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Intensively fertilized acidic soils are global hotspots of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions, contributing to net agronomic greenhouse gas outcomes. Identifying the key drivers of soil N 2 O emissions is hampered by the synergistic or antagonistic effects of multiple factors. Within a framework based on the predominant role of microbial communities producing N 2 O, the N 2 O emissions are affected either by proximal regulators: temporary soil property fluctuations affect N 2 O production transcriptionally, or by distal regulators: persistent genetic rearrangements in local microbial communities. The proximal regulators, individually or together, may spontaneously impact distal regulators. Here, we use acidic soils from tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plantations on a broader geographic scale as a model system. Based on amplicon sequencing and properties of 195 acidic (average pH = 5.0) soils, we determined the importance of proximal and distal regulation to N 2 O emissions. Microbial phylogenetic diversity as a distal regulator overwhelms mineral N content as a proximal regulator in explaining high N 2 O emissions. Low-abundance, diverse prokaryotic communities (e.g., Acidothermu) and specialized denitrifying fungal communities (e.g., Fusarium) were associated with high N 2 O emissions. Revisiting the impact of proximal regulators on distal regulators revealed that soil pH is the sole proximal regulator influencing the prokaryotic rare taxa that correlated with high N 2 O emissions. When considering proximal regulators together (here soil properties compiled as soil fertility index), the microbial diversity were independent of soil fertility. The microbial assembly was dominated by stochastic processes. Consequently, proximal regulators have a limited impact on distal regulators of N 2 O emissions from acidic soils. In conclusion, the framework underscored the importance of in situ microbial communities as distal regulators in explaining high N 2 O emissions from acidic soils. • Tea plantation soils as a model system for studying N 2 O emissions from acidic soils. • Microbial assembly processes are independent of soil fertility. • Microbial phylogenetic diversity explains more elevated N 2 O emissions. • Diverse prokaryotes and specialized fungi contributed to high N 2 O emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The previous studies have indicated that Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae (Pdd) was the pathogen of black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli) with seriously skin ulcer symptom. This study aimed to explore the spleen transcriptome response of S. schlegeli at 24 h (P24 group) and 48 h (P48 group) after Pdd infection and characterize expression profile of immune‐related genes. The fish in the control group were injected with equal volume of PBS. Results showed that there were 2,139 (88.42%), 510 (21.08%) and 242 (10%) differentially expressed genes in PBS vs P24, PBS vs P48 and P24 vs P48 respectively. As the time increases, the number of differential genes gradually decreases. GO annotation indicated that the immune‐related function category contributed the most in the PBS vs P24 and PBS vs P48 groups, including immune response, immune system process, immune effector process and regulation of immune system process. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that these genes were located on 277, 184 and 164 signalling pathways in the PBS vs P24, PBS vs P48 and P24 vs P48 groups respectively; among them, 30, 26 and 16 pathways were related to immune system, involving 344, 119 and 24 genes. P24 group involved more immune‐related signal pathways and genes than P48 group. RT‐qPCR validation indicated that the expression patterns of 10 genes at different time points were well agreed with RNA‐Seq analysis. This study provided a better understanding of the molecular responses to photobacteriosis in S. schlegeli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The effect of biodegradable microplastics (MPs) on abiotic CO 2 varied among soils. • The CO 2 partial pressure controlled the carbonate-derived CO 2 in the short period. • Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria likely drove abiotic CO 2 in the long term. The presence of biodegradable microplastics (MPs) has the potential to affect soil pH, and possibly accelerate or inhibit the loss of soil inorganic carbon (SIC) in calcareous soils. However, most researchers have focused on the release of biotic carbon dioxide (CO 2) from soils following MP amendments, and few studies have investigated SIC-derived CO 2. In this experiment, three typical biodegradable MPs were applied to three calcareous soils amended with 1 % 13C-labeled (99 % atom) carbonate, and the release of CO 2 originating from SIC was quantified. The total CO 2 emissions, soil pH, and microbial functional genes involved in soil nitrification and denitrification were also detected. Throughout the experiment, the contribution of 13C-labeled carbonate to total CO 2 emissions ranged from 0.42 % to 3.31 %. The impact of biodegradable MPs on SIC-derived CO 2 varied with incubation period. At the early stage (≤20 days), the amendment of three biodegradable MPs increased the abiotic CO 2 in some cases, and the CO 2 emissions from 13C-labeled SIC were positively correlated with the total CO 2 originating from the decomposition of SOC and MPs. At the late stage (20–70 days), the presence of biodegradable MPs inhibited the release of CO 2 from 13C-labeled carbonate in most treatments. Moreover, there were negative relationships of SIC-derived CO 2 with soil pH and the amoA gene of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), but positive correlations of SIC-derived CO 2 with amoA of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nirK and nirS genes encoding nitrate reductase in denitrification. Our results indicate that long-term exposure to biodegradable MPs probably regulates the release of H+ in the nitrification process by controlling AOB, and then controlling the dynamics of SIC in calcareous soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally speaking, fish intestinal microbiota is easily affected by food or water environment, and it may be dynamically changed along with body growth. However, it remains unclear whether fish gut microbiota can be affected under any conditions. In the present study, we focused on cultured larval turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and tracked its artificial breeding process from eggs to larvae in two farms located in different regions of China. Through continuous sampling, we analyzed and compared characteristics of intestinal microbiota in turbot larvae and its correlation with the bacteria in water and food at different developmental stages. The results showed that there was a steady group of microbiota in larval gut, and the highest relative abundance of strain was same between the two farms. This microbiota was established soon after hatching of fertilized eggs. Particularly, the structure of this microbiota was nearly not changeable afterward 3–4 months of development. The bacteria carried by fertilized eggs might play an important role during the formation of this microbiota. In conclusion, our findings suggested that there was a core microbiota represented by Lactococcus sp. in gut of artificially bred turbot larvae. The relative proportion of such strain in gut was higher than 30% at the initial stage of turbot life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae (PDD) is a Gram-negative bacterium that can infect a variety of aquatic organisms and humans. Based on an epidemiological investigation conducted over the past 3 years, PDD is one of the most important pathogens causing septic skin ulcer in deep-sea cage-cultured Sebastes schlegelii in the Huang-Bohai Sea area and present throughout the year with high abundance. To further understand the pathogenicity of this species, the pathogenic properties and genome of PDD strain SSPD1601 were analyzed. The results revealed that PDD strain SSPD1601 is a rod-shaped cell with a single polar flagellum, and the clinical symptoms were replicated during artificial infection. The SSPD1601 genome consists of two chromosomes and two plasmids, totaling 4,252,294 bp with 3,751 coding sequences (CDSs), 196 tRNA genes, and 47 rRNA genes. Common virulence factors including flagellin, Fur, RstB, hcpA, OMPs, htpB-Hsp60, VasK, and vgrG were found in strain SSPD1601. Furthermore, SSPD1601 is a pPHDD1-negative strain containing the hemolysin gene hlyAch and three putative hemolysins (emrA, yoaF, and VPA0226), which are likely responsible for the pathogenicity of SSPD1601. The phylogenetic analysis revealed SSPD1601 to be most closely related to Phdp Wu-1. In addition, the antibiotic resistance phenotype indicated that SSPD1601 was not sensitive to ceftazidime, pipemidic, streptomycin, cefalexin, bacitracin, cefoperazone sodium, acetylspiramycin, clarithromycin, amikacin, gentamycin, kanamycin, oxacillin, ampicillin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, but only the bacitracin resistance gene bacA was detected based on Antibiotic Resistance Genes Database. These results expand our understanding of PDD, setting the stage for further studies of its pathogenesis and disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Crop residue amendment is a usual practice in agroecosystem that simulates nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emission by providing available carbon and nitrogen sources, and offsets the benefit of this management practice in mitigating global warming by increasing soil organic carbon stocks. In the arid region, during the transformation of desert to oasis farmland, soil silt and clay contents and salinity tend to increase with cultivation years, and largely influence the impact of crop straw addition on N 2 O emission. However, the interaction