Salt Content Research Articles

Localized High-Concentration Electrolyte for All-Carbon Rechargeable Dual-Ion Batteries with Durable Interfacial Chemistry.

Lithium-based rechargeable dual-ion batteries (DIBs) based on graphite anode-cathode combinations have received much attention due to their high resource abundance and low cost. Currently, the practical realization of the batteries is hindered by easy oxidation of the electrolyte at the cathode interface, and solvent co-intercalation at the anode-electrolyte interface. Configuration of a "solvent-in-salt" electrolyte with a high concentration of Li salt is expected to stabilize the electrolyte chemistry versus both electrodes, yet inevitably reduces the mobility of the solvated working ions and increases the cost of the electrolyte. Herein, we propose to build a localized high-concentration electrolyte by adding hydrofluoroether as the diluent to reduce the salt content while improving the solvation structure, allowing more anions to enter the inner solvation sheath. The new electrolyte helps to form uniform and thin interfaces, with elevated contents of inorganic fluorides, on both electrodes, which effectively suppress electrolyte oxidation at the cathode and optimize electrolyte-electrode compatibility at the anode while facilitating charge transfer across the interface. Consequently, the DIBs with graphite as anode and cathode operate for 3000 cycles and retain a high-capacity retention of 95.7%, highlighting the importance of stable interfacial chemistry in boosting the electrochemical performance of DIBs.

Localized High‐Concentration Electrolyte for All‐Carbon Rechargeable Dual‐Ion Batteries with Durable Interfacial Chemistry

AbstractLithium‐based rechargeable dual‐ion batteries (DIBs) based on graphite anode‐cathode combinations have received much attention due to their high resource abundance and low cost. Currently, the practical realization of the batteries is hindered by easy oxidation of the electrolyte at the cathode interface, and solvent co‐intercalation at the anode‐electrolyte interface. Configuration of a “solvent‐in‐salt” electrolyte with a high concentration of Li salt is expected to stabilize the electrolyte chemistry versus both electrodes, yet inevitably reduces the mobility of the solvated working ions and increases the cost of the electrolyte. Herein, we propose to build a localized high‐concentration electrolyte by adding hydrofluoroether as the diluent to reduce the salt content while improving the solvation structure, allowing more anions to enter the inner solvation sheath. The new electrolyte helps to form uniform and thin interfaces, with elevated contents of inorganic fluorides, on both electrodes, which effectively suppress electrolyte oxidation at the cathode and optimize electrolyte‐electrode compatibility at the anode while facilitating charge transfer across the interface. Consequently, the DIBs with graphite as anode and cathode operate for 3000 cycles and retain a high‐capacity retention of 95.7 %, highlighting the importance of stable interfacial chemistry in boosting the electrochemical performance of DIBs.

Unlocking the adaptation mechanisms of the oleaginous microalga Scenedesmus sp. BHU1 under elevated salt stress: a physiochemical, lipidomics and transcriptomics approach.

Microalgae are vital for their photosynthetic abilities, contributing significantly to global oxygen production, serving as a key trophic level in aquatic ecosystems, aiding in biofuel production, assisting in wastewater treatment, and facilitating the synthesis of valuable biochemicals. Despite these advantages, photosynthetic microalgae are sensitive to salt stress, which alters their physiochemical and metabolic status, ultimately reducing microalgal growth. This sensitivity highlights the importance of understanding the impact of elevated salt content on the physiochemical, metabolic, and transcriptomic profiling of Scenedesmus sp., areas that are not yet fully understood. Our findings indicate that elevated salt stress decreases photosynthetic efficiency and increases non-regulated photochemical quenching of photosystem II (PSII). Moreover, PSII-driven linear electron flow (LEF) decreased, whereas photosystem I (PSI)-driven cyclic electron flow (CEF) increased in salt-stressed cells. To better understand the electron flow from PSII to PSI under elevated salt treatment, we analyzed the excitation energy flux per reaction center (RC), per cross-section (CS), energy flux ratios, and the potential index of PSII. Additionally, flow cytometry graphs depict the viability assay of Scenedesmus sp. BHU1. Our observations further revealed an increase in biochemical attributes, such as stress biomarkers, osmoprotectants, and enzymatic antioxidants, which help scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) under salt stress. Intracellular cations (Na + and Ca2+) were increased, while K+ levels decreased, indicating mechanisms of cellular homeostasis under salt stress. UHPLC-HRMS-based lipidome analysis confirmed that increasing salt stress induces the hyperaccumulation of several fatty acids involved in adaptation. Moreover, transcriptome analysis revealed the upregulation of genes associated with PSI, glycolysis, starch metabolism, sucrose metabolism, and lipid accumulation under salt stress. In contrast, genes related to PSII and C3 carbon fixation were downregulated to mitigate the adverse effects of salt stress.

