Foliar zinc (Zn) application offers a promising strategy for cadmium (Cd) mitigation and Zn biofortification in wheat, while the poor leaf adhesion of conventional Zn formulations limits their effectiveness. This study utilized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nHAP) as a nanocarrier and prepared the nHAP-Zn complex through simple reactions. The complex exhibited superior leaf adhesion compared to ZnSO4 solution. Foliar application of nHAP-Zn increased grain Zn concentration by 38.8 % in the low-Cd-accumulating wheat cultivar Ningmai-11 (NM11) and 31.6 % in the high-Cd-accumulating cultivar Zhengmai-10 (ZM10), surpassing the effects of ZnSO4. Notably, nHAP-Zn decreased grain Cd concentration by 31.5 % in NM11 and 32.9 % in ZM10. Mechanistically, nHAP-Zn suppressed Cd uptake by downregulating the expression of TaNramp5, TaIRT1, and TaZIP5 genes in the roots, and inhibited Cd translocation from node Ito the grain by reducing xylem-to-phloem Cd transfer-related gene expression (i.e., TaHMA2, TaZIP3, and TaZIP7 in NM11, and TaHMA2, TaLCT1, TaZIP5, and TaZIP7 in ZM10). Furthermore, nHAP-Zn application did not compromise plant growth characteristics such as plant biomass and height. These findings highlight nHAP-Zn as a highly efficient foliar fertilizer for enhancing Zn biofortification while mitigating Cd accumulation in wheat cultivated in Cd-contaminated regions. This study presents a novel approach to improving wheat safety and nutritional quality.

Nanotechnology enhances biochar functionality but introduces environmental toxicity risks, prompting the development of iron (Fe)-modified biochar to improve magnetic recovery and reduce ecological impacts. However, balancing enhanced magnetic recyclability with adsorption capacity remains a challenge. This study innovatively resolves the critical dilemma between magnetic recyclability and adsorption performance through magnesium (Mg) doping in ball-milled magnetic nano-biochar composites. The resulting material exhibited multifunctional improvements. Mg incorporation increased ammonium nitrogen and phosphate adsorption capacities by 2.85-fold and 1.18-fold respectively, while amplifying magnetic strength by 4.91-fold compared to conventional Fe-modified counterparts. Structural and mechanistic analyses revealed that Mg doping enriched pi-pi configurations, hydroxyl/metal oxide groups, and electron transfer efficiency. It also promoted the formation of ferrimagnetic phases (MgFe2O4 and (MgO)0.77(FeO)0.23) critical for magnetic enhancement. Semi-quantitative contribution analysis highlighted Fe's dominance in magnetic recovery (45.3 %) and Mg's superior adsorption role (53.4 %), with complementary synergies in both functions. By overcoming the conflict between recyclability and adsorption, this magnesium-doped composite establishes a sustainable method for wastewater remediation, enabling simultaneous nutrient recovery and material reuse cycles. The findings provide a design framework for multi-functional environmental materials through strategic elemental doping, advancing sustainable water remediation.

Intensive aerobic rice system (IIARS) can enhance water use efficiency and mitigate methane (CH4) emissions, but it may decrease rice grain yields and stimulate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions by incurring a water deficit. Therefore, eco-efficient strategies are required to maintain rice grain yields while reducing the environmental burden associated with IIARS. Zeolite is a promising soil conditioner for increasing rice yields and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. However, how zeolite amendment affects rice grain yield and CH4 and N2O emissions in IIARS remains elusive. In this study, a two-year field experiment was conducted to elucidate the impacts of zeolite amendment on the rice grain yield, irrigation input, water use efficiency, CH4 and N2O emissions, global warming potential (GWP), and associated soil parameters, including redox potential (Eh), pH, NH4+, and NO3- under continuously flooded irrigation (ICF) and IIARS. We found that IIARS significantly mitigated CH4 emissions by 65-80 % but increased N2O emissions by 35-239 % relative to ICF. Notably, zeolite amendment mitigated CH4 and N2O emissions by 8-45 % and 13-22 % under IIARS, respectively, relative to the non-zeolite control. Accordingly, zeolite amendment significantly decreased the GWP by 10-38 % under IIARS compared with the non-zeolite control. Concurrently, IIARS significantly increased the rice grain yield by 15 % in 2022 but obtained an equivalent yield in 2023 compared with ICF, and zeolite amendment resulted in significant increases in rice grain yields of 7 % and 8 % in 2022 and 2023, respectively, relative to the non-zeolite control. The lower GWP and higher rice grain yield observed under zeolite-amendment treatment can be attributed to the reduced soil NH4+ and increased NO3- concentrations. Consequently, soil amendment with zeolite in IIARS paddy fields is an optimal strategy regarding environmental sustainability and safeguarding food security.

