Study on Growth and Development of Early Postembryonic Stage of Onychostoma sima

[Objective] The paper was to study the growth and development of Onychostoma sima in postembryonic development stage. [Method] The oosperm was obtained by artificial spawning and artificial insemination method, and hatched under laboratory condition. The indexes such as body weight, body length, length in front of anus and body height were measured to establish larvae growth model. [Result] When the water temperature was （20±1.5） ℃, the body length and body weight of newly hatched larvae were （10.28±0.05） mm and （7.79±0.08） mg, respectively. O. sima larvae begin to feed on the 4 th day after hatching, the initial feeding rate was 48%, the highest feeding rate was 100% on the 6 th d. The-point-of-no-return （PNR） was 13.5 d. In addition, it was also observed that the appearance time of PNR point of O. sima larvae was close to death time of completely starved group, being only 2 d, indicating that once O. sima larvae reached the PNR point, they would face death threats within short time. Therefore, various growth conditions for O. sima larvae should be satisfied to ensure full development of all organs, thereby reducing death and growth stagnation caused by adverse environment in early postembryonic stage. [Conclusion] The study provided theoretical basis for solving the problems in artificial breeding.

Biomass, litterfall and the nutrient fluxes in Chinese fir stands of different age in subtropical China

Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.), a fast-growing, ever-green conifer tree with high yield and excellent quality, is the most important tree species of timber plantations in subtropical China. We investigated the characteristics of biomass, litterfall and nutrient fluxes in the 8, 14 and 24 year-old stands, representing the young, middle-aged and mature stands. The results showed that Chinese fir plantations in central Fujian province had high productivity, and the proportion of stem mass in total biomass was between 50%-70%. Chinese fir was low nutrient-return tree species with litterfall. Nutrient withdrawal from senescing needles was a strong age-dependence for nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in Chinese fir. With a management system of such short-rotation and continuously pure-crop planting, harvesting timber can lead to great nutrient loss, which may be one of the causes for site degradation.

FEM modeling of softened base metal in narrow-gap joint by CMT+P MIX welding procedure

A required finite element method（FEM） model applicable for narrow gap CMT and CMT＋P MIX welding was established based on the interactions between arc,base metal and filler metal.A novel method of simplifying wire feeding pulses and heat input pulses was supposed under the conduction of equivalent input.The method together with composed double-ellipse heat sources was included in the model.The model was employed in the investigation of thermal cycling and the identification of the softened zone of AA7A52 base plates.Low-frequency behavior emerged in the form of low-cooling rate sects,which were not expected under experimental conditions.The softened zone including the quenched zone and averaging zone of the base plate was much wider internal the base plate than that close to the surfaces.The reliability of the predictions in thermal cycling was supported by infrared imaging test results of the thermal cycle process.

Multistage Stochastic Programming Model for the Portfolio Problem of a Property-Liability Insurance Company

The current portfolio model for property-liability insurance company is only single period that can not meet the practical demands of portfolio management, and the purpose of this paper is to develop a multiperiod model for its portfolio problem. The model is a multistage stochastic programming which considers transaction costs, cash flow between time periods, and the matching of asset and liability; it does not depend on the assumption for normality of return distribution. Additionally, an investment constraint is added. The numerical example manifests that the multiperiod model can more effectively assist the property-liability insurer to determine the optimal composition of insurance and investment portfolio and outperforms the single period one.

A non-monotone Phase-1 method in linear programming

To gain superior computational efficiency, it might be necessary to change the underlying philosophy of the simplex method. In this paper, we propose a Phase-1 method along this line. We relax not only the conventional condition that some function value increases monotonically, but also the condition that all feasible variables remain feasible after basis change in Phase-1. That is, taking a purely combinatorial approach to achieving feasibility. This enables us to get rid of ratio test in pivoting, reducing computational cost per iteration to a large extent. Numerical results on a group of problems are encouraging.

Imperfect targeted advertising with two-period competition

A two-period model is developed to investigate the competitive effects of targeted advertising with imperfect targeting in a duopolistic market. In the first period, two firms compete in price in order to recognize customers. In the second period, targeted advertising plays an informative role and acts as a price discrimination device. The firms＇ optimal advertising and pricing strategies under imperfect targeting are compared with those under perfect targeting. Equilibrium decisions show that, under imperfect targeting, when the advertising cost is low enough, both firms will choose to target ads at the rivals＇ old segments. This equilibrium, which could not exist under perfect targeting, results in two opposite results. When cost is high, the effect of mis-targeting will soften price competition and increase profits; on the contrary, when cost is low enough, it will lead to aggressive price competition and profit loss with the increase of imperfect targeting, so firms may have incentives to reduce the mis- targeting degree.

