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SYNOPSIS: Beginning January 1, 2012, all publicly listed firms in China are required, under the Basic Standard of Enterprise Internal Control (China SOX), to provide an internal control report (ICR). Prior to that, many firms had elected to voluntarily comply with this regulation. We examine the change in internal control disclosure regimes and its impact on the properties of analyst earnings forecasts. We compare the quantity and severity of ICWs disclosed under voluntary versus mandatory regimes, and find evidence suggesting that the disclosure of more serious ICWs increases when ICW disclosures become mandatory. We then investigate the effect of ICW disclosures on analyst forecast error and dispersion. We find that measures of ICWs are negatively associated with desirable properties of analyst earnings forecasts. We also find a less positive association between ICW disclosures and forecast error and dispersion in the mandatory regime. JEL Classifications: G34; G38; M41. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of internal control weaknesses on accounting conservatism in Chinese listed firms. It also investigates the relationship between the demand for external audit and accounting conservatism, and whether additional assurance of internal control reports (ICRs) can mitigate the negative impact of ICWs on accounting conservatism.Design/methodology/approach An empirical research approach is taken through the use of ordinary least squares (OLS) models and hand-collected internal control weakness data from ICRs released by Chinese listed firms.Findings The results of this paper show that the existence of ICWs has a negative effect on accounting conservatism in China. Further, the results demonstrate that both accounting-related and non-accounting-related ICWs affect accounting conservatism. The authors also find that there is a complementary relationship between accounting conservatism and the demand for additional assurance of ICRs, and additional assurance of ICRs can mitigate the negative impact of ICWs on accounting conservatism.Practical Implications This study provides timely evidence to Chinese regulators of the possible economic consequences of the official implementation of internal control standard in China from 2012. The findings of this paper can also benefit regulators around the world and, in particular, the regulators in emerging markets that are considering implement regulations similar to the US SOX.Originality/value The paper demonstrates that a wider scope of ICWs, including non-accounting-related ICWs, also has a significant impact on accounting conservatism. Therefore, this research provides a more general evidence on the relationship between internal control quality and accounting conservatism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxytropis glabra DC. is a perennial poisonous plant to livestock belonging to the genus Oxytropis, Leguminosae, mainly distributed in Northwestern China. As a poisonous grass, this species protects plant diversity in degraded grasslands by sheltering adjacent plants. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome with a total size of 122,094 bp was reported. Our annotations showed that the chloroplast genome contains 109 genes, including 76 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. This work presents complete chloroplast genome information, which will be valuable for studying the evolution and genetic diversity of O. glabra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of granulocyte transfusion combined with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in severe infection patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Methods: Fifty-six patients in severe infections with SAA who had received granulocyte transfusions combined with G-CSF from 2006 to 2012 in our department were analyzed. A retrospective analysis was undertaken to investigate the survival rates (at 30 days, 90 days and 180 days), the responses to treatment (at 7 days and 30 days, including microbiological, radiographic and clinical responses), the neutrophil count and adverse events after transfusion. Results: All SAA patients with severe infections were treated with granulocyte transfusions combined with G-CSF. Forty-seven patients had received antithymocyte globulin/antilymphocyte globulin and cyclosporine A as immunosuppressive therapy. The median number of granulocyte components transfused was 18 (range, 3–75). The survival at 30 days, 90 days and 180 days were 50(89%), 39(70%) and 37(66%) respectively. Among 31 patients who had invasive fungal infections, the survival at 30 days, 90 days and 180 days were 27(87%), 18(58%) and 16(52%) respectively. Among the 25 patients who had refractory severe bacterial infections, the survival at 30 days, 90 days and 180 days were 23(92%), 21(84%) and 21(84%) respectively. Survival rate was correlated with hematopoietic