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Flos Sophorae (FS), or the dried flower buds of Sophora japonica L., is widely used as a food and medicinal material in China. The quality of S. japonica flowers varies with the developmental stages (S1-S5) of the plant. However, the relationship between FS quality and maturity remains unclear. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q TRAP-MS/MS) were used to analyze inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites, respectively. A combined analysis of the inorganic elements and flavonoid metabolites in FS was conducted to determine the patterns of FS quality formation. Sixteen inorganic elements and 173 flavonoid metabolites that accumulated at different developmental stages were identified. Notably, 54 flavonoid metabolites associated with the amelioration of major human diseases were identified, and Ca, P, K, Fe, and Cu were postulated to influence flavonoid metabolism and synthesis. This study offers a novel perspective and foundation for the further exploration of the rules governing the quality of plant materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: CRISPR/Cas9 is a rapidly developing genome editing technology in various biological systems due to its efficiency, portability, simplicity and versatility. This editing technology has been successfully applied in in several important plants of Solanaceae such as tomato, tobacco, potato, petunia and groundcherry. Wolfberry ranked the sixth among solanaceous crops of outstanding importance in China following potato, tomato, eggplant, pepper and tobacco. To date, there has been no report on CRISPR/Cas9 technology to improve Lycium ruthenicum due to the unknown genome sequencing and the lack of efficient regeneration and genetic transformation systems. Results: In this study, we have established an efficientregeneration and genetic transformation system of Lycium ruthenicum. We have used this system to validate target sites for fw2.2, a major fruit weight quantitative trait locus first identified from tomato and accounted for 30% of the variation in fruit size. In our experiments, the editing efficiency was very high, with 95.45% of the transgenic lines containing mutations in the fw2.2 target site. We obtained transgenic wolfberry plants containing four homozygous mutations and nine biallelic mutations in the fw2.2 gene. Conclusions: These results suggest that CRISPR-based gene editing is effective for the improvement of black wolfberry traits, and we expect this approach to be routinely applied to this important economic fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock-support interaction is one of the most core issues in underground engineering, which is of major interest to supporting structure design, construction safety and cost, as well as environmental protection. In order to study the rock-support interaction in deep tunnel under complex geological conditions, taking Xianglushan Tunnel of Yunnan Water Diversion Project in China as the engineering background, two true three-dimensional physical model tests were conducted. The model test results show: (1) the surrounding rock and support are a pair of opposite and united contradictions, which are both antagonistic and cooperative; (2) the rock-lining interaction and rock-bolt interaction are distinctly different. The lining is a type of outside supporting structure to bear the load from surrounding rock and the bolt is a kind of inside supporting structure to reinforce and protect surrounding rock; (3) the impacts of weak fault on mechanical behavior of surrounding rock and supporting structure are significant. The load bearing effects of surrounding rock and support system exhibit different characteristic depending on the corresponding geological conditions. The results can contribute to the development of construction scheme and optimization of support design, and also provide an ideal data set for the calibration and validation of numerical models to simulate the rock-support interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in post-transcriptional regulation as well as in various biological and metabolic processes. Lilium pumilum originated from northern China with a high ornamental value, and is important for Lilium resistance breeding. The dormancy of the bulbs has a serious effect on flowering quality. In this study, the miRNAs from samples at 0 days (S1 stage), 30 days (S2 stage), 60 days (S3 stage) and 90 days (S4 stage) of cold storage were sequenced to reveal the dormancy mechanism of Lilium pumilum. Through ultrastructural observation and physiological index measurement, we found that Lilium pumilum bulbs were released from dormancy during low-temperature storage. We further conducted miRNAs sequencing; a total of 17 conserved miRNAs were identified from 12 families, two nonconserved miRNAs were found that belonged to two families, and 38 novel miRNAs were predicted. MiRNA-target pairs analysis showed that some biological processes, including antioxidant reactions, epigenetic modification and abiotic stress, were induced in response to low-temperature