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• Non-linear responses of microeukaryotes to increasing antibiotic pollution were detected. • Significant tipping points provided early warnings for regime shift. • Microeukaryotic bioindicators quantitatively and accurately predicted local antibiotic concentrations. Antibiotic pollution imposes urgent threats to public health and microbial-mediated ecological processes. Existing studies have primarily focused on bacterial responses to antibiotic pollution, but they ignored the microeukaryotic counterpart, though microeukaryotes are functionally important (e.g., predators and saprophytes) in microbial ecology. Herein, we explored how the assembly of sediment microeukaryotes was affected by increasing antibiotic pollution at the inlet (control) and across the outlet sites along a shrimp wastewater discharge channel. The structures of sediment microeukaryotic community were substantially altered by the increasing nutrient and antibiotic pollutions, which were primarily controlled by the direct effects of phosphate and ammonium (−0.645 and 0.507, respectively). In addition, tetracyclines exerted a large effect (0.209), including direct effect (0.326) and indirect effect (−0.117), on the microeukaryotic assembly. On the contrary, the fungal subcommunity was relatively resistant to antibiotic pollution. Segmented analysis depicted nonlinear responses of microeukaryotic genera to the antibiotic pollution gradient, as supported by the significant tipping points. We screened 30 antibiotic concentration-discriminatory taxa of microeukaryotes, which can quantitatively and accurately predict (98.7% accuracy) the in-situ antibiotic concentration. Sediment microeukaryotic (except fungal) community is sensitive to antibiotic pollution, and the identified bioindicators could be used for antibiotic pollution diagnosis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematodes occupy different niches in soil and play important roles in plant growth. However, the dynamic responses of nematode community to fertilization at the aggregate scale and the relationships between key nematode indices and crop production are still unclear. A long-term field experiment with different fertilization regimes (CK, no fertilizer; NPK, synthetic fertilizers alone; BCNPK, biochar + synthetic fertilizers; OMNPK, pig manure + synthetic fertilizers; RSDNPK, crop straw + synthetic fertilizers) was conducted to link nematode and crop production. Higher total nematode abundance, biodiversity, and nematode metabolic footprint (NMF) were observed in the wheat season, while increased maturity index (MI), plant parasite index (PPI), and structure index (SI) were found in the maize season. The nematode community in the wheat season was more enriched and mature, especially in large macroaggregates. The composition of the nematode community was shifted by RSDNPK in both crop seasons, as indicated by the principal coordinates analysis (PCoA). Additionally, the 1.5-fold higher enrichment index (EI) under RSDNPK in comparison with other treatments in the wheat season also indicated a significantly differentiated nematode community. Compared with NPK, the wheat yield of RSDNPK (2265 kg ha−1) was 26 % lower, while the maize yield of this treatment (5776 kg ha−1) was >13 % higher. The PPI and SI in the seedling period of winter wheat and the PPI in the silking period as well as the variation of the nematode community in the maize season were key nematode indices that strongly correlated with the yields of corresponding crops. Crucial nematodes also exhibited notable positive or negative relationships with crop yields (P < 0.05). Overall, the combined application of synthetic fertilizers and crop straw can improve soil health through its positive effects on nematode community, which has the potential to propel crop production. • Nematode indices increased by fertilization diversified in wheat and maize seasons. • The soil food web was more enriched and mature in wheat season. • The composition of soil nematode communities was shifted by RSDNPK in both seasons. • Nematode indices were strongly correlated with crop yields. • Specific nematode genera showed strong impacts on crop yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Soil microaggregates accommodate co-occurrence network with more edges. • Specific taxa correlate with soil N supply are important to wheat yield. • Most taxa affecting soil N and yield differ from those impacting network topology. • Nematodes and/or protists are found among these vital taxa across aggregate classes. Crop production is strongly impacted by soil nitrogen supply, which is regulated by soil micro-food webs consisting of nematodes, protists, fungi and bacteria. However, responses of soil micro-food webs to fertilization at the aggregate scale and their relationships with soil nitrogen supply and crop yield remain unclear. To address these knowledge gaps, we investigated soils subjected to typical fertilization treatments in a long-term field experiment, which included: no fertilizer control (CK); synthetic fertilizers (NPK); partial synthetic nitrogen replacement with pig slurry (OMNPK) or crop straw (RSDNPK) and incorporating biochar with synthetic fertilizers (BCNPK). The composition of different biological groups was changed significantly by fertilization, with bacteria under RSDNPK being more responsive than other groups. The co-occurrence network of the soil micro-food web had more edges in microaggregates than those in large and small macroaggregates due to the significantly higher nodal degree of bacteria and fungi. On average, 76 % of the topologically important (TI) taxa in the networks were bacteria. In modules where nematodes and protists were present, 8 %-100 % of them were attributed to TI taxa while the ratio for bacteria was 3 %-7 %. Specific assemblages of functionally important (FI) taxa covering all tested biological groups at the aggregate scale were positively associated with soil labile nitrogen, related enzymes and crop yield. Random forest regression further indicates the high importance of these FI taxa to crop yield. However, less than 20 % of them were attributed to TI taxa of the networks. In summary, distinct assemblages of taxa covering multiple trophic levels regulate network topology and soil nitrogen supply + crop yield, which provides insights for targeted manipulation of soil micro-food webs through knowledge-based fertilization to harness the biological potential of cropland soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) levels via improved fertilization strategies can promote soil health and support sustainable crop production. While bacteria and fungi play a key role in SOC accumulation, the effects of soil micro-food webs that include organisms from higher trophic levels remain uncertain. We sought to narrow this knowledge gap by clarifying the associations between SOC accumulation and soil micro-food webs at the aggregate scale under long-term (18 years) fertilization treatments, which included a no-fertilizer control (Ctrl), synthetic fertilizers (NPK), and partial synthetic nitrogen replacement with pig slurry (OMNPK) or crop straw (RSDNPK). The concentration of SOC was significantly increased by fertilization following the order RSDNPK (13.1 g kg−1) > OMNPK (11.4 g kg−1) > NPK (9.1 g kg−1) > Ctrl (6.4 g kg−1). Nematodes and protists accounted for approximately 20% of all nodes in the multitrophic networks. Fertilization increased network complexity at the aggregate scale by 1–4 times across different sampling dates (P < 0.05). In all aggregate classes, the functionally important (FI) nematodes, protists, and bacterial taxa involved in soil carbon cycle had higher relative abundances under the fertilization treatments than under the Ctrl (P < 0.05). Structural equation modeling further indicated that besides soil microbes, network complexity, FI nematodes and protists were important to SOC accumulation. Compared with NPK, the key moments during which these soil biological attributes strongly regulated SOC under OMNPK and RSDNPK were delayed to late growth stages of maize. In conclusion, the increased network complexity and relative abundance of functionally important organisms from higher trophic levels of the soil micro-food webs at certain periods are vital contributors to effective SOC accumulation under fertilization regimes that include organic amendments. [Display omitted] • Nematodes and protists make