Soil microbial biomass (SMB) and soil microbial communities (SMCs) are the key factors in soil health and agricultural sustainability. We hypothesized that low bioavailable carbon (C) and energy were the key limiting factors influencing soil microbial growth and developed a new fertilization system to address this: the simultaneous application of mineral fertilizers and high-energy-density organic amendments (HED-OAs). A microcosm soil incubation experiment and a Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis pot culture experiment were used to test the effects of this new system. Compared to mineral fertilizer application alone, the simultaneous input of fertilizers and vegetable oil (SIFVO) achieved a bacterial abundance, fungal abundance, and fungal:bacterial ratio that were two orders of magnitude higher, significantly higher organic C and nitrogen (N) content, significantly lower N loss, and nearly net-zero N2O emissions. We proposed an energy and nutrient threshold theory to explain the observed bacterial and fungal growth characteristics, challenging the previously established C:N ratio determination theory. Furthermore, SIFVO led to microbial community improvements (an increased fungal:bacterial ratio, enriched rhizosphere bacteria and fungi, and reduced N-transformation bacteria) that were beneficial for agricultural sustainability. A low vegetable oil rate (5 g/kg) significantly promoted Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis growth and decreased the shoot N content by 35%, while a high rate caused severe N deficiency and significantly inhibited growth of the crop, confirming the exceptionally high microbial abundance and indicating severe microbe–crop competition for nutrients in the soil.
Microparticle manipulation has been widely used in clinical
diagnosis,
cell separation, and biochemical analysis via optics, electronics,
magnetics, or acoustic wave driving. Among them, the bulk acoustic
wave (BAW) driving method has been increasingly adopted because of
non-contact, easy control, and precise manipulation. However, its
low manipulation efficiency limits the usage of the BAW driving in
high viscosity solutions. Therefore, in order to obtain larger driving
force and more flexible manipulation of microparticles, both two-dimensional
(2D) and three-dimensional (3D) platforms based on the BAW and liquid
crystal backflow effect (LCBE) driving in liquid crystal (LC) solutions
are proposed. The driving forces applied on the microparticles allow
for the change of microparticle moving direction, which is also ascertained
through theory analysis combined with various driving methods. Specifically,
the maximum moving speed (68.78 μm/s) of the polystyrene particles
is obtained by the BAW (13 Vpp) combined with LCBE (30 V) at a low
frequency of 7.2 kHz in the 2D platform. Precise position manipulation
in 3D is also fulfilled through a programmable logic control model
using polystyrene particles as a demonstration. In addition, red blood
cells mixed with LC solutions are arranged in a line or gathered in
the pressure nodes of the BAW forces along with sinusoid signals generated
by various transducer combinations. Therefore, it is approved that
the LC solution that induces the LCBE force could increase the microparticle
manipulation efficiency in both 2D and 3D platforms. The proposed
method will open up new avenues in particle manipulation and benefit
a variety of applications in cell separation, drug synthesis, analytical
chemistry, and others.
Background and Aims:The natural course of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is widely studied; however, follow-up studies of the same patients are scanty. Here, we studied the dynamic changes of serum HBV RNA and cytokines in hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients treated with entecavir (ETV) to explore the relationship between the HBV serum viral nucleic acids and host immunity. Methods: Thirty-three chronic hepatitis B patients who are HBeAg-positive, with high virus load (HBV DNA >20,000 IU/mL), and received standard nucleos(t) ide analogue (NA) antiviral therapy (ETV) for more than 48 weeks were included. The serum levels of HBV nucleic acids and selected cytokines were measured at 0, 12, 24, and 48 weeks respectively. Results: Serum HBV RNA could still be detected while serum HBV DNA had fallen below the detection limit in patients treated with ETV. There was a strong positive correlation between HBV RNA and HBeAg, with a concomitant decrease in the secretion of cytokines from type 1 helper T (Th1)/type 2 helper T (Th2)/interleukin (IL)-17 producing T (Th17) cells. IL-4 and IL-10 were the main cytokines negatively associated with serum HBV RNA. Conclusions: HBeAg can be used to reflect the load of HBV RNA indirectly, because serum HBV RNA has not been widely used in clinical practice. Meanwhile, serum IL-4 and IL-10 might be explored in combination with HBV RNA in guiding future clinical antiviral therapy.
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