Effects of seed priming treatments on the germination and development of two rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) varieties under the co-influence of low temperature and drought.

The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of seed priming. This was done by soaking the seeds of two rapeseed cultivars, namely, ZY15 (tolerant to low temperature and drought) and HY49 (sensitive to low temperature and drought), for 12 h in varying solutions: distilled water, 138 mg/L salicylic acid (SA), 300 mg/L gibberellic acid (GA), 89.4 mg/L sodium nitroprusside (SNP), 3000 mg/L calcium chloride (CaCl2), and 30 mg/L abscisic acid (ABA).

Identification and diagnostic value of pleural fluid periostin and serum periostin of malignant pleural effusions in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Limited data are available for the diagnostic value, and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of pleural fluid periostin (pPOSTN) and serum periostin (sPOSTN) in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) caused by non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We collected 84 pleural effusion samples, including 44 cases of MPE caused by NSCLC and 40 cases of benign pleural effusions (BPEs) from August 2018 to January 2019. The pPOSTN, sPOSTN, pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH), pleural effusion adenosine deaminase (pADA), pleural effusion total protein (pTP), pleural fluid glucose (pGLU), pleural effusion leukocyte count (pWBC), pleural effusion red cell count (pRBC), pleural effusion carbohydrate antigen 199 (pCA199), pleural fluid carbohydrate antigen 125 (pCA125), pleural effusion ferritin (pFer), serum total protein (sTP), and serum C-reactive protein (sCRP) were tested, and the obtained data were analyzed by statistical software.

What is the association of hypothyroidism with risks of cardiovascular events and mortality? A meta-analysis of 55 cohort studies involving 1,898,314 participants.

Background: Whether hypothyroidism is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events is still disputed. We aimed to assess the association between hypothyroidism and risks of cardiovascular events and mortality.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Embase from inception to 29 February 2016.

A broadband and omnidirectional electromagnetic wave concentrator with gradient woodpile structure.

We present the first realized three-dimensional (3D) practical implementation of the so called "optical black hole" in microwave frequencies, an electromagnetic (EM) concentrator. The 3D EM wave concentrator was designed with non-resonant gradient index (GRIN) 3D woodpile photonic crystals (PCs) structure in metamaterial regime, and fabricated by Stereolithography (SL) process. Omnidirectional EM wave capture and absorbing ability of the device in a broad bandwidth (12GHz-15GHz) were validated by full-wave simulation and experiments.

An integrated approach to model the biomagnification of organic pollutants in aquatic food webs of the Yangtze Three Gorges Reservoir ecosystem using adapted pollution scenarios.

The impounding of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) at the Yangtze River caused large flooding of urban, industrial, and agricultural areas, and profound land use changes took place. Consequently, substantial amounts of organic and inorganic pollutants were released into the reservoir. Additionally, contaminants and nutrients are entering the reservoir by drift, drainage, and runoff from adjacent agricultural areas as well as from sewage of industry, aquacultures, and households.

Effects of noninvasive electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI4) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupoints on dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of noninvasive acupoint stimulation therapy with middle-frequency electrical waves on dysmenorrhea in young women.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 66 gynecology patients who had primary dysmenorrhea, which was defined as painful menstruation without pelvic pathology (secondary dysmenorrhea). Pathology was ruled out by gynecological ultrasound examination and serum concentration of CA-125.

Inter-ethnic variation of ocular traits-design and methodology of comparison study among American Caucasians, American Chinese and mainland Chinese.

Purpose: To summarize the design and methodology of a multi-center study. With the existed ethnic differences of glaucoma, this survey will explore the differences with regard to anterior and posterior ocular segment parameters between Caucasians and Chinese.

Methods: In this study, four cohorts including American Caucasians and American Chinese from San Francisco, southern mainland Chinese from Guangzhou, and northern mainland Chinese from Beijing were prospectively enrolled for a series of eye examinations and tests from May 2008 to December 2010.

A 12-week, double-masked, parallel-group study of the safety and efficacy of travoprost 0.004% compared with pilocarpine 1% in Chinese patients with primary angle-closure and primary angle-closure glaucoma.

Objective: To examine the intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy and safety of travoprost 0.004% and pilocarpine 1% in Chinese patients with primary angle-closure (PAC) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) after laser iridotomy in China.

Patients And Methods: Thirty patients with PAC or PACG after laser iridotomy were randomized into this double-masked, parallel-group study.