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Cost-effective, non-destructive means of estimating wood properties of eucalypts grown in Guangxi, China, were evaluated using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and resistance drilling. For this evaluation, wood samples for NIR analysis and resistance drill measurements were collected from 581 trees, representing eight plantation Eucalyptus taxa across five sites. The near infra-red (NIR) spectra collected from the 581 wood samples were analysed using existing calibrations for kraft pulp yield, cellulose content, hot water extractives and Klason lignin. These spectra and calibrations were effective in predicting over 60% of the variance in total carbohydrates and over 80% of the extractives and lignin values from independent laboratory analysis of a subset of 100 samples. Resistance drilling combined with software developed for processing the drill data proved to be a quick, low cost and effective means of quantifying wood density (as amplitude of the drill torque), stem diameter and bark thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep-buried marine carbonate reservoirs in the Tarim Basin present challenges for exploration. A regional unconformity in dolomite at the top surface of the Shuiquan Formation makes the carbonate rocks ideal reservoirs. This study determines the unconformity belt distribution, lithology, reservoir space types and the controlling factors of the Shuiquan Formation, to establish a paleokarst development model and predict the favourable exploration targets. By flattening the seismic-event section and tracking truncation points on the seismic profiles, the unconformity area and denudation trends of the Shuiquan Formation are identified. The denudation area appears on a NEE-trending plane as a band with a width of 10–20 km and a thickness that expands from the depression to the slope and uplift. The Sinian Shuiquan Formation developed in a carbonate platform–tidal flat environment. Outcrop, core, well logging, and thin-section observations reveal that the lithology of the Shuiquan Formation consists of crystalline dolomite and granular dolomite, with pore types that include intercrystalline dissolution pores, intercrystalline pores and structural fractures. Unconformity, karstification and tectonic activity with atmospheric freshwater leaching, storage space and communication channels, respectively, are considered crucial factors influencing carbonate reservoir formation in the study area. A prediction model for the carbonate reservoirs in the Tadong area shows that the strong karst belt on the slope is the ideal area for forming a carbonate reservoir. A regional unconformity at the top surface of the dolomite of the Shuiquan Formation makes the carbonate rocks favourable reservoirs. Sedimentation, unconformity, karstification and tectonic activity play an important role in controlling reservoir formation and evolution. The high-angle unconformity slope belt with long-term exposure and atmospheric freshwater leaching is the ideal area for large-scale epigenetic karst reservoir reconstruction and formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-learning has become an increasingly important teaching and learning mode in educational institutions and corporate training. The evaluation of e-learning, however, is essential for the quality assurance of e-learning courses. This paper constructs a four-phase evaluation model for e-learning courses, which includes planning, development, process, and product evaluation, called the PDPP evaluation model. Planning evaluation includes market demand, feasibility, target student group, course objectives, and finance. Development evaluation includes instructional design, course material design, course Web site design, flexibility, student-student interaction, teacher/tutor support, technical support, and assessment. Process evaluation includes technical support, Web site utilization, learning interaction, learning evaluation, learning support, and flexibility. Product evaluation includes student satisfaction, teaching effectiveness, learning effectiveness, and sustainability. Using the PDPP model as a research framework, a purely e-learning course on Research Methods in Distance Education, developed by the School of Professional and Continuing Education at the University of Hong Kong (HKU SPACE) and jointly offered with the School of Distance Learning for Medical Education of Peking University (SDLME, PKU) was used as a case study. Sixty students from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Malaysia were recruited for this course. According to summative evaluation through a student e-learning experience survey, the majority of students were very satisfied/satisfied on all e-learning dimensions of this course. The majority of students thought that the learning effectiveness of this course was equivalent, even better, than face-to-face learning because of cross-border collaborative learning, student-centred learning, sufficient learning support, and learning flexibility. This study shows that a high quality of teaching and learning might be assured by using the systematic PDPP evaluation procedure. It is hoped that the PDPP evaluation model and its application can provide a benchmark for establishing a wider e-learning quality assurance mechanism in educational institutions. (Contains 6 tables and 1 figure.)

On two-lane freeways with high ratios of fast and slow vehicles, traffic congestion can frequently occur when the traffic volume is significantly lower than the design capacity. This paper studies the traffic flow characteristics on two-lane freeways in the situation. We investigate and analyze detailed traffic flow data collected using roadside laser instrument from a typical two-lane freeway in China. The field data shows that cars and heavy trucks, the main vehicle types, have a huge speed difference. Specifically, in low-density traffic with such high truck ratios that cars cannot freely overtake slow trucks, the traffic flow presents some unique characteristics. A great deal of lane changing occurs during the driving of cars and trucks. Moving bottlenecks occur randomly and frequently in space and time, so the traffic flow state is always unstable. Based on those findings, the active and inactive lane-changing cellular automata model is proposed, and asymmetric lanechanging rules considering cars and trucks are established. The simulated results show that the proposed model can reflect the key traffic flow characteristics. Vehicle segregations, which present vehicles of different types run in different lanes and that vehicles of the same type run in groups, are confirmed by the field data and reproduced by the proposed model. These results can be applied to the existing speed and lane management system of two-lane freeways in China to alleviate congestion and improve capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the efficacy of metformin in megestrol acetate (MA)-based fertility-sparing treatment for patients with atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) and endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC).Design: A randomised, single-centre, open-label, controlled trial conducted between October 2013 and December 2017.Setting: Shanghai OBGYN Hospital of Fudan University, China.Population: A total of 150 patients (18-45 years old) with primary AEH or well-differentiated EEC were randomised into an MA group (n = 74) and an MA plus metformin group (n = 76).Methods: Patients with AEH or EEC were firstly stratified, then randomised to receive MA (160 mg orally, daily) or MA (160 mg orally, daily) plus metformin (500 mg orally, three times a day).Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary efficacy parameter was the cumulate complete response (CR) rate within 16 weeks of treatment (16w-CR rate); the secondary efficacy parameters were 30w-CR rate and adverse events.Results: The 16w-CR rate was higher in the metformin plus MA group than in the MA-only group (34.3 versus 20.7%, odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-4.51, P = 0.09) but the difference was more significant in 102 AEH patients (39.6 versus 20.4%, OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.06-6.21, P = 0.04). This effect of metformin was also significant in non-obese (51.4 versus 24.3%, OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.22-8.84, P = 0.02) and insulin-sensitive (54.8 versus 28.6%, OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.03-8.97, P = 0.04) subgroups of AEH women. No significant result was found in secondary endpoints.Conclusion: As a fertility-sparing treatment, metformin plus MA was associated with a higher early CR rate compared with MA alone in AEH patients.Tweetable Abstract: For AEH patients, metformin plus MA might be a better fertility-sparing treatment to achieve a higher early CR rate compared with MA alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effectiveness of biological activated carbon (BAC) filter in removing disinfection byproducts (DBPs) precursors of micro-polluted lake water for one year was conducted. The formation potential (FP) of DBPs (trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs) and Nitrosamines (NAs)), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), molecular weight (MW) distribution and excitation emission matrix fluorescence (EEM) of dissolved organic material (DOM) in the influent and effluent of BAC were determined. The results indicated that the removal efficiency (RE) of DOC ranged from 42.9–28.3%. Neither virgin GAC nor long-term operated BAC could