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Abstract Slow-controlled release fertilizers are experiencing a popularity in rice cultivation due to their effectiveness in yield and quality with low environmental costs. However, the underlying mechanism by which these fertilizers regulate grain quality remains inadequately understood. This study investigated the effects of five fertilizer management practices on rice yield and quality in a two-year field experiment: CK, conventional fertilization, and four applications of slow-controlled release fertilizer (UF, urea formaldehyde; SCU, sulfur-coated urea; PCU, polymer-coated urea; BBF, controlled-release bulk blending fertilizer). In 2020 and 2021, the yields of UF and SCU groups showed significant decreases when compared to conventional fertilization, accompanied by a decline in nutritional quality. Additionally, PCU group exhibited poorer cooking and eating qualities. However, BBF group achieved increases in both yield (10.8 t hm−2 and 11.0 t hm−2) and grain quality reaching the level of CK group. The adequate nitrogen supply in PCU group during the grain-filling stage led to a greater capacity for the accumulation of proteins and amino acids in the PCU group compared to starch accumulation. Intriguingly, BBF group showed better carbon–nitrogen metabolism than that of PCU group. The optimal nitrogen supply present in BBF group suitable boosted the synthesis of amino acids involved in the glycolysis/ tricarboxylic acid cycle, thereby effectively coordinating carbon–nitrogen metabolism. The application of the new slow-controlled release fertilizer, BBF, is advantageous in regulating the carbon flow in the carbon–nitrogen metabolism to enhance rice quality.

Abstract The significant volatilization of NH3 during aerobic composting causes nitrogen (N) losses and environmental risks. Both iron (Fe) and biochar (BC) can influence the N conversion process in composting. Fe application can delay the maturation of materials, while biochar can enhance the quality of organic fertilizer. The combination of these two conditioners may help decrease NH3 emissions and improve organic fertilizer quality. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of different doses of FeCl3 and BC on NH3 emissions and organic fertilizer quality during composting. The results demonstrated that Fe/BC co-conditioners reduced the accumulation of NH3 emissions during composting by 11.1–48.2%, increased the total nutrient content by 0.6–15.3%, and enhanced economic and environmental benefits by 0.1–23.6 $ t−1. At the high-temperature stage of composting, Fe/BC co-conditioners decreased the pH by 0.3–1.2, but there was no significant difference compared to the control at the end of composting, and they did not affect compost maturation. The structural equation model analysis suggested that the reduction in NH3 emissions was related to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), NH4 +–N, and total nitrogen (TN). As a result, the Fe/BC co-conditioners reduced NH3 emissions by lowering the pH at the beginning of composting and increasing the content of NH4 +–N. This study concludes that Fe/BC co-conditioners could complement each other to significantly reduce NH3 emissions and improve the quality of organic fertilizers. Graphical Abstract

● Full time-space governance strategy for AGNPS pollution was proposed.● The 4R chain technology system including source reduction, process retention, nutrient reuse and water restoration was reviewed.● The strategy and 4R technology system was successfully applied for AGNPS pollution control at administrative village scale.● Future challenge include the monitoring system, new smart fertilizer and intelligent equipment, governance standards and supportive policies. Ensuring food safety while reducing agricultural non-point source pollution is quite challenging, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries. Effective systematic strategies and comprehensive technologies need to be developed for agricultural non-point source pollution control at the watershed scale to improve surface water quality. In this review, a proposal is made for a full time-space governance strategy that prioritizes source management followed by endpoint water pollution control. The 4R chain technology system is specifically reviewed, including source reduction, process retention, nutrient reuse and water restoration. The 4R chain technology system with the full time-space governance strategy was applied at the scale of an administrative village and proved to be a feasible solution for reducing agricultural non-point source pollution in China. In the future, a monitoring system needs to be established to trace N and P transport. Additionally, new smart fertilizer and intelligent equipment need to be developed, and relevant governance standards and supportive policies need to be set to enhance the efficacy of agricultural non-point source pollution control.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the leading causes of death among the elderly. Recent research has demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction, which is hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, is a contributor to the development of these diseases. Methods and materials: Methylmalonic acid (MMA), AD, PD, inflammatory markers and covariates were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The classification of the inflammatory markers was done through quartile conversion. A restricted cubic spike function was performed to study their dose-response relationship. MMA subgroups from published studies were used to explore the correlation between different subgroups and cause-specific mortality. Multivariable weighted Cox regression was carried out to investigate MMA and cause-specific mortality in patients with AD and PD. Weighted survival analysis was used to study the survival differences among MMA subgroups. Results: A non-linear correlation was observed between MMA and AD-specific death and PD-specific mortality. The presence of MMA Q4 was linked to increased death rates among AD patients (HR = 6.39, 95%CI: 1.19–35.24, P = 0.03) after controlling for potential confounders in a multivariable weighted Cox regression model. In PD patients, the MMA Q4 (Q4: HR: 5.51, 95 % CI: 1.26–24, P = 0.02) was also related to increased mortality. The results of survival analysis indicated that the poorer prognoses were observed in AD and PD patients with MMA Q4. Conclusion: The higher level of mitochondria-derived circulating MMA was associated with a higher mortality rate in AD and PD patients. MMA has the potential to be a valuable indicator for evaluating AD and PD patients' prognosis in the clinic.

