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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an emergent move in all countries across the world. All education institutions were forced to shut down until further notice and were forced to come up with creative solutions to continue with the learning process. Based on existing literature, students and faculty feedback, and interview responses obtained from top management of higher education institutions in several countries, this paper proposes an agile educational framework for higher education institutions to be better prepared for teaching/learning in the digital age for the long term, and for the upcoming academic years in the short term. The proposed framework encompasses the major components that contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of online, hybrid or traditional face-to-face instruction mode.

In the aquatic microbial food web, scuticociliates are diverse and predominant in almost all kinds of biotopes while extremely confused regarding their taxonomy and systematic relationships within the subclass Scuticociliatia. Here we provide detailed descriptions of two new and one known species, Glauconema sinica sp. nov., Pleuronema parasetigerum sp. nov., and Histiobalantium natans viridis, isolated from a freshwater wetland in northern China, along with their molecular phylogeny based on SSU rRNA gene sequences. Our results show: (1) both molecular and morphological data strongly support that the isolated lineage containing the genera Glauconema, Miamiensis, Paramesanophrys, and Anophryoides should be identified as a new taxon at the family level in the order Philasterida; hence, a new family, Glauconematidae fam. nov., is established. This new family is mainly characterized by the polymorphic life cycle of its members (macrostome and microstome stages); the trophont (or macrostome) has closely spaced membranelles 1-3, whereas in the tomite (or microstome) membranelle 1 is distant from membranelle 2. (2) Phylogenetic analyses using novel data for these species revealed that all three cluster with their congeners, supporting the validity of the genera to which they belong. Molecular information also supports the monophyly of the two main scuticociliate orders Pleuronematida and Philasterida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ciliates of the order Pleurostomatida play essential functions in microbial food webs from a variety of habitats and have been thought to possess a high level of diversity. Due to undersampling and often absent molecular data, the actual diversity and phylogenetic relationships within this group remain unclarified. To help address this deficiency, a survey of freshwater pleurostomatid ciliates was undertaken in Lake Weishan Wetland, northern China. Here, two new Amphileptus species, Amphileptus sinicus sp. nov. and Amphileptus piscinarius sp. nov., were investigated using modern morphological and molecular techniques. Amphileptus sinicus sp. nov. is characterized by possessing a comparatively large cell size of 330–490 μm, contractile vacuoles on both ventral and dorsal margins, and 8–10 left and 42–61 right kineties. Amphileptus piscinarius sp. nov. is characterized by possessing a cell size of 140–210 μm, a large distinctly developed apical extrusome group, 3–4 contractile vacuoles on the ventral margin, and 6–8 left and 24–28 right kineties. Phylogenetic results based on the 18S rRNA gene data of these two species group them with other congeners, with these data suggesting the genus Amphileptus is paraphyletic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study sought to evaluate a modified palatoplasty technique (MPT) concerning the postoperative outcomes and associated influencing factors. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Participants and setting: One hundred forty-three consecutive patients with non-syndromic cleft palate, who received MPT before one year of age within an oral and maxillofacial surgery department of a university-affiliated tertiary hospital between 2011-2017, were reviewed. Main measures: The postoperative wound healing and velopharyngeal function (VPF) were the primary outcome measures. The sex, age at surgery, cleft type, cleft width, palatal width, soft palate length, pharyngeal cavity depth, and operation duration were preselected as influencing factors. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results: The mean age at surgery was 9 ± 1.31 months (5-11), and the average cleft width was 9.03 ± 2.41 mm (4-15). The rate of incomplete cleft palate was 84.6% while the complete cleft palate was 15.4%. Complete wound healing was reported in 96.5% while the others (3.5%) had persistent oronasal fistula. About 90.2% of cases have shown normal velopharyngeal function whereas the others (9.8%) had sustained velopharyngeal insufficiency. The wound healing appeared to be significantly impacted by cleft width and pharyngeal cavity depth (P =.015 and 0.049, respectively). However, none of the factors had a significant association with VPF. Conclusions: The present modified palatoplasty technique has obtained a low fistula rate and appropriate speech outcome. Therefore, this MPT could be promoted for early repairing cleft palate of different severities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ordovician Wulalike marine siliceous shale is a notable hydrocarbon source rock in the Northwestern Ordos Basin. However, the causes of quartz and organic matter enrichment are still a mystery to experts. In this study, the organic geochemistry (maceral compositions, Rbitu, and TOC) and elemental geochemistry (major and trace elements) with mineralogy (XRD) and petrography were jointly acquired to systematically investigate the quartz origins and the paleoenvironment, and the main controlling factors for organic matter enrichment in the Wulalike shale. The results show that the organic matter is type I kerogen with low TOC concentrations (average 0.51%), and that the thermal evolution has reached mature and high mature stages (mean Requ is 1.08%). Three types of quartz are developed in Wulalike shale: biogenic quartz (average 63%) is the most dominant, followed by clastic quartz (average 31%) and microcrystalline quartz (average 6%). Babio and Ba/Al values indicate the low paleoproductivity, which is the primary cause for the low TOC found throughout the area. Redox indexes show the anoxic or dysoxic to oxic conditions from the bottom to the top of the section. Paleoclimate and paleowater depth proxies also changed from the bottom to the top. Various paleoenvironments and sedimentological evidence show that Wulalike shale went through the changing environments, and the early sedimentary environments were conducive to organic matter enrichment, leading to a relatively high TOC. The paleoproductivity and preservation conditions have an impact on organic matter enrichment. Based on the results of biogenic quartz distribution and sedimentary environments, it is considered that the bottom of the Wulalike Formation is the most favorable for shale gas exploration and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to evaluate three types of manual toothbrushes [Cross action (CA), Flat trim (FT), and orthodontic type (OT)] in terms of efficacy in plaque removal in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Background: Manual toothbrushes are an essential part of oral hygiene for primary prevention. Plaque control, however, can be influenced by a number of individual and material-related factors. Individual factors include the presence of fixed orthodontic appliances on tooth surfaces, such as brackets and bands, which create difficulties with oral hygiene and lead to plaque formation. The evidence for the effectiveness of advanced bristle designs (multilevel, criss-cross) of the manual toothbrush alone in removing plaque in patients undergoing orthodontic therapy is limited. Methods: The experiment followed the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines. This was a three treatment, three-period crossover clinical trial with a single brushing exercise. Thirty subjects were randomized to one of the three treatment sequences of different bristle designs: (CA, FT, and OT). The primary outcome measure was the difference in the plaque scores (baseline minus post-brushing) at each study period, as determined by the Turesky-Modified Quigley–Hein Plaque Index. Results: Of the thirty-four subjects enrolled in the study, thirty of the subjects met the inclusion criteria and completed all three periods of the study. The mean age was 19.5 ± 1.52 years, with a range of 18–23 years. The differences between treatments in plaque score reduction after brushing were statistically significant (p-value <.001). The treatment differences were statistically significant (p-value <.001) favoring the FT toothbrush over the OT and CA types of toothbrush designs. On the contrary, the difference between the OT and CA types was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Plaque was significantly removed by the conventional FT toothbrush after a single brushing compared to the OT and CA types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagenetic facies play a significant role in the evaluation and prediction of reservoirs as they comprehensively reflect the spatial distribution characteristics of deposition, diagenesis, and petrophysical properties. Based