Intestinal lysozyme engagement of Salmonella Typhimurium stimulates the release of barrier-impairing InvE and Lpp1.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Lysozyme is a ß-1,4-glycosidase that hydrolyzes the polysaccharide backbone of bacterial cell walls. With an additional bactericidal function mediated by a separate protein domain, lysozyme is considered as a uniquely important antimicrobial molecule contributing to the host's innate immune response to infection. Elevated lysozyme production is found in various inflammatory conditions while patients with genetic risks for inflammatory bowel diseases demonstrate abnormal lysozyme expression, granule packaging, and secretion in Paneth cells. However, it remains unclear how a gain- or loss-of-function in host lysozyme may impact the host inflammatory responses to pathogenic infection. METHODS: We challenged Lyz1-/- and ectopic Lyz1-expressing (Villin-Lyz1TG) mice with S. Typhimurium then comprehensively assessed the inflammatory disease progression. We conducted proteomics analysis to identify molecules derived from human lysozyme-mediated processing of live Salmonella. We examined the barrier-impairing effects of these identified molecules in human intestinal epithelial cell monolayer and enteroids. RESULTS: Lyz1-/- mice are protected from infection in terms of morbidity, mortality, and barrier integrity, whereas Villin-Lyz1TG mice demonstrate exacerbated infection and inflammation. The growth and invasion of Salmonella in vitro are not affected by human or chicken lysozyme, whereas lysozyme encountering of live Salmonella stimulates the release of barrier-disrupting factors, InvE-sipC and Lpp1, which directly or indirectly impair the tight junctions. CONCLUSION: The direct engagement of host intestinal lysozyme with an enteric pathogen such as Salmonella promotes the release of virulence factors that are barrier-impairing and pro-inflammatory. Controlling lysozyme function may help alleviate the inflammatory progression.

Error compensation for near optical coaxial phase measuring deflectometry with refraction error model.

Phase measuring deflectometry (PMD) is a key measurement technology for specular surfaces form measurement. Compared with conventional PMD techniques, the near optical coaxial PMD (NCPMD) can achieve compact configuration, light weight and reducing measurement error caused by shadows of the surface structures through utilizing a plate beamsplitter. However, the introduction of the plate beamsplitter will affect the measurement accuracy of the NCPMD system. The refraction of the plate beamsplitter needs to be considered. In this work, a virtual system of NCPMD was established, and an error model of the NCPMD system by considering the refraction influence of the plate beamsplitter was presented to analyze the shape reconstruction error caused by the plate beamsplitter. Moreover, the calibration method of the beamsplitter and the ray tracing algorithm to achieve error compensation of the beamsplitter were proposed. The proposed error compensation method can effectively improve the measurement accuracy of NCPMD system which has been confirmed by surface measurement experiments.

Xuebijing improves intestinal microcirculation dysfunction in septic rats by regulating the VEGF-A/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to explore whether Xuebijing (XBJ) can improve intestinal microcirculation dysfunction in sepsis and its mechanism. METHODS: A rat model of sepsis was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). A total of 30 male SD rats were divided into four groups: sham group, CLP group, XBJ + axitinib group, and XBJ group. XBJ was intraperitoneally injected 2 h before CLP. Hemodynamic data (blood pressure and heart rate) were recorded. The intestinal microcirculation data of the rats were analyzed via microcirculation imaging. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to detect the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the rats. Histological analysis and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyze the injury of small intestinal microvascular endothelial cells and small intestinal mucosa in rats. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) in the small intestine was analyzed via Western blotting. RESULTS: XBJ improved intestinal microcirculation dysfunction in septic rats, alleviated the injury of small intestinal microvascular endothelial cells and small intestinal mucosa, and reduced the systemic inflammatory response. Moreover, XBJ upregulated the expression of VEGF-A, p-PI3K/total PI3K, and p-Akt/total Akt in the rat small intestine. CONCLUSION: XBJ may improve intestinal microcirculation dysfunction in septic rats possibly through the VEGF-A/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Association between serum neuron-specific enolase at admission and the risk of delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae in adults with carbon monoxide poisoning: A meta-analysis.

Delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae (DNS) significantly impact the quality of life in patients following acute carbon monoxide poisoning (COP). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the relationship between serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels at admission and the risk of DNS in adults after acute COP. Relevant observational studies with longitudinal follow-up were identified through searches in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. The random-effects model was used to aggregate results, accounting for potential heterogeneity. Nine cohort studies, including 1501 patients, were analyzed, with 254 (16.9%) developing DNS during follow-up. The pooled data indicated that elevated serum NSE in the early phase was linked to a higher risk of subsequent DNS (odds ratio per 1 ng/mL increase in NSE: 1.10, 95% confidence interval: 1.06 to 1.15, P < 0.001). Moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 46%) among the studies was entirely attributed to one study with the longest follow-up duration (22.3 months; I2 = 0% after excluding this study). Subgroup analyses based on country, study design, sample size, age, sex, admission carboxyhemoglobin levels, DNS incidence, follow-up duration, and quality score yielded consistent results (P for subgroup differences all > 0.05). In summary, high serum NSE levels in the early phase of acute COP are associated with an increased risk of developing DNS during follow-up.

Inhibition of cIAP1/2 reduces RIPK1 phosphorylation in pulmonary endothelial cells and alleviate sepsis-induced lung injury and inflammatory response.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)/acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe complication of sepsis characterized by acute respiratory distress, hypoxemia, and diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. The regulation of RIPK1 is an important part of the inflammatory response, and cIAP1/2 serves as the E3 ubiquitin ligase for RIPK1. In this study, we investigated the effect and mechanism of cIAP1/2 inhibition on sepsis-induced lung injury. Our results showed that cIAP1/2 inhibition can alleviate sepsis-induced lung injury and reduce the inflammatory response, which is accompanied by downregulation of RIPK1 phosphorylation and ubiquitination. Additionally, cIAP1/2 inhibition led to the up-regulation of programmed cell death, including apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, and inhibiting these three cell death pathways can further reduce the inflammatory response, which is similar to the recently discovered programmed cell death pathway PANoptosis. Our findings suggest that cIAP1/2 and PANoptosis inhibition may be a new strategy for treating sepsis-induced lung injury and provide important references for further exploring the mechanism of sepsis-induced lung injury and identifying new therapeutic targets.

High-Performance Anode Material Based on Zinc Naphthalocyanine/Graphene Composite.

Transition metal oxides are a potential anode material owing to their high theoretical capacity. Nonetheless, their large volume changes and low electrical conductivities lead to poor cycling performance and rate capabilities. In this article, an effective strategy is proposed and developed for preparing a ZnO/N-doped graphene composite (ZnNc/GO-5). The key point of this strategy is to use zinc tetra tert-butyl-naphthalocyanine (ZnNc) as a codoped source of N atoms and zinc ions, and graphene oxide (GO) which is combined with ZnNc by π-π deposition as a carbon matrix. After calcination, ZnO microcrystals coated with N-doped graphene are obtained. The unique features of the composite and synergistic effect between N-doped reduced graphene oxide and ZnO microcrystals enable good electrochemical performance by the composites when used in lithium-ion batteries. As an anode material, the as-synthesized ZnNc/GO-5 composite delivers a high first capacity of 1942.9 mAh g-1 and excellent cyclic stability of 861.4 mAh g-1 after 150 cycles at 100 mA g-1. This strategy may offer a new method of designing the anode materials of lithium-ion batteries and promote the practical use of organic molecules in next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

Alumina inorganic molecularly imprinted polymer modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes for uric acid detection in sweat.

