Full Head Research Articles

The Murmur of Everything Moving

The Murmur of Everything Moving Maureen Stanton (bio) On a quiet Saturday afternoon in May, while Steve napped on the couch and I sat in the La-Z-Boy watching television, I heard a tinny knock on our screen door. Joey, Steve's childhood friend, stood on our veranda. "Hey, Joe," I said, and welcomed him in. I'd met Joey two years earlier, after a Sunday dinner at Steve's parents' house in his hometown of Jackson, Michigan. Joey had noticed Steve's truck in the driveway and stopped by to say hello. As Joey and Steve shot pool in the basement, I studied Joey—the dirty jeans, the beat-up leather jacket on his slight frame. He was bald on top with a ring of brown hair brushing his shoulders. He reminded me of the townies I'd known growing up in Walpole, Massachusetts—former high-school athletes still hanging around the center square, looking for parties. Or small-time drug dealers who'd never left, only the high-school girls they enticed into their cars changing year after year. Joey worried me; perhaps I didn't really know Steve if he had friends like Joey. We'd met in New York, both of us working [End Page 253] temporary jobs. I fell in love with him quickly, and after two months, I moved with him to Michigan. That afternoon in Jackson, we perused their high-school yearbook, Joey and I flanking Steve on the couch as we scanned the rows of black-and-white portraits. They'd graduated in 1974, and so everyone's hair was mashed down. In spite of his mutton-chop sideburns and rippled bangs plastered across his forehead, Steve looked handsome, with his blond curls and sleepy blue eyes, his creamy complexion. Back then, Joey had a full head of hair; the monochrome photography smoothed his acne-pitted skin. They looked so hopeful, all these teenagers, the way the photographer positioned them looking up to the camera, guileless and naive, their dreams and aspirations recorded in the yearbook. Steve touched the headshots of his classmates, pronouncing life sentences. "Divorced … divorced … in jail … dead." Ten years had passed since they graduated and people's fortunes could be told. ________ Steve sat up to greet Joey, which took some effort as he was still sick and weak from the most recent round of chemotherapy. We were excited about a visitor, someone to take our attention away from each other—a live person, not like the television shows or movies we watched for hours each day, an escape from Steve's dreary circumstances. "I saw your mother at Motor Vehicles," Joey said. He looked scruffy in his leather jacket and shaggy hair. "She told me about the cancer. Man, I couldn't believe it." Joey sat in the recliner, leaning forward toward Steve. "How you feeling, buddy?" "Pretty good," Steve said. "I was supposed to be dead by now." [End Page 254] Steve's bluntness seemed to me a brave front for his friend. He recounted his history, the back pain which had begun six months earlier, the chiropractic care that hadn't helped, his diagnosis by an oncologist at St. Joseph's hospital in Ypsilanti, a gleaming, six-story facility, where the doctors had given him two weeks to live (two months at the outside). He described the alternative hospital we'd found, a six-hour drive away, in Zion, Illinois, the experimental therapy that Steve would have there, whole-body hyperthermia, at four thousand dollars per treatment, which his insurance refused to cover. Joey was quiet. I'd never heard him speak much anyway. I'd only seen him a few times in the couple of years since I had first met him, though often enough to have my impression of him alter from wariness to the kind of affection one has for the runt of the litter. Joey didn't seem to have much going for him. He worked at Hoyt's junkyard in the industrial zone of his and Steve's hometown, where flat-roofed, corrugated-tin warehouses stretched for blocks. A few months before Steve fell ill, he and I had...

Effect of Field-applied Fungicides on Claviceps purpurea Sclerotia and Associated Toxins in Wheat

Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul is the causal organism for ergot impacting grass hosts, including wheat. The pathogen produces ergot alkaloids (EAs) during the development of mature sclerotia leading to potential wheat quality discounts or rejection at the point of sale. Cultural practices are recommended for the management of ergot in wheat, but there is limited information pertaining to the use of in-season fungicides to help reduce ergot. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of four fungicides (prothioconazole + metconazole, pydiflumetofen + propiconazole, azoxystrobin + propiconazole, and fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin) on sclerotia characteristics, and EAs associated with C. purpurea. A field experiment was established using a male-sterile hard red spring line with fungicide applications occurring at complete full head emergence (Feekes Growth Stage 10.5). Individual plots were harvested and cleaned, and ergot sclerotia were collected. Physical characteristics and toxin production were examined. Fungicides had a significant (p < .05) impact on total ergot body weight (EBW), with all fungicides having lower EBW than the nontreated control. The fungicide premixture of pydiflumetofen + propiconazole had the lowest EBW among all treatments. Fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin had the lowest levels of EAs among fungicides. Results suggest that fungicide premixtures can potentially reduce EBW and influence EA production in wheat.

