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Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) holds a great potential for converting CO2 into valuable carbon‐based chemicals and fuels. A promising strategy for enhancing CO2RR performance is the deliberate structural design of electrocatalysts, which can maximize the utilization of inherent structural advantages. In this work, SnO2 nanocubes (NCs) and nanorods (NRs) are synthesized using a surface energy‐driven growth orientation method, where the stable (110) facet and the highly energetic (001) facet constitute the SnO2 nanostructures. Leveraging the inherent structural merits of different facets on SnO2, theoretical calculations reveal that the (001) facet plays a primary role in inhibiting hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), while both (110) and (001) facets are highly favorable for CO2‐to‐formate conversion under the external bias. As a result, SnO2 NCs with a higher facet ratio of (001)/(110) achieve nearly 100% selectivity for the formation of carbonaceous products during CO2RR. More importantly, a maximum partial current density of about 1 A cm−2 with a formate Faradaic efficiency (FE) of over 90% is achieved in a flow cell, distinguishing it from most of the reported Sn‐based electrocatalysts. These results highlight the strategic advantages of leveraging the inherent structure of nanomaterials for efficient CO2RR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development and maturity of electrochemical CO2 conversion involving cathodic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) and anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), conventional ex situ characterizations gradually fall behind in detecting real‐time products distribution, tracking intermediates, and monitoring structural evolution, etc. Nevertheless, advanced in situ techniques, with intriguing merits like good reproducibility, facile operability, high sensitivity, and short response time, can realize in situ detection and recording of dynamic data, and observe materials structural evolution in real time. As an emerging visual technique, scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) presents local electrochemical signals on various materials surface through capturing micro‐current caused by reactants oxidation and reduction. Importantly, SECM holds particular potentials in visualizing reactive intermediates at active sites and obtaining instantaneous morphology evolution images to reveal the intrinsic reactivity of active sites. Therefore, this review focuses on SECM fundamentals and its specific applications toward CO2RR and OER, mainly including electrochemical behavior observation on local regions of various materials, target products and onset potentials identification in real‐time, reaction pathways clarification, reaction kinetics exploration under steady‐state conditions, electroactive materials screening and multi‐techniques coupling for a joint utilization. This review undoubtedly provides a leading guidance to extend various SECM applications to other energy‐related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's annual metallurgical by-product gas production exceeds 1400 billion Nm3, the calorific equivalent of ∼266 million tonnes of coal. The widely-studied blast furnace gas used in hydrogen-enriched carbonic oxide recycling oxygenate furnaces ensures carbon-reduction. Converter gas contains abundant heat resources, equivalent to ∼6.5 million tonnes of coal. Using high-temperature by-product gas online reforming methods to convert thermal energy into chemical energy and combining it with power generation and other industries imparts physical heat recovery exceeding 60%. China's annual coke oven gas (COG) production could support more than 100 million tonnes of direct reduced iron production, thus reducing CO 2 emissions by more than 150 million tonnes (nearly 10% of China's steel industry CO 2 emissions). We summarise the characteristics, availability, and steel-chemical co-production utilisation of three by-product gases, and discuss the application of COG in direct reduced iron production and development of metallurgical by-product gas utilisation for carbon reduction in China. • Development direction of metallurgical by-product gas. • The utilisation of by-product gas in steel-chemical co-production. • Coke oven gas for direct reduction ironmaking. • Online reforming method to convert thermal energy into chemical energy. • Blast furnace gas for hydrogen-enriched carbonic oxide recycling oxygenate furnace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemically converting CO2 (CO2 reduction reaction(CO2RR)) to value‐added fuels is an advanced technology to effectively alleviate global warming and the energy crisis. However, thermodynamically high energy barriers, sluggish reaction kinetics, and inadequate CO2 conversion rate as well as poor selectivity of target products and rapid materials degradation severely limit its further large‐scale application, which highlights the importance of high‐performance electrocatalysts. Metal nanomaterials, due to their intrinsically high but still insufficient reactivity, selectivity, and stability, have been brought to the forefront and have lead to many reviews from various points of view. However, reviews which comprehensively unravel the importance and excellence of specific metal nanostructures and their associated properties for CO2RR are quite limited. To bridge this gap, various specific monometal and bimetal nanostructures are summarized, with an emphasis on the deep understanding of crystal orientation, surface structure, surface crystallography, surface modification, and many associated effects benefiting from the constructed specific metal nanostructures as well as the intrinsic relationships of specific metal nanostructure‐property‐CO2RR activities. Finally, the challenges and the perspectives to advance CO2RR are proposed to pay particularly more attention to architecture evolution during CO2RR with in situ/operando techniques, high‐throughput theoretical computations, and facile synthetic strategies with high yield and production for scale‐up applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of dynamics and control, some typical vibration devices, including grounded stiffness, inerter and amplifying mechanism, have good vibration isolation and reduction effects, especially in dynamic vibration absorber (DVA). However, most of the current research studies only focus on the performance of a single device on the system, and those DVAs are gradually becoming difficult to meet the growth of performance demand for vibration control. On the basis of Voigt dynamic vibration absorber, a novel dynamic vibration absorber model based on the combined structure of grounded stiffness, inerter, and amplifying mechanism is presented, and the analytical solution of the optimal design formula is derived. First, the motion differential equation of the system is established, and the normalized amplitude amplification factor of the displacement is calculated. It is found that the system has three fixed points unrelated to the damping ratio. The optimal frequency ratio is obtained based on the fixed-point theory. In order to ensure the stability of the system, it is found that inappropriate inerter coefficient will cause the system instable when screening optimal grounded stiffness ratio. Accordingly, the best working range of inerter is determined. Finally, optimal grounded stiffness ratio and approximate optimal damping ratio are also obtained. The influence of inerter coefficient and magnification ratio on the response of the primary system is analyzed. The correctness of the derived analytical solution is verified by numerical simulation. Compared with other dynamic vibration absorbers, it is verified that presented model has superior vibration absorption performance and provides a theoretical basis for the design of a new type of dynamic vibration absorbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a promising strategy to convert CO2 to carbon‐based fuels and to simultaneously reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In this work, the bismuth subcarbonate nanoflowers (BOC NFs) are facilely prepared through a one‐pot synthesis method for efficient formate electrosynthesis through CO2RR. Benefiting from the crystal structure and sheet‐stacked morphology, the in situ measurements and theoretical calculation results reveal the self‐reinforced CO2 adsorption properties and rapid CO2 adsorption–desorption kinetics on the catalyst surface, which significantly facilitate the CO2RR process. As a result, the desirable Faradaic efficiencies of over 90%, with a maximum value of 98.9%, toward formate formation, are achieved in a wide potential window from −0.8 to −1.4 V in an H‐type cell. Moreover, in a flow cell, the superior intrinsic activity of BOC NFs guarantees the high throughput electrocatalytic performance of CO2RR and the FEformate of over 90% with high current density is achieved in a potential range as wide as 1200 mV, demonstrating the great potential of BOC NFs for practical CO2RR applications. These results underscore the effectiveness of designing electrocatalysts with self‐reinforced CO2 adsorption properties to improve electrocatalytic performance for efficient CO2RR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing pressure on phosphorus (P) resources and global water eutrophication, the development of sustainable land management is pushed forward by detailed knowledge on the nature and fate of phosphorus (P) in agricultural soils under various long-term fertilizer regimes. Using bulk- (solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance; P K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge, XANES) and micro- (X-ray fluorescence and XANES) spectroscopic techniques, we investigated the molecular speciation of P in an alkaline soil from plots under wheat-maize rotation with or without chemical P fertilizers for 26 years, since 1990. The long-term experimental results show that P buildup and drawdown were mainly in the inorganic forms in response to P addition and depletion. The added P increased P accumulation in the forms of brushite and deoxyribonucleic acid that preferentially depleted without P addition, indicating that these species were phytoavailable. Although P forms as hydroxyapatite and orthophosphate monoesters were increased under P fertilization, no significant depletions of these P forms were observed when P fertilization was withheld. In contrast, iron-associated P increased with and without P fertilization. These results from this long-term experimental site facilitate understanding of dynamics and availability of fertilizer P and the existing legacy P in soils, with important implications for sustainable P management in these soils and similar soils in other regions. • P Speciation in alkaline soils characterized by NMR, XANES and microprobe • Soil P transformation after long-term P fertilization and unfertilization • Brushite and DNA enriched and depleted with and without fertilization, respectively • HAP and Mono-P enriched and unchanged with and without fertilization, respectively • Fe-P increased insignificantly regardless of P fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract High carbon emission is one of the dominant challenges for sustainable agricultural development in the North China Plain. Maize-based (Zea mays) sustainable cropping systems have recently been developed as water-saving and low carbon cropping systems compared to traditional