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Objectives: Patients with severe stroke are at high risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but this severe complication was often under-diagnosed and rarely explored in stroke patients. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, early predictors, and outcomes of ARDS in severe stroke. Methods: This prospective study included consecutive patients admitted to neurological intensive care unit (neuro-ICU) with severe stroke, including acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. The incidence of ARDS was examined, and baseline characteristics and severity scores on admission were investigated as potential early predictors for ARDS. The in-hospital mortality, length of neuro-ICU stay, the total cost in neuro-ICU, and neurological functions at 90 days were explored. Results: Of 140 patients included, 35 (25.0%) developed ARDS. Over 90% of ARDS cases occurred within 1 week of admission. Procalcitonin (OR 1.310 95% CI 1.005–1.707, P = 0.046) and PaO2/FiO2 on admission (OR 0.986, 95% CI 0.979–0.993, P < 0.001) were independently associated with ARDS, and high brain natriuretic peptide (OR 0.994, 95% CI 0.989–0.998, P = 0.003) was a red flag biomarker warning that the respiratory symptoms may be caused by cardiac failure rather than ARDS. ARDS patients had longer stays and higher expenses in neuro-ICU. Among patients with ARDS, 25 (62.5%) were moderate or severe ARDS. All the patients with moderate to severe ARDS had an unfavorable outcome at 90 days. Conclusions: ARDS is common in patients with severe stroke, with most cases occurring in the first week of admission. Procalcitonin and PaO2/FiO2 on admission are early predictors of ARDS. ARDS worsens both short-term and long-term outcomes. The conflict in respiratory support strategies between ARDS and severe stroke needs to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Rice taste is closely associated with endosperm composition, which varies among different rice layers. Although clarifying the relationship between this difference and nutritional taste can guide rice breeding and cultivation practices, research on this topic is limited. RESULTS: Here, typical rice varieties having excellent and poor taste characteristics were selected to analyze the distribution characteristics and differences of their components. The varieties with excellent taste exhibited lower apparent amylose content (AAC) and protein content (PC), lesser short‐chain (Fa) and long‐chain (Fb3) amylopectin (AP) and more medium‐chain (Fb1+2) AP, higher long‐to‐short chain ratio (Fa:Fb3), and higher nitrogen (N), magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) content in layer 1 (L1) than the varieties with poor taste. Layer 2 (L2) played a key role in AAC and PC regulation in the varieties with excellent taste by reducing AAC and appropriately increasing PC, consequently improving rice taste. AP structure in layer 3 (L3) substantially affected the taste of the two types of varieties. The mineral content was the highest in L1, and increased potassium (K), Ca, and Mg content improved taste in all varieties. CONCLUSION: AAC in each layer contributes to rice taste. PC and minerals primarily act on L1 and L2, whereas AP acts on L2 and L3. Therefore, the endosperm formation process should be exploited for improving rice taste. Furthermore, key resources and cultivation should be identified and regulated, respectively, to improve rice taste. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we obtained a stable male sterile mutant abortive pollen 90 (ap90) from the mutant library of Zhonghui 8015 (wild-type, WT), an indica restorer line, induced by Ethyl Methy Sulfone (EMS). Compared to the WT, the ap90 mutant displayed no significant differences in plant height, plant type, tiller number, heading date and other agronomic traits, but the anthers were thinner, light creamy yellow and pollen grains were completely abortive. Semi-thin sections observation of anther development at different stages showed that the ap90 mutant carried an abnormal development process of anther wall cells. Namely, the tapetum cell degradation was obviously abnormal, the microspore cells could not form a normal pollen wall structure during mitosis and the starch filling process was blocked which eventually resulted in the degradation of microspores into threadlets and failure of anther dehiscence. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations of the anther surface and pollen exine suggested that the anther epidermis of mutant ap90 were shrunk and covered by more compactly arranged cuticles. The shape of Ubisch distributed on the inner surface of anther locule were irregular, closely arranged and disordered. The pollen grains were shriveled and the sporopollenin on the pollen exine were abnormally arranged. Genetic analysis showed that the ap90 phenotype was controlled by a pair of recessive nuclear genes. Gene preliminary mapping located the mutation site into a 491.73 kb interval between RM21421 and RM21435 on the long arm of rice chromosome 7. Further Mut-Map sequencing analysis confirmed that there was a 37 bp deletion and a following single base substitution in the second exon region of LOC_Os07g22850 in the ap90 mutant, which resulted in the shifted coding sequence, prematurely terminated transcription and translation, leading to the entire abortive pollen and sterile spikelet in the ap90 mutant. Expression pattern analysis results demonstrated that the OSAP90 gene was specifically expressed in anthers and the OsAP90 protein was mainly located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The qPCR results suggested that the relative expression level of many male sterility-related genes in the ap90 mutant was affected by the mutation site, which further proved that 0sAP90 played an important role during the formation of Ubisch and pollen wall in rice anther development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Al–Hf alloy was prepared by open aluminothermic reduction of HfO2 using CaF2 and NaF as the flux. The influence of the slag composition, the amount of aluminum, and the heat energizer was studied detailly to establish optimum conditions for the sufficient recovery of the alloy and the complete slag–alloy separation. The Al–Hf alloy with 40 wt% Hf was obtained by this method, and the maximum recovery was 70.7%. The microstructure of the alloy was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Moreover, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and energy-disperse spectrometry (EDS) were applied to characterize the formation of the phases. The results show that the alloy consists of Al and Al3Hf phases and the oxygen content is about 0.2 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the association between maternal alcohol consumption and the risk of congenital heart disease (CHD) in offspring. Methods PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China Biology Medicine disc, Wanfang Database, CNKI Database, and Weipu Database were searched for the articles on the association between maternal alcohol consumption and congenital heart disease in offspring. These articles were published up to November 30, 2019. A random effects model or a fixed effects model was used for the pooled analysis of the results of each study, and then the pooled effective value and its 95%CI were calculated. A subgroup analysis was performed to explore heterogeneous regulators. Funnel plots and an Egger's test were used to assess publication bias. Results A total of 4 409 articles were searched, and 55 articles were finally included in this analysis, among which there were 6 cohort studies and 49 case-control studies. The Meta analysis showed heterogeneity across all studies (I2=74%, P<0.01). The random effects model showed that maternal alcohol consumption was associated with CHD in offspring, with an OR of 1.18 (95%CI: 1.09-1.28). The Egger's test showed a certain degree of publication bias (P<0.05), and after adjustment, the pooled OR of CHD in offspring was 1.10 (95%CI: 1.01-1.21). Conclusions Maternal alcohol consumption may increase the risk of CHD in offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study the association between maternal alcohol consumption and the risk of congenital heart disease (CHD) in offspring., Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, China Biology Medicine disc, Wanfang Database, CNKI Database, and Weipu Database were searched for the articles on the association between maternal alcohol consumption and congenital heart disease in offspring. These articles were published up to November 30, 2019. A random effects model or a fixed effects model was used for the pooled analysis of the results of each study, and then the pooled effective value and its 95%CI were calculated. A subgroup analysis was performed to explore heterogeneous regulators. Funnel plots and an Egger's test were used to assess publication bias., Results: A total of 4 409 articles were searched, and 55 articles were finally included in this analysis, among which there were 6 cohort studies and 49 case-control studies. The Meta analysis showed heterogeneity across all studies (I 2 =74%, P<0.01). The random effects model showed that maternal alcohol consumption was associated with CHD in offspring, with an OR of 1.18 (95%CI: 1.09-1.28). The Egger's test showed a certain degree of publication bias (P<0.05), and after adjustment, the pooled OR of CHD in offspring was 1.10 (95%CI: 1.01-1.21)., Conclusions: Maternal alcohol consumption may increase the risk of CHD in offspring.

