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This paper exploits a quasi-natural experiment in China, the environmental protection tax reform, to examine the effect of environmental regulation on corporate green investment. Based on Chinese listed company data and the multi-period DID method, we find the enhancement of environmental regulation harms corporate green investment in a short time, and green investments in the treatment group were reduced by 19.57 million (RMB) on average. Further exploring and examining the potential mechanisms of the above effect, we find the above effect is caused by the suppression effect of financing constraints and the crowding-out effect of research and development (R&D) expenditures. We also analyze the heterogeneity of enterprise ownership, enterprise size, and enterprise location, and find that non-state-owned enterprises, small-sized enterprises, and enterprises in the eastern region will experience a greater reduction in green investment when environmental regulation is enhanced. Based on the above findings, we put forward corresponding policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using China's 2008 enterprise income tax (EIT) reform, this study examines the effect of EIT on corporate innovation comprehensively. Based on accurate identification of the direction of changes in the corporate tax rate, we introduce two dummy variables of tax rate decline and escalation to investigate the impact of EIT changes simultaneously. Using the firm-level dataset from China's A-share listed companies, we find that the innovation level of tax-rate-declining enterprises will increase by 0.2%, whereas the innovation level of tax-rate-increasing enterprises will decrease by 0.4%. The dynamic effect demonstrates that the aforementioned promoting and inhibitory effects are continuous. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that the changes in the EIT rates have a greater impact on the innovation level of enterprises with high innovation demand, manufacturing enterprises, enterprises in a high rule of law environment, and enterprises in the eastern region. Our study highlights the importance of the EIT reform on corporate innovation and guides how to better optimize the effectiveness of such policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper extends the existing studies of cyclical fiscal policy by providing the first systematic theoretical and empirical study of cyclical quasi‐fiscal investment of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) in China. Using data from Chinese listed companies and the System GMM method, the results show that: (1) both central and local SOEs exhibit expansion‐biased investment behaviours; (2) the expansion‐biased investment of central SOEs mainly goes to the tertiary industry and the western regions of China, while the expansion‐biased investment of local SOEs mainly occurs in the tertiary industry and the middle and western regions of China; (3) during the economic recession, the higher the local growth targets, the more bank credit central and local SOEs can obtain, and the more pronounced the expansion‐biased investment. The study shows that apart from the countercyclical fiscal policy implemented by central and local governments, the quasi‐fiscal function of central and local SOE investments is also key for the Chinese economy to quickly recover from recessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limitation of traditional delivery methods for fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) gave birth to colonic transendoscopic enteral tubing (TET) to address the requirement of frequent FMTs. Colonic TET as a novel endoscopic intervention has received increasing attention in practice since 2015 in China. Emerging studies from multiple centers indicate that colonic TET is a promising, safe, and practical delivery method for microbial therapy and administering medication with high patient satisfaction. Intriguingly, colonic TET has been used to rescue endoscopy-related perforations by draining colonic air and fluid through the TET tube. Recent research based on collecting ileocecal samples through a TET tube has contributed to demonstrating community dynamics in the intestine, and it is expected to be a novel delivery of proof-of-concept in host–microbiota interactions and pharmacological research. The present article aims to review the concept and techniques of TET and to explore microbial therapy, colonic drainage, and microbial research based on colonic TET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the impact of Chinaʻs accelerated depreciation policy (ADP) that was enacted in 2014 on labor share. We explore a firm-level dataset from Chinaʻs industrial enterprise database and estimate the policy effects using a difference-in-differences framework. We find that the ADP apparently reduces the labor share of the treated firms compared to the control firms, which is a net effect jointly driven by the capital deepening and skill structure upgrading channels. Among these two channels, the former is dominant and has negative effects on labor share, while the latter is positively related to the labor share. We also demonstrate that the firms with less financial constraints experience a more profound capital deepening process and a larger decline in labor share after policy enactment. These results suggest that the widespread use of investment tax incentives may be one of the reasons for the decline in global labor share in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau( QTP) is an important ecological barrier in China. In recent years, the large-scale conversion and reclamation of farmland in the QTP are bound to weaken or induce soil erosion. To explore the impact of different land-use change patterns on soil erosion in the QTP, taking the farming area of the QTP as an example, based on the CSLE model, the soil erosion status of the farming area in 2015 is analyzed, and the comprehensive index of soil erosion intensity change and the contribution of erosion reduction is proposed for the first time. The concept and calculation formula is used to quantify the impact of cultivated land changes on soil erosion and analyze the contribution of different cultivated land change patterns to soil erosion reduction. The results show that: ① The average soil erosion module in the farming areas of the QTP in 2015 is 195.6 t/(hm²·a), and the potential annual soil loss is approximately 446.51 × 106 t/a. ② The composite index of variation in soil erosion intensity in returning farmland to forest, back tillage to grass, and unused land-to-farmland are -378.24, -118.54 and -5.44 t/(hm²·a), and the effect of reducing soil erosion decreases in turn, while the composite index of variation in soil erosion intensity in grassland and forest land reclamation as cultivated land, and farmland that degrades into unused land are 16.53, 32.34 and 200.61 t/(hm²·a), the effect of increasing soil erosion increased in turn. ③ Land-use changes in 2000-2015 reduced soil erosion intensity by 245.54 t/(hm²·a) in the agricultural areas of the QTP with a decrease of 55.66% compared to the unchanging land-use scenario. Under the dual influence of soil erosion intensity change comprehensive index and area, the order of contribution of different land-use changes to soil erosion reduction is: returning farmland to grassland > returning farmland to forest > conversion of unused land to cultivated land > conversion of woodland to cultivated land > conversion of cultivated land to unused land > conversion of grassland to cultivated land. The research results provide a reference for the sustainable development and utilization of water and soil resources and ecological environmental protection in the agricultural areas of the QTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify whether bile reflux on endoscopy and other related variables are risk factors for precancerous gastric lesions and gastric cancer (GC). Methods: A multicenter, cross‐sectional and observational study was conducted in five centers in China from June to October 2019, 1162 patients were recruited and divided into the chronic gastritis (CG), the precancerous lesion (low‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia and intestinal metaplasia), and GC groups (including high‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia). All participants underwent detailed interviews, endoscopy and biopsy, and completed questionnaires. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated with multivariate logistic regression models with or without adjustment for Helicobacter pylori infection. Results: We recruited 668 patients with CG, 411 with precancerous lesions and 83 with GC. By comparing the CG and precancerous lesion groups, independent risk factors for cancerous gastric lesions were the grade of bile reflux, patient's age, dietary habits and family history of GC. Similar results were obtained when comparing the CG and GC groups. In addition, bile reflux was confirmed as an independent risk factor for progression from precancerous lesions to cancer. Conclusions: Bile reflux on endoscopy as well as age, dietary habits and a family history of GC were independent risk factors for the development of precancerous gastric lesions and GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chimonanthi Radix (CR) is widely used in the treatment of influenza in China. Extensive studies revealed that the major bioactive constituents of CR were coumarins. However, pharmacokinetic study of coumarins in CR has not been fully studied. The purpose of this study was to establish a convenient and effective high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method that was used to simultaneously determine scopoletin, scopolin and isofraxidin in rat plasma after oral administration of CR extract using xanthotoxin as the internal standard. The chromatographic separation was carried out on a COSMOCORE C18 column (100 × 2 mm, 2.6 μm), using gradient elution with the mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B). Three coumarins and IS were quantified by positive ion electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The method was fully validated in terms of specificity, accuracy, precision (intra- and inter-day), matrix effect, recovery as well as the stability of the analytes under various conditions. The results could provide further research foundation for anti-influenza mechanism of three coumarins in CR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Clerodendranthi Spicati Herba (CSH) is often used to treat urinary stones, urinary tract infections and nephritis in China. Much literature has reported that polymeric phenolic acids and flavonoids are the major bioactive components in CSH. Therefore, it is very meaningful to identify the polymeric phenolic acids and flavonoids in CSH. Methods: Ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF‐MS/MS) analysis with target and nontarget data mining strategy was proposed to rapidly profile the polymeric phenolic acids and flavonoids in CSH. Diagnostic product ions and neutral loss filter were beneficial for identifying the polymeric phenolic acids and flavonoids from complex compounds in CSH. Results: A total of 118 compounds, including 85 polymeric phenolic acids and 33 flavonoids, were reasonably identified in CSH by comparing their main fragmentation pathways with literature data, and 85 of them were discovered in CSH firstly by nontarget analysis. Nine potential compounds were characterized tentatively as new pentameric and hexameric phenolic acids in CSH. Six types of polymeric phenolic acids (monomer, dimer, trimer, tetramer, pentamer and hexamer) and four types of flavonoids (apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin and quercetin) were identified in CSH. Conclusions: The results indicated that the UHPLC/QTOF‐MS/MS method coupled with target and nontarget data mining strategy was feasible and rational for identifying the polymeric phenolic acids and flavonoids in complex chemical constituents of CSH. The findings will be conducive to the discovery of the active ingredients of CSH and the establishment of quality standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, China has constantly strengthened environmental regulation (ER) to force the manufacturing industry to upgrade. This study theoretically analyzes interaction mechanism of ER on the upgrading of manufacturing industry through foreign direct investment (FDI) and technological innovation (TI) and carries out empirical verification by using provincial panel data from 2000 to 2016 in China. The results demonstrate that the current ER intensity in China is unable to directly promote the upgrading of manufacturing industry, while through the interaction effects of FDI and TI do boost the upgrading of the industry. The above mechanisms are also robust even if we take the regional heterogeneity into consideration. Basic education and urbanization are favorable for the upgrading of the manufacturing industry. However, the increase in dependence on foreign trade is not conducive to upgrading manufacturing industry. Chinese government should further strengthen ER and give full play of the interaction mechanism of ER to guide the flow of foreign investment and force enterprises to carry out TI. In the meanwhile, Chinese government also needs to ensure balanced regional development, thus better promoting the upgrading of manufacturing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study was designed to test whether serum vitamin D levels affected Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and eradication rates. Methods: A multicenter observational prospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 496 H. pylori− positive (H. pylori+) and 257 H. pylori‐negative (H. pylori−) patients were enrolled from four hospitals in China. Baseline serum vitamin D levels were measured and a 13C‐urea breath test (UBT) was performed for all the participants. The H. pylori+ patients were divided into two subgroups based on their serum vitamin D levels (<10 or ≥10 ng/mL). A second 13C‐UBT was performed between 4 and 8 weeks after 14‐day bismuth‐containing quadruple eradication therapies. Factors potentially affecting H. pylori eradication were determined using a questionnaire survey. Results: Serum vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the H. pylori+ group than in the H. pylori− group ([17.0 ± 6.9] ng/mL vs [19.2 ± 8.0] ng/mL, P = 0.000). H. pylori eradication rate significantly differed between patients with serum vitamin D levels of <10 ng/mL and ≥10 ng/mL (71.7% vs 87.3%, P = 0.005). A multivariate analysis showed that having serum vitamin D level ≥10 ng/mL was an independent risk factor for a successful H. pylori eradication (odds ratio 0.381, 95% confidence interval 0.183‐0.791, P = 0.010). Conclusions: Serum vitamin D level may affect H. pylori infection and its eradication. Randomized controlled trials are needed to find out whether vitamin D supplements may increase the H. pylori eradication rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glechomae Herba is a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of urolithiasis, cholelithiasis, and urinary tract infections in China. Identification of chemical constituents is helpful to discover the potential active ingredients. However, this significant work is stymied by complex chemical constituents. Therefore, an ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry analysis with diagnostic product ions and neutral loss filtering strategy was established for chemical profiling of Glechomae Herba. The diagnostic product ions and neutral loss filtering strategy simplified spectral elucidation. A total of 120 compounds, including 10 chlorogenic acids, 10 gallic acids, 21 phenylpropionic acids, and 77 flavonoids, were reasonably identified in Glechomae Herba. Sixty‐five constituents were first discovered in Glechomae Herba. Four types of chlorogenic acids (caffeoylquinic acid, feruloylquinic acid, p‐coumaroylquinic acid, and di‐caffeoylquinic acid), three types of galloylglucoses (di‐O‐galloyl‐glucose, tri‐O‐galloyl‐glucose, and tetra‐O‐galloyl‐glucose), three types of phenylpropionic acid skeletons (p‐coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and rosmarinic acid) and five types of flavonoid aglycone skeletons (apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin, and chrysin) were identified in Glechomae Herba. The results indicated that the developed strategy was feasible and rational technique for identifying the complex chemical constituents in Glechomae Herba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Massive coal and oil shales were developed in Middle Jurassic Qaidam Basin. • Flourishing conifer and restricted swamp environment controlled coal deposition. • Moderate climate aridification promoted the formation of high-quality oil shale. • Sedimentary evolution is the trigger for the transition from coal to oil shale. Thick coal and oil shale layers are present in the Middle Jurassic Shimengou Formation of northern Qaidam Basin (NQB). However, the formation and evolution mechanisms of these coals and oil shales remain unclear. In this study, these mechanisms were revealed through sedimentological and geochemical analyses of the coal- and oil shale-bearing interval from Shimengou Formation of NQB. The results show that the coals were formed in a swamp with flourishing conifer plants under a humid climate, which greatly enriched the organic matter (OM) supply during coal formation. The restricted swamp environment with suboxic and brackish water favored OM preservation during peat accumulation. With rapid subsidence, the swamp-shallow lake was evolved into deep and semi-deep lake sedimentary system, in which the oil shales were deposited. Lake expansion resulted in a more reducing water column and more lake plankton input during oil shales deposition. Disturbance of arid climate triggered lake salinization along with water column stratification and salt-tolerant algal blooms during the late deposition of Shimengou Formation. The algal blooms and anoxic bottom water greatly promoted the formation of oil shale with high OM richness, hydrocarbon potential and excellent kerogen types. Therefore, the lake expansion caused by rapid subsidence of basin triggered the transformation from coal to oil shale formation, while the climate aridity during oil shale deposition further promoted the quality of oil shale. This study not only reveals the formation and evolution mechanisms of coal and oil shales from Shimengou Formation in QNB, but also presents a typical sample for the prediction of coal and oil shales in the other similar Mesozoic-Cenozoic faulted basins in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sedimentation rate (by Pb and Cs dating), sediment characteristics, contamination and accumulation history of trace metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and As) were studied for sediments from Dahuofang Reservoir, which is the most important source of drinking water in Northeast China. The results indicated that the variation of sediment grain size has shown typical river-type, layoff period and lacustrine-type sediments characteristic, which is in accordance with the building and operation history of Dahuofang Reservoir. Concentrations of the five elements showed an increasing trend with a fluctuation in mid-1990s. Especially after 1975, the contaminations became more severe. Relationships between the elements and sediment parameters suggested that the increased level of contaminations of trace metals after 1975 occurred mainly as a result of anthropogenic input, including the mining and smelting of Cu at the upstream of Hun River, as well as the industrial, agricultural and economic activities around Dahuofang Reservoir after the 'Reform and