maize-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping. To examine carbon emission of different cropping systems, five maize-based cropping systems were investigated from 2015 to 2017 in this study, which included intercropping of maize and soybean (Glycine max) (MS), relay intercropping of maize with pea (Pisum sativum) (MP) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) (MO), and rotation of maize with ryegrass (Secale cereale) (MR) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) (MI), with monocropped maize (MM) as the control. Carbon emission of each cropping system per unit area, per kg biomass, and per unit economic output was calculated based on the experimental results, which considered direct emissions of soil greenhouse gas and indirect emissions of agricultural inputs. Results revealed the carbon emission unit area of monocropped maize was 19380.67 kg CO 2 -eq/ha, and maize-based cropping systems increased by 11%–34% compared to MM, except MS which decreased by 38%. While, the carbon emission per kg biomass and per economic output of the five maize-based cropping systems were decreased by 7%–24% and 18%–61% compared to those of MM (1.04 kg CO 2 -eq/kg and 8.04 kg CO 2 /$). The cropping systems showed the order of MS < MI < MR < MO < MP < MM and MI < MO < MR < MP < MS < MM sorted by their annual carbon emission calculated per kg biomass and per economic output, respectively. The direct greenhouse gas emissions from soil were responsible for 76–85% of total carbon emission, which were mostly emitted in the growing period. Results showed that maize-based cropping systems could contribute to cleaner production in terms of biomass and economic output in the North China Plain. These indicate that suitable cropping system can achieve low carbon emission without compromising economic benefits compared to monocropped maize. Intercropping of maize and soybean, relay cropping of maize with potato are recommended in the North China Plain in this study among the treatments. Highlights • New maize-based cropping systems are an option to replace traditional wheat-maize cropping system in China. • Carbon emission of maize-based cropping systems (maize-oilseed crops, maize-vegetables and maize-forage) was discussed. • Three functional units (per unit area, biomass, and economic output) were conducted to help objectivity and accuracy. • Soil greenhouse gas emissions were measured directly through experiments of different maize-based cropping systems. • Maize-soybean and maize-potato are the recommended low carbon cropping system in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen fertilizer is required to meet grain targets, but the fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from its use are a barrier to achieve low C agriculture. The objective of this study is to evaluate the net global warming potential (GWP) of maize and soybean monoculture and maize-soybean intercrop systems with an ecosystem-level C budget and determine the optimal N fertilizer requirement of maize-soybean intercrop based on the GWP in CO 2 -eq during cropping season. The field experiment had five treatments: maize and soybean monoculture receiving 240 kg N ha −1 and maize-soybean intercrop receiving 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha −1 for three years (2012, 2013, and 2014). Considering greenhouse gas (GHG: CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O) emissions from the field plots, indirect GHG emissions from agricultural inputs (e.g., fertilizer, diesel and pesticides) and CO 2 fixation by crops, soybean monoculture was the net C source due to its lower net primary production, while all maize monoculture and intercrop treatments were net C sinks except for the maize-soybean intercrop receiving 240 kg N ha −1 in 2013. Maize monoculture was the largest C sink due to its higher net primary production, even though it had significantly (p < 0.05) greater direct and indirect GHG emission than of the maize-soybean intercrop treatments with lower N rates. Nitrogen fertilizer contributed to direct and indirect GHG emissions, with peak N 2 O fluxes from field plots up to two weeks after N fertilization and 26%–74% of indirect emission attributable to N fertilizer use. Higher N fertilizer rates did not improve yield in the maize-soybean intercrop, and the nitrogen-scaled GWP showed that maize-soybean intercrops fertilized with 150–182 kg N ha −1 had a comparable C fixation potential to maize monoculture receiving 240 kg N ha −1 . In conclusion, we demonstrate the ability of maize-soybean intercrop to function as a C sink, similar to maize monoculture, in the North China Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadate electrodes are potential candidates for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their large theoretical specific capacity. However, their practical application suffers from limitations of poor conductivity, inferior ion kinetics, and severe volume changes upon cycling. Herein, a doping strategy is realized to prepare phosphorus (P)-doped MnV2O6 (PMVO) nanosheets to enhance the electrochemical activity and structural stability. On combining experimental and computation results, it is found that the PMVO structure enhances the electrical conductivity, reduces the adsorption energy of lithium ions, increases the structural stability, and facilitates rapid surface diffusion kinetics. As expected, the desirable electrode of PMVO delivers a reversible capacity of 812.7 mA h g-1 at 200 mA g-1 and shows excellent coulombic efficiency, as well as an extraordinary energy density of 472.1 W h kg-1. Meanwhile, an excellent rate performance (from 0.1 to 5.0 and return to 0.1 A g-1; 779.6 to 319.6 and return to 811.9 mA h g-1) could be achieved. The strategy proposed here may aid in further development of doped vanadate electrodes for high-performance LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, China has developed a series of disposal methods and corresponding recycling systems to deal with agricultural wastes, as well as to mitigate climate change. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the net greenhouse gas emissions (NGHGE) and crop yields of three types of typical recycling systems, based on case studies in the North China Plain. These systems are the CC system, “crop production-crop production” by returning crop straw to the soil; CPC system, “crop production-pig rearing-crop production” by returning pig manure to the soil; and the CPBC system, “crop production-pig rearing-biogas production-crop production” by returning biogas residue to the soil. The overall results show that a reduction of 15.18% in NGHGE was achieved with the CPC system compared with a system where no pig manure was returned to the soil. NGHGE of CPBC system achieved a reduction of 352.25% compared with no biogas being produced and no pig manure being returned. These results imply that the development of recycling agriculture, i.e., manure reuse and biogas production, is a superior method to reduce GHG emissions. Additionally, compared with CC system, crop yields improved by 17.75% and 18.68% in the CPC and CPBC systems, respectively, which is an important factor in guaranteeing food security. Therefore, compared with non-recycling practices, by reusing organic wastes, these recycling systems reduced the total GHG emissions and increased crop yields. Accordingly, agricultural recycling offers a promising system for dealing with large volumes of waste, responding to global climate change, and ensuring food security in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture causes 10–12% of global GHG (CO 2 , CH 4 and N 2 O) emissions. GHG emissions from Chinese agriculture have been estimated at 819.97 Mt CO 2 -equivalence (CO 2 -eq); among them, total annual GHG emissions from the production of grain and livestock have been estimated at 374 Mt CO 2 -eq and 445 Mt CO 2 -eq, respectively. Because of food demand, food production has intensified, resulting in the separation of crop production and livestock rearing. This separation has increased the application of outside resources and agricultural waste, aggravating GHG emissions and other ecological and environmental problems. This research attempts to mitigate GHG emissions by improving soil carbon sequestration of crop production and decreasing emissions from swine-rearing waste. Net GHG emissions (NGHGE) between an integrated system and a separated system are compared in this study from a life-cycle perspective. The causes of different GHG emissions between these two systems are analyzed and mitigation strategies are proposed. The results show that the NGHGE of crop-swine integrated and separated systems were 24,917.95 kg CO 2 -eq/ha/yr and 27,732.70 kg CO 2 -eq/ha/yr, respectively, for 215 head of pigs. The integrated system reduced GHG by 1381.33 kg CO 2 -eq/yr mainly due to the recycling and reuse of pig manure in croplands. Meanwhile, the integrated system increased soil carbon storage by 35.92% compared with the separated system, although it increased soil CH 4 and N 2 O emissions. In conclusion, these results indicate that through a series of methods, such as recycling agricultural waste, the integrated system can reduce net GHG emissions by 10.15% compared with separated systems. Although much work remains to adopt the integrated system to reduce GHG emissions, the crop-swine integrated system should be given priority to mitigate anthropogenic net GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of leguminous crops for crop rotation can mitigate the negative effects of continuous cropping on soil health. In this experiment, we designed ten cropping patterns to optimise the rotation effect with different combinations of crop types, planting years, and order in a mainly potato-growing region. A 5-year cycle with three crops, undertaken in Inner Mongolia since 2009, was used to test soil properties and microbial structure. The relative abundance of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) was 32.1% in the cycle oats oats alfalfa alfalfa alfalfa and 22.4% in 5-year mono-cropping of alfalfa, which was higher than that of mono-cropping of potatoes and other crop rotations. Soil moisture was the main factor influencing bacterial and fungal communities. The effect of the type of plant introduced into the rotation on soil was greater than that of the number of years a certain crop was planted in the rotation, and this effect was greater than that of planting order. The findings suggest that the rotation of oats and alfalfa mixed → alfalfa → oats → potatoes → potatoes is a suitable 5-year cycle to maintain biodiversity and better soil physico-chemical properties for sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrophobic bile acids like deoxycholic acid (DCA), which cause oxidative DNA damage and activate NF-κB in Barrett's metaplasia, might contribute to carcinogenesis in Barrett's esophagus. We have explored mechanisms whereby ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA, a hydrophilic bile acid) protects against DCA-induced injury in vivo in patients and in vitro using nonneoplastic, telomerase-immortalized Barrett's cell lines. We took biopsies of Barrett's esophagus from 21 patients before and after esophageal perfusion with DCA (250 μM) at baseline and after 8 wk of oral UDCA treatment. DNA damage was assessed by phospho- H2AX expression, neutral CometAssay, and phospho-H2AX nuclear foci formation. Quantitative PCR was performed for antioxidants including catalase and GPX1. Nrf2, catalase, and GPX1 were knocked down with siRNAs. Reporter assays were performed using