recovery. Responses of patients at 7 and 30 days were correlated with survival rate. Common adverse effects of granulocyte transfusion included mild to moderate fever, chills, allergy and dyspnea. Conclusion: Granulocyte transfusions combined with G-CSF could be an adjunctive therapy for treating severe infections of patients with SAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate stakeholder power changes and their impact on firms' disclosure decisions in the Chinese stock market. Using legitimacy theory and stakeholder theory, the paper identifies newly emerged stakeholder groups for listed Chinese firms during three distinguished periods of the development of the Chinese stock market. Design/methodology/approach – Panel data analysis was undertaken over a period from 1995-2006 with an aim to examine the influence of stakeholder power changes on voluntary disclosures made by 297 listed firms in their 12 years of annual reports. A voluntary disclosure checklist has been used for hand-collecting data from annual reports. Findings – The finding shows that different stakeholder groups exert different degrees of influence on firms' decision-making in respect of information disclosure during different stages of the development of the Chinese stock market. Research limitations/implications – The impact of a stakeholder power changes on corporate disclosure has not been well addressed and how listed Chinese firms respond to these changes is still a significant gap in the Chinese corporate disclosure literature. In this study, the paper uses proxies to represent each stakeholder group, discuss power changes of each group and predict the impact of power changes on firms' voluntary disclosure. Originality/value – The paper identifies the new content of the "social contract" between listed firms and Chinese society and identifies various stakeholder groups of listed Chinese firms in the context of a new "social contract". The paper predicts that voluntary corporate disclosure is the result of stakeholder pressures and firms use voluntary disclosure as one of their strategies to manage the firm-stakeholder relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northern Guangdong is an important part of Nanling tungsten-tin metallogenic belt, South China. The tungsten mineralization in this area consists of mainly quartz-wolframite vein-type mineralization, with W-Sn polymetallic deposits mostly distributed at the outer contact zone between concealed Late Jurassic granitic stocks and Cambrian-Ordovician low-metamorphosed sandstones and shales. Molybdenite Re-Os and muscovite Ar/Ar isotopic dating of three typical tungsten vein-type deposits (Yaoling, Meiziwo, and Jubankeng) in northern Guangdong, show that two episodes of Late Jurassic W-Sn polymetallic mineralization occurred in this area: an early episode during the Late Jurassic (158-159 Ma) represented by the Yaoling, Hongling, and Meiziwo tungsten deposits, and a younger event during the Early Cretaceous (138 Ma) represented by the Jubankeng deposit. Analysis of available radiometric ages of several W-Sn deposits in the Nanling region indicate that these deposits formed at several intervals during the Mesozoic at 90-100, 134-140, 144-162, and 210-235 Ma, and that large-scale W-Sn mineralization in this region occurred mainly between 150 and 160 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wenquan molybdenum deposit is associated with a Triassic granite in this area. The Wenquan granite is enriched in LILE and LREE, poor in HFSE, and has significantly higher contents of alkali (K2O+Na2O) and Sr, Ba than those of the island arc volcanic rocks. These geochemical characteristics are similar to post-collisional granites in high K calc-alkaline series. Studies of major elements, trace elements, REEs and chronology of the Wenquan pluton show that, in the geodynamic transition stage of continent-continent convergence to extension, the partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle generated the basaltic magma and triggered the partial melting of the thickened lower crust which produceded the acidic magma, and the Wenquan pluton was formed by mixing of the two magmas. Molybdenite Re-Os isotopic dating gave Os model ages of 212.7±2.6 Ma to 215.1±2.6 Ma with a weighted mean of 214.1±1.1 Ma, and an Re-Os isochron age of 214.4±7.1 Ma. These ages are close to K-Ar ages (223 to 226 Ma) and a SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age (223±7 Ma) for the Wenquan granite within the error range, but relatively younger. This implies that the Mo mineralization occurred in a late stage of the magmatic intrusion, and the metallogenesis took place in the transition stage from syn-collision to post-collision in the tectonic setting of the Qinling Orogenic Belt (QOB) after continental collision between the North China Block (NCB) and the South China Block (SCB). This process is also corresponding to the geological events of metamorphism