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Soils provide a range of essential ecosystem services for sustaining life, including climate regulation. Advanced technologies support the protection and restoration of this natural resource. We developed the first fine-resolution spectral grid of bare soils by processing a spatiotemporal satellite data cube spanning the globe. Landsat imagery provided a 30 m composite soil image using the Geospatial Soil Sensing System (GEOS3), which calculates the median of pixels from the 40-year time series (1984-2022). The map of the Earth's bare soil covers nearly 90 % of the world's drylands. The modeling resulted in 10 spectral patterns of soils worldwide. Results indicate that plant residue and unknown soil patterns are the main factors that affect soil reflectance. Elevation and the shortwave infrared (SWIR2) band show the highest importance, with 78 and 80 %, respectively, suggesting that spectral and geospatial proxies provide inference on soils. We showcase that spectral groups are associated with environmental factors (climate, land use and land cover, geology, landforms, and soil). These outcomes represent an unprecedented information source capable of unveiling nuances on global soil conditions. Information derived from reflectance data supports the modeling of several soil properties with applications in soil-geological surveying, smart agriculture, soil tillage optimization, erosion monitoring, soil health, and climate change studies. Our comprehensive spectrally-based soil grid can address global needs by informing stakeholders and supporting policy, mitigation planning, soil management strategy, and soil, food, and climate security interventions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Phosphorus (P) runoff loss in agroecosystems is known to be soil-dependent. While the physicochemical processes of P runoff have been extensively studied, there is a lack of research on its microbial effects. This study investigated variations in P runoff loss, soil P fractions, and microbial biomass (MB) across 11 different agricultural treatments in a long-term positioning experiment of double-cropping rice cultivation. Results revealed a P-deficient state in the paddy soil, with an average total soil P content (TSP) of 0.55 g kg -1 and Olsen-P of 9.17 mg kg -1 across all treatments. Among the treatments, application of pig manure equivalent to 50 % conventional nitrogen resulted in the highest soil MB, soil P fractions, and flow-weighted dissolved-P (DP_wc) and total-P (TP_wc) concentrations in surface runoff water. Conversely, the treatment without P fertilizer application showed the lowest values. While long-term agricultural practices profoundly affected the characteristics of soil MB, soil P status, and P runoff loss, a common pattern emerged across all treatments. Specifically, all treatments exhibited wider ranges of soil microbial carbon (C):P ratio (MBC:P) (48.49-175.95) and soil microbial nitrogen (N):P ratio (MBN:P) (3.83-12.56) compared to soil microbial C:N ratio (MBC:N) (9.55-20.12). Additionally, soil P fractions decreased in the order of TSP > Citrate-P > Olsen-P > Enzyme-P, and the average DP_wc (0.12 mg L -1 ) accounted for approximately one-fourth of the average TP_wc (0.48 mg L -1 ), suggesting a critical and similar mechanism for paddy soil P runoff loss. The addition of exogenous C and P created favorable conditions for microbial growth, leading to increased MBP and subsequently elevated soil P contents, particularly Olsen-P. However, the structural equation model (SEM) analysis revealed that the mediation effect of MBP and MBN:P weakened the relationships between agronomic practices and P runoff losses, with the path coefficient decreasing from 0.34 to 0.06. Furthermore, the relative contribution of microbial biomass-induced effects to P runoff loss was about one-fifth of soil physicochemical effects in the double paddy rice ecosystem. Overall, our study quantified the effects of microbial biomass P status on P runoff loss in paddy fields under long-term agronomic measures, and these results will help us understand and manage nutrient cycling in paddy field ecosystems, thereby reducing environmental pollution, improving agricultural productivity and achieving sustainable agriculture., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Previous research has revealed that, during the late afternoon, the ozone (O3) concentration tends to elevate at the northern perimeter of Mount Everest (5200 m above sea level). This increase is attributed to the natural gradient of rising O3 concentration with height, exacerbated by the corresponding downstream mountain winds. Our recent field observations corroborate this finding, showing a consistent increase in O3 concentrations by approximately 13.5 ± 2.5 ppbv/km at a similar observational site. Despite these observations, the precise cause of this height-dependent increase in O3 remains elusive. In this study, we show that the influence of aerosol-photolysis interaction can partially explain the increment of O 3 with height based on the field measurement results of the aerosol microphysical properties. Results show that the mean aerosol single scattering albedo, asymmetry factor, scattering angstrom index, and absorption angstrom index on the edge of the Mountain Everest were 0.98, 0.70, 1.3, and 0.66 respectively. The photolysis ratio increases with the height based on the tropospheric ultraviolet and visible model simulations with the measured aerosol optical properties. Sensitivity experiments further demonstrate that the unique microphysical properties of aerosols at Mount Everest result in a higher increment rate of the nitrate oxide photolysis rate with height (1.93 × 10-3/kms) compared to those observed in Beijing (1.53 × 10-3/kms). This difference leads to an additional increase in ozone concentration by 1.8 ppbv (from 69.1 ppbv to 70.9 ppbv) at the top of the boundary layer. Our study underscores the significant impact of aerosol-photolysis interactions on ozone concentrations and offers insights that could potentially advance our understanding of the sources of ozone in the upper troposphere over the Tibetan Plateau., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a typical type of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), were previously widely employed as insulating and heat exchange fluids in transformers and capacitors. Despite knowledge of its adverse effects, the precise mechanism underlying PCB77 toxicity remains enigmatic. In this study, we utilized zebrafish as a model organism to explore the toxic effects of various concentrations of PCB77 (10, 200, and 1000 μg/L) and its molecular toxicity mechanisms. Upon exposure to dosages of PCB77 throughout embryonic and larval stages, the zebrafish exhibited adverse phenotypic manifestations, including deformities, decreased heart rates, increased distances between the bulbus arteriosus (BA) and sinus venosus (SV) and reduced locomotor ability. Transcriptome analysis revealed the common enriched pathways across all PCB77 concentration groups, such as retinol metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, which are closely related to the activity of cytochrome P450 (cyp1a) enzymes. Furthermore, Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework which integrates AOPs and dose-dependent transcriptomics to predict PCB77-induced adverse outcomes (AOs) revealed that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) associated AOPs triggered by PCB77 exposure may increase early-life stage mortality and decrease cardiac development, indicating that the primary toxic pathways of PCB77 in zebrafish may involve AhR-mediated signaling. Besides, molecular docking modeling demonstrated that PCB77 could bind to the groove within the AhR domain, suggesting that PCB77 induces embryotoxicity in zebrafish through its interaction with AhR. Collectively, these findings not only deliver a thorough examination of PCB77-induced developmental toxicity as well as the underlying mechanisms, but also validate the efficacy of the analytical approach leveraging AOP framework in unraveling toxicity mechanisms of environmental contaminants, which holds promise for risk assessment associated with novel environmental pollutants., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Coral reefs are degrading at an accelerating rate owing to climate change. Understanding the heat stress tolerance of corals is vital for their sustainability. However, this tolerance varies substantially geographically, and information regarding coral responses across latitudes is lacking. In this study, we conducted a high temperature (34 °C) stress experiment on Porites lutea from tropical Xisha Islands (XS) and subtropical Daya Bay (DY) in the South China Sea (SCS). We compared physiological levels, antioxidant activities, and transcriptome sequencing to explore heat tolerance mechanisms and adaptive potential. At 34 °C, both XS and DY corals experienced significant bleaching and the physiological/biochemical index decreased, with XS corals exhibiting greater changes than DY corals. Transcriptome analysis revealed that coral hosts respond to heat stress mainly by boosting metabolic activity. The subtle transcriptional responses of zooxanthellae C15 underscored the host's pivotal role in thermal stress responses. DY coral hosts showed lower bleaching, stronger physiological plasticity, and higher temperature tolerance thresholds than XS, indicating superior heat tolerance. This superiority is linked to negative feedback transcriptional regulation strategies, including active environmental stress response and genetic information damage repair. The differences in thermal adaptability between tropical and subtropical P. lutea in the SCS may be attributed to their genetic differences and native habitat environments, suggesting that subtropical P. lutea may have the potential to adapt to future climate change. This study provides novel insights for predicting the fate of corals at different latitudes in terms of global warming and provides instructive guidance for coral reef ecological restoration., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author declares no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

