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Changes in root traits and rhizosphere microbiome are important ways to optimize plant phosphorus (P) efficiency and promote multifunctionality in intercropping. However, whether and how synthetic microbial communities isolated from polyculture systems can facilitate plant growth and P uptake are still largely unknown. A field experiment was first carried out to assess the rice yield and P uptake in the rice/soybean intercropping systems, and a synthetic microbial community (SynCom) isolated from intercropped rice was then constructed to elucidate the potential mechanisms of growth-promoting effects on rice growth and P uptake in a series of pot experiments. Our results showed that the yield and P uptake of intercropped rice were lower than those of rice grown in monoculture. However, bacterial networks in the rice rhizosphere were more stable in polyculture, exhibiting more hub nodes and greater modularity compared to the rice monoculture. A bacterial synthetic community (SynCom) composed of four bacterial strains (Variovorax paradoxus, Novosphingobium subterraneum, Hydrogenophaga pseudoflava, Acidovorax sp.) significantly enhanced the biomass and P uptake of potted rice plants. These growth-promoting effects are underpinned by multiple pathways, including the direct activation of soil available P, increased root surface area and root tip number, reduced root diameter, and promotion of root-to-shoot P translocation through up-regulation of Pi transporter genes (OsPht1;1, OsPht1;2, OsPht1;4, OsPht1;6). This study highlights the potential of harnessing synthetic microbial communities to enhance nutrient acquisition and improve crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinisation and overgrazing are two important factors limiting plant growth in the Songnen Grassland, Northeast China. Leymus chinensis , a dominant rhizomatous grass, resists grazing and tolerates saline–alkali stress. However, its adaptive mechanisms to the dual effects of grazing and saline–alkali stress remain largely unknown. A two-factorial field experiment was conducted in two consecutive years in the natural L. chinensis community, combining the addition of mixed saline–alkali solution (NaCl : NaHCO3 : Na2CO3 1 : 1 : 1, amount 559.13 g m–2 year–1) with clipping (removal of 60% of aboveground biomass, AGB). Saline–alkali addition significantly increased AGB and total biomass in the no clipping but not in the clipping treatment. Irrespective of clipping, ramet density was significantly decreased, and individual ramet biomass was significantly increased under salt stress. The significant increase in AGB was due to a high K+ : Na+ ratio, high water-use efficiency, and an increase in leaf area index and net photosynthesis rate of individual ramets under salt–alkali stress. Clipping significantly decreased AGB and total biomass regardless of saline–alkali addition, possibly because of decreased sugar content of rhizomes. Saline–alkali and clipping had an interactive effect on AGB and total biomass of L. chinensis. The significant reduction in AGB and total biomass were mainly caused by reduced proline and water-soluble carbohydrate content under dual stress. A modified and simplified graphic model of the limiting resource model was proposed based on our results. Leymus chinensis can grow well under saline–alkali stress via ramet biomass compensation, in which the significant decrease in ramet density is compensated by the significant increase in individual ramet biomass. Ramet compensation and clonal integration were identified to be main mechanisms of herbivory and saline–alkali tolerance. Soil salinisation and overgrazing are two important factors limiting plant growth in the Songnen Grassland, China; how the dominant species Leymus chinensis resists the dual effect of these stresses remains largely unknown. Our results highlight the importance of rhizome soluble sugar during clipping and saline–alkali tolerance. This study provides a theoretical basis for promoting the restoration of L. chinensis grassland under the combined clipping and saline–alkali stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The engineering of quantum computers requires the reliable characterization of qubits, quantum operations, and even the entire hardware. Quantum tomography is an indispensable framework in quantum characterization, verification, and validation (QCVV), which has been widely accepted by researchers. According to the tomographic target, quantum tomography can be categorized into quantum state tomography (QST), quantum process tomography (QPT), gate set tomography (GST), process tensor tomography (PTT), and instrument set tomography (IST). Standard quantum tomography toolkits generally consist of basic linear inverse methods and statistical maximum likelihood estimation (MLE)-based methods. Furthermore, the performance of standard methods, including effectiveness and efficiency, has been further developed by exploiting Bayesian estimation, neural networks, matrix completion techniques, etc. In this review, we introduce the fundamental quantum tomography techniques, including QST, QPT, GST, PTT, and IST. We first introduce the details of basic linear inverse methods. Then, the framework of MLE methods with constraints is summarized. Finally, we briefly introduce recent further research in developing the performance of tomography, utilizing some symmetry properties of the target. This review provides a primary getting-start in developing quantum tomography, which promotes quantum computer