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Background: Dactylicapnos is a climbing herbaceous vine, distributed from the Himalayas to southwestern China, and some of the species have important medicinal values. However, the chloroplast genomes of Dactylicapnos have never been investigated. In this study, chloroplast genomes of seven Dactylicapnos species covering all three sections and one informal group of Dactylicapnos were sequenced and assembled, and the detailed comparative analyses of the chloroplast genome structure were provided for the first time. Results: The results showed that the chloroplast genomes of Dactylicapnos have a typical quadripartite structure with lengths from 172,344 bp to 176,370 bp, encoding a total of 133–140 genes, containing 88–94 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNAs and 37–39 tRNAs. 31 codons were identified as relative synonymous codon usage values greater than one in the chloroplast genome of Dactylicapnos genus based on 80 protein-coding genes. The results of the phylogenetic analysis showed that seven Dactylicapnos species can be divided into three main categories. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that seven species form three major clades which should be treated as three sections. Conclusions: This study provides the initial report of the chloroplast genomes of Dactylicapnos, their structural variation, comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis for the first time. The results provide important genetic information for development of medical resources, species identification, infrageneric classification and diversification of Dactylicapnos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Papaveraceae, Corydalis sunhangii, in the section Trachycarpae, is described and illustrated from Nyingchi City, Xizang, China. The new species has some resemblance to Corydalis kingdonis, but differs by radical leaves prominent, usually several, blade tripinnate (vs. insignificant, few, blade bi‐ to triternate); cauline leaf usually one, much smaller than radical leaves, usually situated in lower half of stem (vs. usually two, larger than radical leaves, concentrated in upper third of stem); racemes densely 13–35‐flowered (vs. rather lax, 4–11‐flowered); claw of lower petal shallowly saccate (vs. very prominently and deeply saccate); capsule oblong, with raised lines of dense papillae (vs. broadly obovoid, smooth). Phylogenetic analysis, based on 68 protein‐coding plastid genes of 49 samples, shows that C. sunhangii is not closely related to any hitherto described species, which is consistent with our morphological analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Zoo visitors frequently interact with animals, heightening the potential for the transmission of zoonotic parasitic diseases between humans and animals. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of zoonotic gastrointestinal protozoa in animals from five cities in China, elucidating the species and infection rates of these parasites. The findings revealed a high incidence of intestinal parasitic protozoal infections in zoo animals, with the identified zoonotic species and genotypes including Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Blastocystis spp. The imperative to prevent and control parasitic diseases in zoos extends beyond the realm of protection and management; it holds significant public health implications. Zoo animals, harboring zoonotic gastrointestinal protozoal diseases, pose potential hazards to the safety of visitors and animal keepers. This study involved the collection and examination of 400 fresh fecal samples from 68 animal species, obtained from five zoos. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence, genetic characteristics, and zoonotic potential of common gastrointestinal protists. PCR or nested PCR analysis was conducted on these samples to detect four specific parasites: Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Blastocystis spp. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp was 0.5% (2/400), G. duodenalis was 6.0% (24/400), Blastocystis spp. was 24.5% (98/400), and E. bieneusi was 13.5% (54/400). G. duodenalis, Blastocystis spp., and E. bieneusi were detected in all of the zoos, exhibiting various zoonotic genotypes or subtypes. G. duodenalis-positive samples exhibited three assemblages (D, E, and B). Blastocystis spp. subtypes (ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST8, ST10, ST13, and ST14) and one unknown subtype (ST) were identified. A total of 12 genotypes of E. bieneusi were identified, including SC02, BEB6, Type IV, pigEBITS 7, Peru8, PtEb IX, D, CD9, EbpC, SCBB1, CM4, and CM7. Moreover, significant differences in the positive rates among different zoos were observed (p < 0.01). The findings indicate that zoo animals in China are affected by a range of intestinal protozoa infections. Emphasizing molecular identification for specific parasite species or genotypes is crucial for a better understanding of the zoonotic risk. Preventing and controlling parasitic diseases in zoos is not only vital for zoo protection and management but also holds significant public health implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To establish a cognitive appraisal path model that examines the impact of stroke knowledge on stigma with the parallel mediating effects of negative and positive coping traits, as well as the moderating effects of family functioning. Background: Stroke‐related stigma, a 'mixture' of negative emotions involving internal criticism and external judgement, has been shown to impair patients' health outcomes. However, the specific factors underlying cognitive appraisals and their pathways remain unknown. Design: A cross‐sectional design. Methods: The cross‐sectional sample was from two stroke centres in China. Questionnaires were administered to collect sociodemographic data, stroke knowledge, coping traits, family functioning and stigma. Hierarchical regression models and the moderated parallel mediation model were constructed to analyse influencing pathways. The study adhered to the strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology guideline. Results: All 144 samples reported stigma symptoms with a moderate‐to‐high standardising score. The best hierarchical regression model explains 55.5% of the variance in stigma. The parallel mediation model indicated that negative and positive coping traits co‐mediating the association of stroke knowledge and stigma. After adding the family functioning as a moderator, the moderated parallel mediation model was confirmed with adequate fit indices. Conclusion: Among the cognitive appraisal factors affecting stroke‐related stigma, stroke knowledge reduces stigma by modifying coping traits, while poor family functioning may serve as an opposing moderator. Notably, when family support is insufficient, enhanced stroke knowledge might paradoxically exacerbate the stigma. Relevance to Clinical Practice: This study contributes knowledge on transforming health education and emphasises the pivotal roles of clinical nursing practitioners. In similar global contexts, the study highlights integrating health education, psychological counselling and family support to advance systematic nursing practices. Patient or Public Contribution: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The control measures of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic had influenced the activity of the influenza virus, and we were wondering the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward seasonal influenza vaccine among college students were having at the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods: Online questionnaire survey of the college students was conducted and the data was collected anonymously, cross‐sectional study were used to describe the distribution of the KAP. Results: There were 815 respondents in our study. Most participants have a high recognition of the effectiveness and safety of the influenza vaccine. However, a low awareness rate of influenza vaccine knowledge and vaccination rate (18%) against influenza was observed among college students. The education level and major would have a higher weight on the influence of KAP among the college students. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the sex (OR = 2.163, p <.001), age (OR = 2.242, p <.001), heard of the influenza vaccine (OR = 2.655, p =.014), and "How necessary do you think vaccinating every year is?" (OR = 3.947, p <.001) of the college students were the main factors that affect the KAP on influenza vaccination. Conclusions: Our study provided an insight into the KAP of influenza vaccine among college students in South China. The vaccination rate and acceptability of influenza vaccine in college students are higher than that in the whole population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the impacts of climatic factors and human activities on sedimentary records of heavy metal (HM) contamination in lakes is essential for decision-making in global environmental monitoring and assessment. Spatiotemporal distributions of grain size (GS) and HM (Al, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb) concentrations have been conducted in core sediments that are collected from two adjacent plateau fault-bound lakes in southwest China with contrasting environments, i.e., deep oligotrophic Lake Fuxian (FX) and shallow hypertrophic Lake Xingyun (XY). Results showed that the average value of d50 in FX (4.61 μm) was lower than that in XY (8.35 μm), but the average concentrations of HMs (except Cr and Mn) in XY were higher than those in FX. Heavy metal burial rates (HMBR) were mainly controlled by sediment accumulation rates (SARs) rather than HM concentrations. The correlation coefficients between GS and HM concentrations became strong as the increasing water depths were associated with a stable sedimentary environment. Time-integrated enrichment factors (EF) and source identification of HMs between FX and XY represented that Cr, Ni, and Cu originated from natural sources but Mn, Zn, As, and Pb from anthropogenic sources, respectively. Regardless of FX and XY, the transition times of HMs from natural to anthropogenic sources occurred in the mid-1960s. Comparison of qualification impacts of climatic factors and human-induced factors on increased anthropogenic HMBR by the partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) implied that socio-economic activities, such as population density (PD) and gross domestic product (GDP), provided higher contributors to increased anthropogenic HMBR in XY (0.23/0.71) than FX (0.11/0.18). The comparative results of this study provided new insights into environmental monitoring and management of HM contamination for adjacent lakes with contrasting environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceropegia sunhangiana P.R.Luo and T.Deng, a new species from Qiaojia, northeast Yunnan, southwest China, is described and illustrated herein based on its morphological characteristics and molecular evidence. This species is similar to C. christenseniana, and C. sinoerecta but can be distinguished easily by its stem, indumentum, leaf, and floral features, especially the corolla shape and size, the corolla tube and lobe characters. