Causal Analysis Between Rice Growth and Cadmium Accumulation and Transfer under Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculation

Cadmium(Cd)contamination in rice has been a serious threat to human health.To investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)on the Cd translocation in rice,a controlled pot experiment was conducted.The results indicated that AMF significantly increased rice biomass,with an increase of up to 40.0%,particularly in root biomass by up to 68.4%.Notably,the number of prominent rice individuals also increased,and their plasticity was enhanced following AMF inoculation.AMF led to an increase in the net photosynthetic rate and antioxidant enzyme activity of rice.In the AMF treatment group,the Cd concentration in the rice roots was significantly higher(19.1%‒68.0%)compared with that in the control group.Conversely,the Cd concentration in the rice seeds was lower in the AMF treatment group,indicating that AMF facilitated the sequestration of Cd in rice roots and reduced Cd accumulation in the seeds.Path coefficients varied across different treatments,suggesting that AMF inoculation reduced the direct impact of soil Cd concentration on the total Cd accumulation in seeds.The translocation of Cd was consistently associated with simultaneous growth dilution and compensatory accumulation as a result of mycorrhizal effects.Our study quantitatively analyzed this process through path analysis and clarified the causal relationship between rice growth and Cd transfer under the influence of AMF.

Optimality of Group Testing with Differential Misclassification

Group testing is a method that can be used to estimate the prevalence of rare infectious diseases,which can effectively save time and reduce costs compared to the method of random sampling.However,previous literature only demonstrated the optimality of group testing strategy while estimating prevalence under some strong assumptions.This article weakens the assumption of misclassification rate in the previous literature,considers the misclassification rate of the infected samples as a differentiable function of the pool size,and explores some optimal properties of group testing for estimating prevalence in the presence of differential misclassification conforming to this assumption.This article theoretically demonstrates that the group testing strategy performs better than the sample by sample procedure in estimating disease prevalence when the total number of sample pools is given or the size of the test population is determined.Numerical simulation experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of group tests in estimating prevalence in the presence of dilution effect.

Flow characterization and dilution effects of N_2 and CO_2 on premixed CH_4/air flames in a swirl-stabilized combustor

Numerically-aided experimental studies are conducted on a swirl-stabilized combustor to investigate the dilution effects on flame stability, flame structure, and pollutant emissions of premixed CH4/air flames. Our goal is to provide a systematic assessment on combustion characteristics in diluted regimes for its application to environmentally-friendly approaches such as biogas combustion and exhanst-gas recirculation technology. Two main diluting species, N2 and CO2, are tested at various dilution rates. The results obtained by means of optical diagnostics show that five main flame regimes can be observed for Nz-diluted flames by changing excess air and dilution rate. CO2-diluted flames follow the same pattern evolution except that all the domains are shifted to lower excess air. Both N2 and CO2 dilution affect the lean blow- out （LBO） limits negatively. This behavior can be counter-balanced by reactant preheating which is able to broaden the flammability domain of the diluted flames. Flame reactivity is degraded by increasing dilution rate. Meanwhile, flames are thickened in the presence of both diluting species. NOx emissions are significantly reduced with dilution and proved to be relevant to flame stability diagrams： slight augmentation in NOx emission profiles is related to transitional flame states where instability occurs. Although dilution results in increase in CO emissions at certain levels, optimal dilution rates can still be proposed to achieve an ideal compromise.

Orbital Dilution Effect on Structural and Magnetic Properties of Fe1-xMnxV2O4

Structural and magnetic properties are investigated for Fe1-xMnxV2O4 （0≤ x ≤ 1） spinels. As orbital-active Fe^2＋ is substituted with Mn^2＋, the cubie-to-tetragonM transition TsI and the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic transition Ts2 gradually decrease. These structural transitions originate from the Fe^2＋ ferro-orbital order （F-OO）. Below Yafet-Kittel （YK） magnetic transition TN2, V^3＋ orbital order （V-OO） plays an important role on global structure. Here x = 0.6 is a critical point. Fe^2＋ F-OO and V^3＋ F-OO coexist for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5. For x≥ 0.6, the orbital pattern of V^3＋ is antiferro （AF）-00, and Fe^2＋ F-OO disappears. Structural transition Ts3, accompanied by YK magnetic transition TN2, decreases initially, and then increases at x = 0.6. A scenario for the complex phase diagram arising from the cooperation or competition of Fe^2＋ and V^3＋ orbitals is proposed.

