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Presenting treatment outcomes positively or negatively may differently influence treatment preferences and lead to sub-optimal decision in a medical context. This review systematically organised how positive versus negative framing of treatment outcomes influenced cancer treatment decisions of cancer patients and individuals without a cancer diagnosis. Three databases (PubMed, PsycInfo and Scopus) were searched for studies reporting the effects of positive versus negative framing on cancer treatment decision-making from 1981 to December 2020. The effects of positive versus negative framing on cancer treatment preferences and the elimination of framing effect were evaluated. A total of 12 studies that met inclusion criteria were reviewed. Framing effect was consistently observed in individuals without a cancer diagnosis. There was not enough evidence to suggest a robust framing effect in cancer patients. Surgery was preferred in positive framing, whereas adjuvant therapy was preferred in negative framing. Justification intervention significantly eliminated framing effect. Mixed framing failed to eliminate framing effect. Current recommendations for presenting treatment options are based on research in cancer-screening decision-making. Knowledge of how positive versus negative framing affect cancer patients' treatment decisions is still limited. Our review highlighted the need for continued research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The properties of coral sands are significantly affected by the gradation changes caused by the particle breakage. In this paper, a series of triaxial consolidated drained (CD) shear tests were carried out to investigate the influence of gradation on the particle breakage and mechanical properties of coral sands. The results showed that the softening and dilatancy during shearing are more significant for coral sands with smaller average particle sizes under low confining pressure. The peak friction angle decreases with the confining pressure and can be fitted by a power function for different gradations. The particle size distribution of the "hyperbolic" or "straight" curve has a trend to transform into a "sigmoidal" type after shearing; and the variation is affected by the confining pressure and the initial gradation. The critical state lines of the coral sands with different gradations are parallel straight lines on the e − (p ′ / p a) ξ plane. In addition, the relative breakage of coral sand particles increases with the confining pressure and the mean particle size. Based on the triaxial compression test results, the expressions relating relative breakages to the confining pressure and the gradation parameters were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a non-uniform strip-array decoupling structure (SADS) of the MIMO antenna-arrays for the dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) applications in intelligent transportation systems (ITS) is presented. The SADS is composed of metal strips with non-uniform longitudinal layout, which has a simple strip-array geometry, low design and fabrication complexity, and easy to be applied to the design domain without destroying the original antenna-array. The design of the strip thickness, strip-array layout and number of strips is realised by the proposed simple and effective optimisation method. The mutual coupling between the elements can be effectively suppressed to less than −32 dB by the proposed structure in the required bandwidth (5.795 GHz~5.815 GHz). The results show that, compared with the no-strip and uniform SADS, the non-uniform SADS can improve the maximum mutual coupling reduction by 23 dB and 13 dB, respectively. Both the simulated and measured results verify the effectiveness of the proposed SADS, which makes it very suitable for the large-scale MIMO antenna-arrays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the efficacy and safety of different treatment options for cervical pregnancy (CP). A total of 74 patients diagnosed with CP at Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital between January 2016 and September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 31 were treated with uterine artery embolization (UAE) followed by hysteroscopic curettage, 34 were treated with hysteroscopic curettage alone, and nine were treated with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) followed by hysteroscopic curettage. Medical records and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed. There were no significant differences in age, gravidity, parity, abortion, or preoperative hemoglobin levels among the patients in the three groups; however, significant differences in gestational age, gestational sac diameter, preoperative β-hCG, and presence of cardiac pulsation were observed (p < 0.05). After treatment, there was no conversion to laparotomy, and the uterus was preserved in all patients. Significant differences in blood loss during curettage, hospitalization costs, hospital days, menstrual recovery interval, β-hCG decline rates, retained products of conception, and intrauterine adhesions rate among the three groups were observed (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the placement of the uterine Foley balloon, effective curettage rate, pre-and postoperative hemoglobin decline, live birth rate, or proportion of subsequent pregnancies among the three groups. Our results showed that hysteroscopic curettage, HIFU, and UAE followed by hysteroscopic curettage are safe and effective for treating patients with CP. Compared with the UAE, HIFU has the advantages of lower hospitalization costs, shorter hospital stays, and shorter menstrual recovery intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is relatively common and certain high-risk HPV strains can induce epithelial dysplasia, increasing the risk of cervical cancer. Green tea polyphenol (GTP) preparations exhibit diverse anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and antitumor properties In Vitro and In Vivo. Topical GTP application has been recommended as a treatment for genital warts, but the effect of GTP treatment on HPV infection and HPV-associated cancer remains to be established. The present study aimed to explore the mechanism by which GTP affected HPV type 16 (HPV-16)-positive immortalized human cervical epithelial cells. Survival, apoptosis, and autophagocytosis of these cells following GTP treatment was assessed using CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining. These cells were further transfected with an shRNA specific for Nrf2 to generate stable Nrf2-knockdown cells. The levels of Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Bax, P53, Rb, HPV-16 E6, HPV-16 E7, P62, Beclin1 and LC3B were determined via Western blotting. These analyses revealed that GTP treatment induced autophagy and apoptosis in HPV-16-positive cells, while Nrf2 gene knockdown reversed GTP-induced autophagic and apoptotic effects. Together, these results suggested that GTP could alleviate HPV infection and HPV-associated precancerous lesions In Vitro by regulating the Nrf2 pathway, highlighting the therapeutic potential of GTP in treating HPV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optimization method of pattern synthesis is proposed for peak sidelobe level (PSLL) suppression and null controlling via element rotation and phase optimization. The purpose of this method is to introduce the rotation angle of element into the anti-interference array design to further improve the radiation performance. The design objective is to suppress the PSLL while maximizing the main-beam gain with the constraint of null depth. To save the computational costs and avoid the re-mesh, the improved MoM is presented to solve the radiation problem of anti-interference array, which can accurately give the radiation field and precisely predict the null position. The sensitivity and MMA based solving procedures of the optimization problem are presented. Typical examples are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that, through collaboratively optimizing the rotation angles and excitation phases, the PSLL of anti-interference array with desired nulls is effectively suppressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is an inherited disorder associated with abnormal deposition of cholestenol in the brain and other tissues. Here we report a Chinese family with two affected members of CTX. Clinical data were collected. Gene analysis, MRI, neuropsychological assessments, and the biopsy of right Achilles tendon xanthoma were carried out. The two cases had similar symptoms for cataracts, chronic diarrhea, progressive cognitive impairment and a disturbance of gait, and were identified with the same compound heterozygous mutations, c.435G>T in exon 2 and c.562C>T in exon 3. Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is an inherited disorder associated with abnormal deposition of cholestenol in the brain and other tissues. Although CTX is a treatable disease, the time of beginning treatment is crucial for therapeutic effect. Unfortunately, it usually takes years even decades from initial symptoms to the diagnosis of CTX. The screening for 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) gene even before the occurrence of tendon xanthoma is important for early diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important hormone that can regulate the heavy-metal uptake of plants. In this study, exogenous ABA was applied to lettuce (Lactuca sativa) grown under cadmium (Cd)-stress conditions, and the effects of exogenous ABA on the growth and Cd accumulation of lettuce were evaluated. The results showed that treatment of Cd significantly decreased biomass and increased Cd content of lettuce compared with the control. The shoot biomass increased after spraying 1, 5 and 10 μmol/L ABA, and the root biomass increased after spraying 1–20 μmol/L ABA compared with the treatment of Cd. The Cd content in shoots significantly decreased when exposed to different ABA concentrations. The lowest Cd content in shoots of lettuce was produced by the ABA concentration of 5 μmol/L, with decreased by 23.60% compared with the treatment of Cd. Therefore, spraying ABA effectively alleviated Cd toxicity and reduced Cd uptake in the edible parts of lettuce, and 5 μmol/L ABA was the optimal dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of intercropping with the cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulators Galinsoga parviflora, Bidens pilosa, Cosmos sulphureus and Solanum nigrum on the growth and Cd accumulation of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk). The results show that intercropping with B. pilosa improved biomass and photosynthetic pigment contents of water spinach, but intercropping with G. parviflora, C. sulphureus and S. nigrum shaded water spinach; thus, the growth of water spinach was inhibited. When compared with monoculture, the Cd contents in roots and shoots of water spinach were reduced by intercropping with B. pilosa, C. sulphureus and S. nigrum, and the shoot Cd content decreased by 27.93%, 3.12% and 5.30%, respectively. Intercropping with G. parviflora reduced the root Cd content in water spinach, but increased the shoot Cd content. Therefore, intercropping with B. pilosa could promote the growth and reduce the Cd accumulation of water spinach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the synthesis of enantiomerically pure (S)-α-methyl-serine methyl ester hydrochloride from 2-methyl-3-((4-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl)oxy)propanal and di-p-chlorobenzyl azodicarboxylate via asymmetrically catalyzed amination with naphthylalanine derivative catalyst. The application of the organocatalyst of D-3-(1-Naphthyl)-alanine is the key step in the synthesis and ensures the product is obtained with high levels of stereocontrol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in soil freeze/thaw dynamics in the Tibetan Plateau (TP) had significant influences on regional hydrology and ecosystem processes. We developed an algorithm to detect spring thaw onset in the central TP using microwave brightness temperature (Tb) data. We assumed that the Tb at lower frequencies is more sensitive to changes in soil freeze/thaw status, while the Tb at higher frequencies is subjected more to scattering effects of snow cover and vegetation. Therefore, the standard deviation of brightness temperature at 6-GHz horizontal polarization was used to detect soil F/T status, and a scattering index based on higher frequencies was used to constrain the scattering effects of snow cover. The algorithm was calibrated and validated with surface ground temperature and daily minimum air temperature. Results showed that our algorithm had a mean bias of 3.7 ~ 17.6 days and a RMSE of 7.5 ~ 19.7 days, and this method behaved better than the previous one based on all-frequency standard deviation of microwave Tb, which had a mean bias of 8.3 ~ 41.2 days and a RMSE of 13.4 ~ 27.6 days. Further validation is needed over more extensive area with diverse surface conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a class of neutral-type fuzzy cellular neural networks with operator and time-varying delays is considered. By using the theory of fixed point and differential inequality techniques, some sufficient conditions are established to ensure the existence and global exponential stability of pseudo almost periodic solutions for the addressed system, which extend previously known researches. Finally, an example and its numerical simulations are presented to illustrate the correctness of our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calibration model of near-infrared (NIR) spectra established using the Kalman filter-partial least square (partial least squares combined with a Kalman filter) method can be adapted to outdated equipment, environmental changes, external samples, and other applications. However, the variance of the measurement noise estimation for NIR spectrum measurements cannot be easily obtained using Kalman filter-partial least squares; therefore, the variance in the measurement noise is often assumed to be zero for the Kalman filter-partial least square calibration model, which affects the stability of the model. In this study, the measured input and output data were used effectively, and the gamma test method for estimating the measurement noise variance was used to improve the stability of the Kalman filter-partial least square calibration model. First, an accurate estimation of the measurement noise variance was obtained, and accurate modeling was then performed using Kalman filter-partial least squares. Finally, 600 abandoned drilling fluid samples were used to confirm the validity of the proposed method. The Kalman filter-partial least square and gamma test-Kalman filter-partial least square methods are compared. Testing of external samples 401-600 demonstrated that the stability of the Kalman filter-partial least square model decreased. The root mean square error of the prediction of the Kalman filter-partial least square model was 27.135, which was worse than that of the gamma test-Kalman filter-partial least square model (20.307). The validation results show that the proposed method has better stability in tracking the evolution of the NIR spectrometer’s measurement state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation technology has become one of the main techniques for remediating soils polluted by heavy metals because it does not damage the environment, but heavy metal-tolerant plants have the disadvantages of low biomass and slow growth. A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of melatonin (Mel) on growth and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the