2-Ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPHP) is a widely used organophosphorus flame retardant and plasticizer easily released into the environment. Its biological toxicity is of great concern. The lung is considered a possible target organ for EHDPHP, but currently, there are limited studies on the biotoxicity of EHDPHP in poultry lungs. Therefore, the lungs were selected as the target organ to study the toxic effects of EHDPHP on chicks and their mechanisms of action. In this study, 7-day-old chicks were gavaged with different concentrations of EHDPHP, and lung samples were collected at 14, 28, and 42 days after intragastric administration. Lung histopathological and ultrapathological changes were examined by paraffin section-HE staining and transmission electron microscopy. The levels of lung damage markers (LDH) and oxidative stress markers (GSH-Px, SOD, and MDA) were detected by applying the kit. In contrast, lung cell pyroptosis-related factors (NLRP3, ASC, NF-κB, Pro-Caspase-1, IL-18, and IL-1β) and inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) were assessed by using the qRT-PCR, Western blot and ELISA techniques. The results showed that EHDPHP induced pathological morphological changes and elevated LDH content in chick lungs, decreased lung antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px and SOD) activities, increased peroxidation product MDA content and up-regulated the expression levels of cellular pyroptosis factors (NLRP3, ASC, NF-κB, Pro-Caspase-1, IL-18, and IL-1β), and the synthesis and secretion of inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) were promoted. The above changes were EHDPHP dose-dependent. The results indicated that EHDPHP induced oxidative stress in chick lungs, resulting in oxidative damage to the lungs, and, intriguingly, the cellular pyroptosis pathway was activated, which was also involved in the process of EHDPHP-induced inflammatory damage in chick lungs. The results of this study revealed for the first time the damaging effects and mechanisms of EHDPHP on chick lungs. Also, they provided a scientific basis for further exploring the mechanisms of toxicity damage, safe use, and pollution control of EHDPHP., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Carbon black nanoparticles (CBNPs) are ubiquitous in our daily ambient environment, either resulting from tobacco combustion or constituting the core of PM 2.5 . Despite the potential risk of trafficking CBNPs to the fetus, the underlying toxicity of nano-sized carbon black particles in the placenta remains unambiguous. Pregnant C57BL/6 mice received intratracheal instillation of 30 nm or 120 nm CBNPs. CBNPs deposited in the lungs could infiltrate the red blood cells, further cross into the placenta, and cause fetal growth restriction. Mechanistically, we proposed a two-hit hypothesis in placenta response to CBNPs. The first hit was that CBNPs caused mitochondrial damage, reflected in the reduced mitochondrial matrix, the excessive mitochondrial fission, and the decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and mtDNA copy number. The second hit was that CBNPs disrupted the autophagy-lysosomal degradation system, impeding the removal of dysfunctional mitochondria and resulting in ferroptosis. Ferrestatin-1, a ferroptosis inhibitor, and rapamycin, an autophagy promotor, reversed ferroptosis and further confirm our suspicion. The findings suggested that CBNPs-triggered double-hit evoked placental ferroptosis, leading to fetal growth restriction. The study raised concerns about the potential placental toxicity of CBNPs and its impact on the fetal adverse outcome, which may propose potential targets for interventions in placental damage., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Plastic films mulching, a management strategy designed to boost agricultural productivity, significantly impacts soil fertility and the turnover of soil organic carbon (SOC). Aggregates in the soil play a crucial role in this SOC cycling. Yet, the effect of mulching on the changes in organic carbon components and the mineralization at the aggregate scale is still not well understood. We conducted a three-year field experiment to examine the effects of various mulching types (CK: non-mulching, BPM: black polyethylene mulching, CPM: colorless polyethylene mulching, BDM: black degradable mulching, CDM: colorless degradable mulching) on the transformation and mineralization of organic carbon within soil aggregates. Generally, after three years of continuous mulching, compared to CK, soil aggregate stability significantly improved, the content of SOC and HFOC increased by 8-14 % and 12-24 % respectively, while the content of LFOC decreased by 3-51 %. The response mechanisms of organic carbon mineralization in different size aggregates to mulching are different. The change in carbon components is the main factor stimulating the mineralization of organic carbon in >0.25 mm aggregates; microbial diversity is the dominant factor inhibiting the mineralization of organic carbon in 0.053-0.25 mm aggregates; while <0.053 mm aggregates are not significantly affected by mulching. Our findings suggest that plastic mulching reduce the mineralization of SOC and enhances its sequestration by modulating the composition of organic carbon fractions, extracellular enzymes, and microorganisms within soil aggregates of different sizes. This study provides a valuable reference for gaining further insights into the turnover dynamics of soil organic carbon at the aggregate scale., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The ecological risk of microplastics (MPs) has received widespread attention, but understanding ecological risk starts with understanding environmental migration. Heteroaggregation is an important process that affects the vertical migration of MPs, and the mathematical model is a common tool used to project the migration behavior of MPs. However, the mathematical model based on the aggregation of MPs with one clay particle is not applicable to simulate the migration behavior of buoyant microplastic (BMP). Hence, this study developed a model for heteroaggregation of one BMP with multiple clay particles based on the Population Balance Equation, and the main factors affecting the sedimentation of BMP are clarified through parameter sensitivity analysis and scenario simulation. The results show that neglecting the interaction of one BMP with multiple clay particles in the mathematical model can underestimate the predicted settling concentration of BMP, especially in aqueous environments with higher clay concentration and salinity. The settling process of BMP is controlled by the heteroaggregation rate, which is sensitive to environmental conditions and insensitive to particle properties. This study emphasizes the importance of considering the interaction of one BMP with multiple clay particles in the future mathematical model, which will provide a more reliable prediction of the migration of MPs in aquatic environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The development of ecological fertilizers has become crucial in modern agriculture due to the increasing global population and diminishing arable land resources. Herein, a plant growth-promoting fertilizer (UKS) with dual functions of slow-release and water-retention was prepared by combining liquid-phase intercalation method and crosslinking gel method. The physicochemical properties of UKS were analyzed and its dissolution, slow-release, and water-retention properties were systematically evaluated. The intercalation ratio was able to reach 53.3 % after intercalation for 5 days, exhibiting the slow-release potential of nitrogen fertilizer. The incorporation of sodium alginate improved the mechanical strength of the frame structure and effectively enhanced the water retention and slow-release properties of the fertilizer. Moreover, the cultivation experiments had shown that UKS can promote the growth of crops' leaves and roots, as evidenced by the fact that the length of them reached 9.8 cm and 5.4 cm, representing a respective growth of 16.8 % and 16.9 %, respectively. This strategy delivers a new approach for the development of eco-friendly agricultural fertilizers, and also provides a potential way to use coal-based solid waste for ecological restoration nearby., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Boron (B) deficiency affects over 132 crop species globally, making effective B supplement crucial for enhancing agricultural yield and health. This study explores an innovative application of nanoscale boron nitride (nano-BN) as a sustainable solution for addressing B deficiency in crops. Cucumber seedlings were treated with different contents of nano-BN under greenhouse conditions and both B and N ionic treatments were set as comparisons. Results show that soil application of 10 mg/kg nano-BN achieved a remarkable 15.8 % increase in fresh weight compared to the control. Notably, nano-BN exhibited superior efficiency in providing essential micronutrients without inducing toxicity as compared to traditional ionic B sources. Phytohormone correlation analysis reveals that nano-BN application significantly enhances levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and cytokinins while reducing abscisic acid (ABA), fostering optimal plant growth conditions. Furthermore, increases in dissolved organic matter (DOM) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels in the rhizosphere improve nutrient availability and promote beneficial microbial activity in the soil as affected by nano-BN. Metagenomics techniques were used to investigate the impact of nano-BN on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, alongside its effects on the soil microbiome. The upregulation of genes associated with fermentation pathways as affected by nano-BN suggests the enhanced carbon cycling. Additionally, nano-BN upregulated a number of functional genes involved in nitrogen-based processes, leading to a significant increase in microorganisms harboring nitrogen-fixing genes, including Phenylobacterium, Novosphingobium, and Reyranella. Overall, these findings provide valuable insight into the application of nano-BN in agriculture to sustainably increase crop productivity and enhance the efficiency of carbon and nitrogen cycling., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Unraveling how microeukaryotic generalists and specialists assemble and coexist under environmental stress is central to our understanding of the mechanisms maintaining diversity. Here, we explored the biogeographical distributions of microeukaryotic generalists and specialists in lake surface sediments along a salinity gradient on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We found that relative abundances of Chlorophyta (28.6 %) and Dinophyceae (9.5 %) were higher as habitat generalists than as specialists. Conversely, relative abundances of habitat specialists were higher in the Ciliophora (22.2 %) and Cercozoa (11.6 %) than those of generalists. Environmental adaptation analysis showed a broader niche threshold for generalists than for specialists, whereas a stronger phylogenetic signal for environmental factors was observed for specialists. Thus, increases in salinity had stronger effects on specialists than on generalists through environmental selection and diversification processes. However, null model analysis indicated stochastic processes were the primary drivers of both generalists and specialists. Network analysis revealed that with increasing salinity, specialists were more important than generalists in stabilizing networks. In addition, phylogenetic