Dear Editor,Urea is a vital nitrogen(N)fertilizer in farmland soils and the natural intermediate product of various organonitrogen compounds,such as purines and amino acids(Mobley and Hausinger,1989;Glibert et al.,201...Dear Editor,Urea is a vital nitrogen(N)fertilizer in farmland soils and the natural intermediate product of various organonitrogen compounds,such as purines and amino acids(Mobley and Hausinger,1989;Glibert et al.,2014).Urea in soils is rapidly hydrolyzed to ammonium by urease secreted from ureolytic microorganisms,and then assimilated by plants and microbes or involved in other N cycling pathways,including aerobic and anaerobic ammoxidation(Mobley et al.,1995;Pajares and Bohannan,2016).展开更多
The practical application of lithium metal batteries(LMBs)requires electrolytes that simultaneously ensure high safety and interfacial stability.Although locally concentrated ionic liquid electrolytes(LCILEs)exhibit e...The practical application of lithium metal batteries(LMBs)requires electrolytes that simultaneously ensure high safety and interfacial stability.Although locally concentrated ionic liquid electrolytes(LCILEs)exhibit exceptional electrochemical stability and compatibility with electrode electrolyte interfaces(EEIs),two major challenges persist:(i)safety risks caused by excessive low-flash-point diluents,and(ii)insufficient understanding of how diluents modulate solvation structures.Herein,we introduce a low-diluent-content LCILE system composed of lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide(LiFSI)salt,N-methyl-N-propyl-pyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide(Pyr_(13)FSI)ionic liquid,and trifluoromethanesulfonate(TFS)diluent.The TFS diluent strengthens ion-ion interactions by lowering the dielectric constant of the electrolyte,resulting in the formation of a unique nanometric anion aggregates(N-AGGs)reinforced solvation structure.These large anionic clusters exhibit accelerated redox decomposition kinetics,facilitating the rapid formation of a thin,dense,and low-impedance EEI.Consequently,the Li/LiNi_(0.6)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.2)O_(2)coin cell achieves 87.8%capacity retention over 300 cycles at 4.3 V,while a practical 1.4 Ah Li/NCM622 pouch cell retains 84.5%capacity after 80 cycles at 4.5 V.Furthermore,the electrolyte demonstrates exceptional safety,and 2 Ah Li metal pouch cells successfully pass rigorous nail penetration tests without any ignition or explosion.This work not only provides a design strategy for intrinsically safe and high-performance electrolytes but also highlights the critical role of anion cluster decomposition kinetics in shaping EEI formation.展开更多
Received:06 December 2025;Accepted:25 February 2026;Published:30 March 2026 ABSTRACT:In the last decade,the importance of sustainable construction and artificial intelligence(AI)in civil engineering has been underline...Received:06 December 2025;Accepted:25 February 2026;Published:30 March 2026 ABSTRACT:In the last decade,the importance of sustainable construction and artificial intelligence(AI)in civil engineering has been underlined in many studies.Numerous studies highlighted the superiority of AI techniques over simple and mathematical regression analyses,which suffer from relatively poor generalization and an inability to capture highly non-linear relationships among inputs and output(s)parameters.In this study,to evaluate the compressive strength of concrete with glass powder(GP)and recycled aggregates,600 concrete samples were tested in the laboratory,and their results were evaluated.For intelligent assessment of concrete compressive strength(CCS),the study utilized an improved artificial neural network(ANN)with particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm and imperialist competitive algorithm(ICA).For training the models,the experimentally obtained data were used.The concrete ingredients formed the inputs of the AI-based predictive models of CCS.The experimental findings reveal that the implementation of recycled coarse aggregates in concrete from a sustainable construction point of view is advantageous and can enhance the CCS by 11.43%.Apart from that,findings indicate that utilization of 10%GP can lead to a nearly 20%increase in CCS(from 44.6 to 54.1 MPa).Additionally,the experimental observations show almost 40%improvement of CCS when 5%micro silica was used in the concrete mixture.Based on the findings,the study suggests the utilization of waste glass powder to partially replace cement in concrete,which can reduce the amount of cement production.This reduction from economic,energy-saving,and environmental(reduction in greenhouse gas emissions)points of view is of interest.On the other hand,the AI results show that the PSO-based ANN model outperforms the ICA-based ANN for the utilized dataset.According to the findings,the PSO-based ANN predictive model(with a coefficient of determination value of 0.939 and root mean square value of 0.113 for testing data)is a capable tool in predicting the CCS.Hence,this study recommends the implementation of AI-based models in CCS assessment.展开更多
Conventional lightweight refractory materials with low bulk density and more pores suffer from harsh corrosion and erosion in actual applications.A type of lightweight Al_(2)O_(3)-MgAl_(2)O_(4)aggregates with a core-s...Conventional lightweight refractory materials with low bulk density and more pores suffer from harsh corrosion and erosion in actual applications.A type of lightweight Al_(2)O_(3)-MgAl_(2)O_(4)aggregates with a core-shell structure was synthesized at 1750℃using a rolling granulation method.Microstructural evolution and properties of the spherical aggregates were systematically studied.Scanning electron microscope and X-ray computed tomography results confirmed that a continuous and dense MgAl_(2)O_(4)spinel shell structure with a thickness of 200-300μm was formed on the surface.The corrosion results indicated that the corrosion index of the core-shell aggregates exhibited a 60%enhancement when compared to Al_(2)O_(3)spherical.Moreover,Al_(2)O_(3)-MgAl_(2)O_(4)refractory materials,which are based on the lightweight Al_(2)O_(3)-MgAl_(2)O_(4)spherical aggregates,possessed a higher temperature modulus of rupture of 9.19 MPa,and the retention rate of residual flexural strength reached 70%after thermal shock testing.The above results showed an improvement of 129.75 and 44.28%compared with pure Al_(2)O_(3)aggregate samples,respectively.In addition,the MgAl_(2)O_(4)spinel shell could trap the Mn,Fe elements from infiltrated slag and transfer into(Mg,Fe,Mn)Al_(2)O_(4)spinel,infiltrated CaO reacts with Sample Al_(2)O_(3)matrix to form a calcium hexaluminate(CA6)isolation layer,and the above two reasons enhance the corrosion resistance of the material.The corrosion mechanism was elaborated in detail.展开更多
Insight into the carbon turnover in soil aggregates and density fractions is essential for reducing the uncertainty in estimating carbon pools on the Tibetan Plateau,and how they vary with land use type is unclear.In ...Insight into the carbon turnover in soil aggregates and density fractions is essential for reducing the uncertainty in estimating carbon pools on the Tibetan Plateau,and how they vary with land use type is unclear.In this study,the effect of land use type on carbon storage and fractionation was quantified based on organic carbon and its^(13)C abundance at the microscale of soil aggregates and density fractions in Tibetan alpine ecosystems.The sequence of soil aggregate destruction in the land use types of plantation(13.1%)<shrubland(32.7%)<grassland(47.9%)<farmland(61.8%)shows that plantations strengthen the soil structure.Plantation land had a greater contribution of light fraction organic carbon(28.3%)but a lower contribution of mineral-associated organic carbon(40.6%)to the carbon stock compared to farmland(13.5 and 70.3%).Interestingly,plantation land enhanced the aggregational differentiation of organic carbon and^(13)C in each density fraction,whereas no such phenomenon existed in the soil organic carbon.Carbon isotope analyses revealed that carbon transfer in the plantation land occurred from the light fraction in macroaggregates(–24.9‰)to the mineral-associated fraction in microaggregates(–19.9‰).When compared to the other three land use types,the low transferability of carbon in aggregates and density fractions in plantation land provides a stable carbon pool for the Tibetan Plateau.This study shows that plantations can mitigate global climate change by slowing carbon transfer and increasing carbon storage at the microscale of aggregates and density fractions in alpine regions.展开更多