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS, trnL‐trnF, trnS‐trnG, psbA‐trnH and rps16 sequences shows that this new species belongs to C. sect. Chionopegia H.Huber with strong support, which was mutually verified by morphology analyses. A table including the morphological characters of related species and a dichotomous key to all 25 species of Ceropegia in China are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Pre-hospital delay refers to the time span from the onset of symptoms to arrival at a hospital ≥ 3 h and is the main limitation of stroke reperfusion therapies. Family factors and stroke-related stigma may influence pre-hospital delay. However, few studies have confirmed the influence of stigma on pre-hospital delay or explored the relationships between family function, stigma, and pre-hospital delay among patients with recurrent stroke. This study aimed to explore the relationship between family function and pre-hospital delay among patients with recurrent stroke and examine the mediation role of stigma in this relationship. Methods and results A cross-sectional study was performed at the neurology departments of two hospitals in Guangzhou, China between July 2021 and April 2022. A total of 115 patients with recurrent stroke completed questionnaires and were included in the analysis. Data were collected using the Short Form Family Assessment Device, the Stroke Stigma Scale, and the Stroke Knowledge Questionnaire. Spearman's correlation and a structural equation model were used for data analysis. Family function directly influenced pre-hospital delay [ β =0.27, P = 0.033, 95% CI = (0.02–0.51)] and indirectly influenced pre-hospital delay [ β =0.17, P = 0.038, 95% CI = (0.02–0.34)] through stigma. Moreover, stigma partially mediated the effect of family function on pre-hospital delay. Conclusion Family function and stigma directly and indirectly influenced pre-hospital delay among patients with recurrent stroke. Future health education and interventions need to focus on strengthening and improving emotional support from family members to improve family function and reduce stigma, thereby reducing pre-hospital delay among patients with recurrent stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dirofilariasis, the disease caused by Dirofilaria spp., and in particular by Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens in canines, occurs frequently in canids and felids, and occasionally in humans, in temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions globally. Although highly effective, safe and convenient preventive medicines have been available for the treatment of dirofilariasis for the past three decades, the disease remains a major veterinary and public health concern in endemic areas. The insect vectors, host-parasite relationships and interactions of Dirofilaria spp. have received little attention in China, and there is very little information in English regarding the prevalence of dirofilariasis in animals and humans in the country. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the status of canine dirofilariasis in China based on the available literature in English and in Chinese. Methods: We systematically searched five databases for epidemiologic studies on the prevalence of canine dirofilariasis in China and finally selected 42 studies eligible for inclusion in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was performed using the random effects model in the meta package in R v4.2.1. Results: The random effects model gave a pooled and weighted prevalence of Dirofilaria infection among dogs in China in the past 100 years of 13.8% (2896/51,313, 95% confidence interval 8.2–20.4%) with a high level of heterogeneity (I2 = 99.5%). Conclusions: Our analyses indicated that the prevalence of canine dirofilariasis in China has gradually declined, but that the range of Dirofilaria spp. has expanded. Older and outdoor dogs presented a higher rate of positive infection. The findings indicated that more attention should be paid to host factors for the effective control and management of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among six extant tiger subspecies, the South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) once was widely distributed but is now the rarest one and extinct in the wild. All living South China tigers are descendants of only two male and four female wild-caught tigers and they survive solely in zoos after 60 years of effective conservation efforts. Inbreeding depression and hybridization with other tiger subspecies were believed to have occurred within the small, captive South China tiger population. It is therefore urgently needed to examine the genomic landscape of existing genetic variation among the South China tigers. Results: In this study, we assembled a high-quality chromosome-level genome using long-read sequences and re-sequenced 29 high-depth genomes of the South China tigers. By combining and comparing our data with the other 40 genomes of six tiger subspecies, we identified two significantly differentiated genomic lineages among the South China tigers, which harbored some rare genetic variants introgressed from other tiger subspecies and thus maintained a moderate genetic diversity. We noticed that the South China tiger had higher FROH values for longer runs of homozygosity (ROH > 1 Mb), an indication of recent inbreeding/founder events. We also observed that the South China tiger had the least frequent homozygous genotypes of both high- and moderate-impact deleterious mutations, and lower mutation loads than both Amur and Sumatran tigers. Altogether, our analyses indicated an effective genetic purging of deleterious mutations in homozygous states from the South China tiger, following its population contraction with a controlled increase in inbreeding based on its pedigree records. Conclusions: The identification of two unique founder/genomic lineages coupled with active genetic purging of deleterious mutations in homozygous states and the genomic resources generated in our study pave the way for a genomics-informed conservation, following the real-time monitoring and rational exchange of reproductive South China tigers among zoos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: How species respond to ongoing climate change has been a hot research topic, especially with the controversy in shifting range (movement) or persisting in local habitat (in situ) as the primary response. Assessing the relative roles of range shifts, phenotypic plasticity and genetic adaptation helps us predict the evolutionary fate of species. We aim to explore the evolutionary strategies of plants under climate change from a keystone herb in alpine ecosystems, Mirabilis himalaica, along its elevational gradient. Location: Himalaya‐Hengduan Mountains, China. Methods: We combined evidence from population genomics and ecological data in both space and time to investigate the state of "staying" or "moving". We identified migration events by assessing historical and contemporary gene flow and changes in species distribution. Morphological variation was compared by measuring five traits using specimen data. Moreover, we explored climate‐driven genetic variation and local selection regimes acting on populations in the alpine landscape along an elevational gradient. Results: Our results argue that staying in situ by morphological variation and local genetic evolution rather than range shifting plays an important role in M. himalaica response to climate change. We first found trace evidence of upward or climatic‐driven shifting along an elevational gradient, although asymmetric gene flow was restricted within microenvironments of mid‐elevational populations. Furthermore, morphological variation comparisons revealed clinal variation, as resource allocation showed a declining pattern in vegetative growth but increased reproductive growth with increasing elevation. Outlier tests and environment association analyses indicated adaptative loci primarily related to thermal‐driven selection and continuous adaptations to high elevation in the Himalaya‐Hengduan Mountains. Main Conclusions: Our findings show M. himalaica may persist in local habitats rather than shifting range under climate change, exhibiting a low risk of genomic vulnerability in current habitats. This study has important implications in improving our understanding of the evolutionary response in alpine plants to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishery resources play an important role in the national economy and ecological diversity in China; it is of great significance to evaluate and rationally exploit the fishery resources. Most fisheries off the coast of China are data-limited, as the complex assessment models are not suitable for its resource assessment. Therefore, data-limited models for fishery resources assessment in China are among the current research hotspots. In this paper, two new data-limited assessment models (Bayesian state–space implementation of the Schaefer production model (BSM) and Monte Carlo MSY estimation model (CMSY)) were used to evaluate the fishery resources of Scomber japonicus and Muraenesox cinereus in the East China Sea. The results showed that the estimated value of MSY of S. japonicus was 220 × 103 t to 240 × 103 t, the estimated value of F/FMSY was greater than one, and the estimated value of B/BMSY was very close to one, indicating that the fishery in the East China Sea had been overfished. The estimated value of MSY for the M. cinereus fishery in the East China Sea ranged from 140 × 103 t to 170 × 103 t. The estimated value of F/FMSY at the biological reference point was greater than one and the estimated value of B/BMSY was less than one, indicating that the fishery had been overfished and resources had declined. Both models can be used for data-limited fisheries offshore of China. To better understand the impact of uncertainty on fishery resource assessment, more research should be carried out on these two data-limited assessment models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Sarcocystis can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Ruminants (Ruminantia) are the intermediate hosts for Sarcocystis, representing a potential risk for public health. In China, there are many studies on the prevalence of Sarcocystis. However, the overall prevalence of Sarcocystis infection among ruminants in mainland China remains unclear and relevant risk factors need to be assessed to develop preventive measures. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to collect data on the prevalence and risk factors of Sarcocystis in ruminants in mainland China. Based on the results, we discussed the potential factors that may affect the prevalence of Sarcocystis in ruminants and the limitations in the current epidemiological investigation. Sarcocystis is a zoonotic pathogen that threatens public health and the quality of food safety. To determine the Sarcocystis spp. prevalence in ruminants (Ruminantia) in China, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data were collected from English databases (PubMed and Web of Science) and Chinese databases (Chinese Web of knowledge (CNKI), Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals (VIP) and Wan Fang databases). A total of 20,301 ruminants from 54 publications were evaluated. The pooled prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. among ruminants in mainland China was 65% (95% CI: 57–72%). Our results indicate that sarcocystosis is prevalent in ruminants, which show significant geographical differences. Therefore, it there is a need for continuous monitoring of infections of Sarcocystis spp. in ruminants to reduce the threat to human health and economic losses to the animal industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evapotranspiration is one of the critical processes in the terrestrial hydrological cycle, and the assessment of evapotranspiration is essential for understanding the regional hydrological cycle. In this study, the Minjiang River Basin, a typical watershed in the humid subtropical climate zone, is selected as the study region. The Penman-Monteith equation and the dual crop coefficient method are used to calculate the actual evapotranspiration (ETa) at seven meteorological stations within the study basin. Meanwhile, the applicability of the Global Land Data Assimilation System-Noah (GLDAS-Noah) ETa data in the Minjiang River Basin is evaluated based on stations P-M equation results, then to analyze the changes of the ETa in the Minjiang River Basin from 2000 to 2019. The results show that the GLDAS-Noah ETa data are well applicable in the Minjiang River Basin (R2 > 0.9 and NSE > 0.8). The ETa in the basin shows an increasing trend since 2000, and the increasing rate is 3.60 mm·yr−1 (p < 0.01). The seasonal variation results show that ETa tends to increase in winter and spring, with increasing rates of 1.10 mm·yr−1 (p < 0.01) and 2.60 mm·yr−1 (p < 0.01), respectively, while the ETa did not change significantly in summer and autumn. Annual air temperature has the largest effect on annual ETa (59.6%), followed by precipitation at 33.9%. ETa increased in spring was mainly influenced by increasing temperatures (89.4%) in the Minjiang River Basin from 2000 to 2019. The research results are of great benefit to further improve the understanding of ETa variations in the basin under global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbiota influences nutrient metabolism and immunity of animal hosts. Better understanding of the composition and diversity of gut microbiota contributes to conservation and management of threatened animals both in situ and ex situ. In this study, we applied 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to evaluate the composition and diversity of the fecal bacterial community of four gibbon genera (Family Hylobatidae) at four Chinese zoos. The results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria and dominant families were Prevotellaceae (Bacteroidetes), Spirochaetaceae (Spirochaetes) and Ruminococcaceae (Firmicutes) in the gut of all gibbons. Both captive site and host genus had significant effects on the relative abundance of dominant bacteria and structure of gut bacterial community. We found that captive site and host genus did not solely impact gut bacterial diversity, but the interaction between them did. This study provides basic knowledge for gut microbiota of all four gibbon genera and contributes to management and conservation of captive gibbons. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla were Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria and dominant families were Prevotellaceae (Bacteroidetes), Spirochaetaceae (Spirochaetes) and Ruminococcaceae (Firmicutes) in the gut of all gibbons. Both captive site and host genus had significant effects on the relative abundance of dominant bacteria and structure of gut bacterial community. Captive site and host genus did not solely impact gut bacterial diversity, but the interaction between them did. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dysbiotic gut microbiota has been identified as a primary mediator of inherent inflammation that underlies the pathogenesis of obesity. Cordyceps comprises the larval body and the stroma of Cordyceps sinensis (BerK.) Sacc. parasiting on Hepialidae larvae of moths (H. pialusoberthur) with potent metabolic regulation functions. The underlying anti-obesity mechanisms, however, remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the water extract of Cordyceps attenuates glucose and lipid metabolism disorders and its associated inflammation in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and microbiomic analysis showed that Cordyceps reduced the amounts of Enterococcus cecorum, a bile-salt hydrolase-producing microbe to regulate the metabolism of bile acids in the gut. Importantly, E. cecorum transplantation or liver-specific knockdown of farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a bile acid receptor, diminished the protective effect of Cordyceps against HFD-induced obesity. Together, our results shed light on the mechanisms that underlie the glucose- and lipid-lowering effects of Cordyceps and suggest that targeting intestinalE. cecorum or hepatic FXR are potential anti-obesity and anti-inflammation therapeutic avenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) has become a leading cause of global blindness as a microvascular complication of diabetes. Regular screening of diabetic retinopathy is strongly recommended for people with diabetes so that timely treatment can be provided to reduce the incidence of visual impairment. However, DR screening is not well carried out due to lack of eye care facilities, especially in the rural areas of China. Artificial intelligence (AI) based DR screening has emerged as a novel strategy and show promising diagnostic performance in sensitivity and specificity, relieving the pressure of the shortage of facilities and ophthalmologists because of its quick and accurate diagnosis. In this study, we estimated the cost-effectiveness of AI screening for DR in rural China based on Markov model, providing evidence for extending use of AI screening for DR.Methods: We estimated the cost-effectiveness of AI screening and compared it with ophthalmologist screening in which fundus images are evaluated by ophthalmologists. We developed a Markov model-based hybrid decision tree to analyze the costs, effectiveness and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of AI screening strategies relative to no screening strategies and ophthalmologist screening strategies (dominated) over 35 years (mean life expectancy of diabetes patients in rural China). The analysis was conducted from the health system perspective (included direct medical costs) and societal perspective (included medical and nonmedical costs). Effectiveness was analyzed with quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The robustness of results was estimated by performing one-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic analysis.Results: From the health system perspective, AI screening and ophthalmologist screening had incremental costs of $180.19 and $215.05 but more quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) compared with no screening. AI screening had an ICER of $1,107.63. From the societal perspective which considers all direct and indirect costs, AI screening had an ICER of $10,347.12 compared with no screening, below the cost-effective threshold (1-3 times per capita GDP of Chinese in 2019).Conclusions: Our analysis demonstrates that AI-based screening is more cost-effective compared with conventional ophthalmologist screening and holds great promise to be an alternative approach for DR screening in the rural area of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flora of northern China forms the main part of the Sino‐Japanese floristic region and is located in a south–north vegetative transect in East Asia. Phylogeographic studies have demonstrated that an arid belt in this region has promoted divergence of plants in East Asia. However, little is known about how plants that are restricted to the arid belt of flora in northern China respond to climatic oscillation and environmental change. Here, we used genomic‐level data of Myripnois dioica across its distribution as a representative of northern China flora to reconstruct plant demographic history, examine local adaptation related to environmental disequilibrium, and investigate the factors related to effective population size change. Our results indicate M. dioica originated from the northern area and expanded to the southern area, with the Taihang Mountains serving as a physical barrier promoting population divergence. Genome‐wide evidence found strong correlation between genomic variation and environmental factors, specifically signatures associated with local adaptation to drought stress in heterogeneous environments. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed joint effects of population age, mean temperature of coldest quarter, and precipitation of wettest month on effective population size (Ne). Our current study uses M. dioica as a case for providing new insights into the evolutionary history and local adaptation of northern China flora and provides qualitative strategies for plant conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brain metastasis is an unsolved clinical problem in breast cancer patients due to its poor prognosis and high fatality rate. Although accumulating evidence has shown that some pan‐histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors can relieve breast cancer brain metastasis, the specific HDAC protein involved in this process is unclear. Thus, identifying a specific HDAC protein closely correlated with breast cancer brain metastasis will not only improve our understanding of the functions of the HDAC family but will also help develop a novel target for precision cancer therapy. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining of HDAC1, HDAC2, and HDAC3 in 161 samples from breast invasive ductal carcinoma patients, including 63 patients with brain metastasis, was performed using the standard streptavidin‐peroxidase method. The relationships between HDAC1, HDAC2, and HDAC3 and overall survival/brain metastasis‐free survival/post‐brain metastatic survival were evaluated using Kaplan‐Meier curves and Cox regression analyses. Results: HDAC1, HDAC2, and cytoplasmic HDAC3 all displayed typical oncogenic characteristics and were independent prognostic factors for the overall survival of breast cancer patients. Only cytoplasmic HDAC3 was an independent prognostic factor for brain metastasis‐free survival. Cytoplasmic expression of HDAC3 was further upregulated in the brain metastases compared with the matched primary tumors, while nuclear expression was downregulated. The HDAC1, HDAC2, and HDAC3 expression levels in the brain metastases were not correlated with survival post‐brain metastasis. Conclusions: Our studies first demonstrate a critical role for HDAC3 in the brain metastasis of breast cancer patients and it may serve as a promising therapeutic target for the vigorously developing field of precision medicine. Key points: Significant findings of the study Cytoplasmic HDAC3 is an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival and brain metastasis‐free survival of breast cancer patients. What this study adds Cytoplasmic expression of HDAC3 was further upregulated in the brain metastases compared with the matched primary tumours, while nuclear expression was downregulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fangcang shelter hospitals were established in China during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as a countermeasure to stop the spread of the disease. To our knowledge, no research has been conducted on mental health problems among patients in Fangcang shelter hospitals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and major influencing factors of anxiety and depressive symptoms among COVID-19 patients admitted to Fangcang shelter hospitals. From February 23, 2020, to February 26, 2020, we obtained sociodemographic and clinical characteristics information of COVID-19 patients in Jianghan Fangcang Shelter Hospital (Wuhan, China) and assessed their mental health status and sleep quality. Data were obtained with an online questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of a set of items on demographic characteristics, a set of items on clinical characteristics, the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Three hundred seven COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Jianghan Fangcang Shelter Hospital participated in this study. The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms were 18.6% and 13.4%, respectively. Poor sleep quality and having ≥ two current physical symptoms were independent risk factors for anxiety symptoms. Female sex, having a family member with confirmed COVID-19, and having ≥ two current physical symptoms were independent risk factors for depressive symptoms. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were found to be common among COVID-19 patients in Fangcang Shelter Hospital, with some patients being at high risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous kyphosis is improved on the basis of vertebroplasty, which can well restore the height of compressed vertebral body and reduce bone cement leakage. In recent years, it has been widely used in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. However, it is often reported that there are recurrent fractures of the enhanced vertebral body and adjacent vertebral body after surgery, and the related factors affecting the recurrent fracture are still controversial. OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk factors for the fractures secondary to percutaneous kyphoplasty for treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in the elderly by meta-analysis. METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted for the studies published from January 2009 to April 2019 on the risk factors for secondary fractures after percutaneous kyphoplasty in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, CBM, CNKI and Wan Fang databases and manually as well. After the relevant data were extracted, statistical analysis was carried out with RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The secondary fracture after percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture was related to age [WMD=1.87, 95%CI (0.79, 2.95), P < 0.05], bone mineral density [WMD=-0.46, 95%CI (-0.61, -0.31 ), P < 0.05], bone cement leakage [OR=2.68, 95% Cl (2.11, 3.39), P < 0.000 01], correction of kyphosis angle after primary operation [WMD=2, 95% Cl (0.34, 3.88), P=0.02] and recovery rate of vertebral height after primary operation [WMD=5.25, 95% Cl (2.16, 8.34), P=0.000 9]. (2) The secondary fracture after percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture was not related to sex [OR=0.83, 95% Cl (0.67, 1.02), P > 0.05], body mass index [WMD=-0.27, 95% Cl (-1.06, 0.51), P=0.49], cement volume [WMD=0.06, 95% Cl (-0.21, 0.32), P=0.68], surgical approach [OR=0.87, 95%CI (0.61, 1.25), P=0.46], primary fracture was thoracolumbar segment (T11-L.,) [OR=1.48, 95% Cl (0.93, 2.38), P=0.1]. (3) These results suggest that age, bone mineral density, bone cement leakage, correction of kyphosis angle after primary operation and recovery rate of vertebral height after primary operation may be the risk factors closely correlative to the secondary fracture after percutaneous kyphoplasty. There has not been enough evidence to support the associations between the secondary fracture and sex, body mass index, cement volume, surgical approach or thoracolumbar spine, and the above conclusions need to be studied and verified by more high quality literature in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine the safety and efficacy of Cinobufacini injection in transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for treatment of huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Clinical data of 56 consecutive patients with HCC larger than 10 cm who had been treated with TACE between December 2010 and August 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Among these patients, 31 belonged to the Cinobufacini group and 25 belonged to the epirubicin group. The clinical efficacy, survival time, and adverse events in patients in the two groups were compared. The objective response rate in the Cinobufacini group was significantly higher than that in the epirubicin group (53.6% versus 23.1%, P=0.022). The median survival time (10.6 versus 14.1 months, χ2=0.092, P=0.762) and the median time to progression (4.9 versus 5.7 months, χ2=0.097, P=0.756) were similar between the groups. The incidence rate of adverse events was lower in the Cinobufacini group than in the epirubicin group (P<0.05). The short-term clinical efficacy of Cinobufacini is better than that of epirubicin in TACE for treating huge HCC, while their long-term clinical efficacy is similar. However, lower incidence of adverse events was noted in TACE using Cinobufacini rather than epirubicin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental problems such as eutrophication caused by excessive nutrient discharge are global challenges. There are complex pollution sources of nitrogen (N) discharge in many river basins worldwide. Knowledge of its pollution sources and their respective load contributions is essential to developing effective N pollution control strategies. N loads from all known anthropogenic pollution sources in the Upper Huai River basin of China were simulated with the process-based SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model. The performances of SWAT driven by daily and hourly rainfall inputs were assessed and it was found that the one driven by hourly rainfall outperformed the one driven by daily rainfall in simulating both total nitrogen (TN) and ammonia nitrogen (NH 4 -N) loads. The hourly SWAT model was hence used to examine the spatiotemporal patterns of TN and NH 4 -N loads and their source attributions. TN load exhibited significant seasonal variations with the largest in summer and the smallest in spring. Despite its declining proportion of contribution downstream, crop production remained the largest contributor of TN load followed by septic tanks, concentrated animal feedlot operations (CAFOs), municipal sewage treatment plants, industries, and scattered animal feedlot operations (SAFOs). There was much less seasonal variation in NH 4 -N load. CAFOs remained the largest source of NH 4 -N load throughout the basin, while contributions from industries and municipal sewage treatment plants were more evident downstream. Our study results suggest the need to shift the focus of N load reduction from “end-of-pipe” sewage treatment to an integrated approach emphasizing stakeholder involvement and source prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the commonest causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The prevalence rate of cervical cancer in Uyghur women in Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China has been remarkably higher than the ethnic groups living in the same region. This study aimed to assess the knowledge level and attitude of cervical cancer and its issues among the Uyghur women in Xinjiang province of China. Methods: A cross-sectional interview-based survey of 5,000 Uyghur women was developed from 2013 to 2014 in Xinjiang autonomous region, to