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Phytohormones, epigenetic regulation and environmental factors regulate fruit ripening but their interplay during strawberry fruit ripening remains to be determined. In this study, bagged strawberry fruit exhibited delayed ripening compared with fruit grown in normal light, correlating with reduced abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation. Transcription of the key ABA catabolism gene, ABA 8′‐hydroxylase FaCYP707A4, was induced in bagged fruit. With light exclusion whole genome DNA methylation levels were up‐regulated, corresponding to a delayed ripening process, while DNA methylation levels in the promoter of FaCYP707A4 were suppressed, correlating with increases in transcript and decreased ABA content. Experiments indicated FaCRY1, a blue light receptor repressed in bagged fruit and FaAGO4, a key protein involved in RNA‐directed DNA methylation, could bind to the promoter of FaCYP707A4. The interaction between FaCRY1 and FaAGO4, and an increased enrichment of FaAGO4 directed to the FaCYP707A4 promoter in fruit grown under light suggests FaCRY1 may influence FaAGO4 to modulate the DNA methylation status of the FaCYP707A4 promoter. Furthermore, transient overexpression of FaCRY1, or an increase in FaCRY1 transcription by blue light treatment, increases the methylation level of the FaCYP707A4 promoter, while transient RNA interference of FaCRY1 displayed opposite phenotypes. These findings reveal a mechanism by which DNA methylation influences ABA catabolism, and participates in light‐mediated strawberry ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploiting narrow-bandwidth-emission fluorescent materials is crucial for next-generation wide-color gamut displays. Inspired by the narrow-bandwidth-emission characteristic of chlorophyll derivates, the present work develops a facile strategy to synthesize a series of red-emitting chlorophyll-structured CDs (CHL-CDs) with ultra-high color purity and good carrier mobility from different traditional Chinese medicine leaves through a simple cross-linking polymerization and carbonization process. The obtained CHL-CDs exhibit bright photoluminescence centered at 671 nm, ultra-high color purity with an FWHM of 23 nm, and a high photoluminescence quantum yield of up to 62%. More importantly, based on in-depth experimental and theoretical studies on the macroscopic host–guest interactions and microscopic interfacial interactions between the CHL-CDs and charge transporting materials, high-performance red electroluminescent light-emitting diodes are successfully prepared, with FWHM of only 28 nm, turn-on voltage of 3.7 V, maximum luminance of 623 cd m−2, and maximum current efficiency of 0.26 cd A−1. This study provides a universal platform for fabricating narrow-bandwidth-emission CDs with significant applications in photoelectric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cylinder liner and piston ring form the most crucial friction pair in the diesel engine, contributing 35–40% of its overall friction losses. Recent research indicates that transient heat transfer significantly affects piston ring lubrication. However, the impact of such a transfer on varying surface textures and lubrication traits remains unclear. This paper takes the piston ring–cylinder liner of a certain diesel engine as the research object, which is based on a two-dimensional averaged Reynolds function and Greenwood–Tripp micro convex body contact model; establishes a numerical calculation model of the transient heat fluid lubrication characteristics of a vertical piston ring–cylinder liner assembly by combining the oil film thickness equation, energy equation, lubricating oil viscosity–temperature, and viscosity pressure characteristics; avoids large errors associated with assuming different temperature values for lubricants; and also uses the cylinder liner surface texturing technique to examine the effects of surface texturing on lubrication properties in the presence of transient thermal fluids. The findings indicate that employing transient thermal fluid for determining the mean value of the oil film temperature in isothermal lubrication calculations yields comparable values for minimum oil film thickness and frictional power consumption, while the friction power consumption calculated by the transient thermal fluid is slightly lower. The depth of the recesses on the surface of the cylinder liner should be minimized, while the radius of the texture should be maximized, taking into consideration the current circumstances. Compared with a cylindrical texture, a spherical texture achieves lower friction with good lubrication indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neuroinflammation is one of the most important pathogeneses in secondary brain injury after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) forming neutrophils were found throughout the brain tissue of TBI patients and elevated plasma NET biomarkers correlated with worse outcomes. However, the biological function and underlying mechanisms of NETs in TBI-induced neural damage are not yet fully understood. Here, we used Cl-amidine, a selective inhibitor of NETs to investigate the role of NETs in neural damage after TBI. Methods: Controlled cortical impact model was performed to establish TBI. Cl-amidine, 2′3′-cGAMP (an activator of stimulating Interferon genes (STING)), C-176 (a selective STING inhibitor), and Kira6 [a selectively phosphorylated inositol-requiring enzyme-1 alpha [IRE1α] inhibitor] were administrated to explore the mechanism