In situ self-reconstructed hierarchical bimetallic oxyhydroxide nanosheets of metallic sulfides for high-efficiency electrochemical water splitting.

The advancement of economically efficient electrocatalysts for alkaline water oxidation based on transition metals is essential for hydrogen production through water electrolysis. In this investigation, a straightforward one-step solvent method was utilized to spontaneously cultivate bimetallic sulfide S-FeCo1 : 1/NIF on the surface of a nickel-iron foam (NIF). Capitalizing on the synergistic impact between the bimetallic constituents and the highly active species formed through electrochemical restructuring, S-FeCo1 : 1/NIF exhibited remarkable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance, requiring only a 310 mV overpotential based on 500 mA cm-2 current density. Furthermore, it exhibited stable operation at 200 mA cm-2 for 275 h. Simultaneously, the catalyst demonstrated excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and overall water-splitting capabilities. It only requires an overpotential of 191 mV and a potential of 1.81 V to drive current densities of 100 and 50 mA cm-2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were also employed to validate the impact of the bimetallic synergistic effect on the catalytic activity of sulfides. The results indicate that the coupling between bimetallic components effectively reduces the energy barrier required for the rate-determining step in water oxidation, enhancing the stability and activity of bimetallic sulfides. The exploration of bimetallic coupling to improve the OER performance holds theoretical significance in the rational design of advanced electrocatalysts.

Bacillus halotolerans KKD1 induces physiological, metabolic and molecular reprogramming in wheat under saline condition.

Salt stress decreases plant growth and is a major threat to crop yields worldwide. The present study aimed to alleviate salt stress in plants by inoculation with halophilic plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) isolated from an extreme environment in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Wheat plants inoculated with Bacillus halotolerans KKD1 showed increased seedling morphological parameters and physiological indexes. The expression of wheat genes directly involved in plant growth was upregulated in the presence of KKD1, as shown by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis. The metabolism of phytohormones, such as 6-benzylaminopurine and gibberellic acid were also enhanced. Mining of the KKD1 genome corroborated its potential plant growth promotion (PGP) and biocontrol properties. Moreover, KKD1 was able to support plant growth under salt stress by inducing a stress response in wheat by modulating phytohormone levels, regulating lipid peroxidation, accumulating betaine, and excluding Na+. In addition, KKD1 positively affected the soil nitrogen content, soil phosphorus content and soil pH. Our findings indicated that KKD1 is a promising candidate for encouraging wheat plant growth under saline conditions.

Blood Pressure Trajectories From Childhood to Youth and Arterial Stiffness in Adulthood: A 30-Year Longitudinal Follow-Up Study.

Background: This study aimed to identify the subgroups of individuals sharing similar blood pressure (BP) trajectories from childhood to youth and explore the associations of these trajectories with arterial stiffness in adulthood. Methods: A group-based trajectory model was used to identify BP trajectories among 2,082 individuals in the Hanzhong adolescent hypertension cohort by using BP values repeatedly measured at four visits from childhood (6-15 years) to youth (14-23 years). The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was examined 30 years after the baseline survey. Mixed linear regression models were used to examine the associations of these trajectories with adult baPWV. Results: Among the 2,082 individuals, three trajectory groups of systolic BP were identified as follows: the low-level group (n = 889), medium-level group (n = 1,021), and high-level group (n = 172). The baPWV in adulthood was higher in medium-level and high-level groups compared with the low-level group (1271.4 ± 224.7 cm/s, 1366.1 ± 249.8 cm/s vs. 1190.1 ± 220.3 cm/s, all p < 0.001). After adjustment for potential confounding factors, the association between baPWV and systolic BP trajectories was statistically significant (adjusted ß = 49.4 cm/s; p < 0.001 for the medium-level group and ß = 107.6 cm/s; p < 0.001 for the high-level group compared with the low-level group). Similar results were obtained for the association of baPWV with the trajectories of diastolic BP and mean arterial pressure (MAP), except for pulse pressure. Conclusion: Our investigation demonstrates different BP trajectories from childhood to youth and shows the trajectories of systolic BP, diastolic BP, and MAP are significant predictors of arterial stiffness in adulthood.

