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【Objective】 To explore the effects of new composite hydrogel on the physiological characteristics of tobacco seedlings under drought stress, and to provide theoretical basis for alleviating the toxicity of drought stress to tobacco. 【Method】 A total of 10 treatments including CK control and three different hydrogels added at 0.1%, 0.5% and 0.9% of soil dry mass: commercial hydrogel HS, new composite hydrogel HM (polyvinyl alcohol-acrylic acid-molecular sieve hydrogel) and HB (polyvinyl alcohol-acrylic acid-biochar hydrogel) were designed by pot experiment to study the effects of new composite hydrogels on tobacco under drought stress The effects of the new composite hydrogels on biomass accumulation, root development, photosynthetic system and oxidative stress of tobacco under drought stress were investigated. 【Result】 Under the same dosage conditions, HM and HB treatments were effective in increasing the fresh mass, dry mass and total water content of tobacco under drought stress compared to HS treatment. Compared with CK, HM and HB treatments could increase the fresh mass by a maximum of 153.91% and 126.34%, respectively. Under the same dosage conditions, HM and HB treatments significantly increased the total root length, total root surface area, average root diameter, root tip number and root volume, and improved the root vigor of tobacco compared with HS treatments; photosynthetic parameters and SPAD values of tobacco increased significantly and improved leaf stomatal status; SOD (superoxide dismutase), POD (peroxidase) and CAT (catalase) activities and soluble protein amounts of tobacco increased and MDA (malondialdehyde) amounts decreased significantly, which enhanced the resistance of tobacco. 【Conclusion】 Adding 0.9% HM and HB hydrogels to soil dry weight can effectively reduce the impact of drought stress on tobacco and improve tobacco drought resistance.

【Objective】 Drought is the most common abiotic stress affecting agricultural production in most countries, and alleviating its detrimental effect is critical to safeguarding crop growth. The purpose of this paper is to compare the efficacy of water adsorption polymer in improving soil water retention and growth of tobacco seedlings. 【Method】 Water adsorption polymer particles with diameter in the range of 0.3~1.0 mm (T1), 1.0~2.5 mm (T2), and 2.5~4.75 mm (T3) were mixed with soil thoroughly prior to planning, respectively, with soil not being amended as the control (CK); plants in all treatments were under water stress. The field water capacity, water retention rate, as well as the growth and development of the tobacco seedlings were measured in each treatment. 【Result】 The field capacity maximized when the particle diameter was in the range of 2.5~4.75 mm, up 30.49% higher than that in the CK. Mixing soil with polymer particles with diameter in the range of 1.0~2.5 mm gave the highest soil water retention capacity. Soil amended by polymer particles with diameter in the range of 1.0~2.5 mm can effectively alleviate drought stress, promoting biomass accumulation in the plant. Soil amendment increased its total water content, relative water content and free water content in tobacco leaves by 4.93%, 24.35% and 11.81%, respectively, while reduced bound water, bound technique/free water, and water saturation deficit by 5.25%, 16.18%, and 63.51%, respectively. Compared with CK, soil amendment with the polymer also reduced the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, MDA, and soluble protein in the plant by 114.86%, 211.93%, 67.05%, and 273.29%, 27.73% respectively. 【Conclusion】 Amending the soil with water absorbent polymer particles with diameter in the range of 1.0~2.5 mm is most effective to improve the field capacity and water-retention capacity of the soil, effectively alleviating drought stress to tobacco seedlings.

Background: Low temperatures disrupt nitrogen metabolism in tobacco, resulting in lower nicotine content in the leaves. 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) is a widely used plant growth regulator known for its roles in enhancing cold tolerance and nitrogen metabolism. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether EBR enhances leaf nicotine content under low temperature conditions during the mature stage of flue-cured tobacco. Results: To investigate the effects of EBR on leaf nicotine content under low temperature conditions during the mature stage of 'Yunyan 87' flue-cured tobacco, four treatments (foliar spraying of 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg·L− 1 EBR solutions) were performed by using a single-factor randomized complete block design. The result showed that foliar spraying of different concentrations of EBR notably improve the agronomic and economic traits of flue-cured tobacco to varying degrees, as well as increase the total nitrogen and nicotine content in the tobacco leaves. 0.2 mg·L− 1 EBR treatment showed better results, with nicotine content in the middle and upper leaves after curing increasing by 11.11% and 19.90%, respectively, compared to CK. Compared to the single EBR, foliar spraying of EBR compound containing α-Cyclodextrin and Tween 80 prolongs the effect of EBR, promotes the growth and development of tobacco plants. Combining EBR with CaCl2 and ZnSO4·7H2O significantly enhances the cold resistance of tobacco plants. Furthermore, combining EBR with higher concentrations of KH2PO4 is more effective in promoting the maturation and yellowing of the upper leaves than those with lower concentrations. Conclusions: This study provides new insights that foliar application of EBR enhances leaf nicotine content under low temperature conditions during the mature stage of flue-cured tobacco by regulating cold stress tolerance. The integration of EBR with α-Cyclodextrin, Tween 80, CaCl2, ZnSO4·7H2O and KH2PO4 showcases a novel approach to extending the effectiveness of plant growth regulators and improving