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Reports show that the left ventricular myocardial work index (LVMWI) is a novel parameter for evaluating cardiac function. Decompensated heart failure leads to a high rate of early mortality in advanced patients with light-chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL-CA) and prevents them from a relatively delayed response to chemotherapy. This study aimed to assess the association of the LVMWI with short-term outcomes and to construct a simple model for risk stratification.A total of 79 patients with an initial diagnosis of AL-CA were included in this retrospective cohort study. LVMWI was calculated by integrating brachial artery cuff blood pressure and left ventricular longitudinal strain (LVLS). The short-term outcome was defined as 6-month all-cause mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC), logistic regression, and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used in this study.The median follow-up time was 21 months (3-36 months), and 23 (29%) patients died in the first 6 months. The time-dependent ROC and the area under the curve (AUC) showed that the LVMWI had the best predictive potential at the 6-month time point [AUC =0.805; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.690-0.920]. A bivariate prognostic model based on the LVMWI was constructed, and D-dimer showed a synergistic effect with optimum predicted potential (AUC =0.877; 95% CI: 0.791-0.964). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with two, one, and none of the variates beyond the cut-off value bore a different risk of 6-month all-cause mortality (accumulated mortality was 86%, 30%, 3%, respectively; log-rank, P0.001). Multivariate nested logistic regression showed that the level of D-dimer provided an incremental prognostic value (ΔχThe LVMWI is associated with the short-term outcome of patients with AL-CA. The D-dimer test provides additional prognostic information for the LVMWI.

An efficient composite for NH3-N removal from REE wastewater was developed, removing NH3-N primarily by forming calcium magnesium ammonium phosphate precipitation along with volatilization, adsorption, and struvite precipitation.

l -kynurenine (L-kyn) is a marker of prostate cancer. At present, the expensive instruments are usually applied to detect L-kyn in clinically, which limits its wide application for cancer diagnosis. Herein, three lanthanide metal–organic frameworks ([Ln(CHO2)3]n, Ln = Eu, Gd, and Tb) were designed and obtained, and detailly characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and luminescence spectroscopy. Further study reveals that [Tb(CHO2)3]n is a highly selective, ultra-sensitive, of strong anti-interference, highly stable, and non-expensive sensor for prostate cancer marker L-kyn. The limit of detection (LOD) for L-kyn sensing is a highly sensitive value of 1.0 × 10−9 mol/L. Furthermore, the sensing mechanism is discussed in detail.

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in paddy soils means that the rice produced there may be unsafe for human consumption. A hydroponic study was conducted to enrich rice seedlings with zinc (Zn) or manganese (Mn), and the uptake and transport characteristics of Cd in these Zn- and Mn-rich seedlings were subsequently investigated using a greenhouse pot trial. The results showed that hydroponic cultivation in 10–50 µmol L–1 Zn (ZnSO4·7H2O) or 50–250 µmol L–1 Mn (MnSO4·H2O) for 30 d had no significant impact on rice growth, while the accumulation of Zn and Mn was 7.31–18.5 and 25.4–47.7 times higher, respectively, than in the control (no Zn or Mn addition). The accumulation of Cd in the Zn- and Mn-rich rice plants was 26.3%–38.6% and 34.4%–44.5% lower than that in the control, respectively, and the translocation factors of Cd from roots to shoots also decreased by 23.3%–41.3% and 25.3%–37.0%, respectively, after transplanting to Cd-contaminated soils. Furthermore, the relative expression levels of OsIRT1 (Oryza sativa iron-regulated transporter 1) were downregulated by 40.1%–59.3% and 16.0%–25.9%, respectively, in the Zn- and Mn-rich seedling roots. This downregulation may indicate a possible mechanism contributing to the reductions in Cd absorption. Field experiments confirmed that the Zn- and Mn-rich seedlings produced brown rice (unpolished rice grains) with significantly decreased concentrations of Cd (34.2%–44.4%). This study provides an innovative method for reducing the food safety risks from rice grown on slightly to moderately Cd-contaminated paddy soils.

