Male Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy Exhibiting a Higher Heart Rate Acceleration Capacity or a Lower Deceleration Capacity Are at Higher Risk of Cardiac Death

The effects of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) on cardiac autonomic regulation and electrophysiology, and the consequences of such changes, remain unclear. We evaluated the associations between heart rate acceleration capacity (AC) and deceleration capacity (DC), heart structural and functional changes, and cardiac death in 202 healthy controls and 100 DCM patients. The DC was lower and the AC was higher in DCM patients (both males and females). Multivariable, linear, logistic regression analyses revealed that in males, age was positively associated with AC in healthy controls (N = 85); the left atrial diameter (LAD) was positively and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was negatively associated with AC in DCM patients (N = 65); age was negatively associated with DC in healthy controls (N = 85); and the LAD was negatively and the LVEF was positively associated with DC in DCM patients (N = 65). In females, only age was associated with either AC or DC in healthy controls (N = 117). Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that male DCM patients with greater LADs (≥46.5 mm) (long-rank chi-squared value = 11.1, P = 0.001), an elevated AC (≥-4.75 ms) (log-rank chi-squared value = 6.8, P = 0.009), and a lower DC (≤4.72 ms) (log-rank chi-squared value = 9.1, P = 0.003) were at higher risk of cardiac death within 60 months of follow-up. In conclusion, in males, DCM significantly affected both the AC and DC; a higher AC or a lower DC increased the risk of cardiac death

Integration of Brassinosteroid Signal Transduction with the Transcription Network for Plant Growth Regulation in Arabidopsis

SummaryBrassinosteroids (BRs) regulate a wide range of developmental and physiological processes in plants through a receptor-kinase signaling pathway that controls the BZR transcription factors. Here, we use transcript profiling and chromatin-immunoprecipitation microarray (ChIP-chip) experiments to identify 953 BR-regulated BZR1 target (BRBT) genes. Functional studies of selected BRBTs further demonstrate roles in BR promotion of cell elongation. The BRBT genes reveal numerous molecular links between the BR-signaling pathway and downstream components involved in developmental and physiological processes. Furthermore, the results reveal extensive crosstalk between BR and other hormonal and light-signaling pathways at multiple levels. For example, BZR1 not only controls the expression of many signaling components of other hormonal and light pathways but also coregulates common target genes with light-signaling transcription factors. Our results provide a genomic map of steroid hormone actions in plants that reveals a regulatory network that integrates hormonal and light-signaling pathways for plant growth regulation

The effects of water-fertilizer integration on productivity of winter wheat and water-fertilizer utilizing efficiency under irrigation based on testing soil moisture

In order to explore efficient technic of water-fertilizer irrigation of wheat and provide theoretical support for wheat farming, this research investigate the effects of micro sprinkling irrigation with 180 cm width on distribution of moisture and nutrient in soil, water and fertilizer consumption, and grain yield of winter wheat. Field test was carried out during growth season of wheat, Water-saving wheat variety “Heng4399” was used as test material. Four times of irrigation were implemented in Spring. Combining with soil moisture criterion during reproduction period, soil moisture was tested before each time of irrigation, and the sprinkling irrigation was initiated if drought appeared. The bands of sprinkler were set in between, and parallel to lines of wheat, with irrigation width of 1.8m, covering 6 lines of wheat (L1-L6) on each side of band. The experiment showed that wheat production reached to 7844.9-8194.8 kg/hm2, with no significant difference among the lines of wheat. The maximum accumulation of N and P2O5 appeared during maturity and reached to 260.25-295.95 kg/hm2 and 109.89-139.61 kg/hm2, respectively. The maximum accumulation of K2O was 251.35-297.29 kg/hm2 during anthesis stage. The difference of K2O accumulation among wheat lines was significant. The distribution of nutrients in each organ of wheat was irregular. These results suggested that the width of sprinkling irrigation had no significant effect on nutrient assimilation and productivity of wheat. Soil moisture was positively correlated to rapidly available phosphorus content before anthesis and alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen content in each layer of soil, and was negatively correlated to rapidly available potassium in late seed filling stage. Based on the results, we suggest that applying nitrogen fertilizer multiple times at different stages. Phosphorus fertilizer can be implemented at early reproduction stage based on nutrient demand of wheat. All potassium fertilizer is recommended to be applied as base manure

Impacts of long-term saline water irrigation on soil properties and crop yields under maize-wheat crop rotation

