Search

Background: The influence of native secondary succession associated with anthropogenic disturbance on the biodiversity of the forests in subtropical China remains uncertain. In particular, the evolutionary response of small understory shrubs, particularly pioneer species inhabiting continuously disturbed habitats, to topographic heterogeneity and climate change is poorly understood. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap by focusing on the Gaultheria crenulata group, a clade of small pioneer shrubs in subtropical China. Results: We examined the genetic structure and demographic history of all five species of the G. crenulata group with two maternally inherited chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragments and two biparentally inherited low-copy nuclear genes (LCG) over 89 natural populations. We found that the genetic differentiation of this group was influenced by the geomorphological boundary between different regions of China in association with Quaternary climatic events. Despite low overall genetic diversity, we observed an isolation-by-distance (IBD) pattern at a regional scale, rather than isolation-by-environment (IBE), which was attributed to ongoing human disturbance in the region. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the genetic structure of the G. crenulata group reflects the interplay of geological topography, historical climates, and anthropogenic disturbance during the Pliocene–Pleistocene-Holocene periods in subtropical China. The observed IBD pattern, particularly prominent in western China, highlights the role of limited dispersal and gene flow, possibly influenced by physical barriers or decreased connectivity over geographic distance. Furthermore, the east-to-west trend of gene flow, potentially facilitated by the East Asian monsoon system, underscores the complex interplay of biotic and abiotic factors shaping the genetic dynamics of pioneer species in subtropical China's secondary forests. These findings can be used to assess the impact of environmental changes on the adaptation and persistence of biodiversity in subtropical forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA barcoding has greatly facilitated studies of taxonomy, biodiversity, biological conservation, and ecology. Here, we establish a reliable DNA barcoding library for Chinese snakes, unveiling hidden diversity with implications for taxonomy, and provide a standardized tool for conservation management. Our comprehensive study includes 1638 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences from Chinese snakes that correspond to 17 families, 65 genera, 228 named species (80.6% of named species) and 36 candidate species. A barcode gap analysis reveals gaps, where all nearest neighbour distances exceed maximum intraspecific distances, in 217 named species and all candidate species. Three species‐delimitation methods (ABGD, sGMYC, and sPTP) recover 320 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), of which 192 OTUs correspond to named and candidate species. Twenty‐eight other named species share OTUs, such as Azemiops feae and A. kharini, Gloydius halys, G. shedaoensis, and G. intermedius, and Bungarus multicinctus and B. candidus, representing inconsistencies most probably caused by imperfect taxonomy, recent and rapid speciation, weak taxonomic signal, introgressive hybridization, and/or inadequate phylogenetic signal. In contrast, 43 species and candidate species assign to two or more OTUs due to having large intraspecific distances. If most OTUs detected in this study reflect valid species, including the 36 candidate species, then 30% more species would exist than are currently recognized. Several OTU divergences associate with known biogeographic barriers, such as the Taiwan Strait. In addition to facilitating future studies, this reliable and relatively comprehensive reference database will play an important role in the future monitoring, conservation, and management of Chinese snakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise exploration of the characteristics of geothermal fields in sedimentary basins, such as the temperature and burial depth of their deep geothermal reservoirs, is of great significance for improving the probability of penetration and reducing exploration risks and development costs. This study proposed a joint exploration method combining magnetotelluric (MT) sounding and geothermometers. Using this method, this study estimated the geothermal reservoirs' temperature and the circulation depth of geothermal water in the Xianxian geothermal field, a typical geothermal field in a large sedimentary basin in northern China, and prepared the temperature and depth maps of the geothermal reservoirs. The main results are as follows. First, the bedrock's geothermal reservoirs with karst fissures in the Xianxian geothermal field have great potential for development. Among them, geothermal reservoirs in the Jixianian Wumishan formation have a top depth of 1100–1500 m and a thickness of 700–1700 m, and the geothermal reservoirs in the Jixianian Gaoyuzhuang formation have a top depth of 3700–4000 m and a maximum drilled thickness of 400 m. The geothermal reservoirs of the Xianxian geothermal field mainly have medium and low temperatures of 138–160 °C and the circulation depth of the geothermal water is 5873 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oak trees (Quercus L.) are important models for estimating abiotic impacts on the population structure and demography of long life span tree species. In this study, we generated genetic data for 17 nuclear microsatellite loci in 29 natural populations of Quercus fabri to estimate the population genetic structure. We also integrated approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) and ecological niche analysis to infer the population differentiation processes and demographic history of this oak species. The genetic analyses indicated two genetic clusters across the 29 populations collected, where most approximately corresponded to the intraspecific differentiation among populations from western and eastern China, whereas admixed populations were mainly found in central mountains of China. The best model obtained from hierarchical ABC simulations suggested that the initial intraspecific divergence of Q. fabri potentially occurred during the late Pliocene (ca. 3.99 Ma) to form the two genetic clusters, and the admixed population group might have been generated by genetic admixture of the two differentiated groups at ca. 53.76 ka. Ecological analyses demonstrated clear differentiation among the Q. fabri population structures, and association estimations also indicated significant correlations between geography and climate with the genetic variation in this oak species. Our results suggest abiotic influences, including past climatic changes and ecological factors, might have affected the genetic differentiation and demographic history of Q. fabri in subtropical China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain YIM B00363T, a Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium, was isolated from saline soil samples collected from a salt lake in Xinjiang province, north-west China, and was characterized using a polyphasic approach. The optimum growth temperature was 37 °C and the optimum pH was 7.5–8.0. The major menaquinone was MK-7; anteiso-C15:0 (53.52%), iso-C15:0 (15.04%) and C16:0 (12.76%) were the predominant cellular fatty acids. The diagnostic diamino acid of the cell wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, unidentified phospholipids, unidentified glycolipids and unknown lipids. The DNA G + C content of the type strain was 50.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain YIM B00363T belonged to a cluster comprising species of the genus Paenibacillus. The nearest relatives were P. residui MC-246T and P. senegalensis JC66T, with 93.2% and 92.8% gene sequence similarities, respectively. On the basis of its phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic distinctivenes, strain YIM B00363T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus turpanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM B00363T (= CGMCC 1.17507T = KCTC 43184T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High numbers of endemic plants exist in subtropical China, but there have been few investigations of the phylogeography and dynamic history for endemic tree species in this region. In this study, we explored the phylogeographic pattern of Quercus fabri, an endemic oak species in subtropical China, to assess the effects of past geographical and climatic changes on the evolutionary history of this deciduous species using three chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragments and the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and ecological niche modeling (ENM). The cpDNA fragments differentiated three phylogeographical groups among Q. fabri populations. A BEAST-derived chronogram based on the cpDNA haplotypes indicated that the initial divergence of Q. fabri probably occurred during the late Miocene (12.33 Ma), whereas haplotype divergence time could date back to the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. ENM showed that the suitable areas contracted during the last glacial maximum (LGM) and expanded in the warm period during the Pleistocene. Consistently, both the cpDNA and ITS datasets suggested that population expansion occurred after the LGM period (ca. 13–14 kyr) for Q. fabri. Demographical analyses based on multiple genetic datasets and a coalescent-based method also suggested a shrinkage–expansion trend for the effective population sizes of Q. fabri during the glacial–interglacial periods in the Quaternary. Our results suggest that the Neogene and Pleistocene were important periods for triggering species differentiation and intraspecific diversification in Q. fabri, thereby providing insights into the effects of environmental changes in the Quaternary on the population dynamics of endemic tree species in subtropical China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quercus species comprise the major genera in the family Fagaceae and they are widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Many Quercus species, including several endemics, are distributed in China. Genetic resources have been established for the important genera but few transcriptomes are available for Quercus species in China. In this study, we used Illumina paired‐end sequencing to obtain the transcriptomes of two oak species, Q. liaotungensis Koidz. and Q. mongolica Fisch. ex Turcz. Approximately 24 million reads were generated and then a total of 103 618 unigenes were obtained after assembly for both species. Comparative transcriptome analyses of both species identified a total of 12 981 orthologous contigs. The Ka/Ks estimation and enrichment analysis indicated that 1179 (9.08%) orthologs showed rapid evolution, and most of these orthologs were related to functions comprising "DNA