Effects of Fungicides and Cultivar Resistance on Fusarium Head Blight and Deoxynivalenol in Spring Barley from 2014 to 2019

Spring barley production and quality in the United States is severely impacted by Fusarium head blight (FHB), primarily caused by Fusarium graminearum. Management of FHB is best accomplished using an integrated approach including resistant varieties and fungicides. Field experiments were established from 2014 to 2019 to quantify the effects of host resistance, fungicide, and fungicide timing on management of FHB and deoxynivalenol (DON) and yield protection in spring barley. Three separate research objectives were investigated using multiyear and multilocation experiments. These included investigating the efficacy of prothioconazole + tebuconazole applied at either Feekes growth stage (FGS) 10.5 (full head) or 3 to 7 days after FGS 10.5; the efficacy of sequential fungicide applications occurring at both FGS 10.5 and 3 to 7 days after FGS 10.5 using prothioconazole + tebuconazole, metconazole, prothioconazole, or tebuconazole; and the efficacy and timing of pydiflumetofen + propiconazole. Pooled analysis results suggest that metconazole, prothioconazole + tebuconazole, and pydiflumetofen + propiconazole are all effective fungicides for reducing DON, reducing FHB, and protecting yield. The use of sequential fungicide applications with one occurring at FGS 10.5 and another at 3 to 7 days after FGS 10.5 provided greater suppression than a single application at FGS 10.5. The greatest DON reduction from pydiflumetofen + propiconazole occurred when applied at full head or 3 to 7 days after full head. Across all research objectives, the most effective single fungicide application timing to reduce FHB, reduce DON, and protect yield in barley is 3 to 7 days after FGS 10.5.

Impacts of Silicon Foliar Spraying and Nitrogen Application Techniques on Quantitative and Qualitative Parameters of Rice at Different Planting Spaces

The silicon (Si) foliar application along with timely application of nitrogen (N) can be help to increase the quantity and quality of crops. Also, planting spaces is an agronomic technique that can affect yield and quality of rice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Si foliar application and N application techniques on yield components, grain yield and accumulation of Si and N in rice grains at different planting spaces. The experiment was conducted as a split-split-plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications during two crop years of 2018 and 2019. The experimental treatments included the main plot assigned to planting spaces (25×10 cm, 20×10 cm), the sub-plot assigned to N application techniques (N application as 33.3% at basal + 33.3% at panicle initiation + 33.3% at full heading, N application as 40% at basal + 40% at panicle initiation + 20% at full heading), and the sub-sub-plot assigned to foliar application of Si (control or non-use of Si, Si foliar application). The results indicated that the reducing planting space (20×10 cm) resulted in an increase in the number of panicle number m–2 by 9.3%, followed by an improvement in grain yield by 9.7% compared with planting distance of 25×10 cm. The plants that received N in three equal splits had higher grain yield (6993.1 kg.ha–1 ). The Si-treated plants showed both higher yield parameters and greater physiological characteristics when compared with control plants. We observed an increase in grain yield (10%), N concentration (7%) and uptake (14.3%) in grain, protein content (6.8%), and nitrogen use efficiency (7.1%) by supplying Si fertilizer. Overall, our results revealed that foliar application of Si could be an effective technique for increasing rice grain yield and improving rice nutritional quality.

