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Catchment runoff scale relationships comprise an important theoretical support for water resource management. However, previous understandings of the scale effect were mostly based on empirical summaries and quantitative research, while interpretation based on measured data was rare. The purpose of this paper was to quantitatively reveal the causes of runoff scale impacts in the Haihe mountainous area over a 20-year period. Fifty-seven catchments (92-15803 km2) were selected from the available hydrological sites. Multi-year average values for17 environmental variables were calculated in each catchment over the study period, including data on hydrology, meteorology, vegetation, land use, topography, and soil. Based on these data, the quantitative relationship between runoff and catchment area was first established. Then the correlation between environmental factors and runoff scale impacts was assessed. Finally, catchments were divided into three groups by area, and the dominant factors influencing runoff at different scales, as well as the direct and indirect effects of these factors on runoff, were obtained using stepwise regression and path analysis. The results showed that: 1) Runoff coefficients decreased logarithmically as catchment area increased and the scale distribution characteristics of the variables closely related to runoff were an important reason for the runoff scale effect. 2) Larger river basins had fewer sensitivity factors for runoff and the impacts of vegetation and land use factors were mainly reflected in small and medium catchments. 3) Vegetation and land use primarily had indirect effects, which determined the proportion of factors in the total effect. Among these, the indirect effects of farmland were very prominent, which implied that human activities have had an important influence on runoff scale effects. This study emphasized the importance of farmland management in the upstream areas of Haihe mountainous area, and provides important theoretical support for catchment scale effects and water resource management in water-limited regions. Unlabelled Image • The quantitative relationship between runoff and catchment area was established. • The relationship between runoff scale effect and environmental factors was revealed. • Runoff coefficients decreased logarithmically as catchment area increased. • Climate and land use contribute significantly to runoff scale effect. • The importance of the indirect effects of farmland on runoff is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synergistic effect of electrical and thermal treatment on the microstructure and rheological characteristics of apple tissue under moderate electric field (MEF) is poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of electric field strength and temperature on stress relaxation characteristics, cell microstructure, and cell wall components of apple tissue to understand the relationships between the parameters of the rheological equation and cell wall components. The stress relaxation curves of MEF-treated apple tissues were significantly different from those treated with the traditional water bath method at the same temperature (p < 0.05). Higher electric field strength and temperature significantly reduced the elasticity and viscosity of apple tissue. The contents of water-soluble pectin (WSP), chelator-soluble pectin (CSP), Na 2 CO 3 -soluble pectin (NSP), and hemicellulose all decreased with an increase in temperature. At the same temperature, under the applied electric field, WSP decreased while CSP and NSP increased in apple tissue. In addition, increasing electric field strength increased WSP and decreased CSP, NSP, and hemicellulose. The decrease in CSP, NSP, and hemicellulose contents and increased electropermeability of the cell membrane were the main reasons that derived viscoelasticity changes in apple tissue under MEF. Furthermore, the temperature was the main reason for plasmolysis in apple tissue cells and induced decomposition of the cell wall and dissolution of the cell membrane. The electric field promoted the electropermeability of the cell membrane increasing the decomposition of the cell wall. These findings increase our understanding of the MEF pretreatment technology for the processing of fruits and vegetables. • Increasing temperature enhanced the electrical and thermal synergistic effect on apple tissue during MEF treatment. • The electric field effect under MEF increased membrane permeability which led to cell wall decomposition. • The thermal effect promoted the cell wall decomposition and dissolution of the cell membrane. • The temperature had more effect on the cell wall while the electric field affected the cell membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, China has experienced both rapid urbanization and heavy air pollution and the rapid urbanization trend would be continue in the next decade. Wetlands have been shown to be efficient in particle removal, primarily through dry deposition and leaf accumulation. Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of PM2.5 removal by wetlands during urbanization processes could inform urban planning. In the current study, three wetland plots, Cuihu Lake Park (CL), Summer Palace (SP), and Olympic Park (OP), were selected as low, medium, and highly degrees of urbanization site respectively based on the proportions of building and traffic district areas to compare the removal efficiencies. Results show the average dry deposition velocity in OP was significantly higher than CL and SP. Dry deposition is mainly influenced by meteorological conditions. Buildings and other infrastructure make the meteorological conditions conducive to deposition, resulting in higher wind velocity, higher temperature, and more intense turbulence between buildings. Variation in leaf accumulation was not statistically significant between the three plots, and plant species was the major factor affecting the amount of accumulation. The dry deposition contribution to particle removal increases with degree of urbanization. The average dry deposition accounted for 39.74%, 52.55%, and 62.75% at low, middle and high level respectively. Therefore, Wetlands with greater degree of urbanization improve PM2.5 removal efficiency primarily by accelerating the dry deposition process. The result emphasizes the importance of wetlands in particle removal in highly urbanized areas and thus more wetlands should be preserved and/or created during urban expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests and vegetation are known to play an important role in capturing air pollutants, whereas the role of wetland plants in this context has been poorly understood. This study focused on particle accumulation in six common wetland plant species in a wetland in Beijing, China. The aim of the study was to show the capacity of the six plants species to accumulate particulates of two different size fractions (fine particles: diameter < 2.5 μm; coarse particles: diameter ranging from 2.5 to 10 μm) over three growing seasons. This study also discussed the differences among species with respect to their ability to accumulate particles and their unique microstructures and investigated the possible associations between stoma density, stoma width, stoma length, groove width, and particle accumulation. The results showed that Phragmites australis accumulated a considerable proportion of both coarse and fine particles. The leaf surface microstructure was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microstructures, such as trichomes, were good at capturing particles, but there was no relationship between surface roughness and particle accumulation. Regression analysis showed that the correlation between stoma density, groove width, stoma width, and particle accumulation was moderate (R 2  = 0.45, 0.30, and 0.34, respectively). Thus, wetlands