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Photosynthetic rate (Pn) and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) are the two important factors affecting the photosynthesis and nutrient utilization of plant leaves. However, the effect of N fertilization combined with foliar application of Fe on the Pn and PNUE of the maize crops under different planting patterns (i.e., monocropping and intercropping) is elusive. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to determine the effect of N fertilization combined with foliar application of Fe on the photosynthetic characteristics, PNUE, and the associated enzymes of the maize crops under different planting patterns. The results of this study showed that under intercropping, maize treated with N fertilizer combined with foliar application of Fe had not only significantly ( p < 0.05) improved physio-agronomic indices but also higher chlorophyll content, better photosynthetic characteristics, and related leaf traits. In addition, the same crops under such treatments had increased photosynthetic enzyme activity (i.e., rubisco activity) and nitrogen metabolism enzymes activities, such as nitrate reductase (NR activity), nitrite reductase (NiR activity), and glutamate synthase (GOGAT activity). Consequently, intercropping enhanced the PNUE and soluble sugar content of the maize crops, thus increasing its yield compared with monocropping. Thus, these findings suggest that intercropping under optimal N fertilizer application combined with Fe foliation can improve the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic characteristics of maize crops by regulating the associated enzymatic activities. Consequently, this results in enhanced PNUE, which eventually leads to better growth and higher yield in the intercropping system. Thus, practicing intercropping under optimal nutrient management (i.e., N and Fe) could be crucial for better growth and yield, and efficient nitrogen use efficiency of maize crops.

Inappropriate irrigation conditions and nitrogen application can negatively affect soil carbon–nitrogen content and yield of maize, as well as can lead to underground water pollution and soil degradation. A two year (2018, 2019) field experiment was carried out to determine the effect of irrigation and N, alone and in combination on maize grain yield, grain nitrogen content, soil inorganic N and MBC of one-year double cropping maize (Zea mays L.) in a subtropical region. Split plot design was adopted, with main plots consisting of two water regimes: drip irrigation (drip irrigation to keep soil water content no less than 70% of maximum field capacity) and rainfed (no irrigation during growing period). Split-plot treatments consisted of five nitrogen application levels, including 0 (N0), 150 (N150), 200 (N200), 250 (N250), and 300 kg/ha (N300). The results of two-year field experiment showed that soil irrigation nitrogen interaction had a significant influence on the all measured parameters. In detail, soil NH4+-N and NO3−-N content, total nitrogen (TN), soil organic carbon (SOC) and grain nitrogen contents under the combined treatment of N250 and supplementary irrigation were higher relative to other treatments. Compared with rainfed, maize yield, thousand grains weight (TGW) and harvest index increased by 22.0%, 7.7%, and 15.2% under supplemental irrigation. Yield and TGW N300 were 287 kg/ha and 3.1 g higher than those of N250, and yield and TGW of N250 were 59.4% and 23.1% higher than those of N0, respectively. The yield of spring maize was 24.0% significantly higher than that of autumn maize. Therefore, we suggested that 250 kg/ha nitrogen application fertilizer combined with supplementary irrigation can improve soil fertility and annual maize yield in subtropical one-year double cropping region.

Maize-soybean intercropping is practiced worldwide because of some of the anticipated advantages such as high crop yield and better utilization of resources (i.e., water, light, nutrients and land). However, the shade of the maize crop has a detrimental effect on the growth and yield of soybean under the maize-soybean intercropping system. Hence, this experiment was conducted to improve the shade tolerance of such soybean crops with optimal nitrogen (N) fertilization combined with foliar application of iron (Fe) and molybdenum (Mo). The treatments comprised five (5) maize-soybean intercropping practices: without fertilizer application ( F0 ), with N fertilizer application ( F1 ), with N fertilizer combined with foliar application of Fe ( F2 ), with N fertilizer coupled with foliar application of Mo ( F3 ) and with N fertilizer combined with foliar application of Fe and Mo ( F4 ). The findings of this study showed that maize-soybean intercropping under F4 treatment had significantly ( p< 0.05) increased growth indices such as leaf area (cm 2 ), plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm), stem strength (g pot -1 ), and internode length (cm) and yield indices (i.e., No of pods plant -1 , grain yield (g plant -1 ), 100-grain weight (g), and biomass dry matter (g plant -1 )) of the soybean crop. Moreover, intercropping under F4 treatment enhanced the chlorophyll SPAD values by 26% and photosynthetic activities such as Pn by 30%, gs by 28%, and Tr by 28% of the soybean crops, but reduced its CO 2 by 11%. Furthermore, maize-soybean intercropping under F4 treatment showed improved efficiency of leaf chlorophyll florescence parameters of soybean crops such as Fv/Fm (26%), qp (17%), ϕPSII (20%), and ETR (17%), but reduced NPQ (12%). In addition, the rubisco activity and soluble protein content of the soybean crop increased by 18% in maize-soybean intercropping under F4 treatment. Thus, this suggested that intercropping under optimal N fertilization combined with foliar application of Fe and Mo can improve the shade tolerance of soybean crops by regulating their chlorophyll content, photosynthetic activities, and the associated enzymes, thereby enhancing their yield and yield traits.