“Great Atlant”: Emperor Ferdinand III (1637—1657) as a German National Hero

The article deals with the appearance of the image of the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III as a national hero in German journalism. There are still not many works devoted to Ferdinand III in historiography. The discussion surrounding his reign continues to highlight the weakness of imperial power during the Congress of Westphalia. The traditions of glorification of rulers were acquired in German printed publications of the middle of the 17th century pronounced national connotation. The Peace of Westphalia gave a new impetus to the development of the German national idea. Despite the emperor’s loss of some important prerogatives during the Congress of Westphalia, Ferdinand III turned on the pages of printed matter into a “German hero” who ended the Thirty Years’ War (1618—1648), who recreated the unity of the Empire and became its full head. The emperor is presented in the writings of the era as the defender of the German nation, thanks to whom the Empire was not only able to withstand thirty years of military chaos, but proved its viability and even reached a new peak. Constructing the image of a national hero, the authors addressed both the real political possibilities of the imperial power after the conclusion of the Peace of Westphalia, and the moral arsenal of virtues, which the emperor had. The ideas of his inherent patriotism and his desire to care for the Fatherland constituted the main components of the image of the ideal ruler and national hero and firmly entered the national discourse. During his lifetime, publicists turned Ferdinand III into a symbol of the German nation and laid the foundation for similar writings in subsequent eras.

Alleles of high-yielding indica rice that improve root hydraulic conductance also increase flag leaf photosynthesis, biomass, and grain production of japonica rice in the paddy field

Improving net leaf photosynthetic rate ( A n ) by molecular breeding is an important research challenge in improving rice productivity. For the effective use of a locus or gene that increases A n in breeding, we must not only elucidate its roles in traits that increase A n but also evaluate its effects on phenology, leaf area, and canopy architecture and light-interception characteristics, all of which affect biomass and grain production. Alleles of the high-yielding indica rice cultivars ‘Habataki’ on chromosome (Chr.) 5 and ‘Takanari’ on Chr. 10 increase A n of rice with a japonica ‘Koshihikari’ genetic background. Here, we developed near isogenic lines (NILs) carrying these alleles (NIL5 and NIL10) and elucidated their performance in photosynthesis and in biomass and grain production in plants grown in the paddy field and pots. NIL5 and NIL10 had flag leaves with 12–13% higher A n than those of Koshihikari from full heading to ripening. Their higher A n of the flag leaf was attributable to higher stomatal conductance ( g s ). NIL5 and NIL10 had a larger whole-plant hydraulic conductance than Koshihikari owing to the increased root surface area and root hydraulic conductance. NIL5 and NIL10 produced 6–10% more biomass at harvest and 8–14% higher grain yield than Koshihikari. Their crop growth rate was higher via higher net assimilation rate (NAR) during ripening. Heading date, ripening duration, biomass at booting (or heading), leaf area index, canopy architecture and canopy extinction coefficient at ripening and harvest index did not differ between Koshihikari and either NIL. Thus, the higher NAR and the consequent higher biomass and grain production in NIL5 and NIL10 were attributed to their increased flag leaf A n . We conclude that both alleles are involved in improving root hydraulic conductance, which in turn increase flag leaf A n , biomass and grain production, and they can be used in breeding high-yielding rice. • Alleles on chromosomes 5 and 10 enhanced flag leaf photosynthesis during ripening. • The higher photosynthesis was attributed to improved root hydraulic conductance. • These alleles did not alter phenology, leaf area, or canopy extinction coefficient. • Plants carrying these alleles produced more biomass and grain. • These alleles can be used in breeding high-yielding rice.

Analysis of Gaps Yield and Resource use Efficiency of Cold-Region Japonica Rice

Rice is the primary staple food for more than 50% of the world’s population. Narrowing the gap between the maximum potential food crop yield and actual yield is critical for improving the current yield, resource use efficiency, and global food security. Here, we examined the fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and temperature production efficiency (TPE) of four management treatments (super high yield [SH], high yield and high efficiency [HH], farmer level [FP], and basic production level [CK]). SH and HH treatments significantly reduced the yield gap by 22.4 and 9.5%, respectively. The large yield gap between HH and FP was mainly attributed to high specific leaf weight at the jointing stage (7.5–7.7 mg·cm−2), and the high leaf area maintained during tillering–jointing stages (35.4–37.6 m2·m−2·per day). Compared with FP, HH increased the specific leaf weight in the heading stage (8.2–8.4 mg·cm−2), relative crop growth rate, net assimilation rate (NAR), and mean leaf area index (> 2.6). Moreover, compared with FP, HH significantly increased partial factor productivity (PFP) of nitrogen, FUE, TPE, and RUE owing to greater yield and NAR after the full heading stage. Although the HH yield was 93.32% that of SH, HH increased PFP of fertilizer (12.5%), fertilizer nitrogen (9.07%), and fertilizer K2O (36.34%), and required 26% less fertilizer than SH. The findings of this study could facilitate high-efficiency rice production and bridging of yield gaps.

