Exogenous selenium promotes the growth of salt-stressed tomato seedlings by regulating ionic homeostasis, activation energy allocation and CO2 assimilation.

This study is aimed at investigating the effects of exogenous selenium (Se) on the ionic equilibrium and micro-domain distribution, state transitions between photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII), and the photosynthetic carbon assimilation efficiency of tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) seedlings under the influence of salt stress. The application of 0.01 mmol•L-1 exogenous Se had no significant effects on the selective transport capacity of sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) from the roots to leaves under salt stress. It, however, significantly hindered the absorption of Na by the root system and leaves, increased the ratios of K/Na, Ca/Na and Mg/Na, and relieved the nonuniformity of micro-domain ionic distribution, thus, mitigating the ionic homeostasis imbalance and ion toxicity induced by salt stress. Additionally, the application of exogenous Se overcame stomatal limitation, regulated the state transitions between PSI and PSII, and enhanced the initial and overall activity of Rubisco as well as the activities of Rubisco activase (RCA) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase). It also increased the levels of expression of nine relevant genes in Calvin cycle, which subsequently improved the concentration of photosynthetic substrates, balanced the distribution of activation energy between PSI and PSII, promoted the efficiency of CO2 carboxylation and carbon assimilation, thereby increasing the photosynthetic efficiency of tomato seedling leaves under salt stress. Hence, the supply of exogenous Se can alleviate the inhibition of salt stress on tomato seedling growth by rebuilding ionic homeostasis and promoting photosynthetic capacity.

The Protective Effect of Exogenous Ascorbic Acid on Photosystem Inhibition of Tomato Seedlings Induced by Salt Stress.

This study investigated the protective effects of exogenous ascorbic acid (AsA, 0.5 mmol·L-1) treatment on salt-induced photosystem inhibition in tomato seedlings under salt stress (NaCl, 100 mmol·L-1) conditions with and without the AsA inhibitor lycorine. Salt stress reduced the activities of photosystem II (PSII) and PSI. AsA treatment mitigated inhibition of the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), maximal P700 changes (Pm), the effective quantum yields of PSII and I [Y(II) and Y(I)], and non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ) values under salt stress conditions both with and without lycorine. Moreover, AsA restored the balance of excitation energy between two photosystems (ß/α-1) after disruption by salt stress, with or without lycorine. Treatment of the leaves of salt-stressed plants with AsA with or without lycorine increased the proportion of electron flux for photosynthetic carbon reduction [Je(PCR)] while decreasing the O2-dependent alternative electron flux [Ja(O2-dependent)]. AsA with or without lycorine further resulted in increases in the quantum yield of cyclic electron flow (CEF) around PSI [Y(CEF)] while increasing the expression of antioxidant and AsA-GSH cycle-related genes and elevating the ratio of reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG). Similarly, AsA treatment significantly decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species [superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)] in these plants. Together, these data indicate that AsA can alleviate salt-stress-induced inhibition of PSII and PSI in tomato seedlings by restoring the excitation energy balance between the photosystems, regulating the dissipation of excess light energy by CEF and NPQ, increasing photosynthetic electron flux, and enhancing the scavenging of reactive oxygen species, thereby enabling plants to better tolerate salt stress.

A moderate reduction in irrigation and nitrogen improves water-nitrogen use efficiency, productivity, and profit under new type of drip irrigated spring wheat system.

Rational irrigation and nitrogen management strategies are crucial for wheat growth. However, the optimal amount of water and nitrogen for the newly developed drip irrigated spring wheat system (TR6S, one drip tube service for six rows of wheat, with a row spacing of 10 cm and an inter-block space of 25 cm, saves drip tubes and obtains higher profits) in dry and semi-arid areas remains unclear. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted with four nitrogen levels (300, 270, 240, and 0 kg ha-1 referred N300, N270, N240, and N0) and four irrigation levels (4500, 4200, 3900, and 3600 m3 ha-1 referred I4500, I4200, I3900, and I3600) during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 spring wheat seasons to analyze the effects of irrigation (I) and nitrogen (N) levels on grain yield, water-nitrogen use efficiency, profit, biomass accumulation, and nitrogen nutrient absorption status under TR6S. Compared with the traditional irrigation and nitrogen management strategy (N300-I4500, as control), lesser irrigation and nitrogen supply (I<3979 m3 ha-1 and N<273 kg ha-1) saved cost but led to lower grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), agronomic efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer (AEN), and profit. However, a moderate reduction in irrigation and nitrogen supply (4500 m3 ha-1>I>3979 m3 ha-1 and 300 kg ha-1 >N>273 kg ha-1) improved grain yield, WUE, AEN, and profit. The increase in grain yield was mainly related to the rise in 1000-grain weight and kernels per spike. Although the moderate reduction in irrigation lowered soil moisture status, the dry matter pre-stored in the vegetative organs before anthesis that gets redistributed into grains during grain filling was improved. Moreover, the moderate reduction in nitrogen supply resulted in a more reasonable nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) of wheat plant, which improved flag leaf area and chlorophyll relative content (SPAD) at the anthesis stage. This also played a positive role in biomass accumulation and redistributed, yield structure optimization. Considering comprehensively yield, WUE, AEN and profit, combination of 285 kg ha-1 N and 4170 m3 ha-1 I was optimal irrigation and nitrogen application pattern for TR6S. This strategy can be applied to other arid and semi-arid regions.

