Optical time domain reflectometry based on a self-chaotic circular-sided microcavity laser.

A self-chaotic circular-sided square microcavity laser, with a chaos bandwidth of 12.9 GHz and a flatness of ±3d B, was applied in optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR). Using the broadband chaos laser, we demonstrated a range resolution of 4.5 mm and a 25-km detection distance experimentally. The solitary wide-bandwidth microcavity chaos laser, without the extra correlation peaks in optical feedback chaotic lasers, has shown potential advantages for correlation OTDR in practical application.

Effect of information-motivation-behavioral skills model based perioperative nursing on pain in patients with gallstones.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cholecystolithiasis is on the rise. Use of information, motivation, and behavioral skills can play a positive role in promoting changes in individual health behaviors. However, reports on the effects of information-motivation-behavioral (IMB) skills model based high-quality nursing as a perioperative nursing intervention for patients with gallstones are nonexistent. AIM: To explore the application of IMB skills model based high-quality nursing in patients with gallstones. METHODS: Two hundred and sixteen patients with cholecystolithiasis treated at our hospital from January 2022 to January 2023 were enrolled and divided into a control, high-quality, and combined nursing groups, with 72 patients in each group. The control, high-quality, and combination groups received conventional, high-quality, and IMB skills model based perioperative nursing services, respectively. Differences in clinical indicators, stress levels, degree of pain, emotional state, and quality of life were observed, and complications and nursing satisfaction among the three groups were evaluated. RESULTS: After nursing, the time to recovery of gastrointestinal function in the high-quality and combined nursing groups was significantly shorter than that of the control group, with the recovery of gastrointestinal function being the fastest in the combined nursing group (P < 0.05). After nursing intervention, cortisol and norepinephrine levels in the high-quality and combined nursing groups were closer to normal than those of the control group 24 h after surgery, with the combined nursing group having the closest to normal levels (P < 0.05). After 3 and 7 d of intervention, the patients' pain significantly improved, which was more prominent in the high-quality and combination groups. Meanwhile, the pain score in the combination group was significantly lower than those of the control and high-quality nursing groups (P < 0.05). After nursing intervention, the emotional states of all patients improved, and the scores of patients in the combination group were significantly lower than those of the control and high-quality nursing groups. The quality of life of patients in the high-quality and combined nursing groups significantly improved after nursing intervention compared to that of the control group, with the combined nursing group having the highest quality of life score. After intervention, the incidence of complications in the high-quality and combination groups was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05), but the difference between the combination and high-quality nursing groups was not significant. Nursing satisfaction of patients in the high-quality and combination groups was significantly higher than that of the control group, with the nursing satisfaction being the highest in the combination group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: IMB skills model based nursing can improve surgical stress levels, degrees of pain, emotional state, quality of life, and nursing satisfaction of patients with gallstones and reduce the incidence of complications.

Causes of the unexpected slowness in reducing winter PM2.5 for 2014-2018 in Henan Province.

Toughest-ever clean air actions in China have been implemented nationwide to improve air quality. However, it was unexpected that from 2014 to 2018, the observed wintertime PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm) concentrations showed an insignificant decrease in Henan Province (HNP), a region in the west of the North China Plain. Emission controls seem to have failed to improve winter air quality in HNP, which has caused great confusion in formulating the next air improvement strategy. We employed a deweathering technique to decouple the impact of meteorological conditions. The results showed that the deweathered PM2.5 trend was -3.3%/yr in winter from 2014 to 2018, which had a larger decrease than the observed concentrations (-0.9%/yr), demonstrating that emission reduction was effective at improving air quality. However, compared with the other two megacity clusters, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) (-8.4%/yr) and Yangtze River Delta (YRD) (-7.4%/yr), the deweathered decreasing trend of PM2.5 for HNP remained slow. The underlying mechanism driving the changes in PM2.5 and its chemical components was further explored, using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem). Model simulations indicated that nitrate dominated the increase of PM2.5 components in HNP and the proportions of nitrate to total PM2.5 increased from 22.4% in January 2015 to 39.7% in January 2019. There are two primary reasons for this phenomenon. One is the limited control of nitrogen oxide emissions, which facilitates the conversion of nitric acid to particulate nitrate by ammonia. The other is unfavourable meteorological conditions, particularly increasing humidity, further enhancing nitrate formation through multiphase reactions. This study highly emphasizes the importance of reducing nitrogen oxide emissions owing to their impact on the formation of particulate nitrate in China, especially in the HNP region.