in urban areas could provide an important ecosystem service: accumulation of hazardous particulate matter. The results of this study could be useful to select wetland species with a strong particle-accumulating ability. P. australis has the potential to be a good biofilter in artificial wetlands in cities. In addition, when selecting species, it is better to select those with more trichomes or hairs on their leaf surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) deposition which involves both dry and wet processes is an important means of controlling air pollution. To investigate the characteristics of dry and wet deposition in wetlands, PM concentrations and meteorological conditions were monitored during summer at heights of 1.5 m, 6 m and 10 m above ground level at Cuihu Wetland (Beijing, China) in order to assess the efficiency of PM2.5 (particles with an aerodynamic size of <2.5 μm) and PM10 (particles with an aerodynamic size of <10 μm) removal. The results showed: Daily concentrations of PM, dry deposition velocities and fluxes changed with the same variation trend. The daily average deposition velocity for PM10 (3.19 ± 1.18 cm·s–1) was almost 10 times that of PM2.5 (0.32 ± 0.33 cm·s–1). For PM2.5, the following dry deposition fluxes were recorded: 10 m (0.170 ± 0.463 μg·m–2·s–1) > 6 m (0.007 ± 0.003 μg·m–2·s–1) > 1.5 m (0.005 ± 0.002 μg·m–2·s–1). And the following deposition fluxes for PM10 were recorded: 10 m (2.163 ± 2.941 μg·m–2·s–1) > 1.5 m (1.565 ± 0.872 μg·m–2·s–1) > 6 m (0.987 ± 0.595 μg·m–2·s–1). In the case of wet deposition, the relative deposition fluxes for PM2.5 and PM10 were 1.5 m > 10 m > 6 m, i.e. there was very little difference between the fluxes for PM2.5 (0.688 ± 0.069 μg·m–2·s–1) and for PM10 (0.904 ± 0.103 μg·m–2·s–1). It was also noted that rainfall intensity and PM diameter influenced wet deposition efficiency. Dry deposition (63%) was more tilted towards removing PM10 than was the case for wet deposition (37%). In terms of PM2.5 removal, wet deposition (92%) was found to be more efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction An increase in analytical imprecision (expressed as CV a ) can introduce additional variability (i.e. noise) to the patient results, which poses a challenge to the optimal management of patients. Relatively little work has been done to address the need for continuous monitoring of analytical imprecision. Methods Through numerical simulations, we describe the use of moving standard deviation (movSD) and a recently described moving sum of outlier (movSO) patient results as means for detecting increased analytical imprecision, and compare their performances against internal quality control (QC) and the average of normal (AoN) approaches. Results The power of detecting an increase in CV a is suboptimal under routine internal QC procedures. The AoN technique almost always had the highest average number of patient results affected before error detection (ANPed), indicating that it had generally the worst capability for detecting an increased CV a . On the other hand, the movSD and movSO approaches were able to detect an increased CV a at significantly lower ANPed, particularly for measurands that displayed a relatively small ratio of biological variation to CV a. Conclusion The movSD and movSO approaches are effective in detecting an increase in CV a for high-risk measurands with small biological variation. Their performance is relatively poor when the biological variation is large. However, the clinical risks of an increase in analytical imprecision is attenuated for these measurands as an increased analytical imprecision will only add marginally to the total variation and less likely to impact on the clinical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The morphology resistance to waves of invasive S.alterniflora is higher than native P.australis. • P. australis allocate excessive energy during stem growth, thereby decreasing reproduction and fitness. • Economic energy allocation contributed to the successful invasion of S. alterniflora. Smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) introduced to China in 1970 s for coastline stabilization threatening the habitat range of native Phragmites australis and even become more adaptive than P. australis. Thus, we used electronic universal testing machine and Van Soest method to compare the morphological and biomechanical responses of these two species to wave interference in the Yellow River Delta, east China. Our study showed that the morphological response of P. australis was more sensitive to waves with shorter individuals in wave zones but larger stem diameter and higher biomass than those in none-wave zones, while S. alterniflora did not exhibit such variations. In wave zones, S. alterniflora invaded P. australis ' habitat regardless higher stem-bending resistance of P. australis with excessive energy allocated in stem growth while decreasing reproduction and fitness. Compared with the none-wave zones, S. alterniflora allocated excessive energy in the stem to resist wind interference, and they are less fitted than P. australis. Thus, economic energy allocation to wave mechanical interference contributed to the successful invasion of S. alterniflora to landward in estuaries. S. alterniflora continued to expand landward in a semi-saline area but the community pattern may maintain the status quo for areas with low salinity and high wave interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PbTiO3 film was prepared by magnetron sputtering, and the dielectric properties were studied by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The results show that the dielectric constant of the film can be modulated by an external optical pump at 18 °C (291 K), and the tunability of the film reach 36.95% at 0.4 THz. Through analysis, the microscopic mechanism of dielectric constant modulation with the intensity of the external optical pump is caused by the hardening of the soft mode inside the film. The reason for the hardening of the soft mode is the internal space charge field generated by the external optical pumping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives “Average of normal” (AoN) or “moving average” is increasingly used as an adjunct quality control tool in laboratory practice. Little guidance exists on how to verify if an out-of-control situation in the AoN chart is due to a shift in analytical performance, or underlying patient characteristics. Design and methods Through simulation based on clinical data, we examined 1) the location of the last apparently stable period in the AoN control chart after an analytical shift, and 2) an approach to verify if the observed shift is related to an analytical shift by repeat testing of archived patient samples from the stable period for 21 common analytes. Results The number of blocks of results to look back for the stable period increased with the duration of the analytical shift, and was larger when smaller AoN block sizes were used. To verify an analytical shift, 3 archived samples from the analytically stable period should be retested. In particular, the process is deemed to have shifted if a difference of > 2 analytical standard deviations (i.e. 1:2 s rejection rule) between the original and retested results are observed in any of the 3 samples produced. The probability of Type-1 error (i.e., false rejection) and power (i.e., detecting true analytical shift) of this rule are < 0.1 and > 0.9, respectively. Conclusions The use of appropriately archived patient samples to verify an apparent analytical shift is preferred to quality control materials. Nonetheless, the above findings may also apply to quality control materials, barring matrix effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization has caused serious environmental pollution, especially particulate pollution. As the “Earth’s kidneys,” wetland plays a significant