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Abstract Quantum-state manipulation through coherent interaction with a radiation field is a fundamental process with broad implications in quantum optics and quantum information processing. However, current quantum control methods are limited by their operation at Rabi frequencies below the gigahertz range, which restricts their applicability to systems with long coherence times. To overcome this limitation, alternative approaches utilizing ultrafast driving lasers have garnered great interest. In this work, we demonstrate two-photon Rabi oscillations in the excited states of argon operating at terahertz frequencies driven by ultrafast laser pulses. Leveraging quantum-path interferometry, we are able to measure and manipulate both the amplitudes and phases of the transition dipoles by exploiting the intensity and polarization state of the driving laser. This precise control enables femtosecond population transfer and coherent accumulation of geometric phase. Our findings provide valuable insights into the all-optical manipulation of extreme-ultraviolet radiations and demonstrate the possibility of ultrafast quantum control through interferometric multiphoton transitions.

In this article, to enhance the power output capability and system efficiency during charging, an approach to motor winding optimization for HEFS machine-based integrated on-board charging systems is proposed and analyzed. Firstly, the design process of the HEFS motor and the power electromagnetic components are analyzed to find the entry point for the integrated system optimization. Then, the comprehensive optimization process for the winding parameters of the HEFS motors in the integrated charging system is presented. Moreover, an integrated system based on a five-phase HEFS motor is used as an example for simulation verification. Finally, an experimental platform is built based on a 5 kW five-phase HEFS prototype. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation results. Therefore, the proposed comprehensive optimization method for windings can make the motor more suitable for building an integrated on-board charging system without affecting the electromagnetic performance of the motor. The optimization results indicate an improvement in output power and efficiency of the system in charging mode.

In this paper, to achieve versatile, cost-effective charging for dual-motor EVs, a multi-functional integrated onboard charger is constructed using a dual-motor driving system. In the driving mode, a five-phase flux-switching permanent-magnet (FSPM) motor powers the front, while a three-phase FSPM motor drives the rear. While in the charging mode, different topologies are adopted for different application scenarios, such as the single-phase AC charging mode, the three-phase AC charging mode, and the DC charging mode. The five-phase FSPM motor and its inverters serve as a boost-based AC/DC converter in both single-phase and three-phase AC charging modes, transforming grid power to DC. In the DC charging mode, they are reconfigured to function as a buck converter. During the three-phase AC charging mode, the three-phase FSPM motor and its inverters take on the role of a rear-stage buck converter. They function to regulate the rectified DC voltage, ensuring it meets battery charging needs. The performance of the integrated charger is validated through simulation and experiment results.

High-quality ultrafast light sources are critical for developing advanced time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (TrARPES). While the application of high harmonic generation (HHG) light sources in TrARPES has increased substantially over the past decade, the optimization of the HHG probe beam size and selective control of the light polarization, which are important for TrARPES measurements, have been rarely explored. In this work, we report the implementation of high-quality HHG probe source with an optimum beam size down to 57 μm × 90 μm and selective light polarization control, together with mid-infrared (MIR) pumping source for TrARPES measurements using a 10-kHz amplifier laser. The selective polarization control of the HHG probe source allows to enhance bands with different orbital contributions or symmetries, as demonstrated by experimental data measured on a few representative transition metal dichalcogenide materials as well as topological insulator Bi2Se3. Furthermore, by combining the HHG probe source with MIR pumping at 2-μm wavelength, TrARPES on a bilayer graphene shows a time resolution of 140 fs, allowing to distinguish 2 different relaxation processes in graphene. Such high-quality HHG probe source together with the MIR pumping expands the capability of TrARPES in revealing the ultrafast dynamics and light-induced emerging phenomena in quantum materials.