on the petrographic observation and considering pores, lithology, and diagenesis types, the diagenetic facies types were identified, and the pore evolution process and its influence on the quality of low permeability tight gas reservoirs were analyzed. The results show that six types of diagenetic facies were identified, including siliceous cementation intergranular pore facies (A), carbonate dissolution pore facies (B), matrix dissolution pore facies (C), clastic dissolution pore facies (D), matrix filling and strong compaction tight facies (E), and carbonate cementation and metasomatism tight facies (F). The evolution process of porosity shows that the restored original porosity is indicated to be between 34.2% and 36.0%. The average porosity loss caused by compaction was 17.1%, while the average porosity loss caused by cementation is 14.1%. The average porosity increased by 2.5% on diagenetic facies B, C, and D due to dissolution. Consequently, diagenetic facies A with weak compaction and diagenetic facies B, C, and D with strong dissolution are effective reservoirs with porosity greater than 6.6% and permeability greater than 0.25 − 0.6 × 10 − 3 μm2. The distribution areas of A, B, C, and D are favorable areas for tight gas exploration and are important indicators for the prediction of tight gas in the Upper Paleozoic Shanxi Formation in the eastern Ordos Basin. This study provides a new petrographic method for reservoir prediction and exploration of natural gas, which has practical value and economic significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bioprospecting of actinobacteria isolated from Kubuqi desert, China for antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic metabolites production and their structure elucidation. Results: A total of 100 actinobacteria strains were selectively isolated from Kubuqi desert, Inner Mongolia, China. The taxonomic characterization revealed Streptomyces as the predominant genus comprising 37 different species, along with the rare actinobacterial genus Lentzea. The methanolic extracts of 60.8% of strains exhibited potent antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and high to mild in vitro cytotoxicity against PC3 (prostate cancer) and A549 (lung carcinoma) cell lines. The metabolomics analysis by TLC, HPLC-UV/vis, HPLC-MS and NMR showed the presence of compounds with molecular weights ranging from 100 to 1000 Da. The scale-up fermentation of the prioritized anti-Gram-negative strain PU-KB10–4 (Streptomyces griseoviridis), yielded three pure compounds including; griseoviridin (1; 42.0 mgL− 1) with 20 fold increased production as compared to previous reports and its crystal structure as monohydrate form is herein reported for the first time, mitomycin C (2; 0.3 mgL− 1) and a new bacterial metabolite 4-hydroxycinnamide (3; 0.59 mgL− 1). Conclusions: This is the first report of the bioprospecting and exploration of actinobacteria from Kubuqi desert and the metabolite 4-hydroxycinnamide (3) is first time isolated from a bacterial source. This study demonstrated that actinobacteria from Kubuqi desert are a potential source of novel bioactive natural products. Underexplored harsh environments like the Kubuqi desert may harbor a wider diversity of actinobacteria, particularly Streptomyces, which produce unique metabolites and are an intriguing source to develop medicinally valuable natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation is the first to provide information on the formation, process and influence factors for hydrocarbon generation and expulsion potential of the Cuizhuang Formation source rock in the Yuncheng sub‐basin to decipher the reason why no commercial petroleum resources have been found so far. In this study, data from the Jitan‐1 well in the Yuncheng sub‐basin were applied for the Cuizhuang Formation source rock basin modelling and organic geochemical analyses to reconstruct the burial and thermal evolution history and reveal the timing and process of hydrocarbon generation and expulsion. The modelling results indicate that the peak palaeotemperature of the Cuizhuang Formation source rock reached ~205°C in the Middle Carboniferous (~327 Ma) at a maximum burial depth of ~4000 m, when rapid burial subsidence and thermal events played a significant role in increasing thermal maturity. The Cuizhuang Formation generated and expelled small amounts of hydrocarbons from the Early Ordovician until the Middle Carboniferous, starting with the primary kerogen cracking and conversion to oil from the Early to Middle Ordovician (~476–461 Ma), corresponding to the thermal maturity values of 0.55–0.70 %VRo and transformation ratio (TR) <10%. The expulsion of most generated oil (0.70–1.30 %VRo, TR of 10%–90%) started from the Middle Ordovician to the Early Carboniferous (~461–351 Ma), before reaching the secondary cracking of the retained oil into gas (>1.30 %VRo and TR of 90%–100%) from the Early to Middle Carboniferous (~351–327 Ma). Destruction of the initial formation of hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Yuncheng sub‐basin was primarily controlled by the Middle Carboniferous tectonic event with its major uplift‐erosion, resulting in the absence of potential hydrocarbon reservoirs in recent exploration activities in some parts of the Yuncheng sub‐basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goat milk (GM) is an excellent alternative to cow milk and has recently been used in commercial infant formula preparation due to its superior fat composition. Here, the fatty acid (FA) composition, triacylglycerol (TAG) molecular species, thermal behavior and infrared spectra of extracted milk fat from the milk of the two main breeds of dairy goat bred in China (Guanzhong GM (GZG) and Xinong Saanen GM (XSG)) are investigated. Gas chromatography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and ultra-performance convergence chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry are applied. The obtained results evidence significant fat compositional differences based on the breed that produced the considered GM. The major FAs in both GM fats were capric (C10:0), myristic (C14:0), palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0) and oleic (C18:1 n-9c). GZG presented a higher content of medium-chain saturated FAs, while XSG had higher unsaturated FAs with higher ratios of L/Ln and n-6/n-3. A total of 339 and 359 TAGs were detected and quantified in GZG and XSG, and the major TAGs were those of m/z 740.6712 (14.10 ± 0.27%) and m/z 684.6094 (10.94 ± 0.02%), respectively. Milk TAGs of GZG and XSG showed 24–54 and 26–54 total acyl carbon numbers with a 0–4 and 0–5 double bond number at 68 and 72 various retention times, respectively. Thermal analysis showed that all GM fat samples melted below normal body temperature. Infrared spectra revealed higher absorption values of GZG milk fat. This study provides valuable information to the dairy industry sector about GM fat produced in China, assessing the appropriateness of Chinese GM fat to be applied in Chinese infant formula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peritrichous genus Ophrydium is relatively distinctive since its colonies have a gelatinous lorica. In the present work, one morphologically well‐described species, Ophrydium crassicaule, was collected from a freshwater habitat in China. Both morphological characters and sequence data for SSU rDNA, ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 region and LSU rDNA were obtained. Morphologically, O. crassicaule is characterized by its elongated vase‐shaped zooid, single‐layered peristomial lip, dichotomously branched stalk, colony with gelatinous lorica, and infundibular polykinety 3 (P3) containing one short inner row and two long outer rows. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the genus Ophrydium is monophyletic and nests within the family Vorticellidae. In addition, we briefly revise the nominal congeners for aiding the species identification in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the renewable energy (RE) sector, especially in countries with the highest RE capacities, e.g., the USA, China, India, and the EU. It highlights stimulus packages put in place by governments worldwide and their sustainability to cushion the RE sector. Commissioning of RE projects has stalled due to lack of funding allocation and interruptions in the supply of equipment and components due to lockdown measures. Despite the need to fund COVID‐19 vaccination programs and other related health services, the world must not neglect other sectors of the economy, creating more problems, such as worsening the climate change situation in the long run. This review aims to present the information needed to sustain future energy during the COVID‐19 global pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The lower part of the Fengjiawan Formation contains abundant stromatolitic dolostones that possess well-preserved primary structures. • The depositional environment was an open shallow marine associated with a passive continental margin setting. • The stromatolitic dolostones are characterized by suboxic environment with minimal detritus contamination and weak post-depositional alteration. • Multiple depositional factors contributed to the growth and excellent preservation of the stromatolite-dominated microbialites. Stromatolites in the lower part of the Early Mesoproterozoic