Search

● Cost escalation and declining profits evident in sugarcane production in China. ● Monoculture and fertilizer overuse causes poor soil health, crop productivity plateau. ● Matching crop nutrient demand and supply key to recovery of sugarcane soils. ● Inorganic inputs need to be replaced with organic sources to restore soil health and sustainability. ● Integrated multidisciplinary solution for sustainable sugarcane cropping system needed. Demand for sugar is projected to grow in China for the foreseeable future. However, sugarcane production is unlikely to increase due to increasing production cost and decreasing profit margin. The persisting sugarcane yield plateau and the current cropping system with fertilizer overuse, soil acidification and pests and diseases remain the major productivity constraints. Sugarcane agriculture supports the livelihood of about 28 million farmers in South China; hence, sustaining it is a socioeconomic imperative. More compellingly, to meet the ever-increasing Chinese market demand, annual sugar production must be increased from the current 10 Mt to 16 Mt by 2030 of which 80% to 90% comes from sugarcane. Therefore, increasing sugar yield and crop productivity in an environmentally sustainable way must be a priority. This review examines the current Chinese sugarcane production system and discuss options for its transition to a green, sustainable cropping system, which is vital for the long-term viability of the industry. This analysis shows that reducing chemical inputs, preventing soil degradation, improving soil health, managing water deficit, provision of clean planting material, and consolidation of small farm holdings are critical requirements to transform the current farming practices into an economically and environmentally sustainable sugarcane cropping system.

Background: CD276 is an emerging immune checkpoint molecule that has been implicated in various cancers. However, its specific role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. This study examined the impact of CD276 on patient prognosis and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was utilized to evaluate CD276 expression in HCC and the association between CD276 and immune indicators was also analyzed. The signaling pathways correlated with CD276 expression were identified by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Different algorithms were used to assess immune cell infiltration. The effect of CD276 knockdown on HCC cell phenotypes and its relationship with macrophage polarization was examined using the cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay and co-culture system. Results: CD276 was upregulated in HCC and associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Hgh CD276 expression was associated with enrichment of the G2/M checkpoint, E2F targets, and mitotic spindles. CD276 expression was correlated with the infiltration of immune cells, including high level of tumor-associated macrophages and low levels of CD8+ T cells. Knockdown of CD276 decreased HCC cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. CD276 silencing in HCC cells and co-culture with THP-1–derived macrophages had a regulatory effect on macrophage polarization and macrophage-mediated cell proliferation and migration. Conclusion: CD276 expression in HCC is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes and may contribute to the development of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Specifically, CD276 was associated with alterations in immune cell infiltration, immune marker expression, and macrophage polarization during HCC progression, suggesting its potential as a prognostic indicator and promising target for immunotherapeutic intervention in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of high voltage resistance and high-power density, traditional ceramic dielectrics have found extensive use in electronic and pulsed power systems. Nevertheless, their subpar energy storage capabilities pose a challenge in meeting the demands of integrated and lightweight power electronic devices. This paper employs compositional design to incorporate a Bi(Zn0.5Hf0.5)O3 (BZH) relaxation component, aiming to enhance the electrical breakdown strength or effective dielectric constant, ultimately increasing the energy storage density. The 0.90(Ba0.8Sr0.2)TiO3–0.10Bi(Zn1/2Hf1/2)O3 ceramics processed by the conventional solid-phase reaction method demonstrate a significant recoverable energy density of 4.20 J cm−3, an exceptional energy storage efficiency of 95.5%, with a 450 kV cm−1 high breakdown strength and impressive charge/discharge performance. This investigation presents a novel framework for enhancing energy storage performance in other material systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(CoxZn1–x)TiNb2O8 (x = 0.2–0.8) microwave dielectric ceramics were synthesized via the conventional solid‐state reaction route, and the correlation of microwave dielectric properties on the crystal structure was discussed. Crystal structures of ceramic samples were systematically investigated by X‐ray powder diffraction. Moreover, composition‐induced phase transitions were confirmed via the following sequence: for x ≤ 0.2, single‐phase orthorhombic ixiolite (ZnTiNb2O8) was formed, whereas for 0.3 ≤ x<0.8, ixiolite and rutile coexisted. When x ≥ 0.8, only single‐phase rutile was detected. For the (CoxZn1–x)TiNb2O8 ceramics, the microwave dielectric properties were changed with the crystal structural transitions: the dielectric constant (εr) and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) increased upon increasing the Co2+, but the quality factor (Q) decreased. A near‐zero τf = +1.6 ppm/°C was obtained in the Co0.38Zn0.62TiNb2O8 ceramics with εr = 40.7 and high Q × f = 16 790 GHz. These research outcomes are expected to have great significance for developing microwave dielectric ceramics in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot air drying is the most common drying and processing technology for agricultural products. However, the shortcomings of single hot air drying technology limit its efficient and high-quality application. Coupling with the characteristics of two or more drying technologies, the combined drying technology can form complementary advantages. In this paper, the existing superheated steam-hot air, ultrasonic-hot air, freezing-hot air, microwave-hot air, radio frequency -hot air, infrared -hot air, heat pump -hot air and vacuum -hot air in total 8 kinds of combined hot air drying technology applications and related equipment were comprehensively summarized, whereas further applicable conditions and equipment operating conditions were compared. Finally, the development trend and challenges of hot air and its combined drying technology were discussed, which provided a reference for the efficient application of hot air and its combined drying technology in actual production and life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave dielectric ceramics are considered to be one of the key materials for dielectric resonators (DR) and have very broad application prospects in the fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system. Here we have prepared high‐quality factor Y3Al5O12 (YAG) transparent dielectric ceramics using high‐purity α‐Al2O3 and Y2O3 powders by cold isostatic pressing of the vacuum sintered with tungsten meshes as the heating elements. Optimum relative permittivity (εr) ~10.53, quality factor Q × f (Q = 1/dielectric loss, f = resonant frequency) ~95, 270 GHz (at =7.37 GHz), and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (TCF) ~ −51.7 ppm °C−1 were obtained at a sintering temperature of 1780°C for 12 h. For the first time, YAG transparent ceramic dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) is designed as a dominant TE111y mode and a higher‐order TE113y mode using the aperture coupling feeding configuration excitation. The proposed transparent dielectric ceramic DRA can provide a broad impedance bandwidth of 4.193 GHz (ranging from 21.90 to 26.09 GHz) for S11 < −10 dB, radiation efficiency of 92.1%, and compact DR unit. The proposed DRA can be used potentially as a 5G millimeter (mm)‐wave multiple‐input‐multiple‐output (MIMO) antenna unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]