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Wheat yellow rust (YR) is a most devastating disease in wheat worldwide. In recent years, the epidemic in China has expanded from traditional areas to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River due to the changes in climate and cropping systems. To facilitate YR resistance breeding, it is meaningful to explore resistance loci from local germplasm resources. In this study, a linkage mapping was performed in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from Ningmai 9 × Yangmai 158 using a high‐density genetic map and phenotypic identification for adult plant resistance (APR) to YR in four environments. Phenotypic analysis showed that Yangmai 158 had better APR than Ningmai 9. Disease severity in different environments was significantly correlated with each other, and it was found that disease severity was significantly influenced by genotype, environment and their interaction. A total of 19 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified, of which four could be detected in multiple environments and four corresponding KASP markers were then developed. Lines with different QTLs from the population including 476 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) were evaluated for APR. The results revealed that Qyr‐4B.4 and Qyr‐5B.2 could significantly reduce the disease severity, with their combination showing a better effect. The findings of the study can be beneficial for wheat YR resistance breeding in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Genetic factors play an important role in Parkinson's disease (PD) risk. However, the genetic contribution to progression in Chinese PD patients has rarely been studied. This study investigated genetic associations with progression based on 30 PD risk loci common in a longitudinal cohort of Chinese PD patients and the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) cohort. Methods. PD patients from the true world (TW) Chinese PD longitudinal cohort and the PPMI cohort with demographic information and assessment scales were assessed. A panel containing 30 PD risk single nucleotide polymorphisms was tested. Progression rates of each scale were derived from random-effect slope values of mixed-effects regression models. Progression rates of multiple assessments were combined by using principal component analysis (PCA) to derive scores for composite, motor, and nonmotor progression. The association of genetic polymorphism and separate scales or PCA progression was analysed via linear regression. Results. In the Chinese PD cohort, MAOB rs1799836 was associated with progression based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the top 3 principal components (PCs) of nonmotor PCA and PC1 of the composite PCA. In the PPMI cohort, both MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale II and motor PC1 progression were associated with RIT2 rs12456492. The PARK16 haplotype was associated with Geriatric Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults progression, and the SNCA haplotype was associated with the Hoehn-Yahr staging progression and motor PC1 progression. Ethnicity-stratified analysis showed that the association between MAOB rs1799836 and PD progression may be specific to Asian or Chinese patients. Conclusion. MAOB rs1799836 was associated with the progression of nonmotor symptoms, especially cognitive impairment, and the composite progression of motor and nonmotor symptoms within our Chinese PD cohort. The RIT2 rs12456492 and SNCA haplotypes were associated with motor function decline, and the PARK16 haplotype was associated with progression in mood in the PPMI cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schistosomiasis japonica remains an important public health concern due to its potential to cause severe outcomes and long-term sequelae. An integrated control strategy implemented in the Peoples' Republic of China has been shown to be effective to control or interrupt the transmission of schistosomiasis. The objective of this study is to estimate the disease burden of schistosomiasis and assess the cost-effectiveness of the integrated control strategy focused on different major interventions at three stages for schistosomiasis control in a lake setting, to provide reference for policy making or planning. Methods: Annual cost data of schistosomiasis control during 2009–2019 were obtained from the control program implementers in Jiangling County, Hubei Province, China. Economic costs are provided in constant 2009 Chinese Yuan (CNY). Epidemiological data of schistosomiasis were collected from the Jiangling county station for schistosomiasis control. Disease burden of schistosomiasis was assessed by calculating years of life lost (YLLs) owing to premature death, years lived with disability (YLDs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). DALYs were calculated as the sum of YLLs and YLDs. We then conducted a rudimentary cost-effectiveness analysis by determining the ratio by dividing the difference between the average cost of integrated control strategy at transmission control (2013–2016) or transmission interruption (2017–2019) and the average cost at stage of infection control (2009–2012) with the difference between the DALYs of schistosomiasis at different control stages. Descriptive statistics on the costs and DALYs were used in the analysis. Results: The total economic costs for schistosomiasis control in Jiangling County from 2009 to 2019 were approximately CNY 606.88 million. The average annual economic costs for schistosomiasis prevention and control at stages of infection control (2009–2012), transmission control (2013–2016), and transmission interruption (2017–2019) were approximately CNY 41.98 million, CNY 90.19 million and CNY 26.06 million respectively. The overall disease burden caused by schistosomiasis presented a downward trend. Meanwhile, the disease burden of advanced cases showed an upward trend with the DALY increased from 943.72 to 1031.59 person-years. Most disease burden occurred in the age group over 45 years old (especially the elderly over 60 years old). Taking the infection control stage as the control, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of integrated control strategy was CNY 8505.5 per case averted, CNY 60 131.6 per DALY decreased at transmission control stage and CNY −2217.6 per case averted, CNY −18 116.0 per DALY decreased at transmission interruption stage. Conclusions: The disease burden of schistosomiasis decreased significantly with the implementation of the integrated prevention and control strategy. Surveillance and management on elder population should be strengthened to decrease diseases burden. There remains a need for well-conducted studies that examine the long-term cost-effectiveness of the integrated control strategy for schistosomiasis. Graphic Abstarct: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the absorption property of the representative hydrolyzable tannin, namely corilagin, and its hydrolysates gallic acid (GA) and ellagic acid (EA) from the Fructus Phyllanthi tannin fraction (PTF) in vitro. Methods. Caco-2 cells monolayer model was established. Influences of PTF on Caco-2 cells viability were detected with MTT assay. The transport across monolayers was examined for different time points, concentrations, and secretory directions. The inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance proteins (MRPs), organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) and sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1), and tight junction modulators were used to study the transport mechanism. LC-MS method was employed to quantify the absorption concentration. Results. The apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) values of the three compounds were below 1.0 × 10−6 cm/s. The absorption of corilagin and GA were much lower than their efflux, and the uptake of both compounds was increased in the presence of inhibitors of P-gp and MRPs. The absorption of EA was decreased in the company of OATP and SGLT1 inhibitors. Moreover, the transport of corilagin, GA, and EA was enhanced by tight junction modulators. Conclusion. These observations indicated that the three compounds in PTF were transported via passive diffusion combined with protein mediated transport. P-gp and MRPs might get involved in the transport of corilagin and GA. The