Enhancing the functional groups on carbonized straw pores can boost adsorption, though mechanisms need study. This study used corn straw pyrolysis (500 degrees C) to produce biochar (B), and prepared ball milled biochar (BMB) with abundant O-containing functional groups on the surface. Batch tests measured NH4+-N adsorption from synthetic urine (containing 0.5 mol/L NH4+-N). Combined characterization (SEM/XPS/EPR) and adsorption models revealed surface functionalities, center dot OH radicals, and oxygen vacancies roles in enhanced chemisorption. Results show that ball milling significantly increased surface oxygen-containing functional groups (such as -OH, -COOH), hydroxyl radicals, and oxygen vacancies, thereby enhancing chemical adsorption sites. Dynamics studies and microscopic characterization jointly indicate that the dominant adsorption mechanism of biochar after ball milling has shifted from physical adsorption (B) to chemical adsorption (BMB) with pore diffusion. The adsorption capacity of NH4+-N increased by 28 % (from 32 mg/g to 41 mg/g). These results confirm that ball milling technology effectively overcomes the physical adsorption limitations of traditional straw biochar and improves its equilibrium adsorption capacity. Oxygen-rich BMB provides an efficient and low-cost solution for nitrogen recovery from urine wastewater, providing critical technical support for sustainable agricultural waste utilization and decentralized sanitation management.

Most paddy fields in China are potassium (K) insufficient, while soil inorganic amendments such as zeolite are good strategies to increase soil K content. There is limited information on the interactive effects of zeolite and K applications on rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity, apparent K balance, and soil K balance. This two-year field study using a split-plot design with three replicates investigated the effects of zeolite and K applications on grain yield, soil available K dynamics, apparent K balance, and soil K balance in a paddy rice system. The main plots were three zeolite application rates (0, 5, and 10 t ha (-1); Z(0), Z(5), and Z(10)). Within each main plot were subplots subjected to three K application rates (0, 30, and 60 kg ha(-1); K-0, K-30, and K-60). Zeolite was only applied in the first year while K was applied in both years. Results revealed that zeolite and K application, alone or in combination, significantly increased rice grain yield and economic benefit (based on resource inputs and grain value). In both years, the combination of 5 t ha(-1)- zeolite with 30 kg ha(-1) K fertilizer (i.e., Z(5)K(30)) increased grain yield by up to 6.4% and economic benefit by up to 6.6%, relative to the most commonly used practice (i.e., Z(0)K(60)). With 5 and 10 t ha(-1) zeolite amended, the highest K application rate (K-60) did not further increase grain yield, but it decreased economic benefit, relative to the lower K application rate (K-30). Zeolite and K application, alone or in combination, significantly increased topsoil (0-30 cm) average available K content, post-harvest aboveground K uptake, and apparent K balance in the paddy rice system. Zeolite and K application alone significantly increased soil K balance. The results of this study demonstrated that zeolite amendments increased topsoil available K, enhanced rice K uptake, alleviated negative K balance, and improved productivity and agricultural profitability of paddy cultivation. The recommended treatment Z(5)K(30) is suitable for rice cultivation due to its higher economic and environmental benefit as compared with the commonly used farmer practices.