The effects of dilution gas on nanoparticle growth in atmospheric-pressure acetylene microdischarges

A two-dimensional multi-fluid model is developed to investigate the effects of dilution gas on microplasma properties and nanoparticle behavior in atmospheric-pressure radio-frequency acetylene discharges.The percentage of dilution gases(argon and helium)percentage varied from 0%to 90%,with the pressure kept constant.Simulation results show that the dilution gas percentage has a significant influence on the spatial distributions of the electron density and temperature,as well as on the formation of nanoparticles in acetylene microplasmas.With increasing dilution gas percentage,the electron density profile changes continuously from being high at the edge to high in the center.A mode transition from a mixed discharge mode with bothαregime and drift-ambipolar regime intoαregime occurs,which is associated with a sudden decrease in the electron density of the presheaths and an increase in the electron temperature of the bulk plasma.The mode transition point corresponds to the lowest number density ratio of hydrocarbon ions to acetylene.The highest number density ratio is observed at a dilution percentage of 90%,and causes more effective nucleation and coagulation of nanoparticles.Furthermore,owing to the high ionization potential of helium,the transition point moves to a larger dilution gas percentage in C_(2)H_(2)/He microplasmas.Finally,the growth of nanoparticles via coagulation is studied.

Lateral downslope transport and tentative sedimentary organic carbon box model in the southern Yap Trench,western Pacific Ocean

Sediment collapse and subsequent lateral downslope migration play important roles in shaping the habitats and regulating sedimentary organic carbon(SOC)cycling in hadal trenches.In this study,three sediment cores were collected using a human-occupied vehicle across the axis of the southern Yap Trench(SYT).The total organic carbon(TOC)and total nitrogen(TN)contents,δ13C,radiocarbon ages,specific surface areas,and grain size compositions of sediments from three cores were measured.We explored the influence of the lateral downslope transport on the dispersal of the sediments and established a tentative box model for the SOC balance.In the SYT,the surface TOC content decreased with water depth and was decoupled by the funneling effect of the V-shaped hadal trench.However,the sedimentation(0.0025 cm/a)and SOC accumulation rates(∼0.038 g/(m^(2)·a)(in terms of OC))were approximately 50%higher in the deeper hadal region than in the abyssal region(0.0016 cm/a and∼0.026 g/(m^(2)·a)(in terms of OC),respectively),indicating the occurrence of lateral downslope transport.The fluctuating variations in the prokaryotic abundances and the SOC accumulation rate suggest the periodic input of surficial sediments from the shallow region.The similar average TOC(0.31%–0.38%),TN(0.06%–0.07%)contents,and SOC compositions(terrestrial OC(11%–18%),marine phytoplanktonic OC(45%–53%),and microbial OC(32%–44%))of the three sites indicate that the lateral downslope transport has a significant mixing effect on the SOC composition.The output fluxes of the laterally transported SOC(0.44–0.56 g/(m^(2)·a)(in terms of OC))contributed approximately(47%–73%)of the total SOC input,and this proportion increased with water depth.The results of this study demonstrate the importance of lateral downslope transport in the spatial distribution and development of biomes.

Impact of black cherry on pedunculate oak vitality in mixed forests:Balancing benefits and concerns