Periodic Analysis on Nutrients in Chinese Residents and Their Sources

The nutritional status of Chinese residents has been greatly improved during the past 50 years.Compared with Japanese people to whom our food consumption habit is similar,the calorie nutrient intake and fat nutrient intake per capita of Chinese residents has exceeded the intake of the Japanese residents,but the protein nutrient intake is still lower.Among the composition of the calorie nutrient,the proportion of fat is higher,but the proportion of protein is lower,and both the animal protein and the vegetable fat are small.Therefore,we should guide the poor to the rational consumption such as soybean which contains quality protein but is a kind of inexpensive food.With the increase of population eating out,residents＇ nutrients awareness as well as the public service institutions knowledge of nutrition should be enhanced.

Quantitative Variations of Five Anthraglucosides in Rhubarb

应用高效液相色谱法测定大黄1—5年不同生长年限、植株不同发育阶段、植株不同部分中番泻式A(sennoside A,SA),大黄酸-8-葡萄糖甙(rhein-8-O-β-D-glucoside,R8G),大黄酸甙(rheinoside)A(RA),C(RC),D(RD)等五种蒽甙类成分的含量,结果表明:(1)大黄随生长年限的延长,五种蒽甙类成分的总含量呈递增趋势,但第二年以后增加缓慢;(2)不同发育阶段中五种蒽甙的总量以果熟期为最高;(3)大黄的根系中五种蒽甙的总含量依下列顺序递减:主根茎→细根→主根及支根→支根茎;茎部只含少量大黄酸甙 D,叶不含任何蒽甙类成分。本研究有利于确定大黄合理的采收年限和季节,以及大黄资源的合理利用。

QUANTITATIVE APPROACH TO REAL TIME STARTUP TIME DETERMINATION OF DOWNSTREAM PHASES IN CONCURRENT ENGINEERING

Implementation of simultaneous execution phases in the concurrent engineering (CE) needs careful planning when the downstream phase could be activated as the upstream phase developed to a certain point. The determination of startup time of overlapping jobs in CE has long been a disturbance in manufacturing industry implementing CE programs. A novel model based on both fuzzy logic and neural network is proposed to mathematically formulate the inter-connective information between the two coupled phases in CE projects, and to determine the startup time of downstream phases in real time. The information transferring between the two coupled phases is quantified by using the negative Shannon entropy. Based on this algorithm, a PDM-based framework is proposed to narrow the gap between pro-duct design and manufacture, in which five modules are built to monitor, reshuffle and implement the simultaneous executing processes. Finally, an example is given to illustrate applications of the algorithm in the real world.

Comparison of the Activity Differences in Two Terminal Oxidases between Upland Cotton and Sea-island Cotton

[Objective] This study was to reveal the differences in two terminal oxdiases,so as to provide theoretical basis for the selection of upland and sea-land hybrid materials. [Methods] Using 7 shares of upland cotton cultivars and 4 shares of sea-land cultivars as experimental materials,the change differences in AAO and PPO activities during whole growth period of the materials tested were studied. [Results] Two terminal oxdiases both in upland and sea-land cotton cultivars assumed similar change laws during whole growth period. AAO activity assumed a low-high trend,and there is a peak at the early stage. PPO activity presented two peaks,and that at the early stage was higher than at the late stage; the first peak is obviously higher than the second for sea-land cultivars,and two peaks are not remarkably different for upland cultivars. [Conclusion] The differences in AAO and PPO activities of sea-land and upland cotton cultivars observed on Jul.4th and Aug.6th,may provide guidance for the selection of upland and sea-land hybrids.

