Microorganisms play a key role in aquatic ecosystems. Recent studies have showed that some keystone taxa in microbial communities can drive the changes in community composition and function. However, most studies have focused on abundant taxa, whereas rare taxa are neglected because of their low abundance. Therefore, it is important to clarify the seasonal variation of bacterial and microalgal communities and understand the synergistic adaptation of these organisms to different environmental factors. We investigated the bacterial and eukaryotic phytoplankton communities and their seasonal co-occurrence patterns using16S and 18S rDNA sequencing approach. Our results indicated that in eukaryotic phytoplankton networks, spring and autumn networks had higher connectivity and complexity, forming the highly stable community structure. The positive interactions of bacterial network were significantly higher than the negative interactions, indicating that more mutual cooperation can make the microbial communities better resist changes in the external environment, thereby maintaining the stability of microbial network. The main genera identified as keystone taxa in bacterial networks were Pseudomonas, Stenotrophobacter, Bosea, and Hyphomicrobium, which were significantly related to many predicted functions. The main genera identified as keystone taxa in eukaryotic phytoplankton networks were Monodus, Tetradesmus, Scenedesmus, Monoraphidium, and Amphora, which were affected by dissolved organic carbon, nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate, changes in these environmental factors can affect the stability of network. Through the co-occurrence patterns, we analyzed the internal mechanism of interaction between bacteria and eukaryotic phytoplankton and understood the potential importance of keystone taxa in ecological processes such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus dynamics.

Forces of Nature in SailingSuggested time: 50 minutes

Eco-evolutionary community genetics refers to study population genetics at multispecies levels since a single species evolves genetically through interactions with other species. The aim of this paper is dynamical modeling of interspecific quantitative trait loci (QTL) under slight and hard multilevel selection to investigate eco-evolutionary genetic relationships among QTL of multispecies. It was found that the simplex explained the intergenomic epistatic QTL (IEQ) dynamics in a discrete-time model according to Wright’s manifold. Besides, the generalized gradient system on the simplex demonstrated the IEQ dynamics in a continuous-time model. The outcomes of slight and hard multilevel selection on the expressions of IEQ in species were explained by the gradient operator of the mean multilevel fitness. IEQ analysis was integrated into community genetics according to Lande’s assumptions, so for slight multilevel selection the geometric average of the mean multilevel fitness specified Wright’s idea of adaptive topography. The dynamical system for phenotypic eco-evolution under hard multilevel selection gradient was studied and the relative mean multilevel fitness of two selected species was estimated.

Non-consumptive predator effects (NCEs) are now widely recognized for their capacity to shape ecosystem structure and function. Yet, forecasting the propagation of these predator-induced trait changes through particular communities remains a challenge, in part because we lack a predictive framework that accounts for environmental and species context. Accordingly, focusing on plasticity in prey anti-predator behaviors, we conceptualize the multi-stage process by which predators trigger direct and indirect NCEs, review and then distill potential drivers of NCE contingencies into three key categories (properties of the prey, predator, and setting), and conduct a meta-analysis to quantify the extent to which prey behavioral plasticity in response to predation risk hinges on a well-studied driver – prey energetic state. Our synthesis underscores the myriad factors that can generate NCE contingencies while guiding how research might better anticipate and account for them. We highlight two key knowledge gaps that continue to hinder development of a comprehensive framework for exploring non-consumptive predator-prey interactions. These are insufficient exploration of 1) context-dependent indirect NCEs and 2) the ways in which direct and indirect NCEs are shaped interactively by multiple drivers of context dependence.