Gold mineralization in the Jiaojia gold belt was formed in a structurally-dominant hydrothermal mineral system showing a close spatial association with the Jiaojia detachment fault. This study delves into the Jiaojia gold belt from the perspective of coupled spatial association and ore-forming processes by employing spatial analysis of three-dimensional (3D) models, 3D ore-forming numerical modeling, and 3D prospectivity modeling using machine learning techniques (random forest (RF) and multilayer perceptron (MLP)). The overarching goal is to gain insight into the structural-hydrothermal gold system and pinpoint potential areas of deep-seated gold deposits for future exploration endeavors. The spatial analysis of ore-controlling faults uncovers a close correlation between gold enrichment and specific fault geometrical attributes, including a dip angle ranging from 20° to 40°, minimal variations in dip angle (less than 5°), and convex topographical features. These attributes likely stem from the influence of fault morphology on the flow and pooling of fluids. In conjunction with this, 3D ore-forming numerical modeling of structural deformation and fluid flow reveals that gold mineralization is intertwined with moderate volumetric strain and shear strain of rock and fluid divergence. This interaction seems particularly pronounced in areas characterized by channel-like or gentle features. Consequently, it is plausible that gold distribution in the Jiaojia region is the outcome of a comprehensive coupling process involving strain localization, rock deformation, fluid flow, heat transfer and/or interaction. The deep gold prospectivity models of RF and MLP for the Jiaojia district jointly using the predictive variables of fault geometry features and ore-forming simulation data (volume strain, shear strain, temperature variation, and fluid flux) exhibit higher AUC (area under the curve) values compared to models employing individual predictor variable datasets. This improvement underscores their enhanced predictive capability. The prospectivity results thus were used for identifying gold potential within the Jiaojia region, where five promising gold targets at depth were ultimately determined.

Abstract Background China faces a serious shortage of competent nurses who can address the healthcare needs of older people in an ageing society. Chinese higher education institutes face serious challenges when it comes to developing new curricula that are capable of educating sufficient numbers of competent gerontological nurses. Therefore, the aim of this research study was to identify and verify competencies for gerontological nurses in China that are needed to provide nursing care for the growing number of older people in all care settings. This study takes into account the possible opportunities that trends and developments may offer in the near future. Methods In this study, a two-phase research design was used. The first phase concerned needs analysis, including a situational analysis, a trend analysis and a competence analysis. This process resulted in a draft competence framework. The second phase addressed the verification of the competence framework through a two-round Delphi study with a panel of Chinese and European experts. This process led to the final competence framework. Results The final competence framework for gerontological nursing in China included six competencies divided into 13 essential and five relevant learning outcomes. The competencies are: ‘providing gerontological care’, ‘communication and collaboration’, ‘organization of gerontological nursing care’, ‘health promotion’, ‘evidence-based nursing and lifelong learning’ and ‘professional behaviour’. Conclusion The framework comprehensively covers the six core competencies that nurses who care for older people should possess. These competencies are well-embedded in a Chinese context. The framework therefore offers concrete, practical suggestions for the competencies and skills that nursing graduates will need to work in current and future professions related to gerontological nursing education and practice.