up 20% of soil micro-food web taxa. • Fertilization is an effective measure to increase multitrophic network complexity. • Functionally important (FI) taxa linked to carbon cycle respond to fertilization. • Multitrophic network complexity and high trophic FI taxa aid SOC accumulation. • Organic amendments delay the key moments that soil organisms affect SOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed a three-core fiber Bragg grating (FBG) probe for sub-millinewton contact force measurement of a micromanipulator system. The probe comprises a bundle of three single-core FBGs assembled under the effect of capillary self-assembly. Theoretical relationships between Bragg wavelength and force are calculated based on the assumption of material mechanics. The experimental results show that the probe has a good linear relationship for the measurement of the radial two degrees of freedom contact force, and it is suitable for measuring the radial contact force of 0.1–1 mN. The proposed three-core FBG probe has the characteristics of simple structure, low cost, and better forming stability and sensitivity compared with the four-core structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a dynamic numerical model for the bonded-type ultrasonic motor considering the load transfer in the adhesive interlayer between the piezoceramics and the host structure. The finite element method and an extended shear-lag theory are used to derive the dynamic equation. The effectiveness of this model is validated by comparing the dynamic response of the stator in frequency and time domains between simulation and experimental results, with a maximum relative error of less than 4%. The dynamic load transfer in the adhesive interlayer is analyzed when the stator is excited electrically, and the results show that the interfacial load transfer is concentrated near the bonding edges. The effects of partially bonded piezoceramics on the dynamic characteristics of the motor are investigated, where two partially bonded conditions including edge and inner debonded cases are considered. The results indicate that both the inner and edge debonded conditions could reduce the vibration amplitude of the stator and then reduce the output performance of the motor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new species of the genus Bifurcia are described: B. kangding sp. nov. (♂♀), B. labahe sp. nov. (♂), B. luding sp. nov. (♂♀), B. shuangqiao sp. nov. (♂♀), and B. xiaojin sp. nov. (♂♀) from western Sichuan, China. A distribution map of the species and illustrations of genital characters are provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Combined CNN-LSTM and GRU running parallel for long and short-term prediction balance. • Improved sparrow search algorithm is effective and avoids falling into local optimum. • Adaptive weighting module improves prediction accuracy and immunity to interference. • Comparison with other models shows the model has better predictivity and adaptability. Accurate prediction of river runoff is of great significance for water resources management, flood prevention and mitigation. The causes of runoff are complex and the mechanisms behind them are difficult to grasp. Building a data-driven deep learning model for runoff prediction is an effective solution. To achieve the fusion of multi-source information, prediction accuracy and wide applicability, a hybrid model based on CNN-LSTM & GRU-ISSA is proposed in this study. In this paper, meteorological data, hydrological data and runoff data are selected and the maximum information coefficient (MIC) is used to calculate the relationship between each variable and runoff in order to reduce the dimensionality of the data. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is used to extract features of the long time series of runoff and a long short-term memory network (LSTM) is used for the prediction of the long time series of runoff. A gated recurrent unit (GRU) is also used for the short time series prediction of runoff. In order to extract the advantages of both prediction models, an adaptive weighting module (AWM) is proposed to dynamically learn the outputs of both models and combine them into the final prediction results. To be able to solve the selection of model hyperparameters, we use the improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA). This algorithm introduces two improvement points, Lévy Flight and Sine Cosine Algorithm, based on the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA), to achieve fast convergence of the algorithm with better global optimal solutions. The proposed model was validated using watersheds with different runoff ranges, e.g., in the Bailong River watershed, the NSE value was 0.90 and the RMSE value was 2.17. The results showed that the proposed model significantly outperformed the other baseline models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding safe and high-quality child care is critical to working parents. However, research suggests that formal child care—both family child care and center-based child care—is in short supply in the U.S. We hypothesize that compared to urban neighborhoods, child care access will be lower in outlying suburban neighborhoods with newer and less developed social infrastructure. Applying the 2SFCA method, we predict variation in the supply of child care relative to demand—a measure of child care access—across California neighborhoods that vary by geography as well as sociodemographic and employment characteristics. Similar to prior research, we find that percent Latinx of a neighborhood is associated with lower child care access. In terms of neighborhood type, as we predict, we find that child care access is lower in newly developed suburban areas compared to most other neighborhood types. This finding suggests the importance of incentives to create formal child care facilities in new suburbs, neighborhoods that house a quarter of all young children in the state. • A 2SFCA method was applied to measure child care access in California. • Child care access by neighborhoods types is analyzed. • Child care access is lower in newly developed suburban areas compared to most other neighborhood types. • Percent Latinx of a neighborhood is associated with lower child care access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing a passenger-centric railway service is of great importance for railway companies to attract more passengers and increase their revenue. Focusing on the passenger-centric operational plans, this paper considers the problem of integrated periodic train timetabling and train stop planning in high speed railway networks. In view of the immediate dependency of passengers' routes on the train timetable and stop plan, simultaneous passenger routing is included to directly shape the train stops and timetable in a passenger-friendly way. Besides travel time, ticket price is also considered in passenger utility to better depict passengers' route choices in the railway network. A railway network-based time–space network with train stop-skip technique, periodic properties and detailed consideration of different train headways is designed, based on which a multi-commodity network flow model is developed. With a novel linearization technique of train capacity penalty term, the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is used to relax and decompose the track and train capacity constraints. Further, time deviation of regular train services is achieved by a new shortest path algorithm to design more flexible timetables, however its application is still limited to small instances due to computational efforts required. The algorithm is finally tested on the Shandong high-speed railway network in China, and demonstrates its capability of providing tighter lower bounds than Lagrangian relaxation method and generating good feasible solutions. Besides, the impacts of different cycle times on service quality and train cost are evaluated. • A periodic time–space network model for train timetabling with stop planning. • An ADMM decomposition and new linearization approach. • A case study on China's large Shandong high-speed railway network. • Impact of different cycle times on service quality is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric films have good elasticity and microstructure stability, which are the basis of the piezoelectric nanogenerator to adapt to various application scenarios and run stably for a long time. In