absorption of EA could be attributed to OATP and SGLT1 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progesterone (P4) is a steroid gonadal hormone that is mainly produced from the corpus luteum and placenta and has various biological functions, especially reproductive regulation. It is important to establish a specific and sensitive P4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the study of ovary activity and reproductive disorders. Therefore, we prepared a monoclonal antibody (MAb) in a completed antigen (11α-OH-P4-HS-OVA). Based on the MAb and our previously prepared completed antigen, a highly specific and sensitive ELISA was developed. In the present study, a competitive ELISA for the determination of P4 was described in dairy cow milk. It was found that P4 concentration in milk samples from five pregnant cows was significantly higher than that from five estrus cows. The diagnosis rate for pregnancy and non-pregnancy in 54 dairy cows were 93.3% and 95.8%, respectively, at 19 to 23 days after pregnancy by detecting milk P4 concentration. In summary, the developed ELISA is a potential tool for P4 research and offers an alternative, simple, rapid technique for detecting P4, especially in future large clinical investigations on pregnancy identification and reproductive disorders in dairy farms in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sources and trends of antibiotics and heavy metals in the environment, the current pollution status of their combined pollution and the research progress of their ecological effects were reviewed. Antibiotics and heavy metals coexist in the environment with high probability, which have been detected simultaneously in water and soils environment in many areas of China. The main pathways of combined pollution of them were the returning field of manure and sewage and waste water treatment plant. The combined pollution of antibiotics and heavy metals has the ecotoxicological effects on plants, animals and microorganisms, and the degree of the ecotoxicological effect of the combined pollution is related to the types and concentrations of pollutants, biological species and exposure times. Water environment is one of the main sites of combined pollution by antibiotics and heavy metals. There are few studies on the effects of combined pollution of them on aquatic organisms, which need to be further explored. The in-depth and comprehensive toxicological analysis should be conducted from the cellular and molecular levels to study the biotoxicological effects of combined pollution of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investor sentiment on bank financial products (BFPs) is commonly overlooked. However, given the implementation of regulatory policies and the development of Internet financial market, investor sentiment on BFPs has become increasingly important in China since 2013. This paper constructs investor sentiment on BFPs, based on six proxies that reflect market liquidity, transaction status, market activity, and industry development. We contribute to the literature by finding the comovement of the investor sentiment on BFPs and the returns, and by demonstrating the spillover effects from bank financial markets to related markets from the perspective of the investor sentiment on BFPs. • The investor sentiment of bank financial products in China is proposed. • The investment sentiment of bank financial products significantly impacts the product returns. • There is a comovement between the investment sentiment of bank financial products the Internet financial investor sentiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social security for older people in China today has been established institutionally. However, there are substantial problems such as coverage, affordability, fund management, and corruption. This paper aims to provide a general picture of China's social security system for older people and to argue that the inequality of pension arrangements among different segments of the labor force is one of the most conspicuous problems challenging the Chinese government. Four unequal aspects of the pension system concerning the financing resources and pension levels are examined in this paper: (1) unequal institutional arrangements among different sectors, (2) unbalanced governmental expenditure in pension provision, (3) an increasing gap in pension levels between urban and rural areas, and (4) uncovered groups such as the unemployed and self-employed. Historical, economic, and political reasons all contribute to this unequal institution under transition from socialism to a market-oriented economy. At present, it is urgent for the central government to take measures to integrate the various pension arrangements into the unified Old Age Insurance and to reduce the gaps among different regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Grazing exclusion (GE) can increase the carbon (C) storage of semiarid grasslands in China; however, little is known about the effect of long-term GE on the C storage of soil fractions. On the basis of a chronosequence of grassland restoration from free grazing (FG) to 28-year GE, we investigated the dynamics of total C and N in soil fractions in order to assess the impact of long-term GE on the soil fractions. The results revealed that long-term GE had a marked impact on soil particle-size fractions and their total C and N concentrations. The C associated with sand and clay in the 0–10 cm soil layer exhibited a significant logarithmic increase as period of GE increases. The increase in C storage with the introduction of GE was considerable, especially in the sand and clay fraction of 0–10 cm soil layer. The C:N ratios of the whole soil and of the sand and silt increased significantly with grassland restoration. Considering the accumulation of total C in the whole soil and soil fractions and their logarithmic increase during the GE chronosequence, we suggest that by implementing GE, the temperate grasslands of northern China could facilitate significant C storage on decade scales; however, when subjected to GE for 2 decades or more, these grassland soils would have a lower potential to further accumulate the C newly derived from litter and dead roots. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To investigate the frequency of appositional angle closure and related anatomic characteristics in fellow eyes of Chinese subjects with acute primary angle closure (APAC) after laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI). Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: Consecutive subjects with APAC presenting from April 2006 to September 2006 at the Glaucoma Service of Peking University Eye Center, Peking University Third Hospital. Methods: Under dark conditions, fellow eyes were divided into 2 groups based on the detection of appositional angle closure by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). For all subjects, UBM parameters were measured to evaluate the different anatomic features between the 2 groups. Darkroom provocative tests (DRPTs) and gonioscopy were performed to investigate the relationship between angle closure and intraocular pressure. Main Outcome Measures: Central anterior chamber depth (ACD); angle opening distance500 (AOD500); angle recess area750 (ARA750); trabecular-iris angle (T-I angle); trabecular-ciliary process distance (TCPD); peripheral iris thickness (IT1); iris-zonule distance (IZD); and the position of the iris insertion. Results: Thirty-four post-LPI fellow eyes of 34 patients with APAC (8 men, 26 women; mean ± standard deviation age 66.3±7.2 years, range 54–83) were included. Peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) were not observed in any subject. Appositional angle closure was observed in at least 1 quadrant in 13 (38.2%) of the 34 patients. Compared with eyes without appositional closure, eyes with appositional closure showed significantly lower AOD500, ARA750, and T-I angle in 4 quadrants; shorter TCPD in the inferior and temporal quadrants; and thicker IT1 in the superior and nasal quadrants (P<0.05). The DRPT results were positive in 3 (11.1%) of 27 eyes with appositional closure in 0 to 2 quadrants and in 3 (75.0%) of 4 eyes with appositional closure in 3 to 4 quadrants (P = 0.0164). Conclusions: Under dark conditions, more than one third of fellow eyes of APAC showed appositional angle closure after LPI. The anatomic findings indicate a narrower angle, a more anterior position of the ciliary body, and a thicker peripheral iris in fellow eyes of APAC after LPI may be associated with an increased risk for progressive angle closure. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Based on the perspective of the value chain of agricultural science and technology innovation, in this paper, we divided the process of agricultural science and technology innovation into two stages: the Research and Development (R&D) of agricultural technology and the application of agricultural technology. We took the efficiency of agricultural science and technology innovation of the two stages as a comprehensive index measure for the development of agricultural science and technology innovation in China. On this basis, we used social network analysis to establish a two-stage spatial correlation network for the innovation development of agricultural science and technology in China. The spatial-temporal evolution trends, structural characteristics, and influencing factors of the network were analyzed from the three aspects of the overall, local, and individual network structure. The results show that: a. The development of agricultural science and technology innovation in China demonstrated a clear spatial correlation and spillover effect, and the spatial correlation network was in a connected state. b. The network had the distribution characteristics of 'core-edge' and strong stability, and the hierarchical structure of the members of each province in the network was gradually broken. c. The differences at the market level in agricultural science and technology, the differences in government support for agriculture, the geographically adjacent relationships, and the level of agricultural economic development were important factors affecting the spatial correlation of agricultural science and technology innovation. This study provides a policy reference to use a cross-regional coordinated development mechanism to solve the uneven and asymmetry problem of the distribution of elements in various regions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalyptus plantations are expanding rapidly in southern China owing to their short rotation periods and high wood yields. Determining the plantation dynamics of eucalyptus plantations facilitates accurate operational planning, maximizes benefits, and allows the scientific management and sustainable development of eucalyptus plantations. This study proposes a sliding-time-window change detection (STWCD) approach for the holistic characterization and analysis of eucalyptus plantation dynamics between 1990 and 2019 through dense Landsat time-series data. To achieve this, pre-processing was first conducted to obtain high-quality reflectance data and the monthly composite maximum normalized-difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series was determined for each Landsat pixel. Second, a sliding time window was used to segment the time series and obtain the NDVI change characteristics of the subsequent segments, and a sliding time window-based LandTrendr change detection algorithm was applied to detect the crucial growth or harvesting phases of the eucalyptus plantations. Third, pattern-matching technology was adopted based on the change detection results to determine the characteristics of the eucalyptus planting dynamics. Finally, we identified the management history of the eucalyptus plantations, including planting times, generations, and rotation cycles. The overall accuracy of eucalyptus identification was 90.08%, and the planting years of the validation samples and the planting years estimated by our algorithm revealed an apparent correlation of R2 = 0.98. The results showed that successive generations were mainly first- and second-generations, accounting for 75.79% and 19.83% of the total eucalyptus area, respectively. The rotation cycles of the eucalyptus plantations were predominantly in the range of 4–8 years. This study provides an effective approach for identifying eucalyptus plantation dynamics that can be applied to other short-rotation plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land cover changes, especially excessive economic forest plantations, have significantly threatened the ecological security of West Dongting Lake wetland in China. This work aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of forests in the West Dongting Lake region from 2000 to 2018 using a reconstructed monthly Landsat NDVI time series. The multi-type forest changes, including conversion from forest to another land cover category, conversion from another land cover category to forest, and conversion from forest to forest (such as flooding and replantation post-deforestation), and land cover categories before and after change were effectively detected by integrating Breaks For Additive Seasonal and Trend (BFAST) and random forest algorithms with the monthly NDVI time series, with an overall accuracy of 87.8%. On the basis of focusing on all the forest regions extracted through creating a forest mask for each image in time series and merging these to produce an 'anytime' forest mask, the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest were analyzed on the basis of the acquired information of multi-type forest changes and classification. The forests are principally distributed in the core zone of West Donting Lake surrounding the water body and the southwestern mountains. The forest changes in the core zone and low elevation region are prevalent and frequent. The variation of forest areas in West Dongting Lake experienced three steps: rapid expansion of forest plantation from 2000 to 2005, relatively steady from 2006 to 2011, and continuous decline since 2011, mainly caused by anthropogenic factors, such as government policies and economic profits. This study demonstrated the applicability of the integrated BFAST method to detect multi-type forest changes by using dense Landsat time series in the subtropical wetland ecosystem with low data availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally believed that mycorrhiza is a microecosystem composed of mycorrhizal fungi, host plants and other microscopic organisms. The mycorrhiza of Rhododendron dauricum is more complex and the diverse morphology of our investigated results displays both typical ericoid mycorrhizal characteristics and ectomycorrhizal traits. The characteristics of ectendoomycorrhiza, where mycelial invade from the outside into the root cells, have also been observed. In order to further clarify the mycorrhizal fungi members and other fungal communities of R. dauricum mycorrhiza, and explore the effects of vegetation and soil biological factors on their community structure, we selected two woodlands in the northeast of China as samples—one is a mixed forest of R. dauricum and Quercus mongolica, and the other a mixed forest of R. dauricum, Q. mongolica, and Pinus densiflor. The sampling time was during the local growing season, from June to September. High-throughput sequencing yielded a total of 3020 fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), which were based on sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer ribosomal RNA (ITS rRNA) via the Illumina NovaSeq platform. In the different habitats of R. dauricum, there are differences in the diversity of fungi obtained from mycorrhizal niches, and specifically the mycorrhizal fungal community structure in the complex vegetation of mixed forests, where R. dauricum is found, exhibits greater stability, with relatively minor changes over time. Soil fungi are identified as the primary source of fungi within the mycorrhizal niche, and the abundance of mycorrhizal fungi from mycorrhizal niches in R. dauricum is significantly influenced by soil pH, organic matter, and available nitrogen. The relationship between soil fungi and mycorrhizal fungi from mycorrhizal niches is simultaneously found to be intricate, while the genus Hydnellum emerges as a central genus among mycorrhizal fungi from mycorrhizal niches. However, there is currently a substantial gap in the foundational research of this genus, including the fact that mycorrhizal fungi from mycorrhizal niches have, compared to fungi present in the soil, proven to be more sensitive to changes in soil moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Eicosapentaenoic acid