Search

Digital transformation (DT) is a strategic priority for commercial banks in China. It is important to explore the relationship between DT and bank systemic risk to maintain financial stability and promote high-quality development of banks. Based on the data of China's listed commercial banks from Q3 2010 to Q1 2022, this paper empirically tests the influence mechanism, heterogeneity influence and action channels of DT on bank systemic risk. This paper finds that DT reduces the bank systemic risk. The higher the degree of DT, the lower the bank systemic risk. Innovation effect and cost effect play multiple mediating roles in the reduction of bank systemic risk by DT. The innovation of bank products, sales channels, organizations and other aspects to enhance the competitiveness and income of banks, while reducing the information asymmetry between the supply chain and the industrial chain, taking cost and risk sharing, reduces the bank systemic risk. This paper enriches the research on the impact of bank DT on systemic risk and provides empirical support for bank risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to determine if language acquisition can occur in a virtual situation in the absence of explicit instruction. After spending 1 year establishing a virtual community, the authors observed and analyzed interpersonal interactions and the development of Chinese communication competence, communication models, and interaction frequency. The results revealed that (1) language acquisition can be improved autonomously in a virtual situation; (2) communication competence occurs in a loop of processes that include receiving, exploring, dialogue, assimilation, adaptation, asking questions, problem solving, and conversation; (3) social interactions and a friendly environment are the most crucial factors in a virtual community; (4) community consensus, individual motivation, individual personalities, speaking behaviors, language competence, and leading techniques affect how individuals develop communication competence.