this paper, Polyurethane (PU) is introduced into PVDF nanofibers to obtain blend nanofiber film with elasticity and microstructure stability. The tensile and compression moduli of the nanofiber films are effectively controlled by changing the mass ratio of PU to PVDF. By the impact of a 5.6 g ball falling freely from a height of 16 cm, the piezoelectric output of nanofiber film with an optimized mass ratio of 35/65 is 3.58 V. The maximum peak current and power surface densities are 0.286 μA and 0.18 μW cm−2, respectively. The piezoelectric response of the nanofiber film remained stable before and after 9 cycles of 10 % compressive strain. A simulated vehicle tire pressure fluctuation energy collection device is fabricated by using the blend nanofiber film. The peak-to-peak piezoelectric response is about 0.32 V. This unique property opens up another way to harvest mechanical energy from gas pressure fluctuation. The development of PU/PVDF blend nanofiber film show inestimable application potential as a mechanical energy harvesting device for gas or liquid pressure fluctuation. [Display omitted] • The piezoelectric properties of PU/PVDF composite nanofiber film were investigated. • PU enhances the strain toughness of PU/PVDF composite nanofiber film. • The PU/PVDF composite nanofiber nanogenerator has good stability. • A mechanical energy harvesting device for gas pressure fluctuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four morphologically similar species of the Pholcus yichengicus species group, occurring in geographic proximity of China's Qinling Mountains, were recognised, based on morphology and four methods of molecular species delimitation. They comprise two new species, namely Pholcus ankang sp. nov. and P. baoji sp. nov. and two previously described species: P. ovatus Yao & Li, 2012 and P. taibaiensis Wang & Zhu, 1992. Their DNA barcodes were obtained to estimate p-distances and K2P distances. In addition, an identification key for the four closely-related species is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An analytical model for predicting the wear and performance of a linear piezoelectric ultrasonic motor is presented. • The effects of temperature and surface roughness on wear are considered in the proposed model. • A test platform is conducted and the simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data. Ultrasonic motor relies on interface friction to drive the slider movement. During continuous operation, the contact surfaces between the stator and slider are worn, which will affect the performance and service life of the motor. A novel wear evaluation model considering temperature effect is established to estimate the remaining life and performance for a linear piezoelectric ultrasonic motor. The interactions of temperature with resonance frequency and material parameters are considered. The relationship between wear volume and preload as well as the variations of surface roughness parameters are taken into account. An experimental platform is built to identify the critical parameters and verify the accuracy of this model. The results show that the developed model can not only predict the temperature and service life, but also evaluate the performance of the motor, which can provide valuable guidance for motor design and optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving a balanced jobs-housing relationship has been treated as a solution to relieve traffic congestion and air pollution. Jobs-housing ratio and employment self-containment (ESC) are applied to quantify different levels of jobs-housing balance. Though appropriated methods have been analyzed to explore jobs-housing relationship at multiple fixed scales, scale dependency problem remains unsolved and resulted in discord about jobs-housing relationship. Furthermore, the differences of the jobs-housing balance and ESC by various income groups received little attention. This paper proposed a K-medoids clustering method to explore the aggregate multi-scale patterns of jobs-housing ratio and ESC by higher, medium, and lower-income groups using 2016 longitudinal employment household dynamics (LEHD) data. To alleviate the scale effect, individual workers and jobs were simulated by Monte Carlo approach according to LEHD data provided within each block. Afterwards, we analyzed the jobs-housing relationship within multi-scale units by different aggregated groups. We found jobs-housing balance had a positive effect on ESC, while the effect varied by different income groups. Jobs-housing balance affects ESC more for lower-income group when the searching radius is <4 km, while beyond 4 km, jobs-housing balance has more effect on ESC of higher-income group. ESC of medium-income group is least affected. Employing the K-medoids clustering method, we classified the four patterns of jobs-housing and the two patterns of ESC for each income group. We further identified jobs-housing matched and mismatched areas through eight joint patterns of jobs-housing balance and ESC. Our work contributes to understanding of jobs-housing balance and commuting by scale variations and income. • This paper analyzed the jobs-housing balance and ESC across variable multiscale buffers (1 km – 10 km). • This paper investigated the aggregated patterns considering jobs-housing balance and ESC at each scale proposed (search radius) through K-medoids clustering method. • This paper explored the aggregated patterns of jobs-housing balance and ESC and their joint patterns in terms of higher, medium, and low-income group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Protein engineering has contributed to successes in the field of T cell-based immunotherapy, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. CAR T cell therapy has become a pillar of cancer immunotherapy, demonstrating clinical effectiveness against B cell malignancies by targeting the B cell antigen CD19. Current gene editing techniques have limited safety controls over CAR T cell activity, which presents a hurdle for control of CAR T cells in patients. Alternatively, CAR T cell activity can be controlled by engineering CARs to bind soluble adapter molecules that direct the interaction between the CAR T cell and target cell. The flexibility in this adapter-mediated approach overcomes the rigid specificity of traditional CAR T cells to allow targeting of multiple cell types. Here we describe adapter CAR T technologies and how these methods emphasize the growing role of protein engineering in the design of programmable tools for T cell therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Using LGM is an effective practice to enhance soil organic nitrogen (SON) pool. • The N content of physically protected iPOM is directly linked to SON. • Unprotected cPOM is responsive to LGM and it controls the N content of iPOM. • Higher N content of cPOM under LGM increases SON via both direct/ indirect paths. • The responses of N in cPOM to management practices could be crucial to predict SON. The nitrogen (N) content of soil organic matter (OM) fractions is a vital indicator of soil health as it limits crop yield and regulates the loss of N from soil to the environment. We studied the impacts of introducing leguminous green manure (LGM) to replace summer fallow on N distribution in coarse particulate OM (cPOM), fine POM (fPOM), intra-microaggregate POM (iPOM) and mineral associated OM (MAOM). Random forest regression and structural equation modelling were coupled to identify the important OM fractions and reveal how they affect soil organic N pool. The field experiment followed a split-plot design with summer fallow – winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (FW) (control) and LGM – winter wheat as the main treatments. The latter included Huai bean (Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc) – winter wheat (HW), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) – winter wheat (SW) and mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) – winter wheat (MW). The sub-treatments included applying 0 or 135 kg ha−1 of synthetic N fertilizer to winter wheat. Both LGM and synthetic N had limited effects on the mass ratio of OM fractions. Compared with FW, HW and MW increased the N content of unprotected OM fractions (cPOM + fPOM) by 38–58% and all LGM treatments increased the N content of protected OM fractions (iPOM + MAOM) by 9–16%. The main driving factors for enhancing the soil organic N pool were the N in cPOM and iPOM. The indirect