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Background: Patients with gastric cancer (GC) who underwent radical surgery require long-term follow-up (usually 5 years). The purpose of this study was to explore individualized follow-up strategies for patients with GC. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that established a clinicopathologic database of patients who underwent gastrectomy from January 2010 to December 2020 at Ningbo No. 2 Hospital. Follow-up was performed until March 2023. The rate of new-onset recurrence of patients with GC was explored annually according to different pTNM stages, defining a recurrence rate of less than 1% as adequate follow-up time. Results: Of the 1606 patients who were eligible, the total number of patients who completed the 5- and 10-year follow-up was 1107 and 586, respectively. A total of 444 cases were diagnosed with recurrence. The recurrence rate for stage IA patients was consistently less than 1% during the follow-up time. The adequate follow-up time (the rate of new-onset recurrence less than 1%) was 5 years for stage IB and IIA patients, and 8 years for stage IIB and IIIA patients, respectively. In contrast, stage IIIB patients were always at risk of recurrence during the follow-up time (>1%). Time to a new recurrence rate for stage IIIC patients was 6 years. Conclusion: Among patients who underwent radical gastrectomy, the rate of new-onset recurrence varied among patients with different pTNM stages. This study suggests that the follow-up of GC can be individualized and refer to pTNM stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various muscle contraction modalities have differing effects on the musculoskeletal system. To understand the magnitude of these effects, the authors investigated the effects of eccentric and concentric contractions on the bone-tendon interface after rotator cuff repair in mice. Hypothesis: Eccentric contraction promotes healing of the bone-tendon interface after rotator cuff repair in mice better than other muscle contraction patterns. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: The authors performed acute supraspinatus tendon repair of the right shoulder in 104 C57BL/6 mice. Animals were randomized into 4 groups postoperatively: control group (Con group), horizontal running group (Horz group), +15° uphill running group (Up group), and −15° downhill running group (Down group), with 26 animals in each group. At 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, the authors removed the eyeball, collected blood samples, and extracted the supraspinatus tendon–humerus complex for histological, immunological, bone morphological, and biomechanical tests. Results: At 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, the Down group exhibited a better collagen cell arrangement and fibrocartilage layer than the other 3 groups. At 4 weeks postoperatively, anti-inflammatory macrophages (M2 macrophages) were observed at the repair site in all groups except for the Con group. At 8 weeks postoperatively, M2 macrophages were withdrawn from the tendon site in all groups. The transforming growth factor β1 concentration in the Down group was greater than that in the other 3 groups at 4 weeks postoperatively, and it was higher than that in the Con group at 8 weeks postoperatively. The bone volume fraction, number of trabeculae, and thickness of trabeculae at the repair site in the Down group, as well as the ultimate strength and failure load in the biomechanical tests, were greater than those in the other 3 groups at 8 weeks postoperatively. Conclusion: Eccentric contraction promotes healing of the bone-tendon interface after rotator cuff repair in mice better than other muscle contraction patterns. Clinical Relevance: After clinical rotator cuff repair, patients can be rehabilitated by eccentric training to speed up the functional recovery of the shoulder joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light use efficiency (LUE) is a crucial indicator used to reflect the ability of terrestrial ecosystems to transform light energy. Understanding the long-term trends in LUE and its influencing factors are essential for determining the future carbon sink and carbon sequestration potential of terrestrial ecosystems. However, the long-term interannual variability of LUE in grasslands in northern China at the ecosystem scale is poorly understood due to the limitations of the year length and the coverage of the site data. In this study, we assessed the long-term LUE trends in the grasslands of northern China from 1982 to 2018 and then revealed the relationships between interannual variability in LUE and climate factors. Our study showed a substantial rising trend for LUE from 1982 to 2018 in the grasslands of northern China (3.42 × 10−3 g C/MJ/yr). Regarding the different grassland types, alpine meadow had the highest growth rate (4.85 × 10−3 g C/MJ/yr), while temperate steppe had the lowest growth rate (1.58 × 10−3 g C/MJ/yr). The climate factors driving LUE dynamics were spatially heterogeneous in grasslands. Increasing precipitation accelerated the interannual growth rate of LUE in temperate steppe, and increasing temperature accelerated the interannual growth rate of LUE in other types. In addition, the temporal dynamic of LUE showed different trends in relation to time scales, and the growth trend slowed down after 1998. Our results should be considered in developing future grassland management measures and predicting carbon cycle–climate interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Soil microorganisms in grassland ecosystem exhibit varying spatial–temporal patterns. However, the underlying mechanisms shaping microbial community assembly during grassland restoration are largely unknown. Here, we assessed the relative importance of stochastic and deterministic processes in the assembly of soil fungal communities in a semiarid grassland during different grazing exclusion periods (i.e., 0, 20 and 40 years). Materials and methods: The patterns of soil fungal communities were assessed using high-throughput genomic tools and multivariate statistical analyses. Results and discussion: The mobility and alpha diversity of soil fungal communities peaked in grasslands where grazing had been excluded for 20 years, indicating that the soil fungal community had a higher dispersal ability and was more conducive to the increase of soil fungal community diversity. It was also noted that the soil fungal community compositions varied with grazing exclusion periods. However, Mantel tests, variance partitioning analysis (VPA), and hierarchical partitioning theory (HP) showed vegetation characteristics and soil properties had a small impact on soil fungal community compositions. The neutral community model (NCM), PER-SIMPER, and dispersal-niche continuum index (DNCI) highlighted that the formation of soil fungal community was primarily mediated by stochastic processes. Conclusions: Taken together, the results of this research provided a better understanding of the spatial and temporal patterns of soil fungal communities and the mechanisms underlying soil fungal community assembly during the restoration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The mixed Candida/bacterial bloodstream infections (mixed C/B-BSIs) is worthy of particular attention recently, and we analyzed the incidence, co-pathogens, clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of mixed C/B-BSIs compared with monomicrobial candidemia (mono-candidemia) in adult patients in China. Methods: All hospitalized adults with candidemia were recruited for this retrospective observational study from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2019. Results: Of the 296 patients with candidemia, 78 cases (26.3%) were mixed C/B-BSIs. Candida albicans (C. albicans) was the most common Candida species among all candidemia, and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) was the most concomitant bacteria (30.6%), followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) (12.9%) and Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) (11.8%) in mixed C/B-BSIs. In the multivariable analysis, prior β-lactams exposure [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.97; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–3.87], burn injury (aOR, 6.35; 95% CI 1.82–22.21) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) (aOR, 3.00; 95% CI 1.46–6.17) were independent risk factors for mixed C/B-BSIs. Compared with mono-candidemia, patients with mixed C/B-BSIs developed with more proportion of septic shock (55.1% vs. 39.9%, P < 0.05), prolonged stay in ICU [22.0(12.0–57.0) vs. 9.5(0.0–37.0) days, P < 0.001] and longer mechanical ventilation time [19.0(4.5–40.8) vs. 6.0(0.0–24.8) days, P < 0.001]. The in-hospital mortality in patients with mixed C/B-BSIs was higher than those with mono-candidemia (59.0% vs. 34.9%, P < 0.001). Survival analysis revealed that 28-day and 60-day mortality were significantly higher in patients with mixed C/B-BSI than in those with mono-candidemia (57.7% vs. 31.7%, P < 0.001; 59.0% vs. 34.9%, P < 0.001; respectively). Conclusions: There is a high rate of mixed C/B-BSIs cases among candidemia, and K. pneumoniae is the predominant coexisting species. Prior β-lactams exposure, burn injury, and CRRT are independent risk factors for mixed C/B-BSIs. The mortality of patients with mixed C/B-BSIs is significantly higher than those with mono-candidemia, this deserves further attention for clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The incidence of polymicrobial bloodstream infections is increasing, the clinical characteristics of polymicrobial Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream infections (AB-BSI) are unclear, and there are no reports of polymicrobial AB-BSI in mainland China. Therefore, our objective was to identify the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of polymicrobial AB-BSI versus monomicrobial AB-BSI. Methods. A retrospective survey of all patients with AB-BSI from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, and their clinical data were collected and analyzed by reviewing electronic medical records. All data were compared and analyzed between groups of monomicrobial and polymicrobial AB-BSI. Risk factors for polymicrobial AB-BSI were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results. A total of 204 patients were included, of which 39 (19.1%) were patients with polymicrobial AB-BSI. The main sources of the pathogenicity of polymicrobial Acinetobacter baumannii bloodstream infections were skin and soft tissue (38.5% vs. 