repair", "response to cold", and "response to drought". This findings could provide some insights into how these two closely related Quercus species adapted to extreme environments characterized by aridity and cold. The divergence time (approximately 4.27–5.93 Mya) between the two Quercus species was estimated according to the Ks distribution. Moreover, 16 608 simple sequence repeat loci were detected and 12 363 primer pairs were designed. Subsequently, 158 of the 12 363 primer pairs were randomly selected to test the polymorphisms and 92 of the primer pairs were successfully amplified in the two oak species. The resultant orthologs and simple sequence repeat markers are valuable for genetic differentiation analyses and evolutionary studies of Quercus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To characterize clinical features and mutation spectrum in Chinese patients with CADASIL. Methods We collected 261 clinically suspected Chinese CADASIL patients from three hospitals located in different regions of China. Sanger sequencing is performed to screen the exons 2 to 24 of NOTCH3 gene. Clinical and genetic data were retrospectively studied. Haplotype analyses were performed in patients carrying p.Arg544Cys and p.Arg607Cys, respectively. Results A total of 214 patients were finally genetically diagnosed as CADASIL, with 45 known NOTCH3 mutations and a novel c.1817G>T mutation. We found that patients carrying p.Arg607Cys or p.Arg544Cys mutation located in exon 11 occupied nearly 35% in our mutation spectrum. In retrospectively study of clinical data, we found a higher number of patients having cognitive impairment and a lower number of patients having migraine with aura. Furthermore, we identified that patients carrying mutations in exon 11 seemed to experience a later disease onset ( p=6.8×10 −5). Additionally, a common haplotype was found in patients from eastern China carrying p.Arg607Cys, and the patients from Fujian carrying p.Arg544Cys shared the same haplotype with patients from Taiwan carrying p.Arg544Cys. Conclusions These findings broaden the mutational and clinical spectrum of CADASIL and provide additional evidences for the existence of founder effect in CADASIL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past geological and climatic events have promoted intraspecific divergence and range shifts in numerous plant species. This is particularly true for temperate species in climate-sensitive regions. Few previous studies have examined whether such genetic footprints were also shaped in desert plants, which can survive in arid habitats and might be 'static' under the past climatic oscillations. We therefore studied the phylogeographical history of Reaumuria soongarica, a shrub species that is widely distributed across the deserts of western China. We sequenced chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragments of 27 natural populations across western China. Eight cpDNA haplotypes were identified, which clustered into three clades. The clades were located in the western (clade II) or eastern regions (clades I and III) of western China. Analysis of molecular variance also supported this major partitioning (∼67%) of the cpDNA variation between regions. However, within each region, genetic differentiation was low (29%-37%) and a single dominant haplotype was fixed; this indicated past regional range expansion. The deep divergence and regional range expansions of this species may have corresponded to the most recent uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the development of desert ecosystems during the last glacial age in western China. This is the first study to show that the evolutionary history of plants in desert habitats has been seriously affected by past geological and climatic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endangered perennial plant Saruma henryi Oliv. is endemic to China and has phylogenetic, ecological, and medicinal value. We used 10 microsatellite (SSR) loci to investigate genetic diversity and differentiation in 16 natural populations. Genetic diversity was high at the species level ( H = 0.9427, h = 0.9410, I = 3.0213) and low at the population level ( H = 0.4441, h = 0.4307, I = 0.6822). Pronounced genetic differentiation was detected among populations ( G = 0.5428, F = 0.5524), in line with the limited among-population gene flow ( N = 0.21). The significant isolation-by-distance pattern revealed by a Mantel test ( r = 0.311, P = 0.001) suggested a clear geographic tendency in the distribution of genetic variability. Bayesian assignment and principal coordinates analyses supported the clustering of 16 populations into three groups. The present SSR results were also compared with previously published ISSR results. These results have significant implications for conservation of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous animal and association studies have shown that the MSX1 gene is associated with oral clefts. Our aim was to investigate association between variants in the MSX1 gene and oral clefts in a Han Chinese population. Our study group consisted of 206 nonsyndromic oral cleft (NSOC) nuclear families (including the patients and their parents) and 224 controls. The three variants evaluated in this study were single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs3821949 and rs12532 and a missense mutation P147Q. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to genotype the three markers. Case-control and family-based association analyses were carried out. In the case-control analysis, no significant differences in genotypic or allelic frequencies were observed in any of the two single-nucleotide polymorphisms between patients and controls. Although the homozygous T allele for P147Q was not detected in any sample in this population, heterozygotes were more prevalent in NSOC (1.2%) when compared with the controls (0%). The analyses for family-based association did not suggest association between any of the three variants and NSOC. No significant association was found between NSOC and rs3821949 or rs12532 in MSX1 gene, whereas an association was observed between the P147Q variant and cleft lip with cleft palate in the case-control analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With the increase of mining depth, high-temperature mines have been more and more now; it is about 150 pair mines that have the problem of high-temperature to different extent in china. High-temperature environment directly affects mineworkers in work condition and work efficiency, and is easy to cause insecure behavior and lack of enthusiasm. By investigating thermal source in mine, some surrounding factors that arouse heat hazard are analyzed. The harmfulness to miners in high-temperature environment mostly lies in the destruction of the normal physiological regulation of human body, and the disordering of body''s heat balance, such as heat shock, heat cramps and heat exhaustion and so on. The impacts on the safety production in mine include lowering the miner''s labor efficiency, easily causing a fire in mine, disordering the mine ventilation system, eroding the equipments and material, resulting in higher accident rates, etc. Finally, by studying evaluation index of heat hazard, the concept of the synthesis-reduced temperature (SRT) and its evaluation criteria are put forward, which is a new method for evaluating the degree of heat hazard in high-temperature mine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Our objective was to investigate the association between senataxin mutations and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Chinese patients. DNA from 45 sporadic ALS patients was screened for mutations in senataxin using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. A novel variation, Thr1118Ile, was identified in a 42-year-old individual with sporadic ALS. This variation was not detected in 200 unrelated control individuals. In conclusion, the presence of this variation in a patient with sporadic ALS, and its absence in 200 controls, supports an association between senataxin and sporadic ALS. This study has broadened the mutation spectrum of senataxin and expanded the clinical phenotypes of senataxin mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of interspecific divergence and population expansions/contractions of dominant forest trees in response to geological events and climatic oscillations is of major importance to understand their evolution and demography. However, the interspecific patterns of genetic differentiation and spatiotemporal population dynamics of three deciduous Cerris oak species (Q. acutissima, Q. variabilis and Q. chenii) that are widely distributed in China remain poorly understood. In this study, we genotyped 16 nuclear loci in 759 individuals sampled from 44 natural populations of these three sibling species to evaluate the plausible demographical scenarios of the closely related species. We also tested the hypothesis that macro- and microevolutionary processes of the three species had been triggered and molded by Miocene–Pliocene geological events and Quaternary climatic change. The Bayesian cluster analysis showed that Q. acutissima and Q. chenii were clustered in the same group, whereas Q. variabilis formed a different genetic cluster. An approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) analyses suggested that Q. variabilis and Q. acutissima diverged from their most common ancestor around 19.84 Ma, and subsequently Q. chenii diverged from Q. acutissima at about 9.6 Ma, which was significantly associated with the episodes of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). In addition, ecological niche modeling and population history analysis showed that these three Cerris oak species repeatedly underwent considerable 'expansion–contraction' during the interglacial and glacial periods of the Pleistocene, although they have varying degrees of tolerance for the climatic change. Overall, these findings indicated geological and climatic changes during the Miocene–Pliocene and Pleistocene as causes of species divergence and range shifts of dominant tree species in the subtropical and warm temperature areas in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oaks (Quercus L.) are ideal models to assess patterns of plant diversity. We integrated the sequence data of five chloroplast and two nuclear loci from 50 Chinese oaks to explore the phylogenetic framework, evolution and diversification patterns of the Chinese oak's lineage. The framework phylogeny strongly supports two subgenera Quercus and Cerris comprising four infrageneric sections Quercus, Cerris, Ilex and Cyclobalanopsis for the Chinese oaks. An evolutionary analysis suggests that the two subgenera probably split during the mid-Eocene, followed by intergroup divergence within the subgenus Cerris around the late Eocene. The initial diversification of sections in the subgenus Cerris was dated between the mid-Oligocene and the Oligocene–Miocene boundary, while a rapid species radiation in section Quercus started in the late Miocene. Diversification simulations indicate a potential evolutionary shift on section Quercus, while several phenotypic shifts likely occur among all sections. We found significant negative correlations between rates of the lineage diversification and phenotypic turnover, suggesting a complex interaction between the species evolution and morphological divergence in Chinese oaks. Our infrageneric phylogeny of Chinese oaks accords with the recently proposed classification of the genus Quercus. The results point to tectonic activity and climatic change during the Tertiary as possible drivers of evolution and diversification in the Chinese oak's lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete chloroplast sequence ofD. sinensiswas reported in this study. The total length was 157 080 bp containing a pair of 26 766 bp inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb), which were separated by a small single copy regions and a large single copy regions (SSC and LSC) of 18 093 and 85 455 bp, respectively. A total of 138 functional genes were annotated, which included 90 protein-coding genes, 40 tRNAs, and eight rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the complete chloroplast genome is 37.8% and in LSC, SSC and IR regions were 35.9%, 32.1%, and 42.7%, respectively. The maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis revealed thatD. sinensiswas closely related toA. buergerianumsubsp.Ningpoensein Sapindales order. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Molecular identification of plant species may be highly related to the geographic isolation and speciation stages among species. In this study, we examined these possibilities in a group of white pines in China. We sampled 449 individuals from 60 natural populations of seven species from sect. Quinquefoliae subsect. Strobus . We sequenced four chloroplast DNA regions (around 3100 bp in length) and two mitochondrial DNAs (around 1000 bp in length). We identified 21 chlorotypes and 10 mitotypes. Both chlorotypes and mitotypes recovered from four species with long disjunction and restricted distributions in northern or northwestern China, Pinus sibirica , Pinus koraiensis , Pinus wallichiana and Pinus pumila are species-specific, suggesting that these cytoplasmic DNAs can distinguish them from the close relatives. Allopatric isolations should have contributed greatly to their genetic divergences. However, both chlorotypes and mitotypes recovered for Pinus dabeshanensis and Pinus fenzeliana distributed in southeastern and southern China are shared or closely related to those found in the widely distributed Pinus armandii . These two species may have diverged or derived from P. armandii recently. All of our findings together suggest that the discrimination power of the molecular identifications based on the cytoplasmic DNA barcodes may show variable discriminability depending on geographic isolation and speciation stages among the sampled species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chimonanthus praecox and Chimonanthus salicifolius are two native plants in China. In this study, the genetic diversity and differentiation within and among 17 natural populations of these two species were evaluated using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Pronounced genetic differentiation occurred between these two species (Φ ST = 0.3364). For both species, the genetic diversity was low at the population level (Ch. praecox: PPL = 32.49%, h = 0.0968, I = 0.1488; Ch. salicifolius: PPL = 34.25%, h = 0.1192, I = 0.1777), but relatively higher at the species level (Ch. praecox: PPL = 86.03%, h = 0.1552, I = 0.2635; Ch. salicifolius: PPL = 81.25%, h = 0.2401, I = 0.3684). The hierarchical AMOVA revealed high levels of among-population genetic differentiation in both species, in-line with the gene differentiation coefficient and the limited among-population gene flow (Ch. praecox: Φ ST = 0.4650, G ST = 0.3784, N m = 0.8213; Ch. salicifolius: Φ ST = 0.5912, G ST = 0.5036, N m = 0.4929). A significant isolation-by-distance pattern was revealed in Ch. salicifolius (r = 0.703, P = 0.048), but not in Ch. praecox (r = 0.168, P = 0.185). Based on these data, effective conservation strategies were proposed for these two species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Saruma henryi Oliv. (Aristolochiaceae) is an endangered herb endemic to China. In this study, chloroplast microsatellites (cpSSRs) and sequences of the atpB–rbcL intergenic spacers were employed to reveal its genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns. We detected high within-species genetic diversity (H T =0.939 for cpSSR; H T =0.862 for atpB–rbcL) and pronounced among-population genetic differentiation (H S =0.182, G ST =0.811, R ST = 0.9, F ST =0.93 for cpSSR; H S =0.238, G ST =0.724, N ST =0.758, F ST =0.79 for atpB–rbcL) with a strong phylogeographic pattern (R ST > G ST, P <0.01 for cpSSR; N ST > G ST, U =0.25 for atpB–rbcL). Eleven haplotypes were distinguished by cpSSRs and atpB–rbcL intergenic spacers, respectively. The molecular phylogenetic data, together with the geographic distribution of the haplotypes, suggested the existence of multiple localized glacial refugia in Mts. Qinling, eastern Mts. Bashan and the southeastern edge of Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Nested clade analysis (NCA) and population genetic analyses supported the limited gene flow (caused by low dispersal capacity and complex topography of its habitats) as the major factor responsible for the strong population differentiation and phylogeographic pattern. Past fragmentation and allopatric fragmentation were inferred as important processes responsible for the modern phylogeograhpic pattern. In addition, contiguous range expansions occurred in western Mts. Qinling and eastern Mts. Bashan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we report the phylogeographic history of Clintonia udensis Trautv. & Mey. (Liliaceae) inferred from two types of chloroplast DNA markers, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and DNA sequences. Eighty samples were collected from 20 natural populations, 19 located in China and one in Japan, across the entire range of the species in East Asia. High genetic diversity (h T(PCR-RFLP)=0.972, h T(sequencing)=0.874) and significant differentiation (N ST(PCR-RFLP)=0.893, N ST(sequencing)=0.988 and G ST(PCR-RFLP)=0.777, G ST(sequencing)=0.978) were detected at the species level. These findings are consistent with a scenario of clonal reproduction and locally restricted gene exchange. The level of diversity of tetraploid populations was slightly greater than that of diploid populations. Significant molecular variation was found between tetraploids and diploids. Tetraploids may be autopolyploids and may have formed repeatedly in different locations. At least three regions of origin could be recognized. Twenty-six distinct haplotypes were identified. Haplotype frequency distributions were strongly skewed, with most haplotypes (n =25) represented by only one sample each and thus restricted to a single population. Non-overlapping distributions of cpDNA haplotypes and strong genetic differentiation among populations and/or different ploid level were consistent with the findings of a nested clade analysis, which inferred long-distance colonization as the major process influencing the spatial haplotype distribution of this species. Nested clade analysis showed that the 26 haplotypes formed two 3-step, four 2-step and eleven 1-step clades, with twelve clades showing significant geographical associations. Higher N ST than G ST (P <0.05) suggested a distinct phylogeographical pattern. Based on mismatch distribution analysis and neutrality tests, we found no evidence of population expansion in the species. Our analyses indicate that the history of C. udensis involved both long-distance migration and the tectonic events of Mountains in East Asia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The genus Dipteronia Oliv. endemic to central and southern China consists of two species, Dipteronia sinensis Oliv. and Dipteronia dyeriana Henry, both of them are rare and endangered. AFLP markers were used to characterize the genetic diversity and geographical differentiation of the genus. Eight out of 32 PstI+3/MseI+3 selective primer combinations screened were applied to the analysis on 142 individuals of 17 D. sinensis and 4 D. dyeriana populations, respectively. A total of 324 fragments with 316 polymorphic were amplified. The proportion of polymorphic loci (PPB) was 97.53%. The Nei''s gene diversity in D. sinensis and D. dyeriana was 0.3319 and 0.3047, respectively. About 43.6% (G ST =0.4356) of the genetic variation occurred among the populations, indicating a relatively high genetic differentiation among the populations. Cluster analysis grouped the 21 populations into two groups according to their species delimitation. The populations of D. sinensis were further divided into three subgroups corresponding to their geographical distributions. Correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation (p <0.05) between geographical distance and genetic distance of these populations, suggesting that the relatively high genetic differentiation among the populations of D. sinensis might be caused by geographical isolation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Identifying and protecting hotspots of endemism and species richness is crucial for mitigating the global biodiversity crisis. However, our understanding of spatial diversity patterns is far from complete, which severely limits our ability to conserve biodiversity hotspots. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of amphibian species diversity in China, one of the most species-rich countries on Earth. Our study combines 20 y of field surveys with new molecular analyses of 521 described species and also identifies 100 potential cryptic species. We identify 10 hotspots of amphibian diversity in China, each with exceptional species richness and endemism and with exceptional phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic endemism (based on a new time-calibrated, species-level phylogeny for Chinese amphibians). These 10 hotspots encompass 59.6% of China's described amphibian species, 49.0% of cryptic species, and 55.6% of species endemic to China. Only four of these 10 hotspots correspond to previously recognized biodiversity hotspots. The six new hotspots include the Nanling Mountains and other mountain ranges in South China. Among the 186 species in the six new hotspots, only 9.7% are well covered by protected areas and most (88.2%) are exposed to high human impacts. Five of the six new hotspots are under very high human pressure and are in urgent need of protection. We also find that patterns of richness in cryptic species are significantly related to those in described species but are not identical., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