Antibiotic-degrading bacteria are commonly used to treat antibiotic contamination, but the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) they carry are often overlooked. This study used metagenomic assembly and binning analyses to explore potential antibiotic-degrading bacteria and their ARGs during pig manure composting. The result showed that 35 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) mainly containing alkyl-aryl transferase and decarboxylase genes involved in the removal of antibiotics. Multidrug (124), β-lactam (67), macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (MLS) (64), and tetracycline (43) were the central ARG types detected in the 35 MAGs. Furthermore, the risk of ARGs was evaluated using the arg_ranker framework, and 19 MAGs were found to contain intermediate-high-risk ARGs with human-associated-enrichment, gene transferability, and host pathogenicity. Bin 34 of the genus of Geofilum had the highest ARG risk. Bin 6, Bin 11 and Bin 14 of the genus of Limnochorda, Chelatococcus and Niabella, had a lower ARG risk and were considered as potential antibiotic-degrading bacteria.

Rhizosphere microbial assembly is impacted by soil management history and plant fitness. Synergistic action and compensatory colonization were explored to program diverse rhizosphere community with effects on host plant health. However, the roles and positions of key populations that influence overall function during assembly remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the relationship between rhizosphere microbial assembly and plant heath under monocropping and rotation management regimes and the underlying mechanisms. We found unintended effects of filtering-out low-abundance communities assembled in the plant rhizosphere determine plant disease outcomes. Further, promotion of specific microbial consortia by root metabolisms adversely affect ecologically interdependent low-abundance taxa. We also demonstrated the importance of restoring the rhizosphere microbial community with a substantial participation of key microbes. The study highlights the collective importance of plant rhizosphere community for plant health, informing a potential strategy for efficient biological pest control.

Three Ni-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared, in planetary ball-milling machine, by the mechanochemical method with Al(NO3)3·9H2O as the aluminum precursor, (NH4)2CO3 as the precipitant, and Ni(NO3)2·6H2O, NiCl2·6H2O, and Ni(CH3COO)2·4H2O as nickel precursors (the corresponding catalysts were labeled as Ni-NO, Ni-Cl, and Ni-Ac). The prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), and N2 adsorption–desorption technologies, and CO methanation performance evaluation was carried out for the catalysts. Results showed that the catalyst with Ni(NO3)2·6H2O as the precursor presented good Ni dispersibility and a small Ni grain size of 6.80 nm. CO conversion, CH4 selectivity, and yield of the catalyst were as high as 78.8, 87.9, and 69.8%, respectively. Carbon deposition analysis from temperature-programmed hydrogenation (TPH) characterization showed that the H2 consumption peak area of the three samples followed the order: Ni-NO (2886.66 au) < Ni-Cl (4389.97 au) < Ni-Ac (5721.65 au), indicating that the Ni-NO catalyst showed higher resistance to carbon deposition, which might be due to its small Ni grain size.

Simultaneous imaging, diagnosis, and therapy can offer an effective strategy for cancer treatment. However, the complex probe design, poor drug release efficiency, and multidrug resistance remain tremendous challenges to cancer treatment. Here, a novel one-two-three system is built for enhanced imaging and detection of miRNA-21 (miR-21) overexpressed in cancer cell and chemogene therapy. The system consists of dual-mode DNA robot nanoprobes assembled by two types of hairpin DNAs and three-way branch DNAs modified on gold nanoparticles, with intercalating anticancer drugs (doxorubicin), into DNA duplex GC base pairs. In the system, via intracellular ATP-accelerated cyclic reaction triggered by miR-21, fluorescence and SERS signals were alternated with DNA structure switch, and the precise SERS detection of miRNA and fluorescence imaging oriented "on-demand" release of two types of anticancer drugs (anti-miR-21 and Dox) are achieved. Thus, "one-two-three" means one kind of miR-21-triggered endogenous substance accelerated cyclic reaction, two modes of signal switch, and three functions including enhanced imaging, detection, and comprehensive treatment. The one-two-three system has some notable merits. First, ATP as an endogenous substance promotes DNA structure switching and accelerates the cyclic reaction. Second, the treatment with a dual-mode signal switch is more reliable and accurate and can provide more abundant information than a single-mode treatment platform. Thus, the imaging and detection of intracellular miRNA and effective comprehensive therapy are realized. In vivo results indicate that the system can provide new insights and strategies for diagnosis and therapy.

