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With the rapid development of China's cultural innovation industry, enhancing brand equity and increasing brand value has become the only way for enterprises to achieve leapfrog development. Taking Chinese animation brand equity as an example, this paper constructs a brand equity driven model from the perspective of consumer cognition. Firstly, based on the brand resonance model, the theoretical model of animation brand equity is established. And then from the mass of product reviews, the focus of consumers on the brand is mined to form the latitude of brand equity. Finally, the theoretical model of brand equity is tested based on the Chinese consumer questionnaire data and structural equation model. This study provides a reference for the construction of Chinese animation brand equity, and also provides a new idea for the establishment of cultural brand equity management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a crucial problem encountered by Chinese water pollution control to clarify the relations between upgrading of Chinese industrial structure, the innovation of green technology and water environmental pollution. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces and cities of China from 2004 to 2018, a dynamic simultaneous equation model is constructed to examine empirically the relations between the upgrading of industrial structure, the innovation of green technology and water environmental pollution in China. The results show: upgrading of industrial structure, the innovation of green technology and water environmental pollution of the lagged phase all show positive correlations with that of the current phase; upgrading of the industrial structure has bidirectional causality with water environmental pollution but has spiral upward relation with water environment quality; upgrading of the industrial structure shows asymmetric relation with the innovation of green technology, which has asymmetric relation with water environmental pollution; innovation of green technology promotes unidirectionally and significantly the upgrading of industrial structure, and water environmental pollution has inversed effects on innovation of green technology. Therefore, relevant governmental departments should strictly adhere to “the red line of environmental protection” and adjust the industrial structure timely and effectively when governing water environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Riparian ecosystems are an important transition zone between river ecosystem and the terrestrial ecosystems and play an important role in the global carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystems. The study was carried out in littoral in XiangXi river, which was the larger tributary and nearest to the Three Gorges Dam. Gas exchange rates were measured to explore the main factors controlling the carbon flux of littoral in XiangXi river using chamber method during water discharge in 2011. The results showed that in the early of water discharge, net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of 165- 175m a.s.l. was 2.17±0.53μmol m-2s-1, which was markedly lower than that of over 175m a.s.l. (-1.04±0.62μmol m- 2s-1, P<0.05). Total ecosystem respiration (TER) of 165-175m a.s.l. was 3.21±0.52μmol m-2s-1, which was little lower than that of over 175m a.s.l. (3.79±0.94μmol m-2s-1), but there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The study indicated that being experienced flooding, the lower areas in littoral of the main stream of Xiangxi river might be a weak carbon source due to lower vegetation cover, higher soil water content and different soil microbial in the early of water discharge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Energy-saving and emission-reduction are the major challenge to the development of countries in the world. When it comes to China, it refers to properly handle the regional issues. According to the common trends of the average industrial SO2 emission per square kilometer in three developed regions (Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and Bohai Economic Circle) and the remaining regions in the east, the middle and the west, this paper conducts an empirical analysis on the issue of pollution emission spilled from the developed regions to the remaining provinces. The result shows that the pollution emission in developed regions significantly demonstrates the role-model effect to the remaining provinces, and the effect will be weaken as the distance from the remaining provinces to three developed regions increases, which somewhat interprets the common trend of pollution emission among regions. Meanwhile, the role-model effect gives us the policy recommendation that China shall pay full attention to the exemplary role played by the developed regions on the issue of energy-saving and emission-reduction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Human reliability analysis (HRA) is generally viewed as quite an important part in probabilistic safety assessment (PSA). In this paper, a THERP+HCR HRA model is presented to model the operators’ post-accident behavior in Chinese nuclear power plants. The paper shows how the model is structured and how to consider and acquire the corresponding data, including HCR data modification and HRA event tree data. A case study is presented to make an illustration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In view of the operation rule of retail loans and the characteristics of default factors affecting default behavior, the authors put forward non-linear proportional default model with time-dependent variables based on the Cox model. This model takes into account the non-linear relationship among variables and time-dependent variables while calculating the retail loan default probability in China''s commercial banks, which will make the model to be in line with its objective reality better. The result demonstrates this model is scientific and feasible in practical application in China''s commercial banks through empirical analysis and example analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Both of crop growth simulation models and remote sensing method have a high potential in crop growth monitoring and yield prediction. However, crop models have limitations in regional application and remote sensing in describing the growth process. Therefore, many researchers try to combine those two approaches for estimating the regional crop yields. In this paper, the WOFOST model was adjusted and regionalized for winter wheat in North China and coupled through the LAI to the SAIL–PROSPECT model in order to simulate soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI). Using the optimization software (FSEOPT), the crop model was then re-initialized by minimizing the differences between simulated and synthesized SAVI from remote sensing data to monitor winter wheat