Search Results (674)

In embedding systems, protein–polysaccharide complexes can be utilized as wall materials to improve the bioavailability and activity of bioactive substances during delivery. This study used the antisolvent precipitation method to manufacture gliadin from highland barley distillers’ grains (HBDGG)–chitosan (Cs) nanoparticles. Using a variety of characterization techniques, the microstructure and interaction mechanism of HBDGG-Cs nanoparticles were examined, and their stability was assessed. In comparison to HBDGG, the results indicated that the addition of Cs enhanced the intensity of UV absorption and reduced the intensity of fluorescence. The content of α-helix dropped, while β-sheet, β-turn, and irregularly coiled content rose in the complexes. Hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions were the primary forces that formed the nanoparticles. The contact force between HBDGG and Cs enhanced the stability of the nanoparticles. The particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential were 526.10 ± 11.78 nm, 0.20 ± 0.06, and 51.31 ± 0.66 mV, respectively, at a mass ratio of 1:1 between HBDGG and Cs. The nanoparticles exhibited good ionic, acid-base, and storage stability in addition to being widely distributed. This work offers a theoretical foundation for employing HBDGG-Cs nanoparticles to deliver bioactive components in food as well as a novel method for the comprehensive usage of HBDGG and Cs. Full article

With the rapid growth of the Internet of Things, intelligent agriculture is becoming increasingly important. Traditional agricultural monitoring methods, which rely on fossil fuels and complex wiring, hinder progress. This work introduces a hybrid nanogenerator based on a rotational-swinging mechanism (RSM-HNG) that combines triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and electromagnetic generators (EMGs) for efficient wind energy harvesting and smart agriculture monitoring. The parallelogram mechanism and motion conversion structure enable the stacking and simultaneous contact-separation of multiple TENG layers. Moreover, it allows the TENG and EMG units to operate simultaneously, which improves energy harvesting efficiency and extends the system’s lifespan compared to traditional disc-based friction wind energy harvesting methods. With four stacked layers, the short-circuit current of the TENG increases from 16 μA to 40 μA, while the transferred charge rises from 0.3 μC to 1.5 μC. By optimizing the crank angle, material selection, and substrate structure, the output performance of the RSM-HNG has been significantly enhanced. This technology powers a self-sustaining wireless monitoring system for temperature, humidity, an electronic clock, and road guidance. The RSM-HNG provides continuous energy for smart agriculture, animal husbandry, and environmental monitoring, all driven by wind energy. It holds great potential for regions with abundant wind resources but limited electricity access, offering valuable applications in these areas. Full article

The Yarlung Zangbo River (With a total length of 2057 km, the river forms part of the Ganges–Brahmaputra River system), located in the core region of the Tibetan Plateau, hosts a unique yet fragile aquatic ecosystem. Fish populations inhabiting this ecosystem have been significantly impacted by external factors, leading to declining resources. This decline is particularly evident in local tributaries, including the DuoXiong Zangbo River—a main tributary where scientific research remains scarce due to its geographic remoteness. Consequently, the status of schizothoracinae in this river remains poorly understood, necessitating research on their population structure, growth characteristics, and resource dynamics, as well as the extent of external disturbances. During the 2023–2024 season, fishery surveys were conducted during two sampling periods: summer (June–July) and autumn (September–October). This study focuses on the Duoxiong Zangbo River, a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo River, targeting three schizothoracinae fish species: Schizothorax o’connori, Oxygymnocypris stewartii, and Ptychobarbus dipogon. The results show that their body lengths ranged from 23.02 to 440.00 mm, 23.02 to 460.00 mm, and 45.18 to 418.00 mm, with body weights ranging from 0.30 to 1394.30 g, 0.20 to 1013.00 g, and 1.20 to 814.30 g. Age distributions spanned 0–14, 0–16, and 0–13 years, respectively, indicating a trend toward younger and smaller individuals. Von Bertalanffy growth modeling revealed asymptotic body lengths (L_∞) of 591.233 mm, 507.557 mm, and 515.292 mm, with growth coefficients (k) of 0.098, 0.122, and 0.118, respectively. These parameters suggest that the populations are exhibiting accelerated growth strategies in response to fishing pressure. Using FiSAT II, exploitation rates (E) were calculated as 0.547, 0.758, and 0.711 for the three species, with predicted maximum sustainable exploitation rates of 0.579, 0.882, and 0.884, respectively. These findings indicate that the three schizothoracinae species have approached the threshold of overexploitation and are facing threats of overexploitation. In summary, this study demonstrates that schizothoracinae in the DuoXiong Zangbo River are experiencing adverse effects from external pressures, with populations at risk of decline. These results underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation and management strategies. Full article

Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. sinensis Rousi has high ecological and medicinal value, and it is an important plant resource unique to the arid regions of Northwest China. Exploring the influence of climate characteristics and soil factors on the composition, diversity, and function of the rhizosphere bacterial community of Chinese seabuckthorn is of great value for developing and popularizing characteristic plant resources in the arid regions of Northwest China. In this study, the rhizosphere soil of 13 Chinese seabuckthorn distribution areas in the northwest of China was taken as the research object, the bacterial community map was constructed based on 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing technology, and the species abundance composition, structural diversity, molecular co-occurrence network, and phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt), as well as the function of rhizosphere soil bacterial community, were systematically studied. Combined with Mantel test and redundancy analysis (RDA), the key habitat factors driving the rhizosphere soil bacterial community structure of Chinese seabuckthorn were explored. The results showed that: (1) The number of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in rhizosphere soil bacterial community of Chinese seabuckthorn was the highest in S2(3072) and the S12(3637), and the lowest in the S11(1358) and S13(1996). The rhizosphere soil bacterial community was primarily composed of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Acidobacteriota. Except for the S6 and S11 habitats, the dominant bacterial genera were mainly Achromobacter, Acidobacter (RB41), and Sphingomonas. (2) The α and β diversity of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities of Chinese seabuckthorn across 13 distribution areas were significantly different. The number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), Ace index, and Chao 1 index of soil bacterial community in the S12 distribution area are the highest, and they are the lowest in S11 distribution area, with significant differences. The aggregation of soil bacterial communities in the S5 and S10 distribution areas is the highest, while it is the lowest in the S6 and S11 distribution areas. (3) PICRUSt function classification of soil bacteria showed that Metabolism and Genetic Information Processing functions were the strongest across all distribution areas, with S10 exhibiting higher functional capacity than other areas and S11 showing the weakest. (4) Cluster analysis revealed that soil bacteria across the 13 distribution areas were clustered into two groups, with S10 and S12 distribution areas as one group (Group 1) and the remaining 11 distribution areas as another group (Group 2). (5) Redundancy analysis revealed that pH was the key soil environmental factor driving the rhizosphere soil bacterial community α-diversity of Chinese seabuckthorn, followed by altitude (ALT) and soil water content (SWC). In summary, Chinese seabuckthorn prefers neutral to alkaline soils, and environmental factors play an important role in driving bacterial diversity, community structure, functional profiles, and co-occurrence networks in rhizosphere soil of Chinese seabuckthorn. Full article

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different additives on the microbial composition, fermentation quality, and bacterial community structure of big-bale Leymus chinensis silage. An experiment was set up with four treatment groups: a control (C) group, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L) group, molasses (M) group, and L. rhamnosus + molasses (LM) group, with three replications per group, and L. chinensis silages were fermented for 20 and 40 days. The lactic acid, acetic acid, 1,2-propanediol, and propionic acid contents increased, and pH, butyric acid, 1-propanol, and ethanol contents decreased in the L, M, and LM groups compared to the C group. In the LM group, the number of lactic acid bacteria was the highest, while the pH was the lowest. Enterobacter and Paucibacter were the main dominant genera in the C group. The addition of L. rhamnosus and molasses increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Weissella, and Enterococcus. Lactobacillus abundance correlated positively (p < 0.01) with Lactococcus, Enterococcus, and Weissella and correlated negatively with Enterobacter and Paucibacter. Conversely, Enterobacter and Paucibacter showed a strong positive correlation (p < 0.01, R = 0.55) during fermentation. Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Weissella were positively associated (p < 0.01) with acetic and lactic acid levels, while Enterobacter abundance was correlated positively (p < 0.05, R = 0.43) with 1,2-propanediol content. In summary, the addition of both L. rhamnosus and molasses improved the fermentation quality and bacterial community structure of big-bale L. chinensis silage. In addition to inhibiting harmful microorganisms, this combination improved the fermentation products of big-bale L. chinensis silage through microbial regulation. Full article

