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Zintl-phase materials have attracted significant research interest owing to the interplay of magnetism and strong spin--orbit coupling, providing a prominent material platform for axion electrodynamics. Here, we report the single-crystal growth, structure, magnetic and electrical/thermal transport properties of the antiferromagnet layer Zintl-phase compound β-EuIn2As2. Importantly, the new layered structure of β-EuIn2As2, in rhombohedral (R3m) symmetry, contains triangular layers of Eu2+ ions. The in-plane resistivity r(H, T) measurements reveal metal behavior with an antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition (TN ~ 23.5 K), which is consistent with the heat capacity Cp(H, T) and magnetic susceptibility Χ(H, T) measurements. Negative MR was observed in the temperature range from 2 K to 20 K with a maximum MR ratio of 0.06. Unique 4f7 J = S = 7/2 Eu2+ spins were supposed magnetically order along the c-axis. The Seebeck coefficient shows a maximum thermopower |Smax| of about 40 µV K-1. The kink around 23 K in the Seebeck coefficient originates from the effect of the antiferromagnetic phase on the electron band structure, while the pronounced thermal conductivity peak at around 10 K is attributed to the phonon--phonon Umklapp scattering. The results suggest that the Eu2+ spin arrangement plays an important role in the magnetic, electrical, and thermal transport properties in β-EuIn2As2, which might be helpful for future potential technical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivation techniques have an important influence on grain yield of maize. This experiment investigated the effect of stover return (SR) and different nitrogen (N) application rate on soil organic carbon (SOC) composition, soil nutrient and maize yield.Different nitrogen application rate 100 (N100), 150 (N150), 200 (N200), 250 (N250) or 300 (N300) kg ha−1 applied to the maize field with stover return and without stover return traditional planting (TP) method.Nitrogen application rate and stover return affected the SOC, labile organic carbon (LOC), microbial biomass (MBC), NO3−‐N, NH4+‐N and maize yield. Soil N, soil carbon content and maize yield of SR were all higher than TP. The SOC content of SR and TP were 9.67 and 9.19 g kg−1, respectively. Nitrogen application was significantly and positively correlated with soil MBC, LOC, SOC, NO3−‐N, NH4+‐N and yield. The maximum values of SOC composition, soil nutrients and maize yield were reached at SR with 250 kg ha−1.Stover return with application of N 250 kg ha−1 significantly increased the growth attribute and maize yield in subtropical region compared with traditional planting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytoplasmic dynein is a multi-subunit complex that includes cytoplasmic dynein-1 (dynein1) and cytoplasmic dynein-2 (dynein2). It participates in various basic cellular processes, including nuclear migration, mitotic spindle organization, chromosome separation during mitosis, and the location and function of numerous intracellular organelles. Retinal photoreceptor cells are terminally differentiated neurons that cannot regenerate and cannot be replaced once lost. It is thus crucial to study their development to facilitate the generation and improvement of photoreceptor disease treatments. The outer segment (OS) of photoreceptor cells is a specific sensory cilium. An increasing number of studies have shown that cytoplasmic dynein plays an essential role in the development of retinal photoreceptor cells. To date, people have done a lot of studies on the various functions of dynein in cells and have a very detailed understanding. However, the role of dynein in retinal photoreceptor cells has not been summarized in detail. This article summarizes the currently available knowledge relating to the effects and mechanisms of cytoplasmic dynein on the development and functional maintenance of retinal photoreceptor cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L) comes from the grain, and the dry matter accumulation of the grain is affected by the environmental factors, especially the temperature. A field experiment was conducted in Huanghuaihai Plain from 2014 to 2016 using the split-plot design with three replications following three irrigation schedules (main plot): irrigation of 50 mm each at jointing growth stage (GS34) and heading growth stage (GS48, W1); irrigation of 100 mm at GS48 (W2); and irrigation of 100 mm each at both GS34 and GS48 (W3) and three planting modes (split plot): uniform row (U), furrow (F), double-double row (DD) to explore the mechanism for improving yield and dry matter accumulation under reasonable temperature and relative humidity in farmland caused by