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Polymeric materials used for the polymer bonded explosive (PBX) or other energetic composite materials (ECMs) that simultaneously possess excellent mechanical properties and high self-healing ability, convenient healing, and facile fabrication are always a huge challenge. Herein, self-healing linear polyurethane elastomers (PTMEG2000-IPDI-DAPU, denoted as 2I-DAPU) with high healing efficiency and mechanical properties were facilely fabricated by constructing reversible covalent bonds and dynamic hard domains into polymer chains. Furthermore, a TATB-based PBX using as-prepared 2I-DAPU polymer as the binder was constructed, disclosing an excellent self-healing property to heal cracks generated during fabrication, transportation and storage. The damage healing manner of such a PBX sample was investigated by means of prefabricated damage through mechanical load, heal treatment via heating at high temperature, and CT-scanning the inner structure and mechanical property characterization via Brazilian test. The self-healing mechanism of internal damage in PBX was preliminarily explored. We propose that this 2I-DAPU binder with Diels-Alder bonds could generate plentiful active surface groups resulting from damage and drive self-healing at fitting temperature and increase the slightly packed hard phase via incorporating a small amount of hydrogen bonds. This work may offer a novel strategy for improving mechanical property and healing ability in the field of self-healing material which could help expand its applications with enhanced versatility in mechanical-enhanced functional materials.

When subjected to complicated thermal alternation, the low thermal conductivity (k) of polymerbonded explosives (PBXs) will induce high thermal stress, which will undermine the safety and reliability of the explosives by causing cracks or damage. However, it has been proven to be a challenge to efficiently increase the k of PBXs due to the high interfacial thermal resistance (ITR) and intrinsic defects of their conductive nanofillers. By introducing AgNWs with a high aspect ratio into graphene, this study constructed a novel multi-dimensional high-k nanofiller composed of one-dimensional (1D) silver nanowires (AgNWs) and two-dimensional (2D) graphene, namely gra@AgNWs. The AgNWs decorated could remedy the intrinsic defects of graphene by passing through the interspaces within graphene nanosheets to form connections as bridges. Consequently, the k of energetic polymer composites increased significantly by 89% from 0.425 ​W ​m−1 ​K−1 to 0.805 ​W ​m−1 ​K−1 at ultralow filler loading of 0.5 ​wt%. Furthermore, the temperature gradients and thermal stress in the composite cylinder decreased significantly under complicated thermal changes owing to the enhanced k. As quantitatively demonstrated through the fitting of experimental data using a theoretical model, AgNWs significantly decreased the ITR, paving highways” for phonon transfer between adjacent graphene nanosheets. Hence an expected synergistic effect of heat transfer was produced in the composites. This study provides new insights into the design and preparation of highly thermally conductive composites.

Under complex temperature variations, the irreversible thermal expansion of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) based polymer bonded explosives (PBXs) results in decreased shape stability, directly impacting mechanical properties, safety performance during storage and use. In recent years, extensive and thorough researches have seen carried out on the thermal expansion characteristics of TATB based explosives. This paper summarizes the thermal expansion characteristics of TATB based PBXs, the influencing factors, as well as their suppression methods. Starting with the distinctive crystal structure of TATB, the thermal expansion mechanism of TATB based PBXs is introduced, the microstructural evolution during the thermal expansion process is summarized, and the effects of thermal expansion on comprehensive performance are analyzed. More attention to the influencing factors of thermal expansion and control methods are paid. Existing challenges are summarized with the recommendation for further exploration into the irreversible expansion mechanism of TATB based PBXs. It point out several key directions for future development: design and control of TATB crystal structure, construction and development of novel composites with integrated structural-functional properties, as well as the application of negative thermal expansion functional materials.

Realizing effective enhancement to the structure of interface region between explosive crystals and polymer binder plays a key role in improving the mechanical properties of the current polymer bonded explosives (PBXs). Herein, inspired by the structure of natural nacre which possesses outstanding mechanical performance, a kind of nacre-like structural layer is constructed in the interface region of PBXs composites, making use of two-dimensional graphene sheets and one-dimensional bio-macromolecules of cellulose as inorganic and organic building blocks, respectively. Our results reveal that the constructed nacre-like structural layer can effectively improve the interfacial strength and then endow the PBXs composites with significantly enhanced mechanical properties involving of creep resistance, Brazilian strength and fracture toughness, demonstrating the obvious advantage of such bioinspired interface structure design strategy. In addition, the thermal conduction performance of PBXs composites also exhibits noticeable enhancement due to the remarkable phonon transport capability endowed by the as-designed nacre-like structural layer. We believe this work provides a novel design route to conquer the issue of weak interfacial strength in PBXs composites and greatly increase the comprehensive properties for better meeting the higher requirements proposed to the explosive part of weapon equipment in new era.

