Hexi University

Li Y., Yang R., Zhang L., Wang J., Yang F., Tu S., Qian J., Yao J.

Ma J., Feng Q., Li G., Liu W., Chen P., Li N., Qian W., Teng Y., Li X., Li J.

Understanding soil fertility is significant for the restoration and scientific management of shrub vegetation in the Qilian Mountains. This study focused on the soils associated with five common alpine shrub species—Salix gilashanica, Potentilla fruticosa, Caragana jubata, Caragana tangutica, and Berberis diaphana. We examined soil fertility characteristics, analyzed the relationships among soil fertility indicators, and evaluated the comprehensive fertility status of soil within shrub communities using principal component analysis. The results indicated that (1) the mean values of soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus were 77.94, 3.85, and 0.74 g kg−1, respectively; (2) the soil organic matter and total nitrogen content were significantly higher than the national averages, while the total phosphorus content was slightly lower; and (3) the soil pH and total potassium showed weak variability, the total phosphorus content exhibited moderate variability, and other nutrient indicators (including soil organic matter, total nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, soil bulk density, and soil water content) exhibited strong variability. Soil organic matter exhibited a significant positive correlation with total nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, and soil water content but negatively correlated with soil pH and bulk density. Total nitrogen was positively correlated with alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and soil water content but negatively correlated with soil pH and soil bulk density. Total phosphorus demonstrated a positive correlation with total potassium and soil bulk density, whereas total potassium was negatively correlated with available phosphorus. The order of soil fertility of the five communities was Salix gilashanica > Potentilla fruticosa > Berberis diaphana > Caragana jubata > Caragana tangutica. The soil fertility index, based on PCA, indicated that Salix gilashanica exhibited the highest fertility status. The findings of this study provide a theoretical reference for the restoration and reconstruction of shrub vegetation, the enhancement of soil fertility, and the improvement of fragile ecosystems in the Qilian Mountains. It also provides essential insights for soil restoration and sustainable ecosystem management in alpine environments.

Huang X., Shi W.

Feng M., Wang Q., Wang X., Mo P., Tong Y.

Ultramarine is a highly favored blue inorganic pigment. It is non-toxic with a deep color and widely used in architecture, plastics, coatings, fine arts and cosmetics. In this study, ultramarine pigment was synthesized using palygorskite, anhydrous sodium carbonate and sulfur as the raw materials through the high-temperature solid-phase method. The incorporation of palygorskite into the synthesis process greatly improves the reaction efficiency and reduces the amount of sulfur. When the mass ratio of palygorskite, anhydrous sodium carbonate and sulfur is 2:6:3, the resulting ultramarine pigment exhibits optimal chrominance. Notably, this sulfur ratio is substantially lower than that used in conventional processes, highlighting the efficiency and potential environmental benefits of this approach. The XRD, FT-IR, UV visible spectroscopy and SEM reveal that the synthetically produced blue pigments possess a sodalite structure, incorporating S3− and S2− radicals. Stability assessments indicated a marked improvement in the acid resistance of the dark blue pigment upon modification with dodecyltrimethoxysilane, with no notable color degradation observed in either neutral or alkaline conditions. The refined formulation and synthesis process not only optimize the production of ultramarine pigment, but also pave the way for enhanced durability and broader application prospects in various industries.

Luo J., He L., Zhou L., Jiang L.

In this report, the cross sections of nuclear reactions 120Te(n,2n)119m,gTe and 130Te(n,2n)129m,gTe induced by d-T neutrons and their isomeric ratios (σm/σg) were measured. The pure ground state cross section (σg, for 130Te) deducted the effect from its isomeric transition. The off-line gamma-spectrum technique in conjunction with a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector was utilized to obtain the activity of the product radionuclides. The experiments were performed at the China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP). The K-400 neutron generator was used to produce neutrons with an energy of 13–15 MeV. The neutron fluence was monitored using the nuclear reaction 93Nb(n,2n)92mNb, which had a threshold energy that was similar to the reaction under study. A detailed covariance analysis was carried out for the cross sections of nuclear reactions 120Te(n,2n)119m,gTe and 130Te(n,2n)129m,gTe. All the measured cross sections were also determined using the theoretical calculation program TALYS-1.96 code with six level density models. The measured cross section values were compared with the results reported in the literature, along with the theoretical estimates and the evaluation results.

