Comparison of fixed area and distance sampling methods in open forests:case study of Zagros Forest,Iran

The main aim of this study was to evaluate methods for fixed area and distance sampling in the Zagros open forest area in western Iran. Basic forest management and planning required appropriate quantitative and qualitative information. Two sampling methods were compared on the basis of the actual means of characteristics derived from the 100 % survey. In total, 37 sampling plots were systematically installed with a grid of 100 m × 100 m in the study area. Density, crown canopy, and basal area of the stands were measured. The 100 % survey showed that tree density above 12.5 cm diameter at breast height was 68.04 stem ha-1, basal area was 15.16 m2 ha-1 and crown canopy percentage was 35.71% ha-1. The values for the traits determined by the two sampling methods differed significantly （P = 0.05）. When the time required for the methods was compared, transect sampling required less than systematic-random sampling. Therefore, the transect sampling method was the more economical method for the Zagros open forests. The transect sampling method was statistically defensible and practical for quantitating characteristics of the Zagros open forests.

Prediction of snow water equivalent using artificial neural network and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system with two sampling schemes in semi-arid region of Iran

Direct measurement of snow water equivalent(SWE)in snow-dominated mountainous areas is difficult,thus its prediction is essential for water resources management in such areas.In addition,because of nonlinear trend of snow spatial distribution and the multiple influencing factors concerning the SWE spatial distribution,statistical models are not usually able to present acceptable results.Therefore,applicable methods that are able to predict nonlinear trends are necessary.In this research,to predict SWE,the Sohrevard Watershed located in northwest of Iran was selected as the case study.Database was collected,and the required maps were derived.Snow depth(SD)at 150 points with two sampling patterns including systematic random sampling and Latin hypercube sampling(LHS),and snow density at 18 points were randomly measured,and then SWE was calculated.SWE was predicted using artificial neural network(ANN),adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system(ANFIS)and regression methods.The results showed that the performance of ANN and ANFIS models with two sampling patterns were observed better than the regression method.Moreover,based on most of the efficiency criteria,the efficiency of ANN,ANFIS and regression methods under LHS pattern were observed higher than the systematic random sampling pattern.However,there were no significant differences between the two methods of ANN and ANFIS in SWE prediction.Data of both two sampling patterns had the highest sensitivity to the elevation.In addition,the LHS and the systematic random sampling patterns had the least sensitivity to the profile curvature and plan curvature,respectively.

The intervention effect of virtual reality technology on patients recovering from traumatic brain injury: a meta analysis

Objective:To systematically evaluate the intervention effect of virtual reality technology on patients recovering from traumatic brain injury.Methods:The computer retrieved CNKI,VIP,Wan Fang,Embase,The Cochrane Library and PubMed database,and collected randomized controlled trials of virtual reality technology combined with routine rehabilitation training and simple routine rehabilitation training on patients recovering from traumatic brain injury.The retrieval period was from the establishment of the database to July 2019.Two researchers independently screened the literature,extracted the data and evaluated the risk of bias in the included studies.RevMan 5.3 software was used for analysis.Results:A total of 7 articles were included.Meta-analysis results showed that virtual reality technology could significantly improve balance function(mean difference(MD)=3.72,95%confidence interval(CI)(2.61,4.83),P<0.001),daily living ability(MD=11.87,95%CI(10.42,13.32),P<0.001),and exercise ability(MD=3.83,95%CI(2.30,5.36),P<0.001).In the aspect of posture control ability,the trajectory motion length,trajectory velocity and peripheral area were improved(standardised mean difference(SMD)=0.80,95%CI(1.19,0.41),P<0.0001),(SMD=0.95,95%CI(1.45,0.45),P=0.0002),(SMD=0.69,95%CI(1.11,0.26),P=0.001).Conclusion:Virtual reality technology can significantly improve the balance function,daily living ability,motor function and postural control ability of patients recovering from cerebral trauma.Limited by the quantity and quality of the included studies,the above conclusions need to be verified by more high-quality studies.

Sodium Tanshinone Ⅱ A Sulfonate Injection as Adjuvant Treatment for Unstable Angina Pectoris: A Meta-Analysis of 17 Randomized Controlled Trials

