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In order to make surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates contained more "hot spots" in a three-dimensional (3D) focal volume, and can be adsorbed more probe molecules and metal nanoparticles, to obtain stronger Raman spectral signal, a new structure based on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) coated by Ag nanoparticles for surface Raman enhancement is presented. The vertically aligned CNTs are synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). A silver film is first deposited on the vertically aligned CNTs by magnetron sputtering. The samples are then annealed at different temperature to cause the different size silver nanoparticles to coat on the surface and sidewalls of vertically aligned CNTs. The result of scanning electron microscopy(SEM) shows that Ag nanoparticles are attached onto the sidewalls and tips of the vertically aligned CNTs, as the annealing temperature is different , pitch size, morphology and space between the silver nanoparticles is vary. Rhodamine 6G is served as the probe analyte. Raman spectrum measurement indicates that: the higher the concentration of R6G, the stronger the Raman intensity, but R6G concentration increase with the enhanced Raman intensity varies nonlinearly; when annealing temperature is 450 °C, the average size of silver nanoparticles is about 100 to 120 nm, while annealing temperature is 400 °C, the average size is about 70 nm, and the Raman intensity of 450 °C is superior to the annealing temperature that of 400 °C and 350 °C.

Objective: To study the efficacy of short-term educational intervention for parents of preschool children with anxiety., Methods: Forty-nine children with Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale (SPAS) scores of ≥ 48 were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The children's parents in the intervention group received a collective curriculum on children's anxiety management six times, while the control group was only followed up. All children were evaluated for anxiety by the SPAS 3 and 6 months later, and then the results were compared between the two groups., Results: The test was completed in 21 cases of the intervention group and 22 cases of the control group. At month 3, the intervention group had a significantly lower percentage of children with SPAS scores of ≥ 48 than the control group (62% vs 91%; P<0.05), and this percentage was also significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group at month 6 (52% vs 82%; P<0.05). At month 3, the intervention group had a significantly reduced mean SPAS score, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (69 ± 12 vs 81 ± 12; P<0.01). At month 6, both groups showed significant decreases in SPAS score, but still the SPAS score was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (65 ± 13 vs 78 ± 13; P<0.01)., Conclusions: Early short-term education for parents can relieve their preschool children's anxiety effectively, but the long-term effect needs to be evaluated by follow-up.

Total RNA was extracted from tachyzoites of RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii. The open reading frame of ROP11 gene was amplified by using a pair of specific primers designed according to the coding sequence of ROP11 gene (Accession No. DQ077905). The RT-PCR product was digested by restriction enzyme EcoR I and Not I, and then ligated into a pGEX-6P-2 vector. The recombinant plasmid was transferred into E. coli XL-Blue. The positive clones was selected by colony PCR, and confirmed by the double restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing. The RT-PCR product was 1,548 bp. The recombinant plasmid was confirmed by colony PCR and double restriction enzyme digestion. Sequencing results showed that the obtained ROP11 gene was 1 548 bp (Accession No. KC456639). There was a high sequence consistency (99%) between the obtained ROP11 gene sequence and the Toxoplasma ROP11 gene from GenBank. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the ROP11 protein (Mr 57,020) consisted of the signal peptide (amino acids 1-26), 12 conservative domains, a serine/threonine protein kinase catalytic domain (amino acids 170-511), and two potential N-glycosylation sites.

Dendritic spines are a major substrate of brain plasticity. Although many studies have focused on Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-mediated regulation of spine dynamics and synaptic function in adult brain, much less is know about protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent regulation of spine shape dynamics during postnatal brain development. Synaptopodin is a dendritic spine associated modulator of actin dynamics and a substrate of PKA. Here we show that NMDA and cAMP-induced dendritic spine expansion is impaired in hippocampal slices from 15- and 21-d-old synaptopodin-deficient mice. We further show that synaptopodin is required for full expression of PKA-dependent hippocampal long-term potentiation in 15- and 21-d-old, but not adult, mice. PKA-induced cAMP response element-binding phosphorylation is normal in the hippocampus of synaptopodin-deficient mice, suggesting that synaptopodin functions independently of cAMP response element-binding. Our results identify synaptopodin as a substrate of PKA in hippocampal neurons and point to an essential role for synaptopodin in activity-dependent regulation of dendritic spine dynamics and synaptic plasticity in postnatal brain development.

