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The contribution to fine particulate air pollution (PM 2.5) from ammonia emissions has been proven to be significant. In China, agricultural sources contribute to the majority of ammonia emissions. It is necessary and valuable to explore air quality improvements caused by the mitigation of agricultural ammonia emissions. The purpose of this study was to quantify the reduction effects on PM 2.5 and secondary inorganic aerosols by performing air quality simulations based on the developed agricultural ammonia emission inventory at the county-level within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region. The results demonstrated that the total NH 3 emission in the BTH region was 1625.03 Gg in 2015. Livestock manure spreading represented 58% of the total emissions (941.79 Gg NH 3), while synthetic fertilizer applications accounted for the remaining 42% of the emissions. Spatially, the agricultural ammonia emissions were generally distributed over the southern BTH regions (Handan and Shijiazhuang) due to the intensive agricultural activities in this area. Temporally, the agricultural ammonia emissions peaked during summer, consistent with variations in temperature and agricultural practices. Compared to the baseline scenario, the annual average PM 2.5 concentrations in the BTH region were reduced by 2.57%, 5.08%, and 5.71%, respectively, under the Progressive (NH 3 emission cut by 21.26%), Stringent (NH 3 emission cut by 45.58%), and Complex (NH 3 emission cut by 46.63%) scenarios. Moreover, under the same conditions, secondary inorganic aerosols such as sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium were alleviated by 2.94–6.85%, 3.45–17.9%, and 4.24–23.32%, respectively. The results confirmed that mitigating ammonia emissions could lead to the considerable reduction of nitrate, followed by ammonium. In contrast, the impact on sulfate was relatively limited. This study could provide helpful and reliable evidence to determine effective mitigation measures and control strategies for policy makers. • The agricultural NH 3 emission in the BTH region in 2015 was estimated. • Livestock and N fertilizer represented 58% and 42% of total agricultural emission. • Annual PM 2.5 concentration could be reduced by 5.7% when NH 3 emission cut by 47%. • Mitigating ammonia emissions could lead to the considerable reduction of nitrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various control measures have been proposed to reduce ship emissions. However, improvements in air quality after its implementation have rarely been evaluated on a regional scale. To fill this gap, this study employed the Weather Research and Forecast model coupled with Chemistry (WRF/Chem) model to investigate the improvement in air quality under scenarios separately implementing different control measures. The domestic emission control area (DECA) in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of China was selected as the target area for the study. The results suggest that the use of cleaner fuels is a promising way to improve air quality. For vessels sailing in the DECA, using 0.5% sulfur-content fuel could reduce SO 2 and PM 2.5 by 0.52 μg/m3 and 1.43 μg/m3, respectively, in the target cities of PRD, while 0.1% sulfur-content fuel could increase these figures to 0.59 μg/m3 and 1.62 μg/m3, respectively. The use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel was predicted to be the most effective method for air quality improvement. LNG fuel could reduce the annual average concentrations of SO 2 , NO 2 and PM 2.5 by 0.63 μg/m3, 2.80 μg/m3 and 2.14 μg/m3, respectively, in the target cities of PRD. The application of shore side electricity (SSE) would reduce the ship-contributed SO 2 and PM 2.5 by 0.33 μg/m3 and 1.06 μg/m3, respectively. For the NO X control, the retrofit of the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system could reduce the ambient concentrations of NO 2 and PM 2.5 by 2.09 μg/m3 and 0.15 μg/m3, respectively. These results suggest that the use of cleaner fuels and the retrofit SCR system all have positive effects on lowering the impact of ship emissions, while the application of SSE could be a useful supplement. • Main control measures for mitigating the ship's impact on air quality were evaluated. • More evident air quality improvement was predicted in the case of using LNG fuels. • Using lower sulfur-content fuel can evidently lower the ship's impact on air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macadamia nuts are one of the most important economic food items in the world. Pericarp thickness and flavonoid composition are the key quality traits of Macadamia nuts, but the underlying mechanism of pericarp formation is still unknown. In this study, three varieties with significantly different pericarp thicknesses, namely, A38, Guire No.1, and HAES 900, at the same stage of maturity, were used for transcriptome analysis, and the results showed that there were significant differences in their gene expression profile. A total of 3837 new genes were discovered, of which 1532 were functionally annotated. The GO, COG, and KEGG analysis showed that the main categories in which there were significant differences were flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and the cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis pathways. Furthermore, 63 MiMYB transcription factors were identified, and 56 R2R3-MYB transcription factors were clustered into different subgroups compared with those in Arabidopsis R2R3-MYB. Among them, the S4, S6, and S7 subgroups were involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and pericarp formation. A total of 14 MiMYB s' gene expression were verified by RT-qPCR analysis. These results provide fundamental knowledge of the pericarp formation regulatory mechanism in macadamia nuts.

