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Abstract: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) line M8003-5 is selected from the hybrid progenies of the common wheat variety Chinese Spring and Secale cereale L., which exhibits not only resistance to Puccinia striiformis West. f. sp. tritici (Pst) but also high yield, early maturity, and resistance to drought. To develop molecular markers for Pst resistance gene(s) in M8003-5, a segregation population was constructed by crossing M8003-5 with a highly susceptible variety Mingxian 169. Seven prevalent Pst races in China were inoculated in greenhouse at seedling stage phenotyping individuals from the F1, F2, and F3 generations. The results showed that M8003-5 was resistant to all races tested, whereas Mingxian 169 was highly susceptible to all inoculates. Genetic analysis indicated that the resistance of M8003-5 against Sun11-4 was conferred by a dominant gene, which was tentatively designated as YrM8003. This gene was linked to simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers Xbarc5, Xwmc463, Xwmc405, Xbarc126, Xgwm295, Xgwm44, Xwmc702, Xwmc438, Xwmc121, Xgwm111, and Xbarc128, which were all located on chromosome arm 7DS. The closest flanking makers were Xwmc702 and Xwmc438 with the genetic distances of 3.5 cM and 4.3 cM, respectively. Gene YrM8003 differs from any other known Pst resistance genes on 7DS, and is probably a novel gene. This gene is primarily inferred to originate from S. cereale based on analyses of pedigree and molecular markers data. Markers Xwmc702 and Xwmc438 were used to test 43 wheat cultivars from Huang-Huai Winter Wheat Region, and 20% cultivars were amplified with the target bands. These cultivars require further tests to validate the presence of YrM8003. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

High-resolution palaeoclimate proxy records have been lacking for the subtropical region of southwest China. To gain insights into hydroclimate variability in central Yunnan Province, we constructed a tree ring-width chronology of Tsuga dumosa from the Wuliang Mountain area. Correlation analysis shows that moisture availability is predominantly the limiting factor on radial growth, particularly during the spring-early summer season. Using a well-calibrated regression model (R2 = 0.36, p < 0.001), we reconstructed the March–June Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) for the period from 1826 to 2020 CE. Eleven extreme drought years (1860, 1897, 1958, 1960, 1979, 1984, 1987, 2006, 2010, 2013, and 2019) were identified, with most of them confirmed by historical evidence. The reconstruction series shows inter-annual to inter-decadal variations and an increasing occurrence of severe dry or wet events in the recent past, particularly during the last 50 years. Our drought reconstruction series shows high frequency cycle of 2–8 years. Spatial correlations indicate that our drought reconstruction captures hydrological signals over a larger area. In line with this, the reconstructed dry periods exhibit broad consistency with other tree-ring based drought reconstructions conducted in nearby regions. Our findings demonstrate the potential of tree-ring proxies for hydroclimate reconstruction in the subtropical areas of southwest China and provide crucial information for evaluating long-term climate change in this region. • Radial growth of T. dumosa in central Yunnan is mainly limited by spring-early summer moisture availability. • The two-century SPEI reconstruction identified eleven extreme drought years that align with historical records. • There has been a notable increase in the occurrence of severe dry or wet events in recent decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Lowering salt intake is one of the successful and cost-effective methods to reduce blood pressure (BP). In this randomized controlled study, we investigated the effects of a 3-year substitution of table salt with a low-sodium salt substitute in a rural population of North China. Methods Subjects from 200 families residing in five villages in Liaoning, North China were registered in this study and randomly divided into two groups: normal salt (100% sodium chloride) and low salt substitute (65% NaCl, 25% KCl, 10% MgSO 4 ). We compared the effects of the low-sodium salt substitute and normal salt on differences in BP from baseline to various follow-up time points during this 3-year study period. We also examined several factors that may affect the long-term changes in BP. Hypertension was defined per World Health Organization guidelines as BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg. Results The low sodium substitute significantly reduced the increase in both systolic and diastolic BP compared with the regular salt ( P = 0.000). Also, the population aged 40–70 years showed most beneficial response to the salt substitute compared with those aged < 40 or > 70 years. The low salt substitute had similar beneficial effects in both males and females. In addition, the salt type consumed and body mass index significantly affected the change in BP. Conclusion Use of the salt substitute significantly reduces the increase in BP over a long term, and thus, the salt substitute can be used as a replacement for regular salt in the daily diet to prevent/diminish the incidence of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic film residuals are increasingly remaining in cultivated lands. However, it is a critical issue how residual plastic type and thickness affect soil properties and crop yield. To address this issue, in situ landfill was conducted using thick polyethylene (PEt1), thin polyethylene (PEt2), thick biodegradable (BIOt1), thin biodegradable (BIOt2) residues, and CK (control) with no residues landfill in a semiarid maize field. The findings demonstrated that the impact of various treatments on soil characteristics and maize yield varied considerably. Soil water content decreased by 24.82% in PEt1 and 25.43% in PEt2, compared to BIOt1 and BIOt2, respectively. BIOt2 treatment increased soil bulk density by 1.31 g cm -3 and lowered soil porosity by 51.11%, respectively; it also elevated the silt/clay proportion by 49.42% relative to CK. In contrast, microaggregate composition in PEt2 was higher (43.02%). Moreover, BIOt2 lowered soil nitrate (NO 3 - ) and ammonium (NH 4 + ) content. Compared with other treatments, BIOt2 resulted in significantly higher soil total nitrogen (STN) and lower SOC/STN. Finally, BIOt2 exhibited the lowest water use efficiency (WUE) (20.57 kg ha -1 mm -1 ) and yield (6896 kg ha -1 ) among all the treatments. Therefore, BIO film residues exhibited detrimental impacts on soil quality and maize productivity compared to PE film ones. Considering film thickness, thin residual films more evidently influenced soil quality and maize productivity than thick film ones., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

