Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Tea Field Soil Using Bioaugmentation with a Trichoderma viride

Land-use conversion from woodlands to tea fields in subtropical areas of central China leads to increased nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, partly due to increased nitrogen fertilizer use. A field investigation of N2O using a static closed chamber-gas chromatography revealed that the average N2O fluxes in tea fields with 225 kg N ha−1 yr−1 fertilizer application were 9.4 ± 6.2 times higher than those of woodlands. Accordingly, it is urgent to develop practices for mitigating N2O emissions from tea fields. By liquid-state fermentation of sweet potato starch wastewater and solid-state fermentation of paddy straw with application of Trichoderma viride, we provided the tea plantation with biofertilizer containing 2.4 t C ha−1 and 58.7 kg N ha−1. Compared to use of synthetic N fertilizer, use of biofertilizer at 225 kg N ha−1 yr−1 significantly reduced N2O emissions by 33.3%–71.8% and increased the tea yield by 16.2%–62.2%. Therefore, the process of bioconversion/bioaugmentation tested in this study was found to be a cost-effective and feasible approach to reducing N2O emissions and can be considered the best management practice for tea fields

Y chromosome evidence of earliest modern human settlement in East Asia and multiple origins of Tibetan and Japanese populations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The phylogeography of the Y chromosome in Asia previously suggested that modern humans of African origin initially settled in mainland southern East Asia, and about 25,000–30,000 years ago, migrated northward, spreading throughout East Asia. However, the fragmented distribution of one East Asian specific Y chromosome lineage (D-M174), which is found at high frequencies only in Tibet, Japan and the Andaman Islands, is inconsistent with this scenario.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, we collected more than 5,000 male samples from 73 East Asian populations and reconstructed the phylogeography of the D-M174 lineage. Our results suggest that D-M174 represents an extremely ancient lineage of modern humans in East Asia, and a deep divergence was observed between northern and southern populations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We proposed that D-M174 has a southern origin and its northward expansion occurred about 60,000 years ago, predating the northward migration of other major East Asian lineages. The Neolithic expansion of Han culture and the last glacial maximum are likely the key factors leading to the current relic distribution of D-M174 in East Asia. The Tibetan and Japanese populations are the admixture of two ancient populations represented by two major East Asian specific Y chromosome lineages, the O and D haplogroups.</p

Differential impact of biologically effective dose in distal versus proximal gamma knife targets for trigeminal neuralgia

We report the results of a long-term follow-up series in our center to verify the impact of biologically effective dose (BED) on the efficacy and safety of Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKS) in the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia (TN). A total of 138 consecutive cases of primary TN receiving GKS were included. A 4-mm collimator was used for all cases, and a median central dose of 85 Gy (range 70–90 Gy) was prescribed. The Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Scale was adopted to evaluate the severity of TN. The median follow-up period was 65.5 months (range 12–147 months). Overall, 123 (89.1%) patients eventually achieved effective relief. The influence of BED on treatment outcomes varied by target location. For patients with distal targets, BED was a significant predictor of treatment failure (OR: 0.996, 95% CI: 0.992–0.999, p = 0.02) and post-GKS complications (OR: 1.002, 95% CI: 1.000–1.004, p = 0.01). However, BED did not significantly influence outcomes in the proximal target subgroup, either for treatment failure or complications. No significant association was found between BED and long-term outcomes in the entire cohort or in any subgroup analysis. Adjusting GKS doses according to BED for the distal target may optimize clinical outcomes in TN patients

Evolution and characteristics of China’s policies on non-hazardous industrial solid waste management: Analysis based on policy texts

[Objective] In the context of China’s “dual-carbon” goals and the ecological civilization development, the management of non-hazardous industrial solid waste (NHIW) in China faces new opportunities and challenges. This study aims to systematically review China’s policy texts on NHIW management from 2001 to 2024 and identify their evolutionary stages and main characteristics, thereby providing references for improving policies on comprehensive industrial resource utilization and enhancing environmental governance efficiency. [Methods] A total of 303 policy documents on NHIW management issued by central government from 2001 to 2024 were selected as the research samples. Through quantitative text analysis methods such as word frequency analysis and keyword co-occurrence analysis, combined with punctuated equilibrium theory, this study systematically investigated the evolutionary characteristics of policy objectives, number of policies, keywords, and issuing entities. [Results] (1) China’s policies on NHIW management from 2001 to 2024 could be divided into four stages: initial prevention-oriented and system-building efforts, steady advancement toward circular economy and ecological civilization, strengthened regulation and policy innovation, and a transition toward green, low-carbon, and high-quality development. (2) Across these stages, policy objectives were dynamically adjusted, governance tools were diversified, inter-entity collaboration was strengthened, and policy themes shifted from simple pollution control to comprehensive resource utilization and green development. [Conclusion] China’s policies on NHIW management have undergone a significant evolution from end-of-pipe pollution control to source prevention, and from fragmented management to systemic governance. Future efforts should focus on refined management, multi-department coordination, and innovation-driven strategies to better address resource and environmental pressures and carbon reduction demands, thus facilitating the realization of a Beautiful China and the sustainable development goals