Degradation Effects Research Articles

Degradation of PCDD/Fs from incineration of waste at low temperatures for resource utilization of fly ash

Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWIFA) is of great value in resource utilization. Harmless pretreatment is a crucial prerequisite for the resource utilization of MSWIFA. The detoxification process is a crucial step in the harmless pretreatment of MSWIFA. This includes polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), which are among the most toxic substances to humans and other living organisms. Low-temperature degradation technology has broad prospects in engineering applications due to the advantages of low technical difficulty and operating costs. This work conducts a pilot test on the degradation of 17 toxic PCDD/Fs in MSWIFA at low temperatures. The pilot test investigates the effects of reaction temperature and oxygen content on the degradation of PCDD/Fs in MSWIFA. Furthermore, based on the perspective of MSWIFA resource utilization, an analysis and a proposal are made to judge the degradation effect of low-temperature thermal treatment technology on PCDD/Fs in MSWIFA. Further, taking the soil sludge field as the application scenario, the application feasibility of MSWIFA after detoxification is analyzed. The flotation process markedly reduces both the carbon content and the levels of PCDD/Fs in MSWIFA. The hydrothermal method facilitates the degradation of dioxins in fly ash while introducing oxygen significantly lowers the reaction temperature required for fly ash treatment. This can enhance the degradation rate and reduce the demands on reaction equipment. The results indicate that the low-temperature thermal treatment technology can effectively degrade PCDD/Fs in MSWIFA, satisfying the requirements of some application scenarios. Notably, evaluating the effect of low-temperature thermal treatment technology on the degradation and detoxification of PCDD/Fs in MSWIFA should satisfy the residue requirements of different industries and achieve a certain detoxication efficiency.

Coordinated operation of pumped hydro energy storage with reversible pump turbine and co-located battery energy storage system

Abstract This publication examines the coordinated operation of pumped hydro energy storage and battery energy storage systems to improve profitability. While pumped hydro energy storages offer high storage capacity but have slower response times, battery energy storage systems have lower capacity but faster response times. A hybrid system combining both can thus harness synergies. A mixed-integer linear programming model was developed to depict the coordinated use of both systems in the German market. The proposed approach is also applicable to other regional markets where energy and balancing services are traded in a similar manner. In this model, the pumped hydro energy storage operates in the spot market and provides automatic Frequency Restoration Reserve, while the battery energy storage systems supplies Frequency Containment Reserve. The model takes into account the costs caused by degradation effects in both storage types. The results show a 10.05 % increase in revenue through coordination compared to the independent operation of both storage systems. This added value can be achieved through more efficient use of the power capacity, particularly that of the battery energy storage systems, in coordinated operation.

Atomic Hydrogen in Hydrogenolysis: Converting and Detoxifying Carbon-Heteroatom Bonds via Paired Electrolysis.

The presence of carbon-heteroatom bonds (C-N, C-O, and C-S) significantly enhances the stability and toxicity of pollutants. Hydroxyl radicals (•OH)-mediated electrochemical processes show promise; however, the bond energies associated with carbon-heteroatom bonds exceed 200 kJ/mol, which constrains the effectiveness of oxidative degradation and detoxification. We have developed a paired electrolysis process coupling hydrogen atom (H*) generation at the cathode with •OH production at the anode. The involvement of H* and •OH in this system was first confirmed by using methylene blue (MB) as an electrochemical probe. When applied to the degradation of glyphosate (GP), which contains C-N bonds, the paired electrolysis process achieved removal efficiencies for COD, TOC, and toxicity that were twice those of individual oxidation processes. The degradation kinetics also exhibited performance that was double that of individual oxidation processes. Mass spectrometry and theoretical calculations confirmed that hydrogenolysis of H* effectively attacks high-energy C-N bonds, thereby circumventing the rate-limiting steps associated with standalone •OH oxidation, enhancing pollutant degradation and reducing toxicity. When applied to pollutants containing C-O and C-S bonds, the paired electrolysis process demonstrated improvements in COD, TOC, and toxicity removal of approximately 30%, 10%, and 20%, respectively, showcasing its multifunctionality and scalability. Seven days of practical wastewater experiments further validated the effectiveness and durability of this technology.

