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Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (E. ulmoides) is a popular medicinal herb and health supplement in China, Japan, and Korea, and has a variety of pharmaceutical properties. The neuroendocrine–immune (NEI) network is crucial in maintaining homeostasis and physical or psychological functions at a holistic level, consistent with the regulatory theory of natural medicine. This review aims to systematically summarize the chemical compositions, biological roles, and pharmacological properties of E. ulmoides to build a bridge between it and NEI-associated diseases and to provide a perspective for the development of its new clinical applications. After a review of the literature, we found that E. ulmoides has effects on NEI-related diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative disease, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, insomnia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. However, clinical studies on E. ulmoides were scarce. In addition, E. ulmoides derivatives are diverse in China, and they are mainly used to enhance immunity, improve hepatic damage, strengthen bones, and lower blood pressure. Through network pharmacological analysis, we uncovered the possibility that E. ulmoides is involved in functional interactions with cancer development, insulin resistance, NAFLD, and various inflammatory pathways associated with NEI diseases. Overall, this review suggests that E. ulmoides has a wide range of applications for NEI-related diseases and provides a direction for its future research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the very low frequency (VLF) signals observed on the ground in mid-latitude areas of China from February 2016 to February 2019, atmospheric noise in the 3-30 kHz band is investigated in detail. The statistical analysis indicates that the seasonal variations of the atmospheric noise of different bands are similar in the general trend but different in magnitude, the largest of which can reach 10 dB. According to the accuracy analysis of the atmospheric noise model by the Consultative Committee of International Radio (CCIR), despite the valid long-term variation of the atmospheric noise provided by the CCIR at the observation station, it overestimates the atmospheric noise level and thus, is unable to show the detailed characteristics of the short-term variation of the atmospheric noise. Combined with the global lightning observation, the correlation between atmospheric noise and global lightning activities is analyzed to find that the lightning within a range of 3,500 km can dominate the atmospheric noise at the observation site, along with distant lightning playing a minor role. Not only do the results deepen our understanding of the distribution of atmospheric noise in mid-latitudes in China, but they also reveal the correlation between atmospheric noise and global lightning, thereby benefiting the study of VLF signal propagation and its communication application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The open-off cut section of 1105 working face in Zhaogu II mine is the largest in China, causing considerable difficulties to the support work. The failure process of surrounding rock deformation, stress field, and stress state under original support of open-off cut is analyzed using FLAC3D numerical simulation analysis software. Analysis results show the large displacement of the bottom heave and two sides of the roadway. Furthermore, the vertical stress of open-off cut is greater than the horizontal stress, whereas horizontal stress is larger in the upper roof part. The shearing failure range of the open-off cut surrounding rock is large, indicating that the original support scheme possesses weak restraint capability to the surrounding rock and fails to effectively control deformation. Based on analysis and research results, the technical scheme of coordinated support for super-long anchor rod and anchor cable of over-sized section open-off cut with high-stress broken surrounding rock is put forward. The field industrial test shows that the coordinated support scheme of super-long anchor rod and anchor cable is reasonable and safe under a 9.2 m open-off cut section. With improvement of the working face, the deep rock layer on the roof at the open-off cut position of goaf first occurs evidently, whereas the shallow rock layer is unremarkable, indicating the stable rock formation in the anchorage area of the shallow super-long anchor. The super-long anchor rod plays a satisfactory role in support, and the control effect of broken surrounding rock is similarly satisfactory. Such condition can achieve large deformation of broken