RGB Imaging and Irrigation Management Reveal Water Stress Thresholds in Three Urban Shrubs in Northern China.

The context of global climate change, water stress has a significant impact on the ecological function and landscape value of urban greening shrubs. In this study, three typical greening shrubs (, × , and var. ) in North China were subjected to a two-year field-controlled experiment (2022-2023) with four water treatments: full irrigation, deficit irrigation, natural rainfall, and extreme drought.

A century of advances in molecular genetics and breeding for sustainable resistance to rice blast disease.

Rice blast, caused by the hemibiotrophic filamentous ascomycete fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, seriously limits rice production. Since the pioneering genetic studies in 1922, substantial advancements have been made in understanding the genetic basis of rice-M. oryzae interaction via the advanced molecular genetics studies.

Colonization of Streptococcus pyogenes Is Associated with Functional Dyspepsia and Exacerbates Functional Dyspepsia in Mice by Inhibiting the RhoA/ROCK1 Pathway through the Skin-Gut Axis.

Introduction: We investigated the importance of skin microbiota in functional dyspepsia (FD) based on the skin-gut axis theory and revealed potential mechanisms. This study also validates recent popular FD treatments.

Methods: We used mendelian randomization (MR) to analyze 418 gut bacteria and 145 skin bacteria, identifying key symbionts in FD development.

Noise Was Obviously Reduced by Both Leaf Texture and Surface Roughness in Leaf Scale.

(1) Woody plant species selection for urban forests is one of the key factors in reducing traffic noise in urban areas, and the ability of sound wave attenuation by leaves is one of the foundations for species selection. However, less references regarding the relationships between leaf morphological traits and noise reduction have been reported, especially the relationships between leaf texture (LT), leaf surface roughness (LSR), and noise reduction. (2) Eighteen arbors and shrubs were selected based on leaf texture and surface roughness characteristics, and noise reduction was measured using white noise sources in a self-designed device in a quiet laboratory at night.

Both light and soil moisture affect the rhizosphere microecology in two oak species.

Understanding the mechanisms by which seedlings respond to light and water regulation, as well as studying the response of rhizosphere microecology to drought stress, are crucial for forest ecosystem management and ecological restoration. To elucidate the response of the rhizosphere microecology of and seedlings to water and light conditions, and to clarify how plants modulate the structure and function of rhizosphere microbial communities under drought stress, we conducted 12 water-light gradient control experiments. These experiments aimed to offer scientific theoretical support for the dynamic changes in rhizosphere soil enzyme activities and microbial community compositions of these two oak species under varying light and moisture conditions, and subsequently assist in the future breeding and cultivation efforts.

Cardiac Response Dynamics in Newly Diagnosed Light-Chain Amyloidosis Patients With Early and High-Quality Hematologic Response.

Background: The goal of hematological response has been well established in the treatment of systemic light chain amyloidosis. However, the pattern of cardiac response remains unknown.

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the cardiac response dynamics in patients with an early and high-quality hematological response.

Metabolic reprogramming induced by PSMA4 overexpression facilitates bortezomib resistance in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma(MM) remains incurable with high relapse and chemoresistance rates. Differentially expressed genes(DEGs) between newly diagnosed myeloma and secondary plasma cell leukemia(sPCL) were subjected to a weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA). Drug resistant myeloma cell lines were established.

Promoted Reaction Reversibility by Dual-Effect 15-Crown-5 Ether Additive for High-Performance Li-O Batteries.

The practical application of lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) with ultrahigh theoretical energy density faces the problems of poor kinetics and deficient reversibility. The electrolyte is of vital significance to the electrochemical stability and reaction pathway of LOBs due to the formation of soluble products. Here, a 15-crown-5 ether (15C5) is employed to regulate the solvation structure of Li and manipulate the reaction mechanism through regulating the binding ability toward Li.

Biogenic volatile organic compounds in forest therapy base: A source of air pollutants or a healthcare function?