Global grassland degradation necessitates the identification of sustainable grazing management strategies.In semi-arid regions,grazing exclusion(GE),cold-season grazing(CG),and free grazing(FG)represent common practic...Global grassland degradation necessitates the identification of sustainable grazing management strategies.In semi-arid regions,grazing exclusion(GE),cold-season grazing(CG),and free grazing(FG)represent common practices in grassland ecosystems,yet the long-term ecological consequences of these patterns on plant community structure and soil aggregate stability remain inadequately elucidated.In this study,we evaluated the effects of GE,CG,and FG on soil organic carbon,soil water content,soil bulk density,soil aggregates,and vegetation indicators in Xilamuren steppe,a semi-arid grassland in northern China through field sampling and laboratory analyses in 2024.Our findings revealed that,compared to CG and FG,GE significantly enhanced aboveground and belowground biomass,species diversity,and soil physical-chemical properties in the 0–30 cm layer.The dominant plant species in GE and CG sites were Stipa krylovii,Leymus chinensis,and Agropyron cristatum,whereas Stipa krylovii,Artemisia frigida,and Leymus chinensis were predominant in FG site.Different grazing patterns led to distinct soil aggregate distributions,with>2.00 and<0.25 mm aggregates exhibiting the highest content in different soil layers depending on the grazing patterns.All grazing management strategies significantly improved soil aggregate stability,with the overall stability following the order:GE>CG>FG.Furthermore,random forest modeling identified plant species diversity,plant growth traits,and grazing patterns as the primary determinants of soil aggregate stability.Collectively,these results offer valuable insights into the sustainable management and ecological restoration of semi-arid grasslands under different grazing pressures.展开更多
Enhancing soil organic carbon(SOC)stocks is a key aspect of modern agriculture,but whether this can be achieved by incorporating legume green manure crops in cereal production to substitute synthetic N fertilizers is ...Enhancing soil organic carbon(SOC)stocks is a key aspect of modern agriculture,but whether this can be achieved by incorporating legume green manure crops in cereal production to substitute synthetic N fertilizers is unknown.This study used a six-year(2017-2022)field study to explore the impacts of intercropping green manure with maize and reducing nitrogen fertilization on SOC stocks,while specifically focusing on the relationship between aggregate composition and carbon sequestration.Maize intercropped with common vetch(M/V),maize intercropped with rapeseed(M/R),and sole maize(M),were each tested at conventional(N2,360 kg ha^(-1))and reduced(N1,270 kg ha^(-1),25% reduced)N application rates.Soil was sampled in 2020,2021,and 2022.Compared with sole maize,intercropping with green manure(M/V and M/R)significantly increased SOC stocks which compensated for any negative effect due to the 25% reduction in N application.Based on 3-year averages,intercropping with M/V and M/R increased the SOC content compared to sole maize(M)by 12.1 and 9.1%,respectively,with intercropping further mitigating the negative impact of reduced nitrogen application.There was no significant difference between M/V and M/R.The SOC content at N1 was reduced by 9.3-10.5%compared to that at N2 in sole maize,but the differences in SOC stocks between N1 and N2 were not significant in the intercropping patterns(M/V and M/R).The intercropped M/V and M/R showed 20.9 and 16.3% higher SOC contents compared to sole maize at N1,with no differences at N2.Intercropping green manure led to a 5.3% greater SOC in the 0-20 cm depth soil in 2022 compared to that in 2020,due to the cumulative effect of two years of green manure intercropping.Intercropping green manure(M/V and M/R)increased the proportion of macroaggregates(>0.25 mm)and aggregate stability while reducing the proportion of microaggregates compared to sole maize under the N1 application.Structural equation modeling indicated that cropping patterns and nitrogen application levels mainly affect SOC indirectly by regulating the composition of macroaggregates and aggregate organic carbon(AOC).Correlation analysis further revealed that the composition of macroaggregates is significantly and positively correlated with the SOC content(R^(2)=0.64).In addition,intercropping green manure can maintain high crop yields by increasing SOC under reduced chemical nitrogen application.The results of this study show that intercropping green manure with grain crops can be a viable measure for increasing SOC sinks and maize productivity by optimizing the aggregate composition with reduced N application in the Hexi Oasis Irrigation Area.展开更多
Sulfate attack-induced expansion of cement-treated aggregates in seasonally frozen regions is a well-known issue which causes continuous expansion in railway subgrades,and particularly in high-speed railways.According...Sulfate attack-induced expansion of cement-treated aggregates in seasonally frozen regions is a well-known issue which causes continuous expansion in railway subgrades,and particularly in high-speed railways.Accordingly,we investigated the influence of material proportions,the number of freeze-thaw(FT)cycles,and temperature gradients on the expansion mechanism of sulfate attack on cement-treated aggregates subjected to FT cycles.The conditions,laws,and dominant factors causing the expansion of aggregates were analyzed through swelling tests.The results indicate that under FT cycles,3%content cement-treated graded macadam only experiences slight deformation.The maximum strain of graded macadam attacked by 1%sodium sulfate content in each FT cycle is significantly larger than that of 3%content cement-treated graded macadam attacked by 1%sodium sulfate content.Using scanning electron microscopy,needle-like crystals were observed during sulfate attack of cement-treated graded macadam.Through quantitative analysis,we determined the recoverable and unrecoverable deformations of graded macadam under FT cycles.For graded macadam under sulfate attack,the expansion is mainly induced by periodic frost heave and salt expansion,as well as salt migration.For cement-treated graded macadam under sulfate attack,the expansion is mainly induced by chemical attack and salt migration.This study can serve as a reference for future research on the mechanics of sulfate attack on cement-treated aggregates that experience FT cycles,and provide theoretical support for methods that remediate the expansion induced by sulfate attack.展开更多
Lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) featuring ultrahigh energy densities are expected as ones of the mostprominent devices for future energy storage applications. Nevertheless, the practical application of LMBs is sti...Lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) featuring ultrahigh energy densities are expected as ones of the mostprominent devices for future energy storage applications. Nevertheless, the practical application of LMBs is stillplagued by the poor interfacial stability of Li metal anode. Inorganic-rich interlayer derived from anion decom-positionin advanced liquid electrolytes is demonstrated as an efficient approach to stabilize the Li metal anode,however, is electrolyte-dependent with limited application conditions due to inappropriate electrolyte properties.Herein, an efficient structuration strategy is proposed to fabricate an electrolyte-independent and sustainedinorganic-rich layer, by embedding a type of functional anion aggregates consisting of selected anions ionicallybonded to polymerized cation clusters. The anion aggregates can progressively release anions to react with Liþand form key components boosting the structural stability and Liþ transfer ability of the artificial layer uponcycling. This self-reinforcing working mechanism endows the artificial layer with a sustained inorganic-richnature and promising Li protective ability during long-term cycling, while the electrolyte-independent propertyenables its applications in LMBs using conventional low concentration electrolytes and all-solid-state LMBs withsignificantly enhanced performances. This strategy establishes an alternative designing route of Li protectivelayers for reliable LMBs.展开更多
The publisher regrets to inform that in the article of Advanced Powder Materials 4(2025)100261,the published Figs.3 and 5 belong to the initially submitted version,which should be replaced by the final version.The dif...The publisher regrets to inform that in the article of Advanced Powder Materials 4(2025)100261,the published Figs.3 and 5 belong to the initially submitted version,which should be replaced by the final version.The differences between the initial and final versions of these figures are described below.展开更多
