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The mountainous regions of southwest China are recognized as pivotal centers for the origin and evolution of Osmanthus species. Baoxing Osmanthus (Osmanthus serrulatus Rehder), a rare and endemic species known for its spring blooms, is sparsely distributed within the high altitude evergreen broad-leaved forests surrounding the southwestern Sichuan Basin. However, persistent anthropogenic disturbances and habitat fragmentation have precipitated a significant decline in its natural population size, leading to the erosion of genetic resources. To assess the genetic status of O. serrulatus and formulate effective conservation strategies, we conducted sampling across ten wild populations, totaling 148 individuals in their natural habitats. We employed two cpDNA fragments (matK and trnS-trnG) to elucidate the phylogeographic structure and historical population dynamics. The results revealed low species-level genetic diversity, alongside pronounced regional differentiation among populations (FST = 0.812, p < 0.05) and a notable phylogeographic structure (NST = 0.698 > GST = 0.396, p < 0.05). Notably, genetic variation was predominantly observed among populations (81.23%), with no evidence of recent demographic expansion across the O. serrulatus distribution range. Furthermore, divergence dating indicated a timeline of approximately 4.85 Mya, corresponding to the late Miocene to early Pleistocene. This temporal correlation coincided with localized uplift events in the southwestern mountains and heightened Asian monsoons, suggesting pivotal roles for these factors in shaping the current phylogeographic pattern of O. serrulatus. These findings support the effective conservation of O. serrulatus germplasm and offer insights into the impact of Quaternary climate oscillations on companion species within evergreen broad-leaved forests. They also enhance our understanding of the origin and evolution of these forests in the southwestern mountains, aiding biodiversity conservation efforts in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus yunnanensis is an important component of China's economic development and forest ecosystems. The growth of P. yunnanensis seedlings experienced a slow growth phase, which led to a long seedling cultivation period. However, asexual reproduction can ensure the stable inheritance of the superior traits of the mother tree and also shorten the breeding cycle. The quantity and quality of branching significantly impact the cutting reproduction of P. yunnanensis, and a shaded environment affects lateral branching growth, development, and photosynthesis. Nonetheless, the physiological characteristics and the level of the transcriptome that underlie the growth of lateral branches of P. yunnanensis under shade conditions are still unclear. In our experiment, we subjected annual P. yunnanensis seedlings to varying shade intensities (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%) and studied the effects of shading on growth, physiological and biochemical changes, and gene expression in branching. Results from this study show that shading reduces biomass production by inhibiting the branching ability of P. yunnanensis seedlings. Due to the regulatory and protective roles of osmotically active substances against environmental stress, the contents of soluble sugars, soluble proteins, photosynthetic pigments, and enzyme activities exhibit varying responses to different shading treatments. Under shading treatment, the contents of phytohormones were altered. Additionally, genes associated with phytohormone signaling and photosynthetic pathways exhibited differential expression. This study established a theoretical foundation for shading regulation of P. yunnanensis lateral branch growth and provides scientific evidence for the management of cutting orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neuroendoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure for clot evacuation in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) which may have advantages compared with open surgical evacuation procedures. The application of neuroendoscopy in ICH has attracted increasing attention in recent years. However, it remains unclear whether it could improve outcomes in patients with ICH. Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the efficacy and safety of neuroendoscopic hematoma evacuation surgery compared with standard conservative treatment for spontaneous deep supratentorial cerebral hemorrhage. Methods: The Efficacy and safety of NeuroEndoscopic Surgery for IntraCerebral Hemorrhage (NESICH) Trial is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label, blinded-endpoint clinical trial. Up to 560 eligible subjects with acute deep supratentorial ICH will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either neuroendoscopic hematoma evacuation or standard conservative treatment at more than 30 qualified neurosurgery centers in China. Outcomes: The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients with a good functional outcome (mRS score 0–3) in both groups at 180 days after onset. The main safety endpoints include all-cause mortality at 7, 30, and 180 days, rebleeding at 3, 7, and 30 days, and serious complications within 180 days. Discussion: NESICH will provide high-quality evidence for the efficacy and safety of neuroendoscopic hematoma evacuation surgery in ICH patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05539859. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The study, using data from Chongqing, China, and employing Mendelian randomization along with bioinformatics, establishes a causal link between asthma and osteoporosis, beyond glucocorticoid effects. Asthma may contribute to osteoporosis by accelerating bone turnover through inflammatory factors, disrupting the coupling between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, ultimately leading to osteoporosis. Introduction: Asthma and osteoporosis are prevalent health conditions with substantial public health implications. However, their potential interplay and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Previous research has primarily focused on the impact of glucocorticoids on osteoporosis, often overlooking the role of asthma itself. Methods: We conducted a multi-stage stratified random sampling in Chongqing, China and excluded individuals with a history of glucocorticoid use. Participants underwent comprehensive health examinations, and their clinical data, including asthma status, were recorded. Logistic regression and Mendelian randomization were employed to investigate the causal link between asthma and osteoporosis. Furthermore, bioinformatics analyses and serum biomarker assessments were conducted to explore potential mechanistic pathways. Results: We found a significant association between asthma and osteoporosis, suggesting a potential causal link. Mendelian Randomization analysis provided further support for this causal link. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that several molecular pathways might mediate the impact of asthma on bone health. Serum alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly elevated in the asthma group, suggesting potential involvement in bone turnover. Conclusion: Our study confirms a causal link between asthma and osteoporosis and highlights the importance of considering asthma in osteoporosis prediction models. It also suggests that asthma may accelerate osteoporosis by increasing bone turnover through inflammatory factors, disrupting the coupling between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, ultimately leading to bone loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is known to be a common pathogen causing human respiratory infections. On December 7, 2022, the Chinese government announced 10 new measures of Prevention and Control of COVID-19, marking the onset of the post-COVID-19 era. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of MP infections among children from January 2021 to June 2023. Children with respiratory tract infection were enrolled in the study with fever and one or more respiratory symptoms. A serological diagnosis was confirmed with MP IgM antibodies. A total of 18,763 patients were enrolled, of whom 4,867 cases were MP-positive, resulting in a positivity rate of 25.9 %. The MP positivity rate increased annually, with 18.6, 26.7, and 33.2 % in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. The main disease type of MP infection was Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP), with 74.0, 87.8, and 86.4 % in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. Higher positivity rates were concentrated in children aged 6 years and older, and the positivity rate in children under 1 year of age in 2023 is the largest increase among all age groups. The positivity rate of MP increased significantly after the adjustment of COVID-19 prevention and control in China, and the most significant increase was seen in the infant group. Effective prevention and control measures should be implemented to reduce the prevalence of MP infection among children aged 6 years older and the infant group (<1 year). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Epidemiological studies of stroke and its risk factors can help develop strategies to prevent stroke. We aimed to explore the current gender-specific prevalence of stroke and associated risk factors. Methods: Data were collected using a structured precoded questionnaire designed by the Stroke Screening and Prevention Programme of the National Health and Wellness Commission Stroke Prevention and Control Project Committee, between June 2020 and November 2021. A total of 7394 residents took part in the study, 187 of whom had a stroke. The baseline information of each participant was obtained and included in this study. The chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine the relationship between these indicators and stroke, and then multivariate logistic regression was used to construct the prediction scale between different genders. Results: of 7394 participants,4571 (61.82%) were female. The overall prevalence of stroke patients in the study population was 2.53%, Multivariate analysis found that residence status (OR = 0.43, p = 0.002) 、HCY (OR = 0.962, p = 0.000)、Previous TIA (OR = 0.200, p = 0.002) 、Hypertension (OR = 0.33, p = 0.000) and Dyslipidemia (OR = 0.668, p = 0.028) were significant predictors of stroke. there are gender differences in the traditional risk factors for stroke, and women have more risk factors. ROC analysis confirmed the accuracy of the stroke risk model, and the AUC of the stroke risk model for the general population was 0.79 with p < 0.05. In the gender model, the female AUC was 0.796 (p < 0.05). and the male AUC was 0.786 with p < 0.05. Conclusion: The prevalence of stroke in adults aged 40 years and above is high in eastern China were high. management of risk factors can effectively prevent the occurrence of most strokes. more attention should be paid to gender differences associated with stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ozone Monitoring Suite-Nadir (OMS-N) instrument is the first hyperspectral remote sensor in the ultraviolet band of China's Fengyun series satellites. It can be used to detect several kinds of atmospheric constituents. This paper describes the prelaunch spectral calibration of the OMS-N onboard FengYun 3F. Several critical spectral parameters including the spectral resolution, spectral dispersion, and the instrument spectral response function were determined through laser-based measurements. A secondary peak of the instrument spectral response function from the short wavelength side of the ultraviolet band was found, and the possible influence on data applications was analyzed using a reference solar model and radiative transfer model. The results indicate that the spectral resolution and spectral accuracy of OMS-N meet the mission requirements. However, the asymmetries in the instrument spectral response function in the ultraviolet band were found near nadir rows, which are expressed as the "asymmetric central peak" and "secondary peak". The analysis results show that if the influences of the instrument spectral response function "asymmetric central peak" and "secondary peak" in the ultraviolet band are ignored, they will bring an error as large as 5% at the center of the absorption line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the water use characteristics and water relationship of coexisting vegetation in a mixed‐species plantation of trees and shrubs is crucial for the sustainable restoration of degraded arid areas. This study investigated the water use characteristic of coexisting sand‐binding vegetation combinations in the sierozem habitat (Populus przewalskii Maxim namely Populus‐S and Caragana liouana) and aeolian sandy soil habitats (Populus przewalskii Maxim namely Populus‐A and Salix psammophila) of the desert steppe. By analysing the δ2H and δ18O isotopes in xylem, soil water, groundwater and precipitation, a Bayesian MixSIAR model was employed to quantitatively assess the water utilization characteristics of plants. Throughout the growing season, in the sierozem habitat, C. liouana exhibits the highest efficiency in utilizing soil moisture above 60 cm (53.45%) and displays adaptable water use strategies. In contrast, Populus‐A predominantly relies on deep soil moisture below 60 cm plus groundwater (63.89%). In the aeolian sandy soil habitat, both Populus‐A and S. psammophila similarly favour deep soil moisture below the 60 cm soil plus groundwater (66.77% and 67.60%, respectively). During the transition period from the dry to the wet seasons, although both Populus‐A and S. psammophila in the aeolian sandy soil habitat shifted their water sources from deeper to shallower ones, there was considerable overlap in the water sources used by Populus‐A and S. psammophila. This overlap led to competition for water resources and exacerbated the depletion of deep soil moisture in both seasons. Conversely, in the sierozem habitat, the partitioning of water sources between Populus‐S and C. liouana facilitated the allocation and utilization of water resources between the two species. The findings highlight the need for species‐specific consideration in water resource allocation within mixed‐species plantations of trees and shrubs, which is crucial for sustainable vegetation restoration in sand‐binding ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's sewage treatment standards have been gradually improving, yet there is a widening gap between sewage treatment fees and actual costs. This discrepancy, where the fees for sewage treatment are lower than the actual operational expenses, poses a significant bottleneck to the sustainable development of China's sewage treatment industry. As a core aspect of environmental economic policies, sewage treatment fees are pivotal in regulating water pollution emissions and addressing water resource shortages. Currently, there are major issues with sewage treatment fees, including an incomplete pricing system, insufficient fees, unclear fee distribution, and a heavy reliance on local finances. These problems impede systematic planning, diminish management efficiency, and hinder the sustainable development of the sewage treatment industry. Thus, future research efforts should prioritize the establishment of a pricing mechanism that comprehensively covers the full cost of sewage treatment. This article presents a concise summary and review of the current situation, types of fee collection, cost accounting methodologies, challenges, and proposed countermeasures for sewage treatment fees, and could serve as a relevant reference for future research on sewage treatment fees. By comprehensively addressing these issues, the sewage treatment industry would progress towards healthier and more sustainable development, ultimately achieving the goal of green growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of language policy and planning has seen increasing scholarly attention that explores social actors' micro language planning towards a given language policy situation at the grassroots level. In educational contexts, teachers and educators are often considered pivotal locals whose agency, when enacted in micro language planning, can contribute to educational language policymaking. However, little attention has been given to learners – those on the receiving end of educational language policy. Situated in the current discourse concerning Mandarin-dominated Chinese language education, within the context of China's promotion of Mandarin language learning, this study examines dialect-background heritage learners in a tertiary-level Mandarin Chinese language programme in New Zealand. By adopting the concept of micro language planning, this study explores how dialect-background heritage learners perceive and react in a Mandarin-dominated Chinese programme. The findings show that dialect-background learners exercise agency to interpret, implement, reject, and negotiate language policy according to their self-identified language needs. However, their ability to enact agency is also constrained by a series of social realities including socio-economic discourse, language ideology, language proficiency, and technology development. This study offers implications for language policy makers involved with different levels of Chinese language policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ESG greenwashing behaviors (GWBs) of firms have become a pressing issue globally nowadays. Combining partial least square‐structural equation model (PLS‐SEM) and FUZZY set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), this article explores the drivers of ESG greenwashing behaviors in China's new energy industry, which provides valuable insight into understanding GWBs. Results show that (1) GWBs present causal asymmetry, with internal factors dominating in high GWBs configurations, while external factors are more critical in low GWBs configurations. (2) There are offsetting or compensating interactions between the variables. (3) "Rationalization" dominates the level of GWBs when it is used as a core factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean (Glycine max) plants first emerged in China, and they have since been established as an economically important oil crop and a major source of daily protein for individuals throughout the world. Seed emergence height is the first factor that ensures seedling adaptability to field management practices, and it is closely related to epicotyl length. In the present study, the Suinong 14 and ZYD00006 soybean lines were used as parents to construct chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) for quantitative trait loci (QTL) identification. Seven QTLs were identified using two years of epicotyl length measurement data. The insertion region of the ZYD00006 fragment was identified through whole genome resequencing, with candidate gene screening and validation being performed through RNA-Seq and qPCR, and Glyma.08G142400 was ultimately selected as an epicotyl length-related gene. Through combined analyses of phenotypic data from the study population, Glyma.08G142400 expression was found to be elevated in those varieties exhibiting longer epicotyl length. Haplotype data analyses revealed that epicotyl data were consistent with haplotype typing. In summary, the QTLs found to be associated with the epicotyl length identified herein provide a valuable foundation for future molecular marker-assisted breeding efforts aimed at improving soybean emergence height in the field, with the Glyma.08G142400 gene serving as a regulator of epicotyl length, offering new insight into the mechanisms that govern epicotyl development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the state government of China has vigorously supported the export of cultural projects. As the carrier of cultural output, television dramas carry important missions of cultural communication. In the age of convergence when the practice of watching television involves more viewer engagement, audience reception investigates how audiences may engage in a broad range of interactive experiences and activities. This paper focuses on the reception of Chinese television dramas streamed overseas on two prominent video streaming sites, YouTube and Rakuten Viki. Adopting a corpus-based approach, it first identifies the top ten most popular Chinese television dramas on the two sites. Subsequently, user-generated reviews and comments for the selected dramas are collected, and a corpus analysis is conducted on the data derived from the two platforms. The findings reveal that a) viewers exhibit a notable preference for Chinese contemporary dramas, and in particular, modern romance dramas; b) the predominant concerns underlying the reception of Chinese