Effects of acrous gramimeus and its main component alpha-asarone on the reactivity and convulsive threshold of immature rats to electric stimulation

BACKGROUND： The traditional Chinese medicine acrous gramimeus is the dry rhizome of Acrous gramimeus Soland, a kind of Araceae familial perennial herb, which has a sedation action, anticonvulsant and antiepileptic effect. Its effective component has not been known yet, and α-asarone, the major component of the volatile oil extracted from acrous gramineus, has been supposed to play a necessary role in it. OBJECTIVE： To explore the effects of acrous gramimeu and α-asarone on the reactivity and convulsive threshold to electric stimulation in immature rats, furthermore, attempt to definitize the anticonvulsant effect of α-asarone. DESIGN： A randomized controlled study.SETTINGS： Department of Pediatrics, First Hospital of Jilin University; Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences of Jilin University; Department of Neurology, First Clinical Hospital affiliated to Harbin Medical University; Department of Internal Medicine, Children＇s Hospital of Changchun City. MATERIALS ： Seventy 3-week immature Wistar rats （either males or females） of 34-40 g were used. Acrous gramimeu （1 g/bag, the content of α-oasarone was 0.046 26%-0.070 16%） with the batch number of 0307113 was provided by Tianjiang Medicine Company Limited, Jiangyin City. α-asarone tablet （60 mg per tablet） with the batch number of 030219 was provided by Tianwei Pharmaceutical Factory, Shenyang City. α-asarone injectable preparation （2 mL per piece） with the batch number of 030105 was provided by Shuanghe Medicine Limited Company, Beijing City. METHODS ： The experiments were carried out in the Neurological Laboratory of the First Hospital of Jilin University between August and October in 2004.① The 70 rats were randomly divided into intragastric subset and intraperitoneal subset. The intragastric subset included four groups of control, phenobarbital sodium, acrous gramimeu and α-asarone; the intraperitoneal subset included three groups of control, phenobarbital sodium and α-asarone. There were 10 rats per group. ② In the intragastric subset, different group was treated with saline （1 mL for each time, phenobarbital sodium （18 mg/kg per day）, acrous gramineu （2 350 mg/kg per day） and α-asarone （29 mg/kg per day） respectively twice every day for 5 days. In the intraperitoneal subset, different group was treated with saline （0.5 mL）, phenobarbital sodium （29 mg/kg） and α-asarone （2.9 mg/kg） respectively. ③ Before and after administration for 5 days in the intragastric subset as well as before and after administration for about 1 hour in the intraperitoneal subset respectively, the rats were given electric stimulation with the NIHOM KOMDEM multifunctional electrophysiological recorder, and the reactivity and convulsive threshold to electric stimulation of the rats were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The reactivity and convulsive threshold to electric stimulation in immature rats were compared. RESULTS： All the rats were involved in the analysis of results. ① Results for intragastric administration： Before intragastric administration, there were no obvious differences in the reactivity and convulsive threshold to electric stimulation among the groups （P 〉 0.05）. After intragastric administration for 5 days, the reactivity and convulsive threshold to the electric stimulation had no obvious changes in the control group, but those were significantly higher than before administration in the drug administration groups （t=-3.317-7.401, P 〈 0.01）, which were also obviously higher than those in the control group （t=3.027-8.941, P 〈 0.01）, and those in the acrous gramimeu group and α-asarone group were not markedly different from those in the phenobarbital sodium group. ② Results for intraperitoneal injection： Before intraperitoneal injection, the reactivity and convulsive threshold to the electric stimulation had no obvious differences among the groups. After the intraperitoneal injection for 1 hour, the reactivity and convulsive threshold to the electric stimulation had no obvious change in the control group, but those were significantly higher than before administration in the drug administration groups （P 〈 0.01）, which were also obviously higher than those in the control group （t=6.211-7.237, P 〈 0.01; t=4.085-5.633, P 〈 0.05）, and there was no marked difference between α-asarone group and phenobarbital sodium group （P 〉 0.05）.CONCLUSION ： ① As effective anticonvulsants, both acrous gramineu and α-asarone can enhance the reactivity and convulsive threshold of immature rats to electric stimulation. ② As one of the major effective components against convulsion of acrous gramineu, α-asarone is equivalent to phenobarbital sodium.

