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Developing green finance is an important measure for China to achieve a win-win situation between economy and ecology. This study adopts the implementation of Green Credit Guidelines (GCG) in China in 2012 as an intervening event and empirically examines its relative impact on corporate financing and investment using Difference-in-Difference and Difference-in-Difference-in-Difference models. Employing the financial data of A-share listed enterprises from 2009 to 2015, we find that the implementation of GCG restrains the financing and investment behavior of heavily polluting enterprises. The effects of GCG are influenced by institutional factors, and GCG has a more inhibitory effect in the higher polluting, state-owned, and eastern region registered enterprises. This result reveals the importance of GCG in adjusting financial leverage and promoting environmental protection. Policy implications, such as governments should improve incentive and punishment mechanism for heavily polluting enterprises and financial institutions should innovate in green credit business, are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 147Sm–143Nd isotope system has long been used as a powerful tracer and geochronometer for a wide range of geological process, yet the robustness of Sm–Nd system has been questioned in the presence of multistage hydrothermal alteration. Here we provide robust evidence for the survival of whole-rock Sm–Nd isotopes from REE redistribution and mineral-scale isotopic resetting during multistage fluid infiltrations in the Lala Fe-Cu-REE deposit in Kangdian region, southwestern China. The Lala deposit is hosted in the ∼1.72–1.68 Ga rift-related Hekou Group and contains variable proportions of REE-rich apatite and fluorite in the ores. Both of the apatite and fluorite grains show textures of extensive metasomatic alteration, during which large amounts of REE, especially LREE, were leached out and mostly re-incorporated into newly-formed monazite, bastnäsite, and xenotime. Quantifying REE distribution budget at thin-section scale confirms that the amounts of REE (1583–5403 ppm) leached from primary apatite and fluorite are compatible with those (1636–5526 ppm) incorporated in the newly crystallized REE minerals, indicating that REE are internally redistributed within investigated samples. The whole ores yield an 18-point 147Sm–143Nd errorchon date of ∼1.71 Ga, which is in accordance with the other analogous Fe-Cu deposits in Kangdian region, and supports a ∼1.71 Ga primary mineralization at Lala. By contrast, SHRIMP 232Th–208Pb dating of texturally constrained monazite yield a crystallization age of ∼0.92 Ga, which corresponds well with the combined monazite-bastnäsite-apatite Sm–Nd isochron ages of representative samples, demonstrating a major REE redistribution and Sm–Nd isotopic resetting event at this time. The results suggest that Sm–Nd mobility was limited to within the whole-rock scale or even within the thin-section scale in the vast majority of cases, such that the whole-ore Sm–Nd isotopic system largely remained closed, despite complete resetting of the major REE minerals during younger fluid infiltration events. Our study exemplifies the apparent "decoupling" of Sm–Nd isotopic systems between macro- and microscales, which can advance our understanding of the complex history of hydrothermal systems. Our findings of a major transition (80–96%) in REE repositories also highlight the economic significance of hydrothermal alteration for modifying ore mineral assemblages, which resembles a natural REE refinement process and helps create beneficial REE resources to meet the society increasing demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By aiming to understand the importance of the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on several economies, this study attempts to highlight the impact of COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths occurring in the most affected countries of the world such as China and the USA, especially in the context of their respective currencies. For this purpose, the daily data from January 22, 2020, till May 7, 2021, has been taken into account, and then has been analyzed to examine the linear relationship between the currency and proxies of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the (autoregressive distributed lag) ARDL model has been employed in order to fulfil the research objective with numerous statistical diagnostic measures, so as to validate the model. The results indicate that the exchange rate is affected negatively due to the effect of COVID-19 cases and deaths in particular countries. Moreover, the effect of the pandemic is not limited to the short run only, but also in the long run, as it is hurting the financial backbone of China and the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a sample of Chinese listed firms from 2007 to 2019, we investigate the impact of corporate philanthropy on excess perks. Companies are likely to make philanthropic donations from the motivations of building political connections, serving the personal interests of self‐serving managers, disguising excess perks and deviating public attention, leading to higher excess perks. Agency theory is probably a view to interpret the positive relationship. From the perspectives of CEO power and board effectiveness, we examine the impact of corporate governance on the relationship between corporate philanthropy and excess perks. The findings provide valuable insights for directors, managers and shareholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the possible effects of a gender ratio change on China's wage income distributions with the unconditional quantile estimation. Using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey for 1989–2011, the unconditional wage income distributions before and after a change in gender ratio are studied graphically. The estimated wage income density functions are confirmed to be skewed to the right and leptokurtic. An increase in gender ratio increases wage income and mitigate wage income inequality. We conclude that, other things being equal, the decreasing trend in gender ratio will enhance the wage income inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The obligate pollination mutualism between figs (Ficus, Moraceae) and pollinator wasps (Agaonidae, Hymenoptera) is a classic example of cospeciation. However, examples of phylogenetic incongruencies between figs and their pollinators suggest that pollinators may speciate by host shifting. To investigate the mechanism of speciation by host shifting, we examined the phylogenetic relationships and population genetic structures of six closely related fig species and their pollinators from southern China and Taiwan-Ryukyu islands using various molecular markers. The results revealed 1) an extraordinary case of pollinator sharing, in which five distinct fig species share a single pollinator species in southern China; 2) two types of copollination, namely, sympatric copollination by pollinator duplication or pollinator migration, and allopatric copollination by host migration and new pollinator acquisition; 3) fig species from southern China have colonized Taiwan repeatedly and one of these events has been followed by host shifting, reestablishment of host specificity, and pollinator speciation, in order. Based on our results, we propose a model for pollinator speciation by host shifting in which the reestablishment of host-specificity plays a central role in the speciation process. These findings provide important insights into understanding the mechanisms underlying pollinator speciation and host specificity in obligate pollination mutualism. Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses reveal mechanisms of pollinator sharing, copollination and speciation by host-shift in fig-wasp mutualism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests in north‐western China are comprised mainly of poplar trees, predominantly Populus alba var. pyramidalis (PAP). Both Populus deltoides cl. Beikang (PDB) and PAP are attacked by the Asian long‐horned beetle (ALB), but vary in their resistance to attack. To investigate performance of ALB on PDB and PAP, we evaluated: host‐locating time, feeding and oviposition; and larval survival rate and weight in single‐choice and two‐choice bioassays; and undertook a field single‐choice test. Results showed that there was no significant difference in the time that female ALB took to locate PDB and PAP in a cage bioassay, but males located PDB faster than PAP. Although not statistically significant, the mean weight of frass produced by adults feeding on PDB was less than on PAP in both the two‐choice and single‐choice experiments. The mean numbers of oviposition notch grooves on PDB and PAP in the single‐choice experiment were similar, but there were more oviposition notch grooves on PDB than on PAP in the two‐choice experiment. Survival rates of young larvae on PDB were significantly lower than on PAP. The average weights of larvae on PAP were significantly higher than on PDB in both two‐choice and single‐choice experiments. In the field experiment, mean numbers of oviposition notch grooves were significantly higher on PDB than on PAP, but mean weights and survival rates of larvae were significantly lower on PDB than on PAP, which suggested that PDB attracted ALB oviposition but showed strong resistant to developing ALB offspring. In conclusion, although PDB was more attractive for oviposition by ALB, it was still more resistant than PAP, providing a useful reference for selection of resistant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the past and future evolutionary dynamics of dominant species in a forest is important for guiding decisions for biodiversity conservation, forest management, and vegetation restoration. This study used Quercus schottkyana, a dominant tree in subtropical evergreen broad‐leaved forests in southwest China, to investigate the influences of past environmental fluctuations and future changes in climate on the dynamics of tree demographics. Genomic data were obtained for 133 samples of Q. schottkyana from 22 populations using double‐digest genotyping by sequencing. The single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in the genome showed a uniform distribution. Based on principal component analysis and Admixture analysis, two distinct lineages and one mixed group were identified that corresponded to their geographical distribution. Approximate Bayesian computation analyses provided evidence that the divergence among Q. schottkyana populations could be driven by the collision between the Asian and Indian plates during the Miocene, and that climatic fluctuations in the late Pleistocene led to the introgression. The analysis of genotype‐environment relationships showed that annual precipitation and geographic distance were associated with spatial genetic variation. Populations of Q. schottkyana in the northern area of the Jinsha River basin were predicted to be the most vulnerable to future climate change. To increase genetic diversity in the northern Jinsha River basin and to buffer threats from future climate change, managers could use a mixture of local and alien seeds during forest restoration and management. This case study can promote further investigations into assessing how past and future climate change impacts genetic divergence and local adaptation of trees in forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the impact of downside risk in the oil market on the expected stock returns in China's A-share market, and find that downside risk positively influences the expected stock returns. This positive influence remains after controlling for various control variables. It is also robust under different stock market conditions and the financial crisis, and with high-frequency data as an alternative measure of downside risk. In addition, the positive relation is consistent across industries regardless of whether they are directly related to natural resources or only indirectly related to oil. We also find evidence of nonlinearity in the relation between the oil and stock markets. The positive relation can be explained by the global risk aversion of investors who are averse to downside risk in the oil market and thus demand compensation in the form of higher expected returns for holding stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As has been demonstrated, the long short-term memory (LSTM) algorithm has the special ability to process sequenced data; however, LSTM suffers from high dimensionality, and its structure is too complex, leading to overfitting. In this research, we propose a new method, RFG-LSTM, which uses a rectified forgetting gate (RFG) to restructure the LSTM. The rectified forgetting gate is a function that can limit the boundary of an input sequence, so it can reduce the dimensionality and complexity of a neural network. Through theoretical analysis, we demonstrate that RFG-LSTM is monotonic, just as LSTM is; additionally, the stringency does not change in the new algorithm. Thus, RFG-LSTM also has the ability to process sequenced data. Based on the real trading scenario of China's A stock market, we construct a multi-factor alpha portfolio with RFG-LSTM. The experimental results show that the RFG-LSTM model can objectively learn the characteristics and rules of the A stock market, and this can contribute to a portfolio investment strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ever increasing ordinal variables are being collected by the Personal Credit Reference System in China, however this system suffers from analysis of this kind of data, which cannot be calculated by Euclidean distance. In this study, we put forward a hybrid KNN algorithm based on Sugeno measure, and we prove that the error of this algorithm is smaller than that of Euclidean distance, furthermore, we use real data obtained from the Personal Credit Reference System to perform experiments and get the user's initial portrait. Through the comparisons with Kmeans algorithm and other different distance measures in KNN algorithm, we find that the hybrid KNN algorithm is more suitable for clustering personal credit data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the mechanisms that lead various hydrological conditions to influence solute and carbon dynamics in karst rivers is a crucial issue. In this study, high-frequency sampling and analyses of water chemistry and ẟ13CDIC were conducted from October 2013 to September 2014 in a typical karst river, the Beipan River in southwestern China. The major ions (such as Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3−, K+, SO42−, Na+, and Cl−) in the river are mainly from the weathering of carbonates and silicates and present temporal hydrological variabilities. Sr and U are mainly derived from carbonate weathering and show chemostatic behaviors responding to increasing discharge, similar to carbonate-sourced ions Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3−. Silicate weathering is the primary source of Al and Li, which show significant dilution effects similar to those of Na+ responding to high discharge. Meanwhile, most dissolved trace elements (such as Zn, Cu, Ba, Sb, Mn, Mo, and Pb) are strongly impacted by anthropogenic overprints and also exhibit a significant seasonal variability, which may be related with mining activities in the investigated area. A simultaneous increase of ẟ13CDIC and decrease in ∆DIC contents and pCO2 values suggests that photosynthesis is the primary control on riverine DIC variability during the high-flow season. Besides, the pCO2 values display significant chemostatic behaviors owing to the influx of biological CO2, which is produced by microbiological activities and ecological processes, and enhanced by monsoonal climatic conditions. A two-dimensional endmember mixing model demonstrates that carbonate weathering (averaging 62%) along with biological carbon (averaging 38%) are main sources to the riverine DIC, with temporal variability. Consequently, these results show that carbonate weathering and involved plant photosynthesis are the dominant processes controlling the riverine DIC contents under high discharge and temperature conditions. This work provides insight into the crucial influence of hydrological variability on solute sources and carbon dynamics under monsoonal climate for the karst rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides, is a widely distributed tree that contributes to soil and water conservation. Its fruit, seeds and leaves are also raw materials for many health products. Rhagoletis batava obseuriosa (RBO) is a fruit fly that attacks sea buckthorn berries; outbreaks have recently been reported on some large-berried cultivars of sea buckthorn in northern China. In order to develop tools to monitor and control of RBO, male lures and food-based attractants of other fruit fly species were evaluated with RBO. Results of the first field bioassays showed that ammonium acetate (AA) was a strong attractant for RBO adults. The subsequent results also showed a trend for ammonium bicarbonate (AB) and ammonium carbonate (AC) trapping an higher number of RBO adults than AA. Mixtures of AA and AC were no more attractive than AC used individually. Further research on attract and kill techniques using these ammonium-based compounds is now required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourmaline is a common boron-bearing mineral in hydrothermal system and has been widely used as a mineral probe to reconstruct geological processes because of its broad range in composition and resistance to metasomatic alteration. The origin of Kiruna-type iron oxide-apatite (IOA) deposits, commonly linked to andesitic subvolcanic or volcanic rocks, is highly controversial. Constraints on the evolution of these mineralizing systems are needed to advance understanding of the ore-forming process. In this study, we apply in situ elemental and combined B-Sr isotopic analyses of tourmaline to elucidate the nature and evolution of the subsurface hydrothermal system associated with IOA mineralization in the giant Taocun deposit, eastern China. Taocun is hosted at the top of a diorite intrusion and exhibits three stages of hydrothermal alteration that contain tourmaline: pre-ore Na alteration (Tur I), syn-ore magnetite formation and associated Ca-Fe alteration (Tur II), and post-ore Ca-Mg alteration with sulfide veins (Tur III). Compositional data for each stage of tourmaline plot along the "oxy-dravite"–povondraite join, which is indicative of precipitation from relatively oxidizing fluids. Ranges of Sr-isotopic compositions in Tur I (0.7065–0.7078) and Tur II (0.7068–0.7076) are identical to those of the igneous host rocks, indicating precipitation from magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. The range of B-isotopic compositions in Tur I (δ11B values of −6.3‰ to −1.2‰) is also consistent with a magmatic source. Higher δ11B values (−2.4‰ to 5.4‰) obtained from Tur II are mainly ascribed to Rayleigh fractionation in the magmatic-hydrothermal system as tourmaline precipitated. Post-ore Tur III has a wide range of mostly lower B-isotopic compositions (−8.5‰ to 0.8‰) that record another pulse of magmatic fluid input. This interpretation is supported by the enrichment of Na, Li, Be, W, Sn, V, and Ti in Tur III, relative to Tur I and II. However, the higher Sr-isotope composition (0.7076–0.7086) of Tur III and available O-isotope composition (−7‰ to 3.5‰) of fluids of this stage record the infiltration of meteoric ground water from adjacent sedimentary country rocks. The results suggest that the Taocun IOA deposit formed in a magmatic-hydrothermal system characterized by two (or more) pulses of magmatic fluid discharge from subvolcanic diorite intrusions, followed by the influx of external ground water as the system waned. This study highlights the utility of tourmaline as a robust geochemical and isotopic monitor of ore-forming processes in such systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer ranks first in incidence and mortality in China. Surgery is the primary method to cure cancer, but only 20–30% of patients are eligible for curative resection. In recent years, in addition to surgery, other local therapies have been developed for patients with numerous localized primary and metastatic pulmonary tumors, including stereotactic body radiation therapy and thermal ablative therapies through percutaneously inserted applicators. Percutaneous thermal ablation of pulmonary tumors is minimally invasive, conformal, repeatable, feasible, cheap, has a shorter recovery time, and offers reduced morbidity and mortality. