Effects of irrigation scheduling on the yield and irrigation water productivity of cucumber in coconut coir culture.

Optimum irrigation scheduling is important for ensuring high yield and water productivity in substrate-cultivated vegetables and is determined based on information such as substrate water content, meteorological parameters, and crop growth. The aim of this study was to determine a precise irrigation schedule for coconut coir culture in a solar greenhouse by comparing the irrigation, evapotranspiration (ET), substrate water content (VWC), as well as the crop growth indices and yield of cucumber, and irrigation water productivity (IWP) under three irrigation schedules: the soil moisture sensor-based method (T-VWC), the accumulated radiation combined with soil moisture sensor-based method (Rn-VWC), and the crop evapotranspiration estimated method using the hourly PM-ETo equation with an improved calculation of Kc (T-ETc). The results showed that the daily irrigation and evapotranspiration amount were the highest under T-VWC treatment, while the lowest under T-ETc treatment. In different meteorological environments, the change in irrigation amount was more consistent with the ET,and the VWC was relatively stable in T-ETc treatment compared with that under T-VWC or Rn-VWC treatments. The plant height, leaves number, leaf area, and stem diameter of T-VWC and Rn-VWC treatments were higher than those of the T-ETc treatments, but there was no significant difference in cucumber yield. Compared with the T-VWC treatment, total irrigation amount under Rn-VWC and T-ETc treatments significantly decreased by 25.75% and 34.04%, respectively ([Formula: see text]). The highest IWP values of 25.07 kg m[Formula: see text] was achieved from T-ETc treatment with significantly increasing by 44.33% compared to the T-VWC treatment (17.37 kg m[Formula: see text]). In summary, the T-ETc treatment allowed more reasonable irrigation management and was appropriate for growing cucumber in coconut coir culture.

[Effects of Different Types of Plastic Film Mulching on Soil Quality, Root Growth, and Yield].

Aiming to address the problem of soil environmental pollution caused by the large-scale use of plastic film in agricultural production in China, field experiments were carried out by applying degradable plastic film. Pumpkin was used as the research material to explore the effects of black common plastic film (CK), white degradation plastic film (WDF), black degradation plastic film (BDF), and black CO2-based degradable plastic film (C-DF) on soil physicochemical properties, root growth and yield, and soil quality. The results showed that the soil water content and temperature of the three degradable plastic films were lower than those of ordinary plastic films to different degrees; there was no significant difference in soil organic matter content among the treatments. The soil available potassium content of the C-DF treatment was lower than that of CK, and WDF and BDF had no significant effect. Compared with those in CK and WDF, soil total nitrogen and available nitrogen contents in the BDF and C-DF treatments were lower, and the difference between treatments reached a significant level. Compared with that of CK, the catalase activities of the three types of degradation membranes were significantly increased by 2.9%-6.8%, and the sucrase was significantly decreased by 33.3%-38.4%. Compared with that in CK, the soil cellulase activity in the BDF treatment was significantly increased by 63.8%, whereas WDF and C-DF had no significant effects. The three types of degradable film treatments could promote the growth of underground roots, and the growth vigor was obviously enhanced. The yield of pumpkin treated with BDF and C-DF was close to that of CK, and the yield of pumpkin treated with BDF was significantly lower than that of CK by 11.4%. The experimental results showed that the effects of the BDF and C-DF treatments on soil quality and yield were comparable to those of CK. According to the results, two types of black degradable plastic film can effectively replace ordinary plastic film in the high-temperature production season.

Comparison of the conventional tube and erythrocyte-magnetized technology in titration of red blood cell alloantibodies.