Post-anthesis moderate soil-drying facilitates source-to-sink remobilization of nitrogen via redistributing cytokinins in rice

This study investigated if and how cytokinins would mediate the effect of post-anthesis soil-drying on source-to-sink remobilization of nitrogen (N) in rice. Field experiments were conducted with normal (NN) and high amount of N (HN) applications. Two irrigation regimes, well-watered (WW) and moderate soil-drying (MD), were imposed from 8 days after full heading until maturity. The results showed that N use efficiency (NUE) including internal N use efficiency, N partial factor productivity and N harvest index, was substantially increased in MD relative to in WW. The MD promoted the reallocation and transfer of N, free amino acids (FAAs) and trans-zeatin (Z) + trans-zeatin riboside (ZR) from the source organs (stems and leaves) to the sink organ (panicles). Activities of protein degradation enzymes including endopeptidase (EP) and aminopeptidase (AP) in stems and leaves, and expression levels of FAAs transporter genes in panicles were substantially increased in MD than in WW, and were closely associated with Z + ZR content there. Application of kinetin to stems and leaves significantly decreased the activities of EP and AP, resulting in more N retention in stems and leaves and lower N harvest index. Application of kinetin to panicles significantly increased the expression levels of FAAs transporter genes in panicles, leading to less N retention in stems and leaves and higher N harvest index. Such facilitation in source-to-sink remobilization of N induced by the MD was greater at HN than at NN. Collectively, a post-anthesis MD can enhance source-to-sink remobilization of N and synergistically increase grain yield and NUE via redistributing cytokinins (Z + ZR) in rice.

Comparative Analysis of Robotics-Assisted and Manual Insertions of Cochlear Implant Electrode Arrays.

Robotics-assisted cochlear implant (CI) insertions will result in reduced intracochlear trauma when compared with manual, across multiple users. Whether intracochlear trauma and translocations are two factors that may contribute to significant variability in CI outcomes remains to be seen. To address this issue, we have developed a robotics-assisted insertion system designed to aid the surgeon in inserting electrode arrays with consistent speeds and reduced variability. This study evaluated the effect of robotics-assisted insertions on the intracochlear trauma as compared with manual insertions in cadaveric cochleae in a simulated operative environment. Twelve neurotologists performed bilateral electrode insertions into cochleae of full cadaveric heads using both the robotics-assisted system and manual hand insertion. Lateral wall electrodes from three different manufacturers (n = 24) were used and randomized between surgeons. Insertion angle of the electrode and trauma scoring were evaluated using high-resolution three-dimensional x-ray microscopy and compared between robotics-assisted and manual insertions. Three-dimensional x-ray microscopy provided excellent resolution to characterize the in situ trauma and insertion angle. Robotics-assisted insertions significantly decreased insertional intracochlear trauma as measured by reduced trauma scores compared with manual insertions (average: 1.3 versus 2.2, device versus manual, respectively; p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between insertion angles observed for manual and robotics-assisted techniques (311 ± 131° versus 307 ± 96°, device versus manual, respectively). Robotics-assisted insertion systems enable standardized electrode insertions across individual surgeons and experience levels. Clinical trials are necessary to investigate whether insertion techniques that reduce insertional variability and the likelihood of intracochlear trauma also improve CI auditory outcomes.

Remembering James A. Parr (1936–2022)