irrigation and planting modes. The results showed that air temperature and relative humidity (RH) at 5 cm aboveground (AG5) were greater than those at 50 cm aboveground (AG50) during the two growing seasons. The average air temperature at AG5 and AG50 of W2 was 3.69% higher than that of W3, and RH was 5.21% lower than that of W3. With the increasing irrigation amount (W3) and frequency (W1), the average air and soil temperature were reduced while RH, dry matter accumulation rate for stem, leaf, spike and yield were increased significantly. Although DD and F as good planting modes have been detected to improve RH, dry matter and yield accumulation rates and decrease temperature as compared with U, the DD contributed more towards them. The AG5 and AG50 average air temperatures had a significantly negative correlation with total dry matter and yield accumulation rate, whereas RH showed the opposite mode. Meanwhile, spike dry matter accumulation rate plays a dominant role in improving yield because there was an extreme significant positive correlation between spike and yield accumulation rate. Consequently, irrigation 50 mm each at GS34 and GS48 combined with double-double row planting mode is a good agronomy method to be applied in the regions of scarce water resources like the Huanghuaihai Plain based on the water-saving technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report structural and physical properties of the single crystalline. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that adopts the trigonal -type structure. Temperature-dependent electrical resistivity measurements indicate an insulating ground state for with activation energies of 40 meV and 0.64 meV for two distinct regions, respectively. Magnetization measurements show no apparent magnetic phase transition under 400 K. Different from other , Sr, and Ba, and , As, and Sb) compounds with the same structure, heat capacity and reveal that has a first-order transition at and the transition temperature shifts to high temperature upon increasing pressure. The emergence of plenty of new Raman modes below the transition, clearly suggests a change in symmetry accompanying the transition. The combination of the structural, transport, thermal and magnetic measurements points to an unusual origin of the transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different row spacing can affect the canopy structure, and then affect the environment of crop growth and the yield. The research aimed to investigate the effects of row spacing on light interception ratio and leaf water status of summer maize (Zea mays L.), and to select the reasonable planting pattern. The experiment comprised five planting population distribution patterns in the same plant population density (62500 plant/ha) in northern China from 2011 to 2013. The following row spacing × spacing between the plant schemes were used: 40 cm × 40 cm (RS40), 50 cm × 32 cm (RS50), 60 cm × 27 cm (RS60), 70 cm × 23 cm (RS70), and 80 cm × 20 cm (RS80). A significant negative correlation was observed between row spacings and leaf relative water content (LRWC), water potential (Ψ) and yield during 3 years. RS40 and RS50 had the high total photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) capture ratio (CR) and upper CR (>100 cm) than the others. The yield of RS50 was higher than the others during three years study. The narrow row spacing (RS40 and RS50) was beneficial to the CR of PAR, LRWC, and However, compared with RS50, the RS40 could increase the evapotranspiration and decrease the lower-CR. So RS50 could be the reasonable row spacing of summer maize in Huang-huai-hai Plain in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cereal cyst nematode (CCN; Heterodera avenae) is found in at least 16 provinces in China. CCN often damages wheat and barley, causing severe economic losses. This study investigated the CCN population in a naturally infested field under local climatic and planting conditions. The CCN population spatial distribution between planting rows under rotation crop system was determined. The results showed that distribution of the cysts was relatively uniform at the horizontal scale after several years for same rotation cropping system. When the row spacing was 25 cm, higher cysts were observed in both in and between planting row. Moreover, 79% cysts were distributed in 0-20 cm soil depth. Rotation with maize is beneficial to reduce number of CCN. The results suggested that wheat-fallow system could not decrease number of CCN cysts within 3 years, the specific site forthe effective application of chemicals or biological control agents was at 20 cm depth in and between planting rows at harvest time. This information can serve as a reference for the development