Cd accumulator Malachium aquaticum and hyperaccumulator Galinsoga parviflora by spraying different concentrations of Mel on them. The results showed that shoot biomass, photosynthetic pigment content and antioxidant enzyme activity were increased in both species after Mel was sprayed on their leaves. Mel reduced the Cd content in shoots of M. aquaticum and increased it in those of G. parviflora. In general, Cd accumulation was greatest in M. aquaticum when Mel was 200 μmol L−1 (120.71 μg plant−1, increased by 15.97% than control) and in G. parviflora when Mel was 100 μmol L−1 (132.40 μg plant−1, increased by 68.30% than control). Our results suggest it is feasible to improve the remediation efficiency of lightly Cd-contaminated soil by spraying G. parviflora with100 μmol L−1 Mel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ketamine is an anesthetic commonly used in low-income countries and has recently been shown to be effective for treatment-resistant depression. However, the illicit manufacturing, trafficking, and nonmedical use of ketamine are increasing globally, and its illicit use poses major public health challenges in many countries.Objectives: To review the nonmedical use of ketamine in selected countries and its regulatory control.Methods: We conducted a review of literature identified from searches of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (1979-2016) and PubMed databases, supplemented by additional references identified by the authors. Special attention was given to the regulation of ketamine.Results: Illicit manufacturing, trafficking, and use of ketamine appear to have begun on a large scale in several Asian nations, and it has subsequently spread to other regions. Regulations governing availability of ketamine vary across countries, but there is a clear trend toward tighter regulations.Conclusions: As nonmedical use of ketamine and its harmful consequences have worsened globally, stricter controls are necessary. Appropriate regulation of ketamine is important for international efforts to control ketamine's cross-border trafficking and its nonmedical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A literary criticism of the poem "Journey to a War" by W.H. Auden is presented. It examines the impact of Marxism on the written work citing formal rationality, money, and concept of economic man. It also discusses linguistic context in the literature manifested through self-interest, parable-art, and cognitive stylistics. An overview of cognitive grammar is given such as various associations and the objects "meeting place," "notion of equality," and "tolerant iconic eye."

Tembusu virus (TMUV) belongs to the genusFlavivirusthat may cause severe egg drop in ducks. In order to evaluate the most efficient TMUV detection method, the performances of a conventional RT-PCR (C-RT-PCR), a semi-nested PCR (SN-RT-PCR), a reverse-transcriptase real-time quantitative PCR (Q-RT-PCR), and a reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) targeting the TMUV virus-specific NS5 gene were examined. In order to compare the sensitivity of these four techniques, two templates were used: (1) plasmid DNA that contained a partial region of the NS5 gene and (2) genomic RNA from TMUV-positive cell culture supernatants. The sensitivities using plasmid DNA detection by C-RT-PCR, SN-RT-PCR, Q-RT-PCR, and RT-LAMP were 2 × 104copies/μL, 20 copies/μL, 2 copies/μL, and 20 copies/μL, respectively. The sensitivities using genomic RNA for the C-RT-PCR, SN-RT-PCR, Q-RT-PCR, and RT-LAMP were 100 pg/tube, 100, 10, and 100 fg/tube, respectively. All evaluated assays were specific for TMUV detection. The TMUV-specific RNA was detected in cloacal swabs from experimentally infected ducks using these four methods with different rates (52–92%), but not in the control (non-inoculated) samples. The sensitivities of RT-PCR, SN-RT-PCR, Q-RT-PCR, and RT-LAMP performed with cloacal swabs collected from suspected TMUV infected ducks within 2 weeks of severe egg-drop were 38/69 (55.1%), 52/69 (75.4%), 57/69 (82.6%), and 55/69 (79.7%), respectively. In conclusion, both RT-LAMP and Q-RT-PCR can provide a rapid diagnosis of TMUV infection, but RT-LAMP is more useful in TMUV field situations or poorly equipped laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on psychological results of mindfulness practices. Topics discussed include results of short term integrative bodyâ€mind training (IBMT) training such as improved emotion regulation and immune function; lowering of fatigue due to IBTM; decline in stress hormone cortisol due to IBMT; impact of IBMT on adaptive behavior and involvement of compassion and equanimity in mindfulness training.

Effects of exclosure management on the plant recruitment are not clear yet. To assess the effects of exclosure management on the recruitment of elm, population structure, seed production, and densities of seeds and seedlings of elm were investigated in fenced and grazed pastures in Horqin Sandy Land, northeastern China. The results showed that seed biomass per branch of elm in the grazed plot was significantly higher than in fenced pasture (0.85 ± 0.27 g vs. 0.55 ± 0.36 g,p < 0.05), and seed density was higher in grazed pasture (845 ± 370 seedsm−2) than that in fenced pasture (558 ± 241 seedsm−2), indicating that grazing would improve reproductive allocation of elm. However, there was no significant difference of seedling density between grazed and fenced pastures. More important, the elm trees with a height less than 0.5 m appeared in the fenced pasture but disappeared in the grazed pasture, indicating the positive effects of exclosure management on the elm recruitment. Our results suggested that the exclosure would favor recruitment of elm through its protection of saplings instead of through increased seed production. This study improves our understanding of the effects of grazing on population dynamics of elm and would contribute to the restoration of degraded sandy land in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the containment measures for COVID-19 have affected sleep quality in the population. This study explored sleep-related research from a bibliometric perspective to provide an overview of the research outputs in this field. Original and review articles were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database from December 2019 to 7 Aug 2023. R package "bibliometrix" was used to summarize the number of articles of authors, institutions, and countries; count the citations of the articles, and generate a Three-Fields Plot. VOSviewer software was applied to visualize the collaboration network among authors and institutions, and to conduct a co-occurrence analysis of keywords. A total of 4,499 articles on COVID-19 and sleep, and 25,883 articles on non-COVID-19 and sleep were included. Sleep related articles were mainly published by authors from China, the USA, and Italy. For COVID-19 and sleep research, Huazhong University of Science was the most productive institution. The Psychiatry Research was the most influential journal across the different subject categories of this field. "Mental health", "anxiety", and "depression" were the most common keywords, while "sleep quality" and "quality of life" were the likely topic areas in terms of future research directions. Our findings provide a comprehensive perspective for researchers to understand the wider landscape of both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 sleep-related research area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of selenium (Se) uptake in fruit tree can improve the source of food Se for humans. In this study, the effect of various abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations on the Se uptake in Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.) seedlings was studied under Se stress. Only the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA promoted the growth of C. betacea seedlings by increasing the biomass and regulating the resistance physiology under Se stress. ABA also increased the Se content in C. betacea seedlings under Se stress. The concentration of ABA at 20 μmol/L got the maximum root Se and shoot Se contents, which increased by 76.64% and 55.83%, respectively, compared with the control. Correlation and grey relational analyses showed that the peroxidase activity and proline content had the first two closest relationship with the shoot Se content. This study shows that ABA can promote the Se uptake in C. betacea under Se stress, and the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA is the optimum for Se uptake and growth of C. betacea. Under selenium (Se) stress, abscisic acid (ABA) promotes the Se uptake in Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.) seedlings, but only the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA promotes the growth of C. betacea seedlings. The shoot Se content is most closely correlated with the peroxidase activity and proline content. This study shows that ABA can promote the Se uptake in C. betacea under Se stress [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outbreaks of fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) infection with the main clinical signs of hepatitis-hydropericardium-syndrome or inclusion body hepatitis have been frequently reported in ducks and geese in recent years, causing economic losses for the Chinese waterfowl industry. This study investigated 792 samples (391 fattening ducks, 192 breeder ducks and 209 fattening geese) of suspected FAdV-infected waterfowl from 38 farms (21 fattening duck farms, nine breeder duck farms and eight fattening geese farms) in Shandong Province between 2019 and 2022. The results showed a 60.23% infection rate for FAdVs (477/792), while the infection rate for breeder ducks was almost the same as that for fattening geese (55.73% vs. 54.55%). Notably, co-infection with avian influenza virus H9N2 (H9N2), Tembusu virus (TMUV), duck hepatitis virus (DHV), duck circovirus (DuCV), goose astrovirus (GAstV) and duck parvovirus (DPV)/goose parvovirus (GPV) was common among the 477 FAdVs positive cases. Phylogenetic analysis of complete hexon genes of 22 FAdV strains in Shandong Province showed the presence of four species (FAdV-A, C, D, E) and five serotypes (FAdV-1, 4, 8a, 8b, 11). These findings provide the first data on the prevalence and co-infection status of FAdVs in Shandong Province and can be used as a basis for FAdV prevention in the field. Samples of suspected FAdV-infected waterfowl from farms in Shandong Province were collected from 2019 to 2022. Single infections with FAdV were less frequent than mixed infections. 477 out of 792 samples (60.23%) tested positive for FAdV nucleic acids. Detection rate of FAdV was 65.47% in fattening duck farms, 55.73% in breeder duck farms and 54.55% in fattening geese farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexation between Fe ions (II, III) and bromopyrogallol red (BPR) is sensitive at pH 6.23 with the composition ratio at 1:2 of Fe to BPR, and it is selective in the presence of F- and thiocarbamide. Using this reaction, the light absorption ratio variation approach was applied to the direct determination of Fe ions. The limit of detection is only 4.5 µg/L Fe. The Fe ions content existing in the Yangtze River, Taihu Lake, tap water and Huangpu River in Shanghai was determined with the recovery rate between 95.5 and 106%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To determine current patterns of antipsychotic medication use and metabolic complications among hospitalized Chinese patients with schizophrenia. Method. A total of 503 inpatients who met ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia were enrolled. Demographic features and records of current treatment (medication, dose, duration of treatment) were collected through cross-sectional chart review along with biophysical parameters (body mass index and laboratory findings). Results. (1) Most patients (457/503, 90.9%) were found to receive antipsychotic monotherapy; (2) clozapine was the most common medication used (152/507, 30.2%); (3) the subset of patients treated within the course of a first episode psychosis, or with less than 5 years of illness, were more likely to be treated with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) than with conventional antipsychotic medications or clozapine; (4) patients treated with clozapine or conventional antipsychotics were more likely to manifest metabolism-related physical conditions than those receiving SGAs. Conclusion. Conventional antipsychotics and clozapine constitute the current mainstream of schizophrenia treatment in China where a lower percentage of patients receive SGAs other than clozapine than in developed countries. The high incidence of treatment-related metabolic complications in this population suggests that these issues are under-appreciated based on current patterns of medication use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article introduces various topics published in the issue including metabolic engineering of lipopeptide production, whole-cell biotransformation of bioactive natural products by microorganisms, and biotransformation of imperatorin and its analogs.

In this study, pot experiments were conducted to study the effects of reciprocal grafting on the growth and Cd accumulation in post-grafting generations of two cherry tomatoes – red (Red cherry 5-5-1-1) and yellow (RTY-3-2) cherry tomatoes. Six treatments, which consisted of ungrafted red cherry tomato (R-CK), ungrafted yellow cherry tomato (Y-CK), red cherry tomato as rootstock (R-rootstock), red cherry tomato as scion (R-scion), yellow cherry tomato as rootstock (Y- rootstock), and yellow cherry tomato as scion (Y-scion) were utilised. The results showed that grafting significantly decreased the root biomass of Y- rootstock and Y-scion as compared to that of Y-CK, but there were no differences in the shoot biomass. Compared with that of Y-CK, grafting increased the root Cd content of the post-grafting generations, specifically, Y- rootstock and Y-scion increased by 54.44% and 52.96%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the shoot Cd content of Y- rootstock, Y-scion, and Y-CK. The root, stem, leaf, and shoot biomass of R-rootstock increased by 14.17%, 76.23%, 36.47%, and 21.72%, respectively, as compared with that of R-CK. However, grafting had no significant effect on the root, stem, leaf, and shoot biomass of R-scion. Grafting significantly increased the root Cd content of R-rootstock. However, grafting significantly decreased the shoot Cd content of R-rootstock, with the value 26.18% lower than that of R-CK. The root Cd content of R-scion significantly increased compared with the R-CK, and the shoot Cd content had no differences. Therefore, the reciprocal grafting of the two cherry tomatoes promoted the growth and reduced the Cd uptake of R-rootstock. Findings from this study could be used to provide a reference for the safe production of tomatoes in heavy metal-contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a novel three-dimensional (3D) discrete element method (DEM) algorithm is proposed for modeling real particle shapes. First, high-precision computed tomography (CT) is used to scan sand particles to obtain the 3D morphology of single-particle sand. Second, the background grid points and the 3D shape grid of the sand particles are generated along the x-axis. Finally, spherical particles are used to construct an overlapping model of real sand particles. The shapes of sand particles generated via this method are accurate, and their surface shape is close to that of real sand particles. The proposed method can also be used to generate structures of various sizes and shapes, thus simplifying the modeling process in DEM