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In southern China, the staple food rice (Oryza sativa) field is commonly rotated with brown mustard Brassica juncea. Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are a major threat to rice production. From 2019 to 2021, B. juncea in 56 fields from 26 counties in Guangxi Province were observed with symptoms of leaf yellowing, stunting, and several hook-shaped galls on the roots. Females and egg masses of Meloidogyne sp. were found within the galls. The females, males, and second-stage juveniles (J2s) were collected, and identified with morphological and molecular characteristics and female perineal patterns. Brassica juncea was transplanted in pots and a pathogenicity test was conducted to confirm the species as Meloidogyne graminicola. In China, this is the first record of a natural infection of mustard with M. graminicola, and this finding has great importance for Chinese mustard production, since this nematode may damage mustard plants and become an additional problem for this crop.

Clinopodium gracile is one of the commonly used medicinal herbs of the She ethnic minority in China. The whole plant of C. gracile is rich in flavonoids. This study pioneers the investigation to improve flavonoid yield by the use of response surface methodology (RSM) and microwave irradiation pretreatment method. The antimicrobial activities of its extracts was also tested. The significant parameters of extraction conditions of the whole plant of C. gracile flavonoids (WPCF) were as follows: wetted time of 25.514 min, microwave radiation pretreatment time of 38.024 s, microwave power of 411.557 w, and mass of vaporization solvent of 1.841 mL. For the convenience of the experiment, the optimum process parameters were modified as follows: wetted time of 25 min, microwave radiation pretreatment time of 38 s, microwave power of 420 w, and mass of vaporization solvent of 1.8 mL. Under these conditions, the yield of WPCF was 145.677 mg/g, which was increased by 25.450% compared to the traditional water bath extraction, a significant difference was observed. Antimicrobial experimentations showed that the extracts of ethyl acetate exhibited good activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC9027), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC29213), Staphylococcus aureus (SA1) with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 16 mg/mL, 8 mg/mL, 8 mg/mL, respectively. Therefore, the processing technology in this study was successful and microwave irradiation pretreatment provided some practical significance for the extraction of WPCF. The results also suggest that the extracts from C. gracile could be used as a potential antimicrobial source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: This study will explore whether the femoral neck osteotomy angle (FNOA) has an effect on hip anatomical functional reconstruction and clinical outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 254 patients (296 hips) who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty using the same uncemented short stem (Tri-Lock BPS) between December 2018 and December 2019. Correlations between FNOA and the radiologic and clinical outcomes of patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients were divided into 3 groups according to different FNOA. FNOA ≤50° is Group A, 50°< FNOA <55° Group B, and FNOA ≥55° Group C. There were significant differences among the three groups in distal D1 (p=0.029), sitting proud (SP) (p<0.001), varus and valgus alignment (p<0.001), FO (p=0.001), and caput-collum-diaphysis angle (CCD) (p<0.001). There were significant differences in the incidence of complications among the three groups (p<0.007). There was a significant linear correlation with D1 (B=0.005, CI=0.002 to 0.008, p=0.004), SP (B=-0.266, CI=-0.286 to 0.166, p<0.001), the femoral stem varus-valgus alignment angle (B=-0.359, CI=-0.422 to -0.297, p<0.001), femoral offset (FO) (B=-0.500, CI=-0.795 to -0.205, p=0.001), and CCD (B=0.696, CI=0.542 to 0.849, p<0.001). In logistic regression analysis, inappropriate FNOA increased the risk of dislocation (OR=0.892, CI=0.812 to 0.979, p=0.016) and thigh pain (OR=0.920, CI=0.851 to 0.995, p=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the relationship between FNOA and short-term radiological and clinical outcomes of patients after THA using a Tri-Lock femoral prosthesis. Inappropriate FNOA was significantly associated with failure of hip anatomical reconstruction and a higher risk of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although observational studies suggest that soy foods or isoflavones are cardio-protective, clinical trials on whole soy or isoflavone daidzein (one major isoflavone and the precursor of equol) on blood pressure (BP) and endothelial function (EF) are few and have not been specifically conducted among equol producers, a population most likely to benefit from soy treatment. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We performed a 6-month double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to examine the effect of whole soy (soy flour) or purified daidzein on BP and EF in prehypertensive or untreated hypertensive postmenopausal women verified to be equol producers. A total of 270 eligible women were recruited and randomized to either one of the three treatment groups, 40 g soy flour (whole soy group), 40 g low-fat milk powder+63 mg daidzein (daidzein group) or 40 g low-fat milk powder (active control group) daily, each given as a solid beverage powder for 6 months. The primary outcome measures were 24 h ambulatory BP (ABP) and EF assessed by flow-mediated dilation using brachial artery ultrasound. RESULTS: A total of 253 subjects completed the study according to protocol. Urinary isoflavones indicated good compliance with the interventions. Intention to treat and per-protocol analysis indicated that there was no significant difference in the 6-month changes or % changes in parameters of ABP and brachial flow-mediated dilation among the three treatment groups. A further subgroup analysis among hypertensive women (n = 138) did not alter the conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Whole soy and purified daidzein had no significant effect on BP and vascular function among equol- producing postmenopausal women with prehypertension or untreated hypertension. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2015) 69, 1161-1168; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2015.24; published online 18 March 2015, INTRODUCTION Elevated blood pressure (BP) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and renal impairment. (1) High BP remains a major reversible cardiovascular risk factor. (2) A metaanalysis [...]

