Spatiotemporal Variation Characteristics and Driving Mechanisms of Net Primary Productivity of Vegetation on Northern Slope of Tianshan Mountains Based on CASA Model, China.

Net primary productivity (NPP) reflects the carbon sequestration capacity of terrestrial ecosystems and it is used as an important indicator for measuring ecosystem quality. However, due to the effects of "warming and humidification" and "oasisization", the spatiotemporal evolution and driving mechanisms of the NPP of vegetation in the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains (NSTM), a typical arid area in China, are still unclear. Thus, in this study, we used remote sensing data and meteorological data to construct a Carnegie-Ames-Stanford-Approach (CASA) model for estimating the NPP of vegetation in the study area.

Improved U-Shaped Convolutional Neural Network with Convolutional Block Attention Module and Feature Fusion for Automated Segmentation of Fine Roots in Field Rhizotron Imagery.

Accurate segmentation of fine roots in field rhizotron imagery is essential for high-throughput root system analysis but remains challenging due to limitations of traditional methods. Traditional methods for root quantification (e.g.

Threshold Effects of Straw Returning Amounts on Bacterial Colonization in Black Soil.

Straw returning (ST) significantly improves soil quality and profoundly impacts soil microorganisms. However, the effects of different ST application amounts on the soil bacterial community remain unclear, and more studies on optimal ST application amounts are warranted. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial diversity and composition, as well as physicochemical properties, of soil in a corn field with 5-year ST amounts of 0, 3, 4.

Biodegradable Quercetin-Incorporated Poly(Lactic Acid)/Chitosan Functional Films: A Study of the Properties and Application in Enhancing Fish Preservation.

Traditional plastic packaging materials have brought serious environmental pollution and a number of health risks; so the development of biodegradable polymers as an alternative has received increasing attention. Here, active packaging materials with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and biodegradable properties were prepared using poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and chitosan loaded with quercetin. The experimental results demonstrate that the PLA/chitosan/quercetin film achieved an impressive ABTS radical scavenging rate of up to 98.

Effects of Outdoor and Household Air Pollution on Hand Grip Strength in a Longitudinal Study of Rural Beijing Adults.

Outdoor and household PM are established risk factors for chronic disease and early mortality. In China, high levels of outdoor PM and solid fuel use for cooking and heating, especially in winter, pose large health risks to the country's aging population. Hand grip strength is a validated biomarker of functional aging and strong predictor of disability and mortality in older adults.

Bioinspired adaptive response speed for high-quality human-robot interactions.

In human-robot interaction (HRI), the quality of user experience is paramount. Thus, developing strategies to tailor robotic responsiveness to user comfort zone is essential. However, current methods remain constrained by complex software and limited to unidirectional speed enhancement.

End-to-end contact enables long-distance electron transport between filaments in cable bacteria.

Filamentous cable bacteria are capable of centimeter-scale long-distance electron transport and play crucial roles in the biogeochemistry of aquatic sediments. However, the mechanisms underlying long-distance electron transport remain incompletely understood. This study reports dynamic contacts between separate filaments of cable bacteria, enabling them to relay electrons between sulfidic and oxic zones.

Enhancement of microbial electrochemical driven anaerobic ammonium oxidation in a bioelectrochemical-enhanced constructed wetland: Effect of applied voltage.

This study was conducted to explore enhancement of biological anode-dependent ammonium oxidation (bioanoammox) in a bioelectrochemical-enhanced constructed wetland (BECW) by an approach of regulating applied voltage, nitrogen transformation patterns and associated microbiological characteristics of the BECWs were then investigated at four different applied voltages during the advanced treatment of anaerobically-digested swine wastewater. The results showed that, application of different applied voltage could significantly affect start-up and operating performance of the BECW. As the applied voltage was 0.

Integrated Modeling of Composition-Resolved Source Apportionment and Dynamic Projection for Ozone Pollution in Datong.

