Search

• The first large-scale study of psychiatric emergency patients in China. • It is relatively rare to study etiology in psychiatric emergency patients. • This is the first research on symptom groups rather than disease. • Positive result can be used as a predictor of suicide risk in clinical applications. Psychiatric emergency patients constitute a population at high risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB). However, the risk factors for STB in this population have not been clearly defined. This study aimed to explore the risk factors for STB in psychiatric emergency patients in China. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted at the emergency department of psychiatry, Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University from 2015 to 2017. The Chinese suicide risk factors scale was used to test the STB of the patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors of STB. A total of 12,345 patients were included. Their average age was 36 years. According to the suicide risk scale, 3436 cases (27.83%) were at risk of STB, mainly young adults. The multivariable analysis showed that urban residence, years of education, living in Beijing, ethnic Han, living alone, unemployment, poor relationship with parents, one or more siblings, visit time in the night, family history, disease course, total duration, the total number of psychiatric hospitalizations, a clear diagnosis, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total score ≥28.5, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale total score ≥20, and Young Mania Rating Scale total score ≥12 were independent risk factors for STB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

l The potential maximum emissions of VOCs were 18,001 ton in Beijing. l The air pollutant emissions in asphalt mixing plants were determined. l The emissions of the base asphalt mixture constituted the largest category. l Road paving and service processes were the main source of VOCs emissions. l The spatial distribution of air pollutant emissions was analyzed. Improving our understanding of air pollutant emissions from the asphalt industry is critical for the development and implementation of pollution control policies. In this study, the spatial distribution of potential maximum emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the complete life cycle of asphalt mixtures, as well as the particulate matter (PM), asphalt fume, nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), VOCs, and benzoapyrene (BaP) emissions from typical processes (e.g., asphalt and concrete mixing stations, asphalt heating boilers, and asphalt storage tanks) in asphalt mixing plants, were determined in Beijing in 2017. The results indicated that the potential maximum emissions of VOCs in the complete life cycle of asphalt mixtures were 18,001 ton, with a large contribution from the districts of Daxing, Changping, and Tongzhou. The total emissions of PM, asphalt fume, NMHC, VOCs, and BaP from asphalt mixing plants were 3.1, 12.6, 3.1, 23.5, and 1.9 × 10−3 ton, respectively. The emissions of PM from asphalt and concrete mixing stations contributed the most to the total emissions. The asphalt storage tank was the dominant emission source of VOCs, accounting for 96.1% of the total VOCs emissions in asphalt mixing plants, followed by asphalt heating boilers. The districts of Daxing, Changping, and Shunyi were the dominant regions for the emissions of PM, asphalt fume, NMHC, and BaP, while the districts of Shunyi, Tongzhou, and Changping contributed the most emissions of VOCs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A solar fiber lighting and photovoltaic power generation system was developed. • A spectral beam splitter was used to separate the solar radiation in different wavelengths. • The designed system was theoretically simulated and experimentally tested. • The effects of structural parameters on the performances of the system were examined. • The lighting effects and overall average efficiency were examined. Modern buildings tend to be high-rise and dense, and indoor lightings are extensively depending on electricity even on sunny days currently. In addition, for those existing solar lighting technologies in development, only the visible light of solar radiation has been used, with the extra spectral energy dissipated by waste heat. A solar fiber optic lighting and photovoltaic power generation system based on spectral splitting technology (SSLP) is proposed and tested in this study. The sunlight is divided into different wave bands through a spectral beam splitter, where the visible light is used for optical fiber illumination, and the near-infrared radiation is used for photovoltaic power generation. The designed SSLP system is simulated with the Monte Carlo ray tracing method, and then experimentally tested. The effects of structural parameters and tracking accuracy on the optical performances of the system are examined. The experimental results show that the sunlight transmitted to the room using optical fiber is bright and comfortable, with an average lighting efficiency of 15.1 %; meanwhile, the average power generation efficiency of the system is about 6.1 %, reaching one-third of the value of conventional PV modules. When the output luminous flux is converted by the luminous efficiency of fluorescent lamps, the overall average efficiency of the system can reach to 29.5 %; when converted by LED lamps, the overall average efficiency can reach to 25.4 %, which are both more efficient than the conventional PV power generation. Taking the solar radiation conditions in Beijing as an example, when the sunlight collection area of the system is 1 m2, it can provide 8 h of sunlight illumination of 500 lx per day for a room of 19.7 m2, while the daily generated electricity can be provided to the LED lamps to extend the lighting time by 2.5 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Aggression is common and challenging in psychiatric emergency departments (PED). However, the prevalence of aggression and its correlates in PED patients are not well documented. This study compared the prevalence of aggression between patients with acute schizophrenia and manic episodes.