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The Xiaoqinling area is located in the eastern part of the Qinling Orogen and experiences early and late Mesozoic gold mineralization controlled by structural deformation. The relationship between the two stages of mineralization and the orogenic process of the Qinling Orogen is unclear. We investigated the deformation and alteration of E-W striking veins in the Xiaoqinling area. The geometric features revealed that all the veins developed within the E-W-striking Guanyintang brittle-ductile shear zone. The vein was subparallel to the shear zone, dipped at 30°-60°, and had a wave-like appearance. The Guanyintang shear zone underwent three deformation stages: sinistral shearing (D1), dextral thrusting (D2), and sinistral normal faulting (D3). The development of ore- bearing quartz veins was controlled by deformation during D2, and the auriferous pyrite and minor chalcopyrite developed along the shear foliations. Re-Os dating of the molybdenite revealed a well-constrained isochron age of 230.2 ± 2.6 Ma, indicating the E-W striking shear zone developed in Late Triassic. This early Mesozoic shearing deformation in Xiaoqinling represents the early Mesozoic metallogenesis is correlated with the collisional orogeny of the Qinling orogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isoprothiolane (IPT) resistance has emerged in Magnaporthe oryzae, due to the long-term usage of IPT to control rice blast in China, yet the mechanisms of the resistance remain largely unknown. Through IPT adaptation on PDA medium, we obtained a variety of IPT-resistant mutants. Based on their EC50 values to IPT, the resistant mutants were mainly divided into three distinct categories, i.e., low resistance (LR, 6.5 ≤ EC50 < 13.0 μg/mL), moderate resistance 1 (MR-1, 13.0 ≤ EC50 < 25.0 μg/mL), and moderate resistance 2 (MR-2, 25.0 ≤ EC50 < 35.0 μg/mL). Molecular analysis of MoIRR (Magnaporthe oryzae isoprothiolane resistance related) gene demonstrated that it was associated only with the moderate resistance in MR-2 mutants, indicating that other mechanisms were associated with resistance in LR and MR-1 mutants. In this study, we mainly focused on the characterization of low resistance to IPT in M. oryzae. Mycelial growth and conidial germination were significantly reduced, indicating fitness penalties in LR mutants. Based on the differences of whole genome sequences between parental isolate and LR mutants, we identified a conserved MoVelB gene, encoding the velvet family transcription factor, and genetic transformation of wild type isolate verified that MoVelB gene was associated with the low resistance. Based on molecular analysis, we further demonstrated that the velvet family proteins VelB and VeA were indispensable for IPT toxicity and the deformation of the VelB-VeA-LaeA complex played a vital role for the low IPT-resistance in M. oryzae, most likely through the down-regulation of the secondary metabolism-related genes or CYP450 genes to reduce the toxicity of IPT. Author summary: Isoprothiolane (IPT) resistance has emerged in Magnaporthe oryzae, due to the long-term usage of IPT to control rice blast in China, yet the mechanisms of the resistance remain largely unknown. Here, we explored the mechanisms of low IPT resistance in M. oryzae. Combining the whole genome sequencing and genetic transformation, we identified a conserved MoVelB gene, encoding the velvet family transcription factor to be a determinant for IPT toxicity. We further demonstrated that the deformation of the VelB-VeA-LaeA complex conferred the low IPT-resistance in M. oryzae, most likely through down-regulating the secondary metabolism-related genes or CYP450 genes to reduce the toxicity of IPT. This study improved our understanding of the resistance mechanism as well as the mode of action of IPT which will be helpful for making suitable strategies to manage the emerging resistance of IPT in M. oryzae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peach bacterial spot caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (Xap) is a devastating disease worldwide and frequently causes massive economic losses. In recent years, it has become a pandemic outbreak in most peach production areas of China, especially on precocious peaches in the middle reach of the Yangtze River. Rapid, user-friendly detection is extremely important to make the correct diagnosis and develop suitable control strategies. In this study, we described a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)/Cas12a-based system that combines RPA and CRISPR/Cas12a for Xap identification. A total of three crRNAs were designed to target a highly conserved ABC transporter ATP-binding protein-encoding gene ftsX to make specific detection of Xap. Results showed that crRNA 2 and crRNA 3 could get consistent detection for Xap. To realize the visualization of detection results, we additionally introduced FQ-reporter and FB-reporter. The developed method was highly sensitive and could detect as low as 10–18 M Xap gDNA with a mini-UV torch, corresponding to 1.63 copies/μl or 8.855 fg/μl gDNA of Xap , while with lateral flow strips, the sensitivity was 10–17 M. In addition, this method could specifically detect Xap from other closely related bacteria or pathogens associated with peach diseases. Furthermore, this method could make correct identification for Xap with crude DNA using NaOH-based extraction (3 min) directly from diseased peach samples. Considering that the developed method could get results within 2 h and could be performed at 37°C (body temperature), it is promising to be applied for Xap diagnosis and monitoring in fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New-generation farmers have become a vital force for entrepreneurship in their hometowns. To better promote farmers to start businesses, it's important to know about their quality of work life. Based on a survey of the quality of