Guangxi Region Research Articles

Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Black Carbon in Chengdu

Black carbon (BC) was measured at Chengdu from December 1, 2017, to November 30, 2018, using a seven-channel aethalometer (AE-33). The variation characteristics of BC were obtained. BC sources were explored based on the aethalometer model and a hybrid single particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory model (Hysplit-4). The results showed the BC concentration was the highest in the winter (8.18 μg·m-3) with the monthly mean of 11.11 μg·m-3 peaking in December, followed by the spring (5.11 μg·m-3) and autumn (3.91 μg·m-3), and was the lowest in summer (3.28 μg·m-3) with the lowest monthly mean of 2.30 μg·m-3 in July. The annual average concentration of BC was 5.26 μg·m-3 with a standard deviation of 4.27 μg·m-3. The diurnal variations of BC showed typical bimodal patterns in four seasons mainly due to the influence of the boundary layer and traffic rush. The source apportionment of BC showed that the liquid fuel (e.g., vehicle emission) had higher contribution to total BC concentration during all seasons (ranging from 69% in winter to 82% in summer) than solid fuel (e.g., coal and biomass combustion). The contribution of liquid fuel to the total BC was higher in summer, while solid fuel had a higher contribution in winter. The diurnal cycles of BC source apportionment demonstrated that the contribution of liquid fuel increased in the rush hours. The results of potential source contribution function and concentration weighted trajectory showed that the potential sources of BC in Chengdu were slightly different in different seasons and were mainly affected by the different air mass sources. However, the main potential source regions were the surrounding areas of Chengdu and the areas between Chengdu and Chongqing (the Chuanyu City group). The mass contribution to the BC in Chengdu was high in the region where liquid fuel most affected the total BC. Additionally, the southern part of Shaanxi and the southern part of Gansu were also potential sources of BC, and in Summer, some regions in Guangxi and Guizhou could become the source regions of BC in Chengdu.

Analysis of the Mineral Compositions of Swell-Shrink Clays From Guangxi Province, China

AbstractSwell-shrink clays are widely distributed in the Guangxi province of southern China in the form of expansive soils and lateritic clays. They have high particle dispersion, poor permeability, and significant swell-shrink properties. In recent decades, a series of problems closely related to the physical-mechanical properties of the swell-shrink clays have been encountered in various engineering projects. Mineral composition is a critical factor affecting the physical-mechanical properties of these clays. However, determining accurately their mineral compositions is difficult because the analytical methods available are expensive, time consuming, and have a high possibility of errors. Therefore, identifying a method suitable for quantitatively analyzing the mineral composition of the swell-shrink clays is necessary. In the current study several swell-shrink clays, including two expansive soils and four lateritic clays, from the Guangxi region were investigated. Qualitative analytical methods such as differential thermal analysis (DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were conducted to identify the mineral composition of the soils. The results indicated that the expansive soils were composed mainly of quartz (Qz), montmorillonite (Mnt), illite (Ilt), and kaolinite (Kln). The Baise specimen also contained a certain amount of calcite (Cal), while the lateritic clays primarily contained Kln and goethite (Gth) as well as lesser amounts of Qz and gibbsite (Gbs). On the basis of the aforementioned results, rough quantitative analyses of the mineral compositions were conducted using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and the Bogue method. The results indicated that the lateritic clay samples from Wuming, Guilin, and Liuzhou contained 70–80% Kln, while the Laibin lateritic clay was 50% Kln. The lateritic clays contained ~10% Gth. The expansive soils were 30–40%, 25–30%, and 10–15% of Ilt, Qz, and Mnt, respectively. Finally, the relationships between the mineral compositions, zeta potentials, and free swelling ratios are discussed briefly. This investigation indicated that the zeta potential was mainly related to the type and content of clay minerals in the soil when neutral water was used as the free solution (pH = 7). The correlation between the swelling index and the zeta potential of the expansive soils was greater than that of the lateritic clays, which indicated that the swelling properties of expansive soils were more affected by the clay mineral composition than those of the lateritic clays. The results provide a systematic method for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the mineral composition of swell-shrink clays and primary data for studying how mineral composition affects the physical properties of swell-shrink clays in the study area.

