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Much of Chinese animal husbandry relies on the continuous availability of forage crops, but climactic constraints in production regions cause seasonal shortages which threaten the industry. This study compares the major characteristics of different forage oat lines and cultivars to evaluate their suitability for cultivation in the winter fallow fields of southwest China. To achieve this goal, six oat populations (2 cultivars and 4 lines) were sown in autumn in three locations in southwest China. Yield‐related traits such as dry matter yield (DMY) and plant height (PH), as well as nutritional traits such as crude protein (CP), crude ash (ASH), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), and relative feed value (RFV) were measured during two consecutive growing seasons. Our results indicate that all measured traits, with the exception of CP, were significantly influenced by environment, genotype, year and their interaction (p <.05). Forage yield (DMY) had a positive correlation with PH and RFV, but a strong negative one with nutritional values, suggesting a trade‐off between yield and quality. Among the six oat populations, 'WC109' consistently displayed the highest DMY, PH, and CP mean values as well as lower ASH, NDF, and ADF compared to all the other cultivars/lines. Based on these findings, 'WC109' was selected as the ideal candidate for autumn‐sown forage oat in southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic-rich shales and mudstones of the Middle Permian are the most important unconventional petroleum targets in the southern Junggar Basin of northwestern China. Although numerous studies have been vigorously conducted on paleoenvironment reconstructions, the organic matter enrichment mechanism is still controversial due to the utilization of problematic geochemical proxies established in early studies. In this study, major and trace elemental compositions, molecular markers, stable carbon isotopic compositions, and organic petrology were used to study multiple factors affecting the accumulation of organic matter in sediments. According to the results, a relatively hydrostatic, brackish, anoxic environment is proposed in the northern periphery of the Bogda Mountain, where the original structure of organic matter could be preserved with non-correlations between the productivity proxies (P and Ba) and TOC. In the western Bogda area, organic-rich sediments were deposited under suboxic conditions, with frequent fluctuation occurring between the top and bottom water columns. The accumulation of organic matter was the result of productivity blooms and rapid sedimentation. This improved study of the enrichment of organic matter in the Middle Permian around the Bogda Mountain can contribute to improved evaluations of the petroleum potential and distinguishing the characteristics of different organic matter enrichment models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare multisystem developmental disorder. In this study, we report the genetic causes and clinical manifestations in two Chinese families with BBS. Materials and Methods. Two families were recruited in this study. Family A was a four-generation family with four affected and 15 unaffected members participating in the study, and family B was a consanguineous family with one affected and three unaffected members participating. Whole exome sequencing was performed in the two families, followed by a multistep bioinformatics analysis. Sanger sequencing was used to verify the variants and to perform a segregation analysis. Comprehensive ocular and systemic examinations were also conducted. Results. Novel compound heterozygous variants c.235T > G (p.T79P) and c.534 + 1G > T were detected in the BBS2 gene in family A, and known homozygous variant c.748G > A (p.G250R) was detected in the MKKS gene in family B. Both families presented with retinitis pigmentosa; however, except for polydactyly, all other systemic manifestations were different. All of the affected family members in family A were overweight with a high body mass index (range from 26.5 to 41.9) and high blood pressure. Family A also presented with a delay in the onset of secondary sex characteristics and genital anomalies, while other systemic abnormalities were absent in family B. Conclusions. This study presents one family with two novel BBS2 variants, expanding the variant spectrum of BBS, and one family with a known homozygous MKKS variant. The different phenotypes seen between the families with BBS2 and MKKS variants will contribute to the literature and our overall understanding of BBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new enantiornithine, Musivavis amabilis n. gen. n. sp., is reported from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Biota in western Liaoning, China. The new taxon is similar to the bohaiornithids in the robust subconical teeth, bluntly expanded omal ends of the furcula, caudolaterally oriented lateral trabeculae with triangular distal ends of the sternum, and a robust second pedal digit. Yet it differs from members of Bohaiornithidae in several features recalling other enantiornithine lineages, such as the acuminate rostral ramus