efficiently dispose of THMs and HAAs precursors (RE from 35.2–18.8%, from 42 to 8.4%, respectively), however, BAC still showed good ability in removal of NAs precursors after a year operation, of which RE just dropped from 81.7–69.6%. There was strong correlation between RE of NAs precursors and DOC with small MW (<0.5 kDa). The removal of HAAs precursors showed relatively close relation to aromatic protein-like components and soluble microbial pollutants (SMPs). Weak direct relationship was found between the water quality parameters and THMs precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil spill-induced vapor cloud explosions in a confined space can cause catastrophic consequences. In this work, investigation was conducted on the catastrophic pipeline leak, oil spill, and the resulting vapor cloud explosion accident occurring in China in 2013 by modeling analysis, field surveys, and numerical simulations. The total amount of the spilled oil was up to 2044.4 m3 due to improper disposal. The long residence time of the oil remaining in a confined space permitted the formation of explosive mixtures and caused the vapor cloud explosion. A numerical model was developed to estimate the consequence of the explosion based on volatilization testing results. The results show that the death-leading zone and the glass-breaking zone could be 18 m and 92 m, respectively, which are consistent with the field investigation. The severity of the explosion is related to the amount of the oil spill, properties of oil, and volatilization time. It is recommended that a comprehensive risk assessment be conducted to analyze the possible consequences upon oil spilling into a confined space. Prompt collection and ventilation measures should be taken immediately after the spill occurs to reduce the time for oil volatilization and prevent the mixture from reaching its explosive limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High Ni2+ levels are toxic to plant growth; however, being a micro-nutrient, its application and/or presence in low concentration may improve plant growth. Present study investigated the effects of exogenous Ni application on morpho-physiological attributes of two rice cultivars in China i.e., Yuxiangyouzhan and Meixiangzhan 2. Nickel was applied exogenously to 11 days old seedlings as Ni(NO3)2 in a solution form in the following concentrations: 0.1 mM (Ni1), 0.2 mM (Ni2) and 0.5 mM (Ni3). The seedlings without Ni2+ application were taken as control. Results showed that exogenous Ni2+ application improved the early growth of seedlings in terms of seedling length, basal diameter, biomass accumulation and seedling index. Substantial improvements were also observed regarding chl a, chl b, total chl contents and carotenoids in plants under Ni2+ application compared to CK. Furthermore, all Ni2+ treatments decreased the content of Malondialdehyde (MDA). Among all applied concentrations, Ni2 proved better regarding its promotive effects, however further research is needed to explore the molecular basis of Ni-induced modulations in seedlings of both rice cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the capacity of a body shape index and body roundness index to identify people with diabetes mellitus and those with prediabetes, and to determine whether a body shape index and/or body roundness index is superior to the traditional overall adiposity index, BMI, in Han Chinese people in Northeast China. Methods: A total of 15 078 participants were enrolled from Jilin province in 2012 using a multi‐stage stratified random cluster sampling method. Demographic data were collected, and anthropometric indices and biochemical indices were measured. Receiver‐operating characteristic curves were used to compare the validity of each anthropometric index, and the area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curve was calculated for each anthropometric index. Results: Body roundness index had the highest areas under the receiver‐operating curve for prediabetes, diagnosed diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes in both men and women (all P<0.01). The optimum threshold values for body roundness index for prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes and diagnosed diabetes, respectively, were 2.8, 3.7 and 3.3 in men, and 3.4, 3.8 and 3.6 in women. The cumulative proportions of prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes and diagnosed diabetes identified by the optimum threshold values of body roundness index were 79.2%, 67.5% and 77.0% (82.3%, 62.5% and 75.3% in men; 74.6%, 74.9% and 78.3% in women), respectively. Conclusions: BMI, a body shape index and body roundness index may identify the presence of diabetes. Among the three anthropometric indices, BMI had the weakest association with diabetes. Body roundness index is an alternative index for assessing diabetes in Han Chinese people in Northeast China. What's new?: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is remarkably different from subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) with regard to physiological functions. An increase in VAT amount is particularly linked to metabolic diseases. The amount and distribution of VAT and SAT determine body shape; we found that body roundness index (BRI) was an alternative index for assessing diabetes mellitus in Han Chinese people in Northeast China.The distinguishing capability of BRI can be integrated into routine clinical care as a simple, convenient and cost‐effective way to monitor the transition from prediabetes to diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting was one of the most challenging supportive care issues in oncology, especially to highly emetogenic chemotherapy ( HEC). A total of 645 patients were randomized into fosaprepitant group (fosaprepitant/placebo 150 mg d1 in combination with granisetron and dexamethasone) or aprepitant group (aprepitant/placebo 125 mg d1; 80 mg d2-d3 plus granisetron and dexamethasone).The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients who had a complete response ( CR) over the entire treatment course (0-120 hr, overall phase [ OP]). It was assessed by using a non-inferiority model, with a non-inferiority margin of 10%. The difference of the CR rate was compared between two groups with chi-square analysis. Six hundred and twenty-six patients were included in the per protocol analysis. The percentage of patients with a CR in the fosaprepitant group was not inferior to that in the aprepitant group (90.85% versus 94.17%, p = .1302) during OP. Whether the cisplatin-based chemotherapy or not, the CR rate of the fosaprepitant group was not inferior to that of the aprepitant group. Both regimens were well tolerated. The most common adverse event was constipation. Fosaprepitant provided effective and well-tolerated control of nausea and vomiting associated with HEC in Chinese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine parvovirus ( CPV) is highly contagious and is a major cause of haemorrhagic enteritis and myocarditis in dogs. We investigated the genetic variation of emerging CPV strains by sequencing 64 CPV VP2 genes from 216 clinical samples of dogs from Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong and Hebei in 2014. Genetic analysis revealed that CPV-2b was predominant in Hebei and CPV-2a was predominant in the other four provinces. In addition, a CPV-2c strain has emerged in Shandong province. All samples had a Ser-Ala substitution at residue 297 and an Ile-Arg substitution at residue 324. Interestingly, in five separate canine samples, we found a mutation of Gln370 to Arg, until now detected only in isolates from pandas. The phylogenetic analysis showed clear distinctions between epidemic isolates and vaccine strains and between Chinese CPV-2c strains and CPV-2c strains found in other countries. Monitoring recent incidence of CPV strains enables evaluation and implementation of disease control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Results from previous studies have been inconsistent on the association between selenium and hypertension, and very few studies on this subject have focused on the elderly population. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between selenium level and hypertension in a rural elderly Chinese cohort. Design: A longitudinal study was implemented and data were analyzed using logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusting for potential confounders. The associations between selenium level and prevalent hypertension at baseline and between selenium and incident hypertension were examined. Setting: Community-based setting in four rural areas in China. Subjects: A total of 2000 elderly aged 65 years and over (mean 71.9±5.6 years) participated in this study. Measurements: Nail selenium levels were measured in all subjects at baseline. Blood pressure measures and self-reported hypertension history were collected at baseline, 2.5 years and 7 years later. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure 140 mmHg or higher, diastolic blood pressure 90 mmHg or higher, or reported use of anti-hypertensive medication. Results: The rate of baseline hypertension was 63.50% in this cohort and the mean nail selenium level is 0.413±0.183µg/g. Multi-covariate adjusted cross-sectional analyses indicated that higher selenium level was associated with higher blood pressure measures at baseline and higher rates of hypertension. For the 635 participants with normal blood pressure at baseline, 360 had developed hypertension during follow-up. The incidence rate for hypertension was 45.83%, 52.27%, 62.50%, 70.48%, and 62.79% from the first selenium quintile to the fifth quintile respectively. Comparing to the lowest quintile group, the hazard ratios were 1.41 (95%CI: 1.03 to1.94), 1.93 (95%CI: 1.40 to 2.67), 2.35 (95%CI: 1.69 to 3.26) and 1.94 (95%CI: 1.36 to 22.77) for the second selenium quintile to the fifth quintile respectively. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that high selenium may play a harmful role in the development of hypertension. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings and to elucidate a plausible biological mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a total of 37 samples (58.0%) were found through PCR assay to be positive for canine parvovirus ( CPV) of 66 suspected faecal samples of dogs collected from various cities throughout China. Eight CPV isolates could be obtained in the CRFK cell line. The sequencing of the VP2 gene of CPV identified the predominant CPV strain as CPV-2a ( Ser297 Ala), with two CPV-2b ( Ser297 Ala). Sequence comparison revealed homologies of 99.3-99.9%, 99.9% and 99.3-99.7% within the CPV 2a isolates, within the CPV 2b isolates and between the CPV 2a and 2b isolates, respectively. In addition, several non-synonymous and synonymous mutations were also recorded. The phylogenetic tree revealed that most of the CPV strains from different areas in China were located in the formation of a large branch, which were grouped together along with the KU143-09 strain from Thailand and followed the same evolution. In this study, we provide an updated molecular characterization of CPV 2 circulation in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive quartz-carbonate-Cu sulfide veins occur in clastic rocks and are spatially related to Paleocene granites in the western border of the Lanping Basin, western Yunnan, China. Abundant aqueous-carbonic fluid inclusions occur in these veins but their origin is debated. In the Jinman-Liancheng deposit, individual primary inclusion groups contain either exclusively liquid-rich inclusions (Gl), or coexisting liquid-rich and vapor-rich inclusions (Glv). Microthermometry and estimate of CO2 content indicate that type Gl inclusions either have homogenization temperatures (Th) 238-263°C and contain c. 3.9-5.5 mole % CO2, or have Th 178-222°C and contain c. 1.6-3.2 mole % CO2. Type Glv inclusions are thought to represent samples of fluid unmixing that occurred at 183-218°C. At that time, the liquid phase in the unmixing fluid may contain c. 2.0-3.3 mole % CO2. As such, the correlation of CO2 content with Th for type Gl inclusions is thought to be caused by fluid unmixing with decreasing temperature and subsequent CO2 escape. δ18O and δD values of the parent water mainly fall in the field below that of primary magmatic water, indicative of fluid derivation from degassed (in open system) magmatic water, with no contributions from basinal or meteoric water. Initial Sr isotopic compositions of hydrothermal carbonates suggest that the fluid was magmatic, probably derived from the Paleogene granites. δ13 CPDB values (−4‰ to −7‰) of the hydrothermal carbonates and δ34 SV- CDT values of sulfides (mainly −11‰ to +5‰) indicate that the carbon and sulfur can be derived from (degassed) magma and/or nonmagmatic sources. The CO2-rich and magmatic-water-derived fluid at Jinman-Liancheng differs from the CO2-poor and basinally derived fluid in sediment-hosted stratiform Cu ( SSC) deposits, which suggests that there are no genetic linkages between the vein Cu and SSC deposits in the Lanping Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public trust in government and nongovernment organizations is essential to the public’s willingness to donate and to support those organizations. We measure public trust in disaster aid using people’s perception of these organizations’ effectiveness in delivering aid relief to the victims of two recent major earthquakes in China. Based on the survey data collected in 2013 from about 2100 residents in Hong Kong, we document the vulnerability of these residents’ trust perceptions in aid delivery. We find that the sharp decline in trust perception is highly negatively correlated with their perception of corruption of local governments in China. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rapid urbanization throughout Eastern China is imposing an irreversible effect on local climate and air quality. In this paper, we examine the response of a range of meteorological and air quality indicators to urbanization. Our study uses the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF/Chem) to simulate the climate and air quality impacts of four hypothetical urbanization scenarios with fixed surface pollutant emissions during the month of July from 2008 to 2012. An improved integrated process rate (IPR) analysis scheme is implemented in WRF/Chem to investigate the mechanisms behind the forcing-response relationship at the process level. For all years, as urban land area expands, concentrations of CO, elemental carbon (EC), and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) tend to decrease near the surface (below ~500 m), but increase at higher altitudes (1-3 km), resulting in a reduced vertical concentration gradient. On the other hand, the O3 burden averaged over all newly urbanized grid cells consistently increases from the surface to a height of about 4 km. Sensitivity tests show that the response of meteorology and pollutant concentrations to the spatial extent of urbanization are nearly linear near the surface, but nonlinear at higher altitudes. Over eastern China, each 10% increase in nearby urban land coverage (NULC) on average leads to a decrease of approximately 2% in surface concentrations for CO, EC, and PM2.5, while for O3 an increase of about 1% is simulated. At 800 hPa, each 10% increase in the square of NULC enhances air pollution concentrations by 5-10%, depending on species. This indicates that as large tracts of new urban land emerge, the influence of urban expansion on meteorology and air pollution would be amplified. IPR results indicate that, for primary pollutants, the enhanced sink (source) caused by turbulent mixing and vertical advection in the lower (upper) atmosphere could be a key factor in changes to simulated vertical profiles. The evolution of secondary pollutants is further influenced by the upward relocation of precursors that impact gas phase chemistry for O3 and aerosol processes for PM2.5. Our study indicates that dense urbanization has a moderate dilution effect on surface primary airborne contaminants, but may intensify severe haze and ozone pollution if local emissions are not well controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a cancer that occurs in high frequency in Southern China. A previous functional complementation approach and the subsequent cDNA microarray analysis have identified that serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) is an NPC candidate tumor suppressor gene. SAA1 belongs to a family of acute-phase proteins that are encoded by five polymorphic coding alleles. The SAA1 genotyping results showed that only three SAA1 isoforms (SAA1.1, 1.3 and 1.5) were observed in both Hong Kong NPC patients and healthy individuals. This study aims to determine the functional role of SAA1 polymorphisms in tumor progression and to investigate the relationship between SAA1 polymorphisms and NPC risk. Indeed, we have shown that restoration of SAA1.1 and 1.3 in the SAA1-deficient NPC cell lines could suppress tumor formation and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. The secreted SAA1.1 and SAA1.3 proteins can block cell adhesion and induce apoptosis in the vascular endothelial cells. In contrast, the SAA1.5 cannot induce apoptosis or inhibit angiogenesis because of its weaker binding affinity to αVβ3 integrin. This can explain why SAA1.5 has no tumor-suppressive effects. Furthermore, the NPC tumors with this particular SAA1.5/1.5 genotype showed higher levels of SAA1 gene expression, and SAA1.1 and 1.3 alleles were preferentially inactivated in tumor tissues that were examined. These findings further strengthen the conclusion for the defective function of SAA1.5 in suppression of tumor formation and angiogenesis. Interestingly, the frequency of the SAA1.5/1.5 genotype in NPC patients was ~2-fold higher than in the healthy individuals (P=0.00128, odds ratio=2.28), which indicates that this SAA1 genotype is significantly associated with a higher NPC risk. Collectively, this homozygous SAA1.5/1.5 genotype appears to be a recessive susceptibility gene, which has lost the antiangiogenic function, whereas SAA1.1 and SAA1.3 are the dominant alleles of the tumor suppressor phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical solution for the three dimensional stability analysis of the ultimate uniform patched load on top of a slope is developed by the limit analysis using kinematically admissible failure mechanisms. The failure mechanism which is assumed in the analytical solution is verified by three-dimensional strength reduction analyses and laboratory model test. Furthermore, the proposed method and the results are further compared with some published results for illustrating the applicability of the proposed failure mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine prevalence and distribution of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 7 (GLRaV-7) in China, a total of 213 grapevine (Vitis spp.) samples (92 popular cultivars) from 13 Chinese provinces and regions were tested for the presence of GLRaV-7 by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays and sequencing. GLRaV-7 was found in 40·4% of the samples, and shown to be widely