IntroductionContinuous monoculture leading to soil nutrient depletion may cause a decline in plantation productivity. Cow dung is typically used as a cheap renewable resource to improve soil nutrient status. In this study, our purpose was to compare the effects of different cow dung return methods (direct return and carbonization return) on soil microbial communities and phosphorus availability in the root zone (rhizosphere soil and non-rhizosphere soil) of P.euphratica seedlings in forest gardens and to explore possible chemical and microbial mechanisms.MethodsField experiments were conducted. Two-year-old P.euphratica seedlings were planted in the soil together with 7.5 t hm-2 of cow dung and biochar made from the same amount of cow dung.ResultsOur findings indicated that the available phosphorus content in soil subjected to biochar treatment was considerably greater than that directly treated with cow dung, leading to an increase in the phosphorus level of both aboveground and underground components of P.euphratica seedlings. The content of Olsen-P in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil increased by 134% and 110%, respectively.This was primarily a result of the direct and indirect impact of biochar on soil characteristics. Biochar increased the biodiversity of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil bacteria compared with the direct return of cow dung. The Shannon diversity index of carbonized cow manure returning to field is 1.11 times and 1.10 times of that of direct cow manure returning to field and control, and the Chao1 diversity index is 1.20 times and 1.15 times of that of direct cow manure returning to field and control.Compared to the direct addition of cow dung, the addition of biochar increased the copy number of the phosphorus functional genes phoC and pqqc in the rhizosphere soil. In the biochar treatment, the abundance of the phosphate-solubilizing bacteria Sphingomonas and Lactobacillus was significantly higher than that in the other treatments, it is relative abundance was 4.83% and 2.62%, respectively, which indirectly improved soil phosphorus availability.DiscussionThe results indicated that different cow dung return methods may exert different effects on phosphorus availability in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils via chemical and microbial pathways. These findings indicated that, compared to the direct return of cow dung, biochar return may exert a more significant impact on the availability of phosphorus in both rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils, as well as on the growth of P.euphratica seedlings and the microbial community.

The relationship between plant functional traits and ecosystem function is a hot topic in current ecological research, and community-level traits based on individual plant functional traits play important roles in ecosystem function. In temperate desert ecosystems, which functional trait to use to predict ecosystem function is an important scientific question. In this study, the minimum data sets of functional traits of woody (wMDS) and herbaceous (hMDS) plants were constructed and used to predict the spatial distribution of C, N, and P cycling in ecosystems. The results showed that the wMDS included plant height, specific leaf area, leaf dry weight, leaf water content, diameter at breast height (DBH), leaf width, and leaf thickness, and the hMDS included plant height, specific leaf area, leaf fresh weight, leaf length, and leaf width. The linear regression results based on the cross-validations (FTEIW - L, FTEIA - L, FTEIW - NL, and FTEIA - NL) for the MDS and TDS (total data set) showed that the R2 (coefficients of determination) for wMDS were 0.29, 0.34, 0.75, and 0.57, respectively, and those for hMDS were 0.82, 0.75, 0.76, and 0.68, respectively, proving that the MDSs can replace the TDS in predicting ecosystem function. Then, the MDSs were used to predict the C, N, and P cycling in the ecosystem. The results showed that non-linear models RF and BPNN were able to predict the spatial distributions of C, N and P cycling, and the distributions showed inconsistent patterns between different life forms under moisture restrictions. The C, N, and P cycling showed strong spatial autocorrelation and were mainly influenced by structural factors. Based on the non-linear models, the MDSs can be used to accurately predict the C, N, and P cycling, and the predicted values of woody plant functional traits visualized by regression kriging were closer to the kriging results based on raw values. This study provides a new perspective for exploring the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function.

Tobacco belongs to the family Solanaceae, which easily forms continuous cropping obstacles. Continuous cropping exacerbates the accumulation of autotoxins in tobacco rhizospheric soil, affects the normal metabolism and growth of plants, changes soil microecology, and severely reduces the yield and quality of tobacco. In this study, the types and composition of tobacco autotoxins under continuous cropping systems are summarized, and a model is proposed, suggesting that autotoxins can cause toxicity to tobacco plants at the cell level, plant-growth level, and physiological process level, negatively affecting soil microbial life activities, population number, and community structure and disrupting soil microecology. A combined strategy for managing tobacco autotoxicity is proposed based on the breeding of superior varieties, and this approach can be combined with adjustments to cropping systems, the induction of plant immunity, and the optimization of cultivation and biological control measures. Additionally, future research directions are suggested and challenges associated with autotoxicity are provided. This study aims to serve as a reference and provide inspirations needed to develop green and sustainable strategies and alleviate the continuous cropping obstacles of tobacco. It also acts as a reference for resolving continuous cropping challenges in other crops.

