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Background: The six-minute walking test (6MWT) is a tool that plays a key role in evaluating the functional exercise capacity, prognosis and evaluation of treatment response of patients with various cardiopulmonary diseases. However, standard reference equations are currently unavailable for the six-minute walking distance (6MWD) for people aged 60-85 years in China. The purpose of this study was to 1) measure the 6MWD of healthy Chinese people aged 60-85 years, 2) establish reference equations for predicting the 6MWD, and 3) compare our reference equations with equations reported in previously published studies.Method: We obtained informed consent from each participant prior to the test, and the research design was approved by the Ethics Committee of Wenzhou People's Hospital. The demographic and anthropometric data and the 6MWD of healthy Chinese subjects aged 60-85 years old were measured using a standardized protocol. Every subject completed two 6MWTs, and the longest 6MWD further analyzed.Results: Two hundred sixty-six subjects (128 males and 138 females) completed the 6MWT, and the mean walking distance was 518 ± 72 m. Males achieved a longer walking distance than females (518 ± 72 m vs. 487 ± 70 m; p < 0.0001), and active subjects achieved a longer walking distance than nonactive subjects (512 ± 76 m vs. 485 ± 63 m; p < 0.0001). According to the univariate analysis, the 6MWD was significantly associated with age, height, body mass index (BMI), heart rate and blood pressure after exercise and changes in heart rate before and after exercise. The stepwise multivariate regression analysis identified age, height and BMI as independent predictors of the 6MWD. The reference equations for Caucasians and South Americans tended to overestimate the 6MWD of our subjects, while the equations for Asian and African populations tended to underestimate the 6MWD.Conclusions: This study is the first to describe the 6MWD of healthy Chinese people aged 60-85 years, and reference prediction equations were proposed. These findings will help to improve the evaluation of Chinese patients with diseases that affect exercise capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a safe, simple, inexpensive tool for evaluating the functional exercise capacity. However, there is a lack of standard reference equations for the six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in the healthy Chinese Han population with an age of 18-30 years. The aims of the present study were as follows: 1) to measure the anthropometric data and the walking distance in a sample of healthy Chinese Han population, aged 18-30 years; 2) to construct reference equations for the 6MWD; 3) to compare the measured 6MWD of our cohort with previously published equations.Methods: The anthropometric data, demographic, lung function and the walking distance of Chinese Han population, aged 18-30 years, were prospectively measured using a standardized protocol. Informed consent was obtained from each participant and the approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Wenzhou People's Hospital. The 6MWT was performed twice and the longer 6MWD was used for further analysis.Results: A total of 355 subjects (176 female and 179 male) completed the 6MWT, and the average walking distance was 627.3 ± 52.88 m. The walking distance was achieved by females compared with males (607.4 ± 51.00 m vs. 646.9 ± 47.15 m; p < 0.0001) and active subjects compared with non-active subjects (646.1 ± 48.27 m vs. 611.6 ± 51.52 m; p < 0.0001). Univariate analysis showed age, height, body mass index, resting blood pressure, heart rate and blood pressure after the walk test and difference in heart rate before and after the walk test were significantly correlated with the 6MWD. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that height and difference in heart rate before and after the walk test were independent predictors associated with the 6MWD. The reference equations from Caucasian, Canadian and Chilean populations tend to overestimate the walking distance in our subjects, while Brazilian and Arabian equations tend to underestimate the walking distance. There was no significant difference in the walking distance between Korean equations and the current study.Conclusion: In summary, height and difference in heart rate before and after the walk test were the most significant predictors of the 6MWD, and the regression equations could explain approximately 38% and 31% of the distance variance in the female and male groups, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen deposition is an important means of exogenous nitrogen input in reservoir water. Agricultural activities around the reservoir lead to a sharp increase in the concentration of ammonia in the atmosphere, which poses a threat to the reservoir water body. Clarifying the contribution of agricultural ammonia release to atmospheric NH x (gaseous NH 3 and particulate NH 4 + ), in the reservoir area can provide a theoretical foundation for local reactive nitrogen control. We collected atmospheric NH 3 and NH 4 + samples during the agricultural periods and analyzed the isotopic characteristics of atmospheric NH x and the contribution rates of different ammonia sources in the Xichuan area of the Danjiangkou Reservoir. The