The densely packed sub-nm particles, molecular granular materials (MGMs), represent a new class of functional materials that deliver distinct mechanical properties from polymers and conventional granular materials. However, their costly synthesis and the vague understanding of their mechanical property hinder extensive progress. Herein, the supramolecular complexation approach is developed for the feasible construction of MGMs with hierarchical structures, while in situ small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is applied to monitor the mechanical deformation of MGMs for microscopic understanding. Amphiphilic oligomers are assembled from the ionic attraction of 1 nm molecular clusters and further pack into ordered hexagonal phases (HEX1) driven by hydrophobic interaction. Interestingly, stretching can induce structural orientation, and thus triggering the transformation of HEX1 to another hexagonal phase (HEX2) with denser packing, accounting for the tensile yield behavior of the MGMs. The supramolecular structure endows hierarchical structure relaxation dynamics, enabling their unique viscoelasticity with a resilient rubbery plateau even at high temperatures. Their flexibility renders the capability to facilely process the MGMs into highly oriented films and coatings with anisotropic properties for potential applications in optical device fabrications.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) loss in sloping farmland is a critical challenge for agricultural sustainability. This study investigated how citrus peel biochar (CPB), field snail shell powder (SSP), and their composite (CPB + SSP) differentially regulate SOC dynamics across slope positions (upper, middle, lower) in Guangxi’s citrus orchards. Key findings revealed: CPB significantly increased SOC content (up to 5.5 g·kg−1 at lower slopes) via high carbon input but suppressed mineralization amount in lower slope position (reduction of 17.9%) due to its high C/N ratio. SSP neutralized soil acidity (pH 3.95 to 7.5), stimulating microbial activity and raising mineralization rates by 58.95% (lower slope), yet minimally enhanced SOC (only +0.7 g·kg−1). CPB + SSP effectively balanced carbon stability and active release: dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and readily oxidizable organic carbon (ROC) increased by 14.4 mg·kg−1 and 0.22 g·kg−1 (middle slope), while SOC rose significantly (e.g., +2.2 g·kg−1 at lower slope). Slope position effects strongly influenced outcomes: the lower slope (highest initial SOC) responded most strongly to CPB for carbon stabilization, while middle slopes benefited from CPB + SSP to reconcile carbon loss with fertility. These results provide slope-specific strategies for SOC management by integrating amendment synergy and machine learning-driven insights in citrus orchards.

Forests play an important role in promoting carbon cycling and mitigating the urban heat island effect as one of the world’s major carbon storages. Scientifically quantifying tree biomass is the basis for assessing tree carbon storage and other ecosystem functions. In this study, a sample plot of Populus tomentosa plantation in the Olympic Forest Park in Beijing was selected as the research object. Point cloud data from three types of laser scanners, including terrestrial laser scanner (TLS), backpack laser scanner (BLS), and handheld laser scanner (HLS), were used to estimate the biomass of single tree trunks, branches, leaves, and aboveground total biomass based on the Allometric Biomass Model (ABM) and Advanced Quantitative Structure Model (AdQSM). The following conclusions were drawn from the estimation results: (1) For the three types of laser scanner point clouds, the biomass estimation values obtained using the AdQSM model were generally higher than those obtained using the Allometric Biomass Model. However, the estimation values obtained using the two models were similar, especially for tree trunks and total biomass. (2) For total biomass and individual biomass components of single trees, the results obtained from handheld and terrestrial laser scanner point clouds are consistent; however, they show some differences from the results obtained from backpack-mounted point clouds. This study further enriches the methodological system for estimating forest biomass, providing a theoretical basis and reference for more accurate estimates of forest biomass and more sustainable forest management.

Obesity is closely related with insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. Here, we report that unsaturated lipid-modified polyoxovanadates (ULPOVs) can restrict weight gain of diet-induced obese mice and improve their glycemic control and obesity-associated inflammation. Oral administration of the sub-nanosized ULPOVs at a low dosage for 7 weeks reduces the body weight and almost normalizes the blood glucose levels of obese mice fed on a high-fat diet. ULPOV treatment increases the activity of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and reduces intestinal caloric intake, which may be the main reason for blood sugar and body weight control. In addition to insulin-sensitizing, PPARγ activation induced by ULPOV treatment in obese mice with atopic dermatitis (AD) promotes the type 2 T helper (T H 2) cell selective responses and therapeutic effects on immune dysregulation caused by obesity. These data suggest sub-nanosized polyoxovanadate clusters as a class of potential candidates to relieve symptoms accompanied by diet-induced obesity.

