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Mechanistic understanding and prediction of river algal blooms remain challenging. It is generally believed that these blooms are formed by the slowdown of water dynamics in tributaries due to the support of the main stream. However, few studies have investigated the impact of flow backward caused by the difference in water dynamics between the main stream and tributaries. Here, we focus on the eutrophication issue in the middle-lower reaches of the Han River, which is affected by the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP), the largest inter-basin water transfer project in Asia. We discover that the reversal of the Yangtze River water level could effectively alleviate the occurrence of Han River water blooms. The Yangtze River frequently back flows into the lower reaches of the Han River, with the probability of such events increasing as it nears the confluence (20 km from the Yangtze: 9.5 %, 10 km: 19.0 %, 8 km: 28.6 %). This flow backward carries nutrients that reduce the nitrogen to phosphorus ration (N:P), leading to a shift in the nutrient structure of the Han River. This change is concomitant with a significant decline in algae biomass (Chlorophyll- a = 11.19 µg·L–1 and algae density = 0.41×107 cells·L–1 under natural flow, Chlorophyll- a = 5.19 µg·L–1 and algae density = 0.18×107 cells·L–1 under flow backward), as well as a weakening of the correlation (R) between diatom density and chlorophyll-a concentration, i.e., R = 0.38 (p >0.05) under flow backward conditions versus R = 0.72 (p <0.01) under natural flow conditions. As phosphorus limitation typically suppresses algae growth, the correlation between diatom density and chlorophyll-a concentration can help to reveal the dominance of diatoms, with stronger correlations indicating greater diatom dominance. Consequently, our study provides evidence that the flow backward can alleviate river algal blooms by weakening the growth advantage of diatoms. This study could prove valuable in investigating the eutrophication mechanism within the complex hydrodynamic conditions of rivers. Flow backward caused by the water level difference between the main streams and tributary alleviated the occurrence of river algal blooms in the confluence area. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stepwise demagnetization isolates a stable magnetic component in 13 sites of basalt flows and baked sediments dated at 113.3±1.6 Ma from the Tuoyun section, western Xinjiang Province, China. Except for one flow from the base of the ∼300 m thick section, the rest have exclusively reversed polarity. The sequence correlates with chron M-0 in some geomagnetic polarity time scales, which potentially places the section just before the start of the Cretaceous Long Normal polarity superchron. Five of 11 sites of Early Cretaceous red beds that underlie the basalts possess coherent directions that pass both fold and reversals tests. Six sites of Upper Jurassic red beds have a magnetic component that was likely acquired after folding in the Tertiary. The mean paleolatitude of the Lower Cretaceous red beds is 11° lower than that of the Lower Cretaceous basalts suggesting the red beds underestimate the true field inclination. We further test this result by calculating the paleolatitudes to a common point of the available Early Cretaceous to Present paleomagnetic poles from red beds and volcanic rocks from central Asian localities north of the Tibetan Plateau. We find that paleolatitudes of volcanic rocks roughly equal the paleolatitudes calculated from the reference Eurasian apparent polar wander path (APWP) and that paleolatitudes of red beds are generally 10–20° lower than the paleolatitudes of volcanic rocks and those predicted from the reference curve. Our study suggests that central Asian red beds poorly record the Earth’s field inclination, which leads to lower than expected paleolatitudes. Good agreement in paleolatitudes from volcanic rocks and the Eurasian APWP argues against proposed canted and non-dipole field models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract This study evaluates the impact of radiation schemes on the regional climate simulations with the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model over the CORDEX-EA (Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment-East Asia) domain during 1989–2008. The model is driven by the ERA-Interim reanalysis at a horizontal resolution of 50 km, and the two radiation schemes of CAM (Community Atmosphere Model) and RRTMG (Rapid Radiative Transfer Model for Global Climate Models) are applied. The mean and extreme temperature is generally underestimated by the model over most areas, with the greatest bias reaching 8 °C over the Tibetan Plateau, which can be explained by the underestimation of the long wave radiation. The RRTMG scheme reduces the underestimation of long wave radiation by about 30 W/m2 in most regions, and thus reduces the root mean square error of annual mean temperature over the east Asia domain by about 0.77 °C. The simulations of precipitation show little dependence on the radiation schemes, with slight superiority in the CAM-driven experiment. The model's performance of producing the interannual variation