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SM4 cryptographic algorithm is a block cipher algorithm issued by China's state cryptographic administration and has become an international standard. We implement the quantum circuits of SM4 block cipher by optimizing the number of qubits and the value of depth-times-width. The quantum circuits of the S-box are first studied. According to the algebraic structure of the S-box, four kinds of improved quantum circuits of S-box are presented for different phases in SM4 based on composite field arithmetic. In order to optimize the number of qubits, we implement the quantum circuit of SM4 by connecting the quantum subcircuits in series. The implemented quantum circuit of SM4 only uses 260 qubits, which is the least number of qubits used not only in implementing the SM4 quantum circuit, but also in implementing the block cipher algorithms with 8-bit S-box, 128-bit plaintext and 128-bit secret key. When optimizing the value of depth-times-width, we achieve it through parallel implementation. The trade-off quantum circuit uses a total of 288 quantum bits, and the Toffoli depth is 1716. The depth-times-width is 49,4208, which is less than the existing best value 82,5792. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the clinical efficacy of fucoidan‐assisted standard quadruple therapy (SQT) in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and the improvement of gut microbiota. Methods: An open‐label randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University in Shandong Province, China. Ninety patients who tested positive for H. pylori were randomized to the standard quadruple therapy (SQT) group (SQ), SQT + fucoidan combination group (SF), and fucoidan + sequential SQT group (FS), respectively. Stool samples were collected for gut microbiota composition at baseline and after treatment. Results: After H. pylori eradication, the relative abundances of most conditional pathogens in the SQ decreased, while those of several beneficial bacteria increased or decreased (P < 0.05). In FS, the abundances of most beneficial bacteria increased gradually from baseline to week 12, while those of the conditional pathogens decreased (P < 0.05). The abundance of Bifidobacterium had a decreasing trend in SQ, but remained unchanged in SF and increased in FS (P < 0.05). The abundances of most beneficial bacteria were significantly higher in FS than in SQ and SF (P < 0.05). Addition of fucoidan enhanced symptom improvement during H. pylori eradication compared with SQT alone. Conclusions: Fucoidan considerably improved gut dysbiosis during SQT for H. pylori eradication. Gut microbiota can be maintained by the addition of fucoidan before eradication therapy with SQT rather than by concomitant addition with therapy. Fucoidan‐assisted SQT could relieve gastrointestinal symptoms during H. pylori eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of the China-US CCUS technology development roadmap is summarized based on the roadmap update in 2019. Qualitative analysis and evaluation were conducted from the perspectives of running CCUS demonstrations or industrial projects, CO2 pipeline infrastructure, established regulatory frameworks, policy support, research and development capabilities, and geological storage resources. A simple analysis of the development status of carbon capture, storage, and utilization technology through relevant patent data is provided. Future planning by China and the United States in terms of planning volume, investment funds, related industries, transportation methods, geological storage, geological utilization, other utilization methods, and incentive policies is compared. Overall, US CCUS technology development is in the leading position in the world; it has entered the stage of small-scale commercial promotion, while the overall development level of China's CCUS technology is still behind the international advanced level in a small-scale experimental demonstration period, and is still in the catch-up stage. However, as the Chinese government has put forward the strategy of "carbon peaking and carbon neutralization", CCUS has ushered in a golden opportunity for development in China, and some large-scale industrial demonstration projects have been carried out. This study analyzes China's advantages and challenges in developing CCUS and gives some suggestions on the direction that China's CCUS development should take in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preventing relapse of schizophrenic patients is really a challenge. The present study sought to provide more explicit evidence and factors of different grades and weights by a series of step-by-step analysis through χ2 test, logistic regression analysis and decision-tree model. The results of this study may contribute to controlling relapse of schizophrenic patients. Methods: A total of 1,487 schizophrenia patients were included who were 18–65 years of age and discharged from 10 hospitals in China from January 2009 to August 2009 and from September 2011 to February 2012 with improvements or recovery of treatment effect. We used a questionnaire to collect information about relapse and correlative factors during one year after discharge by medical record collection and telephone interview. The χ2 test and logistic regression analysis were used to identify risk factors and high-risk factors firstly, and then a decision-tree model was used to find predictive factors. Results: The χ2 test found nine risk factors which were associated with relapse. Logistic regression analysis also showed four high-risk