Root-Zone Salinity in Irrigated Arid Farmland: Revealing Driving Mechanisms of Dynamic Changes in China’s Manas River Basin over 20 Years

The risk of soil salinization is prevalent in arid and semi-arid regions, posing a critical challenge to sustainable agriculture. This study addresses the need for accurate assessment of regional root-zone soil salt content (SSC) and understanding of underlying driving mechanisms, which are essential for developing effective salinization mitigation and water management strategies. A remote sensing inversion technique, initially proposed to estimate root-zone SSC in cotton fields, was adapted and validated more widely to non-cotton farmlands. Validation results (with a coefficient of determination R2 > 0.53) were obtained using data from a three-year (2020–2022) regional survey conducted in the arid Manas River Basin (MRB), Xinjiang, China. Based on this adapted technique, we analyzed the spatiotemporal distributions of root-zone SSC across all farmlands in MRB from 2001 to 2022. Findings showed that root-zone SSC decreased significantly from 5.47 to 3.77 g kg−1 over the past 20 years but experienced a slight increase of 0.15 g kg−1 in recent five years (2017–2022), attributed to cultivated area expansion and reduced irrigation quotas due to local water shortages. The driving mechanisms behind root-zone SSC distributions were analyzed using an approach combined with two machine learning algorithms, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP), to identify influential factors and quantify their impacts. The approach demonstrated high predictive accuracy (R2 = 0.96 ± 0.01, root mean squared error RMSE = 0.19 ± 0.03 g kg−1, maximum absolute error MAE = 0.14 ± 0.02 g kg−1) in evaluating SSC drivers. Factors such as initial SSC, crop type distribution, duration of film mulched drip irrigation implementation, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), irrigation amount, and actual evapotranspiration (ETa), with mean (SHAP value) ≥ 0.02 g kg−1, were found to be more closely correlated with root-zone SSC variations than other factors. Decreased irrigation amount appeared as the primary driver for recent increased root-zone SSC, especially in the mid- and down-stream sections of MRB. Recommendations for secondary soil salinization risk reduction include regulation of the planting structure (crop choice and extent of planting area) and maintenance of a sufficient irrigation amount.

Retrieval of soil moisture in salinized farmland soil by multi-polarization SAR

ABSTRACT Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a potent instrument for estimating soil moisture across vast farmland areas. However, when soil salinity rises, existing SAR retrieval models for soil moisture become less accurate. Soluble salts in soil water alter the inherent correlation between the SAR backscattering coefficients and soil water, thus compromising the performance of retrieval models. The need to get surface roughness parameters from the field also limits the widespread application of the model. To address these issues, we developed a retrieval model for salty soil moisture assessment under small-scale roughness surfaces. First, we found a method to distinguish between slightly rough and rough surfaces using scattering entropy obtained from full-polarization decomposition. Then, we harnessed the co-polarization ratio to mitigate the effect of surface roughness in slightly rough conditions. Later, we developed a soil moisture retrieval model based on the co-polarization ratio, considering incidence angle, residual roughness, and soluble salt content. The validation of the model was verified using field surveying data, yielding an RMSE of 0.026 cm3 ·cm− 3 for the estimated soil moisture. This accuracy is comparable to or surpasses the level achieved by SAR for non-salinized soil moisture retrieval. Our findings showed that Scattering entropy is an effective parameter for distinguishing scattering mechanisms on farmland surfaces effectively. Specifically, when the scattering entropy of farmland is less than 0.5, the co-polarization ratio can mitigate some surface roughness effects. Additionally, when the soil-soluble salt content is incorporated, our model can accurately estimate the soil moisture of salty soil.

