Litter nitrogen concentration changes mediate effects of drought and plant species richness on litter decomposition.

Biodiversity loss, exotic plant invasion and climatic change are three important global changes that can affect litter decomposition. These effects may be interactive and these global changes thus need to be considered simultaneously. Here, we assembled herbaceous plant communities with five species richness levels (1, 2, 4, 8 or 16) and subjected them to a drought treatment (no, moderate or intensive drought) that was factorially combined with an invasion treatment (presence or absence of the non-native Symphyotrichum subulatum).

Study on the COVID-19 infection status, prevention and control strategies among people entering Shenzhen.

Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) confirmed cases overseas have continued to rise in the last months, and many people overseas have chosen to return to China. This increases the risk of a large number of imported cases which may cause a relapse of the COVID-19 outbreak. In order to prevent imported infection, the Shenzhen government has implemented a closed-loop management strategy using nucleic acid testing (NAT) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and requiring 14 days of medical observation for individuals with an overseas tour history (Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan province and other countries).

[Spatial Characteristics, Risk Assessment, and Source Analysis of Elements in Surface Sediments from the Baiyangdian Lake].

In this paper, nutrient elements (N and P), heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, and Sn), and grain size in surface sediments of Baiyangdian Lake, northern China, are studied. We also analyze the spatial variation in elemental characteristics and undertaken a pollution risk assessment. By combining data with information on the river sediment characteristics, we use multivariate statistical methods to reveal the sources and variation of elements in sediments.

Exposure to Famine During Early Life and Abdominal Obesity in Adulthood: Findings from the Great Chinese Famine During 1959⁻1961.

Undernutrition during early life may lead to obesity in adulthood. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between famine exposure during early life and the risk of abdominal obesity in adulthood. A total of 18,984 and 16,594 adults were surveyed in 2002 and 2010-2012 in two nationally representative cross-sectional surveys, namely China Nutrition and Health Survey, respectively.

Dietary Patterns and Association with Obesity of Children Aged 6⁻17 Years in Medium and Small Cities in China: Findings from the CNHS 2010⁻2012.

Childhood obesity is associated with both near- and longer-term health implications. Few studies have been conducted to explore the associations between dietary patterns and obesity among Chinese children and adolescents. The present study was designed to identify dietary patterns and their relationships with childhood obesity in medium and small cities.

Relationships of Insulin Action to Age, Gender, Body Mass Index, and Waist Circumference Present Diversely in Different Glycemic Statuses among Chinese Population.

Introduction: To study the influence of different glycemic statuses on the relationship of insulin action to age, gender, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) among Chinese population.

Methods: A total of 35,327 participants (17,456 males and 17,871 females) were included in this nationally representative cross-sectional study. Glycemic status was defined according to the 2010 American Diabetes Association criteria.

Prevalence of Undernutrition and Related Dietary Factors among People Aged 75 Years or Older in China during 2010-2012.

Objective: Undernutrition is highly prevalent among older people. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of undernutrition in elderly Chinese residents and explore the relationship between undernutrition and dietary factors.

Methods: Data were collected from 2,552 elderly people aged 75 years and over from the Chinese Nutrition and Health Surveillance during 2010-2012 using questionnaires, anthropometric measurement, and individual consecutive 3-day 24-hour dietary records.

LXR agonists promote the proliferation of neural progenitor cells through MEK-ERK pathway.

The liver X receptors (LXRs) are transcriptional regulators of lipid homeostasis and may be critical for neurodegeneration and neurogenesis in vivo. However, it remains largely unknown about the role of LXRs and its agonists in the in vitro proliferation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Here we revealed for the first time that LXRs were markedly expressed in mouse NPCs and were critical for the in vitro proliferation.

Synchronous gastrointestinal cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a single-institution experience.

Background: A study was conducted to investigate the clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) that are synchronous with other gastrointestinal cancers.

Methods: Clinical and pathological data of 286 patients with primary GIST from a single institution from January 2009 to December 2014 were reviewed.

Results: The entire study population comprised 286 patients with GISTs.

[Study on weight and height of the Chinese people and the differences between 1992 and 2002].

Objective: To describe the current situation and trends of mean weight and height of the Chinese people.

Methods: Subjects of 71,971 households from 31 provinces were selected by stratified multi-stage cluster random sampling method. Height from 210 136 and weight from 202 749 subjects aged 2-79 years were used to describe their trends of development during 1992-2002.