16.4%, p = 0.002). Resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam as an independent factor for polymicrobial AB-BSI was found in multivariate analysis. Patients with polymicrobial AB-BSI had longer hospital stays compared to those with monomicrobial AB-BSI. However, there was no significant difference in mortality between the two groups. Conclusions. Polymicrobial AB-BSI accounted for a significant proportion among all AB-BSI, and it did not influence mortality but was related to slightly longer total hospital stays. Multidrug resistance was associated with the development of polymicrobial AB-BSI but does not directly lead to polymicrobial AB-BSI, whereas resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam was highly correlated with polymicrobial AB-BSI. Therefore, while treating A. baumannii bloodstream infections, clinicians cannot ignore the multidrug-resistant A. baumannii, especially piperacillin/tazobactam-resistant A. baumannii, which may predispose to the development of polymicrobial AB-BSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Miscanthus is a promising lignocellulosic feedstock crop for the production of bioenergy. Miscanthus is drawing attention because it can be grown on marginal land and avoid competition with food crops. Therefore, as measures of performance, biomass yield and quality of two parent species (Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus lutarioriparius) and 15 of their interspecific hybrids were evaluated in a saline–alkaline soil of the Yellow River delta in China. Ethanol and biogas production potentials were also estimated. A field trial with a randomised block design with five replicates of each genotype was conducted in 2014. Biomass yield, plant height, tiller number, stem diameter, and tiller mass of each parent and hybrid were measured at the end of the growing season in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Quality traits, including cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and ash contents, were measured. There was large genotype variation in biomass yield and in most of the biometric parameters, and cellulose (range: 0.33 to 0.45 g/g), hemicellulose (0.32 to 0.43 g/g), lignin (0.07–0.13 g/g) and ash (0.02–0.06 g/g) contents were significantly different among the hybrids. The ash content of all hybrids was significantly lower than that of M. sinensis. The two‐year (2016 and 2017) average biomass yield of the 15 hybrids ranged from 9.87 to 23.11 t/ha, which was significantly higher than that of either parent (M. sinensis: 1.20 t/ha; M. lutarioriparius: 3.87 t/ha). Two hybrids, SL8 and SL15, were identified as potential genotypes suitable for the saline–alkaline soils of the Yellow River delta. These results demonstrate that interspecific hybridisation is crucial to improve Miscanthus biomass yield and quality under marginal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple large‐scale ecological conservation programmes have been launched by the Chinese Government to combat grassland degradation across the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) since 1999. However, the mechanisms by which these ecological initiatives might affect grassland changes remains unknown. Here, we examined the land use cover change (LUCC) and net primary productivity (NPP) of the grassland in the QTP in 2001–2016. The effects of LUCC, management measures, and climate variation on grassland NPP were quantitatively evaluated. The grassland area had a net increase of 96,397 km2, which could be attributed to the conversion of desert and forests. The total NPP of grassland increased by 154,073.7 GgC·yr−1 in 2001–2016, of which the contribution of climate and human factors occupied 35.58% and 64.42%, respectively. Specifically, climate variation caused an overall increase of 54,823.24 GgC·yr−1in grassland total NPP. The climate‐dominated NPP decrease was widely found in the eastern and southern QTP. The contribution of LUCC and management measures to the increase of grassland NPP was 62.78% and 37.22%, respectively. This increase was mostly found in the mid‐east region of the QTP, which could sufficiently counteract the negative effect of climate variation on NPP. Overall, these findings seem to demonstrate that these ecological restoration programs have substantially promote the increase of grassland NPP and contribute to understanding the degree to which the grassland ecosystem may respond to the LUCC and management measures under the ecological restoration projects, which are essential to developing more effective ecological measures for future grassland restoration in the QTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The introduction of Robinia pseudoacacia (RP) has some effects on undergrowth herbaceous plants (UH), soil properties and their relationships, which may be related to the vegetation zone. However, few studies have tested effects of RP on UH and soil over a large-scale area of the Loess Plateau. Methods The study area consisted of three vegetation zones (the steppe, forest-steppe and forest zone). Two canopy plant types were selected: RP stands and adjacent native vegetation. We measured five leaf functional traits: leaf carbon content (LC), leaf nitrogen content (LN), leaf phosphorus content (LP), specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf tissue density (LTD). The functional diversity, species diversity and community-weighted mean (CWM) traits were calculated. Important Findings (i) CWM.LN, CWM.LP and CWM.SLA increased significantly, whereas CWM.LC and CWM.LTD decreased significantly in the three vegetation zones, compared with the native communities. (ii) Species diversity, functional diversity and community biomass decreased in the steppe zone, increased in the forest zone, and did not differ significantly in the forest-steppe zone. (iii) We found only soil organic carbon (P < 0.05) and soil total nitrogen (P < 0.05) in the forest zone decreased significantly compared with the native plots. (iv) The relationship between UH and soil properties was affected by RP and the vegetation zone. Overall, the effect of RP on UH and soil properties was associated with the vegetation zone. This result is of great significance to the planning of restoration and reconstruction of artificial forests in the Loess Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Miscanthus, a perennial rhizomatous C4 grass, has emerged as a promising lignocellulosic crop. To avoid competition with food crops, marginal lands especially saline–alkaline soil are being recommended to grow Miscanthus across China. However, the challenges such as high cost and low reproduction coefficient associated with the propagation methods are impeding its large‐scale plantation in saline–alkaline soil. In this study, a "two‐steps" propagation method was designed, which was comprised of two phases: (1) seedling cultivation and (2) seedling strengthening. The parameters (substrate composition and plug size) for this method were determined. The optimal substrate composition of the seedling bed for M. sinensis, M. lutarioriparius, and their interspecific hybrids was peat and perlite at a ratio of 3:2, 3:1, and 3:3 by volume, respectively. The seedlings were transplanted into the plugs to deliver robust plantlets. The most appropriate plug size for M. sinensis, M. lutarioriparius, and their interspecific hybrids was 50 plugs (50 cm3/plug), 72 plugs (40 cm3/plug), and 72 plugs (40 cm3/plug), respectively. Three propagation methods, that is, direct sowing of seeds, rhizomes plantation, and "two‐steps" seed‐derived plugs for M. lutarioriparius were compared in saline–alkaline soil over 3 years (2014, 2015, and 2016). The establishment rate of the seeds directly planted was poor (zero). The performance (e.g., biomass yield) of the plants derived from the "two‐steps" seed‐derived plugs was better than that of the plants derived from rhizomes directly planted. Therefore, the "two‐steps" seed‐derived plugs can be regarded as an effective propagation method to upscale Miscanthus cultivation in saline–alkaline soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of Corona Virus Disease 2019 in Taizhou, China. Methods: A single center retrospective observational study was performed between Jan 1, 2020 and Mar 11, 2020 at Taizhou Public Health Medical Center, Zhejiang, China. All patients with confirmed Corona Virus Disease 2019 were enrolled, and their clinical data were gathered by reviewing electronic medical records. Outcomes of severely ill patients and non-severely ill patients were compared. Results: Of 145 hospitalized patients with COVID-19, the average age was 47.5 years old (standard deviation, 14.6) and 54.5% were men. Hypertension was the most common comorbidity (15.2%), followed by diabetes mellitus (9.7%). Common symptoms included dry cough (81.4%), fever (75.2%), anorexia (42.8%), fatigue (40.7%), chest tightness (32.4%), diarrhea (26.9%) and dizziness (20%). According to imaging examination, 79.3% patients showed bilateral pneumonia, 18.6% showed unilateral pneumonia, 61.4% showed ground-glass opacity, and 2.1% showed no abnormal result. Compared with non-severely ill patients, severely ill patients were older (mean, years, 52.8 vs. 45.3, p < 0.01), had a higher proportion of diabetes mellitus (16.3% vs. 6.9%, p = 0.08), had a higher body mass index (mean, 24.78 vs. 23.20, p = 0.02) and were more likely to have fever (90.7% vs. 68.6%, p = 0.01), anorexia (60.5% vs. 35.3%, p = 0.01), chest tightness (60.5% vs.20.6%, p < 0.01) and dyspnea (7.0% vs. 0%, p = 0.03). Of the 43 severely ill patients, 6 (14%) received high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy, and 1 (2.3%) received invasive mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: Older patients or patients with comorbidities such as obesity or diabetes mellitus were more likely to have severe condition. Treatments of COVID-19 is still experimental and more clinical trials are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of highly effective medicine "Qingfei Paidu Decoction" for COVID-19 is a new era gift of traditional Chinese medicine to the world. The traditional Chinese medicine Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, as a medicinal plant in the family of Labiatae, is the dominant variety of genuine medicinal material in North China. It is the leading traditional Chinese medicine in the advantageous area of agricultural products with Chinese characteristics in Shangdang of Changzhi City, and it is one of the 21 herbal medicines in the new national prescription "Qingfei Paidu Decoction" for the rapid and