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), the most commonly used thermal ablation technique, has a reported 80–90% rate of complete ablation, with the best results obtained in tumors < 3 cm in diameter. Because the clinical efficacy of RFA of pulmonary tumors has not yet been determined, this clinical guideline describes the techniques used in the treatment of localized primary and metastatic pulmonary tumors in nonsurgical candidates, including mechanism of action, devices, indications, techniques, potential complications, clinical outcomes, post‐ablation surveillance, and use in combination with other therapies. In the future, the role of RFA in the treatment of localized pulmonary tumors should ultimately be determined by evidence from prospective randomized controlled trials comparing sublobar resection or stereotactic body radiation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cobalt-rich magmatic-hydrothermal fluid in Dahongshan shows mafic intrusion affinity. • Incursion of exchanged basinal brines triggered economic sulfide mineralization. • Cobalt enrichment is accompanied with sulfide precipitation in sulfide stage. • Cobalt can be further enriched in reworking veins during regional metamorphism. Iron-oxide-copper–gold (IOCG) deposits are characterized by Cu-Au polymetallic mineralization and may contain large amounts of critical metals (e.g. Co, REE, and U) as by-products. Sources of ore-forming fluids and metals of the IOCG deposits remain controversial, either a magmatic or basinal source has been advocated. The ∼1660 Ma Dahongshan Fe-Cu-(Au-Co) deposit in the Kangdian region in southwestern China has spatially separated Fe and Fe-Cu orebodies, in which Co-rich pyrite has been identified in different types of ores and host rocks. Here, we integrate in-situ sulfur isotopic compositions and trace element geochemistry of sulfides to characterize the nature of ore fluids and the Co enrichment processes. Paragenetic sequences of sulfides in the Dahongshan deposit include: Pyrite (Py I) associated with magnetite mineralization in Fe ores, which has rims (Py II-1) intergrown with hematite-chalcopyrite assemblage; Pyrite and chalcopyrite (Sulfide II) in the Fe-Cu ores with protolith of arenaceous dolostone (Sulfide II-2) and interbedded argillaceous siltstone and dolostone (Sulfide II-3); and Sulfide III in post-ore reworking veins formed during regional metamorphism. Py I shows a magmatic sulfur isotopic signature (−2.2 to 1.2‰) and relatively high Au-Cu-Zn contents, indicating a predominance of magmatic-hydrothermal component during magnetite formation. By contrast, the combined sulfur isotopes and trace element compositions of Sulfides II in Fe-Cu ores indicate the mixing of two distinct fluid endmembers: Sulfides precipitated from one endmember show magmatic affinity with low δ34S values (as low as −2.1‰), high Se/S ratios (∼11.8 × 10-4), high Co contents (∼10600 ppm) and Co/Ni ratios (∼110), likely from a magmatic-hydrothermal source of mafic magmas affinity; whereas sulfides from the other endmember have overall higher δ34S values (up to 15.8‰), relatively lower Se/S ratios (∼0.09 × 10-4), lower Co contents (∼900 ppm) and Co/Ni ratios (∼13). Together with the published B-O isotopic data, the high-δ34S fluid is attributed to externally-derived basinal brine at Dahongshan. The clear negative correlations between δ34S values and Se/S ratios, Co contents, as well as Co/Ni ratios of Py II highlight that the incursion of exchanged basinal brines may be vital for triggering economic sulfide mineralization in Dahongshan. Furthermore, when assuming a similar predominance of magmatic fluids, Py I associated with magnetite ores is less enriched in Co (with lower Co/Ni ratios) than Py II from Fe-Cu ores, which can be tentatively ascribed to the decreasing Co solubility limits and formation of cattierite (CoS 2) solid solution in pyrite as the fluid evolved. Finally, sulfide III in reworking veins show comparable δ34S values and Se/S ratios, but higher Co contents (up to 3.1%) than sulfide II, implying that Co can be further enriched during later remobilization events. This study exemplifies the utility of sulfide as a robust monitor of ore-forming process in IOCG system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by Herskovic et al. (2016), we investigate the pricing effect of the firm-level common idiosyncratic volatility (CIV) in China’s A-Share market. Return tests indicate that lower CIV risk loadings bring higher returns significantly, while the pricing function of market volatility (MV) is inconsistent. Strategy that goes long the highest CIV-beta quintile and short the lowest CIV-beta quintile brings an annualized average return of 5%–7%. Our findings supplement Herskovic et al. (2016) by confirming a significantly negative relationship between CIV and stock returns in a developing market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have revealed that developing green technology innovation is extremely important for minimizing haze pollution. However, limited by serious endogenous problems, research rarely focuses on the effect of haze pollution on green technology innovation. Based on a two-stage sequential game model including both production and government departments, this paper mathematically deduced the effect of haze pollution on green technology innovation. Then China's central heating policy is considered a natural experiment in our study to verify whether haze pollution is the key factor affecting the development of green technology innovation. The result that haze pollution significantly inhibits green technology innovation is confirmed, and this negative impact is mainly concentrated on substantive green technology innovation. Robustness tests have been performed, and the conclusion is still valid. Moreover, we find that government behavior can significantly affect their relationship. Specifically, the government's economic growth target will increase the haze pollution's ability to block the development of green technology innovation. However, if the government has a clear environmental target, their negative relationship will weaken. Based on the findings, targeted policy insights are presented in this paper. • Introducing a two-stage sequential game model and mathematically deduced how haze pollution affects green innovation. • China's central heating policy is considered a natural experiment. • The result that haze pollution significantly inhibits green technology innovation is confirmed. • The economic and environmental target constraints affect the impact of haze pollution on green technology innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on two chloroplast DNA sequences, psbA-trnH and trnT-trnF, phylogeographical patterns of a desert shrub, Ephedra przewalskii, were examined across most of its geographic range in northwestern China. A total of sixteen haplotypes were detected. There was a common haplotype in each basin, that was haplotype A in Tarim Basin, haplotype G in Junggar Basin, and haplotype M in Qaidam Basin. Genetic variance mainly occurred among populations, geographic regions, and eleven geographic groups subdivided by SAMOVA analysis. E. przewalskii likely had a smaller and more fragmented geographic range during the Last Glacial Maximum, which was determined based on ecological niche modelling. Three groups of E. przewalskii populations were detected to have experience range expansion, and this was based on significant values of Fu’s FS, Tajima’s D, and unimodel mismatch distributions. The cold and dry climate during the glacial period of the Quaternary is postulated to have been a driver for significant genetic isolation and divergence among populations or groups in E. przewalskii, whereas the warmer and wetter climate during the interglacial period is speculated to have provided favourable conditions for range expansion of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Different sources of fluids were involved in different mineralization stages at Lanniping IOCG deposit. • Fluid mixing responsible for precipitation of Cu-sulfides. • Texturally constrained apatite (e.g., OM-CL) is a good indicator of fluid evolution. Apatite occurs in diverse types of hydrothermal mineral deposits and has been widely used to constrain the nature and evolution of ore-forming fluid. The origin of ore fluids responsible for formation of iron oxide-copper–gold (IOCG) deposits remains controversial. Here we combine textural observations from optical microscopic cathodoluminescence (OM-CL) and backscattered electron (BSE) images with in situ chemical and strontium isotopic analyses of apatite in the Lanniping Fe-Cu deposit in Kangdian metallogenic province, SW China, to reconstruct the hydrothermal evolution history of this deposit. Paragenetic sequences of the deposit include pre-ore Na-alteration (stage I) of predominant albite, stage II iron-oxide mineralization with the associated Ca-Fe alteration characterized by magnetite and minor apatite, stage III Cu-Fe sulfides and the associated K-Fe alteration, and final stage IV Ca-Mg alteration. Three types of apatite at different paragenetic stages were identified in this deposit. The pristine Type 1 apatite are intergrown with stage II magnetite and show blue colors under OM-CL images. The Type 2 apatite, which are darker than Type 1 apatite under BSE images, show dark yellow CL colors. They commonly occur as metasomatized domains of Type 1 apatite and can contain chalcopyrite mineral inclusions, indicating that they are coeval products during stage III. The Type 3 apatite show bright yellow CL colors, and occur as overgrowth rims of both Type 1 and 2 apatite. The Type 1 apatite have highest REY contents (5342 to 12983 ppm) and primitive 87Sr/86Sr ratios ranging from 0.70630 to 0.71093, which overlap the associated igneous intrusions. In contrast, the Type 2 and Type 3 apatite have gradually lower REY contents (866 to 4255 ppm and 142 to 635 ppm, respectively) but higher 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.71009 to 0.71698 and 0.71904 to 0.72602, respectively). Our data hence suggest that the ore-forming fluids were mainly magmatic-hydrothermal origin and were gradually enriched in radiogenic Sr isotope by mixing with external fluid. Our case study highlights that texturally constrained apatite could be utilized to effectively trace fluid evolution of IOCG mineralization, and by reference, other hydrothermal mineralizing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel biscoumarin, 6,6',7,7'-tetramethoxyl-8,8'-biscoumarin (1), was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Urtica dentata Hand, together with five known compounds named as 7,7'-dihydroxy-6,6'-dimethoxy-8,8'-biscoumarin (2), 7,7'-dimethoxy-6,6'-biscoumarin (3), scoparone (4), vanillic acid (5), and daucosterol (6). Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including 2D NMR experiments. Compounds 1 and 2 were confirmed to be a rare carbon-carbon linked symmetrical biscoumarin. Compounds 1-4, especially 1 (IC50 = 8.18 × 10- 5 mol/l), showed potent immunosuppressive activities as determined by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay for lymphocyte proliferation. Also, in the FACS analysis, 1 (IC50 = 5.19 × 10- 4 mol/l) promoted the differentiation of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T regulatory cells distinctly compared to the normal control. Thus, 1 possessed specific immunosuppressive property by eliciting T regulatory cells, which may provide a potential treatment strategy for autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational exposure limits (OELs) are well established in many countries, which serve occupational professionals as benchmarks of industrial hygiene practice at workplaces worldwide. Starting in the mid-1950s, the central government of China began promulgating OELs for hazardous substances at workplaces. This paper discusses the historical basis, philosophical principles and schematic protocols of developing and setting OELs in China. The underlying principles include: (1) protection of human health being the first and the most important criterion; (2) the use of quantitative epidemiological studies in humans being given top priority; (3) integration and full use of all information sources, including animal experimental data for new chemicals or chemicals with new toxicity concerns; (4) considerations of socioeconomic and technological feasibilities in the country; and (5) amending existing standards based on new evidence. The strategy of the World Health Organization’s “Two-step Procedure” is applied to convert health-based recommendations to law-based operational OELs, with considerations for national technological and socioeconomic conditions and priorities. As a result of the recent passage of the new law Occupational Diseases Prevention and Control Act of the People’s Republic of China (ODPCAct), an official document Occupational Exposure Limits for Hazardous Agents in the Workplace containing a comprehensive list of new and amended OELs has been issued, which has now become one of the most essential regulations affiliated with the ODPCAct. This paper provides a brief summary of the salient features of the new law ODPCAct and the principles and processes of developing or amending OELs. This paper also discusses the challenges that lie ahead in enforcing the new regulations in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The dynamics of riverine solutes' contents and sources reflect geological, ecological, and climatic information of the draining basin. This study investigated the influence of climatic variability on solute dynamics by the high-frequency hydrogeochemical monitory in the Liujiang River draining karst terrain of Guangxi Province, SW (Southwestern) China. In the study river, the content-discharge (C-Q) patterns of riverine solutes indicate that the majority of riverine solutes show similar dilution and near chemostatic behaviors responding to increasing discharge, especially geogenic solutes (such as weathering products from carbonate, silicate, and sulfide oxidation), whereas exogenous solutes (such as atmospheric input to riverine sulfate) and biological solutes (such as soil CO2) show higher contents with increasing discharge. Besides, the biological carbon is the main driver of the chemostatic behaviors of total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). The forward model results show that carbonate weathering dominates the water chemistry, and the weathering rates are intensified during high flow period due to additional inputs of weathering agents, i.e., the biologic carbonic acid from dissolution of soil CO2, indicated by δ13CDIC. In addition, there exists the strong capacity of CO2 consumption that is heavily dependent on climatic variables such as precipitation and air temperature in this study river. Our study highlights the impact of climatic variability on solutes dynamics and chemical weathering and thus must be better addressed in C models under future climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's ambitious endeavor to curtail carbon emissions has led to heightened governmental attention on addressing the issue of excessive carbon emissions. As governmental tolerance for such emissions diminishes, governments promote and support more proactive emission reduction methods of green innovation in enterprises. This study analyzes panel data from Chinese-listed businesses to explore the correlation between regional carbon emission pressure and green innovation. Our findings indicate a positive relationship between carbon emission pressure and enterprises' engagement in green innovation initiatives. Governmentenvironmental attention, punitive regulations, and incentive subsidies are the main channels. Market policies, including carbon emission trading and green credit policies, potentially impact the interplay between carbon emission pressure and green innovation. Moreover, our heterogeneity analysis underscores that enterprises facing looser financing constraints, exhibiting more social responsibility initiatives, and operating within polluting industries tend to experience a more pronounced positive impact than their counterparts in other sectors. • Regional carbon emission pressure has significantly promoted enterprises' green innovation. • Government awareness, punitive regulations, and incentive subsidies are the main channels. • The 2015 Paris Agreement in 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference contributes to the promotion of green innovation of enterprises. • The carbon emission trading and green credit policies enhance the promotion of green innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qi-Lin pill (QLP) is an effective traditional Chinese medicine prescription (TCMP) that has been used for the treatment of the oligoasthenozoospermia in China. Recently, some articles described the pharmacological effects of QLP and multiple ingredients in QLP contribute to its effects. However, the pharmacokinetic and target tissue distribution data of QLP are still unknown. In the present study, according to the Bioanalytical Method Validation Guidance of FDA, a sensitive and selective UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of multiple constituents in rat plasma and testicular tissue, including morusimic acid A, codonopyrridium B, magnoflorine, emodin, 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O- β - D -glucoside (THSG), ecliptasaponin A, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, gallic acid, danshensu, salvianolic acid A, catechin, isosinensetin, nobiletin, formononetin, calycosin, icariside II, icariin and epimedin C. For 19 analytes, the LLOQs reached 0.01–4 ng/mL. And all calibration curves showed favorable linearity (r ≥ 0.9903) in linear ranges. The intra-day and inter-day precision (relative standard deviation) for all analytes was less than 14.92 %, and the accuracies (as relative error) were in the range of − 6.44 % to 6.22 %. Extraction recoveries and matrix effects of analytes and IS were acceptable. All analytes were stable during the assay and storage in plasma samples. The method was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetics and testis distribution of multiple chemical constituents in QLP after a single oral dose. As a result, high exposure of danshensu, gallic acid, paeoniflorin and albiflorin were observed in rat plasma and testicular tissue. Among the flavonoids, isosinensetin and nobiletin had high exposure in testicular tissue. Moreover, alleviation of progesterone reduction was evaluated in H 2 O 2 -induced R2C leydig cells, and danshensu, gallic acid, paeoniflorin, albiflorin and nobiletin showed potent activity. Therefore, these five components were considered to be the effective components of QLP due to their relatively high exposure in vivo and biological activity. This finding also provided relevant information on action mechanism of QLP in the treatment of oligoasthenozoospermia. • A sensitive and reliable UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated. • 19 components were quantified in rat plasma and 18 components were determined in testicle. • Gallic acid, danshensu, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, isosinensetin and nobiletin had high exposure in vivo. • TThey were evaluated for improvement of progesterone level in H 2 O 2 -induced R2C leydig cell. • Five compounds were considered as the effective components of QLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It has been suggested that personality factors are related to an individuals’ use of social networking sites (SNSs). The present research explores the relationships between the Big Five Personality factors, narcissism, self-esteem, and sensation seeking and individuals’ use of specific features of SNS. Self-reports were collected from 265 SNS users from a university in China. Regression analyses revealed that personality factors play an important role in how SNS are used. Specifically, extraverts are more likely to use the communicative function of SNS including status update, comment, and adding more friends. Neurotic are more likely to use the feature of status update as a way of self-expression. Agreeable individuals tend to make more comments on others’ profiles. Individuals with high self-esteem are more likely to comment on others’ profiles. Users scoring high on openness and sensation seeking are more likely to play online games on SNS. Narcissistic users are more likely to upload their attractive photos on SNS and tend to use update status more frequently for self-presentation. Gender also played an important role in predicting types of SNS use. Males reported more SNS friends and were more likely to play online games than were females, who were more likely to upload self-photos and update their status. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Of the 700 million workers in China, approximately 200 million workers are potentially exposed to industrial hazards. Although the promulgation and implementation of occupational exposure limits (OELs) in China began in the mid-1950, a systematic approach was not formalized until the formation of the Subcommittee of Occupational Health Standards Setting (SOHSS) in 1981. More recently, the 2002 Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Act of the People’s Republic of China crated the legislative framework for the development and enforcement of OELs. The SOHSS, whose members are primarily health professionals, is the organization responsible for the development of recommended standards, under the auspices of the Ministry of Health. The philosophy of OEL development of the SOHSS consists of a two-step approach: (1) an initial health-based recommended standard is established based on scientific data, and (2) a final law-based standard takes into consideration both socioeconomic and technological feasibility. Governmental agencies such as the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention and the Institutes of Public Health Supervision at the state, provincial or municipal levels are charged with the responsibilities of the enforcement of OELs. The process and challenges in the enforcement of OELs are discussed. A comparison is made between selected Chinese OELs and those in other countries. The OELs for benzene and industrial dusts (including silica) are discussed in some detail. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although it is well documented that mountains tend to exhibit high biodiversity, how geological processes affect the assemblage of montane floras is a matter of ongoing research. Here, we explore landform-specific differences among montane floras based on a dataset comprising 17,576 angiosperm species representing 140 Chinese mountain floras, which we define as the collection of all angiosperm species growing on a specific mountain. Our results show that igneous bedrock (granitic and karst-granitic landforms) is correlated with higher species richness and phylogenetic overdispersion, while the opposite is true for sedimentary bedrock (karst, Danxia, and desert landforms), which is correlated with phylogenetic clustering. Furthermore, we show that landform type was the primary determinant of the assembly of evolutionarily older species within floras, while climate was a greater determinant for younger species. Our study indicates that landform type not only affects montane species richness, but also contributes to the composition of montane floras. To explain the assembly and differentiation of mountain floras, we propose the 'floristic geo-lithology hypothesis', which highlights the role of bedrock and landform processes in montane floristic assembly and provides insights for future research on speciation, migration, and biodiversity in montane regions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Aiming to investigate the health risk impact of PM 2.5 pollution on a heavily populated province of China. The exposure response function was used to assess the health risk of PM 2.5 pollution. Results shows that the total number of premature deaths and diseases related to PM 2.5 pollution in Shandong might reach 159.8 thousand people based on the new WHO (2021) standards. The health effects of PM 2.5 pollution were more severe in men than in women. Five of the 16 cities in Shandong had higher health risks caused by PM 2.5 pollution, including LinYi, HeZe, JiNing, JiNan, and WeiFang. PM 2.5 pollution resulted in nearly 7.4 billions dollars in healthy economic cost, which accounted for 0.57% of GDP in Shandong in 2021. HeZe, LiaoCheng, ZaoZhuang, and LinYi were the cities where the health economic loss was more than 1% of the local GDP, accounted for 1.30, 1.26, 1.08, and 1.04%. Although the more rigorous assessment criteria, the baseline concentration was lowered by 30 μg/m 3 compared to our previous study, there was no significant increase in health risks and economic losses. China's air quality improvement strategy may already be having a positive effect., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Xu, Zhang, Shi, Su, Cheng, Wei, Ma, Li and Wang.)