Remembering James A. Parr (1936–2022) Barbara Simerka (bio) In my first doctoral class with Jim, he didn’t bring a prepared syllabus. Instead he consulted with the seven of eight of us gathered in the seminar room: which comedias had we read recently or often, which did we want to brush up on, what topics did we want to explore when looking at lesser-known authors and plays? The resulting syllabus required us to prepare two plays and two critical essays each week, but no one complained because of this collaborative approach to designing the syllabus. In particular, we enjoyed that the carefully chosen texts and essays often contradicted each other, and provided a springboard for intense debates. The next semester, in the Don Quixote seminar, he assigned his own recently published masterwork, Anatomy of Subversive Discourse—but also essays that offered vastly different perspectives of Cervantine narrative structure. Four years later, Jim and I had lunch in order to discuss the turn towards ideological study that my dissertation had taken. Even though he was not a fan of cultural studies, he listened carefully as I provided the examples of close reading to back up my ideas. Then, even though Jim was gravely concerned that materialist frameworks would be harmful to the Humanities as an intellectual enterprise, he supported me completely with the other doubters on my dissertation committee. I observed similar examples of support for new approaches in Jim’s work with his other graduate students—my USC siblings. There are no “School of Parr” scholars precisely because he encouraged us to blaze our own trails, in fields as diverse as feminist, cognitive, and queer studies. This sense of openness marked my relationship with Jim over the following three decades and is also the hallmark of his contributions to the fields of comedia [End Page 9] and Quixote studies. Dating all the way back to 1974, his Hispania essay on the state of Golden Age studies encouraged comedia scholars to move beyond close reading and incorporate interdisciplinary and comparative approaches. Under his leadership as editor, Bulletin of the Comediantes solidified its position as a top tier journal that publishes forward-thinking essays; not seeking to claim the cutting edge, but publishing a steady stream of thoughtful studies that advanced our knowledge as the discipline evolved. Jim’s upbringing resembles that of our current students. He was a first-generation college student from a modest midwestern background, the local boy who succeeded. He served in the military after his high school graduation, then earned his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. In an astonishing leap, he was named full professor and head of the department of Murray State University by the age of twenty-seven. Even a cursory glance at the daunting record of achievements on his curriculum vitae reveals the depth and breadth of his scholarly endeavors. Jim published five books and more than sixty articles in highly respected journals, many in the era of typewriters and hard- bound copies of the MLA Bibliography. He was honored by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Fulbright Foundation. The University of Alabama named him “Eminent Scholar” in 1994. He also served in countless professional organizations, including a term as president for the Cervantes Society of America. James Parr played an important role in the evolution of our discipline, one that should not be overlooked or forgotten, but celebrated. His ability to look beyond his personal perspective to support innovative and high-quality scholarship is a model for current and future scholars. [End Page 10] Barbara Simerka Queens College CUNY barbara.simerka@qc.cuny.edu Barbara Simerka Barbara Simerka is Professor of Spanish at Queens College/CUNY. She is author of Knowing Subjects (2013 Purdue UP) and Discourses of Empire (2003 Penn State UP) and has published numerous essays on early modern feminism, Don Quixote and postmodern film, and dramas de privanza. She is currently engaged in research on sociological studies of status as an identity category, and on pedagogical studies of addressing representations of violence and trauma in the classroom. Copyright © 2022 Cervantes Society of America

Producing food sustainably

Producing food sustainably

Effect of foliar spraying of organic and inorganic selenium fertilizers during different growth stages on selenium accumulation and speciation in rice

AimsMost crops are supplemented with selenium (Se) through the exogenous addition of inorganic Se fertilizer. There is a lack of in-depth research on organic Se fertilizers. Meanwhile, the dosage range between human Se deficiency and Se toxicity is narrow, so the Se content of agricultural products needs to be controlled within a reasonable interval.MethodsSe accumulation and speciation in rice were analyzed and compared during three different growth stages (late tillering stage, initiate heading stage, and full heading stage) using three Se fertilizers: selenite, fermented Se, and potassium selenocyanoacetate (Se-AAF) via the foliar application.ResultsThe Se content in rice sprayed with organic Se fertilizer was controlled in the relatively safe range and met the human Se supplement requirement compared to the sprayed sodium selenite, which was too high of a dose. The percentage of organic Se and protein Se in brown rice was found to be similar in all three Se fertilizers. The highest organic Se content of 91.57% was found in the grain of rice at the full heading stage by spraying Se-AAF. The main Se species in the grain was selenomethionine (SeMet), which reached 80% of the total Se. Se-methyl selenocysteine(SeMeCys) was found only in Se-AAF. The grain quality showed that all three Se fertilizers increased the consistency of gelatinization.ConclusionsAppropriately delaying the spraying time and selecting organic Se fertilizer as the Se source can help to produce green and safe selenium-rich rice.

Portable wireless and fibreless fNIRS headband compares favorably to a stationary headcap-based system.