To examine the mechanisms of organic carbon transformation and sequestration by biochar in citrus orchard soil, a 100-day organic carbon mineralization test was conducted using citrus orchard soil from a 5-year-old forest. Calcium-modified citrus peel biochar (OBC-Ca) was applied at rates of 0%, 1%, 2%, and 4%. The results indicated that different percentages of OBC-Ca significantly influenced the mineralization processes in citrus orchards. Specifically, the cumulative mineralization of soil organic carbon was notably reduced by 8.68% and 17.00% with the application of 2% and 4% OBC-Ca, respectively, compared to the control group. Random forest analysis revealed that microbial biomass carbon (MBC), readily oxidizable carbon (ROC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were critical indicators for predicting the cumulative mineralization of soil organic carbon. MBC and ROC were found to inhibit the cumulative mineralization, while DOC promoted it. As the proportion of OBC-Ca applications increased, MBC rose by 2.63% to 10.46%, ROC increased by 16.41% to 108.59%, and DOC increased by 0.48% to 11.67%. Correlation analysis demonstrated a significant negative correlation between the cumulative mineralization rate of soil organic carbon and soil enzyme activity, with soil sucrase content increasing significantly by 216.42% to 393.44% compared to the control. The application of calcium-modified biochar effectively reduces carbon dioxide emissions from citrus orchard soils, with a 4% application yielding the most favorable outcomes for enhancing soil carbon sinks, thereby positively impacting the carbon sequestration potential of citrus orchard soil.

The removal of radioactive aqueous iodine is critical to the minimization of environmental impacts from nuclear energy production; however, its rapid and efficient removal at low-concentration level is still challenging. Herein, 2 nm metal-organic polyhedra (MOP) with a high binding affinity towards iodine are supramolecularly complexed with hydrophilic telechelic polymers and robust hybrid hydrogels with controlled hierarchical porosities can be obtained. The topologies of macromolecular ligands and the polymer/MOP concentrations are varied to elucidate the phase diagrams for hydrogel formation. The gels' meso-channel sizes and the distribution of hierarchical pores can be effectively regulated by varying the polymers' end groups and topologies. The meso-channels with optimized sizes favor the rapid diffusion of iodine while the homogenous distribution of MOP units maximizes the accessible area of MOP micropores, which cooperatively contributes to the high iodine capture efficiency. The MOP hydrogel demonstrated high absorption rate (2.336 g g-1 h-1) towards iodine molecules, surpassing most of the as-reported adsorbents. The work not only provides solutions for the robust formation of MOP-based hydrogels, but also paves new avenues for the effective treatment of low dose aqueous radioactive iodine. The Rh-MOPs coordinate with telechelic ligands to form robust hydrogels with controlled hierarchical porosities, where the meso-channels and the micropores of MOPs cooperatively achieve the rapid removal of low-concentration aqueous iodine.

Iron overload has been evidenced to contribute to obesity-associated metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance. Strategies to reduce iron levels might help manage the metabolic complications associated with obesity. Here, it is demonstrated that the specific accumulation of oleic acid-modified polyoxovanadates (OPOVs) in adipose tissue leads to the reduction of iron concentrations in adipocytes in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). Conjugation of oleic acids to polyoxovanadates enables tissue-specific depletion of iron from white adipose tissue (WAT) by OPOVs, protecting mice from HFD-induced obesity and obesity-associated metabolic deteriorations. Glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity are improved in OPOV-treated mice, which demonstrates that the OPOV-induced iron depletion can reverse the metabolic degeneration caused by HFD-induced obesity. Furthermore, a decrease in expression of the marker genes of iron overload suggests the participation of OPOVs in maintaining iron homeostasis and a potential medical application of vanadium clusters in targeting the iron overload caused by obesity. These findings underscore the potential of vanadate-based clusters tailored to address the complex interplay between iron metabolism and metabolic health.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can enhance the uptake of soil nutrients and water by citrus, promoting its growth. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the action of AM fungi in promoting the growth of citrus were not fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore the role of AM fungi Funneliformis mosseae in the regulatory mechanisms of P. trifoliata growth. Pot experiments combined with non-targeted metabolomics methods were used to observe the growth process and changes in metabolic products of P. trifoliata under the conditions of F. mosseae inoculation. The results showed that F. mosseae could form an excellent symbiotic relationship with P. trifoliata, thereby enhancing the utilization of soil nutrients and significantly promoting its growth. Compared with the control, the plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, and aboveground and underground dry weight in the F. mosseae inoculation significantly increased by 2.57, 1.29, 1.57, 4.25, and 2.78 times, respectively. Moreover, the root system results confirmed that F. mosseae could substantially promote the growth of P. trifoliata. Meanwhile, the metabolomics data indicated that 361 differential metabolites and 56 metabolic pathways were identified in the roots of P. trifoliata and were inoculated with F. mosseae. This study revealed that the inoculated F. mosseae could participate in ABC transporters by upregulating their participation, glycerophospholipid metabolism, aminoacyl tRNA biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism and metabolites from five metabolic pathways of benzoxazinoid biosynthesis [mainly enriched in lipid (39.50%) and amino acid-related metabolic pathways] to promote the growth of P. trifoliata.

