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In this study we investigated the effects of climate change on the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Based on the current distribution records of S. frugiperda and selected bioclimatic factors, we modelled its potential habitat suitability in China under four climate change scenarios using Maximum Entropy Models (MaxEnt) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Our results showed that: (1) the mean area under curve (AUC) values of both our initial and final models were greater than 0.978, indicating high accuracy in the predictions; (2) the dominant environmental factors regulating the habitat suitability of S. frugiperda were Precipitation of Warmest Quarter (bio18), Temperature Seasonality (bio4), Annual Mean Temperature (bio1) and Precipitation Seasonality (bio15); (3) the highly suitable areas for S. frugiperda were mainly distributed in Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, most parts of Henan and Guangxi, central and eastern Hubei, central and southern Shaanxi, and southeastern and northern Zhejiang, accounting for 17.6% of China’s landmass; (4) from the present until the 2070s, the areas of the non-suitable regions will decrease as climate warming becomes more severe, and the geometric center of the highly and total suitable areas will displace to the north under all four climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influence of the width and Al composition of one well in asymmetric Al0.85Ga0.15N/GaN double quantum wells (DQWs) on the absorption coefficients and the wavelengths of the intersubband transitions (ISBTs) has been investigated by solving the Schrödinger and Poisson equations self-consistently. When the well width is chosen to be 1.91 nm, the three-energy-level DQWs are realized. The ISBT between the first odd order and the second even order subbands (the 1odd-2even ISBT) has comparable absorption coefficient with the 1odd-2odd ISBT. Their wavelengths are located at 1.3 and 1.54 μm, respectively. When the well width is 2.77 nm, the four-energy-level DQWs are realized. The 1odd-2even and the 1even-2odd ISBTs have comparable absorption coefficients. Their wavelengths are located at 1.41 and 2.54 μm, respectively. The energy separation between the excited subbands is determined to have the minimum value of 144 meV due to the band anticrossing interaction. The calculated results give possible application to ultrafast two-color optoelectronic devices operating within the optical communication wavelength range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the polarization-induced electric field on the wavelength and the absorption coefficient of the intersubband transitions (ISBTs) in AlxGa1-xN/GaN coupled double quantum wells (DQWs) have been investigated by self-consistent calculation. It is found that the wavelength of the ISBT between the first odd order and the second even order subbands (the 1odd-2even ISBT) can be shortened to 1.3 μm owing to the Stark shift induced by the polarization effect. The absorption coefficient of the 1odd-2even ISBT decreases by increasing the polarization field discontinuity. On the other hand, a shorter wavelength and a larger absorption coefficient of the ISBTs are obtained by decreasing the width of the central barrier of AlxGa1-xN/GaN DQWs. The results are beneficial to achieving devices operation within the optical communication wavelength range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on research which has been conducted to test bias of estimating equations in weighted regression with partially missing covariates. Statistics made use of parametric and semiparametric tests as diagnostic tools for the combined package of the primary regression model and the missingness assumptions. It illustrated the result of the test via small scale simulation study.

Cancer, one of the major public health problems in the world, threatens human health seriously, and the burden of disease is heavy. Disability adjusted life years (DALYs) have been increasingly used to estimate the burden of disease worldwide. Disability weights is a key ingredient for estimating DALYs, and its value directly affects the calculation of disease burden. In this review, we summarize the research methods, key issues, and progress on disability weights for cancer both domestic and abroad, in order to provide valuable information for the estimation of cancer disability weights in China.

Rhodiola alsia, which has been used widely in traditional Chinese medicine for a considerable time, grows on moist habitats at high altitude near the snow line. Microsatellite loci were developed for R. alsia to investigate its population genetics. In total, 17 polymorphic microsatellites were developed based on ESTs from the Illumina HiSeq(TM) 2000 platform. The microsatellite loci were checked for variability using 80 individuals of R. alsia sampled from four locations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The total number of alleles per locus ranged from 10 to 20, and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 1.000. The null allele frequency ranged from 0.000 to 0.324. These microsatellites are expected to be helpful in future studies of population genetics in R. alsia and related species.

Cervical pregnancy complicated with massive bleeding usually results in abdominal hysterectomy, and thus the patient loses her fertility potential. Conservative management to control active hemorrhaging as well as to preserve reproductive function is necessary for women who desire more children. We present four patients with cervical pregnancy, complicated by life threatening hemorrhage, who were successfully treated with uterine artery ligation and cervicotomy. Subsequently, one patient had two successful term pregnancies delivered by cesarean section.