As global change forces species’ ranges and abundances into novel configurations, traits-based approaches could allow predictions of community re-assembly. We present a quantitative review of traits-based research globally to (1) evaluate the extent to which this approach has been applied, and (2) evaluate moving from description and to prediction. We highlight the application of traits-based frameworks to describe ecological patterns; terrestrial plant morphology comprises >30% of the literature alone. But fewer than 3% of studies predict ecological effects of global change, mostly in the past five years. While organism size is the most common trait, we identified 2,430 other morphological, physiological, behavioural, and life history traits that mediate environmental filters of species’ ranges across ecosystems and taxonomy. Global change studies forecast range shifts from a few physiological or life history traits. Though uncommon, spatially-explicit models constructed from correlated multivariate trait assemblages (or ‘syndromes’) offer the best chance of predicting shifts under global change scenarios. Moving the field towards trait-based prediction requires (1) matching the scale of trait measurement to the ecological processes, (2) increasing the resolution of environmental gradients along which traits are measured, (3) moving from single to multivariate traits, and (4) accounting for intraspecific trait variation.

Abstract Introduction The excellent coordination and action by the Ministry of Health of the Nation with the 24 provinces and between the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and the metropolitan area of the homonymous Province, resulted in the moment, in mortality less than 2% and occupation of critical care beds that does not exceed 63%,.Material and Methods Regarding cardiovascular care in the group of patients over 65 years of age, a more accurate analysis could be performed when two comparative half-yearly periods corresponding to the years 2019 and 2020 (pandemic time) were compared. The data collected regarding this age range revealed issues that had not previously been evaluated in our country. That undoubtedly proposes a different solution for the future based on a strict scientific analysis Results, for example, the number of patients who received a stent in relation to coronary artery surgery is greater than 6 to 1, and compared to surgery without pump and minimally invasive from 69 to 1 Conclusion The Argentinian Perspective is good because has an excellent level of qualified medical training in its cardiac and interventional Cardiologist services, as well as healthcare infrastructure distributed throughout the country, which will undoubtedly be able to respond to the new challenges posed for the post-pandemic stage

Introduction 

The rapid, global spread of COVID-19 has led to an unprecedented rise in enrollments in online learning experiences among learners of all ages. In this paper, we explore the impact of the global pandemic on a massive open online course, Problem Solving Using Computational Thinking, with a particular focus on the topics learners chose for their final projects.  The Computational Thinking MOOC was designed using a project-based learning approach and aims to provide learners with an introduction to the “big ideas” of computational thinking using a range of case studies that encompass topics such as airport surveillance, epidemiology, and human trafficking. Beyond observing a sharp increase in enrollment and engagement at the time the pandemic began, we discuss ways in which the course’s project-based pedagogy allowed learners to bring their present experiences and concerns together with the course’s subject matter in order to meet the learning objectives for the course. Many learners chose to address aspects of the pandemic in the course’s final project and applied ideas about computational thinking to peer-graded assignments that conveyed an individualized sense of importance and urgency. We assert that this approach, along with the inclusion of a timely epidemiology case study, enabled learners to more deeply internalize the role that computational thinking can play in their own lives and in society as a whole.

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is claimed to be associated with many diseases in the world populations. Many studies reported that vitamin D deficiency is quite prevalent in Pakistan. The aim of this review is to describe the current status of vitamin D deficiency in healthy individuals and in different disease conditions in this country. Methods: Search engines such as “Google Scholar”, “Medline and PubMed” were used by applying key words such as vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D deficiency and different disease conditions in Pakistani population. Results: Total 82 studies were included in which 12 studies showed vitamin levels less than 30 ng/mL in the healthy individuals (male and female) and 70 studies in different disease conditions. It found that about 64.6% healthy subjects had vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/mL. Moreover, 70 studies showed its deficiency in some diseases such as musculoskeletal, bone and periodontal problems, nursing mothers and children, tuberculosis, diabetes, cardiovascular problems and some type of cancers. Conclusion: The current status of vitamin D deficiency in healthy population and in several diseases and conditions are thoroughly discussed in this review. This review could be helpful to understand status of vitamin D and different aspects of vitamin D research in this population