and deformation in South Qinling, closure of the Mian-Lue oceanic basin, and exhumation of the Dabie-Sulu ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks. The large-scale continent-continent collision between NCB and SCB in the middle Triassic triggered significant crustal thickening and exhumation of subducted slab. In the late Triassic, the tectonic setting was transformed to the transition stage from collision to extension. Materials from the asthenospheric mantle would ascend into the root of the lower crust, which could induce partial melting of the lower crust and generate Mo-enriched granitic magma. The ore-forming elements enriched in the fluid derived from the condensation and fraction of the magma resulted in the Mo mineralization. The Mo deposits in the QOB are mainly formed in two episodes, namely 220± Ma and 140± Ma. The two episodes of metallogenesis were developed in the tectonic transition settings from compression to extension, but they were in the different stages of the tectonic evolution. The occurrence of the Wenquan Mo-bearing pluton indicates that the Triassic tectonic-magmatic belt of Western Qinling is another favorable region for Mo mineralization in the QOB. Therefore, it is significant to pay more attention to evaluation of the ore-forming potentiality in the Triassic granites in Western Qinling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The frequency distributions and some statistical features of background aerosol concentrations were investigated at two remote China Atmosphere Watch Network (CAWNET) stations. The estimated elemental carbon (EC) background at Akdala (AKD) in the mid-latitudes of northwestern China (~0.15 μg m−3) was only half of that at Zhuzhang (ZUZ) in low-latitude southwestern China (~0.30 μg m−3). The contributions of EC to the aerosol mass also differed between sites: EC contributed 3.5% of the PM10 mass at AKD versus 5.1% at ZUZ. Large percentages of the total organic carbon (OC) apparently were secondary organic carbon (SOC); SOC/OC averaged 81% at ZUZ and 68% at AKD. The OC/EC ratios in PM10 (ZUZ: 11.9, AKD: 12.2) were comparable with other global background sites, and the OC/EC ratios were used to distinguish polluted periods from background conditions. The SO4 2 −, NH4 + and soil dust loadings at AKD were higher and more variable than at ZUZ, probably due to impacts of pollution from Russia and soil dust from the Gobi and adjacent deserts. In contrast to ZUZ, where the influences from pollution were weaker, the real-time PM10 mass concentrations at AKD were strongly skew right and the arithmetic mean concentrations of the aerosol populations were higher than their medians. Differences in the aerosol backgrounds between the sites need to be considered when evaluating the aerosol''s regional climate effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Concentrations of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), selected trace elements and water-soluble (WS) ions were determined for samples collected from August 2004 to February 2005 to assess the aerosol background at two remote sites in China. The OC and EC concentrations in PM10 from near the Tibetan Plateau at Zhuzhang (ZUZ) were comparable with other background sites, averaging 3.1 and 0.34 μg m−3, respectively, with no pronounced seasonality. At Akdala (AKD) on northern margin of the Zhungaer Basin, the average concentrations were similar (mean OC = 2.9 μg m−3 and EC = 0.35 μg m−3), but the concentrations were higher in winter. The aerosol mass at both sites was dominated by OC and SO42−, but a stronger contribution from soil dust was observed at AKD. At ZUZ, NO3− showed a unique weather-related fluctuation in PM10 with a periodicity of ∼1 week. Anthropogenic sources in the Sichuan Basin and southeastern Yunnan Province evidently influence ZUZ in summer and autumn while pollutants from Russia and the China–Mongolia border affect AKD nearly all year. The identification of these upwind sources demonstrates that transboundary transport needs to be taken into account when assessing air quality in remote parts of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade or more, illiteracy elimination work in China has made great progress and the illiteracy rate has declined substantially, but the task of eliminating illiteracy has not been fully completed. Most of China's adult women illiterates are in the rural areas, where the rate of illiteracy among adult women reaches 31 percent, almost three times higher than the rate among men. Thus, the work of eliminating illiteracy among adults should not only he focused on rural women in the impoverished regions, but must he closely linked with changes in their present vocational situation and in their impoverished state of existence. The state of poverty among these rural women has to do not only with regional and natural environments, but also with the social environment in which they live and their own attributes.

