Nitrogen management indicators for sustainable crop production in an intensive potato system under drip irrigation.

Reliable nitrogen (N) fertilizer management indicators are essential for improving crop yields and minimizing environmental impacts for sustainable production. The objectives of this study were to assess the importance of major N management indicators (NMIs) for higher yield with low risks of environmental pollution in an intensive potato system under drip irrigation. Six drip-irrigated field experiments with no N application (Control), farmer practice (FP), and optimized N management (OM) based on N-balance, soil mineral N (Nmin), and target yield were conducted from 2018 to 2020 in Inner Mongolia, China. The response of NMIs to potato yield and yield-based environment impact indices (EIY) was evaluated by the random forest algorithm. The N input, N losses from N leaching, ammonia (NH3) volatilization, nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, N use efficiency (NUE), N surplus, and soil residual N after harvest were obtained to identify the best NMIs for high yield and minimal ecological impact. The N management practices in field experimental sites affected the importance of the order of NMIs on potato yield and EIY. The NUE and N leaching were identified as the highest importance scores and the most essential controlling variables to potato yield and EIY, respectively. The integrated NUE and N leaching indicator played a vital role in improving potato yield and reducing ecological impact. The OM treatment achieved 46.0%, 63.6%, and 64.6% lower in N application rate, N surplus, and reactive N loss, and 62.4% higher in NUE than the FP treatment while achieving equal potato yields, respectively. Those key NMIs can guide farmers in understanding their practice short comes to achieve both high productivity and environmental sustainability in intensive potato production systems under drip irrigation.

Systematic Analysis of DNA Demethylase Gene Families in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.) and Their Expression Variations after Abiotic Stresses.

DNA methylation is a highly conserved epigenetic modification involved in many biological processes, including growth and development, stress response, and secondary metabolism. DNA demethylase (DNA-deMTase) genes have been identified in some plant species; however, there are no reports on the identification and analysis of DNA-deMTase genes in Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.). In this study, seven DNA-deMTases were identified in S. italica. These DNA-deMTase genes were divided into four subfamilies (DML5, DML4, DML3, and ROS1) by phylogenetic and gene structure analysis. Further analysis shows that the physical and chemical properties of these DNA-deMTases proteins are similar, contain the typical conserved domains of ENCO3c and are located in the nucleus. Furthermore, multiple cis-acting elements were observed in DNA-deMTases, including light responsiveness, phytohormone responsiveness, stress responsiveness, and elements related to plant growth and development. The DNA-deMTase genes are expressed in all tissues detected with certain tissue specificity. Then, we investigated the abundance of DNA-deMTase transcripts under abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, ABA, and MeJA). The results showed that different genes of DNA-deMTases were involved in the regulation of different abiotic stresses. In total, our findings will provide a basis for the roles of DNA-deMTase in response to abiotic stress.

Resveratrol improves efficacy of oral amoxicillin against childhood fast breathing pneumonia in a randomized placebo-controlled double blind clinical trial.

Childhood pneumonia has been considered as a major cause of child morbidity and mortality worldwide. We aimed to investigate the effect of resveratral in synergizing with oral amoxicillin to improve the treatment outcome of oral amoxicillin administration against childhood fast breathing pneumonia. 647 children diagnosed fast breathing pneumonia were recruited and randomized to receive oral amoxicillin plus either resveratrol (AX + RV) or placebo (AX + placebo). The primary outcome was defined as treatment failure up to day 3, while the secondary outcome was defined as treatment failure at day 6 and 12 upon follow up. Incidences of treatment failure up to day 3 was significantly lower in the AX + RV group than the AX + placebo group. From day 6-12, the incidences of treatment failure were increased in both treatment groups. However, treatment failure cases were still much lower in the AX + RV group on both revisits. No serious adverse reaction to treatment drugs were found in either of the two groups. Resveratrol improves efficacy of oral amoxicillin against childhood fast breathing pneumonia, supporting the clincial potential of reseveratrol as a potent adjuvent of oral amoxicillin in the treatment of childhood pneumonia with no adverse effects.