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Introduction: Phenolic acids are believed to play a significant role in tobacco continuous cropping obstacles, but the strength and potential mechanisms of different phenolic acids remain unclear. Methods: This study evaluated the allelopathic effects of six phenolic acids that exhibited cumulative effects in our previous research. Different concentrations of phenolic acids with the strongest allelopathic effects were added to potting soil to explore their impacts on tobacco growth and physiological characteristics, as well as on soil chemical properties and microbial community structure. Results: The results showed that coumaric acid exhibited the strongest direct allelopathic effect. Exogenous coumaric acid significantly reduced soil pH and shifted the soil microbial community from bacteria-dominated to fungi-dominated. Simultaneously, the abundance of bacteria related to nutrient utilization (e.g., Flavisolibacter , Methylobacterium) and fungi related to disease resistance (e.g., Fusicolla , Clonostachys) gradually decreased, along with a reduction in soil catalase, urease, invertase, and acid phosphatase activities. Leaf MDA levels increased continuously with higher concentrations of coumaric acid, while the root resistance hormone (jasmonic acid and the jasmonate-isoleucine complex) levels show the opposite trend. Discussion: Coumaric acid may inhibit tobacco growth by influencing the physiological processes in tobacco plants directly and the broader soil microecological balance indirectly. This study provides theoretical guidance for precise mitigation of continuous cropping obstacles in future tobacco cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term continuous cropping of tobacco causes dysbiosis of soil microbial communities, the imbalance of soil nutrients, and the increase of pathogenic bacteria, which will slow the growth and development of tobacco plants, reduce the production quality, and cause significant losses to tobacco production and tobacco farmers. The application of Potassium fulvic acid can not only provide nutrients, but also inhibit the propagation of pathogens in soil along with raising the amount of organic matter in the soil, which is an effective way to improve soil health. In this experiment, Tobacco variety SNT60 was used as the test material, and 6 treatments were set up by pot test, they were: no fertilisation control group (CK), tobacco special fertiliser (NPK), 3.45 g/kg of potassium fulvic acid fertiliser (T1), 4.65 g/kg of potassium fulvic acid fertiliser (T2), 5.85 g/kg of potassium fulvic acid fertiliser (T3), 7.05 g/kg of potassium fulvic acid fertiliser (T4), Ten replications were set up for each treatment and the soil and fertiliser were mixed and potted before transplanting, 70% as basal fertiliser and 30% as supplementary fertiliser. We also analyzed soil properties, soil microorganisms and agronomic traits of tobacco plants in different treatments to provide reference for mitigating tobacco succession barrier. The test results are as follows: 4.65 g/kg of potassium fulvic acid fertiliser (T2) treatment was the best, soil organic matter, quick nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, soil catalase, soil sucrase, and soil urease content, compared to CK control, increased by 22.04%, 43.12%, 96.21%, 381.79%, 25.43%, 91.69%, 262.07% and 93.16%. In terms of microbial community, application of potassium fulvic acid fertiliser significantly increased the relative abundance of Ascomycetes, Chlorobacterium, Bacillus, Proteobacteria and Tephritobacterium in the soil. Meanwhile, 4.65 g/kg of potassium fulvic acid fertiliser (T2) promoted the growth of tobacco plants, improved leaf photosynthetic capacity, and enhanced plant disease resistance. This experiment provides practical measures to improve the microbial community of tobacco continuous cropping soils and to reduce the incidence of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High entropy materials (HEM) have been attracting much attention as emerging catalysts for electrochemical water splitting. HEM catalysts have unique properties such as an interesting cocktail effect, broad design space, customizable electronic structure, and excellent entropy stabilization effect compared with single-digit catalysts. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the use of HEM as a catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and water splitting. HEM design strategies including phase structure modulation, defect engineering, electrode configuration engineering, and computational aids are discussed to develop HEM catalysts with high performance and stability. In particular, the importance of density functional theory, high-throughput screening techniques, and machine learning for the discovery and design of HEM catalysts is emphasized. Finally, the challenges and imminent difficulties are prospected, and the corresponding strategies to deal with these challenges are put forward to promote the development of HEM catalysts in the field of electrochemical water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Intercropping practices play a crucial role in enhancing and maintaining the biodiversity and resiliency of agroecosystems, as well as