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Abstract Background Previous metabolic studies in upper digestive cancer have mostly been limited to cross-sectional study designs, which hinders the ability to effectively predict outcomes in the early stage of cancer. This study aims to identify key metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with the multistage progression of epithelial cancer and to explore their predictive value for gastroesophageal cancer (GEC) formation and for the early screening of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods A case-cohort study within the 7-year prospective Esophageal Cancer Screening Cohort of Shandong Province included 77 GEC cases and 77 sub-cohort individuals. Untargeted metabolic analysis was performed in serum samples. Metabolites, with FDR q value 1, were selected as differential metabolites to predict GEC formation using Random Forest (RF) models. Subsequently, we evaluated the predictive performance of these differential metabolites for the early screening of ESCC. Results We found a distinct metabolic profile alteration in GEC cases compared to the sub-cohort, and identified eight differential metabolites. Pathway analyses showed dysregulation in D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and steroid hormone biosynthesis in GEC patients. A panel of eight differential metabolites showed good predictive performance for GEC formation, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.893 (95% CI = 0.816–0.951). Furthermore, four of the GEC pathological progression-related metabolites were validated in the early screening of ESCC, with an AUC of 0.761 (95% CI = 0.716–0.805). Conclusions These findings indicated a panel of metabolites might be an alternative approach to predict GEC formation, and therefore have the potential to mitigate the risk of cancer progression at the early stage of GEC.

The population prehistory of Xinjiang has been a hot topic among geneticists, linguists, and archaeologists. Current ancient DNA studies in Xinjiang exclusively suggest an admixture model for the populations in Xinjiang since the early Bronze Age. However, almost all of these studies focused on the northern and eastern parts of Xinjiang; the prehistoric demographic processes that occurred in western Xinjiang have been seldomly reported. By analyzing complete mitochondrial sequences from the Xiabandi (XBD) cemetery (3,500–3,300 BP), the up-to-date earliest cemetery excavated in western Xinjiang, we show that all the XBD mitochondrial sequences fall within two different West Eurasian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) pools, indicating that the migrants into western Xinjiang from west Eurasians were a consequence of the early expansion of the middle and late Bronze Age steppe pastoralists (Steppe_MLBA), admixed with the indigenous populations from Central Asia. Our study provides genetic links for an early existence of the Indo-Iranian language in southwestern Xinjiang and suggests that the existence of Andronovo culture in western Xinjiang involved not only the dispersal of ideas but also population movement.

In this paper, we first provide some properties of truth tables of bent functions. Furthermore, a upper bound of truth table's runs length of a bent function is presented. Based on these results, we propose a new algorithm for enumerating bent functions. At last, we find that our algorithm requires lower storage complexity and is easier to implement with parallel/distributed computing infrastructures by comparing with some known searching algorithms.

For the medical industry, there are problems such as poor sharing of medical data, tampering, and leakage of private data. In view of these problems, a blockchain-based electronic medical record access control research scheme based on the role-based access control model is proposed in this article. First, the appropriate access control strategy is adopted to solve the leakage problem of the user’s medical privacy information during the access process. Then, the information entropy technology is used to quantify the medical data, so that the medical data can be effectively and maximally utilized. Using the distributed general ledger characteristics of blockchain and its inherent security attributes, data islands can be eliminated, data sharing among medical systems can be promoted, access records can be prevented from being tampered with, and medical research and precise medical treatment can be better supported. Through this research, not only can user’s medical privacy information protection be realized during the service process but also patients can manage their own medical data autonomously, which is beneficial to privacy protection under the medical data sharing.