The improved gel properties of myofibrillar protein under low salt condition by ultrasound-assisted sodium tripolyphosphate

Excessive salt intake is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, while directly reducing salt content significantly decreased the quality of meat. The objective of this study was to investigate the synergistic effects of sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) and ultrasound treatment on the gel properties of MP under low-salt conditions (0.3 M NaCl). The results of FTIR spectra showed that P3O105− group of STP bound to -NH2 or -OH group of MP form C-N-P or C-O-P bond, indicating the STP was successfully introduced to MP. The addition of STP significantly increased the absolute value of Zeta-potential, suggesting that the presence of STP increased the electrostatic interaction of MP-MP. Importantly, STP combined with ultrasound treatment under low salt condition (STP-U0.3) significantly increased solubility and decreased particle size of MP. Besides, STP-U0.3 treatment also promoted the exposure of hydrophobic groups and improved the rheological behavior of MP, resulting in the highest gel strength (37.78 ± 0.71 g) and the lowest cooking loss (26.73 ± 0.90 %) especially in 10 mM STP combined 100 W ultrasound treatment. These results corresponded by the gradually increases of α-helix content and the decrease of tryptophan fluorescence intensity. Furthermore, results of SEM illustrated that STP-U0.3 treatment contributed to formation of more homogeneous and dense gel network of MP gel. The above results displayed that the STP-U treatment under 0.3 M NaCl resulted in an equivalent effect to control group of 0.6 M NaCl, indicating that the combined application of STP and ultrasound has a promising potential in the low-salt meat processing industry.

The impact of electrical stimulation on NaCl diffusion in tenderloin and the quality of dry-cured loin during the marination process

The effects of electrical stimulation (ES) during the post-processing stage on NaCl diffusion, microstructure, and overall quality in the dry curing of pork tenderloin were investigated. ES treatment significantly increased the salt content in pork tenderloin, with the A2ES group (ES applied after 2 h of curing) showing a 28.32 % increase compared to the control group. Energy spectrum analysis revealed that NaCl distribution in the meat tissue was most concentrated following ES treatment. Binarized images of NaCl permeation in pork loin clearly demonstrated that ES enhanced NaCl permeation. Additionally, microscopic analysis showed that ES caused cell disintegration, and the combined effect of ES and NaCl damaged muscle tissue. The results indicate that ES enhanced NaCl diffusion and shortened the curing time, while improving meat tenderness and reducing bitter and astringent flavors. This study offers new insights and techniques to accelerate the marination process of meat products.

Electrical conductivity as a precise method for salt content estimation in raw and cooked tuna meat

This study evaluates electrical conductivity (EC) for estimating salt content in raw and cooked Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) across various sizes and preparation methods. Tuna sizes ranged from 0.10 to 9.00 kg, and the analysis included moisture, fat, protein, ash, EC, and salt content. In raw tuna, EC exhibited a high correlation with salt content (R² = 0.84), with the prediction equation Y = 0.112X - 0.525. For cooked tuna, which had reduced moisture, fat, and salt compared to raw tuna, EC showed a strong relationship with salt content (R² = 0.89) and the prediction equation Y = 0.169X - 0.623. Canned tuna in brine demonstrated high EC effectiveness for predicting salt content (R² = 0.93 and 0.95 for with and without media, respectively). However, for tuna in oil, EC correlations were weak (R² = 0.06 and 0.01), indicating that oil interferes with ion movement. After validating the estimated salt content using EC against the actual salt content obtained by auto-titration, the results confirm that EC is a reliable and cost-effective tool for estimating salt content in raw, cooked, and brine tuna, although its applicability is limited for oil-based canned products.

Dry-Cured Ham, 'Kraški Pršut', from Heavy Pig Production-A Pilot Study Focusing on the Effect of Ham Weight and Salting.

A pilot study was conducted with the aim of adapting the processing of "Kraški pršut", dry-cured ham, for thighs from heavy pigs. The focus was on the effect of ham weight and salting duration on the quality of dry-cured ham. From a pool of thighs harvested from heavy pigs, a total of 32 green hams were selected (from 16 carcasses) based on weight (two classes; L-lighter, H-heavier) and we used left and right ham for either the standard or a shortened salting phase. Salting duration consisted of phase 1 (7 days for all hams) and phase 2 (7 or 14 days for L, 10 or 17 days for H, in the case of shortened and standard salting, respectively). Equivalent conditions for all hams were maintained during the remaining phases, with a total maturation period of 18 months. The analysis focused on chemical, physical and rheological properties, sensory attributes, and consumer perceptions. The H hams had lower processing losses, resulting in higher moisture and water activity, lower salt content in internal biceps femoris muscle, and a softer texture (instrumental and sensory) than L hams. The salting duration mainly affected weight losses in the salting phase and, consequently, salt content, which was lower in the shortened salting phase, while no effects were observed on texture. The sensory panel perceived weight's effect on hardness, with L hams being perceived as harder, and salting's effect on sourness, with hams submitted to longer salting perceived as sourer than H hams. Consumer testing indicated a general preference for softer and less salty hams. Overall, the results show that the applied reduction in salting duration was not substantial, and future trials should explore further optimization in terms of salting and resting phases.

