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Although virtual exchange has been widely discussed during the (post-)pandemic era, how students do reflexivity in this context has yet to be fully explored. This study invites students from Chinese and Finnish universities to think aloud and reflect on their virtual exchanges by presenting them with video clips of their online intercultural encounters. This is referred to as "think-aloud reflexivity" in this study. Grounded in Foucault's (1988) "technologies of the self" and Clark and Dervin's (2014) "multidimensions of reflexivity," the study 1) identifies and analyses moments of think-aloud reflexivity as triggered by the video clips presented to students; and 2) examines how students' reflexivity is constructed. Research findings, based on an analysis of students' speech acts (Austin, 1962), reveal three ways of constructing reflexivity: "evaluating," "clarifying" and "reviewing." Three themes also emerge while doing reflexivity in the study: "self-criticality," "empathizing with others," and "reconceptualizing doing interculturality." Recommendations for international telecollaboration are given based on the findings, inviting scholars and researchers to un-re-think the notion of reflexivity in intercultural communication education.

Under the dual track mechanism of 'market coal and plan electricity', China's power price cannot be adjusted in a timely manner according to the changes in the coal price. The authorities put forward the policy of coal electricity linkage to overcome this dilemma in 2004 and updated the relevant details in 2016. Based on the directional distance function, this study measured the profit efficiency of over 1300 thermal power plants in China during 2002–2011 and investigated the impacts of the linkage policy using scenario analysis. We implemented the bootstrap method to analyse the sensitivity of the estimators of efficiency to sample variation and the impacts of plant-specific factors. The empirical results show that: First, compared to the predetermined directional vector approach, the generalised endogenous projection vectors made the estimated inefficiency scores perform better in objectivity, feasibility, and differentiation. Second, technical inefficiency was the primary cause of the profit inefficiency during the study period rather than allocative inefficiency. The large generation groups attained higher profit efficiencies than the power plants not affiliated to them. Finally, in straightening out the relationship between the coal and power prices, the linkage mechanism could only be a transitory step to the electricity market-oriented reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The paper was to identify Alternaría alternata causing leaf spot disease on Huangdi banana in China. [Methods] Fungal isolates were isolated and identified by morphological features, molecular identification and pathogenicity test. [Results] There were light to dark brown, tiny oval spots on leaves. The causal agent isolated from affected leaves was identified as A. alternata based on the morphological properties, coupled with sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (IIS) region, large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rD-NA) and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-la) gene. Koch's postulates were fuEilled by successful re-isolation of pathogen from the artificial inoculated leaves. [ Conclusions] To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot caused by A. alternata on Huangdi banana in China. The identification of A. alternata as the causal agent of the observed leaf spot disease on Huangdi banana is critical to the prevention and control of this disease in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Coronary artery calcification and cardiac abnormalities are common in hemodialysis patients. The value of lanthanum carbonate over calcium‐based phosphate binders in managing the progression of coronary artery calcification is debated. We reviewed all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the two strategies in these patients. Methods: RCTs comparing lanthanum carbonate with calcium‐based phosphate binders used in adult hemodialysis patients were identified in the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal, and Wanfang databases. Findings Ten RCTs involving 687 patients were suitable for inclusion. Compared with calcium‐based phosphate binders, lanthanum carbonate yielded lower coronary artery calcium scores (weighted mean difference, WMD: −74.28, 95% CI: −149.89, 1.33), change in coronary artery calcium scores (WMD: −105.18, 95% CI: −113.83, −96.53), and left ventricular mass index (WMD: −29.95, 95% CI: −54.25, −7.45). Lanthanum carbonate was significantly associated with lower levels of serum phosphate (WMD: −0.18, 95% CI: −0.26, −0.10), calcium (WMD: −0.22, 95% CI: −0.25, −0.20), and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) (standard mean difference: −3.78, 95% CI: −5.60, −1.96) but not intact parathyroid hormone (WMD: −4.23, 95% CI: −64.12, 55.65). Moreover, a reduced risk of nonfatal cardiovascular events (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.10–0.97) but not all‐cause mortality (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.39–3.01) in lanthanum carbonate therapy was observed. Discussion In hemodialysis patients, lanthanum carbonate therapy may impede the progression of coronary artery calcification and left ventricular mass index and lead to reduced serum phosphate, calcium, FGF23, and nonfatal cardiovascular events compared with calcium‐based phosphate binders. However, more well‐designed RCTs are required for confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The paper was to study molecular characterization, morphology and pathogenicity of Curvularia pseudobrachyspora, a new causal agent of leaf spot on banana. [Methods] Banana (Musa acuminate') leaves with streaks or long ellipse-shaped lesions were sampled in an orchard of Danzhou City, Hainan Province, China in 2021. Fungus isolates were isolated from the diseased tissues and further identified as C. pseudobrachyspora based on morphological characteristics of colony, conidiophore and spore, phylogenetic analyses of the ITS region, GAP DP and TET-la genes. [Results] In the pathogenicity test, the fungus re-isolated from inoculated leaves with necrotic lesions was identified morphologically and molecularly, fulfilling Koch's postulates. [Conclusions] C. pseudobrachyspora is a new pathogen causing leaf spot of banana in China and the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The study was to confirm the etiological agent of leaf spot on banana in Yunnan Province of China. [Methods] Fungus isolates were isolated from the diseased tissues, and cultured to observe the morphological characteristics of colony and spore. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses and pathogenicity test were also conducted to confirm the pathogen. [Results] The fungus isolated from the diseased tissues was identified as Neopestalotiopsis clavispora. [Conclusions] N. clavispora is a new pathogen causing leaf spot of banana. This research provides the first description of N. clavispora as a causal agent on banana in China, and adds new insights related to the host range of N. clavispora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we intended to describe a human case of lumbosacral canal sparganosis in People's Republic of China (China). A 56-year-old man was admitted to Xiangya Hospital Central South University in Changsha, Hunan province, China after having an experience of perianal pain for a week. An enhancing mass, a tumor clinically suggested, was showed at the S1-S2 level of the lumbosacral spine by the examination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium contrast. The patient was received the laminectomy from S1 to S2, and an ivory-white living worm was detected in inferior margin of L5. In ELISA-test with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples, anti-sparganum antibodies were detected. He had a ingesting history of undercooked frog meat in his youth. By the present study, a human case of spinal sparganosis invaded in lumbosacral canal at the S1-S2 level was diagnosed in China. Although the surgical removal of larvae is known to be the best way of treatment for sparganosis, we administered the high-dosage of praziquantel, albendazole and dexamethasone to prevent the occurrence of another remain worms in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The paper was to identify the causal agent of leaf spot of banana in Hainnan, China. [Methods] Fungus isolates were isolated from the diseased tissues, and morphological characteristics of colony and spore were observed. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses and pathogenicity test were conducted to confirm the pathogen. [ Results] The fungus isolates from the diseased tissues was identified as Curvularia geniculata. [Conclusions] C. geniculata is a new pathogen causing leaf spot of banana in Hainan, China. This finding will help to broaden the distribution and host range of C. geniculata, indicating that it poses potential damage to banana in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the damage and defects related to rolling contact fatigue (RCF), together with wear occurring at the rail surface, the microscopic characteristics of the rail material change with the accumulation of wheel cycles. To find the relationship between rail material characteristics and RCF damage under wheel-rail contact situations, a series of twin-disc rolling-sliding tests, based on real wheel-rail contact situations at a radius of 80 mm rail profile, was established for a heavy-haul railway in China. The microscale characteristics of the rail disc contact surface was researched, including crack, wear, roughness, and hardness of the U75V rail with different load cycles. The results show that the damage mechanism of RCF and wear alternately dominates the rail disc surface at the microscale, taking a certain cycle as a boundary which makes the RCF crack number and wear rate have opposite evolutionary trends. The above factors also affect the wear at the surface rail discs, alternating between fatigue and adhesion. Meanwhile, increasing the surface micro-hardness leads to a decrease in the relative wear rate and an increase in the roughness, length and number of RCF cracks. The plastic deformation layers, including the severely deformed layer (SDL) and the transition layer (TL), almost maintain the same thickness and the dynamic equilibrium increases during the cycles. Two kinds of cracks are initiated and propagated at the rail disc surface, one at the SDL and the other at the junction of SDL and TL. The number of each kind of crack depends on the SDL thickness. • The RCF and wear mechanisms dominated the rail surface alternately by a certain cycle. • Increasing the microhardness makes wear decreasing followed by an increase in roughness and RCF cracks. • The adhesive and fatigue wear happened alternately during the cycles. • The fracture mode of along or through the crystal depends on plastic deformation layer. • The thickness of the severely deformed and transition layers changes on opposite while keeps the entire thickness constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variations in the 18S ribosomal DNA (18S), 28S ribosomal DNA (28S), second internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA (ITS2), and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) of Neoschoengastia gallinarum collected from subtropical China were examined. First, a portion of the 18S (p18S), a portion of the 28S (p28S), and the complete ITS2 were separately amplified from individual mites and sequenced. The lengths of the sequences of p18S, p28S, and ITS2 were found to be 1379 bp, 3465~3468 bp, and 200 bp, respectively. The intraspecific sequence variation was 0~0.1% for p28S and 0~1.6% for ITS2, though no variation was observed for p18S, suggesting conservation of rDNA sequences. Second, a portion of the mitochondrial cox1 gene (pcox1) of N. gallinarum was analyzed. The length of the pcox1 sequence is 460 bp, and two distinct groups were observed in N. gallinarum. All pcox1 sequences in group I were identical, and there was only one nucleotide transition observed in group II; however, 7.0~7.2% variations between the two groups were observed, suggesting that two genotypes of N. gallinarum: genotype I and genotype II. Phylogenetic analyses based on pcox1 sequences indicated that N. gallinarum isolates (genotype I or genotype II) clustered into one branch; according to cox1 sequence analysis of Trombiculidae, Walchia hayashii is the closest species. The present study shows that ITS2 rDNA sequence can act as marker for the identification of N. gallinarum samples. Furthermore, analysis of the mitochondrial pcox1 sequence suggests the existence of two genotypes, which has implications for further studies of the ecology and population genetic structures of N. gallinarum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the evolution of the fluvial geomorphology in an orogenic belt provides valuable insight into the relationship between upper crustal deformation and surface processes. The upper Lancang-Mekong River is in an area experiencing both uplift and erosion. The related processes provide a steady sediment supply to the lower reaches of the river and play an important role in the regional environmental changes. The Xiaohei (Weiyuan) River Basin is an important sub-basin in this area, which is characterized by large-scale topographic fluctuations, active tectonics and erosion, and anthropogenic activities. These different factors introduce numerous complexities to the local surface processes. In this study, we investigate and quantify the controls of geomorphic evolution of the Xiaohei River Basin. We located and mapped the main knick-zones within the channels and examined the main genetic factors, such as faults and stratigraphic differences. The results show that the areas with the lowest uplift rates are characterized by a low steepness index and are located in the southeastern part of the basin. The stream power of the mainstream increases downstream, with an average value of ~122 W/m. The erosional activity of the various stream channels is intense. Overall, the basin tends to expansion, with only local instances of inward contraction. Our analysis confirms that a number of the geomorphic evolutionary characteristics of the Xiaohei River Basin are transient. In addition, the future potential for the increasing the number of dams and the hydropower development in the basin may weaken the expansion trend of the basin over a long period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allochthonous (e.g., riparian) plant litter is among the organic matter resources that are important for wetland ecosystems. A compact canopy of free‐floating vegetation on the water surface may allow for riparian litter to remain on it for a period of time before sinking to the bottom. Thus, we hypothesized that canopy of free‐floating vegetation may slow decomposition processes in wetlands. To test the hypothesis that the retention of riparian leaf litter on the free‐floating vegetation in wetlands affects their subsequent decomposition on the bottom of wetlands, a 50‐day in situ decomposition experiment was performed in a wetland pond in subtropical China, in which litter bags of single species with fine (0.5 mm) or coarse (2.0 mm) mesh sizes were placed on free‐floating vegetation (dominated by Eichhornia crassipes, Lemna minor, and Salvinia molesta) for 25 days and then moved to the pond bottom for another 25 days or remained on the pond bottom for 50 days. The leaf litter was collected from three riparian species, that is, Cinnamomum camphora, Diospyros kaki, and Phyllostachys propinqua. The retention of riparian leaf litter on free‐floating vegetation had significant negative effect on the carbon loss, marginal negative effects on the mass loss, and no effect on the nitrogen loss from leaf litter, partially supporting the hypothesis. Similarly, the mass and carbon