A simple thin film effective index analysis for first-order gratings in Si photonic waveguides is shown to provide highly accurate results for reflected and transmitted power spectrums as long as the waveguide remains single mode and non-radiating. A cover layer can be added to the grating region of a Si photonic waveguide to increase the strength of the grating, modify transition losses from the input waveguide to the grating waveguide region, and/or modify the width of the reflectivity spectrum. For a given grating period, the peak reflection and spectral width of the reflectivity decrease as the duty cycle is decreased or increased from ∼50%. For both radiating and multimode structures, the coupling between all modes, power radiated towards the superstrate (upwards), power radiated downwards (substrate) and transmitted power analyzed by Floquet-Bloch, Eigenmode Expansion and Finite Difference Time Domain methods show excellent agreement. Coupling coefficients calculated using analytic formulas are shown to be accurate only for shallow grating depths.

Nonadiabatic phase matching of high-harmonic generation (HHG) driven by few-cycle laser pulses is essential for extending harmonic energy and generating isolated attosecond pulses. However, understanding nonadiabatic HHG is challenging due to the complex interplay of various optical phases driven by temporally and spatially varying laser fields. Theoretical calculations typically rely on computationally demanding 3-dimensional simulations, which can make it difficult to extract the essential features of nonadiabatic HHG. In this work, we develop a computationally efficient 2-dimensional model that directly considers various phase contributions of HHG. Our model can well explain the experimentally observed pressure- and intensity-dependent behaviors of different harmonic orders. By appropriately parameterizing the single-atom response, our model can also estimate the variation of HHG spectra under different driving conditions. Our model can provide an efficient tool for the design and optimization of HHG-based applications.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a clonal neoplasm of myeloid dendritic cells, rarely involving the thyroid gland. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common histological subtype of thyroid cancer. We report a rare case of a 34-year-old Chinese woman who has LCH with PTC and cervical lymph node metastasis of LCH, with a review of the literature. The patient has thyroid nodules and cervical lymph node enlargement detected by neck ultrasound during physical examination. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) showed PTC with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and BRAF V600E mutation after thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection. Histopathological examination suggests that LCH was concurrent with classical PTC, accompanied by LCH cervical lymph node metastasis. No BRAF, HRAS, and TERT promoter mutations were detected in LCH metastatic lesions. The patient is in stable clinical condition currently.

Species diversity has spatial heterogeneity in ecological systems. Although a large number of studies have demonstrated the influence of soil properties on species diversity, most of them have not considered their spatial variabilities. To remedy the knowledge gap, a 1 ha (100 m × 100 m) plots of arid desert riparian forest was set up in the Ebinur Wetland Nature Reserve (ELWNR) in the NW China. Then, the minimum data set of soil properties (soil MDS) was established using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the Norm Value Determination to represent the total soil property data set (soil TDS). The Geo-statistics and two models (i.e., Random Forest/RF and Multiple Linear Regression/MLR) were used to measure the spatial variability of species diversity, and predict its spatial distribution by the soil MDS, respectively. The results showed that the soil MDS was composed of soil salt content (SSC), soil total phosphorus (STP), soil available phosphorus (SAP), soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil nitrate nitrogen (SNN); which represented the soil TDS perfectly (R2 =0.62). Three species diversity indices (i.e., Shannon–Wiener, Simpson and Pielou indices) had a high spatial dependence (C0/(C0+C)< 25%; 0.72 m ≤ range≤ 0.77 m). Ordinary kriging distribution maps showed that the spatial distribution pattern of species diversity predicted by RF model was closer to its actual distribution compared with MLR model. RF model results suggested that the soil MDS had significant effect on spatial distribution of Shannon–Wiener, Simpson and Pielou indices (Varex= 56%, 49% and 36%, respectively). Among all constituents, SSC had the largest contribution on the spatial variability of species diversity (nearly 10%), while STP had least effect (< 5.3%). We concluded that the soil MDS affected spatial variability of species diversity in arid desert riparian forests. Using RF model can predict spatial variability of species diversity through soil properties. Our work provided a new case and insight for studying the spatial relationship between soil properties and plant species diversity.