Background Anemone flaccida Fr . Schmidt (Ranunculaceae) ( Di Wu in Chinese) is used to treat punch injury and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the active compounds and underlying mechanism of action mediating the anti-arthritic effects of A. flaccida remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the underlying action mechanism of A. flaccida crude triterpenoid saponins (AFS) on RA using a type II collagen (CII)-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model, and to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of the main active compounds of AFS, namely flaccidoside II, anhuienoside E, glycoside St-I4a, hemsgiganoside B, hederasaponin B, and 3- O - α - l -rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 2)- β - d -glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28- O - β - d -glucopyranosyl (1 → 6)- β - d -glucopyranosyl ester. Methods Male Wistar rats (n = 50) were randomly separated into five groups (n = 10) and immunized by CII injection. AFS (200 or 400 mg/kg) and dexamethasone were orally administered for 30 days after establishing the model. The arthritis severity was assessed by paw volume using a plethysmometer. After 30 days of treatment, the right hind paws of the rats were obtained. Paw histology was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and radiologic imaging was performed by micro-computed tomography. MTT assays were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of AFS and its main compounds in RAW264.7 cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to measure interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in serum and supernatants from AFS- and main AFS compound-treated RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results Anemone flaccida crude triterpenoid saponins inhibited redness and swelling of the right hind paw in the CIA model. Radiological and histological examinations indicated that inflammatory responses were reduced by AFS treatment. Moreover, comparing with untreated rats, serum TNF-α ( P  = 0.0035 and P  < 0.001) and IL-6 ( P  = 0.0058 and P  = 0.0087) were lower in AFS-treated CIA rats at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day. AFS and its main compounds, including hederasaponin B, flaccidoside II, and hemsgiganoside B, significantly inhibited TNF-α ( P  = 0.0022, P  = 0.013, P  = 0.0015, and P  = 0.016) and IL-6 ( P  = 0.0175, P  < 0.001, P  < 0.001, and P  < 0.001) production in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells, respectively. Conclusions Anemone flaccida crude triterpenoid saponins and its main bioactive components, including hederasaponin B, flaccidoside II, and hemsgiganoside B, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in a CIA rat model and LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells.

Clip migration into the common bile duct (CBD) is a rare but well-established phenomenon of laparoscopic biliary surgery. The mechanism and exact incidence of clip migration are both poorly understood. Clip migration into the common bile duct can cause recurrent cholangitis and serve as a nidus for stone formation. We present a case, a 54-year-old woman, of clip-induced cholangitis resulting from surgical clip migration 12 months after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LC+LCBDE) with primary closure.

Lineage differentiation is a continuous process during which fated progenitor cells execute specific programs to produce mature counterparts. This lineage-restricted pathway can be controlled by particular regulators, which are usually exclusively expressed in certain cell types or at specific differentiation stages. Here we report that miR- 376a participates in the regulation of the early stages of human erythropoiesis by targeting cyclin-dependent kinase 2 （CDK2） and Argonaute 2 （Ago2）. Among various human leukemia cell lines, miR-376a was only detected in K562 cells which originated from a progenitor common to the erythroid and megakaryotic lineages. Enforced expression of miR-376a or silencing of CDK2 and Ago2 by RNAi inhibits erythroid differentiation of K562 cells. Hematopoietic progenitor cells transduced with miR-376a showed a significant reduction of their erythroid clonogenic capacity. MiR-376a is relatively abundant in erythroid progenitor cells, where it reduces expression of CDK2 and maintains a low level of differentiation due to cell cycle arrest and decreased cell growth. Following erythroid induction, miR- 376a is significantly down-regulated and CDK2 is released from miR-376a inhibition, thereby facilitating the escape of progenitor cells from the quiescent state into erythroid differentiation. Moreover, our results establish a functional link between miR-376a and Ago2, a key factor in miRNA biogenesis and silencing pathways with novel roles in human hematopoiesis.