This article examines the impact of "finance + technology" (Fintech) on different sizes of banks economic capital through the application of Fintech perspective in China during the period January 2011 and September 2019, using a dynamic panel generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation technique. The study found compared with small and medium‐sized banks, large state‐owned commercial banks have advantages in scale, capital and experience. There is a negative correlation between the scale of assets of commercial banks and economic capital. Further tests reveal the impact of Fintech on the profitability of different types of commercial banks shows significant heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals mainly enter tea from the soil. In this study, stratified soil samples were collected, at a depth of 0–60 cm, using a soil drill in An-tea plantations. Speciation of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn was determined using the European Community Bureau of Reference sequential extraction method, and the heavy metal concentrations in the extracts were determined by inductively coupled plasma−mass spectrometry. Compared with other soil layers, the mean Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations were highest in the 0–20 cm layer, the Ni concentrations were highest in the 20–40 cm layer, and the As and Cr concentrations were highest in the 40–60 cm layer. The mean contributions of the non-residual fractions, including the acid-soluble, reducible, and oxidizable fractions, to the total concentrations were higher than those of the residual fraction for Cr, Cu, and Ni at all depths in soil from a flat area, as well as for Cd and Zn at all depths in soil from a sloping area. The contributions of non-residual fractions to the total As and Pb concentrations were higher than those of the residual fraction in soil from a depth of 0–20 cm from the flat area and soil from a depth of 20–60 cm from the sloping area. The total heavy metal concentrations correlated well with the acid-soluble fraction and reducible fraction concentrations in soil from 0–40 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to explore the dynamic relationship between Fintech (financial technology) and EC(the economic capital of commercial banks market risk) changes for a sample of 16 listed commercial banks in China. We estimate a balance panel dynamic system Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) approach for the period of January 2011 to September 2019.The article finds that during the sample period, Fintech has reduced the cost of information on both sides of the transaction, increased the transparency of market information, and reduced the EC. It also finds Fintech can provide a large amount of data for commercial banks to conduct market analysis, which makes the procyclicality of commercial banks less than before. Further tests reveal commercial banks have profit-driven preferences, while banks with strong profitability and high asset scale have higher risk tolerance. The impact of Fintech on the EC of different asset sizes commercial banks market risk is different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to explore the bacterial community composition and the functions of core microbiota in Eucommia ulmoides bark. The bark samples of E. ulmoides were collected from Wangcang Sichuan Province, Cili Hunan Province, and Zunyi Guizhou Province, in China, respectively. Through the high-throughput sequencing methods and techniques, the community composition, core microbiota, and function of the bacteria were studied. The bacterial community of E. ulmoides bark consisted of 9 phyla, 11 classes, 22 orders, 28 families, 31 genera, and 37 OTUs. At the genus level, the dominant genus was the unclassified bacteria of Cyanobacteria, with a relative abundance of 97.01%. The bacterial communities of E. ulmoides bark from different areas have their unique units except for the common microbiota. The core microbiota of bacteria included an unclassified genus of Cyanobacteria, an unclassified genus of Mitochondria, Pseudomonas, Sphingobium, Rhizobium, Novosphingobium, Enterobacter, Rhodococcus, Curtobacterium, and Ralstonia. FAPROTAX function prediction suggested that the core microbiota has a substantial potential for photoautotrophy, phototrophy, aerobic chemoheterotrophy, chemoheterotrophy. Ten taxa composed the core microbiota, and the majority of them were related to the pharmacologically active ingredients of E. ulmoides bark. The research provides a scientific basis for the biological marker of genuineness and microbial technology for improving the content of medicinal ingredients of E. ulmoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this paper was to compare test plans between the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) in the United States and the National Nursing Licensure Examination (NNLE) in China, to discuss the influence of passing standards and critical thinking in the test plans on candidates and nursing education, and to provide implications to improve the NNLE test plan. Methods: After reading the 2019 NCLEX-RN test plan and the 2019 NNLE test plan, a side-by-side comparison was done to evaluate both test plans. Results: In the NCLEX-RN test plan, a periodical RN practice analysis provides fundamental principles for the development of test content based on the Client Needs framework. Item writing and coding is guided by the theory of Bloom's taxonomy. The passing standard for the NCLEX-RN is based on a criterion-referenced method to assess candidates' competencies as newly licensed nurses. In the NNLE test plan, test content comprises primary nursing tasks, nursing knowledge, and knowledge of common diseases. The standard score, a norm-referenced method, is used as the passing standard. The NNLE test plan does not present information concerning principles used in the development of test content, and the guidance related to item writing and coding. Conclusion: The NCLEX-RN provides systematic and evidence-based procedures to determine and evaluate test content and passing standards as compared with the NNLE. The standard score used in the NNLE disadvantages candidates of secondary nursing education. The lack of principles to guide item writing and coding in the NNLE fails to foster students' critical thinking. To improve the NNLE test plan, further research should be conducted to improve test content, item writing, and examination evaluation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study is to examine the relationships between perceived initial cancer disclosure communication with doctors, levels of hope, and levels of trust in doctors among cancer patients in China.Methods: A total number of 192 cancer inpatients in a cancer hospital in China were surveyed. Perceived disclosure strategies, levels of hope, levels of trust in their doctors, as well as the demographic information were obtained from the participants.Results: In addition to age, patients who had higher levels of perceived emotional support from doctors, or higher levels of perceived personalized disclosure from doctors, or higher levels of perceived discussion of multiple treatment plans with doctors were more likely to have higher levels of trust in doctors. In addition to perceived health status, perceived emotional support from doctors significantly predicted participants' levels of hope. That is, patients who had higher higher levels of perceived doctors' emotional support were more likely to have higher levels of hope. Key disclosure person was a marginally significant variable, that is, patients who were mainly disclosed by family members might have higher levels of hope compared with patients who were mainly disclosed by doctors.Conclusions: When communicating with a cancer patient, doctors might not ignore the importance of emotional support during cancer diagnosis communication. Doctors might want to involve family and collaborate with family to find out ways of personalized disclosure. During the communication process, doctors could provide their patients with multiple treatment options and discuss the benefits and side effects of each treatment. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic polymorphism of 17 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci included in the PowerPlex® 18D System was evaluated from 638 unrelated healthy Han individuals of Meizhou in Guangdong Province, Southern China. The values of combined power of discrimination (CPD) and the combined probability of exclusion (CPE) were observed as 0.999999999999999 and 0.999999933. Penta E showed the highest values of polymorphism information content (0.9073), expected heterozygosity (0.9147), and observed heterozygosity (0.9373), whereas TPOX showed the lowest (0.5373, 0.6035, and 0.6082). Furthermore, both of the PCA plot and neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree showed that the Meizhou Hakka population has a relatively close genetic relationship with the Guangdong Han population. The results showed that most of these 17 autosomal STR loci were highly informative and can be effective for forensic individual identification and paternity testing in Meizhou Hakka population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim To evaluate the clinical benefits of transarterial chemoembolization ( TACE) monotherapy or TACE combined with percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy ( PMCT) and the long-term survival rate of patients with large primary hepatocellular carcinoma ( HCC) treated with these techniques. Methods This is a retrospective study involving 136 patients with unresectable large HCC (189 tumor nodules, ≥ 5.0 cm in diameter) admitted to Sun Yat- Sen University Memorial Hospital ( Guangzhou, China) between January 2004 and December 2011. The median follow-up time was 41 months (range, 6-96 months). Of these patients, 80 patients received TACE monotherapy and 56 patients received TACE combined with PMCT. The median interval between treatments and overall survival ( OS) were hierarchically analyzed using log-rank tests. Results All patients successfully underwent TACE alone or TACE with PMCT with no serious complications. The median survival time was 13 months (range, 3-84 months) for the TACE group and 25 months (range, 7-96 months) for the TACE-PMCT group. The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS rates were 62.5%, 17.5%, and 5.0% in the TACE group, respectively. In contrast, in the TACE-PMCT group, the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS rates were 87.5%, 50.0%, and 10.0%, respectively. This difference was statistically significant between the groups ( P < 0.001). Conclusions TACE combined with PMCT had advantages in prolonging OS with satisfying time to progression and improving liver function in patients with large unresectable HCC. The results suggest that further prospective studies are required to confirm the findings of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface water collected from the Jinzhou Bay in North China were analyzed using gas chromatography to reveal their horizontal distribution tendencies and trace their sources. Total PCB concentrations ranged from 215.4 to 3161 ng/L. The level of PCB in the opening of the Bay was higher than the inner Bay. The predominated components were 5- and 6-chlorinated PCBs, indicating these residual PCBs derived from paint additives. Total OCP concentrations ranged from 4.165 to 136.8 ng/L, whose isomer concentrations’ ratios implied the usage of technical HCH and lindane. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Various types of porous resin adsorbents based on polystyrene, agarose, and cellulose as matrixes coupling with DNA, amino acids and other biological active molecules as ligands were extensively studied in China. Molecular recognition between the ligand and pathogenic molecule was investigated. Several commercialized products are now widely used in hospitals all over China. Whole blood hemoperfusion is used to treat patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, uremia acute intoxication, and hyperbilirubinemia. Clinical performances of hundreds and thousands of patients treated by whole blood sorption therapy show that the therapy is safe, efficient, and cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCLP) is one of the most common birth defects all over the world. Both genetic and environmental factors may contribute to NSCLP. Recent studies have demonstrated that Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway is required for lip and palate formation. WNT family may play an important role in the development of NSCLP. This study aimed to evaluate the association between Wnt3A gene polymorphisms and NSCLP in Chinese population from Northwest China. Design: 216 patients with NSCLP and 233 normal controls were genotyped for two SNPs of Wnt3A by PCR-RFLP. Both SNPs genotype frequencies were analysed between cases group and controls group. Results: The frequencies of rs752107 TT and rs3121310 AA were significantly higher in NSCLP cases group (7.4%, 15.3%) than that in controls group (2.1%, 9.5%) with p-value=0.013, 0.014, corrected p value (p-corr) <0.05 and with odds ratio (OR)=3.