effective treatment of COVID-19. This paper introduces S. baicalensis Georgi and its traditional Chinese medicine GAP base, ecologically suitable planting county and medicinal value in poor areas, and studies the intellectual property resources related to S. baicalensis Georgi, such as traditional knowledge, biological genetic resources, patents, new plant varieties, geographical indications, and trademarks. This paper mainly discusses the inheritance essence, innovation and high-quality development strategy of S. baicalensis Georgi under the rural revitalization strategy and traditional Chinese medicine development strategy from the aspects of intellectual property rights, important agricultural cultural heritage, advantageous areas of characteristic agricultural products and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Human disturbance has recently led to increasingly serious destruction of Sphagnum L. wetlands in subtropical high mountains, resulting in an urgent need for wetland restoration. Methods. Through a field experiment conducted in western Hubei Province, China, the effects of four different microtopographic types [concave surface, convex surface, concave and convex surface (CC surface), and flat surface] and water table depth (0 to −30 cm) on three growth indicators (number of capitula, coverage and biomass) of Sphagnum palustre L. were examined. The objective was to identify the optimal hydrological conditions for S. palustre growth and thus facilitate its rapid recolonisation and restoration of these wetlands. Key results. The results showed that different microtopographic conditions significantly influenced S. palustre growth. Among them, S. palustre in the CC surface showed the worst growth, while no significant differences existed among the other three microtopographic types. Additionally, as the water table increased, the growth of S. palustre increased, but long-term flooding impeded growth. The water table affected S. palustre growth via effects on its tissue water content. Conclusions. Microtopographic reshaping was not essential for the success of S. palustre recolonisation, and microtopography that maintained the water table to within −10 cm of the surface without flooding were best, independent of the microtopographic types. In addition, the growth patterns of S. palustre changed with changes in the environment, which may be related to its long-term adaptation to conditions of a lower water table. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Ventricular outflow tract(VOT) ventricular arrhythmias(VAs) presenting qrS pattern or QS pattern with a notch on the descending limb in lead V1 were consistently thought of arising from the commissure between left and right coronary cusp (L-RCC) by previous studies. However, we found they could originate from other anatomic structures in VOT. This study aimed to investigate the exact origin of this kind VAs.Methods: Forty-nine patients of VOT premature ventricular contrations/ventricular tachycardia(PVCs/VT) with lead V1 presenting qrS pattern or QS pattern with a notch on the descending limb undergoing successful radiofrequency catheter ablation(RFCA) in our center were analyzed.Results: 12-lead electrocardiogram(ECG) of these PVCs/VT were summarized. Among these PVCs/VT, 37 cases exhibited qrS morphology in lead V1, 12 cases presented QS pattern with a notch on the descending limb in the same lead. Based on the successful ablation sites, these PVCs/VT were divided into 2 groups: (1)Right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT) group (26 cases), and (2) Left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) group(23 cases, 4 cases originating from the left coronary cusp(LCC), 2 from the right coronary cusp(RCC), 16 from the L-RCC, 1 from the area inferior to LCC(ILCC)). The ECG characteristics of each PVCs/VT were analyzed. Among these PVCs/VT, applying the precordial transitional zone index(TZ index) < 0 to predict LVOT origin was demonstrated with sensitivity of 95.65%, specificity of 96.15%, positive predicting value(PPV) of 95.65% and negative predicting value(NPV) of 96.15%. In LVOT group, further applying the r, R, m,or Rs morphology in lead I to predict L-RCC and RCC origin was demonstrated with sensitivity of 94.44%, specificity of 60.00%, PPV of 89.47% and NPV of 75.00%.Conclusions: Ventricular outflow tract PVCs/VT with lead V1 presenting qrS pattern or QS pattern with a notch on descending limb not only arising from L-RCC, but also RVOT, LCC, RCC and ILCC. Combining TZ index and QRS morphology in lead I to predict origin site of these kind VAs is a convenient, simple and reliable method and facilitates the RFCA procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the impact of investor sentiment on corporate investment efficiency from perspective of controlling shareholders’ catering. Using a sample comprises of the listed Chinese manufacturing companies from 2004-2013, the paper concludes that the controlling shareholders in highly share-concentrated companies not only have the ability and motivation to garb interests from the minority shareholders for PBC, but also can moderate the investor sentiment’s impact on corporate investment efficiency. Besides, different share-holding ratio of controlling shareholders, separation of control rights and cash flow rights, controlling shareholders’ nature were found to have different moderating effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China owns the world's largest capacity of coal-fired power units. By the end of 2012, the capacity of installed national thermal power has been 819.68 million kilowatts. The latest standard requires that newly built power plants emit SO in no more than 100 mg/m and the emission of old ones be lower than 200 mg/m while in some key areas the emission should be controlled under 50 mg/m. So by the end of 2012, 90 % of the active coal-fired units have been equipped with flue gas desulfurization devices. Among the desulfurization methods adopted, limestone-gypsum wet flue gas desulphurization accounts for 92 %, causing the problem of fine droplets in the exhaust gas after defogger, which may even form 'gypsum rain.' At present, sampling methods are widely used at home and abroad, such as magnesium ion tracer method, modified magnesium ion tracer method and chemical analysis. In addition, some scholars use aerodynamic methods, such as ELPI, to measure the diameter distribution and concentration. The methods mentioned above all have their own demerits, such as the inability to on-line, continuous measurements and the need of prolonged measuring time. Thus, in this paper some potential optical on-line methods are presented, such as Fraunhofer diffraction pattern analysis and wavelength-multiplexed laser extinction. Also brought up are their measuring scope and merits. These methods have already been utilized to measure small liquid droplets and their demonstrations and evaluations are as well stated. Finally, a 3D imaging method based on digital holographic microscope is proposed for in-line measurement of size and concentration of slurry droplets. The feasibility of this method is demonstrated by preliminary experimental investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article optimizes stocks portfolio through a new proposed coherent risk measure called relative-entropic risk measure. And then the ability of the optimization model is tested, which is the test of the discrimination for risk of the risk measure. Firstly, it introduces the consistence with stochastic dominances for three kinds of quantile-based risk measures: VaR, ES and relative-entropic risk measure. It is pointed that ES only utilizes local information as VaR, and is consistent with stochastic dominances lower than second-order. However, relative-entropic risk measure utilizes the whole information to measure the risk, and is consistent with stochastic dominances of higher orders. So, it is most powerful for discrimination of risk. Then, Spearman rank test is used to test the discrimination for risk of the risk measure. Lastly, four kinds of portfolio optimization models based on standard error, VaR, ES and relative-entropic risk measure are used in Chinese markets. The results turn out that all the performance indexes of portfolios optimized by relative-entropic risk measure are the best, which reveals that it has the highest discrimination of risk in the three risk measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core collections can act as a genetic germplasm resource for biologists and breeders. Thirty-seven phenotypic traits from 471 Miscanthus accessions in China were used to design 203 sampling schemes to screen the genetic variations in different sampling strategies. The sampling was analyzed using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) and the Euclidean distance (Euclid). Several parameters including the variance of phenotypic value (VPV), Shannon–Weaver diversity index (H), coefficient of variation (CV), variance of phenotypic frequency (VPF), ratio of phenotype retained (RPR), the mean difference percentage (MD%) and the variance difference percentage of traits (VD%), the range coincidence rate (CR%) and the variable rate of quantitative traits (VR%) were used to evaluate the level of representation of the primary core collections developed by the different sampling schemes. Based on the optimal sampling strategies of prior selecting accessions, a primary core collection was constructed that maintained > 99.5% of the VPV and a CR% of 100%. This study indicates that the optimal sampling scheme consisted of prior and deviation sampling methods (PD) combined with a logarithmic proportional sampling strategy (LG) of 37.4% of the actual sampling ratio. Sampling before clustering can improve several parameters including the H, CV, RPR, VPF, and CR%. Sampling strategies including the genetic diversity index (G), logarithmic proportional (LG) and the square root proportional strategy (SG) can improve the H, whilst the constant strategy (C) can improve the RPR and VPF when the sampling scale was >30%. Furthermore, the proportional strategy (P) can improve the VPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The body assembly process design (BAPD) system is currently under development at the laboratory of Auto Body Manufacture Technology Center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. To ensure that assembly issues have been properly considered in the conceptual design phase, different methods, procedures and tools should be developed. The paper gives a brief view of the system architecture of the BAPD system, and the paper will present a framework to carry qualitative simulation procedure and conduct hierarchical qualitative simulation to analyze and predict assembly variation flow with limited parameters and fuzzy knowledge; the system conducts qualitative information acquisition of physical parameters of assembly features, and obtains cardinal factors influence the variation results by qualitative analysis in the assembly process. An analytical case is discussed to explain the function of qualitative analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the chemical constituents of Helianthus annuus L., an allelopathic cultivar sunflower in China. It discusses the isolation and characterization of the eight compounds from the isolated methanolic extracts of the Helianthus annuus L. leaves. It states that the leaves were collected in Wuzhong City, Ningxia Province and were identified by Mr. Z. H. Wu at Northwest Institute of Botany in Yangling, Shaanxi Province.