Alumina inorganic molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on a glassy carbon electrode (MWCNTs-Al2O3-MIP/GCE) was firstly designed and fabricated by one-step electro deposition technique for the detection of uric acid (UA) in sweat. The UA templates were embedded within the inorganic MIP by co-deposition with Al2O3. Through the evaluation of morphology and structure by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), it was verified that the specific recognition sites can be fabricated in the electrodeposited Al2O3 molecular imprinted layer. Due to the high selectivity of molecular imprinting holes, the MWCNTs-Al2O3-MIP/GCE electrode demonstrated an impressive imprinting factor of approximately 2.338 compared to the non-molecularly imprinted glassy carbon electrode (MWCNTs-Al2O3-NIP/GCE) toward uric acid detection. Moreover, it exhibited a remarkable limit of detection (LOD) of 50 nM for UA with wide detection range from 50 nM to 600 µM. The MWCNTs-Al2O3-MIP/GCE electrode also showed strong interference resistance against common substances found in sweat. These results highlight the excellent interference resistance and selectivity of MWCNTs-Al2O3-MIP/GCE sensor, positioning it as a novel sensing platform for non-invasive uric acid detection in human sweat.

Smad4 deficiency inhibits lung metastases through enhancing phagocytosis of lung interstitial macrophages.

Smad4, a critical mediator of TGF-ß signaling, plays a pivotal role in regulating various cellular functions, including immune responses. In this study, we investigated the impact of Smad4 knockout specifically in macrophages on anti-tumor immunity, focusing on lung metastasis of B16 melanoma cells. Using a mouse model with Smad4 knockout in macrophages established via Lyz2-cre mice and Smad4 flox/flox mice, we demonstrated a significant inhibition of B16 metastasis in the lungs. Interestingly, the inhibition of tumor growth was found to be independent of adaptive immunity, as no significant changes were observed in the numbers or activities of T cells, B cells, or NK cells. Instead, Smad4 knockout led to the emergence of an MCHIIlow CD206high subset of lung interstitial macrophages, characterized by enhanced phagocytosis function. Our findings highlight the crucial role of Smad4 in modulating the innate immune response against tumors and provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies targeting lung interstitial macrophages to enhance anti-tumor immunity.

Assessing the impact of agriculture, coal mining, and ecological restoration on water sustainability in the Mu Us Sandyland.

Balancing water demand for socio-economic development and ecosystem stability presents a challenge for regional sustainable management, especially in drylands. Previous studies have indicated that large-scale ecological restoration projects (ERPs) lead to a decline in terrestrial water storage (TWS) in the Mu Us Sandyland (MUS). However, the effects of other human activities (e.g., cropland reclamation, coal mining) on water resources remain unclear, raising concerns regarding water crisis and human-natural system sustainability. Through the utilization of coal mine location data, we found that the impact of coal mass loss on the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) products cannot be ignored in MUS, especially in the coal-rich northeastern part. Combining these data with auxiliary datasets, we observed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in TWS (-0.85 cm yr-1) and groundwater storage (GWS, -0.95 cm yr-1) in the MUS, with human activities accounting for 79.23 % of TWS and 90.45 % of GWS reductions, primarily due to increased agricultural and industrial water consumption. Agricultural water consumption increased 2.23 times from 2001 to 2020, attributed to enhanced water use intensity (62.6 %) and cropland expansion (37.4 %). Industrial water consumption in Shenmu, a representative coal county, experienced a 4.16-fold rise between 2001 and 2020. Despite these challenges, local governments have alleviated water stress, ensured food security, and increased household income by comprehensive management strategies, such as enhancing water-saving technology and enforcing stringent policies. Previous studies have overestimated the amount of water resources consumed by ERPs. However, ERPs has played a critical role in stabilizing the regional ecological environment and ensuring the region as a vital food and energy supplier. Our findings can guide for socio-economic development and water management policies in similar regions.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Stimulates Dietary Tryptophan-Dependent Production of Barrier-Protecting Methylnicotinamide.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is the world's most consumed probiotic but its mechanism of action on intestinal permeability and differentiation along with its interactions with an essential source of signaling metabolites, dietary tryptophan (trp), are unclear. METHODS: Untargeted metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses were performed in LGG monocolonized germ-free mice fed trp-free or -sufficient diets. LGG-derived metabolites were profiled in vitro under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Multiomic correlations using a newly developed algorithm discovered novel metabolites tightly linked to tight junction and cell differentiation genes whose abundances were regulated by LGG and dietary trp. Barrier-modulation by these metabolites were functionally tested in Caco2 cells, mouse enteroids, and dextran sulfate sodium experimental colitis. The contribution of these metabolites to barrier protection is delineated at specific tight junction proteins and enterocyte-promoting factors with gain and loss of function approaches. RESULTS: LGG, strictly with dietary trp, promotes the enterocyte program and expression of tight junction genes, particularly Ocln. Functional evaluations of fecal and serum metabolites synergistically stimulated by LGG and trp revealed a novel vitamin B3 metabolism pathway, with methylnicotinamide (MNA) unexpectedly being the most robust barrier-protective metabolite in vitro and in vivo. Reduced serum MNA is significantly associated with increased disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Exogenous MNA enhances gut barrier in homeostasis and robustly promotes colonic healing in dextran sulfate sodium colitis. MNA is sufficient to promote intestinal epithelial Ocln and RNF43, a master inhibitor of Wnt. Blocking trp or vitamin B3 absorption abolishes barrier recovery in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our study uncovers a novel LGG-regulated dietary trp-dependent production of MNA that protects the gut barrier against colitis.

