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This paper regards the mechanical curriculum teaching as a design problem and uses environment-based design (EBD) method to solve it. First, environment components and their relations of the mechanical curriculum are found out by recursive object model (ROM). Then, conflicts in the teaching process are identified by analysing the above relations. Finally, solutions for solving these conflicts are generated. The proposed method is applied to mechanical manufacturing technology foundation (MMTF) curriculum with 217 students in grade 2016 in China. The solutions used in MMTF include decreasing the mental stress of students, developing more experimental projects, applying real cases and projects, adopting variety of assessments and so on. Compared with the performance of students in grade 2015, the average attendance rate and final scores are both increased, and three of the four achievement values of graduation attributes are risen. The practical example illustrates the EBD method is effective in improving curriculum teaching.

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common gynecological issue during reproductive years. Researches on how dietary diversity and patterns influence AUB in Chinese university students are limited, with some studies not clearly defining irregular menstruation. This research investigated the incidence of AUB according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics criteria and sought to identify preventative factors via online questionnaires. Methods: Food intake was assessed via factor analysis. This study analyzed the relationships among the dietary diversity score (DDS), dietary patterns, and AUB via univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression models and generalized additive models. Results: The sample consisted of 698 students, with 434 (62.2%) having experienced AUB. Among them, 87 (20.05%) reported abnormal frequency, 250 (57.60%) reported irregular menstrual cycle, 41 (9.45%) reported prolonged duration, and 268 (61.75%) reported abnormal flow volume. A 1-unit increase in the DDS was linked to a 22% lower risk of AUB (odds ratio 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.90). A high DDS (≥ 6) was consistently associated with a lower risk of AUB across all the models. Using a two-piecewise linear regression model and recursive algorithm, a nonlinear, reverse L-shaped relationship was identified between the "low fat plant-based" dietary pattern factor score (FAC4) and AUB, with an inflection point of 1.45. Before this point, FAC4 had a protective effect on AUB (odds ratio 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.84). Conclusions: Our study underscores the importance of a varied diet as a preventive measure for AUB, utilizing a DDS to quantify the relationship between dietary diversity and AUB. According to our findings, higher dietary diversity and moderate adherence to a "low fat plant-based" dietary pattern may be significant protective factors against AUB in university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims at investigating the current status of death literacy and parent's death quality among adult children in China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to explore the associations between death literacy and parent's death quality and to provide evidence for developing public policies for improving the quality of death and end-of-life care for the population in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) of China. Methods: A cross-sectional design was adopted. Participants who experienced their father's and/or mother's death were recruited from 5 cities in the GBA of China in 2022. The Good Death Inventory (GDI) and the Death Literacy Index (DLI) were used to investigate the perceived quality of death of the parents of the participants and the death literacy of the participants. Results: A total of 511 participants were recruited. Participants with higher GDI scores were positively associated with DLI scores (p  < 0.001). Adult children who had close relationships before their parents' death also had higher levels of DLI. Significance of results: This study investigated death literacy among bereaved adult children in China, filling a gap in the investigation of death literacy among Chinese residents. It found that parents' death experience can have a significant impact on the death literacy of adult children, which may affect their understanding and preparation for their own eventual death. Promotion of family discussion on death, development of community palliative care, and improving public death literacy are urgently needed in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric intracranial germ cell tumors (GCT) are clinically rare but highly heterogeneous tumors, primarily occurring in children and adolescents. The treatment method depends on the tumor type. Pure germinoma can be cured with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, while mature teratomas can be cured with surgical resection. Non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT) require comprehensive treatment. Current domestic and international guidelines or expert consensus recommend initial chemotherapy, followed by surgical resection for those not achieving complete remission. However, clinical practice has found that surgery risks increase after chemotherapy, leading some experts to advocate for direct surgery. Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University proposed a clinical diagnosis and treatment strategy for pediatric intracranial NGGCT (2023 Tiantan version), recommending joint evaluation by neurosurgeons and oncologists for individualized treatment to provide better treatment plans for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The instructional pattern of Problem-based Learning, which requires teachers to be "organizers, guides and cooperators" of their students' learning, is now becoming a trend in the development of medical education around the world. In order to be competent in all the above mentioned roles, teachers need to be equipped with corresponding qualities. In this article, basic qualities under the ideal PBL conditions are summarized from relevant literatures and teachers' practical ability was also understood through analysis of requirements. Then the difference between the ideals and reality was discovered, also a question data base was set up accordingly as the starting point to train teachers and seek a solution to intrigue them to implement PBL. Thus, a teachers' training system of "Five in One", the integration of requirement analysis, objectives setting, methods selection, content design and quality assurance, was constructed.

Background: Acute closed midsubstance Achilles tendon rupture(ACMATR) is common, with various treatment methods developed over time. We retrospectively compared the two mini transverse-incision repair (2MTIR) with percutaneous repair (PR) to determine which method yields better results. Methods: All cases meeting criteria from 2018 to 2021 in our hospital were included and followed up for 1 to 5 years. A final questionnaire with multiple indexes was conducted via phone call. Comparative analysis of these indexes between the two groups was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics (V.26). Continuous variables that passed tests for normality and equal variance were compared using the Student's t-test. Ranked data were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables were tested with the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was one rerupture in the PR group. The final indexes for "Tightness Feeling", "Heel Rising Strength", and "Foot Numbness" were statistically different (P < 0.05) between the two groups. The "Re-rupture" and "Return to Sports" indexes showed no statistical difference (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The 2MTIR technique provided a technically straightforward, minimally invasive procedure with well-preserved paratenon and direct end-to-end firm fixation in cases of ACMATR. It resulted in very low complications, easy rehabilitation, and full weight-bearing as early as 5–6 weeks postoperatively, yielding better functional outcomes compared to the PR technique in the 1–5 year follow-up. Trial registration: The study was preliminarily registered and approved by the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital Ethical Board with Project number: hkuszh2023074 on May 4, 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease whose pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated, and vaccination is the only effective method for protecting against rabies virus infection. Most inactivated vaccines are produced using Vero cells, which are African green monkey kidney cells, to achieve large-scale production. However, there is a potential carcinogenic risk due to nonhuman DNA contamination. Thus, replacing Vero cells with human diploid cells may be a safer strategy. In this study, we developed a novel 2BS cell-adapted rabies virus strain and analysed its sequence, virulence and immunogenicity to determine its application potential as a human diploid cell inactivated vaccine. Methods and results: The 2BS cell-adapted rabies virus strain 2aG4-B40 was established by passage for 40 generations and selection of plaques in 2BS cells. RNA sequence analysis revealed that mutations in 2BS cell-adapted strains were not located at key sites that regulate the production of neutralizing antibodies or virulence in the aG strain (GQ412744.1). The gradual increase in virulence (remaining above 7.0 logLD50/ml from the 40th to 55th generation) and antigen further indicated that these mutations may increase the affinity of the adapted strains for human diploid cells. Identification tests revealed that the 2BS cell-adapted virus strain was neutralized by anti-rabies serum, with a neutralization index of 