Effect and Mechanism of L-Arginine against Alternaria Fruit Rot in Postharvest Blueberry Fruit.

This study aimed to explore the impact of L-arginine (Arg) on the development of resistance to Alternaria tenuissima (A. tenuissima) in blueberries. The metabolism of reactive oxygen species, pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs), and jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis pathways were analyzed, including changes in activity and gene expression of key enzymes. The results indicated that Arg treatment could prevent the development of Alternaria fruit rot in postharvest blueberries. In addition, it was also found to induce a burst of hydrogen peroxide in the blueberries early on during storage, thereby improving their resistance to A. tenuissima. Arg treatment was observed to increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbate peroxidase) and related gene expression, as well as the total levels of phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanin in the blueberries. The activity and gene expression of the PRs (chitinase and ß-1,3-glucanase) were elevated in Arg-treated blueberries, boosting their resistance to pathogens. Additionally, a surge in endogenous JA content was detected in Arg-treated blueberries, along with upregulated expression of key genes related the JA biosynthesis pathway (VcLOX1, VcAOS1, VcAOC, VcAOC3, VcOPR1, VcOPR3, VcMYC2, and VcCOI1), thereby further bolstering disease resistance. In conclusion, Arg treatment was determined to be a promising prospective method for controlling Alternaria fruit rot in blueberries.

Study on mechanism of removal of sudden Tetracycline by compound modified biological sand filtration process.

The removal of tetracycline from the sewage plant effluents through advanced treatment methods is key to controlling tetracycline levels in the water environment. In this study, modified quartz sands (QS) were used in a biological sand filter to remove tetracycline. The modified QS, with different surface characteristics, were prepared using glass etching technology combined with subsequent chemical modification methods, including hydroxylation treatment, metal ion modification, and amino modification. The adsorption efficiency of hydroxylated QS was higher than that of metal ion modified and amino modified QS, with adsorption efficiencies of 20.4331 mg/kg, 12.8736 mg/kg, and 10.1737 mg/kg, respectively. Results indicated that QS primarily reduce tetracycline through adsorption. Adsorption on ordinary QS fit the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, while adsorption on other modified QS and biofilm-coated QS fit the pseudo-second-order kinetics model. Biodegradation was identified as another mechanism for tetracycline reduction, which fit the zero-order kinetic model. Pseudomonas alcaligenes and unclassified Pseudomonas accounted for 96.6% of the total tetracycline-degrading bacteria. This study elucidates the effectiveness and mechanisms of five types of QS in treating tetracycline from sewage plant effluents. It provides a novel method for tetracycline reduction in real-world wastewater scenarios.

Potential for the development of Taraxacum mongolicum aqueous extract as a phytogenic feed additive for poultry.

Introduction: Taraxacum mongolicum (TM) is a kind of medicinal and edible homologous plant which is included in the catalogue of feed raw materials in China. It is rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, polysaccharides and other active substances, and shows many benefits to livestock, poultry and aquatic products. The study aimed to assess the potential of TM aqueous extract (TMAE) as a substitute for poultry AGPs. Methods: A total of 240 one-day-old Arbor Acker broilers were randomly assigned to four groups and fed a basal diet (Con) supplemented with 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg TMAE (Low, Medium, and High groups). The growth performance of the broilers was measured on day 21 and day 42. At the end of the trial, the researchers measured slaughter performance and collected serum, liver, spleen, ileum, and intestinal contents to investigate the effects of TMAE on serum biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, immune function, organ coefficient, intestinal morphology, flora composition, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Results: The results showed that broilers treated with TMAE had a significantly higher average daily gain from 22 to 42 days old compared to the Con group. Various doses of TMAE resulted in different levels of improvement in serum chemistry. High doses increased serum alkaline phosphatase and decreased creatinine. TMAE also increased the antioxidant capacity of serum, liver, and ileum in broilers. Additionally, middle and high doses of TMAE enhanced the innate immune function of the liver (IL-10) and ileum (Occludin) in broilers. Compared to the control group, the TMAE treatment group exhibited an increase in the ratio of villi length to villi crypt in the duodenum. TMAE increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Alistipes and Lactobacillus, while reducing the accumulation of harmful bacteria, such as Colidextracter and Sellimonas. The cecum's SCFAs content increased with a medium dose of TMAE. Supplementing broiler diets with TMAE at varying doses enhanced growth performance and overall health. The most significant benefits were observed at a dose of 1000 mg/kg, including improved serum biochemical parameters, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity of the liver and ileum, immune function of the liver and ileum, and increased SCFAs content. Lactobacillus aviarius, norank_f_norank_o__Clostridia_UCG-014, and Flavonifractor are potentially dominant members of the intestinal microflora. Conclusion: In conclusion, TMAE is a promising poultry feed additive and 1000 mg/kg is an effective reference dose.

