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• Single atom Ir doped few layer MoS 2 was successfully synthesized. • Single atom Ir doped MoS 2 has outstanding performance for hydrodeoxygenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), reaching up to 96.5% yield of DMF. • Single atom Ir doped MoS 2 can be reused for five times without loss of activity. The catalytic transformation of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) is of great importance within the context of biomass valorization, but remains a major challenge due to the complicated reaction networks. Herein, single-atom Ir doped ultrathin MoS 2 layers were synthesized and used as catalyst for the hydrodeoxygenation of HMF, yielding 96.5% of DMF. The single atomic structure of Ir was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), X-ray absorption fine structure analysis (XAFS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, the Ir doped MoS 2 catalyst showed excellent stability and did not deactivate after five reaction cycles. This work expands the applications of single-atom catalysts and introduces a new and highly efficient catalyst for the sustainable production of DMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bombyx mori triose-phosphate transporter protein (BmTPT) is a member of the solute carrier (SLC) family. Its main function is to transport triose phosphate between intracellular and extracellular. In this study, BmTPT was cloned and characterised from the fat body of the silkworm Bombyx mori , resulting in an open reading frame (ORF) with a full length of 936 bp, which can encode 311 amino acid residues and has eight transmembrane structural domains. BmTPT was distributed throughout the cell and deposited the most in the nucleus, and is expressed in all tissues of Bombyx mori. Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infection significantly up-regulated BmTPT expression in immune tissue fat bodies. In addition, overexpression of BmTPT significantly inhibited BmNPV infection and markedly reduced the expression of enzymes related to the cellular glycolytic pathway; on the contrary, down-regulation of BmTPT expression by RNA interference resulted in robust replication of BmNPV and a significant increase in the expression of enzymes related to the cellular glycolytic pathway. This is the first report that BmTPT has antiviral effect in silkworm, and also could result in a lack of energy and raw materials for BmNPV replication and infection through down-regulation of the cellular glycolytic pathway. • BmTPT showed a positive inhibitory effect on the replication and infection of BmNPV. • The activation of BmTPT increased the amount of dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, which were the intermediate products of intracellular glycolysis pathway, and thus reversed the process of glycolysis. The replication and infection of BmNPV lacked energy and raw materials, thus improving the immune ability of cells. • Overexpression of BmTPT can inhibit the process of cell glycolysis, and knockdown of BmTPT can promote the process of cell glycolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there are no effective therapeutic agents available to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, edaravone dexborneol (EDB), a novel composite agent used to treat acute ischemic stroke, has recently been shown to exert efficacious neuroprotective effects. However, whether EDB can ameliorate cognitive deficits in AD currently remains unclear. To this end, we explored the effects of EDB on AD and its potential mechanisms using an AD animal model (male APP/PS1 mice) treated with EDB for 10 weeks starting at 6 months of age. Subsequent analyses revealed that EDB-treated APP/PS1 mice exhibited improved cognitive abilities compared to untreated APP/PS1 mice. Administration of EDB in APP/PS1 mice further alleviated neuropathological alterations of the hippocampus, including Aβ deposition, pyramidal cell karyopyknosis, and oxidative damage, and significantly decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and COX-2 in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. Transcriptome sequencing analysis demonstrated the critical role of the inflammatory reaction in EDB treatment in APP/PS1 mice, indicating that the alleviation of the inflammatory reaction by EDB in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice was linked to the action of the TREM2/TLR4/MAPK signaling pathway. Further in vitro investigations showed that EDB suppressed neuroinflammation in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells by inhibiting the TLR4/MAPK signaling pathway and upregulating TREM2 expression. Thus, the findings of the present study demonstrate that EDB is a promising therapeutic agent for AD-related cognitive dysfunction. [Display omitted] • EDB improves the cognitive deficits of APP/PS1 mice. • EDB alleviates pathological alterations in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. • EDB reduces neuroinflammation by suppressing TLR4/MAPK pathway in APP/PS1 mice. • EDB inhibits TLR4/MAPK pathway via upregulating TREM2 in APP/PS1 mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle-stabilized technique for fabricating foam ceramics was developed in 2006. Porous ceramics with porosity over 95% can be prepared by this newly developed method. This foaming technique was derived from the principle of Pickering foam to a large extent. The high internal phase volume, narrow distribution of pore size as well as the structural stability of the Pickering system enable the final ceramic products to realize their functionality in a variety of applications. However, the interfacial aspect of the foaming system determines the final product in many ways, which brings this novel method details to explore and possibilities to challenge. The current review introduces the particle-stabilized method combining with colloid and surface science since particles are the building block of ceramic materials. The history of this newly invented method was mentioned at first, followed by foam ceramic products prepared by this foaming technique combining with corresponding mechanism. Some representative applications involving ceramic materials made by particle-stabilized method were discussed. At last, we conclude the overall article and put forward some outlooks and challenges about the future direction of this unique foaming technique. [Display omitted] • Elaborate the relationship between colloid particles and ceramic materials. • Introducing the origin and understanding of the particle-stabilized foaming method. • Summarize the classification of the synthetic strategies using particle-stabilized foaming technique. • Illustrate the application scenarios of foam ceramics prepared by this method. • Challenging future directions of particle-stabilized foaming technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of underwater acoustic communication, multipath signals arrive at the receiving end with different angles and path delays, which can cause degradation in communication quality. When performing angle-delay joint estimation, sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) has many advantages over traditional methods, such as high accuracy, resolution and global minimum results, but at the cost of high computational complexity. Regarding this, in this study, we propose a low-complexity SBL based framework to jointly estimate the angle and delay of the received signal. We first propose a low-complexity approximation SBL algorithm applied to joint estimation, which can keep the super-resolution and estimation accuracy but significantly reduce the computation time. To further tackle the problem of performance degradation of the approximate algorithm in underwater low signal-to-noise ratio environments, we utilize above result as a starting point for the space-alternating generalized Expectation Maximization (SAGE) algorithm to achieve a more precise estimation. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has an excellent performance in various underwater multipath scenarios. • We first propose a low-complexity approximation SBL algorithm applied to joint angle and delay estimation. • It can keep the super-resolution and estimation accuracy but significantly reduce the computation time. • In low SNR environment, we use above result as a starting point for the SAGE algorithm for more precise estimation. • Simulation and experimental results demonstrate its excellent performance in various multipath environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence suggests that tropospheric ozone has widespread effects on vegetation, which can contribute to alter ecosystem carbon (C) dynamics and belowground processes. In this study, we used intact soil mesocosms from a semi-improved grassland and investigated the effects of elevated ozone, alone and in combination with nitrogen (N) fertilization on soil-borne greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem C fluxes. Ozone exposure under fully open-air field conditions was occurred during the growing season. Across a one-year period, soil methane (CH 4) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions did not differ between treatments, but elevated ozone significantly depressed soil CH 4 uptake by 14% during the growing season irrespective of N fertilization. Elevated ozone resulted in a 15% reduction of net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide, while N fertilization significantly increased ecosystem respiration during the growing season. Aboveground biomass was unaffected by elevated ozone during the growing season but significantly decreased by 17% during the non-growing season. At the end of the experiment, soil mineral N content, net N mineralization and extracellular enzyme activities (i.e., cellobiohydrolase and leucine aminopeptidase) were higher under elevated ozone than ambient ozone. The short-term effect of single application of N