Modified Composite Biodegradable Mulch for Crop Growth and Sustainable Agriculture

Using biodegradable films as a substitute for conventional polyolefin films has emerged as a crucial technology to combat agricultural white pollution. To address the shortcomings in the tensile strength, water vapor barrier properties, and degradation period of PBAT-based biodegradable films, this investigation aimed to create a composite film that could improve the diverse properties of PBAT films. To achieve this, a PBAT/PLA-PPC-PTLA ternary blend system was introduced in the study. The system effectively fused PBAT with PLA and PPC, as evidenced by electron microscopy tests showing no apparent defects on the surface and cross-section of the blended film. The developed ternary blend system resulted in a 58.62% improvement in tensile strength, a 70.33% enhancement in water vapor barrier properties, and a 30-day extension of the functional period compared to pure PBAT biodegradable films. Field experiments on corn crops demonstrated that the modified biodegradable film is more suitable for agricultural production, as it improved thermal insulation and moisture retention, leading to a 5.45% increase in corn yield, approaching the yield of traditional polyolefin films.

Genome-Wide Identification of the GhANN Gene Family and Functional Validation of GhANN11 and GhANN4 under Abiotic Stress

Annexins (ANNs) are a structurally conserved protein family present in almost all plants. In the present study, 27 GhANNs were identified in cotton and were unevenly distributed across 14 chromosomes. Transcriptome data and RT-qPCR results revealed that multiple GhANNs respond to at least two abiotic stresses. Similarly, the expression levels of GhANN4 and GhANN11 were significantly upregulated under heat, cold, and drought stress. Using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), functional characterization of GhANN4 and GhANN11 revealed that, compared with those of the controls, the leaf wilting of GhANN4-silenced plants was more obvious, and the activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were lower under NaCl and PEG stress. Moreover, the expression of stress marker genes (GhCBL3, GhDREB2A, GhDREB2C, GhPP2C, GhRD20-2, GhCIPK6, GhNHX1, GhRD20-1, GhSOS1, GhSOS2 and GhSnRK2.6) was significantly downregulated in GhANN4-silenced plants after stress. Under cold stress, the growth of the GHANN11-silenced plants was significantly weaker than that of the control plants, and the activities of POD, SOD, and CAT were also lower. However, compared with those of the control, the elasticity and orthostatic activity of the GhANN11-silenced plants were greater; the POD, SOD, and CAT activities were higher; and the GhDREB2C, GhHSP, and GhSOS2 expression levels were greater under heat stress. These results suggest that different GhANN family members respond differently to different types of abiotic stress.

Clinical Evaluation of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing and Identification of Risk Factors in Patients with Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Purpose

Severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) is the leading cause of death among patients with infectious diseases worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) through detecting pathogens in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and identifying risk factors for recovery in SCAP patients.

Patients and Methods

This prospective study recruited 158 SCAP patients admitted to respiratory intensive care unit that were randomly divided into control and study groups, with receiving conventional tests and the same conventional tests plus mNGS, respectively. The diagnostic efficiency of mNGS was evaluated by comparing with conventional tests. Furthermore, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent risk factors for recovery in SCAP patients, and a nomogram prediction model was established based on these factors.

Results

Within the study group, the pathogen detection rate was significantly higher with mNGS than that with conventional tests (84.81% vs 45.57%, P < 0.001), with a positive coincidence rate of 94.44%. Acinetobacter baumannii (21.52%, 17/79), Candida albicans (17.72%, 14/79), and Klebsiella pneumonia (15.19%, 12/79) were the top three common pathogens detected by mNGS. Of note, the improvement rate of patients in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The further analysis revealed that the increased levels of interleukin-6, blood urea nitrogen, procalcitonin, the longer length of hospital stay, and bacterial infection were independent risk factors for recovery of SCAP patients, while mNGS detection status was a protective factor. The predictive model showed a good performance for the modeling and validation sets.

Conclusion

Early mNGS exhibited a superior diagnostic efficiency to conventional tests in SCAP patients, which can reduce the risk of death in SCAP patients. Moreover, the clinical factors could also be used for the management and prognosis prediction of SCAP patients.