surrounding rock with high stress and super large section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective China's sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemic requires comprehensive control programmes. Partner services are traditional pillars of STI control but have not been widely implemented in China. This study was a systematic literature review to examine STI partner notification (PN) uptake in China. Methods Four English and four Chinese language databases were searched up to March 2011 to identify articles on PN of STIs including HIV in China. PN uptake was defined as the number of partners named, notified, evaluated or diagnosed per index patient. Results A total of 11 studies met inclusion criteria. For STI (excluding HIV) PN, a median 31.6% (IQR 27.4%--65.8%) of named partners were notified, 88.8% (IQR 88.4%--90.8%) of notified partners were evaluated and 37.9% (IQR 33.1%--43.6%) of evaluated partners were diagnosed. For HIV PN, a median 15.7% (IQR 13.2%--36.5%) of named partners were notified, 86.7% (IQR 72.9%--90.4%) of notified partners were evaluated and 27.6% (IQR 24.1%--27.7%) of evaluated partners were diagnosed. A mean of 80.6% (SD=12.6%) of patients attempted PN, and 72.4% (IQR 63.8%--81.1%) chose self-referral when offered more than one method of PN. Perceived patient barriers included social stigma, fear of relationship breakdown, uncertainty of how to notify and lack of partner contact information. Perceived infrastructure barriers included limited time and trained staff, mistrust of health workers and lack of PN guidelines. Conclusion PN programmes are feasible in China. Further research on STI PN, particularly among men who have sex with men and other high-risk groups, is an important public health priority. PN policies and guidelines are urgently needed in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic musks, substitutes for natural musks, are widely distributed in environment. They have been detected in water, sludge, fish, shrimp, mussels and other aquatic animals, and even in human's adipose tissue, blood and breast milk. In this study, a new extraction procedure, based on the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and in cell clean-up technique was developed and successfully coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the analysis of musks in sediment samples. With this method, the limits of detection as low as 0.03-0.05 ng g-1 and the recovery rate of 86.0%-104% are achieved. When compared with soxhlet extraction (SE) and ultrasonic extraction (USE), ASE not only has the best extraction efficiency but also has advantage in extraction time and solvent consumption. Eight synthetic musks, including six polycyclic musks (Tonalide (AHTN), Galaxolide (HHCB), Phantolide (AHDI), Traseolide (ATII), Cashmeran (DPMI) and Celestolide (ADBI)) and two nitro musks (musk xylene (MX) and musk ketone (MK)), were evaluated in sediment samples collected from 15 selected locations of the Taihu lake, one of the largest freshwater lakes in China. The contents of synthetic musks in sediment samples range from 0.336 to 3.10 ng g-1 for HHCB, 0.184 to 1.21 ng g-1 for AHTN, below detection limit (BDL) to 0.349 ng g-1 for MX, and BDL to 0.0786 ng g-1 for MK. The contents of DPMI, ADBI, AHMI and ATII are below detection limit in all samples. The results reflect current status of fragrance compound pollution in this area, and provide basic data for environmental policy making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a survey conducted among patients with suspected primary or secondary syphilis recruited from a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic in Nanjing, China. The survey was aimed at assessing the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for early syphilis diagnosis. It was found that PCR could be used as a complementary diagnosis tool.

During the farming season of 2013 and 2014, carbon dioxide (CO 2) fluxes at the water-air interface were determined from two typical seawater polyculture systems. The mean CO 2 fluxes of 2013 and 2014 were − 0.316 ± 0.0674 μmol m−2 s−1 and -0.173 ± 0.242 μmol m−2 s−1 in the bi-species polyculture system of swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus) with kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus) (PM) and 0.249 ± 0.251 μmol m−2 s−1 and 0.426 ± 0.151 μmol m−2 s−1 in the tri-species polyculture system of swimming crab with shrimp and short-necked clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) (PMR) (Negative flux values refer to CO 2 uptake and positive values refer to CO 2 emission). During the farming season, the CO 2 budgets in PM and PMR were − 113.1 g CO 2 m−2 and 154.0 g CO 2 m−2, respectively. Water pH