To improve the mechanical properties of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-1,3,5-triamine (TATB)-based polymer bonded explosives (PBXs), four kinds of polythiourea binders, namely the polyetherthiourea (P1), aliphatic polythiourea (P2), aromatic polythiourea (P3) and silane polythiourea (P4), were prepared and used in the PBXs. These four polythioureas were synthesized via the copolymerization of carbon disulfide (CS2) and diamines with various structures under mild conditions. They were then characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The interfacial binding energy between polythioureas and TATB was calculated via molecular dynamics simulations. The tensile and compression mechanical properties of various PBXs (PBX-Pn, n ​= ​1–4) were studied through Brazilian and compression tests and were then compared with those of the PBX with a conventional fluoro polymer binder (PBX-FP). The results show that the PBX-P1 possessed the strongest interfacial interaction energy and the best mechanical properties among all the prepared PBXs. Its Brazilian strength and strain was 11.0 ​MPa and 0.56%, which was 89% and 256% higher than those of the PBX-FP with the same binder proportion, respectively. Furthermore, PBX-P1 showed excellent compression mechanical properties, with a compression strength of 40.7 ​MPa and a compression strain of 3.53%. Moreover, its Brazilian and compression fracture energy was 600% and 101% higher than those of PBX-FP, respectively, which was beneficial for improving the PBX stability. The results of this study provide a new idea for designing TATB-based PBX with improved mechanical properties using polyetherthiourea binders.

CO esterification to dimethyl oxalate (DMO) has important industrial application value. However, the influence of support on catalytic performance has not been investigated sufficiently. In this work, MgAl-LDO supports (MgAl-LDO-400 and MgAl-LDO-600) were prepared at different calcination temperatures. The corresponding Pd-based catalysts was synthesized by impregnation method. The Pd/MgAl-LDO-400 catalyst exhibited higher CO conversion (39%) compared with the Pd/MgAl-LDO-600 (16%). It was found that Pd/MgAl-LDO-400 catalyst contains more Lewis basic sites, which is responsible for its higher activity. This work provides a general understanding of the support effect on catalytic performance induced by the Lewis basic sites.

High melting point paraffin wax (HPW) is a novel desensitizer that has the potential to achieve low sensitivity of energetic crystals, such as 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX). However, first-principles calculations confirmed that interface deterioration occurred due to a weak interfacial connection. In this work, the polydopamine (PDA)/HPW/PDA with a sandwich-like interfacial structure was prepared using three simple steps to improve safety performance, thermal stability, and mechanical properties. The theoretical and experimental results suggested that the PDA acted as a double-sided tape to adhere to the adjacent HMX/HPW layer or HPW/polymer binder layer, thus substantially enhancing the interfacial interaction. While maintaining higher safety performance (impact energy: 11∼13 ​J) than that of HMX (5 ​J), the new design improved the β-δ polymorphic transition temperature of HMX to 219.4 ​°C for HMX@PDA@HPW@PDA, which was higher than that of HMX@HPW (202.8 ​°C) and core@double-shell HMX@PDA@HPW (208.9 ​°C). Among the modified energetic composites, polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) based on HMX@PDA@HPW@PDA exhibited the optimum mechanical performance, including the storage modulus and tensile fracture energy, which were 43.5% and 77.1% higher than those of PBXs based on raw HMX, respectively. The achieved favorable systematical enhancement in thermal stability, mechanical properties, and safety performance shows that such a sandwich-like interfacial structure has great potential for application for HMX-based formulation used in complex environments.

Abstracts: The mechanical strength was influenced by the quality of the crystal and interfacial interaction between energetic particles and polymeric binders. In this work, rod-like and hairy-spherical 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105) with a high crystal quality was modified by polydopamine (PDA) and hyperbranched polymers (HBP) grafting. The morphology of modified LLM-105 changed into a rough surface, resulting in the obvious enhancement of surface energies and adhesion work with the fluoropolymer. Further, the thermal behavior was slightly affected after surface modification due to the decomposition latent of PDA and HBP. Owing to the combined e chemical bonding of PDA and interlocking interaction of HBP, the creep resistance and mechanical strength of the modified LLM-105-based polymer bonded explosives (PBXs) were significantly improved, assisted by quantitative analysis of the interfacial strength. This strategy may provide insights to other composites requiring high mechanical performance.