Saline water is widely used as an alternative water resource for agriculture to overcome the freshwater shortage in arid and semiarid regions. But long-term using of the saline water for irrigation would negatively affect soil properties and crop production, and the salinity of the irrigation water should be properly managed to reduce the risks. In this study, saline water with five levels of electrical conductivities (ECiw) at 1.3 (CK), 3.4, 7.1, 10.6, and 14.1 dS·m−1 were used to irrigate winter wheat and summer maize with annual double cropping system in the North China Plain (NCP) from 2006 to 2019, to decide the threshold value for long-term using saline water. Crop yields and soil salinity were continuously examined from 2006 to 2019, and soil physicochemical properties were monitored in 2018 and 2019 after 12 years’ saline water irrigation. Results showed that soil salinity in the 0100 cm layer could be maintained at a low level using saline water with ECiw at 3.4 dS·m−1. Soil salt accumulated in winter wheat seasons could be leached from the main root zone in the following summer maize seasons, which were rainy in this region due to the monsoon climate. No significant difference was observed in grain yields for treatment with ECiw at 3.4 dS·m−1 compared to CK treatment. The electrical conductivity of the saturated soil extract (ECe), soil pH, sodium adsorption ratio, and bulk density within the top soil layer of 030 cm increased with the increase in ECiw, whereas the soil organic carbon, porosity, macroaggregates (> 0.25 mm) content, and activities of catalase, urease and alkaline phosphatase decreased, indicating the long-term using saline water irrigation deteriorated soil properties. But the difference in soil properties between the treatment of ECiw at 3.4 dS·m−1 and the CK was not apparent. There were reductions below 5% in relative grain yields and soil quality index (SQI) with ECiw lower than 3.17 and 3.10 dS·m−1 compared with CK treatment, respectively. Comprehensive consideration to maintain a stable crop production and benign soil quality, ECiw of 3.10 dS·m−1 for long-term saline water irrigation was recommended as the safe utilization threshold in the NCP

Face Mask: As a Source or Protector of Human Exposure to Microplastics and Phthalate Plasticizers?

Wearing masks has become the norm during the Coronavirus disease pandemic. Masks can reportedly interface with air pollutants and release microplastics and plastic additives such as phthalates. In this study, an experimental device was set up to simulate the impact of five kinds of masks (activated-carbon, N95, surgical, cotton, and fashion masks) on the risk of humans inhaling microplastics and phthalates during wearing. The residual concentrations of seven major phthalates ranged from 296 to 72,049 ng/g (median: 1242 ng/g), with the lowest and the highest concentrations detected in surgical (median: 367 ng/g) and fashion masks (median: 37,386 ng/g), respectively. During the whole inhalation simulation process, fragmented and 20–100 μm microplastics accounted for the largest, with a rapid release during the first six hours. After one day’s wearing, that of 6 h, while wearing different masks, 25–135 and 65–298 microplastics were inhaled indoors and outdoors, respectively. The total estimated daily intake of phthalates with indoor and outdoor conditions by inhalation and skin exposure ranged from 1.2 to 13 and 0.43 to 14 ng/kg bw/d, respectively. Overall, surgical masks yield a protective effect, while cotton and fashion masks increase human exposure to microplastics and phthalates both indoors and outdoors compared to no mask wearing. This study observed possible risks from common facemasks and provided suggestions to consumers for selecting suitable masks to reduce exposure risks from microplastics and phthalate acid

Grafting of R4N+-Bearing Organosilane on Kaolinite, Montmorillonite, and Zeolite for Simultaneous Adsorption of Ammonium and Nitrate

Modification of aluminosilicate minerals using a R4N+-bearing organic modifier, through the formation of covalent bonds, is an applicable way to eliminate the modifier release and to maintain the ability to remove cationic pollutants. In this study, trimethyl [3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl] ammonium chloride (TM) and/or dimethyl octadecyl [3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl] ammonium chloride (DMO) were used to graft three aluminosilicate minerals, including calcined kaolinite (Kaol), montmorillonite (Mt), and zeolite (Zeol), and the obtained composites were deployed to assess their performance in regard to ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) adsorption. Grafting of TM and/or DMO had little influence on the crystal structures of Kaol and Zeol, but it increased the interlayer distance of Mt due to the intercalation. Compared to Kaol and Zeol, Mt had a substantially greater grafting concentration of organosilane. For Mt, the highest amount of loaded organosilane was observed when TM and DMO were used simultaneously, whereas for Kaol and Zeol, this occurred when only DMO was employed. 29Si-NMR spectra revealed that TM and/or DMO were covalently bonded on Mt. As opposed to NO3−, the amount of adsorbed NH4+ was reduced after TM and/or DMO grafting while having little effect on the adsorption rate. For the grafted Kaol and Zeol, the adsorption of NH4+ and NO3− was non-interfering. This is different from the grafted Mt where NH4+ uptake was aided by the presence of NO3−. The higher concentration of DMO accounted for the larger NO3− uptake, which was accompanied by improved affinity. The results provide a reference for grafting aluminosilicate minerals and designing efficient adsorbents for the co-adsorption of NH4+ and NO3−