Finding new, effective predictive variables for 3D mineral prospectivity modeling is both important and challenging. The 3D ore-forming numerical modeling quantitively characterizes the complex coupling-mineralization process of the structure, fluid, heat, and wall rock, which may be potential indicators for mineral exploration. We here conducted 3D mineral prospectivity modeling with the integration of ore-forming computational simulation information in the Xiadian orogenic gold deposit, China, to examine whether the simulation data input can improve the reliability of prospectivity modeling. First, we constructed the 3D models of the orebody and fault to extract the fault geometric features using spatial analysis, as they are always considered to be the crucial controls of gold distribution. Second, we performed 3D numerical modeling of the deformation–fluid–heat-coupling process of the structurally controlled hydrothermal Au system using the FLAC3D platform. Finally, the fault-geometry features (buffer, dip, dip variation, and undulation) and the ore-formation-simulation indices (volume strain, shear strain, temperature variation, and fluid flux) were integrated using Bayesian decomposition modeling, which has a promising nonlinear model ability and a flexible variable-integration ability. The prospectivity modeling results demonstrated that the model generated by combining geometry and simulation variables achieved significantly higher AUC, precision, accuracy, Kappa, and F1 scores compared to other models using a single-predictor-variable dataset. This suggests that the joint use of geometry and simulation variables construct a comprehensive association between gold and its ore-controlling factors, thereby resulting in a highly reliable prospectivity model. Thus, the approach of 3D mineral prospectivity modeling aided by ore-forming numerical simulation proves to be more useful in guiding mineral exploration, especially in the condition of fewer variables. Based on the prospectivity modeling outcomes, we identified four gold targets at depth in the Xiadian district that warrant focused exploration efforts.

This paper provides an overview of cognitive radio technology and its applications in the field of civil aviation. Cognitive radio technology is a relatively new and emerging field that allows for dynamic spectrum access and efficient use of spectrum resources. In the context of civil aviation, cognitive radio technology has the potential to enable more efficient use of the limited radio spectrum available for communication and navigation purposes. This paper examines the current state of cognitive radio technology, including ongoing research and development efforts, regulatory issues, and potential challenges to widespread adoption. The potential applications of cognitive radio technology in civil aviation are also explored, including improved spectrum utilization, increased safety and security, and enhanced situational awareness. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of future research directions and the potential impact of cognitive radio technology on the future of civil aviation. It is hoped that this paper will serve as a useful resource for researchers, engineers, and policy makers interested in the emerging field of cognitive radio technology and its potential applications in the field of civil aviation.

We report errors in Table III of (Tan et al. 2022) that requires changing the text discussions in four places. These errors, due to using an incorrect thickness for the middle layer of a three-layer waveguide in an analytic formula (Huang et al., 2017), only applies to a single comparison of the analytic formula to other methods (slab effective index and Floquet Bloch) of calculating the grating coupling coefficient occurring in Table III. The corrected results show that the analytic formula has good agreement with both methods even for deep gratings.

