[Effects of reduced solar radiation on photosynthetic physiological characteristics and accumulation of secondary and micro elements in paddy rice.] / å¤ªé˜³è¾å°„å‡å¼±å¯¹æ°´ç¨»å ‰åˆç”Ÿç†ç‰¹æ€§å’Œä¸­å¾®é‡å ƒç´ ç§¯ç´¯çš„å½±å“.

Atmospheric haze pollution is a popular environmental issue in recent years. The aerosols reduce solar radiation reaching land surface, with consequences on the growth of crops. In order to examine the effects of low solar radiation intensity on the physiological characteristics and mineral nutrition of grain crops, the random designed field experiment of rice cultivar 'Nanjing 5055' planted under different shading degrees (CK, natural sunlight control; Y1 and Y2 were treatments with shading rates of 19% and 45%, respectively) were conducted. The response of chlorophyll content (SPAD), leaf area index (LAI), net photosynthetic rate of leaves, grain yields and secondary/micro element contents (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu) in rice were measured during key growth stages (jointing, heading, and grain filling stages). Results showed that, shading treatments inhibited the synthesis of photosynthetic products and reduced the LAI during the whole growing period, but at the early stage it did not affect the chlorophyll content, which was significantly increased at the late growth stage. Compared with CK, the 1000-grain weight of rice was decreased by 14.4% and 18.4%, and seed setting rate was decreased by 4.3% and 12.9%, which resulted in rice yield reduction. With the increases of shading rates, rice yield was decreased by 58.5% and 66.4%, respectively. The nutrient concentrations, especially for the micro-elements, in brown rice and glume were increased. Shading had a negative effect on rice growth, which would eventually reduce the crop production. The higher contents of heavy metals such as Cu and Mn would be a pollution risk for human health. Therefore, the impacts of weakened solar radiation on quantity and quality of crops need comprehensive evaluation.

Evidence of motor injury due to damaged corticospinal tract following acute hemorrhage in the basal ganglia region.

The integrity of the corticospinal tract (CST) is significantly affected following basal ganglia haemorrhage. We aimed to assess the local features of CST and to effectively predict motor function by diffusion characteristics of CST in patients with motor injury following acute haemorrhage in the acute basal ganglia region. We recruited 37 patients with paresis of the lateral limbs caused by acute basal ganglia haemorrhage. Based on the automated fiber quantification method to track CST, assessed the character of each CST segment between the affected and contralateral sides, and correlated these with the Fugl-Meyer (FM) and Barthel Index (BI) scores at 6 months after onset. The fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the injured side of CST showed a significantly lower FA than the contralateral side along the tract profiles (p < 0.05, corrections for multiple comparisons). The FA values of each site at the internal capsule, closed corona radiata were positively correlated with the FM and BI score at 6 months after onset (p < 0.001, respectively). Our findings assessed the character of CST vividly in detail and dementated the primary sites of CST can predict the long-term outcome of motor function. This study may facilitate future clinical and cognitive studies of acute haemorrhage.

[Effects of Ozone Pollution on Growth, Yields, and Mineral Metallic Element Contents of Paddy Rice].

The increase in the surface ozone (O3) concentration causes air pollution, which has become a significant environmental issue that is of increasing concern. Ozone pollution not only directly harms human health, but also influences the agricultural ecosystem by impacting crop growth, which may then indirectly affect human health through food quality and the safety of agricultural products. The effects of O3 pollution on rice growth, yields, and mineral metal contents in grains were investigated through field experiments with increased O3 concentration treatment (remaining at 100 nL·L-1) in open top chambers (OTC). The crop growth and metal contents of two rice varieties were analyzed and compared. The results showed that the higher O3 concentration inhibited the photosynthesis of Nanjing 5055 and Yangdao 6 rice leaves, reduced the chlorophyll content and leaf area index, and subsequently led to a decline in the rice yield of 45.5% and 28.6%, respectively. However, compared with the natural control, the contents of most mineral metallic elements in the brown rice and glume of the harvested grains increased by 3.6%-19.8% and 3.9%-36.0%, respectively, thus resulting in a lack of essential trace elements or pollution of heavy metals; hence, the impact of O3 on rice food quality and safety requires a comprehensive evaluation.

Cerebral CT angiography with iterative reconstruction at 70kVp and 30mL iodinated contrast agent: Initial experience.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the radiation dose and image quality of cerebral CT angiography (CTA) at 70kVp with 30mL iodinated contrast agent. METHODS: One hundred patients were prospectively classified into two groups: Group A (n=50), 120kVp cerebral CTA with 60mL iodinated contrast agent reconstructed by filtered back projection (FBP) and Group B (n=50), 70kVp with 30mL iodinated contrast agent reconstructed by sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE). CT values, noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) were measured. Subjective image quality was evaluated. Effective dose (ED) was calculated. RESULTS: The mean CT values of the ICA and MCA of Group B were higher than those of Group A (all P<0.001). The mean noise of Group A was lower than that of Group B (P<0.001). SNRICA, SNRMCA and CNRICA, CNRMCA of Group A were higher than Group B (all P<0.001). There was no difference in vessel sharpness, noise, and overall quality between the two groups (all P>0.05). ED of Group B (0.2±0.0mSv) was lower than Group A (1.3±0.1 mSv) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Cerebral CTA with iterative reconstruction at 70kVp and 30mL iodinated contrast agent is feasible, allowing for substantial dose reduction compared with conventional cerebral CTA protocol.

Image quality, radiation dose and diagnostic accuracy of 70 kVp whole brain volumetric CT perfusion imaging: a preliminary study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate image quality and diagnostic accuracy for acute infarct detection and radiation dose of 70 kVp whole brain CT perfusion (CTP) and CT angiography (CTA) reconstructed from CTP source data. METHODS: Patients were divided into three groups (n = 50 each): group A, 80 kVp, 21 scanning time points; groups B, 70 kVp, 21 scanning time points; group C, 70 kVp, 17 scanning time points. Objective and subjective image quality of CTP and CTA were compared. Diagnostic accuracy for detecting acute infarct and cerebral artery stenosis ≥ 50 % was calculated for CTP and CTA with diffusion weighted imaging and digital subtraction angiography as reference standards. Effective radiation dose was compared. RESULTS: There were no differences in any perfusion parameter value between three groups (P > 0.05). No difference was found in subjective image quality between three groups (P > 0.05). Diagnostic accuracy for detecting acute infarct and vascular stenosis showed no difference between three groups (P > 0.05). Compared with group A, radiation doses of groups B and C were decreased by 28 % and 37 % (both P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: Compared with 80 kVp protocol, 70 kVp brain CTP allows comparable vascular and perfusion assessment and lower radiation dose while maintaining high diagnostic accuracy in detecting acute infarct. KEY POINTS: • 70 kVp whole brain CTP can provide diagnostic image quality. • 70 kVp CTP diagnostic accuracy was maintained vs. 80 kVp protocol. • 70 kVp CTP radiation doses were lower than 80 kVp protocol.