The safety properties and desirable detonation performance of energetic materials (EMs) are mutually exclusive, therefore, various strategies including the coating, doping, crystallization, and co-crystallization, are applied to achieve high-energy insensitive explosives with well-balanced energy and safety level. Among these strategies, the crystallization is the most commonly method owing to its low cost and facile process, through which the tuning of the particle size and morphology, adjust sensitivity of EMs by tailoring the processes conditions. As the control of the crystal particle size is difficult, the ultrasound and electrospray are introduced, and by use of the spray drying or spray-assisted electrospray methods, the spherical RDX, HMX, and CL-20 crystals with less defects is obtained. Moreover, the perfect spherical crystals are gained without agglomeration through employing polymeric additives in the crystallization process. In general, the crystallization with spray drying, electrospray, and ultrasound-assisted solvent/antisolvent are the optimal crystals preparation methods. The nano-crystals with narrow particle size distribution are less sensitive to external stimuli than irregular microcrystals, and defects are associated with hot spots, the safety and energy performance of EMs could be well balanced by crystallization.

Organic acids metabolism and nitrogen (N) metabolism in rice seedlings and the relationship between them are not fully understood. In this study, rice (Oryza sativa L. ssp. Indica) variety “Huanghuazhan” was used as the experimental material, and three N levels (5 mM, 1 mM, and 0 mM NH4NO3) were set by the hydroponic method for different levels of N treatment. Our results showed that the increased content of malate in rice leaves caused by reducing N level was related to the increased synthesis of malate (the activity of leaf PEPC increased)and the decreased degradation of malate (the activity of leaf NADP-ME decreased), while the increased contents of citrate and isocitrate in rice leaves caused by reducing N level might not be caused by the increased biosynthesis, but due to the decrease in degradation of citrate and isocitrate (the activities of leaf CS, ACO, and NADP-IDH decreased). The increased content of malate in rice roots caused by reducing N level might be related to the increased biosynthesis and the decreased degradation of root malate (the activities of root NAD-MDH and PEPC increased, while the activity of NADP-ME decreased). Compared to the control (5 mM NH4NO3), the increased content of citrate in rice roots caused by reducing N level might be related to the increased biosynthesis rather than the decreased degradation of citrate, due to the higher activities of CS and ACO in rice roots under 0 mM N and 1mM N treatment when compared to that of the control ones. At the same time, the increased content of isocitrate in roots was related to the increased isomerization of isocitrate (the activity of root ACO increased) and the decreased degradation of isocitrate (the activity of root NADP-IDH decreased). With the reducing N level, the activities of N metabolism-related enzymes, such as nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutamate synthase (GOGAT), decreased in rice leaves and roots, resulting in the decreased contents of total free amino acids (TFAAs) and soluble proteins in rice seedlings, and finally led to the growth inhibition. Our results showed that the dynamics of organic acids metabolism caused by reducing N level were different in rice leaves and roots. In conclusion, there was a close correlation between organic acids metabolism and N metabolism in rice leaves and roots under N-limited conditions; furthermore, such a correlation was more obvious in rice leaves than that of roots.

To study the effect of N-P-K fertilization on Phoebe bournei seedlings’ organs dry biomass, and nutrients accumulation and allocation, and to further uncover how nutrients regulating dry biomass formation through fertilization, we utilized the “3414” experiment design. The results showed that N, P, and K fertilizer promoted dry biomass accumulation, and root, stem, and total plant N, P, and K content and accumulation in seedlings. The dry biomass accumulations of root, stem, and total plant increased first and then decreased with the increase of N, P, and K application rates, which was basically consistent with the change in dry biomass allocations and N, P, and K contents, accumulations, and allocations. Root N accumulation, root P accumulation, and total plant K accumulation were the key indicators for seedlings growth. N fertilizer had the greatest effect on total dry biomass and root N accumulation, was the most important fertilizer for the growth of Phoebe bournei seedlings, can regulate the growth of root and leaves, is beneficial to root growth at medium-low N fertilizer levels (N: 0.266–0.532 g·plant−1), and leaves growth at high N fertilizer level (N: 0.798 g·plant−1). P fertilizer rate can regulate the seedling stem growth, reaching the maximum at the medium level P application (P2O5: 0.1332 g·plant−1). K fertilizer had the greatest effect on the root P accumulation and total K accumulation, promoting K transport from leaves to root, improved root and stem growth, and inhibited leaves growth. The N, P, and K fertilizer three-factor application can better promote nutrient uptake than double-factor and single-factor fertilization, with highest dry biomass accumulation at the medium level of N, P, K fertilizer (N: 0.532 g·plant−1; P2O5: 0.1232 g·plant−1; K2O: 0.356 g·plant−1). In conclusion, N, P, and K fertilization promoted the N, P, and K absorption, increased root, stem, and leaves N, P, and K content and accumulation, and promoted the seedling dry biomass accumulation, but reversed under excessive application of N, P, and K fertilizer; and N fertilizer was beneficial to root and leaves growth, P fertilizer to stem growth, and K fertilizer to material transfer, which provided a theoretical basis for robust Phoebe bournei seedling cultivation.