Two novel Rhodococcus strains, LHW50502 T and LHW51113 T , were isolated from marine sponges obtained on Xisha Island, Hainan Province, PR China. Rods and cocci, typical characteristics of the genus Rhodococcus , were observed. The strains contained meso -diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall hydrolysates and galactose, arabinose, ribose and glucose as the whole-cell sugars. The major fatty acid identified was C 16 : 0 . MK-8(H 4 ) was the predominat menaquinone of both strains. Stains LHW50502 T and LHW51113 T had almost identical (99.6 %) 16S rRNA gene sequences but shared relatively low similarities with previously characterized Rhodococcus species (well below 98.7 %). The results of phylogenetic analysis supported their closest relationship; however, the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between these two strains indicated that they belonged to distinct species. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that strains LHW50502 T and LHW51113 T represent two novel species of the genus Rhodococcus , for which the names Rhodococcus spongiicola sp. nov. (type strain LHW50502 T =DSM 106291 T =CCTCC AA 2018033 T ) and Rhodococcus xishaensis sp. nov. (type strain LHW51113 T =DSM 106204 T =CCTCC AA 2018034 T ) are proposed.

Since December 2019, China has experienced a widespread outbreak of COVID-19. However, at the early stage of outbreak, investigations revealed a variety of patterns resulting in the transmission of COVID-19. Thus, it is essential to understand the transmission types and the potential for sustained human-to-human transmission. Moreover, the information regarding the characteristics of transmission helps in coordinating the current screening programme, and controlling and containing measures, and also, helps in deciding the appropriate quarantine duration. Thus, this investigation reports an outbreak of COVID-19 in a family residing in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China during the month of January-February 2020.

