Estimation of variability in soil water content in a forested critical-zone experimental catchment in Eastern China.

Knowledge of soil water content (SWC) dynamics within soil profiles is crucial for the effective management of water and soil resources. This study aims to clarify the temporal variability and stability of SWC in a forested critical-zone experimental catchment, and further to improve the understanding of the temporal and spatial distribution of soil water in a typical hilly catchment in eastern China. The selected Nandadish (NDD) catchment covering 0.79 ha was instrumented with 34 SWC monitoring sites using Frequency Domain Reflectometry. The consecutive high-resolution monitoring data of soil water at different depths of the sites were collected from January 2017 to December 2019. The results showed that the SWC of the shallow layer (0-30 cm) had the strongest variability over time during the three hydrologic years. The interannual variability of SWC showed the opposite regularity with that of the seasonal variability. Specifically, the spatial variability of SWC in the dry years was greater than that in wet years; whilst the temporal stability of SWC in dry seasons was greater than that in rainy seasons. Precipitation and temperature were the two dominant factors influencing the temporal variation of SWC. Precipitation controlled the interannual variation of SWC, while temperature controlled the seasonal variation of SWC. Additionally, soil water had high temporal stability throughout the observation period in NDD catchment, and the most representative point was located at a relatively flat and central place, which can be used to simulate the variability of SWC under different rainfall conditions in the study area. The temporal stability of SWC patterns was controlled by topography, geographic location, throughfall, and the groundwater level in the study area, which was characterized by sloping terrain and forested cover. This research provides scientific bases for the optimum design of ground sampling, and the temporal and spatial prediction for soil moisture in a typical eastern hilly area with forest land uses.

Cell apoptosis of caprine spleen induced by toxicity of cadmium with different levels of molybdenum.

In order to clarify the effects of the combination of Mo and Cd on goat and relationship between the two elements, combined chronic toxicity of cadmium with different levels of molybdenum in vivo on apoptosis gene and ultrastructure of spleen was evaluated with the methods of RT-qPCR and transmission electron microscopy. A total of thirty-six goats were randomly distributed in equal number into four groups. These groups were randomly assigned with one of three oral treatments of CdCl2 (0.5 mgCd kg(-1)) and [(NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O] (15 mg Mo kg(-1), group I; 30 mg Mo kg(-1), group II; 45 mg Mo kg(-1), group III), while the control group received deionized water. Spleen tissues were taken from individual goat at different time intervals to measure the levels of apoptosis genes including Bcl-2, Bax, Cyt c, Caspase-3, Smac and ceruloplasmin (Cp). The results revealed that a significant suppression in Bcl-2 expression and increase in Cyt c, Caspase-3 and Cp expression in splenic cells. The Bax expression in group I and II was up-regulated, however, it displayed reduction in group III, whereas no statistical significance was observed on Smac expression. In addition, histopathologic injury revealed remarkable morphplogical changes on the splenocytes in the means of apoptosis including fragmentized nucleus, apoptotic body and vesiculation of cytoplasma and mitochondria. Taken together, combined chronic toxicity of cadmium with different levels of molybdenum induce goat spleen cell apoptosis associated with mitochondrial intrinsic pathway, and the two elements showed possible antergic relationship.

Artificial neural networking model for the prediction of post-hepatectomy survival of patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study aimed to establish a prognostic artificial neural network model (ANN) for early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following partial hepatectomy. METHODS: Consecutive patients who were operated between February 2005 and March 2012 were prospectively studied. Seventy-five and 25% of these patients were randomly selected as a training cohort and an internal validation cohort. Similar patients from another hospital formed an external validation cohort. The predictive accuracy of the ANN for postoperative survival was measured by the area under the curve (AUC) on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The results were compared with those obtained using the conventional Cox proportional hazard model, and the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA), TNM 6th, and Barcelona-Clinic-Liver-Cancer (BCLC) staging systems. RESULTS: The number of patients in the training, internal validation and external validation cohorts were 543, 182, and 104, respectively. On linear regression analysis, tumor size, number, alpha¬fetoprotein, microvascular invasion, and tumor capsule were independent factors affecting survival (P < 0.05). The ANN model was established based on these factors. In the training cohort, the AUC of the ANN was larger than that of the Cox model (0.855 vs 0.826, P = 0.0115), and the staging systems (0.784 vs TNM 6th: 0.639, BCLC: 0.612, IHPBA: 0.711, P < 0.0001 for all). These findings were confirmed with the internal and external validation cohorts. CONCLUSION: The ANN was significantly better than the other commonly used model and systems in predicting survival of patients with early HCC who underwent partial hepatectomy.

[Analysis on quality of articles published in Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion from 2000 to 2006].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the quality of the papers issued in Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion in past 7 years, so as to provide reference for its development. METHODS: Analyze information quality of the papers based on the treatises issued in Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion between 2000-2006. RESULTS: (1) Most of the authors come from medical schools and their affiliated hospitals (including scientific research units), accounting for 61. 0%; (2) Authors of each paper mainly range between 2-3 persons, accounting for 40.0%; (3) There are 405 papers with support of funds (mainly from provincial and ministerial funds) in the 7 years, accounting for 26. 2% of the total number of the papers; (4) Publication delay shortens annually, averaging 255. 3 days in the past 7 years and 210.5 days in 2006; (5) RCT papers of clinical researches account for 30.4% and show a raising tendency year by year. CONCLUSION: Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion has considerable advantages in the above-mentioned four aspects, showing the high quality of "key periodical", but the proportion of RCT papers still needs to be further increased.

[Analysis on quotations in the articles issued in Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion from 2000 to 2006].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the quoted regular patterns for the quotations and informative absorbing capability of the Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, and analyze the characteristics of literature requirement of scientific researcher and clinical workers in the acupuncture and moxibustion field, so as to offer suggestion on literature utilization and provide references to development of the Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion. METHODS: Bibliometrical Citation analysis was used to analyze the references cited from 2000 to 2006 according to the time sequence of publishing. RESULTS: The citation rate was 76.6%, and citations per article was 4.3. Most of the citations were mainly cited from journals (82.0%) and books (17.2%). The Price Index was 43.7%, and the self-citation rates for author and periodical were 16.3% and 9.1% respectively. The citations from the high-ranked 10 journals were accounted for 31.4% of all citations. CONCLUSION: Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion is a highly authorized academic periodical in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion. The citations are mainly cited from periodicals written in Chinese and English. They are of good novelty and quality, but the citation rate should be further raised.

[Polymorphic analysis of two Y chromosome short tandem repeat loci in Chinese Chengdu Han population].

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the distribution of genetic polymorphism of two novel Y chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR) loci (DYS508, DYS516) in Chinese Chengdu Han population. METHODS: Two Y-STR loci were amplified with PCR. The products of PCR were analyzed with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Each allele of these 2 Y-STR loci was sequenced and the allele ladders were constructed. Alleles of these Y-STR loci were nominated according to recommendations of the International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG). RESULTS: Six and 6 alleles were observed in loci DYS508 and DYS516 respectively. The gene diversity of DYS508 and DYS516 was 0.7242 and 0.7931 respectively. The diversity of haplotype for these Y-STR loci was 0.9397. The value of discrimination power and the exclusion chance of paternity for these Y-STR loci were same as the value of haplotype diversity. CONCLUSION: Both Y-STR loci are high genetic polymorphic. They are beneficial to the test of male-female mixtures and paternity identification in forensic science.