19,952. PrEP and PEP vaccination and the NIH test further indicated that the vaccine prepared with the 2aG4-B40 strain had high neutralizing antibody levels (2.24 to 46.67 IU/ml), immunogenicity (protection index 270) and potency (average 11.6 IU/ml). Conclusions: In this study, a 2BS cell-adapted strain of the 2aG4 rabies virus was obtained by passage for 40 generations. The results of sequencing analysis and titre determination of the adapted strain showed that the mutations in the adaptive process are not located at key sequence regions of the virus, and these mutations may enhance the affinity of the adapted strain for human diploid cells. Moreover, vaccines made from the adapted strain 2aG4-B40 had high potency and immunogenicity and could be an ideal candidate rabies virus strain for inactivated vaccine preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, nitrate (NO3–) levels in winter pollution in eastern China have been increasing yearly and have become the main component of PM2.5. The factors contributing to this rise in surface NO3– concentrations remain unclear, complicating the development of targeted pollution control measures. This study utilizes observational data from Shanghai during the winter 2019, alongside box model simulations, to recreate the NO3− pollution event and identify the key factors in the growth process. The analysis demonstrated that a rise in winter ozone levels significantly promotes NO3– production by facilitating NOx conversion via gas-phase and heterogeneous reactions. These findings could explain the correlation between the synchronous increase of surface ozone and NO3− in recent years. Furthermore, simulation of control strategies for NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) identified an approach centered on ozone reduction as notably effective in mitigating winter NO3– pollution in the Yangtze River Delta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorption is the most important process influencing the amount of herbicide retained in soils. The special properties of biochar could influence the soil retention of pollutants through adsorption. However, the detailed sorption mechanisms as influenced before and after applying biochar to soils with different properties are unclear. This study examined the sorption characteristics of metolachlor using soil samples collected from South China. Sorption experiments were conducted using a batch equilibration method. After comparing the metolachlor sorption constants observed for all soil samples, our results showed that the application of biochar significantly increased the capacity of metolachlor adsorption. Without biochar, sorption capacity (Kf) was positively related to soil organic matter and to a soil particle size of 0.002–0.02 mm in soils developed from granite, of 0.002–0.02 mm in soils developed from delta shockwaves, and of 0.002–0.02 mm, together with complex iron oxide and total iron content, in soils developed from arenaceous shale. Moreover, sorption capacity (Kf) with biochar was positively related to peroxidase in soils developed from granite and to dissociative iron oxide and total iron content in soils developed from arenaceous shale. Our results show that biochar greatly affects metolachlor sorption behavior, probably because of qualitative differences in the structural characteristics of soils with different developmental parent materials and properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, China has entered the development stage of a "low birth rate" demographically. There is a huge contradiction between the unbalanced and inadequate distribution of preschool education facilities (PEFs) and the people's expectations for "full and good education for children". This study took the Lingui New District, a typical new urban area in West China as the research area, and through the introduction of POI big data and GIS analysis methods, supplemented by GeoDA Bivariate Moran index analyses, established a kindergarten spatial database. The study found that preschool education facilities have problems such as insufficient quantity, uneven quality, low service coverage, poor accessibility, etc. Therefore, it is suggested to increase the proportion of public affordable preschool education facilities including kindergartens and nurseries, optimize the spatial distribution of preschool education, and improve the accessibility of preschool services to promote affordable, safe, and high-quality development of preschool education and to provide reference suggestions for the revision of relevant standards and the adjustment of the layout of preschool education in undeveloped regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses detailed population statistics and analyzes labor participation rates in China from the perspectives of education and retirement. It presents different hypothetical scenarios and predicts future labor participation rates using queue factors. The results indicate that under the baseline scenario, the overall labor participation rate (51.43%) is projected to significantly decrease by 2060 compared to 2020 (73.76%). The lock-in effect of education leads to a declining participation rate for the 15–24 age group, which persists until approximately the age of 50. Generally, women have higher labor participation rates than men prior to retirement. In the education-centered hypothetical scenario, the quantity impact of educational expansion is evident. Although the relative impact of additional education diminishes toward the end of working life (60–74) compared to the entire working life (15–74). The improvement in the labor market due to educational reform is sustainable across all scenarios. In the retirement-centered hypothetical scenario, reducing retirement rates across age groups increases labor force participation, but this improvement mainly focuses on those under the age of 70 and is not sustained. Thus, delaying retirement policies is only effective in the short term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stock time-series data has the characteristics of high dimensionality and nonlinearity, which brings great challenges to stock forecasting. Aiming at the impact of stock correlation and the prediction information contained in stock image features, we propose a long short-term memory model based on clustering and image feature extraction, named Kmeans-CAE-LSTM. Firstly, the Kmeans algorithm is used for stock clustering, where the most correlated stocks are found. Secondly, a convolutional autoencoder (CAE) is applied to extract stock price image features. Finally, the stock technical data and image features are respectively input into the double-layer long-term short-term memory network to predict the stock price of the next trading day. The empirical research results on 11 industries in China's stock market show that the hybrid model has achieved the best prediction effect, which further proves the predictive ability of stock image data and can provide investors with new ideas for stock prediction and asset portfolio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Positive development plays an important role in youth when dealing with stressful circumstances. According to the resource dilution theory, adolescents with or without siblings may receive different levels of emotional and material resources from their parents. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between the positive development of adolescents in China today with their family characteristics such as the number of siblings. Methods: A total of 2072 junior high and senior high school students (13 to 18 years old) in Chengdu, Sichuan, China, were investigated by cluster sampling. The Chinese Positive Youth Development scales (CPYDs) were used to measure positive youth development. The generalized linear model was used to explore the relationships among the number of siblings, parent–child relationships and positive youth development. Results: Adolescents from only‐child families had better performance on positive development (H = 21.87, P < 0.001) and better relationships with parents (H = 15.1, P < 0.05). The positive development of male and female adolescents does not significantly differ in families with different numbers of siblings. The generalized linear model showed that a positive parent–child relationship is positively correlated with adolescent positive development (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Positive youth development is not only associated with the number of siblings but also other modifiable familial factors. The positive relationship between parents and adolescents is of great practical value in daily life to improve youth development, and this might be the real lesson the resource dilution theory tells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the high failure rate of key parts and low reliability of the whole machine in the working process of the new forage crusher, the expert scoring method was used to predict the reliability of the forage crusher, and the IFM was used to allocate the reliability. The results showed that the predicted reliability value of forage grass crushing machine was 0.668, which could not meet the requirements of reliability standard of forage grass crushing machine in China. Reliability was redistributed based on the prediction results, and lower failure rate weights and higher reliability were assigned to rotor and power transmission parts. High failure rate weight and low reliability were assigned to the crusher body. After redistributing the reliability of each subsystem, the reliability of the whole machine was 0.902 59, which met the reliability requirements of forage kneading machine system. The study indicates that the research can provide a method of reference for reliability prediction and distribution of forage processing machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rebuilding soil healthy