Autonomous Regions In China Research Articles

A time-dependent stochastic grassland fire ignition probability model for Hulun Buir Grassland of China

Grassland fire is one of the most important disturbance factors in the natural ecosystems. This paper focuses on the spatial distribution of long-term grassland fire patterns in the Hulun Buir Grassland located in the northeast of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China. The density or ratio of ignition can reflect the relationship between grassland fire and different ignition factors. Based on the relationship between the density or ratio of ignition in different range of each ignition factor and grassland fire events, an ignition probability model was developed by using binary logistic regression function and its overall accuracy averaged up to 81.7%. Meanwhile it was found that daily relative humidity, daily temperature, elevation, vegetation type, distance to county-level road, distance to town are more important determinants of spatial distribution of fire ignitions. Using Monte Carlo method, we developed a time-dependent stochastic ignition probability model based on the distribution of inter-annual daily relative humidity and daily temperature. Through this model, it is possible to estimate the spatial patterns of ignition probability for grassland fire, which will be helpful to the quantitative evaluation of grassland fire risk and its management in the future.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Filchnerella beicki Ramme, 1931 (Orthoptera: Acridoidea: Pamphagidae)

The complete mitochondrial genome of Filchnerella beicki Ramme, 1931, which was collected from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China, is reported here. It is 15,658 bp in length and contains 72.3% AT. All Filchnerella beicki protein-coding sequences start with a typical ATN codon, excluding cox1. The usual termination codon (TAN) and incomplete stop codons (T) were found from 13 protein-coding genes. All tRNA genes could be folded into the typical cloverleaf secondary structure, excluding trnS(AGN) which forms another structure. The sizes of the large and small ribosomal RNA genes are 1315 and 853 bp, respectively. The AT content of the A + T-rich region is 83.1%.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients

Background Data on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China. Methods The survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defned as systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP <140/90 mmHg and <130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients. Results The analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to <140/90 mmHg and <130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P<0.001). When the threshold of BP <130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P<0.05). Using the threshold of <140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P<0.05). Conclusions The prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients.

Data on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China. The survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients. The analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P < 0.001). When the threshold of BP < 130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P < 0.05). Using the threshold of < 140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P < 0.05). The prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.

Validation of reference genes for expression analysis by quantitative real-time PCR in Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)

BackgroundL. decemlineata is an exotic invasive insect pest, and invaded in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in China in the 1990s from Kazakhstan. It is a notorious defoliator of potato throughout most of the northern Xinjiang in current, and often causes extremely large yield losses of potato.ResultsThe expression stability of nine L. decemlineata house-keeping genes (Actin, ACT1 and ACT2; ADP-ribosylation factor, ARF1 and ARF4; TATA box binding protein, TBP1 and TBP2; ribosomal protein RP4 and RP18; translation elongation factor 1α EF1α) was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in seven developmental stages, three larval tissues and two insecticide treatments. The results were analyzed using three software programs: geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper. Although there was no consistent ranking observed among the house-keeping genes across the samples, the overall analysis revealed that RP18, RP4, ARF1, and ARF4 were the four most stable house-keeping genes. In contrast, ACT1 and ACT2, two of the most widely used reference genes, had the least stability. Our results suggest that the combined use of the four most stably expressed genes may produce optimal normalization for qRT-PCR.ConclusionsThe expression stability of the house-keeping genes varies among different developing stages, in different tissues and under different experimental conditions. Our results will enable a more accurate and reliable normalization of qRT-PCR data in L. decemlineata.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Rabies Virus Isolate from Cattle in Guangxi, Southern China

A street rabies virus (RV) isolate, GXHXN, was obtained from brain tissue of rabid cattle in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China in 2009. GXHXN is the first isolate from cattle in China with its entire genome sequenced and is closely related to BJ2011E from horse in Beijing, WH11 from donkey in the Hubei Province, and isolates from dogs in the Guangxi and Fujian Provinces, with homologies of 97.6% to 99.6%. It is more distantly related to isolates from domestic cat, pig, Chinese ferret badger, and vaccine strains, with homologies of 83.1% to 88.0%.