A State‐of‐the‐Art Review on Effectiveness of Geopolymer Technology Toward Dye Degradation, Heavy Metal Encapsulation and Its Future Prospects on Environmental Remediation

ABSTRACTGeopolymers are an innovative class of environmentally friendly materials gaining significant attention in construction, materials science, and sustainable technology. As alternatives to traditional cement‐based materials, geopolymers exhibit unique mechanical properties suitable for various construction applications, including use as construction materials, coating materials, and high‐temperature‐resistant materials. Notably, geopolymers can effectively adsorb heavy metals, dyes, and radioactive pollutants, offering substantial environmental benefits. This review paper explores the process and mechanism of geopolymerization, as well as the application of geopolymers in the treatment of contaminants. It details how aluminosilicate precursors contribute to the photocatalytic degradation of dyes, examining the role of different raw material sources, types of activators or additives used, and preparation methods. This paper highlights the effectiveness of geopolymers in dye degradation, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms. Additionally, the review delves into the interaction of geopolymers with heavy metals through mechanisms such as chemisorption, complexation, adsorption, ion exchange, intraparticle diffusion, and the solidification of heavy metals within the geopolymer matrix. This comprehensive analysis of existing research aids researchers in understanding the capabilities and limitations of geopolymer materials in environmental remediation. Beyond waste reduction, the review addresses the broader environmental impact of geopolymers, particularly their potential for reducing the carbon footprint compared to traditional cement. This aspect is crucial for evaluating the overall sustainability of geopolymers. Furthermore, the paper emphasizes the importance of life cycle durability assessments (LCA) to evaluate the ecological footprint of this eco‐friendly concrete throughout its lifetime, from raw material to end‐of‐life disposal. LCA provides a complete perspective on the sustainability of geopolymers, guiding future research and applications in sustainable construction. By synthesizing current research on geopolymers, this review paper serves as a valuable resource for researchers in geopolymer technology, offering insights into future research directions and potential applications.

Golgi condensation causes intestinal lipid accumulation through HIF-1α-mediated GM130 ubiquitination by NEDD4.

The breakdown of Golgi proteins disrupts lipid trafficking, leading to lipid accumulation in the small intestine. However, the causal mechanism of the effects of Golgi protein degradation on the Golgi structure related to lipid trafficking in the small intestine remains unknown. Here we find that Golgi protein degradation occurs under hypoxic conditions in high-fat-diet-fed mice. Hypoxia-induced degradation promotes structural changes in the Golgi apparatus, termed 'Golgi condensation'. In addition, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) activation enhances Golgi condensation through the ubiquitination and degradation of Golgi matrix protein 130 (GM130), which is facilitated by neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 4 (NEDD4). Golgi condensation upon exposure to hypoxia promotes lipid accumulation, apolipoprotein A1 retention and decreased chylomicron secretion in the intestinal epithelium. Golgi condensation and lipid accumulation induced by GM130 depletion are reversed by exogenous GM130 induction in the intestinal epithelium. Inhibition of either HIF-1α or NEDD4 protects against GM130 degradation and, thereby, rescues cells from Golgi condensation, which further increases apolipoprotein A1 secretion and lipid accumulation both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, the HIF-1α inhibitor PX-478 prevents Golgi condensation, which decreases lipid accumulation and promotes high-density lipoprotein secretion in high-fat-diet-fed mice. Overall, our results suggest that Golgi condensation plays a key role in lipid trafficking in the small intestine through the HIF-1α- and NEDD4-mediated degradation of GM130, and these findings highlight the possibility that the prevention of structural modifications in the Golgi apparatus can ameliorate intestinal lipid accumulation in obese individuals.

Harnessing the potential of exogenous microbial agents: a comprehensive review on enhancing lignocellulose degradation in agricultural waste composting.

