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● Progress on nitrogen management in agriculture is overviewed in China. ● 4R principles are key to high N use efficiency and low N losses in soil-crop systems. ● A new framework of food-chain-N-management is proposed. ● China’s success in N management provides models for other countries. Since the 1980s, the widespread use of N fertilizer has not only resulted in a strong increase in agricultural productivity but also caused a number of environmental problems, induced by excess reactive N emissions. A range of approaches to improve N management for increased agricultural production together with reduced environmental impacts has been proposed. The 4R principles (right product, right amount, right time and right place) for N fertilizer application have been essential for improving crop productivity and N use efficiency while reducing N losses. For example, site-specific N management (as part of 4R practice) reduced N fertilizer use by 32% and increased yield by 5% in China. However, it has not been enough to overcome the challenge of producing more food with reduced impact on the environment and health. This paper proposes a new framework of food-chain-nitrogen-management (FCNM). This involves good N management including the recycling of organic manures, optimized crop and animal production and improved human diets, with the aim of maximizing resource use efficiency and minimizing environmental emissions. FCNM could meet future challenges for food demand, resource sustainability and environmental safety, key issues for green agricultural transformation in China and other countries.

Emotional disorders inflict an enormous burden on society. Research on brain abnormalities implicated in emotional disorders has witnessed great progress over the past decades. Using cross‐sectional and longitudinal designs, resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI) and its analytic approaches have been applied to characterize the local properties of patients with emotional disorders. Additionally, brain activity alterations of emotional disorders have shown frequency‐specific. Despite the gains in understanding the roles of brain abnormalities in emotional disorders, the limitation of the small sample size needs to be highlighted. Lastly, we proposed that evidence from the positive psychology research stream presents it as a viable discipline, whose suggestions could be developed in future emotional disorders research. Such interdisciplinary research may produce novel treatments and intervention options. This article is categorized under:Psychology > Brain Function and Dysfunction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the oxidation resistance of HfB2‐SiC‐ZrSi2 coating, low‐loss film‐forming treatment (LFT) was employed to generate high‐quality oxygen barrier glass layers, and the modification effect of varying formation temperature on the oxidation resistance was investigated at 1700°C. The results demonstrated that, with LFT at 1500°C, the relatively modest oxidation activity and complete dispersion of metal oxide nanocrystals generated a compact and continuous composite glass layer, which caused a decreased oxidation activity at 1700°C. The excessive formation temperature might result in oxidized and porous coatings, while lower temperatures could lead to poor fluidity of the glass layer, rendering it challenging to achieve compact composite glass layers. The coating sample with LFT at 1500°C exhibited a carbon loss rate of 0.33 × 10−6 g·cm−2·s−1 and an oxygen permeability level of 0.28%, respectively, when oxidized at 1700°C. These results provide fundamental insights into the oxidation resistance mechanisms within the modified HfB2‐SiC‐ZrSi2 coating system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the excellent piezoelectric properties of 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.3PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) single crystals, a hole-doped manganite film/PMN–PT heterostructure has been constructed to achieve electric-field and light co-control of physical properties. Here, we report the resistivity switching behavior of Eu0.7Sr0.3MnO3/PMN–PT(111) multiferroic heterostructures under different in-plane reading currents, temperatures, light stimuli and electric fields, and discuss the underlying coupling mechanisms of resistivity change. The transition from the electric-field induced lattice strain effect to polarization current effect can be controlled effectively by decreasing the in-plane reading current at room temperature. With the decrease of temperature, the interfacial charge effect dominates over the lattice strain effect due to the reduced charge carrier density. In addition, light stimulus can lead to the delocalization of eg carriers, and thus enhance the lattice strain effect and suppress the interfacial charge effect. This work helps to understand essential physics of magnetoelectric coupling and also provides a potential method to realize energy-efficient multi-field control of manganite thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jinhongtang granule (JHT) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula used for treatment of infection diseases including severe COVID-19. However, pharmacokinetics of JHT was unknown, especially in infection condition. A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method was developed to simultaneously quantify ten active components form JHT in rat plasma. MS detection was performed by MRM scanning operating in the negative ionization mode. The method showed good linearity (r  > 0.997). The accuracy, precision, matrix effect, recovery and stability were all satisfactory with current criterion. The method was successfully applied to compare the pharmacokinetic difference between normal and sepsis rats. The pharmacokinetic behaviors of analytes in sepsis rats were significantly different from those in normal rats. Cmax and AUC of rhein, emodin, aloe emodin, rhein-8-glucoside, aloe emodin 8-glucoside, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin and salidroside, were significantly increased in sepsis rats, except for 4-hydroxycinnamic acid and ferulic acid. In vitro intestinal absorption study using everted intestinal sac preparations indicated that the intestinal permeability was altered under sepsis. In conclusion, pharmacokinetic difference of JHT between normal and sepsis rats were