fertilizer was primarily responsible for the lack of the interaction between elevated ozone and N fertilization. Therefore, results of our short-term study suggest that ozone exposure may have negative impacts on soil CH 4 uptake and C sequestration and contribute to accelerated rates of soil N-cycling. • Temperate grassland mesocosms were exposed to ozone with or without N fertilizer. • Elevated ozone had negative effects on soil CH 4 uptake and net ecosystem CO 2 exchange. • Aboveground biomass was reduced during the non-growing but not the growing season. • A positive feedback of soil N-cycling to ozone exposure was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A curvature-dependent chemo-mechanical coupling model is proposed. • The non-linear oxidation kinetics on curved surfaces is predicted. • The inhibition of oxidation on convex and concave surfaces is investigated. • The interaction mechanism between the curvature and growth strain is revealed. Understanding the chemo-mechanical coupling effect during oxidation at elevated temperatures is of critical importance for revealing complicated oxidation mechanism and oxidation behavior, as well as proposing countermeasures for oxidation protection. There has been an intensive investigation of the chemo-mechanics in planar oxidation, while much less attention is paid to the issue of non-planar oxidation. In this work, we proposed a curvature-dependent chemo-mechanical coupling model to investigate the two-dimensional oxidation process on curved surfaces. The oxidation kinetics including the oxide thickness and oxide growth rate on the curved surfaces, as well as the stress distribution and evolution at the substrate-oxide interface, were demonstrated. Comparisons between the experimental observations and theoretical predictions validated the accuracy of the proposed model, and the phenomenon of inhibition of oxidation on both convex and concave surfaces was explained by the stress-curvature effect on the oxidation process. Furthermore, based on the proposed model, we proposed a parameter and established a phase diagram to characterize the interactions between the curvature effect and the oxide growth effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Reduced belowground carbon (C) allocation by plants exposed to ozone may change properties and activities of the microbial community in soils. To investigate how soil microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activities respond to elevated ozone, we collected soils from a temperate grassland after four years of ozone exposure under fully open-air field conditions. We measured soil microbial biomass, the metabolism of low molecular weight C substrates and hydrolytic extracellular enzyme activities in both bulk soil and isolated aggregates to assess changes in microbial activity and community function. After four years of elevated ozone treatment, soil total organic C was reduced by an average of 20% compared with ambient condition. Elevated ozone resulted in a small but insignificant reduction (4–10%) in microbial biomass in both bulk soil and isolated aggregates. Activities of extracellular enzymes were generally not affected by elevated ozone, except β -glucosidase, whose activity in bulk soil was significantly lower under elevated ozone than ambient condition. Activities of β -glucosidase, leucine aminopeptidase and acid phosphatase were higher in microaggregates (<0.25 mm) as compared to macroaggregates (>0.25 mm). Elevated ozone had no effects on mineralization rates of low molecular weight C substrates in both bulk soil and isolated aggregates. We therefore conclude that the size and activity rather than function of the soil microbial community in this semi-natural grassland are altered by elevated ozone. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • A temperate grassland was exposed to ozone for 4 years under field conditions. • Soil total carbon and β-glucosidase activity were decreased under elevated ozone. • Neither ozone nor its interaction with aggregate size affected microbial activities. • Elevated ozone could alter the size and activity of soil microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac fibrosis with diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of major diabetic complications. miR-21 and MMP-9 were closely associated with fibrosis diseases. Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) have cardioprotective effects. However, it remains unclear whether miR-21 was involved in the mechanism of cardiac fibrosis with DN by target MMP-9 and ARB ameliorates cardiac fibrosis partly by inhibiting miR-21 expression. In this study, In Situ Hybridization(ISH), RT-PCR, cell transfection, western blotting and laser confocal telescope were used, respectively. ISH showed that miR-21, concentrated in cytoplasmic foci in the proximity of the nucleus, was mainly localized in cardiac fibroblasts and at relatively low levels in cardiomyocytes within cardiac tissue with DN. RT-PCR showed that miR-21 expression was significantly enhanced in cardiac tissue with DN, accompanied by the increase of col-IV, FN, CVF, PVCA, LVMI, HWI and NT-pro-BNP (p < 0.05). Bioinformatics analysis and Luciferase reporter gene assays showed that MMP-9 was a validated target of miR-21. Furthermore, cell transfection experiments showed that miR-21 overexpression directly decreased MMP-9 expression. Interestingly, miR-21 levels in cardiac tissue was positively correlated with ACR (r = −0.870, P = 0.003), whereas, uncorrelated with SBP, HbA1C and T-Cho (p > 0.05). More importantly, ARB can significantly decrease miR-21 expression in cardiac tissue, cardiac fibroblasts and serum. Overall, our results suggested that miR-21 may contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis with DN by target MMP-9, and that miR-21 may be a new possible therapeutic target for ARB in cardiac fibrosis with DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the chemo-mechanics during oxidation is of great importance for designing novel countermeasures for materials protections. However, it is yet challenging to accurately measure the coupled mechanical stress/strain components at micro-/nanoscale. In this work, we propose a novel method to combine surface markers (SiO 2 micro-pillars) and high temperature scanning probe microscopy (HTSPM) for quantifying the growing oxide thickness, while mapping the local displacement and strain fields at the surface of a nickel-based alloy during high temperature oxidation. The proposed method displays great potential in quantitatively mapping the non-uniform oxide distribution, providing a novel approach to investigate the high-temperature oxidation process. • In situ and real-time micro-/nano oxidation observation at elevated temperature is realized. • Quantitative measurement for oxidation characteristics and in-plane deformation is proposed. • In-plane displacement and strain in the grown oxide is derived with feature processing technique. • Thermo-mechanical behavior of the evolving oxide-alloy during oxidation is modeled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Organization of fat deposits may affect the evaluation of hepatic steatosis. • Hepatic steatosis is modeled according to spatial distribution of fat droplets. • The model demonstrates striking similarity with respect to real liver samples. • The model can help understand MRI signal behaviors for human liver steatosis. To model hepatic steatosis in adult humans with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on stereology and spatial distribution of fat droplets from liver biopsy specimens. Histological analysis was performed on 30 adult human liver biopsy specimens with varying degrees of steatosis. Morphological features of fat droplets were characterized by gamma distribution function (GDF) in both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) spaces from three aspects: 1) size distribution indicating non-uniformity of fat droplets in radius; 2) nearest neighbor distance distribution indicating heterogeneous accumulation (i.e., clustering) of fat droplets; 3) regional anisotropy indicating inter-regional variability in fat fraction (FF). To generalize the morphological description of hepatic steatosis to different FFs, correlation analysis was performed among the estimated GDF parameters and FFs for all specimens. Finally, Monte Carlo modeling of hepatic steatosis was developed to simulate fat droplet distribution in tissue. Morphological features, including size and nearest neighbor distance in 2D and 3D spaces as well as regional anisotropy, statistically captured the distribution of fat droplets by the GDF fit (R 2 > 0.54). The estimated GDF parameters (i.e., scale and shape parameters) and FFs were well correlated, with R 2 > 0.55. In addition, simulated 3D liver morphological models demonstrated similar sections to real histological samples both visually and quantitatively. The morphology of hepatic steatosis is well characterized by stereology and spatial distribution of fat droplets. Simulated models demonstrate similar appearances to real histological samples. Furthermore, the model may help understand MRI signal behavior in the presence of liver steatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial soil denitrification is of great importance for closing the nitrogen (N) cycle, yet the current understanding of soil denitrification response to N fertilization remains uncertain. While there has been a focus on factors controlling N 2 O fluxes from agricultural soils because of its global warming effect, much less is known about factors controlling total denitrification losses, yet these can be sufficiently large to affect N use efficiency. Here, we collated 353 observations from 74 papers and conducted a global-scale meta-analysis to explore the effects of N fertilization on agricultural soil denitrification (N 2 O + N 2 ) where the acetylene inhibition technique was used. Relative to the control, N fertilization