Ludong University

Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity of Ecosystem Service Interactions and Their Driving Factors Across Different Spatial Scales in China’s Coastal Cities: An XGBoost–SHAP Analysis

Accurately understanding the complex interactions among ecosystem services (ESs) and their driving mechanisms across multiple temporal and spatial scales is essential for effective ecological governance and regional sustainable development. To address the limited simultaneous con...

Fine mapping and candidate gene analysis of qKnps-2A for kernel number per spike in wheat

Abstract Background Kernel number per spike (KNPS) is a crucial determinant of wheat yield. Previous studies identified qKnps-2A as a major stable QTL for KNPS on chromosome 2A using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between the semi-winter wheat cul...

Partial soil wetting and drying regulate root water uptake in deep-rooted apple orchard

The drought-prone Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) apple trees have roots that extend deep into the soil. Even when the upper soil layers (0–10 m) are above the permanent wilting point, deep (>10 m) root water uptake (RWU) occurs; the reasons for the deep RWU remain unknown. This stud...

Salt Crystallization-InducingStrong and Tough Hydrogels

Abstract Research on salt-mediated hydrogel structure and property modulation often neglects the potential effects of salt crystallization. Here, we leverage the crystallization of sodium phytate during poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel dehydration to induce the formation of den...

Decoupled Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling Across Soil Particle-Size Fractions in Apple Orchards of the Jiaodong Peninsula, China

The coupled mechanisms governing carbon–nitrogen turnover across soil particle-size fractions remain unclear. This study investigated soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) dynamics across five particle-size fractions in Cambisols under conventional and organic orchard...

Sodium benzoate breaks distant hybridization barrier in poplar

Jiaqi Shi, Mengxin Gong, Boyu Tian, Song Chen, Chaoning Zhao, Taihe Zhao, Syeda Alia Zehra Bukhari, Fei Lv, Su Chen, Hongxia Zhang, Junhui Wang, Xingguo La

Kindergarten organizational climate, preschool teachers' subjective well-being, and psychological security: A latent profile analysis and mediation analysis

To explore the relationships among different types of kindergarten organizational climate, preschool teachers' subjective well-being, and psychological security, this study surveyed 287 preschool teachers from mainland China using the Kindergarten Organizational Climate Questionn...