Recent Advances in Nanomedicine for Ocular Fundus Neovascularization Disease Management.

As an indispensable part of the human sensory system, visual acuity may be impaired and even develop into irreversible blindness due to various ocular pathologies. Among ocular diseases, fundus neovascularization diseases (FNDs) are prominent etiologies of visual impairment worldwide. Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs remains the primary therapy but is hurdled by common complications and incomplete potency. To renovate the current therapeutic modalities, nanomedicine emerged as the times required, which is endowed with advanced capabilities, able to fulfill the effective ocular fundus drug delivery and achieve precise drug release control, thus further improving the therapeutic effect. This review provides a comprehensive summary of advances in nanomedicine for FND management from state-of-the-art studies. First, the current therapeutic modalities for FNDs are thoroughly introduced, focusing on the key challenges of ocular fundus drug delivery. Second, nanocarriers are comprehensively reviewed for ocular posterior drug delivery based on the nanostructures: polymer-based nanocarriers, lipid-based nanocarriers, and inorganic nanoparticles. Thirdly, the characteristics of the fundus microenvironment, their pathological changes during FNDs, and corresponding strategies for constructing smart nanocarriers are elaborated. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects of nanomedicine for FND management are thoroughly discussed.

Hydroxyapatite and its composite in heavy metal decontamination: Adsorption mechanisms, challenges, and future perspective.

Nanohydroxyapatite (n-HAP), recognized by its peculiar crystal architecture and distinctive attributes showcased the underlying potential in adsorbing heavy metal ions (HMI). In this paper, the intrinsic mechanism of HMI adsorption by n-HAP was first revealed. Subsequently, the selectivity and competitiveness of n-HAP for HMI in a variety of environments containing various interferences from cations, anions, and organic molecules are elucidated. Next, n-HAP was further categorized according to its morphological dimensions, and its adsorption properties and intrinsic mechanisms were investigated based on these different morphologies. It was shown that although n-HAP has excellent adsorption capacity and cost-effectiveness, its application is often challenging to realize due to its inherent fragility and agglomeration, the technical problems required for its handling, and the difficulty of recycling. Finally, to address these issues, this paper discusses the tendency of n-HAP and its hybridized/modified materials to adsorb HMI as well as the limitations of their applications. By summarizing the limitations and future directions of hybridization/modification HAP in the field of HMI contamination abatement, this paper provides insightful perspectives for its gradual improvement and rational application.

Transparent PDMS Surfaces with Covalently Attached Lubricants for Enhanced Anti-adhesion Performance.

Liquid-like surfaces featuring slippery, omniphobic, covalently attached liquids (SOCALs) reduce unwanted adhesion by providing a molecularly smooth and slippery surface arising from the high mobility of the liquid chains. Such SOCALs are commonly prepared on hard substrates, such as glass, wafers, or metal oxides, despite the importance of nonpolar elastomeric substrates, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in anti-fouling or nonstick applications. Compared to polar elastomers, hydrophobic PDMS elastomer activation and covalent functionalization are significantly more challenging, as PDMS tends to display fast hydrophobic recovery upon activation as well as superficial cracking. Through the extraction of excess PDMS oligomers and fine-tuning of plasma activation parameters, homogeneously functionalized PDMS with fluorinated polysiloxane brushes could be obtained while at the same time reducing crack formation. Polymer brush mobility was increased through the addition of a smaller molecular silane linker to exhibit enhanced dewetting properties and reduced substrate swelling compared to functionalizations featuring hydrocarbon functionalities. Linear polymer brushes were verified by thermogravimetric analysis. The optical properties of PDMS remained unaffected by the activation in high-frequency plasma but were impacted by low-frequency plasma. Drastic decreases in solid adhesion of not just complex contaminants but even ice could be shown in horizontal push tests, demonstrating the potential of SOCAL-functionalized PDMS surfaces for improved nonstick applications.

