Increasing planting density can improve the yield of Tartary buckwheat

Planting densities and nitrogen fertilizer application rates determine the yield of crops. Tartary buckwheat is a pseudocereal crop with great health care and development values. However, little is known about application of nitrogen fertilizer and planting density on the physiological characteristics of Tartary buckwheat. This study aims to clarify the effect of planting density on the senescence and yield of Tartary buckwheat under low nitrogen conditions. A 2-year field experiment was conducted on Tartary buckwheat (Jinqiao 2) to study the effects of different planting densities (8 × 105, 10 × 105, 12 × 105, 14 × 105, and 16 × 105 plants·ha−1) on the root morphology and activity, chlorophyll and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, antioxidant enzyme activity, photosynthetic characteristics, agronomic traits, and yield of Tartary buckwheat in the absence of nitrogen fertilizer treatment. With the increase in planting density, the root morphological indices and activities; chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid contents; superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities; net photosynthetic rate; transpiration rate; intercellular CO2 concentration and transpiration rate; main stem node, branch, and leaf numbers; grain number and weight per plant; and 1000-grain weight of Jinqiao 2 decreased continuously, whereas plant height and leaf MDA content increased continuously. The yield of Tartary buckwheat first increased and then decreased with the increase in planting density. The yield under 14 × 105 plants·ha−1 treatment increased by 68.61%, 44.82%, 11.00%, and 22.36%, respectively, relative to that under 8 × 105, 10 × 105, 12 × 105, and 16 × 105 plants·ha−1treatments. In summary, planting at an appropriately high density (14 × 105 plants·ha−1) can promote the increase in the yield of Tartary buckwheat populations under low nitrogen conditions and is recommended for use in production to achieve the high-yielding and nitrogen saving cultivation of Tartary buckwheat. This research can serve as a theoretical basis to jointly achieve the high yield and nitrogen saving of Tartary buckwheat

The Impacts of Emission Control and Regional Transport on PM2.5 Ions and Carbon Components in Nanjing during the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games

Highly time-resolved measurements of water soluble ions, organic and elemental carbon concentrations in the particle diameter size range D-p <2.5 mu m (PM2.5) were performed at a downwind urban site in Nanjing in the western part of the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in eastern China during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). In this study, we discuss the impacts of emission control in Nanjing and the surrounding areas during the YOG and regional/long-range transport on PM2.5 pollution in Nanjing. The average concentrations of NO3-, SO42-, NH4+ were 12.1 +/- 9.9, 16.5 +/- 9.2, 9.0 +/- 5.4 mu g m(-3) during the YOG, and increased 34.3%, 53.7%, 43.9% after the YOG, respectively. The control of construction or on-road soil dust and control of industry led to the decrease of Ca2+ concentration by 55% and SO2 concentration by 46%. However, SO42- concentrations remained at relatively high levels, suggesting a significant impact of regional pollution to secondary fine particles in Nanjing. Strong correlations between OC and EC were observed during and after the YOG. A higher percentage (41%) of secondary organic carbon in Nanjing during the YOG periods was consistent with high potential photochemistry and low contributions from coal combustion. Lagrangian dispersion modelling results proved that the city clusters along the Nanjing and Shanghai axis were the major source region for high PM2.5 pollution in upwind Nanjing. This work shows that short-term strict control measures could improve the air quality, especially that affected by the primary pollutants; however, regional collaborative control strategy across administrative borders in the YRD is needed for a substantial improvement of air quality.Peer reviewe

Does the pain sensitivity questionnaire correlate with tourniquet pain in patients undergoing ankle surgery?

BackgroundTourniquet pain is the most prominent problem in ankle surgery, and there is no proper method to predict it. It was reported that pain sensitivity questionnaires could evaluate the pain sensitivity of subjects. Its potential to predict tourniquet pain in ankle surgery is constructive and meaningful.MethodsOne hundred and twenty patients undergoing ankle surgery were included in this study. The pain sensitivity questionnaire (PSQ) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) were completed before the operation. The methods included an ultrasound-guided popliteal sciatic, a femoral nerve block, and a proximal thigh tourniquet. The pressure of the tourniquet was set according to the systolic blood pressure (SBP + 100 mmHg). A visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the tourniquet pain. Also, the onset time of tourniquet pain ≥4 VAS units was recorded.ResultsThe PSQ-total and PSQ-minor scores were significantly correlated with the onset time when the tourniquet pain ≥4 VAS units (r = −0.763, r = −0.731, P &lt; 0.001). The PSQ-total score &lt;6.5 group gave significantly lower ratings for items 3, 4, 14, and 16 in the PSQ survey compared to the PSQ-total score ≥6.5 group (P &lt; 0.05). Patients with high pain sensitivity have a higher need for analgesic drugs (P &lt; 0.001). PSQ-total score ≥6.5 (OR = 185.8, 95% CI = 39.8–1,437.6, P &lt; 0.001), sex (male, OR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.018–0.488, P &lt; 0.05), and age (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.842–0.995, P &lt; 0.05) were risk factors for reporting a tourniquet pain ≥4 VAS units within 30 min.ConclusionThe PSQ score is found to be correlated with intraoperative tourniquet pain. In addition, sex and age also affect the time of having intraoperative tourniquet pain