Acephalic spermatozoa is an extremely rare disease associated with primary infertility. A recent study showed that genetic alterations in the SUN5 gene lead to this disease, and SUN5 mutations could explain the disease in about half of the patients. Therefore, in the present study, to re-visit the genetic contribution of SUN5 mutations to acephalic spermatozoa, we recruited 15 unrelated affected individuals and screened the SUN5 gene for mutations by whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing. Five of the 15 (33.33%) subjects were found to carry the same homozygous mutation in the SUN5 gene c.381delA (p.V128Sfs*7). Neither homozygous nor compound heterozygous mutations in SUN5 were found in the other 10 patients. The c.381delA mutation resulted in the truncation of the SUN5 protein and decreased the expression and altered the distribution of the outer dense fiber 1 (ODF1) protein. Thus, in our study SUN5 mutations accounted for only one-third of the patients in our cohort, which is lower than the percentage reported previously. Thus, our study suggests that the contribution of SUN5 mutations to acephalic spermatozoa might not be as high as described previously. These results will help in the genetic counseling of patients with acephalic spermatozoa., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Southwest China is one of the major global biodiversity hotspots. The Tanaka line, extending within southwestern China from its northwest to its southeast, is an important biogeographical boundary between the Sino-Japanese and Sino-Himalayan floristic regions. Understanding the evolutionary history of the regional keystone species would assist with both reconstructing historical vegetation dynamics and ongoing biodiversity management. In this research, we combined phylogeographic methodologies and species distribution models (SDMs) to investigate the spatial genetic patterns and distribution dynamics of Quercus kerrii, a dominant evergreen oak inhabiting southwest China lowland evergreen-broadleaved forests (EBLFs). A total of 403 individuals were sampled from 44 populations throughout southwest China. SDMs and mismatch distribution analysis indicated that Q. kerrii has undergone northward expansion since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Quantitative analysis revealed that the range expansion of Q. kerrii since the LGM exceeded that of the sympatric mid-elevation species Quercus schottkyana, likely owing to their contrasting distribution elevations and habitat availabilities. The historical climate change since the LGM and the latitude gradient of the region played an important role in shaping the genetic diversity of Q. kerrii. The genetic differentiation index and genetic distance surface of Q. kerrii populations east of the Tanaka line exceeded those to its west. The long-term geographic isolation and environmental heterogeneity between the two sides of the Tanaka line might increase species divergence patterns and local adaptation. This study provides new insights into the historical dynamics of subtropical EBLFs and the changing biota of southwest China.