Abstract The associations of physical activity (PA) intensity and types with CVD (cardiovascular diseases) in different population are inconsistent and remains not very clear. A total of 7854 males and 10,876 females over 15 years were selected by multistage random sampling methods. In males, moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) had no effect, while vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) played a significant protective role (OR = 1.319 and 0.615). However, in females, both MPA and VPA had significant protective effects (OR = 0.593 and 0.537). VPA presented as a significant protective factor in stroke patients and combined CVDs for males in all age groups; however, in females, the results suggested that, for those aged over 60–74 years, MPA was a protective factor. Furthermore, for the middle-aged or younger participants, the area under the curves (AUCs) of work, housework, and leisure activity were generally higher than that of other types, while for patients aged over 60 years, the AUCs of sedentary time and sleep activity seemed much higher. VPA had a better protective effect for preventing cardiovascular events, while the young and female population could benefit from MPA as well. Regardless of the types of PA, leisure activities were strongly recommended, and young people were much more likely to benefit from exercise than older people.

Advanced Cu-Cr alloys with high strength and thermal conductivity are promising heat dissipation materials but their applications are restricted to low and medium temperatures (

Tungsten and its alloys are widely recognized as key components in high-temperature environments. In this study, self-passivating W-Si-xY alloys with varying Y content were prepared using mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The synergistic effects of Y content and milling time on the microstructures and oxidation resistance of the alloys were revealed. This study found that the oxidation resistance of the alloys increased as the Y content increased. However, the effect of milling time on oxidation resistance was complex. For W-Si-xY alloys with low Y content (0Y and 2Y), the oxidation resistance decreased with increasing milling time. In contrast, for W-Si-xY alloys with high Y content (4Y and 6Y), the oxidation resistance increased with increasing milling time. This enhanced oxidation resistance is due to the microstructural changes in the protective composite layer, including the size and distribution of W5Si3, Y2Si2O7 aggregates, and W-Y-O melt. The thickness of the oxide layer on the W-Si-6Y alloy after being oxidized at 1000 °C for 2 h was only 70.7 μm, demonstrating its superior oxidation resistance.

(1) Background: Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer application in tea plantations leads to challenges such as soil acidification and nitrogen loss, impending the sustainable development of the plantation system. Yet, there is a lack of research on blended fertilization strategies, and limited data regarding N loss when substituting with organic fertilizer. (2) Methods: A year-long field monitoring experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of substituting compound fertilizer with organic fertilizer, specifically with respect to runoff N loss and uptake of chemical fertilizer N by tea trees. (3) Results: The annual runoff N loss ranged from 0.16 to 0.57 kg·hm−2 and accounted for a mere 0.22–0.48% of N from fertilizer applications. Substitution with organic fertilizer reduced runoff N loss by 21–53% and improved the tea tree utilization efficiency of chemical fertilizer N from 16% to 27%. A 50% organic fertilizer substitution (based on the amount of N) promoted a net soil N mineralization rate, creating an ammonium-rich environment favored by tea trees. (4) Conclusions: The positive effects of partially substituting N fertilizer with organic fertilizer in tea plantation systems on both N utilization efficiency and N loss were confirmed. If conditions permit, the study team would aim to expand the temporal scope of the study, and to investigate the impact of organic fertilizer substitution on N loss under various precipitation intensities.