distributed in major grapevine growing areas in China. GLRaV-7 was found in more than 50 grapevine cultivars. Some popular grape cultivars showed a high incidence of GLRaV-7 infection, such as Manicure Finger (100%), Cabernet Sauvignon (83·3%), Merlot (60%), Fujimineri (60%) and Red Globe (50%). The genetic variability of GLRaV-7 isolates was characterized based on partial nucleotide sequences (nucleotides 945-1329 and 97-598 of the ORF) of heat shock protein 70 homologue (HSP70h) and 61-kDa protein (p61) (nucleotides 1073-1572 of the ORF) genes. The overall mean values of nucleotide diversity were low (ranging from 0·009 to 0·066), and phylogenetic analysis based on p61 showed that the GLRaV-7 isolates segregated into three phylogenetic clusters. The results also showed that two previously described primer pairs failed to amplify a wide range of GLRaV-7 isolates present in China. However, a new primer pair reported here, based on the p61 gene and its associated downstream intergenic region, detected more GLRaV-7 Chinese isolates. This is the first report on the prevalence and distribution of GLRaV-7 in China, and also provides an improved RT-PCR assay for detecting the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soot particles are the most efficient light absorbing aerosol species in the atmosphere, playing an important role as a driver of global warming. Their climate effects strongly depend on their mixing state, which significantly changes their light absorbing capability and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity. Therefore, knowledge about the mixing state of soot and its aging mechanism becomes an important topic in the atmospheric sciences. The size-resolved (30-320 nm diameter) mixing state of soot particles in polluted megacity air was measured at a suburban site (Yufa) during the CAREBeijing 2006 campaign in Beijing, using a volatility tandem differential mobility analyzer (VTDMA). Particles in this size range with non-volatile residuals at 300 °C were considered to be soot particles. On average, the number fraction of internally mixed soot in total soot particles (Fin), decreased from 0.80 to 0.57 when initial Dp increased from 30 to 320 nm. Further analysis reveals that: (1) Fin was well correlated with the aerosol hygroscopic mixing state measured by a CCN counter. More externally mixed soot particles were observed when particles showed more heterogeneous features with regard to hygroscopicity. (2) Fin had pronounced diurnal cycles. For particles in the accumulation mode (Dp at 100-320 nm), largest Fin were observed at noon time, with "apparent" turnover rates (kex→in) up to 7.8%h-1. (3) Fin was subject to competing effects of both aging and emissions. While aging increases Fin by converting externally mixed soot particles into internally mixed ones, emissions tend to reduce Fin by emitting more fresh and externally mixed soot particles. Similar competing effects were also found with air mass age indicators. (4) Under the estimated emission intensities, actual turnover rates of soot (kex→in) up to 20%h-1 were derived, which showed a pronounced diurnal cycle peaking around noon time. This result confirms that (soot) particles are undergoing fast aging/coating with the existing high levels of condensable vapors in the megacity Beijing. (5) Diurnal cycles of Fin were different between Aitken and accumulation mode particles, which could be explained by the faster growth of smaller Aitken mode particles into larger size bins. To improve the Fin prediction in regional/global models, we suggest parameterizing Fin by an air mass aging indicator, i.e., Fin = α + bx, where a and b are empirical coefficients determined from observations, and x is the value of an air mass age indicator. At the Yufa site in the North China Plain, fitted coefficients (a, b) were determined as (0.57, 0.21), (0.47, 0.21), and (0.52, 0.0088) for x (indicators) as [NOz]/[NOy], [E]/[X] ([ethylbenzene]/[m,p-xylene]) and ([IM] + [OM])/[EC] ([inorganic + organic matter]/[elemental carbon]), respectively. Such a parameterization consumes little additional computing time, but yields a more realistic description of Fin compared with the simple treatment of soot mixing state in regional/global models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the mixing state of light absorbing carbonaceous (LAC) was investigated with a two-parameter aerosol optical model and in situ aerosol measurements at a regional site in the North China Plain (NCP). A closure study between the hemispheric backscattering fraction (HBF) measured by an integrating nephelometer and that calculated with a modified Mie model was conducted. A new method was proposed to retrieve the ratio of the externally mixed LAC mass to the total mass of LAC (rext-LAC) based on the assumption that the ambient aerosol particles were externally mixed and consisted of a pure LAC material and a core-shell morphology in which the core is LAC and the shell is a less absorbing material. A Monte Carlo simulation was applied to estimate the overall influences of input parameters of the algorithm to the retrieved rext-LAC. The diurnal variation of rext-LAC was analyzed and the PartMC-MOSAIC model was used to simulate the variation of the aerosol mixing state. Results show that, for internally mixed particles, the assumption of core-shell mixture is more appropriate than that of homogenous mixture which has been widely used in aerosol optical calculations. A significant diurnal pattern of the retrieved rext-LAC was found, with high values during the daytime and low values at night. The consistency between the retrieved rext-LAC and the model results indicates that the diurnal variation of LAC mixing state is mainly caused by the diurnal evolution of the mixing layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:Little is known about the long-term effects of maternal multi-micronutrient supplementation on the growth of children during early childhood. In this follow-up study, the effects of maternal supplementation with multi-micronutrients in pregnancy on postnatal child growth are examined.Subjects/Methods:A longitudinal follow-up of a subset of newborns (n=1388) whose mothers were randomly assigned to receive the supplements of folic acid, iron-folic acid or multi-micronutrients daily during pregnancy in the original trial was conducted. Children's weight and length were measured and assessed during monthly home visits from birth to 30 months of age.Results:The pooled prevalence rate of stunting over different time points during the first 30 months was 13.5, 14.9 and 12.1% for the folic acid group, iron-folic acid group and multi-micronutrient group, respectively. However, there were no significant differences in the pooled odds of stunting in children between the multi-micronutrient group and the folic acid (odds ratio (OR) 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74-1.26), and between the multi-micronutrient group and the iron-folic acid group (OR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.63-1.07). Similar results for the three groups were found for the occurrences of underweight and wasting in children. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in length, weight, length-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-length Z-scores among the three treatment groups.Conclusions:Currently, available evidence is insufficient to support a greater advantage of the effect of maternal multi-micronutrient supplementation on child growth over iron-folic acid or folic acid only supplementation during the first 30 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The mass concentrations of PM1 (particles less than 1.0μm in aerodynamic diameter), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble ions, and up to 25 elements were reported for 24h aerosol samples collected every sixth day at a roadside sampling station in Hong Kong from October 2004 to September 2005. Annual average PM1 mass concentration was 44.5±19.5μgm−3. EC, OM (organic matter, OC×1.2), and SO4 = were the dominant components, accounting for ∼36%, ∼26%, and ∼24% of PM1, respectively. Other components, i.e., NO3 −, NH4 +, geological material, trace elements and unidentified material, comprised the remaining ∼14%. Annual average OC/EC ratio (0.6±0.3) was low, indicating that primary vehicle exhaust was the major source of carbonaceous aerosols. The seasonal variations of pollutants were due to gas-particle partitioning processes or a change in air mass rather than secondary aerosol produced locally. Vehicle exhaust, secondary aerosols, and waste incinerator/biomass burning were dominant air pollution sources, accounting for ∼38%, ∼22% and ∼16% of PM1, respectively. Pollution episodes during summer (May–August) which were frequently accompanied by tropical storms or typhoons were dominated by vehicle emissions. During winter (November–February) pollution episodes coincided with northeasterly monsoons were characterized by secondary aerosols and incinerator/biomass burning emissions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The mass absorption efficiency (MAE) of elemental carbon (EC) in Beijing was quantified using a thermal-optical carbon analyzer. The MAE measured at 632 nm was 8.45±1.71 and 9.41±1.92m² g-1 during winter and summer respectively. The daily variation of MAE was found to coincide with the abundance of organic carbon (OC), especially the OC to EC ratio, perhaps due to the enhancement by coating with organic aerosol (especially secondary organic aerosol, SOA) or the artifacts resulting from the redistribution of liquid-like organic particles during the