Macadamia nut plantings in China are expanding year by year. In order to breed and promote superior varieties, this study analyzed the effects of different rootstocks and scions on the survival rate of grafted seedlings, and then selected the best substrate composition for plant growth. The results showed that the survival rate of the HAES788 variety as rootstock and Guire No. 1 as scion was the highest, reaching 96%. The optimal grafting time in December was better than that in March. Furthermore, among 16 substrate formulations, T12, T13, T15, and T16 had advantages of agglomerated soil and more well-developed root systems compared to the CK made of loess. The plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, and dry weight of the aboveground and underground parts of the grafted seedlings planted in these substrate formulations were significantly higher than those plants planted in the CK. In addition, the substrate formulations T12, T13, T15, and T16 significantly improved the organic matter, total nitrogen, and total potassium content of the substrate soils, but little improvement was observed for total phosphorus content after 13 months. Overall, macadamia grafting times are best in December, with HAES788 and Guire No. 1 being the best rootstock and scion. The optimal substrate formulations are T12, T13, T15, and T16. This study provides a solid foundation for the production of high-quality macadamia plants.

Background: Carthamus tinctorius L., a traditional herbal medicine used for atherosclerosis (AS), lacks a clear understanding of its therapeutic mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Carthamus tinctorius L.-derived nanovesicles (CDNVs) in AS treatment., Methods: CDNVs were isolated and characterized using improved isolation methods. Transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and protein analysis confirmed their morphology, size, and protein composition. Small RNA sequencing was performed to identify the miRNA profile of CDNVs, and bioinformatics analysis was used to determine their potential biological roles. In vivo biodistribution and toxicity studies were conducted in mice to assess the stability and safety of orally administered CDNVs. The anti-atherosclerotic effects of CDNVs were evaluated in ApoE-/- mice through plaque burden analysis. The protective effects of CDNVs on ox-LDL-treated endothelial cells were assessed through proliferation, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species activation, and monocyte adhesion assays. miRNA and mRNA sequencing of CDNV-treated endothelial cells were performed to explore their regulatory effects and potential target genes., Results: CDNVs were successfully isolated and purified from Carthamus tinctorius L. tissue lysates. They exhibited a saucer-shaped or cup-shaped morphology, with an average particle size of 142.6 ± 0.7 nm, and expressed EV markers CD63 and TSG101. CDNVs contained proteins, small RNAs, and metabolites, including the therapeutic compound HSYA. Small RNA sequencing identified 95 miRNAs, with 10 common miRNAs accounting for 72.63% of the total miRNAs. These miRNAs targeted genes involved in cell adhesion, apoptosis, and cell proliferation, suggesting their relevance in cardiovascular disease. Orally administered CDNVs were stable in the gastrointestinal tract, absorbed into the bloodstream, and accumulated in the liver, lungs, heart, and aorta. They significantly reduced the burden of atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mice and exhibited superior effects compared to HSYA. In vitro studies demonstrated that CDNVs were taken up by HUVECs, promoted proliferation, attenuated ox-LDL-induced apoptosis and ROS activation, and reduced monocyte adhesion. CDNV treatment resulted in significant changes in miRNA and mRNA expression profiles of HUVECs, with enrichment in inflammation-related genes. CXCL12 was identified as a potential direct target of miR166a-3p., Conclusion: CDNVs isolated from Carthamus tinctorius L. tissue lysates represent a promising oral therapeutic option for cardiovascular diseases. The delivery of miRNAs by CDNVs regulates inflammation-related genes, including CXCL12, in HUVECs, suggesting their potential role in modulating endothelial inflammation. These findings provide valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of CDNVs and their miRNAs in cardiovascular disease., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The frozen period interaction of groundwater and lakes is crucial for hydrological properties and aquatic ecology in cold and arid regions. In this study, we investigate the spatial hydrochemical characteristics, influencing factors in the Hulun Lake basin. The hydrochemical type of lake water exhibits Na-HCO 3 -SO 4 -Cl, while river shows a primary classification of Na-Ca-HCO 3 . Groundwater in the eastern and western regions is characterized by Na-SO 4 -Cl and Na-HCO 3 , respectively. Silicic acid and ion exchange predominantly influence groundwater chemistry in the western region, whereas evaporation and concentration play a major role in the eastern region. Total dissolved solids, Cl - , and F - emerge as the primary influencing factors of hydrochemical components in the Hulun Lake basin. Ion content decreased from the