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical features, risk factors, and outcomes of mixed Candida albicans/bacterial bloodstream infections (mixed-CA/B-BSIs) compared with monomicrobial Candida albicans bloodstream infection (mono-CA-BSI) in adult patients in China.Methods: All hospitalized adults with Candida albicans bloodstream infection (CA-BSI) were recruited for this retrospective observational study from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2018.Results: Of the 117 patients with CA-BSI, 24 patients (20.5%) had mixed-CA/B-BSIs. The most common copathogens were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) (24.0%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus (16.0%). In the multivariable analysis, a prior ICU stay > 2 days (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 7.445; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.152-48.132) was an independent risk factor for mixed-CA/B-BSIs. Compared with patients with mono-CA-BSI, patients with mixed-CA/B-BSIs had a prolonged length of mechanical ventilation [17.5 (4.5, 34.8) vs. 3.0 (0.0, 24.5), p = 0.019] and prolonged length of ICU stay [22.0 (14.3, 42.2) vs. 8.0 (0.0, 31.5), p = 0.010]; however, mortality was not significantly different.Conclusions: There was a high rate of mixed-CA/B-BSIs cases among CA-BSI cases, and CNS was the predominant coexisting species. A prior ICU stay > 2 days was an independent risk factor for mixed -CA/B-BSIs. Although there was no difference in mortality, the outcomes of patients with mixed -CA/B-BSIs, including prolonged length of mechanical ventilation and prolonged length of ICU stay, were worse than those with mono-CA-BSI; this deserves further attention from clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A disease occurrence characterized by fever and rash was monitored in China. • The etiological and epidemiological investigation was initiated. • We proved that a novel species of genus Ehrlichia was its pathogen. • We named the new species as " Candidatus Ehrlichia erythraense". From March to June 2021, the reported number of clinically diagnosed endemic typhus in Anhui and Hubei provinces of China nearly increased four-fold compared with the monthly average numbers in last 5 years. An etiological and epidemiological investigation was initiated. The clinical specimens from the reported patients and the potential vector ticks were collected for molecular and serological detection, as well as cell culturing assay to identify the potential pathogen. Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis of rrs and groEL showed that the pathogen from these patients was Ehrlichia sp., isolated from Haemaphysalis longicornis attached to these patients. The phylogenetic analysis based on 39 Ehrlichia genomes suggested that it should be taxonomically classified as a novel species, tentatively named " Candidatus Ehrlichia erythraense". A total of 19 of 106 cases were confirmed as Candidatus Ehrlichia erythraense infections by polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, and/or serological tests. The most frequent symptoms were fever (100%), rashes (100%), asthenia (100%), anorexia (100%), and myalgia (79%). The occurrence of the disease presenting with fever and rashes in Anhui and Hubei provinces was caused by a novel species of the genus Ehrlichia ; physicians need to be aware of this newly-discovered pathogen to ensure appropriate testing, treatment, and regional surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many soil and water conservation measures (SWCM) have been implemented in the Loess Plateau of China, and they have an impact on ecosystems all levels and involve complicated mechanisms. Previously, studies typically focused on a single factor's effect on diversity or productivity. With this background, the current investigation embarked on an extensive study, with vegetation survey conducted in the no measure plots (NM), vegetation measure plots (VM) and engineering measure plots (EM) in the Loess Plateau of China. We used structural equation models (SEM) to explain the mechanism by which SWCM affects plant productivity and diversity. VM have direct effects on plant diversity, and EM have direct effects on soil properties and community structure. The two measures also had indirect effects on plant functional traits and community structure. The results show that the changes in plant functional traits and community structure by SWCM decreased plant diversity, whereas the increase of productivity was primarily dominated by improvements in community structure, and we conclude that variability in plant diversity and productivity across different measures on the Loess Plateau was primarily due to the responses of different plants to variable soil properties and the community responses. It was also emphasized that vegetation measures were beneficial to the increase of biomass per plant, while engineering measures were more beneficial to the growth of dominant species. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for vegetation management and restoration after the application of different SWCM. [Display omitted] • SWCM has a direct effect on plant productivity. • SWCM indirectly affect functional traits and community structure. • All SWCM have reduced plant diversity and increased productivity. • Vegetation Measures were beneficial to the increase of biomass per plant. • Engineering Measures were more suitable for the growth of dominant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can be used as prognostic biomarkers in many types of cancer. Objective We sought to establish an lncRNA signature to improve postoperative risk stratification for patients with localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Design, setting, and participants Based on the RNA-seq data of 444 stage I–III ccRCC tumours from The Cancer Genome Atlas project, we built a four-lncRNA-based classifier using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operation (LASSO) Cox regression model in 222 randomly selected samples (training set) and validated the classifier in the remaining 222 samples (internal validation set). We confirmed this classifier in an external validation set of 88 patients with stage I–III ccRCC from a Japan cohort and using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in another three independent sets that included 1869 patients from China with stage I–III ccRCC. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Univariable and multivariable Cox regression, Harrell's concordance index (c-index), and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the association of the classifier with overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival. Results and limitations Using the LASSO Cox regression model, we built a classifier named RCClnc4 based on four lncRNAs: ENSG00000255774, ENSG00000248323, ENSG00000260911, and ENSG00000231666. In the RNA-seq and RT-PCR data sets, the RCClnc4 signature significantly stratified patients into high-risk versus low-risk groups in terms of clinical outcome across and within subpopulations and remained as an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analyses (hazard ratio range, 1.34 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.03–1.75; p = 0.028] to 1.89 [95% CI, 1.55–2.31; p < 0.001]) after adjusting for clinical and pathologic factors. The RCClnc4 signature achieved a higher accuracy (mean c-index, 0.72) than clinical staging systems such as TNM (mean c-index, 0.62) and the stage, size, grade, and necrosis (SSIGN) score (mean c-index, 0.64), currently reported prognostic signatures and biomarkers for the estimation of survival. When integrated with clinical characteristics, the composite clinical and lncRNA signature showed improved prognostic accuracy in all data sets (TNM + RCClnc4 mean c-index, 0.75; SSIGN + RCClnc4 score mean c-index, 0.75). The RCClnc4 classifier was able to identify a clinically significant number of both high-risk stage I and low-risk stage II–III patients. Conclusions The RCClnc4 classifier is a promising and potential prognostic tool in predicting the survival of patients with stage I–III ccRCC. Combining the lncRNA classifier with clinical and pathological parameters allows for accurate risk assessment in guiding clinical management. Patient summary The RCClnc4 classifier could facilitate patient management and treatment decisions. Take Home Message Our RCClnc4 classifier could add prognostic value to existing clinicopathological risk factors for stage I–III clear cell renal cell carcinoma and provide a more accurate and individualized risk assessment beyond reported signature. The RCClnc4 classifier may facilitate patient management and treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, industry is responsible for 88.15% of the sulfur dioxide emissions, of which coal-fired power plants account for around 35.62%. Moreover, over 90% of power plant had installed FGD implementers. On the road to an optimal economic emission control, this article develops an ILP algorithm to optimize the sorting SO 2 emission control technology costs, based on a detailed database that contains large amounts of information for 1,966 thermal power plants, such as unit installed capacity and annual generating capacity, coal consumption, sulfur content, emission control technologies, operation duration and geographical location. The results demonstrate that the total operating costs will increase along with emission abatement. When the average desulfurization efficiency reaches 95%, 98% and 99%, the total operating cost in China is 54.4 billion CNY, 64.8 