Physico-chemical properties and macrofauna of soils under various farming systems of cold arid region in Balochistan,Pakistan

Barshore is a small village in the Pishin District,Balochistan,Pakistan,with dry summers and cold rainy winters.This is an agrarian region,mostly with orchards of various fruit trees.This study investigated the physico-chemical properties and macrofauna of soils under various agricultural management practices of this region.The concentrations of soil organic matter(SOM),soil organic carbon(SOC),nutrients,pH,electrical conductivity,soil texture,and the abundance and number of species of soil macrofauna of the agricultural fields were measured.Fifteen agricultural fields were sampled.Fourteen fields were orchards of apple,apricot or the mixture of apple and apricot trees and one field was a cropland,cultivated with wheat as a monocrop.The orchards were under conservation agricultural practices;whereas,the cropland was under conventional management.These agricultural lands were 2-26 years old.The concentration of soil organic matter(SOM)in the upper 0-10 cm depth of these field sites ranged from 11.6 g kg^(-1)to 32.8 g kg^(-1)soil.As compared to cropland,orchards had significantly higher concentration of SOM and SOC.A total of 18 soil macrofauna species were found and the most common and abundant were ants(Monomorium minimum,Camponotus pennsylvanicus,Solenopsis invicta,and Lasius niger)followed by Arion ssp.(Brown Slug)and earthworm Lumbricus terrestris.Regression analysis revealed non-significant relationship of the age and the concentration of SOM with the number of macrofauna species and with the concentrations of total mineral nitrogen,bioavailable phosphorus and clay.The existence of ants had no relationship with the concentration of SOM;whereas,existence of Lumbricus terrestris tended to had a positive relationship with the concentration of SOM.The field of tree-based intercropping system was 2 years of age since the land was converted from rangeland to a cropland,had two ant species coexisting.This indicates the positive influence of crop diversification on soil macrofauna.

Rational design of new in situ reduction of Ni(II)catalytic system for low-cost and large-scale preparation of porous aromatic frameworks

Porous aromatic framework 1(PAF-1)is an extremely representative nanoporous organic framework owing to its high stability and exceptionally high surface area.Currently,the synthesis of PAF-1 is catalyzed by the Ni(COD)2/COD/bpy system,suffering from great instability and high cost.Herein,we developed an in situ reduction of the Ni(II)catalytic system to synthesize PAF-1 in low cost and high yield.The active Ni(0)species produced from the NiCl_(2)/bpy/NaI/Mg catalyst system can effectively catalyze homocoupling of tetrakis(4-bromophenyl)methane at the room temperature to form PAF-1 with high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET)-specific surface area up to 4948 m^(2) g^(−1)(Langmuir surface area,6785 m2 g−1).The possible halogen exchange and dehalogenation coupling mechanisms for this new catalytic process in PAF's synthesis are discussed in detail.The efficiency and universality of this innovative catalyst system have also been demonstrated in other PAFs'synthesis.This work provides a cheap,facile,and efficient method for scalable synthesis of PAFs and explores their application for high-pressure storage of Xe and Kr.

Organizing pneumonia secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Organizing pneumonia secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis is rare.Moreover,the temporal boundary between pulmonary tuberculosis and secondary organizing pneumonia has not been defined.We report a case of secondary organizing pneumonia associated with pulmonary tuberculosis occurring after nine months of antituberculosis treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 54 years old man,previously diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous pleurisy,underwent nine months of antituberculosis treatment.Follow-up lung computed tomography revealed multiple new subpleural groundglass opacities in both lungs,and a lung biopsy confirmed organizing pneumonia.Treatment continued with anti-tuberculosis agents and hormone therapy,and subsequent dynamic pulmonary computed tomography exams demonstrated improvement in lesion absorption.No disease recurrence was observed after corticosteroid therapy discontinuation.CONCLUSION When treating patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis,if an increase in lesions is observed during anti-tuberculosis treatment,it is necessary to consider the possibility of tuberculosis-related secondary organizing pneumonia,timely lung biopsy is essential for early intervention.