a plasmid construct containing antioxidant responsive element. In patients, baseline esophageal perfusion with DCA significantly increased phospho- H2AX and phospho-p65 in Barrett's metaplasia. Oral UDCA increased GPX1 and catalase levels in Barrett's metaplasia and prevented DCA perfusion from inducing DNA damage and NF-κB activation. In cells, DCA-induced DNA damage and NF-κB activation was prevented by 24-h pretreatment with UDCA, but not by mixing UDCA with DCA. UDCA activated Nrf2 signaling to increase GPX1 and catalase expression, and protective effects of UDCA pretreatment were blocked by siRNA knockdown of these antioxidants. UDCA increases expression of antioxidants that prevent toxic bile acids from causing DNA damage and NF-κB activation in Barrett's metaplasia. Elucidation of this molecular pathway for UDCA protection provides rationale for clinical trials on UDCA for chemoprevention in Barrett's esophagus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive evaluation on agricultural production technologies can provide scientific base for technology application for agriculture production. However, a good comprehensive evaluation on agricultural production system must integrate the economic, ecological and environmental aspects of a production system. Agricultural production should not only focus on the yield increasing, but also should avoid the degradation of ecosystem services and alleviate the negative environmental impacts. Therefore, when selecting an appropriate agricultural technology for a production system, a comprehensive evaluation is needed for decision-make process. In recent decades, many kinds of theories and methods in the ecological economic research have been developed and some are used widely, such as emergy, ecosystem services, ecosystem health, ecological footprint, life cycle assessment, etc. However, each method has its independent theory base and calculation process. In additional, single method is hard to meet the multi-aspect evaluation needs. Therefore, to compare the results of different ecological evaluation methods, three methods including emergy (EM), ecosystem services (ES) and life circle assessment (LCA) were used in this research to evaluate economic, ecological and environmental concerns of an agricultural production technology. Four kinds of conservation tillage (CT) patterns in Jilin province, northeastern of China were taken as case study. The four CT patterns include 'direct-seeding on ridge side and standing-stubble return' (CT1), 'wide/narrow row alternation planting and high stubble mulching' (CT2), 'stubble mulching and direct-seeding on ridge' (CT3) and 'cutting stubble combined ridge with subsoiling' (CT4). The results showed that four kinds of CT methods had a consistent trend of advantage of eco-ecological effects compared to the conventional tillage (CK). Based on evaluation result of EM, the average value of EYR (emergy yield ratio) of the four CT methods was 9.6% higher than that of CK. The ESI (emergy sustainability index) of the four CT methods was 7.0% higher than that of CK. The total average value of ES of the four CT methods was about 2.1 times higher than that of CK. For the results of LCA, as compared to CK, the potential environmental effect of the four CT methods in term of energy consumption, greenhouse gas emission, acidification and eutrophication were lower, which accounted for 14.62%, 82.82%, 15.37% and 15.28% respectively of the CK (100%). The results also showed that the ranking order for the four CT were different for each of the evaluating result of EM, ES and LCA. For the result of emergy, the ranking of the four conservation tillage was: CT3>CT4>CT2>CT1. However, the ranking order was CT2>CT1>CT3>CT4 for ES and CT2>CT3>CT4>CT1 for the LCA method. These results indicated that multiple methods were needed for holistic evaluating the eco-ecological effects of agricultural technology. From our results we found that the EM method was mainly suited for evaluating the energy use efficiency and economic benefit, the ES method was more on the ecologic functions of maintenances, the LCA was suited for assessing the environmental impacts. The three methods were recommended as an integrated evaluation for agricultural technologies. Finally, combining evaluation results from of EM, ES and LCA, the ranking of the four CT methods was CT2>CT3>CT4>CT1. This research provided a comprehensive scientific tool for decision-making processes for agriculture technology selection, adoption and extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • In species was integrated on CuO to directionally maximize CO selectivity using a facile method. • CO formation was initiated at an ultralow onset potential of −0.196 V vs. RHE. • A remarkably high CO Faraday efficiency of near-unity was achieved. • A slow reduction of CuO to metallic Cu caused by the In species guarantees an unprecedented stability for CO 2 RR. • The reasons credited for the enhanced CO 2 RR performance are systematically explored. CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) is one of the most promising approaches to alleviating greenhouse gas effect and simultaneously producing value-added chemicals and has been widely studied in recent years. To this end, a composite of indium species on CuO (InO x @CuO) was facilely synthesized for CO 2 RR, and it is found that the selectivity of the target product could be accurately tuned through incorporating post-transition species with Cu-based materials; the desirable Faraday efficiencies of over 90%, with a maximum value of 97.8%, toward CO formation were achieved in a wide potential window from −0.3 to −0.7 V. Moreover, a high CO partial current density of 7.2 mA cm−2 and a long-term stability of 50 h with negligible degradation were obtained over InO x @CuO. More importantly, CO starts to be observed at an ultralow potential of −0.196 V, further confirming the excellence of InO x @CuO for CO 2 RR toward CO formation. The results demonstrate that the achieved superiority derives from the essential In species on CuO, which not only introduces more active sites, but also better stabilizes the key intermediates, accelerates electron transfer and increases CO 2 adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES:To determine the prevalence and symptom pattern of pathologic esophageal acid reflux (PEAR) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) using the Rome III criteria, and to explore the value of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) test in distinguishing the patients with and those without PEAR among FD patients.METHODS:Consecutive FD patients who fulfilled the Rome III criteria without predominant typical reflux symptoms (i.e., heartburn or regurgitation) were enrolled. All patients underwent upper endoscopy and an ambulatory 24-h pH monitoring. PEAR was defined as the percentage total time for which a pH value <4 was >4.2% in the distal esophagus. Then, patients were treated with rabeprazole 10 mg twice daily for 28 days. The symptom scores were measured by the frequency score multiplied by the severity scores of the predominant symptom before and at the end of the treatment, and the 'PPI test' was defined as positive if the overall scores of the predominant dyspeptic symptom in the fourth week decreased by >50% compared with those of the baseline.RESULTS:One hundred eighty-six FD patients were enrolled, with predominant symptoms of epigastric pain (n=68), epigastric burning (n=47), bothersome postprandial fullness (n=54), and early satiation (n=17). The prevalence of PEAR was 31.7%, with the highest percentage (48.9%) in patients with epigastric burning as their predominant symptom. The prevalence of PEAR in patients with postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) and epigastric pain syndrome (EPS) were 36.6% (26/71) and 28.7% (33/115), respectively. Overall, 63.4% were positive for the 'PPI test'; the rates were 51.5, 85.0, 66.7, and 41.1% in patients with epigastric pain, epigastric burning, bothersome postprandial fullness, and early satiation as their predominant symptoms, respectively (χ2=17.59, P=0.001). The positive rates were 65.5 and 60.6% in patients with PDS and EPS, respectively (χ2=0.41, P=0.522). The sensitivity and specificity of the 'PPI test' in distinguishing FD patients with PEAR was 83.1 and 45.7%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:PEAR is present in almost one third of FD patients; the prevalence is ∼50% in those with epigastric burning. The 'PPI test' has a limited value in distinguishing the FD patients with and those without PEAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES:We sought to investigate the prevalence of clinically significant endoscopic findings (CSEFs) in Chinese patients presenting with uninvestigated typical reflux symptoms in the absence of alarm symptoms, and to evaluate whether prompt endoscopy is an appropriate initial management in these patients.METHODS:Consecutive patients presenting with uninvestigated typical reflux symptoms (i.e., heartburn or acid regurgitation) as chief complaints were recruited for symptom evaluation and upper endoscopy, followed by a 2-week proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy.RESULTS:Of 469 patients recruited, CSEFs were observed in 180 (38.4%): 154 (32.8%) with erosive esophagitis (EE), 18 (3.8%) with Barrett's esophagus (BE), 24 (5.1%) with peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and 4 (0.9%) with carcinomas (1 esophageal carcinoma and 3 gastric adenocarcinomas). Multivariate analysis identified that an age >50 years (odds ratio (OR)=1.94, P=0.008), male gender (OR=4.11, P<0.001), being overweight or obese (OR=2.99, P<0.001), and alcohol use (OR=9.96, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for EE; an age >50 years (OR=4.61, P=0.003) and alcohol use (OR=5.50, P=0.003) were independent risk factors for BE; and Helicobacter pylori infection (OR=8.52, P<0.001) and alcohol use (OR=4.08, P=0.004) were independent risk factors for PUD. Symptom evaluation and response to PPI treatment were not correlated with EE, BE, and PUD in these patients.CONCLUSIONS:CSEFs other than gastroesophageal reflux disease are present in a considerable proportion of Chinese patients with uninvestigated typical reflux symptoms but without alarm features. Symptom evaluation is of limited practical value, and thus prompt endoscopy seems to be an appropriate initial management option in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrate pollution from agricultural activities has become a common problem in the North China Plain due to overapplication of N fertilizer. Agroforestry is considered a potentially effective land-use practice for mitigating nitrate leaching. In this study, an agroforestry system of 1–2-year-old poplar (Populus × euramericana cl. ‘74/76’) trees intercropped with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and maize (Zea mays) were rotated annually and compared with a sole-crop system in order to quantitatively investigate changes in NO3-N accumulation and water use following introduction of the trees into the farmland. The results revealed that evapotranspiration (ET) decreased by 6.1% and 3.7% during the wheat season and increased by 11.5% and 12.1% during the maize season, for fertilized and nonfertilized treatments intercropped with young poplar trees, respectively. NO3-N concentration decreased significantly in the intercropped system. NO3-N accumulation in the soil after the winter wheat and maize harvests decreased by 29.7 kg N ha-1 and 47.9 kg N ha-1 in the fertilized intercropped