Streptomyces wuyuanensis sp. nov., an actinomycete from soil

A novel actinomycete, strain FX61(T), was isolated from a saline sample collected from the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region in China and subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H6), MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H4). The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 1 H, C16 : 0, iso-C14 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The phospholipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, two phosphatidylinositol mannosides and an unidentified phospholipid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 72 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate had greater than 98 % similarity with those of Streptomyces griseoincarnatus ATCC 23623(T) (98.2 %), Streptomyces labedae DSM 41446(T) (98.2 %), Streptomyces variabilis ATCC 19815(T) (98.2 %), Streptomyces erythrogriseus ATCC 27427(T) (98.2 %), Streptomyces matensis ATCC 23935(T) (98.2 %), Streptomyces althioticus ATCC 19724(T) (98.2 %) and Streptomyces luteosporeus ATCC 33049(T) (98.0 %), showing that the novel strain should be assigned to the genus Streptomyces. DNA-DNA hybridizations with the seven above-mentioned members of the genus Streptomyces showed 29.8, 28.5, 27.0, 25.5, 25.0, 23.5 and 22.0 % relatedness, respectively. On the basis of the phenotypic characteristics and genotypic distinctiveness, strain FX61(T) should be classified as a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces wuyuanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FX61(T) (= CGMCC 4.7042(T) = KCTC 29112(T)).

Identification and phylogenetic analysis of a sheep pox virus isolated from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China

An outbreak of sheep pox was investigated in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China. Through immunofluorescence testing, isolated viruses, polymerase chain reaction identification, and electron microscopic examination, the isolated strain was identified as a sheep pox virus. The virus was identified through sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the P32 gene, open reading frame (ORF) 095, and ORF 103 genes. This study is the first to use the ORF 095 and ORF 103 genes as candidate genes for the analysis of sheep pox. The results showed that the ORF 095 and ORF 103 genes could be used for the genotyping of the sheep pox virus.

Borrelia burgdorferi Bacteria in Domestic Animals China

Background: Borreliosis are among both the longest known and most recently recognized infectious diseases. Although Borrelia species have been isolated in many parts of the world including China, Little is known about the epidemiology of Borrelia burgdorferi pathogen in domestic animals from Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China (XUAR). Methods: In an attempt to assess the potential risk of B. burgdorferi infection in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, a total of 99 blood samples collected from domestic animals in the north of XUAR were screened by polymerase chain reaction based on the 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer and flagellin gene. Results: 14 of the 99 specimens (14%) were found to be positive by PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer and flagellin gene sequences identified a B. burgdorferi- like bacteria, Ili district (10/72, 13.8%) and Altay district (4/27, 14.8%). Conclusions: This study has reported the occurrence of B. burgdorferi- like bacteria in Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China and suggested that B. burgdorferi bacteria encompassed a large area in China. Further studies on the characterization and culture of B. burgdorferi- like bacteria found in domestic animals should be performed to further clarify this. Additionally, the screening of human specimens for borreliosis in this region will define the incidence of infection.

Inverted-U curve for material consumption of China industrial system: a new implication from environmental regulation

We review the research literature on relationship between environmental regulation and industrial development in three aspects of environmental regulation and investment, environmental regulation and efficiency, environmental regulation and trade. Indeed, the linkage between environmental regulation and material consumption of industrial system is absent. Environmental regulation is measured as the expenditure share for industrial pollutants abatement, and effluent charge intensity. Using panel-level data from 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China, we build correlation models between material consumption and environmental regulation, results show that: (1) there are significant quadratic function relationship between material consumption and environmental regulation. And there is the fact that inflection point exists. (2) On basis of inflection points, we make two remarkable reflections. Firstly, the inflection points are the most important scale to judge reasonability and performance of regulations. Secondly, a Pareto improvement may occur when the regulations achieve a certain target. (3) Both intensities of industrial pollutants abatement expenditure and effluent charge have not yet achieved the expected target in most regions of mainland China at present. And most of regions of material consumption decreasing are distributed in western China. Main reasons lie in the impacts of industrial features as well as the regulations.

The Paleolithic of Dzungaria (Xinjiang, Northwest China) Based on Materials from the Luotuoshi Site

The paper reports the results of an analysis of surface collections of artifacts made at the Luotuoshi site in Dzungaria, Xinjiang, northwest China. The site was discovered in 2004 by a joint Chinese-Russian-American archaeological expedition. A techno-typological analysis of the artifacts was carried out noting aeolian abrasion of the artifacts’ surfaces. This technocomplex is quite homogenous and is characterized by a combination of Levallois-like and subprismatic blade-based reduction techniques. Analogs of the Luotuoshi assemblage have been identified within the lithic industries of the Altai, the Orkhon-1 and Tolbor-4 sites in Mongolia, and at Shuidonggou in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China, all of which have been attributed to the Early Upper Paleolithic. Luotuoshi is the first site associated with the blade-based Early Upper Paleolithic discovered in northwest China and its particular features make it possible to correlate this technocomplex with those from southern Siberia and northern Central Asia.