Open' policy embarked by China in 1978. Accumulation state of these elements was investigated based on the enrichment factors. In the whole study period, enrichment of Pb and As was minimal; Cu and Zn enrichment was moderate; Cd enrichment was moderate, but with significant aggregation in recent years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 115 endophytic bacteria were isolated from root nodules of the wild legume Sphaerophysa salsula grown in two ecological regions of Loess Plateau in China. The genetic diversity and phylogeny of the strains were revealed by restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR. Their symbiotic capacity was checked by nodulation tests and analysis of nifH gene sequence. This is the first systematic study on endophytic bacteria associated with S. salsula root nodules. Fifty of the strains found were symbiotic bacteria belonging to eight putative species in the genera Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium, harboring similar nifH genes; Mesorhizobium gobiense was the main group and 65 strains were nonsymbiotic bacteria related to 17 species in the genera Paracoccus, Sphingomonas, Inquilinus, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Streptomyces, Paenibacillus, Brevibacillus, Staphylococcus, Lysinibacillus and Bacillus, which were universally coexistent with symbiotic bacteria in the nodules. Differing from other similar studies, the present study is the first time that symbiotic and nonsymbiotic bacteria have been simultaneously isolated from the same root nodules, offering the possibility to accurately reveal the correlation between these two kinds of bacteria. These results provide valuable information about the interactions among the symbiotic bacteria, nonsymbiotic bacteria and their habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A recent genome-wide linkage study mapped blood pressure (BP)-related loci on human chromosome 1q and identified the regulator of G-protein signaling 5 ( RGS5) as a candidate for regulation of BP. Thus, we assessed the relationship between RGS5 genetic polymorphisms and essential hypertension (EH) in Chinese. Methods: A total of 906 patients with EH and 894 age- and gender-matched normotensive (NT) controls were enrolled. Sixteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in RGS5 were genotyped. Results: There were no significant differences in the overall distributions of the genotypic and allelic frequencies for each SNPs between the two groups. However, in haplotype analysis, significant differences for the overall distributions were noted for four haplotypes constructed by five SNPs (rs12041294C/T, rs10917690A/G, rs10917695T/C, rs10917696T/C and rs2662774G/A), viz. H2 (C–A–C–T–A) (p=0.038), H5 (C–G–T–T–G) (p=0.001), H6 (T–G–C–T–A) (p=0.021) and H12 (T–A–T–T–G) (p=0.023). Serum concentrations of high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed significant associations with haplotypes revealed by a global test (p=0.0001 and 0.0309). Conclusions: Multiple SNPs in combination in RGS5 may confer risk for hypertension. Our results also lend support for the effect of RGS5 SNPs on lipid metabolism. Further studies are warranted to find the causal SNPs in RGS5 for EH. Clin Chem Lab Med 2009;47:1483–8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crohn's disease (CD)-related fibrotic stricture remains a clinical challenge because of no effective treatments. This study aimed to evaluate the potential efficacy of rapamycin in patients with CD-related strictures in different locations in gastrointestinal tract. A pilot prospective study on using rapamycin for CD-related stricture was performed from April 2015 to August 2020 in a single center in China. Fifteen patients were enrolled into the study. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by diet score and gastrointestinal obstruction symptoms score. Clinical responses were defined as the ability to tolerate the regular diet with vegetable fiber combined with a reduction of ≥75% in overall target score and a score of less than two points for each item. Three patients discontinued rapamycin for less than 1-month due to intolerance to adverse events, then, 12 patients received ≥1 dose of the rapamycin and provided ≥1 post-baseline target score after baseline were included for intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis. 100% (5/5) of patients with upper gastrointestinal strictures achieved clinical response after using rapamycin. However, no clinical response was observed in those patients with CD lesions in lower gastrointestinal tract. Adverse events occurred in 40% (6/15) of patients. No death or serious opportunistic infections were observed in the present study. This study firstly reported that rapamycin might be effective for CD-related stricture in the upper, but not in lower gastrointestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Aerated irrigation significantly improved the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and yield of cucumber (p < 0.05). • As compared to drip irrigation, the partial factor productivity of applied N (PFP) under AI increased 28.95% and 18.53% at 240 and 360 kg N ha-1, respectively. • In order to increase greenhouse cucumber yield while further reducing application of nitrogen fertilizer, aerated irrigation along with N application of 240 kg ha−1 is recommended in Northwest China. Excessive irrigation and fertilization in greenhouse cultivation have a major negative impact, causing economic and environmental problems. Efficient water and fertilizer management methods to increase water use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) have been studied often in greenhouses where vegetables are cultivated. However, optimizing the application of nitrogen under certain water conditions does not continue to increase yield. This may be due to oxygen deficiency caused by water saturation in the root zone after irrigation. Aerated irrigation (AI) may be an effective management measure to further reduce the application of nitrogen fertilizer and increase the yield. In order to determine the interaction among irrigation water aeration and N application, a greenhouse study was conducted in Yangling, China, setting up two irrigation methods(AI and drip irrigation)and three N application rates (0, 240, 360 kg ha−1). In this study, AI significantly improved the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and yield of cucumber (Qiande 777, p < 0.05). As compared to drip irrigation, the partial factor productivity of applied N (PFP) under AI increased 28.95 % and 18.53 % at 240 and 360 kg N ha-1 nitrogen levels, respectively; cucumber yield under AI was 17.50 % higher than that with drip irrigation condition. AI and N application significantly improved crop yield: the highest yield obtained at AI and nitrogen reduction treatment (I1N2) was 72.3 t ha−1, which was 1.19 and 1.29 times higher than that of non-aerated nitrogen reduction (I0N2) and conventional nitrogen application (I0N3) (p < 0.05). Therefore, AI along with nitrogen application of 240 kg ha−1 is recommended for greenhouse cultivation of cucumber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the leading role of the construction industry in fossil fuel consumption, it is essential to identify the drivers responsible for carbon emission in that sector. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China in the period between 2000 and 2015, this study estimated the spatial distribution and driving innovation factors of construction carbon emissions (CCE) by using Moran's I index and spatial econometric models as underlying methods. The empirical results show that there were significant spatial dependence and clustering characteristics in provincial CCE. The net value of machinery and equipment, labor productivity, technical renovation input, construction gross domestic product, and the total construction profit prohibit greater emission reductions. Specifically, the economy related performance indicators cause smaller positive impacts on emission growth than the machinery- and labor-related factors. In addition, it is also noted that proportion of technical personnel and the ratio of technical equipment have significantly positive effects on CCE abatement. The findings of this study would be beneficial for local government to adopt stratified and effective emission reduction methods in the provincial construction industry. • The distribution of the provincial CCE showed remarkable spatial disparities. • The influence of surrounding regions was positive on CCE reduction of specific regions. • Economy related performance indicators cause small positive impacts on emission growth. • This study revealed the status quo of low technology innovation in construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The majority of provincial construction sectors in China are energy inefficient. • Energy productivity is highly related to the level of regional economic development. • Scale efficiency is higher than technical efficiency in regional construction sectors. • The utilization of unclean and clean energy is still inefficient at the province level. As a major contributor to the increasing adverse environmental impact worldwide, China's construction industry faces major challenges in energy conservation. Improving energy utilization efficiency is an effective method for mitigating energy-intensive problems induced by this industry. Accordingly, this study combined a multiregional input–output model with data envelopment analysis to assess the energy efficiency of China's construction industry at the provincial level. Results show that the majority of the provincial construction sectors in China are energy inefficient and the performance of energy efficiency is highly related to the level of regional economic development. Scale efficiency is comparatively high in the regional construction sectors, but technical aspects are