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.244–9.79, OR=2.27, 95% CI: 1.17–4.38, respectively; the frequency of rs3121310 GA was also higher in NSCLP cases group (57.4%) than in controls group (52.0%) with p-value=0.042 and OR=1.56 (95% CI: 1.02–2.39). And the frequency of rs752107 TT of Wnt3A showed higher risk in female patients, while the frequency of A allele of rs3121310 showed stronger association in male patients. Conclusions: This is the first report that two SNPs of Wnt3A (rs752107 and rs3121310) are significantly associated with NSCLP in Chinese population. These findings provide a context for understanding the genetic aetiology of NSCLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hakka and Chaoshanese are two unique Han populations residing in southern China but with northern Han (NH) cultural traditions and linguistic influences. Although most of historical records indicate that both populations migrated from northern China in the last two thousand years, no consensus on their origins has been reached so far. To shed more light on the origins of Hakka and Chaoshanese, mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) of 170 Hakka from Meizhou and 102 Chaoshanese from Chaoshan area, Guangdong Province, were analyzed. Our results show that some southern Chinese predominant haplogroups, e.g. B, F, and M7, have relatively high frequencies in both populations. Although median network analyses show that Hakka/Chaoshanese share some haplotypes with NH, interpopulation comparison reveals that both populations show closer affinity with southern Han (SH) populations than with NH. In consideration of previous results from nuclear gene (including Y chromosome) research, it is likely that matrilineal landscapes of both Hakka and Chaoshanese have largely been shaped by the local people during their migration southward and/or later colonization in southern China, and factors such as cultural assimilation, patrilocality, and even sex-bias in the immigrants might have played important roles during the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly selective immunoadsorbent was prepared by immobilization of DNA on carbonized resin beads (Type I) for the removal of the pathogenic antibodies of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Thirty cases of clinical trials of this SLE therapy were performed at 12 hospitals in China. The levels of anti-DNA antibodies after whole blood perfusion were decreased 40–70%. Almost all the symptoms were relieved, and some patients were freed from medicine administration. A new immunoadsorbent was prepared using aminated cellulose beads (Type II) having a higher DNA immobilization capacity of 0.6 mg/ml than the 0.4 mg/ml capacity for Type I. Stationary adsorption tests with the sera of SLE patients showed that the Type II immunoadsorbent could remove 60% of the pathogenic antibodies, which is much higher than the 30% for the Type I adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA regulation is crucial for gene expression and cell functions. It has been linked to tumorigenesis, development and metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Recently, the let-7 family has been identified as a tumor suppressor in different types of cancers. However, the function of the let-7 family in CRC metastasis has not been fully investigated. Here, we focused on analyzing the role of let-7g in CRC. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) genomic datasets of CRC and detailed data from a Taiwanese CRC cohort were applied to study the expression pattern of let-7g. In addition, in vitro as well as in vivo studies have been performed to uncover the effects of let-7g on CRC. We found that the expression of let-7g was significantly lower in CRC specimens. Our results further supported the inhibitory effects of let-7g on CRC cell migration, invasion and extracellular calcium influx through store-operated calcium channels. We report a critical role for let-7g in the pathogenesis of CRC and suggest let-7g as a potential therapeutic target for CRC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn straw and corncobs contain large amounts of crude fibers and are widely used in mutton sheep husbandry in northwest China. The aim of this study was to determine whether feeding with corn straw or corncobs affects lamb testis development. A total of 50 healthy Hu lamb at two-month-old (average body weight of 22.3 ± 0.1 kg) were randomly and equally divided into two groups, and the lambs were equally allocated to five pens in each group. The corn straw group (CS) received a diet containing 20% corn straw, whereas the corncobs group (CC) received a diet containing 20% corncobs. After a 77-day feeding trial, the lambs, except the heaviest and lightest in each pen, were humanely slaughtered and investigated. Results revealed no differences in body weight (40.38 ± 0.45 kg vs. 39.08 ± 0.52 kg) between the CS and CC groups. Feeding diet containing corn straw significantly (P < 0.05) increased testis weight (243.24 ± 18.78 g vs. 167.00 ± 15.20 g), testis index (0.60 ± 0.05 vs. 0.43 ± 0.04), testis volume (247.08 ± 19.99 mL vs. 162.31 ± 14.15 mL), diameter of seminiferous tubule (213.90 ± 4.91 μm vs. 173.11 ± 5.93 μm), and the number of sperm in the epididymis (49.91 ± 13.53 × 108/g vs. 19.34 ± 6.79 × 108/g) compared with those in the CC group. The RNA sequencing results showed 286 differentially expressed genes, and 116 upregulated and 170 downregulated genes were found in the CS group compared with the CC group. The genes affecting immune functions and fertility were screened out. Corn straw decreased the mtDNA relative copy number in the testis (P < 0.05). These results suggest that compared with corncobs, feeding corn straw in the early reproductive development stage of lambs increased the testis weight, diameter of seminiferous tubule and the number of cauda sperm. [Display omitted] • There were 286 DEGs in testis between corn straw and corncobs groups. • The genes closely related to testis function were screened out. • Feeding corn straw in the early reproductive development stage of lambs increased the number of sperm in the epididymis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Human longevity has been associated with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) coding region polymorphisms, as well as the C150T polymorphism in the non-coding region in previous studies especially in Europeans. This study investigated the potential association between the mtDNA C150T polymorphism and longevity in a Han Chinese population. Leukocyte mtDNAs from two groups of a Han Chinese population living in Dujiangyan city of Sichuan province, including 556 longevous individuals (90–108years-old) and 403 unrelated controls, were analyzed and mtDNA haplogroups were determined by sequencing control regions and restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in coding regions. Our results did not show a universal association between the mitochondrial C150T polymorphism and longevity in this population. Even when mtDNA haplogroups defined by C150T and gender were taken into account, there was no significant association with longevity. In conclusion, the mtDNA C150T polymorphism could not present an accumulation in an elderly Han Chinese population. Previous association studies might have been influenced by nuclear DNA and/or environment factors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nitrogen oxides (NO x) and ozone (O 3) are important air pollutants that are associated with adverse health effects. Land-use regression (LUR) models have been widely developed to estimate air pollution concentrations. Due to data availability, however, such models are usually not applied in developing countries. We aimed to characterize NO x and O 3 concentrations and develop LUR models to predict their spatial and temporal distributions using publicly-available data in Tianjin, a heavily polluted city in China. Seasonal samples were collected across Tianjin at 29 locations for O 3 and 49 locations for NO x. Heavy-duty vehicle counts estimated from 0.5 m × 0.5 m satellite images correlated well with field-measured counts, thus supporting the use of high-resolution satellite images to assess vehicle traffic. Concentrations of NO x were highest in winter, while the opposite pattern was observed for O 3. The majority of the variance in NO x was explained by season (36.2%) and heavy vehicle traffic (19.8%). For O 3 , the variance was explained by season (80.7%) in a pooled model, and by distance to roads (43.4%) and distance to coal plants (26.2%) in a summer model. Cross-validation showed reasonable practicability for NO x (R2 = 0.53 with field-measured heavy-duty vehicle count; R2 = 0.46 with satellite-based heavy-duty vehicle count) and O 3 (R2 = 0.90 for pooled model; R2 = 0.70 for summer model) models. This study provides utility for researchers investigating air pollution in regions where field-measured vehicle traffic data are not available, as well as for policy makers and public health officials seeking to understand the sources and spatial distribution of air pollution in Tianjin. • Ambient NO x mostly explained by season and heavy-duty vehicle traffic. • Ambient O 3 mostly explained by season and by distance to roads. • Concentration of NO x was highest in winter while O 3 was highest in summer. • Satellite images can be used to count vehicles for air pollution modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used a computer-based teaching system to investigate the effectiveness of stroke-order learning and writing exercises in promoting the ability of Chinese-as-a-foreign-language (CFL) learners to recognize and write Chinese characters. This study included a 2 (stroke-order and non-stroke-order) × 2 (writing exercise and non-writing exercise) × 2 (test point) mixed factorial design involving a total of 91 participants. We compared the difference in their Chinese character learning, including Chinese character recognition and handwriting, based on the learning conditions. We found that CFL learners who practiced writing the characters had improved accuracy in their Chinese writing assignments and meaning assignments compared with students who did not practice writing, indicating that writing exercises helped students to memorize the orthography and output of Chinese characters. Writing exercises also helped improve memorization of the meaning of Chinese characters. However, the traditional emphasis on the correct stroke order, which has been considered helpful for learning Chinese characters, demonstrated no significant impact on the effectiveness of recognizing and writing Chinese characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) as a non-communicable disease imposes heavy disease burdens on society. Limited studies have been conducted to assess the effects of short-term air pollution exposure on T2DM, especially in Asian regions. Our research aimed to determine the association between short-term exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) and outpatient visits for T2DM in Chongqing, the largest city in western China, based on the data collected from November 28, 2013 to December 31, 2019. A generalized additive model (GAM) was applied, and stratified analyses were performed to investigate the potential modifying effects by age, gender, and season. Meanwhile, the disease burden was revealed from attributable risk. Positive associations between short-term NO 2 and daily T2DM outpatient visits were observed. The strongest association was observed at lag 04, with per 10 μg/m3 increase of NO 2 corresponded to increased T2DM outpatient visits at 1.57% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.48%, 2.65%]. Stronger associations were presented in middle-aged group (35–64 years old), male group, and cool seasons (October to March). Moreover, there were 1.553% (8664.535 cases) of T2DM outpatient visits attributable to NO 2. Middle-aged adults, males, and patients who visited in cool seasons suffered heavier burdens. Conclusively, short-term exposure to NO 2 was associated with increased outpatient visits for T2DM. Attention should be paid to the impact of NO 2 on the burden of T2DM, especially for those vulnerable groups. • Short-term NO 2 exposure was related to increased outpatient T2DM visits. • The association was more obvious in middle-aged adults, males, and cool seasons. • New evidence of positive associations between short-term NO 2 and T2DM in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition and yield of secondary metabolites of Eucommia ulmoides are important indices of the quality of medicinal materials, and their synthesis and accumulation are affected by both internal and external factors. However, the influential extent and mechanism of these factors on the pharmacologically active ingredients of E. ulmoides are still being elucidated. In this study, we selected 72 of E. ulmoides from 24 regions in China, and investigated the genetic diversity, pharmacologically active ingredients, soil physicochemical properties, and bark bacterial communities, along with the effects of genotypes and environmental factors on pharmacologically active ingredients. Results showed that genetic characteristics among the 24 regions there were no significant different, however, 12 different haplotypes were clearly revealed based on haplotype network analysis. The contents of pinoresinol diglucoside and geniposide acid were mainly affected by different climate and soil physiochemical factors, while aucubin was only sinificantly affected by soil organic matter. All of, the three pharmacologically active ingredients mentioned above were significantly correlated with the dominant genus Lactobacillus , Escherichia , Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium , suggesting that the active ingredients were affected by bark microorganisms. In conclusion, our analysis indicated that the accumulation of pharmacologically active ingredients of E. ulmoides were comprehensively affected genotype, environmental factors (biological and abiotic factors), and their interaction, with genotype had the greatest impact. These results provide important basic information for the future breeding, selection of cultivation conditions and assistance of microbial technology of E. ulmoides. • Index ingredients were more sensitive to host evolution. • Microorganisms were important biological factors affecting active ingredients. • Active ingredients had different responses to environmental factors. • Genotypes have the greatest influence on the accumulation of active ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metabolic benefits associated with long-term physical activity are well appreciated and growing evidence suggests that it involves the gut microbiota. Here we re-evaluated the link between exercise-induced microbial changes and those associated with prediabetes and diabetes. We found that the relative abundances of substantial amounts of diabetes-associated metagenomic species associated negatively with physical fitness in a Chinese athlete students cohort. We additionally showed that those microbial changes correlated more with handgrip strength, a simple but valuable biomarker suggestive of the diabetes states, than maximum oxygen intake, one of the key surrogates for endurance training. Moreover, the causal relationships among exercise, risks for diabetes, and gut microbiota were explored based on mediation analysis. We propose that the protective roles of exercise against type 2 diabetes are mediated, at least partly, by the gut microbiota., (© 2023. Science China Press.)

