Nitrogen-Anchored Boridene Enables Mg-CO2 Batteries with High Reversibility.

Nanoscale defect engineering plays a crucial role in incorporating extraordinary catalytic properties in two-dimensional materials by varying the surface groups or site interactions. Herein, we synthesized high-loaded nitrogen-doped Boridene (N-Boridene (Mo4/3(BnN1-n)2-mTz), N-doped concentration up to 26.78 at %) nanosheets by chemical exfoliation followed by cyanamide intercalation. Three different nitrogen sites are observed in N-Boridene, wherein the site of boron vacancy substitution mainly accounts for its high chemical activity. Attractively, as a cathode for Mg-CO2 batteries, it delivers a long-term lifetime (305 cycles), high-energy efficiency (93.6%), and ultralow overpotential (∼0.09 V) at a high current of 200 mA g-1, which overwhelms all Mg-CO2 batteries reported so far. Experimental and computational studies suggest that N-Boridene can remarkably change the adsorption energy of the reaction products and lower the energy barrier of the rate-determining step (*MgCO2 → *MgCO3·xH2O), resulting in the rapid reversible formation/decomposition of new MgCO3·5H2O products. The surging Boridene materials with defects provide substantial opportunities to develop other heterogeneous catalysts for efficient capture and converting of CO2.

N-Decorated Main-Group MgAl2O4 Spinel: Unlocking Exceptional Oxygen Reduction Activity for Zn-Air Batteries.

The development of economical and efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts is crucial to accelerate the widespread application rhythm of aqueous rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs). Here, a strategy is reported that the modification of the binding energy for reaction intermediates by the axial N-group converts the inactive spinel MgAl2O4 into the active motif of MgAl2O4-N. It is found that the introduction of N species can effectively optimize the electronic configuration of MgAl2O4, thereby significantly reducing the adsorption strength of *OH and boosting the reaction process. This main-group MgAl2O4-N catalyst exhibits a high ORR activity in a broad pH range from acidic and alkaline environments. The aqueous ZABs assembled with MgAl2O4-N shows a peak power density of 158.5 mW cm-2, the long-term cyclability over 2000 h and the high stability in the temperature range from -10 to 50 °C, outperforming the commercial Pt/C in terms of activity and stability. This work not only serves as a significant candidate for the robust ORR electrocatalysts of aqueous ZABs, but also paves a new route for the effective reutilization of waste Mg alloys.

SapBase: A central portal for functional and comparative genomics of Sapindaceae species.

The Sapindaceae family, encompassing a wide range of plant forms such as herbs, vines, shrubs, and trees, is widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. This family includes economically important crops like litchi, longan, rambutan, and ackee. With the wide application of genomic technologies in recent years, several Sapindaceae plant genomes have been decoded, leading to an accumulation of substantial omics data in this field. This surge in data highlights the pressing need for a unified genomic data center capable of storing, sharing, and analyzing these data. Here, we introduced SapBase, that is, the Sapindaceae Genome Database. SapBase houses seven published plant genomes alongside their corresponding gene structure and functional annotations, small RNA annotations, gene expression profiles, gene pathways, and synteny block information. It offers user-friendly features for gene information mining, co-expression analysis, and inter-species comparative genomic analysis. Furthermore, we showcased SapBase's extensive capacities through a detailed bioinformatic analysis of a MYB gene in litchi. Thus, SapBase could serve as an integrative genomic resource and analysis platform for the scientific exploration of Sapinaceae species and their comparative studies with other plants.

Quantitative Trait Locus Mapping of Seed Vigor in Soybean under -20 °C Storage and Accelerated Aging Conditions via RAD Sequencing.

Due to its fast deterioration, soybean (Glycine max L.) has an inherently poor seed vigor. Vigor loss occurring during storage is one of the main obstacles to soybean production in the tropics. To analyze the genetic background of seed vigor, soybean seeds of a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross between Zhonghuang24 (ZH24, low vigor cultivar) and Huaxia3hao (HX3, vigorous cultivar) were utilized to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying the seed vigor under -20 °C conservation and accelerated aging conditions. According to the linkage analysis, multiple seed vigor-related QTLs were identified under both -20 °C and accelerated aging storage. Two major QTLs and eight QTL hotspots localized on chromosomes 3, 6, 9, 11, 15, 16, 17, and 19 were detected that were associated with seed vigor across two storage conditions. The indicators of seed vigor did not correlate well between the two aging treatments, and no common QTLs were detected in RIL populations stored in two conditions. These results indicated that deterioration under accelerated aging conditions was not reflective of natural aging at -20 °C. Additionally, we suggest 15 promising candidate genes that could possibly determine the seed vigor in soybeans, which would help explore the mechanisms responsible for maintaining high seed vigor.