This study’s purpose is to characterize the performance of a prototype functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) headband meant to enable quick and easy measurements from the sensorimotor cortices. The fact that fNIRS is well-suited to ergonomic designs (i.e., their ability to be made wireless, their relative robustness to movement artifacts among other characteristics) has resulted in many recent examples of novel ergonomic fNIRS systems; however, the optical nature of fNIRS measurement presents an inherent challenge to measurement at areas of the brain underlying haired parts of the head. It is for this reason that the majority of ergonomic fNIRS systems that have been developed to date target the prefrontal cortex. In the present study we compared the performance of a novel, portable fNIRS headband compared with a stationary full headcap fNIRS system to measure sensorimotor activity during simple upper- and lower-extremity tasks, in healthy individuals >50 years of age. Both fNIRS systems demonstrated the expected pattern of hemodynamic activity in both upper- and lower-extremity tasks, and a comparison of the contrast-to-noise ratio between the two systems suggests the prototype fNIRS headband is non-inferior to a full head cap fNIRS system regarding the ability to detect a physiological response at the sensorimotor cortex during these tasks. These results suggest the use of a wireless and fibreless fNIRS design is feasible for measurement at the sensorimotor cortex.

Effects of shading at different growth stages with various shading intensities on the grain yield and anthocyanin content of colored rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Colored rice is a high-quality and high-added-value rice that has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Therein, the main functional substance in colored rice is anthocyanin, which plays an important role in anti-aging, inhibiting adipocyte accumulation, preventing cancer and treating cancer. However, there are few studies on the effects of shading at different growth periods with various shading intensities on the grain yield and anthocyanin content of colored rice. Field experiments were conducted in Hainan Province in 2020 and 2021, and two inbred rice cultivars, Youxianghongdao (YXHD) and Suixiangheinuo (SXHN), were adopted. Shading treatments were conducted at three different growth periods: shading from the regreening stage to the mid-tillering stage (S1), shading from the mid-tillering stage to the full heading stage (S2), and shading from the full heading stage to the maturity stage (S3). Based on the treatment of these three shading growth stages, three shading intensities were incorporated, including shading 20% (D1), 40% (D2) and 60% (D3) light intensities. No shading during the whole growth stage was used as a control (CK). The results indicated that the grain yield and anthocyanin content of both colored rice varieties were most sensitive to shading treatment during S3 among the three shading periods. The grain yields of both colored rice varieties decreased as the shading intensity increased for the three shading periods. In addition, the grain anthocyanin content of the red rice variety (YXHD) decreased as shading intensity increased under S1 and S2, while under S3, the grain anthocyanin content increased as shading intensity increased. However, for the black rice variety (SXHN), the anthocyanin content in grains showed an opposite trend with the changes in both shading intensity and shading period. Above results suggested that SXHN was more suitable for planting in the rainy season with low light intensity than YXHD based on low grain yield loss, strong shade tolerance and high anthocyanin content. However, it is necessary to explore the effects of light intensity on the anthocyanin synthesis mechanism in the near future. • Colored rice is a high-quality and high-added-value rice that has attracted increasing attention in recent years. • Colored rice varieties were most sensitive to shading treatment during the full heading to maturity stage. • The grain yield of colored rice decreased as the shading intensity increased. • The grain anthocyanin content of YXHD decreased as the shading intensity increased. • For SXHN, the anthocyanin content showed the opposite trend with the changes in both shading intensity and shading period.

Strigolactones and Cytokinin Interaction in Buds in the Control of Rice Tillering.

Shoot branching is among the most crucial morphological traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and is physiologically modulated by auxins, cytokinins (CKs), and strigolactones (SLs) cumulatively in rice. A number of studies focused on the interplay of these three hormones in regulating rice tiller extension. The present study primarily aimed at determining the impact of different treatments, which were used to regulate rice tiller and axillary bud development on node 2 at the tillering stage and full heading stage, respectively. Transcription levels of several genes were quantified through qRT-PCR analysis, and an endogenous auxin and four types of CKs were determined through LC-MS/MS. Both nutrient deficiency and exogenous SL supply were found to inhibit rice tiller outgrowth by reducing the CK content in the tiller buds. Furthermore, supplying the inhibitor of both exogenous SLs and endogenous SL synthesis could also affect the expression level of OsCKX genes but not the OsIPT genes. Comparison of OsCKX gene expression pattern under exogenous SL and CK supply suggested that the induction of OsCKX expression was most likely via a CK-induced independent pathway. These results combined with the expression of CK type-A RR genes in bud support a role for SLs in regulating bud outgrowth through the regulation of local CK levels. SL functioned antagonistically with CK in regulating the outgrowth of buds on node 2, by promoting the OsCKX gene expression in buds.

