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The underlying mechanism of the destination trust of Korean travelers and behaviors toward China after the COVID-19 pandemic is explored in the present study, which considers the role of the destination image constituents and perceived government policy responsiveness for tourism recovery. The data was collected from Korean nationals who are currently residing in South Korea and have traveled to China in the last five years. The results revealed that the developed conceptual framework had a satisfactory level of explanatory ability in regards to predicting the travel and recommendation intentions of Korean travelers toward China, which destination trust serves as the key mediator. Moreover, the perception of Korean travelers in regards to Chinese government policy responsiveness for tourism recovery significantly strengthened the effect of image factors on destination trust. The study also discovered that the importance of image factors varies in regards to the formation of trust and destination behaviors. This research provides significant theoretical insights into the post-health crisis tourism recovery, which emphasizes changes in Korean travel patterns in the aftermath of COVID-19 as well as the wider socio-political environment that influences travel destinations. It also presents useful guidance for Chinese tourism stakeholders in regards to implementing effective recovery strategies that are aimed at the lucrative Korean outbound travel market during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, leveraging search engine data, investigates the dynamics of China's domestic tourism markets in response to the August 2022 epidemic outbreak in Xinjiang. It focuses on understanding the reaction mechanisms of tourist-origin markets during destination crises in the post-pandemic phase. Notably, the research identifies a continuous rise in the potential tourism demand from tourist origin cities, despite the challenges posed by the epidemic. Further analysis uncovers a regional disparity in the growth of tourism demand, primarily influenced by the economic stratification of origin markets. Additionally, the study examines key tourism attractions such as Duku Road, highlighting its resilient competitive system, which consists of distinctive tourism experiences, economically robust tourist origins, diverse tourist markets, and spatial pattern stability driven by economic factors in source cities, illustrating an adaptive response to external challenges such as crises. The findings provide new insights into the dynamics of tourism demand, offering a foundation for developing strategies to bolster destination resilience and competitiveness in times of health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) is the causative agent of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) IPN and causes significant loss of fingerlings. The currently prevalent IPNV genogroups in China are genogroups 1 and 5. However, in this study, we isolated and identified a novel IPNV, IPNV-P202019, which belonged to genogroup 7. Here, a total of 200 specific-pathogen-free rainbow trout (10 g average weight) were divided randomly into four groups to investigate the distribution of different IPNV strains (genogroups 1, 5, and 7) in 9 tissues of rainbow trout by means of intraperitoneal (ip) injection. Fish in each group were monitored after 3-, 7-, 14-, 21- and 28- days post-infection (dpi). The study showed no mortality in all groups. The distribution of IPNV genogroups 1 and 5 was similar in different tissues and had a higher number of viral loads after 3, 7, or 14 dpi. However, the distribution of IPNV genogroup 7 was detected particularly in the spleen, head kidney, and feces and had a lower number of viral loads. The results of this study provide valid data for the distribution of IPNV in rainbow trout tissues and showed that IPNV genogroups 1 and 5 were still the prevalent genogroups of IPNV in China. Although rainbow trout carried IPNV genogroup 7, the viral load was too low to be pathogenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used Markov regime switching-cum-trend and the Fourier component models to explore tourism development in Taiwan and found that during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, tourism policy adjustments and political environment based on political relations with China, risk-increasing timing or lag timing can create systemic shifts in tourism development. Among these shifts, policy adjustments have a positive effect on the development of tourism from a low- to high-level regime. This result is different from the previous literature's conclusion that the effect of policy adjustment is insufficient and that SARS and political risks had a negative effect on tourism development from a high- to low-level regime. However, the political environment effect is limited to visitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao. This study confirms the adverse effects on sustainable tourism development when the risks in the international political environment increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hot and humid feeling of the urban environment enhances residents' discomfort indices. Although the cooling and humidifying effects of plant communities in various urban parks are significant, there is still insufficient evidence for the effects of plant community characteristics on temperature and humidity. In this study, 36 typical plant communities in the Changchun Water Culture and Ecological Park in China were selected in the summer (21–23 August 2020) from 8:00 to 18:00 for three days when it was sunny and windless. We obtained plant community characteristics through field measurements and drone recordings to explore the relationship between plant community characteristics and the mechanism of temperature and humidity. The study observed that (1) the canopy density and three-dimensional green amount were significantly related to the benefits of cooling and humidification. When the canopy density is between 0.7 and 0.8 and the three-dimensional green volume is above 4 m³/m², the greatest benefit is achieved; (2) the discomfort index is between 0.6 and 0.8, and the three-dimensional green volume is 4 m³/m²–6 m³/m² minimum; and (3) the changes in