The primary ecological challenges in citrus orchards include soil acidification, nutrient depletion, and significant carbon dioxide emissions resulting from conventional cultivation practices. To address these challenges, citrus peel residues and cassava stalks underwent pyrolysis at 500 °C to generate biochars. Different proportions of these biochars (1%, 2%, and 4%) were applied under controlled laboratory conditions to assess their impact on the mineralization of soil organic carbon in citrus orchards. The results indicated that both types of biochar effectively regulated the soil pH to approximately 5.5. Significantly, the addition of 4% cassava stalk biochar significantly increased the levels of available phosphorus and potassium. The phosphorus levels rose by 512.55%, and the potassium levels surged by 1434.01%. Additionally, the soil organic carbon increased to 16.7 g/kg. Conversely, the citrus peel biochar decreased the availability of phosphorus but resulted in the highest increase in available potassium, at 1523.75%, and elevated the soil organic carbon content to 13 g/kg. Both types of biochar enhanced the soil organic carbon mineralization rate to varying extents with increasing application ratios, simultaneously boosting the cumulative amount of organic carbon mineralized. Among the treatments, cassava stalk biochar displayed the lowest C0/SOC ratio, of 0.169, indicating its superior carbon retention capacity. Furthermore, cassava stalk biochar showed inhibitory effects on soil catalase and urease activities within the citrus orchard. Overall, the application of 4% cassava stalk biochar appears to be more beneficial for nutrient regulation and carbon sequestration in citrus orchard soils, while also contributing to the reduction in soil acidification by adjusting pH levels.

Advanced neutron scattering techniques have the unique advantages of comprehensively characterizing the hierarchical structure and dynamic behavior of molecular clusters (MCs) at a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Therefore, the application of neutron scattering techniques can provide spatiotemporal information of MCs concerned about both the structure and dynamics topics. This will help us to get insight into their structure-property relationships and guide the rational design of MCs-based functional materials applicable for diverse application scenarios.Image 1

Obesity, characterized by the dysregulation of energy balance in adipose tissue and other metabolic organs, is frequently accompanied by chronic low-grade inflammation. As long-acting insulin sensitizers, the organically-derivatized polyoxovanadates (POVs), can extend the dosing interval of antidiabetic drugs from hourly to almost daily. In this work, the protective activity of POVs is investigated by an eight-week in vivo experiment, in which a small amount of POVs was administrated orally to a mouse model of diet-induced obesity every day. The present study shows that administration of POVs significantly decreases the body weight of mice, reduces adipose tissue accumulation, and simultaneously reduces adipose tissue inflammation. In addition, the anti-obesogenic population of iNKT cells is protected potentially by POVs, which subsequently alleviates visceral adipose tissue inflammation in high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed mice against diet-induced obesity. By contrast, the change in body weight after POV treatment is the result of a substantial reduction in fat mass, with no obvious effects on lean body mass. These findings demonstrate that supplementary of POVs would be an effective way to combat obesity and metabolic disorders while lowering metabolic inflammation.

Intermittent outbreaks of global pandemic disease have spurred new sensors and medicines development for the prevention of disease spread. This perspective specifically covers recent advances, challenges, and future directions in virus-mimetic polymeric nanostructures and their application in biological medicines with a special emphasis on subunit vaccine development. With tailorable compositions and properties, polymers facilitate the ingenious design of various polymeric nanostructures. As one type of polymeric nanostructures, virus-mimetic polymeric nanostructures have been developed as an attractive platform for enhanced immune responses, since they combine the merits of polymer nanocores with the biomimetic characteristic of virus which displays multivalent epitopes on their surfaces. This perspective also provides an applicative approach to rationally design virus-mimetic polymeric platforms based on nanostructures that are self-assembled by using polymers as templates and the antigens and metal oxide clusters loaded on their surface to mimic viruses in size and surface antigenicity. Sub-200 nm virus-mimetic polymeric nanostructures are in a relatively lower level of endotoxins and can promote the antigens to elicit potent humoral and cellular immune responses against pathogenic bacteria. The promising development of virus-mimetic polymeric nanostructures will continue to protect human health from common pathogens and emerging infectious threats.