Spin State Disproportionation in Insulating Ferromagnetic LaCoO3 Epitaxial Thin Films

The origin of insulating ferromagnetism in epitaxial LaCoO3 films under tensile strain remains elusive despite extensive research efforts have been devoted. Surprisingly, the spin state of its Co ions, the main parameter of its ferromagnetism, is still to be determined. Here, we have systematically investigated the spin state in epitaxial LaCoO3 thin films to clarify the mechanism of strain induced ferromagnetism using element-specific x-ray absorption spectroscopy and dichroism. Combining with the configuration interaction cluster calculations, we unambiguously demonstrate that Co3+ in LaCoO3 films under compressive strain (on LaAlO3 substrate) are practically a low spin state, whereas Co3+ in LaCoO3 films under tensile strain (on SrTiO3 substrate) have mixed high spin and low spin states with a ratio close to 1:3. From the identification of this spin state ratio, we infer that the dark strips observed by high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy indicate the position of Co3+ high spin state, i.e., an observation of a spin state disproportionation in tensile-strained LaCoO3 films. This consequently explains the nature of ferromagnetism in LaCoO3 films

Exercise ameliorates the FGF21–adiponectin axis impairment in diet-induced obese mice

Objective: The protective effects of exercise against glucose dysmetabolism have been generally reported. However, the mechanism by which exercise improves glucose homeostasis remains poorly understood. The FGF21–adiponectin axis participates in the regulation of glucose metabolism. Elevated levels of FGF21 and decreased levels of adiponectin in obesity indicate FGF21–adiponectin axis dysfunction. Hence, we investigated whether exercise could improve the FGF21–adiponectin axis impairment and ameliorate disturbed glucose metabolism in diet-induced obese mice. Methods: Eight-week-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to three groups: low-fat diet control group, high-fat diet group and high-fat diet plus exercise group. Glucose metabolic parameters, the ability of FGF21 to induce adiponectin, FGF21 receptors and co-receptor levels and adipose tissue inflammation were evaluated after 12 weeks of intervention. Results: Exercise training led to reduced levels of fasting blood glucose and insulin, improved glucose tolerance and better insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Although serum FGF21 levels were not significantly changed, both total and high-molecular-weight adiponectin concentrations were markedly enhanced by exercise. Importantly, exercise protected against high-fat diet-induced impaired ability of FGF21 to stimulate adiponectin secretion. FGF21 co-receptor, β-klotho, as well as receptors, FGFR1 and FGFR2, were upregulated by exercise. We also found that exercise inhibited adipose tissue inflammation, which may contribute to the improvement in the FGF21–adiponectin axis impairment. Conclusions: Our data indicate exercise protects against high-fat diet-induced FGF21–adiponectin axis impairment, and may thereby exert beneficial effects on glucose metabolism

Changes in Asian banking industry

Changes in banking industry can be observed from different perspectives, one of which is the phenomenon of mergers and acquisitions (M&As). M&A is a highly abstract and compact concept, especially in the case of banking industry. When it comes to the Asian banking industry, currently impacts of China's WTO entry on its banking industry has become a very hot topic. In our study, we take two acquisitions that came through in Hong Kong to kick off the research. The study of two acquisitions involves looking at the two largest commercial banks, from Singapore and China, operating in Hong Kong, and leads to the comparative study on banking industry in the two freest economies and the largest emerging economy in the world, namely, Hong Kong, Singapore and China. We are looking for motives and causes for the acquisitions, under the context of the current trend of the world banking industry, and given the sharp differences in size, the structure and regulations of our three target economies. This decides the nature of our studies as being comparative study. We have found, due to different reasons, that Singapore banks and Chinese banks all feel pressure and are looking for something that cannot be found in their home market. Chinese banks are looking for professionally international banking practice, international network, talented people and capital source. Singapore banks are seeking bigger size in terms of scale and scope, better profitability and promising future markets. Hong Kong, as one of major international financial centers, has offered what they are really looking for. Indeed, this kind of `demanding and supplying' relationship has evolved over time and will bring out further changes and lead to the rise of big players in the industry