Aim: Adiponectin has been implicated in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The CDH13 gene encodes T-cadherin that is an adiponectin receptor, and genetic variants of CDH13 determine blood adiponectin levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of CDH13 variants on COPD susceptibility in a Chinese population., Methods: Ten single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in CDH13 were screened using the SNaPshot method in 279 COPD patients and 367 control subjects. Association of genotypes or haplotypes constructed from these loci with COPD was analyzed in different genetic models., Results: Among the 10 SNPs tested, rs4783244 and rs12922394 exhibited significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies between COPD patients and control subjects, whereas 8 other SNPs did not. The minor allele T was associated with decreased risk of COPD in the recessive model at rs4783244 (OR=0.42, P=0.023) and in the dominant model at rs12922394 (OR=0.70, P=0.022). The genotype TT at either rs4783244 or rs12922394 was associated with a significantly low level of plasma adiponectin when compared to genotypes GG and CC (P<0.05). Haplotypes GC in block 1 (rs4783244-rs12922394) as well as GTAC and ATGT in block 3 (rs4783266-rs11640522-rs11646849-rs11860282) significantly increased the risk of COPD, whereas haplotypes TT in block 1, TG in block 2 (rs11646011- rs11640875) and ATGC in block 3 were protective against COPD., Conclusion: CDH13 genetic variants determine Chinese individuals' susceptibility to COPD and thus are efficient genetic biomarkers for early detection of COPD.

