基于In Silicon模拟消化的北极虾DPP-Ⅳ抑制肽活性分析

北极虾具有很高的营养价值,在食品领域已引起越来越多的关注。对北极虾蛋白进行In Silicon模拟消化获得寡肽,通过PeptideRanker活性评分及理化性质分析,从中筛选出具有潜在生物活性的寡肽。使用ToxinPred分析和BIOPEP-UWM生物活性预测,发现部分寡肽具有二肽基肽酶-Ⅳ(dipeptidyl peptidase-Ⅳ,DPP-Ⅳ)抑制活性,最终确定WFP(一种三肽,Trp-Phe-Pro)具有最优的DPP-Ⅳ抑制活性肽。分子对接表明,WFP和DPP-Ⅳ能够形成稳定的复合物,其结合能为-6.93 kcal/mol,进一步研究表明,WFP通过与DPP-Ⅳ S1、S2、S3三个活性口袋中的9个氨基酸残基发生相互作用而抑制其活性。本研究为阐释北极虾营养价值及生物活性肽的开发提供了理论依据。

Regulation of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline and grain quality in early-season indica fragrant rice by nitrogen and silicon fertilization under different plantation methods

Fragrant rice has a high market value,and it is a popular rice type among consumers owing to its pleasant flavor.Plantation methods,nitrogen(N)fertilizers,and silicon(Si)fertilizers can affect the grain yield and fragrance of fragrant rice.However,the core commercial rice production attributes,namely the head rice yield(HRY)and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline(2-AP)content of fragrant rice,under various nitrogen and silicon(N-Si)fertilization levels and different plantation methods remain unknown.The field experiment in this study was performed in the early seasons of 2018 and 2019 with two popular indica fragrant rice cultivars(Yuxiangyouzhan and Xiangyaxiangzhan).They were grown under six N-Si fertilization treatments(combinations of two levels of Si fertilizer,0 kg Si ha^(−1)(Si0)and 150 kg Si ha^(−1)(Si1),and three levels of N fertilizer,0 kg N ha^(−1)(N0),150 kg N ha^(−1)(N1),and 220 kg N ha^(−1)(N2))and three plantation methods(artificial transplanting(AT),mechanical transplanting(MT),and mechanical direct-seeding(MD)).The results showed that the N-Si fertilization treatments and all the plantation methods significantly affected the HRY and 2-AP content and related parameters of the two different fragrant rice cultivars.Compared with the Si0N0 treatment,the N-Si fertilization treatments resulted in higher HRY and 2-AP contents.The rates of brown rice,milled rice,head rice,and chalky rice of the fragrant rice also improved with the N-Si fertilization treatments.The N-Si fertilization treatments increased the activities of N metabolism enzymes and the accumulation of N and Si in various parts of the fragrant rice,and affected their antioxidant response parameters.The key parameters for the HRY and 2-AP content were assessed by redundancy analysis.Furthermore,the structural equation model revealed that the Si and N accumulation levels indirectly affected the HRY by affecting the N metabolism enzyme activity,N use efficiency,and grain quality of fragrant rice.Moreover,high N and Si accumulation directly promoted the 2-AP content or affected the antioxidant response parameters and indirectly regulated 2-AP synthesis.The interactions of the MT method with the N-Si fertilization treatments varied in the fragrant rice cultivars in terms of the HRY and 2-AP content,whereas the MD method was beneficial to the 2-AP content in both fragrant rice cultivars under the N-Si fertilization treatments.

Silicone oil as a corneal lubricant to reduce corneal edema and improve visualization during

AIM:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of silicone oil(SO)as a corneal lubricant to improve visualization during vitrectomy.METHODS:Patients who underwent vitreoretinal surgery were divided into two groups.Group 1 was operated on with initial SO(Oxane 5700)as a corneal lubricant.Group 2 was operated on with initial lactated ringer’s solution(LRS)and then replaced with SO as required.Fundus clarity was scored during the surgery.Fluorescein staining was performed to determine the damage to corneal epithelium.RESULTS:Totally 114 eyes of 114 patients were included.Single SO use maintained a clear cornea and provided excellent visualization of surgical image.In group 1,the fundus clarity was grade 3 in 41/45 eyes and grade 2 in 4/45 eyes.In group 2,corneal edema frequently occurred after initial LRS use.The fundus clarity was grade 3 in 19/69 eyes,2 in 37/69 eyes and 1 in 13/69 eyes(P<0.05).SO was applied in 29 eyes of initial LRS use with subsequent corneal edema,which eliminated the corneal edema in 26 eyes.Corneal fluorescein staining score in group 1 was 0 in 28 eyes,1 in 11 eyes and 2 in 6 eyes,and 40,20 and 9,respectively,in group 2(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION:The use of SO as a corneal lubricant is effective and safe for preserving and improving corneal clarity and providing clear surgical field during vitrectomy.