Taxonomic revision of the huntsman spider genus Eusparassus Simon, 1903 (Araneae: Sparassidae) in Eurasia

The huntsman spider genus Eusparassus Simon, 1903 in Eurasia is revised to include 13 valid species. The type species is redescribed, and additional diagnostic characters are presented for the genus. Neotypes are designated for Eusparassus dufouri Simon, 1932 from Portugal, and Eusparassus walckenaeri (Audouin, 1826) from Egypt to establish their identity. Consequently, Eusparassus kronebergi stat. nov. Denis, 1958 from Afghanistan and Eusparassus doriae stat. nov. (Simon, 1874) from central Iran, which were considered junior synonyms of E. walckenaeri, are re-established as valid species. Three new combinations are proposed: Eusparassus xerxes (Pocock, 1901) comb. nov. from Makran coast in Pakistan and Iran, E. maynardi (Pocock, 1901) comb. nov. from Baluchistan in Pakistan and E. pearsoni (Pocock, 1901) comb. nov. from Ghats in India (all transferred from the genus Olios Walckenaer, 1805). The latter two species are proposed as valid species and are removed from junior synonymy with E. xerxes comb. nov. Lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated for: E. kronebergi stat. nov., Eusparassus maynardi (Pocock, 1901) comb. nov. and Eusparassus pearsoni (Pocock, 1901) comb. nov. A new synonymy is proposed: Eusparassus nanjiangensis (Hu and Fu, 1985) as junior synonym of Eusparassus potanini (Simon, 1895) from Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region in China. One new species is described: Eusparassus mesopotamicus sp. nov. (male and female) from Iraq and Iran. New geographical records are presented: Eusparassus pontii Caporiacco, 1935 and E. kronebergi stat. nov. are recorded for the first time from India. Eusparassus fuscimanus Denis, 1958, Eusparassus oculatus (Kroneberg, 1846) and Eusparassus levantinus Urones, 2006 are redescribed using new material. Eusparassus lilus Strand, 1907, described from Java, is proposed as nomen dubium because the type material could not be found and no longer seems to exist. Misplaced Olios flavovittatus comb. nov. (Caporiacco, 1935) from Karakoram is transferred from the genus Eusparassus. Almost all the species are redescribed for the first time and illustrations of male and female copulatory organs including intraspecific variations are provided using a large number of specimens.

A Semi-Parametric Study on the Relationship between Energy Consumption and Regional Economic Growth in China

Based on the panel data of 29 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China from 1995 to 2010, this paper uses a semi-parametric panel data additive model to study the influences of coal, electricity, oil consumptions to regional economic growth. The obtained results indicate that the influence directions and intensities of coal, electricity and oil consumptions to GDP are different in estern, central and western regions of China. They are decided by the combination of linear and nonlinear influences.

472 PREVALENCE, TREATMENT AND CONTROL OF HYPERTENSION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Background: To investigate the prevalence, treatment and control of hypertension in inpatients with CKD from a nationwide, multicenter study in China. Design and Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional survey among a nationwide investigation based on 61 big hospitals of 31 province, municipalities and autonomous regions in China. All demographic, socioeconomic, clinical data and antihypertensive medications were collected by trained physicians using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure 90mmHg, and/or reported hypertension and/or antihypertensive medication use. <130/80mmHg was taken as the threshold blood pressure of hypertensive control. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore the factors associated inadequate control of hypertension in inpatients with CKD. Results: 10582 eligible participants were analyzed. The prevalence of hypertension was 71.4%, and 87.8% were aware of hypertension diagnosis and 83.7% had been treated with antihypertensive drugs before their hospital admission. 13.9% had controlled blood pressure on the day of admission, and 26.0% had controlled blood pressure on the day before leaving hospital. In hospital, 34.9%, 33.5%, 21.0% and 10.6% used 1, 2, 3 and ≥4 antihypertensive drugs. After multivariable adjusted, CKD4 stage, CKD5 stage, obesity, diabetes, high-salt diet history of smoking, existing hypertension >5 years, and proteinuriawere independently associated with inadequate blood pressure control. Conclusions: The prevalence of hypertension was high, but the control of hypertension was poor in Chinese CKD inpatients. Inadequate combined antihypertensive medication and life-style modification might be the major reasons for suboptimal blood pressure control.