The quality of life in Chinese juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients: psychometric properties of the pediatric quality of life inventor generic core scales and rheumatology module.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) may seriously affects patients' quality of life (QoL), but it was rarely focused and studied in China, so we explore JIA children's QoL using Chinese version of the PedsQL4.0 Generic Core and PedsQL3.0 Rheumatology Module scale, and analyzed the psychometric properties of these two Scales among Chinese JIA children. METHODS: We recruited 180 JIA patients from Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics and Hebei Yanda Hospital from July 2018 to August 2019. The questionnaires include information related on JIA, PedsQL4.0 generic core and PedsQL3.0 Rheumatology Module scales. According to the disease type, onset age of and course of JIA, we divided them into different groups, then compared the QoL status among different groups. Moreover, we analyzed the reliability and validity of these two scales in these 180 JIA children. RESULTS: The mean score of PedsQL4.0 generic core scale on these 180 patients was 82.85 ± 14.82, for these in active period was 72.05 ± 15.29, in remission period was 89.77 ± 9.23; the QoL score of systemic, polyarticular and oligoarticular JIA patients were 77.05 ± 19.11, 84.33 ± 12.46 and 87.12 ± 10.23. The mean score of PedsQL3.0 Rheumatology Module scale on 180 patients was 91.22 ± 9.45, for these in active period was 84.70 ± 11.37, in remission period was 95.43 ± 4.48; the QoL score of systemic, polyarticular and oligoarticular JIA patients were 89.41 ± 11.54, 89.38 ± 10.08 and 93.71 ± 6.92. In the PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core scale, the α coefficients of total scale and almost every dimension are all greater than 0.8 except for the school activity dimension of 0.589; the correlation coefficients of 22 items' scores (total 23 items) with the scores of dimensions they belong to are greater than 0.5 (maximum value is 0.864), and the other one is 0.406. In PedsQL3.0 Rheumatology Module scale, except for the treatment and worry dimensions of 0.652 and 0.635, the α coefficients of other dimensions and the total scale are all greater than 0.7; the correlation coefficients of all items' score were greater than 0.5 (the maximum is 0.933, the minimum is 0.515). CONCLUSIONS: The QoL of Chinese JIA children is worse than their healthy peers, these in active period and diagnosed as systemic type were undergoing worst quality of life. The reliability and validity of PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core and PedsQL3.0 Rheumatology Module scale in Chinese JIA children are satisfactory, and can be used in clinical and scientific researches.

Association between STAT4 polymorphisms and the risk of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in Han Chinese populations.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have demonstrated a potential role of STAT4 polymorphisms in increased juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) risk in Caucasian populations; however, their role remains unclear in Han Chinese populations. We aimed to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of STAT4 and their role in JIA in Han Chinese populations. METHODS: This study included 205 JIA cases and 267 healthy controls. MassArray high-throughput DNA analyser and mass spectrometry were used to analyse 16 STAT4 SNP sites. The relationship between these SNPs and JIA risk was calculated using multiple logistic regressions. RESULTS: The G allele of rs11893432 was associated with an increased risk of JIA (odds ratio [OR]: 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-2.88; p=0.037). This relationship was observed in oligoarticular JIA (OR: 2.75; 95% CI: 1.29-5.83; p=0.026), and not in polyarticular JIA or systemic JIA. The GG motif was significantly correlated with oligoarticular JIA risk,compared to the CC+CG motif (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.06-3.32; p=0.034). The C allele of rs1018981 and the A allele of rs10931481 were associated with a greater risk of polyarticular JIA (C allele: [OR: 7.82; 95% CI: 1.06-57.74; p=0.044]; A allele: [OR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.23, 6.65; p=0.039). CONCLUSIONS: The G allele of rs11893432 was significantly associated with JIA risk, particularly oligoarticular JIA, in Han Chinese populations. SNPs at rs1018981 and rs10931481 were correlated with higher risk of polyarticular JIA.