Comparative Study of Camel Milk from Different Areas of Xinjiang Province in China

Xinjiang province is the main camel feeding area in China with a large square, and camel milk from different areas have different qualities. By now, there are few reports about the quality of camel milk from different areas of Xinjiang province in China. In this study, seven batches of camel milk and one batch of cow milk were collected, and the contents of fat, protein, lactose, total solid, and nonfat milk solid of these milk samples were determined, as well as the contents of lysozyme and vitamin C. All samples were scored and compared by principal component analysis score and comprehensive weighted multi-index score. As the results, camel milk from different areas showed different contents of fat (4.62%-7.02%), protein (3.34%-3.95%), lactose (3.85%-4.79%), total solid (13.59%-17.00%), nonfat milk solid (8.55%-9.73%), vitamin C (12.10-41.25 μg/mL), and lysozyme (8.70-22.80 μg/mL), as well as different qualities. This variation would help people to know more about quanlity of camel milk in Xinjiang province. Camel milk from Jeminay showed the best quality, and then followed by camel milk from Fukang, Changji, and Fuhai, while cow milk showed the lowest score. Therefore, Jeminay is the most suitable place for grazing camels. Our findings show the different qualities of camel milk in different distribution areas of Xinjiang province, and provide an insight for the evaluation of camel milk. In the present study, only seven components in camel milk were determined, many other factors, such as cfu, mineral, and other vitamins, have not been considered.

Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles for NIR-Induced Photothermal Therapy of Potential Application in Cervical Cancer

Photothermal therapy (PTT) holds great promise for cancer treatment with its effective ablation of solid tumors. As the essential core point, photothermal agents (PTAs) with excellent photothermal properties and good biocompatibility could help to fulfill highly efficient PTT. Herein, a novel type of nanoplatform Fe₃O₄@PDA/ICG (FPI) nanoparticle (NP) was designed and synthesized, which was composed of magnetic Fe₃O₄ and near-infrared excitable indocyanine green via encapsulation of polydopamine. The FPI NPs showed spherical structures in shape with uniform distribution and good chemical stability. Under 793 nm laser irradiation, FPI NPs could generate hyperthermia of 54.1 °C and photothermal conversion efficiency of 35.21%. The low cytotoxicity of FPI NPs was further evaluated and confirmed on HeLa cells with a high survival rate (90%). Moreover, under laser irradiation (793 nm), FPI NPs showed effective photothermal therapeutic characteristics for HeLa cells. Therefore, FPI NPs, as one of the promising PTAs, have great potential in the field of PTT for tumor treatment.

Two New C19 -Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Delphinium shawurense

Shawurenine C (1a) and D (1b), a new pair of regioisomeric C₁₉ -diterpenoid alkaloids, and five known C₁₉ -diterpenoid alkaloids (2-6) were isolated from the aerial part of Delphinium shawurense W. T. Wang. The chemical structures of new compounds were established based on spectroscopic analyses: HR-ESI-MS, and 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of these diterpenoid alkaloids were also evaluated.

Composition and Leaching Toxicity of Hydrochloric Acid Pickling Sludge Generated from the Hot-Dip Galvanized Steel Industry

Steel hydrochloric acid pickling sludge (SHPS), containing the heavy metals Fe, Zn, and Ni and a high chloride salt content, is considered a type of hazardous solid waste because of its potential harm to human health and the environment. In addition, the SHPS yield is large, but the main treatment currently used is only safe for landfills. Although studying the composition and leaching toxicity of SHPS is of great importance, only a small amount of related literature is available. This paper can help compensate for this deficiency. SHPS is analyzed from the aspects of its formation mechanism, pH, moisture content, elemental concentration, phase composition, microstructure, and leaching toxicity. The results show that its pH ranges from 2.25 to 11.11, and the moisture content ranges from 45.47% to 83.34%. Additionally, the concentration of Fe is the highest, with values from 29.80% to 50.65%, while other alkali metal elements, namely, Ca, K, and Na, have values of 0.36% to 23.07%, 0.02% to 19.82%, and 0.38% to 3.31%, respectively. Heavy metal elements, namely, Zn, Ni, Mn, Cr, and Pb, have values of 0.02% to 14.88%, 0.001% to 0.05%, 0.03% to 0.38%, 0.01% to 0.09%, and 0.02% to 0.19%, respectively. Anions, namely, SO₄ ^2-, Cl^-, F^-, and NO₃ ^-, have contents of 0.09% to 0.34%, 0.54% to 5.73%, 0.001% to 0.04%, and 0.01% to 0.15%, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that Fe and Zn are mainly present in oxides, Ca is present as CaO and CaCO₃, and chlorine is present in NaCl. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows that the microscopic structure consists mainly of bright and fluffy irregular spheres; stripes; flakes; and dark, very small irregular particles. The leaching toxicity test based on HJ/T 299-2007 (China) was performed, where SHPS samples were treated with a mixed solution of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and pure water (pH = 3.20 ± 0.05) at a liquid-to-solid ratio of 10:1 for a period of 18 h. The leachate was filtered and analyzed for Cr, Ni, Mn, Zn, etc. The leaching results indicate that Zn and Ni are the main elements that cause SHPS to be hazardous to the environment. These research results can provide a reference for later researchers studying the effective treatment of SHPS, such as more effective treatments for reducing toxicity and resource utilization.