of an effective and mechanized site-specific management strategy for the control of CCN in large wheat fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of water resources should be restricted until a suitable irrigation and planting system is developed in the North China Plain. This study was aimed to study the effects of planting pattern and irrigation on the farmland microclimate, and indentify possible ways to improve the yield of winter wheat. The field experiments in a randomized complete block design with four replicates were conducted during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 growing seasons in Taian, China. The three planting patterns were: 25 cm uniform row planting pattern (U), "20 + 40" wide-narrow row planting pattern (WN), and "20 + 40" furrow planting pattern (F). Three irrigation treatments applied: were 90, 135, and 180 mm during the whole growth period. Results showed that F had 3.5% lower diurnal soil temperature at the 5cm soil depth, 4.7% lower diurnal air temperature at 5cm above the ground, 14.8% lower diurnal relative humidity (RH), 4.8% higher soil water content (SWC) at the 0 cm to 30 cm soil depth, and 9.7% higher yield as compared with U. Irrigation decreased soil temperature and air temperature but increased RH and SWC. The yield of 135 mm irrigation was 6.4% higher than that of 90 mm. The grain yield of winter wheat was not significantly difference between 135 and 180 mm irrigation from 2009-10 (P>0.05). Therefore, F and 135 mm irrigation were regarded the best combination as the optimum conditions for winter wheat considering the water shortage problem in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of planting patterns and pre-sowing soil moisture on the yield of summer soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in northern China from 2009 to 2010. The experiment comprised three planting patterns, namely, 30 cm uniform row spacing pattern (U), "20 + 40" wide-narrow row planting pattern (WN), and "20 + 40" furrow planting pattern (F). Three pre-sowing soil moisture treatments were performed at 90, 135, and 180 mm and involved irrigation during the winter wheat growth season. The leaf area index and chlorophyll content index of F were higher than those of U and WN under the same pre-sowing soil moisture treatment (P < 0.05). The accumulation of dry matter and the grain yield of F were significantly higher than those of U and WN (P < 0.05) irrespective of water content. The increase in grain yields of summer soybean was significant in 2009 (P < 0.05) but not in 2010 (P > 0.05) for 135 and 180 mm pre-sowing soil moisture under F. In conclusion, F and 180 mm pre-sowing soil moisture treatments were good agronomic measures to increase the yield of summer soybean in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mullite fibres were synthesised from a mixture of aluminium, aluminium chloride and acidic silica solutions as monophasic salts using a sol-gel technique. The viscosity and rheological behaviour of the mullite precursor sol were examined. Mullite fibres were synthesised using both conventional and microwave sintering techniques. The samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Pure mullite fibres were synthesised by microwave sintering at a relatively low temperature of 1200°C. The grain size of the fibre samples sintered using the microwave technique was finer than that produced by conventional sintering. These results show that microwave sintering is a promising technique for processing mullite fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter wheat is an important food crop in northern China. To achieving higher yields with less water has been the focus of researchers. Four planting patterns [row spacing (RS) x plant spacing], namely, 7x7 cm (RS7), 14 x 3.5 cm (RS14), 24.5 x 2 cm (RS24.5), and 49 x 1 cm (RS49), and four irrigation regimes, namely, 0, 60, 120, and 180 mm, were studied under field conditions during 2006-07 and 2007-08 at the Agronomy Experimental Station (36°09'N, 117°09'E) of Shandong Agricultural University in Tai'an, Shandong Province, China. This experiment aimed to study the effect of row spacing and irrigation on leaf area index (LAI), dry matter weight (DM), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) capture ratio at different levels above the ground surface, grain yield and radiation use efficiency (RUE) of winter wheat. Results revealed higher average LAI and DM of RS14 than those of other treatments with all irrigation conditions. The canopy light interception of RS49 was significantly lower than those of other patterns. The PAR capture ratio of RS14 at 0-40 cm aboveground was lower than that at 40-80 cm aboveground, similar to those of RS7 and RS24.5 but not to that