Six new species of Tonsilla Wang & Yin, 1992 (Araneae: Agelenidae) from southern China, with the first description of the male of T. yanlingensis (Zhang, Yin & Kim, 2000)

Six new species of the spider genus Tonsilla Wang & Yin, 1992 are described from southern China: T. jinyunensis sp. nov. (♂♀) from Chongqing, T. jiugongensis sp. nov. (♂♀) from Hubei, T. subtruculenta sp. nov. (♂♀), T. rutunda sp. nov. (♂♀) and T. yueliangensis sp. nov. (♂) from Guizhou and T. subrostrum sp. nov. (♂♀) from Hunan. In addition, T. yanlingensis (Zhang, Yin & Kim, 2000) is redescribed and its male is described here for the first time. Tonsilla subyanlingensis Liu & Xu, 2020 is transferred to Draconarius Ovtchinnikov, 1999, hence the new combination Draconarius subyanlingensis (Liu & Xu, 2020) comb. nov. is established. The female of T. subyanlingensis Liu & Xu, 2020 should be treated as T. yanlingensis (Zhang, Yin & Kim, 2000). Detailed descriptions, photographs of copulatory organs and somatic features, a distribution map and comparisons with closely related species are presented.

Ecological Role of Bacteria Involved in the Biogeochemical Cycles of Mangroves Based on Functional Genes Detected through GeoChip 5.0

Bacteria have important functions in biogeochemical cycles, but studies on their function in an important ecosystem, mangroves, are still limited. Here, we investigated the ecological role of bacteria involved in biogeochemical cycles in seven representative mangroves of southern China.

Reinstating Traditional Horsemanship of Ethnic Minorities in Southern China by Excavation, Sorting, and Comparative Research

In August 1991, the book Chinese Nation’s Traditional Sports History was published, and it was hailed as the “masterpiece of Chinese folk sports” by academic circles. In this masterpiece, the traditional horsemanship of 23 ethnic minorities and that of 10 southern ethnic minorities represented by the Miao, Yi, Bai, Shui, Hani, Naxi, and other ethnic groups has been included. For the first time, this masterpiece integrates the traditional horsemanship of the ethnic minorities in Southern China in one volume. The disadvantage is that most of the included traditional horsemanship of ethnic minorities only made a brief introduction to the time, place, and form of its development. However, under the global trend of the transition from traditional society to modern society and post-modern society, the traditional horsemanship of ethnic minorities in Southern China is facing an increasingly serious crisis of inheritance and disconnection, resulting in a gradual extinction of related traditional cultural heritage. The characteristics are gradually lost because of it. Therefore, it is essential to return to the historical and cultural field of traditional horsemanship, conduct rescue excavation, sort out the traditional horsemanship of ethnic minorities in Southern China, rescue the records of traditional horsemanship that is disappearing or undergoing drastic changes, as well as carry out comparative studies on this basis. This is not only an important way to inherit the traditional culture of ethnic minorities, but also means to protect the diversity of ethnic cultures and promote the development of exotic villages.

Molecular and Antigenic Characterization of Avian H9N2 Viruses in Southern China

The H9N2 low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) virus has become endemic in poultry globally. In several Asian countries, vaccination against H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) was approved to reduce economic losses in the poultry industry.

Trends in Obesity and Metabolic Status in Northern and Southern China Between 2012 and 2020

Background: The trends of obesity-associated metabolic status in Chinese are lacking, especially those from different regions.Objectives: To examine the trends of obesity and metabolic status among Chinese population in 2012–2020.Methods: In a series cross-sectional study, data on 256,782 participants surveyed between 2014 and 2020 in Beijing, northern China, and 697,170 participants surveyed between 2012 and 2020 in Hunan, southern China were analyzed. Anthropometrics, blood pressure measurements, and blood tests were performed according to standard protocols. Trends in obesity and metabolic status were evaluated using the Joinpoint software.Results: Based on age- and sex-standardized values, the mean BMI values in northern and southern participants were 23.94 (95% CI: 23.93, 23.95) and 23.68 (95% CI: 23.67, 23.69) kg/m2, respectively. Between 2014 and 2020, the overall obesity prevalence among northern participants increased from 12.70% (95% CI: 12.17, 13.23%) to 14.33% (95% CI: 13.97, 14.70%) (P = 0.009), mainly derived by the 20–39 and 40–59 age groups. Moreover, the prevalence of metabolically healthy obese significantly increased from 2.07% (95% CI: 1.84, 2.30%) to 4.33% (95% CI: 4.13, 4.53%) in Northerners. Between 2012 and 2020, no significant trend in obesity was found among overall southern participants, but the prevalence of metabolically unhealthy obese significantly increased from 5.36% (95% CI: 5.18, 5.54%) to 7.35% (95% CI: 7.11, 7.58%), mainly derived by the 20–39 and 40–59 age groups.Conclusions: The trends in obesity and metabolic status were different between southern and northern Chinese. A national weight control plan is needed in China, focusing on young and middle-aged population.

Extensive Dissection at No. 12 Station During D2 Lymphadenectomy Improves Survival for Advanced Lower-Third Gastric Cancer: A Retrospective Study From a Single Center in Southern China

BackgroundD2 lymphadenectomy including No. 12a dissection has been accepted as a standard surgical management of advanced lower-third gastric cancer (GC). The necessity of extensive No. 12 nodes (No. 12a, 12b, and 12p) dissection remains controversial. This study aims to explore its impact on long-term survival for resectable GC.MethodsFrom 2009 to 2016, 353 advanced lower-third GC patients undergoing at least D2 lymphadenectomy during a radical surgery were included, with 179 patients receiving No. 12a, 12b, and 12p dissection as study group. A total of 174 patients with No. 12a dissection were employed as control group. Surgical and long-term outcomes including 90-day complications incidence, therapeutic value index (TVI), 3-year progression-free survival (PFS), and 5-year overall survival (OS) were compared between both groups.ResultsNo. 12 lymph node metastasis was observed in 20 (5.7%) patients, with 10 cases in each group (5.6% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.948). The metastatic rates at No. 12a, 12b, and 12p were 5.7%, 2.2%, and 1.7%, respectively. The incidence of 90-day complications was identical between both groups. Extensive No. 12 dissection was associated with increased TVI at No. 12 station (3.9 vs. 0.6), prolonged 3-year PFS rate (67.0% vs. 55.9%, p = 0.045) and 5-year OS rate (66.2% vs. 54.0%, p = 0.027). The further Cox-regression analysis showed that the 12abp dissection was an independent prognostic factor of improved survival (p = 0.026).ConclusionAdding No. 12b and 12p lymph nodes to D2 lymphadenectomy might be effective in surgical treatment of advanced lower-third GC and improve oncological outcomes compared with No. 12a-based D2 lymphadenectomy.