promoting stable and high crop yields. Yet the relationships between soil nitrogen, microbes, and yield in maize cultivated under maize/soybean intercropping systems remain unclear. Methods: To fill that knowledge gap, here we collected maize rhizosphere soil at the staminate stage after 6 consecutive years of maize/soybean intercropping, to investigate how intercropping and nitrogen application rates affected nitrogen utilization by crops and soil microbial community composition and function. We also examined correlations of those responses with yields, to clarify the main ways that yield is enhanced via intercropping and by nitrogenous fertilizer gradient changes generated by different nitrogen application rates. Results: The amount of applied fertilizer was 240 kg N ha-1 was best for obtaining a high maize yield and also led to the greatest nitrogen-use efficiency and bacterial diversity. Under the same N application rate, intercropping increased the maize yield by 31.17% and soil nitrogen (total, ammonium and nitrate nitrogen) by 14.53%, on average, in comparison to monocropping. The enrichment of Gemmatimonas and Bradyrhizobium significantly increased the soil nitrogen content, and a greater relative abundance of Sphingomonas and Gemmatimonas increased the maize yield, whereas enrichment of Candidatus_Udaeobacter and Bradyrhizobium decreased it. The benefits of intercropping mainly arise from augmenting the abundance of beneficial microorganisms and enhancing the efficiency of N use by crop plants. Discussion: This study's findings are of key importance to bolster the stability of agro-ecosystems, to guide the scientific rational use of nitrogen fertilizers, and to provide a sound theoretical basis for achieving the optimal management of intensive crop-planting patterns and green sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beneficial microbes are crucial for improving crop adaptation and growth under various stresses. They enhance nutrient uptake, improve plant immune responses, and help plants tolerate stresses like drought, salinity, and heat. The yield potential of any crop is significantly influenced by its associated microbiomes and their potential to improve growth under different stressful environments. Therefore, it is crucial and exciting to understand the mechanisms of plant–microbe interactions. Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the primary staple foods worldwide, in addition to wheat and rice. Maize is also an industrial crop globally, contributing 83% of its production for use in feed, starch, and biofuel industries. Maize requires significant nitrogen fertilization to achieve optimal growth and yield. Maize plants are highly susceptible to heat, salinity, and drought stresses and require innovative methods to mitigate the harmful effects of environmental stresses and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. This review summarizes our current understanding of the beneficial interactions between maize plants and specific microbes. These beneficial microbes improve plant resilience to stress and increase productivity. For example, they regulate electron transport, downregulate catalase, and upregulate antioxidants. We also review the roles of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in enhancing stress tolerance in maize. Additionally, we explore the application of these microbes in maize production and identify major knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to utilize the potential of beneficial microbes fully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) has been widely investigated for its excellent dielectric and piezoelectric properties, which makes it an ideal material for applications in multiplayer ceramic capacitors, piezoelectric transducers and solid-state actuators. The pure perovskite PMN-PT powders can be obtained at the temperature of 750 degrees by the rutile precursor method. The phase formation and stability were measured by a simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis.

Summary: Background: The composition of the root microbiome affects the host's growth, with variation in the host genome associated with microbiome variation. However, it is not known whether this intra-specific variation of root microbiomes is a consequence of plants performing targeted manipulations of them to adapt to their local environment or varying passively with other traits. To explore the relationship between the genome, environment and microbiome, we sampled seeds from teosinte populations across its native range in Mexico. We then grew teosinte accessions alongside two modern maize lines in a common garden experiment. Metabarcoding was performed using universal bacterial and fungal primers to profile their root microbiomes. Results: The root microbiome varied between the two modern maize lines and the teosinte accessions. We further found that variation of the teosinte genome, the ancestral environment (temperature/elevation) and root microbiome were all correlated. Multiple microbial groups significantly varied in relative abundance with temperature/elevation, with an increased abundance of bacteria associated with cold tolerance found in teosinte accessions taken from high elevations. Conclusions: Our results suggest