role in improving the environmental quality and adjusting the climate. To study how wetlands work in this aspect, from the early autumn of 2014 to 2015, we implemented a study to measure the PM concentration and chemical composition at three heights (1.5, 6, and 10 m) during different periods (dry, normal water, and wet periods) in the Cuihu wetland park in Beijing for analyzing the dry deposition flux and the effect of meteorological factors on the concentration. Results indicated that (1) the diurnal variations of the PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations at the three heights were similar in that the highest concentration occurred at night and the lowest occurred at noon, and the daytime concentration was lower than that at night; (2) the PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations also varied between different periods that wet period > normal water period > wet period, and the concentration at different heights during different periods varied. In general, the lowest concentration occurred at 10 m during the dry and normal water periods, and the highest concentration occurred at 1.5 m during the wet period. (3) SO42−, NO3−, and Cl− are the dominant constituents of PM2.5, accounting for 42.22, 12.6, and 21.56%, respectively; (4) the dry depositions of PM2.5 and PM10 at 10 m were higher than those at 6 m, and the deposition during the dry period was higher than those during the wet and normal water periods. In addition, the deposition during the night-time was higher than that during the daytime. Moreover, meteorological factors affected the deposition, the temperature and wind speed being negatively correlated with the deposition flux and the humidity being positively correlated. (5) The PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were influenced by meteorological factors. The PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were negatively correlated with temperature and wind speed but positively correlated with relative humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dry deposition of particular matters from atmosphere to ecosystems is an undesirable consequence of this pollution while the deposition process is also influenced by different land use types. In current study, concentration of fine particles, coarse particles and meteorological data were collected during the daytime in an artificial forest, wetland and a water surface in the Beijing Olympic Park. Dry deposition velocity, fluxes and vegetation collection were calculated by different models and the results were compared. The results show: (1) the deposition velocity onto the forest canopy was higher than which onto the wetland and the water surface and the velocity varied in different seasons; (2) the fine particles deposited most in the winter while the coarse particles was in the spring; (3) the vegetation collection rates of fine particles were lower than coarse particles, and the forest collected more PMs than the wetland plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the knowledge on the particulate matter of a wetland in Beijing, an experimental study on the concentration and composition of PM 10 and PM 2.5 was implemented in Beijing Olympic Forest Park from 2013 to 2014. This study analyzed the meteorological factors and deposition fluxes at different heights and in different periods in the wetlands. The results showed that the mean mass concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 were the highest at 06:00–09:00 and the lowest at 15:00–18:00. And the annual concentration of PM 10 and PM 2.5 in the wetland followed the order of dry period (winter) > normal water period (spring and autumn) > wet period (summer), with the concentration in the dry period significantly higher than that in the normal water and wet periods. The chemical composition of PM 2.5 in the wetlands included NH 4 + , K + , Na + , Mg 2 + , SO 4 2 − , NO 3 − , and Cl − , which respectively accounted for 12.7%, 1.0%, 0.8%, 0.7%, 46.6%, 33.2%, and 5.1% of the average annual composition. The concentration of PM 10 and PM 2.5 in the wetlands had a significant positive correlation with relative humidity, a negative correlation with wind speed, and an insignificant negative correlation with temperature and radiation. The daily average dry deposition amount of PM 10 in the different periods followed the order of dry period > normal water period > wet period, and the daily average dry deposition amount of PM 2.5 in the different periods was dry period > wet period > normal water period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented which discusses a simple method to derive Z-score of reference change value involving more than two serial results.

Ohmic heating (OH) is a new heating method with high electrothermal conversion, simple equipment, high accuracy of temperature control, and rapid heating. It is used in cooking rice. This study aimed to investigate the effects of OH on the expansion behavior of rice grains, changes in the electrical conductivity (EC) of each component, temperature, and quality at different heating rates (3 °C/min, 6 °C/min, and 9 °C/min). The EC of the rice grains was calculated using the equivalent circuit method. The results showed that the total volume of the water–rice mixture did not change significantly during the heating stage of OH cooking of rice. The volume and the proportion of rice in the water–rice mixed layer increased slowly before 62.5 °C and then rapidly after that. The EC of the water layer rice soaking water was lower than that of the water–rice mixed layer rice soaking water. The regression models of the volume of the water–rice mixed layer, the proportion of rice in the mixed layer, and the EC of each component were established. Besides, the internal temperature distribution was uneven due to the difference in the EC of each part of the mixture, and the temperature gradually decreased from top to bottom. Hence, the upper rice grains softened faster. This finding provided technical support to develop an automatic rice cooking device with high efficiency using OH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conjunction with theoretical calculations, the in vitro and in vivo uranyl binding capabilities of a bidentate picolinate (Pic) ligand and its pentadentate derivative (H2dpa) are investigated. The planar N3O2-donor configuration of H2dpa matches the typical pentagonal-bipyramid coordination geometry of uranyl, demonstrating a remarkable removal preference for uranyl in the kidneys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Topographic Over Field Capacity Index (TOFCI) is used to parameterize the hydrological connectivity in the Yellow River Delta. • TOFCI values show significant difference among different plant communities. • The contribution of TOFCI to different plant communities is the highest among all the environmental variables. • TOFCI values are positively linearly correlated to the plant coverage and biomass in intertidal flat wetlands. Coastal wetlands play an important role in regional and even continental sustainable development because of their valuable ecosystem services. The coupling mechanism among hydrology, edaphic factors, and vegetation is the key to coastal wetland management. The current study conducted in the Yellow River Delta used an improved-comprehensive hydrological connectivity structure index, Topographic Over Field Capacity Index (TOFCI), based on both soil water conditions (SWC) and topography to highlight the role of hydrological connectivity on intertidal flat (IF), tidal marsh (TM), semi-artificial pond (AP) and riverside intermittent flooded (RS) wetland classes among other environmental variables. The results showed plant community distributions and structures among wetland classes differed from each other significantly, and hydrological connectivity structure is one of the driving factors. The results