Soil properties and enzyme activities as affected by biogas slurry irrigation in the Three Gorges Reservoir areas of China.

Biogas slurry, as a quality organic fertilizer, is widely used on large scale livestock farmland in Southwest China. In the present study, slurry collected from anaerobic tank of dairy farm was used to irrigate farmland having typical purple soil in Chongquing, China. The study revealed that irrigation with biogasslurry increased soil ammonium nitrogen and soil nitrate by 47.8 and 19% respectively as compared to control check. The average soil available phosphorus and soil phosphorus absorption co-efficient changed slightly. Relative enzyme activities of N and P transformation were indicated by catalase, urease, invertase and phosphatase activity. Irrigation period and irrigation quantity were selected as variable factor Catalase, invertase and urease activity was highest when irrigation period and irrigation quantitiy was 4 days and 500 ml; whereas highest phosphatase activity increased significantly in purple irrigated by biogas slurry. The result of the present study is helpful in finding optimum irrigation conditions required for enzyme activity within defined range. It further reveals that biogas slurry enriches soil with various nutrients by enhancing N, P content and enzyme activities as well as it also deals with large number of biogas slurry for protecting the environment.

Expression of IL-4 and IL-12 in the aqueous humor of patients with chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma.

Introduction: Angle-closure glaucoma is a common type of glaucoma in Asian populations. However, the role of inflammatory cytokines in angle-closure glaucoma is yet to be elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-12 in the aqueous humor of patients with chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma (CPACG) and elucidate the correlations between IL-4 and IL-12 concentrations in the aqueous humor, the degree of visual field defects, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with CPACG. Methods: Aqueous humor samples were obtained from 31 patients diagnosed with CPACG at the Shaoxing People's Hospital between April 2022 and March 2023 and from 30 individuals with cataract (control). Based on the degree of the mean defect (MD), patients were divided into three groups: group A (MD ≤ -6dB, n= 10), group B (-6dB< MD< -12dB, n= 9), and group C (MD ≥ - 12dB, n= 12). RNFL thickness was measured using an optical coherence tomograph, and the concentrations of IL-4 and IL-12 in the aqueous humor were measured using Luminex technology. Results: Aqueous humor concentration of IL-4 was significantly higher (p = 0.036) in the CPACG group than in the cataract group. However, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in IL- 12 concentration between the two groups. Additionally, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in IL-4 and IL-12 levels among patients with varying degrees of visual field defects (groups A, B, and C). Spearman's correlation analysis showed that IL-4 and IL-12 concentrations were not correlated (p > 0.05) with RNFL thickness around the optic disc and the degree of visual field defects. Discussion: Conclusively, IL-4 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of CPACG. Given that IL-4 and IL-12 concentrations in the aqueous humor were not significantly correlated with RNFL thickness and the degree of visual field defects, the increase in IL-4 and IL-12 expression may not induce apoptosis and loss of retinal ganglion cells or affect RNFL thickness as well as the degree of visual field defects.

Changes in Anterior Chamber Angle and Choroidal Thickness in Patients with Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma after Phaco-Goniosynechialysis.

We aimed to observe changes in angle width and choroidal thickness (CT) before and after phacoemulsification intraocular lens implantation (PEI) combined with goniosynechialysis (GSL) in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) complicated by cataracts. This prospective cohort study included 60 patients with PACG complicated by cataracts from the Department of Ophthalmology of Shaoxing People's Hospital, China. Patients underwent PEI combined with GSL (PEI-GSL group) or laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) followed by PEI (PEI group). Intraocular pressure (IOP) and endothelial counts were significantly decreased in both groups after surgery, while best-corrected visual acuity and central anterior chamber depth were significantly increased. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups. The opening degrees of room corners at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock were recorded as AA12, AA3, AA6, and AA9, respectively. Anterior chamber depth was significantly increased postoperatively compared to preoperatively in both groups, with no significant between-group differences (all ps > 0.05). At 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively, the width at AA12, AA3, and AA9 points was higher in the PEI-GSL group than in the PEI group (all ps < 0.05). Significant between-group differences at AA6 were observed preoperatively (p = 0.023) and at 1 (p = 0.027) and 3 (p = 0.033) months postoperatively but not at 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.055). CT was smaller postoperatively than preoperatively (all ps < 0.001). The present study suggests that patients with PACG who underwent PEI with or without GSL had reduced IOP and CT after surgery.

Refractive Characteristics and Related Factors of Amblyopia after Lamellar Keratoscleroplasty in Children with Limbal Dermoids.

We examined the refractive characteristics and related factors of amblyopia in pediatric patients with limbal dermoids undergoing lamellar keratoscleroplasty. Forty-one children (mean age: 56.15 ± 22.47 months) were enrolled. Cycloplegic refraction, corneal topography, and anterior segment photography were performed. The corneal topographic and distribution characteristics of the refractive state were summarized, and the relationship between limbal dermoid invasion size and the refractive state was analyzed. The relationship between invasion size and amblyopia severity and the effect of clinical intervention at different times on amblyopia treatment were also analyzed. The spherical power distribution was −1.0−+10.75 D (average: +4.79 ± 3.09 D). The cylinder power was −1.25−−8.75 D (average: −4.19 ± 1.93 D). The axial range of astigmatism was 10−180° (average: 103.54 ± 58.16°). Equivalent spherical refraction was −3.88−+7.76 D (average: +2.70 ± 3.08 D). Twenty-five, fifteen, and one case had limboid dermoid invasion of the central circular zone (CCZ), paracentral annular zone (PCZ), and corneal limbus within 1 mm, respectively. Corneal topography of 39 patients showed flat, steep, and mean curvatures of 38.48 ± 2.12 D, 43.29 ± 1.97 D, and 40.70 ± 1.48 D, respectively. The mean astigmatism was 4.80 ± 2.93 D in the 3-mm optical region. Astigmatism was higher in CCZ than in PCZ invasion (p < 0.05). Postoperative visual acuity was positively correlated with patients' age and amblyopia treatment duration (r = 0.392, p = 0.048; r = 0.488, p = 0.011), and was negatively correlated with astigmatism (r = −0.646, p < 0.001). High hyperopia and astigmatism are the dominant refractive errors in patients with limbal dermoids undergoing lamellar keratoscleroplasty.

Analysis of Compressive Fatigue Failure of Recycled Aggregate Concrete.

Using recycled aggregate in concrete is effective in recycling construction and demolition waste. It is of critical significance to understand the fatigue properties of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) to implement it safely in structures subjected to repeated or fatigue load. In this study, a series of fatigue tests was performed to investigate the compressive fatigue behavior of RAC. The performance of interfacial transition zones (ITZs) was analyzed by nanoindentation. Moreover, the influence of ITZs on the fatigue life of RAC was discussed. The results showed that the fatigue life of RAC obeyed the Weibull distribution, and the S-N-p equation could be obtained based on the fitting of Weibull parameters. In the high cycle fatigue zone (N≥104), the fatigue life of RAC was lower than that of natural aggregate concrete (NAC) under the same stress level. The fatigue deformation of RAC presented a three-stage deformation regularity, and the maximum deformation at the point of fatigue failure closely matched the monotonic stress-strain envelope. The multiple ITZs matched the weak areas of RAC, and the negative effect of ITZs on the fatigue life of RAC in the high cycle fatigue zone was found to be greater than that of NAC.