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Background: To prepare K-12 students for the globalizing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workplace, teachers must utilize pedagogies to improve students' 21st century skills, specifically in communication. Project Based Learning (PBL) has evidenced success in enhancing students' communication skills, while global collaboration through virtual interactions (herein global PBL) provides unique opportunities for students to practice communication in STEM by leveraging videoconferencing and Learning Management System technologies, bridging classrooms internationally. Yet, the extent of synergistic effects of global PBL on developing students' STEM communication skills is unknown. Purpose: This study investigated if a global PBL was an effective pedagogy for enhancing and developing communication skills needed for communication and global competence in the STEM workplace, from the perceptions of both US teachers and students. Sample: A mixed method study investigated the impact of global PBL in two fifth grade STEM-focused classrooms; to explore, from the perception of teachers and students, changes in students' communication competencies. Design and methods: The intervention consisted of a 3-week PBL focused on air pollution in the water cycle, where two American treatment classrooms participated in global PBL with French and Chinese students in English language classrooms through Canvas. A third American classroom (using the same PBL, but without any virtual collaboration elements) served as a control. Data sources included teacher and researcher classroom observations, a pre and post student survey, and teacher interviews. Results: Results of teacher perception data and researcher observation suggested the global PBL developed students' abilities to share and understand ideas, use multiple representations to present those ideas, and be more receptive to perspectives different than their own. Conclusion: This research suggests global PBL is a meaningful strategy for K-12 teachers to develop students' communication competencies in STEM.

Background: In the field of intellectual disabilities (ID), the quality of life concept has been developing rapidly in Chinese societies including Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan. However, there is a lack of locally validated instruments to measure the quality of life of people with ID. The study reported in this paper attempted to validate the Chinese Quality of Life Questionnaire-Intellectual Disabilities adapted from the Quality of Life Questionnaire developed by Schalock & Keith. Methods: People with mild/moderate ID aged 15 years or above were recruited from special schools, skills centres, community service units and residential units in different regions of Hong Kong. A number of procedures were followed including reliability tests, factor analysis, content validity and construct validity. Results: A total of 359 participants were recruited for the study. Factor analysis was conducted according to the rotated component matrix method, in which 23 items were extracted from the original 40-item version of the Quality of Life Questionnaire and three domains (renamed satisfaction, competence and daily choice making/interpersonal relations) were observed. The items in each domain were shown to have factor loadings ranging from 0.42 to 0.90. Construct validity tests indicated the positive nature of the relationship between earnings, and that self-determination and social interaction increase with more independent living environments and less segregated work environments achieving higher scores (P less than 0.000, P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.05 respectively). The scale also achieved a good degree of reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79). Conclusions: Initial validity tests indicated that the Chinese Quality of Life Questionnaire-Intellectual Disabilities may be a useful instrument for measuring the quality of life of Chinese people with ID. Cultural issues are discussed and recommendations for future research and service development are made. (Contains 5 tables.

This study was set to investigate the prevalence of problematic internet use (PIU) among college students and the possible factors related to this disorder. About 4400 college students, ranging from freshmen to juniors, from eight different universities in Wuhan, China were surveyed. Young's Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet Addiction (YDQ) and the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale were used to define PIU and depression accordingly. Data was analysed with "chi-squared" testing and logistic regression. Out of the 3496 participants, 9.58% (male 13.54%, female 4.88%) met the criteria of PIU. Factors such as heavy internet use habits, poor academic achievement, lack of love from the family, etc. were found to be significantly associated with PIU. About 48.51% (1696) of the students were light internet users, who use the internet less than 5 h/week, while 16.36% (572) were heavy users who use it more than 15 h/week, though heavy users were more likely to develop PIU. Also, 25.53% of the students with depression developed PIU, in comparison with 8.91% of PIU among those without depression (p less than 0.001). Being male, frequent internet use, poor academic achievement, poor family atmosphere and lack of love from parents were predictors of PIU among college students. The habit and purpose of using the internet is diverse, which influences the susceptibility of PIU as well. There was a correlation between depression and the development of PIU as well. (Contains 4 tables.)

This research aims to use hierarchical topic maps to compile digital learning material and to discuss its design and application possibilities. The system renders tremendous original assets and then embeds a self-organizing map (SOM) in the material database to produce topical learning materials, as in this case, an illustration through Chinese herb medication. It helps to demonstrate robust professional information as well as knowledge structures, and provides a customized and interactive learning dynamic to support both progressive and constructive learning styles. The paper first gives a detailed procedural description of the material construction, explains how topic map techniques were applied, and observes the implications and potentials of the technology to education. Both the technical and educational evaluations of using SOM topic maps in compilation of learning materials have resulted in positive feedback. SOM allows users to review the complete databank in structural hierarchical order, which provides comprehensive understanding of the entire set of learning materials, and also brings opportunities to users to discover knowledge related to their study area.

The objective of this study was to evaluate blood cells and metabolites, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), digestibility, internal organs weight and histology, gene expression, and spleen cell proliferation of pre-weaned bull calves supplemented with a blend of essential oils in milk replacer (MR). Sixteen newborn Holstein × Gyr crossbred dairy bull calves, with body weight at birth of 33.3 ± 3.7 kg, were housed in individual sand bedded pens, blocked by genetic composition, and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments in a randomized complete block design: Control (CON, n = 8) and blend of essential oils supplementation (BEO, n = 8, 1 g/day/calf, Apex Calf, Adisseo, China). The commercial blend was composed by plant extracts derived from anise, cinnamon, garlic, rosemary, and thyme. Animals were fed 5 L of MR/day reconstituted at 15% (dry matter basis), divided into two equal meals. Water and starter were provided ad libitum. ß-hydroxybutyrate, urea, and glucose were evaluated weekly, IGF-1 was evaluated biweekly, and total blood cell count was performed every four weeks until the end of the trial at eight weeks of age. Feed samples were collected three times a week and polled for weekly analysis. Apparent total nutrient digestibility was determined from d 56 to 60 of age. On d 60 ± 1, animals were euthanized for organ weight, histology, spleen cell proliferation, and intestinal gene expression analysis. Data were analyzed independently using linear mixed models using the REML method in the nlme package in R for continuous outcomes. A non-parametric test was used for ordered categorical outcomes using the Artools package in R. There were no differences between groups for blood evaluations, digestibility, gene expression, and a spleen cell proliferation assay. However, BEO calves presented a heavier pancreas, heavier intestines, bigger ileum villi, and higher cecum butyrate levels (P < 0.05), demonstrating that the EO supplementation helped intestinal development and symbiotic bacteria. It was also observed in CON animals' heavier respiratory tract and a higher eosinophil count (P < 0.05). Therefore, the organs where eosinophils are more active had a better response for BEO animals. No differences were found in the intestinal gene expression in the immune context. These results