Response of PM2.5 pollution to meteorological and anthropogenic emissions changes during COVID-19 lockdown in Hunan Province based on WRF-Chem model.

In December 2019, the New Crown Pneumonia (the COVID-19) outbroke around the globe, and China imposed a nationwide lockdown starting as early as January 23, 2020. This decision has significantly impacted China's air quality, especially the sharp decrease in PM2.5 (aerodynamic equivalent diameter of particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 µm) pollution. Hunan Province is located in the central and eastern part of China, with a "horseshoe basin" topography. The reduction rate of PM2.5 concentrations in Hunan province during the COVID-19 (24.8%) was significantly higher than the national average (20.3%). Through the analysis of the changing character and pollution sources of haze pollution events in Hunan Province, more scientific countermeasures can be provided for the government. We use the Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem, V4.0) model to predict and simulate the PM2.5 concentrations under seven scenarios before the lockdown (2020.1.1-2020.1.22) and during the lockdown (2020.1.23-2020.2.14). Then, the PM2.5 concentrations under different conditions is compared to differentiate the contribution of meteorological conditions and local human activities to PM2.5 pollution. The results indicate the most important cause of PM2.5 pollution reduction is anthropogenic emissions from the residential sector, followed by the industrial sector, while the influence of meteorological factors contribute only 0.5% to PM2.5. The explanation is that emission reductions from the residential sector contribute the most to the reduction of seven primary contaminants. Finally, we trace the source and transport path of the air mass in Hunan Province through the Concentration Weight Trajectory Analysis (CWT). We found that the external input of PM2.5 in Hunan Province is mainly from the air mass transported from the northeast, accounting for 28.6%-30.0%. To improve future air quality, there is an urgent need to burn clean energy, improve the industrial structure, rationalize energy use, and strengthen cross-regional air pollution synergy control.

Piperphentonamine (PPTA) attenuated cerebral ischemia-induced memory deficits via neuroprotection associated with anti-apoptotic activity.

The calcium sensitizers levosimendan and piperphentonamine hydrochloride (PPTA) are used as cardiovascular drugs for treatment of heart failure. Given that levosimendan has been reported to exhibit a neuroprotective profile in a model of traumatic brain injury, it was interesting to know whether PPTA, a new calcium sensitizer recently developed in China, exerts a similar effect. The objective of this study was to determine whether PPTA exhibited neuroprotective effects and whether these properties were associated with memory. Four-vessel occlusion (4-VO) was used to induce global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats treated with or without PPTA (5, 10 mg/kg, i.p., 2 h after the onset of reperfusion and then once a day for 15 consecutive days). Memory was measured using the step-through passive avoidance test. Neurochemical changes were examined in rat PC12 cells treated with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 4 h followed by reoxygenation (OGD-R) for 24 h, in the absence or presence of PPTA. In vehicle-treated animals, 4-VO for 10 min produced memory deficits, as demonstrated by decreased retention in step-through passive avoidance, and massive neuron loss in the hippocampal CA1 subregion. These effects were attenuated by PPTA. The results were consistent with those observed in PC12 cells. PPTA treatment increased cell viability, as indicated by MTT assay, inhibited apoptosis, and decreased extracellular lactate dehydrogenase levels in Na(2)S(2)O(4)-treated PC12 cells. These results provide novel demonstration for the ability of PPTA to attenuate cerebral ischemia-induced memory deficits via neuroprotection in the hippocampus. The neuroprotective effect of PPTA appears to be associated with its anti-apoptotic activity. PPTA has the therapeutic potential for ischemic stroke.