Recent advances in fabrication and functions of neuromorphic system based on organic field effect transistor

The development of various artificial electronics and machines would explosively increase the amount of information and data,which need to be processed via in-situ remediation.Bioinspired synapse devices can store and process signals in a parallel way,thus improving fault tolerance and decreasing the power consumption of artificial systems.The organic field effect transistor(OFET)is a promising component for bioinspired neuromorphic systems because it is suitable for large-scale integrated circuits and flexible devices.In this review,the organic semiconductor materials,structures and fabrication,and different artificial sensory perception systems functions based on neuromorphic OFET devices are summarized.Subsequently,a summary and challenges of neuromorphic OFET devices are provided.This review presents a detailed introduction to the recent progress of neuromorphic OFET devices from semiconductor materials to perception systems,which would serve as a reference for the development of neuromorphic systems in future bioinspired electronics.

Oxidation of emerging organic contaminants by in-situ H_(2)O_(2) fenton system

The existence and risk of emerging organic contaminants(EOCs)have been under consideration and paid much effort to degrade these pollutants.Fenton system is one of the most widely used technologies to solve this problem.The original Fenton system relies on the hydroxyl radicals produced by Fe(Ⅱ)/H_(2)O_(2) to oxidize the organic contaminants.However,the application of the Fenton system is limited by its low iron cycling efficiency and the high risks of hydrogen peroxide transportation and storage.The introduction of external energy(including light and electricity etc.)can effectively promote the Fe(Ⅲ)/Fe(Ⅱ)cycle and the reduction of oxygen to produce hydrogen peroxide in situ.This review introduces three in-situ Fenton systems,which are electro-Fenton,Photo-Fenton,and chemical reaction.The mechanism,influencing factors,and catalysts of these three in-situ Fenton systems in degrading EOCs are discussed systematically.This review strengthens the understanding of Fenton and in-situ Fenton systems in degradation,offering further insight into the real application of the in-situ Fenton system in the removal of EOCs.

Portal vein pulsatility:An important sonographic tool assessment of systemic congestion for critical ill patients

In this editorial we comment on the article by Kuwahara et al,published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Cardiology.In this interesting paper,the authors showed a correlation between portal vein pulsatility ratio,examined by bedside ultrasonography,and prognosis of hospitalized patients with acute heart failure.Systemic congestion is being notoriously underdetected in the acutely ill population with conventional methods like clinical examination,biomarkers,central venous pressure estimation and X-rays.However,congestion should be a key therapeutic target due to its deleterious effects to end organ function and subsequently patient prognosis.Doppler flow assessment of the abdominal veins is gaining popularity worldwide,as a valuable tool in estimating comprehensively congestion and giving a further insight into hemodynamics and patient management.

Fertilization and Soil Ploughing Practices under Changing Physical Environment Lead to Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics under Conservation Agriculture in Rice-Wheat Cropping System: A Scoping Review

Ploughing and fertilization practices in rice-wheat system have deteriorated the soil carbon (C) pools. Conservation agriculture (CA) based management approaches have proven to enhance C sequestration and reverse the loss of soil-organic-carbon (SOC), which further enhances soil fertility. Different fractions of SOC pools react to the alterations in management practices and indicate changes in SOC dynamics as compared to total C in the soil. Higher SOC levels in soil have been observed in case of reduced/no-till (NT) practices than conventional tillage (CT). However, between CT and zero tillage/NT, total SOC stocks diminished with an increase in soil depth, which demonstrated that the benefits of SOC are more pronounced in the topsoil under NT. Soil aggregation provides physical protection to C associated with different-sized particles, thus, the improvement in soil aggregation through CA is an effective way to mitigate soil C loss. Along with less soil disturbance, residual management, suitable crop rotation, rational application of manures and fertilizers, and integrated nutrient management have been found to be effective in not only improving soil C stock but also enhancing the soil health and productivity. Thus, CA can be considered as a potential method in the build-up of SOC of soil in rice-wheat system.

