A preliminary study of the effects of plastic film-mulched raised beds on soil temperature and crop performance of early-sown short-season spring maize(Zea mays L.) in the North China Plain

To identify a strategy for earlier sowing and harvesting of spring maize(Zea mays L.) in an alternative maize–maize double cropping system, a 2-year field experiment was performed at Quzhou experimental station of China Agricultural University in 2014 and 2015. A short-season cultivar, Demeiya number 1(KX7349), was used in the experiment. Soil temperature to 5 cm depth in the early crop growth stage, crop growth, crop yield, and water use of different treatments(plastic film-mulched raised bed(RF) and flat field without plastic film mulching(CK) in 2014; RF, plastic film-mulched flat field(FF), and CK in 2015)were measured or calculated and compared. Soil temperature in the film-mulched treatments was consistently higher than that in CK(1.6–3.5 °C in average) during the early growth stage. Crops in plastic film-mulched treatments used 214 fewer growing-degree days(GDDs) in 2014 and 262 fewer GDDs in 2015. In 2014, the RF treatment yielded 32.7%higher biomass than CK, although its 9.4% higher grain yield was not statistically significant. Also, RF used 17.9% less water and showed 33.1% higher water use efficiency(WUE) than CK. In 2015, RF and FF showed 56.2% and 49.5% higher yield, 15.0% and 4.5%lower water use(ET), and 63.4% and 75.7% higher WUE, respectively, than CK. RF markedly increased soil temperature in the early crop season, accelerated crop growth, reduced ET,and greatly increased crop yield and WUE. Compared with FF, RF had no obvious effect on crop growth rate, although soil temperature during the period between sowing and stem elongation was slightly increased. However, RF resulted in lower ET and higher WUE than FF. Effects of RF on soil water dynamics as well as its cost-effectiveness remain topics for further study.

Interpretation of Art Symbols in the BalletRaise the Red Lantern

The ballet Raise the Red Lantern created by The National Ballet of China in 2001 combines the beauty of dance,op?era and dance in a reasonable and precise layout.In order to better express the theme and increase the visual aesthetics of dance dra?ma,the director has used a large number of art symbols.From the perspective of art symbols,this paper analyses the color,composi?tion and shape of the dance drama,the role and significance of the performance theme in it,and its presentation of visual beauty of dance drama.

Reply to the Comment on"A Quantum Network System of QSS-QDC Using χ–Type Entangled States"

We would like to make some modifications on our protocol[1]in order to receive ideas in regards to the comments[2]made by Liu et al.about our paper.In the comment,they raised three weak points in regard to our protocols.First,they pointed out that either Bob or Charlie may,without their cooperation,gain some bit of shared information sent by Trent in our first and second protocols.Second,Alice’s secret information can be eavesdropped by Trent in the second protocol.Lastly,Trent can disturb communication because there is no message authentication in our second protocol.We suggest a few modifications in each protocol to make up for these weaknesses.

China raised the first batch production quota over rare-earths and tungsten in 2021

Ministry of Natural Resources(MNR)and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology(MIIT)of China recently released a notice on the first batch total production quota over rare-earths and tungsten in 2021.The total quota of rare earths(rare earth oxide REO,the same below)has 84000 t,a significant increase from the 66000 t in 2020.The total quota of tungsten concentrates(65%tungsten trioxide content,the same below)has 63000 t,up from 52500 t in 2020.The rise in quotas is in response to stronger demand from major downstream sectors following a significant recovery in the country’s economy from the impact of Covid-19.

Effects of Different Planting Densities on the Yield of Rice Developed from Seedlings Dry Raised in Plug Trays

[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different planting densities on rice tillering dynamics and yield. [Methods]The effects of different planting densities on rice yield were studied based on seedlings dry raised in plug trays. [Results]Planting density had obvious effects on tillering dynamics,number of panicles per unit area,number of grains per panicle and rice yield under the condition of seedlings dry raised in plug trays. Comprehensive analysis showed that the row spacing × hill spacing = 25 cm × 14 cm,that is,the planting density of 2. 85 × 10~5 hills/hm^2,achieved the highest yield,at 9 960 kg/hm^2. [Conclusions]This study provides a scientific basis for optimizing rice cultivation techniques and achieving high yield and high efficiency in rice production.

An Opportunity to Raise the Ultimate Consumption Rate While Re-starting the Economy

Last year, 1998, was an extraordinary year. In the face of financial tur-moil inter nationally and record--breaking floods domestically, we havestood severe tests. The macroeconomic control policy adopted by the cen-tral au thorities to expand investment in order to provide incentives to do-mestic demand yielded positive results and the economic growth ratereached 7.8percent. However the investment expansion was only the be-

Effect of Specific Verbal Instructions on the Identification of Pain Location during a Passive Straight Leg Raise Test