The therapeutic application of vanadium compounds is plagued by their poor bioavailability and potential adverse effects. Herein, 1 nm polyoxovanadate (POV) clusters are functionalized with alkyl chains of various lengths and studied for the effect of surface engineering on their preclinical pharmacokinetics and typical insulin-sensitizing activity. The concentrations of surface engineered POVs in plasma, urine, and feces are monitored after a single administration to rats. The POVs exhibit a two-compartment profile of in vivo kinetics, and the surface engineering effect plays an important role in renal clearance of the POVs comparable to small molecules. POVs functionalized with long alkyl chains show much shorter elimination half time t1/2β and higher elimination fractions (50%) within 48 h than pristine POVs, suggesting favorable elimination kinetics to mitigate the possible side effects of vanadium. Meanwhile, long alkyl chain modification leads to a 76% increment of oral bioavailability in contrast to unmodified POVs. As suggested by glucose tolerance tests and sub-chronic toxicity tests, the above two factors contribute to the enhanced therapeutic efficacy of POVs while mitigating their adverse effects. The surface engineering protocol provides a feasible approach to the optimization of the bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties of POVs for promoted insulin-sensitizing activities.

以8年生枳砧尤力克柠檬和北京柠檬为试材,对其果实生长过程的变化进行了研究.结果表明,两个柠檬品种果实纵、横径净增长量的动态变化趋势大体一致,果实生长过程中均出现三个生长高峰期,并呈"S"形曲线增长.果实第一个生长高峰期,生长量最大持续时间最长,两个柠檬品种均出现在5月中旬至7月中旬,约60d;第二个生长高峰期,生长量及持续时间均低于第一个生长高峰期,尤力克柠檬出现在8月上旬至9月中旬,约40d,北京柠檬出现在8月上旬至9月下旬,约50d;第三个生长高峰期,生长量最小持续时间最短,两个柠檬品种均出现在10月中旬至11月中旬,约30d.11月中旬以后两个柠檬品种果实纵、横径逐渐停止生长,达到最大值.

为筛选"台湾香水柠檬"(Citrus medica var.medica)在广西桂林栽培的适宜砧木,以枳[Poncirus trifoliata(L.)Raf.]、资阳香橙(C.junos Sieb.ex Tanaka'Ziyangxiangcheng')和酸柚(C.grandis)为砧木嫁接"台湾香水柠檬",对不同砧穗组合的物候期、嫁接亲和性、树体生长、产量和果实品质进行了为期3年的对比研究.结果表明,3种砧木与"台湾香水柠檬"嫁接亲和良好,物候期基本一致.砧木对树体生长结果和果实内外品质均有影响.酸柚砧的树势强,枝梢抽发数量多,新梢生长量大,树冠高大,产量不稳定,出现大小年现象,果实偏大,皮厚,果面粗糙,可溶性固形物、可滴定酸、维生素C含量及果汁率相对较低.枳砧和资阳香橙砧的树体生长情况接近,产量逐年增加,果实大小适中,果皮薄,果面光滑;枳砧的可溶性固形物、可滴定酸、维生素C含量及果汁率显著高于酸柚砧,枳砧与资阳香橙砧的差异不显著.综合评价,酸柚砧树体生长过旺,果实品质差,酸柚不宜作"台湾香水柠檬"的砧木;枳砧和资阳香橙砧的早结丰产性及果实品质较好,枳和资阳香橙适宜作"台湾香水柠檬"的砧木.

Endocrine disruptors are newly identified water contaminants and immediately caught worldwide concern. An effort has been made to degrade endocrine disruptors in the water body by relying on laccase-assisted approaches, including laccase-mediated catalytic systems, immobilized laccase catalytic systems, and nano-catalytic systems based on atypical protein enzymes. Analogous to laccases, polyoxometalates (POMs) have a similar size as these enzymes. They are also capable of using oxygen as an electron acceptor, which could assist the removal of endocrine disruptors in water. This perspective begins with a brief introduction to endocrine disruptors and laccases, summarizes current approaches employing laccases, and focuses on the nano-catalytic systems that mimic the function of laccases. Among the inorganic nanoparticles, POMs meet the design requirements and are easy for large-scale production. The catalytic performance of POMs in water treatment is highlighted, and an example of using polyoxovanadates for endocrine disruptor degradation is given at the end of this perspective. Exploring laccase-mimetic POMs will give key insights into the degradation of emergent water contaminants.