An Analysis Based on Japonica Rice Root Characteristics and Crop Growth Under the Interaction of Irrigation and Nitrogen Methods.

Water shortages and nitrogen (N) fertilizer overuse limit japonica rice production in Northeastern China. The interactions between water-saving irrigation and nitrogen management on rice root and shoot growth is still our research focus. Here, japonica rice (DN425) was subjected to the irrigation methods W1 (flooding irrigation), W2 [mild alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWD); −10 kPa], W3 (severe AWD; −30 kPa), and different N fertilizer ratios were applied in different growth stages, namely, N1 (6:3:1:0), N2 (5:3:1:1), and N3 (4:3:2:1). From jointing to full heading stages, the highest photosynthate production capacity and root activity were obtained under W1N2. AWD markedly affected the root system and resulted in root senescence at later growth stages. Grain yield and N utilization efficiency were closely and positively correlated with the relative water content, crop growth rate (CGR), leaf area duration (LAD), the increase rate of root length density, root surface area density, and root volume density (RVD) from the jointing to full heading stages. This positive correlation was also observed in the increased rate of root bleeding sap (RBS) under W1N2 and CGR under W2N3. From full heading to maturity stages, N2 could promote root growth, LAD, and CGR under AWD to a greater extent than those under the other treatments. Water use efficiency (WUE) and N uptake efficiency (NUpE) were both negatively associated with the decreased rate of RVD, root dry weight (RDW), and RBS. They were closely and positively correlated with the increased rate of RDW and CGR. Our results suggested that W2N2 treatment delayed root senescence, maintained leaf photosynthesis, optimized the crop growth rate from full heading to maturity stages, and improved grain yield. The optimal grain yield, WUE, and NUpE were achieved at the irrigation water amount and topdressing fertilizer ratio of 41.40–50.34 × 102 and 31.20–34.83 kg ha–1, respectively.

Prediction of difficulty in direct laryngoscopy

To establish easily measurable and reproducible preoperative parameters predicting difficult laryngeal exposure in direct laryngoscopy. A prospective study including 71 patients who underwent transoral microsurgery for benign or malignant lesions of the larynx was performed in our department from January 2021 to November 2021. Physical assessment included the Mallampati score, weight, height, body mass index and measurements of seven parameters in the cervical region. Eleven parameters were measured on the cervical radiography film. Among our patients, 19 were included in the difficult laryngeal exposure (DLE) group. High Mallampati and Cormack scores were significantly associated with DLE (p = 0.005 and p < 0.0001). Limited mouth opening, direct thyromental distance (DTMD) < 67 mm in neutral position, DTMD < 82 mm and sternomental distance < 157 mm at full head extension were statistically related to DLE. For radiological assessment, the effective length of the maxilla and the atlanto-occipital distance were related to DLE. Using stepwise logistic regression, only the effective length of the maxilla and atlanto-occipital distance were selected as independent predictors for DLE (p: 0.015 and 0.001). Preoperative prediction of DLE is useful for both surgeons and patients. The length of the maxilla and the atlanto-occipital distance were found to be independent risk factors for DLE. This highlights the effect of overgrowth of the maxilla, protrusion of the upper teeth and limited extension of the cervical spine as the major risk factors for difficult laryngeal exposure.

Flag leaf cell wall functional groups and components play a crucial role in the accumulation and translocation of Cd in rice grain via foliage application of humic acid

Devising a low-cost and effective strategy to reduce Cd contamination of brown rice is critical to achieve the safe production of rice grain for human consumption. Accordingly, here field experiments were conducted at two sites to evaluate the effects of applying humic acid (HA) to foliage twice, at the booting and full heading stage, on diminishing the translocation of cadmium (Cd) into rice grains. Besides measuring the Cd subcellular distribution in the flag leaf and the polysaccharide composition of the cell wall, the latter’s types and concentrations of functional groups were quantitatively analyzed by potentiometric titration and fitted by a surface complexation model. The results demonstrated that applying HA to leaves not only increased the rice yield but also reduced the Cd concentration in brown rice by 35.48–39.74% when using an application rate of just 600 g/ha. The HA treatment augmented Cd fixation in flag leaves, reduced the Cd translocation to rachis and brown rice, and increased the subcellular distribution of Cd in flag leaf cell wall. Furthermore, the Cd concentration in the pectin and hemicellulose 1 of cell wall increased by 33.00% and 25.73%, respectively. Besides those effects, foliar spraying of HA induced a greater abundance of carboxyl, hydroxyl, and amino groups on the cell wall, allowing for more sites to be involved in the binding of Cd, thereby promoting the immobilization of Cd in the flag leaf, and ultimately reducing the remobilization of Cd into the grain. Thus, foliage application of HA may offer a promising and cost-effective tactic for the remediation and continued use of Cd-contaminated paddy soils. CapsuleFoliage application of humic acid promoted the deposition of Cd in the cell wall of rice flag leaf, thereby enhancing the immobilization of Cd and ultimately reducing the remobilization of Cd into the grain