Hymenopellis is the genus that exhibits the highest number of species within the Xerula / Oudemansiella complex. Numerous species of Hymenopellis demonstrate edibility, and some of these species have been domesticated and cultivated. During an extensive survey carried out in Henan and Jilin Provinces, China, a substantial quantity of Hymenopellis specimens was gathered as a component of the macrofungal resource inventory. Based on the findings of morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies, a new species, Hymenopellis biyangensis , has been identified. A new record species, Hymenopellis altissima, has been discovered in China. Additionally, two new record species, Hymenopellis raphanipes and Xerula strigosa , have been found in Henan Province. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit ribosomal (nrLSU) were used to establish a phylogeny for species identification. Detailed descriptions, field habitat maps and line drawings of these species are presented. The discussion focuses on the relationships between newly discovered species and other related taxa. Additionally, this study provides and a key to the documented species of Hymenopellis and Xerula found in China., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2023 Liu et al.)

Stand density is a critical factor impacting the diversity of understory plants. We analyzed the diversity of understory plants and soil seed banks, as well as their relationship by setting up three planting densities in a Pinus massoniana plantation, including low density (1575 trees·hm -2 , D 1 ), medium (2474 trees·hm -2 , D 2 ), and high (3550 trees·hm -2 , D 3 ). It aimed to provide a scientific basis for the implementation of the multi-objective sustainable development of plantations. The results showed that there were 70 species of herbs and shrubs belonging to 42 families and 62 genera. D 1 was dominated by heliophiles, whereas both the D 2 and D 3 were dominated by shade-tolerant species. The Margalef ( M ), Shannon ( H ), Simpson ( D ), Pielou ( J sw ), and Altalo ( Al ) indices of the herbs and shrubs exhibited a downward trend with increasing stand den-sity. In the herb layer, D 1 and D 3 showed significant difference in H , D , J sw and Al . There were significant differences of J sw and Al in the shrub layer among the three stand densities, but no diffe-rence of H and D . H , D , J sw and Al in the soil seed bank first decreased and then increased with increasing stand density, with species richness and diversity being the highest in D 1 . The similarity coefficient of Jaccard and Sorensen among different stand densities was low. In the herb layer, M was positively correlated with J sw . The correlations between stand density and H , D , J sw and Al were greater in the shrub layer than in the herb layer. There was significant negative correlation between stand density and J sw both in the shrub and herb layers. The stand density of 1575 trees·hm -2 was comparatively beneficial for the development of understory, plant diversity, and sustainability of P. massoniana plantation.