Past studies of sentiment analysis have mainly applied algorithms based on vocabulary categories and emotional characteristics to detect the emotionality of text. However, the collocation of state-changing words and emotional vocabulary affects emotions. For example, adverbs of degree strengthen emotions, and negative adverbs reverse emotions. This study investigated the weighted effect of state-changing words on emotion. The research material comprised 73 state-changing words that were collocated with four emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, and anger. A total of 84 participants participated in the vocabulary assessment. The results revealed that state-changing words could be classified into four types: intensifying, weakening, neutralizing, and reversing. In a comparison of the weighting factors among emotions, the weighting effect of the same state-changing word in the positive emotion category was particularly evident. The results could serve as a reference for follow-up studies on detecting emotions in text., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Poria(Fu Ling) is a bulk traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)with a long history and complex varieties. The royal medical records of the Qing Dynasty include multiple medicinal materials of Fu Ling, such as Bai Fu Ling(white Poria), Chi Fu Ling(rubra Poria), and Zhu Fu Ling(Poria processed with cinnabaris). The Palace Museum preserves 6 kinds of specimens including Fu Ling Ge(dried Poria), Bai Fu Ling, Chi Fu Ling, Zhu Fu Ling, Bai Fu Shen(white Poria cum Radix Pini), and Fu Shen Mu(Poria cum Radix Pini). After trait identification and textual research, we found that Fu Ling Ge was an intact sclerotium, which was processed into Fu Ling Pi(Poriae Cutis), Bai Fu Ling and other medicinal materials in the Palace. The Fu Ling in the Qing Dynasty Pa-lace was mainly from the tribute paid of the officials in Yunnan-Guizhou region. The tribute situation was stable in the whole Qing Dynasty, and changed in the late Qing Dynasty. The cultural relics of Fu Ling in the Qing Dynasty Palace confirm with the archival documents such as the royal medical records and herbal medicine books, providing precious historical materials for understanding Fu Ling in the Qing Dynasty and a basis for the restoration of the processing of the Fu Ling in the Qing Dynasty Palace.