assess their knowledge and perception of cervical cancer and its issues. The collection of data was based on the questionnaire items. Results: According to the questionnaire items, we collected a data for 5,000 participants. A very small proportion of participants had heard of the cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV vaccine, that is, 27.0%, 13.0% and, 6.0%, respectively. According to the demographic characteristics, women aged 31 to 40 years were more aware of the knowledge of cervical cancer (32.9%), HPV (17.8%), and HPV vaccine (9.1%), and women with undergraduate or higher educational level had more knowledge of cervical cancer (30.0%), HPV (21.0%), and HPV vaccine (9.7%). Conclusions: From our study, we concluded that Uyghur women need more information about cervical cancer and its risk factors. Lack of the related knowledge about cervical cancer may be one of the important factors for high incidence rate of cervical cancer in Uyghur population. In order to reduce the incidence rate and mortality of cervical cancer in Uyghur women and to make extensive health education to raise awareness of cervical cancer and HPV is strongly needed than prophylactic vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to examine visitors’ perspective on World Heritage Sites (WHSs), the impact of WHS designation, and the fever of inscription on the World Heritage List (WHL) in China, which owns 47 WHS titles and 48 nominees on the tentative list of WHSs. We analyzed visitors’ perspectives on the inscription of Kanas on the WHL based on their cognition of WHSs and impacts of WHS designation. Data from 286 visitors were collected from the Kanas National Nature Reserve, located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China. Results of the research highlight that WHS designation does not equate to more tourists according to visitors’ perception, although the WHS brand guarantees tourism development. With its considerable socioeconomic and ecological benefits, inscription on the WHL is supported by visitors. Further analysis reveals that social development is a major factor in encouraging local governments to seek WHS designation. This study indicates that heritage education should be introduced prior to WHL inscription, in compliance with the purpose of the World Heritage Convention. In addition, cooperation among a multitude of stakeholders is necessary for the successful inscription on the WHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the large and complex genus Xyleborus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae: Xyleborini) are the most commonly intercepted beetles associated with solid wood-packing materials at ports of entry in China. The accurate identification of species is critical in preventing the invasion of exotic insects. Considering the difficulties in morphological identification, genetic divergences of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes have been used in insect species identification. In this study, 32 Xyleborus and 2 outgroup species were collected from Jiangsu ports and selected to evaluate the effectiveness of DNA barcoding for Xyleborus species. The results showed that the mean interspecific divergence values (23.6%) were 15-fold higher than the observed intraspecific divergence (1.6%), except Xyleborus affinis. The results supported the inference that the barcode variation within species of insects is somewhat higher than interspecific ones. Thus, this study validated the effectiveness of barcoding for the identification of Xyleborus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) deposition poses a threat to terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem functioning globally. However, little is known concerning how the structure and function of litter fauna communities will respond in this context. Here, a gradient of N deposition (0, 20, and 40 kg N ha−1 yr−1) was simulated in a subtropical forest of southwestern China, to assess the potential effects of increased N deposition on the trophic structure and functioning of fauna communities in decomposing leaf litters of three main subtropical plant functional groups covering a total of 18 species: six evergreen broadleaf, six deciduous broadleaf, and six coniferous trees. We found that N addition shifted the trophic structure of fauna communities in decomposing litter, and different fauna feeding guilds showed distinct response patterns. Specifically, N addition increased the abundance of predators, decreased the abundance of omnivores, while detritivores were less affected. Compared to deciduous broadleaf and coniferous litters, evergreen broadleaf litter had less complex structure of fauna communities, but it decomposed slower. Further, structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that N addition increased litter decomposition in part via changing the trophic structure of fauna communities, with a positive correlation between predators and detritivores being associated with higher decomposition. As omnivores often exhibit top-down pressure on all other trophic guilds in (sub-)tropics, our observed shifts in trophic structure and litter decomposition might be partly due to the N addition-induced declines in omnivorous ant population. Future studies should investigate the role of bottom-up and top-down forces between detritivores, predators, and omnivores in driving litter decomposition. Collectively, our findings suggest that (i) N deposition consistently shifts the trophic structure of fauna communities across litter types, and (ii) such a shift further translate into changes in the functioning of subtropical forest ecosystems. [Display omitted] • In subtropical forests, distinct fauna feeding guilds responded differently to N addition. • These dissimilar response patterns caused a shift in the litter food web. • Such a shift in the litter food web had a knock-on effect on changes in litter decomposition. • Specifically, N addition promoted litter decomposition via increasing the abundances of predators and detritivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To assess the status of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination in sediments from the upper reach of Huaihe River, East China, 16 surface sediment samples were collected in March 2007 and analyzed for 16 USEPA priority PAHs. Results and discussion: The results indicated that the total concentrations of 16 PAHs (∑PAHs) were 95.2-877.5 μg kg dry weight (dw) with a mean value of 370.8 μg kg dw for the main stream, 85.7-935.2 μg kg dw with a mean concentration of 480.7 μg kg dw for tributaries, and 144.8-303.2 μg kg dw with an average concentration of 224.0 μg kg dw for lakes. PAHs pollution was closely related to sewage input and industrial activities. Furthermore, the distribution of PAHs in sediments from the main stream indicated that the input of tributaries was an important factor for Huaihe River. In comparison to a worldwide survey of sedimentary PAHs concentrations, PAHs pollution in Huaihe River sediments was ranked as low to moderate. The dominant compounds in surface sediment samples were four-ring and five-ring PAH compounds. Conclusion: Selected PAH ratios suggested that PAHs mainly came from the contamination of pyrogenic processes, such as coal and biomass combustion. Risk assessment indicated that PAHs in sedimentary environment in the upper reach of Huaihe River may cause mild toxic effects but would not cause immediate biological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residues of HCHs and DDTs in surface water and suspended particulate matter (SPM) from upper reach of the Huaihe River, East China, were investigated. Levels of total HCHs (∑HCH) and total DDTs (∑DDT) in water detected by GC-ECD ranged from 0.85 to 12.77ngL−1 and from 3.54 to 33.59ngL−1, respectively. According to European and America water quality guidelines, HCHs were within safe levels while DDT would pose adverse biological effects. Distribution of OCPs in water indicated that input of tributaries was important factor for the Huaihe River. For OCPs in SPM, concentrations varied from 1.01 to 25.22ngg−1 for ∑HCH and not detected to 4.74ngg−1 for ∑DDT. Compared with sediment quality guidelines, HCHs and DDTs might have an ecological risk. The main reason for OCPs residues in the Huaihe River was usage of lindane and technical DDT. Furthermore, composition of DDTs reflected fresh inputs of dicofol mixture in some sites. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We investigated the community structure of endophytic bacteria in narrowleaf cattail (Typha angustifolia L.) roots growing in the Beijing Cuihu Wetland, China, using the 16S rDNA library technique. In total, 184 individual sequences were used to assess the diversity of endophytic bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 161 clones (87.5%) were affiliated with Proteobacteria, other clones grouped into Cytophaga/Flexibacter/Bacteroids (3.3%), Fusobacteria (3.8%), and nearly 5% were uncultured bacteria. In Proteobacteria, the beta and gamma subgroups were the most abundant, accounting for approximately 46% and 36.6% of all Proteobacteria, respectively. The dominant genera included Rhodoferax, Pelomonas, Uliginosibacterium, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Rhizobium, Sulfurospirillum, Ilyobacter and Bacteroides. While some of these endophytic bacteria are capable of fixing nitrogen and can therefore improve plant growth, other endophytes may play important biological roles by removing nitrogen, phosphorus and/or organic matter from the water body and thus have the potential to enhance the phytoremediation of eutrophic water bodies. These bacteria have the potential to degrade xenobiota such as methane, methanol, methylated amines, catechol, oxochlorate, urea, cyanide, and 2,4-dichlorophenol. Hence, the use of certain endophytic bacteria in the process of phytoremediation could be a powerful approach for the restoration of eutrophic systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

