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The deposition of diamond-like carbon(DLC) coating on the surface of martensitic stainless steel improves the wear properties and corrosion properties of the material. However, as the thermal expansion coefficients and elastic moduli of the martensitic stainless steel and the DLC coating are not matched and the affinity of the interface atoms is poor, the bonding force between the DLC coating and the martensitic stainless steel is insufficient and the thickness of the coating is limited. As a result, the application of the coating is also limited. In view of the above deficiencies, the effective measures and achievements made by domestic and foreign scholars to improve the adhesion and corrosion resistance of DLC coating deposited on the surface of martensitic stainless steel were summarized. The measures mainly included nitriding treatment of the surface of martensitic stainless steel, optimizing process parameters, and designing one-layer and multi-layer transition layer structures to alleviate the problems of corrosion resistance and bonding force between DLC coating and martensitic stainless steel. Finally, the development trend of preparation of DLC protective coating on martensitic stainless steel surface was prospected.

In order to further explore the application effect of bio-organic fertilizer and microbial agents instead of some chemical fertilizers on peanuts, the experiment was conducted with no fertilization, local usual fertilization and recommended conventional fertilization as the control group, respectively. Then, the effects of 80%, 60%, 50% and 40% conventional fertilizer combined with the bio-organic fertilizer and microbial agent on the growth, yield, fertilizer contribution rate and economic benefits of peanut were studied. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the main agronomic traits and pod traits between the treatment of 40%-80% conventional fertilizer combined with the bio-organic fertilizer and microbial agent and the treatment of local usual fertilization and conventional fertilizer. In terms of yield, fertilizer contribution rate and economic benefit, 50% conventional fertilizer + 50% bio-organic fertilizer + microbial agent had the best performance, and the fertilizer contribution rate was 10.60%. Compared with the local usual fertilization and conventional fertilization, the yield increased by 1.43% and 1.96%, respectively, and the income increased by 3.56% and 0.60%, respectively. The performance of 60% conventional fertilizer + 40% bio-organic fertilizer + microbial agent was the second, and the fertilizer contribution rate was 10.31%. Compared with the local usual fertilization and conventional fertilization, the yield increased by 1.10% and 1.63%, respectively, and the income increased by 3.28% and 0.35%, respectively. In summary, under the conditions of this experiment, it was advisable to reduce the amount of chemical fertilizer by 40%-50% on the basis of the application of bio-organic fertilizer and microbial agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kazinol B (KB), an isoprenylated flavan derived from Broussonetia kazinoki Sieb. (Moraceae) root, has long been used in folk medicine. This study examines the protective effects of KB and its underlying mechanisms in hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cardiac injury in H9c2 rat cardiac myoblasts. H9c2 cells were incubated with various concentrations of KB (0, 0.3, 1, 3, 10 and 30 μM) for 2 h and then subjected to H/R insults. The protective effects of KB and its underlying mechanisms were explored. KB significantly elevated cell viability (1 μM, 1.21-fold; 3 μM, 1.36-fold, and 10 μM, 1.47-fold) and suppressed LDH release (1 μM, 0.77-fold; 3 μM, 0.68-fold, and 10 μM, 0.59-fold) in H/R-induced H9c2 cells. Further, 10 μM KB blocked apoptotic cascades, as shown by the Annexin-V/PI (0.41-fold), DNA fragmentation (0.51-fold), caspase-3 (0.52-fold), PARP activation (0.27-fold) and Bax/Bcl-2 expression (0.28-fold) assays. KB (10 μM) downregulated reactive oxygen species production (0.51-fold) and lipid peroxidation (0.48-fold); it upregulated the activities of GSH-Px (2.08-fold) and SOD (1.72-fold). KB (10 μM) induced Nrf2 nuclear accumulation (1.94-fold) and increased ARE promoter activity (2.15-fold), HO-1 expression (3.07-fold), AKT (3.07-fold) and AMPK (3.07-fold) phosphorylation. Nrf2 knockdown via using Nrf2 siRNA abrogated KB-mediated protective effects against H/R insults. Moreover, pharmacological inhibitors of AKT and AMPK also abrogated KB-induced Nrf2 activation and its protective function. KB prevented H/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury via modulating the AKT and AMPK-mediated Nrf2 induction. KB might be a promising drug candidate for managing ischemic cardiac disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xinhua phosphorus is a sedimentary phosphate deposit in China with strong REEs enrichment. In this study, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometer (ICP-AES) as well as rock-mineral identification, major and trace elements analysis together with sedimentology theory have been used to study geochemical characteristics of REEs in Xinhua phosphate rocks. ∑REEs of Xinhua phosphate rocks range from 800×10-6 to 1200×10-6 and are dominated by LREEs and Yttrium. REEs occur in collophanite by isomorphism dominantly. REEs pattern curves show remarkably negative Ce anomaies with values ranging from 0.28 to 0.36 in Xinhua phosphate rocks, which are similar to those of Kunyang phosphate rocks, indicating phosphorus in the south of the upper Yangtze was formed in an oxidative environment and precipitated at the stable epicontinental sea of the passive continental margin. However, REEs pattern curves of the upper black shales and weak Ce and Eu anomalies are different from those of Xinhua phosphate rocks, which reflect black shales were formed in a deep and bathyal sea of a reductive environment. The Meishucunian period had a transgression process and the Meishucunian stage had an upward deep regressive sequence, the boundary between phosphate rocks and black shales possibly being a third-order even less scale sequence boundary. All of this sedimentology information is helpful to reveal the sequence of stratigraphy and marine sedimentary environment, which provides evidence for biological outbreak and stratigraphy sequence of early Cambrian in the Yangtze area, South China.

With the gradual decrease in freshwater resources, the available space for freshwater aquaculture is diminishing. As a result, saline-alkaline water aquaculture has emerged as a crucial method to fulfill the increasing demand. This study investigates the impact of alkaline water on the growth performance, tissues (gill, liver, and kidney), digestive enzyme activity, and intestinal microbiology in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The aquarium conditions were set with sodium bicarbonate (18 mmol/L (LAW), 32 mmol/L (HAW)) to simulate the alkaline water environment. A freshwater group was the control (FW). The experimental fish were cultured for 60 days. The findings revealed that NaHCO3 alkaline stress significantly reduced growth performance, caused alterations in the structural morphology of gill lamellae, liver, and kidney tissues, and led to decreased activity of intestinal trypsin and lipase amylase (P < 0.05). Analysis of 16S rRNA sequences demonstrated that alkalinity influenced the abundance of dominant bacterial phyla and genera. Proteobacteria showed a significant decrease under alkaline conditions, while Firmicutes exhibited a significant increase (P < 0.05). Furthermore, alkalinity conditions significantly reduced the abundance of bacteria involved in protein, amino acid, and carbohydrate metabolism, cell transport, cell decomposition, and environmental information processing. Conversely, the abundance of bacteria associated with lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, organic systems, and disease functional flora increased significantly under alkalinity conditions (P < 0.05). In conclusion, this comprehensive study indicates that alkalinity stress adversely affected the growth performance of juvenile grass carp, likely due to tissue damage, reduced activity of intestinal digestive enzymes, and alterations in intestinal microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]