Relationship Between Salt Accumulation and Soil Structure Fractals in Cotton Fields in an Arid Inland Basin

The relationship between soil structure and salt accumulation is unclear; thus, experiments on salt accumulation under different soil structures were conducted in cotton fields in arid areas of northwest China. Thirty-nine sets of soil samples were collected from the 0 to 180 cm profile of three experimental areas. The total salt content of the soil extracts and the particle size distribution of the soil samples were determined using a JENCO TDS and a laser particle size analyzer, respectively, and the fractal dimension of the soil structure was obtained using fractal theory. Pearson’s correlation analysis and Tukey’s test (p < 0.01) were used to analyze the correlation between soil salinity, soil particle size distribution, and fractal dimensions in the three profiles. The results showed soil salinity accumulation was affected mutually by soil texture and soil structure, and soil salinity tended to accumulate in fine-grained soil. The soil fractal dimension (D) could indicate soil texture and quantify soil salinity content. When the sand content was more than 50%, there was a significant positive correlation between the soil fractal dimension and soil salinity (correlation coefficient R = 0.943). The results provide valuable insights into cotton production in arid areas.

Using an enzyme preparation and vitamin C to increase the meat productivity of broiler chickens

Purpose: to study the effect of vitamin C and MEK Feedbest®VGPro when introduced into the compound feed of broiler chickens with excessive background of heavy metals on the indices of meat productivity, food and biological value, ecological safety of their meat.Materials and methods. The objects of the study were meat chickens of the ROSS-508 cross. At the age of one day, 4 groups of 100 birds each were formed from them in accordance with the principle of analog groups. In the composition of the used recipes of complete compound feed in all three age periods of growing, the main grain and protein ingredients were represented by locally produced feed: corn, wheat, peas and rapeseed meal. Growing of experimental broilers for meat was completed at the age of 42 days and their control slaughter was carried out, for which 5 birds were selected from each group. The concentration of salts of heavy metals was determined in the samples of feed and meat of the experimental birds.Results. The experiment substantiated the feasibility of combined introduction of MEC Feedbest®VGPro at a rate of 100 g/t of feed and vitamin C at a rate of 500 g/t of feed into diets with excessive content of heavy metal salts. Compared to the control analogues, broilers of the 3rd experimental group showed a reliable (p<0,05) decrease in fat by 0,26 % and a simultaneous increase in dry matter, protein and the value of the protein-quality indicator in the pectoral muscle samples. Combined additions of the tested preparations contributed to a decrease in the concentration of zinc by 63,17 % (p<0,05), cadmium by 61,11 % (p<0,05) and lead by 62,34 % (p<0,05) in poultry meat samples from the 3rd experimental group, compared to the control. Moreover, in the meat samples of broilers of the 3rd experimental group, the maximum permissible concentrations of none of these elements were exceeded.

STUDY OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND POTENTIAL CONTENT OF FRACTIONS OF GAS CONDENSATE OF AL-MASILA FIELDS

The results of determining the physicochemical characteristics of gas condensate produced at the Al-Masila fields are presented. Key indicators include density, vapor pressure, viscosity at various temperatures, pour point, content of water, chloride salts, sulfur, asphaltenes and metals. All measurements were carried out in accordance with current State Standards and methods. The potential content of gas condensate fractions by boiling point, determined by the true distillation method using AUTOMAXX 9400 equipment, is also described.

Can Front-of-Pack Labeling Encourage Food Reformulation? A Cross-Sectional Study on Packaged Bread.