demonstrate that supplementing essential oils in MR could contribute to gut development and immune function. However, more research is needed to understand its impact on body development and define the best dosage and route of administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the change characteristics of the vegetation's net primary productivity (NPP) and calculated the economic value of ecosystem services in the TNSFP area from 2000 to 2019 using NPP, normalized vegetation index, and precipitation data. Consequently, the following observations were derived from the study's results. First, the annual average vegetation NPP of the project area range was 4.5 gC·m-2·a-1-581.7 gC·m-2·a-1, and the annual average vegetation NPP was 162.1 gC·m-2·a-1; high (low) NPP were mainly concentrated in the eastern (western) part. Second, the areas where the NPP increased (decreased) significantly (p<0.05) accounted for 42.70% (0.27%) of the entire area; the areas where it did not change significantly (p>0.05) accounted for 42.78% of the total area. Third, the total ecosystem service value of the TNSFP area was 0.27×1018 dollar/a; the economic value of soil conservation, carbon fixation and oxygen release, water conservation, and nutrient circulation was 0.23×1018 dollar/a (84.20% of the total area), 0.42×1017 dollar/a (15.61%), 0.15×1010 dollar/a (0.01%), and 0.50×1015 dollar/a (0.19%), respectively. Lastly, human activities and increased precipitation are the dominant factors causing vegetation restoration. Essentially, the study's findings provide theoretical and practical references for the healthy and sustainable development of the ecological environment in the Three-North Shelterbelt Area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forest ecosystem in Greater Khingan Mountains (GKM) is the largest primary forest in northern China. Accurate assessment of the regional carbon (C) pool of soils and analysis of the control factors are essential for setting appropriate forest management policies. Our study was designed to prove the hypothesis that forest soil acts as a C sink owing to continuous C accumulation, which results from constant biomass production within the GKM forests. We investigated topsoil (0-20 cm) C dynamics and diving force in GKM forests (both the Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang sectors) based on field data from 2000 to 2019. The mean soil organic C density (SOCD) in the topsoil was 10.64 ± 0.83 kg C m-2 across the GKM, and the increase rate was 0.15±0.05 kg C m-2 y-1. Our results also demonstrated the critical role of precipitation and under vegetation diversity in shaping soil organic C dynamics across the GKM, suggesting that the relationship between the soil C cycle and temperature is unstable in northern ecosystems. Our results provided a new reference range for estimating surface soil C pools in GKM forests ecosystems based on field measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, investigations on the microbiota of sports centers and related facilities have been carried out in some countries, which showed that Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. tonsurans are important dermatoprotofungi. In China, some research on athletes and sports equipment between the fungal community and public health has made some interesting achievements. However, the bacterial group among them has not been reported. Therefore, The aim of this study was to uncover (I) gymnastic equipment is there potential pathogenic factors and (ii) is there any difference in the biomarker of bacterial in different types of gymnastic room? The samples were collected from the gymnastics halls of one university in western China and main sports equipment, including gymnastics carpets, moving barres, hoops and balls, as well as wall bars, parallel bars and horizontal bars. The 16S rDNA of all the samples was sequenced, and the analyses were performed using FaproTax, Bug base function prediction and Line Discriminant Analysis (LDA) Effect Size. A 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed abundant bacterial species biodiversity on gymnasts and apparatuses from two gymnastics halls at a university in western China. An analysis using the FaproTax and Bugbase functional prediction platforms showed that there were some opportunistic pathogens on the athletes and equipment from the Rhythmic Gymnastics (RG) and Artistic Gymnastics (AG) halls, such as Staphylococcus and Corynebacteiaceae. Infectious agents associated with cancer induction and development, such as Ruminococcaceae, Veillonellaceae and Moraxellaceae, as well as microbial toxin producers with a potential impact on human health, were also detected. According to a line discriminant analysis (LDA effect size), the bacterial biomarker groups of the two gymnasiums were different at the phylum-genus level: for RG, Erysipelatoclostridium, Lachnospiraceae and Bacteroidales, while for AG, Rhizobiales. Based on the results of the investigation, we suggest that more comprehensive consideration should be given to indoor microbial biodiversity and related public health problems in school gymnasiums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of air analysis, highlights within this review period included: new isotopic data for reference dust materials; a new device for preparing and mounting delicate air filter samples for X-ray analysis and use of oxygen-mediated mass-shift ion chemistry for measuring sulfur in aerosol samples by ICP-MS. The use of DGT and ionic liquids for preconcentrating trace elements and other analytes from waters has become more established. The resurgence of interest in As speciation has been noted with extensive reviews as well as methods for the challenging determination of thioarsenic species. Improvements in methodologies have achieved LODs with GC-MS that were once only possible with ICP-MS, thereby making it possible for a larger number of laboratories to undertake speciation analysis. Field preconcentration methods and hand-held XRF instruments have made it easier to screen contaminated waters, thereby allowing sampling sites to be selected more effectively. There has been renewed interest in atomic emission sources such as the arc, GD and plasmatron for the analysis of plants and soils. The upward trend in publication of LIBS methods continued but many lacked validation through comparison with established methods or analysis of CRMs. There is a clear need for closer collaboration between the physicists driving fundamental developments in plasma spectroscopy and analytical geochemists, who understand the complexities of environmental samples and the requirement to implement robust QC procedures. Interest in multivariate analysis of pXRFS spectra to predict soil properties related to fertility has increased. Much research effort continues to be devoted to characterisation of matrix-matched geological RMs, both synthetic and natural samples, particularly for in situ analysis by microanalytical techniques, such as LA-MC-ICP-MS and SIMS. Such RMs are essential to compensate for matrix effects and need to be available in sufficient quantities to enable interlaboratory comparisons based on the same RM. The increased access to MC-ICP-MS instrumentation, especially in China, is reflected in the diverse range of isotopic systems now being studied. Most studies present incremental improvements to existing separation procedures or measurement protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, majority of the studies on root distribution have been confined to different tree species and monopodial bamboos in China with limited information on sympodial bamboos mainly due to methodological complexities. The present study therefore aims at understanding root distribution pattern of six commercial bamboo species and its impact on soil properties. Six bamboo species viz., Bambusa balcooa, Bambusa bambos, Bambusa nutans, Dendrocalamus asper, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, and Dendrocalamus strictus were evaluated for their rooting pattern and impact on soil properties. Coarse root (CR) intensity was maximum in B. bambos (209.2) while, fine root (FR) intensity was highest in D. strictus (594.2). The FR contribution ranged from 69.9% in B. bambos to 80.1% in D. strictus. Coarse root biomass (in 0–50 cm soil profile) was highest in D. hamiltonii (1.19 Mg ha−1) and lowest in D. strictus (0.44 Mg ha−1). Maximum FR biomass (6.27 Mg ha−1) was observed in B. nutans which was closely followed by D. hamiltonii (6.19 Mg ha−1). In all the species, the share of fine root intensity was higher (70–80%) as compared to coarse roots. The contribution of FR was higher in genus Dendrocalamus (D. strictus, D. hamiltonii and D. asper) as compared to other species in genus Bambusa. Depth wise distribution of CR intensity revealed that roots were more or less uniformly distributed in 0–30 cm soil depth while fine root intensity was higher in 0–10 cm where 47% roots were observed. Soil physical properties viz., hydraulic conductivity, water stable aggregates and mean weight diameter showed significant improvement under different species. As compared to control treatment, soil organic carbon, NPK showed