Wuchang rice is a geographical indication product in China. Due to its high quality and low production, the phenome- non of fake is more and more serious. An effective identification method of Wuchang rice is urgent needed, for the maintenance of its brand image and interest of consumers. Base on the content of inorganic elements which are analyzed by ICP-AES and ICP-MS in rice, the identification model of Wuchang rice is studied combining with principal component analysis (PCA), Fisher discrimination and artificial neural network (ANN) in this paper. The effect on the identification of samples is poor through PCA, while the samples from Wuchang area and other areas can be identified accurately through Fisher discrimination and ANN. The average accurate identification ratio of training and verification set through Fisher discrimination is 93.5%, while the average accurate identification ratio through ANN is 96.4%. The ability to identify of ANN is better than Fisher discrimination. Wuchang rice can be identified accurately through the result of this research which provides a technology for the protection of geographical indications of this product.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of associated risk factors of over active bladder (OAB) in people ≥40 years old in mainland of China., Methods: A randomized community-based, cross-sectional study was performed on 10,160 residents (≥40 years old) in the mainland of China using a questionnaire. The overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) was filled upon site. The chi-square test was used to determine the differences of prevalence between sex, age groups, body mass index (BMI) and people with and without diabetes mellitus (DM)., Results: A total of 9,805 (96.5%) subjects qualified for the final statistical analysis. The overall prevalence of OAB was 2.1% (209/9,805), of whom 1.0% had OABdry and 1.1% had OABwet . The prevalence of OAB was more common in men than in women over the age of 60 (4.6% vs. 2.6%, P < 0.05). The prevalence of OAB in subjects with DM was significantly higher than those without DM in patients with BMI ≥ 25 (P < 0.05). The subjects with a BMI over 29 were more likely to have OAB (3.2% vs. 1.8%, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: In this population, the prevalence of OAB increased with age for both sexes, but was higher for males over 60 years of age. The study also showed that diabetics with BMI ≥ 25 and people suffering from obesity are more likely to have OAB., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The data in literature of acupuncture and moxibustion on treatment of diarrhea from pre-Qin period to Qing dynasty was collected to establish prescription database and characteristics and rules of ancient acupuncture and moxibustion for diarrhea were analyzed with data mining technology. Totally 235 papers were collected and 76 acupoints were involved with 439 times of selection. The number and times of special acupoints were 72.37% (55/76) and 76.99% (338/439), respectively, which was more seen in front-mu acupoint and back-shu acupoint. The acupoints were distributed among 11 meridians. Moxibustion was applied in 53 papers while combination of acupuncture and moxibustion was used in 1 literature. As a result, acupuncture and moxibustion for diarrhea in ancient pay much attention on acupoint in back and abdomen, in which Tianshu (ST 25), Shen-que (CV 8), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Dachangshu (BL 25) were the most frequently used. The compatibility of front-mu acupoint and back-shu acupoint was very common. Selection of special acupoint was dominant. Besides crossing points that has the most intersection of meridian qi in the back and abdomen, acupoints below the elbow and knee joints, such as five-shu points, source point, luo-connecting point, eight confluence point and lower he-sea point were also taken into account. As for compatibility of special acupoints, the supportive degree between back-shu acupoint and confluence points or front-mu acupoint was the highest; the selections of meridians mainly were Bladder Meridian, Conception Vessel and Spleen Meridian; and application of moxibustion was highly valued. In conclusion, it is feasible to apply data mining technology to the clinical literature research of ancient acupuncture and moxibustion, which can provide evidence for summary of the traditional classical theory.