of the temperature can be partly attributed to that of the long wave radiation, and the CAM scheme works slightly better in producing the interannual feature of both temperature and precipitation. The seasonal cycles of both temperature and precipitation are reasonably produced by the model. The cold bias of temperature is found to mainly occur in the cold months through the year, which is probably associated with the greater underestimation of long wave radiation flux in the cold months. Highlights • Bias of temperature is resulted from the bias of the long wave radiations. • RRTMG scheme produces warmer temperature, reducing cold bias and increasing warm bias. • Cold bias of temperature mainly occur in cold months, associated with greater underestimation of LW radiations. • The simulations of precipitation show little dependence on the radiation schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gracilaria is a genus of red algae widely cultivated in Asia and is notable for its economic importance as food ingredients. Neoagaro oligosaccharides (NAOSs) are products of Gracilaria that have excellent water solubility, antioxidant activity and prebiotic effect. In this study, Gracilaria crude polysaccharide was treated with agarase and hydrolyzed into NAOSs with different degrees of polymerization (DP). The compositions of the hydrolyzed NAOSs were analyzed by electrospray ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry and thin layer chromatography. The antioxidant capacity and prebiotic effects of NAOSs with different DPs were investigated and the results showed that DP could affect the antioxidant capacity of NAOSs. The prebiotic effects of NAOSs with different DP were evaluated based on the influence on the growth of four intestinal bacteria. NAOSs promoted the growth of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Sterptococcus thermophilus. The protective effect of Gracilaria NAOSs in simulated gastrointestinal juice was also studied. Finally, NAOSs with best prebiotic effects were used in Procambarus feeding experiment and exhibited promotion effect on Procambarus growth. The present study showed that Gracilaria NAOSs can be utilized as antioxidant and prebiotic additive, which had a considerable potential in food and feed industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The clinical, cytogenetic and molecular features of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), a disease previously considered to be rare in Asia, were examined in consecutive series of 70 cases diagnosed by our laboratory over a 30-month period. Clonal abnormalities were observed in 80% of CLL/SLL cases using a combination of conventional cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Those involving 14q32/IGH were the most frequent (24 cases), followed by trisomy 12 and 11q abnormalities. IgVH gene usage was non-random with over-representation of VH4-34, VH3-23 and a previously unreported increase in VH3-48 gene use. Somatic hypermutation (SHM) of IgVH germline sequences was observed in 56.5% of cases with stereotyped patterns of SHM observed in VH4-34 heavy chain complimentary-determining (HCDR1) and framework region CFR2 sequences. These findings in a Chinese population suggest subtle geographical differences in IgVH gene usage while the remarkably specific pattern of SHM suggest that a relatively limited set of antigens may be involved in the development of this disease worldwide. IgVH gene mutation status was a significant predictor of initial survival in CLL/SLL. However, an influence of karyotype on prognosis was not observed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim of the study: Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (ginseng) is a well-known Chinese herb often used in Asian countries for physical strength development. Ginseng polysaccharides are its active component and have a lot of pharmaceutical activities. However, anti-fatigue activity of ginseng polysaccharides has not yet been tested. The current study was designed to evaluate the anti-fatigue activity of ginseng polysaccharides (WGP) in an animal test for fatigue and compare the activities between the neutral (WGPN) and acidic (WGPA) portion in an attempt to determine whether the medicinal uses are supported by pharmacological effects. Materials and methods: WGP, WGPN and WGPA were orally administrated to mice once daily for 15 days. Anti-fatigue activity was assessed using the forced swim test (FST) and serum biochemical parameters were determined by autoanalyzer and commercially available kits. Results: While all compounds were found to reduce immobility in the FST, the effect of WGPA was demonstrated in lower doses compared with WGP and WGPN. Moreover, the FST-induced reduction in glucose (GLU) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and increase in creatine phosphokinase (CK), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, all indicators of fatigue, were inhibited by the corresponding doses of WGP, WGPN and WGPA. Conclusions: Ginseng polysaccharides have anti-fatigue activity, also reflected in the effects on the physiological markers for fatigue. The acidic polysaccharide is more potent than the neutral polysaccharide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]