Long-Term Mortality of Children with Congenital Heart Disease Admitted to the Departmental University Hospital of Borgou/Alibori from 2011 to 2022

Background: Congenital heart disease is a public health issue due to its incidence and mortality rate. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term mortality of children with congenital heart disease admitted to the Departmental University Hospital of Borgou/Alibori (CHUD-B/A) from 2011 to 2022. Methods: This descriptive longitudinal study with analytical aims covered 11 years (April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2022). It consisted of a review of the records of children under 15 years of age with echocardiographically confirmed congenital heart disease. This was followed by an interview with the parents to assess the children’s current condition. Data were entered using Kobocollect software and analyzed using R Studio 4.2.2. software. Results: A total of 143 complete files were retained. The median age at diagnosis was 14 months (IIQ: Q1 = 4;Q3 = 60) with a range of 2 days and 175 months, and the sex-ratio (M/F) was 0.96. Left-to-right shunts were the most frequent cardiopathy group (62.9%). Only 35 children (24.5%) benefited from restorative treatment. The mortality rate was 31.5%. Median survival under the maximum bias assumption was 114 months and 216 months under the assumption of minimum bias. Survival was significantly better in children with right-to-left shunts (p = 0.0049) under the assumption of minimum bias. The death risk factors were: age at diagnosis less than 12 months (aHR = 7.58;95% CI = 3.36 - 17.24;p Conclusion: The long-term mortality of congenital heart disease is high and favoured by the absence of restorative treatment. Local correction of congenital heart disease and medical follow-up will help to reduce this mortality.

A Prospective Study on Evaluating the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Vaccination from Birth to 13 Years Old in Kuwait

Background: To prevent infectious diseases and deaths of children, vaccinations play a crucial role in public health strategies in Kuwait. However, it remained uncertain to demonstrate the potential long-term health outcomes of vaccination, including neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and autism. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term health outcomes of vaccination among Kuwait children from birth to thirteen years old. Objectives: This study included the significant objectives: (1) to compare long-term health effects, including chronic and acute conditions for unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, and vaccinated children, and (2) to evaluate the association of vaccination with the neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and autism, and the preventable illnesses. Methods: This prospective study involved a sample of 976 children from Kuwait based on mothers’ reporting. Data collection about the vaccination status of children and various health outcomes relevant to chronic and acute illnesses was performed based on structured questionnaires through an online survey. However, participants were classified into unvaccinated (n = 40), partially vaccinated (n = 222), and fully vaccinated (n = 714). Statistical analyses, including the chi-square test, Odds Ratios (OR), 95% Confidence Interval (CI), and logistic regression, were performed using SAS (Version 9.4) to determine the associations between vaccination status and health outcomes among children. Results: The study disclosed that vaccinated children showed an increased diagnosis of chronic (allergic rhinitis, allergies, autism spectrum, eczema, neuro-developmental disorders, learning disability, ADHD, and any chronic condition) and acute (whooping cough, pneumonia, rubella, hepatitis A or B, measles, mumps, meningitis, influenza, rotavirus, cancer, chronic fatigue, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, conduct disorder, diabetes type 1 or 2, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, seizures, hearing loss, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and depression) illnesses than unvaccinated children. The fully vaccinated children showed an increased prevalence of influenza diagnosis, while partially vaccinated children were more likely to be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis than unvaccinated children. In contrast, unvaccinated were more likely to have been diagnosed with chickenpox and encephalopathy than fully and partially vaccinated. Males with chronic and acute conditions had a lower incidence of allergies and pneumonia, respectively, whereas females had a reduced prevalence of acute illnesses, such as whooping cough, inflammatory bowel disease, and hepatitis A or B among vaccinated (n = 936;combination of partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated) children. Regarding medication use and health service applications, vaccinated children were more likely to use medications for fever, antibiotics, and allergies. In addition, they showed an increased rate of sick visits and emergency visits in the past twelve months. On the other hand, factors like age (2 - 5 years, 6 - 9 years, and 10 - 13 years), birth type (cesarian), and mother suffering during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) were significantly associated with NDD (learning disability, autism spectrum, and attention deficient hyperactivity disorder) in the adjusted analysis. In the interaction model of age and birth type, age (6 - 9 years;OR 5.3, 95% CI: 1.1, 25.3) and mother suffering (gestational diabetes;OR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2, 5.2) during pregnancy were associated with NDD. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that there are some cases where the infection rate is higher among the vaccinated compared to unvaccinated children, or there are no significant differences between the two groups in Kuwait. Upon controlling the factors in the interaction model, the age of 6 to 9 years and gestational diabetic mothers during pregnancy were associated with the synergistic increment of odds with NDD. These data findings are recommended to verify a larger and diverse group of samples to optimize the vaccination on health outcomes in Kuwait children.