Performance Evaluation of Composite Antisalt Agents and the Antisalt Dynamics Simulation Mechanism

The conventional ferrocyanide complex ([Fe(CN)₆]^4-) has been widely used as a scale inhibitor under mild conditions, but its oxidation at high temperature compromises the subsequent wastewater treatment processes. To conquer the inadequacies of Fe(CN)₆]^4-, aminotriacetamide (NTA) was synthesized using chloroacetic acid as an initial material and its molecular structure was characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, H-NMR, and TGA. NTA was exploited in combination with polyaspartic acid (PASP) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) to prepare a high-performance antisalt composite, and the scaling inhibitor performance was evaluated. The results revealed that as the concentration of the antisalt composite increased from 0.5 to 1.2 wt %, the solubility and inhibition rate increased by 95.6 and 12.33%, respectively, at 100 °C. The results from molecular simulation evidenced that the order of binding energy between a unit mass of the salt inhibitor and sodium chloride crystal increased in the following order; SDBS > NTA > PASP. The deformation strength between the salt inhibitor and sodium chloride crystal increased as follows: NTA > PASP > SDBS. In addition, the antisalt composite mainly hampered salt precipitation through strong adsorptions arising from both the nitrogen atom of NTA and oxygen atom of SDBS with the sodium atom of sodium chloride crystals, and as a result, it not only altered the crystalline form of sodium chloride but also reduced the adsorption of sodium atoms and eventually improved the salt solubility.

Permeability Loss of Bituminous Coal Induced by Water and Salinity Sensitivities: Implications of Minerals' Occurrence and Pore Structure Complexity

Water sensitivity (WS) and salinity sensitivity (SS) are key issues to be investigated for instructing coalbed methane (CBM) production. This work studied the influences of minerals and pores on WS and SS of medium-volatile bituminous coal (MVBC) and highly volatile bituminous coal (HVBC) deposited in northwestern China by detecting and observing minerals using the TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer, simulating WS and SS, and characterizing pore structural complexities using rate-controlled mercury penetration. The results show that (1) kaolinite is mainly distributed as irregular particles or fragile aggregates attaching on the bedding surface or filling in meso-pores or transition pores, showing a high potential for detachment; (2) MVBC and HVBC in this study are characterized as medium to weak WS and weak SS, respectively; (3) for HVBC during the WS or SS process, kaolinite distributed in meso-pores or transition pores first detaches and then migrates to the narrow throat of macro-pores and super macro-pores, leading to volume decreases of macro-pores and super macro-pores and loss of permeability; and (4) kaolinite filling in macro-pores of MVBC detaches, then migrates, and finally deposits in super macro-pores after WS and SS, leading to losses of super macro-pore volume and permeability. Results of this study can enhance the scientific knowledge on WS and SS of coal during CBM development.

Pickering Emulsions Based on the pH-Responsive Assembly of Food-Grade Chitosan

Few natural, biocompatible, and inexpensive emulsifiers are available because such emulsifiers must satisfy severe requirements, be produced synthetically rather than naturally, be nontoxic, and require minimal effort to produce. Therefore, the synthesis of food-grade and biocompatible nanoparticles as an alternative to surfactants has recently received attention in the industry. However, many previous efforts involved chemical modification of materials or the introduction of secondary cocomponents for emulsion formation. To achieve the goal of simple preparation, we consider here chitosan nanoparticles to prepare Pickering emulsions of food-grade oil through the control of pH, without further chemical modification or extra additives. A mild process can prepare nanoparticles from chitosan by simply increasing the pH from 3.0 to 6.0. The results showed that the average radius of chitosan at pH 6.0 was 170 nm, while large aggregates were formed at pH 6.5. These nanoparticles were utilized to prepare the Pickering emulsion. The average size of emulsion droplets decreased upon increasing the pH from 3.0 to 6.0. Moreover, Pickering emulsions at different oil fractions and nanoparticle concentrations were stable and showed a low creaming index for 45 days. The emulsions were stable against coalescence and flocculation and behaved rheologically as gel-like, shear-thinning fluids (G' > G″). Pickering emulsion prevents the growth of the microorganism (Staphylococcus aureus) at different pH values and chitosan concentrations. These results demonstrate that chitosan nanoparticles could be a cost-effective and biocompatible emulsifier for the food or pharmaceutical industry for encapsulation and bioactive compounds, and Pickering emulsions have promising antibacterial effects for further applications.