N, P and SiO3–Si in the Changjiang mainstream and its major tributaries and lakes were investigated in the dry season from November to December, 1997, and in the flood season in August and October, 1998. An even distribution of SiO3–Si was found along the Changjiang River. However, the concentrations of total nitrogen, total dissolved nitrogen, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, nitrate and total phosphorus, total particulate phosphorus increased notably in the upper reaches, which reflected an increasing impact from human activities. Those concentrations in the middle and lower reaches of the Changjiang River were relatively constant. Dissolved N was the major form of N and the particulate P was the major form of P in the Changjiang River. The molar ratio of dissolved N to dissolved P was extremely high (192.5–317.5), while that of the particulate form was low (5.6–37.7). High N/P ratio reflected a significant input of anthropogenic N such as N from precipitation and N lost from water and soil etc. Dissolved N and P was in a quasi-equilibrium state in the process from precipitate to the river. In the turbid river water, light limitation, rather than P limitation, seemed more likely to be a controlling factor for the growth of phytoplankton. A positive linear correlationship between the concentration of dissolved N and the river’s runoff was found, mainly in the upper reaches, which was related to the non-point sources of N. Over the past decades, N concentration has greatly increased, but the change of P concentration was not as significant as N. The nutrient fluxes of the Changjiang mainstream and tributaries were estimated, and the result showed that the nutrient fluxes were mainly controlled by the runoff, of which more than a half came from the tributaries. These investigations carried out before water storage of the Three Gorges Dam will supply a scientific base for studying the influences of the Three Gorges Dam on the ecology and environment of the Changjiang River and its estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead is a widely distributed priority controlled heavy metals in aquatic system, its toxicity to aquatic organisms affected by water quality parameters. This study investigated the acute toxicity of lead (Pb) to the aquatic organisms in Taihu Lake under various water hardness, corresponding regional water quality criteria were derived. The acute toxicity experimental results revealed that the toxicity of Pb to aquatic organisms increased with water hardness. The Pb toxicity has a highest toxicity at water hardness 50 mg/L (expressed as CaCO 3), especially for Palaemon modestus where the 96 h LC 50 value was 0.024 mg/L. The hazardous concentration for 5% of biological species (HC 5) values were determined via species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method as 94.0 μg/L, 222.3 μg/L and 375.8 μg/L for Pb at water hardness 50, 150, and 250 mg/L, respectively. The assessment factor (AF) value was set at 2, followed by the current SSD framework where European commission recommend a fixed AF of 5–1. Thus, the predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) values was 47.0 μg/L, 111.2 μg/Land 187.9 μg/L at water hardness 50, 150, and 250 mg/L, respectively. Meanwhile, the short-term water quality criteria of Pb for Taihu lake aquatic organisms were derived as 111.2 μg/L at water hardness 150 mg CaCO 3 /L. The long-term water quality criteria were derived as 4.3 μg/L by using acute/chronic ratio 51.29. When the derived value was used for Taihu Lake, 2.7% of the sampling sites in Taihu Lake was exceeded this criterion. The results of this study can provide technical methods and basic information for deriving Pb regional water quality criteria for protecting native aquatic organisms, in China. • Acute toxicity of lead to aquatic organisms in Taihu Lake was investigated. • Acute toxicity of lead reduces with the increasing of water hardness. • Regional water quality criteria of lead were derived. • The derived water quality criteria of lead are suitable to be used in Taihu lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study on the nitrogen budget of the Changjiang river catchment. Materials and methods; Results and discussion; Summary and recommendations.

Soil fauna plays a crucial role in plant litter decomposition. However, if and how increasing nitrogen (N) deposition and plant functional type jointly affect the contribution of soil mesofauna to litter decomposition remains poorly understood. A litterbag experiment with two meshed sizes (0.1 and 2 mm) was conducted to examine the effects of soil mesofauna on litter decomposition of three coexisting functional types of trees (evergreen broadleaf, deciduous broadleaf and coniferous) differing in litter identity (6 tree litter species for each plant functional type). Litterbags were exposed to three N addition levels (0, 20 and 40 kg N ha−1 yr−1) in a subtropical forest of southwest China. Overall, soil mesofauna significantly increased litter mass loss with the most profound effect in evergreen broadleaf litter. Further, the high N addition treatment stimulated the effects of soil mesofauna on litter decomposition, particularly in deciduous broadleaf litter. Soil mesofauna effects were positively correlated with initial leaf litter chemical characteristics, such as carbon and cellulose concentration and C/P ratio. The N effect was greater in low N than high N treatments in the 0.1 mm litterbags, but was similar in the two N addition levels in the 2 mm litterbags. Our results indicate that soil mesofauna effects on litter decomposition at low N addition are higher in evergreen broadleaf than in deciduous broadleaf and coniferous litter, and generally increase with N addition levels, particularly in deciduous litter species. The findings underscore the importance of soil mesofauna and plant functional types for litter decomposition in subtropical forests where N deposition is substantially increasing. • Soil mesofauna increased litter decay across plant functional types and N additions. • Soil mesofauna effect was greater in evergreen than deciduous and coniferous litter. • N addition favored mesofauna-driven decay, especially in deciduous broadleaf litter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litter decomposition plays a critical role in regulating biogeochemical cycles in terrestrial ecosystems and is profoundly impacted by increasing atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. Here, a N manipulation experiment was conducted to explore the effects of N additions (0 kg N ha−1 yr−1, 20 kg N ha−1 yr−1 and 40 kg N ha−1 yr−1) on decay rates and nutrients release of two contrasting species, the evergreen and nutrient-poor Michelia wilsonii and the deciduous and nutrient-rich Camptotheca acuminata, using a litterbag approach at the western edge of the Sichuan Basin of China. The decay rate and the mineralization of N and phosphorus (P) was faster in nutrient-rich C. acuminata litter than in nutrient-poor M. wilsonii litter, regardless of N regimes. N additions tended to decrease the decay constant (k value) in M. wilsonii litter, but had no effect on C. acuminata litter. N additions had no significant effects on carbon (C) release of both litter types. N additions showed negative effects on N and P release of M. wilsonii litter, particularly in the late decomposition stage. Moreover, for C. acuminata litter, N additions did not affect N release, but retarded P release in the late stage. N additions did not affect the C:N ratio in both litter types. However, N additions—especially high-N addition treatments—tended to reduce C:P and N:P ratios in both species. The effect of N addition on N and P remaining was stronger in M. wilsonii litter than in C. acuminata litter. The results of this study indicate that N additions retarded the nutrients release of two foliar litters. Thus, rising N deposition might favor the retention of N and P via litter decomposition in this specific area experiencing significant N deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: PNPLA3 I148M variant and TM6SF2 E167K variant are recognized as the major genetic modifiers of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The present study sought to evaluate the potential additive effect of the two variants on the risk of NAFLD in Qingdao Han Population, China. Methods: We genotyped PNPLA3 I148M variant and TM6SF2 E167K variant in a cohort of 512 unrelated NAFLD patients and 451 healthy controls by sequencing and polymerase chain reaction analysis. In addition, serum lipid profiles and liver enzymes were determined by standard clinical laboratory methods. Results: The minor allele frequencies were 45.48% for PNPLA3 148 locus G allele and 6.69% for TM6SF2 167 locus T allele. The PNPLA3 I148M variant was significantly associated with the risk of NAFLD in an additive model (CG, OR = 2.092, 95% CI: 1.551–2.820, P = 0.000; GG, OR = 4.566, 95% CI: 3.141–6.638, P = 0.000, respectively). And, our data suggested a strong link between the TM6SF2 E167K variant and the risk of NAFLD in a dominant model (CT + TT, OR = 2.327, 95% CI: 1.542–3.513, P = 0.000). In addition, the increasing of the number of risk alleles were associated with the risk of NAFLD (1 risk allele, OR = 1.687, P = 0.001; 2 risk alleles, OR = 4.326, P = 0.000; 3 risk alleles, OR = 6.018, P = 0.027, respectively). Conclusions: Combining the I148M and E167K variants in a manner of an additive effect could improve risk prediction for NAFLD in a Qingdao Han Population cohort. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Register.gov: ChiCTR1800015426. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The latest summary of the COVID-19 outbreak in China; • There might be an oral-fecal transmission of the virus; • Aggregates and consolidates the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatments and preventions of this new type of coronavirus. There is a current worldwide outbreak of the novel coronavirus Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019; the pathogen called SARS-CoV-2; previously 2019-nCoV), which originated from Wuhan in China and has now spread to 6 continents including 66 countries, as of 24:00 on March 2, 2020. Governments are under increased pressure to stop the outbreak from spiraling into a global health emergency. At this stage, preparedness, transparency, and sharing of information are crucial to risk assessments and beginning outbreak control activities. This information should include reports from outbreak site and from laboratories supporting the investigation. This paper aggregates and consolidates the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatments and preventions of this new type of coronavirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The δ13C cellulose and geochemical proxies were analyzed in East Taihu Lake. • The δ13C cellulose probably indicates changes in the productivity of the lake. • There is an urgent need for action to reduce nutrient inputs to lakes. At present, East Taihu Lake has been profoundly affected by human interventions. However, the earlier limnological conditions such as the occurrence of temporal nodes and the cause of eutrophication remain unclear due to the short temporal range covered by the instrumental record. The stable carbon isotope ratio of plant residue α-cellulose (δ13C cellulose) is a sensitive proxy indicator of palaeoproductivity, but this proxy index is rarely used in Chinese lakes. In order to test whether δ13C cellulose can be used as a lake ecological environment changes indicator, we investigated the relationship between the δ13C cellulose and several geochemical proxies from a ∼ 30 cm core extending 100 years obtained from a shallow lake: East Taihu Lake, China. Here, the changes in δ13C cellulose of plant residues in sediments from East Taihu Lake were coupled analysis with geochemistry indexes to identify the response of δ13C cellulose from plant residues to the past environmental changes. Combined with the results of C/N ratios, δ13C cellulose and other related studies, the big plant residues in the sediments of East Taihu Lake may be derived from autochthonous aquatic macrophytes. In addition, the δ13C cellulose showed a significant negative correlation with total organic carbon, probably indicating the changes of primary productivity of the lake. The δ13C cellulose and geochemical proxy records revealed that the environmental changes in East Taihu Lake have undergone three distinct periods. The first period (1900s-1960s) represented a natural state without intensive human disturbance. The acceleration of lake eutrophication from the middle period (1960s-1995s) was a consequence of intensive local human activities. The late stage (1995s-2010s) represented a minor decline in nutrient levels after the implementation of ecological protection and restoration. By comparing the results with historical documents and measurements from East Taihu Lake, we inferred that anthropogenic pressures were the primary cause of the changes in the aquatic macrophyte communities and environments. This study provides a unique approach to the ecological environment evolution of East Taihu Lake. At present, Taihu Lake still suffers from annual cyanobacterial blooms due to economic growth (urbanization and industrialization). There is an urgent need for interventions to reduce nutrient inputs in order to enhance ecosystem resilience. Finally, the results of study of East Taihu Lake in China reveal the potential of combining δ13C cellulose and other geochemical proxies to study palaeoenvironmental change, which provides new perspectives for understanding lake ecological environmental change in lakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been widely used to identify targetable variants for patients with solid tumors, especially lung cancer. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as an alternative approach for tumor biopsy. However, the feasibility of ctDNA in detecting molecular variants remains debatable. Methods: Herein, we performed NGS on matched tissue and plasma samples from 146 Chinese patients with lung cancer. The concordance of variants between tissue and plasma samples was explored at patient and variant levels. Results: More than 80% of patients harbored at least one concordant variant in tissue and plasma samples. A total of 506 variants were shared between tissue and plasma samples, and 432 variants were identified in tissue only and 92 variants were identified in plasma only. The sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of all variants detected in plasma were 53.9% and 84.6%, respectively. High concordance was observed in several driver genes. In details, epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 deletion (EGFR 19del), EGFR p.S768I, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion, rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion, and kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) p.G12C achieved a sensitivity of 90%, 100%, 85.7%, 100%, and 85.7%, respectively. Four EGFR -altered lung adenocarcinoma patients who underwent ctDNA-based NGS at initial diagnosis benefited from first-line gefitinib/icotinib with a median progression-free survival of 379.5 days. Conclusions: Our work provided the clinical evidence of feasibility of ctDNA-based NGS in guiding decision-making in treatment. ctDNA-based NGA could be a reliable alternative approach for tissue biopsy in patients with lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• University students with high level of meaning in life are more willing to engage in prosocial behavior. • Meaning in life can influence subsequent prosocial behaviors, directly, as well as through PsyCap. • Longitudinal study supported that PsyCap mediates the relationship between meaning in life and prosocial behavior. Meaning in life is a summative cognition of valuable goals, life purpose, and relationships among things and people. A central feature of meaning in life is the broad consideration of more than oneself. We extend this logic to suggest that people higher in meaning in life will engage in more prosocial behaviors, compared to others. Further extending this idea, we hypothesized and longitudinally tested the assertion that one of the potentials, yet overlooked and important mechanisms that mediates the association between current meaning in life and prosocial behavior among university students six-months later is psychological capital (PsyCap). A total of 913 Chinese university students (25.6% males; 70.3% females; M age = 19.63, SD age = 1.04) completed a Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), a Prosocial Tendencies Measure (PTM), and a Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PPQ) at three different times. The results showed that the association between T1 meaning in life and T3 prosocial behavior was significant before adding the mediator variables into the model (β = 0.10, p < 0.001). T2 PsyCap significantly mediated the influence of T1 meaning in life on T3 prosocial behavior (indirect effect = 0.10; 95% CI [0.06, 0.14]). We concluded that meaning in life in university students can influence subsequent prosocial behaviors, directly, as well as through PsyCap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Residues of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and their environmental risks in surface sediments collected from upper reach of Huaihe River, East China, are investigated in this paper. Based on dry weight (dw), the concentrations of ΣHCH (α-, β-, γ- and δ-HCH) and ΣDDT (p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD) in sediments ranged from 1.95 to 11.05ngg−1 dw (mean 4.53ngg−1 dw) and 4.07 to 23.89ngg−1 dw (average 11.07ngg−1 dw), respectively. Compared with some published guideline values of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediments, the concentrations of HCHs were at safe levels while the residues of DDTs would pose adverse biological effects in this studied area. The distribution of OCPs in sediments indicated that the input of tributaries was important factor for Huaihe River. Levels of DDTs in the sediments were influenced by total organic carbon contents of sediments. The present study suggested that historical usage of lindane and technical DDT was the main reason for OCP residues in the sediments from both rivers and lakes. Furthermore, the composition of DDTs reflected fresh inputs of dicofol mixture in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL), with a marked elevation of apolipoprotein B (apoB), is estimated to cause 10–20% of premature coronary artery disease. However, little data are available to demonstrate the associations of apoB with pulse pressure and glucose levels in FCHL families in China. This study was to investigate the potential influence factors for blood pressure and glucose phenotypes in FCHL families by multiple linear regression analysis. We recruited 147 FCHL relatives and 90 spouses, aged 30 to 60 years, from 42 Chinese families with FCHL. Our results showed that triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with fasting glucose levels (all P <0.05). Body mass index and glucose significantly correlated to systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure, respectively (all P <0.05). Furthermore, apoB was significantly related to pulse pressure and glucose in FCHL families (all P <0.05). Thus, this study demonstrates that apoB is significantly associated with pulse pressure and glucose levels in FCHL families. Accordingly, our data suggest that apoB may be a candidate risk marker for pulse pressure and glucose in FCHL populations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A seroepidemiological survey of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in cattle and water buffaloes was carried out in the People''s Republic of China. Serum samples were obtained from dairy (n =262, 9 herds in 9 provinces) and beef cattle (n =10, 1 herd) and water buffaloes (n =40) in China. All sera were tested for antibodies to N. caninum and T. gondii by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an indirect agglutination test (IAT), respectively. The overall seroprevalence of N. caninum in dairy cattle was 17.2% (45/262), and the herds seroprevalence of N. caninum was 88.9% (8/9), and antibodies to T. gondii were present in 6 cows (2.3%). None of the cows had antibodies against both T. gondii and N. caninum. Antibodies to T. gondii or N. caninum were not found in beef cattle or water buffaloes. The seroprevalence of N. caninum in aborting cows (20.2%) was higher than that in non-aborting cows (16.6%) with an odds ratio of 1.26 (95% CI, 0.54–2.95), but the difference was not statistically significant (P >0.05). There was no apparent association of N. caninum seropositivity with age or number of pregnancies. This is the first report on the seroprevalence of N. caninum in cattle and water buffaloes in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To evaluate sleep disturbances of Chinese frontline medical workers (FMW) under the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and make a comparison with non-FMW.Methods: The medical workers from multiple hospitals in Hubei Province, China, volunteered to participate in this cross-sectional study. An online questionnaire, including Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), was