Gastrointestinal tolerability of organic infant formula compared to traditional infant formula: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Infants'nutrition significantly influences their growth,development,and overall well-being.With the increasing demand for organic infant formula driven by the perception of health benefits and growing awareness of natural feeding options,it is crucial to conduct a comparative analysis of the gastrointestinal tolerability between organic and traditional infant formulas.AIM To provide a concise and precise analysis of the gastrointestinal tolerability of organic infant formula compared to traditional infant formula.Due to limited direct comparisons,the review synthesizes available literature on each formula type,presenting insights into their potential effects on infants'digestive health.METHODS An extensive literature search was conducted,compiling studies on organic and traditional infant formulas,their compositions,and reported effects on gastrointestinal tolerability.We searched academic databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar and specialized nutrition,paediatrics,and infant health journals using relevant keywords till October 1,2023.RESULTS Although specific comparative studies are scarce and formula heterogeneity is a significant limitation,this systematic review provides an in-depth understanding of organic infant formulas'composition and potential benefits.While scientific evidence directly comparing gastrointestinal tolerability is limited,organic formulas strive to use carefully selected organic ingredients to imitate breast milk composition.Potential benefits include improved lipid profiles,higher methionine content,and decreased antibiotic-resistant bacteria levels.Understanding the gastrointestinal tolerability of organic and traditional infant formulas is crucial for parents and healthcare providers to make informed decisions.CONCLUSION Despite limitations in direct comparisons,this systematic review provides insights into the composition and potential benefits of organic infant formulas.It emphasizes the need for further research to elucidate their gastrointestinal effects comprehensively.

Impact on Soil Organic C and Total Soil N from Cool- and Warm-Season Legumes Used in a Green Manure-Forage Cropping System

Annual forage legumes are important components of livestock production systems in East Texas and the southeastern US. Forage legumes contribute nitrogen (N) to cropping systems through biological N fixation, and their seasonal biomass production can be managed to complement forage grasses. Our research objectives were to evaluate both warm- and cool-season annual forage legumes as green manure for biomass, N content, ability to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil N, and impact on post season forage grass crops. Nine warm-season forage legumes (WSL) were spring planted and incorporated as green manure in the fall. Forage rye (Secale cereale L.) was planted following the incorporation of WSL treatments. Eight cool-season forage legumes (CSL) were fall planted in previously fallow plots and incorporated as green manure in late spring. Sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum bicolor var. sudanense) was planted over all treatments in early summer after forage rye harvest and incorporation of CSL treatments. Sorghum-sudangrass was harvested in June, August and September, and treatments were evaluated for dry matter and N concentration. Soil cores were taken from each plot, split into depths of 0 to 15, 15 to 30 and 30 to 60 cm, and soil C and N were measured using combustion analysis. Nylon mesh bags containing plant samples were buried at 15 cm and used to evaluate decomposition rate of above ground legume biomass, including change in C and N concentrations. Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. [Wilczek]) had the highest shoot biomass yield (6.24 t DM ha-1) and contributed the most total N (167 kg∙ha-1) and total C (3043 kg∙ha-1) of the WSL tested. Decomposition rate of WSL biomass was rapid in the first 10 weeks and very slow afterward. Winter pea (Pisum sativum L. spp. sativum), arrow leaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were the most productive CSL in this trial. Austrian winter pea produced 8.41 t DM ha-1 with a total N yield of 319 kg N ha-1 and total C production of 3835 kg C ha-1. The WSL treatments had only small effects on rye forage yield and N concentration, possibly due to mineralization of N from a large SOC pool already in place. The CSL treatments also had only minimal effects on sorghum-sudangrass forage production. Winter pea, arrow leaf and crimson clover were productive cool season legumes and could be useful as green manure crops. Mungbean and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) were highly productive warm season legumes but may include more production risk in green manure systems due to soil moisture competition.