significant improvement. D. hamiltonii and B. balcooa were found better species are better species for maintaining soil fertility status. From the study it could be concluded that D. hamiltonii due to higher fine root biomass, is suitably recommended for resisting soil erosion, enhancing ground water recharge and maintaining soil fertility. B. balcooa can be preferred for agroforestry due to less root competition and compact canopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Earth's mantle shows large‐scale geochemical heterogeneities bounded by several identifiable end‐member compositions. However, the origin of extreme mantle reservoirs, for example, high 238U/204Pb (HIMU), and their location in the Earth's interior remains poorly constrained. Clinopyroxenes from late Cenozoic Wudi lavas in eastern China have heterogeneous Pb isotopic compositions, even though the erupted lavas are isotopically homogeneous. Our new results provide, to our knowledge, the first evidence for the existence of a HIMU‐like component in the sources of late Cenozoic lavas. Analyses of olivines and their host lavas indicate that the basaltic melts are derived from partial melting of carbonated peridotite. The HIMU source is likely to be younger than 700 Ma old and related to subduction events of the Paleo‐Asian ocean. In addition to deep and ancient recycling, storage of a metasomatically produced mantle reservoir in the mantle transition zone may be an important mechanism for developing extreme isotopic signatures. Key Points: We provide the first evidence for the presence of HIMU component in the magma sourceSubduction‐related, carbonatite‐metasomatized mantle is a likely candidate for the HIMU reservoirThe transition zone may be an important reservoir in the development of mantle heterogeneities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on the stability of a mine entry of an innovative approach to non-pillar coal mining—gob-side entry retaining using cantilever beam theory (GERMC). This method is on the rise in China and it has shown to increase the coal seam rate of recycling and mining productivity. The method utilizes the caved-in material resulting from the mining activities to fill the gob area and ensure the stability of the roof of the already mined area. The caved-in material will form the gob-side wall of the retained entry. This characteristic is unique to this method. Thus, there are not many studies that analyze the stability of the filling material and of the gob-side entry wall under these circumstances, which is a vital element for the safety of the mining operations. This paper studies the stability of the gob-side retained entry of the Hongjingta underground coal mine in China. The authors perform the analysis using a discrete fracture network (DFN) model developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), GEOFRAC, in combination with the discrete-element method (DEM) software UDEC. GEOFRAC estimates the rock blocks (fracture networks) in the filling body, from fracture traces measured along the gob-side wall of the entry. Statistical methods are used to estimate the fracture intensity and the mean fracture areas, which are inputs to the DFN. The generated fracture networks are then inputted into the DEM code, UDEC, to evaluate the stability of the mine-retained entry. For this study, we developed two types of models in UDEC, one considering the fractures generated by the DFN model and another considering the gob-filling material as a continuum. This methodology—combined DFN–DEM—is unique and provides a more realistic representation of the gob-filling material by considering the fractures in the filling body and by estimating those fractures (interfaces between rock blocks) using field data. In addition to this, we also considered the effects of uncertainties that are associated with estimating three-dimensional (3-D) fractures' networks/rock blocks from two-dimensional (2-D) field data. Finally, the results of the simulations were compared with the measurements from the mine and are in good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is a causal agent of kiwifruit bacterial canker worldwide, which has affected kiwifruit vines in China since 1996 and has subsequently spread to the main cultivation areas. Based on occurrence of Psa and pseudo‐absences randomly generated in China, the consensus‐based modelling technique was used to estimate the spatial spread of Psa epidemics within China. Environmental variables that related to Psa development were identified, and their contributions to Psa development were evaluated. Three modelling algorithms, namely generalized boosting models (GBM), random forests (RF) and classification tree analysis (CTA) within the BIOMOD2 framework, were employed to construct the model. The ensemble models weighted by the true skill statistic (TSS) value were used to predict the current habitat suitability of Psa, and were projected using the four general circulation models (GCMs) to assess range shifts under two types of representative concentration pathways (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) by 2050. The results indicated that precipitation in March and mean temperature of warmest quarter were the most important limiting factors for distribution of Psa. The predictive accuracy of the ensemble model showed acceptable predictive powers (TSS = 0.852). Under future climate conditions, substantial net loss of suitability for Psa was estimated to be 3.03–12.5% under RCP 4.5 (except one GCM), and 2.46–9.89% under RCP 8.5. Shrinkage of suitable habitats was detected mainly in the areas currently infected by Psa. Special attention should be given to recent infectious regions in south and southwest China, considering the locally expanding kiwifruit commercial plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The China Spallation Neutron Source started delivering neutron beams to users in March 2018. To upgrade the beam power to 500 kW and improve the performance of the ion source, an RF-driven negative hydrogen (H−) ion source is under development. The source has a silicon nitride ceramic plasma chamber surrounded by a 4.5-turn antenna. The plasma is ignited by a pulsed DC spark gap and then driven by a 2 MHz solid-state amplifier with a repetition rate of 25 Hz. The commissioning of the source started in January 2019. When uncesiated, it produced about 20 mA beam at an RF power of 32 kW and pulse width of 450 μs. This paper describes the configuration of the ion source, several peculiar technologies used in it, and the first negative hydrogen (H−) ion beam extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify the prevalence and associated factors of psychiatric morbidities and to evaluate the effectiveness of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in screening for psychiatric morbidity in patients with knee osteoarthritis in a local orthopaedic clinic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2013 to June 2014 to examine patients with knee osteoarthritis at a specialist orthopaedic clinic. They were evaluated for psychiatric diagnoses using the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I). Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between patients with and without psychiatric morbidity. Patients were also assessed using the HADS with accuracy compared with the psychiatric diagnoses made by the SCID-I. Results: Of the 115 patients, 39% had current psychiatric disorders. Logistic regression analysis revealed that limitation of physical activity, perceived absence of confidant, a history of psychiatric illness, and follow-up in orthopaedic clinic for ≥ 5 years were independent factors associated with psychiatric disorders. Conclusions: The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in patients with knee osteoarthritis was significant. Recognition of independent associated factors can aid in early identification and intervention in patients who are at risk of developing psychiatric morbidity. The HADS is a useful means to screen for psychiatric morbidity in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China and South East Asia, the duck (common duck) is important in egg production for human consumption. Plumage color is a breed characteristic and of economic importance, together with egg production. Our aim in this study was to investigate the inheritance of plumage color in three Chinese indigenous egg-type duck breeds, Shan Ma (S), Putian White (F) and Putian black (P), and some of their crossbreds. These three breeds have different plumage color and are used in crossbreeding. The crossbred laying ducks F×(P×S) and F×(S×P) showed highly improved laying ability but heterogeneous plumage color. Genotypes at four relevant loci were investigated by studying down color and pattern in ducklings after crossbreeding. F1 ducklings from the matings F×S and S×F, P×S, and S×P were classified into four classes of plumage color (the Shan Ma plumage color, black, white, or multicolored) over three generations. Parents were selected for the Shan Ma plumage color of their progeny. In the fourth generation, P male and P female ducks were selected according to the frequency of the desired class