Long-term assessment of collagenase treatment for Dupuytren’s contracture:A 10-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND Enzymatic fasciotomy with collagenase clostridium histolyticum(CCH)has revolutionized the treatment for Dupuytren’s contracture(DC).Despite its benefits,the long-term outcomes remain unclear.This study presented a comprehensive 10-year follow-up assessment of the enduring effects of CCH on patients with DC.AIM To compare the short-term(12 wk)and long-term(10 years)outcomes on CCH treatment in patients with DC.METHODS A cohort of 45 patients was treated with CCH at the metacarpophalangeal(MCP)joint and the proximal interphalangeal(PIP)joint and underwent systematic reevaluation.The study adhered to multicenter trial protocols,and assessments were conducted at 12 wk,7 years,and 10 years post-surgery.RESULTS Thirty-seven patients completed the 10-year follow-up.At 10 years,patients treated at the PIP joint exhibited a 100%recurrence.However,patients treated at the MCP joint only showed a 50%recurrence.Patient satisfaction varied,with a lower satisfaction reported in PIP joint cases.Recurrence exceeding 20 degrees on the total passive extension deficit was observed,indicating a challenge for sustained efficacy.Significant differences were noted between outcomes at the 7-year and 10-year intervals.CONCLUSION CCH demonstrated sustained efficacy when applied to the MCP joint.However,caution is warranted for CCH treatment at the PIP joint due to a high level of recurrence and low patient satisfaction.Re-intervention is needed within a decade of treatment.

Long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for undifferentiated type early gastric cancer over 2 cm with R0 resection

BACKGROUND Endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)for over 2 cm in size undifferentiated type(UD type)early gastric cancer(EGC)confined to the mucosa is not only challenging,but also long-term outcomes are not well known.AIM To evaluate the long-term outcomes of ESD done for UD type EGCs confined to the mucosa over 2 cm in size and compare the results with those where the lesions were less than 2 cm.METHODS 143 patients with UD type EGC confirmed on histology after ESD at a tertiary hospital were reviewed.Cases with synchronous and metachronous lesions and a case with emergency surgery after ESD were excluded.A total of 137 cases were enrolled.79 cases who underwent R0 resection were divided into 2 cm or less(group A)and over 2 cm(group B)in size.RESULTS Among 79 patients who underwent R0 resection,the number in group A and B were 51 and 28,respectively.The mean follow-up period(SD)was 79.71±45.42 months.There was a local recurrence in group A(1/51,2%)and group B(1/28,3.6%)respectively.This patient in group A underwent surgery while the patient in group B underwent repeated ESD with no further recurrences in both patients.There was no regional lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis,and deaths in both groups.With R0 resection strategy for ESD on lesions over 2 cm,20.4%(28/137)of patients were able to avoid surgery compared with expanded indication.CONCLUSION If R0 resection is achieved by ESD,UD type EGCs over 2 cm also showed good and similar clinical outcomes as compared to lesions less than 2 cm when followed for over 5 years.With R0 resection strategy,several patients can avoid surgery.

