The Wulian complex is located on the northern margin of the Sulu orogenic belt, and was formed by collision between the North China Craton (NCC) to the north and South China Craton (SCC) to the south. It consists of the metasedimentary Wulian Group, gneissic granite and meta-diorite. The U–Pb analyses for the detrital zircons from the Wulian Group exhibit one predominant age population of 2600–2400 Ma with a peak at c. 2.5 Ga and several secondary age populations of > 3000, 3000–2800, 2800–2600, 2200–2000, 1900–1800, 1500–1300 and 1250–950 Ma; some metamorphic zircons have metamorphic ages of c. 2.7, 2.55–2.45, 2.1–2.0 and 1.95–1.80 Ga, which are consistent with magmatic-metamorphic events in the SCC. Additionally, the Wulian Group was intruded by the gneissic granite and meta-diorite at c. 0.76 Ga, attributed to Neoproterozoic syn-rifting bimodal magmatic activity in the SCC and derived from partial melting of Archaean continental crust and depleted mantle, respectively. The Wulian Group therefore has tectonic affinity to the SCC and was mainly sourced from the SCC. The detrital zircons have positive and negative ϵHf(t) values, indicating that their source rocks were derived from reworking of both ancient and juvenile crustal rocks. The major early Precambrian crustal growth took place during c. 3.4–2.5 Ga with a dominant peak at 2.96 Ga and several secondary peaks at 3.27, 2.74 and 2.52 Ga. The two oldest zircons with ages of 3307 and 3347 Ma record the recycling of ancient continental crust (> 3.35 Ga) and crustal growth prior to c. 3.95 Ga in the SCC.

To explore whether different polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) concentrations affect the results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a prospective study was conducted for 194 couples undergoing 210 ICSI therapy cycles. These cycles were divided into three groups (10, 7 and 5% groups) using the corresponding concentration of PVP for sperm immobilization. The main outcome measures were analyzed. Results indicated that, with a decrease in PVP concentrations, all of the main outcome measures increased. In particular, the high-quality cleavage embryo rate in the 7% group was significantly lower than in the 5% group (P < 0.01), and the cleavage, high-quality cleavage embryo, and high-quality blastocyst rates in the 5% group were significantly higher than those in the 10% group (all P < 0.001). For high-/intermediate-quality semen, all of the main outcome measures were significantly increased with 5% PVP. For the poor-quality semen, only the high-quality cleavage embryo and high-quality blastocyst rates were significantly higher in the 5% group. Therefore, lowering PVP concentrations greatly promoted the development of embryos in ICSI cycles, with an optimal concentration of 5% for ICSI.

Dietary indices are widely used in diet quality measurement, and the index-based dietary patterns are related to gastric cancer risk. To evaluate the relationship between different kinds of index-based dietary patterns and gastric cancer risk, we systematically searched four English-language databases and four Chinese-language databases. The quality of studies was assessed by the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Meta-analyses were performed to estimate the association between gastric cancer incidence and different types of index-based dietary patterns. The OR and hazard ratios (HR) of gastric cancer incidence were calculated by regression models in case–control studies and prospective cohort studies, respectively. The studies were pooled in the random effects model to calculate the summarised risk estimate of the highest quantile interval of dietary indices, taking the lowest as the referent. The dietary indices included different versions of Mediterranean diet score (MDS) and dietary inflammatory index (DII), healthy eating index, Chinese Food Pagoda score and food index score. The meta-analysis was carried out for studies on MDS and DII. The combined OR of gastric cancer for the highest MDS v. the referent was 0·42 (95 % CI 0·2, 0·86), and the combined HR was 0·89 (95 % CI 0·68, 1·17). The combined OR for DII was 2·11 (95 % CI 1·41, 3·15). Higher Mediterranean dietary pattern consumption might reduce gastric cancer risk, while higher inflammatory diet pattern consumption might increase gastric cancer risk.

The crystal structure of the spinel polymorph of Fe2SiO4, synthesized at high temperature (900°C) and high pressure (70 kbar), was studied by the Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data collected with a Guinier-Hägg camera. The compound is cubic, space group , with cell dimension: a= 8.2413(6) Å, V= 559.8(1) Å3, Z= 8, Cell Wt. = 1630.2, Dx= 4.835 g·cm−3, Do= 4.75 g·cm−3. The figure of merit is F10= 92(0.011, 10). The final R value is RF= 0.058. The crystal has a mixed normal-inverse spinel structure. The site occupancy refinement showed that 37.9% of the silicon was found in the octahedral site (M site), while 18.9% of the iron occupied the tetrahedral site (T site). Due to the larger displacement of Si4+ion by Fe2+ion, the positional parameter of oxygen atom (0.3689) is smaller than that of X-ray single crystal structure (0.3658), and the average Si-O bond (1.697(1)Å) is longer and Fe-O bond (2.112(1)Å) is shorter than those of X-ray single crystal structure.

