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Abstract: Microplitis mediator (Haliday) is an important endoparasitoid of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in northern China. Interactions among H. armigera, its larval parasitoid M. mediator, and insect–resistant transgenic cotton lines were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Two major transgenic cotton cultivars used in Hebei province of northern China, DP99B (Bollgard), carrying the cry1Ac gene, and SGK321, carrying both cry1A and CpTI (Cowpea trypsin inhibitor) genes, were used in the experiments. The results indicated that there was significant growth inhibition of the H. armigera larvae when they were fed a diet containing Bt transgenic cotton powder. The parasitoid offspring developed more slowly and pupal and adult weight was reduced significantly when the parasitized host larvae fed on the Bt cotton powder leaf diet compared with non-Bt treatment. With an increase of Bt cotton leaf powder concentration in the host larvae diet, the parasitism rate and adult emergence of the parasitoid decreased and the abnormal pupal rate increased. There was no evident difference in the effects on M. mediator between the transgenic single- and two-gene cotton cultivars; however, the parasitized host larval mortality was higher than that of unparasitized larvae in most treatments. The observed effects on M. mediator were probably host-quality mediated rather than direct effects of transgenic cotton because the H. armigera larvae which fed on diet with leaf powder of both transgenic cotton cultivars also experienced a significant decrease in weight, particularly when the host larvae were parasitized. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To evaluate the performance of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) on lung cancer screening in high-risk populations in Sichuan., Methods: From April 2014 to July 2018, LDCT was performed annually on 3185 subjects aged 50-74 years who had smoked ≥ 20 pack-years (or subjects having quit smoking within 5 years). Information about all deaths and lung cancer diagnoses were obtained by active investigation, or passive matching to disease surveillance system., Results: The screening population had a median age of 60 years. 62.4 % of which were current smokers and had smoked 30 pack-years. After participating in the baseline screening, the compliance rates of subjects consecutively completing one round, two rounds, three rounds, and four rounds of annual screening were 67.22 %, 52.84 %, 43.24 %, and 40.04 %, respectively. The positive rates in baseline and annual screening were 6.53 % and 5.79 %, respectively. During the 5 rounds, a total of 9522 person-times were screened by LDCT with a screening sensitivity of 89.13 % (95 % CI: 76.96-95.27), specificity of 94.36 % (95 % CI: 93.88-94.81), positive predictive value of 7.13 % (95 % CI: 5.30-9.53), and negative predictive value of 99.94 % (95 % CI: 99.87-99.98). There were no statistically significant performance differences between baseline and annual screening. The difference in the proportion of screen-detected stage I lung cancer between baseline screening and annual screening was not statistically significant, neither., Conclusion: The application of LDCT on lung cancer screening in high-risk populations shows favorable compliance and a high screening performance in the project area of Sichuan,China., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Genetically modified (GM) cotton, engineered to express Bt toxins that protect it from insect damage, has become the most successfully commercialized GM crop in China since its authorization in 1997. In light of the potential ecological consequences of pollen-mediated gene flow (PGF) from GM plants, a two year field trial was conducted to test the effects on PGF of sunflower, Helianthus annuus, buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum, and soybean, Glycine max, as intercrops in non-GM cotton fields during 2017 and 2018. DNA tests for hybridized seed were used to estimate rates of PGF in intercrop treatments. PGF was the lowest in cotton intercropped with either buckwheat or sunflower, likely due to the trapping of pollen in these flowers, and/or the diversion of pollinators away from cotton flowers. PGF declined as an exponential function of distance from the GM cotton; Y = -lnx was the model of best fit for estimating pollen dispersal potential. A sunflower intercrop reduced the peak abundance of Aphis gossypii, (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and Nysius ericae (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) on cotton plants, although densities of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Acari: Tetranychidae), were increased. A buckwheat intercrop had very similar effects on these pests, likely due to attraction of their natural enemies. We conclude that sunflower and buckwheat are suitable intercrops for reducing PGF from GM cotton, and may be useful for reducing PGF from other insect-pollinated GM crops in the agricultural landscape, while simultaneously contributing to control of specific pests. This is the first demonstration, to our knowledge, that intercrops can be used to reduce PGF from transgenic plants., 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 © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Quality-associated problems, such as excessive in planta accumulation of oxalate, often arise in soillessly cultivated spinach (Spinacia oleracea). Maintaining a higher level of