by which NETs promote neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis after TBI. Peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4), an essential enzyme for neutrophil extracellular trap formation, is overexpressed with adenoviruses in the cortex of mice 1 day before TBI. The short-term neurobehavior tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), Evans blue extravasation assay, Fluoro-Jade C (FJC), TUNEL, immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blotting, and quantitative-PCR were performed in this study. Results: Neutrophils form NETs presenting in the circulation and brain at 3 days after TBI. NETs inhibitor Cl-amidine treatment improved short-term neurological functions, reduced cerebral lesion volume, reduced brain edema, and restored cerebral blood flow (CBF) after TBI. In addition, Cl-amidine exerted neuroprotective effects by attenuating BBB disruption, inhibiting immune cell infiltration, and alleviating neuronal death after TBI. Moreover, Cl-amidine treatment inhibited microglia/macrophage pro-inflammatory polarization and promoted anti-inflammatory polarization at 3 days after TBI. Mechanistically, STING ligand 2′3′-cGAMP abolished the neuroprotection of Cl-amidine via IRE1α/ASK1/JNK signaling pathway after TBI. Importantly, overexpression of PAD4 promotes neuroinflammation and neuronal death via the IRE1α/ASK1/JNK signaling pathway after TBI. However, STING inhibitor C-176 or IRE1α inhibitor Kira6 effectively abolished the neurodestructive effects of PAD4 overexpression after TBI. Conclusion: Altogether, we are the first to demonstrate that NETs inhibition with Cl-amidine ameliorated neuroinflammation, neuronal apoptosis, and neurological deficits via STING-dependent IRE1α/ASK1/JNK signaling pathway after TBI. Thus, Cl-amidine treatment may provide a promising therapeutic approach for the early management of TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly sensitive and selective electrochemical sensors are essential for human health, especially for monitoring the state of environmental pollutant content. Here, Cu2O nanocubes uniformly decorated with Ag nanoparticles were synthesized by a tractable wet‐chemical method. The electrochemical studies confirm that the Cu2O‐Ag‐16 composite shows increased electrochemical activity for catechol determination compared with either the bare Cu2O or the other two as‐proposed Cu2O−Ag catalysts (Cu2O−Ag‐8, Cu2O−Ag‐24). More specifically, the Cu2O−Ag‐16 presents excellent electrochemical responses towards catechol detection over wide linear ranges of 0.05 μM – 1 mM and 1 mM – 5 mM, with high sensitivity and low detection limits (50 nM). Furthermore, the as‐proposed sensor also displays good reproducibility, with a relative standard deviation of 2.3 % (n=3). Satisfactory recoveries in the range of 98.3 % to 101.2 % or 98 % to 100.7 % for lake water and/or tap water indicate the reliability of the sensor for catechol detection in practical applications. Constructing such composite structures to manipulate the local charge distribution for outstanding electrochemical sensing properties would provide us with an innovative strategy to explore other highly efficient electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The working temperature affects the performance of PEMFC, so a reasonable and efficient cooling channel is necessary to control the working temperature in an efficient area. In this study, the channel structure of the bipolar plate for PEMFC is analyzed using the FLUENT simulation calculation method. The influence of cell size and cooling water flow direction on cell temperature distribution is analyzed, including an examination of the channel ridge width, depth, and aspect ratio of the bipolar plate. After comparing and analyzing three ridge width sizes (0.5 mm, 1.5 mm and 2 mm) in the paper, it was found that a ridge width of 2 mm had the best heat transfer performance. And it was found that a groove depth of 0.5 mm had the best heat transfer performance when comparing three groove depth dimensions (0.5 mm, 1 mm and 1.5 mm). The aspect ratio size parameters had almost no effect on the maximum and average temperatures of the electric stacks, while the relative flow direction of cooling water had a great influence on the temperature distribution of the bipolar plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effect of H2O adsorption on reactant activation is of great importance in heterogeneous catalysis, which remains a grand challenge particularly in oxide catalyst systems with structural complexity. Herein, the effect of D2O adsorption on D2 activation over MgO nanocatalysts at different temperatures has been investigated by transmission Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Two sets of hydride and hydroxyl species produced from D2 dissociation at more active and less active Mg-O pairs can be observed by FT-IR, which all desorb via the product of D2 as confirmed by TPD experiments. We find that the physically adsorbed D2O overlayer does not affect the dissociation of D2 since D2 may pass through the molecular layer and access the surface-active sites. When D2O is partially dissociated on the MgO surface, D2 can only dissociate at the remaining active sites until that dissociated −ODw groups from D2O occupy all active sites. These findings provide a fundamental understanding of the effect of water adsorption on D2 activation on oxide catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two kinds of triphenylamine‐derived solid‐state emissive carbon dots (CDs) with orange and