High quality factor and near-zero temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) are the two key issues for a certain microwave dielectric material system used in microstrip patch antennas. ZnTiO3-based ceramics is a promising candidate for microstrip patch antennas. On inhibiting the decomposition of ZnTiO3 by adding sufficient amount of MgO, high quality factor microwave dielectric material (Zn0.7Mg0.3)TiO3 was obtained. The deviations between theoretical and observed dielectric polarizabilites, the packing fraction, and bond valence were calculated to analyze correlation between structure and properties of (Zn0.7Mg0.3)TiO3. TiO2 was added to adjust τf of (Zn0.7Mg0.3)TiO3, and 0.82(Zn0.7Mg0.3)TiO3–0.18TiO2 with an εr of 28.5, a Qf of 125,050 GHz, and a near-zero τf which satisfied the requirement as a substrate material for microstrip patch antenna was obtained at 1100 °C. In addition, a dielectric microstrip antenna was designed and fabricated using the proposed dielectric materials. The microstrip patch antenna exhibited a −34.96 dB return loss and a 1.05 voltage standing wave ratio at 2.5 GHz.

The present study determined whether α-ketoglutarate (AKG) might affect the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and energy status in the intestinal mucosa of piglets challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of eighteen piglets (weaned at 21 d of age) were allocated to one of three treatments: (1) non-challenged (control); (2) LPS-challenged (LPS); (3) LPS+1 % AKG (LPS+AKG). Piglets in the control and LPS groups were fed a maize- and soyabean meal-based diet, and the LPS+AKG group was fed the basal diet supplemented with 1 % AKG. On days 10, 12, 14 and 16 of the trial, piglets in the LPS and LPS+AKG groups were challenged with LPS (80 μg/kg body weight), whereas piglets in the control group received the same volume of sterile saline. Pigs were euthanised 24 h after the last administration of LPS or saline to obtain intestinal mucosae for biochemical analysis. Compared with the control group, LPS administration decreased (P < 0·05) the oxidation of AKG, oleic acid, glutamine and glucose in enterocytes, decreased concentrations of ATP in the duodenal and jejunal mucosae and decreased adenylate energy charge (AMP:ATP ratio) in the jejunal and ileal mucosae. Additionally, LPS treatment reduced (P < 0·05) mucosal concentrations of phosphorylated AMPK in the jejunum and ileum as well as acetyl-CoA carboxylase in all segments of the small intestine. The adverse effects of LPS were reversed by AKG. Collectively, these results indicate that dietary supplementation with 1 % AKG beneficially modulates the AMPK signalling pathway to improve energy status in the small intestine of LPS-challenged piglets.

The influence of shot peening (SP) on high cycle fatigue (HCF) performance of smooth and notched specimens of hot-extruded ZK60 magnesium alloy was investigated and compared to that of hot-extruded and T5 aging-treated ZK60 magnesium alloy referred to as ZK60-T5. The increases in fatigue properties at the optimum Almen intensities were found to depend on the material states. In contrast to ZK60 alloy, higher smooth and notched fatigue properties for both unpeened and peened specimens were observed for ZK60-T5 alloy. Meanwhile, the improvement of fatigue life for notched specimen by SP was much more than that for the smooth specimen. The mechanism by which the compressive residual stress induced by SP resulted in the improvement of fatigue performance of smooth and notched specimens for ZK60 and ZK60-T5 alloys was discussed.

In this study, the influence of T5 heat treatment on tensile and fatigue behavior of hot-extruded Mg–10Gd–3Y (wt%) magnesium alloy has been investigated. High cycle fatigue tests were carried out at a stress rate (R) of −1 and a frequency of 100 Hz using hour-glass-shaped round specimens with a gauge diameter of 5.8 mm. The results show that fatigue strength (at 107 cycles) of Mg–10Gd–3Y magnesium alloy increases from 150 to 165 MPa after T5 heat treatment, i.e., the improvement of 10% in fatigue strength has been achieved. However, the crack growth resistance is lowered by T5 heat treatment. Results of microstructure observation and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis suggest that the fatigue strength in the Mg–10Gd–3Y magnesium alloy is determined by the threshold stress of basal slip, which is induced by solid solution hardening and precipitation hardening.