Ascorbic Acid-Induced Photosynthetic Adaptability of Processing Tomatoes to Salt Stress Probed by Fast OJIP Fluorescence Rise.

In this study, the protective role of exogenous ascorbic acid (AsA) on salt-induced inhibition of photosynthesis in the seedlings of processing tomatoes under salt stress has been investigated. Plants under salt stress (NaCl, 100 mmol/L) were foliar-sprayed with AsA (0.5 mmol/L), lycorine (LYC, 0.25 mmol/L, an inhibitor of key AsA synthesis enzyme l-galactono-γ-lactone dehydrogenase activity), or AsA plus LYC. The effects of AsA on fast OJIP fluorescence rise curve and JIP parameters were then examined. Our results demonstrated that applying exogenous AsA significantly changed the composition of O-J-I-P fluorescence transients in plants subjected to salt stress both with and without LYC. An increase in basal fluorescence (F o) and a decrease in maximum fluorescence (F m) were observed. Lower K- and L-bands and higher I-band were detected on the OJIP transient curves compared, respectively, with salt-stressed plants with and without LYC. AsA application also significantly increased the values of normalized total complementary area (Sm), relative variable fluorescence intensity at the I-step (VI), absorbed light energy (ABS/CSm), excitation energy (TRo/CSm), and reduction energy entering the electron transfer chain beyond QA (ETo/CSm) per reaction centre (RC) and electron transport flux per active RC (ETo/RC), while decreasing some others like the approximated initial slope of the fluorescence transient (Mo), relative variable fluorescence intensity at the K-step (VK), average absorption (ABS/RC), trapping (TRo/RC), heat dissipation (DIo/RC) per active RC, and heat dissipation per active RC (DIo/CSm) in the presence or absence of LYC. These results suggested that exogenous AsA counteracted salt-induced photoinhibition mainly by modulating the endogenous AsA level and redox state in the chloroplast to promote chlorophyll synthesis and alleviate the damage of oxidative stress to photosynthetic apparatus. AsA can also raise the efficiency of light utilization as well as excitation energy dissipation within the photosystem II (PSII) antennae, thus increasing the stability of PSII and promoting the movement of electrons among PS1 and PSII in tomato seedling leaves subjected to salt stress.

Simultaneous dual-wavelength off-axis flipping digital holography.

We develop a two-wavelength off-axis digital holography for quantitative phase imaging using flipping in a single interferogram shot. The interference is performed by flipping the relative position of a sample and reference beam, and the two-wavelength information is spatially multiplexed onto a monochromatic charge-coupled device camera simultaneously using polarization modulation. Due to the interferogram containing two-wavelength information with orthogonal interference fringes, the two-wavelength unwrapped information on the phase and thickness for the sample is extracted from a single shot. Our setup requires no pinholes, gratings, or dichroic mirrors with straightforward alignment. We demonstrate the operation of the setup with a step target and circular pillar.

A Low-Complexity DOA and Polarization Method of Polarization-Sensitive Array.

This paper proposes a low-complexity method to estimate the direction of arrival and polarization based on the polarization sensitive array (PSA) which is composed of cross-dipoles. We built a half-quaternions model through the Cayley-Dickson form to remove the redundant information. Then, the directions of arrival (DOAs) were estimated via the root-MUSIC algorithm. Finally, the polarizations were estimated by generalized eigenvalue method. Unlike some existing searching algorithms, such as multiple signal classification (MUSIC), this method can avoid the peak searching and maintains high estimation accuracy. Moreover, we use the oblique projection operators to filter out the interference signals which are decoys of the target signal. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and favorable performance of the proposed method.

LPI Radar Waveform Recognition Based on Time-Frequency Distribution.