Honeycomb briquet,biomass briquettes and bituminous coal from suburb of Beijing were chosen as testing samples to carry out combustion experiments. The characteristics of inorganic pollutant emission factors and VOCs emission factors released from the flue gas were studied. The results showed that under the condition of sufficient combustion, the average emission factors of SO 2 from these three types of coal respectively were 1.50,1.91,1.62 kg·t -1 ;NO x 0.420,0.901,2.20 kg·t -1 ;CO 22.4,37.3,87.3 kg·t -1 . Combustion emission factors of gaseous pollutants for NO x and CO were in the order of bituminous coal > biomass briquettes > honeycomb briquet. SO 2 emission factors were in the order of biomass briquettes > bituminous coal > honeycomb briquet. The 2014 emissions inventory of the three civil coal combustion pollutants in Beijing was obtained. Bituminous coal emissions of SO 2 was more than 5.5×10 3 tons,NO x was more than 7.5×10 3 tons,CO was more than 290×10 3 tons. All these coal types released more kinds and higher concentrations of volatile organic compounds in ignition phase and damp down stage. VOCs emission factor was the highest during ignition phase, followed by damp down phase.

A self-built monitoring sampling system on particulate matters and water soluble ions emitted from stationary combustion sources and a size separated sampling system on particulate matters based on FPS4000 and ELPI + were applied to test particulate matters in fumes of typical stationary combustion sources in Beijing. The results showed that the maximum concentration of total particulate matters in fumes of stationary combustion sources in Beijing was 83.68 mg · m⁻³ in standard smoke oxygen content and the minimum was 0.12 mg · m⁻³. And particle number concentration was in the 10⁴-10⁶ cm⁻³ number of grade. Both mass and number concentration ranking order of particulate matters emitted from stationary combustion sources in Beijing was: heating gas fired boilers < power plant coal fired boilers < heating coal fired boilers. And two or three peaks existed under 1 µm of particulate size for both number size distribution and mass size distribution. The number concentration for PM₂.₅ accounted for over 99.8% of that for PM₁₀ and that for PM₀.₁ accounted for over 83% of that for PM₂.₅. But the proportions of PM₀.₁, and PM₂.₅ in PM₁₀ were significantly lower in quality analysis,the proportion of PM₂.₅ in PM₁₀ was about 82%, and that of PM₀.₁ in PM₂.₅ was about 27%-33%.

Selecting coal fired boilers with typical flue gas desulfurization and dust extraction systems in Beijing as the study objects, the issues and characteristics of the water-soluble ions in fumes of coal fired boilers and theirs influence factors were analyzed and evaluated. The maximum mass concentration of total water-soluble ions in fumes of coal fired boilers in Beijing was 51.240 mg x m(-3) in the benchmark fume oxygen content, the minimum was 7.186 mg x m(-3), and the issues of the water-soluble ions were uncorrelated with the fume moisture content. SO4(2-) was the primary characteristic water-soluble ion for desulfurization reaction, and the rate of contribution of SO4(2-) in total water-soluble ions ranged from 63.8% to 81.0%. F- was another characteristic water-soluble ion in fumes of thermal power plant, and the rate of contribution of F- in total water-soluble ions ranged from 22.2% to 32.5%. The fume purification technologies significantly influenced the issues and the emission characteristics of water-soluble ions in fumes of coal fired boilers. Na+ was a characteristic water-soluble ion for the desulfurizer NaOH, NH4+ and NO3+ were characteristic for the desulfurizer NH4HCO3, and Mg2+ was characteristic for the desulfurizer MgO, but the Ca2+ emission was not increased by addition of the desulfurizer CaO or CaCO3 The concentrations of NH4+ and NO3- in fumes of thermal power plant were lower than those in fumes of industrial or heating coal fired boilers. The form of water-soluble ions was significantly correlated with fume temperature. The most water-soluble ions were in superfine state at higher fume temperature and were not easily captured by the filter membrane.

The levels of OCPs and DL-PCBs in the atmospheric particulates of Xining city and Tianjun county in Qinghai province were determined. DDTs and HCHs were the main component of OCPs in the atmospheric particulates. The average levels of DDTs and HCHs in the atmospheric particulates of Xining city were 35 pg x m(-3) and 5.9 pg x m(-3) in summer and 93 pg x m(-3) and 11 pg x m(-3) in winter, respectively. In Tianjun county, they were 83 pg x m(-3) and 6.4 pg x m(-3) in summer and 28 pg x m(-3) and 6.7 pg x m(-3) in winter, respectively. Compared with other Asian areas, the average levels of them in Qinghai province were lower. Meanwhile, the average levels of DL-PCBs in Xining city were 0.52 pg x m(-3) in summer and 0.99 pg x m(-3) in winter, respectively, and in Tianjun county were 0.58 pg x m(-3) in summer and 0.52 pg x m(-3) in winter, respectively. The average levels of OCPs in summer and winter of Xining city were higher than those in Tianjun county, but the average levels of DL-PCBs in two cities were similar. Compared with the polar region, the distribution principles of DL-PCBs in the plateau area were certainly similar, while HCHs and DDTs were different.

