Impact of lipid modification on the structural and digestive properties of starch in cooked chestnut paste: A comparative study of butter and soybean oil.

Lipids are commonly added to starchy foods to improve both their sensory attributes and nutritional value. This study investigated the regulatory mechanisms of butter and soybean oil on the starch structure and digestibility in cooked chestnut paste (CCP). X-ray diffraction and complexing indices revealed the formation of V-type crystalline complexes, with soybean oil exhibiting a stronger complexation capacity due to its the flexible properties of unsaturated fatty acids.

Cooperative contribution of multiple energy substrate pathways to floral thermogenesis in sacred lotus.

Floral thermogenesis in lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is a highly energy-intensive process, requiring substantial metabolic reconfiguration and substrate input. However, the mechanisms coordinating energy substrate supply during this process remain unclear. Here, we integrated microscale proteomics, time-series transcriptomics, and mitochondrial feeding assays to elucidate the substrate provisioning strategies supporting thermogenesis in lotus receptacles.

Enhancing the performance of paper via enzyme-modified starch surface sizing and selection of optimal enzyme system.

The application of enzyme-modified starch in surface sizing provides an effective strategy to improve paper performance. However, the effects of different enzyme-treated starch-based sizing agents on various paper properties have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, tapioca starch was modified using various enzymes (i.

Assessment of Grassland Carrying Capacity and Grass-Livestock Balance in the Three River Headwaters Region Under Different Scenarios.

It is crucial to clarify the grassland carrying capacity (CC) and the balance between grass and livestock under different scenarios for ecological protection and sustainable development in the Three River Headwaters Region (TRHR). This study focused on the TRHR and used livestock data, MODIS Net Primary Productivity (NPP) data, and artificial supplementary feeding data to analyze grassland CC and explore changes in the grass-livestock balance across various scenarios. The results showed that the theoretical CC of edible forage under complete grazing conditions was much lower than that of crude protein under nutritional carrying conditions.

Refugial isolation and ecological niche differentiation promote genetic divergence of Oresitrophe and Mukdenia in Northeast Asia.

Premise: The demographic histories of temperate plants in Northeast Asia in response to Quaternary climate oscillations have long been the focus of evolutionary biologists, but have rarely been studied in herbaceous plants. Here, we investigated the phylogeographic patterns of Mukdenia and Oresitrophe.

Methods: We sequenced two plastid regions for O.

Rhizosphere Microbes From Populus euphratica Conferred Salt Stress Resistance to Populus alba × Populus glandulosa.

The rhizosphere microbiomes of halophytes are crucial for plant adaptation to high-salinity soil conditions, but how to harness rhizosphere microbes to confer salt stress resistance to plants remains obscure. This study aimed to establish a framework (isolate-select-construct) for tailoring simplified salt-tolerant synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) and explore how they confer salt stress resistance to the plant. First, a total of 512 strains were isolated from the high-salt rhizosphere soil of Populus euphratica through high-throughput cultivation.

A landscape ecological approach to spatial conservation planning - ecological security pattern.

Addressing practical challenges in ecological conservation and restoration planning, ecological security pattern (ESP) - spatial networks composed of ecological sources and connecting corridors - offers an actionable and nature-based framework. Rooted in landscape ecology, the ESP approach integrates ecological thresholds and connectivity to ensure ecosystem integrity and landscape sustainability. Although ESP-related research has proliferated - particularly in China - critical dimensions, such as underlying ecological mechanisms, spatiotemporal dynamics, and spillover effects, have received less attention.

Convergent gut microbial functional strategies drive energy metabolism adaptation across Ursidae species and challenge the uniqueness of giant panda.

The gut microbiota is a key regulator of host energy metabolism, but its role in seasonal adaptation and evolution of bears is still unclear. Although giant pandas are considered an extraordinary member of the Ursidae family due to their specialized herbivory and low metabolic rate, there is still controversy over whether the metabolic regulation mechanism of their gut microbiota is unique. This study analyzed the seasonal dynamics of gut microbiota in giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), Asian black bears (Ursus thibetanus), brown bears (Ursus arctos), and polar bears (Ursus maritimus), and combined with fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments, revealed the following findings.