Quality of Life in Patients with ß-thalassemia Major: Short-term and Long-term Effects After Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ALLO-HSCT) is a potentially curative approach to treat ß-thalassemia major (ß-TM). OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To assess the quality of life (QOL) of patients with ß-TM after ALLO-HSCT, we searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and MEDLINE for articles on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with ß-TM from 1 Feb 2020 to 31 Mar 2020. RESULTS: Our review revealed that the QOL of patients with ß-TM after ALLO-HSCT from a sibling donor is higher than that of patients that received blood infusion and iron-chelating therapy. Survivors of ALLO-HSCT have a QOL as good as that of a healthy population and the ability to return to normal life. However, studies thus far are limited to investigations with a few patients with ß-TM who received ALLO-HSCT of the bone marrow (BM) from a sibling donor or related donor. Graft vs. host disease, patient age, gender, sexual desire, health condition, psychological state, financial and employment stress, and social support contributed to a worse QOL after ALLO-HSCT. Medicine usage, physical therapy, and psychological intervention may help improve the decline in QOL related to ALLO-HSCT in patients with ß-TM. CONCLUSION: Doctors and nurses must focus on implementing medicine usage, physical therapy, and psychological intervention to improve the decline in QOL related to ALLO-HSCT.

[Remediation Potential of Ageratum conyzoides L. on Cadmium Contaminated Farmland].

To evaluate the remediation potential of Ageratum conyzoides L. on cadmium (Cd) contaminated farmland soil, the Cd-containing plants and root were collected and analyzed by field investigation, original pot experiment, and field experiment. The enrichment factor and removal rate of Ageratum conyzoides L. was calculated. The results showed that the maximum Cd content in the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides L. growing in soil of different lead-zinc mines was 77.01 mg·kg-1. In the high-concentration Cd soil treatment (T2), Cd content of the above-ground of Ageratum conyzoides L. was 69.71mg·kg-1, and Cd enrichment coefficient was 6.09. In the low-concentration Cd soil treatment (T1), the enrichment characteristics of Cd (Ageratum conyzoides L.) are consistent with the enrichment characteristics of Cd under high concentration conditions. Ageratum conyzoides L. exhibits stable accumulation characteristics for Cd. In the field experiment, the average Cd content of Ageratum conyzoides L. was 21.13 mg·kg-1, and the enrichment coefficient was 6.93. The removal rate of the three planting Ageratum conyzoides L. per mu of soil using the Ageratum conyzoides L. to repair Cd contaminated soil was 13.2%-15.6%. The use of Ageratum conyzoides L. to repair Cd pollution in farmland has a good prospect for engineering application.

[Effects of different paddy-upland multiple cropping rotation systems on soil organic carbon and its fractions in paddy field]. / ä¸åŒæ°´æ—±å¤ç§è½®ä½œæ–¹å¼å¯¹ç¨»ç”°åœŸå£¤æœ‰æœºç¢³åŠå ¶ç»„åˆ†çš„å½±å“.

The variations of soil organic carbon and its fractions in different paddy-upland multiple cropping rotation systems were evaluated in field trials in two consecutive years. During paddy-upland multiple cropping rotations conducted over 2 years, the content of soil total organic carbon (TOC) first increased and then decreased. The content of readily oxidized organic carbon (ROC) was highest at the rice tillering stage and lowest at the mature stage. The soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) was highest at the tillering stage. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content was highest at the mature stage. The maximum and minimum differences were at the booting stage and mature stage for TOC content, at the greening stage and booting stage for ROC content, at the mature stage and the greening stage for DOC content, at the tillering stage and the greening stage for SMBC, respectively. The soil TOC and DOC contents showed the largest variations in the 'winter fallow-early rice-late rice → winter fallow-early rice-late rice' rotation. The soil ROC content showed the largest variation in the 'milk vetch-early rice-late rice → rape-peanut-late rice' rotation. The maximum variation of SMBC was in the 'vegetables-peanut/corn-late rice → milk vetch-early rice-late rice' rotation. The 'potato-maize/soybean-late rice → vegetables-peanut/corn-late rice' rotation resulted in higher soil TOC content at the booting stage. The pattern of 'milk vetch-early rice-late rice → oil rape-peanut-late rice' led to higher soil ROC contents in the early and middle growth stages of late rice. In the 'rape-peanut-late rice → potato-maize/soybean-late rice' rotation, the highest DOC contents were at the greening stage and the mature stage, and the highest SMBC were at the booting stage and the heading stage, respectively. All these diffe-rences were significant. The rank the contents of soil organic carbon fractions from highest to lowest followed the order: TOC>ROC>SMBC>DOC. The results suggested that paddy-upland multiple cropping rotation systems could increase the contents of soil organic carbon and its fractions and improve soil quality and fertility.