Transcriptionally active chromosome (TAC) is a fraction of protein/DNA complexes with RNA polymerase activity in the plastid. However, the function of most TAC proteins remains unknown. Here, we isolated two allelic mutants of the gene for a TAC component, TAC7, and performed functional analysis in plastid gene expression and chloroplast development in Arabidopsis. tac7-1 is a mutant with a premature translation termination isolated from a population treated with ethyl methane sulfonate, and tac7-2 is a transfer-DNA tagging mutant. Both of them showed an albino phenotype when grown under normal light conditions, and a few appressed membranes were observed inside the defective chloroplasts. These data indicate that TAC7 is important for thylakoid biogenesis. The TAC7 gene encodes an uncharacterized 161 amino acids polypeptide localized in chloroplast. The transcriptional levels of plastid-encoded polymerase (PEP)-dependent genes were downregulated in tac7-2, suggesting that PEP activity was decreased in the mutant. Yeast two-hybrid assay shows that TAC7 can interact with the four TAC components including FLN1, TAC10, TAC12 and TAC14 which are involved in redox state changes, phosphorylation processes and phytochrome-dependent light signaling, respectively, These data indicate that TAC7 plays an important role for TAC to regulate PEP-dependent chloroplast gene expression and chloroplast development., (Copyright © Physiologia Plantarum 2012.)

The present paper, based on the Qitai county of Xinjiang, selected 40 soil samples, and used two methods respectively, i.e. multiple linear stepwise regression (MLSR) and artificial neural network (ANNs), to establish the inversion and predieting model of soil organic matter (SOM) content and the model test from measured reflectance spectra and relative test were carried through to the models. Through quantitative analysis, the conclusions can be drawn as follows that the precision values of the different models vary from one to another, the model fitting effects order from high to low is that the integrated model for artificial neural networks (ANNs) is best, single artificial neural networks (ANNs) model is better, while stepwise multiple regression (MLSR) models are worse. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) has the strong abilities of linear and nonlinear approximation, while its integrated model for artificial neural networks (ANNs) is an important way to improve the inversion accuracy of soil organic matter (SOM) content, with the correlation coefficient up to 0.938, root mean square error and total root mean square error are minimum, being 2.13 and 1.404 respectively, and the predictive ability of the soil organic matter (SOM) content are very close to the measured spectrum, so the analysis results can achieve a more practical prediction accuracy for the best fitting model.

Experiments of faecal sterols adsorption from aqueous solutions onto Dalian offshore sediment were done by a batch equilibrium method,and the sorption of 12 kinds of faecal sterols in sediment were investigated in this paper. It was shown that the adsorption equilibrium time was 24 h, and after 24 h the variation tendency of 5 kinds of fingerprint values was stable. It indicated that adsorption isothermal data was interpreted by the Henry, Freundlich, Langmuir, Duhinin-Radushkevich(D-R) and Temkin equations, and demonstrated that the other 4 isotherms provided stronger data fitting than the Langumir isotherm. It inferred that from D-R model the mean free energy of adsorption process of 12 kinds of faecal sterols was from 7 071.1 J x mol(-1) to 9 128.7 J x mol(-1), and concluded that it was mainly physical adsorption of the sorptive process of 12 kinds of faecal sterols in sediment. It discovered that from the Temkin model the value of K(f) of cholestanone was the maximum, and extrapolated that cholestanone was adsorbed most easily on sediment. It stated that the enthalpy and entropy change of the adsorption were both less than zero, and inferred that the adsorption process was exothermic and spontaneous.