在盆栽条件下,以柑橘砧木枳(Fructus aurantii)幼苗为试验材料,在基质中接种从广西土壤中分离得到的不同丛枝菌根(AM)真菌菌株,探讨不同AM真菌对枳根系的侵染能力和植株生长的影响.结果表明:用于试验的14个AM真菌菌株均能与枳根系形成共生关系,平均侵染率为36.16％,其中侵染率最高的菌株是黄雷德克囊霉(Redeckera fulvum,Rf),侵染率高达92.83％,侵染率最低的菌株是副冠球囊霉(Glomus coronatum,Gc),侵染率仅为0.23％;接种黄雷德克囊霉、摩西斗管囊霉(Funneliformis mosseae,Fm2)和副冠球囊霉这3个菌株处理的枳植株的株高、茎粗、叶片数和叶柄长均高于CK,是枳的优势菌株,能促进枳的生长.

[目的]筛选促进柑橘砧木资阳香橙盆栽幼苗生长的丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF),为柑橘菌根种苗应用提供参考,也为利用菌根柑橘种苗抑制柑橘黄龙病探索新途径.[方法]采用盆栽试验,利用资阳香橙幼苗接种从广西土壤分离纯化获得的15株AMF菌株,研究不同AMF对根系的侵染及对植株的促生效应.[结果]15株AMF均能与资阳香橙根系形成共生关系.其中,黄雷德克囊霉1(Redeckera fulvum 1)对植株根系的侵染率最高,达到81.27％;脆无梗囊霉(Acaulospora delicata)的侵染率最低,为8.57％;15株菌株的平均侵染率为50.97％.幼套近明球囊霉(Claroideoglomus etunicatum)和摩西斗管囊霉(Funneliformis mosseae)可促进资阳香橙的生长,其株高、茎粗、叶片数和叶绿素SPAD值均显著高于对照(P＜0.05).[结论]幼套近明球囊霉和摩西斗管囊霉是促进资阳香橙生长的优势菌株.

为了解桂林市沙糖桔产区叶片营养元素的丰缺状况,进而为合理施肥提供参考,于2017年9-10月调查分析了6个县60个果园叶片的氮(N)、磷(P)、钾(K)、钙(Ca)、镁(Mg)、硼(B)、铁(Fe)、锰(Mn)、铜(Cu)、锌(Zn)含量,并根据柑桔叶片营养相关分级标准判定丰缺状况.结果 表明,桂林市沙糖桔叶片N和B普遍丰富,含量偏多(超过适量水平,包括高量和过量水平)果园的比例分别为43.33％和78.33％;叶片P、K、Ca、Mg、Cu和Zn偏少的现象较明显,含量不足(低于适量水平,包括低量和缺乏水平)果园比例分别为38.33％、35.00％、40.00％、43.33％、65.00％和81.67％;叶片Fe和Mn适量的果园比例分别为65.00％和66.67％,均同时存在偏多或不足的现象.桂林市沙糖桔产区树体营养元素失衡现象普遍存在,总体上,生产中应减少N和B肥的用量,改善P、K肥施肥方式提高其利用效率,重视叶面施肥补充Ca、Mg、Cu、Zn,合理施用Fe和Mn肥,以确保树体营养均衡.

为了解桂北柑橘园土壤化学状况,2017年在桂北7个柑橘主产县(市)选取102个代表性柑橘园采集土壤样本,对pH、有机质和10种养分进行定量分析.结果表明:土壤pH变幅3.95～8.02.其中,pH处于强酸性(pH<4.5)、酸性(pH 4.5～5.5)和碱性(pH>7.3)范围的果园分别占总样本数的24.51％、48.04％和9.80％,大部分果园土壤pH为强酸性和酸性,有64.70％的果园土壤pH适宜或基本适宜(pH 4.5～7.0)柑橘生长,但仅有14.71％ 的果园土壤pH适宜柑橘生长(pH 5.5～6.5).土壤有机质含量丰富,适量及以上水平的比例达86.27％.果园土壤营养元素丰缺并存,失衡比较明显,其中,有效磷和有效钾含量不足(低量或缺乏)的比例分别为33.33％和30.39％,超标(高量或过量)比例分别为21.57％和23.53％;碱解氮和有效钙含量主要在适量范围,不足比例分别为36.27％和31.37％;有效铁和有效锰含量丰富,超标比例分别为64.71％和55.89％;有效镁、锌、铜和硼含量不足比例较高,分别为59.80％、92.16％、56.86％和50.98％.桂北柑橘产区土壤养分限制因子主要为土壤酸化,有效镁、锌、铜和硼含量不足,生产上应注重调节土壤酸碱度,适度增施镁、锌、铜和硼肥.