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As COVID-19 drastically affects cross-border mobility, virtual mobility emerges as a viable alternative to cope with the crisis. This article reports on the integrated findings of an exploratory sequential mixed methods design to understand benefits and challenges of virtual mobility at a Chinese university and future projection of outbound student mobility. The mixed methods design used in this study is characterized by an initial quantitative phase of data collection and analysis, followed by a phase of qualitative data collection and analysis, with a final phase of integration or linking of data from the two separate strands of data. The study suggests Chinese students appreciate the flexibility and economic advantages of virtual mobility but also express concerns on several limitations. Online mobility may be viewed as a complement or alternative for Chinese institutions when the COVID-19 crisis is over. As Chinese universities are promoting internationalization at home, the number of virtual programmes available to Chinese students will surge. In this context, coupled with the stress of geopolitical instability, the growth in Chinese student mobility may be entering a period of contraction, which may exert profound impacts on a global scale.

Partitioning soil water balance (SWB) is an effective approach for deciphering the impacts of vegetation change on soil hydrological processes. Growing apple trees on the Loess Plateau, China, leads to a substantial deep soil water deficit, posing a serious threat to the sustainable development of apple production. However, the impact of deep-rooted apple trees on SWB remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a "Paired Plot" experiment to achieve this objective by decoupling SWB components using water stable isotopes, tritium, and soil water contents from deep soil cores (up to 25 m) under apple orchards with a stand age gradient of 8–23 years. The results showed that deep soil water storage under apple orchards was notably reduced compared to nearby farmland, showing a stand age-related pattern of deep soil water deficit (R2 = 0.91). By analyzing the changing patterns of SWB components, we found that the main factor driving this deficit is the water uptake process controlled by the deep root system. This process is triggered by the increased transpiration demand of apple trees and short-term water scarcity. These findings have implications for understanding soil water dynamics, sustainable agroforestry management, and soil water resources' protection in this region and other similar water-limited areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the background of urbanization in China, we used the dynamic spatial panel Durbin model to study the driving mechanism of ozone pollution empirically. We also analyzed the spatial distribution of ozone driving factors using the GTWR. The results show that: i) The average annual increase of ozone concentration in ambient air in China from 2015 to 2019 was 1.68μg/m3, and 8.39μg/m3 elevated the year 2019 compared with 2015. ii) The Moran's I value of ozone in ambient air was 0.027 in 2015 and 0.209 in 2019, showing the spatial distribution characteristics of "east heavy and west light" and "south low and north high". iii) Per capita GDP industrial structure, population density, land expansion, and urbanization rate have significant spillover effects on ozone concentration, and the regional spillover effect is greater than the local effect. R&D intensity and education level have a significant negative impact on ozone concentration. iv) There is a decreasing trend in the inhibitory effect of educational attainment and R&D intensity on ozone concentration, and an increasing trend in the promotional effect of population urbanization rate, land expansion, and economic development on ozone concentration. Empirical results suggest a twofold policy meaning: i) to explore the causes behind the distribution of ozone from the new perspective of urbanization, and to further the atmospheric environmental protection system and ii) to eliminate the adverse impacts of ozone pollution on nature and harmonious social development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of intensive poultry breeding in China, the demand for poultry feed raw materials is increasing rapidly. However, the shortage of cereal feed and the persistently high price make it urgent for poultry feed production industry to explore cheaper energy alternative feed. Cassava has the characteristics of high yield, rich starch and fiber, high energy value, etc. It can replace corn or other energy feed in poultry breeding. The effective use of cassava products has been proved to reduce the feed cost of poultry production. However, the utilization of cassava is limited by many factors, such as low protein and anti-nutritional factors. Using correct processing and scientific formula, the addition level of cassava in poultry diet can be improved. In this paper, the nutritional characteristics, feed utilization, and application of cassava in poultry diet were reviewed, which provided a reference for the application of cassava in poultry diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the effect of the spontaneous imbibition (SI) and waterflooding on oil recovery in the tight sandstone reservoirs, we selected three pairs of tight sandstone samples from the Ordos Basin in China to conduct the SI-plus-waterflooding and waterflooding-only experiments, and monitor the oil distribution and flow characteristics by using the low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. One interesting observation was that oil extracted in the SI process mainly comes from macropores and micropores, which doesn't agree with the previous results wherein oil was produced from micropores, and oil was produced from the mesopores during the waterflooding after the SI process. The oil recovery factor of tight sandstone samples in the process of the SI-plus-waterflooding was more than 50%, and even more than 85%, which was greater than that in the waterflooding-only process. Moreover, we found that our tight sandstone samples behaved lower residual oil saturation, and wider oil-water two-phase co-flow region during the SI-plus-waterflooding process than that did during the waterflooding-only process. These differences in behavior appear to be linked to the fluid dynamic characteristics and capillary pressure acting on the flow fluid during the two processes. In summary, the SI-plus-waterflooding overcame the limitations related to waterflooding-only and further improved oil recovery factor in the tight sandstones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the implementation of the three-child policy and delayed retirement policy, the conflicts between childcare responsibility and mothers' labor supply in China have increased dramatically. The present study utilized data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies to investigate the impacts of grandparental childcare on the labor supply of mothers with children aged 0–6 years. The results of the Probit model and Tobit model indicated that grandparental childcare could significantly increase mother's labor force participation rate and extend their weekly working hours. The relation of grandparental childcare to mothers' labor force participation in one-child families was stronger compared with multi-child families. However, its relation to mothers' working hours in one-child families was smaller than that in multi-child families. Furthermore, the effect of grandparental childcare on mothers' labor supply was more pronounced when children were younger, particularly for those with children aged 0–2 years. The findings highlight the important role of grandparental childcare and have several implications for family support policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Miao" ethnic group is among the 56 minority groups in China. Their ideas of education for young children differ from that of the mainstream education system in China. This study examines the scenario of early childhood education for "Miao" children living in villages of Guizhou Province. It discusses the history and traditions of the "Miaos" and the kinds and forms of education provided, but not necessarily desired, for their children between 3 and 5 years old. School principals and teachers responded to such issues, and visual data collected during a field trip to two different villages were used to triangulate the responses. Findings show that even though there has been a strong belief that links poverty to the opportunity of schooling, empirical evidence from this study cannot yet confirm this argument. Parents' views of schooling were considered as influential factors. Nonetheless, challenges of early childhood education in rural areas, especially in underprivileged villages, of China are still inseparable from availability of resources and the government's initiatives.

Science motivation is an important factor that directly influences students' science learning. Numerous studies have been undertaken to develop and validate questionnaire items for measuring students' motivation in science learning. This study is the first longitudinal examination of the Chinese version of Science Motivation Questionnaire II (SMQ II-C) in a Chinese cultural context. Using two waves of surveys, we evaluated its internal structure validity and criterion-related validity. Results showed that at each time point, scores were internally consistent and the hypothesized five-factor model was confirmed as the best model fit for the data. Results of multigroup invariance revealed the structure of the SMQ II-C was equivalent within gender subgroups. Furthermore, the present study added longitudinal invariance evidence of the SMQ II-C by sampling two-time points. Overall, this study suggests the SMQ II-C is a robust instrument for evaluating Chinese high school students' motivation to learn science. Furthermore, boys yielded higher scores than girls among all five subscales of science motivation and significant gender differences were observed in both waves. Implications and limitations of these results are discussed.

