Multi-omics reveals manure-borne doxycycline and fragmented oversized microplastics co-disrupt pak choi growth and amplify antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems.

The intensification of livestock farming and plastic consumption has led to widespread co-contamination of agricultural soils with veterinary antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline, DOX) and microplastics (MPs).

Organic fertilizer enhances the secretion of microRNAs from tomato roots to facilitate beneficial rhizosphere microorganism expansion and suppress Ralstonia solanacearum proliferation.

Background: Key members of the rhizomicrobiome, plant root exudates, and pathogen inhibition are important for the immune system functions of disease-suppressive soils, and a "cry for help" mechanism is proposed to describe this immune response process. However, there is still a gap in the understanding of rhizomicrobiome functional genes that are regulated by plants; to date, most studies have shown that the "cry for help" process is mediated by root exudates. The cross-talk between eukaryotes and prokaryotes through microRNAs (miRNAs) represents a new route for research on host and microbe interactions.

Facilely prepared N-modified carbon quantum dots as microalgal photosynthesis promoters for wastewater treatment.

Microalgae-based wastewater treatment integrates wastewater purification with bioenergy recovery, aligning with the principles of the circular bioeconomy. However, the limited utilization of the solar spectrum by microalgae and light attenuation caused by wastewater turbidity constrain microalgal growth. To address these challenges, this study synthesized nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) with down-conversion properties that convert UV light (∼380 nm) from the solar spectrum into blue light (450-475 nm) useable by microalgae, thereby enhancing their solar energy utilization efficiency.

Organic fertilizer mitigated the oxidative stress of tomato induced by nanoplastics through affecting rhizosphere soil microorganisms and bacteriophage functions.

Nanoplastics (NPs), which are widely present in agricultural soils, are difficult to remove and are potentially harmful to plant growth and development. However, few studies have focused on how to mitigation the oxidative stress in plants induced by soil NPs exposure. Therefore, in this study, the effects of organic and chemical fertilizers on the oxidative stress of tomato under exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in soil were investigated.

Effortless rule: Effects of oversized microplastic management on lettuce growth and the dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes from fertilization to harvest.

The complexity of soil microplastic pollution has driven deeper exploration of waste management strategies to evaluate environmental impact. This study introduced oversized microplastics (OMPs, 1-5 mm) during membrane composting to produce organic fertilizers, and conducted a 2 × 2 pot experiment: exogenous OMPs were added when normal fertilizer (no OMPs intervention) was applied, while artificial removal of OMPs was implemented when contaminated fertilizer (with OMPs) was used. The study assessed the effects of these management strategies on lettuce growth, soil environments, and potential biological safety risks related to the spread and expression of high-risk antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in humans.

Symmetry Engineering in a 2D Transition Metal Enables Reconfigurable P- and N-Type FETs.

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metals enable the elimination of metal-induced gap states and Fermi-level pinning in field-effect transistors (FETs), offering an advantage over conventional metal contacts. However, transition metal substrates typically exhibit nonoriented behaviors, leading to the inability to achieve monolingual responses with P- or N-type semiconductors. Here we devise symmetry engineering in an oxidized architectural MXene, termed OXene, which implements the exploiting and coupling of additional out-of-plane electron conduction and built-in polar structures.

AI-boosted and motion-corrected, wireless near-infrared sensing system for continuously monitoring laryngeal muscles.

Neuromuscular diseases pose significant health and economic challenges, necessitating innovative monitoring technologies for personalizable treatment. Existing devices detect muscular motions either indirectly from mechanoacoustic signatures on skin surface or via ultrasound waves that demand specialized skin adhesion. Here, we report a wireless wearable system, Laryngeal Health Monitor (LaHMo), designed to be conformally placed on the neck for continuously measuring movements of underlying muscles.

Symmetry engineering in 2D bioelectronics facilitating augmented biosensing interfaces.

Symmetry lies at the heart of two-dimensional (2D) bioelectronics, determining material properties at the fundamental level. Breaking the symmetry allows emergent functionalities and effects. However, symmetry modulation in 2D bioelectronics and the resultant applications have been largely overlooked.

A critical review of microplastic pollution in breeding industry: Sources, distribution, impacts, and characterization techniques, mitigation strategies and future research directions.

Microplastic (MP) pollution has garnered significant attention due to its detrimental effects on ecosystems and human health. If MPs contaminate farmed animals, they are more likely to enter the human body through the food chain, thereby impacting human health. Exploring MPs in breeding industry can provide a theoretical basis for breeding industry to prevent MP pollution.

Highly Stretchable, Tissue-like Ag Nanowire-Enhanced Ionogel Nanocomposites as an Ionogel-Based Wearable Sensor for Body Motion Monitoring.

The development of wearable electronic devices for human health monitoring requires materials with high mechanical performance and sensitivity. In this study, we present a novel transparent tissue-like ionogel-based wearable sensor based on silver nanowire-reinforced ionogel nanocomposites, P(AAm--AA) ionogel-Ag NWs composite. The composite exhibits a high stretchability of 605% strain and a moderate fracture stress of about 377 kPa.

Biosafety assessment of laying hens fed different treatments of black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens) under doxycycline stress.

The black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens) is a resource insect that can utilize livestock and poultry feces. However, BSFs may also increase the risk of transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (AGRs) that are widespread in livestock and poultry farm environments. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the biosecurity risks of different BSF treatments in the laying chicken food chain using the "chicken manure-BSF-laying hens" model.

Multiomics analysis of the effects of manure-borne doxycycline combined with oversized fiber microplastics on pak choi growth and the risk of antibiotic resistance gene transmission.