seemed like a stable indicator for CO 2 flux and Chlorophyll a concentration was a key factor regulating the CO 2 flux. Subsequent decreasing in water pH and Chl a concentration was supposed to be the main contributor changing the carbon source/sink function from a CO 2 sink of PM to a CO 2 source of PMR. Under the condition of current study, pH of 8.26 could be considered to be the critical value between influxes and effluxes in seawater crab-shrimp and crab-shrimp-clam polyculture systems. • Among the first studies on CO 2 flux from two typical seawater aquaculture ponds in 2 consecutive years. • Water pH seemed like a stable indicator for CO 2 flux from mariculture system, Chl a was a key factor regulating CO 2 flux. • Polyculture system of crab with shrimp was a CO 2 sink while system of crab with shrimp and clam was a CO 2 source. • Subsequent decreasing in water pH and Chl a concentration after farming clam was supposed to be the main contributor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inner Mongolia grassland is rich in natural vegetation and mineral resources. Based on Landsat5/7/8 NDVI data, we used pixel binary model to invert vegetation coverage of Inner Mongolia grassland area, investigated the stability, spatial distribution, and future evolution trend of vegetation coverage by using Sen+MK and Hurst index, and analyzed the driving factors of the spatial differentiation of vegetation coverage by the optimal parameters-based geographical detector. The results showed that vegetation coverage of Inner Mongolia grassland showed an increasing trend from 2006 to 2020, and the overall spatial pattern was high in the east and low in the west, mainly with great fluctuation. The regions with slight or obvious improvement characteristics (64.8%) were much more than those with slight or severe degradation characteristics (23.2%). Compared with that in the past 15 years, the proportion of degraded vegetation in the future is expected to increase to 36.6%. The central part of Xilin Gol League and Wulanqab in the central grassland area, the western part of Hulunbuir and Erdos in the eastern grassland area, and Wuhai in the western grassland area were at the risk of degradation, which should be paid more attention. Precipitation was the dominant factor of spatial differentiation in Inner Mongolia grassland, while soil type, land use, and air temperature had the most significant synergistic effect.

In recent years, fine particulate matter(PM 2.5 ) and ozone(O 3 ) have become the main air pollutants in cities in China. Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) are one of the important precursors of PM 2.5 , O 3 , and secondary organic aerosols. The establishment of VOCs emission inventory is therefore of great significance for controlling the amount of PM 2.5 and O 3 . To date, the coefficient method has been used, which has error transmission of activity level, parameter and model, leading to the uncertainty of emission inventory. Multivariate uncertainty quantitative analysis of VOCs emission inventory provides an accurate alternative which has not been reported in China. The bottom-up method is adopted to collect the activity level of each enterprise. The variables of pollution control measures are obtained from surveys conducted with enterprises. The VOCs emission inventory of Qingdao from industrial source is established using an optimized coefficient method. The uncertainty of the VOCs inventory on the impact of univariate and multivariate variables is simulated by combining the Monte Carlo method(MC) with Latin hypercube sampling method(LHS). The results show that the total VOCs emissions were 44700 tons from industrial sources in 2019(unoptimized coefficient method:31100 tons).The rubber and plastic industries, metal products, and oil/coal/other fuel processing contributed more VOCs, which accounted for 40.26% of the total emissions. The uncertainty of multivariate simulation is higher than that of single variable. The uncertainty from process(-9.72%-230.51%) and solvent using source(-14.14%-122.77%) is significantly higher than uncertainty from combustion source(-15.62%-36.41%). The main sectors affecting the uncertainty of the VOCs inventory include:the chemical, papermaking, and textile industries(emission factors); metal, automobile manufacturing, and chemical industries(removal rate, facility operating rate); industries of petroleum processing and ferrous metal smelting(too few samples). VOCs emissions are mainly distributed in the east of the West Coast New district, north of Dazhu Mountain, south of Jimo district, north of Chengyang district, northeast of Jiaozhou district, built-up area of Pingdu district, and southeast of Laixi district.