effects of soil texture and salinity on N 2 O emissions after crop residue amendment remains unclear. In this study, microcosm experiments were used to investigate the effect of salinity (0.1%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 1.0%) on soil N 2 O emissions following cotton residue application in sandy clay loam soil and silty clay soil. In the absence of cotton residue, throughout the incubation period, low N 2 O emissions were observed from the two soils across different salt levels, and the cumulative N 2 O emissions increased with increasing salinity. The N 2 O emissions sharply increased following cotton residue amendment, and these emissions varied depending on soil texture and salinity. Increasing soil salinity greatly increased the cumulative N 2 O emissions from 46.81 to 780.69 μg N kg−1 due to the enhanced nitrogen mineralization and fungal denitrification rates in the sandy clay loam soil; further, in the silty clay soil, emissions increased from 11.81 to 60.74 μg N kg−1 due to the increased nitrification and bacterial denitrification rates. Overall, our results suggest that moderate soil salinization (≥0.6% salt) likely begins to cause a high risk of N 2 O emission in the field following cotton residue amendment, especially in soil with high sand content as a result of fungal denitrification. Highlights • We studied the interactive effect of soil texture and salinity on N 2 O emissions. • Increasing soil salinity highly increased N 2 O emissions after crop residue amendment. • High sand combined with high salinity increased the risk of N 2 O emission from soil. • The mechanism effect of soil salinity on N 2 O emissions varied with soil texture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to determine the influences of the transverse magnetic field (TMF) and the axial magnetic field (AMF) on prestrike inrush current arc behaviors in vacuum interrupters (VIs) during capacitive making processes. Two types of cup-type VI contacts were used: TMF contacts and AMF contacts. The contact diameter of the VIs was 48 mm. The insulating envelopes of the VIs were transparent, and there was no metal vapor shield inside the VIs, which were arranged for the observation of the prestrike arcs. The inrush current arc behaviors were recorded by a high-speed charge-coupled device video camera. The experimental results revealed that the VIs of cup-type AMF contact showed a higher dielectric strength than those of cup-type TMF contact during the making operations of inrush current. In addition, the arcs in VIs of cup-type TMF contact tended to be intense arcs that caused serious welding than those of VIs of cup-type AMF contact. Moreover, the cup-type AMF contact effectively reduced the prestrike arc erosion on the contact surfaces than those of TMF contact during the prestrike process of inrush current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic film has been widely applied to address water shortages by reducing soil evaporation in arid and semi-arid regions, but it simultaneously affects soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions. Moreover, after the application of plastic film, the ability of nitrification inhibitor to reduce N 2 O emissions remains unclear. In this study, the chamber method was used to measure N 2 O emissions and a modified diffusion equilibrium sampler was used to obtain N 2 O concentrations in an oasis cotton field. Non-mulched and mulched treatments were used to investigate the influence of plastic mulching on soil N 2 O dynamics, and mulched plus nitrapyrin treatment was used to evaluate the ability of nitrapyrin to reduce N 2 O emissions under plastic mulching. Moreover, we also estimated the net economic return and cost related to an eventual environmental taxation on N 2 O emission of these practices. In all treatments, the ridge soil was the origin of most N 2 O (82–87%) emissions, which remained at low levels during the non-fertigation period (ranging from 0.4–17.1 g N ha −1  day −1 ) and sharply increased after the split application of urea; emissions during the fertigation periods accounted for 57–85% of the total N 2 O emissions in all treatments. Compared with the non-mulched treatment, the use of plastic film is a “win-win” strategy for both agricultural income (net economic returns increased by $436–522 ha −1  year −1 ) and N 2 O mitigation (emissions reduced by 19–28%), even without incentives. Although the addition of nitrapyrin to the urea reduced the cumulative N 2 O emissions by 23–39% under plastic mulching, and therefore reduced the costs related to an eventual environmental taxation on N 2 O emission by approximately $2 ha −1  year −1 , this benefit could not compensate for the additional cost of inputting nitrapyrin ($24 ha −1  year −1 ) because this technique did not have a significant effect on cotton yields. Therefore, the use of nitrapyrin is probably a “lose-win” strategy for farmers and N 2 O mitigation and not suitable for reducing N 2 O emissions in oasis cotton fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of microplastics (MPs) under flooded conditions is beneficial for nitrifiers and denitrifiers to produce nitrous oxide (N 2 O), but their dose effect remains unclear. This study evaluated the impact of different doses of polyethylene (PE) MPs on the release of N 2 O from paddy soils cultivated for different years. Compared with unpolluted soils, low doses of MPs (≤ 0.1%) had a negligible influence on N 2 O emissions, and high amounts of MPs (≥ 0.5%) significantly (p < 0.05) increased N 2 O emissions from the paddy soils cultivated for 3, 15 and 40 years by 2.5–4.3, 3.9–8.5 and 8.9–27.7 times, respectively. Moreover, an exponential model indicated that a 0.2% concentration of PE MPs appeared to be the dose threshold that accelerated the release of N 2 O from the all soils. Increased MP concentrations accelerated N 2 O emissions by affecting microbial functional genes involved in N 2 O production and reduction, but microbial taxonomic attributes involved in nitrogen cycling played an insignificant role in controlling N 2 O emissions. Overall, our results indicated that high doses (≥ 0.5%) of PE MPs essentially accelerated the emission of N 2 O from rice soils, and a longer cultivation period (40 years) enhanced the positive effect of MPs on N 2 O emissions. [Display omitted] • Low doses (≤ 0.1%) of microplastic (MP) had a negligible influence on N 2 O emissions. • High concentrations of MP (≥ 0.5%) significantly increased N 2 O emissions. • The 0.2% MP dose appeared to be the threshold that accelerated the release of N 2 O. • Paddy soil cultivated for 40 years enhanced the positive effect of MP on N 2 O emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of plastic film to agricultural fields has been widely used in the arid and semi-arid regions of China to improve crop productivity and soil organic carbon storage. However, the impact of this practice on soil respiration under future climate scenarios remains poorly understood. Process-based model is a useful tool for simulating the effect of this practice on soil biochemical processes and for predicting future changes in soil respiration under different climate scenarios. In this study, the denitrification-decomposition (DNDC) model was evaluated against measured soil respiration. The DNDC model was used to simulate the temporal variation of soil respiration, and the application of plastic film increased the cumulative carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions compared with that of the fields without plastic film. Sensitivity tests indicated that plastic mulching decreased the sensitivity of DNDC-simulated soil respiration and plant biomass to changes in the temperature, precipitation and CO 2 concentration. Across different climate scenarios, the DNDC model predicted that both soil respiration and plant biomass in the mulched treatment slightly changed from −0.2% to 2.1% and from −0.7% to 1.2%, respectively; and in the non-mulched treatment, soil respiration and biomass changed from −4.7% to 10.9% and from −8.7% to 7.8%, respectively. In the arid agricultural region of China, if the pollution of residual mulch film in the fields can be effectively controlled, the application of plastic film is an efficient method for increasing crop productivity and would likely mitigate changes in soil respiration under future climate scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In several studies of agricultural ecosystems, researchers have focused on the soil-surface carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) effluxes, but the nature of CO 2 production in the soil profile and its influencing factors remain unclear. In this study, the soil-surface CO 2 effluxes in an oasis cotton field were measured using the chamber method, and the CO 2 concentrations were used to estimate the CO 2 production in different layers of the soil profile using the gradient method. The soil CO 2 concentrations increased with increasing soil depth, whereas CO 2 production decreased with increasing soil depth. Both soil-surface CO 2 effluxes and CO 2 production in the 0–40 cm layers exponentially increased with increasing temperature. Irrigation temporarily reduced the soil-surface CO 2 effluxes by 19–63% through inhibiting CO 2 production in the 10–40 cm layer but did not affect the CO 2 production in the 0–10 cm layer. CO 2 production mainly occurred in the 0–10 cm layer, and this cumulative production accounted for 63–67% of the total production throughout the soil profile (0–40 cm). The application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer enhanced the rate of CO 2 production in the 0–20 cm layer by increasing the root biomass and soil mineral N content. A positive correlation was detected between the soil-surface CO 2 efflux and soil NO 3 − content in 2015, but no significant correlations were found between the soil-surface CO 2 efflux and soil NH 4 + contents in any treatment. A higher soil-surface CO 2 efflux was observed