Study question: The objective was to construct a model for predicting the probability of recurrent implantation failure (RIF) after assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment based on the clinical characteristics and routine laboratory test data of infertile patients. Summary answer: A model was developed to predict RIF. The model showed high calibration in external validation, helped to identify risk factors for RIF, and improved the efficacy of ART therapy. What is known already: Research on the influencing factors of RIF has focused mainly on embryonic factors, endometrial receptivity, and immune factors. However, there are many kinds of examinations regarding these aspects, and comprehensive screening is difficult because of the limited time and economic conditions. Therefore, we should try our best to analyse the results of routine infertility screenings to make general predictions regarding the occurrence of RIF. Study design, size, duration: A retrospective study was conducted with 5212 patients at the Reproductive Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC from January 2018 to June 2022. Participants/materials, setting, methods: This study included 462 patients in the RIF group and 4750 patients in the control group. The patients' basic characteristics, clinical treatment data, and laboratory test indices were compared. Logistic regression was used to analyse RIF-related risk factors, and the prediction model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the corresponding areas under the curve (AUCs). Further analysis of the influencing factors of live births in the first cycle of subsequent assisted reproduction treatment in RIF patients was performed, including the live birth subgroup (n = 116) and the no live birth subgroup (n = 200). Main results and the role of chance: (1) An increased duration of infertility (1.978; 95% CI, 1.264–3.097), uterine cavity abnormalities (2.267; 95% CI, 1.185–4.336), low AMH levels (0.504; 95% CI, 0.275–0.922), insulin resistance (3.548; 95% CI, 1.931–6.519), antinuclear antibody (ANA)-positive status (3.249; 95% CI, 1.20-8.797) and anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibody (A-β2-GPI Ab)-positive status (5.515; 95% CI, 1.481–20.536) were associated with an increased risk of RIF. The area under the curve of the logistic regression model was 0.900 (95% CI, 0.870–0.929) for the training cohort and 0.895 (95% CI, 0.865–0.925) for the testing cohort. (2) Advanced age (1.069; 95% CI, 1.015–1.126) was a risk factor associated with no live births after the first cycle of subsequent assisted reproduction treatment in patients with RIF. Blastocyst transfer (0.365; 95% CI = 0.181–0.736) increased the probability of live birth in subsequent cycles in patients with RIF. The area under the curve of the logistic regression model was 0.673 (95% CI, 0.597–0.748). Limitations, reasons for caution: This was a single-centre regression study, for which the results need to be evaluated and verified by prospective large-scale randomized controlled studies. The small sample size for the analysis of factors influencing pregnancy outcomes in subsequent assisted reproduction cycles for RIF patients resulted in the inclusion of fewer covariates, and future studies with larger samples and the inclusion of more factors are needed for assessment and validation. Wider implications of the findings: Prediction of embryo implantation prior to transfer will facilitate the clinical management of patients and disease prediction and further improve ART treatment outcomes. Study funding/competing interest(s): This work was supported by the General Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 82,201,792, 82,301,871, 81,971,446, and 82,374,212) and the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (No. 2208085MH206). There are no conflicts of interest to declare. Trial registration number: This study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Register (Clinical Trial Number: ChiCTR1800018298). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orychophragmus violaceus (L.) O. E. Schulz (Brassicaceae) is widely distributed and plentiful in China and has been widely used for its application in ornamental, oil, ecology, foraging, and food. Recent studies have revealed that the main components of Orychophragmus violaceus include flavonoids, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, etc., which have pharmacological activities such as antioxidation, antiradiation, antitumor, hepatic protection, antiferroptosis, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. In this paper, the nutritional value, chemical compositions, pharmacological activity, and application value of Orychophragmus violaceus are summarized by referring to the relevant domestic and international literature to provide a reference for further research, development, and utilization of Orychophragmus violaceus in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of this study was to understand the caregiving experiences of breast cancer family caregivers and explore the profound impacts of those experiences on their quality of life. Design: A qualitative research method was used. Methods: We extended invitations to 23 family caregivers of outpatients and inpatients receiving breast surgery and oncology treatments in Taiyuan, China, to participate in semi‐structured interviews. The interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the interview data. Results: Four themes and associated categories were identified: (1) changes in family dynamics, (2) the socio‐medical context, (3) interactions between family and society, (4) self‐efficacy and nine subthemes and their related categories, where virtually all participants expressed future uncertainty, emotional contagion, and personal challenges, and self‐efficacy had a moderating influence on the first three themes. Patient or Public Contribution: This study did not involve direct participation of patients or the public. However, their experiences and perspectives on caregiving were indirectly reflected through the insights provided by the family caregivers who participated in the interviews. Their valuable input contributed to a deeper understanding of the caregiving experience and its impact on the quality of life for Chinese breast cancer family caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of inverse ratio ventilation (IRV) strategy on cardiopulmonary function in obese patients under general anesthesia. Databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wangfang, WeiP, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and PubMed were systematically searched. All randomized controlled trials' literature on IRV during laparoscopic surgery in obese patients under general anesthesia was collected. After data were extracted and cross-checked, Rev Man 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. Finally, five randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) were included in the meta-analysis, with a total of 312 patients. Compared with the conventional ventilation group, the inspiratory peak pressure was lower at pneumoperitoneum 30 min and pneumoperitoneum 60 min; the PaO2 and oxygenation index were higher at pneumoperitoneum 60 min, and mean airway pressure was higher at pneumoperitoneum 30 min and pneumoperitoneum 60 min; the dynamic lung compliance was superior at pneumoperitoneum 30 min and pneumoperitoneum 60 min. IRV applied to laparoscopic surgery in obese patients under general anesthesia not only reduces peak airway pressure and improves intraoperative oxygenation index and PaO2 but also enhances mean airway pressure and dynamic lung compliance, which has a specific lung protective effect. It can be used as an option for the mechanical ventilation model in obese patients in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wangjiazhuang Cu (‐Mo) deposit, located within the Zouping volcanic basin in western Shandong Province, China, is unique in this area for having an economic value. In order to expound the metallogenetic characteristics of this porphyry‐like hydrothermal deposit, a detailed fluid inclusion study has been conducted, employing the techniques of representative sampling, fluid inclusion petrography, microthermometry, Raman spectroscopy, LA‐ICP‐MS analysis of single fluid inclusions, as well as cathode fluorescence spectrometer analysis of host mineral quartz. The deposit contains mainly two types of orebodies, i.e. veinlet‐dissemination‐stockwork orebodies in the K‐Si alteration zone and pegmatitic‐quartz sulfide veins above them. In addition, minor breccia ore occurs locally. Four types of fluid inclusions in the deposit and altered quartz monzonite are identified: L‐type one‐ or two‐phase aqueous inclusions, V‐type vapor‐rich inclusions with V/L ratios greater than 50%–90%, D‐type multiphase fluid inclusions containing daughter minerals or solids and S‐type silicate‐bearing fluid inclusions containing mainly muscovite and biotite. Ore petrography and fluid inclusion study has revealed a three‐stage mineralization process, driven by magmatic‐hydrothermal fluid activity, as follows. Initially, a hydrothermal fluid, separated from the parent magma, infiltrated into the quartz monzonite, resulting in its extensive K‐Si alteration, as indicated by silicate‐bearing fluid inclusions trapped in altered quartz monzonite. This is followed by the early mineralization, the formation of quartz veinlets and dissemination‐stockwork ores. During the main mineralization stage, due to the participation and mixing of meteoric groundwater with magmatic‐sourced hydrothermal fluid, the cooling and phase separation caused deposition of metals from the hydrothermal fluids. As a result, the pegmatitic‐quartz sulfide‐vein ores formed. In the late mineralization stage, decreasing fluid salinity led to the formation of L‐type aqueous inclusions and chalcopyrite‐sulfosalt ore. Coexistence of V‐type and D‐type inclusions and their similar homogenization temperatures with different homogenization modes suggest that phase separation or boiling of the ore‐forming fluids took place during the early and the main mineralization stages. The formation P‐T conditions of S‐type inclusions and the early and the main mineralization stages were estimated as ca. 156–182 MPa and 450–650°C, 350–450°C, 18–35 MPa and 280–380°C, 8–15 MPa, respectively, based on the microthermometric data of the fluid inclusions formed at the individual stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Dehydration is one of the common complications of dysphagia and poses significant risks including hospitalization and mortality, but the relationship between dysphagia and dehydration has received little attention. This study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors for dehydration of patients with dysphagia in eastern China, and to provide reference for early identification and prevention of dehydration. Methods: A descriptive, cross‐sectional design was conducted. Three hundred and thirty‐seven (n = 337) patients with dysphagia participated in the study between August and December 2022. Information relating to participants' demographic variables, nutrition, cognition, functional, hydration status and fluid intake was collected. Univariate analysis was used to examine related impact factors, and then binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine reliable impact factors. Results: Among 337 patients with dysphagia, the average age was 63.47 ± 16.96, most participants were male (72.1%) and married (91.7%). The prevalence of dehydration was calculated to be 43.9%, the mean plasma osmolality score was 293.53 mmol/L. Diseases with the highest prevalence were stroke (78.3%), followed by hypertension (63.5%). The risk for dehydration increased with older age, usage of more medicines such as diuretics and beta‐blockers, worse functional status and lower fluid intake. Conclusion: This study found a high percentage of dehydration in patients with dysphagia. Findings can provide a basis for targeted nursing interventions for clinical prevention and treatment of dehydration. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Dehydration is one of the adverse consequences of dysphagia, and it causes physical stress to sufferers and enormous costs to the health care system.Previous studies have identified that personal factors (age, gender, health condition etc.), living environment, and social support may affect dehydration What this paper adds? Results showed high percentages of dehydration among patients with dysphagia; older age, greater use of medicines such as diuretics and beta‐blockers, worse functional status and lower fluid intake played a crucial role in hospital patients with dysphagia, leading to dehydration. The implications of this paper: This paper reveals prevalence and risk factors associated with dehydration of patients with dysphagia in hospital.Findings could provide reference data for development of nursing preventive interventions, to reduce the incidence of dehydration and improve the health level of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bactrian camels inhabiting desert and semi-desert regions of China are valuable animal models for studying adaptation to desert environments and heat stress. In this study, 16S rRNA technology was employed to investigate the distribution characteristics and differences of mucosal microorganisms in the anterior gland area, posterior gland area, third gland area, cardia gland area, gastric fundic gland area and pyloric gland area of 5-peak adult healthy Bactrian camels. We aimed to explore the possible reasons for the observed microbial distribution from the aspects of histological structure and mucosal immunity. Bacteroides and Fibrobacteria accounted for 59.54% and 3.22% in the gland area, respectively, and 52.37% and 1.49% in the wrinkled stomach gland area, respectively. The gland area showed higher abundance of Bacteroides and Fibrobacteria than the wrinkled stomach gland area. Additionally, the anterior gland area, posterior gland area, third gland area, and cardia gland area of Bactrian camels mainly secreted acidic mucus, while the gastric fundic gland area mainly secreted neutral mucus and the pyloric region mainly secreted a mixture of acidic and neutral mucus. The results of immunohistochemistry techniques demonstrated that the number of IgA+ cells in the anterior glandular area, posterior glandular area, third glandular area, and cardia gland area was significantly higher than that in the fundic and pyloric gland area (p < 0.05), and the difference in IgA+ between the fundic and pyloric gland area was not significant (p > 0.05). The study revealed a large number of bacteria that can digest and degrade cellulose on the mucosa of the gastric gland area of Bactrian camels. The distribution of IgA+ cells, the structure of the mucosal tissue in the glandular region, and the composition of the mucus secreted on its surface may have a crucial influence on microbial fixation and differential distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smartphone location data provide the most direct field disaster distribution data with low cost and high coverage. The large-scale continuous sampling of mobile device location data provides a new way to estimate the distribution of disasters with high temporal–spatial resolution. On September 5, 2022, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Luding County, Sichuan Province, China. We quantitatively analyzed the Ms 6.8 earthquake from both temporal and geographic dimensions by combining 1,806,100 smartphone location records and 4,856 spatial grid locations collected through communication big data with the smartphone data under 24-hour continuous positioning. In this study, the deviation of multidimensional mobile terminal location data is estimated, and a methodology to estimate the distribution of out-of-service communication base stations in the disaster area by excluding micro error data users is explored. Finally, the mathematical relationship between the seismic intensity and the corresponding out-of-service rate of communication base stations is established, which provides a new technical concept and means for the rapid assessment of post-earthquake disaster distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this research was to stratify the level of frailty to examine the risk factors associated with reversible cognitive frailty (RCF) and potentially reversible cognitive frailty (PRCF) in nursing homes to provide a basis for hierarchical management in different stages of frailty. Methods: The study was a cross‐sectional study conducted from September to November 2022; 504 people were selected by stratified random sampling after convenience selection from the Home for the Aged Guangzhou. The structured questionnaire survey was conducted through face‐to‐face interviews using the general data questionnaire, Fried Frailty Phenotype, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale. Results: In total, 452 individuals were included for analysis. A total of 229 cases (50.7%) were PRCF, 70 (15.5%) were RCF. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that in pre‐frailty, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS‐15) score (odds ratio (OR) 1.802; 95% CI 1.308–2.483), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) score (0.352; 0.135–0.918) and energy (0.288; 0.110–0.755) were influencing factors of RCF. GDS‐15 score (1.805; 1.320–2.468), IADL score (0.268; 0.105–0.682), energy (0.377; 0.150–0.947), lack of intellectual activity (6.118; 1.067–35.070), admission time(>3 years) (9.969; 1.893–52.495) and low education (3.465; 1.211–9.912) were influencing factors of PRCF. However, RCF with frailty was associated with the Short‐Form Mini‐Nutritional Assessment (MNA‐SF) score (0.301; 0.123–0.739) and low education time (0 ~ 12 years) (0.021; 0.001–0.826). PRCF with frailty was associated with age (1.327; 1.081–1.629) and weekly exercise time (0.987; 0.979–0.995). Conclusions: The prevalence of RCF and PRCF was high among pre‐frail and frail older adults in nursing homes. Different levels of frailty had different influencing factors for RCF and PRCF. Depression, daily living ability, energy, intellectual activity, admission time, education level, nutrition status, age and exercise time were associated with RCF and PRCF. Hierarchical management and intervention should be implemented for different stages of frailty to prevent or delay the progression of cognitive frailty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The treatment options for moderate to severe psoriasis (msPsO) in China have been greatly increased with the approvals of biologics. However, the unmet needs and treatment preferences of systemic treatments for msPsO in China remain unclarified. Methods: Fifty dermatologists and 300 patients with msPsO (41% with severe psoriasis) were surveyed for effectiveness, safety, treatment convenience, and treatment preferences (using a choice-based conjoint questionnaire). Descriptive statistics and conjoint simulation analyses were employed to summarize survey information and assess treatment preferences. Results: Both patients and dermatologists reported shorter treatment duration for oral drugs (2.7–6.2 months) than that for biologics (9.5–17.0 months). The most frequently reported treatment discontinuation reasons by the surveyed patients and dermatologists were unsatisfactory effectiveness (average 84.5%) for oral drugs and loss of efficacy over time (average 68.5%) for biologics. Commonly reported treatment inconveniences included regular lab tests for traditional oral drugs (average 71.5%) and administration assistance for biologics (average 58.0%). Injection site reactions (average 51.5%) and needle fear (average 35.5%) were frequently reported for biologics among the surveyed patients and dermatologists. Once-daily oral treatment was preferred over biweekly subcutaneous injection treatment when the two had comparable attributes (average in patients 87.1% vs. 12.9%; average in dermatologists 93.4% vs. 6.6%). Conclusions: Unmet needs of systemic treatments remain for msPsO in China. Once-daily oral treatment is preferred over biweekly subcutaneous injections to treat msPsO when other treatment attributes are comparable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to evaluate the perceptions of pressure injury (PI) management staff regarding skin failure (SF). Additionally, an analysis of influencing factors based on the collected data was conducted to establish a foundation for targeted SF training. A descriptive, cross‐sectional survey was undertaken in October–November 2023, utilising a convenience sampling method involving selected management staff of PI from 16 provinces in China. A total of 501 nursing participants were included, exhibiting an overall perception level that was moderately low. Although the majority were aware of the possibility of SF (n = 417, 83.23%), only 60% reported an understanding of the fundamentals of SF, with the lowest level of comprehension observed in differentiating between SF and PI (n = 212, 42.31%). Overall attitudes were generally positive. Regarding behaviour, active learning was more prevalent (n = 340, 67.86%), but training is less (n = 287, 57.29%). Family education (n = 401, 80.04%) and nursing record monitoring (n = 426, 85.03%) demonstrated better behaviour. Further analysis revealed that training (t = 13.937, p < 0.001) and professional title (F = 4.681, p = 0.010) had a significant effect on participants' perceptions. These findings underscore that there remains a substantial lack of perception about SF amongst participants. Overall, participants exhibited a positive attitude towards SF, highlighting the need for future improvements in SF training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of large data sets have created