Conservation tillage facilitates the accumulation of soil organic carbon fractions by affecting the microbial community in an eolian sandy soil.

Conservation tillage (CT) is an important agronomic measure that facilitates soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation by reducing soil disturbance and plant residue mulching, thus increasing crop yields, improving soil fertility and achieving C neutrality. However, our understanding of the microbial mechanism underlying SOC fraction accumulation under different tillage practices is still lacking. Here, a 6-year field experiment was carried out to explore the effects of CT and traditional tillage (CK) practices on SOC fractions in an eolian sandy soil.

Simulation of anaerobic co-digestion of steam explosion pulping wastewater with cattle manure: Focusing on degradation and inhibition of furfural.

In this study, an extended Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1, which considered the degradation and inhibition properties of furfural, was established and implemented to simulate the anaerobic co-digestion of steam explosion pulping wastewater and cattle manure in batch and semi-continuous modes. Batch and semi-continuous experimental data helped calibrate the new model and recalibrate the parameters related to furfural degradation, respectively.

Static composting of cow manure and corn stalk covered with a membrane in cold regions.

The disposal of livestock wastes is an urgent task in China. Compost is highly regarded for its ability to treat livestock wastes and protect arable land. In particular, some problems of livestock manure in cold regions, such as low efficiency because of low environmental temperature in winter, urgently need to be solved.

PGK1 represses autophagy-mediated cell death to promote the proliferation of liver cancer cells by phosphorylating PRAS40.

Autophagy predominantly promotes cell survival by recycling cell components, while it kills cells in specific contexts. Cell death related to autophagy plays important roles in multiple physiological and pathological situations including tumorigenesis, and the mechanism needs to be defined further. PRAS40 was found to be crucial in various cancers, and phosphorylation was reported to be involved in autophagy inhibition in monocytes.

Microbial succession of lignocellulose degrading bacteria during composting of corn stalk.

The discarding and burning of corn stalks in the fields after harvesting lead to environmental pollution and waste of resources. Composting is an effective way to disposal of the crop straws. Composting is a complex biochemical process and needs a detailed study in cold region.

Potential approaches to the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma.

Ewing's sarcoma (ES) is a highly aggressive and metastatic tumor in children and young adults caused by a chromosomal fusion between the Ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1 (EWSR1) gene and the transcription factor FLI1 gene. ES is managed with standard treatments, including chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Although the 5-year survival rate for primary ES has improved, the survival rate for ES patients with metastases or recurrence remains low.

Nicorandil inhibits oxidative stress and amyloid-β precursor protein processing in SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing APPsw.

It has been demonstrated that ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channel activation has neuroprotective effects against neuronal damage induced by hypoxia, ischemia or metabolism stress. This study investigated the multiply protective effects of KATP channel opener nicorandil against neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells transiently transfected with Swedish mutant APP (APPsw) and also the potential involvement of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway. Cells were treated with nicorandil (1 mM) for 24 h with and without glibenclamide (10 μM), a KATP channel inhibitor.

Monoliths with immobilized zirconium ions for selective enrichment of phosphopeptides.

To meet the demands of protein phosphorylation study, immobilized zirconium ion affinity chromatography (Zr(4+)-IMAC) monolith was prepared by combining UV-initiated polymerization of monolithic support and subsequent photografting in both capillary columns and microchannels. Hydrophilic poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-co-ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA)) monolithic support was prepared under UV irradiation at the wavelength of 365 nm with monomer HEMA, crosslinker EDMA and 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone as photoinitiator in 1-decanol solution, which provides good biocompatibility and permeability for biomolecule analysis. To introduce chelating ligands, such as phosphate groups, on the pore surface of monolith for metal ion immobilization, photografting of ethylene glycol methacrylate phosphate with benzophenone as the photoinitiator was performed at 254 nm for 300 s.