filter-based absorption measurements. Using a converting approach that accounts for the discrepancy caused by measurements methods of both light absorption and EC concentration, previously published MAE values were converted to the equivalent-MAE, which is the estimated value if using the same measurement methods as used in this study. The equivalent-MAE was found to be much lower in the regions heavily impacted by biomass burning (e.g., below 2.7m² g-1 for two Indian cities). Results from source samples (including diesel exhaust samples and biomass smoke samples) also demonstrated that emissions from biomass burning would decrease the MAE of EC. Moreover, optical properties of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) in Beijing were presented. Light absorption by WSOC exhibited strong wavelength (λ) dependence such that absorption varied approximately as λ-7, which was characteristic of the brown carbon spectra. The MAE of WSOC (measured at 365 nm) was 1.79±0.24 and 0.71±0.20m² g-1 during winter and summer respectively. The large discrepancy between the MAE of WSOC during winter and summer was attributed to the difference in the precursors of SOA such that anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs) should be more important as the precursors of SOA in winter. The MAE of WSOC in Beijing was much higher than results from the southeastern United States which were obtained using the same method as used in this study, perhaps due to the stronger emissions of biomass burning in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the investigation and analysis of the status and dynamic changes of ecological environment quality in the main stream of Songhua river basin. The evaluation index system was established and the eco-environment quality in the year of 2000 and 2008 was studied in depth. Based on our research, the trend of dynamic changes of the eco-environment quality and its origins have been further discussed: In the year of 2000, the range of evaluation index covered from 0.31 to 0.47. Harbin and Yichun was relatively better than the rest of study areas. In the year of 2008, except districts of Daqing and Qitaihe, the environmental quality of Songhua river basin has entirely improved, wherein the evaluation index of the eco-environment covered from 0.31 to 0.57. Particularly, the eco-environment quality of Hegang and Shuangyashan has obtained significant improvement, whereas the improvement of Jiamusi was not obvious. According to the evaluation results, the environmental quality in the study area has an upward trend with the average growth rate 0.13% per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Suicide is a global health concern. Therefore, studying suicide behaviour and identifying the early roots of suicide are critical. To address these issues, the present study examined (i) the association between peer relationships and suicide ideation and attempts among Chinese adolescents; and (ii) whether such associations were moderated or mediated by feeling of loneliness. We hypothesized that problems in peer relationships were positively associated with suicide ideation and attempts, and that feeling of loneliness would moderate and mediate such associations. Methods The sample included 8778 Chinese adolescents from a large survey. Measures of peer relationships, suicide ideation and attempts, and feeling of loneliness were obtained through adolescents' self-reports. Results Results from multivariate logistic regressions suggested that specific problems in peer relationships, such as lack of peer association and being victimized by bullying, were significantly related to suicide ideation and attempts. In addition, the moderating effects of feeling of loneliness on the association between peer relationships and suicide ideation and attempts were found. Finally, some gender effects were also found. Conclusions The present study provided strong evidence that suicide ideation and attempts were serious problems among adolescents in China, to which peer relationships played an important role. Further, feeling of loneliness acted as a moderator affecting the association between peer relationships and suicide ideation and attempts. Finally, there were some gender differences that have important implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-week integrated PM2.5 samples were collected over four years (2005-2008) at a pair of sites, one rural and one urban site, in the area of Beijing, China. Weekly organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) concentrations from these samples were measured to investigate their atmospheric concentrations, temporal variation patterns and the factors influencing these aspects. A slightly systematic decrease in annual mean concentration of OC and an opposite trend for EC at both sites was observed. Since OC accounted for about 70% of total carbon (TC, i.e. OC + EC) the total carbonaceous mass experienced a slight decline on a yearly basis over the study period. Its fraction of PM2.5 mass at the urban site in 2008 was significantly lower than observed 10 years earlier (1999), indicating that the relative importance of carbonaceous species in PM2.5 has decreased. In urban Beijing clear seasonal variations (by factors of 1.35~3.0) were shown in both OC and EC with higher weekly concentrations and fluctuations in winter and much lower values in summer and spring. The minimum seasonal urban excesses of OC (3.0 µg m-3) and EC (1.3 µg m-3) occurred in the summer of 2008, which were only one-ninth and one-seventh of their corresponding maximum values, respectively. This reduction in the urban-difference, coupled with more positive stable carbon isotope values of EC at the urban site in that summer relative to the preceding summers, supports that the special clean air campaign for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games very likely had noticeable impact on the ambient concentrations of carbonaceous aerosols in the Beijing area, particularly on the local urban scale. Less consistent seasonal patterns in OC and EC, their scattered correlation, and higher mass ratios of OC to EC (OC/EC) at the rural site indicate more complex and variable major sources regarding aerosol formation in the rural area. These emission sources include biomass burning during the harvest seasons, widely used high-polluting family stoves and small boilers for cooking and heating with high OC/EC ratios, and a greater relative quantity of secondary organic aerosols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest uncertainty in the estimation of climate forcing stems from atmospheric aerosols. In early spring and summer of 2009, two periods of in-situ measurements on aerosol physical and chemical properties were conducted within the HaChi (Haze in China) project at Wuqing, a town between Beijing and Tianjin in the North China Plain (NCP). Aerosol optical properties, including the scattering coefficient (δ sp), the hemispheric back scattering coefficient (δ bsp), the absorption coefficient (δ ap), as well as the single scattering albedo (ω), are presented. The diurnal and seasonal variations are analyzed together with meteorology and satellite data. The mean values of δ sp, 550nm of the dry aerosol in spring and summer are 280±253 and 379±251Mm-1, respectively. The average δ ap for the two periods is respectively 47±38 and 43±27Mm-1. The mean values of ω at the wavelength of 637 nm are 0.82±0.05 and 0.86±0.05 for spring and summer, respectively. The relative high levels of δ sp and δ bsp are representative of the regional aerosol pollution in the NCP. Pronounced diurnal cycle of δ sp, δ ap and ω are found, mainly influenced by the evolution of boundary layer and the accumulation of local emissions during nighttime. The pollutants transported from the south-west of the NCP are more significant than that from the two megacities, Beijing and Tianjin, in both spring and summer. An optical closure experiment is conducted to better under stand the uncertainties of the measurements. Good correlations (R>0.98) are found between the values measured by the nephelometer and the values calculated with a modified Mie model. The Monte Carlo simulation shows an uncertainty of about 30% for the calculations. Considering all possible uncertainties of measurements, calculated δ sp and δ bsp agree well with the measured values, indicating a stable performance of instruments and thus reliable aerosol optical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Size-resolved chemical composition, mixing state, and cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) activity of aerosol particles in polluted mega-city air and biomass burning smoke were measured during the PRIDE-PRD2006 campaign near Guangzhou, China, using an aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS), a volatility tandem differential mobility analyzer (VTDMA), and a continuous-flow CCN counter (DMT-CCNC). The size-dependence and temporal variations of the effective average hygroscopicity parameter for CCN-active particles (κa) could be parameterized as a function of organic and inorganic mass fractions (forg, finorg) determined by the AMS: κa,p,=κorg ⋅ forg + κinorg ⋅ finorg. The characteristic κ values of organic and inorganic components were similar to those observed in other continental regions of the world: κorg≈0.1 and κinorg≈0.6. The campaign average κa values increased with particle size from ∼0.25 at ∼50 nm to ∼0.4 at ∼200 nm, while forg decreased with particle size. At ∼50 nm, forg was on average 60% and increased to almost 100% during a biomass burning event. The VTDMA results and complementary