system, respectively, compared to the fertilized sole-crop system, while the grain yield of intercropped maize decreased by 31.3% and 33.7% for the fertilized and nonfertilized treatments, respectively. Water use efficiency (WUE) decreased by 38.5% and 40.7%, respectively. These results indicate that poplar tree roots play a significant role in alleviating NO3-N accumulation in the soil profile due to more NO3-N uptake in the intercropped system. However, they severely influenced maize grain yield and WUE. Thus, young poplar trees can be introduced into wheat fields. However, it is impractical to introduce them into a wheat and maize rotation system, in view of sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agriculture is one of the most important goals for the future of agriculture, environment and the humankind. The development of science and improvements of technology are key impetus to agriculture transformation. Suitable integrated evaluation method based on multi-dimension criteria is urgently needed to overcome the decision-making puzzle when facing various agricultural managements and technologies. This study compared the results of several evaluation methodologies: emergy, ecosystem services, life cycle assessment and environmental footprints, based on a case study of cropping systems in the North China Plain. The differences and limitations from the evaluation results force us to revise the framework for evaluating the sustainability of cropping systems. Therefore, we summarized the essential demands for agriculture to 4 targets in the revised evaluation frame: food production, economic profitability, resource conservation and environment-friendliness. The evaluation results based on revised framework indicated that the frame considered multi-dimension criteria for sustainable and cleaner production of agriculture and provided a reference standard for policymakers and stakeholders as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The policy of land rental activity from fragmented to concentrated farmland has been overwhelming encouraged by the Chinese government. The land management policy has paid more attention on the investigation of its economic and social performances of land rental activity, while information on its environmental consequence is still lacking. This study, therefore, compared the environmental and economic performances of small (SF) and large scale (LF) farms based on emergy evaluation (EME), life cycle assessment (LCA) methods, and economic analysis (EA), which reflected a land rental activity from fragmented to concentrated farmland in the North China Plain (NCP). The EME results showed that the environmental loading ratio of the LF was 5.0% lower, while the emergy yield ratio and emergy sustainability index of the LF were 1.48% and 8.0% higher, respectively, than that of the SFs. The LCA results demonstrated that the area-based and yield-based environmental impact indices of the LF were 28.8% and 18.3% lower than that of the SF, respectively. These results indicate that the environmental consequences of the cropping system were improved when the farmland was managed in a concentrated model instead of a fragmented model. In addition, the EA results showed that the income to cost ratio of the LF was reduced by 47.46% compared to that of the SF, due to high land rental costs in the LF. Nevertheless, the total profit of the LF was 1719.3% higher than that of the SF due to its lager farm scale. Also, the owner's total profit of the SF was increased by 195.5% compared to the farming by themselves in their own farmland instead of renting them out. These results showed that scale management can promote both managers who rented out and into the farmland to increase their annual total incomes. In conclusion, the concentrated farmland would be a platform for the improvement of environmental consequences of cropping systems in the NCP. • Environmental and economic consequences of small and large farms are compared. • The paper performed a joint use of LCA, emergy and economic analysis. • Environmental consequence of concentrated farmland was better than fragmented farm. • Concentrated farmland improved economic benefit of farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of an interface has been demonstrated as one of the most insightful strategies for designing efficient catalysts toward electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR). However, the weak interfacial interaction and inherent instability inevitably hinder a further performance enhancement in CO2RR attributable to the interface effect. Herein, 2 nm Ag nanoclusters (Ag NCs) are embedded onto CeO2 nanospheres (CeO2 NSs) with highly interconnected porosity (Ag NCs@CeO2 NSs) to exclusively study the pure interface effect toward CO2RR. The enhanced Ag–CeO2 pure interface endows Ag NCs@CeO2 NSs with a remarkably larger current density, significantly higher Faraday efficiency (FE), and energy efficiency as compared to Ag NCs, CeO2 NSs, and the one with Ag NCs dispersed on CeO2 nanoparticles. More importantly, an impressively high CO FE of over 70.0% is achieved at an ultralow overpotential (η) of 146 mV. The free energy and differential charge calculations, coupled with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy results jointly imply that the effective initiation of CO2RR to CO at a lower η over Ag NCs@CeO2 NSs derives from the enhanced interface‐induced charge delocalization, which enhances the electron transfer ability toward *COOH intermediate, thus overcoming the energy barrier demanded for the rate‐determining step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive cropping is considered to contribute to negative effects both on soil physiochemical properties and on long‐term grain yield, which can be alleviated by appropriate crop rotations. The soil microbial community can vary with different crop rotations, which in turn affect soil quality and grain yield. Therefore, it is of great significance to elucidate the response of the soil microbial community to crop rotation. In this study, the structural and functional changes of microbial community in different crop rotations were analyzed using high‐throughput sequencing and metagenomics analysis in a field experiment. The continuous winter wheat‐summer maize cropping system was the control, and three crop rotations were established in October 2016 as follows: (1) spring peanut→winter wheat‐summer maize, (2) winter wheat‐summer peanut→winter wheat‐summer maize and (3) spring sweet potato→winter wheat‐summer maize. Soil samples were collected in September 2021 for soil microbial assessment. The results showed that the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota in the soil of spring sweet potato→winter wheat‐summer maize was significantly higher (15.2%) than that in the control. The relative abundance of Ascomycota was significantly higher (19.8%–23.2%) in the soil following crop rotation compared with the control. Compared with the control, spring peanut→winter wheat‐summer maize enriched energy metabolism genes, and spring sweet potato→winter wheat‐summer maize reduced the genes related to plant–pathogen interaction. Compared with the control, crop rotation significantly decreased the relative abundance of the inorganic phosphorus solubilization gene (gcd) and the phosphorus transport gene (upgE) and increased the abundance of organic phosphorus mineralization genes (phoA and phyA). Based on these results, we concluded that the composition of the soil microbial community and functional genes can be altered by crop rotation, and spring peanut→winter wheat‐summer maize and spring sweet potato→winter wheat‐summer maize had more significant effects. This study provided a reference for the selection of crop rotations in the North China Plain based on the soil microbial community and its function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • GHG emissions induced by different organic wastes were evaluated. • Different organic wastes returning to soil exhibited different results in the trials. • Compared with CF treatment, organic wastes applied to soil significantly increased GHG emissions. • Biogas residue returning emitted minimum GHG emissions among different types of organic wastes. Abstract Large quantities and many varieties of agricultural organic wastes are produced in China annually. Applying agricultural organic wastes to soil plays an essential role in coping with the environmental pollution from agricultural wastes, solving the energy crisis and responding global climate change. But there is little information available on the effects of different agricultural organic wastes on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objectives of this study were to investigate and compare the impacts of different organic wastes on soil GHG emissions during a 4-year field experiments in the North China Plain, as well as analyze the influential factors that may be related to GHG emissions. The treatments were: crop straw (CS), biogas residue (BR), mushroom residue (MR), wine residue (WR) and pig manure (PM) returning to soil, as well as a control with no organic waste applied to soil but chemical fertilizer addition only (CF). The results showed that compared with CF treatment, organic material applied to soil significantly increased GHG emissions and emissions followed the order of WR(27,961.51 kg CO 2 -eq/ha/yr) > PM(26,376.50 kg CO 2 -eq/ha/yr) > MR(23,366.60 kg CO 2 -eq/ha/yr) > CS(22,434.44 kg CO 2 -eq/ha/yr) > BR (22,029.04 kg CO 2 -eq/ha/yr) > CF(17,402.77 kg CO 2 -eq/ha/yr), averagely. And considering the affecting factors, GHG emissions were significantly related to soil temperature and soil water content. Different organic wastes also affected soil total organic carbon (TOC), microbial carbon (MBC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contents, which related to GHG emissions. Further analysis showed that characteristics of organic wastes affected GHG emissions, which included C-N ratio, lignin, polyphenol, cellulose and hemicellulose. Our study demonstrates that biogas residue returning to soil emitted minimum GHG emissions among these different types of organic wastes, which provided a better solution for applying organic wastes to mitigate soil GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a study of the electronic structure and optical properties of uranium dioxide (UO2) based on the ab-initio density-functional theory and using the generalized gradient approximation. To correctly describe the strong correlation between 5f electrons of a uranium atom, we employ the on-site Hubbard U correction term and optimize the correlation parameter of the bulk uranium dioxide. Then we give the structural and electronic properties of the ground state of uranium dioxide. Based on the accurate electronic structure, we calculate the complex dielectric function of UO2 and the related optical properties, such as reflectivity refractive index, extinction index, energy loss spectra, and absorption coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In maize (Z ea mays L.), final grain yield is largely determined by kernel number at harvest. The goal of this research was to assess the source of kernel loss and identify the main factors in the process of kernel formation among maize hybrid genotypes comprising semi-compact (JH5) and compact (LD9066) genetic backgrounds (with contrasting tolerance to stand density) under field conditions. Field experiments were conducted in 2014 and 2015. Two hybrids were grown at three sowing dates (early April: SD1, early May: SD2, and late May: SD3) and