The degradation performance of pervious concrete containing TiO_(2)/LDHs-loaded recycled aggregates for NO gas was analyzed using a gas phase catalytic degradation test device,simulating different environmental condit...The degradation performance of pervious concrete containing TiO_(2)/LDHs-loaded recycled aggregates for NO gas was analyzed using a gas phase catalytic degradation test device,simulating different environmental conditions such as load,ambient temperature,and illumination intensity,which provides theoretical support for practical engineering.The experimental results indicate that when the ambient temperature is controlled at 25℃and the illumination intensity is 30 W/m^(2),the sample prepared by soaking recycled aggregates in a 0.8%TiO_(2)/LDHs suspension exhibits the highest photocatalytic degradation rate for NO gas,reaching 72.54%.Further investigation on the influence of environmental temperature reveals that,at 25℃,the maximum photocatalytic degradation rate for NO gas is 72.9%.Moreover,at an illumination intensity of 40 W/m^(2),the maximum photocatalytic degradation rate for NO gas is 87.08%.Additionally,after three repeated photocatalytic tests,the sample demonstrates good stability,with a photocatalytic degradation rate of 58%.The nitrogen content in the eluent obtained from soaking the sample was determined to be 0.0022 mol/L,with a recovery rate of 80%.The adsorption experiment demonstrates that the sample exhibits a favorable adsorption effect on nitrate ions,reaching a maximum of 56.8%.展开更多
The agro-pastoral ecotone epitomizes the ecologically fragile semi-arid zone,where the soil microbiomes play a pivotal role in regulating its multifunctionality.However,whether and how changes in soil structure and or...The agro-pastoral ecotone epitomizes the ecologically fragile semi-arid zone,where the soil microbiomes play a pivotal role in regulating its multifunctionality.However,whether and how changes in soil structure and organic matter composition under different land uses affect microbial community structure remain unclear.Here,land-use types in the agro-pastoral ecotone,including shrubland(BF),artificial grassland(ArG),abandoned grassland(AbG),and maize farmland(MA),were chosen to explore the response relationships between soil microbial communities and the aggregates and dissolved organic matter(DOM)composition.The results showed that compared to MA,the macroaggregates in BF,AbG,and ArG were increased by 123.0,92.79,and 63.71%,respectively,while MA soil had the greatest abundance of<100μm particles.The higher aromatic carbon with high aromaticity and molecular weight in BF soil DOM contributed to its highest mineral-associated organic carbon level(12.61 g kg^(-1)),while MA soil organic carbon had highly efficient decomposition due to its high content of aliphatic and carboxy carbon,so it is prone to loss from the active carbon pools.The transition in land use from shrubland to grassland and farmland has facilitated the conversion of stable aromatic carbon to unstable carboxy carbon.The taxonomic analysis revealed that soil bacterial and fungal communities in the four land uses were dominated by Proteobacteria,Actinobacteriota,Chloroflexi,and Ascomycota.More taxonomic groups from phylum to family were enriched in BF soil.The DOM components and organic carbon are crucial variables shaping the composition of soil bacterial communities,jointly explaining 61.66% of the variance,while aggregates are important variables driving the composition of fungal communities,with an explanation rate of 20.49%.Our results suggest that DOM components and aggregates impact the soil microbial structure;and the transition in land use from agricultural land to grassland and shrubland in the agro-pastoral ecotone enhances aggregate stability,carbon sequestration potential,and microbial diversity.展开更多
Promoting soil carbon sequestration in agricultural land is one of the viable strategies to decelerate the observed climate changes. However, soil physical disturbances have aggravated the soil degradation process by ...Promoting soil carbon sequestration in agricultural land is one of the viable strategies to decelerate the observed climate changes. However, soil physical disturbances have aggravated the soil degradation process by accelerating erosion. Thus, reducing the magnitude and intensity of soil physical disturbance through appropriate farming/agricultural systems is essential to management of soil carbon sink capacity of agricultural lands. Four sites of different land use types/tillage practices, i） no-till （NT） corn （Zea mays L.） （NTC）, ii） conventional till （CT） corn （CTC）, iii） pastureland （PL）, and iv） native forest （NF）, were selected at the North Appalachian Experimental Watershed Station, Ohio, USA to assess the impact of NT farming on soil aggregate indices including water-stable aggregation, mean weight diameter （MWD） and geometric mean diameter （GMD）, and soil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents. The NTC plots received cow manure additions （about 15 t ha-1） every other year. The CTC plots involved disking and chisel ploughing and liquid fertilizer application （110 L ha-l）. The results showed that both water-stable aggregation and MWD were greater in soil for NTC than for CTC. In the 0-10 cm soil layer, the 〉 4.75-mm size fraction dominated NTC and was 46% more than that for CTC, whereas the 〈 0.25-mm size fraction was 380% more for CTC than for NTC. The values of both MWD and GMD in soil for NTC （2.17 mm and 1.19 mm, respectively） were higher than those for CTC （1.47 and 0.72 mm, respectively） in the 0-10 cm soil layer. Macroaggregates contained 6%-42% and 13%-43% higher organic carbon and total nitrogen contents, respectively, than microaggregates in soil for all sites. Macroaggregates in soil for NTC contained 40% more organic carbon and total nitrogen over microaggregates in soil for CTC. Therefore, a higher proportion of microaggregates with lower organic carbon contents created a carbon-depleted environment for CTC. In contrast, soil for NTC had more aggregation and contained higher organic carbon content within water-stable aggregates. The soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks （Mg ha-1） among the different sites followed the trend of NF 〉 PL 〉 NTC 〉 CTC, being 35%-46% more for NTC over CTC. The NT practice enhanced soil organic carbon content over the CT practice and thus was an important strategy of carbon sequestration in cropland soils.展开更多
Global climate change exerts profound effects on snow cover,with consequential impacts on microbial activities and the stability of soil organic carbon(SOC)within aggregates.Northern peatlands are significant carbon r...Global climate change exerts profound effects on snow cover,with consequential impacts on microbial activities and the stability of soil organic carbon(SOC)within aggregates.Northern peatlands are significant carbon reservoirs,playing a critical role in mitigating climate change.However,the effects of snow variations on microbial-mediated SOC stability within aggregates in peatlands remain inadequately understood.Here,an in-situ field experiment manipulating snow conditions(i.e.,snow removal and snow cover)was conducted to investigate how snow variations affect soil microbial community and the associated SOC stability within soil aggregates(>2,0.25-2,and<0.25 mm)in a peatland of Northeast China.The results showed that snow removal significantly increased the SOC content and stability within aggregates.Compared to the soils with snow cover,snow removal resulted in decreased soil average temperatures in the topsoil(0-30 cm depth)and subsoil(30-60 cm depth)(by 1.48 and 1.34°C,respectively)and increased freeze-thaw cycles(by 11 cycles),consequently decreasing the stability of aggregates in the topsoil and subsoil(by 23.68%and 6.85%,respectively).Furthermore,more recalcitrant carbon and enhanced SOC stability were present in microaggregates(<0.25 mm)at two soil depths.Moreover,reductions in bacterial diversity and network stability were observed in response to snow removal.Structural equation modeling analysis demonstrated that snow removal indirectly promoted(P<0.01)SOC stability by regulating carbon to nitrogen(C:N)ratio within aggregates.Overall,our study suggested that microaggregate protection and an appropriate C:N ratio enhanced carbon sequestration in response to climate change.展开更多
Microporous MgO–MgAl_(2)O_(4)refractory aggregates were prepared using calcined MgO powder andα-Al_(2)O_(3)micro-powder as raw materials.The influence ofα-Al_(2)O_(3)micro-powder addition on the microstructures and...Microporous MgO–MgAl_(2)O_(4)refractory aggregates were prepared using calcined MgO powder andα-Al_(2)O_(3)micro-powder as raw materials.The influence ofα-Al_(2)O_(3)micro-powder addition on the microstructures and properties of the aggregates was investigated.The results indicated that the addition ofα-Al_(2)O_(3)micro-powder to MgO powder not only promoted more pores in the MgO powder to being enclosed,but also caused the pores among the MgO powder to become micronano scale by the formation of continuous microporous MgAl_(2)O_(4)bonding layers,which reduced the thermal conductivity of the aggregates.Furthermore,the microporous MgAl_(2)O_(4)can induce crack deflection and generate crack branching when subjected to thermal shock,thus improving the thermal shock resistance of the microporous aggregates.The sample with 12.1 wt.%α-Al_(2)O_(3)micro-powder addition exhibited the best comprehensive properties,with a bulk density of 3.44 g/cm^(3),a median pore size of 120.7 nm,a high flexural strength of 82.7 MPa,a high retention rate of flexural strength of 87.7%,and a thermal conductivity of 8.4 W/(m K)at 800°C.Compared to commercial fused magnesia and sintered magnesia,the thermal conductivity decreased by 47.2%and 18.4%at 800°C,respectively.展开更多
