Influence of Epistasis and QTL×Environment Interaction on Heading Date of Rice(Oryza sativa L.)

QTLs for heading date of rice （Oryza sativa L.） with additive, epistatic, and QTL × environment （QE） interaction effects were studied using a mixed-model-based composite interval mapping （MCIM） method and a double haploid （DH） population derived from IR64/Azucena in two crop seasons. Fourteen QTLs conferring heading date in rice, which were distributed on ten chromosomes except for chromosomes 5 and 9, were detected. Among these QTLs, eight had single-locus effects, five pairs had double-locus interaction effects, and two single-loci and one pair of double-loci showed QTL × environment interaction effects. All predicted values of QTL effects varied from 1.179 days to 2.549 days, with corresponding contribution ratios of 1.04%-4.84%. On the basis of the effects of the QTLs, the total genetic effects on rice heading date for the two parents and the two superior lines were predicted, and the putative reasons for discrepancies between predicted values and observed values, and the genetic potentiality in the DH population for improvement of heading date were discussed. These results are in agreement with previous results for heading date in rice, and the results provide further information, which indicate that both epistasis and QE interaction are important genetic basis for determining heading date in rice.

The Impact of Delay in Software-Defined Integrated Terrestrial-Satellite Networks

Satellite communication networks have been evolving from standalone networks with ad-hoc infrastructures to possibly interconnected portions of a wider Future Internet architecture. Experts belonging to the fifth-generation(5 G) standardization committees are considering satellites as a technology to integrate in the 5 G environment. Software Defined Networking(SDN) is one of the paradigms of the next generation of mobile and fixed communications. It can be employed to perform different control functionalities, such as routing, because it allows traffic flow identification based on different parameters and traffic flow management in a centralized way. A centralized set of controllers makes the decisions and sends the corresponding forwarding rules for each traffic flow to the involved intermediate nodes that practically forward data up to the destination. The time to perform this process in integrated terrestrial-satellite networks could be not negligible due to satellite link delays. The aim of this paper is to introduce an SDN-based terrestrial satellite network architecture and to estimate the mean time to deliver the data of a new traffic flow from the source to the destination including the time required to transfer SDN control actions. The practical effect is to identify the maximum performance than can be expected.

Short-term effects of air pollution on acute myocardial infarctions in Shanghai, China, 2013-2014

Background Although particulate matter, with diameters 〈 2.5 μm （PM2.5） and 〈 10 μm （PM10）, and other pollutants have been associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, the effect of pollutants on acute myocardial infarctions （AMIs） has rarely been investigated in Asia, especially in Shanghai, China. Methods Between 1 November 2013 and 27 April 2014, 972 patients from the Pudong District, Shanghai City, were assessed by the Emergency Medical Service. A case-crossover design was used to analyze exposure to air pollution and the AMI risk. Exposures to PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide （NO2）, sulphurdioxide （SO2）, and carbon monoxide （CO） were based on the mean urban background levels. The associations among AMI admissions, the included pollutants, temperature, and relative humidity were analyzed using correlation and logistic regression. Results The urban background levels of PM2.5, PM10 and CO were associated with an increased risk of AMI, unlike NO2 and SO2 levels. The OR （95% CI） for AMI were 1.16 （1.03-1.29）, 1.05 （1.01-1.16）, 0.82 （0.75-1.02）, 0.87 （0.63-1.95）, and 1.08 （1.02-1.21） for PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, and CO, respectively. Increases in the air quality index （AQI） were associated with more AMI occurrences. There was no correlation between fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity with AMI hospital admissions. Conclusions Short-term exposure to moderate-serious pollution levels is associated with increased risk of AMI. Increased PM2.5, PM10 and CO levels are related to increased AMI admissions.

Operating Performance of Initial Public Offering Companies in Hong Kong

This study investigates the earnings performance of 418 initial public offerings （IPOs） listed on the stock exchange of Hong Kong. By analyzing several profitability measures of these 1PO companies from the third year prior to listing up to the fifth year post-listing, it is found that IPO companies＇ operating performances as a whole peak in the year of listing or the year preceding the listing, but exhibit a fall in post-issue profitability with the decline being most pronounced in the first financial year following the year in which the listing take place. Over 30% of these IPOs suffer a loss three years after the offerings. Deterioration of post-issue performance is found to be more severe for smaller finns, highly-geared companies, fast-growing enterprises, companies with lower ownership retention by original shareholders, and companies which have managed earnings upwards at the time of listing. These observations are consistent with the higher agency costs when firms go public and that managers have timed the issue at the peak of the companies＇ long-run performance. Further investigation confirms that IPO companies in general make use of income-increasing accruals to manage their earnings upwards in the year when they go public. The reversal of the accruals in post-issue years further exaggerates the decline in their profitability.