southern to the northern region, with the lowest value occurring near the Urson River. The high-temperature water body is primarily distributed in the central and southern regions of the lake. Based on characteristic ions and partial characteristics of ice surface temperature, the potential groundwater discharge areas near the inlet of the Xinkai River, the central and southern region are determined. This study reveals the hydrochemical characteristics, vertical ice distribution, and provides a scientific foundation for water resource management in cold and arid regions., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Lesion scores on procurement donor biopsies are commonly used to guide organ utilization for deceased-donor kidneys. However, frozen sections present challenges for histological scoring, leading to inter- and intra-observer variability and inappropriate discard. Therefore, we constructed deep-learning based models to recognize kidney tissue compartments in hematoxylin & eosin-stained sections from procurement needle biopsies performed nationwide in years 2011-2020. To do this, we extracted whole-slide abnormality features from 2431 kidneys and correlated with pathologists' scores and transplant outcomes. A Kidney Donor Quality Score (KDQS) was derived and used in combination with recipient demographic and peri-transplant characteristics to predict graft loss or assist organ utilization. The performance on wedge biopsies was additionally evaluated. Our model identified 96% and 91% of normal/sclerotic glomeruli respectively; 94% of arteries/arterial intimal fibrosis; 90% of tubules. Whole-slide features of Sclerotic Glomeruli (GS)%, Arterial Intimal Fibrosis (AIF)%, and Interstitial Space Abnormality (ISA)% demonstrated strong correlations with corresponding pathologists' scores of all 2431 kidneys, but had superior associations with post-transplant estimated glomerular filtration rates in 2033 and graft loss in 1560 kidneys. The combination of KDQS and other factors predicted one- and four-year graft loss in a discovery set of 520 kidneys and a validation set of 1040 kidneys. By using the composite KDQS of 398 discarded kidneys due to "biopsy findings", we suggest that if transplanted, 110 discarded kidneys could have had similar survival to that of other transplanted kidneys. Thus, our composite KDQS and survival prediction models may facilitate risk stratification and organ utilization while potentially reducing unnecessary organ discard., (Copyright © 2023 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Renal inflammation and fibrosis are the common pathways leading to progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD). We previously identified hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) as upregulated in human chronic allograft injury promoting kidney fibrosis; however, the cellular source and molecular mechanisms are unclear. Here, using immunostaining and single cell sequencing data, we show that HCK expression is highly enriched in pro-inflammatory macrophages in diseased kidneys. HCK-knockout (KO) or HCK-inhibitor decreases macrophage M1-like pro-inflammatory polarization, proliferation, and migration in RAW264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM). We identify an interaction between HCK and ATG2A and CBL, two autophagy-related proteins, inhibiting autophagy flux in macrophages. In vivo, both global or myeloid cell specific HCK-KO attenuates renal inflammation and fibrosis with reduces macrophage numbers, pro-inflammatory polarization and migration into unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) kidneys and unilateral ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) models. Finally, we developed a selective boron containing HCK inhibitor which can reduce macrophage pro-inflammatory activity, proliferation, and migration in vitro, and attenuate kidney fibrosis in the UUO mice. The current study elucidates mechanisms downstream of HCK regulating macrophage activation and polarization via autophagy in CKD and identifies that selective HCK inhibitors could be potentially developed as a new therapy for renal fibrosis., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The evaluation of the steam power system is very important for the operator to understand the operating status of the system, but the lack of consideration of the fuzziness of the complex system and the impact of the indicator parameters on the whole system makes the evaluation difficult. In this paper, an indicator system for evaluating the operation status of the experimental supercharged boiler is established. After discussing several methods of parameter standardization and weight correction, a comprehensive evaluation method based on the deterioration degree and health value is proposed while considering the deviation of the indicator and the fuzziness of the system. The comprehensive evaluation method, the linear weighting method and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method are respectively used to evaluate the experimental supercharged boiler. The comparison of the three methods shows that the comprehensive evaluation method is more sensitive to minor anomalies and faults and can draw quantitative health assessment conclusions.