A field survey was conducted in the karst mountainous region in Pingguo County of Southwest Guangxi, China to explore the structural characteristics, spatial distribution pattern, and growth dynamics of young Excentrodendron hsienmu as well as the main environmental factors affecting the natural regeneration of the E. hsienmu population. In the study area, the population structure of the young E. hsienmu was stable, and exhibited a clumped spatial pattern for the seedlings and seedling sprouts. The ground diameter growth and height growth of the young E. hsienmu presented the same variation trend, i. e., the ground diameter increased with increasing height. The ground diameter growth and height growth of the E. hsienmu seedlings were limited by population density, i. e., decreased with increasing population density. The correlation analysis showed that the trees more than 2.5 m in height and the shrubs were the major stand factors affecting the natural regeneration of young E. hsienmu, while the herbs had no significant correlation with the regeneration. The percentage of covered rock also had no significant effects on the regeneration. Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA showed that there existed significant differences in the height and ground diameter of young E. hsienmu at different slope degrees and slope positions. The population density, height, and ground diameter had significant differences across slope aspects. The natural regeneration of young E. hsienmu was comprehensively affected by the species biological characteristics, intraspecific competition, interspecific competition, heterogeneous habitat, and anthropogenic disturbances.

By using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), this paper studied the effects of small-scale topographic changes on the distribution patterns of ground plants with different growth forms in the montane evergreen broad-leaved forest in Chebaling National Nature Reserve of North Guangdong, China. It was observed that slope aspect, slope grade, and slope position had significantly integrative effects on the distribution patterns of four growth form ground plants (fern, liana, herb, and shrub). Slope aspect had significant effects on the distribution patterns of all four ground plants but slope position didn't have, whereas slope grade only affected the distribution pattern of shrub significantly. From shady slope to semi-shady slope, and to semi-sunny slope, the abundance of the four growth form ground plants decreased gradually, indicating that shade plants were dominant in the ground vegetation of subtropical montane evergreen broad-leaved forest. Most shrubs were shade-tolerant species, and their change patterns of richness and diversity with slope aspect were the same as the change pattern of abundance. Shrubs were sensitive to the change of slope grade, and richer on gentle slopes. In hilly and low mountains, slope position changed little, and had less effects on the distribution patterns of ground plants. At stand-level, horizontal topographic factor (slope grade aspect) had much greater effects on the distribution patterns of ground plants, as compared with vertical topographic factors (slope grade and slope position), which suggested that slope aspect was the major factor affecting the water and heat conditions in subtropical montane forest.

Background: Recent efforts suggest an etiologic role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and the involvement of hepatic progenitor cell in ICC development, without definitive conclusions. This case-control study was undertaken to investigate risk factors for ICC, and clinicopathological features of HBV-associated ICC were analyzed., Methods: The report comprised 98 patients with pathologically confirmed ICC and 196 healthy control subjects. Logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The sex and age distributions of HBV-related and unrelated ICC patients were compared respectively with those of 882 HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma patients from a random selection, and the clinicopathological data of 62 ICC patients with or without HBV infection undergoing surgical resection were compared., Results: There was an association between ICC and each of HBV infection, liver cirrhosis, hepatolithiasis, and liver fluke infestation with the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 2.75 (1.27-5.95), 8.42 (2.50-28.37), 22.81 (7.16-72.68), and 3.55 (1.60-7.89), respectively, with a marked synergism of cirrhosis and HBV infection (20.67; 5.40-79.06). Compared with HBV-unrelated ICC patients, HBV-related ICC patients were more common in male and younger subjects, had a higher incidence of abnormal serum alfa-fetoprotein level, cirrhosis, and neutrophilic infiltration, and had a lower proportion of elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) values., Conclusions: The independent association of HBV infection with ICC, synergy between cirrhosis and HBV infection, and some clinicopathological similarities between HBV-related ICC and hepatocellular carcinoma suggests that both may share similar or common tumorigenic process and may possibly originate from malignant transformation of hepatic progenitor cell.

Background: The mortality and disability associated with progressing ischemic stroke are much higher than general ischemic stroke. This study was conducted to determine the risk factors for progressing ischemic stroke in the Han population of northeast China., Methods: A total of 2511 patients with ischemic stroke within 24 hours admitted to Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were studied, from November 2007 to May 2009. All of the patients were classified into the progressing or non-progressing group according to the scores of the Scandinavian Neurological Stroke Scale. Fifteen putative risk factors were evaluated. The influence of risk factors for progressing ischemic stroke was analyzed with the simple Logistic analysis, the multiple Logistic analysis, and the stepwise Logistic regression model. All the statistical analysis was performed by SAS 9.1., Results: Totally 359 (14.3%) patients met the criteria for progressing ischemic stroke. The Logistic analysis showed that age, family stroke history, smoking history, hypertension on admission, a drop in blood pressure after admission to the hospital, high serum glucose on admission, and fever were related to progressing ischemic stroke in the Han population of northeast China., Conclusion: People of the ischemic stroke with these factors are more likely to develop progressing ischemic stroke.

Objective: To investigate the association of the haplotype of the solute carrier family 11 member 1 (SLC11A1) gene with susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis in Tibetans., Methods: Four polymorphisms of the SLC11A1 gene [5' (GT)n, INT4, D53N, and 3' UTR] were investigated by denaturalization high performance liquid chromatography and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 140 patients (the patient group) and 139 PPD-positive healthy controls (the control group) of the Tibetan nationality from June 2004 until January 2005. The relationship between the haplotype and susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis in these patients was studied by chi2 test, and the linkage disequilibrium as well as the haplotype were analyzed by the SHESIS software., Results: The haplotype frequencies of 5'(GT)9/INT4 G, 3'UTR TGTG/D543N G, 3'UTR TGTG del/D543N A were 64.8% (181/280), 76.6% (215/280), 12.0% (34/280) among the patients and 78.1% (217/276), 84.4% (235/276), 6.4% (18/276) among the controls. 5' (GT)9/INT4 G, 3'UTR TGTG/D543N G haplotypes rendered a lower risk (chi2 = 11.026, P<0.01, chi2 = 6.547, P<0.05, respectively), but 3'UTR TGTG del/D543N A haplotype a higher risk (chi2 = 6.547, P<0.05) for tuberculosis., Conclusions: 5' (GT)9/INT4 G, 3'UTR TGTG/D543N G and 3'UTR TGTG del/D543N A haplotypes of the SLC11A1 gene may be associated with the susceptibility of the Tibetan population to pulmonary tuberculosis.