Response of soil fertility characteristics in water-stable aggregates to tea cultivation age in hilly region of southern Guangxi, China

Research on the changes of soil aggregate-relevant organic C (Corg) and nutrients in different aged tea plantations is essential for improving our understanding of soil Corg mitigation and nutrient restitution during tea cultivation. In this study, soil Corg, total nitrogen (Ntot), available phosphorus (Pava), and the exchangeable cations (that is, potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+)) were measured in soil aggregates (0–20 cm depth) from different aged (8-, 17-, 25-, and 43-yr.) tea plantations in the hilly region of southern Guangxi, China. Soil aggregates were divided into large macro-aggregates (>2 mm), medium macro-aggregates (2–1 mm), small macro-aggregates (1–0.25 mm), and micro-aggregates (<0.25 mm) according to a wet-sieving procedure. The tea plantations of 17-yr. were related to the highest stability of soil aggregates; meanwhile, both large macro-aggregates and micro-aggregates were the major fractions carrying soil Corg and nutrients. Long-term tea cultivation was beneficial to soil Corg, Ntot, and Pava accumulating processes; nevertheless, the increase rates of their storages were declined in the bulk soil as the tea cultivation age increased. Differently, soil exchangeable cation storages decreased with time, and the decreasing rates at the middle phase (from 17- to 25-yr.) of tea cultivation were higher than those at other phases. Hence, developing and implementing a sustainable management scheme is critical to keeping the stability of soil aggregates and maximally reducing the losses of soil exchangeable cations in the process of tea cultivation, particularly after 17-yr., in the hilly region of southern Guangxi, China.

Identification of Susceptibility Genes in Hepatic Cancer Using Whole Exome Sequencing and Risk Prediction Model Construction

Abstract Objective: To identify the susceptible single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) loci in HCC patients in Guangxi Region, screen biomarkers from differential SNPs loci by using predictors, and establish risk prediction models for HCC, to provide a basis of screening high-risk individuals of HCC. Methods: Blood sample and clinical data of 50 normal participants and 50 hepatic cancer (HCC) patients in Rui Kang Hospital affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were collected. Normal participants and HCC patients were assigned to training set and testing set, respectively. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) technique was employed to compare the exon sequence of the normal participants and HCC patients. Five predictors were used to screen the biomarkers and construct HCC prediction models. The prediction models were validated with both training and testing set. Results: Two-hundred seventy SNPs were identified to be significantly different from HCC, among which 100 SNPs were selected as biomarkers for prediction models. Five prediction models constructed with the 100 SNPs showed good sensitivity and specificity for HCC prediction among the training set and testing set. Conclusion: A series of SNPs were identified as susceptible genes for HCC. Some of these SNPs including CNN2, CD177, KMT2C, and HLADQB1 were consistent with the previously identified polymorphisms by targeted genes examination. The prediction models constructed with part of those SNPs could accurately predict HCC development.

广西夏季极端气候事件时空分布特征研究

广西夏季极端气候事件时空分布特征研究

Chloroplast and nuclear DNA analyses provide insight into the phylogeography and conservation genetics of Camellia nitidissima (Theaceae) in southern Guangxi, China

Camellia nitidissima is a high-value endemic ornamental plant with a limited distribution in the south of Guangxi, China. This plant is classified as ‘vulnerable’, and the particular variety (var.) known as microcarpa is classified as ‘endangered’. In this study, we used phylogeographic analysis of one chloroplast fragment and two single-copy nuclear DNA sequences to study the genetic structure of C. nitidissima samples from nine populations distributed across four regions in Guangxi. We carried out this study to facilitate the development of appropriate conservation strategies for the protection of this plant. Analysis of nuclear DNA showed that the genetic variation in var. microcarpa was distinct from that in var. nitidissima. Chloroplast and nuclear markers showed high levels of genetic variation among three disjunct geographical regions of var. nitidissima, indicating that the current genetic structure of this variety reflects long-term isolation and limited gene flow across the regions investigated. We recommend that conservation programmes recognise var. microcarpa and that the three disjunct geographical population groups of var. nitidissima be treated as three separate management units.

