ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to reveal the effects of silicon (Si) application on nutrient utilization efficiency by rice and on soil nutrient availability and soil microorganisms in a hybrid rice double-cropping planting system. A series of field experiments were conducted during 2017 and 2018. The results showed that Si nutrient supply improved grain yield and the utilization rates of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to an appropriate level for both early and late plantings, reaching a maximum at 23.4 kg/ha Si. The same trends were found for the ratios of available N (AN) to total N (TN) and available P (AP) to total P (TP), the soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), and the ratios of MBN to TN and MBP to TP, at different levels of Si. Statistical analysis further revealed that Si application enhanced rice growth and increased the utilization rate of fertilizer due to an ecological mechanism, i.e., Si supply significantly increased the total amount of soil microorganisms in paddy soil compared to the control. This promoted the mineralization of soil nutrients and improved the availability and reserves of easily mineralized organic nutrients.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of ceftriaxone on the intestinal epithelium and microbiota in mice in the early-life stage, as well as the recovery of the intestinal epithelium and reconstruction of intestinal microbiota in adult mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 36 BALB/C neonatal mice were randomly divided into control group and experimental group, with 18 mice in each group. The mice in the experimental group were given ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg every day by gavage within 21 days after birth. Those in the control group were given an equal volume of normal saline by gavage. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of Ki67, Muc2, and ZO-1 in the intestinal epithelium. qPCR and next-generation sequencing were used to analyze the overall concentration and composition of fecal bacteria.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 21 days of ceftriaxone intervention, the experimental group had a significant reduction in body weight, a significant reduction in the expression of Ki67 and ZO-1 and a significant increase in the expression of Muc2 in intestinal epithelial cells, a significant reduction in the overall concentration of fecal bacteria, and a significant increase in the diversity of fecal bacteria compared with the control group (P<0.05). Firmicutes was the most common type of fecal bacteria in the experimental group, and there were large amounts of Staphylococcus and Enterococcus. The experimental group had a certain degree of recovery of the intestinal epithelium, but there were still significant differences in body weight and the structure of intestinal microbiota between the two groups at 56 days after birth (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Early ceftriaxone intervention significantly affects the development of the intestinal epithelium and the construction of intestinal microbiota in the early-life stage. The injury of the intestinal microbiota in the early-life stage may continue to the adult stage and affect growth and development and physiological metabolism.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Mice , Animals, Newborn , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Pharmacology , Ceftriaxone , Pharmacology , Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Intestinal Mucosa , Ki-67 Antigen , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Mucin-2 , Zonula Occludens-1 ProteinABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the tribology characteristics of two ceramic materials in vitro:feldspathic glass-ceramic (veneer porcelain) and lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (heat-pressed ceramic), and to evaluate the wear resistance of different ceramic materials from the dynamic chewing perspective.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wear tests were performed in simulated oral environment with stainless steel ball antagonists (r = 3 mm), veneer porcelain (CERAMCO 3) and heat-pressed ceramic (IPS e.max Press HT type) in the chewing simulator. The tribological tests were carried out under artificial saliva lubrication condition in room temperature with a vertical load of 10 N for 1.2×10(6) cycles (f = 1.5 Hz, uniform circular motion, revolving speed = 90 r/min, radius = 0.5 mm). The wear volumes were measured using three-dimensional profiling, and surface microscopic morphology were observed using scanning electron microscopy at time point of 200 000, 400 000, 600 000, 800 000, 1 000 000, and 1 200 000 cycles.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In a simulated oral environment, the wear rates of veneer porcelain were (0.001 20 ± 0.00 018) , (0.000 10 ± 0.000 03) , (0.000 50 ± 0.000 05), (0.000 10 ± 0.000 02) , (0.004 10 ± 0.000 38) , and (0.019 00 ± 0.003 53) (×10(-4) mm(3)/cycles) at 200 000, 400 000, 600 000, 800 000, 1 000 000, 1 200 000 cycles. The wear rates of heat-pressed ceramic were (0.139 50 ± 0.030 94), (0.124 40 ± 0.031 20), (0.054 80 ± 0.005 38), (0.038 80 ± 0.006 10), (0.011 10 ± 0.003 75), (0.198 90 ± 0.045 80) (×10(-4) mm(3)/cycles) at 200 000, 400 000, 600 000, 800 000, 1 000 000, 1 200 000 cycles. Three stages were observed in the wear loss process of the two materials: running-in stage, steady wear stage and severe wear stage. In running-in and steady wear stage, the shallow wear tracks of veneer porcelain were produced by the fatigue effect.While in severe wear stage, the wear tracks turned into ploughing. In running-in stage, the surface of heat-pressed ceramic was characterized by dense and shallow ploughing. In steady wear stage, the wear tracks turned into flake peeling produced by fatigue effect. At last, the whole layer was worn off by the effects of ploughing.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In a simulated oral environment, the wear rate and wear loss of heat-pressed ceramic are greater than that of veneer porcelain.</p>