billion CNY and 78.6 billion CNY, respectively. Under the scenario that every power plant reaches the SO 2 emission limitation, the total operating cost of following the least-cost retrofitting laws could reduce by 5.05% to 15.31% nationwide. Finally, the study suggests that desulfurization equipment with high removal efficiency should be installed primarily in larger units, and policymakers could develop cost-effectiveness control strategies for coal-fired power plants using the results of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Subshrub encroachment altered the composition of plant and bacterial communities. • Subshrub encroachment directly influenced vegetation and soil characteristics. • Subshrub encroachment indirectly influenced bacterial communities. Subshrub encroachment is a frequently occurring phenomenon in arid and semi-arid area, altering the plant community structure and function. However, the effects of the encroachment process on soil bacterial communities are poorly understood on the Loess Plateau, China. In this study, we assessed the changes in soil properties and vegetation characteristics, and their association with alterations in soil bacterial communities in grasslands subjected to different subshrub (Artemisia sacrorum Ledeb.) encroachment intensities (no subshrub encroachment, light subshrub encroachment, moderate subshrub encroachment, and heavy subshrub encroachment). Our results indicated that heavy subshrub encroachment significantly increased plant aboveground biomass and bacterial diversity, but adversely affected plant diversity. Heavy and moderate subshrub encroachment significantly increased soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and water content. Subshrub encroachment at all intensities increased community weighted mean trait values of leaf carbon content, leaf nitrogen content, leaf phosphorus content, specific leaf area, but decreased leaf dry matter content and community functional dispersion. In addition, subshrub encroachment altered the composition of plant and bacterial communities. The partial least squares structural equation model indicated that subshrub encroachment indirectly influenced bacterial communities by affecting vegetation characteristics and soil properties. The determinants of bacterial diversity were vegetation structures (community weighted mean trait values of specific leaf area and plant community composition) and soil properties (organic carbon content, alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, and soil water content). The composition of bacterial community was primarily regulated by plant aboveground biomass and soil properties. Overall, the results of this study improved our understanding of the impact of subshrub encroachment on soil bacteria community on Loess Plateau, and the processes underlying the alterations in the soil bacterial community by subshrub encroachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: The dried root of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. (Family Lauraceae) has long been used as a folk remedy in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Dai Ethnopharmacy for the treatment of rheumatic diseases in southwestern China. Aim of the study: This study investigated the preventive efficacy of Litsea cubeba root in treating rheumatoid arthritis using Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis (AA) in rat model. Materials and methods: Arthritis was induced in male Wistar rats by immunization with CFA. Ethanol extract (EELC) and water extract (WELC) of Litsea cubeba root both at 50mg/kg and 200mg/kg were orally administered from a day after the induction of arthritis. Paw swelling, arthritic score, body weight growth rate, index of thymus and spleen were observed, and the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of inflammatory enzymes like cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase were also measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, histological changes in the ankle joint were analyzed in AA rats. Results: Both EELC and WELC significantly suppressed paw swelling and arthritic score, increased the loss in body weight and decreased the index of thymus. Histopathological improvement in joint architecture was also observed in EELC, WELC-treated AA rats. The expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) were decreased on treatment with EELC and WELC. Furthermore, the overproduction of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were remarkably attenuated in serum of all Litsea cubeba-treated rats, however, IL-10 was markedly increased at doses of 50mg/kg of EELC and WELC. Conclusions: These results indicate that extract of Litsea cubeba root significantly attenuates adjuvant arthritis in rats by decreasing the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and increasing of IL-10 in serum as well as down-regulate the levels of inflammatory enzymes such as COX-2 and 5-LOX. This suggests that Litsea cubeba root might be used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of human arthritis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Desmodium podocarpum is a plant that has been used in the folk medicine to treat febrile diseases, cough and bleeding wounds. However, there is no scientific basis or reports in the modern literature regarding its effectiveness as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent. Aims of the study: The objective of this study is to evaluate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of the petroleum ether fraction (PEF) from the ethanol extract of Desmodium podocarpum. Materials and methods: PEF (50, 100, 200mg/kg) was estimated for its pharmacological properties by using the acetic acid-induced writhing test, the hot plate test, the Carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, the dimethylbenzene-induced mouse inflammation model, and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat fever model. In addition, the acute toxicity of PEF was also studied. Results: PEF significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the writhing responses in mice, increased reaction time of mice in the hot plate test, reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and the dimethylbenzene-induced ear edema in mice, and attenuated LPS-induced fever in rats. No death of mice was observed when orally administered PEF up to 4.2g/kg. Conclusions: These findings suggest that PEF possesses evident analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities, and has a favorable safety, which supports the use of Desmodium podocarpum as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic drug in the folk medicine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A digital close range photogrammetry observation system was used. • The dynamic process of slope rill erosion during ongoing rainfall was monitored. • Rill networks and their main parameters were extracted. • The erosion processes of rill morphology were quantitatively described. As the main process of soil erosion in the Loess Plateau of China, rill erosion accounts for a large proportion of the total erosion on the slope. Quantifying the rill shape is crucial for studying the mechanisms and evolution of rill erosion. The objective of this study is to monitor the dynamic process of slope rill erosion using on a digital close range photogrammetry observation system during continuous rainfall. Artificial simulated rainfall experiments were conducted, and images were obtained at different time intervals. We used hydrological analysis and profile analysis tools in geographic information system (GIS) technology to extract rill networks and their main parameters to quantitatively describe the erosion processes of rill morphology. The results showed that (1) compared with the error from the traditional runoff sediment measurement method, the average error of the system for estimating soil loss was -7.06% and 1.05%, respectively, and the highest precision for a single observation was 99.46%; (2) the rill erosion process could be divided into several stages: raindrop splashing - eclipse - drop pit - erosion cave - rill cutting head - rill erosion - rill network; and (3) after rainfall lasted for 80 min, the density and the degree of splitting increased continuously, and the maximum rill width and depth both showed fluctuating trends. The area of 7.5 m to 9.5 m away from the top of the surface was the most active area of rill erosion. The digital close range photogrammetric observation system can accurately obtain evolution information about rill erosion morphology during continuous rainfall, which provides a reference for future studies of soil erosion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The probiological healing effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) during tissue repair has recently gathered much attention. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) receiving PRP or conventional treatment to evaluate their efficacy., Methods: PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were comprehensively searched by 2 independent reviewers following PRISMA guidelines for the inclusion of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing PRP with conventional treatments for DFUs. The primary measurements of healing rate and healing time, the methodological quality and extracted data were assessed using Review Manager 5.3. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05., Results: A total of 10 RCTs involving 550 patients were included in this study, PRP was observed to significantly improve the healing rate (risk ratio [RR] = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.82, P = 0.02) and shorten the healing time (mean difference [MD] = -23.23, 95% CI -45.97 to -0.49, P = 0.05) of patients with DFU when compared to the conventional treatment., Conclusions: Compared to conventional treatment, PRP effectively promoted the healing of patients with DFU by evidently improving the healing rate and healing time., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Loess Plateau (LP) is a vulnerable and climate-sensitive ecoregion. With the implementation of "Grain for Green" project (GGP), the vegetation cover has largely improved, while the contradiction between overconsumption of soil water and sustainability of restored vegetation is increasingly prominent, and further threatening the ecosystem sustainability and socioeconomic development. Understanding the different responses of relations of biomass production and soil water regimes between natural and artificial vegetation along environmental gradient will be crucial for sustainability of restored vegetation on the LP. Here, aboveground biomass (AGB) and soil water content (SWC) of natural and artificial vegetation were measured in steppe, forest-steppe and forest zone from 2008 to 2017 on the Yanhe River catchment. The results showed that artificial vegetation consumed more soil water than natural vegetation in steppe and forest-steppe zone, while it did not over consume soil water in forest zone. The AGB of natural vegetation in forest zone was significantly higher than that in steppe and forest-steppe zone. Steppe zone had serious overload of artificial vegetation (overload ratio: 5.35), while no overload occurred in forest zone. So, we suggest a cessation of artificial vegetation expansion in steppe zone. In steppe zone, planting artificial vegetation increased competition intensity between AGB and SWC, and the relative benefit tended to be AGB, their competition intensity was the highest. In forest zone, the trade-off relationship between AGB and SWC had no significant difference between natural and artificial vegetation, and the competition intensity between the AGB and SWC was the weakest. Optimal vegetation restoration approach would maintain the balance between vegetation restoration and soil water. To obtain social and ecological sustainability on the LP, vegetation suitability and suitable management along different environmental gradients should be considered and identified in the future revegetation project., 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 © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the aquatic environment have raised great concerns, as the deleterious effects of residual antibiotics and the emergence of ARGs are challenges to aquaculture. This study analyzed feed, water, sediment and prawns' tissues from six culture ponds (integrated culture: rice-prawn pond; monoculture: prawn pond) in Tianjin, Northeast China. Eighteen types of antibiotics were detected in all ponds, which conferring to four classes of antibiotics including sulfonamides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, macrolides. The mean log bioaccumulation factor (BAF) values for five antibiotics were analyzed in the hepatopancreas, muscle, and plasma, and we found the maximum Log BAF (1.45) for enrofloxacin in prawn plasma. Correlation analysis of antibiotic concentrations between the plasma and the other two tissues indicated that enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, and erythromycin levels in the hepatopancreas and muscle can be predicted by their plasma concentrations. We also conducted a hazard quotient analysis and found that the risk to human health of eating antibiotic-exposed prawns from the two types of aquaculture method was relatively low. Compared with monoculture, rice-prawn co-culture could significantly decrease the abundance of ARGs; additionally, significant correlations were detected among ARGs, antibiotics, and non-antibiotic environmental factors (e.g., total nitrogen, total ammonia nitrogen, and chemical oxygen demand) in prawn. The present study indicated that the rice-prawn co-culture system is more effective than monoculture for mitigating the bioaccumulation of antibiotics and the occurrence of ARGs in prawn., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Until January 18, 2021, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has infected more than 93 million individuals and has caused a certain degree of panic. Viral pneumonia caused by common viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, human bocavirus, and parainfluenza viruses have been more common in children. However, the incidence of COVID-19 in children was significantly lower than that in adults. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical manifestations, treatment and outcomes of COVID-19 in children compared with those of other sources of viral pneumonia diagnosed during the COVID-19 outbreak., Methods: Children with COVID-19 and viral pneumonia admitted to 20 hospitals were enrolled in this retrospective multi-center cohort study. A total of 64 children with COVID-19 were defined as the COVID-19 cohort, of which 40 children who developed pneumonia were defined as the COVID-19 pneumonia cohort. Another 284 children with pneumonia caused by other viruses were defined as the viral pneumonia cohort. The epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory findings were compared by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Contingency table method. Drug usage, immunotherapy, blood transfusion, and need for oxygen support were collected as the treatment indexes. Mortality, intensive care needs and symptomatic duration were collected as the outcome indicators., Results: Compared with the viral pneumonia cohort, children in the COVID-19 cohort were mostly exposed to family members confirmed to have COVID-19 (53/64 vs. 23/284), were of older median age (6.3 vs. 3.2 years), and had a higher proportion of ground-glass opacity (GGO) on computed tomography (18/40 vs. 0/38, P < 0.001). Children in the COVID-19 pneumonia cohort had a lower proportion of severe cases (1/40 vs. 38/284, P = 0.048), and lower cases with high fever (3/40 vs. 167/284, P < 0.001), requiring intensive care (1/40 vs. 32/284, P < 0.047) and with shorter symptomatic duration (median 5 vs. 8 d, P < 0.001). The proportion of cases with evaluated inflammatory indicators, biochemical indicators related to organ or tissue damage, D-dimer and secondary bacterial infection were lower in the COVID-19 pneumonia cohort than those in the viral pneumonia cohort (P < 0.05). No statistical differences were found in the duration of positive PCR results from pharyngeal swabs in 25 children with COVID-19 who received antiviral drugs (lopinavir-ritonavir, ribavirin, and arbidol) as compared with duration in 39 children without antiviral therapy [median 10 vs. 9 d, P = 0.885]., Conclusion: The symptoms and severity of COVID-19 pneumonia in children were no more severe than those in children with other viral pneumonia. Lopinavir-ritonavir, ribavirin and arbidol do not shorten the duration of positive PCR results from pharyngeal swabs in children with COVID-19. During the COVID-19 outbreak, attention also must be given to children with infection by other pathogens infection.

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can be used as prognostic biomarkers in many types of cancer., Objective: We sought to establish an lncRNA signature to improve postoperative risk stratification for patients with localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)., Design, Setting, and Participants: Based on the RNA-seq data of 444 stage I-III ccRCC tumours from The Cancer Genome Atlas project, we built a four-lncRNA-based classifier using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operation (LASSO) Cox regression model in 222 randomly selected samples (training set) and validated the classifier in the remaining 222 samples (internal validation set). We confirmed this classifier in an external validation set of 88 patients with stage I-III ccRCC from a Japan cohort and using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in another three independent sets that included 1869 patients from China with stage I-III ccRCC., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: Univariable and multivariable Cox regression, Harrell's concordance index (c-index), and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the association of the classifier with overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival., Results and Limitations: Using the LASSO Cox regression model, we built a classifier named RCClnc4 based on four lncRNAs: ENSG00000255774, ENSG00000248323, ENSG00000260911, and ENSG00000231666. In the RNA-seq and RT-PCR data sets, the RCClnc4 signature significantly stratified patients into high-risk versus low-risk groups in terms of clinical outcome across and within subpopulations and remained as an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analyses (hazard ratio range, 1.34 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.03-1.75; p=0.028] to 1.89 [95% CI, 1.55-2.31; p<0.001]) after adjusting for clinical and pathologic factors. The RCClnc4 signature achieved a higher accuracy (mean c-index, 0.72) than clinical staging systems such as TNM (mean c-index, 0.62) and the stage, size, grade, and necrosis (SSIGN) score (mean c-index, 0.64), currently reported prognostic signatures and biomarkers for the estimation of survival. When integrated with clinical characteristics, the composite clinical and lncRNA signature showed improved prognostic accuracy in all data sets (TNM + RCClnc4 mean c-index, 0.75; SSIGN + RCClnc4 score mean c-index, 0.75). The RCClnc4 classifier was able to identify a clinically significant number of both high-risk stage I and low-risk stage II-III patients., Conclusions: The RCClnc4 classifier is a promising and potential prognostic tool in predicting the survival of patients with stage I-III ccRCC. Combining the lncRNA classifier with clinical and pathological parameters allows for accurate risk assessment in guiding clinical management., Patient Summary: The RCClnc4 classifier could facilitate patient management and treatment decisions., (Copyright © 2018 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The succession of phytoplankton communities is affected by pure environmental factors as well as the interaction of various factors. Phytoplankton communities with eleven aquatic abiotic factors and four biotic factors were investigated in the Siminghu Reservoir, and the seasonal succession of phytoplankton FGs related to the biotic and abiotic factors was analyzed. The results suggested that a total of 22 phytoplankton functional groups were identified across the samples, and they were all affiliated with Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta. An obvious seasonal succession was discovered by NMDS, which were present as D+Lo in summer, D+P+Lo in autumn and winter, and X2+P+MP in spring. In particular, we screened 10 functional groups with biomass significantly associated with the seasonal change in the phytoplankton community. A variance partitioning analysis (VPA) revealed that water temperature-zooplankton covariation and water temperature explained the variation in the phytoplankton functional groups throughout the year. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that water temperature, transparency, nitrate nitrogen, and the biomass of zooplankton were the most critical factors determining the community dynamics of phytoplankton.

