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In recent years, the proportion of installed wind power in the three north regions where wind power bases are concentrated is increasing, but the peak regulation capacity of the power grid in the three north regions of China is limited, resulting in insufficient local wind power consumption capacity. Therefore, this paper proposes a two-layer optimal scheduling strategy based on wind power consumption benefits to improve the power grid's wind power consumption capacity. The objective of the upper model is to minimize the peak-valley difference of the system load, which is mainly to optimize the system load by using the demand response resources, and to reduce the peak-valley difference of the system load to improve the peak load regulation capacity of the grid. The lower scheduling model is aimed at maximizing the system operation benefit, and the scheduling model is selected based on the rolling scheduling method. The load-side scheduling model needs to reallocate the absorbed wind power according to the response speed, absorption benefit, and curtailment penalty cost of the two DR dispatching resources. Finally, the measured data of a power grid are simulated by MATLAB, and the results show that: the proposed strategy can improve the power grid's wind power consumption capacity and get a large wind power consumption benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a substantial public health safety concern drawing considerable attention in China and globally. The detection of HBV serological markers can enable the assessment of HBV infection and replication status in vivo and evaluate the body's protection against HBV. Therefore, this study aims to identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of HBV infection in children to prevent and control HBV infection in Wuhan areas. Methods: We conducted an extensive retrospective cohort analysis of 115,029 individuals aged 0–18 years who underwent HBV serological markers detection for HBV infection in hospital between 2018 and 2021 using Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. We generated descriptive statistics and analysed HBV infection's epidemiological and clinical characteristics between different sex and age groups. Results: The overall positive detection rates of HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb in all participants were 0.13%, 79.09%, 0.17%, 2.81%, and 5.82%, respectively. The positive rate of HBeAb and HBcAb in males was significantly lower than that in females (2.64% vs. 3.13%, 5.56% vs. 6.29%) (P < 0.05). Twenty-two distinct HBV serological expression patterns were revealed. Among them, 8 common expression patterns accounted for 99.63%, while the remaining 14 uncommon expression patterns were primarily observed in neonatal patients with HBV infection. There are no significant differences in serological patterns based on sex (P < 0.05). The overall HBV infection detection rate was 5.82% [range 5.68–5.95] and showed a declining yearly trend. The rate in females was higher than that in males 6.29% [6.05, 6.35] vs. 5.56% [5.39, 5.59]. The overall HBV diagnostic rate over 4 years was 0.20% [0.17, 0.22], and the rate declined yearly. The prevalence of acute infection was higher than that of other infection types before 2019, but the incidence of unclassified infection showed a significant upward trend after 2019. Conclusions: While the overall HBV infection detection rate in children has decreased year by year, the infection rate remains high in children under one year and between 4 and 18 years. This continued prevalence warrants heightened attention and vigilance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) was an important indictor in change of soil fertility, which was closely related with N mineralization process. However, there is still need to further study on how rhizosphere soil N mineralization in paddy field response to different fertilizer management. Therefore, the influence of long‐term (37‐years) fertilizer regime on rhizosphere soil N mineralization, ammonification and nitrification rates, and its relationship under the double‐cropping paddy field in southern of China were investigated in this study. The field experiment included following fertilizer regimes: inorganic fertilizer alone (MF), rice straw and inorganic fertilizer (RF), 30% organic manure and 70% inorganic fertilizer (OM), and no application of any fertilizer as a control (CK). The result indicated that rhizosphere soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, NO3‐N, and NH4‐N contents in paddy field with OM and RF treatments were increased. The result showed that rhizosphere soil NO2−‐N and mineral N contents with OM and RF treatments were increased, and the order of soil NO2−‐N and mineral N contents with all fertilizer treatments was showed as OM > RF > MF > CK. This result proved that soil aerobic and anaerobic N mineralization rates in paddy field with OM and RF treatments were higher than that of CK and MF treatments. Compared with MF treatment, soil ammonification rate with RF and OM