Characterization of Three Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogels Derived from Laminaria japonica and Their Hemostatic Properties.

Three Laminaria japonica polysaccharides (LJPs) extracted via water extraction (LJP-W), acid extraction (LJP-A), and enzymatic extraction (LJP-E) were used as raw materials to be cross-linked with chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol to prepare hydrogels. Compared with conventional hydrogel systems, all three types of LJP-based polysaccharide hydrogels exhibited better swelling properties (14 times their original weight) and the absorption ability of simulated body fluid (first 2 h: 6-10%). They also demonstrated better rigidity and mechanical strength. Young's modulus of LJP-E was 4 times that of the blank. In terms of hemostatic properties, all three polysaccharide hydrogels did not show significant cytotoxic and hemolytic properties. The enzyme- and acid-extracted hydrogels (LJP-Gel-A and LJP-Gel-E) demonstrated better whole-blood coagulant ability compared with the water-extracted hydrogel (LJP-Gel-W), as evidenced by the whole blood coagulation index being half that of LJP-Gel-W. Additionally, the lactate dehydrogenase viabilities of LJP-Gel-A and LJP-Gel-E were significantly higher, at about four and three times those of water extraction, respectively. The above results suggested that LJP-Gel-A and LJP-Gel-E exhibited better blood coagulation capabilities than LJP-Gel-W, due to their enhanced platelet enrichment and adhesion properties. Consequently, these hydrogels are more conducive to promoting coagulation and have good potential for wound hemostasis.

The complete chloroplast genome of Ranunculus yunnanensis (Ranunculaceae).

Ranunculus yunnanensis Franch is endemic in Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, southwestern China. Here, we report the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of R. yunnanensis. The chloroplast genome is 156,050 bp in length, with 111 encoded genes, including 78 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic reconstruction using the existing data of Ranunculus shows that R. yunnanensis is revealed at the basal position of the marsh buttercup clade. This result has improved a better understanding of the internal relationship of the Ranunculus.

Social and environmental risk factors for unintentional suffocation among infants in China: a descriptive analysis.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study aimed to determine the epidemiological features of deaths caused by unintentional suffocation among infants in China. METHODS: The data used in this study were obtained from China's Under 5 Child Mortality Surveillance System (U5CMSS) from October 1, 2015, to September 30, 2016. A total of 377 children under 1 year of age who died from unintentional suffocation were included in the survey. Primary caregivers were interviewed individually using the Unintentional Suffocation Mortality among Children under 5 Questionnaire. EpiData was used to establish the database, and the results were analysed using SPSS 22.0. RESULTS: Most (85.9%) unintentional infant suffocations occurred in rural areas, and 67.5% occurred in infants 0 to 3 months old. Among the primary caregivers of the infants, most (82.7%) had a junior middle school education or below, and 83.1% of them lacked unintentional suffocation first aid skills. Of the 377 unintentional suffocated-infant deaths, the causes of death were accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB) (193, 51.2%), inhalation suffocation (154, 40.8%), other unintentional suffocation (6, 1.6%), and unknown (24, 6.4%). Among the infant deaths due to ASSB, overlaying (88.6%) was the most frequently reported circumstance. A total of 93.8% of cases reported occurred during co-sleeping/bed sharing with parents, and in 72.8% of the cases, the infants were covered with the same quilt as their parents. In our study, most inhalation suffocation deaths (88.3%) involved liquid food (such as breast milk and formula milk). A total of 80.5% of infant deaths reportedly occurred after eating; in 28.2% of those cases, the infants were held upright and patted by their caregivers, and 57.2% of them were laid down to sleep immediately after eating. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce the occurrence of unintentional suffocation, local government should strengthen knowledge and awareness of unintentional suffocation prevention and safety among parents and caregivers. Additionally, health care providers should educate parents and caregivers about safety issues of unintentional suffocation, and relevant policies should be introduced to provide environments and activities that reduce the risk of suffocation, such as promoting the Safe to Sleep Campaign. It is important to enhance the focus on infant unintentional suffocation as a health issue.