Popular media has aroused concern that Chinese only children are growing up lonely owing to their lack of sibling interaction Mu et al. (2007). However, little research has been directed at determining whether Chinese adults believe in the only-child-as-lonely stereotype and whether Chinese only children actually suffer more loneliness than their peers with siblings. Three studies were conducted to examine belief in the only-child-as-lonely stereotype and determine whether only children report greater loneliness than children with siblings. With the first study, the prevalence of the only-child-as-lonely stereotype among young adults from six cities (Study 1, N = 588) was examined. The results showed that belief in this stereotypical perception was common among young Chinese adults, particularly those who had siblings. We then examined the validity of this stereotype by analyzing data from three samples, consisting of Chinese emerging adults (Study 2, N = 699) and late adolescents (Studies 3.1 and 3.2, N = 345 and 210, respectively). Results from Studies 2 and 3 consistently showed that, contrary to the stereotype, Chinese only children reported lower levels of loneliness than their counterparts with siblings. Additionally, open-ended responses from the adolescent participants in Study 3 provided hints about the situations that provoke their loneliness. The results are explained in terms of the two theoretical approaches to loneliness. In sum, our research suggests that belief in the loneliness of only children is widespread in Chinese society, but the evidence indicates that reports of loneliness are greater for those who grew up with siblings. Public Policy Relevance Statement: Popular concern about only children in China focuses on their loneliness, not just in childhood, but also continuing throughout adolescence and young adulthood. This research examines the stereotypes and realities about loneliness for Chinese only children with three studies, demonstrating that while belief in the loneliness of only children is widespread in China, the evidence supports the opposite difference, that only children in China are less lonely than peers with siblings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hip fracture in the elderly can induce systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) and lung injury which increases the risk of lung infection and death. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) plays a role in SIRS and lung injury in patients with multi-trauma, and also in patients with hip fractures. This study evaluated the potential value of plasma mtDNA in the early prognosis of lung injury in elderly fracture patients.Methods: This study enrolled 156 elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture. Plasma mtDNA, IL-6, IL-10, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels were measured at admission. Sixty-one and 31 patients were diagnosed with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and lung injury, respectively.Results: Plasma mtDNA levels were higher in hip fracture patients compared to healthy controls (P<0.001) and significantly higher in the lung injury subgroup compared to the lung injury absent subgroup (P<0.001). MtDNA levels were correlated with the SIRS score (r=0.446, P<0.001), IL-6 (r=0.506, P<0.001), IL-10 (r=0.523, P<0.001), and PGE2 (r=0.360, P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that plasma mtDNA, IL-6, PGE2 and SIRS score were independent predictors of the risk of lung injury.Conclusion: Plasma mtDNA release induced by hip fracture in elderly patients, might be an early predictor of lung injury in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfate and nitrate formed on dust aerosols can considerably affect particles' physicochemical properties due to their high hygroscopicity. Dust reverse-transport (DRT) events can occur in eastern China when dust plumes undergo a distinct turn caused by Asian highs or cyclones, resulting in the re-appearance of the dust plume in one place but with anthropogenic pollutants mixed in. In this study, three DRT events were identified at a coastal city, Qingdao. The secondary sulfate and nitrate in PM 2.5 collected during the DRT events were estimated according to the mass concentration of water-soluble ions and dust tracer metal. Several key factors, including heterogeneous reactions on aerosols, photochemical conversions in the air, and precursors' abundance in dust plumes, affected the aging of dust plumes. In the presence of adequate ammonium and high-level oxidants in the