yellow color are facilely synthesized through solvothermal treatment, taking advantage of the nonplanar structure and good carrier mobility of triphenylamine unit. Theoretical calculations show that the triphenylamine structure could greatly inhibit the direct π–π stacking of aromatic skeletons and enhance the fluorescence properties of CDs in aggregation state. By adopting the CDs as single emissive layer, high‐performance orange‐color and green‐color electroluminescent light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) are successfully fabricated, with maximum brightness of 9450/4236 cd m−2, high current efficiency of 1.57/2.34 cd A−1 and low turn‐on voltage of 3.1/3.6 eV are respectively achieved. Significantly, white‐color LED device is further prepared. This work provides a universal platform for the construction of novel solid‐state emissive CDs with significant applications in photoelectric device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two kinds of triphenylamine‐derived solid‐state emissive carbon dots (CDs) with orange and yellow color are facilely synthesized through solvothermal treatment, taking advantage of the nonplanar structure and good carrier mobility of triphenylamine unit. Theoretical calculations show that the triphenylamine structure could greatly inhibit the direct π–π stacking of aromatic skeletons and enhance the fluorescence properties of CDs in aggregation state. By adopting the CDs as single emissive layer, high‐performance orange‐color and green‐color electroluminescent light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) are successfully fabricated, with maximum brightness of 9450/4236 cd m−2, high current efficiency of 1.57/2.34 cd A−1 and low turn‐on voltage of 3.1/3.6 eV are respectively achieved. Significantly, white‐color LED device is further prepared. This work provides a universal platform for the construction of novel solid‐state emissive CDs with significant applications in photoelectric device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locusta migratoria is a serious agricultural pest in China. Beauveria bassiana is one of the most important pathogens of grasshoppers and locusts. The effects of ultraviolet light were evaluated on the B. bassiana strain BbZJ1. The results showed that 253.7 and 360 nm wavelength UV (Ultra Violet) did not affect the germination of B. bassiana after its recovery from UV treatments. Nevertheless, the virulence of B. bassiana BbZJ1 after its recovery from radiation of UV (253.7 nm) increased. The mortality rates were 85.00% for the BbZJ1 control, was 96.67% for BbZJ1 recovered from radiation of UV (253.7 nm) for 60 min. After treatment with 253.7 nm UV radiation for 60 min, the expression levels of stress-resistant genes BbAlg9 and Bbadh2 in BbZJ1 strain were 2.68 and 2.29 times higher than those in the control group, respectively. Meanwhile, the B. bassiana prepared in 5% groundnut oil showed highest tolerance levels to the ultraviolet radiation. The 5% groundnut oil was the most suitable potential UV-protectant for B. bassiana in terms of cost and availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The decarbonization of power generation is key to achieving carbon neutrality in China by the end of 2060. This paper aims to examine how green finance influences China's low-carbon transition of power generation. Using a provincial panel data set as an empirical study example, green finance is assessed first, then empirically analyses the influences of green finance on the low-carbon transition of power generation, as well as intermediary mechanisms at play. Finally, this paper makes relevant recommendations for peak carbon and carbon neutrality in China. Design/methodology/approach: To begin with, an evaluation index system with five indicators is constructed with entropy weighting method. Second, this paper uses the share of coal-fired power generation that takes in total power generation as an inverse indicator to measure the low-carbon transition in power generation. Finally, the authors perform generalized method of moments (GMM) econometric model to examine how green finance influences China's low-carbon transition of power generation by taking advantage of 30 provincial panel data sets, spanning the period of 2007–2019. Meanwhile, the implementation of the 2016 Guidance on Green Finance is used as a turning point to address endogeneity using difference-in-difference method (DID). Findings: The prosperity of green finance can markedly reduce the share of thermal power generation in total electricity generation, which implies a trend toward China's low-carbon transformation in the power generation industry. Urbanization and R&D investment are driving forces influencing low-carbon transition, while economic development hinders the low-carbon transition. The conclusions remain robust after a series of tests such as the DID method, instrumental variable method and replacement indicators. Notably, the results of the mechanism analysis suggest that green finance contributes to low-carbon transformation in power generation by reducing secondary sectoral share, reducing the production of export products, promoting the advancement of green technologies and expanding the proportion of new installed capacity of renewable energy. Research limitations/implications: This paper puts forward relevant suggestions for promoting the green finance development with countermeasures such as allowing low interest rate for renewable energy power generation, facilitating market function and using carbon trade market. Additional