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Establishing lucerne field is an efficient way to protect natural steppes, alleviate conflicts between meadows and livestock, and promote the development of animal husbandry. However, problems such as extensive field management, valuing yield over quality, and low resource utilization are endemic in production. Exploring reasonable cultivation patterns can contribute to improving the current situation of artificial grassland production and promoting the high-quality development of husbandry and prataculture. Lucerne the field experiment was carried out in Jingtai, Gansu Province, China in 2021–2022; this study compared and analyzed the effects of three cultivation patterns—ridge tillage with plastic film mulching (PM), ridge tillage with biodegradable film mulching (BM), and traditional flat planting (FP)—on soil water, heat, and fertilizer, as well as lucerne growth, yield, quality, and water and nitrogen use efficiency. The results show that: (1) during the growth period of lucerne, PM and BM treatments augment the average moisture content of the soil layer of 0–120 cm by 31.19% and 24.03% compared to the FP treatment, respectively. In the soil layer of 0–40 cm, PM and BM treatments abate the soil moisture content of the ridges by an average of 19.29% and 7.89% compared to that in the ditches, respectively. In the soil layer of 40–120 cm, PM and BM treatments elevate the soil moisture content of the ridges by 4.40% and 4.65% on average compared to that in the ditches, respectively. The average soil temperature in a soil layer of 5–25 cm shows PM > BM > FP. In contrast with the FP treatment, PM and BM treatments increase the soil temperature of the ridges by an average of 1.87 °C and 0.96 °C and decrease that of the ditches by an average of 0.47 °C and 0.46 °C, respectively. After two years of planting, the three cultivation patterns all promote the soil nutrient content. Compared to the FP treatment, PM and BM treatments increase the organic matter content by 9.94% and 19.94%, respectively. (2) Ridge tillage with film mulching can evidently stimulate the growth of lucerne and enhance yield and quality. Compared to the FP treatment, PM and BM treatments enhance plant height by an average of 15.37% and 4.04%, stem diameter by an average of 34.14% and 14.58%, yield by an average of 21.20% and 14.77%, crude protein content by an average of 13.47% and 7.68%, and relative feed value by an average of 8.71% and 4.41%, respectively. (3) During the two-year growing period, the irrigation amount of lucerne was 508.60–615.30 mm, and the evapotranspiration was 563.70–761.80 mm. Compared to the FP treatment, PM and BM treatments hoist water use efficiency by an average of 43.50% and 17.56%, nitrogen partial factor productivity by an average of 21.20% and 15.22%, and net income by an average of 14.78% and 11.05%, respectively. In summary, in ridge tillage, both ordinary film mulching and biodegradable film mulching can create a favorable soil environment for lucerne growth and heighten production effect. The former has a better effect on advancing the lucerne production effect, and the latter exhibits superior performance in improving soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study assessed the impacts of in vitro culture times of cleavage embryos on clinical pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed at the Reproductive Medicine Department of Hainan Modern Women and Children's Hospital in China between January 2018 and December 2022. Patients who first underwent frozen embryo transfer with in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles on day 3 were included. According to the time of embryo culture after thawing, the embryos were divided into long-term culture group(18-20 h) and short-term culture group (2-4 h). The clinical pregnancy rate was regarded as he primary outcome. To minimize confounding factors and reduce selection bias, the propensity score matching was used to balance the effects of known confounding factors and to reduce selection bias. Stratified analyses and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the risk factors affecting the clinical pregnancy outcomes after matching. Results: General characteristics between two groups were comparable after matching. In the long-term culture group, 266/381 (69.81%) embryos had more than 10 blastomeres, and 75/381 (19.68%) reached the morula stage. After overnight culture, the implantation rate (27.97% vs. 14.28%, P = 0.018) and clinical pregnancy rate (38.46% vs. 22.5%, P = 0.05) were increased in the group with proliferating blastomeres. The