The effects of changes in China’s final demand structure on its forestry sector and associated supply chains have not been thoroughly examined. This study aims to provide a detailed analysis of the quantitative relationships and underlying mechanisms between these interactive changes. Using China’s 153-sector input–output tables from the National Bureau of Statistics and applying a Leontief-based input–output model, we conducted scenario simulations through three distinct schemes, generating both quantitative and qualitative results. Our findings indicate that (1) For China’s forestry sector and its entire value chain to thrive, policymakers should boost consumer demand. This can better stimulate the development of forestry and the “agriculture-forestry-animal husbandry-fishery services” sector and related service industries; (2) Increased investment demand effectively stimulates the development of tertiary industries and secondary industries within the forestry supply chain and boosts the demand and production of intermediate products; (3) Changes in net exports have a significant impact on forestry and the forestry industry chain. To reduce dependence on foreign timber resources, China should strategically expand commercial plantation development; (4) Regarding intermediate product production, investment has a more pronounced effect on increasing total volume compared to consumption. Additionally, the Sino–US tariff disputes negatively impact the forestry industries of both countries. China needs to accelerate import substitution strategies for timber products, adjust international trade markets, and expand domestic consumption and investment to ensure the healthy and stable development of its forestry sector. Full article

To clarify the ecological mechanisms underlying the succession of artificial grasslands to native alpine meadows and systematically reveal the patterns of ecological restoration in artificial grasslands in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, this study provides a theoretical basis for alpine meadow ecological restoration. In this study, artificial grassland and degraded grassland (CK) with different restoration years (20 years, 16 years, 14 years, and 2 years) in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau were taken as research objects. We focused on the tillering characteristics, patch number, community structure evolution, and soil properties of the dominant species, C. alatauensis, and systematically explored the ecological restoration law by comparing and analyzing ecological indicators in different restoration years. The results showed the following: (1) With the extension of restoration years, the asexual reproduction ability of C. alatauensis was enhanced, the patches became large, and aboveground/underground biomass significantly accumulated. (2) Community structure optimization meant that the coverage and biomass of Cyperaceae plants increased with restoration age, while those of Poaceae plants decreased. The diversity of four species in 20A of restored grasslands showed significant increases (10.71–19.18%) compared to 2A of restored grasslands. (3) Soil improvement effect: The contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total phosphorus (TP), nitrate nitrogen (NN), and available phosphorus (AP) increased significantly with the restoration years (in 20A, the SOC content in the 0–10 cm soil layer increased by 57.5% compared with CK), and the soil pH gradually approached neutrality. (4) In artificial grasslands with different restoration ages (20A, 16A, and 14A), significant or highly significant correlations existed between C. alatauensis tiller characteristics and community and soil properties. In conclusion, C. alatauensis in artificial grasslands drives population enhancement, community succession, and soil improvement through patch expansion. Full article

The intensifying global climate warming caused by human activities poses severe challenges to ecosystem stability. Constructing an ecological security pattern can identify ecological land supply and an effective spatial distribution baseline and provide a scientific basis for safeguarding regional ecological security. This study analyzes land-use data from 2000 to 2020 for Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The PLUS model was utilized to project land-use potential for the year 2030. The InVEST model was employed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of habitat quality in the study area for both 2020 and 2030, thereby pinpointing ecological sources. Critical ecological restoration zones were delineated by identifying ecological corridors, pinch points, and barrier points through the application of the Minimum Cumulative Resistance model and circuit theory. By comparing ecological security patterns (ESPs) in 2020 and 2030, we proposed a dynamic restoration framework and optimization recommendations based on habitat quality changes and ESPs. The results indicate significant land-use changes in the eastern part of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture from 2020 to 2030, with large-scale conversion of grasslands into bare land, farmland, and artificial surfaces. The ecological security pattern is threatened by risks like the deterioration of habitat quality, diminished ecological sources as well as pinch points, and growing barrier points. Optimizing the layout of ecological resources, strengthening barrier zone restoration and pinch point protection, and improving habitat connectivity are urgent priorities to ensure regional ecological security. This study offers a scientific foundation for the harmonization of ecological protection and economic development and the policy development and execution of relevant departments. Full article

In order to explore the influence of the temperature gradient on rock failure degree during freezing and thawing, freeze–thaw-cycle tests were carried out on saturated red sandstone under the conditions of all-directional freeze–thaw and unidirectional freeze–thaw. The results show that the deformation behavior of saturated red sandstone during freeze–thaw cycles is significantly affected by freeze–thaw direction, and the redistribution of water during freeze–thaw cycles leads to significant strain variations. Macro-cracks caused by all-directional freeze–thaw are located in the center of the sample and crack from the inside out, while macro-cracks caused by unidirectional freeze–thaw are perpendicular to the temperature gradient direction and located in the lower part of the sample. Unidirectional freeze–thaw cycles cause the vertical inhomogeneity of the sample to be more obvious, and the uniaxial compressive strength of the sample decreases more significantly in the early stage. After 30 freeze–thaw cycles, the uniaxial strength of all-directional freeze–thaw and unidirectional freeze–thaw samples tends to be stable and virtually identical. The freeze–thaw cycles have seriously damaged the micro-structure of the sample, but the extent of damage to the cementing agents between particles is weaker than that caused by the all-directional freeze–thaw, owing to the seepage path formed in the pore water under unidirectional freeze–thaw conditions. Full article

