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Phthalates are widely used in polymer materials as a plasticizer. These compounds possess potent toxic variations depending on their chemical structures. However, a growing body of evidence indicates that phthalate compounds are undoubtedly discovered in secondary metabolites of organisms, including plants, animals and microorganisms. This review firstly summarizes biological sources of various phthalates and their bioactivities reported during the past few decades as well as their environmental toxicities and public health risks. It suggests that these organisms are one of important sources of natural phthalates with diverse profiles of bioactivity and toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between the level of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) and the increase in blood pressure (BP) for different exposure terms (≤ 7 vs > 7 days) and age groups (< 65 vs ≥ 65 years). Some databases were searched to investigate the association between increased atmospheric PM (diameter < 2.5 mm [PM2.5] or < 10 mm [PM10]) and BP (systolic blood pressure [SBP] and diastolic blood pressure [DBP]). Among a total of 719 identified articles, 68 were reviewed in depth, of which only 20 satisfied the inclusion criteria. A significant association was found between PM10levels and higher BP. The β values were 0.270mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.068–0.482) for SBP and 0.215mmHg (95% CI 0.058–0.372) for DBP. These β values mean that, for every 10 mg/m3increase in PM10, SBP increased by 0.270mmHg and DBP by 0.215 mmHg. Subgroup analyses were conducted for different exposure terms and age groups. A positive association was seen between PM2.5and SBP. The β value of SBP was 0.495mmHg (95% CI 0.03–0.96) with every 10 mg/m3increase in PM2.5. There were no significant associations in both age groups and non-older groups. There was no significant association between PM2.5and DBP, either in the overall effect or in the subgroup effects. In conclusion, significant associations were found between higher BP and higher PM10levels, but the association between BP and levels of PM2.5levels was unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this study was to summary the characteristics of ophthalmic artery (OphA) aneurysms and to obtain the independent risk factors for poor prognosis of microsurgical clipping treatment for OphA aneurysms. The clinical and microsurgical clipping results of all 63 patients with ophthalmic aneurysm were investigated and reviewed. The OphA aneurysm patient's case records were reviewed including clinical characteristics, image findings, and clinical outcomes. Then, the risk factors of poor prognosis were analyzed retrospectively. Monocular blindness persisted in 4 patients (6.35%), 1 patient developed persistent vegetate state (PVS) (1.59%), while 4 patients (6.35%) died. The matching process constructed a cohort consisting of 9 poor outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale, GOS 1–3) patients (14.3%), and 54 good outcome (GOS 4–5) patients (85.7%). Univariate analysis between the good outcome and poor outcome revealed statistical significance in age > 60 (p = 0.045), size (p = 0.016), and rupture before operation (p = 0.049). Further, multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age > 60 (odds ratio [OR], 5.877; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.039–33.254; p = 0.045) and aneurysm size > 10mm (OR, 9.417; 95% CI, 1.476–60.072; p = 0.018) as the independent risk factors for poor outcome in microsurgical clipping treatment for OphA aneurysms. The significant independent risk factors associated with clipping OphA aneurysms are age (>60) and size (>10mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Mo and Ni on the microstructure and properties of compacted graphite iron were investigated experimentally, especially with regard to the thermal conductivity at elevated temperature. It was found that the ferrite fraction is weakly affected by Mo content but significantly reduced by Ni addition. Moderate content of Mo is beneficial to the tensile strength and the elongation, but it is detrimental for the thermal conductivity, which is more obvious than Ni. The phenomenon that thermal conductivity increases and then decreases at elevated temperature, which is named temperature dependence, could be connected with the lattice distortion of the matrix caused by solute atoms. With the addition of Mo or Ni, the rising amplitude of thermal conductivity increases as well as the temperature corresponding to the maximal of thermal conductivity. Besides, the effects of Mo on the temperature dependence of thermal conductivity are higher when compared with Ni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To priority areas for conservation in the coast of Zhejiang, this study attempts to map the spatial patterns of the intra-specific genetic diversity of two intertidal species, Septifer virgatus and Tetraclita japonica, using the sequences of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and large subunit ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) genes. In total, 129 and 112 specimens were collected from 12 and 11 populations for S. virgatus and T. japonica, respectively. These two species revealed congruent population historical signals, including (1) high levels of haplotype diversity and low values of nucleotide diversity, (2) post-LGM expansion, (3) the lack of population genetic structure, sharing haplotypes over all sampling populations, (4) gene flow connections, and (5) migration directions. Largely, all results supported that all sampling populations could be divided into two main metapopulations, exhibiting a northern and southern distribution. The north metapopulation could be considered as a marine protected area. The genetic patterns of the two species should be considered in the management and conservation in the islands along the Zhejiang, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to enhance the suitability of Lu’an coal for gasification in large entrained-flow gasifiers currently used by the Lu’an Group Mining Company in its 1.8 million ton per annum coal-based oil synthesis demonstration project. The effect of coal blending and flux addition on the ash fusion temperature (AFT) and gasification reactivity was investigated. CaO, Fe2O3, and MgO decreased the AFT of Lu’an coal by 150°C, 73°C, and 68°C, respectively, by a flux addition of up to 7%. Within the range of the experimental investigation, the AFT of Lu’an coal decreased by 3°C for each 1% of Shenmu coal addition. The gradual reduction of mullite and the formation of fayalite and hessonite in blended coal ash decreased the AFT. The addition of a fluxing agent significantly increased the reaction activity of the char, with Fe2O3exhibiting the largest catalytic effect on char gasification. Blending with Shenmu char significantly increased the gasification reactivity. The random pore model best describes the gasification process of Lu’an char, and a kinetic equation for the process was developed on the basis of this model. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To assess the incidence and risk factors of hypoglycemia in hospitalized neonates in China. Methods: Blood glucose level in hospitalized neonates was monitored routinely. Also, in high-risk newborns and neonates with abnormal blood glucose levels in initial detection, the blood sugar level was monitored daily until it was back to normal and stable. Results: Hypoglycemia was detected in 113 out of 668 hospitalized neonates, and the incidence of hypoglycemia was 16.9%. The statistical analysis also showed that hypoglycemia always occurred within one week after birth, especially within three days after birth. Conclusion: Neonates with premature birth, low birth weight and perinatal asphyxia were susceptible to hypoglycemia. Active and continuous monitoring of blood glucose level should be performed in the early newborns, especially in high-risk children, and attention should be paid to timely feeding for the early diagnosis and treatment of neonatal hypoglycemia to reduce its impact on the newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of the brownbanded bamboo shark Chiloscyllium punctatum was obtained for the first time in this study. The mitogenome is 16,703 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and one control region. The gene order and direction of transcription of C. punctatum is identical to most vertebrates. The strong codon usage bias against the G was found in the third codon positions of H-strand-encoded protein genes. The tRNA- Ser2 lost dihydrouridine arm and could not be fold into the typical cloverleaf secondary structure. In the control region, the termination-associated sequence domain, the central conserved domain and the conserved sequence blocks domain were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]