in its ethyl ester form is the single active component of icosapent ethyl (IPE). This study was a phase III, multi-center trial assessing the safety and efficiency of IPE for treating very high triglyceride (TG) in a Chinese cohort. Methods: Patients having TG levels (5.6–22.6 mmol/L) were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive a treatment of oral intake of 4 g or 2 g/day of IPE, or placebo. Before and after 12 weeks of treatment, TG levels were assessed and the median was calculated to determine the change between the baseline and week 12. In addition to examining TG levels, the impact of such treatments on other lipid changes was also investigated. The official Drug Clinical Trial Information Management Platform has registered this study (CTR20170362). Results: Random assignments were performed on 373 patients (mean age 48.9 years; 75.1% male). IPE (4 g/day) lowered TG levels by an average of 28.4% from baseline and by an average of 19.9% after correction for placebo (95% CI: 29.8%-10.0%, P < 0.001). In addition, plasma concentration of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and VLDL-TG remarkedly reduced after IPE (4 g/day) treatment by a median of 14.6%, 27.9%, and 25.2%, respectively compared with participants in placebo group. Compared to the placebo, neither 4 nor 2 g of IPE daily elevated LDL-C levels with statistical significance. IPE was well tolerated by all the treatment groups. Conclusions: IPE at 4 g/day dramatically lowered other atherogenic lipids without a noticeable increase in LDL-C, thereby decreasing TG levels in an exceptionally high-TG Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimed to describe in detail the prevalence of anemia in patients with TBM in Southern China and its association with the clinical forms of TB, as well as other characteristics of these patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with TBM at two tertiary hospitals in southern China. The demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and laboratory results of 114 patients with TBM were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the risk factors for anemia in patients with TBM. Results: Electronic medical record data of adult patients diagnosed with TBM from January 2004 to December 2019 were reviewed. Among 134 patients with TBM, 20 were excluded and 114 were analyzed, of whom 33 had anemic, the prevalence rate of anemia was 28.9%. Among patients with anemia, 51.5% had hypochromic microcytic anemia, 33.3% had normochromic normocytic anemia, and 15.2% had macrocytic anemia. Fever duration, TBM grade III and ESR were found to be independent predictors of anemia. Conclusion: Anemia was highly prevalent in patients with TBM, mainly hypochromic microcytic anemia. Besides, Fever duration, TBM grade III and ESR are predictors of anemia in patients with TBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaoFen 7 (GF-7) is China's first submeter high-resolution stereo mapping satellite with dual-linear-array cameras and a laser altimeter system onboard for high-precision mapping. To further take advantage of the very high elevation accuracy of laser altimetry data and the high relative accuracy with stereo images, an innovative combined adjustment method for GF-7 stereo images with laser altimetry data is presented in this paper. In this method, two flexible and effective schemes were proposed to extract the elevation control point according to the registration of footprint images and stereo images and then utilized as vertical control in the block adjustment to improve the elevation accuracy without ground control points (GCPs). The validation experiments were conducted in Shandong, China, with different terrains. The results demonstrated that, after using the laser altimetry data, the root mean square error (RMSE) of elevation was dramatically improved from the original 2.15 m to 0.75 m, while the maximum elevation error was less than 1.6 m. Moreover, by integrating a few horizontal control points, the planar and elevation accuracy can be simultaneously improved. The results show that the method will be useful for reducing the need for field survey work and improving mapping efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, increasing numbers of cases of acute gastroenteritis caused by Group A rotavirus (RVA) G12 strains have been reported in humans from many countries around the world, but G12 RVA detection in animals is currently less reported. Pigs are an important animal reservoir of zoonotic RVs and a mixing vessel for RVs. In 2020, RVA infection cases in piglets increased in China, which attracted more attention. During an epidemiological survey, a new type of porcine G12P[7] strain (CN127) was detected in pig farms across several provinces. Complete genome analyses revealed that strain CN127 possessed a Wa‐like backbone with a genotype constellation of G12‐P[7]‐I1‐C1‐M1‐R1‐A8‐N1‐T1‐E1‐H1. The A8 genotype is indicative of its porcine rotavirus origin. Sequence identities and phylogenetic analyses showed that the VP2, VP4, NSP1, NSP4 and NSP5 genes were most closely related to those of porcine rotaviruses, but the VP1, VP6, VP7 and NSP2‐3 genes were most closely related to those of human rotaviruses. CN127 likely emerged due to genetic reassortment between porcine and human rotavirus. In vivo experiments showed that CN127 infection caused gastrointestinal tract lesions in piglets and histopathological changes in the lung, liver and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). In the small intestine, RVA antigen was detected in the duodenum and jejunum but not in the ileum. In the extra‐intestinal tissues, RVA antigen was detected in the lung but not in the MLNs. Viral RNA was detected in the intestinal and extra‐intestinal tissues as well as blood. This study reveals that RVA G12P[7] may become an epidemic strain in China and also provides further evidence that cocirculating human and porcine strains could produce new genotype rotaviruses with high virulence in piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) + HMG protocol vs ultra-long gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist protocol in patients with advanced ovarian endometriosis who received in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: Three hundred patients with advanced ovary endometriosis who underwent IVF were included, and embryological and clinical outcomes were assessed between March 2017 and September 2017. Patients were divided into MPA + HMG group and 1-month ultra-long GnRHa protocol group. Results: Lower hMG dose and shorter medication time were found in the MPA + HMG group than in the GnRHa group (P < 0.05). Follicle to-Oocyte Index was significantly different between MPA + HMG group and GnRHa group (P < 0.001). No differences were found in the ovary response and numbers of mature oocytes, fertilized oocytes and viable embryos. The clinical pregnancy and live birth outcomes were similar between MPA + HMG group and GnRHa group, and these outcomes were independent of fresh or frozen embryo transfer in the GnRHa protocol group. There were no significant differences in the time to embryo transfer, medical cost and adverse effects. Conclusion: The number of oocytes retrieved and pregnancy outcomes after MPA + HMG protocol are similar to those after ultra-long GnRHa protocol in women with ovarian endometriosis. MPA + HMG protocol may be an alternative to ultra-long GnRHa protocol for IVF in ovary endometriosis patients. Trial registration The trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-INR-17010924) Plain English summary: In conclusion, the administration of MPA in COH showed similar number of oocytes retrieved, no premature LH surge, and similar pregnancy and live birth outcomes in patients with advanced ovarian endometriosis undergoing IVF/ICSI as compared to the one-month long protocol. The use of MPA in COH appears to be promising although many questions remain to be elucidated, including the dose and time of progestin priming as well as its possible influence on the oocyte development potential and microenvironment. Given their good tolerability, few metabolic influence, and low cost, progestogens provide a novel alternative to the conventional protocol for patients with endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Are there new genetic factors responsible for male infertility with normal sperm quantity and morphology?Summary Answer: We identified the bi-allelic variants in KCNU1 and confirmed it a novel pathogenetic gene for male infertility mainly due to impaired sperm acrosome reactions (ARs).What Is Known Already: Until now, the underlying genetic determinants for male affected individuals exhibiting normal sperm quantity and morphology have been largely unknown. Potassium/calcium-activated channel subfamily U member 1 (KCNU1) is a sperm-specific potassium channel. The Kcnu1 null mutation in male mice causes infertility due to the impaired progressive motility and AR.Study Design, Size, Duration: We recruited a cohort of 126 male infertility individuals with typical asthenospermia or fertilization failure and focused on two infertile males from two consanguineous families from 2015 to 2020; whole-exome sequencing and homozygosity mapping were performed. We identified a homozygous missense variant (c.2144A>G, p.His715Arg) and a homozygous donor splice-site variant (c.1295 + 3A>C, p.Val405Glyfs*8) in KCNU1. Then, we generated a knock-in (KI) mouse model in September 2020 and have now carried out functional studies and possible treatment strategies.