Objective: To evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of robotic gastrectomy for gastric cancer using da Vinci surgical system., Methods: A total of 120 patients who underwent robotic gastrectomy using da Vinci surgical system for gastric cancer from May 2010 to April 2012. Data regarding surgical and early oncological outcomes were systematically collected in a specific database for statistical analysis., Results: There were 74 males and 46 females, with a mean age of 58.5 (22-80) years old. The type of robotic operation included 62 distal subtotal gastrectomies, 35 total gastrectomies, and 23 proximal gastrectomies. Reconstruction of the alimentary tract was achieved using extracorporeal method through a minilaparotomy in 55 cases, and intracorporeal robot-sewn anastomosis in 65 cases. There was 1 conversion (0.9%). The operative time was (245±50) min and the docking time (17±5) min. The blood loss was (70±45) ml. The number of harvested lymph nodes was 22.5±10.7. The resection margins were negative in all surgical specimens. The postoperative pathological stage consisted of stage I B in 24 cases, stage II in 28, stage III A in 47, and stage III B in 21. Six patients (5%) developed postoperative complication including 1 case of duodenal stump leakage, 2 cases of esophagus-gastric leakage, 1 case of small bowel obstruction, 1 case of delayed gastric emptying, and 1 case of abdominal bleeding. All the complications were cured by reoperation or conservative therapy, and there were no postoperative 30-day deaths. The postoperative hospital stay was (6.3±2.6) days., Conclusion: Robotic gastrectomy for the treatment of gastric cancer is a feasible and safe procedure, and is advantageous in terms of lymphadenectomy and alimentary tract reconstruction.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of robot-assisted procedure with laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer., Methods: The clinical data of patients who underwent gastrectomy in the Department of General Surgery in the Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University Medical College from January 2009 to December 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 97 patients undergoing robotic gastrectomy(ROB group) and 70 patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy (LAP group). The following parameters were compared between these two groups: intraoperative factors, oncologic outcomes, and short-term surgical outcomes., Results: All the operations were performed successfully without conversion. Compared with the LAP group, the ROB group had less intraoperative blood loss [(80.8±53.1) vs. (153.7±26.4) ml, P=0.001], more number of lymph node dissection [(23.1±5.4) vs. (20.0±4.3), P=0.001], longer operative time [(272.3±46.1) vs. (240.3±89.1) min, P=0.001], earlier semifluid diet time [(3.2±0.8) vs. (3.6±1.2) d, P=0.002], shorter postoperative hospital stay [(6.1±2.6) vs. (6.9±2.3) d, P=0.037]. There were no significant differences in the length of distal and proximal margin, postoperative ambulation time, ventilation time and postoperative complications(all P>0.05)., Conclusions: The robotic gastrectomy is safe and feasible for gastric cancer. It has many advantages such as less blood loss, more number of lymph node dissection and quicker recovery. Similar radical resection can be achieved compared to laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Aim: To prepare the monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against human Apo B₁₀₀ and establish a double-antibody sandwich ELISA system for human Apo B₁₀₀ detection., Methods: The BALB/c mice were immunized with human Apo B₁₀₀ antigen. After cell fusion and screening, the hybridoma cells were cultured in serum-free medium and the supernatant was purified to obtain mAbs using protein A. The affinity, subtype, specificity and epitope of the mAbs were characterized and the sandwich ELISA system was established., Results: Four hybridoma cell lines 4-1-2, 4-2-2, 4-3-2 and 4-6-3 were obtained. The affinity of the anti-Apo B₁₀₀ mAbs was up to 1×10⁹ L/mol and nearly had no cross reaction with other relevant proteins. Linear detection of the sandwich ELISA system using 4-3-2 and 4-6-3 covered a range from (1.3-80) ng/mL, and its sensitivity was 1.24 ng/mL. The intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) and inter-assay CV were less than 10% and 15%, respectively, and the recovery rate was above 90%., Conclusion: The mAbs against human Apo B₁₀₀ have been prepared and a sandwich ELISA system for human Apo B₁₀₀ detection has been established successfully, which provide a basis for human Apo B₁₀₀ detection and disease diagnosis.

Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of surgical vs manual reduction of ankle fractures., Methods: From March 2006 to April 2010,301 patients with ankle fractures were analyzed retrospectively, of whom 134 patients were treated by manual reduction and plaster fixation, and the other 167 patients underwent surgical treatment. In manual reduction group, there were 86 males and 48 females with a mean age of (38.2 +/- 15.7) years, involving Weber-Denis A in 55 cases,Weber-Denis B in 60 cases, and Weber-Denis C in 19 cases. In surgical reduction group, there were 115 males and 52 females with a mean age of (39.6 +/- 11.9) years, involving Weber-Denis A in 59 cases, Weber-Denis B in 52 cases and Weber-Denis C in 56 cases. The score of the ankle's symptoms and function was calculated according to Mazur,and the difference was analyzed by Chi-squire test., Results: Of the 114 patients with Weber-Denis A, 55 patients were in manual reduction group, with excellent, good, acceptable and poor results in 18, 20, 11 and 6 patients respectively vs 26, 25, 6 and 2 in surgical reduction group of 59 patients. In patients with Weber-Denis B, there were 60 patients in manual reduction group, with excellent, good, acceptable and poor results in 20 , 26, 8 and 6 patients vs 25, 21, 5, and 1 in surgical reduction group of 52 patients. There was no significant difference in clinical effects between the two group of Weber-Denis A and B. The remaining 75 patients belonged to Weber-Denis C, of whom 19 patients were in manual reduction group,with excellent, good, acceptable and poor results in 2, 3, 7 and 7 patients vs 21, 18, 11 and 6 in surgical reduction group of 56 patients. There was no significant difference in clinical effects between the two groups of Weber-Denis C (P=0.007)., Conclusion: The clinical effect of surgical reduction group was obviously better than that of manual reduction group for Weber-Denis C, and therefore surgical intervention is recommended for this type of fracture.

Primexine deposition and plasma membrane undulation are the initial steps of pollen wall formation. However, little is known about the genes involved in this important biological process. Here, we report a novel gene, NO PRIMEXINE AND PLASMA MEMBRANE UNDULATION (NPU), which functions in the early stage of pollen wall development in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Loss of NPU function causes male sterility due to a defect in callose synthesis and sporopollenin deposition, resulting in disrupted pollen in npu mutants. Transmission electronic microscopy observation demonstrated that primexine deposition and plasma membrane undulation are completely absent in the npu mutants. NPU encodes a membrane protein with two transmembrane domains and one intracellular domain. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that NPU is strongly expressed in microspores and the tapetum during the tetrad stage. All these results together indicate that NPU plays a vital role in primexine deposition and plasma membrane undulation during early pollen wall development.

Background: Peripheral skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be due to the disease per se or as a result of concomitant confounding factors. Although the mechanistic basis for this functional impairment is uncertain, oxidative stress may play a role. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether local oxidative stress is associated with the reduced peripheral skeletal muscle performance in rats with emphysema., Methods: In situ mechanical properties of gastrocnemius were measured in Sprague-Dawley rats 5 months after intratracheal instillation of either elastase (EMP, n = 10) or normal saline (CON, n = 10). Lipofuscin inclusions, myocyte apoptosis and antioxidant enzyme activities were examined in the gastrocnemius muscle., Results: Lipofuscin inclusions were significantly higher in the gastrocnemius muscle of EMP compared with CON (3.2 + or - 0.4 vs. 1.7 + or - 0.4, P < 0.01). The activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly increased in muscle homogenates of EMP as compared to CON. No significant differences were found in myocyte apoptosis between EMP and CON (1.2 + or - 0.9 vs. 1.0 + or - 0.8, P > 0.05). EMP decreased the fatigue endurance of gastrocnemius muscle (half-time to fatigue recovery: (150.0 + or - 55.4) seconds vs. (55.2 + or - 29.3) seconds, P < 0.01) and had no effect on maximal tetanic force ((467.4 + or - 36.6) g vs. (493.2 + or - 30.5) g, P > 0.05). A significantly positive correlation was found between the level of lipofuscin inclusions and the half-time to fatigue recovery of gastrocnemius muscle in EMP (r = 0.664, P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Local oxidative stress may have important functional consequences for peripheral skeletal muscle in rats with EMP.

Bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSSCs) may have potential to differentiate in vitro and in vivo into hepatocytes. Here, we investigated the effects of valproic acid (VPA) involved in epigenetic modification, a direct inhibitor of histone deacetylase, on hepatic differentiation of mouse BMSSCs. Following the treatment of 2.5 mM VPA for 72 hrs, the in vitro expanded, highly purified and functionally active mouse BMSSCs from bone marrow were either exposed to some well-defined cytokines and growth factors in a sequential way (fibroblast growth factor-4 [FGF-4], followed by HGF, and HGF + OSM + ITS + dexamethasone, resembling the order of secretion during liver embryogenesis) or transplanted (caudal vein) in mice submitted to a protocol of chronic injury (chronic i.p. injection of CCl4). Additional exposure of the cells to VPA considerably improved the in vitro differentiation, as demonstrated by a more homogeneous cell population exhibited epithelial morphology, increasing expression of hepatic special genes and enhanced hepatic functions. Further more, in vivo results indicate that the pre-treatment of VPA significantly increased the homing efficiency of BMSSCs to the site of liver injury and, additionally, for supporting hepatic differentiation as well as in vitro. We have demonstrated the usefulness of VPA in the transdifferentiation of BMSSCs into hepatocytes both in vitro and in vivo, and regulation of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) and c-Met gene expression through post-translational modification of core histones might be the primary initiating event for these effects. This mode could be helpful for liver engineering and clinical therapy.

Objective: To investigate the immunolocalization of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), and to explore the correlation between their expressions and activity of osteoclast during first mandibular molar eruption., Methods: Mouse mandibles dissected from postnatal day 1.5 to 14.5 were stained respectively for multinucleated osteoclasts using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, and RANKL and OPG protein expression was examined by immunohistochemical staining., Results: The two peak values of osteoclast/acreage in the occlusal and basal region were both observed on the P1.5 and P9.5; while the two peak values in the lateral region were on P3.5 and P9.5. During the mouse molar eruption, burst of osteoclastogenesis was associated with high expression of RANKL and low expression of OPG., Conclusions: RANKL and OPG could have a close relationship with the osteoclast activity and two developmental apexes were observed during the molar eruption. The occlusal movement was relatively stable, meanwhile the temporarily accelerative movement to the basal and lateral regions could occur.

7 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from Tuoba Xianbei remains in Dong Han period were analyzed. Together with the Data of Xiongnu published, the genetic affinities between Tuoba Xianbei and Xiongnu were analyzed in genetic diversity, haplogroup status, Fst genetic distances, phylogenetic analysis and multidimentional scaling (MDS) analysis. The results indicated that the Tuoba Xianbei presented the closer affinities to the Xiongnu, which implied that there was the gene flow between Tuoba Xianbei and Xiongnu during the 2 southward migrations.

The total proteins of Leymus chinensis were extracted from eight-week-old seedlings grown in the greenhouse by TCA-acetone precipitation method. After the lysis buffer was replaced by the start buffer, proteins were fractionated along the first dimension using chromatofocusing (CF). Subsequently the fractions with pI values between 8.5 and 4.0 collected after the first dimension separation were further fractionated by nonporous silica reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (NPS-RP-HPLC, HPRP). With ProteoVue software the pI/UV map was generated to show the protein expression profile of Leymus chinensis. Some experiments were tested to optimize the fraction procedure. Three different elution gradients were employed to get the optimal chromatogram. Comparison of the protein expression pattern between 2D-PAGE and 2D-LC indicated that 2D-LC was a powerful tool in protein fraction. Reproducibility and veracity of the protein patterns were confirmed in different injections of the same sample. A method to fractionate the total protein of Leymus chinensis shoot with two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) was founded.