that variation in the root microbiome is pre-conditioned by the genome for the local environment (i.e. non-random). Ultimately, these claims would be strengthened by confirming that these differences in the root microbiome impact host phenotype, for example, by confirming that the root microbiomes of high-elevation teosinte populations enhance cold tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Improving photosynthetic use efficiency in dryland agroecosystems to sustain high agricultural yields is a key responsibility for ensuring food security. Methods: This study was conducted in the regions on the semiarid Loess Plateau of China during 2018-2020. Dryland maize of Xianyu 335 comprised four modes: basic yield input (CK, plastic film mulching, 37500 plant.ha-1 of plant density and unfertilized), farmer input (FP, plastic film mulching, 45000 plant.ha-1 of plant density and inorganic nitrogen(N) and phosphate(P) fertilizer were 150kg.ha-1 and 90kg.ha-1), high yield and high-efficiency input (HH, full plasticfilm mulching on double furrow, 67500 plant.ha-1 of plant density and N, P and organic manure(M) fertilizer were 230kg.ha-1, 140kg.ha-1 and 1500kg.ha-1), and super high yield input (SH, full plastic-film mulching on double furrow, 9000 plant.ha-1 of plant density and N, P and organic M fertilizer were 300kg.ha-1, 180kg.ha-1 and 7500kg.ha-1). The effects of different cultivation modes on yield, WUE, net photosynthetic rate(Pn), leaf area index(LAI), chlorophyll index(SPAD value) and root index were studied. Results: The results showed that the value average of yield and WUE for CK were 7790kg and 17480kg.ha-1 in three years. SH, HH and FP cultivation modes of yield and WUE was significant higher compared with CK cultivation mode (P<0.05). SH, HH and FP cultivation modes of yield and WUE increased by 34.01%, 48.68%, 56.39% and 34.34%, 47.99%, 57.99%, compared than CK cultivation mode. These differences were observed during the seedling stage, jointing stage, silking stage and filling stage. Year to year variation in performance of applied treatment, this improved in CK cultivation mode significantly enhanced SPAD value, Pn, LAI and the root index than SH, HH and FP cultivation modes. The yield exhibited a positive correlation with the WUE, SPAD value, Pn, LAI. The SH cultivation mode was the highest yields. Discussion: The results indicated that maize yield and WUE could be increased through integrating and optimizing cultivation techniques in maize production on the semiarid western Loess Plateau of China. The SH cultivation mode was the highest yields. The primary factor contributing to the increase in yield and WUE of maize due to increased density, increased fertilizer and covering measures is the augmentation of Pn, LAI, SPAD value, and root index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to increased climate change, crop productivity worldwide is in danger. Drought stress is considered one of the major environmental factors in relation to world food security. Previous studies showed that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation alleviates drought stress in various plants. However, whether AMF inoculation efficiency is based on gas exchange or water status and whether the effects differ among plants and AMF species remain unclear. To evaluate the effect of AMF on drought stress alleviation, a meta-analysis was conducted based on random-effect models accounting for effect size variation. Results revealed that photosynthetic rate had the highest effect size among gas exchange traits compared to stomatal conductance and transpiration rate. Our results also showed a significant positive impact on relative water content, water potential, and water use efficiency in AMF-inoculated plants compared to non-inoculated plants. Furthermore, among AMF species, Funneliformis mosseae, followed by Rhizophagus irrgularis, was an efficient AM fungi for drought stress alleviation. Therefore, this study suggests that a higher water use efficiency supports water transport to the leaf surface and keeps the stomatal opening, enhancing photosynthetic responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shandong Medical Journal is the property of Shandong Medical Health Newspapers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Deep placement of controlled-release urea is an effective fertiliser management strategy for improving the maize productivity, but it is not clear whether and how controlled-release urea depth affects the stem and root lodging of spring maize. Two consecutive years of field experiments were conducted to elucidate stem and root lodging properties and their relationship between grain yield and lodging behaviours under various controlled-release urea placement depths. Results depicted that compared to broadcast nitrogen treatment (D0), deep controlled-release urea significantly decreased the stem lodging rate by 34.7-80.4%, which contributed to improving the mechanical characteristics of the internode by optimising the internode diameter and dry matter in the third basal internode as well as higher lignin content. In addition, due to a greater and deeper root system (root dry weight, root surface area, root length and root width) as well as larger angle, diameter, and