Aims: To evaluate the diagnostic significance of the novel index combining preoperative hemoglobin, albumin levels, lymphocyte and platelet counts (HALP) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Methods: Between January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2018 at the Hitit University Erol Olçok Education and Research Hospital 225 patients who had undergone transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy or prostate surgery were analyzed retrospectively. A total of patients; 155 had benign prostate hyperplasia (group 1) and 70 had PCa (group 2). The preoperative serum levels of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte counts, and platelet counts were recorded. The HALP scores and the sub parameters of this index for each of the two groups were compared. Results: The total Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), albumin and lymphocyte differences between the groups were statistically significant (p=0.0002, p=0.0001, p= 0.005). The median value of HALP scores in Group 1 and 2 were 49.43 and 51.2 respectively, and this was not statistically significant between groups (p=0.737). The HALP score had the least Area Under Curve (AUC) value compared to the others (0.514). the AUC of Albumin was larger than PSA for diagnostic efficacy in PCa patients (0.696-0.656). However, albumin levels were statistically significant compared to platelet count and the HALP score (p=0.0033, p=0.0068), except PSA and lymphocyte (p=0.4580, p=0.1717). Conclusion:Further prospective clinical studies that include more patients from multiple centers are needed to show the diagnostic role of the HALP score and its compounds on the patients with PCa.

Background: Rapid advancement of stem cell (SC) therapies provides both opportunities and risks for patients and physicians alike. Physicians have a role in counseling patients about unproven SC therapies, requiring a basic level of knowledge and access to information about SCs. Objective: This study sought to assess SC-related knowledge of and attitudes among physicians in Jordan to elucidate areas of deficiency that can be addressed. Methods: A cross-sectional survey, comprising questions on demographics and SC knowledge and attitudes, was designed as a scoring system to evaluate physicians’ knowledge and attitudes. Participants were recruited from 10 major hospitals in Jordan over 3 months between February and April 2019. The internal consistency of the scoring scales was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient. Gender differences were evaluated with an independent t-test. Results: 382 physicians in Jordan completed the survey (59.9% response rate). They demonstrated a low/moderate level of overall SC knowledge (51.3%), but most lacked confidence in their ability to answer patients’ questions about SC therapies (64.7%). However, the total attitude score was moderate/high positive (66.8%) and most were interested in learning more about SCs (80.8%). Male physicians reported significantly more knowledge than females (p<0.0001). Conclusions: This study reveals Jordanian physicians’ hesitancy to counsel patients about SC therapies, largely due to gaps in knowledge. However, overall attitudes toward SC research and therapies are positive. The results of this study demonstrate a need to cover SC-related information in medical curricula in Jordan, as well as to support initiatives to regulate SC tourism in Jordan.

Thromboembolic phenomena, especially pulmonary emboli, have been described in adult patients with COVID, but have been less evident in children. We describe a case of a teenager with bilateral pulmonary emboli leading to cardiovascular collapse in the setting of COVID and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