Composting converts organic agricultural wastes into value-added products, yet the presence of significant non-biodegradable lignocelluloses hinders its efficiency. The introduction of various exogenous microbial agents has been shown to effectively addresses this challenge. In this context, basing on the microbial enzymatic mechanism for lignocellulose degradation, this paper synthesizes the latest research advancements and practical applications of exogenous microbial agents in agricultural waste composting. Given that the effectiveness of lignocellulose degradation is highly dependent on the waste's inherent characteristics, it is crucial to carefully consider the composition of fungi and bacteria, the dosage of microbial agents, and the composting process operation, tailored to the specific type of agricultural waste. Moreover, the combination of additives with exogenous microbial agents can further enhance the degradation of lignocelluloses and the humification of organic matters. Furthermore, insights into the future research and application trends of exogenous microbial agents in agricultural waste composting was prospected.

Degradation of polyester coil-coated materials by accelerated weathering investigated by FTIR-ATR chemical imaging and impedance analysis

In the present study, ex situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) chemical imaging and in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were combined to investigate the ageing process of a polyester/melamine coil-coated steel. The samples were first subjected to a QUV accelerated weathering test for 250 h up to 2000 h, followed by immersion in a 0.5 M NaCl solution to assess water uptake and polymer matrix plasticization. FTIR analyses revealed chemical degradation, including chain scission and the formation of polar groups, between 500 h and 2000 h of QUV exposure. Degradation effects were observed throughout the whole topcoat, with more significant degradation occurring near the surface. EIS measurements indicated greater water uptake with increasing QUV exposure, highlighting two regions of water sorption: an initial rapid Fickian diffusion region and a slower non-Fickian region. The time constant (τ) analysis, which was extracted from the EIS data and related to the dielectric manifestation of the glass transition, confirmed polymer matrix plasticization due to water uptake. Despite UV-induced degradation, the polymer maintained effective protective properties, as evidenced by the high low-frequency impedance unaffected by UV exposure or immersion duration (1 week). This methodology successfully identified ageing markers, providing a framework for studying UV degradation mechanisms, water uptake, and polymer mobility in anticorrosion coatings.

Global perspectives on environmental policy innovations: Driving green tourism and consumer behavior in circular economy.

The tourism industry plays a pivotal role in both economic growth and environmental stewardship, making it essential to adopt practices that ensure long-term sustainability. This research aims at relating to the global concern of sustainable management in the tourism industry which is significant in eradicating the effects of environmental degradation as well as promoting economic development. The research problem focuses on exploring sustainable solutions for encouraging green tourism and implementing circular economy concepts. To address this, this study uses the Pythagorean Fuzzy Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (PF-SWARA) and Pythagorean Fuzzy Complex Proportional Assessment (PF-COPRAS) method to assess and rank the appropriate factors and strategies. From literature research and a consultation with the expert's panel, six factors and twenty-four significant factors have been uncovered. The PF-SWARA outcomes reveal that the most important factors are sustainable resource use (A2), ecosystem restoration (A4), and environmental regulations (A5), signifying that they play a critical role in the attainment of environmental sustainability. Subsequently, the PF-COPRAS analysis was conducted for seven strategic solutions to determine the most important strategy for furthering green tourism. Technological innovations promotion (S3) is the most crucial strategic approach for implementing circular economy concept in the tourism industry. While sustainable infrastructures (S5) and promoting green financing and investments (S2) are next key solutions for sustainable development of the tourism sector. The findings help policymakers and industry players to promote sustainable tourism in changing socio-environmental conditions.