tension of aerial root that significantly decreased root lodging rate (37.0-88.4%). Furthermore, deep placement of controlled-release urea significantly increased the 100-grain weight, grain number and harvested index by constructing a deeper and larger root system, which significantly improved maize grain yield by 14.2-38.5%, and the nitrogen use efficiency increased by 4.8-10.7%. The highest grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency and lowest lodging rate occurred in controlled-release urea placement depths of 15 cm. Hence, our study suggests that controlled-release urea placement depths of 15 cm were an efficient nitrogen fertiliser management strategy to improve crop productivity as well as lodging resistance in spring maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on heavy metal pollution in horticultural farms located around lakes in the Central Ethiopian Rift Valley Region has focused on measuring the levels of heavy metals and their health implications. However, the ecological risks of horticultural farms contaminated with heavy metals in this region have not been studied. The current study addresses this gap by providing information on the degree of heavy metal contamination and the ecological risk associated with horticultural farms around Lake Ziway, using various pollution indices. An inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP‐OES) was used to measure the concentrations of nine heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Hg, and Zn) in a total of 30 composite soil and irrigation water samples, each consisting of a mix of six subsamples. The results indicated that the mean concentrations of Hg, Cd, Pb, and Zn in soils collected from all the sampling sites exceeded the FAO/WHO maximum permissible limit (MPL). The values of both the contamination factor (CF) and contamination degree (Cd) of the heavy metals ranged from 0.04 to 2.66 and 2.81 to 6.14, respectively, indicating a low to medium level of contamination for both indices. The pollution load index (PLI) values of 0.451, 0.449, and 0.157 for sites 2, 1, and 3, respectively, indicate "unpolluted" to "moderately polluted" levels of heavy metal pollution. However, the ecological risk indices (ERIs) at sites 2 and 1 (158.92 and 141, respectively) showed a potentially high ecological risk due to soil pollution. Therefore, close monitoring and early intervention mechanisms must be in place to control pollution in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Low temperature (LT) and weak light (WL) seriously affects the yield and quality of snapdragon in winter greenhouse. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) exert positive role in regulating growth and enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms by AMF improve the LT combined with WL (LTWL) tolerance in snapdragon remain mostly unknown. Methods: We compared the differences in root configuration, osmoregulatory substances, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant enzyme defense systems and transcriptome between AMF-inoculated and control groups under LT, WL, low light, and LTWL conditions. Results: Our analysis showed that inoculation with AMF effectively alleviated the inhibition caused by LTWL stress on snapdragon root development, and significantly enhanced the contents of soluble sugars, soluble proteins, proline, thereby maintaining the osmotic adjustment of snapdragon. In addition, AMF alleviated reactive oxygen species damage by elevating the contents of AsA, and GSH, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and glutathione reductase (GR). RNA-seq analysis revealed that AMF regulated the expression of genes related to photosynthesis (photosystem I related proteins, photosystem II related proteins, chlorophyll a/b binding protein), active oxygen metabolism (POD, Fe-SOD, and iron/ascorbate family oxidoreductase), plant hormone synthesis (ARF5 and ARF16) and stress-related transcription factors gene (bHLH112, WRKY72, MYB86, WRKY53, WRKY6, and WRKY26) under LTWL stress. Discussion: We concluded that mycorrhizal snapdragon promotes root development and LTWL tolerance by accumulation of osmoregulatory substances, activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems, and induction expression of transcription factor genes and auxin synthesis related genes. This study provides a theoretical basis for AMF in promoting the production of greenhouse plants in winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are derived from the infection and integration of exogenetic retroviruses. HERVs account for 8% of human genome, and the majority of HERVs are solitary LTRs (solo-LTRs) due to homologous recombination. Multiple findings have showed that solo-LTRs could provide an enormous reservoir of transcriptional regulatory sequences involved in diverse biological processes, especially carcinogenesis and cancer development. The link between solo-LTRs and human diseases still remains poorly understood. This review focuses on the regulatory modules of solo-LTRs, which contribute greatly to the diversification and evolution of human genes. More importantly, although inactivating mutations, insertions and deletions have been identified in solo-LTRs, the inherited regulatory elements of solo-LTRs initiate