From diagnosis to treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: An epidemic problem for both developed and developing world

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the most frequent primary liver malignancy and the third cause of cancer-related death in the Western Countries. The well-established causes of HCC are chronic liver infections such as hepatitis B virus or chronic hepatitis C virus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, consumption of aflatoxins and tobacco smocking. Clinical presentation varies widely; patients can be asymptomatic while symptomatology extends from right upper abdominal quadrant paint and weight loss to obstructive jaundice and lethargy. Imaging is the first key and one of the most important aspects at all stages of diagnosis, therapy and follow-up of patients with HCC. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Staging System remains the most widely classification system used for HCC management guidelines. Up until now, HCC remains a challenge to early diagnose, and treat effectively; treating management is focused on hepatic resection, orthotopic liver transplantation, ablative therapies, chemoembolization and systemic therapies with cytotocix drugs, and targeted agents. This review article describes the current evidence on epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Morphological changes and allometric growth in hatcheryreared Chinese loach Paramisgurnus dabryanus(Dabry de Thiersant, 1872)

The length-weight relationship and allometric growth patterns of hatchery-reared Chinese loach, Paramisgurnus dabryanus(Dabry de Thiersant, 1872), were determined from hatching to 60 days after hatching. A best power model was estimated for the length-weight relationship during the early life stages. Positive allometric growth for the head segment, trunk length, tail length and eye diameter was also found in the early life stages, while body depth, tail depth, tail fi n length, pectoral fi n length and barbel length displayed a negative coeffi cient. During the subsequent early developmental stage, the growth coeffi cients showed a clear and common tendency towards isometry for all measured body ratios. The allometric growth changes in Chinese loach during the early stage are possibly the result of selective organogenesis directed towards survival priorities.

Role of symptoms in diagnosis and outcome of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers and the second most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Apart from Japan, where screening programmes have resulted in early diagnosis in asymptomatic patients, in most countries the diagnosis of gastric cancers is invariably made on account on dyspeptic and alarm symptoms, which may also be of prognostic significance when reported by the patient at diagnosis. However, their use as selection criteria for endoscopy seems to be inconsistent since alarm symptoms are not sufficiently sensitive to detect malignancies. In fact, the overall prevalence of these symptoms in dyspeptic patients is high, while the prevalence of gastro-intestinal cancer is very low. Moreover, symptoms of early stage cancer may be indistinguishable from those of benign dyspepsia, while the presence of alarm symptoms may imply an advanced and often inoperable disease. The features of dyspeptic and alarm symptoms may reflect the pathology of the tumour and be of prognostic value in suggesting site, stage and aggressiveness of cancer. Alarm symptoms in gastric cancer are independently related to survival and an increased number, as well as specific alarm symptoms, are closely correlated to the risk of death.Dysphagia, weight loss and a palpable abdominal mass appear to be major independent prognostic factors in gastric cancer, while gastro-intestinal bleeding, vomiting and also duration of symptoms, do not seem to have a relevant prognostic impact on survival in gastric cancer.

Expression of Livin and vascular endothelial growth factor in different clinical stages of human esophageal carcinoma

AIM： To investigate the role of Livin and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） in human esophageal carcinoma, and analyze its relationship to clinical stages.METHODS： Expression of Livin in fresh esophageal cancer tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）, Western blotting and reverse transcriptasepolyrnerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, and VEGF by Western blotting and RT-PCR. All statistical analyses were performed by SPSS version 11.0. RESULTS： Livin positivity was also significantly correlated with tumor stages, increasing with tumor progression. Expression of Livin and VEGF increased with the process of esophageal carcinoma. In the fourth clinical stage, expression of Livin and VEGF was the most significant. Expression of Livin was positively correlated with VEGF. CONCLUSION： Over-expression of Livin and VEGF contributes to the pathogenesis of esophageal carcinoma.

Genetic analysis of fruit shape traits at different maturation stages in sponge gourd

The fruit shape is important quantitative trait closely related to the fruit quality. However, the genetic model of fruit shapes has not been proposed. Therefore, in the present study, analysis of genetic effects for fruit shape traits （fruit length and fruit perimeter） in sponge gourd was conducted by employing a developmental genetic model including fruit direct effects and maternal effects. Analysis approaches of unconditional and conditional variances were applied to evaluate the genetic behavior of fruit shape traits at economical and physiological maturation times. The results of variance analysis indicated that fruit length and fruit perimeter were simultaneously affected by fruit direct genetic effects and maternal effects. Fruit direct genetic effects were relatively more important for fruit shape traits at whole developmental period. The gene expression was most active at the economical maturation stage （1-12 d after flowering） for two shape traits, and the activation of gene was mostly due to direct dominance effects at physiological maturation stage （13-60 datter flowering）. The coefficients due to different genetic effects, as well as the phenotypic correlation coefficients, varied significantly between fruit shape traits themselves at various maturation stages. The results showed that it was relatively easy to improve fruit shape traits for industrial purpose by carefully selecting the parents at economical maturation stage instead of that at physiological maturation stage.

