Analysis of research hotspots and trends in pediatric ophthalmopathy based on 10 years of WoSCC literature.

Background: Ophthalmopathy occurring in childhood can easily lead to irreversible visual impairment, and therefore a great deal of clinical and fundamental researches have been conducted in pediatric ophthalmopathy. However, a few studies have been performed to analyze such large amounts of research using bibliometric methods. This study intended to apply bibliometric methods to analyze the research hotspots and trends in pediatric ophthalmopathy, providing a basis for clinical practice and scientific research to improve children's eye health. Methods: Publications related to pediatric ophthalmopathy were searched and identified in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. Bibliometric and visualized analysis was performed using the WoSCC analysis system and CiteSpace.6.2.6 software, and high-impact publications were analyzed. Results: This study included a total of 7,177 publications from 162 countries and regions. Of these, 2,269 from the United States and 1,298 from China. The centrality and H-index were highest in the United States at 0.27 and 66, respectively. The University of London and Harvard University had the highest H-index at 37. Freedman,Sharon F published 55 publications, with the highest H-index at 19. The emerging burst keyword in 2020-2023 was "eye tracking," and the burst keywords in 2021-2023 were "choroidal thickness," "pediatric ophthalmology," "impact" and "childhood glaucoma." Retinopathy of prematurity, myopia, retinoblastoma and uveitis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis were the main topics in the high-impact publications, with clinical studies in the majority, especially in retinopathy of prematurity. Conclusion: Eye health in children is a research hotspot, with the United States publishing the largest number of papers and having the greatest influence in research on pediatric ophthalmopathy, and China coming in second. The University of London and Stanford University had the greatest influence. Freedman, Sharon F was the most influential author. Furthermore, "choroidal thickness," "pediatric ophthalmology," "impact," "childhood glaucoma" and "eye tracking"are the latest hotspots in the field of pediatric ophthalmopathy. These hotspots represent hot diseases, hot technologies and holistic concepts, which are exactly the research trends in the field of pediatric ophthalmopathy, providing guidance and grounds for clinical practice and scientific research on children's eye health.

Application of modified Yamane technique in intrascleral intraocular lens fixation combined with or without iris reconstruction.

AIMS: To explore the application and long-term clinical effects of modified Yamane technique in intrascleral intraocular lens (IOL) fixation combined with or without iris reconstruction. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The data of patients receiving IOL fixation with modified Yamane technique in an ophthalmology department between December 2021 and August 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. The longest follow-up duration was > 12 months. METHODS AND MATERIAL: The trailing haptic was fixed with the needle before the leading haptic. The silicone haptic stoppers were used to stabilize the IOL when iris reconstruction was combined. Preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal endothelial cells (CECs), postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), surgical indications and methods, and postoperative complications were recorded. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to evaluate IOL decentration and tilt. The paired sample t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to compare the results of the same index before and after the operation. RESULTS: Twelve patients (12 eyes) were included in this cohort. There were 1 case of IOL dislocation, eight cases of lens dislocation or subluxation, and three cases of aphakia. Traumatic lens dislocation was the main cause of aphakia. Primary lens extraction was performed in previous surgeries, and all three were combined with pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Four of 12 patients underwent IOL fixation and iris reconstruction. The mean age of participants was 63 ± 10.61 years. The mean BCVA increased from 0.89 ± 0.72 logMAR to 0.39 ± 0.56 logMAR at the last visit (p < 0.05). The postoperative relative refractive error was - 0.13 ± 0.42 D (-0.60 D to + 0.57 D). The OCT showed that the IOLs were well centered, with a mean decentration of 0.20 ± 0.13 mm and a mean tilt of 2.31°±0.93°. Ten patients did not experience any complications. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Yamane technique in IOL fixation surgery, especially combined with iris reconstruction, reduces operation difficulty, increases operational stability and safety, and improves postoperative visual acuity without serious intra- or postoperative complications. The long-term improvement effect was remarkable.