RNA Sequencing Analysis and Verification of Paeonia ostii 'Fengdan' CuZn Superoxide Dismutase (PoSOD) Genes in Root Development.

Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) is a significant medicinal plant. However, the low rooting number is a bottleneck problem in the micropropagation protocols of P. ostii 'Fengdan'. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) is closely related to root development. But research on the SOD gene's impact on rooting is still lacking. In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to analyze the four crucial stages of root development in P. ostii 'Fengdan' seedlings, including the early root primordium formation stage (Gmfq), root primordium formation stage (Gmf), root protrusion stage (Gtq), and root outgrowth stage (Gzc). A total of 141.77 GB of data were obtained; 71,718, 29,804, and 24,712 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the comparison groups of Gmfq vs. Gmf, Gmf vs. Gtq, and Gtq vs. Gzc, respectively. Among the 20 most highly expressed DEGs in the three comparison groups, only the CuZnSOD gene (SUB13202229, PoSOD) was found to be significantly expressed in Gtq vs. Gzc. The overexpression of PoSOD increased the number of adventitious roots and promoted the activities of peroxidase (POD) and SOD in P. ostii 'Fengdan'. The gene ADVENTITIOUS ROOTING RELATED OXYGENASE1 (PoARRO-1), which is closely associated with the development of adventitious roots, was also significantly upregulated in overexpressing PoSOD plants. Furthermore, PoSOD interacted with PoARRO-1 in yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and biomolecular luminescence complementation (BiFC) assays. In conclusion, PoSOD could interact with PoARRO-1 and enhance the root development of tube plantlets in P. ostii 'Fengdan'. This study will help us to preliminarily understand the molecular mechanism of adventitious root formation and improve the root quality of tree peony and other medicinal plants.

Optimization of nitrogen removal and microbial mechanism of a hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor.

The hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor (H2-MBfR) is an emerging biological nitrogen removal technology characterized by high efficiency, energy-saving capability, and environmental friendliness. The technology achieves denitrification and denitrogenation of microorganisms by passing hydrogen as an electron donor from inside to outside through the hollow fibre membrane module, and eventually the hydrogen reachs the biofilm attached to the surface of the fibre membrane. H2-MBfR has obtained favourable outcomes in the treatment of secondary biochemical effluent and low concentration nitrogen polluted water source. The experiment was optimized by s single-factor testing and response surface methodology-based optimization (RSM), and the optimal operational conditions were obtained as follows: an influent flow rate of 2 mL/min, hydrogen pressure of 0.04 MPa, and influent nitrate concentration of 24.29 mg/L. Under these conditions, a high nitrate removal rate of 98.25% was achieved. In addition, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacteria in all stages, and the genus Hydrogenophaga was sufficiently enriched, occurring at 13.0%-49.0% throughout the reactor operation. Furthermore, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway for nitrate reduction and inorganic carbon utilization by microorganisms in the H2-MBfR was explored through comparison with the KEGG database. The results provided a mechanistic explanation for the denitrification and carbon sequestration capacity of the H2-MBfR.

Impacts, carbon effects, and forecasts for cropland expansion in the Northern Tianshan Mountain Economic Zone.