paths through the cPOM mediated by the iPOM in large and small macroaggregates were the key pathways that regulated the soil organic N pool. In conclusion, LGM expands the soil organic N pool mainly by regulating the N content of cPOM and iPOM, suggesting this practice can propel sustainable crop production via enhanced short- and long-term soil N supplying capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, eight new species are described from the subtropical parts of Yunnan Province in southwestern China: Belisana honghe Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. jiuxiang Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. lincang Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. luxi Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. tengchong Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. tongi Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), B. yongsheng Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂), and B. yunnan Zhang, Li & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀). They add up to a total of 31 Belisana species from Yunnan in an updated list provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child care is essential infrastructure. Without child care—or without adequate access to child care—parents and household caregivers are unable to work or conduct other critical activities, which can adversely affect their outcomes. In the U.S., child care supply has long fallen short of demand, with variations across neighborhoods that differ by income, race, and ethnicity. Yet there is relatively little research on child care access, use, and travel. In this study, we test the relationship between formal child care supply and households' use of formal care and home-to-child-care travel distances in California. Using a two-step floating catchment area method, we develop a time-weighted spatial measure of child care access and apply this measure in statistical models to predict two outcome measures: the likelihood of making a home-to-child-care trip and travel distance to the child care center, controlling for other factors. We find that child care access is associated with an increased likelihood of using formal child care—and among households that use such care, access is associated with shorter travel distances. Our analysis underscores the importance of policies to address spatial barriers to child care, particularly in neighborhoods—low-income, Latinx, non-urban—where child care supply is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report 18 spider species of the genus Pholcus Walckenaer, 1805 from a survey in the Qinling Mountains of central China. They belong to four species groups and include seven species new to science: Pholcus jiaozuo Yang & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀) in the taishan species group; P. luonan Yang & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. luoyang Yang & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. lushan Yang & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. shangluo Yang & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀), P. weinan Yang & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀) and P. yuncheng Yang & Yao, sp. nov. (♂♀) in the yichengicus species group. Detailed diagnoses, descriptions, photomicroscopy images and DNA barcodes of all new species are provided. Our study will make a significant contribution to understanding species diversity and zoogeography of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered people's lives in multiple aspects, including grocery shopping behaviors. Yet, the changing trend of grocery shopping frequencies during the COVID-19 and its associations with food deserts remain unclear. We aimed to (1) examine variations of grocery shopping frequencies at county level in the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to December 2021; (2) investigate associations between grocery shopping frequencies and food deserts during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (3) explore heterogeneity in grocery shopping frequencies—food desert associations across urban and rural areas. The county-level grocery shopping frequencies were derived from a grocery pattern dataset obtained from SafeGraph. We divided the 22-month period into 5 stages and employed the growth curve modeling to estimate the trajectories of grocery shopping frequencies and the associations between grocery shopping frequencies and food deserts in each stage, separately. Results revealed that grocery shopping frequencies experienced a "W-shaped" pattern from March 2020 to December 2021. Counties with the least percent of food deserts had slower decrease in grocery shopping frequencies at the initial stage and recovered more rapidly at later stages. Counties with the highest percent of food deserts were subject to deprivation amplification as a result of the pandemic. We also found differences existed in the grocery shopping frequencies—food desert associations between metropolitan counties and rural counties. Our findings suggest the impacts of COVID-19 on grocery shopping frequencies varied across different time periods, shedding light on designing different strategies to reduce the risk of contagion while shopping inside of grocery stores. Further, our findings highlight an urgent need to help people living in food deserts (especially in rural counties) to procure healthy foods safely during health emergencies like COVID-19 pandemic which disrupt mobility and social behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Ramping a physical parameter is one of the most common experimental protocols in studying a quantum system, and ramping dynamics has been widely used in preparing a quantum state and probing physical properties. Here, we present a novel method of probing quantum many-body correlation by ramping dynamics. We ramp a Hamiltonian parameter to the same target value from different initial values and with different velocities, and we show that the first-order correction on the finite ramping velocity is universal and path-independent, revealing a novel quantum many-body correlation function of the equilibrium phases at the target values. We term this method as the non-adiabatic linear response since this is the leading order correction beyond the adiabatic limit. We demonstrate this method experimentally by studying the Bose-Hubbard model with ultracold atoms in three-dimensional optical lattices. Unlike the conventional linear response that reveals whether the quasi-particle dispersion of a quantum phase is gapped or gapless, this probe is more sensitive to whether the quasi-particle lifetime is long enough such that the quantum phase possesses a well-defined quasi-particle description. In the Bose-Hubbard model, this non-adiabatic linear response is significant in the quantum critical regime where well-defined quasi-particles are absent. And in contrast, this response is vanishingly small in both superfluid and Mott insulators which possess well-defined quasi-particles. Because our proposal uses the most common experimental protocol, we envision that our method can find broad applications in probing various quantum systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a high-efficient thermal analysis methodology and outlines a set of useful design guidelines for high-power linear ultrasonic motors. A thermal network modeling technique is introduced to rapidly calculate the temperature rise for a typical high-power linear ultrasonic motor with a V-shaped stator. First, a six-terminal equivalent circuit for Langevin piezoelectric transducer considering the prestress bolt loss and all three losses in piezoelectrics is proposed to calculate the stator loss. Then, the calculated losses along with the friction loss are used as inputs into the developed thermal network model to calculate the temperature rise of critical parts of the motor. Furthermore, an analytical mechanical model combined with the proposed thermal network is established to calculate the temporal–spatial distribution of the stator thermal stress for evaluating its fatigue under the heating-up process. Finally, some experimental measurements and finite-element simulations are conducted to validate the theoretical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diatom blooms can significantly affect the succession of microbial communities, yet little is known about the assembly processes and interactions of microbial communities during