Photoelectric State with Long-Term Relaxation in CdTe:(Ag, Cu, Cd) and Sb2Se3:Se Photovoltaic Films

The results of an experimental study of long-term relaxation of the photoelectret state of polycrystalline CdTe:(Ag, Cu, Cd) and Sb2Se3:Se films with an anomalous photovoltaic property are presented. In such films, the residual photovoltage is caused by the separation of photocarriers by the built-in electrostatic field of the near-surface region of space charges and their asymmetric capture by deep levels of impurities or complexes, including impurity atoms and intrinsic defects, both in the bulk and on the surface of crystal grains. It has been shown that in activated films, a two-step exponential temporary relaxation of the initial photovoltage of the order of VAPV ≈ (500-600) V is detected, and only 10% of it experiences long-term relaxation (t ≈ 100-120 min).

A Trajectory Privacy Protection Method to Resist Long-Term Observation Attacks

Users face the threat of trajectory privacy leakage when using location-based service applications, especially when their behavior is collected and stored for a long period of time. This accumulated information is exploited by opponents, greatly increasing the risk of trajectory privacy leakage. This attack method is called a long-term observation attack. On the premise of ensuring lower time overhead and higher cache contribution rate, the existing methods cannot utilize cache to answer subsequent queries while also resisting long-term observation attacks. So this article proposes a trajectory privacy protection method to resist long-term observation attacks. This method combines caching technology and improves the existing differential privacy mechanism, while incorporating randomization factors that are difficult for attackers to recognize after long-term observation to enhance privacy. Search for locations in the cache of both the mobile client and edge server that can replace the user’s actual location. If there are replacement users in the cache, the query results can be obtained more quickly. Simultaneously obfuscating the spatiotemporal correlation of actual trajectories by generating confusion regions. If it does not exist, the obfuscated location generation method that resists long-term observation attacks is executed to generate the real anonymous area and send it to the service provider. The above steps can comprehensively protect the user’s trajectory privacy. The experimental results show that this method can protect user trajectories from long-term observation attacks while ensuring low time overhead and a high cache contribution rate.

“Long-term care”概念辨析

Long-term care（LTC）在国外最早是以救济贫穷个人或家庭为目标。随着人口结构、家庭结构以及社会结构的变化,要求医疗护理模式作出相应的调整,也使LTC的存在有了更充分的理由,因此LTC是社会发展到一定时期的必然产物。迄今为止,我国学术界对＂long-term care＂的中文翻译问题依然没有统一的看法。因此,很有必要就此展开深入研究和讨论。笔者将全面辨析和讨论“long-termcare”概念，并在此基础上探讨“long-termcare”的中文翻译问题，从而进一步廓清“long-termcare”的涵义。

一种基于long short-term memory的唇语识别方法

唇动视觉信息是说话内容的重要载体。受嘴唇外观、背景信息和说话习惯等影响,即使说话者说相同的内容,唇动视觉信息也会相差很大。为解决唇语视觉信息多样性的问题,提出一种基于long short-term memory(LSTM)的新的唇语识别方法。以往大多数的方法从嘴唇外表信息入手。本方法用嘴唇关键点坐标描述嘴唇形变信息作为唇语视频的特征,它具有类内一致性和类间区分性的特点。然后利用LSTM对特征进行时序编码,它能学习具有区分性和泛化性的空间-时序特征。在公开的唇语数据集GRID、MIRACL-VC和Oulu VS上对本方法做了针对分割的单词或短语的说话者独立的唇语识别评估。在GRID和MIRACL-VC上,本方法的准确率比传统方法至少高30%;在Oulu VS上,本方法的准确率接近于最优结果。以上实验结果表明,本文提出的基于LSTM的唇语识别方法有效地解决了唇语视觉信息多样性的问题。

The Long-term Variation of Extreme Heavy Precipitation and Its Link to Urbanization Effects in Shanghai during 1916–2014