television dramas revolve around storylines, actors/characters and subtitles; c) reviews and comments related to subtitling can be categorized into distinct themes, which reveal the major concerns of international viewership. Through the investigation, this paper attempts to promote the translation and reception of Chinese television dramas and expand the export market of Chinese productions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: As an endemic and vulnerable fish from the upper Yangtze River in China, Schizothorax kozlovi holds significant scientific and ecological importance, yet it has received little attention so far. In this paper, we reported the characterization of the mitochondrial genome of S. kozlovi, and further investigated the phylogenetic relationships of Schizothorax. The results showed that the mitochondrial genome of S. kozlovi had a total size of 16,585 bp, a circular arrangement, and contained 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and two non-coding regions. Moreover, the phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that Schizothorax could be classified into four clades, and S. kozlovi was closely related to Schizothorax chongi. The present study enriched the basic biological data for S. kozlovi and provided fundamental references for the conservation of S. kozlovi and Schizothorax. Schizothorax kozlovi is an endemic and vulnerable fish species found in the upper Yangtze River in China. Over the past few years, the population resources of S. kozlovi have been nearly completely depleted owing to multiple contributing threats. While the complete mitochondrial genomes serve as important molecular markers for phylogenetic and genetic studies, the mitochondrial genome of S. kozlovi has still received little attention. In this study, we analyzed the characterization of the mitochondrial genome of S. kozlovi and investigated the phylogenetic relationships of Schizothorax. The complete mitochondrial genome of S. kozlovi was 16,585 bp in length, which contained thirty-seven genes (thirteen protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), twenty-two transfer RNA genes (tRNAs)) and two non-coding regions for the origin of light strand (OL) and the control region (CR). There were nine overlapping regions and seventeen intergenic spacers regions in the mitochondrial genome. The genome also showed a bias towards A + T content (55.01%) and had a positive AT-skew (0.08) and a negative GC-skew (−0.20). All the PCGs employed the ATG or GTG as the start codon and TAA, TAG, or single T as the stop codon. Additionally, all of the tRNAs displayed a typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except trnS1 which lacked the D arm. The phylogenetic analysis, based on the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods, revealed that the topologies of the phylogenetic tree divided the Schizothorax into four clades and did not support the classification of Schizothorax based on morphology. The phylogenetic status of S. kozlovi was closely related to that of S. chongi. The present study provides valuable genomic information for S. kozlovi and new insights in phylogenetic relationships of Schizothorax. These data could also offer fundamental references and guidelines for the management and conservation of S. kozlovi and other species of Schizothorax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses major threats to global biodiversity, with a significant bearing on predicting potential suitable areas of plant species for future conservation. This study aimed to predict the potential suitable distribution areas of the endangered Toona ciliata under current and future climate change, providing the scientific-objective basis for enhanced species conservation and utilization. Adopting the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) approach, we predicted the valuable tree's distribution under current and future conditions (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5) in China. The model incorporated seven bioclimatic variables, widely used in cognate studies and significantly influencing current T. ciliata distribution. The fitted model yielded high-quality (AUC = 0.947) and biologically meaningful results, identifying temperature as the most critical limiting factor, especially the minimum temperature of the coldest month. The MaxEnt simulation predicted excellent suitability habitats under the current climate consistent with the current actual distribution, remaining in China's middle-subtropical region. Under three future climate-change scenarios, the model predicted an increase in excellent suitability areas. However, predicting future fragmentation of the current excellent range should raise concerns. MaxEnt can use bioclimatic data to pinpoint the optimal locations for species introduction, ex situ conservation, and cultivation of T. ciliata in China and other parts of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea surface temperature (SST) is one of the important parameters of global ocean and climate research, which can be retrieved by satellite infrared and passive microwave remote sensing instruments. While satellite infrared SST offers high spatial resolution, it is limited by cloud cover. On the other hand, passive microwave SST provides all-weather observation but suffers from poor spatial resolution and susceptibility to environmental factors such as rainfall, coastal effects, and high wind speeds. To achieve high-precision, comprehensive, and high-resolution SST data, it is essential to fuse infrared and microwave SST measurements. In this study, data from the Fengyun-3D (FY-3D) medium resolution spectral imager II (MERSI-II) SST and microwave imager (MWRI) SST were fused. Firstly, the accuracy of both MERSIII SST and MWRI SST was verified, and the latter was bilinearly interpolated to match the 5km resolution grid of MERSI SST. After pretreatment and quality control of MERSI SST and MWRI SST, a Piece-Wise Regression method was employed to correct biases in MWRI SST. Subsequently, SST data were selected based on spatial resolution and accuracy within a 3-day window of the analysis date. Finally, an optimal interpolation method was applied to fuse the FY-3D MERSI-II SST and MWRI SST. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in spatial coverage compared to MERSI-II SST and MWRI SST. Furthermore, the fusion SST retained true spatial distribution details and exhibited an accuracy of -0.12±0.74°C compared to OSTIA SST. This study has improved the accuracy of FY satellite fusion SST products in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heritage landscapes provide a cost-effective solution for mitigating noise and creating adaptable open spaces in urban ecological construction and planning. In this study, we examined 27 distinct landscapes in a city in northern China to assess their effectiveness in reducing traffic-related noise. The acoustic properties of the landscapes, considering various surfaces, slopes, elevations, structures, and topography, were systematically analysed and compared. The findings indicate that vertically rigid descending landscapes exhibit the highest acoustic performance, followed by vertically flexible dense landscapes without slopes. Additionally, the noise reduction effects of horizontal landscapes with rough rigid surfaces surpass those of landscapes covered by low-growing vegetation and landscapes with sparse high-growing vegetation. The insights derived from this study can enhance our understanding of heritage landscapes, provide valuable information for their protection and micro-updates, and support quantitative research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Practitioners in China who implement hospice care services include doctors, nurses, and care workers. These individuals play an important role in the holistic care of patients at the end of life and their families. This study aimed to provide baseline data to develop hospice care services and improve relevant policies by investigating the knowledge and attitudes of hospice care practitioners (HCPs) and analyzing influencing factors. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study used stratified sampling and quota sampling. The HCPs were from nursing homes, medical institutions, integrated medical and nursing institutions, and community health service centers in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. We examined HCPs' demographic characteristics and scores on a self-designed Chinese scale to measure their knowledge and attitudes(K&A scale). A total of 1821 HCPs completed surveys from May 2022 to July 2022. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, univariate analysis and multiple linear regression. Results: The standard score of the K&A scale of 1821 HCPs was 61.62 (SD=9.78), and the individual mean scores of knowledge and attitudes were 76.42 (SD=28.13) and 58.69 (SD=11.31), respectively. The final multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the main factors that influenced the K&A score were monthly income, job satisfaction, and the hospice care-related system (HCS). Conclusion: The HCPs in this study displayed moderate mean scores for knowledge and a less favorable attitude toward hospice care. Monthly income, job satisfaction and the HCS were the common factors that influenced HCPs' K&A. The results suggest the need to strengthen targeted and professional training for HCPs, increase their welfare and benefits, and improve indigenous policies of hospice care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hilly areas are highly susceptible to soil erosion. This study aims to discover the drivers of soil erosion, identify soil erosion–sensitive areas, and predict future soil erosion in typical hilly areas of Hubei Province, China, using combined RUSLE and LSTM models. Materials and methods: In this study, soil erosion in hilly areas of Hubei Province from 2000 to 2020 was quantitatively analyzed using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE), and the soil erosion sensitivity evaluation system was constructed, a geographic detector was employed to identify the main drivers of soil erosion sensitivity, and using the long short-term memory neural network model (LSTM) to predict soil erosion in 2025. Results and discussions: The results showed that most areas were dominated by slight and moderate erosion. Slope and vegetation coverage were identified as the core elements influencing