treatments increased by 45.16% and 67.74%, soil nitrification rate with RF and OM treatments increased by 45.71% and 77.14%, respectively. There had significantly positively correlation between soil net mineralization, nitrification rate and SOC, total N contents. As a result, applied with rice straw and organic manure was a good measure to improve soil N mineralization in the double‐cropping rice field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With increasing prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and changing management of GDM in pregnancy, it is imperative to understand the evolution of its current outcomes. The present study aimed to explore whether birth weight and large for gestational age (LGA) trends in women with GDM have changed over time in southern China. Methods: In this hospital-based retrospective study, all singleton live births for the period 2012 to 2021 were collected from the Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, China. GDM was diagnosed following the criteria of the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group. The cutoff points for defining LGA (>90th centile) at birth based on INTERGROWTH-21st gender-specific standards. Linear regression was used to evaluate trends for birth weight over the years. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratios (ORs) of LGA between women with GDM and those without GDM. Results: Data from 115097 women with singleton live births were included. The total prevalence of GDM was 16.8%. GDM prevalence varied across different years, with the lowest prevalence in 2014 (15.0%) and the highest prevalence in 2021 (19.2%). The mean birth weight displayed decrease in women with GDM from 3.224kg in 2012 to 3.134kg in 2021, and the z score for mean birth weight decreased from 0.230 to -0.037 (P for trend < 0.001). Among women with GDM, the prevalence of macrosomia and LGA reduced significantly during the study period (from 5.1% to 3.0% in macrosomia and from 11.8% to 7.7% in LGA, respectively). Compared to women without GDM, women with GDM had 1.30 (95% CI: 1.23 - 1.38) times odds for LGA, and the ORs remained stable over the study period. Conclusions: Among offspring of women with GDM, there are decreased trends of birth weight in parallel with reductions in LGA prevalence between 2012 and 2021. However, the risk of LGA in women with GDM remains stable at relatively high level over the 10-year period, and efforts are still needed to address regarding causes and effective intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The association between maternal vitamin D concentrations and birth weight is controversial. We conducted a large-scale retrospective cohort study in southern China to explore this relationship. Methods: From July 2017 to April 2019, we enrolled 10,586 pregnant women and measured serum vitamin D [via 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D] in the second trimester using electrochemiluminescence immunoassays. The association between macrosomia and 25(OH)D was analyzed using logistic regression and ROC curve. Results: Average vitamin D concentration was 61.1 ± 20.2 nmol/L. Additionally, 31.1% participants had 25(OH)D concentrations <50.0 nmol/L, while 68.9% exhibited concentrations ≥50.0 nmol/L. Of the subjects, 3.2% of women delivered macrosomic infants (neonatal birth weight ≥4000 g) and 96.8% did not. The macrosomia group had lower vitamin D concentrations than the non-macrosomia group (59.5 ± 22.3 vs. 61.2 ± 20.1, p < .05). Approximately a third of each group had vitamin D < 50.0 nmol/L (non-macrosomia, 31.3%; macrosomia, 35.9%; p = .055). After adjusting for confounding variables, women with 25(OH)D ≥ 50.0 nmol/L had 24.3% lower macrosomia risk than women with 25(OH)D < 50.0 nmol/L (adjusted OR = 0.757, 95% CI = 0.599–0.956, p = .0193). The predictive accuracy of vitamin D concentrations for evaluating macrosomia risk was 0.667 area under the ROC curve. Conclusion: Maternal vitamin D levels are negatively correlated with macrosomia. Elevating vitamin D above 50.0 nmol/L may reduce macrosomia incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effect of maternal vitamin D levels on the birth weight of the offspring remains controversial, as the results are inconsistent between different populations. This large retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the relationship between maternal vitamin D levels and birth weight of neonates in southern China. Methods: Serum samples were collected from 10,586 Chinese women at 13–27 weeks of pregnancy, and the 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) level of the participants was assessed. Using the INTERGROWTH-21st standards, the offspring were classified into three groups based on their gestational age and birth weight, which were small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA), and large for gestational age (LGA). The differences in vitamin D levels among the different groups were compared, and their correlation with newborn birth weight was analyzed. Results: The average maternal vitamin D concentration was 61.1 nmol/L. The 