Increasing population growth and cropland occupation means that new cropland is needed to achieve the goal of food security. In order to achieve the goal of "carbon neutrality," the carbon effect and ecological effect brought about by the cropland area increase urgently need to be studied. Methods such as land use transfer matrix, land use information map, InVEST model, and the ecological risk index were used to analyze the impact of cropland change in the Northern Tianshan Mountain Economic Zone and calculated the carbon effect caused by its increasing cropland area. The Ca-Markov model was used to predict and analyze the impacts of future cropland distribution and area. The results showed that, between 2000 and 2020, the area of cropland in the study area increased 3926 km2, and the area of cropland occupation by built-up was 857 km2. The new increased cropland was predominantly derived from low-cover grassland and unused land. The quality and the carbon stock of the cropland increased. The ecological risk index of cropland was 0.2613, 0.2624, and 0.1187 in 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. The proportion of low-risk index area was 54.43%, 55.49%, and 87.22% in 2000, 2010, and 2020, respectively. According to the current development pattern of cropland, from 2000 to 2030, the area of occupation cropland and the area of cropland may increase, the carbon stock may increase by 941,650 Mg due to the change in land use types associated with cropland, the ecological risk index may be 0.1113, and the proportion of low-risk index cropland may be 80.08%. As a carbon sink, cropland is important for local carbon neutralization alongside the sustainable adjustment of planting structure and farming methods. The results could be helpful for land resource management policy, under the conditions of following natural laws; it is feasible to appropriately expand the cropland area in order to support the gradually increasing population.

Biodegradation of nitrate and p-bromophenol using hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactors in parallel.

ABSTRACTP-bromophenol (4-BP) is a toxic halogenated phenolic organic compound. The conventional treatment processes for 4-BP elimination are costly and inefficient, with complete mineralization remaining a challenge for water treatment. To overcome these limitations, we investigated the treatment of 4-BP in a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) using hydrogen as an electron donor. The pathway of 4-BP degradation within the H2-MBfR was investigated through long-term operational experiments by considering the effect of nitrate and 4-BP concentrations, hydrogen partial pressure, static experiments, and microbial community diversity, which was studied using 16S rRNA. The results showed that H2-MBfR could quickly remove approximately 100% of 4-BP (up to 20 mg/L), with minimal intermediate product accumulation and 10 mg/L of nitrate continuously reduced. The microbial community structure showed that the presence of H2 created an anaerobic environment, and Thauera was the dominant functional genus involved in the degradation of 4-BP. The genes encoding related enzymes were further enhanced. This study provides an economically viable and environmentally friendly bioremediation technique for water bodies that contain 4-BP and nitrates.

Rapid flattening of massive hemorrhagic retinal pigment epithelial detachment secondary to polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy after surgery.

Purpose: To report 2 polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) patients whose massive hemorrhagic pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) were flattened within a short period after surgery. Observations: Two PCV patients who presented with submacular hemorrhage and massive hemorrhagic PEDs with sizes of more than 50 disc areas underwent pars plana vitrectomy combined with subretinal injection of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), intravitreous injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medicine, and perfluoropropane tamponade. The massive hemorrhagic PEDs were flattened within a short period after both surgeries, and both patients experienced improved visual acuity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that subretinal injection of tPA together with perfluoropropane tamponade promotes the rapid clearance of hemorrhage under RPE.

Effect of Different Monochromatic LEDs on the Environmental Adaptability of Spathiphyllum floribundum and Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be programmed to provide specialized light sources and spectra for plant growth. UV-A (397.6 nm), blue (460.6 nm), green (520.7 nm), and red (661.9 nm) LED light sources were used to study the effects of different monochromatic lights on the growth, antioxidant system, and photosynthetic characteristics of Spathiphyllum floribundum 'Tian Jiao' (a shade-loving species) and Chrysanthemum morifolium 'Huang Xiu Qiu' (a sun-loving species). This research revealed that green and blue light could enhance the morphological indicators, Chl a/b, photosynthetic electron transfer chain performance, and photosystem activity of S. floribundum, blue and red light could enhance the solution protein, Chl a, and photosynthetic electron transfer chain performance of C. morifolium, red and UV-A light viewed the highest SOD and CAT activities of S. floribundum (275.56 U·min·g-1; 148.33 U·min·g-1) and C. morifolium (587.03 U·min·g-1; 98.33 U·min·g-1), respectively. Blue and green light were more suitable for the growth and development of the shade-loving plant S. floribundum, while red and blue light were more suitable for the sun-loving plant C. morifolium. UV-A light could be used for their stress research. The research revealed the different adaptation mechanism of different plants to light environmental conditions.

l-Arginine treatment maintains postharvest quality in blueberry fruit by enhancing antioxidant capacity during storage.