A method for hand-foot-mouth disease prediction using GeoDetector and LSTM model in Guangxi, China

Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease in children and is particularly severe in Guangxi, China. Meteorological conditions are known to play a pivotal role in the HFMD. Previous studies have reported numerous models to predict the incidence of HFMD. In this study, we proposed a new method for the HFMD prediction using GeoDetector and a Long Short-Term Memory neural network (LSTM). The daily meteorological factors and HFMD records in Guangxi during 2014–2015 were adopted. First, potential risk factors for the occurrence of HFMD were identified based on the GeoDetector. Then, region-specific prediction models were developed in 14 administrative regions of Guangxi, China using an optimized three-layer LSTM model. Prediction results (the R-square ranges from 0.39 to 0.71) showed that the model proposed in this study had a good performance in HFMD predictions. This model could provide support for the prevention and control of HFMD. Moreover, this model could also be extended to the time series prediction of other infectious diseases.

Soil aggregation and aggregate-associated carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus under different aged tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plantations in hilly region of southern Guangxi, China

To have a comprehensive understanding towards the dynamics of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) during tea planting, it requires to evaluate the distribution of these elements within soil aggregates at various sizes. In this study, soil organic C (OC), labile OC (LOC), total nitrogen (TN), alkali-hydrolyzable N (AN), total P (TP), and available P (AP) had been detected within soil aggregates obtained at the 0–20 cm depth from tea plantations of various ages (8-, 17-, 25-, and 43-yr.) in hilly region of southern Guangxi, China. Soil aggregates were divided into micro-aggregates (<0.25 mm), small (1-0.25 mm), medium (2-1 mm), and large (>2 mm) macro-aggregates through a dry-sieving procedure. As main carriers of soil C, N, and P, both large macro-aggregates and micro-aggregates had relatively high stores of these elements in all of tea plantations. Tea planting age significantly influences the dynamics of C, N, and P stores in whole-soil, except for total P. During the 35-yr. of tea planting (from 8- to 43-yr.), the accumulation rates of soil OC, TN, AN, and AP were 27.91 g OC m−2 yr.-1, 0.96 g TN m−2 yr.-1, 0.06 g AN m−2 yr.-1, and 0.04 g AP m−2 yr.-1, respectively. Notably, the accumulation rates of these elements in whole-soil differed with the stage of tea planting. For example, soil OC store was increased by 54.94 g OC m-2 yr.-1 at early (from 8- to 17-yr.) stage of tea planting, while by 25.82 and 15.31 g OC m-2 yr.-1 at middle (from 17- to 25-yr.) and late (from 25- to 43-yr.) stages, respectively. Also, similar trends were observed in the TN, AN, and AP in whole-soil. Differently, soil LOC store was first increased and then decreased, and the store was significantly higher in the 17-yr. tea plantations relative to other tea plantations. These results indicated that long-term tea planting brought various benefits, such as the accumulation of soil OC, TN, AN, and AP. However, their accumulation rates in whole-soil decreased with the increase of tea planting age. In addition, it is of critical importance to develop and implement an appropriate management scheme to maintain the soil as a LOC sink after 17-yr. of tea planting in hilly region of southern Guangxi, China.

Soil aggregate-related organic carbon and relevant enzyme activities as affected by tea (Camellia sinensis L.) planting age in hilly region of southern Guangxi, China