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in nutrient cycling in aquatic ecosystems. Understanding bacterial diversity and its functional composition are crucial for aquatic ecology and protection. We investigated the bacterial community structure using 16S rRNA gene amplicons high-throughput sequencing in this study. Results showed that 105 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) account for 43.8% of the total sequences shared by the Nandu River's lower, middle, and upper reach and the Songtao Reservoir. The dominant bacterial phylum in the Nandu River and its connected Songtao Reservoir were Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota, respectively. The highest Chao1 and Shannon index values were found in the lower reach of the Nandu River. Beta diversity analysis showed the divergence in bacterial communities in the Nandu River and Songtao Reservoir, but not in different reaches. Among the water properties, based on the Mantel test, dissolved oxygen, total nitrogen, and nitrite significantly affected the bacterial communities. The functional profiles predicted by Tax4Fun2 showed that metabolism was the most abundant function group. The relative abundance of genetic information processing was significantly higher in the Songtao Reservoir than in the Nandu River, while the relative abundance of human diseases was significantly lower in the Songtao Reservoir than in the Nandu River. The appearance of the xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism function group requires us to pay more attention to possible water pollution, especially at the upper reach of the Nandu River.

Introduction: To analyze and summarize the orthopaedic effect and application experience of the Wang procedure in the treatment of pectus excavatum in paediatric patients., Methods: The clinical data of 256 children ranging from 0.83~14 years (4.89±2.83 years) who underwent the Wang procedure for pectus excavatum from January 2017 to September 2020 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. A 1~2-cm incision was made in front of the xiphoid, and a tunnel was constructed on the deep surface of the thoracic cage. Steel wires were inserted through the bilateral costal arch and the lower sternum, and a steel bar was placed in the tunnel. The wires were pulled taut and fixed to the bar, and the incision was sutured., Results: All the procedures were performed using one steel bar. The range of the procedure duration, the intra-operative bleeding volume, and the hospitalization stays of the patients were 18 to 45 (24.02±4.89) minutes, one to ten (2.16±1.68) mL, and three to nine days (5.71±1.35 days) respectively. Post-operative pneumothorax occurred in three cases without other complications. All the cases received follow-up for one to 45 months after discharge, during which six cases experienced poor wound healing, removed steel plate in 82 cases, and three cases of pectus excavatum recurrence., Conclusions: The Wang procedure is a good option for treating pectus excavatum, secondary pectus excavatum, or recurrent pectus excavatum in paediatric patients., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to SICOT aisbl.)

Objective: To observe the effects of minimally invasive surgical repair of pectus excavatum (NUSS) on the degree of chest flatness, cardiopulmonary function, and bone metabolism indexes in children of various age groups., Methods: In this retrospective study, 62 children with pectus excavatum admitted to our hospital were divided into two groups: group A (3-12 years old) and group B (>12 years old), with 31 cases in each group. All of them were treated with NUSS. The treatment effectiveness, perioperative indexes (operation time, blood loss, ground time, and hospitalization time), degree of chest flatness, cardiopulmonary function, bone metabolism indicators, and complications were compared between the two groups., Results: There was no significant difference between patients in the two groups in terms of operation time, blood loss, ground time, and hospitalization time (all P>0.05). The overall response rate to treatment in group A (93.55%) was higher than that of group B (70.97%; P<0.05). Three months after the operation, the chest flatness as well as serum alkaline phosphatase and its bone isoform levels in both groups were decreased, while left ventricular ejection fraction, cardiac index, stroke volume, FEV1, and peak expiratory flow levels were increased compared to before the operation, and the improvement in the above indicators of group A was better than Group B (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (16.13% vs. 9.68%; P>0.05)., Conclusion: NUSS surgery can achieve satisfactory results in treating children with pectus excavatum at different ages. However, in a certain age range, a younger age indicates a better effect. NUSS procedure effectively improves postoperative flat chest, cardiopulmonary function, and bone metabolism indexes., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2022.)