BACKGROUND: Erythrocyte alloantibodies are mainly produced after immune stimulation, such as blood transfusion, pregnancy, and transplantation, and are the leading causes of severe hemolytic transfusion reactions and difficulty in blood grouping and matching. Therefore, antibody screening is critical to prevent and improve red cell alloantibodies. Routine tube assay is the primary detection method of antibody screening. Recently, erythrocyte-magnetized technology (EMT) has been increasingly used in clinical practice. This study intends to probe the application and efficacy of the conventional tube and EMT in red blood cell alloantibody titration to provide a reference for clinical blood transfusion. AIM: To investigate the application value of conventional tube and EMT in red blood cell alloantibody titration and enhance the safety of blood transfusion practice. METHODS: A total of 1298 blood samples were harvested from blood donors at the Department of Blood Transfusion of our hospital from March 2021 to December 2022. A 5 mL blood sample was collected in tubing, which was then cut, and the whole blood was put into a test tube for centrifugation to separate the serum. Different red blood cell blood group antibody titers were simultaneously detected using the tube polybrene test, tube antiglobulin test (AGT), and EMT screening irregular antibody methods to determine the best test method. RESULTS: Simultaneous detection was performed through the tube polybrene test, tube AGT and EMT screening irregular antibodies. It was discovered that the EMT screening irregular antibody method could detect all immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) irregular antibodies, and the results of manual tube AGT were satisfactory, but the operation time was lengthy, and the equipment had a large footprint. The EMT screening irregular antibody assay was also conducted to determine its activity against type O Rh (D) red blood cells, and the outcomes were satisfactory. Furthermore, compared to the conventional tube method, the EMT screening irregular antibody method was more cost-effective and had significantly higher detection efficiency. CONCLUSION: With a higher detection rate, the EMT screening irregular antibody method can detect both IgG and IgM irregular antibodies faster and more effectively than the conventional tube method.

Tomato salt tolerance mechanisms and their potential applications for fighting salinity: A review.

One of the most significant environmental factors affecting plant growth, development and productivity is salt stress. The damage caused by salt to plants mainly includes ionic, osmotic and secondary stresses, while the plants adapt to salt stress through multiple biochemical and molecular pathways. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most widely cultivated vegetable crops and a model dicot plant. It is moderately sensitive to salinity throughout the period of growth and development. Biotechnological efforts to improve tomato salt tolerance hinge on a synthesized understanding of the mechanisms underlying salinity tolerance. This review provides a comprehensive review of major advances on the mechanisms controlling salt tolerance of tomato in terms of sensing and signaling, adaptive responses, and epigenetic regulation. Additionally, we discussed the potential application of these mechanisms in improving salt tolerance of tomato, including genetic engineering, marker-assisted selection, and eco-sustainable approaches.

Nematicidal activity of volatile organic compounds produced by Bacillus altitudinis AMCC 1040 against Meloidogyne incognita.

The application of nematicidal microorganisms and their virulence factors provides more opportunities to control root-knot nematodes. Bacillus altitudinis AMCC 1040, previously isolated from suppressive soils, showed significant nematicidal activity, and in this study, nematicidal substances produced by Bacillus altitudinis AMCC 1040 were investigated. The results of the basic properties of active substances showed that these compounds have good thermal stability and passage, are resistant to acidic environment and sensitive to alkaline conditions. Further analysis showed that it is a volatile component. Using HS-SPME-GC/MS, the volatile compounds produced by Bacillus altitudinis AMCC 1040 were identified and grouped into four major categories: ethers, alcohols, ketone, and organic acids, comprising a total of eight molecules. Six of them possess nematicidal activities, including 2,3-butanedione, acetic acid, 2-isopropoxy ethylamine, 3-methylbutyric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid and octanoic acid. Our results further our understanding of the effects of Bacillus altitudinis and its nematicidal metabolites on the management of Meloidogyne incognita and may help in finding less toxic nematicides to control root knot nematodes.

Explored Risk Factors for Lymph Node Metastasis with Siewert II/III Adenocarcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction.

AIM: To explore the risk factors and prognosis for lymphatic metastasis (LNM) in patients with Siewert II/III adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (AEG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed 49 patients with Siewert II/III AEG. Clinical characteristics and pathological features were analyzed by the Chi-square the and binary logistic regression. Survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: LNM frequency was found in lymph nodes No.1, No.2, No.3, No.7, No.11 and No.110. The results revealed that depth of infiltration, neoplasms by histological type and lymphatic embolus were independent risk factors for LNM. The 1- and 3-year survival of patients without LNM were both 100%, while patients with LNM had 70% and 60% survival, respectively. Although the differences were not statistically significant, survival rate with negative lymph nodes was higher than in patients with LNM. CONCLUSION: Total gastrectomy combined with D2 No.110 lymphadenectomy might improve the prognosis for LNM patients.