Non-contact wide-field viewing system-assisted scleral buckling surgery for retinal detachment in silicone oilfilled eyes

AIM:To evaluate scleral buckling(SB)surgery using a noncontact wide-field viewing system and 23-gauge intraocular illumination for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in silicone oil(SO)-filled eyes.METHODS:Totally 9 patients(9 eyes)with retinal detachment in SO-filled eyes were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent non-contact wide-field viewing system-assisted buckling surgery with 23-gauge intraocular illumination.SO was removed at an appropriate time based on recovery.The patients were followed up for at least 3mo after SO removal.Retinal reattachment,complications,visual acuity and intraocular pressure(IOP)before and after surgery were observed.RESULTS:Patients were followed up for a mean of 8.22mo(3-22mo)after SO removal.All patients had retinal reattachment.At the final follow-up,visual acuity showed improvement for 8 patients,and no change for 1 patient.The IOP was high in 3 patients before surgery,but it stabilized after treatment;it was not affected in the other patients.None of the patients had infections,hemorrhage,anterior ischemia,or any other complication.CONCLUSION:This new non-contact wide-field viewing system-assisted SB surgery with 23-gauge intraocular illumination is effective and safe for retinal detachment in SO-filled eyes.

Silicon Mitigates Aluminum Toxicity of Tartary Buckwheat by Regulating Antioxidant Systems

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is a considerable factor limiting crop yield and biomass in acidic soil. Tartary buckwheatgrowing in acidic soil may suffer from Al poisoning. Here, we investigated the influence of Al stress on the growthof tartary buckwheat seedling roots, and the alleviation of Al stress by silicon (Si), as has been demonstrated inmany crops. Under Al stress, root growth (total root length, primary root length, root tips, root surface area, androot volume) was significantly inhibited, and Al and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulated in the root tips. At thesame time, catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase activities, polyphenols, flavonoids, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) free-radical scavenging abilitywere significantly decreased. After the application of Si, root growth, Al accumulation, and oxidative damage wereimproved. Compared to Al-treated seedlings, the contents of ·O2− and MDA decreased by 29.39% and 25.22%,respectively. This was associated with Si-induced increases in peroxidase and CAT enzyme activity, flavonoidcompounds, and free-radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS). The application of Si therefore has positive effectson Al toxicity in tartary buckwheat roots by reducing Al accumulation in the roots and maintaining oxidationhomeostasis.

Preparation and Analysis of Carbon Fiber-Silicon Carbide Thermally Conductive Asphalt Concrete

An experimental investigation into the thermal conductivity of CF-SiC two-phase composite asphalt concrete is presented.The main objective of this study was to verify the possibility of using SiC powder instead of mineral powder as the thermal conductive filler to prepare a new type of asphalt concrete and improve the efficiency of electrothermal snow and ice melting systems accordingly.The thermal conductivity of asphalt concrete prepared with different thermally conductive fillers was tested by a transient plane source method,and the related performances were measured.Then the temperature rise rate and surface temperature were studied through field heating tests.Finally,the actual ice melting efficiency of the thermally conductive asphalt concrete was evaluated using an effective electrothermal system.As shown by the experimental results,the composite made of SiC powder and carbon fiber has a high thermal conductivity.When SiC replaces mineral powder,the thermal conductivity of the asphalt mixture increases first and then decreases with the increase of carbon fiber content.In the present study,in particular,the thermal conductivity attained a peak when the carbon fiber content was 0.2%of the aggregate mass.

Endophthalmitis in silicone oil-filled eye: A case report

BACKGROUND Endophthalmitis occurring in silicone oil-filled eyes is a very rare occurrence,with reported incidence rates ranging between 0.07%and 0.039%.Traditional methods of management of infectious endophthalmitis include the removal of silicone oil,washout of the vitreous cavity,administration of intravitreal antibiotics,and reinjection of silicone oil.CASE SUMMARY Herein,we report the case of a 39-year-old man with unilateral endophthalmitis after pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade.Intravitreal injections of full-dose antibiotics and anterior chamber washout were used to treat the patient.No signs of retinal toxicity were observed during the follow-up period.CONCLUSION Intravitreal full-dose antibiotic injections and anterior chamber washout are promising alternatives to traditional therapies for endophthalmitis in silicone oilfilled eyes.