air, sulfate and nitrate were efficiently produced under moderate/high humidity conditions when DRT events occurred to the south of Qingdao. The proportions of the secondary sulfate/nitrate in total concentrations exceeded 90%, in which 20.8%–43.1% of secondary nitrate was formed on dust particles. In contrast, when the DRT occurred to the north of Qingdao with low relative humidity and low [NH 4 +]/[SO 4 2−] ratio, the growth of sulfate and nitrate was small. This study reveals a manner of efficient sulfate and nitrate formation in dust plumes in the continental atmosphere. • Dust reverse-transport phenomena were used to study the aging process of dust plumes. • East Asian dust plumes were prone to aging when transported to the south of Qingdao. • Secondary sulfate/nitrate formation was strongly influenced by the precursors' concentrations on dust transport pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Jingbulake mafic–ultramafic intrusion in the South Tianshan orogenic belt, Xinjiang, NW China, is a zoned intrusive body composed of gabbro-diorite, olivine gabbro and wehrlite, locally intruded by pyroxenite, within a major W–E structure. Both olivine gabbro and wehrlite contain disseminated Ni–Cu sulfides, whereas pyroxenite hosts an ore body containing massive, net-textured and disseminated sulfide ores. Both silicate rocks and sulfide ores from the Jingbulake intrusion have low Pd/Ir ratios (10–63). The silicate rocks contain Ni-poor olivine (generally <0.1wt.% NiO) and have low Pt (0.48–2.3ppb) and Pd (0.52–4.8ppb) contents and high Cu/Pd ratios (128,000 to 200,000), indicative of significant chalcophile element depletion. The disseminated sulfide ores from No. 1 and 2 mineralization zones have 0.28–1.5ppb Pt and 2.8–8.1ppb Pd, and Cu/Pd ratios (200,000–300,000). The disseminated and net-textured sulfide ores from No. 8 mineralization zone have Pt (39–315ppb) and Pd (76–1100ppb), and intermediate to high Cu/Pd ratios (6850–138,000). The variably high Cu/Pd ratios indicate that the parental magma may have reached earlier sulfide saturation and removal. The low Os contents (0.0146 to 0.276ppb) and high Re/Os (29 to 292) and 187Os/188Os(i) ratios (0.277 to 0.916) of the silicate rocks are consistent with a major contribution of Os from crustal materials. On the other hand, the net-textured sulfide ores from No. 8 mineralization zone have high Os contents (15.1 to 32.6ppb), low Re/Os (2.0 to 2.3) and low 187Os/188Os(i) ratios (0.125 to 0.141), indicating a mantle-derived origin. Modeling indicates that >30% crustal contamination is required to explain the radiogenic Os isotopic composition if average upper crust is adopted as the crustal contaminant, or 5%–25% if sulfide-rich crustal rock is used as the crustal contaminant. However only 5–10% crustal contamination is required to explain the Nd and Sr isotopes. We propose that the decoupling of Os from Sr–Nd isotopes in the silicate rocks was due to selective crustal contamination. Addition of external sulfur from a crustal source may be the key factor triggering sulfide saturation. The silicate magma that underwent sulfide extraction before emplacement to shallow depth preserved a crustal Os isotope signature. Continued reaction of sulfide melts with new pulses of mantle-derived magma increased the Os content and decreased the 187Os/188Os(i) ratios, effectively masking the crustal Os contribution in the sulfides. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Source apportionments of urban aerosols identified with positive matrix factorization (PMF) are sensitive to input variables. So far, total elements were frequently included as effective factors in PMF-based source apportionment. We investigated the advances to involve soluble parts of elements in the source apportionment with four data sets of PM 2.5 composition observed at a coastal city (Qingdao) in northern China: water-soluble ions plus organic and elemental carbon (IC set), the IC set plus total elements (ICTE set), the IC set plus soluble elements (ICSE set), and the IC set plus both total elements and soluble elements (ICAE set). The apportionments of six sources, including secondary sulfate, secondary nitrate, secondary oxalate, sea salt, biomass burning and dust, were identified with the IC set. In comparison, pollutants from vehicle + coal combustion, ship emissions, waste incineration and industrial activities were also identified with the ICTE, ICSE, or ICAE sets. We found that the PMF solutions of the ICAE set could distinguish aged and fresh dust, and identify fly ash and aged pollutants from industrial sources. The profiles and corresponding time series of vehicle + coal combustion, secondary aerosols, ship emissions, sea salt, and biomass burning emissions identified with the four data sets were very similar, while discrepancies were encountered for waste incineration, dust, and industrial sources. These results indicate the benefits and potentials with total and soluble elements involved in PMF-based source apportionments., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