Aim: To study the relationship between nm23H1 gene genetic instability and its clinical pathological characteristics in Chinese digestive system cancer patients., Methods: Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) was used to analyze the microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH). Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of nm23H1., Results: The MSI was higher in TNM stage I + II than in stage III + IV of gastric, colonic and gallbladder carcinomas. The LOH was higher in TNM stage III + IV than in stage I + II of gastric, colonic and hepatocellular carcinomas. Lymphatic metastasis was also observed. The expression of nm23H1 protein was lower in TNM stage III + IV than in stage I + II of these tumors and in patients with lymphatic metastasis.The nm23H1 protein expression was higher in the LOH negative group than in the LOH positive group., Conclusion: MSI and LOH may independently control the biological behaviors of digestive system cancers. MSI could serve as an early biological marker of digestive system cancers. Enhanced expression of nm23H1 protein could efficiently inhibit cancer metastasis and improve its prognosis. LOH mostly appears in late digestive system cancer.

Objective: To describe the incidence and clinical characteristics of acute severe high-altitude diseases in indigenous Tibetans., Methods: The medical records of indigenous Tibetan patients with high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), who were treated in this hospital from June of 1956 to June of 2005, were retrospectively reviewed., Results: A total of 3 184 cases of high-altitude disease were recorded in this period. Twenty four patients (0.75%, 24/3 184), 21 with HAPE and 3 with HACE, were indigenous Tibetans. Risk factors or precipitating factors were found in all the 24 cases, including getting into even higher altitude, exertion, cold, and alcohol drinking. From clinical symptoms, physical signs and laboratory examinations, it was found that 9 cases were complicated with multi-organ dysfunction., Conclusion: Indigenous Tibetans who travel between the plateau and the plain or to even higher altitude can suffer from hypoxic injury, even acute severe high-altitude disease, which may be complicated by multi-organ dysfunction.

The regulatory role of calcium in fertility of pollen and pistil under simulated acid rain was investigated. The germination percentage of pollen treated with acid rain of pH 4.5 was 9.42% lower than that of control, and that of pH 3.5, pH 2.5 and pH 1.5 were 22.47%, 45.49% and 71.62%, respectively. Simultaneously, the injury character of pollen was obviously observed when flowers were treated with acid rain of pH 3.5. The difference in fruit setting rate between the female flower treated with acid rain of pH 4.0 and the control was significant at p < 0.05. Ca(NO3)2 of 0.2-0.4 mmol/L could promote pollen germination under the stress of acid rain. The beneficial function was reduced when calcium concentration surpassed 0.8 mmol/L. Spraying 2 mmol/L Ca(NO3)2 reduced the injury of acid rain to pistil and increased fruit-setting rate significantly. The physiological importance of calcium during pollen germination and pistil development was also discussed.

Aim: To investigate the pathogenic mechanism of colon cancer at the molecular level and to elucidate the relationship between intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and nm23H(1) genes and Chinese patients with colon cancer., Methods: DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded materials. Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) was used to analyze MSI and LOH. Expression of ICAM-1 was detected by Envision immuno-histochemistry. Experimental results were analyzed with Leica-Qwin computer imaging techniques and SPSS software of statistics., Results: ICAM-1 expression of lymphatic endothelium was negative in normal colon and positive in colon cancer respectively. The number of lymphatics positive for ICAM-1 was gradually increased with degree of cancer invasion (P<0.01). In the group with metastasis of colon cancer, the number of lymphatics positive for ICAM-1 in lymph nodes was more than that in the group with no metastasis (P<0.01). The frequency of MSI, LOH and nm23H(1) protein was 26.67%, 20.00% and 53.33% in colon cancer, respectively. In TNM staging, MSI (43.75%) and nm23H(1) protein (81.25%) in stages I+II were detected more easily than the corresponding indexes (MSI: 7.14%, P<0.05 and nm23H(1): 21.43%, P<0.01) in stages III+IV. By comparison, the frequency of LOH (35.71%) in stages III+IV was more than that of LOH (6.25%, P<0.05) in stages I+II. LOH exhibited a rising trend along with the Duke's staging. nm23H(1) protein in the group of tubular adenocarcinoma (60.00%) was higher expressed than that in the group of mucoid adenocarcinoma (20.00%) (P<0.01), and exhibited a rising trend with the differentiation degrees of tubular adenocarcinoma. nm23H(1) protein in MSI positive group was higher expressed (75%) than that in MSI negative group (45.45%, P<0.05)., Conclusion: The expression of ICAM-1 in lymphatic vessels is beneficial to the judgement of the invasion and metastasis ability of colon cancer and the anti-tumor immunity function, and shows an important clinical significance in predicting lymphatic metastasis of colon cancer. MSI and LOH may separately control the development of sporadic colon cancer with different pathways. LOH mostly arises in the late period of sporadic colon cancer and endows a high aggressive and poor prognostic phenotype. By compassion, MSI may be an early period molecule marker for sporadic colon cancer, enhanced expression of nm23H(1) protein can effectively inhibit colon cancer metastasis and improve prognosis of sporadic colon cancer patients.

Background: Primary liver cancer (PLC) is one of the most frequently seen tumors in China. Thirty years ago, patients with PLC were often detected at relatively late stage, with a palpable mass or marked clinical symptoms and poor prognosis. In the past 30 years, the diagnosis and treatment of PLC have been greatly improved with better prognosis., Methods: In order to study the changes of PLC during the 30 years, the clinical data of 3250 patients with PLC from 10 medical institutions of China were collected, analyzed, and compared with those of 3254 PLC patients before the 30 years., Results: In the 3250 patients aged 1-80 years, with an average age of 49.1 years, the male to female ratio (2.3:1) was lower than that before the 30 years. 73.5% of the 3250 patients sought medical advice within 3 months after the onset of the disease in contrast to 63.8% before the 30 years. Compared with those patients before the 30 years the symptoms and signs were alleviated generally. The HBsAg positive rate was 81.0%, but the HCV-Ab positive rate was 13.2%. The AFP level in 75% of patients was elevated, but in the remaining 25% was normal. 1912 patients (58.8%) were confirmed pathologically. Among them 1755 patients (91.8%) had hepatocellular carcinoma. The overall resection rate was 46.3%. Those who had early, middle, late stage carcinoma accounted for 29.9%, 51.5%, and 18.6% respectively in contrast to 0.4%, 47.0%, and 52.6% reported before the 30 years. The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates of the patients were 66.1%, 39.7%, and 32.5% respectively, whereas 93.5%, 70.1%, and 59.1% for the early stage patients, and 65.3%, 30.5%, and 23.5% for the middle stage patients. The half and 1-year survival rates of the late stage patients were 52.5%, and 14.7%, respectively., Conclusion: Comparison with the clinical data before and after the 30 years show that PLC can be diagnosed early. More PLC patients tend to undergo resection while receiving a better conservative treatment, which ensures a prognosis.