Analysis on Demonstration Application of Silicon Fertilizer in Field Cultivation of Rice

[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the scientific application of silicon fertilizer in rice cultivation,one of the staple crops.[Methods]In 2022,Yandu District carried out a special experiment and field demonstration study on the effects of foliar application of Zhengda water-soluble silicon fertilizer on rice production.[Results]The preliminary results showed that①Zhengda water-soluble silicon fertilizer could effectively improve the growth and development of rice and improve the population quality.The peak number of tillers,productive tiller percentage,number of effective panicles and number of effective grains per panicle increased by 6.7%,5.8%,5.5%,and 1.2%,respectively.②The yield and processing quality were improved.After applying silicon fertilizer,the yield per unit area increased by about 6.8%,and the unpolished rice yield,milled rice yield and head rice yield increased by 0.7%,1.94%and 2.15%respectively.[Conclusions]The demonstration application of silicon fertilizer in field cultivation of rice in Yandu District further proves previous research conclusions and has important practical significance.

Ultrafast dynamics of femtosecond laser-induced high spatial frequency periodic structures on silicon surfaces

Femtosecond laser-induced periodic surface structures(LIPSS)have been extensively studied over the past few decades.In particular,the period and groove width of high-spatial-frequency LIPSS(HSFL)is much smaller than the diffraction limit,making it a useful method for efficient nanomanufacturing.However,compared with the low-spatial-frequency LIPSS(LSFL),the structure size of the HSFL is smaller,and it is more easily submerged.Therefore,the formation mechanism of HSFL is complex and has always been a research hotspot in this field.In this study,regular LSFL with a period of 760 nm was fabricated in advance on a silicon surface with two-beam interference using an 800 nm,50 fs femtosecond laser.The ultrafast dynamics of HSFL formation on the silicon surface of prefabricated LSFL under single femtosecond laser pulse irradiation were observed and analyzed for the first time using collinear pump-probe imaging method.In general,the evolution of the surface structure undergoes five sequential stages:the LSFL begins to split,becomes uniform HSFL,degenerates into an irregular LSFL,undergoes secondary splitting into a weakly uniform HSFL,and evolves into an irregular LSFL or is submerged.The results indicate that the local enhancement of the submerged nanocavity,or the nanoplasma,in the prefabricated LSFL ridge led to the splitting of the LSFL,and the thermodynamic effect drove the homogenization of the splitting LSFL,which evolved into HSFL.

Modeling and Simulation of Heterojunction Solar Cell with Mono Crystalline Silicon

The monocrystalline silicon is a promising material that could be used in solar cells that convert light into electricity. Although the cost of ordinary silicon (Si) solar cells has decreased significantly over the past two decades, the conversion efficiency of these cells has remained relatively high. While solar cells have a great potential as a device of renewable energy, the high cost they incur per Watt continues to be a significant barrier to their widespread implementation. As a consequence, it is vital to conduct research into alternate materials that may be used in the construction of solar cells. The heterojunction solar cell (HJSC), which is based on n-type zinc oxide (n-ZnO) and p-type silicon (p-Si), is one of the numerous alternatives of the typical Si single homojunction solar cell. There are many deficiencies that can be found in the published research on n-ZnO/p-Si heterojunction solar cell. Inconsistencies in the stated value of open circuit voltage (Voc) of the solar cell are one example of deficiency. The absence of a full theoretical study to evaluate the potential of the solar cell structure is another deficiency that can be found in these researches. A lower value of experimentally obtained VOC in comparison to the theoretical prediction based on the band-gap between n-ZnO and p-Si. There needs to be more consensus among scientists regarding the optimal conditions for the growth of zinc oxide. Many software’s are available for simulating and optimizing the solar cells based on these parameters. For this purpose, in this dissertation, I provide computational results relevant to n-ZnO/p-Si HJSC to overcome deficiencies that have been identified. While modeling and simulating the potential of the solar cell structure with AFORS-HET, it is essential to consider the constraints that exist in the real world. AFORS-HET was explicitly designed to mimic the multilayer solar cell arrangement. In AFORS-HET, we can add up to seven layers for solar cell layout. By using this software, we can figure out the open circuit voltage (VOC), the short circuit current (JSC), the quantum efficiency (QE, %), the heterojunction energy band structure, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE).