BACKGROUND The diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)has increased owing to the enhanced awareness among medical profes-sionals and the continuous development of modern medical tec...BACKGROUND The diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)has increased owing to the enhanced awareness among medical profes-sionals and the continuous development of modern medical technologies,while early diagnosis of ARDS still lacks specific biomarkers.One of the main patho-genic mechanisms of sepsis-associated ARDS involves the actions of various pathological injuries and inflammatory factors,such as platelet and white blood cells activation,leading to an increase of surface adhesion molecules.These adhesion molecules further form platelet-white blood cell aggregates,including platelet-mononuclear cell aggregates(PMAs).PMAs has been identified as one of the markers of platelet activation,here we hypothesize that PMAs might play a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of this complication.METHODS We selected 72 hospitalized patients diagnosed with sepsis as the study population between March 2019 and March 2022.Among them,30 patients with sepsis and ARDS formed the study group,while 42 sepsis patients without ARDS comprised the control group.After diagnosis,venous blood samples were imme-diately collected from all patients.Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the expression of PMAs,platelet neutrophil aggregates(PNAs),and platelet aggregates(PLyAs)in the serum.Additionally,the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(APACHE)II score was calculated for each patient,and receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to assess diagnostic value.RESULTS The study found that the levels of PNAs and PLyAs in the serum of the study group were higher than those in the control group,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).However,the expression of PMAs in the serum of the study group was significantly upregulated(P<0.05)and positively correlated with the APACHE II score(r=0.671,P<0.05).When using PMAs as a diagnostic indicator,the area under the curve value was 0.957,indicating a high diagnostic value(P<0.05).Furthermore,the optimal cutoff value was 8.418%,with a diagnostic sensitivity of 0.819 and specificity of 0.947.CONCLUSION In summary,the serum levels of PMAs significantly increase in patients with sepsis and ARDS.Therefore,serum PMAs have the potential to become a new biomarker for clinically diagnosing sepsis complicated by ARDS.展开更多
Modified recycled aggregates were prepared with three different cement-admixture grouts. The physical properties, such as water absorption, apparent density, crushing index, slump and compressive strength of the recyc...Modified recycled aggregates were prepared with three different cement-admixture grouts. The physical properties, such as water absorption, apparent density, crushing index, slump and compressive strength of the recycled aggregate and the recycled concretes were tested, and the tests for the compression-deformation behavior of the concretes were also performed. The experimental results show that the cement-Kim powder grout is satisfied for enhancing the recycled concrete, and the modification of the recycled aggregate with the grouts can improve the toughness and the deformation ability of the concretes.展开更多
[Objective] This study was conducted to investigate the effects of tradition-al fertilization and formula fertilization by soil testing on the chemical forms of nitro-gen in dark brown soil and its distribution in dif...[Objective] This study was conducted to investigate the effects of tradition-al fertilization and formula fertilization by soil testing on the chemical forms of nitro-gen in dark brown soil and its distribution in different aggregates. [Method] A physi-co-chemistry method was adopted in a comparative study on the chemical forms of nitrogen and their distribution in different-sized aggregates of dark brown soil under traditional fertilization and formula fertilization by soil testing respectively. [Result] Compared with traditional fertilization in spring and autumn, the formula fertilization by soil testing averagely decreased, the total nitrogen in soil by 23.2% in spring and by 20% in autumn in the soil layer of 0-20 cm, by 48.8% in the layer of 20-40 cm. Ammonium nitrogen was so sensitive to the methods of fertilization that the content of ammonium nitrogen was reduced much more under formula fertitization by soil testing in autumn than under traditional fertilization. Nitrogen in soil under traditional fertilization pattern was mainly distributed in the aggregates of 0-0.25 and 0.5-1 mm, while in formula fertilization by soil testing it was mainly distributed in the aggregates of 0.25-0.5 and 0-0.25 mm. [Conclusion] The study proved that for-mula fertilization by soil testing helped to reduce the risk of nitrogen pol ution and had huge effects on the chemical forms and distribution of nitrogen in different ag-gregates in dark brown soil.展开更多
In agricultural systems, maintenance of soil organic matter has long been recognized as a strategy to reduce soil degradation. Manure amendments and green manures are management practices that can increase some nutrie...In agricultural systems, maintenance of soil organic matter has long been recognized as a strategy to reduce soil degradation. Manure amendments and green manures are management practices that can increase some nutrient contents and improve soil aggregation. We investigated the effects of 28 yr of winter planted green manure on soil aggregate-size distribution and aggregateassociated carbon（C） and nitrogen（N）. The study was a randomized completed block design with three replicates. The treatments included rice-rice-fallow, rice-rice-rape, rice-rice-Chinese milk vetch and rice-rice-ryegrass. The experiment was established in 1982 on a silty light clayey paddy soil derived from Quaternary red clay（classified as Fe-Accumuli-Stagnic Anthrosols） with continuous early and late rice. In 2009, soil samples were collected（0-15 cm depth） from the field treatment plots and separated into water-stable aggregates of different sizes（i.e., 〉5, 2-5, 1-2, 0.5-1, 0.25-0.5 and 〈0.25 mm） by wet sieving. The long-term winter planted green manure significantly increased total C and N, and the formation of the 2-5-mm water-stable aggregate fraction. Compared with rice-rice-rape, rice-rice-Chinese milk vetch and rice-rice-ryegrass, the rice-rice-fallow significantly reduced 2-5-mm water-stable aggregates, with a significant redistribution of aggregates into micro-aggregates. Long-term winter planted green manure obviously improved C/N ratio and macro-aggregate-associated C and N. The highest contribution to soil fertility was from macro-aggregates of 2-5 mm in most cases.展开更多
Soil aggregate stability,an important index of the physical characteristics of a soil,can provide a good indication of a soil’s erodibility,and deserves special consideration in regions with cold climate.The objectiv...Soil aggregate stability,an important index of the physical characteristics of a soil,can provide a good indication of a soil’s erodibility,and deserves special consideration in regions with cold climate.The objective of this study was to study the effect of freeze-thaw on soil water-stable aggregates in the black soil region of Northeast China.Samples of a typical black soil in the region were collected to measure water-stable aggregates after freeze-thaw under different conditions(i.e.,initial moisture contents,freezethaw cycles and freezing temperatures)by wet-sieving into eight particle size groups(>10,10–6,6–5,5–3,3–2,2–1,1–0.5,and0.5–0.25 mm).Freeze-thaw had the most effect on aggregate stability when the samples had an initial moisture content of 400 g kg-1.The water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups(>5,5–3,3–2,and 2–1 mm)reached a peak stability value,but those of the two smaller particle size groups(1–0.5 and 0.5–0.25 mm)reached a minimum value when the soil moisture content was 400 g kg-1.Water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups decreased while those of the two smaller particle size groups increased with the increase of freeze-thaw cycles.As temperatures fell,the water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups decreased while those of the two smaller particle size groups increased.展开更多
基金supported by the Funds for International Cooperation and Exchange of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42020104003)。
文摘Dear Editor,Urea is a vital nitrogen(N)fertilizer in farmland soils and the natural intermediate product of various organonitrogen compounds,such as purines and amino acids(Mobley and Hausinger,1989;Glibert et al.,2014).Urea in soils is rapidly hydrolyzed to ammonium by urease secreted from ureolytic microorganisms,and then assimilated by plants and microbes or involved in other N cycling pathways,including aerobic and anaerobic ammoxidation(Mobley et al.,1995;Pajares and Bohannan,2016).