under high soil temperature and a certain soil moisture range (0.21–0.23 cm 3 cm − 3 ). An analysis of the soil profile revealed higher CO 2 production rates detected in the 0–10 cm layer under high soil temperature and moisture conditions, but higher rates were observed under high soil temperature and low soil moisture conditions in the 10–20 cm layer. Therefore, our results suggest that the effects of fertilization, soil temperature and moisture on CO 2 production vary depending on the soil depth. These findings might improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying soil respiration in soil profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic mulched agricultural fields in Xinjiang are regarded as potential "hotspots" of microplastic (MP) contamination in China, whereas the abundance of MPs in this region is still unclear. As a carbonaceous material, current conventional methods for measuring soil organic carbon (SOC) generally do not separate the MPs from soils, which probably overestimated the soil carbon (C) sequestration. In this study, 77 agricultural soil samples under plastic film mulching were collected in Xinjiang. Afterward, the average abundance of agricultural MPs and the contribution of microplastic-carbon (MP-C) to the SOC pool were evaluated. The abundance of MPs was 12,589 pieces kg−1 soil (ranging from 4198 to 47,420 pieces kg−1 soil), and small-sized (<0.5 mm) plastic particles accounted for 93.3% of the total MPs. Interestingly, the soil salt content was positively related to the proportion of 0.1–0.5 mm MP but negatively correlated with the proportion of 0.02–0.1 mm MP, indicating that soil salinization probably controlled the degradation process of plastic residues. The average content of MP-C in the 0–20 cm layer was 25.33 kg ha−1 (ranging from 1.60 to 192.57 kg ha−1), which had a contribution of 1.59‰ (ranging from 0.05 to 14.24‰) to the SOC pool. Accordingly, we roughly estimated that the MP-C storage (0–20 cm layer) was approximately 88.66 Gg in the plastic film mulching fields of Xinjiang. Although MP is undeniably organic C, this environmental pollution cannot be regarded as "true" soil C storage, which induces the overestimation of soil C sequestration in agricultural fields. Therefore, our results highlighted that MP-C should be subtracted when estimating SOC sequestration in plastic film mulching fields of Xinjiang. [Display omitted] • We identified microplastics (MPs) in agricultural fields of Xinjiang. • The average abundance of MPs in the plastic film mulching fields was 12,589 pieces kg−1. • Small MPs (<0.5 mm) accounted for 93.3% of the total MPs. • The contribution of MP-carbon to soil organic carbon was approximately 1.59‰. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The denitrification-decomposition (DNDC) model is a useful tool for integrating the effects of agricultural practices and climate change on soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions from agricultural ecosystems. In this study, the DNDC model was evaluated against observations and used to simulate the effect of plastic mulching on soil N 2 O emissions and crop growth. The DNDC model performed well in simulating temporal variations in N 2 O emissions and plant growth during the observation period, although it slightly underestimated the cumulative N 2 O emissions, and was able to simulate the effects of plastic mulching on N 2 O emissions and crop yield. Both the observations and simulations demonstrated that the application of plastic film increased cumulative N 2 O emissions and cotton lint yield compared with the non-mulched treatment. The sensitivity test showed that the N 2 O emissions and lint yield were sensitive to changes in climate and management practices, and the application of plastic film made the N 2 O emissions and lint yield less sensitive to changes in temperature and irrigation. Although the simulations showed that the beneficial impacts of plastic mulching on N 2 O emissions were not gained under high fertilizer and irrigation scenarios, our simulations suggest that the application of plastic film effectively reduced soil N 2 O emissions while promoting yields under suitable fertilizer rates and irrigation. Compared with the baseline scenario, future climate change significantly increased N 2 O emissions by 15–17% without significantly influencing the lint yields in the non-mulched treatment; in the mulched treatment, climate change significantly promoted the lint yield by 5–6% and significantly reduced N 2 O emissions by 14% in the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. Overall, our results demonstrate that the application of plastic film is an efficient way to address increased N 2 O emissions and simultaneously enhance crop yield in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the case of back-to-back capacitor banks switching, the inrush current arcs can locally melt the contact surfaces of vacuum interrupters (VIs) during the prestrike process. The contact materials significantly influence the behaviours of the inrush current prestrike arcs. The objective of this paper is to determine the influence of contact materials on prestrike arc behaviours of VIs during capacitive making processes. Six identical 12-kV VIs were used in the experiment after the proposed conditioning. The contact diameter of the VIs was 48 mm, and the insulating envelope was transparent. There were no metal vapour shields inside the VIs to enable the observation of the prestrike arcs. Two different contact materials (CuCr50/50 and CuW10/90) were used in the experiment. Test inrush currents were set to 5-, 10-, and 20-kA peak values, respectively. The inrush current arc features were recorded by a high-speed charge-coupled device video camera. It is discovered that the contact materials have a significant influence on the prestrike gaps. Moreover, the prestrike arcs in VIs with the CuW10/90 contact material tend to be more diffuse than those in VIs with the CuCr50/50 contact material. The results indicate the impact of different contact materials on the prestrike arc behaviours and reveal the contact erosion patterns for different materials. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although split fertilizer applications have been suggested as a logical strategy to reduce nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions by decreasing soil nitrate concentrations, their efficacy remains unclear. A laboratory incubation experiment was performed to determine the effect of split fertilization vs. single fertilization on N 2 O emissions. The split urea application reduced the peak N 2 O emissions during the incubation period, and the cumulative N 2 O emissions were significantly reduced by 28% compared with the single fertilization, although these emissions were influenced by the N fertilizer rate and soil moisture. A higher percentage reduction in cumulative N 2 O emissions under the split fertilization occurred at the low (45%) compared with the high fertilizer rate (15%). At the low fertilizer rate (200 N), the split fertilization resulted in a significantly greater reduction in N 2 O emissions under the dry soil moisture regime (53%) compared with the wet soil moisture condition (37%). In addition, the split fertilization reduced the cumulative CO 2 emissions by 9% compared with the single fertilization. Therefore, our laboratory results suggest that the split fertilization strategy appears to be a useful method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an irrigated agriculture ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the IEC standards, test objects in back-to-back capacitor bank switching tests are subjected to inrush currents of 20 kA peak and 4250 Hz frequency during making operations. For vacuum interrupters (VIs), the contact surfaces may be seriously damaged by the high-energy arc of the inrush current. The field emission current characteristics reflect the surface microscopic conditions after undergoing the inrush current. The objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of the inrush current during back-to-back capacitor bank making operations on the field emission current characteristics of vacuum interrupters under AC power frequency voltage. The amplitudes of the inrush current were set as 10 and 20 kA, respectively. The sample VIs underwent the inrush current at each amplitude twice. After each inrush current, the field emission current of the VI was measured by applying a power frequency voltage upon the contacts with a fixed gap of 1 mm. By applying an AC power frequency voltage, an unsymmetrical field emission current was measured. In addition, according to the Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) theory, the field enhancement factor β and the effective emission area Ae were calculated. The experimental results show that there is a significant unsymmetrical field emission current at each polarity of the power frequency voltage. Moreover, during the voltage rising phase, the field enhancement factor β is higher and the effective emission area Ae is smaller than that during the voltage falling phase for both positive and negative voltage polarities. A heating-cooling hysteresis effect of the emission sites could explain the phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The DNDC model was able to simulate the temporal variation in soil respiration, although it underestimated the cumulative CO2 emission by 15%. A good correlation was found between predicted and measured root respiration. However, this model is limited in its ability to simulate heterotrophic respiration which was underestimated by 59%. The sensitivity tests showed that temperature, precipitation, soil organic C content, fertilization, and irrigation had a positive effect on soil respiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial ecosystems can affect greenhouse gases (GHGs) production by changing soil structure and microbial functions. In this study, microcosm experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of polyethylene (PE) MP addition on soil carbon dioxide (CO 2) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions from paddy soils and their associated microbial functional genes. Methane was not considered due to the negligible emissions throughout the incubation. The amendment of both virgin and aged PE MPs did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect soil CO 2 emissions, but significantly (p < 0.05) increased the abundances of microbial functional genes encoding enzymes involved in hemicellulose (abfA) and lignin (mnp) decomposition, indicating plastic particle has potential to stimulate soil organic carbon decomposition. The presence of PE MP significantly increased N 2 O emissions by 3.7-fold, which was probably due to PE MP increased the abundances of nirS gene involved in nitrite reductase. In addition, compared with virgin PE MP treatment, artificially aged PE MP did not significantly (p > 0.05) influence soil CO 2 and N 2 O emissions. Our results provide evidence that PE MP likely cause a high risk of N 2 O emission from paddy soils, this factor should be considered in future estimates of GHGs emissions from rice fields. [Display omitted] 1) Our result highlighted the accumulation of polyethylene microplastics in paddy soils probably cause a high risk of nitrous oxide emission, indicating this factor should be considered in future estimates of greenhouse gas emissions from rice fields. 