Increasing studies indicate that alternate wetting and drying irrigation (I-AWD) can significantly increase water use efficiency in paddy fields, whereas this method may also cause high nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Therefore, effective management strategies are urgently required for ameliorating the adverse effect of I-AWD on N2O emissions. Zeolite is increasingly used as a potential effective soil conditioner to reduce N2O emissions. However, few studies have been conducted to explore the effect of zeolite on N2O emissions and rice grain yield as well as the associated soil physicochemical properties in paddy fields under I-AWD. Here, a two-year field experiment was conducted using lysimeters to assess the effect of two irrigation regimes (I-CF: continuously flooded irrigation; I-AWD: alternate wetting and drying irrigation) and two zeolite management regimes (Z(U): urea alone (non-zeolite control); Z(UZ): urea combined with zeolite (15 t ha(-1))) on N2O emissions, rice grain yield, and soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that I(AWD )significantly increased N2O emissions by 18% relative to I-CF, and Z(UZ) significantly reduced N2O emissions under I-AWD by 9% compared to Z(U). I-AWD had no significant effect on rice grain yield compared to I-CF. However, Z(UZ) significantly enhanced rice grain yield under I-CF and I-AWD by 11% and 14%, respectively, compared to Z(U). Accordingly, Z(UZ )significantly decreased yield-scaled N2O emissions under I-CF and I-AWD by 13% and 19%, respectively, compared to Z(U). Increases in soil NH4+-N concentrations and soil pH contribute to the N2O mitigation in Z(UZ) under I-AWD. Altogether, our results highlight that zeolite combined with urea is likely a sustainable resource-efficient approach for mitigating N2O emissions while increasing rice grain yield in paddy fields under I-AWD.

Introduction: Renal clear cell carcinoma(ccRCC) accounts for about 85% of patients with renal carcinoma and is the most common pathological type of renal cancer. Renal clear cell carcinomas usually metastasize to the lungs, lymph nodes, liver, bones, and brain, with rare skin metastases, especially to the eyelids. In this study, we report the third current case of renal clear cell carcinoma with eyelid mass as its initial presentation. Case presentation: In this study, we describe in detail the case of a 62-year-old male patient with clear cell carcinoma of the kidney whose first symptom was a mass of the right eyelid. The patient had no clinical manifestations other than eyelid mass before the diagnosis of renal clear cell carcinoma. After resection of eyelid mass, postoperative pathological and immunohistochemical studies showed clear cell carcinoma of the kidney. Subsequently, a computed tomography scan disclosed bilateral renal tumors, bilateral adrenal nodules, and nodules in the upper lobe of the left lung. At the time of writing, the patient was receiving sunitinib treatment and receiving regular outpatient follow-up. Discussion and conclusion: Metastasis of renal carcinoma to the eye is rare, especially with an eyelid mass as the initial presentation. If they occur before the diagnosis of cancer or years after nephrectomy, the diagnosis of the tumor may be missed. In this study, we report the rare case and review reports of renal cell carcinoma metastasizing to the eye to raise our awareness of this rare phenomenon.

Background: MiR-183-5p plays an important role in the pathophysiology of many tumors, while the role of MiR-183-5p in liver cancer is unclear. Methods: In this study, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of miR-183-5p in liver cancer cell lines, liver cancer tissues, and normal tissues adjacent to the cancer, and to explore the mechanism of miR-183-5p regulating liver cancer progression. The in vitro effects of miR-183-5p were evaluated by CCK-8, colony formation test, and wound healing test. Various databases were used to predict the target mRNA of miR-183-5p and verified by luciferase report analysis. In addition, the effects of miR-183-5p and its target gene on the survival of patients with liver cancer were also analyzed. Results: miR-183-5p was highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and tissues, and was related to some clinicopathological features. MiR-183-5p can promote the proliferation and migration of liver cancer cells. Using the bioinformatics database, we proved that miR-183-5p is related to the survival of liver cancer patients. Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) is a target of miR-183-5p, and luciferase analysis confirmed that miR-183-5p combines with the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of IRS1. Conclusion: The miR-183-5p/IRS1 axis may be a new target for liver cancer research.