In this paper, an automatic radar waveform recognition system in a high noise environment is proposed. Signal waveform recognition techniques are widely applied in the field of cognitive radio, spectrum management and radar applications, etc. We devise a system to classify the modulating signals widely used in low probability of intercept (LPI) radar detection systems. The radar signals are divided into eight types of classifications, including linear frequency modulation (LFM), BPSK (Barker code modulation), Costas codes and polyphase codes (comprising Frank, P1, P2, P3 and P4). The classifier is Elman neural network (ENN), and it is a supervised classification based on features extracted from the system. Through the techniques of image filtering, image opening operation, skeleton extraction, principal component analysis (PCA), image binarization algorithm and Pseudo-Zernike moments, etc., the features are extracted from the Choi-Williams time-frequency distribution (CWD) image of the received data. In order to reduce the redundant features and simplify calculation, the features selection algorithm based on mutual information between classes and features vectors are applied. The superiority of the proposed classification system is demonstrated by the simulations and analysis. Simulation results show that the overall ratio of successful recognition (RSR) is 94.7% at signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of -2 dB.

Integrated HPV genomes tend to integrate in gene desert areas in the CaSki, HeLa, and SiHa cervical cancer cell lines.

AIMS: The integration preferences of human papillomavirus (HPV) have been intensively studied and contested over recent years. To disclose the integration preferences of high-risk HPV in cervical cancer, HPV transcriptional sites and features in different cervical cancer cell lines were identified. MAIN METHODS: In this study, three cervical cancer cell lines (CaSki, HeLa, and SiHa) were subjected for HPV genome status determination by amplification of papillomavirus oncogene transcripts (APOT) assay. The numbers of viral copies in human genomes and numbers of viral-human fusion mRNAs in three HPV-integrated cervical cancer cell lines were measured and analysed. KEY FINDINGS: The results revealed that the gene desert region 8q24 of the HPV type 18 integrated HeLa cell line and the 13q21-22 region of the HPV type 16 integrated CaSki and SiHa cell lines were hotspots for HPV integration, and the numbers of viral copies in the human genomes of the three cell lines that we detected were not in accordance with those reported in previous studies. SIGNIFICANCE: Integration of the HPV genome into the host cell chromosome suggests that persistent HPV infection is vital for malignant cell transformation and carcinogenesis. This study provides information to benefit health care professionals seeking more comprehensive and accurate diagnostics for HPV-related disease"? Please check, and amend as necessary.

Tri-window common-path interferometer for quantifying phase objects.

A new method is presented using a tri-window common-path interferometer (TriWCPI) for quantitative phase measurement. The prior method obtains the phase shift introduced by the Ronchi grating and the intensity value of the incident light with interferograms acquired offline without any objects. As a consequence, an improved recovery algorithm is established using the phase shift, the intensity value of the incident light, and the interferograms for a phase object acquired by camera in a single shot. The phase of an object then can be reconstructed from the improved algorithm. Because the calculation of phase shift and intensity value can be performed offline only once after the TriWCPI is built, the real-time ability and stability of the TriWCPI remains in this method. But the method avoids the normalization process and thus improves phase-retrieval precision. Experiments are demonstrated to prove the precision, real-time ability, and stability of the proposed method.

[Dynamics simulation on plant growth, N accumulation and utilization of processing tomato at different N fertilization rates].

Three field experiments were conducted to simulate the dynamics of aboveground biomass, N accumulation and utilization of drip-irrigated processing tomatoes at different N fertilization rates (0, 75, 150, 300, 450, or 600 kg x hm(-2)). The results showed that Logistic models best described the changes in aboveground biomass, N accumulation, and utilization of accumulated N efficiency with the physiological development time (PDT). Rapid accumulation of N began about 4-6 d (PDT) earlier than the rapid accumulation of aboveground biomass. The momentary utilization rate of N (NMUR) increased after emergence, reached a single peak, and then decreased. The N accumulation, aboveground biomass and yield were highest in the 300 kg x hm(-2) treatment. The quadratic model indicated that application rate of 349 to 382 kg N x hm(-2) was optimum for drip-irrigated processing tomatoes in northern Xinjiang.

Two-shot common-path phase-shifting interferometer with a four-step algorithm and an unknown phase shift.

This paper presents a two-shot common-path phase-shifting interferometer that consists of a 4f optical system with two windows in the input plane and a Ronchi grating in the Fourier plane, and generates two adjacent interferograms using only diffraction orders 0 and +1 and 0 and -1. Four phase-shifted interferograms can be obtained in two shots by modulating two linear polarizers with angle difference of π/4 and translating the grating with only an unknown phase shift. An algorithm similar to the standard four-step algorithm is used to retrieve the phase of a specimen, and it requires no knowledge of the phase shift introduced by translation of the grating. The validity and repeatability of the proposed method is proved through simulations and experiments.