growth at the potential production level. Initial conditions, which strongly impact phenological development and growth, and which are hardly known at the regional scale (such as emergence date or biomass at turn-green stage), were chosen to be re-initialized. It was shown that re-initializing emergence date by using remote sensing data brought simulated anthesis and maturity date closer to measured values than without remote sensing data. Also the re-initialization of regional biomass weight at turn-green stage led that the spatial distribution of simulated weight of storage organ was more consistent to official yields. This approach has some potential to aid in scaling local simulation of crop phenological development and growth to the regional scale but requires further validation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This case-control study aims to investigate the relationship of polymorphisms of four gene loci (CGRP rs155209 and rs3781719, RAMP1 rs3754701 and rs7590387) with the prognosis of interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). A total of 317 CHB patients receiving interferon alone for the first time were recruited in northern China, and peripheral blood samples were obtained. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in rs155209, rs3781719, rs3754701, and rs7590387 were genotyped using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were employed to assess the correlation between CHB prognosis treated with interferon and polymorphisms of these gene loci. The study clearly demonstrated the relevance of polymorphisms of rs155209, rs3781719, rs3754701, and rs7590387 with DNA response and ALT response after interferon treatment. CHB patients with CGRP rs155209C had a lower risk of developing DNA response (CT vs. TT: OR = 0.159, 95% CI = 0.086–0.294, P adj < 0.001; CC vs. TT: OR = 0.131, 95% CI = 0.059–0.288, P adj < 0.001), as well as a lower risk of developing ALT response (CT vs. TT: OR = 0.530, 95% CI = 0.323–0.869, P adj < 0.05). Moreover, CHB patients with RAMP1 rs3754701T allele were more prone to develop DNA response (AT vs. AA: OR = 2.061, 95% CI = 1.237–3.435, P adj < 0.05; TT vs. AA: OR = 5.676, 95% CI =1.247–25.837, P adj < 0.05), and they also more likely to develop ALT response (AT vs. AA: OR = 1.766, 95% CI = 1.098–2.840, P adj < 0.05). We did not find a significant association between CGRP rs3781719 or RAMP1 rs7590387 and DNA response or ALT response. This study revealed that CGRP rs155209 and RAMP1 rs3754701 polymorphisms, but not CGRP rs3781719 and RAMP1 rs7590387, were correlated with interferon therapy prognosis for CHB in Han Chinese population, and RAMP1 rs3754701T was a protective factor for ALT response and DNA response, but CGRP rs155209C carriers were less prone to DNA and ALT responses. • A total of 317 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients using interferon for the first time were enrolled. • SNPs in the in CGRP rs155209 and RAMP1 rs3754701 were detected using MALDI-TOF-MS. • Discovered that RAMP1 rs3754701 and CGRP rs155209 were associated with the prognosis to interferon therapy in the Han Chinese population for the first time. • Provide a potential implications for therapeutic guidance of chronic hepatitis B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to report the first nationwide protocol (Wuhan Protocol) developed by Chinese Children's Cancer Group and the results of multidisciplinary effort in treating hepatoblastoma. In this study, we reported the final analysis, which includes 153 hepatoblastoma patients in 13 hospitals from January 2006 to December 2013. The 6-year overall survival and event-free survival rates were 83.3 ± 3.1% and 71.0 ± 3.7%, respectively, in this cohort. The univariate analysis revealed that female (P = 0.027), under 5 years of age (P = 0.039), complete surgical resection (P = 0.000), no metastases (P = 0.000), and delayed surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.000) had better prognosis. In multivariate analysis, male, 5 years of age or above, stage PRETEXT III or IV, and incomplete surgical resection were among the some adverse factors contributing to poor prognosis. The preliminary results from this study showed that patients who underwent treatment following Wuhan Protocol had similar OS and EFS rates compared to those in developed countries. However, the protocol remains to be further optimized in standardizing surgical resection (including liver transplantation), refining risk stratification and risk-based chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As) fractions in the sediments of seven lakes from East Plain Ecoregion and six lakes from Yungui Plateau Ecoregion, China, were investigated. Results indicated that the total As concentrations in sediment samples of lakes of the East Plain Lake Ecoregion are higher than those of Yungui Plateau Lake Ecoregion. Residual As is the main fraction in sediment samples of lakes from both ecoregions, followed by reducible As and soluble or oxidizable As. The total As is correlated to oxidizable As and residual As in sediment samples from both lake ecoregions. As distribution in sediment samples of lakes of the East Plain Ecoregion appears to be affected by human activity, while the As origin mainly comes from natural sources in sediment samples of lakes in the Yungui Plateau Ecoregion. The potential ecological risk index and geoaccumulation index values suggest "low to moderate" risk degree and "unpolluted to moderately polluted" for As in the studied lake sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy intensive industries of China consumes the highest share of coal that accounts for 93.69% of China's total coal consumption. Hence, these industries are important to achieve the goals to reduce carbon emission and energy conservation. The LMDI decomposition analysis is used to investigate the factors affecting coal consumption in these industries. The empirical findings indices that first, gross industrial output and structural changes had accelerated coal consumption, whereas energy intensity de-accelerated coal consumption. Second, technological improvements boosted industrial growth rate. Finally, results also reveal that there exists a coal rebound effect in energy intensive industries with the maximum at 35.07% in 2016, with an increasing trend during 1990–2016. The present research can help the policymakers to design a pinpointed policy framework to reduce carbon emission and coal conservation. • The coal rebound effect is evaluated by applying a well-designed mechanism. • LMDI model is applied to decompose the total coal consumption. • The technological indicator is estimated by using the resource intensity method. • Coal intensity deaccelerated, while output growth accelerated coal consumption. • Coal rebound effect is estimated as 35.07% in China's energy intensive industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]