Managing soil nitrification is central to improving nitrogen-use efficiency and reducing nitrate leaching and greenhouse gas emissions. As eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic inhibitors, biological nitrification inhibitors (BNIs) offer a promising mitigation strategy; however, the efficacy and underlying microbial processes of different BNI classes in soils remain insufficiently understood. Here, we evaluated the effects of three phenolic (methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, syringic acid, and methyl ferulate) and three fatty-acid (linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and methyl linoleate) BNIs on nitrification kinetics in microcosms of two agricultural soils, and further examined functional gene abundances, nitrifier community composition, and co-occurrence networks in acidic soil to explore potential microbial responses. Phenolic BNIs inhibited nitrification by up to 38.5% in the acidic soil, while maintaining above 20.5% inhibition in the neutral soil, whereas fatty-acid BNIs showed negligible to weak inhibition (-1.2–10.6%) relative to the control. In acidic soil, phenolic BNIs were linked to a transient decrease in AOB-amoA and a sustained reduction in NOB-nxrB, along with a consistent reduction in the relative abundance of key nitrifiers, such as Nitrosospira cluster 3a.1 (AOB) and Nitrospira bockiana (NOB). Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that phenolic BNIs were associated with a sparser nitrifier co-occurrence structure, a higher proportion of negative associations, and a shift from a single highly-connected hub (e.g., Nitrospira) to multiple smaller hubs. This restructuring reflected a selective suppression of nitrifier taxa positively correlated with nitrification rates (e.g., Nitrosospira cluster 3a.1 and Nitrospira bockiana), and a concomitant promotion of negatively correlated taxa (e.g., Ca. Nitrosocosmicus) by phenolic BNIs, thereby diminishing the nitrification potential of the soil microbiome. Our findings suggest that phenolic BNIs have stronger potential than fatty-acid BNIs to suppress nitrification in both acidic and neutral soils, providing microbial and process-level evidence for further evaluating phenolic BNIs as potential tools to regulate soil nitrification in different agroecosystems.
A subgroup T of a group Xis almost maximal if NX(T) is a maximal proper subgroup of X. We explore this notion when T is a finite simple group and Xis a finite alternating group or a finite symmetric group. We prove that if T is almost maximal and NX (T) is not primitive, then T must be a cyclic group of order at most three or a finite alternating group. On the other hand we show that, for every finite nonabelian simple group T with the single exception of PSL(2, 11), there exists n such that T is an almost maximal subgroup of an alternating group An with T acting primitively, and moreover there is such a primitive embedding with NAn (T) the unique maximal subgroup of An containing T. Several open problems are posed. (c) 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Industry-university-research cooperation has emerged as the primary pathway for achieving green innovation breakthroughs in the new energy vehicle sector, particularly amid environmental uncertainty. However, research on how industry-university-research cooperation can resolve the “connected but not integrated” dilemma remains inadequate, particularly lacking an in-depth exploration of the paradoxical effects of meso-level motif structures and the nonlinear impacts of network capabilities. Based on network organization theory and knowledge-based theory, this study constructs a “Motif Network Structure-Capability-Performance” analytical framework. Using patent data from 803 Chinese listed new energy vehicle companies, the study combines colored network motif analysis with regression models to examine the underlying impact mechanisms through which the motif network structures and capabilities affect green innovation performance. The results indicate that: (1) motif structures exert paradoxical effects. Motifs centered on enterprises and characterized by star-like or chain-like connections positively promote green innovation performance by reducing coordination costs, whereas motifs characterized by homogeneous actor composition and arrow-shaped structures inhibit green innovation performance because of resource redundancy and elevated coordination costs; (2) the three network capabilities (knowledge acquisition, integration, and reconfiguration) exhibit U-shaped nonlinear effects characterized by a threshold effect and progressive threshold breakthrough. This research bridges the macro-micro divide in inter-organizational network studies through a meso-level motif perspective, extending network organization and knowledge-based theories to the context of industry-university-research cooperation. The conclusions provide both theoretical and practical guidance for enterprises and governments to optimize industry-university-research cooperation structures, enhance knowledge management capabilities, and develop differentiated collaborative strategies to advance green innovation.
This study investigates dam break flow on a moving flat solid surface as an analogue for green water flows on the deck of a moving vessels. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the Shallow Water Equations (SWEs) are used to examine the effects of prescribed heave and pitch motions, obtained from a seakeeping analysis of an FPSO located on the North West Shelf of Western Australia. The horizontal momentum flux is used as a measure of the flow’s damage potential. Two flow stages are identified across a range of practical conditions. The initial non-hydrostatic stage features a rapid rise to a peak load, which can be approximated by an analytical solution. After approximately t=2.9h0/g, where h0 is the height of the dam break, the flow becomes hydrostatic, and close agreement is achieved between CFD and SWE predictions. Pitch motion has a stronger influence on load potential than heave motion due to larger deck-edge movements despite the opposing effects of deck slope and acceleration. For the FPSO considered, the combined heave and pitch motions only increase the maximum green-water load by up to 23%.
Energy is essential for human welfare and development, and the inability to meet basic energy needs adversely affects household welfare. Households deprived of access to energy services such as clean cooking fuel, lighting, adequate electricity, refrigeration, space cooling, entertainment and education, and communication are considered multidimensionally energy poor. Without effective policy intervention, energy poverty may worsen during the energy transition. Therefore, reliable empirical analysis is required to support the development of appropriate policies. This study measures energy poverty in Indonesia using the Multidimensional Energy Poverty Index, with particular emphasis on differences between urban and rural households. The results show that the average national level of energy poverty between 2022 and 2025 was classified as moderate, with a gradual reduction over this period. Energy poverty was classified as low in urban areas and moderate in rural areas. Electricity adequacy, measured by household electricity connection capacity, contributed the largest share of deprivation intensity, while lighting contributed the least. This indicates that although most households have electricity connections, basic energy needs are not necessarily met when electricity connection capacity is limited and modern appliances are unaffordable. At the provincial level, most rural areas were classified as moderate, while a clear regional disparity was observed in urban areas, with western Indonesia generally classified as low and eastern Indonesia classified as moderate. Overall, the findings highlight the need for institutionalised policies that address energy poverty, increase minimum household electricity capacity, and ensure equitable access to essential energy services, particularly in rural areas and eastern Indonesia.