Mechanism of a Volatile Organic Compound (6-Methyl-2-Heptanone) Emitted From Bacillus subtilis ZD01 Against Alternaria solani in Potato.

The antagonistic mechanisms of soluble non-volatile bioactive compounds, such as proteins and lipopeptides emitted from Bacillus have been widely studied. However, there are limited studies on the antifungal mechanisms of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Bacillus against plant fungal diseases. In this study, the antagonistic mechanisms of one specific VOC, 6-methyl-2-heptanone, against Alternaria solani were investigated. To optimize the extraction conditions of headspace solid-phase microextraction, a 50/30-µm divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fiber at 50°C for 40 min was used. For gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using a free fatty acid phase capillary column, 6-methyl-2-heptanone accounted for the highest content, at 22.27%, of the total VOCs from Bacillus subtilis ZD01, which inhibited A. solani mycelial growth strongly in vitro. Therefore, 6-methyl-2-heptanone was selected as the main active chemical to elucidate the action mechanisms against A. solani. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed that after exposure to an EC50 dose of 6-methyl-2-heptanone, A. solani hyphal cells had a wide range of abnormalities. 6-Methyl-2-heptanone also caused the capture of cellular fluorescent green label and the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from outer membranes A. solani cells, which may enhance 6-methyl-2-heptanone ability to reach the cytoplasmic membrane. In addition, 6-methyl-2-heptanone showed strong inhibitory effect on A. solani conidial germination. It also damaged conidial internal structures, with the treated group having collapsed shrunken small vesicles as observed by transmission electron microscopy. Because 6-methyl-2-heptanone showed strong effects on mycelial integrity and conidial structure, the expression levels of related pathogenic genes in A. solani treated with 6-methyl-2-heptanone were investigated. The qRT-PCR results showed that transcriptional expression levels of slt2 and wetA genes were strongly down-regulated after exposure to 6-methyl-2-heptanone. Finally, because identifying the functions of pathogenic genes will be important for the biological control of A. solani, the wetA gene was identified as a conidia-associated gene that plays roles in regulating sporulation yield and conidial maturation. These findings provide further insights into the mechanisms of VOCs secreted by Bacillus against A. solani.

[Utilization rate of fertilizer N and dynamic changes of soil NO3(-)-N in summer maize field in semi-humid area of Northwest China].

A field experiment on manual loessial soil was conducted to study the dynamic changes of NO3(-)-N in soil profile, utilization rate of fertilizer N, and relationships between N application rate and soil residual N accumulation during the growth period of summer maize under different N application rates (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg hm(-2)). The results showed that in the whole growth period of summer maize, the NO3(-)-N concentration in the soil profile was the highest in 0-20 cm layer, and increased with increasing N application rate. The NO3(-)-N concentration in 0-60 cm soil layer changed significantly, but no significant change was observed in 60-100 cm soil layer. In the growth season of summer maize, soil NO3(-)-N accumulation presented a fluctuated decreasing trend due to the N uptake by crop and the precipitation. The N utilization rate (NUR) increased with increasing N application rate when the application rate was less than 135 kg hm(-2), but tended to decrease when the application rate exceeded 135 kg hm(-2). With the increase of N application rate, the N agronomy efficiency (NAE) decreased but the N physiology efficiency (NPE) increased. There was a significant positive correlation between soil residual N accumulation and N application rate (R2 = 0.957**, n = 5). The grain yield under N application was significantly higher than that without N application (P <0.05), and there existed a significant positive correlation between grain yield and N application rate (R2 = 0.934**, n = 5). In our experiment, the optimal application rate of fertilizer N was 135 kg hm(-2), which could harmonize the relationship between economic benefits and environment.