25(OH)D concentrations were 50–75 nmol/L, 25–50 nmol/L and below 25 nmol/L in 45.5%, 29.5%, and 1.6% of the participants, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the vitamin D levels between the three groups. With the increase in 25(OH)D levels, the risk of SGA and LGA tended to increase and decrease, respectively. AGA was not affected by the 25(OH)D levels. The results of the curve fitting and threshold effect analyses did not support the correlation between vitamin D levels and SGA or LGA. Based on the univariate prediction model and the model adjusted for risk factors, the area under the curve was extremely small. Thus, 25(OH)D levels are not an effective predictor of SGA and LGA. Conclusions: Low maternal vitamin D levels were not associated with SGA or LGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intrusion of debris avalanches into reservoirs frequently occurs in mountainous regions and is a complex solid-fluid interaction. A coupled discrete element method (DEM) and smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method is developed to forecast the entire process of disaster chains including landslide motion, wave generation, and wave propagation on Kaiding slopes at the Houziyan Reservoir, Sichuan Province, China. The sliding masses are treated as granular assemblies with collisions instead of rigid solid. The simulation results indicate that the maximum velocity of debris avalanches when swarming into the water surface is beyond 30 m/s, and the maximum wave elevation on the watercourse and the maximum run-up wave elevation generated by landslides reach 1867.4 m and 1883.0 m, respectively, and the minimum wave trough is 1822.1 m occurring near opposite bank of landslide. Furthermore, the range of landslide-generated waves is estimated to be approximately a propagation distance of 800.0 m along the axis of the river. The coupled DEM-SPH simulation method provides important inspiration for hazard prevention on reservoir landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amur virus (AMRV) is a member of the genus Hantavirus in the family Bunyaviridae. In this study, we determined for the first time the complete genome sequence of the AMRV H8205 strain, which was isolated from a patient with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in China. The complete nucleotide sequence of the S segment of AMRV H8205 is 1699 nt long, with a 5' noncoding region (5'NC) of 36 nt, followed by a coding sequence of 1290 nt and a 3'NC of 373 nt. The complete sequence of the M segment is 3615 nt long, with a 5'NC of 40 nt, followed by a coding sequence of 3408 nt and a 3'NC of 167 nt. The complete sequence of the L segment is 6536 nt long, with a 5'NC of 37 nt, followed by a coding sequence of 6453 nt and a 3'NC of 40 nt. The major open reading frame (ORF) of each of the three segments (S, nt 37-1326; M, nt 41-3445; L, nt 38-6490) has a coding capacity of 430 aa, 1135 aa, 2151 aa, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences using the NJ method indicated that H8205 virus, together with the Amur strains isolated from Far-Eastern Russia and Korea, forms a well-supported lineage. Our results will provide insights into the genetic diversity of hantaviruses (HNTV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the establishment of a City Governance Index to evaluate the levels of governance of cities. We identified seven key dimensions of governance and then divided each of them into four stages: input, mechanism, result and effect. Each dimension/stage mix is correlated with indicators that can be measured with both objective and perception data. Using this framework, we successfully conducted public opinion surveys in five major Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai. We then used the 2,172 replies to compare the overall governance performance of the respective cities. This innovative approach holds considerable potential for measuring governance of cities in both China and other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the past decade, scientific research has developed rapidly in China, but the growth seems to vary widely between different disciplines. In this study, we aimed to compare the quantity and quality of publications in urology and nephrology journals from USA, China and Japan. Methods: Journals listed in the "Urology and Nephrology" category of Science Citation Index Expanded subject categories were included. Scientific papers in these journals written by researchers from USA, Japan and China were retrieved from the "PubMed" and "Web of Knowledge" online databases. Results: The annual number of total scientific articles increased significantly from 2001 to 2010 in China, and has ranked second in the world since 2006. In the field of urology and nephrology, the annual number increased significantly from 2001 to 2010 in USA and China; but not in Japan. The share of articles increased significantly over time in China, decreased significantly in Japan, and remained unchanged in USA. In 2010, USA contributed 32.17% of the total world output in urology and nephrology