Negative Differential Resistance with Ultralow Peak-to-Valley Voltage Difference in Td-WTe2/2H-MoS2 Heterostructure.

Negative differential resistance (NDR) devices with a low peak-to-valley voltage difference (ΔV) exhibit a high cut off frequency and low power consumption efficiency, which is significant for fabricating high-performance oscillators. However, achieving an ultralow ΔV is challenging. In this work, we report the first construction of an NDR device utilizing a van der Waals heterostructure composed of semimetallic Td-WTe2 and semiconducting 2H-MoS2. Our findings reveal that the narrow energy region of the decreasing density of states (DOS) above the Fermi level of WTe2 acts as a narrow band gap, facilitating type-III band alignment with MoS2 and enabling band-to-band tunneling-based NDR transport. Notably, the NDR device exhibits an ultralow ΔV of approximately 0.01 V, which is at least an order of magnitude lower than previously reported values. This work not only introduces a new approach for NDR device fabrication but also provides new insights into the pivotal role of Td-WTe2 in NDR transport.

Construction of an artificial neural network diagnostic model and investigation of immune cell infiltration characteristics for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe lung condition, and finding better ways to diagnose and treat the disease is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Our study sought to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model for IPF and determine the immune cell types that differed between the IPF and control groups. METHODS: From the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we first obtained IPF microarray datasets. To conduct protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and enrichment analyses, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened between tissues of patients with IPF and tissues of controls. Afterward, we identified the important feature genes associated with IPF using random forest (RF) analysis, and then constructed and validated a prediction ANN mode. In addition, the proportions of immune cells were quantified using cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) analysis, which was performed on microarray datasets based on gene expression profiling. RESULTS: A total of 11 downregulated and 36 upregulated DEGs were identified. PPI networks and enrichment analyses were carried out; the immune system and extracellular matrix were the subjects of the enrichments. Using RF analysis, the significant feature genes LRRC17, COMP, ASPN, CRTAC1, POSTN, COL3A1, PEBP4, IL13RA2, and CA4 were identified. The nine feature gene scores were integrated into the ANN to develop a diagnostic prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated the strong diagnostic ability of the ANN in predicting IPF in the training and testing sets. An analysis of IPF tissues in comparison to normal tissues revealed a reduction in the infiltration of natural killer cells resting, monocytes, macrophages M0, and neutrophils; conversely, the infiltration of T cells CD4 memory resting, mast cells, and macrophages M0 increased. CONCLUSION: LRRC17, COMP, ASPN, CRTAC1, POSTN, COL3A1, PEBP4, IL13RA2, and CA4 were determined as key feature genes for IPF. The nine feature genes in the ANN model will be extremely important for diagnosing IPF. It may be possible to use differentiated immune cells from IPF samples in comparison to normal samples as targets for immunotherapy in patients with IPF.

Fluctuations in resting motor threshold during electroconvulsive and magnetic seizure therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Magnetic seizure therapy (MST) is more benign than electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in terms of cognitive impairment. However, whether these two 'artificial seizures' facilitate the central motor neural pathway and the motor cortical effects have not been investigated. The study aimed to compare the effects of ECT and MST on motor-evoked potential (MEP) in patients with mental disorders. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with mental disorders (major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder type II and schizophrenia [SCZ]) received 6 treatment sessions of vertex MST versus 6 bifrontal ECT treatments in a nonrandomized comparative clinical design. Data on the duration of motor seizures were collected for each treatment. MEP latency and the resting motor threshold (rMT) were measured at baseline and after every two treatments. Comparisons were performed between or within the groups. RESULTS: Seizure durations were significantly longer in the ECT group compared to the MST group across multiple sessions. Both MST and ECT demonstrated a significant reduction in rMT in the left and right hemispheres after the fourth (T3) and sixth treatments (T4) compared to baseline (T1). However, there were no significant changes in MEP latency within or between the groups throughout the treatment sessions. The only difference was that the rMT in the left cerebral hemisphere was significantly lower after T4 than after the second treatment (T2). There was no difference in rMT between the ECT and MST groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both ECT and MST facilitate the central motor pathway, with a shared mechanism of increased motor cortex excitability.

Bariatric surgery and diabetes: Current challenges and perspectives.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity have become public issues of global concern. Bariatric surgery for the treatment of obesity combined with type 2 DM has been shown to be a safe and effective approach; however, there are limited studies that have systematically addressed the challenges of surgical treatment of obesity combined with DM. In this review, we summarize and answer the most pressing questions in the field of surgical treatment of obesity-associated DM. I believe that our insights will be of great help to clinicians in their daily practice.