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients at a psychiatric emergency department were assessed with measurements of aggression, psychotic and manic symptoms.Results: A total of 4,172 patients were included. The prevalence of aggression was 54.8% (95%CI=53.3%-65.2%) in the whole sample, with 48.0% (95%CI=45.8%-50.1%) in patients with an acute schizophrenia episode, and 61.8% (95%CI=59.8%-63.9%) in patients with a manic episode. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that, within the acute schizophrenia episode group, male gender (OR=1.47, P<0.01), involuntary admission (OR=3.61, P<0.01) and more severe manic symptoms (OR=1.30, P<0.01) were significantly associated with aggression. Within the manic episode group, living in Beijing (OR=1.51, P<0.01), unemployment (OR=1.34, P=0.03), involuntary admission (OR=7.93, P<0.01), lower education (OR=0.95, P=0.01) and more severe psychotic symptoms (OR=1.05, P<0.01) were significantly associated with aggression.Conclusion: In this study, aggression appeared to be more common among patients with a manic episode than those with an acute schizophrenia episode. Considering the significant risk of aggression on psychiatric emergency care, appropriate and effective management of aggression in this population group need to be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of a single-use digital flexible ureteroscope (f-URS) and a reusable digital f-URS (URF-V) for the treatment of renal stones in adults. Patients and Methods: In this randomized open-label noninferiority trial, we randomly selected patients with renal stones to receive ureteroscopy through a single-use digital f-URS (ZebraScope™; Happiness Workshop, Beijing, China) or a URF-V (Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). The primary endpoint was the 1-month postsurgical stone-free rate (SFR). The secondary efficacy endpoints assessed were the high-quality rate of images, the eligible rate of operability, the operative time, and the length of hospital stay. The safety outcomes assessed were the presence of postoperative complications, adverse events (AEs), and serious AEs (SAEs). The noninferiority margin was set at −10%. Results: In total, 126 patients completed the study (i.e., 63 patients in each group). The demographic and preoperative parameters were comparable between the two groups. The 1-month SFR was 77.78% for the ZebraScope group and 68.25% for the URF-V group (two-sided 95% confidence interval [CI]: −5.95 to 25.01). The high-quality rate of images and the eligible rate of operability were 100% in both groups (two-sided 95% CI: −5.27 to 5.35). There was no difference between the two groups in the operative time (p = 0.687), the length of hospital stay (p = 0.430), the presence of postoperative complications (p = 0.310), the presence of AEs (p = 0.709), and the presence of SAEs (p = 0.648). The most important and fatal SAE was acute urinary tract obstruction. Conclusion: The single-use digital f-URS (ZebraScope) appears to be at least noninferior to URF-V regarding the 1-month SFR, the high-quality rate of images, and the eligible rate of operability. Single-use digital f-URSs are an effective and safe alternative to URF-V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study reports the seasonal variation of airborne phthalates and its exposure assessment in college students. • DMEP and DnBP are the most abundant phthalates in the dormitory and classroom. • Airborne phthalates were relatively higher in the male dormitory in winter. • Airborne phthalates seasonally varied and were evident in winter. • Daily intake in dormitories and classrooms is the highest in winter. Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in various products. However, only few studies have focused on its pollution in university dormitories and classrooms. In this study, we measured the airborne concentrations of phthalates in the dormitories and classrooms of a university in Beijing, China. We analyzed the pollution characteristics and possible sources of phthalates, used Monte Carlo simulation to estimate phthalate intake via inhalation and dermal absorption through direct air-through-skin pathways, and explored the seasonal variations in airborne phthalate concentrations and exposure levels. Di (2-methoxyethyl) phthalate and di-n-butyl phthalate were predominantly observed in the classroom and dormitory. Three possible phthalate sources existed in the classroom and dormitory. The airborne concentrations of high-molecular-weight phthalates were significantly higher in winter than those during spring and autumn. The room's orientation weakly affected the indoor airborne phthalate concentrations. More surface sinks in female dormitories significantly affected the concentration of airborne phthalates, which is worthy of a comprehensive study. Low-molecular-weight phthalates in the dormitory