relatedness indicated that microeukaryotic generalists coexisted because of niche differences, whereas specialists coexisted because of average fitness similarity. Our study will help to predict microeukaryotic responses to environmental changes in aquatic ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Microplastics (MPs) have been found in different environmental department globally, and the threat to organisms posed by MPs is also widely recognized. Kinematic characteristics of low-density fiber MPs in Poyang Lake under different due-south wind were calculated by combining hydrodynamic model with particle tracking model in this study. Poyang Lake is divided into north lake and south lake for study based on its topographic and hydrodynamic characteristics, and the results are as follows: the critical wind speeds causing vertical mixing of MPs in the water column ranges from 6 to 9 m·s -1 in the north lake, while it is >9 m·s -1 in the south lake, and the MPs beaching rate decreases by 7.08 %/(m·s -1 ) as the due-south wind speed increases. The MPs speed is mainly affected by surface current, while the direction of the velocity is more affected by wind. The MPs velocity in the south lake is only 27.10 % of that in the north lake, and the direction is more dispersed, so the due-south wind concentrates the direction of MPs velocity more to the north in the south lake. The northern wards movement of MPs resulted in a noticeable decrease in FS in the south lake, with FS decreasing by 0.10 for every 1 m·s -1 increase in wind speed, and therefore, the due-south wind reduces the ecological risk posed by MPs through reducing the range of movement and retention time. However, since the FS in the north lake has been close to the minimum value of 1, the reduction of the FS is not significant, and the wind reduces the risk mainly by shortening the retention time of the MPs. Therefore, the ecological risk caused by MPs in Poyang Lake under no or weak wind conditions should be taken into consideration., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Marine carbon sequestration, with its high potential and low risk of leakage, is an attractive technology for effectively addressing global climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A current concern about marine sequestration lies in the potential negative effects of the carbon sequestration process on the marine environment. CO 2 hydrate sequestration is considered to be one of the most stable method of sequestration, and researchers are actively searching for promoters that facilitate hydrate sequestration and are friendly to the marine environment. Therefore, the development and utilization of environment-friendly promoters are of great significance for marine carbon sequestration by the hydrate method. In this study, two novel kinetic promoters, polycarboxylates (SP-409 and SPC-100), were applied. The changes in kinetic properties of CO 2 hydrate generation and gas-liquid interfacial properties were investigated under different promoter types and concentrations, temperatures, and pressures. Visual observation reveals that the formation of hydrate first occurs at the gas-liquid interface and on the reactor wall, then gradually starts to diffuse into the interior of the solution, forming a white cylindrical solid with a hollow interior. After a comprehensive comparison of temperatures, pressures, and concentrations, the SP-409 solution promoted hydrate generation better than the SPC-100 solution, and the optimal promotion concentration was 1000 ppm. In addition, there is an exponential relationship between the rate of hydrate formation and interfacial tension (IFT), which means that the rate of hydrate generation can be quickly estimated from the interfacial tension data at a certain temperature and pressure., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of extreme heat events globally, adversely affecting socio-economic conditions and public health. However, extreme heat has disparate effects on different population groups and the socio-economic determinants of its health effects are not well understood. In this study, we analyzed the spatial patterns of heat-related illness (HRI) visit rates at the zip-code level in Florida and applied statistical methods to examine the relationships between HRIs and environmental and socio-economic variables. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to evaluate the socio-economic effects on HRI visit rates under the same heat conditions. This is a two-step approach: we first included heat indicators in the baseline model and then added the socio-economic variables to assess their unique contributions in predicting HRI visits. Our findings indicate that temperature can only explain a small fraction of the variance in HRI cases (R 2  = 0.04, p < 0.01), while socio-economic variables show stronger associations (R 2  = 0.42, p < 0.01 in urban areas and R 2  = 0.20, p < 0.01 in rural areas). Notably, marginalized and disadvantaged populations (e.g., individuals in poverty, those employed in construction, and those with disabilities) are positively associated with HRIs (p < 0.01). These findings highlight the disproportionate impacts of heat-related health issues on disadvantaged groups, calling for climate justice policy interventions. Additionally, a comparative analysis between rural and urban areas revealed different determinants of HRIs. Our study enhances the understanding of the socio-economic determinants and disparities of HRIs in Florida, providing actionable insights for policymakers and health agencies to prioritize emergency services and heat resilience planning., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper, (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Our previous study found that exposure to higher organophosphate flame retardants (PFRs) was associated with increased prevalence of wheeze and type 2 inflammation among school-aged children. It remains unclear whether PFR exposure elevates oxidative stress in these general pediatric population, thereby potentially contributing to the development of allergic diseases. This study examined the associations between individual and mixture exposure to PFRs and oxidative stress in children aged 9-12 years (n = 423). The oxidative stress biomarkers included 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and hexanoyl-lysine (HEL) for lipid peroxidation, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) for DNA damage. We also examined the mediation effects of oxidative stress on the relationships between PFR exposure and health outcomes: wheeze and type 2 inflammation biomarkers, including fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and blood eosinophils. Higher concentrations of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP), Σ triphenyl phosphate (ΣTPHP), Σ tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (ΣTBOEP), and Σ 2-Ethylhexyldiphenyl phosphate (ΣEHDPHP) metabolites were significantly associated with higher levels of 4-HNE. Elevated concentrations of TDCIPP, ΣTPHP, and ΣTBOEP were positively associated with HEL. Higher ΣTPHP and ΣTBOEP were positively associated with 8-OHdG. The PFR mixture was positively associated with all three oxidative stress biomarkers according to the Quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression models. Oxidative stress biomarkers mediated 11.4 % to 15.3 % of the association between PFRs and FeNO ≥35 ppb. PFR exposure was positively associated with oxidative stress markers of DNA damage and lipid peroxidation, which may contribute to elevated type 2 inflammation among school-aged children. These findings, identified in the general pediatric population at low exposure levels, highlight the need for ongoing attention to the allergic symptoms posed by PFR exposure., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Among the earliest synthetic antipyretic drugs, phenacetin (PNCT) could be used as the novel partial nitrification (PN) inhibitor to effectively inhibit nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). In practical application, the rapidly starting of PN could provide stable source of nitrite for anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process. However, impact of PNCT on anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) and its underlying mechanisms were not clear. In this research, totally 14 times of PNCT aerobic soaking treatment were performed in the AnAOB naturally enrichment system to improve total inorganic nitrogen removal efficiency (TINRE). After once of PNCT treatment, TINRE rose from 61.89 % to 79.93 %. After 14 times of PNCT treatment, NOB Nitrospira relative abundance decreased from 9.82 % to 0.71 %, though Candidatus Brocadia relative abundance also declined, it might gradually adjust to PNCT by converting the leading oligotype species. The activity and relative abundances of NOB were reduced by PNCT via decreasing the abundances of genes amoA and nxrB, enzymes NxrA and NxrB. Moreover, Candidatus Jettenia and Ca. Brocadia might be the potential host of qacH-01 and they played the crucial role in the shaping profile of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The explosive propagation or transmission of ARGs might not take place after PNCT treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Seagrass beds support vital ecological functions so that when seagrass experience severe degradation, their ecosystem service functions are diminished or lost. The largest Nanozostera japonica seagrass bed in China, situated in the Yellow River Delta, has undergone significant degradation due to Spartina alterniflora invasion and the impact of Typhoon Lekima (2019). The lack of seeds and overwintering shoots makes natural seagrass recovery challenging, prompting the urgent need for seagrass ecological restoration. In the present study, seed sowing experiments were conducted with varying burial depths, seed sources, and sowing times, as well as transplantation experiments with different transplant unit sizes and intervals in the severely degraded seagrass bed. Subsequently, changes in macrobenthos and soil bacterial diversity were tracked after seagrass recovery. According to the results, the optimal burial depth for N. japonica seeds varies across different sediment types, with 4 cm being suitable for sandy soil and 2 cm for silty soil. Seeds sown in May did not survive due to high temperatures. Seeds from Dalian exhibited superior growth after sowing, making them ideal material for seed restoration projects. Transplanting N. japonica sods with 25 × 25 cm transplant units and 50-cm intervals resulted in the most robust growth, indicating it as a suitable method for adult transplantation. Following seagrass re-establishment, macrobenthos and soil bacterial diversity increased significantly. The findings of the present study provide valuable technical guidance and theoretical support for the ecological restoration of N. japonica. Future