Litter is an important contribution to forest soil. Litter decomposition plays an important role in nutrient cycling of forest ecosystem. A field litterbag experiment was conducted to examine the dynamics of decomposition rate, nutrient release and enzyme activity during litter decomposition in the pure forests of Larix principis-rupprechtii (L) and mixed forests, including L and Betula platyphylla (B), L and Quercus mongolica (Q), as well as LBQ, in Saihanba area, Hebei Pro-vince, China. The results showed that the decomposition rate of leaf litter in L forest was significantly lower than that in mixed forests during the 720 d decomposition. The LB had the highest decomposition rate of L leaf litter. All treatments had the same change trend of nutrient contents, with the contents of N and P being increased and that of C, K and C/N being decreased. Contrast to pure leaf litter of L, leaf litter in mixed forests could promote the release of C and K, and inhibit litter N and P release. During the litter decomposition, the activities of catalase, urease and acid phosphatase increased, while that of sucrase decreased in all leaf litter of forests. The decomposition rate of leaf litter was positively correlated with the activities of catalase, urease and acid phosphatase, negatively correlated with that of sucrase. Our results showed that leaf litter mixture of L. principis-rupprechtii , B . platyphylla and Q . mongolica could enhance the litter decomposition of L. principis-rupprechtii , and that enzyme activities were closely related to litter decomposition.

Multiple agrometeorological disaster (MAD) occurs simultaneously in maize production. In order to ascertain the occurrence regularity and characteristics of MAD of maize in Liaoning Pro-vince, we defined and classified MAD, identified MAD of 50 meteorological stations in the maize growing season of Liaoning Province from 1961 to 2017, and examined the effects of MAD on maize yield in typical years. The results showed that the occurrence range of MAD was higher in most years from 1961 to 2017 than that of single agrometeorological disaster (SAD), and that the occurrence frequency of MAD was higher in most areas than that of SAD. The major MAD in Liaoning Province was drought in multiple periods (M1-D), followed by the combination of drought and delayed cold damage (M2-DC). The occurrence range of M1-D showed an upward trend from 1961 to 2017, whereas other MAD types showed a downward trend. After analyzing the occurrence of MAD in the typical years of maize yield reduction, we found that the occurrence frequency of M1-D and M2-DC was higher.

The evaporative demand drought index (EDDI) is a multi-scale drought index developed from the atmospheric evaporation demand ( E 0 ). EDDI is independent of precipitation and suitable to different underlying surfaces, which can well capture water stress signals at different time scales. Based on the meteorological observation data at 52 stations in Liaoning Province from 1961 to 2018, we estimated daily E 0 , calculated EDDI at six time scales (annual, growing season, spring, summer, autumn and winter), and further identified the interannual variability of drought occurrence in Liaoning Province for the past 58 years. The results showed that EDDI had obvious interannual variation, with two high concentration periods in multiple time scales. In the 1960s, when there were many years and serious drought in Liaoning Province, high EDDI values were concentrated at the five time scales (annual, growing season, spring, autumn and winter). 2014-2018 was another relatively concentrated period of EDDI high value at all time scales except winter. In 1981-1982, the values of EDDI were high at the time scales of the annual, growth season, summer and autumn. The periods of 1963-1965 (except summer), 1972-1973 (growth season, summer), 1989-1990 (annual, growth season, spring and winter), 1997-1998 (annual, growth season and summer), 2004-2005 (spring and winter) and 2013-2014 (annual, growth season and autumn) occurred abrupt alternation from dry to wet or from wet to dry. In 1985-1987, 1993-1995 and 2005-2013, Liaoning Province had obvious dry gaps.