Genetic and Genotype × Environment Interaction Effects for Appearance Quality of Rice

This study was conducted to generate genetic information in rice varieties based on a complete diallel crosses over two years. The results indicated that genotype effect was significant for all traits. Genotype × environment interaction effects were significant only for cooked grain length （CGL） and cooked grain shape （CGSH）. General combining ability （GCA） and specific combining ability （SCA） effects were significant for entire traits, which indicated the important roles of both additive and non-additive gene actions. GCA x environment interaction effects were significant for CGL, CGSH and grain elongation index （GEI）. In the controlling of the inheritance of milled grain shape （GSH）, milled grain width （MGW）, GEI, milled grain length （MGL）, CGSH and cooked grain width （CGW）, the additive gene effects were more important than non-additive one. The average degree of dominance was within the range of partial dominance for all of the traits. The narrow-sense heritability was ranged from 0.65 （GSH） to 0.36 （CGL）. GCA effects were significant for all of the parents in milled grain length and it was significant for some of the parents in other traits. The crosses of Deilmani × IRFAON-215 exhibited significant SCA for GEI. The positive mean of heterosis was observed for CGW. The highest maximum values of heterosis were revealed in GEI, flowed by GSH, MGW and CGW. GCA and MPV were significantly and positively correlated together for all traits.

Clinical Observation on the Efficacy Enhancing and Toxicity Attenuating Effect of Nuzhen Yangyin Granule to the Anti-Parkinsonism Therapy Mainly with Medopa

Objective: To observe and assess the efficacy enhancing and toxicity attenuating effect of Nuzhen Yangyin Granule (NYG) to the anti-parkinsonism (paralysis agitans) therapy with medopa and ar-tane. Methods: Adopting the randomized double-blinded method, the effect of adding NYG to 30 patients with Parkinsonism in the treated group,

The main and added effects of heat on mortality in 33 Chinese cities from 2007 to 2013

Increases in ambient temperatures and the frequency of extreme heat events constitute important burdens on global public health.However,evidence on their effects on public health is limited and inconclusive in China.In this study,data on daily deaths recorded in 33 Chinese cities from 2007 to 2013 was used to evaluate the effect of heat on mortality in China.In addition to the definition of a heatwave established by the China Meteorological Administration,we combined four city-specific relative thresholds(90th,92.5th,95th,and 97.5th percentiles)of the daily mean temperature during the study period and three durations of≽2,≽3,and≽4 days,from which 13 heatwave definitions were developed.Then,we estimated the main and added effects of heat at the city level using a quasi-Poisson generalized additive model combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model.Next,the estimates for the effects were pooled at the national level using a multivariable meta-analysis.Subgroup analysis was performed according to sex,age,educational attainment,and spatially stratified heterogeneity.The results showed that the mortality risk increased from 22.3%to 37.1%due to the effects of the different heatwave definitions.The added effects were much lower,with the highest increase of 3.9%(95%CI:1.7%–6.1%)in mortality risk.Females,the elderly,populations with low educational levels,and populations living inland in China were found to be the most vulnerable to the detrimental effects of heat.These findings have important implications for the improvement of early warning systems for heatwaves.

Family selection and evaluation of Larix gmelinii var.principis-rupprechtii(Mayr.)Pilger based on stem analysis data at multiple sites

Larix gmelinii var.principis-rupprechtii(Mayr.)Pilger is an important native tree species in North China with advantages of fast growth,straight trunk,and good wood properties.The multi-year and multi-site breeding research of families of the species has not been reported previously.Based on diameter at breast height(DBH),height and volume of 25 families on four experimental sites,we calculated variance components,genetic parameters,juvenile and mature trait correlations and made genotype main effect plus genotype×environment interaction effect(GGE)biplot based on the breeding values estimated using the method of best linear unbiased prediction(BLUP).Compared with height,DBH and volume had higher heritability and larger variation coefficients,making them the more suitable traits for family selection and evaluation.Based on these,GGE biplots containing 20 combinations of site×age were drawn using data at 13 to 17 years when the interactions between family and location were strong.Test sites classifications based on DBH,and volume were inconsistent,with two categories for DBH and one for volume.The Guyuan site was the most suitable with strong discriminating ability,high representativeness and stability among tree ages.Integrating the ranking results of DBH and volume,families 66,76,82 and 111 were high-yielding and stable,families 78 and96 were high-yielding with above average stability,families72 and 79 were high-yielding with below average stability,whereas stability of family 100 was inconsistent between DBH and volume.Early selection based on DBH was convenient and reliable,and can be made at seven years.This study provides support for the selection of Larix gmelinii var.principis-rupprechtii families in Hebei province and an example for the application of stem analysis data from multiple sites in tree breeding.

