Straw incorporation and nitrogen fertilization regulate soil quality, enzyme activities and maize crop productivity in dual maize cropping system.

Background: Straw incorporation serves as an effective strategy to enhance soil fertility and soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), which in turn improves maize yield and agricultural sustainability. However, our understanding of nitrogen (N) fertilization and straw incorporation into soil microenvironment is still evolving. This study explored the impact of six N fertilization rates (N0, N100, N150, N200, N250, and N300) with and without straw incorporation on soil fertility, SMBC, enzyme activities, and maize yield.

Multiple non-covalent-interaction-directed supramolecular double helices: the orthogonality of hydrogen, halogen and chalcogen bonding.

In this study, a benzoselenadiazole- and pyridine-bifunctionalized hydrogen-bonded arylamide foldamer was synthesized. A co-crystallization experiment with 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene showed that a new type of supramolecular double helices, which were induced by three orthogonal interactions, namely, three-center hydrogen bonding (O⋯H⋯O), I⋯N halogen bonding and Se⋯N chalcogen bonding, have been constructed in the solid state. This work presents a novel instance of multiple non-covalent interactions that work together to construct supramolecular architectures.

Benzoselenadiazole-Functionalized H-Bonded Arylamide Foldamers: Solvent-Responsive Properties and Helix Self-Assembly Directed by Chalcogen Bonding in Solid State.

In this study, a series of H-bonded arylamide foldamers bearing benzoselenadiazole ends with solvent-responsive properties have been synthesized. In dichloromethane or dimethyl sulfoxide solvents, the molecules exhibit meniscus or linear structures, respectively, which can be attributed to the unique intramolecular hydrogen bonding behavior evidenced by 1D H NMR and 2D NOESY spectra. UV-vis spectroscopy experiments show that the absorption wavelength of H-bonded arylamide foldamers are significantly red-shifted due to the presence of benzoselenadiazole group.

Three-Dimensional Chiral Morphogenesis of Active Fluids.

Chirality is an essential nature of biological systems. However, it remains obscure how the handedness at the microscale is translated into chiral morphogenesis at the tissue level. Here, we investigate three-dimensional (3D) tissue morphogenesis using an active fluid theory invoking chirality.

Assembly of highly efficient overall CO + HO electrolysis cell with the matchup of CO reduction and water oxidation catalyst.

The exploitation of highly active and stable catalysts for reduction of CO and water oxidation is one of the approaches to facilitate scalable and sustainable CO reduction potentially at the industrial scale. Herein, a feasible strategy to rationally build an overall CO + HO electrocatalytic reaction device is the preparation and matchup of a high-performance CO reduction catalyst and low-cost and highly active oxygen anode catalyst. A heterostructured nanosheet, γ-NiOOH/NiCO/Ni(HCOO), exhibited superior catalytic activity in the oxygen evolution reaction, and was integrated with CoPc/Fe-N-C to build an overall CO + HO cell with a current density of 10 mA cm at a very low cell voltage of 1.

Two and three-dimensional halogen-bonded frameworks: self-assembly influenced by crystallization solvents.

In this paper, two types of solid phase 2D and 3D XBOFs were selectively constructed from identical building blocks of tetraphenylmethane tetrapyridine derivative and 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene by changing the crystallization solvent. This 3D XBOF is a novel hybrid supramolecular organic framework with the synergistic control of hydrogen and halogen bonds.

A Novel Manner of Anchoring Cobalt Phthalocyanine on Edge-Defected Carbon for Highly Electrocatalytic CO Reduction.

Cobalt phthalocyanine anchored on carbon material has attracted an enormous amount of attention due to its superior performance in electrocatalytic CO reduction. However, the interaction between cobalt phthalocyanine and the carbon substrate remains problematic, and the role of intrinsic carbon defects is unfortunately ignored in the anchoring of cobalt phthalocyanine on carbon. Herein, new interactions between the bridging N atoms of cobalt phthalocyanine and the edge defects of carbon have been discovered, which result in a novel model of anchoring of cobalt phthalocyanine on ketjen black carbon.

Topological defect-mediated morphodynamics of active-active interfaces.

Physical interfaces widely exist in nature and engineering. Although the formation of passive interfaces is well elucidated, the physical principles governing active interfaces remain largely unknown. Here, we combine simulation, theory, and cell-based experiment to investigate the evolution of an active-active interface.

Spontaneous organization and phase separation of skyrmions in chiral active matter.

Skyrmions are topologically protected vortex-like excitations that hold promise for applications such as information processing and electron manipulation. Here we combine theoretical analysis and numerical simulations to show that skyrmions can spontaneously emerge in chiral active matter without external confinements or regulation. Strikingly, these activity-driven skyrmions can either self-organize into a periodic, stable square lattice consisting of half Néel skyrmions and antiskyrmions, where the in-plane flows display an antiferromagnetic vortex array, or undergo phase separation between skyrmions with different topological numbers.

Self-rotation regulates interface evolution in biphasic active matter through taming defect dynamics.

Chirality can endow nonequilibrium active matter with unique features and functions. Here, we explore the chiral dynamics in biphasic active nematics composed of self-rotating units that continuously inject energy and angular momentum at the microscale. We show that the self-rotation of units can regularize the boundaries between two phases, rendering sinusoidal-like interfaces, which allow lateral wave propagation and are characterized by chains of ordered antiferromagnetic cross-interface flow vortices.