The vitality of European forests continues to decline due to new pests and diseases,climate-change related disturbances and high loads of atmospheric nitrogen deposition.Deteriorating soil health is a major factor underpinning the low vitality of West-European forests.Selecting tree species with soil ameliorative traits is proposed as an avenue to counteract soil acidification and improve overall forest vitality.Here we evaluate the impact of black cherry(Prunus serotina Ehrh.),a known rich litter species,on the vitality of neighboring pedunculate oak(Quercus robur L.)in ten mixed forests on sand in Germany,Belgium and the Netherlands.We found that black cherry admixture increases foliar N and P to a surplus whereas it causes deficiencies in foliar Mg,thereby resulting in an overall negative effect on oak foliar nutrient concentrations.Contrary,defoliation of oak leaves by herbivory decreases with the proximity of black cherry.Using structural equation modelling(SEM),we tested the hypothesized‘improved soil health’pathway.Our analyses showed that black cherry admixture leads to lower accumulation in the humus layer,resulting in higher soil base saturation which has a positive effect on foliar Ca yet a negative effect on total chlorophyll.Moreover,the SEM illustrated that herbivory of oak leaves decreases when black cherry is admixed,both via dilution and improved soil health.Indirect effects of black cherry on oak vitality via“improved soil health”in our SEM are however small in comparison to direct relations.Hence,our study showed that the combined positive and negative impacts of black cherry on oak vitality are limited,which tempers the potential benefits of using the rich litter species to counteract oak decline via improved soil health–yet,the concern of black cherry as an invasive alien species negatively affecting the vitality of mature pedunculate oak trees may also be exaggerated.

Imbalance between nitrogen and potassium fertilization influences potassium deficiency symptoms in winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) leaves

Chlorosis at leaf margins is a typical symptom of potassium(K) deficiency, but inappropriate application of K with other nutrients often masks symptoms of K deficiency. A two-year field experiment was conducted to measure the interactive effects of N and K on leaf photosynthesis and dry matter accumulation and the resulting growth dilution effect on K concentration and leaf K deficiency symptoms. N application aggravated the imbalance of N and K nutrients and further exacerbated K deficiency symptoms under K limitation. Synergistic effects of N and K promoted plant growth, amplified the growth dilution effect, and reduced the critical K concentration in leaves. Using 90% of the maximum shoot biomass as a threshold,the critical K concentration was 0.72% at the recommended N(N180) fertilization level. The critical K concentration increased by 62.5% owing to the reduced biomass under insufficient N(N;) supply. In contrast, high N(N;) reduced the critical K concentration(0.64%), accelerating chlorophyll decomposition and exacerbating K deficiency symptoms. The basis of changing the critical K concentration by magnifying growth dilution effect was the functional synergistic effect of N and K on photosynthetic characteristics. Under insufficient N, the low maximum carboxylation rate(V;) limited the net photosynthetic rate(An) and necessitated more K to maintain high CO;transmission capacity, to improve the total conductance g;/V;ratio. High N supply increased gtotand V;possibly mitigating the effect of K reduction on photosynthesis. In conclusion, it is unwise to judge K status of plants only by K concentration without accounting for crop mass(or dilution effect), critical K concentration and deficiency symptoms are affected by N fertilization, and the synergistic effect of N and K on leaf photosynthesis is the foundation of maximal growth of plants under diverse critical K concentrations.

Effect of epidemic diseases on wild animal conservation

Under the background of global species extinction,the impact of epidemic diseases on wild animal protection is increasingly prominent.Here,we review and synthesize the literature on this topic,and discuss the relationship between diseases and biodiversity.Diseases usually reduce species diversity by decreasing or extinction of species populations,but also accelerate species evolution and promote species diversity.At the same time,species diversity can regulate disease outbreaks through dilution or amplification effects.The synergistic effect of human activities and global change is emphasized,which further aggravates the complex relationship between biodiversity and diseases.Finally,we emphasize the importance of active surveillance of wild animal diseases,which can protect wild animals from potential diseases,maintain population size and genetic variation,and reduce the damage of diseases to the balance of the whole ecosystem and human health.Therefore,we suggest that a background survey of wild animal populations and their pathogens should be carried out to assess the impact of potential outbreaks on the population or species level.The mechanism of dilution and amplification effect between species diversity and diseases of wild animals should be further studied to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for human intervention measures to change biodiversity.Most importantly,we should closely combine the protection of wild animals with the establishment of an active surveillance,prevention,and control system for wild animal epidemics,in an effort to achieve a win-win situation between wild animal protection and disease control.