significantly differed between urban and suburban areas. The influences of orientation, dormitory type, and geographic location on indoor phthalate concentrations are related to the seasons. The total daily intake of phthalates in dormitories was greater than that in classrooms. The daily intake of phthalates via dermal absorption was greater than that via inhalation, and was the highest during winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study made a field VOCs (volatile organic compounds) measurement for a petroleum refinery in Beijing by determining 56 PAMS VOCs, which are demanded for photochemical assessment in US, and obtained the characteristics of VOCs emitted from the whole refinery and from its inner main devices. During the monitoring period, this refinery brought about an average increase of 61 ppbv in the ambient TVOCs (sum of the PAMS VOCs) at the refinery surrounding area, while the background of TVOCs there was only 10–30 ppbv. In chemical profile, the VOCs emitted from the whole refinery was characteristic by isobutane (8.7%), n-butane (7.9%), isopentane (6.3%), n-pentane (4.9%%), n-hexane (7.6%), C6 branched alkanes (6.0%), propene (12.7%), 1-butene (4.1%), benzene (7.8%), and toluene (5.9%). On the other hand, the measurement for the inner 5 devices, catalytic cracking units (CCU2 and CCU3), catalytic reforming unit (CRU), tank farm (TF), and wastewater treatment(WT), revealed the higher level of VOCs pollutions (about several hundred ppbv of TVOCs), and the individual differences in VOCs chemical profiles. Based on the measured speciated VOCs data at the surrounding downwind area, PMF receptor model was applied to identify the VOCs sources in the refinery. Then, coupling with the VOCs chemical profiles measured at the device areas, we concluded that CCU1/3 contributes to 25.9% of the TVOCs at the surrounding downwind area by volume, followed by CCU2 (24.7%), CRU (18.9%), TF (18.3%) and WT (12.0%), which was accordant with the research of US EPA (2008). Finally, ozone formation potentials of the 5 devices were also calculated by MIR technique, which showed that catalytic cracking units, accounting for about 55.6% to photochemical ozone formation, should be given the consideration of VOCs control firstly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A field measurement campaign for ozone and ozone precursors (VOCs and NOx) was conducted in summer 2011 around a petroleum refinery in the Beijing rural region. Three observation sites were arranged, one at southwest of the refinery as the background, and two at northeast of the refinery as the downwind receptors. Monitoring data revealed the presence of serious surface O 3 pollution with the characteristics of high average daily mean and maximum concentrations (64.0 and 145.4 ppbV in no-rain days, respectively) and multi-peak diurnal variation. For NO x , the average hourly concentrations of NO 2 and NO were in the range of 20.5–46.1 and 1.8–6.4 ppbV, respectively. For VOC measurement, a total of 51 compounds were detected. Normally, TVOCs at the background site was only dozens of ppbC, while TVOCs at the downwind sites reached several hundreds of ppbC. By subtracting the VOC concentrations at background, chemical profiles of VOC emission from the refinery were obtained, mainly including alkanes (60.0% ± 4.3%), alkenes (21.1% ± 5.5%) and aromatics (18.9% ± 3.9%). Moreover, some differences in chemical profiles for the same measurement hours were observed between the downwind sites; the volume ratios of alkanes with low reactivity and those of alkenes with high reactivity respectively showed an increasing trend and a decreasing trend. Finally, based on temporal and spatial variations of VOC mixing ratios, their photochemical degradations and dispersion degradations were estimated to be 0.15–0.27 and 0.42–0.62, respectively, by the photochemical age calculation method, indicating stronger photochemical reactions around the refinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new approach combining the environment monitoring, model simulation and source apportionment methods was proposed to investigate the impact of vehicular emissions on the PM2.5 pollution. The method can identify the contributions of various emission sources to both the primary and secondary particles. A case application was conducted in Beijing, China. An intensive monitoring covering the period of December 2010 to January 2012 was conducted to obtain the detailed chemical components proportions in the total PM2.5. The vehicular emission contributions (VECs) to primary organic aerosols (POA), element carbon (EC), SO2, NO X , NH3, elements and VOC were estimated based on the MM5-CMAQ simulation, factor analysis and references investigation. The VECs to different components and to the total PM2.5 were then calculated. Results showed that there was no clear difference in the total VECs of different seasons. The annual average contribution ratio was approximately 22.5 ± 3.5%. Among all the chemical species, nitrate and SOA accounted for the highest contribution percentages. In addition, the influence of road dust on the PM2.5 pollution was also simulated using the MM5-CMAQ modeling system. It is indicated that the road dust contributed approximately 4.9 ± 1.3% of the total PM2.5 on an annual average. Considering both the contributions from motor vehicles and road dust emissions, the annual average direct contributions from road transport to the PM2.5 in Beijing was approximately 27.4 ± 4.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]