Since Phragmites australis often develop marshes soon after human disturbances, such as peat mining in bogs, the establishment patterns should be clarified for restoration purposes. The inside and outside boundaries of P. australis marshes were investigated following peat mining in Sarobetsu mire, northern Japan, in 2016 and 2017. The boundaries of marshes did not move during the two years, due mostly to the slow expansion of shoots. Various vegetation types developed outside of the marsh. P. australis coexisted with neither ericaceous nor carnivorous plants, which favor Sphagnum bogs. The succession in the marsh did not progress the original bogs. P. australis dispersed seeds mostly within the marshes, suggesting limited dispersal, and developed transient seed bank. Therefore, seed dispersal (sexual reproduction) and rhizomes (vegetative reproduction) contributed to population maintenance rather than population enlargement during the studied period. Peat moisture was higher in the marsh, whereas photosynthetic active radiation was lower. Water levels did not differ between inside and outside the marshes. Chemical properties in peat water were not different between inside and outside the marshes. Therefore, water chemistry and levels did not adequately explain the marsh development. These results suggest that, for wetland restoration, environmental manipulation is ineffective in reducing P. australis and unpredictable or stochastic events alter the dynamics of P. australis marshes.
This paper reports, for the first time in the literature, a preliminary study to investigate the feasibility of utilizing waste algae powder (byproducts of biofuel manufacturing from algae) in binder jetting 3D printing to produce environmentally friendly products. In this study, the algae powder’s morphology and particle size distribution were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and particle size analyzer, respectively, and the flowability was assessed through apparent density and repose angle. The algae powder successfully printed the cylindrical, cubic, and gyroid parts on a binder jetting 3D printer. Results show that it is feasible to print parts with binder jetting 3D printing utilizing waste algae powder. The use of waste algae powder in additive manufacturing offers a novel approach to upcycling waste algae powder into valuable products for various applications such as packaging and construction.
The accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins is the hallmark of liver fibrosis associated with all chronic liver disease (CLD) types. Liver fibrosis results from repeated bouts of liver injury, which trigger the wound-healing response, ultimately disrupting the normal hepatic architecture. Over time, fibrosis can progress to cirrhosis, portal hypertension, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma, worsening patient outcomes. Biological modifiers, such as sex and socio-cultural constructs like gender, influence the development of liver fibrosis through various genetic, hormonal, immunological, metabolic, and lifestyle-related factors, including alcohol consumption, diet, sedentary behavior, and hormonal therapy. Moreover, liver fibrosis is significantly modulated by age, reproductive status, and the etiology of CLD. This review aims to summarize the most well-characterized pathomechanisms underlying sex and gender differences in hepatic fibrogenesis as well as liver-related complications (cirrhosis, portal hypertension, hepatic encephalopathy, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma) and extra-hepatic correlates of liver fibrosis (sarcopenia, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and dementia) across various types of CLD due to viral-related, autoimmune, drug-induced and metabolic etiologies. Understanding these disease modifiers and their mechanisms is crucial for developing innovative treatment strategies and precision medicine approaches in this field.
With the rapid development of shipping industry, marine vessels frequently suffer from biofouling caused by marine organisms, making the effective prevention of marine biofouling a critical issue. Traditional antifouling coatings, which utilize toxic and harmful substances, pose significant risks to marine ecosystems. Therefore, the development of environmentally sustainable antifouling coatings has become imperative. Photocatalytic antifouling coatings, as an eco-friendly alternative, present a promising solution to these economic, energy, and ecological challenges. This review compares the environmental benefits of photocatalytic antifouling coatings to traditional ones, highlighting the underlying mechanisms of marine biofouling. Additionally, it explores the preparation techniques employed in photocatalytic antifoulant, analyzing the advantages, disadvantages, and potential modifications for photocatalytic coatings. Based on these insights, the future development of photocatalytic antifouling coatings is discussed, aiming to provide valuable references for the exploration of more efficient, broad-spectrum, energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective marine antifouling technologies.
This paper provides a comprehensive account of the properties, development and extensive utilisation of Tibetan microcrystalline magnesite in industry. Tibetan microcrystalline magnesite has become a significant raw material for refractories, high-temperature insulating materials and magnesium chemical materials due to its high purity, low impurity content (mainly Si and Fe elements) and micrometre-sized crystallisation size (2~4 μm). The article presents a detailed analysis of the microstructure of Tibetan microcrystalline magnesite, its thermal decomposition behaviour and the key technologies employed in preparing high-purity magnesium oxide and sintered magnesia through light burning and electrofusion processes. Furthermore, this paper examines the potential applications of Tibetan microcrystalline magnesite in producing high-performance magnesium materials, including activated magnesium oxide, nano-magnesium oxide, and magnesium hydroxide, which are extensively utilized in environmental protection and high-temperature technology. It is demonstrated that the performance of Tibetan microcrystalline magnesite products can be markedly enhanced by optimising the process parameters and modification techniques, thereby further expanding their application prospects in industrial fields. This review offers a theoretical foundation and technical support for effectively utilising Tibetan microcrystalline magnesite, which possesses significant industrial application value and potential.