Background: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB), as one major bariatric surgery for treatment of obesity, results in ineffective long-term weight loss and a high reoperation rate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of LAGB on the weight loss outcomes and reoperation rates of obese patients with different body mass index (BMI) levels in China., Methods: A retrospective study was performed to review the follow-up data of obese patients who underwent LAGB at Shanghai Changhai Hospital between November 2003 and May 2013. The main outcomes included weight loss, percentage excess weight loss (%EWL), reoperation rate, and reasons for reoperation., Results: A total of 254 LAGB procedures were performed in our hospital. By the end of May 2013, 145 Chinese patients (57.8%) were followed up, 99 patients with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m(2) (high BMI group) and 46 patients with BMI < 35 kg/m(2) (low BMI group). In the high BMI group, the mean %EWL was > 25% within 5 years postoperatively, but it decreased to less than 25% after 5 years. However, in the low BMI group, the mean %EWL at each time point was over 50%. The reoperation rate was 33.1%; it was 17.4% in the low BMI group and 34.3% in the high BMI group., Conclusion: LAGB is more effective with a lower reoperation rate for obese patients with a BMI < 35 kg/m(2) compared to BMI ≥ 35 kg/m(2) in our population., (Copyright © 2015 American Society for Bariatric Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Oral glucocorticoids can prevent acute mountain sickness (AMS). Whether inhaled budesonide (BUD) can prevent AMS remains unknown., Objective: Our aim was to investigate the effectiveness of BUD in AMS prevention., Methods: Eighty subjects were randomly assigned to receive budesonide (BUD, inhaled), procaterol tablet (PT), budesonide/formoterol (BUD/FM, inhaled), or placebo tablet (n = 20 in each group). Subjects were treated for 3 days before ascending from 500 m to 3700 m within 2.5 h by air. Lake Louis AMS questionnaire, blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were examined at 20, 72, and 120 h after high-altitude exposure. Pulmonary function was measured at 20 h after exposure., Results: Compared with placebo, BUD significantly reduced the incidence of AMS (70% vs. 25% at 20 h, p < 0.05; both 10% vs. 5% at 72 and 120 h, both p > 0.05) without side effects. The relative risk was 0.357, and the risk difference was 0.45. Mean SpO2 was higher in BUD, BUD/FM, and PT groups than in the placebo group at 20 h (p < 0.05). SpO2 in all 80 subjects dropped after ascent (98.1% to 88.12%, p < 0.01) and increased gradually, but it was still lower at 120 h than at baseline (92.04% vs. 98.1%, p < 0.01). Pulmonary function did not differ among the four groups at 20 h., Conclusion: BUD can prevent AMS without side effects. The alleviation of AMS may be related to increased blood oxygen levels rather than pulmonary function., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To investigate the incidence of de novo hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and to analyze the risk factors associated with this de novo HBV infection., Methods: The clinical and laboratory data of children who underwent LDLT from June 2010 to September 2012 in First Center Hospital in Tianjin, China, were retrospectively included in the study. Intrahepatic HBV DNA in donors and recipients was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction using DNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues., Results: Between June 2010 to September 2012, 32 consecutive pediatric patients underwent LDLT in our institute. Thirty LDLT patients (13 girls and 17 boys) were followed up for a median of 15 mo, of whom 53.3% (16/30) were hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) positive and 36.7% (11/30) were hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb)/HBcAb positive before transplantation. Sixteen of the children received HBcAb-positive allografts, and 43.7% (7/16) of the grafts were found to be intrahepatic HBV DNA positive. De novo HBV infection developed in 16.1% (5/30) of the children within a median of 11 mo after transplantation. All five of the HBV-infected children had received HBcAb-positive allografts, four of which were intrahepatic HBV DNA positive. Two of the children developed de novo HBV infection despite the preoperative presence of both HBsAb and HBcAb, Conclusion: In pediatric recipients, positive intrahepatic HBV DNA in allografts could be a risk factor for de novo HBV infection from HBcAb-positive allografts. HBsAb/HBcAb positivity in pediatric LDLT patients before transplantation exhibited only weak effectiveness in protecting them against de novo HBV infection from HBcAb-positive allografts.

Objective: To investigate the impact of the application of chemical pesticides on the distribution of Anopheles anthropophagus in rice fields and the malaria incidence., Method: Twenty-four villages from 16 counties in the provinces of Zhejiang, Sichuan and Guangxi were chosen for the surveys in the period of 1983-1987. For the survey of An. anthropophagus, indoor human bait trapping until midnight and catching the mosquitoes in all the nets in early morning were carried out to get the density and population ratio of the mosquitoes. Historical data on Anopheles spp., malaria incidence, acreage of the single or double season cropping of rice and on the quantity of chemical pesticide used in rice fields were collected from the study areas., Results: In Hang-jia-hu region of Zhejiang Province, double season rice cropping was performed at that time, the quantity of pesticides used in 1973 was 45 kg/hm2, which was as high as 50 times than that in the 1950s. The density of An. anthropophagus decreased yearly, no An. anthropophagus could be found at 11 survey points in late 1980s. The malaria incidence dropped to less than 1 per 10000. In Leshan and Yibin areas of Sichuan Province, the major cultivation was single cropping, pesticides were applied in paddy fields since 1960s, and the average quantity of pesticides used was 8.6 kg/hm2 during 1970s-1980s. No significant difference on the density of An. anthropophagus was revealed between 1980s (86.2%) and 1960s (82.2%) (chi2=0.63, P>0.05). After mid-1980s, pesticide use gradually increased, and reached to 18.18 kg/hm2 in average in the years after 2000. The density of An. anthropophagus decreased, no An. anthropophagus was found in 2010 in the area surveyed and no malaria cases were reported as well. With double season cropping in Huanjiang County of Guangxi, the pesticide amount consumed was 1.79kg/hm2, 25.13 kg/hm2 and 7.68 kg/hm2 in paddy fields in 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, respectively. The proportion of An. anthropophagus in anophelines was 52%(1 747/3 392) in the beginning of the 1980s. After the year 2000, the average pesticide use increased to 20.38 kg/hm2 in paddy fields. It was difficult to find An. anthropophagus in human dwellings after 2008. The average annual malaria incidence dropped to 0.14 per 10 000., Conclusion: Change of farming activities and especially use of chemical pesticides in high quantity at the rice fields undermine the breeding environments of An. anthropophagus, greatly reduce the mosquito population and therefore the malaria incidence.