Interaction of 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane (HMX)/ammonium perchlorate (AP) and its effect on mechanical sensitivity may result in some restrictions for the application of AP/HMX system in high energetic weapon system. In this work, impact sensitivity test is used to study the effects of wax coating of HMX, AP and aluminum (Al) powder on sensitivity properties of HMX/AP/Al mixtures. Thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analysis has been developed to investigate the mechanism of interaction between HMX and AP during the course of thermal decomposition of HMX/AP/Al mixtures. The results show that severe interaction effect exists between AP and HMX, which causes the impact sensitivity (H50) to become smaller. The impact energy (E50) of mixture can be improved under the circumstances of effective separating HMX from AP by surface coating with Wax. AP may firstly engender low-temperature decomposition under the circumstance of external heat or mechanical impact, which causes the exothermic peak of HMX forward shift about 28 °C. The gaseous product releasing from thermal decomposition of HMX accelerates further decomposition of AP. For HMX/AP composite system, the interactive catalysis effect between AP and HMX can be eliminated mostly by adding a great deal of Al powder (i.e. above 30%).

Background: The diameters of the coronary arteries have been suggested to be a potential predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, whether the diameters of the coronary arteries are associated with the coronary lesion severity on angiography has not been determined. Methods: One hundred sixty-seven consecutive adult patients (109 men and 58 women) aged 31–84 years who underwent coronary angiography for suspected or known CAD were enrolled. The known catheter tip diameter was used as the calibration to measure the diameters of coronary arteries, and the severity of coronary lesions was evaluated with the vessel score and Gensini score. Results: In patients with a higher vessel score and Gensini score, the diameters of the left main (LM), left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCX), and right coronary arteries (RCA) were smaller (all p

Soil bacteria play a key role in the plant–soil system and can regulate the growth of Phoebe bournei seedlings under fertilization. However, there are few reports on how soil bacteria respond to fertilization and regulate seedling growth. This study adopted the “3414” field fertilization experiment, combined with soil microbial sequencing, nutrient contents, and biomass measurement, to explore the changes of soil chemical properties and bacterial structure under different NPK fertilization conditions and to establish the coupling relationship between soil bacteria, soil nutrients, and plant growth. The results showed that NPK fertilization decreased soil pH; increased soil N, P, and K content; reduced bacterial diversity and abundance; promoted the growth of dominant bacterial species; and enhanced Phoebe bournei seedlings’ soil N, P, and K elements. NPK fertilization promoted Proteobacteria growth, especially of three genera (Methylobacterium, Sphingobium, and Acinetobacter) and Actinobacteria, while it decreased Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi. By reducing the ratio of N to K and increasing P, NPK fertilization can slow soil acidification, promote bacterial reproduction, maintain P. bournei seedlings’ soil ecological stability, and balance the seedlings’ growth and sustainable soil utilization. AD3, Pseudomonas, and Rhodanobacter can be used as the marker species for N, P, and K fertilization, respectively, while Methylobacterium, Brevundimonas, Acinetobacter, and Sphingobium can be used as indicator species for soil pH and soil N, P, and K content changes, respectively. These results provided a theoretical basis and technical guidance for the effective fertilization and cultivation of robust P. bournei seedlings.

Abstract Recent studies in animal models and humans show that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the development of atherosclerosis, which contributes to the pathological foundation of coronary artery disease (CAD). LncRNAs in plasma and serum have been considered as promising novel biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases, especially CAD. We here measured the circulating levels of 8 individual lncRNAs which are known to be relevant to atherosclerosis in the plasma samples from 300 patients with CAD and 180 control subjects by using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) methods. We found that the plasma level of H19 and long intergenic non-coding RNA predicting cardiac remodeling (LIPCAR) were significantly increased in patients with CAD. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.631 for H19 and 0.722 for LIPCAR. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that plasma H19 and LIPCAR were independent predictors for CAD, even after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Further studies identified that plasma levels of H19 and LIPCAR were also increased in CAD patients with heart failure compared to those with normal cardiac function. Taken together, our results suggest that increased plasma levels of H19 and LIPCAR are associated with increased risk of CAD and may be considered as novel biomarkers for CAD.