Low phase angle is associated with the development of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis

AIM Evaluate the association between phase angle and the development of hepatic encephalopathy in the longterm follow-up of cirrhotic patients.METHODS This was a prospective cohort study. Clinical, nutritional and biochemical evaluations were performed. MannWhitney's U and χ2 tests were used as appropriate. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional Hazards analysis were used to evaluate the prediction and incidence of hepatic encephalopathy.RESULTS Two hundred and twenty were included; the most frequent etiology of cirrhosis was hepatitis C infection, 52% of the patients developed hepatic encephalopathy(18.6% covert and 33.3% overt); the main precipitating factors were infections and variceal bleeding. KaplanMeier curves showed a higher proportion of HE in the group with low phase angle(39%) compared to the normal phase angle group(13%)(P = 0.012). Furthermore, creatinine and phase angle remained independently associated to hepatic encephalopathy in the Cox regression multivariate analysis [hazard ratio = 1.80(1.07-3.03)]. CONCLUSION In our cohort of patients low phase angle was associated with an increased incidence of hepatic encephalopathy. Phase angle is a useful nutritional marker that evaluates cachexia and could be used as a part of the integral assessment in patients with cirrhosis.

Progression of remnant gastric cancer is associated with duration of follow-up following distal gastrectomy

AIM： TO re-evaluate the recent clinicopathological fea- tures of remnant gastric cancer （RGC） and to develop desirable surveillance programs.METHODS： Between 1997 and 2008, 1149 patients underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer at the Department of Digestive Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural Uni- versity of Medicine, Japan. Of these, 33 patients un- derwent gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy for RGC. Regarding the initial gastric disease, there were 19 patients with benign disease and 14 patients with gas- tric cancer. The hospital records of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS： Concerning the initial gastric disease, the RGC group following gastric cancer had a shorter in- terval [P 〈 0.05; gastric cancer vs benign disease： 12 （2-22） vs 30 （4-51） years] and were more frequently reconstructed by Billroth- I procedure than those fol- lowing benign lesions （P 〈 0.001）. Regarding recon- struction, RGC following Billroth-]_l reconstruction showed a longer interval between surgical procedures [P 〈 0.001; Billroth-11 vs Billroth- I ： 32 （5-51） vs 12 （2-36） years] and tumors were more frequently associated with benign disease （P 〈 0.001） than those following Billroth- I reconstruction. In tumor location of RGC, after Billroth- I reconstruction, RGC occurred more fre- quently near the suture line and remnant gastric wall. After Billroth- 1I reconstruction, RGC occurred more fre- quently at the anastomotic site. The duration of follow- up was significantly associated with the stage of RGC （P 〈 0.05）. Patients diagnosed with early stage RGC such as stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ tended to have been followed up almost every second year. CONCLUSION： Meticulous follow-up examination and early detection of RGC might lead to a better prognosis. Based on the initial gastric disease and the procedure of reconstruction, an appropriate follow-up interval and programs might enable early detection of RGC.

Diagnostic value of gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced hepatocyte-phase magnetic resonance imaging in evaluating hepatic fibrosis and hepatitis