The crude extract of Acanthopanax senticosus (AS) has been used extensively in Russia, China, Korea and Japan as an adaptogenic agent to fight against stress and fatigue. However, whether the liposoluble fraction possesses antifatigue activity or not is still unclear. A liposoluble fraction was administered orally to mice for 9 days. The swimming time to exhaustion was longer in the treatment groups (22.2 ± 3.3, 25.5 ± 4.8 min) than in the control group (13.7 ± 1.2 min, p < 0.05). The plasma TG (triglyceride) and BUN (blood urea nitrogen) levels in the high dose (500 mg/kg) groups were decreased significantly compared with the control group. Plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was lower in the treatment groups than in the control group. Chemical analysis from GC/MS revealed that the main components of the liposoluble fraction of AS were saturated fatty acid (12.98%), unsaturated fatty acid (33.13%), unsaturated alcohol (27.46%) and diolefine (15.76%). In conclusion, the liposoluble fraction enhanced the forced swimming capacity of mice by decreasing muscle damage, effectively preventing the increase in BUN concentration and increasing fat utilization. It is proposed that the antioxidant effect may be one of the antifatigue mechanisms of the liposoluble fraction of AS., (Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Objective: To study the morphology and ecological habits of An. anthropophagus and its role in malaria transmission in Hengqin Island of Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province., Methods: Mosquitoes were captured through overnight/semi-overnight trapping with human and cattle baits as well as lamp-trapping. The specimens were morphologically identified through describing the adult mosquitoes, eggs and pupae. The relevant parameters were collected to calculate the vectorial capacity of both An. anthropophagus and An. sinensis., Results: There is no morphological difference between the isolate of An. aothropophagus from Hengqin Island and that from Jiangsu Province. Its human blood preference ratio and human blood index was 0.94 and 0.75 respectively, and the vectorial capacity of An. anthropophagus was 7.36 times higher than that of An.sinensis (5.1914/0.7052)., Conclusion: The isolate of An. anthropophagus from Hengqin Island belongs same species to that from the mainland, which prefers to human blood and shows higher malaria transmission potential.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of using the capture-recapture method (CRM) for national malaria sentinel surveillance program and to evaluate the malaria prevalence at those points., Methods: By CRM to compare data on malaria cases reported from national sentinel surveillance program and those from the registration of case report system (CRS). Analysis was made to express the difference regarding the number of cases in order to get the estimates and the incidence rate., Results: The incidence in the relative higher epidemic area, unstable epidemic area and relative lower epidemic area were 1247.30/100000, 171.50/100000 and 46.10/100000, respectively. The rate of miss-reporting malaria cases in these areas were 65.20% ,45.32% and 66.67%, respectively., Conclusion: The situation of the malaria cases in the national sentinel surveillance points could be estimated,using the CRM.

This summary was made on the basis of the annual reports of malaria control from the professional institutions in the 21 Provinces/Municipality/Autonomous Region (P/M/A). The number of malaria cases reported in the country was 35,298 in the year 2002 and the incidence rate was 0.348/10,000, an increase of 68.2% than that of the last year and the largest increase since 1994. The total number of suspected cases was 136,902, and the death toll due to malaria was 42. Based on the numbers of malaria cases and suspected cases from the case reporting system of P/M/A, and on the field investigations of the cases missed (failed to report), the estimated total number of malaria cases was 387,000 in 2002. In the South, the provinces of Yunnan and Hainan have been the major area of malaria historically. About 50% of the reported cases in the country were from the two provinces in 2002. There were 12,218 cases reported from Yunnan with 33 deaths, the incidence was 3.026/10,000, 31.6% increase than that in the last year. Among the reported cases, 2,922 were cases of falciparum malaria. The estimated number of malaria cases was 18 times more than that reported. The number of reported cases in Hainan was 5,354 with an incidence of 6.645/10,000, 15.5% increase than that of the last year; there were 1,210 cases of falciparum malaria, and 1 death. The estimated number of malaria cases was 100,000. Covered were also the other P/M/A in the South: Fujian, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Sichuan and Chongqing. In Fujian province, 92 malaria cases were reported, all imported, with an incidence of 0.028/10,000 which increased by 272.8% than that in the last year. There were 713 cases reported in Guizhou with an incidence of 0.193/10,000, increased by 17.1%. The number of reported malaria cases was 392 in Guangxi, with an incidence rate of 0.082/10,000, increased by 14.0%. The incidence slightly decreased in Sichuan, Guangdong and Chongqing, and the case number was 443, 403 and 130 respectively. The cases from the 6 provinces/municipality occupied 6.2% of all cases reported from the country. The 5 provinces in central China were also important in malaria control program. Hubei province reported 5,101 malaria cases (incidence 0.895/10,000), increased by 161.6% than that of the last year; plus suspected cases of 5,614, the total number of malaria cases was estimated to be 11,000. The number of reported cases in Anhui province was 5,999 (0.958/10,000), second largest to that of Yunnan province, increased by 123.6%; with 22,615 suspected cases, the total number of malaria cases was estimated to be 28,000. The case number reported in Henan and Jiangsu provinces was 2,921 and 686 respectively, the incidence decreased by 35.1% and 41.7% respectively, but in Shandong province, 52 cases reported with an increase of 23.8%. Focal outbreaks occurred in 81 villages of 17 counties in the provinces of Hubei, Anhui, Henan and Jiangsu, where Anopheles sinensis is the principal transmitting vector. Malaria cases reported from the 5 provinces in central China accounted for 42% of the national figure. Three hundred and thirteen and 229 cases respectively reported from Hunan and Zhejiang provinces, the incidence increased by 44.2% and 288.1% with 3 and 1 death respectively. There were 28 cases in Jiangxi province with a little fluctuation situation. In Shanghai, 135 cases were recorded with an increase of incidence by 66.7%; 16 were infected locally and others all imported. In the provinces of Shaanxi, Shanxi, Liaoning and Gansu, sporadical malaria cases were still reported. The number of Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases was 4,319, accounting for 12.2% of the total cases; of which 13.4% (556) were imported cases. The locally infected falciparum malaria was found in 61 counties/cities of Hainan, Yunnan, Guangxi, and Shaanxi; of which 42 counties/cities were in Yunnan, increased by 11, 16 counties/cities in Hainan, increased by 5, 2 counties in Guangxi and 1 county in Shaanxi. Imported falciparum malaria cases were reported in 114 counties of 14 P/M/A, 2 provinces less but 6 counties more than that in 2001. Due to the strengthening of surveillance and effective management of dubious epidemic conditions, there was no local transmission of falciparum malaria in the above provinces except 2 locally infected cases in Guangxi and 1 in Shaanxi. In areas where the transmission of falciparum malaria has been interrupted but vectors and transmission conditions exist, it is of great importance to prevent the transmission of falciparum malaria by imported source of infection. The main reasons for the considerable increase of malaria transmission in 2002 were as follows: the provinces of Yunnan and Hainan still faced a severe situation of malaria epidemic with a spread of Plasmodium falciparum, especially in the mountainous area of Hainan and the 25 frontier counties in the south and west of Yunnan. Following the development of economy and trade, more frequent population movement occurred among the provinces and between Yunnan and bordering countries, malaria situation becomes more challenging. In central part of the country including Hubei, Anhui, Henan and Jiangsu, where Anopheles sinensis was the principal vector, the malaria situation was highly unstable and local outbreaks took place from time to time. Meanwhile, the increase of the floating population brought more imported cases into Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Chongqing, Shangdong, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, which accounted for 47%-100% of the cases reported in the P/M/A. Furthermore, because of the faultiness in the public health system and the network of the case reporting system, more malaria cases failed to be reported and it is therefore a challenge in implementing the program of malaria control and prevention.

Objective: To study the thresholds and potential of malaria transmission by Anopheles anthropophagus in Hubei Province and provide indicators for the disease surveillance, early warning, prevention and control in the locality., Methods: From July to August 2001, field investigations on vectors and malaria situation were carried out in the village of Yanjiafan, Suizhou City, where the malaria incidence was high. The entomological investigations included the man-biting rate, the proportion of parous anophelines, the human blood index and the blood preference. The others included malaria incidence and parasite rate in human population, the intervals from episode to treatment of the cases, and collection of data on the mean temperature in the area. Based on the formula of basic reproductive rate, the critical man-biting rate was estimated., Results: 92.6% (63/68) of An. anthropophagus were found to have human blood meals, it occupied 91.5% (97/106) of the mosquitoes in human dwellings, its human blood index and vectorial capacity were 12.5 times (0.50/0.04) and 6.5 times (0.9448/0.1449) higher than those of An. sinensis. The critical man-biting rate was 0.2823 and the adjusted man-biting rate was 3.5 times of its critical man-biting rate (0.9892/0.2823). The malaria incidence was 0.65% (12/1844) and the parasite rate in pupils was 0.51%(1/198)., Conclusion: A reduction of the adjusted man-biting rate of An. anthropophagus by 71.5% is needed for interrupting malaria transmission by this vector in the study area.