The postharvest quality of blueberry fruit is largely limited by deterioration. l-arginine (Arg) is a functional nontoxic amino acid with high biological activities. This study investigated the positive effects and the underlying mechanism of Arg treatment on the quality of postharvest blueberries. Arg effectively mitigated fruit decay and improved the quality of blueberries, including weight loss, firmness, and soluble solid content. Mechanistically, Arg-mediated activation of the anti-oxidative defense system reduced reactive oxygen species-mediated oxidative damage. Moreover, Arg treatment decreased the activities and gene expression of phospholipase D, lipoxygenase, and lipase-inhibiting membrane lipid peroxidation during the prolonged storage of blueberries. Meanwhile, Arg treatment increased nitric oxide (NO) content and NO synthase activity. Furthermore, correlation and principal component analyses revealed the enhancement of Arg treatment on antioxidant capacity. This study suggests that Arg treatment can maintain the postharvest quality of blueberries by improving antioxidant capacity.

Release behavior of fertilizers and heavy metals from iron-loaded sludge biochar in the aqueous environment.

In this study, the release behavior of fertilizers (NH4+-N, PO43- and K) and heavy metals (Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb and Cr) from iron-loaded sludge biochar (ISBC) was investigated to evaluated the feasibility and risks of ISBC as a slow release fertilizer. Their release capacity was significantly enhanced with decreasing initial pH, increasing solid-liquid ratio (RS-L) and rising temperature (p < 0.05). When the initial pH, RS-L and temperature were separately 5 (fertilizers)/1 (heavy metals), 1:5 and 298 K, the final concentrations of NH4+-N, PO43-, K, Mn, Zn and Ni were 6.60, 14.13, 149.4, 53.69, 72.56, and 1.01 mg L-1, while the maximum concentrations of Cu, Pb and Cr were 0.94, 0.77, and 0.22 mg L-1, respectively. Due to the tiny difference between the R2 values, revised pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetics models described their release behavior well, suggesting that physical and chemical interactions played an important role. Activation energies greater than 40 kJ mol-1 indicated that the rate-controlling steps of the release of NH4+-N, PO43- and Ni were chemical reactions, while chemical reactions and diffusion together determined the release rates of K, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cr because their activation energies were in the range of 20-40 kJ mol-1. The increasingly negative ΔG and positive ΔH and ΔS suggested that their release was a spontaneous (except Cr) and endothermic process with an increase of randomness between the solid-liquid interface. The release efficiency of NH4+-N, PO43- and K were in the ranges of 28.21%-53.97%, 2.09%-18.06% and 39.46%-66.14%, respectively. Meanwhile, the pollution index and evaluation index of heavy metals were in the ranges of 33.31-227.4 and 4.64-29.24, respectively. In summary, ISBC could be used as a slow-release fertilizer with low risk when the RS-L was less than 1:40.

Transcriptome Landscape Analyses of the Regulatory Network for Zygotic Embryo Development in Paeonia ostii.

Paeonia ostii is a worldwide ornamental flower and an emerging oil crop. Zyotic embryogenesis is a critical process during seed development, and it can provide a basis for improving the efficiency of somatic embryogenesis (SE). In this study, transcriptome sequencing of embryo development was performed to investigate gene expression profiling in P. ostii and identified Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to transcription factors, plant hormones, and antioxidant enzymes. The results indicated that IAA (Indole-3-acetic acid), GA (Gibberellin), BR (Brassinosteroid) and ETH (Ethylene) were beneficial to early embryonic morphogenesis, while CTK (Cytokinin) and ABA (Abscisic Acid) promoted embryo morphogenesis and maturation. The antioxidant enzymes' activity was the highest in early embryos and an important participant in embryo formation. The high expression of the genes encoding fatty acid desaturase was beneficial to fast oil accumulation. Representative DEGs were selected and validated using qRT-PCR. Protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was predicted, and six central node proteins, including AUX1, PIN1, ARF6, LAX3, ABCB19, PIF3, and PIF4, were screened. Our results provided new insights into the formation of embryo development and even somatic embryo development in tree peonies.