provided three pieces of evidence for this inference: 1) according to PCA results, the contribution of TOFCI is the highest among all environmental variables; 2) TOFCI values show significant difference among different plant communities; 3) TOFCI is also significantly correlated to species composition and distribution according to the CCA and RDA results. TOFCI values are positively linearly correlated to the plant coverage and biomass in intertidal flat wetlands according to linear regression analysis. Furthermore, salinity, soil total nitrogen and soil total phosphorus also influence plant community distribution and species composition. Finally, simple parameters for soil water conditions or topographic characteristics do not show significant explanatory power to hydrology-vegetation interaction. The results of the current study provide a new perspective for coastal wetland conservation and restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt marshes are changeable and important ecosystems that currently face various threats, including global climate change and human activities. The influence of these factors can result in the degradation of salt marshes. Tidal creeks, which are an important source of nutrients and other substances for salt marsh vegetation, play an important role in the health of salt marshes. In this study, the morphological characteristics of tidal creeks and the characteristics of two typical plants, Suaeda glauca (SG) and Phragmites communis (PC), in the Yellow River Delta, China were investigated to determine the effect of tidal creeks on these plants. Aerial photography and field measurements of tidal creeks were carried out from May to July 2018 in the study area. At the same time, nine line-intercepts were set in the vertical direction of tidal creeks to investigate plants. The results showed that different grades of tidal creek exerted no significant influence on the growth of either S. glauca or P. communis. However, unlike grade, the size of a creek and the distance from it had marked effects on these plants. The cross-sectional area of a tidal creek had a significant positive impact on the density of S. glauca (r = 0.39, p = 0.02). For P. communis , the depth of a tidal creek had a strong correlation with this species' density (r = 0.51, p = 0.04) and height (r = 0.63, p = 0.01). Meanwhile, there was a negative relationship between the distance from tidal creeks and the height of S. glauca (r = −0.52, p = 0.02). Conversely, the height (r = 0 0.90, p = 0.00) and density (r = 0.62, p = 0.01) of P. communis were positively affected by its vertical distance from tidal creeks. We found that the subtidal zone near a tidal creek was more conducive to the recovery and growth of S. glauca , and that areas further away from a tidal creek, located in the intertidal and subtidal zones, were more conducive to the recovery and growth of P. communis. The parameters associated with tidal creeks in the subtidal zone (cross sectional area 4.55 m2, distance 0–10 m) were beneficial for the growth of S. glauca. For P. communis , relevant features in the intertidal and subtidal zones (depth 0.40–0.45 m, distance 20–60 m) are useful. Our results suggest that attention should be paid to the effects of size and distribution of tidal creeks during the process of salt marsh restoration. This work also provides practical guidance for the restoration of native salt marshes in China. • Depth of a tidal creek had a strong positive correlation with P. communis. • Cross-sectional area of a tidal creek had a significant positive impact on S. glauca. • Both S. glauca and P. communis had obvious correlations with the distance from tidal creeks. • Areas located in the subtidal zone near a tidal creek was more conducive to S. glauca. • Relevant features in the intertidal and subtidal zones are useful for P. communis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal wetlands, greatly influenced by hydrological processes, are highly productive ecosystems but have suffered serious degradation in many locations. Hydrological connectivity frameworks provide a new perspective to study both hydrological behavior and the relationship between hydrological and ecological processes. Although some indices have been developed to parameterize hydrological connectivity structure (HCS) in different environments, the indices only consider soil water content (SWC) or topography and are limited in some specific areas. Due to its importance to understand ecological-hydrological interaction and wetland conservation and restoration. There is still a necessity to develop indices to capture hydrological attributes. In the current study, we collected soil-hydrological data in the Yellow River Delta and three indices, main flow direction (TM) based on topography, over field capacity index (OFCI) based on SWC, and topographic over field capacity index (TOFCI) based on both topography and SWC are developed using graph theory. The results show OFCI in a semi-artificial pond is significantly higher than in intertidal flats, tidal marshes and riverside wetlands, and TOFCI values in four wetland types differ significantly. TM does not show statistical differences for wetland types explored. According to the parameterized values, the semi-artificial pond has the strongest HCS, followed by intertidal flats. Tidal marshes and riverside wetlands have the weakest HCS. The landscapes of different wetland types are related to the HCS on the surface soil layer, and four wetland types in the Yellow River Delta can be distinguished by TOFCI values. The results also indicate that TOFCI can be used to locate degraded wetland areas for restoration, however more specific relationships between HCS indices and ecological structure are desirable in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural hydrological connectivity has been proposed to describe the geological structure of the landscape as well as to explain hydrological behaviors. Indices based on the topological or soil condition were developed to interpret their relationships. While previous studies mainly focused on well-instrumented catchments which are narrow in humidity or temperate zone, the hydrological responses to structural connectivity at the plot and hill slope scale as well as in arid or semi-arid climate conditions remain unclear. This study was conducted in the semi-arid mountainous region of northern China in Haihe Basin which is the source of water of about 350 million people. Experiments were conducted during the rainy season in 2012 and 2013 using four runoff plots. Two indices, flow path length (FL) based on topography and integral connectivity scale length (ICSL) based on soil moisture conditions, developed to represent hydrological connectivity structure and the runoff response to rainfall were analyzed. The results showed that the surface runoff coefficient was strongly and positively linearly correlated to FL, and the correlation between subsurface flow and ICSLs was quadratic. Plots with shorter FL required more rainfall to generate surface runoff. In the shallow soil layer, when the ICSLs are relatively low, the soil can store more water and less rainfall feeds subsurface runoff. Further analysis indicated that improved shallow soil connectivity conditions might enhance the water-holding capacity and lead to lower water yields for each event. This study demonstrated that hydrological structure connectivity could explain the mechanism of runoff generation in semi-arid areas while further experiments should be undertaken to find the threshold-like relationship between FL and surface runoff as well as the influence of plant cover on hydrological behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In arid agriculture, the effective allocation of scarce water resources and the assessment of irrigation shortage risks are critical water management practices. However, these practices are