The association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene single nucleotide polymorphisms with paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a type of nitric oxide synthase that mainly exists in the endothelium. It produces nitric oxide (NO) to regulate the function of endothelial cells. Endothelial dysfunction and increased NO metabolites have been shown in animal models of lupus and in lupus patients, so eNOS gene polymorphisms may be important in the pathogenesis of SLE. This study aimed to investigate the association of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of eNOS and paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE). METHODS: A total of 91 pSLE cases and 90 healthy controls were used in this study. We divided these patients into 4 subgroups according to kidney or central nervous system involvement. Four selected SNPs in the gene were analysed with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Statistical methods were carried out to investigate the correlation between the SNPs and pSLE. RESULTS: SNP rs1808593 genotype GT in case group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p=0.047), and the genotype GT had positive correlation with pSLE (OR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.01-3.69). In subgroup C (the patients with central nervous system but no kidney damage), the genotype GT was significantly higher than those in the control group (p=0.028), and the genotype GT was related to pSLE with central nervous system damage (OR=6.24, 95% CI: 1.17-33.15). In male patients, we found SNP rs1808593 genotype GT in pSLE group was significantly higher than in the control group (p=0.0065), and the risk of pSLE increased in patients with genotype GT (OR=8.36, 95% CI: 2.02-34.6). CONCLUSIONS: SNP rs1808593 GT genotype is significantly higher than that in the control group, which may indicate that this genotype increases the risk of pSLE, especially in boys, and also this genotype might increase the risk of central nervous system involvement. Therefore, eNOS gene SNP rs1808593 genotype may have an important role in predicting the occurrence of pSLE and central nervous system complications in pSLE.

Differential plasma microRNAs expression in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To identify potential novel biomarkers for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), we evaluated the correlation between plasma expression levels of specific miRNAs and disease characteristics of JIA. METHODS: Differentially expressed miRNAs in JIA plasma were identified by microarray analysis. Five candidate plasma miRNAs with differential expression were further evaluated by qRT-PCR. The correlation between the expression of candidate plasma miRNAs and clinical parameters of JIA patients was assessed. RESULTS: The expression of miR-16, miR-146a, and miR-223 was higher, and miR-132 was lower, in the plasma of JIA patients as compared with healthy subjects and juvenile ankylosing spondylitis patients (p < 0.05). Plasma miR-16 concentrations were considerably higher for polyarticular JIA patients than oligoarticular JIA patients and correlated with the juvenile arthritis magnetic resonance imaging scores for the hip and plasma interleukin-6 or IL-6 levels. Additionally, miR-146a levels correlated directly with the Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Scores in 27 joints, the swollen joint count, the limited joint count, and the juvenile arthritis magnetic resonance imaging scores for the hip, but correlated inversely with plasma tumor necrosis factor-α or TNF-α levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the expression of plasma miRNAs correlates with JIA disease and suggests that plasma miR-16 and miR-146a have potential novel value for JIA diagnosis.

SynGAP: a synteny-based toolkit for gene structure annotation polishing.

Genome sequencing has become a routine task for biologists, but the challenge of gene structure annotation persists, impeding accurate genomic and genetic research. Here, we present a bioinformatics toolkit, SynGAP (Synteny-based Gene structure Annotation Polisher), which uses gene synteny information to accomplish precise and automated polishing of gene structure annotation of genomes. SynGAP offers exceptional capabilities in the improvement of gene structure annotation quality and the profiling of integrative gene synteny between species. Furthermore, an expression variation index is designed for comparative transcriptomics analysis to explore candidate genes responsible for the development of distinct traits observed in phylogenetically related species.

A near-complete assembly of the Houttuynia cordata genome provides insights into the regulatory mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis in Yuxingcao.

Houttuynia cordata, also known as Yuxingcao in Chinese, is a perennial herb in the Saururaceae family. It is highly regarded for its medicinal properties, particularly in treating respiratory infections and inflammatory conditions, as well as boosting the human immune system. However, a lack of genomic information has hindered research on the functional genomics and potential improvements of H. cordata. In this study, we present a near-complete assembly of H. cordata genome and investigate the biosynthetic pathway of flavonoids, specifically quercetin, using genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics analyses. The genome of H. cordata diverged from that of Saururus chinensis around 33.4 million years ago; it consists of 2.24 Gb with 76 chromosomes (4n = 76) and has undergone three whole-genome duplication (WGD) events. These WGDs played a crucial role in shaping the H. cordata genome and influencing the gene families associated with its medicinal properties. Through metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses, we identified key genes involved in the ß-oxidation process for biosynthesis of houttuynin, one of the volatile oils responsible for the plant's fishy smell. In addition, using the reference genome, we identified genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, particularly quercetin metabolism, in H. cordata. This discovery has important implications for understanding the regulatory mechanisms that underlie production of active pharmaceutical ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. Overall, the high-quality genome assembly of H. cordata serves as a valuable resource for future functional genomics research and provides a solid foundation for genetic improvement of H. cordata for the benefit of human health.