Investigation of the mechanical properties of C-S-H and α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 interfaces: A reactive molecular dynamics study

Corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete is a significant cause of structural failure, particularly in environments exposed to chloride ions and mechanical stress. The passivation film on steel reinforcement, composed of hematite or magnetite, plays a crucial role in protecting the steel from further corrosion. However, the intrusion of harmful ions or mechanical stress can compromise the film’s integrity, transforming it into a loose structure and accelerating the corrosion process, leading to structural failure. This study investigates the mechanical behaviors at the interfaces between corrosion products (hematite and magnetite) and CSH using reactive molecular dynamics. CSH and interfacial models incorporating hematite and magnetite were developed, with stress–strain analysis refined by filtering raw data and using true strain rather than engineering strain to improve the precision of the stress–strain responses. The results indicate that the Magnetite-CSH interface is more prone to loosening under external forces compared to the Hematite-CSH interface, thereby reducing its corrosion resistance. Structural evolution analysis under uniaxial tension highlights the detrimental effects of passivation film degradation on interfacial mechanical properties. This study contributes to improving the precision of stress–strain responses in MD models and facilitates comparison of mechanical properties at the nanoscale with results from other scales. The findings provide valuable guidance for improving the durability and performance of construction materials in corrosive environments, helping to bridge the gap between molecular-level simulations and macroscopic experimental data.

From pollution to sustainable environment: unlocking the role of energy intensity and renewable energy in highly pollutant nations

Abstract Environmental degradation is among one of the most critical issues of recent times. To address this critical challenge in highly pollutant nations, this research inquires about the role of Energy Intensity (EI) along with Renewable Energy Consumption (REC) and non-REC as controlling indicators in the carbon emissions’ model. The research is significant because it provides potential information to energy policymakers for mitigating the adverse effects of environmental degradation. The Cross-Sectional Dependent (CSD) test is utilized to authenticate the CSD in the variables and the Slope Heterogeneity (SH) test is applied to verify the heterogeneous relationships across the polluted economies. Moreover, CSD-based unit root tests are applied to confirm the stationarity of the series. The CSD-based cointegration test is applied, which cares for both CSD and SH in analysis. Lastly, CSD-based regressions are applied to find the long and short relationships. A period of 1990–2021 is utilized for data analyses as per data availability of all analyzed countries. The results demonstrate significantly increasing effects of EI on emissions leading to mitigated environmental quality. A 1% increase in EI increases emissions by 0.6227%. However, renewable energy significantly mitigates carbon emissions while non-REC is found to significantly escalate carbon emissions. A 1% increase in REC mitigates emissions by 0.2458% and a 1% increase in non-REC raises emissions by 0.65%. This research further confirms the evidence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) with an income elasticity of 13.1393 and income square elasticity of -0.6209. The results of EI, REC, and non-REC are similar in all estimations while the validity of the EKC is witnessed in two out of three models. The causal relation suggests feedback between emissions and economic progress, EI, REC, and non-REC, which highlights the interdependence of the energy sector and environmental outcomes. This research suggests that governments of the investigated polluted economies should impose taxes on non-renewable energy consumption. The revenues from these taxes should be utilized to subsidize renewable energy consumption. Both initiatives would help reduce energy intensity in these polluted economies to condense the environmental consequences of the energy sector.

Remote sensing image dehazing using a wavelet-based generative adversarial networks

Remote sensing images often suffer from the degradation effects of atmospheric haze, which can significantly impair the quality and utility of the acquired data. A novel dehazing method leveraging generative adversarial networks is proposed to address this challenge. It integrates a generator network, designed to enhance the clarity and detail of hazy images, with a discriminator network that distinguishes between dehazed and real clear images. Initially, a dense residual block is designed to extract primary features. Subsequently, a wavelet transform block is designed to capture high and low-frequency features. Additionally, a global and local attention block is proposed to reduce the interference of redundant features and enhance the weight of important features. PixelShuffle is used as the upsampling operation, allowing for finer control of image details during the upsampling process. Finally, these designed modules are integrated to construct the generator network for image dehazing. Moreover, an improved discriminator network is proposed by adding a noise module to the conventional discriminator, enhancing the network’s robustness. A novel loss function is introduced by incorporating the color loss function and SSIM loss function into traditional loss functions, aiming to improve color accuracy and visual distortion assessment. This approach attains the highest PSNR and SSIM scores when compared to current leading methods. The proposed dehazing technique for remote sensing images successfully maintains color fidelity and detail, leading to significantly clearer images.