losses from leaf litter decomposing on the pond bottom for the first 25 days of the experiment were greater than those from the litter decomposing on free‐floating vegetation. Our results highlight that in wetlands, free‐floating vegetation could play a vital role in litter decomposition, which is linked to the regulation of nutrient cycling in ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-compartment, the most significant type of forest geo-entity, is the basic unit of forest management in China. Apart from having a certain shape, the sub-compartment has social attributes, such as ownership, as well as natural attributes, such as tree species, stand volume, and average diameter at breast height (DBH). The evolution of the sub-compartment is a spatiotemporal process that involves gradual and abrupt changes. A forest resource spatiotemporal data model is designed based on a spatiotemporal expression method named sequence states which could express the spatiotemporal evolution process that involves gradual and abrupt changes. The example shows that when the data from the entire region or from a few sub-compartments are updated, all of them can be stored and related well in the database constructed based on our model. Not only the history of a sub-compartment but also its ancestor sub-compartments can be retrieved and displayed on the client window. The controls, space-time cube and history tree, are designed to visualize the evolution of sub-compartments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A scientific evaluation of the energy efficiency and CO 2 emission performance of the thermal power industry could not only provide valuable information for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions but also serve as a tool to estimate the effectiveness of relevant policy reforms. Considering the opposite effects of energy conservation and carbon emission reduction on generation cost, this study respectively measures the energy and CO 2 emission performance of the thermal power industries in China’s 30 provincial administrative regions during the period 2005–2012 from both static and dynamic perspectives. We implement the bootstrap method for the directional distance function to correct the possible estimate bias and test the significance of productivity changes where the weak disposability of undesirable outputs is also integrated. The empirical analysis leads to the following conclusions. The bootstrapping results could provide us with much valuable information because the initial estimates might result from sampling noise rather than reveal the real variations. In addition, some differences do exist between the energy and CO 2 emission performance of China’s thermal power industry. Furthermore, technological progress is the main driving force for energy and CO 2 emission productivity improvement and it works better for the former. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ntroduction: The aim of the study was to analyze clinicopathologic characteristics and survival and to identify prognostic factors for Chinese patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Material and methods: A total of 243 patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, treated during the period 2002 to 2009, were followed up from initial disease diagnosis to death or date of last follow-up (December 2011). Cumulative survival curves were created using Kaplan-Meier analysis with the log-rank test. Prognostic factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results: During follow-up, 205 patients died, with a median OS of 27 months (95% CI: 23.5, 30.5 months), and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 84.4%, 38.6%, and 18.1%, respectively. The median OS of HR+ patients was significantly higher than that of HR- patients (p < 0.001). Surgery (hazard ratio = 0.60, p = 0.002), endocrine therapy (hazard ratio = 0.53, p < 0.01), and anti-HER2 therapy (hazard ratio = 0.63, p = 0.003) were favorable independent prognostic factors for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Conclusions: These results indicated that surgical intervention, endocrine therapy, and anti-HER2 therapy were good for these HER2 positive patients with metastatic breast cancer, but ECOG performance status < 1 and metastasis to brain were unfavorable independent prognostic factors. HR status was not an independent prognostic factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effects of Modified Sanhuang Decoction (加味三黄汤, MSD) enema on the serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and colonic mucosa interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in experimental ulcerative colitis (UC) rats. Methods: Forty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal group ( n=12), model group ( n=11), salazosulfapyridine (SASP) group ( n=11) and MSD group ( n=11). The UC model was induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)/ethanol solution. Rats in the normal group and model group were clystered with 0.9% normal saline, while in the SASP group and MSD group were clystered with SASP and MSD enema, respectively. After drug administration (10 mL/kg body weight, for 7 days), colonic gross changes and colonic mucosa histology were observed, serum TNF-α and colonic mucosa IL-1β, IL-6 levels were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and radioimmunoassay, respectively. Results: As compared with the normal group, the experimental UC rats, the colonic mucosal damage index scores (CMDIs), histopathological scores (HS) and the serum TNF-α and colonic mucosa IL-1β, IL-6 levels significantly increased ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). In the MSD and SASP groups, the ulcer area significantly reduced, and edema disappeared. The CMDIs, HS, the serum TNF-α and colonic mucosa IL-1β, IL-6 levels in the MSD and SASP groups significantly decreased ( P<0.05 or P<0.01) compared with the model group. The CMDIs in the MSD group were lower than that in the SASP group ( P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in HS, serum TNF-α or colonic mucosa IL-1β, IL-6 levels between the MSD and SASP groups. Conclusion: MSD enema can improve colonic mucosa impairment and decrease serum TNF-α and colonic mucosa IL-1β, IL-6 levels in experimental UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: As a suitable test to screen for Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), studies to validate the Chinese version of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) are rare. Methods: A total of 151 subjects were recruited and the neuropsychological assessments were employed. One-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni correction were used to compare scores of different psychometric scales. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's coefficient α were used to evaluate the reliability of psychometric scales. The validity of ACE-R to screen for mild AD and amnestic subtype of MCI (a-MCI) was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: The Chinese ACE-R had good reliability (inter-rater ICC = 0.994; test-retest ICC = 0.967) as well as reliable internal consistency (Cronbach's coefficient α = 0.859). With its cutoff of 67/68, the sensitivity (0.920) and specificity (0.857) were lower than for the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) cutoff (sensitivity 1.000 and specificity 0.937) to screen for mild AD. However, the sensitivity of ACE-R to screen for a-MCI was superior to the MMSE with a cutoff of 85/86. The specificity of ACE-R was lower than that of the MMSE to screen for a-MCI. The area under the ROC curve of ACE-R was much larger than that of the MMSE (0.836 and 0.751) for detecting a-MCI rather than mild AD. Conclusion: The Chinese ACE-R is a reliable assessment tool for cognitive impairment. It is more sensitive and accurate in screening for a-MCI rather than for AD compared to the MMSE. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional Chinese medicine formula Pien Tze Huang (PZH) has long been used as a folk remedy for cancer. To elucidate the mode of action of PZH against cancer, in the present study we used a 5-FU resistant human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT-8/5-FU) to evaluate the effects of PZH on multidrug resistance (MDR) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as well as the activation of TGF-β pathway. We found that PZH dose-dependently inhibited the viability of HCT-8/5-FU cells which were insensitive to treatment of 5-FU and ADM, demonstrating the ability of PZH to overcome chemoresistance. Furthermore, PZH increased the intercellular accumulation of Rhodamine-123 and downregulated the expression of ABCG2 in HCT-8/5-FU cells. In addition, drug resistance induced the process of EMT in HCT-8 cells as evidenced by EMT-related morphological changes and alteration in the expression of EMT-regulatory factors, which however was neutralized by PZH treatment. Moreover, PZH inhibited MDR/EMT-enhanced migration and invasion capabilities of HCT-8 cells in a dose-dependent manner and suppressed MDR-induced activation of TGF-β signaling in HCT-8/5-FU cells. Taken together, our study suggests that PZH can effectively overcome MDR and inhibit EMT in human colorectal carcinoma cells via suppression of the TGF-β pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD33 and MS4A6A genes play potential key roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). One recent genome-wide association study has revealed that the rs3865444 polymorphism in the CD33 gene and rs610932 polymorphism in the MS4A6A gene are associated with susceptibility to AD in Caucasians. To evaluate the relationship between the polymorphism of the CD33, MS4A6A gene and AD in the ethnic Chinese Han, we conducted a case-control study ( n = 383, age > 54) to determine the prevalence of single-nucleotide polymorphism of two genes in patients with AD in Chinese population of Mainland, and clarified whether these polymorphisms are risk factors for AD. The prevalence of the allele (T) in the rs3865444 polymorphism of the CD33 gene and allele (C) in rs610932 polymorphism of the MS4A6A gene was significantly different in AD patients and control subjects ( P < 0.001, respectively), and the results were not influenced by age, gender, or APOE status. Our data revealed the allele (T) of the rs3865444 polymorphism of the CD33 gene and the allele (C) of the rs610932 polymorphism of the MS4A6A gene may contribute to AD risk in the Chinese Han population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical Cyclone (TC) tracks over the western North Pacific (WNP) during 1949-2007, obtained from China Meteorological Administration/Shanghai Typhoon institute, are classified into three track types. These types are the main pathways by which TCs influence the coast of East Asia. The relationships between local sea surface temperature (SST) in WNP and TC tracks are revealed. Results show that the local SST plays an important role in TC tracks, though the relationships between local SST and the frequencies of different TC tracks are very dissimilar. The local SST has significant positive correlation with northwest-path TCs, and negative correlation with recurving-path TCs. However, the west-path TCs do not have statistically significant relationship with the local SST. The upper sea temperature anomalies which influence TC tracks last about six months before TC occurrence. Further analysis indicates that the ocean conditions influence TC tracks by modifying the atmospheric circulation, and then the modified atmospheric circulation can affect TC's genesis location and motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epidemiology of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) in Western populations has been reported; however, there are scant Asian reports. The aim of the present study was to determine the etiology of LGIB in a Chinese population by reporting a retrospective case series and a systematic analysis of Chinese literature. A large colonoscopy database in a tertiary endoscopic center was searched to identify all patients with the indication of LGIB. The data, including patients' sex, age, endoscopic and pathological findings, were collected and analyzed. A comprehensive database search of the Chinese literature was carried out to obtain all relevant studies. In our series, a total of 720 patients with LGIB were included. There were 425 males and 295 females with a median age of 50 years, the most common etiologies of LGIB were inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; 30.2%), polyps (23.4%) and cancer (10.7%). In 30.2% of all the patients, no obvious causes were identified. A systematic analysis of Chinese literature found an additional 160 studies providing relevant data in 53 951 patients. Overall, colorectal cancer (24.4%), colorectal polyps (24.1%), colitis (16.8%), anorectal disease (9.8%) and IBD (9.5%) were the most common etiologies of LGIB. The main etiologies were different between adults, the elderly and children. The study shows colorectal cancer, colorectal polyps, colitis, anorectal disease and IBD were the most common etiologies of LGIB in the Chinese adult and elderly population, whereas colorectal polyps, chronic colitis and intussusception were the main causes of LGIB in Chinese children. Whereas diverticulum, the most common cause of LGIB in Western populations, is uncommon in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite many reforms implemented in China's public financial management over the past ten years, China's public budget still exhibits a glaring lack of accountability, most evident in the gap between the adopted budget and the final budget. This article examines the role played by public budgeting in ensuring good governance, and establishes a framework for how the legislature ensures accountability in the public budgeting process. The existing problems in the Chinese public budgeting process are analysed, and suggestions are made for reforming the budgeting process based on the outlined framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 32-item Hypomania Checklist (HCL-32), a questionnaire for screening bipolar disorders, has been utilised in several countries, but it unclear if the Chinese version of the HCL-32 is valid. Methods: Consecutive patients with bipolar disorders (BP, N = 300) and unipolar major depression (UP, N = 156) completed the Chinese version of the HCL-32. The subjects underwent a structured clinical interview for DSM-IV Axis-I disorders (SCID). Results: The eigenvalues for the first three factors in the HCL-32 were calculated as 5.16 (active/elated), 2.72 (risktaking) and 2.48 (irritable) using factor analysis. Cronbach's alpha for the HCL-32 was calculated to be 0.88. Positive responses to twenty-eight items were significantly more frequent by patients with BP than those with UP, and the other four items (7th, 21st, 25th and 32nd) showed no such trend. Fourteen was the optimal cut-off for discriminating between BP and UP. The HCL-32 distinguished between BP-II and UP, with 13 being the optimal cut-off. A cut-off of 13 yielded a sensitivity of 0.77 and a specificity of 0.62 between BP and UP. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the simplified Chinese version of HCL-32 was valid for patients with mood disorders. The optimal cut-off of 13 for distinguishing between BP-II and UP was valid and could be used to improve the sensitivity of screening BP-II patients when the HCL-32 is used in psychiatric settings in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the taxonomic status of taiwanensis by comparing specimens from China and Taiwan with Myotis adversus from Indonesia using two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes. Findings showed that M. taiwanensis differs from M. adversus in external and dental features. The Myotis bats performed three monophylectic groups for both nuclear and mitochondrial concatenated genes and revealed that M. taiwanensis from Taiwan and China is related to M. pilosus than to M. adversus. The result of phylogenetic analysis supports the hypothesis that the Myotis from Taiwan, Anhui and Shandong are not same as M. adversus.