Polyacrylic acid-reinforced organic-inorganic composite bone adhesives with enhanced mechanical properties and controlled degradability.

Bone adhesives, as alternatives to traditional bone fracture treatment methods, have great benefits in achieving effective fixation and healing of fractured bones. However, current available bone adhesives have limitations in terms of weak mechanical properties, low adhesion strength, and inappropriate degradability, hindering their clinical applications. The development of bone adhesives with strong mechanical properties, adhesion strength, and appropriate degradability remains a great challenge. In this study, polyacrylic acid was incorporated with tetracalcium phosphate and O-phospho-L-serine to form a new bone adhesive via coordination and ionic interactions to achieve exceptional mechanical properties, adhesion strength, and degradability. The bone adhesive could achieve an initial adhesion strength of approximately 3.26 MPa and 0.86 MPa on titanium alloys and bones after 15 min of curing, respectively, and it increased to 5.59 MPa and 2.73 MPa, after 24 h of incubation in water or simulated body fluid (SBF). The compressive strength of the adhesive increased from 10.06 MPa to 72.64 MPa over two weeks, which provided sufficient support for the fractured bone. Importantly, the adhesive started to degrade after 6 to 8 weeks of incubation in SBF, which is beneficial to cell ingrowth and the bone healing process. In addition, the bone adhesives exhibited favorable mineralization capability, biocompatibility, and osteogenic activity. In vivo experiments showed that it has a better bone-healing effect compared with the traditional polymethyl methacrylate bone cement. These results demonstrate that the bone adhesive has great potential in the treatment of bone fractures.

Association of soy intake and cooking methods with colorectal polyp and adenoma prevalence: findings from the extended Lanxi pre-colorectal cancer cohort (LP3C).

Background: Limited research has explored the association between dietary soy products and colorectal polyps and adenomas, with insufficient attention given to cooking methods and subtypes of polyps. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the relationship between soy intake, its cooking methods, and the risk of colorectal polyps and adenomas within a high-incidence population of colorectal cancer (CRC) in China. Methods: Data were derived from 14,903 participants aged 40-80 years, enrolled in the extended Lanxi Pre-colorectal Cancer Cohort (LP3C) between March 2018 and December 2022. This cross-sectional study is based on the participants' baseline information. Long-term dietary information was collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and colorectal polyps and adenomas were identified through electronic colonoscopy. Employing multivariate logistic regression, results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: 4,942 cases of colorectal polyps and 2,678 cases of adenomas were ascertained. A significant positive association was found between total soy intake and the occurrence of polyps/adenomas. Considering cooking methods, a notable increase in polyp risk was associated with the consumption of fried soys while no association was detected for boiled or marinated soys. Furthermore, total soy intake demonstrated associations with large and multiple polyps, polyps Yamade-typed less than II, and polyps across all anatomical subsites. Conclusion: Within the high-risk CRC population in China, increased soy product intake was linked to a higher risk of polyps, primarily attributed to the consumption of fried soys. This suggests that modifying cooking methods to avoid fried soys may serve as a preventive strategy for colorectal polyps.

Long Noncoding RNA CRNDE Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression through Targeting miR-136-5p/MIEN1.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to the initiation and progression of gastric cancer (GC). The purpose of this study is to examine the potential role of lncRNA colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) in modulating the expression of migration and invasion enhancer 1 (MIEN1) through the suppression of miR-136-5p in GC. Methods: The biological roles of CRNDE, miR-136-5p, and MIEN1 in GC were assessed both in laboratory settings and through the examination of clinical samples. Results: CRNDE was found to be significantly increased in GC tissues, and this upregulation was associated with an unfavorable prognosis of GC patients. In vitro experiments showed that inhibiting cell growth and migration, along with promoting apoptosis in GC cells, could be achieved by either disabling CRNDE or MIEN1, or by increasing the expression of miR-136-5p. MIEN1 is a specific recipient of miR-136-5p, and the anticancer effects of miR-136-5p can be counteracted by the increased expression of MIEN1. Through the examination of clinical specimens, it has been observed that there is a significant positive correlation between the expression of MIEN1 and CRNDE. In contrast, miR-136-5p expression in GC tissues shows a negative correlation. Conclusion: A previously unexplored therapeutic target for GC involves the CRNDE/miR-136-5p/MIEN1 signal transduction cascade.