under three plant densities: D1 (5.25 plants m −2 ), D2 (6.75 plants m −2 ), and D3 (8.25 plants m −2 ). Two sources of kernel loss were assessed and associated with 1) silks failing to emerge from the husk 7 days after silking (loss1) and 2) kernel abortion during the grain-filling period (loss2). The results demonstrated that floret number was significantly influenced by maize hybrid: the semi-compact maize hybrid JH5 had more florets than did the compact maize hybrid LD9066. However, the final kernel number per plant (FKNP) of JH5 was slightly lower than that of LD9066. JH5 had a larger value for both loss1 and loss2 than did LD9066 (22.6% vs 11.9% and 21.0% vs 12.1%, respectively). Moreover, sowing date and plant density also significantly influenced the source of kernel loss. SD1 exhibited a greater value of loss1 than did SD2 and SD3 (24.9%, 15.8% and 11%, respectively) but a lower value of loss2 than did SD2 and SD3 (10.0%, 20.6% and 19.6%, respectively). Plant density had no significant effect on loss1; however, the highest plant density (D3) resulted in the highest loss2 among three plant densities (9.4%, 15.9% and 25.9%). The dynamics of visible silking showed that JH5 requires more time (+1.5 days) to reach 50% maximum visible silks than does LD9066 and has a lower proportion of maximum visible silks at the seventh day after silking. In addition, the apical kernels of JH5 had a relatively longer Dmax (days needed to reach the maximum grain-filling rate) and greater Gmax (maximum grain-filling rate) than did those of LD9066 (+0.5 day and +3.5 mg kernel −1  d −1 , respectively). However, the Wmax (kernel weight at the maximum grain-filling rate) and P (active grain-filling period) of JH5 were much lower than those of LD9066 (-6.4 mg kernel −1 and −8.2 days, respectively). Compared with the semi-compact hybrid, the compact hybrid showed an enhanced ability to resist abiotic stress tolerance, with good fertilization synchronization and a low percentage of kernel abortion. These above-mentioned traits should be considered in breeding programs to further increase the maize yield in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to rapid economic growth and dramatic urbanization in China in the recent 30 years, the traditional model for grain production dominated by small-size household farms is gradually being broken, while large-scale farming is becoming increasingly common. However, the information on relationships of environmental and economic consequences of grain production on different farm size has been lacking. In this study, life cycle assessment and economic analysis are used to compare environmental and economic performance of wheat-maize double-cropping system on small, medium and large farm size in North China Plain (NCP). The life cycle assessment indicates that, compared to the small-farm, area-based environmental impact index (EI A ) is decreased by 2.4% and 3.4% for the medium-farm and large-farm, yield-based environmental impact index (EI Y ) is increased by 14.3% for the medium-farm while decreased by 3.4% for the large-farm. The economic analysis shows that the yield-based profits (EP Y ) for the medium-farm and large-farm are 83.4% and 71.7% lower than that for the small-size farms but the expansion of farm size contributes to the improvement of incomes of workers and owners of the farms together. Generally, the potential environmental impacts of grain production on the same area farmland will possibly change due to the difference of farm size, but expanding farm size will not directly and obviously improve the potential environmental consequences of grain production in the NCP. The larger size farm earns the more net income annually, but the conventional small-farm has the better revenue at the point of yield-based profit. Moreover, a scenario analysis represented that the EI Y and EP Y for the medium-farm and large-farm would be improved by 1.1%–47.1% and by 11.1–267.3%, respectively, by improved fertilization, irrigation and machines practices. Clearly, the advanced agricultural practice is the key point to improve the environmental and economic consequences for grain production in the NCP. Therefore, it is not scientific to only emphasize the expansion of farm size but, meanwhile, not to promote the implementation of advanced agricultural practices for the environmental and economic consequences of grain production in the NCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop rotations can make use of plant-soil feedback (PSF) effect to improve the sustainability of crop production. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-Summer maize (Zea mays L.) double-cropping (WM) has the largest planted area in the North China Plain. To explore sustainable planting patterns, four crop rotation modes were implemented in 2002. (1) RS: Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and WM rotation; (2) P: Spring peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and WM rotation; (3) RCP: Ryegrass–cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), peanut, WM rotation; and (4) SCS: sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.), cotton, sweet potato, WM rotation. After 15 years of crop rotation, the soil legacy effects on wheat and maize production were evaluated through field and pot experiments. Results show that yields and soil properties (soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, NO3−, pH, EC, and aggregate stability) were significantly influenced by different crop rotation systems prior to the same wheat planting. In 2018, compared to WM treatment, SCS, RCP, and P produced a higher total grain yield of wheat and maize at 27.7%, 25.1%, and 24.8%, respectively. RS produced a 6.7% lower total grain yield than WM. The crop rotational difference of wheat and maize yield was not reflected in these soil properties. The pot experiment demonstrated that soil from different cropping systems had dissimilar biotic and abiotic properties that influence crop growth. Our results show that enhanced crop rotations based on double cropping (wheat–maize) can affect wheat and maize production, and the effects were related to their specific soil legacies affected by plant-soil feedback. Including more diverse crop species in the rotation has beneficial soil legacy effects for the yield and resource utilization in agriculture systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synergy relationship between human development and carbon emissions in rural areas is an important aspect of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Chinese government is promoting a rural revitalization strategy towards 2050, but whether the development of rural industries and changes in farmers' lifestyles will increase carbon emissions is a matter of concern. Here, this study obtained survey data from 322 villages of 27 provinces in China by face-to-face interviews, and the reliability of these data has been proven through T-test. Rural Human Development Index (RHDI) and rural carbon emissions have been evaluated, and "quadrant method" was conducted to clarify the relationship between RHDI and rural carbon emissions. Then, this study explored drivers of rural carbon emissions under the different kinds of villages. Results showed that the range of RHDI was 0.166–0.846, and 63.66% villages were at the low level. The average rural carbon emissions were up to 3.15E+03 t CO 2 eq, and 28.26% villages were at the high level. However, villages with low RHDI and low carbon emissions accounted for the highest proportion (47.52%), and the increase of RHDI significantly caused more carbon emissions. 73.73% of carbon emissions came from people living, in which diesel of transportation and electricity were the main sources of rural carbon emissions, and the increase of population and area can significantly bring about more carbon emissions. Overall, the development level of Chinese rural area was relatively low, and the use of clean energy needs to be further optimized to arrive the goal of decoupling of economy and carbon emissions. [Display omitted] • Human well-being and carbon emissions are critical to sustainable development. • Synergy of rural human well-being and carbon emissions is highly emphasized. • In Chinese rural areas, 73.73% of carbon emissions come from people living. • Population and area are top2 drivers to rural carbon emissions. • The use of clean energy should be taken seriously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a physiological role in regulating the heat tolerance of plants and maintaining crop productivity under high-temperature stress. Appropriate cultivation techniques can regulate endogenous ABA and help farmers improve food production under high-temperature stress. Here, the physiological basis for ABA-induced heat tolerance in crops is reviewed. High-temperature stress stimulates ABA, which reduces stomatal opening and promotes root growth. The root system absorbs water to maintain the water status, thus allowing the plant to maintain physiological activities under high-temperature stress. ABA plays a synergistic role with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide biosynthesis to improve the thermal stability of the cell membrane, maintain a dynamic balance between material and energy, and reduce the negative effects of high-temperature stress on kernel number and kernel weight. Cultivation and tillage techniques adapted to high-temperature stress, such as adjustment of sowing time, application of plant growth regulators and fertilizers, and the use of irrigation, subsoiling and heat acclimation, and the mechanisms by which they improve crop heat tolerance, are also reviewed. The results of the studies reviewed here will help researchers develop techniques for cultivating food crops under heat stress and apply them to food-production fields to improve crop productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • OH− ions were created by the in-situ synthesis of CdCO 3 (i-CdCO 3) on the electrode. • The i-CdCO 3 delivers near-unity selectivity for the electroreduction of CO 2 to CO. • An ultrahigh mass activity of 165.1 mA mg−1 was achieved on i-CdCO 3 at − 1.26 V. • The superior CO selectivity is due to an increased local pH which inhibits HER. Electrochemical reduction of CO 2 to CO is an attractive approach for the sustainable carbon cycle. However, the activity and selectivity of the CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) are often limited by the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in aqueous media. In this work, in-situ generated hydroxides were introduced by the synthesis of rhombohedral CdCO 3 crystals (i-CdCO 3) under electrochemical CO 2 RR conditions. The generated hydroxides contribute to an increased local pH at the electrode/electrolyte interface, thereby effectively inhibiting HER. As a result, the obtained i-CdCO 3 exhibits remarkably higher CO Faradaic efficiency (over 90%) in a broad potential range, where a near 100% selectivity is achieved, as compared to a pre-synthesized CdCO 3 with similar morphology. Moreover, i-CdCO 3 delivers a large current density of − 24.8 mA mg−1 at − 1.26 V, together with a good stability of 36 h with negligible degradation, further demonstrating its superiority for efficient CO 2 RR. This study proposes a promising design strategy to boost the selectivity of CO 2 RR systems through in-situ producing hydroxides near the electrode to suppress the unfavorable HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A large-scale farm’s wheat-maize system is studied with emergy method based on LCA. [•] Emergy