Fengjiawan Formation in the southern North China Craton (NCC) contain abundant microbial dolostones with well-preserved primary structures. This study comprehensively investigates the macromorphological, petrographical, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics of these pure stromatolite-dominated microbialites for the first time. The results reveal diverse macromorphological structures distributed from the bottom to the top as conical (lower intertidal to upper subtidal zones), hemispherical domal (lower supratidal zone), spherical domal (upper to middle intertidal zone), and more abundant columnar (upper to middle subtidal zone) stromatolites. The mineral composition of these stromatolites indicates that they are pure dolostones, predominantly consisting of dolomite (avg. 94.24 wt%). These stromatolite-dominated microbialites were subjected to minimal detrital contamination and weak post-depositional alteration as documented by different geochemical multiproxy evaluations. This indicates that they have effectively retained the composition of the seawater in which they were initially formed. Geochemical indicators, such as Y/Ho, La/La*, Gd/Gd* and Ce/Ce* strongly suggest deposition of the stromatolites in an open shallow marine environment characterized by a passive continental margin setting. Different elemental ratios, such as Ce/Ce*, Mo EF , U EF , Mo EF /U EF , imply the stromatolites formation under a suboxic redox environment, where the photosynthesis of cyanobacteria likely played a significant role in the slight oxygenation of the seawater during their formation. These oxygenation levels decreased as water depth increased, with more nutrient supply promoting from deeper waters. The formation and growth of the stromatolite-dominated microbialites were significantly influenced by various depositional conditions, including sea level fluctuations, biological processes, suboxic redox environment, low detritus contamination, and weak post-depositional alteration. These conditions all contributed to the excellent preservation of the Fengjiawan Formation stromatolites, providing valuable insights into deep time microbial carbonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study developed and validated ethical leadership and deviant normative conduct model through mediating variables of trait affect as a psychological process and subordinate voice behavior. In addition, we also tested the moderating influence of social support in the association between subordinate voice behavior and deviant normative conduct. Method: The sample of the study was comprised of 258 pairs of employees and their direct leaders from six different organizations in China. We performed a structural equation model and hierarchical linear tests to check the hypothesized relationships. Results: The results indicated that ethical leadership has a positive impact on positive affect and negative impact on negative affect. Positive affect and negative affect have a differential positive and negative influence on subordinate voice behavior that, as a result, has a positive impact on organizational citizenship behavior and negative influence on counterproductive work behavior. This study also confirmed the role of social support as an enhancer and suppressor of deviant normative conduct when social support interacts with subordinate voice behavior. Conclusion: Our study uniquely applied social learning and conservation of resource theories to ethical leadership and normatively (un)desirable conduct at work, which have important implications for theory and practice. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: (1) Ethical leadership has a positively direct effect on employee normatively desirable conduct. (2) Ethical leadership has a negatively direct effect on employee normatively undesirable conduct. (3) A single mediating mechanism exists until now in the relationship between ethical leadership and normative conduct, which are explored individually. What this topic adds: (1) Distinctively integrates and empirically validates ethical leadership and deviant normatively (un)desirable conduct of subordinates at work relationships, simultaneously. (2) Synthesized psychological processes (operationalized as trait affect) and challenging behaviour (operationalized as voice behaviour) as underlying serial mechanisms. (3) Recognized the role of social support as a crucial enhancer and suppressor simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ciliated protists, a huge assemblage of unicellular eukaryotes, are extremely diverse and play important ecological roles in most habitats where there is sufficient moisture for their survivals. Even though there is a growing recognition that these organisms are associated with many ecological or environmental processes, their biodiversity is poorly understood and many biotopes (e.g. soils in desert areas of Asia) remain largely unknown. Here we document an undescribed form found in sludge soil in a halt-desert inland of China. Investigations of its morphology, morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny indicate that it represents a new genus and new species, Parasincirra sinica n. g., n. sp. Results: The new, monotypic genus Parasincirra n. g. is defined by having three frontal cirri, an amphisiellid median cirral row about the same length as the adoral zone, one short frontoventral cirral row, cirrus III/2 and transverse cirri present, buccal and caudal cirri absent, one right and one left marginal row and three dorsal kineties. The main morphogenetic features of the new taxon are: (1) frontoventral-transverse cirral anlagen II to VI are formed in a primary mode; (2) the amphisiellid median cirral row is formed by anlagen V and VI, while the frontoventral row is generated from anlage IV; (3) cirral streaks IV to VI generate one transverse cirrus each; (4) frontoventral-transverse cirral anlage II generates one or two cirri, although the posterior one (when formed) will be absorbed in late stages, that is, no buccal cirrus is formed; (5) the posterior part of the parental adoral zone of membranelles is renewed; (6) dorsal morphogenesis follows a typical Gonostomum-pattern; and (7) the macronuclear nodules fuse to form a single mass. The investigation of its molecular phylogeny inferred from Bayesian inference and Maximum likelihood analyses based on small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequence data, failed to reveal its exact systematic position, although species of related genera are generally assigned to the family Amphisiellidae Jankowski, 1979. Morphological and morphogenetic differences between the new taxon and Uroleptoides Wenzel, 1953, Parabistichella Jiang et al., 2013, and other amphisiellids clearly support the validity of Parasincirra as a new genus. The monophyly of the family Amphisiellidae is rejected by the AU test in this study. Conclusions: The critical character of the family Amphisiellidae, i.e., the amphisiellid median cirral row, might result from convergent evolution in different taxa. Amphisiellidae are not monophyletic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid-19 has flared a match of accusation between U.S. and China. Both of the nations have alleged each other for the origin of the virus and the incompetence to contain it within the respective national boundary. The allegations have emerged at a critical period when the virus has infected the entire global population. The study identifies a political discourse, that is, 'Lab origin theory' out of these allegations and investigate the form, structure, and pattern of language in use following the methodology of Critical Discourse Analysis. The article contends that these allegations are based not on facts but on conviction, opinions, and beliefs which are expressed in the 'spin' or turn of retaliatory responses. Forming a series of exchanges these allegations promote certain truth-claims which are, in fact, subjective interpretations and hypothetical assumptions of the origin of Covid-19. The claims of 'Lab origin' are established with certain linguistic strategies and symbolic models, and their nature can be only understood with the phenomenon of Post-truth. The concept of Post-truth has been developed against the backdrop of controversial as well as political events of Brexit vote and the U.S. presidential election in 2016. Like these events, Covid-19 is an occasion of Post-truth and its Lab origin theory is a compromise between fact and belief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic lipase activity and bile salt concentration are very low in infants. Therefore, infant formula (IF) preparation with structured lipids (SLs) containing essential fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) with easy absorption features has attracted great attention. In this work, the lipid composition and physiochemical properties of novel SLs enriched with medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCTs) and their incorporation into a powdered IF compared to commercial IFs were evaluated. The obtained results showed that the SL contains arachidonic (ARA), caprylic, and capric as major fatty acids (FAs). Further, the evaluation of commercial IFs oil showed that oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and lauric were the most abundant FAs. A novel SL possessed highest levels of MCFAs (36.33 ± 1.05%) at sn-1,3 positions and LCUFAs (65.91 ± 1.32%) at the sn-2 position especially ARA (42.82 ± 0.89%). A total of 45, 38, and 25 triacylglycerols molecular species were revealed in a novel SL and commercial IFs available in China and the USA, respectively. Thermoprofile revealed that all IFs oil samples melted below the body temperature. The formula produced with microencapsulated SL and the dry-mixing process showed better optical properties and oxidative stability having lower moisture content. The study has potential applications in the development of IF with improved properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study is to quantify the relationship between ecosystem and climate variables in southwest China. We further examined spatiotemporal distribution patterns of daily reference evapotranspiration (ET0) and ecosystem types through integrated approaches, including spatiotemporal interpolation, Penman–Monteith, Mann–Kendall test, statistical correlation analysis and transition matrix based on those datasets including observation climate data, satellite remote sensing images (MODIS and Landsat) and observed ecosystem data. The following results are achieved. First, changes of ET0 were greatly influenced by the combined effects of precipitation (with a decrease rate of −13 mm/10 years) and temperature (with a decrease rate of + 0.17 ℃/10 years). The annual average ET0 increased by + 2.1 mm/10 years, and the increased ET0 are more than 25% of the total area. Second, evapotranspiration was regarded as a sensitive indicator of climate and ecosystem feedbacks, and these ecosystem types have a great transformation, including forest, agriculture, and grass. Forest and grass were distributed primarily in the southern and eastern mountain areas, grass was in high mountains area while agriculture was prevalent in basin areas respond to climate changes. The area of forest converted to grass was 3670 km2, which was greater than transition from grass to forest (1720 km2). Correlation coefficients of evapotranspiration and NDVI were positive in forest and negative in agriculture. Third, the effects of these changes on climate vegetation and ecosystem process feedbacks on the quickly warming southwest China are potentially significant. Although the variation in ecosystem types was combined effects caused by climate variation and human activities, an effective ecological restoration program "Grain for Green" has improved the environmental conditions in southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Carrying out the state-of-the-art study of the different applications of extremely low frequency (ELF) waves has enabled the determination of the importance of these signals in different fields. They are of special interest for the knowledge of natural phenomena, the development of communications, and in various medical applications. The great diversity of existing applications is reflected in the numerous investigations developed over the years. At present, ELF waves are still considered to be a subject of special interest due to their great potential, a fact that has been highlighted in this paper. This paper describes the characteristics of contributions made by researchers worldwide in the field of ELF (extremely low frequency) waves from 1957 to 2019. The data were collected through the Scopus database and processed with analytical and bibliometric techniques. The selection of the keywords is an essential step, because ELF has a very different meaning in some areas of medicine, where it is associated with a gene. A total of 12,436 documents were worked on in 12 thematic communities according to their collaborative relationships between authors and documents. Studies included authors publishing in the different thematic areas and the country where the USA stands first with more researchers in this theme than China and Japan. Documents were analyzed from the temporal perspective, their overall contribution, means of publication, and the language of the publication. Research requires extra effort and multidisciplinary collaboration to improve the knowledge, the application, and influence of these fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its structural efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness, ultra-high performance concrete was utilized to build the first highway overpass bridge in China. The bridge was made of prestressed ultra-high performance concrete box girders of four continuous spans of 30 m each. As the original design of such bridge was observed to be somewhat conservative, its cross-sectional dimensions, in the form of the box girder wall thicknesses were optimized in this research to lower the material cost in future bridge construction. Then, a full-scale simply supported ultra-high performance concrete box girder of 30 m span, incorporating the new box girder wall thicknesses, was fabricated and then tested under static loading to obtain research data to justify the revised design. The loading system was designed to examine the flexural behavior of the girder using two concentrated loads symmetrically located at the mid-span. Experimental results show that the optimized girder has a favorable ductile behavior and excellent flexural strength, which can meet the design requirements for serviceability and ultimate limit states. A finite element model of the tested girder was developed, using ABAQUS software, and then was verified using the experimental findings. A parametric study was then conducted to investigate the influence of key parameters on the structural response, namely, the reinforcement ratio, the number of the prestressing wires, and the web thickness. Recommendations on minimum and maximum compressive strength and tensile property of ultra-high performance concrete were proposed. Also, a simplified calculation method of prestressed ultra-high performance concrete box girder was developed based on a verified strain and stress diagrams for cross-sectional analysis. The proposed methodology can be used in future practice with confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classification of loricate peritrich ciliates is difficult because of an accumulation of several taxonomic problems. In the present work, three poorly described vaginicolids, Pyxicola pusilla , Cothurnia ceramicola and Vaginicola tincta , were isolated from the surface of two freshwater/marine algae in China. In our study, the ciliature of Pyxicola and Vaginicola is revealed for the first time, demonstrating the taxonomic value of infundibular polykineties. The small subunit rDNA , ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 region and large subunit rDNA of the above species were sequenced for the first time. Phylogenetic analyses based on these genes indicated that Pyxicola and Cothurnia are closely related. The present study suggested that the loricate species probably represent a distinct lineage in peritrich evolution and both genera Cothurnia and Thuricola are monophyletic. Pyxicola pusilla , Cothurnia ceramicola and Vaginicola tincta are recircumscribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health insurance is the primary mechanism that enables people to obtain health care services. There are three major types of health insurance involves private health insurance, social health insurance and community-based health insurance. Aims: This systematic review aims to identify the implication on equity after implementation of health insurance focusing on selected Asian countries. The review is based on the three dimensions of universal health coverage (UHC): population coverage, and service coverage and financial coverage. Materials and methods: A systematic search for articles was conducted form 4 search engines, Scopus, Science Direct, Proquest, and Google scholar. A total of 13 articles were selected after screenings and equity implications were concluded in three UHC dimensions based on equity index reported or equity improvement observed in time series studied. Result and discussion: All the three health insurance has different implication on equity between countries or within country. In terms of population coverage, SHI in Thailand showed an equitable coverage. Philippine also reported to have equitable population coverage in terms of geographical while in Vietnam, CBHI showed inequitable population coverage. The financial coverage has showed an inequity of CBHI in India, China, and Thailand. The inequity was also observed for SHI in Philippine, Vietnam and Philippines. More apparent is inequity in PHI for Malaysia and Philippines. The only equitable financial coverage reported was Thailand for its SHI. The final aspect is on service delivery coverage with equity has been observed in CBHI in China and SHI in Vietnam and Thailand. Conclusion: Social health insurance schemes can be further improved in addressing equity in all UHC aspects. CBHI of which showed some equitable measures for certain population subgroups, such as the poor, and formal workers can collectively be the way to go for SHI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neural network-based models have been widely used in traffic prediction. They have improved accuracy and efficiency in traffic flow, speed, passenger flow, and delay. Many variables are considered to predict traffic indicators and good techniques for choosing the most influenced variables to results have been developed. Since the neural network models treat independent variables as continuous variables, there are few studies on the use of categorical variables. In addition, the neural network has been criticized as the internal relationships of hidden layers are generally unknown. This paper investigates neural networks to predict the use of bike-sharing systems in Suzhou, China considering a large amount of categorical data. Two methods here, Entity embedding and one-hot encoding are applied. The comparison experiments verify that the entity embedding method is more efficient than one-hot encoding. Furthermore, the hidden layers are visually analyzed by t-SNE, and the relationships with time, weather, surroundings and other variables for the traffic volume at shared bike sites are discussed. The research results show that: 1. Entity embedding can effectively increase the continuity of categorical variables and therefore, improve the prediction efficiency for the neural network models. 