faced with inherent and unignorable uncertainties affecting multiple variables. This study aims to model the typical uncertainties in these practices and understand how they impact the allocation of scarce water resources. We advocate for a nuanced consideration of variable characteristics and data availability, variation, and distribution when choosing uncertainty representation methods. We proposed a comprehensive framework that integrates the cloud model to delineate scenarios marked by subjective vagueness, such as "high" or "low" prices. Simultaneously, the stochastic method was used for modeling meteorological and hydrological variables, notably precipitation and crop evapotranspiration. Additionally, to navigate subjectivity and imprecise judgment in standards classification, this framework contains a cloud-model-based assessment method tailored for evaluating irrigation shortage risks. The proposed framework was applied to a real-world agricultural water management problem in Liangzhou County, northwest China. The results underscored the efficacy of the cloud model in representing subjective vagueness, both in the optimization process and the subsequent assessment. Notably, our findings revealed that price predominantly influences net benefits, and that precipitation and crop evapotranspiration emerge as decisive factors in determining optimal irrigation schemes. Moreover, the identification of high water storage risks for maize in the Yongchang and Jinyang districts serves as a reminder for local water managers of the need to prioritize these areas. By adeptly modeling multiple uncertainties, our framework equips water managers with tools to discern sensitive variables. We suggest that enhanced precipitation and evapotranspiration forecasts could be a promising way to narrow the uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As fine particle (FP) pollution is harmful to humans, previous studies have focused on the mechanisms of FP removal by forests. The current study aims to compare the FP removal capacities of urban forests and wetlands on the leaf, canopy, and landscape scales. Water washing and scanning electron microscopy are used to calculate particle accumulation on leaves, and models are used to estimate vegetation collection, sedimentation, and dry deposition. Results showed that, on the leaf scale, forest species are able to accumulate more FP on their leaf surface than aquatic species in wetlands. On the canopy scale, horizontal vegetation collection is the major process involved in FP removal, and the contribution of vertical sedimentation/emission can be ignored. Coniferous tree species also showed stronger FP collection ability than broadleaf species. In the landscape scale, deposition on the forest occurs to a greater extent than that on wetlands, and dry deposition is the major process of FP removal on rain-free days. In conclusion, when planning an urban green system, planting an urban forest should be the first option for FP mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf surface particulate matter (PM) is an optimal material for the environmental monitoring of urban green spaces Currently, most studies have looked at leaf surface PM, using only its mass concentration to investigate the dust retention capacity and mechanisms of different plant leaves. The elemental composition of leaf surface PM has been neglected as a reflection of the environment and its sources. Therefore, in this study, ten common plant species were selected from the Olympic Forest Park, an urban green space in Beijing, and the characteristics of leaf surface PM were analysed in depth in terms of mass concentration and elemental composition. The leaf surface PM mass concentration was first obtained by vacuum filtration (VF) method, and then the leaf surface PM attached to the filter membrane obtained from the previous step was used as experimental material to study its elemental composition using cold field emission scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FESEM-EDS). The results show that (1) In terms of mass concentration, were Hemerocallis fulva , Poa pratensis , Acorus calamus , Typha orientalis , and Phragmites communis had better dust retention capacity; (2) The five most important elements deposited on the leaf surface of plants in Beijing were C, O, Mg, Al, and Si, with a total of 26 elements detected; (3) The particulate matter retained on the leaf surface of plants in Beijing was classified as Geogenic particles (57.70%) > Anthropogenic particles (22.30%) > Biogenic particles (20.00%). The results at this stage are expected to promote the in-depth understanding of plant leaf remediation of PM. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban forests have been shown to be efficient for reducing air pollutants especially for particulate matters (PMs). This study aims to reveal the PM blocking capacity of two common artificial landscape species, Sabina chinensis and Liriodendron chinense and to investigate spatial-temporal heterogeneities by estimating the vegetation collection velocity of coarse (PM10) and fine particles (PM2.5) during different seasons and heights. PM concentration and meteorological data were collected on both leeward and windward sides of trees during the daytime in both summers and winters from 2013 to 2015. Concentration and meteorological monitors were installed at three heights, bottom (1.5 m), middle (3.5 m), and top (5.5 m) of the canopy. The results showed: During daytime, the collection velocity changed and PM2.5 collection velocity was much higher than that of PM10. Furthermore, the maximum collection velocities of L. chinense and S. chinensis occurred at 14:00–16:00 both in summer and winter. Moreover, the collection velocity had a positive correlation with wind speed and temperature. The blocking capacities of L. chinense and S. chinensis varied from season to season, and the concentrations of particulate matter indicate the middle canopy of both species as the most effective part for TSP blocking. Furthermore, these two species are more effective blocking in PM2.5 than PM10. The blocking capacity of S. chinensis is generally better. The vegetation collection is the major process of PM removal near the ground and sedimentation was not taken into consideration near the ground. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In bulk heterojunction photovoltaic systems both the open-circuit voltage as well as the short-circuit current, and hence the power conversion efficiency, are dependent on the optical bandgap of the electron-donor material. While first-principles methods are computationally intensive, simpler model Hamiltonian approaches typically suffer from one or more flaws: inability to optimize the geometries for their own input; absence of general, transferable parameters; and poor performance for non-planar systems. We introduce a set of new and revised parameters for the adapted Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (aSSH) Hamiltonian, which is capable of optimizing geometries, along with rules for applying them to any -conjugated system containing C, N, O, or S, including non-planar systems. The predicted optical bandgaps show excellent agreement to UV-vis spectroscopy data points from literature, with a coefficient of determination , a mean error of −0.05 eV, and a mean absolute deviation of 0.16 eV. We use the model to gain insights from PEDOT, fused thiophene polymers, poly-isothianaphthene, copolymers, and pentacene as sources of design rules in the search for low bandgap materials. Using the model as an in-silico design tool, a copolymer of benzodithiophenes along with a small-molecule derivative of pentacene are proposed as optimal donor materials for organic photovoltaics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Homogeneity of a mono-layer QDs decides spectral stability of QLEDs in time scale. • Defects, driving