lagging behind. Moreover, cross-regional energy allocation demonstrates higher efficiency than that of the energy structure. The inefficient utilization of unclean and clean energy can be attributed to the lack of required instruments that can facilitate clean production processes in the construction field. To solve these problems, this study presents corresponding governmental measures and market-driven strategies from the institutional, technical and management aspects. The findings of this study can provide a holistic understanding of the current efficiency status of the construction industry and help decision makers stratify regional energy conservation targets at the industrial level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction sector is a critical part in achieving energy conservation targets in China, as it accounts for approximately 30% of the annual national energy supply for building construction. Therefore, this study integrates multi-regional input–output analysis and ecological network analysis to track energy fluxes and pathways from the construction sector, aiming to facilitate the configuration of the energy-flow structure and improve understanding of the region's responsibilities. Results of a spatial distribution analysis show that the eastern area of China leads in fossil energy consumption (e.g., coal and crude oil), whereas western China is the largest consumer of natural gas. Spatial relationship analyss indicate that eastern areas are located at the top of the trophic structure, implying that these regions are prioritized in energy consumption over the surrounding regions. By contrast, most regions located in the northern parts of China are characterized by resource-abundant areas and are at the bottom of the trophic structure, thereby indicating their comparatively weak role in an exploitation relationship. An investigation of major metropolitan areas demonstrates that mandatory targets set by national instruments are stratified in accordance with their diverse role and status in energy consumption at the beginning of the 12th Five-Year Plan period. However, these targets remain insignificant in the context of the inner area. • Integrate MRIO analysis and ecological network analysis to track the energy fluxes. • Explore the spatial distribution of embodied energy flows from construction sector. • Identify six types of regions based on their functional relationships. • Provide customized strategies to achieve a more sustainable construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a new hybrid methodology for short-term prediction of energy efficiency. This new method consists of the stochastic frontier analysis-generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (SFA-GARCH) model and the radial basis function neural (RBFN) model. The study finds that 30 regions (provinces and municipalities) in China have cluster-hetergeneity, and the different levels of industry structure, technology content and energy resources in the different regions lead to dissimilar energy saving quotas. In addition, through fair comparison between the traditional GARCH model and the new hybrid model, it is proved that the new hybrid model shows good performance and the results are reasonable. The energy efficiency indicators predicted by the hybrid model appear to be more reliable than the summation of the individual forecasts because it avoids the superposition of errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new hybrid methodology is introduced which is a combination of multiple regression model and generalised autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model. Comparing the new approach and the vector auto-regression (VAR) model, this paper analyses the short-term dynamics of the energy efficiency index (EEI) in response to change in the five indicator variables for thermal power plants in China. The result indicates that: (i) The new hybrid model can directly calculate the EEIs of thermal power plants without artificial intervention. (ii) It can eliminate the disturbance of residual superposition. (iii) The new method will offer more direct information on the degree of volatility among determinants and operating inefficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Built vernacular heritage as a driving force for local development, its effective stewardship could contribute to the sustainability of heritage resource and local development. This paper assumes that stewardship of heritage resource as a more systematic approach engages with different interactive relationships and relevant behaviors between public and private sectors and aims to explore how the sectors interact in the process of stewarding heritage resource for local development in the context of rural society of China. This paper is designed as a double-staged qualitative field research. In first stage, non-participant observation is conducted in 35 southwestern villages located in Chongqing and Guizhou and then three stewardship models of heritage are figured out: top-down, expert-led, bottom-up. In second stage, three villages as exemplars are selected in the scope of observation and then unstructured interview is conducted there so as to give further explanation of how well the models functionalize in practice. Based on the analysis of data, this paper argues that in each model of stewardship the interactive behaviors of different sectors are hard fact to disentangle, that there exists a hybrid of steward-like and agent-like behavioral orientation in their interaction. In reference to the analysis on the pros and cons of each model, this paper proposes that it is reasonable to manage and organize heritage resource within a new top-down model being characterized by networked collaboration between different sectors, correspondingly some specific suggestions are given in order to strengthen positive interface between different sectors in this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A UiO-66/MS filter was fabricated by constructing UiO-66 membrane on maize straw. • The structure of UiO-66/MS promoted mass transfer and exposure of adsorption sites. • The UiO-66/MS filter exhibited excellent efficiency for phosphate removal. • An all-in-one device was fabricated by connecting the UiO-66/MS filter in series. • Continuous phosphate removal was realized on the all-in-one device. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been demonstrated as effective adsorbents for removal of phosphate from wastewater, but the difficulty in processing and recycling of powdery MOFs limits their practical application. Shaping MOFs into application-oriented forms meanwhile maintaining their intrinsic property is important but challenging. Here, a novel UiO-66/MS filter is fabricated by constructing UiO-66 membrane on the cell wall of waste maize straw (MS) through a solvothermal process. The unique biological structure of MS provides well-developed channels for mass transfer, and the UiO-66 nanoparticles are uniformly anchored on the cell walls of MS to form a monolayer membrane, promoting the exposure of adsorption sites. Due to these structural advantages, the UiO-66/MS filter exhibits higher efficiency for phosphate removal from water than UiO-66 pellet. To realize continuous phosphate removal, an all-in-one device is fabricated by connecting UiO-66/MS filters in series, over which the residual P content (initial P = 3.0 mg·L−1) in the effluent still meets the primary (<0.5 mg·L−1 at 300 L·m−2·h−1) and secondary (<1.0 mg·L−1 at 800 L·m−2·h−1) standards of China's integrated wastewater discharge standard. This study not only provides an efficient UiO-66/MS filter for phosphate remediation, but also provides a blueprint for value-added utilization of the waste MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Variations in the soil carbon sequestration capability of different types of salt marsh soils at Chongming Dongtan and its influencing factors were studied by analyzing the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, organic matter input and microbial activities. The results indicated that the total SOC content at Area A (southeast of Dongtan, sandy soil with Phragmites communis) was only 46.11% of that of Area B (northeast of Dongtan, clay soil with mixed P. communis and Spartina alterniflora) (P =0.000<0.05), but their organic matter input per year was almost identical. These findings implied that Area B had a lower output of SOC. The microbial biomass at Area A was 3.83 times greater than that at Area B (P =0.049<0.05); the soil catalase and invertase activities at Area A, which were related to carbon metabolism, were 60.31% (P =0.006<0.05) and 34.33% (P =0.021<0.05) higher than at Area B, respectively; and the soil respiration at Area A was also higher than at Area B. These findings implied that the microbial activities at Area A were greater than those at Area B, and therefore the carbon metabolism was rapid, resulting in increased SOC output at Area A. Increased water content and salinity in the clay soil at Area B may inhibit the microbial activities, thereby reducing the decomposition of the organic matter and enhancing carbon sequestration. In addition, some artificial measures for controlling spread of S. alterniflora at Area B (mowing/digging and tillage (M+D); mowing/digging and tillage/waterlogging (M+D+W)) were found to generally improve the microbial activity of soil, thereby increasing SOC output. However, when the two different physical controlling modes were compared, the SOC and microbial activities of the soil subjected to the M+D+W treatment were relatively high and low, respectively, due to waterlogging restraining the microbial metabolism. These findings indicated that the difference in microbial activities was the important factor leading to variability in the SOC sequestration capability between Areas A and B. Additionally, with the exception of soil texture and vegetation types, environmental