agricultural sustainability. Furthermore, these findings may be applicable to other cold-sensitive crops, offering broader benefits for improving resilience and productivity under low temperatures. However, the research focuses on two growth cycles, without investigating the long-term impact of EBR on soil health, crop sustainability, and ecosystem. And further research is needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of EBR on enhancing leaf nicotine content. Clinical trial number: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBased on the Technology Acceptance Model and Perceived Risk Theory, this study examined the relationship between AI acceptance, perceived usefulness, ease of use, risk, responsibility, willingness to use AI, and uncertainty among editors. It found negative correlations between perceived usefulness, risk, and responsibility with AI adoption intention, with no correlation for perceived ease of use. The Technology Acceptance Model did not fully account for AI adoption intention. Editors viewed AI more as an uncertainty factor than a tool, showing less willingness to use AI compared to teachers, with significantly lower ethics acceptance. This study highlights the impact of perceived risk and responsibility on AI usage willingness and uncertainty, which is crucial for companies integrating AI into the publishing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the evolution mechanisms and electrochemical corrosion behavior of laser-welded joints (WJs) between 6063 and 6082 dissimilar aluminum alloys under varying welding powers. The analysis focused on the microstructure of the weld metal zone (WMZ), its grain boundary (GB) features, and its electrochemical corrosion properties. Data from the experiments indicate that a higher laser power (LP) leads to an increase in grain size within the WMZ. At an LP of 1750 W, the weld surface exhibits the poorest corrosion resistance, while other parameters show a relatively better resistance. Additionally, electron backscatter diffraction tests indicate that the high-angle GB fraction on the 6063-T6 side of the heat-affected zone exhibits a substantially reduced measurement compared to the 6082-T6 side. The corrosion form in the WMZ is intergranular, with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) scans revealing that the poor corrosion resistance is primarily due to the presence of a large amount of Mg2Si phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age‐related hearing loss (AHL) is the most common sensory disorder amongst the older population. Inflammaging is a ≈chronic low‐grade inflammation that worsens with age and is an early sign of AHL; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We used electrophysiological and genetic approaches to establish the importance of interleukin 6 (IL‐6)‐dependent inflammation in AHL. Elevated IL‐6 in the cochlea enhanced Cav1.3 calcium channel function in the inner hair cell (IHC) synapse in mice with AHL. IL‐6 upregulated the Cav1.3 channel via the Janus kinase‐mitogen activated kinase pathway, causing neurotransmitter excitotoxicity and synapse impairment; IL‐6 deficiency or the administration of a Cav1.3 channel blocker attenuated this age‐related damage, and rescued hearing loss. Thus, IL‐6‐dependent inflammaging upregulated the Cav1.3 channel in IHCs, contributing to AHL. Our findings could help the comprehensive understanding of inflammaging's effects on AHL, aiding in early intervention to protect against hearing decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Fusarium wilt disease (FWD) of tobacco is a destructive disease caused by Fusarium spp. in tobacco-growing regions worldwide. The Fusarium spp. infection may alter the composition and structure of the tobacco root microbial community; however, the relationship between these factors under large-scale geographical conditions in China remains underexplored. Methods: In the context of this investigation, soil samples from the rhizosphere of tobacco plants were procured from fields afflicted with FWD and those devoid of the disease in the Hanzhong region of Shaanxi province, as well as in the Sanmenxia and Nanyang regions of Henan province. These regions are recognized for the commercial cultivation of tobacco. The examination focused on discerning the influence of tobacco FWD on the composition and configuration of the rhizosphere microbial community, along with their co-occurrence patterns. This scrutiny was underpinned by targeted PCR amplification and high-throughput sequencing (amplicon sequencing) of the 16S rRNA gene and the ITS1 region. Results: The amplicon data analyses showed that FWD influenced the microbial structure and composition of the tobacco rhizosphere soil. FWD had a greater impact on the microbiome of the tobacco fungal community than on the microbiome of the bacterial community. Healthy plants had the ability to recruit potential beneficial bacteria. Diseased plants were more susceptible to colonization by other pathogenic fungi, but they still had the capacity to recruit potential beneficial bacteria. The analysis of microbial intra- and inter-kingdom networks further indicated that FWD destabilized microbial networks. In the overall microbial interaction, microorganisms primarily interacted within their boundaries, but FWD increased the proportion of interactions occurring across boundaries. In addition, FWD could disrupt the interactions within microbial network modules. Discussion: This study provides evidence that FWD can cause changes in the composition and network of microbial communities, affecting the interactions among various microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. These findings contribute to our understanding of how plant microbiomes change due to disease. Furthermore, they add to our knowledge of the mechanisms that govern the assembly and interactions of microbial communities under the influence of FWD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]