[Analysis of Characteristics and Sources of Heavy Metals in Farmland Soils in the Xijiang River Draining of Guangxi].

In order to determine the distribution characteristics of heavy metal pollution in farmland soils and related influencing factors in the Xijiang River Basin, 2187 farmland soil samples were collected and their heavy metal contents were tested. The spatial structure and distribution characteristics of heavy metal elements were studied using a combination of geostatistics theory and GIS spatial interpolation. The potential ecological risk index was employed for risk assessment. Multivariate statistical methods, such as correlation analysis and principal component analysis, were used to analyze heavy metal sources. Results showed that farmland soils in the Basin were enriched with seven kinds of heavy metal to some extent, with Cd accumulation being the most evident. T-test independent samples results showed significant differences in heavy metal content between dry and field paddy soils (P<0.05). Cd content in paddy soils was significantly higher than in corresponding dry land soils. Cd in farmland soils in Xijiang River exhibited higher potential ecological risk. Correlation analysis and principal component analysis showed that enrichment of Pb, Zn, As, Cd, and Cu in soil was due to anthropogenic factors such as mining activities, traffic, and sewage irrigation, while Ni and Cr were influenced by natural factors, such as soil parent material. High-content areas of As, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu in the upper reaches of the basin are all distributed in the Diaojiang River basin and the Dahuanjiang River basin. Cd was most widely distributed. The most intensive sampling sites indicated that mining activities have caused some degree of heavy metal pollution in local farmland soils.

[Ecological evaluation of different multiple cropping systems in red soil drylands.] / 红壤旱地不同复种方式的生态功能评价.

In order to maximize the ecological function of red soil drylands and to determine the desirable multiple cropping systems, we evaluated the productivity, circulation of materials, energy and value flows in four multiple cropping systems on the basis of a consecutive three-year field experiment. Four multiple cropping systems were designed: treatment A (CK): wheat/soybean-sesame; treatment B: mixed green manure (rape × Chinese milk vetch × radish)-soybean ‖ maize-mung bean‖ sesame; treatment C: ryegrass-peanut‖ maize-millet‖ buckwheat; and treatment D: rape-mung bean‖ sweet potato; where interplanting was expressed as '/', intercropping as '‖', planting after harvest as '-', and mixed cropping as '×'. Thirteen variables were employed to compare economic, ecological, and social benefits among the four cropping systems using grey relational analysis. The results showed that 'mixed green manure (rape × Chinese milk vetch × radish)-soybean‖ maize-mung bean‖ sesame' exhibited the highest grey relational degrees in terms of economic, ecological, and social benefits, and a highest grey relational degree at 0.847 in the integrative benefit. This treatment was the best multiple cropping pattern suitable for red soil drylands. Thus, this cropping system could have a positive impact on the layout and optimization of the structure of agricultural production in red soil dryland regions in the future.

[Effects of nitrogen application and winter green manure on soil active organic carbon and the soil carbon pool management index].

Based on a cropping system of "winter green manure-double rice", the 4 x 4 two-factor test was used to study the effects of different nitrogen (N) application levels and winter green manure application on soil active organic carbon (AOC) and the C pool management index. The aim was to explore the ecological effects of winter green manure on soil improvement and determine the appropriate application levels of N fertilizer and winter green manure for improved rice yield. Results were as follows: 1) Compared with the control, the SOC and AOC contents increased by 22.2% and 26.7%, respectively, under the green manure only treatment, but the SOC contents decreased by 0.6%-3.4% under the single N fertilizer treatment. Compared with the control, the soil C pool management index increased by 24.55 and 15.17 under the green manure only and green manure plus N fertilizer treatments, respectively, and reduced by 2.59 under the single N fertilizer treatment. Compared with no fertilization, the average microbial biomass carbon (MBC) increased by 54.0%, 95.2% and 14.3% under the green manure, green manure plus N fertilizer and single N fertilizer treatments, respectively. 2) The soil AOC content was significantly positively correlated with the C pool management index (P < 0.01), and had a significant correlation with dis- solved organic C and MBC (P < 0.05). Rice yield was significantly positively correlated with AOC contents and the C pool management index, and the correlation coefficient was significantly greater than that with the total organic C. These results suggested that application of winter green manure at proper rates with inorganic fertilizer could increase SOC contents and the soil C pool management index, improve soil quality and fertility.