Effect of Ward Noise Management Combined with Meditation Training on Stroke Rehabilitation Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of ward noise management combined with meditation training in stroke rehabilitation patients. METHODS: According to the retrospective analysis method, 150 stroke patients hospitalized in the rehabilitation center of a Tangshan Workers' Hospital from July 2020 to December 2023 were selected as study objects. They were divided into three groups, namely the control group (routine rehabilitation care, n = 50), observation group A (meditation training, n = 50), and observation group B (meditation training and ward noise management, n = 50) according to whether they received ward noise management and meditation training. The general demographic data, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) were collected. Chi-square test and analysis of variance were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: The baseline data of the patients in each group were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Before treatment, no difference in the FSS, PSQI, SF-36 scores and environmental noise level between the groups (P > 0.05) was observed. After management, the scores of SF-36 in observation group B were higher than those in the control group and observation group A (P < 0.05) except for somatic pain. Other indicators in observation group B were lower than those in the control and observation group A (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Ward noise management and meditation training can effectively reduce patients' fatigue, significantly reducing ambient noise levels, promoting the improvement of life quality, and improving sleep quality.

Raddeanin A Protects the BRB Through Inhibiting Inflammation and Apoptosis in the Retina of Alzheimer's Disease.

Neuroinflammation and endothelial cell apoptosis are prominent features of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, which have been described in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and can predict cognitive decline. Recent reports revealed vascular ß-amyloid (Aß) deposits, Muller cell degeneration and microglial dysfunction in the retina of AD patients. However, there has been no in-depth research on the roles of inflammation, retinal endothelial cell apoptosis, and blood-retinal barrier (BRB) damage in AD retinopathy. We found that Raddeanin A (RDA) could improve pathological and cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease by targeting ß-amyloidosis, However, the effects of RDA on AD retinal function require further study. To clarify whether RDA inhibits inflammation and apoptosis and thus improves BRB function in AD-related retinopathy. In vitro we used Aß-treated HRECs and MIO-M1 cells, and in vivo we used 3×Tg-AD mice to investigate the effect of RDA on BRB in AD-related retinopathy. We found that RDA could improve BRB function in AD-related retinopathy by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated inflammation and suppressing Wnt/ß-catenin pathway-mediated apoptosis, which is expected to improve the pathological changes in AD-related retinopathy and the quality of life of AD patients.

Phages enhance both phytopathogen density control and rhizosphere microbiome suppressiveness.

Bacteriophages, viruses that specifically target plant pathogenic bacteria, have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional agrochemicals. However, it remains unclear how phages should be applied to achieve efficient pathogen biocontrol and to what extent their efficacy is shaped by indirect interactions with the resident microbiota. Here, we tested if the phage biocontrol efficacy of Ralstonia solanacearum phytopathogenic bacterium can be improved by increasing the phage cocktail application frequency and if the phage efficacy is affected by pathogen-suppressing bacteria already present in the rhizosphere. We find that increasing phage application frequency improves R. solanacearum density control, leading to a clear reduction in bacterial wilt disease in both greenhouse and field experiments with tomato. The high phage application frequency also increased the diversity of resident rhizosphere microbiota and enriched several bacterial taxa that were associated with the reduction in pathogen densities. Interestingly, these taxa often belonged to Actinobacteria known for antibiotics production and soil suppressiveness. To test if they could have had secondary effects on R. solanacearum biocontrol, we isolated Actinobacteria from Nocardia and Streptomyces genera and tested their suppressiveness to the pathogen in vitro and in planta. We found that these taxa could clearly inhibit R. solanacearum growth and constrain bacterial wilt disease, especially when combined with the phage cocktail. Together, our findings unravel an undiscovered benefit of phage therapy, where phages trigger a second line of defense by the pathogen-suppressing bacteria that already exist in resident microbial communities. IMPORTANCE: Ralstonia solanacearum is a highly destructive plant-pathogenic bacterium with the ability to cause bacterial wilt in several crucial crop plants. Given the limitations of conventional chemical control methods, the use of bacterial viruses (phages) has been explored as an alternative biological control strategy. In this study, we show that increasing the phage application frequency can improve the density control of R. solanacearum, leading to a significant reduction in bacterial wilt disease. Furthermore, we found that repeated phage application increased the diversity of rhizosphere microbiota and specifically enriched Actinobacterial taxa that showed synergistic pathogen suppression when combined with phages due to resource and interference competition. Together, our study unravels an undiscovered benefit of phages, where phages trigger a second line of defense by the pathogen-suppressing bacteria present in resident microbial communities. Phage therapies could, hence, potentially be tailored according to host microbiota composition to unlock the pre-existing benefits provided by resident microbiota.

