Risk factors for sporadic colorectal cancer in southern Chinese

AIM:To investigate the role of smoking, alcohol drinking, family history of cancer, and body mass index(BMI) in sporadic colorectal cancer in southern Chinese.METHODS:A hospital-based case-control study was conducted from July 2002 to December 2008.There were 706 cases and 723 controls with their sex and age(within 5 years) matched.An unconditional logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between smoking, alcohol drinking, family history of cancer, BMI and sporadic colorectal cancer.RESULTS:No positive association was observed between smoking status and sporadic colorectal cancer risk.Compared with the non alcohol drinkers, the current and former alcohol drinkers had an increased risk of developing sporadic colorectal cancer(CRC)(adjusted OR = 8.61 and 95% CI = 6.15-12.05;adjusted OR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.27-4.17).Moreover, the increased risk of developing sporadic CRC was significant in those with a positive family history of cancer(adjusted OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.12-3.34) and in those with their BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m2(adjusted OR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.10-1.75).Stratification analysis showed that the risk of developing both colon and rectal cancers was increased in current alcohol drinkers(adjusted OR = 7.60 and 95% CI = 5.13-11.25;adjusted OR = 7.52 and 95% CI = 5.13-11.01) and in those with their BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m2(adjusted OR = 1.38 and 95% CI = 1.04-1.83;adjusted OR = 1.35 and 95% CI = 1.02-1.79).The risk of developing colon cancer, but not rectal cancer, was found in former alcohol drinkers and in those with a positive family history of cancer(adjusted OR = 2.51 and 95% CI = 1.24-5.07;adjusted OR = 1.82 and 95% CI = 1.17-2.82).CONCLUSION:Alcohol drinking, high BMI(≥ 24.0 kg/m2) and positive family history of cancer are the independent risk factors for colorectal cancer in southern Chinese.

Numerical simulation of typhoon-induced storm surge along Jiangsu coast,PartⅠ:Analysis of tropical cyclone

The Tropical Cyclone Best Track Dataset issued by the Shanghai Typhoon Institute of the China Meteorological Administration, for the period from 1949 to 2013, was analyzed, and the typhoons threatening the Jiangsu coast were categorized into three different classes in terms of track, including typhoons making straight landfall, typhoons active in offshore areas, and typhoons moving northward after landfall. On the basis of the 65-year dataset, the typhoon parameters of these three categories, including the central pressure and the maximum wind speed, were investigated. Statistical analysis suggested that the minimum central pressure increased northward and shoreward gradually. The relationship between the maximum wind speed and the minimum central pressure was established through second-order polynomial fitting. Considering typhoons No. 1210, No. 0012, and No. 9711 as the basic typhoons, ten hypothetical cyclones with typical tracks and minimum central pressure occurring during the period from 1949 to 2013 were designed, providing the driving conditions for numerical simulation of typhoon-induced storm surges along the Jiangsu coast.

Numerical simulation of typhoon-induced storm surge along Jiangsu coast,PartⅡ:Calculation of storm surge

The Jiangsu coastal area is located in central-eastern China and is well known for complicated dynamics with large-scale radial sand ridge systems. It is therefore a challenge to simulate typhoon-induced storm surges in this area. In this study, a two-dimensional astronomical tide and storm surge coupling model was established to simulate three typical types of typhoons in the area. The Holland parameter model was used to simulate the wind field and wind pressure of the typhoon and the Japanese 55-year reanalysis data were added as the background wind field. The offshore boundary information was provided by an improved Northwest Pacific Ocean Tide Model. Typhoon-induced storm surges along the Jiangsu coast were calculated based on analysis of wind data from 1949 to 2013 and the spatial distribution of the maximum storm surge levels with different types of typhoons, providing references for the design of sea dikes and planning for control of coastal disasters.

A new pattern of the tectonic units and metallogenic belts in Africa continent in terms of lithosphere

Based on the comprehensive study of geology and geophysics in African continent,three types of lithosphere(craton-type,orogenic-type and rift-type)can be identified.Considering lithosphere discontinuities as the boundary,two first-order tectonic units(mainly cratonic-type in the west and rift-type in the east)are proposed.Different types of lithosphere can be divided into secondary-order and third-order structural units,and the blocks within lithosphere can be further divided into fourth-order structural units.The geological history,the formation process and significance of different types of lithosphere in African continent are briefly discussed.

Experimental and numerical investigations on wave motions over platform reef-flat

Previous studies have shown that high-frequency(HF)waves,low-frequency(LF)waves and wave set-up coexist on shallow coral reef-flat and jointly contribute to potential floods and subsequent damages of infrastructures and islands on it.To better understand the reef-flat wave dynamics with incident waves and still water level,a wave-flume experiment was performed based on an idealized platform reef composed of a steep reef-face(1:4),a relatively mild reef-rim(1:14)and a horizontal reef-flat.Also,the non-hydrostatic phase-resolving model SWASH was validated against the experiment and then applied to further numerically investigate the effects of reef-rim topographic features on the reef-flat wave motions.The results show that incident waves of a larger wave height and a longer wave period can generate larger LF waves and wave set-up,thereby inducing greater HF waves on the reef-flat.Higher still water level can lead to larger HF waves but result in smaller wave set-up.In contrast to HF waves and wave set-up,LF waves are minimally affected by the still water level.A rim of milder slope and larger edge depth will induce smaller HF and LF waves and set-up on the reef-flat,and thus provide better protection for the reef-flat region.Furthermore,on the reef-flat,the ratio of HF significant wave height to water depth H_(s_h)/(h_(r)+η^(-))is approximately constant;the dimensionless LF significant wave height Hs_l/H_(s0) and the dimensionless wave set-upη^(-)/[T_(p)(gH_(s0))1/2]can be related to the inverse wave steepness parameter gT_(p)^(2)/H_(s0) and the relative reef-flat submergence(h_(r)+η^(-))/H_(s0) respectively.