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The strategy to reduce agricultural ammonia (NH3) emissions is a focus of attention for governments and scientists around the world. However, the effect of different irrigation and fertilization management practices on NH3 emission in alkaline soil and the underlining mechanisms are poorly understood. An experiment with drip fertigation (a combination of fertilizing and irrigation), sprinkler fertigation, and traditional furrow irrigation with chemical fertilizer spraying was conducted in potato fields with alkaline soil in arid areas of Northwest China. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of three irrigation and fertilization management practices on NH3 emissions using the static box-venting method in a three-year in situ trial. There are significant seasonal difference for NH3 emission fluxes in alkaline soils under different fertilization and irrigation management practices. The accumulative NH3 emissions in the alkaline soil from drip fertigation and sprinkler fertigation was 55.93% and 54.05% lower than that from traditional furrow irrigation, respectively. The dynamic changes of NH4+-N and NO3−-N in alkaline soil were the most important factors controlling the differences of NH3 emissions under different irrigation and fertilization methods. Drip fertigation significantly reduced NH3 emission intensity in alkaline soil, and were important measures for reducing agricultural NH3 emissions and ensuring potato yield in alkaline soil farmland in arid regions.

Cultivation practices and nutrients management have a profound influence on soil productivity and the sequestration of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, there have been few integrated studies on yields and SOC dynamics following application of organic amendments in long-term multiple-crop-rotation systems. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of different nutrient management, on yield and SOC sequestration potential through a 33-year field experiment (rice–wheat/broad bean–maize/cotton–barley, each cycle of rotation taking 3 years). The treatments were (1) control, with neither fertilizers nor manure, (2) nitrogen and phosphorus but no potassium (NP), (3) nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), (4) pig manure alone (M), (5) pig manure combined with NP (MNP), and (6) pig manure combined with NPK (MNPK). MNPK increased yields by 15.2–65.8% and C sequestration by 27.0–64.4%. The rice–wheat rotation gave the highest yield and biomass C (5.27–12.59 t ha −1  yr −1 ), whereas the lowest biomass C was recorded in the broad bean–maize rotation (3.40–7.72 t ha −1  yr −1 ). The crop rotation at the site served as a C sink with a significantly higher SOC sequestration potential in the manure treatments. The observed SOC sequestration rates were lower than values commonly reported for flooded rice paddies, which is probably due to lower inputs of C especially in the broad bean–maize rotation and also in the cotton–barley rotation.

为探究不同秸秆（烟秆和稻秸）还田方式下烟稻轮作土壤细菌多样性和群落组成的变化特征及其影响因子，设置对照（CK）、改良剂（BP）、烟秆/稻秸直接还田（S0）、烟秆/稻秸-牛粪堆腐物还田（S1）、烟秆/稻秸-菜籽饼堆腐物还田（S2）以及还田物与改良剂配施（S0BP、S1BP、S2BP）处理进行烟草-水稻轮作盆栽试验，采用16S rRNA高通量测序技术对土壤细菌群落结构组成进行分析。结果表明：秸秆直接还田与秸秆还田配施改良剂还田能有效改善土壤理化性质；秸秆还田配施改良剂显著提高了细菌群落丰度，S1BP处理的细菌群落丰度最高；各处理对土壤细菌群落多样性指数没有显著影响。土壤中优势菌门是变形菌门（Proteobacteria，16.42%~26.01%）、绿弯菌门（Chloroflexi，15.62%~20.46%）、酸杆菌门（Acidobacteriota，8.71%~15.86%）、放线菌门（Actinobacteriota，7.08%~11.47%）和厚壁菌门（Firmicutes，7.29%~11.74%）。秸秆还田显著提高了变形菌门（Proteobacteria）和拟杆菌门（Bacteroidota）的相对丰度；与秸秆还田相比，秸秆还田配施改良剂显著提高了拟杆菌门（Bacteroidota）和脱硫杆菌门（Desulfobacterota）的相对丰度，显著降低了酸杆菌门（Acidobacteriota）和放线菌门（Actinobacteriota）的相对丰度。进一步的冗余分析和聚类热图分析表明，土壤pH、最小持水量、孔隙度、速效钾含量、溶解性有机碳含量、微生物生物量碳含量与脱硫杆菌门（Desulfobacterota）、变形菌门（Proteobacteria）和拟杆菌门（Bacteroidota）相对丰度呈正相关关系，与硝化螺旋杆菌门（Nitrospirota）、放线菌门（Actinobacteriota）、酸杆菌门（Acidobacteriota）和装甲菌门（Armatimonadota）相对丰度呈负相关关系，是影响土壤细菌群落结构的主要环境因子。研究表明，烟草和水稻秸秆直接还田及其与改良剂配施还田均可改善土壤理化性质，并有利于提高土壤细菌群落的丰度。To explore the changes of soil bacterial diversity and community composition in to

