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【Objective】 Soil moisture sensors have been increasingly used in different fields to measure soil water content at high temporal resolution, but its reliability depends on many factors. In this paper, we investigate the effect of soil salinity on their accuracy. 【Method】 The laboratory experiment was conducted at the Irrigation Test Station of the First Division of Xinjiang Alaer Corps. FDR and TDR sensors were used in the experiment. We compared five salinity treatments: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 mS/cm; the soil moisture was adjusted to the field capacity followed by natural evaporation. The absolute error (AE), relative error (RE) and standard deviation (SD) were used to evaluate the accuracy and consistency of the sensors. 【Result】 Soil moisture and salinity both affected accuracy and consistency of the sensors. Without calibration, the accuracy of the CSF11 and ML2x sensors was high and measurements were consistent, while the EC-5 and TDR305H sensors were less accurate and consistent due to the combined influence of soil salinity and moisture. Calibration significantly improved the accuracy and consistence of all four sensors. 【Conclusion】 Considering accuracy and consistency, the expensive ML2x sensors worked best when salt content does not exceed 9 mS/cm. The less expensive CSF11 sensors also worked well when soil salt is low. The EC-5 sensors can measure soil moisture reasonably well for soil with moderate and high salinity. When the soil moisture is less than 20 cm3/cm3, TDR305H sensors is accurate and reliable.

The sensitivity of freshness indicator labels/films has become an important research direction of intelligent food packaging. In this study, a high-sensitivity indicator film containing gelatin and Fe2＋ was prepared by electrospinning using blueberry anthocyanins as the indicator and zein as the matrix for monitoring fish freshness. The validity and sensitivity of the indicator film for detecting the freshness of silver carp were tested and the potential mechanism was elucidated. The results of pH sensitivity, ammonia sensitivity and anthocyanin release showed that the addition of gelatin and Fe2+ improved the sensitivity of the indicator film to pH and ammonia, and contributed to better binding of the anthocyanins in the film. There was a strong correlation between the color response (P = (L* + a* + b* + R + G + B)/a*) of the film and the content of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content in fish meat as a freshness indicator (R2 > 0.98). In conclusion, the prepared indicator film can effectively monitor fish freshness, and the hydrogen bond interactions between anthocyanins and gelatin/Fe2+ may affect the color response characteristics and sensitivity of the indicator film.

Coupling desalination with electrocatalytic reactions is an emerging approach to simultaneously addressing freshwater scarcity and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the salt removal rate in such processes is slow, and the applicable water sources are often limited to those with high salt concentrations. Herein, we show high‐performance electrocatalytic desalination by coupling with electrochemical CO2 reduction using a carbon catalyst. A ZIF‐8‐derived carbon catalyst embedded with Cu nanoparticles delivers a high Faradaic efficiency of 94.3 % for CO production at 288 μmol cm−2 h−1. The efficient CO2 electroreduction generates high current densities, which drive fast salt ion transfer across ion exchange membranes. The integrated device enables one of the highest salt removal rates of 1043.49 μg cm−2 min−1 among various desalination methods. Drinking water can be obtained with an ion removal rate of 99 % when natural seawater is used as the water source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) represents a promising solution to alleviate environmental and energy issues stemming from CO2 emissions while simultaneously enabling the production of high-value multi-carbon fuels. However, the efficient generation of multi-carbon products remains challenging due to high kinetic barriers, sluggish C–C coupling processes, and intricate reaction pathways. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in synthesizing C2+ products through CO2 photoreduction, highlighting the crucial role of active site design and the C–C coupling mechanism. Specifically, we emphasize the correlation between the structure of active sites and the key intermediates of C–C coupling, which is fundamental for achieving deep photoconversion of CO2. Finally, we offer a glimpse into future challenges and prospects, outlining potential directions for the development of CO2-to-multicarbon photoconversion, aiming to contribute novel insights to this exciting field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ disc regeneration is a meticulously orchestrated process, which involves cell recruitment, proliferation and differentiation within a local inflammatory niche. Thus far, it remains a challenge to establish a multi‐staged regulatory framework for coordinating these cellular events, therefore leading to unsatisfactory outcome. This study constructs a super