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2022YFE0207300)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.22179142 and 22075314)+1 种基金Jiangsu Provincial Science and Technology Program(Grant No.BG 2024020).XPSWAXS and TOF-SIMS characterizations were supported by Nano-X(Vacuum Interconnected Nanotech Workstation,Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics,Chinese Academy of Sciences(SINANO),Suzhou 215123,China)。
文摘The practical application of lithium metal batteries(LMBs)requires electrolytes that simultaneously ensure high safety and interfacial stability.Although locally concentrated ionic liquid electrolytes(LCILEs)exhibit exceptional electrochemical stability and compatibility with electrode electrolyte interfaces(EEIs),two major challenges persist:(i)safety risks caused by excessive low-flash-point diluents,and(ii)insufficient understanding of how diluents modulate solvation structures.Herein,we introduce a low-diluent-content LCILE system composed of lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide(LiFSI)salt,N-methyl-N-propyl-pyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide(Pyr_(13)FSI)ionic liquid,and trifluoromethanesulfonate(TFS)diluent.The TFS diluent strengthens ion-ion interactions by lowering the dielectric constant of the electrolyte,resulting in the formation of a unique nanometric anion aggregates(N-AGGs)reinforced solvation structure.These large anionic clusters exhibit accelerated redox decomposition kinetics,facilitating the rapid formation of a thin,dense,and low-impedance EEI.Consequently,the Li/LiNi_(0.6)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.2)O_(2)coin cell achieves 87.8%capacity retention over 300 cycles at 4.3 V,while a practical 1.4 Ah Li/NCM622 pouch cell retains 84.5%capacity after 80 cycles at 4.5 V.Furthermore,the electrolyte demonstrates exceptional safety,and 2 Ah Li metal pouch cells successfully pass rigorous nail penetration tests without any ignition or explosion.This work not only provides a design strategy for intrinsically safe and high-performance electrolytes but also highlights the critical role of anion cluster decomposition kinetics in shaping EEI formation.
文摘Received:06 December 2025;Accepted:25 February 2026;Published:30 March 2026 ABSTRACT:In the last decade,the importance of sustainable construction and artificial intelligence(AI)in civil engineering has been underlined in many studies.Numerous studies highlighted the superiority of AI techniques over simple and mathematical regression analyses,which suffer from relatively poor generalization and an inability to capture highly non-linear relationships among inputs and output(s)parameters.In this study,to evaluate the compressive strength of concrete with glass powder(GP)and recycled aggregates,600 concrete samples were tested in the laboratory,and their results were evaluated.For intelligent assessment of concrete compressive strength(CCS),the study utilized an improved artificial neural network(ANN)with particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm and imperialist competitive algorithm(ICA).For training the models,the experimentally obtained data were used.The concrete ingredients formed the inputs of the AI-based predictive models of CCS.The experimental findings reveal that the implementation of recycled coarse aggregates in concrete from a sustainable construction point of view is advantageous and can enhance the CCS by 11.43%.Apart from that,findings indicate that utilization of 10%GP can lead to a nearly 20%increase in CCS(from 44.6 to 54.1 MPa).Additionally,the experimental observations show almost 40%improvement of CCS when 5%micro silica was used in the concrete mixture.Based on the findings,the study suggests the utilization of waste glass powder to partially replace cement in concrete,which can reduce the amount of cement production.This reduction from economic,energy-saving,and environmental(reduction in greenhouse gas emissions)points of view is of interest.On the other hand,the AI results show that the PSO-based ANN model outperforms the ICA-based ANN for the utilized dataset.According to the findings,the PSO-based ANN predictive model(with a coefficient of determination value of 0.939 and root mean square value of 0.113 for testing data)is a capable tool in predicting the CCS.Hence,this study recommends the implementation of AI-based models in CCS assessment.
基金funded by the Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.U21A2058)Research Project of Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology(2024CSA075)support from the Taizhou Fengcheng Talent Program(2024).
文摘Conventional lightweight refractory materials with low bulk density and more pores suffer from harsh corrosion and erosion in actual applications.A type of lightweight Al_(2)O_(3)-MgAl_(2)O_(4)aggregates with a core-shell structure was synthesized at 1750℃using a rolling granulation method.Microstructural evolution and properties of the spherical aggregates were systematically studied.Scanning electron microscope and X-ray computed tomography results confirmed that a continuous and dense MgAl_(2)O_(4)spinel shell structure with a thickness of 200-300μm was formed on the surface.The corrosion results indicated that the corrosion index of the core-shell aggregates exhibited a 60%enhancement when compared to Al_(2)O_(3)spherical.Moreover,Al_(2)O_(3)-MgAl_(2)O_(4)refractory materials,which are based on the lightweight Al_(2)O_(3)-MgAl_(2)O_(4)spherical aggregates,possessed a higher temperature modulus of rupture of 9.19 MPa,and the retention rate of residual flexural strength reached 70%after thermal shock testing.The above results showed an improvement of 129.75 and 44.28%compared with pure Al_(2)O_(3)aggregate samples,respectively.In addition,the MgAl_(2)O_(4)spinel shell could trap the Mn,Fe elements from infiltrated slag and transfer into(Mg,Fe,Mn)Al_(2)O_(4)spinel,infiltrated CaO reacts with Sample Al_(2)O_(3)matrix to form a calcium hexaluminate(CA6)isolation layer,and the above two reasons enhance the corrosion resistance of the material.The corrosion mechanism was elaborated in detail.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42477044,32171648 and U23A2017)the Hubei Provincial Science and Technology Program,China(2025AFD451 and 2022CFB030)。
文摘Insight into the carbon turnover in soil aggregates and density fractions is essential for reducing the uncertainty in estimating carbon pools on the Tibetan Plateau,and how they vary with land use type is unclear.In this study,the effect of land use type on carbon storage and fractionation was quantified based on organic carbon and its^(13)C abundance at the microscale of soil aggregates and density fractions in Tibetan alpine ecosystems.The sequence of soil aggregate destruction in the land use types of plantation(13.1%)<shrubland(32.7%)<grassland(47.9%)<farmland(61.8%)shows that plantations strengthen the soil structure.Plantation land had a greater contribution of light fraction organic carbon(28.3%)but a lower contribution of mineral-associated organic carbon(40.6%)to the carbon stock compared to farmland(13.5 and 70.3%).Interestingly,plantation land enhanced the aggregational differentiation of organic carbon and^(13)C in each density fraction,whereas no such phenomenon existed in the soil organic carbon.Carbon isotope analyses revealed that carbon transfer in the plantation land occurred from the light fraction in macroaggregates(–24.9‰)to the mineral-associated fraction in microaggregates(–19.9‰).When compared to the other three land use types,the low transferability of carbon in aggregates and density fractions in plantation land provides a stable carbon pool for the Tibetan Plateau.This study shows that plantations can mitigate global climate change by slowing carbon transfer and increasing carbon storage at the microscale of aggregates and density fractions in alpine regions.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2024YFF1306305)the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Natural Science Foundation Project(2025QN03106)+1 种基金the Research Start-up Project for the Introduction of High-level and Outstanding Doctoral Talent at Inner Mongolia Agricultural University(NDYB2024-42)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42201012).