Macrophages from the head kidney (HK) and peripheral blood leucocytes were isolated fromCyprinus carpio by Percoll gradient density centrifugation, cultured in vitro and exposed to different concentrations of the immunomodulator lentinan. To evaluate the immunostimulating effects of lentinan, proliferation of the peripheral blood leucocytes, respiratory burst of macrophages and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) gene mRNA expression of macrophages were investigated by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide], NBT (nitroblue tetrazolium) reduction, Griess reaction and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results showed that proliferation of peripheral blood leucocytes after 24 h incubation by the induction of lentinan at 100 and 1000 μg/ml was markedly stimulated. Lentinan at 1, 100 and 1000 μg/ml could significantly induce superoxide anions in macrophages. Production of nitric oxide by HK macrophages after 96 h incubation by lentinan showed that it had no conspicuous effect on nitrogen burst activity of macrophages. Moreover, it inhibited the nitrogen burst activity at higher doses. The expression of IL-1β in the HK macrophages after 24 h of polysaccharide stimulation showed that lentinan stimulated IL-1β expression in the head kidney in carp. Lentinan can modulate the immune response of C. carpio.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of donor sex, treatments of cell cycle synchronization and donor nuclei obtained from fresh or frozen–thawed conditions on developmental competence of yak–bovine interspecies nuclear transfer embryos. Bovine (Bos taurus) oocytes were used as recipients and yak (Bos grunniens) ear fibroblast cells were used as donors. Results indicated that the development rate of male blastocysts was higher than that of female (56.6% versus 39.5%, P<0.05), whereas cleavage and total cell number showed no difference between the two groups. No significant difference was observed in the development and quality of blastocysts with donor cells treated by serum starvation or contact inhibition, and there was no significant difference in embryo development with fresh or frozen–thawed donor cells, whereas the cleavage rate in the group of frozen–thawed cells was significantly lower than that of the fresh cell group (54.5% versus 78.2%, P<0.05). The results demonstrated that donor sex could impact the developmental competence of yak–bovine interspecies nuclear transfer embryos, whereas different treatments of cell cycle synchronization and freezing had little influence.

Highly porous Ti and TiZrV getter film coatings have been successfully grown on (100) silicon substrates using the glancing-angle direct-current magnetron sputtering method. The evolution of the microstructures of the Ti and the TiZrV films strongly depends on the sputtering flux rate, surface diffusion rate, nucleation rate, compositions, and self-shadowing geometry of the nuclei on the sputtering flux. The larger the glancing angle, the higher the porosity and specific surface area of the Ti and TiZrV films. The weight-gain results strongly depend on several factors, such as specific surface area, the surface structure of the getter film, the diffusion rate of O in the getter film, the reactivity of Ti, Zr, and V on O, and the order of the stabilities of Ti, Zr, and V oxides on the film’s surface. Porous Ti film absorbs oxygen better than porous TiZrV film does due to its higher surface area and the high diffusion rate of O in Ti films.

Three Luxi adult Yellow steers were used to isolate and culture intramuscular pre-adipocytes in vitro as well as to examine factors influencing their proliferation and differentiation. The intramuscular pre-adipocytes were taken from adipose tissues within muscles between the sixth and seventh rib and cultured after digestion with collagenase I. The results showed that the separated cell populations were highly homogeneous, proliferative and doubled within 62 h. When the confluent pre-adipocytes were treated with 10 μg/ml insulin and 0.25 μmol/l dexamethasone, small lipid droplets appeared on day 2 and the number of lipid droplets rapidly increased around the nuclei on day 6. Their dynamic morphological changes, growth curve, Oil Red O staining, and reaction to insulin and dexamethasone all verified their pre-adipocyte identity. Under controlled conditions, the intramuscular pre-adipocytes resumed proliferating and differentiating in vitro. Interestingly, the proportion of cultured diploid pre-adipocytes reached more than 90% after six repeated cultures. This study confirms the existence of functionally active pre-adipocytes within the muscles of Chinese adult local breed cattle. These cell strains are a potentially useful model for understanding further the mechanism of intramuscular adipose deposition in tissues, in order to improve beef quality based on Chinese local breed beef cattle.

Interviews with local people and a survey were carried out in 23 counties of south-west Guangxi Province from April 2002 to June 2003 to evaluate the conservation status of François' langur Trachypithecus francoisi and assess the extent and nature of threats to the species' survival. François' langurs were found in only 10 counties compared with their presence in 23 counties before 1990. The total population size is estimated to be 307 individuals in 14 isolated populations. This represents a 90% decrease in population size since the early 1980s and an 85% decrease since the mid 1990s. The primary threat to the langur is hunting, mainly for traditional medicine. Our results suggest that conservation efforts for the species have been ineffectual during the last decade and, even within reserves, few direct management measures seem to have been taken to protect and conserve the langurs. Without the instigation of such measures it seems likely that François' langur will disappear both inside and outside reserves. To ensure the long-term survival of Francois' langur in Guangxi Province increased investment and improved management, planning, and training of reserve managers and staff is required, with a particular focus on the key remaining reserves and sites for the langur. Some of this work is now underway.

Optical anisotropy of thin films of an organo-soluble flexible polyimide based on 1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy) benzene dianhydride (HQDPA) and 2,2-dimethyl-4,4′-methylene dianiline (DMMDA) was detected by a prism-coupler technique. A mechanism is proposed, based on the model of gel film collapse. The degrees of optical anisotropy of the thin films were evaluated via the level of negative birefringence. The residual solvent in the films lessens the levels of negative birefringence so that the residual solvent must be evacuated. The levels of negative birefringence are independent on the solid content of the initial solution, but dependent on the thickness of the films. For a film of 16 μm thick, zero birefringence was achieved, postulated from the dependence of negative birefringence on the thickness of thin films. The relationship between the optical anisotropy and solution properties shows that the degrees of optical anisotropy of thin films on the same scale of thickness depend on macromolecular sizes in their dilute solutions.