development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhizosphere microbiota, often referred to as the plant's "second genome" plays a critical role in modulating root system architecture (RSA). Despite this, existing methods to analyze root phenotypes in the context of root-microbe interactions remain limited, and the precise mechanisms affecting RSA by microbes are still not fully understood. This review comprehensively evaluates current root phenotyping techniques relevant to plant-microbe interactions, discusses their limitations, and explores future directions for integrating advanced technologies to elucidate microbial roles in altering RSA. Here, we summarized that microbial metabolite, primarily through auxin signaling pathways, drive root development changes. By harnessing advanced phenotyping tools, we aim to uncover more detailed mechanisms by which microbes modify RSA, providing valuable insights into strategies for optimizing nutrient uptake, bolstering food security, and enhancing resilience against climate-induced environmental stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-radiative recombination due to surface defects in perovskite films significantly limited the performance improvement of perovskite solar cells. This study presented a method for passivating the surface of perovskite films in inverted (p-i-n) solar cells using annealing-free, highly polar 2-methoxyphenethylammonium iodide. Observations show that the passivator binds to Pb2+, effectively passivating the under-coordinated lead sites on the perovskite layer and inhibiting non-radiative recombination. The passivator also improved carrier extraction efficiency by controlling the perovskite's surface potential. Thus, the inverted structure perovskite solar cell attained a remarkable 25.38 % photoelectric conversion efficiency, and the unencapsulated device maintained more than 90 % of its original PCE after aging for 256 h at 85 °C. This study offers a novel approach to mitigate interface defects and regulate surface potential, driving further advancements in high-performance inverted perovskite solar cells. Strong polarity, annealing-free 2-methoxyphenethylammonium iodide passivates the surface of perovskite films in inverted (p-i-n) solar cells. The obtained inverted perovskite solar cell has a remarkable photoelectric conversion efficiency of 25.38 %. [Display omitted] • High polarity 2-methoxyphenethylammonium iodide modified perovskite surface. • Passivation defects to weaken non radiative recombination. • Increasing the surface potential of perovskite to improve carrier extraction. • Improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency of inverted devices to 25.38 %. • Enhanced the thermal aging stability of the devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BaO–SrO–B 2 O 3 –SiO 2 sealing glass for Al 2 O 3 ceramic substrates was prepared and the effect of B 2 O 3 on its structure, sintering behavior, and properties was studied. Owing to the fluxing action of B 2 O 3 , the glass transition temperature, sintering temperature, and crystallization temperature of the sealing glass were decreased with increasing B 2 O 3. With an increase in the B 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ratio, the average bridge oxygen number of the glass network first increased and then decreased, and the boron abnormality phenomenon was detected at a B 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ratio of 0.55, at which the polymerization degree of the glass network was maximized. Furthermore, the precipitation of BaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 crystals was promoted and the crystallinity of the sealing glass was increased, inhibiting sintering densification and weakening the material. The sealing glass with a B 2 O 3 /SiO 2 ratio of 0.55 sintered at 800 °C for 10 min showed the best properties: a thermal expansion coefficient of 7.89 × 10−6 K−1, flexural strength of 114.28 MPa, Vickers hardness of 622.98 HV, dielectric constant of 12.14, and a dielectric loss value of 4.11 × 10−3. After the sealing glass was co-sintered with the Al 2 O 3 ceramic substrate, the interface was tightly bonded. This indicates the great potential applicability of BaO–SrO–B 2 O 3 –SiO 2 sealing glass for Al 2 O 3 ceramic substrate packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the influence of TiO 2 and B 2 O 3 contents on the sintering behavior and crystallization of SrO–BaO–B 2 O 3 –SiO 2 glass-ceramics, the glass-ceramics with different TiO 2 /B 2 O 3 ratios were prepared by sintering at 800 and 850 °C for 10 min. The results showed that the glass transition temperature and sintering temperature increased with increasing the TiO 2 /B 2 O 3 ratio. The average bridging oxygen number decreased from 2.44 to 2.07, which revealed that the polymerization degree of the glass-ceramics decreased. With increasing the TiO 2 /B 2 O 3 ratio, the crystallinity of the glass-ceramics and the homogenization of grains size were improved, and the precipitation of the SrTiO 3 phase was promoted. The sample with a TiO 2 /B 2 O 3 ratio of 0.62, which achieved excellent densification sintered at 850 °C for 10 min, showed a dielectric constant of 18.11, a dielectric loss of 3.93 × 10−3, and a thermal expansion coefficient of 10.04 × 10−6 K−1, indicating that the SrO–BaO–B 2 O 3 –SiO 2 glass-ceramics have great potential in the application of low-temperature cofired ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate the relative contributions of pH, organic anions concentration, and phosphatase activity to rhizosphere soil phosphorus availability and