long-term culture group trended to have a higher clinical pregnancy rate compared with the short-term culture group (35.74% vs. 29.79%). No statistical differences in clinical pregnancy outcomes between the two groups were observed after matching, including the rates of implantation (25.46% vs23.98%), miscarriages (25% vs. 22.85%), ongoing pregnancy rate (76.2% vs. 77.15%) and live birth rate (26.8% vs. 22.98%). Stratified analyses were performed according to the age of the patients. After matching, there were no significant differences in the clinical pregnancy, implantation and miscarriage rates between the two groups for patients > 35 or ≤ 35 years of age. Subgroup analyses were performed according to the quality of the transferred embryos. There were no significant differences in the clinical outcomes, between two groups after embryos transferred with the same quality. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the influencing factors of clinical pregnancy outcomes after matching. Culture time was not found to be an independent predictor for clinical pregnancy [OR 0.742, 95%CI 0.487 ~ 1.13; P = 0.165]. The age of oocyte retrieval [OR 0.906, 95%CI 0.865 ~ 0.949; P <0.001] and the number of high-quality embryos transferred [OR 1.787, 95%CI 1.256 ~ 2.543; P = 0.001] were independent factors affecting clinical pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions: In vitro 18–20 h culture of embryos with either good-or non-good-quality will not adversely affect the clinical pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific selection of appropriate herbage planting management mode is an important guarantee to promote artificial grassland development and grassland productivity. In this study, three-year-old alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and bromus inermis were applied to analyze the effects of planting patterns (bromus inermis and alfalfa mixed-sowing D1, bromus inermis mono-sowing D2), nitrogen application (pure nitrogen) level (N1: 60 kg·ha−1, N2: 120 kg·ha−1), and water regulation (upper and lower limits of irrigation are calculated as a percentage of field capacity θf, W1: slight water deficit 65~85% θf, W2: moderate water deficit 55~85% θf, W3: serious water deficit 45~85% θf) on herbage growth and water-nitrogen use efficiency. This research applied the principal component analysis, the TOPSIS model, and the combination evaluation to evaluate each treatment. Results demonstrated that (1) the plant height, leaf area index, and yield of mixed-sowing herbage were 81.63%, 119.52%, and 111.51%, higher than the mono-sowing herbage. Increasing the amount of irrigation and nitrogen application could enhance herbage yield. The herbage yield with the W1N2 treatment was the highest. In this treatment, the mixed-sowing herbage yield was 26,050.73 kg·ha−1, and the mono-sowing herbage yield was 12,186.10 kg·ha−1. (2) The crude protein content of mixed-sowing herbage increased by 41.44%, higher than mono-sowing herbage, and the relative feeding value decreased by 16.34%. Increasing irrigation and nitrogen application could improve the quality of herbage. Meanwhile, the quality of herbage treated with W1N2 was the best. (3) The water use efficiency (WUE), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN), and crude protein water use efficiency (CPWUE) of mixed-sowing herbage were significantly higher than mono-sowing herbage. The PFPN and the CPWUE of herbage improved with increasing irrigation amount. Meanwhile, the WUE, the IWUE, and the CPWUE of herbage also improved with increasing nitrogen application amount. The results showed that mixed-sowing of alfalfa and bromus inermis with slight water deficit (upper and lower limit of irrigation was 65~85% θf) and nitrogen application (120 kg·ha−1) could have the best comprehensive production effect. At the same time, it was a planting and management mode of high yield, high quality, and high efficiency of artificial herbage in the oasis-desert interlacing area of Hexi, Gansu Province, China, and areas with similar climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was about the water-nitrogen regulation model and its soil nutrient environment effect for increasing the yield and efficiency of Bromus inermis in the Hexi Corridor, Gansu Province, China. Bromus inermis was used as the research object in this study and four irrigation management types and four nitrogen application levels were set. The four irrigation management types (controlled by the percentage of field capacity (θf) at the jointing stage) were 75–85% (W0), 65–85% (W1), 55–85% (W2) and 45–85% (W3). The four nitrogen application