2. The relationship between variables can be identified through visual analysis, and the trained embedding vectors can also be used to supervise clustering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five scuticociliates, collected from China, were morphologically studied using standard methods One represents a new member of the genus Falcicyclidium , F. citriforme nov. spec., which can be recognised mainly by a combination of the following characters: usually two macronuclear nodules, buccal field about half of body length, ten somatic kineties, about 22 kinetal units in somatic kinety 1 and n, and excretory pore near posterior end of somatic kinety n. A redescription for Biggaria bermudensis was provided to include the feature of scutica and argyrome based on new isolate, and variations between different isolates were also discussed. The new population of Sathrophilus holtae differs from the type population by two postoral kineties and fewer kinetal units in the scutica. Its stomatogenesis belongs to the scuticobuccokinetal type, which shows similarities with Dexiotricha among loxocephalids. Morphometric data and brief descriptions were supplied for another two species, i.e., Protocyclidium citrullus and Cyclidium varibonneti . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The living morphology, infraciliature, morphogenesis and phylogenetic position of a new soil ciliate, Bistichella sinensis n. sp. collected from Northwest of China, were investigated. The new species is characterized by an elongate-oval body, two macronuclear nodules, colourless cortical granules, three frontal and three or four buccal cirri, three frontal rows with 7–10 cirri in total, and usually-two frontoventral rows with the left one usually terminating at 90% down length of body. The main morphogenetic features of the novel species are as follows: (1) the posterior part of the parental adoral zone is renewed; (2) frontal-ventral cirral anlagen III to V each forms a frontal row, and anlagen VI to n each produces a frontoventral row; (3) marginal rows and dorsal kineties develop intrakinetally. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit ribosomal DNA reveal close relationship between Bistichella sinensis n. sp., Parabistichella , Uroleptoides , Lamtostyla , Keronopsis , Paraholosticha and Orthoamphisiella. The in vivo morphology and the infraciliature of the Chinese populations of Monomicrocaryon euglenivorum fimbricirratum and Laurentiella strenua are basically identical to previous descriptions. Improved diagnoses for M. euglenivorum and its two subspecies, as well as a redescription of a Chinese population of L. strenua are supplied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The living morphology and infraciliature of seven Dysteria species isolated from the seas around China were investigated by observation of both living cells and specimens after protargol impregnation. Dysteria paraprocera sp. n. is characterized as follows: cell size 110–150 × 30–40 μm in vivo; body elongate rectangular and slender; a yellow-brown to dark red coloured pigment spot located at anterior end of body; three right kineties, with rightmost two extending apically to dorsal margin and innermost one starting at level of cytostome; eight or nine short left kineties at equatorial area. Dysteria nabia , D. proraefrons , D. brasiliensis , D. cristata , D. derouxi and D. crassipes basically correspond well with previous studies and therefore only brief descriptions are presented. Discussions of these species are helpful, however, in understanding the circumscription of Dysteria morphotypes. After careful comparison, Dysteria procera sensu Liu et al. (2008, Acta Hydrobiol. Sin. 32 (suppl.), 84–89 (in Chinese with English abstract)) was verified as a new species, D. subtropica sp. n., mainly because the innermost right kinety starts at mid-body. Small-subunit (SSU) rRNA genes were sequenced for four species of Dysteria , namely, D. paraprocera sp. n., D. subtropica sp. n., D. proraefrons and D. nabia . Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analyses indicate that these species are well outlined and cluster with their congeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During faunistic studies of ciliates in coastal waters of Daya Bay and Bohai Bay, China, two previously unknown ciliates were discovered and investigated using standard taxonomic methods. Morphological comparative analyses revealed that they represent two novel species in the genus Chaenea. Chaenea paucistriata spec. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following traits: body length in vivo about 180-250 μm; eight somatic kineties; dorsal brush rows 1-4 consisting of three, five, seven, and two dikinetids, respectively; rod-like extrusomes, 8 μm long; 63-94 macronuclei; cortical granules minute and colourless. Chaenea sinica spec. nov. differs from its congeners in having: body length in vivo about 140-240 μm; 17-21 somatic kineties; dorsal brush rows 1-4 consisting of 3-7, 10 or 11, 11-13, and 3-6 dikinetids, respectively; rod-like extrusomes about 6-8 μm long; 71-164 macronuclei. A key is presented to assist the identification of all Chaenea species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the morphology and molecular characteristics of three interesting free-living cyrtophorid ciliates, including two new species, isolated from China: Chilodonella parauncinata sp. n. can be identified by its elongated body shape, with a sharp protrusion in the left anterior part, cell size ca. 60 × 25 μm in vivo, five right and 6-7 left kineties with kinetosomes densely arranged, and a curved cyrtos. Chlamydonella irregularis sp. n. differs from its congeners by the oval body shape, cell size 50-60 × 25-40 μm in vivo, irregular shape of macronucleus, 30-40 club-shaped ventral protuberances, and 17 somatic kineties. Two isolates of Chlamydonella derouxi Song, 2003, collected from an intertidal area in Shandong and a mangrove wetland in Guangdong respectively, correspond well with two previous descriptions, but differ in comprising more basal bodies in left and right equatorial fragments and in having more finger-like protuberances on the ventral side. Phylogenetic analyses based on the small subunit r RNA gene sequences showed that C. parauncinata sp. n. clustered with Chilodonella uncinata, but was a well-outlined species of the genus, and C. irregularis sp. n. and C. derouxi grouped in the family Lynchellidae with their congeners to form the monophyletic genus Chlamydonella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven marine scuticociliates, Philaster sinensis spec. nov., Pseudocohnilembus hargisi Evans and Thompson, 1964. J. Protozool. 11, 344, Parauronema virginianum Thompson, 1967. J. Protozool. 14, 731, Uronemella filificum (Kahl, 1931. Tierwelt. Dtl. 21, 181) Song and Wilbert, 2002. Zool. Anz. 241, 317, Cohnilembus verminus Kahl, 1931, Parauronema longum Song, 1995. J. Ocean Univ. China. 25, 461 and Glauconema trihymene Thompson, 1966. J. Protozool. 13, 393, collected from Chinese coastal waters, were investigated using live observations, silver impregnation methods, and, in the case of the new species, SSU rDNA sequencing. Philaster sinensis spec. nov . can be recognized by the combination of the following characters: body cylindrical, approximately 130–150 × 35–55 μm in vivo; apical end slightly to distinctly pointed, posterior generally rounded; 19–22 somatic kineties; M1 triangular, consisting of 13 or 14 transverse rows of kinetosomes; M2 comprising 10–12 longitudinal rows; CVP positioned at end of SK1; marine habitat. We also provide improved diagnoses for Pseudocohnilembus hargisi , Parauronema virginianum , Uronemella filificum and Parauronema longum based on their original descriptions as well as the present work. Phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of the genus Philaster . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the morphologic and molecular characteristics of three Condylostoma species isolated from brackish and marine tropical habitats of China, including Condylostoma tropicum spec. nov., Condylostoma elongatum spec. nov. and Condylostoma curvum Burkovsky, 1970. The two new species have slender and elongated bodies with the posterior portion distinctly narrowed, forming long tails, thus they obviously differ from most congeners. In addition, Condylostoma tropicum spec. nov. is characterized by its small buccal cavity, single frontal cirrus, 26–33 somatic kineties, and moniliform macronucleus composed of 8–22 nodules. Condylostoma elongatum spec. nov. is distinguished by its huge body size (1000–1200 μm long in vivo), the prominent buccal cavity, 5–7 frontal cirri and 37–43 somatic kineties. Condylostoma curvum is also reinvestigated in this paper using both protargol impregnation and molecular techniques. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequence data indicate that the three organisms are located within the genus Condylostoma ; the genus Condylostoma fails to form a monophyletic branch in both Maximum-likelihood tree and Bayesian inference analysis. Nonetheless, the AU test shows that the monophyly of Condylostoma could not be rejected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new and one problematic species of pleurostomatids, Amphileptus dragescoi sp. n., A. wilberti sp. n., and A. marinus from coastal areas of the South China Sea, are described based on observations of live and protargol-impregnated specimens. Amphileptus dragescoi is different from its congeners by the presence of an apical group of extrusomes and the possession of 12-15 right and five left somatic kineties, two macronuclear nodules, and a single terminally positioned contractile vacuole. Amphileptus wilberti is diagnosed by oval or pyriform body, 15-19 right and seven or eight left somatic kineties, extrusomes arranged only in anterior portion of oral slit, usually three ventrally located contractile vacuoles, and two macronuclear nodules. Amphileptus marinus (Kahl, 1931) Song et al., 2004 is redescribed and its diagnosis is improved. One isolate which was misidentified as A. marinus by Song et al. (2004) is believed to represent an unknown form, named here as Amphileptus songi sp. n. Phylogenetic analyses of the SSU r DNA sequences indicate that the genus Amphileptus is paraphyletic, but its monophyly is not rejected by statistical tree topology tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigate the living morphology, infraciliature, and small subunit rRNA gene sequences of two poorly known marine euplotids, Aspidisca fuscaKahl, 1928 and A. hexerisQuennerstedt, 1869, isolated from intertidal sewage outfall, northern China and sandy sediments, southern China, respectively. Improved diagnoses and morphometric data are provided for both species. Aspidisca fusca is characterized by having a peristomial spur, seven frontoventral cirri in a “polystyla-arrangement”, and two oval macronuclear nodules. Aspidisca hexeris can be recognized by having an elliptical body shape, a peristomial spur, seven membranelles in the anterior portion of adoral zone and 11–13 in the posterior part, as well as seven frontoventral cirri arranged in two oblique rows. In addition, the presence and degree of projections along the left margin of A. hexeris are highly variable among populations. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit rRNA gene sequence data support the validity of both A. hexeris and A. fusca as distinct species, and indicate that A. fusca is most closely related to A. aculeata and A. steini, whereas A. hexeris shows a close relationship with A. magna. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper investigates the morphology, ontogenesis and small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene-based phylogeny of a new urostylid ciliate, Bakuella subtropica sp. n., discovered from the estuary of the Pearl River in Guangzhou, southern China. The new species is diagnosed by its elongate body, one buccal and one parabuccal cirrus, midventral complex comprised of 9–23 midventral pairs and one or two midventral rows extending to four fifths of body length, yellow-brown to yellow-greenish cortical granules and an estuary habitat. Its main ontogenetic features are: (1) in the proter, the parental adoral zone of membranelles is completely renewed by new structures and old midventral pairs join the formation of frontal-midventral-transverse cirral anlagen (FVT-anlagen); (2) in the opisthe, the oral primordium originates apokinetally, FVT-anlagen are formed besides and some old midventral cirri join the formation; (3) the anlagen for marginal rows and dorsal kineties develop intrakinetally; and (4) the numerous macronuclear nodules fuse into a single mass before dividing. Based on the SSU rDNA sequences, phylogenetic analyses show a close relationship between Bakuella subtropica sp. n., Apobakuella and Neobakuella, forming a clade separated from the other genera in the family Bakuellidae. Available morphological and ontogenetic data challenge the monophyly of Bakuellidae. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The morphology, morphogenesis, and 18S r RNA gene sequence of a soil hypotrichous ciliate Perisincirra paucicirrata, isolated from north China, were investigated. Perisincirra paucicirrata differs from its congeners in: (1) having a body length to width ratio in vivo of 4:1, (2) its adoral zone occupying between 15% and 25% of the total body length, and (3) the presence of two parabuccal cirri, three left (with 10-16 cirri each) and two right marginal rows (with 14-24 cirri each), and three dorsal kineties. Our study offers a first attempt to begin to map the morphogenetic processes of the genus, which are mainly characterised by the following: the formation of four frontal ventral transverse anlagens for each daughter cell, with the proter's anlage I originating from the reorganised anterior part of the parental paroral; the paroral and endoral anlage developed from the reorganised old endoral and do not contribute the first frontal cirrus; the frontoventral transverse anlage I contributing the left frontal cirrus; anlage II generating the middle frontal and the buccal cirri; anlage III developing the right frontal cirrus and the anterior parabuccal cirrus; and anlage IV contributing the posterior parabuccal cirrus. As an additional contribution, we judge that the inner one or the two right rows of P. kahli and P. longicirrata are marginal rows. Phylogenetic analysis based on SSU rDNA sequences suggests that Perisincirra is related to sporadotrichids, but provides no credible evidence for its taxonomic position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A marine hypotrich ciliate, Heterotachysoma multinucleatum (Gong and Choi, 2007) n. comb., found in coastal waters near Qingdao, China, was investigated. Heterotachysoma multinucleatum is characterized by its dorsal ciliature arranged in Gonostomum-pattern. Additionally, a new genus, Heterotachysoma n. gen., is established which is mainly characterized by: 18-cirri pattern; flexible body; three dorsal kineties with no dorsomarginal kineties nor kinety fragmentation; one right and one left row of marginal cirri; caudal cirri absent. The genus Tachysoma is redefined, and three new combinations, T. multinucleatum, T. ovatum and T. dragescoi, are proposed. The morphogenesis of Hemigastrostyla enigmatica (Dragesco and Dragesco-Kernéis, 1986) Song and Wilbert, 1997, is also described. Compared with that of its congeners, the differences are mainly in the dorsal ciliature: (1) the dorsal kinety anlagen are formed de novo in H. enigmatica (vs. intrakinetally in H. paraenigmatica and H. elongata); (2) the dorsal kineties anlagen develop in secondary mode in H. enigmatica (vs. primary mode in H. paraenigmatica); (3) the kinetal fragment anterior to the right marginal row in both filial product is absent in both H. enigmatica and H. elongata (vs. present in H. paraenigmatica). These findings suggest that morphogenesis is not uniform among members of the genus Hemigastrostyla. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Congruency using nonloricate ciliates as a surrogate to analyze taxonomic distinctness pattern of ciliated protozoan communi-ties for assessing water quality was studied. The results showed that (1) with significant consistency with the total ciliate communities, the spatial pattern of nonloricate ciliates was significantly correlated with the changes of environmental status; (2) four taxonomic relatedness measures were significantly correlated with those of the total ciliate communities; (3) spatial variations in four taxonomic diversity indices of nonloricate ciliates were significantiy related with the changes of environmental variables, especially nutrients; and (4) the paired taxonomic biodiversity indices of nonloricate ciliates showed a clear decreasing trend of departure from the expected taxonomic breadth in response to water quality. These results suggest that nonloricate ciliate assemblages can be used as a potential surrogate of ciliate communities to assess marine water quality using taxonomic distinctness measures, especially the paired indices based on presence or absence data. Water Environ. Res., 84, 2045 (2012). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In order to reveal the potential relationships between body-size patterns of microzooplankton and environmental status, the spatial patterns in body-size spectra of ciliated zooplanktons were studied based on an annual dataset in a bay of the Yellow Sea, northern China. Materials and methods: A total of 120 samples were collected at a depth of 1 m from each of five sampling sites with a spatial gradient of environmental stress from June 2007 to May 2008. A range of physico-chemical variables were measured synchronously for comparison with biotic parameters. Results: The spatial body-size patterns of ciliated zooplankton represented significant differences among the five sites, and were significantly correlated with the changes of physico-chemical parameters, especially salinity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients. Two paired indices, the average body-size distinctness (AvBSD) and the variation in body-size distinctness (VarBSD), were proposed based on the trait resemblances among ciliate species in body-size pattern. The paired measures showed a clear decreasing trend of departure from the expected body-size spectra in response to water quality status. Conclusion: These results suggest that the body-size pattern of ciliated zooplankton might be used as a potential indicator of marine water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colonization dynamics in trophic-functional patterns of periphytic protist communities was studied in coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, northern China, from May to June, 2010. The periphytic protists represented different trophic-functional structures during colonization process. Only certain trophic-functional groups (e.g., photoautotrophs, algivores and non-selectives) occurred within the protist communities with low species number and abundance at the initial stage (1-3 days), while more trophic-functional groups (e.g., photoautotrophs, algivores, non-selectives and raptors) contributed to the communities with increased and peaked species number and abundance at the transitional (7-10 days) and equilibrium (14-28 days) stages, respectively. All heterotrophic groups were significantly fitted the MacArthur-Wilson model in colonization curves and represented higher species number and colonization rates at a depth of 1 m than at 3 m. These results may provide necessary understandings for ecological researches and monitoring programs using periphytic protists with different colonization ages in marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With quick responses to environmental changes, easy sampling, relative immobility, increasing availability of easily used taxonomic references, and allowing standardization for temporal and spatial comparisons, the biodiversity measures of microperiphyton communities have widely been accepted as useful indicators to evaluate environmental stress and anthropogenic impact. Materials and methods: The influence of sampling sufficiency for biodiversity analysis of microperiphyton communities was studied using a range of statistical methods in coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, northern China, from May to June 2010. Samples were collected from two depths using an artificial substrate. Results: Sampling sizes represented a significant influence on biodiversity analysis of microperiphyton communities, e.g., 20 slide replicates (350 cm) were sufficient for the microperiphyton communities at both depths, while 10 slide replicates (175 cm) could meet the sampling strategy only for the samples with colonization times of 10 days or more at a depth of 1 m for recovering 90% species during the study period. Otherwise, more slide replicates were required with the increase of water depths and shortening colonization times for recovering microperiphyton species, e.g., for recovering 90% species of a 'mature' microperiphyton community (>10 days), ∼10 slide replicates (∼175 cm) were sufficient at a depth of 1 m, while for the 'young' samples (>10 days) much more (15-30) slide replicates were required at both depths in this study. Furthermore, to achieve <10% standard errors, six (105 cm) and nine (∼160 cm) slide replicates were required for biodiversity analysis of the microperiphyton communities with various colonization times at depths of 1 and 3 m during the summer season, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that sampling sizes represented a significant influence on biodiversity analysis of microperiphyton communities for monitoring programs and ecological conservation researches in marine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The morphology and infraciliature of two new marine cyrtophorid ciliates, Paracyrtophoron tropicum nov. gen., nov. spec. and Aegyria rostellum nov. spec., isolated from tropical waters in southern China, were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation methods. Paracyrtophoron nov. gen. differs from the closely related Cyrtophoron by lack of fragment kinety at anterior ends of right somatic kineties and thigmotactic cilia in posterior portion of ventral surface, while from the well-defined Chlamydodon by lack of the cross-striped band around the periphery of the somatic field. Paracyrtophoron tropicum nov. spec., the type of the new genus, can be recognized by the combination of the following characters: cell size about 150–175×70–90μm in vivo; elliptical to kidney-shaped in outline, dorsoventrally flattened about 2.5:1; conspicuous cortical granules; one canal-like depression extending from postoral area to subcaudal region of cell; ca. 90 somatic kineties; 12–16 nematodesmal rods; one or two terminal fragments on dorsal side. Aegyria rostellum is characterized by the following features: size about 90–150×40–70μm in vivo, triangular or ear-shaped body with broad anterior end, having a rostriform structure and pigment spots, 56–63 somatic kineties, one preoral kinety, three or four circumoral kineties, and 32–42 nematodesmal rods. Based on previous and current studies, the definition for the genus Aegyria is updated: body dorsoventrally flattened; oral ciliature consisting of one preoral and several circumoral kineties; podite located in posterior ventral region and surrounded by somatic kineties; no obvious gap between right and left somatic kineties; postoral and left somatic kineties progressively shortened posteriorly from right to left. Additionally, two new combinations were proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT. The morphology, infraciliature and small subunit ribosomal RNA gene-based phylogeny of an urostylid ciliate, Monocoronella carnea n. g., n. sp., found in coastal areas off Daya Bay, Southern China, were investigated. The new genus Monocoronella n. g. is recognized by the following features: having conspicuous frontal cirri forming a long and single corona; buccal and frontoterminal cirri present; single marginal row on each side; adoral zone, midventral complex and transverse cirri in Pseudokeronopsis mode. The type species M. carnea n. sp. is diagnosed by the combination of marine habitat and brown-reddish color of the cortical granules. Phylogenetic analyses for the new taxon indicate that Monocoronella n. g. is most closely related to Bergeriella, and is located within the core Urostylida clade. A misidentification in previous literature was recognized and a new species, Monocoronella dragescoi n. sp. [Basionym: Holosticha (Keronopsis) monilata () sensu et sensu , non sensu ], was suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In order to identify a potential surrogate of planktonic ciliate communities for marine bioassessments and evaluating biological conservations, the different taxonomic/numerical resolutions and taxa as surrogates were studied in Jiaozhou Bay, northern China during a 1-year cycle (June 2007-May 2008). Materials and methods: Samples were collected biweekly from a depth of 1 m at each of five sites. A range of physicochemical parameters were also measured in order to determine water quality. Results: The genus- and family-level resolutions maintained sufficient information to evaluate the ecological patterns of the ciliate communities in response to environmental status. The non-loricate oligotrichous ciliate assemblages in both abundance and occurrence may be used as a surrogate of planktonic ciliate communities. Heavy data transformations were an optimal strategy for the species level of planktonic ciliates, while mild data transformations were for the higher. The ordination patterns based on species biomass, occurrence, and biomass/abundance ratio matrices were significantly consistent with that of species abundance data. Conclusion: The results suggest that the use of simplifications at both taxonomic and numerical resolutions are time-efficient and would allow improving sampling strategies of large spatial/temporal scale monitoring programs and biological conservation researches in the marine ecosystem with a relative paucity of scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The morphology and infraciliature of four marine cyrtophorid ciliates isolated from Qingdao, China, were investigated. Based on the present work and on previous data, improved diagnoses for three rarely known species are provided: (1) Mirodysteria decora; small-sized marine Mirodysteria about 35–60×25–35μm in vivo, oval in outline; body surface with two or three conspicuous dorsal spines and one caudal spine; three right kineties, the rightmost one extending dorso-apically; left frontal kineties reduced, each consisting of three basal bodies only; podite subcaudally positioned; two ventrally located contractile vacuoles. (2) Dysteria legumen; body oval with two longitudinal grooves on different plates; six right kineties, the rightmost two of which extend dorso-apically; two left frontal kineties and two ventrally located contractile vacuoles. (3) Dysteria proraefrons; body about 60×35μm in vivo; six right kineties, the two rightmost of which