factors further (medication adherence, occupational status, ability of daily living, payment method of medical costs). At last, a decision-tree model revealed four predictors of relapse; it showed that medication adherence was the first grade and the most powerful predictor of relapse (relapse rate for adherence vs. nonadherence: 22.9 vs. 55.7%, χ2 = 116.36, p < 0.001). The second grade factor was occupational status (employment vs. unemployment: 19.7 vs. 42.7%, χ2 = 17.72, p < 0.001); the third grade factors were ability of daily living (normal vs. difficult: 28.4 vs. 54.3%, χ2 = 8.61, p = 0.010) and household income (household income ≥ 3000 RMB vs. <3000 RMB: 28.6 vs. 42.4%, χ2 = 6.30, p = 0.036). The overall positive predictive value (PPV) of the logistic regression was 0.740, and the decision-tree model was 0.726. Both models were reliable. Conclusions: For schizophrenic patients discharged from hospital, who had good medication adherence, more higher household income, be employed and normal ability of daily living, would be less likely to relapse. Decision tree provides a new path for doctors to find the schizophrenic inpatient's relapse risk and give them reasonable treatment suggestions after discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural disaster vulnerability can intuitively reflect the susceptibility of an area to environmental changes. Better understanding the spatial distribution of natural disaster vulnerability is a critical process for taking effective adaptation and management. Although significant achievements have been made in disaster vulnerability, few studies are known about natural disaster vulnerability at the national scale, especially from the typical natural disaster events in China. In this study, with normalizing selected indicators and calculating vulnerability index, we analyzed the spatial distribution of natural disasters vulnerability during 2010–2017 using the geospatial techniques. The results showed that natural disaster vulnerability has certain spatial differences, but different natural disaster can occur in the same area during the study period. Drought disaster can occur in all regions of China, especially in Inner Mongolia. Flood disaster is mainly concentrated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River Basin. The wind and storm disaster is chiefly in the northern regions in China. The freezing disaster is widely distributed in China. Furthermore, the regions with low vulnerability were primarily distributed in the eastern coastal region, indicating that the rapid development of economy and technology can resist or mitigate natural disaster to a certain extent. This study offers a solution to study natural disasters and provides scientific basis for disaster prevention and mitigation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common cancers in Southern China, Southeast Asia. Radiotherapy is the main treatment for NPC. Still, about 20% of patients with NPC have a recurrence. No effective serum biomarkers are available for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC) to date. This study aimed to explore whether amyloid beta (A4) precursor protein (APP) might serve as a valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for patients with rNPC. Methods: In a previous study, a tandem mass tag–based proteomic test was performed, which screened 59 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between nonrecurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (nrNPC) and rNPC. In this study, a protein–protein interaction was conducted to screen the key proteins among the 59 DEPs. APP was validated and evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 70 serum samples [recurrence (n = 35) and no-recurrence (n = 35)]. Also, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive value of APP. Results: The area under the ROC curve was 0.666 (95% CI: 0.514–0.818, P = 0.044). The best cutoff point of the relative expression levels for APP was 1.23 (concentration = 16.95 ng/mL), at which the sensitivity was 55.2% and the specificity was 90.9%. Conclusion: The findings indicated that APP might be a valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for patients with rNPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A large dataset of harmful algal blooms in the Bohai Sea (1952–2017) is compiled. • HABs in the Bohai Sea exhibit marked changes, with three distinct periods. • HABs have increased in frequency, seasonal window and species number over time. • Typical HAB-forming algae shifted from dinoflagellates, haptophytes to pelagophytes. • Warming, mariculture and eutrophication are correlated with HAB changes. The Bohai Sea, a semi-enclosed inland sea in China and an important mariculture region, has experienced extensive harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their negative impacts for several decades. To investigate the changes of HABs and their potential drivers over time and space, a dataset of 230 HAB events (1952–2017), along with corresponding environmental data (1990–2017) was compiled. The frequency of HAB events in the Bohai Sea has increased over time but plateaued in the last decade, and our analysis showed that history of HABs in the Bohai Sea could be categorized into three periods based on their frequency, scale, and HAB-forming species. The seasonal window of HAB events has started earlier and lasted longer, and the main hotspot has moved from Bohai Bay to coastal waters of Qinhuangdao over time. There were marked shifts in the representative HAB-forming microalgae, from dinoflagellates in the first period (before 2000) to haptophytes in the second period (2000–2009), and pelagophytes in the third period (2009 onwards). These community changes are accompanied by a trend toward diversification of HAB-forming microalgae, decrease in cell-size, and increase in negative impacts. Statistical analyses indicate that long-term changes in HABs in the Bohai Sea are linked with the combined effects of climate change, eutrophication and mariculture development. The results of the present study require to refine future monitoring programs, develop adaptive management strategies and predictive models for HABs in the Bohai Sea. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is a crucial technology for global climate mitigation. To implement large-scale CCUS, decisions about where and how to build a CO 2 transportation network are urgently required. However, previous studies are limited in proposing the economical transportation network for CCUS that considered comprehensive risks from socio-economic, geographical and geological factors. Here, we develop a pipeline layout planning model to investigate the cost-effective and reliable transportation network for CCUS. Results show that to meet the annual CO 2 emission reduction target of 654 million tons for CCUS in the coal-fired power sector under China's carbon neutral goal, pipelines with a total length of 17,589 km need to be constructed. The emission sources can be transported in pipelines with an average radius of 58 km, and with diameters of 8, 12, and 16 inches. Northeast, north, and northwest China are the main areas suitable for pipeline construction. • Northeast, North, and Northwest in China are vital areas for capture, transport, and storage. • Five large-scale pipeline network groups can be constructed in China. • Pipeline construction is greatly affected by a variety of practical factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Sanxianba granite is originated from the partial melting of the Banxi Group metasandstone. • Tungsten and volatiles are concentrated and form a W-rich evolved melt during fractionation. • Exsolved fluids from the evolved melt react with granite, forming veinlet-disseminated scheelite mineralization. Whole rock geochemistry combined with spatially resolved geochemistry of zircon, apatite, biotite and plagioclase allows us to uncover the magmatic processes leading to ore formation at the Muguayuan deposit. The Sanxianba granite, associated with the Muguayuan veinlet-disseminated scheelite deposit, is located in the middle of the Jiangnan Orogen. Whole rock Sr and Nd isotopes, and zircon Lu-Hf isotopes suggest it might originate from the Neoproterozoic Banxi group strata. The Rb element modeling shows that, after ~35% of partial melting, the Banxi group metasandstone can generate the primary Sanxianba melt with 164 ppm Rb and 21 ppm W. The intra-/intercrystal texture and compositions of zircon and plagioclase indicate that W and other elements such as HREE, Th, U, Nb, Ta, and P increase in the melt during fractional crystallization. The water content in the early Sanxianba magma, calculated through the plagioclase-hydrometer, is ~4.4 wt%, and its enrichment in the melt is reflected by the increasing water content in biotite with fractionation. F content in the early apatite is relatively high and invariable but further elevated in the late apatite. Chlorine, LREE and Na contents in the early apatite also present an enrichment trend. When H 2 O and Cl start to be saturated with the magma fractionation in the deep magma chamber, Cl-, Na-, and LREE-rich but W-poor fluid exsolves from the melt, resulting in the albitization and chloritization of feldspar and biotite phenocrysts, respectively. The subsequent decrease of Cl, Na 2 O and La 2 O 3 in the late apatite record this first fluid exsolution. Fluorine, P, H 2 O and W continue to enrich in the evolved melt with fractionation after the Cl-rich fluid exsolution. These fluxing components reach oversaturation during the shallow-ward emplacement of the magma, forming the F-, P- and W-rich fluids. The apex of the intrusion cools and forms a solid barrier, which prevents the escape of fluids. The exsolved fluids from the underlying magma continuously supply upward and react with the apex along fractures, resulting in greisenization and phyllic alteration. During alteration, Ca is released from calcium-rich plagioclase and combines with tungsten in the fluids to form scheelite mineralization. Magma evolution leading to the tungsten mineralization may be also the general scenarios in the other granite-related veinlet-disseminated scheelite deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use change resulted in land degradation is a focus of research on global environmental changes and plays a significant role in the stability and economic development of oases in arid regions of China. Jinta Oasis, a typical oasis of temperate arid zone in northwestern China, was investigated to assess land-use change dynamics during 1988–2003 with the aid of satellite remote sensing and GIS, and to explore the interaction between these changes and oasis environment. Six land-use types were identified, namely: cropland, forestland, grassland, water, urban or built-up land, and barren land. The results indicate that cropland, urban/built-up land, and barren land increase greatly by 30.03, 13.35, and 15.52 km2, respectively; but grassland and forestland areas decrease rapidly by 58.06, and 1.76 km2, respectively. These results also show that obvious widespread changes in land-use occur within the whole oasis over the study period and result in severe problems of environmental degradation (i.e. land desertification, decline of groundwater, and vegetation degeneracy). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural products have been used as medicinal agents for many years. In addition, these compounds have also served as the starting points for semisynthetic analogs with improved properties. This review focuses on recent advances in the pharmacological studies on natural products mainly performed and published in China. Emphasis will be placed on those compounds that show the greatest promise clinically such as huperzine A (9-amino-13-ethylidene-11-methyl-4-azatricyclo[7.3.1.0(3.8)]trideca-3(8),6,11-trien-5-one), s-(−)-3-n-butylphthalide (s-(−)-3-butyl-1(3H)-isobenzofuranone), (−)-clausenamide (3-hydroxy-4-phenyl-5a-hydroxybenzyl-N-methyl-γ-lactam) and Ginkgo biloba extract and its active components. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Modern scientific studies have shown that several components from Chinese herbal medicines are immunologically active. Astragalus mongholicus polysaccharide APS, a polymer of glucose and arabinose, increases specific antibody formation as well as synthesis of RNA, DNA and protein in mouse spleen. The polysaccharide PES isolated from Acanthopanax senticosus used as a tonic and sedative agent also induces interferon production. An oligosaccharide AbPS isolated from Achyranthes bidentata with a mw of only 1360 Da significantly enhances the humoral immune response and antagonizes the immunosuppressive effects of cyclosporin A. AbPS increases the production of TNF and the activity of NK cells. In tumor patients treated by chemotherapy or radiotherapy, AbPS maintained their peripheral white blood cell count and improved the quality of life. PSP, the protein bound polysaccharide extracted from Coriolus versicolor, has been developed as an anticancer drug in China. It promoted T cell proliferation, increased NK and LAK cell activities as well as anticancer cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α production so as to induce tumor cell apoptosis. Celastrol, a triterpene compound isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii was proven to be an equally-strong immunosuppressor and inhibited free radical damage in experimental arthritis. Ginkgo biloba extract improves cognitive functions. Ginkgolide A and B inhibited IL-1, TNF-α and nitric oxide production in rat microglia and prevented the chronic inflammatory process in neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yellow Sea (YS) has been subjected to harmful algal blooms (HABs) for several decades. In this study, we compiled and analyzed a dataset of 165 red tides from 1972 to 2017 and a dataset of green tides from 2008 to 2017 in the YS. The most notable feature of red tides in the YS is the increasing dominance of dinoflagellate red tides in terms of frequency, scale, seasonal distribution, spatial coverage, and red tide causative species. The increasing dominance of dinoflagellate red tides is closely related to eutrophication and the development of the mariculture industry in the YS. However, the dinoflagellate red tides in the northern Yellow Sea (NYS) and the southern Yellow Sea (SYS) have different features. The apparent changes in red tides in the SYS in terms of frequency and seasonal patterns might have been caused by recurrent large-scale green tides in the last decade. • Datasets of red tides and green tides recorded in Yellow Sea (YS) were analyzed. • Dominance of dinoflagellate red tides increased in YS after 2000. • Dinoflagellate red tides in northern and southern YS exhibited different features. • Dinoflagellate red tides in YS were related to mariculture and eutrophication. • Red tides in southern YS might be affected by recurrent green tides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radioactive nuclides cesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr) possess long half-lives, with 135 Cs at approximately 2.3 million years and 87 Sr at about 49 billion years. Their persistent accumulation can result in long-lasting radioactive contamination of soil ecosystems. This study employed geo-accumulation index (I geo ), pollution load index (PLI), potential ecological risk index (PEPI), health risk assessment model (HRA), and Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the pollution and health risks of Cs and Sr in the surface soil of different functional areas in a typical mining city in China. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was used to elucidate the potential sources of Cs and Sr and the respective contribution rates of natural and anthropogenic sources. The findings indicate that soils in the mining area exhibited significantly higher levels of Cs and Sr pollution compared to smelting factory area, agricultural area, and urban residential area. Strontium did not pose a potential ecological risk in any studied functional area. The non-carcinogenic health risk of Sr to the human body in the study area was relatively low. Because of the lack of parameters for Cs, the potential ecological and human health risks of Cs was not calculated. The primary source of Cs in the soil was identified as the parent material from which the soil developed, while Sr mainly originated from associated contamination caused by mining activities. This research provides data for the control of Cs and Sr pollution in the surface soil of mining city., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Experimental evidence has demonstrated that neonicotinoids (NEOs) exposure can cause lipid accumulation and increased leptin levels. However, the relationship between NEOs exposure and dyslipidemia in humans remains unclear, and the interactive effects of NEOs and their characteristic metabolites on dyslipidemia remain unknown. We detected 14 NEOs and their metabolites in urine samples of 500 individuals (236 and 264 with and without dyslipidemia, respectively) randomly selected from the baseline of the Yinchuan community-dwelling elderly cohort (Ningxia, China). The NEOs and their metabolites were widely detected in urine (87.2-99.6 %) samples, and the median levels ranged within 0.06-0.55 μg/g creatinine. The positive associations and dose-dependent relationships of thiacloprid, imidacloprid-olefin, and imidacloprid-equivalent total with dyslipidemia were validated using restricted cubic spline analysis. Mixture models revealed a positive association between the NEOs mixture and dyslipidemia risk, with urine desnitro-imidacloprid ranked as the top contributor. The Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression models showed that the NEOs mixtures were associated with increased dyslipidemia when the chemical mixtures were ≥ 25th percentile compared to their medians, and desnitro-imidacloprid and imidacloprid-olefin were the major contributors to the combined effect. Given the widespread use of NEOs and the dyslipidemia pandemic, further investigations are urgently needed to confirm our findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Qinglong Area of Tianfu New District in China is the connection area of Chengdu city, Sichuan Province, which dominantly supports the primary agricultural products for the metropolis. The soil quality, therefore, has been deteriorating in recent decades due to the intensive planting and industrial pollution. Thus, the evaluation of soil quality and the identification of the pollution sources are significant for sustainable soil planting and regulation. To this end, 395 soil samples were collected, and the parameters of pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total potassium (TK), available potassium (AK), total nitrogen (TN), alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN), total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP), Se, B, V, Zn, Mn, Mo, Ni, Co, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, and Pb were analyzed. The results revealed that TN, Se, Hg, and TP were obviously higher than the background value of the Chengdu Economic Zone, and the Cr, Mn, pH, and TK were depleted. The combination of correlation statistics, geostatistics, and positive matrix factorization (PMF) source analysis revealed that heavy metal enrichments were mainly affected by four sources, namely natural sources (32%)>industrial sources (30%)>agricultural sources (25%)>traffic sources (14%). Likewise, the source apportionments were verified regarding topography, industrial boundary, farmer density, and traffic flow. It was estimated that Mo, Co, Ni, and V were affected by slope; the enrichment of Hg and As was the result of agricultural activities; Cd, Mn, Cr, and Zn were affected by industrial waste diffusion; and Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Hg were related to transportation. To a certain extent, agricultural fertilization and pesticide application have partially controlled soil fertility and pollution (Hg and As).

Aims: The objective of the present study was to investigate the current situation concerning, and risk factors for, vancomycin (VAN)-induced acute kidney injury (VI-AKI) in elderly Chinese patients, to assess outcomes and risk factors in patients who have developed VI-AKI, in order to provide suggestions for improving the prevention and treatment of this condition in these patients., Method: We retrospectively identified elderly older inpatients who had received four or more doses of VAN treatment. We compared patients with VI-AKI with those who received VAN treatment and had not developed AKI (NO-AKI). We defined VI-AKI as developing AKI during VAN therapy or within 3 days after withdrawal of VAN., Results: A total of 647 out of 862 elderly inpatients were included in the study. Among those excluded, in 89.3% of cases (192/215) this was because of lack of data on serum creatinine (SCr). Among included patients, 32.5% (210/647) of patients received therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) during VAN therapy. In 66.9% of cases (424/634), there was insufficient TDM, and in 3.9% (25/634) this was appropriate. A total of 102 patients had confirmed VI-AKI, with an incidence of 15.8% (102/647). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that hyperuricaemia [odds ratio (OR) = 3.045; P = 0.000)], mechanical ventilation (OR = 1.906; P = 0.022) and concomitant vasopressor therapy (OR = 1.919; P = 0.027) were independent risk factors for VI-AKI; higher serum albumin (OR = 0.885; P = 0.000) was determined to be an independent protective factor for VI-AKI., Conclusions: For the elderly Chinese patients treated with VAN, there was insufficient monitoring of SCr, too little use of VAN TDM, and lower rate of patients whose VAN though serum concentrations were not obtained at the correct time. We recommend that hospital managers increase investment in clinical pharmacists, to strengthen professional management. Patients with concomitant hyperuricaemia and on mechanical ventilation and vasopressor therapy should be paid more attention, and a higher serum albumin was determined to be an independent protective factor for VI-AKI., (© 2018 The British Pharmacological Society.)