Abstract: Aimed at the small size, large quantity of traps and high environmental requirements of resource countries on slope belt of South America foreland basins, a new evaluation method is proposed for trap exploration on slope by taking the area controlled by a cluster platform as one evaluation unit. The evaluation process is: (1) trap geological risk analysis: including key oil & gas accumulation element analysis such as source, reservoir, seal, trap, migration and preservation; (2) trap resources calculation: including trap resources calculated with volumetric method, trap accumulation probability evaluation by geological risk analysis, and finally the risk trap resources by multiplying the above two values; (3) platform and drilling target selection: count the total risk trap resources and average risk trap resource of different platform and rank the drilling platforms according to the calculated resources; and rank the trap drilling sequence according to the risk trap resources. The method was used in ranking undrilled traps in the M1 layer of Block X, Oriente Basin, and the platform construction and trap drilling order was recommended accordingly which shows good results in practice. Key words: foreland basin, slope, trap evaluation, Oriente Basin, cluster platform, evaluation method

The informalization and automation of the present power system have important influences on the smooth operation of power stations and systems. The construction of the innovation cloud service platform could help manage the power enterprise. Three components including data center, monitoring system, and decision support system are established to realize the functions of data sharing, intelligent management, and remote support. Through the establishment of the innovation cloud service platform, the whole efficiency and effectiveness of the power enterprise can be enhanced, which helps the smooth operation of the power stations and systems.