simulation. The numerical simulation results of free-falling sand particles show that the DEM model established by this method is effective in numerical simulation analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry production in China has been experiencing a high incidence of broiler arthritis /tenosynovitis caused by avian orthoreovirus (ARV) since 2013. In the spring of 2020 severe arthritis cases from broiler flocks were identified in a large-scale commercial poultry company in Anhui Province, China. Diseased organs from dead birds were sent for diagnosis to our laboratory. ARVs, including seven broiler-isolates and two breeder-isolates, were successfully harvested and sequenced. Interestingly, the genotypes of ARVs isolated from infected chickens were inconsistent between different flocks, or even between different houses on the same flocks. Pathogenicity testing in chicks confirmed that the seven broiler-isolates were pathogenic strains, which could cause arthritis in infected chickens. Subsequently, a total of 89.66% serum samples collected from apparently healthy adult broiler flocks not vaccinated against ARV tested positive for ARV antibodies, suggesting that low and high virulence reovirus strains may be co-circulating in the farm. To this end, we collected dead embryos of unhatched chicken eggs for pathogen tracing, and the two ARV breeder-isolates isolated indicated that vertical transmission from breeders to progeny should not be underestimated for the prevalence of ARV within broiler flocks. The findings have implications for the evidenced-based formulation of prevention and control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A composite bucket foundation (CBF) is a new foundation type of offshore wind turbine. The investigation of the bearing characteristic of CBF is a crucial part of the structural design and safety assessment of offshore wind turbines. This study investigates the bearing characteristic of CBF in sand and clay foundations using centrifuge model test and numerical simulation. Analysis revealed that as load increases, the rotation center of the CBF moves toward the central line and shallow area. The buried depth of the CBF rotation center in a clay foundation is shallower than in a sand foundation when the CBF is under ultimate loading. Due to the rotation and translation of CBF, the soil pressure–depth curves on the skirt wall in different directions will resemble parabolic, line, and triangle shapes, respectively. Under ultimate loading, the relationship between the depth and horizontal coordinate of the rotation center and embedment ratio is linear. The CBF's bearing capacity trend presents quadratic function characteristics as the embedment ratio increases. However, the bearing capacity ratio of the CBF in the clay foundation is faster than that in the sand foundation. The findings provide guidelines for offshore wind turbines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium is one of the most basic trace elements in the human body. It is necessary to improve the selenium content in agricultural products through agricultural planting technology to ensure that human nutrition and health need selenium. Therefore, our research passed the effect of intercropping on the growth and selenium accumulation of pakchoi, lettuce and radish were studied through pot experiments to determine whether intercropping of the three crop species can improve their selenium accumulation ability. The results showed that intercropping increased the root and shoot biomass of pakchoi and radish compared with the monocultures, while the biomass of roots and shoots decreased in other intercropping combinations. Intercropping also affected the photosynthetic pigment content of the three crop species. Specifically, the photosynthetic pigments increased in pakchoi and decreased in radish after intercropping. Notably, intercropping the three crop species together increased the SOD (superoxide dismutase) activities of the three crops compared with the monocultures. Meanwhile, intercropping radish with lettuce significantly increased the activities of SOD and CAT (catalase) in radish. Intercropping also increased the soluble sugar content in pakchoi and soluble protein content of radish relative to the monocultures. Furthermore, intercropping decreased the selenium content and the bioconcentration factor of the roots of the three vegetable crops, but improved the shoot selenium content, the bioconcentration factor and the transport factor of Se in pakchoi and radish. In conclusion, intercropping combination of pakchoi and radish can improve selenium accumulation in the edible parts of the crops, which is significant for efficient production of selenium-enriched vegetables. This research is significant because this study provides some basis for improving the selenium content of plants and efficient production of pakchoi and radish. Under the condition of selenium application in soil, the intercropping of pakchoi and lettuce can promote the growth of both and improve their selenium enrichment ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avian orthoreovirus (ARV) infections of broiler flocks cause arthritis/tenosynovitis syndrome and significant economic losses. ARV variants were detected in the USA and Canada. Viral arthritis/tenosynovitis syndrome has occurred frequently in China in recent years. In this study, a variant ARV strain associated with viral arthritis/tenosynovitis syndrome was isolated from broilers and designated as LY383. Genomic sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the σC nucleic acid and amino acid sequences revealed that the isolate was closely related to ARV field strains Reo/PA/Layer/01224B/14, Reo/PA/Broiler/1551/13, GA/14602/2014, GA/13569/2013 and GA/13542/2013, in cluster V, but distinct from most Chinese field strains or commercial vaccine strains. Experimental challenge showed that the isolate could cause arthritis/tenosynovitis syndrome in broilers, which possessed a high level of maternal antibodies induced by commercial ARV vaccines (S1133, 1733 and T98). Furthermore, viral nucleic acid could be detected in cloacal swabs of all challenged birds throughout the entire test from 5 dpi onward. These results suggest that a novel ARV genotype emerges and might become prevalent in broiler flocks in China. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS A variant avian orthoreovirus was isolated from a vaccinated broiler flock in North China. The ARV field strain was distinct from previous China-origin ARV isolates and vaccine strains. The current commercial ARV vaccine could not provide effective protection of broilers against the field isolate infection. These findings indicated that variant ARV field strains might become frequent in broiler flocks in China and effective measures should be conducted to prevent and control the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cherry Valley breeder ducks in Shandong province in northern China have experienced swollen eyes, lachrymation, pox scabs on glabrous or glabrous skin, depression and dysentery since 2021. The spread of this infectious disease has seriously affected the breeder ducks in major Cherry Valley duck farms in China. The virus causing clinical signs in Cherry Valley breeder ducks was isolated by chicken embryo inoculation. We successfully isolated a strain of duck pox virus from diseased breeder ducks by virus replication. We have also successfully conducted experiments for duck pox disease using the isolated strains to infect ducklings. By comparison with 22 pox viruses already published in GenBank, the virus strain obtained in this study was most homologous (about 99.7%) to the strain isolated from infected domestic ducks in Guangxi, China in 2014 (KJ192189), and belonged to the same A5 subtype. Since there were no previous cases of avian pox virus infecting white or Cherry Valley duck breeds, this study identified a new host for avian pox virus infection and provided theoretical support and data for the development of avian pox virus research. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Avian pox virus can infect a new host type – Cherry Valley breeder ducks. The avian pox virus isolated from Cherry Valley breeder ducks showed highest identity with Guangxi hemp duck-derived avian pox virus. Cherry Valley breeder ducks were infected with avian pox virus of subtype A5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of spraying an algal biostimulant at different concentrations (0, 600-, 900-, 1200-, and 1500-fold dilutions) on the growth and cadmium (Cd) accumulation characteristics of accumulator plant Nasturtium officinale. In a pot experiment, application of the algal biostimulant at all concentrations promoted the growth of N. officinale by increasing the root and shoot biomasses, and the 600-fold dilution of the algal biostimulant had the strongest effect. At all concentrations, the algal biostimulant had no significant effect on the Cd content in roots of N. officinale, and increased the Cd extraction by roots. However, all concentrations of the algal biostimulant except for the 1500-fold dilution decreased the Cd content in shoots and Cd extraction by shoots. The N. officinale plants treated with the 600-fold dilution of the algal biostimulant had the lowest shoot Cd contents and Cd extraction by shoots. The algal biostimulant also increased the contents of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids) in leaves of N. officinale to varying degrees. Different concentrations of algal biostimulant reduced the superoxide dismutase activity, peroxidase activity, and malondialdehyde content of N. officinale, but enhanced the catalase activity, soluble protein content, and relative conductivity. Overall, the 600-fold dilution had the strongest effect on the growth and Cd accumulation characteristics of N. officinale, but did not enhance the phytoremediation ability of N. officinale for growth in Cd-contaminated soil. These results show that this algal biostimulant can promote the growth and reduce the Cd uptake of N. officinale, which is benefit for N. officinale safety production as a wild vegetable in Cd-contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuttings are asexual reproduction, and different vegetative organs of the plant can be selected as cuttings to grow into a new plant. Growth and cadmium (Cd) accumulation of cuttings taken from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants non-grafted or grafted onto five different rootstocks were studied in a pot experiment. 'Zhongyanhong 6ʹ and 'Hongyu F1ʹ were non-grafted (CK) and were grafted onto Solanum torvum, Totosga, 'Dalishengen', 'Banzhen 18ʹ and 'Guozhen 1ʹ, respectively, planted in pots without Cd-contaminated soil. Cuttings were taken after one month, then grown in Cd-contaminated soil (10 mg kg−1) for three months. In 'Zhongyanhong 6ʹ cuttings, compared with non-grafted, grafting onto five rootstocks increased plant dry weight, grafting onto 'Banzhen 18ʹ and S. torvum increased plant height, grafting onto 'Banzhen 18ʹ and 'Guozhen 1' increased fruit fresh weight, grafting onto 'Guozhen 1ʹ and 'Dalishengen' reduced Cd content in fruit. In 'Hongyu F1ʹ cuttings, compared with non-grafted, grafting onto five rootstocks increased plant dry weight, grafting onto Totosga increased plant height, grafting onto S. torvum and Totosga increased fruit fresh weight, grafting onto 'Banzhen 18ʹ, 'Dalishengen', S. torvum and Totosga decreased Cd content in fruit. Cutting after grafting affects growth and Cd accumulation of tomato, which can provide a theoretical basis for the safe production of nightshade vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Synaptic degeneration is the pathologic foundation of cognitive decline in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum. We aimed to determine whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) synaptic marker neurogranin (Ng) is a disease state or a disease stage biomarker in the AD continuum. Methods: Studies comparing CSF Ng levels among AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy participants were included. Studies were eligible if the correlation between CSF Ng levels and Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) scores was investigated. Results: Twenty-one studies met our inclusion criteria (n = 4515). The magnitude of effect sizes was more apparent in AD (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23–2.22), than in MCI (SMD = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.29–1.34) compared to control populations. These results suggest that CSF Ng can discriminate AD and MCI from control populations, implying that synaptic degeneration worsens as patients progress from MCI to AD. However, there was a very weak correlation between CSF Ng levels and MMSE scores (r = −0.15; 95% CI = −0.21–-0.08) among the whole populations, suggesting that an increment of CSF Ng is best considered a biological evidence of disease state in the AD continuum. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that the synaptic marker CSF Ng can be used as a disease state biomarker for the AD continuum. Because synaptic degeneration is a distinct pathologic event from amyloid deposition and neurofibrillary tangle formation, CSF Ng may provide an important supplementation to the AT(N) biomarker system to reveal the sequence of neuropathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high attrition rate in medical students has exacerbated the physician shortage in China. However, few studies have explored the risk factors of dropout intention in medical postgraduates. This study compared the prevalence of dropout intention and mental distress between medical and non-medical postgraduates in China and investigated risk factors for dropout intention. This study also explored the impact of medical postgraduates' perception of the Chinese healthcare environment on their mental status and dropout intention. This cross-sectional study was conducted using online questionnaires from October 2020 to April 2021. Convenience sampling was used to recruit postgraduates in different majors. Outcomes included dropout intention and potential risk factors, including mental distress, quality of life, and fatigue. Medical postgraduates were additionally assessed for healthcare environment satisfaction, burnout, career choice regret, and experiences of workplace violence. A logistic regression model was constructed to evaluate the association between dissatisfaction, mental distress, and turnover intention. A total of 740 medical and 670 non-medical postgraduates participated in the survey. The rates of depression symptoms (33.8% vs. 39.0%, p < 0.001), anxiety symptoms (22.2% vs. 32.4%, p < 0.001), and somatic symptoms (34.7% vs. 42.4%, p = 0.004) were lower in medical postgraduates, while more medical postgraduates (58.4% vs. 48.4%, p < 0.001) reported dropout intention. Dissatisfaction with the healthcare environment (odds ratio [OR]: 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–2.34, p = 0.005), career choice regret (OR: 6.23; 95% CI: 4.42–8.78, p < 0.001), and high perceived stress (OR: 2.74; 95%CI: 1.90–3.94, p < 0.001) remained independently associated with turnover intention. Mental distress is common among postgraduates, calling for timely interventions. Medical postgraduates reported higher turnover intention. Healthcare environment perception also affected the mental health and dropout intentions of medical students. A decent future income, reduced workload, shorter duration medical training, and better doctor-patient relationships are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) has been well studied among young people, but few data on clinicopathological characteristics, treatment response and outcomes