Detection and Analysis of High Temperature Sensitivity of TGMS Lines in Rice Using AMMI Model

With the AMMI (additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) analysis model, thedetermination of the sensitivity to temperature among different TGMS (thermo-sensitivegenic male sterile) lines was performed. To assess the genetic differences due to hightemperature stress at the fertility-sensitive stage (10-20d before heading), sevengenotypes (six TGMS lines and the control Pei-Ai64S) were grown from May 4 at sevendifferent stages with 10d intervals. The temperatures at the fertility-sensitive stagesinvolved twelve levels from<20 to>℃ under the regime natural conditions in Hangzhou,China. There was considerable variation in pollen fertility among genotypes in responseto high temperature. Five genotypes identified as TGMS lines as their percentages offertile pollens were lower than or close to that of the control except for the unstableline RTS19 (V6). When the temperatures at the fertility-sensitive stage were at Ⅰ-Ⅳ,Ⅴ-Ⅵ and Ⅶ-Ⅻ, the percentages of fertile pollens varied in the ranges of 46.46-48.49%,19.62-22.79% and 3.49-5.87%, respectively. The critical temperatures of sterility andfertility in the five TGMS lines were 25.1 and 23.0℃, respectively. Considering theamounts and directions of main effect and their IPCA (interaction principal componentsanalysis), we can classify the lines and temperature levels into different groups, anddescribe the characteristics of genotypetemperature interaction, offering the informationand tools for the development and utility of thermo-sensitive male sterile lines.Several TGMS rice lines with their reproductive sensitivity to high temperature that canbe screened using the AMMI model may add valuable germplasm to the breeding program ofhybrid rice.

Genotype×year interaction of pod and seed mass and stability of Pongamia pinnata families in a semi-arid region

Sixteen pongamia families were evaluated in a field experiment for eight consecutive years in dryland conditions to identify stable,high-yielding families.The trial was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications.Each family,consisting of nine trees per replication,was planted at a spacing of3 m x 3 m.Yield stability was analyzed using(1)Eberhart and Russel’s regression coefficient(β_i)and deviation from regression(S_d^2),(2)Wrike’s ecovalence(W_i);(3)Shukla stability variance(σ_i^2);and(4)Piepho and Lotito’s stability index(L_i).Families were also analyzed for adaptability and stability using AMMI and GGE biplots graphical methods.The study revealed significant variances due to family and family x year interaction for pod and seed yield.Families performed differently and ranked differently across years.The performance of families was influenced by both genetic factor and environmental conditions in different years.Among families tested,TNMP20,Acc14,TNMP14 and Acc30 were high yielders for pods,and Acc14,Acc30,TNMP6,RAK19 and TNMP14 were high for seed yield.According to the Eberhart and Russell model,Acc30,TNMP14 and TNMP3 were stable across years.In the graphical view of family x year interaction based on AMMI methods,TNMP3,TNMP4 and TNMP14 had greater stability with moderate seed yield,and Acc14 and Acc30 had moderate stability with high seed yield.On the other hand,GGE biplots revealed Acc14,Acc30 and TNMP14 as high yielders with moderate stability.AMMI and GGE biplots were able to capture nonlinear parts of the family x year interaction that were not be captured by the Eberhart and Russel model while also identifying stable families.Based on different methodologies,Acc14,Acc30 and TNMP14 were identified as high yielding and stable families for promoting pongamia cultivation as a biofuel crop for semi-arid regions.

