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• HPLC fingerprint and chemometric methods were combined. • Changes in composition and origins of fried licorice were predicted. • Quality of different batches of fried licorice from different areas was examined. • Results provide theoretical support for quality control of fried licorice. • Results can be used for the development and utilization of licorice resources. Fried licorice is obtained by frying licorice without using any auxiliary materials, and it is widely used both as food and medicine in China. To explore the influence of licorice origin on the quality of fried licorice, a method based on fingerprinting and chemometrics was developed. Twenty batches of licorice were selected from four locations. The reference chromatograms of each location were established via similarity analysis. Chemometric methods, such as cluster, principal component, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analyses were used to evaluate the changes in the composition of fried licorice, predict its origin, and reflect its quality. Mass spectrometry was used to identify the chemical components. Finally, an origin prediction function was established via discriminant analysis to trace the origin of licorice. The model was demonstrated to be stable, reliable, and accurate in predicting licorice origin and to provide a reference for origin traceability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Water-fertilizer coupling model was established based on the integrated growth. • Irrigation mainly affected the integrated growth of cherry tomato in 2018S. • Irrigation and N mainly affected the integrated growth of cherry tomato in 2018F. • The optimal strategy of water and fertilizer were determined in two seasons. The accurate and efficient management of irrigation and fertilizer is essential for the effective intensive production of greenhouse cherry tomato. In this study, we evaluated the effects of irrigation and fertilizer combinations on yield, growth, and nutritional and taste quality of cherry tomato. More specifically, we applied a quadratic orthogonal rotation combination design with four experimental factors at five levels (-1.68, -1, 0, 1, 1.68) for a total of 23 treatments over two consecutive growing seasons in 2018. A multi-level fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (MFCE) was constructed, including four factors and 14 subfactors, as well as a water and fertilizer multi-factor regulation model for the integrated growth of cherry tomato. Single experimental factor effects included irrigation in the spring season (2018S), with the other experimental factors following a downward opening parabola with integrated cherry tomato growth for both seasons. The integrated growth increased with irrigation, and exhibited a rise and subsequent fall with phosphate (P 2 O 5) and potash (K 2 O) in 2018S, as well as with irrigation and nitrogen (N) levels in the fall season (2018 F). The experimental factor interaction values of 1.68 for irrigation (1978.0 m3/ha), 0.94 for N (482.2 kg/ha), -0.69 for P 2 O 5 (104.4 kg/ha) and -0.65 for K 2 O (181.3 kg/ha) were observed to be optimal for the integrated growth of cherry tomato in 2018S. The corresponding combination for 2018 F was determined as 0.70 for irrigation (1082.9 m3/ha), 0.51 for N (287.9 kg/ha), 0 for P 2 O 5 (126.5 kg/ha) and -0.41 for K 2 O (159.7 kg/ha). Furthermore, the irrigation, N, P 2 O 5 , and K 2 O intervals that maximized cherry tomato growth over the two seasons were as follows: i) 1780.2–1978.0 m3/ha, 434.0–482.2 kg/ha, 94.0–104.4 kg/ha, and 163.2–181.3 kg/ha for 2018S; and 974.6–1082.9 m3/ha, 259.1–287.9 kg/ha, 113.9–126.5 kg/ha and 143.7–159.7 kg/ha for 2018 F, respectively. Comprehensively understanding the growth of cherry tomato can potentially enhance cherry tomato production in the arid regions of northwestern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgroud: To better identify patients with high mortality risk, we developed a systematic inflammation index (IPI) based on neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and albumin., Methods: The performance of pretreatment IPI was evaluated in patients with surgically resected non-metastatic colorectal cancer. IPI was predefined and compared with Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS)/modified GPS in terms of discrimination and calibration abilities., Results: In multivariate analysis, patients with an IPI of 1 or 2 had 1.68(95%CI:1.15-2.44) or 3.56(95%CI:2.12-5.98)-fold increased cancer specific mortality risk(CSMR) respectively in comparison to patients with an IPI of 0. The prognostic significance was independent of tumor locations and nodal status. Compared with the GPS/mGPS, IPI had the higher c statistics and lower Akaike Information Criterion. IPI showed good calibration in predicting 1-year, 3-year and 5-year CSMR., Conclusions: IPI is readily available, independently prognostic and may reflect the host inflammation, immune and nutritional status that could have impact on cancer progression., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)