Phosphorus (P) deficiency often occurs in paddy fields due to its high fixation, and low solubility and mobility in soils, especially under water stress. Available soil P and plant P uptake could be improved through the application of zeolite. However, little is known about the impact of zeolite on P uptake in rice under water stress. A two-year lysimetric experiment using a split-split plot design investigated the effects of zeolite (0 or 15 t ha−1) and P (0 or 60 kg ha−1) applications on water use, P uptake, and grain yield in rice under two irrigation management systems (continuous flooding irrigation (CF) and improved alternate wetting and drying irrigation (IAWD)). Both irrigation systems produced equivalent effective panicles and grain yield. Compared with CF, IAWD reduced water use and aboveground P uptake and improved water-use efficiency (WUE) in rice. The applications of zeolite or P alone increased grain yield, WUE, soil available P, and stem, leaf, and panicle P concentration, and aboveground P uptake, but had no significant effect on water use. The enhanced grain yield induced by zeolite was related to the increase in aboveground P uptake. The zeolite application enhanced NH4+–N retention in the topsoil and prevented NO3−–N from leaching into deeper soil layers. Moreover, Zeolite made lower rates of P fertilizer possible in paddy fields, with benefits for remaining P supplies and mitigating pollution due to excessive P. These results suggest that the combined application of zeolite and P under improved AWD regime reduced water use, improved P uptake and grain yield in rice, and alleviated environment risk.

为了探究干湿交替灌溉在辽宁中部地区水稻生产中的节水增产潜力,在自动遮雨棚条件下进行水稻灌溉试验,明确干湿交替灌溉对水稻生长性状、产量及水分生产率的影响.结果表明:干湿交替灌溉与常规淹灌相比,干湿交替灌溉增加20％ 的有效分蘖数,且达到分蘖高峰的时间有所延迟;不同灌溉方式下水稻叶面积指数与茎蘖动态均呈现类似的"先增后减"的变化趋势,干湿交替灌溉下的叶面积指数显著高于常规淹灌13.3％;干湿交替灌溉较常规淹灌显著增产6.8％ 、节水11.21％,干湿交替灌溉处理的水分生产率显著高于常规淹灌20.0％.因此本研究确定干湿交替灌溉可以在辽宁中部地区的水稻生产中推广应用.

Plant growth and grain yield of various upland crops in response to zeolite application have been extensively studied, but little information is available on the impact of zeolite application on rice grown in the lowlands under water stress. A two-year experiment was conducted using lysimeters in the field to evaluate the influence of zeolite application (15 t ha(-1)) on phenology, grain yield and grain quality in a local rice cultivar (Shennong 9765) under three irrigation regimes (CF, continuous flooding irrigation; IAWD, improved alternate wetting and drying irrigation; and AWD, alternate wetting and drying irrigation). Regardless of water supply, zeolite application significantly increased leaf area index (LAI) at all the measured stages except for tillering, SPAD values at the jointing-booting and heading-flowering stages, photosynthetic rate (Pn) at heading-flowering stage, and grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE). Moreover, zeolite addition significantly increased the head rice rate and decreased the chalk rice rate and chalkiness. The IAWD and CF treatments had similar SPAD values and Pn at the heading-flowering stage, and grain yield, while the AWD treatment significantly reduced those values, relative to the CF treatment. The IAWD and AWD treatments significantly increased WUE, milled rice rate, head rice rate, peak viscosity, and breakdown, but decreased water use, LAI, chalky rice rate, chalkiness, cool viscosity, and setback. These results suggest that the adoption of IAWD with 15 t ha(-1) of zeolite application could reduce irrigation water use, increase grain yield and improve grain quality in rice.

Lipids are known to serve important roles in energy storage, membrane structure and signal transduction as well as in human cancers. In the present study, lipidomics was employed in order to identify plasma lipid markers for the early detection of lung cancer. Mass spectrometry was performed to profile 390 individual lipids in 44 plasma samples obtained from a training discovery cohort, which included 22 patients with squamous cell lung carcinoma (SqCC) and 22 high-risk individuals. An additional cohort that included 22 high-risk individuals and 22 patients with SqCC was further used for validation. During the training stage, a total of 20 distinct lipids that were significantly distributed between the high-risk and SqCC cases, were identified. A panel of 2 lipid markers (C18:2 cholesterol esters and sphingomyelin 22:0) were then further defined using the training accuracy values of 95.5% sensitivity, 90.9% specificity and 95.2% area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The validation accuracy values applied for the additional cohort were 93.9% sensitivity, 92.9% specificity and 98.7% AUC. Thus, in the present study, 2 lipid markers that were able to discern SqCC patients from high-risk individuals with a high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy, were identified. These results may provide vital information for the development of a quick and safe blood test for the early diagnosis of SqCC.

