Increased dependence on nitrogen-fixation of a native legume in competition with an invasive plant

Suppression of roots and/or their symbiotic microorganisms,such as mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia,is an effective way for alien plants to outcompete native plants.However,little is known about how invasive and native plants interact with the quantity and activity of nutrient-acquisition agents.Here a pot experiment was conducted with monoculture and mixed plantings of an invasive plant,Xanthium strumarium,and a common native legume,Glycine max.We measured traits related to root and nodule quantity and activity and mycorrhizal colonization.Compared to the monoculture,fine root quantity(biomass,surface area)and activity(root nitrogen(N)concentration,acid phosphatase activity)of G.max decreased in mixed plantings;nodule quantity(biomass)decreased by 45%,while nodule activity in Nfixing via rhizobium increased by 106%;mycorrhizal colonization was unaffected.Contribution of N fixation to leaf N content in G.max increased in the mixed plantings,and this increase was attributed to a decrease in the rhizosphere soil N of G.max in the mixed plantings.Increased root quantity and activity,along with a higher mycorrhizal association was observed in X.strumarium in the mixed compared to monoculture.Together,the invasive plant did not directly scavenge N from nodule-fixed N,but rather depleted the rhizosphere soil N of the legume,thereby stimulating the activity of N-fixation and increasing the dependence of the native legume on this N source.The quantity-activity framework holds promise for future studies on how native legumes respond to alien plant invasions.

Microfluidic-oriented synthesis of enriched iridium nanodots/carbon architecture for robust electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)is considered as a promising candidate to achieve ammonia synthesis because of clean electric energy,moderate reaction condition,safe operating process and harmless by-products.However,the chemical inertness of nitrogen and poor activated capacity on catalyst surface usually produce low ammonia yield and faradic efficiency.Herein,the microfluidic technology is proposed to efficiently fabricate enriched iridium nanodots/carbon architecture.Owing to in-situ co-precipitation reaction and microfluidic manipulation,the iridium nanodots/carbon nanomaterials possess small average size,uniform dispersion,high conductivity and abundant active sites,producing good proton activation and rapid electrons transmission and moderate adsorption/desorption capacity.As a result,the as-prepared iridium nanodots/carbon nanomaterials realize large ammonia yield of 28.73 μg h^(-1) cm^(-2) and faradic efficiency of 9.14%in KOH solution.Moreover,the high ammonia yield of 11.21 μg h^(-1) cm^(-2) and faradic efficiency of 24.30%are also achieved in H_(2)SO_(4) solution.The microfluidic method provides a reference for large-scale fabrication of nano-sized catalyst materials,which may accelerate the progress of electrocatalytic NRR in industrialization field.

Sutured scleral fixation of existing subluxated/dislocated acrylic one-piece intraocular lenses

AIM:To evaluate the visual and refractive outcomes in cases after sutured scleral fixation of existing subluxated or dislocated acrylic one-piece intraocular lenses(IOLs).METHODS:This study retrospectively enrolled a consecutive series of patients who underwent a surgery of sutured existing subluxated or dislocated IOLs from October 2018 to June 2020.All patients underwent comprehensive preoperative and postoperative ophthalmologic examination,and data were collected including age,sex,surgical indications,best-corrected visual acuity,refractive error,intraocular pressure.Presence of intraoperative and postoperative surgical complications was documented.RESULTS:A total of 20 consecutive cases were enrolled for analysis with mean final follow-up period 9.8±5.3mo.Visual acuity improved from a mean of 0.35(0.46±0.32 logMAR)preoperatively to 0.61(0.21±0.18 logMAR)at the 3-month follow-up(P=0.002).The mean amount of preoperative keratometric astigmatism and total postoperative refractive astigmatism was-1.24±0.80 diopters(D)and-1.42±0.97 D,respectively.There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative astigmatism(P=0.156).The mean IOL-induced astigmatism was-0.23±0.53 D.The mean spherical equivalent at the 3-month follow-up was-0.1±0.94 D.No major complications were noted during the follow-up period.CONCLUSION:Surgical techniques using sutured scleral fixation of existing subluxated or dislocated acrylic one-piece IOLs result in favorable visual and refractive outcomes without major complications.