Evaluating the microcirculation of the dome-shaped macula and its complications in adults with highly myopic eyes by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the microcirculatory characteristics of the dome-shaped macula (DSM), its complications in highly myopic eyes and to explore the factors associated with a DSM. METHODS: This cross-sectional case-control study included a total of 98 subjects (98 eyes): 49 eyes with DSM and 49 eyes without DSM. The axial length (AL) of the myopic eyes was matched 1:1 to eliminate the effect of AL differences on the results. Choroidal (CT) and scleral thickness (ST) and other structural parameters were assessed by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). OCT angiography was used to measure microcirculatory parameters in highly myopic eyes. RESULTS: Subjects with DSM had thinner subfoveal choroidal thickness (46.01 ± 13.25 vs. 81.62 ± 48.26 µm; p < 0.001), thicker subfoveal scleral thickness (SFST; 331.93 ± 79.87 vs. 238.74 ± 70.96 µm; p < 0.001) and thinner foveal CT (66.86 ± 24.65 vs. 107.85 ± 52.65 µm; p < 0.001) compared to subjects without DSM. The foveal choroidal perfusion area (0.72 ± 0.04 vs. 0.76 ± 0.04 mm2; p < 0.001) and foveal choroidal vascularity index (0.15 ± 0.04 vs. 0.33 ± 0.14; p < 0.001) were significantly lower in eyes with DSM. Retinoschisis (81.6% vs. 38.8%; p < 0.001) was more common in eyes with DSM. Eyes with horizontal DSM had worse best-corrected logMAR visual acuity than eyes with round DSM (0.34 ± 0.22 vs. 0.23 ± 0.22; p = 0.03). DSM height (98.95 ± 65.17 vs. 104.63 ± 44.62 µm; p = 0.05) was lower in the horizontal DSM. SFST (OR = 1.06, p = 0.04) and foveal choroidal vascularity index (OR = 0.711, p = 0.02) were significantly associated with DSM. DSM width (p < 0.001), foveal choroidal perfusion area (p = 0.01), foveal choriocapillaris perfusion area (p = 0.02) and parafoveal choroidal vascularity index (p = 0.03) were the most significantly associated factors with DSM height. CONCLUSIONS: The microcirculatory characteristics of eyes with DSM differed from those without DSM. Microcirculatory abnormalities were significantly associated with a DSM. The height of the DSM was associated with decreased blood perfusion.

