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Rhododendron delavayi Franch. predominantly thrives in broad-leaved evergreen forests and bushes at altitudes of 1,200–3,200 meters. It favors a cool, moist climate and thrives in acidic soils. Due to its high ornamental, medicinal, and scientific values, understanding its ecological needs and optimal cultivation ranges is crucial. This study analyzing the key environmental factors and their thresholds affecting its distribution and predicts the future potential habitats of R. delavayi using existing distribution data alongside current and projected climate data. The results indicate that the primary environmental influencers are soil pH (4.9–5.4), precipitation in the driest month (10–20 mm), and altitude, contributing 41.8, 24.1, and 18.3%, respectively. It also shows a declining trend in suitable habitats: from 27.75 × 104 km² under current conditions, to 3.69 × 104 km² by the 2050s, and further to 2.65 × 104 km² by the 2070s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the marine economy, the demand for marine resources development and the pressure on marine environmental protection are gradually increasing. It is critical to evaluate and analyze the driving forces of marine sustainable development in order to promote the coordinated development of the marine economy, resources and environment. Taking Jiangsu Province of China as an example, this paper constructs an evaluation index system for marine sustainable development from the three aspects of marine economy, resources and environment, and calculates the weight of the variation coefficient for each indicator. Based on the grey relational model, the average value of the relational degree, calculated by the average value method of correlation coefficients and the weighting method, is then used to evaluate the status of marine sustainable development in this province. The comprehensive index model is used to analyze the dynamic trend of the evolution of marine sustainable development. The driving forces of marine sustainable development are analyzed by the path analysis method combined with the average values of the grey relational degree for each indicator. This analysis found that the marine sustainable development in 2016 and 2012 was good, the situation in 2007 was bad, and the remaining years were intermediate. Compared with the previous years, the optimal conditions of 2008 and 2012 were obvious. The main driving factors of marine sustainable development are cargo throughput of coastal ports, economic losses caused by storm surges in coastal areas, the area of marine nature reserves in coastal areas, coastal wind power generation capacity, and marine biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the marked increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, it was the purpose of our study to assess a potential association of time-cumulated exposure to systolic (CumSBP) and of diastolic blood pressure (CumDBP) with onset of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus.Methods: The prospective investigation included participants of the longitudinal Kailuan Study with three baseline examinations in 2006-2007, 2008-2009 and 2010-2011, re-examination in 2012-2013, and no diabetes mellitus at baseline. Cumulative blood pressure (BP) was calculated as cumBP = [(BP1 + BP2)/2 × time1-2] + [(BP2 + BP3)/2 × time2-3]. Based on cumSBP, the study population was stratified into four groups (cumSBP < 480mmHgxyear;n = 15,339; 480mmHgxyear ≤ cumSBP < 520mmHgxyear;n = 7214; 520mmHgxyears ≤ cumSBP < 560mmHgxyears;n = 5675; and cumSBP ≥ 560mmHgxyears;n = 10,576).Results: After adjusting for demographic, anthropomorphic, biochemical, socioeconomic and lifestyle parameters and as compared with the first group, the second, third and fourth group showed a significantly higher incidence of diabetes (P-trend < 0.001;hazard ratio (HR);95% confidence interval (CI):1.28(1.08,1.51),1.54(1.29,1.84), and 2.33(1.98,2.73), respectively), higher incidence of impairment of glucose tolerance (P-trend < 0.001;HR;95% CI1.17(1.02,1.33), 1.43(1.25,1.64), and 2.09(1.85,2.37), respectively), and higher incidence of diabetes developing out of an impairment of glucose tolerance (P-trend < 0.001;HR;95% CI:1.22(0.97,1.54),1.47(1.16,1.86), and 2.01(1.62,2.50), respectively). An increase in cumSBP by 10 mmHg/year or an increase in cumDBP by 5 mmHg/year was associated with a hazard ratio of incident diabetes of 1.04 (95% CI:1.03,1.04) and 1.02(1.02,1.03), respectively, with a hazard ratio of incident impairment of glucose tolerance of 1.04(95% CI:1.03,1.04) and 1.03(95% CI:1.02,1.03), respectively, and with a hazard ratio of incident diabetes developing from impairment of glucose tolerance of 1.04(95% CI:1.03,1.04) and 1.03(95% CI:1.02,1.03), respectively.Conclusions: Time-cumulated exposure to elevated blood pressure was significantly associated with an elevated incidence of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we collected different size Fe-Mn nodules from a Plinthudult in the subtropical region of China and studied their internal structure and the distribution of trace elements by three synchrotron-based X-ray micro-probe techniques: X-ray micro-computed tomography (SR-mCT), X-ray micro-luorescence (µ-XRF), and micro X-ray absorption near edge structures (µ-XANES). The SR-mCT images reveal that the large nodules (2-3, 3-5, and 5-8 mm in diameter) have distinct Fe and Mn concentric ring structure, while the small nodule (1-2 mm) exhibits a homogeneous fabric. The µ-XRF maps show that Mn is concentrated near the nucleus of the nodule, while Fe is more concentrated in the exterior of the nodule. The 1- to 2-mm nodule has significantly higher total porosity than the >2-mm nodules; however, the spatial distribution of pores within the nodules indicates that the >2-mm nodules have smaller >30-mm pores