[Effects of Long-term Fertilization on Soil Nutrient Characteristics and Microbial Resource Restrictions in a Terrace on the Loess Plateau].

Long-term fertilization has an important effect on soil fertility and soil microbial activity. In order to explore the effects of long-term fertilization on soil extracellular enzyme activities and nutrient characteristics in a terrace on the Loess Plateau, we based our investigation on the long-term nutrient localization plot of Ansai Soil and Water Conservation Experimental Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences. We measured the soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass, and extracellular enzyme activities of six fertilization treatments, which included no fertilization (CK); manure and nitrogen fertilization (MN); manure and phosphate fertilization (MP); manure, nitrogen, and phosphate fertilization (MNP); manure (M); and nitrogen and phosphate fertilization (NP). The results showed that all fertilization treatments significantly increased soil nutrient content and soil extracellular enzyme activities compared with that in CK. Correlation analysis showed that extracellular enzyme activity and soil physicochemical properties had an extremely significant correlation. The redundancy analysis indicated that soil nutrient and soil microbial biomass could explain 79.66% and 74.87% of the variation in soil extracellular enzyme activity and its stoichiometric ratio, respectively. Thus, the effects of fertilization on soil fertility were primarily through influencing soil extracellular enzyme activities indirectly. M, MN, MP, and MNP significantly improved soil organic carbon (SOC); soil total nitrogen (STN); and carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) source enzyme content; however, MNP changed the soil pH, which had an inhibitory effect on microbial activities. Vector analysis showed that the microbial communities of all treatments were in the condition of P limitation. Although MNP could alleviate the extent of P limitation, there was no significant difference between M and MP. Our study indicated that long-term application of manure[7500 kg·(hm2·a)-1]could meet the nutrient requirements of dryland crop growth, and long-term application of manure combined with phosphorus fertilization could alleviate the resource constraints faced by microorganisms. Consequently, our results provide a new insight into improving regional nitrogen excess.

Bioaccumulation and health risk assessment of phthalate esters in cultured low trophic level fish feded with food waste-based diets.

The present study aimed at using different types of food waste as a protein source for the fish feeds to produce safe and quality fish. The results showed the concentrations of ∑PAEs in grass crap (0.24 µg g-1 ww) and bighead carp (0.15 µg g-1 ww) fed with Food waste B feeds (mainly containing fruit, vegetable and cereal waste) was significantly lower than those fed Food waste A feeds (mainly containing meat waste) and control feeds (p<0.05), and the highest ∑PAEs concentration (1.75 µg g-1 ww) was found in the mud carp fed with control feeds in experimental ponds (p<0.05). In addition, there was no biomagnification of PAEs in the food chains within the ponds. The health risk assessment results showed no non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks from the PAEs via ingestion of the fish fed with food waste feeds for the local residents.

[Effects of drought stress on the stoichiometric characteristics in different organs of three shrub species]. / 干旱胁迫对3种灌木不同器官化学计量特征的影响.

In order to explore how water stress affects the stoichiometric characteristics in leaves, stems, very fine roots (0-1 mm), fine roots (1-2 mm) and thick roots (>2 mm) of three shrub species, we studied the effects of three water treatments [(75±5)%, (55±5)% and (35±5)% of field water capacity (FC)] on the stoichiometric characteristics of different organs of Syringa oblata, Rosa xanthina and Forsythia suspensa in a pot experiment. The results showed that there were significant differences in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents, C:N, C:P and N:P of the same organ among the three species. With the intensification of drought stress, there was no significant change of C content in all organs of the three species. The N content increased in leaves, but decreased gradually in stems. The N content in very fine roots and fine roots increased first and then decreased. The P content decreased in leaves and stems, while increased first and then decreased in very fine roots and fine roots. Under drought stress, leaf C:N decreased, C:P and N:P of leaf and stem increased. There was the strongest effect of drought stress on the C:N of very fine roots and C:P and N:P of leaves. There was the least effect of drought stress on C:N, N:P of thick roots and C:P of very fine roots. There was no significant correlation between the contents of C, N in soil and the contents of C, N and P in shrub organs, but soil P content was significantly correlated with the contents of C, N and P in leaves and roots. It was concluded that the relative P limitation in soil was the most important factor affecting the stoichiometric characteristics of shrub organs. Drought had different effects on the stoichiometry of different organs in different shrub species. The stoichio-metry of leaves and very fine roots was more sensitive to drought stress than that of other organs. Drought might affect the stoichiometric characteristics especially related to P in different organs of shrubs, mainly by affecting plant absorption of soil P and its distribution in different organs.