Dietary exposure and risk assessment of phthalic acid esters through a total diet study in Shenzhen, South China.

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are typical endocrine disruptors which are ubiquitous contaminants. Human exposure to PAEs is through multiple routes of which the diet is recognised as the main source of daily intake. The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary exposure to PAEs of residents in Shenzhen (China) through a total diet study and assess the potential health risk.

The relationship between urologic cancer outcomes and national Human Development Index: trend in recent years.

Objectives: To describe the influence of the socioeconomic development on worldwide age-standardized incidence and mortality rates, as well as mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) and 5-year net survival of urologic cancer patients in recent years.

Methods: The Human Development Index (HDI) values were obtained from the United Nations Development Programme, data on age-standardized incidence/mortality rates of prostate, bladder and kidney cancer were retrieved from the GLOBOCAN database, 5-year net survival was provided by the CONCORD-3 program. We then evaluated the association between incidence/MIR/survival and HDI, with a focus on geographic variability as well as temporal patterns during the last 6 years.

3D Evaluation of Accuracy of Tooth Preparation for Laminate Veneers Assisted by Rigid Constraint Guides Printed by Selective Laser Melting.

Objective: To design and fabricate 3D-printed rigid constraint guides for the tooth preparation for laminate veneers and to evaluate the accuracy of guide-assisted preparation.

Methods: Twenty maxillary right central incisor resin artificial teeth were randomly divided into two equal groups and prepared for laminate veneers. Tooth preparations were performed, assisted by guides in the test group and by depth gauge burs in the control group, and both were finished by freehand operation.

Pattern Formation and Defect Ordering in Active Chiral Nematics.

Many biological systems display intriguing chiral patterns and dynamics. Here, we present an active nematic theory accounting for individual spin to explore the collective handedness in chiral rod-shaped aggregations. We show that coordinated individual spin and motility can engender a vortex-array pattern with chirality and drive ordering of topological defects.

The prognostic value of miRNA-18a-5p in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and its function via the miRNA-18a-5p/HIF1A/PVT1 pathway.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC) is the most common type of renal cell carcinoma. While it is curable when detected at an early stage, some patients presented with advanced disease have poor prognosis. We aimed to identify key genes and miRNAs associated with clinical prognosis in ccRCC.

Long non-coding RNA H19 is associated with polycystic ovary syndrome in Chinese women: a preliminary study.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) represents a serious reproductive and endocrine condition and is associated with high incidence rates. H19 is a compelling long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) which carries out a range of biological functions. However, prior to this study, little was known as to whether there was an association between lncRNA H19 and PCOS.

Disposable syringe-based visual immunotest for pathogenic bacteria based on the catalase mimicking activity of platinum nanoparticle-concanavalin A hybrid nanoflowers.

Disposable syringes were used in a novel point-of-care visual test for detecting pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium). Hybrid nanoflowers composed of platinum nanoparticles and concanavalin A (Pt-nanoflowers) were prepared through a one-pot reaction and were found to be viable catalase mimics. They catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (HO) to generate O.

[Ecological carrying capacity of shellfish in the Yellow River estuary and its adjacent waters.].

Yellow River Estuary and adjacent waters are famous shellfish production areas. Mactra veseriformis, Ruditapes philippinarum, and Meretix meretrix are important species for stocking enhancement. At present, the annual output of shellfish bottom sowing culture has reached 300 thousand tons, with an output value of 1.

Hemin-incorporated nanoflowers as enzyme mimics for colorimetric detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria.

Rapid, sensitive and point-of-care detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria is essential for food safety. In this study, we found that hemin-concanavalin A hybrid nanoflowers (HCH nanoflowers), as solid mimic peroxidase, could catalyze oxidation of 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) in the presence of HO to a green-colored product. HCH nanoflowers, integrating the essential functions of both biological recognition and signal amplification, meet the requirements of signal labels for colorimetric immunoassay of bacteria.

[Physiological Responses of Ryegrass in Cadmium-Nonylphenol Co-contaminated Water and the Phytoremediation Effects].

Physiological responses of ryegrass in cadmium-nonylphenol (Cd-NP) co-contaminated water, as well as the phytoremediation effect were studied under laboratory conditions. The experiment revealed that the biomass and chlorophyll content of ryegrass significantly declined at high concentrations of Cd(10 mg·L), while POD and PPO activities significantly increased. No significant changes to the biomass, chlorophyll content and MDA of ryegrass were observed in the presence of NP.

Effects of microRNA-135a on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells by targeting GSK3β through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

This study investigated the effects of microRNA-135a (miR-135a) targeting of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration and invasion of bladder cancer (BC) cells by mediating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. BC and adjacent normal tissues were collected from 165 BC patients. Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of GSK3β, β-catenin, cyclinD1, E-cadherin, vimentin and miR-135a in BC tissues and cells.

Four one-dimensional lanthanide-phenylacetate polymers exhibiting luminescence and magnetic cooling/spin-glass behavior.

Four isostructural lanthanide coordination polymers with a phenylacetate (PAA) ligand, [Ln(PAA)(HO)] (Ln = Eu (1); Gd (2); Tb (3); Dy (4)), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Complexes 1-4 display a one-dimensional (1D) wave chain structure bridged by the carboxylate of the PAA ligand, which was generated via the in situ decarboxylation of phenylmalonic acid. Magnetic studies suggest the presence of ferromagnetic LnLn coupling in the 1D chain of 1-4.