When looking back to the literature regarding insomnia, it is believed that "disharmony of stomach leads to insomnia" is an important mechanism for the attack of insomnia. This theory is widely accepted in clinical practices by ancient and modern acupuncturists, thus the method treating insomnia from the stomach is developed. But deeper research on its mechanism is still lacking. Through correlation between stomach meridian and heart meridian, spleen and stomach being the pivot of rise and decline of qi movement and yin-yang and being the pivot of five zang-viscera housing spirit, modern abdomen-brain theory and experimental research, the mechanism of treating insomnia from the stomach is discussed in this paper, so as to be better to guide clinical acupoint-selection and treatment.

Objective: To explore the association between chronic periodontitis and hypertension in rural adult Uygur residents., Methods: A total of 1415 Uygur residents aged 18 and over were selected by random multistage and probability proportional to size from 364 villages in Moyu county of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, all subjects received questionnaire, physical examination and biochemical analysis and oral examination. The subjects were categorized as periodontitis group and no periodontitis group, the periodontitis group was further categorized as mild, moderate and severe periodontitis subgroup. The relationship between chronic periodontitis with hypertension was analyzed by Spearman correlation. Binary logistic regression was used to calculate the influential factors for hypertension., Results: The prevalence rates of chronic periodontitis and hypertension were 66.0% (934/1415) and 33.8% (478/1415), respectively. The prevalence rates of hypertension were 18.7% (90/481), 35.1% (131/373), 32.3% (62/192), 52.8% (195/369) in no periodontitis, mild, moderate and severe periodontitis groups, respectively. Spearman correlation showed an association of chronic periodontitis with hypertension (r(s) = 0.273, P < 0.01). After adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, waist circumference, glycometabolism disorder, hyperlipidemia, chronic kidney disease, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that periodontitis was significantly associated with hypertension (OR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.30 - 2.36, P < 0.01). Compared with no periodontitis, mild (OR = 1.76, 95%CI: 1.26 - 2.48, P < 0.01) and severe (OR = 2.26, 95%CI: 1.57 - 3.26, P < 0.01) periodontitis were significantly associated with hypertension while moderate periodontitis was not significantly associated with hypertension (OR = 1.21, 95%CI: 0.80 - 1.84, P > 0.05)., Conclusion: This study showed an independent association of periodontitis with hypertension in this study cohort.