work life and entrepreneurship will of farmers from three cities and eight counties in Shandong province of China, this paper analyzed the effects of farmers' quality of work life on their entrepreneurship will in their hometowns using a Logistic regression model. Our findings show that farmers have a relatively low cognition level of their quality of work life, and their interpersonal relationship, work characteristics, material security, and family demands have significant effects on their entrepreneurship will. According to the findings, this paper proposed some suggestions for promoting farmers' entrepreneurship will in their hometowns from the perspectives of organizational management, extrinsic entrepreneurship stimulus, and internal demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the effectiveness and safety of short-term treatment of infliximab (IFX) in a group of Chinese patients with active Crohn's disease (CD). Patients with established diagnosis of active CD were treated with IFX intravenously with a dose of 5 mg/kg at week 0, 2, 6. Clinical assessments were performed at baseline (week 0) and every week after IFX infusion until 8 weeks after the induction dose. Fourteen patients (nine male, five female) with a mean age of 29.7 years (range from 15 to 65 years) were included in the analysis. The mean subjective scores were decreased from 2.85 ± 0.57 at baseline to 1.3 ± 0.4 at week 14 ( P < 0.05). The mean Harvey-Bradshaw index was 7.9 ± 1.5 at baseline and 2.3 ± 1.0 at week 14. The levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum C-reactive protein, total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) were significantly improved during the 14-week period. Colonoscopy showed a remarkable improvement. Mild and transient adverse events including skin itching, headache and elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase were each observed in one patient. Severe anemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia at week 27 after three infusions of IFX were observed in one patient. Treatment with three infusions of IFX at a dose of 5 mg/kg was effective for induction of remission for active CD patients who failed to respond to conventional therapies. Study of long-term efficacy and safety of IFX therapy is warranted for further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Whether metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) is associated with longitudinal changes in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) remains unclear., Methods: MHO was defined as participants with overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m 2 , n = 2921), free of history of metabolic diseases, and without abnormalities of blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, lipid profile, carotid artery and liver ultrasonographic findings at baseline. Metabolically healthy normal weight (MHN) was defined as participants with normal weight (BMI < 24.0 kg/m 2 , n = 9578) and without above-mentioned abnormalities. HDL-C, fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and blood pressure were assessed annually. Glucose abnormality was considered if either FBG ≥ 5.6 mmol/L or HbA1c ≥ 5.7%; while, high blood pressure (HBP) was considered if either systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 80 mmHg during 5 years of follow-up., Results: Compared with the MHN group, the adjusted mean difference in HDL-C change rate was - 0.005 mmol/L per year [95% confidence interval (CI) - 0.007, - 0.003] for MHO after adjustment for a series of potential confounders. Furthermore, transiting to abnormality of blood glucose, but not high blood pressure, was associated with lower cumulative average of HDL-C in MHN group, compared with those remained in metabolically healthy status., Conclusions: MHO and transiting from metabolically healthy to abnormality of blood glucose were associated with HDL-C in Chinese adults., Level of Evidence: III, cohort study.

Aim: To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) based on the Chinese version of SF-36 and Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) in subjects with chronic hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis, including patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE)., Methods: The SF-36 and CLDQ were administered to 160 healthy volunteers, 20 subjects with chronic hepatitis B and 106 patients with cirrhosis (33 cases exhibited MHE). HRQOL scores were compared among the different study groups. The SF-36 includes eight health concepts: physical functioning, role-physical, body pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotion, and mental health. Six domains of CLDQ were assessed: abdominal symptoms, fatigue, systemic symptoms, activity, emotional function and worry., Results: Compared with healthy controls (96.9 +/- 4.5, 86.6 +/- 18.4, 90.1 +/- 12.5, 89.0 +/- 5.7, 87.5 +/- 4.3, 95.8 +/- 7.1, 88.5 +/- 15.9, 88.7 +/- 5.2 in SF-36 and 6.7 +/- 0.5, 6.1 +/- 0.6, 6.3 +/- 0.6, 6.5 +/- 0.5, 6.3 +/- 0.5, 6.8 +/- 0.4 in CLDQ), patients with chronic hepatitis B (86.3 +/- 11.0, 68.8 +/- 21.3, 78.9 +/- 14.4, 60.8 +/- 10.5, 70.8 +/- 8.6, 76.1 +/- 12.6, 50.0 +/- 22.9, 72.2 +/- 10.6 and 5.5 +/- 1.0, 4.5 +/- 1.0, 5.2 +/- 1.1, 5.3 +/- 0.9, 4.8 +/- 0.9, 4.9 +/- 1.0) and cirrhosis (52.8 +/- 17.4, 32.8 +/- 27.9, 61.6 +/- 18.9, 30.2 +/- 18.3, 47.9 +/- 20.1, 54.0 +/- 19.2, 28.9 +/- 26.1, 51.1 +/- 17.8 and 4.7 +/- 1.2, 3.9 +/- 1.2, 4.7 +/- 1.2, 4.7 +/- 1.3, 4.7 +/- 1.0, 4.4 +/- 1.1) had lower HRQOL on all scales of the SF-36 and CLDQ (P < 0.01 for all). Increasing severity of liver cirrhosis (based on the Child-Pugh score/presence or absence of MHE) was associated with a decrease in most components of SF-36 and CLDQ, especially SF-36., Conclusion: The Chinese version of SF-36 along with CLDQ is a valid and reliable method for testing MHE in patients with liver cirrhosis. Cirrhosis and MHE are associated with decreased HRQOL.