Enhancing transmission reach: performance analysis of WDM RoF PON OFDM system design with varied QAM schemes

Abstract Radio over fiber is upcoming and maturing technology in terms of security, reliability, and coverage for long-distance optical-wireless communication systems. The nonlinear behavior and dispersive nature of optical channels are performance restrictive factors limiting the long reach in such systems. Along with enhancing channel capacity and bandwidth for radio signals over a long distance, the use of OFDM-based such systems can overcome various performance degrading effects like phase modulation, electrical power attenuation, chromatic dispersion, and multipath fading. Here, we propose our design of an 8 channels WDM RoF PON system using the OFDM scheme. Performance analysis is carried out in terms of performance comparison for various modulation schemes like 8, 16, 128, 256, and 512 QAM levels applied on information for long transmission reach of a system up to 500Kms. 8 channels WDM system model is developed to analyze the performance at a higher data rate. System performance is evaluated with Q factor and EVM level parameters of recovered signals at various transmission distances.

Impact of artificial aging on the physical and mechanical properties of polycaprolactone under the combined effect of UV-radiation and elevated temperatures

ABSTRACT Annotation In this work the effect of long-term UV-radiation and temperature degradation on physical and mechanical properties of PCL was experimentally studied. Artificial aging of PCL at 30, 35 and 40°C and UV irradiation for 166, 360 and 554 h was carried out on a specially designed bench. Microstructure evaluation, spectroscopic studies and tensile tests were performed on aged specimens. On the surface of aged PCL there appear zones of irregular degradation with pronounced detachment of separate polymer fragments. Fragmentation occurs as a result of more intensive photodegradation and oxidative processes. According to the results of FTIR analysis, a strong effect on crystallinity is shown with two-factor exposure to PCL over time. At 30°C, with increasing UV degradation time, the crystallinity of PCL decreases by 7% in 504 hours. It was found that increasing the temperature during aging to 40°C leads to a more intense degradation of the crystalline phase of PCL and a decrease in crystallinity by 10% over the same period. Curves of changes in the mechanical properties of PCL versus aging time were obtained. The Young’s modulus is reduced by 20% from 326 to 252 MPa, the tensile strength is 2 times (from 16.1 to 8.5 MPa), and the relative elongation at break is 5 times compared to the initial PCL, from 528 to 103%. Based on physical observations of the properties of environmentally friendly biodegradable polymers, it is possible to provide controlled representations of their use for packaging and biomedical applications to replace petroleum-based plastics as a structural material.

Innovative microbial activators for enhanced bioremediation of oil-contaminated soils: mechanistic insights.

This paper developed an efficient microbial activator formula and conducted an in-depth study on its efficacy and mechanism in promoting the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in oil-contaminated soil. A 60-day microbial remediation experiment conducted on oily soil revealed that the microbial activators significantly boosted the activities of dehydrogenase and catalase, subsequently speeding up the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil. The overall degradation rate reached as high as 71.23%, with the most significant degradation effect observed in asphaltenes, achieving a degradation rate of 93.98%. This was followed by aromatic hydrocarbons (90.45%), saturated hydrocarbons (84.39%), and asphaltenes (65%). Compared to traditional microbial stimulation methods, this activator demonstrated significant superiority. Microbial diversity analysis reveals that microbial activators can effectively activate microbial activity in soil targeting refractory petroleum hydrocarbon components. By comparing the changes in microbial community structure before and after the addition of microbial activators, we found that the activators promoted an increase in the abundance of microorganisms belonging to the Bacillota, Pseudomonadota, and Bacteroidetes, which have petroleum hydrocarbon degradation functions, and facilitated the evolution of microbial community structure towards a direction more conducive to petroleum hydrocarbon degradation. KEGG metabolic pathway analysis revealed that the degradation pathways for alkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and PAHs are primarily present in these bacterial phylum. This research not only clarifies the degradation mechanism but also supports future bioremediation efforts.

RNAscope Multiplex FISH Signal Assessment in FFPE and Fresh Frozen Tissues: The Effect of Archival Duration on RNA Expression.