Matrine induces autophagic cell death by triggering ROS/AMPK/mTOR axis and apoptosis in multiple myeloma.

Despite significant advancements in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment in recent years, most patients will eventually develop resistance or experience relapse. Matrine, a primary active compound of traditional Chinese medicinal herb Sophora flavescens Ait, has been found to have anti-tumor properties in various types of malignant tumors. Whether autophagy plays a crucial role in the anti-MM effect of matrine remain unknown. Herein, we found that matrine could trigger apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, and meanwhile induce autophagy in MM cells in vitro. We further ascertained the role of autophagy by using ATG5 siRNA or the autophagy inhibitor spautin-1, which partially reversed matrine's inhibitory effect on MM cells. Conversely, the combination of matrine with the autophagy inducer rapamycin enhanced their anti-tumor activity. These findings suggest that autophagy induced by matrine can lead to cell death in MM cells. Further mechanism investigation revealed that matrine treatment increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and AMPKα1 phosphorylation and decreased the phosphorylation of mTOR in MM cells. Additionally, co-treatment with AMPKα1 siRNA or the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-1-cysteine weakened the increase in autophagy that was induced by matrine. Finally, we demonstrated a synergistic inhibitory effect of matrine and rapamycin against MM in a xenograft mouse model. Collectively, our findings provided novel insights into the anti-MM efficacy of matrine and suggest that matrine induces autophagy by triggering ROS/AMPK/mTOR axis in MM cells, and combinatorial treatment of matrine and rapamycin may be a promising therapeutic strategy against MM.

Berberine improves cognitive impairment by alleviating brain atrophy and promoting white matter reorganization in diabetic db/db mice: a magnetic resonance imaging-based study.

Diabetic cognitive impairment is a common complication in type 2 diabetes. Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline alkaloid that has been shown to have neuroprotective effects against diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of BBR on the gray and white matter of the brain by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to explore the underlying mechanisms. The study used diabetic db/db mice and administered BBR (50 and 100 mg/kg) intragastrically for twelve weeks. Morris water maze was applied to examine cognitive function. T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) was performed to assess brain atrophy, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) combined with fiber tracking was conducted to monitor the structural integrity of the white matter, followed by histological immunostaining. Furthermore, the protein expressions of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/ protein kinase B (AKT)/ glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) were detected. The results revealed that BBR significantly improved the spatial learning and memory of the db/db mice. T2WI exhibited ameliorated brain atrophy in the BBR-treated db/db mice, as evidenced by reduced ventricular volume accompanied by increased hippocampal volumes. DTI combined with fiber tracking revealed that BBR increased FA, fiber density and length in the corpus callosum/external capsule of the db/db mice. These imaging findings were confirmed by histological immunostaining. Notably, BBR significantly enhanced the protein levels of phosphorylated AKT at Ser473 and GSK-3ß at Ser9. Collectively, this study demonstrated that BBR significantly improved the cognitive function of the diabetic db/db mice through ameliorating brain atrophy and promoting white matter reorganization via AKT/GSK-3ß pathway.

Early megakaryocyte lineage-committed progenitors in adult mouse bone marrow.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have been considered to progressively lose their self-renewal and differentiation potentials prior to the commitment to each blood lineage. However, recent studies have suggested that megakaryocyte progenitors (MkPs) are generated at the level of HSCs. In this study, we newly identified early megakaryocyte lineage-committed progenitors (MgPs) mainly in CD201-CD48- cells and CD48+ cells separated from the CD150+CD34-Kit+Sca-1+Lin- HSC population of the bone marrow in adult mice. Single-cell colony assay and single-cell transplantation showed that MgPs, unlike platelet-biased HSCs, had little repopulating potential in vivo, but formed larger megakaryocyte colonies in vitro (on average 8 megakaryocytes per colony) than did previously reported MkPs. Single-cell RNA sequencing supported that HSCs give rise to MkPs through MgPs along a Mk differentiation pathway. Single-cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed that MgPs expressed Mk-related genes, but were transcriptionally heterogenous. Clonal culture of HSCs suggested that MgPs are not direct progeny of HSCs. We propose a differentiation model in which HSCs give rise to MgPs which then give rise to MkPs, supporting a classic model in which Mk-lineage commitment takes place at a late stage of differentiation.