Love Like Applesauce

Love Like Applesauce Layhannara Tep (bio) When the doctor told Maly—via her niece’s English-to-Khmer translation—that she had stage IV lung cancer and less than six months left to live, she wanted to laugh. Had she become a cliché in one of those Asian soap operas her sister was always watching? This couldn’t be right. In all her 61 years of life, she’d never even smoked a cigarette. While everyone she knew either lit a stick or two to cap off the evening or chewed and spat tobacco for fun, she didn’t allow herself to indulge. Now she wished she had. It would be nice to have one bad habit to lean into. If this taught her anything, it’s that nothing good ever came from a life of restraint. Maly couldn’t understand a word the American doctor was saying but she recognized the look in his eyes. It was the same look of sympathy she saw in the eyes of the European volunteers at the Kao-I-Dang refugee camp in Thailand all those years ago. The same look that her sponsor gave her, her sister Vanida, and brother-in-law Arune when they first arrived at the Portland airport after seeking asylum in 1981, 30 years ago. She hated that look because it said, I’m sorry. It said, This is the best we could do. But this was no one’s fault. For as long as Maly could remember, her body had been her enemy. She could never get it to do what she needed: say the right things, fall in love with the right kind of person. This was the natural consequence of living in an uncooperative body. It was the reason she was just a little past her sixth decade of life and had neither marriage nor children to show for it. The reason she moved in with Vanida and her family 15 years ago. The reason her niece, Tina, took her to the hospital after she had to admit she felt chest pains so grave, the usual remedies were not helping. The reason that although she lived frugally and put away every penny, she would not live long enough to spend her savings. “Don’t tell your mom,” Maly said to Tina, as they drove from Long Beach Memorial Hospital to the home Maly shared with Vanida and Arune. She didn’t need Vanida to fuss over her, especially when there was nothing that could be done. [End Page 34] “But Dr. Hastings said it’s important to rely on your support system.” “I’ll tell her eventually.” Maly had decided against chemotherapy as she rather liked her full head of hair and wanted every strand to follow her to the grave. Besides, the doctor confirmed that the cancer had already spread far beyond her lungs and chemo would only prolong her time by a few months at best. But she knew Vanida would try to hang on to every month, that Vanida would ask her to fight. “Other than mom, dad, and me . . . is there someone else you can rely on?” “Who else is there?” Vanida was Maly’s only link to home. Their parents and brothers never made it past the communist Khmer Rouge regime. “I just meant, is there someone else you can confide in?” “Not really.” Although Maly knew exactly what Tina meant. “Alright.” Tina’s eyes lit from the challenge just as they reached the house. She parked and turned to face Maly, “Have you ever been in love?” “Of course—I’m 61!” “Well . . . what happened?” “As you can see,” Maly lifted her empty palms up and gestured to the air in front of her, invoking her best Vanna White impersonation. It was something she picked up from her years working in the garment factory, where Wheel of Fortune played in the background to remind her and her coworkers that their luck could change if only they could spell. “Do you still have feelings for your ex?” “I’m not someone who changes their mind easily.” “Like everyone else in our family.” “It is what it is,” Maly said...

From the Editor: Starting the Next 30 Years

As noted in the Winter 2021 issue of Interface, we have now wrapped up three decades of bringing ECS members and the outside world insights into the wonderful world of electrochemical and solid state science. To calibrate, thirty years ago I had a full head of hair. More or less (less). In going through the archives—a reminder that ALL issues are available in pdf in our archive—one can follow the major changes that have taken place in scientific publishing.