conditions. Some transcription factors, plant hormone signalling pathways, and enzymes involved in plant growth and development were also activated to break the bulb dormancy. The study initially revealed the complex regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs for dormancy release during low-temperature storage. Comprehensive sequence information and target gene data were obtained by miRNAs sequencing, which determined that miRNAs regulation of bulb dormancy release in low temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Because of its high morbidity and mortality, sepsis remains the leading cause of death in the ICU. Microparticles (MP) have been largely studied as potential diagnostic or prognostic markers in various diseases including sepsis. Objective: The biological and clinical relevance of neutrophil-derived microparticles (NDMPs) within the MP population remains unclear. The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationship between plasma NDMPs and the prognosis of patients with sepsis and/or septic shock. Methods: The study was designed as an observational, noninterventional clinical study. The cohort for this study included 40 sepsis and 40 septic shock patients together with 10 healthy controls admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the Health Surveillance Center in the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China, from January to November 2018, respectively. The degree of critical disease for sepsis and septic shock was evaluated, with data analyses conducted from 2018 to 2019. Results: On days 1, 3 and 5 post-admission a series of data including plasma NDMP levels, patient demographics, TNF-α levels, IL-6 levels, sTREM-1 levels, and the sepsis severity score measurements were collected. A survival curve was plotted against levels of plasma NDMPs. Levels of NDMPs were observed to be higher in the septic shock patients than in the sepsis patients on days 1, 3, and 5 post-ICU admission (p < 0.05). NDMP levels were significantly increased in sepsis and septic shock patients with a parallel increase in pro-inflammatory mediators and sepsis severity score (p < 0.05) as well as mortality. Conclusion: Our data suggest that NDMPs may be a biomarker of sepsis severity and mortality although its implications on sepsis prognosis warrant further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myeloid sarcoma (MS) rarely involves the bronchus, and primary bronchial MS has almost never been reported in mainland China.Case Presentation: A 65-year-old female patient was admitted with a 3-month history of cough. She was initially diagnosed with bronchogenic carcinoma according to chest computed tomography (CT). However, after a biopsy was taken from the endobronchial lesion by bronchoscopy and further immunohistochemical analysis was performed, the diagnosis of MS was made. Because her bone marrow was normal and she had no history of haematologic diseases, we further considered the diagnosis of primary bronchial MS. The patient received chemotherapy with HAG regimens, and the original mass completely resolved, as confirmed by chest CT scan after 3 cycles of treatment. Meanwhile, no abnormalities were found on re-examination via bronchoscopy.Conclusions: MS should be considered in the differential diagnosis in the presence of a suspicious pulmonary mass. Immunohistochemical analysis is necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Chemotherapy can lengthen the survival time for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of the Stenus indubius group from China are described: S. huapingensis sp. n. from Guangxi Province and S. zhujianqingi sp. n. from Zhejiang Province. Habitus photos and illustrations of diagnostic characters of the new species and two described species, S. paradecens Tang & Li, 2005 and S. guniujiangense Tang & Li, 2005, are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We collected gravid Chinese cobras (Naja atra) from one island (Dinghai) and three mainland (Yiwu, Lishui and Quanzhou) populations in south-eastern China to study geographical variation in female reproductive traits and the trade-off between the size and number of eggs. We then conducted an common experiment on cobras from two of the four populations to further identify factors contributing to the observed trade-offs. The mean size (snout–vent length) of the smallest five reproductive females increased with increasing latitude. Oviposition occurred between late June and early August, with females from the warmer localities laying eggs earlier than those from the colder localities. Maternal size was a major determinant of the reproductive investment in all populations, with larger females producing not only more but also larger eggs. Clutch size was more variable than egg size within and among populations. The observed geographical variation in clutch size, egg size, clutch mass and post-oviposition body condition was not a simple consequence of variation in maternal size among populations, because interpopulation differences in these traits were still evident when the influence of maternal size was