Objective: To determine the effect of composite restoration on reinforcement of weakened tooth structure and the possible mechanism., Methods: Sixty freshly extracted non-carious maxillary premolars were collected and divided into 6 groups with 10 specimen in each group. MOD cavities (buccolingual width: 2.8 to 3.2 mm; palatal cusp width: 2.0 mm; cusp height: 5.0 mm) were prepared individually. Group 1 was prepared and not restored (control). The other 5 groups were restored with silver amalgam alloy (group 2), Z250 without bonding (group 3), F2000 (group 4), Z250 (group 5) and Z350 nanocomposite (group 6) (3M ESPE) respectively. The fracture resistance of the tested teeth was determined by applying a vertical splitting load through a specially shaped steel rod at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The data were analyzed by ANOVA., Results: The average fracture resistance of the 6 groups was: (245.29 +/- 39.49) N (group 1), (255.09 +/- 42.14) N (group 2), (267.34 +/- 31.56) N (group 3), (293.90 +/- 33.42) N (group 4), (337.81 +/- 32.63) N (group 5) and (349.08 +/- 32.93) N (group 6). There was no significant difference between the group 1, group 2 and group 3. The fracture resistance of group 4, group 5 and group 6 was higher than that of group 1 and group 2 (P < 0.05). Significant difference was noted between group 5 and group 3 (P < 0.01). The fracture resistance of group 4 was much lower than that of group 5 and group 6 (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found between group 5 and group 6., Conclusions: The use of composite increased the fracture resistance of the tooth with an MOD restoration. This effect was related to the adhesive force, polymerization shrinkage stress and the elastic modulus of the composite.

Postsynaptic alterations have been suggested to account for NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation of synaptic strength, although there is substantial evidence supporting changes in presynaptic release. Direct chemical activation of either NMDA or group I metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR1) elicits LTD of similar magnitudes, but it is unknown whether they share common expression mechanisms. Using dual-photon laser-scanning microscopy of FM1-43 [N-(3-triethylammoniumpropyl)-4-(4-(dibutylamino)styryl)pyridinium dibromide] to directly visualize presynaptic vesicular release from the rapidly recycling vesicle pool (RRP) at Schaffer collateral terminals in field CA1 of rat hippocampal slices, we found that a persistent reduction in vesicular release from the RRP is induced by NMDA-LTD but not by mGluR1-LTD. Variance-mean analyses of Schaffer collateral release probability (P(r)) at varying extracellular calcium concentrations confirmed that NMDA-LTD was associated with reduced P(r), whereas mGluR1-LTD was not. Pharmacological isolation of NMDAR-dependent and mGluR-dependent forms of stimulus-evoked LTD revealed that both are composed of a combination of presynaptic and postsynaptic alterations. However, when group I mGluR-dependent LTD was isolated by combining an NMDAR blocker with a group II mGluR antagonist, this form of LTD was purely postsynaptic. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine blocked the induction of NMDA-LTD but did not alter mGluR-LTD, consistent with a selective role for nitric oxide as a retrograde messenger mediating NMDA-LTD. These data demonstrate that single synapses can express multiple forms of LTD with different sites of expression, that NMDA-LTD is a combination of presynaptic and postsynaptic alterations, but that group I mGluR-LTD appears to be expressed entirely postsynaptically.

Non-recombination region of Y-chromosome is a useful marker in tracing evolutionary history of paternal lineage. In the present study, total 92 individuals from Shui ethnic group in Sandu Shui Ethnic Group Autonomous County of Guizhou Province were inspected with 11 SNP sites including M7, M9, M15, M45, M89, M95, M119,M122, M130, M134 and YAP on Y-chromosome.All the subjects were required to be unrelated and without intermarriage with other ethnic groups within three generations. The haplotypes were analyzed by PCR-RFLP method. Four haplotypes H5,H8,H9 and H11 were detected with frequencies of 0.054, 0.044, 0.315 and 0.587, respectively.Principle component indicated that the paternal lineage of Shui ethnic group is much closer to Li ethnic group of Hainan Province and Bouyei ethnic group of Guizhou Province,which belong to the group of Zhuang-Dong branch of Sino-Tibetan language family. In addition genetic study of Shui coincides with its linguistic distribution.

A method using a domestic gas chromatograph controlled by computer with a homemade DNP packed column for the determination of major flavor components in Chinese spirtis is described. This chromatograph was developed under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Optimizations of the operating parameters were undertaken in order to establish the chromatographic conditions suitable for isothermal and programmed temperature gas chromatography. The expanded analytical objects, including acetone, iso-valeraldehyde, 2-pentanone, 2-pentanol, acetoin, could also be quantitatively determined along with more than ten major components such as alcohols, esters, aldehydes, therefore, a total of 18 flavor components were accurately determined by this method. Under the selected chromatographic conditions, the instrument showed good stability and the repeatability of quantitative results was satisfactory. The suitability of this gas chromatograph is also discussed.