To the editor, we describe a 12-year-old boy with uncontrolled bronchial asthma, bronchiolitis obliterans and restrictive and obstructive pulmonary disorders in spirometry who became infected with COVID-19. Contrary to the assumptions of other clinical findings, the boy was complaining only one day about body aches while showing no other symptoms. Neither cough, dyspnoea nor fever occurred. This case demonstrates that in particular paediatric patients with pre-existing pulmonary condition such as uncontrolled bronchial asthma and bronchiolitis obliterans can show an uncomplicated course of the COVID-19 disease.As often-described in literature, severe clinical courses of the COVID-19 disease happen to occur in patients with pre-existing conditions such as: heart or lung diseases, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure or among the elderly (1). Some young patients even had been previously healthy but then showed a severe progress of a COVID-19 infection (2).In spring 2015, the - at the time - 7-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital for the first time because of respiratory insufficiency. He was receiving oxygen as primary treatment. Even then after his first admission to the hospital the spirometry showed an obstructive and a restrictive pattern (vital capacity (VC): 61.3%, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1): 75.4%, FEV1/VC ratio: 100%). Consequently, based on the results, an inhalation with corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) combination was chosen to start the therapy. An early bloomer allergy also was found, which caused a rhino conjunctivitis during pollen season. A bronchiolitis obliterans, which was diagnosed by a CT scan (see Fig.1) is mostly caused by a mycoplasma infection. Unfortunately, there was no improvement shown after the treatment with azithromycin and methylprednisolone. Since there was no positive effect on the pulmonary situation after starting a treatment with Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists (LTRAs), a treatment with formoterol was initiated. Bronchoscopy in March 2019 showed a chronic purulent bronchitis, but no pathogen was detected.Last January, the boy was admitted to the hospital to control the success of the therapy because inpatient treatment possibilities were exhausted. Formoterol was ended and an inhalative therapy with tiotropium bromide was started.During the COVID-19 pandemic on April 15th the 12-year-old boy presented himself in our paediatric pneumological consultation with still uncontrolled asthma bronchial (GINA severity IV), bronchiolitis obliterans and currently mild allergic rhino conjunctivitis. The obese boy (weight 69.3kg, height 161.1cm) reported that he coughed dry daily both during the day and at night. During physical exertion, the cough increased. The current medication Salmeterol/Fluticason 25µg/250µg 1-0-1 stroke, LTRA 5mg, tiotropium bromide 5µg was taken daily. He had not had to inhale salbutamol since the last performance in our consultation in February. A slight wheezing was found in the upper lobes of the lungs. Blood results showed a lymphocytosis (65%) and neutropenia (23%) and a normal blood count of leukocytes (4.3/nl), there was also found a microcytic hypochromic anaemia (Hb 11.3g/dl, Hct 0.35l/l, MCV 78fl, MCH, 25pg, MCHC 32g/dl). The spirometry showed an obstructive and restrictive ventilation disorder (see Fig. 2, (VC): 48%, (FVC): 58%, (FEV1): 54%, FEV1/VC: 77.85%, (PEF):66%, FEF 25: 69%, FEF 50 43%, FEF 75 27%). The bronchodilation test was negative (see Fig. 3).The following day, the mother of our patient developed fever as well as head and limb pain. Since the mother had been in contact with a COVID-19 patient as a nurse in a nursing home, she was also tested positive for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on April 17th 2020. The same day, the 12-year-old boy complained of limb pain. The COVID-19 PCR swab test was also found positive in him, his father and his sister who all live in the same household. During the quarantine period (14 days) and beyond, there were no further symptoms in the boy, he did not cough more than before, had no dyspnoea or fever and no need to use his asthma spray salbutamol.After 24 days, the COVID-19 smear of our patient finally was negative. Spirometry still showed an obstructive and restrictive pattern, but some better values: (VC): 63%, (FEV): 64%, (FEV1): 60%, (FEV1/VC): 77.66%, Peak-Flow (PEF): 57%, FEF 25: 64%, FEF 50 48%, FEF 75 32%).The WHO pronounces “older people and people of all ages with pre-existing medical conditions (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, or cancer) appear to develop serious illness more often than others”(1). Our 12-year-old patient who has two different lung diseases, bronchiolitis obliterans and a bronchial asthma, which was uncontrolled at the time, contracted the coronavirus. The boy showed no typical symptoms of a COVID-19 infection such as fever, dry cough or tiredness. He did not have to use his asthma spray salbutamol because of dysponea. He only complained about body aches for one day. Interestingly, the COVID-19 smear was positive for SARS-CoV-2 for more than 3 weeks. In some cases, viral genetic material could be detected up to 42 days after the onset of symptoms (4). Inhalation steroids may be the cause of prolonged virus detection, but there is currently no data on this in literature. Last but not least, it is interesting that the boy did not infect any other people with the coronavirus even before being diagnosed, for example in our consultation.This case demonstrated that even a patient with uncontrolled bronchial asthma and furthermore with bronchiolitis obliterans is able to have an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection.