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors on cerebral stroke in Zhangwu county, Liaoning province, a region with high hypertension prevalence rate., Methods: By cluster sampling method, 5208 adults ( > 18y. ) from 11 villages of 6 towns were registered. General information, common risk factors of cerebral stroke about these persons was recorded. Blood pressure together with several biochemistry indicators was determined. Data were analyzed by SPSS 10.0 software., Results: Standardized prevalence of cerebral stroke in this region was 3.10%, and the difference between males and females was significant. Prevalence rate was increasing with age. Multiple-factor analysis revealed that the incidence rate of cerebral stroke was related to high blood pressure, high diastolic pressure, pulse pressure, age, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-DL-C (LDL-C) level with OR values of 95% CI as 2.958 (1.783-4.907), 2.803 (1.934-4.062), 1.154 (1.056-1.261), 1.080 (1.063-1.097), 0.390 (0.235-0.647) and 1.422 (1.008-2.006) respectively., Conclusion: High blood pressure, in particular high diastolic pressure, pulse pressure and LDL-C level were main risk factors of cerebral stroke in Zhangwu countryside. However, HDL-C level was a protective factor. No new risk factors were discovered.

Objective: To study the relationship between serum iron(SI) and essential hypertension (EHT) based on population-based samples., Methods: Using clustering multistage sampling method, all the people above 18 years old in the target population were investigated. Blood pressure was measured and the questionnaire was used to find out related factors. Five milliliters fast vein blood were drawn and the serum were used for testing on serum iron (SI) and other elements such as blood sugar, cholesterol (CHOL), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein(HDL-C), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), serum sodium, serum potassium, serum calcium etc. A case control study was carried out with EHT patients from the selected population as case group, and the other healthy peoples as controls. Database was created by Fox Pro and SPSS 10.0 was used for statistical analysis., Results: The concentrations of SI, with (17.75 +/- 7.66) micromol/ L in EHT group and (17.23 +/- 7.83) micromol/L in control group, showed statistical difference (P < 0.05) between the two groups. The concentrations of SI also showed statistical difference (P < 0.05) between the high DBP and normal group with the average level as (17.84 +/- 7.58) micromol/L in high DBP group and (17.26 +/- 7.85) micromol/L in normal group. Data from monovariate analysis showed that the increase of SI was a risk factor for EHT, DBP and SBP. By multivariate analysis for EHT, while SI still existed in the model (OR = 1.296, 95% CI: 1.057-1.590), but for SBP the results almost remained the same (OR = 1.285, 95% CI:1.102-1.498)., Conclusion: Data from the results showed that SI was probably a risk factor for EHT.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence state of essential hypertension in the countryside of Zhangwu county, Liaoning province to confirm whether this county is the high prevalence region of essential hypertension., Methods: Five thousand, two hundred and eight 15-year olds or older were sampled by means of whole population random sampling. Blood pressure was measured and the related risk factors were investigated with the uniform questionnaire. SPSS 10.0 of statistical software was used for data analysis., Results: The standardized prevalence rate of hypertension was 35.0% at this region, 40.0% in male, 32.0% in female. The prevalence rates of hypertension were increased with the increasing of the age in both males and females. There were significant statistically differences in the prevalence rates of hypertension between the different age groups, different countrysides and different villages. The standardized prevalence rate of hypertension were 43.0% the highest and 29.0% lowest respectively in the countryside, with prevalence rates, were 59.4% highest and 26.9% lowest respectively in the village. In all the patients with hypertension, 72.0% having hypertension II, III., Conclusion: The countryside of Zhangwu county was a high prevalence region of essential hypertension which was unusual in our country. The reason of this status was still unknown which called for further study.