of maxilla, the shape of the coracoid lateral margin, the presence of craniolateral processes on the sternum, the proportions of the manual phalanges, and the unspecialized third pedal ungual phalanx. A comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Mesozoic birds shows that homoplasy significantly affects the reconstruction of enantiornithine relationships. When all phylogenetic characters are considered of equal weight, Musivavis is reconstructed in a lineage related to a radiation of large-bodied enantiornithines including Bohaiornithidae and Pengornithidae. Alternative scenarios based on progressive downweighting of the homoplastic characters support more basal placements of the pengornithids among Enantiornithes, but do not alter the affinity of Musivavis as a member of the "bohaiornithid-grade" group. UUID: http://zoobank.org/617c7062-21ab-4d33-ae80-4edf5a129683 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: National standardized training for resident doctors (STRD) in mainland China has been formally established since 2014 as a kind of postgraduate education. The purpose of this survey was to assess the satisfaction of the training residents in Guangdong Province on the ophthalmology STRD program after a duration of 5 years., Method: A 48-item survey was sent to all postgraduate ophthalmology residents from bases in Guangdong Province to inquire about their attitude towards the program. The survey contained questions about demographic and work-related information, job satisfaction, psychological resilience, and job performance. All responses were verified, and invalid questionnaires were excluded. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software version 22.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the factors (demographic information, working environment, clinical exposure, supervision and hands-on training opportunities, and involvement in academic activities) impacting the overall satisfaction. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: A total of 471/635 (74.17%) valid questionnaires were returned from all the STRD bases of Guangdong Province, which included 38 hospitals. 60.3% of the respondents reported overall satisfaction with their training. The satisfaction with operative teaching (60.7%) was slightly lower than the other settings of teaching experience (above 65%). Meanwhile, the satisfaction on different secessions of operative experience was all below 70%, of which in the areas of cornea and orbit were 55.42% and 57.53%, respectively. Some potential factors were found to affect general satisfaction, including the training grade, marriage, working time, income level, the doctor-patient relationship, family members working as doctors, the time proportion spent on writing medical documents during clinical work, and the frequency of attending academic meetings. Improvement was observed in both performing and reporting clinical examinations in the last year of training in comparison to the first year. Finally, 82.8% of the residents acknowledged this training was helpful for future clinical work. The first five career preferences for residents were cataract (67.1%), refractive surgery (42.3%), vitreo-retina (36.5%), optometry (28.7%), and oculoplastic (27.2%)., Conclusion: Ophthalmology residents in Guangdong Province expressed comparable satisfaction with the STRD program. To further improve satisfaction, factors such as resident subsidy, harmonious marriage, the patient-doctor relationship, and chances of attending academic conferences should be emphasized., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

To examine the level of knowledge and skills related to prevention of child sexual abuse (CSA) in a sample of Chinese preschoolers in Beijing and to explore the associations between children's scores on the knowledge and skills and their parents' reports on the knowledge and communication with children about CSA prevention. One hundred and thirty-six preschoolers were interviewed by researchers using the Chinese versions of Personal Safety Questionnaire and the "What If" Situation Test, and one parent of each child was invited to complete an anonymous questionnaire regarding parental knowledge and parent-child communication about CSA prevention. Less than half children knew that strangers were not the only perpetrators and only 16% thought that children should report secret touching. In 3 inappropriate touching requests, less than 30% of the children were aware of using verbal response to definitely refuse the inappropriate touching and less than 20% of the children were aware of definitely removing themselves from the abusive situations. Parent-child communication about CSA and parental educational level were the significant factors for children's self-protection skills. Preschool children lack CSA prevention knowledge and related self-protection skills. Culturally relevant primary CSA prevention programs in China need to be developed and parental education should be a part of CSA prevention. Parents need to be informed about CSA knowledge concepts and need to be encouraged to communicate with their children about sexual abuse prevention., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)