Generalized Cardy conditions of topological defect lines

We propose a systematic procedure to work out systems of topological defect lines (TDLs) in minimal models. The only input of this method is the modular invariant partition function. For diagonal and permutation diagonal models, we prove there is a bijection between simple TDLs and primary fields preserving fusion rules. For block-diagonal models, we work out simple TDLs in the $3$-state Potts model as an example. The results agree with those in $3D$ topological field theory methods.Comment: 30 pages, 12 figure

Zirconium-Catalyzed Atom-Economical Synthesis of 1,1-Diborylalkanes from Terminal and Internal Alkenes

A general and atom-economical synthesis of 1,1-diborylalkanes from alkenes and a borane without the need for an additional H2 acceptor is reported for the first time. The key to our success is the use of an earth-abundant zirconium-based catalyst, which allows a balance of self-contradictory reactivities (dehydrogenative boration and hydroboration) to be achieved. Our method avoids using an excess amount of another alkene as an H2 acceptor, which was required in other reported systems. Furthermore, substrates such as simple long-chain aliphatic alkenes that did not react before also underwent 1,1-diboration in our system. Significantly, the unprecedented 1,1-diboration of internal alkenes enabled the preparation of 1,1-diborylalkanes. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

Zirconium‐Catalyzed Atom‐Economical Synthesis of 1,1‐Diborylalkanes from Terminal and Internal Alkenes

A general and atom-economical synthesis of 1,1-diborylalkanes from alkenes and a borane without the need for an additional H2 acceptor is reported for the first time. The key to our success is the use of an earth-abundant zirconium-based catalyst, which allows a balance of self-contradictory reactivities (dehydrogenative boration and hydroboration) to be achieved. Our method avoids using an excess amount of another alkene as an H2 acceptor, which was required in other reported systems. Furthermore, substrates such as simple long-chain aliphatic alkenes that did not react before also underwent 1,1-diboration in our system. Significantly, the unprecedented 1,1-diboration of internal alkenes enabled the preparation of 1,1-diborylalkanes. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA

Long-Term P Fertilizer Application Reduced Methane Emissions from Paddies in a Double-Rice System

Rice is the main staple food worldwide, yet paddy fields are a primary source of artificial methane (CH4) emissions. Phosphorus (P) is a key element in the growth of plants and microbes, and P fertilizer input is a conventional agricultural practice adopted to improve rice yield. However, the impact of long-term P fertilizer addition on CH4 emissions in rice paddies is still unclear. To test this impact, a 36-yr field experiment with and without P fertilizer application treatments under a double-rice cropping system was used in this study to explore how continuous P application affects CH4 emissions and related plant and soil properties. The cumulative CH4 emissions were 21.2% and 28.6% higher without P fertilizer application treatment than with P fertilizer application treatment during the early and late season, respectively. Long-term P fertilizer application increased the rice aboveground biomass by 14.7–85.1% and increased grain yield by 24.5–138.7%. However, it reduced the ratio of root biomass to aboveground biomass. Long-term P fertilizer input reduced the soil NH4+ concentrations in both rice seasons but increased the soil DOC concentrations in the late season. The soil methanogenic abundance and CH4 production potential were similar without and with P fertilizer application treatments; however, the methanotrophic abundance and soil CH4 oxidation potential with P fertilizer application treatment were significantly higher than without P fertilizer application treatment. Our findings indicate that long-term P fertilizer input reduces CH4 emissions in rice fields, mainly by improving CH4 oxidation, which highlights the need for judicious P management to increase rice yield while reducing CH4 emissions

Structural basis of host ligand specificity change of GII porcine noroviruses from their closely related GII human noroviruses

ABSTRACTDiverse noroviruses infect humans and animals via the recognition of host-specific glycan ligands. Genogroup II (GII) noroviruses consist of human noroviruses (huNoVs) that generally bind histo-blood group antigens (HBGAs) as host factors and three porcine norovirus (porNoV) genotypes (GII.11/18/19) that form a genetic lineage lacking HBGA-binding ability. Thus, these GII porNoVs provide an excellent model to study norovirus evolution with host ligand specificity changes. Here we solved the crystal structures of a native GII.11 porNoV P protein and a closely-related GII.3 huNoV P protein complexed with an HBGA, focusing on the HBGA-binding sites (HBSs) compared with the previously known ones to understand the structural basis of the host ligand specificity change. We found that the GII.3 huNoV binds HBGAs via a conventional GII HBS that uses an arginine instead of the conserved aromatic residue for the required Van der Waals interaction, while the GII.11 porNoV HBS loses its HBGA-binding function because of two mutations (Q355/V451). A mutant that reversed the two mutated residues back to the conventional A355/Y451 restored the HBGA-binding function of the GII.11 porNoV P protein, which validated our observations. Similar mutations are also found in GII.19 porNoVs and a GII.19 P protein mutant with double reverse mutations restored the HBS function. This is the first reconstruction of a functional HBS based on one with new host specificity back to its parental one. These data shed light on the molecular basis of structural adaptation of the GII porNoVs to the pig hosts through mutations at their HBSs