One compound approach combining factor-analytic model with AMMI and GGE biplot to improve multi-environment trials analysis

To improve multi-environmental trial(MET)analysis,a compound method—which combines factor analytic(FA)model with additive main effect and multiplicative interaction(AMMI)and genotype main effect plus genotype-by-environment interaction(GGE)biplot—was conducted in this study.The diameter at breast height of 36 open-pollinated(OP)families of Pinus taeda at six sites in South China was used as a raw dataset.The best linear unbiased prediction(BLUP)data of all individual trees in each site was obtained by fitting the spatial effects with the FA method from raw data.The raw data and BLUP data were analyzed and compared by using the AMMI and GGE biplot.BLUP results showed that the six sites were heterogeneous and spatial variation could be effectively fitted by spatial analysis with the FA method.AMMI analysis identified that two datasets had highly significant effects on the site,family,and their interactions,while BLUP data had a smaller residual error,but higher variation explaining ability and more credible stability than raw data.GGE biplot results revealed that raw data and BLUP data had different results in mega-environment delineation,test-environment evaluation,and genotype evaluation.In addition,BLUP data results were more reasonable due to the stronger analytical ability of the first two principal components.Our study suggests that the compound method combing the FA method with the AMMI and GGE biplot could improve the analysis result of MET data in Pinus teada as it was more reliable than direct AMMI and GGE biplot analysis on raw data.

Pore structure characteristics of the relative water-resisting layer on the top of the Ordovician in Longgu Coal Mine

In order to study the permeability and water-resisting ability of the strata on the top of the Ordovician in Longgu Coal Mine, this paper tested the permeability and porosity of the strata, investigated the fracture and pore structure features of the strata, and identified the main channels which govern the permeability and water-resisting ability of the strata. The permeability of the upper, central and lower strata shows as 2.0504 × 10^-3-2.782762× 10^-3, 4.1092 × 10^-3 -7.3387 × 10^-3 and 2.0891 ×10^-3-3.2705 × 10-3 μm^2, respectively, and porosity of that is 0.6786-0.9197%, 0.3109-0.3951% and 0.9829-1.8655%, respectively. The results indicate that： （I） the main channels of the relative water-resisting layer are the pore throats with a diameter more than 6 μm; （2） the major proportion of pore throats in the vertical flow channel and the permeability first increases and then sharply decreases; （3） the fractures occurring from the top to 20 m in depth of the strata were filled and there occurred almost no fracture under the depth of 40 m; and （4） the ratio of turning point of the main flow channel in the strata on top of Ordovician can be used to confirm the thickness of filled water-resisting lavers.

Multi-Environment Evaluation and Genotype ×Environment Interaction Analysis of Sorghum [<i>Sorghum bicolor</i>(L.) Moench] Genotypes in Highland Areas of Ethiopia

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a high-yielding, nutrient-use efficient, and drought tolerant crop that can be cultivated on over 80 per cent of the world’s agricultural land. However, a number of biotic and abiotic factors are limiting grain yield increase. Diseases (leaf and grain) are considered as one of the major biotic factors hindering sorghum productivity in the highland and intermediate altitude sorghum growing areas of Ethiopia. In addition, the yield performance of crop varieties is highly influenced by genotype × environment (G × E) interaction which is the major focus of researchers while generating improved varieties. In Ethiopia, high yielding and stable varieties that withstand biotic stress in the highland areas are limited. In line with this, the yield performance of 21 sorghum genotypes and one standard check were evaluated across 14 environments with the objectives of estimating magnitude G × E interaction for grain yield and to identify high yielder and stable genotypes across environments. The experiment was laid out using Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications in all environments. The combined analysis of variance across environments revealed highly significant differences among environments, genotypes and G × E interactions of grain yield suggesting further analysis of the G × E interaction. The results of the combined AMMI analysis of variance indicated that the total variation in grain yield was attributed to environments effects 71.21%, genotypes effects 4.52% and G × E interactions effects 24.27% indicating the major sources of variation. Genotypes 2006AN7010 and 2006AN7011 were high yielder and they were stable across environments and one variety has been released for commercial production and can be used as parental lines for genetic improvement in the sorghum improvement program. In general, this research study revealed the importance of evaluating sorghum genotypes for their yield and stability across diverse highland areas of Ethiopia before releasing for commercial production.