removed. The upper limit to reproductive investment was more likely to be set by the space availability in the island population, but by the resource availability in the three mainland populations. Trade-offs between size and number of eggs were detected in all populations, with females that had larger clutches for their size having smaller eggs. Egg size at any given level of relative fecundity differed among populations, primarily because of interpopulation differences in the resource availability rather than the space availability. Except for the timing date of oviposition and the mean size of the smallest five reproductive females, all other examined traits did not vary in a geographically continuous trend. The common garden experiment, which standardized environmental factors, synchronized the timing date of oviposition, but it did not modify the conclusion drawn from the gravid females collected from the field. The observed geographical variation in the female reproductive traits could be attributed to the consequence of the effects of either proximate or ultimate factors. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London,Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005,85, 27–40. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has fully engaged and played an essential role in the prevention and treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study compares relevant standards on high-frequent Chinese Materia Medicia (CMM) used in this pandemic aiming at reaching a global consensus and ensuring the use of Chinese medicines safely. 141 representative Chinese formulas and Chinese Patent Medicines from the National Protocol and the most of Provincial Protocols for controlling COVID-19 in China have been collected to statistical analyze the composition and characteristics of CMM. Among them, the domestic and international standards of 47 varieties with the frequency usage over 10 times were selected to compare their quality requirements in the mainstream pharmacopoeias and international standards. The quality requirements of used CMM for fighting COVID-19 on the terms of overall quality control, marker compounds, and safety indicators showed different patterns in these mainstream pharmacopoeias and international standards. The uniformed and scientific quality standards of CMM were urgently needed to promote global acceptation and trade. These findings will provide evidence for building unified quality and safety standards that can adapt to the characteristics of CMM and promote international trade, and also will be stated that it is of the highest priority for ISO/TC 249 to formulate high-quality standards that consolidate international consensus to ensure quality and safety of the urgently needed CMM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the end of 2018, China has successfully launched 19 new generation BDS-3 satellites, including 18 Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites in operation and one Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite under in-orbit test, to complete a primary system for providing global services. In addition to the backward BDS-2 compatible B1I (1561.098 MHz) and B3I (1269.520 MHz) signals, the new-generation BDS-3 satellites are also capable of broadcasting new B1C (1575.42 MHz) and B2a (1176.45 MHz) open service navigation signals that overlap with the GPS/Galileo L1-E1 and L5-E5a signals, which brings opportunity for the tightly combined processing or inter-system double-differencing of observations from BDS-3, GPS, and Galileo. In this presentation, for the first time we assess the interoperability of BDS-3 B1C/B2a signals with GPS/Galileo L1-E1/L5-E5a signals for tightly combined real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning using real data collected in Wuhan, China. First, the characteristics of BDS-3 B1C/B2a signals and its comparison with GPS/Galileo L1-E1/L5-E5a signals is evaluated in terms of observed carrier-to-noise density ratio, pseudorange multipath and noise, and double-differenced carrier phase and code residuals. It is demonstrated that the observational quality of BDS-3 B1C/B2a signals is comparable to that of GPS/Galileo L1-E1/L5-E5a signals. Then, we investigate the size and stability of phase and code differential inter-system bias (DISB) between BDS-3/GPS/Galileo B1C-L1-E1/B2a-L5-E5a signals using zero or short baseline data collected with receivers with both identical and different types. It is verified that the BDS-3/GPS/Galileo DISBs are indeed close to zero when identical types of receivers are used at both ends of a baseline. Moreover, they are generally present and stable in the time domain for baselines with different receiver types, which can be easily calibrated and corrected in advance. Finally, performance of single-epoch tightly combined BDS-3/GPS/Galileo RTK with single-frequency and dual-frequency observations was evaluated by a formal as well as an empirical analysis, consisting of ambiguity dilution of precision (ADOP), bootstrapped success rate (BSR), the empirical ambiguity resolution success rate, and the positioning