Diversification of FT-like genes in the PEBP family contributes to the variation of flowering traits in Sapindaceae species.

Many species of Sapindaceae, such as lychee, longan, and rambutan, provide nutritious and delicious fruit. Understanding the molecular genetic mechanisms that underlie the regulation of flowering is essential for securing flower and fruit productivity. Most endogenous and exogenous flowering cues are integrated into the florigen encoded by FLOWERING LOCUS T. However, the regulatory mechanisms of flowering remain poorly understood in Sapindaceae. Here, we identified 60 phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein-coding genes from six Sapindaceae plants. Gene duplication events led to the emergence of two or more paralogs of the FT gene that have evolved antagonistic functions in Sapindaceae. Among them, the FT1-like genes are functionally conserved and promote flowering, while the FT2-like genes likely serve as repressors that delay flowering. Importantly, we show here that the natural variation at nucleotide position - 1437 of the lychee FT1 promoter determined the binding affinity of the SVP protein (LcSVP9), which was a negative regulator of flowering, resulting in the differential expression of LcFT1, which in turn affected flowering time in lychee. This finding provides a potential molecular marker for breeding lychee. Taken together, our results reveal some crucial aspects of FT gene family genetics that underlie the regulation of flowering in Sapindaceae.

The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the association between trace metals and QTc prolongation in the aged population.

This study delves into the relationship between environmental metal exposure and QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) prolongation, a critical marker for cardiovascular risk in the elderly. Although the interplay between metal exposure and QTc prolongation is important for predicting sudden cardiac death, it remains underexplored. Our analysis of 6478 participants from the Shenzhen aging-related disorder cohort involved measuring urinary concentrations of 22 trace metals and using mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) as an indicator of mitochondrial dysfunction. Utilizing Bayesian kernel machine regression, and structural equation modeling, we assessed the effects of mixed trace metals on QTc prolongation. Our findings indicated a direct association between certain metals (Sb, Cu, Zn) and a 7 % increase in QTc prolongation risk, while Li, V, and Rb were associated with a 5 % reduction in risk. Elevated levels of V, Ti, and Cr corresponded to higher mtDNA-CN. Notably, restricted cubic splines revealed a U-shaped, nonlinear relationship between mtDNA-CN and QTc prolongation. After adjusting for metal exposure, an inverse correlation was observed between mtDNA-CN and QTc prolongation, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction as a partial mediator.

Age-related differences in the clinical characteristics of systemic lupus erythematosus in children.

The objective of this study was to determine how the clinical presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus in pediatric varied with the age of onset of the disease. We reviewed the charts of a total of 88 Chinese pediatric patients (pSLE) diagnosed and admitted first time to our hospitals between 2005 and 2008. Patients were divided into 3 groups, depending on the age at diagnosis: preschool (1-6 years), school age (7-11 years), and adolescent groups (12-18 years). Among the three groups, we compared the sex ratio, disease duration at diagnosis, symptoms at the onset of the disease, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, SLEDAI (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index) 2000, and SLICC/ACR SDI (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus). Most pediatric patients were in the adolescent group (47.7%), while the disease duration at diagnosis was shortest in preschool-age patients (0.65 ± 0.5 months). The most common symptoms at the onset of pSLE were fever, rash, arthritis, and seizures. Hematologic system and neuropsychiatric system were damaged commonly. The preschool-age patients had the shortest disease duration at diagnosis, the highest incidence of neuropsychiatric system involvement, and the poorest prognosis of all the age groups, especially the boys. Patients in adolescence had the peak incidence of pediatric SLE and high disease activity, begins to acquire some of the adult characteristics. School-age is a transition stage between other stages.

Nutritional Value, Volatile Components, Functional Metabolites, and Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities of Different Parts of Millettia speciosa Champ., a Medicinal and Edible Plant with Potential for Development.