autumn bloom events. In this study, we investigated the ecological effects of an autumn diatom bloom on prokaryotic communities (PCCs) and microeukaryotic communities (MECs), focusing on their assembly processes and interactions. The PCCs were largely dominated by Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Flavobacteria, while the MECs primarily included Diatomea, Dinoflagellata, and Chlorophyta. The succession of both PCCs and MECs was mainly driven by this diatom bloom and environmental factors, such as nitrate and silicate. Null modeling revealed that homogeneous selection had a more pronounced impact on the structure of PCCs compared with that of MECs. In particular, drift and dispersal limitation cannot be neglected in the assembly processes of MECs. Co-occurrence network analyses showed that Litorimicrobium, Cercozoa, Marine Group I (MGI), Cryptomonadales, Myrionecta, and Micromonas may affect the bloom process. In summary, these results elucidated the complex, robust interactions and obviously distinct assembly mechanisms of PCCs and MECs during a diatom bloom and extend our current comprehension of the ecological mechanisms and microbial interactions involved in an autumn diatom bloom process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Probiotics have emerged as promising alternatives to antibiotics for maintaining the health of the Chinese mitten crab (CMC, Eriocheir sinensis). However, the efficacy of probiotic application in CMC culture ecosystems remains uncertain. Intestinal microbiota is often as comprehensive indicators of aquatic animal health, but the effects of probiotics on CMC intestinal microbiota remain poorly understood. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to investigate the mechanisms underlying the changes of the intestinal microbial communities following short‐term probiotic application in CMC culture. Our data showed there was poor probiotic colonization in the intestines of pond‐cultured CMCs. The short‐term application of probiotics had no significant impact on the alpha‐diversity for the microbial communities; however, it significantly changed the beta‐diversity. Remarkably, the probiotics promoted butanoate metabolism of the CMC intestinal microbiota. According to network analysis, the microbiome of the CMC intestine manifested rapid responses to probiotic application, and cooperation between intestinal microbial communities may have been enhanced. Taken together, our results provide preliminary insights into the roles of probiotics in the CMC intestinal microbial ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • KGCatboost outperforms other benchmark models from multiple datasets. • The favorable multi-step ahead prediction capability of the KGCatboost model is verified. • The conclusions derived from explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) align with the actual physics laws. • pH and water temperature have the most significant impact on dissolved oxygen concentration. • A regulation mechanism is applied to alleviate the disasters caused by low dissolved oxygen concentration. Accurate water quality prediction is crucial for effective environmental management and decision-making. However, previous studies have solely relied on historical data to simulate water quality, overlooking the potential discrepancies between predicted values and actual observations. Additionally, the opacity of machine learning models has posed challenges to the credibility of their predictions. Hence, considering the excellent nonlinear fitting ability of ensemble tree models, especially the Categorical Boosting (Catboost) model, this study proposes a knowledge-guided Catboost (KGCatboost) model for predicting the dissolved oxygen concentration, one of the vital water quality indicators, in 15 river sections of the Yangtze River Basin in Yunnan Province, China. Furthermore, to enhance the model's interpretability, we employ the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method to analyze the contributions of each input variable within the water body. The results demonstrate that on the test set of each dataset, the mean Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) value of KGCatboost is 0.874, which has improved by 0.34% and 3.07% compared to Catboost and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (Xgboost). In addition, this study reveals that pH has the most significant impact on DO concentrations. Specifically, as the pH increased, the DO concentration increased significantly. A regulatory mechanism has also been developed to alleviate the hazards caused by low DO concentrations. The KGCatboost model can provide valuable guidance for water resource management processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-mode linear ultrasonic motors (SMLUMs) have the advantages of excellent accuracy, long travel distance, single vibration mode and simple driving scheme, which have been applied in precision positioning and micro/nano manipulation actuators. However, it is still challenging to accurately and efficiently analyze such motors due to their complicated electro-mechanical coupling behaviors under contact-based operating conditions. This paper proposed an improved equivalent circuit model for a single-mode linear ultrasonic motor considering the real contact-based operating conditions, where a new actuation mode of the V-shape transducer is adopted. The electro-mechanical coupling characteristics of the stator under contact-based boundary condition is modeled by a modified admittance-type equivalent circuit, where the variable contact stiffness and loss are characterized between the stator and the mover. The friction drive mechanism is modeled by a thyristor rectifying circuit to characterize the intermittent actuation characteristics, and the nonlinear relationship between the motor characteristics and the contact-based operating conditions is initially characterized from the circuit viewpoint. The merits and the applications of the circuit-based model are exemplified by parameter identification and modification, losses segregation, admittance characteristics analysis and output and control characteristics evaluation for such SMLUMs. [Display omitted] • The real contact-based operating conditions are considered in equivalent circuit modeling. • The friction drive mechanism is initially characterized and clarified from circuit viewpoint. • A circuit-based method is proposed to conduct segregation and evaluation of various losses. • The motor output and control characteristics can be evaluated by the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of leguminous green manure (LGM) crops in place of bare fallow in summer enhances soil fertility, which can positively impact soil life in the agroecosystem. An improvement in soil life, in turn, can promote soil fertility and agricultural sustainability. Based on an ongoing field trial in the Loess Plateau, China, we investigated the long-term effects of LGM crops and nitrogen (N) fertilization on soil mesofaunal community and analyzed the interrelationships among the various mesofaunal groups and soil fertility under dryland conditions. The results showed that the long-term growth of the LGM crops significantly increased the soil fertility and the abundance, richness, and diversity of the soil mesofaunal community compared to the fallow system. A total of 14 mesofaunal groups were identified only in the LGM system, mainly due to the high root biomass of the LGM crops. Among the three tested LGM crops, soybean and Huai bean performed better than mung bean in providing growth benefits and stable abiotic environments for the soil mesofaunal community. In addition, the long-term application of N fertilizer had an overall negative effect on the soil mesofaunal community under dryland conditions. Moreover, the abundance, richness, and diversity of the soil mesofaunal community were strongly correlated with soil fertility indicators. Hence, the analysis of the soil mesofaunal community can be used as a bioindicator of soil fertility in agroecosystems. The long-term growth of the LGM crops instead of bare fallow efficiently built a more sustainable and fertile soil in the agricultural ecosystem, thus providing a theoretical basis and guiding field management strategies for the development of sustainable agriculture in local and other similar dryland regions. [Display omitted] • Growth of LGMs promoted the mesofaunal community by enhancing soil fertility. • N