2) Although polyethylene microplastics does not significantly affect carbon dioxide emissions from rice soils in this experiment, but this contaminant has potential to stimulate soil organic carbon decomposition due to the increase of microbial functional genes abundances encoding enzymes involved in hemicellulose (abfA) and lignin (mnp) decomposition. • Polyethylene (PE) microplastic (MP) did not affect CO 2 emissions from paddy soils. • PE MP addition substantially increased N 2 O emission from paddy soils. • PE MP increased the microbial functional genes involved in nitrite reductase (nirS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Polluted River is a hotspot of N 2 O production and emission. • Relative contribution of nitrification or denitrification and N 2 O reduction process effect N 2 O concentration. • Intense denitrification and sewage effluent result in enriched 15N in N 2 O from polluted rivers. Urban polluted rivers are important sources of N 2 O because they receive heavy nitrogen loads containing N 2 O and its precursors. Understanding the N 2 O budget is vital to the formulation of N 2 O emissions reduction policies. The isotopic ratios of N 2 O from different sources can provide insights into global N 2 O budgets. Isotopic ratios of N 2 O from soil and marine has been well studied, yet few studies have explored dynamics of dissolved N 2 O and its isotopic ratios in urban polluted rivers. In this study, we quantified N 2 O concentrations, environmental variables and the production pathways of N 2 O, measured the nitrogen isotope ratios of nitrate and ammonia to revealed the nitrogen pollution sources, assessed the isotopic ratios of N 2 O emitted from a series of polluted rivers and compare them with those of soils, oceans, and freshwaters, and revealed the influence of N 2 O production pathways and nitrogen pollution sources on the δ15N–N 2 O and N 2 O concentrations of urban polluted rivers in Shenzhen City, China. The concentrations of dissolved N 2 O ranged from 0.3 to 2482.9 nmol/L, with most values exceeding those equilibrium with the atmosphere, indicating that these rivers in urban subtropical areas are significant N 2 O sources to atmosphere. The isotopic ratios of dissolved N 2 O from polluted rivers varied widely, with δ15N–N 2 O ranging from −11.9‰ to 34.8‰, δ18O–N 2 O from 37.9‰ to 68.2‰, and SP from −10.5‰ to 36.2‰. The δ15N of emitted N 2 O from water surface to atmosphere ranged from −11.9‰ to +34.8‰, with a mean value of +9.2‰, which was higher than that from natural rivers, soil, and the troposphere. δ15Nsp and δ18O values of dissolved N 2 O were adopted to quantify the relative contributions of nitrification (f), denitrification (1-f), and the magnitude of N 2 O reduction (Fr) by denitrification. The results showed that denitrification was dominant pathway of N 2 O production, although the relative contribution of denitrification and nitrification had a great temporal and spatial variability. There is no distinct linear relationship between the concentrations of dissolved N 2 O, δ15N–N 2 O and environmental variables (DO, DOC, NO 3 −, and NH 4 +). The non-linear relationship among δ15N–N 2 O and δ15N–NO 3 −, f, Fr, and environmental variables were explored by regression tree analysis. The results suggested that f and Fr, not DO, DOC, NO 3 − and NH 4 +, were the primary correlates of dissolved N 2 O, for which the N 2 O concentrations were higher when N 2 O was primarily produced via nitrification (f > 77.5%) or denitrification (f < 8%), and were lower when Fr > 69.5%. It is the first attempt to reveal the connection between production and consumption processes with N 2 O concentrations directly. In addition, the elevated values of δ15N–NO 3 − (4.3 to 29.8‰) and δ15N–NH 4 + (3.2‰ to 9.3‰) in these urban rivers consequence that the nitrogen contamination is predominantly sourced from urban sewage. Regression tree analysis also indicated that intense denitrification and sewage effluent result in enriched δ15N in N 2 O from polluted rivers, for which the δ15N values were higher when N 2 O was primarily produced via denitrification (f < 12%) or δ15N–NO 3 − were higher than 15.6‰. These findings provide a foundation upon which to devise strategies to reducing N 2 O production and emission in urban rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The cup-type AMF contact structure VIs without plate slots show a better performance than those VIs with plate slots during the inrush current making process. • The AMF flux density of arc region is lower in the VIs with plate slots than that in the VIs without plate slots at the peak of 20-kA amplitude inrush current, which together with the effect of slots contributes to the stationary intense arcs in VIs with plate slots. • While taking the prestrike matters into account, it is better to get rid of the plate slots for vacuum interrupters, when they are used in capacitive loads switching circumstance. Inrush current prestrike arcs can cause local surface melting of contacts in vacuum interrupters (VIs) and cause strong contact welding during capacitive load operations. The contact welding rupture would seriously damage the appearance of the contact surface and lead to a high restrike possibility during the next opening operation. The slots on the contact plate can remarkably influence the inrush current prestrike arc behavior. The objective of this paper is to research the influence of contact plate slots on prestrike inrush current arc behavior during the capacitive-making processes of VIs. The experimental results showed that the no-plate-slot VIs had better performance than the VIs with plate slots during the prestrike arcing process. In addition, according to the simulation results, the AMF flux density in the arc region is lower in the VIs with plate slots than in the VIs without plate slots at the peak of 20-kA amplitude inrush current, which together with the effect of the slots contributes to the stationary intense arcs in the VIs with plate slots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Film mulching (FM) affected SOC and GHG fluxes varied among agricultural systems. • FM increased the SOC content in rainfed uplands but decreased it in irrigated uplands. • FM slightly affected GHG fluxes in both rainfed and irrigated uplands. • In paddy fields, FM decreased GHG fluxes by reducing CH 4 emissions. • Additional practices should be adopted to enhance C input in mulched rice fields. The use of plastic film in agriculture strongly affects the decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC) and the release of methane (CH 4) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) by influencing soil biogeochemical processes. However, no systematic conclusions have been reached regarding the effect of plastic film mulching on SOC stocks and greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets. In this study, a meta -analysis compiling data from 150 studies was used to assess the effects of film mulching on SOC and soil GHG fluxes across different agricultural systems. In addition, the net global warming potentials (GWPs) of SOC, CH 4 and N 2 O were calculated with the GWP approach. Plastic film mulching significantly promoted crop yield by 48.6%; did not affect SOC; reduced CH 4 emissions from paddy fields by 64.2% and CH 4 uptake in uplands by 16.1%; and increased soil N 2 O emissions by 23.9%. The effect of mulching on SOC and GHG fluxes varied among agricultural systems. Compared with the non-mulched field, the use of plastic film significantly increased SOC and decreased CH 4 uptake in rainfed uplands but reduced SOC in irrigated uplands. In paddy fields, this practice significantly reduced the SOC stock and CH 4 emissions but increased N 2 O emissions. Our results suggest that a low coverage ratio (<50%), black film mulching and flat mulching effectively increase SOC levels compared to those in non-mulched fields, and a low coverage ratio, biodegradable film and ridge mulching could mitigate the positive effect of this practice on N 2 O emissions. Overall, our results suggest that plastic film mulching promotes crop productivity and slightly affects the net GWP in uplands. In paddy fields, this technology appears to be a "win-win" strategy for crop production and GHG mitigation, but additional practices (e.g., biochar application) should be adopted to maintain SOC levels for sustainable development in these fields because it greatly reduces SOC stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization typically inhibits