and show more anisotropy in the outer part than in the inner part. The porosity and pore anisotropy of the nodules were considered to affect the size and shape of Fe-Mn nodules in soil. Quantification of the ring structure for the 3- to 5-mm nodule reconstructed the formation process of the nodule, showing that the nodule was formed through two growth stages, with each stage consisting of two and five redox processes. The internal structure of Fe-Mn nodules not only records pedo-environmental changes during the formation process but also provides ample opportunity for the adsorption and sequestration of trace elements from the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for refractory schizophrenia is rarely reported. We report the case of a 38-year-old female patient with refractory schizophrenia who was treated with ECT for 14 years (from 24 years of age). Case records of clinical treatment and laboratory tests are described and analyzed. During the first 11 years, the patient was treated with ECT as an adjunct to antipsychotic drugs, but the effectiveness was unstable. For the remaining 3 years she was treated with antipsychotic drugs as an adjunct to ECT and her condition stabilized as she gradually recovered social function. We summarize the clinical characteristics, therapy regimen, long-term effectiveness, and safety of this interesting case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rates of caesarean section are progressively increasing in many parts of the world. As a result of psychosocial factors there has been an increasing tendency for pregnant women without justifiable medical indications for caesarean section to ask for this procedure in China. A critical examination of this issue in relation to maternal outcomes is important. At present there are no clinical trials to help assess the risks and benefits of caesarean section in low risk women. To fill the gap left by trials, this indication-matched cohort study was carried out to examine prospectively the outcomes of caesarean section on women with no absolute obstetric indication compared with similar women who had vaginal delivery. Methods: An indication-matched cohort study was undertaken to compare maternal outcomes following caesarean section with those undergoing vaginal delivery, in which the two groups were matched for nonabsolute indications. 301 nulliparous women with caesarean section were matched successfully with 301 women who delivered vaginally in the Maternal and Children's Hospitals (MCHs) in Shanghai, China. Logistic regression model or binomial regression model was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) directly. Adjusted RRs were calculated adjusting for propensity score and medical indications. Results: The incidence of total complications was 2.2 times higher in the caesarean section group during hospitalization post-partum, compared with the vaginal delivery group (RR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1-4.4). The risk of haemorrhage from the start of labour until 2 hours post-partum was significantly higher in the caesarean group (RR = 5.6; 95% CI: 1.2-26.9). The risk of chronic abdominal pain was significantly higher for the caesarean section group (RR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.2-10.9) than for the vaginal delivery group within 12 months post-partum. The two groups had similar incidences of anaemia and complicating infections such as wound complications or urinary tract infection. Conclusions: In nulliparous women who were at low risk, caesarean section was associated with a higher rate of post-partum morbidity. Those requesting the surgical procedure with no conventional medical indication, should be advised of the potential risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The magnetic properties and magnetic mineralogy of a weathering sequence of soils developed on basalt parent material from eastern China, were studied by rock magnetism, X-ray diffraction and soil chemical analyses to establish the connection between mineral magnetic properties and pedogenic development in a subtropical region. The magnetic susceptibility of soils formed on basalt varied greatly and did not increase with the degree of pedogenic development. The frequency-dependent susceptibility (χfd) values of soils ranged from 1.0 to 11.1% and increased with the pedogenic development. Highly significant linear relationship was found between the frequency-dependent susceptibility and the Fed content (R 2 =0.683) and Fed/Fet ratio (R 2 =0.780) in soils, indicating that pedogenic SP ferrimagnetic grains were associated with enrichment of the secondary iron oxide minerals in the weathering process of soil. Rock magnetism analysis showed that the major magnetic carriers in the weakly weathered soil profiles are magnetite and/or maghemite, and the highly developed soil profiles are generally enriched in magnetite/maghemite grains of pedogenic origin and the magnetically hard haematite, indicating that the magnetic component was transformed from a ferrimagnetic phase (magnetite) to antiferromagnetic phase (hematite) during pedogenic development. Results indicated that some of the magnetic parameters of soils, in this case χfd, can be useful for pedogenic comparisons and age correlations in the weathering sequence of soil. It is thus suggested that multiparameter rock magnetic investigations represent a more powerful approach for pedogenesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