the space heterogeneity of soil erosion. Soil erosion sensitivity was mainly composed of moderate sensitivity, accounting for more than 70% of the total area. The strong and extreme sensitivity demonstrated a downward trend with the continued implementation of slope management and forest rehabilitation from slope agriculture, whereas the sensitivity was still higher in the northwest and southwest Hubei Province. Regions with severe soil erosion had high sensitivity, and the spatial distribution of the two is strongly coherent. Areas with surface relief > 300 m and vegetation cover < 30% had the highest sensitivity and should be highly valued. The percentage of moderate and higher soil erosion area in 2025 was 3.77% lower than in 2020, but severe erosion still exists in the northwest and southwest Hubei Province. Conclusions: Soil erosion sensitivity in the western part of the study area was the highest, followed by the southeast, and the overall erosion sensitivity was gradually decreasing during the studied period. In the future, soil erosion intensity will show a downward trend, whereas the deployment of soil and water conservation measures in soil erosion–sensitive areas should still be strengthened. The results are helpful for accurate soil erosion control and prediction in the hilly areas of Hubei Province, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cenozoic sediments are very thick in the southwest Tarim Basin and very thin in the northwest, but what controls these variations is unclear. Here, we use two‐dimensional thermo‐mechanical models to investigate how the lateral variations in rheological strength and depletion density of cratonic lithosphere mantle affect the cratonic basin deformation. Model results show that the basin basement uplift occurs above either the region with crustal thickening or high depletion in the mantle. A model with a stronger and density‐depleted northern half of cratonic lithosphere mantle in the context of compression matches the differential Cenozoic subsidence and deformation observed in the Tarim Basin well. We propose that a Permian plume led to the lateral heterogeneity of the lithosphere mantle under the Tarim craton, and the modified lithosphere mantle characteristics caused the differential Cenozoic sediment thickness in the Tarim Basin. Plain Language Summary: Tarim Basin is a typical intraplate cratonic basin in northwest China. It is bounded by the West Kunlun Shan to the south and the Tian Shan to the north, respectively. The Cenozoic sediment thickness in the Tarim Basin displays significant lateral variation, which cannot be explained by flexural bending of the Tarim lithosphere under orogenic loads of the West Kunlun Shan and Tian Shan. Recent geophysical data outlined the extent of the Permian plume head, which coincides with the region covered by thinnest Cenozoic sediments. Here, we conduct a series of 2‐D thermo‐mechanical numerical simulations to examine the correlation of the cratonic lithosphere mantle characteristics with cratonic basin's basement geometry. Model results show that a craton with a stronger and density‐depleted northern half of lithosphere mantle in the context of compression matches well with the south‐north differential Cenozoic subsidence and deformation in the Tarim Basin. Accordingly, we suggest that the differential Cenozoic sediment thickness in the Tarim Basin was likely caused by the Permian plume‐modified lithosphere mantle. Our study indicates that the plume‐modified mantle characteristics play a critical role in the basement deformation of the above sediment basin. Key Points: The strength and depletion density of cratonic lithosphere mantle control the deformation of cratonic lithosphere underlying sediment basinThe differential Cenozoic sediment thickness in the Tarim Basin is related to the heterogeneity of cratonic lithosphere mantleThe lithosphere mantle heterogeneity under the Tarim craton was likely caused by post‐Permian plume‐driven recratonization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the current status of COVID‐19 vaccination in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and its influencing factors. Methods: In total, 585 patients undergoing regular hemodialysis in Sichuan Province of China from January to March 2022 were selected to complete a questionnaire survey on their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding COVID‐19 vaccination. Independent t tests and logistic multivariate analysis were used to analyze the influencing factors of COVID‐19 vaccination in hemodialysis patients. Results: The survey showed that 37.44% of MHD patients had been vaccinated with the COVID‐19 vaccine. Being married was associated with COVID‐19 vaccination in patients with MHD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.969 95% CI 0.870 ~ 4.453). MHD patients living in county areas have higher rates of COVID‐19 vaccination (OR = 0.572 95% CI 0.301 ~ 1.087). Family /relatives/friends who are healthcare workers are associated with COVID‐19 vaccination for MHD patients (OR = 1.840 95% CI 1.140 ~ 2.970). Other vaccination history within 5 years was a factor in COVID‐19 vaccination for MHD patients (OR = 5.592 95% CI 2.997 ~ 10.434). Attitude (OR = 0.885 95% CI 0.808 ~ 0.905), and practice (OR = 0.756 95% CI 0.697 ~ 0.819) scores on the COVID‐19 vaccination knowledge and practice questionnaire were related to the vaccination status of MHD patients. Conclusions: MHD patients had lower rates of COVID‐19 vaccination. Marital status, living environment, whether family/relatives/friends were medical workers, and the score of the COVID‐19 vaccine knowledge and practice questionnaire were the factors influencing their vaccination status. Clinical attention should be given to the adverse reactions of COVID‐19 vaccination in MHD patients to improve the awareness of primary medical staff on hemodialysis, and families and society should pay more attention to COVID‐19 vaccination in MHD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following Bourdieu's classic work on habitus and field, scholars use habitus fit/misfit to distinguish students' college experience but how students' experiences habitus misfit and transformation in relation to their career preparation process remains understudied. This study conducted longitudinal in-depth interviews with 32 students at an elite university in China from 2014 to 2018. We highlight that how students think about the future and design plans to achieve it is an important part of reflexivity in shaping habitus transformation. A reconciliation between students' reflexive deliberation about future and the blueprint of career preparation path promoted on campus led to a range of creative and multi-faceted career preparation trajectories––habitus fits can be fluid. These trajectories present ideal or rational views of future careers pertaining to students' family backgrounds. This study sheds light on the mechanism that shapes inequality in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camellia fascicularis belongs to the family Theaceae and is a plant species with extremely small populations. It is also a second-class national protected plant in China. In recent years, the anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and antitumor effects of C. fascicularis polyphenols and flavonoids have been reported. However, changes in the soil chemistry and microbes after artificial cultivation of C. fascicularis have not been well studied. Therefore, three healthy plants from each different artificial planting year's plot (Age_3, Age_5, and Age_7) were selected, and the chemical properties of the rhizosphere soil and root endophytic microbial communities for different cultivation years of C. fascicularis were studied in Hekou County, China. The accumulation of pathogenic and beneficial microbes in the rhizosphere of C. fascicularis was also discussed. The results show that (1) the alpha diversity in rhizosphere soil was significantly higher than that in roots, and roots recruited more Actinobacteria, which might produce beneficial secondary metabolites for the plant; (2) the total nitrogen in the rhizosphere soil of C. fascicularis cultivated for 7 years was significantly higher than that in the soil cultivated for 3 years; (3) there was no significant difference in the alpha and beta diversity in the rhizosphere soil and root endophytes of C. fascicularis in different cultivation years; (4) there was no difference in the abundance of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in either the rhizosphere soil or roots, but the number of PGPR in roots was higher than that in rhizosphere soil; and (5) the changes in pathogenic fungi and biocontrol fungi in rhizosphere soil were greater than those of endophytic fungi in roots. The results show that there are no significant differences in microbial communities among 3, 5, and 7 years, but the influence of the outside environment on the soil and fungi was greater than that of the roots and bacteria. These results can help us to understand the soil chemical and microbial community changes during the artificial cultivation of C. fascicularis and play an important role in its artificial conservation and breeding, as it is a plant species with extremely small populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