Isomaltulose is a structural isomer of sucrose commercially used in food industries. In this work, recombinant Escherichia coli producing sucrose isomerase (SIase) was used to convert sucrose into isomaltulose. To develop an economical industrial medium, untreated cane molasses (10.63 g l −1 ), yeast extract (25.93 g l −1 ), and corn steep liquor (10.45 g l −1 ) were used as main culture compositions for SIase production. The relatively high SIase activity (14.50 ± 0.11 U mg DCW −1 ) was obtained by the recombinant cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first investigation on SIase production by engineered E. coli using untreated cane molasses. The recombinant E. coli cells expressing the SIase gene were immobilized in calcium alginate gel in order to improve the efficiency of recycling. The immobilization was most effective with 2 % (w/v) sodium alginate and 3 % (w/v) calcium chloride. The optimal initial biomass for immobilization was 20 % (w/v, wet wt.), with a hardening time of 8 h for cell immobilization. The immobilized E. coli cells exhibited good stability for 30 batches with the productivity of 0.45 g isomaltulose g pellet −1 h −1 . A continuous isomaltulose formation process using a column reactor remained stable for 40 days with 83 ± 2 % isomaltulose yield, which would be beneficial for economical production of isomaltulose.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of earthworm (Metaphire guillelmi) activities on rice photosynthates distribution in plant-soil system through ¹⁴C pulse-labelling method. Rice was planted in pots, and maize straw was mulched on the surface with or without earthworms. Rice plants at tillering stage or heading stage were labelled with ¹⁴CO₂. Plant and soil were sampled 15 days after labelling at the tillering or heading stage and at harvest. Rice growth was inhibited by earthworms (M. guillelmi) at early stage, but the inhibition disappeared at later stage. Earthworms significantly (P < 0.01) increased the ¹⁴C percentage in root at day 15 after tillering stage labelling, but the effect disappeared at harvest. Earthworms (M. guillelmi) significantly (P < 0.01) increased the ¹⁴C percentage in root at day 15 after heading stage labelling and increased ¹⁴C percentage in soil at harvest. Earthworms decreased the percentages of total organic ¹⁴C (TO¹⁴C) present as microbial biomass ¹⁴C (MB¹⁴C) and increased the percentages of total organic ¹⁴C present as dissolved organic ¹⁴C (DO¹⁴C) at all sampling times. It is suggested that earthworms might alter the transfer of plant photosynthates from the aboveground to the belowground, and thus, soil active C pool. However, these data should be also confirmed in the field.

The grain yield for the treatment with rice straw removal was 6 091.34 kg/hm2, while that with rice straw returning to field was 6 476.20 kg/hm2, and both were higher than the yields of the other two seeding patterns. [...]mechanical uniform planting was?recommended for its higher emergence rate, better emergence uniformity, which was conductive to increase grain yield in wheat after rice production with rice straw returning to field. The planting area of wheat after rice in the north of Huaihe River accounts for over 70% of the total wheat planting area in Jiangsu Province, and the proportion of wheat after rice reaches as much as 80% in the south of Huaihe River. [...]the production level of wheat after rice is directly related to the production and sustainable development of wheat in Jiangsu Province131. Among the treatments with rice straw mechanized returning to field, the yield was in the order of mechanical uniform planting > manual broadcast sowing > mechanical seeding in drill, and there was no significant difference between mechanical uniform planting and manual broadcast sowing, while the yield of the treatment with mechanical seeding in drill was significantly lower than that of the other seeding patterns. [...]the yield of treatment with mechanical uniform planting was the largest under both rice straw removal and rice straw returning treatments, mainly due to its higher number of grains per spike and 1 000-grain weight. [...]the use of wheat uniform planting machine for mechanical uniform planting could not only improve the operation coefficient, but also can have high field emergence rate and good emergence uniformity, and the grain yield is also relatively higher. [...]mechanical uniform planting can efficiently improve the field emergence rate of wheat after rice and the emergence uniformity, thereby obtaining higher grain yield, which is particularly obvious under the conditions of rice straw returning to field. The grain yield for the treatment with rice straw removal was 6 091.34 kg/hm2, while that with rice straw returning to field was 6 476.20 kg/hm2, and both were higher than the yields of the other two seeding patterns. [...]mechanical uniform planting was recommended for its higher emergence rate, better emergence uniformity, which was conductive to increase grain yield in wheat after rice production with rice straw returning to field.