Background: The proline-rich coiled-coil 2A (PRRC2A) gene has been reported to underlie risk of various autoimmune diseases. However, no data reveal the risk susceptibility of PRRC2A to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) so far., Objectives: To explore the association between PRRC2A variants and NMOSD and MS susceptibility in Han Chinese population., Methods: Totally, 207 NMOSD (98 AQP4 + and 109 AQP4 - ) patients, 141 MS and 196 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. Candidate tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tag-SNPs) were selected from the 1000G database based on the Chinese data. SNP genotyping was performed using MassArray and Sanger sequencing., Results: PRRC2A variants rs2736171, rs2736157, rs2844470 alter susceptibility to AQP4 + NMOSD, while rs2242659 to MS. Genotype AT of rs2844470 and AG of rs2242659 increased risk susceptibility for AQP4 + NMOSD and MS, respectively. AQP4 + NMOSD exhibited a higher frequency of genotype AG of rs2736157 compared with AQP4 - NMOSD. Haplotype TCAAGGTAG was conferred risk susceptibility to AQP4 + NMOSD and haplotype TTAGAGTAG had a protective effect on both AQP4 + and AQP4 - NMOSD. Further, we identified various gene expression levels in disease-related regions that are significantly modulated by three cis-eQTL SNPs rs2736157, rs2736171 and rs2242659 (p < 1.05 × 10 -4 )., Conclusions: PRRC2A variants are first reported to be associated with NMOSD and MS. The identified PRRC2A variants may shed light on the pathogenesis of NMOSD and MS and potentially lead to an individualized therapeutic approach for both distinct disease entities.

Purpose: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is characterized by the development of hamartomas in multiple organ systems. This study attempted to screen mutations and to investigate the mutation distribution and related phenotypes including epilepsy of Chinese TSC patients., Methods: We performed the genotypic analysis of TSC1 and TSC2 genes in 77 unrelated Chinese TSC patients using direct Sanger sequencing and Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA)., Results: Mutations were identified in a total of 63 (81.8%) cases, including 18 TSC1 mutations (8 nonsense mutations, 6 frameshift, 1 in-frame shift, 1 missense and 2 splice-site) and 45 TSC2 mutations (13 missense, 3 nonsense, 6 splicing, 6 in-frame shift,12 frameshift mutations and 5 large deletions). Large deletions were presented exclusively in TSC2 gene, accounting for 7.9% of all mutations in this study. Fourteen novel mutations were identified in this study., Conclusions: Epilepsy occurs in approximately 75.3% (58/77) of patients. Hypomelanotic macules occurred significantly more often in patients with TSC2 mutations and cases with TSC1/TSC2 mutations had a significantly higher frequency of cortical nodule than patients with no mutations identified. Overall, our data expands the spectrum of mutations associated with the TSC loci and will be of value to the genetic counseling in patients with the disease., (Copyright © 2019 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Genomic data are a powerful tool for elucidating the processes involved in the evolution and divergence of species. The speciation and phylogenetic relationships among Chinese Juglans remain unclear. Here, we used results from phylogenomic and population genetic analyses, transcriptomics, Genotyping-By-Sequencing (GBS), and whole chloroplast genomes (Cp genome) data to infer processes of lineage formation among the five native Chinese species of the walnut genus (Juglans, Juglandaceae), a widespread, economically important group. We found that the processes of isolation generated diversity during glaciations, but that the recent range expansion of J. regia, probably from multiple refugia, led to hybrid formation both within and between sections of the genus. In southern China, human dispersal of J. regia brought it into contact with J. sigillata, which we determined to be an ecotype of J. regia that is now maintained as a landrace. In northern China, walnut hybridized with a distinct lineage of J. mandshurica to form J. hopeiensis, a controversial taxon (considered threatened) that our data indicate is a horticultural variety. Comparisons among whole chloroplast genomes and nuclear transcriptome analyses provided conflicting evidence for the timing of the divergence of Chinese Juglans taxa. J. cathayensis and J. mandshurica are poorly differentiated based our genomic data. Reconstruction of Juglans evolutionary history indicate that episodes of climatic variation over the past 4.5 to 33.80 million years, associated with glacial advances and retreats and population isolation, have shaped Chinese walnut demography and evolution, even in the presence of gene flow and introgression., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are autoimmune demyelinating diseases of the central nerve system. Interleukin-7 (IL-7) and interleukin-7 receptor alpha (IL-7Rα) were proved to be important in the pathogenesis of both diseases because of the roles they played in the differentiations of autoimmune lymphocytes. The variants of both genes had been identified to be associated with MS susceptibility in Caucasian, Japanese and Korean populations. However, the association of these variants with NMO and MS has not been well studied in Chinese Southeastern Han population. Here, we aimed to evaluate the association of six IL-7 variants (rs1520333, rs1545298, rs4739140, rs6993386, rs7816065, and rs2887502) and one variant of IL-7RA (rs6897932) with NMO and MS among Chinese Han population in southeastern China., Methods: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MassARRAY system) and Sanger sequencing were used to determine the variants of IL-7 and IL-7RA in 167 NMO patients, 159 MS patients and 479 healthy controls among Chinese Han population in southeastern China. Samples were excluded if the genotyping success rate <90%., Results: Statistical differences were observed in the genotypes of IL-7 rs1520333 in MS patients and IL-7RA rs6897932 in NMO patients, compared with healthy controls (P = 0.035 and 0.034, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in the genotypes of IL-7 rs2887502 between MS and NMO patients (P = 0.014). And there were statistically significant differences in the rs6897932 genotypes (P = 0.004) and alleles (P = 0.042) between NMO-IgG positive patients and healthy controls., Conclusions: The study suggested that among Chinese Han population in southeastern China, the variant of IL-7RA (rs6897932) was associated with NMO especially NMO-IgG positive patients while the variant of IL-7 (rs1520333) with MS patients. And the genotypic differences of IL-7 rs2887502 between MS and NMO indicated the different genetic backgrounds of these two diseases.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system. Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) is a common susceptibility gene to different autoimmune disorders. However, the association of IRF5 variants with NMO and MS patients has not been well studied. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether IRF5 variants were associated with NMO and MS in the Southeastern Han Chinese population., Methods: Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected and genotyped by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry in 111 NMO patients, 145 MS patients and 300 controls from Southeastern China., Results: None of these 4 SNPs was associated with NMO or MS patients., Conclusions: Our preliminary study indicates that genetic variants in IRF5 may affect neither NMO nor MS in the Southeastern Han Chinese population. Further studies with a large sample size and diverse ancestry populations are needed to clarify this issue.