Has the Problem of a Permanent El Nio been Resolved for the Mid-Pliocene?

The mid-Pliocene, the most recent warm geological period, is thought to be indicative of the fate of the Earth's climate under global warming. Earlier evidence has suggested that permanent El Nio-like conditions existed in the mid-Pliocene, though the concept of a permanent El Nio remains controversial. Here, the authors analyzed Nio 3.4 SST in pre-industrial and mid-Pliocene simulations with the low-resolution version of the Norwegian Earth System Model (NorESM-L). The simulated mid-Pliocene Nio3.4 SST, with a smaller standard deviation, indicated that a weaker ENSO existed in the mid-Pliocene relative to the pre-industrial experiment. Compared with earlier modeling studies, our simulations show that the problem of ENSO's standard deviations in the mid-Pliocene remains unresolved, although the mean and the period of ENSO in the mid-Pliocene have been resolved by earlier geological and modeling studies.

Average iron isotopic compositions of the upper continental crust：constrained by loess from the Chinese Loess Plateau

Iron isotopic composition of the upper continental crust(UCC) is critical for understanding Fe mobilization and migration through the Earth. Because rocks exposed at Earth's surface have heterogeneous δ^(56)Fe, finegrained clastic sediments can be used to estimate the average composition of UCC. In this study, we report δ^(56)Fe of loess-paleosol sequences from Yimaguan, Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP), to constrain the average Fe isotopic composition of UCC. The loess-paleosol sequences in this area formed in glacial-interglacial cycles and are characterized by varying degrees of weathering. Our data show that the loess-paleosol layers have extremely homogeneous Fe isotopic compositions with δ^(56)Fe ranging from 0.06‰ to 0.12‰, regardless of variations in the major element composition and weathering intensity. Our study indicates that since Fe isotopes are not significantly fractionated during loess deposition, the loess can be regarded as representative of UCC. It follows that the average δ^(56)Fe of UCC is 0.09‰± 0.03‰(2SD), consistent with previous estimates based on igneous rock data.

An East Asian Monsoon in the Mid-Pliocene

In this study, the authors simulate the East Asian climate changes in the mid-Pliocene (～3.3 to 3.0 Ma BP) with the Community Atmosphere Model version 3.1 (CAM3.1) and compare the simulated East Asian monsoon with paleoclimate data. The simulations show an obvious warming pattern in East Asia in the mid-Pliocene compared with the pre-industrial climate, with surface air temperature increasing by 0.5 4.0°C. In the warm mid-Pliocene simulation, the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) becomes stronger, while the East Asian Winter Monsoon (EAWM) is similar relative to the pre-industrial climate. Compared with the paleoclimate data, our simulations depict the intensified EASM well but cannot reproduce the weakened EAWM. This model-data discrepancy may be attributed to the uncertainty in the reconstructed mid-Pliocene sea surface temperature.

Shanghai's Fashion During Republic Period

The goal of this research is to describe and analyze Shanghai’s fashion during Republic Period. Shanghai’s fashion during Republic Period plays a special role in fashion history of China and Shanghai history. In the paper, three aspects including the fashion centre of China as well as Far East, men’s fashion and women’s fashion in Shanghai are discussed. The style, textiles, color, decoration and combination of clothing are described. Many costumes from the Clothing Museum at Donghua University and private collections as well as some historical writings, photographs and publications are elucidated and corroborated to give a more detailed description about Shanghai’s fashion during that period.Here are some tentative conclusions. Firstly, Shanghai had always been the fashion center in China even Far East during Republic Period. Modeng was the main reflection of Shanghai fashion. Secondly, the traditional clothing exerted less influence and was less widely used, some kinds and combinations were out of fashion gradually. The fashion was described to be highly stylized, exquisite and concise. Thirdly, the influence of Western Style was further greater. The fashion in Shanghai was almost synchronous with fashion of Paris. Some western clothing was directly used in daily life and the elements of Western Style had an increasingly wide utilization. Fourthly, the New Chinese Style whose representatives were Qipao and Zhongshan Zhuang appeared and popularized in Shanghai. The fashion of Qipao changed frequently. Finally, the fashion in Shanghai called Shanghai Style could be summarized fashionable, exquisite, rapidly changeable, which is harmonious of both ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign.