Surface structure is used to interfere with the turbulent boundary layer in the groove drag reduction, which is important to the endurance and stability of high-speed and ultrahigh-speed aircraft. The size of the groove structure directly affects the flow in the turbulent boundary layer and changes the drag reduction effect. The drag reduction characteristics of bionic triangular (V-groove) riblets were studied through Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) experiment and Finite Volume Method (FVM) simulation. Triangular riblets with adjacent height ratios (AHR) of 1.00, 1.74, and 3.02 were considered in this research, and the influence of these groove structures on the flow characteristics of turbulence near the wall is compared with those of the smooth plates. The distribution of time-averaged velocity, turbulence intensity, and coherent structures of turbulent boundary layer on the riblet surface is analyzed to document the effects of the geometric parameters of various groove structures on drag reduction rates. Results showed that the best drag reduction is obtained using the V-groove riblets with adjacent height ratio of 1:1 under the low free-stream velocity. The results can be used as a reference for further optimization of drag reduction structures with surface grooves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to discuss the prognostic significance of peripheral interleukin-6 (IL-6) and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-four COVID-19 patients were retrospectively analyzed and classified into three groups, including the moderate group (15 cases), the serious group (45 cases), and the critical group (24 cases). The levels of peripheral IL-6, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells and CD4+/CD8+ were determined for each group. It was assessed whether these indicators were correlated to the prognosis and death risks of COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: The three groups of COVID-19 patients differed significantly in the levels of peripheral IL-6 and CD4+ and CD8+ cells. The IL-6 levels in the critical, moderate, and serious groups were increased successively, but the changed levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were just opposite to that of IL-6 (p<0.05). The peripheral IL-6 level increased dramatically in the death group, while the levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells decreased significantly (p<0.05). The peripheral IL-6 level was significantly correlated with the level of CD8+ T cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the critical group (p<0.05). The logistic regression analysis indicated a dramatic increase in the peripheral IL-6 level in the death group (p=0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The aggressiveness and survival of COVID-19 were highly correlated with the increases in IL-6 and CD4+/CD8+ T cells. The fatalities of COVID-19 individuals remained at increased incidence due to elevated peripheral IL-6 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For investigating the response of chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics under single and combined of Cu or Zn stress, Vallisneria natans was selected as the experimental subject. V. natans was cultured 21 days under six concentration levels of Cu or Zn. The results showed that Fv/Fm, Fv/Fo, Y (II) and qP increased, and other indicators were almost unchanged in low- concentration treatment (Cu≤0.4mg/L, Zn≤4.0mg/L, Cu+Zn≤0.2+2.0 mg/L). V. natans could still maintain normal growth within such a range of heavy metal concentration, and it could maintain relatively a high photosynthetic activity. When heavy metal concentration was higher than the above concentration, the photosynthetic activity was inhibited. Fv/Fm, Fv/Fo, Y (II) and qP decreased gradually with the increasing stress concentration and stress time, while Y(NO), Y (NPQ), and qN showed different degrees of increase. The combined stress of Cu and Zn had a synergistic effect on the photosynthetic activity. V. natans can be used for ecological restoration of polluted water with low concentration of Cu and Zn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to investigate possible urban-rural differences in food intakes in Jilin province and in continental China as a whole, and to examine possible implications for nutritional status of urban and rural populations. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Communities. Subjects: In total, 499 adult women in six urban sites and four rural sites, 10 sites in total, including two sites in Jilin province. Methods: A pair of surveys were conducted in September, 1999, in the provincial capital of Changchun and a farming village in Dehui county, both in Jilin province, in northeast China. Each of 50 adult women per survey site provided a 24 h duplicate food sample and a blood sample, and had an interview on health history including anthropometry and blood pressure measurement. Nutrient intakes were estimated from the food duplicates, using national food composition tables. Results from the two sites were supplemented with data from eight sites where surveys had been conducted following the same protocol, and the pooled material were subjected to analyses for possible urban--rural differences. Results: The Jilin participants consumed daily, on average, about 1600 kcal energy, 44 g protein, and 60 g lipid with a lipid energy ratio (ie the ratio of lipid over total nutrients in terms of energy) of 33%. When nutrient intakes were compared between the urban (ie Changchun) and rural (Dehui) groups, urban women consumed more energy, protein (especially animal protein) and lipid than rural women. Similar examination of data from six urban and four rural sites, including the present two, showed that adult women in urban areas eat more animal protein and animal fat than their counterparts in villages, and suggested that the observation on urban-rural difference in Jilin province can be extrapolated to a nationwide scale. Conclusions: Urban--rural differences in nutrient intakes still persist in 1999 not only in Jilin but in other provinces, typically in the terms of intakes of animal-based foods. Sponsorship: The Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, the Government of Japan. Descriptors: adult women; food duplicate study; Jilin province, China; nutrient intake; urban--rural difference, Introduction It was made clear in the 1992 National Nutrition Survey (Ge et al, 1995,1996) that rural people in continental China ate less animal-based foods (eg pork and poultry) and [...]

Bi(2223) thick films are investigated to measure their voltage-current (V-I) curves and magnetoresistance (R-H) at different temperatures and magnetic fields. An increase in temperature and magnetic fields cause a transition in flux lattice melting. A flux-flow-like character is exhibited by V-I curves. RH measurements show that the magnetic fields conform to an exponential low dependent on temperature.

Spectroscopic analyses showed that the adsorption of vinyl iodide submonolayers on Pt(111) surfaces proceeded both molecularly and dissociatively at 100 kelvin. The reaction generated vinyl (CH2CH) units and iodide atoms. Furthermore, the desorption of the multilayer and monolayer structures of vinyl iodide was observed at 130 and 160 kelvin, respectively. The compound also directly converted to ethylidene even at temperatures below 120 kelvin.