conditions and artificial turbulence also influenced microbial activities of soil, and hence SOC output and organic carbon sequestration capability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In response to climate change, developing renewable energy has become a main way of energy transition in many countries. In terms of medium-and long-term, the development of renewable energy generation technologies, such as wind and solar, is certain to face uncertainties. More than this, power demand and other factors are also facing many complex uncertainties. However, traditional planning methods are not able to take various uncertainties into account. In the past, the serious underestimation of uncertainties existing in the development caused China's a series of problems, such as renewables curtailment. Therefore, this paper firstly reviews the current status and the existing problems of renewable energy generation in China, and discusses the crucial uncertainty factors affecting medium-and long-term renewable energy planning; and then, the complex uncertainty models of power demand and renewable energy generation cost are built respectively, and the improved integrated resource strategic planning model is proposed; finally, by using the proposed model China's wind, solar and biomass power development during 2016–2030 is studied from the perspective of big data planning, and the advantages and drawbacks of the improved method is discussed. • It gives a review of the historical renewable energy planning in China. • Major uncertainty factors affecting renewable energy development are analyzed. • Uncertainty factors are modeled and Latin hypercube sampling is introduced. • Integrated Resource Strategic Planning based on complex uncertainty simulation is proposed. • A case on China's renewable energy power development can be studied from a big data planning perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can be used as prognostic biomarkers in many types of cancer. Objective We sought to establish an lncRNA signature to improve postoperative risk stratification for patients with localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Design, setting, and participants Based on the RNA-seq data of 444 stage I–III ccRCC tumours from The Cancer Genome Atlas project, we built a four-lncRNA-based classifier using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operation (LASSO) Cox regression model in 222 randomly selected samples (training set) and validated the classifier in the remaining 222 samples (internal validation set). We confirmed this classifier in an external validation set of 88 patients with stage I–III ccRCC from a Japan cohort and using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in another three independent sets that included 1869 patients from China with stage I–III ccRCC. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Univariable and multivariable Cox regression, Harrell's concordance index (c-index), and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the association of the classifier with overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival. Results and limitations Using the LASSO Cox regression model, we built a classifier named RCClnc4 based on four lncRNAs: ENSG00000255774, ENSG00000248323, ENSG00000260911, and ENSG00000231666. In the RNA-seq and RT-PCR data sets, the RCClnc4 signature significantly stratified patients into high-risk versus low-risk groups in terms of clinical outcome across and within subpopulations and remained as an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analyses (hazard ratio range, 1.34 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.03–1.75; p = 0.028] to 1.89 [95% CI, 1.55–2.31; p < 0.001]) after adjusting for clinical and pathologic factors. The RCClnc4 signature achieved a higher accuracy (mean c-index, 0.72) than clinical staging systems such as TNM (mean c-index, 0.62) and the stage, size, grade, and necrosis (SSIGN) score (mean c-index, 0.64), currently reported prognostic signatures and biomarkers for the estimation of survival. When integrated with clinical characteristics, the composite clinical and lncRNA signature showed improved prognostic accuracy in all data sets (TNM + RCClnc4 mean c-index, 0.75; SSIGN + RCClnc4 score mean c-index, 0.75). The RCClnc4 classifier was able to identify a clinically significant number of both high-risk stage I and low-risk stage II–III patients. Conclusions The RCClnc4 classifier is a promising and potential prognostic tool in predicting the survival of patients with stage I–III ccRCC. Combining the lncRNA classifier with clinical and pathological parameters allows for accurate risk assessment in guiding clinical management. Patient summary The RCClnc4 classifier could facilitate patient management and treatment decisions. Take Home Message Our RCClnc4 classifier could add prognostic value to existing clinicopathological risk factors for stage I–III clear cell renal cell carcinoma and provide a more accurate and individualized risk assessment beyond reported signature. The RCClnc4 classifier may facilitate patient management and treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An industrial heat pump can upgrade heat from a low temperature level to a high temperature level with the aid of an external energy source. It has received considerable attention as an efficient means of waste energy recovery in the recent years in China. This paper summarizes the research work done and advances in the application of industrial heat pump systems in China, including advances in refrigerants, multistage system, double-effect absorption system, compression–absorption system, solar assisted system, and chemical heat pump system. Industrial heat pumps used in three industrial fields (drying of wastewater sludge, crude oil heating in oil field, and process heating in printing and dyeing) are discussed in detail. Three basic problems in designing an engineering heat pump system, i.e., selection of the type of heat pump and determination of its capacity, energetic and exergetic analyses of the heat pump, and estimation of investment payback time are discussed in the above three industries, respectively. Further research needs in China on industrial heat pumps are proposed, which may also be beneficial to the international community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the non-parametric data envelopment analysis method (DEA) is employed to evaluate energy efficiency (EE) of 34 coal-fired power units in China. Input-oriented CCR (Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes) model is used for EE analysis. Two efficiency indices, generalized EE and special EE are defined and analyzed. The generalized EE is calculated based on four input parameters: coal consumption, oil consumption, water consumption and auxiliary power consumption by power units. The special EE is only based on two input parameters: coal consumption and auxiliary power consumption. Relations between these two EE indices and non-comparable factors including quality of coal, load factor, capacity factor, parameters of main steam and cooling method are studied. Comparison between EE evaluation results of the two indices is conducted. Results show that these two kinds of EE are more sensitive to the load factor than the capacity factor. The influence of the cooling method on EE is larger than that of main steam parameter. The influence of non-comparable factors on the special EE is stronger than that on the generalized EE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The so-called Hierarchical–Indicator Comparison (HIC) method is introduced in this paper. It mainly serves for industrial energy conservation programs in China. A chemical industry named purified terephthalic acid (PTA) is used to outline this method. Two key points of the HIC method are the construction of energy efficiency indicators (EEI) system and the way to utilize indicators appropriately. After a brief review of EE evaluation methods in literature, the construction procedure of energy efficiency indicators (EEI) system for PTA industry is presented firstly. How to correct reference values for indicators according to non-comparable factors is discussed. Then, how to implement the HIC method based on EEI system is presented. Every indicator has its own advantages and disadvantages. Disadvantages of an indicator can be conquered by other indicators. With multiple indicators used together, more objective EE evaluation result can be obtained. Finally, some proposals for further work of this method are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SALSCS demonstration unit in Xi 'an, China is introduced. • A three-dimensional numerical simulation method considering the non-uniformity of solar irradiation is presented. • A sunshine fraction k T that reflects weather conditions is proposed. • The assumption of uniform incident solar radiation overestimates the system thermal airflow rate. Solar-Assisted Large-Scale Cleaning System (SALSCS) is a new attempt to alleviate outdoor air pollution by using solar energy. A demonstration unit was built in Xi 'an, China, in 2016. Field tests and numerical simulations were carried out on the demonstration unit in January 2017. Results show that the thermal airflow rate of the south collector is well predicted, while that of the north collector is seriously overestimated, with a deviation between the simulated value and the measured value being as larger as 47.07%. In this paper, an improved numerical simulation method considering the non-uniformity of solar irradiation, the effects of weather condition and the photovoltaic panels of the collector top is presented. Simulation results show that the deviation between the simulated thermal airflow rate of the north collector and the measured value is only 2.13%. Photovoltaic panels on the collector top have a little influence on the thermal airflow rate of the