fertilizer had overall negative effects on the soil mesofaunal community. • The mesofaunal community was strongly correlated with soil fertility in agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Substantial evidence suggests that all types of water, such as drinking water, wastewater, surface water, and groundwater, can be potential sources of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Thus, it is critical to thoroughly investigate all possible preconditioning methods to enhance the recovery of H. pylori , improve the reproducibility of subsequent detection, and optimize the suitability for various water types and different detection purposes. In this study, we proposed and evaluated five distinct preconditioning methods for treating water samples collected from multiple urban water environments, aiming to maximize the quantitative qPCR readouts and achieve effective selective cultivation. According to the experimental results, when using the qPCR technique to examine WWTP influent, effluent, septic tank, and wetland water samples, the significance of having a preliminary cleaning step becomes more evident as it can profoundly influence qPCR detection results. In contrast, the simple, straightforward membrane filtration method could perform best when isolating and culturing H. pylori from all water samples. Upon examining the cultivation and qPCR results obtained from groundwater samples, the presence of infectious H. pylori (potentially other pathogens) in aquifers must represent a pressing environmental emergency demanding immediate attention. Furthermore, we believe groundwater can be used as a medium to reflect the H. pylori prevalence in a highly populated community due to its straightforward analytical matrix, consistent detection performance, and minimal interferences from human activities, temperature, precipitation, and other environmental fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater level (GWL) prediction is important for ecological protection and resource utilization; it helps in formulating policies for artificial groundwater recharge, modifying the number of extraction wells, etc., and can support sustainable human development as well as inform water resource management decisions. However, climate change, anthropogenic impacts, and the complex coupling between surface water and groundwater increase the difficulty of predicting groundwater levels. The model proposed in this paper combines external data as well as multiple models. The method leverages long and short-term memory (LSTM) and convolutional neural network (CNN) models, combined with secondary modal decomposition and slime mould algorithm (SMA), together with an adaptive weight module (AWM). The study applies this method to predict GWL for three different hydrological conditions in China, specifically for the Jinan Baotu Spring, Heihu Spring, and Zhongtianshe watershed of Taihu Lake. A comparison of metrics such as mean absolute error and Nash efficiency coefficient for single and hybrid models shows that the model in this paper is more advantageous than the single model and other hybrid models. The interpretability of the model is enhanced by SHAP values that demonstrate the degree of contribution of the input variables. This paper uses SHAP analyses to identify the key drivers affecting groundwater levels. These factors must be detected in order to develop groundwater resource protection measures. [Display omitted] • Multivariate fusion data including hydrology and meteorology are used as model input. • A secondary modal decomposition module for historical groundwater level data was utilized. • The neural network hyperparameters are optimized using the slime mould algorithm. • Aggregate subsets of prediction with adaptive modules rather than linear summation. • The interpretable SHAP model measures the degree of influence of external variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A timetable synchronization problem of high-speed railway and air transportation systems with passenger routing is proposed. • Based on train unit circulation and aircraft rotation plan, the problem is transformed into a multi-commodity flow model. • Some real-world requirements including train overtaking, train headways, flight spacing requirements at airports and seat capacity are considered. • An ADMM decomposition approach on the problem is designed. • A real-world case study (Shijiazhuang-Zhengding Airport in China) with shuttle buses is conducted. The design of synchronized services is of great significance to the development of intermodal transportation. In the planning of Air and High-Speed Railway (HSR) integration services (AHIS), the operators aim to synchronize flight and train schedules and determine the possible transferring options for intermodal passengers. This paper attempts to design an intermodal timetable for train and flight services considering the time-dependent passenger demand. Different transferring modes are further considered in this paper including both shuttle and rapid walking services. The synchronization problem of "train unit flows", "aircraft flows", "shuttle flows" and "passenger flows" is formulated using a multi-commodity flow model in a time–space network. Based on the Lagrangian relaxation method, we first decompose the original problem into four types of routing subproblems associated with train units, aircrafts, shuttle buses and passengers, respectively. Then the coordination of the four different types of flows is achieved through both the pricing mechanism and Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) method. The proposed model and solution approach are validated using both hypothetical and real-world cases and the results show that the synchronized timetables are able to serve more intermodal passengers and shorten their travelling times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With low porosity and low permeability, shale reservoirs cannot be mined economically without large-scale hydraulic fracturing operation. However, abundant fracturing fluid will enter the reservoirs during the process of fracture. Nevertheless, there have not been specific research findings on the imbibition law of Fuling shale gas reservoir in China. In this study, an imbibition experiment was carried out on the shale core of Jiaoshiba block of Fuling shale gas reservoir to learn spontaneous imbibition characteristic of Fuling shale gas reservoir. Based on the experimental results, the imbibition process of Fuling shale gas reservoir fracturing fluid is divided into two stages. During the first stage, i.e., the former 30 hours, imbibition velocity is high, with the cumulative imbibition occupying more than 70% of the total imbibition; during the second stage, i.e., the latter 30 hours, the imbibition velocity substantially drops towards balance. There is a typical power function relationship between the average imbibition velocity and imbibition time, and this function relationship runs throughout the whole imbibition process. Nonetheless, the imbibition process of shale core cannot be described directly by the Handy equation. The imbibition velocity is closely related to clay mineral content and pore structure characteristics of shale core. The higher the clay mineral content, the higher the imbibition velocity. According to the relationship between the average imbibition velocity and imbibition time, we derived the estimation equation of fracture area formed by fractured shale gas well to estimate the fracture scale formed by shale gas well fracturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bayesian-based Source Tracker was performed to assess the contribution of rearing water and rotifer microbiota source to the larvae microbiota (Knights et al., 2011). Crab larvae, hatchery, microbiota, probiotics, source tracker Keywords: crab larvae; hatchery; microbiota; probiotics; source tracker EN crab larvae hatchery microbiota probiotics source tracker 3997 4002 6 07/21/21 20210801 NES 210801 High frequency of disease outbreaks severely restricts the development of mud crab ( I Scylla paramamosain i ) culture (Talib et al., 2016). [Extracted from the article]