Agricultural non-point source pollution has emerged as a significant driver of declining global water quality in recent years. Ditch systems hold considerable promise for trapping and purifying pollutants. However, the persistent challenge has been the limited availability of carbon sources in drainage water, which significantly hinders nitrogen (N) removal in ditches. This study investigated the dynamic changes in ammonia (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) levels caused by three cellulosic carbon additions (rice straw, coir, and sawdust) during both winter and summer seasons. Water column devices were used as containers, and the impacts on environmental factors and water denitrification rates were explored. Results demonstrated that the addition of straw exhibited the most effective N removal in winter and summer, and significantly enhanced water denitrification rates in a short timeframe, with the maximum denitrification rate reaching 1482.42 μmol·L−1·h−1. However, there was an observed accumulation of NH4-N and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in summer. Also, the addition of sawdust resulted in a notable increase in greenhouse gas emissions during the summer test. In conclusion, during the cooler seasons of winter and spring when temperatures are not as high, the combined use of various cellulosic carbon sources has the potential to enhance water denitrification and mitigate adverse environmental impacts, offering valuable applications for water quality improvement.

SiO is a promising anode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high-energy density. However, the passivation of silicon oxide in SiO remains challenging to reduce its irreversible reactions and volume expansion during cycling. In this work, a scalable approach is proposed to synthesize calcium silicate/nanosilicon composites (pSi@CaO) by transforming the SiO2 in disproportionate SiO into calcium silicate at 1000 ℃. The bulk-distributed calcium silicate in pSi@CaO can effectively inhibit nanosilicon expansion and enhance ionic transfer. The optimized pSi@20%CaO anode demonstrates a low electrode expansion of 12.3% upon lithiation and 7.6% upon lithiation after 50 cycles. It also exhibits excellent electrochemical stability, delivering a specific capacity of 808 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1 with an initial Columbic efficiency of 72% and maintaining 82% capacity after 500 cycles at 1 A g−1. The feasible CaO passivation strategy proposed in this work is expected to promote practical applications of Si-based anodes in high-performance LIBs.

Highlights Aged hydrochar undergoes surface oxidation, mineral complexation, and leaching. Ash content and SSA play the essential role in enhancing Cd sorption and site heterogeneity. Aging degree and sorption behavior differ markedly between pyrochar and hydrochar.

Long-term large inputs of phosphorus (P) fertilizer in China have caused serious soil P accumulation, low P use efficiency (PUE) and high risk of P loss. Controlling the amount of P fertilizer applied presents an inevitable choice for improving the PUE. Struvite recycled from agricultural wastewater rich in N and P concentrations are capable of slow nutrient release, improving nutrient uptake and enabling the reuse of nutrients from environmental sources when applied to agricultural land. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of struvite combined with P reduction under a rice–wheat rotation system in eastern China. A total of five treatments were set up, including conventional fertilization (FP), a struvite substitution of 100% P fertilizer (SP), a 50% P reduction with struvite substitution (RSP), no application of N fertilizer (N0) and no application of P fertilizer (P0). Grain yield, crop N and P uptake, N and P use efficiency (NUE and PUE) and soil nutrient status were assessed. Under the same P application rate, the yield and aboveground biomass of the SP treatment were slightly higher than those of FP treatment, but the crop P uptake, PUE and soil available P content were significantly increased. The RSP treatment did not reduce yield with 50% P reduction, and significantly improved the PUE and soil available P content. Crop N uptake and NUE were also found to be increased in SP and RSP treatments with struvite substitution. The P apparent balance showed that both the SP and FP treatments had a P surplus, but the RSP treatment had a P break-even, and the soil available P content remains stable compared with the initial value. The results indicate that struvite application could improve the soil P availability and crop nutrient uptake then promote the crop yield. To increase the nutrient use efficiency of crops while ensuring crop yield and soil fertility, appropriate P reduction combined with struvite as a P fertilizer could be sustainable in the rice–wheat rotation system in the long run.