In vitro performance of a biodegradable zinc alloy adjustable-loop cortical suspension fixation for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)injuries of the knee are one of the most common and serious athletic injuries.The widely used cortical suspension fixation buttons for ligament reconstruction are permanent implants,particularly those made from conventional steel or titanium alloys.In this study,a biodegradable Zn-0.45Mn-0.2Mg(ZMM42)alloy with the yield strength of 300.4 MPa and tensile strength of 329.8 MPa was prepared through hot extrusion.The use of zinc alloys in the preparation of cortical suspension fixation buttons was proposed for the first time.After 35 d of immersion in simulated body fluids,the ZMM42 alloy fixation buttons were degraded at a rate of 44μm/a,and the fixation strength was retained(379.55 N)in the traction loops.Simultaneously,the ZMM42 alloy fixation buttons exhibited an increase in MC3T3-E1 cell viability and high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.These results reveal the potential of biodegradable zinc alloys for use as ligament reconstruction materials and for developing diverse zinc alloy cortical suspension fixation devices.

Arthroscopic M-shaped suture fixation for tibia avulsion fracture of posterior cruciate ligament:A modified technique and case series

BACKGROUND Tibial avulsion fractures of the posterior cruciate ligament(PCL)are challenging to treat and compromise knee stability and function.Traditional open surgery often requires extensive soft tissue dissection,which may increase the risk of morbidity.In response to these concerns,arthroscopic techniques have been evolving.The aim of this study was to introduce a modified arthroscopic tech-nique utilizing an M-shaped suture fixation method for the treatment of tibial avulsion fractures of the PCL and to evaluate its outcomes through a case series.AIM To evaluate the effects of arthroscopic M-shaped suture fixation on treating tibia avulsion fractures of the PCL.METHODS We developed a modified arthroscopic M-shaped suture fixation technique for tibia avulsion fractures of the PCL.This case series included 18 patients who underwent the procedure between January 2021 and December 2022.The patients were assessed for range of motion(ROM),Lysholm score and International knee documentation committee(IKDC)score.Postoperative complications were also recorded.RESULTS The patients were followed for a mean of 13.83±2.33 months.All patients showed radiographic union.At the final follow-up,all patients had full ROM and a negative posterior drawer test.The mean Lysholm score significantly improved from 45.28±8.92 preoperatively to 91.83±4.18 at the final follow-up(P<0.001),and the mean IKDC score improved from 41.98±6.06 preoperatively to 90.89±5.32 at the final follow-up(P<0.001).CONCLUSION The modified arthroscopic M-shaped suture fixation technique is a reliable and effective treatment for tibia avulsion fractures of the PCL,with excellent fracture healing and functional recovery.

A new abdominal drainage tube fixation method for 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy improves patients’postoperative quality of life

