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Smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria) is an important ornamental tree that represents the autumnal landscape of red leaves in Northern China, especially in Beijing. However, Verticillium wilt, caused by the fungus (Verticillium dahliae), has resulted in a high mortality rate for smoke trees, posing a serious threat to the highly valued landscape of red leaves in Beijing. To explore an efficient control measure for Verticillium wilt, we systematically analyzed the applicability and efficacy of multiple treatments for three consecutive years in Xiangshan Park and Badaling Forest Park. From 2021 to 2023, diseased smoke trees in Xiangshan Park were subjected to three application methods (agent irrigation, trunk injection, or a combination of the two) and five candidate agents, namely Bacillus subtilis, azoxystrobin, propiconazole, carbendazim, and prochloraz. Analyses of the data for three consecutive years revealed a decreasing trend in the annual disease incidence rate. Specifically, the combined application of agent irrigation and trunk injection exhibited the highest control effect and a significant improvement in the landscape of red leaves in Beijing. Furthermore, the combination of propiconazole via irrigation plus the trunk injection of carbendazim and prochloraz had the greatest control effect. These suppressive measurements were further used and demonstrated to be effective in Badaling Forest Park. Overall, our study provides an effective disease management means for controlling Verticillium wilt in smoke trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is a common disease characterized by reduced bone mass, microstructural deterioration, fragility and consequent fragility fractures and is particularly prevalent among the elderly population. Although glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have positive effects on bones, their role in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures remains to be elucidated. The present study assigned female Sprague Dawley rats with osteoporotic fractures into variectomized osteoporosis (OVX), OVX + liraglutide (LIRA) (50 µg/kg/day subcutaneous LIRA) and control groups. At 3 and 6 weeks postoperatively, X-ray, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, histological and biomechanical assays and assessment of femoral bone mineral density (BMD) were performed. Compared with the OVX group, GLP-1 RA treatment improved the formation of calluses and osseous union. TRAP staining showed significantly fewer osteoclasts in the OVX + LIRA group compared with the OVX group. In the osteoporotically fractured rats, LIRA improved bone strength at the femoral diaphysis, stiffness, ultimate load and femoral trabecular BMD Compared with the OVX group. GLP-1 RA treatment inhibited osteoclast formation and improved trabecular bone architecture and mass in osteoporotic fracture model rats, leading to improved biomechanical strength. GLP-1 RAs may be used as novel anti-osteoporotic fracture agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the morphological control of the anisotropic [Zn2(NDC)2(DABCO)]n MOF (Metal organic framework) and the subsequent adsorption characteristics for CO2/CH4 gas separation. Morphology of the MOF crystals is controlled by the use of modulators. The addition of acetic acid or pyridine successfully produce rod or plate morphologies, respectively, with each morphology possessing a different major surface pore aperture. Single-component equilibrium and kinetic adsorption data for CO2 and CH4 were collected. Equilibrium analysis indicates a slight selectivity towards CO2 whereas kinetic data unexpectedly shows lower diffusion time constants for CO2 compared to CH4. Mass transfer resistances on each species is discussed. Finally, a coating technique termed solution shearing is used to orient different morphologies on substrates as a film. An increase in film orientation is observed for the rod morphology, indicating that this MOF morphology is a promising candidate to create large area, thin-film applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]