significantly increased soil denitrification by an average of 174%, although the magnitude of this increase differed significantly across environmental and soil conditions. Soil denitrification was more responsive to N fertilization in grasslands than in croplands. The changes in soil denitrification increased exponentially when the rates of synthetic N fertilizer application ≤ 250 kg N ha − 1 , but above this threshold, there were no further increases. The responses of soil denitrification to N fertilization were negatively correlated with soil clay content, C:N ratio, and bulk density. The comparable responses of soil N 2 O emissions (165%) and denitrification to N fertilization resulted in a small insignificant decrease of the N 2 O:N 2 ratio. Organic fertilizer applied with and without synthetic N fertilizer can contribute to lower N 2 O emissions probably by facilitating the last step of soil denitrification to N 2 production. Taken together, we conclude that these findings can provide important insights on regulating soil denitrification, which might contribute to improvement of N use efficiency and elimination of its negative impacts in agro-ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Abnormal proteins-induced mitochondrial failure maybe involved in NMOSD. • Proteomics changes of NMO brain lesion provide new insight for NMOSD pathogenesis. • sGFAP, and sUCHL1 displayed good early diagnosis performance in AQP4-IgG + NMOSD. • Combination of sGFAP, sNfL and sUCHL1 has potential for disease activity monitoring. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease, leading recurrently relapses and severe disability. There is a need for new biomarkers to meet clinical needs in diagnosis and monitoring. Through liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis, brain lesions from NMO animal models were analyzed to identify potential biomarkers. Then, we assessed the levels of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP), neurofilament light chain (sNfL), Tau protein (sTau) and Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (sUCHL1) using an ultrasensitive single molecule array (Simoa) of AQP4-IgG + NMOSD patients, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorder (MOGAD) patients, multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy controls (HCs). Additionally, we further explored the early diagnosis value of these proteins. There were 72 differentially expressed proteins between the NMO and control groups. NfL abundance was elevated when GFAP, UCHL1, and Tau abundance was decreased in the NMO group. Then, we observed that the sGFAP and sUCHL1 levels in patients with NMOSD in the early stage were significantly increased compared to those in control participants. Combined ROCs of the sGFAP, sNfL, and sUCHL1 levels to better predict NMOSD with relapse stages was optimal. Notably, univariate and multivariate analyses demonstrated that the sGFAP and sNfL levels were higher in patients with brain lesions, while the sUCHL1 levels were higher in those with spinal cord lesions during recent relapse. These findings suggested that sGFAP, sNfL, and sUCHL1 displayed good diagnostic performance in AQP4-IgG + NMOSD and could be novel candidates for early discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural ceramics such as carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) are of great importance for supersonic aircraft, where thermal-mechanical coupling behavior of materials affects the service performance of structural ceramics. In order to advance the understanding of the high temperature thermal-mechanical coupling behavior of heterostructure materials (one typical type of structural ceramics), we adopted here an optical observation system to visualize the variation of the gap width between heterostructure materials in arc-heated wind tunnel test. The variation of the gap width (decreasing and then volatility increasing) was observed during the test. Numerical simulation shows that thermal conduction and thermal expansion between the substrate and specimens play a critical role in the evolution of the gap width, as evidenced by the experiments. Additionally, the variation of the gap width under various conditions was given and a one-dimensional unsteady thermodynamic model of double-layer plate was established to reveal the gap evolution mechanism of heterostructure materials. The results of theoretical model agree well with numerical simulation. • In arc-heated wind tunnel test, the gap width of heterostructure materials is affected by temperature gradient. • The initial time of temperature change plays a crucial role in the gap width. • The influence of the thickness of the specimens on the gap width is affected by the initial time of temperature change. • An unsteady thermodynamic model is established to reveal the gap evolution mechanism of heterostructure materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural soils have experienced large anthropogenic nitrogen (N) inputs in recent decades. Our mechanistic understanding of the effects of added N on the carbon (C) cycle in agricultural soils, especially in the rhizosphere (C excess and N limitation), remains incomplete. The effects of increasing N fertilization on soil CO 2 emissions and microbial biomass in a wheat rhizosphere were investigated in a 56-day incubation experiment. The rhizosphere soil was amended with increasing NH 4 + rates of 0 (Control), 52 (Low N), 104 (Medium N), and 208 μg N g −1 soil (High N). N fertilization exponentially decreased soil CO 2 emissions by 27–42% compared to the control. Microbial biomass was decreased by N fertilization, but depended on the amount of added N and the timing of measurements. N additions caused pronounced negative priming effects ranging from −72 to −113 μg C g −1 over 56 days, corresponding to a decrease in basal respiration of 27%, 35% and 42% for Low, Medium and High N, respectively. The CO 2 fluxes per unit of microbial biomass decreased exponentially with N addition (R 2 = 0.84), indicating increased microbial carbon use efficiency under higher N availability. A literature review and own results showed that negative PEs occurred in the most cases and getting more negative exponentially with increasing N fertilization (n = 158, P < 0.001). In conclusion, increasing N fertilization facilitates C sequestration in soil not only by higher root biomass production, but also by reducing the SOM decomposition in the rhizosphere because of decreased N limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infinite dilute diffusion coefficients ( D 12 ) of normal alkanes (C1 to C14) in 1-octanol (C8-OH), as well as primary alkanols (C1-OH to C14-OH) in n-octane (C8) have been studied using molecular dynamics simulation in the temperature range from 298 to 374 K and at atmosphere pressure. Simulated D 12 values for short-chain solute molecules show a good agreement with the experimental ones taken from literature, while for the long-chain solute molecules the overestimation is large. Besides, the structures of solute molecules in above fluid mixtures are investigated by calculating radial distribution functions, radius of gyration, end-to-end distance, and root mean square fluctuation of atomic positions. These results confirm long-chain n -alkanes and n -alkanols molecules are curved and curled up, which we call it flexibility. Moreover, flexibilities for solute molecules (5 ≤ n ≤ 9) are symmetric but for much long-chain solute molecules like n-tetradecane (C14) and 1-tetradecanol (C14-OH) are asymmetric. We believe that strong chain-chain interactions are existed between different long-chain molecules, and it will result in the solute and solvent molecules are intertwisted. The serious overestimation of simulated D 12 for long-chain solute molecules can be reasonably explained by the intertwist effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the balance between the priming effect and the retention of added organic carbon (C) in soil is important in evaluating the role of specific practices for terrestrial C sequestration. However, knowledge about the effects of biochar addition on soil net C accumulation following various C input patterns remains limited. We incubated soil with aged and fresh biochar, and added 14 C-labeled glucose at three frequencies over 120 days: single, repeated, and continuous additions. Regardless of glucose addition, the presence of aged or fresh biochar reduced the accumulative CO 2 emissions, by 23% on average, relative to the soil without biochar addition. Compared with the soil without biochar addition, glucose mineralization significantly increased by 1.4–2.0% in the soils with aged biochar, but decreased by 0.1–1.9% in the soils with fresh biochar. Relative to repeated and continuous glucose additions, the single addition may slightly overestimate priming effects, especially during the early incubation period. At the end of incubation, repeated and continuous additions showed a higher net C accumulation than the single addition. Regardless of the glucose addition frequency, net C accumulation was lower in soils with aged or fresh biochar than in the control. In summary, biochar amendment has an interactive effect with glucose addition frequency and thus affects the direction and magnitude of priming. Despite the direct contribution of biochar to C sequestration in soil, the low net C accumulation from glucose in the biochar-amended soil highlights the necessity of C balance accounting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRs) play important roles in initiation and progression of many pathologic processes. However, the role of miR-30c in diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains unclear. This study was to determine whether miR-30c was involved in the mechanism of renal fibrosis by inhibiting target CTGF expression in DN. In this study, In Situ Hybridization(ISH), RT-PCR, cell transfection, western blotting and laser confocal telescope