Microbial functional genes play crucial roles in enhancing soil nutrient availability of halophyte rhizospheres in salinized grasslands.

Land degradation due to salinization threatens ecosystem health. Phytoremediation, facilitated by functional microorganisms, has gained attention for improving saline-alkali soils. However, the relationship between the functional potential of rhizosphere microbes involved in multi-element cycling and soil nutrient pools remain unclear.

Litter Removal Counteracts the Effects of Warming on Soil Bacterial Communities in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Climate warming and high-intensity human activities threaten the stability of alpine meadow ecosystems. The stability of the soil microbial community is crucial for maintaining ecological service function. However, the effects of warming and litter removal on microbial interactions, community-building processes, and species coexistence strategies remain unclear.

P1 evoked by facial expression images is enhanced in Parkinson's disease patients with depressive symptoms.

Introduction: Depressive symptoms are most common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD), which is often overlooked due to absence of rapid and objective diagnostic biomarkers. Electroencephalography (EEG)-based event-related potentials (ERPs) is commonly used to assess emotional processes. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in ERPs in PD patients exhibiting depressive symptoms and to provide a reliable biomarker for assisting in the diagnosis of PD with depressive symptoms.

PdPt/SrTiO:Al-catalysed redox-selective photoreduction of unsaturated carboxylic acids using minimal electron-donor and water.

We developed a semiconductor photocatalyst, Pd-Pt alloy nanoparticle-loaded, Al-doped SrTiO (PdPt/STO:Al), for photoreduction of unsaturated carboxylic acids. Due to the cooperative STO:Al surface and Pd-Pt alloy nanoparticles, the catalyst dispersed in water provided highly redox-selective photoreduction against oxidative degradation of starting materials/products and against reductive evolution of H, where minimal glycolic acid worked as an efficient electron-donating fuel.

Effects of LDPE and PBAT plastics on soil organic carbon and carbon-enzymes: A mesocosm experiment under field conditions.

Although the effects of plastic residues on soil organic carbon (SOC) have been studied, variations in SOC and soil carbon-enzyme activities at different plant growth stages have been largely overlooked. There remains a knowledge gap on how various varieties of plastics affect SOC and carbon-enzyme activity dynamics during the different growing stages of plants. In this study, we conducted a mesocosm experiment under field conditions using low-density polyethylene and poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) debris (LDPE-D and PBAT-D, 500-2000 μm (pieces), 0%, 0.

Chlorpyrifos degradation and its impacts on phosphorus bioavailability in microplastic-contaminated soil.

Pesticide residues and microplastics (MPs) in agricultural soils are two major concerns for soil health and food safety. The degradation of chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphorus pesticide, releases phosphates. This process may be affected by the presence of MPs in the soil.

Subthalamic nucleus dynamics track microlesion effect in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is characterized by the temporary alleviation of motor symptoms following electrode implantation (or nucleus destruction), known as the microlesion effect (MLE). Electrophysiological studies have explored different PD stages, but understanding electrophysiological characteristics during the MLE period remains unclear. The objective was to examine the characteristics of local field potential (LFP) signals in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) during the hyperacute period following implantation (within 2 days) and 1 month post-implantation.

Comparative study of the clinical efficacy of subcostal thoracoscopy and median sternotomy in treating thymoma: a propensity score-matching analysis.

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of subcostal thoracoscopy and median sternotomy as surgical approaches for thymoma resection and lymph node dissection. The feasibility, safety, and clinical outcomes of subcostal thoracoscopy were compared with those of median sternotomy.

Methods: The clinical data of 335 patients with thymoma were retrospectively analyzed.

The effect of aperiodic components in distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from frontotemporal dementia.

Distinguishing between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) presents a clinical challenge. Inexpensive and accessible techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) are increasingly being used to address this challenge. In particular, the potential relevance between aperiodic components of EEG activity and these disorders has gained interest as our understanding evolves.

Effects of Microplastics on the Transport of Soil Dissolved Organic Matter in the Loess Plateau of China.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution and dissolved organic matter (DOM) affect soil quality and functions. However, the effect of MPs on DOM and underlying mechanisms have not been clarified, which poses a challenge to maintaining soil health. Under environmentally relevant conditions, we evaluated the major role of polypropylene particles at four micron-level sizes (20, 200, and 500 μm and mixed) in regulating changes in soil DOM content.

Microlens-Assisted Light-Scattering Imaging of Plasmonic Nanoparticles at the Single Particle Level.

We present a microlens-assisted imaging approach to record the scattering light of plasmonic nanoparticles at the single particle level. The microlens can significantly enhance the backscattering of visible light from individual plasmonic nanoparticles by several dozen folds, and single gold nanoparticles with a diameter as low as 60 nm can be imaged under a conventional optical microscope. This can benefit from a significant increase in the scattering intensity afforded by the microlens, meaning that the imaging of gold nanoparticles at a high temporal resolution (up to 5000 Hz) can be achieved, which is fast enough to record single particle adhesion events on the substrate.

Effects of deterministic assembly of communities caused by global warming on coexistence patterns and ecosystem functions.

Seasonal rhythms in biological and ecological dynamics are fundamental in regulating the structuring of microbial communities. Evaluating the seasonal rhythms of microorganisms in response to climate change could provide information on their variability and stability over longer timescales (>20-year). However, information on temporal variability in microorganism responses to medium- and long-term global warming is limited.

Clinical target volume and organs at risk segmentation for rectal cancer radiotherapy using the Flex U-Net network.