aerosol optical data suggest that the large fractions of CCN-inactive particles observed at low supersaturations (up to 60% at S≤0.27%) were externally mixed weakly CCN-active soot particles with low volatility (diameter reduction <5% at 300 °C) and effective hygroscopicity parameters around κLV≈0.01. A proxy for the effective average hygroscopicity of the total ensemble of CCN-active particles including weakly CCN-active particles (κt) could be parameterized as a function of κa,p and the number fraction of low volatility particles determined by VTDMA (ΦLV):κt,p=κa,p--ΦLV ⋅ (κa,p--κLV). Based on κ values derived from AMS and VTDMA data, the observed CCN number concentrations (NCCN,S≈10²-- 104 cm--3 at S = 0.068--0.47%) could be efficiently predicted from the measured particle number size distribution. The mean relative deviations between observed and predicted CCN concentrations were ∼10% when using κt,p, and they increased to ∼20% when using only κa,p. The mean relative deviations were not higher (∼20%) when using an approximate continental average value of κ ≈0.3, although the constant κ value cannot account for the observed temporal variations in particle composition and mixing state (diurnal cycles and biomass burning events). Overall, the results confirm that on a global and climate modeling scale an average value of κ≈0.3 can be used for approximate predictions of CCN number concentrations in continental boundary layer air when aerosol size distribution data are available without information about chemical composition. Bulk or size-resolved data on aerosol chemical composition enable improved CCN predictions resolving regional and temporal variations, but the composition data need to be highly accurate and complemented by information about particle mixing state to achieve high precision (relative deviations <20%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships among 26 Chinese indigenous horse breeds and two introduced horse breeds by genotyping these animals for 27 microsatellite loci. The 26 Chinese horse breeds come from 12 different provinces. Two introduced horse breeds were the Mongolia B Horse from Mongolia and the Thoroughbred Horse from the UK. A total of 330 alleles were detected, and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.719 (Elenchuns) to 0.780 (Dali). The mean number of alleles among the horse breeds ranged from 6.74 (Hequ) to 8.81 (Debao). Although there were abundant genetic variations found, the genetic differentiation was low between the Chinese horses, which displayed only 2.4% of the total genetic variance among the different breeds. However, genetic differentiation (pairwise FST) among Chinese horses, although moderate, was still apparent and varied from 0.001 for the Guizou-Luoping pair to 0.064 for the Jingjiang-Elenchuns pair. The genetic differentiation patterns and genetic relationships among Chinese horse breeds were also consistent with their geographical distribution. The Thoroughbred and Mongolia B breeds could be discerned as two distinct breeds, but the Mongolia B horse in particular suffered genetic admixture with Chinese horses. The Chinese breeds could be divided into five major groups, i.e. the south or along the Yangtze river group (Bose, Debao, Wenshan, Lichuan, Jianchang, Guizhou, Luoping, Jinjiang and Dali), the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau group (Chaidamu, Hequ, Datong, Yushu, Tibet Grassland and Tibet Valley), the Northeast of China group (Elenchuns, Jilin and Heihe), the Northwest of China group (Kazakh, Yili and Yanqi) and the Inner Mongolia group (Mongolia A, Sanhe, Xinihe,Wuzhumuqin and Sengeng). This grouping pattern was further supported by principal component analysis and structure analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nurses are often called upon to play the role of first responder when disaster occurs. Yet the lack of accepted competencies and gaps in education make it difficult to recruit nurses prepared to respond to a disaster and provide assistance in an effective manner. Based on the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies and Global Standards for the Initial Education of Professional Nurses and Midwives, a training course titled 'Introduction to Disaster Nursing' was designed and implemented with 150 students. A pre-post survey design was used to assess changes in participants' self-rated disaster nursing competencies. The impact of the training course on participants' attitudes toward disaster nursing and their learning experience were also assessed. All participants passed the assessments and examination with an average score of 70%. Pre- and posttraining self-ratings of the disaster nursing competencies increased from 2.09 to 3.71 ( p < .001) on a Likert scale of 1 to 5, and the effect size was large, with Cohen's d higher than 0.8. No significant difference in both examination results (60% group assignments; 40% written examination) and self-rated competencies was noted between the senior year students and graduate nurse participants by Mann-Whitney U test ( p value = .90). The majority of participants indicated their willingness to participate as a helper in disaster relief and saw themselves competent to work under supervision. The ICN Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies was instrumental to guide the training curriculum development. This introductory training course could be incorporated into undergraduate nursing education programs as well as serve as a continuing education program for graduate nurses. The training program can be used for preparing generalist nurses of their nursing competencies in disaster preparedness, response and post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous studies have found that the levels of cytochrome P450 and oxidative activities of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases were enhanced in a fenvalerate-resistant strain (HDFR) of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) in China, comparing with those of a susceptible strain (HDS). Here, we report the molecular cloning and gene expression of a specific P450 CYP6B7 from HDFR and HDS strain of H. armigera. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence showed that there were three substitutions of amino acids in the coding region of CYP6B7 cDNA of HDFR strain, comparing with that of HDS strain. Meanwhile, there were three mutative nucleotides in the intron of CYP6B7 genomic DNA in HDFR strain. Northern blotting analysis showed that the expression of CYP6B7 mRNA in HDFR strain of H. armigera was more than 5-fold higher than that in HDS strain. Further studies indicated that the expression of CYP6B7 mRNA increased as the larvae developed; however, it was rarely detected in the pupae and adult stages. The results suggested that cytochrome P450 CYP6B7 plays an important role in the pyrethroid insecticide fenvalerate resistance of HDFR strain of H. armigera; over-expression of CYP6B7 combined with relevant substitution of amino acids might be responsible for fenvalerate-resistance in H. armigera from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the economy, the sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission from China since 2000 is of increasing concern. In this study, we estimate the annual SO2 emission in China after 2000 using a technology-based methodology specifically for China. From 2000 to 2006, total SO2 emission in China increased by 53%, from 21.7 Tg to 33.2 Tg, at an annual growth rate of 7.3%. Emissions from power plants are the main sources of SO2 in China and they increased from 10.6 Tg to 18.6 Tg in the same period. Geographically, emission from north China increased by 85%, whereas that from the south increased by only 28%. The emission growth rate slowed around 2005, and emissions began to decrease after 2006 mainly due to the wide application of flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) devices in power plants in response to a new policy of China's government. This paper shows that the trend of estimated SO2 emission in China is consistent with the trends of SO2 concentration and acid rain pH and frequency in China, as well as with the increasing trends of background SO2 and sulfate concentration in East Asia. A longitudinal gradient in the percentage change of urban SO2 concentration in Japan is found during 2000-2007, indicating that the decrease of urban SO2 is lower in areas close to the Asian continent. This implies that the transport of increasing SO2 from the Asian continent partially counteracts the local reduction of SO2 emission downwind. The aerosol optical depth (AOD) products of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) are found to be highly correlated with the surface solar radiation (SSR) measurements in East Asia. Using MODIS AOD data as a surrogate of SSR, we found that China and East Asia excluding Japan underwent a continuous dimming after 2000, which is in line with the dramatic increase in SO2 emission in East Asia. The trends of AOD from both satellite retrievals and model over East Asia are also consistent with the trend of SO2 emission in China, especially during the second half of the year, when sulfur contributes the largest fraction of AOD. The arrested growth in SO2 emissions since 2006 is also reflected in the decreasing trends of SO2 and SO2- 4 concentrations, acid rain pH values and frequencies, and AOD over East Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: PM2.5 (particle with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5µm) was measured in different microenvironments of Hong Kong (including one urban tunnel, one Hong Kong/Mainland boundary roadside site, two urban roadside sites, and one urban ambient site) in 2003. The concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), water-soluble ions, and up to 40 elements (Na to U) were determined. The average PM2.5 mass concentrations were 229±90, 129±95, 69±12, 49±18µgm−3 in the urban tunnel, cross boundary roadside, urban roadside, and urban ambient environments, respectively. Carbonaceous particles (sum of organic material [OM] and EC) were the dominant constituents, on average, accounting for ∼82% of PM2.5 emissions in the tunnel, ∼70% at the three roadside sites, and ∼48% at the ambient site, respectively. The OC/EC ratios were 0.6±0.2 and 0.8±0.1 at the tunnel and roadside sites, respectively, suggesting carbonaceous aerosols were mainly from vehicle exhausts. Higher OC/EC ratio (1.9±0.7) occurred at the ambient site, indicating contributions from secondary organic aerosols. The PM2.5 emission factor for on-road diesel-fueled vehicles in the urban area of Hong Kong was 257±31mg veh−1 km−1, with a composition of ∼51% EC, ∼26% OC, and ∼9% SO4 =. The other inorganic ions and elements made up ∼11% of the total PM2.5 emissions. OC composed the largest fraction (∼51%) in gasoline and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) emissions, followed by EC (∼19%). Diesel engines showed higher emission rates than did gasoline and LPG engines for most pollutants, except for V, Br, Sb, and Ba. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

As nurses constitute the largest group of health-care providers, their readiness to respond to disasters and to participate in preparedness and disaster recovery activities will be significant for making a community more resilient against disaster. Concern is raised regarding how to build the capacity of all nurses with a knowledge base and a minimum set of skills in responding to various disasters. Drawing on the ICN Framework of Disaster Nursing Competencies and Global Standards for the Initial Education of Professional Nurses and Midwives, a training program entitled 'Introduction to Disaster Nursing' was developed. Four teaching methods including action learning, problem-based learning, skill training, and lecture were used to orchestrate a series of planned activities for helping students develop the required disaster nursing competencies in a 2-week intensive training program held in Sichuan China in July 2009. The pre- and post-tests which were given to assess the students' perceived level of competencies demonstrated a significant gain in relevant knowledge and skills constituting the required competencies upon completion of the program. In the program evaluation, most students indicated their willingness and capability in disaster relief work under supervision, and they were keen to advance their competencies in the field of disaster nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground mine caving may induce collapse of the ground during ore caving, particularly when there is a loose material on top of the mine. In the present paper, a laboratory test is performed to model this mining problem which is followed by a particle flow simulation to simulate the interaction and movement between the two materials. For this nonhomogeneous problem, an interesting columniform channel for the loose material is formed during the drawing in both the experiment tests and the numerical modeling. The formation of this channel greatly affects the efficiency of ore drawing and the stability of the mine caving. The numerical modeling can be used for the optimization of ore drawing, ore drawing management and the prediction of ore loss and dilution indexes. The importance of the moisture content on ore drawing process and the efficiency of ore drawing are also investigated by both experimental and numerical tests, and useful results are found from the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographic heterogeneity of cytogenetic patterns in hematological malignancies has been reported earlier, but few systematic studies of cytogenetic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients are available. We examined the karyotypic patterns in 1432 de novo AML patients from a single center in China and compared our data with reports from other regions of the world. Chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 746 (58%) cases. The most frequent cytogenetic abnormality was t(15;17), detected in 14% of successful cases, followed by t(8;21) in 8%, and t(9;22), +21 and +8 each in 2%. The mean age of patients with a translocation karyotype was significantly younger than that of patients with normal, deletion or trisomy karyotypes. A higher incidence of AML M3 and a lower frequency of M4 were observed in the Asian population and the frequencies of certain cytogenetic aberrations were different from those in the earlier reports. Population-based age-specific incidences of AML were calculated and compared with those in western reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were determined at the Shing Mun Tunnel, Hong Kong in summer and winter of 2003. One hundred and ten VOCs were quantified in this study. The average concentration of the total measured VOCs at the inlet and outlet of the tunnel were 81 250 pptv and 117 850 pptv, respectively. Among the 110 compounds, ethene, ethyne and toluene were the most abundant species in the tunnel. The total measured VOC emission factors ranged from 67 mg veh-1 km-1 to 148 mg veh-1 km-1, with an average of 115 mg veh-1 km-1. The five most abundant VOCs observed in the tunnel were, in decreasing order, ethene, toluene, n-butane, propane and i-pentane. These five most abundant species contributed over 38% of the total measured VOCs emitted. The high propane and n-butane emissions were found to be associated with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fueled taxis. Fair correlations were observed between marker species (ethene, i-pentane, n-nonane, and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes - BTEX) with fractions of gasoline-fueled or diesel-fueled vehicles. Moreover, ethene, ethyne, and propene are the key species that were abundant in the tunnel but not in gasoline vapors or LPG. The ozone formation potential from the VOCs in Hong Kong was evaluated by the maximum increment reactivity (MIR). It was found to be 568 mg of ozone per vehicle per kilometer traveled. Among them, ethene, propene and toluene contribute most to the ozone-formation reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate measurement of carbonaceous aerosols is challenging, due to the sampling artifact and the problems of the split of OC/EC. Two approaches have been used to account for the positive artifact: backup quartz approach in which a backup quartz filter is placed either behind a front quartz filter (QBQ) or in a parallel port behind a Teflon filter (QBT), and organic denuder approach in which an organic denuder is placed upstream of the quartz filter. Both approaches were evaluated in Beijing, China, from January to February 2009. 10% of the OC captured by the bare quartz filter was from the positive artifact. The origin of backup OC was quantitatively evaluated by the denuder-based method. All of the QBQ OC was from gaseous organics passing through the front filter, but the QBQ had not reached equilibrium with gas phase due to the relative small sampling volume resulting in an undercorrection of the positive artifact by 3.7%. QBT OC was from both gaseous organics passing through the front filter (82%) and the evaporated organic carbon (18%), thus overcorrecting the positive artifact by 6.3%. Even the positive artifact-contributed QBT OC was found to overestimate the positive artifact, perhaps due to the difference in the adsorption properties of the loaded filter and the filter without particle loading. Re-partitioning of PC and EC was performed by the multiple linear regression approach. The attenuation coefficient of PC was twofold higher than that of EC, indicating PC was darker than EC, resulting in the underestimation of native EC by TOT-split-EC. It was also found that PC formed on the bare quartz filter (45.56 m2/g) was darker than that formed on the denuded filter (38.64 m2/g), indicating that the underestimation for the bare quartz filter was more significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambient particle number size distributions spanning three years were used to characterize the frequency and intensity of atmospheric dust events in the urban areas of Beijing, China in combination with AERONET sun/sky radiometer data. Dust events were classified into two types based on the differences in particle number and volume size distributions and local weather conditions. This categorization was confirmed by aerosol index images, columnar aerosol optical properties, and vertical potential temperature profiles. During the type-1 events, dust particles dominated the total particle volume concentration (<10 μm), with a relative share over 70%. Anthropogenic particles in the Aitken and accumulation mode played a subordinate role here because of high wind speeds (>4ms-1). The type-2 events occurred in rather stagnant air masses and were characterized by a lower volume fraction of coarse mode particles (on average, 55%). Columnar optical properties showed that the superposition of dust and anthropogenic aerosols in type-2 events resulted in a much higher AOD (average: 1.51) than for the rather pure dust aerosols in type-1 events (average AOD: 0.36). A discrepancy was found between the groundbased and column integrated particle volume size distributions, especially for the coarse mode