Inflammation contributes to human carcinogenesis and cancer progression. This study selected and analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathway genes for associations with prognosis in 1,165 lung cancer patients from a Chinese Han population. The data showed that eight SNPs (i.e., rs10836, rs3732131, rs3732133, rs4072391, rs2273650, rs1053023, rs3744483, and rs28372683) can be grouped into low-, medium-, and high-risk genotypes based on survival data. The median overall survival time (MST) of this cohort of patients was 24.6 months, whereas the MST of patients with low-risk genotypes reached 79.7 months; MST of patients with the medium-risk genotypes was 25.5 months, and those with high-risk genotypes was 22.7 months. Overall survival was statistically different for sex (P = 0.004), age (P = 0.010), histological types (P = 0.035), tumor stage (P < 0.001), tumor size (P < 0.001), surgery (P < 0.001), chemoradiotherapy (P = 0.007), and Karnofsky score (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis and the data from the current study demonstrated that sex, tumor stage and size, surgery, chemoradiotherapy, and the aforementioned eight SNPs were all independent predictors for overall survival of lung cancer patients., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) process was reported to be mediated by "Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera", which belongs to the candidate phylum NC10. M. oxyfera-like bacteria have been detected in lake ecosystems, while their distribution, diversity and abundance in river ecosystems have not been well studied. In this study, both the 16S rRNA and the pmoA molecular biomarkers confirmed the presence of diverse NC10 phylum bacteria related to M. oxyfera in a river ecosystem-the Qiantang River, Zhejiang Province (China). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes demonstrated that the recovered M. oxyfera-like sequences could be grouped into several distinct clusters that exhibited 89.8% to 98.9% identity to the M. oxyfera 16S rRNA gene. Similarly, several different clusters of pmoA gene sequences were observed, and these clusters displayed 85.1-95.4% sequence identity to the pmoA gene of M. oxyfera. Quantitative PCR showed that the abundance of M. oxyfera-like bacteria varied from 1.32 ± 0.16 × 10(6) to 1.03 ± 0.12 × 10(7) copies g (dry weight)(-1). Correlation analysis demonstrated that the total inorganic nitrogen content, the ammonium content and the organic content of the sediment were important factors affecting the distribution of M. oxyfera-like bacterial groups in the examined sediments. This study demonstrated the distribution of diverse M. oxyfera-like bacteria and their correlation with environmental factors in Qiantang River sediments.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the major causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease and induces fatal neurological complications. In recent years, this virus has become a major threat to public health in the Asia-Pacific region, while no effective antiviral therapies and vaccines are currently available. In this study, we constructed and characterized for the first time an infectious full-length EV71 cDNA clone derived from the SHZH98 strain, which was the first subgenotype C4 strain isolated in China. Our data demonstrate that the rescued EV71 viruses exhibited growth kinetics in vitro and morphologies similar to those of the BrCr-TR strain and reached a maximum titer of 10(7.5) TCID50/ml. Although the rescued viruses were able to infect suckling mice, no typical symptoms of EV71 infection were observed for up to 18 days post-inoculation. Taken together our research provides an important tool to study the epidemic strains of EV71 in the Asia-Pacific region and promote the development of vaccines.