used to evaluate sleep disturbances and mental status. Sleep disturbances were defined as PSQI>6 points or/and AIS>6 points. We compared the scores of PSQI, AIS, anxiety and depression VAS, as well as prevalence of sleep disturbances between FMW and non-FMW.Results: A total of 1306 subjects (801 FMW and 505 non-FMW) were enrolled. Compared to non-FMW, FMW had significantly higher scores of PSQI (9.3 ± 3.8 vs 7.5 ± 3.7; P < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.47), AIS (6.9 ± 4.3 vs 5.3 ± 3.8; P < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.38), anxiety (4.9 ± 2.7 vs 4.3 ± 2.6; P < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.22) and depression (4.1 ± 2.5 vs 3.6 ± 2.4; P = 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.21), as well as higher prevalence of sleep disturbances according to PSQI > 6 points (78.4% vs 61.0%; relative risk [RR] = 1.29; P < 0.001) and AIS > 6 points (51.7% vs 35.6%; RR = 1.45; P < 0.001).Conclusion: FMW have higher prevalence of sleep disturbances and worse sleep quality than non-FMW. Further interventions should be administrated for FMW, aiming to maintain their healthy condition and guarantee their professional performance in the battle against COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sinonovacula constricta , an important economic bivalve, is widely cultured on the southeast coast of China. However, its industrial development has been limited by diseases, especially vibriosis caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In this study, we explored the key factors that determine the fate of razor clams under V. parahaemolyticus challenge using RNA-Seq, STEM and WGCNA. The transcriptome profiles of the razor clams were compared at different survival times after Vibrio infection, including clams that died within one to fifteen days and survived after fifteen days of treatment. The analysis of DEGs showed that genes in the C1qDC family, MAPK signaling pathway and Rap1 signaling pathway were significantly differentially expressed between the dying and survival groups in response to V. parahaemolyticus stimulation. The expression levels of genes involved in energy metabolism were positively correlated with the survival time by STEM analysis. The energy metabolism level of organisms may affect the intensity of the immune response and determine the fate of razor clams. In addition, the razor clams were divided into four periods according to death time and survival curve, including early stage (ScD1-ScD5), middle stage (ScD6-ScD10), late stage (ScD11-ScD15) and the survival group. In the early stage, an imbalance of apoptosis and the regeneration of blood cells are the main causes of razor clam death. In the middle stage, an energy metabolism level that is too low cannot meet the high energy needed for razor clam immunity, resulting in individual death. In the late stage, lysosome-related genes and C1qDC are downregulated significantly, slowing the removal of pathogenic bacteria and lipid metabolism. This study provided a comprehensive determination of razor clam fate at different stages in response to V. parahaemolyticus and emphasized the pivotal roles of energy metabolism and immunity in hosts under pathogen infection. [Display omitted] • MAPK and Rap1 signaling pathways were highlighted in Sinonovacula constricta resistant to V. parahaemolyticus stress. • Energy metabolism is one of the key factors determining razor clams' fate under the stress of V. parahaemolyticus. • Razor clams experienced three stages of cell apoptosis, energy demand and pathogen elimination under Vibrio stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neospora caninum , an intracellular protozoan, has attracted much attention because of the etiology of reproductive disorders in cattle. Although numerous relevant studies have been published, the overall prevalence of Neospora caninum infection among cattle in mainland China is still unknown, and associated risk factors need to be evaluated to establish preventive measures. We systematically searched four databases for epidemiologic studies that investigated the prevalence and associated risk factors of this parasite among cattle in mainland China. A total of 33,945 cattle from 51 studies were tested. The pooled prevalence of Neospora caninum among cattle in mainland China was 13.69% (95% CI: 10.86%−17.12%) through the random-effects model, which showed high heterogeneity, I 2 = 98%. The analysis showed that Neospora infection-positive cows were 2.42 times more likely to abort than infection-negative cows (OR 2.42; 95% CI: 2.07–2.84). Our analysis indicated that Neospora -infection is widely distributed among cattle in China, which reinforces the importance of adequate prevention and control strategies to reduce economic losses for the cattle industry. • Neospora -infection is widely distributed among cattle in China. • The pooled prevalencewas 13.69% through Meta-analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cats are essential in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii because they are the only hosts that can excrete the environmentally resistant oocysts in nature. This study was aimed to determine the seropositivity, distribution of genotypes and mouse virulence of T. gondii from stray cats in Beijing, China. A total of 64 serum samples, 23 feces and tissue samples were collected from stray cats in Beijing. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT). 57.8% (37/64) of these stray cats had titers of 1:20 or higher and were considered positive with infection. T. gondii oocysts were not found in feces of the 23 cats. Tissues of 23 cats were bioassayed in mice and 11 T. gondii isolates were obtained. The genotype of these isolates were identified by 11 PCR-RFLP markers, including SAG1, (3′+5′)SAG2, alt.SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, and an apicoplast marker, Apico. Only one genotype was identified. This genotype, designated as ToxoDB genotype #9, was previously reported in cats, pigs and human from Guangdong and Gansu provinces in China and animals from a few other countries. To determine mouse virulence of this lineage of parasites, one isolate was randomly selected and inoculated into BABL/c mice, the result showed that it is intermediately virulent to mice. These results indicated that an atypical, intermediately virulent T. gondii lineage is widespread in China. The high seropositivity of T. gondii in stray cats posts potential risk of transmission of the parasite to human population in the region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Novel grey forecasting model called the neural ordinary differential grey model (NODGM) is proposed. • NODGM can be learned through a training procedure. • NODGM has a wider application range and can learn the characteristics of different data samples. • The predicting sequence is obtained by using the Runge–Kutta method to solve the model. Due to the efficiency of grey models in predicting the time series of small samples, grey system theory has been well studied since it was first proposed and has now become an important method for small sample prediction. Inspired by the neural ordinary differential equations (NODE), this paper proposes a novel grey forecasting model called the neural ordinary differential grey model (NODGM). The NODGM model includes a novel whitening equation that allows the prediction model to be learned through a training procedure. Therefore, compared with other models whose structures and terms need to be artificially predefined based on the laws of real samples, the NODGM model has a wider application range and can learn the characteristics of different data samples. Then, to obtain a model with better prediction performance, we apply NODE to train the model. Finally, the predicting sequence is obtained by using the Runge–Kutta method to solve the model. In the experiments, we apply NODGM model to two energy samples and then contrast the experimental results with the results of some classical grey models to validate the effectiveness of NODGM model. The comparison results from predicting China's annual crude oil consumption and forecasting oilfield production in northern China show that the prediction accuracies achieved by NODGM model are 28% and 8% higher, respectively, than those achieved by the state-of-the-art grey forecasting models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence and ecological risks of ten typical pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) at 12 typical inflow rivers of Taihu lake was investigated in this study. Seven out of the ten typical PPCPs targeted were detected in all the water samples and sediment samples tested. The PPCPs concentration detected were 0–94.91 ng/L for water samples and 0–18.27 ng/g for sediment samples. Sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and erythromycin (ERY) has relatively higher concentration than other PPCPs in surface water samples, ciprofloxacin (CIP) and ofloxacin (OFX) has relatively higher concentration in the sediment samples. Inflow river-Caoqiao river has a relatively highest contamination of TN and TP, the PPCPs concentration in the river channel, estuary, lake-body also shows high value. This occurs in both the surface water and sediment sample, implied a relatively high pollution input from Caoqiao river. SMZ holds high long-term ecological risks in both surface water and sediment of almost all the tested inflow rivers of Taihu lake. Only ERY has medium short-term risks in surface water, other analyzed PPCPs hold low or insignificant short-terms risks for both surface water and sediments. This study fills the gap of PPCPs ecological risk of surface water and sediment of 12 typical inflow rivers of Taihu Lake, and revealed the importance of control sulfanilamide of the economic belt around Taihu Lake. The results of the present study are useful in providing information for PPCPs control and sustainable water management in freshwater lakes. [Display omitted] • Occurrence and ecological risks of ten typical PPCPs at 12 inflow rivers of Taihu Lake were investigated. • PPCPs concentration detected were 0–94.91 ng/L for water sample and 0–18.27 ng/g for sediment samples. • Caoqiao river has a relatively high contamination input to Taihu Lake. • SMZ holds high long-term ecological risks in both surface water and sediment of almost all the tested inflow rivers of Taihu lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]