Activation of Piezo1 Inhibits Kidney Cystogenesis.

The disruption of calcium signaling associated with polycystin deficiency has been proposed as the primary event underlying the increased abnormally patterned epithelial cell growth characteristic of Polycystic Kidney Disease. Calcium can be regulated through mechanotransduction, and the mechanosensitive cation channel Piezo1 has been implicated in sensing of intrarenal pressure and in urinary osmoregulation. However, a possible role for PIEZO1 in kidney cystogenesis remains undefined. We hypothesized that cystogenesis in ADPKD reflects altered mechanotransduction, suggesting activation of mechanosensitive cation channels as a therapeutic strategy for ADPKD. Here, we show that Yoda-1 activation of PIEZO1 increases intracellular Ca 2+ and reduces forskolin-induced cAMP levels in mIMCD3 cells. Yoda-1 reduced forskolin-induced IMCD cyst surface area in vitro and in mouse metanephros ex vivo in a dose-dependent manner. Knockout of polycystin-2 dampened the efficacy of PIEZO1 activation in reducing both cAMP levels and cyst surface area in IMCD3 cells. However, collecting duct-specific Piezo1 knockout neither induced cystogenesis in wild-type mice nor affected cystogenesis in the Pkd1 RC/RC model of ADPKD. Our study suggests that polycystin-2 and PIEZO1 play a role in mechanotransduction during cystogenesis in vitro , and ex vivo , but that in vivo cyst expansion may require inactivation or repression of additional suppressors of cystogenesis and/or growth. Our study provides a preliminary proof of concept for PIEZO1 activation as a possible component of combination chemotherapy to retard or halt cystogenesis and/or cyst growth.

Plasma proteome profiling reveals dynamic of cholesterol marker after dual blocker therapy.

Dual blocker therapy (DBT) has the enhanced antitumor benefits than the monotherapy. Yet, few effective biomarkers are developed to monitor the therapy response. Herein, we investigate the DBT longitudinal plasma proteome profiling including 113 longitudinal samples from 22 patients who received anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 DBT therapy. The results show the immune response and cholesterol metabolism are upregulated after the first DBT cycle. Notably, the cholesterol metabolism is activated in the disease non-progressive group (DNP) during the therapy. Correspondingly, the clinical indicator prealbumin (PA), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and triiodothyronine (T3) show significantly positive association with the cholesterol metabolism. Furthermore, by integrating proteome and radiology approach, we observe the high-density lipoprotein partial remodeling are activated in DNP group and identify a candidate biomarker APOC3 that can reflect DBT response. Above, we establish a machine learning model to predict the DBT response and the model performance is validated by an independent cohort with balanced accuracy is 0.96. Thus, the plasma proteome profiling strategy evaluates the alteration of cholesterol metabolism and identifies a panel of biomarkers in DBT.

Effectiveness and safety of Buzzy device in needle-related procedures for children under twelve years of age: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pain transcends simple physiology, encompassing biological, emotional, psychological, and social facets. Children show pronounced immediate and enduring responses to pain-related procedures. The aim of this meta-analysis is to investigate the efficacy and safety of the Buzzy device for needle-related procedures in children aged twelve years or younger. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were searched from inception to July 2023. Only randomized controlled trials utilizing the Buzzy device for needle-related procedures in children under twelve years old were included. Two reviewers independently conducted study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Random-effects models were utilized, and analyses were performed using mean differences or standardized mean differences as well as risk ratios. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies were included, involving 2846 participants (Buzzy = 1095, Control = 1751). Compared to no intervention, the Buzzy device significantly reduced pain response [self-report SMD = -1.90 (-2.45, -1.36), parental SMD = -3.04 (-4.09, -1.99), observer SMD = -2.88 (-3.75, -2.02)] and anxiety scores [self-report SMD = -1.97 (-3.05, -0.88), parental SMD = -2.01 (-2.93, -1.08), observer SMD = -1.92 (-2.64, -1.19)]. Compared to virtual reality (VR), the Buzzy device reduced self-reported anxiety levels SMD = -0.47 (-0.77, -0.17), and compared to distraction cards, the Buzzy device reduced parental and observer-reported pain [parental SMD = -0.85 (-1.22, -0.48), observer SMD = -0.70 (-1.00, -0.40)] and anxiety [parental SMD = -0.96 (-1.46, -0.47), observer SMD = -0.91 (-1.40, -0.42)]. Subgroup analysis results showed that procedure type, patient age, measurement scales used, and distance of operation were not the reason of heterogeneity. The summarized first puncture attempt success rate did not differ from other interventions. There were no significant adverse events in the included studies. CONCLUSION: The Buzzy device reduces pain and anxiety in children during needle procedures, ensuring success and safety. Additionally, the effectiveness of the Buzzy device in reducing pain during venipuncture is superior when compared to its effectiveness during intramuscular injections.