results showed that the initial δ 15 N values of NH 3 (-30.0‰ to -7.2‰) and particulate NH 4 + (-33‰ to +4.9‰ for finer and coarser particles, respectively) are different, and their contribution ratios from dissimilar ammonia sources are also different, among which NH 4 + is more susceptible to meteorological factors. However, since the atmospheric NH x in the Xichuan area is mainly gaseous NH 3 , the final sources of atmospheric ammonia nitrogen source depend on gaseous NH 3 . Agricultural sources (59%-74%) were the main NH 3 sources in this area. Among them, the fertilizer use emission was dominant; it had the highest contribution rate in summer during the agricultural period and a more prominent impact in areas with less human interference. Reasonable regulation of the application of high-ammonia releasing fertilizer, especially during the agricultural period in summer, is an effective way to reduce the threat of atmospheric ammonia to water health., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, and there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled, “Isotopic characteristics and source analysis of atmospheric ammonia during agricultural periods in the Xichuan area of the Danjiangkou reservoir”., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Studies have shown that the reference equations for the six-minute walking distance (6MWD), which were mainly derived from healthy, normal-weight people, are not suitable for individuals with obesity. The main purpose of this study was to establish reference equations for the 6MWD in obese Chinese subjects., Methods: In our study, a total of 214 individuals with obesity performed the six-minute walking tests (6MWTs) according to the American thoracic society (ATS) guidelines, and the longer 6MWD was used for further analysis. The reference equations for the 6MWD were developed using stepwise multiple regression analysis. The newly established equations for the 6MWD were compared to the existing prediction equations., Results: The mean 6MWD for the cohort was 523 ± 56 m. We found that the reliability of two 6MWTs was good. Age and BMI were identified as independent factors, and explained 31% and 27% of the variance in the 6MWD for the male and female participants, respectively. Thus, the reference equations reported in the previous studies did not accurately predict the 6MWD in our subjects., Conclusion: Our study was the first to describe the 6MWD in obese Chinese subjects and to propose new predictive equations. These established equations can improve the assessment of the health of obese Chinese patients whose exercise capacity is affected by the disease., Level of Evidence: III, Cohort study., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background and Objective: While the six-minute walk test (6MWT) is often used to assess exercise capacity, the less well-known two-minute walk test (2MWT) is more feasible for some patients. In previous studies, we developed reference equations for the two-minute walk distance (2MWD) for healthy Chinese adults. However, our study did not recruit people with obesity, and the reference equations did not apply to participants with a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2. The main objective of this study was to establish reference equations for the 2MWD among middle-aged and elderly Chinese individuals with obesity., Methods: A total of 295 individuals were recruited. The participants underwent two 2MWTs, with the longer of the two 2MWDs used for further analyses. The reference equations for the 2MWD were developed using stepwise multiple regression analysis. The newly established equations for the 2MWD were then compared with the existing equations., Results: The mean 2MWD of the participants was 176±20 m. Age and BMI were identified as independent factors that influenced the 2MWD and explained 28% and 32% of the variance in walking distance for the male and female groups, respectively. The reference equations for the 2MWD were as follows: [Formula: see text]., Conclusion: This study resulted in the development of reference equations for predicting 2MWD among middle-aged and elderly Chinese people with obesity. These equations will be a clinically valuable tool for evaluating functional capacity, determining prognoses and monitoring treatment in middle-aged and elderly Chinese people with obesity., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Background and Objective: Although the six-minute walk test (6MWT) is widely used as a measure of exercise capacity, it may not be applicable in some settings and populations. This issue has led to increased use of the two-minute walk test (2MWT) to assess exercise capacity. The main objective of this study is to establish reference equations for the two-minute walk distance (2MWD) in healthy Chinese adults aged 18-85 years., Methods: A total of 973 volunteers took part in the study. We obtained verbal consent from all participants before the test, and the study design was approved by the ethics committees of Wenzhou People's Hospital. The participants performed two 2MWTs using a standardized protocol, and the longer distance was used for further analysis. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed using age, height and weight as independent variables and was used to establish the reference equations for the 2MWD in the male and female groups., Results: The mean walking distance for all participants was 199.1±25.81 m. Age and height were identified as independent factors that influenced the 2MWD, and they explained 35% and 34% of the variance in distance for the male and female groups, respectively., Conclusion: This study resulted in determination of reference equations for predicting the 2MWD in healthy Chinese adults. These 2MWD standards will provide useful references for medical care in some settings and populations., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a safe, simple, inexpensive tool for evaluating the functional exercise capacity. However, there is a lack of standard reference equations for the six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in the healthy Chinese Han population with an age of 18-30 years. The aims of the present study were as follows: 1) to measure the anthropometric data and the walking distance in a sample of healthy Chinese Han population, aged 18-30 years; 2) to construct reference equations for the 6MWD; 3) to compare the measured 6MWD of our cohort with previously published equations., Methods: The anthropometric data, demographic, lung function and the walking distance of Chinese Han population, aged 18-30 years, were prospectively measured using a standardized protocol. Informed consent was obtained from each participant and the approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Wenzhou People's Hospital. The 6MWT was performed twice and the longer 6MWD was used for further analysis., Results: A total of 355 subjects (176 female and 179 male) completed the 6MWT, and the average walking distance was 627.3 ± 52.88 m. The walking distance was achieved by females compared with males (607.4 ± 51.00 m vs. 646.9 ± 47.15 m; p < 0.0001) and active subjects compared with non-active subjects (646.1 ± 48.27 m vs. 611.6 ± 51.52 m; p < 0.0001). Univariate analysis showed age, height, body mass index, resting blood pressure, heart rate and blood pressure after the walk test and difference in heart rate before and after the walk test were significantly correlated with the 6MWD. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that height and difference in heart rate before and after the walk test were independent predictors associated with the 6MWD. The reference equations from Caucasian, Canadian and Chilean populations tend to overestimate the walking distance in our subjects, while Brazilian and Arabian equations tend to underestimate the walking distance. There was no significant difference in the walking distance between Korean equations and the current study., Conclusion: In summary, height and difference in heart rate before and after the walk test were the most significant predictors of the 6MWD, and the regression equations could explain approximately 38% and 31% of the distance variance in the female and male groups, respectively.

Ideally, both ecosystem service and human development policies should improve human well-being through the conservation of ecosystems that provide valuable services. However, program costs and benefits to multiple stakeholders, and how they change through time, are rarely carefully analyzed. We examine one of China's new ecosystem service protection and human development policies: the Relocation and Settlement Program of Southern Shaanxi Province (RSP), which pays households who opt voluntarily to resettle from mountainous areas. The RSP aims to reduce disaster risk, restore important ecosystem services, and improve human well-being. We use household surveys and biophysical data in an integrated economic cost-benefit analysis for multiple stakeholders. We project that the RSP will result in positive net benefits to the municipal government, and to cross-region and global beneficiaries over the long run along with environment improvement, including improved water quality, soil erosion control, and carbon sequestration. However, there are significant short-run relocation costs for local residents so that poor households may have difficulty participating because they lack the resources to pay the initial costs of relocation. Greater subsidies and subsequent supports after relocation are necessary to reduce the payback period of resettled households in the long run. Compensation from downstream beneficiaries for improved water and from carbon trades could be channeled into reducing relocation costs for the poor and sharing the burden of RSP implementation. The effectiveness of the RSP could also be greatly strengthened by early investment in developing human capital and environment-friendly jobs and establishing long-term mechanisms for securing program goals. These challenges and potential solutions pervade ecosystem service efforts globally.

According to the safety assessments of all vitamins and minerals intake undertaken by the US Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), UK MAFF Expert Group on Safety and European Scientific Committee on Food, we are reviewing that the rationale of making ULs (the risk of experiencing adverse effects, assessment for dosage and reaction and Uncertainty Factors); comparing ULs of main vitamins and minerals between Chinese and American, and introducing new concepts of ULs on vitamin A, D, Ca, Cu, I, P, Se, Fe and V.