policy implication is to promote high quality urbanization and increase R&D investment while pursuing high quality economic development. The last implication is to develop mechanism to strengthen the transformation of industrial structure, to promote high quality trade from high carbon manufactured products to low-carbon products, to stimulate more investment in green technology innovation and to accelerate the greening of installed structure in power generation industry. Originality/value: This paper first attempts to examine the low-carbon transition in power generation from a new perspective of green finance. Second, this paper analyses the mechanism through several aspects: the share of secondary industry, the output of exported products, advances in green technology and the share of renewable energy in new installed capacity, which has not yet been done. Finally, this study constructs a system of indicators to evaluate green finance, including five indicators with entropy weighting method. In conclusion, this paper provides scientific references for sustainable development in China, and meanwhile for other developing countries with similar characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of symbiotic flora is an important indicator of the health of an organism. Symbiotic bacteria have been proven to be closely involved in the immune process of organisms. The pathogenicity of Beauveria bassiana was studied in relation to symbiotic bacteria on the surface and inside of the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria). The results showed that the surface disinfection of test locusts contributed to the pathogenicity of B. bassiana to locusts. Most of the surface bacteria of L. migratoria caused some inhibition of B. bassiana growth, and LM5-4 (Raoultella ornithinolytica), LM5-2 (Enterobacter aerogenes), and LM5-13 (Citrobacter freundii) showed the highest inhibitory effect on the growth of B. bassiana. The inoculation of locusts with additional surface symbiotic bacteria reduced the virulence of B. bassiana to L. migratoria. Infection by different strains of B. bassiana caused similar changes in the symbiotic flora of migratory locusts. The inoculation of locusts with additional intestinal symbiotic bacteria (Enterobacter sp.) reduced the virulence of B. bassiana to L. migratoria. These findings illustrate the effect of bacterial communities on fungal infections in L. migratoria when seen from the perspective of ecology in a microenvironment. The active antifungal substances of such bacteria and their mechanisms of action need further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Cutting path Planning System for wafer images without Mark points in different imaging states. Use the interlayer in the chip region as an auxiliary location to determine the cutting path. The determined cutting path is located in the middle of the streets, away from the chip region. Microscopic imaging is easily affected by the strength of illumination, and the chip surface qualities of different wafers are different. Therefore, wafer images have defects such as uneven brightness distribution, obvious differences in chip region characteristics, etc., which affect the positioning accuracy of the wafer cutting path. For this reason, this thesis proposes an automatic chip-cutting path-planning method in the wafer image of the Glass Passivation Parts (GPPs) process without a mark. First, the wafer image is calibrated for brightness. Then, the template matching algorithm is used to determine the chip region and the center of gravity position of the chip region. We find the position of the geometric feature (interlayer) in the chip region, and the interlayer is used as an auxiliary location to determine the final cutting path. The experiment shows that the image quality can be improved, and chip region features can be highlighted when preprocessing the image with brightness calibration. The results show that the average deviation of the gravity coordinates of the chip region in the x direction is 2.82 pixels. We proceeded by finding the interlayer in the chip region, marking it with discrete points, and using the improved Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC) algorithm to remove the abnormal discrete points and fit the remaining discrete points. The average fitting error is 0.8 pixels, which is better than the least squares method (LSM). The cutting path location algorithm proposed in this paper can adapt to environmental brightness changes and different qualities of chips, accurately and quickly determine the cutting path, and improve the chip cutting yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapes (Vitis sp.) are susceptible to infection by grasshopper and fungus that lead to damaging productivity and economic losses. In this study, we infected the young and old leaf of grapevine by Acrida chinensis and Botrytis cinerea and combined the metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis to comprehend the infection-mediated molecular and metabolic responses. Results indicated that the metabolic reprogramming of lipid, proline, and carbohydrate metabolism is necessary for the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites, which are involved in grapevine defense response. Moreover, the resistance mechanisms of grapevine induced by grasshopper and Botrytis required the hormones crosstalk of abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), ethylene (ETH), brassinosteroid (BR), and jasmonic acid (JA). We also identified the different genes involved in