Objectives: To obtain additional insight into the genetic factors of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)., Methods: First, we performed a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) integrating human cerebellum-specific variant-expression/splicing correlations to identify ADHD susceptibility genes. Then, the associations between expression/splicing quantitative trait loci (eQTLs/sQTLs) of the transcriptome-wide significant genes and ADHD were observed in a case-control study of Han Chinese children. Furthermore, dual luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to validate the regulatory function of ADHD risk variants. Additionally, the transcription level of target genes in blood was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay., Results: TWAS identified that the genetically regulated expression of MANBA in the cerebellum was significantly associated with ADHD risk. Furthermore, we observed a higher risk of ADHD and more severe clinical symptoms in subjects harbouring heterozygous (TC) or mutant homozygous (TT) genotypes of MANBA rs1054037 than CC carriers. The dual luciferase reporter gene assay revealed that the mutation of rs1054037(C > T) potentially upregulated MANBA expression by eliminating the binding site for hsa-miR-5591-3P. Finally, RT-qPCR showed that MANBA expression in blood samples of patients was significantly higher than that of controls., Conclusions: Taken together, these results suggest a role of MANBA in the development of ADHD.

Myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) is associated with hyperactivity and might be a novel risk gene for susceptibility to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between MEF2C genetic variants and ADHD in the Chinese Han population. A total of 215 patients with ADHD and 233 controls were recruited for this study. The Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham version IV questionnaire was used to evaluate the clinical features of ADHD. In silico analysis was used to annotate the biological functions of the promising single nucleotide polymorphisms. Our findings indicated that MEF2C rs587490 was significantly associated with ADHD in the multiplicative model (OR = 0.640, p = 0.002). Participants with the rs587490 TT allele exhibited less hyperactivity/impulsivity than those with the rs587490 CC allele. Furthermore, the expression quantitative trait loci analysis suggested that rs587490 could regulate the gene expression of MEF2C in the hippocampus, putamen, thalamus, and frontal white matter. Our study concluded that the MEF2C rs587490 T allele is significantly associated with a reduced risk of ADHD in the Chinese Han population, which provides new insight into the genetic etiology of ADHD., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The genetic factors of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are far from fully elucidated. This study aims to get additional insight into the genetic structure of ADHD., Methods: First, a transcriptome-wide association study and summary data-based Mendelian randomization analysis were performed to identify ADHD susceptibility genes. Then, genetic variants influencing the expression of the identified susceptibility genes were tested for association with ADHD risk in a sample of Han Chinese children (543 cases and 560 controls). Dual-luciferase reporter gene assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays were performed to verify the transcriptional regulatory functions of the identified ADHD-associated variants. Additionally, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was applied to quantify the expression levels of target genes in blood samples., Results: Both TIE1 and MED8 were identified as ADHD susceptibility genes. Furthermore, we first found the G allele of rs3768046 was significantly associated with an increased risk of ADHD (recessive model: GG vs AA+AG, OR= 1.659, 95% CI= (1.262, 2.181); additive model: GG vs GA vs AA, OR= 1.493, 95% CI= (1.179, 1.890)). Additionally, in vitro functional experiments revealed that rs3768046 might alter TIE1 expression by affecting the binding sites of transcription factors. Moreover, the expression level of TIE1 in the blood samples of patients was significantly higher than that of controls., Limitations: Given the moderate statistical power of this study, it is necessary to verify our findings in other larger samples., Conclusions: Together, this study presents the first systematic evidence of TIE1 with potential implications for the genetic basis of ADHD., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to comprehensively explore the relationship between genetic variations within GRIN2A, GRIN2B, GRIK1, GRIK4, GRID2, and ADHD. Method: Genotyping was performed with the Sequenom MassARRAY system in a two-stage case-control study. ADHD symptoms were assessed using the Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham version IV scale and the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test. In silico analysis was performed with website resources. Results: GRID2 rs1385405 showed a significant association with ADHD risk in the codominant model (OR = 2.208, 95% CI = [1.387, 3.515]) in the first stage and in the codominant model (OR = 1.874, 95% CI = [1.225, 2.869]) and recessive model (OR = 1.906, 95% CI = [1.265, 2.873]) in the second stage and related to inattention and hyperactivity symptom. In addition, rs1385405 disturbed the activity of exonic splicing enhancer and mediated GRID2 gene expression in the frontal cortex. Conclusion: our data provided evidence for the participation of GRID2 variants in conferring the risk of ADHD.