[Effects of different multiple cropping systems on paddy field weed community under long term paddy-upland rotation].

Based on a long term field experiment, this paper studied the effects of different multiple cropping systems on the weed community composition and species diversity under paddy-upland rotation. The multiple cropping rotation systems could significantly decrease weed density and inhibited weed growth. Among the rotation systems, the milk vetch-early rice-late maize --> milk vetchearly maize intercropped with early soybean-late rice (CCSR) had the lowest weed species dominance, which inhibited the dominant weeds and decreased their damage. Under different multiple cropping systems, the main weed community was all composed of Monochoia vaginalis, Echinochloa crusgalli, and Sagittaria pygmae, and the similarity of weed community was higher, with the highest similarity appeared in milk vetch-early rice-late maize intercropped with late soybean --> milk vetch-early maize-late rice (CSCR) and in CCSR. In sum, the multiple cropping rotations in paddy field could inhibit weeds to a certain extent, but attentions should be paid to the damage of some less important weeds.

[Investigation on biological characteristics of CD133+ cancer stem cells in human laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cell line].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biology characters of CD133+ cancer stem cells from Hep-2 cell line. METHODS: The Flow cytometry was applied to purify CD133+ cells from Hep-2 cell line. The sorted CD133+ cells were cultured in RPMI1640. The ability of migration, invasion and clonality of CD133+ cells were performed to characterize the properties of the cells. CD133+ cells and CD133- control cells were treated with paclitaxel and exposed respectively to X-rays emitted by linear accelerator with a dose of 10 Gy. The surviving rates and growth inhibition ratio of cells in two groups were detected with MTT assay to observe the resistance to irradiation and chemotherapy in CD133+ cells. RESULTS: The percentage of CD133+ cells in the unsorted and the sorted cells were 3.1% +/- 0.2% and 90.2% +/- 5.5%, respectively. CD133+ cells showed the higher proliferation and colony ability than CD133- cells. The numbers of CD133+ and CD133- cells that passed the membrane of Transwell chamber were 526 +/- 39 and 220 +/- 20 respectively (t = 22.08, P < 0.001). The colony forming units of three passages were 30.0% +/- 4.7%, 32.2% + 3.6%, 32.7% + 3.4% in CD133 cells and 15.2% +/- 2.2%, 12.0% + 2.5%, 13.8% +/- 3.3% in CD133- cells. There were statistic difference between two groups (t = 8.99, t = 14.66, t = 12.69, P < 0.01). At 24, 48, and 72 hours of treatment with paclitaxel, the cell surviving rates of CD133+ cells were 90.1% +/- 5.9%, 85.1% +/- 7.1% and 70.3% +/- 6.4% and lower than those of CD133- cells, respectively (t = 5.24, t = 8.18, t = 8.14, P < 0.01) . After radiotherapy, growth inhibition ratio of CD133+ and CD133- cells were 30.0% +/- 7.1% and 55.0% +/- 6.3% (t = 8.30, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: CD133+ cells exist in a small proportion in Hep-2 cell line and they show the properties of cancer stem cells, with the resistance to irradiation and chemotherapy.

[Effects of piperphentonamine hydrochloride on cognitive deficits in rats induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of piperphentonamine hydrochloride (PPTA) on cognitive deficits induced by ischemia-reperfusion and explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, ischemia-reperfusion group (with saline injection), PPTA-treated groups (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) and edaravone-treated group (6 mg/kg). Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion, and the agents were administrated 1 h after ischemia. At 24 h after ischemia, step-through passive avoidance test was carried out, and 24 h later IL-1ß, TNF-α, caspase-3 and HSP-70 mRNA expressions in the ischemic brain tissues were measured with RT-PCR. RESULTS: In the step-through passive avoidance test, the rats in the ischemia-reperfusion group showed significantly shorter latency and more error times than those in the sham group, and these behavioral changes were improved significantly by treatments with PPTA and edaravone. Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion caused significantly increased expressions of IL-1ß, TNF-α, caspase-3 and HSP-70 mRNA, and these changes were obviously reversed by PPTA, but not by edaravone. CONCLUSIONS: PPTA can reverse cognitive deficits induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion probably by decreasing the inflammatory responses and cell apoptosis in the brain, suggesting its potential as a new therapeutic agent for improving the cognitive function following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.