resistance to pathogen and insect attack in transcriptional levels, which encoded pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), disease resistance proteins (RPS), calcium-binding proteins (CMLs), WRKY transcription factor, abscisic acid-insensitive (ABI), brassinosteroid insensitive 1 (BAK1), ethylene-responsive transcription factor (ERF), leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinases (LRRs), zinc finger protein (ZAT10), chitinase 5, and E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase PUB23 in infected leaves. Furthermore, we nominated various infection-related metabolic biomarkers, including glutathione, proline, aspartyl-L-proline, adenine, histidine, and arginine, that has major effects on the tolerance of leaf-damaging insects and pathogens. Taken together, our research results clarify that there are differences in the defense mechanisms of old leaves and young leaves that lead to different biological stress tolerance and provide deeper insights into grapevine regulatory network mediating defense response against infection caused by grasshopper and B. cinerea, and uncover the resistance mechanisms for functional genomic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, graphite and diamond are successfully introduced into Al melts and TiC is in situ-synthesized based on reactive wetting. It is found that the microstructures of the prepared TiC-reinforced Al composites are varied with the change in carbon sources and their sizes. TiC particles tend to form agglomerations in the composites prepared by both graphite and diamond, but the size of the TiC particles as well as their agglomerations will decrease with the decrease in the carbon source size. In addition, the Ti-C reaction is also difficult to fully carry out due to the influence of the Al-C reaction. As a result, in addition to TiC particles, Al4C3 will also be present in the composites prepared by graphite, especially when the size of graphite is large. As for the composites prepared by diamond, diamond@Al4C3@TiC core–shell particles will form when the size of the diamond is large, such as 10 μm in this work, and these particles will transform into Al4C3@TiC core–shell particles when the size of the diamond is decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When it comes to building high-efficiency thin-film optoelectronic devices, we are constantly striving to improve the efficiency of charge transport and injection. Device performance is hampered by the low mobility and injection ability of organic charge transporting materials that are routinely used. In this paper, we show that instead of using organics as a hole transporting layer, metal halide perovskite can be used to fabricate high-efficiency carbon dots-based light-emitting diodes for the first time. The organic light-emitting layer and the underlying perovskite layer combine to form an organic–inorganic perovskite planar heterojunction, and the sufficient contact at the junction takes advantage of the high charge mobility of perovskite, facilitating the hole transportation and injection. Moreover, the interaction between perovskite and the organic emitting layer can be engineered via manipulating the halogenic component, thickness, surface morphology, etc., contributing to the device optimization and the understanding of the carrier kinetics in this unique organic–inorganic hybrid optoelectronic device. Our work comprehensively evaluates the full potentials of metal halide perovskite as a hole transporting layer by uncovering the positive effect on hole transportation and injection. As a consequence, our findings open up new avenues for the development of efficient carbon dot-based light-emitting diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E or pyriminobac-methyl (EPM), a pyrimidine benzoic acid esters herbicide, has a high potential as weedicide; nevertheless, its environmental behaviors are still not well understood. In this study, we systematically investigated, for the first time, the adsorption–desorption, degradation, and leaching behaviors of EPM in agricultural soils from five exemplar sites in China (Phaeozems – S1 ; Anthrosol – S2 ; Ferralsol – S3 ; Alisol – S4 ; Plinthosol – S5) through laboratory simulation experiments. Our results show that the EPM adsorption–desorption results were well fitted by the Freundlich model (R2>0.9999). In the analyzed soils, the Freundlich adsorption (i.e., Kf ads) and desorption (i.e., Kf des) coefficients of EPM varied between 0.85 and 32.22 mg 1-1/n L 1/n kg -1 and 0.78–5.02 mg 1-1/n L 1/n kg -1 , respectively. The mobility of EPM in soils S1 – S5 was categorized as immobile, slightly immobile, highly mobile, slightly mobile, and slightly mobile, respectively. Moreover, the degradation of EPM reflected first-order kinetics, where its half-life ranged between 37.46 and 66.00 d, depending on the environmental conditions, and abiotic degradation was predominant in the degradation of this compound. Overall, the high leaching ability and desorption capacity of EPM were accompanied by a low adsorption capacity, and there were no significant relationships between pH and the leaching rate of EPM in the five types of soils. In contrast, the organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, and soil clay content were the main components responsible for the observed leaching rates. We found that EPM degrades easily, has a high adsorption affinity, and a low mobility in S1 , which results in a low contamination risk for groundwater systems. On the contrary, this compound degrades slowly in S2 , S3 , S4 , and S5 , due to a low adsorption affinity and moderate mobility, which results in a high contamination risk for groundwater systems. Therefore, our results may serve as a reference for evaluating the risks involved in the increasingly wide application of this compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal halide perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are a new type of electroluminescent device with wide application in flat-panel displays and solid-state lighting. The charge recombination at the electrode interfaces and within the emission layer are the key factors restricting the performance of PeLEDs. In this work, the charge transport layers on both sides of the perovskite are optimized simultaneously to reduce the energy loss at the interfaces. Solution-processed aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanoparticles are introduced as the electron transport layer in the traditional device structure, which effectively simplifies the device manufacturing process and greatly improves the device performance. Furthermore, an ultra-thin polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) layer is introduced as a tunneling layer to reduce the exciton quenching between the hole transport layer and the perovskite emission layer. Poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEOX) is used as an additive to significantly enhance the solvent resistance of the perovskite layer. By collaborative optimization, a deep red PeLED emitting at 683 nm with a turn-on voltage of only 1.6 V and a maximum brightness of 7798 cd m−2 is achieved, providing a new idea for the development of high-performance all-solution-processed PeLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wind environment is an important factor affecting the comfort of the outdoor environment in high-rise residential communities. The numerical simulation of ventilation situation in the outdoor environment could provide scientific bases for the design of various elements in a community, including space layout, roads, activity spaces, water system, and plants. Taking the Changqingteng community, Xinxiang as the object, this paper numerically simulates the wind environment in summer, winter, and the transition season on THSware VENT2018, and analyzes the wind speed amplification factors, wind speed vector diagrams, and wind speed cloud maps on the outdoor environment of the community. The results show that both wind speed and wind speed amplification factor fall into the comfortable ranges in most places of the community throughout the year. In summer, only a few windless activity spaces are uncomfortable on hot and humid days. In winter, multiple wind corridors appear in the north of the community. These corridors greatly suppress the comfort of residents, owing to their fast wind speed and large wind speed amplification factor. The following measures could be taken to optimize the outdoor environment of the community: adding leisure spaces around the water system to improve comfort in summer, and setting up wind barriers by planting dense evergreen plants between the buildings on the north side to improve comfort in winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Grape buds and leaves are directly associated with the physiology and metabolic activities of the plant, which is monitored by epigenetic modifications induced by environment and endogenous factors. Methylation is one of the epigenetic regulators that could be involved in DNA levels and affect gene expression in response to stimuli. Therefore, changes of gene expression profile in leaves and bud through inhibitors of DNA methylation provide a deep understanding of epigenetic effects in regulatory networks. Results: In this study, we carried out a transcriptome analysis of 'Kyoho' buds and leaves under 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) exposure and screened a large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO and KEGG annotations showed that they are mainly involved in photosynthesis, flavonoid synthesis, glutathione metabolism, and other metabolic processes. Functional enrichment analysis also provided a holistic perspective on the transcriptome profile when 5-azaC bound to methyltransferase and induced demethylation. Enrichment analysis of transcription factors (TFs) also showed that the MYB, C2H2, and bHLH families are involved in the regulation of responsive genes under epigenetic changes. Furthermore, hormone-related genes have also undergone significant changes, especially gibberellin (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA)-related genes that responded to bud germination. We also used protein-protein interaction network to determine hub proteins in response to demethylation. Conclusions: These findings provide new insights into the establishment of molecular regulatory networks according to how methylation as an epigenetic modification alters transcriptome patterns in bud and leaves of grape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: After the application of herbicides, their migration and transformation in the environment are closely related to their adsorption characteristics in the soil. The adsorption of herbicides in soil is also important when evaluating their environmental behaviors or risks. Pyraclonil is a contact herbicide widely used to control weeds in paddy fields, especially in Japan. This study investigated the adsorption and desorption behaviors of pyraclonil in eight typical agricultural soils across China. Materials and methods: Surface soil