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: The affected individuals with infertility were recruited from the Shanghai Ninth Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Genomic DNA from the affected individual was extracted from peripheral blood. Whole-exome sequencing, homozygosity mapping and in silico analyses were used to screen and identify KCNU1 variants, and the variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. We used C57BL/6N mouse to construct KI mouse model to mimic the reproductive phenotype in vivo. We performed functional experiments by western blotting, AR assay and immunofluorescent Staining. Finally, we performed IVF and ICSI to explore the treatment strategies.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: We identified a homozygous missense variant (c.2144A>G, p.His715Arg) and a homozygous donor splice-site variant (c.1295 + 3A>C, p.Val405Glyfs*8) in KCNU1 in two infertile males. We demonstrated that the splice-site variant affected normal alternative splicing of KCNU1, thus leading to the loss of function of KCNU1. Meanwhile, the missense pathogenic variant reduced the KCNU1 protein levels in sperm of both the affected individual and the KI mouse model, resulting in impaired ARs and male infertility. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was able to rescue the deficiencies.Large Scale Data: N/A.Limitations, Reasons For Caution: The exact molecular mechanism of KCNU1 and pathways need to be further explore in the future.Wider Implications Of the Findings: This is the first report that establishes a causal relationship between KCNU1 deficiency and male infertility, confirming the critical role of KCNU1 in human reproduction. Our findings expand our knowledge of the genes that play critical roles in the human sperm AR and provide a new genetic marker for infertility.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): This work was supported by the SHIPM-pi fund no. JY201801 from the Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81725006, 81771649, 81822019, 81771581, 81971450, 81971382, 82001538 and 82071642). The authors declare no conflict of interest.Trial Registration Number: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the relationship between anxiety, depression, sleep quality and health-related quality of life among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in China. Patients and Methods: After ethical approval and obtaining participants' informed consent, a cross-sectional study was conducted in The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University between October 1, 2021 and January 30, 2022. The data comprised demographic information, number of SLE symptoms, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (SLEQoL). We performed descriptive statistics, Spearman or Pearson correlations, and multiple linear regression. And Path analysis was performed to examine direct and indirect associations between these variables and health-related quality of life. Results: A total of 580 patients were recruited and 513 met our target criteria. Our final model fitted the data well: goodness-of-fit index (GFI) =0.996; adjusted goodness-of-fit index (AGFI) =0.974; comparative fit index (CFI) =0.998; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) =0.043. This model explained 57.3% of the variance on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with SLE and all the hypothesized paths reached significance (P< 0.05). Anxiety, depression, sleep quality, income/family, and number of SLE symptoms were related to health-related quality of life, and anxiety had the most influence on HRQoL (β=0.561). Conclusion: The study model helps to explain the relation among anxiety, depression, sleep quality and health-related quality of life in patients with SLE. It also suggests that health care professionals should be aware of factors such as anxiety, sleep quality, number of SLE symptoms, and depression in their care for HRQoL of SLE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although substantive research has shown that a positive perceived school climate is an essential protective factor for cyberbullying among adolescents, little research revealed the mechanisms underlying this relationship. This study examined whether normative beliefs about aggression mediate the association between a positive perceived school climate and cyberbullying and whether this process is moderated by Internet morality. Anonymous questionnaires measuring these variables were administered to 649 junior high school students in China. After controlling for traditional bullying, mediation analysis indicated that normative beliefs about aggression played a full mediating role in the relationship between a positive perceived school climate and cyberbullying. Moderated mediation analysis further revealed that Internet morality moderated the predictive effect of normative beliefs about aggression on cyberbullying. The mediating effect of normative beliefs about aggression was stronger in individuals with lower levels of Internet morality. These findings provide insight into making existing interventions more suitable for cyberbullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Are any novel mutations and corresponding new phenotypes, other than recurrent hydatidiform moles, seen in patients with MEI1 mutations?Summary Answer: We identified several novel mutations in MEI1 causing new phenotypes of early embryonic arrest and recurrent implantation failure.What Is Known Already: It has been reported that biallelic mutations in MEI1, encoding meiotic double-stranded break formation protein 1, cause azoospermia in men and recurrent hydatidiform moles in women.Study Design, Size, Duration: We first focused on a pedigree in which two sisters were diagnosed with recurrent hydatidiform moles in December 2018. After genetic analysis, two novel mutations in MEI1 were identified. We then expanded the mutational screening to patients with the phenotype of embryonic arrest, recurrent implantation failure, and recurrent pregnancy loss, and found another three novel MEI1 mutations in seven new patients from six families recruited from December 2018 to May 2020.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: Nine primary infertility patients were recruited from the reproduction centers in local hospitals. Genomic DNA from the affected individuals, their family members, and healthy controls was extracted from peripheral blood. The MEI1 mutations were screened using whole-exome sequencing and were confirmed by the Sanger sequencing. In silico analysis of mutations was performed with Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant (SIFT) and Protein Variation Effect Analyzer (PROVEAN). The influence of the MEI1 mutations was determined by western blotting and minigene analysis in vitro.