bias, current density and operation time also affect EL stability. • Spectrally stable 4 and 64 mm2 QLEDs are achieved with low efficiency roll-off. • Efficient QLEDs with pure-blue to deep-blue emissions are achieved. • The QLEDs show high stability after being stored for a year. Mixed-halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) with blue emission still suffer from low efficiency due to surface defects and halide migration. The issue of halide migration in the mixed-halide perovskite QLEDs under increasing biases have been basically solved. However, under continuous driving, the QLEDs still face the problem of halide migration or electroluminescence (EL) peak shift. In this work, we found that when ligand passivation effects on mixed-halide perovskite QDs are similar, the homogeneity of a mono-layer QDs film plays a decisive role in suppressing halide migration and improving the EL spectral stability of the QLEDs under continuous driving. Moreover, 4 and 64 mm2 QLEDs with emission peaks from pure-blue to deep-blue and low efficiency roll-off were fabricated and the analysis results show that factors, such as chlorine content or defects in the QDs, driving bias, operation time at the driving bias and current density, also matter in the EL spectral stability of the QLEDs. In addition, we found that the devices exhibit similar performance after being stored for a year, demonstrating high stability of the devices with homogeneous mono-layer QDs structure. Our work provides a timely and systematic guide on achieving spectrally stable and efficient blue QLEDs with high color purity based on mixed-halide perovskite QDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A better understanding of blue carbon (BC) sequestration can not only contribute to a better elucidation of global carbon cycle processes but can also lay the foundation for the incorporation of BC ecosystems into regional and global carbon offset schemes. In this study, the surface soils of seven plots along a landward to seaward distance gradient were analyzed for the concentrations and stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil inorganic carbon (SIC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), as well as soil physical (bulk density, texture, moisture), chemical (pH, electrical conductivity), and microbiological (phospholipid fatty acid) properties in the coastal wetlands. Correlation, variation partition and random forest (RF) analyses were used to identify key variables correlating with BC fraction distribution patterns. The results suggested that SIC, DIC, and DOC, exhibited similar landward-increasing trends but the driving factors were distinct from each other. Based on correlation and RF analysis, both SIC and DIC were closely related to soil moisture and clay contents, but microbial indicators of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and actinomycete, were found to be associated with SIC, and abiotic properties played less important but still substantial roles in predicting DIC dynamics. In contrast with the other three investigated BC fractions, SOC showed a slight tendency toward enrichment in the seaward direction, and SIC was identified as the main driving factor. DOC showed no significant correlations with the other BC fractions, and its variation could not be explained well by the selected edaphic parameters. The soils in the YRD's tidal Suaeda salsa salt marshes showed a significant negative coupled SOC–SIC correlation, which was potentially related to divergent sedimentary processes and potential biotransformation between SOC and SIC. These results highlight the importance of integrating multiple BC fractions and their interactions into attempts to explore key mechanisms of BC cycling. [Display omitted] • SIC and DIC are landward-increased, correlated with soil moisture and clay content. • SOC shows a slight seaward enrichment tendency, correlated with SIC. • Microbial biomass is found to be positively correlated with SIC. • Abiotic factors are dominant in predicting DIC variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The all‐inorganic nature of CsPbI3 perovskites allows to enhance stability in perovskite devices. Research efforts have led to improved stability of the black phase in CsPbI3 films; however, these strategies—including strain and doping—are based on organic‐ligand‐capped perovskites, which prevent perovskites from forming the close‐packed quantum dot (QD) solids necessary to achieve high charge and thermal transport. We developed an inorganic ligand exchange that leads to CsPbI3 QD films with superior phase stability and increased thermal transport. The atomic‐ligand‐exchanged QD films, once mechanically coupled, exhibit improved phase stability, and we link this to distributing strain across the film. Operando measurements of the temperature of the LEDs indicate that KI‐exchanged QD films exhibit increased thermal transport compared to controls that rely on organic ligands. The LEDs exhibit a maximum EQE of 23 % with an electroluminescence emission centered at 640 nm (FWHM: ≈31 nm). These red LEDs provide an operating half‐lifetime of 10 h (luminance of 200 cd m−2) and an operating stability that is 6× higher than that of control devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The all‐inorganic nature of CsPbI3 perovskites allows to enhance stability in perovskite devices. Research efforts have led to improved stability of the black phase in CsPbI3 films; however, these strategies—including strain and doping—are based on organic‐ligand‐capped perovskites, which prevent perovskites from forming the close‐packed quantum dot (QD) solids necessary to achieve high charge and thermal transport. We developed an inorganic ligand exchange that leads to CsPbI3 QD films with superior phase stability and increased thermal transport. The atomic‐ligand‐exchanged QD films, once mechanically coupled, exhibit improved phase stability, and we link this to distributing strain across the film. Operando measurements of the temperature of the LEDs indicate that KI‐exchanged QD films exhibit increased thermal transport compared to controls that rely on organic ligands. The LEDs exhibit a maximum EQE of 23 % with an electroluminescence emission centered at 640 nm (FWHM: ≈31 nm). These red LEDs provide an operating half‐lifetime of 10 h (luminance of 200 cd m−2) and an operating stability that is 6× higher than that of control devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The all‐inorganic nature of CsPbI3 perovskites allows to enhance stability in perovskite devices. Research efforts have led to improved stability of the black phase in CsPbI3 films; however, these strategies—including strain and doping—are based on organic‐ligand‐capped perovskites, which prevent perovskites from forming the close‐packed quantum dot (QD) solids necessary to achieve high charge and thermal transport. We developed an inorganic ligand exchange that leads to CsPbI3 QD films with superior phase stability and increased thermal transport. The atomic‐ligand‐exchanged QD films, once mechanically coupled, exhibit improved phase stability, and we link this to distributing strain across the film. Operando measurements of the temperature of the LEDs indicate that KI‐exchanged QD films exhibit increased thermal transport compared to controls that rely on organic ligands. The LEDs exhibit a maximum EQE of 23 % with an electroluminescence emission centered at 640 nm (FWHM: ≈31 nm). These red LEDs provide an operating half‐lifetime of 10 h (luminance of 200 cd m−2) and an operating stability that is 6× higher than that of control devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saltmarshes are considered to be one of the planet's most efficient carbon sinks. The continued loss of saltmarshes and induced ecological consequences promoted their restoration worldwide. Previous efforts aimed to evaluate the success of