the expression of chimeric lncRNA transcripts, which have been reported to play crucial roles in human health and disease. These findings provide valuable insights into the evolutionary and functional mechanisms underlying the presence of HERVs in human genome. Taken together, in this review, we will present evidences showing the regulatory and encoding capacity of solo-LTRs as well as the significant impact on various aspects of human biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of South China Fisheries Science is the property of South China Fisheries Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Guangdong Agricultural Sciences is the property of South China Agricultural University, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In order to advance the scope of chiral functional materials, it is of paramount importance to engineer chiral bent-core liquid crystals (LCs) endowed with exceptional stability across a broad range of temperatures. In this context, we have devised a strategic approach, utilizing the potential of fluorinated molecules and taking advantage of the chirality of cholesterol as the pivotal component. This synergy has enabled the successful synthesis of our target LCs nF-4R. These molecules exhibit a chiral dark conglomerate (DC) phase over a broad temperature range of ∼85 °C in an enantiotropic manner. Dielectric spectroscopy measurements conducted on these materials showed persistent dielectric behavior over the entire LC range. Our study stands as a pioneering exemplar, unveiling the wide-range DC phase within the intricate landscape of chiral bent-shaped molecular systems. The mesomorphic characterization utilizing polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and small-angle/wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements, revealed an optically isotropic DC phase. This phase shows domains of opposing chirality and belongs to the sponge-type DC phase. Notably, the enhancement of a specific chiral domain reveals the bias towards supramolecular chirality, attributable to molecular chirality as supported by circular dichroism measurements. This finding holds promise for chiral plasmonics, enantiomeric separation, and nano-templating applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epoxidation of olefins by substituting "air" for potentially harmful oxidants was achieved using an oxidation method that integrated a fluorous iron(III) salen catalyst derived from common metals and pivalaldehyde. Several aromatic disubstituted olefins were converted into their corresponding epoxides with high efficiency and quantitative yields. This reaction represents an environmentally friendly oxidation process that utilizes an abundant source of air and employs a readily available metal, iron, in the form of salen complexes, making it an environmentally conscious oxidation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Journal of Agro-Environment Science is the property of Journal of Agro-Environment Science Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Continuous cropping affected the stability of soil enzyme activity and the structural characteristics of microbial community. Owing to challenges in the study of complex rhizosphere microbial communities, the composition and function of these microbial communities in farmland ecosystems remain elusive. Here, we studied the microbial communities of the rhizosphere of wine grapes with different years of continuous cropping and investigated their relationships with soil enzyme activity. Methods: Metagenomic sequencing was conducted on the rhizosphere soils from one uncultivated wasteland and four vineyards with varying durations of continuous cropping. Results: The predominant microbial were bacteria (98.39%), followed by archaea (1.15%) and eukaryotes (0.45%). Continuous cropping caused a significant increase in the relative abundance of Rhizobiales and Micrococcales but a marked decrease in Solirubrobacterales. At the genus level, 75, 88, 65, 132, and 128 microbial genera were unique to uncultivated wasteland, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years of continuous cropping, respectively. The relative abundance of genes with signal transduction function was the highest. The activity of all enzymes measured in this study peaked at 5 years of continuous cropping, and then decreased with 10 to 15 year of continuous cropping, but increased at 20 years again. In addition, soil enzyme activity, especially of alkaline phosphatase was significantly correlated with the diversity of the dominant microorganisms at the genus level. Moreover, the coupled enzyme activities had a greater impact on the diversity of the microbial community than that of individual enzymes. Conclusion: Our findings reveal the composition and function of the soil microbial communities and enzymes activity in response to changes in cropping years, which has important implications for overcoming continuous cropping obstacles and optimizing land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants, the cornerstone of life on Earth, are constantly struggling with a number of challenges arising from both biotic and abiotic stressors. To overcome these adverse factors, plants have evolved complex defense mechanisms involving