challenges for the oil and gas industry in predicting reservoir parameters and assessing well productivity through efficient and cost-effective techniques. The design of drilling plans for a high-pressure tight-sand reservoir requires accurate estimations of pore pressure (Pp) and reservoir parameters. The objective of this study is to predict and compare the Pp of Huizhou Sag, Pearl River Mouth Basin, China, using conventional techniques and machine learning (ML) algorithms. We investigated the characteristics of low-permeability reservoirs by observing well-logging data sets and cores and examining thin sections under a microscope. In the reservoir zone, the average hydrocarbon saturation is 55%, and the average effective porosity is 11%. The tight sandstone reservoirs consist of fine- to extremely fine-grained argillaceous feldspathic sandstone. The mean absolute error for reservoir property prediction is 1.3%, 2.2%, and 4.8%, respectively, for effective porosity, shale volume, and water saturation. Moreover, the ML algorithm was employed to cross-check the validity of the prediction of Pp. Combining conventional and ML techniques with the core data demonstrates a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9587, indicating that ML techniques are the most effective in testing well data. This study shows that ML can effectively predict Pp at subsequent depths in adjacent geologically similar locations. Compared to conventional methods, a substantial data set and ML algorithms improve the precision of Pp predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dioscoreae hypoglaucae Rhizoma (DH) and Dioscoreae spongiosae Rhizoma (DS) are two similar Chinese herbal medicines derived from the Dioscorea family. DH and DS have been used as medicines in China and other Asian countries for a long time, but study on their phytochemicals and bioactive composition is limited. This present study aimed to compare the chemical compositions of DH and DS, and explore the anti-xanthine oxidase components based on chemometric analysis and spectrum–effect relationship. Firstly, an HPLC method was used to establish the chemical fingerprints of DH and DS samples, and nine common peaks were selected. Then, hierarchical clustering analysis, principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were employed to compare and discriminate DH and DS samples based on the fingerprints data, and four steroidal saponins compounds (protodioscin, protogracillin, dioscin, gracillin) could be chemical markers responsible for the differences between DH and DS. Meanwhile, the anti-xanthine oxidase activities of these two herbal medicines were evaluated by xanthine oxidase inhibitory assay in vitro. Pearson correlation analysis and partial least squares regression analysis were subsequently used to investigate the spectrum–effect relationship between chemical fingerprints and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities. The results showed that four steroidal saponins, including protodioscin, protogracillin, methyl protodioscin and pseudoprogracillin could be potential anti-xanthine oxidase compounds in DH and DS. Furthermore, the xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities of the four selected inhibitors were validated by anti-xanthine oxidase inhibitory assessment and molecular docking experiments. The present work provided evidence for understanding of the chemical differences and the discovery of the anti-xanthine oxidase constituent of DH and DS, which could be useful for quality evaluation and bioactive components screening of these two herbal medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To analyse the risk factors for falls in vascular patients and methods to mitigate fall risk in hospitalised patients receiving vascular surgery. Design: This study is a multicentre, retrospective study. Methods: A total of 112 inpatients that underwent vascular surgery in five hospitals in Shanxi Province from April 2018 to April 2022 were selected. They were divided into two groups according to whether they had fallen or not; 56 patients who fell were taken as the observation group and 56 patients who did not fall were taken as the control group. The risk factors of falls were analysed by univariate and logistic regression. Results: There was no significant difference between the observation and the control groups in male patients and the incidence of falls without family members. In the observation group, the percentage of patients aged ≥65 years old, with a history of falls and/or fractures, long‐term medications and a history of osteoporosis was higher than in the control group and showed a statistically significant difference. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, a history of falls and fractures, long‐term medications and a history of osteoporosis were independent risk factors for falls, and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion: Older age, a history of falls and/or fractures, continuous medication for more than 3 months and a history of osteoporosis are the risk factors for falls in hospitalised patients undergoing vascular surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined ways in which high school students used mobile devices in physics classrooms and after school, and the impact of in-class and after-school mobile technology use on their physics learning performance and interest. We collected data from 803 high school freshmen in China after they had used mobile devices for over five months. A fixed-effects model was employed to control the undetected variances. Results indicated that the students frequently used their mobile devices for physics learning in class and after school. Students also perceived the mobile devices as very useful for their physics learning, and their perception of usefulness was positively correlated with their frequency of use. Both the in-class and after-school duration and frequency of mobile technology use positively influenced students' physics learning achievement and interest. However, we also found that mobile technology was mainly used to augment rather than to transform instructional practices in physics classrooms. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications and limitations of these results for research and practice.

Open offshore areas boast strong physical self‐purification capacity and abundant non‐fossil energy resources, such as wind, waves, and solar energy. Consequently, the global community anticipates nearshore aquaculture to transition towards offshore to help increase production, alleviate eutrophication, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To date, China has constructed over 40 sets of deeper‐offshore aquaculture (DOA) infrastructures, encompassing various types of pens, cages and closed containment systems. Although DOA holds vast potential to address food security and aquaculture sustainability in China, its current development trajectory struggles to meet those goals and primarily achieves profitability by focusing on high‐value species or products. For DOA to realize its potential, innovative production systems must tackle three key contradictions: enterprise profitability versus product affordability, clean energy‐based products versus carbon‐intensive products, and automated operation versus re‐employment of coastal fish farmers. Resolving these contradictions requires the development of a large‐scale, anti‐typhoon offshore enclosure that integrates mariculture with other industries, such as wind farming, food processing, and tourism. This approach will foster a sustainable balance between profitability, environmental impact, and employment opportunities in the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the correlations between Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, pruritus, and lesion severity in patients with eczema, atopic dermatitis, or urticaria. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted and data of 814 patients who visited the dermatology or allergy clinics of multiple hospitals, from December 2019 to December 2021, were collected. Patients were divided into children group (< 18 years, 325 cases), adult group (18– 60 years, 435 cases), and older population group (> 60 years, 54 cases) based on the age. Baseline information, pruritus severity, severity of skin lesions, total IgE level, and specific IgE level were recorded to analyze the complex relationship between them. Results: The prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis in the children group was significantly higher than that in the adult and older population group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The positive rate of specific IgE in children group was significantly higher than that in the adult and older population group (P < 0.01). The IgE levels in children with moderate pruritus were significantly lower than those of severe pruritus (63.39vs 114.42 IU/mL, P < 0.05). The IgE levels in children with mild and moderate skin lesions were significantly lower than those in children with severe skin lesions (58.95 vs 72.88 vs 169.15 IU/mL, P < 0.001 or P < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Relationships among age, severity of skin pruritus and lesions, and allergen-specific IgE response are complex and subtle, displaying dynamic patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to explore the effectiveness and safety of 'Sandwich treatment' strategy for large brain metastases (LBM) with diameter over 3 cm (minimum volume >= 15 cm3) located in motor area. Patients from four gamma knife center that received 'Sandwich treatment' were retrospectively studied from January 2016 to March 2023. The strategy was one-week treatment course including 2 stages of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and using bevacizumab once during SRS gap. The tumor volume and peri-tumor edema changes were analyzed before and after 'Sandwich treatment'. Manual muscle testing (MMT) score and Barthel Index (BI) score were used to evaluate the changes of patients' movement and physical strength rehabilitation. The patients' overall survival (OS) and tumor local control (TLC) rate was calculated. Cox regression model was used to analyze the risk factors that related to TLC. 61 patients with 72 lesions received the 'Sandwich treatment'. The median prescription dose was 13.0 Gy and 12.5 Gy at the first- and second-stage SRS. The mean tumor volume at the time of 'Sandwich treatment' and 3 months later was 20.1 cm3 and 12.3, respectively (P < 0.01). The mean peri-tumor edema volume at the first- and second-stage SRS was 12.6 cm3 and 5.2 cm3, respectively (P < 0.01). Patients' median MMT score improved from 6 at the beginning to 8 at the end of 'Sandwich treatment' (P < 0.01), BI score was also greatly improved from 45 at the time of 'Sandwich treatment' to 95 after 3 months (P < 0.01). Patients' median OS was 14.0 months, and the 3, 6, 12 months OS rate was 92.0%, 86.0% and 66.0%, respectively. The TLC rate at 3, 6, 12 months was 98.4%, 93.4%, and 85.3%, respectively. Patients with lung cancer had lower risk of tumor relapse. The cumulative incidence of patient's hemorrhage and radiation necrosis was 4.92% (3/61) and 13.11% (8/61) after 'Sandwich treatment'. 