Using the hourly precipitation records of meteorological stations in Shanghai, covering a period of almost a century （1916-2014）, the long-term variation of extreme heavy precipitation in Shanghai on multiple spatial and temporal scales is analyzed, and the effects of urbanization on hourly rainstorms studied. Results show that： （1） Over the last century, extreme hourly precipitation events enhanced significantly. During the recent urbanization period from 1981 to 2014, the frequency of heavy precipitation increased significantly, with a distinct localized and abrupt characteristic. （2） The spatial distribution of long-term trends for the occurrence frequency and total precipitation intensity of hourly heavy precipitation in Shanghai shows a distinct urban rain-island feature; namely, heavy precipitation was increasingly focused in urban and suburban areas. Attribution analysis shows that urbanization in Shanghai contributed greatly to the increase in both frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events in the city, thus leading to an increasing total precipitation amount of heavy rainfall events. In addition, the diurnal variation of rainfall intensity also shows distinctive urban-rural differences, especially during late afternoon and early nighttime in the city area. （3） Regional warming, with subsequent enhancement of water vapor content, convergence of moisture flux and atmospheric instability, provided favorable physical backgrounds for the formation of extreme precipitation. This accounts for the consistent increase in hourly heavy precipitation over the whole Shanghai area during recent times.

Long-term survival after resection of pancreatic cancer:A single-center retrospective analysis

AIM: To retrospectively analyze factors affecting the long-term survival of patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent pancreatic resection.METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2011,195 patients underwent pancreatic resection in our hospital.The prognostic factors after pancreatic resection were analyzed in all 195 patients.After excluding the censored cases within an observational period,the clinicopathological characteristics of 20 patients who survived ≥ 5(n = 20) and < 5(n = 76) years were compared.For this comparison,we analyzed the patients who underwent surgery before June 2008 and were observed for more than 5 years.For statistical analyses,the log-rank test was used to compare the cumulative survival rates,and the χ2 and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare the two groups.The CoxHazard model was used for a multivariate analysis,and P values less than 0.05 were considered significant.A multivariate analysis was conducted on the factors that were significant in the univariate analysis.RESULTS: The median survival for all patients was 27.1 months,and the 5-year actuarial survival rate was 34.5%.The median observational period was 595 d.With the univariate analysis,the UICC stage was significantly associated with survival time,and the CA19-9 ≤ 200 U/m L,DUPAN-2 ≤ 180 U/m L,t u m o r s i ze ≤ 2 0 m m,R 0 re s e c t i o n,a b s e n c e o f lymph node metastasis,absence of extrapancreatic neural invasion,and absence of portal invasion were favorable prognostic factors.The multivariate analysis showed that tumor size ≤ 20 mm(HR = 0.40; 95%CI: 0.17-0.83,P = 0.012) and negative surgical margins(R0 resection)(HR = 0.48; 95%CI: 0.30-0.77,P = 0.003) were independent favorable prognostic factors.Among the 96 patients,20 patients survived for 5 years or more,and 76 patients died within 5 years after operation.Comparison of the 20 5-year survivors with the 76 non-survivors showed that lower concentrations of DUPAN-2(79.5 vs 312.5 U/mL,P = 0.032),tumor size ≤ 20 mm(35% vs 8%,P = 0.008),R0 resection(95% vs 61%,P = 0.004),and absence of lymph nodemetastases(60% vs 18%,P = 0.036) were significantly associated with the 5-year survival.CONCLUSION: Negative surgical margins and a tumor size ≤ 20 mm were independent favorable prognostic factors.Histologically curative resection and early tumor detection are important factors in achieving long-term survival.