Each coin has 2 sides: a positive role of alien Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Grey, 1843) snails in reducing the infection of native lymnaeids with trematodes

The change in the distribution of organisms in freshwater ecosystems due to natural or manmade processes raises the question of the impact of alien species on local communities.Although most studies indicate a negative effect,the positive one is more difficult to discern,espe-cially in multispecies systems,including hosts and parasites.The purpose of the study was to check whether the presence of an alien host,Potamopyrgus antipodarum,reduces the intensity of Echinoparyphium aconiatum metacercariae in a native host,Radix spp.We additionally tested the impact of water temperature and the biomass of the alien host on the dilution effect.We experimentally studied(1)the lifespan of echinostome cercariae in different temperatures,(2)the infectivity of cercariae toward the alien host and native host,and(3)the impact of different biomass of the alien host on the intensity of metacercariae in the native host.We found that cercarial survival and infectivity were tem-perature dependent.However,cercarial survival decreased with increasing temperature,contrary to cercarial infectivity.Echinostome cercariae entered the renal cavity of both the native host and alien host,and successfully transformed into metacercariae.The number of metacercariae in the native host decreased with the increasing biomass of the alien host.Our results indicate that lymnaeids may benefit from the co-occur-rence with P antipodarum,as the presence of additional hosts of different origins may reduce the prevalence of parasites in native communities.However,the scale of the dilution effect depends not only on the increased spectrum of susceptible hosts but also on the other variables of the environment,including water temperature and host density.

The impact of segment dilution on the magnetic and hysteretic properties of ferrimagnetic (1/2-1) segmented Ising nanowire

This study explores the presence of diverse phase diagrams and hysteresis characteristics,as well as their dependencies on segment dilution,in an Ising-type core/shell segmented nanostructure.The magnetic and hysteretic behavior of the nanostructure was carefully investigated by employing the effective-field theory and its respective diluted parameters.The phase diagrams reveal characteristic phenomena that are influenced by the dilution parameters.Specifically,this study examined the variations in phase transitions and tricritical points by altering the dilution and physical parameters of the segments.The investigation also encompasses an examination of the hysteresis characteristics,including the hysteresis loop,coercivity,and remanence,in relation to the segment dilution dependence of the segmented nanowire.It was discovered that as the temperature rises,the hysteresis loop areas diminish.However,intriguingly,at specific dilution and crystal area values,the hysteresis loop areas exhibit an augmentation.

Opposite effects of nitrogen fertilization and plastic film mulching on crop N and P stoichiometry in a temperate agroecosystem

Aims Crop nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)stoichiometry can influence food nutritive quality and many ecosystem processes.However,how and why N and P stoichiometry respond to long-term agricul-tural management practices(e.g.N fertilization and film mulching)are not clearly understood.Methods We collected maize tissues(leaf,stem,root and seed)and soil sam-ples from a temperate cropland under 30-year continuous N fer-tilization and plastic film mulching treatments,measured their C,N and P concentrations(the proportion(%)relative to the sample mass),and used structural equation models to uncover the re-sponding mechanisms for crop N and P contents(the total amount(g/m2)in crop biomass).Important Findings Long-term N fertilization increased N concentrations in all crop tissues but sharply decreased P concentrations in vegetative tis-sues(leaf,stem and root),thereby reducing their C/N ratio and increasing C/P and N/P ratios.The drop in P concentration in vegetative tissues was due to the dilution effect by biomass in-crement and the priority of P supply for seed production.In con-trast,film mulching decreased N concentration but increased P concentrations in most crop tissues,thereby increasing C/N ratio and reducing C/P and N/P ratios.Film mulching increased crop P content by increasing soil temperature and moisture;whereas,mulching showed little effect on crop N content,because a posi-tive effects of soil temperature may have canceled out a negative effect by soil moisture.This indicated a decoupling of P and N uptake by crops under film mulching.In conclusion,N fertiliza-tion and plastic film mulching showed opposite effects of on crop N and P stoichiometry.