Four novel Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, and non-motile bacterial strains, SLG210-21(T), SLG210-4, SLG210-5 and SLG210-14, were isolated from oil-contaminated saline soil in Shengli Oilfield, China. Growth were observed at 25-42 °C (optimum 37 °C), in the presence of 0-10 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0-1 %) and at pH 4.0-10.0 (optimum pH 7.6-8.6). All the strains were positive for catalase and α, β-galactosidase activities and nitrogen reduction, and negative for oxidase activity, glucose fermentation and hydrolysis of agar, starch, gelatin, Tween 40, 60 and 80. The DNA G+C contents of the four strains were 41.3-43.0 mol% and the predominant respiratory quinones were all menaquinone-7. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), C16:1 ω5c and summed feature 9 (iso-C17:1 ω9c and/or 10-methyl C16:0), while the polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, glycolipid, two unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified amino lipids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the four strains clustered together to form a stable branch in the family Cyclobacteriaceae, and were most closely related to the genera Cyclobacterium and Echinicola with the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities being 88.6-90.3 and 89.6-91.4 %, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization between SLG210-21(T) and the other three strains showed the relatedness of 93.8 ± 4.5, 96.2 ± 4.2 and 82.3 ± 4.8 %, respectively. Based on the polyphasic analysis, a novel species in a new genus, Negadavirga Shengliensis gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed with SLG210-21(T) (=LMG 27737(T) = CGMCC1.12768(T)) [corrected] as the type strain.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) are chronic demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, variants of vitamin D metabolizing genes, including rs12368653, rs10876994, rs118204009 and rs703842 in CYP27B1, and rs2248359 in CYP24A1 have been identified to be associated with the pathogenicity of MS in Caucasian populations. However, these results have not been replicated in Han Chinese population. Here we investigated the association of these variants with MS and NMO susceptibility in 149 MS patients, 110 NMO patients and 294 healthy controls using MassARRAY system and Sanger sequencing. We found that the frequencies of the A allele of rs703842 were higher in MS patients than controls (p=0.032), and statistical differences were observed in the genotypes of both rs703842 (p=0.013) and rs10876994 (p=0.001) between NMO patients and controls. In addition, we found difference in the genotype of rs12368653 between MS patients and controls (p=0.008). However, no difference was found in rs2248359 among these three groups. The reported rare mutation p.R389H (rs118204009) was not found in our study. In conclusion, our study suggested that variants of CYP27B1 were associated with both MS and NMO patients in Han Chinese population., (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objectives: To summarize the clinical characteristics of imported falciparum malaria patients and the treatment, so as to provide the evidences for improving the diagnosis and treatment of the disease., Methods: A total of 138 imported falciparum malaria patients who received the treatment in Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases from January 2007 to February 2013 were adopted as the observation subjects, and their clinical data were collected and analyzed., Results: All the 138 patients were back from African countries. The main manifestations were fever, headache, asthenia, and hepatosplenomegaly, and most of them were with decreased RBC, PLT levels and increased LDH levels, and 36.96% of them were misdiagnosed as respiratory diseases, nephritis, hepatitis and so on. Through antimalarial treatment of artemether or artesunate or dihydroartemisinin and primaquine, or dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine, and symptomatic treatment, the short-term and long-term cure rates were 98.55% and 94.93% respectively, with 1 case unrecovered and 1 died., Conclusions: Artemisinins are still the most effective antimalarial drugs for falciparum malaria. However, some patients recrudesce as the Plasmodium in their body is resistant or insensitive to these drugs. We should pay more attention to the antimalarial and symptomatic treatments in the early stage of severe malaria so as to improve the cure rate.