microbiota is very important for preventing bacterial wilt. A 3-year-long field trial was conducted in China as follows: T1 (conventional fertilization), T2 (T1 + liming), T3 (T1 + bioorganic fertilizer), and T4 (T2 + bioorganic fertilizer). Fluorescence quantitative PCR and high-throughput sequencing were employed to study the dynamics of Ralstonia solanacearum population, microbial community, and network organizations between bacteria and quality-related variables. After 3 years of bioremediation, the control efficacy of tobacco bacterial wilt reached 61.30% and the occurrence delayed by approximately 40 days in T4, which had the highest tobacco yield and output value. The pathogen population of T4 remained below 106 copies/g soil during the entire growth period. Role-shifts prevailed among the network members. Microbes were unipathically associated with variables in T1 but multiplex in T4. In conclusion, soil bioremediation rebuilds a healthy soil microbiota and forms a more interactive and relevant micro-system, thus effectively controlling tobacco bacterial wilt. Key points: • This is the first time to effectively bio-control tobacco bacterial wilt in practical production in China, as well as to high-efficiently use the organic waste, thus promoting the organic cycling of the environment. • Soil bioremediation can effectively control soil-borne disease by rebuilding soil healthy microbiota and reducing abundance of pathogenic bacteria, thereby to prevent the soil borne disease occurrence. • After the soil remediated, microbes associated with soil and tobacco characteristics changed from unipathical to multiplex, and the keystone species play different roles compared with the original soil, thus signifying the complexity of multi-species interactions and achieving a closely relevant micro-system, which was ecologically meaningful to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further improve the system performance of railway vital signaling data networks, this paper analyzes the existing in-band network management system and its problems based on an analysis of the existing management system for vital signaling networks. Then, it proposes an optimization scheme of the grid structure for in-band network management system and the time synchronization of NMS and CTC. Moreover, it points out that the out-of-band network management system can be introduced into the current railway network management system, and that the optimization scheme can be achieved through the cooperation of the in-band and out-of-band systems. This research can provide reference for further improving the reliability of the network management system for railway vital signaling data networks in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of patients with lumbar disc herniation in China is increasing year by year. Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) is currently the main surgical method for treating lumbar disc herniation (LDH). However, with the increase in the number of surgical cases, the number of patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation (RLDH) is also increasing. Currently, the common method in China is lumbar fusion surgery, but this surgery would cause the loss of fusion segment mobility and considerable postoperative complications. In order to solve the problem above the following technique will be studied: the technique of posterior lumbar laminectomy and nucleus pulposus removal under fully visualized spinal endoscopy (ENDO-LOVE) to treat RLDH. Its clinical effects will be observed in this paper, too.Methods: This series includes RLDH patients treated with ENDO-LOVE technology between January 2017 and January 2021. All patients will undergo at least three follow-up visits one year after surgery. The modified MacNab standard, VAS, JOA, and ODI scores will be used to evaluate clinical efficacy, observe for cerebrospinal fluid leak, nerve root injury, and surgical site infection, and evaluate clinical safety.Results: All 29 patients completed the surgery successfully. Three patients had postoperative pain and numbness in the area of nerve root innervation, and all patients had no serious complications. The VAS, JOA scores and ODI indices of back pain and leg pain 1-day, 3-months, and 1-year postoperatively differed statistically significantly from the preoperative scores (p < 0.05). Efficacy evaluated at 1-year postoperatively using the modified MacNab criteria showed an excellent rate of 89.7%.Conclusion: ENDO-LOVE technology has demonstrated good clinical efficacy and safety in the treatment of patients with RLDH. It should be considered for all patients with this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accounts payable payment period for transportation costs is usually less than the accounts receivable cycle for transportation fees for a third-party logistic (3PL) firm in China; hence, a capital-constrained 3PL firm has a strong demand to seek credit loans from some competitive lenders (e.g., fourth-party logistic [4PL] firm or private lending [PL] organization). To investigate the attractiveness and effectiveness of different financing modes, two practical financing modes (4PL-driven and PL-driven) and an improved 4PL-driven financing mode are formulated in this work. We present a game-theoretical approach to investigate the equilibria based on the profile functions among 4PL firm (or PL), 3PL firm, supplier and retailer under different financing modes. We find that (1) the practical 4PL-driven financing mode will be the Pareto-dominant financing mode for 3PL firms, suppliers and retailers when the initial budget of the 3PL firm falls below a certain level. (2) The 4PL firm's profit is always higher when using the improved 4PL-driven financing mode. (3) The 4PL firm should use the practical 4PL-driven financing mode for start-up 3PL firms to support their growth; but when they grow to a certain scale, the 4PL firm should use the improved 4PL-driven financing mode to enhance its profit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientifically validating the value of rural heritage and exploring construction wisdom has emerged as a significant challenge in the study of rural settlements worldwide. Rural heritage shows significant differences according to the natural environment, history, culture, and socio-economic factors. However, the assessment of the authenticity and effectiveness of heritage values have yet to be quantified due to the difficulty in obtaining evidence directly from samples. By constructing a multi-dimensional model of villages for quantitative analysis, we proposed a multifaceted spatial visibility analysis method based on individual and combined defense structures to empirically study the remains of eight towers in Moluo village, western China. This study demonstrated that towers serve as regional defense structures and are essential for constructing a comprehensive and effective visual defensive system (VDS) in Moluo village, a typical military defense village. The effectiveness and coverage of the towers vary depending on their location, height, type, and other factors. They form a complementary and synergistic relationship, playing a dual mechanism of public and private, local and overall defense. In summary, this method enables the feasible quantification and analysis of the functional value of rural heritage through landscape visual analysis. It provides a new perspective for studying the authenticity of heritage functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gut microbiota is significantly influenced by altitude. However, the dynamics of gut microbiota in relation to altitude remains undisclosed. Methods: In this study, we investigated the microbiome profile of 610 healthy young men from three different places in China, grouped by altitude, duration of residence, and ethnicity. We conducted widely targeted metabolomic profiling and clinical testing to explore metabolic characteristics. Results: Our findings revealed that as the Han individuals migrated from low altitude to high latitude, the gut microbiota gradually converged towards that of the Tibetan populations but reversed upon returning to lower altitude. Across different cohorts, we identified 51 species specifically enriched during acclimatization and 57 species enriched during deacclimatization to high altitude. Notably, Prevotella copri was found to be the most enriched taxon in both Tibetan and Han populations after ascending to high altitude. Furthermore, significant variations in host plasma metabolome and clinical indices at high altitude could be largely explained by changes in gut microbiota composition. Similar to Tibetans, 41 plasma metabolites, such as lactic acid, sphingosine-1-phosphate, taurine, and inositol, were significantly elevated in Han populations after ascending to high altitude. Germ-free animal experiments demonstrated that certain species, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which exhibited altitude-dependent variations in human populations, might play crucial roles in host purine metabolism. Conclusions: This study provides insights into the dynamics of gut microbiota and host plasma metabolome with respect to altitude changes, indicating that their dynamics may have implications for host health at high altitude and contribute to host adaptation. 