Phosphorus constrains global photosynthesis more than nitrogen does.

Global vegetation growth is thought to be limited by nitrogen (N) more than by other nutrients. Here we document a stronger phosphorus (P) limitation on global photosynthesis compared with N over the last four decades. On the basis of more than 80,000 field observations of foliar nutrients and a machine learning method, we generated a long-term global dataset of foliar N and P concentrations for the period 1980-2017.

Global 1-km habitat distribution for endangered species and its spatial changes under future warming scenarios.

Implementing biodiversity and climate actions for endangered terrestrial vertebrates is hampered by a lack of high-precision habitat maps. Therefore, we developed a dataset by linking the suitable land-use types and elevation ranges of each endangered terrestrial vertebrates and mapping these factors onto our recently developed global land use and land cover maps, we generated the distribution of global 1-km habitat suitability ranges distributions from 2020 to 2100 under varied climate warming scenarios for endangered terrestrial vertebrates (2,571 amphibians, 617 birds, 1,280 mammals, and 1,456 reptiles) and obtained the spatial evolution maps as compared to 2020 baseline. Validation of the 2020 data with actual observation data suggested that the AOH maps for 94% of amphibians, 94% of birds, 95% of mammals, and 91% of reptiles exhibited higher densities of observation points within the AOH compared to a uniform random distribution within the IUCN maps, indicating better-than-chance spatial alignment.

Enhancement of direct interspecies electron transfer and methane production by co-culture of dual species and .

Anaerobic digestion is a key technology for converting organic waste into methane, offering significant potential for renewable energy production and waste management. While the addition of conductive materials has been shown to improve direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET), their application faces challenges like biofouling, environmental risks, and increased operational costs. This study investigated the effects of co-culturing dual ( and ) and (DM-G) to enhance DIET and methane production without the addition of exogenous conductive materials.

Prediction of the potential geographic distribution of the Wilsonomyces carpophilus under multiple climate change scenarios.

Wilsonomyces carpophilus is capable of causing shot-hole disease drupe fruit trees globally, severely affecting plant health and fruit quality, and posing a major threat to agriculture and forestry under climate change conditions. During 2021-2024, we conducted extensive field surveys in a total of 90 sample plots in the wild apricot distribution area of Ili, Xinjiang, China, based on different factors such as tree age, slope orientation, elevation, stand and climatic conditions.Pathogenic fungi were isolated and characterized through morphological and molecular approaches.

Temporal variation of the forest experience index in typical ecosystems of Beijing, China.

Exploring the relationship between ecosystem functions and humans is of great significance for promoting human health and well-being. Systematic quantitative indicators for the public's green experience in different ecosystems are in shortage. The quantitative indicators for the differences in green experience perception among people in different ecosystems are unavailable, which limit scientific decision-making for green recreation.

Health status of landscaping trees in different habitats in Beijing, China.

The health of urban trees is jointly influenced by species-specific environmental adaptability and habitat heterogeneity, posing severe challenges for management. We investigated landscaping trees in Beijing, established a five-tier health evaluation system (healthy, sub-healthy, unhealthy, severe decline, and moribund) comprising 14 indicators. Then, we analyzed current health status and the influence of six typical habitats: dense forest, sparse forest, tree belt, tree pond, waterside, and buildingside.

Behavior-specific intervention: anti-escape trap net physically control Pimelocerus perforatus (Roelofs, 1873) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) by exploiting ascending-descending behavior.

Background: The weevil Pimelocerus perforatus (Roelofs, 1873) is a major wood-boring pest of Luteolaceae, causing significant ecological damage and economic loss in China. Currently, there are no effective control methods due to their hidden feeding sites and lack of effective natural predators. The use of chemicals pesticides causes severe pollution.

Leaf anatomical structure of dominant shrubs and their influencing factors across habitats in hyper-arid region.