efforts should prioritize the restoration of seagrass bed ecological functions, with longer-term effects examined., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest This manuscript has not been published or presented elsewhere in part or in entirety, and is not under consideration by another journal. All study participants provided informed consent, and the study design was approved by the appropriate ethics review boards. All the authors have approved the manuscript and agree with the submission to the journal. There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Non-point source (NPS) pollution is a significant issue in the Hetao Irrigation District (HID), affecting local water environment and ecological safety. To explore solutions for managing NPS pollution in the HID, this study establishes the SWAT-MODFLOW-RT3D (SMFR) model based on data from recent years. The results show that the determination coefficient (R 2 ) of monthly drainage simulation for both the calibration and validation periods are >0.6, the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) values are >0.7, and the percent bias (PBIAS) values are <10 %. For pollutant transport simulation (total nitrogen and total phosphorus), the R 2 values for both calibration and validation periods exceed 0.6, the NSEs are >0.75, and the PBIAS values are below 20 %. The model demonstrates good performance in simulating hydrology and pollutant transport in the study area, indicating strong applicability. Building on this, the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus losses in the HID were analyzed, and the impacts of different agricultural management practices, such as irrigation and fertilization regimes, drip irrigation under film (DIUF), and crop structure adjustments, on NPS pollution were assessed. Extensive scenario testing indicates that deficit irrigation and DIUF reduce total nitrogen (TN) in agricultural NPS pollution by 7.74 % and 9.34 %, respectively, and total phosphorus (TP) by 35.12 % and 40.99 %, respectively. In contrast, crop structure adjustments have a relatively moderate reduction effect on TN and TP, ranging from 2.66 % to 6.80 %. Additionally, the study examines the NPS pollution control effects of various combined scenarios. Through economic benefit evaluation, it was found that the scenario combining deficit irrigation with crop structure adjustments has a lower cost-effectiveness (CE) ratio and a higher cost-benefit (CB) ratio, making it a more favorable measure for controlling NPS pollution in the HID., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The growing production and usage of flame retardants (FRs) results in their extensive environmental distribution, potentially posing a threat on both ecological and human health. Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCIPP), a commonly used FR, is commonly found in aquatic ecosystems, and aquatic organisms, including fish, may be exposed to TDCIPP during specific stages of their life cycles, or across generations. Here, we aim to identify and compare the neurotoxic effects of TDCIPP on the brains of female and male adult marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) across three generations (F0 to F3). Sex-specific effects of TDCIPP related to synaptic transmission signaling pathways and regulation of neuronal synaptic plasticity underlying 1917 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were evident in the brain transcriptomes of F0 females, while only five DEGs were found in F0 males. However, chronic exposure over three generations (F0 to F3) revealed neurotoxic effects of TDCIPP on both sexes with males altering their innate immune response and visual perception upon prolonged exposure. Lastly, female medaka exhibited signals of transgenerational effects at the F3, as shown by increased transcriptional adjustments of 2347 DEGs including epigenetic regulatory genes. This outcome resulted from the ancestral exposure to TDCIPP only in F0, without any direct TDCIPP exposure in F1 and F2. Our findings show that even brief exposure to TDCIPP result in long-lasting effects, posing a significant risk to marine organisms and potentially other vertebrates., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial or personal relationship that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been widely documented to affect various aspects of health, including development, metabolism and neuronal function in a variety of organisms. Despite numerous reports detailing these effects, a comprehensive mechanistic model remains elusive, especially with regard to the long-term effects of PFOA, as it bioaccumulates in food chains with a long half-life. In this study, we evaluated the impact of PFOA on several critical physiological states of Drosophila melanogaster. Our findings indicate that PFOA exposure significantly decreases reproductive capacity and induces alterations in starvation resistance and feeding behavior in flies. Interestingly, PFOA exposure also caused changes in locomotor activity and sleep patterns compared with flies receiving a standard diet. Notably, compared with controls, the F2 generation showed increased locomotion and shorter sleep duration during the dark phase, even without direct exposure to PFOA, indicating possible transgenerational effects. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that PFOA also disrupts fatty acid metabolism and alters the expression of immune-responsive genes in Drosophila. In the U-2 OS human osteosarcoma cell line, we examined the impact of PFOA on circadian rhythm regulatory proteins and discovered that, compared with controls, BMAL1 levels increased at concentrations from 10 nM to 10 μM. In summary, this research highlights the influence of PFOA on diverse biological processes, including reproduction, feeding behavior, starvation resistance, locomotion, and sleep activity in Drosophila. It also highlights the ability of PFOA to alter BMAL1 expression patterns in human osteosarcoma cells with deleterious effects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Persistent environmental pollution by heavy metals, particularly Cr (VI), poses significant risks to ecosystems and human health due to its high toxicity and bioaccumulation potential. The development of high-performance, cost-effective adsorbents from sustainable materials remains a critical challenge in the field of Cr (VI) remediation. This study investigates the influence of pyrrolic-N (N-5) within nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon (N-HPC) on its adsorption capacity. Results indicate that N-HPC variants with a higher N-5 content exhibit superior adsorption abilities. The optimal sample demonstrated an exceptional adsorption capacity of 386.2 mg/g for Cr (VI). Even after seven regeneration cycles, this N-HPC variant maintained a remarkable 77.8 % removal efficiency for Cr (VI), highlighting its robust stability and selectivity. The relationship between the physicochemical properties of N-5 and N-HPC was thoroughly examined, revealing that N-5 plays a crucial role in the adsorption process. Due to its high electronegativity, nitrogen-doping into the carbon framework generates a dipole moment, enhancing the electronegativity of N-HPC, altering its local electron density and polarity, increasing specific surface area, carbon defect density, and ion exchange capacity. These factors collectively contribute to significant improvements in pore filling, ion exchange efficiency, and electrostatic adsorption by N-HPC. The reduction complexation mechanism emerges as the dominant factor in the adsorption process. N-5 not only provides reducing electrons as an electron donor, facilitating the continuous conversion of Cr (VI) to Cr (III), but also acts as an adsorption active site, complexing Cr to the surface of N-HPC. This synergistic effect strengthens the reduction complexation, enhances adsorption performance, and improves the regeneration cycle and adsorption selectivity for Cr., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

With the increasing intensification of human activities, significant changes in land use and land cover (LULC) have posed a severe threat to the carbon storage capacity of wetland ecosystems. A deep understanding of this impact is crucial for protecting regional ecosystems and promoting sustainable development. This study utilized the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model and the human activity intensity (HAI) index to conduct detailed grid analysis and global analysis of carbon storage through creating fishnet system and explored the complex relationship between carbon storage and HAI in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), China. The results indicated that over the past 30 years, natural wetlands such as meadow wetlands and salt marshes in the study area had undergone significant degradation due to escalating human activities, while artificial wetlands and non-wetland areas expanded. Concurrently, the total regional carbon storage had declined by 2.08 Tg, representing a significant drop of 8.22 % in the YRD from 1990 to 2020. Among them, dry land, as the primary land type, served as the most crucial carbon pool. Additionally, the human activity intensity of land surface (HAILS) increased significantly, with a growth rate of 37.27 %. HAI mapping revealed a continuous expansion of areas with high HAI. In contrast, the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve (YRDNNR) maintained relatively low HAI. Correlation analysis further showed the significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between carbon storage and HAI, with r values of grid analysis ranging from -0.1395 to -0.0334, while that for global analysis was -0.9643, respectively. This reflected the spatial heterogeneity and agglomeration effects of data analysis across different scales. This study provides valuable insights for achieving the "dual carbon" goals and supporting the conservation and management of wetland ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Large river delta-front estuaries are critical contributors to greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions and serve as substantial carbon reservoirs. However, the presence and origins of CO 2 and CH 4 , as well as the sources of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in groundwater within deltaic systems, remain insufficiently understood. This gap stems from the limited exploration of biogeochemical processes in groundwater and the impact of sedimentary environment shaped by Holocene transgression and regression. In this study, we examined the spatial variations of GHGs, DIC, and δ 13 C-DIC in groundwater within the deltaic aquifer-aquitard system of the Pearl River Delta. By integrating hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical data, we evaluated the behaviors of GHGs in groundwater and proposed hypotheses regarding the evolutions of GHGs and DIC. Our findings