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Aim: Understanding the formation and maintenance of biogeographical breaks is fundamental for developing analyses related to biodiversity and conservation. Biogeographical patterns along China's coast are changing dramatically in the face of climate change and alterations in land‐use. In this paper, we sought to clarify the mechanisms responsible for the formation and maintenance of a biogeographical barrier on China's coast. Location: Coastline of northern China. Methods: We have reviewed literature of research related to biogeographical and phylogeographical patterns of intertidal macrobenthos along the coast of Jiangsu Province and adjacent areas, summarized the distribution patterns and biogeographical breakers. We have also reviewed literature about the processes and drivers on coastal biogeographical breaks, to clarify the mechanisms acting to the northward shift of the biogeographical break. Results: The Yangtze (Changjiang) River Estuary Biogeographical Barrier (YREBB) at 30°–31°N, which serves as a coastal biogeographical boundary for the Cold Temperate Northwest Pacific Province and the Warm Temperate Northwest Pacific Province for marine species, has moved northward to ~33°–34°N due to the changes in habitat continuity, oceanographic circulation and climate factors. Consequently, a new biogeographic barrier for intertidal macrobenthos, the Subei Biogeographical Barrier (SBB) on the central coast of Jiangsu Province, has emerged. Main conclusions: The formation and maintenance of the SBB are closely related to the larval dispersal potential, larval settlement success and post‐settlement population establishment, all of which have been profoundly influenced by anthropogenic environmental changes. The northward shift of the YREBB and the appearance of the SBB provide an excellent model system for investigating the impacts of climate change and land‐use change on coastal biogeographic patterning and for clarifying the mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of biogeographical barriers in the face of the unprecedented environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed to use shear wave elastography (SWE) to study the relationship between shear modulus and different body postures of the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) and acquire physiologically meaningful information from the stiffness-posture graph to better quantify passive flexion responses. Seven passive postures were defined to evaluate the shear modulus of right side TLF at the third and fourth lumbar vertebra levels (L3 and L4) in twenty healthy male subjects. The TLF stiffness was significantly different among different postures (p < 0.001), and the TLF stiffness at L3 was always less than that at L4 (p < 0.001). As the forward tilt increased from 0 to 60°, the TLF stiffness increased in sitting and standing postures by 54.01% and 192.84%. In the neutral postures, the TLF stiffness in standing and sitting postures was 66.98% and 165.48% higher than that in rest posture. The above results show that the elastic properties of TLF play an important role in maintaining body static posture and that the forward tilt and sitting postures are likely to induce low back pain (LBP). In conclusion, this study provides preliminary in vivo data for the relationship between body postures and TLF stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the likely future impacts of biological invasions is crucial yet highly challenging given the multiple relevant environmental, socio‐economic and societal contexts and drivers. In the absence of quantitative models, methods based on expert knowledge are the best option for assessing future invasion trajectories. Here, we present an expert assessment of the drivers of potential alien species impacts under contrasting scenarios and socioecological contexts through the mid‐21st century. Based on responses from 36 experts in biological invasions, moderate (20%–30%) increases in invasions, compared to the current conditions, are expected to cause major impacts on biodiversity in most socioecological contexts. Three main drivers of biological invasions—transport, climate change and socio‐economic change—were predicted to significantly affect future impacts of alien species on biodiversity even under a best‐case scenario. Other drivers (e.g. human demography and migration in tropical and subtropical regions) were also of high importance in specific global contexts (e.g. for individual taxonomic groups or biomes). We show that some best‐case scenarios can substantially reduce potential future impacts of biological invasions. However, rapid and comprehensive actions are necessary to use this potential and achieve the goals of the Post‐2020 Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Biogas slurry (BS) is used for soil productivity amendment, but its effect on soil phosphorus (P) form distribution has not been thoroughly examined. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of BS on soil nutrients, phosphomonoesterase activities, and P species distribution. Materials and methods: A 91-day incubation study was carried out for a silt soil which was amended with BS at a rate equivalent to 120 kg N ha−1 and 38 kg P ha−1 and 240 kg N ha−1 and 76 kg P ha−1. The soil with no BS addition was used as control. Solution P-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) spectroscopy was used to characterize soil P species. Acid phosphomonoesterase (ACP) and alkaline phosphomonoesterase (ALP) activities, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), NH4+–N, NO3−–N, and Olsen P were also evaluated. Results and discussion: The results indicated that the application of BS increased pH, CEC, NH4+–N, NO3−–N, and Olsen P contents. Moreover, the addition of BS inhibited ACP activity, but it increased ALP activity. A significant positive correlation was found between ALP and orthophosphates, suggesting ALP activity may play important roles in the release of orthophosphates. The P composition was dominated by inorganic orthophosphate (59.9–76.2% extracted P) and orthophosphate monoesters (23.8–38% extracted P), with smaller concentration of pyrophosphates (1.2–3.6% extracted P), and orthophosphate diesters (less than 1.5% of the extracted P). Conclusions: The P was mainly in the form of inorganic orthophosphates and organic monoesters. The present study shows that BS can be a substitute solution for the supply of essentials nutrients for plants. However, care would be entirely taken with long-term application of BS, since extreme nutrients addition may cause eutrophication of water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A branch of island biogeography has emerged to explain alien species diversity in the light of the biogeographic and anthropogenic context, yet overlooking the functional and phylogenetic facets. Evaluating alien and native birds of 407 oceanic islands worldwide, we built structural equation models to assess the direct and indirect influence of biotic, geographic, and anthropogenic contexts on alien functional diversity (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD). We found that alien taxonomic richness was the main predictor of both diversities. Anthropogenic factors, including colonization pressure, associated with classic biogeographical variables also strongly influenced alien FD and PD. Specifically, habitat modification and human connectivity markedly drove alien FD, especially when controlled by taxonomic richness, whereas the human population size, gross domestic product, and native PD were crucial at explaining alien PD. Our findings suggest that humans not only shape taxonomic richness but also other facets of alien diversity in a complex way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The disease burden of colorectal cancer in East Asia has been at a high level. However, the epidemiological characteristics of the disease burden in this region have not been systematically studied. Method: Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 program. Joinpoint analysis was used to identify long‐term trends in mortality of colorectal cancer. Independent effects of age, period, and cohort were detected by the age–period–cohort model. The Bayesian age–period–cohort model was performed to predict the burden of colorectal cancer across East Asia by 2030. Results: From 1990 to 2019, the average annual percentage change (AAPC) showed upward trends in mainland China (1.05 [95% confidence interval (CI)], 0.82, 1.28) as well as Taiwan Province of China (1.81 [95% CI], 1.51, 2.10) but downward in Japan (−0.60 [95% CI], −0.70, −0.49) (P < 0.05). Attributable risk factors for colorectal cancer in East Asia remained stable over 30 years, while the risk of metabolic factors is noteworthy in the future. In the next decade, the age‐standardized death rate (ASDR) of colorectal cancer in China was predicted to surpass that of Japan and South Korea in expectation. Conclusion: The mortality of colorectal cancer is escalating in developing countries, while it is gradually declining in high‐income countries across East Asia. Nonetheless, the disease burden of colorectal cancer in high‐income countries remains substantial level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) have been associated with an augmented mortality of ischemic stroke. The yearly deaths and mortality data of IS-hLDL-C were derived from the global burden of disease 2019 dataset. The joinpoint, age-period-cohort and decomposition analysis were utilized to evaluate the long-term patterns in the disease burden of IS-hLDL-C, and the effects of population growth and aging. Globally, in 2019, 0.61 million ischemic stroke-related deaths were attributable to high LDL-C, with the highest death burden in the high-middle socio-demographic index (SDI) region. From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized death rate (ASDR) for IS-hLDL-C exhibited a downward trend, with an average annual percentage change of -1.69 [95% confidence interval: −1.90, −1.48)]. The fastest decreasing trends in ASDR were experienced in the high SDI region. In 119 (58.33%) countries, aging increased the disease burden of hLDL-IS, and population growth increased the disease burden of IS-hLDL-C in 163 (79.90%) countries. The trend in disease burden of IS-hLDL-C exhibited variation across countries and regions, particularly in territories with high to middle high SDI. Aging in upper to middle-income countries and population growth in low to middle-income countries further offset endeavors to reduce the burden of ischemic stroke deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]