Objective Laparoscopic surgery has become a routine general surgery with many advantages,such as alleviating abdominal pain.However,postoperative pain caused by abdominal drainage tubes has attracted little attention from medical staff.The aim of this study was to explore the influence of a new abdominal drainage tube fixation method for 3-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)on patients’postoperative quality of life.Methods Patients who underwent 3-port LC with abdominal drainage tubes in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Linyi People’s Hospital from March 1,2023 to October 31,2023 due to gallstones with chronic cholecystitis were selected for this study.The patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group.In the experimental group,the new abdominal drainage tube fixation method was used,while in the control group,the traditional method was used.Afterward,the quality of life of patient in terms of pain,activity,recovery time,and mental health status was evaluated.The exudate around the patient’s drainage tube was collected for bacterial culture and analysis.Results A total of 139 patients were randomly divided into an experimental group(70 patients)and a control group(69 patients).The patients’baseline characteristics were not significantly different.The patients in the experimental group had better outcomes in quality of life,with higher pain scores(24.03±2.37 vs.15.48±2.29,p<0.001)and activity scores(20.57±1.78 vs.14.13±1.43,p<0.001),and a shorter postoperative recovery time(2.36±0.68 d vs.2.96±1.34 d,p<0.001).The same results were shown in linear regression analysis scores of the 2 groups.The positive rate of bacterial culture in the exudate around the patient’s drainage tube in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group(12.9%vs.43.5%,p<0.001);and furthermore,the positive rate of conditional pathogenic bacteria was even lower(7.1%vs.33.3%,p<0.001)in the experimental group than in the control group.Conclusion This new abdominal drainage tube fixation method can effectively promote patient rehabilitation and improve the quality of life for patient following 3-port LC with abdominal drainage tubes.

Assessment of Nitrogen Fixation, Uptake, and Leaching in Maize/Soybean Intercropping System at Varied Soil Depths and under Phosphorus Application in Chinese Agricultural Settings

The study of Nitrogen fixation, uptake, and leaching at different soil depths in the co-cultivation of maize and soybean under phosphorus fertilization is important for sustainable agriculture. This study was conducted in Quzhou, Hebei Province, China, with MC812 maize and Jidou12 soybean varieties. Soil samples were taken from each plot to create a composite sample. The results show that nitrogen concentration varies at different depths and is higher in all treatments between 40 and 100 cm. Incorporating intercropping of maize and soybeans into farming practices can lead to more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture in China.

Clinical Outcome of Internal Fixation and Fusion in the Treatment of Spinal Fractures by Paraspinal Muscular Space Approach

Objective:To explore the clinical effect of internal fixation and fusion with the paraspinal muscle gap approach in the treatment of spinal fracture patients.Methods:104 spinal fracture patients admitted to Central Hospital of TCM from October 2022 to April 2024 were selected as the study subjects and were randomly divided into the control group(n=52)and the observation group(n=52)according to the random number table method.The control group was treated with the conventional approach of internal fixation surgery,and the observation group was treated with the paraspinal muscular interspace approach of internal fixation fusion.The two groups’general data,surgical indexes,pain,lumbar spine function,and postoperative complications were observed.Results:The baseline data of the two groups of patients were not statistically significant(all P>0.05)while the intraoperative bleeding,the first postoperative time getting up from bed,and the length of hospital stay of the patients in the observation group were shorter than that of the control group(all P=0.000<0.001),and the duration of the operation was longer than that of the control group(t=2.644,P=0.010<0.05);at 3 months postoperatively,the VAS scores of the patients in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(t=10.768,P=0.000<0.001),and the JOA score was higher than that of the control group(t=6.498,P=0.000<0.001);the total complication rate of patients in the observation group(3/5.77%)was significantly lower than that of the control group(12/23.08%)(χ^(2)=6.310,P=0.012<0.05).Conclusion:In the treatment of spinal fracture patients,compared with the conventional approach to internal fixation surgery,the paraspinal muscular gap approach to internal fixation and fusion treatment is less traumatic,postoperative lumbar spine function recovery is faster,and can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.

Clinical Effectiveness of the Plate Screw Internal Fixation Technique in the Treatment of Patients with Traumatic Fractures of Long Bones in the Lower Extremities