'Sandwich treatment' strategy is safe and effective for LBM located in motor area. The strategy could rapidly improve the patients' movement and enhance their physical strength rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revealing the water use pattern of plants influenced by coal-mining-caused land subsidence is crucial to understand plant–water interactions and guide ecological restoration. However, available information on herbaceous plants, the dominant species in most arid and semi-arid regions with abundant coal resources, remains inadequate. We investigated the water use patterns of Stipa bungeana Trin. by measuring soil water content, root distribution, and stable isotopes of hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) of soil water and plant stem water both before and after a rainfall event. The results revealed that prior to rainfall, both areas exhibited a low soil water content with no discernible difference in soil drought. However, the soil waters δ2H and δ18O were found to be more enriched at varying depths within the subsidence area, indicating a heightened level of soil evaporation. Both soil water content and soil water isotopic composition responded sensitively to rainfall, with rainfall primarily replenishing the shallow layer (0–20 cm), thereby reflecting an infiltration mode dominated by piston flow. More water seeped into deeper soil layers in the subsidence area compared to the non-subsidence area, with more preferential flow. Before rainfall, the sources of plant water uptake were consistent both at shallow and deep soil layers, implying that the proportion of water uptake gradually decreased with increasing depth. After rainfall, the sources of plant water uptake differed slightly between the two soil layers. The plants in non-subsidence and subsidence areas dominantly extracted soil water at depths greater than 10 cm and 20 cm, respectively. The root system in the subsidence area was more developed than that in the non-subsidence area. Plant water uptake was primarily influenced by the spatial distribution of roots, as well as the post-rainfall water distribution, regardless of whether they were in the subsidence area or not. Although land subsidence affected soil water transport, the water uptake pattern of Stipa bungeana Trin. was similar before and after rainfall, indicating the adaptive growth of plants through their roots in the subsidence area. The high adaptability of herbs such as Stipa bungeana Trin. makes them a viable option for vegetation restoration in subsidence areas. This study has significant implications for evaluating plant–water relationships in subsidence areas due to coal mining, thereby providing a fundamental basis and valuable reference for ecological restoration and management strategies within such affected regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is highly correlated with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the prevalence and risk factors for SCH in older patients with MDD have rarely been reported in China. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 266 older MDD patients with SCH was performed. Clinical and anthropometric, biochemical, and thyroid function data were collected. Depression, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale positive subscale, respectively. Results: Among older patients with MDD, the prevalence of SCH was 64.7% (172/266). Compared to patients without SCH, older MDD patients with SCH had a longer disease course and higher TSH, A-TG, A-TPO, HDL-C, LDL-C, TC, FPG, and systolic pressure levels (all P ≤ 0.002). Furthermore, disease progression (OR 1.082, 95% CI 1.020–1.147, P = 0.009), A-TG (OR 1.005, 95% CI 1.001–1.009, P = 0.017), TC (OR 2.024, 95% CI 1.213–3.377, P = 0.007), FPG (OR 2.916, 95% CI 1.637–5.194, P < 0.001), systolic pressure (OR 1.053, 95% CI 1.008–1.100, P = 0.022) were independently associated with SCH, in older patients with MDD. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a high prevalence of SCH in older patients with MDD. Several demographic and clinical variables were independently associated with SCH in older patients with MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke is a critical public health issue in China that necessitates a closer examination of family resilience (defined here as the collective capacity of individuals, families and communities to effectively navigate challenges, recover from adverse events and foster positive adaptation). Amid rising stroke incidence, this study addresses the dearth of research on family resilience among stroke survivors in China, aiming to assess its level, identify influencing factors and establish coping strategies for family caregivers.Methods: This mixed-methods research employed a sequential explanatory design. Questionnaires were distributed to 258 stroke survivors and their family members at outpatient follow-up visits. In the first stage (ie the quantitative research stage), the research tools for data collection included a general demographic sociological data questionnaire, the Family Resilience Assessment Scale (FRAS), the Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease 6-Item Scale, the Caregiver Burden Scale, the Family Functioning Scale and the Social Support Rating Scale. Quantitative data were analysed using IBM SPSS 26.0 software, utilising descriptive statistics for summarising sociodemographic characteristics and conducting analyses, such as independent-sample t-tests, one-way analysis of variance and Spearman correlation analysis. The second stage (ie the qualitative research stage) involved complementing and validating the data, developing a quantitative–qualitative interview framework and selecting participants for interviews. Colaizzi's seven-step analysis was applied to analyse interview data. In the third stage, the quantitative and qualitative research results were integrated, and a comprehensive analysis was performed to obtain an accurate conclusion.Results: A total of 242 families responded to the questionnaire (response rate: 93.8%). In total, the mean age of stroke survivors was 61.86 ± 8.76 years old, and 69.8% were male. The quantitative results showed that the FRAS mean score was (185.33 ± 24.78), which was above the medium level. The multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that family function was the strongest influencing factor on family resilience (β = 0.948, p < 0.01). The qualitative analysis revealed four themes of family adaptation experience: loss of independence and certainty, facing threats and challenges, seeking family advantage resources and adopting coping strategies.Conclusion: This hybrid study sheds light on the adaptation process of the families of stroke survivors, revealing family function as the primary influencer of resilience. Recognising that eliminating risk factors is challenging, our suggestion is for clinical practitioners to emphasise family strengths and implement resilience-oriented interventions. Focusing on enhancing coping abilities and fostering adaptation within families can aid in the rehabilitation process, promoting the well-being and growth of both the family unit and individual members, while alleviating caregiver burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cenani‐Lenzsyndactyly syndrome (CLSS; OMIM 212780) is a rare autosomal recessive acral deformity, which is mainly manifested in the fusion of fingers or toes, disordered phalangeal structure, shortening or fusion of the radius and ulna, and renal hypoplasia. Case presentation: Our report described an individual with mild phenotypes from China. His parents were not consanguineous. The affected individual was non‐dysmorphic. Standard X‐ray showed that the both hands have only four metacarpal bones. The distal end of the first metacarpal bone on the right was relatively slender, and the distal phalanx was absent. Multiple phalanges and some soft tissues of both hands were fused. Exome sequencing revealed a novel biallelic c.282C⟩Avariant in low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 4 (LRP4; OMIM604270; NM_002334.4) causing p. (Asn94Lys) change in the encoded protein. This variant is predicted to be potentially pathogenic, affecting protein structure and function. Conclusion: We report a novel missense variant present in homozygosity in LRP4 to broaden the pathogenic spectrum of LRP4 in syndactyly, and exome sequencing technology is a powerful tool for genetic analysis in prenatal diagnosis and medical research, as a preferred method for the diagnosis of syndactyly and related phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) pollution induced by smelting process is of great concern worldwide. However, the comprehensive risk assessment of Cd exposures in smelting areas with farming coexist is lacking. In this study, atmospheric deposition, soil, surface and drinking water, rice, wheat, vegetable, fish, pork, and human hair samples were collected in rice–wheat rotation area near nonferrous smelter to investigate smelting effect on environmental Cd pollution and human health. Results showed high Cd deposition (0.88–2.61 mg m−2 year−1) combined with high bioavailability (37–42% totality) in study area. Moreover, 90%, 83%, 57%, and 3% of sampled soil, wheat, rice, and vegetable of Cd were higher than national allowable limits of China, respectively, indicating smelting induced serious environmental Cd pollution. Especially, higher Cd accumulation occurred in wheat compared to rice by factors of 1.5–2.0. However, as for Cd exposure to local residents, due to rice as staple food, rice intake ranked as main route and accounted for 49–53% of total intake, followed by wheat and vegetable. Cd exposure showed high potential noncarcinogenic risks with hazard quotient (HQ) of 0.63–4.99 using Monte Carlo probabilistic simulation, mainly from crop food consumption (mean 94% totality). Further, residents' hair Cd was significant correlated with HQ of wheat and rice ingestion, highlighting negative impact of cereal pollution to resident health. Therefore, smelting process should not coexist with cereal cultivating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the dynamics of soil water and nitrate in response to typical agricultural crops in dryland ecosystems are crucial for assessing ecological consequences and informing land use planning. This study was conducted in the Changwu tableland, a representative area for agricultural crop cultivation in the Loess Plateau of China. Fifteen soil profiles, including grassland, farmland, and young, mature, and old apple orchards, were sampled to investigate the effects of different land uses on