Abstract Background Camellia species are ancient oilseed plants with a history of cultivation over two thousand years. Prior to oil extraction, natural seed drying is often practiced, a process affecting fatty acid quality and quantity. MicroRNAs (miRNA) of lipid metabolism associated with camellia seed natural drying are unexplored. To obtain insight into the function of miRNAs in lipid metabolism during natural drying, Illumina sequencing of C. oleifera and C. meiocarpa small-RNA was conducted. Results A total of 274 candidate miRNAs were identified and 3733 target unigenes were annotated by performing a BLASTX. Through integrated GO and KEGG function annotation, 23 miRNA regulating 131 target genes were identified as lipid metabolism, regulating fatty acid biosynthesis, accumulation and catabolism. We observed one, two, and four miRNAs of lipid metabolism which were specially expressed in C. Meiocarpa, C. oleifera, and the two species collectively, respectively. At 30% moisture contents, C. meiocarpa and C. oleifer produced nine and eight significant differentially expressed miRNAs, respectively, with high fatty acid synthesis and accumulation activities. Across the two species, 12 significant differentially expressed miRNAs were identified at the 50% moisture content. Conclusions Sequencing of small-RNA revealed the presence of 23 miRNAs regulating lipid metabolism in camellia seed during natural drying and permitted comparative miRNA profiles between C. Meiocarpa and C. oleifera. Furthermore, this study successfully identified the best drying environment at which the quantity and quality of lipid in camellia seed are at its maximum.

Background: Differences in microRNA (miRNA) profiles between patients with and without coronary heart disease (CHD)have not been fully determined. The purpose of the study was to evaluate in a multi-ethnic population in China the predictive value of miRNAs previously suggested to have a role in CHD. Subject and method: 932 participants were included, and plasma samples obtained. A quantitative reverse-transcription PCR(RT-qPCR) assay was conducted to confirm the concentration of plasma miRNAs. Circulating levels of miRNAs were quantified using the 2-Δct method. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was evaluated via Gensini Scores. Result: The circulating levels of the nine proposed miRNAs were not different among the five main ethnicities examined (all p > 0.05). The Spearman correlation analyses indicated that miR-221 and miR-130a were negatively associated with the severity of CHD as indicated by Gensini Scores (r = -0.106, p = 0.001;r = -0.073, p = 0.026). Results of the univariate analysis showed that lower circulating miR-221 (OR, 1.663; 95 % CI, 1.255-2.202, p =

Aims: We evaluated the synergistic effect of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in association with classical risk factors in predicting coronary heart disease (CHD) and demonstrated the diagnostic value of Lp-PLA2 for predicting coronary stenotic lesions in subjects with CHD. Methods: Blood samples were acquired from 911 consecutive adult subjects (662 males and 249 females) from 11 ethnic groups. Lp-PLA2 plasma levels were detected using a commercially available turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA). CHD in patients was confirmed using coronary angiography, and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis was assessed using the Gensini scoring system. Results: A binary logistic regression was performed to analyse the relationships between Lp-PLA2 and other risk factors. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that Lp-PLA2 levels were significantly associated with CHD (OR, 1.882; 95% CI, 1.369-2.587, p=0.000).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for Lp-PLA2 was 0.589 (95%CI, 0.549-0.629, p=0.000).The synergism between Lp-PLA2 and other risk factors was also investigated. The proportion of CHD attributable to the interaction between Lp-PLA2 and age was as high as 64%. Conclusions: Lp-PLA2 levels in human plasma were positively associated with the severity of CHD, and there was a clear positive interaction between Lp-PLA2 and classical risk factors in predicting CHD.

Background: Although many studies indicate a positive correlation between GHRL gene Leu72Met polymorphism and an increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), inconsistencies between independent studies still remain.Objective: Considering the inconsistencies between them, we have performed the current meta-analysis study. The objective of this study is to better examine the correlation of the GHRL gene Leu72Met polymorphism and T2DM.Methods: The current meta-analysis, involving 8,194 participants from 11 independent studies, was performed. A fixed effect model was used to evaluate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs).Results: A significant association was found between T2DM and GHRL gene Leu72Met polymorphism under recessive (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.01–1.76, P = 0.04), and homozygous genetic models (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.01–1.78, P = 0.04) in the whole population. The correlation was more distinct in our subgroup analysis of the Chinese population under recessive (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.07–2.15, P = 0.02), dominant (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.38–2.10, P < 0.00001), additive (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02–1.33, P = 0.02), and homozygous genetic models (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.07–2.20, P = 0.02).Conclusions: In short, GHRL gene Leu72Met polymorphism was significantly correlated with increased T2DM risk, particularly in the Chinese population. Individuals carrying the Met72 allele of GHRL Leu72Met gene polymorphism, particularly those of Chinese ancestry, may be more susceptible to developing T2DM disease.