efficiency and sustainability of wheat of the wheat-maize system is lower. [•] Emergy efficiency and sustainability of the system is lower than household farms. [•] It’s due to the irrigation, fertilizer, labor input in wheat pre-sowing and growth. [•] The system can be improved by suitable water, nutrient, and agronomic managements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Biogas, which plays an important role in energy production and environmental protection, is developing at a large-scale in China to accommodate the modernization and fast pace that the Chinese agricultural sector has experienced over the last decade due to the rapid development of large-scale farms and stockbreeding in recent years. This study introduced life cycle assessment (LCA) into emergy evaluation to analyze each production step of a large-scale biogas project in China and to compare the economic and ecological performance of the biogas production system (BPS) and biogas plus electricity production system (BEPS) of a project. Our findings indicated that the energy return rate of biogas production system was lower than that of traditional energy production system currently. Emergy efficiency of the large-scale biogas project was 77.9–95.6% higher than that of the small-scale biogas project. The emission mitigation intensity was also 125.7–172.7 times higher for the large-scale plant than for the small-scale plant. The sustainability of the large-scale biogas project was 1.16–11.87 times higher than that of other renewable energy production systems, but 66.0–74.4% lower than that of the small-scale biogas project due to an insufficient amount of raw material inputs and the higher cost of equipment investment in anaerobic fermentation and electricity generation steps. Moreover, the economic and ecological performance of BEPS was worse than that of BPS. We suggested that the sustainability of the large-scale biogas project would be improved by measures: first, providing a suitable quantity and ratio of raw materials; second, reducing the equipment investment of fermentation and the generator; third, using the electricity from the biogas system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Multipurpose cropping is promoted to provide biomass to meet the growing demand for biorefining, but excessive biomass removal may decrease soil C stocks and ecosystem multifunctionality. Here, soil C stocks across 0–200 cm depth and soil ecosystem multifunctionality at 0–40 cm were evaluated based on a 19–year field experiment, including three multipurpose cropping systems as continuous cotton (CC), ryegrass–sweet sorghum double cropping (RS) and perennial switchgrass (SG). Compared to CC, RS and SG increased the soil C stocks by 19% and 28%, and N stocks by 19% and 23% at 0–200 cm, respectively. The soil C stocks were positively correlated with belowground C input and negatively associated with C mineralization. RS and SG increased soil ecosystem multifunctionality by 16.8 and 15.7 folds at 0–20 cm and 0.34 and 0.61 folds at 20–40 cm relative to CC, respectively. The benefit of soil C stocks and ecosystem multifunctionality was more pronounced in SG than in RS due to the deeper root system. In conclusion, relative to continuous monoculture, rotational and perennial cropping can enhance soil C sequestration, maintain soil function, and provide feedstock for bioenergy. [Display omitted] • Rotational and perennial cropping increased soil carbon (C) stocks at 0–2 m depth. • Rotational and perennial cropping boost soil ecosystem multifunctionality (SEMF). • Higher C stocks under perennials are due to higher C input and lower mineralization. • Perennial overperforms rotational cropping in enhancing soil C stocks and SEMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water, energy, and food, which are closely related to human beings, have been proposed by the Sustainable Development Goals, and there are closely related but contradictory relationships among the three. As one of China's main grain-producing regions, the North China Plain (NCP) with dominant grain-oriented cropping system is faced with severe challenges for agricultural sustainable development, such as water and energy shortages, as well as grain safeguard. In this study, a "TKL-WEFN" model combining Tapio decoupling, Kaya, and LMDI was used to evaluate the synergistic relationship from the water-energy-food (WEF) and determine the key drivers taking Wuqiao County in the NCP as a case. The results showed as follows: the synergistic relationship between water-food, as well as energy-food, showed a "M" shaped fluctuation trend from 2009 to 2018 in Wuqiao County. The best performance was achieved in 2011 and 2016, with the state of high yield and low resource consumption. Food increased by 9.43% and 3.52%, while water resources decreased by 5.95% and 8.91%, and energy decreased by 5.36% and 2.15% in 2011 and 2016, respectively. The changes in water consumption for irrigation and fossil energy consumption per unit area of maize and cotton, as well as the adjustment of planting structure, are the main factors affecting the sustainability of crop systems from 2009 to 2018. Water-saving irrigation, no-tillage, and cropping system transformation can improve resources supply and demand, saving 4.61%–50.27% (with an average of 19.47%) of water consumption and 1.91%–13.08% (with an average of 6.45%) of energy consumption by scenarios analysis. Therefore, changing grain-oriented cropping system while maintaining food security and developing water-saving irrigation technology can accelerate the realization of green agriculture. [Display omitted] • Water, energy shortage, and food security are the challenges in North China Plain. • Water-food and energy-food showed a wave trend in 2009–2018 of Wuqiao County. • The high state was 2011 and 2016, with high yield and low resource consumption. • Water-saving irrigation and cropping system change can be considered in study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercropping of maize and soybean has proven to be a sustainable cropping system all over the world. In recent years, as imports of maize and soybean have increased, the Chinese government has strongly promoted the maize -soybeans intercropping to prevent a decline in maize production and to obtain an extra soybean harvest. It is not clear what the coupling relationship is between the intercropping model and the change in yield of maize and soybean across China. The research searched for articles that fulfilled the criteria related to maize-soybean intercropping in China since 2000. It investigated the yield change through meta-analysis, and analyzed the allocation path of yield increase based on the field configuration level using single factor analysis, multilevel model analysis and random forest analysis. Compared to monoculture, the total yield of intercropping maize and soybean increased by approximately 12%, while the equivalent yield decreased by 8% and 40%, respectively. The proportion of maize area was crucial for the maize intercrop yield. The shading effect of maize on soybean was a key factor in soybean yield reduction. Increasing the distance between the maize and soybean strips lead to an elevation of soybean intercropping yields without compromising maize yield or the total yield. Huang-Huai-Hai Plain Summer Sowing region and Southwest Mountain region were more suitable for promotion. The yield of intercropping was beneficial in this suitable integrated region when the soybean strip width did not exceed 78 cm (soybean row spacing ≤3) and the distance between the maize and soybean strips ≥ 77 cm. Maize-soybean intercropping had great potential for yield improvement, the overall LER was 1.6. In the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain Summer Sowing and Southwest Mountain regions, the yield-advantaged field configurations were: (soybean strip-width ≤61 cm or soybean rows ≤3, distance between strips ≥65 cm) and (soybean strip-width ≤76 cm or soybean rows ≤3, distance between strips ≥73 cm), respectively. Each plantation regions still need to select the optimal distance based on the local farming facilities and traditional farming habits. The research demonstrates the yield changes of maize-soybean intercropping in China, providing a methodology with certain reference value for intercropping yield improvement based on field configuration level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: B atoms modify the local electronic structure of Bi with positive valence sites. B doped Bi boosts highly efficient electroreduction of CO2 to formate. B dopant differentiates the proton participations in CO2 RR and HER processes. The dominant mechanistic pathway of B promoted formate generation is unraveled. Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate is economically attractive but improving the reaction selectivity and activity remains challenging. Herein, we introduce boron (B) atoms to modify the local electronic structure of bismuth with positive valence sites for boosting conversion of CO2 into formate with high activity and selectivity in a wide potential window. By combining experimental and computational investigations, our study indicates that B dopant differentiates the proton participations of rate-determining steps in CO2 reduction and in the competing hydrogen evolution. By comparing the experimental observations with the density functional theory, the dominant mechanistic pathway of B promoted formate generation and the B concentration modulated effects on the catalytic property of Bi are unravelled. This comprehensive study offers deep mechanistic insights into the reaction pathway at an atomic and molecular level and provides an effective strategy for the rational design of highly active and selective electrocatalysts for efficient CO2 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: N7-methylguanosine (m7G) modification is one of the most common transfer RNA (tRNA) modifications in humans. The precise function and molecular mechanism of m7G tRNA modification in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain poorly understood. Methods: The prognostic value and expression level of m7G tRNA methyltransferase complex componentsmethyltransferase-like protein-1 (METTL1) andWD repeat domain 4 (WDR4) in HCC were evaluated using clinical samples and TCGA data. The biological functions and mechanisms of m7G tRNA modification in HCC progression were studied in vitro and in vivo using cell culture, xenograft model, knockin and knockout mouse models. The m7G reduction and cleavage sequencing (TRAC-seq), polysome profiling and polyribosomeassociated mRNA sequencing methods were used to study the levels of m7G tRNA modification, tRNA expression and mRNA translation efficiency. Results: The levels of METTL1 and WDR4 are elevated in HCC and associated with advanced tumour stages and poor patient survival. Functionally, silencing METTL1 or WDR4 inhibits HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while forced expression of wild-type METTL1 but not its catalytic dead mutant promotes HCC progression. Knockdown of METTL1 reduces m7G tRNA modification and decreases m7G-modified tRNA expression in HCC cells. Mechanistically, METTL1-mediated tRNAm7Gmodification promotes the translation of target mRNAs with higher frequencies of m7G-related codons. Furthermore, in vivo studies with Mettl1 knockin and conditional knockout mice reveal the essential physiological function of Mettl1 in hepatocarcinogenesis using hydrodynamics transfection HCC model. Conclusions: Our work reveals new insights into the role of the