The objective of this study is to investigate the infection and distribution of Myco plasma pneumoniae in autopsied pulmonary tissue of pediatric severe pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumoniae nested polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were done on autopsy pulmonary tissue from 173 patients who died of severe pneumonia. Myco plasma pneumoniae was identified in 135/173 (78.03%) and 114/173 (65.89%) samples of autopsied pulmonary tissue of lethal severe pneumonia via nested polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The coincidence of both assays was 92.4%. Mycoplasma pneumoniae associated fatal pneumonia has showed an increasing trend from 1988 to 2005 in South China, and the fatality rate of Mycoplasmcz pneumoniae associated fatal pneumonia in infants, 1 to 12 months, has risen to 66.9% (97/145). Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a significant cause of severe pneumonia, it is a universal event in infants, and children have died of severe pneumonia in South China. Myco plasma pneumoniae might be an important pathogen responsible for fatal pneumonia in Guangzhou area, South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tongshankou skarn deposit in the Edong ore district is a typical metasomatic deposit associated with adjacent granodiorite porphyry and carbonate rocks. Using comprehensive microscopic observations, mineralogical and geochemical analysis, scheelite grains in the skarns can be classified into three major types, showing multi-stage mineralization characteristics. In the redox fluid environment, scheelites that occur with garnets usually have affinity to garnets, while in later skarn phases others exist with oxides and sulfides. They can be subdivided by trace elements, such as Nb and Eu, to discuss the detailed ore-forming process. Scheelites have three typical substitution mechanisms including: 2Ca2 + ⇌ REE3 + +Na+ (1); Ca2 + + W6 + ⇌ REE3 + +Nb5+(2); and 3Ca2 + ⇌ 2REE3++ □Ca (□Ca = Ca site vacancy) (3). Plagioclase or various hydrothermal stages can cause Eu anomalies to fluctuate from positive to negative, and these processes can cause particular zonation in W and Mo contents in scheelites. This study highlights the use of texture and geochemistry of scheelites in skarn deposits, depicting the W mineralization processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adenovirus are the important pathogen of pediatric severe pneumonia. The aim of this study is to analyze the infection, subtype and distribution of adenovirus in autopsied pulmonary tissue of fatal pneumonia in infants and children, and the relationships between adenovirus infection and respiratory illness in South China. Methods: Nested PCR was performed on DNA extracted from autopsied lung tissue from patients who died of severe pneumonia, and the positive nested PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The adenovirus in autopsied pulmonary tissue was also analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay in a blind way. Results: In the 175 autopsied pulmonary tissues, the positive percentage of adenovirus was 9.14% (16/175) and 2.29% (4/175) detected with nested PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. There are three cases of adenovirus serotype 3, twelve cases of adenovirus serotype 4 and one case of serotype 41 determined by sequencing of the cloned positive nested PCR products. Conclusion: Adenovirus is an important cause of severe pneumonia, and these data suggest that adenovirus serotype 4 might be an important pathogen responsible for the fatal pneumonia in Guangzhou, South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Barbastella is described, originally discovered in 2001 in Beijing, northern China. The description of the new species is based on both morphological and molecular data. The morphology of the skull and ears of the new bat is more similar to that of the Egyptian barbastelle (B. leucomelas) and B. barbastellus distributed in Europe than to B. leucomelas found in southern China and Taiwan. Projections and notches occur along the posterior margin of each ear, and a small lobe (vaulted process) protrudes from the middle outer edge of each pinna. The skull and body size of the new species are larger than in B. leucomelas. Echolocation calls were of 2 types, a brief frequency-modulated call that was alternated with longer calls with a convex frequency-time course. The calls were very similar to those of B. barbastellus recorded in Europe, although they may be slightly lower in frequency. Molecular phylogenies were reconstructed from cytochrome-b (Cytb) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) gene sequences. Cladograms of ND1 indicated that barbastelles from the Beijing area form a monophyletic group, which is the sister to B. leucomelas from Egypt. The clade including the new species and Egyptian barbastelle clusters with B. barbastellus, but not with B. leucomelas from Sichuan, Taiwan, and Japan. The genetic distances (corrected Kimura 2-parameter) between Barbastella sp. nov. and most bats from other localities (including all B. barbastellus) were 14.31-17.69% at the ND1 gene and 15.01-17.36% at the Cytb gene. However, ND1 divergence is 12.79% between Barbastella sp. nov. and B. leucomelas from Egypt. All these results support the hypothesis that the barbastelle from Beijing is a new species. Additionally, because Egypt is the type locality of B. leucomelas, the paraphyletic nature of B. leucomelas suggests that barbastelles from Sichuan, Taiwan, and Japan--which are currently classified as B. leucomelas darjelingensis--should not be considered conspecific with B. leucomelas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ferret copy detector has been used since 2001 to find plagiarism in large collections of students’ coursework in English. This article reports on extending its application to Chinese, with experiments on corpora of coursework collected from two Chinese universities. Our experiments show that Ferret can find both artificially constructed plagiarism and actually occurring, previously undetected plagiarism. We discuss issues of representation, focus on the effectiveness of a sub-symbolic approach, and show that Ferret does not need to find word boundaries first. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of the Lower Qiulitage Group in Bachu uplift, which originated in the Upper Cambrian period, are not clear. Based on four core observations, identification of 40 thin sections, and geochemical analysis of samples, this study concludes that crystal dolomite reservoirs developed in the Lower Qiulitage Group in Bachu uplift. Intercrystalline pores and dissolved pores formed the main reservoir space, while dissolution pores and fractures were developed in the middle and bottom part of the formation. The reservoir features low porosity and low permeability, and the finemedium crystalline dolomite reservoir has the best pore structure. According to a petrochemical analysis, the Lower Qiulitage Group reservoir experienced intense dolomitization, with slightly higher content of trace elements Mn and Sr and negative oxygen isotropy. Tectonic hydrothermal dolomitization developed locally under the influence of base faults, and vug pores were filled with saddle dolomites and siliceous filling. The presence of rare earth elements Ce and Eu presented positive anomaly characteristics. It suggested that the CO2 acid dissolution caused by hydrothermal fluids may be a new mechanism for the increase in pores in deeply buried reservoirs, which is worth further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ~260Ma Emeishan Large Igneous Province (ELIP) in southwest China has previously been demonstrated to provide compelling evidence for pre-volcanic crustal doming in support of the mantle plume hypothesis. However this has been questioned by Ukstins-Peate and Bryan (2008) by showing hydrothermal magmatic activity at the Daqiao section. To solve this argument, a detailed characterization of the contact between the Emeishan basalts and the Maokou Formation was carried out. The contact is shown to be an unconformity, which is characterized by paleokarst on top of the Maokou Formation, including paleokarst relief, sinkholes, caves, tower karst and its corresponding rocks (such as kaolinite, bauxite and ferruginous duricrust and collapsed breccias, etc.). This paleokarst unconformity was in turn covered or infilled by the Emeishan basalts and tuffs, suggesting that uplift and erosion occurred prior to the eruption of the ELIP. The extent of erosion of the Maokou Formation indicates the ELIP can be divided into three roughly concentric zones: the inner, intermediate, and outer zones. The paleokarst features on the top of Maokou Formation vary across the ELIP. In the inner zone, a likely sinkhole and an incision valley with 450m relief in height are found. In the intermediate zone, various paleokarst landforms such as karst relief, sinkholes and tower karsts are well developed. Some sinkholes that developed in the Qixia Formation below the Maokou Formation imply that the paleorelief is more than 350m in height. In the outer zone, the paleokarstic surface is a paleo-weathering layer with minor karstification and development of caves at 10–50m. This spatial variation of the paleokarst reflects variation of uplift height across the ELIP. The extent of minimal uplift is estimated to be at least 450m in the inner zone, 350m in the intermediate zone, whereas uplift is minor (tens-50m) in the outer zone. The magnitude and shape of the uplift is roughly consistent with that predicted by mantle plume models. The paleokarst was formed after the deposition of the Maokou Formation and the eruption of the Emeishan basalts at the end-Guadalupian and indicates a short duration of uplift. Thus this study lends further support to domal uplift prior to the Emeishan flood volcanism, but also to the mantle plume initiation model for the generation of the ELIP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Delayed neurocognitive recovery after surgery is associated with poor outcome. Most surgeries require general anesthesia, of which sevoflurane and propofol are the most commonly used inhalational and intravenous anesthetics. The authors tested the primary hypothesis that patients with laparoscopic abdominal surgery under propofol-based anesthesia have a lower incidence of delayed neurocognitive recovery than patients under sevoflurane-based anesthesia. A second hypothesis is that there