The complete chloroplast genome of Abies georgei Orr var. smithii, a species endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China.

Abies georgei Orr var. smithii is an evergreen coniferous species of Pinaceae, and is endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China. Considering its vital ecological functions in this unique area, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome was constructed in this study to provide genetic information for its further study of conservation and evolution. The complete cp genome is 121,213 bp in length with GC content of 38.3%, and contains a tetrad structure, including a large single copy region of 76,278 bp, a small single copy of 42,575 bp, and two very short repeats of 1,180 bp for each. Besides, it contains 113 genes in total, including 74 CDSs, 35 tRNAs, and four rRNAs. This genome has been deposited in Genbank under accession number of MT527722.

Role of oral propranolol in the treatment of infantile subglottic hemangioma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of oral propranolol for the treatment of infantile subglottic hemangioma. METHODS: 17 children (13 females and 4 males) with a median age at onset of treatment of 5 months were included in this study. Propranolol was administered after the presence of subglottic hemangioma was confirmed by laryngoscopy and a CT scan of the trachea with contrast. Propranolol was started at 1 mg/kg per day divided into 3 doses. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored during treatment. If no side effects were observed, then the dose was increased to 1.5 mg/kg per day on the second day. RESULTS: 14 patients (82%) showed clinical improvement within 1 week of treatment initiation. In each of these patients, the diameter of the subglottic stenosis caused by the hemangioma decreased, and the hemangioma became lighter in color. Two children with cutaneous hemangiomata also exhibited significant improvements in their cutaneous lesions after treatment. One patient's treatment was stopped after 2 weeks for personal reasons (family issue). After treatment cessation, this patient's respiratory symptoms recurred and increased in severity over the next 2 weeks. The patient was restarted on propranolol, and the symptoms disappeared. One patient only partially responded to propranolol. One patient continued with a tracheostomy for 15 months due to the diffuse nature of the lesion and was just recently decannulated. One patient initially did not respond to propranolol and developed residual disease after open resection; this patient finally responded to propranolol after 6 months of therapy and was recently weaned off the drug. CONCLUSION: Oral propranolol is a safe and effective treatment for infantile subglottic hemangiomata and may be used as a first-line therapeutic modality.

The effectiveness of nasal saline irrigation (seawater) in treatment of allergic rhinitis in children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of nasal saline irrigation in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) in children and to assess whether nasal saline irrigation could be used as a complementary therapy for AR in children in combination with the intranasal corticosteroids (INS). METHOD: In total, 61 children with AR were divided into three groups: the nasal irrigation, intranasal corticosteroid, and combined treatment groups. Symptoms and signs of AR and eosinophils (EOS) in the nasal secretions were evaluated after 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: In AR children treated with nasal irrigation and a decreased the INS dose, a significant improvement in symptoms and signs and a significant decrease in the mean EOS count in nasal secretions were observed at week 12. CONCLUSION: Nasal saline irrigation with physiological seawater is well tolerated and benefits the patients with AR, and can thus be considered a good adjunctive treatment option to maintain the effectiveness of the INS at a lower dose, thus resulting in reduced side effects and a decreased economic burden.

[Effects of soil covering on solar greenhouse pepper water use efficiency and soil nitrate N and available phosphorus contents].

A greenhouse study on the effects of soil covering on pepper (Capsicum anmuum L.) water use efficiency and soil nitrate and available phosphorus contents showed that straw mulch + plastic film mulch could get the highest pepper yield water use efficiency (33.04 kg . m(-3)) and economic water use efficiency (50.22 yuan . m(-3)), followed by plastic film mulch, with the two parameters being 18.81 kg . m(-3) and 28.57 yuan . m(-3), respectively. Significant differences of nitrate N content in 0-20 cm soil layer were observed among different treatments. The control had the highest nitrate N content (50.33 mg . kg(-1)), followed by straw mulch (31.98 mg . kg(-1)) and straw + plastic film mulch (31.96 mg . kg(-1)), and plastic film mulch and applying water preserving agent. Compared with the control, soil covering could increase the nitrate N use efficiency of pepper, and decrease the accumulation of nitrate N in plough layer. In 0-20 cm soil layer, treatment plastic film mulch had the lowest available phosphorus content (0.72 mg . kg(-3)), and the second (0. 92 mg . kg(-1)) was the treatment straw + plastic film mulch. Treatments straw + plastic film mulch and plastic film mulch could increase pepper fruit yield and fertilizer use efficiency, and decrease fertilizer loss.