Comparison of dilution effects of R134a and nitrogen on flammable hydrofluorocarbons

An experimental apparatus has been built to measure the flammability limits of combustible gases based on Chinesenational standard GB/T 12474-90. The flammability limits of four binary mixtures of R161/R134a,R152a/R134a, R161/N2 and R152a/N2 were measured with this apparatus at atmospheric pressure and ambienttemperature. The fuel inertization points (FIP) of these mixtures can be found from the envelopes. Comparisonswere made with the literature data; good agreement for most measurements was obtained. R134a was found tohave a better dilution effect than nitrogen in reducing the flammability of hydrofluorocarbons.

Cadmium,chromium,copper,iron,lead,mercury,nickel,and zinc in freshwater fish:Assessing trophic transfer using stable isotope ratios ofδ^(15)N andδ^(13)C

Introduction The health benefits of consuming aquatic organisms are clear,given their high protein count,low saturated fats,and low cholesterol content.Fish,in particular,contains valuable nutrients(e.g.,omega-3 polyunsaturated fats),vitamins,essential elements,and is therefore considered an important part of a balanced human diet.China is a major seafood producer,accounting for 58%of global production in 2018(Crona et al.,2020).China is the largest seafood consuming country in the world,with consumption rates steadily increasing.Since the 1978 Chinese economic reform,the amount of seafood consumed per capita in China increased from 5 kg per capita in 1980 to 41 kg in 2015(Zhang et al.,2021).By 2030,the overall amount of fish consumption will likely exceed the amount of fish production in China.

Does insect mother know under what conditions it will make their offspring live？

According to the optimal oviposition theory, the larval success of insects depends on the oviposition site selection by females. Females are expected to choose a site with many resources and few competitors or predators to allow the best performance for their progeny, assuming that ＂mother knows best.＂ However, this is not systematically observed. The Aphidoletes aphidimyza larvae are generalist aphid predators and females consequently lay their eggs near or inside aphid colonies. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact ofintraspecific competition on oviposition behavior of A. aphidimyza females. First, we counted the number of eggs laid by a female on a leaf with 20 aphids, in the presence of 0, 2, 4, or 6 conspecific eggs or in the absence of eggs but in presence of 3 virgin females. The same experiment was also performed under choice condition with 2 oviposition sites. Our results show that the presence of low densities ofconspecific eggs, or the presence of conspecific females, have no significant impact on the number of eggs laid by A. aphidimyza females. One of the hypotheses advanced to explain these results is the advantages of conspecifics presence. At low densities, the presence of eggs on an oviposition site can indicate the suitability of the site for the females. The conspecific presence can also insure a dilution effect against predator and increase the presence of potential mating partners for this monogenic species.

Transmission ecology of rodent-borne diseases:New frontiers

Rodents are recognized reservoir hosts for many human zoonotic pathogens.The current trends resulting from anthropocene defaunation suggest that in the future they,along with other small mammals,are likely to become the dominant mammals in almost all human-modified environments.Recent intricate studies on bat-borne emerging diseases have highlighted that many gaps exist in our understanding of the zoonotic transmission of rodent-borne pathogens.This has emphasized the need for scientists interested in rodent-borne diseases to integrate rodent ecology into their analysis of rodent-borne pathogen transmission in order to identify in more detail the mechanisms of spillover and chains of transmission.Further studies are required to better understand the true impact of rodent abundance and the importance of pathogen sharing and circulation in multi-host–multi-pathogen communities.We also need to explore in more depth the roles of generalist and abundant species as the potential links between pathogen-sharing,co-infections and disease transmission.

Plant diversity promotes soil fungal pathogen richness under fertilization in an alpine meadow