Soil respiration (Rs) is a key ecosystem function that controls the terrestrial energy balance and element cycling. Quantifying how plant diversity affects Rs is critical for predicting the impact of global plant diversity loss on ecosystem function. However, it is unclear how soil factors and plant diversity are spatially interrelated under natural environmental gradients, and how plant diversity affects the spatial variation of Rs on the basis of soil factors. Our objectives were to quantify the direction and magnitude of direct and indirect effects of plant diversity on Rs. We assessed spatial variability in the relationships between soil factors (soil chemistry and microclimate), multiple dimensions of plant diversity (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity), and Rs using a new combination of geographically weighted regression and structural equation modeling based on survey data from three plots (river bank, transitional zone, and desert margin plots) along an environmental gradient in northwest China. Reduced plant diversity had a negative impact on Rs. However, when the effects of soil factors on Rs and spatial non-stationarity were considered simultaneously, the relationship between plant diversity and Rs changed in magnitude and direction. From the river bank to the desert margin, the positive effect of taxonomic and functional diversity on Rs gradually weakened, while the effect of phylogenetic diversity on Rs changed from a negative to a positive effect. Plant diversity and soil factors together explained 55%–75% of the spatial variation in Rs. Among them, the contribution of plant diversity to the spatial variation of Rs gradually decreased from the river bank to the desert margin, while the contribution of soil factors gradually increased. Functional diversity (17.39%–18.93%) and phylogenetic diversity (10.75%–19.53%) better explained the spatial variability of Rs compared with taxonomic diversity (2.67%–6.01%). The results provide strong evidence that plant diversity, especially functional and phylogenetic diversity, is a key driver of Rs, expanding our understanding of the relationship between plant diversity and Rs. These findings more accurately reveal the changing characteristics of carbon dynamics in desert ecosystems, and provide a methodological framework for studying the spatial variability of the relationship between plant diversity and ecosystem function.

Until today, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused 6,043,094 deaths worldwide, and most of the mortality cases have been related to patients with long-term diseases, especially cancer. Autophagy is a cellular process for material degradation. Recently, studies demonstrated the association of autophagy with cancer development and immune disorder, suggesting autophagy as a possible target for cancer and immune therapy. Laminarin is a polysaccharide commonly found in brown algae and has been reported to have pharmaceutic roles in treating human diseases, including cancers. In the present report, we applied network pharmacology with systematic bioinformatic analysis, including gene ontology (GO) enrichment, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, reactome pathway analysis, and molecular docking to determine the pharmaceutic targets of laminarin against COVID-19 and cervical cancer via the autophagic process. Our results showed that the laminarin would target ten genes: CASP8, CFTR, DNMT1, HPSE, KCNH2, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, SERPINE1, TLR4, and VEGFA. The enrichment analysis suggested their involvement in cell death, immune responses, apoptosis, and viral infection. In addition, molecular docking further demonstrated the direct binding of laminarin to its target proteins, VEGFA, TLR4, CASP8, and PIK3R1. The present findings provide evidence that laminarin could be used as a combined therapy for treating patients with COVID-19 and cervical cancer.

Abstract Generating intense ultrashort pulses with high-quality spatial modes is crucial for ultrafast and strong-field science and can be achieved by nonlinear supercontinuum generation (SCG) and pulse compression. In this work, we propose that the generation of quasi-stationary solitons in periodic layered Kerr media can greatly enhance the nonlinear light-matter interaction and fundamentally improve the performance of SCG and pulse compression in condensed media. With both experimental and theoretical studies, we successfully identify these solitary modes and reveal their unified condition for stability. Space-time coupling is shown to strongly influence the stability of solitons, leading to variations in the spectral, spatial and temporal profiles of femtosecond pulses. Taking advantage of the unique characteristics of these solitary modes, we first demonstrate single-stage SCG and the compression of femtosecond pulses from 170 to 22 fs with an efficiency >85%. The high spatiotemporal quality of the compressed pulses is further confirmed by high-harmonic generation. We also provide evidence of efficient mode self-cleaning, which suggests rich spatiotemporal self-organization of the laser beams in a nonlinear resonator. This work offers a route towards highly efficient, simple, stable and highly flexible SCG and pulse compression solutions for state-of-the-art ytterbium laser technology.