of plumage color (Shan Ma) of their F1 progeny to obtain the so-called "Brown Putian Ma duck". The Shan Ma duck genotype was identified as having the restricted mallard color pattern (MRMR), full expression of any of the patterns or colors (CC), no extended black (ee) and no brown dilution D (D). The Putian White genotype was recessive white (cc), no extended black (ee) and no brown dilution D (D). The Putian Black genotype exhibited full expression of extended black (E gene) and no brown dilution (CCEE D [D]). It was shown that F×S and S×F tests should be implemented to eliminate the recessive white c allele in the S line and the dominant extended black E allele in the F line. It was also shown that the Brown Putian Ma obtained from Putian Black, with no extended black genotype (ee), could be used to get rid of the black plumage (E gene) in the crossbred ducks. This could provide a solution for producing 3-way crossbred ducks Putian White×(Putian-Ma ×Shan Ma) and Putian White×(Shan Ma×Putian-Ma), with the desired Shan Ma feather color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), the principal vector of the pathogen of huanglongbing (HLB), has been reported to be transported in truckloads of oranges in Florida. Citrus, especially Key limes and lemons, are shipped to the U.S. from Mexican states that are heavily infected with HLB. Live, infected psyllids could spread the disease in orchards near inspection facilities or packing houses where trucks are unloaded. Experiments reported here tested the use of a sticky trap with light emitting diode(s) (LED) to detect possible contamination of fruit loads by ACP in containers. Experiments were performed in chambers maintained at temperatures and humidities similar to those in truck trailers arriving from Mexico. The effects of light intensity (no LED, 1 LED, 2 LEDs) and plant material (no material, fruit only, trees and fruit) were measured and analyzed to determine the relative efficacy of the trap types and to the role of plant material in a system to detect the ACP. Results showed that ACP could survive in containers with no plant material, fruit only, or a nursery tree as material. The majority of the insects were recovered from the traps with lower psyllid numbers surviving or dying in the container. The traps with 2 LEDs were the most effective, followed by 1 LED traps, then those with no lights. These results showed that the psyllids in these chambers were more likely to be trapped than to survive or die in the chamber. Thus, sticky traps with LEDs as a light attractant can be effective means to detect psyllid contamination in citrus shipping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereal cyst nematode (CCN) is becoming one of the important soil-borne pathogens in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) monocropping or wheatmaize (Zea mays L.)-wheat cropping systems of central China. Heterodera filipjevi (Madzhidov, 1981) Stelter, 1984 was recently recognized as a causal agent of CCN in China, but little information is available on sources of resistance against this nematode species. The present study was initiated to determine the current status of resistance in wheat cultivars against H. filipjevi and to identify effective resources for improvement of CCN resistance in China. A 3-yr field study of CCN resistance that involved 174 wheat cultivars or wheat-Thinopyrum derivatives was conducted in a wheat field in Xuchang, Henan Province, China, where H. filipjevi had been present for years. Greenhouse experiments were conducted with representative resistant entries from each group of accessions. None of the 78 wheat cultivars and breeding lines from China was resistant in field tests. Wheat cultivar Madsen from Washington State was most resistant among the entries tested both in field and under controlled environment. New sources of resistance to H. filipjevi were identified in some wheat-intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D. R. Dewey] and wheat-tall wheatgrass [Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Barkworth & D. R. Dewey] partial amphiploids, which will diversify resistance resources in enhancing resistance of wheat against CCN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity levels of five defensive enzymes, namely, peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and catalase (CAT) were assessed in shoots of four commercial Eucalyptus clones (DH201-2, DH32-29, U6, GL9) at ages of 13, 29 and 38 months. Levels were also assessed in healthy and damaged shoots of clone DH201-2 at 15 months, shortly after it was severely attacked by the shoot gall wasp Leptocybe invasa. Foliar levels of these five enzymes did not show any significant increase with age. The level of CAT was found to be significantly higher at ages 29 and 38 months in clone GL9, a clone relatively resistant to L. invasa, than in the three other clones. Clone DH201-2, which was relatively susceptible to L. invasa, had non-significantly lower CAT levels than the rest of the clones at all three ages examined. The levels of the other four enzymes showed no obvious differences between clones and overall activity levels of the five enzymes did not show any clear association with the qualitative ranking susceptibility of the clones to L. invasa. In 15-month-old DH201-2 trees, marked increases in the levels of CAT, SOD and PPO were observed in shoots attacked by L. invasa compared with shoots from healthy trees of the same age, while levels of PAL and POD decreased compared with those in shoots from healthy trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To assess indoor secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in restaurants and bars via PM2.5 level measurements in five cities in China. Methods The study was conducted from July to September in 2007 in Beijing, Xi'an, Wuhan, Kunming and Guiyang. PM2.5 concentrations were measured in 404 restaurants and bars using portable aerosol monitors. The occupant density and the active smoker density were calculated for each venue sampled. Results Among the 404 surveyed venues, 23 had complete smoking bans, nine had partial smoking bans and 313 (77.5%) had smoking observed during sampling. The geometric mean of indoor PM2.5 levels in venues with smoking observed was 208 μg/m3 and 99 μg/m3 in venues without smoking observed. When outdoor PM2.5 levels were adjusted, indoor PM2.5 levels in venues with smoking observed were consistently significantly higher than those in venues without smoking observed (F=80.49, p<0.001). Indoor PM2.5 levels were positively correlated with outdoor PM2.5 levels (partial p=.37 p<0.001) and active smoker density (partial p=0.34, p<0.001). Conclusions Consistent with findings in other countries, PM2.5 levels in smoking places are significantly higher than those in smoke-free places and are strongly related to the number and density of active smokers. These findings document the high levels of SHS in hospitality venues in China and point to the urgent need for comprehensive smoke-free laws in China to protect the public from SHS hazards, as called for in Article 8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which was ratified by China in 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Korean and Chinese cultivated soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] populations are major soybean gene pools. Information has been reported comparing genetic diversity between soybeans from the two countries using an unequal number of accessions and only 6-35 genetic markers. This study compares differences across 49 simple sequence repeat markers covering the 20 soybean chromosomes to assess genetic diversity and genetic relationships among 90 cultivated soybean accessions, each collected over a wide geographical area of Korea and China. Soybean populations from both countries had high genetic diversity indexes (H), but the index was higher for the Chinese population (H = 0.76) than the Korean population (H = 0.72). Soybean accessions collected from central China had the highest genetic diversity value (H = 0.73) compared with accessions from regions of southern and northern China or northern and southern Korea, where H ranged from 0.70 to 0.71. Accessions from Korea showed less molecular variation than accessions from China. Accessions from the two Korean regions grouped closely genetically, but were grouped apart from the Chinese population. STRUCTURE and principal coordinate analysis showed that gene flow occurred between the two countries; however, Korean and Chinese soybean populations were genetically distinct. Therefore, soybean accessions originating from both countries represent unique gene pools for soybean improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the use of biological soil crusts (BSCs) in identifying the changes in sand-binding vegetation based on the soil moisture and water cycling in Tengger Desert in Nignxia Hui Autonomous Region in China. It states that the spatiotemporal patterns of the soil moisture, as well its re-allocation due to the reduced rainfall infiltration were changed by BSCs. The results show that BSCs could control the floristic and structural changes in sand-binding vegetation.

