The single and mixed impacts of cadmium, cobalt, lead, and PAHs on systemic immunity inflammation index in male and female.

Background: Studies on the association between mixed exposure to common pollutants such as cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with Systemic Immune Inflammatory Index (SII), a novel hemocyte-based inflammatory marker, have not been reported. This study explored the relationship between co-exposure to Cd, Co, Pb, PAHs, and SII. Methods: In this study, we used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and enrolled adults with complete information on Cd, Co, Pb, PAHs, and SII. The linear regression was used to analyze the association of single pollutants with SII. Furthermore, a Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression analysis and a generalized weighted quantile sum regression analysis were used to analyze the association between mixed exposure to Cd, Co, Pb, and six PAHs and SII. We also separated males and females and analyzed the different effects of pollutants on SII, respectively. Results: 5,176 participants were included in the study. After adjusting for age, gender, race, education, smoking, drinking, physical activity, and sedentary, Cd, Co, 1-OHN, 2-OHN and 2-OHF were positive with SII in the total population. Compared with the 50th percentile, the joint effect of pollutants on SII was positive. In the total population, males, and females, the top contaminant with the highest effect weights on SII were Co, Cd, and 1-OHN, respectively. The result of interaction analysis showed that the low concentrations of Cd had an elevation effect on SII in males. Conclusion: This study found a positive association of mixed exposure to Cd, Co, Pb, and six PAHs with SII, which occurred mainly in females.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Displacement Cascades in BCC-Fe: Effects of Dislocation, Dislocation Loop and Grain Boundary.

The interactions between displacement cascades and three types of structures, dislocations, dislocation loops and grain boundaries, in BCC-Fe are investigated through molecular dynamics simulations. Wigner-Seitz analysis is used to calculate the number of point defects induced in order to illustrate the effects of three special structures on the displacement cascade. The displacement cascades in systems interacting with all three types of structure tend to generate more total defects compared to bulk Fe. The surviving number of point defects in the grain boundary case is the largest of the three types of structures. The changes in the atomic structures of dislocations, dislocation loops and grain boundaries after displacement cascades are analyzed to understand how irradiation damage affects them. These results could reveal irradiation damage at the microscale. Varied defect production numbers and efficiencies are investigated, which could be used as the input parameters for higher scale simulation.

Microstructure Evolution at Ni/Fe Interface in Dissimilar Metal Weld between Ferritic Steel and Austenitic Stainless Steel.

The formation and evolution of microstructures at the Ni/Fe interface in dissimilar metal weld (DMW) between ferritic steel and austenitic stainless steel were investigated. Layered martensitic structures were noted at the nickel-based weld metal/12Cr2MoWVTiB steel interface after welding and post-weld heat treatment (PWHT). The formation of the interfacial martensite layer during welding was clarified and its evolution during PWHT was discussed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), focused ion beam (FIB), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), transmission kikuchi diffraction (TKD), phase diagrams, and theoretical analysis. In as-welded DMW, the Ni/Fe interface structures consisted of the BCC quenched martensite layer and the FCC partially mixed zone (PMZ), which was the result of inhomogeneous solid phase transformation due to the chemical composition gradient. During the PWHT process, the BCC interfacial microstructure further evolved to a double-layered structure of tempered martensite and quenched martensite newly formed by local re-austenitization and austenite-martensite transformation. These types of martensitic structures induced inhomogeneous hardness distribution near the Ni/Fe interface, aggravating the mismatch of interfacial mechanical properties, which was a potential factor contributing to the degradation and failure of DMW.

Early enteral nutrition support for colon carcinoma patients can improve immune function and promote physical recovery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of early enteral nutrition support (ENN) on the improvement of immune function and physical recovery of patients with colon carcinoma. METHODS: The patients with colon carcinoma treated in our hospital from November 2018 to November 2019 were obtained and randomly grouped into the control group (CG) and the early enteral nutrition support group (ENN group). The changes of nutritional status and immune function related indexes, the changes of inflammatory reaction indexes, and the physical recovery and complication rate were compared between groups. RESULTS: Before operation, there was no evident difference between the two groups in nutrition index level (serum transferrin, albumin, prealbumin and hemoglobin), immune function index level (IgA, IgG, IgM, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+) and inflammatory reaction indices (CRP, PGE, IL-6) (P>0.05). After operation, weight loss, incision cicatrized time, postoperative defecation time, getting up after operation and length of hospital stay of the ENN group were better than those of the CG. The change of nutritional indexes was also evidently better in the ENN group. Immune function was evidently improved compared with the CG. The level of inflammatory reaction factors was also evidently lower in the ENN group, and the incidence of postoperative complications was evidently lower than that of the CG, and the physical recovery was also better than that of the CG (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: ENN for patients with colon carcinoma can improve their immune function, improve their nutritional level and promote their physical recovery.

Impacts of manure application on soil environment, rainfall use efficiency and crop biomass under dryland farming.

Because of inadequate nutrient and water supply, soils are often unproductive in Northwest China. We studied the effects of manure application at low (LM 7.5 t ha(-1)), medium (MM 15 t ha(-1)), and high (HM 22.5 t ha(-1)) rates combined with fixed levels of chemical fertilizers on maize growth and rainfall use efficiency compared with chemical fertilizers (CK) under semi-arid conditions over a three-year period. HM and MM treatments could significantly increase soil water storage (0-120 cm) at tasseling stage of maize compared with LM treatment and CK (P < 0.05). Dry matter accumulation and rainfall use efficiency increased as manure application rate increasing (P < 0.05). HM treatment significantly increased rainfall use efficiency by 6.5-12.7% at big trumpeting - tasseling stage compared with LM and MM treatments. HM and MM treatments increased rainfall use efficiency by 8.6-18.1% at tasseling - grain filling stage compared with CK. There was no significant difference on biomass between HM and MM treatments at grain filling and maturity stages of maize in 2009 and 2010.