The borderless transmission of coronavirus remains uncontrolled globally. The uncharted severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant reduces the therapeutic efficacy of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Clinical observations suggest that tumour cases are highly infected with coronavirus, possibly due to immunologic injury, causing a higher COVID-19-related death toll. Presently, screening of candidate medication against coronavirus is in progress. Mogroside V, a bioactive ingredient of Siraitia grosvenorii, has been reported in China to have lung-protective and anticancer effects. The current study used network pharmacology and molecular docking to unlock the potential drug targets and remedial mechanisms of mogroside V against patients with ovarian cancer with COVID-19. We identified 24 related targets of mogroside V in patients with ovarian cancer and COVID-19 and characterised another 10 core targets of mogroside V against COVID-19 ovarian cancer, including Jun, IL2, HSP90AA1, AR, PRKCB, VEGFA, TLR9, TLR7, STAT3, and PRKCA. The core targets’ biological processes and signalling pathways were revealed by enrichment analysis. Molecular docking suggested favourable docking between core target protein and mogroside V, including vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). These findings indicated that mogroside V might be a potential therapeutic agent in the mitigation of COVID-19 ovarian cancer.

Continuous cropping obstacles have increasingly become an important phenomenon affecting crop yield and quality. Its harm includes the deterioration of soil basic physical and chemical properties, changes of soil microbial community structure, accumulation of autotoxins, weakness of plant growth, and aggravation of diseases and pests. In this review, the evolutionary trend of soil microbial structure driven by continuous cropping was generalized, while drivers of these changes summed up as destruction of soil microbial living environment and competition within the community. We introduced a microorganism proliferation and working model with three basics and a vector, and four corresponding effective measures to reshape the structure were comprehensively expounded. According to the model, we also put forward three optimization strategies of the existing measures. In which, synthetic microbiology provides a new solution for improving soil community structure. Meanwhile, to ensure the survival and reproduction of soil microorganisms, it is necessary to consider their living space and carbon sources in soil fully. This review provided a comprehensive perspective for understanding the evolutionary trend of the soil microbial community under continuous cropping conditions and a summary of reshaping measures and their optimization direction.

During the growth cycle, complex and variable environmental conditions, such as salinity, moisture, nutrients, and plant-plant interactions, may prompt plants to modulate ecological strategies. As a typical halophyte, the response mechanism and adaptation strategy of Suaeda salsa to various abiotic stress-by-competition interactions are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the responses of S. salsa to combined abiotic stress and competition conditions to gain further insights into the ecological adaptation of halophytes to stress conditions. In this study, we aimed to explore the responses of S. salsa to combined abiotic stress and competition conditions to gain further insights into the ecological adaptation of halophytes to stress conditions. In a pot experiment, we set five density gradients of 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 plants and conducted salt and drought stress experiments to explore the ecological adaptation strategies under abiotic stress-by-competition and the direct and/or indirect effects of key endogenous hormones and nutrients on plant growth. The results demonstrated that drought and planting density were the main environmental factors that restricted growth. Drought decreased biomass accumulation and competition intensity and delayed reproductive phenology and senescence. Competition promoted early anthesis and fructescence and reduced the vegetative organ to reproductive organ ratio to improve fitness. Changes in hormone and nutrient levels driven by the environment directly and/or indirectly affected growth independently and/or jointly. Total leaf phosphorus content and the endogenous hormone strigolactones directly affected biomass in different interaction modes and had positive and negative effects, respectively. This study improves our understanding of the importance of hormones and nutrients in plant ecological adaptation strategies and provides an effective reference for explaining the physiological mechanisms of plant ecological adaptation.

Objectives: To compare the clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided laser ablation (LA) and surgery for treatment of solitary papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Methods: A total of 81 consecutive patients with solitary PTMC were included in this retrospective study. Among them, 36 received LA and 45 underwent surgery. Surgery was performed by hemithyroidectomy with unilateral central neck dissection. The follow-up consisted of a physical examination, neck ultrasonography, chest X-ray or CT scan and thyroid function tests. The procedure time, hospital stay, complication and recurrence rates were compared between the two groups after treatment. Results: The follow-up period for the LA and surgical group were 49.2 ± 4.5 months (range, 30–54 months) and 48.5 ± 6.2 months (range, 24–54 months), respectively. The mean hospital stay and procedure time in the LA group were shorter than those in the surgical group. After LA, the largest diameter and average volume decreased from 4.7 ± 1.4 mm to 0.2 ± 0.8 mm, and from 43.2 ± 38.8 mm3 to 0.7 ± 4.1 mm3 (p .05 for both). No distant metastasis occurred in the either group during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Compared with hemithyroidectomy with unilateral central neck dissection, ultrasound-guided LA was also a safe and effective therapy for treating solitary PTMC, and it may be considered as a treatment alternative for patients who are ineligible or refusal to undergo surgery.

