Effects of silicate application on rice growth, yield and quality under nighttime warming in southern China.

The main feature of climate warming is that nighttime warming is higher than the daytime warming. Nighttime warming reduced single rice production in southern China, while silicate application increased rice yield and stress resistance. It is still unclear regarding the effects of silicate application on growth, yield, and especially quality in rice under nighttime warming. We performed a field simulation experiment to investigate the effects of silicate application on tiller number, biomass, yield and quality of rice. Warming was set at two levels, ambient temperature (control, CK) and nighttime warming (NW). The open passive nighttime warming method was used, with rice canopy being covered with aluminum foil reflective film at night (19:00-6:00) to simulate nighttime warming. Silicate fertilizer (steel slag) was applied at two levels, i.e., Si0(0 kg SiO2·hm-2) and Si1(200 kg SiO2·hm-2). The results showed that, compared with the control (ambient temperature), average temperature at nighttime on rice canopy and at 5 cm soil layer increased by 0.51-0.58 ℃ and 0.28-0.41 ℃ during rice growing season, respectively. Nighttime warming decreased tiller number and chlorophyll content by 2.5%-15.9% and 0.2%-7.7%, respectively. In contrast, silicate application increased tiller number and chlorophyll content by 1.7%-16.2% and 1.6%-16.6%, respectively. Under nighttime warming, silicate application increased dry weight of shoot, total dry weight of the whole plant, and yield at grain filling-maturity stage by 64.1%, 55.3%, and 7.1%, respectively. Under nighttime warming, silicate application significantly increased milled rice rate, head rice rate, and total starch content by 2.3%, 2.5%, and 41.8%, respectively. Nighttime warming reduced rice yield by decreasing the number of effective panicles, seed setting rate, and 1000-grain weight, but increasing empty grains. Silicate application increased rice yield by increasing the number of effective panicles, filled grains per panicle, seed setting rate and 1000-grain weight, but reducing empty grains. In conclusion, silicate application could effectively alleviate the suppressive effects of nighttime warming on growth, yield, and quality of single rice in Southern China.

Integrating electronic structure regulation and dynamic active sites construction on NixCd1-xS-Ni0 photocatalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution.

Regulating electronic structure and enriching active sites of photocatalysts are effective strategies to promote hydrogen evolution. Herein, a unique NixCd1-xS-Ni0 photocatalyst, including the surface nickel (Ni) doping and atomic Ni0 anchoring sites, is successfully prepared by Ni2+ ions exchange reaction (Ni2++ CdS â†’ NixCd1-xS) and in-situ photo-induction of Ni0(Ni2++NixCd1-xS→hνNixCd1-xS-Ni0), respectively. As to Ni doping, the Ni replaced cadmium (Cd) atoms introduce hybridized states around the Fermi level, modulating the electronic structure of adjacent S atoms and optimizing the photocatalytic activity of sulfur (S) atoms. Besides, photogenerated Ni0 atoms, anchored on unsaturated S atoms, act as charge transfer bridges to reduce Ni2+ ions in the solution to Ni clusters (NixCd1-xS-Ni0→ne-NixCd1-xS-Ni). Subsequently, the displacement reaction of Ni clusters with protons (H+) spontaneously proceeds to produce hydrogen (H2) in an acidic solution (NixCd1-xS-Ni→2H+H2↑+Ni2++NixCd1-xS-Ni0). The equilibrium of photo-deposition/dissolution of Ni clusters realizes the construction of dynamic active sites, providing sustainable reaction centers and enhancing surface redox kinetics. The NixCd1-xS-Ni0 exhibits a high hydrogen evolution rate of 428 mmol·h-1·g-1 with a quantum efficiency of 75.6 % at 420 nm. This work provides the optimal S electronic structure for photocatalytic H2 evolution and constructs dynamic Ni clusters for chemical replacement reaction. This work provides the optimal S electronic structure for photocatalytic H2 evolution and constructs dynamic Ni clusters for displacement reaction, opening a dual pathway for efficient water reduction.

Fabrication and Elastic Properties of TiO2 Nanohelix Arrays through a Pressure-Induced Hydrothermal Method.

TiO2 nanohelices (NHs) have attracted extensive attention owing to their high aspect ratio, excellent flexibility, elasticity, and optical properties, which endow promising performances in a vast range of vital fields, such as optics, electronics, and micro/nanodevices. However, preparing rigid TiO2 nanowires (TiO2 NWs) into spatially anisotropic helical structures remains a challenge. Here, a pressure-induced hydrothermal strategy was designed to assemble individual TiO2 NWs into a DNA-like helical structure, in which a Teflon block was placed in an autoclave liner to regulate system pressure and simulate a cell-rich environment. The synthesized TiO2 NHs of 50 nm in diameter and 5-7 mm in length approximately were intertwined into nanohelix bundles (TiO2 NHBs) with a diameter of 20 µm and then assembled into vertical TiO2 nanohelix arrays (NHAs). Theoretical calculations further confirmed that straight TiO2 NWs prefer to convert into helical conformations with minimal entropy (S) and free energy (F) for continuous growth in a confined space. The excellent elastic properties exhibit great potential for applications in flexible devices or buffer materials.