It is essential to reveal the variations in the activities of carbon (C)-cycling enzymes in soil aggregates of different sizes, so as to shed more light on the soil organic C (Corg) dynamics in the tea plantation ecosystems. In this study, the activities of cellobiohydrolase, xylanase, β-glucosidase, and invertase were detected in soil aggregates obtained at the depth of 0–20 cm from tea plantations of various ages (8, 17, 25, and 43-yr.) in hilly region of southern Guangxi, China. Soil aggregates were divided into >2, 2–1, 1–0.25, and <0.25 mm fractions through a dry sieving procedure. This study hypothesized that the potential of soil Corg decomposition would be higher at early stage (in the initial 17-yr.) than that at late stage (after 17-yr.). Our results suggested that, irrespective of the tea planting age, soil aggregate-related Corg contents were mainly distributed in the >2 and 2–1 mm fractions, and soil aggregates at the >2 mm sizes had the highest activities of C-cycling enzymes. Notably, the C-cycling enzyme activities in soil aggregates were closely correlated with Corg availability, and Corg contents might not exert a vital part. On the other hand, tea planting for a long time could promote soil Corg to be accumulated. At early stage, the accumulated soil Corg was primarily derived from the >2 mm fractions; meanwhile, the C-cycling enzyme activities in the >2 mm fractions were also markedly elevated, indicating that the accumulated Corg in soils at early stage was more easily decomposed and showed a higher potential of decomposition than that at late stage, thus supporting our hypothesis. Overall, the youthful tea plantations in the initial 17-yr. showed an increasing trend with respect to the potential of soil Corg decomposition; however, when tea plantations became mature, the potential of soil Corg decomposition was reduced in hilly region of southern Guangxi, China.

Tandem mass spectrometry analysis and genetic diagnosis of neonates with fatty acid oxidation disorders in central and northern regions of Guangxi

To determine the incidence and mutational types of fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAOD) in central-northern region of Guangxi. A total of 62 953 neonates were screened for FAOD during December 2012 and December 2017. Acyl-carnitine profiling of neonatal blood sample was performed by tandem mass spectrometry using dry blood spots on a filter paper. The diagnosis of FAOD was confirmed by organic acid profiling of urea and genetic testing. Eighteen cases of FAOD were diagnosed among the 62 953 neonates. Among these, primary carnitine deficiency (PCD) was the most common type (n=13), which was followed by short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD) (n=2), medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) (n=1), multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) (n=1), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency (CPT II D) (n=1). Genetic testing has revealed two previously unreported variants, i.e., c.337G to A (p.Gly113Arg) of ACADS gene and c.737G TO T (p.Gly246Val) of ETFA gene. PCD is the most common FAOD in central-northern Guangxi. Tandem mass spectrometry combined with genetic testing may facilitate early diagnosis of FAOD.

Tourist tongues: High-speed rail carries linguistic and cultural urbanisation beyond the city limits in Guangxi, China

AbstractThis article builds upon research which analyses the reconstruction of cities in China as an integral part of image-making discourses competing to attract mobile capital. It extends that literature beyond urban places to urbanisation processes, examining the material and linguistic features of networks and discourses of new high-speed rail infrastructure Guangxi, a poorer, rural, multilingual and multiethnic region of the People’s Republic of China (China) in which tourism – propelled by high-speed trains – has become a pillar of economic development. It argues that these trains produce symbolically powerful discourses which contribute to cultural urbanisation across Guangxi, emplacing urban norms outside city limits in pursuit of profitable sameness, as tourism does not trade only upon difference. Local multilingualism, specifically, is erased as too different, a barrier to tourists’ (and tourism capital’s) mobility. Amongst other ramifications, this reproduces social distance and ideologically displaces local languages.

Cuisine of Nung Chao Ethnic at Hoang Viet Commune, Van Lang District, Lang Son Province

Nung Chao is a Nung ethnic group in Vietnam originating from Long Chau, Guangxi, China, they has migrated to Lang Son province (Vietnam) and has lived here for a long time. In the course of history, cultural exchange with local people in Lang Son province, at same time, inheriting the culture of the Guangxi region (China), the Nung Chao people have drawn up the cultural characteristics of extremely identity richness, especially cuisine culture. The cuisine of the Nung Chao is extremely diverse with a mixture of Kinh, Tay and Chinese cuisine and cultural institutions related to cuisine to be a valuable heritage not only of Lang Son province but also of the Vietnamese ethnic community.