Objective: Shift work is associated with a decrease in melatonin level and perturbation of the circadian rhythm; however, it is unknown if these lead to functional brain changes. In this study, we investigated whether circadian rhythm disorders caused by shift work are related to changes in brain functional connectivity (FC) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) using whole-brain resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).Methods: This prospective case-control study included nine female night shift nurses and nine age-matched female day work nurses with normal sleep rhythms. To assess sleep quality and mood, participants were asked to complete questionnaires. Serum melatonin and cortisol levels were measured. ReHo of whole-brain resting-state function and seed-based FC of the bilateral hypothalamus were compared between groups. Variables that differed significantly between groups were used to examine the association between questionnaire scores and hormone levels and fMRI data.Results: The night shift nurses had significantly lower sleep quality and melatonin levels; lower ReHo activation in the bilateral cerebellar hemisphere and higher ReHo in the bilateral occipital lobe and left parietal lobe; and higher FC from the hypothalamus to the right cingulate gyrus, right putamen, and vermis than did the day shift nurses. Activation of the right cerebellar hemisphere left superior parietal gyrus, and the right superior occipital gyrus was correlated with sleep quality scores. Moreover, activation of the right cerebellar hemisphere (r = 0.583, P = 0.011) was correlated with melatonin levels, and higher sleepiness scores were associated with stronger FC between the hypothalamus and vermis (r = 0.501, P = 0.034).Conclusions: Circadian rhythm disorder caused by night shift work can lead to a decrease in sleep quality and melatonin level, as well as a series of changes in brain FC and ReHo.

Nicotiana is one of the most important economic crops and model plants; however, its growth is affected by various biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, 27,142 potential resistance genes were identified in six Nicotiana species, belonging to fourteen gene families and transcription factors related to stress resistance. The results indicate that Nicotiana has a potential abundance resistance background to biotic and abiotic stress, and these genes could be used in resistance breeding in the future. Analyzing the genome sequences of 19 pathogens, 5,421,414 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and 1958 Simple Sequence Repeats of pathogens have been obtained. The abundance loci show that the biotic pathogens have a high variability and biodiversity. An open-access database, named the Nicotiana Resistance Database (NRD), has been developed as a user-friendly resistance research platform for Nicotiana. The platform provides theoretical and technical support for the resistance research, including the cultivation of resistant varieties, and the genetics and breeding of Nicotiana and relative species.

The miniaturization of gas chromatography (GC) systems has made it possible to utilize the analytical technique in various on-site applications to rapidly analyze complex gas samples. Various types of miniaturized sensors have been developed for micro-gas chromatography (µGC). However, the integration of an appropriate detector in µGC systems still faces a significant challenge. We present a solution to the problem through integration of µGC with photonic crystal slab (PCS) sensors using transfer printing technology. This integration offers an opportunity to utilize the advantages of optical sensors, such as high sensitivity and rapid response time, and at the same time, compensate for the lack of detection specificity from which label-free optical sensors suffer. We transfer printed a 2D defect free PCS on a borofloat glass, bonded it to a silicon microfluidic gas cell or directly to a microfabricated GC column, and then coated it with a gas responsive polymer. Realtime spectral shift in Fano resonance of the PCS sensor was used to quantitatively detect analytes over a mass range of three orders. The integrated µGC–PCS system was used to demonstrate separation and detection of a complex mixture of 10 chemicals. Fast separation and detection (4 min) and a low detection limit (ng) was demonstrated.