Growing ozone (O) pollution in industrial cities urgently requires in-depth mechanistic research. This study utilized multi-year observational data from Datong City, China, from 2020 to 2024, integrating time trend diagnostics, correlation dynamics analysis, Environmental Protection Agency Positive Matrix Factorization 5.0 (EPA PMF 5.

Diagnosis of the coupling coordination relationships between crop and soil carbon sequestration function for sloping farmland under erosive environments in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China.

Soil carbon sequestration, a critical function of the soil, plays a pivotal role in mitigating climate change, improving the soil environment and maintaining the stability of agricultural ecosystems. Changes in soil properties caused by erosion can significantly affect the soil carbon sequestration function and its coupling with crops. However, its application to agricultural production remains unknown.

Ferrimagnetism in ionic liquid cation intercalated [Formula: see text].

The electrochemical intercalation is one of most powerful tools for tuning the intrinsic properties of quasi-two-dimensional (2D) materials. In this work, ionic organic cations, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], are successfully intercalated into [Formula: see text] interlayer via electrochemical intercalation. The both [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] intercalated [Formula: see text] samples show ferrimagnetic transition with the transition temperature of 65 K and 85 K, respectively.

Ecological design of high-performance synthetic microbial communities: from theoretical foundations to functional optimization.

The complexity of natural microbial communities poses significant challenges for predictive manipulation, driving the emergence of Synthetic Microbial Communities (SynComs) as tractable models for functional optimization in environmental, agricultural, and biomedical applications. While SynComs provide enhanced controllability, their rational design faces persistent challenges in achieving both functional precision and ecological stability. Here, we present a theoretical and methodological framework for engineering SynComs through the strategic integration of ecological principles, evolutionary theory, and computational innovation.

Antibiotic stress alters lysogeny-lysis dynamics and drives phage-mediated transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in the activated sludge process.

The spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater treatment systems poses a significant public health concern, yet the role of bacteriophages (phages), particularly temperate phages, in mediating horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs under antibiotic stress remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of escalating ciprofloxacin (CIP; 0-200 μg/L)-selected as a representative antibiotic due to its frequent occurrence and persistence in wastewater-on phage lysogeny-lysis dynamics and phage-mediated ARG transfer in a laboratory-scale activated sludge reactor. Integrating metaviromic and metagenomic analysis revealed that the phage-mediated ARG-HGT events mainly occurred at the highest CIP concentration stage (200 μg/L), indicating that high-level antibiotic stress is essential for triggering significant ARG transfer.

Research on the impact of climate change on food security in Africa.

Global warming and the rising frequency of extreme climate events pose significant threats to food security. We examine the influence of climate change on food security in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a specific emphasis on four key crops: maize, rice, wheat, and soybeans. We employ a random forest model to estimate spatial and temporal yield trends based on climate variables, land‑use patterns, and irrigation ratios.

DNA Methylation-Activated LaCOMT1 Expression Promotes Cluster Root Formation of White Lupin via a Mechanism Involving the Melatonin Synthesis.

White lupin exhibits remarkable adaptability to phosphorus (P)-deficient soil through the development of cluster roots (CR), thereby enhancing P use sufficiency. Despite its crucial role, the underlying mechanism governing CR formation remains elusive. Here, we reveal an elevated DNA methylation level through whole-genome bisulfite sequencing in CR in response to P deficiency, particularly in gene and flanking regions, suggesting a responsive epigenetic mechanism.

Transport of PFAS in the Presence of Ocean Currents: Implying the Dominance of External Inputs in the Taiwan Strait.

The impact of ocean dynamic processes under seasonal variations on the occurrence and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) in marginal seas needs more attention. Here, we investigated the distribution of 33 PFAS in surface and vertical profiles of the Taiwan Strait (TWS) during summer and autumn. The results indicated that PFAS mainly originated from exogenous inputs via seasonal currents, and industrial emissions could be their potential sources.

Revealing the Role of Actinorhizal Symbioses in Ecosystem Nitrogen Dynamics.