field and ranked 1st; Japan contributed 5.19% and ranked 5th; China contributed 3.83% and ranked 9th. Publications from USA had the highest accumulated IFs and the highest total citations of articles (USA>Japan>China, p<0.001). No significant difference was found in average IF among the three countries. USA published the most articles in the top 10 urology and nephrology journals (USA(35165)>Japan(6704)>China(2233), p<0.001). Researchers from USA published more clinical trials and randomized controlled trials than Japan and China (USA>Japan>China, p<0.001). Conclusion: Although China has undergone significant increase in annual number and percentage of scientific publication in urology and nephrology journals in the past decade, it still lags far behind USA and Japan in the field of urology and nephrology in terms of quantity and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Basal metabolic rate (BMR) has been shown to be a highly flexible phenotypic trait both between and within species, but the physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Brandt''s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) and Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) are two sympatric rodent species in Inner Mongolian grasslands of China. It has been shown that Brandt''s voles have higher metabolic rate than Mongolian gerbils. In this study, we elucidated the inter-specific variation in BMR integratively from the molecular levels to whole organism. Our results showed that differences in organ mass were not good predictors for the observed variations in BMR, while variations in the activity of thyroid hormones and the metabolic biochemical markers of tissues, such as mitochondria density, cytochrome c oxidase activity and state 4 respiration, were strongly correlated with variations in BMR, and there was also a positive relationship between residuals of T3/T4 and state 4 respiration, suggesting that thyroid hormones play an important role in the determination of BMR variations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Based on an evaluation of three methods adopted by current empirical analysis of corruption, this article argues for a statistical analysis method of studying corruption cases. It adopts three new indicators: the latency period of corruption, the number of newly occurring corruption cases and the cumulative number of cases. By applying these indicators to an analysis of 594 major corruption cases, the article develops a new method to describe the position of corruption in transitional China, and presents new evidence on characteristics and trends of corruption and its relation with China's economic transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The microbiome modulates numerous aspects of human physiology and is a crucial factor in the development of various human diseases. Vitamin D deficiency and downregulation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) are also associated with the pathogenesis of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, cancers, obesity, diabetes, and asthma. VDR is a nuclear receptor that regulates the expression of antimicrobial peptides and autophagy regulator ATG16L1. Vitamin D may promote a balanced intestinal microbiome and improve glucose homeo-stasis in diabetes. However, how VDR regulates microbiome is not well known. In the current study, we hypothesize that VDR status regulates the composition and functions of the intestinal bacterial community. Methods: Fecal and cecal stool samples were harvested from Vdr knockout (Ydr-/-) and wild-type mice for bacterial DNA and then sequenced with 454 pyrosequencing. The sequences were denoised and clustered into operational taxonomic units, then queried against the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. Metagenomics were analyzed, and the abundances of genes involved in metabolic pathways were compared by reference to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Clusters of Orthologous Groups databases. Findings: In the Vdr-/- mice, Lactobacillus was depleted in the fecal stool, whereas Clostridium and Bacteroides were enriched. Bacterial taxa along the Sphingobacteria-to-Sphingobacteriaceae lineage were enriched, but no genera reached statistical significance. In the cecal stool, Alistipes and Odoribacter were depleted, and Eggerthella was enriched. Notably, all of the taxa upstream of Eggerthella remained unchanged. A comparison of Vdr-/- and wild-type samples revealed 40 (26 enriched, 14 depleted) and 72 (41 enriched, 31 depleted) functional modules that were significantly altered in the cecal and fecal microbiomes, respectively (both, P < 0.05), due to the loss of Vdr. In addition to phylogenetic differences in gut microbiome with different intestinal origins, we identify several important pathways, such as nucleotide-binding oligo-merization domain-like receptor, affected by Vdr status, including amino acid, carbohydrate, and fatty acid synthesis and metabolism, detoxification, infections, signal transduction, and cancer and other diseases. Implications: Our study fills knowledge gaps