• A submerged surface photocatalytic protection method (NBs-SHB/TNFs) is proposed. • Between NBs and SHB, a long-range hydrophobic force is built to supply more oxygen. • 80% bulk COD reduction was achieved using the proposed method under solar light. • The protected surface showed 5.38 logs of retardation to E. coli adhesion in wastewater. Developing anti-biofouling and anti-biofilm techniques is of great importance for protecting water-contact surfaces. In this study, we developed a novel double-layer system consisting of a bottom immobilized TiO 2 nanoflower arrays (TNFs) unit and an upper superhydrophobic (SHB) coating along with the assistance of nanobubbles (NBs), which can significantly elevate the interfacial oxygen level by establishing the long-range hydrophobic force between NBs and SHB and effectively maximize the photocatalytic reaction brought by the bottom TNFs. The developed NBs-SHB/TNFs system demonstrated the highest bulk chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction efficiency at approximately 80% and achieved significant E. coli and Chlorella sp. inhibition efficiencies of 5.38 and 1.99 logs. Meanwhile, the system showed a sevenfold higher resistance to biofilm formation when testing in a wastewater matrix using a wildly collected biofilm seeding solution. These findings provide insights for implementing nanobubble-integrated techniques for submerged surface protection. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The survival pattern of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) and its regulatory factors in natural environments have been widely studied. However, there is little information about the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in artificial environments, especially in wastewater treatment facilities. In this study, a contamination experiment was performed to explore the survival pattern of E. coli O157:H7 and its central control factors in two constructed wetlands (CWs) under different hydraulic loading rates (HLRs). The results showed that the survival time of E. coli O157:H7 was longer in the CW under the higher HLR. Substrate ammonium nitrogen and available phosphorus were the main factors that influenced the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs. Despite the minimal effect of microbial α-diversity, some keystone taxa, such as Aeromonas , Selenomonas , and Paramecium , governed the survival of E. coli O157:H7. In addition, the prokaryotic community had a more significant impact on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 than the eukaryotic community. The biotic properties had a more substantial direct power on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 than the abiotic factors in CWs. Collectively, this study comprehensively disclosed the survival pattern of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs, which is an essential addition to the environmental behavior of E. coli O157:H7, providing a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of biological contamination in wastewater treatment processes. [Display omitted] • It is the first time to study the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs. • The survival time of E. coli O157:H7 is longer in H-CW than in L-CW. • NH 4 +-N and AP essentially impact the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs. • Specific keystone taxa regulate the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs. • The biotic properties more affect the survival of E. coli O157:H7 in CWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel miniature I-shaped piezoelectric linear ultrasonic motor with two vibrators is proposed and investigated in this paper. • One noticeable feature of this ultrasonic motor is that the first-order flexural vibration modes of two rectangular plate vibrators are employed as the foundational modes to form the transverse and vertical motions at the driving tip. • The output characteristics of this ultrasonic motor are analyzed by finite element method and verified by experiments. • The dimension of the motor is 39.8 × 17.6 × 6 mm3 and the weight is only 18.2 g, the typical outputs of the prototype are maximum speed of 364 mm/s, maximum thrust of 500 g and thrust-weight ratio of 24.47. • This linear ultrasonic motor has the advantages in structure design and miniaturization, and it possesses good potential for application in future devices, such as micromanipulators and robots, aircrafts and space exploration vehicles, lightweight automatic weapons, etc. In this study, a novel miniature I-shaped linear ultrasonic motor is proposed. The motor is constructed by two rectangular piezoelectric vibrators which are mounted in parallel with the slider to make the structure look like the letter "I". The symmetric and antisymmetric modes of the motor based on the first-order flexural vibrations of the two vibrators are chosen as the working modes. The finite element method is adopted to optimize the structure and study the vibration behavior of the motor. A prototype of the proposed linear ultrasonic motor is fabricated and its mechanical characteristics are tested. The dimension of the stator is 39.8 × 17.6 × 6 mm3 and the weight of the prototype is only 18.2 g. The typical outputs of the prototype are maximum speed of 364 mm/s, maximum thrust of 500 g and thrust-weight ratio of 24.47. The experimental results confirm that the developed linear ultrasonic motor has the advantages of structural design and miniaturization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rural China, many constructed wetlands (CWs) have been developed to treat rural wastewater sustainably. However, due to the scarce information on those rural CWs, it is difficult to analyze the biological contaminants within those systems, such as antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and pathogens. Based on the data collected from two pilot-scale, one-year-observed CWs, for the first time, this study explored the accumulation of ARGs and pathogens using the metagenomic sequencing approach and SourceTracker analysis under different hydraulic loading rates. The Shannon index of ARGs in the effluent surpassed the level found in the influent. The DESeq2 analysis showed that up to 21.49% of the total pathogen species had increased relative abundance in the effluent compared with the influent. By combining the contribution of substrate and rhizosphere, the CW became a more influencing factor for ARGs and pathogens contamination than the influent. The network analysis revealed a critical but latent fact that the development of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is highly likely to be triggered by the co-occurrence of ARGs and pathogens. Collectively, from the aspect of biological risk, our study showed that CWs alone might not be an ideal solution for improving wastewater treatment in rural China. [Display omitted] • Explore the accumulation effect of ARGs and pathogens in the pilot-scale rural CWs. • Some ARGs and pathogens' abundance are higher in the effluent than the influent. • A CW can contribute more ARGs and pathogens to the effluent than the influent. • Antibiotic-resistant pathogens will highly likely develop in the studied CWs. • Hydraulic loading rate profoundly impacts the accumulation of ARGs and pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though the bitter global pandemic posed a severe public health threat, it set an unprecedented stage for different research teams to present various technologies for detecting SARS-CoV-2, providing a rare and hard-won lesson for one to comprehensively survey the core experimental aspects in developing pathogens electrochemical biosensors. Apart from collecting all the published biosensor studies, we focused on the effects and consequences of using different receptors, such as antibodies, aptamers, ACE 2, and MIPs, which are one of the core topics of developing a pathogen biosensor. In addition, we tried to find an appropriate and distinctive application scenario (e.g., wastewater-based epidemiology) to maximize the advantages of using electrochemical biosensors to detect pathogens. Based on the enormous amount of information from those published studies, features that fit and favor wastewater pathogen detection can be picked up and integrated into a specific strategy to perform quantitative measurements in wastewater samples. [Display omitted] • Evaluate the effects of different receptors in SARS-CoV-2 electrochemical biosensors. • Dig deep into the rationale why different studies chose specific detection strategies. • Point out the importance of finding appropriate and distinctive application scenarios. • Propose the WBE to maximize the advantages of electrochemical pathogen biosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A