were blood biomarkers for predicting delayed neurocognitive recovery to occur.Methods: A randomized, double-blind, parallel, controlled study was performed at four hospitals in China. Elderly patients (60 yr and older) undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery that was likely longer than 2 h were randomized to a propofol- or sevoflurane-based regimen to maintain general anesthesia. A minimum of 221 patients was planned for each group to detect a one-third decrease in delayed neurocognitive recovery incidence in propofol group compared with sevoflurane group. The primary outcome was delayed neurocognitive recovery incidence 5 to 7 days after surgery.Results: A total of 544 patients were enrolled, with 272 patients in each group. Of these patients, 226 in the propofol group and 221 in the sevoflurane group completed the needed neuropsychological tests for diagnosing delayed neurocognitive recovery, and 46 (20.8%) in the sevoflurane group and 38 (16.8%) in the propofol group met the criteria for delayed neurocognitive recovery (odds ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.48 to 1.24; P = 0.279). A high blood interleukin-6 concentration at 1 h after skin incision was associated with an increased likelihood of delayed neurocognitive recovery (odds ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.07; P = 0.007). Adverse event incidences were similar in both groups.Conclusions: Anesthetic choice between propofol and sevoflurane did not appear to affect the incidence of delayed neurocognitive recovery 5 to 7 days after laparoscopic abdominal surgery. A high blood interleukin-6 concentration after surgical incision may be an independent risk factor for delayed neurocognitive recovery.Editor’s Perspective: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The effects of geographical differences on the characteristics of P. ostii seed and oil were studied. • The characterisations of P. ostii seeds and oil from different regions were extremely different. • Seeds of P. ostii could be clustered into three groups based on the main FAs and TCMFA contents. • Classification of P. ostii was associated to the geographical location of cultivation area. Abstract Paeonia ostii is one of the important woody oleaginous plants, and is cultivated on a large scale in China. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the characteristic difference of P. ostii seed and oil sourced different geographical regions in China. The thousand seed weight (TSW), oil content and kernel content of the P. ostii seed, the composition and content of the main fatty acids, and the physicochemical characteristics of the seed oil of 62 P. ostii seed samples from different cultivation regions were monitored and evaluated in this study. The results showed that there were extremely significant difference among the TSW and the contents of the main fatty acids in P. ostii seed and oil. The geographical regions were related to the variability in TSW, the contents of the main fatty acids (FAs) and the total content of the main fatty acids (TCMFA), perhaps due to the influence of environmental factors, and the water, fertilizer application, crop management, or other factors. P. ostii would become a kind of woody oleaginous plant and an industrial crop with broad prospects for its high content of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and the high oil content of the seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective and Methods: To analyze the association between global DNA methylation and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). MTHFR polymorphisms rs1801133 and rs1801131 were detected using the restriction fragment length polymorphism method, and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (MN) frequency and global DNA methylation was measured in workers from 410 shoe factories. Results: A multilinear regression analysis demonstrated that DNA methylation of the TT variant allele of rs1801133 was lower than that of the CC wild type allele (Exp(β) [95% CI], 0.76 [0.56, 1.02], P = 0.071), with a P-value approaching significance. A significantly increased MN frequency was observed for carriers of the TT genotype (frequency ratio = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.07-1.51, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The results imply that the TT genotype in rs1801133 is associated with global DNA hypomethylation, which may influence the induction of MN following exposure to benzene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The special properties of the clay derived alteration developed in the granite intrusive contact zone under the condition of humidity variation have extremely complex effects on engineering. In view of the deformation and destabilization of Yuxi Tunnel in China, detailed geological investigation has found that the deformation and destabilization section is located in the intrusive contact zone of granite and sandstone, in which the clay and marble are developed. The lithofacies and mineral composition test results of the clay show that it is derived from the alteration of hydrothermal fluids and belongs to the altered rock, rather than product of weathering or faulting. Results of laboratory tests show that the clay derived alteration has the properties of strong water absorption and expansion. In addition, its shear strength decreases significantly with the increase of water content. The characteristics of special topography, occurrence conditions, mineral composition and structure of the clay derived alteration are the inherent causes of the deformation and instability of the tunnel. Furthermore, numerical simulation of the response characteristics of the support structure under humidification conditions is realized. The calculation results show that when considering negative effects such as expansion and strength degradation of the surrounding rock, the disturbed range of surrounding rock and the deformation of tunnel vault are greatly increased, and significant stress concentration occurs at tunnel spandrel and arch foot. At the same time, the deformation and stress evolution of the supporting structure show certain accumulation and delay characteristics during the humidification process. The research in this paper not only clarifies the evolution of the displacement and stress of the tunnel support structure with the water content, but also reveals the origin of instability phenomena such as ground fissures, surface collapse, large deformation and collapse in the tunnel. This research methods and results can be used as reference for similar projects. • The deformation and instability characteristics of tunnel crossing altered clay are introduced. • The origin and formation mechanism of Clay in Granite Intrusive Contact Zone is revealed. • The deformation mechanism of tunnel crossing altered clay is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Nao-Shuan-Tong (NST) in capsule form is a compound prescription formulated according to the meridian theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is approved by the State Food and Drug Administration of China for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Objectives: To test the neuroprotective effects of the Chinese medicine Nao-Shuang-Tong on cerebral ischemia in rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Materials and methods: 115 Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham, ischemia–reperfusion (I/R), and I/R plus NST 0.25, NST 0.5 and NST 1 (n =23 in each group). Cerebral ischemia was induced by 1.5h of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Cerebral infarct area was measured by tetrazolium staining at 24h following reperfusion, and neurological functional deficits were assessed at 1, 3, 7 and 14d after reperfusion. Neuronal apoptosis was studied by Nissl staining and DNA fragmentation assay at 1 and 3d after reperfusion. The activation of caspase-3, -8, -9 and Bax/Bcl-2 levels were analyzed by western blot 24h after reperfusion. Results: NST (0.5 and 1g/kg) significantly reduced cerebral infarct area, attenuated neurological functional deficits, and reduced neuronal apoptosis in ischemic cortex and in the CA1 region of hippocampus. NST also suppressed overexpression of Bax and activated caspases-3, -8 and -9, and also inhibited the reduction of Bcl-2 expression and markedly depressed the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that NST is neuroprotective against cerebral ischemia and is likely to act via inhibition of neuronal apoptosis associated with changes in levels of caspases-3 and -8, Bax and Bcl-2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex, multisystem autoimmune disease that is characterized by the production of autoantibodies. Although accumulated evidence suggests that the dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, the genetic contributions of lncRNA coding genes to SLE susceptibility remain largely unknown. Here, we aimed to provide more evidence for the role of lncRNA coding genes to SLE susceptibility., Methods: The genetic association analysis was first adopted from the previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and was then validated in an independent cohort. PRDX6-AS1 is located at chr1:173204199-173446294. It spans a region of approximately 240 kb, and 297 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were covered by the previous GWAS. Differential expression at the mRNA level was analyzed based on the ArrayExpress Archive database., Results: A total of 33 SNPs were associated with SLE susceptibility, with a P <1.68×10 -4 . The strongest association signal was detected at rs844649 ( P =2.12×10 -6 ), according to the previous GWAS. Combining the results from the GWAS Chinese cohort and our replication cohort, we pursued a meta-analysis approach and found a pronounced genetic association between PRDX6-AS1 rs844649 and SLE susceptibility (p meta =1.24×10 -13 , OR 1.50, 95% CI: 1.34-1.67). The mRNA expression of PRDX6 was elevated in peripheral blood cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and multiple cell subpopulations, such as B cells, CD4 + T cells, CD3 + cells, and monocytes in patients with SLE. The PRDX6 protein expression level was also increased in patients with SLE compared with healthy donors., Conclusion: Our study provides new evidence that variants located in lncRNA coding genes are associated with SLE susceptibility., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Zhang, You, Liu, Zhao, Cui, Zhao and Qi.)