From disruption to adaptation: Response of phytoplankton communities in representative impounded lakes to China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project.

Impounded lakes are often interconnected in large-scale water diversion projects to form a coordinated system for water allocation and regulation. The alternating runoff and transferred water can significantly impact local ecosystems, which are initially reflected in the sensitive phytoplankton. Nonetheless, limited information is available on the temporal dynamics and assembly patterns of phytoplankton community in impounded lakes responding to continuous and periodic water diversion. Herein, a long-term monitoring from 2013 to 2020 were conducted to systematically investigate the response of phytoplankton community, including its characteristics, stability, and the ecological processes governing community assembly, in representative impounded lakes to the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) in China. In the initial stage of the SNWDP, the phytoplankton diversity indices experienced a decrease during both non-water diversion periods (8.5 %∼21.2 %) and water diversion periods (5.6 %∼12.2 %), implying a disruption in the aquatic ecosystem. But the regular delivery of high-quality water from the Yangtze River gradually increased phytoplankton diversity and mediated ecological assembly processes shifting from stochastic to deterministic. Meanwhile, reduced nutrients restricted the growth of phytoplankton, pushing species to interact more closely to maintain the functionality and stability of the co-occurrence network. The partial least squares path model revealed that ecological process (path coefficient = 0.525, p < 0.01) and interspecies interactions in networks (path coefficient = -0.806, p < 0.01) jointly influenced the keystone and dominant species, ultimately resulting in an improvement in stability (path coefficient = 0.878, p < 0.01). Overall, the phytoplankton communities experienced an evolutionary process from short-term disruption to long-term adaptation, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in response to the challenges posed by the SNWDP. This study revealed the response and adaptation mechanism of phytoplankton communities in impounded lakes to water diversion projects, which is helpful for maintaining the lake ecological health and formulating rational water management strategies.

Investigation of structural parameters influencing vibration characteristics of heavy-duty truck diesel tanks.

The working conditions of heavy-duty trucks are very complicated as the diesel shaking and resonance problems, which causes weld tears, separators to fall off, and other failures occur. Through experiments and finite element simulation, the natural frequency and vibration mode of a given 400 L diesel tank were calculated to study the influences of structural parameters such as the fill ratio (0.1-0.9), the number of baffle plates (0, 1, 2), the spacing of the plates (240 mm, 400 mm, 560 mm) and the aperture (38 mm, 78 mm, 118 mm) on the modal parameters with the wet mode method. The results of the hammering mode test and the simulation modal analysis agree well with the maximum error is 4.8%; the natural frequency of the diesel tank will increase with fill ratio decrease; the increase of the baffle plate number (0, 1, 2) can effectively increase the first-order natural frequency of the diesel tank, but the change of the natural frequency is not obvious on the higher order; the higher plates spacing has a smaller natural frequency; increasing the aperture will highly increase the natural frequency, 188 mm has better vibration safety.

Laboratory studies on the infectivity of human respiratory viruses: Experimental conditions, detections, and resistance to the atmospheric environment.

The environmental stability of infectious viruses in the laboratory setting is crucial to the transmission potential of human respiratory viruses. Different experimental techniques or conditions used in studies over the past decades have led to diverse understandings and predictions for the stability of viral infectivity in the atmospheric environment. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the effect of simulated atmospheric conditions on the infectivity of respiratory viruses, mainly focusing on influenza viruses and coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. First, we summarize the impact of the experimental conditions on viral stability; these involve the methods of viral aerosol generation, storage during aging and collection, the virus types and strains, the suspension matrixes, the initial inoculum volumes and concentrations, and the drying process. Second, we summarize and discuss the detection methods of viral infectivity and their disadvantages. Finally, we integrate the results from the reviewed studies to obtain an overall understanding of the effects of atmospheric environmental conditions on the decay of infectious viruses, especially aerosolized viruses. Overall, this review highlights the knowledge gaps in predicting the ability of viruses to maintain infectivity during airborne transmission.

Efficient and Stable Air-Processed Organic Solar Cells Enabled by an Antioxidant Additive.