for elderly IgAN patients are available. A cohort study of elderly IgAN patients was performed. The combined endpoints of renal outcome were a 50% decline in eGFR compared with the time of renal biopsy, end-stage kidney disease and/or death. Risk factors associated with poor renal outcomes were then determined. The benefits of immunosuppressant therapies were also evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis. This study ultimately included 126 elderly patients with IgAN. Comparison between the endpoint and non-endpoint groups indicated that patients with poor outcomes had more severe clinical features, such as worse kidney function, severe hematuria and lower albumin levels. Cox regression analysis indicated that age (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02–1.29, p = 0.021), male gender (HR 9.71, 95% CI 1.00–97.56, p = 0.050), and urine red blood cells (HR 1.003, 95% CI 1.000–1.006, p = 0.029) were independent risk factors for poor renal outcome in elderly IgAN patients. To explore possible reasons accounting for the predictive value of age and sex, patients were divided into two groups based on these two variables. Patients in the geriatric group had lower serum albumin, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin and aspartate aminotransferase levels than those in the quinquagenarian group. Male patients tended to have higher hemoglobin, higher alanine aminotransferase, and lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels than female patients. To investigate different treatment responses, patients were classified into two groups depending on treatment strategies (renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and immunosuppressive therapy), and the survival analysis indicated no significant difference in kidney outcome between the two groups (p > 0.05). This result still holds after adjusting for age, sex, eGFR, hematuria, and proteinuria. Advanced age, male, and hematuria might be independently associated with poor kidney outcomes in elderly patients with IgAN. Immunosuppressive therapy might confer no overall benefit to older IgAN patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dynamic network reconfiguration methodology considering time-varying weather conditions is proposed. The aim of the proposed methodology is to minimize outage risk. To fully reflect actual weather severity, a classification method for weather states based on weather variables analysis is presented. Considering time-varying nature of weather, an approach to determine the optimal time for reconfiguration by comparing reliability change between adjacent intervals is provided. Then, applying the Quantum Genetic Algorithm to solve reconfiguration optimization problem is introduced. Simulation results on the IEEE 33-node test systems show that the proposed dynamic reconfiguration method can reduce distribution network's outage risk. In addition, weather conditions have impacts on outage risk of distribution network and should be considered in reconfirmation problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's increasingly developed high-speed railways (HSR) network has been found to have important influences on economic development, but analysis of its effect on individual income is inadequate. Based on the data of Chinese Household Income Project Survey (CHIP07 and CHIP13) and China's HSR data, this paper examines HSR's influence on residents' income and the underlying mechanism. Using the difference-in-differences (DID) approach, we document that the connection of HSR network increases both urban and rural residents' income. Besides, to address the potential endogeneity, we construct the least cost path spanning tree network to be served as an instrumental variable (IV) of HSR and the results confirm the reliability of the conclusion. What's more, a HSR-induced industrial restructuring mechanism is revealed by further study, and those who received the higher education is proved to benefit most from HSR. Therefore, education turns out to be an effective way to enhance HSR's income effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify whether the auxin treatment could promote the growth and reduce the cadmium (Cd) of fruit trees, the effects of different concentrations of indole acetic acid (IAA, one of the auxin) on the biomass, Cd content, photosynthetic pigment content, photosynthetic characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activity, and soluble sugars content in Cyphomandra betacea seedlings under Cd stress were studied. As the IAA concentration increased, the biomass, photosynthetic pigment content, soluble sugars content, and net photosynthetic rate of C. betacea seedlings tended to first increase and then decrease, with maximum values in the 60 mg/L IAA treatment. The Cd contents in different organs decreased and then increased with increasing IAA concentrations, with the minimum value in the 60 mg/L IAA treatment. Compared with the control, IAA treatments enhanced the activities of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the leaves of C. betacea seedlings and decreased the soluble protein content. Therefore, IAA treatments promoted growth, enhanced Cd resistance, and decreased the Cd content in C. betacea. The 60 mg/L IAA treatment was the most effective for promoting growth and decreasing the Cd content in C. betacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw of Solanum photeinocarpum accessions originating from two climatic-ecological zones (Chengdu, in the Mountain-Central Subtropical-Cold Zone; and Ya'an, in the Central Subtropical-Long Spring and Summer-Drought Zone) and their reciprocal F1 hybrids were added to Cd-contaminated soil, and their effects on the growth and Cd accumulation of lettuce were evaluated. Addition of S. photeinocarpum straw significantly increased biomass and decreased Cd content of lettuce, especially the straw of F1 hybrids raised from a Chengdu pollen donor. Shoot biomass was increased by 26.87%and the shoot Cd content was decreased by 25.86% compared with those of the control. The chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate were increased in response to the addition of S. photeinocarpum straw, and the effects of straw of reciprocal F1 hybrids were superior to those of the parents. Application of S. photeinocarpum straw promoted osmoticas (soluble sugar, soluble protein, free proline) contents and activities of antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT)], reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and thus effectively improved the resistance of lettuce to Cd stress. S. photeinocarpum straw increased soil pH and organic matter content, and consequently decreased soil exchangeable Cd content, the strongest effect was achieved by application of S. photeinocarpum straw of reciprocal F1 hybrids raised from a Chengdu pollen donor, in response to which the soil exchangeable Cd content was decreased by 29.62% compared with that of the control. Therefore, the application of S. photeinocarpum straw in Cd-contaminated soil promoted growth and reduced the risk of Cd contamination of lettuce plants. The effects of straw from reciprocal F1 hybrids derived from a Chengdu pollen donor were superior to those of straw from the parents, and thus may be effectively used to improve the safe production of lettuce in Cd-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using glycine molecules as the carrier, a 1:11 rare earth tungsten heteropoly acid glycine composite catalyst was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and characterized by XRD, TG, TEM, XPS and other methods. The effects of catalyst dosage, initial dye concentration, initial pH and other factors on the decolorization rate of Congo red simulated dye wastewater were investigated. The experimental results show that when the initial pH is 4, the amount of catalyst is 10 mg, and the dye concentration is 10 mg/L, the catalyst has good degradation performance on Congo red simulated dye wastewater, and the degradation can reach 90.