Highly nutritious traditional plants which are rich in bioactive substances are attracting increasing attention. In this study, the nutritional value, chemical composition, biological activities, and feed indices of different parts of Millettia speciosa were comprehensively evaluated. In terms of its nutritional value, this study demonstrated that the leaves, flowers and seeds of M. speciosa were rich in elements and amino acids; the biological values (BVs) of these ingredients ranged from 85% to 100%, showing the extremely high nutritional value of this plant. GC-MS analysis suggested that the main chemical components of the flower volatile oil were n-hexadecanoic acid (21.73%), tetracosane (19.96%), and pentacosane (5.86%). The antibacterial activities of the flower and seed extracts were significantly stronger than those of the leaves and branches. The leaf extract displayed the strongest antifungal activities (EC50 values: 18.28 ± 0.54 µg/mL for Pseudocryphonectria elaeocarpicola and 568.21 ± 33.60 µg/mL for Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) and were the least toxic to mouse fibroblasts (L929) (IC50 value: 0.71 ± 0.04 mg/mL), while flowers were the most toxic (IC50 value: 0.27 ± 0.03 mg/mL). In addition, the abundance of fiber, protein, mineral elements, and functional metabolite contents indicated the potential applicability of M. speciosa as an animal feed. In conclusion, as a traditional herbal plant used for medicinal and food purposes, M. speciosa shows potential for safe and multifunctional development.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of childhood-onset lupus mesenteric vasculitis as the initial presentation-a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV) as initial presentation is rare, especially in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). It is a critical complication of lupus. At present, the research on cSLE with LMV as the initial presentation is few. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of cSLE with LMV in the Chinese population, compared with non-LMV cSLE. METHODS: A retrospective case-controlled study was conducted on 55 cSLE patients between July 2018 and July 2021. The clinical data, laboratory findings, imaging, treatment, and follow-up data were collected and compared between the two groups of cSLE with LMV and non-LMV. Non-LMV cSLE patients were matched according to the age and sex of LMV patients. RESULTS: A total of 11 cSLE patients with LMV as the LMV group and 44 cSLE patients without LMV as the non-LMV group were included. The average age of onset was 12.55 ± 1.57 years old, the male-to-female ratio was 2:9, and high disease activity was observed in the LMV group. Abdominal pain was most common in LMV. Compared with the non-LMV, the percentage of abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distension, and diarrhea was higher, and gastrointestinal tract, serous cavity, kidney, and lung damage were higher in the LMV group (P < 0.05). In abdominal-enhanced CT, the percentage of intestinal wall thickening, peritoneal effusion, mesenteric vascular enhancement, hydronephrosis with ureteral dilatation, intestinal congestion, and gastric mucosa thickening in the LMV group were higher than those in the non-LMV group (P < 0.05). The percentage of receiving methylprednisolone pulse combined with cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in LMV was higher than in non-LMV. The clinical symptoms disappeared quickly, and there were no deaths in the LMV group. Compared with the non-LMV group, the 24-h urinary protein was higher, the complement C3 was lower, and the disease activity was higher in the LMV group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LMV often occurs in 12 ~ 13-year-old girls with high disease activity of cSLE. Abdominal pain is the most common and more susceptible to damage to the kidney, serous cavity, and lung in cSLE with LMV. Methylprednisolone pulse combined with CTX pulse therapy is effective. After the treatment above, cSLE with LMV has a good prognosis, but the overall recovery is worse than non-LMV patients.

Direct determination of nosiheptide residue in animal tissues by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Because only very weak signals of fragment ions of nosiheptide can be obtained, nosiheptide is usually detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) via the determination of its hydrolyzed degradation product named HMIA in previous studies. The indirect method suffers from several problems, such as complicated samplepreparation, unavailable commercial HMIA, and the risk of the false-positive result by HMIA. However, we found that nosiheptide could produce several significant fragment ions under high collision energy (CE). Therefore, we developed a method for the direct determination of nosiheptide by LC-MS/MS in animal tissues. The sample was extracted with ACN, then degreased with n-hexane, and purified by an HLB solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. After being filtered through the PTFE filter, it was analyzed by LC-MS/MS in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The influencing factors, such as mobile phase, SPE cartridge, filter material, and matrix effect, were investigated. Nosiheptide showed a good linear relationship (R2 ≥ 0.999) within the concentration range from 0.3 µg/L to 20 µg/L under optimized conditions. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.3 µg/kg, while the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 1.0 µg/kg in chicken, bovine muscle, swine muscle, and swine liver. The average recoveries at spiked levels of 1.0, 2.0, and 10 µg/kg ranged from 83% to 101%, with the relative standard deviations (RSDs) <12%. Compared with the methods previously reported, our newly developed method was more simple, convenient, and sensitive. Moreover, it was successfully applied for the determination of nosiheptide residue in medicated chicken samples.