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of the plate screw internal fixation technique on the clinical outcomes of patients with traumatic fractures of long bones in the lower extremities. Methods: From January 2022 to December 2023, 70 patients with traumatic fractures of long bones in the lower extremities were admitted to the hospital and randomly divided into two groups: the control group and the observation group, each consisting of 35 cases. The control group underwent traditional closed interlocking intramedullary nailing, while the observation group received internal fixation with steel plates and screws. Relevant surgical indicators, treatment effectiveness, and postoperative complication rates were compared between the two groups. Results: The observation group exhibited significantly short surgical duration (80.65 ± 5.01 vs. 88.36 ± 5.26 minutes), fracture healing time (13.27 ± 0.32 vs. 15.52 ± 0.48 weeks), and hospitalization days (10.49 ± 1.13 vs. 16.57 ± 1.15 days) compared to the control group (P = 0.000). The effective treatment rate was significantly higher in the observation group (29/82.86%) than in the control group (21/60.00%), with a significant difference observed (χ2 = 4.480, P = 0.034). Additionally, the complication rate in the observation group (2/5.71%) was significantly lower than that in the control group (8/22.86%), with a correlated difference (χ2 = 4.200, P = 0.040). Conclusion: The plate screw internal fixation technique demonstrates significant clinical efficacy in treating traumatic fractures of long bones in the lower extremities. It improves the healing rate, reduces complications, and represents a safe and effective treatment strategy worthy of widespread use and application.

High piezo/photocatalytic efficiency of Ag/Bi_(5)O_(7)I nanocomposite using mechanical and solar energy for N2 fixation and methyl orange degradation

In this work,Ag/Bi_(5)O_(7)I nanocomposite was prepared and firstly applied in piezo/photocatalytic reduction of N2 to NH3 and methyl orange(MO)degradation.Bi_(5)O_(7)I was synthesized via a hydrothermal-calcination method and shows nanorods morphology.Ag nanoparticles(NPs)were photo deposited on the Bi_(5)O_(7)I nanorods as electron trappers to improve the spatial separation of charge carriers,which was confirmed via XPS,TEM,and electronic chemical analyses.The catalytic test indicates that Bi_(5)O_(7)I presents the piezoelectric-like behavior,while the loading of Ag NPs can strengthen the character.Under ultrasonic vibration,the optimal Ag/Bi_(5)O_(7)I presents high efficiency in MO degradation.The degradation rate is determined to be 0.033 min
1,which is 4.7 folds faster than that of Bi_(5)O_(7)I.The Ag/Bi_(5)O_(7)I also presents a high performance in piezocatalytic N2 fixation.The piezocatalytic NH3 generation rate reaches 65.4 μmol L^(-1)g^(-1)h^(-1)with water as a hole scavenger.The addition of methanol can hasten the piezoelectric catalytic reaction.Interestingly,when ultrasonic vibration and light irradiation simultaneously act on the Ag/Bi_(5)O_(7)I catalyst,higher performance in NH3 generation and MO degradation is observed.However,due to the weak adhesion of Ag NPs,some Ag NPs would fall off from the Bi_(5)O_(7)I surface under long-term ultrasonic vibration,which would greatly reduce the piezoelectric catalytic performance.This result indicates that a strong binding force is required when preparing the piezoelectric composite catalyst.The current work provides new insights for the development of highly efficient catalysts that can use multiple energies.

Facile preparation of Ag_(2)S/KTa_(0.5)Nb_(0.5)O_(3) heterojunction for enhanced performance in catalytic nitrogen fixation via photocatalysis and piezo-photocatalysis

