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The spatial shifts and vulnerability assessments of ecological niches for trees will offer fresh perspectives for sustainable development and preservation of forests, particularly within the framework of rapid climate change. Betula luminifera is a fast-growing native timber plantation species in China, but the natural resources have been severely damaged. Here, a comprehensive habitat suitability model (including ten niche-based GIS modeling algorithms) was developed that integrates three types of environmental factors, namely, climatic, soil, and ultraviolet variables, to assess the species contemporary and future distribution of suitable habitats across China. Our results suggest that the habitats of B. luminifera generally occur in subtropical areas (about 1.52 × 106 km2). However, the growth of B. luminifera is profoundly shaped by the nuances of its local environment, the most reasonable niche spaces are only 1.15 × 106 km2 when limiting ecological factors (soil and ultraviolet) are considered, generally considered as the core production region. Furthermore, it is anticipated that species-suitable habitats will decrease by 10 and 8% with climate change in the 2050s and 2070s, respectively. Our study provided a clear understanding of species-suitable habitat distribution and identified the reasons why other niche spaces are unsuitable in the future, which can warn against artificial cultivation and conservation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current evidence demonstrates that blood glucose fluctuation can be associated with depression and anxiety. The association among blood glucose fluctuation, traditional risk factors and emotional disorders in T2DM should be studied and clarified. Methods: A total of 182 diabetic patients including 81 patients with depression or anxiety and 101 patients without emotional disorder were enrolled into this study. Data were obtained through medical history and questionnaire survey. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Results: The comparison results of basic information between the two groups showed that the differences of the proportion of female were statistically significant (p = 0.002). There was no statistical difference in laboratory examination indexes between the two groups, however, standard deviation of blood glucose (SDBG) and postprandial glucose excursion (PPGE) of the comorbidity group were significantly higher than that of control group (p = 0.032 and p = 0.037). The results of questionnaire survey showed that there were statistically significant differences in sleep quality, PSQI and dietary habit between the two groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Stratified analysis results according to gender showed that the percentage of cognitive disorder, anxiety and depression in female group was significantly higher than that in male group (p = 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Mini-mental state examination (MMSE), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) score in female group were also higher than male group (p = 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis results showed that SDBG and sleep quality were associated with emotional disorders in T2DM (p = 0.040 and p < 0.001) and the OR values of these factors were 7.588 (1.097–52.069) and 4.428 (2.649–7.401). Conclusions: Blood glucose fluctuation and sleep quality are associated with the increased prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing body of evidence has indicated that polymorphisms in the miRNA binding site of target gene can alter the ability of miRNAs to bind their target genes and modulate the risk of cancer. We aimed to investigate the association between a miR-520a binding site polymorphism rs141178472 in the PIK3CA 3′-UTR and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in a Chinese Han population. The polymorphism rs141178472 was analyzed in a case-control study, including 386 CRC patients and 394 age- and sex-matched controls; the relationship between the polymorphism and the risk of colorectal cancer was examined. Individuals carrying the rs141178472 CC genotype or C allele had an increased risk of developing CRC (CC versus TT, OR (95% CI): 1.716 (1.084–2.716), P=0.022; C versus T, OR (95% CI): 1.258 (1.021–1.551), P=0.033). Furthermore, the expression of PIK3CA was detected in the peripheral blood mononucleated cell of CRC patients, suggesting that mRNA levels of PIK3CA might be associated with SNP rs141178472. These findings provide evidence that a miR-520a binding site polymorphism rs141178472 in the PIK3CA 3′-UTR may play a role in the etiology of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Combined the muscovite 40Ar-39Ar dating and cassiterite LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating in the Aotou tin deposit. • Analyzed the potential of Aotou tin deposit to be large-scale tin deposits. • Summarized the petrology, mineralogy and geochemistry index for ore prospecting by compiling data of late Indosinian granites. The determination of deposit age is fundamental in economic geology, while the result is often disappointing because of the difficulties in selection of suitable minerals. In this study, on the base of detailed field investigation, we successfully combined the muscovite 40Ar-39Ar dating and cassiterite LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating in the Aotou tin deposit, Jiangxi province, South China. The result of the muscovite 40Ar–39Ar plateau ages (228.7 ± 1.5 Ma) and the cassiterite U-Pb lower intercept ages (227.4 ± 6.9 Ma) are consistent, accurately defined that the Aotou tin deposit was formed during late Indosinian. With the gradual discovery of another Indosinian W-Sn deposit, we have taken this