Objective： To systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Sodium Tanshinone ⅡA Sulfonate Injection（STS） as one adjuvant therapy for treating unstable angina pectoris（UAP）. Methods： Randomized controlled trials（RCTs） of UAP treated by STS were searched in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database（CNKI）, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals（VIP）, Wanfang Database, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database（CBM）, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and Pub Med, which from inception to January, 2016. The Cochrane Risk Assessment Tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the RCTs. The Review Manager 5.3 software was used to conduct the metaanalysis. Results： The results showed that 17 RCTs involving 1,372 patients were included. The meta-analysis indicated that the combined use of STS and Western medicine（WM） in the treatment of UAP can obviously improve the total effective rate [risk ratio（RR）=1.31, 95% confidence interval（CI）（1.24,1.39）, P〈0.0001], and the total effective rate of electrocardiogram [RR=1.43, 95% CI（1.30,1.56）, P〈0.0001], decrease the level of CRP [mean difference（MD）=–3.06, 95%CI（–3.85, –2.27）, P〈0.00001], fibrinogen [MD=–1.03, 95% CI（–1.16, –0.89）, P〈0.00001], and whole blood high shear viscosity [MD=–0.70, 95% CI（–0.92, –0.49）, P〈0.00001]. Additionally, the occurrence of adverse drug reaction of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group [RR=3.57, 95% CI（1.28, 9.94）, P〈0.05]. Conclusions： Compared with WM, the combined use of STS was more effective.

Effectiveness of Moxibustion for Exercise-Induced Fatigue——A Systematic Review for Randomized Controlled Trials

Objective：To review and assess the effect of single moxibustion for exercise-induced fatigue（EIF）.Methods：Computer-search for 8 medical databases and 5 clinical trail registries were conducted for randomized controlled trials（RCTs）,added with hand-search for 10 Chinese acupuncture-moxibustion journals and additional references.Data from included RCTs were pooled by RevMan5.1.Methodology quality of RCTs was judged by Cochrane Collaboration assessment tool while quality of primary outcomes was evaluated by GRADE3.2.Results：Five RCTs were finally included,all reported in small sample size with high risk of bias.Comparisons on single moxibustion and rest relief（without treatment） were studied.Six outcomes were reported,all favored moxibustion to rest relief for EIF.Primary outcomes showed as rating of perceived exertion（RPE） with mean difference（MD）=-0.49,95%confidence interval（CI）[-0.80,-0.19],800-m race performance with MD=^-2.21,95%CI[-3.57,-0.85],and Harvard Step Index（HSI） with MD=14.75,95%CI[8.35,21.15].Moreover,all primary outcomes as RPE,800-m race performance and HSI were rated low quality.Conclusions：Single moxibustion might be considered effective for EIF.However,due to small samples of included RCTs,high risk of bias among studies and poor quality of primary outcomes and subjects restricted to Chinese athletes only,these results present limitation,and should be taken with caution for practice.More large-size studies with rigorous design are warranted to further test effectiveness of moxibustion for EIF.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Diminished Ovarian Reserve: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）for women with diminished ovarian reserve（DOR）.Methods A literature search was conducted in eight electronic databases for randomized controlled trials.Results Seventeen randomized controlled trials involving 1174 patients were included.Meta-analysis indicated that TCM was superior to Western medicine（WM）in reducing basal serum FSH level[MD=-1.70,95%CI（-2.63,-0.77）;P=0.0004]and FSH/LH（MD=-0.43,95%CI[-0.56,-0.30];P=0.0001）,and the effect was more obvious two months after the last treatment（MD=-4.60,95%CI[-6.26,-2.90],P〈0.000 01 and MD=-0.56,95%CI[-0.85,-0.28],P=0.0001）,and increasing antral follicle count（AFC）（MD=0.44,95%CI[0.04-0.83];P=0.03）.The review also revealed the positive role of CMM as an adjuvant to IVF-ET in improving pregnancy rate（PR=1.75,95%CI[1.25,2.46];P=0.001）.Conclusion TCM,with its unique way of replenishing the kidney,may provide an effective and safe alternative therapy to patients with DOR.

Toward Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine：Status Quo,Opportunities and Challenges

How to test the treatments of Chinese medicine（CM） and make them more widely accepted by practitioners of Western medicine and the international healthcare community is a major concern for practitioners and researchers of CM.For centuries,various approaches have been used to identify and measure the efficacy and safety of CM.However,the high-quality evidence related to CM that produced in China is still rare.Over the recent years,evidence-based medicine（EBM） has been increasingly applied to CM,strengthening its theoretical basis.This paper reviews the past and present state of CM,analyzes the status quo,challenges and opportunities of basic research,clinical trials,systematic reviews,clinical practice guidelines and clinical pathways and evidence-based education developed or conducted in China,pointing out how EBM can help to make CM more widely used and recognized worldwide.

Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis Is Needed in Chinese Medical Research

Publication biases and collection limitations are the main disadvantages of a traditional meta-analysis based on aggregate patient data（APD）from published articles.Individual patient data（IPD）meta-analysis,as the gold standard of systematic review,is a possible alternative in this context.However,the publications relative to IPD meta-analyses are still rare compared with the traditional ones,especially in the research oriented to Chinese medicine（CM）.In this article,the strengths and detailed functioning of IPD meta-analysis are described.Furthermore,the need for IPD meta-analysis to assess the treatments based on CM was also discussed.Compared with the traditional APD meta-analysis,the IPD meta-analysis might give a more accurate and unbiased assessment and is worth to be recommended to CM researchers.