In this work, a novel heterojunction composite Ag_(2)S/KTa_(x)Nb_(1-x)O_(3)was designed and synthesized through a combination of hydrothermal and precipitation procedures. The Ta/Nb ratio of the KTa_(x)Nb_(1-x)O_(3)and the Ag_(2)S content were optimized. The best 0.5% Ag_(2)S/KTa_(0.5)Nb_(0.5)O_(3)(KTN) sample presents an enhanced photocatalytic performance in ammonia synthesis than KTN and Ag_(2)S. Under simulated sunlight, the NH_(3)generation rate of 0.5% Ag_(2)S/KTN reaches 2.0 times that of pure KTN. Under visible light, the reaction rate ratio of the two catalysts is 6.0.XRD, XPS, and TEM analysis revealed that Ag2S was intimately decorated on the KTN nanocubes surface, which promoted the electron transfer between the two semiconductors. The band structure investigation indicated that the Ag_(2)S/KTN heterojunction established a type-Ⅱ band alignment with intimate contact, thus realizing the effective transfer and separation of photogenerated carriers. The change in charge separation was considered as the main reason for the enhanced photocatalytic performance. Interestingly, the Ag_(2)S/KTN composite exhibited higher NH3generation performance under the combined action of ultrasonic vibration and simulated sunlight. The enhanced piezo-photocatalytic performance can be ascribed that the piezoelectric effect of KTN improved the bulk separation of charge carriers in KTN. This study not only provides a potential catalyst for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation but also shows new ideas for the design of highly efficient catalysts via semiconductor modification and external field coupling.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of volar plate internal fixation versus closed reduction and external fixation in the treatment of adult distal radius fractures

Objective:To compare the efficacy of open reduction and volar locking plate internal fixation with closed reduction and external fixation in the treatment of distal radius fractures by using meta analysis.Methods:The databases of CNKI,Wanfang,Weipu,Chinese biomedical literature,Pubmed,Embase,and Cochrane Library were retrieved,and the randomized controlled studies that directly compared the efficacy of plate internal fixation and closed reduction external fixation in the treatment of distal radius fractures published publicly from the establishment of the database to April 2023 were collected.The two researchers independently screened the retrieved literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,extracted data,used Cochrane risk bias assessment tool for quality assessment,and used RevMan 5.4 software for meta analysis.Results:A total of 10 randomized controlled trials were included,all of which were in English.There were 1042 patients in total,and 9 of them were rated as low risk.Meta analysis results showed that one year after the treatment of distal radius fracture with volar locking plate internal fixation,DASH score[MD=-5.64,95%CI(-7.21,-4.06),P<0.00001];One year later,PRWE score[MD=-5.90,95%CI(-8.88,-2.92),P=0.001];Palm flexion[MD=5.92,95%CI(1.29,10.55),P=0.01];Pronation[MD=2.48,95%CI(0.59,4.36),P=0.01];Postrotation[MD=4.73,95%CI(2.15,7.31),P=0.0003];Grip strength[MD=0.61,95%CI(0.12,1.10),P=0.02];palmar tilt angle[MD=9.84,95%CI(5.66,14.02),P<0.00001];Radial inclination[MD=4.33,95%CI(2.97,5.69),P<0.00001]was superior to closed reduction plaster or splint external fixation.One year later,the European Five dimensional Health Scale(EQ-5D-5L)score[MD=0.02,95%CI(-0.01,0.05),P=0.27];Back extension[MD=2.22,95%CI(-4.15,8.59),P=0.49];Ulnar deviation[MD=3.49,95%CI(-0.80,7.78),P=0.11];Radial deviation[MD=2.05,95%CI(-2.39,6.50),P=0.37];Ulnar variance[MD=-1.14,95%CI(-3.16,0.88),P=0.27];There was no significant difference in complications[MD=0.77,95%CI(0.54,1.10),P=0.16](P>0.05).Conclusion:Based on the current clinical data,internal fixation with volar locking plate is more conducive to mid-term DASH score and grip strength recovery than closed reduction plaster or splint external fixation,but there is no significant difference in the quality of life and complications of patients.For adult distal radius fractures,surgical indications should be carefully grasped,and non operative treatment should be given priority.