were used, respectively. ISH showed that miR-30c, concentrated in cytoplasmic foci in the proximity of the nucleus, was mainly localized in glomerular and renal tubular epithelial cells within the cortex. RT-PCR showed that miR-30c expression was significantly decreased in DN (p < 0.05), consistent with of the results of ISH. Luciferase reporter gene assays showed that CTGF was a validated target of miR-30c. Furthermore, miR-30c overexpression directly decreased CTGF mRNA and protein. Conversely, miR-30c inhibitor enhanced CTGF expression. Interestingly, miR-30c expression was negatively correlated with ACR (r = − 0.870, P = 0.003) and positively correlated with Ccr (r = 0.8230, P = 0.01), whereas it was uncorrelated with KW/BW, SBP, HbA1C, HOMR-IR and T-Cho (p > 0.05). More importantly, miR-30c mimics significantly decreased col-IV, FN, GSI, GBM, GA, MRA/CLA and ACR (p < 0.05) and, in contrast, slightly but significantly increased Ccr (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggested that loss of miR-30c may contribute to the pathogenesis of DN by inhibiting target CTGF expression; replenishing miR-30c may ameliorate renal structure and function by reducing renal fibrosis in DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The origin of color crosstalk of high temperature multi-channel synchronous measurement is analyzed in detail. • Developing a novel method to realize the synchronous measurement of temperature and deformation while addressing the challenge of color crosstalk. • Establishing a set of correction equations to obtain the crosstalk-eliminated light intensity of each channel. • Synchronous measurement of temperature and deformation is accomplished with the thermal heating experiment up to 1100 °C. Synchronous measurement of temperature and deformation at elevated temperatures based on the noncontact optical method can be achieved through the allocation of channels R, G , and B for a color camera. Channels R and G are used for the radiation-based temperature measurement, while channel B is adopted for the deformation measurement. However, the existence of color crosstalk, which is mainly caused by the color camera's spectral response and the use of the narrow-band filtering technique, has a significant influence on the accuracy of temperature and deformation calculations. In this work, the color crosstalk effect in high-temperature optical imaging is analyzed, and a crosstalk correction algorithm based on grayscale calibration is performed on the different color channels (channels R, G, and B) of the color image. By solving the calibration equations, three corrected color channels are generated for a high-precision temperature and deformation calculation. A flame heating experiment of a C/SiC material up to 1100 °C is carried out to validate the applicability accuracy of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed method can effectively eliminate the color crosstalk between different channels and provide a non-contact, full-field, and synchronous measurement of temperature and deformation with higher accuracy than the existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The estimation of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions based on specific cropping systems is important for accurate national N2O budgets. Intensively managed vegetable cultivation is responsible for large N2O emissions in mainland China. However, little information can be obtained on the nationwide estimation of direct N2O emissions from vegetable fields. Estimates of fertilizer-induced direct N2O emissions from vegetable fields in mainland China were thus obtained by compiling and analyzing reported data in peer-reviewed journals and research reports. The results indicated that the seasonal N2O emissions from vegetable fields significantly increased with nitrogen (N) fertilizer application (p < 0.0001). According to the ordinary least squares (OLS) model, the fertilizer-induced emission factor (EF) and background emissions of N2O were estimated to be 0.55 ± 0.05% and 1.067 ± 0.277 kg N ha−1 yr−1, respectively. The EF was reduced and the background emission of N2O increased when the measurement duration was prolonged from ≤100 d to >100 and ≤200 d. Comparable results were obtained by the maximum likelihood (ML) model, with an EF of 0.49 ± 0.06% and background N2O emissions of 1.228 ± 0.189 kg N ha−1 yr−1. Based on the OLS-derived parameters, the fertilizer-induced direct emissions and background emissions of N2O were estimated to be 66.95 Gg N and 19.63 Gg N, respectively, in 2009, and the annual N2O emissions were much higher in the provinces of Shandong, Henan, Hebei and Sichuan. The estimated N2O emissions from vegetable fields accounted for 21.4% of the total direct N2O emissions from Chinese croplands, with large uncertainties. Therefore, the EF and background emissions of N2O for each cropping system, particularly for intensively managed vegetable fields, should be specifically determined for accurate national N2O inventories. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two novel water-soluble phosphine-sulfonato nickel (II) methyl complexes [(P^O)NiMeL] (P^O=κ2-P,O-2-(2-MeO-C6H4)2PC6H4SO3, L=H2N(CH2CH2O) n Me, n = ca. 52, 2a; n = ca. 16, 2b) have been prepared and characterized by 1H, 31P NMR and elemental analysis, and their reactivity towards ethylene was studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Soil N-oxide fluxes showed high spatiotemporal variability in tea plantations. • N-oxide emissions from soils between rows were higher than those under the canopy. • Factors regulating N-oxide emissions were different between tea plantations. • Acidic tea plantations are hotspots of N-oxide emissions in subtropical regions. Subtropical agricultural soils are hotspots of nitrogen(N)-oxide emissions, whereas the spatiotemporal variability and driving factors of their emissions in different cultivation systems are poorly understood. Here, to assess the magnitude and pattern of soil N-oxide emissions, we conducted measurements of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and nitric oxide (NO) fluxes from the soil between rows and under the canopy of tea plants in two subtropical tea plantations over a one-year period. Results showed that N 2 O and NO emissions from the soil between rows were 32.6 and 9.1 kg N ha−1 for the Yixing (YX) site and 33.9 and 9.9 kg N ha−1 for the Jurong (JR) site, respectively. Across both sites, N 2 O and NO emissions from the soil between rows were 2.8–5.2 and 1.4–4.0 times, respectively, larger than those from the soil under the canopy. We attributed greater N-oxide emissions from the soil between rows mainly to increased soil mineral N and water contents as compared to the soil under the canopy. On average, N 2 O and NO emissions from the soil under the canopy accounted for 36% and 44% of the total losses from the entire field, respectively. For the entire tea field, N 2 O emissions were 12.6 and 15.7 kg N ha−1 for the YX and JR sites, respectively, but the difference was not statistically different. In contrast, NO emissions from the YX and JR sites were 3.8 and 5.7 kg N ha−1 and differed significantly between the two sites, which was due to higher NO emissions from the soil under the canopy in the JR site. The greatest N-oxide fluxes occurred in the spring and summer seasons after topdressing when soil conditions were conducive to microbial N-oxide production. The structural equation modeling analyses suggested that the variables explaining the variances of soil N-oxide emissions were different between the two tea plantations. Our results indicated that microbial nitrification and abiotic chemodenitrification processes were likely the major pathways leading to N-oxide emissions in the soil under the canopy. Our findings highlight the importance of N-oxide fluxes simultaneously taken from the soil between rows and under the canopy and implementing mitigation practices in subtropical tea plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-contact measurement method at elevated temperatures has been widely studied, which provides an efficient means for evaluating the properties of high-temperature materials. However, such high-temperature environment-induced challenges as strong light radiation and air disturbance may cause a huge quality decrease to the captured images based on the optical systems. As an important application of neural networks, Denoising Convolutional Neural Networks (DNCNN) has shown a considerable performance in conventional image denoising. In this work, an optimized DNCNN method based on the sub-region processing and transfer learning was proposed and applied in the high-temperature measurement. The thermal heating experiment of the SiC material was carried out to validate the applicability and accuracy of the method, while the synchronous measurement of temperature and deformation is realized. Simulation results based on the finite element method (FEM) agree well with the calculated data, indicating the proposed model can improve the measurement accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated carbons (ACs) are widely applied in the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from industrial processes, because of their high adsorption capacity, low cost and reusability. Their poor thermal stability under oxidative conditions is a limiting factor and often leads to fire risk in real applications. Here, Si-modification was performed over a wood-derived AC material, and a series of modified ACs with different Si/C mass ratios (0.1–0.9) were prepared via a hydrothermal route. Physicochemical characteristics of Si/C samples was examined by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, FTIR and N 2 -physisorption measurements. As compared to pristine AC, Si-modified ACs showed enhanced fire resistance, and an increase of ignition temperature by 79 ℃ was achieved at a Si/C mass ratio of 0.9. A combination of TEM, XPS and FTIR