文摘Global grassland degradation necessitates the identification of sustainable grazing management strategies.In semi-arid regions,grazing exclusion(GE),cold-season grazing(CG),and free grazing(FG)represent common practices in grassland ecosystems,yet the long-term ecological consequences of these patterns on plant community structure and soil aggregate stability remain inadequately elucidated.In this study,we evaluated the effects of GE,CG,and FG on soil organic carbon,soil water content,soil bulk density,soil aggregates,and vegetation indicators in Xilamuren steppe,a semi-arid grassland in northern China through field sampling and laboratory analyses in 2024.Our findings revealed that,compared to CG and FG,GE significantly enhanced aboveground and belowground biomass,species diversity,and soil physical-chemical properties in the 0–30 cm layer.The dominant plant species in GE and CG sites were Stipa krylovii,Leymus chinensis,and Agropyron cristatum,whereas Stipa krylovii,Artemisia frigida,and Leymus chinensis were predominant in FG site.Different grazing patterns led to distinct soil aggregate distributions,with>2.00 and<0.25 mm aggregates exhibiting the highest content in different soil layers depending on the grazing patterns.All grazing management strategies significantly improved soil aggregate stability,with the overall stability following the order:GE>CG>FG.Furthermore,random forest modeling identified plant species diversity,plant growth traits,and grazing patterns as the primary determinants of soil aggregate stability.Collectively,these results offer valuable insights into the sustainable management and ecological restoration of semi-arid grasslands under different grazing pressures.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD1700204)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21A20218 and 32372238)+1 种基金the Modern Agro-Industry Technology Research System of China(CARS-22-G-12)the“Innovation Star”Program of Graduate Students in 2025 of Gansu Province,China(2025CXZX-749)。
文摘Enhancing soil organic carbon(SOC)stocks is a key aspect of modern agriculture,but whether this can be achieved by incorporating legume green manure crops in cereal production to substitute synthetic N fertilizers is unknown.This study used a six-year(2017-2022)field study to explore the impacts of intercropping green manure with maize and reducing nitrogen fertilization on SOC stocks,while specifically focusing on the relationship between aggregate composition and carbon sequestration.Maize intercropped with common vetch(M/V),maize intercropped with rapeseed(M/R),and sole maize(M),were each tested at conventional(N2,360 kg ha^(-1))and reduced(N1,270 kg ha^(-1),25% reduced)N application rates.Soil was sampled in 2020,2021,and 2022.Compared with sole maize,intercropping with green manure(M/V and M/R)significantly increased SOC stocks which compensated for any negative effect due to the 25% reduction in N application.Based on 3-year averages,intercropping with M/V and M/R increased the SOC content compared to sole maize(M)by 12.1 and 9.1%,respectively,with intercropping further mitigating the negative impact of reduced nitrogen application.There was no significant difference between M/V and M/R.The SOC content at N1 was reduced by 9.3-10.5%compared to that at N2 in sole maize,but the differences in SOC stocks between N1 and N2 were not significant in the intercropping patterns(M/V and M/R).The intercropped M/V and M/R showed 20.9 and 16.3% higher SOC contents compared to sole maize at N1,with no differences at N2.Intercropping green manure led to a 5.3% greater SOC in the 0-20 cm depth soil in 2022 compared to that in 2020,due to the cumulative effect of two years of green manure intercropping.Intercropping green manure(M/V and M/R)increased the proportion of macroaggregates(>0.25 mm)and aggregate stability while reducing the proportion of microaggregates compared to sole maize under the N1 application.Structural equation modeling indicated that cropping patterns and nitrogen application levels mainly affect SOC indirectly by regulating the composition of macroaggregates and aggregate organic carbon(AOC).Correlation analysis further revealed that the composition of macroaggregates is significantly and positively correlated with the SOC content(R^(2)=0.64).In addition,intercropping green manure can maintain high crop yields by increasing SOC under reduced chemical nitrogen application.The results of this study show that intercropping green manure with grain crops can be a viable measure for increasing SOC sinks and maize productivity by optimizing the aggregate composition with reduced N application in the Hexi Oasis Irrigation Area.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42171130 and 42301158)Pilot Project of China’s Strength in Transportation for the Central Research Institute(No.QG2021-1-4-7)National Key Technology Research and Development Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(No.2021YFB2601200).
文摘Sulfate attack-induced expansion of cement-treated aggregates in seasonally frozen regions is a well-known issue which causes continuous expansion in railway subgrades,and particularly in high-speed railways.Accordingly,we investigated the influence of material proportions,the number of freeze-thaw(FT)cycles,and temperature gradients on the expansion mechanism of sulfate attack on cement-treated aggregates subjected to FT cycles.The conditions,laws,and dominant factors causing the expansion of aggregates were analyzed through swelling tests.The results indicate that under FT cycles,3%content cement-treated graded macadam only experiences slight deformation.The maximum strain of graded macadam attacked by 1%sodium sulfate content in each FT cycle is significantly larger than that of 3%content cement-treated graded macadam attacked by 1%sodium sulfate content.Using scanning electron microscopy,needle-like crystals were observed during sulfate attack of cement-treated graded macadam.Through quantitative analysis,we determined the recoverable and unrecoverable deformations of graded macadam under FT cycles.For graded macadam under sulfate attack,the expansion is mainly induced by periodic frost heave and salt expansion,as well as salt migration.For cement-treated graded macadam under sulfate attack,the expansion is mainly induced by chemical attack and salt migration.This study can serve as a reference for future research on the mechanics of sulfate attack on cement-treated aggregates that experience FT cycles,and provide theoretical support for methods that remediate the expansion induced by sulfate attack.
基金supported by the Research Fund of Jianghan Univer-sity(2024JCYJ02)the Graduate Scientific Research Foundation of Jianghan University(KYCXJJ202428)+1 种基金the Excellent Discipline Cultiva-tion Project funded by Jianghan University(2023XKZ013)the Na-tional Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.22179052).
文摘Lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs) featuring ultrahigh energy densities are expected as ones of the mostprominent devices for future energy storage applications. Nevertheless, the practical application of LMBs is stillplagued by the poor interfacial stability of Li metal anode. Inorganic-rich interlayer derived from anion decom-positionin advanced liquid electrolytes is demonstrated as an efficient approach to stabilize the Li metal anode,however, is electrolyte-dependent with limited application conditions due to inappropriate electrolyte properties.Herein, an efficient structuration strategy is proposed to fabricate an electrolyte-independent and sustainedinorganic-rich layer, by embedding a type of functional anion aggregates consisting of selected anions ionicallybonded to polymerized cation clusters. The anion aggregates can progressively release anions to react with Liþand form key components boosting the structural stability and Liþ transfer ability of the artificial layer uponcycling. This self-reinforcing working mechanism endows the artificial layer with a sustained inorganic-richnature and promising Li protective ability during long-term cycling, while the electrolyte-independent propertyenables its applications in LMBs using conventional low concentration electrolytes and all-solid-state LMBs withsignificantly enhanced performances. This strategy establishes an alternative designing route of Li protectivelayers for reliable LMBs.
