Why Is the Diversity of Tree Species in China's Lowland Rainforests Higher than in Its Montane Rainforests?

Despite extensive research on tree species diversity in tropical rainforests, the differences in diversity between lowland and montane rainforests, as well as the underlying mechanisms, remain unclear. This study utilizes tree inventory data from two dynamic monitoring sample plots, each with an area of 1 hm, established in the lowland rainforest and montane rainforest regions of Diaoluo Mountain, Hainan Island. We analyzed the composition, diversity, spatial distribution patterns, and interspecific relationships within the tree communities.

is the pathogen of "Baotou" disease causing serious damage to cultivation in China.

In recent years, a disease called "Baotou" has been causing large-scale yield reductions of in China. Interestingly, , which once reported to be a probiotic or pathogen for multiple marine organisms, was strongly proved to be the pathogen causing "Baotou" disease in this study. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene profiling revealed that was the most abundant and dominant bacterium on the algal thalli suffering from "Baotou" disease, whereas its presence was scarcely detected on healthy thalli.

Photosynthetic performance of the red algae Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis under high seawater pH: Excess reactive oxygen production due to carbon limitation.

The red algae Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis is extensively cultivated at high densities, leading to significant increases in regional seawater pH due to its photosynthetic removal of inorganic carbon. We conducted a study on G. lemaneiformis cultured under various pH conditions (normal pH, pH 9.

Effectiveness of a socioecological model-guided, smart device-based, self-management-oriented lifestyle intervention in community residents: protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Background: Healthy lifestyles are crucial for preventing chronic diseases. Nonetheless, approximately 90% of Chinese community residents regularly engage in at least one unhealthy lifestyle. Mobile smart devices-based health interventions (mHealth) that incorporate theoretical frameworks regarding behavioral change in interaction with the environment may provide an appealing and cost-effective approach for promoting sustainable adaptations of healthier lifestyles.

The additive effect of essential hypertension on coronary artery plaques in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a coronary computed tomography angiography study.

Background: The effect of comorbid hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on coronary artery plaques examined by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is not fully understood. We aimed to comprehensively assess whether comorbid hypertension and T2DM influence coronary artery plaques using CCTA.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1100 T2DM patients, namely, 277 normotensive [T2DM(HTN-)] and 823 hypertensive [T2DM(HTN +)] individuals, and 1048 normotensive patients without T2DM (control group) who had coronary plaques detected on CCTA were retrospectively enrolled.

Effect of Smoking on Coronary Artery Plaques in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Evaluation With Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography.

Background: The effect of smoking on coronary artery plaques examined by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients is not fully understood. This study explored the effect of smoking on coronary artery plaques by comparing the characteristics of plaques between diabetes patients with and without a smoking history and among those with different smoking durations.

Materials And Methods: In total, 1058 DM patients found to have coronary plaques on CCTA were categorized into the smoker (n=448) and nonsmoker groups (n=610).

Machine Learning-Based CT Radiomics Analysis for Prognostic Prediction in Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients With -T790M Mutation Receiving Third-Generation EGFR-TKI Osimertinib Treatment.

Background And Purpose: As a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), osimertinib is approved for treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with -T790M mutation after progression on first- or second-generation EGFR-TKIs such as gefitinib, erlotinib and afatinib. We aim at exploring the feasibility and effectiveness of using radiomic features from chest CT scan to predict the prognosis of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with -T790M mutation receiving second-line osimertinib therapy.

Methods: Contrast-enhanced and unenhanced chest CT images before osimertinib treatment were collected from 201 and 273 metastatic NSCLC patients with -T790M mutation, respectively.

A comprehensive prognostic analysis of osimertinib treatment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with acquired EGFR-T790M mutation: a real-world study.

Purpose: Osimertinib is the standard treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with T790M mutation after the failure of first-/second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI). We comprehensively analyzed factors that affect the therapeutic efficacy of the osimertinib treatment in NSCLC patients.

Methods: 351 NSCLC patients with T790M mutation receiving osimertinib treatment were included.

Radiomic assessment as a method for predicting tumor mutation burden (TMB) of bladder cancer patients: a feasibility study.

Background: Tumor mutation burden (TMB) is an emerging prognostic biomarker of immunotherapy for bladder cancer (BLCA). We aim at investigating radiomic features' value in predicting the TMB status of BLCA patients.

Methods: Totally, 75 patients with BLCA were enrolled.

Multisurrogate-Assisted Ant Colony Optimization for Expensive Optimization Problems With Continuous and Categorical Variables.

As an effective optimization tool for expensive optimization problems (EOPs), surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithms (SAEAs) have been widely studied in recent years. However, most current SAEAs are designed for continuous/ combinatorial EOPs, which are not suitable for mixed-variable EOPs. This article focuses on one kind of mixed-variable EOP: EOPs with continuous and categorical variables (EOPCCVs).

The Prognostic Value of Radiomics Features Extracted From Computed Tomography in Patients With Localized Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma After Nephrectomy.

Background And Purpose: Radiomics is an emerging field of quantitative imaging. The prognostic value of radiomics analysis in patients with localized clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) after nephrectomy remains unknown.

Methods: Computed tomography images of 167 eligible cases were obtained from the Cancer Imaging Archive database.

Features of family clusters of COVID-19 patients: A retrospective study.

Background: To investigate and compare the clinical and imaging features among family members infected with COVID-19.

Methods: We retrospectively collected a total of 34 COVID-19 cases (15 male, 19 female, aged 48 ± 16 years, ranging from 10 to 81 years) from 13 families from January 17, 2020 through February 15, 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 - part of the family members (first-generation) who had exposure history and others (second-generation) infected through them, and Group 2 - patients from the same family having identical exposure history.

A novel prognostic model predicting the long-term cancer-specific survival for patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) is a rare type of head and neck cancer with poor prognosis. However, till now, there is still no model predicting the survival outcomes for HSCC patients. We aim to develop a novel nomogram predicting the long-term cancer-specific survival (CSS) for patients with HSCC and establish a prognostic classification system.

HRCT imaging features in representative imported cases of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia.

With the spread of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pneumonia, chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) has been one of the key diagnostic tools. To achieve early and accurate diagnostics, determining the radiological characteristics of the disease is of great importance. In this small scale research we retrospectively reviewed and selected six cases confirmed with 2019-nCoV infection in West China Hospital and investigated their initial and follow-up HRCT features, along with the clinical characteristics.

Antioxidant responses and photosynthetic behaviors of Kappaphycus alvarezii and Kappaphycus striatum (Rhodophyta, Solieriaceae) during low temperature stress.

Background: Kappaphycus are farmed in tropical countries as raw material for carrageenan, which is widely used in food industry. The sea area available for farming is one limiting factor in the production of seaweeds. Though cultivation is spreading into subtropical regions, the lower seawater temperature is an important problem encountered in subtropical regions for the farming of Kappaphycus.

Efficacy of binary combinations of botanical pesticides for rotifer elimination in microalgal cultivation.

Binary interactions of celangulin, matrine and toosendanin against the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis were studied. Types of interactions (antagonism, synergism and addition) were dependent on the biocides themselves and their ratios in combinations. Mixtures of matrine/toosendanin mainly produced addition owing to their similar modes of action aiming at the nervous system.

Changes of Photosynthetic Behaviors in Kappaphycus alvarezii Infected by Epiphyte.

Epiphytic filamentous algae (EFA) were noted as a serious problem to reduce the production and quality of K. alvarezii. The morphological studies revealed that the main epiphyte on K.