restoration in terms of organic carbon accumulation, but inorganic carbon and carbon contents within soil aggregates, which are essential for making a comprehensive assessment of the carbon sink function, were rarely studied. To fill this gap, a range of metrics including bulk and aggregate-associated soil organic and inorganic carbon contents together with the soil's physical, chemical and microbiological parameters were measured to compare natural and a 15-year restoration effort in saltmarsh habitats within the Yellow River Delta region in eastern China. The results showed that regenerated saltmarsh exhibited significantly higher soil organic carbon (SOC) contents but significantly lower soil inorganic carbon contents, resulting in no notable change in total carbon contents between the regenerated and natural saltmarshes. SOC contents within the silt and clay fractions and their contribution to the bulk SOC contents were significantly lower in the regenerated saltmarsh than those in the natural ones (P < 0.05). In regenerated saltmarsh, significantly lower soil microbial biomass and distinct microbial community composition with reduced Gram-negative to Gram-positive bacteria ratios were observed compared to natural saltmarsh. These findings indicate the stability of SOC fraction and soil microbe-mediated carbon biogeochemical processes differed between naturally occurring and artificially regenerated saltmarshes. As interest in blue carbon programs gains global attention, further research on the generation and transformation processes of different carbon fractions during restoration are needed, which can be conducive to elucidating more details in coastal carbon cycling processes. • Regenerated saltmarsh has higher soil organic carbon levels than natural saltmarsh. • Regenerated saltmarsh has lower soil inorganic carbon levels than natural saltmarsh. • Regenerated and natural saltmarsh exhibit similar total carbon levels. • Natural saltmarsh has higher organic carbon levels within silt and clay fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of growth of invasive species has a significant impact on the microbial regulation of the soil carbon (C) cycle. This study focused on the growth of Spartina alterniflora treated with imazapyr in the Tiaozini wetland of Jiangsu Province, China. The changes in soil bacterial structure, bacterial C metabolic activity, soil C, and regulation mechanism of soil C metabolic activity by biotic and abiotic factors were investigated. The results showed that soil bacterial diversity eventually decreased significantly (p < 0.05) along with significant changes in microbial structure (p < 0.05). Significant changes in soil physicochemical properties due to S. alterniflora growth inhibition were the key factors affecting the changes in the soil bacterial taxa composition (p < 0.05). Abiotic factors showed a greater effect on metabolic activities related to C fixation and biosynthesis of bacterial taxa than biotic factors (self-regulation). Additionally, bacterial taxa regulated soil C emission and degradation to a greater extent than abiotic factors. This study provides important information for understanding the regulators of C cycling in coastal wetland soil during the control of S. alterniflora invasion by imazapyr; moreover, it provides a scientific basis for the government to establish a prevention and control policy for S. alterniflora invasion. Understanding the complex interplay between abiotic and biotic factors is essential for developing effective strategies to manage soil C and mitigate the impacts of climate change. [Display omitted] • The growth inhibition of Spartina alterniflora has a significant impact on the microbial regulation of the soil C metabolism. • Metabolic activities related to C-fixation/biosynthesis of bacterial groups were more driven by abiotic factors. • Bacterial groups regulation (biotic factors) emerges as a determinant of soil C-emission/degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A convenient and efficient strategy was developed for accessing chlorotoxin-derived bicyclic peptide-biomolecule conjugates by cyclizing fully-unprotected linear peptides with a designed tetrafunctional chemical linker. Among these peptides, bicycle-P3 bearing the N-terminal sequence of chlorotoxin shows high tumor selectivity and penetration ability, which is promising for treatment of gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest has been growing in defects of halide perovskites in view of their intimate connection with key material optoelectronic properties. In perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), the influence of defects is even more apparent than in their bulk counterparts. By combining experiment and theory, we report herein a halide‐vacancy‐driven, ligand‐directed self‐assembly process of CsPbBr3 PQDs. With the assistance of oleic acid and didodecyldimethylammonium sulfide, surface‐Br‐vacancy‐rich CsPbBr3 PQDs self‐assemble into nanowires (NWs) that are 20–60 nm in width and several millimeters in length. The NWs exhibit a sharp photoluminescence profile (≈18 nm full‐width at‐half‐maximum) that peaks at 525 nm. Our findings provide insight into the defect‐correlated dynamics of PQDs and defect‐assisted fabrication of perovskite materials and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest has been growing in defects of halide perovskites in view of their intimate connection with key material optoelectronic properties. In perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), the influence of defects is even more apparent than in their bulk counterparts. By combining experiment and theory, we report herein a halide‐vacancy‐driven, ligand‐directed self‐assembly process of CsPbBr3 PQDs. With the assistance of oleic acid and didodecyldimethylammonium sulfide, surface‐Br‐vacancy‐rich CsPbBr3 PQDs self‐assemble into nanowires (NWs) that are 20–60 nm in width and several millimeters in length. The NWs exhibit a sharp photoluminescence profile (≈18 nm full‐width at‐half‐maximum) that peaks at 525 nm. Our findings provide insight into the defect‐correlated dynamics of PQDs and defect‐assisted fabrication of perovskite materials and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest has been growing in defects of halide perovskites in view of their intimate connection with key material optoelectronic properties. In perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), the influence of defects is even more apparent than in their bulk counterparts. By combining experiment and theory, we report herein a halide‐vacancy‐driven, ligand‐directed self‐assembly process of CsPbBr3 PQDs. With the assistance of oleic acid and didodecyldimethylammonium sulfide, surface‐Br‐vacancy‐rich CsPbBr3 PQDs self‐assemble into nanowires (NWs) that are 20–60 nm in width and several millimeters in length. The NWs exhibit a sharp photoluminescence profile (≈18 nm full‐width at‐half‐maximum) that peaks at 525 nm. Our findings provide insight into the defect‐correlated dynamics of PQDs and defect‐assisted fabrication of perovskite materials and devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigated the effects of windbreaks on PM emissions from agricultural soil erosion. • There is little impact of windbreak on PM 1 and PM 2.5 reduction. • PM 10 concentrations can be reduced significantly by windbreaks. • The settling velocity of particles has an impact on the effects of windbreaks. Wind erosion from agricultural fields contributes substantial amounts of particulate matter (PM) in the form of dust to the atmosphere, with significant impacts on air quality and human health. Vegetation barriers affect particle transport via altering air flow, yet the impact of windbreaks on PM concentrations from agricultural soil erosion is still unknown. This study describes brief campaigns to explore the effects of windbreaks on PM concentrations in Zhangbei