collectors. If the roof of the north and south collectors is covered with all photovoltaic panels, the thermal airflow rate will be reduced only by 6.93% and 7.99%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Aerated irrigation (AI) increased soil oxygen content, and urease and catalase activities in the tomato field. • AI significantly increased crop N accumulation and its translocation to tomato fruit. • AI along with reduced N application rate significantly increased tomato yield and NUE compared with conventional irrigation. Optimizing nitrogen (N) fertilization is an integral component of maximizing crop yields while minimizing environmental harm. Aerated irrigation (AI) significantly improves the soil permeability and water productivity, and is increasing in popularity. However, little information is available on the effects of AI on soil characteristics, crop yield and N use efficiency (NUE). The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of AI under different N fertilization rates on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) soil environment and N dynamics, and to determine the optimal N application rate for maximizing yield under AI. A two-year greenhouse experiment consisting of two irrigation methods (AI and conventional irrigation [CK]) and five application N rates (0, 50, 150, 200 and 250 kg ha−1) was conducted in Yangling, Shaanxi province, China. Our results indicated that soil water-filled pore space was lower than 60 % at 150 and 200 kg N ha-1, which increased the oxygen content of the soil. Soil urease and catalase activities under AI at 150 and 200 kg N ha−1 also increased, providing sufficient inorganic N for tomato growth. Use of AI increased tomato plant N uptake and translocated more N to fruit due to prolonging the periods when N accumulates quickly and of reproductive growth. The N dilution curves for tomato established under AI and CK showed that AI could accumulate 5% more dry matter than CK for the same amount of N uptake. The maximum tomato yield occurred with 200 kg N ha−1 for the CK treatment, but similar yield was observed with the 150 kg N ha−1 application rate under AI. The NUE with 150 kg N ha−1 was substantially higher than with 200 kg N ha−1. AI increased tomato yield and NUE of this treatment by 3.9–5.4 % and 3–13.2 %, respectively. Thus the N application rate could be reduced to 150 kg N ha−1 under AI without reducing tomato yield. Additionally, the AI system is simple and easy to operate, and could be widely used to improve crop yield and NUE while reducing N application rate. These results have important implications for the development of management strategies to maintain yield while reducing environment risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The association between sarcopenia severity and fall history remains under-researched at present. Accordingly, this study was developed to evaluate the relationship between sarcopenic status and prior fall events in a multiethnic group of older community-dwelling adults in Western China., Design: A retrospective survey study, the data comes from the West China Health and Aging Trend study., Setting: The study was based in Western China., Participants: In total, this retrospective analysis incorporated data from 2719 older adults (59.2% women)., Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: Grip strength, gait speed and skeletal muscle mass index values were analysed for all participants, and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2014 and 2019 consensus criteria were leveraged to assess sarcopenia status in these individuals. Prior fall history was defined by any incidents in which an individual unintentionally came to rest on the floor within the past year. The association between sarcopenia status and fall history was examined through a binary logistic regression approach, with p<0.05 as the threshold for significance., Results: Using the AWGS2014 and AWGS2019 diagnostic criteria, of the individuals included in this study cohort 1851 (68.1%) were free of sarcopenia, 160 (5.9%) and 56 (2.1%) showed only muscle-mass loss, 322 (11.8%) and 267 (9.8%) exhibited non-severe sarcopenia and the remaining 386 (14.2%) and 545 (20.0%) exhibited severe sarcopenia, respectively. Previous fall events were reported for 14.8% of study cohort members. After full adjustment for potential confounders, a significant link between severe sarcopenia diagnosed by the AWGS2014 diagnostic criteria and fall history was observed (OR 1.397, 95% CI 1.029 to 1.896, p=0.032), while the AWGS2019 diagnostic criteria did not (OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.982 to 1.694, p=0.068)., Conclusions: Severe sarcopenia, as defined per the AWGS2014 criteria, was associated with a significantly higher risk of falls in this multiethnic cohort of older adults from Western China, while the AWGS2019 diagnostic criteria did not. However, this relationship was not observed for individuals who experienced muscle mass loss or had non-severe sarcopenia, according to both the AWGS2014 and AWGS2019 diagnostic criteria., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Four new quassinoids (1-4) and twenty known analogues (5-24) were isolated from the seeds of Brucea javanica. All the compounds belong to tetracyclic quassinoids. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS and 1D, 2D NMR. In in vitro bioassays, (5-9, 17-19 and 23) showed inhibitory activities for nitric oxide (NO) release in LPS-activated MH-S macrophages and IC 50 values of 0.11-45.56 μM. Among them, bruceoside B significantly decreased LPS-induced NO, secretion of inflammatory factor cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Western Blot was used to verify the expression of p-IκB-α, IκB-α, p-NF-κB, NF-κB, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, p-PI3K, PI3K, p-Akt, and Akt proteins in PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signal pathway. Bruceoside B inhibited the activity of Akt and its downstream pathways and reduced the activation of apoptotic. In vivo, it was found that bruceoside B had obvious therapeutic effect on LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice, and the effect of tissue section was obvious. The regulatory signal pathway of bruceoside B on inflammation was consistent with the anti-inflammatory pathway in vitro. Therefore, the results implied that bruceoside B has a certain therapeutic effect on inflammation and has a certainly effect on acute lung injury., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: To study the hematologic and molecular features of 14 patients with hemoglobin (Hb) variants, so as to provide reference data for its laboratory screening., Methods: A total of 1 029 samples were screened by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on the Bio-Rad VariantⅡHPLC system. GAP-PCR and reverse dot blot (RDB) were used to detect common mutation of α and β globin gene in Chinese. DNA sequencing for α and β globin gene was simultaneously performed in samples with abnormal spectrum peak and negative thalassemia gene., Results: In 1 029 samples, 10 types of structural Hb variants were detected in14 cases (1.36%), including 1 case of Hb E / β- thalassemia, 1 case of Hb E /α- thalassemia (HbH disease), 2 cases of HbG-Taipei, 2 cases of Hb Q-Thailand, 2 cases of Hb Youngstown, 1 case of Hb Guangzhou-Hangzhou, 1 case of Hb M-Boston, 1 case of Hb G-Siriraj, 1 case of Hb J-Baltimore, 1 case of Hb J-Sicilia and 1 case of Hb Tamano., Conclusion: The occurrence of abnormal structural Hb variants with many genotypes in Shanghai is unique. Except for Hb E, Hb Youngstown, and Hb M-Boston, other types of heterozygous are normal in phenotypes, and symptoms such as hemolysis and anemia often occur when other diseases are combined.

We measured the annual net biomass growth, carbon content of each component and soil heterotrophic respiration in four low-efficiency interplanting patterns, i.e ., Pinus massoniana stands interplanting Myrica rubra , Sapindus mukurossi , Camellia oleifera and Gardenia jasminoides in Changting County, Fujian Province, with the aim to analyze the effects of interplanting patterns on carbon storage pattern and carbon balance of low-efficiency P. massoniana stand. The ranges of carbon content in different organs of M. rubra , S. mukurossi , C. oleifera , G. jasminoides and P. massoniana were 41.1%-50.1%, 42.2%-50.6%, 45.1%-48.9%, 44.7%-49.6% and 46.1%-51.9%, respectively. Carbon content of the same organ significantly differed among tree species. The pattern of P. massoniana interplanting M. rubra and S. mukurossi had the highest carbon stock and annual net carbon increase reserves, with values of 67.62-68.42 t·hm -2 and 9.21-9.45 t·hm -2 ·a -1 , respectively. Followed by the lower pattern of C. oleifera , G. jasminoides , with values of 31.96-36.24 t·hm -2 and 4.09-4.16 t·hm -2 ·a -1 , respectively. The P. massoniana pure forest was the lowest, with values of 17.01 t·hm -2 and 2.00 t·hm -2 ·a -1 , respectively. Annual flux of soil heterotrophic respiration was following the order of P. massoniana interplanting M. rubra pattern (7.41 t·hm -2 ·a -1 ) > P. massoniana interplanting C. oleifera pattern (5.89 t·hm -2 ·a -1 )> P. massoniana interplanting S. mukurossi pattern (5.86 t·hm -2 ·a -1 ) > P. massoniana interplanting G. jasminoides pattern (4.95 t·hm -2 ·a -1 ) > P. massoniana pure forest (2.45 t·hm -2 ·a -1 ). Annual net ecosystem carbon balance of P. massoniana interplanting M. rubra and S. mukurossi patterns were 2.04 and 3.27 t C·hm -2 ·a -1 , showing a "carbon sink" pattern. The net carbon balance in the patterns of P. massoniana interplanting C. oleifera and G. jasminoides along with P. massoniana pure forest were -1.80, -0.80 and -0.45 t C·hm -2 ·a -1 , which expressed a "carbon source" pattern. In the short-term, interplanting with M. rubra or S. mukurossi could improve the carbon income of the low-efficiency P. massoniana stand ecosystem.