Genome-wide CRISPR screens identify PKMYT1 as a therapeutic target in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease with an overall 5-year survival rate of <12% due to the lack of effective treatments. Novel treatment strategies are urgently needed. Here, PKMYT1 is identified through genome-wide CRISPR screens as a non-mutant, genetic vulnerability of PDAC. Higher PKMYT1 expression levels indicate poor prognosis in PDAC patients. PKMYT1 ablation inhibits tumor growth and proliferation in vitro and in vivo by regulating cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of PKMYT1 shows efficacy in multiple PDAC cell models and effectively induces tumor regression without overt toxicity in PDAC cell line-derived xenograft and in more clinically relevant patient-derived xenograft models. Mechanistically, in addition to its canonical function of phosphorylating CDK1, PKMYT1 functions as an oncogene to promote PDAC tumorigenesis by regulating PLK1 expression and phosphorylation. Finally, TP53 function and PRKDC activation are shown to modulate the sensitivity to PKMYT1 inhibition. These results define PKMYT1 dependency in PDAC and identify potential therapeutic strategies for clinical translation.

Temporal patterns of organ dysfunction in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit: A group-based multitrajectory modeling analysis.

BACKGROUND: The course of organ dysfunction (OD) in Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is unknown. Herein, we analyze the temporal patterns of OD in intensive care unit-admitted COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Sequential organ failure assessment scores were evaluated daily within 2 weeks of admission to determine the temporal trajectory of OD using group-based multitrajectory modeling (GBMTM). RESULTS: A total of 392 patients were enrolled with a 28-day mortality rate of 53.6%. GBMTM identified four distinct trajectories. Group 1 (mild OD, n = 64), with a median APACHE II score of 13 (IQR 9-21), had an early resolution of OD and a low mortality rate. Group 2 (moderate OD, n = 140), with a median APACHE II score of 18 (IQR 13-22), had a 28-day mortality rate of 30.0%. Group 3 (severe OD, n = 117), with a median APACHR II score of 20 (IQR 13-27), had a deterioration trend of respiratory dysfunction and a 28-day mortality rate of 69.2%. Group 4 (extremely severe OD, n = 71), with a median APACHE II score of 20 (IQR 17-27), had a significant and sustained OD affecting all organ systems and a 28-day mortality rate of 97.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Four distinct trajectories of OD were identified, and respiratory dysfunction trajectory could predict nonpulmonary OD trajectories and patient prognosis.

The role of rhizosphere phages in soil health.

While the One Health framework has emphasized the importance of soil microbiomes for plant and human health, one of the most diverse and abundant groups-bacterial viruses, i.e. phages-has been mostly neglected. This perspective reviews the significance of phages for plant health in rhizosphere and explores their ecological and evolutionary impacts on soil ecosystems. We first summarize our current understanding of the diversity and ecological roles of phages in soil microbiomes in terms of nutrient cycling, top-down density regulation, and pathogen suppression. We then consider how phages drive bacterial evolution in soils by promoting horizontal gene transfer, encoding auxiliary metabolic genes that increase host bacterial fitness, and selecting for phage-resistant mutants with altered ecology due to trade-offs with pathogen competitiveness and virulence. Finally, we consider challenges and avenues for phage research in soil ecosystems and how to elucidate the significance of phages for microbial ecology and evolution and soil ecosystem functioning in the future. We conclude that similar to bacteria, phages likely play important roles in connecting different One Health compartments, affecting microbiome diversity and functions in soils. From the applied perspective, phages could offer novel approaches to modulate and optimize microbial and microbe-plant interactions to enhance soil health.