soil water and nitrate dynamics using a "space-for-time" substitution approach. The results showed that the soil water content and nitrate content in farmlands were comparable to those in wild grassland. However, significant differences in soil water were observed below a depth of 2 m in apple orchards, with mature and old orchards experiencing water deficits compared to grassland of 624.9 mm and 690.0 mm, respectively. Moreover, a dried soil layer formed below a depth of 5 m in these orchards. In terms of soil nitrate, the concentration in the 0–5 m depth of apple orchards was significantly higher than that in agricultural land and grassland, and it increased with the age of the orchards. However, below 5 m, the residual nitrate stock per unit depth in apple orchards decreased to levels comparable to grassland and farmland, primarily due to the inhibitory effect of the dried soil layer on downward migration and leaching processes. Furthermore, the relationship between nitrate and soil water at 0–5 m soil depths differed during the conversion from grassland to farmland and apple orchard, with positive and negative correlations observed, respectively. This indicates that water plays a key role in influencing nitrate movement, and distinct hydrological processes occur for soil water and nitrate nitrogen under different land use change conditions. In conclusion, converting grassland and farmland to apple orchards can lead to soil water decline and nitrate accumulation in the vadose zone, posing potential threats to ecosystem sustainability and security in dryland regions. Therefore, implementing appropriate water-fertilizer management practices is crucial for promoting sustainable land use in loess drylands, with potential implications for similar areas worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the postoperative binocular visual quality in six treatment protocols for bilateral age-related cataract surgery with presbyopia correction for clinical decisions. In this prospective two-center single-blinded cohort study, participants from North or South China who underwent bilateral phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were divided into six protocols: monovision, diffractive bifocal, mixed, refractive bifocal, trifocal, and micro-monovision extended range of vision (EROV). Binocular visual quality was evaluated at 3 months postoperatively, including binocular uncorrected full-range visual acuity, binocular defocus curves (depth of focus [DoF] and area under the curve [AUC]), binocular visual function (fusion function and stereopsis), binocular subjective spectacle independence rates, visual analog scale (VAS) of overall satisfaction, 25-item visual function questionnaire (VFQ-25), and binocular dysphotopsia symptoms. Of the 300 enrolled patients, 272 (90.7%; 544 eyes) were analyzed. The trifocal protocol showed excellent binocular full-range visual acuity and the best performance for most DoFs and AUCs. The monovision protocol presented the worst binocular visual quality in most perspectives, especially in convergence, distance, and near stereopsis (p < 0.001). The full-range subjective spectacle independence rates were sorted from highest to lowest as follows: trifocal (84.8%), refractive bifocal (80.9%), EROV (80.0%), mixed (73.3%), diffractive bifocal (65.2%), and monovision (32.6%) protocols, with no statistically significant differences between the former five protocols (p > 0.05). The EROV protocol achieved the highest VAS and VFQ-25 scores. The incidence of postoperative binocular dysphotopsia symptoms was comparable in all protocols. The trifocal protocol showed the best performance, and the monovision protocol presented the worst performance in most perspectives of binocular visual quality for presbyopia correction. The refractive bifocal, mixed, or EROV protocols can provide an approximate performance as a trifocal protocol. Ophthalmologists can customize therapies using different protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Urbanization of People: The Politics of Development, Labor Markets, and Schooling in the Chinese City" is a book review that explores the concept of urbanization in China. The author focuses on the government's management of population flows into cities and the politics of social reproduction amid rapid urbanization. The book discusses the challenges faced by cities and nations during periods of economic development and highlights the government's use of education as a method of population control. The review also mentions the author's perspective on the urbanization model and the value of urban hukou in different regions of China. Overall, the book provides valuable insights into immigration issues and serves as a case study for research on immigration between nations. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen was included in the expanded formulary of China's National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program at the end of 2021. Yet high price of DTG and lack of health economic evaluation in China present barriers for implementation of the regimen. The study aims to investigate the lifetime cost-effectiveness of DTG-based regimen for treatment-naive HIV infection in China. Methods: A decision-analytic Markov model was used to obtain the costs and effectiveness of four regimens: Arm A, efavirenz (EFV)-based regimen; Arm B, DTG-based regimen; Arm C, elvitegravir/cobicistat/tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine (EVG/c/FTC/TAF) regimen; Arm D, abacavir/lamivudine/dolutegravir (ABC/3TC/DTG) regimen. The potential impact of national centralized drug procurement policy was assessed in scenario analysis. The results were further validated through sensitivity analysis. Results: Compared with other three regimens, DTG-based regimen led to the fewest cumulative adverse reactions, opportunistic infections and deaths. Compared with EFV-based regimen, the base-case ICERs for DTG-based regimen were 13,357 (USD/QALY) and 13,424 (USD/QALY) from the healthcare system and societal perspective respectively. In the policy scenario analysis with the procurement price of DTG equal to that of LPV/r, DTG-based regimen would be dominant. The model results remained robust in sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: DTG-based regimen for treatment-naive patients is likely to be cost-effective and deserve wider implementation in China. This study strongly suggests the centralized procurement of DTG to minimize cost and maximize cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species composition and resource status of wild edible and medicinal fungi in Ningxia Province were meticulously analyzed and systematically organized using available published data on higher fungi. This comprehensive investigation delved into the effectiveness of the dominant edible and medicinal mushrooms. The findings unequivocally demonstrated the abundant presence of wild edible and medicinal mushroom resources in Ningxia Province, encompassing a total of 204 species, spanning edible fungi, medicinal fungi, and edible and medicinal mushrooms. These belong to 10 genera, 8 families, and 3 orders, originating from 2 phyla. Among the 204 species, a substantial 176 are categorized as edible mushrooms, constituting an impressive 86.27% of the total species, while 28 species are recognized as medicinal fungi, contributing 13.73% of the overall species. Additionally, 36 species encompass the unique category of edible and medicinal fungi, accounting for 17.65% of the total species. Notably, 90 species are identified within Agaricus, Cortinarius, Tricholoma, Lactarius, Clitocybe, Coprinus, Gestrum, Suillus, Russula, Ramaria, Melanoluca, and Agrocybe, collectively representing 43.9% of the total species. The species within these dominant genera play a pivotal role in the realm of edible and medicinal mushrooms in Ningxia Province. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis of the functional components of these dominant genera unveiled the considerable potential for the utilization of wild edible and medicinal fungi distributed in Ningxia Province. These findings not only offer fundamental insights but also establish a robust foundation for the establishment of a comprehensive resource database of edible and medicinal fungi in Ningxia Province. Moreover, they serve as a crucial resource for researchers in their exploration of locally distinctive edible and medicinal mushrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 17 July 2019, an unusually intense rainfall occurred in the central-eastern part of Jiangsu Province in China, resulting in a record-breaking daily precipitation of 286.4 mm at the Rugao station, not seen since 1961. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on various multiscale characteristics of the initial rain event, such as the large-scale surroundings, moisture transport, triggering and maintenance mechanisms, and microphysical characteristics. Multi-sources of data were utilized, such as reanalysis data, automatic weather stations, wind-profiling radar, laser-optical Particle Size Velocity instruments, soundings, S-band dual-polarization radar, and a Lagrangian model. The findings suggest that the intense precipitation in Rugao resulted from the convergence of the warm and moist airflow from Typhoon Danas and the cold air moving southward from the north, along with the ample moisture and energy provided by the circulation of Typhoon Danas. Convection, which showed good consistency with the intense precipitation process, was initiated by mesoscale temperature gradients and wind field convergence. This was associated with the intrusion of a near-surface cold pool and the maintenance of a ground convergence line in the Rugao area. This convection exemplified a standard system of warm clouds with high precipitation efficacy. It had a high concentration of raindrops, especially large ones, resulting in record-breaking precipitation in a short amount of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ionosphere is a crucial factor affecting Global Navigation Satellite System positioning. The Global Ionosphere Map (GIM) or the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model can be used for regional ionospheric correction. Since southern China is located near the electron density equatorial anomaly, this study evaluates the performance of the Wuhan University GIM (WHU‐GIM) and the IRI‐2020 from 2008 to 2020 over the China region. The comparison indicates that the Total Electron Content (TEC) from IRI‐2020 is lower than that from WHU‐GIM overall, the discrepancy is more obvious in high solar conditions and low‐latitude regions. The differential Slant TEC (dSTEC) during a phase‐arc with about 0.1 TECU accuracy derived from Global Positioning System (GPS) observations is used for model validation, the results show that the accuracies of WHU‐GIM and IRI‐2020 are 3.14 and 4.57 TECU, respectively. The dSTEC error is larger