Current high-efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs) are generally fabricated in an inert atmosphere that limits their real-world scalable manufacturing, while the efficiencies of air-processed OSCs lag far behind. The impacts of ambient factors on solar cell fabrication remain unclear. In this work, the effects of ambient factors on cell fabrication are systematically investigated, and it is unveiled that the oxidation and doping of organic light absorbers are the dominant reasons causing cell degradation when fabricated in air. To address this issue, a new strategy for fabricating high-performance air-processed OSCs by introducing an antioxidant additive (4-bromophenylhydrazine, BPH) into the precursor solutions, is developed. BPH can effectively inhibit oxygen infiltration from the ambient to the photoactive layer and suppress trap formation caused by oxidation. Compared with conventional air-processed OSCs, this strategy remarkably increases the cell power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 16.7% to 19.3% (independently certified as 19.2%), representing the top value of air-processed OSCs. Furthermore, BPH significantly improves the operational stability of the cells in air by two times with a T80 lifetime of over 500 h. This study highlights the potential of using antioxidant additives to fabricate high-efficiency and stable OSCs in air, significantly promoting the industrialization of OSCs.

Air-Processed Perovskite Solar Cells with >25% Efficiency and High Stability Enabled by Crystallization Modulation and Holistic Passivation.

Organic semiconductors (e.g., PCBM and IDIC) frequently serve as interface passivants for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to their beneficial passivation effects on perovskite interfaces. However, their passivation to the interiors of perovskite films is greatly limited by their poor solubility in polar solvents and compatibility issues. Here the facile synthesis of organic semiconductor nanoparticle (NP) passivants that readily disperse in perovskite inks is reported. Adding these NPs into perovskite inks not only modulates perovskite crystallization, improves film quality and conductivity, but also achieves holistic bulk film passivation. Consequently, blade-coated p-i-n PSCs with ICBA NPs achieve an impressive efficiency of 25.1% (independently certified as 25.0%), the highest reported value for air-processed PSCs irrespective of fabrication methods or device structures. This work develops a novel approach for effective and holistic perovskite passivation by converting conventional passivants to perovskite-compatible NPs, paving the way for more efficient and stable perovskite solar devices.

The Mass-Balancing between Positive and Negative Electrodes for Optimizing Energy Density of Supercapacitors.

Supercapacitors (SCs) are some of the most promising energy storage devices, but their low energy density is one main weakness. Over the decades, superior electrode materials and suitable electrolytes have been widely developed to enhance the energy storage ability of SCs. Particularly, constructing asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs) can extend their electrochemical stable voltage windows (ESVWs) and thus achieve high energy density. However, only full utilization of the electrochemical stable potential windows (ESPWs) of both positive and negative electrodes can endow the ASC devices with a maximum ESVW by using a suitable mass-ratio between two electrodes (the mass-balancing). Nevertheless, insufficient attention is directed to mass-balancing, and even numerous misunderstandings and misuses have appeared. Therefore, in this Perspective, we focus on the mass-balancing: summarize theoretic basis of the mass-balancing, derive relevant relation equations, analyze and discuss the change trends of the specific capacitance and energy density of ASCs with mass-ratios, and finally recommend some guidelines for the normative implementation of the mass-balancing. Especially, the issues related to pseudocapacitive materials, hybrid devices, and different open circuit potentials (OCPs) of the positive and negative electrodes in the mass-balancing are included and emphasized. These analyses and guidelines can be conducive to understanding and performing mass-balancing for developing high-performance SCs.

Improving the Signal-to-Noise Ratio of Axial Displacement Measurements of Microspheres Based on Compound Digital Holography Microscopy Combined with the Reconstruction Centering Method.

In 3D microsphere tracking, unlike in-plane motion that can be measured directly by a microscope, axial displacements are resolved by optical interference or a diffraction model. As a result, the axial results are affected by the environmental noise. The immunity to environmental noise increases with measurement accuracy and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In compound digital holography microscopy (CDHM)-based measurements, precise identification of the tracking marker is critical to ensuring measurement precision. The reconstruction centering method (RCM) was proposed to suppress the drawbacks caused by installation errors and, at the same time, improve the correct identification of the tracking marker. The reconstructed center is considered to be the center of the microsphere, rather than the center of imaging in conventional digital holographic microscopy. This method was verified by simulation of rays tracing through microspheres and axial moving experiments. The axial displacements of silica microspheres with diameters of 5 µm and 10 µm were tested by CDHM in combination with the RCM. As a result, the SNR of the proposed method was improved by around 30%. In addition, the method was successfully applied to axial displacement measurements of overlapped microspheres with a resolution of 2 nm.

Evaluating a river's ecological health: A multidimensional approach.