Use of a digital camera to monitor the growth and nitrogen status of cotton.

The main objective of this study was to develop a nondestructive method for monitoring cotton growth and N status using a digital camera. Digital images were taken of the cotton canopies between emergence and full bloom. The green and red values were extracted from the digital images and then used to calculate canopy cover. The values of canopy cover were closely correlated with the normalized difference vegetation index and the ratio vegetation index and were measured using a GreenSeeker handheld sensor. Models were calibrated to describe the relationship between canopy cover and three growth properties of the cotton crop (i.e., aboveground total N content, LAI, and aboveground biomass). There were close, exponential relationships between canopy cover and three growth properties. And the relationships for estimating cotton aboveground total N content were most precise, the coefficients of determination (R(2)) value was 0.978, and the root mean square error (RMSE) value was 1.479 g m(-2). Moreover, the models were validated in three fields of high-yield cotton. The result indicated that the best relationship between canopy cover and aboveground total N content had an R(2) value of 0.926 and an RMSE value of 1.631 g m(-2). In conclusion, as a near-ground remote assessment tool, digital cameras have good potential for monitoring cotton growth and N status.

[Multi-center clinical study on the treatment of the low-middle frequency sudden hearing loss].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the short-term outcome of patients with low-middle frequency sudden deafness treated with alone or combination treatment. METHODS: From August 2007 to October 2011, 205 patients with the diagnosis of low-middle frequency sudden deafness who were from 33 different clinical centers were recruited. All patients were followed up for four weeks from the initial examination. Patients were treated with steroid , Ginaton, batroxobin respectively, or Ginaton and steroid combination treatment. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 90.73%. In Ginaton group, the total effective rate was 87.27%, 89.19% in steroid group, 87.80% in batroxobin group, and 95.83% in Ginaton and steroid group. Considering the total effective rate, there was no statistical difference between four groups (χ(2) = 7.98, P = 0.54). The clinical cure rate for steroid alone was 81.01%, Ginaton alone 76.36%, batroxobin alone 68.29%, and Ginaton and steroid combination treatment 80.56%. There were no clinically significant differences between the different treatments (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The low-middle frequency sudden deafness tends to have a relatively favorable prognosis. The steroid played a good effect in the treatment. But different treatments either improving the microcirculation of inner ear or alleviating edema blood has undifferentiated results. Therefore the combination therapy may be more effective.

Parallel two-step spatial carrier phase-shifting common-path interferometer with a Ronchi grating outside the Fourier plane.

A parallel two-step spatial carrier phase-shifting common-path interferometer with a Ronchi grating placed outside the Fourier plane is proposed in this paper for quantitative phase imaging. Two phase-shifted interferograms with spatial carrier can be captured simultaneously using the proposed interferometer. The dc term can be eliminated by subtracting the two phase-shifted interferograms, and the phase of a specimen can be reconstructed through Fourier transform. The validity and stability of the interferometer proposed are experimentally demonstrated via the measurement of a phase plate.

[Effect of postaurical subcutaneously injection of triamcinolone acetonide for subjective tinnitus].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether postaurical subcutaneous injection of triamcinolone acetonide is effective for subjective tinnitus refractory to medical treatment. METHODS: A total of 100 adult patients with subjective tinnitus of cochlear origin were randomly assigned to receive postaurical subcutaneous.Injection of either triamcinolone acetonide (n = 50) or saline solution (n = 50). The treatment protocol comprised 5 injections, one per week for 5 weeks.Improvement was measured by tinnitus severity evaluation index evaluation scale, at baseline and one week after the last injection. The follow-up period was 6 months. RESULTS: No significant difference existed between two groups regarding age, gender, pure tone average, pretreatment tinnitus intensity, tinnitus duration or hearing loss level tinnitus duration (P = 0.316,0.685,0.839,0.682 and 0.881 respectively).No significant post-treatment changes in the tinnitus severity index (experimental group = 52%, control group = 44%) were observed in either group (P = 0.724). The most frequently encountered side effect was pain during injection. CONCLUSION: The postaurical subcutaneous injection of triamcinolone acetonide has no obvious benefit compared with placebo for subjective tinnitus of cochlear origin refractory to medical treatment.

Common-path interferometer with a tri-window.

A common-path interferometer is proposed with a tri-window. It is built using a 4f optical system with Ronchi ruling as a spatial filter. The input rectangular aperture is formed by three windows; the central window supports a phase object, and the other two are used for reference beams. Using an appropriate grating period relative to input aperture size, an interferogram containing three patterns can be obtained in the output plane. The object phase can then be reconstructed from the three patterns using just one interferogram. The experiments are carried out to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of the proposed scheme.