Musculoskeletal pain is common. Because pain is subjective, objectively describing it is crucial. However, pain assessment may cause distress in patients;therefore, physical therapists (PTs) should conduct these tests quickly and accurately. Simple and clear instructions are recommended for pain assessment. However, few studies have provided evidence to support this hypothesis. Correspondingly, this study aimed to confirm the effectiveness of specific verbal instructions for pain location during five consecutive Passive Straight Leg Raise (PSLR) tests. The 28 asymptomatic participants (age 27.4 ± 9.6 years) who provided informed consent received five consecutive PSLR tests: three without and two with specific verbal instructions to ascertain pain intensity, quality, and location. The participants drew pain locations on a body chart and described the pain intensity and quality after each test. All participants were interviewed regarding the differences they noted in the presence and absence of specific verbal instructions. Each pain location was classified into one of ten areas for statistical analysis. The proportion of participants who changed the pain location was compared between the tests using McNemar’s test, and the kappa coefficient was confirmed for consistency of pain location. There was a significant difference in the proportion of participants who changed their pain location between the second and third tests and from the third to the fourth test (McNemar’s test: p = 0.003). Kappa coefficients had low consistency (κ = 0.28) just after receiving the specific verbal instructions in the fourth test compared to the third test. Consistency improved in the fifth test (κ = 0.57);93% of the participants answered that the pain location had become clearer. This study revealed the effects of specific verbal instructions in identifying pain locations. This detailed information may help PTs provide appropriate treatment and contribute to reducing pain in clinical settings.

In Praise of the Four Seasons:Photographs of the Palace Museum in China and Japanese Ikebana

On March 1,2022,the exhibition"In Praise of the Four Seasons:Photographs of the Palace Museum in China and Japanese Ikebana"jointly organized by the Palace Museum,Japa China Friendship Center,and Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Floral Art opened at the Japan-China Friendship Center Art Museum in Tokyo,Japan.

Further Extending the Opening Policy,Striving to Raise the Use of Foreign Capital

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Retraction: Liquiritigenin Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Proliferation, Invasion, and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition by Decreasing Expression of Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.The western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.The authors were contacted and invited to comment on the concerns raised and to provide the original,unmodified figures,but did not respond.

Retraction:LINC00052 promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation and metastasis via activating the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.The western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.The authors were contacted and invited to comment on the concerns raised and to provide the original,unmodified figures,but did not respond.The Editors-in-Chief therefore no longer have confidence in the integrity of the data in this article and decided to retract this article.All authors have not responded to correspondence about this retraction.As a responsible publisher,we hold the reliability and integrity of our published content in high regard.We deeply regret any inconvenience caused by this situation to our readers and all concerned parties.

Retraction:Long noncoding RNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of human lung tumor cells by regulating MicroRNA-144

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.The western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.The authors were contacted and invited to comment on the concerns raised and to provide the original,unmodified figures,but did not respond.The Editors-in-Chief therefore no longer have confidence in the integrity of the data in this article and decided to retract this article.All authors have not responded to correspondence about this retraction.As a responsible publisher,we hold the reliability and integrity of our published content in high regard.We deeply regret any inconvenience caused by this situation to our readers and all concerned parties.

Retraction:Gamma Irradiation Upregulates B-cell Translocation Gene 2 to Attenuate Cell Proliferation of Lung Cancer Cells Through the JNK and NF-κB Pathways

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.The western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.The authors were contacted and invited to comment on the concerns raised and to provide the original,unmodified figures,but did not respond.The Editors-in-Chief therefore no longer have confidence in the integrity of the data in this article and decided to retract this article.

Retraction:miRNA-497 negatively regulates the growth and motility of chondrosarcoma cells by targeting Cdc25A

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.An unexpected area of similarity was identified in terms of the cellular data,where the results from differently performed experiments were intended to have been shown,although the areas immediately surrounding this area featured comparatively different distributions of cells.The authors were contacted and invited to comment on the concerns raised and to provide the original,unmodified figures,but did not respond.The Editors-in-Chief therefore no longer have confidence in the integrity of the data in this article and decided to retract this article.

Retraction: Propofol Inhibits Lung Cancer A549 Cell Growth and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Process by Upregulation of MicroRNA-1284

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.The western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.The authors were contacted and invited to comment on the concerns raised and to provide the original,unmodified figures,but did not respond.The Editors-in-Chief therefore no longer have confidence in the integrity of the data in this article and decided to retract this article.

Retraction: Knockdown of Long Noncoding RNA CAT104 Inhibits the Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Human Osteosarcoma Cells by Regulating MicroRNA-381

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.The western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.The authors were contacted and invited to comment on the concerns raised and to provide the original,unmodified figures,but did not respond.The Editors-in-Chief therefore no longer have confidence in the integrity of the data in this article and decided to retract this article.

Retraction:Long noncoding RNA CAMTA1 promotes proliferation and mobility of the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 via targeting miR-20b

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.The western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.The authors were contacted and invited to comment on the concerns raised and to provide the original,unmodified figures,but did not respond.The Editors-in-Chief therefore no longer have confidence in the integrity of the data in this article and decided to retract this article.All authors have not responded to correspondence about this retraction.As a responsible publisher,we hold the reliability and integrity of our published content in high regard.We deeply regret any inconvenience caused by this situation to our readers and all concerned parties.

Retraction: Knockdown of Urothelial Carcinoma-Associated 1 Suppressed Cell Growth and Migration Through Regulating miR-301a and CXCR4 in Osteosarcoma MHCC97 Cells

Following the publication,concerns have been raised about a number of figures in this article.The western blots in this article were presented with atypical,unusually shaped and possibly anomalous protein bands in many cases.The authors were contacted and invited to comment on the concerns raised and to provide the original,unmodified figures,but did not respond.The Editors-in-Chief therefore no longer have confidence in the integrity of the data in this article and decided to retract this article.