Brief discussion on the financial cost management in China＇s private enterprises

With the current development and progress of the socialist marketing economy, the number of the private enterprises in our country increases constantly, and the development scale has been expanded constantly, which has become an important component for China＇s national economy, and making a huge contribution to promote the increase of China＇s national economy. In order to occupy a development location among the fierce market competition and expand the market share, the private enterprises in our country make many efforts constantly, such as strengthening and promotion of the internal management concept and the management mode, etc., which really obtains an obvious achievement and progress, however, due to the restriction of the various reasons, there are still many realistic problems existing in the financial cost management for the private enterprises, which restricts the sustainable, modern and scientific development step greatly, for the method on improving the financial cost management level in China＇s private enterprises and the guarantee of the pertinence and the efficiency for the financial cost management measures to be implemented in the private enterprises, it becomes the key problems which needs to be solved by the private enterprises currently.

Multiple Imputation of Missing Data:A Simulation Study on a Binary Response

Currently, a growing number of programs become available in statistical software for multiple imputation of missing values. Among others, two algorithms are mainly implemented: Expectation Maximization (EM) and Multiple Imputation by Chained Equations (MICE). They have been shown to work well in large samples or when only small proportions of missing data are to be imputed. However, some researchers have begun to impute large proportions of missing data or to apply the method to small samples. A simulation was performed using MICE on datasets with 50, 100 or 200 cases and four or eleven variables. A varying proportion of data (3% - 63%) was set as missing completely at random and subsequently substituted using multiple imputation by chained equations. In a logistic regression model, four coefficients, i.e. non-zero and zero main effects as well as non-zero and zero interaction effects were examined. Estimations of all main and interaction effects were unbiased. There was a considerable variance in the estimates, increasing with the proportion of missing data and decreasing with sample size. The imputation of missing data by chained equations is a useful tool for imputing small to moderate proportions of missing data. The method has its limits, however. In small samples, there are considerable random errors for all effects.

Integration system research and development for three-dimensional laser scanning information visualization in goaf

An integration processing system of three-dimensional laser scanning information visualization in goaf was developed. It is provided with multiple functions, such as laser scanning information management for goaf, cloud data de-noising optimization, construction, display and operation of three-dimensional model, model editing, profile generation, calculation of goaf volume and roof area, Boolean calculation among models and interaction with the third party soft ware. Concerning this system with a concise interface, plentiful data input/output interfaces, it is featured with high integration, simple and convenient operations of applications. According to practice, in addition to being well-adapted, this system is favorably reliable and stable.

Prediction of spatial heterogeneity in nutrient-limited sub-tropical maize yield:Implications for precision management in the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains

Knowledge of the factors influencing nutrient-limited subtropical maize yield and subsequent prediction is crucial for effective nutrientmanagement,maximizing profitability,ensuring food security,and promoting environmental sustainability.Weanalyzed data fromnutrient omission plot trials(NOPTs)conducted in 324 farmers'fields across ten agroecological zones(AEZs)in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains(EIGP)of Bangladesh to explain maize yield variability and identify variables controlling nutrient-limited yields.An additive main effect and multiplicative interaction(AMMI)model was used to explain maize yield variability with nutrient addition.Interpretable machine learning(ML)algorithms in automatic machine learning(AutoML)frameworks were subsequently used to predict attainable yield relative nutrient-limited yield(RY)and to rank variables that control RY.The stack-ensemble model was identified as the best-performing model for predicting RYs of N,P,and Zn.In contrast,deep learning outperformed all base learners for predicting RYK.The best model's square errors(RMSEs)were 0.122,0.105,0.123,and 0.104 for RY_(N),RY_(P),RY_(K),and RY_(Zn),respectively.The permutation-based feature importance technique identified soil pH as the most critical variable controlling RY_(N)and RY_(P).The RY_(K)showed lower in the eastern longitudinal direction.Soil N and Zn were associated with RYZn.The predicted median RY of N,P,K,and Zn,representing average soil fertility,was 0.51,0.84,0.87,and 0.97,accounting for 44,54,54,and 48%upland dry season crop area of Bangladesh,respectively.Efforts are needed to update databases cataloging variability in land type inundation classes,soil characteristics,and INS and combine them with farmers'crop management information to develop more precise nutrient guidelines for maize in the EIGP.