Long-term overgrazing tends to cause soil phosphorus (P) deficiency in grasslands. The relationships between grazing-induced shifts in species composition and root traits associated with P acquisition involved in these shifts remain unknown. Species vary in their P-acquisition strategies, and we hypothesize that species that acquire P more efficiently are better adapted to overgrazing. We measured relative biomass, root physiological activities (e.g., rhizosheath acid phosphatase activity (Apase), and leaf manganese concentration ([Mn]) as a proxy for carboxylate concentrations in rhizosheath) and morphological traits (e.g., specific root length) of six common species in a field experiment conducted in a typical steppe of Inner Mongolia. There were two exclosure demonstration plots, i.e. exclosed since 1983 and 1996, and long-term free grazing without exclosure of sheep. Long-term overgrazing caused a reduction in bulk soil Olsen P concentration and increased community-weighted leaf nitrogen: P ratio by 27% and 37%, respectively, indicating more severe P limitation for steppe vegetation. Carex duriuscula exhibited an inherently greater specific root length, proportion of fine roots and rhizosheath Apase than other species did in both exclosure and grazing treatments. Cleistogenes squarrosa showed a greater leaf [Mn] induced by overgrazing. The increased dominance of C. duriuscula and C. squarrosa was positively correlated with finer roots, greater rhizosheath Apase or carboxylate release under long-term overgrazing. Species that had inefficient root traits for P acquisition (e.g., low specific root length and low leaf [Mn]), i.e. Stipa grandis, exhibited a decreased dominance in response to overgrazing. Dominance of species did not change under grazing which may be related to either relatively inefficient inherent morphological (i.e. in Artemisia frigida) or physiological traits (i.e. in Leymus chinensis and Agropyron michnoi) for P acquisition. Our study highlights the importance of acknowledging root traits involved in efficient P acquisition for theories on community succession induced by overgrazing., 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 © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To investigate the infection of reproductive Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) detected by real-time fluorescence constant-temperature simultaneous amplification and testing (SAT) of nucleic acid among patients present at the clinics of urology, gynecology or venereal diseases., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 5 711 patients with suspected genitourinary tract (GUT) infection present at the clinics of urology, gynecology or sexually transmitted diseases in Hangzhou Third People's Hospital, Shaoxing People's Hospital and General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command from January 2018 to December 2018. The patients were aged 16－73 (38.77 ± 11.32) years, 3 425 males and 2 286 females. We collected urine samples from 3 666, GUT secretion samples from 2 095, and both urine and GUT samples from 50 of the patients. Using the SAT technique, we detected the infections of MG, Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) in the patients., Results: Of the 5 711 patients, 294 (5.15%) were found MG-positive, with a significantly higher positive rate in the males than in the females (5.96% ［206/3 425］ vs 3.85% ［88/2 286］, P < 0.05). The laboratory results with the urine and GUT secretion samples from 50 of the cases showed a consistency rate of 100%. Simple MG infection accounted for 52.04% in the 294 MG-positive cases, 63.11% in the 206 MG-positive males, and 26.13% in the 88 females, with a significantly higher positive rate in the males than in the females (P < 0.05). MG combined with UU infection had the highest rate among the mixed infections in both the males and females and in those aged ≤20 years, even higher in the females than in the males (P < 0.05) and in the ≤20-year-old males than in the ≤20-year-old females (8.65% ［9/104］ vs 5.13% ［4/78］, P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the MG-positive rate among different age groups (χ2 = 32.74, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Among patients with suspected GUT infection, the MG-positive rate is higher in men than in women, with MG + UU-positive as the most common mixed infection, and it decreases with the increase of age. The results of SAT of urine and GUT secretion have a high consistency rate.

Taking spring maize variety Danyu-39 as test object, an experiment was conducted in a large-scale agricultural water controlling experimental field to study the impacts of drought stress at three key growth stages, i. e. , 3-leaf-jointing, jointing-silking, and silking-milk ripe, on the growth and development and grain yield of spring maize in Northeast China. Two treatments were installed, including moderate drought stress (MS) and re-watering to suitable water (CK). Compared with CK, the MS at 3-leaf-jointing stage postponed the whole growth period of Danyu-39 by 13 d, and the plant height and leaf area at jointing stage were decreased by 29.8% and 41.2%, respectively. After re-watering, the plant height and grain yield recovered obviously, and the differences in ear characteristics and final yield were insignificant. The MS at jointing-silking stage shortened the whole growth period by 7 d, the plant height and leaf area at silking stage were decreased by 18.6% and 14.1%, respectively, the ear length, grain number per ear, ear dry mass, and grain mass per ear decreased by 6.9%, 19.1%, 28.1%, and 29.4%, respectively, and the blank stem rate increased by 13.3%. When the maize suffered from moderate drought stress at silking-milk ripe stage, the whole growth period was shortened by 15 d, the plant height and leaf area at milk ripe stage were decreased by 2.3% and 37.3%, respectively, the ear length, grain number per ear, ear dry mass, and grain mass per ear decreased by 9.2%, 24.1%, 30.8%, and 27.9%, respectively, and the blank stem rate increased by 24.5%. After re-watering at the latter two stages, the recovery of plant height was little, and the grain yield decreased significantly.