Flapless one-knot suture:a novel surgical technique for transscleral fixation of C-loop intraocular lenses

AIM:To describe a novel suture approach for transscleral fixation of C-loop intraocular lenses(IOL)and to compare the surgical outcomes with the four-haptics posterior chamber(PC)-IOL technique.METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 16 eyes of 16 patients who underwent transscleral fixation of C-loop PCIOLs using a flapless one-knot suture technique,which were followed up for longer than 17mo.In this technique,the capsulorless IOL was suspended using a single suture for transscleral fixation of four feet.Then we compared its surgical outcomes and complications with the four-haptics PC-IOLs using the Student's t test and Chi-square test.RESULTS:Sixteen patients of 16 eyes with a mean age of 58.3±10.1y(42-76y)who received transscleral C-loop IOL implantation due to trauma,vitrectomy,or cataract surgery with inadequate capsule support showed improved visual acuity.The difference was not significant between two IOLs except the surgery time(P>0.05).The mean operation times of C-loop IOL surgery was 24.1±1.83min and 31.3±4.47min of the four-haptics PC-IOL method(P<0.0001).In the C-loop IOLs group,there was statistical difference between the preoperative and the postoperative UCVA(log MAR,1.20±0.50 vs 0.57±0.32,P=0.0003).There was no statistical difference between the preoperative and the postoperative BCVA(log MAR,0.66±0.46 vs 0.40±0.23,P=0.056).However,there was no statistically significant difference in postoperative UCVA and BCVA between the two IOLs(P>0.05).We did not detect any optic capture,IOL decentration or dislocation,suture exposed,or cystoid macular edema in patients underwent C-loop IOLs surgery.CONCLUSION:The novel flapless one-knot suture technique for transscleral fixation of C-loop IOL is a simple,reliable,and stable technique.

Medium-term outcomes of laparoscopic pubocervical fascia reconstruction and sacrospinous ligament fixation with posterior approach for a pelvic organ prolapse:A retrospective study of 124 cases

Objective:Pelvic organ prolapse(POP)is a common gynecological disease in middle-aged and older women that seriously affects patients'physical health and quality of life,increases the financial burden for patients,and becomes a major public health concern.The aim of this study was to investigate the medium-term outcomes of laparoscopic pubocervical fascia reconstruction and sacrospinous ligament fixation with a posterior approach for patients with severe POP.Methods:Patients with severe POP quantitation stage III-IV who underwent laparoscopic pubocervical fascia reconstruction and sacrospinous ligament fixation with a posterior approach at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine between September 2016 and December 2020 were enrolled in this study.The results and complications were recorded.Data were retrospectively reviewed.Results:In total,124 patients were analyzed.Patients were followed up for 32.2712.90 months.The objective cure rate for patients who underwent hysterectomy was 917%(100/109),with 7(6.4%)patients had anterior vaginal wall prolapse and 2(1.8%)patients had posterior vaginal wall prolapse.The objective cure rate for patients who retained uterus was 66.7%(10/15).All 5 patients with recurrence had uterine prolapse,and 3(20.0%)of them also had anterior vaginal wall prolapse.Conchusions:Laparoscopic pubocervical fascia reconstruction and sacrospinous ligament fixation with the posterior approach is a safe,minimally invasive,and effective method for patients with severe POP.Long-term follow-up is needed to confirm the clinical effects.

Comparative assessment of nitrogen fixation rate by ^(15)N_(2) tracer assays in the South China Sea

Nitrogen fixation is one of the most important sources of new nitrogen in the ocean and thus profoundly affects the nitrogen and carbon biogeochemical processes.The distribution,controlling factors,and flux of N2 fixation in the global ocean remain uncertain,partly because of the lack of methodological uniformity.The^(15)N_(2)tracer assay(the original bubble method→the^(15)N_(2)-enriched seawater method→the modified bubble method)is the mainstream method for field measurements of N2 fixation rates(NFRs),among which the original bubble method is the most frequently used.However,accumulating evidence has suggested an underestimation of NFRs when using this method.To improve the availability of previous data,we compared NFRs measured by three^(15)N_(2)tracer assays in the South China Sea.Our results indicate that the relationship between NFRs measured by the original bubble method and the^(15)N_(2)-enriched seawater method varies obviously with area and season,which may be influenced by incubation time,diazotrophic composition,and environmental factors.In comparison,the relationship between NFRs measured by the original bubble method and the modified bubble method is more stable,indicating that the N2 fixation rates based on the original bubble methods may be underestimated by approximately 50%.Based on this result,we revised the flux of N2 fixation in the South China Sea to 40 mmol/(m2·a).Our results improve the availability and comparability of literature NFR data in the South China Sea.The comparison of the^(15)N_(2)tracer assay for NFRs measurements on a larger scale is urgently necessary over the global ocean for a more robust understanding of the role of N2 fixation in the marine nitrogen cycle.