The complete chloroplast genome of Beesia deltophylla (Ranunculaceae).

Beesia deltophylla is an endemic and rare species only distributed in Xizang, China. The chloroplast genome of B. deltophylla is 157,397 bp in length, with 112 encoded genes including 78 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes and 4 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic reconstruction has confirmed the placement of B. deltophylla as sister to B. calthifolia. These two species formed a clade closely to a Japan endemic species Anemonopsis macrophylla.

Physical deviation and precocious puberty among school-aged children in Leshan City: an investigative study.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated physical deviation and precocious puberty among school-aged children in Leshan City, to provide a theoretical basis for the management of precocious puberty in children. METHODS: We selected 12 primary schools of Leshan City using a cluster random sampling method and conducted physical examinations among healthy students aged 4 12 years. A total of 11,000 students were recruited (5502 boys and 5498 girls). We measured body mass index (BMI), and participants were tested for precocious puberty according to the Tanner stages and standard maps. Nutritional status was also evaluated. RESULTS: Obese and overweight children accounted for a high proportion of participants; the prevalence of underweight was the lowest. The prevalence of obesity among boys was higher than that in girls. Precocious puberty was mainly observed in girls, particularly those age 7 years old. The prevalence of precocious puberty among overweight and obese children was higher than that in children with normal weight. CONCLUSION: We identified a significant sex difference in precocious puberty among children in Leshan City. Overweight and obesity may be associated with precocious puberty.

Continuous-wave difference-frequency generation based on BaGa4Se7 crystal.

A continuous-wave mid-infrared radiation from difference frequency generation by mixing a continuous-wave Ti: sapphire laser and a continuous-wave YAG laser in a 15 mm long BaGa4Se7 crystal is demonstrated for the first time. The tunable range from 3.15 to 7.92 µm was achieved by rotating the crystal to fulfill the type I phase-matching condition. A maximum DFG power of 1.41 µW was obtained at 5 µm. Meanwhile the experimental DFG power conversion efficiency was 20.2 µW/W2, with a length-normalized slope efficiency of 15.5 µW/cmW2. The conversion efficiency decreases rapidly from 50 µW/cmW2 at 3.15 µm to 1 µW/cmW2 at 7.92 µm. The wavelength acceptance bandwidth and the angular acceptance bandwidth were measured to be 16.4 cm-1 and 44' for DFG at 5.1 µm, respectively.

[Multi-wavelength spectral aerosol scale height in inshore in contrast with that in inland].

In the present paper, based on the exponential attenuation of atmospheric aerosol concentration with height, so using continuous spectrum sun-photometer, forward scatter visibility sensor and hygrothermograph, the authors measured the atmosphere column optical characteristic and plane spectral extinction coefficient on earth on the base of two experiments at some edge of ocean at the same time, respectively, set up the calculative method of multi-wavelength spectral aerosol scale height. Firstly, the authors obtained atmospheric horizontal extinction coefficient with forward scattering visibility sensor, which subtracted molecular extinction coefficient, and could get aerosol extinction coefficient near ground; Then, selecting sea salt model, using OPAC software, the authors also could calculate the aerosol extinction coefficient under different humidity (0%, 50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% and 99%) and different wavelength (400, 450, 500, 550, 600, 650, 700 and 750 nm), the aerosol extinction coefficient was detected by visibility sensor, using interpolation method, respectively; Finally, using the data of atmospheric columniation optical thickness detected by continuous spectral sun-photometer and subtracted molecular optical thickness corresponding wavelengths were accounted out by Modtran 4. 0. The authors obtained the characteristic of spectral aerosol scale height of visible light (wavelength is 400, 440, 532, 550 and 690 nm): with wavelength increments, and spectral aerosol scale height was found to decline neither in inland nor in inshore in China; Spectral aerosol scale height in winter is higher than in summer in southeast inshore; but spectral aerosol scale height in winter is smaller in summer than in inland.