Based on the remote sensing images of 54 water quality monitoring stations within the Suzi River watershed, the riparian buffer zones at 6 scales were constructed by ArcGIS, and the 8 landscape indices at landscape and class levels were calculated with FRAGSTATS software. A correlation analysis on the landscape indices and river water quality was made from the viewpoints of landscape space pattern and composition. In the watershed, the landscape pattern in different riparian buffer zones had different effects on the river water quality. When the distance of the buffer zones was less than 300 m, the main landscape types were dry land, construction land, and paddy filed, and their area ratio, patch number, patch density, maximum patch index, maximum shape index, and aggregation index were higher. In these buffer zones, farmlands had higher connectedness, and thus, had greater effects on the river water quality. When the distance of the buffer zones was more than 300 m, forest land had a larger area ratio and a higher connectedness, which would benefit the improvement of river water quality to some extent. In the watershed, farmland and construction land played a key role in affecting the river water quality.

The serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in women from Sichuan province were detected via gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode (SIM). Based on the experimental data, the compositions and distribution characteristics of PBDEs as well as pollution resource were also explored. Among these 11 congeners of PBDEs detected, BDE-209 was the dominant congener accounting for 63.57% -90.34% in the total PBDEs, followed by BDE-66,-99 and-100. The concentrations of BDE-209 ranged from 0.12 to 2.38 microg x L(-1) and the mean concentration was 0.63 microg x L(-1). Other congeners of these 11 PBDEs could not be detected. The data indicated that the major pollution came from deca-BDE, followed by tetra-BDE and penta-BDE. At the mean time, this result also showed that the pollution of PBDEs in Sichuan province was still at a lower level for ordinary women when compared to the data from other countries.

Background: The development of osteoporosis is associated with several risk factors, such as genetic polymorphisms and enviromental factors. This study assessed the correlation between SAA1 gene rs12218 polymorphism and HDL-C lelvels and osteoporosis in a population of Chinese women., Methods: A total of 387 postmenopausal female patients who were diagnosed with osteoporosis (case group) based on bone mineral density measurements via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and 307 females with no osteoporosis (control group) were included in this study. Correlations between SAA1 gene rs12218 polymorphism and osteoporosis and HDL-C level were investigated through the identification of SAA1 gene rs12218 polymorphism genotypes using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)., Results: The TT genotype of rs12218 was more frequently in osteoporosis patients than in control subjects (P <0.001). And the rs12218 was found to be associated with plasma TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, and BMD levels in osteoporosis patients (P<0.05)., Conclusions: The present results indicate that both osteoporosis and lipids levels are associated with the TT genotype of rs12218 in the human SAA1 gene.

Objective: To study the highest levels for vitamin A voluntary fortification in food by using the principles and methods of risk assessment., Methods: The dietary nutrient intake data of 68 962 subjects form "Survey on the Status of Nutrition and Health of the Chinese People" in 2002 were analyzed to calculate the highest fortification level of vitamin A in different groups stratified by age, sex and economic development level, using maximum sage fortification level (MSFL) model recommended by European countries. The results were compared with the current national standards of China., Results: The overall results showed that women aged ≥5 0 years had the highest MSFL(2011.5 µgRE/1000 KJ) and the men aged 14 - 17 years had the lowest MSFL (1078.5 µgRE/1000 KJ). The MSFL for pregnant women was 1066.8 µgRE/1000 KJ. The results in different areas showed that men and women aged 14 - 17 years in large city had lower MFSL(997.3 and 879.1 µgRE/1000 KJ respectively). the MSFL in other groups in different areas were between 1000 - 2000 µgRE/1000 KJ. After conversion using the lowest MSFL, the highest fortification levels for vegetable oil, wheat flour, rice, modified milk, biscuit, soybean powder, milk powder for preschool children, milk powder for pregnant and lactating women were 33 063,12 650,12 729,1978,15 929,15 411,20 642,17 920 µgRE/kg respectively,higher than the current fortified level in national standard., Conclusion: The current fortification levels in foods are safe and the risk of over intake of vitamin A from fortified food is very low.

By using Landsat and high resolution ALOS images, and based on the comparison of the precision of sea area extracted from various water indices, a modified index MNDWI was adopted to study the shoal reclamation in Jinzhou Bay sea area in 1988, 1995, and 2006. In the period 1988-2006, the reclaimed area in Jinzhou Bay sea area reached 23.63 km2, among which, 12.38 km2, 5.48 km2, 3.47 km2, 1.37 km2, and 0.93 km2 were used for development zone, industry, port construction, seawater aquaculture, and beach bathing, respectively. The large acreage shoal reclamation reflected the urgent demand of land for coastal urban construction and economic development along the Jinzhou Bay, while at the meantime, brought about greater impacts on the local eco-environment, which needed to be further monitored and assessed.