Evaluating the health of river surface water is essential, as rivers support significant biological resources and serve as vital drinking water sources. While the Water Quality Index (WQI) is commonly employed to evaluate surface water quality, it fails to consider biodiversity and does not fully capture the ecological health of rivers. Here we show a comprehensive assessment of the ecological health of surface water in the lower Yangtze River (LYR), integrating chemical and biological metrics. According to traditional WQI metrics, the LYR's surface water generally meets China's Class II standards. However, it also contains 43 high-risk emerging contaminants; nitrobenzenes are found at the highest concentrations, representing 25-90% of total detections, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present the most substantial environmental risks, accounting for 81-93% of the total risk quotient. Notably, the plankton-based index of biological integrity (P-IBI) rates the ecological health of the majority of LYR water samples (59.7%) as 'fair', with significantly better health observed in autumn compared to other seasons (p < 0.01). Our findings suggest that including emerging contaminants and P-IBI as additional metrics can enhance the traditional WQI analysis in evaluating surface water's ecological health. These results highlight the need for a multidimensional assessment approach and call for improvements to LYR's ecological health, focusing on emerging contaminants and biodiversity rather than solely on reducing conventional indicators.

High accuracy ranging for space debris with spaceborne single photon Lidar.

The increasing risk posed by space debris highlights the need for accurate localization techniques. Spaceborne single photon Lidar (SSPL) offers a promising solution, overcoming the limitations of traditional ground-based systems by providing expansive coverage and superior maneuverability without being hindered by weather, time, or geographic constraints. This study introduces a novel approach leveraging non-parametric Bayesian inference and the Dirichlet process mixture model (DPMM) to accurately determine the distance of space debris in low Earth orbit (LEO), where debris exhibits nonlinear, high dynamic motion characteristics. By integrating extended Kalman filtering (EKF) for range gating, our method captures the temporal distribution of reflected photons, employing Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) for iterative solutions. Experimental outcomes demonstrate our method's superior accuracy over conventional statistical techniques, establishing a clear correlation between radial absolute velocity and ranging error, thus significantly enhancing monostatic space debris localization.

Elucidating the intricacies of the H2S signaling pathway in gasotransmitters: Highlighting the regulation of plant thiocyanate detoxification pathways.

In recent decades, there has been increasing interest in elucidating the role of sulfur-containing compounds in plant metabolism, particularly emphasizing their function as signaling molecules. Among these, thiocyanate (SCN-), a compound imbued with sulfur and nitrogen, has emerged as a significant environmental contaminant frequently detected in irrigation water. This compound is known for its potential to adversely impact plant growth and agricultural yield. Although adopting exogenous SCN- as a nitrogen source in plant cells has been the subject of thorough investigation, the fate of sulfur resulting from the assimilation of exogenous SCN- has not been fully explored. There is burgeoning curiosity in probing the fate of SCN- within plant systems, especially considering the possible generation of the gaseous signaling molecule, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) during the metabolism of SCN-. Notably, the endogenous synthesis of H2S occurs predominantly within chloroplasts, the cytosol, and mitochondria. In contrast, the production of H2S following the assimilation of exogenous SCN- is explicitly confined to chloroplasts and mitochondria. This phenomenon indicates complex interplay and communication among various subcellular organelles, influencing signal transduction and other vital physiological processes. This review, augmented by a small-scale experimental study, endeavors to provide insights into the functional characteristics of H2S signaling in plants subjected to SCN--stress. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the occurrence and trajectory of endogenous H2S and H2S derived from SCN--assimilation within plant organisms was performed, providing a focused lens for a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted roles of H2S in rice plants. By delving into these dimensions, our objective is to enhance the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms employed by the gasotransmitter H2S in plant adaptations and responses to SCN--stress, yielding invaluable insights into strategies for plant resilience and adaptive capabilities.

Fruit but not vegetable consumption is beneficial for low prevalence of colorectal polyps in a high-risk population: findings from a Chinese Lanxi Pre-colorectal Cancer Cohort study.