The levels of DL-PCBs in the surface sediments collected in 15 different sampling sites from the Tibetan Plateau to the Yellow River estuary along the Yellow River were measured using the GC-MS. The concentrations of ∑DL-PCBs ranged from 2. 3 to 14.8 pg.g-1 and the TEQs of DL-PCBs were between 0. 001 4 and 0. 023 1 pgg-1 , with an average of 0. 007 3 pg.g-1. Compared with other domestic and foreign rivers, the DL-PCBs and TEQ levels of the Yellow River were at low levels. The main DL-PCBs congeners in the Yellow River sediments were tetra and penta chlorinated biphenyls. The DL-PCBs congener composition of rural and underdeveloped areas was similar, and there was similar congeners composition between the industry developed areas and the populous areas. Petrochemical industries and hydropower facilities may affect the distribution of DL-PCBs congener in the sediments. A significant correlation between concentrations of DL-PCBs and GDP per capita was found. It indicated that the contamination extent of DL-PCBs in the Yellow River was related with the local economic development, DL-PCBs levels in developed areas were higher than those in remote rural areas.

Sediment core samples collected from the Zhushan Bay, Meiliang Bay, South Taihu of Taihu Lake were analyzed for 8 polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and 12 dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs). The results revealed that the PBDEs levels were highest in the Zhushan Bay, followed by Meiliang Bay and South Taihu; and the DL-PCB levels were highest in the Meiliang Bay, followed Zhushan Bay and South Taihu. The vertical distribution of PBDEs level showed an exponential growth trend in Taihu Lake sediments, BDE-209 was the most abundant PBDEs congeners; and the vertical distribution of the DL-PCBs level in the sediments revealed that the contamination caused by DL-PCBs continued to increase in recent years, indicating that there were PCBs sources in the Taihu Lake region. There was significant difference in the composition of PBDEs congeners at different depths in the sediments of Meiliang Bay, however, the detailed causes remain to be investigated in further studies. The vertical distribution pattern of PCBs congeners revealed that PCB-77, -118, -105 levels significantly decreased with increasing depth in 0-15 cm upper sediments and there chang in the lower sediments.

Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and dechlorane plus (DP), two common additive flame retardants, are widely used in electronic products. Since they are widely spread in both abiotic and biotic environmental samples, they have attracted worldwide attention. This study reported the measurement of the levels of BDE-209 and DP in the atmosphere of Xining City and Tianjun County in Qinghai Province. Compared with other areas, the average levels of BDE-209 in Xining City were higher, 370 pg x m(-3) in summer and 470 pg x m(-3) in winter, and that in Tianjun County were 220 pg x m(-3) and 390 pg x m(-3), respectively. Meanwhile, the average level of DP was at a low level both in Xining (0.85 pg x m (-3) and 0.25 pg x m(-3) in summer and winter) and Tianjun (0.24 pgx m(-3) and 0.16 pg x m(-3) in summer and winter), which showed that the level of DP in Xining was higher than that in Tianjun and the level of DP in summer was higher than that in winter. The anti-DP fractional abundances (f(anti)) in Xining City and Tianjun County were 0.66 +/- 0.04 and 0.68 +/- 0.06, respectively. Neither seasonal variation nor spatial variation of f (anti) was found at the sampling sites. A weak inverse correlation was found between the level of BDE-209 and DP in Qinghai,suggesting that the local sources of the two pollutants may be different.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of the comprehensive protocol of integrative medicine in preventing and treating perioperative delayed cerebrovasospasm (DCVS) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH)., Methods: Using a prospective randomized controlled trial design, 63 aSAH inpatients were assigned to the treatment group (31 cases, 24 treated by intervention treatment and 7 by craniotomy) and the control group (32 cases, 26 treated by intervention treatment and 6 by craniotomy). All patients were treated with basic therapy and nimodipine. Those in the treatment group additionally took naomai jiejing decoction No. 1 and No. 2. The incidence and the mortality of DCVS, re-bleeding, hydrocephalus were compared on the 180th day. The middle cerebral artery mean flow velocity (Vm), PI value, linde-gard index on day 1, 3, 7, and 14 were compared. The Chinese medicine syndrome score, NIHSS, and revised Rankin questionnaire on day 1, 14, and 180 were compared., Results: The DCVS occurred in 9 cases (29. 0%) of the treatment group and 17 patients (53.1%) of the control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The occurrence of re-hemorrhage was obviously lower in the treatment than in the control group (3.2% vs. 6.2%), showing statistical difference (P < 0. 05). There was no statistical difference in the mortality (6.4% vs. 9.4%) or the occurrence of hydrocephalus (29.0% vs 25.0%, P > 0.05). The Vm, PI, and linde-gard index on day 7, the Vm and linde-gard index on day 14 were obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). The Chinese medicine syndrome score and NIHSS on day 14 and 180 were lower in the treatment group than in the control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The comprehensive protocol of integrative medicine could reduce the incidence of aSAH patients' DCVS, the Chinese medicine syndrome score and NIHSS, and improve their clinical symptoms.