We analyzed the drought adaptation mechanism of shrub species in three typical habitats (oasis, transition zone, and desert) of the extremely arid area in the lower reaches of the Heihe River, with 15 species as the objects. Using paraffin sectioning technology combined with microscopic observation, we measured 14 anatomical traits, including leaf epidermal thickness, total leaf thickness, palisade tissue thickness, spongy tissue thickness, and main vein vascular bundle thickness, etc. The results showed that leaf thickness, palisade tissue thickness, and leaf structure compactness (palisade tissue thickness/total leaf thickness) significantly varied among different habitats, and increased with the aggravation of drought degree.

Combined effects of lignin removal and pore regulation on the properties of bamboo fiber molded materials for sustainable plastic alternatives.

The global plastic crisis has driven the search for sustainable alternatives, and plant-based fibers, such as bamboo fibers, have emerged as promising alternatives. In this study, the combined effects of lignin removal and pore regulation on the mechanical properties of steam-exploded blended bamboo fibers (BBF) and chemi-mechanically processed moso bamboo fibers (Phyllostachys pubescens, PPF) were investigated for their potential use as sustainable plastic alternatives. The results showed that the relative lignin content of PPF subjected to delignification treatment was 8.

Populus euphratica PeMAX2 counteracts PeGRP2 to stabilize target mRNAs relating to salt tolerance.

Populus euphratica glycine-rich RNA-binding protein 2 (PeGRP2) has been previously shown to destabilize target mRNAs and negatively regulates salt tolerance of poplar. This study aimed to explore the post-translational regulation of PeGRP2 in the salt-resistant poplar. PeGRP2 was demonstrated to interact with more axillary growth 2 (PeMAX2), an F-box leucine-rich repeat protein.

Balancing Accuracy and Computational Efficiency: A Faster R-CNN with Foreground-Background Segmentation-Based Spatial Attention Mechanism for Wild Plant Recognition.

Computer vision recognition technology, due to its non-invasive and convenient nature, can effectively avoid damage to fragile wild plants during recognition. However, balancing model complexity, recognition accuracy, and data processing difficulty on resource-constrained hardware is a critical issue that needs to be addressed. To tackle these challenges, we propose an improved lightweight Faster R-CNN architecture named ULS-FRCN.

Estimating Radicle Length of Germinating Elm Seeds via Deep Learning.

Accurate measurement of seedling traits is essential for plant phenotyping, particularly in understanding growth dynamics and stress responses. Elm trees ( spp.), ecologically and economically significant, pose unique challenges due to their curved seedling morphology.

Environmental Effects on Bacterial Community Assembly in Arid and Semi-Arid Grasslands.

Studying the effects of environmental factors on microbial community assemblies is crucial for understanding microbial biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Although numerous studies have explored the spatial patterns of microbial communities in surface soils, bacterial community distributions in subsurface layers remain poorly understood. We investigated multiple community metrics of soil bacteria in arid and semi-arid grasslands in China, and the V4 region of 16S rDNA was analyzed using soil property measurements, fluorescent PCR, and high-throughput sequencing techniques.

Response of sp. to Nitrogen Input and Its Potential Role in Rhizosphere Enrichment of .

L. (goji berry), a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, depends heavily on nitrogen input to maintain productivity. Nitrogen application also profoundly influences rhizosphere microbial dynamics, which are critical for soil health and plant performance.

Co-Inoculation Between Bacteria and Algae from Biological Soil Crusts and Their Effects on the Growth of and Sandy Soils Quality.

Microorganisms (bacteria and algae) are important components of biological soil crusts, which exhibit crucial functions in promoting plant growth, maintaining soil structure, and improving soil nutrient content. To determine the effects of combined inoculation on the growth of and sandy soils, four species of bacteria and algae were isolated and identified from biological soil crusts (during different developmental stages in a karst rocky desertification area). The soil quality was evaluated based on a soil quality index (SQI), growth indicators of , soil physicochemical properties, and a stability analysis of aggregates.

Soil Salinity Drives the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Generalists and Specialists Subcommunity Assembly in Extremely Dryland Forest in China.

AM fungi play a pivotal role in regulating ecosystem functioning and processes. However, the assembly of soil AM fungal communities and its drivers across forests in extremely arid regions remain largely unclear. Here, we explored the composition and assembly processes of AM fungal communities in the soil of forests in northwest China.