PURPOSE: The available evidence regarding the role of fruit and vegetable consumption in the development of colorectal polyps remains inconclusive, and there is a lack of data on different histopathologic features of polyps. We aimed to evaluate the associations of fruit and vegetable consumption with the prevalence of colorectal polyps and its subtypes in a high-risk population in China. METHODS: We included 6783 Chinese participants aged 40-80 years who were at high risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the Lanxi Pre-colorectal Cancer Cohort (LP3C). Dietary information was obtained through a validated food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and colonoscopy screening was used to detect colorectal polyps. Dose-response associations of fruit and vegetable intake with the prevalence of polyps were calculated using multivariate-adjusted regression models, which was reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: 2064 cases of colorectal polyps were ascertained in the LP3C during 2018-2019. Upon multivariable adjustments, including the diet quality, fruit consumption was inversely associated with the prevalence of polyps (P trend = 0.02). Participants in the highest tertile of fruit intake had a 25% lower risk (OR: 0.75; 95% CI 0.62‒0.92) compared to non-consumers, while vegetable consumption had no significant association with polyp prevalence (P trend = 0.86). In terms of colorectal histopathology and multiplicity, higher fruit intake was correlated with 24, 23, and 33% lower prevalence of small polyps (OR: 0.76; 95% CI 0.62‒0.94; P trend = 0.05), single polyp (OR: 0.77; 95% CI 0.62‒0.96; P trend = 0.04), and distal colon polyps (OR: 0.67; 95% CI 0.51‒0.87; P trend = 0.003), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Fresh fruit is suggested as a protective factor to prevent colorectal polyps in individuals at high risk of CRC, and should be underscored in dietary recommendations, particularly for high-risk populations.

Anisotropic sensing based on single ReS2flake for VOCs discrimination.

Selective and sensitive detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) holds paramount importance in real-world applications. This study proposes an innovative approach utilizing a single ReS2field-effect transistor (FET) characterized by distinct in-plane anisotropy, specifically tailored for VOC recognition. The unique responses of ReS2, endowed with robust in-plane anisotropic properties, demonstrate significant difference along thea-axis andb-axis directions when exposed to four kinds of VOCs: acetone, methanol, ethanol, and IPA. Remarkably, the responses of ReS2were significantly magnified under ultraviolet (UV) illumination, particularly in the case of acetone, where the response amplified by 10-15 times and the detection limit decreasing from 70 to 4 ppm compared to the dark conditions. Exploiting the discernible variances in responses along thea-axis andb-axis under both UV and dark conditions, the data points of acetone, ethanol, methanol and IPA gases were clearly separated in the principal component space without any overlap through principal component analysis, indicating that the single ReS2FET has a high ability to distinguish various gas species. The exploration of anisotropic sensing materials and light excitation strategies can be applied to a broad range of sensing platforms based on two-dimensional materials for practical applications.

Exploring the effect of different application rates of biochar on the accumulation of nutrients and growth of flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).

Background: Biochar application has become one of the most potential tools to improve soil fertility and plant growth for sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture. However, both positive and negative effects of biochar application have been recorded on plant growth and soil fertility. Methods: This study investigated the impact of different application rates (0, 600, 900, 1200, and 1800 kg/ha) of biochar on the soil nutrient contents, accumulation of nutrients and dry matter in different plant parts, and growth of flue-cured tobacco plants under field conditions. Results: Results demonstrated that soil organic carbon pool and carbon/nitrogen ratio were increased proportionally with the increasing dosage of biochar, 25.54 g/kg and 14.07 g/kg compared with control 17 g/kg and 10.13 g/kg, respectively. The contents of soil total nitrogen were also significantly increased after biochar application in the middle (1.77 g/kg) and late-growth (1.54 g/kg) stages of flue-cured tobacco than in control (1.60 g/kg and 1.41 g/kg, respectively). The contents of soil nitrate nitrogen were also higher under low (600 and 900 kg/ha) application rates of biochar and reduced when higher (1200 and 1800 kg/ha) dosages of biochar were applied. However, it was observed that varying application rates of biochar had no impact on soil ammonium nitrogen content during the growth period of flue-cured tobacco plants. The nutrient accumulation (N, P, K) in different parts of flue-cured tobacco plants was significantly increased under a low application rate of biochar, which enhanced the soil and plant analyzer development values, effective leaves number, growth, dry matter accumulation, and leaf yield of flue-cured tobacco. In contrast, the high biochar application rate (1200 and 1800 kg/ha) negatively impacted nutrient accumulation and growth of flue-cured tobacco. Conclusion: Conclusively, the optimum application of biochar (600 and 900 kg/ha) is beneficial for plant growth, soil fertility, accumulation of nutrients, and dry matter in different plant parts. However, excessive biochar application (> 900 kg/ha) could inhibit flue-cured tobacco plant growth. This study provides a theoretical foundation for biochar application in tobacco and other crop production to obtain agricultural sustainability and economic stability.