To explore the dynamics and distribution of soil seed banks under different vegetation types in desert, and reveal the community succession tendency and diversity characteristics of different vegetative types, we took Populus euphratica community, Caragana intermedia community, Leymus secalinus community and Agriophyllum squarrosum community as the research objects in the southeastern margin of the Tengger Desert. Samples of 0-2 cm, 2-5 cm, 5-10 cm, and 10-20 cm soil layers were collected. We examined the characteristics of soil seed banks and their relationships with vegetation. The results showed that there were 13 plant species in the soil seed banks of the four vegetation types, belonging to 3 families and 12 genera, with the annual and biennial herbs dominated and much Chenopodiaceae species. The soil seed bank density was generally low, with an order of C. intermedia community > L. secalinus community > P. euphratica community > A. squarrosum community. The seed bank density and species richness decreased with increasing soil depth. Based on the Shannon index, Simpson index, Pielou index and Patrick richness analysis, the order of species diversity in soil seed banks was P. euphratica community > L. secalinus community > C. intermedia community > A. squarrosum community. The similarity coefficient between soil seed bank and vegetation was the highest in C. intermedia community, followed by P. euphratica community, and the lowest in P. euphratica community and L. secalinus community. On the whole, the arbor forest P. euphratica community was the most stable one, while the sandy land A. squarrosum community was the most vulnerable.

Objective: To explore the changes in childbirth care practices and health outcomes of newborns after the introduction of early essential newborn care (EENC)., Design: A pre-comparison and post-comparison study., Setting: The study was conducted in December 2016 and December 2018 in 18 counties in four western provinces of China., Participants: 46 hospitals that provide delivery services participated in the study., Interventions: EENC practices were introduced and implemented in the 46 hospitals., Outcome Measures: The changes of hospital indicators such as incidence of birth asphyxia and neonatal mortality were compared in 2016 and 2018. EENC coverage indicators, such as skin-to-skin (STS) contact, and time of first breast feeding were also compared before and after the intervention via interview with 524 randomly selected postpartum mothers (320 in 2016 and 204 in 2018)., Results: 54 335 newborns were delivered in the pre-EENC period (2016) and 58 057 delivered in the post-EENC period (2018). According to hospital records, the proportion of newborns receiving immediate STS contact increased from 32.6% to 51.2% (Risk Ratio (RR)=1.57,95% CI 1.55 to 1.59) and the percentage of newborns receiving prolonged STS contact for more than 90 min increased from 8.1% to 26.8% (RR=3.31, 95% CI 3.21 to 3.41). No statistically significant changes were found in neonatal mortality, although slight decreases in birth asphyxiate and neonatal intensive care unit admission rates were detected. Among the mothers interviewed, the proportion of newborns receiving immediate STS contact increased from 34.6% to 80.0% (RR=2.31, 95% CI 1.69 to 3.17). The exclusive breastfeeding rate increased from 43% to 73.4% (RR=1.71, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.04). The average length of the first breast feeding increased from 15.8 min to 17.1 min., Conclusions: The introduction of EENC has yielded significant improvements in newborn care services at the pilot hospitals, including enhanced maternal and newborn care practices, improved STS contact quality and early breastfeeding performance. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term impact of EENC on newborn health outcomes., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

