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Quantifying the effect of light-duty vehicle trip characteristics and cold-start extra emissions (CSEEs) on the spatio-temporal distribution of vehicle emissions at the urban scale facilitates dynamic modeling of emissions and assessment of human exposure in denser settings. The results of Beijing demonstrate that cold starts and CSEEs are predominantly distributed in peak hours, especially morning peaks. A total of 80.8% of the morning peak trips are cold-start trips, and CSEEs account for 64.2%, 50.1%, and 8.3% of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and nitrogen oxide (NOX) in the winter morning peaks, respectively. The fraction of CSEEs for CO, HC, and NOX increases by 49.1%, 54.6%, and 36.7%, respectively, when trip length decreases from more than 35 km to less than 5 km. By converting 50% of the short automobile trips to non-motorized modes, CSEEs decrease by 12.9%, 13.4%, and 12.9% of CO, HC, and NOX of the entire road network. CSEEs are mainly distributed on local roads and minor arterials with high air pollution exposure for pedestrians and cyclists, accounting for 68.1% and 21.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fengyun-4A (FY-4A) is the latest generation of China’s geostationary satellite. The Advanced Geosynchronous Radiation Imager (AGRI) onboard FY-4A can provide high-precision, high-frequency observation data, which makes a new possibility for estimating the downwelling surface longwave radiation (DSLR) with high spatial and temporal resolution. This work presents a new method for estimating DSLRs under all-sky conditions using a genetic algorithm–artificial neural network (GA-ANN) algorithm based on brightness temperature (BT) from the FY-4A AGRI infrared channels and near-surface air temperature and dew point temperature from ERA5 reanalysis data. Based on the verification results of two independent observation sites, it is shown that the bias and RMSE are - 4.31 W/m2 and 35.28 W/m2, respectively. Compared the CERES SYN all-sky DSLR product with the DSLR estimated by the new method, the bias and RMSE are 0.86 W/m2 and 26.87 W/m2, respectively, and the new method has a higher spatial resolution (4 km), which can display more details of spatial variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dicyandiamide (DCD) has been extensively used to retard the nitrification process and decrease nitrogen (N) losses. However, its efficacy is variable and inconsistent depending upon the environmental conditions. The effects of temperature and moisture on DCD degradation and carbon dioxide (CO2) release from calcareous soil are not well-known. Therefore, an incubation experiment comprising three treatme ts (control, N fertilizer, and N fertilizer + DCD) was conducted for 67 d at different temperature (10 °C and 25 °C) and moisture (40% and 60% WFPS) levels. Results showed that nitrification activity and subsequent gaseous losses were increased with N addition and significantly affected by temperature and moisture levels. DCD effectively inhibited NH4+ oxidation, net NO3− production (31–59%), and N2O emissions (69%). CO2 emissions increased with N fertilization but reduced (18–161%) significantly with DCD application. DCD efficiency of inhibiting nitrification and controlling CO2 emission was related to its residence time in the soil. DCD degraded quickly at high temperature (25 °C) and moisture (60% WFPS), that is why it was least effective in inhibiting nitrification and controlling gaseous fluxes. Accordingly, DCD is not equally effective everywhere and is more suitable for regions with low temperature and low moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This network meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) hydralazine, oral nifedipine, and IV labetalol with different dosage regimens in the treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy. A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exploring the effects of hydralazine, nifedipine, and labetalol in the treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy. A total of 21 RCTs with 2183 patients comparing 7 regimens (oral nifedipine 50,60,90 mg; hydralazine 15,25 mg; and labetalol 220,300 mg) were identified. Compared with IV labetalol 300 mg, nifedipine 50,60, and 90 mg significantly improved the successful treatment rate of severe hypertension during pregnancy, nifedipine 50 and 90 mg and IV hydralazine 25 mg required significantly fewer doses to achieve target blood pressure (BP), and nifedipine 50 mg took significantly shorter time to achieve target BP. Subgroup analysis showed that only nifedipine 50 mg tablets, not capsules, required a significantly shorter time and fewer doses to achieve target BP than IV labetalol 300 mg. Moreover, nifedipine 60,90 mg showed superior effectiveness than IV hydralazine 15,25 mg in the successful treatment rate of severe hypertension during pregnancy. SUCRA analysis suggested that nifedipine 50,60,90 mg as the better regimens with the lower rates of overall ADR and neonatal complications. These findings demonstrated the superiority of oral nifedipine 50,60,90 mg, especially oral nifedipine 50 mg tablets, in the treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy than IV labetalol 300 mg, while oral nifedipine 60,90 mg also showed superiority in the successful treatment rate of severe hypertension during pregnancy than IV hydralazine 15,25 mg. However, the limitations of the underlying data indicate that future large-scale and rigorous RCTs are needed to confirm such findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new triterpene glucosides (1–4) were isolated from the 90% ethanol extract of Salacia cochinchinensis, together with five known compounds (5–9). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis including HRESIMS, IR, 1 D and 2 D NMR analysis. All isolates were assayed for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Compound 9 showed remarkable α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 0.31 μM, and the triterpene glycosides (1–5) exhibited moderate α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourteen glaucocalyxin A biotinylated derivatives, one glaucocalyxin C biotinylated derivative, and two oridonin biotinylated derivatives were designed and synthesized. Their structures were confirmed from 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS data. The derivatives were evaluated for cytotoxic activities against lung (A549), cervical cancer cell line HeLa derivative (KB), multidrug-resistant KB subline (KB-VIN), triple-negative breast (MDA-MB-231), and estrogen receptor-positive breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We, the Editors and Publisher of the journal Behavioral Sleep Medicine, have retracted the following article: Title: Baduanjin Exercise for Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Authors: Yun-Han Jiang, Cheng Tan & Shuai Yuan DOI: 10.1080/15402002.2017.1363042 Since publication, significant concerns have been raised about the appropriateness of references and reported conclusions in the article. As verifying the validity of published work is core to the integrity of the scholarly record, we are therefore retracting the article. The corresponding author listed in this publication has been informed. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as "Retracted." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenotype assessment includes levels of visual acuity, fluorescein angiographic and other clinical examinations if a mutation carrier feels uncomfortable with his/her eyesight and visits an ophthalmologist. To the Editor: We read with interest the article by Yang and colleagues.[1] The authors argued that in their series of 29 families with RCBTB1 variants, none had FEVR syndrome, in contrast to what we have reported that corresponding I RCBTB1 i variants were identified in one family of Coats disease and one family of FEVR with functional studies validated.[2] In response to Yang et al., we would like to clarify a few points. In summary, phenotype variability is common among mutation carriers and between the two eyes of individuals affected by FEVR, from asymptomatic to complete blindness. [Extracted from the article]