Activation of autophagy by Citri Reticulatae Semen extract ameliorates amyloid-beta-induced cell death and cognition deficits in Alzheimer's disease.

JOURNAL/nrgr/04.03/01300535-202419110-00027/figure1/v/2024-03-08T184507Z/r/image-tiff Amyloid-beta-induced neuronal cell death contributes to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Citri Reticulatae Semen has diverse beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, however, the effect of Citri Reticulatae Semen on Alzheimer's disease remains unelucidated. In the current study, the anti-apoptotic and autophagic roles of Citri Reticulatae Semen extract on amyloid-beta-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells were first investigated. Citri Reticulatae Semen extract protected PC12 cells from amyloid-beta-induced apoptosis by attenuating the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio via activation of autophagy. In addition, Citri Reticulatae Semen extract was confirmed to bind amyloid-beta as revealed by biolayer interferometry in vitro, and suppress amyloid-beta-induced pathology such as paralysis, in a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans in vivo model. Moreover, genetically defective Caenorhabditis elegans further confirmed that the neuroprotective effect of Citri Reticulatae Semen extract was autophagy-dependent. Most importantly, Citri Reticulatae Semen extract was confirmed to improve cognitive impairment, neuronal injury and amyloid-beta burden in 3×Tg Alzheimer's disease mice. As revealed by both in vitro and in vivo models, these results suggest that Citri Reticulatae Semen extract is a potential natural therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease via its neuroprotective autophagic effects.

Single-photon ranging lidar based on multi-repetition-rate pulse train correlation and accumulation.

A single-photon lidar based on multi-repetition-rate pulse train correlation and accumulation is proposed, and a ranging experiment is conducted on a 32 m target. By accumulating the correlation ranging results of pulse trains with internal spacings of 80, 100, and 125 ns, the signal-to-noise ratio of the cross correlation function is improved by about three-fold, which enables our method to improve the ranging precisions by more than 20% compared with the single repetition-rate method, and the shorter the acquisition time, the more obvious the advantage will be. Experimental results show that at an acquisition time of 0.01 s, our method can still achieve a ranging precision of 2.59 cm, while the single repetition-rate method can no longer obtain effective ranging results at this time. This method will be of great significance for realizing high-speed, large-scale unambiguous single-photon lidar ranging.

Optimizing biochar application for enhanced cotton and sugar beet production in Xinjiang: a comprehensive study.

BACKGROUND: Optimizing biochar application is vital for enhancing crop production and ensuring sustainable agricultural production. A 3-year field experiment was established to explore the effects of varying the biochar application rate (BAR) on crop growth, quality, productivity and yields. BAR was set at 0, 10, 50 and 100 t ha-1 in 2018; 0, 10, 25, 50 and 100 t ha-1 in 2019; and 0, 10, 25 and 30 t ha-1 in 2020. Crop quality and growth status and production were evaluated using the dynamic technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution with the entropy weighted method (DTOPSIS-EW), principal component analysis (PCA), membership function analysis (MFA), gray relation analysis (GRA) and the fuzzy Borda combination evaluation method. RESULTS: Low-dose BAR (≤ 25 t ha-1 for cotton; ≤ 50 t ha-1 for sugar beet) effectively increased biomass, plant height, leaf area index (LAI), water and fertility (N, P and K) productivities, and yield. Biochar application increased the salt absorption and sugar content in sugar beet, with the most notable increases being 116.45% and 20.35%, respectively. Conversely, BAR had no significant effect on cotton fiber quality. The GRA method was the most appropriate for assessing crop growth and quality. The most indicative parameters for reflecting cotton and sugarbeet growth and quality status were biomass and LAI. The 10 t ha-1 BAR consistently produced the highest scores and was the most economically viable option, as evaluated by DTOPSIS-EW. CONCLUSION: The optimal biochar application strategy for improving cotton and sugar beet cultivation in Xinjiang, China, is 10 t ha-1 biochar applied continuously. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.