Purpose/objectives: The aim of this study was to improve the accuracy of the clinical target volume (CTV) and organs at risk (OARs) segmentation for rectal cancer preoperative radiotherapy.

Materials/methods: Computed tomography (CT) scans from 265 rectal cancer patients treated at our institution were collected to train and validate automatic contouring models. The regions of CTV and OARs were delineated by experienced radiologists as the ground truth.

Response of soybean and maize roots and soil enzyme activities to biodegradable microplastics contaminated soil.

Although biodegradable plastic film is a promising alternative product for reducing polyethylene plastic pollution in agricultural soils, the effects of its residues on plant growth and soil properties remain unclear. In this study, we conducted an experiment to investigate root properties and soil enzyme activities in Poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) microplastics (PBAT-MPs) contaminated soil (0 % (CK), 0.1 %, 0.

Long-term warming impacts grassland ecosystem function: Role of diversity loss in conditionally rare bacterial taxa.

The impact of microbial communities on ecosystem function varies due to the diverse biological attributes and sensitivities exhibited by different taxonomic groups. These groups can be classified as always rare (ART), conditionally rare (CRT), dominant, and total taxa, each affecting ecosystem function in distinct ways. Thus, understanding the functional traits of organisms within these taxa is crucial for comprehending their contributions to overall ecosystem function.

Soil enzyme kinetics and thermodynamics in response to long-term vegetation succession.

Our current knowledge regarding soil organic matter (SOM) turnover during vegetation succession is often limited to conventional C decomposition models. However, microbial enzyme-mediated SOM degradation and nutrient cycling are mainly reflected in the kinetic parameters of these enzymes. Changes in the composition and structure of plant communities are typically accompanied by alterations in soil ecological functions.

BIS feedback closed-loop target-controlled infusion of propofol or etomidate in elderly patients with spinal surgery.

Objective: To investigate the safety of etomidate anesthesia induction combined with Bispectral index (BIS) feedback closed-loop target-controlled infusion of propofol for spinal surgery in elderly patients.

Methods: Clinical data of 90 elderly patients who underwent elective spinal surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were assigned to an etomidate group (n=48) and a propofol group (n=42) according to the different anesthesia methods.

Clinical Comparative Analyses of Thymectomy Between Subxiphoid and Subcostal Arch Thoracoscopic Resection and Median Sternotomy for the Treatment of Thymoma With Myasthenia Gravis in Chinese Patients.

Introduction: This study aims to retrospectively compare the efficacy and safety of subxiphoid and subcostal arch thoracoscopic resection (SR) and the median sternotomy (MS) for thymoma with myasthenia gravis (MG) via propensity-matched analysis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 502 patients with thymoma and MG in Tangdu Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University from December 2012 to December 2017. The patients were allocated to SR group (n = 424) and MS group (n = 78).

Impacts of extreme weather events on terrestrial carbon and nitrogen cycling: A global meta-analysis.

Some weather events like drought, increased precipitation, and warming exert substantial impact on the terrestrial C and N cycling. However, it remains largely unclear about the effect of extreme weather events (extreme drought, heavy rainfall, extreme heat, and extreme cold) on terrestrial C and N cycling. This study aims to analyze the responses of pools and fluxes of C and N in plants, soil, and microbes to extreme weather events by conducting a global meta-analysis of 656 pairwise observations.

Irrigation-facilitated low-density polyethylene microplastic vertical transport along soil profile: An empirical model developed by column experiment.

The emerging issue of microplastic pollution of agricultural soils derives from the intensive utilization of plastic mulching film. Although surface runoff may transport microplastic off-site, infiltration may also facilitate microplastic transport from surface soil to deeper depths. Microplastic comprises a relatively new category of soil contaminants, whose transport in the soil has not yet been widely studied.

Plant-soil-enzyme C-N-P stoichiometry and microbial nutrient limitation responses to plant-soil feedbacks during community succession: A 3-year pot experiment in China.

Studying plant-soil feedback (PSF) can improve the understanding of the plant community composition and structure; however, changes in plant-soil-enzyme stoichiometry in response to PSF are unclear. The present study aimed to analyze the changes in plant-soil-enzyme stoichiometry and microbial nutrient limitation to PSF, and identify the roles of nutrient limitation in PSF. , , and were selected as representative grass species in early-, mid-, and late-succession; furthermore, three soil types were collected from grass species communities in early-, mid-, and late-succession to treat the three successional species.

Separating the aperiodic and periodic components of neural activity in Parkinson's disease.

Most studies on electrophysiology have not separated aperiodic activity from the spectra but have rather evaluated a combined periodic oscillatory component and the aperiodic component. As the understanding of aperiodic activity gradually deepens, its potential physiological significance has acquired increased appreciation. Herein, we investigated the two components in scalp electroencephalogram in 16 healthy controls and 15 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD); the results revealed that aperiodic parameters were approximately symmetrically distributed in topography in patients with PD and were significantly modulated by dopaminergic medication in channels C4, C3, CP5 and FC5.

Soil texture is an important factor determining how microplastics affect soil hydraulic characteristics.

Microplastic pollution and changes to soil hydraulic characteristics affect the physical properties and functions of soil; however, knowledge remains limited on how microplastics influence soil hydraulic properties. Nonetheless, it is important to understand these relationships to maintain soil health and ensure sustainable land use, especially in the current "plastic age." This case study explored how different particle sizes (20, 200, and 500 μm) and concentrations (up to 6%) of polypropylene microplastics affect the hydraulic properties of three soil textures (loam, clay, and sand).