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【Objective】 The Kuerle fragrant pear is a valuable cash crop in Xinjiang, with its production heavily relying on irrigation. This study investigates the influence of irrigation amount and drip irrigation pipeline configuration on its fruit quality. 【Method】 The experiment was conducted in an orchard, using the densely planted 7 year dwarf Kuerle fragrant pear as the model plant. Based on the number of drip irrigation pipelines per row of pear plants, three configurations were set up: 2 lines per row (P1), 3 lines per row (P2), and 4 lines per row (P3). Each configuration had two irrigation amount treatments: 6 750 m3/hm2 (W1) and 5 250 m3/hm2 (W2). For each treatment, we measured the spatiotemporal changes in soil water content and various fruit quality indices. 【Result】 Soil water content increased with soil depth, peaking at the depth of 70-90 cm before declining. The treatments did not significantly affect fruit hardness but had a notable impact on fruit weight and other quality indicators, including soluble sugar and vitamin C content. Under the same irrigation amount, an increase in the number of drip irrigation pipelines was associated with an increase in the longitudinal diameter of the fruits. When the irrigation amount was 6 750 m3/hm2, the vitamin C content in the fruits increased with the increase in the number of drip irrigation pipelines. Among all quality indices, the coefficient of variation for titratable acid and vitamin C content was the highest, both exceeding 30%. Correlation analysis revealed that fruit weight was positively correlated with longitudinal and transverse diameters of the fruits, as well as the solid-acid ratio, while negatively correlated with titratable acid, soluble sugar, and vitamin C content. 【Conclusion】 A comprehensive analysis indicated that the optimal drip irrigation scheme for Kuerle fragrant pear production in Xinjiang is three drip irrigation pipelines per row of pears plant, with an irrigation amount of 5 250 m3/hm2.

AIM: To assess the clinical efficacy of visual therapy in children with abnormal visual functions and asthenopia.METHODS: Retrospective case study. The data of 57 patients(114 eyes), aged 8.25±1.94 years, who underwent visual training at the optometry center of Xi'an Children's Hospital between January 2022 and April 2023, were collected. Patient assessments before and after training included refractive errors, a visual fatigue scale questionnaire, and visual function tests. These tests included the Worth 4 Dot for binocular vision, the Von Graefe method for measuring latent strabismus at distance and near, the gradient method for assessing the accommodative convergence/accommodation(AC/A)ratio, the push-up test for convergence near point, the negative lens method for amplitude of accommodation, the cross-cylinder test for accommodative response, and the flipper test for accommodative flexibility. Training programs were tailored based on the initial assessments of visual function and asthenopia. Comparisons were made between pre-training, 1 and 3 mo post-training evaluations.RESULTS: At baseline and 1 mo post-training, the visual fatigue scores were 26.00±6.77 and 19.57±8.90, respectively(P0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were noted in the binocular amplitude of accommodation, NRA, PRA, and near phoria between 1 and 3 mo after training(all P>0.05). The visual function parameters of 30 patients with low myopia(SE: -1.99±1.22 D), 3 patients with low hyperopia(SE: +1.01±0.13 D)and 24 patients with emmetropia(SE: +0.25±0.11 D)were not statistically significant before training and at 1 mo after training(all P>0.05). Certain visual functions significantly improved at 1 mo after training, and most had returned normal by 3 mo.CONCLUSION: Vision therapy significantly enhances binocular visual function and alleviates symptoms of asthenopia in children with visual dysfunction. It is an effective, straightforward, and easily applicable method for relieving children's visual fatigue.

Image inpainting aims to fill the undetectable domain and has been studied using deep learning in recent years. This study investigates smoothness-informed convolutional neural network models for image inpainting. The total variation (TV) is considered and local smoothness constraints are also explored in this study. The local smoothness constraint is conducted by the fidelity of the low-order derivatives on mostly connected parts of the given image at training stage. Unlike most neural network-based inpainting methods using numerous images for training, only a single local image containing the domain to be filled is required for the whole training here. The convolutional neural network accepts the image and is trained using detectable data. Computational results indicate that the local smoothness constraint can conduct a more satisfactory inpainting in comparison to usual TV-based one. We also demonstrate how a deep learning approach is used to solve the Euler-Lagrange equation-based inpainting.