Lead isotope and element composition analyses were performed by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) on bronze helmets from royal tomb No. 1004 at Yin Ruins, the last capital of China's Shang Dynasty (17th to 11th centuriesbc). The data show that the copper-based alloy helmets can be divided into two categories: tin bronze and leaded tin bronze; and the lead isotope ratios for both categories are in the range of highly radiogenic lead (HRL). This result offers some important clues to answering questions concerning the provenance of raw metal materials, as well as the chronology of this famous royal tomb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ measurements of the mass concentration of black carbon (BC) and mixing ratios of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were made at Guangzhou, an urban measurement site in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China, in July 2006. The average ± standard deviation (SD) concentrations of BC, CO, and CO2 were 4.7±2.3 μgC m-3, 798±459 ppbv, and 400±13 ppmv, respectively. The trends of these species were mainly controlled by synoptic-scale changes in meteorology during the campaign. Based on back trajectories, data are analyzed separately for two different air mass types representing northerly and southerly flows. The northerly air masses, which constituted ~25% of the campaign, originated mostly in the PRD and hence represent observations on regional scales. On the other hand, during southerly flow (~75%), the measurements were influenced by dilution due to cleaner marine air. The diurnal patterns of BC, CO, and CO2 exhibited peak concentrations during the morning and evening hours coinciding with rush-hour traffic. The ratios of OC/BC were lower during the morning hour peaks in the concentrations of primary pollutants due to their fresh emissions mainly from vehicular traffic in Guangzhou. The diurnal variations of BC observed in southerly air masses tended to follow the traffic patterns of heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) in Guangzhou, while the roles of other sources need to be investigated. The slopes of ΔBC/1CO, ΔBC/ΔCO2, and ΔCO/ΔCO2 observed during northerly flows were 0.0045 μgC m-3/ppbv, 0.13 μgC m-3/ppmv, and 49.4 ppbv/ppmv, respectively, agreeing reasonably with their respective emission ratios derived from regional emission inventories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution and trends in reference evapotranspiration (ETo) are extremely important to water resources planning for agriculture, and it is widely believed that rates of ETo will increase with global warming. This is a big concern in China, where water deficits are common in the North China Plain (NCP). In this study, Penman-Monteith reference evapotranspiration at 26 meteorological stations during 1961–2006 in and around the NCP was calculated. The temporal variations and spatial distribution of ETo were analyzed and the causes for the variations were discussed. The results showed that: (1) the NCP was divided into two climatic regions based on aridity values: a semiarid region that accounts for 69% of the area and subhumid regions that made of the remaining area; (2) over the entire NCP, the highest annual ETo occurred in the central and western areas and the lowest total ETo was observed in the east. Comparing the mean monthly ETo and annual ETo distributions, the high ETo values from May through July mainly determined the annual ETo distribution; (3) for the whole NCP, annual ETo showed a statistically significant decrease of 11.92 mm/decade over the 46 years of data collection in the NCP or approximately a 5% total decrease compared to the ETo values in 1961; (4) to determine which variable has the greatest effect on the decrease in ETo, decadal changes were observed for daily values of maximum air temperature (+0.16°C), minimum air temperature (+0.35°C), net radiation (-0.13 MJ m-2), and mean wind speed (-0.09 m s-1). These results indicate that the decreasing net radiation and wind speed had a bigger impact on ETo rates than the increases observed by the maximum and minimum temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the influence of the number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) on survival and International Union Against Cancer tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) classification for esophageal carcinoma. The clinicopathological data on 1146 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who had undergone an esophagectomy were retrospectively studied. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method. By subclassifying the nodes (N) category according to the number of metastatic LNs as: N0 for no LN metastases; N1(1) for only one positive node; and N1(2) for ≥2 positive nodes. TNM staging was refined as stage IIa (T2-3N0M0), stage IIb (T1N1M0 and T2N1(1)M0), stage IIIa (T2N1(2)M0 and T3N1(1)M0), and stage IIIb (T3N1(2)M0 and T4NanyM0), and the survival was analyzed. LN metastases was found in 380 of 1146 (33.2%) treated esophageal cancer patients. In 4270 LNs harvested, metastases was detected in 807 (18.9%). The 5-year survival rates of the patients with 0, 1, and ≥2 positive nodes were 59.8, 33.4, and 9.4%, respectively. There was statistically significant difference among these three groups. The 5-year survival of the patients in stages T2N1M0 and T3N1M0 was significantly higher in the N1(1) group than in the N1(2) group (41.5 vs 24.1%, and 31.2 vs 6.8%, P < 0.001). The 5-year survival rates of the patients in refined stage IIa, IIb, IIIa, and IIIb were 57.1, 42.2, 28.6, and 8.5%, with significant difference existing in each stage groups. The number of positive LNs significantly influenced survival of the patients with esophageal cancer. Three grade classification (0, 1, ≥2 positive nodes) could quite well demonstrate the effect of the number of LN metastases and the survival. The refined TNM classification based on the number of LN metastases could better reflect the prognosis of esophageal cancer. Our results offer a strong rationale for refining the International Union Against Cancer TNM classification for esophageal carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dwarf blue sheep (Pseudois schaeferihaltenorth) belongs the subfamily Caprinae, which is distributed in Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan, and Qinghai in China. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome ofPseudois schaeferihaltenorth was sequenced. The mitogenome was 16 741 bp in length, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and a non-coding control region (D-loop region). As in other mammals, most mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand, except forND6and eight tRNA genes which are encoded on the light strand. The overall base composition of thePseudois schaeferi haltenorthis 33.54% A, 26.37% T, 26.91% C, and 13.18% G, A + T (59.91%) was higher than G + C (40.09%). The phylogenetic relationships was analyzed using the complete mitogenome sequence, results show thatP. schaeferihaltenorth should be a different species differ from the Genus pseudois hodgson. These information provide useful data for further study on the protection of genetic resources and the taxonomy of Caprinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-seven domesticated yellow cattle breeds of China and three introduced cattle breeds were analysed by means of 30 microsatellite markers to determine the level of genetic variation within and among populations as well as the population structure. In all, 480 microsatellite alleles were observed across the 30 breeds with the mean number of alleles per locus of 9.093 for native breeds and 6.885 for the three introduced breeds. Mean F-statistics (0.08) for Chinese native cattle breeds implied that 92% of the total genetic variation was from genetic differentiation within each breed and 8% of the genetic variation existed among breeds. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on Nei's genetic distances, and three clusters were obtained. According to the tree, the three introduced breeds were distinct from the 27 native breeds. The indigenous cattle breeds were divided into two clusters, one cluster including five humpless breeds and the other cluster containing 22 humped breeds. This study identifies multiple origins of yellow cattle of China from Bos taurus and Bos indicus. Furthermore, population structure analysis implies that there are possibly five independent original domestications for yellow cattle in China. Four of five origins were four different Bos indicus types, mainly in areas of the Chang Jiang, the Zhu Jiang River basin, the Yellow River and the Huai River basin. The other origin was for Bos taurus type of Mongolian descent, mainly located in Northwestern China, the Mongolian plateau and Northeastern China or north of the Great Wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new typhoon model named as GRAPES_TCM is applied to study the pre-landfall erratic track of Typhoon Haitang (2005), which hit China twice in mid-July by making landfall in Taiwan and Fujian provinces consecutively. The model is based on the Chinese Global/Regional Assimilation and PrEdiction System (GRAPES) and put into real-time operational test since 2004. It predicts almost correctly the pre-landfall loop and sharp turn of Haitang and its asymmetric rainfall distribution. Haitang’s erratic track is well explained by the potential vorticity (PV) theory on tropical cyclone motion, with the typhoon center moving toward the area of maximum wave-number 1 (WN1) PV tendency most of the time. Among the terms contributing to the WN1 PV tendency, the horizontal advection of PV is dominant with the diabatic heating and residual terms also being not negligible. A sensitivity experiment is carried out with removal of the Taiwan terrain to determine its importance in the erratic track of Haitang and it is found that the basic erratic feature of Haitang’s track remians unchanged although it tends to have a larger loop and a weaker northward turn, which suggests that Taiwan terrain may not be a key factor here. The sudden change of Haitang’s moving direction is always accompanied by a newly-generated or re-intensified WN1 PV center in the southern semicircle, which circles around the TC center cyclonically afterwards and weakens in the north or northwestern part. A phase-lock WN1 PV forcing related to diabatic heating is proposed to be the major contributor, the importance of which is magnified as it is in phase with the WN1 horizontal advection of PV. The intrusion of mid-level warm and dry air, as well as the existence of a low-level southwesterly jet, is considered to be the main reasons for such a phase-lock of the diabatic heating forcing on the PV tendency field that finally results in the erratic track of Haitang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We amplified gag sequences from 66 individuals infected with HIV-1 CRF07_BC during 2003–2005 in the Xinjiang region of China. A novel deletion of 7aa (including a KELY motif) in the central region of the CRF07_BC gag p6 domain was detected, which has not been reported in other HIV-1 subtypes. Further deletions of up to 13aa (including KQE and KELY motifs) was also found in this domain, representing the biggest natural deletion up to now. Moreover, the CD4+ count and viral load level indicated that 1–13aa deletions in CRF07_BC gag p6 do not have a significant effect on viral replication and fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cu–Fe–Au–Mo (W) deposits in southeastern Hubei are an important component of the Middle–Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt. Molybdenite from the Fengshandong Cu- (Mo), Ruanjiawan W–Cu- (Mo), Qianjiawan Cu–Au, Tongshankou Cu–Mo and Tonglüshan Cu- (Fe) deposits yielded Re–Os ages of 144.0 ± 2.1 Ma, 143.6 ± 1.7 Ma, 137.7 ± 1.7 Ma, 142.3 ± 1.8–143.7 ± 1.8 Ma and 137.8 ± 1.7–138.1 ± 1.8 Ma, respectively. Phlogopite from the Tieshan Fe- (Cu) deposit yielded an Ar–Ar age of 140.9 ± 1.2 Ma. These data and other published isotopic ages (Re–Os molybdenite and Ar–Ar mica ages) for the Cu–Fe–Au–Mo (W) deposits in the Middle–Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt show that Cu–Fe–Au–Mo (W) mineralisation in the Tongling, Anqing, Jiurui and Edong ore districts developed in a narrow time span between 135.5 and 144.9 Ma, reflecting an important regional metallogenic event. An integrated study of available petrological and geochronological data, together with relationships to magmatism and the regional geodynamic framework, indicate that the Cu–Fe–Au–Mo (W) mineralisation in the Middle–Lower Yangtze River belt occurred during a regime of lithospheric extension. This extension is probably related to Late Mesozoic processes of lower crustal delamination and lithospheric thinning in East China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new cyclolanostanol triterpene glycosides, cimifoetiside VI (1) and cimifoetiside VII (2), and one known compound were isolated from the aerial parts of Cimicifuga foetida L. On the basis of spectral and chemical evidences, the structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated to be (23R,24S)-24-O-acetylisodahurinol-3-O-β-d-galactopyranoside and (23R,24R)-24-O-acetylshengmanol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1'' → 2')-β-d-xylopyranoside. The known compound was identified as (23R,24R)-24-O-acetylshengmanol-3-O-β-d-galactopyranoside (3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iodine deficiency is the commonest cause of preventable mental retardation (MR) worldwide. However, in iodine-deficient areas not everyone is affected and familial aggregation is common. This suggests that genetic factors may also contribute. Thyroid hormone (TH) plays an important role in fetal and early postnatal brain development. The pro-hormone T4 (3,3′,5,5′-triiodothyronine) is converted in the brain to its active form, T3, or its inactive metabolite, reverse T3, mainly by the action of deiodinase type 2 (DI02). Methods: To investigate the potential genetic contribution of the DIO2 gene, we performed a case-control association study using three common SNPs in the gene (rs225014, rs225012, and rs225010) that were in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other. Results: Single marker analysis showed a positive association of MR with rs225012 and rs225010. Particularly with rs225012, π genotype frequency was significantly higher in MR cases than in controls (x² = 9.18, p = 0.00246). When we compared the distributions of common haplotypes, we also found significant differences between mental retardation and controls in the haplotype combination of rs225012 and rs225010 (x² = 15.04, df 2, global p = 0.000549). This association remained significant after Bonferroni correction (p = 0.0016470). Conclusion: We conclude that allelic variation in the DIO2 gene may affect the amount of T3 available and in an iodine-deficient environment may partly determine overall risk of MR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Field data define two lithologically distinct basement-cover sequences within the ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic (UHPM) unit of the Dabie Shan, eastern China. One of the cover units, the Changpu unit, comprises calc-arenitic metasediments in stratigraphic contact with a basement consisting of gneisses of the Yangtze craton. The second cover unit, the Ganghe unit, consists of felsic-intermediate metavolcanics and clastic