at low latitudes and decreases with increasing latitude. GPS‐derived TEC is taken for reference to evaluate the model reliability. Results show that both models can reproduce the diurnal TEC variations, but IRI‐2020 is more influenced by geomagnetic activities. The TEC correction percentage for IRI‐2020 is about 60%–80% under different ionospheric conditions, while for WHU‐GIM is 80%–90%. The Single‐Frequency Precise Point Positioning is performed with the ionosphere delay corrected by the two models, respectively. The positioning errors show that using IRI‐2020 has a lower accuracy, and the TEC discrepancy of the IRI‐2020 can cause a large bias in the up direction, especially at low‐latitude regions. Plain Language Summary: The ionosphere is a part of the Earth's atmosphere within an altitude of 60–1,000 km from the ground. The ionized molecules and free electrons that exist in the ionosphere will affect the Global Navigation Satellite System signals, and reduce the positioning accuracy finally. Ionospheric models such as the Global Ionospheric Map (GIM) and the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model provide the Total Electron Content (TEC) which is always used to mitigate ionospheric errors. The China region is close to the equator where the ionosphere is more active and disturbed, and is important to assess the performance of these two models in this area. This study evaluates the Wuhan University GIM (WHU‐GIM) and the IRI‐2020 model for 13 years according to the differential Slant TEC data, Global Positioning System TEC and Single‐Frequency Precise Point Positioning (SF‐PPP) technique. The results indicate that the TEC from the IRI‐2020 model is lower than that from the WHU‐GIM, especially under high solar conditions and in low‐latitude regions. According to the result of the SF‐PPP, the accuracy of the IRI‐2020 model is worse than WHU‐GIM, and the low TEC of the IRI‐2020 could cause a large bias in the up direction at the low‐latitude regions over China. Key Points: An assessment of Wuhan University Global Ionosphere Map (WHU‐GIM) and International Reference Ionosphere (IRI)‐2020 was conducted from 2008 to 2020 over the China region, with an overall better performance of WHU‐GIMCompared to WHU‐GIM, the Total Electron Content (TEC) derived from IRI‐2020 model is lower, such discrepancies are more obvious under the high solar conditionIRI‐2020 can be more influenced by geomagnetic storms, and its low TEC is reflected in a larger bias in the up component resulting from Single‐Frequency Precise Point Positioning [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare subtype of stroke. However, existing scales were insufficient to evaluate the overall severity of CVT. The aim of this study is to develop and validate a CVT severity scale.Methods: Items 1– 11 were directly derived from NIHSS. New items were generated from a literature review and focus group discussion. A total of 170 CVT patients were prospectively recruited from 26 top tertiary hospitals in China Mainland from January 2021 to May 2022 to validate the CVT severity scale. The CVT severity scale, NIHSS, mRS and GCS were rated at admission. The lumbar puncture opening pressure was also recorded. Twenty randomly selected CVT patients were rated with the CVT severity scale again 24 hours later. The clinical outcome of CVT was evaluated by mRS at 6 months after baseline.Results: We successfully established a CVT severity scale with 18 items. Exploratory factor analysis showed that 18 items were attributed to factor 1 (focal neurological deficits), factor 2 (diffuse encephalopathy), factor 3 (intracranial hypertension) and factor 4 (cavernous sinus syndrome). CVT severity scale was positively correlated with ICP, NIHSS and mRS, and negatively correlated with GCS at baseline. CVT severity scale > 3 or factor 3 > 2 indicated intracranial hypertension. CVT severity scale > 10 indicated poor clinical outcome at 6 months of follow-up. Meanwhile, CVT severity scale showed high internal consistency and test–retest reliability.Conclusion: The CVT severity scale included 18 items encompassing 4 domains of focal neurological deficits, diffuse encephalopathy, IH and cavernous sinus syndrome. CVT severity scale correlated well with ICP, NIHSS, mRS and GCS. Patients with CVT severity scale > 10 can be defined as severe CVT. The CVT severity scale may serve as a valid and reliable tool for measuring the overall severity of CVT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apiaceae plants have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the removing dampness, relieving superficies, and dispelling cold, etc. In order to exploit potential applications as well as improve the yield and quality of Apiaceae medicinal plants (AMPs), the traditional use, modern pharmacological use, phytochemistry, effect of bolting and flowering (BF), and approaches for controlling BF were summarized. Currently, about 228 AMPs have been recorded as TCMs, with 6 medicinal parts, 79 traditional uses, 62 modern pharmacological uses, and 5 main kinds of metabolites. Three different degrees (i.e., significantly affected, affected to some extent, and not significantly affected) could be classed based on the yield and quality. Although the BF of some plants (e.g., Angelica sinensis) could be effectively controlled by standard cultivation techniques, the mechanism of BF has not yet been systemically revealed. This review will provide useful references for the reasonable exploration and high-quality production of AMPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2019, this paper uses a two-stage DEA model to measure regional innovation efficiency, then non-parametric test is used to examine the impact of innovation network structure and government R&D investment on regional innovation efficiency. The results show that, at the provincial level, innovation efficiency of regional R&D is not necessarily in direct proportion to the innovation efficiency in the commercialization stage. Commercialization efficiency is not necessarily high in provinces with high technical R&D efficiency. At the national level, the innovation efficiency gap between our country's R&D and commercialization stage is small, indicating that the development of the national innovation efficiency is more and more balanced. Innovation network structure can promote the R&D efficiency, but has no significant effect on the commercialization efficiency. Government R&D investment helps to improve the R&D efficiency, but it is not conducive to the improvement of commercialization efficiency. The interaction between innovation network structure and government R&D investment will have compound effects on regional innovation efficiency; the region with underdeveloped innovation network structure can increase the government R&D investment to make it have a higher level of R&D. This paper provides insights into how to improve innovation efficiency in different social networks and policy environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the paper is to investigate the relationship between technological innovation and income inequality for China based on the financial Kuznets curve (FKC) hypothesis. The study uses time-series data from 1985 to 2019. We employ the Johansen cointegration, ARDL model and VECM Granger causality techniques to analyze the links between the variables. We also use the DOLS, FMOLS and CCR mechanisms to estimate the long-run parameters. The paper finds that the FKC is valid for China's economy in the long run. Technological innovation positively affects the urban-rural income gap, while there is an inverted-U shaped between financial development and the urban-rural income gap. The relationship between financial development and the urban-rural income gap is bi-directional causality. Technological innovation and the urban-rural income gap cause each other. Empirical results suggest a twofold policy meaning: i) to further the financial system and ii) to eliminate the adverse impacts of technological innovations on income distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, artificial intelligence techniques such as artificial neural networks (ANN) and Support Vector Regression (SVM) have been well documented in ecological sciences. These methods can perfectly model complex and nonlinear structures, as well as with high processing power and quick computations in ecological sciences. Research on ecological issues with artificial intelligence methods can be useful and provided that the details of the use of these methods are necessary for readers. In this discussion, the discusser has tried to clarify the process of the paper of "Design of an integrated climatic assessment indicator (ICAI) for wheat production: A case study in Jiangsu Province, China" (doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.01.059). The discusser would like to call attention to some important points, which may be taken into consideration by the authors and other potential researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precipitation isoscapes have provided supporting data for numerous studies of water stable isotopes, alleviating the lack of observation data. However, the applicability of simulation data from global models to specific regional contexts remains a subject requiring further investigation, particularly concerning d-excess—an aspect often overlooked by prediction models. To bridge this gap, this study evaluates the performance of three mainstream precipitation isoscapes (OIPC3.2, RCWIP1, and RCWIP2) for the prediction of average annual δ2H, δ18O, and d-excess based on observations from the CHNIP database. The results show that while all three models can accurately reproduce δ2H and δ18O values, none are able to accurately match d-excess values. This disparity can be attributed to the absence of water-vapor source information in the models' input variables, a key determinant influencing d-excess outcomes. Additionally, it is noteworthy that OIPC3.2 stands out as the optimal choice for δ2H and δ18O estimations, while RCWIP2 exhibits progressive enhancements over RCWIP1 in d-excess estimations. This highlights the significance of selecting highly pluralistic information variables and recognizing the impact of error propagation in such models. As a result, the advancement of isoscapes in accurately and precisely depicting precipitation isotopes, particularly d-excess, necessitates further refinement. Future avenues for improvement might involve the incorporation of water-vapor source-clustering methodologies, the selection of information-rich variables, and the autonomous construction of a dedicated d-excess simulation. This research provides valuable insights for the further refining of isoscape modeling in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Climate and land use/land cover changes are key factors that significantly impact the distribution of wild species. The black stork, an