both a number of cell signaling pathways and a complex network of interactions with microorganisms. Among these interactions, the relationship between symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and strigolactones (SLs) stands as an important interplay that has a significant impact on increased resistance to environmental stresses and improved nutrient uptake and the subsequent enhanced plant growth. AMF establishes mutualistic partnerships with plants by colonizing root systems, and offers a range of benefits, such as increased nutrient absorption, improved water uptake and increased resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. SLs play a fundamental role in shaping root architecture, promoting the growth of lateral roots and regulating plant defense responses. AMF can promote the production and release of SLs by plants, which in turn promote symbiotic interactions due to their role as signaling molecules with the ability to attract beneficial microbes. The complete knowledge of this synergy has the potential to develop applications to optimize agricultural practices, improve nutrient use efficiency and ultimately increase crop yields. This review explores the roles played by AMF and SLs in plant development and stress tolerance, highlighting their individual contributions and the synergistic nature of their interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation as an adaptive response underlies a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes. The progression of inflammation is closely intertwined with various bioactive molecules. To dissect the biological mechanisms and physiopathological functions of these molecules, exploitation of versatile detection mean is of great importance. Fluorescence imaging technique has been widely employed to track bioactive species in living systems. As a result, many small-molecule fluorescent probes for bioactive species in inflammatory disease have been developed. However, this interesting and frontier topic hasn't been systematically categorized. Therefore, in this review, we have generalized the construction strategies and biological imaging applications of small-molecule fluorescent probes for various bioactive species, including reactive oxygen/nitrogen/sulfur species, enzyme, mainly in arthritis, pneumonia and hepatitis. Moreover, the future challenges in constructing novel fluorescent probes for inflammatory disease are also present. This review will facilitate the comprehension of superior fluorescent probes for active molecules associated with inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing terrestrial ecosystem carbon sink is an effective way to mitigate the rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration and achieve the goal of "carbon neutrality". Mycorrhizal fungi are beneficial microorganisms that can form symbiotic relationships with 90% of plants in terrestrial ecosystems, and the symbiont contributes significantly to soil and plant carbon sink. In the review, we take arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), which are the most extensively studied currently, as the narrative objects, and discuss the carbon sink enhancement potential of mycorrhizal fungi from the following four aspects. The first, mycorrhizal fungi indirectly increase the plant carbon sink by promoting photosynthesis and increasing biomass in the host plant, and this advantage can be maintained even under stressful conditions. The second, the process of carbon source transportation between AMF-plant symbionts and EMF-plant symbionts is described in this paper. The third, review describes that mycorrhizal fungi contribute to soil carbon sink by increasing carbon input as well as decreasing carbon output. The fourth, we point out the shortcomings of the current study and provide a prospect for future research, with the aim to provide theoretical support for increasing terrestrial carbon sink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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High entropy alloys (HEAs) are composed of five or more metal elements with similar proportions. Due to the electronic structure among metal elements, they have abundant active sites and have good catalytic activity and stability as materials. Therefore, they have great promise in electrochemical energy storage and electrocatalysis. This paper reviews the preparation and characterization methods of HEAs, and the applications of HEAs in catalysis, especially the contribution in lithium‐sulfur batteries, but also in Electrolyzed water and other energy storage materials. The challenges of HEAs in catalysis and their future developments are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at determining the effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Antagonistic Rhizosphere Fungi (ARF) on growth of Coffea liberica seedlings in peat soils. Eight AMF isolates (without AMF, Glomus sp.-1a, Glomus sp.-3c, Acaulospora sp.-1b, Acaulospora sp.-2d, Glomus sp.-1a + Glomus sp.-3c, Acaulospora sp.-1b + Acaulospora sp.-2d, and mixtures of Glomus sp.-1a + Glomus sp.-3c + Acaulospora sp.-1b + Acaulospora sp.