Effectiveness of toric intraocular lens implantation for correcting irregular corneal astigmatism in cataract eyes.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to observe the correction effect of Toric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in cataract eyes with specific types of irregular corneal astigmatism. Thirty-four eyes with either the "asymmetric bow-tie" pattern (Type I) or the "angled bow-tie" pattern (Type II) were included. Corneal topography was assessed using Pentacam HR, and changes in preoperative corneal astigmatism, visual acuity, manifest refraction, and objective visual quality were measured and compared. The average uncorrected distance visual acuity improved significantly from 0.86 ± 0.40 logMAR to 0.22 ± 0.15 logMAR (P < 0.001). Preoperative corneal astigmatism of 2.05 ± 0.90 D was corrected to a postoperative residual astigmatism of 0.78 ± 0.57 D (P < 0.001), with 32% of eyes within 0.50 D. The residual astigmatism prediction errors in Type I and Type II cases were (0.97 ± 0.68 D) and (0.66 ± 0.37 D), respectively (P = 0.100). The mean spherical equivalent prediction error in Type II cases (0.07 ± 0.36 D) was significantly smaller than that in Type I cases (- 0.29 ± 0.52 D) (P = 0.030). This study concludes that Toric IOL implantation effectively corrects specific types of irregular corneal astigmatism in cataract surgery. Eyes with the "angled bow-tie" pattern show higher accuracy in refractive predictions compared to eyes with the "asymmetric bow-tie" pattern.

Sex-Specific Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic and Lead(II) Co-Exposure on the Gut Microbiome and Fecal Metabolome in C57BL/6 Mice.

The wide spread of microplastics has fueled growing public health concern globally. Due to their porous structure and large surface area, microplastics can serve as carriers for other environmental pollutants, including heavy metals. Although the toxic effects of microplastics or heavy metals have been reported previously, investigations into the sex-differential health effects of combined exposure to microplastics and heavy metals are lacking. In the present study, the effects of polystyrene microplastics and lead(II) co-exposure on the gut microbiome, intestinal permeability, and fecal metabolome were examined in both male and female mice. Combined exposure of polystyrene microplastics and lead(II) increased intestinal permeability in both male and female mice. Sex-specific responses to the co-exposure were found in gut bacteria, fungi, microbial metabolic pathways, microbial genes encoding antibiotic resistance and virulence factors, as well as fecal metabolic profiles. In particular, Shannon and Simpson indices of gut bacteria were reduced by the co-exposure only in female mice. A total of 34 and 13 fecal metabolites were altered in the co-exposure group in female and male mice, respectively, among which only three metabolites were shared by both sexes. These sex-specific responses to the co-exposure need to be taken into consideration when investigating the combined toxic effects of microplastics and heavy metals on the gut microbiota.

Naturally sourced amphiphilic peptides as paclitaxel vehicles for breast cancer treatment.

The marketed paclitaxel (PTX) formulation Taxol relies on the application of Cremophor EL as a solubilizer. The major drawback of Taxol is its hypersensitivity reactions and a pretreatment of anti-allergic drugs is a necessity. Therefore, developing an efficient and safe delivery vehicle is a solution to increase PTX treatment outcomes with minimal adverse effects. In this work, we prepared the amphiphilic peptides (termed AmP) from soybean proteins using a facile two-step method. AmP could efficiently solubilize PTX by self-assembling into mixed micelles with D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS), a common pharmaceutical expedient (PTX@TPGS-AmP). The intravenously administrated PTX@TPGS-AmP exhibited a slow clearance (0.24 mL·(min·kg)-1) and an enhanced AUC (41.4 µg.h/mL), manifesting a 3.6-fold increase compared to Taxol. In a murine 4T1 tumor model, PTX@TPGS-AmP displayed a superior antitumor effect over Taxol. Importantly, safety assessment showed a high biocompatibility of AmP and an i.v. dose up to 2500 mg/kg led to no observable abnormalities in the mice. In summary, the AmP presents a new green and easily-prepared amphiphilic biomaterial, with promising potential as a pharmaceutical excipient for drug delivery.