ammonium (NH₄⁺) compared to nitrate (NO₃⁻) during the growth period can effectively decrease the oxalate content in hydroponically cultivated vegetables. However, long-term exposure to high concentrations of NH₄⁺ induces toxicity in plants, and thus decreases the biomass production. Short-term application of NH₄⁺ before harvesting in soilless cultivation may provide an alternative strategy to decrease oxalate accumulation in spinach, and minimise the yield reduction caused by NH₄⁺ toxicity., Result: The plants were pre-cultured in 8 mmol L⁻¹ NO₃⁻ nutrient solution. Next, 6 days before harvest, the plants were transferred to a nutrient solution containing 4 mmol L⁻¹ NO₃⁻ and 4 mmol L⁻¹ NH₄⁺. This new mix clearly reduced oxalate accumulation, increased levels of several antioxidant compounds, and enhanced antioxidant capacity in the edible parts of spinach plants, but it did not affect biomass production. However, when the 8 mmol L⁻¹ NO₃⁻ was shifted to either nitrogen-free, 4 mmol L⁻¹ NH₄⁺ or 8 mmol L⁻¹ NH₄⁺ treatments, although some of the quality indexes were improved, yields were significantly reduced., Conclusions: Short-term alteration of nitrogen supply prior to harvest significantly affects quality and biomass of spinach plants, and we strongly recommend to simultaneously use NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ in hydroponic cultivation, which improves vegetable quality without decreasing biomass production., (© 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Objective: This study was to identify the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) changes and the relative risk factors within one year after Wenchuan earthquake among middle school students in the disaster area., Methods: A total of 1966 students from 3 schools in Wenchuan earthquake region were selected as the target population. For each student, personal basic information and standard psychological scale (PCL-C, PSSS) were investigated by a self-administrated questionnaire in the 3rd, the 6th, the 9th and the 12th month after the earthquake, respectively. PTSD trends over the time and the associated risk factors were analyzed through the establishment of multi-level random coefficient model., Results: There were 1677 middle school students fully participated in the PTSD follow-up study by turning in the valid questionnaires. The averaged scores of PTSD at the time of the 3rd, the 6th, the 9th and the 12th month after the earthquake were 35.14 ± 11.08, 32.90 ± 11.03, 30.67 ± 11.28 and 29.75 ± 11.22, respectively. Meanwhile, the general incidences of PTSD were 36.6% (613/1677), 30.7% (515/1677), 24.8% (416/1677)and 22.2% (373/1677), respectively. The median score of perceived social support system was 60.00 and the general incidences of PSS was 17.20% (289/1677). The PTSD scores for the students had a decreasing trend during the period of our observation (β(time) = -1.879, χ(2) = 47.03, P < 0.05). The averaged scores for boys for the 4 follow-up studies were 33.71, 31.61, 29.66, 28.83; for girls were 36.33, 33.98, 31.51, 30.52; for junior school students were 35.46, 33.28, 30.18, 29.22; for senior school students were 34.89, 32.62, 31.04, 30.15. Moreover, two factors, gender and grade, were related with the decreasing trend (the trend for girls and senior school students was sharper than that for boys and junior school students) (β(gender-time) = -0.354, χ(2) = 4.83, P < 0.05; β(grade-time) = 0.622, χ(2) = 11.30, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The prevalence of PTSD was high. Meanwhile, there was a trend of self-recovery for adolescent's PTSD during the first year of post-earthquake, but boys and junior school students recovered more slowly.

Objective: To investigate mental health status among middle school students in Wenchuan earthquake region three months after the earthquake., Methods: 38 classes of 3 middle schools in the disaster region were selected and 1966 students were invited to participate the investigation. The post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) checklist-civilian version was used to screen positive PTSD, and the perceived social support scale (PSSS) was used to evaluate the level of perceived social support., Results: 1958 valid questionnaires were selected. The general positive rate of PTSD was 78.29% (1533/1958). PTSD prevalence of the girls was 82.30%(851/1034), higher than that of the boys (73.92% (683/924), chi(2) = 20.22, P < 0.01); the rate of the minority students was 80.27% (1375/1713), higher than that of the Han students (64.98% (154/237), chi(2) = 28.75, P < 0.01); the rate of the rural students was 83.52% (872/1044), higher than that of the urban students (72.43% (662/914), chi(2) = 35.37, P < 0.01); the rate of those who were injured in the quake was 90.38% (94/104), higher than that of the uninjured (77.66% (1439/1853), chi(2) = 9.40, P < 0.01). The level of perceived social support and family support of the subjects was high while outside family support was average. The medians of the score were 21, 60 and 39, respectively. The severity of PTSD was negatively correlated with perceived social support, and perceived support within and outside family (r values were -0.191, -0.130 and -0.190 respectively, all P values < 0.01)., Conclusion: The incidence rate of PTSD is high among the middle school students in disaster region. The symptoms and severity of PTSD are different in the middle school students with different characteristics. Moreover, the more perceived social support they obtain, the better health status they keep.