Paragonimiasis (pulmonary fluke disease) is a foodborne parasitic disease caused by trematode infections. Paragonimus proliferus is a characteristic Paragonimus species that was first identified in Yunnan Province of China. No direct evidence has yet proven that P. proliferus can infect humans. However, we previously found that P. proliferus infects and damages rat lung tissues via an unclear mechanism. Here, we infected Sprague Dawley rats with P. proliferus and sequenced their lung transcriptomes at various intervals thereafter. We detected P. proliferus on the surface of rat lung tissues at 7 days post infection. It colonized by attaching and secreting dsRNA and utilized nutrients from the lung tissues for mitosis and meiosis and the dynein arm of lung tissues to develop symmetrical organs. The rats generated different types of immune responses that differed according to the stage of infection. We then analyzed P. proliferus responses to these immune strategies and the genes expressed during each stage of infection. Our findings provide a foundation for developing medical treatments for P. proliferus infection., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2022.)

The Yellow River Delta is the largest and youngest estuarine and coastal wetland in China and is experiencing the most active interactions of seawater and freshwater in the world. Bacteria played multifaceted influence on soil biogeochemical processes, and it was necessary to investigate the intermodulation between the soil factors and bacterial communities. Soil samples were collected at sites with different salinity degree, vegetations, and interference. The sequences of bacilli were tested using 16S rRNA sequencing method and operational taxonomic units were classified with 97% similarity. The soil was highly salinized and oligotrophic, and the wetland was nitrogen-restricted. Redundancy analysis suggested that factors related with seawater erosion were principal to drive the changes of soil bacterial communities and then the nutrient level and human disturbance. A broader implication was that, in the early succession stages of the coastal ecosystem, seawater erosion was the key driver of the variations of marine oligotrophic bacterial communities, while the increasing nutrient availability may enhance in the abundance of the riverine copiotrophs in the late stages. This study provided new insights on the characteristics of soil bacterial communities in estuarine and coastal wetlands.

Background: Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is a common digestive disease. Without active treatment, it may induce gastric cancer. Western medicine has a certain effect on chronic atrophic gastritis, but there are many adverse reactions after long-term medication, and the disease is prone to relapse after treatment, which will affect the health and life of patients. Traditional Chinese medicine has obvious advantages in the treatment of chronic stomach diseases with reliable effect. A number of clinical data have also confirmed that Banxia Xiexin decoction has significant effect in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis, but there is no evidence of evidence-based medicine. Therefore, this study aims to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of Banxia Xiexin decoction in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis by means of systematic evaluation., Method: Databases including PubMed, The Cochrance Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang were searched by computer. Besides, Baidu Scholar and Google Scholar were manually searched, and all randomized controlled trials of Banxia xiexin decoction for the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis were collected. The retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to July 31, 2020. After 2 reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted the data and evaluated the bias risk of the included study, RevMan5.3 software (developed by the UK's International Cochrane Collaboration) was used to analyze the data., Results: In this study, the effectiveness and safety of Banxia Xiexin decoction for the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis were evaluated by the clinical efficiency, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score (traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score), quality of life score, gastrin level, epidermal growth factor, eradication rate of helicobacter pylori and incidence of adverse reactions., Conclusion: This study will provide reliable evidence for the clinical application of Banxia Xiexin decoction in the treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis., Ethics and Dissemination: The private information from individuals will not be published. This systematic review also will not involve endangering participant rights. Ethical approval is not required. The results may be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated in relevant conferences., Osf Registration Number: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/7K6QW.