Identification of Rhizobia Isolated from Nodules of Mexican Commercial Soybean Varieties

Rhizobia, crucial for nitrogen fixation in leguminous plants, play a vital role in soybean cultivation. This study, conducted in Mexico, a major soybean importer, aimed to identify bacteria from nodules of five soybean varieties in high-production regions. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) was employed for enhanced species resolution. The study identified six Bradyrhizobium species: Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110, Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 6, Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA 76, Bradyrhizobium neotropicale, Bradyrhizobium lablabi, and Bradyrhizobium icense. Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA 110 predominated in the soils, displaying symbiotic preference for the Huasteca 400 variety. However, phylogenetic analysis didn't reveal a clear association between strains, soil, and soybean variety. This research sheds light on the diversity of rhizobia in Mexican soybean cultivation, contributing to the understanding of symbiotic relationships in soybean production systems.

Plant growth and metabolism of exotic and native Crotalaria species for mine land rehabilitation in the Amazon

Despite its enormous benefits,mining is respon-sible for intense changes to vegetation and soil properties.Thus,after extraction,it is necessary to rehabilitate the mined areas,creating better conditions for the establishment of plant species which is challenging.This study evaluated mineral and organic fertilization on the growth,and carbon and nitrogen(N)metabolism of two Crotalaria species[Cro-talaria spectabilis(exotic species)and Crotalaria maypu-rensis(native species from Carajás Mineral Province(CMP)]established on a waste pile from an iron mine in CMP.A control(without fertilizer application)and six fertilization mixtures were tested(i=NPK;ii=NPK+micronutrients;iii=NPK+micronutrients+organic compost;iv=PK;v=PK+micronutrients;vi=PK+micronutrients+organic compost).Fertilization contributed to increased growth of both species,and treatments with NPK and micronutrients had the best results(up to 257%cf.controls),while organic fertilization did not show differences.Exotic Crotalaria had a greater number of nodules,higher nodule dry mass,chlorophyll a and b contents and showed free ammonium as the predominant N form,reflecting greater increments in biomass compared to native species.Although having lower growth,the use of this native species in the rehabilitation of mining areas should be considered,mainly because it has good development and meets current government legislation as an opportunity to restore local biodiversity.

Coordinated responses of leaf and nodule traits contribute to the accumulation of N in relay intercropped soybean

Maize(Zea mays L.)-soybean(Glycine max L.Merr.)relay intercropping provides a way to enhance land productivity.However,the late-planted soybean suffers from shading by the maize.After maize harvest,how the recovery growth influences the leaf and nodule traits remains unclear.A three-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of genotypes,i.e.,supernodulating(nts1007),Nandou 12(ND12),and Guixia 3(GX3),and crop configurations,i.e.,the interspecific row spacing of 45(I45),60(I60),75 cm(I75),and sole soybean(SS),on soybean recovery growth and N fixation.The results showed that intercropping reduced the soybean total leaf area(LA)by reducing both the leaf number(LN)and unit leaflet area(LUA),and it reduced the nodule dry weight(NW)by reducing both the nodule number(NN)and nodule diameter(ND)compared with the SS.The correlation and principal component analysis(PCA)indicated a co-variability of the leaf and nodule traits in response to the genotype and crop configuration interactions.During the recovery growth stages,the compensatory growth promoted soybean growth to reduce the gaps of leaf and nodule traits between intercropping and SS.The relative growth rates of ureide(RGR_U)and nitrogen(RGR_N)accumulation were higher in intercropping than in SS.Intercropping achieved more significant sucrose and starch contents compared with SS.ND12 and GX3 showed more robust compensatory growth than nts1007 in intercropping.Although the recovery growth of relay intercropping soybean improved biomass and nitrogen accumulation,ND12 gained a more significant partial land equivalent ratio(pLER)than GX3.The I60 treatment achieved more robust compensation effects on biomass and N accumulation than the other configurations.Meanwhile,I60 showed a higher nodule sucrose content and greater shoot ureide and N accumulation than SS.Finally,intercropping ND12 with maize using an interspecific row spacing of 60 cm was optimal for both yield advantage and N accumulation.