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two pot experiments were conducted to study the effects of intercropping with cadmium (Cd) accumulator plant Eclipta prostrata and hyperaccumulator plant Crassocephalum crepidioides on the growth and Cd accumulation of tomato seedlings. In the preliminary experiment, intercropping with E. prostrata and C. crepidioides promoted the growth and decreased the Cd content in roots and shoots of tomato seedlings. In the further experiment, intercropping with E. prostrata and C. crepidioides had the same effects on the growth and Cd content of tomato seedlings as the preliminary experiment. In the further experiment, when three plant species (E. prostrate, C. crepidioides and tomato) intercropping together, the root and shoot biomasses of tomato seedlings got the maximum, and the Cd content in tomato seedlings got the minimum. Compared with the monoculture of tomato, three plant species intercropping increased the root and shoot biomasses of tomato seedlings by 49.28% and 64.19%, respectively, and decreased the Cd contents in roots and shoots of tomato seedlings by 17.35% and 22.35%, respectively. Intercropping with E. prostrata and C. crepidioides also increased the photosynthetic pigment content and enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity of tomato seedlings. For accumulator and hyperaccumulator plants, intercropping with tomato inhibited the growth of E. prostrata and C. crepidioides, while increased the Cd content in two plant species. Therefore, intercropping with E. prostrata and C. crepidioides could promote the growth and reduce the Cd uptake of tomato seedlings, and three plant species intercropping together was the best combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are responsible for synthesizing a myriad of natural products with agricultural, medicinal relevance. The PKSs consist of multiple functional domains of which each can catalyze a specified chemical reaction leading to the synthesis of polyketides. Biochemical studies showed that protein-substrate and protein-protein interactions play crucial roles in these complex regio-/stereo-selective biochemical processes. Recent developments on X-ray crystallography and protein NMR techniques have allowed us to understand the biosynthetic mechanism of these enzymes from their structures. These structural studies have facilitated the elucidation of the sequence-function relationship of PKSs and will ultimately contribute to the prediction of product structure. This review will focus on the current knowledge of type I PKS structures and the protein-protein interactions in this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed at accessing the effects of mowing on the growth and cadmium (Cd) accumulation of the first post-grafting generation of potential Cd-hyperaccumulator plant Solanum photeinocarpum through the pot and plot experiments. Four grafting treatments were employed such as ungrafted (UG), self-rooted grafting by the same S. photeinocarpum seedling (SG), self-rooted grafting by two different development stages of S. photeinocarpum seedlings (DG), and grafting on the rootstock of wild potato (PG). The biomass, Cd content, and Cd extraction amount of S. photeinocarpum shoots significantly decreased with the increase of mowing times in the pot and plot experiments. The order of the grafting on the biomass, Cd content, and Cd extraction amountof in the first, second, third mowing shoots were PG > DG > SG > UG. For the Cd extraction amountof total moving shoots, SG, DG, and PG increased by 20.42%, 35.54%, and 52.94%, respectively, in the pot experiment, and increased by 11.56%, 26.28%, and 44.90%, respectively, in the plot experiment, compared with the UG. Therefore, mowing provides an insight into the phytoremediation ability of S. photeinocarpum to Cd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zeolite β, silicalite-1, ZSM-5, and TS-1 coated spheres have been prepared successfully through layer-by-layer assembly of nanozeolite/polymer multilayers on polystyrene (PS) microspheres, and hollow zeolite spheres have been obtained by removal of the core by calcination. In the adsorption process of nanozeolites onto the polyelectrolyte-modified template spheres, it has been found that zeta potential of the zeolite colloidal solution that determines the electrostatic interaction has important effects on the zeolite adsorption procedure. The charge on the original sphere template is not necessary, because proper polyelectrolyte modification could change the surface property of the template and make it suitable for layer-by-layer adsorption. The influences of zeolite type and/or size (40–120 nm), the number of zeolite/poly(diallyl-dimethyl-ammonium) layer pairs, and the template sphere size (0.53–10.3 µm) on the preparation of the hollow zeolite spheres were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the cadmium (Cd)-accumulation characteristics of the post-grafting generation of Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendt., the seeds of C. betacea grafted on Solanum nigrum L., tomato, and eggplant rootstocks were collected and planted in Cd-contaminated soil. Compared with seeds of ungrafted seedlings, the S. nigrum rootstock increased the shoot biomass of the post-grafting generation of C. betacea seedlings, while eggplant and tomato rootstocks decreased or had no significant effects. Only the S. nigrum rootstock increased the chlorophyll a content, net photosynthetic rate, and stomatal conductance of the post-grafting generation of C. betacea seedlings, while the other rootstocks decreased or had no significant effects on these photosynthetic parameters. The S. nigrum rootstock enhanced the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and soluble protein content, of the post-grafting generation of C. betacea seedlings, while the other rootstocks reduced or had no significant effects on these parameters. The three rootstocks decreased the Cd contents in different organs of the post-grafting generation of C. betacea seedlings, and the order of treatments was ungrafted > tomato rootstock > eggplant rootstock > S. nigrum rootstock. Therefore, S. nigrum was the best rootstock to promote the growth and decrease the Cd contents in post-grafting generation of C. betacea, and this can benefit C. betacea production in Cd-contaminated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmland and mining ecotypes of the potential cadmium (Cd)-hyperaccumulator Solanum photeinocarpum were collected to study the effects of reciprocal grafting on the growth of, and Cd accumulation in, the post-grafting generations. The post generations of the following plant materials were evaluated in a pot experiment: the un-grafted farmland ecotype, grafted plants with the farmland ecotype as the scion or the rootstock, the un-grafted mining ecotype, and grafted plants with the mining ecotype as the scion or the rootstock. The results showed that reciprocal grafting increased the biomass, the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase, and the soluble protein content in the post-grafting generations of both ecotypes S. photeinocarpum. Reciprocal grafting also increased the Cd content in, and amount of Cd extracted by, the post-grafting generations of both ecotypes S. photeinocarpum as a result of lower soil pH and higher soil available Cd concentrations. Additionally, grafting affected the DNA methylation levels by inducing hypermethylation or demethylation in the post-grafting generation. Therefore, reciprocal grafting can enhance the Cd accumulation (phytoremediation) capacity of post-grafting generations of both ecotypes S. photeinocarpum by affecting DNA methylation levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]