characterization suggests that the formation of amorphous SiO 2 nanoparticles and SiC species on the surface was responsible for the enhanced fire resistance of Si-modified ACs. By increasing microporosity, Si-modification also significantly improved the adsorption capacity of toluene as a model VOC molecule. Static and dynamic adsorption experiments were performed to understand the adsorption kinetics of the Si-modified ACs. Reusability tests showed that the desorption rate of the modified AC remained at nearly 80% even after five cycles of repeated adsorption-desorption, indicating that the modified AC has a great potential for industrial applications. [Display omitted] • Si-modified activated carbons (ACs) were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. • Ignition temperature of AC increased by up to 79 ℃ after Si-modification. • Si-modification could increase the adsorption capacity of AC by 32.46%. • Improved fire resistance due to formation of amorphous SiO 2 and SiC on AC surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estuaries are often characterised by a complex network of branching channels, in which the water motion is primarily driven by tides and fresh water discharge. For both scientific reasons and management purposes, it is important to gain more fundamental knowledge about the hydrodynamics in such networks, as well as their implications for turbidity and ecological functioning. A generic 2DV estuarine network model is developed to study tides and river water transport and to understand the dependence of their along-channel and vertical structure on forcings, geometry characteristics and sea level changes. The model is subsequently applied to the Yangtze Estuary to investigate tides and the distribution of river water over channels during dry and wet season, spring tide, as well as prior to and after the formation of Hengsha Passage and the construction of the Deep Waterway Project and sea level rise. Increasing river discharge enhances the friction for tides by increasing both internal and bottom stresses. Changes in tidal forcing are correlated with the friction for both tide and river. A shortcut channel reduces the water level difference in adjacent channels, as well as tidal amplitudes difference. Sea level rise results in larger friction parameters and faster propagation of tides. The distribution of river water transport is hardly affected by above mentioned changes. Model results and current vertical structure are consistent with observations. • We developed a 2DV semi-analytical estuarine network model. • Various modifications are explained by the interaction between friction parameters. • Impacts of local geometric changes can be either local or global. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Synthetic N fully replaced with composted manure reduced N-oxide emissions. • Bio-organic fertilizer application had the lowest yield-scaled N-oxide emission. • Soil N-oxide emissions were relevant during the fallow period. In order to reduce soil and environmental quality degradation associated with the use of synthetic nitrogen (N), substituting chemical fertilizer with organic or bio-organic fertilizer has become an increasingly popular option. However, components of this fertilizer strategy related to mitigation of soil N-oxide emissions and maintenance of crop yield remain uncertain. Here, we evaluated the effects of three different fertilizer strategies, with equal amounts of N, on nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and nitric oxide (NO) emissions, vegetable yield, and yield-scaled N 2 O and NO emissions under three consecutive cucumber growing seasons. The three treatments were chemical fertilizer (NPK, urea), organic fertilizer (O, composted cattle manure), and bio-organic fertilizer (O + T, O combined with Trichoderma.spp). Results showed that the NPK plot had the highest area-scaled emissions of N 2 O (13.1 ± 0.48 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and NO (5.01 ± 0.34 kg N ha−1 yr−1), which were 1.3–1.4 and 3.1–3.7 times greater than the O and O + T plots, respectively. The annual direct emission factors for N 2 O and NO were 2.08% and 0.92% for the NPK plot, which declined to 1.34% and 0.09% in the O plot, and 1.12% and 0.03% in the O + T plot, respectively. The annual vegetable yield was 117 ± 2.9 t ha−1 for NPK plot and 122 ± 2.0 t ha−1 for O + T plot, which was higher than 111 ± 1.7 t ha−1 for O plot. The yield-scaled N 2 O + NO emissions differed significantly with fertilization treatment, with the lowest value observed in the O + T plot. We attributed the lower soil N-oxide emissions following organic fertilizer application to the slow release of available N and enhanced denitrification caused by the increase of soil dissolved organic carbon and pH. Compared with the use of organic fertilizer alone, the addition of Trichoderma.spp significantly increased the potential denitrification rate but decreased N 2 O emissions, which may have promoted the reduction of N 2 O to N 2. Therefore, our results suggest that adopting composted organic fertilizer mixtures with microbial inoculants could be a win-win practice to mitigate gaseous N losses and simultaneously improve crop yield in intensively managed vegetable cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manure application mitigates land degradation and improves soil fertility. Despite many individual studies on manure effects, a comprehensive overview of its consequences for a broad range of soil properties is lacking. Through a meta-analysis of 521 observations spanning the experiments from days after pulse addition up to 113 years with continues manure input, we quantified and generalized the average responses of soil biochemical properties depending on climate factors, management, soil, and manure characteristics. Large increase of pools with fast turnover (microbial carbon (C) and nitrogen (N): +88% and +84%, respectively) compared to stable organic matter pools (+27% for organic C, and +33% for total N) reflects acceleration of C and N cycles and soil fertility improvement. Activities of enzymes acquiring C-, energy-, N-, phosphorus- and sulfur were 1.3–3.3 times larger than those in soil without manure for all study durations included. Soil C/N ratio remained unaffected, indicating the stability of coupled C and N cycles. Microbial C/N ratio decreased, indicating a shift towards bacterial domination, general increase of C and N availability and acceleration of element cycling. Composted manure or manure without mineral fertilizers induced the greatest increase compared to non-composted manure or manure with mineral fertilizers, respectively, in most biochemical properties. The optimal manure application rate for adjusting proper soil pH was 25 Mg ha−1 year−1. Among manure types, swine manure caused the greatest increase of N-cycle-related properties: microbial N (+230%), urease (+258%) and N -acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (+138%) activities. Manure application strategies should avoid P and N losses and pollution via runoff, leaching or gaseous emissions due to fast mineralization and priming of soil organic matter. In conclusion, manure application favors C accumulation and accelerates nutrient cycling by providing available organic substances and nutrients and thus increasing enzyme activities. Unlabelled Image • Manure effects on soil biochemical properties were identified using meta-analysis • Manure-only application was differentiated from application of manure with mineral fertilizers • Averaging of enzyme activities should be avoided as it disregards specific functions of individual enzymes • Optimal manure application rate for adjusting best soil pH is 25 Mg ha−1 year−1 • Swine manure caused the greatest increase of N-cycle-related properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shifting from conventional tillage to a no-till system can contribute to improving soil carbon sequestration and sustaining crop productivity. However, our understanding of the soil nitrogen (N) process through insights into the no-till effect on soil denitrification remains elusive. Here, we compiled data from 323 observations in 57 studies and quantified the responses of soil denitrification and the size and activity of the denitrifying community to no-till vs. conventional tillage. Across all studies, no-till significantly increased soil denitrification (85%) compared to conventional tillage. The no-till effect on soil denitrification was significantly dependent upon N fertilizer management, with a greater increase with N fertilization than without (101 vs. 46%). The increased soil denitrification under no-till was attributed to increases in the size and activity of the denitrifying community. On average, the potential denitrification activity, the total number of denitrifiers, and the abundance of denitrifying genes were increased by 66, 116, and 14–70%, respectively, in response to no-till. Our results demonstrate that soil denitrification under no-till leads to increased soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emission. This is supported by a larger response of soil N 2 O emission compared to the total denitrification, together with a significant increase (33%) in the (nir K + nir S)/ nos Z ratio under no-till conditions. Therefore, the increased soil denitrification under no-till conditions may have negative impacts on soil N cycling and mitigation of N 2 O emission. • The effect of no-till on soil denitrification was meta-analyzed. • No-till significantly increased soil denitrification and N 2 O emissions. • No-till enhanced the activity and abundance of the soil denitrifying community. • An overall positive response of (nir K + nir S)/ nos Z to no-till was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Osteoarticular tuberculosis has a high rate of misdiagnosis in clinical situation. • Existing clinical laboratory diagnostic methods are inaccurate for the diagnosis. • Mass spectrometry is sensitive to screening potential diagnostic serum biomarkers. • Biomarkers can provide a reference for diagnosis and improve diagnostic efficiency. Osteoarticular tuberculosis is one of the extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) diseases, which is mainly caused by infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in bone and joints. The limitation of current clinical test methods is leading to a high misdiagnosis rate and affecting the treatment and prognosis. This study aims to search serum biomarkers that can assist in the diagnosis of osteoarticular tuberculosis. Proteomics can serve as an important method in the discovery of disease biomarkers. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze proteins in 90 serum samples, which were collected from June 2020 to December 2021, then evaluated by statistical analysis to screen potential biomarkers. After that, potential biomarkers were validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and diagnostic models were also established for observation of multi-index diagnostic efficacy. 118 differential expressed proteins (DEPs) were obtained in serum after statistical analysis. After the diagnostic efficacy evaluation and clinical verification, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H2 (ITIH2), complement factor H-related protein 2 (CFHR2), complement factor H-related protein 3 (CFHR3), and complement factor H-related protein 5 (CFHR5) were found as potential biomarkers, with 0.7167 (95 %CI: 0.5846–0.8487), 0.8600 (95 %CI: 0.7701–0.9499), 0.8150 (95 %CI: 0.6998–0.9302), and 0.9978 (95 %CI: 0.9918–1.0040) AUC value, respectively. The remaining DEPs except CFHR5 were constructed as diagnostic models, the diagnostic model contained CFHR2 and CFHR3 had good diagnostic efficacy with 0.942 (95 %CI: 0.872–0.980) AUC value compared to other models. This study provides a reference for the discovery of serum protein markers for osteoarticular tuberculosis diagnosis, and the screened DEPs can also provide directions for subsequent pathogenesis research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Are desert ecosystems a stable sink for atmospheric CO 2 ? Although the uptake of atmospheric CO 2 by soil during the nighttime is detected in deserts and some semi-deserts, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In order to determine the factors affecting the CO 2 fluxes into soil and to reveal the relationship between CO 2 fluxes and carbonate formation and recrystallization in saline and alkaline soils, four soils with contrasting salinity from two sites, Aksu and Yingbazar, along the Tarim River were analysed. Soils were incubated in 14 CO 2 labelled atmosphere for 90 days at three CO 2 concentrations: 0.04%, 0.4% and 4%. The 14 C activity was measured in soil water and air, as well as in carbonates after 2, 14 and 90 days. The 14 C incorporation in CaCO 3 increased with corresponding 14 C decrease remaining in the CO 2 . The highest 14 C incorporation into CaCO 3 (54%) was observed in the Yingbazar saline soil. The carbonate recrystallization rates increased logarithmically (r 2 > 0.97) with the CO 2 concentration. The average carbonate recrystallization rate from three sampling times was highest in the Yingbazar saline soil under 4% CO 2 (8.45 × 10 − 6 day − 1 ) and lowest in the Aksu alkaline soil under 0.04% CO 2 (0.03 × 10 − 6 day − 1 ). The average carbonate recrystallization rate increased with electric conductivity (corresponding to soil salinity) but decreased with pH ( R 2 = 0.99 for 4% CO 2 ). The alkaline soils incorporated less 14 C into CaCO 3 than the saline soils. At the highest CO 2 concentration of 4%, the full recrystallization period of the remaining primary carbonates was 10- to 100-fold shorter than at the lower CO 2 concentrations. Therefore, besides soil chemical parameters (e.g. pH, CaCO 3 content), CO 2 concentration (respiration of microorganisms and roots) is an important factor for CaCO 3 recrystallization and formation of pedogenic carbonates in desert soils. It is the most important factor for CaCO 3 recrystallization and so, for the formation of pedogenic carbonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different organic fertilization strategies for rice–wheat annual rotation systems on net global warming potential (net GWP) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) by incorporating methane, nitrous oxide emissions, the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) derived from the net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB), and the CO 2 equivalent emissions from manure and chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer manufacturing. Six fertilization strategies were studied, including control (CK), N fertilizer (CF), pig manure compost + N fertilizer (MC), straw + N fertilizer (SC), straw + pig manure compost + N fertilizer (SM), and straw + straw-decomposing inoculant + N fertilizer (SI). The results indicated that the application of organic amendments did not change the seasonal pattern of GHG emissions but significantly affected their seasonal quantities. Averaged over the 3 cycles, the annual SOC sequestration rates contributed significantly to the net GWPs and were estimated to be 1.01 t C ha −1  yr −1 for the control and 1.13–1.27 t C ha −1  yr −1 for the fertilized plots. Compared to CF, the MC strategy significantly increased SOC while had similar size of net GWP and GHGI, thus deserving recommendation regarding sustainable soil productivity and GHGs mitigations. However, the other proposed organic strategies of SC, SM, and SI significantly increased net GWP and GHGI as well as SOC thus requiring further researches for GHGs mitigations. Therefore, we recommend that the application of manure substituting half chemical fertilizer be an effective strategy while straw returning in any currently studied strategies should be re-examined in the rice–wheat annual rotation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veterinary antibiotics are increasingly used in the livestock industry annually. Sulfonamides introduced into the soil with manure are usually largely degraded in various pathways. However, the influence of the metabolic intermediate of sulfonamides on nitrogen (N) cycling under anaerobic conditions in soils has been overlooked. To this end, we carried out a microcosm experiment to investigate the potential consequences of ADPD (2-amino-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine, a degradation product of sulfonamide) at five concentration gradients (i.e., 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg kg−1) on nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions, associated genes involved in N cycling, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in soils applied with manure or urea. The results showed that ADPD application promoted N 2 O emissions under flooded conditions at environmentally relevant concentrations, and the maximum cumulative N 2 O emissions were observed at 1 mg kg−1 and 0.1 mg kg−1 ADPD for manure and urea applied, respectively. The main reasons were the imbalance of denitrifying bacteria, which affected N 2 O production and reduction, and the increase of antibiotic resistance in soil bacteria. In conclusion, these findings contribute to assessing the eco-environmental risks associated with the prevalence of sulfonamide metabolic intermediates and expand our understanding of the link between antibiotics and N transformation. Further research in the field is warranted to incorporate their recommendations into the greenhouse gas assessment system. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fruit has become the third-largest agricultural planting industry after cereals and vegetables in China. Fertilization regimes (e.g., application rate and method) in fruit orchards typically differ from cereal croplands, which would incur a pronounced difference in fertilizer-induced nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions between them. However, fertilizer-induced direct N 2 O emissions from orchard fields remain poorly understood. We conducted a field experiment in a peach orchard and a global meta-analysis of N 2 O emissions from fruit orchards. The emission factor (EF) of fertilizer N for N 2 O averaged 0.81%, with a background N 2 O emission of 3.4 kg N ha–1 yr-1 in our field study. A global meta-analysis suggested that the linear regression model was the best to fit N 2 O emissions by fertilizer N input for most fruit types compared to the nonlinear models. When averaging all global data, the linear model projected the EF of N 2 O from orchards to be 0.84%, with the background emission of 1.96 kg N ha–1. The estimate of direct N 2 O derived from the orchard-specific nonlinear model was substantially lower than those from the nonlinear model with global cropland measurements. The fertilizer-induced direct N 2 O emission from Chinese orchards during the 2000s was estimated to be 32–49 Gg N yr–1, equivalent to about 14% of total direct N 2 O emissions from Chinese uplands. Therefore, orchard cultivation constitutes a hotspot of N 2 O emissions in the agricultural sector, and priority should be given to emissions reduction to achieve the transition to climate-smart agriculture. [Display omitted] • N 2 O emissions from global orchards were summarized and meta-analyzed. • N 2 O emission was 32–49 Gg N yr–1 from Chinese orchards during the 2000s. • Orchard cultivation is one of the hotspots of agricultural N 2 O emissions. • Orchard N 2 O emissions were similar to emissions from vegetables and tea cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A self-template is used to prepare graded porous carbon materials from the rice husks. The porous carbon material hydrothermally treated for 24h exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. The discharge specific capacity can reach 679.9 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.2C. [Display omitted] • A self-template