on Earth.
Cannibalism and intraguild predation (IGP) are common interactions among predators that can influence the effectiveness of biological control agents. The minute pirate bug Buchananiella whitei is a recently commerciali sed biocontrol agent in New Zealand, but its intraspecific predation and interactions with potentially co-occurring predatory mites remain poorly understood. This study examined cannibalism within B. whitei, as well as IGP between first-instar B. whitei nymphs and adult females of seven predatory mite species (Phytoseiidae and Laelapidae), using observations in enclosed setups with emphasis on the role of extraguild prey availability (dried fruit mite Carpoglyphus lactis). Both cannibalism and IGP were observed, and their occurrence was strongly influenced by extraguild prey availability. No predation on B. whitei eggs was observed in either cannibalism or IGP. Cannibalism occurred only in adult-nymph interactions, and its prevalence was greatly reduced by the presence of extraguild prey. IGP was more frequent in the absence of extraguild prey. First-instar B. whitei nymphs preyed on most predatory mite species, but reciprocal predation was only observed with Neoseiulus cucumeris and Stratiolaelaps scimitus. Differences in body size among predator species partly contributed to the observed outcomes. These findings indicate that although cannibalism and IGP can occur in systems involving B. whitei, their ecological significance is probably limited when alternative prey are available. Predatory mites are therefore unlikely to substantially suppress B. whitei populations. A better understanding of these trophic interactions will improve the use of B. whitei and other natural enemies in biological control programs. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Drilling fluid loss is a major challenge facing oil and gas drilling operations worldwide and often results in significant economic losses. Although traditional liquid-crystal materials (LCMs) offer key advantages such as self-adaptive crack plugging capabilities and adjustable gelation times. However, due to its limited pressure resistance, its range of applications remains limited. In this study, a simple freeze-thaw strategy was employed to innovatively develop a PVA-based plugging hydrogel. This method leverages physical cross-linking properties to reduce the need for chemical cross-linking agents and improve the material's rheological properties. The 15% PVA hydrogel achieved a tensile strength of 6.99 MPa. Its compressive strength was 4 MPa at 80% strain. Furthermore, it exhibited excellent fatigue resistance, with compressive strength decreasing by only 21% after 50 cycles. Simulated plugging tests demonstrated that the prepared hydrogel exhibits excellent sealing performance under a water pressure of 5 MPa. This study provides an economically viable and environmentally friendly solution for preventing drilling fluid loss, making it a highly promising candidate material for deep-sea drilling applications.