global meta-analysis of microbial community to increased salinity. • Significant reduction of prokaryotic alpha-diversity with increased salinity. • High salt concentrations enhanced Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. • Saline environment promoted Ascomycota but restrained Basidiomycota. • Importance of high-salinity microbes in regulating nutrient and energy flow. Soil salinity can affect microbial activities and community structure, with broader implications for carbon storage and mineralization. However, a consensus on how soil microbial communities respond to elevated salinity has yet to be reached. With the increasing salinization of coastal lowlands, a comprehensive assessment of salinity-driven microbial community shifts is crucial for understanding and predicting shifts of biogeochemical processes in response to soil salinization. Here, we conducted a meta -analysis of 21 studies to investigate the changes in soil microbial communities along salinity gradients. We found a significant reduction of prokaryotic alpha-diversity indices with increasing salinity. Prokaryotic beta-diversity was altered by elevated salinity, but significant differences were only found between samples at < 1 and > 10 ppt salinity. Compared to non-saline conditions, high salt concentrations increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria by 17–19%, especially that of Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, but generally inhibited the rest of the dominant phyla and classes. For fungi, Ascomycota was 1.3-fold more abundant in saline environments than in non-saline environments, but Basidiomycota was 21% less. This meta-analysis reveals significant changes of microbial community composition responding to environmental salinization. With strong biodiversity reduction under saline conditions, these dominant microbial groups with high-salinity niche preference will play a stronger role in regulating nutrient and energy flow, and constraining SOC dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microbiota and nutrients removal are studied in pilot-scale CWs with two HLRs. • HLR profoundly influences microbiota at the genus level and related removal efficiency. • The co-occurrence network shows microbiota becomes more complex under higher HLR. • A higher level of stochasticity is found in the microbiota under the higher HLR condition. • Pathogens invasion is observed in the endosphere and proved to be affected by HLR. Constructed wetland (CW) is an environment-friendly and low-cost technology for nutrients removal from domestic wastewater. For a well-tuned CW, hydraulic loading rate (HLR) is one of the critical factors, particularly under the challenging circumstance of more frequent heavy rainfall events brought by global warming. In this study, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to explore the influence of different HLRs on the CW's bulk substrate and root-associated microbiota aiming to yield new insight for CW management from a hybrid perspective of environmental microbiology and engineering science. The response of the microbial community and associated nutrients removal performance under different HLR settings were analyzed after a one-year operation. Results showed that the bulk substrate and rhizosphere genera involved in desulfurization and denitrification, such as Ferritrophicum, Sulfurimonas, and Sulfurisoma , were enriched in the higher HLR condition and associated with the higher total nitrogen (TN) and nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 −-N) removal compared to the lower HLR condition. Co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated a more complex network under the higher HLR condition. Besides, it was observed that more stochastic in microbial assembly under the higher HLR condition. Surprisingly, zoonotic pathogens were observed and showed a greater prevalence under the higher HLR condition, indicating the potential correlation between HLR and pathogen intrusion. Collectively, this study revealed that the microbiota could be significantly altered under different HLR conditions, thereby resulting in differences in nutrients removal performance. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorooctance sulfonate (PFOS) is one of the most studied Per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) due to its relatively high environmental ubiquity and toxicity. This study presented an ultra-sensitive voltammetric sensor for the detection of PFOS in tap water based on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a thin coating of gold nanostar (AuNS) and electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The AuNS coating helps to enhance the voltammetric response of blank signal intensity regarding the Fe2+ oxidation of the selected ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FcCOOH) redox probe; meanwhile, the statistical optimization of the MIP layer offers a higher peak change. Analytical results indicated the sensor could detect PFOS with an LoD and LoQ of 0.015 and 0.041 nM (i.e., 7.5 and 20.5 ppt), respectively. Moreover, it showed comparable analytical performance in tap water with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method (i.e., Method 537.1). Interfering effects of approximately 10% underestimation were observed when samples contained equimolar perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) or perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS). Additionally, common interferents in drinking water sources, such as humic acid and chloride ion, showed minor influence in the voltammetric response in terms of accuracy and reproducibility. [Display omitted] • PFOS detection using molecularly imprinted polymer and gold nanostar modified GCE. • Applied gold nanostar to enhance the response of the redox probe (i.e., FcCOOH). • Statistically optimized factors for the MIP layer (i.e., CV cycles, o-PD/PFOS, pH). • A two-section logarithmic calibration curve was built with R2 of 0.9928 and 0.9842. • The developed sensor has LoD and LoQ of 0.015 and 0.041 nM (7.5 and 20.5 ppt). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Both Δ Y R and Δ WUE R in the LGM systems were over 5% when rainfall was adequate. • Soil in the LGM systems was 39.7 % times more desiccated than that in the fallow system. • LGMs yielding ≥1926 kg ha−1 reduced wheat yield in this dry-land region. • The safety threshold of soil water consumption by the LGMs was 26.2 mm (0−200 cm). • The minimum annual rainfall for applying the LGM approach was estimated to be 551 mm. The growth of leguminous green manure (LGM) in place of bare fallow in summer improved soil fertility but resulted in reduced soil water storage and crop yield in semiarid regions of the Loess Plateau. To balance the contradiction between yield production and soil water consumption in LGM systems, we investigated the effects of replacing fallow with three LGMs on the relative changes in grain yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the plant available water distribution pattern, and the soil desiccation characteristics in the 0−200 cm layer from 2009 to 2018. Additionally, we assessed the correlations between Δ soil water storage, LGM biomass, and annual precipitation with Δ grain yield, and Δ soil water storage with LGM biomass over 10 years. Results showed that the relative changes in wheat yield and water use efficiency in the LGM systems were all negative in a dry year, however, they were all positive and over 5 % when rainfall was adequate. There were strong positive correlations between the annual precipitation with Δ soil water storage (R2 =0.59) and Δ grain yield (R2 =0.67). The minimum annual rainfall for applying the LGM approach was estimated to be 551 mm. Conversely, the slight correlations between the LGM biomass with Δ soil water storage (R2 =0.125*) and Δ grain yield (R2 =0.25**) under the LGM systems were all negative. Compared to the fallow system, for every 71.4 kg ha−1 of LGM aboveground biomass produced, the soil water storage during the fallow period was reduced by 1 mm, and for 1 mm of soil water storage decreased, the wheat yield was reduced by 18.9 kg ha−1 in the LGM systems. Consequently, managing the LGM aboveground biomass within 1926 kg ha−1 or less may be an efficient option to reduce the risks of wheat yield and soil water balance due to replacing fallow with LGMs on the Loess Plateau and in similar dry-land regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]