Introduction This study investigates drivers of childhood pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) using a childhood ecosystem approach in South Africa. An ecosystem approach towards identifying risk factors for PTB may identify new directions for intervention. Methods Data were collected as part of a prospective cohort study of children presenting at a primary care facility or tertiary hospital with suspected TB. Characterization of the childhood ecosystem included proximal, medial and distal determinants. Proximal determinants included child characteristics that could impact PTB outcomes. Medial determinants included relational factors such as caregiver health that might impact interactions with the child. Distal determinants included macro-level determinants of disease such as socioeconomic status and food insecurity. Children started on TB treatment were followed for up to 6 months. Multivariate regression models tested independent associations between factors associated with PTB in children. Results Of 1,738 children enrolled in the study, 242 (20%) of children had confirmed PTB, 756 (63%) were started on TB treatment, and 444 (37%) had respiratory conditions other than TB. In univariate analyses, childhood malnutrition and caregiver smoking were associated with treated or confirmed PTB. In multivariate analyses, proximal factors such as male gender and hospitalization and low socio-economic status as a distal factor were associated with PTB. Conclusions Interventions may need to target subgroups of children and families at elevated risk for PTB. Screening for risk factors such caregiver health may guide targeting, and provision of social protection programs to bolster economic security may be important interventions for attenuating childhood exposure to risk factors.

Aim: To determine the risk factors of valproic acid (VPA)-induced tremor, with particular attention on characterizing cerebellar atrophy and identifying tremor-susceptible gene mutations. Methods: Epileptic patients taking VPA were divided into two groups, a tremor and a non-tremor group, based on self-reported or clinically assessed tremors. A mutation of rs9652490 in the leucine-rich repeat and immunoglobulin domain-containing Nogo-receptor-interacting protein 1 (LINGO-1) gene was determined by Sanger sequencing. Cerebellar atrophy was assessed and various cerebellar dimensions were measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Results: Among 200 subjects enrolled, 181 were included for analysis (mean age 33.28±11.78 years old, male:female=2.77:1). In the tremor group, the percentage of females (p=0.036), positive tremor family history (p=0.001), and incidence of polytherapy (p=0.034), treatment duration (>12 months [p=0.013] or >24 months [p=0.008]), and daily dosage (>1,000 mg/d; p=0.003) of VPA, were significantly higher than in the non-tremor group. Treatment with VPA magnesium (p=0.030), alone or in combination with carbamazepine (p=0.040), reduced the incidence of tremor. Furthermore, 176 gene sequencing results ruled out any significant difference between the two groups in the mutation of rs9652490 within LINGO-1 (p=0.443); 86 subjects’ MRI scans indicated no significant differences in the ratio of cerebellar atrophy or the cerebellar-dimension values (p>0.05). However, mutation of rs9652490 within LINGO-1 was correlated with increased cerebellar atrophy (p=0.001), reduced cerebellar-hemisphere thickness (p=0.025), and right-cerebellar-hemisphere longitudinal diameter (p=0.047). Conclusion: Our cohort indicated risk and protective factors of VPA-induced tremor. Although mutation of rs9652490 within LINGO-1 correlated with cerebellar atrophy, neither was correlated with VPA-induced tremors.