88DwbBo5LkUszxYCpXiUg_ Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a bacterial strain Chryseobacterium bernardetii WK-3 was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a uranium tailings in Southern China. It can efficiently adsorb hexavalent uranium with an adsorption ratio of 92.3%. The influence of different environmental conditions on the adsorption ratio of Chryseobacterium bernardetii strain WK-3 was investigated, and the adsorption mechanism was preliminarily discussed by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). The results showed that the optimal adsorption conditions for U(VI) by Chryseobacterium bernardetii strain WK-3 were pH = 5, temperature 30 ℃, NaCl concentration 1%, and inoculation volume 10%. When the initial concentration of U was 50 ~ 150 mg/L, the adsorption capacity of Chryseobacterium bernardetii strain WK-3 to U(VI) reached the maximum and maintained the equilibrium at 44 h. SEM–EDS results showed that phosphorus in cells participates in the interaction of uranyl ions, which may indicate that phosphate was produced during cell metabolism and was further combined to form U(VI)-phosphate minerals. In summary, Chryseobacterium bernardetii strain WK-3 would be a promising alternative for environmental uranium contamination remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recombinant proteins are gaining increasing popularity for treating human diseases. The clinical effectiveness of recombinant proteins is directly related to their biological activity, which is an important indicator in drug development and quality control. However, certain recombinant proteins have unclear or complex signal pathways, making detecting their activity in vitro difficult. For instance, recombinant human endostatin (endostatin), a new antitumor drug developed in China, lacks a sensitive and stable assay for its biological activity since being market approval. To address this issue, we performed a genome‐wide screening of immortalized human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout library containing 20,000 targeted genes. We identified two potential endostatin‐resistant genes, NEPSPP and UTS2, and successfully constructed a highly sensitive cell line, HUVEC‐UTS2‐3#, by knocking down the UTS2 gene. Based on the optimized parameters of HUVEC‐UTS2‐3# cells, we established a new method for detecting the biological activity of endostatin. The method was validated, and it produced results consistent with primary HUVEC cells but with higher sensitivity and more stable data. The use of gene‐editing technology provides a novel solution for detecting the biological activity of recombinant proteins that other methods cannot detect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic effect and mechanism of robot-assisted upper limb training (RT) combined with intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) for stroke patients are unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in brain activation after combination therapy and RT alone using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to two groups (iTBS + RT Group, n = 18, and RT Group, n = 18). Training was conducted five times a week for four weeks. fNIRS was used to measure changes in oxyhemoglobin in both the primary motor cortex (M1) and pre-motor and supplementary motor area (pSMA) during affected limb movement. Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) was employed for evaluating the function of upper limbs. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients with subacute stroke completed the study. The cortex of both hemispheres was extensively activated prior to treatment in the RT group. After training, overactivation decreased. The brain activation of the combined treatment group transferred to the affected side after the treatment. There was a notable enhancement in the FMA-UE scores for both groups, with the combined group's progress significantly surpassing that of the RT group. CONCLUSION: RT combined with iTBS can improve the motor function of stroke patients and promote the balance between cerebral hemispheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotenoids are important bioactive substances in breast milk, the profile of which is seldom studied. This study aimed to explore the profile of carotenoids in breast milk and maternal/cord plasma of healthy mother–neonate pairs in Shanghai, China, and their correlation with dietary intake. Maternal blood, umbilical cord blood and breast milk samples from five lactation stages (colostrum, transitional milk and early-, mid- and late-term mature milk) were collected. Carotenoid levels were analysed by HPLC. Carotenoid levels in breast milk changed as lactation progressed (P < 0·001). β -Carotene was the primary carotenoid in colostrum. Lutein accounted for approximately 50 % of total carotenoids in transitional milk, mature milk and cord blood. Positive correlations were observed between five carotenoids in umbilical cord blood and maternal blood (P all < 0·001). β -Carotene levels were also correlated between maternal plasma and three stages of breast milk (r = 0·605, P < 0·001; r = 0·456, P = 0·011, r = 0·446; P = 0·013, respectively). Dietary carotenoid intakes of lactating mothers also differed across lactation stages, although no correlation with breast milk concentrations was found. These findings suggest the importance of exploring the transport mechanism of carotenoids between mothers and infants and help guide the development of formulas for Chinese infants as well as the nutritional diets of lactating mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effects of risk message frames on tourists' post-pandemic travel intention via the meditation of loneliness and went further to investigate the roles of conflictive family atmosphere and risk propensity in moderating these effects. A situational experiment was conducted in China resulting 622 valid responses. The study found that respondents in risk attenuating frame had higher travel intention than those in risk amplifying frame; social loneliness partially mediated the effect of risk message on travel intention. Conflictive family atmosphere moderated the effects of risk message on social loneliness and travel intention. And risk propensity alleviated the negative impact of risk message on travel intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although adverse environmental exposures are considered a major cause of chronic diseases, current studies provide limited information on real-world chemical exposures and related risks. For this study, we collected serum samples from 5696 healthy people and patients, including those with 12 chronic diseases, in China and completed serum biomonitoring including 267 chemicals via gas and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Seventy-four highly frequently detected exposures were used for exposure characterization and risk analysis. The results show that region is the most critical factor influencing human exposure levels, followed by age. Organochlorine pesticides and perfluoroalkyl substances are associated with multiple chronic diseases, and some of them exceed safe ranges. Multi-exposure models reveal significant risk effects of exposure on hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome and hyperuricemia. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive human serum exposome atlas and disease risk information, which can guide subsequent in-depth cause-and-effect studies between environmental exposures and human health. Current studies have provided limited knowledge on real-world chemical exposures and related risks. Here, the authors show serum exposure characteristics of humans in different regions and age groups, revealing diverse risk relationships with multiple chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The westerly circulation and the monsoon circulation are the two major atmospheric circulation systems affecting the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere (NH), which have significant impacts on climate and environmental changes in the middle latitudes. However, until now, people's understanding of the long-term paleoenvironmental changes in the westerly- and monsoon-controlled areas in China's middle latitudes is not uniform, and the phase relationship between the two at different time scales is also controversial, especially the exception to the "dry gets drier, wet gets wetter" paradigm in global warming between the two. Based on the existing literature data published, integrated paleoenvironmental records, and comprehensive simulation results in recent years, this study systematically reviews the climate and environmental changes in the two major circulation regions in the mid-latitudes of China since the Middle Pleistocene, with a focus on exploring the phase relationship between the two systems at different time scales and its influencing mechanism. Through the reanalysis and comparative analysis of the existing data, we conclude that the interaction and relationship between the two circulation systems are relatively strong and close during the warm periods, but relatively weak during the cold periods. From the perspective of orbital, suborbital, and millennium time scales, the phase relationship between the westerly and Asian summer monsoon (ASM) circulations shows roughly in-phase, out-of-phase, and anti-phase transitions, respectively. There are significant differences between the impacts of the westerly and ASM circulations on the middle-latitude regions of northwest China, the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, and eastern China. However, under the combined influence of varied environmental factors such as BHLSR (boreal high-latitude solar radiation), SST (sea surface temperature), AMOC (north Atlantic meridional overturning circulation), NHI (Northern Hemisphere ice volume), NAO (North Atlantic Oscillation), ITCZ (intertropical convergence zone), WPSH (western Pacific subtropical high), TIOA (tropical Indian Ocean anomaly), ENSO (El Niño/Southern Oscillation), CGT/SRP (global teleconnection/Silk Road pattern), etc., there is a complex and close coupling relationship between the two, and it is necessary to comprehensively consider their "multi-factor's joint-action" mechanism and impact, while, in general, the dynamic mechanisms driving the changes of the westerly and ASM circulations are not the same at different time scales, such as orbital, suborbital, centennial to millennium, and decadal to interannual, which