accuracy. Experimental results from static and kinematic tests demonstrate that whether the combination is BDS-3/GPS, BDS-3/Galileo or BDS-3/GPS/Galileo, the tightly combined model (TCM) can deliver much higher BSR and lower ADOP with respect to the classical loosely combined model (LCM). Meanwhile, the empirical ambiguity resolution success rate and positioning accuracy were remarkably improved as well, especially under poor observational environments where the observed satellites for each system are limited and only single-frequency observations are available. In such cases, the improvement of the empirical ambiguity resolution success rate can reach up to approximately 10%~50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The deuterium permeation behavior of a fecral-based alloy added with Mo, nb and ta produced in China was investigated. • Deuterium permeation is controlled by a combination of bulk diffusion and surface processes. • The ratios of the permeability of the fecral-based alloy to that of the 316 L and Zr-4 were also given. • The Arrhenius equation for deuterium permeability and diffusion coefficient of the fecral-based alloy were obtained. The deuterium permeation behavior of a FeCrAl-based alloy containing Mo, Nb and Ta elements was investigated by gas-phase deuterium permeation testing, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron backscatter diffraction methods. The results show that the higher the test temperature, the greater the steady-state permeation flux of the FeCrAl-based alloy. As the upstream deuterium pressure increases, the steady-state permeation flux of the FeCrAl-based alloy also increases. The pressure exponent n is between 0.5 and 1, indicating that deuterium permeation in the FeCrAl-based alloy is controlled by a combination of bulk diffusion and surface processes. This phenomenon is caused by the oxide film generated on the surface of the FeCrAl-based alloy during deuterium permeation test. The deuterium permeability of the FeCrAl-based alloy is about 37 times that of 316 L and 95 times that of Zircaloy-4 at the typical operating temperature of 300 °C. At 360 °C, the deuterium permeability of the FeCrAl-based alloy is about 25 times that of 316 L, and about 32 times that of Zircaloy-4. Compared with 316 L and Zircaloy-4 alloy, the activation energy of deuterium permeation of the FeCrAl-based alloy is smaller, indicating that deuterium permeates more easily in the FeCrAl-based alloy. The activation energy of deuterium diffusion in the FeCrAl-based alloy is also smaller, indicating that deuterium diffuses more easily in the FeCrAl-based alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: To investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts among adolescents in Guangzhou, China, and to explore the associations between health risk behaviors and suicidal behaviors. Methods: A two-stage stratified cluster sample design produced a representative sample of 12–19-year-old students who attended public middle schools in Guangzhou. Prevalence estimates and standard errors (SEs) of suicidal ideation and attempts were calculated using SUDAAN statistical software. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between health risk behaviors and suicidal behaviors. Results: Overall, 17.25% of students reported suicidal ideation, and 3.04% reported suicidal attempts during the past 12months. Almost all investigated health risk behaviors were significantly associated with suicidal ideation and attempts among adolescent females and males. In adjusted logistic regression analyses, physical fight was associated with suicidal attempts (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=4.358; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.080, 17.589), but not with suicidal ideation for females. Considering themselves overweight (AOR=1.257; 95%CI=1.082, 1.610) and current smoking (AOR=1.708; 95%CI=1.134, 4.605) were associated with suicidal ideation, but not with suicidal attempts for females. Among adolescent males, sad/hopeless (AOR=2.280; 95%CI=1.615, 3.219), current drinking (AOR=1.904; 95%CI=1.269, 2.857), and participating in vigorous physical activities ≥3times/week (AOR=0.639; 95%CI=0.477, 0.854) were associated with suicidal ideation, but not with suicidal attempts. Ever having had sexual intercourse was associated with suicidal attempts (AOR=2.588; 95%CI=1.125, 5.952), but not with suicidal ideation for males. Conclusions: The associations of health risk behaviors with suicidal ideation and attempts varied by gender, and the correlates of suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts were different. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Modern tunnel support design theory holds that surrounding rock not only generates load, but also takes load together with support system. However, how much loads will be taken by surrounding rock and support system respectively is still not clear. In order to investigate the cooperative effect of rock-support system for deep tunnel in complicated rock strata, we performed a true three-dimensional geo-mechanical model test to simulate tunnel construction crossing a weak fault based on the engineering background of Xianglushan Tunnel of Yunnan Water Diversion Project in China. Our test results reveal that: (1) the mechanical behavior of surrounding rock is influenced by the lithology. The evolution and distribution characteristics of displacement and stress are significantly different in various rock strata; (2) weak fault has little influence on the proportion of load taken by surrounding rocks, but has a distinct impact on the proportion of loads taken by supporting system components. Surrounding rock is the absolute dominant load-bearing body, taking about 97% of the excavation-induced load; (3) the bearing capacity of bolt is weak, and its main function is to reinforce surrounding rock. The lining is mainly used to bear load. Test results obtained in this study can provide important physical basis for the development of the construction scheme and the optimization of support design. These results can also serve as the benchmark for the validation of numerical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship between soil erosion and the changes in landscape patterns is important for guiding the management and development of watersheds. The Nangou watershed in Ansai County, Shaanxi on the Loess Plateau, is an area with the implement of "Grain for Green", ecological agriculture, ecological tourism and the demonstration of science and technology for landscape management. We quantified the spatial and temporal variations of landscape pattern and soil erosion from 1981 to 2018 using the GIS and the universal soil loss equation (USLE). The relationship between the soil erosion modulus and nine landscape pattern indices in three categories was analyzed using the principal component analysis at both plot and landscape levels. The results showed that, among the five landscape types, the spatial and temporal changes of cultivated land and woodland dominated the evolution of landscape patterns, which affected the concentration and distribution degree of the whole watershed. Soil erosion in the Nangou watershed decreased annually, with erosion area, erosion modulus and soil erosion intensity decreasing by 29.7%, 61.2%, and 73.4% from 1981 to 2018, respectively. The variation of cultivated land and forest land areas determined the changes of soil erosion modulus of the whole watershed. The change trend of landscape pattern index was consistent with that of soil erosion. "Grain for Green" Project was the major dri-ving force for the changes in the landscape pattern and for the reduction of soil erosion. The characteristic development and management could weaken soil erosion intensity in parts of the study area. The rational configuration of landscape types could effectively control soil erosion in a watershed. The combination of rational configuration and characteristic management could help achieve the goals for sustainable and high quality development of the watershed.

Both reasonable soil tillage and fertilization management play critical roles in improving the yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of forage maize in the semi-arid area of Loess Plateau. A field experiment was conducted at Dingxi experimental station of Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences between 2017 and 2019. We explored the effects of tillage method and fertilization type on yields and WUE of forage maize, as well as the economic benefits. There were four treatments in the experiment, including traditional rotary tillage + organic-inorganic fertilization (TOF), deep rotary tillage + organic-inorganic fertilization (DOF), and vertical rotary subsoiling + organic-inorganic fertilization (VROF), and the traditional rotary tillage + inorganic fertilization as the control (TF). Our results showed that, compared with DOF, TOF, TF, and VROF all decreased soil water storage in 0-300 cm soil layer at flowering stage, ranging from 16.9 mm to 79.9 mm, but they all increased soil water consumption by 9.7-22.4 mm during vegetative growing stages, 11.0-19.8 mm during reproductive stage in the dry years. Due to significant improvement in water absorption, VROF increased dry matter weight at maturity by 3.9%-13.4% compared to other treatments. Similarly, plant height, ear length, grain number per ear, 100-grain weight, and double ear rate under VROF were significantly increased, while bald head length was decreased significantly, when compared with other treatments. As a result, over the three experimental seasons, VROF increased the grain and biological yield by 4.3%-51.5% and 4.3%-25.7% compared to other treatments, respectively. Accordingly, WUE calculated by grain and biomass yields were increased by 2.7%-36.9% and 3.6%-13.5% under VROF, compared to other treatments. VROF increased the unit gross total output value and the net income by 5.1%-32.9% and 6.9%-80.5% respectively, compared to other treatments. These results demonstrated that VROF is a drought-resistant and yield-increasing farming technology for sustainable forage maize production in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau, Northwest China.