20-inch Large area photomultiplier tube based on microchannel plate (MCP-PMT) is newly developed in China. It is widely used in high energy detection experiments such as Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), China JinPing underground Laboratory (CJPL) and Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). To overcome the poor time performance of the existing MCP-PMT, a new design of large area MCP-PMT is proposed in this paper. Three-dimensional models are developed in CST Studio Suite to validate its feasibility. Effects of the size and bias voltage of the focusing electrodes and MCP configuration on the collection efficiency (CE) and time performance are studied in detail using the finite integral technique and Monte Carlo method. Based on the simulation results, the optimized operating and geometry parameters are chosen. Results show that the mean ratio of photoelectrons landing on the MCP active area is 97.5%. The acceptance fraction of the impinging photoelectrons is close to 100% due to the emission of multiple secondary electrons when hitting the MCP top surface. The mean transit time spread (TTS) of the photoelectrons from the photocathode is 1.48 ns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bacillary dysentery (BD) has brought a significant public health concern in China. Temperature is one of the main factors affecting BD incidence. Due to the largely different temperature ranges between regions, the classic multi-region time series studies could only explore the relative temperature-BD association and showed that BD incidence is positively associated with relative temperature (i.e., temperature percentile), which does not conform to the laboratory knowledge that both high and low temperature interfere with the survival of bacteria. The association on relative temperature scale also limits the intuition of epidemiological meanings. Methods: A novel two-stage strategy was proposed to investigate the association between monthly temperature and BD incidence on the original temperature scale in 31 provinces, China. In the first stage, truncated polynomial splines, as the substitute of the common natural splines or B-splines in generalized additive models, were used to characterize the temperature-BD association on the original temperature scale in each province. In the second stage, a multivariate meta-analysis compatible with missing values was used to pool the associations. The classic strategy based on relative temperature was used as a reference. Results: The average temperature-BD association presented a U-inverted shape, but not a monotonically increasing shape obtained using the classic strategy. This inverted U-shaped association conforms more to the laboratory knowledge and the original-scale association also provided an intuitive perspective and an easily explanatory result. Another advantage is that the novel strategy can extrapolate the province-specific association outside the observed temperature ranges by utilizing information from other provinces, which is meaningful considering the frequent incidences of extreme temperatures. Conclusions: The association between temperature and BD incidence presented a U-inverted shape. The proposed strategy can efficiently characterize the association between exposure and outcome on original scale in a multi-region study with largely different exposure ranges. Author summary: Temperature is one of the main factors affecting BD incidence. Due to the largely different temperature ranges between regions, the classic multi-region time series studies could only explore the relative temperature-BD association and showed that BD incidence is positively associated with relative temperature (i.e., temperature percentile), which does not conform to the laboratory knowledge that both high and low temperatures interfere with the survival of bacteria. The relative-scale association also limits the intuition of epidemiological meanings. In this study, we proposed a novel two-stage strategy to characterize the association between BD and original temperature in 31 provinces, China. We examined an inverted U-shaped association, but not a monotonically increasing shape obtained using the classic strategy. This new finding conforms more to the laboratory knowledge and the original-scale association also provided an intuitive perspective and an easily explanatory result. Another advantage is that the novel strategy can extrapolate the province-specific association outside the observed temperature ranges by utilizing information from other provinces, which is meaningful considering the frequent incidences of extreme temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's markets gained 3.86% around December 4, 2012, when the Party announced anticorruption reforms. State-owned enterprises (SOEs) with higher past entertainment and travel costs (ETC) gained more. NonSOEs gained in more liberalized provinces, especially those with high past ETC, productivity, growth opportunities, and external financing. NonSOEs lost in the least liberalized provinces, especially those with high past ETC. These findings support investors' expect reduced official corruption to create value overall, reduce SOE waste, lower bureaucratic barriers to efficient resource allocation where markets function, and impede business in unliberalized provinces, where "getting things done" still requires investment in greasing bureaucratic gears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change jeopardizes species survival, particularly for endangered species. This risk extends to the endangered Chinese endemic tree Tapiscia sinensis. The factors underpinning T. sinensis's habitat distribution are poorly understood, and its potential response to future climate scenarios remains unclear. With six shortlisted climate factors and 117 occurrence records, we modeled T. sinensis's potential distribution across China using the BIOCLIM model. We applied principal component analysis to examine the primary climate factors restricting its geographical range. The findings indicate that T. sinensis' range is principally located in China's middle subtropical climatic zone at low–mid altitudes. The principal component analysis identified two critical factors representing temperature and precipitation. Temperature was the most critical factor limiting T. sinensis distribution, especially the effect of temperature seasonality and isothermality. The habitat suitability model generated by BIOCLIM under current climate conditions demonstrated strong concordance between the predicted suitable areas and the present actual distribution range. These results verify that the model can reliably identify habitats conducive to T. sinensis growth and survival. However, under a hypothetical future climate scenario of doubled atmospheric CO2 concentrations for 2100, the model indicates a precipitous reduction and fragmentation in the areas with excellent suitability conditions. This predicted decline highlights the considerable threats posed by climate change to the long-term survival of this endangered species in China. Our habitat modeling yields critical insights that inform the development of science-based strategies and best practices to improve conservation management plans for research, protection, nursery cultivation, and sustainable planting in China. Habitat suitability knowledge could aid introduction and cultivation efforts for T. sinensis globally in places with analogous climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although research has shown that older nursing home residents can benefit from caring relationships with nurse aides, few studies have explored their dyadic, evolving relationship dynamics. Using a dyadic perspective, this study simultaneously explores caring relationships among older residents and nurse aides in Shanghai. In a government-sponsored nursing home in Shanghai, 20 matched resident–nurse aide dyads participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews (N = 40). We performed thematic analysis to interpret and conceptualise the evolving caring relationships within dyads. Four types emerged during the evolution of caring relationships across the 20 dyads: (a) sharing strong rapport, (b) respecting each other, (c) hesitant responding, and (d) keeping emotional distance. Upon placement, all the residents kept emotional distance from nurse aides, and their assigned nurse aides provided care-giving by following nursing home regulations. As time passed, nurse aides began to create a family environment and tried to interact with residents on an emotional level; however, residents' attitudes varied. The caring relationships in some dyads evolved as rapport and respect emerged, while others remained hesitant and distant. This suggests that residents and nurse aides prioritised caring relationships differently in terms of autonomy preservation and safety protection, respectively. This study sheds light on nursing home practice to facilitate building caring relationships between residents and nurse aides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dark microbial CO2 fixation plays a crucial role in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, but the fungus contributions to this process in varying agroecosystems remain unclear. This study investigated fungal CO2 fixation in 29 soil samples collected from the major agricultural regions across China. Phospholipid fatty analysis-stable isotope probing revealed variations in fungal fixation by 2.2 to 65.5% of the total microbial CO2 fixation. CO2 assimilation of ten fungal strains belonging to the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota was determined in three different media using an isotope labeling experiment. Trichocladium uniseriatum had the highest CO2 fixation capacity. T. uniseriatum had the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle (rTCA) for CO2 assimilation associated with sulfite metabolism. T. uniseriatum was thus selected for use in soil inoculation experiments, aimed to trace the fractionation of its fixed carbon in SOC. The CO2 fixation rate of T. uniseriatum was 0.07–0.09 μg C per g of soil per day. Notably, 77–82% of the fixed C was partitioned into the mineral-associated soil organic carbon. This study highlights the significance of fungal CO2 fixation in soil carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thoroughly investigating the evolution of groundwater circulation and its controlling mechanism in the Aksu River Basin, where human activities are intensifying and the groundwater environment is increasingly deteriorating, is highly urgent and important for promoting the theory, development and implementation of groundwater flow systems (GFSs) and protecting groundwater resources. Based on a detailed analysis of the sediment grain size distribution, chronology, electrofacies, glacial sedimentary sequence, palaeoclimate indicators and existing groundwater age, this paper systematically reconstructs the palaeosedimentary environment of the basin-scale aquifer system in the study area and scientifically reveals the evolutionary pattern and formation mechanism of the GFS. The results showed that the later period of the late Pleistocene experienced a rapid downcutting erosional event caused by tectonic uplift, and the sedimentary environment transitioned from a dry–cold deep downcutting environment in the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to a coarse-grained fast-filling fluvial facies sedimentary environment in the Last Glacial Deglaciation (LDP) as the temperature rose; then, it shifted to an environment