Effects of Long-Term Winter Planted Green Manure on Physical Properties of Reddish Paddy Soil Under a Double-Rice Cropping System

Soil physical properties are important indicators of the potential for agricultural production.Our objective was to evaluate the effects of long-term inputs of green manures on physical properties of a reddish paddy soil（Fe-Typic Hapli-Stagnic Anthrosols） under a double cropping system.The common cropping pattern before the study was early-late rice-fallow（winter）.The field treatments included rice-rice-fallow（R-R-WF）,rice-rice-rape（R-R-RP）,rice-rice-Chinese milk vetch（RR-MV）,and rice-rice-ryegrass（R-R-RG）.The rape,Chinese milk vetch and ryegrass were all incorporated as green manures 15 d before early rice transplanting during the following year.The soil bulk density in all green manure treatments was significantly reduced compared with the winter fallow treatment.Soil porosity with green manure applications was significantly higher than that under the winter fallow.The green manure treatments had higher 0.25-5 mm water stable aggregates and aggregates stabilities in the plow layer（0-15 cm depth） compared with the fallow treatment.The mean weight diameter（MWD） and normalized mean weight diameter（NMWD） of aggregates in the green manure treatment were larger than that with the winter fallow.Soil given green manure retained both a higher water holding capacity in the plow layer soil,and a larger volume of moisture at all matric potentials（-10,-33 and-100 kPa）.We conclude that the management of double-rice fields in southern central China should be encouraged to use green manures along with chemical fertilizers to increase SOC content,improve soil physical properties and soil fertility.

Carbon Sequestration in Soil Humic Substances Under Long-Term Fertilization in a Wheat-Maize System from North China

The changes in humic substances （HS） is fundamental in detecting soil carbon sequestration mechanisms in natural and cultivated environments. Based on a long-term trial, the amounts of water dissolved substances （WSS）, humic acid （HA）, fulvic acid （FA） and humin （HU） were determined to explore the impact of long-term fertilization on HS. Increases in the amounts of WSS, HA, FA and HU were significant different among the treatments with manure. A significant correlation was found between the increased soil organic carbon （SOC） and HS （R^2=0.98, P〈0.01）. The change in the E4/E6 ratio was significantly correlated with the increased SOC （R2=0.88, P〈0.01）, HA （R^2=0.91, P〈0.01）, FA （R^2=0.91, P〈0.01） and HU （R^2=0.88, P〈0.01）. The cluster was mainly divided into two parts as manure fertilization and inorganic fertilization, based on the increases in HA, FA and HU. These results suggest that long term fertilization with manure favours carbon sequestration in HS and is mainly stabilized as HU, while the HA becomes more aliphatic. We conclude that increases in SOC can be linked to changes in the molecular characteristics of HS fractions under long term fertilization.

Long-Term Effect of Fertilizer and Rice Straw on Mineral Composition and Potassium Adsorption in a Reddish Paddy Soil

Increasing K＋ adsorption can be an effective alternative in building an available K pool in soils to optimize crop recovery and minimize losses into the environment. We hypothesized that long-term fertilization might change K＋ adsorption because of changes in the chemical and mineralogical properties of a rice （Oryza sativa L.）. The aims of this study were （i） to determine clay minerals in paddy soil clay size fractions using X-ray diffraction methods and a numerical diagramdecomposition method; （ii） to measure K＋ adsorption isotherms before and after H202 oxidation of organic matter, and （iii） to investigate whether K＋ adsorption is correlated with changes in soil chemical and mineral properties. The 30-yr longterm fertilization treatments caused little change in soil organic C （SOC） but a large variation in soil mineral composition. The whole-clay fraction （〈5 Jam） corresponded more to the fertilization treatment than the fine-clay fraction （〈1 gin） in terms of percentage of illite peak area. The total percentage of vermiculite-chlorite peak area was significantly negatively correlated with the total percentage ofillite peak area in the 〈5 lam soil particles （R=-0.946, P〈0.0006）. Different fertilization treatments gave significantly different results in K＋ adsorption. The SOC oxidation test showed positive effects of SOC on K＋ adsorption at lower K＋ concentration （≤120 mg L-0 and negative effects at higher K＋ concentration （240 mg L-l）. The K＋ adsorption by soil clay minerals after SOC oxidization accounted for 60-158% of that by unoxidized soils, suggesting a more important role of soil minerals than SOC on K＋ adsorption. The K＋ adsorption potential was significantly correlated to the amount of poorly crystallized illite present （R--0.879, P=0.012）. The availability of adsorbed K＋ for plant growth needs further study.