Brackish water resource is widely distributed in the North China Plain, which has not been effectively utilized. Using brackish water for irrigation can alleviate water resource conflict in the well-irrigated area and solve the problem of groundwater over-exploitation of the North China Plain. A long-term experiment (since 2006) was conducted to investigate the effects of brackish water irrigation on the quality and yield of winter wheat in the North China Plain. There were five salinity degrees of irrigation water, i.e. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 g·L -1 , respectively. The results showed that higher salinity degree of irrigation water (4-8 g·L -1 ) significantly increased water absorption, development time, sedimentation, wet gluten content, and protein content, but decreased the stabilization time, flour yield, and gluten index. There was no significant difference between the treatments of 1 g·L -1 and 2 g·L -1 on grain yield and yield components, but the treatment of 2 g·L -1 significantly improved grain quality, including water absorption, development time, sedimentation, wet gluten, and protein content. Higher salinity degree of irrigation water (4-8 g·L -1 ) treatments significantly decreased spike number (44.0%-60.7%) and grain yield (35.6%-64.7%), compared with 1 g·L -1 treatment. Results of principal component analysis showed that 2 g·L -1 treatment had the best overall effect with no significant decrease in grain yield and quality of grain. This study could provide theoretical basis and technical support for use of brackish water in the North China Plain.

Permafrost degradation may induce soil carbon (C) loss, critical for global C cycling, and be mediated by microbes. Despite larger C stored within the active layer of permafrost regions, which are more affected by warming, and the critical roles of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in C cycling, most previous studies focused on the permafrost layer and in high-latitude areas. We demonstrate in situ that permafrost degradation alters the diversity and potentially decreases the stability of active layer microbial communities. These changes are associated with soil C loss and potentially a positive C feedback. This study provides insights into microbial-mediated mechanisms responsible for C loss within the active layer in degraded permafrost, aiding in the modeling of C emission under future scenarios., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest.

To establish the quantitative analysis multi-components with a single-marker(QAMS) method for six components and fingerprint of standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma, verify the accuracy and feasibility of the method, and evaluate the quality of standard decoction. Based on UPLC with gastrodin as the internal standard, relative correction factors of p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, parishin E, parishin B, parishin C, parishin A and gastrodin were determined by investigating the column temperature, flow rate, chromatographic columns and multi-point concentration correction. The total contents in 18 batches of standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma and the similarity were determined to calculate the similarity. The results of standard curve method, external standard one-point method and quantitative analysis multi-components with a single-marker(QAMS) were compared, and the results showed that there was no significant difference among these three methods. By analyzing the results of standard decoctions from different origins, it can be seen that the quality of Gastrodia standard decoctions derived from Anhui and Yunnan was better, followed by Shaanxi and Hubei, and relatively poor in Gansu, with similarities all above 0.90 in the fingerprints. Therefore, the QAMS method that can measure the contents of gastrodin, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, parishin E, parishin B, parishin C and parishin A in standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma combined with fingerprint is accurate, feasible and fast, which can be used to evaluate the quality of standard decoction of Gastrodiae Rhizoma, and also provide a reference for the research on the quality standards of raw materials for Gastrodiae Rhizoma prepared slices and alike.

The application of microbial fertilizer plays an important role in improving soil restoration and fertilizer utilization. The effects of microbial fertilizer are greatly affected by crop genotypes and ecological conditions. Little is known about the effects of microbial fertilizers on maize production in Northeast China. To develop microbial fertilizer specific to the black soil and the climate characteristics of Northeast China, we isolated five plant rhizosphere-promoting bacteria (PGPR), named as MZ1, MZ2, MZ3, MZ4 and MZ5, with different degrees of biological functions such as IAA synthesis, phosphate-solubilizing, potassium-solubilizing and siderophore-releasing, from the rhizosphere of maize field. The analysis of ecological adaptability showed that those five strains differed in salt resistance, drought tolerance, acid and alkali resistance, pesticide resistance. The 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis showed that the strains MZ1, MZ2, MZ3, MZ4 and MZ5 belonged to the genus of Sphingomonas, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Rhizobium, respectively. In maize field experiment with 50% nitrogen fertilizer reduction, the inoculation with MZ1, MZ3 and MZ5 increased grain yield by 19.9%-25.0%. MZ1, MZ3, and MZ5 could be used as microbial fertilizers for maize in Northeast China.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the eighth AJCC TNM staging classification for patients with gastric cancer who had already survived for 5 years., Patients and Methods: Patients who underwent radical gastrectomy at a large eastern center were considered. The prognostic value of staging systems were assessed and compared. Additional external validation was performed using a dataset from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database., Results: The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate for patients in the training set was 59.4%. With the prolongation of the survival time after surgery, the 5-year OS improved significantly (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in survival curves among patients who have survived 5 years after surgery. The AUC and χ2 of the eighth AJCC classification for predicting of 5-year OS decreased gradually after surgery and appeared stable after 5 years. For patients who survived 5 years after surgery, we constructed a new TNM staging system (nTNM) according to the survival curves of T stage and N stage. A 2-step multivariate analysis showed that nTNM, age and sex were independent prognostic factors. The nTNM demonstrated superior prognostic stratification, with higher c-statistic and likelihood ratio chi-square scores and lower AIC values than those of the AJCC classification. Similar results were observed in the external validation set., Conclusion: The nTNM predicted an additional survival more accurately than did the AJCC classification for patients who have survived 5 years after surgery; this may guide decisions regarding surveillance., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.)