Phoebe bournei is a rare and endangered woody species and the success of its plantation development is dependent upon proper seedling cultivation. This study explored the regulation of N, P and K fertilizer and the interaction of these macronutrients on the growth of Phoebe bournei seedlings. To determine the optimum rate and ratio of N–P–K fertilizer in seedling cultivation, we used the unique “3414” incomplete orthogonal regression design to evaluate the effects of N–P–K fertilization on seedling morphological development. One-year-old Phoebe bournei bareroot seedlings were grown for one growing season under the defined fertilization regime, with their morphological development determined by measuring seedling attributes—root, stem, leaves and total biomass, root collar diameter and seedling height. These attributes were then combined to calculate the following indices: height-diameter ratio, shoot-root ratio and the seedling quality index (QI). Results showed that the N–P–K fertilizer had significant and beneficial effect on seedling cultivation. N effect was highest, followed by K and P. The three-way N×P×K interaction effect was strong, and the two-way interactions effect was highest for N×P, followed by P×K and N×K. At the “2” level of N (0.532 g·plant−1), P (P2O5, 0.133 g·plant−1), and K fertilizer (K2O, 0.356 g·plant−1), seedling growth and biomass accumulation were at their maximum. Unary, binary, and ternary quadratic fertilizer effect function equations of QI were established. Through comparative analysis, the ternary quadratic model was the optimal model and through a simulation–optimization, the optimal N–P–K fertilizer rates were 0.373~0.420 g·plant−1 (N), 0.086~0.106 g·plant−1 (P2O5), 0.243~0.280 g·plant−1 (K2O), with a N–P–K ratio of 1:0.20:0.43~1:0.65:0.75.

BackgroundAlthough solute carrier family 30 (zinc transporter) member 8 (SLC30A8) gene 807C/T polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk, there remains some inconsistency between individual studies.ObjectiveThe aim of the study is to explore the relationship between SLC30A8 gene 807C/T polymorphism and T2DM in the Chinese population.MethodsThe current meta-analysis compiles and analyzes the data of 6,942 participants from 10 independent studies. Either a fixed or random-effects model was adopted to evaluate the pooled odds ratio (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI).ResultsA significant association between SLC30A8 gene 807C/T polymorphism and T2DM was found in the Chinese population under allelic (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.80–0.91, P = 7.42 × 10−7), recessive (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.38–0.72, P = 8.49 × 10−5), dominant (OR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.68–3.41, P = 1.30 × 10−6), homozygous (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.40–0.67, P = 2.90 × 10−7), heterozygous (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.71–0.88, P = 1.63 × 10−5), and additive genetic models (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.64–0.83, P = 7.05 × 10−7).ConclusionSLC30A8 gene 807C/T polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased T2DM risk in the Chinese population. Therefore, individuals of Chinese descent with the C allele of SLC30A8 gene 807C/T polymorphism may be more susceptible to developing T2DM, while individuals with the T allele may be protected against T2DM.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of weather on the occurrence of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Chinese subjects. Methods: Weather and climate data, as well as the occurrence of STEMI, were monitored at 2 am, 8 am, 2 pm, and 8 pm between 2003 and 2010. Generalized additive Poisson models were utilized to plot the numbers of patients with STEMI within 6 hour intervals against climatological variations, after accounting for the effects of the hour and season. Results: The inclusion of meteorological conditions, including observed atmospheric pressure (hPa, hectopascal) variations during the previous three hours and temperature (°C, degrees Celsius), significantly affected the occurrence of STEMI, as measured every six hours. Compared with the 50th percentile of atmospheric pressure variations, the RRs (95% CI) for the first percentile, 10th percentile, 25th percentile, 75th percentile, 90th percentile, and 99th percentile of atmospheric pressure variation over lag 0 were 1.66 (1.36∼2.03), 1.47 (1.30∼1.67), 1.22 (1.12∼1.33), 1.16 (1.07∼1.25), 1.27 (1.13∼1.43), and 1.16 (0.92∼1.46), respectively. Compared to the 50th percentile of temperature, the RRs (95% CI) for the first percentile, 10th percentile, 25th percentile, 75th percentile, 90th percentile, and 99th percentile of temperature over lag 0 were 0.58 (0.40∼0.83), 0.60 (0.46∼0.78), 0.69 (0.57∼0.83), 1.33 (1.14∼1.56), 1.39 (1.13∼1.71), and 1.17 (0.84∼1.63), respectively. Conclusions: Based on the eight-year, single-center study, significant relationships were observed among the occurrence of STEMI and atmospheric pressure variations during the previous three hours and temperature after account for long-term time trends.