Research on Silicon Carbide Dispersion-Reinforced Hypereutectic Aluminum-Silicon Electronic Packaging Materials

The objective of this study is to improve the mechanical properties and machining performance of high thermal conductivity and low expansion silicon carbide dispersion-strengthened hypereutectic aluminum-silicon electronic packaging materials to meet the needs of aviation,aerospace,and electronic packaging fields.We used the powder metallurgy method and high-temperature hot pressing technology to prepare SiC/Al-Si composite materials with different SiC contents(5vol%,10vol%,15vol%,and 20vol%).The results showed that as the SiC content increased,the tensile strength of the composite material first increased and then decreased.The tensile strength was the highest when the SiC content was 15%;the sintering temperature significantly affected the composite material’s structural density and mechanical properties.Findings indicated 700℃was the optimal sintering and the optimal SiC content of SiC/Al-Si composite materials was between 10%and 15%.Besides,the sintering temperature should be strictly controlled to improve the material’s structural density and mechanical properties.

High‑Performance Silicon‑Rich Microparticle Anodes for Lithium‑Ion Batteries Enabled by Internal Stress Mitigation

Si is a promising anode material for Li ion batteries because of its high specific capacity,abundant reserve,and low cost.However,its rate performance and cycling stability are poor due to the severe particle pulverization during the lithiation/delithiation process.The high stress induced by the Li concentration gradient and anisotropic deformation is the main reason for the fracture of Si particles.Here we present a new stress mitigation strategy by uniformly distributing small amounts of Sn and Sb in Si micron-sized particles,which reduces the Li concentration gradient and realizes an isotropic lithiation/delithiation process.The Si8.5Sn0.5Sb microparticles(mean particle size:8.22μm)show over 6000-fold and tenfold improvements in electronic conductivity and Li diffusivity than Si particles,respectively.The discharge capacities of the Si_(8.5)Sn_(0.5)Sb microparticle anode after 100 cycles at 1.0 and 3.0 A g^(-1)are 1.62 and 1.19 Ah g^(-1),respectively,corresponding to a retention rate of 94.2%and 99.6%,respectively,relative to the capacity of the first cycle after activation.Multicomponent microparticle anodes containing Si,Sn,Sb,Ge and Ag prepared using the same method yields an ultra-low capacity decay rate of 0.02%per cycle for 1000 cycles at 1 A g^(-1),corroborating the proposed mechanism.The stress regulation mechanism enabled by the industry-compatible fabrication methods opens up enormous opportunities for low-cost and high-energy-density Li-ion batteries.

Effects of Silicon Preparation on Different Forms of Silicon in Soil and Silicon Content in Rice Plants

Rice is a typical silicon-loving crop,known as"representative of silicic acid plant".Southeast Asia and other rice-producing countries have listed silicon fertilizer as the fourth most elemental fertilizer after nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium.Therefore,improving the utilization of soil silicon and promoting the transformation of soil silicon form is of great significance to the growth of rice and the development of agriculture.In order to investigate the effects of silicon preparations on different forms of silicon in soil and silicon contenst in rice plants,a pot experiment with Dongnong 427 was carried out,spraying on rice leaves at the booting stage,and three treatment groups(Si-TG,Si-EG and Si-60G)and a control group(CK)were set up.The contents of available silicon,water-soluble silicon,amorphous silicon,active silicon in soil and plant silicon were measured at the heading stage and the maturity stage of rice,then the effect of silicon preparation on the silicon content of rice soil and plant was analyzed.The results showed that spraying silicon preparation could significantly improve the silicon content of rice plants,promote the transformation of silicon forms in soil to varying degrees,and improve the silicon supply capacity of soil.Compared with CK,the soil available silicon content increased by 7.42%-8.26%at the heading stage and 6.70%at the maturity stage.The Si-EG treatment at the heading stage had the best effect on increasing the available silicon content of the soil,which was 8.26%higher than that of CK,reaching a significant level;the Si-TG treatment at the maturity stage had the best effect on increasing the silicon content of the plant,and the silicon content of the plant was 27.17%higher than that of CK,reaching a significant level.