文摘The publisher regrets to inform that in the article of Advanced Powder Materials 4(2025)100261,the published Figs.3 and 5 belong to the initially submitted version,which should be replaced by the final version.The differences between the initial and final versions of these figures are described below.
基金Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52478281)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(No.LZ22E080003)the Science and Technology Project of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Transport(No.202225)。
文摘The degradation performance of pervious concrete containing TiO_(2)/LDHs-loaded recycled aggregates for NO gas was analyzed using a gas phase catalytic degradation test device,simulating different environmental conditions such as load,ambient temperature,and illumination intensity,which provides theoretical support for practical engineering.The experimental results indicate that when the ambient temperature is controlled at 25℃and the illumination intensity is 30 W/m^(2),the sample prepared by soaking recycled aggregates in a 0.8%TiO_(2)/LDHs suspension exhibits the highest photocatalytic degradation rate for NO gas,reaching 72.54%.Further investigation on the influence of environmental temperature reveals that,at 25℃,the maximum photocatalytic degradation rate for NO gas is 72.9%.Moreover,at an illumination intensity of 40 W/m^(2),the maximum photocatalytic degradation rate for NO gas is 87.08%.Additionally,after three repeated photocatalytic tests,the sample demonstrates good stability,with a photocatalytic degradation rate of 58%.The nitrogen content in the eluent obtained from soaking the sample was determined to be 0.0022 mol/L,with a recovery rate of 80%.The adsorption experiment demonstrates that the sample exhibits a favorable adsorption effect on nitrate ions,reaching a maximum of 56.8%.
基金funded by the Inner Mongolia Local Science and Technology Development Fund Projects,China(2021GG0393)。
文摘The agro-pastoral ecotone epitomizes the ecologically fragile semi-arid zone,where the soil microbiomes play a pivotal role in regulating its multifunctionality.However,whether and how changes in soil structure and organic matter composition under different land uses affect microbial community structure remain unclear.Here,land-use types in the agro-pastoral ecotone,including shrubland(BF),artificial grassland(ArG),abandoned grassland(AbG),and maize farmland(MA),were chosen to explore the response relationships between soil microbial communities and the aggregates and dissolved organic matter(DOM)composition.The results showed that compared to MA,the macroaggregates in BF,AbG,and ArG were increased by 123.0,92.79,and 63.71%,respectively,while MA soil had the greatest abundance of<100μm particles.The higher aromatic carbon with high aromaticity and molecular weight in BF soil DOM contributed to its highest mineral-associated organic carbon level(12.61 g kg^(-1)),while MA soil organic carbon had highly efficient decomposition due to its high content of aliphatic and carboxy carbon,so it is prone to loss from the active carbon pools.The transition in land use from shrubland to grassland and farmland has facilitated the conversion of stable aromatic carbon to unstable carboxy carbon.The taxonomic analysis revealed that soil bacterial and fungal communities in the four land uses were dominated by Proteobacteria,Actinobacteriota,Chloroflexi,and Ascomycota.More taxonomic groups from phylum to family were enriched in BF soil.The DOM components and organic carbon are crucial variables shaping the composition of soil bacterial communities,jointly explaining 61.66% of the variance,while aggregates are important variables driving the composition of fungal communities,with an explanation rate of 20.49%.Our results suggest that DOM components and aggregates impact the soil microbial structure;and the transition in land use from agricultural land to grassland and shrubland in the agro-pastoral ecotone enhances aggregate stability,carbon sequestration potential,and microbial diversity.
基金the research fellowship granted by the Department of Biotechnology,Government of India,in the form of Overseas Associateship(No. BT/20/NE/2011/2014)
文摘Promoting soil carbon sequestration in agricultural land is one of the viable strategies to decelerate the observed climate changes. However, soil physical disturbances have aggravated the soil degradation process by accelerating erosion. Thus, reducing the magnitude and intensity of soil physical disturbance through appropriate farming/agricultural systems is essential to management of soil carbon sink capacity of agricultural lands. Four sites of different land use types/tillage practices, i） no-till （NT） corn （Zea mays L.） （NTC）, ii） conventional till （CT） corn （CTC）, iii） pastureland （PL）, and iv） native forest （NF）, were selected at the North Appalachian Experimental Watershed Station, Ohio, USA to assess the impact of NT farming on soil aggregate indices including water-stable aggregation, mean weight diameter （MWD） and geometric mean diameter （GMD）, and soil organic carbon and total nitrogen contents. The NTC plots received cow manure additions （about 15 t ha-1） every other year. The CTC plots involved disking and chisel ploughing and liquid fertilizer application （110 L ha-l）. The results showed that both water-stable aggregation and MWD were greater in soil for NTC than for CTC. In the 0-10 cm soil layer, the 〉 4.75-mm size fraction dominated NTC and was 46% more than that for CTC, whereas the 〈 0.25-mm size fraction was 380% more for CTC than for NTC. The values of both MWD and GMD in soil for NTC （2.17 mm and 1.19 mm, respectively） were higher than those for CTC （1.47 and 0.72 mm, respectively） in the 0-10 cm soil layer. Macroaggregates contained 6%-42% and 13%-43% higher organic carbon and total nitrogen contents, respectively, than microaggregates in soil for all sites. Macroaggregates in soil for NTC contained 40% more organic carbon and total nitrogen over microaggregates in soil for CTC. Therefore, a higher proportion of microaggregates with lower organic carbon contents created a carbon-depleted environment for CTC. In contrast, soil for NTC had more aggregation and contained higher organic carbon content within water-stable aggregates. The soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks （Mg ha-1） among the different sites followed the trend of NF 〉 PL 〉 NTC 〉 CTC, being 35%-46% more for NTC over CTC. The NT practice enhanced soil organic carbon content over the CT practice and thus was an important strategy of carbon sequestration in cropland soils.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42222102,41971136,and 42171107)the Jilin Provincial Department of Science and Technology,China(No.20230508089RC)the Professional Association of the Alliance of International Science Organizations(No.ANSO-PA-2020-14).
文摘Global climate change exerts profound effects on snow cover,with consequential impacts on microbial activities and the stability of soil organic carbon(SOC)within aggregates.Northern peatlands are significant carbon reservoirs,playing a critical role in mitigating climate change.However,the effects of snow variations on microbial-mediated SOC stability within aggregates in peatlands remain inadequately understood.Here,an in-situ field experiment manipulating snow conditions(i.e.,snow removal and snow cover)was conducted to investigate how snow variations affect soil microbial community and the associated SOC stability within soil aggregates(>2,0.25-2,and<0.25 mm)in a peatland of Northeast China.The results showed that snow removal significantly increased the SOC content and stability within aggregates.Compared to the soils with snow cover,snow removal resulted in decreased soil average temperatures in the topsoil(0-30 cm depth)and subsoil(30-60 cm depth)(by 1.48 and 1.34°C,respectively)and increased freeze-thaw cycles(by 11 cycles),consequently decreasing the stability of aggregates in the topsoil and subsoil(by 23.68%and 6.85%,respectively).Furthermore,more recalcitrant carbon and enhanced SOC stability were present in microaggregates(<0.25 mm)at two soil depths.Moreover,reductions in bacterial diversity and network stability were observed in response to snow removal.Structural equation modeling analysis demonstrated that snow removal indirectly promoted(P<0.01)SOC stability by regulating carbon to nitrogen(C:N)ratio within aggregates.Overall,our study suggested that microaggregate protection and an appropriate C:N ratio enhanced carbon sequestration in response to climate change.
基金financially supported by the Key Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U21A2058)the Innovation Group Project of Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(2025AFA016).