also leads to the formation of different types of phase relationships between the two at different time scales. Future studies need to focus on the impact of this "multi-factor linkage mechanism" and "multi-phase relationship" in distinguishing the interaction between the westerly and ASM circulation systems in terms of orbital, suborbital, millennium, and sub-millennium time scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have proposed grading systems for risk stratification of early‐stage lung adenocarcinoma based on histological patterns. However, the reproducibility of these systems is poor in clinical practice, indicating the need to develop a new grading system which is easy to apply and has high accuracy in prognostic stratification of patients. Methods: Patients with stage I invasive nonmucinous lung adenocarcinoma were retrospectively collected from pathology archives between 2009 and 2016. The patients were divided into a training and validation set at a 6:4 ratio. Histological features associated with patient outcomes (overall survival [OS] and progression‐free survival [PFS]) identified in the training set were used to construct a new grading system. The newly proposed system was validated using the validation set. Survival differences between subgroups were assessed using the log‐rank test. The prognostic performance of the novel grading system was compared with two previously proposed systems using the concordance index. Results: A total of 539 patients were included in this study. Using a multioutcome decision tree model, four pathological factors, including the presence of tumor spread through air space (STAS) and the percentage of lepidic, micropapillary and solid subtype components, were selected for the proposed grading system. Patients were accordingly classified into three groups: low, medium, and high risk. The high‐risk group showed a 5‐year OS of 52.4% compared to 89.9% and 97.5% in the medium and low‐risk groups, respectively. The 5‐year PFS of patients in the high‐risk group was 38.1% compared to 61.7% and 90.9% in the medium and low‐risk groups, respectively. Similar results were observed in the subgroup analysis. Additionally, our proposed grading system provided superior prognostic stratification compared to the other two systems with a higher concordance index. Conclusion: The newly proposed grading system based on four pathological factors (presence of STAS, and percentage of lepidic, micropapillary, and solid subtypes) exhibits high accuracy and good reproducibility in the prognostic stratification of stage I lung adenocarcinoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of information technology and artificial intelligence, translation technologies have seen rapid development in language services and increasing integration in higher education. However, research on factors affecting students' acceptance of these technologies remains limited. This study intends to formulate and test an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) incorporating computer self-efficacy and perceived enjoyment to investigate students' adoption of translation technologies. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 370 college students in China experienced with using translation technologies. The results from the structural equation modeling demonstrated a positive prediction on perceived ease of use and enjoyment from computer self-efficacy. Perceived enjoyment increased perceived ease of use and attitudes. Perceived ease of use positively influenced perceived usefulness and attitudes. Finally, attitudes positively predicted greater behavioral intentions to use translation technologies. However, computer self-efficacy was identified to have no significant effect on perceived usefulness. The study makes significant theoretical contributions by expanding TAM and offering practical guidance to improve students' acceptance of translation technologies in tertiary education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annual frequency of ground surface freeze–thaw (AFGSFT) is a crucial indicator of hydrological processes, climate change, and energy balance, as it directly measures the number of times the ground surface freezes and thaws within a year. Unlike other indicators, such as freezing depth and duration, AFGSFT is more closely related to ground surface water heat exchange. However, the mechanism behind the variability of the long-term AFGSFT time series in China remains largely unknown. Based on the observation data from 707 meteorological stations, the AFGSFT in China from 1960 to 2020 was analyzed. The analysis revealed a decreasing trend in AFGSFT from 1960 to 2020, with the highest value observed in the central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the rate of change in AFGSFT increasing with elevation. Despite these changes, the spatial distribution of AFGSFT closely aligns with the two regions divided by the Hu Huanyong Line (Hu Line). Elevation was found to be the primary geographic factor explaining the spatial variation of AFGSFT, while the ground surface temperature was the main environmental factor. Using the autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA), the study projected that the downward trend of AFGSFT will slow down in the next decade. The widespread climate warming was identified as the primary cause of AFGSFT changes, and this effect is expected to contribute significantly to the climate warming process in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the global expansion of shale oil and gas exploration, analyzing the geochemical characteristics of different types of shale has seized extensive attention. Taking the Chang 7 Member and Shanxi Formation in the Ordos Basin as examples, this study investigated the geochemical and hydrocarbon expulsion characteristics of different types of shale. The results show that the Chang 7 shale is mainly type I. The total organic carbon (TOC) distribution of the Chang 7 shale in the study area was between 0.72% and 27.5%, with an average of 7.46%, and the vitrinite reflectance (Ro) ranged from 0.45% to 1.28%. It is a good source rock in immature to mature stages. The Shanxi shale is mainly type III. The TOC distribution of the Shanxi shale was between 0.6% and 58.5%, with an average of 8.92%, and the Ro distribution was between 0.42% and 2.39%, indicating good immaturity over mature source rock. The average hydrocarbon expulsion efficiencies of the Chang 7 shale calculated using the hydrocarbon generation potential method and the original hydrocarbon generation potential method were 82.49% and 94.81%, respectively. Simultaneously, a correlation analysis of hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency with organic matter abundance, maturity, and type found that when TOC was less than 5%, hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency increased with increased organic matter abundance and maturity. When the TOC exceeds 5%, the hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency is mainly related to maturity. The hydrocarbon expulsion efficiency of the sapropelic shale was much higher than that of the humic shale. This study is significant for evaluating shale gas and shale oil resources in similar areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability and accuracy of glucose measurements determined using the metabolic heat conformation (MHC)-based non-invasive glucometer in a multicentre, self-controlled clinical trial. This device is the first to obtain a medical device registration certificate awarded by the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA). Methods: The multicentre clinical study was conducted at three sites and enrolled 200 subjects whose glucose was measured with a non-invasive glucometer (the Contour Plus blood glucose monitoring system) and by venous plasma glucose (VPG) measurements, in a fasted state and at 2 and 4 h after meals. Results: Based on both the non-invasive and VPG measurements, 93.9% (95% confidence interval 91.7–95.6%) of the blood glucose (BG) values fell within consensus error grid (CEG) zones A + B. The measurements obtained in a fasted state and at 2 h after meals were more accurate, with 99.0% and 97.0% of the BG values, respectively, falling within zones A + B. Compared to those subjects who received insulin, the proportion of values in zones A + B and the correlation coefficients were 3.1% and 0.0596 higher, respectively. The accuracy of the non-invasive glucometer was influenced by the level of insulin resistance calculated by the homeostatic model assessment method, which had a correlation coefficient with the mean absolute relative difference of − 0.1588 (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: The MHC-based non-invasive glucometer assessed in the present study demonstrates generally high stability and accuracy in the glucose monitoring of people with diabetes. The calculation model needs to be further explored and optimised for patients with different diabetes subtypes, levels of insulin resistance and insulin secretion capacity. Clinical trial registry number: ChiCTR1900020523. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building a high-level socialist market economy is conducive to giving full play to the market's decisive role in resource allocations and bringing the government into better play. Correctly handling the market and the government relationships has been a central issue in China's economic structural reform. Giving a comprehensive review and summary of the research findings achieved by the theoretical and academic circles in China, we generalize the evolution and working mechanisms of China's socialist market economy system, following the developing trajectory and logic of relevant literature, focusing on the three aspects of evolving perceptions, the role of the market, and the functions of the government. Based on our literature overview, we also induced and extracted the basic conclusions and evolutionary features of relevant research and made suggestions for the future direction of theoretical research regarding China's socialist market economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer victimization is a social problem for children and adolescents worldwide. This study examined the factor structure of peer victimization in relation to school life among Chinese adolescent students. The Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale (MPVS) was used to measure this phenomenon. We examined psychometric properties such as factor structure, factorial invariance across genders, area types (urban vs. rural), and time (Time 1 vs. Time 2), nomological network validity in relation to the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and internal consistency reliability of the MPVS in Chinese culture. We analyzed the results of a survey of 2,764 adolescents from six public secondary schools in Fujian Province, China; 50.8% of these participants were female, and their mean age was 13.967 years (SD =.843). Of these participants, 2,217 (51.2% female), with a mean age of 13.839 years (SD =.802), also completed the survey at Time 2. Four-factor models were tested: a null model, a one-factor model, the hypothesized four-factor model, and a hierarchical model. The results revealed that the four-factor model exhibited the best fit and demonstrated factorial invariance across genders, area types, and time points. Future directions for research among Chinese adolescents were also discussed. Public Significance Statement: This study contributes to the literature concerning the Multidimensional Peer-Victimization Scale (MPVS) by validating its applicability in a Chinese context. Our findings indicate that researchers and professionals can use this scale to determine the prevalence of peer victimization and examine differences across genders, urban and rural areas, and time. This is the first study to test the area and time invariance of the MPVS by using a large-scale sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of various strategies aimed at simultaneously promoting environmental conservation and human development are closely related to sustainable development regionally and globally. However, although the effects of many such strategies have been evaluated by ecologists and sociologists separately, their ability to simultaneously meet these two anticipated goals (i.e., environmental conservation and human development) at the fine spatial scale remains unclear. To answer this fundamental but crucial question, incorporating household and forest change data, we concurrently estimated the ecological and socioeconomic effects of two world-renowned Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs (i.e., the Nature Forest Conservation Program, the Grain to Green Program) and nature-based tourism in 30 protected areas across 8 provinces in China. Here we showed a trade-off between the ecological and economic effects of two PES programs, while synergistic effects exist in the ecological and economic benefits of tourism. Attributes of household and protected areas significantly influenced economic and environmental benefits as well. Our research provides new insights into the complex effects of PES programs and tourism, and crucial information to support their adequate and sustainable implementation in China and the rest of the world. Significance Statement: This work answers a fundamental but crucial question, that is, whether the policies commonly advocated to incorporate environmental conservation and human development can yield positive effects both for conservation and economic development. Our evaluation is also timely to inform some shortness (i.e., negligible economic effects, or the lack of expected positive economic benefits) and provides new insights (e.g., the implication of households and protected-areas attributes in conservation and economic outcomes) of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs and the complex effects of instruments in the context of multiple policies, particularly given the upcoming 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development goals (SDGs). We expected that implications in this study can provide important lessons for these two instruments, other PES programs, and other conservation and development instruments to support their adequate and sustainable implementation in China and beyond and to contribute to the achievement of relevant SDGs in the remaining years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beneficial utilization of potentially increasing urban green waste (UGW) is critical for sustainable urban development in China. In this study, UGW was pyrolyzed at different temperatures, and the resulting biochar was used to amend Cd-contaminated soils to grow cabbage. Our results showed that the Cd adsorption capacity of UGW-biochar was positively correlated with the surface area, O/C, and (O+N)/C value of biochar. Furthermore, UGW-biochar was incorporated into three Cd-contaminated soils, including one acidic soil and two neutral soils, to assess its impact on the availability of Cd. The most substantial reduction in the concentration of available Cd was observed in the acidic soil, of the three tested soils. In the neutral soils, a more substantial reduction was found in the heavily Cd-contaminated soil compared to the lightly Cd-contaminated soil. UGW-biochar amendments to the three Cd-contaminated soils resulted in an increase in the cabbage biomass in acidic soil, whereas in neutral soils, it increased in lightly contaminated soils but decreased in heavily contaminated soils. Additionally, the Cd bioaccumulation factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and removal efficiency (RE), as impacted by the biochar application, were calculated in the lightly Cd-contaminated soil–cabbage system. The BCF decreased from 5.84 to 3.80 as the dosage of the UGW-biochar increased from 0% to 3%, indicating that the UGW-biochar immobilized Cd and reduced its bioaccumulation in cabbage roots. Based on our investigations, UGW-biochar effectively immobilizes Cd by reducing its mobility and bioavailability in a lightly contaminated environment matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the 30-year global hourly sea surface temperature (SST) dataset (MLSST) produced by the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center, Ministry of Natural Resources of China, we analyzed the variability of diurnal sea surface temperature amplitude (DSST) of the tropical Indian Ocean at multiple time scales, as well as its influencing factors. The results show that the DSST in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and equatorial Indian Ocean exhibits a bimodal seasonal variation with a semi-annual cycle, while the DSST in the southern Indian Ocean shows an annual cycle. The seasonal variation of DSST is mainly influenced by factors such as sea surface wind speed, shortwave solar radiation, and precipitation. The DSST in the equatorial Indian Ocean is generally higher during El Niño years compared to La Niña years. At the intraseasonal scale, the large standard deviation of DSST in boreal winter is mainly distributed in the southern hemisphere, while the large standard deviation of DSST in boreal summer shifts northward. The intraseasonal variation amplitude of DSST in boreal winter of the tropical Indian Ocean is greater than that in boreal summer. The DSST in the tropical Indian Ocean exhibits significant variation characteristics at multi-time scales. This study provides reference for numerical simulation of air-sea interaction patterns in the tropical Indian Ocean, as well as improvement of short-term climate prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sexual dysfunction is common among postmenopausal women and can have a significant negative impact on quality of life. Aim: This study aimed to explore perceptions, experiences, and coping strategies related to sex among postmenopausal women in China. Methods: We used phenomenologic qualitative methods in this study. On the basis of purposive sampling and the data saturation principle, 21 volunteers from a community cohort study were selected for semistructured interviews. The data were analyzed and themes were extracted. Outcomes: Thematic codes pertaining to sexual experiences and coping strategies were defined and assessed in this study. Results: Four themes and 12 subthemes were extracted from the interview data. The sexual concepts were relatively conservative for most of the Chinese women; the majority experienced physical and psychological distress with respect to sex, although negative and positive psychological experiences were described. The women often passively accepted and adapted to negative changes to their sex lives during the postmenopause period. Clinical Implications: This study highlights the importance of and need for effective dissemination of sexual health–related knowledge and the opening of appropriate communication channels. Strengths and Limitations: By using a qualitative approach, this study provides individuals with the opportunity to describe their cognition and attitudes toward sexuality. Limitations include limited generalizability, as is true for most qualitative research. Additionally, the study is based solely on the female perspective and cannot fully reflect the sex life of couples. Conclusion: The sexual experiences of our respondents exhibited distinct Chinese cultural characteristics. The interviews show the importance of paying attention to postmenopausal women's sexual health and providing relevant professional support and guidance to improve women's overall health-related quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon trading and new energy markets are two key mechanisms for carbon reduction. However, theoretical analysis cannot reveal the complex links between