Cadmium (Cd) contaminated soils were widely remediated by alkaline materials in powder, while the effects of granular materials are still unknown. This study was conducted to prepare granular materials based on hydrated lime and montmorillonite with ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 (LM1, LM2, and LM3); their effects and mechanisms on stabilizing Cd in hydroponic, pot, and field conditions were further explored. The results showed that powdery materials caused intense pH elevations within 30-60 min and dissolved-Cd reductions within 8-100 min. However, granular materials significantly delayed these effects; the highest solution pH and lowest dissolved-Cd occurred after 250 min. The LM1 granules induced a much higher reduction of dissolved-Cd (99.8%) than that in the LM2 (53.6%) and LM3 granules (14.3%) due to the generation of more cadmium carbonate precipitates. Additionally, the soil pH gradually decreased after an intense elevation induced by powdery materials, but the LM1 granules maintained the soil pH at approximately 7.0, resulting in a lower level of CaCl

Background: Light-chain (AL) cardiorenal amyloidosis has been characterized as type 5 cardiorenal syndrome with fluid overload and poor prognosis. Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) has the potential for use in evaluating fluid load and prognosis for heart failure. However, less details for CA125 in AL cardiorenal amyloidosis have been reported. Methods: Sixty patients diagnosed with AL cardiorenal amyloidosis were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the cutoff point of CA125 level (35 U/mL). Logistic regression was used to screen variables associated with CA125. Cox regression analyses was utilized to verify the prognostic potential of CA125. Results: The mean age was 61±8 years, and 68% of the participants were male. Compared to patients with normal CA125 levels (≤35 U/mL), patients with high levels of CA125 (>35 U/mL) had a higher proportion of New York Heart Association class >II, pericardial effusion, and edema, as well as a lower level of albumin and left ventricular longitudinal strain (LVLS). Logistic regression showed age, albumin, and LVLS to be independently associated with CA125. Seventeen (28%) patients died during the follow-up. Multivariate model including CA125, estimated glomerular filtration rate, E/e’ and left ventricular ejection fraction showed acceptable prognostic potential (C-index= 0.829, 95%CI 0.749 to 0.909). CA125 remained an independent prognostic factor (HR=1.018, 95%CI 1.005 to 1.031, P=0.008) after adjusting for the remaining three variates and provided a significant incremental effect to the risk determined from them (C-index 0.829 vs 0.784, P=0.037). Conclusions: Serum CA125 level was associated with long-term prognosis of AL cardiorenal amyloidosis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in biological processes. Designing a sensitive, selective, and rapid method of miRNA detection is crucial for biological research. Here, with a reciprocal signal amplification (RSA) probe, this work established a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-microfluidic approach for the quantitative analysis of miRNA. First, via a DNAzyme self-assemble cycle reaction, two types of SERS signals produce amplified reciprocal changes. The sum of the absolute signal value is first adopted for the quantitative analysis of miRNA, which results in an enhanced response and a reduced blank value. Furthermore, the assay is integrated in an electric drive microfluidic mixing reactor that enables physical mixing and enriching of the reactants for more rapid and enhanced detection sensitivity. The protocol owns the merits of the SERS technology, amplified reciprocal signals, and a microfluidic chip, with a detection limit of 2.92 fM for miR-141 in 40 min. In addition, successful determination of miRNA in a variety of cells proved the practicability of the assay. Compared with the reported strategies for miRNA analysis, this work avoids a complex and time-consuming procedure and enhances the sensitivity and specificity. The method opens a promising way for biomolecular chip detection and research.

Coagulation dysfunction in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not been well described, and the efficacy of anticoagulant therapy is unclear. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed 75 fatal COVID-19 cases who were admitted to the intensive care unit at Jinyintan Hospital (Wuhan, China). The median age of the cases was 67 (62–74) years, and 47 (62.7%) were male. Fifty patients (66.7%) were diagnosed with disseminated intra-vascular coagulation. Approximately 90% of patients had elevated D-dimer and fibrinogen degradation products, which decreased continuously after anticoagulant treatment and was accompanied by elevated albumin (all P