Insights into antibiotic resistance-related changes in microbial communities, resistome and mobilome in paddy irrigated with reclaimed wastewater.

Reclaimed wastewater (reclaimed wastewater, RWW) from municipal wastewater treatment plants for paddy irrigation is a well-established practice to alleviate water scarcity. However, the reuse may result in the persistent exposure of the paddy to residual antibiotics in RWW. Continuous presence of even low-level antibiotics can exert selective pressure on microbiota, resulting in the proliferation and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in paddy. In this study, metagenomic analysis was applied to firstly deciphered the effects of residual antibiotics on microbiome and resistome in constructed mesocosm-scale paddy soils. The diversity and abundance of ARG have remarkably risen with the increasing antibiotic concentration in RWW. Network analysis revealed that 28 genera belonging to six phyla were considered as the potential ARG hosts, and their abundances were enhanced with increasing antibiotic concentrations. A partial least-squares path model indicated that the microbial community was the principal direct driver of the ARG abundance and the resistome alteration in paddy soil under long-term RWW irrigation. Microbes may acquire ARGs via horizontal gene transfer. IntI1 could play an essential role in the propagation and spread of ARGs. Functional analysis suggested that enhanced SOS response and T4SSs (Type IV secretion systems) modules could stimulate horizontal transfer potential and promote the ARG abundance. The obtained results provide a scientific decision for assessing the ecological risk of RWW application.

Effect of iron-loaded sludge biochar amendments on phytoremediation potential of Cr-contaminated soils by Leersia hexandra swartz.

In this study, the effect of iron-loaded sludge biochar (ISBC) with different amendment dosages (mass ratio of biochar to soil equal to 0, 0.01, 0.025 and 0.05) on the phytoremediation potential of Leersia hexandra swartz (L. hexandra) to Cr-contaminated soil was investigated. With increasing ISBC dosage from 0 to 0.05, plant height, aerial tissue biomass and root biomass increased from 15.70 cm, 0.152 g pot-1 and 0.058 g pot-1 to 24.33 cm, 0.304 g pot-1 and 0.125 g pot-1, respectively. Simultaneously, the Cr contents in aerial tissues and roots increased from 1039.68 mg kg-1 to 2427.87 mg kg-1 to 1526.57 mg kg-1 and 3242.62 mg kg-1, respectively. Thus, the corresponding bioenrichment factor (BCF), bioaccumulation factor (BAF), total phytoextraction (TPE) and translocation factor (TF) values were also increased from 10.52, 6.20, 0.158 mg pot-1 (aerial tissue)/0.140 mg pot-1 (roots) and 0.428 to 15.15, 9.42, 0.464 mg pot-1 (aerial tissue)/0.405 mg pot-1 (roots) and 0.471, respectively. The significant positive effect of ISBC amendment was primarily attributed to the following three aspects: 1) the root resistance index (RRI), tolerance index (TI) and growth toxicity index (GTI) of L. hexandra to Cr were increased from 100%, 100% and 0%-216.88%, 155.02% and 42.18%, respectively; 2) the bio-available Cr content in the soil was decreased from 1.89 mg L-1 to 1.48 mg L-1, while the corresponding TU (toxicity units) value was declined from 0.303 to 0.217; 3) the activities of urease, sucrase and alkaline phosphatase in soil were increased from 0.186 mg g-1, 1.40 mg g-1 and 0.156 mg g-1 to 0.242 mg g-1, 1.86 mg g-1 and 0.287 mg g-1, respectively. In summary, ISBC amendment was able to significantly improve the phytoremediation of Cr-contaminated soils by L. hexandra.

Surface modification of quartz sand: A review of its progress and its effect on heavy metal adsorption.