Front-of-pack labeling (FOPL) may represent an important instrument for the food industry in the promotion of food product reformulation. The present cross-sectional study used salt reduction in packaged breads as a case study, aiming to investigate whether two different types of FOPL (i.e., Nutri-Score (NS) and NutrInform battery (NIB)) can capture food reformulation and thus be effective tools for encouraging reformulation. The Nutri-Score and NIB were calculated by consulting the nutritional declarations and ingredient lists of 527 packaged breads currently sold in Italy before and after applying three different theoretical reformulation strategies: (i) a 25% salt decrease from the current median salt content in bread; (ii) a reduction of up to 0.825 g/100 g of salt, corresponding to the sodium benchmark of 330 mg/100 g set by the World Health Organization (WHO); and (iii) the minimum salt reduction needed to improve the NS by one grade. The results show that only ~44% of breads had improved NSs when the sodium was lowered to reach the WHO benchmark or when salt was reduced by 25%, whereas large variability was observed in the minimum salt reduction needed to improve the NS. Regarding the NIB, the battery for salt improved when both strategies of reformulation were applied. FOPL is not always effective in capturing food reformulation in terms of salt reduction, possibly discouraging the efforts of food companies to improve the nutritional quality of foods.

Catalytic ozone oxidation performance of Fe-Ce@γ-Al2O3 in reverse osmosis concentrate treatment

The reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) produced in the process of textile wastewater treatment has a high salt content, posing a significant environmental threat. In this study, catalytic ozone oxidation was used to treat ROC, which initially had a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 127.38 mg/L. The Fe-Ce@γ-Al2O3 catalysts had the best performance under the Fe/Ce doping ratio of 3:1, calcination temperature of 500 °C with calcination time of 4 h. SEM and XRD analyses confirmed the successful loading of Fe and Ce on γ-Al2O3. The catalytic ozone oxidation conditions were optimized by the response surface method (RSM). Under the optimal reaction conditions (catalyst dosage of 139.07 g/L, ozone ventilation rate of 1.65 L/min, and initial pH of 9.86), the actual COD removal rate reached 89.21 %. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy was used to analyze the degradation mechanism of dissolved organic matter (DOM) during the treatment of ROC. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum (3DEEM) results demonstrated the obvious degradation of DOM in ROC after the catalytic ozone oxidation treatment. The COD removal rate remained at approximately 80 % after 10 recycles, indicating that the Fe-Ce@γ-Al2O3 catalyst had good catalytic stability and reusability. In summary, the Fe-Ce@γ-Al2O3 catalysts demonstrate sustained practical effectiveness and high catalytic efficiency, making them suitable for the treatment of ROC.

Optimizing oil salt analysis in southern Iran: A comprehensive statistical model for ASTM D3230 electrochemical cell device utilizing advanced analytical approaches

The ASTM D3230 electrochemical cell plays a pivotal role in measuring oil salt content in the southern Iranian oil fields, employing a solvent blend of 63 % butanol and 37 % methanol. However, the growing application of this method raises concerns about the substantial daily requirement of 40 L of solvents as well as the device's significant power consumption within a laboratory setting. This study analyzes a year-long dataset comprising 103 filtered samples and leverages data mining techniques to investigate interactions among descriptive statistical parameters within crude oil compositions, thereby enhancing the efficiency, operational stability, and performance monitoring of the D3230 device. Key statistical attributes, including the structure and population characteristics of the data, are thoroughly analyzed. Various statistical tests, including ANOVA, are employed to develop significant regression models that offer an evolutionary and augmented reality perspective on the statistical and experimental data from the D3230 electrochemical cell, Petrotest device, and the IP 77/79 method. This approach facilitates a better understanding of the optimal performance of salt measurement devices and the identification of comprehensive optimization functions for salt measurement methodologies. The findings indicate a remarkable accuracy in the structure and properties of the statistical data population, illustrated by a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.9987 and a low root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.637588. The importance of quality control is further underscored by a one-tailed p-value of 0.4870219 and a critical t-value of 1.6523573. Additionally, this study evaluates the uncertainty of the data while searching for and identifying effective performance indices, thus aiming to enhance the intelligence of the D3230 salt measuring device against the dynamic backdrop of crude oil composition. The reproducibility of statistical results across various salt content measurement methods is also addressed. This research serves as a comprehensive guide through statistical process and learning, optimizing the use of methanol and butanol, and improving the operational effectiveness of the electrochemical cell device. It achieves this by elucidating optimal data set combinations and categorizing the structure and behavior patterns of statistical data in the context of crude oil dynamics and salt measurement devices. Ultimately, the study contributes to a thermodynamic balance and optimization between measurement patterns, enhancing energy efficiency and minimizing environmental impacts. This foundation is critical for the future integration of artificial intelligence in industrial laboratory applications within the Iran-Ahvaz oil fields.