Objective: To carry out expert survey for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome characteristics of different clinical types of coronary artery disease (CAD)., Methods: By using Delphi method, we carried out two rounds of nationwide expert surveys for modern TCM characteristics of syndrome elements and syndrome types of CAD., Results: Based on expert consensus, qi deficiency, blood stasis, phlegm turbidity, qi deficiency blood stasis, and intermingled phlegm and blood stasis are common TCM syndromes for different clinical types of CAD. Of them, qi stagnation, blood stasis, phlegm turbidity, heat accumulation, cold coagulation, yang deficiency, deficiency of both qi and yang were more often seen in patients with unstable angina than in those with stable angina. Qi deficiency, yin deficiency, and deficiency of both qi and yin were less seen. We could see more excess syndrome and less deficiency syndrome (such as qi deficiency, yin deficiency, etc.) in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) than acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Qi deficiency, blood stasis, water retention, yang deficiency, phlegm turbidity, yin deficiency, Xin-qi deficiency, and qi deficiency blood stasis induced water retention are the most common TCM syndrome types of CAD heart failure (HF). Blood deficiency, yin deficiency, heat accumulation, deficiency of both Xin and Pi, deficiency of both qi and blood, deficiency of both qi and yin, yin deficiency and fire hyperactivity were more often seen in CAD arrhythmias., Conclusions: TCM syndrome distributions of different clinical types of CAD have common laws and individual characteristics. Results based on the expert consensus supplied evidence and support for clinical diagnosis and treatment of CAD.

Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (IBGC) is a rare neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by bilateral and symmetric cerebral calcifications. Recently, SLC20A2 was identified as a causative gene for familial IBGC, and three mutations were reported in a northern Chinese population. Here, we aimed to explore the mutation spectrum of SLC20A2 in a southern Chinese population. Sanger sequencing was employed to screen mutations within SLC20A2 in two IBGC families and 14 sporadic IBGC cases from a southern Han Chinese population. Four novel mutations (c.82G>A p.D28N, c.185T>C p.L62P, c.1470&#95;1478delGCAGGTCCT p.Q491&#95;L493del and c.935-1G>A) were identified in two families and two sporadic cases, respectively; none were detected in 200 unrelated controls. No mutation was found in the remaining 12 patients. Different mutations may result in varied phenotypes, including brain calcification and clinical manifestations. Our study supports the hypothesis that SLC20A2 is a causative gene of IBGC and expands the mutation spectrum of SLC20A2, which facilitates the understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation of IBGC., (© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

During the course of paternity test, three samples in two cases were apparently homozygous at the CSF1PO locus using AmpFlSTRs Identifiler PCR Amplification kits, but using the PowerPlexs 16 kit, the three individuals were found to be heterozygous. This puzzling problem was solved by using multiple analytical approaches, including the use of different primer pairs and the characterization of the mutation causing the ''null allele.'' Dropout was caused by a single mutation event in the presumptive binding site of the forward primer. While the frequency of these silent alleles remains low (0.5% in our study), it is suggested that appropriate measures should be taken for database comparisons and that allelic dropout should be further investigated by sequence analysis and be reported to the forensic community.

Background: Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), caused by a CAG repeat expansion located in exon10 of the ATXN3 gene, is now regarded as one of the most common spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) in the world. The relative frequency of MJD among SCA has previously been estimated at about 50% in the Chinese population and has been reported to be related to the frequency of large normal alleles in some populations. Taq polymerase has been used for PCR in nearly all studies reported previously., Methods: Normal and expanded alleles of ATXN3 were detected via PCR using LA Taq DNA polymerase (better for GC-rich sequences) and denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 150 normal individuals and 138 unrelated probands from autosomal dominant SCA families. To compare reaction efficiency, 12 MJD patients' expanded alleles were amplified with La Taq and Taq polymerase respectively in the same amplifying systems and reaction conditions., Results: Normal alleles ranged from 12 to 42 CAG repeats. The most common allele contained 14 repeats with a frequency of 23.3%, which corroborates previous reports. The frequency of large normal alleles (>27 repeats) was 0.28, which was very high relative to previous reports. The frequency of MJD in SCA patients was 72.5%, which was significantly higher than those in previous reports about the Chinese and other Asian populations. This frequency was one of the highest reported worldwide, with only Portuguese and Brazilian populations exhibiting higher proportions. All 12 expanded alleles were amplified in PCR with La Taq polymerase, whereas only 2 expanded alleles were amplified with Taq polymerase., Conclusion: We have first reported the highest relative frequency of MJD in Asia, and we attribute this high frequency to a more efficient PCR using LA Taq polymerase and hypothesized that large ANs may act as a reservoir for expanded alleles in the Southeastern Chinese population.

Background: TARDBP mutations have been reported in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in different populations except Chinese. The present aim is to investigate the association between TARDBP mutations and Chinese patients with ALS., Methods: 71 SALS patients and 5 FALS families with non-SOD1 mutations were screened for TARDBP mutations via direct sequencing., Results: A novel heterozygous variation, Ser292Asn (875G>A), was identified in the proband and 4 asymptomatic relatives including the children of the dead patient from a FALS family. Thus the dead patient, the proband's brother, was speculated to carry Ser292Asn though his sample was unavailable to the detection. This variation was not found in 200 unrelated control subjects. A homology search of the TDP-43 protein in different species demonstrated that it was highly conserved. Also, it was predicted to be deleterious to protein function with SIFT-calculated probabilities of 0.00. Therefore, Ser292Asn is predicted to be a pathogenic mutation. In addition, we have found two silent mutations (Gly40Gly and Ala366Ala) and one novel polymorphism (239-18t>c)., Conclusions: The present data have extended the spectrum of TARDBP mutations and polymorphisms, and supported the pathological role of TDP-43 in Chinese ALS patients.

Strain SLG5B-19(T), isolated from an oil-polluted saline soil in Gudao in the coastal Shengli Oilfield, eastern China, was Gram-negative with monoprosthecae or bipolar prosthecae and buds on the prosthecal tips. Growth occurred at NaCl concentrations between 0 and 7 % (w/v), at temperatures between 4 and 45 degrees C, and at pH 6.0-9.0. Strain SLG5B-19(T) had Q-9 as the major respiratory quinone and unsaturated C(18 : 1)omega7c as the predominant cellular fatty acid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 59.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SLG5B-19(T) belonged to a clade with the genera Filomicrobium and Hyphomicrobium in the class Alphaproteobacteria. However, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of strain SLG5B-19(T) to the phylogenetically most closely related strains, i.e. the type strains of Filomicrobium fusiforme and Hyphomicrobium zavarzinii, were 95.8 and 94.5 %, respectively. In addition, the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain SLG5B-19(T) had 24 signature nucleotides that were identical to those of the type strain of F. fusiforme. Based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain SLG5B-19(T) could be allocated to the genus Filomicrobium. However, distinct phenotypic differences were observed between strain SLG5B-19(T) and the type strain of F. fusiforme. It is therefore proposed that strain SLG5B-19(T) represents a novel species in the genus Filomicrobium, Filomicrobium insigne sp. nov. The type strain is SLG5B-19(T) (=CGMCC 1.6497(T)=LMG 23927(T)).