by having investigated the microbial profile affected by VDR. Insights from our findings can be exploited to develop novel strategies to treat or prevent various diseases by restoring VDR function and healthy microbe-host interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delay in diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is an important but under-appreciated problem. Our study aimed to analyse the patient pathway and possible risk factors of long diagnostic delay (LDD). We enrolled 400 new bacteriologically diagnosed patients with pulmonary TB from 20 hospitals across China. LDD was defined as an interval between the initial care visit and the confirmation of diagnosis exceeding 14 days. Its potential risk factors were investigated by multivariate logistic regression and multilevel logistic regression. Hospitals in China were classified by increasing size, from level 0 to level 3. TB laboratory equipment in hospitals was also evaluated. The median diagnostic delay was 20 days (IQR: 7–72 days), and 229 of 400 patients (57.3%, 95%CI 52.4–62.1) had LDD; 15% of participants were diagnosed at the initial care visit. Compared to level 0 facilities, choosing level 2 (OR 0.27, 95%CI 0.12–0.62, p 0.002) and level 3 facilities (OR 0.34, 95%CI 0.14–0.84, p 0.019) for the initial care visit was independently associated with shorter LDD. Equipping with smear, culture, and Xpert at initial care visit simultaneously also helped to avoid LDD (OR 0.28, 95%CI 0.09–0.82, p 0.020). The multilevel logistic regression yielded similar results. Availability of smear, culture, and Xpert was lower in level 0–1 facilities than in level 2–3 facilities (p < 0.001, respectively). Most patients failed to be diagnosed at the initial care visit. Patients who went to low-level facilities initially had a higher risk of LDD. Improvement of TB laboratory equipment, especially at low-level facilities, is urgently needed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Bozhushan MEs have compositions that are more primitive than their hosts. • The Bozhushan MEs might be derived from a mantle-derived mafic magma. • Zircons in the MEs have similar U-Pb ages, Hf-O isotopes, Tzr values and Th/U ratios to those of the host Bozhushan granites. • Mantle derived magma mainly contributes to continuous heat for tungsten and tin mineralization. The Bozhushan granites, located in the southeastern Yunnan Province W–Sn polymetallic metallogenic belt in SW China, have considerable W-Sn endowment. However, their petrogenesis remains uncertain, as both crustal and mantle origins have been proposed. Numerous microgranular enclaves (MEs) are found in the Bozhushan granites, and the origin of these MEs can give insights into the petrogenesis of these ore-forming granites. Here we present an integrated study of the major and trace elements, whole-rock Sr–Nd isotopes, and zircon Hf–O isotopes of the MEs. The MEs from the Bozhushan granites are commonly composed of monzodiorite and granodiorite, and they have lower SiO 2 (51.7–66.4 wt%) and higher TiO 2 (0.83–1.67 wt%), MgO (1.68–4.49 wt%), and CaO (1.74–4.26 wt%) contents than those of their hosts (SiO 2 = 64.3–76.9 wt%; TiO 2 = 0.4–0.67 wt%; MgO = 0.86–1.33 wt%; CaO = 2.08–3.25 wt%). Furthermore, the chemical compositions of the MEs and host granites are discontinuous and do not show linear trends in element variation diagrams, as might be expected if the MEs represented restites, thus implying disparate genesis. The observed near-linear element variation most probably reflects mixing of mafic and felsic magma end-members in various proportions. In addition, the MEs have Sr–Nd–Hf–O isotopic characteristics (87Sr/86Sr i = 0.7117–0.7138, εNd = − 12.59 to − 9.26, εHf(t) = − 13.1 to − 6.1, and δ18O = 8.39‰–9.19‰) and zircon U–Pb ages (87.4 ± 1.0 Ma to 86.5 ± 0.4 Ma) that are similar to those of their host granites. We conclude that the similarity of trace-element contents and Sr–Nd isotopic compositions between the MEs and host granites was caused by diffusion and partial re-equilibration. However, if the magma temperature of the MEs was 850 °C, 950 °C, or 1050 °C, the required Zr contents for zircon saturation would be 238–854 ppm, 497–1785 ppm, or 928–3334 ppm, respectively, which are substantially higher than those measured for the bulk rocks (44–436 ppm). Furthermore, zircons from the MEs have Ti-in-zircon temperatures (T zr ; MEs, 669–884 °C; host, 790–842 °C) and Th/U ratios (MEs, 3.43–8.85; host, 2.68–11.86) that are indistinguishable from those of their host granites. Thus, on the basis of our new data, we propose that the MEs of the Bozhushan granites might have been derived from mantle-derived mafic magma. Zircons from the MEs did not crystallize directly within the MEs but rather were xenocrysts that formed during the early stage of magmatic evolution at the bottom of the granitic magma chamber and were subsequently incorporated into the MEs when mafic magma was injected into the granitic magma chamber. The Hf–O isotopes of zircons in this case cannot be used to constrain the primary composition of the magma that formed the