the ability of decomposer organisms to utilize soil organic matter, and an increase in soil clay content can mediate the negative effect of salinity on carbon (C) mineralization. However, the interactive effects of soil salt concentrations and properties on C mineralization remain uncertain. In this study, a laboratory experiment was performed to investigate the interactive effects of soil salt content (0.1%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 1.0%) and texture (sandy loam, sandy clay loam and silty clay soil with 6.0%, 23.9% and 40.6% clay content, respectively) on C mineralization and microbial community composition after cotton straw addition. With increasing soil salinity, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the three soils decreased, but the effect of soil salinity on the decomposition of soil organic carbon varied with soil texture. Cumulative CO2 emissions in the coarse-textured (sandy loam and sandy clay loam) soils were more affected by salinity than those in the fine-textured (silty clay) soil. This difference was probably due to the differing responses of labile and resistant organic compounds to salinity across different soil texture. Increased salinity decreased the decomposition of the stable C pool in the coarse-textured soil, by reducing the proportion of fungi to bacteria, whereas it decreased the mineralization of the active C pool in the fine-textured soil through decreasing the Gram-positive bacterial population. Overall, our results suggest that soil texture controlled the negative effect of salinity on C mineralization through regulating the soil microbial community composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Soil salinization reduced CO 2 emissions but increased their Q 10 values. • Gram-positive bacteria and fungi were related to the Q 10 of CO 2 emissions. • The effects of salinity on the Q 10 of N 2 O emissions varied with soil texture. • The Q 10 of N 2 O emissions was high in salinized soils with high clay content. Soil salinization largely affects greenhouse gas emissions from soils, but its effects on the temperature sensitivity (Q 10) of soil carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions remain unclear. In this study, a temperature-controlled (15 °C and 25 °C) microcosm experiment was performed for 56 days to evaluate the effects of soil salinity (0.1%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 1.0% salt contents) on the Q 10 of CO 2 emissions, N 2 O emissions and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA)-distinguishable microbial communities in sandy clay loam (SCL) soil and silty clay (SC) soil. In both soils, soil salinity inhibited soil microbial respiration under both temperature conditions. However, soil salinity significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced the temperature sensitivity of soil CO 2 emissions, indicating that although soil salinization inhibited CO 2 production in the soil, more CO 2 would be produced in the salinized soils under the warming scenario. Increasing soil salinity simulates the release of N 2 O in both soils, whereas the effects of soil salinity on the Q 10 of soil N 2 O emissions differed between the two soils. There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in the Q 10 of soil N 2 O emissions among the four salinity levels in the SCL soil, but soil salinization significantly (p < 0.05) increased the Q 10 of the SC soil. The relative changes in soil ammonium (NH 4 +)-nitrogen (N) at 15–25 °C and the temperature sensitivity of Gram-positive bacteria and fungi were negatively (p < 0.05) related to the Q 10 of soil CO 2 emissions. The Q 10 of soil N 2 O was positively (p < 0.05) correlated with the relative changes in soil nitrate (NO 3 −)-N at 15–25 °C. Overall, our results highlight the important role of soil salinity in controlling the temperature sensitivity of soil CO 2 and N 2 O emissions, and soil salinization likely causes a high risk of soil greenhouse gas emissions under climate warming conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a fusion algorithm based on the enhanced RRT* TEB algorithm. The enhanced RRT* algorithm is utilized for generating an optimal global path. Firstly, proposing an adaptive sampling function and extending node bias to accelerate global path generation and mitigate local optimality. Secondly, eliminating path redundancy to minimize path length. Thirdly, imposing constraints on the turning angle of the path to enhance path smoothness. Conducting kinematic modeling of the mobile robot and optimizing the TEB algorithm to align the trajectory with the mobile robot's kinematics. The integration of these two algorithms culminates in the development of a fusion algorithm. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that, in contrast to the traditional RRT* algorithm, the enhanced RRT* algorithm achieves a 5.8% reduction in path length and a 62.5% decrease in the number of turning points. Utilizing the fusion algorithm for path planning, the mobile robot generates a superior, seamlessly smooth global path, adept at circumventing obstacles. Furthermore, the local trajectory meticulously conforms to the kinematic constraints of the mobile robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonbiodegradable microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants in the environment and potentially threaten soil health. In recent years, the impact of MPs on soil ecology has attracted widespread attention, but the responses of soil respiration and enzyme activity to MPs exposure remain unclear. Here, a meta-analysis including 1980 observations was used to assess the effects of MPs on soil microbial activity. MPs exposure significantly (p < 0.05) increased soil respiration by 18.2 % but did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect soil enzyme activity; moreover, these effects varied with MP type, concentration, size, and exposure period. The amendment of polypropylene (PP) MP increased soil respiration and enzyme activity by 58.8 % and 10.2 %, respectively, whereas exposure to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) MPs reduced soil enzyme activities by 13.0 %, 6.8 % and 5.0 %, respectively. The soil respiration was unaffected and increased when the MPs concentrations were below and above 5 %, respectively, whereas soil enzyme activity was stimulated and inhibited when the MPs concentrations were less and >10 %, respectively. The size of MPs only significantly (p < 0.05) affected the response of soil respiration to MPs, as small (<500 μm) and large (≥500 μm) sizes of MPs increased and reduced soil respiration by 53.4 % and 5.8 %, respectively. Short-term (≤30 days) exposure to MPs increased soil respiration by 50.2 %, whereas the presence of MPs inhibited soil enzyme activity by 3.3 % when the incubation period ranged from 30 to 100 days. In addition, MPs exposure significantly (p < 0.05) increased soil respiration by 77.9 % in alkaline soil (pH > 7.5) and by 41.6 % in the absence of plants. The amendment of MPs significantly (p < 0.05) increased and reduced soil enzyme activities in acidic and alkaline soils by 4.3 % and 5.5 %, respectively, and significantly (p < 0.05) improved soil enzyme activity by 4.5 % in the presence of plants. Specifically, MPs significantly (p < 0.05) increased the activities of acid phosphatase and fluorescein diacetate hydrolase by 8.3 % and 17.1 %, respectively, but did not significantly (p > 0.05) influence urease, β-glucosidase, and catalase activities. Overall, our results suggested that MPs have nonnegligible impacts on soil microbial activity, and it is urgently necessary to explore the long-term effects of MPs on soil ecology in the natural environment. • MPs exposure increased soil respiration but did not affect soil enzyme activity. • The effects of MPs on soil microbial activity varied among MP types. • >10 % MPs exposure increased soil respiration but decreased enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immersion vaccination is dependent on the response of fish mucosa-associated tissues. Herein, javelin goby Synechogobius hasta was immersed with Vibrio vulnificus bacterin to investigate mucosal and humoral immune responses post-vaccination. The results showed that the specific serum antibody titers gradually increased after vaccination and peaked at day 21, while the mucosal antibody titers in the gill, skin, and intestine showed a faster response, with the peak time at days 3, 5, and 7, respectively. For antigen uptake, a rapid and significant enhancement was detected in the mucosa-associated tissues (gill, skin, and intestine) compared with the blood, spleen, kidney, and liver (P < 0.05). Antigen uptake levels in the gills and skin were peaked at 12 h post-immersion and were significantly higher than other tissues (P < 0.05). The histological results showed that the mucous cell numbers in mucosa-associated tissues increased over time, peaked at day 3 post-immunization, and then decreased to the level of the control groups. Additionally, the mucin components in mucosa-associated tissues shifted from neutral mucopolysaccharide to acidic mucopolysaccharide. Integrations of antibody titers, antigen uptake in mucosa-associated tissues, mucous cell number changes, and mucin characteristic changes provided valuable information for research on mucosal immunity in fish. All present findings suggest a major advantage of immersion vaccines to elicit a high level of local immune response, making immersion vaccines an ideal mode of inoculation that induces protective immunity against a variety of pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) is a marine fish with high financial value; however, the frequent occurrence of bacterial diseases has caused a production decline and economic losses. This study found that hyperemia, hemorrhage, and ascites were common in S. schlegelii during the V. parahaemolyticus infection. Inflammation, degeneration, and necrosis in the liver could be observed. The