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: In this study, we identified five novel mutations in MEI1 in nine patients from seven independent families. Apart from recurrent hydatidiform moles, biallelic mutations in MEI1 were also associated with early embryonic arrest and recurrent implantation failure. In addition, we demonstrated that protein-truncating and missense mutations reduced the protein level of MEI1, while the splicing mutations caused abnormal alternative splicing of MEI1.Limitations, Reasons For Caution: Owing to the lack of in vivo data from the oocytes of the patients, the exact molecular mechanism(s) involved in the phenotypes remains unknown and should be further investigated using knock-out or knock-in mice.Wider Implications Of the Findings: Our results not only reveal the important role of MEI1 in human oocyte meiosis and early embryonic development, but also extend the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of MEI1 and provide new diagnostic markers for genetic counseling of clinical patients.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC1003800, 2017YFC1001500, and 2016YFC1000600), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81725006, 81822019, 81771581, 81971450, and 81971382), the project supported by the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project (2017SHZDZX01), the Project of the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission (19JC1411001), the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (19ZR1444500), the Shuguang Program of the Shanghai Education Development Foundation and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (18SG03), the Shanghai Health and Family Planning Commission Foundation (20154Y0162), the Strategic Collaborative Research Program of the Ferring Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (FIRMC200507) and the Chongqing Key Laboratory of Human Embryo Engineering (2020KFKT008). No competing interests are declared.Trial Registration Number: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Understanding the store and storage potential of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) helps us understand how ecosystems would respond to natural and anthropogenic disturbances under different management strategies. We investigated organic C and N storage in aboveground biomass, litter, roots, and soil organic matter (SOM) in eight sites that were floristically and topographically similar, but which had been subjected to different intensities of disturbance by grazing animals. The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of grazing exclusion (GE) on the store and storage potential of C and N in the Leymus chinensis Tzvel. grasslands of northern China. The results revealed that the total C storage (including that stored in aboveground biomass, litter, roots, and SOM, i.e. top 100-cm soil layer) was significantly different among the eight grasslands and varied from 7.0kgCm−2 to 15.8kgCm−2, meanwhile, the total N storage varied from 0.6kgNm−2 to 1.5kgNm−2. The soil C storage decreased substantially with grassland degradation due to long-term heavy grazing. 90% C and 95% N stored in grasslands were observed in the SOM, and they were minor in other pools. The limit range of C and N storage observed in these grassland soils suggests that GE may be a valuable mechanism of sequestering C in the top meter of the soil profile. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Local space–time Moran's I from NDVI can monitor forest disturbance and recovery. • Elasticity, malleability and trend were selected as forest resilience indicators. • Dense satellite images are successful at deriving forest resilience. Resilience is the capacity of an ecosystem to respond and recover from damage or stress. It can inherently exhibit the cycle and feedback of the disturbed ecosystem recovery process for a specified period. The current availability of dense and consistent time series of satellite images holds the promise of monitoring forest resilience. The aim of this study is to establish forest resilience indicators using dense Landsat time series and assess forest resilience in response to the maximum disturbance magnitude in the hilly red soil region, Hengyang Basin, Southern China. To achieve this, Landsat images of the study area from 1987 to 2017 were collected. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), i.e., proxy of forest green characteristics, number of patch (NP), average patch size (PS), patch perimeter-area ratio (PPAR) and aggregation index (AI), i.e., proxies of forest landscape metrics were calculated from Landsat images. And then elasticity (i.e., the time and rate of recovery), malleability (i.e., degree of deviation from an initial state) and trend (i.e., the pattern of change) as the indicators of forest resilience were constructed. The local space–time Moran's I (STI) based on NDVI residual space–time Moran's I (STI) was employed to characterize the forest disturbance and recovery process. The results revealed the following. Firstly, the STI calculated from dense time series NDVI residuals are successful at monitoring the forest disturbance recovery process, regardless of whether changes were dramatic or subtle. Secondly, the most forest disturbances (i.e., > 75%) occurred in the late 1980s and early 1990s. NDVI and landscape metrics also differed in their response to disturbances; NDVI, PPAR and AI are more malleable to disturbance than PS and NP are. Finally, approximately 40% of the disturbed forest had the strong elasticity with a short recovery time (i.e., a year). We conclude that measuring forest resilience via vegetation greenness and landscape metrics using dense time series satellite images is practical as an operational tool for policy makers, landowners, and national park managers. Moreover, insights into ecological dynamics are emerging from capturing the process showing the difference both before and after the change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To control the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), China sealed Wuhan on 23 January 2020 and soon expanded lockdown to 12 other cities in Hubei province. We aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics in one of the cities and highlight the effect of current implemented lockdown and nonpharmaceutical interventions. Methods We retrieved data of reported cases in Huangshi and Wuhan from publicly available disease databases. Local epidemiological data on suspected or confirmed cases in Huangshi were collected through field investigation. Epidemic curves were constructed with data on reported and observed cases. Results The accumulated confirmed COVID-19 cases and fatality in Huangshi were reported to be 1015 and 3.74%, respectively, compared with 50006 and 5.08% in Wuhan until 27 March 2020. Right after 24 January, the epidemic curve based on observed cases in Huangshi became flattened. And 1 February 2020 was identified as the "turning point" as the epidemic in Huangshi faded soon afterward. COVID-19 epidemic was characterized by mild cases in Huangshi, accounting for 82.66% of total cases. Moreover, 50 asymptomatic infections were identified in adults and children. In addition, we found confirmed cases in 19 familial clusters and 21 healthcare workers, supporting interhuman transmission. Conclusions Our study reported the temporal dynamics and characteristics of the COVID-19 epidemic in Huangshi city, China, across the unprecedented intervention. Such new epidemiological inference might provide further guidance on current lockdown measures in high-risk cities and, subsequently, help improve public health intervention strategies against the pandemic on the country and global levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Do sperm-specific phospholipase C zeta (PLCZ1) mutations account for male infertility due to fertilization failure?Summary Answer: Six novel mutations and one reported mutation in PLCZ1 were identified in five of 14 independent families characterized by fertilization failure or poor fertilization, suggesting that these mutations may be responsible for fertilization failure in men exhibiting primary infertility.What Is Known Already: PLCZ1 is essential for the induction of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) oscillations and the initiation of oocyte activation during mammalian fertilization. However, genetic evidence linking PLCZ1 mutations with male infertility remains limited.Study Design, Size, Duration: Fourteen unrelated primary infertility patients were recruited into this study from January 2016 to December 2018; the patients exhibited total fertilization failure or poor fertilization, as evidenced by ICSI and sperm-related oocyte activation deficiencies identified in mouse oocyte activation assays.