Air pollution poses a significant threat to public health, while biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) play a crucial role in both aspects. However, the unclear relationship between BVOCs and air pollutants in the under-canopy space limits the accuracy of air pollution control and the exploitation of forest healthcare functions. To clarify the variation of BVOCs in forest therapy bases, and their impacts on ozone (O) and fine particulate matter (PM) at nose height, total VOCs (TVOCs) in the forest were collected during typical sunny days, while air pollutants and meteorological factors were observed simultaneously.

Ecological transformation is the key to improve ecosystem health for resource-exhausted cities: A case study in China based on future development scenarios.

Numerous cities are currently grappling with the challenge of ecological transformation, especially those categorized as resource-exhausted cities. In these urban areas, land use change is a highly scrutinized issue, as different land use strategies can lead to varied outcomes, impacting the ecological environment in multiple dimensions. Assessing ecosystem health reflects the quality of the regional ecological environment and serves as a comprehensive indicator for evaluating the sustainability and stability of urban ecosystems.

The Fitting of the OJ Phase of Chlorophyll Fluorescence Induction Based on an Analytical Solution and Its Application in Urban Heat Island Research.

Chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence induction (FI) upon a dark-light transition has been widely analyzed to derive information on initial events of energy conversion and electron transfer in photosystem II (PSII). However, currently, there is no analytical solution to the differential equation of Q reduction kinetics, raising a doubt about the fitting of FI by numerical iteration solution. We derived an analytical solution to fit the OJ phase of FI, thereby yielding estimates of three parameters: the functional absorption cross-section of PSII (), a probability parameter that describes the connectivity among PSII complexes (), and the rate coefficient for Q oxidation ().

Exosomes-mediated drug delivery for the treatment of myocardial injury.

Cardiovascular disease has become a major cause of death worldwide. Myocardial injury (MI) caused by myocardial infarction, myocarditis, and drug overdose can lead to impaired cardiac function, culminating in serious consequences such as angina pectoris, arrhythmias, and heart failure. Exosomes exhibit high biocompatibility and target specificity, rendering them an important non-cellular therapy for improving MI.

Effectiveness of Medication Reconciliation in a Chinese Hospital: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Implementing medication reconciliation (MR) was complex and challenging because of the variability in the guidance provided for conducting. The processes of MR adopted in China were different from that recommended by the World Health Organization. A pilot study to inform the design of a future randomized controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of these two workflows was undertaken.

Exposed anthocyanic leaves of Prunus cerasifera are special shade leaves with high resistance to blue light but low resistance to red light against photoinhibition of photosynthesis.

Background And Aims: The photoprotective role of foliar anthocyanins has long been ambiguous: exacerbating, being indifferent to or ameliorating the photoinhibition of photosynthesis. The photoinhibitory light spectrum and failure to separate photo-resistance from repair, as well as the different methods used to quantify the photo-susceptibility of the photosystems, could lead to such a discrepancy.

Methods: We selected two congeneric deciduous shrubs, Prunus cerasifera with anthocyanic leaves and Prunus triloba with green leaves, grown under identical growth conditions in an open field.

The unrelenting global expansion of the urban heat island over the last century.

The past century has seen dramatic increases in global temperatures and mounting urbanization. As a result of these events, the urban heat island (UHI) effect has received growing attention in scientific research worldwide. A global search was initially conducted using a scientific literature database to collect all available relevant publications to understand how the UHI has been expanding worldwide and affecting more cities across different latitudes and altitudes.

Urban park use and self-reported physical, mental, and social health during the COVID-19 pandemic: An on-site survey in Beijing, China.

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for people's health. Studies have demonstrated the positive impact of urban green spaces, particularly urban parks, on physical and mental health. However, few studies have evaluated social health, which is a component of human health, and more understanding of the relationship between urban parks and human health during the COVID-19 pandemic is required.

The Protective Role of Non-Photochemical Quenching in PSII Photo-Susceptibility: A Case Study in the Field.

Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) has been regarded as a safety valve to dissipate excess absorbed light energy not used for photochemistry. However, there exists no general consensus on the photoprotective role of NPQ. In the present study, we quantified the Photosystem II (PSII) photo-susceptibilities (mpi) in the presence of lincomycin, under red light given to five shade-acclimated tree species grown in the field.