Study on firing temperature of the Song Dynasty (960\u20131279AD) greenish-white porcelain in Guangxi, China by thermal expansion method

The original firing temperatures of porcelain pieces unearthed from Tengxian Zhonghe kiln, Rongxian Chengguan kiln, Beiliu Lingdong kiln and Guiping Xishan kiln from the Song Dynasty (960–1279AD) of Guangxi were preliminarily studied by thermal expansion method. The experiment results show that the average firing temperature of Zhonghe kiln is 1186 °C (standard deviation 59 °C), the firing temperature relatively concentrated and low. The average firing temperature of Chengguan kiln is 1233 °C (standard deviation 46 °C), with the majority above 1200 °C, indicating that the kiln had a high and concentrated firing temperature. The average firing temperature of Lingdong kiln is 1250 °C (standard deviation 87 °C), the firing temperature are in a broad spectrum. The firing temperatures of Xishan kiln are mostly over 1300 °C (average 1307 °C, standard deviation 75 °C), which are generally considered very high, and the highest one it can go up to 1456 °C, which is the highest firing temperature of ancient Chinese ceramics known to date. Compared with the firing temperature of porcelain in other regions of China in Song Dynasty, it can be concluded that the high-temperature technology of Guangxi porcelain kilns was equal to or even advanced than other kilns. In the light of these findings, we conclude that the ancient Guangxi region of China did not lag behind the central plains in terms of ceramic firing technology and culture.

Aristolochia kechangensis sp. nov. (Aristolochiaceae) from Guangxi, China

Aristolochia kechangensis Y. D. Peng &amp; L.Y. Yu, a new species from northwestern Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. Based on morphology, the species is referred to Aristolochia subg. Isotrema. The species is similar to A. kwangsiensis and is found in karstic limestone habitats, with ovate‐rounded to heart‐shaped blades and 1–4‐flowered racemose inflorescences, but differs from the latter by a heart‐shaped (versus rounded) blade base, yellow‐green limbs with densely brown nervules (versus red to purple limbs with tuberculate ornamentation), and slender fruit with a diameter of ca 1.5 cm (versus robust fruit with a diameter of ca 2 cm). The leaf epidermis of the new species is characterized by tuberculate protuberances. We present a detailed description, with line drawings, distribution map and color plate, and compare it to related species based on morphological characters. An updated key to Aristolochia distributed in Guangxi region is provided.

High-resolution variation in ostracod assemblages from microbialites near the Permian-Triassic boundary at Zuodeng, Guangxi region, South China

After the end-Permian mass extinction (EPME), the marine environment was considered extremely toxic, mainly due to anoxic and high-temperature conditions and ocean acidification; consequently, the ecosystem contained few organisms. This paper describes a new ostracod fauna from the microbialite-bearing Permian-Triassic (P-Tr) strata at Zuodeng, Guangxi region, China. One thousand and seventy ostracod specimens were extracted from forty-eight samples. Fifty-three species belonging to fourteen genera were identified. Ostracods, primarily from the family Bairdiidae, were extremely abundant in the microbialites, which suggests that ostracods were opportunists that could survive the EPME within this special microbial ecosystem with sufficient food and scarce competitors and predators rather than undergoing a rapid and early recovery after the EPME event. Ostracods having simultaneous Paleozoic and Meso-Cenozoic affinities coexisted in this fauna. The similarities and differences among the ostracod faunas in the microbialite sections of the P-Tr boundary around the Paleo-Tethys indicate that there was a long-distance dispersal of ostracods, but the faunas maintained endemism at the species level. Previous studies have regarded microbialites as whole units, and it is difficult to detect environmental changes within a microbialite interval based on paleoecological groups of (super)families. In this study, high-resolution sampling was applied to identify changes in the ostracod abundance, diversity, assemblages and proportion of five dominant species in the section, which exhibited an evolutionary trend from the “Bairdia” group to the “Liuzhinia antalyaensis-Bairdiacypris ottomanensis” group. Furthermore, the transition of the ostracod fauna could be divided into six stages according to changes in the dominant species groups, suggesting that the microbialite environment was not entirely monotonous but fluctuated during the postextinction interval.