Background and aims Staged water shortages and excessive nitrogen application lead to a decline in crop yield, and nitrogen loss, waste of resources and environmental pollution. In order to explore the appropriate water management in humid areas and to determine an efficient nitrogen rates for maize, we conducted the two years’ field experiment. Methods We conducted a field experiment (2020–2021), with five nitrogen rates N0, N150, N200, N250, N300 (0, 150, 200, 250, 300 kg ha −1 ) under different water conditions (rainfed conditions and irrigated conditions). Results Consequently, under the irrigated conditions, the soil organic matter (SOM), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dry matter accumulation and grain yield were significantly ( P  < 0.05) increased by 8.06%, 15.50%, 11.43% and 13.86%, respectively, compared with the rainfed conditions. And the total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 − -N), ammonia nitrogen (NH 4 + -N) decreased significantly by 4.38%, 8.28%, 13.21%, respectively. Furthermore, compared with other nitrogen rates, N250 and N300 combined with irrigated conditions significantly ( P  < 0.05) increased soil carbon and nitrogen content, dry matter accumulation and grain yield. However, N250 and N300 displayed no significant difference ( P  > 0.05) in TN, NO 3 − -N, NH 4 + -N, SOM, MBC, dry matter accumulation and grain yield. Moreover, under the irrigated conditions, when the nitrogen rates increased more than 250 kg ha −1 , the nitrogen use efficiency decreased. Conclusion Application of nitrogen rates of 250 kg ha −1 under irrigated conditions is the best choice to increase grain yield, improve nitrogen use efficiency, and ensure safe and efficient production in maize.

Water scarcity and excessive N fertilization have a negative effect on maize (Zea mays L.) production. Low water and N fertilization are the major problem in sustainable agriculture by limiting crop growth and development. However, the combined effect of N fertilization and supplementary irrigation on chlorophyll fluorescence and maize yield is still not understood. The objective of the study was to signify the effect of supplementary irrigation and N fertilization on leaf area index (LAI), relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), maximum photosynthetic capacity (Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching coefficient (qP), and yield. The experiment was conducted in a split‐plot design, with water management in main plot and N fertilization in subplot with three replications. Treatments included two water managements, that is, rainfed (natural rainfall) and irrigation water (70% field capacity). Five N fertilization rates were N0 (0 kg N ha−1), N150 (150 kg N ha−1), N200 (200 kg N ha−1), N250 (250 kg ha−1), and N300 (300 kg N ha−1). The LAI, SPAD, Fv/Fm, qP, and yield were significantly affected by water management, N rates, and their interaction (P < .05). The LAI, SPAD, Fv/Fm, qP, total dry matter accumulation, and yield under supplementary irrigation were significantly increased by 10.99, 5.75, 6.57, 9.14, 15.64, and 14.58% than those under rainfed conditions, but the nonphotochemical quenching coefficient was significantly decreased by 22.82%. The 250 kg N ha−1 increased grain yield under irrigated conditions than that of other N treatments. The interaction between water management and N fertilization significantly and positively affected the SPAD, Fv/Fm, and grain yield in both years, but had no significant effect on LAI during 2021 and HI during 2020 and 2021. We concluded that N250 treatment with supplementary irrigation increased grain yield. Core Ideas The effect of supplementary irrigation and N fertilization were studied on chlorophyll fluorescence. Compared with rainfed, photosynthetic capacity and photochemical quenching were higher with supplementary irrigation. Leaf area index and maximum photosynthetic capacity were higher at silking stage than other growth stages. Nonphotochemical quenching coefficient was lower with 300 kg N ha−1 at silking stage than other N rates.

Dear Editor, N6-methyladenosine （m6A）, as the most abundant internal modification with ubiquitous feature in eukaryotic mRNAs, has been connected with many fundamental aspects of RNA metabolism such as translation [1-3], splicing [4, 5], stability and decay [6]. m6A modification is reversible and can be regulated by three groups of molecules commonly referred to as writers, erasers and readers, m6A writers are the components of the multi-complex methyltransferase catalyzing the formation of m6A methylation, among which METTL3,

For various applications, sensors are deployed to monitor belt regions to guarantee that every movement crossing a barrier of sensors will be detected in real-time with high accuracy and minimize the need for human support. The barrier coverage problem is introduced to model these requirements, and has been examined thoroughly in the past decades. In this survey, we state the problem definitions and systematically consider sensing models, design issues and challenges in barrier coverage problem. We also review representative algorithms in this survey. Furthermore, we provide discussions on some extensions and variants of barrier coverage problems.