Quartz sand (SiO2) is a prevalent filtration medium, boasting wide accessibility, superior stability, and cost-effectiveness. However, its utility is often curtailed by its sleek surface, limited active sites, and swift saturation of adsorption sites. This review outlines the prevalent strategies and agents for quartz sand surface modification and provides a comprehensive analysis of the various modification reagents and their operative mechanisms. It delves into the mechanism and utility of surface-modified quartz sand for adsorbing heavy metal ions (HMIs). It is found that the reported modifiers usually form connections with the surface of quartz sand through electrostatic forces, van der Waals forces, pore filling, chemical bonding, and/or molecular entanglement. The literature suggests that these modifications effectively address issues inherent to natural quartz sand, such as its low superficial coarseness, rapid adsorption site saturation, and limited adsorption capacity. Regrettably, comprehensive investigations into the particle size, regenerative capabilities, and application costs of surface-modified quartz sand and the critical factors for its wider adoption are lacking in most reports. The adsorption mechanisms indicate that surface-modified quartz sand primarily removes HMIs from aqueous solutions through surface complexation, ion exchange, and electrostatic and gravitational forces. However, these findings were derived under controlled laboratory conditions, and practical applications for treating real wastewater necessitate overcoming further laboratory-scale obstacles. Finally, this review outlines the limitations of partially surface modified quartz sand and suggests potential venues for future developments, providing a valuable reference for the advancement of cost-effective, HMI-absorbing, surface-modified quartz sand filter media.

Nitrogen deposition further increases Ambrosia trifida root exudate invasiveness under global warming.

Invasive plants can change the soil ecological environment in the invasion area to adapt to their growth and reproduction through root exudates. Root exudates are the most direct manifestation of plant responses to external environmental changes, but there is a lack of studies on root exudates of invasive plants in the context of inevitable global warming and nitrogen deposition. In this research, we used widely targeted metabolomics to investigate Ambrosia trifida root exudates during seedling and maturity under warming and nitrogen deposition to reveal the possible mechanisms of A. trifida adaptation to climate change. The results showed that the organic acids increased under warming condition but decreased after nitrogen addition in the seedling stage. Phenolic acids increased greatly after nitrogen addition in the mature stage. Most phenolic acids were annotated in the phenylpropane metabolic pathway and tyrosine metabolism. Therefore, nitrogen deposition may increase the adaptability of A. trifida through root exudates, making it more invasive under global warming. The results provide new ideas for preventing and controlling the invasion of A. trifida under climate change.

Extremely High-Quality Periodic Structures on ITO Film Efficiently Fabricated by Femtosecond Pulse Train Output from a Frequency-Doubled Fabry-Perot Cavity.

This study developed a novel frequency-doubled Fabry-Perot cavity method based on a femtosecond laser of 1030 nm, 190 fs, 1 mJ, and 1 kHz. The time interval (60-1000 ps) and attenuation ratio (0.5-0.9) between adjacent sub-pulses of the 515 nm pulse train were able to be easily adjusted, while the efficiency was up to 50% and remained unchanged. Extremely high-quality low-spatial-frequency LIPSS (LSFL) was efficiently fabricated on an indium tin oxide (ITO) film using a pulse train with a time interval of 150 ps and attenuation ratio of 0.9 focused with a cylindrical lens. Compared with the LSFL induced by the primary Gaussian pulse, the uniformity of the LSFL period was enhanced from 481 ± 41 nm to 435 ± 8 nm, the divergence of structural orientation angle was reduced from 15.6° to 3.7°, and the depth was enhanced from 74.21 ± 14.35 nm to 150.6 ± 8.63 nm. The average line edge roughness and line height roughness were only 7.34 nm and 2.06 nm, respectively. The depths and roughness values were close to or exceeded those of resist lines made by the interference lithography. Compared with the common Fabry-Perot cavity, the laser energy efficiency of the pulse trains and manufacturing efficiency were enhanced by factors of 19 and 25. A very colorful "lotus" pattern with a size of 30×28 mm2 was demonstrated, which was covered with high-quality LSFLs fabricated by a pulse train with optimized laser parameters. Pulse trains can efficiently enhance and prolong the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons, inhibit deposition particles, depress ablation residual heat and thermal shock waves, and eliminate high-spatial-frequency LIPSS formed on LSFL, therefore, producing extremely high-quality LSFL on ITO films.