Liu J., Li Y., Yang R., Zhang L., Zhang X., Wang J., Qi Y., Qian J., Yao J.

Yang Q., Zhou B., Li D., Li Y., Grebogi C.

In this work, switching of vibrations between different modes of a class of multistable systems with parametric excitations is studied. An intermittent control method without altering the underlying dynamics of the system or its coexisting attractors is proposed. When an orbit meets a proximity constraint with the desired orbit, the control action is applied intermittently in the time domain. This control input is operated by perturbing one of the attractors with an impulsive force, thereby switching the system response to the other attractor. The stability of the method is analyzed theoretically, and its effectiveness is verified by numerical results. Additionally, the influences of neighborhood boundary on the amplitude and duration of control inputs in unconstrained and constrained intermittent control methods are also analyzed.

Song H., Wei Y., Gu Z., Han J., Wang X., Gong Y., Wang J.

Chen Y., Yan X., Liu J., Bian Z., Yan L.

Aims/Background Diabetes is a chronic lifelong condition that requires consistent self-care and daily lifestyle adjustments. Effective disease management involves regular blood glucose monitoring and ongoing nursing support. Inadequate education and poor self-management are key factors contributing to increased mortality among diabetic individuals. Providing personalized guidance and behavioral interventions through continuous nursing care is crucial for achieving optimal glycemic control and fostering positive societal outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an Omaha System-based continuous nursing model, implemented through the “Internet+” framework, on enhancing self-health management skills, glycemic control, and treatment adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods This retrospective study analyzed clinical data of T2DM patients who visited the diabetes health management clinic of Zhang Ye People's Hospital affiliated to Hexi University between December 2023 and May 2024. Participants were categorized into intervention and control groups based on whether they received the “Internet+”-enabled Omaha System continuous nursing care model. Variables, including demographic characteristics, self-management behaviors, cognitive abilities, environmental factors, glycemic control indicators, and treatment adherence (medication compliance, dietary compliance, lifestyle adherence, and follow-up punctuality), were assessed and compared at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months post-intervention. Results The study included 52 patients in the intervention group and 68 in the control group. Baseline characteristics revealed no significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). At 1 and 3 months post-intervention, the intervention group exhibited significant improvements in self-management behaviors, cognitive abilities, environmental factors, and overall scores compared to baseline and the control group (p < 0.05). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were also significantly reduced in the intervention group compared to baseline and the control group (p < 0.05). 3 months post-intervention, the intervention group demonstrated significantly higher adherence rates to dietary recommendations, healthy lifestyle practices, and treatment compliance compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion The “Internet+”-based Omaha System continuous nursing model significantly enhances self-health management capabilities, stabilizes glycemic control, and promotes adherence to healthy behaviors among patients with T2DM. These findings highlight the potential of the model for broader clinical application in diabetes management.

Xia H., Huang Y., Yang H., Wang X., Shi J., Liu L., Fu Y., Quan C., Li S.

CuO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via a two-jet electrospun method, and then screen-printed on silver-carbon electrodes, forming CuO-modified Ag-C (CuO/Ag-C) disposable strip electrodes. In natural environment condition for glucose detection, the obtained CuO/Ag-C electrodes show a high sensitivity of 540 nA·mM−1·cm−2, and a low limit of detection (0.68 mM) in a wide linear response range of 0.68 mM and 3 mM (signal/noise = 3), respectively. In addition, the CuO/Ag-C electrodes also exhibit excellent anti-interference, air stability and repeatability. As a result, the fabrication of CuO nanoparticles via an electrospun process and the technique of screen-printed electrodes are of great significance for glucose detection.

Zhang C., Li J., Yan F., Wang Z., Zeng X., Zhang J.