of fine-grained stable alternating accumulation of fluvial facies and lacustrine facies that was dominated by the warm and arid conditions of the Holocene megathermal period (HMP); this process changed the previous river base level via erosion, glacier elongation or shortening and river level, thus resulting in a complex coupling relationship between the palaeosedimentary environment, palaeoclimate and basin GFS. Furthermore, the existing GFS pattern in the basin exhibits a vertically unconformable groundwater age distribution, which indicates that it is the outcome of the complex superposition of groundwater flow controlled by the palaeosedimentary environment in different periods. Therefore, neotectonic movement and climate fluctuation have jointly acted on the variation in the river level, resulting in the "seesaw" effect, thereby fundamentally controlling the strength of the driving force of groundwater and resulting in the gradual evolution of the GFS from the fully developed regional GFS pattern during the LGM to the current multihierarchy nested GFS pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informed by Donabedian's quality-of-care framework, this study aims to examine elderly clients' service satisfaction and service recommendation for community-based meal services in Shanghai. We analyzed secondary survey data from randomly sampled elderly clients of a community-based meal service in the old Jing'an District in Shanghai (N= 690). Quality of food and caregivers' attitudes were key to respondents' service recommendation while tidiness of tableware and interactions with caregivers were positively related to their service satisfaction. Overlaps and differences between structure and process factors are discussed. We also provide tailored policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interannual variation of the central China precipitation during its peak month–July–often causes local droughts and floods, exerting serious socio-economic impacts over this densely populated region. Based on the observed and reanalyzed datasets during 1979–2020, this study investigates the effect of El Niño-South Oscillation (ENSO) in the decaying stage on the central China July precipitation (CCJP). The results show that there are large asymmetries of the CCJP anomalies in the ENSO decaying stage: while the CCJP anomalies following El Niño tend to be significantly more abundant, those following La Niña are not statistically significant. Such an asymmetric effect of ENSO on the CCJP is owing to the asymmetries of both the ENSO peak intensity and decaying rate. Compared to La Niña, the stronger and faster decaying El Niño could induce a significant Northwest Pacific anomalous anticyclone (NPAAC) in the decaying July. The strong NPAAC, on the one hand, transports more water vapor to central China. On the other hand, the NPAAC-induced warm advection in the middle troposphere, mainly contributed by the anomalous warm air advected by the climatological westerlies and the climatological warm air advected by the anomalous southwesterly winds, is conductive to the atmospheric upward motion over central China. As a result, the CCJP tends to be more abundant following El Niño. In contrast, the relatively weaker and slower decaying La Niña could not induce significantly abnormal Northwest Pacific circulation responses and the resultant CCJP anomalies. The present results highlight the asymmetric lagged effect of ENSO on the CCJP and have important implications for the seasonal prediction of the regional climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial structure of Bed and Breakfast (B&B) development plays a crucial role in promoting integrated urban–rural development. However, existing B&B research has predominantly focused on single large cities, neglecting to explore the spatial patterns of B&B development and their influencing factors from the perspective of urban–rural differences. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive case study in an all-for-one tourism demonstration area in Hainan Province, China. We adopt geospatial analysis methods and ridge regression models to investigate the characteristics of urban–rural disparities in B&B distribution and to identify the primary factors influencing their spatial arrangement. The research findings reveal valuable insights: (1) B&B establishments in the tourism demonstration area exhibit clustering with notable variations in clustering intensity between urban and rural regions; (2) essential factors affecting the spatial distribution of B&Bs include transportation accessibility, reliance on tourism attractions, B&B development infrastructure, and the availability of living services; (3) tourism resource dependence emerges as the most significant driving force behind B&B agglomerations in the tourism demonstration area; and (4) road network density, hotel service availability, and neighborhood residential density are three additional critical factors affecting B&B distribution, with their influence varying between urban and rural B&Bs. Based on these key findings, we propose development strategies for optimizing B&Bs' spatial structure in the tourism demonstration area and outline a blueprint for fostering integrated urban–rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermentation of meat products refers to a series of physical, biological or chemical changes in raw meat that occurs under the actions of enzymes or via microbial fermentation and results in the formation of meat products with special flavours, colours and textures that have a long history in China. These products have a unique fermented flavour, bright colour and longer shelf life than ordinary meat products, and some have proteins that are more easily absorbed by the body due to the fermentation of beneficial bacteria. Flavour development in meat products is a dynamic process. During the processing and storage of fermented meat products, the breakdown of proteins and fats is accelerated due to the addition of different fermenting agents. Moreover, the physicochemical reactions that occur within the meat products and the actions of microorganisms during the fermentation process result in the production of flavour compounds, which will determine the final flavour characteristics of the fermented meat product. This paper reviews the flavour characteristics of Chinese dry-cured hams, sausages, bacon, cured fish and sour meat and analyses the flavour substance composition of various products. Due to the differences in the raw materials, processes, auxiliary materials and fermentation processes of various types of fermented meat products in China (ham, sausage, bacon, etc.), the flavour substances contained in the various types of fermented meat products in China are different from each other. However, most fermented meat products in China are cured and fermented, and therefore, they share similarities in terms of their flavour substance composition. The flavour substances in fermented meat products mainly include alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, acids, phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons. The study of such flavour characteristics is of great significance in fermented meat product quality, and provides certain theoretical references for the study of domestic fermented meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the e‐commerce sales data of A‐share listed firms in China, we explore how e‐commerce sales information affects analyst earnings forecasts. We find that firms' e‐commerce sales information is related to firms' value, increases firms' information transparency, broadens analysts' information channels, and thus improves analyst forecast behavior. Further analysis shows that e‐commerce sales information's positive effect is more significant in firms with high growth ability, low financial information transparency, and without management earnings forecasting. We also find that the positive effect is more salient in the bull market. The findings provide new insights for improving the analyst earnings forecast and offer evidence for the positive significance of e‐commerce sales of alternative data for the capital market in the information era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The winter precipitation over South China (SCWP) can exert great impacts on the local ecosystem and human livelihood. Previous studies suggested that the inter-annual variability of SCWP can be affected by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) via the Northwest Pacific anticyclone (NWPAC). The present study investigates the role of the India–Burma Trough (IBT) in mediating the teleconnection between ENSO and the SCWP. During the El Niño mature winter, the slowdown of Walker circulation is evident over the tropical Indian Ocean (TIO). The low-level easterly wind anomaly is pronounced from the warm pool to the western TIO, which turns into the westerly wind anomaly over the northern TIO basin and then enhances IBT. Meanwhile, the Kelvin wave in the upper troposphere stimulated by El Niño propagates eastward toward Indian Ocean and induces the tropospheric warming over TIO. The resultant increase of the meridional temperature gradient leads to the southward shift of the westerly jet stream which favors the strengthening of IBT and the increase of SCWP. It is further shown that the IBT change is unclear in La Niña. This nonlinear feature can be largely attributed to the asymmetry in both ENSO amplitude and ENSO-related circulation anomalies. The present findings highlight the role of IBT, in addition to the well-known NWPAC, in bridging ENSO and SCWP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Standard noninvasive prenatal screening(NIPS) is an accurate and reliable method to screen for common chromosome aneuploidies, such as trisomy 21, 18 and 13. Extended NIPS has been used in clinic for not only aneuploidies but also copy number variants(CNVs). Here we aim to define the range of chromosomal abnormalities that should be able to identify by NIPS in order to be an efficient extended screening test for chromosomal abnormalities. Methods: A prospective study was conducted, involving pregnant women without fetal sonographic structural abnormalities who underwent amniocentesis. Prenatal samples were analyzed using copy number variation sequencing(CNV-seq) to identify fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Results: Of 28,469 pregnancies included 