Origin and fate of the nucleolar channel system of normal human endometrium^1

Human normal endometrium was examined in ultrathin sections. Nucleolar channel system (NCS) appeared in the endometrial epithelial cells during the early and mid secretory phase of menstrual cycle. The NCS was a hollow ball like structure of different sizes and was composed of 2 to 5 rows of tubules embedded in an amorphous matrix. On its surface there were numerous electron dense particles resembling ribosonies. It was usually located within or associated with the nucleolus. Sometimes, it was close to the nuclear envelope or protruding out from the nucleus. On occasion, NCS with simplified structure was found in the perinuclear cytoplasm. Concepts concerning the genesis, involution and function(s) of the NCS were discussed.

Non-uniform spatial difference in the South Asian summer monsoon during the mid-Piacenzian

The South Asian summer monsoon （SASM） during the mid-Piacenzian is analyzed through climate modelling with CAM4. The model results reveal a non-uniform spatial difference in the SASM during the mid-Piacenzian compared to the pre-industrial era, with the SASM being more intense north of -20°N but weaker south of -20°N. In particular, summer precipitation is higher in South Asia north of -20°N, accompanied by anomalous low-level southwesterlies from the Arabian Sea, whereas the precipitation is lower in South Asia south of-20°N, with anomalous low-level easterlies. These differences in the SASM are related to changes in sea level pressure （SLP） due to the different boundary conditions between the two periods. Further analysis isolates the climate effects of the different boundary conditions and indicates the combined difference in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and SST to be the most important factor in this difference in the SASM through the changes in SLR By comparison, the differences in vegetation and topography have limited effects. The availability of geological evidence is relative greater in northern India than in southern India, and comparison with this geological evidence shows the simulated monsoon climate to be qualitatively consistent with it, particularly for the wetter climate in northern India.

In vitro assessment of gastrointestinal viability of two photosynthetic bacteria,Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Rhodobacter sphaeroides

The objectives of this study were to assess the potential of two photosynthetic bacteria （PSB）, Rhodopseudomonas palustris HZ0301 and Rhodobacter sphaeroides HZ0302, as probiotics in aquaculture. The viability of HZ0301 and HZ0302 in simulated gastric transit conditions （pH 2.0, pH 3.0 and pH 4.0 gastric juices） and in simulated small intestinal transit conditions （pH 8.0, with or without 0.3% bile salts） was tested. The effects of HZ0301 and HZ0302 on the viability and permeability of intestinal epithelial cell in primary culture of tilapias, Oreochrornis nilotica, were also detected. All the treatments were deter- mined with three replicates. The simulated gastric transit tolerance of HZ0301 and HZ0302 strains was pH-dependent and correspondingly showed lower viability at pH 2.0 after 180 min compared with pH 3.0 and pH 4.0. Both HZ0301 and HZ0302 were tolerant to simulated small intestine transit with or without bile salts in our research. Moreover, there was no significant difference （P〉0.05） among three treatments including the control and the groups treated with HZ0301 or HZ0302 both in intestinal epithelial cell viability and membrane permeability, showing no cell damage. In summary, this study demonstrated that HZ0301 and HZ0302 had high capacity of upper gastrointestinal transit tolerance and were relatively safe for intestinal epithelial cells of tilapias.

Sedimentary facies of the subaqueous Changjiang River delta since the late Pleistocene