samples (0–15 cm) were collected in farmland across China, including Hebei luvisols, Heilongjiang phaeozems, Sichuan gleysols, Zhejiang anthrosols, Jiangxi ferralsols, Shandong alisols, Hubei lixisols, and Hainan plinthosols. Adsorption-desorption experiments were conducted at 25 °C ± 1 °C using a batch equilibration method. Pyraclonil residue was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results and discussion: The adsorption and desorption isotherms of pyraclonil in the eight soils are fitted well by mathematical models. The isothermal adsorption-desorption curves of pyraclonil agree with the simulation results of the Freundlich model. The adsorption of pyraclonil is mainly physical, and all adsorption isotherms are of type L. The adsorption constants range from 3.2 to 28.6 mg1−1/n L1/n kg−1. The desorption curves of pyraclonil in all soils show positive hysteresis, as the hysteresis coefficients are in the range of 0.01–0.26. The adsorption and desorption constants increase with increasing soil organic matter content and cation exchange capacity, but they are not related to soil pH and clay content. Conclusions: Pyraclonil exhibits low adsorption in different agricultural soils, and the adsorption process is irreversible. Pyraclonil has moderate or high mobility in different agricultural soils (except phaeozems with high organic matter content) across China, and pyraclonil could be transported from soil to groundwater after its application. Therefore, pyraclonil poses some risks to surface water and groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an instrument of drop-on-demand electrohydrodynamic jet (DoD E-Jet) printing device equipped with a current measurement and control system was designed and developed for finely controlling the printing process. The relationships between the current and printing parameters of voltage, frequency, and flow rate were deeply investigated, and the examination data and conclusion were obtained under the condition of the needle size remaining unchanged. Especially, the equation relationship between the flow rate and current was established, which can be used for the modification of the DoD E-Jet printing process. The map describing the stable printing range, droplet size, and current was also recognized, which can help us to select parameters for stable printing. Based on the current measurement and control system and the established relationship, the optimized current and printing parameters were chosen to print uniform graphene microstructures. This instrument provides an effective method for monitoring, adjusting, and controlling the DoD E-Jet printing process and further improving the quality of the printed structures for micro/nanoelectromechanical system (M/NEMS) devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetraniliprole (TTP) is a new bisimide-based insecticide. Three typical surface soil samples were collected in farmland across China, including Jiangxi red soil (RS), Shandong yellow brown soil (YBS), and Heilongjiang black soil (BS). Adsorption, desorption and leaching experiments were conducted by using equilibrium oscillation and soil column leaching methods at 25°C ± 1°C. The isothermal adsorption and desorption curves of TTP in the above three soils were in accordance with the Freundlich model. The adsorption/desorption constants (Kads−f/Kdes−f) were 41.96–64.48 and 3.62–43.65, respectively. There is a certain hysteresis in the desorption curve, and the hysteresis coefficient (H) was between 0.14 and 0.89. Besides, the leaching properties of TTP in three soils were different. The leaching of TTP in RS and YBS was easy, while difficult for BS. It is concluded that the different adsorption–desorption ability and leaching ability of TTP in the above three soils was attributed to the distinct contents of organic matter (OM) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In two experiments conducted over a 2-year period, oat straw was ensiled with different levels of perennial ryegrass and wet hulless-barley distillers' grains ( WHDG) to improve utilization efficiency of oat straw as ruminants feed. Firstly, oat straw was ensiled with varying proportions of perennial ryegrass (0, 20, 40 or 60% of fresh weight [FW]). The lactic acid ( LA) and lactic/acetic acid ( LA/ AA) were increased (L, Q, P < 0.01) whereas pH value, propionic acid, butyric acid and volatile fatty acids were decreased (L, Q, P < 0.01) with increasing perennial ryegrass levels. From the perspective of maximum use oat straw, it was suggested that 40% perennial ryegrass inclusions was proper for further study. Then, mixtures of oat straw and perennial ryegrass (60/40) were ensiled with WHDG at 0, 100, 200 or 300 g kg-1 FW (defined as WHDG0, WHDG100, WHDG200 and WHDG300, respectively), the fermentation characteristics and in vitro rumen degradability were analyzed. The dry matter ( DM) and pH value declined (L, Q, P < 0.01), while the LA increased (L, Q, P < 0.01) with the increase of WHDG ratios. The inclusion of WHDG significantly decreased ammonia nitrogen concentrations (L, Q, P < 0.01). The crude protein content linearly increased ( P < 0.01), whereas the acid detergent fiber ( ADF) content linearly decreased ( P < 0.01) with increasing levels of WHDG. The WHDG inclusion significantly increased in vitro neutral detergent fiber degradability (L, Q, P < 0.01) with the highest value in WHDG200. The in vitro DM and ADF degradability had a Q effect ( P < 0.01) in response to increasing WHDG levels. Overall inclusion of WHDG can improve the fermentation and in vitro