Based on the urban forest coverage data interpreted from QuickBird image (2006) and the CITYgreen model, the benefits of Shenyang urban forest types with different canopy closure in carbon fixation and pollutant removal were investigated by means of sampling strategy. The results showed that the total amount of carbon storage, annual carbon sequestration, annual air pollutant removal, and their corresponding values were 0.51 Tg, 6858.20 Mg x a-1), 556.04 Mg x a(-1) 1.26 x 10(8) Yuan, 1.72 x 10(6) Yuan, and 0.22 x 10(8) Yuan, respectively. Among the urban forest types in Shenyang City, ecological and public welfare forest (E) contributed most to the carbon fixation and air pollutant removal. The carbon density decreased in the order of S (subordinated forest) > L (landscape and relaxation forest) > P (production and management forest) > E > R (road forest), annual carbon sequestration was in the order of P > L > E > S > R, and annual air pollutant removal was in the order of P > L > S > E > R. The carbon density of different urban forest types was closely related to their structural complexity. For the forests with high canopy closure, both the annual carbon sequestration and the annual pollutant removal were high; while for those with lower canopy closure, these two characteristics were dependent on the structural complexity of the forests.

Objective: To identify and classify six isolates of swine-originated Trichinella from China., Methods: Five specific pairs of primers were synthesized based on DNA sequence of expansion segment V region and internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of ribosomal DNA repeat from Trichinella. International reference strains of five Trichinella species [Trichinella spiralis (T1), T. nativa (T2), T. britovi (T3), T. pseudospiralis (T4) and T. nelsoni (T7)] were used as control. Six swine Trichinella isolates from Henan, Yunnan, Harbin, Tongjiang of Heilongjiang, Hubei and Tianjin were identified by multiplex PCR and its effecting factors of PCR amplification were observed., Results: Electrophoresis results of multiplex PCR products of Trichinella larvae showed that the band (173 bp) of the six isolates was the same as T. spiralis (T1). The specific band (173 bp) was detected by multiplex PCR through amplification from issues of single T. spiralis larva, the larvae conserved in 80% ethanol for 6 months, the larvae stored in 10% formaldehyde, in 0.05% formaldehyde, 0.2% sodium azide or 0.05% merthiotate for 2 weeks, or fresh mouse muscle with larvae., Conclusion: All the six swine Trichinella isolates are identified as T. spiralis (T1) by multiplex PCR.

Objective: To understand whether human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is one of the pathogens leading to the children's respiratory infections in Urumqi., Methods: A total number of 209 samples were collected in the People's General Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from November 2006 to April 2007 with some from the hospitalized children, while the others from outpatient clinic. Specimens included nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) and swabs were analyzed. Samples were all tested hMPV M gene by RT-PCR while the two positive PCR amplicons were sequenced and compared with other hMPV in GenBank by Blast and DNAstar., Results: Of all the 209 samples, two positive ones were tested. The identities between them were 83.8%. Results from Phylogenetic analysis showed that they might belong to two different clusters., Conclusion: hMPV was one of the pathogens leading to the children's respiratory tract infections in Urumqi, with two different hMPV groups existed in the same season.

Based on ARC/GIS and by using the method of "planar biomass estimation", the green biomass (GB) of Shenyang urban forests was measured. The results demonstrated that the GB per unit area was the highest (3.86 m2.m(-2)) in landscape and relaxation forest, and the lowest (2.27 m2.m(-2)) in ecological and public welfare forest. The GB per unit area in urban forest distribution area was 2.99 m2.m(-2), and that of the whole Shenyang urban area was 0.25 m2.m(-2). The total GB of Shenyang urban forests was about 1.13 x 10(8) m2, among which, subordinated forest, ecological and public welfare forest, landscape and relaxation forest, road forest, and production and management forest accounted for 36.64% , 23.99% , 19.38% , 16.20% and 3.79%, with their GB being 4. 15 x 10(7), 2.72 x 10(7), 2.20 x 10(7), 1.84 x 10(7) and 0.43 x 10(7) m2, respectively. The precision of the method "planar biomass estimation" was 91.81% (alpha = 0.05) by credit test.

Wilson disease (WD) is the most common disorder resulting in hepatic copper overload. A similar form of copper-associated cirrhosis caused by mutations of the canine copper toxicosis MURR1 gene is also observed in Bedlington terriers. Recent studies indicate that MURR1 might influence human copper metabolism and the clinical presentations of WD. However, the correlation between the MURR1 gene and the Chinese patients with WD has not been reported. In the present study, all three exons of the MURR1 gene including the intron-exon boundaries were directly sequenced in 120 unrelated healthy Chinese and 218 unrelated Chinese patients with WD. No mutations were detected in coding and splice site sequence in the human MURR1 gene. A novel polymorphism 3'+119T-->A in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) was identified in three healthy individuals and four patients with two disease-causing mutations in the ATP7B gene and a great diversity of clinical presentations. Of the ATP7B mutations reported here, Gly1268Arg is a novel one. Also, the previously described nucleotide change IVS2+63C-->G was detected in 31.66% of normal chromosomes and 26.15% of WD chromosomes. The results have indicated that there is no correlation between MURR1 and WD in the Chinese population.

Objective: To evaluate the associations of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DQB1 gene with onset age and autoantibodies in type 1 diabetes mellitus(T1DM) in Chinese Han population in Sichuan area., Methods: Forty-six type 1 diabetic patients and 52 healthy control subjects were involved in this study. HLA-DQB1 typing was performed by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer(PCR-SSP). Glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA) and islet cell antibody (ICA) were qualitatively analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Results: The positive rate of DQB1*0201 was higher in T1DM than in controls (OR=18, P<0.005), but those of DQB1*0601, *0602 were higher in controls than in T1DM(OR=0.07, 0.31 respectively, both P<0.05).The positive rate of DQB1*0602 in type 1 diabetic patients with onset age>or=20 years was higher than that in the patients with onset age <20 years (P<0.05). GADA was more frequent in DQB1*0201(+) patients than in DQB1*0201 (-) patients (P<0.025)., Conclusion: The findings show that DQB1*0201 is susceptible to T1DM, whereas DQB1*0601, *0602 are protective in Chinese Han population in Sichuan area. DQB1*0602 may delay the onset of T1DM. The positive rate of DQB1*0201 correlates positively with that of GADA.