New insights into the phylogeny of species in the family Thymelaeaceae and support of the recognition of D. genkwa and D. aurantiaca as species in the genus Wikstroemia are provided. Wikstroemia (Thymelaeaceae) is an economically important genus because some of its species are used in traditional medicine and also contribute to pulp production. The morphological characteristics of Wikstroemia species exhibit continuous natural variation, posing a challenge in accurately distinguishing this genus from its sister genera solely based on morphological traits. Consequently, the classification of, and phylogenetic relationships between, Wikstroemia and its sister genera, as inferred from morphological characteristics, remain contentious. Chloroplast genome information has proven to be a valuable tool in plant phylogeny. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of the chloroplast genomes of 15 species in the genus Wikstroemia, all of which exhibited typical quadripartite structures, with sizes ranging from 150,054 bp to 175,898bp. These genomes encoded 122–143 genes, including 79–95 protein-coding genes, 36–40 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content displayed minimal variation, ranging from 36.6% to 37.47%. The distributions of SSRs and codon bias exhibited similarities among Wikstroemia species. High variability hotspots were found in 15 intergenic spacers and 5 genes. Phylogenetic analyses consistently grouped all Wikstroemia species into a single clade. Notably, Daphne genkwa and D. aurantiaca were found to be nested within Wikstroemia, rather than being closely related to other Daphne species. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses suggested that Wikstroemia is paraphyletic relative to Stellera chamaejasme. These findings provide new insights into the phylogeny of Wikstroemia and Daphne within the Thymelaeaceae, contributing to improved species identification and increasing the taxonomic and phylogenetic resolution of Wikstroemia.

Qi S., Meng L., Lou Q., Li Y., Shen Y., Zhang S., Wang X., Zhao P., Wang J., Wang B., Chen X., Zhang C., Du Y., Zhao J., Zhan X., et. al.

Abstract Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) poses a significant threat as a devastating pathogen to the global production and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Mining novel resistance genes within the tomato germplasm is an effective and environmentally friendly approach to combat TSWV. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying high TSWV resistance in a specific tomato line after experimental inoculation, despite not possessing any known TSWV resistance genes. The candidate causal genes of disease resistance traits were finely mapped by constructing different genetic populations and performing bulk segregant analysis sequencing. This approach identified SlDnaJ (Solyc10g081220) as a key locus potentially regulating TSWV resistance. We determined a structural variant of SlDnaJ (designated Sldnaj) containing a 61-bp promoter sequence deletion that was specifically present in the germplasm of the susceptible M82 tomato plant lines. Sldnaj-knockout transgenic plants were significantly more resistant to TSWV than wild-type plants. Up-regulated expression of Sldnaj affected the salicylic acid/jasmonic acid signaling pathway, which induced and promoted the systemic infection of TSWV in M82 susceptible plants. In summary, this study identified a new candidate TSWV susceptibility gene with a natural deletion variation in tomato. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanism underlying pathogen resistance while offering a target for breeding strategies of tomato with TSWV resistance.

Li Y., Yang Z., Shao Y., Jin Z., Gao L., Yu Y., Zhang F., Zhang Y., Nan Y., Li M., Zhang D., Hao Z., Weng J., Li X., Yong H.

Northeast China (NEC) is a major spring maize (Zea mays L.) growing belt, and the outputs substantially influence national grain production. However, the maize grain yield per unit area has little changes in recent years, partially due to the lack of elite germplasm resources and innovation. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the performance of diverse populations in NEC to propose appropriate strategies for the utilization of elite germplasm to broaden the genetic base of Chinese germplasm. Fifteen diverse maize populations from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and the U.S. were crossed to two local tester lines, representing Chinese heterotic groups Reid and Lancaster, for evaluating the combining ability and heterosis in three locations (Gongzhuling, Jilin Province, and Harbin and Suihua, Heilongjiang Province) in NEC over two years. The U.S. (BS13(S)C7 and BS31) and Chinese (Ji Syn A) populations exhibited more favorable alleles for high yield potential in all locations tested. Furthermore, the PH6WC × BS31 and PH6WC × Ji Syn A crosses had higher grain yields, and an appropriate number of days to silking, ear height, and resistance to lodging at Gongzhuling and Harbin in NEC. The best strategies for utilizing these diverse germplasms may be to develop new inbred lines from the existing elite populations or improve the grain yield and resistance to lodging of the elite line PH4CV for broadening the genetic base of the Chinese group Lancaster in NEC.

Jia X., Chen J.

Abstract The L p {L}_{p} Gauss image problem amounts to solving a class of Monge-Ampère type equations on the sphere. In this article, we discuss the regularity of solutions to the L p {L}_{p} Gauss image problem.

Chen L., Lei Y., Yang Y., Huang J., Zhang W., Hoong Ng K., Lai Y.

Metal-doping is a common strategy for establishing active sites on photocatalyst, but appropriately exposing them for maximized atomic utilization remains a great challenge in photocatalytic research. Herein, we propose a metal organic framework (MOF)-assisted approach to synthesis copper-modified titania (Cu-TiO