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: Genomic DNA samples were extracted from the peripheral blood of patients. The whole exons of PLCZ1 were sequenced by Sanger sequencing. The PLCZ1 sequences were aligned by CodonCode software to identify rare variants. The ExAC database was used to search for the frequency of corresponding mutations. The pathogenicity of identified variants and their possible effects on the protein were assessed in silico. PLCZ1 protein levels in semen samples were evaluated by western blotting. Oocyte activation ability was assessed by the injection of wild-type and mutant PLCZ1 cRNAs into human mature metaphase II (MII) oocytes in vitro.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: We identified six novel mutations and one reported mutation in PLCZ1 among five affected individuals. In addition to four novel missense mutations, two new types of genetic variants were identified, including one in-frame deletion and one splicing mutation. Western blot analysis revealed that PLCZ1 protein expression was not observed in the semen samples from the five affected patients. Microinjection with the PLCZ1 cRNA variants was performed, and a significant decrease in the percentage of pronuclei was observed for four novel missense mutations and one novel in-frame deletion mutation, suggesting that these mutations have a deleterious influence on protein function. By artificial oocyte activation treatment, the fertilization failure phenotypes of four affected patients were successfully rescued and three healthy babies were delivered.Large Scale Data: N/A.Limitations, Reasons For Caution: We screened only the whole exons of PLCZ1. Additional possible mutations in the non-coding region of PLCZ1 should be further studied.Wider Implications Of the Findings: Our study not only further confirms the important role of PLCZ1 in human fertilization but also expands the mutational spectrum of PLCZ1 associated with male infertility, which provides a basis for assessing genetic variation in PLCZ1 as a potential diagnostic marker for infertile men suffering from fertilization failure.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): This research was supported by the National Natural Foundation of China (81 571 486 and 81 771 649). All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The physical models and wavelet transform isolated the effects of rice under Cd stress from other abrupt stressors. • Spatio-temporal variation coefficients can capture the spatio-temporal characteristics of rice under Cd stress. • Rice under Cd stress is characterized by spatio-temporal stability over extended time periods. • Long-time-series remote sensing data can be used to detect stable stressors on crops. Stable stressors on crops (e.g., salts, heavy metals), which are characterized by stable spatial patterns over time, are harmful to agricultural production and food security. Satellite data provide temporally and spatially continuous synoptic observations of stable stress on crops. This study presents a method for identifying rice under stable stress (i.e., Cd stress) and exploring its spatio-temporal characteristics indicators. The study area is a major rice growing region located in Hunan Province, China. Moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat images from 2008–2017 as well as in situ measurements were collected. The coupling of a leaf canopy radiative transfer model with the World Food Study Model (WOFOST) via a wavelet transform isolated the effects of Cd stress from other abrupt stressors. An area wavelet transform stress signal (AWTS), based on a time-series Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), was used to detect rice under Cd stress, and its spatio-temporal variation metrics explored. The results indicate that spatial variation coefficients (S V C) of AWTS in the range of 0–1 ha d a coverage area greater than 70% in each experimental region, regardless of the year. Over ten years, the temporal variation coefficients (T V C) of AWTS in the range of 0–1 occurred frequently (more than 60% of the time). In addition, the Pearson correlation coefficient of AWTS over two consecutive years was usually greater than 0.5. We conclude that a combination of multi-year satellite-derived vegetation index data with a physical model simulation is an effective and novel method for detecting crops under environmental stress. A wavelet transform proved promising in differentiating between the effects of stable stress and abrupt stress on rice and may offer a way forward for diagnosing crop stress at continental and global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Establishing indicators to describe landscape structure patterns and processes. • Explaining the ecological significance of spatio-temporal variation indicators. • Reasoning landscape structure variation in Changting County. Terrestrial ecosystems are constantly changing at various spatial and temporal scales due to natural and/or anthropogenic factors. It is therefore of great interest to develop effective indicators based on spatio-temporal variations to detect, map, and monitor ecosystem changes on the continental and global scales. In this study, spatio-temporal variation indicators were established to characterize landscape structure changes based on temporal analysis combined with spatial information obtained using dense Landsat time series in Changting County, Fujian, Province, China. All available Landsat images from 1987 to 2017 were collected. The fractal dimension (FD) of the spatial neighbor normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from the Landsat images was calculated. Four change patterns (stable, increasing, decreasing, and wave) were explored using the ordinary least-squares method between abrupt change points performed by a Mann–Kendall test on the FD time series to characterize the spatio-temporal dynamics. The results showed that 49.98% of the landscape structure in the study area decreased over the 31-year study period. The forest and water were dominated by decreasing patterns (67.00% and 56.27%); the urban land and cropland were dominated by wave patterns (50.07% and 50.95%); bare land regions were dominated by wave patterns and increasing patterns (50.52% and 31.38%). Wide and discontinuous landscape structures with high heterogeneity were replaced by landscape patches. The regional landscape structure heterogeneity increased in the bare land regions and other homogeneous landscape structures, while the decreases may be coupled with internal landscape structure changes. It was concluded that the spatial and temporal variations of the change patterns and change processes determined based on the FD of the NDVI in the spatial neighbor region are systematic indicators and can be used to detect landscape structure changes successfully and provide insights into dynamic trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To explore the effects of a home care mobile app on the outcomes of stoma patients who discharged from hospital. Background: Patients with a newly formed stoma experience many difficulties after surgery. Mobile application (app) has the potential to help patients self‐manage their diseases and adjust to the changes in their lives and is a convenient way to ensure the continuity of care. However, there is a lack of studies about the effects of a mobile app on the transitional care for improving discharged stoma‐related health outcomes. Design: A randomised controlled trial. Methods: A total of 203 patients with a permanent stoma in tertiary hospitals in China were randomly assigned into two groups. Patients in the control group (n = 103) received routine discharge care. Patients in the intervention group (n = 100) received home care via a mobile app besides routine care. The psychosocial adjustment level, self‐efficacy scale and stoma complications incidence were measured in the follow‐up period and compared between the two groups. Data were collected at four time points: before intervention (baseline), at 1, 3 and 6 months after discharge. Results: The psychosocial adjustment level and stoma self‐efficacy score of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group, respectively, at 1‐, 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up (all p < 0.05). The incidence of stoma complications in the intervention group was tending