MEs. During the Late Cretaceous, owing to lithospheric extension and asthenospheric underplating, the lower crust was partially melted to form high-temperature (790–842 °C) granitic magma in the Bozhushan area. During the formation of the W–Sn mineralization associated with the Bozhushan granites, 10%–20% underplated mafic magma mixed with granitic magma and contributed both heat and mantle-derived material. Therefore, we consider that the Bozhushan granites are clearly characteristic of A-type granites, but the W–Sn mineralization was formed as a result of high-temperature partial melting of Sn–W-rich metasedimentary sources triggered by additional heat provided by mantle-sourced mafic magma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cassiterite U-Pb dating yielded an age of 86.7 ± 2.8 Ma. • CO 2 -rich (Type 1) and aqueous inclusions (Type 2) in cassiterite are identified. • Elemental and isotopic evidence suggests a mixed source. • Genesis of oxidized Sn ores is associated with the Gejiu granite magmatism. The Gejiu Sn ore district, one of the largest Sn producing area (300Mt @1 wt% Sn) in the world, is located in the western margin of the Cathaysia Block, SW China. There are five types of Sn ores in the Gejiu district, including greisen, skarn, veined tourmaline, massive sulfide and oxidized. Among these types of Sn ores, the genesis of the oxidized Sn ores is most controversial, such as magmatic hydrothermal origin and sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) or hot water deposition (Red Sea type). This paper reports U-Pb ages, fluid inclusions, trace elements and H-O isotopes of cassiterite from the oxidized Sn ores, aiming to solve this issue. LA-MC-ICPMS cassiterite U-Pb dating yielded an age of 86.7 ± 2.8 Ma, which is accordant with the formation ages (~86 Ma) of granitic intrusions in the Gejiu district. Two types of fluid inclusions in cassiterite from the oxidized Sn ores were observed, one type is CO 2 -rich inclusions (Type 1) and the other type is aqueous inclusions (Type 2). The homogenization temperatures range from 220 to 366 °C and the salinities range from 10.9 to 21 wt% NaCl equiv. for the two types of fluid inclusions. Furthermore, fluid inclusions in cassiterite from the oxidized Sn ores located at 300 m far away from granitic intrusions have higher temperatures (357–366 °C) than those located at 500 m (273–330 °C). Hence, the ore-forming temperatures tend to decrease with the distance far away from the magmatic hydrothermal center. The vapor components for the two types of fluid inclusions are CO 2 and H 2 O, respectively, and the liquid phase compositions of them are all H 2 O. The CO 2 in the ore-forming fluids may source from marble by decarbonization. This indicates that the precipitation of cassiterite is resulted from fluid immiscible. The δ18O values of fluid inclusions in cassiterite range from +6.1 to +7.7‰, and the δD values range from −135 to −153‰, indicating a mixture of magmatic and meteoric waters. Trace elements show that cassiterite is rich in In, Rb and U, but Ba, Nb and Ti are depleted. In addition, the lower Sr (0.4–2.1 ppm) and higher Sc (35.9–53.7 ppm) contents reflect that the formation of cassiterite is related to F-rich intermediate-acid magma. Cassiterite has a relatively low total REE contents (2.7–9.2 ppm) with negative Eu (δEu = 0.14–0.76) and Ce (δCe = 0.1–0.6) anomalies, indicating that the ore-forming environment is oxidized. This is consistent with the cassiterite precipitation conditions. Hence, all the evidence supports that the oxidized Sn ores are genetically associated with the Gejiu granitic magmatism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects over 95% of the global population and is strongly associated with various autoimmune diseases. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) serve as valuable laboratory biomarkers for screening and supporting the diagnosis of various autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of EBV infection and its association with ANA. This retrospective study employed standard indirect immunofluorescence assay to determine ANA levels, EBV-specific immunofluorescence assay, or plasma EBV-DNA testing. Demographic data including gender and age were collected to observe variations in EBV infection status and ANA positivity rates among different populations. Incorporating 6492 hospitalized patients who underwent ANA antibody spectrum testing, it was observed that serum positivity rates gradually increased with age. The overall serum positivity rate of ANA in females (25.14%) was significantly higher than that in males (13.76%). Among hospitalized patients undergoing EBV-DNA testing, adults aged 21 to 40 years were least affected by EBV, with a positivity rate of 11.96%; however, as age increased, the positivity rate gradually increased. Among the 5225 patients undergoing EBV antibody spectrum testing, ANA-positive patients exhibited significantly higher serum positivity rates for Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 immunoglobulin G, Epstein-Barr virus early antigen immunoglobulin G, Epstein-Barr