This study investigates the complex dynamics of new-type urbanization in resource-based county-level cities, using Wuan City in Hebei Province, China, as a representative case. As China pursues a high-quality development agenda, cities historically dependent on resource extraction face profound challenges in achieving sustainable and inclusive urban growth. This research employs a multi-method approach—including Theil index analysis, industrial shift-share analysis, a Cobb–Douglas production function model, and a composite urbanization index—to quantitatively diagnose the constraints on Wuan’s development and assess its transformation efforts. Our empirical results reveal a multifaceted situation: while the urban–rural income gap has narrowed, rural income streams remain fragile. The shift-share analysis indicates that although Wuan’s traditional industries have regained competitiveness, the city’s economic structure is still burdened by a persistent negative structural component, hindering diversification. Furthermore, the economy exhibits characteristics of a labor-intensive growth model with inefficient capital deployment. These underlying issues are reflected in a comprehensive urbanization index that, after a period of rapid growth, has recently stagnated, signaling the exhaustion of the city’s traditional development mode. In response, Wuan attempts an “industrial transformation-driven new-type urbanization” path. This study details the three core strategies being implemented: (1) incremental population urbanization through development at the urban fringe and in industrial zones; (2) in situ urbanization of the existing rural population; and (3) the cultivation of specialized “characteristic small towns” to create new, diversified economic nodes. The findings from Wuan offer critical, actionable lessons for other resource-dependent regions. The case demonstrates that successful urban transformation requires not only industrial upgrading but also integrated, spatially aware planning and robust institutional support. We conclude that while Wuan’s model provides a valuable reference, its strategies must be adapted to local contexts, emphasizing the universal importance of institutional innovation, human capital investment, and a people-centered approach to achieving resilient and high-quality urbanization.

Over the past several decades, old industrialized regions worldwide have faced immense pressure to adapt to global economic shifts. Using one of China’s major industrial provinces, Hebei, as a representative case study, this study examines how the evolution of one of China’s old industrial provinces, Hebei’s industrial structure has influenced its economic growth from 1990 to 2023. Drawing on theories of structural transformation and endogenous growth, we argue that the reallocation of resources from lower-productivity sectors (e.g., agriculture) to higher-productivity sectors (manufacturing and services) can act as an engine of growth. We employ a shift-share analysis (SSA) to decompose Hebei’s economic growth into components attributable to national trends, industrial structure, and regional competitive performance. The results reveal a globally relevant pattern of stagnation: while Hebei’s growth largely benefited from nationwide economic expansion (national effect), its heavy industrial structure initially posed a drag on growth (negative structural effect) and its regional competitive advantage in steel and energy sectors has eroded over time (weakening competitive effect). Our regression analysis further shows that growth was overwhelmingly dependent on capital accumulation while the contribution of labor was statistically insignificant, pointing to a low-productivity trap common in such regions. By integrating these methods, this study provides a robust diagnostic framework for identifying the root causes of economic distress in legacy industrial regions both within and outside China. These findings underscore the importance of structural upgrading for sustainable growth and offer critical lessons for policymakers globally, highlighting the necessity of moving beyond extensive, capital-driven growth toward an intensive model focused on industrial diversification, innovation, and human capital to ensure the sustainable revitalization of post-industrial economies.

Precision radiotherapy, which accurately delivers the dose on a tumor and confers little or no irradiation to the surrounding normal tissue and organs, results in maximum tumor control and decreases the toxicity to the utmost extent. Proton beam therapy (PBT) provides superior dose distributions and has a dosimetric advantage over photon beam therapy. Initially, the clinical practice and study of proton beam therapy focused on ocular tumor, skull base, paraspinal tumors (chondrosarcoma and chordoma), and unresectable sarcomas, which responded poorly when treated with photon radiotherapy. Then, it is widely regarded as an ideal mode for reirradiation and pediatrics due to reducing unwanted side effects by lessening the dose to normal tissue. During the past decade, the application of PBT has been rapidly increasing worldwide and gradually expanding for the treatment of various malignancies. However, to date, the role of PBT in clinical settings is still controversial, and there are considerable challenges in its application. We systematically review the latest advances of PBT and the challenges for patient treatment in the era of precision medicine.

Spinal fusion is an effective treatment for low back pain and typically applied with prosthetic fixation devices. Spinal fusion can be improved by transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the paraspinal muscle. However, in contrast to the direct contribution of MSCs to spinal fusion, the indirect effects of MSCs on spinal infusion have not been studied and were thus addressed here. The correlation between the outcome of spinal fusion and the local macrophage number, polarization and the levels of placental growth factor (PlGF) in patients was analyzed. MSCs were genetically modified to overexpress PlGF, and its effects on macrophage proliferation and polarization were analyzed in vitro in a transwell co-culture system, as well as in vivo in a mouse model for spinal fusion, for which the cells were bilaterally injected into paravertebral muscles of the mouse lumbar spine. The effects on spinal fusion were assessed by microcomputed tomography and a custom four-point bending apparatus for structural bending stiffness. Local macrophages were analyzed by flow cytometry. We found that posterior spinal fusion could be improved by PlGF-expressing MSCs, compared to the control MSCs, evident by significant improvement of bone bridging of the targeted vertebrae. Mechanistically, PlGF-expressing MSCs appeared to attract macrophages and induce their M2 polarization, which in turn promotes the bone formation. Together, our data suggest that PlGF-expressing MSCs may improve spinal fusion through macrophage recruitment and polarization. The authors examined the indirect effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on spinal infusion through macrophages. They found that posterior spinal fusion is improved by placental growth factor (PlGF)-expressing MSCs, likely through attraction of macrophages and indution their M2 polarization, which in turn promotes the bone formation.