Serum MicroRNAs Related with Chemoradiotherapy Resistance in Advanced-Stage Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serum microRNAs as biomarkers in predicting chemoradiotherapy resistance in advanced-stage cervical squamous cell carcinoma (ACSCC) patients. METHODS: Serum samples were collected from International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIB to IIIB cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with platinum based Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in our hospital during September 2013 to November 2015. Twenty well-matched samples (10 resistant and 10 sensitive) were chosen to screen the miRNA expression profile using serum samples pooled with microarrays. miRNAs expressed significantly different between two groups were further verified in 131 patients (29 resistant and 102 sensitive) serum samples with TaqMan Real-time PCR. The AUC was used to evaluate the accuracy of the biomarkers for prediction. RESULTS: MiR-136-5, miR-152-3p and miR-206 were expressed significantly different between sensitive and resistant groups. Results of 131 patients verification showed that the levels of miR-206 in sensitive samples and resistant samples were 2.715 ± 0.2115 and 14.64 ± 1.184, respectively, which was significantly different (P < .0001), while miR-136-5p and miR-152-3p could not be tested without pre-amplification reactions. Univariate analysis revealed that miR-206 expression was significantly associated with patients' DFS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that miR-206 expression, tumor differentiation and pelvic lymph nodes metastasis were the independent prognostic factors associated with DFS in this cohort (P = .008, 0.000, 0.000, respectively). The probability of the prognostic accuracy of miR-206 expression in predicting chemoradiotherapy sensitivity of ACSCC patients was 91.3% (79.3% sensitivity and 92.2% specificity). CONCLUSION: Serum miR-206 is a powerful tool in predicting chemoradiotherapy sensitivity in ACSCC patients.     

Material flow analysis (MFA) of an eco-economic system:a case study of Wujin District,Changzhou,China

The economic and ecological aspects of a social system are coherently linked and can be examined by its material and energy flows.In this study,we used the material flow analysis (MFA) to model the material input and output of the Wujin District of Changzhou City,Jiangsu Province in China.It was revealed that:(1) total material input and material input per capita increased with economic development,while the total material out-put and material output per capita decreased consistently;(2) except for water,the total material input continued to increase.Input of solid materials grew faster than that of gaseous materials,while the total material output declined.The gas output accounted for the largest pro-portion of the output resulting in primary environmental pollution as burned fossil fuel; (3) water use in agriculture continued with an increasing trend while that in industrial and residential sectors decreased per capita.The total wastewater discharge and wastewater discharge per capita decreased with a faster decreasing rate of residential was-tewater discharge followed by industrial wastewater dis-charge; (4) material input per unit GDP fluctuated and material output per unit GDP decreased.A decreasing trend in both water use and wastewater discharge per unit GDP was disclosed.These results suggest that the effi-ciency of resource use in the Wujin District has improved.This weakened the direct link between economic develop-ment and environmental deterioration.Additionally,we discussed the harmonic development between environ-ment and economy.Potential limitations of MFA's application were also discussed.It is suggested that effec-tive measures should be taken for the enforcement of cir-cular economic strategies and the construction of a resource-saving economy     

Constructed Wetland Habitat for American Avocet and Black-Necked Stilt Foraging and Nesting

Abstract In 1994, a 117-ha wetland was designed, constructed, and operated by the Tulare Lake Drainage District (TLDD), California, USA, to provide foraging and nesting habitat for American avocets (Recurvirostra americana) and black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus). The wetland was operated seasonally in compliance with regulatory requirements to compensate for impacts to stilts, avocets, and other wildlife exposed to elevated selenium concentrations, fluctuating water levels resulting in nest flooding, and high nest-predation rates at the TLDD agricultural drainage evaporation basins. Water supply for the wetland was from low-selenium (typically <2 μg/L) saline agricultural drainage water, although the facility also had capability to blend and use freshwater and saline supplies. Coincident with wetland construction, 2 evaporation basins totaling 1,174 ha were physically modified and operated to discourage their use by shorebirds. In the first year of wetland operation (1995), American avocet and black-necked stilt nest construction at the wetland was 17.6 nests/ha. This compares to a preproject (1994) combined density of 1.9 nests/ha at the evaporation basins. From 1995 through 2004, annual nesting attempts by American avocets and black-necked stilts at the wetland averaged 2,896 per year (24.8 nests/ha). American avocets and black-necked stilts represented 91% of the nests observed at the wetland. Over the 10-year monitoring period, nest success at the wetland averaged 82% for American avocets and 75% for black-necked stilts. We estimated nest predation rates at the constructed wetland to be <1%. During the same period, American avocet and black-necked stilt nesting at the evaporation basins declined from 2,266 in 1994 to 9 in 2004. The constructed wetland has proven to be effective in attracting and providing suitable nesting habitat for large numbers of avocets and stilts. Results of this long-term study confirm the validity of management recommendations for American avocets and black-necked stilts and suggest that agricultural drainage can be successfully managed to provide highly productive managed wetlands.     