The tea shrub is grown in long-standing orchards, an environment that is suitable for persistent weed growth, which is increasingly controlled by herbicides. Therefore, there is increasing concern that tea consumers may be exposed to herbicide residues. In this study, the levels of glufosinate-ammonium (GLU), glyphosate [ N -(phosphonomethyl) glycine; PMG], and its metabolite aminomethyl phosphoric acid (AMPA) were determined in tea samples by HPLC-MS/MS using several current purification methods and a new method that we developed herein. The matrix effect of our proposed method was between -27.3 and 27.7%, which was lower than that in other methods, indicating that this method effectively reduced the interference of tea matrix in the mass spectrometry process. This method was used to determine the levels of PMG, GLU, and AMPA in 780 samples, including six traditional Chinese teas (green tea, black tea, oolong tea, dark tea, white tea, and yellow tea) and a floral tea, from 14 provinces of China. Probability estimates showed that the 95 th percentile risk entropy values of the three pesticide residues were far below the acceptable risk level. The risk assessment results showed that exposure to PMG, GLU, and AMPA caused by drinking tea beverages poses no significant risk to human health.

Background: This study aimed to establish anti-Mullerian hormone age-specific reference intervals and determine the correlation between the anti-Mullerian hormone concentration and age, body mass index and concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormones and luteinizing hormone in healthy Chinese girls., Methods: Serum anti-Mullerian hormone concentrations of 1702 healthy girls (0-12 years), recruited between March 2018 and December 2019, were determined using the Beckman Access 2 automated chemiluminescence immunoassay. Single-year-specific medians of anti-Mullerian hormone and effects of age, body mass index, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone on anti-Mullerian hormone concentration were analysed., Results: The anti-Mullerian hormone median level continued increasing from birth, reached its peak at age 9 at 4.45 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR] 2.58-6.90) and then gradually decreased. At age 12, the median reached 1.98 ng/mL (IQR 1.05-3.46). Age-specific reference intervals for anti-Mullerian hormone were established in healthy Chinese girls aged 0-12 years. Anti-Mullerian hormone concentrations showed a moderately positive correlation with age (r = 0.33, P  < 0.001). In contrast, follicle-stimulating hormone (r = -0.29, P  < 0.001) concentrations were weakly negatively correlated with the serum anti-Mullerian hormone concentration., Conclusion: We established single-year-specific reference intervals for anti-Mullerian hormone in Chinese girls using the Beckman chemiluminescent platform. This reference range can help clinicians accurately understand anti-Mullerian hormone secretion in healthy girls and promote its clinical use.

The identification of biological traces provides vital evidence in forensic reconstruction at crime scenes, especially in sexual offences. Compared with traditional presumptive or confirmatory methods, the microbiome-based method has been proven to be of great value in body fluid identification. Mixture of body fluids or tissue is common in sexual assault cases; thus, it is essential to determine the sources of mixed samples. In this study, 60 samples consisting of skin, saliva, and a mixed model of saliva deposited on facial skin were collected from a population living in Guangdong. Through 16s rDNA high-throughput sequencing, we identified the predominant microbes in saliva samples, viz., Haemophilus parainfluenzae T3T1, Neisseria flava, Gemella haemolysans, Prevotella melaninogenica, and Actinomyces odontolyticus; in skin samples, Cutibacterium acnes and Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum were the predominant species. The microbial composition of the same body fluid or tissue is similar in different individuals. However, among different body fluids or tissue, the composition of microflora in saliva is more stable than that on skin. Additionally, the microbial community in the mixed model of saliva deposited on facial skin from the same and different individuals was clearly determined by the constituent fluids or tissue, apart from the differences among the donors. Overall, the microbiome-based method may have good potential as a tool for identifying single and mixed body fluid or tissue.

The potential therapeutic effects of molecular hydrogen (H 2 ) have now been confirmed in various human and animal-disease models. However, the effects of H 2 on the physiological function in a normal state have been largely neglected. Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) intake and hydrogen inhalation (HI) are the most common used methods for hydrogen administration, the difference in the effects between HRW intake and HI remains elusive. In the present study, the body weight and 13 serum biochemical parameters were monitored during the six-month hydrogen intervention, all these parameters were significantly altered by oral intake of HRW or HI. Among the 13 parameters, the most striking alterations induced by hydrogen treatment were observed in serum myocardial enzymes spectrum. The results also showed that the changes in these parameters occurred at different time points, and the alterations in most of the parameters were much more significant in HI than HRW. The results of this study provides the basic data for the mechanism research and application of molecular hydrogen in the future.

Background: Patients coinfected with HBV and hepatitis D virus (HDV) have a greater risk of HCC and cirrhosis. The current study was undertaken to assess HDV genotype distribution and determine clinical characteristics of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) among HBsAg positive individuals in Shanghai., Method: This retrospective study involved 225 serum samples from HBsAg positive hospitalized patients from October 2010 to April 2013. HDV-specific RT-nested PCR was used to amplify HDV RNA. HDV genotypes were characterized by Next-generation sequencing (NGS), followed by phylogenetic analyses. HDV/HBV co-infected patients and HBV mono-infected patients were compared clinically and virologically., Results: Out of the 225 HBsAg-positive serum samples with elevated transaminases, HDV-RNA was identified in 11 (4.9%) patients. The HBV loads in the HDV positive group were significantly lower than the HDV negative HBV-infected patients. The aminotransferase enzymes were significantly higher in HDV/HBV co-infected compared to HDV negative patients (P < 0.05). Phylogenetic analyses indicated that HDV-2 genotype being the predominant genotype, other HDV genotypes were not observed. HDV/HBV patients were significantly associated with a rather unfavourable clinical outcome., Conclusion: In summary, the prevalence of HDV infection in patients with elevated transaminases is not low and the predominance of HDV genotype 2 infection in Shanghai. This finding helps us to better understand the correlation of HDV/HBV co-infection. Moreover, Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies provide a rapid, precise method for generating HDV genomes to define infecting genotypes.