It has recently been reported that plateau lakes have been seriously polluted by organic matter, however, the sources of this organic matter and their relative contributions remain unknown. In this study, to determine the sources and composition of the organic matter in the Hulun Lake basin during the spring-thaw period, a total of twenty-three sampling sites were investigated. Results showed high levels of organic matter pollution in the surface water of Hulun Lake, with an average COD values of 119.35 mg L -1 . Organic matter came from natural sources as well as a variety of anthropogenic activities. The direct sources included urbanization, industrial and residential wastewater discharge, and emission from burning fossile fuels. A large indirect source was organic matter from tumbleweed decomposition, which had increased due to desertification caused by overgrazing. The principal component analysis showed that organic matter from Hulun lake shared composition and sources with the upstream sections of the natural tributaries and the downstream section of the artificial tributary. The artificial inflow river contributed more organic matter than the other tributaries. Notably, a large portion of organic matter in Hulun Lake came from decomposing tumbleweed concentrated in the downstream section of one of the natural rivers. New indirect consequences of human activities must be factored into the rule and regulations that protect plateau lake ecosystems alongside the direct effects of established human activities.

Objective: To review the experience with Wang procedure for treatment of pectus excavatum in young children., Methods: The clinical data of 21 children with a mean age of 3.3 ± 1.1 years (ranging from 1.5-6 years) undergoing Wang procedure for pectus excavatum were analyzed. A longitudinal incision (1 to 2 cm) was made in the front of the xiphoid, and two tunnels were created using steel bars beneath the muscles on two sides of the chest wall. The fibrous tissue between the diaphragm and the sternum was dissociated, and the steel wires were sutured through the deformed chest wall. After the steel bar was placed in the tunnels, the wires were pulled and fixed in the middle of the bar, and the incision was sutured., Results: All the operations were performed using 3 wires and 1 steel bar. The operation time was 25 to 51 (38.1 ± 9.6) min with an intraoperative bleeding volume of 5 to 10 (7.1±1.5) mL. The time of hospitalization of the patients ranged from 6 to 10 days (mean 8.1±1.3 days). In all the patients, the incision healed smoothly without serious pain or obvious complications. All the patients were followed up for 1 to 13 months after the operation. During the follow- up, no recess recurred and no such complications as bar displacement or transposition occurred. According to the evaluation criteria after pectus excavatum operation, 13 cases had a total score of 9, and 8 had a total score of 8. The overall effect was satisfactory, and there were no cases rated as basically satisfactory or unsatisfactory., Conclusions: Wang procedure is a good option for treatment of pectus excavatum in young children.

Meridian syndromes are the required basic knowledge for mastering Science of Meridians, Collaterals and Acupoints but have not brought the adequate attention on the teaching program. The writers discovered' that the content of this section occupied a decisive role for developing the students' clinical thinking ability and, stimulating their interests to learn classical TCM theories. It's necessary to enhance the importance on meridian syndromes during teaching program. The teaching program was discussed in three aspects, named workshop pattern, competitive pattern and multimedia pattern. This teaching method may improve students' interests in the study on classical TCM theories, deepen the understanding on knowledge and motivate students' learning autonomy so that the teaching quality can be improved.

Rhizosphere oxygen profiles are the key to understanding the role of wetland plants in ecological remediation. Though in situ determination of the rhizosphere oxygen profiles has been performed occasionally at certain growing stages within days, comprehensive study on individual roots during weeks is still missing. Seedlings of Acorus calamus, a wetland monocot, were cultivated in silty sediment and the rhizosphere oxygen profiles were characterized at regular intervals, using micro-optodes to examine the same root at four positions along the root axis. The rhizosphere oxygen saturation culminated at 42.9% around the middle part of the root and was at its lowest level, 3.3%, at the basal part of the root near the aboveground portion. As the plant grew, the oxygen saturation at the four positions remained nearly constant until shoot height reached 15 cm. When shoot height reached 60 cm, oxygen saturation was greatest at the point halfway along the root, followed by the point three-quarters of the way down the root, the tip of the root, and the point one-quarter of the way down. Both the internal and rhizosphere oxygen saturation steadily increased, as did the thickness of stably oxidized microzones, which ranged from 20 µm in younger seedlings to a maximum of 320 µm in older seedlings. The spatial patterns of rhizosphere oxygen profiles in sediment contrast with those from previous studies on radial oxygen loss in A. calamus that used conventional approaches. Rhizosphere oxygen saturation peaked around the middle part of roots and the thickness of stably oxidized zones increased as the roots grew.