With the excessive development of social economy, water scarcity and water environment deterioration become a common phenomenon in metropolis. As a crucial component of urban water environment system, urban lake is mainly influenced by social economic system and tourism system. In this paper, a framework for quantitatively evaluating development sustainability of urban lake was established by a multi-objective model that represented water ecological carrying capacity (WECC). And nine key indicators including population, irrigation area, tourist quantity, the average number of hotel daily reception, TP, TN, COD Mn, BOD 5 were chosen from urban social-economy system and natural resilience aspects, with their index weight was determined by using the Structure Entropy Weight method. Then, we took Wuhan East Lake, the largest urban lake in China as a case study, and selected five time sections including 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2012 to synthetically evaluate and comparatively analyze the dynamic change of WECC. The results showed that: firstly, the water ecological carrying capacity values of the East Lake in five time sections were 1.17, 1.07, 1.64, 1.53 and 2.01 respectively, which all exceeded 1 and increased fluctuation. The rapid growth of population and GDP lead to sharply increasing demand for water quantity. However, a large amount of the domestic sewage and industrial waste led by economic development increases pressure on ecological environment of urban lakes. Secondly, the carrying capacity of the East Lake for tourist activities was still low. The value in 2012 was only 0.22, keeping at a slowly increasing phase, which indicates that the East Lake has large opportunity and space for developing the water resource carrying capacity and could make further efforts to attract tourists. Moreover, the WECC of the East Lake was mainly affected by rapid social and economic development and water environment damage caused by organic pollutants. From the view of urban water sustainable management, we must deeply recognize the reality that water shortages and the limited carrying capacity, and dynamic assessment of WECC provides an early warning approach and control direction of water environment. For the East Lake, it is the primary target to mitigate the carrying capacity of social-economy, especially for prevention of lake area encroachment shrinking and domestic wastewater discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study selected Guiyu Town, Guangdong Province as the research area, the content of 15 kinds of metals (As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Li, Mn, Ni, Sb, Sn, Pb, V, and Zn) in the soil was determined, and the content of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the rice of this research area was identified. Multivariate statistical analysis and a human health risk assessment model were used to investigate the distribution characteristics and health risk of heavy metals in a soil-rice system. The results showed that Hg, Sb, and Sn in the surface soil surrounding the electronic waste dismantling area have obvious accumulation effect. The average content of Cd and Hg exceeds the Ⅱ standard limit of the "Environmental Quality Standard for Soil" (GB 156182-1995), and that Guiyu Town is more seriously polluted than Chendian Town and Simapu Town. The multivariate statistical analysis showed that Cu, Sb, Ni, Zn, Sn, Pb, and Hg originated from the surrounding electronic waste dismantling activities, Cd and Be originated from other man-made sources of pollution, and V, Li, Cr, Co, As, and Mn originated from natural sources. Heavy metal evaluation concentration in the soil-rice system by heavy metal migration accumulated in rice are in compliance with national food hygiene standards, and the enrichment ability is Cd > Zn > Cu > Ni > As > Cr > Hg > Pb. Soil heavy metal health risk assessment results showed that children are more susceptible to heavy metal pollution, and handling-oral ingestion is the main way of soil exposure risk. The non-carcinogenic risk and carcinogenic risk of heavy metals in the soil of each town are acceptable. The health risk in Guiyu Town through ingestion of rice is mainly from the elements that include As, Cr, Cu, and Ni.

In order to investigate the distribution characteristics and the human health risks of 12 metals in drinking water sources from the Luhun Reservoir, Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations in 46 water samples collected from the reservoir in 2016 were measured and analyzed. The health risks caused by metals were assessed by using a human health risk assessment model. The results showed that the maximum concentration of Al (200.27 μg·L -1 ) and all concentrations of Mo (151.42-170.69 μg·L -1 ) in drinking water from the Luhun Reservoir exceeded the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB 3838-2002) and Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB 5749-2006) by 4.35% and 100%, respectively. A distinct spatial heterogeneity was found in the metal distribution, and the region with the highest metals concentrations was located southwest (upstream) and northeast (downstream) of the reservoir. The results of a health risk assessment indicated that children had greater health risks than adults. The health risks for metals through drinking were all higher than the values caused by dermal contact. Carcinogenic risks caused by Cr and As exceeded the maximum allowance levels (5×10 -5 a -1 ) by 100% and 3.80%, respectively, and Cr accounted for 85% of the total carcinogenic risks. The non-carcinogenic risks of the metals (10 -12 -10 -7 a -1 ) decreased in the order of Al > Mo > Cu > Pb > Ni > Hg > Fe > Zn > Mn, which had levels two to seven orders of magnitude lower than the maximum allowance levels.

Objective: To control the quality of Rubus suavissimus., Methods: We inspected the character observation, microscopic, physical and chemical identification, TLC, the examination of water and extraction of Rubus suavissimus, then used HPLC to assay the contents of the principal sweet taste component., Results: The quality control indexes of Rubus suavissimus were founded., Conclusions: The method is feasible and can control the quality of Rubus suavissimus.