Atrial Fibrillation is now a pandemic in our ageing community. Although Cox (1987) devised a surgical procedure with near-universal curative success, widespread clinical endorsement has not followed. Meanwhile, catheter-based interventions have flourished. For persistent Atrial Fibrillation (AF), however, an isolated endocardial approach has significant limitations: procedural times are long, carry risk, and the outcomes are poor. By combining left atrial endocardial and epicardial interventions with staged mapping, we optimise the benefits of both approaches. We report our first twenty-five consecutive patients undergoing Totally-Thoracoscopic-Maze procedure (TT), followed at three months by staged electrophysiologic (EP) mapping. Selected patients had symptomatic, lone atrial fibrillation, of greater than twelve months duration, having failed to revert despite multiple antiarrhythmic agents. Patients were excluded if they had received prior EP intervention or required additional procedures for coronary revascularisation, valvular heart disease, or thoracic surgery. The average patient age was 60 years (78% male). The main symptoms observed were palpitations (53%), fatigue (59%), chest pain (20%) and dizziness (23%). A history of transient ischemic attack was recorded in only one patient. There were no major in-hospital complications; death, stroke, left atrio-oesophageal fistula or conversions to sternotomy. Perioperative atrial-fibrillation was observed in only three patients and, with the institution of antiarrhythmics, all patients achieved sinus-rhythm. 14/25 patients progressed to staged EP mapping for an overall sinus conversion rate of 100%. Our initial series of hybrid ablation for long-standing, persistent atrial fibrillation reports excellent early outcomes, freedom from complications and universal success.

When subjected to nutritional stress, bacteria modify their amino acid metabolism and cell division activities by means of the stringent response, which is controlled by the Rsh protein in alphaproteobacteria. Although nutritional stress is common for rhizobia while infecting legume roots, the stringent response was scarcely studied in this group of soil bacteria. In this report, we obtained a mutant in the rsh gene of Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens, the N2-fixing symbiont of soybean. This mutant was defective for type-3-secretion system induction, plant-defense suppression at early root infection, and competition for nodulation. Furthermore, the mutant produced smaller nodules, although with normal morphology, which lead to lower plant biomass production. The autoregulation of nodulation in N-free condition was compromised in plants inoculated with the mutant, but it nodulated plants in the presence of 10 mM NH4NO3, a combined-N concentration inhibiting nodulation. The rsh mutant released more auxin to the culture supernatant than the wild-type, which might in part explain its symbiotic behavior in the presence of combined-N. These results indicate that B. diazoefficiens stringent response integrates into the plant defense suppression and autoregulation of nodulation circuits in soybean, perhaps mediated by the type-3-secretion system.

The present study evaluates the J-integral resulting from cold rolling and aging treatments applied to TiNbSn alloys comprising different contents of Nb (35% and 42%) and Sn (0% and 2.5%). The alloys were arc melted, homogenized, solution heat treated, cold-rolled and aged at 400 °C during different aging times. A set of characterization tests, including microstructural, scanning electron microscopy, work hardening coefficients and fracture analysis were performed. The cold worked alloys with the highest Nb content showed the highest toughness. The addition of Nb in these alloys is beneficial for toughness since Nb stabilizes the β phase. In alloys with lower Nb content, cold forming causes a greater amount of α” and this disfavors toughness. Aging caused a reduction in the alloys’ toughness, since the formation of precipitates in aging causes shallower and smaller dimples in the fracture, corroborating to a lower toughness.

Background: A systemic evaluation of the antigenic breadth of the H7 influenza hemagglutinin (HA) proteins, especially for the viruses isolated after 2016, are limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antigenic breadth of major H7 strains with an ultimate aim to discover H7 HA proteins that can elicit protective receptor-blocking antibodies against co-circulating H7 influenza strains. Method: A panel of nine H7 influenza strains were selected from 3,633 H7 HA amino acid sequences identified over the past two decades (2000-2018). The sequences were expressed on the surface of virus like particles (VLPs) and used to vaccinate C57BL/6 mice. Serum samples were collected and tested for hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) activity. The vaccinated mice were challenged with lethal dose of H7N9 virus, A/Anhui/1/2013. Results: VLPs expressing the H7 HA antigens elicited broadly reactive antibodies each of the other vaccine strains, except the A/Turkey/Italy/589/2000 (Italy/00) H7 HA. The putative N-glycosylation site at antigenic site B was identified as a unique antigenic profile of Italy/00. Introduction of the putative glycosylation site (H7 HA-A169T) significantly altered the antigenic profile of HA from the A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) strain. Conclusion: This study focused the importance of key amino acid mutations that result in severe vaccine mismatches for future H7 epidemics. Future universal influenza vaccine candidates will need to focus on viral variants with these key mutations.