degradability of mixed silages of oat straw and perennial ryegrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprophytic mold and an opportunistic pathogen with a broad geographic and ecological distribution. A. fumigatus is the most common etiological agent of aspergillosis, affecting over 8,000,000 individuals worldwide. Due to the rising number of infections and increasing reports of resistance to antifungal therapy, there is an urgent need to understand A. fumigatus populations from local to global levels. However, many geographic locations and ecological niches remain understudied, including soil environments from arctic regions. In this study, we isolated 32 and 52 A. fumigatus strains from soils in Iceland and the Northwest Territories of Canada (NWT), respectively. These isolates were genotyped at nine microsatellite loci and the genotypes were compared with each other and with those in other parts of the world. Though significantly differentiated from each other, our analyses revealed that A. fumigatus populations from Iceland and NWT contained evidence for both clonal and sexual reproductions, and shared many alleles with each other and with those collected from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Interestingly, we found one triazole-resistant strain containing the TR34 /L98H mutation in the cyp51A gene from NWT. This strain is closely related to a triazole-resistant genotype broadly distributed in India. Together, our results suggest that the northern soil populations of A. fumigatus are significantly influenced by those from other geographic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, more and more reports have shown that the miR156-SPL module can participate in the regulation of anthocyanin synthesis in plants. However, little is known about how this module responds to hormonal signals manipulating this process in grapes. In this study, exogenous GA, ABA, MeJA, and NAA were used to treat the 'Wink' grape berries before color conversion, anthocyanin and other related quality physiological indexes (such as sugar, aroma) were determined, and spatio-temporal expression patterns of related genes were analyzed. The results showed that the expression levels of VvmiR156b/c/d showed a gradually rising trend with the ripening and color formation of grape berries, and the highest expression levels were detected at day 28 after treatment, while the expression level of VvSPL9 exhibited an opposite trend as a whole, which further verifies that VvmiR156b/c/d can negatively regulate VvSPL9. Besides, VvmiR156b/c/d was positively correlated with anthocyanin content and related genes levels, while the expression pattern of VvSPL9 showed a negative correlation. Analysis of promoter cis-elements and GUS staining showed that VvmiR156b/c/d contained a large number of hormone response cis-elements (ABA, GA, SA, MeJA, and NAA) and were involved in hormone regulation. Exogenous ABA and MeJA treatments significantly upregulated the expression levels of VvmiR156b/c/d and anthocyanin structural genes in the early stage of color conversion and made grape berries quickly colored. Interestingly, GA treatment downregulated the expression levels of VvmiR156b/c/d and anthocyanin structural genes in the early color-change period, but significantly upregulated in the middle color-change and ripening stages, therefore GA mainly modulated grape berry coloring in the middle- and late-ripening stages. Furthermore, NAA treatment downregulated the expression levels of VvmiR156b/c/d and anthocyanin structural genes and delayed the peak expression of genes. Meanwhile, to further recognize the potential functions of VvmiR156b/c/d, the mature tomato transient trangenetic system was utilized in this work. Results showed that transient overexpression of VvmiR156b/c/d in tomato promoted fruit coloring and overexpression of VvSPL9 inhibited fruit coloration. Finally, a regulatory network of the VvmiR156b/c/d-VvSPL9 module responsive to hormones modulating anthocyanin synthesis was developed. In conclusion, VvmiR156b/c/d-mediated VvSPL9 participated in the formation of grape color in response to multi-hormone signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient red bandgap emission carbon quantum dots (CQDs) for realizing high‐performance electroluminescent warm white light‐emitting diodes (warm‐WLEDs) represents a grand challenge. Here, the synthesis of three red‐emissive electron‐donating group passivated CQDs (R‐EGP‐CQDs): R‐EGP‐CQDs‐NMe2, ‐NEt2, and ‐NPr2 is reported. The R‐EGP‐CQDs, well soluble in common organic solvents, display bright red bandgap emission at 637, 642, and 645 nm, respectively, reaching the highest photoluminescence quantum yield (QY) up to 86.0% in ethanol. Theoretical investigations reveal that the red bandgap emission originates from the rigid π‐conjugated skeleton structure, and the ‐NMe2, ‐NEt2, and ‐NPr2 passivation plays a key role in inducing charge transfer excited state in the π‐conjugated structure to afford the high QY. Solution‐processed electroluminescent warm‐WLEDs based on the R‐EGP‐CQDs‐NMe2, ‐NEt2, and ‐NPr2 display voltage‐stable warm white spectra with a maximum luminance of 5248–5909 cd m−2 and a current efficiency of 3.65–3.85 cd A−1. The warm‐WLEDs also show good long‐term operational stability (L/L0 > 80% after 50 h operation, L0: 1000 cd m−2). The electron‐donating group passivation strategy opens a new avenue to realizing efficient red bandgap emission CQDs and developing high‐performance electroluminescent warm‐WLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]