Introduction: The Epley maneuver is useful for the otoconia to return from the long arm of the posterior semicircular canal into the utricle. To move otoconia out of the posterior semicircular canal short arm and into the utricle, we need different maneuvers. Objective: To diagnose the short-arm type BPPV of the posterior semicircular canal and treat them with bow-and-yaw maneuver. Methods: 171 cases were diagnosed as BPPV of the posterior semicircular canal based on a positive Dix–Hallpike maneuver. We first attempted to treat patients with the bow-and-yaw maneuver and then performed the Dix–Hallpike maneuver again. If the repeated Dix–Hallpike maneuver gave negative results, we diagnosed the patient with the short-arm type of BPPV of the posterior semicircular canal and considered the patient to have been cured by the bow-and-yaw maneuver; otherwise, probably the long-arm type BPPV of the posterior semicircular canal existed and we treated the patient with the Epley maneuver. Results: Approximately 40% of the cases were cured by the bow-and-yaw maneuver, giving negative results on repeated Dix–Hallpike maneuvers, and were diagnosed with short-arm lithiasis. Conclusion: The short-arm type posterior semicircular canal BPPV can be diagnosed and treated in a convenient and comfortable manner.

Futurism and the African Imagination: Literature and Other Arts EDITED BY DIKE OKORO Routledge, 2022 262 pp. ISBN 9781032015699 paper. Futurism and the African Imagination: Literature and Other Arts, edited [...]

Duplex stainless steel (DSS) has been applied to marine industries, chemical plants, and nuclear facilities because of its high mechanical strength, good weldability, good resistance to pitting corrosion in various aggressive environments, and relatively low cost than similar-performance materials. However, with the decline of iron and steel industries, the competition among stainless steel products is becoming fierce. To reduce the costs of stainless steel, enterprises have attempted to replace high-priced alloy elements with low-priced alloy elements. Thus, the project of substituting manganese for nickel has attracted considerable attention. In this study, effect of manganese addition in the range of 0. 93%-1. 26% on the resistance to pitting corrosion of duplex stainless steel in chloride medium was investigated. Chemical corrosion and potentiodynamic anodic polarization tests were conducted to assess the resistance to pitting corrosion. Categories and number of inclusions were analyzed using inclusion automatic analysis technology. Changes of inclusions before or after chemical and electrochemical corrosion were observed using in situ observation, scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer analysis. Inductively coupled plasma test was conducted to analyze compositions of corrosion products. The results indicate that different inclusions have different effects on pitting corrosion. Types of (Mn, Si) oxides and complex inclusions of (Mn, Si, and Cr) oxysulfides are dissolved, which accelerates the corrosion process. However, the types of (Cr, Mn, and Al) oxides are stable in similar environment. The addition of manganese leads to the deterioration of the resistance of dplex stainless steel to pitting corrosion because manganese accelerates the formation of (Mn, Si) oxides that act as initial locations of pitting corrosion in chlorine ion corrosion environment. Dissolved inclusions help to expose fresh matrix to etchant solution, accelerating the corrosion ofthe matrix. Thus, the corrosion of the duplex stainless steel matrix is more serious than that of the inclusions.

The 06Cr18Ni11Ti (321) stainless steel has good corrosion resistance and mechanical properties.However, the addition of Ti leads to the formation of Ti N inclusions, which deteriorates the condition of continuous casting and causes the clogging.The formation of clogging in the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) of 321 stainless steel was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) , energy disperse spectroscope (EDS) and thermodynamic calculation.According to the change of components, three layers in sample were defined:the refractory materials layer, the reaction layer and metal layer from the outer layer to the inner layer of SEN.The results show that the molten steel corrodes the refractory materials of SEN and the high-melting-point slag phase forms.Then Ti N inclusions attach to the inner layer and form curved chain or reticular structure with slag phase, which causes the clogging of SEN.Resultsof thermodynamic calculation indicate that the equilibrium solubility of titanium and nitrogen increases with temperature.There is high Ca/Al proportion in Ca O-Al2O3-Ti O2-5%MgO phase.So controlling the compositions of slag is needed to prevent clogging.

C38H45N3Cl2Pd, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 12.8249(8) Å, b = 16.0552(9) Å, c = 20.5611(10) Å, β = 115.396(3)°, V = 3824.5(4) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0287, wRref(F2) = 0.0879, T = 173(2) K.

[C16H22BrNO10], orthorhombic, P212121 (no. 19), a = 9.7453(13) Å, b = 9.9023(13) Å, c = 21.885(3) Å, V = 2111.9(5) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0357, wRref(F2) = 0.0981, T = 296(2) K.