AIM To evaluate the diagnostic value of gadobenate dimeglumine(Gd-BOPTA)-enhanced hepatocyte-phase magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in evaluating hepatic fibrosis and hepatitis.METHODS Hepatocyte-phase images of Gd-BOPTA-enhanced MRI were retrospectively evaluated in 76 patients with chronic liver disease. These patients were classified into five groups according to either the histopathological fibrosis stage(S0-S4) or the histopathological hepatitis grade(G0-G4). The relative enhancement ratio(RE) of the liver parenchyma in the T1-vibe sequence was calculated by measuring the signal intensity before(SI pre) and 90 min after(SI post) intravenous injection of Gd-BOPTA using the following formula: RE =(SI post-SI pre)/SI pre. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the difference between the relative RE in the hepatocyte phase(REh) and the stage of hepatic fibrosis and the grade of hepatitis. Pearson's productmoment correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between the REh and the levels of serologic liver functional parameters.RESULTS According to histopathological hepatic fibrosis stage, the 76 patients were classified into five groups: 16 in S0, 15 in S1, 21 in S2, 9 in S3, and 15 in S4 group. According to histopathological hepatitis grade, the 76 patients were also classified into five groups: 0 in G0, 44 in G1, 22 in G2, 8 in G3, and 2 in G3 group. With regard to the stage of hepatic fibrosis, REh showed significant differences between the S2 and S3 groups and between the S2 and S4 groups(P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed between the other groups. With regard to the grade of hepatitis, REh showed significant differences between the G1 and G2 groups and between the G1 and G4 groups(P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed between the other groups. Increased REh showed correlations with decreased serum levels of TB, ALT and AST(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION To some extent, measuring the REh using Gd-BOPTAenhanced MRI might be a noninvasive technique for assessing the stage of hepatic fibrosis. This method is able to differentiate no/mild hepatitis from advanced hepatitis. TB, ALT and AST levels can predict the degree of liver enhancement in the hepatocyte phase of Gd-BOPTA-enhanced MRI.

Clinical features of acute hepatitis E super-infections on chronic hepatitis B

AIM To examine the clinical features and risk factors for adverse outcomes in chronic hepatitis B(CHB) superimposed with hepatitis E virus(HEV).METHODS This retrospective cohort study included 228 patients with acute HEV infection(showing clinical acute hepatitis symptomology and positivity for anti-HEV immunoglobulin M) with underlying CHB(confirmed by positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen and/or hepatitis B virus(HBV) DNA over 6 mo) who had been admitted to the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, which represents the regional tertiary hospital for infectious diseases in Shanghai city, China. Data for adverse outcomes were collected, and included severe liver diseases(defined as liver failure and/or acute liver decompensation) and liver-related mortality. Logistic regression modeling was performed to determine the risk factors for adverse outcomes.RESULTS The symptoms caused by superimposed acute hepatitis E(AHE) were much more severe in cirrhotic patients(n = 94) than in non-cirrhotic patients(n = 134), as evidenced by significantly higher liver complications(77.7% vs 28.4%, P < 0.001) and mortality rate(21.3% vs 7.5%, P = 0.002). Most of the cirrhotic patients(n = 85, 90.4%) had no prior decompensation. Among the non-cirrhotic patients, superimposed AHE caused progressively more severe diseases that corresponded with the CHB disease stages, from immune tolerant to immune reactivation phases. Few risk factors were identified in the cirrhotic patients, but risk factors for non-cirrhotic patients were found to be intermediate HBV DNA levels(OR: 5.1, P = 0.012), alcohol consumption(OR: 6.4, P = 0.020), and underlying diabetes(OR: 7.5, P = 0.003) and kidney diseases(OR: 12.7, P = 0.005). Only 28.7% of the cirrhotic patients and 9.0% of the non-cirrhotic patients had received anti-HBV therapy previously and, in all cases, the efficacy had been suboptimal. CONCLUSION CHB-related cirrhosis and intermediate HBV DNA level were associated with severe disease in superinfected patients, and successful antiviral treatment might counter this outcome.

Two-stage resection for malignant colonic obstructions:The timing of early resection and possible predictive factors

AIM:To study potential predictive factors for early radical resection in two-stage resection for left malignant colonic obstruction.METHODS:Thirty-eight cases of left-sided obstructive colon cancer undergoing two-stage operations were reviewed between January 1998 and August 2008.Patients were classified into two groups(n = 19 each):early radical resection(interval ≤ 10 d) and late radical resection(interval > 10 d).Baseline demographics,post-diversion outcome,perioperative data,tumor characteristics,outcome and complications were analyzed.RESULTS:The baseline demographics revealed no differences except for less pre-diversion sepsis in the early group(P < 0.001) and more obstruction days in the late group(P = 0.009).The mean intervals of early and late radical resections were 7.9 ± 1.3 d and 17.8 ± 5.5 d,respectively(P < 0.001).After diversion,the presence of bowel sounds,flatus,removal of the nasogastric tube and the resumption of oral feeding occurred earlier in the early group.The operation time and duration of hospital stay were both significant reduced in the early group.Complication rates did not differ between groups.CONCLUSION:The earlier recovery of bowel function seems to be predictive of early radical resection.In contrast,pre-diversion sepsis and more obstruction days were predictive of delayed radical resection.