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPET), which is the most widely used pathology archive, usually has low-quality DNA and RNA due to extensive nucleic acid crosslinking. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA-FISH) has been increasingly utilized in research and clinical settings to diagnose disease pathology. In this study, the effect of RNA degradation over archival time on RNA-FISH signals in FFPET and fresh frozen tissue (FFT) was systematically assessed. RNAscope multiplex fluorescent assay with the four house-keeping-gene (HKG) probes UBC, PPIB, POLR2A, and HPRT1 was performed on 62 archived breast cancer samples (30 FFPETs and 32 FFTs). As expected, the number of RNAscope signals in FFPETs is lower than in FFTs in an archival duration-dependent fashion. The RNA degradation in FFPETs is most pronounced in high-expressor HKGs, UBC and PPIB, than in low-to-moderate expressors POLR2A and HPRT1 (p<0.0001). Analysis of RNA expression over time showed that PPIB, which has the highest signal, was the most degraded in both adjusted transcript and H-score quantification methods (R2 = 0.35 and R2 = 0.33, respectively). This proves that although the RNAscope probes are designed to detect fragmented RNA, performing a sample quality check using HKGs is strongly recommended to ensure accurate results.

Effects of Silk Fibroin Hydrogel Degradation on the Proliferation and Chondrogenesis of Encapsulated Stem Cells.

Silk fibroin (SF) hydrogels are widely used in three-dimensional (3D) cell culture and tissue repair. Despite their importance, few studies have focused on regulating their degradation and further revealing the effects of the degradation process on encapsulated cell behaviors. Herein, SF hydrogels with equivalent initial properties and different degradation rates were prepared by adjusting the ratios between the hydrogel-encapsulated normal SF microspheres (MSN) and enzyme-loaded SF microspheres (MSE). Further, cell experiments revealed that moderately accelerating the hydrogel degradation obviously improved the proliferation of MSCs during 7 days of culture. Slightly accelerating the hydrogel degradation promoted MSC chondrogenesis. However, too rapid of a hydrogel degradation was unfavorable for these cell behaviors. The relevant studies are expected to provide useful strategies for regulating SF hydrogel degradation and also afford new references for the development of excellent SF hydrogels and other protein-based biomaterials for cartilage regeneration.

Degradation in pavement concretes - Effects of cyclic loading on fluid transport processes and ASR

The Alkali-Silica-Reaction (ASR) in concrete pavements has been known for several years. The previous investigations of ASR focused mainly on potentially reactive aggregates and the assessment of the ASR-potential in concrete pavements. A study of the separate influences causing and accelerating an ASR has been missing. The ASR can be greatly affected by externally supplied alkalis such as de-icing agents. These penetrate into the concrete microstructure, which is damaged through traffic. One focus within this extensive research project is the characterization of the degradation in the concrete microstructure caused by cyclic loading. Further focus lies on the determination of the effect of degradation on the transport behavior of fluids into the concrete. These studies show the degradation of the concrete microstructure under a varying number of load-cycles and changing stress levels. A significant increase in penetration depth of alkaline solutions was not only determined for different stages of degradation but also caused by overrolling tires, which increase the pressure on the surface locally. The externally applied alkali-ions then ingress and accelerate an ASR drastically. Thus, the superposition of these effects are greatly relevant for a damaging ASR. These studies are of interest for researchers as well as for practitioners.

In situ self-cleaning PAN/Cu2O@Ag/Au@Ag flexible SERS sensor coupled with chemometrics for quantitative detection of thiram residues on apples.