文摘Microporous MgO–MgAl_(2)O_(4)refractory aggregates were prepared using calcined MgO powder andα-Al_(2)O_(3)micro-powder as raw materials.The influence ofα-Al_(2)O_(3)micro-powder addition on the microstructures and properties of the aggregates was investigated.The results indicated that the addition ofα-Al_(2)O_(3)micro-powder to MgO powder not only promoted more pores in the MgO powder to being enclosed,but also caused the pores among the MgO powder to become micronano scale by the formation of continuous microporous MgAl_(2)O_(4)bonding layers,which reduced the thermal conductivity of the aggregates.Furthermore,the microporous MgAl_(2)O_(4)can induce crack deflection and generate crack branching when subjected to thermal shock,thus improving the thermal shock resistance of the microporous aggregates.The sample with 12.1 wt.%α-Al_(2)O_(3)micro-powder addition exhibited the best comprehensive properties,with a bulk density of 3.44 g/cm^(3),a median pore size of 120.7 nm,a high flexural strength of 82.7 MPa,a high retention rate of flexural strength of 87.7%,and a thermal conductivity of 8.4 W/(m K)at 800°C.Compared to commercial fused magnesia and sintered magnesia,the thermal conductivity decreased by 47.2%and 18.4%at 800°C,respectively.
文摘BACKGROUND The diagnosis of sepsis combined with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)has increased owing to the enhanced awareness among medical profes-sionals and the continuous development of modern medical technologies,while early diagnosis of ARDS still lacks specific biomarkers.One of the main patho-genic mechanisms of sepsis-associated ARDS involves the actions of various pathological injuries and inflammatory factors,such as platelet and white blood cells activation,leading to an increase of surface adhesion molecules.These adhesion molecules further form platelet-white blood cell aggregates,including platelet-mononuclear cell aggregates(PMAs).PMAs has been identified as one of the markers of platelet activation,here we hypothesize that PMAs might play a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of this complication.METHODS We selected 72 hospitalized patients diagnosed with sepsis as the study population between March 2019 and March 2022.Among them,30 patients with sepsis and ARDS formed the study group,while 42 sepsis patients without ARDS comprised the control group.After diagnosis,venous blood samples were imme-diately collected from all patients.Flow cytometry was employed to analyze the expression of PMAs,platelet neutrophil aggregates(PNAs),and platelet aggregates(PLyAs)in the serum.Additionally,the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation(APACHE)II score was calculated for each patient,and receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to assess diagnostic value.RESULTS The study found that the levels of PNAs and PLyAs in the serum of the study group were higher than those in the control group,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).However,the expression of PMAs in the serum of the study group was significantly upregulated(P<0.05)and positively correlated with the APACHE II score(r=0.671,P<0.05).When using PMAs as a diagnostic indicator,the area under the curve value was 0.957,indicating a high diagnostic value(P<0.05).Furthermore,the optimal cutoff value was 8.418%,with a diagnostic sensitivity of 0.819 and specificity of 0.947.CONCLUSION In summary,the serum levels of PMAs significantly increase in patients with sepsis and ARDS.Therefore,serum PMAs have the potential to become a new biomarker for clinically diagnosing sepsis complicated by ARDS.
文摘Modified recycled aggregates were prepared with three different cement-admixture grouts. The physical properties, such as water absorption, apparent density, crushing index, slump and compressive strength of the recycled aggregate and the recycled concretes were tested, and the tests for the compression-deformation behavior of the concretes were also performed. The experimental results show that the cement-Kim powder grout is satisfied for enhancing the recycled concrete, and the modification of the recycled aggregate with the grouts can improve the toughness and the deformation ability of the concretes.
文摘[Objective] This study was conducted to investigate the effects of tradition-al fertilization and formula fertilization by soil testing on the chemical forms of nitro-gen in dark brown soil and its distribution in different aggregates. [Method] A physi-co-chemistry method was adopted in a comparative study on the chemical forms of nitrogen and their distribution in different-sized aggregates of dark brown soil under traditional fertilization and formula fertilization by soil testing respectively. [Result] Compared with traditional fertilization in spring and autumn, the formula fertilization by soil testing averagely decreased, the total nitrogen in soil by 23.2% in spring and by 20% in autumn in the soil layer of 0-20 cm, by 48.8% in the layer of 20-40 cm. Ammonium nitrogen was so sensitive to the methods of fertilization that the content of ammonium nitrogen was reduced much more under formula fertitization by soil testing in autumn than under traditional fertilization. Nitrogen in soil under traditional fertilization pattern was mainly distributed in the aggregates of 0-0.25 and 0.5-1 mm, while in formula fertilization by soil testing it was mainly distributed in the aggregates of 0.25-0.5 and 0-0.25 mm. [Conclusion] The study proved that for-mula fertilization by soil testing helped to reduce the risk of nitrogen pol ution and had huge effects on the chemical forms and distribution of nitrogen in different ag-gregates in dark brown soil.
基金funded by the Special Fund for AgroScientific Research in the Public Interest of China (20110300508, 201203030)supported in partial by the Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2012BAD05B05-3, 2013BAD07B11)the International Plant Nutrition Institute, Canada (IPNI China Program: Hunan-17)
文摘In agricultural systems, maintenance of soil organic matter has long been recognized as a strategy to reduce soil degradation. Manure amendments and green manures are management practices that can increase some nutrient contents and improve soil aggregation. We investigated the effects of 28 yr of winter planted green manure on soil aggregate-size distribution and aggregateassociated carbon（C） and nitrogen（N）. The study was a randomized completed block design with three replicates. The treatments included rice-rice-fallow, rice-rice-rape, rice-rice-Chinese milk vetch and rice-rice-ryegrass. The experiment was established in 1982 on a silty light clayey paddy soil derived from Quaternary red clay（classified as Fe-Accumuli-Stagnic Anthrosols） with continuous early and late rice. In 2009, soil samples were collected（0-15 cm depth） from the field treatment plots and separated into water-stable aggregates of different sizes（i.e., 〉5, 2-5, 1-2, 0.5-1, 0.25-0.5 and 〈0.25 mm） by wet sieving. The long-term winter planted green manure significantly increased total C and N, and the formation of the 2-5-mm water-stable aggregate fraction. Compared with rice-rice-rape, rice-rice-Chinese milk vetch and rice-rice-ryegrass, the rice-rice-fallow significantly reduced 2-5-mm water-stable aggregates, with a significant redistribution of aggregates into micro-aggregates. Long-term winter planted green manure obviously improved C/N ratio and macro-aggregate-associated C and N. The highest contribution to soil fertility was from macro-aggregates of 2-5 mm in most cases.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.41071183 and 40601054)
文摘Soil aggregate stability,an important index of the physical characteristics of a soil,can provide a good indication of a soil’s erodibility,and deserves special consideration in regions with cold climate.The objective of this study was to study the effect of freeze-thaw on soil water-stable aggregates in the black soil region of Northeast China.Samples of a typical black soil in the region were collected to measure water-stable aggregates after freeze-thaw under different conditions(i.e.,initial moisture contents,freezethaw cycles and freezing temperatures)by wet-sieving into eight particle size groups(>10,10–6,6–5,5–3,3–2,2–1,1–0.5,and0.5–0.25 mm).Freeze-thaw had the most effect on aggregate stability when the samples had an initial moisture content of 400 g kg-1.The water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups(>5,5–3,3–2,and 2–1 mm)reached a peak stability value,but those of the two smaller particle size groups(1–0.5 and 0.5–0.25 mm)reached a minimum value when the soil moisture content was 400 g kg-1.Water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups decreased while those of the two smaller particle size groups increased with the increase of freeze-thaw cycles.As temperatures fell,the water-stable aggregates of the four larger particle size groups decreased while those of the two smaller particle size groups increased.