misregulated tRNA modifications in liver cancer and provides molecular basis for HCC diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The net greenhouse gas balance (NGHGB), estimated by combining direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, can reveal whether an agricultural system is a sink or source of GHGs. Currently, two types of methods, referred to here as crop-based and soil-based approaches, are widely used to estimate the NGHGB of agricultural systems on annual and seasonal crop timescales. However, the two approaches may produce contradictory results, and few studies have tested which approach is more reliable. In this study, we examined the two approaches using experimental data from an intercropping trial with straw removal and a tillage trial with straw return. The results of the two approaches provided different views of the two trials. In the intercropping trial, NGHGB estimated by the crop-based approach indicated that monocultured maize (M) was a source of GHGs (−1315kgCO2 −eq ha−1), whereas maize–soybean intercropping (MS) was a sink (107kgCO2 −eq ha−1). When estimated by the soil-based approach, both cropping systems were sources (−3410 for M and −2638kgCO2 −eq ha−1 for MS). In the tillage trial, mouldboard ploughing (MP) and rotary tillage (RT) mitigated GHG emissions by 22,451 and 21,500kgCO2 −eq ha−1, respectively, as estimated by the crop-based approach. However, by the soil-based approach, both tillage methods were sources of GHGs: −3533 for MP and −2241kgCO2 −eq ha−1 for RT. The crop-based approach calculates a GHG sink on the basis of the returned crop biomass (and other organic matter input) and estimates considerably more GHG mitigation potential than that calculated from the variations in soil organic carbon storage by the soil-based approach. These results indicate that the crop-based approach estimates higher GHG mitigation benefits compared to the soil-based approach and may overestimate the potential of GHG mitigation in agricultural systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A water-energy-food relative index for cropping systems at the field scale is proposed. • Synergy among water, energy and food in the North China Plain is evaluated. • Sustainable systems can balance crop production while reducing resource depletion. Extreme climate change, rapid population growth and economic development drive a growing demand for resources, which lead to energy, food, water and their intertwined nexus becoming increasingly important. Agricultural decisions considering the interconnections among water, energy, and food are critical. The consumption of large amounts groundwater and non-renewable energy by the predominant traditional wheat-maize cropping system has caused a serious water shortage in the North China Plain (NCP), which is a large food production region in China. This situation has strained the relationship between water/energy consumption and food production. It is important to seek synergy in the water-energy-food nexus. This paper proposed a relative index of water-energy-food (WEF RI) based on different values of resource consumption and use efficiency between treatment systems and control system to analyze the synergy between water utilization, energy consumption and food supply in different cropping systems at the field scale. The goal is to seek a sustainable cropping system to balance crop production while reducing energy consumption and water depletion. In this case, different systems including monocropped maize (Zea mays) (MM), intercropped maize and soybean (Glycine max) (MS), relay cropped of maize with pea (Pisum sativum) (MP) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) (MO), rotation of maize with spinach (Spinacia oleracea) (MI) and ryegrass (Secale cereale) (MR), and using traditional wheat-maize (Triticum aestivum) (MW) as a control. MM, MS, MP and MO were the best systems within a particular range of food supply reduction. The WEF RI of the MM/MS system was the highest (2.96/2.78). Compared to the MW system, the groundwater consumption of MM/MS was reduced by 73.84%/73.84%, and non-renewable energy inputs were reduced by 48.01%/48.30%; however, the food supply decreased by 48.05%/51.70%. The WEF RI of the MP system was 1.98. In comparison with the MW system, the groundwater consumption of the MP system was reduced by 28.46%, and the non-renewable energy inputs were reduced by 42.68%. However, the food supply decreased by 37.13%. The WEF RI of MO system was 1.92. Compared to the MW system, the groundwater consumption of MO was reduced by 11.47%, non-renewable energy inputs were reduced by 32.14%, and the food supply only decreased by 26.27%. In conclusion, we theoretically proposed the following references for cropping systems in the NCP: MM and MS are implemented when the areas has extreme water shortages, MO is implemented when a less than 30% reduction in the food supply capacity is acceptable, and MP is recommended if a 30%–40% reduction in the food supply is acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of new rural management models have emerged to solve the problems of economic backwardness, insufficient resource utilization, and technical shortages in rural areas in the context of poverty alleviation to the rural revitalization strategy in China. However, the influence of new rural management model under all countermeasures for rural sustainable development with a comprehensive perspective is lacking. Therefore, exploring whether the new rural management model meets the requirements of sustainable development is an urgent issue. From the theory of system metabolism and emergy accounting method, this study classified the government funds for poverty alleviation measures as import resources, and analyzed the metabolic structure, efficiency, and the rural development factors of Chehe Village before and after poverty alleviation measures are carried out (the year of 2012 and 2019) to verify whether the new model was sustainable. According to the results of this study, the new management model of Chehe Village declined the rural system sustainability with the emergy sustainability index decreasing from 1.96 in 2012 to 0.32 in 2019. With the development of economy, the system metabolic efficiency of Chehe Village promoted and the metabolic structure became more reasonable manifesting in the decline of emergy use per unit GDP and the increase of emergy exchange rate. Moreover, production and livelihood had been highly valued in Chehe Village. In conclusion, it is feasible to add countermeasures of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization into the village system metabolism. The new management model of Chehe Village needs to change exogenous force into endogenous force to meet the requirements of rural sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive disease with high recurrence rate. However, current staging systems were lack of predictive capacity for HCC recurrence. We aimed to develop prognostic nomograms based on inflammation-related markers for HCC patients underwent hepatectomy. Materials and Methods We recruited 889 surgically treated patients from two medical centers. Independent prognostic factors were identified by cox regression analyses. Nomograms for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were established, and validated internally and externally. The performance, discrimination, and calibration of nomograms were assessed, and compared with existed staging systems. Results Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio (GPR) were the two inflammation-related factor that independently correlated with survival. NLR, GPR, international normalized ratio (INR), microvascular invasion, satellite lesions, tumour number, tumour diameter, and macrovascular invasion were used to construct nomogram for RFS while GPR, total bilirubin, INR, α-fetoprotein, microvascular invasion, satellite lesions, tumour diameter, and macrovascular invasion were for OS. In the training cohort, the C-index of nomogram was 0.701 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.669 to 0.732) for RFS and 0.761 (95% CI, 0.728 to 0.795) for OS. These results received both internal and external validation with C-index of 0.701 (95% CI, 0.647 to 0.755) and 0.707 (95% CI, 0.657 to 0.756) for RFS, and 0.706 (95% CI, 0.640 to 0.772) and 0.708 (95% CI, 0.646 to 0.771) for OS, respectively. The nomograms showed superior accuracy to conventional staging systems (p<0.001). Conclusion The nomograms based on inflammation-related markers are of high efficacy in predicting survival of HCC patients after hepatectomy, which will be valuable in guiding postoperative interventions and follow-ups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Soil moisture and yield were observed for 6-year grain, forage and bioenergy crops. • Potential bioethanol production and groundwater decline were calculated. • Sorghum rotation produced more bioethanol per unit of groundwater decline. • Net groundwater withdrawal for perennial switchgrass was the smallest. Abstract Managing the complex demands on available energy, food and water is a fundamental challenge for a world with increasingly tenuous resource pools. The North China Plain's groundwater crisis has become increasingly serious due to decades-long over-exploitation for irrigation to pursue high grain yield. This combined challenge motivated investigation of ways to mitigate the groundwater table decline while fostering the use of renewable bioenergy resources. To provide insights about tradeoffs among water, food and energy, we performed a six-year experiment from 2010 to 2015 in the North China Plain where groundwater use, biomass and biofuel production and water use efficiency were compared for four cropping systems. They are winter wheat-summer maize (WM, grains, 1-year cycle), ryegrass–sweet sorghum (RS, forage plus bioenergy crops, 1-year cycle), winter wheat–summer maize→ ryegrass–sweet sorghum (WMRS, forage, bioenergy plus grain crops, 2-year cycle), and perennial switchgrass (SG, bioenergy crop). Actual evapotranspiration (ET a) and recharge to groundwater were calculated and validated using observed soil moisture contents. Results showed ET a of the cropping systems were statistically similar ranging from 694 to 730 mm yr−1 with the exception of switchgrass which was significantly less at 504 mm yr-1. The water table was projected to decline by about 1.3 m yr-1 for all three multi-crop rotations and 0.4 m yr-1 for switchgrass. In terms of bioethanol production per unit land and per unit ET a , the ryegrass-sweet sorghum (RS) rotation performed best with 25.0 m3 ha-1 and 5.7 L m-3 outperforming the yearly winter wheat–summer maize (WM) rotation (11.7 m3 ha-1 and 3.3 L m-3) and switchgrass (11.4 m3 ha-1 and 2.6 L m-3). The multiple year rotation of winter wheat–summer maize→ ryegrass–sweet sorghum (WMRS) yielded 16.9 m3 bioethanol per hectare and 4.3 L m-3 bioethanol per m3 ET a. When optimizing bioethanol against net groundwater depletion, RS and switchgrass outperformed the two grain-based rotations with 15.5 L and 14.4 L of bioethanol per m3 of depleted groundwater, ahead of WMRS at 10.9 L m-3 and WM at 9.1 L m-3. These results are significant for setting governmental policies on sustainable use of groundwater by various crop mixes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Organic amendment has proven to reduce resource waste and environmental pollution, in addition to increasing soil quality. However, the effect of different organic amendment methods on water-stable aggregates and soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation is unknown, especially in barren sandy soil. A field experiment with four organic amendment methods, straw (ST, local practice), biogas residue (BR), manure (PM), and biochar (BC), was designed with the equal amount of nitrogen (N) input in the North China Plain. Soil aggregate distribution, stability, and aggregate-associated C at two depths (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) were analyzed after a treatment was applied to evaluate soil quality improvement. The main results were as follows: compared to ST treatment, BC treatment enhanced SOC in the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers by 143.8% and 156.5%, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean weight diameter (MWD) of soil aggregates in BR, PM, and BC treatments decreased by 16.2%–31.8%, 10.0%–24.7% (except the 2015 0–10 cm layer), and 18.9%–43.2% compared with ST treatment from 2014 to 2016. BC treatment increased C concentrations in all aggregate fractions compared to ST treatment in 2015–2016 (P < 0.05). The correlations between soil microbial biomass C and MWD (R = 0.7185, P < 0.001) and dissolved organic C and MWD (R = 0.5600, P < 0.001) indicated that soil aggregation is mainly affected by labile organic C in barren sandy soil. All four types of organic amendments increased SOC content; additionally, ST amendment had the highest capacity for aggregate formation. The results indicated that ST amendment is more appropriate for barren sandy soil than BR, PM or BC amendments, and improves soil quality for sustainable soil management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monocropped maize is being discussed as a possible alternative to the conventional wheat-maize cropping system in order to conserve water in the North China Plain. To evaluate the economic and environmental consequences of converting cropping systems, wheat-maize, monocropped maize systems with and without irrigation are compared through a joint use of economic analysis, emergy evaluation and life cycle assessment in this study. According to the economic analysis results, the wheat-maize system has higher grain yield and levels of economic profit but a lower ratio of income to costs compared to monocropped maize systems with and without irrigation. The emergy evaluation results show that monocropped maize systems have higher levels of sustainability. Their environmental loading ratios are 8.16%–26.7% lower and the emergy sustainability indexes are 10.20%–30.52% higher than those of wheat-maize system, respectively. The life cycle assessment results reveal lower potential environmental impacts for monocropped maize systems and their total potential environment impact indexes are 39.59%–40.30% lower than that of wheat-maize system. These results indicate monocropped maize will be an effective measure to resolve the current issue of environmental pressures caused by the conventional wheat-maize system in the North China Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop rotation is an environmentally friendly and highly sustainable cultivation method. Fully understanding the effects of crop rotation on soil microorganisms will facilitate the incorporation of this method. Despite the increasing number of studies exploring the effects of crop rotation on soil microorganisms, there has not been a comprehensive review of the relationship between crop rotation and soil microorganisms. A meta-analysis was conducted on 76 studies that reported the effects of crop rotation on soil microbial indicators. The eight most commonly used indicators were selected to estimate the effect of crop rotation on soil microorganisms. In terms of soil microbial biomass, crop rotation significantly increased soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) by 13.43 % and 15.84 % respectively, compared to those of continuous monoculture. A significant increase in the biomass of fungi was observed when other crops were introduced into continuous legume monoculture for rotation (45.50 %) and in regions where mean annual precipitation (MAP) values were 600 to 1000 (15.72 %). In terms of soil bacterial diversity, rotation increased Shannon's diversity index by 7.68 % when compared with monoculture practices. The effect of crop rotation on soil phosphatase and β-glucosidase activity was not significant in this analysis. Moreover, the effect sizes of crop rotation varied by management practices, such as monoculture crop type or tillage practices. Notably, rotation effects on MBC and MBN were more pronounced under conditions such as reduced tillage, introducing other crops into cereal monoculture for rotation, rotation containing legumes, mean annual temperature (MAT) > 8 °C or MAP 600–1000 mm. However, the opposite was true for Shannon's diversity index, and the rotation effect was more significant when no tillage or conventional tillage was applied, MAT < 8 °C, or MAP<600 mm. In conclusion, crop rotation increased soil MBC, MBN, fungal biomass and bacterial Shannon's diversity index when properly used with other agricultural practices. However, more research is still needed to control for heterogeneity among studies and to further explore the relationship between crop rotation and soil microorganisms. [Display omitted] • Crop rotation increased soil MBC and MBN by 13.43 %, 15.84 %, respectively. • Shannon's diversity index in crop rotation was significantly increased by 7.68 %. • MBC and MBN under legume-based rotations were higher than non-legumes. • Shannon's diversity index in rotation performed better in MAT < 8 °C and MAP < 600 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: HSP70/HSP90-organizing protein (HOP) is an adaptor protein that mediates heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and HSP90 folding. HOP can be secreted by cancer cells and promote malignant cell growth in an autocrine manner. Here, we studied its role in gastric cancer (GC). Methods: HOP mRNA and protein levels were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the serum levels. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze HOP expression in 117 GC tissues and 32 adjacent normal tissues. The Cell Counting Kit-8 cell viability assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting were used to analyze the effects of HOP on cell proliferation and apoptosis, and the potential underlying mechanisms. Results: HOP mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in GC tissues than in normal tissues in our medical center (P<0.001) and in The Cancer Genome Atlas database (P<0.001). GC patients had higher serum levels of HOP than age-matched healthy controls (P<0.001); however, once tumors were removed, serum levels significantly decreased (P<0.01). In human GC tissues, increased HOP expression was associated with tumor progression and poor survival. Notably, autocrine HOP promoted cell proliferation through the phospholipase Cγ1-extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2-dependent pathway, and inhibited cell apoptosis by regulating the activities of caspase 9, caspase 3, and B-cell lymphoma 2. Blocking extracellular HOP with neutralizing antibody reduced proliferation and enhanced fluorouracil-induced apoptosis of GC cells. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that HOP is an important molecular marker and prognostic factor for GC, and functionally contributes to tumor cell growth and survival. These results provide a rationale for considering HOP as a potential therapeutic target and chemosensitizer in GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) yield and yield variation are both affected by climate and cultivation management. Changing the sowing date (SD) is one of the most commonly used cultivation managements for achieving high yield of maize in North China Plain (NCP). Climate is one of the most important factors in maize yield variation under different SDs. But the yield variation under different SDs and the contribution of each climatic variable remain unclear. In this study, a 7-year field experiment of SDs was used to assess the changing trends of climatic variables under different SDs, and the relative contribution of climatic variables on yield and yield variation of maize were also evaluated. The experiment was conducted at Wuqiao Experimental Station in NCP, with 35 SDs in 7 years from 2013 to 2018, and 2021, totally. Through analyzing the historical meteorological data, our results showed that more photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) distributed in August and September, minimum temperature was increased from April to September, and high temperature days (HTDs) in a year was significantly advanced from 1990 to 2021. These changes in climate caused the optimum SD with both high yield and yield stability was in early- to mid-June, mainly because of the reduction of HTDs in 5 d pre-silking to 5 d post-silking (SS) and increased PAR in SS and silking to harvest (SH). Through variance partitioning analysis, the climatic variables in SS, SH and the whole growth stage (WS) contributed 56 %, 44 %, and 18 % of maize yield variation, respectively. In SS, 7 %, 28 % and 5 % of maize yield variation were explained by HTDs, PAR, and temperature independently. And this contribution was 18 % and 15 % of the PAR and temperature in SH. While in WS, only temperature explained 20 % of the yield variation. Our results highlight the importance of focusing on the yield stability of maize, and for the first time to clarify the differences in maize yield stability under different SDs in NCP. Meanwhile, the relative contribution of climate on yield variation was quantified. This study also proposed and predicted the optimal SDs for high and stable maize yield in NCP. These results will help to study the regional maize production under climate change in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock husbandry in China is rapidly changing in structure from traditional backyard rearing toward large-scale and intensive production. In this study, a joint use of life cycle assessment, emergy evaluation and economic analysis provides different but complementary standpoints for comparison of four typical pig production models. The results show that the income/cost ratio, labor productivity and daily weight gain for specialized pig farms (SF), thousand pig farms (TF) and hundred thousand pig farms (HTF) are increased by 23.0–36.5%, by 338.7–946.7% and by 2.0–9.8%, respectively, compared to the backyard pig farm (BF). However, the area-based and yield-based potential environmental impacts for the SF, TF and HTF increase by 975.0–9121.9% and by 19.5–43.5%, respectively, compared to the BF. Meanwhile, the emergy-based sustainability of the SF, TF and HTF is 56.5–88.7% lower than that of the BF, whereas the use efficiency of non-renewable resources of the SF increased 17.6–50.4% compared to the BF, TF and HTF. Generally, the larger production scale causes better economic benefits and worse environmental consequences. Nevertheless, to some extent, expanding the scale of livestock production is necessary for the current development of the livestock sector in China. However, the scale must be moderated to avoid serious environmental impacts. In this study, the specialized farm is suggested to be a good choice for livestock production in China. Moreover, policymakers should promote moderate-scale farms to adopt advanced and integrated production practices for livestock husbandry. This will effectively improve the economic and environmental performance of livestock production in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]