Glechomae Herba (GH) is derived from the dried aerial part of Glechoma longituba (Nakai) Kupr., which is harvested from spring to autumn. It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxification. The aim of this paper was to study the chemical composition and the anti-complement activity of GH collected in different months. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry based on predicted compounds screening and diagnostic ion filter strategy was developed for identifying the chemical composition of GH collected in different months. A total of 102 compounds-40 chlorogenic acids (CGAs), 32 phenolic acids, and 30 flavonoids-were reasonably identified in GH. Thirty-four CGAs were discovered in GH for the first time. The correlations between chemical compositions and anti-complement activities of GH collected in different months were analyzed. Phenolic acids and flavonoids were found to be negatively correlated with anti-complement activity, and CGAs were positively correlated with anti-complement activity. At the same time, six CGA standards had obvious anti-complement activity. It was demonstrated that different harvest months had a significant impact on the difference in chemical composition and anti-complement activity of GH. And CGAs might play an important role in the anti-complement activity of GH., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

To clarify the spatial variability of soil water content at field scale, a reasonable sampling method was established to support precision irrigation in the field. Soil samples were collected from Caoxinzhuang experimental area in Yangling District, Shaanxi Province at seven different dates. The spatial variation of soil water content in different soil layers of 0-60 cm were analyzed with classical statistics and geostatistics methods. The results showed that spatial distribution of soil water content in field scale was weak and moderate. When soil water content was within the range of 11.7%-20.1%, soil water content was negatively correlated with spatial variability. Sampling interval signifi-cantly affected the calculation accuracy of the spatial variability of soil water content. The coefficient of variation of soil water content between the east-west direction spacing of 27 m and the north-south direction spacing of 9 m was about 3.3% higher than the east-west direction spacing of 9 m and the north-south direction spacing of 18 m. With increasing sampling density, the contour change of soil water content distribution increased, and the number of grids with the least spatial variability of soil water content at the field scale was 21 points. When the sampling spacing was 18 m in the east-west direction, 9 m in the north-south direction, soil water content at field scale had a high spatial distribution correlation with soil water content in the middle position being 3%-5% higher than the surrounding. Our results provided reference for reasonable sampling of soil water content in the Guanzhong Plain and could guide the precision irrigation in agriculture.

Significant global warming increases over the last century have resulted in recent research focused on practices to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Agricultural management practices, such as nitrogen (N) fertilization and aerated irrigation (AI), have significantly increased crop yields by improving soil water and fertilizer availability, and have been widely adopted in recent years. However, the interactive impact of different growing seasons and management practices in the greenhouse on GHG emissions is unclear. This greenhouse study was conducted during Spring and Autumn cultivation periods in Yangling, China with five N application rates (0, 50, 150, 200,250 kg ha -1 ) and two irrigation methods (AI and conventional irrigation [CK]). The results indicated that AI and N application both increased tomato yield, but also increased soil CO 2 and N 2 O emissions. The temperature was 4 °C higher during Spring cultivation than during Autumn cultivation, which significantly (P < 0.05) increased soil emissions of CO 2 , N 2 O, and net GHG by 10.6%, 43.8%, and 12.3%, respectively. However, the yield in Spring cultivation only increased by 5.1% (P > 0.05). Thus, among the selectable cultivation seasons, the cooler season (Autumn) along with AI and 200 kg N ha -1 , was recommended to farmers to avoid adverse effects of a warming environment. AI and 150 kg N ha -1 in Spring cultivation could be recommended as an alternative measure to local farmers. Our results suggest that in a future warmer climate, reducing nitrogen fertilizer rate in conjunction with the use of AI will remain important practices for maintaining crop yield while reducing soil net GHG emissions. There is an urgent need to transform current management practices to offset the negative impacts of climate change., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Arpin (Arp2/3 complex inhibitor), a novel protein found in 2013, plays a pivotal role in cell motility and migration. However, the prognostic value of Arpin in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unknown., Materials and Methods: We analyzed the gene expression of ARPIN using the GEO dataset (GSE71989) and validated the results by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blot in our clinical database. Tissue microarray specimens from 214 patients who underwent curative pancreatectomy for PDAC were used. The tumors that expressed high and low levels of Arpin were compared with patient outcome using Kaplan-Meier curves and the multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model. IHC was then used in 43 paired primary tumor tissues and metastasis tissues to detect the expression of Arpin., Results: Arpin had low expression in the tumor tissue compared with the paracancerous tissue in PDAC. Patients with low intratumoral Arpin expression had worse overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) than patients with high expression in the training set (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) and validation set (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). The multivariate analysis revealed that the 8th edition TNM stage and Arpin expression were independent prognostic factors associated with OS and RFS in the training and validation sets, respectively. Arpin had lower expression in the metastasis tissues than in the primary tumors of patients with PDAC (p = 0.048)., Conclusion: The Arpin level is an independent prognostic factor that can be a potential predictor to aid in the management of PDAC., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.)

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can be used as prognostic biomarkers in many types of cancer., Objective: We sought to establish an lncRNA signature to improve postoperative risk stratification for patients with localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)., Design, Setting, and Participants: Based on the RNA-seq data of 444 stage I-III ccRCC tumours from The Cancer Genome Atlas project, we built a four-lncRNA-based classifier using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operation (LASSO) Cox regression model in 222 randomly selected samples (training set) and validated the classifier in the remaining 222 samples (internal validation set). We confirmed this classifier in an external validation set of 88 patients with stage I-III ccRCC from a Japan cohort and using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in another three independent sets that included 1869 patients from China with stage I-III ccRCC., Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: Univariable and multivariable Cox regression, Harrell's concordance index (c-index), and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the association of the classifier with overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival., Results and Limitations: Using the LASSO Cox regression model, we built a classifier named RCClnc4 based on four lncRNAs: ENSG00000255774, ENSG00000248323, ENSG00000260911, and ENSG00000231666. In the RNA-seq and RT-PCR data sets, the RCClnc4 signature significantly stratified patients into high-risk versus low-risk groups in terms of clinical outcome across and within subpopulations and remained as an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analyses (hazard ratio range, 1.34 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.03-1.75; p=0.028] to 1.89 [95% CI, 1.55-2.31; p<0.001]) after adjusting for clinical and pathologic factors. The RCClnc4 signature achieved a higher accuracy (mean c-index, 0.72) than clinical staging systems such as TNM (mean c-index, 0.62) and the stage, size, grade, and necrosis (SSIGN) score (mean c-index, 0.64), currently reported prognostic signatures and biomarkers for the estimation of survival. When integrated with clinical characteristics, the composite clinical and lncRNA signature showed improved prognostic accuracy in all data sets (TNM + RCClnc4 mean c-index, 0.75; SSIGN + RCClnc4 score mean c-index, 0.75). The RCClnc4 classifier was able to identify a clinically significant number of both high-risk stage I and low-risk stage II-III patients., Conclusions: The RCClnc4 classifier is a promising and potential prognostic tool in predicting the survival of patients with stage I-III ccRCC. Combining the lncRNA classifier with clinical and pathological parameters allows for accurate risk assessment in guiding clinical management., Patient Summary: The RCClnc4 classifier could facilitate patient management and treatment decisions., (Copyright © 2018 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

With annual Glycyrrhiza uralensis seedlings as experimental material, using "3414" optimal regression design and applied fertilizer, through the sampling of G. uralensis at harvest, root fresh weight and content of active components were measured in Lanzhou, Bayan Nur city, Chifeng, Jiuquan. Combined with NPK content in soil, potted experiments were used to study the effects of different nitrogen and phosphorus ratios on the dry matter accumulation and accumulation of active components of G. uralensis. The results reported as follows: the optimum fertilizer treatment in Lanzhou, Bayan Nur city, Chifeng, Jiuquan was N₁P₂K₁,N₂P₂K₁,N₁P₁K₂ and N₂P₁K₂, respectively. The efforts of single fertilizer on the fresh root weight acted as parabolic type.There was no significant effect of fertilizer treatment on the accumulation of active components of G. uralensis. Furthermore, in terms of nitrogen and phosphorus, the type of fertilizers that restricted the growth of the region was the type of elements with lower content in the soil. The optimal fertilizer usage was in inverse proportion to content of elements in soil. When the content of phosphorus in soil was low, nitrogen fertilizer and potash fertilizer showed positive interaction with phosphorus fertilizer, whereas, they showed negative interaction., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.)