Implementation of a New Solution for the Preservation of Anatomical Specimens Made of Non-Toxic Substances

The preservation of anatomical pieces in Veterinary Anatomy is essential since it is not possible to dissect all domestic species. Most techniques use reagents with high levels of toxicity such as formaldehyde. The objective of this work was to develop a new preservation technique that uses reagents with zero toxicity and that allows obtaining preserved pieces suitable for anatomical studies. The alcohol propylene glycol technique was developed, the method of which uses a fixation step with alcohol, sodium chloride, commercial vinegar and subsequently the impregnation of the preservation solution made from propylene glycol and commercial vinegar, which are non-toxic. As a result of this work, adequately preserved sheep hearts were obtained that preserved their morphology with slight changes in size and weight, which did not affect their external and internal anatomical structure. Its coloration was not substantially affected, remaining a little lighter. The pieces obtained showed flexibility which allowed dissections to be carried out. The time to develop the technique was 20 days. A comparative study was carried out with the phenolated glycerin technique that uses toxic reagents (formaldehyde and phenol) and the pieces obtained with the alcohol propylene glycol technique were of better quality, observing that the pieces with phenolated glycerin tend to darken and are more rigid. And the time to develop the technique is 24 days. In conclusion, a preservation technique for anatomical pieces was developed that allowed the preservation of the organs under study, which allow their use for anatomical studies, and which have been preserved without changes until the time of this publication (8 months) and there are pieces preserved with this technique for 2 years.

Intermittent sliding-lock-knot suture for limbal conjunctival autograft fixation in pterygium surgery:a technique note

AIM:To report a technique used with intermittent slidinglock-knot(ISLK)fixation for limbal conjunctival autografts in pterygium surgery and compared with those of routine intermittent(RI)fixation.METHODS:Consecutive patients with primary pterygium who had undergone pterygium excision combined with limbal conjunctival autograft transplantation between March 2021 and March 2022 at our institute were retrospectively analyzed.Primary outcome measures were mean duration of surgery and suture removal,degree of conjunctival hyperemia on postoperative day 1,pain score at suture removal,postoperative symptoms at 6mo,including conjunctival hyperemia,foreign body sensation,and graft stability.RESULTS:Ninety-eight patients underwent monocular surgery and were divided into ISLK(51 eyes)and RI(47 eyes)groups according to the type of conjunctiva autograft fixation method planned.There was no significant difference in mean duration of surgery between the two groups(18.59±2.39min vs 18.15±2.20min,P=0.417);however,compared to the RI group,shorter suture removal times were observed in the ISLK group[0.58min(0.42-0.87)vs 3.00min(2.21-4.15),P<0.001].The degree of conjunctival hyperemia on postoperative day 1 was milder in the ISLK group(P<0.001).Pain scores at suture removal were lower in the ISLK group than in RI group[1(0-3)vs 2(1-4),P<0.001].Postoperative symptoms at 6mo were comparable between the groups(P=0.487),with no recurrence.CONCLUSION:ISLK is an innovative method for limbal conjunctival autograft fixation after pterygium excision.Compared to RI fixation,ISLK facilitates suture removal and reduces discomfort,with comparable surgery duration and less conjunctival hyperemia.