Adult-Onset Still's Disease Misdiagnosed as Acute Fibrinous and Organizing Pneumonia: A Case Report and Literature Review

Adult-onset Stil's disease(AOSD)is a rare condition that lies between autoinflammatory syndrome and autoimmune disease.The main clinical manifestations include fever,chills,rash,joint swelling and pain,peripheral blood leukocytosis,splenomegaly,etc.It is a systemic disease affecting between 1 and 34 people per million.The average age of onset is 35 years old,with a slightly higher prevalence rate in women.Since AOSD lacks early specific symptoms and signs,non-specialist doctors have limited understanding of the disease,and patients are prone to clinical misdiagnosis,mistreatment,and delayed disease progression.This paper reports a patient whose AOSD was misdiagnosed as acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia.

Auxiliary Software for Defining the Parameters of the Structural Organization of a Complex System

The developed auxiliary software serves to simplify, standardize and facilitate the software loading of the structural organization of a complex technological system, as well as its further manipulation within the process of solving the considered technological system. Its help can be especially useful in the case of a complex structural organization of a technological system with a large number of different functional elements grouped into several technological subsystems. This paper presents the results of its application for a special complex technological system related to the reference steam block for the combined production of heat and electricity.

Systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)is a multisystemic autoimmune disease characterised by the presence of autoantibodies towards nuclear antigens,immune complex deposition,and chronic inflammation at classic target organs such as skin,joints,and kidneys.Despite substantial advances in the diagnosis and management of SLE,the burden of disease remains high.It is important to appreciate the typical presentations and the diagnostic process to facilitate early referral and diagnosis for patients.In most patients,constitutional,mucocutaneous,and musculoskeletal symptoms represent the earliest complaints;these symptoms can include fatigue,lupus-specific rash,mouth ulcers,alopecia,joint pain,and myalgia.In this Seminar we will discuss a diagnostic approach to symptoms in light of the latest classification criteria,which include a systematic evaluation of clinical manifestations(weighted within each domain)and autoantibody profiles(such as anti-double-stranded DNA,anti-Sm,hypocomplementaemia,or antiphospholipid antibodies).Nonpharmacotherapy management is tailored to the individual,with specific lifestyle interventions and patient education to improve quality of life and medication(such as hydroxychloroquine or immunosuppressant)adherence.

Carbon sequestration rate,nitrogen use efficiency and rice yield responses to long-term substitution of chemical fertilizer by organic manure in a rice–rice cropping system

Combined application of chemical fertilizers with organic amendments was recommended as a strategy for improving yield,soil carbon storage,and nutrient use efficiency.However,how the long-term substitution of chemical fertilizer with organic manure affects rice yield,carbon sequestration rate(CSR),and nitrogen use efficiency(NUE)while ensuring environmental safety remains unclear.This study assessed the long-term effect of substituting chemical fertilizer with organic manure on rice yield,CSR,and NUE.It also determined the optimum substitution ratio in the acidic soil of southern China.The treatments were:(i)NPK0,unfertilized control;(ii)NPK1,100%chemical nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium fertilizer;(iii)NPKM1,70%chemical NPK fertilizer and 30%organic manure;(iv)NPKM2,50%chemical NPK fertilizer and 50%organic manure;and(v)NPKM3,30%chemical NPK fertilizer and 70%organic manure.Milk vetch and pig manure were sources of manure for early and late rice seasons,respectively.The result showed that SOC content was higher in NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments than in NPK0 and NPK1 treatments.The carbon sequestration rate increased by 140,160,and 280%under NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments,respectively,compared to NPK1 treatment.Grain yield was 86.1,93.1,93.6,and 96.5%higher under NPK1,NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments,respectively,compared to NPK0 treatment.The NUE in NPKM1,NPKM2,and NPKM3 treatments was higher as compared to NPK1 treatment for both rice seasons.Redundancy analysis revealed close positive relationships of CSR with C input,total N,soil C:N ratio,catalase,and humic acids,whereas NUE was closely related to grain yield,grain N content,and phenol oxidase.Furthermore,CSR and NUE negatively correlated with humin acid and soil C:P and N:P ratios.The technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS)showed that NPKM3 treatment was the optimum strategy for improving CSR and NUE.Therefore,substituting 70%of chemical fertilizer with organic manure could be the best management option for increasing CSR and NUE in the paddy fields of southern China.