The sedimentary facies of the subaqueous Changjiang （Yangtze） River delta since the late Pleistocene was studied based on lithology and foraminifera analysis for two boreholes, CJK07 and CJK11, along with 14C dating. Four sedimentary facies were identified, namely fluvial, tidal flat, offshore, and prodelta facies. The fluvial sedimentary facies is comprised of fluvial channel lag deposits, fluvial point bar deposits, and floodplain deposits, showing a fining-upward sequence in general with no benthic foraminifera. A layer of stiff clay overlies the fluvial deposits in core CJK07, indicating a long-term exposure environment during the Last Glacial Maximum （LGM）. During the postglacial sea-level rise around 13-7.5 cal ka BP, the tidal flat facies was deposited in core CJK11, characterized by abundant silt-clay couplets. Euryhaline species dominate the subtidal fiat foraminiferal assemblages, while almost no foraminifera was found in the intertidal fiat. The offshore environment was the major sedimentary environment when the sea level reached its highest level around 7.5 cal ka BP, with a maximum accumulation rate of 10 mm/a found in core CJK11. Prodelta sediments have been deposited in core CJK11 since -3 cal ka BP, after the formation of the Changjiang River delta. The difference in sedimentary facies between core CJK07 and CJK11 is due to their location： core CJK07 was in an interfluve while core CJK11 was in an incised valley during the LGM. Furthermore, AMS 14C dating of core CJK07 shows poor chronological order, indicating that the sediments were reworked by strong tidal currents and that sediment deposited since -7.7 cal ka BP in core CJK07 was eroded away by modem hydrodynamic forces caused by the southward shift of the Changjiang River delta depocenter.

Radiofrequency ablation of recurrent cholangiocarcinoma after orthotopic liver transplantation—a case report

AIM: To report the use of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of recurrenct cholangiocarcinoma in the transplanted liver.METHODS: A lady who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma recurrence of tumour 13 mo after tralsplantation inspite of adjuvant chemotherapy. Her recurrent tumour was treated with radiofrequency ablation.RESULTS: She survived for 18 mo following the recurrence of her tumour.CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency ablation can be used safely in the transplanted liver to treat recurrent tumour.

Antioxidant,Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Potential of Helicteres isora Linn.Leaf Extracts

Objective To investigate the antioxidant,antimicrobial and wound healing potential of Helicteres isora Linn.leaf extracts.Methods The petroleum ether,chloroform,acetone,ethanol and hydroalcoholic extracts of leaves were screened for phytochemicals.The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH),nitric oxide(NO)radical scavenging tests and reducing power assays were performed to measure antioxidant activity;disc diffusion methods were used to evaluate antimicrobial potential.Wound healing activity was evaluated by incision and excision wound rat models.Results The extracts contained mainly sterols and flavonoids.The hydroalcoholic extract showed remarkable antioxidant and antimicrobial potential and significant(P<0.05)wound healing activity.Conclusions The identified activities of the hydroalcoholic extract may be attributable to its constituent phytochemicals.

United States and France： Imprisonment and Torture From the End of WWII to the Algerian War

Mistreatment and violation of international laws are recurrent events during Second World War （WWII） and torture is a frequent method used in the Algerian War. This paper investigates the escalation of violence which, in some cases, degenerates into torture and offers a comparison between the situation of Axis Prisoners of War （1943-1946） and the imprisonment’s conditions in Algeria （1954-1962）. In spite of the temporal interval and different political contexts, in some cases there’s a strange “continuity”.

Periodic Boundary Value Problem for Functional Differential Equations with Impulses

Aim To investigate the periodic boundary value problem for functional differential equations with impulses. Methods The method of upper and lower solutions and the monotone iterative technique were used to establish our results. Results and Conclusion The results of the existence of maximal and minimal solutions of the periodic boundary value problem for functional differential equations with impulses are obtained.

Metronomic chemotherapy as a palliative treatment in poor performance status patients with advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Objective：The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of metronomic chemotherapy in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma.Methods：Fifteen patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma and bad performance status were subjected to daily cyclophosphamide（CTX） after failure of 1st line chemotherapy which included paclitaxel and carboplatin.Evaluation of the cases during treatment as regard treatment side effects and progression free survival.Results：Patients could tolerate low dose oral cyclophosphamide treatment without considerable side effects with improvement of performance status.The mean progression free survival was 12 months.Conclusion：Low dose oral cyclophosphamide could be considered as a palliative treatment of pretreated ovarian carcinomas with poor performance status.