A special morph of hormaphidine aphid Glyphinaphis bambusae van der Goot (Hemiptera) from China

The hormaphidine aphid genus Glyphinaphis van der Goot (1917) represented by its lone and type species, G. bambusae van der Goot, restricted to South East Asia (China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines) is studied in this article. Its morphological characters, such as the shape of knob of cauda, and the length of dorsal setae showing extreme variation are examined. A special short-seta morph found on Bambusa sp., from Guangxi Autonomous Region of China, is described. A key to the two morphs and their illustrations, hosts and distribution, are provided.

Investigations on the Concentrations of K, Na Ca, Fe and P in &lt;i&gt;Cymomorium&lt;/i&gt; from the Gobi Arid Desert Ecosystem, North-Western China

Investigations on macronutrients (K, Na, Ca, Mg and P) and micronutrients (Fe) in windy sand- and salt-resistant plant species such as Cymomorium can help us to get a better understand their behaviours of ecologically environment geochemistry in the Gobi arid desert ecosystem. This study presents our investigations on the concentrations of K, Na Ca, Mg, Fe and P in xerophilous, sabulicolous, superhalophilous Cymomorium from the oasis ecosystem in the Beishan-Tianshan Gobi arid desert, northwestern China. The mean concentrations of macronutrients (K, Na, Ca, Mg and P) in Cymomorium Songaricum Rupr. are, respectively, 1.29±0.29 % K, 2.45±1.08 % Na, 2966±2038 μg g–1 Ca, 2038±1746 μg g–1 Mg and 1462±457 μg g–1 P. Although the average concentrations of Fe concentrations (341±361 μg g–1) is within the normal range of Fe in plant species, the maximum Fe concentrations (1400 μg g-1) were detected in Cymomorium stemmed from the sandy lowland around the Shaquanzi iron mine of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China. It suggested that the indigenous species of Cymomorium might be one of the appropriate xerohalophyte species to restore the vegetation of the oasis, saline land use for agriculture or arid environments destroyed by mining activities in the dry land because it may have higher ability to accumulate K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe and P from saline soils, and it belongs to the native salt-resistant plant species.

Efficacy of endosulfan and fipronil and joint toxic action of endosulfan mixtures against Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say)

The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata [Say]) in the north Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in China has evolved resistance to pyrethroids and carbamates. Mutations resulting in target site insensitivity, namely L1014F in LdVssc1 voltage-sensitive sodium channel and S291G in acetylcholine esterase, confer, at least partially, the resistance. Insecticides with different modes of action may serve as likely replacements. Endosulfan and fipronil are GABA-gated chloride channel-blocking insecticides. In this article, we found that the contact toxicities of the two compounds were among the highest ever estimated to the 4th-instar larvae and the adults and affirmed that they were useful for L. decemlineata control in north Xinjiang. Regarding stomach toxicities of the two compounds, adult beetles were less sensitive than 2nd-, 3rd-, and 4th-instar larvae, suggesting that the appropriate timing for spraying is the early larval stage. Mixtures of endosulfan and α-cypermethrin at 1:160, 1:80, and 1:40 ratios, of endosulfan and phoxim at 1:24 ratio, and of endosulfan and isocarbophos at 1:72 and 1:288 ratios, significantly increased toxicity in a field population. The combination indices were significantly below 1 at both LD50 and LD90 levels, revealing synergistic effects. Our results demonstrated that endosulfan and fipronil could be applied alone and endosulfan may also be used in binary mixtures to restore pyrethroid susceptibility. These findings may have considerable practical implications for L. decemlineata resistance management.

Exploiting modern cannabinoid pharmacology for therapeutic gain?