Simulation Analysis of Flue Gas Waste Heat Utilization Retrofit Based on ORC System

Recovery of waste heat from boiler flue gas is an effective way to improve energy utilization efficiency.Taking a heating station heating project as an example,the existing heating system of this heating station was analyzed for its underutilized flue gas waste heat and low energy utilization rate.Rankine cycle is an effective waste heat recovery method,and a steam boiler organic Rankine cycle(ORC)cogeneration waste heat utilization method is proposed.The system model simulation is constructed and verified.First,a thermodynamic model was constructed in MATLAB and five suitable work gases were selected to analyze the effects of evaporation temperature and condensation temperature on the network and thermal efficiency of the waste heat cycle power system.Secondly,the ORC model is invoked in TRNSYS to construct the improved cogeneration system,and the rationality of the remaining heat utilization methods is determined by calculating and analyzing the thermal performance,economy,and environmental protection of the improved system.The simulation results show that the system can generate about 552,000 kWh of electricity per year,and improving the energy utilization rate from 0.72 to 0.78.

Organizing Pneumonia in A Patient Double-Positive for ANCA and Anti-GBM Antibodies:A Case Report

Both anti-glomerular basement membrane(GBM)disease and the anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA)-associated vasculitis(AAV)are common causes of pulmonary-renal syndrome.Organizing pneumonia(OP),a special pattern of interstitial lung disease,is extremely rare either in AAV or anti-GBM disease.We report an old woman presented with OP on a background of co-presentation with both ANCA and anti-GBM antibodies.

The role of quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score as simple scoring system to predict Fournier gangrene mortality and the correlation with Fournier’s Gangrene Severity Index: Analysis of 69 patients

Objective:Fournier’s gangrene is a rare but life-threatening infection disease with high mortality rate.The quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment(qSOFA)is a new and simpler scoring system that may identify patients with suspected infection who are at greater risk for a poor outcome.The purpose of this study was to find out role of qSOFA in determining prognosis of Fournier’s gangrene patients.Methods:This study is a case control with retrospective review of Fournier’s gangrene patients treated at Hasan Sadikin Hospital from January 2013 to December 2017 who met inclusion criteria.Participants were divided into two groups according to qSOFA score as high qSOFA(2-3)and low qSOFA(0-1).Results:From 69 patients,the mortality rate was 24.6%.The sensitivity of qSOFA score to predict mortality was 88.2%;the specificity was 94.2%;positive predictive value was 83.3%;negative predictive value was 96.1%;positive likelihood ratio was 15.2;negative likelihood ratio was 0.12;and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of qSOFA was 94.2%.There was significant association between qSOFA scale and mortality with p-value of 0.0001.The qSOFA score has strong positive correlation with Fournier’s Gangrene Severity Index(p<0.0001,r=0.704).Conclusion:qSOFA scoring system has a high prognostic value and can be used to determine prognosis of Fournier’s gangrene patients.

Production systems and important antimicrobial resistant-pathogenic bacteria in poultry:a review

Economic losses and market constraints caused by bacterial diseases such as colibacillosis due to avian pathogenic Escherichia coli and necrotic enteritis due to Clostridium perfringens remain major problems for poultry producers,despite substantial efforts in prevention and control.Antibiotics have been used not only for the treatment and prevention of such diseases,but also for growth promotion.Consequently,these practices have been linked to the selection and spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria which constitute a significant global threat to humans,ani-mals,and the environment.To break down the antimicrobial resistance(AMR),poultry producers are restricting the antimicrobial use(AMU)while adopting the antibiotic-free(ABF)and organic production practices to satisfy consum-ers’demands.However,it is not well understood how ABF and organic poultry production practices influence AMR profiles in the poultry gut microbiome.Various Gram-negative(Salmonella enterica serovars,Campylobacter jejuni/coli,E.coli)and Gram-positive(Enterococcus spp.,Staphylococcus spp.and C.perfringens)bacteria harboring multiple AMR determinants have been reported in poultry including organically-and ABF-raised chickens.In this review,we discussed major poultry production systems(conventional,ABF and organic)and their impacts on AMR in some potential pathogenic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria which could allow identifying issues and opportuni-ties to develop efficient and safe production practices in controlling pathogens.