carbon, green, and grey markets. Therefore, this study resorts to the frequency spillover index to explore the overall and directional connectedness of carbon-energy systems in China. The spillover effect indicates the cross-market propagation of information shocks and the potential ripple effects of specific shocks on system-wide changes. Dynamic spillovers suggest that the role of a certain market is not unchanged. In the time domain, both the overall and directional spillovers are closely related with the trading of carbon allowances and tend to show jumps at the beginning and end of the cycle. In the frequency domain, the short-term effects are much stronger than the medium- and long-term effects on all dimensions of the spillover effect. Comparatively, the grey energy is the main information transmitter at the high frequency, whereas it is the green energy playing such a role at medium and low frequencies. Comparing the overall spillovers on carbon markets, the effect of grey energy exceeds that of green energy. Even so, the carbon market plays an important role in the carbon-energy system with extremely significant effects on green and grey energy stocks at certain periods. The results provide profound implications for the management of carbon markets and portfolio optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study explores the relationship between social support, self-care ability, and life quality of cured leprosy patients (CLPs), aiming to develop strategies to enhance their overall well-being. Methods: From July to December 2021, we investigated the social support, self-care ability, and life quality of CLPs through three scales and analyzed the correlation between them. In addition, structural estimation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze their correlation. Results: A total of 9245 CLPs were recruited, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.19:1, and 94.04% of cured patients was 60 years or above, with predominantly home-cured patients. The scores of WHOQOL-BREF, SSRS, and ESCA were (51.39 ± 9.89), (31.87 ± 8.76), and (100.95 ± 19.75), respectively. The results indicate a poorer quality of life and social support for CLPs compared to the general population in China. Furthermore, the home group had higher scores on these scales than the leprosarium group. The correlation analysis showed significant interactions between life quality, social support, self-care ability, and various domains (p < 0.05). SEM results revealed that the direct effect of self-care ability on life quality was 0.13, and the indirect effect on quality of life through social support was 0.08. The mediating effect of social support accounted for 22.86% of the total effect in the home group. In the leprosarium group, the effect of self-care ability on quality of life was 0.14. Conclusions: Most CLPs in Jiangsu Province are concentrated in the central region, with a high disease burden. We found that CLPs have a poorer life quality than the general population, with the leprosarium group being worse than the home group. The government and society should pay more attention to and support these cured patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-perceived temperature (HPT) describes the joint effects of multiple climatic factors such as temperature and humidity. Extreme HPT events may reduce labor capacity and cause thermal discomfort and even mortality. These events are becoming more frequent and more intense under global warming, posing severe threats to human and natural systems worldwide, particularly in populated areas with intensive human activities, e.g., the North China Plain (NCP). Therefore, a fine-scale HPT dataset in both spatial and temporal dimensions is urgently needed. Here we construct a daily high-resolution (~1 km) human thermal index collection over NCP from 2003 to 2020 (HiTIC-NCP). This dataset contains 12 HPT indices and has high accuracy with averaged determination coefficient, mean absolute error, and root mean squared error of 0.987, 0.970 °C, and 1.292 °C, respectively. Moreover, it exhibits high spatiotemporal consistency with ground-level observations. The dataset provides a reference for human thermal environment and could facilitate studies such as natural hazards, regional climate change, and urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ancient Woda landslide, located in the upper Jinsha River, China, is a reactivated landslide that poses a potential risk of further instability and river blockage. In this study, we evaluated and modeled the reactivation characteristics, potential instability, dynamic runout, and resulting dam stability of the Woda landslide. Our results show that the landslide is currently experiencing creep, although accelerated deformation is occurring locally. The presence of two sliding zones suggests the potential reactivation of the landslide through a progressive failure mechanism along either a shallow or deep sliding zone. Under these two scenarios, the Woda landslide would form a dam and block the Jinsha River, with maximum modeled runout distances of approximately 1800 and 2110 m, and dam heights of approximately 25 and 62 m, respectively. The resulting backwater areas would reach upstream distances of approximately 13 and 30 km, and the maximum modeled peak flood discharge following a breach scenario would be 2772 and 5102 m3/s, respectively. These results provide an important reference for predicting and managing large geological disaster chains in the upper Jinsha River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: China is promoting integrated care. However, incomplete payment methods led to medical insurance overspending and intensified service fragmentation. Sanming implemented Integrated Medicare Payment Methods (IMPM) in October 2017, which integrates multi-level payment policies. Sanming’s IMPM works well and has been promoted by the Chinese government. Therefore, in this paper, we aim to systematically analyze Sanming’s IMPM, and conduct preliminary evaluations of Sanming’s IMPM. Policy Description: IMPM integrates two levels of policy that are implemented simultaneously: (1) The payment policy for healthcare providers refers to how to calculate the global budget (GB) of the medical insurance fund paid to the healthcare providers and the policy guidance for the healthcare providers on how to use GB. (2) The payment policy for medical personnel refers to the adjustment of the evaluation index of the annual salary system (ASS) according to the IMPM’s purpose and the payment policy that adjust pay levels based on performance. Discussion and lessons learned: After the IMPM reform, county hospitals (CHs) may reduce over-providing dispensable healthcare, and cooperation between hospitals may increase. The policy guidance (Determining GB according to population; Medical insurance balance can be used for doctors’ salary, cooperation between hospitals, and promotion of residents’ health; Adjusting ASS assessment indicators according to IMPM purposes) increases CHs’ motivation to promote balances of medical insurance fund by cooperating with primary healthcare and increasing health promotion actions. Conclusion: As a model promoted by the Chinese government, the specific policies of Sanming’s IMPM are better matched with policy goals, which may be more conducive to promoting medical and health service providers to pay more attention to cooperation among medical institutions and population health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of insecticide resistance in insect populations is a major challenge to sustainable agriculture and food security worldwide. Buprofezin, one of the commonly used chitin synthesis inhibitors, has severely declined its control efficacy against the brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens), a devastating rice insect species. To date, however, mechanism of buprofezin resistance in target pests remains elusive. We conducted a long-term (25 years from 1996 to 2020) and large geographical scale (11 provinces and cities in China) resistance monitoring program for buprofezin in BPH, a notorious pest of rice crop in East and Southeast Asia. BPH rapidly developed resistance with > 1,000-fold resistance being detected in nearly all the field populations after 2015. Using the bulk segregant mapping method, we uncovered a novel mutation (G932C) in chs1 gene encoding chitin synthase 1 from a near isogeneic buprofezin-resistant (> 10,000-fold) strain harboring recessive, monogenic resistance. Using CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-modified Drosophila melanogaster possessing the same mutation as a model, we found that the G932C mutation was not only responsible for buprofezin resistance but also conferred a cross-resistance to cyromazine, an insect molting disruptor, on which the mode of action is largely unknown. Taken together, our study for the first time revealed the molecular mechanism conferring buprofezin resistance in BPH and implicated that cyromazine also targets chitin biosynthesis to confer its toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To investigate the effect of changes in the volatile components of cotton plants on the oviposition behavior of adult female Spodoptera frugiperda Smith, an important agricultural and forestry pest in China. [Methods] Adult female S. frugiperda were allowed to choose between volatiles collected from healthy, mechanically damaged or insect damaged, cotton plants under laboratory conditions. Volatile samples were collected from cotton plants using the dynamic headspace adsorption technique at 3 different time periods. The chemical identities of the volatile components and their contents were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Qualitive and quantitative changes in volatile components were further analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). [Results] Significantly more