In this study, Guangdong Han population was analyzed with Goldeneye™ DNA ID 22NC Kit containing 20 non-CODIS STR loci and a CODIS STR locus. In 503 unrelated individuals, a total of 232 alleles and 813 genotypes were observed. The values of polymorphism information content (PIC), expected heterozygosity (He), and observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranged from 0.6678 to 0.8618, 0.7197 to 0.8757, and 0.6938 to 0.8767, respectively. No deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed at all loci after the Bonferroni correction. The combined power of discrimination and the combined power of exclusion were 0.999999999999999999999999937051 and 0.999999998467033, respectively. Population comparison revealed that Guangdong Han population was relatively close to Huadong Han population. These results suggested that the 21 STR loci are highly polymorphic and Goldeneye™ DNA ID 22NC Kit is suitable for individual identification and paternity testing in Guangdong Han population.

Truth-telling to cancer patients challenges health care providers in China. Providers confront a series of cultural, ethical, and legal dilemmas in terms of patients' right to know and autonomy. Underlying reasons for truth-telling dilemmas include traditional culture, the role of family, and ambiguity about patients' right to know in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations. These factors complicate ethical judgment by requiring interaction with traditional Chinese culture and laws before health care providers deliver bad news to patients with a range of conditions, including cancer. In this article ethical questions are raised, and strategies concerning breaking bad news are suggested for Chinese health care providers., Competing Interests: None.

Vaginal fluid and saliva are of great importance in forensic sciences. The identification of vaginal fluid or saliva is especially important in criminal cases. Microbes are considered as a promising marker for the identification of body fluids. In this study, 18 salivary fluids and 18 vaginal fluid samples were collected from 18 healthy women of the Han population in Guangdong province, China. The microbes of the above samples were analyzed by 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the microbes whose proportions are over 1% in saliva samples distributed across 12 genera and 57 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), and in vaginal fluid distributed across 4 genera and 9 OTUs. The microbes that dominated in saliva were quite different from those dominated in vaginal fluids. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) algorithm was used to screen out the specific microbes of the studied samples, and the results showed that the specific microbes in saliva samples are Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Veillonella parvula, and Aggregatibacter segnis, while in vaginal fluid is Lactobacillus iners.

This study was conducted to investigate the deposition and depletion process of clenbuterol (CL) in goat tissues, plasma and urine after the repeated administration of a growth-promoting dose. The experiment was conducted in 24 goats (21 treated and 3 controls). Treated animals were administered orally in a dose of 16 µg/kg body mass once daily for 21 consecutive days and randomly sacrificed on days 0.25, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 of the withdrawal period. CL in goat tissues was extracted with organic solvents and determined using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The depletion rates of tissue differed significantly. The highest concentrations of CL in all tissues are detected on day 0.25 of treatment discontinuation. After administration had been discontinued for 28 days, CL still residues in all tissues, especially, in whole eye, where the concentrations reach 363.29 ± 31.60 μg/kg. These findings confirmed that the whole eye, which are rich in pigment, showed a much higher concentration than any other studied tissue during the withdrawal period., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Maintaining a balance between ATP synthesis and heat generation is crucial for adapting to changes in climate. Variation in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which encodes 13 subunits of the respiratory chain complexes, may contribute to climate adaptation by regulating thermogenesis and the use of bioenergy. However, studies looking for a relationship between mtDNA haplogroups and climate have obtained mixed results, leaving unresolved the role of mtDNA in climate adaptation. Since mtDNA content can regulate human bioenergy processes and is known to influence many physiological traits and diseases, it is possible that mtDNA content contributes to climate adaptation in human populations. Here, we analyze the distribution of mtDNA content among 27 Chinese ethnic populations residing across China and find a significant association between mtDNA content and climate, with northern populations having significantly higher mtDNA content than southern populations. Functional studies have shown that high mtDNA content correlates with an increase in the expression of energy metabolism enzymes, which may accelerate thermogenesis. This suggests that the significantly higher mtDNA content observed in northern populations may confer a selective advantage in adapting to colder northern climates.

This study assesses the long-term outcomes in Han Chinese patients with clinical stage I non-seminomatous germ cell testicular cancer (CSI NSGCT) treated with surveillance, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) and adjuvant chemotherapy. We retrospectively evaluated 89 patients with a mean age of 26.5 years. After orchiectomy, 37 patients were treated with surveillance, 34 underwent RPLND and 18 were managed with chemotherapy. The overall survival rate, the recurrence-free survival rate and the risk factors were evaluated. The median follow-up length was 92 months (range: 6-149 months). Thirteen of the 89 patients (14.6%) had relapses, and one died by the evaluation date. The overall survival rate was 98.9%. The cumulative 4-year recurrence-free rates were 80.2%, 92.0% and 100% for the surveillance, RPLND and chemotherapy groups, respectively. The disease-free period tended to be briefer in patients with a history of cryptorchidism and those with stage Is. Therefore, surveillance, RPLND and adjuvant chemotherapy might be reliable strategies in compliant patients with CSI NSGCT. Surveillance should be recommended for patients with the lowest recurrence rate, especially those without lymphovascular invasion. This study might aid the establishment of a standard therapy for CSI NSGCT in China.