With the increasing scarcity of water resources and growing population, the dual goal of saving irrigation water and increasing grain yield has become a major challenge in rice production around the world. A two-year lysimetric experiment was conducted to assess the effects of zeolite application (Z0: 0 and Z1: 15 t/hm2) and water regimes (W0: continuous flooding irrigation, W1: energy-controlled irrigation, W2: alternate wetting and drying irrigation) on grain yield, water use and total nitrogen uptake of rice. Zeolite addition to paddy field significantly increased grain yield, total N uptake, and water use efficiency (WUE), despite a negligible effect on amount of irrigation water used. Compared with W0, the separate use of W1 and W2 each considerably decreased irrigation water. However, W2-grown rice showed a significant decline in grain yield. In contrast, W1 showed comparable grain yield with W0, and achieved the highest WUE. Correlation analysis revealed that grain yield was significantly and positively correlated with effective panicles, spikelets per panicle, water consumption, and total N uptake. It is concluded that the combination of zeolite application at the rate of 15 t/hm2 and energy-controlled irrigation could be recommended to benefit farmers by reducing irrigation water while improving grain yield on a clay loam soil. Keywords: zeolite, alternate wetting and drying irrigation, rice, yield, water use efficiency DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181101.3064 Citation: Zheng J L, Chen T T, Xia G M, Chen W, Liu G Y, Chi D C. Effects of zeolite application on grain yield, water use and nitrogen uptake of rice under alternate wetting and drying irrigation. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(1): 157–164.

Background: The aim of this study was to establish the 99th percentile value for high sensitivity troponin I in a normal healthy Chinese population and to analyze the differences between different age groups and sex and regions. Methods and Findings: The study included 1,537 cases of normal healthy subjects who were chosen according to a strict inclusion criterion. They were recruited from different regions of China and separated in different age groups. All patients were carefully scanned for any diseases or factors that might influence cardiac troponin levels. The measurement of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin was standardized and tests were repeated several times and all results recorded. We used ARCHITECT-i2000 (Abbott Laboratories, Lake Bluff, Illinois, USA) for measurement of all high sensitivity cardiac troponins. The overall value of the 99th percentile value was 26.42 pg/ml. For the male group 99th percentile value was 29.40 pg/ml and for the female group 99th percentile value was 19.46 pg/ml. The difference in cardiac troponin 99th percentile value for the male and female normal group was statistically significant (P 65 years old had a higher level of high sensitivity cardiac troponin and the difference was statistically significant when compared with other groups. The 99th percentile value corresponded to an imprecision of less than 10%. Conclusions: We established the 99th percentile value for cardiac troponin in the Chinese population and the normal range for males and females and we evaluated the analytical performance of ARCHITECT high sensitivity troponin I assays.

The addition of zeolite (Z) to soils is increasingly being recognised as a way to enhance agricultural production and decrease fertilisation requirements and, hence, environmental costs. Meanwhile, the alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWD) has become widely applied to reduce the water requirements of rice cultivation. However, limited information is available on their impacts on rice's physicochemical properties. This study investigated an integrated irrigation, nitrogen (N) and Z rice production system and assessed its effects on the milling, appearance, nutrition, taste and cooking qualities of the rice grain produced. Compared with conventional flooding irrigation (CF), AWD-grown rice had slightly decreased milling and appearance qualities. Addition of Z increased rice protein content and slightly decreased eating quality without affecting milling, appearance and cooking qualities. The highest yields achieved under AWD (9.8 t ha(-1)) and CF (8.9 t ha(-1)) were achieved using 105kg N and 10 t Z ha(-1), and 105kg N and 5 t Z ha(-1), respectively. Compared with the flooding untreated control (using 157.5kg N ha(-1) and no Z), these two treatment regimens required 27.8% and 8.1% less water, 33.3% less N fertiliser and increased yields by 10.6% and 0.6%, respectively, without measurably affecting rice grain quality.