egg masses and eggs were laid on healthy plants than on mechanically damaged, or caterpillar damaged, plants on the 1st day. However, no significant preference was apparent on the 2nd and 3rd day. Significantly more egg masses and eggs were laid by adult females on the 1st day compared to the 2nd and the 3rd day. A total of 25 compounds were identified in volatiles from all three kinds of plants and plants that had been subject to mechanical or caterpillar damage produced a higher number of volatile compounds with more diverse components than undamaged plants on the 1st day. Eleven compounds were identified in mechanically damaged cotton. Octanal and 1-nonadecanol were characteristic components of the volatiles of damaged plants, whereas only 1-decayne and benzaldehyde were detected in those from healthy cotton. Large amounts of terpenes were released from caterpillar-damaged cotton on the 1st day, after which the amount gradually decreased. Changes in the composition of volatiles released by caterpillar-damaged cotton were attributed to changes in the ratio of 14 compounds, such as limonene, (3E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonadiene, linalool, indole, β-ocimene and β-caryophyllene. [Conclusion] Healthy cotton attracted more female S. frugiperda whereas caterpillar-damaged cotton appeared to inhibit oviposition. It is possible that the 1-decayne and benzaldehyde released by healthy cotton plays an important role in attracting female moths for egg-laying, whereas the different volatiles released by caterpillar-damaged cotton, such as (3E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonadiene, linalool and indole, repel females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the socioeconomic processes and outcomes of ecological restoration projects (ERPs) is important to the ERP's effectiveness or performance. In addition, ERPs are often carried out in parallel with other policies and may have complex and integrated impacts on social‐ecological systems. However, few studies have included the impact of such parallel policies in their analysis. Here, the agro‐pastoral ecotone in northern China, which contains several national ERPs and grass‐based livestock husbandry promotion policies, was used to analyze the socioeconomic outcomes in the context of multi‐policies. Specifically, we developed a framework to integrate linkages between multiple ecosystem management policies, livelihood assets, activities, and socioeconomic outcomes and used a structural equation model to distinguish the contributions and pathways of multi‐policies to socioeconomic outcomes. Thus, our framework follows the cascading effects of multi‐policies from the perspective of rural livelihoods while highlighting the diverse socioeconomic impacts. The results showed that grass‐based livestock husbandry and the local economy had a more significant impact on rural income compared to ERPs. However, it is worth noting that the agricultural structure has also changed with the development of grass‐based livestock husbandry, which may have a negative feedback effect on the ERP effectiveness. In other words, complementarity and offsetting can occur between ERPs and parallel policies. Our study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the social‐ecological processes and outcomes, thereby providing new methods and insights for future scientific policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle Permian Lucaogou Formation in Northwestern China mainly contains typical saline lacustrine oil shale. To study the differences in geochemistry and hydrocarbon generation of source-rock samples in Lucaogou Formation in Jimusaer Sag, 57 core samples from two boreholes were analyzed herein by performing total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, RockeEval pyrolysis, and gas chromatographicemass spectrometry experiments on saturated hydrocarbons. The kinetics of oil generation were studied using two samples comprising typical maceral components. The results showed that the hydrocarbons produced by telalginite are relatively rich in pristane (Pr), phytane (Ph), b-carotane, high-carbon normal alkanes, and C29 regular steranes. Hydrocarbons produced by lamalginite contain a significantly higher content of C20 tricyclic terpanes (TT), C21TT, C24 tetracyclic terpanes (TeT), C29 norhopane, and C28 regular sterane. Based on the pyrolysis and biomarker compound parameters, telalginite has a higher conversion rate for hydrocarbons than lamalginite in the low-mature to mature stage, which is consistent with their kinetic analysis. Lamalginite source rock displays a much narrower distribution of activation energies than telalginite source rocks. Such narrower activation energy distribution effectively narrows the main stage of hydrocarbon generation. In addition, the activation energy distribution of lamalginite concentrated in the high-value interval, indicating the characteristics of the relatively lagging hydrocarbon generation of lamalginite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the mechanisms of ecological restoration project (ERP) effectiveness is essential for designing, implementing, and sustainably managing ERPs. It is worth noting that ERPs and parallel policies always lead to an interplay between socioeconomic systems and the ecosystem, and such processes can also have a significant impact on ERP effectiveness in addition to local environmental conditions. However, few studies have focused on this mechanism. Here, the agro‐pastoral ecotone in northern China, which is a key area containing several national ERPs, was used to analyze the above problem from the perspective of rural livelihood activities. Specifically, we identified changes in rural livelihood activities in the context of ERPs and analyzed the impact of changing activities' feedback effect on ERP effectiveness. The results showed that in addition to the afforestation and local environmental factors, changing rural livelihood activities significantly affected the ERP effectiveness through the direct or indirect pathway. Based on our results, we suggest policymakers need an integrated and systemic perspective and focus on the dynamic changes in rural livelihood activities in the context of ERPs and parallel policies. Our study helps to elucidate the complex mechanisms of ERP effectiveness with a social‐ecological perspective, thereby providing new insights and a theoretical basis for improving ERP effectiveness in China and around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent data have shown divergent trends in gastric cancer (GC) incidence between China and Japan; however, the cause for has not been explored. Methods: We retrieved GC incidence data from 1990 to 2019 from the Global Burden of Disease study, stratified by sex for both countries. We analyzed annual average percentage change (AAPC) via a joinpoint regression model and estimated the effects of age, period, and cohort via the age–period–cohort model. Results: The age‐standardized incidence rate trends for GC decreased in both countries and both sexes, but the reduction was more pronounced in Japan because the AAPC for Japanese males (AAPC = −2.65%; 95% CI, −2.98 to −2.32) was eight times greater than that of Chinese males (AAPC = −0.30%; 95% CI, −0.5 to −0.09). The age and cohort effects on the trend are similar in both countries: the risk of GC incidence increased with age among the Chinese and the Japanese but was lower among younger birth cohorts. The two countries showed contrasting trends over the study period; although the risk of GC rapidly decreased for Japanese males and females, it increased by twofold among Chinese males. Conclusions: The period effect is the main reason for the divergent trends in age‐standardized incidence rate for GC in China and Japan. By comparing national cancer control programs in both countries, we concluded that countries with a high prevalence of GC, such as China, can learn from Japan's experience in controlling GC by actively conducting national population screening, which is expected to facilitate both prevention and treatment of GC. Lay summary: More than one‐half of all new gastric cancer (GC) worldwide occur in China and Japan, but the reasons for the different incidence trends have not been thoroughly analyzed.Analysis using the age–period–cohort model confirmed that the cohort effect was the main reason for the decline in age‐standardized incidence rate (ASIR) for GC and that the period effect may be the main reason for the divergent trends in gastric cancer ASIR in China and Japan. The period effect is the main reason for the divergent trends in gastric cancer incidence in China and Japan. Countries with a high prevalence of gastric cancer, such as China, can learn from Japan's experience of actively conducting national population cancer screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ampelopsis grossedentata (AG) is mainly distributed in Chinese provinces and areas south of the Yangtze River Basin. It is mostly concentrated or scattered in mountainous bushes or woods with high humidity. Approximately 57 chemical components of AG have been identified, including flavonoids, phenols, steroids and terpenoids, volatile components, and other chemical components. In vitro studies have shown that the flavone of AG has therapeutic properties such as anti-bacteria, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, enhancing immunity, regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, being hepatoprotective, and being anti-tumor with no toxicity. Through searching and combing the related literature, this paper comprehensively and systematically summarizes the research progress of AG, including morphology, traditional and modern uses, chemical composition and structure, and pharmacological and toxicological effects, with a view to providing references for AG-related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]