Background: Nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or cleft palate (NSCLP) are common congenital anomalies in humans, the etiologies of which are complex and associated with both genetic and environmental factors. Previous data suggested single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of rs1546124, rs4783099, and rs16974880 of the CRISPLD2 gene were associated with an increased risk of NSCLP; however, subsequent studies have yielded conflicting results. This study aims to evaluate the associations of the aforementioned polymorphisms with NSCLP in a Northwestern Chinese population., Methods: Three CRISPLD2 SNPs were genotyped in a case-control study (n = 907), including 444 NSCLP patients and 463 healthy individuals, using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (PCR-DHPLC)., Results: The genotype and allele frequencies of rs1546124 (odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-3.34; p = 1 × 10(-5) ) and rs4783099 (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.54-1.00; p = 0.05) were different in NSCLP patients compared with controls. Furthermore, the CC genotype at rs1546124 was associated with increased risk for cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P; OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.41-3.15; p(correct) = 1.5 × 10(-4) ) and for cleft palate only (CPO; OR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.69-5.07; p(correct) = 5.4 × 10(-4) ), whereas the T allele of rs4783099 was associated with decreased risk for CPO. Further gender stratification showed that the statistical association of these two loci is mainly in the male patients, and not in female patients., Conclusion: Our results suggest that the CRISPLD2 gene contributes to the etiology of NSCLP in the Northwestern Chinese population. SNP rs1546124 is significantly related to NSCLP, associated with both CL/P and CPO groups, and SNP rs4783099 is significantly associated with CPO., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Hakka and Chaoshanese are two unique Han populations residing in southern China but with northern Han (NH) cultural traditions and linguistic influences. Although most of historical records indicate that both populations migrated from northern China in the last two thousand years, no consensus on their origins has been reached so far. To shed more light on the origins of Hakka and Chaoshanese, mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) of 170 Hakka from Meizhou and 102 Chaoshanese from Chaoshan area, Guangdong Province, were analyzed. Our results show that some southern Chinese predominant haplogroups, e.g. B, F, and M7, have relatively high frequencies in both populations. Although median network analyses show that Hakka/Chaoshanese share some haplotypes with NH, interpopulation comparison reveals that both populations show closer affinity with southern Han (SH) populations than with NH. In consideration of previous results from nuclear gene (including Y chromosome) research, it is likely that matrilineal landscapes of both Hakka and Chaoshanese have largely been shaped by the local people during their migration southward and/or later colonization in southern China, and factors such as cultural assimilation, patrilocality, and even sex-bias in the immigrants might have played important roles during the process.

Objective: To investigate the extent of exposure of non-smoking pregnant women to passive smoking; to undertake interventions on the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of those women toward passive smoking; and to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions., Methods: A total of 128 non-smoking pregnant women participated in the survey. Their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors towards passive smoking were measured by a self-administered questionnaire. A sixteen-week intervention was undertaken., Results: The knowledge and attitudes of the non-smoking pregnant women towards passive smoking improved significantly, as well as their attempts to avoid exposure to the passive smoking brought by their smoking husbands or other family members. Telephone counseling, booklets and doctors' advices were the most acceptable approaches of health education., Conclusion: The comprehensive interventions are effective for improving the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of non-smoking women toward passive smoking.

Little is known about the characteristics of particulate matter emissions from vehicles in China, although such information is critical in source apportionment modeling, emission inventories, and health effect studies. In this paper, we report a comprehensive characterization of PM2.5 emissions in the Zhujiang Tunnel in the Pearl River Delta region of China. The chemical speciation included elemental carbon, organic carbon, inorganic ions, trace elements, and organic compounds. The emission factors of individual species and their relative distributions were obtained for a mixed fleet of heavy-duty vehicles (19.8%) and light-duty vehicles (80.2%). In addition, separate emission factors of PM2.5 mass, elemental carbon, and organic matter for heavy-duty vehicles and light-duty vehicles also were derived. As compared to the results of other tunnel studies previously conducted, we found that the abundances and distributions of the trace elements in PM2.5 emissions were more varied. In contrast, the characteristics of the trace organic compounds in the PM2.5 emissions in our study were consistent with characteristics found in other tunnel studies and dynamometer tests. Our results suggested that vehicular PM2.5 emissions of organic compounds are less influenced by the geographic area and fleet composition and thereby are more suitable for use in aerosol source apportionment modeling implemented across extensive regions.

The total lipid content of eight species of nuts available in Hangzhou ranged from 49.5 g/100 g weight in Cannabis sativa to 75.4 g/100 g in walnut. The predominant content of lipid is triacylglycerol, ranging from 91.1% in Cannabis sativa to 98.4% in macadamia. There were two polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in all nuts analyzed; 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3. The content of 18:3n-3 ranging from 0.2% in almond to 15.2% in Cannabis sativa, 18:2n-6 ranged from 2.5% in macadamia to 61.6% in pine nut. The proportion of total PUFA in analyzed eight nut species ranging from 2.8% in macadamia to 71.7% in walnut (p < 0.001). Monounsaturated fatty acid composition ranged from 18.0% in Cannabis sativa to 82.6% in macadamia (p < 0.001). The proportion of saturated fatty acid ranged from 7.4% in filbert to 14.7% of total fatty acids in macadamia (p < 0.001). No C20 fatty acids were detected in any of the samples in the present study. The lipids content and fatty acid compositions in analyzed samples were varied between nut species. Cannabis sativa and walnut contained relatively high 18:3n-3, consumption of several these nuts each day can contribute to n-3 PUFA intake, especially for the vegetarian population.

Using interval mapping and marker simple regression methods, the QTLs of yield and its components in (Simian 3 x TM-1) F2 and F2:3, were tagged and Mapped with 39 SSR and 10 RAPD markers having polymorphism between parents screened from 301 pair SSR primers and 1040 RAPD primers. Simian 3 is being grown extensively in Yangtze River cotton-growing valley characterized as high productivity with more bolls and higher lint percent, whereas TM-1, Genetic standard in Upland cotton with more heavy boll weight. In the present report, two QTLs controlling boll size with 18.2% and 21.0% phenotype variance explained in F2:3 generation, one QTL controlling lint percent with 24.9% phenotype variance explained in F2 generation and 5.9% in F2:3 generation and one QTL controlling 100-seed weight with 15.6% phenotype variance explained in F2:3 generation were mapped in Chromosome 9. Additionally, another QTL responsible for 100-seed weight was identified and mapped at the same position in Chromosome 9 in F2:3 generation. It is worth for further to be studied whether it is one QTL for pleiotrophism or two closely linked QTLs. The molecular markers mapped and tagged closely with main QTLs of yield traits in this paper can be used for MAS in cotton high-yield breeding program.