metasediments. Basement exposure of the Ganghe unit is not known. Fold axes in the Ganghe unit are oblique to those of the Changpu unit, which are parallel to those of the Yangtze gneisses. Preservation of primary textures in some volcanic rocks, and tectonic separation from the Yangtze gneisses by a greenschist facies mylonite, support an interpretation of the Ganghe unit as a low-strain domain. Protolith associations in the Ganghe and Changpu units are compatible with deposition in a rift setting and along a passive continental margin, respectively. A U–Pb single zircon age of 761 ± 33 Ma for volcanoclastic rocks of the Ganghe unit demonstrates a Neoproterozoic deposition age, concordant with inferred rifting at that time. Eclogite facies parageneses in the gneisses and both cover units, along with P–T data demonstrate regional UHPM in the Dabie Shan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To assess indoor second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure in restaurants and bars via PM (fine particles 2.5 μm in diameter and smaller) level measurements in five cities in China. Methods The study was conducted from July to September in 2007 in Beijing, Xi'an, Wuhan, Kunming and Guiyang. Portable aerosol monitors were used to measure PM concentrations in 404 restaurants and bars. The occupant density and the active smoker density were calculated for each venue sampled. Results Among the 404 surveyed venues, 23 had complete smoking bans, 9 had partial smoking bans and 313 (77.5%) were observed to have allowed smoking during sampling. The geometric mean of indoor PM levels in venues with smoking observed was 208 μg/m and 99 μg/m in venues without observed smoking. When outdoor PM levels were adjusted, indoor PM levels in venues with smoking observed were consistently significantly higher than in venues without smoking observed (F=80.49, p<0.001). Indoor PM levels were positively correlated with outdoor PM levels (partial rho=0.37 p<0.001) and active smoker density (partial rho=0.34, p<0.001). Conclusions Consistent with findings in other countries, PM levels in smoking places are significantly higher than those in smoke-free places and are strongly related to the number and density of active smokers. These findings document the high levels of SHS in hospitality venues in China and point to the urgent need for comprehensive smoke-free laws in China to protect the public from SHS hazards, as called for in Article 8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which was ratified by China in 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Little is known about the disease burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma in southern China. We calculated the mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALY), years lived with disability (YLD) and years of life lost (YLL) for COPD and asthma in Guangdong province between 2005 and 2015. We examined the significance of trends of mortality, DALY, YLD and YLL rates for COPD and asthma with the Cochran-Armitage trend test. We also analyzed their association with sociodemographic factors by negative binomial models. The age-standardized mortality, DALY, YLD and YLL rates of COPD and asthma decreased significantly in Guangdong, except for an increase of 11.3% in the age-standardized YLD rate of COPD between 2005 and 2015 (all P < 0.05). Compared with females, the respective adjusted mortality rate ratio of males was 2.11 for COPD, and 0.74 for asthma. Compared with other regions, the richest region, Pearl River Delta, had the lowest mortality, DALY, YLD and YLL rate ratios (RR) of COPD and asthma (all P < 0.05). COPD and asthma mortality, DALY, YLD and YLL rates increased substantially with age. Specifically, when compared with the 25–49 years age group, the respective adjusted DALY RR of asthma was 1.91, 2.02 and 22.21 for 0–24, 50–74 and ≥75 years age group; the respective adjusted YLD RR was 2.27, 1.33 and 7.17 for 0–24, 50–74 and ≥75 years age group. Disease burden of COPD and asthma decreased in Guangdong province in southern China between 2005 and 2015; however, a disproportionate burden of COPD and asthma in terms of age, sex and regions was observed. The relatively high disease burden and high rate of impaired public health from the less developed regions highlight the need for focused policy making to address the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tectonic history of the Philippine Sea plate is an essential piece in understanding the tectonic evolution of Southeast Asia, but it is still unclear and controversial. We present the first geochemical data obtained from lavas from the Gagua Ridge (GR) within the Philippine Sea. The GR lavas exhibit geochemical signatures typical of subduction-related arc magmatism. Plagioclase Ar-Ar ages of ca. 124-123 Ma and subduction-related geochemical signatures support the formation of GR lavas in the vicinity of an arc during the Early Cretaceous induced by subduction of the oceanic plate along East Asia. The ages of trapped zircon xenocrysts within the GR lavas cluster at 250 Ma, 0.75 Ga, and 2.45 Ga and match well the ages of zircons recovered from the Cathaysian block, southern China. Our results imply that the GR basement is partially composed of continental material that rifted away from the Eurasian margin during opening and spreading of the Huatung Basin. The depleted mantle wedge-derived magmas evolved and picked up the continental zircons during ascent. The youngest zircon ages and the GR lava Ar-Ar ages (ca. 124-123 Ma) presented in this study newly constrain an Early Cretaceous age for the Huatung Basin. Our study provides further evidence that the Huatung Basin is a remnant of a Mesozoic-aged ocean basin that dispersed from southern China during the Cretaceous. Transport of continental slivers by growth and closure of marginal seas along the East Asia margin may have been more prevalent than previously recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment has measured a nonzero value for the neutrino mixing angle &thgr;13 with a significance of 5.2 standard deviations. Antineutrinos from six 2.9 GWth reactors were detected in six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (flux-weighted baseline 470 mand 576 m) and one far (1648 m) underground experimental halls. With a 43 000 ton-GWth-day live-time exposure in 55 days, 10416 (80376) electron-antineutrino candidates were detected at the far hall (near halls). The ratio of the observed to expected number of antineutrinos at the far hall is R = 0.940± O.Oll(stat) ± 0.004(syst). A rate-only analysis finds sin22&thgr;13 = 0.092 ± 0.016(stat.) ± 0.005(syst.) in a three-neutrino framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turning to critical illness is a common stage of various diseases and injuries before death. Patients usually have complex health conditions, while the treatment process involves a wide range of content, along with high requirements for doctor's professionalism and multi-specialty teamwork, as well as a great demand for time-sensitive treatments. However, this is not matched with critical care professionals and the current state of medical care in China. Telemedicine, which shortens the distance of medical professionals and the gap of disease diagnosis and treatments in various regions through electronic information, can effectively solve the current problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a standardized, high-quality visualization telemedicine round system .Therefore, experts have been organized to search domestic and foreign literature on telemedicine round for critically ill patients and to form this consensus based on clinical experiences so as to further improve the level of critical care treatments in regions.