This study was conducted to investigate the wild and cultivated resource situation of Rheum tanguticum in main production area of China, estimate its reserves, and put forward the feasible approach for the sustainable utilization of R. tanguticum. On the basis of the literature data about R. tanguticum, conbined with interview, investigation and sampling investigation, the total reserve of resources is estimated using the route-quadrat method and the vegetation and soil-type map area method proposed by our research group. The results indicate that there is no obvious change between the present distribution ranges of the wild R. tanguticum and its historical records, but its population density has changed clearly. The reserve of the wild R. tanguticum has seriously declined in lots of place, even faced the exhaustion in some regions. According to the investigation, the resource reserve of the wild R. tanguticum is no more than 5 000 t, and the cultivated is about 1 607 t. The resource reserve of the wild R. tanguticum is nearly depleted, and this suggests that the wild R. tanguticum should be enrolled in the protection plant list, and the cultivated will become the main resource of Rhubarb in the future. So it is extremely neccessary to collect and protect the germplasm resource of R. tanguticum, establish the germplasm nursery and repository, and conduct breeding research on those bases.

Based on the 1951-2006 climatic observation data from 224 meteorological stations in South China (Guangdong Province, Guangxi Autonomous Region, and Fujian Province) and the historical information about the chilling injury losses of banana and litchi, the accumulated harmful chilling for the processes with minimum daily temperature < or = 5.0 degrees C and more than 3 days was used to indicate the climatic risk of chilling injury during the whole growth season, and an integrated climatic index with the background of climate change was constructed. The maps of geographical distribution of climatic risk probability for each grade chilling injury, and of integrated climatic risk zoning for banana and litchi's chilling injury were drawn, and the spatial variation of climatic risk for banana and litchi's chilling injury was commented. The results indicated that in the study area, climate warming might lead to the decrease of cold resistance of banana and litchi, which could increase the disaster risk of chilling injury. The geographical distribution of climatic risk probability for banana and litchi's chilling injury showed a zonal pattern. According to the integrated climatic risk index, the banana and litchi's chilling injury region was divided into three risk types, i.e., high risk, moderate risk, and low risk, which provided an important basis for the adjustment of agricultural production structure.

Experimental evidence suggesting that heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) gene or associated genes are responsible for the pathophysiology of hypertension is accumulating. In this study, we focused on five polymorphisms in three genes (HSPA1A, HSPA1B, and HSPA1L) of Hsp70 family to explore the genetic contribution, alone and in combination, of these polymorphisms to essential hypertension risk in a Uygur population. Genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing techniques. Data were analyzed using haplotype and multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) methods. Genotype distributions of all the polymorphisms satisfied the Hardy-Weinberg proportions in cases and controls. Statistical significance was only observed in the genotype (P = 0.0028) and (P = 0.0146) allele distributions of -110A/C polymorphism, with the -110C allele conferring a 1.45- and 2.83-fold of relative risk, assuming the additive and recessive models, respectively, and in 1267A/G genotype distribution (P = 0.0106) with the 1267G allele conferring a 44% reduced risk. The interaction information analysis indicated that polymorphisms -110A/C and 1267A/G had a strong synergistic effect, while polymorphisms 2074G/C and 2437T/C had a moderate synergistic effect. Haplotype analyses further strengthened the interaction information. Using the haplotype H(1) as a reference, haplotype H(4) had a 40% reduced risk, while haplotypes H(5) and H(8) had a significantly 5.00- and 3.75-fold increased risk for essential hypertension, respectively. Taken together, our results supported strong genetic interaction of the studied polymorphisms with the risk of having essential hypertension in Uygur ethnicity. Functional studies are warranted to confirm or refute these findings. This is the first study to evaluate the genetic interaction information of the Hsp70 in Uygur ethnicity, which represents one of the major nationalities in China with high homogeneity and unique lifestyles. Moreover, we employed the haplotype and MDR methods to explore the potential interaction of Hsp70 genetic polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension in Uygur.

Objective: To establish the focus management mode and the report criteria more perfectly for the virus hepatitis cases, especially for the hepatitis B., Methods: One district was set as the research area, in which there was enough cases resource and relatively separated from the other districts, then a first or second-class hospital was appointed to take the cases focus diagnosis, report and management., Results: The focus hospitals had reported 97% (323/331) of cases in the research area between June,2007 and June,2008; moreover,the rate in establishing case-card was 97.21% (314/323), as compared with that in period of 2007 (261), the cases reported declined 61.30% in the first half year of 2008 (101)., Conclusion: It should be an imperative situation to establish a report criteria and management mode for virus hepatitis (hepatitis B), however it is necessary to have more supports from health administrations.

Objective: Apelin and AGTRL1 (angiotensin receptor-like 1), elements of a newly identified pathway with a role in counter regulating the renin-angiotensin system, have been implicated in blood pressure regulation. This study aims to assess whether the apelin and AGTRL1 genetic polymorphisms might contribute to essential hypertension or its related phenotypes., Methods: We recruited 1015 Han Chinese from 248 families with essential hypertension. Each individual was genotyped for 6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in apelin and 6 SNPs in AGTRL1. Data were analyzed using the family-based association test (FBAT) and the haplotype-based association test (HBAT)., Results: FBAT analysis showed that two SNPs rs3761581 and T-1860C within apelin conferred significant association with hypertension and its related phenotypes even after correcting for age and gender. Three SNPs (rs7119375, rs10501367 and rs9943582) within AGTRL1 were found to be associated with hypertension, BMI and the onset age of hypertension, whereas after correction, only marginal associations were noted. Of the common haplotypes (with frequencies over 3%), haplotypes (A-T) and (C-C) comprising rs3761581 and T-1860C in apelin and haplotype (G-G) comprising rs10501367 and rs7119375 in AGTRL1 were shown to be significantly associated with hypertension, BMI and the onset age of hypertension, even after a permutation correction., Conclusions: Our study suggests that genetic variation within apelin and AGTRL1 likely contributes to essential hypertension, BMI and the onset age of hypertension. Future well designed epidemiological or functional studies would be warranted to validate this hypothesis.