[Soil organic carbon density and its influencing factors in croplands with different cultivation years in the Northeastern Ulan Buh Desert, China].

Understanding the changes and influencing factors of soil organic carbon density (SOCD) during the conversion of uncultivated natural soil to croplands is of great significance for the assessment of carbon sequestration in arid areas. In this study, we compared SOCD in the uncultivated soil and that in croplands with different cultivation years (2-5, 12-15, 25-30, 40-50 years) in the Northeastern Ulan Buh Desert. The change of SOCD and its influencing factors at 0-2 m soil depth during the conversion of uncultivated natural soil to croplands were explored by the method of replacing time with space.

Particulate matter exposure exacerbates susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humanized ACE2 mice.

The global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as of 8 May 2021, has surpassed 150 700 000 infections and 3 279 000 deaths worldwide. Evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected on particulate matter (PM), and COVID-19 cases are correlated with levels of air pollutants. However, the mechanisms of PM involvement in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly understood.

4-phenylbutyric acid promotes hepatocellular carcinoma via initiating cancer stem cells through activation of PPAR-α.

Background And Aims: 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) is a low molecular weight fatty acid that is used in clinical practice to treat inherited urea cycle disorders. In previous reports, it acted as a chemical chaperone inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response signaling. A few studies have suggested its function against hepatic fibrosis in mice models.

COVID-19 and early-stage lung cancer both featuring ground-glass opacities: a propensity score-matched study.

Background: Radiological manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) featured ground-glass opacities (GGOs), especially in the early stage, which might create confusion in differential diagnosis with early lung cancer. We aimed to specify the radiological characteristics of COVID-19 and early lung cancer and to unveil the discrepancy between them.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-seven COVID-19 patients and 374 early lung cancer patients from four hospitals in China were retrospectively enrolled.

[Sap flow of Amorpha fruticosa in the secondary saline-alkali land in Ningxia Yellow River irrigation area, China.].

From May to October in 2017, the sap flow, water consumption and the effects of environmental factors on the sap flow of Amorpha fruticosas with different stem diameters under different water and salt conditions were examined with the packaged sap flow measuring system in a secondary saline-alkali land of Ningxia Yellow River irrigation area. The sap flow rate showed a broad peak curve with no obvious phenomenon of 'midday break' in sunny days and a multi-peak curve in cloudy, overcast and rainy days. Weak sap flow was found at night.