epithelial mucosal integrity, the intestine epidermis thickness, the villus heights, and the number of mucous cells in the intestine were decreased after infection. Apparent differences in most of the hematological parameters between the two groups were observed, such as the corpuscular volume (CV) and NaCl concentrations of the beginning hemolysis were decreased remarkably (P < 0.01) after infecting with V. parahaemolyticus. However, the white blood cell count (WBC), lysozyme (LZM), malondialdehyde (MDA), K+, Cl−, and Ca2+ were increased significantly (P < 0.01) after infection. In addition, the mRNA expressions in four tissues (gills, liver, blood, spleen) of eleven immune-related genes were investigated. The results showed that C1r, C1s, and C1inh expression varied considerably among tissues. Caspase 10 expression was reduced in four tissues after infection, but MyD88, TNF receptor, TNF-α, BAFF, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-10 showed increased expression profiles within 24 h after infection. In particular, IL-1β expression in the liver and spleen increased 123.67 and 104.94-fold at 6 hpi, respectively. Therefore, in addition to pathology, the hematological detection and gene expression profiles could be used in the evaluation of healthy status in fish, and this study provided a preliminary basis for the diagnosis of S. schlegelii infecting with V. parahaemolyticus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the degradation characteristics of greenschist under hydrochemical action and its disaster-causing mechanism in slope, greenschist samples were collected on a slope in Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province, China. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope were used to test the samples. It was found that the microscopic mineral composition and structural composition of greenschist have sufficient reaction conditions with hydrochemical solution. Through indoor direct shear experiments, the deterioration characteristics of greenschist physical and mechanical properties were respectively explored. In the first 15 days of the action of two kinds of water chemical solutions, the physical and mechanical parameters of greenschist changed greatly, dry density decreased by 1.7%, void ratio increased by 19.1%, cohesion decreased by 40%, and internal friction angle decreased by 20.7%. With the increase of time, the influence of water chemical solution decreased, and the influence of acid solution on greenschist was significantly greater than that of high concentration salt solution. Combined with the topographic map and section map of the slope, the model of the slope with greenschist interlayer is established, and the stability of the slope under two kinds of hydrochemical environment is analyzed. It is found that the slope mainly slides along the greenschist interlayer, and the maximum horizontal displacement occurs at the toe of the slope. Hydrochemical solution reduces the safety factor of the slope about 0.2, resulting in the increase of the upper landslide displacement and the change of the failure sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeromonas hydrophila is a highly pathogenic aquatic resident bacterium that can cause co-morbidity in aquatic animals, waterfowl, poultry, and humans. Flagellum is the motility organ of bacteria important for bacterium tissue colonization and invasion. The flgK gene encodes a flagellar hook protein essential for normal flagellar formation. In order to explore the role of flgK in A. hydrophila , a flgK gene mutant strain of A. hydrophila (∆ flgK -AH) was constructed using an efficient suicide plasmid-mediated homologous recombination method, and gene sequencing confirmed successful mutation of the flgK gene. The biological properties, pathogenicity and virulence genes expression were compared. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the growth, hemolytic, and swarming abilities, but the swimming and biofilm formation abilities of ∆ flgK -AH were significantly reduced and the transmission electron microscope (TEM) results showed that the ∆ flgK -AH strain did not have a flagellar structure. The median lethal dose (LD 50) value of the ∆ flgK -AH in Carassius auratus was 1.47-fold higher than that of the wild-type strain (WT-AH). The quantitative real-time PCR results showed that only the expression level of the lapA gene was up-regulated by 1.47 times compared with the WT-AH, while the expression levels of other genes were significantly down-regulated. In conclusion, flgK gene mutant led to a decline in the pathogenicity possibly by reducing swimming and biofilm formation abilities, these biological properties might result from the down-regulated expression of flagellate and pilus-related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steep gradient, bad natural ecological conditions, and lack of nutrient conditions necessary for vegetation growth led a large number of rock-slopes exposed and serious consequences felt with respect to ecological environment. The chemical material was used to improve the mechanical properties, erosion resistance and integrity of clayey soil, which could be the main materials in the artificial reconstruction of rock-slope topsoil. In the present study, polyol prepolymer is used as a chemical material added to clayey soil to achieve rock-slope topsoil erosion control. A series of laboratory tests were performed on clayey soil with different polyol prepolymer contents and also compared to a fallow one by which the effect on mechanical properties, anti-freeze-thaw behavior, evaporation, erosion resistance and vegetation growth were investigated. The results indicated that polyol prepolymer could increase the mechanical properties, which could be subdivided into improvements in cohesion and slight changes in internal friction angle. Meanwhile, the anti-freeze-thaw behavior, evaporation and erosion resistance of clayey soil also increased by the presence of polyol prepolymer. Low content of polyol prepolymer could promote the germination and growth of vegetation. The effectiveness of the clayey soil treated by polyol prepolymer in the restoration of rock-slope was verified in the field test. • Chemical material improves the soil mechanical property and erosion resistance. • Polyol prepolymer is an effective material in rock-slope topsoil erosion control. • The germination and growth of vegetation is promoted at low content. • The reticular membrane structures enhance the integrity of clayey soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This review covers the sources and distribution of MPs/NPs in aquatic environments. • MPs/NPs are adsorped, uptaken, translocated, and bioaccumulated in aquatic plants. • MPs/NPs cause growth inhibition, biochemical changes, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. • Aquatic plants have phytoremediation potential for MPs/NPs. • This review addresses the knowledge gaps for future research. Plastics have been recognized as an emerging pollutant and have raised global concerns due to their widespread distribution in the environment and potential harm to living systems. However, research on the threat of micro/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) to the unique group of aquatic plants is far behind, necessitating a comprehensive review to summarize current research progress and identify future research needs. This review explores the sources and distribution patterns of MPs/NPs in aquatic environments, highlighting their uptake by aquatic plants through roots and leaves, and subsequent translocation via the vascular system facilitated by the transpiration stream. Exposure to MPs/NPs elicits diverse effects on the growth, physiology, and ecological interactions of aquatic plants, with variations influenced by plastic properties, plant species, and experimental conditions. Furthermore, the presence of MPs/NPs can impact the toxicity and bioavailability of other associated toxicants to aquatic plants. This review shows critical knowledge gaps and emphasizes the need for future research to bridge the current understanding of the limitations and challenges posed by MPs/NPs in aquatic ecosystems. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carp disease with clinical signs of acute gill rot (AGR) has frequently occurred in Henan province of China since 2013, leading to substantial economic losses. However, the causative agent of virus-related carp AGR (CAGR) disease has been controversial. Our study showed that carp edema virus (CEV), specifically the sub-genogroup IIa, might be the primary agent causing virus-related CAGR that is endemic to Henan, China. This conclusion is based on a cohabitation experiment using isolates from an outbreak in 2019 and a retrospective analysis of CAGR samples collected between 2013 and 2015 in Henan, China. In the cohabitation experiment, the clinical development and pathological changes of CEV disease were observed. The pathological alterations in the fish brain were first noticed to be strongly associated with clinical signs of being sleepy, suggesting that pathological alterations in the fish brain may be a critical differential characteristic of CEV. Another important finding in our study was that the mortality in common carp and koi carp was strongly associated by a temperature change and less correlated to the viral loads in organs. Considering the frequent outbreaks of virus-related CAGR disease in Henan (China), effective prevention, good environmental stress management, and efficient diagnosis are needed. Based on comparing the qPCR and the nested PCR designed at the CEFAS Weymouth Laboratory, we recommend using the qPCR method on gills to identify this pathogen because of the assay's sensitivity and the viral load in gill tissues. • CEV of sub-genogroup IIa has been the primary agent that caused the virus-associated CAGR disease in Henan, China, since 2013. • Pathological alterations of gills were closely related to clinical symptoms of the