Glioblastoma multiforme with subcutaneous metastases, case report and literature review.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor and the most malignant astrocytoma in adults, with rare extra-cranial metastases, especially for subcutaneous metastases. It could be easily misdiagnosed as primary subcutaneous tumor. In this report, we describe a patient with pontine GBM who developed a subcutaneous swelling at the ipsilateral posterior cervical region 8 months after operation, and the pathological and immunocytochemical examination carry the same characteristics as the primary intracranial GBM cells, which defined it as subcutaneous metastasis. GBM with subcutaneous metastasis is extremely rare, and knowledge of a prior intracranial GBM, pathological examinations and immunocytochemical tests with markers typically expressed by GBM are of vital importance for the diagnosis of GBM metastasis. Surgical resection of subcutaneous swelling, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, could be the best strategy of treatment for the patients with GBM subcutaneous metastasis.

Single-unit artificial intervertebral disc.

OBJECT: The authors describe a new type of artificial disc called a single-unit artificial disc (SUAD). It is a single-unit disc without components, and there is no fixation system with which to maintain it in the disc space. It is theorized that its shape, hardness, and surface consistency, together with the compressive force exerted by the body's axial load, should be adequate to maintain the position of the disc in the disc space. In this paper the authors present their results of the kinematic tests in which the stability and integrity of the SUADs was tested. METHODS: Panorobot was used for kinematic test fixture for fatigue testing for different types of SUAD. The test was performed after placing the disc between the C-5 and C-6 vertebral bodies (VBs) obtained from a cadaver. Eight pounds of weight was placed on the top of the container housing the C-5 VB to account for the weight of the head. The robot performed the following movements: 1) flexion-extension, 4.7 degrees each; 2) lateral left-right bending, +/- 2.1 degrees; and 3) coupled rotation, +/- 3.8 degrees. Two flat discs (FDs) of 85 durometer (D), four 30D FD, two recess-edged discs (REDs) of 85D, and four custom-designed discs (CDDs) (custom molded to the disc space) of 30D were tested. None of the discs showed cracks or breakage at the end of the study. After 1 million cycles of excursions all 85D and 30D FD, and both 85D REDs showed weight loss. The 30D CDDs showed minimal weight gain at 1 million cycles. One of the CDDs, tested up to 5 million cycles, did lose weight at 5 million cycles. One 85D FD was extruded after 0.2 million cycles and one 85D RED rotated within the disc space. All other discs maintained their position in the disc space. Dimensional changes were minimal. Scanning electron microscopy of particles collected from one 30D CDD sample after 1 million cycles showed rough irregular granular particles 1 to 600 microm in diameter. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that a 30D SUAD can maintain its position in the disc space without any anchoring device. Furthermore, at 1 million cycles of testing of 30 D SUAD, FDs did as well as the CDDs. This may be because softer discs mold to changes in dimension of the disc space. In addition the softer discs tend to wear less than the harder ones. Further fatigue study of 10 million cycles is needed to determine long-term efficacy, and the effects of wear on particles surrounding the joints need to be studied.

[Complications following gamma knife radiosurgery].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate complication features following gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR), and to assess factors causing complications. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 253 patients with intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVMs), meningiomas, glial neoplasms, germinomas and metastatic cancer, respectively, which were treated with GKR.The incidences of acute, subacute and late complications following GKR were evaluated. Meanwhile, risk factors inducing subacute complications, such as the cell proliferative population of target tissues and location of target in AVM and meningioma, were evaluated, respectively. RESULTS: The subacute complications are the prominent reactions in all the five diseases. There is a significant difference in the incidence rate of subacute complications between early responding tissues and slow responding tissues, central and peripheral AVM, basal and non-basal meningioma. CONCLUSIONS: Subacute complications are the prominent reactions after GKR, and the reactions are almost always reversible. The risk of subacute complications following GKR treatment is correlated to the proliferative cell population in the target tissues and the target location (AVM, meningioma).

[Neuropathy in nearby cranial nerves after acoustic schwannoma gamma knife radiosurgery, a follow-up study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risks of facial, trigeminal and acoustic neuropathies after acoustic schwannoma gamma knife radiosurgery. METHODS: The clinical data of forty-three patients with 46 masses of acoustic schwannoma who underwent gamma knife radiosurgery with the dose of 12 approximately 15 Gy to the tumor margin between January 1997 and October 2000 and were followed up for 6 approximately 24 months (on average 16.9 months) were studied. The tumor diameter was 10 approximately 20 mm in 12 cases, 21 approximately 30 mm in 23 cases, >/= 31 mm in 11 cases, with the average value of 28 mm. RESULTS: The general tumor control rate was 91.3%. The useful hearing preservation rate was 100% immediately after radiosurgery, 87% 6 months later and 78% 2 years later. The hearing preservation rate was high for small tumors. The facial and trigeminal neuropathies began to appear after 6 months. The incidence rates of facial neuropathy was 15.3%, 7.6%, and 3.8% 6 months, 1 year and 2 years after radiosurgery respectively. The incidence rates of trigeminal neuropathy was 11.4%, 3.8%, and 3.8% respectively 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after radiosurgery. The incidence of neuropathy was 3.8% for tumors with a diameter < 30 mm for both facial and trigeminal nerves. The hearing in 2 out of 15 cases with dysaudia began to improve 6 months after radiosurgery. The incidence of neuropathy for tumors with the diameter > 30 mm was 3.8% for both nerves 2 years after raadiosurgery. The preservation rate of useful hearing for tumors with the diameter < 20 mm was 100% after radiosurgery. CONCLUSION: Stereotactic radiosurgery using gamma knife with a dose of 12 approximately 15 Gy to the tumor margin succeeds in controlling acoustic schwannoma and preserving useful hearing. The incidence of facial and trigeminal neuropathies are low. The neuropathy caused by gamma knife radiosurgery is sub-lethal and can be recovered gradually.