Renin-angiotensin system in the central nervous system:focus on Huntington’s disease

The renin-angiotensin system(RAS)was originally conceived as a circulating hormonal system involved in the regulation of cardiovascular and renal homeostasis.With the discovery of local RAS components in diverse organs,including the brain,and related biologically active peptides.

Investigates of substrate mingling ratio and organic loading rate of KOH pretreated corn stover and pig manure in batch and semi-continuous system:Anaerobic digestion performance and microbial characteristics

The effects of substrate mingling ratio(SMR)(1:1,1:2,1:3,3:1,and 2:1)and organic loading rate(OLR)(50-90 g total solids per liter per day)on anaerobic co-digestion performance and microbial characteristics were investigated for pig manure(PM)and pretreated/untreated corn stover in batch and semicontinuous anaerobic digestion(AD)system.The results showed that SMR and pretreatment affected co-digestion performance.The maximum cumulative methane yield of 428.5 ml·g^(-1)(based on volatile solids(VS))was obtained for PCP13,which was 35.7%and 40.0%higher than that of CSU and PM.In the first 5 days,the maximum methane yield improvement rate was 378.1%for PCP13.The daily methane yield per gram VS of PCP13 was 11.4%-18.5%higher than that of PC_(U)13.Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1,DMER64,and Bacteroides and Methanosaeta,Methanobacterium,and Methanospirillum had higher relative abundance at the genus level.Therefore,SMR and OLR are important factor affecting the AD process,and OLR can affect methane production through volatile fatty acids.

Spatial-temporal variations and driving factors of soil organic carbon in forest ecosystems of Northeast China

Forest soil carbon is a major carbon pool of terrestrial ecosystems,and accurate estimation of soil organic carbon(SOC)stocks in forest ecosystems is rather challenging.This study compared the prediction performance of three empirical model approaches namely,regression kriging(RK),multiple stepwise regression(MSR),random forest(RF),and boosted regression trees(BRT)to predict SOC stocks in Northeast China for 1990 and 2015.Furthermore,the spatial variation of SOC stocks and the main controlling environmental factors during the past 25 years were identified.A total of 82(in 1990)and 157(in 2015)topsoil(0–20 cm)samples with 12 environmental factors(soil property,climate,topography and biology)were selected for model construction.Randomly selected80%of the soil sample data were used to train the models and the other 20%data for model verification using mean absolute error,root mean square error,coefficient of determination and Lin's consistency correlation coefficient indices.We found BRT model as the best prediction model and it could explain 67%and 60%spatial variation of SOC stocks,in 1990,and 2015,respectively.Predicted maps of all models in both periods showed similar spatial distribution characteristics,with the lower SOC in northeast and higher SOC in southwest.Mean annual temperature and elevation were the key environmental factors influencing the spatial variation of SOC stock in both periods.SOC stocks were mainly stored under Cambosols,Gleyosols and Isohumosols,accounting for 95.6%(1990)and 95.9%(2015).Overall,SOC stocks increased by 471 Tg C during the past 25 years.Our study found that the BRT model employing common environmental factors was the most robust method for forest topsoil SOC stocks inventories.The spatial resolution of BRT model enabled us to pinpoint in which areas of Northeast China that new forest tree planting would be most effective for enhancing forest C stocks.Overall,our approach is likely to be useful in forestry management and ecological restoration at and beyond the regional scale.