Objective: To develop a risk score by incorporating Hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) with traditional risk factors for the prediction of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Chinese subjects. Methods: A total of 196 consecutive subjects (131 males and 65 females) aged 38-89 years who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled in this study. HbA1c risk score sheets for the prediction of CAD were developed using age, gender and HbA1c. A receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimum cut-off levels of the HbA1c risk score for predicting CAD. Results: In the ROC curve analysis, the optimal cut-off value of the HbA1c score for predicting CAD was 5.1, with a sensitivity of 72.0% and a specificity of 75.5% (area under the curve 0.781, 95% confidence interval 0.709 to 0.854, p=0.000). Conclusions: The HbA1c score system is a simple and feasible method that can be used for the prediction of CAD. Large-scale studies are needed to further substantiate these results.

Aims: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major catechin found in green tea, displays a variety of pharmacological properties and recently received attention as a prospective dietary intervention in cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that EGCG was able to inhibit tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a)-induced production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: The inhibitory effect of EGCG on TNF-a-induced expression of MCP-1 was measured using ELISA and RT-qPCR. The effect of EGCG on TNF-a-induced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation was investigated by western blot and luciferase assays. Monocyte adhesion assay was detected by microscope. Results: EGCG significantly suppressed the TNF-a-induced protein and mRNA expression of MCP-1. Investigation of the mechanism suggested that EGCG suppressed the TNF-a-mediated NF-κB activation. In addition, the 67-kD laminin receptor (67LR) was involved in EGCG-mediated suppression of MCP-1 generation. Furthermore, EGCG potently inhibited monocyte adhesion to activated HUVECs. Conclusion: EGCG suppresses TNF-a-induced MCP-1 expression in HUVECs. This effect was mediated by 67LR and was via the inhibition of NF-κB activation. Our results demonstrated that EGCG might be a possible medicine for CVD prevention and treatment.

Aims: To explore the association between six single-nucleotide polymorphisms in OLR1, PON1, MTHFR gene and the angiographical characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis to determine if any of the conventional factors correlate with genetic polymorphisms in the advent of the disease. Methods: We examined rs1801131, rs1801133, rs3736232, rs3736234, rs854563 and rs662 by TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assays in 1075 subjects that underwent angiography. The angiographical characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis were defined by the Gensini Score system. Results: The T allele of rs1801133 was associated with coronary atherosclerosis severity with the OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.04-2.14. In MTHFR gene, haplotype T-A was a susceptibility haplotype to coronary atherosclerosis (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.06-1.51) whereas haplotype C-A had a protective effect (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.70-0.99). In addition, several synergistic effects between rs1801133 and conventional risk factors such as diabetes and smoking were found. Conclusions: Collectively, the results demonstrate that the T allele of rs1801133 conferred an increased risk for coronary atherosclerosis. The MTHFR C-A haplotype was a protective haplotype, while T-A haplotype was a susceptibility haplotype. The presence of the T allele of rs1801133 increases the odds of coronary atherosclerosis severity when associated with conventional risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: to explore the impact of admission serum creatinine concentration on the in-hospital mortality and its interaction with age and gender in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in China. METHODS: 1424 acute STEMI patients were enrolled in the study. Anthropometric and laboratory measurements were collected from every patient. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine the relationships between the admission serum creatinine level (Cr level), age, sex and the in-hospital mortality. A crossover analysis and a stratified analysis were used to determine the combined impact of Cr levels with age and gender. RESULTS: Female (HR 1.687, 95%CI 1.051 ∼ 2.708), elevated Cr level (HR 5.922, 95%CI 3.780 ∼ 9,279) and old age (1.692, 95%CI 1.402 ∼ 2.403) were associated with a high risk of death respectively. After adjusting for other confounders, the renal dysfunction was still independently associated with a higher risk of death (HR 2.48, 95% CI 1.32 ∼ 4.63), while female gender (HR 1.19, 95%CI 0.62 ∼ 2.29) and old age (HR 1.77, 95%CI 0.92 ∼ 3.37) was not. In addition, crossover analysis revealed synergistic effects between elevated Cr level and female gender (SI = 3.01, SIM = 2.10, AP = 0.55). Stratified analysis showed that the impact of renal dysfunction on in-hospital mortality was more pronounced in patients