The stellate ganglion block should be as emergency therapy in patients with HF and VT storm, due to the patient's hemodynamic status in the condition of ICU. This method used urgently and reduced life-threatening VT, when conservative and interventional methods were ineffective.

Abstract：Efficient reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) is one of the most effective ways to achieve high exciton utilization of pure organic electroluminescent materials. There are two factors affecting the RISC rate (kRISC): the energy difference between the singlet and triplrt excited states (ΔES-T) and the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) between the excited states. In this article, based on the theoretical calculation method which can accurately and quantitatively describe the excited state of the molecule, the typical D-A molecule TPA-NZP is used as a template to study the change of the ΔES-T and the SOC by adjusting the twisting angle of the donor and acceptor in the molecule. By studying the relationship between the excited state transition properties and the SOC, we find that different transition states have a great influence on the coupling. The two excited states are both LE states, but if the phase of the electron cloud are different, which will cause the SOC between them increased greatly; when the transition is the CT state, the SOC matrix elements between the LE state and the CT state both very small; when the singlet and triplet transitions occur in the same part, but the direction of the transition is changed may lead to a huge increase in the SOC.

Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the children worldwide. In this study, we aim to describe the aetiology of viral infection of pediatric community-acquired pneumonia in mainland China. Methods During Nov. 2014 and Jun. 2016, the prospective study was conducted at thirteen hospitals. The hospitalized children under 18 years old who met the criteria for CAP were enrolled. The throat swabs or nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from cases and screened the eighteen respiratory viruses using multiplex PCR assay. Results Viral pathogens were present in 56.6% (1539/2721) of enrolled cases, with the detection rate of single virus in 39.8% cases and multiple viruses in 16.8% cases. The most frequently detected virus was RSV (15.2%, 413/2721). The highest detection rate of virus was in < 6 m age group (70.7%). RSV, HMPV, HPIVs and Flu B showed the similar prevalence pattern both in northern and south China, but HPIVs, Flu A, HBoV, HAdV and HCoVs showed the distinct circulating patterns in northern and south China. HEV/HRV (27.6%, 27/98), HBoV (18.4%, 18/98), RSV (16.3%, 16/98) and HMPV (14.3%, 14/98) were the most commonly detected virus in severe pneumonia children with signal virus infection. Conclusions In conclusion, viral pathogens are frequently detected in pediatric CAP cases and may therefore play a vital role in the aetiology of CAP. RSV was the most important virus in hospitalized children with CAP in mainland China.

1 Extreme events such as extreme drought and rainfall are predicted to be more frequent under ongoing climate change. Biomass allocation is an important strategy for plants to respond to such changes. However, few studies explored the effects of water availability on biomass allocation of dominant plants in Inner Mongolia steppe in China. 2 A controlled experiment was conducted by treating four perennial plant species (Leymus chinensis, Stipa grandis, Artemisia frigida and Potentilla acaulis) with eight levels of water availability, which was selected based on the local annual mean precipitation, simulating rainfall scenarios facing climate change. 3 Water availability significantly affected the aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, total biomass and the ratio of belowground biomass and aboveground biomass of plants, and these effects were modified by species. Our results indicated that plants could modify their biomass allocation strategies to adapt to the gradient of water availability. 4 Climatic factors such as precipitation and temperature always co-vary, thus responses of plants to more complicated climate change (e.g. the joint variation of temperature and rainfall) should be further explored in order to better understand grassland management and restoration under climate change.

A document by David Dingli. Click on the document to view its contents.