Self-passivating W alloys have excellent high temperature oxidation resistance and are expected to be used as a key component in high temperature environment. In this study, a series of W-Si-xY self-passivating alloys were fabricated by mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). Effects of Y content on phase compositions, microstructures, and oxidation resistance at high temperatures were investigated systematically. The results show that the oxidation resistance of the alloys increases with the increase of Y content (0.0~5.0 wt.%), but the oxidation resistance of the alloys deteriorates when the Y content reaches 9.6 wt.%. The alloy with 3.8 wt.% Y shows the best oxidation resistance. The thickness of its oxide layer is ~249.1 μm when the oxidation time reaches 80 h, which is thinner than that of other alloys. Effects of Y content on the oxidation resistance are revealed. During the oxidation process, Y can react with other elements to form molten-like W-Y-O and Y2Si2O7 particles. It is found that these two phases play a key role in the oxidation resistance of the alloys. When the Y content is in the range of 0~5.0 wt.%, a W-Y-O covering layer gradually forms with the increase of Y content, which can prevent further oxidation of the alloy. In the meantime, small Y2Si2O7 particles were formed and the microcracks formed around these particles were isolated, which have little effect on the oxidation resistance of the alloys. However, when Y content reaches 9.6 wt.%, large Y2Si2O7 particles and extensive cracks around them are formed. These cracks are interconnected to form penetrating channels for O2 from the environment to the alloy interior, which deteriorates the oxidation resistance of the alloys.

Recovering nitrogen (N) from agricultural wastewater for reuse in planting fields is a more sustainable and economical strategy to limit N pollution than using conventional treatments. Hereby, regular biochar produced by wheat straw pyrolysis and Mg-modified biochar were used as the N carriers to assess inorganic-N adsorption from simulated agricultural wastewater and the potential for reuse of the carried N in a planting system. The results showed that biochar materials have different affinities towards inorganic-N types. The amount of biochar carried-N increased with the increase in inorganic-N concentration and reached 4.44 mg/g as the maximum. The biochar carried ~4 mg/g of inorganic N substituting nearly 40% of N fertilizer following a 1% w/w addition rate for vegetable planting. After a trial season, 34.7–42.7% of the carried N from biochar was assimilated by the plant, 45.9–53.7% was retained by the soil, and only about 10% was lost. In comparison to the condition with all N inputs from chemical fertilizer, the addition of part of N by the N–biochar matrix significantly reduced the N loss by improving the plant N uptake or increasing the N content in the soil. This study demonstrates that biochar materials could be used as N carriers to recover N from wastewater for reuse in soil, carrier stability, and bioavailability preservation.

The flow mechanism within a silicon-based micro heat sink plays a crucial role in two-phase thermal dissipation technology. In this study, the effect of geometrical properties on the flow behavior within a silicon-based array parallel microchannel as the evaporator of a silicon-based micro loop heat pipe (s-mLHP) is experimentally and numerically investigated. Here, three arrayed microchannels with different aspect ratio (AR) parameters (depth of 180 μm and AR of 6, 9, and 15) are specially fabricated. A visual experiment platform is established to observe and measure capillary properties of microchannels characterized by the suction distance. In addition, a validated numerical model (the maximum deviation less than 38.3%) is applied to simulate the flow characteristics of microchannels with different ARs. Numerical solutions show that the microchannel with ARs taken between 3 and 4 achieves the best capillary pumping performance within the studied range (suction distance up to 0.8 mm), which provides a theoretical basis for further exploration of silicon-based microchannel array with the optimal flow and thermal performance.

Clarifying the benefits of carbon sequestration and crop production of continuous green manure amendment is crucial for sustainable agricultural development. Here, using a long-term located experiment, we assessed the effects of 18 years’ ryegrass/milk vetch amendment with (NF, 150 kg N ha−1) or without nitrogen (N) fertilizer input (CK), on soil carbon management indices, paddy methane (CH4) emissions and rice yields. The results showed that green manure, rather than fertilization, played a critical role in soil CMI, increasing the carbon pool index but reducing the carbon management index. The increased soil organic carbon and the reduced labile organic carbon were the main causes for this performance. Additionally, the effects of both fertilization and green manure amendment on CH4 emissions were insignificant; however, fertilization significantly increased grain yield by 39.30% compared to CK. As a result, the methane emission intensity under fertilization treatment was notably lower than that from CK. The findings suggest that green manure amendment is a profitable manipulation for enhancing carbon sequestration without increasing paddy CH4 emissions. However, this cannot substitute the critical role of N fertilizer in rice production.