Three wavelet bases, i. e., Haar, Daubechies, and Symlet, were chosen to analyze the validity of two-dimension wavelet analysis in recognizing the characteristic scales of the urban, peri-urban, and rural landscapes of Shenyang. Owing to the transform scale of two-dimension wavelet must be the integer power of 2, some characteristic scales cannot be accurately recognized. Therefore, the pixel resolution of images was resampled to 3, 3.5, 4, and 4.5 m to densify the scale in analysis. It was shown that two-dimension wavelet analysis worked effectively in checking characteristic scale. Haar, Daubechies, and Symle were the optimal wavelet bases to the peri-urban landscape, urban landscape, and rural landscape, respectively. Both Haar basis and Symlet basis played good roles in recognizing the fine characteristic scale of rural landscape and in detecting the boundary of peri-urban landscape. Daubechies basis and Symlet basis could be also used to detect the boundary of urban landscape and rural landscape, respectively.

Based on the Landsat TM images of 2001 and 2006, and by using linear spectral unmixing (LSU) technique, the information of urban vegetation coverage inside the Third-Ring Road of Shenyang City was extracted, and the dynamic change of the vegetation coverage in 2001-2006 was analyzed, in combining with a land use map derived from the visual interpretation of a QuickBird image of 2006. The results showed that in 2001-2006, the urban vegetation coverage in study area changed drastically. Urban greening and the cropland encroachment caused by urban sprawl coexisted, and the vegetation gain from urban greening was larger than the vegetation loss from cropland encroachment. The vegetation coverage of road, residence, public facilities, and park and square increased with varying degrees (5%-9%), while industrial land changed little. The spatial distribution of urban greening was relatively reasonable. Though the polarization of vegetation coverage between central city and suburban still existed, this polarization had been mitigated to some extent. With the increase of the distance from city center, the vegetation coverage increased in sequence of park and square (0.8% x km(-1)) < residence (1.5% x km(-1)) < industrial land (1.7% x km(-1)) < public facilities (2.4% x km(-1)) < road (2.9% x km(-1)). The polarization of vegetation coverage in public facilities and road were still serious, suggesting that more greening programs and strict conservation efforts were needed.

Based on the 1979, 1992, 2001 and 2006 satellite images, the spatial expansion information of Shenyang City was extracted by human-computer interactive method, and the temporal and spatial expansion characteristics of Shenyang City as well as their driving forces were analyzed from the aspects of growth intensity, center coordinates, compact index, fractal index, and elasticity coefficient, with the help of the statistic and analytic functions of GIS for the spatial data. The results showed that in 1979-2006, both the urban build-up area and its expansion rate in Shenyang were increased continuously, and reached the maximum in 2001-2006. The urban expansion showed obvious spatial heterogeneity, with the gravity shifted to the southwest. In the meantime, the compact index was decreasing while the fractal index was increasing, implying that the urban spatial configuration in Shenyang became more and more complex. Natural environmental factors, economic development, population growth, traffic infrastructure construction, and government policy and planning were the main driving forces of the urban expansion.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between apolipoprotein A5(apoA5) - 1131T > C polymorphism and the susceptibility of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Chinese., Methods: The restriction fragment length polymorphism of apoA5 gene - 1131T > C was studied using PCR in a case-control study which enrolled 235 patients with CAD diagnosed by angiography and 262 healthy controls from Jiangsu province., Results: The frequencies of T, C allele were 59.57%ì40.43% and 65.65%, 34.35% in CAD group and control group respectively. There was statistically significant difference in allele frequencies between CAD group and control group (P < 0.05). The susceptibility to CAD for the CC genotype was much higher than that for wild type TT (OR = 1.872, 95% CI = 1.039 - 3.376, P = 0.037), even after the use of Logistic regression models (OR = 2.285, 95% CI = 1.222 - 4.274, P = 0.012). In control group, there was significant difference in TG levels among different genotypes, the C allele carriers had higher serum TG concentration (P = 0.007)., Conclusion: apoA5 - 1131T > C polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of CAD and is also in strong association with serum TG levels.