Long-Cycling All-Solid-State Batteries Achieved by 2D Interface between Prelithiated Aluminum Foil Anode and Sulfide Electrolyte.

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) with alloy anodes are expected to achieve high energy density and safety. However, the stability of alloy anodes is largely impeded by their large volume changes during cycling and poor interfacial stability against solid-state electrolytes. Here, a mechanically prelithiation aluminum foil (MP-Al-H) is used as an anode to construct high-performance ASSBs with sulfide electrolyte.

Thinning can increase shrub diversity and decrease herb diversity by regulating light and soil environments.

Tree thinning affects the light environment, which in turn affects the growth and survival of understory vegetation, thus improving species diversity and nutrient cycling, as well as the ecological habitat factors. However, the response of understory vegetation to the thinning intensity and short-time effects in the temperate broadleaf-conifer mixed forest is not completely clear. In this study, four permanent plots with a total area of 4 hm were established in a mixed broadleaf-conifer forest in northeast China, with thinning intensities of 20% (light thinning, LT), 35% (medium thinning, MT), 55% (heavy thinning, HT) and the unthinned plot (CK), respectively, in accordance with the basal area.

Theoretical and Experimental Understanding of Metal Single-Atom Electrocatalysts for Accelerating the Electrochemical Reaction of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Metal single-atom materials have attracted tremendous attention in the research field of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries because they can effectively improve the reaction kinetics of sulfur cathodes. However, it is still difficult to determine the best metal single-atom catalyst for Li-S batteries, due to the lack of a unified measurement and evaluation method. Herein, a series of metal single-atom- and nitrogen-doped graphene materials (M-NG, M = Fe, Co, Ni, Ir, Ru) have been prepared as the catalysts for promoting the reaction kinetics of the sulfur reduction reaction process.

EQCM Investigation of a Dual-Doped Polymer Electrode for Li-Ion Batteries with Improved Reversible Capacity.

Polymer-based materials with the incorporation of redox-active dopants serve as promising electrodes for Li-ion batteries but their use is restricted by the limited doping level and inevitable dissolution behavior of the dopants. Here, we proposed a conjugated polymer-based electrode with an assistant dopant to realize the reversible capacity contribution of a redox-active dopant. By employing phosphate anion (PO) as the assistant dopant to stable the polymer matrix, the reversible capacity was improved by introducing indigo carmine (IC) into the polymer electrode.

The efficacy of cell-assisted versus conventional lipotransfer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Autologous lipotransfer is an essential component of soft tissue reconstruction. However, it is not widely applied or accepted by surgeons due to its unstable survival rate and uncertain efficacy. The cell-assisted fat transfer (CAL) is a promising technique that increases the fat survival rate.

SLCO4A1-AS1 triggers the malignant behaviours of melanoma cells via sponging miR-1306-5p to enhance PCGF2.

Melanoma belongs to cutaneous malignancy. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested as crucial effectors in modulating progression of different malignancies, including melanoma. However, novel lncRNA solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 4A1 antisense RNA 1 (SLCO4A1-AS1) was not reported in melanoma.

Leaf functional traits differentiation in relation to covering materials of urban tree pits.

Background: Understanding the ecological strategies of urban trees to the urban environment is crucial to the selection and management of urban trees. However, it is still unclear whether urban tree pit cover will affect plant functional traits. Here, we study the response of urban trees to different tree pit covers, analyzed the effects of different cover types on soil properties and their trade-off strategies based on leaf functional traits.

Leaf reflectance and functional traits as environmental indicators of urban dust deposition.

Background: How to quickly predict and evaluate urban dust deposition is the key to the control of urban atmospheric environment. Here, we focus on changes of plant reflectance and plant functional traits due to dust deposition, and develop a prediction model of dust deposition based on these traits.

Results: The results showed that (1) The average dust deposition per unit area of Ligustrum quihoui leaves was significantly different among urban environments (street (18.