Breeding system and bird pollination of Camellia pubipetala, a narrowly endemic plant from karst regions of south China

AbstractCamellia pubipetala is an endemic and endangered species with small and isolated populations occurring only in karst regions in Guangxi of south China. To understand the reproductive biology of C. pubipetala and its possible influences upon its endangered status, its breeding system and pollination ecology were studied in the Longhushan (LHS) and Longzhao (LZ) populations of this species. The flowering duration of the C. pubipetala populations spanned from late January to early April and anthesis of a single flower usually lasted 5–7 days. This species is homogamous, and the pollen and stigma are viable throughout anthesis. Each bagged flower could secrete 141.5 μL of nectar at a sugar concentration of 25.0% during anthesis. The observed high pollen/ovule ratio, and the results of hand‐pollination experiments indicated that this species obligately outcrosses. Open pollination resulted in a significantly decreased fruit set (6.7%) and seed set (38.9%) compared to supplementary pollination treatment (23.3% and 64.7%, respectively), which is indicative of a pollen limitation in the process of pollination. The primary pollinator of C. pubipetala is the sunbird Aethopyga christinae and its visiting frequency is quite low, whereas the honeybee Apis cerana is only an occasional pollinator in wild populations. Low reproductive rates in C. pubipetala were found to be a consequence of few species of pollinators and their low visiting frequency. Pollen limitation may be a crucial factor that contributes to the endangered nature of this species. Artificial pollination and the release of pollinators are effective ways to increase the fruit and seed yield of this species.

Study on the Temporal and Spatial Pattern Differences of Chinese Light Curl Based on DMSP/OLS

Nighttime light data can detect surface gleams that can intuitively reflect human socioeconomic activity. This paper uses the DMSP/OLS nighttime lighting data from 2001 to 2007 to analyze the coupling relationship between regional economic development and nighttime light intensity in China using regression model. The results show that the brightest areas of nighttime light are mainly concentrated in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta region, and the Pearl River Delta region. With the change of the year, the brightness of the three regions is brighter year by year, indicating that the economy is more and more developed. The linear regression model of total brightness and GDP of regional light: Y=792.218+0.024X, linear slope is 0.024, indicating a positive correlation trend. The provinces and cities with the highest total brightness of the provinces and cities are Guangdong Province, Shandong Province, and Jiangsu Province, and the lowest provinces and cities are Qinghai Province and Tibet Autonomous Region. The total brightness of regional lights in China’s provinces and cities is well coupled with GDP. The total brightness of regional lights in all provinces and cities is weakened from east to west. The brightness of the 11 provinces in the eastern region is the strongest, including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Shanghai, and Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Guangdong, Hainan Province. The second most powerful lighting is the eight provinces in the central region including Shanxi, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan, Hubei, and Hunan. The weakest lighting is in the western regions of Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia and other provinces (cities). In the east of the Hu Huanyong line, the nighttime lighting is higher than the west of the Hu Huanyong line. The eastern part of China’s seven geographical divisions (Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Shandong, Fujian, and Taiwan) has the brightest night lights. The northwestern region (Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region) has a weak night light. The brightness information of nighttime remote sensing data selected in this study can reflect the level of regional economic development.

Impact of Surface Potential Vorticity Density Forcing over the Tibetan Plateau on the South China Extreme Precipitation in January 2008. Part ll: Numerical Simulation

The surface air convergence on the eastern flank of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) can increase the in situ surface potential vorticity density (PVD). Since the elevated TP intersects with the isentropic surfaces in the lower troposphere, the increased PVD on the eastern flank of TP thus forms a PVD forcing to the intersected isentropic surface in the boundary layer. The influence of surface PVD forcing over the TP on the extreme freezing rain/snow over South China in January 2008 is investigated by using numerical experiments based on the Finite-volume Atmospheric Model of the IAP/LASG (FAMIL). Compared with observations, the simulation results show that, by using a nudging method for assimilating observation data in the initial flow, this model can reasonably reproduce the distribution of precipitation, atmospheric circulation, and PVD propagation over and downstream of the TP during the extreme winter precipitation period. In order to investigate the impact of the increased surface PVD over the TP on the extreme precipitation in South China, a sensitivity experiment with surface PVD reduced over the TP region was performed. Compared with the control experiment, it is found that the precipitation in the TP downstream area, especially in Southeast China, is reduced. The rainband from Guangxi Region to Shandong Province has almost disappeared. In the lower troposphere, the increase of surface PVD over the TP region has generated an anomalous cyclonic circulation over southern China, which plays an important role in increasing southerly wind and the water vapor transport in this area; it also increases the northward negative absolute vorticity advection. In the upper troposphere, the surface PVD generated in eastern TP propagates on isentropic surface along westerly wind and results in positive absolute vorticity advection in the downstream areas. Consequently, due to the development of both ascending motion and water vapor transport in the downstream place of the TP, extremely heavy precipitation occurs over southern China. Thereby, a new mechanism concerning the influence of the increased surface PVD over the eastern TP slopes on the extreme weather event occurring over southern China is revealed.