Taking an office building in Jinan as an example, the simulation model of solar inter-seasonal soil heat storage was established by TRNSYS software, and the variation law of ground temperature in the heat storage period was analyzed. From the perspective of ground temperature change, the influence of the spacing, length, number of drilling wells and area of solar collector on the heat storage effect was analyzed. The results showed that the soil temperature increased rapidly at the beginning of heat storage, and then the temperature rise rate gradually slowed down. The ground heat exchanger spacing, length, number of drilling and collector area will have a great influence on the solar energy seasonal heat storage effect. Therefore, in practical engineering applications, for the solar inter-seasonal soil heat storage system, the parameters of buried pipes, collectors and other components are recommended to be reasonably determined by simulation to obtain the optimal heat storage effect.

[Purpose/significance] From the perspective of industry chain, this paper takes virtual reality technology as an example, constructs VR patent industry chain corpus, and explores the technical theme, research and development hotspot and future development trend of China VR patent. [Method/process] First of all, this paper used Python to crawl the patent text in VR field and got effective corpus through data cleaning. Secondly, combining IPC classification number and K-means clustering algorithm, this paper constructed and validates VR patent industry chain. In addition, based on TF-IDF algorithm and LDA theme model, we identified the core technology themes and their comprehensive strength, technology research and development hotspots and future trends of China VR patents from the perspective of production chain. [Result/conclusion] At present, the proportion of patents in each link of China VR industry chain is unbalanced. The upstream link is the most popular, followed by the downstream link, and the weakest link is the midstream link. In terms of theme mining, the upstream hot spot is software development, the midstream hot spot is film and television production, and the downstream hot spot is medical, educational and entertainment applications. In terms of future trends, the upstream of the industrial chain will be dominated by technologies such as electronic digital data processing, optical components, image communication, etc., the midstream will be dominated by technologies such as vehicle components, power devices, damping devices, etc., and the downstream will be dominated by technologies such as indoor games, medical diagnosis, identification, etc..

Two new triterpenoids, named kadsuricoccins A and B, together with three known ones, were isolated from the Li folk herb Heilaohu, the stems of Kadsura coccinea (Lem.) A. C. Smith, which was used for food and as a healthy supplement. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analyses of mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data. To search healthy components, an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity test by Ellman’s Method was conducted, kadsuricoccins A and B showed activity with the AChE inhibit index (AII) up to 68.96% ± 0.19% and 57.8% ± 0.11% at 94 nM (compared with positive control tacrine AII 79.80% ± 0.20%, 9.4 nM), respectively.

It is known that Kv1.3, KCa3.1, CRAC, TRPM7, and Clswell are five important ion channels in T lymphocytes. To investigate the mechanism underlying the protective effects of lentinan against T lymphocytes injury induced by chronic radiation in mice, we determined the expression profiles of Kv1.3, KCa3.1, Orai1, STIM1, TRPM7, and Clswell genes. Mice were injected with different concentrations of lentinan before exposure to 60Co g-ray. Total RNA was then extracted from T lymphocytes in murine spleen. The Real time-PCR was per- formed to detect the expression levels of Kv1.3, KCa3.1, Orai1, STIM1, TRPM7, and Clswell genes. The results show that, out of the six ion channels gene expression detected in the present study, only Kv1.3 and Orai1 were altered by lentinan in mice under chronic radiation stress. Kv1.3 and Orai1 expression were significantly elevated in T-lymphocytes isolated from irradiated mice, and were normalized by lentinan treatment. Our results suggest that that Kv1.3 and Orai1 channels may mediate the anti-radiation effects of lentinan.

Iodinated contrast media (iodinated CM) have increased ability to absorb x-rays and to visualize structures that normally are impossible to observe in a radiological examination. The use of iodinated CM may destory renal function, commonly known as contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), which can result in acute renal failure (ARF). This review article mainly focuses on the following areas: (1) classifications of iodinated CM: ionic or non-ionic, high-osmolarity contrast media (HOCM), low-osmolarity contrast media (LOCM) and iso-osmolarity contrast media (IOCM); (2) an introduction to the physical and chemical properties of the non-ionic iodinated CM; (3) the management of anaphylactic reaction by iodinated CM; (4) a suggested single injection of adult doses and maximum dose for non-ionic iodinated CM; (5) the molecular mechanism of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN); (6) In vitro studies on iodinated CM. Based on above information, this review article provide an insight for understanding the drug safety of iodinated CM.