Intraocular Silicone Oil Removed after 10 Years: A Case Report

Background: Silicone oil (SO) has been demonstrated with concrete efficacy and safety in the therapy of complex vitreoretinal diseases. SO is schemed to be cleared within several weeks or months after tamponade, but it’s inevitable for permanent or residual SO in a fraction of patients under extremely complicated clinical conditions. Here, we presented a case of silicone oil removal after 10 years, mainly to observe the disadvantages of long-term persistence. Case presentation: A 69-year-old female with pathologic myopia denied trauma history who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), retinal reattachment, laser, and silicone oil tamponade in 2012 presented to our hospital with eye pain and headache, no light perception of her right eye for six months. The slit-lamp biomicroscopy examination for OD indicated evident conjunctival congestion, new blood vessels invasion to the limbus, foggy edema of corneal epithelium, folds of Descemet’s membrane and corneal endothelial edema. There were obvious emulsified silicone oil particles above the anterior chamber. Goldmann’s applanation tonometry test revealed the intraocular pressure was as high as 45/17mmHg. From ocular ultrasound, we saw that the vitreous cavity was filled with silicone oil in right eye;as for the left eye, it showed marked axial elongation and posterior scleral staphyloma. We were unable to obtain more information from fundus photography and macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) due to edema of the cornea. After the silicone oil was removed successfully from her vitreous cavity, although there was no improvement in the patient’s vision (no light perception), she was still satisfied with the relief from eye pain and headache benefited from the reduction of high intraocular pressure (Goldmann’s intraocular pressure decreased to 19/14mmHg). Conclusion: Patients after PPV should remove silicone oil in time to avoid corneal damage, intraocular hypertension, lens opacity and retinal damage induced by long-term silicone tamponade.

Effect of Particle Size on Silicon Nitride Ceramic Slurry by Stereolithography

The effects of particle size,gradation and solid loading of silicon nitride (Si_(3)N_(4)) on the rheological behavior and curing properties of ceramic slurry are studied by stereolithography (SLA).The results show that the particle size of Si_(3)N_(4) powder has a signif icant influence on the rheological properties and stability of the slurry.When m_(D50=1.3μm):m_(D50=2.3μm)=3:7,the slurry viscosity is low and the sedimentation is slow.The most important thing is that with the increase of the solid loading of the slurry,the viscosity of the slurry increases,the stability becomes higher,and the curing thickness decreases.The curing thickness of Si_(3)N_(4) ceramic slurry with solid loading of 50 vol% can reach nearly 50μm.The above results finally show that the process optimizes the formulation of the slurry in rheological and curing properties.

Interfacial design of silicon/carbon anodes for rechargeable batteries:A review

Silicon(Si)has been studied as a promising alloying type anode for lithium-ion batteries due to its high specific capacity,low operating potential and abundant resources.Nevertheless,huge volume expansion during alloying/dealloying processes and low electronic conductivity of Si anodes restrict their electrochemical performance.Thus,carbon(C)materials with special physical and chemical properties are applied in Si anodes to effectively solve these problems.This review focuses on current status in the exploration of Si/C anodes,including the lithiation mechanism and solid electrolyte interface formation,various carbon sources in Si/C anodes,such as traditional carbon sources(graphite,pitch,biomass),and novel carbon sources(MXene,graphene,MOFs-derived carbon,graphdiyne,etc.),as well as interfacial bonding modes of Si and C in the Si/C anodes.Finally,we summarize and prospect the selection of carbonaceous materials,structural design and interface control of Si/C anodes,and application of Si/C anodes in all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries et al.This review will help researchers in the design of novel Si/C anodes for rechargeable batteries.