Randomized Trial of Immediate Postoperative Pain Following Single-incision Versus Traditional Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: We undertook a randomized controlled trial to ascertain if single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) was more beneficial for reducing postoperative pain than traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (TLC). Moreover, the influencing factors of SILC were analyzed. METHODS: A total of 552 patients with symptomatic gallstones or polyps were allocated randomly to undergo SILC (n = 138) or TLC (n = 414). Data on postoperative pain score, operative time, complications, procedure conversion, and hospital costs were collected. After a 6-month follow-up, all data were analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: Among SILC group, 4 (2.9%) cases required conversion to TLC. Mean operative time of SILC was significantly longer than that of TLC (58.97 ± 21.56 vs. 43.38 ± 19.02 min, P < 0.001). The two groups showed no significant differences in analgesic dose, duration of hospital stay, or cost. Median pain scores were similar between the two groups 7 days after surgery, but SILC-treated patients had a significantly lower median pain score 6 h after surgery (10-point scale: 3 [2, 4] vs. 4 [3, 5], P = 0.009). Importantly, subgroup analyses of operative time for SILC showed that a longer operative time was associated with greater prevalence of pain score >5 (≥100 min: 5/7 patients vs. <40 min, 3/16 patients, P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The primary benefit of SILC appears to be slightly less pain immediately after surgery. Surgeon training seems to be important because the shorter operative time for SILC may elicit less pain immediately after surgery.

Broadband single-polarization single-mode photonic crystal fibers with three different background materials.

A modified structure of single-polarization single-mode (SPSM) photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with different background materials is presented and analyzed by using the full-vector finite-element method. Simulation results confirmed that the proposed PCF can realize low-loss SPSM on three wavebands with the same structure and different background materials. The wavebands are 1.46-1.60 µm for silica-based fiber, 1.97-2.3 µm for lead silicate glass fiber, and 3.16-3.58 µm for chalcogenide glass fiber. For three PCFs with different background materials, only the slow-axis mode exists and the confinement loss is less than 100 dB/m in the SPSM wavebands.

[Clinical and pathological features of operable breast cancer in women over 65 years].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and pathological characteristics of operable breast cancer in women over 65 years. METHODS: The data of 95 patients treated from February 2003 to February 2005 were collected, and the clinicopathological characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: These 95 patients accounted for 26.1% of all female breast cancer patients registered in our hospital in the mean time. Local advanced breast cancer accounted for 74.5% of the patients. The median time from symptom presentation to treatment seeking was 1.2 years. Curative resection was performed in 96 breasts of 94 patients, 71 patients received chemotherapy and 67 received endocrine therapy. Sixty-four cases (67.3%) were confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma. Positive expression of estrogen or progesterone receptor was found in 65 cases (68.4%); overexpression of C-erbB-2 was found in 23.5% of the patients and low level expression of Ki-67 (<30%) was found in 54.1% of the cases, respectively. The 3-year overall survival rate and disease free survival rate was 87.4% and 71.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Of the breast cancer in aged women, most are local advanced breast cancer. Breast cancer in the elderly women has distinctive clinicopathological characteristics. Less radical surgery combined with adjuvant chemotherapy and(or) endocrine therapy is feasible treatment.

[A clinical comparison of two strategies for minimal invasive treatment of secondary common bile duct stone].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficiency of two strategy in the treatment of secondary common bile duct stones: laparoscopic cholecystectomy with transcytotic common bile duct exploration (LC + LTCBDE), or laparoscopic cholecystectomy after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST + LC). METHODS: According to the screening standard, 88 patients with secondary bile duct stones (43 cases in LC + LTCBDE group, 45 cases in EST + LC group) who were treated from June 2005 to November 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. The achievement ratio, complications, average hospital stay and cost between two groups were compared. And all patients were followed up. RESULTS: There were no significant differences on achievement ratio and complications between two groups (P > 0.05). The LC + LTCBDE group has significantly shorter hospital stay and lower cost (P < 0.05). There were no recurrence in 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: LTCBDE is a promising strategy which has more advantages in the minimal invasive treatment of secondary common bile duct stones.

Intrapancreatic accessory spleen: a case report and review of the literature.

Here, we report a case of intrapancreatic accessory spleen confirmed by pathologic diagnosis and discuss its differential diagnosis and surgical management with a review of the literature.