To achieve regional sustainable development, the low-carbon transformation of agriculture is essential, as it serves both as a significant carbon source and as a potential carbon sink. This study calculated the agricultural carbon emissions in Liaocheng from 2010 to 2022 by analyzing processes including crop cultivation, animal husbandry, and agricultural input. Additionally, a simulation model of the water–energy–food–carbon nexus (WEFC-Nexus) for Liaocheng’s agricultural production process was developed. Using Vensim PLE 10.0.0 software, this study constructed a WEFC-Nexus model encompassing four major subsystems: economic development, agricultural production, agricultural inputs, and water use. The model explored four policy scenarios: business-as-usual scenario (S1), ideal agricultural development (S2), strengthening agricultural investment (S3), and reducing agricultural input costs (S4). It also forecast the trends in carbon emissions and primary sector GDP under these different scenarios from 2023 to 2030. The conclusions were as follows: (1) Total agricultural carbon emissions exhibited a three-phase trajectory, namely, “rapid growth (2010–2014)–sharp decline (2015–2020)–gradual rebound (2021–2022)”, with sectoral contributions ranked as livestock farming (50%) > agricultural inputs (27%) > crop cultivation (23%). (2) The carbon emissions per unit of primary sector GDP (CEAG) for S2, S3, and S4 decreased by 8.86%, 5.79%, and 7.72%, respectively, compared to S1. The relationship between the carbon emissions under the four scenarios is S3 > S1 > S2 > S4. The relationship between the four scenarios in the primary sector GDP is S3 > S2 > S4 > S1. S2 can both control carbon emissions and achieve growth in primary industry output. Policy recommendations emphasize reducing chemical fertilizer use, optimizing livestock management, enhancing agricultural technology efficiency, and adjusting agricultural structures to balance economic development with environmental sustainability. Full article

Natural products have emerged as potential alternatives to antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial diarrhea, due to their multi-targeting effects, low potential for inducing resistance, and favorable safety profiles. Currently, the search for natural product-based therapies has become an emerging focus in medical research. This growing interest is driven by the increasing awareness that the widespread and irrational use of antibiotics has contributed to the alarming rise in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, which in turn diminishes the efficacy of conventional drugs. Among these concerns, the limitations of antibiotics in managing bacterial diarrhea and the potential mechanisms by which natural products exert therapeutic effects are the main focus of this paper. Natural products, containing a wide array of bioactive compounds, can not only directly inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, disrupt bacterial membrane synthesis, and reduce toxin production, but also modulate inflammatory responses, enhance immune function, repair intestinal barriers, and restore gut microbial ecology—highlighting their systemic and multi-targeted therapeutic potential. Therefore, this paper will elaborate on how natural products combat bacterial diarrhea from three aspects: the pathogen and pathogenesis of bacterial diarrhea, natural product-based therapeutic studies, and the underlying mechanisms of action, thereby proposing natural products as viable alternatives to antibiotics. Full article

Hippeastrum, a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, is widely cultivated for its large, vibrant flowers with diverse petal colors, which have significant ornamental and economic value. However, the mechanisms underlying anthocyanin accumulation in Hippeastrum petals remain poorly understood. To fully explore the involved regulation mechanism was significant for the breeding of Hippeastrum and other Amaryllidaceae family plants. In this study, we selected six Hippeastrum cultivars with distinctly different petal colors. We used metabolomic profiling and high-throughput transcriptomic sequencing to assess varied anthocyanin profiles and associated expression of genes in their biosynthetic pathways. Four key anthocyanins were identified: cyanidin, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside, and delphinidin-3-rutinoside. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) correlated the abundance of these four anthocyanins with transcriptomic data, to suggest three regulatory modules. Nine transcription factors families in these modules were identified and some of them were validated using qRT-PCR. Y2H assay isolated some transcription factors interacted with TTG1 (WD40 protein), including MYB3/39/44/306 and bHLH13/34/110, illustrating the possibility of forming MBW complexes. Our study provides a comprehensive characterization of anthocyanin composition. These findings laid a theoretical foundation for future research on the regulatory mechanisms of pigment accumulation and the breeding of Hippeastrum cultivars with novel petal colors. Full article