opportunity to discuss the prospecting index of the Indosinian granite by compiling data of relevant plutons. The result reflects that the Indosinian metallogenic plutons are mainly acidic rocks and produced in the form of small rock mass, with index minerals of muscovite and volatile-rich minerals such as tourmaline and fluorite. Geochemically, they show that the higher SiO 2 content (71.51–78.14%), A/CNK (1.13–1.66), Rb/Sr (21.94 in average), but lower Nb/Ta (4.03 in average) and ΣREE (85 ppm in average), which could be useful indexes for identifying the metallogenic pluton. Furthermore, the negative correlation between SiO 2 and ΣREE, K 2 O and Na 2 O can be used as important ore-prospecting indexes, as a result of they indicate the differentiation of ore-bearing hydrothermal fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aims: The HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of multiple tumors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HOTAIR are related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) susceptibility in a Chinese population., Methods: We genotyped three SNPs of HOTAIR in a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) case-control study, including 482 cases and 520 control subjects. SNPs were genotyped using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Associations between gene polymorphisms and HCC were evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis. The allele-specific effects on HOTAIR expression in HCC were confirmed by real time quantitative PCR and luciferase activity assays. The influence of HOTAIR SNPs on the proliferation of HCC cells was evaluated using a CCK-8 assay., Results: Significant associations were observed between the HOTAIR rs920778 C>T polymorphism and HCC risk (TT versus CC: OR = 1.634, 95% CI =1.028-2.598, P = 0.046) and the allelic model (allele T versus allele C: OR =1.293, 95% CI = 1.060-1.577, P = 0.011). However, no statistically significant differences of rs4759314 and rs1899663 genotypes were observed between patients and controls (both P > 0.05). The increased risk for rs920778 TT genotype carriers was more evident in a sub-group of drinkers (OR = 3.103, 95% CI = 1.151-8.368, p=0.025) and in people positive for HBV infection (OR = 2.885, 95% CI = 1.086-7.663, p=0.034). RT-PCR and luciferase activity assay confirmed that the rs920778 TT genotype induced significantly higher HOTAIR levels than did the CC genotype (P < 0.05). CCK-8 assays and colony formation assays demonstrated that the rs920778 TT genotype had a higher proliferation rate of HCC cells than did the CC genotype (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: These results suggest that SNP rs920778 of HOTAIR acts as a potential biomarker for predicting hepatocellular carcinoma, and further studies are warranted to confirm these findings., (© 2017 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background and Aims: Single nucleotide polymorphisms in miRNA binding sites, which are located in mRNA 3' untranslated regions (3'-UTRs), were recently found to influence microRNA-target interactions. Specifically, such polymorphisms can modulatebinding affinity or create or destroy miRNA-binding sites; such variants have also been found to be associated with cancer risk. In this study, we explored the effect of a functional variant at the miR-214 binding site in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (rs114673809) on gastric cancer (GC) risk in a hospital-based case-control study in a Chinese Han population., Methods and Results: We genotyped the rs114673809 polymorphism in 345 gastric cancer patients and 376 cancer-free controls using the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. The functions of rs114673809 were investigated using a luciferase activity assay and validated by immunoblotting. We found that participants carrying the rs114673809 AA genotype or A allele had a significantly increased risk of gastric cancer (OR = 1.667, 95% CI = 1.044-2.660, P = 0.034; OR = 1.261, 95% CI = 1.017-1.563, P = 0.037, respectively) compared to those carrying the GG genotype and G allele. In addition, rs114673809 modified the binding of hsa-miR-214 to MTHFR as well as MTHFR protein levels in gastric cancer patients., Conclusion: Our data suggested that rs114673809, which is located at the miR-214 binding site in the 3'-UTR of MTHFR, may play an important role in the development of gastric cancer in a Chinese Han population., (© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Based on survey data, this paper analysed the hydrologic characteristics of HAB frequent occurrence area in the outer Changjiang River estuary. The results showed that this area is an area in which the plume front with a salinity of 17-30 in the outer Changjang River estuary, the divergent surface current of the plume front and the upwelling of the high salinity Taiwan bottom warm current are coexisted. In Spring and Summer, the diluted Changjiang River water of this area changed its flow direction under the effect of southwest-northeastward current, possibly due to the large runoff from the Changjiang River to the sea. The upwelling usually occurred at the west side slope between the first turning point and the deep slot top of the outer Changjiang River estuary. This turning point was on the north side in Spring and on the south side in Summer, but in Autumn, no turning point was existed, possibly due to the small runoff. The distribution characteristics of residual current in Spring and Summer was that the adjacent area of plume front was the convergent area of surface and bottom currents, the surface residual current in the upwelling area was at divergent, and the bottom residual current had the characteristics of converging toward the Changjiang River estuary along the deep slot.