Objective and Methods: To analyze the association between global DNA methylation and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). MTHFR polymorphisms rs1801133 and rs1801131 were detected using the restriction fragment length polymorphism method, and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (MN) frequency and global DNA methylation was measured in workers from 410 shoe factories., Results: A multilinear regression analysis demonstrated that DNA methylation of the TT variant allele of rs1801133 was lower than that of the CC wild type allele (Exp(β) [95% CI], 0.76 [0.56, 1.02], P = 0.071), with a P-value approaching significance. A significantly increased MN frequency was observed for carriers of the TT genotype (frequency ratio = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.07-1.51, P < 0.01)., Conclusion: The results imply that the TT genotype in rs1801133 is associated with global DNA hypomethylation, which may influence the induction of MN following exposure to benzene.

Aim: To investigate the clinicopathological features of gastric carcinoma in southern China and disease trends changes over the last 18 years., Methods: We designed a retrospective study in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the first affiliated hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. A total of 2100 adult patients with definitely diagnosed, histologically proven gastric carcinomas treated with radical gastrectomy from 1994 to 2013 were examined retrospectively. In all cases patient age, gender, tumor location, Borrmann type, histopathological type and grade, and pTNM stage were identified and recorded. The information was obtained from hospital records. The data were analyzed with Stata12.0 software., Results: In this study, the mean age of patients was 57 years with a range from 19-89 years. A higher incidence was found in patients over 60 years of age. In the study population, 67.38% of patients were male and 32.62% were female. Women had a higher disease incidence than men in patients less than 40 years of age (P < 0.001). No obvious change of patient age and gender was observed in the last 18 years. The rates of disease by location were the following: antrum (44.57%), followed by fundus/ body (24.95%) and cardia/gastroesophageal junction (23.00%). The mean tumor diameter was 5.57 cm, and advanced gross type Borrmann III was most common. Most patients were at advanced stages when first diagnosed, and patients with early stage disease were relatively rare. More early stage patients were detected in recent years, especially after 2000 (P < 0.001). Gastric carcinoma has different features in young and old patients. The young patients had the following features: more frequently female, tumors in the antrum, larger tumor size, poorly differentiated carcinoma, high rate of metastasis to other sites and advanced stages (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: In southern China, gastric carcinoma was more frequent in old men and young women. Young and old patients should be treated differently for having different features.

Background: The prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) and its associated risk factors among elderly peoples in China has been investigated. However, dynamic studies revealing the risk factors associated with cognitive decline from follow-up observations in China are rarely performed., Objective: The present study aimed to identify factors predicting late-life cognitive decline in China., Methods: Participants were 223 community-dwelling residents (≥65 years old) from the urban community of Shanghai with no CI upon comprehensive assessments at baseline. Cognitive decline at 2-year follow-up was defined as a drop of two or more points from baseline score in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Associations with baseline demographic, lifestyle, health, and medical factors were then determined within the population., Results: After 2 years, cognitive decline and incident CI developed in 75 (33.6%) and 25 (11.2%) participants, respectively. Across all participants, risk factors for cognitive decline included low education, high body mass index, and diabetes mellitus. Among participants with cognitive decline, points were predominantly lost in items relating to time orientation and complex commands in the MMSE., Conclusion: This study confirms the differences in risk factors between cross-sectional and longitudinal studies for cognitive decline among the elderly population in urban Shanghai. Interventions tailored to potential risk factors associated with cognitive decline may offer further benefits.

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a double-stranded RNA virus that causes immunosuppressive disease in young chickens. Thousands of cases of IBDV infection are reported each year in South China, and these infections can result in considerable economic losses to the poultry industry. To monitor variations of the virus during the outbreaks, 30 IBDVs were identified from vaccinated chicken flocks from nine provinces in South China in 2011. VP2 fragments from different virus strains were sequenced and analyzed by comparison with the published sequences of IBDV strains from China and around the world. Phylogenetic analysis of hypervariable regions of the VP2 (vVP2) gene showed that 29 of the isolates were very virulent (vv) IBDVs, and were closely related to vvIBDV strains from Europe and Asia. Alignment analysis of the deduced amino acid (aa) sequences of vVP2 showed the 29 vv isolates had high uniformity, indicated low variability and slow evolution of the virus. The non-vvIBDV isolate JX2-11 was associated with higher than expected mortality, and had high deduced aa sequence similarity (99.2 %) with the attenuated vaccine strain B87 (BJ). The present study has demonstrated the continued circulation of IBDV strains in South China, and emphasizes the importance of reinforcing IBDV surveillance.

The invasion of Phytolacca americana has produced serious damage to the coastal shelter forests in China. In order to search for the effective measures for controlling the growth of P. americana, several plots in the Robinia pseudoacacia forest invaded by P. Americana to the relatively same extent were installed, and the measures of physical control (mowing and root cutting) and chemical control (spraying herbicides) were adopted to control the invasion of P. Americana, taking the site with good growth of Amorpha fruticosa in the forest and without any control measures as the comparison. The results showed that mowing could rapidly decrease the growth of P. americana in the same year, but the growth recovered in the next year. 1/3 root cutting only reduced the aboveground growth of P. americana in the same year, and the growth was recovered in the third year; while 2/3 root cutting and whole cutting could effectively cleanup the P. americana plants all the time. Spraying quizalofop-p-ethyl and paraquat only killed the aboveground part of P. americana in the same year, but this part of P. americana recovered to the normal level in the next year; while spraying 45 g x L(-1) of glyphosate could completely kill the whole P. americana plants till the third year. The growth of P. americana at the site with good growth of A. fruticosa and without any control measures maintained at a low level all the time, suggesting that planting A. fruticosa in R. pseudoacacia forest would be an effective approach to prevent and control the P. americana invasion.

During a study of the diversity and phylogeny of rhizobia in the root nodules of Kummerowia striata grown in north-western China, four strains were classified in the genus Rhizobium on the basis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of three of these strains were identical and that of the other strain, which was the only one isolated in Yangling, differed from the others by just 1 bp. The16S rRNA gene sequences of the four strains showed a mean similarity of 99.3 % with the most closely related, recognized species, Rhizobium vitis. The corresponding recA and glnA gene sequences showed similarities with established species of Rhizobium of less than 86.5 % and less than 89.6 %, respectively. These low similarities indicated that the four strains represented a novel species of the genus Rhizobium. The strains were also found to be distinguishable from the closest related, established species (R. vitis) by rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting, analysis of cellular fatty acid profiles and from the results of a series of phenotypic tests. The level of DNA-DNA relatedness between the representative strain CCNWSX 0483(T) and Rhizobium vitis IAM 14140(T) was only 40.13 %. Therefore, a novel species, Rhizobium taibaishanense sp. nov., is proposed, with strain CCNWSX 0483(T) ( = ACCC 14971(T) = HAMBI 3214(T)) as the type strain. In nodulation and pathogenicity tests, none of the four strains of Rhizobium taibaishanense sp. nov. was able to induce any nodule or tumour formation on plants. As no amplicons were detected when DNA from the strains was run in PCR with primers for the detection of nodA, nifH and virC gene sequences, the strains probably do not carry sym or vir genes.