This study aims to reveal the impact mechanisms of five typical topographic habitats in the Sanjiangyuan region (sunny slope, depression, shady slope, mountain pass, and transitional zone) on the characteristics and functions of rhizosphere soil fungal communities of Kengyilia thoroldiana, and to elucidate the association patterns between these communities and soil physicochemical factors. The species composition, diversity, molecular co-occurrence network, and FUNGuild function of microbial communities were investigated based on high-throughput sequencing technology. By combining the Mantel test and RDA analysis, the key habitat factors affecting the structure of the soil fungal community in the rhizosphere zone of Kengyilia thoroldiana were explored. The results showed that: ① The composition of the soil fungal community in the rhizosphere of Kengyilia thoroldiana in five topographical habitats showed significant differentiation characteristics: the number of OTUs in H2 (depression) and H5 (transitional zone) habitats was the highest (336 and 326, respectively). Habitats H2 showed a significant increase in the abundance of Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota and a significant decrease in the abundance of Basidiomycota compared to the other topographical habitats. ② The diversity and aggregation degree of the soil fungal community in the rhizosphere of Kengyilia thoroldiana in five topographical habitats showed differences. ③ Cluster analysis showed that the rhizosphere soil fungi in five topographical habitats of Kengyilia thoroldiana could be divided into two groups, with H2, H4 (mountain pass), and H5 habitats as one group (group 1) and H1 and H3 (shady slope) as one group (group 2). ④ The characteristics of the Kengyilia thoroldiana community and the physical and chemical properties of rhizosphere soil in five topographical habitats were significantly different, and the height, coverage, biomass, and soil nutrient content were the highest in H2 and H5 habitats, while lower in H1 and H3 habitats, with significant differences (p < 0.05). ⑤ Redundancy analysis showed that soil water content was the main driving factor to change the structure and function of the soil fungal community in the rhizosphere of Kengyilia thoroldiana in five topographic habitats in the Sanjiangyuan region. This study demonstrated that topographic habitats affected the species composition, functional pattern, and ecosystem service efficiency of the Kengyilia thoroldiana rhizosphere fungal community by mediating soil environmental heterogeneity, which provides microbial mechanistic insights for alpine meadow ecosystem protection. Full article

IMF (intramuscular fat, IMF), as a key index for evaluating meat quality traits (shear force and cooking loss, etc.), and its deposition process are jointly regulated by nutritional and genetic factors. In this study, we analyzed the molecular regulation mechanism of IMF deposition in the LD (longissimus dorsal muscle, LD) by dietary energy level in Pamir yaks. Meat quality assessment showed that the meat quality of the High-energy diet group (1.53 MJ/Kg, G) and the Medium-energy diet group (1.38 MJ/Kg, Z) were significantly improved compared with that of the Low-energy diet group (0.75 MJ/Kg, C), in which IMF content in the LD of yaks in G group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared with Z and C groups. Further analysis by combined transcriptomics and lipid metabolomics revealed that the differences in IMF deposition mainly originated from the metabolism of lipids, such as TG (triglycerides, TG), PS (phosphatidylserine, PS), and LPC (lysophosphatidylcholine, LPC), and were influenced by SFRP4, FABP4, GADD45A, PDGFRA, RBP4, and DGAT2 genes, further confirming the importance of lipid–gene interactions in IMF deposition. This study reveals the energy-dependent epigenetic regulatory mechanism of IMF deposition in plateau ruminants, which provides molecular targets for optimizing yak nutritional strategies and quality meat production, while having important theoretical and practical value for the sustainable development of livestock husbandry on the Tibetan Plateau. Full article

Belowground buds play a vital role in the clonal propagation and structural regulation of perennial herbaceous plants, especially in alpine environments, where vegetative renewal depends heavily on bud bank dynamics. However, the interactive effects of nitrogen addition and phenological stages on bud development and aboveground branching remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined the responses of rhizome buds, tiller buds, and aboveground tiller types of Kentucky bluegrass to six nitrogen levels (0, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 g/m²) across five growth stages on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The results showed that moderate nitrogen input (N2, 9 g/m²) significantly enhanced total bud density, particularly at the heading and maturity stages, indicating a threshold response. Aboveground reproductive tiller density peaked at N2 (9 g/m²), while vegetative and total tiller densities plateaued beyond N3 (12 g/hm²), suggesting a diminishing marginal effect of nitrogen on aboveground tiller density. Furthermore, bud density showed stage-specific correlations with tiller types: vegetative tillers were primarily influenced at the heading stage, and reproductive tillers were mainly influenced at the mature stage, with weakened associations in senescence. These findings highlight the phenological specificity and non-linear response of clonal grass regeneration to nitrogen input and provide a theoretical basis for optimizing nutrient management in cold alpine grasslands. Full article