of RS49. Increased irrigation resulted in declines of PAR capture ratio at 0-40 cm aboveground but increased at 60-80 cm aboveground. Increasing amounts of irrigation resulted in increased yields of winter wheat, and the order RS14 " RS7 > RS24.5 > RS49 was observed. Grain yields of RS7 and RS14 were significantly higher than those of RS24.5 and RS49 (P < 0.01). RS14 with irrigation at 120 mm may be the best option to increase yields and save water in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Productivity and water resource usage efficiency are crucial issues in sustainable agriculture. The aims of the present research were to compare and evaluate the soil moisture content (SMC), evapotranspiration (ETa), yield, water-use efficiency (WUE), and net return of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] under different plant population distribution patterns and to identify the possible ways to improve water utilization. Using the same plant population for a given crop, the experiments consisted of four spacings between rows (row spacings) for winter wheat (cvar Shannong 919) under both rainfed and irrigated conditions and five row spacings for summer soybean (cvar Ludou 4) under rainfed conditions. For winter wheat, the stem number with row spacing of 49 cm was the lowest in all treatments. The SMC was enhanced by irrigation, particularly at the 10–40 cm depth. The yield and WUE were negatively correlated with row spacing and were greater with narrower row spacing than with wider rows. For soybean, SMC in uniform distribution (spacing between plants) treatments was greater at lower depths than at shallower depths for each row spacing treatment. A high yield, WUE and net return of winter wheat and soybean can be achieved with narrower row spacing. Combining winter wheat row spacing of 14 cm with soybean row spacing of 18 cm and soybean row spacing of 27 cm is a highly suitable planting system for the plains of Northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Double perovskite La2CoMnO6 (LCMO) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by a convenient, environmentally friendly, inexpensive and efficient chemical co-precipitation process and subsequently sintered at 900 °C/10 min using microwave sintering (MW) for the first time. The crystal structure, morphology, elemental and magnetic properties were characterized in detail. The TEM image of the MW prepared powder reveals that the particle size is in the range of 50-70 nm. The presence of functional groups and chemical bonding is confirmed by FTIR. The super-paramagnetism is observed with the magnetic saturation (Ms) of 73.3 emu/g. Moreover, BET surface areas were measured at the liquid nitrogen temperature by nitrogen adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world food demand is expected to double by 2050 and the availability and quality of irrigation water is declining because of the needs of the expanding population combined with the effects of climatic change. Therefore, productivity and wateruse efficiency (WUE) are crucial issues in the production of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The objective of this field study was to compare and evaluate the soil water characteristic, evapotranspiration (ET), yield, and yield components to identify possible ways to improve WUE of winter wheat in the North China Plain. The field experiment in a randomized complete block design with four replicates was conducted during 2008 to 2009 and 2009 to 2010. There were three planting patterns: traditional flat seedbed with uniform row spacing of 25 cm, wide-narrow row spacing of 40-cm and 20-cm flat seedbed and furrow-ridge seedbed; three irrigation treatments: 90, 135, and 180 mm. The results showed that planting pattern and irrigation had significant effect on ET, yield components, grain yield, and WUE (P < 0.05); however, interaction between planting pattern and irrigation only had a significant effect on yield (P < 0.01). Compared with the conventional flat uniform planting pattern, the new treatment of furrow-ridge seedbed planting pattern increased WUE by 13.7%, increased grain yield by 9.7%, reduced ET by 3.4%, increased soil water content (SWC) by 7.7%, increased soil water storage (SWS) by 6.8%, and increased yield components (grains per spike 15.0%, thousand-grain weight [TGW] by 3.2%). Irrigation increased upper SWC, SWS, and ET, but decreased WUE. Compared with 90-mm irrigation treatment, 135-mm irrigation treatment increased grain yield by 6.4%. The findings suggest that application of the furrow-ridge seedbed planting pattern combined with 135-mm irrigation may be an effective strategy to improve winter wheat production in water-scarce regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]