Psychometrics of the chronic liver disease questionnaire for Southern Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

AIM： To test the psychometric properties of a Chinese [（Hong Kong） HK] translation of the chronic liver disease questionnaire （CLDQ）. METHODS： A Chinese （HK） translation of the CLDQ was developed by iterative translation and cognitive debriefing. It was then administered to 72 uncomplicated and 78 complicated chronic hepatitis B （CriB） patients in Hong Kong together with a structured questionnaire on service utilization, and the Chinese （HK） SF-36 Health Survey Version 2 （SF-36v2）. RESULTS： Scaling success was ≥ 80% for all but three items. A new factor assessing sleep was found and items of two （Fatigue and Systemic Symptoms） subscales tended to load on the same factor. Internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities ranged from 0.58-0.90 for different subscales. Construct validity was confirmed by the expected correlations between the SF-36v2 Health Survey and CLDQ scores. Mean scores of CLDQ were significantly lower in complicated compared with uncomplicated CHB, supporting sensitivity in detecting differences between groups.CONCLUSION： The Chinese （HK） CLDQ is valid, reliable and sensitive for patients with CHB. Some modifications to the scaling structure might further improve its psychometric properties,

Morphometric measurement of the patella on 3D model reconstructed from CT scan images for the southern Chinese population

Background Due to racial differences in the morphology of the knee joint and due to most prostheses available in the market being designed using measurements from Caucasians,the objective of this study was to provide the morphometric data of the patella for the southern Chinese population for total knee arthroplasty （TKA）,patellar resurfacing,and prostheses design.Methods The CT slices of the knee joint were obtained from both knees of 40 Chinese volunteers （20 females,20 males,and age from 20-25 years） by performing a computer tomographic scan.A 3D model was reconstructed by Mimics software based on the computed tomography images.Six metrical characteristics were measured by digital ruler.Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS statistical program.Results The mean,standard deviation and P values of measurements and ratios were calculated using SPSS.All dimensions showed a significant gender difference with P＜0.05,but the six variables of the left and right knees had no statistical significance with P＞0.05.In addition,we studied the relationship between six couples （H-W,H-T,H-HAF,W-T,W-HAF,T-HAF） of the four variables （H：height,W：width,T：thickness and HAF：height of articulating facet） that were measured,which showed a significant correlation.Conclusions Examination of the southern Chinese population revealed that males have larger patellae than women.In both genders,comparing data between left and right knees shows no statistically significant difference.Compared with Westerners in previous studies,the patella in our study was thin and small.There was a good linear regression correlation between measurements of the patella.The indirect measurement method on 3D models makes it easy to obtain anatomical data,and the results can provide a region and gender specific database for morphometric measurements of the oatella,and can be helpful for designing implants suited for southern Chinese patients.

Alkaline phosphatase activity in the phosphorus-limited southern Chinese coastal waters

Three fractions of alkaline phosphatase activity(APA),including phytoplankton APA(phyto-APA),bacterial APA(bact-APA),and free-APA,were examined in the sea surface microlayer(SML)and the subsurface water(SSW)from Daya Bay,Guishan Island,and Guanghai Bay of southern China.Relationships between APA and environmental parameters were analyzed.The growth of phytoplankton was significantly limited by dissolved inorganic phosphorus(DIP)in the three sea areas,especially in Daya Bay.TotalAPA ranged between 1.41 and 35.26 nmol/L/hr,and the highest value was found in Daya Bay.The increased APA in Daya Bay was the result of the increase of phytoplankton biomass and the response of phytoplankton to P limitation.Phyto-APA was the main contributor in Daya Bay,while phyto-and free-APA co-dominated in Guishan Island and Guanghai Bay.Bact-,phyto-,and total-APA showed a significant inverse power function relationship with DIP,and 0.2μmol/L was the threshold for DIP on particulates and totalAPA.Pearson correlation analysis suggested that DIP limitation together with high N levels enhanced APA.High water temperature and freshwater input accelerated APA as well.Principal component analysis clearly separated samples from the three sea areas,as well as from the SML and the SSW,which indicated the differences in environmental parameters and APA levels.Our results highlight the influence of phosphorus limitation and environmental parameters on APA.

Experimental study on seismic characteristics of typical mortisetenon joints of Chinese southern traditional timber frame buildings

The seismic characteristics of four typical mortise-tenon joints of Chinese southern traditional timber frame buildings were researched, including Yanwei mortise-tenon joint （including dropping Yanwei mortise-tenon joint）, Shizigutou mortise-tenon joint, Ban mortise-tenon joint and Mantou mortise-tenon joint. Experiments on thirteen specimens were carried out. Failure modes, hysteresis curves, skeleton curves and rotational stiffness were studied. The results provided a theoretical basis for seismic research, protection and maintenance of Chinese southern traditional timber flame buildings.

Cultural Practices for Propagation of Spatholobus suberectus via Cutting into Polybags

In this paper,the propagation of Spatholobus suberectus Dunn.was optimized based on the research results conducted in propagation for many years and the actual need for the planting materials.According to the requirements of Good Agricultural Practices for Chinese Medicinal Drugs,cultural practices for propagation of S.suberectus were summed up and standardized,including the environmental requirements,land preparation,bed preparation,cutting of scions,cuttings treatment,cutting,management of cuttings at the nursery,bagged cuttings ready for transplanting,packing and handling,transportation,and preparation of records for archives.

Hwangryongsa reconsidered:A Korean mirror to the medieval Chinese Buddhist ritual-architectural transformation

This article investigates the one-century construction history of Silla’s state monastery Hwangryongsa,understanding its architectural transformation in relation to the changing ritual-spatial concept within the context of the medieval Sino-Korean cultural exchanges.The initial construction between 553 and 569,supervised by the Koguryŏe´migre´monk Hyeryang,followed the sixth-century Northern Chinese model to build Hwangryongsa as a dormitory-enclosed compound,in which the One-Hundred-Seat Assembly was enacted in the image hall as the earlier Chinese Buddhist tradition would do.This plan was soon altered under the increasing popularity of the newly developed Southern Chinese paradigm.An extensive reconstruction started in 574 for the purpose of imitating the Chen imperial performance of the One-Hundred-Seat Assembly at Taijidian compound of Jiankang palace,while the archaic,oddly-empty organization of the central image hall reveals a hidden connection between Hwangryongsa and Tongtaisi,the state monastery of the Liang and also the first Chinese monastery modeled after the Taijidian compound.Hwangryongsa was eventually transformed into a corridor-enclosed ceremonial courtyard fronted by three image halls and one nine-story pagoda by 645,and the transformation profoundly mirrored China’s medieval architectural reform of Buddhist ritual space between the sixth and seventh centuries.