Enhancing the learnability of Chinese–English dictionaries for Chinese as a foreign language learners: the neglected legacy of Robert Morrison in his compilation of Wuche Yunfu (1819)

In previous studies on learner lexicography, design features of both the content and presentation of learner's dictionaries are the two major research concerns. The quality assessment of learner's dictionaries also covers the two dimensions. Terms used for evaluating them are respectively "usability" or "availability" for the former and "findability" or "accessibility" for the latter. However, the lexicographical construction of "learnability", which takes into account the users' reference and learning needs, remains virtually unexplored either theoretically or practically. Compared to the features of dictionary design mentioned above, "learnability" as the design phi-losophy of learner lexicography is worth more serious consideration. The present paper aims at exploring the lexicographical notion of "learnability" by way of introducing the neglected legacy of Robert Morrison in his compilation of Wuche Yunfu (五车韵府) (1819)1, which is characterized by a high degree of learnability illustrated in the dictionary entries. Morrison's pioneering efforts may help with the conceptual clarification of "learnability" in compiling learner's dictionaries, bilingual ones in particular. Moreover, it is hoped that the recognition of Morrison's lexicographical practice will be beneficial to the future production of better Chinese–English dictionaries for non-native Chinese learners.Keywords: learnerability, learner lexicography, Chinese as a for foreign language learners, Wuche Yunfu, Chinese–English dictionaries, bilingua

Comparison of a unified analysis approach for family and unrelated samples with the transmission-disequilibrium test to study associations of hypertension in the Framingham Heart Study

Population stratification is one of the major causes of spurious associations in association studies. A unified association approach based on principal-component analysis can overcome the effect of population stratification, as well as make use of both family and unrelated samples combined to increase power (family-case-control, or FamCC). In this study, we compared FamCC and the transmission-disequilibrium test (TDT) using data on hypertension, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure in the Framingham Heart Study. Our study indicated FamCC has reasonable type I error for both the unrelated sample and the family sample for all three traits. For these three traits, we found results from FamCC were inconsistent with those from the TDT. We discuss the reasons for this inconsistency. After correcting for multiple tests, we did not detect any significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms by either FamCC or the TDT

Rhizosphere soil nutrients and bacterial community diversity of four broad-leaved trees planted under Chinese fir stands with different stocking density levels

ObjectiveRhizosphere soil nutrients and bacterial diversity of four broad-leaved tree species underplanted in Chinese fir plantation with different stand density levels were analyzed to reveal characteristics of the rhizosphere soil environment and selection of suitable underplanted tree species. MethodsChinese fir plantation with three density levels (900, 1,200, and 1,875 stems ha(-1), respectively) were selected and underplanted with Michelia macclurei, Schima superba, Phoebe zhennan, and Tsoongiodendron odorum. The rhizosphere soil nutrients and bacterial community of the broad-leaved tree species were determined after 4 years. ResultsSignificant differences in rhizosphere nutrient content were detected among different tree density levels, where the contents of total K, available K and available P in 900 stems ha(-1) stands were significantly higher than the other stocking density levels. There were also significant differences in the contents of total C, total N, total K, available K and available P in the rhizosphere soils of the four trees species, while there were no significant differences in pH and total P. Rhizosphere soil nutrient contents were higher under S. superba and M. macclurei than under P. zhennan and T. odorum. The rhizosphere soil nutrient contents and bacterial diversity decreased with the increase of stand density, and the bacterial diversity showed significant differences in the rhizosphere soils of P. zhennan, T. odorum and S. superba when underplanted in different stand densities. The bacterial diversity was positively correlated with the available P content of rhizosphere soils, suggesting that soil available P content plays an important role in shaping the structure of bacterial community. ConclusionThe nutrient contents and bacterial diversity of rhizosphere soils of underplated broad-leaved species decreased with increasing stand density of Chinese fir plantation. Rhizosphere soils of M. macclurei and S. superba were rich in nutrient contents and bacterial diversity. Thus, low density of Chinese fir plantation (900 stems ha(-1)) underplanted with M. macclurei and S. superba is suitable for the establishment of mixed forest, which will facilitate better tree growth and maintaining soil fertility to realize sustainable management of forests

Decoding microbial genomes to understand their functional roles in human complex diseases

Complex diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), kidney disease, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and cancer have become a major burden to public health and affect more than 20% of the population worldwide. The etiology of complex diseases is not yet clear, but they are traditionally thought to be caused by genetics and environmental factors (e.g., dietary habits), and by their interactions. Besides this, increasing pieces of evidence now highlight that the intestinal microbiota may contribute substantially to the health and disease of the human host via their metabolic molecules. Therefore, decoding the microbial genomes has been an important strategy to shed light on their functional potential. In this review, we summarize the roles of the gut microbiome in complex diseases from its functional perspective. We further introduce artificial tools in decoding microbial genomes to profile their functionalities. Finally, state-of-the-art techniques have been highlighted which may contribute to a mechanistic understanding of the gut microbiome in human complex diseases and promote the development of the gut microbiome-based personalized medicine.</p