Low-loss chip-scale programmable silicon photonic processor

Chip-scale programmable optical signal processors are often used to flexibly manipulate the optical signals for satisfying the demands in various applications,such as lidar,radar,and artificial intelligence.Silicon photonics has unique advantages of ultra-high integration density as well as CMOS compatibility,and thus makes it possible to develop large-scale programmable optical signal processors.The challenge is the high silicon waveguides propagation losses and the high calibration complexity for all tuning elements due to the random phase errors.In this paper,we propose and demonstrate a programmable silicon photonic processor for the first time by introducing low-loss multimode photonic waveguide spirals and low-random-phase-error Mach-Zehnder switches.The present chip-scale programmable silicon photonic processor comprises a 1×4 variable power splitter based on cascaded Mach-Zehnder couplers(MZCs),four Ge/Si photodetectors,four channels of thermally-tunable optical delaylines.Each channel consists of a continuously-tuning phase shifter based on a waveguide spiral with a micro-heater and a digitally-tuning delayline realized with cascaded waveguide-spiral delaylines and MZSs for 5.68 ps time-delay step.Particularly,these waveguide spirals used here are designed to be as wide as 2μm,enabling an ultralow propagation loss of 0.28 dB/cm.Meanwhile,these MZCs and MZSs are designed with 2-μm-wide arm waveguides,and thus the random phase errors in the MZC/MZS arms are negligible,in which case the calibration for these MZSs/MZCs becomes easy and furthermore the power consumption for compensating the phase errors can be reduced greatly.Finally,this programmable silicon photonic processor is demonstrated successfully to verify a number of distinctively different functionalities,including tunable time-delay,microwave photonic beamforming,arbitrary optical signal filtering,and arbitrary waveform generation.

Application of silicon carbide temperature monitors in 49-2 swimming-pool test reactor

High purity SiC crystal was used as a passive monitor to measure neutron irradiation temperature in the 49-2 research reactor.The SiC monitors were irradiated with fast neutrons at elevated temperatures to 3.2×10^(20)n/cm^(2).The isochronal and isothermal annealing behaviors of the irradiated SiC were investigated by x-ray diffraction and four-point probe techniques.Invisible point defects and defect clusters are found to be the dominating defect types in the neutron-irradiated SiC.The amount of defect recovery in SiC reaches a maximum value after isothermal annealing for 30 min.Based on the annealing temperature dependences of both lattice swelling and material resistivity,the irradiation temperature of the SiC monitors is determined to be~410℃,which is much higher than the thermocouple temperature of 275℃ recorded during neutron irradiation.The possible reasons for the difference are carefully discussed.

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy with bicanalicular silicone tube intubation for treating chronic dacryocystitis secondary to nasolacrimal duct stent incarceration

AIM:To investigate the feasibility of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy(En-DCR)with bicanalicular silicone tube intubation for treating chronic dacryocystitis secondary to nasolacrimal duct stent(NDS)incarceration.METHODS:En-DCRs were performed on 44 chronic dacryocystitis patients(46 eyes)secondary to NDS incarceration from April 2016 to October 2022.The granuloma and scar tissues were separated,and the removal of NDS incarceration was achieved during the surgery;the flap of the lacrimal sac was trimmed and anastomosed with nasal mucosal,a bicanalicular silicone tube was implanted,and lacrimal size and condition were assessed.The tube was removed 3mo after surgery.During the final follow-up of 12mo when the surgery was completed,the complications and the rates of surgical success were assessed.RESULTS:This study covered 40 patients(42 eyes).Intraoperatively,it was found that the lacrimal sac became small,and the sac wall had granulation and scar tissue attached to the incarcerated NDS in all eyes.At 12mo after surgery completed,the rates of the functional and anatomical success reached 80.95%(34/42)and 83.33%(35/42),respectively.Under the effect of intranasal ostial closure,seven eyes failed to achieve anatomical success.No serious complications(e.g.,visual impairment,sinusitis,and orbital fat prolapse)was observed.CONCLUSION:With the success rate over 80%and no serious complications,En-DCR with bicanalicular silicone tube implantation is effective in treating chronic dacryocystitis secondary to NDS incarceration.

Accumulation of silicon in shoots is required for reducing lead uptake in rice

Silicon(Si) treatment has been shown to reduce the toxicity and accumulation of lead(Pb) in many plants,including rice.The mechanisms responsible for this effect are poorly understood.We investigated the effects of Si treatment on Pb toxicity and accumulation in two rice mutants(lsi1 and lsi2) defective in Si uptake and in their wild types.Si did not alleviate Pb-induced inhibition of root elongation in shortterm experiments,but reduced Pb accumulation in wild types,but not in mutants,in long-term experiments.Pre-treatment with Si reduced Pb concentration in xylem sap and Pb accumulation in wild types but not in mutants.In split-root experiments,Si treatment reduced Pb accumulation but did not alter Pb localization in roots.Si treatment suppressed the expression of many genes encoding proteins that may participate in Pb uptake and transport in the wild type,but not in the lsi1 mutant.These results indicate that Si accumulation in shoots is required to reduce Pb uptake in rice and that the effect is achieved via Siinduced suppression of genes encoding proteins involved in Pb uptake and/or transport.