virus early antigen immunoglobulin A, and Epstein-Barr virus viral capsid antigen immunoglobulin A antibodies compared to ANA-negative patients (P < .001; P < .001; P = .013; P < .001). The EBV-DNA positivity rate in ANA-positive patients was also significantly higher than in ANA-negative patients, yielding the same conclusion (P = .012). The positivity rates of ANA antibodies in patients with past EBV infection and reactivation were significantly higher than those in uninfected patients (P < .001; P = .006). The positivity rate of ANA antibodies in reactivated patients was significantly higher than that in primary infected patients and those with past infections (P < .001; P < .001). Among ANA-positive patients, the positivity rates of EBV antibody spectrum and EBV-DNA were higher compared to ANA-negative patients. The positivity rates of ANA in patients with past EBV infection and reactivation were higher than those in uninfected patients., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Effective management of imported cases is an important part of epidemic prevention and control. Hainan Province, China reported 168 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including 112 imported cases on February 19, 2020, but successfully contained the epidemic within 1 month. We described the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Hainan and compared these features between imported and local cases to provide information for other international epidemic areas., Methods: We included 91 patients (56 imported and 35 local cases) from two designated hospitals for COVID-19 in Haikou, China, from January 20 to February 19, 2020. Data on the demographic, epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics were extracted from medical records. Patients were followed until April 21, 2020, and the levels of antibodies at the follow-ups were also analysed by the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed ranks test., Results: Of the 91 patients, 78 (85.7%) patients were diagnosed within the first three weeks after the first case was identified (Day 1: Jan 22, 2020), while the number of local cases started to increase during the third week. No new cases occurred after Day 29. Fever and cough were two main clinical manifestations. In total, 15 (16.5%) patients were severe, 14 (15.4%) had complicated infections, nine (9.9%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and three died. The median duration of viral shedding in feces was longer than that in nasopharyngeal swabs (19 days vs 16 days, P = 0.007). Compared with local cases, imported cases were older and had a higher incidence of fever and concurrent infections. There was no difference in outcomes between the two groups. IgG was positive in 92.8% patients (77/83) in the follow-up at week 2 after discharge, while 88.4% patients (38/43) had a reduction in IgG levels in the follow-up at week 4 after discharge, and the median level was lower than that in the follow-up at week 2 (10.95 S/Cut Off (S/CO) vs 15.02 S/CO, P <  0.001)., Conclusion: Imported cases were more severe than local cases but had similar prognoses. The level of IgG antibodies declined from week 6 to week 8 after onset. The short epidemic period in Hainan suggests that the epidemic could be quickly brought under control if proper timely measures were taken.

Background: Escherichia coli are mostly commensals but also contain pathogenic lineages. It is largely unclear whether the commensal E. coli as the potential origins of pathogenic lineages may consist of monophyletic or polyphyletic populations, elucidation of which is expected to lead to novel insights into the associations of E. coli diversity with human health and diseases., Methods: Using genomic sequencing and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) techniques, we analyzed E. coli from the intestinal microbiota of three groups of healthy individuals, including preschool children, university students, and seniors of a longevity village, as well as colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, to probe the commensal E. coli populations for their diversity., Results: We delineated the 2280 fresh E. coli isolates from 185 subjects into distinct genome types (genotypes) by PFGE. The genomic diversity of the sampled E. coli populations was so high that a given subject may have multiple genotypes of E. coli, with the general diversity within a host going up from preschool children through university students to seniors. Compared to the healthy subjects, the CRC patients had the lowest diversity level among their E. coli isolates. Notably, E. coli isolates from CRC patients could suppress the growth of E. coli bacteria isolated from healthy controls under nutrient-limited culture conditions., Conclusions: The coexistence of multiple E. coli lineages in a host may help create and maintain a microbial environment that is beneficial to the host. As such, the low diversity of E. coli bacteria may be associated with unhealthy microenvironment in the intestine and hence facilitate the pathogenesis of diseases such as CRC.