Extreme soil salinity reduces N and P metabolism and related microbial network complexity and community immigration rate.

Soil microbiomes are well known to suffer from the effects of rising salinity. There are, however, no current understandings regarding its specific effects on microbial metabolic functions associated with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling, particularly in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), one of the largest estuaries in the world. This research examined soil microbiomes at 50 sites in the YRD region to analyze their co-occurrence networks and their relationship with N (nitrification, denitrification, dissimilatory, assimilatory, fixation, and mineralization) and P (solubilization, mineralization, transportation, and regulation) metabolism processes. Our findings indicate a notable reduction in soil multifunctionality as salinity levels increase, with Halofilum-ochraceum playing a significant role in nitrification, whereas Bacteroidetes-SB0662-bin-6 helps solubilize inorganic P in highly saline areas. High soil salinity negatively affected the amoA gene involved in nitrification and increased the nosZ gene involved in denitrification in extreme salinity soil with 8.2g/kg salt content. Extreme salinity significantly reduced the expression of genes involved in inorganic P solubilization, such as ppa and ppx. Additionally, the alkaline P gene phoD exhibited significant decreases in extremely saline soils, thereby impeding the mineralization of organic P. The neutral community models indicated that microbial community immigration rate showed a linear negative relationship with soil EC in the six N and four P processes. Salinization, however, displayed a nonlinear pattern with clearly defined thresholds on the community of microbes involved in N and P cycling. Reduced microbial diversity and interactions are causing a decline in soil multifunctionality, and the soil multifunctionality and network edges jointly limited the microbial community immigration rate involved in N and P cycling. It is crucial to preserve soil microbial functions to support nutrient cycling and predict the ecological effects of soil salinization.

Mechanistic Simulation of Salt‐Affected Soil‐Plant‐Atmosphere Continuum Dynamics in Seasonally Frozen Regions

AbstractThe salt‐affected Soil‐Plant‐Atmosphere Continuum (SPAC) is a dynamic, interactive system that is particularly complex in seasonally frozen regions where salt transport, precipitation‐dissolution, and soil freeze‐thaw processes play crucial, interrelated roles. Understanding these coupled processes and representing them with mathematical models is critical for effective management of SPAC systems. This study presents a new mechanistic approach and an improved model that integrates a chemical equilibrium module within a mechanistic‐based transport computational module (modified SHAW model). The chemical equilibrium module determines salt precipitation‐dissolution using thermodynamic theory and explains the effects of efflorescence and subflorescence on system dynamics. The model enables simultaneous solutions for heat, water, and salt transport with chemical equilibrium throughout non‐freezing and freezing seasons, as well as plant growth dynamics. Assessment of the model using laboratory experiments and field studies showed good performance, with coefficient of determination values exceeding 0.65 for simulated and measured evaporation rate, leaf area index, soil water content, salt content, and temperature. Furthermore, a comparison between simulation results considering and neglecting the impact of salt precipitation‐dissolution highlights potential inaccuracies in soil heat‐water‐salt dynamics and plant water use resulting from the omission of this process in mechanistic models.

Tunable macroscopic self-healing of supramolecular gel through host–guest inclusion

Supramolecular gels (SGs) consisted of noncovalent cross-linking network structures are fascinating due to their efficient energy dissipation and reversible self-healing properties. However, it is unknown how the noncovalent interactions alter the macroscopic self-healing and mechanical properties of SGs. Herein, the peculiar nature of SGs manufactured by combining covalent and noncovalent (host–guest inclusion of β-cyclodextrin and C16 hydrophobic chain) cross-linking structures was studied and compared with covalent cross-linking preformed particle gels. The macroscopic self-healing behaviors, rheology, mechanical tensile properties, as well as the tunable mechanisms of self-healing were explored by visual inspection, rheological, and atomic force microscopy probing methods. The results show that the SGs exhibit excellent self-healing efficiency and mechanical strength after interfacial cutting. Moreover, the SGs exhibited excellent mechanical tensile properties, including loading–unloading, successive loading–unloading, and recovery loading–unloading tensile performances. Notably, the macroscopic self-healing of SGs has good tunability by changing the covalent and noncovalent crosslinker contents and salt contents. This peculiar phenomenon is attributed to certain host–guest inclusion forces (4.7 and 0.3 nN) between different SGs under the distilled and high-salinity water conditions, respectively. This study is beneficial for the development of stimuli–response supramolecular gels in different applications, such as oil recovery in fractured reservoirs.