CAGR disease. • Mortality was partially associated with the CEV load, while dramatic temperature change was an essential trigger. • Gill should be considered the primary target organ for diagnosis due to the highest viral load. • qPCR is recommended by us as the most effective method for CEV detection by comparing different molecular analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Urban river impact by in-river structures is an important GHGs source. • WWTP effluent contributes large amount of dissolved N 2 O and CO 2 to river. • WWTP effluent and dam create favorable condition for N 2 O consumption. • Dam can stimulate development of anoxic condition and production of CO 2 and CH 4. • Aeration device is beneficial to reduce CH 4 production. Urban rivers are important sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the atmosphere; however, these high dissolved GHGs are not well studied. We report the first detailed investigation on an urban river influenced by wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), dam and aeration device, with a focus on the concentration of GHGs and their underlying microbial processes basing on isotope approaches. The result revealed that these infrastructures influenced carbon and/or nitrogen input and redox condition of the river system, leading to impaction of GHGs concentrations and spatiotemporal pattern. The WWTP effluent was the point-source of N 2 O loading to rivers, and also contained high NO 3 – and dissolved organic carbon, creating favorable conditions for denitrification by microbes. We measured isotopic compositions (δ15N-N 2 O and δ18O-N 2 O) and site preference (SP) of dissolved N 2 O to differentiate the relative contribution of N 2 O production processes and calculate the degree of N 2 O reduction (Fr). The relative contribution of denitrification increased at downstream and Fr suggested that N 2 O was produced and consumed by heterotrophic denitrification, resulting in a sink of N 2 O downstream. The closure of dam increased water residence time, trapped the sediment, accelerated oxygen consumption, and development of anoxic conditions that stimulating the production of CO 2 and CH 4 , as well as consumption of N 2 O. Aeration devices maintained oxic condition, that slowing the development of the anoxic stage and eliminating the methanic stage at downstream. As a result, CO 2 concentrations increased along the river due to production of CO 2 via anaerobic and aerobic respiration of aqueous organic matter. CH 4 concentrations increased at downstream from organic matter biodegradation under anoxic conditions. The measured dissolved GHGs, especially the upper ranges, correspond to a large oversaturation of surface water with respect to atmospheric equilibrium, leading high fluxes to the atmosphere. Our values are on the high end of estimates reported in the literature among different climate regions, indicating that urban river influenced by various of infrastructures are comparable to those in wetlands and intensively agricultural rivers in terms of GHGs emissions. Urban river should be urgently included in the determination of global carbon and nitrogen budgets from rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an improved method to estimate the blur parameters of motion deblurring algorithm for single image restoration based on the point spread function (PSF) in frequency spectrum. We then introduce a modification to the Radon transform in the blur angle estimation scheme with our proposed difference value vs angle curve. Subsequently, the auto-correlation matrix is employed to estimate the blur angle by measuring the distance between the conjugated-correlated troughs. Finally, we evaluate the accuracy, robustness and time efficiency of our proposed method with the existing algorithms on the public benchmarks and the natural real motion blurred images. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed PSF estimation scheme not only could obtain a higher accuracy for the blur angle and blur length, but also demonstrate stronger robustness and higher time efficiency under different circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding and quantifying the impact of elevated tropospheric carbon dioxide concentration (e [CO 2 ]) on methane (CH 4) globally is important for effectively assessing and mitigating climate warming. Paddies and wetlands are the two important sources of CH 4 emissions. Yet, a quantitative synthetic investigation of the effects of e [CO 2 ] on CH 4 emissions from paddies and wetlands on a global scale has not been conducted. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of 488 observation cases from 40 studies to assess the long-term effects of e [CO 2 ] (ambient [CO 2 ]+ 53–400 μmol mol−1) on CH 4 emissions and to identify the relevant key drivers. On aggregate, e [CO 2 ] increased CH 4 emissions by 25.7% (p < 0.05) from paddies but did not affect CH 4 emissions from wetlands (−3.29%; p > 0.05). The e [CO 2 ] effects on paddy CH 4 emissions were positively related to that on belowground biomass and soil-dissolved CH 4 content. However, these factors under e [CO 2 ] resulted in no significant change in CH 4 emissions in wetlands. Particularly, the e [CO 2 ]-induced abundance of methanogens increased in paddies but decreased in wetlands. In addition, tillering number of rice and water table levels affected e [CO 2 ]-induced CH 4 emissions in paddies and wetlands, respectively. On a global scale, CH 4 emissions changed from an increase (+0.13 and + 0.86 Pg CO 2 -eq yr−1) under short-term e [CO 2 ] into a decrease and no changes (−0.22 and + 0.03 Pg CO 2 -eq yr−1) under long-term e [CO 2 ] in paddies and wetlands, respectively. This suggested that e [CO 2 ]-induced CH 4 emissions from paddies and wetlands changed over time. Our results not only shed light on the different stimulative responses of CH 4 emissions to e [CO 2 ] from paddy and wetland ecosystems but also suggest that estimates of e [CO 2 ]-induced CH 4 emissions from global paddies and wetlands need to account for long-term changes in various regions. • e [CO 2 ] increased paddy CH 4 emissions but did not affect wetland CH 4 emissions. • e [CO 2 ] effects on paddy CH 4 emissions were positively related to that on belowground biomass, methanogens. • Rice tillering numbers affect e [CO 2 ]-induced CH 4 emissions in paddies. • Water table levels affect e [CO 2 ]-induced CH 4 emissions in wetlands. • e [CO 2 ]-induced CH 4 emissions from paddies and wetlands changed over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Temperature and ferrihydrite jointly influence soil methanogenesis. • Raising temperature had a significant ability to enhance Fe reduction. • Fe reduction mediates the coexistence patterns of methanogens. • Temperate paddy soil exhibit higher Q 10 than subtropical paddy soil. Microbial methanogenesis in paddy soils contributes approximately one-fifth of global anthropogenic methane (CH 4) release, creating severe negative climate feedback. The dynamics of iron oxides in flooded paddy fields, as well as temperature changes, have an impact on CH 4 production. However, the relationship between the two, as well as their interactive mechanisms in influencing CH 4 production and microbial communities in paddy soils, is not yet clear. Therefore, we investigated the interactive effects of temperature (15, 25 and 35 °C) and iron oxide (ferrihydrite) on CH 4 production and methanogenic community structure in two Chinese paddy soils, one subtropical and one temperate. We characterized shifts in microbial communities using high-throughput sequencing of bacteria, archaea and methanogenic mcrA genes following an anaerobic incubation for 90 days. Our results showed that temperature significantly promoted Fe reduction in paddy soils, and both together regulated CH 4 production by reducing the number of methanogens. Additionally, the temperature sensitivity of methanogenesis was higher in the temperate than in the subtropical paddy soil. We also demonstrated that ferrihydrite can inhibit methanogenesis by reducing the relative abundance of Methanosarcinales and altering the community patterns of methanogens in these paddy soils. Likewise, increases in temperature changes the relative abundance of Methanosarcinales and Methanobacteriales, promoting methanogenesis. Overall, our results provide new insights into the role of iron oxides and temperature in regulating greenhouse gas emissions from paddy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the physiological and immune responses of Sebastes schlegelii to the water-soluble fraction of diesel oil (WSD), S. schlegelii were used as the experimental objects to study the effect of WSD on the sera biochemical indicators, histological changes, and immune responses. Significant differences in sera biochemical indicators were observed in S. schlegelii after WSD exposure. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose (GLU), and globulin (GLB) were reduced by 3.51-fold, 3.12- fold, and 1.58-fold, respectively; however, K+ was increased by 3.55-fold. The results of HE staining showed that interstitial congestion was observed in the liver; the secondary lamellae deformity and hyperplasia, epithelial lifting, the primary lamellae hyperplasia, and aneurism were observed in the gill. Epidermis thickness increased, and epidermal hyperplasia in the skin was shown. The length of the secondary lamellae shortened significantly after WSD exposure. The results of AB-PAS staining showed that three different types of mucous cells were observed in the gill, and a significant increase in the number of all three types of mucous cells was observed after WSD exposure (P < 0.05). In addition, the results of the relative mRNA expressions in the liver of eleven immune-related genes showed that the relative expression levels of IL-1β, IL-8, TNF receptor, BAFF, C1s, C1r, and MyD88 in the WSD group were substantially higher than those in the LPS group (P < 0.05), and the relative expression of caspase 10 was significantly lower than that in the LPS group (P < 0.05). At the same time, no significant differences were observed in the relative expression levels of IL-1, TNFα, and C1inh between the two groups (P > 0.05). This study was expected to provide essential data for health assessments of S. schlegelii and establish the foundation for the immune-related researches of S. schlegelii after WSD exposure. • WSD negatively affected the sera biochemical indices, gill and skin integrity, and immune response in S. schlegelii. • Tissue incompleteness and immune disturbance of fish exposed to WSD may allow the pathogens to more easily entry. • It is necessary to accurately interpret the effects of WSD on the immune system of fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Objective Leprosy and tuberculosis (TB) are chronic granulomatous infectious diseases. As well as pathogen and environmental factors, host genetic factors make a substantial contribution to susceptibility to both diseases. More importantly, leprosy and TB also have pathogenic mechanisms and clinical features in common. In this study, the genetic association between leprosy and TB was investigated in a Chinese Han population. Methods A genetic association study that included 46 TB susceptibility single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed, involving 1150 leprosy cases and 1150 controls from the Chinese Han population. The Sequenom MassARRAY system was used. Results No significant association was found between the 46 SNPs and leprosy. Therefore, according to the present study, there is no shared susceptibility locus between leprosy and TB in the Chinese Han population. Conclusions Although leprosy and TB have a number of similar characteristics, no shared susceptibility loci were found in the Chinese Han population. Thus, this study demonstrated that the genetic basis of the pathogenesis of the two diseases may vary greatly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) can affect soil organic carbon (C) cycling in paddy soil by changing microbial function and soil properties. In this study, a laboratory incubation experiment was applied to explore the effect of polyethylene (PE) MP on methane (CH 4) and carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions from paddy soils after rice straw addition. Moreover, the microbial functional genes encoding CH 4 oxidation and production and organic C degradation were measured. MP addition significantly (p < 0.05) affected the release of CH 4 , but this effect varied with soil type. The amendment of PE MPs significantly (p < 0.05) reduced CH 4 emission by 16.9 % for the acidic soil (pH = 5.0) and 16.1 % for the alkaline soil (pH = 8.2), which was probably due to these plastic particles inhibiting CH 4 production by reducing the abundance of the mcrA gene or stimulating CH 4 oxidation with the increasing number of pmoA gene copies, respectively. For the neutral soils, the presence of PE MPs did not significantly (p > 0.05) alter CH 4 emissions and their associated microbial functional genes. Across the experimental paddy soils, the response of CH 4 emissions to MPs was negatively and positively correlated with those of soil ammonium (NH 4 +) content and mcrA gene abundance, respectively, suggesting that the change in these variables may control the release of CH 4 in the presence of MPs. In addition, PE MPs had a negligible effect on soil CO 2 emissions and the abundances of all functional genes encoding starch, hemicellulose, and lignin degradation. Our results demonstrated that the presence of MPs affects the release of CH 4 , probably by regulating NH 4 + substrates and methanogens, and this emerging environmental factor should be considered when estimating CH 4 emissions from paddy fields. • The impact of microplastics (MPs) on CH 4 emissions varied with paddy soils. • MPs reduced CH 4 emission and mcrA gene abundance in acidic soil. • MPs decreased CH 4 emission but increased pmoA gene copy in alkaline soil. • MPs affected CH 4 emission by regulating ammonium substrates and methanogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics can perturb microbial nutrient-mining strategies. However, the mechanism by which microplastics affect the resource-acquisition strategies of crops in agricultural systems remains unknown. The nutrient-acquisition potential of crops and microbes was investigated under treatments with two common microplastics (polyethylene [PE] and polyvinyl chloride [PVC]) at 0%, 1%, and 5% (w/w). Different root resource-acquisition strategies disturbed microbial nutrient turnover in the rhizosphere in response to microplastic addition. Specifically, the β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) hotspot expanded, whereas the rhizosphere expansion of BG activity decreased. A decrease of less than PE1% (w/w) and an expansion of less than PE5% (w/w) in the 1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) hotspot with wider rhizosphere expansion of NAG activity indicated that higher doses of PE allow roots to uptake additional N. The phosphomonoesterase (PHOS) hotspot decreased in PE1% (w/w) and expanded in PE5% (w/w), but rhizosphere expansion did not change under PE treatments. However, both NAG and PHOS hotspots expanded with decreasing rhizosphere expansion under PVC treatments, indicating that PVC limits the utilization of available N and P, forcing the crop to obtain nutrients from the narrow root zone. These results indicate that adding PE microplastics increases the demand for and consumption of NH 4 +-N and NO 3 --N by wheat. [Display omitted] • Different root resource-acquisition strategies disturb microbial nutrient turnover. • Higher doses of polyethylene (5% (w/w)) enable roots to uptake additional N. • PVC cannot lead to microbial SOM decomposition for N and P acquisition. • PVC forced wheat to efficiently obtain available nutrients in the narrow root zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) can alter microbial communities and carbon (C) cycling in agricultural soils. However, the mechanism by which MPs affect the decomposition of microbe-driven soil organic matter remains unknown. We investigated the bacterial community succession and temporal turnover during soil organic matter decomposition in MP-amended paddy soils (none, low [0.01% w/w], or high [1% w/w]). We observed that MPs reduced the CO 2 efflux rate on day 3 and subsequently promoted it on day 15 of incubation. This increased CO 2 emission in MP-amended soil may be related to (i) enhanced hydrolase enzyme activities or; (ii) shifts in the Shannon diversity, positive group interactions, and temporal turnover rates (from 0.018 to 0.040). CO 2 efflux was positively correlated (r > 0.8, p < 0.01) with Ruminiclostridium_1 , Mobilitalea , Eubacterium xylanophilum , Sporomusa , Anaerobacteriu , Papillibacte r, Syntrophomonadaceae , and Ruminococcaceae_UCG_013 abundance in soil with high MPs, indicating that these genera play important roles in soil organic C mineralization. These results demonstrate how microorganisms adapt to MPs and thus influence the C cycle in MP-polluted paddy ecosystems. [Display omitted] • Bacterial succession over 100-day incubation in MP-amended paddy soils was observed. • MPs changed C mineralization in a short period after MP addition. • Bacterial community temporal turnover rates were increased by MP addition. • MPs promoted organic C mineralization by shifting the bacterial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have led to the discovery of several susceptibility loci for leprosy with robust evidence, providing biological insight into the role of host genetic factors in mycobacterial infection. However, the identified loci only partially explain disease heritability, and additional genetic risk factors remain to be discovered. We performed a 3-stage GWAS of leprosy in the Chinese population using 8,313 cases and 16,017 controls. Besides confirming all previously published loci, we discovered six new susceptibility loci, and further gene prioritization analysis of these loci implicated BATF3, CCDC88B and CIITA-SOCS1 as new susceptibility genes for leprosy. A systematic evaluation of pleiotropic effects demonstrated a high tendency for leprosy susceptibility loci to show association with autoimmunity and inflammatory diseases. Further analysis suggests that molecular sensing of infection might have a similar pathogenic role across these diseases, whereas immune responses have discordant roles in infectious and inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare type of psoriasis with potentially life-threatening implications. Mutations in IL36RN gene have been suggested to be causative or predisposing factors for GPP. Objective To evaluate the genetic heterogeneity of GPP, PV and GPP alone, GPP with PV. Methods We performed a sanger sequencing identify IL36RN mutations in 62 Chinese Han patients with sporadic GPP, including 17 GPP without psoriasis vulgaris (PV) (GPP alone) cases vs. 45 GPP with preceding, later or accompanied by PV (GPP with PV) cases; 16 patients with pediatric-onset GPP (PGPP) vs. 46 adult-onset GPP (AGPP). We included 96 healthy controls and 174 sporadic patients with PV. Resuts We found 2 new variants and 4 known IL36RN variants in 29 GPP patients, 18 individuals carried recessive (homozygous/compound heterozygous) alleles and 11 cases harbored a single heterozygous change. Twelve PV patients and six controls harbored a single heterozygous for three out of the six variants. Significant differences were observed between GPP and PV groups, GPP alone and GPP with PV groups when compared frequencies of IL36RN variants, but we did not found association between PGPP and AGPP groups. Conclusion Our study provided more evidence that GPP and PV are distinct subtypes of psoriasis caused by different pathogenesis, and GPP alone could be regarded as an especial entities of GPP which is different from GPP with PV on the etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]