Long-term changes of phytoplankton community in Xiagu waters of Xiamen,China

Long-term changes of phytoplankton community by water sampling method in Xiagu Sea waters of Xiamen,China,were investigated in this study.Species composition of the phytoplankton community in these waters changed greatly since the 1950s.The numbers of Dinophyta species increased significantly,although Bacillariophyta species are generally dominant.The succession of dominant species in phytoplankton community is obvious： large-size dominant species such as Biddulphia sinensis of the 1950s were gradually replaced by small-size ones such as Cyclotella striata and Nitzschia closterium,and species that still maintain dominant such as Skeletonema costatum are also small ones,leading the whole phytoplankton community of smaller size.Cell density of phytoplankton community increased greatly,among which cell density of the most dominant species Skeletonema costatum have been increasing in exponent function.Margalef index of phytoplankton community decreased,indicating decline of biodiversity of the community,and dominant character of Skeletonema costatum increased.Generally,the structure of the entire phytoplankton community is becoming more and more singular and unstable,which makes the occurrence of red tides more frequent.The succession in the phytoplankton community is related to the long-term changes in marine environment,influenced by human activities and global climate changes,especially the increases of nutrient content.

Basic Soil Productivity of Spring Maize in Black Soil Under Long-Term Fertilization Based on DSSAT Model

Increasing basic farmland soil productivity has significance in reducing fertilizer application and maintaining high yield of crops. In this study, we defined that the basic soil productivity （BSP） is the production capacity of a farmland soil with its own physical and chemical properties for a specific crop season under local environment and field management. Based on 22-yr （1990-2011） long-term experimental data on black soil （Typic hapludoll） in Gongzhuling, Jilin Province, Northeast China, the decision support system for an agro-technology transfer （DSSAT）-CERES-Maize model was applied to simulate the yield by BSP of spring maize （Zea mays L.） to examine the effects of long-term fertilization on changes of BSP and explore the mechanisms of BSP increasing. Five treatments were examined： （1） no-fertilization control （control）; （2） chemical nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium （NPK）; （3） NPK plus farmyard manure （NPKM）; （4） 1.5 time of NPKM （1.5NPKM） and （5） NPK plus straw （NPKS）. Results showed that after 22-yr fertilization, the yield by BSP of spring maize significantly increased 78.0, 101.2, and 69.4% under the NPKM, 1.5NPKM and NPKS, respectively, compared to the initial value （in 1992）, but not significant under NPK （26.9% increase） and the control （8.9% decrease）. The contribution percentage of BSP showed a significant rising trend （P〈0.05） under 1.5NPKM. The average contribution percentage of BSP among fertilizations ranged from 74.4 to 84.7%, and ranked as 1.5NPKM〉NPKM〉NPK〉NPKS, indicating that organic manure combined with chemical fertilizers （I.5NPKM and NPKM） could more effectively increase BSP compared with the inorganic fertilizer application alone （NPK） in the black soil. This study showed that soil organic matter （SOM） was the key factor among various fertility factors that could affect BSP in the black soil, and total N, total P and/or available P also played important role in BSP increasing. Compared with the chemical fertilization, a balanced chemical plus manure or straw fertilization （NPKM or NPKS） not only increased the concentrations of soil nutrient, but also improved the soil physical properties, and structure and diversity of soil microbial population, resulting in an iincrease of BSP. We recommend that a balanced chemical plus manure or straw fertilization （NPKM or NPKS） should be the fertilization practices to enhance spring maize yield and improve BSP in the black soil of Northeast China.