Objective: To explore the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and perceived social support (PSS) ability among middle school students in earthquake-stricken areas after the Wenchuan earthquake accident., Methods: A total of 1966 students from three secondary schools of Wenchuan earthquake-stricken areas were evaluated by PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS)., Results: The overall incidence rate of PTSD was 78.3%, with severe PTSD as 24.38%. Significant differences on the incidence rates of PTSD were found among the students who were in different PSS levels (P < 0.05) and significant negative correlation existed between the levels of severity on PTSD and PSS (gamma = -0.226, P < 0.05). Significant differences on PTSD incidence rates were found among those students who were from different families or out-family PSS levels (P = 0.009, P < 0.05). Significant negative correlation existed between the severity of PTSD and family or out-family PSS level (gamma = -0.176, P < 0.05, gamma = -0.214, P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Relationships between the incidence rate, severity of PTSD and PSS levels existed among the middle school students in Wenchuan earthquake-stricken areas, with higher PSS, lower incidence rate and lighter severity of PTSD. Psychological intervention for earthquake-stricken students should be carried out.

Aim: To investigate the spatial distribution patterns of anorectal atresia/stenosis in China., Methods: Data were collected from the Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network (CBDMN), a hospital-based congenital malformations registry system. All fetuses more than 28 wk of gestation and neonates up to 7 d of age in hospitals within the monitoring sites of the CBDMN were monitored from 2001 to 2005. Two-dimensional graph-theoretical clustering was used to divide monitoring sites of the CBDMN into different clusters according to the average incidences of anorectal atresia/stenosis in the different monitoring sites., Results: The overall average incidence of anorectal atresia/stenosis in China was 3.17 per 10,000 from 2001 to 2005. The areas with the highest average incidences of anorectal atresia/stenosis were almost always focused in Eastern China. The monitoring sites were grouped into 6 clusters of areas. Cluster 1 comprised the monitoring sites in Heilongjiang Province, Jilin Province, and Liaoning Province; Cluster 2 was composed of those in Fujian Province, Guangdong Province, Hainan Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south Hunan Province, and south Jiangxi Province; Cluster 3 consisted of those in Beijing Municipal City, Tianjin Municipal City, Hebei Province, Shandong Province, north Jiangsu Province, and north Anhui Province; Cluster 4 was made up of those in Zhejiang Province, Shanghai Municipal City, south Anhui Province, south Jiangsu Province, north Hunan Province, north Jiangxi Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Shanxi Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; Cluster 5 consisted of those in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Gansu Province and Qinghai Province; and Cluster 6 included those in Shaanxi Province, Sichuan Province, Chongqing Municipal City, Yunnan Province, Guizhou Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Province and Tibet Autonomous Region., Conclusion: The findings in this research allow the display of the spatial distribution patterns of anorectal atresia/stenosis in China. These will have important guiding significance for further analysis of relevant environmental factors regarding anorectal atresia/stenosis and for achieving regional monitoring for anorectal atresia/stenosis.

Objective: To investigate the geographic distribution pattern of patients with anorectal atresia/stenosis in China, in order to provide clue for research on its etiology., Methods: Data were collected from Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network (CBDMN), which was a hospital-based congenital malformations registry system. From 2001 to 2005, all fetuses with more than 28 weeks of gestation and neonates up to 7 days of age, were monitored. Two-dimensional graphic cluster method was used to divide monitoring stations into different classes with the incidence rates of anorectal atresia/stenosis., Results: The overall incidence of anorectal atresia/stenosis was 3.17 per 10,000 during 2001 to 2005. The incidence was higher in Eastern than that in Mid or Western parts of China and the difference was statistically significant (z = 2.50, 3.69; P = 0.012, < 0.001). The monitoring stations were grouped into 6 classes. Class I was with Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoling; Class II was with Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and South Hunan and Jiangxi; Class III was with Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, and North Jiangsu and Anhui; Class IV was with Zhejiang, Shanghai, South Anhui and Jiangsu, North Hunan and Jiangxi, Hubei, Henan, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, Class V was with Ningxia, Gansu and Qinghai; and Class VI was with Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, Xinjiang and Tibet., Conclusion: Our findings discovered the geographic distribution patterns of patients with anorectal atresia/stenosis in China. It is important to further analyze the relevant environmental factors attached to it so a better regional monitoring system for anorectal atresia/stenosis can be operated.