Major oil discoveries have recently been made in Block T in the north of the Oriente Basin, Ecuador. The oil is reservoired in the M1 Sandstones of the Upper Cretaceous Napo Formation. To investigate the origin and charge history of the petroleum, a detailed geochemical study was carried out on 43 crude oil samples from 42 producing wells in Block T together with fluid inclusion analyses of three core samples from two wells. According to the results of GC/GC‐MS analyses of the oil samples, the oils contain n‐alkanes with a peak carbon number at C15‐C17 and a subordinate peak at C25‐C30. The nC21‐/nC22+ ratio ranges from 0.64 to 1.69, and the Carbon Preference Index from 0.95 to 1.23. The odd‐over‐even predominance is 1.02–1.27. A cross‐plot of C22/C21 versus C24/C23 tricyclic terpanes indicates that the source rock is a marine marl mixed with a small amount of terrigenous material. C27 regular steranes are more dominant than C28 ≈ C29 and the C29/C27 ratio ranges from 0.67 to 0.94 indicating a source rock dominated by marine algal material with minor terrigenous input. Rc calculated using the MPI index was 0.83% to 1.11%, indicating that the oils were generated during the early to peak oil generation stage. A cross‐plot of C29ααα20S/(20S+20R) versus C29αββ/(ββ+αα), and ratios of C31L‐hopane 22S/(22S + 22R) and C32L‐hopane 22S/(22S + 22R), gave similar maturity results. The presence in the same oil samples of a complete n‐alkane series together with an unresolved UCM hump and 25‐norhopanes indicates at least two stages of oil charging, with severe biodegradation of the early‐stage oil and a later charge of fresh, unaltered oil. The homogenization temperatures of 36 fluid inclusions in samples from Block T wells F20 and F67 range from 81 to 95°C. A reconstructed burial and geothermal history of well F20 indicates that the M1 Sandstones in this area reached a temperature of 81°C at 19–16 Ma, after which temperatures increased continuously to 95–100°C at the present day. The homogenization temperatures of the analysed fluid inclusions combined with the geothermal history indicate that oil charging into the M1Sandstones began in the early Miocene and continues at the present day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stream ciphers based on linear feedback shift register (LFSR) are suitable for constrained environments, such as satellite communications, radio frequency identification devices tag, sensor networks and Internet of Things, due to its simple hardware structures, high speed encryption and lower power consumption. LFSR, as a cryptographic primitive, has been used to generate a maximum period sequence. Because the switching of the status bits is regular, the power consumption of the LFSR is correlated in a linear way. As a result, the power consumption characteristics of stream cipher based on LFSR are vulnerable to leaking initialization vectors under the power attacks. In this paper, a new design of LFSR against power attacks is proposed. The power consumption characteristics of LFSR can be masked by using an additional LFSR and confused by adding a new filter Boolean function and a flip-flop. The design method has been implemented easily by circuits in this new design in comparison with the others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several methods have been used to diagnose the haplogroups in the maternal lineages of human remains. However, most techniques cannot be used to detect both the SNPs and the contamination. In this study, the tetra-primer PCR amplification method is used to type a number of coding-region mtDNA polymorphisms: G (4833), M9 (3394), and M10 (10 646). Results show that the tetra-primer PCR can rapidly identify mitochondrial DNA haplogroups in ancient human remains, and the result of amplification can be detected just by using agarose gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, this method can detect the existence of contamination under certain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Tarim Basin in western China, known for its amazingly well-preserved mummies, has been for thousands of years an important crossroad between the eastern and western parts of Eurasia. Despite its key position in communications and migration, and highly diverse peoples, languages and cultures, its prehistory is poorly understood. To shed light on the origin of the populations of the Tarim Basin, we analysed mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in human skeletal remains excavated from the Xiaohe cemetery, used by the local community between 4000 and 3500 years before present, and possibly representing some of the earliest settlers. Results: Xiaohe people carried a wide variety of maternal lineages, including West Eurasian lineages H, K, U5, U7, U2e, T, R*, East Eurasian lineages B, C4, C5, D, G2a and Indian lineage M5. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the people of the Tarim Basin had a diverse maternal ancestry, with origins in Europe, central/eastern Siberia and southern/western Asia. These findings, together with information on the cultural context of the Xiaohe cemetery, can be used to test contrasting hypotheses of route of settlement into the Tarim Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field experiment results showed that 250 g/l mandipropamid suspension had good control effect on red tao blight, and the 1: 1500 suspension was applied twice continuously during the early period (June 25) and culmination period (July12) of taro blight; the control effect 23 d after the last application reached 79.28%, significantly better than that of conventional pesticide, and it was safe, so it had good prospects for the development and application in production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is hypothesized that working memory (WM) mediates the effectiveness of corrective feedback as a cognitive factor. Yet little is known about the mediating process itself. The present study investigates whether corrective recasts (CR) facilitate L2 learning and examines whether recast-driven L2 learning can be predicted by different aspects of WM. To this end, a pretest--immediate posttest--delayed posttest design was employed with three classes of first-year English majors from a Chinese university as test control, task control and CR groups. The effect of CR was evaluated using oral production (OP) tests and WM was measured by means of nonword span, digit span and listening span tests. The results showed that the CR group significantly improved its accuracy in the use of the final "s" of the third person singular from pretest to posttests and outperformed the test control group on the immediate posttest. There were differential relationships between the efficacy of CR and different components of WM. While nonword span predicted immediate and delayed OP performance, listening span predicted only the immediate language development and digit span seemed less relevant to L2 learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationships among entrepreneurial orientation (EO), experimental learning (EL) and acquisitive learning (AL), and firm performance (FP). We tested our model in China as EO is the engine that is driving firms to take advantage of opportunities in an increasingly market-oriented transitional economy. From the responses of 607 firms, we found that EO was positively related to EL but had an inverse U-shaped relationship with AL. Both EL and AL enhanced FP although the effects from AL were weaker and became nonsignificant when external knowledge was embedded into the firm's internal private knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — Human resource management (HRM) is seen as crucial for innovation and firm performance in China. This paper aims to carry out an empirical research to investigate the effects of main dimensions of FIRM on technological innovation as well as organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach — The research uses a sample of 194 high-tech firms surveyed in eight provinces in China. Findings — This research finds that employee training, immaterial motivation and process control have positive effects on technological innovation, while material motivation and outcome control have a negative influence on technological innovation. It is also found that technological innovation is positively related with performance. Research limitations/implications — This study does not consider the different influence of every FIRM dimension affecting different innovation types. This should be a future research topic. Practical implications — This study provides useful managerial implication for managers. First, employee training is needed to develop employees' knowledge. Second, material incentive is needed but not main motivation in Chinese high-tech firms. Third, process control should be emphasized more than outcome control in Chinese high-tech firms. Originality/value — This study demonstrated that the HRM significantly contributed to technological innovation and firm performance. This study demonstrates that Chinese high-tech firms' HRM has an important influence on technological innovation, and lead to firm's superior performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selection and cultivation process of Taisi No.2 was introduced and a comparative test was conducted in 2008-2009. During 2010-2011, multiple-site tests were made, with production test and demonstration. The results indicated that yield of Taisi No.2 was higher compared with Wenling Baisigua. Furthermore, Taisi No.2 performed better in quality, commercial value, disease-tolerance and resistance. It is important to prepare work on cultivating strong seedlings, transplanting, strengthening fertilizer and water management, leading vine growth, timely harvest and disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]