Assessing adherence to Government's sugar, salt, and calorie reduction targets of the top 20 UK restaurants' menus in 2024: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundTo address high obesity rates in adults and children, the UK government published voluntary targets for industry to reduce the sugar, salt, and calorie content of food products. Initial reports indicate little progress, however there has been limited assessment of the eating out, takeaway, and delivery sector. This study aims to assess the proportion of menu items that meet the government's sugar, salt, and calorie targets, from the 20 highest-grossing chained restaurants in the UK. MethodsWe identified the top 20 UK chained restaurants using data from market research company Euromonitor International. Nutritional information for 4054 products was collected directly from restaurant websites. Each product was assigned an overall category (eg, main meals, sides, etc.), and categories defined by the sugar, salt, and calorie targets. Findings36% (n=207) of products met sugar targets, 60% (n=1411) met salt targets, 72% (n=1592) met calorie targets, and 43% (n=1269) met all applicable targets. Categories with the highest proportion of products meeting the respective target were ‘Breakfast Items’ for sugar (73%, n=138), ‘Burgers’ for salt (100%, n=85), and ‘Salads’ for calories (96%, n=44) and all applicable targets (96%, n=44). Restaurants with the highest proportion of products meeting the respective target were Leon for sugar (63%, n=15), Burger King for salt (97%, n=32), Dominos for calories (95%, n=209), and Subway for all applicable targets (78%, n=62). InterpretationThe calorie targets were reasonably well adhered to whilst a large proportion of products still exceeded the target levels for sugar and salt. Ambiguities in the targets’ food categorisation makes their application somewhat subjective, risking low transparency and hindering a level playing field between companies. These findings can inform which companies and food groups need to be prioritised when implementing similar public health schemes in the future. FundingAOH is funded by the SALIENT project, which is funded by the ESRC (ES/Y00311X/1). RP is funded by a Royal Society and Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Dale fellowship (222566/Z/21/Z). RP is also supported by NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre. HF is funded by the COPPER project. The COPPER project is funded by the NIHR Public Health Research programme (NIHR133887). The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. LB is funded by NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARC) Oxford and Thames Valley. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, analysis or interpretation. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the funders.

Straw incorporation: A more effective coastal saline land reclamation approach to boost sunflower yield than straw mulching or burial

In coastal lands, soil salinity greatly impedes crops growth and severely affects the agricultural productivity. Returning the crop straw and residual to soil was considered an important land reclamation method; however, the approach of straw return varied, including mulching (SM), burial (SB), and incorporation (SI). This study aimed to determine which approach was most effective to ameliorate coastal saline land and boost crop yield. Field experiments were conducted under different straw amelioration treatments on dry farming sunflowers (Helianthus annuus Linn.) in Bohai coastal land of Northern China. The results indicated that SM and SB changed the soil salt profile and significantly reduced the topsoil (0–0.2 m) salt content mainly by their direct effects on soil water transport, with little impacts on soil structure changes. Differently, SI significantly increased 21.8 % soil organic carbon and 52.3 % soil mean weight diameter in straw incorporated layer. The improvement on soil aggregates and porosity reduced 24.1–38.9 % of topsoil salt content, by limiting soil salt accumulation and promoting salt leaching. Furthermore, SI significantly boosted the sunflower fine root (d< 1.0 mm) growth and resulted in the highest sunflower yield (4.7 t/ha in 2020 and 4.6 t/ha in 2021) among those straw treatments. Compared to SM and SB, the net revenues of two-years sunflower cultivation under SI were improved by 40.68 % and 31.22 %, respectively. Therefore, it concluded that straw incorporation was more effective to reclaim coastal saline soil than straw mulching or burial. In addition, a back propagation artificial neural network model was developed to predict the dynamic of sunflower yield. This outcome provides an insight into the management of coastal farmland by establishing an easily desalinized and fertile topsoil profile structure.