method is used to prepare porous hard carbon materials from the rice husks. • The biomass-derived carbon hydrothermally treated for 24 h exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. • The discharge specific capacity of biomass hard carbon can reach 679.9 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2C. Hard carbon materials are employed as a novel anode material in lithium ion batteries (LIBs) due to its large specific surface area, high specific capacity and stable cycle performance. In this work, we report the use of SiO 2 as a template to prepare porous hard carbon materials from the environmental-friendly rice husks (RHs), among which the porous carbon material hydrothermally treated for 24 h exhibits splendid micro-morphology and excellent electrochemical performance. The charge specific capacity can still reach 679.9 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.2C. Such significant improvement in electrochemical performance is attributed to the edges, defects and large specific surface area possessed by the porous structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bombyx mori ras protein3 (BmRas 3) is a small molecular protein in the GTPase superfamily, which has the activity of binding guanosine nucleotides and GTP enzymes. It acts as a molecular switch by coupling extracellular signal to different cellular response through the conversion between Ras-GTP conformation and Ras-GDP conformation, thus regulating signal pathways responsible for cell growth, migration, adhesion, survival and differentiation. However, few studies have been done on Ras3 in silkworm, and its function and mechanism are unclear. In this study, we found that the overexpression of BmRas 3 inhibited the infection of BmNPV(B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus), while knockdown of BmRas 3 could promote the infection of BmNPV. In addition, after the BmRas 3 in silkworm larvae was knockdown, the anti-BmNPV ability of silkworm decreased and the survival rate of silkworm was affected. Additionly in the cells with BmRas 3 overexpression, the transcription level of BmMapkk 6 、 BmP38、BmJNK、BmERK1/2 and BmERK5 were significantly increased after BmNPV infection, and the transcript levels of BmMapkk 6、 BmP38、BmJNK、BmERK1/2 and BmERK5 were also inhibited to varying degrees This is the first report on the antiviral effect of BmRas3 in silkworm, which provides a new direction for further study on the anti-BmNPV mechanism of silkworm and screening and cultivation of anti-BmNPV silkworm strain. • BmRas3 has the activity of binding guanosine nucleotides and GTP enzymes. • BmRas 3 is involved in the infection of BmNPV and can inhibit the replication of BmNPV. • BmRas 3 regulates the phosphorylation cascade of kinases in the MAPK pathway, thus improving cellular immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel anilido-iminato cobalt complex [(L)Co(μ-Cl)2Li(THF)2] (1) (H(L)= o-(2′,6′- i Pr2(C6H3)–NH)(C6H4)CH(C6H3)-2,6) was synthesized by the reaction of the lithium salt of H(L) with CoCl2 in THF in 57% yield, structurally characterized by NMR and X-ray single crystal diffraction, and its application as a catalyst for the addition polymerization of norbornene in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) was reported. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder, and curative treatment has not been developed. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential effects of hydralazine (Hyd, a hypertension treatment drug) on the development process of AD and its mechanisms. We treated 6-month-old male APP/PS1 mice with Hyd for 5 weeks, measured changes in behavior and pathological status, and analyzed differences in gene expression by RNA sequencing. The results demonstrated that Hyd improved cognitive deficits and decreased amyloid beta protein deposition in the cortex and hippocampus, while RNA sequencing analysis suggested that the regulation of neuroinflammation and energy metabolism might play pivotal roles for Hyd's beneficial effects. Therefore, we further investigated inflammatory response, redox state, and mitochondrial function, as well as the expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-κB)-dependent neuroinflammation gene and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated antioxidant gene in AD mice. The results showed that Hyd reduced the damage of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, improved mitochondrial dysfunction, downregulated pro-inflammation gene expression, and upregulated antioxidant gene expression. The results in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 cell model demonstrated that Hyd suppressed pro-inflammatory response via TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, by silencing the Nrf2 gene expression, it was found that Hyd can reduce LPS-induced reactive oxygen species production by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Therefore, administration of Hyd in the early stage of AD might be beneficial in delaying the pathological development of AD via inhibiting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. [Display omitted] • Hydralazine improves cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. • Hydralazine inhibits neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in APP/PS1 mice. • Hydralazine exerts beneficial effects via TLR4/NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A rare macrocyclic hexazirconium(IV) complex with bisaryloxyl N-heterocyclic carbene ligand {(L)Zr(OSiMe3)(k2-[N^O])}6 (2) ( H[N^O]=) was prepared from a mononuclear complex [(L)ZrCl2(THF)] (1). Complex 2 was structurally characterized and shows higher catalytic ethylene polymerization activities in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reactive nitrogen (N) input can profoundly alter soil N transformations and long-term productivity of forest ecosystems. However, critical knowledge gaps exist in our understanding of N deposition effects on internal soil N cycling in forest ecosystems. It is well established that N addition enhances soil N availability based on traditional net mineralization rate assays. Yet, experimental additions of inorganic N to soils broadly show a suppression of microbial activity and protein depolymerization. Here we show, from a global meta-analysis of 15N-labelled studies that gross N transformation rates in forest soil organic and mineral horizons differentially respond to N addition. In carbon (C)-rich organic horizons, N addition significantly enhanced soil gross rates of N mineralization, nitrification and microbial NO 3 ¯ immobilization rates, but decreased gross microbial NH 4 + immobilization rates. In C-poor mineral soils, in contrast, N addition did not change gross N transformation rates except for increasing gross nitrification rates. An initial soil C/N threshold of approx. 14.6, above which N addition enhanced gross N mineralization rates, could explain why gross N mineralization was increased by N deposition in organic horizons alone. Enhancement of gross N mineralization by N deposition was also largely attributed to enhanced N mineralization activity per unit microbial biomass. Our results indicate that the net effect of N input on forest soil gross N transformations are highly stratified by soil C distribution along the soil profile, and thus challenge the perception that N availability ubiquitously limits N mineralization. These findings suggest that these differences should be integrated into models to better predict forest ecosystem N cycle and C sequestration potential under future N deposition scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional and bio-organic fertilizers play an important role in maintaining soil health and promoting crop growth. However, the effect of organic fertilizers on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the vegetable cropping system has been largely overlooked. In this study, we investigated the impacts of soil properties and biotic factors on ARG profiles by analyzing ARG and bacterial communities in vegetable copping soils with a long-term history of manure and bio-organic fertilizer application. The ARG abundance in the soil was significantly increased by 116% with manure application compared to synthetic NPK fertilizer application. This finding was corroborated by our meta-analysis that the longer the duration of manure application, the greater the response of increased soil ARG abundance. However, bio-organic fertilizers containing Trichoderma spp. Significantly reduced ARG contamination by 31% compared to manure application. About half of the ARG variation was explained by changes in bacterial abundance and structure, followed by soil properties. The mitigation of ARG by Trichoderma spp. Is achieved by altering the structure of the bacterial community and weakening the close association between bacteria and ARG prevalence. Taken together, these findings shed light on the contribution of bio-organic fertilizers in mitigating ARG contamination in agricultural soils, which can help manage the ecological risk posed by ARG inputs associated with manure application. [Display omitted] • Manure application significantly enhanced the abundance of ARGs in vegetable soils. • Bio-organic fertilizer with Trichoderma decreased the proliferation of ARGs in the soil. • Bacterial abundance and structure and soil properties drive ARG profiles. • Trichoderma loosened bacterial community structure and weakened the link between bacteria and ARG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The sliding, micro-scratch and nanoindentation behaviors of the Zr-based BGA were studied. • The COF and wear rate of the BGA under dry-sliding increased with the increasing load. • The scratching mechanism shifted from adhesion to ploughing and to microcutting. • The stress distribution states were different between the sliding and scratching tests. • Deformation softing during indentation was due to the increase in free volume and shear