Flexible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors offer a promising solution for the rapid in situ monitoring of food safety. The sensor's capability to furnish quantitative detection and retain recyclability is crucial in practical applications. This study proposes a self-cleaning flexible SERS sensor, augmented with an intelligent algorithm designed for expeditious in situ and non-destructive thiram detection on apples. Flexible carriers were prepared via electrostatic spinning, while cuprous oxide spheres decorated with silver (Cu2O@Ag) were synthesized through surfactant-mediated in situ reduction of silver spheres. Then, PAN/Cu2O@Ag/Au@AgNPs flexible sensors with both SERS enhancement and photocatalytic degradation effects were generated by self-assembling core-shell Au@Ag nanoparticles on the flexible carriers. Convolutional neural network (CNN) and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling-partial least squares (CARS-PLS) algorithms were applied for the quantitative prediction of thiram. The results showed that the CNN algorithm has better performance, with correlation coefficient of 0.9963 and detection limit of 0.020mg/L, respectively. Notably, the flexible SERS sensor could be recycled at least 5 times, with thiram detection recovery ranging from 88.32% to 111.80%. This self-cleaning flexible sensor combined with deep learning algorithm has shown significant potential for applications in food safety monitoring.

Enhancing cellulose and hemicellulose degradation in wheat straw composting by inoculation with Glycomyces: key factors and microbial community dynamics

ABSTRACT Actinobacteria are widely used in aerobic composting of straw waste because of their good degradation effect on lignocellulose. However, there are few studies on the degradation effect of Glycomyces on straw. In this study, six laboratory-scale treatments were conducted: corn straw composting with Glycomyces inoculation (CSI), rice straw composting with Glycomyces inoculation (RSI), and wheat straw composting with Glycomyces inoculation (WSI). Additionally, composting control groups were set up for each type of straw without inoculation: corn straw (CS), rice straw (RS), and wheat straw (WS). Subsequently, a series of chemical analyses and enzymological methods were used to assess the effects of Glycomyces inoculation on environmental variables, enzyme activities, and organic components. Also, high-throughput sequencing was employed to explore the microbial community composition that greatly contributed to the degradation rate of cellulose and hemicellulose during the degradation process of wheat straw. Finally, the factors influencing the cellulose and hemicellulose degradation in WSI were identified using structural equation models (SEMs). The results showed that cellulose and hemicellulose degradation rates were higher in the Glycomyces-inoculated treatment groups than in the non-inoculated groups. Importantly, the degradation rates of cellulose and hemicellulose in WSI were the highest, at 68.09% and 66.81%, respectively. Collectively, total nitrogen and the microbial community structure of the top 30 genera contributing to cellulose and hemicellulose degradation were important factors influencing the straw degradation of WSI. This study not only provides new insights into the regulation of wheat straw degradation, but also has great significance for environmental protection.

Aboveground-belowground linkages across vegetation degradation gradients differ among native eucalypt communities.

Native vegetation degradation impacts soil communities and their functions. However, these impacts are often studied by comparing soil biotic attributes across qualitatively defined, discrete degradation levels within a single plant community at a specific location. Direct quantification of the relationships between vegetation and soil attributes across continuous degradation gradients and at larger scales is rare but holds greater potential to reveal robust patterns in aboveground-belowground linkages that may apply across different plant communities. We investigated how native vegetation attributes relate to soil communities and their functions across a degradation gradient within three native temperate eucalypt woodland and forest communities that differed in soil nutrient availabilities. Across remnant patches of native vegetation in the Sydney Basin bioregion, we established plots representing different levels of decline in their vegetation quality (i.e., increased exotics and canopy changes) compared to relevant reference communities. In those plots, we assessed soil community groups (microbes and fauna), carbon (C) and nutrient cycling (litter decomposition, enzyme activity, and phosphate and nitrate accumulation rates), soil pH, texture and vegetation attributes (composition, structure, and function). Our unique study design revealed that the relationships between vegetation degradation and soil biota across the food web (i.e., AM fungi, Fungi:bacteria ratio, Gram-positive bacteria, total nematodes) were highly dependent on the plant community. However, the degradation impacts on soil functions (i.e., total enzyme activity, and phosphate availability) were mostly consistent, suggesting their potential as belowground indicators of ecosystem degradation, with a notable positive association observed in phosphate availability rates. Additionally, the effects of vegetation degradation on soil biota and their functions appeared stronger in the nutrient-poor plant communities, suggesting greater vulnerability of their belowground components. Our findings call for caution when generalizing belowground responses to degradation and for further research on how nutrient availability mediates the impacts of degradation on aboveground-belowground linkages.