revealed that paleo saltwater intrusion, reflected in groundwater salinity, significantly influenced CO 2 generation and methanogenesis. Elevated CH 4 levels in the Holocene and Pleistocene aquitards highlighted the importance of marine sediments, while groundwater CO 2 mainly resulted from biogeochemical processes. DIC in the Holocene aquitard primarily originated from marine deposited sediments, whereas biogenic indicators dominated DIC sources in older layers due to active biogeochemical environments. This study provides a novel assessment of the impact of marine-deposited environments and biogeochemical processes on groundwater CO 2 , CH 4 , and DIC dynamics in the Pearl River Delta. These findings are crucial for understanding the GHG sources and sinks in deltaic aquifer-aquitard systems and for improving GHG predictions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the toxicological mechanism of deltamethrin on Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis juveniles in fresh water. We first conducted an acute toxicity test, followed by laboratory methods to detect changes in immune-related indices in terms of antioxidant enzyme markers, lipid metabolism-related genes, and autophagy-related and apoptosis genes. The acute toxicity (96-h LC50) of deltamethrin to E. sinensis was 7.195 μg/L. After 48 h of exposure, serum showed elevated immune-related indices (P < 0.05) for alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), complement components C3 and C4, and the key pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). In hepatopancreas at 48 h, indicators related to the antioxidant system, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), were significantly elevated, whereas nitric oxide and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were decreased (P < 0.05). In contrast, lipid metabolism indices for triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased (P < 0.05). Transcriptomics and metabolomics revealed that exposure to deltamethrin disrupted the lipid metabolic process in the hepatopancreas mainly by altering fatty acid synthesis, amino acid metabolism, immune signaling, and autophagy activation, while the exposure increased the content of phospholipids and cholesterol but decreased the levels of amino acids and palmitoleic acid. Quantitative genetics revealed significantly aberrantly expressed (P < 0.05) lipid metabolism-related genes, including acc1, fasn, scd1, and pnpla2, all key genes involved in lipid accumulation. Deltamethrin exposure also significantly altered (P < 0.05) gene expression levels for Toll-like receptor (tlr), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (myd88), crustin1, anti-lipopolysaccharide factor isoform 3 (alf3), tumor necrosis factor alpha (tnf-α), and NF-κB transcription factor relish. Furthermore, deltamethrin activated the toll-like receptor/major myeloid differentiation response gene 88/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (TLR/MyD88/NF-kB) signaling pathway, which activates a nonspecific immune response in E. sinensis. Additionally, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 A (cpt1a), cytochrome c (cyt-c), adenosine 5'-monophosphate (amp)-activated protein kinase (ampk), the autophagosomal protein microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3c (lc3c), and the autophagy-related proteins beclin1, atg5, atg12 were significantly induced (P < 0.05) in the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) signaling pathway. These changes resulted in excess free radicals, causing oxidative stress in the mitochondrial membrane, promoting mitochondrial autophagy. The results confirm that deltamethrin exposure can induce hepatopancreatic injury by promoting mitochondrial autophagy, activating an immune response, and inhibiting lipid metabolism. Overall, this study provides multi-level information to reveal the toxic effects of deltamethrin on E. sinensis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: The detrimental effects of exposure to light at night (LAN) have received increasing attention. However, the effects of LAN exposure on depressive symptoms and underlying mechanism are less explored., Objectives: To investigate the association between LAN exposure with new-onset and trajectories of depressive symptoms, and the potential mediating role of systemic inflammation., Methods: Baseline bedroom LAN exposure was monitored every minute for 2 consecutive nights using a portable illuminance meter. Fasting blood samples were collected at the 1-year follow-up to determine high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline, 1- and 2-year follow-up using the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ)., Results: At baseline, the mean age of the 347 participants was 18.7 ± 0.8 years, and 35.2 % were men. At 2-year follow-up, the new-onset depressive symptoms were 14.7 %. Compared with low-LAN avg (average light intensity from bedtime to rising time) intensity group (LAN avg  < 3 lx), those with high-LAN avg intensity (LAN avg  ≥ 3 lx) were associated with an 125 % increase in risk for depressive symptoms (HR = 2.25; 95 % CI: 1.27, 4.00); Compared with short-LAN5 (duration of nighttime light intensity ≥5 lx) duration group (LAN5 < 45 min), those with long-LAN5 duration (LAN5 ≥ 45 min) were associated with an 119 % increase in risk for depressive symptoms (HR = 2.19; 95 % CI: 1.18, 4.06). Participants were classified into 3 trajectory groups: consistently low, slow or rapid increase depressive symptoms; both intensity and duration of LAN exposure were associated with higher likelihood of slow or rapid increase depressive symptoms. Additionally, hs-CRP partially mediated the relationship between intensity (mediation proportion: 7.1 %) and duration (mediation proportion: 10.6 %) of LAN exposure with depressive symptoms., Conclusion: Excessive bedroom LAN exposure is associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms among young adults, and systemic inflammation may be a partial mediator in the LAN-depressive symptoms association., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) forms a multi-beneficial symbiotic relationship with the host plant, therefore it is considered to be an effective helper to promote plant health. However, failure to consider the source or universality of AMF is often unstable during application. Therefore, it is necessary to screen potential AMF inoculants based on the source and the relationship with host. In search of more effective and broad-spectrum AMF inoculants, we studied AMF community structure properties of healthy and diseased plants in 24 fields from four sampling sites. The results indicated that the environmental filtering effect of roots was obvious, which was manifested as a decrease of α-diversity from rhizosphere to root. Differences in α-diversity between healthy and diseased roots further indicate the importance of AMF communities within roots for maintaining plant health. Glomus is significantly enriched and dominant in healthy roots, independent of environment and phylogenically conserved. Spores were further isolated and evaluated for their disease-preventing and pro-growth properties. Based on whether they were symbiotic with plant and root-enrichment characteristics, isolated AMF spores were classified as symbiotic conserved, symbiotic non-conserved, and non-symbiotic AMF. After spores were propagated and inoculated to plant roots, only symbiotic conserved AMF significantly promoted plant growth and maintained health, highlighting the potential of symbiotic conserved AMF in sustainable plant production., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Livestock grazing can alter ecosystem structure, functions, and services across diverse biomes, with grazing intensity being a key factor affecting grassland function. Although the effects of grazing on plant and soil properties have been extensively studied, the effects of grazing intensity on biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) remain largely unexplored. Therefore, this study addresses this gap using 28 indicator variables from a well-controlled yak grazing intensity experiment in alpine meadows on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that aboveground diversity (calculated using plant species richness and insect diversity) exhibited a hump-shaped and significant response to increasing grazing intensity, multidiversity (whole-ecosystem biodiversity) and belowground diversity (calculated using nematode richness and microbial diversity) showed no significant response, and EMF significantly declined. Grazing decreased carbon and nitrogen cycling indices (calculated by carbon and nitrogen in plants and soils), but did not affect phosphorus cycling. Structural equation modelling indicated that EMF was directly affected by grazing intensity and belowground diversity (i.e., nematode and fungal diversity), rather than by multidiversity, aboveground diversity, and plant pathogens. Grazing-induced decreases in plant pathogens showed no direct or indirect effects on EMF but increased multidiversity and aboveground diversity. Overall, our results highlight the critical role of conserving belowground diversity in promoting and maintaining multifunctionality in grazing pastures on the Tibetan Plateau., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Acidity, generally expressed as pH, plays a crucial role in atmospheric processes and ecosystem evolution. Atmospheric acidic aerosol, triggering severe air pollution in the industrialization process (e.g., London Great Smoke in 1952), has detrimental effects on human health. Despite global endeavors to mitigate air pollution, the variation of aerosol acidity remains unclear and further restricts the knowledge of the acidity-driven toxicity of fine particles (PM 2.5 ) in the atmosphere. Here, we summarize the toxicological effects and mechanisms of inhalable acidic aerosol and its response to air pollution control. The acidity could adjust toxic components (e.g., metals, quinones, and organic peroxides) bonded in aerosol and synergize with oxidant gaseous pollutants (e.g., O 3 and NO 2 ) in epithelial lining fluid to induce oxidative stress and inflammation. The inhaled aerosol from the ambient air with higher acidity might elevate airway responsiveness and cause worse pulmonary dysfunction. Furthermore, historical observation data and model simulation indicate that PM 2.5 can retain its acidic property despite considerable reductions in acidifying gaseous pollutants (e.g., SO 2 and NO x ) from anthropogenic emissions, suggesting its continuing adverse impacts on human health. The study highlights that aerosol acidity could partially offset the health benefits of emission reduction, indicating that acidity-related health effects should be considered for future air pollution control policies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The rapidly increasing amount of end-of-life lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4 ) batteries has raised significant environmental concerns. This study offers a strategy for a paradigm shift by transforming this growing waste into a valuable resource by recycling discarded LiFePO 4 batteries and safely integrating the materials into sustainable agriculture. We used five types of LiFePO 4 (10, 50 mg kg -1 ) applied to soil planted with peanuts in a full-culture experiment. Our results show that addition of <50 mg kg -1 of recycled nano-LiFePO 4 (rn-LiFePO 4 ) has a multifaceted positive impact on peanut because of sustainable release of nutrients and nano-specific effects, not only enhancing photosynthesis and root growth but also increasing yield by 22 %-34 % while simultaneously elevating seed nutritional quality. Moreover, a remarkable reduction (up to 99.78 % at 10 mg kg -1 rn-LiFePO 4 ) in the expression of allergen genes was evident following exposure to LiFePO 4 , which showed a significant negative correlation with Fe content in the seeds. The decreased peanut allergen gene expression was mediated by a downregulation of metabolites associated with protein digestion and absorption. Furthermore, rhizosphere soil immune system enhancement may indirectly enhance immune responses to peanut allergy. This study suggests the significant potential of nanoscale LiFePO 4 recycled from Li battery, including enhancing crop yield quality and mitigating peanut allergy concerns while simultaneously addressing a growing waste stream of concern., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Near-surface O 3 is a harmful atmospheric pollutant and a key component of urban photochemical pollution. The availability of satellite ozone concentration products is predominantly restricted to daytime, resulting in a lack of understanding of nighttime ozone pollution (e.g. nocturnal ozone enhancement events). This research leverages 5-km bright temperatures derived from Advanced Himawari Images (AHI) on the Himawari-8 satellite, in conjunction with auxiliary data, to estimate 24-h near-surface O 3 concentrations in China at a resolution of 5 km for 2020. The model achieves an average 5-fold cross-validation R 2 of 0.92. Comparative analysis with on-site observations reveals that the model has low relative errors between 8:00 and 21:00 LT. The estimated O 3 maps depict a consistent 24-h variation pattern, characterized by high and most fluctuating concentrations during the daytime, reaching a peak around 16:00 LT, which is primarily due to the increased photochemical reactions and the O 3 accumulation in the mid-afternoon. In the daytime of summer, high surface ozone concentrations are mainly contributed by June. The elevated levels of O 3 are predominantly found in central China, particularly in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and Inner Mongolia. It can also be seen that although the highest average daytime surface O 3 concentration occurs in summer, the highest nighttime concentration is observed in spring, which may be attributed to the frequent occurrence of horizontal transport and vertical mixing of O 3 . This study holds promise in providing comprehensive round-the-clock surface O 3 data across China, thereby enhancing our understanding of diurnal ground-level O 3 variations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Soil reinforcement using eco-friendly biopolymer and vegetation has been increasingly popular in geotechnical engineering. However, research is still in its early stages due to complex biochemical interactions between biopolymers and plants. Moreover, under the increasing climate change, extreme weather poses severe challenges to the effectiveness of biopolymer-vegetation on soil treatment. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive review and summary of recent research on the influence of biopolymer and biopolymer-vegetation interaction on soil properties. First, this paper evaluates the various hydraulic and mechanical properties of soils after biopolymer treatment, including compaction characteristics, Atterberg limits, unconfined compressive strength, shear strength, tensile strength, permeability, water holding capacity, slaking behavior, and erosion resistance, as well as the influence of climate change. Then, the application of biopolymer-vegetation measure in the current field of soil treatment is summarized, and the biopolymer-vegetation interaction is discussed, including the influence of biopolymers on plant germination rate, growth conditions, wilting rate, and other indicators. Under drought and water scarcity conditions, biopolymers can improve soil mechanical strength and water retention, reducing plant wilting rate, and enhancing the survival ability of plants under extreme climate changes. Appropriate biopolymers can increase soil strength by >50 %, reduce strength and mass losses from dry-wet cycles to within 10 %, enhance grass seed germination rates by over 60 %, and reduce wilting rates under drought stress by 80 %. Finally, the research gaps and deficiencies in this field are highlighted, and potential research hotspots that can be strengthened and studied in the future are proposed. This review demonstrates the biopolymer-vegetation measure to be a new ecological restoration technology with widespread application prospects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Riparian zones play a crucial role in reducing nitrate pollution in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Complex deposition action and dynamic hydrological processes will change the grain size distribution of riparian sediments, affect the residence time of substances, and have a cascade effect on the biogeochemical process of nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 - -N). However, simultaneous studies on NO 3 - -N transformation and the potential drivers in riparian zones are still lacking, especially neglecting the effect of sediment grain size (SGS). To fill this knowledge gap, we first systematically identified and quantified NO 3 - -N biogeochemical processes in the riparian zone by integrating molecular biotechnology, 15 N stable isotope tracing, and microcosmic incubation experiments. We then evaluated the combined effects of environmental variables (including pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), oxidation reduction potential, SGS, etc.) on NO 3 - -N transformation through Random Forest and Structural Equation Models. The results demonstrated that NO 3 - -N underwent five microbial-mediated processes, with denitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) dominated the NO 3 - -N attenuation (69.4 % and 20.1 %, respectively), followed by anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) and nitrate-dependent ferric oxidation (NDFO) (8.4 % and 2.1 %, respectively), while nitrification dominated the NO 3 - -N production. SGS emerged as the most critical factor influencing NO 3 - -N transformation (24.96 %, p < 0.01), followed by functional genes (nirS, nrfA) abundance, DOC, and ammonia concentrations (14.12 %, 16.40 %, 13.08 %, p < 0.01). SGS influenced NO 3 - -N transformation by regulating microbial abundance and nutrient concentrations. RF predicted that a 5 % increase in the proportion of fine grains (diameter < 50 μm) may increase the NO 3 - -N transformation rate by 3.8 %. This work highlights the significance of integrating machine learning and geochemical analysis for a comprehensive understanding of nitrate biogeochemical processes in riparian zones, contributing valuable references for future nitrogen management strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

High‑arsenic (As) groundwater in geothermal aquifers poses a serious threat to public health. Assembly processes governing groundwater microbial community related to As biotransformation are still unexplored in geothermal groundwater across different aquifers. To fill this gap, groundwater microorganisms, community assembly processes, and microbially metabolic coupling of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), and arsenic (As) were investigated in unconfined and confined groundwater in the thermal reservoirs of the Guide Basin. The difference in groundwater hydrogeochemicals led to the heterogeneity of the microbial community and microbially mediated C, N, P, S, and As cycling between unconfined and confined groundwater. Higher temperature and As concentrations, low nutrient supply, and reduced conditions in confined groundwater supported stronger interspecific coexistence and environmental selection, thus promoting the proliferation of As-resistant microorganisms (ARMs) and simplifying the community assemblage. Abundant available nutrient supply and oxidizing conditions supported an increased species diversity and metabolic functionality in unconfined groundwater. S oxidizers, C fixation, and C degradation bacteria potentially contributed to the decreased As concentrations in unconfined groundwater. However, ARMs, ammonification, and anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria potentially caused As mobilization in confined groundwater. Overall, our results give a comprehensive insight into the interaction between As and microorganisms in geothermal groundwater., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Wetlands, which are ecosystems with the highest soil surface carbon density, have been severely degraded and replaced by artificial reclamation for fish and shrimp ponds in recent years. This transformation is causing intricate shifts in soil carbon pools and microbial stability. In this study, we examined natural wetlands and reclaimed aquaculture ponds in Southeast China to analyze the structure and network stability of soil microbial communities following the reclamation of estuarine wetlands and to elucidate the microbial-mediated mechanisms for regulating soil organic carbon (SOC). The aquaculture ponds presented significantly less average SOC content than the natural wetlands (p < 0.05). ACE, Chao1, and Shannon's indices of bacteria and fungi were decreased in aquaculture ponds. Less numbers of nodes and edge links in the co-occurrence network of soil fungi and bacteria in aquaculture ponds. This suggests reduced correlation and stability within the microbial network of aquaculture ponds. Decomposers in soil fungi (e.g. Dung Saprotroph) reduced. Reduced proportions of key phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Rozellomycota in the soil fungal network. Reduced proportions of key phyla Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi and Desulfobacterota in the soil bacterial network. In conclusion, our results suggest that converting wetland paddocks to intensive aquaculture ponds results in carbon pool loss and reduces soil microbial network stability. The results highlight the importance of protecting or moderately restoring mangrove wetlands along the coast of southeastern China. It is also predicted that such measures may enhance the storage capacity