paramagnetically‐responsive cellular gel, incorporating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and aptamer‐modified palladium‐hydrogen nanozymes (PdH‐Apt) into a double‐network polyacrylamide/hyaluronic acid (PAAm/HA) hydrogel. The Aptamer DB67 within magnetic hydrogel (Mag‐gel) showed a high affinity for disialoganglioside (GD2), a specific membrane ligand of nucleus pulposus stem cells (NPSCs), to precisely recruit them to the injury site. The Mag‐gel exhibits remarkable sensitivity to a magnetic field (MF), which exerts tunable micro/nano‐scale forces on recruited NPSCs and triggers cytoskeletal remodeling, consequently boosting cell expansion in the early stage. By altering the parameters of MF, the mechanical cues within the hydrogel facilitates differentiation of NPSCs into nucleus pulposus cells to restore disc structure in the later stage. Furthermore, the PdH nanozymes within the Mag‐gel mitigate the harsh inflammatory microenvironment, favoring cell survival and disc regeneration. This study presents a remote and multi‐staged strategy for chronologically regulating endogenous stem cell fate, supporting disc regeneration without invasive procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrological regime is an important problem brought about by the Three Gorges Project and directly influences the development and utilization of water resources and ecological sustainable development in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area.Existing studies mainly focus on the influence of water storage on the main stream of the Yangtze River,with little attention to the runoff variations in small basins of the reservoir area.Based on the daily hydrological data of three typical small basins (Daning River,Pengxi River,and Modaoxi River) in this area from 2003 to 2017,by adopting the methods of trend analysis,runoff concentration degree, and runoff concentration period,the multi-time scale change characteristics of runoff are identified from the aspects of runoff and dispersion degree.Meanwhile,the runoff characteristics before and after 175 m water storage (2003—2008,2009—2017) are revealed,and the influencing factors of runoff variations are discussed.The results are as follows.① The average annual runoff of the Daning River Basin and Pengxi River Basin shows a downward trend,but there are no obvious variations in the Modaoxi River Basin.The monthly average runoff in the three basins varies greatly.The runoff of the Daning River Basin and Pengxi River Basin has a significant decrease in the flood season (July),while that of the Modaoxi River Basin has significant increases in the non-flood season (February),and the extreme value of runoff mainly shows a non-significant downward trend.② The runoff concentration degree and runoff concentration period of each basin show a non-significant decrease or increase respectively.③ After water storage,the runoff concentration period of each basin obviously lags behind the precipitation,the annual runoff distribution tended to be uniform,and the precipitation-runoff correlation decreases.The correlation coefficient of monthly average runoff decreases about 2%~6%,while that of annual extreme value decreases about 3%~12%.The research results can provide a scientific basis for hydrological and water resources management in small basins in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between Gd-EOB-DTPA DCE-MRI biomarkers and histopathologic biomarkers of liver fibrosis progression in a rabbit model of liver fibrosis. Thirty-Six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into control (n = 6) and liver fibrosis group (n = 30). Each rabbit in the liver fibrosis group received a weekly subcutaneous injection in the back comprising 50% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in oily solution. Control rabbits received subcutaneous injections with the same amount of normal saline solution instead. MR imaging was performed in control and fibrotic rabbits were conducted by MRI at week 0 (n = 36). The fibrotic rabbits were performed MR imaging on 6 weeks, 9 weeks, and 12 weeks after modeling of fibrosis. Before each MRI, peripheral blood was collected, and several biochemical testes are performed. The thirty-four rabbits completed this study. They were then divided into three subgroups according to fibrotic stage: no fibrosis (F0, n = 12), mild fibrosis (F1+F2, n = 14), and advanced fibrosis (F3+F4, n = 8). DCE-MRI measurements show increasing Ktrans and Ve while decreasing iACU90 with increasing fibrosis stage. The significant correlations were observed between mean Ktrans, Ve, iACU90 and percentage of the animal with mild liver fibrosis. For blood biomarkers, there were significant differences between F0 and F1+F2, and between F0 and F3+F4 in the serum levels of ALT (all P < 0.05), and TB (F0 vs. F1+F2, P = 0.004), while no differences were found between F1+F2 group and F3+F4 group (all P > 0.05). There were significant differences between F0 and F1+F2 (P = 0.02). Gd-EOB-DTPA DCE-MRI is a promising method for the noninvasive diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis. Future studies to evaluate the effectiveness of these techniques in patients with liver fibrosis are warranted.