levels were pure nitrogen 0 kg·ha−1 (N0), 60 kg·ha−1 (N1), 120 kg·ha−1 (N2) and 180 kg·ha−1 (N3). The effects of water-nitrogen regulation on the spatial and temporal distribution of soil moisture and nitrate nitrogen (NO3−–N), plant height, chlorophyll content, yield and water-nitrogen use efficiency of Bromus inermis were studied. Results demonstrated that (1) soil water content (SWC) was mainly affected by irrigation and W1 treatment helped maintain shallow soil (0–40 cm) water's stability and avoided water redundancy or deficit in the 60–80 cm soil layer. The distribution of soil NO3−–N was mainly affected by nitrogen application. The N2 treatment could effectively increase the NO3−–N content in shallow soil (0–40 cm) and prevent nitrate-nitrogen leaching in the 60–100 cm soil layer. (2) Irrigation and nitrogen application could significantly increase the plant height and chlorophyll content of each cut of Bromus inermis. The average plant height and chlorophyll content of the N2W1 treatment were 66.99% and 30.30% higher than N0W3. (3) At the same time, irrigation and nitrogen application could significantly increase the yield of each cut of Bromus inermis, and the interaction between the two had a significant effect on the total yield. The total yield of the N2W1 treatment was the highest (12,259.54 kg·ha−1), 157.95% higher than N0W3. Irrigation and nitrogen application could significantly improve the water-nitrogen use efficiency of Bromus inermis, and their interaction only significantly impacted the partial-factor productivity of the applied nitrogen (PFPN). Meanwhile, the N2W2 treatment had the highest water use efficiency (WUE) (23.12 kg·m−3), and the N1W1 treatment had the highest PFPN (170.87 kg·kg−1). In summary, the moderate nitrogen application rate (120 kg·ha−1) combined with mild water deficit (65–85% θf at the jointing stage) could not only promote the high yield of Bromus inermis, but also avoid the leaching of water and nitrogen in deep soil. It is a suitable water and nitrogen management mode for Bromus inermis in the Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate planting and nitrogen application patterns to support high-quality production of cultivated forage in light of issues of water scarcity, extensive field husbandry, and low productivity in cultivated grassland planting areas were investigated in this study. Using Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) as the research object, this study analyzed the effects of planting patterns (conventional flat planting (FP) and ridge culture with film mulching (RM)) and nitrogen level (N0: 0 kg·ha−1, N1: 80 kg·ha−1, N2: 160 kg·ha−1, N3: 240 kg·ha−1) on the growth, yield, quality (crude protein content (CP), acid detergent fiber content (ADF), neutral detergent fiber content (NDF), and relative feeding value (RFV)), the water–nitrogen use efficiency, and economic benefits (EB) of alfalfa in the year of establishment. Results demonstrated that (1) RM might greatly increase the growth of alfalfa when compared to FP. The plant height, stem diameter, and leaf:stem ratio of alfalfa all increased under the same planting patterns before decreasing as the nitrogen application rate (NAR) increased. (2) Appropriate NAR combined with RM could improve the yield and quality of alfalfa. Compared with other treatments, the yield, CP, and RFV under RMN2 treatment increased by 5.9~84.9%, 4.9~28.6%, and 19.6~49.3%, respectively, and the ADF and NDF decreased by 14.0~27.6% and 13.0~26.1%, respectively. (3) Under the same nitrogen level, RM showed better performance than FP in terms of water use efficiency (WUE), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), precipitation use efficiency (PUE), partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN), agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (ANUE), and EB of alfalfa. Under the same planting pattern, PFPN decreased as the NAR increased, while WUE, IWUE, PUE, ANUE, and EB first increased and then decreased as the NAR increased and reached a maximum value under the N2 condition. In conclusion, the RM planting pattern combined with a nitrogen level of 160 kg·ha−1 can significantly promote alfalfa growth as well as the yield, quality, water–nitrogen use efficiency, and EB of alfalfa, making it a suitable planting management mode for alfalfa production in the Yellow River irrigation region in Gansu Province, China and areas with similar climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental certification acts as a sustainable practice for firms to improve their competitive advantage and its motivation has been widely discussed. However, existing