[Spatial Differentiation Characteristics of Soil Organic Carbon and Its Influencing Factors in Cultivated Land in Major Grain-producing Areas： A Case Study of Hebei Province].

Assessing the spatial differentiation characteristics of soil organic carbon （SOC） in cultivated land in major grain-producing areas is important for regional cultivated land quality management and national food security. We investigated 519 soil profiles of cultivated land in Hebei Province （0-120 cm equally divided into six layers）, and obtained 2961 samples. We used geostatistical methods and spatial exploratory analysis to reveal the spatial distribution pattern of SOC in cultivated land in Hebei Province and the impacts of climate, topography, geomorphology, soil properties, and anthropogenic use on the spatial distribution of SOC in cultivated land soils.

Safety of low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy in prostate disorders: in vitro and in vivo evidence.

Recent evidence suggests that low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (Li-ESWT) is a promising treatment for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS); however, its safety in pelvic organs, particularly prostate tissues and cells, remains unclear. The current study evaluates the risks of prostate cell damage or oncogenesis following the administration of Li-ESWT for prostatitis. To this end, a robust in vitro model (Cell Counting Kit-8 [CCK-8] assay, clone formation assay, cell scratch assay, lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] release assay, flow cytometry, and immunoblotting assay) was designed to examine the effects of Li-ESWT on cell proliferation, clonogenicity, migration, membrane integrity, and DNA damage.

Effect of artificial natural light on the development of myopia among primary school-age children in China: a three-year longitudinal study.

Aim: To assess the efficacy of artificial natural light in preventing incident myopia in primary school-age children.

Methods: This is a prospective, randomized control, intervention study. A total of 1840 students from 39 classes in 4 primary schools in Foshan participated in this study.

Quantitative assessment and determinants of the papillary microvasculature in healthy subjects.

Background: It is critical to monitor the optic disc's vessel density using Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and evaluate its determinants. In the current study, we investigate the superficial vessel density (VD) of the papillary microvasculature and its determinants in healthy subjects of Southern China.

Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study.

[Genes associated with hypospadias: an update].

Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital malformations, and its main clinical manifestation is the abnormal opening of the urethra. Etiologically, it can be attributed to many factors, mainly including genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. Recently studies about its genetic etiologies have found a variety of hypospadias-associated genes from the aspects of epidemiology and polymorphism, mainly those involving the formation of the penis, the development of the testis, the anabolism of androgens, and so on.

[Effects of soil use along Yellow River basin on the pollution of soil by heavy metals].

Because of the decrease in pasture and woodland proportion, soil loss is severe along the Yellow River basin. The Yellow River delta has been one of the deltas that form land most quickly. Research on the pollution of new land is important for its use and appraising the environment and food pollution along Yellow River basin.

Blockade of epithelial sodium channels improves sperm motility in asthenospermia patients.

Epithelial Na(+) channels (ENaCs) are ion channels that play important roles in physiology as well as pathophysiology. Inhibiting ENaCs using amiloride and its derivatives has been suggested in treatment of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. By immunoblotting, we demonstrated the presence of ENaC-alpha protein in the flagellar midpiece of both rat and human sperm.

[Optimization of real time RT-PCR system for the quantitative estimation of CatSper1 mRNA levels in human and mouse mature spermatozoa].

Objective: To establish and optimize a real time RT-PCR system for determining the transcript levels of CatSper1 in human and mouse mature spermatozoa containing microamount of RNA.

Methods: Total RNA of human and mouse mature spermatozoa was isolated by using TRIzol reagent and reversely transcribed to complementary DNA respectively. Primers for real time RT-PCR were designed in the homologous area of the human and mouse CatSper1 mRNAs.

Adapting the RUSLE and GIS to model soil erosion risk in a mountains karst watershed, Guizhou Province, China.

Soil erosion is a serious environmental problem in Guizhou Province, which is located in the centre of the karst areas of southwestern China. Unfortunately, Guizhou Province suffers from a lack of financial resources to research, monitor and model soil erosion at large watershed. In order to assess the soil erosion risk, soil erosion modeling at the watershed scale are urgently needed to be undertaken.

[Application of ICP-MS to detection of heavy metals in soil from different cropping systems].

With the rapid development of the society, more and more attention has been paid to the influence of human activity on environment and food pollution. Soils of different cropping systems, sampled from Daxing district of Beijing, were analyzed in terms of the contents of heavy metals (Ti, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb) by the method of ICP-MS to determine the influence of cropping system on environment. The results showed that the contents of nine heavy metals in soils from the cropping systems (fruits and maize/wheat) were several times higher than those from vegetable system.