crop phosphorus uptake in polycultures. Methods: A field experiment was conducted for three consecutive years in a split-plot design with main plots treated with two phosphorus levels and subplots treated with maize and alfalfa grown alone or intercropped. Results: Intercropped maize and alfalfa had 0.35 and 0.24 units lower rhizosphere pH, 28% and 30% higher total organic anions (TOA) concentration, and 21% and 41% greater acid phosphatase activity than those in monoculture. These changes in root exudates induced significant increases in rhizosphere phosphorus concentration of intercropped maize and alfalfa by 21% and 41%, and pH and TOA had greatest contributions, respectively. Rhizosphere phosphorus mobilization facilitated phosphorus uptake of intercropped maize, but this facilitation was offset by phosphorus uptake reduction due to decreased crown root surface area. Lateral root volume enhancement accounted for phosphorus uptake improvement of intercropped alfalfa by 86.6%, while rhizosphere phosphorus mobilization only had a 0.2% contribution. Conclusions: Rhizosphere pH and organic anions exhibit greater contributions than acid phosphatase activity in enhancing rhizosphere phosphorus availability. However, root surface area of maize and lateral root volume of alfalfa unveil greater influences on crop phosphorus uptake than rhizosphere pH and organic anions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), the optimization of electrostatic spraying of membrane electrode was conducted. The influence of the spraying voltage on morphology, elemental composition of catalyst layer, and performance of the PEMFC were investigated. The results show that increasing spraying voltage could reduce agglomeration of the carbon-supported platinum particles, leading to more uniform pore distribution. High voltage did not accelerate oxidation of platinum catalyst. A high electrochemical active surface area of 26.18 m2/g pt was obtained when the platinum-carbon catalyst layer was deposited in cone jet mode. With further increasing spraying voltage, the total ohmic resistance and catalytic activity were changed slightly, whereas the charge transfer resistance was increased. Using the optimized electrostatic spraying parameters (injection rate = 100 μL min−1, spraying voltage = 8.5 kV, and working distance = 12 mm), a peak power density of 1.408 W cm−2 was obtained with an output voltage of 0.451 V. Image 1 • Onset voltages of cone jet mode with different working distances are determined. • Oxidation of Platinum catalyst is not affected with high spraying voltage. • Uniform pore distribution is obtained with increasing spraying voltage. • Charge transfer resistance is increased by increasing spraying voltage. • MEA prepared under 8.5 kV exhibits a peak power density of 1.408 W cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Study underlines the importance of photo signal on sensitive fiber color formation in cotton. • Multi-omics reveal molecular and biochemical basis of photoinduced fiber color formation. • A broad repertoire of metabolites and corresponding early regulatory genes were identified. As an important plant single cell model and textile application materials, poorly known about fiber color formation in cotton, which is sensitively regulated by environmental signals. Our studies underline the importance of photo signal on sensitive fiber color formation and characterize fiber color early initiation (15 DPA) and late accumulated metabolites (45 DPA) in different lighting condition. The results revealed 236 differential metabolites between control and shading, of which phenylpropanoids metabolites accounted for 20%, including uncharacterized novel metabolites and pathways. Furthermore, the early initiation specific genes respond to the absence of light are highly correlated with phenylpropanoid metabolites related to pigmentation. The current study reveals the complex pathways involving early initiation regulation and late metabolic pathways. In addition, the collection composed of uncharacterized photoinduced metabolites and early initiation signaling/regulatory genes were identified, which are important resources for understanding fiber color formation. This report provides new insight into molecular regulatory and biochemical basis underlying photoinduced fiber color formation in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The homologous leucine zipper/EF-hand-containing transmembranes (LETMs) are highly conserved across a broad range of eukaryotic organisms. The LETM functional characteristics involved in biological process have been identified primarily in animals, but little is known about the LETM biological function mode in plants. Based on the results of the current investigation, the GhLETM1 gene crucially affects filament elongation and anther dehiscence of the stamen in cotton. Both excessive and lower expression of the GhLETM1 gene lead to defective stamen development, resulting in shortened filaments and indehiscent anthers with pollen abortion. The results also showed that the phenotype of the shortened filaments was negatively correlated with anther defects in the seesaw model under the ectopic expression of GhLETM1. Moreover, our results notably indicated that the gene requires accurate expression and exhibits a sensitive dose effect for its proper function. This report has important fundamental and practical significance in crop science, and has crucial prospects for genetic engineering of new cytoplasmic male sterility lines and breeding of crop hybrid varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]