In this study, oversized microplastics (OMPs) were intentionally introduced into soil containing manure-borne doxycycline (DOX). This strategic approach was used to systematically examine the effects of combined OMP and DOX pollution on the growth of pak choi, analyze alterations in soil environmental metabolites, and explore the potential migration of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The results revealed a more pronounced impact of DOX than of OMPs.

Skin-inspired, sensory robots for electronic implants.

Drawing inspiration from cohesive integration of skeletal muscles and sensory skins in vertebrate animals, we present a design strategy of soft robots, primarily consisting of an electronic skin (e-skin) and an artificial muscle. These robots integrate multifunctional sensing and on-demand actuation into a biocompatible platform using an in-situ solution-based method. They feature biomimetic designs that enable adaptive motions and stress-free contact with tissues, supported by a battery-free wireless module for untethered operation.

Digital automation of transdermal drug delivery with high spatiotemporal resolution.

Transdermal drug delivery is of vital importance for medical treatments. However, user adherence to long-term repetitive drug delivery poses a grand challenge. Furthermore, the dynamic and unpredictable disease progression demands a pharmaceutical treatment that can be actively controlled in real-time to ensure medical precision and personalization.

Skin-inspired, sensory robots for electronic implants.

Living organisms with motor and sensor units integrated seamlessly demonstrate effective adaptation to dynamically changing environments. Drawing inspiration from cohesive integration of skeletal muscles and sensory skins in these organisms, we present a design strategy of soft robots, primarily consisting of an electronic skin (e-skin) and an artificial muscle, that naturally couples multifunctional sensing and on-demand actuation in a biocompatible platform. We introduce an solution-based method to create an e-skin layer with diverse sensing materials (e.

Effects of microplastics on functional genes related to CH and NO metabolism in bacteriophages during manure composting and its planting applications.

Microplastics (MPs), as a new type of pollutant, widely exist in livestock and poultry breeding and agricultural soils. However, research on MPs pollution on greenhouse gas emissions in combined planting and breeding systems is lacking, especially from the perspective of phage horizontal gene transfer. Therefore, this paper explores the effects of MPs on functional genes related to CH and NO metabolism in bacteriophages during manure composting and its planting applications.

The effect of manure-borne doxycycline combined with different types of oversized microplastic contamination layers on carbon and nitrogen metabolism in sandy loam.

The different forms and properties of microplastics (MPs) have different effects on the elemental cycles in soil ecosystems, and this is further complicated when the soil contains antibiotics; meanwhile, oversized microplastic (OMP) in soil is always ignored in studies of environmental behavior. In the context of antibiotic action, the effects of OMP on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling have rarely been explored. In this study, we created four types of oversized microplastic (thick fibers, thin fibers, large debris, and small debris) composite doxycycline (DOX) contamination layers (5-10 cm) in sandy loam, hoping to reveal the effects on soil C and N cycling and potential microbial mechanisms when exposed to the combination of manure-borne DOX and different types of OMP from the perspective of metagenomics in the longitudinal soil layer (0-30 cm).

Sodium butyrate reduces ammonia production in the cecum of laying hens by regulating ammonia-producing bacteria.

Sodium butyrate is a commonly used feed additive and can reduce ammonia (NH) emissions from laying hens, but the mechanism of this effect is unknown. In this study, the sodium butyrate and cecal content of Lohmann pink laying hens were measured, and in vitro fermentation experiments and NH-producing bacteria coculture experiments were carried out to explore the relationship between NH emissions and its associated microbiota metabolism. Sodium butyrate was found to significantly reduce NH emission from the cecal microbial fermentation of Lohmann pink laying hens (P < 0.

Effects of the oversized microplastic pollution layer on soil aggregates and organic carbon at different soil depths.

Soil aggregates (SAs) are the main site for soil organic carbon (SOC) fixation, and land plastic pollution is increasingly causing many soil problems. The effects of plastic on SAs and SOC seem to be significant, but there is still a lack of relevant research. This study investigated the effects of the "plastic contamination layer" (PCL) formed by the microplastic precursors (namely, oversized microplastics (OMPs)) on the content and properties of SAs of different particle sizes at different soil depths.

Transmission of tetracycline resistance genes and microbiomes from manure-borne black soldier fly larvae frass to rhizosphere soil and pakchoi endophytes.

Manure treatment with black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) and BSFL frass application in crop land is a sustainable strategy; however, whether residual antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their transmission risk are related to the manure BSFL treatment process is still unknown. In this paper, the effect of BSFL addition density on residual tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs) and transmission from frass to pakchoi was determined. The results showed that BSFL frass can provide sufficient nutrients for growth, improve the economic value of pakchoi, and reduce the risk of transmission of TRGs in chicken manure regardless of BSFL density.

The fate of antibiotic resistance genes and their association with bacterial and archaeal communities during advanced treatment of pig farm wastewater.

Advanced wastewater treatment plants are widely used in most large-scale pig farms in southern China. However, the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and their association with bacterial and archaeal communities during advanced wastewater treatment remain unclear. In this study, the profiles of ARGs in typical advanced wastewater treatment plants were surveyed using metagenomic analysis.

Cyclic AMP and biofilms reveal the synergistic proliferation strategy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli under the costimulation of high concentrations of microplastics and enrofloxacin.

Microplastics (MPs) provide attachment sites for biofilm formation of microorganisms, which can promote their resistance to environmental stress has been proved. However, the effect of MPs on synergy survival among microorganisms under antibiotic stress remains unclear. In the present study, the proliferation of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was assessed under enrofloxacin stress with the influence of MPs.