-2d) were combined with five ARF types (without ARF, Trichoderma sp., Aspergillus sp., Gliocladium sp., and Penicillium sp.). Data were collected on the following variables: seedling height, leaf number, stem diameter, shoot and root dry weight, N and P uptake, and root infection by AMF. Results indicated that Trichoderma sp., in combination with various types of AMF, was the best ARF in promoting C. liberica seedling growth and increasing N and P uptake. On the other hand, the mixture of Glomus sp.-1a + Glomus sp.-3c combined with various types of ARF was the best AMF in promoting seedling growth and increasing N and P uptake. It can be concluded that Trichoderma sp. and the mixture of Glomus sp-1a and Glomus sp-3c were best combination to be applied to promote the C. liberica seedlings grown in peat soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Guangdong Agricultural Sciences is the property of South China Agricultural University, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Sustainable agricultural practices for controlling crop pests are urgently needed to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides, which have long-term detrimental effects on ecosystems. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and vermicompost (Vc) supplementation, alone and in combination, in mitigating the negative impacts of Meloidogyne incognita infestation on carrot (Daucus carota L.) growth, development, and physiology. Methods: We measured different plant growth parameters such as plant height and biomass accumulation, several plant physiological parameters such as the levels of photosynthetic pigments, phenolics, and the activity of defense enzymes such as peroxidases and polyphenol oxidases, and evaluated the severity of Meloidogyne incognita nematode infestation on plants treated or not treated with vermicompost (Vc) and/or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Results: Our findings show that M. incognita significantly affects plant growth, biomass accumulation, and photosynthetic pigment and carotenoid content. The incorporation of Vc and AMF into the soil, either individually or in combination, significantly alleviates the negative effects of nematode infestation on carrot plants. This was accompanied by the induction of phenolic compounds and defense enzymes such as peroxidases (+15.65%) and polyphenol oxidases (29.78%), and by a reduction in the severity of nematode infestation on Vc and AMF-treated plants compared to nematode-infested plants. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows significant correlations between various of the studied parameters. In particular, we observed negative correlations between the application of AMF and Vc alone and in combination and disease severity, and positive correlations between plant growth, photosynthetic pigments phenol content, and activity of defense enzymes. Discussion: Our study highlights the relevance of cultural practices and beneficial microorganisms for the sustainable and environmentally friendly management of agricultural pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical associated with physiological functions such as blood pressure regulation, cardiovascular health, mitochondrial production, calcium transport, oxidative stress, and skeletal muscle repair. This study aimed to isolate Latilactobacillus curvatus strains with enhanced NO production from the traditional Korean fermented food, jangajji, and evaluate their probiotic properties for industrial purposes. When cells were co-cultured with various bacterial stimulants, NO production generally increased, and NO synthesis was observed in the range of 20–40 mg/mL. The selected strains of Lat. curvatus were resistant to acid and bile conditions and with variable effectiveness (1–14%) in adhering to Caco-2 cells. Most bacterial strains can inhibit the growth of various pathogens. In addition, they are capable of reducing cholesterol levels via assimilation of cholesterol at 10–50%. Among the selected NO synthases from Lat. curvatus strains, the strain JBCC38 showed the highest capacity to scavenge ABTS (30.1%) and DPPH radicals (39.4%). Moreover, these strains exhibited immunomodulatory properties. The production of TNF-α and IL-6 in the macrophages treated with various bacterial stimulants was induced in all the selected strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are defined as plastic particles or fragments with a diameter of less than 5 mm. These particles have been identified as causing male reproductive toxicity, although the precise mechanism behind this association is yet to be fully understood. Recent research has found that exposure to polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) can disrupt spermatogenesis by impacting the integrity of the blood-testis barrier (BTB), a formidable barrier within mammalian blood tissues. The BTB safeguards germ cells from harmful substances and infiltration by immune cells. However, the disruption of the BTB leads to the entry of environmental pollutants and immune cells into the seminiferous tubules, resulting in adverse reproductive effects. Additionally, PS-MPs induce reproductive damage by generating oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy, and alterations in the composition of intestinal flora. Despite these findings, the precise mechanism by which PS-MPs disrupt the BTB remains inconclusive, necessitating