[Simulation model on the formation of greenhouse sweet pepper leaf area index].

Leaf area index (LAI) is one of the most important crop parameters in photosynthesis-driving crop growth simulation model and canopy evapotranspiration simulation model, while air temperature and radiation are the important climate factors affecting crop leaf growth. In this paper, experiments with different sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars and sowing dates were conducted in greenhouse to quantitatively analyze the relationships of the number of unfolding leaves per plant, the number of old leaves removed per plant, and the length of each leaf with air temperature and radiation. Based on these quantitative relationships, a leaf area simulation model for greenhouse sweet pepper was developed, and the independent experimental data were used to validate the model. The results showed that the number of unfolding leaves per plant was a positive exponential function of the product of thermal effectiveness and PAR (TEP) accumulated after emergence, and the length of each leaf was a negative exponential function of the TEP accumulated after emergence. The coefficient of determination (R2) and the root mean squared error (RMSE) between simulated and measured leaf number, leaf length, and LAI were 0.94, 0.89, and 0.93, and 3.4, 2.15, and 0.15, respectively. The model could use air temperature, radiation, planting density, and emergence date to satisfactorily predict the LAI of greenhouse sweet pepper, and supply required LAI information for the sweet pepper growth and canopy evapotranspiration simulation models.

[Protection from noise-induced hearing loss by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor and neurotrophin 3 in the guinea pig cochlea].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor-N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) with or without neurotrophin 3 (NT3) on hearing in acoustic trauma. METHODS: Eighty pigmented male guinea pigs were randomly divided into two groups: sham-exposed group (n=20) and noise-exposed group. The latter was divided into three subgroups: saline group (n=20), L-NAME group (n=20) and L-NAME + NT3 group (n=20). Two days consecutively and 30 min before noise exposure (4 kHz octave band noise at 115 dB SPL for 5 h), subjects in L-NAME and L-NAME + NT3 groups received an intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg; animals in saline group received the same dosage of physiological saline at the same time. Four days before noise exposure, NT3 in artificial perilymph was delivered to the right scala tympani via a mini-osmotic pump in noise + L-NAME + NT3 group. Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were measured before and 10 days following noise exposure. The cochlear tissue was assayed for nitric oxide (NO) level 3 days after noise exposure. Protection was assessed physiologically by the change in ABR threshold shift, and histologically by outer hair cell (OHC) survival. RESULTS: The hearing thresholds and the number of OHC were relatively stable in sham-exposed group. The obvious threshold shift and OHC loss were observed in the noise-exposed groups. The hearing thresholds, NO level of cochlear tissue and OHC loss in the noise + saline group were significantly higher than those in the noise + L-NAME group (P < 0.01) and noise + L-NAME + NT3 group (P < 0.01). NT3 provided an additive functional (P < 0.01), but not morphological protection with L-NAME (P = 0.095). CONCLUSION: Compared to L-NAME alone, a combination of L-NAME and NT-3 can provide an additional protection against acoustic trauma in the guinea pig cochlear.

[Changes in antioxidant capacity of the guinea pig exposed to noise and the protective effect of alpha-lipoic acid against acoustic trauma].

The study was aimed at exploring the effect of noise on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in serum, nitric oxide (NO) level in the cochlea and the protective action of alpha-lipoic acid against noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Sixty guinea pigs (350-400 g) were divided randomly into three groups (control group, noise+saline group and noise+alpha-lipoic acid group). Serum and cochlear tissue were treated immediately after noise exposure (4-kHz octave band, 115 dB SPL 5 h) to determine the level of TAC and NO, respectively. Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) were measured before and immediately after exposure. The threshold of hearing in the control group was relatively stable, while the hearing threshold in the noise+saline group was significantly higher than those in the noise+alpha-lipoic acid group (P<0.05). TAC level of the noise+saline group was significantly lower than that of the control group P<0.05 . TAC level of the noise+alpha-lipoic acid group was significantly higher than that of the noise+saline group P<0.05 , while there was no significant difference in the levels between the noise+alpha-lipoic acid group and the control group (P>0.05). The NO level of the cochlear tissue in the noise+saline group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). Cochlear NO level in the noise+alpha-lipoic acid group was significantly lower than that of the noise+saline group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in cochlear NO levels between the noise+alpha-lipoic acid group and the control group (P>0.05). The results obtained indicate that noise exposure causes a decrease in serum TAC and an increase in NO in cochlea. alpha-Lipoid acid exerts a protective effect against hearing loss in acoustic trauma through its antioxidant effects.