Prussian blue attracts the attention of many researchers as a promising candidate for use in sodium-ion battery cathodes due to its open frameworks and high working potential. However, the interstitial water in its crystal structure and its poor electronic conductivity limits its performance in practical sodium-ion batteries. Here, acid-assisted ball milling synthesis was employed as a versatile method for the production of surface-modified Prussian blue. With (CH3COO)2Fe being used as the raw material, the Prussian blue produced using ball milling synthesis was modified by the carboxyl functional group on its surface, which resulted in lower interstitial water content and enhanced electrochemical cycling performance. In addition, ball milling synthesis provided the as-prepared Prussian blue with a large surface area, improving its electrochemical rate performance. When used as the cathode of sodium-ion batteries, as-prepared Prussian blue delivered a specific capacity of 145.3 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C and 113.7 mAh g−1 at 1 C, maintaining 54.5% of the initial capacity after 1000 cycles at 1 C (1 C = 170 mA g−1). Furthermore, a solid-state sodium-ion battery was mounted, with as-prepared Prussian blue being employed as the cathode and Na metal as the anode, which delivered a high specific capacity of 128.7 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C. The present study put forward an effective solution to overcome the limitations of Prussian blue for its commercial application.

As a type of micro flat loop heat pipe, s-UTLHP (silicon-based ultra-thin loop heat pipe) is of great significance in the field of micro-scale heat dissipation. To prove the feasibility of s-UTLHP with high heat flux in a narrow space, it is necessary to study its heat transfer mechanism visually. In this paper, a structural design of s-UTLHP was proposed, and then, to realize the working fluid charging and visual experiment, an experimental system including a holding module, heating module, cooling module, data acquisition module, and vacuum chamber was proposed. Deionized water was selected as a working fluid in the experiment. The overall and micro phenomena of s-UTLHP during startup, as well as the evaporation and condensation phenomena of s-UTLHP during stable operation, were observed and analyzed. Finally, the failure phenomenon of s-UTLHP was analyzed, and several solutions were proposed. The observed phenomena and experimental conclusions can provide references for further related experimental research.

As a phase change evaporator, a microchannel array heat exchanger is of great significance in the field of microscale heat dissipation. The performance of which strongly depends on the flow resistance, capillary force, and other factors. In order to improve the heat dissipation efficiency, it is necessary to perform an in-depth study of the characteristics of microchannel flow using numerical simulation. However, the current simulation model requires high computational cost and long simulation time. To solve this problem, this paper simplifies the numerical simulation of the rectangular parallel array microchannels by building the basic flow model based on the concept of porous media. In addition, we explore the effect of aspect-ratio (AR), hydraulic diameter, inlet velocity, and other parameters of fluid flow behavior inside the microchannels. Meanwhile, a user-defined function (UDF) is formulated to add the capillary force into the model to introduce capillary force into the porous media model. Through the above research, the paper establishes the porous media model for single-phase and gas-liquid two-phase flow, which acts as a simplification of microchannel array simulation without grossly affecting the results obtained. In addition, we designed and manufactured experiments using silicon-based microchannel heat exchangers with different-ratios, and combined with the visualization method to measure the performance of the device and compared them with simulation results. The theoretical model is verified through the suction experiment of array microchannel evaporator capillary core. The simplified model of microchannel array significantly saves the computational cost and time, and provides guidance for the related experimental researches.