Through the measurement of the spectral reflectance of large areas Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. ) canopy in western Liaoning Province, this paper analyzed the difference of the spectral reflectance of the canopies with different damaged rates of needle leaf. In visible band, the characteristics of the spectral reflectance of P. tabulaeformis canopies with healthy and damaged needle leaf were in accordance with the spectral characteristics of green plants, but the position of red valley was not obvious when the damaged rate of needle leaf was higher than 60%. In near-infrared band, with the decrease of the damaged rate of needle leaf, the canopy spectral reflectance increased at 780-1350 nm, but decreased at 1450-1800 and 1950-2350 nm. With the increase of the damaged rate, the position of red-edge inflection moved to the short-wave direction. There were significant correlations between the damaged rate of needle leaf and the red edge feature variables and some vegetation indices. The model based on DVI (1470, 860) could be more reliable for predicting the damaged rate of needle leaf in P. tabulaeformis canopy in western Liaoning Province.

Taking 3 maize cultivars (Danyu 39, Yuandan 29, and Longdan 13) as test materials, a field experiment was conducted to study their growth characteristics and responses to air temperature under the conditions of early, medium and late sowing. For the three cultivars, the days from sowing to seedling emergence under early, medium and late sowing were averagely 13, 11 and 8 d, respectively, and the seedling emergence rate was the fastest when the mean air temperature was about 18 degrees C. Higher or lower air temperature would decrease the seedling emergence rate. The test cultivars had less difference in the days from seedling to jointing, which was slightly affected by air temperature. Compared with Danyu 39 and Yuandan 29, the late-maturing Longdan 13 had an increased growth rate from jointing to mature stage, and thus, the days for mature shortened markedly. For all the three maize cultivars, the days from jointing to mature tended to decrease with increasing air temperature. The dry matter accumulation rate in whole growth period, grain yield, and 100-seed mass were in the order of Danyu 39 > Yuandan 29 > Longdan 13.

33 total suspended particle samples and 7 size-segregated particle samples were collected over the East China Sea from Nov. to Dec., 2006, Feb. to Mar., 2007 and May. to Jun., 2008. Concentrations of ammonium, nitrate and nitrite in aerosols were measured to investigate their seasonal variation and size distribution. The concentrations of ammonium in aerosols ranged from 2.6 to 646.9 nmol x m(-3) ,with the higher values observed in winter and spring, and the lower values in summer. Nitrate concentrations were from 5.5 to 281.5 nmol x m(-3), presenting the seasonal trend of winter > spring approximately summer. The concentrations of nitrite were very low, less than 0.5 nmol x m(-3). The relative contributions of nitrogen species to total nitrogen varied seasonally in some extent. The contribution of nitrate was comparable with that of ammonium in winter, while the contribution of ammonium was the predominant in spring and summer. The size distribution of nitrate presented clear monthly changes. Most of nitrate existed in the fine particles less than 2.1 microm in Nov. to Dec., and it predominated in the coarse particles with the size of 1.1-4.7 microm and 2.1-7.0 microm, respectively, in Feb. to Mar. and May. to Jun. The size distributions of ammonium in different months were similar, with one peak presenting in the < 1.1 microm fine particles. The air mass back trajectories analysis indicated that the distributions of inorganic nitrogen in aerosols were significantly influenced by the sources and transport pathways of air mass. Both high nitrogen concentration per unit atmospheric volume (nmol x m(-3)) and per unit mass particle (micromol x g(-1)) occurred when the air mass passed over severe pollution region. Both low concentration in atmosphere and particle occurred when the air mass came from clean marine atmosphere. Lower concentration in atmosphere and higher concentration in particle occurred when the air mass originated from the continent and transported long distances over the sea.