further investigation into the underlying processes. This review aims to enhance our understanding of the pernicious effects of PS-MP exposure on the BTB and explore potential mechanisms to offer novel perspectives on BTB damage caused by PS-MPs., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Plant-endophyte symbiosis influences plant defense and growth. Serendipita indica is a root endophyte that promotes growth and induces tolerance against biotic and abiotic stress in plants. In this study, we examined the effect of S. indica colonization on herbivore (Spodoptera exigua) resistance of onion (Allium cepa L.). We found that colonization of S. indica in the roots of onion significantly reduced the feeding damage of leaves by S. exigua larvae, and also resulted in a reduction in weight gain of the larvae when fed on S. indica plants. This enhanced resistance is a result of modulation of antioxidant and defense enzymes/genes in the host by S. indica mutualism. Specifically, the activities of enzymes such as Superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and H2O2 content were significantly higher in the early stages of S. exigua feeding in the S. indica colonized plants compared to the non-colonized counterparts. Similarly, defense genes also showed modulation in response to this tripartite interaction of onion -S. indica mutualism and S. exigua herbivory. The hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis indicated a clear difference in the onion biochemical responses, which is due to the S. indica symbiosis. Our investigation demonstrates that onion-S. indica symbiosis significantly decreases chewing injury by efficiently modulating antioxidant and defense enzyme activities and gene expression in response to S. exigua herbivory. Therefore, S. indica can be used as a potential biocontrol agent for sustainable management of this important pest of Alliums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and reliable approach for determining initial parameters in the problem of resonance Lorentzian curve approximation has been suggested. The algorithm has been applied to experimental data and its validity is shown. The results of iterative approximation with initial parameters that are found using proposed algorithm have been compared with those of approximation by the well-known Circle Fit algorithm. The suggested approach makes it possible to reduce signal-to-noise ratio requirements without loss of approximation reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics and pesticides are emerging contaminants in the marine biota, which cause many harmful effects on aquatic organisms, especially on fish. Fish is a staple and affordable food source, rich in animal protein, along with various vitamins, essential amino acids, and minerals. Exposure of fish to microplastics, pesticides, and various nanoparticles generates ROS and induces oxidative stress, inflammation, immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, and DNA damage and alters gut microbiota, thus reducing the growth and quality of fish. Changes in fish behavioral patterns, swimming, and feeding habits were also observed under exposures to the above contaminants. These contaminants also affect the Nrf-2, JNK, ERK, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways. And Nrf2-KEAP1 signaling modulates redox status marinating enzymes in fish. Effects of pesticides, microplastics, and nanoparticles found to modulate many antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione system. So, to protect fish health from stress, the contribution of nano-technology or nano-formulations was researched. A decrease in fish nutritional quality and population significantly impacts on the human diet, influencing traditions and economics worldwide. On the other hand, traces of microplastics and pesticides in the habitat water can enter humans by consuming contaminated fish which may result in serious health hazards. This review summarizes the oxidative stress caused due to microplastics, pesticides and nano-particle contamination or exposure in fish habitat water and their impact on human health. As a rescue mechanism, the use of nanotechnology in the management of fish health and disease was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Nowadays, the concept of soil health is characterised by three fundamental parameters such as: physical, chemical and biological soil properties. These parameters are in a continuous interaction when are influenced by climatic changes, soil types and the usage of different management practices. The importance of the microbial communities in soil is represented by their ability to decompose the soil organic matter and to transform, mineralize and release essential nutrients important for plant development. In addition, they are important in the detoxification of environmental pollutants and maintenance of soil fertility. In soil, microorganisms are abundant and diverse and include some important taxonomic categories such as: bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, algae and soil protozoa. This review is focused on the role of beneficial microorganisms in soil health, highlighting the recent advances in this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]