Background The CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores are well-established clinical scales to estimate the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the predictive power of the two scales concerning left atrial thrombus (LAT) or spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) has not been well investigated. Therefore, we investigated the predict power of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores concerning LAT/SEC; identified clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory predictors of LAT/SEC in addition to the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores; and derived a new scale to predict LAT/SEC accurately, it might improve thromboembolic risk stratification in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Methods We identified 1102 consecutive AF patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for the purpose of the exclusion of LAT before catheter ablation, cardioversion or left atrial appendage occlusion. The clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory characteristics of patients were collected from the electronic medical record system. Results In the study, the prevalence of LAT/SEC was only 4.36%. In the multivariate logistic analysis, hypertension, left atrial enlargement, prior stroke/TIA, left ventricular dysfunction, and renal dysfunction were predictors of LAT/SEC. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that c-statistics of the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores concerning LAT/SEC were 0.673 and 0.643, respectively. We derived a new scale composed of variables from the multivariate logistic analysis that showed a higher c-statistic value (0.761) than the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores for the prediction of LAT/SEC. Conclusion In our cohort, we found two variables not included in the CHA2DS2-VASc score (renal dysfunction, left atrial enlargement) were independent predictors of LAT/SEC. A new scale combining clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory predictors might improve thromboembolic risk stratification. And there is a great need to carry out a new prospective and multicenter study, with a population more homogenous and including all the determinants for LAT/SEC to establish the independent degree of each variable and the applicability in clinical practice, facilitating the emergence of a new score of thromboembolic risk in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Plant volatiles serve as airborne semiochemicals, bridging the interactions between the plant and environment. Intercropping of a Chinese medicinal herb, Atractylodes lancea, with peanut plants greatly improves peanut growth, leading to a reduction of soil-borne disease. The underlying mechanism of peanut responding to the intercropped A. lancea is unknown. We here explored the response of the above- and belowground peanut parts to volatiles produced by the aboveground parts of A. lancea. Closed cultivation system was used. Composition of volatiles released by A. lancea plant was first determined using headspace solid phase microextraction–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). Then, physiological responses of peanut were explored via enzymes activity assay and root secretions. Changes in the peanut rhizosphere fungal and bacterial communities were analyzed by Illumina sequencing. The intercropped A. lancea volatiles induced a physiological response in peanut, which includes the increased catalase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity in peanut leaf, and improvement of peanut growth. Secretion of organic acids by the peanut root was increased in response to volatile treatment. Pyrosequencing of the whole internal transcribed spacer and 16S rRNA amplicons revealed significant differences in microbial diversity and composition in peanut rhizosphere upon volatile treatment. In the intercropping, A. lancea volatiles play a key role in influencing the growth of a neighbouring peanut plant, e.g., increasing biomass and affecting root colonization by soil microorganisms, which may increase plant protection against pathogens. Intercropping patterns could be designed accordingly to increase crop performance.

Multiple ANRIL transcriptional isoforms, such as lncANRIL and circANRIL have been identified. We sought to explore their diagnostic value in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). First, we selected six target ANRIL isoforms and measured their expression in CAD patients and controls in the peripheral blood. Their diagnostic values were evaluated. circANRIL(exon14-4) was identified as the best potential biomarker. Afterwards, we validated its diagnostic value and evaluated its prognostic value in a larger clinical cohort. Among six tested ANRILs, lncANRIL(exon1) and lncANRIL(exon4-6) in the CAD patients were significantly increased, while circANRIL(exon14-4) was downregulated. circANRIL(exon14-4) had the highest diagnostic value among the three isoforms. The combination of circANRIL(exon14-4) and other factors resulted in a more accurate differentiation of CAD patients. Moreover, lower expression of circANRIL(exon14-4) was associated with higher incidence of MACE. circANRIL(exon14-4) is closely associated with CAD risk and severity, which provides a promising circulating biomarker for CAD diagnosis and prognosis.