In order to alleviate serious nitrogen loss under water-saving irrigation in paddy field and improve the nitrogen use efficiency, clinoptilolite was incorporated into water-saving irrigation in rice production as a soil amendment. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with zeolite application rates as the main plot and irrigation regimes as the sub-plot to investigate the effect of irrigation regimes and zeolite application on rice growth, grain yield and water use efficiency. The rice variety used was"Qianchonglang 2".Results showed that leaf area index under energy controlled irrigation(W1) and alternate wetting and drying irrigation(W2) were both significantly lower than that under flood irrigation (W0). Zeolite significantly improvedleaf area index when compared to no zeolite amendment, especially under irrigation W1. There existed no significant difference in the shoot dry matterbetween W1 and W0, while both were significantly higher than W2. The shoot dry matter under Z1 was increased when compared to Z0. And the shoot dry matter of W1Z1 was the highest. Compared with W0, grain yield under W1 was improved significantly, increasing by 10.73%;while grain yield under W1 was decreased notably, reducing by 16.18%. Grain yield was significantly 5.32%higher under Z1 than that under Z0. There was a significant interaction effect between irrigation regimes and zeoliteapplication on yield. W2Z0 treatment had the lowest grain yield and the highest grain yield was obtained with W1Z1 treatment. Water use efficiencyunder W1 and W2 were increased by 29.65% and 9.30% relative to W0, respectively.Water use efficiencyunder Z1 was increased by 9.14% compared with that under Z0. There was no significant interaction effect between irrigation regimes and zeolite application on water use efficiency. The W1Z1 treatment had the highestwater use efficiency. The irrigation regimes affected the effective panicles and grain number per panicle highly significantly, 1000-grain weight was influenced by irrigation regimes significantly. The zeolite influenced the effective panicles highly significantly and grain number per panicle significantly. The correlation analysis indicated that the effective panicles and grain number per panicle had a highly significant positive correlation with grain yield. It was concluded that the W1Z1 treatment can achieve a higher rice yield and water use efficiency. And it could be used as a reference for the water-saving and efficient management of rice production.

Schwannomas rarely occur in the retroperitoneum, and are normally not aggressive. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult and the surgeon may confront blood vessels, nerves or organs damage, since the intra-operative findings are various. The diagnosis and treatment of malignant schwannomas in the retroperitoneum are even more challenging. In addition, the prognosis of malignant schwannomas is extremely poor. The present study reports the case of a 52-year-old woman who presented with a 6-month history of an abdominal mass in the left lower quadrant. The local doctor determined a preliminary diagnosis of abdominal giant tumor and referred the patient to the First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, (Xi'an, China). Following discussion, the patient underwent a surgical resection. Low-grade malignant schwannoma was diagnosed following histological examination. No evidence of recurrence or any other complication was observed at the 18-month follow-up examination. The present study reports a case of giant retroperitoneal schwannoma (RS), and includes a literature review in order to provide an overview of the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of RS and discuss preoperative management strategies for the disease.

Aim. This study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of OSR2, VAV3, and PPFIA3 hypermethylation in gastric cancer (GC) patients. Patients and Methods. By using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), we detected the methylation status in tissue and serum samples from 48 gastric cancer (GC) patients and 25 normal individuals. Results. We found that OSR2, VAV3, and PPFIA3 were methylated in 70.8% (34/48), 54.2% (26/48), and 60.4% (29/48) of GC tissue, respectively. On the contrary, those genes were barely methylated in their paired paracancerous histological normal tissues (PCHNTs) (all P values < 0.01). We next analyzed the methylated OSR2, VAV3, and PPFIA3 in serum DNA. Compared with 25 normal individuals, those three genes were significantly hypermethylated in GC patients serum samples (all P values < 0.01). Regarding their diagnostic value in serum samples, the combined sensitivity of at least one positive among the three markers in serum was 83.3%, with a specificity of 88%. Conclusion. Our test suggested that methylation of OSR2, VAV3, and PPFIA3 genes in serum sample may offer a good alternative in a simple, promising, and noninvasive detection of GC.