Genetic variation and forensic efficiency of 30 indels for three ethnic groups in Guangxi: relationships with other populations.

AimIn this study, we used a series of diallelic genetic marker insertion/deletion polymorphism (indel) to investigate three populations of Yao, Kelao, and Zhuang groups in the Guangxi region of China and to evaluate their efficiency in forensic application.ResultNo deviations for all 30 loci were observed from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni correction (p > 0.05/30 = 0.0017). The allele frequencies of the short allele (DIP-) for the above three populations were in the range of 0.0520–0.9480, 0.0950–0.8780, and 0.0850–0.915, respectively. The observed heterozygosity of the 30 loci for the three populations was in the ranges 0.0802–0.5802, 0.1908–0.6053, and 0.1400–0.5600, respectively. The cumulative power of exclusion and combined discrimination power for Yao, Kelao, and Zhuang groups were (0.9843 and 0.9999999999433), (0.9972 and 0.9999999999184), and (0.9845 and 0.9999999999608), respectively. The DA distance, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis indicated a clear regional distribution. In addition, Zhuang groups had close genetic relationships with the Yao and Kelao populations in the Guangxi region.ConclusionThis study indicated that the 30 loci were qualified for personal identification; moreover, they could be used as complementary genetic markers for paternity testing in forensic cases for the studied populations.

Significance of Tissue Factor-Bearing Microparticle Procoagulation Activity and Antithrombin Ⅲ Detection in Thalassemia Patients

To explore whether the high risk factors possibly leading to hypercoagulative status and thrombosis exist in Thalassemia patients of Guangxi region through detecting plasma tissne factor-bearing microparticles (TF+MP), procoagulatima activity, coagulation and anticoagulation function, fibrinolytic function, endothelial function and platelet count. The TF+MP procoagulation activity was detected by chromogenic saubstract method, the levels of tissue factors (TF), tissue factor pathway inhibitor(TFPI), protein C (PC), protein S (PS), antithrombin Ⅲ(AT-Ⅲ), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), thrombin-activated fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), soluble E-selectin (sE-sel), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and thrombomodulin (TM) were detected by ELISA in thalassemia group (n=71) and control group (n=20 heathy persons). Compared with control group, the AT-Ⅲ level decreased in β-thalastemia major group (TM) (P<0.05), the AT-Ⅲ level in TM group independeutly posstiody correlated with plt count (r=0.37, P<0.05); the levels of TF and sICAM in α-thalassenia intermediate group (TA) significantly decteased (P<0.05), the procoagulatim activity of TF+MP in β-thalassemia intermediate group (TI) increased sngnificantly (P<0.05)， moreover positively corretated with AT-Ⅲ level (r=0.77, P<0.05). The TF and sICAM-1 levels in normal liver functim group of Thalassemia patients were lower tham those in control group (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), the TF+MP activity between normal and abnormal liver function was significantly different (P<0.05), while there were no significant difference in other correspoding indexes beween thalassemia group and control group as well as between each thalassemia groups. The damage of liver function and reduction of anticoagylation substances exist in patients with β-thalassenia major in Guangxi region, the procoagulation activity of plasma TF+MP in patients with β-thalassemia intermedia abnormally increases. All the above-mentioned factors may increase the risk of high coagulation status or thrombosis is thalassemia patients, the decrease of TF and SICAM-1 levels in patients with α-thalassemia intermedia may be factor against thrombosis.