temperature and humidity are different for different types of plant communities, which lead to differences in people's perceptions of environmental comfort. The tree–grassland and tree–shrub–grass types had the most apparent improvement effects on comfort. The results show that in the design process of urban park plants, emphasis is placed on plant community configuration with apparent cooling and humidification effects, which can improve the comfort of tourists in hot and humid environments. The research results provide theoretical support for sustainable urban green space development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of trees have been planted in built-up areas to improve the urban environment, but the effects of tree cover on spontaneous understory herbs are not yet well understood. This study surveyed spontaneous herbs in two kinds of habitats (habitats with and without tree cover) in the built-up area of the small city Junlian in Sichuan Province, China. A total of 222 species of spontaneous herbaceous plants in 180 genera of 71 families were recorded, including a vulnerable species and six species endemic to China. Although the overall species richness values were similar in the two kinds of habitat, the average species richness per quadrat of all plants, perennials, plants with the dwarf growth form, and animal-dispersed plants was significantly higher in the habitats with tree cover than in those without tree cover. The overall species association was significantly positive in the habitats with tree cover (VR = 1.51, p < 0.05) and neural (VR = 0.86) in the habitats without tree cover. Among the top 25 frequently recorded species in each kind of habitat, the species association of plants with the same trait combination type differed greatly in the two kinds of habitats. For the species association between annuals, only 13.33% of species pairs were significantly associated in the habitats with tree cover, while 22.22% of the species pairs were significantly negatively associated in the habitats without tree cover. For the species association between plants with tall growth forms, the proportion of significant positive associations in the habitats with tree cover was approximately twice than in the habitats without tree cover. For the species association between plants with the dwarf growth form, the proportion of negative associations in the habitats without tree cover was approximately twice that in the habitats with tree cover. Species with the same dispersal mode generally had a very low proportion of negative interspecific associations or a high proportion of positive interspecific associations in habitats unfavorable to their establishment. Our findings suggest that tree cover can improve the species richness of the spontaneous herbaceous species beneath them and profoundly influence interspecific coexistence relationships in a built-up area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is a common social behaviour, and is classified differently according to its purpose or destination. Plant-viewing tourism (PVT) and its impact on destinations has been studied; however, research on flower-viewing tourism (FVT) is still deficient. This study investigates the impact of FVT on the perceptions and attitudes of residents in Chengdu city. A questionnaire survey was conducted involving 305 residents. A total of 17 items representing three main dimensions (environmental, economic, and socio-cultural) of explanatory factors were considered after exploratory factor analysis. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the relationship between these dimensions and the attitudes of residents. Results show that residents' positive attitudes towards FVT were associated with the positive response of economic and environmental impacts, but no significant correlation was found between socio-cultural impacts and attitudes. Results are discussed and analyzed in-depth, and three conclusions and policy recommendations of this study are proposed. These results can provide suggestions for future development in cities, formulation of tourism policies, and promotion of sustainable tourism development in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the predictive value of using the multiple of the median (MoM) of β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels in patients with preeclampsia (PE) and healthy pregnant women. Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, EBSCO, Ovid, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SinoMed, Wangfang and the Weipu Journal were searched up to May 31, 2020. Two reviewers independently selected the articles and extracted data on study characteristics, quality and results. A random-effects model was employed, and standardized mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Twenty-one case-control studies were analyzed in the present meta-analysis, including a total of 2,266 cases and 25,872 healthy controls. Results: Women who were diagnosed with PE were found to have higher early second-trimester levels of serum β-hCG MoM compared with healthy controls, although the levels in the first trimester were not significantly different. Ethnicity subgroup analysis demonstrated that the MoM of β-hCG serum levels was significantly higher in PE patients in both Asian and Caucasian populations during the early second trimester. Conclusion: The MoM of β-hCG serum levels was found to be a valuable clinical indicator for predicting PE in the early second trimester, but had little predictive value in the first trimester. However, further assessment of the predictive capacity of β-hCG within larger, diverse populations is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a biodiversity survey of a subterranean habitat near Sinan County, Guizhou Province, southwestern China, a new atyid shrimp of the genus Caridina H. Milne Edwards, 1837, C. sinanensis sp. nov. was discovered. The new species can be separated from other congeners based on a combination of characters including depigmentation in body and reduction of eyes, small pigment spot at the centre of the cornea, the shape of rostrum and the endopod of the 1st male pleopod, and the relatively longer appendix interna on the appendix masculina of the 2nd pleopod. Mitochondrial COI and 16S rRNA gene sequences also support the establishment of the new species. Information on the habitat, and the levels of threat are discussed to guide the conservation of C. sinanensis sp. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current research on tourist destination residents' attitudes lacks an in-depth investigation of the roles of the resident-community relationship and quality-of-life. Using social exchange and relational quality theories, this study examines the effect of personal benefits from tourism on the resident-community relationship. Hypothesized relationships are examined using the structural equation model technique. Utilizing a stratified random sampling technique, residents of Gulangyu Island located in Xiamen City, China, were surveyed. By integrating ideas from both social exchange theory and relational quality theory, the current study provides new insights into the relationship amongst the perceived personal benefits that residents obtain from tourism in their communities and the resulting level of their backing for tourism development. Relational quality theory is extended through investigation of the function of important relationship variables in the unique setting of a tourist destination. Study findings also provide support for a quality-of-life to support for tourism development relationship. In addition, multi-mediating analysis provides new insights regarding the nature of the relationship that personal benefits from tourism have with resident backing for tourism development. Findings from this study can assist researchers and destination officials to better identify some of the driving factors that impact resident support for tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few prior studies have investigated place image from the residents' perspective, how this and residents' place attachment influence attitude to tourism, and consequent reactions. Accordingly, this study aims to develop a model for local residents' pro-tourism behavioral intention and to discover the relationships between constructs. Analysis was based on a sample of 370 residents in Huangshan City, China. Results indicate that residents' attitude to tourism positively affects their pro-tourism behavioral intention. Residents' place image is found to positively relate to place attachment and attitude to tourism, while place attachment is also related to attitude and pro-tourism behavioral intention. In addition, attitude to tourism mediates place image's and place attachment's respective relationships with pro-tourism behavioral intention. Lastly, place image indirectly impacts residents' attitude to tourism and pro-tourism behavioral intention through place attachment. However, the positive relationship between place image and pro-tourism behavioral intention is not supported. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the key stakeholders in tourism development, residents' satisfaction with tourism development (RSTD) has an important effect on the alleviation of poverty. Despite its great significance, only limited research had been conducted by researchers to explore factors influencing RSTD in poor regions. To fill the void, this study built the proposed model of RSTD in poverty-stricken areas by structural equation modeling technique. The results indicated that (1) six key influencing factors, namely, perceived benefits of tourism development, perceived costs of tourism development, residents' participation in tourism development, distribution of personal benefits from tourism, residents' expectations for tourism development, and community attachment, were proved to be the antecedents of RSTD in poverty-stricken areas. (2) According to path coefficients between constructs, “distribution of personal benefits from tourism” was the most significant antecedent of RSTD in poverty-stricken regions. Furthermore, “residents’ participation in tourism development” also need to be paid more attention. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports findings derived from a sample of 357 questionnaires that were self-completed by respondents after a visit to the Taoist village of Qiyunshan. The village has a heritage of several hundred years as a Taoist pilgrimage site and in 2003 it was opened to the wider world through the construction of a cable car that takes visitors directly to the village. The main attractions are the scenic areas, the Taoist tradition, the residents, and a sense of harmony between place, people, and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For 1 year now, the world is undergoing a coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The most widely used method for COVID-19 diagnosis is the detection of viral RNA by RT-qPCR with a specific set of primers and probe. It is important to frequently evaluate the performance of these tests and this can be done first by an in silico approach. Previously, we reported some mismatches between the oligonucleotides of publicly available RT-qPCR assays and SARS-CoV-2 genomes collected from GISAID and NCBI, potentially impacting proper detection of the virus. In the present study, 11 primers and probe sets investigated during the first study were evaluated again with 84,305 new SARS-CoV-2 unique genomes collected between June 2020 and January 2021. The lower inclusivity of the China CDC assay targeting the gene N has continued to decrease with new mismatches detected, whereas the other evaluated assays kept their inclusivity above 99%. Additionally, some mutations specific to new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern were found to be located in oligonucleotide annealing sites. This might impact the strategy to be considered for future SARS-CoV-2 testing. Given the potential threat of the new variants, it is crucial to assess if they can still be correctly targeted by the primers and probes of the RT-qPCR assays. Our study highlights that considering the evolution of the virus and the emergence of new variants, an in silico (re-)evaluation should be performed on a regular basis. Ideally, this should be done for all the RT-qPCR assays employed for SARS-CoV-2 detection, including also commercial tests, although the primer and probe sequences used in these kits are rarely disclosed, which impedes independent performance evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]