to reduce at 1, 3 and 6 months after discharge. Conclusion: The findings indicated that follow‐up care at home via a mobile app can effectively improve the psychosocial adjustment level, self‐efficacy scale and other related outcomes of stoma patients. Relevance to clinical practice: The home care mobile app is an effective intervention to support the psychosocial adjustment and self‐efficacy of stoma patients after discharge. It ensures the continuity of care and provides nursing guidance for the patients timely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp . tritici Erikss., is a severe foliar disease of common wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. Use of adult-plant resistance (APR) is an efficient approach to provide long-term protection of crops from the disease. The German spring wheat cultivar Naxos showed a high level of APR to stripe rust in the field. To identify the APR genes in this cultivar, a mapping population of 166 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was developed from a cross between Naxos and Shanghai 3/Catbird (SHA3/CBRD), a moderately susceptible line developed by CIMMYT. The RILs were evaluated for maximum disease severity (MDS) in Sichuan and Gansu in the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 cropping seasons. Composite interval mapping (CIM) identified four QTL, QYr.caas- 1BL.1RS, QYr.caas- 1DS, QYr.caas- 5BL.3 and QYr.caas- 7BL.1, conferring stable resistance to stripe rust across all environments, each explaining 1.9-27.6, 2.1-5.8, 2.5-7.8 and 3.7-9.1 % of the phenotypic variance, respectively. QYr.caas- 1DS flanked by molecular markers XUgwm353- Xgdm33b was likely a new QTL for APR to stripe rust. Because the interval between flanking markers for each QTL was less than 6.5 cM, these QTL and their closely linked markers are potentially useful for improving resistance to stripe rust in wheat breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A water optical classification method was developed using density peaks. • The class-specific retrieval models of surface water turbidity were established. • Long-term dynamics of surface water turbidity was tracked using satellite images. • Interaction of water level and rainfall is probably the main environmental driver. Surface water turbidity (SWT), as a low-cost proxy of surface suspended sediment, is important for characterizing the hydro-ecological process and light availability in the lake or reservoir ecosystem. In this study, we proposed the combined use of HJ-1 charge-coupled device imaging and field observation to track the long-term SWT dynamics with environmental changes in Lakes Gaoyang, Hanfeng, and Changshou of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. In situ remote sensing reflectance spectra were utilized to develop the characteristic spectral indexes for the SWT estimation in different water optical classes separated by a density peaks-based classification. Significant correlations were found between the red-, four-band, band ratio spectral indexes and SWT (determination coefficient >0.71 and root-mean-square error <8.32 nephelometric turbidity unit), suggesting a crucial role of the class-specific retrieval models for the SWT estimation in optically complex waters. The proposed method was further used to monitor the spatio-temporal SWT dynamics over the three lakes from 2008 to 2019, demonstrating that the significant SWT decline in Lakes Gaoyang and Hanfeng and the relatively stable trend in Lake Changshou during the 11-year period. Specifically, the SWT decreasing trends may be attributed to the water level linkage mechanism of Three Gorges and Wuyang Dams. In addition, analyses with simultaneous environmental factors showed that the seasonal and inter-annual variations of SWT appear to be closely correlated with water level and rainfall. Long-term remote tracking of the SWT dynamics presented in this study could provide new insight and reference for reservoir management in the post-Three Gorges Project Era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Alkaptonuria (AKU) is one of the first prototypic inborn errors in metabolism and the first human disease found to be transmitted via Mendelian autosomal recessive inheritance. It is caused by HGD mutations, which leads to a deficiency in homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD) activity. To date, several HGD mutations have been identified as the cause of the prototypic disease across different ethnic populations worldwide. However, in Asia, the HGD mutation is very rarely reported. For the Chinese population, no literature on HGD mutation screening is available to date. In this paper, we describe two novel HGD mutations in a Chinese AKU family, the splicing mutation of IVS7+1G>C, a donor splice site of exon 7, and a missense mutation of F329C in exon 12. The predicted new splicing site of the mutated exon 7 sequence demonstrated a 303bp extension after the mutation site. The F329C mutation most probably disturbed the stability of the conformation of the two loops critical to the Fe2+ active site of the HGD enzyme. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Phosphorus (P) is required for numerous developmental processes, such as flowering and reproduction, in maize (Zea mays L.). It is also an essential nutrient in fertilizers to sustain high yields in farmlands with insufficient available phosphate, particularly in acid soils in China. Flowering time is a key factor influencing the adaptation of maize to the local environment and is associated with high yields. However, few studies have focused on the genetic characteristics of flowering time under low phosphate conditions. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between X178 and 9782 was evaluated for three flowering time traits under two phosphates (Pi) levels at four locations. We found that low phosphate significantly delayed the flowering stage of maize and proposed the hypothesis of "Phosphorus Accumulation Effect". Mixed-model-based composite interval mapping was used to dissect the genetic basis of the flowering time traits. A total of 41 quantitative trait loci (QTL) was identified for the three flowering time traits through four procedures. Among these 41 QTL, 38 focused on four hot regions, including bin 2.02, bin 2.03, bin 5.04, and bin 6.01. These regions and linked markers should be the targets for fine mapping, map-based cloning, and marker-assisted selection of flowering time and phosphate utilization efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major social issue during urban development, crime is closely related to socioeconomic, geographic, and environmental factors. Traditional crime prediction models reveal the spatiotemporal dynamics of crime risks, but usually ignore the environmental context of the geographic areas where crimes occur. Therefore, it is difficult to enhance the spatial accuracy of crime prediction. We propose the use of anisotropic diffusion to include environmental factors of the evaluated geographic area in the traditional crime prediction model, thereby aiming to predict crime occurrence at a finer scale regarding spatiotemporal aspects and environmental similarity. Under different evaluation criteria, the average prediction accuracy of the proposed method is 28.8%, improving prediction accuracy by 77.5%, as compared to the traditional methods. The proposed method can provide strong policing support in terms of conducting targeted hotspot policing and fostering sustainable community development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical issue in the geography of crime is the quantitative analysis of the spatial distribution of crimes which usually changes over time. In this paper, we use the concept of exchange mobility across different time periods to determine the spatial distribution of the theft rate in the city of Wuhan, China, in 2016. To this end, we use a newly-developed spatial dynamic indicator, the Local Indicator of Mobility Association (LIMA), which can detect differences in the spatial distribution of theft rate rankings over time from a distributional dynamics perspective. Our results provide a scientific reference for the evaluation of the effects of crime prevention efforts and offer a decision-making tool to enhance the application of temporal and spatial analytical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]