BACKGROUND: Although adiponectin -11377CG gene polymorphism is implied to be associated with increased type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk, results of individual studies are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: A meta-analysis consisting of 12 individual studies, including a total of 6425 participants, was carried out in order to investigate the association of adiponectin -11377CG gene polymorphism with T2DM. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and its corresponding confidence interval (CI) at 95% were assessed through the random- or fixed- effect model. RESULTS: A significant relationship was observed between adiponectin -11377CG gene polymorphism and T2DM under allelic (OR: 1.150, 95% CI: 1.060 to 1.250, P = 0.001), recessive (OR: 1.450, 95% CI: 1.180-1.770, P = 0.0004), dominant (OR: 1.071, 95% CI: 1.013-1.131, P = 0.015), additive (OR: 1.280, 95% CI: 1.090-1.510, P = 0.002), and homozygous genetic models (OR: 1.620, 95% CI: 1.310-1.990, P

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore the time distribution patterns of the onset of chest pain in subjects with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 1467 patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction were enrolled from 2003 to 2010. The hourly, daily, monthly, seasonal and day-of-week fluctuations in the prevalence of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction were analyzed. RESULTS: A peak was found between the morning hours of 07:31 and 08:30. A second peak was observed between 14:31 and 15:30, and a third peak was found between 23:31 and 00:30 (p

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that bradykinin β(2) receptor (BDKRB2) -58T/C gene polymorphism is correlated with the risk of essential hypertension (EH), but the results remain inconclusive. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The objective of this study was to explore the association between BDKRB2-58T/C gene polymorphism and EH. A meta-analysis of 11 studies with 3882 subjects was conducted. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) for the association between BDKRB2-58T/C gene polymorphism and EH and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the random effects model. RESULTS: The BDKRB2-58T/C gene polymorphism was significantly correlated with EH under an allelic genetic model (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.05-1.46; P = 0.01), a dominant genetic model (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.47-0.90; P = 0.01), a recessive genetic model (OR = 1.146, 95% CI = 1.035-1.269; P = 0.009), a homozygote genetic model (OR = 1.134, 95% CI = 1.048-1.228; P = 0.002), and a heterozygote genetic model (OR = 1.060, 95% CI = 1.009-1.112; P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The BDKRB2-58T/C gene polymorphism is associated with increased EH risk. The results of this study suggest that carriers of the -58C allele are susceptible to EH.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between rs6903956 and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Chinese population. METHODS: A cohort of 1075 consecutive patients who underwent coronary arteriography for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis was enrolled in our study. Coronary atherosclerosis severity was defined by Gensini's Score System and counts of diseased vessels. RESULTS: Gensini score frequencies and counts of diseased vessels differed among GG, AG, AA genotype groups at the rs6903956 locus (p = 0.025 for Gensini score frequencies vs. p = 0.024 for counts of diseased vessels, respectively). A univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the genotype distribution of this SNP was associated significantly with angiographical characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis risk (p = 0.030, odds ratio (OR) = 1.444, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.036∼2.013 for AG vs. GG; p = 0.021, OR = 5.896, 95% CI = 1.299∼26.750 for AA vs. GG and p = 0.007, OR = 1.564, 95% CI = 1.132∼2.162 for combined (AG+AA) vs. GG). A multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the genotype distribution of the rs6903956 polymorphism be associated significantly with the angiographical characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis risk (p = 0.004, OR = 1.578, 95% CI = 1.155∼2.154 for GG vs. AG vs. AA; p = 0.013, OR = 1.541, 95% CI = 1.097∼2.163 for GG vs. GA+ AA). A stratification analysis revealed that male subjects and smoking subjects had a higher frequency of the rs6903956 heterozygous mutant among higher Gensini score subjects than among lower Gensini score subjects (p = 0.023, OR = 1.579, 95% CI = 1.064∼2.344 for male subgroup; p = 0.005, OR = 2.075, 95% CI = 1.249∼3.448 for smoking subgroup). CONCLUSIONS: Allele A is a risk factor for CAD and the G-to-A allele substitution may underlie the association between rs6903956 and CAD.