endangered bird with a high conservation status in China, is particularly vulnerable to these changes due to its long-distance migration. Previous studies have mainly focused on the effect of climate change on the black stork's breeding season. However, little attention has been given to how its wintering habitats are affected by these factors at different scales. In our study, we evaluated the dynamics of the black stork's wintering habitat distribution in response to global and regional changes. Our findings indicate that both climate and land use/land cover changes significantly impact the distribution of the wintering black stork. However, the impact of human activities is more pronounced. In order to mitigate the negative effects of human-induced land use/land cover changes on the black stork and other migratory birds, it is crucial to reduce the destruction of wildlife habitats caused by human activities. Additionally, we need to focus on effectively protecting the migratory pathways and wintering sites of these birds, including those that are outside the existing protected areas. Species distribution models (SDMs) are effective tools for wildlife conservation and management, as they employ the quantification of habitat suitability and environmental niches to evaluate the patterns of species distribution. The utilization of SDMs at various scales in a hierarchical approach can provide additional and complementary information, significantly improving decision-making in local wildlife conservation initiatives. In this study, we considered the appropriate spatial scale and data resolution to execute species distribution modeling, as these factors greatly influence the modeling procedures. We developed SDMs for wintering black storks at both the regional and local scales. At the regional scale, we used climatic and climate-driven land use/land cover (LULC) variables, along with wintering occurrence points, to develop models for mainland China. At the local scale, we used local environmental variables and locally gathered wintering site data to develop models for Shaanxi province. The predictions from both the regional and local models were then combined at the provincial level by overlapping suitable areas based on climatic and local conditions. We compared and evaluated the resulting predictions using seven statistical metrics. The national models provide information on the appropriate climatic conditions for the black stork during the wintering period throughout China, while the provincial SDMs capture the important local ecological factors that influence the suitability of habitats at a finer scale. As anticipated, the national SDMs predict a larger extent of suitable areas compared to the provincial SDMs. The hierarchical prediction approach is considered trustworthy and, on average, yields better outcomes than non-hierarchical methods. Our findings indicate that human-driven LULC changes have a significant and immediate impact on the wintering habitat of the black stork. However, the effects of climate change seem to be reducing the severity of this impact. The majority of suitable wintering habitats lie outside the boundaries of protected areas, highlighting the need for future conservation and management efforts to prioritize addressing these conservation gaps and focusing on the protection of climate refuges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea plant necrotic ring blotch virus (TPNRBV) is a kitavirus that poses a serious threat to the cultivation of tea, one of the most economically important plants in many Asian countries. However, the occurrence and genetic variability of this virus remain poorly understood. This study investigated the occurrence of TPNRBV in Fujian Province, China, one of the largest tea producers in the country, and determined the complete genome of 10 new TPNRBV isolates. The results revealed that TPNRBV is widespread in Fujian. The nucleotide diversity values for the RNA1-4 segments of TPNRBV were found to be 0.027, 0.016, 0.027, and 0.014, respectively. Among the seven proteins of TPNRBV, P22 was the least conserved, while MP was the most conserved. The 5′ termini of the genomic segments of TPNRBV commonly possessed a sequence of 5′-AATTACGA-3′ (RNA1-3) or 5′-ATTAACGA-3′ (RNA4). Furthermore, the 3′ non-coding region of TPNRBV RNA4 exhibited significant length variation due to frequent deletion/insertion mutations. Recombination and purifying selection likely played important roles in shaping the genetic structure of TPNRBV. These findings provide a snapshot of the epidemiology and genetic structure of TPNRBV, offering valuable information for the development of targeted strategies to control and manage TPNRBV in tea cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucellosis is a common zoonosis, which is caused by Brucella infection, and Brucella often infects livestock, leading to abortion and infertility. At present, human brucellosis remains one of the major public health problems in China. According to previous research, most areas in northwest China, including Xinjiang, Tibet, and other regions, are severely affected by Brucella. Although there are vaccines against animal Brucellosis, the effect is often poor. In addition, there is no corresponding vaccine for human Brucellosis infection. Therefore, a new strategy for early prevention and treatment of Brucella is needed. A multi-epitope vaccine should be developed. In this study, we identified the antigenic epitopes of the Brucella type IV secretion system VirB8 and Virb10 using an immunoinformatics approach, and screened out 2 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes, 9 helper T lymphocyte (HTL) epitopes, 6 linear B cell epitopes, and 6 conformational B cell epitopes. These advantageous epitopes are spliced together through different linkers to construct a multi-epitope vaccine. The silico tests showed that the multi-epitope vaccine was non-allergenic and had a strong interaction with TLR4 molecular docking. In immune simulation results, the vaccine construct may be useful in helping brucellosis patients to initiate cellular and humoral immunity. Overall, our findings indicated that the multi-epitope vaccine construct has a high-quality structure and suitable characteristics, which may provide a theoretical basis for the development of a Brucella vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency of heat events is likely to increase due to global climate change, posing an increasing risk to wheat production. To optimize crop management strategies for coping with future climates, it is crucial to quantify the high-temperature occurrence during cropping seasons. Here, sixty-six years (1955~2020) of meteorological data during wheat reproductive growth were collected from six meteorological stations in the Huaibei Plain of Anhui Province. These data were analyzed to quantify the pattern and characteristics of post-anthesis heat stress for wheat crops. Five levels of annual mean daily maximum temperature (Tmax) were defined, from normal to extreme temperatures. Six crop developmental phases of winter wheat, i.e., phase i to phase vi, were divided from flowering to maturity. The data suggest an annual mean temperature of 17~24 °C from flowering to maturity, with an annual effective cumulative temperature ranging from 725 °C d to 956 °C d. The mean temperature and effective cumulative temperature increased as crop growth progressed, along with more frequent heat events during phase ii (8~14 days after anthesis) and phase iii (15~21 days after anthesis). We also found that the frequency of extremely high temperatures (≥33 °C) from 1990 to 2020 was significantly greater than that from 1957 to 1990. Interestingly, it was found that the intensity of post-anthesis night temperatures also increased with crop growth, i.e., from phase i to phase vi. Wheat grain yield increased with increasing effective accumulative temperature and Tmax, but it started to decline when thresholds of effective accumulative temperature and Tmax were reached. Overall, these findings could provide guidelines for winter wheat cropping in the Huaibei Plain, China, or similar climate and cropping regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: To investigate the oral health literacy (OHL) of nurses and explore the factors affecting their OHL. Background: OHL is important for improving the oral health outcomes. Nurses' OHL may affect the oral health of themselves, families, and patients. Few studies have examined the OHL and its related factors among nurses. Design: A cross‐sectional design following the STROBE guideline. Methods: A total of 449 nurses were recruited from tertiary hospitals in the minority areas of southwest China. The participants completed an online questionnaire, which contained questions related to the OHL, sociodemographic factors, general health, oral health and related behaviours, oral health knowledge, attitudes, and oral health‐related quality of life. OHL was measured using the validated Chinese version of the short‐form Health Literacy of Dentistry (HeLD‐14) scale. Descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman's correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyse the data. Results: The median HeLD‐14 score (p25–p75) was 50.0 (44.0–54.0). The regression model for OHL was found to be significant. The factors that influenced OHL included oral health knowledge, oral health attitudes, self‐reported oral health, annual household income, and dental flossing; these factors accounted for 13.9% of the variance in OHL. Conclusions: The nurse' OHL has room for improvement. Nurses' OHL could be improved by enriching their oral health knowledge, promoting their positive oral health attitudes, increasing their household income, and helping them build correct oral health behaviours. Relevance to clinical practice: The findings of the study could be used to make a case for changing nursing curricula. Oral health knowledge curriculum or programmes targeted towards nurses should be developed to improve their OHL. Patient or public contribution: No Patient or Public Contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to provide data for lichenologists studying taxonomy, Chaenothecopsis xishuiensis is supported and proposed as a new species from China based on phenotypic, molecular, and metabolite data. It is characterised by leprose thallus, single, conical to hemispherical apothecia, nonbranching stipe, cylindrical, eight-spored asci, and nonseptate and brown spores, and this lichenised fungus contains atranorin and zeorin in the thallus. In addition, Lecanora pseudargentata is reported for the first time as a new record from China. This species is characterised by red-brown to dark brown apothecial discs, eight-spored asci, nonseptate, hyaline spores, and the presence of atranorin and gangaleoidin. The biological activity of its lichen substances is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]