researches ignore the important market driving force of green public procurement (GPP) as a policy tool. To fill this gap, this study, focusing on manufacturing firms in China and three typical environmental certifications, explores the relationship between GPP market pressure and firm's environmental certification practice based on institutional theory. Additionally, from a strategic perspective of green human resource management, this study unveils the influence mechanism of top management support in this relationship by using upper echelons theory. According to the empirical results, we find that GPP market pressure is positively associated with environmental certification practice, and top management support partially mediates this relationship. This study provides new insights into the explanation of firm's environmental certification practice, and provides practical implications for firm managers and government administrator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop residue returning (CRR) is known to improve the soil environment and thus increase crop production. However, the impacts of CRR on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield have been contrary at times due to the differences in climatic conditions, soil traits, and management practices. These effects were evaluated using 351 paired observations published in 161 papers comprising studies conducted in 19 provinces (autonomous regions) of China. No publication bias or extreme values were found in the data, indicating that the analysis results are highly reliable. Compared with the practice of no crop residue returning (NCRR), the practice of CRR increased wheat yield significantly, on average by 8.29%, and proved more beneficial in Northwest China and in regions with average annual precipitation of 200 to 400 mm, average annual temperatures >11°C, sandy loam soil, and rotation with legumes (soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–wheat and pea [Pisum sativum L.]–wheat). The following aspects of CRR and crop management conferred greater benefits in yield: continuing the practice for 3 to 6 yr (compared with 1–2, 7–10, and ≥11 yr), using the residues at 3 to 6 t ha−1 (compared with <3, 6–9, and > 9 t ha−1), chopped straw (compared with intact straw), rainfed conditions (compared with irrigated conditions), and applying N at 200 to 300 kg ha−1 (compared with <100, 100–200, and >300 kg ha−1). The yield increase was significantly higher when the residues were returned in the form of mulch (12.56%) and for spring wheat (11.90%) than plowing them back into soil (4.53%) and for winter wheat (7.09%). The meta‐analysis thus confirms the benefits of CRR in higher wheat yields in China and also suggests that the benefits of CRR are site specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oilfield drilling sites are the potential dispersive pollution source of groundwater, especially to shallow groundwater. The pollution risk assessment in these areas is an important reference for effective groundwater management and protection. The vulnerability assessment alone is not sufficient for groundwater contamination risk assessment. In this study, we developed a comprehensive groundwater pollution risk assessment method for oilfield drilling sites that combine groundwater vulnerability, pollution source hazard, and groundwater value function to produce a more comprehensive result. Consider the oilfield drilling area in Yitong County of Jilin Province, China, as an example. Thematic maps of the three aspects (groundwater vulnerability, pollution source hazard, and groundwater value function) were generated in ArcGIS environment to assess the contamination risk of groundwater in quaternary pore unconfined aquifer. The results show that 9.92% of the study area is characterized as being at high risk. These areas are mainly distributed around the center position of the oil drilling site, floodplains, and the reservoir. The moderate risk area accounts for 21.04% of the total area. It is distributed in the first-level terrace, mainly because of the high function value of groundwater. The remaining 69.04% of the study area is characterized as none and mild risk, mainly distributed in the valleys and terraces. This integrated groundwater contamination risk assessment method is suited for comparative assessment of multiple-point sources of contamination at a regional scale. Finally, the groundwater contamination risk grade distributed in this area provides a reference for effective protection and sustainable supply of groundwater in the oilfield drilling area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency (OTCD) is a kind of X-linked metabolic disease caused by a deficiency in ornithine transcarbamylase leading to urea cycle disorders. The main reason is that the OTC gene variants lead to the loss or decrease of OTC enzyme function, which hinders the ammonia conversion to urea, resulting in hyperammonemia and severe neurological dysfunction. Here, we studied one Chinese family of three generations who consecutively gave birth to two babies with OTCD. This study aims to explore the pathogenicity of two missense variants in the OTC gene and investigate the application of preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic (PGT-M) for a family troubled by Ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency (OTCD)., Methods: The retrospective method was used to classify the pathogenicity of two missense variants in the OTC gene in a family tortured by OTCD. Sanger sequencing was used to validate the variants in the OTC gene, and then the pathogenicity of variants was confirmed through family analysis and bioinformatics software. We used PGT-M to target the OTC gene and select a suitable embryo for transplantation. Prenatal diagnosis was recommended to confirm previous results using Sanger sequencing and karyotyping at an appropriate gestational stage. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to detect fetal metabolism after birth. The number of the study cohort is ChiCTR2100053616., Results: Two missense variants, c.959G > C (p.Arg320Pro) and c.634G > A (p.Gly212Arg), were validated in the OTC gene in this family. According to the ACMG genetic variation classification criteria, the missense variant c.959G > C can be considered as "pathogenic", and the missense variant c.634G > A can be regarded as "likely benign." PGT-M identified a female embryo carrying the heterozygous variant c.959G > C (p.Arg320Pro), which was selected for transplantation. Prenatal diagnosis revealed the same variant in the fetus, and continued pregnancy was recommended. A female baby was born, and her blood amino acid testing and urine organic acid testing were regular. Follow-up was conducted after six months and indicated the girl was healthy., Conclusion: Our research first validated the segregation of both c.959G > C and c.634G > A variants in the OTC gene in a Chinese OTCD family. Then, we classified variant c.959G > C as "pathogenic" and variant c.634G > A as "likely benign", providing corresponding theoretical support for genetic counseling and fertility guidance in this family. PGT-M and prenatal diagnosis were recommended to help the couple receive a female baby successfully with a six-month follow-up., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Male infertility has become a global health problem, and genetic factors are one of the essential causes. Y chromosome microdeletion is the leading genetic factor cause of male infertility. The objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between male infertility and Y chromosome microdeletions in Hainan, the sole tropical island province of China., Methods: We analyzed the semen of 897 infertile men from Hainan in this study. Semen analysis was measured according to WHO criteria by professionals at the Department of Reproductive Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, where samples were collected. Y chromosome AZF microdeletions were confirmed by detecting six STS markers using multiple polymerase chain reactions on peripheral blood DNA. The levels of reproductive hormones, including FSH, LH, PRL, T, and E 2 , were quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: The incidence of Y chromosome microdeletion in Hainan infertile men was 7.13%. The occurrence rate of Y chromosome microdeletion was 6.69% (34/508) in the oligozoospermia group and 7.71% (30/389) in the azoospermia group. The deletion of various types in the AZF subregion was observed in the group with azoospermia, whereas no AZFb deletion was detected in the oligozoospermia group. Among all patients with microdeletions, the deletion rate of the AZFc region was the higher at 68.75% (44 out of 64), followed by a deletion rate of 6.25% (4 out of 64) for the AZFa region and a deletion rate of 4.69% (3 out of 64) for the AZFb region. The deletion rate of the AZFa region was significantly higher in patients with azoospermia than in patients with oligozoospermia (0.51% vs. 0.39%, p < 0.001). In comparison, the deletion rate of the AZFc region was significantly higher in patients with oligozoospermia (3.08% vs. 6.30%, p < 0.001). Additionally, the AZFb + c subregion association deletion was observed in the highest proportion