[Effects of ridge and furrow rain harvesting with supplemental irrigation on winter wheat photosynthetic characteristics, yield and water use efficiency in Guanzhong irrigation district].

A field experiment was conducted to determine the regulation of crop photosynthesis and output and water saving effect under ridge and furrow rain harvesting with supplemental irrigation in Guanzhong irrigation district. The experiment was set with 5 treatments with irrigation at returning green stage, and the widths of both ridge and furrow being 60 cm. T1, T2 and T3 were in the ridge and furrow rain harvesting planting pattern, with the irrigation volumes being 0, 375 and 750 m3 · hm(-2) respectively, T4 was flat planting with irrigation (border irrigation) of 750 m3 · hm(-2) and CK was flat planting without irrigation. Effects on winter wheat photosynthetic organs, photosynthetic rate, yield and water use efficiency, etc. were tested. The results showed that compared with T4, T1, T2 and T3 treatments increased the grain yield by 2.8%, 9.6% and 18.9%, improved the harvest index by 2.0% to 8.5%, advanced the flag leaf chlorophyll content by 41.9% to 64.4% significantly, and improved the 0-40 cm layer soil moisture content by 0.1%-4.6% during the whole growth period. Photosynthetic rates at the flowering and filling stages also increased by 22.3% to 54.2% and -4.3% to 67.2%, respectively. Total water use efficiencies (WUEy) were 17.9%, 10.4% and 15.4% higher than that of T4, and 69.3%, 58.6% and 65.7% higher than that of CK (P < 0.05), respectively, and enhanced precipitation utilization efficiency ( PUE ) by 94.3%-124.5% than CK. Leaf areas of T2 and T3 treatments at each growth stage were significantly higher than that of T4 and CK, irrigation water use efficiencies (IUE) were 119.1% and 18.8% higher than that of T4, respectively. Therefore, it was concluded that ridge and furrow rain harvesting cultivation could maintain higher grain yield than border irrigation without irrigation or with irrigation reduction by 50%. The utilization efficiency of irrigation water under the condition of irrigation reduction by 50% was improved significantly, and the ridge and furrow rain harvesting could significantly improve whole cropland water use efficiency in the year of less rainfall.

Effects of wheat straw incorporation on the availability of soil nutrients and enzyme activities in semiarid areas.

Soil infertility is the main barrier to dryland agricultural production in China. To provide a basis for the establishment of a soil amelioration technical system for rainfed fields in the semiarid area of northwest China, we conducted a four-year (2007-2011) field experiment to determine the effects of wheat straw incorporation on the arid soil nutrient levels of cropland cultivated with winter wheat after different straw incorporation levels. Three wheat straw incorporation levels were tested (H: 9000 kg hm(-2), M: 6000 kg hm(-2), and L: 3000 kg hm(-2)) and no straw incorporation was used as the control (CK). The levels of soil nutrients, soil organic carbon (SOC), soil labile organic carbon (LOC), and enzyme activities were analyzed each year after the wheat harvest. After straw incorporation for four years, the results showed that variable straw amounts had different effects on the soil fertility indices, where treatment H had the greatest effect. Compared with CK, the average soil available N, available P, available K, SOC, and LOC levels were higher in the 0-40 cm soil layers after straw incorporation treatments, i.e., 9.1-30.5%, 9.8-69.5%, 10.3-27.3%, 0.7-23.4%, and 44.4-49.4% higher, respectively. On average, the urease, phosphatase, and invertase levels in the 0-40 cm soil layers were 24.4-31.3%, 9.9-36.4%, and 42.9-65.3% higher, respectively. Higher yields coupled with higher nutrient contents were achieved with H, M and L compared with CK, where these treatments increased the crop yields by 26.75%, 21.51%, and 7.15%, respectively.

[Effects of straw mulching on the soil aggregates in dryland wheat field under no-tillage].

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of full period and growth period straw mulching with an amount of 3000, 6000, and 9000 kg x hm(-2) on the soil aggregates in a no-tillage dryland wheat field in Weibei Loess Pleateau of Shaanxi Province, taking no full period straw mulching as the control. In the 0-40 cm soil layer, the content of > 5 mm aggregates increased with depth, while that of <5 mm aggregates was in adverse. Under straw mulching, the total contents of > 0.25 mm mechanical stable aggregates (DR0.25) and of > 0.25 mm water stable aggregates (WR0.25) were significantly higher than the control, with an increase of 13.0%-26.4% and 18.6%-45.6%, respectively and the largest increment in the treatment 6000 kg x hm(-2) of straw mulching. Straw mulching increased the soil organic matter content, and the latter had a significant positive correlation with the WR0.25 content. All the straw mulching treatments decreased the soil unstable aggregate index (E(LT)) which was the lowest in treatment 6000 kg x hm(-2) of straw mulching. This study showed that straw mulching could increase the >0.25 mm aggregates and organic matter contents in 0-40 cm soil layer and improve the soil structural stability, and mulching with an amount of 6000 kg x hm(-2) had the best effect, being a reasonable straw mulching mode to be applied in the agricultural production in Weibei Loess Plateau.