Capability of common SNPs to tag rare variants

Genome-wide association studies are based on the linkage disequilibrium pattern between common tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (i.e., SNPs having only common alleles) and true causal variants, and association studies with rare SNP alleles aim to detect rare causal variants. To better understand and explain the findings from both types of studies and to provide clues to improve the power of an association study with only common SNPs genotyped, we study the correlation between common SNPs and the presence of rare alleles within a region in the genome and look at the capability of common SNPs in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other to capture single rare alleles. Our results indicate that common SNPs can, to some extent, tag the presence of rare alleles and that including SNPs in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other among the tagging SNPs helps to detect rare alleles

Folic acid therapy reduces the first stroke risk associated with hypercholesterolemia among hypertensive patients

Background and Purpose - We sought to determine whether folic acid supplementation can independently reduce the risk of first stroke associated with elevated total cholesterol levels in a subanalysis using data from the CSPPT (China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial), a double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Methods - A total of 20 702 hypertensive adults without a history of major cardiovascular disease were randomly assigned to a double-blind daily treatment of an enalapril 10-mg and a folic acid 0.8-mg tablet or an enalapril 10-mg tablet alone. The primary outcome was first stroke. Results - The median treatment duration was 4.5 years. For participants not receiving folic acid treatment (enalapril-only group), high total cholesterol (≥ 200 mg/dL) was an independent predictor of first stroke when compared with low total cholesterol (\u3c200 mg/dL; 4.0% versus 2.6%; hazard ratio, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.97; P=0.001). Folic acid supplementation significantly reduced the risk of first s roke among participants with high total cholesterol (4.0% in the enalapril-only group versus 2.7% in the enalapril-folic acid group; hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.56-0.84 P\u3c0.001; number needed to treat, 78; 95% confidence interval, 52-158), independent of baseline folate levels and other important covariates. By contrast, among participants with low total cholesterol, the risk of stroke was 2.6% in the enalapril-only group versus 2.5% in the enalapril-folic acid group (hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-1.30; P=0.982). The effect was greater among participants with elevated total cholesterol (P for interaction=0.024). Conclusions - Elevated total cholesterol levels may modify the benefits of folic acid therapy on first stroke. Folic acid supplementation reduced the risk of first stroke associated with elevated total cholesterol by 31% among hypertensive adults without a history of major cardiovascular diseases

Linkage and related analyses of Barrett's esophagus and its associated adenocarcinomas

BACKGROUND: Familial aggregation and segregation analysis studies have provided evidence of a genetic basis for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and its premalignant precursor, Barrett's esophagus (BE). We aim to demonstrate the utility of linkage analysis to identify the genomic regions that might contain the genetic variants that predispose individuals to this complex trait (BE and EAC). METHODS: We genotyped 144 individuals in 42 multiplex pedigrees chosen from 1000 singly ascertained BE/EAC pedigrees, and performed both model‐based and model‐free linkage analyses, using S.A.G.E. and other software. Segregation models were fitted, from the data on both the 42 pedigrees and the 1000 pedigrees, to determine parameters for performing model‐based linkage analysis. Model‐based and model‐free linkage analyses were conducted in two sets of pedigrees: the 42 pedigrees and a subset of 18 pedigrees with female affected members that are expected to be more genetically homogeneous. Genome‐wide associations were also tested in these families. RESULTS: Linkage analyses on the 42 pedigrees identified several regions consistently suggestive of linkage by different linkage analysis methods on chromosomes 2q31, 12q23, and 4p14. A linkage on 15q26 is the only consistent linkage region identified in the 18 female‐affected pedigrees, in which the linkage signal is higher than in the 42 pedigrees. Other tentative linkage signals are also reported. CONCLUSION: Our linkage study of BE/EAC pedigrees identified linkage regions on chromosomes 2, 4, 12, and 15, with some reported associations located within our linkage peaks. Our linkage results can help prioritize association tests to delineate the genetic determinants underlying susceptibility to BE and EAC

Predicting Barrett's Esophagus in Families: An Esophagus Translational Research Network (BETRNet) Model Fitting Clinical Data to a Familial Paradigm

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is often asymptomatic and only a small portion of BE patients are currently diagnosed and under surveillance. Therefore, it is important to develop risk prediction models to identify high-risk individuals with BE. Familial aggregation of BE and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), and the increased risk of EAC for individuals with a family history, raise the necessity of including genetic factors in the prediction model. Methods to determine risk prediction models using both risk covariates and ascertained family data are not well-developed

Effect of plasticity of the cladding with different thicknesses on the bearing capacity of the brittle base wall of RPV under PTS loads

In the research field of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) subjected to pressurized thermal shock (PTS), the traditional linear elastic analytical method generally ignores the plastic properties of cladding. In fact, the neutron irradiation in RPV is easy to cause the embrittlement of the base material rather than cladding. So the elastic-plastic parameters of cladding are introduced into the FE model of the RPV with a sub-clad crack. The stress distributions in the thermal-mechanical coupling fields related to the base wall and cladding of different thicknesses are then obtained. The XFEM is used to simulate the crack growth in the nozzle area. The allowable internal pressure in the dangerous moment of the PTS is calculated to show the ultimate bearing capacity of the structure. The numerical results are compared with those only considering the elasticity of cladding. Furthermore, the law of the effect of plasticity of cladding on the structural safety is summarized