County, Heibei Province, China. Measurements were made in arable lands with windbreaks, of which the dominant tree species was Populus , following dust events from April to May, when the trees were without leaves. We selected windbreaks with different structures and measured PM concentrations at the windward and the leeward sides of the windbreaks, using high time-resolution measurements. The effects of windbreaks were quantified by calculating the PM concentration ratios in front of and behind the windbreaks. During dust events, the average value of maximum PM 10 emissions was 109.87 μg/m3, which was above the threshold established by the World Health Organization (WHO) for air quality. The PM 10 emissions increased with air temperature and wind speed. The highest PM 10 emission was observed at a relative air humidity of 20%. PM 1 and PM 2.5 concentrations were not lower behind the windbreak than in front of the windbreak in most of the events, while PM 10 concentrations could be reduced by an average of 27%. A significant increase in PM 2.5 /PM 10 by 56.86% behind the windbreak indicates the high efficiency of the windbreak to reduce PM 10 levels. Simply planting trees can, in some cases, increase downwind PM concentrations. Vegetation configuration and avoiding locating residential areas in the immediate lee of windbreaks should be considered when planning windbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetland plant biomass and its allocation are sensitive to environmental changes, and they make up a significant part of the carbon pool in wetlands. Here, we collected global data on wetland plant biomass from 1980 to 2021. Based on an analysis of 1134 observations from 182 published papers on wetland ecosystems, we generated spatially explicit global maps of belowground biomass (BGB) to aboveground biomass (AGB) ratio of wetland plants. Our study found that AGB is higher in tropical mangrove regions while BGB is higher in cold regions at high latitudes. AGB did not show a significant response to any individual environmental factors (p > 0.05). In the contrast, plant BGB is influenced by total phosphorus (p < 0.05) but not total nitrogen, and extreme temperatures are the main driver of plant BGB (p < 0.05). Compared to climate factors, soil nutrients were the main factor affecting plant biomass allocation in different wetland types. The relationships between the wetland plant biomass and their environmental conditions are discussed, which provided a basis for further understanding the conservation of wetland plants under environmental change. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB), which is spread by the citrus psyllid, is the most destructive disease of citrus industry. While no effective cure for the disease has been reported, detection and removal of infected trees can prevent spreading. Symptoms indicative of HLB can be present in both HLB-positive trees and HLB-negative trees, making identification of infected trees difficult. A detection method for citrus HLB based on image feature extraction and two-stage back propagation neural network (BPNN) modeling was investigated in this research. The identification method for eight different classes including healthy, HLB and non-HLB symptoms was studied. Thirty-four statistical features including color and texture were extracted for each leaf sample, following the two-stage BPNN to model and identify HLB-positive leaves from HLB-negative leaves. The discrimination accuracy can reach approximately 92% which shows that this method based on visual image processing can perform well in detecting citrus HLB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of studies on organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites has soared in recent years. However, the majority of hybrid perovskites under investigation are based on a limited number of organic cations of suitable sizes, such as methylammonium and formamidinium. These small cations easily fit into the perovskite's three-dimensional (3D) lead halide framework to produce semiconductors with excellent charge transport properties. Until now, larger cations, such as ethylammonium, have been found to form 2D crystals with lead halide. Here we show for the first time that ethylammonium can in fact be incorporated coordinately with methylammonium in the lattice of a 3D perovskite thanks to a balance of opposite lattice distortion strains. This inclusion results in higher crystal symmetry, improved material stability, and markedly enhanced charge carrier lifetime. This crystal engineering strategy of balancing opposite lattice distortion effects vastly increases the number of potential choices of organic cations for 3D perovskites, opening up new degrees of freedom to tailor their optoelectronic and environmental properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of studies on organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites has soared in recent years. However, the majority of hybrid perovskites under investigation are based on a limited number of organic cations of suitable sizes, such as methylammonium and formamidinium. These small cations easily fit into the perovskite's three-dimensional (3D) lead halide framework to produce semiconductors with excellent charge transport properties. Until now, larger cations, such as ethylammonium, have been found to form 2D crystals with lead halide. Here we show for the first time that ethylammonium can in fact be incorporated coordinately with methylammonium in the lattice of a 3D perovskite thanks to a balance of opposite lattice distortion strains. This inclusion results in higher crystal symmetry, improved material stability, and markedly enhanced charge carrier lifetime. This crystal engineering strategy of balancing opposite lattice distortion effects vastly increases the number of potential choices of organic cations for 3D perovskites, opening up new degrees of freedom to tailor their optoelectronic and environmental properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Decomposition rates were measured among different salinity and inundation conditions. • Suaeda glauca decomposed faster than Phragmites australis in Yellow River Delta wetland. • Faster litter decomposition rate occurred in inundation environment. • The combined effect of salinity and inundation can significantly accelerate S. glauca litter decomposition rate. • Environment parameters and litter quality can interact and in turn affect the decomposition rate during the decay process. The main factors controlling plant litter decomposition rates are litter quality and environmental factors. We investigated how different salinity and inundation conditions influence the decomposition rate and how litter quality affects dynamic change during the decomposition process in the Yellow River Delta wetland in northeastern China. To do this, we designed a field experiment using the litter bag method to study two selected dominant halophyte species (Phragmites australis and Suaeda salsa). We found litter decomposed faster when inundated across a range of salinities. Both the water chemical oxygen demand and NH 3 -N concentration were inversely correlated with salinity. The ratio of nitrogen to phosphorous showed an upward trend during the process of decomposition. The decomposition rate increased during the later stage of the process. Under inundation conditions, the decomposition rate of only S. salsa showed a positive correlation with salinity. The study results suggest that moderately higher salinity would increase anaerobic decomposition owing to the combined effect of salinity and inundation. The implications of our findings may be used to further assess the impact of environmental parameters and litter quality on the decomposition rate in estuarine wetland and can help determine a strategy for wetland reparation and remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]