Aim: To compare the prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD)., Methods: Two hundred and ninety-four end-stage renal disease patients participated in the study, including 182 HD and 112 PD patients. Dimension scores were calculated from a modified gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) 18-item questionnaire, including items concerning eating dysfunction, and were used for measuring GI symptoms. Information on patient age, condition contributing to end-stage renal disease and the most recent dialysis adequacy assessment (serum Kt/V urea value) was obtained from the follow-up database and by interviewing patients and/or reviewing the medical records. Differences between the HD and PD groups were evaluated using Student's t, Pearson's χ(2) or Fisher's exact tests., Results: The overall prevalence of GI symptoms, defined by a GSRS > 1, in end-stage renal disease patients was 70.7% (208/294), which differed between HD and PD patients (76.4% vs 61.6%, P < 0.01). HD patients had a higher prevalence of constipation, abdominal pain and diarrhea compared to PD patients (36.3% vs 17.9%, 32.4% vs 5.4%, 17.6% vs 4.5%, respectively, P < 0.05). PD patients had a higher prevalence of reflux compared to HD patients (32.1% vs 24.2%, P < 0.05). Additionally, reflux and eating dysfunction were more severe in PD patients (GSRS: 1.71 ± 1.15 vs 1.30 ± 0.67, 1.57 ± 0.84 vs 1.39 ± 0.61, respectively, P < 0.05), whereas HD patients had greater abdominal pain, diarrhea and constipation (GSRS: 1.22 ± 0.39 vs 1.04 ± 0.19, 1.19 ± 0.53 vs 1.07 ± 0.35, 1.51 ± 0.83 vs 1.23 ± 0.58, respectively, P < 0.05). Finally, 14.8% (27/182) of HD patients presented with more than three GI symptoms, compared to 7.2% (8/112) of PD patients (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: HD and PD patients differ in prevalence, severity and diversity of GI symptoms.

Although phytosterols in tobacco leaves have specific effects on tobacco quality, there is little research on the distribution of free and conjugated phytosterols in various tobacco leaves. In this paper, we explored the content and composition of phytosterols in representative cured tobacco leaves by gas chromatography of TMS-ether derivatives. We found that phytosterol contents in tobacco leaves ranged from 1.0 to 2.5 mg/g of dried leaf tissue, depending on different types of tobacco leaves. The majority of phytosterols (75-85%) were conjugated as ester and glycosides, with only about 15-25% existing in the free form. Furthermore, the genetic variability gives rise to the significant differences among different tobacco types with phytosterol levels: the contents of phytosterols in tobacco leaves decreased in the order of flue-cured tobacco, Oriental tobacco, Burley tobacco, cigar tobacco, and Maryland tobacco. At the same time, the tobacco curing process leads to a difference in phytosterol existing-form distribution in some variation laws.

Objective: Nanobacteria, a new kind of bacteria found by a Finnish scholar, is considered to relate to many human diseases like nephrolithiasis. However, there are no data available on nanobacteria infection in Chinese people., Methods: Nanobacteria was detected in serum of 336 cases of healthy adults in Southern China by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry stain. The monoclonal antibody of nanobacterum was supplied by Kuipio University of Finland., Results: Nanobacteria infection rates were 27 (8.0%), 19 (5.7%) in the healthy adults by ELISA and immunohistochemistry stain respectively. No difference was shown between the 2 methods and between male and female, statistically. Age and sex did not seem to be related to the infectious risk of nanobacteria. However, the infectious rate was lower in those below 30-year-old than that of people over 60-year-old (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Nanobacteria was existed in the serum of Chinese healthy people with an infectious rate of 8.0%.