Photocatalytic removal of ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N) from water using solar energy is an approach of high interest and applicability due to the convenience in application. ZnO has a great potential in photocatalytic decomposition of NH4+-N and conversion of this nutrient to under visible light irradiations. However the applicability of pristine ZnO though is limited due to its reduced capacity to utilize light from natural light. Herein, we report a two-step ZnO-modified strategy (Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles, immobilized on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets) for the promotion of photocatalytic degradation of NH4+-N under visible light. UV-Vis spectra showed that the Cu/ZnO/rGO can be highly efficient in the utilization of photons from the visible region. Hence, Cu/ZnO/rGO managed to demonstrate adequate photocatalytic activity and effective NH4+-N removal from water under visible light compared to single ZnO. Specifically, up to 83.1% of NH4+-N (initial concentration 50 mg·L−1, catalyst dosage 2 g·L−1, pH 10) was removed within 2 h retention time under Xe lamp irradiation. From the catalysis, the major by-product was N2. The high ammonia degradation efficiency from the ZnO/Cu/rGO is attributed to the improvement of the reactive oxygen species (ROSs) production efficiency and the further activation of the interfacial catalytic sites. This study also demonstrated that such nanocomposite is a recyclable agent. Its NH4+-N removal capacity remained effective even after five batch cycles. In addition, Cu/ZnO/rGO was applied to treat real domestic wastewater, and it was found that chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies can reach 84.3, 80.7, and 90.3%, respectively. Thus, Cu/ZnO/rGO in the presence of solar light can be a promising photocatalyst in the field of wastewater treatment.

This study investigates the P and NO3− adsorption capacities of different biochars made from plant waste including rice straw (RSB), Phragmites communis (PCB), sawdust (SDB), and egg shell (ESB) exposed to a range of pyrolysis temperatures (300, 500 and 700 °C). Results indicate that the effect of pyrolysis temperature on the physiochemical properties of biochar varied with feedstock material. Biochars derived from plant waste had limited adsorption or even released P and NO3−, but adsorption of P capacity could be improved by adjusting pyrolysis temperature. The maximum adsorption of P on RSB700, PCB300, and SDB300, produced at pyrolysis temperature of 700, 300 and 300 °C, was 5.41, 7.75 and 3.86 mg g−1, respectively. ESB can absorb both P and NO3−, and its adsorption capacity increased with an increase in pyrolysis temperature. The maximum NO3− and P adsorption for ESB700 was 1.43 and 6.08 mg g−1, respectively. The less negative charge and higher surface area of ESB enabled higher NO3− and P adsorption capacity. The P adsorption process on RSB, PCB, SDB and ESB, and the NO3− adsorption process on ESB were endothermic reactions. However, the NO3− adsorption process on RSB, PCB and SDB was exothermic. The study demonstrates that the use of egg shell biochar may be an effective way to remove, through adsorption, P and NO3− from wastewater.

In the Tailake region of China, heavy nitrogen (N) loss of rice–wheat rotation systems, due to high fertilizer-N input with low N use efficiency (NUE), was widely reported. To alleviate the detrimental impacts caused by N loss, it is necessary to improve the fertilizer management practices. Therefore, a 3 yr field experiments with different N managements including organic combined chemical N treatment (OCN, 390 kg N ha ^−1 yr ^−1 , 20% organic fertilizer), control–released urea treatment (CRU, 390 kg N ha ^−1 yr ^−1 , 70% resin-coated urea), reduced chemical N treatment (RCN, 390 kg N ha ^−1 yr ^−1 , all common chemical fertilizer), and site-specific N management (SSNM, 333 kg N ha ^−1 yr ^−1 , all common chemical fertilizer) were conducted in the Taihu Lake region with the ‘farmer’s N’ treatment (FN, 510 kg N ha ^−1 yr ^−1 , all common chemical fertilizer) as a control. Grain yield, plant N uptake (PNU), NUE, and N losses via runoff, leaching, and ammonia volatilization were assessed. In the rice season, the FN treatment had the highest N loss and lowest NUE, which can be attributed to an excessive rate of N application. Treatments of OCN and RCN with a 22% reduced N rate from FN had no significant effect on PNU nor the yield of rice in the 3 yr; however, the NUE was improved and N loss was reduced 20–32%. OCN treatment achieved the highest yield, while SSNM has the lowest N loss and highest NUE due to the lowest N rate. In wheat season, N loss decreased about 28–48% with the continuous reduction of N input, but the yield also declined, with the exception of OCN treatment. N loss through runoff, leaching and ammonia volatilization was positively correlated with the N input rate. When compared with the pure chemical fertilizer treatment of RCN under the same N input, OCN treatment has better NUE, better yield, and lower N loss. 70% of the urea replaced with resin-coated urea had no significant effect on yield and NUE improvement, but decreased the ammonia volatilization loss. Soil total N and organic matter content showed a decrease after three continuous cropping years with inorganic fertilizer application alone, but there was an increase with the OCN treatment. N balance analysis showed a N surplus for FN treatment and a balanced N budget for OCN treatment. To reduce the environmental impact and maintain a high crop production, proper N reduction together with organic amendments could be sustainable in the rice–wheat rotation system in the Taihu Lake region for a long run.