The long-term trend of the sea surface wind speed and the wave height (wind wave, swell, mixed wave) in global ocean during the last 44 a

Utilizing the 45 a European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts （ECMWF） reanalysis wave da- ta （ERA-40）, the long-term trend of the sea surface wind speed and （wind wave, swell, mixed wave） wave height in the global ocean at grid point 1.5°× 1.5° during the last 44 a is analyzed. It is discovered that a ma- jority of global ocean swell wave height exhibits a significant linear increasing trend （2-8 cm/decade）, the distribution of annual linear trend of the significant wave height （SWH） has good consistency with that of the swell wave height. The sea surface wind speed shows an annually linear increasing trend mainly con- centrated in the most waters of Southern Hemisphere westerlies, high latitude of the North Pacific, Indian Ocean north of 30°S, the waters near the western equatorial Pacific and low latitudes of the Atlantic waters, and the annually linear decreasing mainly in central and eastern equator of the Pacific, Juan. Fernandez Archipelago, the waters near South Georgia Island in the Atlantic waters. The linear variational distribution characteristic of the wind wave height is similar to that of the sea surface wind speed. Another find is that the swell is dominant in the mixed wave, the swell index in the central ocean is generally greater than that in the offshore, and the swell index in the eastern ocean coast is greater than that in the western ocean inshore, and in year-round hemisphere westerlies the swell index is relatively low.

Effects of Long-Term Combined Application of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Microbial Biomass,Soil Enzyme Activities and Soil Fertility

Soil health is important for the sustainable development of terrestrial ecosystem. In this paper, we studied the relationship between soil quality and soil microbial properties such as soil microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities in order to illustrate the function of soil microbial properties as bio-indicators of soil health. In this study, microbial biomass C and N contents （Cmic ＆ Nmic）, soil enzyme activities, and soil fertility with different fertilizer regimes were carried out based on a 15-year long-term fertilizer experiment in Drab Fluvo-aquic soil in Changping County, Beijing, China. At this site, 7 different treatments were established in 1991. They were in a wheat-maize rotation receiving either no fertilizer （CK）, mineral fertilizers （NPK）, mineral fertilizers with wheat straw incorporated （NPKW）, mineral fertilizers with incremental wheat straw incorporated （NPKW＋）, mineral fertilizers plus swine manure （NPKM）, mineral fertilizers plus incremental swine manure （NPKM＋） or mineral fertilizers with maize straw incorporated （NPKS）. In different fertilization treatments Cmic changed from 96.49 to 500.12 mg kg^-1, and Nmic changed from 35.89 to 101.82 mg kg^-1. Compared with CK, the other treatments increased Cmic ＆ Nmic, Cmic/Corg （organic C） ratios, Cmic/Nmic, urease activity, soil organic matter （SOM）, soil total nitrogen （STN）, and soil total phosphorus （STP）. All these properties in treatment with fertilizers input NPKM＋ were the highest. Meantime, long-term combined application of mineral fertilizers with organic manure or crop straw could significantly decrease the soil pH in Fluvo-aquic soil （the pH around 8.00 in this experimental soil）. Some of soil microbial properties （Cmic/Nmic, urease activity） were positively correlated with soil nutrients. Cmic/Nmic was significantly correlated with SOM and STN contents. The correlation between catalase activity and soil nutrients was not significant. In addition, except of catalase activity, the soil pH in this experiment was negatively correlated with soil microbial properties. In conclusion, soil microbial properties reflect changes of soil quality and thus can be used as bio-indicators of soil health.

Effects of long-term organic fertilization on soil microbiologic characteristics,yield and sustainable production of winter wheat