bands. In this work, the macro-sliding, micro-scratch and nanoindentation behaviors of the Zr 55 Cu 30 Al 10 Ni 5 bulk glassy alloy (BGA) were investigated. It was found that the frictional coefficient and wear rate of the BGA in the dry-sliding test increase with the increasing normal load, and the wear mechanism includes abrasive and oxidative wear. The micro-scratch test results show that the plastic deformation of the alloy and the density of shear bands at the edge of scratch scar increase with the increase in normal load. The friction mechanism between the indenter and the BGA shifts from stick-slip friction to ploughing friction and to micro-cutting as the applied normal load elevates. The nanoindentation result reveals that increasing the normal load leads to the plastic deformation accumulation, and the decreasing elastic modulus and hardness, which are related to the increase in the free volume and shear bands during the deformation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of NO 3 − in the soil has resulted in increased nitrogen (N) loss through runoff, leaching, and gaseous emissions. Microbial immobilization of NO 3 − as an important process in reducing soil NO 3 − accumulation has been for a long time neglected due to the predominant viewpoint that microbes preferentially immobilize NH 4 + -N. Microbial NO 3 − immobilization is generally carbon (C)-limited, and thus exogenous organic C input may enhance microbial NO 3 − immobilization. However, the effect of the quality and quantity of exogenous organic C input on soil microbial NO 3 − immobilization is poorly understood, and a synthetic assessment on such an effect is lacking. We thus assessed the impact of exogenous organic C type, the application rate of simple organic C (glucose and acetate), complex organic C type (animal manure, plant residue) and the C/N ratio of complex organic C on soil microbial NO 3 − immobilization rate using a meta-analysis. We found that the quality and quantity of exogenous C input affect soil microbial NO 3 − immobilization: microbial NO 3 − immobilization was enhanced with the addition of simple organic C at rates >500 mg C kg −1 , or complex organic C with C/N ratios >18. Furthermore, a positive relationship between the natural log of response ratio of soil microbial NO 3 − and NH 4 + immobilization indicates the simultaneous utilization of NH 4 + and NO 3 − under elevated C availability. We conclude that specific exogenous organic C input at a high rate or with a high C/N ratio can enhance microbial NO 3 − immobilization and reduce soil NO 3 − accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method of preparing cube-like MnO 2 by MnCO 3 was firstly reported. The MnCO 3 used as self-sacrificing template was synthesized via a polyol process. The porous, hierarchical MnO 2 microcubes with uniform size were obtained after thermal treatment from as-prepared MnCO 3 in air atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) together recorded the composition and structure information. Electrochemical tests showed that the highest specific capacitance can reach up to 152 F g −1 and hardly any loss was observed after 100 cycles at different current densities. The results suggested that this well-designed material may have a promising application in energy storage of supercapacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The distribution of heavy metals and microplastics was significantly different under different planting densities. • The same heavy metal element presents different contamination levels in sediment and interstitial water, with Cd is high contamination levels in sediment and potentially less harmful to biota in interstitial water. • Mangrove wetland restoration could promote the abundance of MPs in interstitial water. • PE, PP, and PET were the most common and dominant microplastics in the study area. Compared with heavy metals in sediments, those in interstitial water can act as better indicators of bioavailability. Based on different planting densities, the distribution and risk of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd) in the sediments and interstitial waters of " Kandelia obovata - Rhizophora stylosa - Bruguiera gymnorhiza " in a mangrove wetland restoration were studied, and the identification and analysis of microplastics in interstitial water were preliminarily explored. The results showed that the spatial distribution of heavy metals in sediments and interstitial waters in mangrove restoration wetlands varied greatly and was primarily affected by planting density and sediment properties. The geo-accumulation index, potential ecological risk index of a single trace metal, and comprehensive potential ecological risk index indicated that the level of Cd pollution in sediments was high. The results of the interstitial water criteria toxicity unit (IWCTU) and Nemerow index (NI) showed that the pollution level of heavy metals in interstitial water was generally high. Among them, the IWCTU values of Cu and Zn were>1, whereas the average value of the NI reached 2.67, which exerted adverse effects on the survival and growth of environmental organisms. In addition, the types and abundance distribution characteristics of microplastics in the interstitial waters of mangrove restoration wetlands were explored. The abundance of microplastics in the interstitial waters of the entire study area was 306.7–553.3 L-1. Moreover, different planting densities of mangroves could substantially affect the abundance distribution of microplastics, and the maximum value appeared when the planting density was 0.5 × 0.5 m. Polyethylene (49 %), polypropylene (21 %) and polyethylene terephthalate (11 %) were the most common and main microplastics in interstitial water. Scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis showed that interstitial water microplastics had characteristics similar to those of sediment microplastics, such as fracture, tear, sag, and material adhesion, and the surface of the interstitial water microplastics could absorb a large amount of metal elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from crop cultivation requires an overall consideration, due to the trade-off relationship between GHGs and the mitigation measures sometimes undermining grain yields and economic returns. To explore the maximum potential of GHG mitigation without sacrificing economic returns, we investigated the GHG emissions, crop yields and economic returns over two years in three rice-cropping systems (rice–wheat, RW; rice–fava bean, RB; and rice–fallow, RF). Different N fertilization levels and straw incorporation methods were employed in each of the rice-cropping systems at the study site, in the Taihu Lake region (TLR) of China. Bean straw produced in the RB system was fermented aerobically before incorporation, while straws produced in the RW and RF systems were directly incorporated into the soils. Relative to the traditional RW system, methane emissions during the rice seasons were significantly reduced by 29–44% in the RB system; annual N inputs were reduced by 43%; annual nitrous oxide emissions for N fertilization treatments were decreased by 56–69%; and the average rice yield was increased by 5.2%. As a result, the GHG intensity (GHGI) was significantly reduced by 11–41%, and the annual net economic benefit (NEB) was increased by 22–94%. Compared with the RW system, the GHGI in the RF system was increased by 8–30% and the NEB was decreased by 3–33%. Considering the current rice/wheat production practices employed in the TLR, the GHGI could be reduced by 26% while the NEB could be improved by 23%, with an annual reduction in the N application rate (currently 525 kg N ha −1 ) by 20% and the conversion of the RW systems into RB systems that use straw fermentation. The results of this study suggest that high economic return and GHG mitigation could be simultaneously achieved by the integrated adoption of reasonable reduction in N application rates, the use of appropriate rice-cropping systems and by employing eco-friendly straw management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoplastics and microplastics are the degradation products of plastics waste and have become a dominant pollutant in the environment. However, little is known about the ecological impacts of nanoplastic particles in the agroecosystem. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to examine nanopolystyrene effects on fertilizer nitrogen (N) fate, N gaseous losses and soil microbial communities using Chinese cabbage (Brassica Campestris ssp.) as the model plant. The two-factorial experiment was designed as the addition of 15N-labeled urea exposed without and with ~50 nm nanopolystyrene (0, 0.05%, and 0.1%). Nanopolystyrene addition had a detectable effect on soil mineral N content. The 15N uptake of plants was reduced in aboveground biomass but enhanced in roots with increasing nanopolystyrene concentration. Nanopolystyrene addition decreased soil nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions by 27% and 37%, respectively. Nanopolystyrene addition consistently reduced the abundance of ammonia oxidizer genes but showed contrasting effects on denitrifying genes. Metagenomic sequencing data revealed no significant effects of nanopolystyrene on the N-cycle pathway, while it significantly altered the composition of bacterial and fungal communities. This study provided the first insights into the nanopolystyrene induced linkage of root growth with more root N uptake and less gaseous N losses and the associated changes in the microbial community. [Display omitted] • Effects of non-charged nanoplastics on N cycling and soil microbes were evaluated. • Nanoplastics enhanced root growth and altered the plant nutrient allocation. • Nanoplastics reduced emissions of NH 3 and N 2 O by 27% and 37%, respectively. • Nanoplastics changed the microbial structure and soil bacterial community diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]