Ecological ditch was an important technology for controlling non-point source pollution, such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P). The traditional study methods of aquatic plants purification in low-polluted water could not fully reflect the real field ditches environment. In this study, Myriophyllum spicatum ditch (MSD) and Hydrocotyle vulgaris ditch (HVD) were constructed, respectively. Ditch with no aquatic plants was used as control group (CKD). Two nitrogen concentrations of the influent, TN between 5 mol/L and 8 mol/L (LTN), and TN between 10 mol/L and 15 mol/L (HTN) were adjusted to study the interception effects on N and P under the same hydraulic r etention time. Results showed that the total nitrogen (TN), ammonia nitrogen (NH4 +-N), and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations were lower in effluent from MSD and HVD than from CKD. The TN and NH4+-N concentrations in MSD and HVD both decreased with the distance on a whole at LTN and HTN. The interception rates ofNH4+-N in MSD were the highest among all the treatments between 53.2% and 54.4%, which showed the good nitrogen interception ability of M spicatum. The NO3--N concentrations were relatively higher in MSD and HVD. It might be ascribed to the absent of sediment in cement ditch which limited denitrification to a certain extent. This flow test provided some parameters for plants arrangement and engineering application in ecological ditches. However, long-term experiment was needed in the future to evaluate the stability of these plants further for interception effect on nitrogen and phosphorus in a low-pollution wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the response of rice yield and N utilization to controlled or slow-release fertilizers (CSRFs) under directseeded or seedling-transplanted modes of rice production, a field experiment with rice variety Wuyunjing 23 was performed in 2013 and 2014. Five treatments, including two CSRFs: sulfur-coated urea (SCU) and resin-blending controlledrelease fertilizer (RBB), two fertilization modes: single basal application and a split "base-panicle" (BP) application, and conventional split fertilization (CONV) as a control, were conducted. The results showed that there was no improvement of yield for SCU application compared with CONV in the seedling-transplanted and direct-seeded modes in both years. The yield increasing effect of RBB was better than that of SCU under the two planting modes. The interaction effect between the planting mode and fertilizer treatment on the yield was significant. The yield of RBBBP treatment was the highest in seedling-transplanted fields, reaching 12.04 t ha-1 in 2013 and 13.44 t ha-1 in 2014. By contrast, the yield of RBBbasal treatment was the highest in direct-seeded rice, although the difference among the treatments was not significant. The CSRF application (RBBbasal, RBBBP, SCUBP) increased the NUE in both the seedling-transplanted and direct-seeded fields. Except for the NUE of RBBbasal, which was the highest for directseeded rice in 2013, the RBBBP treatment showed the highest NUE in seedling-transplanted and direct-seeded rice in both years. The results indicated that RBB increased the yield and NUE in both seedling-transplanted and direct-seeded modes, and the combined panicle urea and RBB was better in seedlingtransplanted fields, while a single basal application with RBB was better in direct-seeded rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Via surface aldolisation or semi-aldolisation, the surface of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) microspheres was uniformly doped with sliver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed the spherical shape of the AgNPs@PVA microspheres. Fourier transform infrared spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) provided information on the surface interactions between AgNPs and PVA microspheres. The AgNPs@PVA microspheres offered simple and rapid qualitative detection of Hg2+ ions and pH values through a colour change in aqueous solution. The AgNPs@PVA microspheres also showed off-on behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A floating bed system vegetated with Oenanthe javanica was adopted in this study to treat two types of low-pollution wastewater (LPW): polluted river water (PRW) and treated domestic wastewater (DW). The water was treated for 111 days during the low-temperature season. The results indicated that the total nitrogen (TN) removal rates