Transplant of microbiota from Crohn's disease patients to germ-free mice results in colitis.

Although the role of the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is beyond debate, attempts to verify the causative role of IBD-associated dysbiosis have been limited to reports of promoting the disease in genetically susceptible mice or in chemically induced colitis. We aimed to further test the host response to fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) from Crohn's disease patients on mucosal homeostasis in ex-germ-free (xGF) mice. We characterized and transferred fecal microbiota from healthy patients and patients with defined Crohn's ileocolitis (CD_L3) to germ-free mice and analyzed the resulting microbial and mucosal homeostasis by 16S profiling, shotgun metagenomics, histology, immunofluorescence (IF) and RNAseq analysis. We observed a markedly reduced engraftment of CD_L3 microbiome compared to healthy control microbiota. FMT from CD_L3 patients did not lead to ileitis but resulted in colitis with features consistent with CD: a discontinued pattern of colitis, more proximal colonic localization, enlarged isolated lymphoid follicles and/or tertiary lymphoid organ neogenesis, and a transcriptomic pattern consistent with epithelial reprograming and promotion of the Paneth cell-like signature in the proximal colon and immune dysregulation characteristic of CD. The observed inflammatory response was associated with persistently increased abundance of Ruminococcus gnavus, Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum, Faecalimonas umbilicate, Blautia hominis, Clostridium butyricum, and C. paraputrificum and unexpected growth of toxigenic C. difficile, which was below the detection level in the community used for inoculation. Our study provides the first evidence that the transfer of a dysbiotic community from CD patients can lead to spontaneous inflammatory changes in the colon of xGF mice and identifies a signature microbial community capable of promoting colonization of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic bacteria.

CoNiO2/Co3O4 Nanosheets on Boron Doped Diamond for Supercapacitor Electrodes.

Developing novel supercapacitor electrodes with high energy density and good cycle stability has aroused great interest. Herein, the vertically aligned CoNiO2/Co3O4 nanosheet arrays anchored on boron doped diamond (BDD) films are designed and fabricated by a simple one-step electrodeposition method. The CoNiO2/Co3O4/BDD electrode possesses a large specific capacitance (214 mF cm-2) and a long-term capacitance retention (85.9% after 10,000 cycles), which is attributed to the unique two-dimensional nanosheet architecture, high conductivity of CoNiO2/Co3O4 and the wide potential window of diamond. Nanosheet materials with an ultrathin thickness can decrease the diffusion length of ions, increase the contact area with electrolyte, as well as improve active material utilization, which leads to an enhanced electrochemical performance. Additionally, CoNiO2/Co3O4/BDD is fabricated as the positive electrode with activated carbon as the negative electrode, this assembled asymmetric supercapacitor exhibits an energy density of 7.5 W h kg-1 at a power density of 330.5 W kg-1 and capacity retention rate of 97.4% after 10,000 cycles in 6 M KOH. This work would provide insights into the design of advanced electrode materials for high-performance supercapacitors.

Inoculation with Stutzerimonas stutzeri strains decreases N2O emissions from vegetable soil by altering microbial community composition and diversity.

Inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains has promoted plant growth and decreased nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils simultaneously. However, limited PGPR strains can mitigate N2O emissions from agricultural soils, and the microbial ecological mechanisms underlying N2O mitigation after inoculation are poorly understood. In greenhouse pot experiments, the effects of inoculation with Stutzerimonas stutzeri NRCB010 and NRCB025 on tomato growth and N2O emissions were investigated in two vegetable agricultural soils with contrasting textures. Inoculation with NRCB010 and NRCB025 significantly promoted tomato growth in both soils. Moreover, inoculation with NRCB010 decreased the N2O emissions from the fine- and coarse-textured soils by 38.7% and 52.2%, respectively, and inoculation with NRCB025 decreased the N2O emissions from the coarse-textured soil by 76.6%. Inoculation with NRCB010 and NRCB025 decreased N2O emissions mainly by altering soil microbial community composition and the abundance of nitrogen-cycle functional genes. The N2O-mitigating effect might be partially explained by a decrease in the (amoA + amoB)/(nosZI + nosZII) and (nirS + nirK)/(nosZI + nosZII) ratios, respectively. Soil pH and organic matter were key variables that explain the variation in abundance of N-cycle functional genes and subsequent N2O emission. Moreover, the N2O-mitigating effect varied depending on soil textures and individual strain after inoculation. This study provides insights into developing biofertilizers with plant growth-promoting and N2O-mitigating effects. IMPORTANCE: Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been applied to mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils, but the microbial ecological mechanisms underlying N2O mitigation are poorly understood. That is why only limited PGPR strains can mitigate N2O emissions from agricultural soils. Therefore, it is of substantial significance to reveal soil ecological mechanisms of PGPR strains to achieve efficient and reliable N2O-mitigating effect after inoculation. Inoculation with Stutzerimonas stutzeri strains decreased N2O emissions from two soils with contrasting textures probably by altering soil microbial community composition and gene abundance involved in nitrification and denitrification. Our findings provide detailed insight into soil ecological mechanisms of PGPR strains to mitigate N2O emissions from vegetable agricultural soils.

Epitaxial Growth of Large-Scale 2D CrTe2 Films on Amorphous Silicon Wafers With Low Thermal Budget.

2D van der Waals (vdW) magnets open landmark horizons in the development of innovative spintronic device architectures. However, their fabrication with large scale poses challenges due to high synthesis temperatures (>500 °C) and difficulties in integrating them with standard complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology on amorphous substrates such as silicon oxide (SiO2 ) and silicon nitride (SiNx ). Here, a seeded growth technique for crystallizing CrTe2 films on amorphous SiNx /Si and SiO2 /Si substrates with a low thermal budget is presented. This fabrication process optimizes large-scale, granular atomic layers on amorphous substrates, yielding a substantial coercivity of 11.5 kilo-oersted, attributed to weak intergranular exchange coupling. Field-driven Néel-type stripe domain dynamics explain the amplified coercivity. Moreover, the granular CrTe2 devices on Si wafers display significantly enhanced magnetoresistance, more than doubling that of single-crystalline counterparts. Current-assisted magnetization switching, enabled by a substantial spin-orbit torque with a large spin Hall angle (85) and spin Hall conductivity (1.02 × 107 ℏ/2e Ω⁻¹ m⁻¹), is also demonstrated. These observations underscore the proficiency in manipulating crystallinity within integrated 2D magnetic films on Si wafers, paving the way for large-scale batch manufacturing of practical magnetoelectronic and spintronic devices, heralding a new era of technological innovation.

Bromine Atoms Decorated Pyene-based Covalent Organic Frameworks for Accelerated Photocatalytic H2 Production.

Designing materials with low exciton binding energy is an efficient way of improving the hydrogen production performance of COFs（Covalent Organic Frameworks. Here, it is demonstrated that the strategy of decorating bromine atoms on Pyene-based COFs can achieve elevated photocatalytic H2 evolution rates (HER = 13.61 mmol g-1 h-1 ). Low-temperature fluorescence and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (TRPL) indicate that the introduction of bromine atoms can significantly suppress charge recombination. DFT (Density Functional Theory) calculation clarified that the C atoms adjacent to Br are the active sites with a reduced energy barrier in the process of formatting H intermediate species (H*). The modification strategy of Br atoms in COF furnishes a new medium for exploiting exquisite photocatalysts.