We investigated the soil microbiologic characteristics, and the yield and sustainable production of winter wheat, by conducting a long-term fertilization experiment. A single application of N, P and K （NPK） fertilizer was taken as the control （CK） and three organic fertilization treatments were used： NPK fertilizer＋pig manure （T1）, NPK fertilizer＋straw return （T2）, NPK fertilizer＋pig manure＋straw return （T3）. The results showed that all three organic fertilization treatments （T1, T2 and T3） significantly increased both soil total N （STN） and soil organic carbon （SOC） from 2008 onwards. In 2016, the SOC content and soil C/N ratios for T1, T2 and T3 were significantly higher than those for CK. The three organic fertilization treatments increased soil microbial activity. In 2016, the activity of urease （sucrase） and the soil respiration rate （SRS） for T1, T2 and T3 were significantly higher than those under CK. The organic fertilization treatments also increased the content of soil microbial biomass carbon （SMBC） and microbial biomass nitrogen （SMBN）, the SMBC/SMBN ratio and the microbial quotient （qMB）. The yield for T1, T2 and T3 was significantly higher than that of CK, respectively. Over the nine years of the investigation, the average yield increased by 9.9, 13.2 and 17.4% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively, compared to the initial yield for each treatment, whereas the average yield of CK over the same period was reduced by 6.5%. T1, T2, and T3 lowered the coefficient of variation （CV） of wheat yield and increased the sustainable yield index （SYI）. Wheat grain yield was significantly positively correlated with each of the soil microbial properties （P〈0.01）. These results showed that the long-term application of combined organic and chemical fertilizers can stabilize crop yield and make it more sustainable by improving the properties of the soil.

Long-term results of paclitaxel plus cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy for loco-regional esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM To evaluate the long-term effectiveness and late toxicities of paclitaxel(PTX) plus cisplatin(DDP) with concurrent radiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal squamous cancer.METHODS Between 2008 and 2011, 76 patients were enrolled in a phase Ⅱ study on the treatment of loco-regionally advanced esophageal cancer with radiotherapy(68.4 Gy/44 fractions or 61.2 Gy/34 fractions) combined with 4-cycle chemotherapy consisting of DDP(25 mg/m^2 per day for 3 d) and PTX(175 mg/m^2 for 3 h). The primary endpoints were overall survival and progression-free survival, and the secondary endpoints were toxicity and the treatment failure pattern.RESULTS A total of 76 patients were enrolled in this study, of whom 63.2% finished the whole regimen. The 5-year survival rates for the per-protocol population and intent-to-treat population were 25.4% and 26.4%, respectively, and the median survival rates were 23.7 mo and 28.5 mo, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 late toxicity was observed in only one patient(heart failure). In log-rank analysis, the pretreatment stage(stage Ⅱ + Ⅲ: 36.1 mo vs stage Ⅳ: 14.9 mo) and the completed cycle(1-3 cycles: 16.1 mo vs 4 cycles: 35.5 mo) were significant prognostic factors(P = 0.037 < 0.05 and P = 0.013 < 0.05).CONCLUSION Radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy consisting of PTX and DDP is a safe and effective definitive treatment for loco-regionally advanced esophageal squamous cancer.

Effects of Exposure to Aluminum on Long-term Potentiation and AMPA Receptor Subunits in Rats in vivo

Objective To explore the effects of exposure to aluminum （AI） on long-term potentiation （LTP） and AMPA receptor subunits in rats in vivo. Methods Different dosages of aluminum-maltolate complex [Al（mal）3] were given to rats via acute intracerebroventricular （i.c.v.） injection and subchronic intraperitoneal （i.p.） injection. Following AI exposure, the hippocampal LTP were recorded by field potentiation technique in vivo and the expression of AMPAR subunit proteins （GluR1 and GluR2） in both total and membrane-enriched extracts from the CA1 area of rat hippocampus were detected by Western blot assay. Results Acute AI treatment produced dose-dependent suppression of LTP in the rat hippocampus and dose-dependent decreases of GluRz and GluR2 in membrane extracts; however, no similar changes were found in the total cell extracts, which suggests decreased trafficking of AMPA receptor subunits from intracellular pools to synaptic sites in the hippocampus. The dose-dependent suppressive effects on LTP and the expression of AMPA receptor subunits both in the membrane and in total extracts were found after subchronic AI treatment, indicating a decrease in AMPA receptor subunit trafficking from intracellular pools to synaptic sites and an additional reduction in the expression of the subunits. Conclusion Al（mal）3 obviously and dose-dependently suppressed LTP in the rat hippocampal CA1 region in vivo, and this suppression may be related to both trafficking and decreases in the expression of AMPA receptor subunit proteins. However, the mechanisms underlying these observations need further investigation.