extend dorso-apically and the leftmost one is considerably shortened; three left frontal kineties; two ventrally located contractile vacuoles. A population of D. derouxi with eight or nine right kineties is also briefly described. The current investigation further demonstrates high diversity and cosmopolitan distribution of this highly specialized group of benthic ciliates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Taxonomic distinctness of ciliated protozoan communities at genus-level resolution was studied over a 12-month period (June 2007-May 2008) in Jiaozhou Bay, northern China. Samples were collected biweekly from three different depths at each of five sites. A range of physico-chemical parameters were also measured in order to determine water quality. Multivariate and univariate analyses showed that (1) spatial patterns of ciliated protozoan communities were significantly different among the five sampling sites ( P < 0.05); (2) there were no significant differences among the three depths at each site ( P > 0.05); (3) the taxonomic patterns of ciliate communities at genus-level resolution were significantly correlated with the spatial variation of environmental variables, in particular nitrate nitrogen (NO-N), sum of NO-N and nitrite nitrogen (NO-N), and soluble reactive phosphate (SRP); (4) the Margalef's index did not show a significant correlation with chemical parameters although it was higher for the less eutrophic than the more eutrophic sites ( P > 0.05); (5) the average taxonomic distinctness (Δ) and variation in taxonomic distinctness (Λ) of the ciliate communities at genus-level resolution were significantly negatively correlated with the combination of NO-N and SRP; (6) the paired taxonomic biodiversity indices (Δ and Λ) showed a clear decreasing trend of departure from the expected taxonomic breadth in response to water quality. These results suggest that spatial patterns and taxonomic distinctness (especially the paired Δ and Λ) of ciliated protozoan communities at genus-level resolution can be used as potential indicators for assessing marine water quality while minimizing costs in terms of the time and resources needed for sample analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new approach to determining sampling effort for analyzing biofilm-dwelling ciliate colonization was studied in the coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, northern China, from May to June 2010. The optimal sample size for evaluating biofilm-dwelling ciliate colonization increased with shortening exposure time, and can be determined according to the probability of recovering those species with a specified cumulative contribution to communities. More slide-replicates were required at a depth of 3 m than at 1 m to recover equivalent proportions of the ciliate communities. For routine colonization dynamics analyses, 10 slide-replicates (175 cm2) were sufficient to achieve a 95% probability of recovering those species with a cumulative contribution of >90% to the ciliate communities at a depth of 1 m. These results suggest that 10 slide-replicates immersed at a depth of 1 m may be an optimal sampling strategy for analyzing the colonization dynamics of biofilm-dwelling ciliate communities in marine habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Spatial patterns of planktonic ciliate communities for assessment of marine environmental status were studied from June 2007 to May 2008 in Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao, northern China. Ciliate communities were sampled biweekly at five sampling sites with a spatial gradient of environmental stress. Multivariate/univariate analyses demonstrated that: (1) the planktonic ciliate community structures represented significant differences among the five sites; (2) spatial patterns of the ciliate communities were significantly correlated with environmental variables, especially the nutrients nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) and soluble reactive phosphates (SRP); (3) five dominant species (e.g., Rimostrombidium veniliae, Strombidium capitatum, Mesodinium pupula and Strombidinopsis acutum) were significantly correlated with nitrogen and/or SRP; and (4) both species richness and species diversity indices were correlated with NO3-N and salinity. These results suggest that planktonic ciliated protozoa might be used as a robust bioindicator of marine water quality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recent studies have revealed that the “lower” marine ciliates are far more diverse than previously suspected. During a survey on the ciliate fauna in coastal waters of Qingdao, northern China, we have isolated about 30 new or poorly known taxa. In the present study two colepid species are investigated, Nolandia orientalis spec. nov. and Pinacocoleps similis (Kahl, 1933) comb. nov. (basionym: Coleps similis Kahl, 1933). Their morphology and infraciliature are documented based on living observations and silver impregnations. The new species Nolandia orientalis differs from the type species N. nolandi mainly in the structure of tier plates. The structure of the tier plates was also the basis for transferring Coleps similis Kahl, 1933 to the genus Pinacocoleps and for three further new combinations: Pinacocoleps heteracanthus (Noland, 1937) comb. nov. (basionym: Coleps heteracanthus Noland, 1937), P. spiralis (Noland, 1937) comb. nov. (basionym Coleps spiralis Noland, 1937) and Pinacocoleps arenarius (Bock, 1952) comb. nov. (basionym: Coleps arenarius Bock, 1952). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology, infraciliature, and small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences of two new pleurostomatid ciliates, Epiphyllum shenzhenense n. sp. and Loxophyllum spirellum n. sp., isolated from a mangrove wetland near Shenzhen, South China, were investigated. Epiphyllum shenzhenense n. sp. is morphologically characterized by leaf-shaped cell about 150 × 35 μm in vivo, usually with four contractile vacuoles, 20–29 right kineties and 10–26 left kineties, ca. four macronuclear nodules, and two types of extrusomes (i.e. short spindle-shaped and long bar-shaped). As a new species, L. spirellum n. sp. is distinguished from its congeners by its posterior dorsal margin twisted onto the left side, the distribution of extrusomes (evenly arranged along the oral slit, the posterior end, and clustered to 7–13 warts on dorsal margin), the subterminally positioned contractile vacuole, the number of kineties (8–10 on right side, 4–5 on left side), and its genetic distance from congeners. Phylogenetic trees based on the SSU rRNA gene sequence for both organisms were constructed, which indicate that Epiphyllum is a distinct genus and occupies a basal position in the Pleurostomatida clade; L. spirellum n. sp. falls well into the Loxophyllum clade, which has a close relationship with Litonotus and Spiroloxophyllum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The living morphology, infraciliature and silverline system of two small marine Euplotes species, E. orientalis spec. nov. and E. raikovi, isolated from a sandy beach near Qingdao, China, were investigated. Euplotes orientalis is characterized by a combination of features including their small size (35-45μm long), five or six conspicuous dorsal ridges, two cilia-free basal plaques, eight normal-sized frontoventral cirri (FVC), and a double-patella-I type of silverline system. Euplotes raikovi is redescribed based on a Chinese population and includes the first detailed description of its morphology in vivo. It can be recognized by having one highly reduced and seven normal-sized frontoventral cirri, a single marginal cirrus, and a double-patella-I type of silverline system. For both species the small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequence was determined. Phylogenetic analyses based on these data indicate that E. orientalis is most closely related to E. plicatum and E. bisulcatus, whereas E. raikovi clusters with its conspecific strains, close to E. nobilii and E. elegans. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system of a new marine scuticociliate, Wilbertia typica n. g., n. sp., collected from coastal waters off northern China, were investigated. The new genus Wilbertia is characterized as follows: sculptured and dorso-ventrally flattened body; dominant buccal field that is almost completely surrounded by the paroral membrane; three apically positioned long membranelles, arranged in parallel; membranelle (M)1 and M2 prominent, M3 small; reticulate silverline system. The type species W. typica n. sp. is defined by having a conspicuous anterior beak-like protrusion; five to eight caudal cilia; M1 four-rowed, M2 two-rowed; M3, single-rowed, bipartite; 15 or 16 somatic kineties; contractile vacuole positioned just posterior to the buccal field; globular macronucleus. The small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence of W. typica is 98.5% similar to the similar morphotype, Eurystomatella sinica. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Wilbertia groups with Eurystomatella sinica forming a branch that diverges at a deep level from all other pleuronematid scuticociliates. The molecular and morphological data indicate that Wilbertia should be placed within the family Eurystomatidae, which is closely related to the well-known Cyclidiidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]