浅山区乡镇社会-生态系统脆弱性演化与模拟——以北京平谷为例

浅山区乡镇社会-生态系统相比于平原区受地形环境等因素制约更为脆弱，在国土空间开发与保护中更需要权衡。使用显式空间脆弱性(SERV)模型，从暴露度、敏感性、适应能力3个维度构建评价体系评估平谷浅山区12个乡镇社会-生态系统脆弱性，并使用有序加权平均算法(OWA)模拟多种决策风险下脆弱性情景。研究表明：(1)平谷浅山区2007-2017年总体脆弱性呈现中度脆弱水平，局部呈现上升态势，10年间中等以上脆弱乡镇面积比重由73.09%上升到80.74%。空间上呈现"东南高，西北低"的格局。(2)处于高脆弱水平乡镇应进行严格控制，增加水土保持林面积等提高适应能力；同时注重低脆弱乡镇的高暴露风险源及时进行生态修复。(3)通过设定不同决策风险系数预测不同发展导向下区域系统脆弱性差异，在倾向于可持续发展导向下优先生态环境治理，在经济发展导向下应推动绿色基础设施建设。评价结果可满足不同决策思路下指导区域发展实践。     

基于粒度反推法的景观生态安全格局优化——以海口市秀英区为例

景观生态安全格局优化是改善生态环境、促进人与自然和谐发展的有效途径。为给海口市秀英区生态环境建设提供科学依据和景观生态安全格局优化方法改进提供参考,提出了粒度反推法和生态阻力面综合构建法,结合GIS技术和最小耗费距离模型探讨了海口市秀英区景观生态安全格局优化途径。结果表明:(1)400m粒度生态景观组分是秀英区生态源地选取的合适参照,秀英区有生态源地18块、生态廊道17条、生态节点11个,新增生态源地建设的参考规模为38.5hm2,生态源地的生态服务极限距离为800m,需将现有的11块非生态景观类型斑块转换为生态景观类型,总面积20.26 hm2。(2)粒度反推法能为生态源地选取提供客观参考,在生态源地选择方面比传统方法具有更强的理论基础和客观性,解决了客观选取生态源地的问题。(3)综合生态阻力面能对生态阻力的实际情况进行较好地模拟。显、隐性生态阻力面之间存在显著差异,能反映生态系统中潜在的生态薄弱点,这些生态薄弱点往往是容易被忽略而又需要重点建设的区域。     

贵州紫云晒瓦群中放射虫Neoalbaillella动物群的发现

首次报道贵州紫云晚二叠世晒瓦群顶部硅质岩中Neoalbaillella动物群,计12种,5未定种,归属于12属9科4超科2亚目,其中1新属（Spongosphaeradiscus gen.nov.）,2新种（Spongosphaeradiscus chaiwaensis sp.nov.和Copicyntra shaiwaensis sp.nov.）。根据这个动物群建立Neoalbaillella ornithoformis-Spongosphaeradiscus shaiwaen-sis带,与东亚和美国西海岸长兴期的Neoalbaillella ornithoformis带对比。     

Asianopodus-type footprints from the Hekou Group of Honggu District,Lanzhou City,Gansu, China and the “heel” of large theropod tracks

An increasing number of dinosaur tracksites have been reported from the Cretaceous Hekou Group deposits of the Lanzhou-Minhe Basin in the Gansu Province region. These include small sites such as the Huazhuang tracksite, from the Honggu District reported here, the Zhongpu tracksite with multiple track levels but few well-preserved tracks, other small tracksites currently under investigation, and the large and diverse Liujixia National Dinosaur Geopark site at Yanguoxia, where intensive study is ongoing. Collectively these sites reveal that ichnofaunas in the Hekou Group are widespread and diverse. The Huazhuang tracksite yields a small assemblage of moderately well-preserved theropod tracks assigned to Asianopodus. This is the first report of Asianopodus from the Hekou Group. Huazhuang Asianopodus belongs to the Eubrontes morphotype. The large theropod tracks from Lanzhou-Minhe Basin were left by large theropod trackmakers with the same general foot morphology. The specimens are described in detail and compared with other theropod track morphotypes from the Lower Cretaceous of China and elsewhere. In general, although the metatarsophalangeal pads of some Jurassic Eubrontes-type tracks are aligned with the axis of digit III, this feature appears most common in the Early Cretaceous theropod (Eubrontes-type) tracks.     

基于社会公平正义的城市公园绿地空间配置供需关系——以上海徐汇区为例

从社会维度的视角分析评价生态系统所提供的各种效用,必然涉及供需双方。在提供城市公共服务的过程中,城市公园绿地的空间配置会潜在地影响社会效益享用的平等与有效性,是具有显著空间属性的社会资源。研究同时关注城市公园绿地与居住人口(使用者)的空间布局特征,提出基于社会公平正义的生态系统服务供需关系的研究框架,从"地域平等"、"社会公平"与"社会正义"3个层次评估城市公园绿地的空间配置对于社会服务有效供给能力的影响,进而关联使用者需求空间特征分析供需匹配关系。研究构建基于社会公平正义的6个指标反映城市公园绿地社会服务供需状况,并选取上海徐汇区进行实证研究。研究结果表明:(1)徐汇区城市公园绿地存在供需空间不匹配状况,尤其是口袋公园层面存在较大缺口;(2)空间布局均好性较高,地域平等性较好;(3)人均享有绿地资源水平还有待提高,社会公平性不足;(4)进一步地在社会正义层面,评价结果显示过去进行城市公园绿地空间布局决策时并没有特别关注老年人、青少年群体,各个空间单元差距较大,且这两类使用人群密度较高的空间单元在这两个指标上往往低于平均水平,社会正义性亟待提高。研究为实现城市公园绿地空间的社会效益均衡、高效、可持续发展提供了有益的探索。     

Anti-inflammatory phenylpropanoid glycosides from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa

Five new phenylpropanoid glycosides, susaroysides A–E (1–5) were isolated from the fruits of Forsythia suspensa. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis. The absolute configurations of their sugars were determined by GC analysis. Notably, susaroysides A–D possessed a sugar with an unsubstituted anomeric carbon, which is relatively rare in natural sources. Compound 1 exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression in macrophage cells with the IC₅₀ value of 1.053 μM.