evaluated for the first time, which provided useful information for the clinical application of JHT as an integrative therapy for severe and critical COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The material basis of Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc has not yet been well understood and natural C. sinensis resources are very rare. The present study aimed to clarify the substance basis and compare the protective effect of natural and artificially-cultivated C. sinensis against cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced myelosuppression. Both natural and artificially-cultivated C. sinensis effectively improved CTX-induced decrease of peripheral blood counts and hemopoietic growth factors, pathological changes, and apoptosis of bone marrow. Importantly, artificially-cultivated C. sinensis showed similar capacity compared with natural C. sinensis. Uridine (1), adenosine (2), L-pyroglutamic acid (3), lysinonorleucine (4), 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene (5), D-mannitol (6), L-pyroglutamic acid methyl ester (7), tryptophan (8), and phenylalanine (9) were isolated from bioactivity-guided fraction and identified to attenuate CTX-induced myelosuppression in mice. In conclusions, nucleosides and amino acids represented the effective chemical components in C. sinensis. Artificial cultivation can be used as an effective substitute for natural C. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new aryltetralin lignan, bupleroid A (1), along with ten known analogues (2–11) were isolated from Bupleurum marginatum. The structures of these isolates were determined by 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, and ECD data analysis. In addition, the DPPH radical scavenging capacities of all compounds were evaluated. Compound 6 exhibited good DPPH radical scavenging activity at a concentration of 50 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to realize the high-value utilization of copper slag, a process for preparing Cu–Fe alloy through the reduction of copper slag is proposed. The sulfur in the alloy exists in the form of matte inclusions, which is different from sulfur in molten iron. The reaction of CaO with Cu2S is difficult. It is necessary to add a reducing agent to promote desulfurization. To avoid the introduction of other elements, Fe–Mn and CaC2 additions were used as desulfurizers for the desulfurization of Cu–Fe alloy. The thermodynamics of the desulfurization reaction were calculated and the experimental process was studied. It was found that the Gibbs free energy of desulfurization reactions was negative for Fe–Mn and that CaC2 can reduce the sulfur in the alloy to 0.0013% and 0.0079%, respectively. The desulfurization process affected the shape of copper in the alloy. Part of copper in this alloy exists in the form of nano-copper spheres, and the size of the spheres is found to increase after desulfurization. Reducing agents can facilitate the desulfurization process of stable sulfides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Langdu, known as a traditional Chinese medicine, was identified as the roots of species of Euphorbia ebracteolata Hayata and Euphorbia fischeriana Steud, displaying anti‐tuberculosis activity. To clarify the potent quality markers of Langdu, this research first developed a fast and sensitive ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of 13 diterpenoids in Langdu. The developed method was further applied in the analyses of 12 authentic E. ebracteolata and E. fischeriana samples collected in northern and southeastern China. Then, the anti‐tuberculosis evaluation of 12 batches of Langdu samples was performed in vitro. Finally, partial least squares discrimination analysis was used in the discrimination of E. ebracteolata and E. fischeriana from different origins and processing methods. Jolkinolide A (1), jolkinolide E (3), yuexiandajisu D (6), and ebractenone A (11) were identified as key, potent diterpenoids for the quality control of E. ebracteolata Hayata and E. fischeriana Steud. The present study established a qualitative chemical analysis method for Langdu (E. ebracteolata and E. fischeriana) and suggested the key bioactive components that will improve qualitative control methodology for this important medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term industrial activities tend to cause surface subsidence and damage to ground facilities and local ecological environment. Monitoring and analyzing surface subsidence is of great significance to prevent potential disasters. The surface type of the Yellow River Delta in China is complex and there are many industrial activities, so it is necessary to monitor the surface subsidence in this area. Small Baseline Subset InSAR (SBAS-InSAR) can monitor the surface subsidence with millimeter-level accuracy, but it takes a long time to process wide images (Sentinel-1) and is seriously affected by atmospheric errors. To avoid these limitations, we constructed a method combining the CenterNet network and SBAS-InSAR (CNSBAS-InSAR). Firstly, the CenterNet network is used to automatically detect the subsidence areas from the wide differential interferogram formed by two SAR satellite images and determine the location of the subsidence area. Then, the SBAS-InSAR monitoring is performed on the detected multiple subsidence areas. Finally, the small-scale subsidence results are obtained. In this study, based on 24 Sentinel-1A satellite images acquired from 10 January 2018 to 24 December 2018, nine subsidence areas in Yellow River Delta were detected. Three of them had long-term surface subsidence. They were located in Zhanhua District, Xianhe Town, and Hongguang Village, respectively. This paper focuses on analyzing these three areas. The maximum subsidence rate of Zhanhua District, Xianhe Town, and Hongguang Village were −135.21 mm/a, −330.91 mm/a, and −209.68 mm/a, respectively. In addition, the analysis showed that precipitation in the Zhanhua District could effectively slow down the subsidence rate of the area. The subsidence of Xianhe Town threatened the safety of the Shugang Expressway. The subsidence of Hongguang Village caused the safety risks of buildings. The results of this study prove that CNSBAS-InSAR method is reliable for monitoring subsidence areas and it can provide a reference for local construction and protection of Yellow River Delta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]