Effects of hepatotrophic factors on the liver after portacaval shunt in rats with portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Portacaval shunt (PCS) prevent hepatotrophic factors from flowing into the liver, but they enter directly the systemic circulation and worsen liver injury. This study was designed to investigate the effects of hepatotrophic factors through the portal vein on the liver in rats with portal hypertension after portacaval shunt. METHODS: Intrahepatic portal hypertension (IHPH) was induced by intragastric administration of carbon tetrachloride, and end-to-side PCS was performed. Eight normal rats served as controls, and eight rats with IHPH served as IHPH model (IHPH group). Another 32 rats with IHPH-PCS were randomly subdivided into 4 groups: normal saline (NS) given to 8 rats, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) 8, insulin (INS) 8, hepatocyte growth factor and insulin (HGF + INS) 8. Hepatotrophic factors were infused into the portal vein through an intravenous catheter. Portal venous pressure (PVP) was measured. The levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were tested biochemically and those of hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin (LN) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Hepatic fibrosis was assessed histologically and the expression of collagens type I and III were detected immunohistochemically. Ultrastructural change of hepatocytes and the number of mitochondria were observed under an electron microscope. The data were compared between groups and subgroups by Student-Newman-Keuls procedure with SPSS10.0. RESULTS: PVP was significantly higher in the IHPH rats than in the control rats (P < 0.05). The levels of serum ALT, AST, HA, and LN, hepatic fibrosis score, the amount of collagen deposition, collagens type I and III increased more significantly in the IHPH group than in the control rats (P < 0.05). The number of mitochondria decreased more significantly in the IHPH rats than in the control rats (P < 0.05). The levels of serum ALT, AST, HA and LN as well as hepatic fibrosis score, the amount of collagen deposition, and the amount of collagens type I and III in the HGF and HGF + INS rats were significantly lower than those in the NS rats (P < 0.05). The damage to hepatocyte ultrastructure was markedly alleviated and the number of mitochondria was increased more significantly in the HGF and HGF + INS rats than in the NS rats under an electron microscope. CONCLUSIONS: Perfusion of exogenous hepatotrophic factors through the portal vein can alleviate liver injury, minimize the damage to the ultrastructure of hepatocyte, protect liver function, and lessen hepatic fibrosis in rats with portal hypertension after PCS.

[Effect of endothelin-1 and its antagonists on the expression of endothelin receptors mRNA in HSC-T6 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and its antagonists on the expression of endothelin and its receptors mRNA in HSC-T6 cells. METHODS: Cultured HSC-T6 cells were randomly divided into 7 groups: Sham control group, ET-1 group (10 nmol/L ET-1), BQ-123 group [1 micromol/L BQ-123, a selective endothelin receptor A (ETRA) antagonist], BQ-788 group [1 micromol/L BQ-788, a selective endothelin receptor B (ETRB) antagonist], ET-1 + BQ123 group (10 nmol/L ET-1 + 1 micromol/L BQ-123), ET-1 + BQ-788 group (10 nmol/L ET-1 + 1 micromol/L BQ-788) and ET-1 + BQ-788 group (10 nmol/L ET-1 + 1 micromol/L BQ-123 + 1 micromol/L BQ-788). The expression of endothelin receptor mRNA of HSC-T6 cells was determined by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The expression of ETRA mRNA in ET-1 + BQ123 + BQ788 and ET-1 + BQ788 group was significantly lower than ET-1 group (0.329 +/- 0.044 and 0.292 +/- 0.023 vs. 0.440 +/- 0.030 P < 0.05). Compared with ET-1 group, the expression of ETRB mRNA in ET-1 + BQ788 group was down regulated obviously (0.499 +/- 0.136 vs. 0.153 +/- 0.071, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in ET-1 + BQ123 group and ET-1 + BQ123 + BQ788 group when compared with ET-1 group (0.499 +/- 0.136 vs. 0.496 +/- 0.103 and 0.299 +/- 0.129, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ET-1 has no obvious effect on the expression of ETRA mRNA in HSC-T6. ET-1 may up-regulate the expression of ETRB mRNA. Act on ETRA receptor, ET-1 can inhibit the expression of ETRB mRNA.