Aims The effects of fertilization on fungal plant pathogens in agricultural soils have been studied extensively.However,we know little about how fertilization affects the relative abundance and richness of soil fungal plant pathogens in natural ecosystems,either through altering the soil properties or plant community composition.Methods Here,we used data from a 7-year nitrogen(N)addition experiment in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau to test how N addition affects the relative abundance and richness of soil fungal plant pathogens,as determined using Miseq sequencing of ITS1 gene biomarkers.We also evaluated the relative importance of changes in soil properties versus plant species diversity under N addition.Important Findings Using general linear model selection and a piecewise structural equation model,we found that N addition increased the relative abundance of soil fungal plant pathogens by significantly altering soil properties.However,higher host plant species richness led to higher soil fungal plant pathogen richness,even after excluding the effects of N addition.We conclude that the relative abundance and richness of soil fungal plant pathogens are regulated by different mechanisms in the alpine meadow.Continuous worldwide N inputs(through both fertilizer use and nitrogen deposition)not only cause species losses via altered plant species interactions,but also produce changes in soil properties that result in more abundant soil fungal plant pathogens.This increase in pathogen relative abundance may seriously threaten ecosystem health,thus interrupting important ecosystem functions and services.

Manganese and chromium doping in atomically thin MoS2

Recently,two-dimensional materials have been attracting increasing attention because of their novel properties and promising applications.However,the impurity doping remains a significant challenge owing to the lack of the doping strategy in the atomically thin layers.Here we report on the chromium（Cr） and manganese（Mn）doping in atomically-thin MoS_2 crystals grown by chemical vapor deposition.The Cr/Mn doped MoS_2 samples are characterized by a peak at 1.76 and 1.79 eV in photoluminescence spectra,respectively,compared with the undoped one at 1.85 eV.The field-effect transistor（FET） devices based on the Mn doping show a higher threshold voltage than that of the pure MoS_2 while the Cr doping exhibits the opposite behavior.Importantly,the carrier concentration in these samples displays a remarkable difference arising from the doping effect,consistent with the evolution of the FET performance.The temperature-dependent conductivity measurements further demonstrate a large variation in activation energy.The successful incorporation of the Mn and Cr impurities into the monolayer MoS_2 paves the way towards the high Curie temperature two-dimensional dilute magnetic semiconductors.

Do algae blooms dilute the risk of trematode infections in threespine sticklebacks？

Human-induced growth of macro-algae is often assumed to increase trematode infections in fishes by increasing the abtmdanee and condition of the parasite＇s intermediate host - snails - as this can boost the release of trematode larvae, cercariae, from the intermediate hosts. However, macro-algae can also impose barriers to the transmission of cercariae and reduce infections. We investigated whether an increased growth of filamentous algae affects the transmission of Diplostomum pseudospathaceum cercariae to the threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus, a common fish in eutrophied shallow waters. We exposed stickle- backs to trematode cercariae in the absence and presence of artificial filamentous algae, and recorded effects on the proportion of sticklebacks infected and the number of encysted metacercariae per fish. No significant effect of artificial algae on cercariae transmission was detected. However, the body size and the sex of the sticklebacks were strongly correlated with the number of encysted metacercariae per infected fish, with females and larger individuals being more infected. We discuss different factors that could have caused the difference in parasite transmission, including sex-related differences in body size and behaviour of sticklebacks .

Gregarious pupation act as a defensive mechanism against cannibalism and intraguild predation

Coccinellid pupae use an array of defensive strategies against their natural enemies. This study aims to assess the efficiency of gregarious pupation as a defensive mechanism against intraguild predators and cannibals in coccinellid. The study was designed specifically （i） to determine the natural occurrence of gregarious pupation in the field for different coccinellid species, and （ii） to evaluate the adaptive value of gregarious pupation as a defensive mechanism against 2 types of predators （i.e., cannibals and intraguild predators）. In the field, gregarious pupation consisted of a group of 2-5 pupae. The proportion of gregarious pupation observed varied according to species, the highest rate being observed with Harmonia axyridis Pallas （Coccinellidae; 14.17%）. Gregarious pupation had no impact on the probability that intraguild predators and cannibals locate pupae. Intraguild predation occurred more often in site with gregarious pupation, while cannibalism occurred as often in site with gregarious pupation as in site with isolated pupa. However, for a specific pupa, the mortality rate was higher for isolated pupae than for pupae located in a gregarious pupation site both in the presence of intraguild predators and in the presence of cannibals. The spatial location of pupae within the group had no impact on mortality rate. Since it reduces the risk of predation, it is proposed that gregarious pupation act as a defensive mechanism for 11. axyridis pupae.