An Analysis of the Steric Sea Level Change by Introducing Sea Surface Temperature

In this paper, we use the optimum interpolation sea surface temperature (OISST) provided by the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) to replace the temperature in the top three layers in the ISHII data, and make use of the modified ISHII temperature data to calculate the thermosteric sea level (called modified steric sea level (SSL) hereafter). We subtract the modified SSL and the steric sea level (called ordinary SSL hereafter) derived from the ISHII temperature and salinity from the steric sea level (SSL) provided by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), respectively, and find that the rms error of the difference of the former is obviously smaller than that of the latter. Therefore we reach the conclusion that under the assumption that the GRACE SSL is accurate, the modified SSL can reflect the true steric sea level more accurately. Making use of the modified SSL, we can find that the modified SSL in sea areas of different spatial scales shows an obvious rising trend in the upper 0-700 m layer for the period 1982-2006. The global mean SSL rises with a rate of 0.6 mm year-1 .The modified SSLs in sea areas of different spatial scales all show obvious oscillations with period of one year. There are oscillations with periods of 4-8 years in global oceans and with periods of 2-7 years in the Pacific. The Empirical Orthogonal Function method is applied to the sea areas of different spatial scales and we find that the first modes all have obvious 1-year period oscillations, the first mode of the global ocean has 4-8 year period oscillations, and that of the Pacific has 2-6 year period oscillations. The spatial distribution of the linear rising trend of the global modified SSL in the upper 0-700 m layer is inhomogeneous with intense regional characteristics. The modified SSL linear trend indicates a zonal dipole in the tropical Pacific, rising in the west and descending in the east. In the North Atlantic, the modified SSL indicates a meridional dipole, rising in the latitude band of 20°N-40°N and 45°N-65.5°N and descending obviously in the latitude band of 40°N-45°N.

The Mix and Match of Qipao during Republic Period in Shanghai

The goal of the research is to study the mix and match of Qipao to reveal the dressing conditions and fashion during Republic Period in Shanghai by comprehensively using the research methods of history and aesthetics.The photographs of women at that time are the main materials to study on.Four aspects including Qipao combining with clothes,the hairstyle,footwear and accessories will be discussed.The conclusion will be drawn on the analysis of its mix and match,appearance,image identity and the group of people who liked to wear it.

Prognostic Factors for Patients with FIGO Stage-IB Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma:Does the Tumor Size(≤4 cm or>4 cm)Really Matter?

OBJECTIVE To investigate the factors that can accurately predict the prognosis for patients with FIGO stage-IB cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated with radical surgery. METHODS A retrospective analysis of clinical data from 174 cases of FIGO Stage-IB cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated in our institute was conducted. RESULTS The 5-year overall disease-free survival of the patients was 79.4% and the recurrence rate was 16.7%. Seventy-five percent of the 60 patients with a tumor 〉 4 cm and 28.1% of the 114 patients with a tumor ≤ 4 cm received preoperative radiotherapy, resuting in a significant difference between the two groups （P 〈 0.001）. The 5-year disease-free survival rate for the groups with a tumor ≤ 4 cm without and with preoperative radiotherapy, and with a tumor 〉 4 cm without and with preoperative radiation therapy were 80.5%, 85.2%, 69.3% and 77.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference between any of the groups （P 〉 0.05）. A univariate analysis showed that pelvic node metastasis, a positive parametrial surgical margin and postoperative adjuvant therapy were all significantly correlated with the 5-year disease-free survivals （P 〈 0.05）. Multivariate analysis revealed that pelvic node metastasis （P = 0.004） and a positive parametrial surgical margin （P = 0.040） were independent factors that influenced the prognosis. The 5-year disease-free survivals for the cases with a tumor ≤ 4 cm and 〉 4 cm were 57.4% and 44.7% respectively in the high-risk group （patients with pelvic lymphatic metastasis and/or positive parametrial surgical margin） （P=0.575） and the recurrence ratio was 7/18 and 6/14 for the cases of the two tumor sizes in the same risk group. There was no significant difference between the two groups （P=0.821）. The 5-year disease-free survivals for the cases with a tumor ≤ 4 cm and 〉 4 cm were 86.5% and 82.9% respectively in the low-risk group （patients without pelvic lymph-node metastasis and/or positive parametrial surgical margin）, respectively （P 〉 0.05） and the recurrence ratio was 9/95 and 7/47 for the cases of the two tumor sizes in the same risk group. There was no significant difference between the two groups （P 〉 0.05）. CONCLUSIONS For FIGO Stage-IB cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients with radical surgery as the major means of treatment, the features of pelvic lymph-node metastasis and a positive parametrial surgical margin are independent factors that influence the prognosis. The tumor size can not be used as a criterion for predicting the prognosis.