of soil carbon pools and improve the stability of carbon sequestration by soil microorganisms, thus offering a potential solution for mitigating global climate change., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A large number of microplastics have been discharged into freshwater ecosystems, where they age and are deposited in the sediment, posing a risk to primary producers, such as submerged macrophytes. Many macrophytes benefit from clonal integration, which lets the population work as a 'macro' organism. Nonetheless, little is known about the differences in phytotoxicity between aged and pristine microplastics, particularly for clonal populations of macrophytes. In this study, we showed that UV-aging changes the characteristics of polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC-MPs). Aged PVC-MPs possessed higher hydrophilicity, less chlorine and crystallinity, and more severe toxicity. The pristine PVC-MPs did not affect Vallisneria natans, while the aged PVC-MPs significantly affected the development and structure of the clonal population. The severely aged PVC-MPs reduced the relative growth rate of V. natans by 26 % at the population level. Furthermore, the mother plant (ortet) and offspring (ramet) responded differently to the aged PVC-MPs. A trade-off was observed between the growth rate and stress resistance in the ortets. The ortets increased investment in the root part to tolerate stress when facing exposure to microplastics. In contrast, the ramets were less resistant, as shown by shorter roots, and lower leaf chlorophyll, carbon, and nitrogen concentrations. Notably, the growth of the ramets was maintained and the investments in stolon structure by the ortets were not lessened. The ortet sacrificed itself for the continuation of the ramet. This clonal integration may safeguard V. natans survival and compensate for vegetative expansion. This study sheds new light on how macrophytes respond to microplastics at the clonal population level and provides direct evidence that existing studies may have underestimated the toxic effect of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The southeastern Tibetan Plateau (SETP) is a construction area of several key infrastructure projects in China, such as the Sichuan-Tibet Railway and hydropower developments, which has historically faced the threat of glacier-related debris flows. However, a robust assessment of such debris flow susceptibility is a challenge due to the complex and variable climate, terrain and glacial environment. In this study, we used the hybrid models that combine statistical techniques (certainty factors, CF) with machine learning methods (logistic regression, LR; random forest, RF; extreme gradient boosting, XGBoost) to more accurately identify debris flow susceptible (DFS) areas. Topography, geology, and hydrological factors including glaciers and snow cover were used in these models to assess the DFS. Results show that 21 % to 42 % of the study area is very high susceptible to debris flows, particularly from Ranwu to Bomi and around Namcha Barwa. The hybrid models effectively enhance the accuracy of the DFS assessments. The CF-RF model showed the greatest improvement, with an 8.4 % increase in accuracy compared to the single model, the DFS spatial distribution of which aligns closely with field survey results. The glacial area ratio and annual snowmelt positively impact DFS accuracy, ranking 2nd and 9th in the factor importance, respectively. The results of this research could provide valuable assistance and guidance in mitigating glacier-related debris flow hazards., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Heavy metal contamination is a huge hazard to the environment and human health, and research into removing heavy metals from their primary sources (industrial and agricultural wastes) has increased significantly. Adsorption has received interest due to its distinct benefits over other treatment approaches. The distinctive qualities of clay minerals, such as their high specific surface area, strong cation exchange capacity, and varied structures, make them particularly ideal for use in the manufacture of adsorbents. The customizable structure and performance of clay minerals allow for unprecedented diversity in adsorbent creation, opening up new possibilities for the development of high-efficiency and functional adsorption technologies. In this review, various approaches for developing optimal adsorbents from raw materials are presented. Then, the correlation between functionalization and performance is investigated, focusing on the effects of structural features and surface properties on adsorption performance. The research progress on the synthesis of adsorbents using clay minerals and other functional materials is systematically reported. Finally, the challenges and opportunities in designing and utilizing innovative clay mineral adsorbents are discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Plastisphere, characterized by microbial colonization on plastic debris, has attracted concern with its adverse environmental effects. The microbial features have been increasingly investigated; however, there lacks direct evidence for microplastics serving as carbon sources and enriching plastic-degrading microorganisms. Here, we obtained microbial communities from soil microplastics, analyzed the dissimilarity compared with soil, and characterized the plastic-degrading potential of isolates from plastisphere. Results showed the plastisphere communities significantly differed from soil communities and exhibited a higher relative abundance of Nocardia and Rhodococcus. To verify the selective enrichment of plastic-degrading microorganisms in the plastisphere, culture-based strategies were employed to evaluate the polyethylene (PE) degradation potential of two isolates Nocardia asteroides No.11 and Rhodococcus hoagii No.17. They could grow solely on PE and led to significant weight loss. FTIR and SEM analysis revealed the formation of new functional groups and the destruction of structural integrity on PE surfaces. Genes related to PE biodegradation were identified by genome-wide sequencing thus recognizing relevant enzymes and elucidating potential pathways. Overall, this report combined culture-free and culture-based approaches to confirm the plastic degradation potential of selectively enriched microorganisms in soil plastisphere, providing a positive perspective toward promoting microplastic biodegradation in farmland soil by enhancing natural microbial processes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Phthalates (PAEs), especially di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), are generally considered to have adverse impact on nervous system. The residue of DEHP in the environment has gradually become a widely concerned environmental problem due to its widespread use in plastic items. Lycopene (LYC) as the readily available natural antioxidant is considered to have the potential to alleviate exogenous poisons-induced nerve damage. However, there is currently a lack of strategies to alleviate the neurotoxicity caused by DEHP, and it is also unknown whether LYC can alleviate the neurotoxicity caused by DEHP. The experiment demonstrated that LYC had the potential to mitigate DEHP-induced mitochondrial damage in cerebellum. DEHP induced the disorder of Ca 2+ transport in cerebellum, thereby resulting in the imbalance of protein homeostasis. Such disruption in protein homeostasis further results in the overactivation of mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR mt ) and mitochondrial injury. Mechanistically, LYC could alleviate the imbalance of calcium homeostasis and protein homeostasis induced by DEHP via regulating inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate receptor type1 (IP3R1) and sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca (2+)-ATPase 2 (SERCA2), further alleviating mitochondrial damage in cerebellum. Subsequently, the present study suggested the mechanism of cerebellar injury induced by DEHP, and provided a novel approach to treating DEHP-induced neurotoxicity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors state that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite increasing evidence of a strong correlation between air pollution and otitis media (OM), the impact of early-life ozone (O 3 ) exposure on the development of OM in children remains uncertain., Objectives: To explore the connection between early-life O 3 exposure and OM, and to identify the critical time period(s) during which O 3 exposure significantly influences the development of OM in children., Methods: We conducted a study involving 8689 children living in Changsha, China. Information regarding personal factors, health conditions, and the indoor environment was gathered using questionnaires. Personal exposure to outdoor O 3 and other major pollutants at the place of residence during the periods before conception, prenatal periods, and after birth was calculated by applying the inverse distance weighted (IDW) method with data gathered from ten air quality monitoring stations. Multiple logistic regression analyses were employed to investigate the associations between O 3 exposure and children's OM., Results: After controlling for covariates and ambient temperature, exposure to O 3 during the year preceding pregnancy was correlated with childhood lifetime OM, showing ORs (95 % CI) of 1.28 (1.01-1.64). O 3 exposures in the 10th-12th, 7th-9th, and 4th-6th months before pregnancy were all linked to children's lifetime OM. Within the multi-window model, we detected that O 3 exposure in the 10th to 12th month prior to pregnancy was significantly related to lifetime OM, showing ORs (95 % CI) of 1.28 (1.05-1.55). A significant link was discovered between childhood OM and O 3 exposure after controlling for six other pollutants (SO 2 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 , PM 2.5 - 10 , CO, and PM 10 ) during the 10th to 12th month prior to conception. Exposure to O 3 during the 36th gestational week significantly raised the likelihood of childhood lifetime OM. There is a significant interaction between O 3 and temperature exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy and one year before pregnancy on childhood lifetime OM., Conclusions: Preconceptional O 3 exposure and its interaction with low temperature played critical roles in children's OM development, backing the hypothesis of "(pre) fetal origins of childhood OM"., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Water quality stability in lakes and reservoirs is essential for drinking water safety and ecosystem health, especially given the frequent occurrence of extreme climate events. However, the relationship between water quality stability and water residence time (WRT) has not been well elucidated. In this study, we explored the relationship based on nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations data in 11 lakes and 49 reservoirs in the Yangtze-Huaihe River basin from 2010 to 2022. Additionally, we examined the effects of hydrometeorological characteristics, the geomorphology of water bodies and catchments, and land use on the WRT, establishing a link between climate change and the stability of N and P in these water bodies. The results showed that a significant correlation between the stability of N and P in lakes and reservoirs and their WRT. The longer WRT tends to coincide with decreased stability and higher nutrient concentrations. Hydrometeorological factors are the primary factors on the WRT, with precipitation exerting the greatest effect, particularly under extreme drought. In recent years, extreme climatic events have intensified the fluctuations of WRT, resulting in a renewed increase in N and P concentrations and deterioration in stability. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating meteorological and hydrological factors alongside reinforcing ecological restoration into lake and reservoir management strategies, and providing a scientific basis for future efforts aimed at enhancing lake and reservoir water quality stability and safeguarding aquatic ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Shale gas has been extensively extracted in the Sichuan Basin in China in recent years. To gain insight into the potential impact of shale gas wastewater (SGW) discharge, sediment in a small river receiving treated SGW, as well as cultivated soil and paddy soil irrigated by the river water were collected. The occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their alkylated/oxygenated derivatives (APAHs/OPAHs), and thiophenes were investigated, the resultant potential ecological risks were assessed subsequently. The total concentration of PACs varied in the range of 1299.9-9286.4, 2069.4-11,512.3, and 475.7-2927.9 ng/g in sediment, cultivated soil and paddy soil, respectively, with thiophenes followed by APAHs being the abundant components in all the studied samples, demonstrating the potential impact of SGW discharge on sediment and surrounding soil environment. Based on the measured concentrations, potential ecological risks posed by PAHs and APAHs were calculated, and moderate to high ecological risks were observed in partial sampling sites, which mainly caused by 3-4 rings PAHs and APAHs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) increase with eutrophication depending on the nutrient structure (availability and ratios), but an unequivocal causal link between these factors is rarely established. Here, we provide support for the causal link between the nitrogen structure and physiological processes of Ulva prolifera as the causative species of Yellow Sea green tides (YSGTs) using in situ and laboratory experiments. The results showed that the components of nitrogen nutrients in seawater exhibited significant spatiotemporal variation. The concentration of NO 3 - -N showed a notable decreasing trend from south to north. Sufficient dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) induced increases in thalli nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) activities. This could accelerate thalli uptake of nitrogen nutrients. The glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity was significantly upregulated with the increasing proportion of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in seawater. The change in nitrogen structure regulated the activity of NR during the long-distance floating migration of the YSGTs. And the activity of NR could modulate the nitric oxide (NO) content in the thalli. NO was used as a signal molecule to enhance the antioxidant defense system of thalli. The efficient antioxidant system in the thalli could reduce oxidative stress and effectively maintain high photosynthetic activity. The findings deepen our understanding of the relationship between nitrogen structures and key biological processes in macroalgae. This study also suggest that NO can enhance key biological processes in U. prolifera under varying nitrogen structures., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Restoring submerged plants naturally has been a significant challenge in water ecology restoration programs. Some silicate-based mineral materials have shown promise in improving the substrate properties for plant growth. While it is well-established that silicate mineral materials enhance submerged plant growth by improving salt release and reducing salt stress, the influence of rhizosphere microorganisms on phytohormone synthesis and key enzyme activities has been underestimated. This study focused on two typical silicate mineral materials, bentonite and maifanite, to investigate their effects on Myriophyllum oguraense from both plant physiology and microbiome perspectives. The results demonstrated that both bentonite and maifanite regulated the synthesis of phytohormones such as gibberellin (GA) and methyl salicylate (MESA), leading to inhibition of cellular senescence and promotion of cell division. Moreover, these silicate mineral materials enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes, thereby reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. They also optimized the structure of rhizosphere microbial communities, increasing the proportion of functional microorganisms like Nitrospirota and Sva0485, which indirectly influenced plant metabolism. Analysis of sediment physicochemical properties revealed increased rare earth elements, macronutrients, and oxygen content in pore water in the presence of silicate materials, creating favorable conditions for root growth. Overall, these findings shed light on the multifaceted mechanisms by which natural silicate mineral materials promote the growth of aquatic plants, offering a promising solution for restoring aquatic vegetation in eutrophic lake sediments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Information on the emission of coal combustion-sourced magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) is lacking, which is critical for their health-related risks. In this study, MNPs in coal fly ashes (CFAs) from various coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) in China equipped with various dust removal devices were extracted and quantified using single particle ICP-MS. The number concentrations of MNPs in CFAs captured by dust removal increased with stage, while their size decreased. Among all the dust removal devices, electrostatic-fabric-integrated precipitators showed the best removal of MNPs. Furthermore, throughout all the coal combustion by-products in a typical CFPP, MNPs in EFA (fly ash escaped from the stack) showed the highest number concentration (1.2 × 10 7 particles/mg) and lowest size (78 nm). Although the mass of CFA escaping through the stack is extremely low, it still had an emission rate of 1.9 × 10 15 particles/h, contributing 3.56 % of the total emissions of MNPs in number. In addition, the purity of MNPs and their associated toxic metals showed a size-dependent variation pattern. As the particle size of MNPs decreased, the proportion of Fe in MNPs increased from 43 % in bottom ash (BA) to 84 % in EFA, while the abundance of trace toxic metals in EFA was 3.3 times higher than that of BA. These MNPs with the highest purity can adsorb elevated concentrations of toxic metals, and can be discharged directly into the atmosphere, posing a risk of synergistic toxicity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The significance of sulphur (S) availability for crop yield and quality is highlighted under the global S deficiency scenario. However, little is known about the temporal trend in belowground organic S mineralisation when restoring land to productive agricultural systems, particularly for the deeper soil parts. Therefore, we investigated the decomposition of 35 S-labelled methionine in surface (0-30 cm) and subsurface soil (30-60 cm and 60-90 cm) over a 48-year recultivation chronosequence (sampled after1, 8, 14, 24 and 48 years). Soil total sulphur (TS) significantly (p < 0.05) increased in surface soil but not in subsurface soils after 48 years of recultivation. Overall, the immobilisation of 35 S-methionine ( 35 S-MB) in subsurface soils relative to year 1 significantly decreased over the chronosequence but did not change in the surface samples. The 35 S-MB values in subsurface soils were positively corrected with soil carbon (C) stoichiometry (Pearson correlation, p < 0.05), suggesting the immobilisation of methionine was likely constrained by microbial C demand in deep soil. Compared to year 1, 35 S-SO 4 2- released from 35 S-methionine significantly declined throughout the older (≥ 8 years) soil profiles. Significant (p < 0.05) changes in the organic 35 S partition ( 35 S immobilisation and 35 S released as sulphate) were observed in year 8 after the soil was recultivated with N-fixing alfalfa or fertilisers. Whereas, after that (≥ 14 years), soil organic S partition remained affected when conventional tillage and agricultural crops dominated this site. Indicating that the effect of recultivation on organic S decomposition depends on the manner of recultivation management. Our study contributes to an improved understanding of amino acid S and organic S mineralisation under severe anthropogenic disturbance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Heihe River Basin, located in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, is part of the perennial permafrost belt of the Qilian Mountains. Recent observations indicate ongoing permafrost degradation in this region. This study utilizes data from 255 observations provided by Sentinel-1 satellites, MODIS Land Surface Temperature, SMAP-L4 soil moisture data, GNSS measurements, and in situ measurement. We introduced Variational Bayesian independent Component Analysis (VB-ICA) in multi-temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (MT-InSAR) processing to investigate the spatial-temporal characteristics of surface deformation and permafrost active layer thickness (ALT) variations. The analysis demonstrates strong agreement with borehole data and offers improvements over traditional methodologies. The maximum value of ALT in the basin is found to be 5.7 m. VB-ICA effectively delineates seasonal deformations related to the freeze-thaw cycles, with a peak seasonal deformation amplitude of 60 mm. Moreover, the seasonal permafrost's lower boundary reaches an elevation of 3700 m, revealing that permafrost is experiencing widespread degradation and associated soil erosion in the high elevation region of The Heihe River Basin. The paper also explores the efficacy of reference point selection and baseline network establishment for employing the InSAR method in monitoring freeze-thaw deformations. The study underscores the InSAR method's adaptability and its importance for interpreting permafrost deformation and related parameters., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)