1,022 (3.59%) were identified with clinically significant fetal chromosome abnormalities, including 587 aneuploidies (2.06%) and 435 (1.53%) pathogenic (P) / likely pathogenic (LP) CNVs. P/LP CNVs were found in all chromosomes, but the distribution was not uniform. Among them, P/LP CNVs in chromosomes 16, 22, and X exhibited the highest frequencies. In addition, P/LP CNVs were most common on distal ends of the chromosomes and in low copy repeat regions. Recurrent microdeletion/microduplication syndromes (MMS) accounted for 40.69% of total P/LP CNVs. The size of most P/LP CNVs (77.47%) was < 3 Mb. Conclusions: In addition to aneuploidies, the scope of extended NIPS should include the currently known P/LP CNVs, especially the regions with recurrent MMS loci, distal ends of the chromosomes, and low copy repeat regions. To be effective detection should include CNVs of < 3 Mb. Meanwhile, sufficient preclinical validation is still needed to ensure the clinical effect of extended NIPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain (RCRSP) is the most common cause of shoulder disorders. In China, manipulation has been used extensively for the treatment of patients with RCRSP. However, high-quality clinical evidence to support the therapeutic effect of manipulation is still limited. Methods: A multicenter, participant-, outcome assessor-, and data analyst-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial will be conducted. A total of 280 participants with RCRSP will be recruited from three hospitals and randomly assigned to a five-step shoulder manipulation (FSM) group or a sham manipulation (SM) group. Each group will receive four weekly treatment sessions, with all participants performing exercises at home for 12 weeks. Assessments, namely the Constant–Murley score, visual analog scale, range of motion, and 36-Item Short Form Survey, will be made at baseline, 4, 12, 18, and 24 weeks. Adverse events during the study will also be recorded. Discussion: This is a pragmatic clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FSM in patients with RCRSP. The findings of this study will provide worthy clinical evidence for manual therapy for RCRSP. Trial registration: China Registered Clinical Trial Registration Center ChiCTR2000037577. Registered on 29 August 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the green credit policy (GCP) of 2012 in China, we examine how banker directors affect GCP's motivating effect on corporate green innovation. We find that banker directors facilitate the motivating impact of GCP on corporate green innovation. The prompting effect of banker directors is mainly through improving the information asymmetry related to corporate green innovation and monitoring the green credit usage. Banker directors' positive impact is primarily found in non-state-owned enterprises and firms located in regions with low guanxi culture, strong environmental regulation, and high intellectual property protection. Our research helps to identify the critical role of banker directors. The findings provide some insights for improving the GCP's positive effect on corporate green innovation by stimulating banker directors' monitoring roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zangju (Citrus reticulata cv. Manau Gan) is the main citrus cultivar in Derong County, China, with unique aroma and flavour characteristics, but the use of Zangju peel (CRZP) is limited due to a lack of research on its peel. In this study, electronic nose, headspace-gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC–IMS), and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) methods were used to rapidly and comprehensively evaluate the volatile compounds of dried CRZP and to analyse the role of dynamic changes at different maturation stages. The results showed that seventy-eight volatile compounds, mainly aldehydes (25.27%) and monoterpenes (55.88%), were found in the samples at four maturity stages. The contents of alcohols and aldehydes that produce unripe fruit aromas are relatively high in the immature stage (October to November), while the contents of monoterpenoids, ketones and esters in ripe fruit aromas are relatively high in the full ripening stage (January to February). The PLS-DA model results showed that the samples collected at different maturity stages could be effectively discriminated. The VIP method identified 12 key volatile compounds that could be used as flavour markers for CRZP samples collected at different maturity stages. Specifically, the relative volatile organic compounds (VOCs) content of CRZP harvested in October is the highest. This study provides a basis for a comprehensive understanding of the flavour characteristics of CRZP in the ripening process, the application of CRZP as a byproduct in industrial production (food, cosmetics, flavour and fragrance), and a reference for similar research on other C. reticulata varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The 'treat-all' strategy was implemented in Shenzhen, China in 2016. The effect of this extensive treatment on transmitted drug resistance (TDR) of HIV is unclear. Methods TDR analysis was performed, based on the partial HIV-1 pol gene obtained from the newly reported HIV-1 positive cases from 2011 to 2019 in Shenzhen, China. The HIV-1 molecular transmission networks were inferred to analyse the spread of TDR. Logistic regression was used to identify the potential risk factors with TDR mutations (TDRMs) to cluster. Results A total of 12 320 partial pol sequences were included in this study. The prevalence of TDR was 2.95% (363/12 320), which increased from 2.57% to 3.52% after 'treat-all'. The TDR prevalence was increased in populations with the characteristics of CRF07_BC, being single, educated to junior college level and above, MSM and male. The sensitivities of viruses to six antiretroviral drugs were decreased. The clustering rate of TDRMs remained stable, and the sequences in the three drug resistance transmission clusters (DRTCs) were mainly found during 2011–16. CRF07_BC and CRF55_01B were the factors associated with TDRMs clustering in the networks. Conclusions The 'treat-all' strategy might have contributed to a small increase in TDR, while most of the TDRMs were distributed sporadically, which implies that the 'treat-all' strategy is helpful for the control of TDR in high-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines semantic sense and form-meaning connection across the bilingual's languages as factors behind translation priming asymmetry, which refers to semantic priming between translation equivalents with L1 (first language) primes and L2 (second language) targets, but the lack of it in the reverse direction. In Experiment 1, many-sense L2 words did prime their L1 translations having fewer senses in a lexical decision task, contradicting the usual lack of L2-to-L1 priming. Results of Experiment 2 showed that few-sense L2 items did not prime their many-sense translations, but priming occurred in the reverse direction. In Experiment 3, only single-sense items were used, and priming occurred in the L1-to-L2 but not the L2-to-L1 direction, replicating the usual asymmetry. In Experiment 4, priming occurred in the L1-few-L2-many direction, indicating that form-meaning connection strength plays a role over the semantic sense ratio in this situation. Hence, both the relative number of item senses and item form-meaning connection strength (L1 greater than L2 by default, with number of senses controlled in Experiment 3) contribute to translation priming asymmetry. (Contains 2 figures and 3 footnotes.)

Hepatocellular carcinoma ranks fourth in cancer-related causes of death worldwide and second in China. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at the early stage have a better prognosis compared to HCC patients at the late stage. Therefore, early screening for HCC is critical for clinical treatment decisions and improving the prognosis of patients. Ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) have been used to screen HCC, but HCC is still difficult to be diagnosed in the early stage due to the low sensitivity of the above methods. It is urgent to find a method with high sensitivity and specificity for the early diagnosis of HCC. Liquid biopsy is a noninvasive detection method using blood or other bodily fluids. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) are important biomarkers for liquid biopsy. Recently, HCC screening methods using the application of cfDNA and ctDNA have become the hot spot of early HCC diagnostics. In this mini review, we summarize the latest research progress of liquid biopsy based on blood cfDNA in early screening of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has diversified resources of indigenous cattle, which are classified into Northern, Central, and Southern groups according to their geographical distribution. Chaling cattle belong to Southern group. This breed is famous for the production of good quality meat with elite meat grades. To analyze the genetic diversity of Chaling cattle, 20 samples were sequenced using whole‐genome resequencing technology, along with 138 published whole‐genome sequencing data of Indian indicine cattle, Chinese indicine cattle, East Asian taurine cattle, Eurasian taurine cattle, and European taurine cattle as control. It was found that Chaling cattle originated from Chinese indicine cattle. The genetic diversity of Chaling cattle is higher than that of Indian indicine cattle, East Asian taurine cattle, Eurasian taurine cattle, and European taurine cattle, but lower than that of Chinese indicine cattle and Xiangxi cattle. Annotating the selection signals obtained by composite likelihood ratio, θπ, FST, π‐ratio, and XP‐EHH methods, several genes associated with immunity, heat tolerance, reproduction, growth, and meat quality showed strong selection signals. In general, this study provides a theoretical basis for analyzing the genetic mechanism of Chaling cattle with excellent adaptability, rough feeding tolerance, good immune performance, and good meat quality. This work lays a foundation for genetic breeding of Chaling cattle in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of fire history and driving mechanisms at long time scales can provide a theoretical background for future fire management in forested regions. The alpine lake sediments from Daye Lake in the Qinling Mountains, east‐central China, were used to explore the influence of