An excavation of the 2700-year-old Yanghai tombs near Turpan, Xinjiang-Uighur Autonomous Region in China, revealed the grave of a shaman whose accoutrements included a large cache of Cannabis sativa (the hemp plant), suggesting that cannabis was used as a pharmacological agent, whether with recreational, religious or therapeutic intent, in this pre-Silk Road culture [1]. Despite a long history of recreational use, however, cannabis has contributed relatively little to therapeutics, because of legal restrictions and because of its adverse effects. Nabiximols (USAN, trade name Sativex, synonym dronabinol/cannabidiol) is a cannabis extract formulated as an oromucosal spray and developed for symptoms such as neuropathic pain, spasticity and overactive bladder in patients with multiple sclerosis. Clinical trials to date have demonstrated modest and variable efficacy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabiximols accessed 11 March 2012). Nabilone is a synthethic cannabinoid licensed for use as an anti-emetic in patients with nausea and vomiting caused by cytotoxic chemotherapy and unresponsive to other anti-emetics. In contrast to the modest data supporting clinical utility, massive strides were made during the latter years of the twentieth century in the science of cannabis pharmacology. We hope that this will lead to new and more successful therapeutic applications and the purpose of this editors' view is to set this scene. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, dronabinol) was identified as the main psychoactive component of cannabis in the 1960s (appropriately enough). It produces a mixture of depressant and psychotomimetic effects, including relaxation and a sense of well-being, coupled with sharpened sensory awareness – sights and sounds seem more intense and fantastic [2]. Measurable effects include impaired memory, learning and motor performance, hypothermia, analgesia, anti-emetic action and increased appetite. Various centrally mediated autonomic effects include tachycardia, vasodilatation (especially of the scleral and conjunctival vessels), reduced intraocular pressure and bronchodilatation. Tolerance and some degree of physical dependence can occur in heavy cannabis users with abstinence symptoms being qualitatively similar to withdrawal from ethanol or opiates, but less intense.

Agricultural land use optimal allocation system in developing area: Application to Yili watershed, Xinjiang Region

In developing countries, land productivity involves little market, where the agricultural land use is mainly determined by the food demands as well as the land suitability. The land use pattern will not ensure everywhere enough land for certain cropping if spatial allocation just according to land use suitability. To solve this problem, a subzone and a pre-allocation for each land use are added in spatial allocation module, and land use suitability and area optimization module are incorporated to constitute a whole agricultural land use optimal allocation (ALUOA) system. The system is developed on the platform.Net 2005 using ArcGIS Engine (version 9.2) and C# language, and is tested and validated in Yili watershed of Xinjiang Region on the newly reclaimed area. In the case study, with the help of soil data obtained from 69 points sampled in the fieldwork in 2008, main river data supplied by the Department of Water Resources of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China, and temperature data provided by Data Center for Resources and Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, land use suitability on eight common crops are evaluated one by one using linear weighted summation method in the land use suitability model. The linear programming (LP) model in area optimization model succeeds to give out land area target of each crop under three scenarios. At last, the land use targets are allotted in space both with a six subzone file and without a subzone file. The results show that the land use maps with a subzone not only ensure every part has enough land for every crop, but also gives a more fragmental land use pattern, with about 87.99% and 135.92% more patches than the one without, while at the expense of loss between 15.30% and 19.53% in the overall suitability at the same time.

Genetic variation and significant association of polymorphism rs7700944 G&gt;A of TIM-4 gene with rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility in Chinese Han and Hui populations

The T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domains 1 (TIM-1) and 3 (TIM-3) have been shown to be associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in many ethnicities. In this study, we investigated the rs7700944 polymorphism of the intron region of TIM-4 gene in Chinese Han and Hui populations, with and without RA in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China. Our results demonstrated genetic variations of the TIM-4 gene, along with significantly different distributions of genotypes and alleles at rs7700944 site in these two populations, with or without RA (P < 0.01). In addition, a strong association between the polymorphism with RA susceptibility was found in the studies of Chinese Han and Hui ethnic groups (P < 0.01), although the risk genotype contributed to RA susceptibility was different between the Han and Hui groups (P < 0.01). The AG was the risk genotype for RA in Han population, while GG was the risk genotype at rs7700944 site of TIM-4 gene in Hui ethnicity. In addition to the genotype, the risk alleles of this single nucleotide polymorphism for RA in these two populations were also different, individuals with A allele was more susceptible to RA in Chinese Han [odds ratio (OR) = 1.930; 95% CI 1.412, 2.636; P < 0.01], but the risk allele in Hui was G in this study (OR = 1.823; 95% CI 1.330, 2.498; P < 0.01). These findings strongly suggest that polymorphism of rs7700944 of TIM-4 may be a potential genetic variant among distinguished populations, as well as an important genetic factor associated with the RA susceptibility in many ethnicities.