among all patients (0.89%, 8/897), followed by AZFa + b + c deletion (0.56%, 5/897), and exclusively occurred in patients with azoospermia. Hormone analysis revealed FSH (21.63 ± 2.01 U/L vs. 10.15 ± 0.96 U/L, p = 0.001), LH (8.96 ± 0.90 U/L vs. 4.58 ± 0.42 U/L, p < 0.001) and PRL (263.45 ± 21.84 mIU/L vs. 170.76 ± 17.10 mIU/L, p = 0.002) were significantly increased in azoospermia patients with microdeletions. Still, P and E 2 levels were not significantly different between the two groups., Conclusions: The incidence of AZF microdeletion can reach 7.13% in infertile men in Hainan province, and the deletion of the AZFc subregion is the highest. Although the Y chromosome microdeletion rate is distinct in different regions or populations, the regions mentioned above of the Y chromosome may serve an indispensable role in regulating spermatogenesis. The analysis of Y chromosome microdeletion plays a crucial role in the clinical assessment and diagnosis of male infertility., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is considered one of the prevalent malignant plasma cell diseases affecting people. In essence, maintenance treatment is valuable for prolonging the survival time of patients experiencing MM. The majority of the currently used treatment protocols for MM are founded on a combination of chemotherapy and immunomodulatory drugs, of which immunomodulatory drugs seems to be one of the most active drugs. However, in the literature, chemotherapy combined with immunomodulatory therapies have not been unambiguously proven. To systematically appraise and synthesize these results, the present investigation will evaluate whether combining chemotherapy with immunomodulatory therapies an effective and safe approach to treating patients with MM., Methods: Two authors relied in 7 different databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, WanFang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and for studies on chemotherapy's effectiveness when combined with immunomodulatory therapies. The authors only considered studies published up to December 16, 2021 and only those written in English or Chinese. They will also carry out selection of studies, extraction of data, along with assessing risk of bias. Besides, they will also use RevMan V.5.3 to conduct data synthesis. They will establish heterogeneity using the I2 test. At the same time, the authors will evaluate publication bias by making a funnel plot and conducting the Begg as well as Egger tests., Ethics and Dissemination: The present study will not necessitate ethics approval since it will be funded on already published works., Osf Registration Number: 10.17605/OSF.IO/X7DE4., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

This study investigated prenatal diagnosis of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia in 3049 families in 18 regions of Hainan Province. Molecular diagnosis was performed in 3049 couples with thalassemia in Hainan Province. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of the couples and villus, amniotic fluid, or cord blood of fetuses. DNA-based diagnosis was performed using polymerase chain reaction. The most commonly detected mutation for α-thalassemia was- SEA/αα (31.53%), followed by - α4.2/αα (11.15%) and - α3.7/αα (11.02%). The most common mutation for β-thalassemia was CD41/42 (30.27%), followed by - 28 (2.56%). Prevalence was highest in the coastal regions and lowest in the Wenchang, Lingao, and Ding'an regions. We also found that the most common gene mutations in Han people and other minority groups were not homogeneous. Prenatal diagnosis showed 556 normal fetuses, 116 with α-thalassemia hydrops, and 134 with β-thalassemia major. Our findings provide important information for clinical genetic counseling regarding prenatal diagnosis for thalassemia major in Hainan Province., (© 2021. Japanese Society of Hematology.)

Thalassemia is a group of single-gene recessive inherited hemoglobin disorders caused by a mutation or deletion of one or more globin genes, which results in abnormal globin chain synthesis and hemoglobin formation. In this study, human iPSC lines HNMUi002-A, HNMUi003-A, HNMUi004-A, HNMUi005-A, HNMUi006-A, HNMUi007-A, HNMUi008-A, HNMUi009-A, HNMUi010-A were generated from the amniotic fluid cells or urine-derived cells isolated from 9 patients with thalassemia. The iPSC lines exhibited the normal karyotype, expressed pluripotency markers, and carried α- or β- globin gene mutations. These pluripotent stem cell lines will serve as useful tools for studying pathophysiological mechanism of thalassemia., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)