Symbiotic associations between plants and microorganisms are crucial to global biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem stability. Mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria are recognized as the two main groups of microorganisms involved in such symbiotic interactions. They not only constitute the most wide-spread symbiotic microorganisms, but also ensure plants to acquire additional N resources directly from the atmosphere.

The interplay between phosphorus nutrition and abiotic stresses in plants.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient required for plant growth, development, and resilience to environmental stresses. Its availability in soil and homeostasis within plants are strongly influenced by environmental conditions, with unfavorable environments and soil factors disrupting phosphate availability, absorption, transport, and utilization. Optimizing phosphate supply can alleviate the detrimental impacts of abiotic stresses, thereby supporting growth and improving stress tolerance.

Ecotoxicological hazards of sea star-derived asterosaponins: mechanistic insights into embryotoxicity and cardiotoxicity in marine medaka.

Outbreaks of the sea star in northern China Sea, supported by its robust chemical and physical defenses, have disrupted marine ecological balance and caused substantial economic losses to aquaculture. To investigate the compounds responsible for its chemical defense, three asterosaponins (SP1-SP3) and their shared aglycone (AG) were isolated and identified. The embryotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated using marine medaka embryos (Oryzias melastigma), with 96 h-LC values determined as 76.

Spatial heterogeneity and trade-offs of agricultural functions in plateau basin: A case study of Dianchi Lake basin, China.

Plateau basin, characterized by strong radiation, climate variability, and ecological fragility, pose complex challenges for agriculture, requiring a balance between production and ecological goals. The unclear mechanisms underlying the evolution and interaction of agricultural functions (AFs) constrain the formulation of spatial and environmental policies in plateau regions.This research aims to understand the dynamic changes and trade-offs among different AFs in a typical plateau basin.

Divergent driving mechanism of land uses on soil erodibility between different soil types in the ecological zone of Three Gorges Reservoir Area.

Soil erodibility is a vital parameter utilized for soil erosion prediction, yet its variability remains poorly understood due to complex interactions between soil properties and land use types. To address this gap, six typical land uses of slope farmland (SF), broad-leaved forest land (BF), coniferous forest land (CF), orchard (O), shrubland (S), and grassland (G) were selected across two dominant soil types (yellow and purple) in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area. Seven soil erodibility indicators and a comprehensive soil erodibility index (CSEI) were quantified and the differential influencing mechanism of soil erodibility among different soil and land use types were identified.

Application of wheat straw-derived amendments combined with sulfate increases soil microbial diversity, reduces soil cadmium mobility and cadmium accumulation in rice.

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in rice grains poses severe health risks. Conventional straw amendments exhibit inconsistent efficacy, likely because of variations in amendment types and soil sulfur deficiency. The pot experiment was evaluated in a Cd-contaminated paddy soil (3.

Effects of organic carbon, inorganic phosphorus, and phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria on maize growth, nutrient uptake, and rhizosphere phosphorus availability.

Introduction: Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), phosphorus(P), and carbon(C )influence the activity of microbes, P availability in soil, and the growth of crops.

Methods: In this study, pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of C, P and PSB on maize growth, nutrient uptake, and P availability in the rhizosphere soil. Based on a 2×3×2 complete factorial design, the pot experiment was performed at two P levels (0 and 50 mg kg potassium dihydrogen phosphate), three C levels (0, 60, and 120 mg kg glucose) and two PSB levels (0 and 60 mL pot).

Smart prediction and optimization of air quality index with artificial intelligence.

Air pollution, a critical environmental issue, necessitates urgent action. It originates from both human activities, like industrial emissions and vehicle pollution, and natural events such as sandstorms, leading to increased atmospheric pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO), nitrogen dioxide (NO), ammonia ion (NH), black carbon, ozone, and fine particulate matter (PM). Leveraging China's extensive air quality monitoring data, artificial intelligence (AI) was used in this study to enhance air quality prediction and management.