Soil-borne diseases are an increasingly serious threat to agriculture systems. Organic fertilization would improve soil quality and microbial community as well, and thus is appreciated a promising control strategy for soil-borne diseases. Yet, how soil microbial communities mediate disease control under organic fertilization remains largely unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the microbial mechanism of controlling soil-borne diseases by organic fertilization. We investigated the effects of various fertilization regimes on the soil suppressiveness toward pathogenic fungi in the peanut rhizosphere. The fertilization regimes tested were organic fertilizer, chemical fertilizers, and a combination of both. Uninterrupted application of organic fertilizer in peanut field plots for seven planting seasons resulted in a control of peanut root rot, with a significantly higher peanut yield. Upon organic fertilization, bacterial microbiome assembly in the rhizosphere played a key role in developing soil suppressiveness against peanut root rot; upon chemical fertilization, the potential fungal pathogens dominated the fungal microbiome assembly in the rhizosphere to boost root rot. Further, structural equation model revealed that the rhizosphere bacterial community contributed to the control of root rot. Furthermore, upon organic fertilization, the rhizosphere bacterial community strongly suppressed mycelial growth and spore germination of Fusarium sp. ACCC 36194. Collectively, in a monocropping system, persistent organic fertilization favors the development of a protective microbial shield in the plant rhizosphere, maintaining the rhizosphere health.

It has been reported that rice consumption is the main mercury (Hg) exposure pathway for humans, and soil properties could significantly affect the methylation and accumulation process of Hg in soil-rice system. In this study, 19 paddy soil with various properties were spiked with exogenous Hg(II) at three concentration levels to conduct a pot experiment after a 60-days aging period. Stepwise multiple linear regression was applied to determine the controlling soil factors and develop prediction models for the methylmercury (MeHg) concentration in soil and total Hg (THg) and MeHg in brown rice. The results showed that THg in brown rice was positively correlated with THg in soil, while it had a negative correlation with soil pH and clay content. Soil organic matter (OM) promoted Hg methylation and inhibited the accumulation of MeHg in brown rice. Soil pH and clay content were negative factors when soil MeHg was used to predict MeHg in brown rice. THg and MeHg in brown rice could be well predicted by soil THg, pH and clay content. These results may provide a theoretical basis for safe production of rice in Hg contaminated paddy field.

Repeated planting of the same or closely-related crop species often results in negative soil feedbacks, manifested as reduced plant growth. This is commonly attributed to accumulation of plant pathogenic organisms, but there is increasing evidence that other microbes may contribute as well. Since individual members of the bacterial soil microbiome display distinct preferences for specific root exudates, we hypothesize that enrichment of a small subset of bacterial species in the rhizosphere by monocropping will decrease overall diversity and thus negatively influence the performance of the crop. To test this, we examined soil feedbacks for peanut plants inoculated with bacterial suspensions obtained from monocropped and rotated plots in closed cultivation systems. Partial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence analysis revealed significant effects of cropping system on the bacterial composition of peanut rhizospheres. When added to peanut seedling rhizospheres, soil suspensions derived from monocropped plots produced a significant reduction in rhizosphere microbiome species richness (number of OTUs). And, bacterial species including Sphingomonas sp., Herbaspirillum sp., and Arthrobacter sp. were enriched in peanut rhizosphere. However, monocropping-derived soil suspension inoculants showed significant deleterious effects on peanut development compared to rotation-derived inoculants. Further bioassays determined that some enriched bacterial strains that were isolated from the monocropping treatment repressed peanut hypocotyl extension. Our results suggest that bacterial composition assembly in peanut rhizosphere in monocropping system especially that enriches particular deleterious bacterial taxa could lead to clear reductions in plant performance even in the absence of disease or signs of pathogenesis.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmias. The latest studies have revealed a tight correlation between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and AF. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the association between NAFLD and AF remain unclear. The current research aimed to expound the genes and signaling pathways that are related to the mechanisms underlying the association between these two diseases. Materials and methods NAFLD- and AF- related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified via bioinformatic analysis of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets GSE63067 and GSE79768, respectively. Further enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), the construction of a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, the identification of significant hub genes, and receiver operator characteristic curve analysis were conducted. The gene-disease interactions were analyzed using the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. In addition, the hub genes were validated by quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) in NAFLD cell model. Results A total of 45 co-expressed differentially expressed genes (co-DEGs) were identified between the NAFLD/AF and healthy control individuals. GO and KEGG pathway analyses revealed that the co-DEGs were mostly enriched in neutrophil activation involved in the immune response and cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions. Moreover, eight hub genes were selected owing to their high degree of connectivity and upregulation in both the NAFLD and AF datasets. These genes included CCR2, PTPRC, CXCR2, MNDA, S100A9, NCF2, S100A12, and S100A8. Conclusions In summary, we conducted the gene differential expression analysis, functional enrichment analysis, and PPI analysis of DEGs in AF and NAFLD, which provides novel insights into the identification of potential biomarkers and valuable therapeutic leads for AF and NAFLD.