There is a concern about the increasing prevalence of health problems related to the ingestion of fluoride (F - ) in the developing world. Drinking water is one important source of F - , and the concentration of F - needs to be known to ensure the safety of drinking water. In this study, F - levels in drinking water were investigated across Taiyuan in Shanxi Province, China. Spatial-temporal distribution characteristics and potential associated health risks were analyzed using GIS. We collected 485 samples from shallow wells without any defluoridation treatments between 2008 and 2016. After analyzing the samples of F - content we found that mean F - levels of urban areas (0.61 ± 0.39 mg L -1 ), suburban areas (0.70 ± 0.87 mg L -1 ) and for all of Taiyuan city (0.63 ± 0.56 mg L -1 ) were in optimum range based on the recommendation by USEPA. However, individual locations within industrial areas (e.g. Gujiao District) had higher F - levels (1.06 mg L -1 ). A concerning result showed that 12.37% of tested locations had F - concentrations larger than 1.0 mg L -1 . We calculated F - Health Risk Indices (HRIs F ) and found that highest were associated with suburban areas, especially in the year 2009 and 2010. However, from 2008 to 2016, overall F - levels and HRIs F of the sampled groundwater in Taiyuan City showed a decreasing trend. HRIs F in suburban areas was higher than urban areas, possible due to the heavily prevalent coal mining industry in those areas. Specific policies should be formulated to address HRIs F ., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of de-escalation empirical therapy for controlling infection in patients with severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) treated with antithymocyte globulin (ATG). Eighty-seven ATG-treated SAA patients who had microbiological culture-confirmed infections from 2006 to 2015 in our center were retrospectively analyzed. The efficacy of de-escalation and non-de-escalation therapy was compared. Among all 87 patients, 63 patients were treated with de-escalation therapy and 24 patients with non-de-escalation therapy. More patients showed response to anti-infection treatment in de-escalation group than in non-de-escalation group both on day 7 (60.32% vs. 25.00%, P = 0.003) and on day 30 (79.37% vs. 58.33%, P = 0.047) since the initial antimicrobial therapy. On day 30, more patients had increased absolute neutrophil count in de-escalation group compared with non-de-escalation group (76.19% vs. 45.83%, P = 0.007), and de-escalation group had lower morality rate (17.46% vs. 37.50%, P = 0.047) and better survival outcome (P = 0.023) on day 90. Twenty-three patients in de-escalation group and 5 patients in non-escalation group received granulocyte transfusions. Granulocyte transfusions helped to control infections in both de-escalation group (P = 0.027) and non-de-escalation group (P = 0.042) on day 7, but did not improve survival on day 90. We concluded that de-escalation antibiotics improved survival in SAA patients after ATG treatment. Early administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics pending microbiological cultures combined with a commitment to change to narrow-spectrum antibiotics should be recommended for controlling infections in SAA patients treated with ATG. Granulocyte transfusions might be an adjunctive therapy in controlling infections.

Obstacles to developing an HIV-1 vaccine include extensive viral diversity and lack of correlates of protective immunity. High mutation rates allow HIV-1 to adapt rapidly to selective forces such as antiretroviral therapy and immune pressure, including HIV-1-specific CTLs that select viral variants which escape T-cell recognition. Multiple factors contribute to HIV-1 diversity, making it difficult to disentangle the contribution of CTL selection without using complex analytical approaches. We describe an HIV-1 outbreak in 231 former plasma donors in China, where a narrow-source virus that had contaminated the donation system was apparently transmitted to many persons contemporaneously. The genetic divergence now evident in these subjects should uniquely reveal how much viral diversity at the population level is solely attributable to host factors. We found significant correlations between pair-wise divergence of viral sequences and HLA class I genotypes across epitope-length windows in HIV-1 Gag, reverse transcriptase, integrase, and Nef, corresponding to sites of 140 HLA class I allele-associated viral polymorphisms. Of all polymorphic sites across these 4 proteins, 24%-56% were sites of HLA-associated selection. These data confirm that CTL pressure has a major effect on inter-host HIV-1 viral diversity and probably represents a key element of viral control.