were higher in the DW groups than in the PRW groups during the initial 30 days. This difference may stem from the different C/N ratio of the influent. As the water temperature rose above 15.5 °C after March 12, the purification capability of nitrogen in the DW groups was enhanced, and the removal rates of TN were 89.8 and 76.8 % in DW and the control 2 at 111 days. Conversely, the performance of total phosphorus (TP) removal was robust during the initial stage of the experiment, despite receiving domestic wastewater with a relatively high N/P ratio (16:1). The TP removal rates in DW were as high as 91.5 % compared to 78.9 % in PRW at 30 days. At the same time, the N/P ratios of plant tissue were higher in the DW groups compared to that in the PRW groups. Plant uptake played a significant role in nutrient removal in the PRW groups (52.5 % for TN, 68.2 % for TP), followed by sedimentation. In contrast, plant uptake only accounted for 25.3 % of TN removal and 24.1 % of TP removal in DW. The results provide engineering parameters for the future design of an ecological remediation technology for LPW purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A1.95ZnSi2O7:Eu0.053+ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) red phosphors were prepared by combustion-assisted synthesis method and their efficient red emission under near ultraviolet (UV) were observed. The luminescence and crystallinity were investigated using luminescence spectrometry and X-ray diffractometer, respectively. The emission spectrum shows that the most intense peak is located at 614 nm, which corresponds to the 5D0→7F2 transition of Eu3+. These phosphors have two main excitation peaks located at 394 and 465 nm, which match the emission of UV and blue light-emitting diodes, respectively. Thus, these phosphors could be used as red components for white light-emitting diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ba2-xMg1-yZnySi2O7:Eux2+ blue-green phosphor particles were prepared by combustion-assisted synthesis method as the fluorescent material for ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UVLEDs), performing as a light source. The luminescent properties were investigated by changing the postannealing temperature, the concentration of the activator, and the ratio of Zn to Mg. The crystallinity and luminescence were investigated by using an X-ray diffractometer and a luminescence spectrometer. The pure monoclinic Ba2MgSi2O7 and Ba2ZnSi2O7 phases were formed when the posttreatment temperature was 1000°C. It was found that the introduction of Zn2+ into Ba2MgSi2O7:Eu2+ effectively increased its emission. The emission spectra presented an emission position red shift of up to 5 nm from Ba2Mg Si2O7:Eu2+ to Ba2ZnSi2O7:Eu2+, which is correlated with the effect of Zn2+ substituting for Mg2+ sites. The excitation spectrum of Ba2ZnSi2O7:Eu2+ was a broad-band extending from 260 to 465 nm, which matches the emission of UV-LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel LaMnO3 photocatalyst with perovskite structure was prepared by sol–gel combustion method. The combustion reaction mechanisms of nanocrystalline LaMnO3 powders were investigated by thermal analysis, infrared spectra, and X-ray diffraction technique. The results showed that the gels exhibited self-propagating behavior after ignition in air. Nanocrystalline LaMnO3 powders can be synthesized in one step by using sol–gel combustion synthesis. The photocatalytic activity of the LaMnO3 powders were evaluated by degradation of methyl orange (MO) in water under UV light irradiation. The results showed that the LaMnO3 powders exhibit good photocatalytic activities under UV light irradiation. The degradation percentage after 36 h on LaMnO3 powders was about 76%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PLZST antiferroelectric ceramics were synthesized by the modified coprecipitation method. Effect of variations in the Ti4+:Sn4+ ratio on phase and properties were evaluated. The XRD patterns show that with the increasing of Ti4+ content, the structure of ceramics changes from tetragonal phase to rhombohedral phase and this was certified by the P–E hysteresis loops. The temperature dependence of dielectric constant of the ceramics was measured. Low frequency dispersion at room temperature disappeared when the temperature increased and the variation of Tm is not linear with the content of Ti4+. These unusual behaviors had been interpreted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]