particles. This discrepancy likely originates from both the limited comparability of particle volume size distributions derived from Sun photometer and in situ number size distributions, and the inhomogeneous vertical distribution of particles during dust events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Suicide has been identified as one of the three leading causes of death in adolescents and young adults. No previous study in China has tested the association between protective factors and urban adolescents' suicidal behaviours. In this study we tested the hypothesis that suicidal behaviours would be associated with multiple protective factors. Methods A stratified random of 9015 students from 100 junior middle schools in Beijing, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Urumqi completed the Chinese version of Global School-Based Student Health Survey. Results Overall, 17.4% of students had seriously considered attempting suicide, and 8.1% had made a specific plan to attempt suicide during the 12 months preceding the survey. The students in Wuhan (18.7%) and Urumqi (20.8%) cities were significantly more likely than students in Beijing (14.4%) and Hangzhou (14.4%) to have suicidal ideation (χ2 = 45.9, P < 0.001). Female students were significantly more likely than male students to have suicidal ideation and have made suicide attempts [odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, P < 0.001]. Results indicated that the rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts increased with age (OR = 1.44, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression models showed that suicide risk tended to decrease significantly when ‘days of missed classes or school without permission were less than one’, and when students thought students in their school were kind and helpful most of the time or always', ‘parents or guardians checked to see if homework was done most of the time or always’, ‘parents or guardians understood their problems and worries most of the time or always’ and ‘parents or guardians really know what they are doing with their free time most of the time or always’. Conclusions Adolescent suicide behaviour should be a serious problem. Measures can be taken to prevent suicide by observing the factors significantly linked to suicidal behaviour. Steps can then be taken to identify adolescents who have serious suicidal ideation so that intervention can be taken to reduce the suicidal rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To screen a pair of primers suitable for denaturing gradient gel electrophoretic (DGGE) analysis of ruminal methanogenic Archaea and to detect the archaeal communities in the rumen of goat. Methods and Results: Nine primer pairs for 16S rDNA of methanogenic Archaea, including six for directed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and three for nested PCR were first evaluated by PCR amplification of the total DNA from rumen fluids and bacteria. The DGGE analysis of rumen fluids was then conducted with three primer sets (344fGC/915r, 1106fGC/1378r and 519f/915rGC) of the nine pairs tested. Good separation and quality of patterns were obtained in DGGE analysis with primer pairs 1106fGC/1378r and 519f/915rGC. A total of 40 DNA fragments were excised from the DGGE gels and their sequences were determined. All fragments belonged to methanogenic Archaea while primer pair 519f/915rGC had better amplification ranges than the other two primer pairs. Conclusions: The procedure of DGGE analysis with primer pair 519f/915rGC was more suitable for investigating methanogenic archaeal community in the rumen. The dominant methanogenic Archaea in the rumen of goat was Methanobrevibacter sp. and an unidentified methanogenic Archaea. Significance and Impact of the Study: One pair of primers suitable for DGGE analysis of ruminal methanogenic Archaea was obtained and the molecular diversity of ruminal methanogenic Archaea in goat was investigated by PCR-DGGE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current method of steel bar soil nail construction is both labor intensive as well as expensive and many engineers are considering the use of new soil nail materials. In the present pilot test, an innovative soil nail is constructed by light weight high strength glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) pipe with the Tube a’ Manchette grouting technique. It is found that this new soil nail system can be handled easily on sites with difficult access. Extensive laboratory as well as field tests were carried out on the GFRP pipe nails and the grouted soil mass and numerical modeling of a field test was performed. The installation of the GFRP pipe, laboratory, and field test results that were carried out in Hong Kong and Korea are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the long-term in-situ observations of aerosol particle number size distributions and meteorological parameters, the measures of traffic restriction during the Sino-African Summit (4-6 November 2006) in Beijing, China have been found to be efficient in reducing the number concentration of aerosol particles, in particular Aitken and accumulation mode particles, and in improving the visibility when local emissions dominated. The influence of traffic restrictions on the particle concentrations differed for different particle sizes. More significant effects on fine particles with diameters ranging from 40 to 500 nm have been found. Based on statistical analysis of long-term observations, under comparable weather conditions, the number concentrations of the particles in Aitken and accumulation modes seemingly were reduced by 20-60% when the traffic restrictions were in place. This change may be mainly due to the reduction of secondary particle contributions. However, it is worth to notice that the reduction of 60% might overestimate the effect of the measures of traffic control, due to the inherent data shortage with very high wind speeds in the comparison data population. Our size-dependent aerosol data also indicate that measures led to reductions in particulate air pollution in the optically most important diameter range, whereas further vehicle restriction measures might lead to an increase in ultrafine particle formation if the condensational sink further decreased. Assuming that there were no traffic restrictions and with normal levels of the vehicle emissions, the visibilities during the Summit would have been lower by about 20-45%. The fact that over 95% cases with visibility range lower than 5 km during 2004 to 2007 occurred when the local wind speed was lower than 3 m s-1 may suggest that the importance of the emission restrictions is highest when the wind speed is lower than 3 m s-1, concerning the improvement of serious low visibility situations in Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Chinese Barriers to Exercise (CBE) scale for adults. It is said that psychometric-analytic properties of the CBE scale is validated in Hong Kong, China. The factors such as family, symptoms, facilities were explored. Results show that the barriers is important in exercise behavior among the adults.

Some unreasonable results from the use of a popular thick plate element are discovered from the analysis of a raft foundation and a pile cap in Hong Kong. To overcome the problems, the authors have developed a new shear deformable beam which can be extended to a general quadrilateral shear deformable plate. The behaviour of this new element under several interesting cases is investigated, and it is demonstrated that the new element possesses very high accuracy under different depth/span ratios, and the results from this new element are good even for a coarse mesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributions and biogeochemical cycles of arsenic in the aquatic environment have captured the interest of geochemists due to arsenic’s multiple chemical forms, the toxicity of certain arsenic species and large anthropogenic input. Seasonal variations in the dissolved inorganic arsenic concentration and speciation in Jiaozhou Bay, which is located on the west coast of the Yellow Sea in northern China, are presented here. Three cruises were carried out in Jiaozhou Bay under varying tidal regimes, one at neap tide and one at spring tide in August and one at spring tide in October of 2001. In addition to the transect surveys, the main sources of dissolved inorganic arsenate and arsenite in Jiaozhou Bay, including riverine input from five major tributary rivers, atmospheric dry and wet depositions, and groundwater and wastewater input, were collected in different seasons to estimate arsenic transport through different sources. The mean concentrations of total dissolved inorganic arsenic (TDIAs, As (V+III)) in Jiaozhou Bay were statistically comparable between summer and autumn, with higher concentrations at the northwest and northeast parts of the bay, reflecting human activities. The As (III)/TDIAs ratio ranged between 0.045 and 0.68, with an average of 0.16, implying that arsenate was the dominating species in Jiaozhou Bay. A preliminary box model was established to estimate the water-mass balance and arsenic budgets for Jiaozhou Bay, which demonstrated that river inputs and atmospheric depositions were the main sources of arsenic into Jiaozhou Bay. The concentrations of dissolved inorganic arsenic in Jiaozhou Bay have decreased in the last two decades. Compared with other areas in the world, the concentration of arsenic in Jiaozhou Bay remains at the natural level and this region can be characterized as a less disturbed area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]