climate, vegetation and human activity on fires since the LGM, based on charcoals and black carbon. During the last glacial period, fire activity was mostly controlled by regional aridity under a weak East Asian summer monsoon, while human‐induced fires were commonly dominated in the late Holocene. Fire activity was found to be linked to biomass through temperature variability. The biofuel dominated by conifers induced high intensity fires in the last glacial, and herbs contributed more to the high fire frequency over the mid‐late Holocene. With predicted future rising temperatures, increased vegetation cover and extreme climate events may increase the fire risk in the region. Plain Language Summary: Fire activity has an important influence on climate changes and carbon cycling. Understanding past fire history and its driving mechanisms are essential to mitigate the impact of fires. Here, we present fire records from alpine lake sediments in the Qinling Mountains since the LGM. Results indicate that climatological drought under a prevailing weak East Asian summer monsoon increased fire activity during 21.6–11.7 cal ka BP, while human‐induced fires became more common in the late Holocene due to land use, for example, the forest clearing for agriculture and the warfare. And high temperature increases fuel loads, resulting in more fires. Moreover, vegetation types with varying biofuel supply also influence fire activity. We suggest that fire risk may increase in the region with future rising temperature. Our results have implications for understanding fire history and management in other transitional vegetation zones globally. Key Points: The prevailing weak East Asian summer monsoon mostly controlled fire activity during the last glacial, whilst human activity became common through the HoloceneThe conifers induced high intensity fires in the last glacial and herbs contributed more to high fire frequency over the mid‐late HoloceneForest resources in east‐central China will face the increased fire risks in the context of global warming and increasing vegetation cover [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consistent condom use with casual partners is critical for preventing the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among male university students. This study aimed to determine the level of consistent condom use and explore the correlates of condom use consistency in male university students in eastern China. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in 13 universities in Zhejiang Province, which involved the recruitment of 31,674 students by stratified random sampling. Among them, 545 male students who engaged in casual sex in the year prior to this study were included. Adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression models were used to examine the correlates associated with consistent condom use. Among the 545 male university students, only 205 (37.6%) consistently used condoms in the previous year. The following correlates were associated with higher rates of consistent condom use: 1) Knowledge, specifically, the number of correct answers to "HIV infection can be determined by appearance" (AOR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.21–3.49); 2) never finding casual partners on the internet during the past over the prior year (AOR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.40–0.99); 3) never drinking alcohol before casual sex during the last over the prior year (AOR: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.20–0.46); 4) never engaging in commercial sex (AOR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.34–0.96); and 5) high condom self-efficacy score (AOR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.44–4.49). The study found a low level of consistent condom use among male university students. Promoting condom self-efficacy, reducing web-based casual sex, drinking before sex, and commercial sex are essential to improving the level of consistent condom use among male university students to reduce the transmission of HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grass recovery is often implemented in the loess area of China to control erosion. However, the effect mechanisms of grass cover on runoff erosion dynamics on steep loess hillslopes is still not clear. Taking the typical forage species (Coreopsis) in semiarid areas as subject, this study quantified the effects of canopies and roots on controlling slope runoff and erosion. A series of field experiments were conducted in a loess hilly region of China. Field plots (5 m length, 2 m width, 25° slope gradient) constructed with three ground covers (bare soil; Coreopsis with intact grass; only roots of Coreopsis), were applied with simultaneous simulated rainfall (60 mm h−1) and upslope inflow (10, 30, 50, 70, 90 L min−1). The results showed that compared with bare soil, intact grass significantly reduced runoff and soil loss rates by 16.6% and 62.4% on average, and decreased soil erodibility parameter by 66.3%. As inflow rate increased, the reductions in runoff and soil loss rates increased from 2.93 to 14.00 L min−1 and 35.11 to 121.96 g m−2 min−1, respectively. Canopies relatively contributed 66.7% to lowering flow velocity, turbulence, weakening erosive force and increasing hydraulic resistance. Roots played a predominant role in reducing soil loss and enhancing soil anti-erodibility, with relative contributions of 78.8% and 73.8%. Furthermore, the maximum erosion depth reduced by Coreopsis was at the upper slope section which was previously eroded the most. These results demonstrated the efficiency of Coreopsis cover in controlling runoff and erosion on steep loess slopes, especially under large inflow rates and at upper slope sections. We suggest protecting Coreopsis with intact grass at upper slope sections, while the aboveground grass biomass can be used for grazing or harvesting at middle and lower slope sections, with roots reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies indicate differences in short-term postoperative outcomes depending on the surgical starting time of the day, but long-term data are lacking. The aim of this study was to clarify if surgical starting time of the day influences long-term survival in gastric cancer patients. This cohort study consecutively included 2728 patients who underwent curatively intended gastrectomy for gastric cancer in 2011–2015 at a high-volume hospital in China, with follow-up until June 2019. Cox regression provided hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 3-year all-cause mortality, adjusted for age, sex, health insurance, pathological tumor stage, surgical approach, neoadjuvant therapy, and weekday of surgery. Compared with patients with early starting time of gastrectomy (08:00–09:29), the point estimates for 3-year all-cause mortality were modestly increased in patients with a starting time in the middle of day (09:30–13:29; HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.37) and later (13:30–21:25; HR 1.10, 0.91 to 1.32). The corresponding HRs were increased particularly in patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy (HR 1.54, 1.10 to 2.14 and HR 1.59, 1.12 to 2.25, respectively) and in those with stage II tumors (HR 1.74, 1.11 to 2.73 and HR 1.60, 1.00 to 2.58, respectively). Our study indicated that in patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy and in those who with stage II tumors, starting surgery in the early morning might be associated with better long-term survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest stock volume (FSV) is a major indicator of forest ecosystem health and it also plays an important part in understanding the worldwide carbon cycle. A precise comprehension of the distribution patterns and variations of FSV is crucial in the assessment of the sequestration potential of forest carbon and optimization of the management programs of the forest carbon sink. In this study, a novel vegetation index based on Sentinel-2 data for modeling FSV with the random forest (RF) algorithm in Helan Mountains, China has been developed. Among all the other variables and with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.778, the novel vegetation index (NDVIRE) developed based on the red-edge bands of the Sentinel-2 data was the most significant. Meanwhile, the model that combined bands and vegetation indices (bands + VIs-based model, BVBM) performed best in the training phase (R2 = 0.93, RMSE = 10.82 m3ha−1) and testing phase (R2 = 0.60, RMSE = 27.05 m3ha−1). Using the best training model, the FSV of the Helan Mountains was first mapped and an accuracy of 80.46% was obtained. The novel vegetation index developed based on the red-edge bands of the Sentinel-2 data and RF algorithm is thus the most effective method to assess the FSV. In addition, this method can provide a new method to estimate the FSV in other areas, especially in the management of forest carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa growth and production in China are negatively impacted by high salt concentrations in soils, especially in regions with limited water supplies. Few reliable genetic markers are currently available for salt tolerance selection. As a result, molecular breeding strategies targeting alfalfa are hindered. Therefore, with the continuous increase in soil salinity in agricultural lands, it is indispensable that a salt-tolerant variety of alfalfa is produced. We collected 220 alfalfa varieties around the world for resequencing and performed genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Alfalfa seeds were germinated in saline water with different concentrations of NaCl, and the phenotypic differences in several key root traits were recorded. In the phenotypic analysis, the breeding status and geographical origin strongly affected the salt tolerance of alfalfa. Forty-nine markers were significantly associated with salt tolerance, and 103 candidate genes were identified based on linkage disequilibrium. A total of 2712 differentially expressed genes were upregulated and 3570 were downregulated based on transcriptomic analyses. Some candidate genes that affected root development in the seed germination stage were identified through the combination of GWASs and transcriptome analyses. These genes could be used for molecular breeding strategies to increase alfalfa's salt tolerance and for further research on salt tolerance in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]