Search

A new species of clearwing moth, Corematosetia parvimaculata sp. nov., is described from south-eastern China in this article. Adults and genitalia of both sexes are illustrated, DNA barcodes are provided, and immature biology and potential damage to Ardisia sieboldii Miq. and A. quinquegona Blume (Primulaceae) are both discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought frequently occurs in North China and is one of the most damaging disasters in this region, and drought also brings considerable challenges the world-famous South-to-North Water Diversion (SNWD) project. However, it is difficult to identify the drought-induced water deficit at a regional scale. Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites monitor temporal variations in the Earth's gravitational potential and provide quality data sets for water storage analysis. In this study, we quantify the water deficit over North China by focusing on a recent drought event, the 2009/10 drought, and identifying its onset, persistence, and recovery. The results indicate that GRACE can successfully capture temporal variations in total water storage (TWS). TWS shows a declining trend, reaching a low point during the 2009/10 drought with a water storage deficit of up to 25 km3 (∼22 mm). Groundwater storage shows a similar pattern, with a trend of -6.97 mm/yr. Together with the water deficit, vegetation growth is substantially restricted, as indicated by a reduction in the leaf area index. The amount of water transferred by the SNWD project may ease the water crises in North China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the frequency and clinical features of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and its association with cognitive and behavioural impairments in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional investigation to explore the frequency and clinical features of EDS in a group of 121 Chinese patients with ALS compared with 121 age-matched and sex-matched healthy subjects. EDS was diagnosed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Other characteristics of patients with ALS including sleep quality, REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD), restless legs syndrome (RLS), cognition, behaviour, depression and anxiety were also evaluated.Results: EDS was significantly more frequent in patients with ALS than in controls (26.4% vs 8.3%; p<0.05). Patients with ALS with EDS scored lower scores on the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and MMSE and MoCA delayed memory subitems and higher on the Frontal Behavioural Inventory (FBI) than patients with ALS without EDS. ESS scores correlated with global ALSFRS-R, FBI, MMSE and MoCA scores and MMSE and MoCA delayed memory scores. RLS and global ALSFRS-R scores were independently associated with EDS in patients with ALS.Conclusions: We identified a high frequency of EDS symptoms in Chinese patients with ALS, and these patients might have more serious physical, cognitive and frontal behaviour impairment. Patients with ALS might improve quality of life from the timely recognition and optimised management of EDS symptoms. Our results further suggest that ALS is a heterogeneous disease that might exhibit abnormal sleep-wake patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastrointestinal fistula (GIF) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is considered as a sparse episode and studied sporadically in the literature. There is paucity of data on the prediction of the effect on risk of GIF in patient with SAP. This study was aimed to investigate risk factors related to GIF in the development of SAP.Methods: The clinical data of 344 patients with SAP from 2011 to 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients were divided into the GIF group and the non-GIF group, and their data analyzed with respect to 15 parameters were applied to explore potential risk factors for GIF in patients with SAP.Results: Of the 344 eligible patients, 52 (15.12%) progressed to GIF. Only occurrence of infected pancreatic and extra-pancreatic necrosis (IPN) (P = 0.004, OR = 3.012) and modified CT severity index (MCTSI) (P = 0.033, OR = 1.183) were proved to be independent risk factors for GIF in patients with SAP, and blood type B (P = 0.048, OR = 2.096, 95% CI: 0.748-3.562) indicated weaker association of risk factor for GIF. The early (48-72 h after admission) enteral nutrition (EEN) (P = 0.016, OR = 0.267) acted as a protective factor.Conclusions: Occurrence of IPN and high MCTSI are independent risk factors for the development of GIF in patients with SAP, blood type B reveals a potential correlation with GIF in patients with SAP. EEN is helpful to prevent the progression of GIF secondary to SAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is an important water supply source in the northern part of China and many cities, and it is also an essential factor to maintain the regional ecological environment. China since 1972 began large-scale development of groundwater resources. By 2014, the amount of groundwater mining in China has exceeded 110000000000 m 3 , after the United States, India, ranking third in the world. In China's 31 provinces, the main groundwater over 6 provinces (He Bei, He Nan, Shan Dong, Xin Jiang, Gan Su, Hei Long Jiang) are located in the north of China, these 6 provinces of groundwater exploitation accounted for about 41% of the country, 6 provinces have accounted for about 30% of the total amount of these provinces. However, irrigation is a very important factor in the production of grain production, and it has irreplaceable foundation support and guarantee function, to ensure food production, water resources is the lifeblood. We are the choice of Shandong Province involving groundwater over exploitation of city as an example and analysis to 2020 in groundwater security at the same time, to ensure grain production measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment using an artificial step-pool system was conducted to restore the Diaoga River, a seriously incised mountain stream in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, southwest China. Twenty-four artificial steps, designed to mimic natural step forms, were constructed on three stretches of about 260 m length in the middle reach of the river. Channel topography, hydraulic features, aquatic habitats and stream ecology were monitored for 20 months. Following the construction of the artificial step-pool system, the stream bed development coefficient increased significantly. This indicates that actions helped to dissipate flow energy more effectively, enhancing the stability of the stream bed. The step-pools have effectively controlled the incision and stabilized the river morphology. In addition, they have created multiple habitats for different species and increased the habitat diversity. Improvement of the aquatic ecosystem is confirmed by increased density and taxa richness of benthic macro-invertebrates, which are used as an indicator species to evaluate stream ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the efficient use of surgery in the treatment of Gorham's disease of the calvarium in China. The three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) of cranium has been conducted to a man with an asymptomatic skull introcession. Surgical therapy has been viewed as the optimal management modality of calvarium GD.