To identify the key microbial clusters and influencing factors involved in antibiotic removal from engineered anaerobic digestion (AD) systems, the dynamic characteristics of antibiotics, physiochemical factors, microbial communities and functional genes were investigated by 16S rRNA and metagenome sequencing. The results showed that antibiotic removal occurred mainly in the first 21 days, and sulfonamides had the highest removal rate. The key microbial clusters related to the biodegradation of antibiotics consisted mainly of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. The key enzymes consisted of deaminases, peptidases, C-N ligases, decarboxylases and alkyl-aryl transferases. Structural equation modelling indicated that low concentrations of propionic acid promoted the biodegradation activities of key microbial clusters in the first 21 days, but their activities were inhibited by the accumulated propionic acid after 21 days. Thus, propionic acid should be regulated in engineered AD systems to prevent the adverse effect of acid inhibition on antibiotic-degrading bacteria.

SARS‐CoV‐2 has infected over 170,000 people worldwide and was associated with substantial mortality. Previous studies have reported that the SARS‐CoV‐2 could be detected in sputum, faeces, urine and other specimens from COVID‐19 patients. In the case report, the novel coronavirus was found in the bile specimen from a patient with severe COVID‐19 by real‐time fluorescent RT‐PCR. In addition, much higher viral load in the bile juice than in the sputum indicated that a false positive error in the specimen was hardly possible. As far as we know, it is the first report about SARS‐CoV‐2 in the bile juice. We would love to share the information to other researchers. The report may have a significant impact on the clinical management and public health decision making. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Understanding the mercury (Hg) methylation process is important for the management of paddy soils contaminated by Hg. In this work, samples of eighteen paddy soils with varying soil properties were spiked with inorganic Hg and subjected to a 90 d flooding period. Soil pH and redox potential (Eh) were measured in situ at intervals, and soils were sampled for the analysis of methylmercury (MeHg). The Hg methylation efficiency increased with flooding time and reached a relatively steady state at 30 d of incubation, ranging from 0.08% to 2.52%, and was significantly correlated with the in situ soil pH and Eh. The Elovich equation could adequately describe the kinetic production of MeHg. MeHg production was well predicted by the in situ soil pH and Eh of flooded soils, in addition to the organic matter content of air-dried soil samples and flooding time. The two predictive models explained 78% and 68% of the variability of the Hg methylation efficiency. The results suggested that the methylation of inorganic Hg in paddy soils after flooding can be predicted as a function of routinely measured soil properties and flooding time, a correlation that can be utilized to improve understanding of the extent of Hg methylation and the management of Hg-contaminated paddy soils.

The continuous cropping of watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris) results in various problems, which can lead to a decrease in watermelon fruit yield and quality. Comprehensive prevention and control technologies are effective measures to alleviate such problems. In this study, we conducted a pot experiment to explore the individual and combined effects of endophytic fungi (Ceratobasidum stevensii, B6 and Fusarium sp., E5), microfertilizers (Fe2+, Mn2+, B3+, Cu2+ at concentrations of 1, 10, 0.1, and 0.01 mg kg−1, respectively), and a fungicide (“Duofu”) on watermelon plants. The results of the pot experiment showed that the combined effect of chemical agents and biological control was better than that of individual treatments. The combination of endophytic fungi, microfertilizers and fungicides can significantly reduce the disease index and incidence of disease in watermelon, which decreased by 29.81% and 41.80%, respectively, and can increase the growth of watermelon, enhance the related defense enzyme activities and change the culturable soil microbiome. This approach may be a new and effective way to solve the problem of continuous cropping with watermelon.

Temperature variation can have a significant impact on arsenic (As) bioavailability in paddy soils. However, details regarding the transformation of exogenous As during the aging process in paddy soils at various temperatures remain unclear. This work investigated the effects of temperature on the As extractability and As species transformation of three paddy soils spiked with exogenous arsenate at 60 mg kg