Objective: To investigate the distribution characteristics and analyze the clinical significance of dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen components in children with allergic rhinitis and asthma in Shenzhen. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. The clinical data of children with allergic rhinitis and asthma induced by dust mites admitted to the allergy clinic of Shenzhen Children's Hospital from 2021 to 2024 were collected and the serum sIgE levels of dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, dermatophagoides farinae (Der p, Der f) and dermatophagoides pteronyssinus components (Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 10, Der p 23) were detected by magnetic bead chemiluminescence method. The correlation between dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen components and clinical data of children was analyzed. According to the diagnosis, the children were divided into allergic rhinitis (AR) group and AR with asthma (ARAS) group. According to the age, the children were divided into preschool age (5 years ≤age<7 years), school age (7 years ≤age<10 years) and adolescence (10 years ≤age≤15 years). The expression differences of dermatophagoides pteronyssinus components among AR group and ARAS group and different age groups were compared. Results: A total of 314 children with allergic rhinitis and asthma caused by dust mites were included in the study, of whom 112 were male and 202 were female. There were 188 cases of AR and 126 cases of ARAS, aged 5-15 years, with a median age of 7.54 years and an average age of (8.02±2.24) years. BMI was 13.89-31.76 kg/m 2 ,the median BMI was 15.87 kg/m² and average BMI was (16.55±3.05) kg/m². There was not statistically significant difference in gender, age, BMI, blood eosinophils, blood basophils, FeNO, FVC and FEV1 between the AR group and the ARAS group ( P >0.05). There was significant difference in FEV1/FVC and small airway function indexes MMEF, MEF75%, MEF50% and MEF25% between the AR group and the ARAS group ( P <0.05). In the 314 children, the dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen components sensitization rates were in the order of Der p 1 (97.1%), Der p 2 (89.8%), Der p 23 (55.1%), Der p 10 (8.6%), and the difference in the positive rate was statistically significant (χ 2 =658.31, P <0.001). There was not significant difference in Der p 1, Der p 2 and Der p 10 among children of different ages ( P >0.05). There was significant difference in Der p 23 among children of different ages (χ 2 =7.29, P =0.03). A correlation analysis showed that Der p, Der f, Der p 1 and Der p 2 had a high positive correlation ( P <0.001). Eosinophils are positively correlated with Der p, Der f, Der p 1, Der p 2, Der p 10 and Der p 23 ( P <0.001). FeNO is positively correlated with Der p, Der f, and Der p 23 ( P <0.05). Small airway function indicators MMEF, MEF50% and MEF25% are negatively correlated with Der p, Der f and Der p 1 ( P <0.05). The sIgE levels of Der p, Der f, Der p 1, Der p 2 and Der p 10 in the AR group were significantly lower than those in the ARAS group ( P< 0.05). In the ARAS group, 120 cases (95.24%) showed positive results for at least 2 dermatophagoides pteronyssinus components, while 71 cases (56.35%) showed positive results for at least 3 dermatophagoides pteronyssinus components. In the AR group, 171 cases (90.96%) showed positive results for at least 2 dermatophagoides pteronyssinus components, while 94 cases (50.00%) showed positive results for at least 3 dermatophagoides pteronyssinus components. Conclusion: Der p 1, Der p 2 and Der p 23 may be the main dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen components that induce allergic rhinitis and asthma in Shenzhen City. The elevation of sIgE levels in the dermatophagoides pteronyssinus components can aggravate the severity of lower airway eosinophilic inflammation and airway obstruction. Attention should be paid to the detection of dermatophagoides pteronyssinus components in children with poor response to dust mite-allergen specific immunotherapy.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a 6-month Ba Duan Jin exercise program in improving the balance of community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A two arms, parallel-group, cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 1 028 community residents aged 60-80 years in 40 communities in 5 provinces of China. Participants in the intervention group (20 communities, 523 people) received Ba Duan Jin exercise 5 days/week, 1 hour/day for 6 months, and three times of falls prevention health education, and the control group (20 communities, 505 people) received falls prevention health education same as the intervention group. The Berg balance scale (BBS) score was the leading outcome indicator, and the secondary outcome indicators included the length of time of standing on one foot (with eyes open and closed), standing in a tandem stance (with eyes open and closed), the closed circle test, and the timed up to test. Results: A total of 1 028 participants were included in the final analysis, including 731 women (71.11%) and 297 men (28.89%), and the age was (69.87±5.67) years. After the 3-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 3.05 (95% CI : 2.23-3.88) points ( P <0.001). After the 6-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 4.70 (95% CI : 4.03-5.37) points ( P <0.001). Ba Duan Jin showed significant improvement ( P <0.05) in all secondary outcomes after 6 months of exercise in the intervention group compared with the control group. Conclusions: This study showed that Ba Duan Jin exercise can improve balance in community-dwelling older adults aged 60-80. The longer the exercise time, the better the improvement.

Objectives: There is now a growing interest in early-life influences on adult diseases in China. A number of birth cohorts have been established. This systematic review provided a better understanding of the development of mother-baby cohorts in China., Study Design: Systematic review., Methods: We conducted a systematic review for research or profile papers in English/Chinese that reported data from mother-baby cohorts in mainland China, with ≥1y follow-up after birth. We identified 315 papers, corresponding to 31 cohorts from 19 provinces/megacities., Results: All cohorts started in 1999-2017 (21 after 2010) and were set up with broad objectives or specific scientific focus. The baseline sample size varied, from <500 to >300,000 mothers. A majority of cohorts were initiated during pregnancy and followed children to <10y, only six to adolescence and none into adulthood. These cohorts mostly collected samples from mothers and babies, in addition to using interviews/questionnaires to collect information about pregnancy, birth and child health. Most cohorts were recruited from a single province/city. The large western region was understudied., Conclusions: Mother-baby cohorts have developed rapidly in China, but usually with a short follow-up duration. Extending the follow-up of children and developing cross-cohort collaboration will increase the diversity, size and coverage of the sample, allow studying early influences on life-course health and identify targets for early intervention in the Chinese population., (Copyright © 2023 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the association between exposure to ambient PM 2.5 and its components [sulfate (SO 4 2- ), nitrate (NO 3 ), organic matter (OM), and black carbon (BC)] and psychological distress among school children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 years in China. - ), ammonium (NH 4 + ), organic matter (OM), and black carbon (BC)] and psychological distress among school children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 years in China. Methods: Based on data from the 2019 Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health, 130 808 children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 years were included. Scoring and determination of higher psychological distress were based on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and annual average exposure data for air pollution were matched by survey location and time. We used a restricted cubic spline approach based on logistic regression to fit the associations between PM 2.5 , SO 4 The proportion of children and adolescents with high levels of psychological distress in China was 30.4%, with girls being higher than boys at 31.6% and 29.1%, respectively ( 2- , NO 3 - , NH 4 + , organic matter, black carbon concentrations, and psychological distress. Logistic regression models were used to analyse different age, gender, BMI and physical activity subgroups to estimate the association between exposure to high levels of pollution and high levels of psychological distress in different subgroups. Results: The proportion of children and adolescents with high levels of psychological distress in China was 30.4%, with girls being higher than boys at 31.6% and 29.1%, respectively ( P <0.05). A non-linear positive association existed between exposure to PM 2.5 , SO 4 2- , NO 3 - and its components are associated with psychological distress in children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 years in China. High pollutant exposure is a risk factor for high psychological distress among physically inactive children and adolescents, and there are age differences in the association between PM 2.5 , NO 3 - , NH 4 + , organic matter, and black carbon concentrations continued to rise, the increase in the risk of higher psychological distress slowed, while SO 4 2- showed little change in the OR of psychological distress at lower concentrations but continued to rise at higher concentrations. PM 2.5 and its components were statistically associated with psychological distress in the physically inactive group but not in the physically active group. The association between high levels of pollutants and high psychological distress was stronger among students aged 9 to 12 years compared with students aged 13 to 15 years and 16 to 18 years. Conclusions: The ambient pollutant PM 2.5 and its components are associated with psychological distress in children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 years in China. High pollutant exposure is a risk factor for high psychological distress among physically inactive children and adolescents, and there are age differences in the association between PM 2.5 and components and psychological distress.