Carbon footprint of cotton production in China: Composition, spatiotemporal changes and driving factors.

Analyzing the carbon footprint of crop production and proposing low-carbon emission reduction production strategies can help China develop sustainable agriculture under the goal of 'carbon peak and carbon neutrality'. Cotton is an economically important crop in China, but few reports have systematically quantified the carbon footprint of China's cotton production and analyzed its spatiotemporal changes and driving factors. This study used a life cycle approach to analyze the spatiotemporal changes and identify the main components and driving factors of the carbon footprint of cotton production in China between 2004 and 2018 based on statistical data. The results showed that the carbon footprint per unit area of cotton in Northwest China, the Yellow River Basin and the Yangtze River Basin reached 6220.13 kg CO2eq·ha-1, 3528.14 kg CO2eq·ha-1 and 2958.56 kg CO2eq·ha-1, respectively. From 2004 to 2018, the CFa in the Yellow River Basin and Northwest China increased annually, with average increases of 59.87 kg CO2eq·ha-1 and 260.70 kg CO2eq·ha-1, respectively, while the CFa in the Yangtze River Basin decreased by an average of 21.53 kg CO2eq·ha-1 per year. The ridge regression and Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) model showed that fertilizer, irrigation electricity and agricultural film were the main influences on carbon emission growth at the micro level and that the economic factor was the key factor at the macro level. Improving the efficiency of cotton fertilization and electricity use and ensuring the high-quality development of the cotton industry are effective strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of cotton cultivation in the future. This study comprehensively uses statistical data and mathematical modeling to provide theoretical support for accounting and in-depth analysis of cotton carbon emissions. The results are valuable for policy making related to sustainable development and the low-carbon development of the Chinese cotton industry.

[Progress in analysis methods for major mycotoxins in foodstuffs].

The analysis of mycotoxins in foodstuffs is affected by the complexity of the matrix and the extremely low concentration levels. The development of sample pretreatment and analytical methods that enable highly selective enrichment as well as highly sensitive detection is of great significance for food safety. This paper reviews the recent progress in biotoxin analysis methods and summarizes the prospects and development of this field.

Long-term follow-up of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for refractory juvenile dermatomyositis: a case-series study.

OBJECTIVE: To follow up the refractory juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) in a long time and to investigate whether AHSCT is effective and safe to treat refractory JDM. METHODS: We collected the AHSCT and follow-up data of three patients with refractory JDM who received autologous peripheral blood CD34+ cell transplantation in our hospital between June 2004 and July 2015. Those data include: hight, weight, routine blood and urine tests, ESR, CK, ALT, AST, LDH, renal functional tests, lymphocyte subpopulations, HRCT and muscle MRI. The last follow-up was done in June 2017. RESULTS: All three patients had complete remission and could stop prednisone after 3-12 months. None of them relapsed at 144, 113 and 23 months follow-up. Twelve months after their AHSCT, all of their monitoring indexes have returned to normal and they have stopped all medications. Until the date of this article, none of them relapsed or need medicine. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that AHSCT is safe and effective in treating refractory JDM, and it can provides long term drug-free survival. However, more cases are needed for further confirmation.

Sixteen Chinese pediatric brucellosis patients onset of fever in non-epidemic areas and 8 developed with osteoarticular involvement.

The purpose of this study is to summarize the manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment of childhood brucellosis in non-epidemic areas of China. A retrospective review of 16 admitted children patients with brucella's disease who were diagnosed of brucellosis during the period from 2011 to 2016 was performed. Diagnostic criteria, clinical presentations, and outcomes were recorded. The most common symptom was fever. Osteoarticular involvement was found in 50% of the patients. They were infected by contacting with infected animals or consuming of unpasteurized milk or meat of sheep or goats, also. Standard agglutination test was positive in all patients and blood culture in 10 (62.5%) patients as well as medulloculture in 3 (18.8%) patients were positive. A combination of antibiotic treatment with rifampin plus cotrimoxazole showed good response and all clinical manifestations improved. Brucellosis is misdiagnosed frequently and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when patients do not respond to standard treatment. Blood culture, together with brucella serology test, is important and helpful in the diagnosis. MRI is a good method in differentiating those with symptoms of arthritis.