In order to better constrain the tectonic evolution of central Asia under the influence of the India-Asia collision, we carried out a magnetostratigraphic study at the Kuitun He section, on the northern flank of the Tianshan range (northwest China). A total of 801 samples were collected from a 1559-m-thick section, which is composed mainly of fluvio-lacustrine sandstone and conglomerate. Stepwise thermal and alternating field demagnetization isolated a linear magnetization component that decays univectorally toward the origin and likely represents a primary magnetization principally carried by magnetite. From this component, 29 magnetic polarity intervals were identified. They correlate between 3.1 and 10.5 Ma with the reference magnetic polarity time scale, indicating a relatively constant sedimentation rate with an average of 0.21±0.01 mm/year. We also performed a suite of rock magnetic experiments designed to track time-transgressive changes in the sedimentary record. From the rock magnetic parameters, together with the constant sedimentation rate, we conclude that the Tianshan mountains were actively uplifting by 10.5 Ma.

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ObjectiveTo evaluate the secular trend in incidence of and mortality from Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in Taiwan, 1999–2010.MethodsAll 7,225 incident cases of T1DM were retrospectively retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 1999 to 2010. Trend of bi-annual age- and sex-specific incidence rates of T1DM was calculated and tested with Poisson regression model. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated, using age-, sex-, and calendar years-specific mortality rates of the general population as the reference, to estimate the relative mortality risk of T1DM.ResultsThe number of male and female T1DM was 3,471 (48%) and 3,754 (52%), respectively. The annual number of incident T1DM increased from 543 in 1999 to 737 in 2010. The overall bi-annual incidence rate rose from 1999–00 to 2003–04 and mildly declined thereafter rose to 2009–10, with an insignificant trend (P = 0.489) over the study period. Regardless of gender, the higher age-specific incidence rate was noted in the younger groups (<30 years) and highest at <15 years. The incidence rates in younger groups were constantly higher in female population than in male one. The SMR from all causes was significantly increased at 3.00 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 2.83–3.16) in patients with T1DM. The sex-specific SMR was 2.66 (95% CI 2.46–2.85) and 3.58 (95% CI 3.28–3.87) for male and female patients, respectively. For both sexes, the age-specific SMR peaked at 15–29 years.ConclusionsAmong T1DM patients in Taiwan, there were significant increasing trends in males and female aged <15 years. We also noted a significantly increased overall and sex-specific SMR from all causes in patients with TIDM which suggests a need for improvements in treatment and care of patients with T1DM.