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Under the background of insufficient scientific research funding, evaluating the level of scientific research from the perspective of sustainable development is necessary. The study aims to develop an evaluation index system based on the theories for sustainable competitive advantage (SCA), which could be used to evaluate the sustainable development trend of scientific research in universities. In this study, 42 world-class universities in China are used as examples to calculate their SCA performance in scientific research using the entropy and equal weights methods. The scores of scientific research in different universities in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) in 2021 are used to verify the effectiveness of the evaluation index system. The results show that the evaluation index system can effectively predict the scientific research performance of universities in the future. It could be deduced from the results that universities with better scientific research performance meet the needs of the external market better and have more valuable, rare, imitable, and ambiguous resources but a lower level of scientific research dynamic ability. The evaluation index system makes up for the lack of emphasis on the potential scientific research capacity of the university in the current evaluation methods. It can help university administrators formulate relevant scientific research management regulations.

The geographies of public–private partnership (PPP) are an important but neglected topic in urban development and planning. Few existing studies have explored the spatial heterogeneity of PPP development in different regions within a country. This article aims to explore the impact of uneven regional development on PPP development and spatial governance for PPPs as a response. First, the concept of variegated PPPs is proposed to portray and analyze the impact of uneven regional development on PPPs from the dimensions of complexity, regional differences, and the spatialization of policy based on China. Second, a conceptual framework is constructed for PPP spatial governance as a response that includes the actors, driving forces, processes, patterns, and regulations. Finally, the underlying mechanism and implications of PPP spatial governance are discussed. This article concludes that spatial governance is conducive to the development of PPPs in developing countries and promotes the performance of PPPs and policymaking. When formulating and adjusting PPP-related policies, governments from developing countries should tailor the policies to their national conditions and consider regional differences inside a country. Therefore, this article might have reference value for other countries, especially developing countries with rapid urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water governance is an important issue of the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity, and is also an critical guarantee for high-quality development and the Chinese path to modernization. The detailed identification and systematic evaluation of the Chinese path to modernization of water governance is the key work to promote the modernization and sustainable development of China. A comprehensive evaluation system for the Chinese path to modernization of water governance is constructed from the demensions of population, economy, coordination, and ecology under the guideline of the characteristics of the Chinese path to modernization, and the spatial-temporal characteristics of the development of the Chinese path to modernization of water governance are explored by spatial analysis methods based on the provincial-level panel data from 2008 to 2021, and the influencing factors of the Chinese path to modernization of water governance are analyzed by using the grey correlation model. The results show that the development of the Chinese path to modernization of water governance is overall on the rise; The regional heterogeneity of the Chinese path to modernization of water governance is significant, showing a gradient pattern of "high in the east, followed by the middle and low in the west", and the regional gap has an expanding trend. Indicators such as urbanization rate, urban water access rate, urban sewage treatment rate, per capita comprehensive water consumption, total population, proportion of ecological water, and water consumption per 10 000 yuan of industrial added value have the highest correlation with the Chinese path to modernization of water governance. This study suggests that differentiated, targeted and forward-looking development strategies and policies should be formulated for the Chinese path to modernization of water governance for various regions. The western region should further increase the ecological water, and the central region can improve the modern development level of water governance by optimizing the per capita comprehensive water consumption. The research enriches the theoretical system of the Chinese path to modernization, and provides a scientific basis for the development of Chinese water governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on national time series data from 1990 to 2020 in China, the study quantified the index and analyzed the relationship among criminal cases, relative deprivation, and absolute deprivation by using a structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) model. The results showed that the change in absolute deprivation had no significant influence on overall criminal cases, while the expansion of relative deprivation promoted an increase in criminal cases. Meanwhile, relative deprivation and absolute deprivation have disparate effects on different types of criminal cases. On the one hand, both absolute deprivation and relative deprivation have a positive effect on violent crimes. On the other hand, the impact of absolute deprivation on property crimes is not significant. Due to the large proportion of property crimes in the total criminal cases, the reduction of absolute deprivation has a limited inhibiting effect on total criminal offenses in China's current situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The river and lake chief system offers a valuable policy toolkit to mitigate the degradation of water ecology, thereby bolstering water resource management for sustainable water development in China. To evaluate the effects of implementation and improve policy, this study took Beijing as a typical case and conducted a quantitative assessment using multidimensional data. The findings suggest that while the river and lake chief system in Beijing is effective and has significantly contributed to the ecological management of rivers and lakes, there are also notable regional disparities and urban–rural divergences. In addition, human activities are the main sources of environmental pollution in rivers and lakes, which should be the focus of the river and lake chief system. The river and lake chief system needs to embed more public participation and cooperative governance. This research aids in better understanding China's river and lake chief system for both researchers and practitioners, facilitating the advancement of the knowledge body of global water policy and governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources tax is an important means to strengthen the integrated water resources management and water governance. The Chinese government started the Tax-for-Fee reform (Fei Gai Shui) in 2016 and piloted the water resources tax in ten provinces. After several years of practice, it is necessary to evaluate and summarize the effectiveness and impact of the water resources tax policy pilot in China. This study first analyzes the function of the water resources tax, built on the global development of water resources tax review. And then, this study reviewed the evolution of the water resources fee/tax policy in China and evaluated the effectiveness of the water resources tax reform. In addition, this study discussed critical success factors for the water resources tax pilot and analyzed crucial questions for further study. The results show that water resource utilization efficiency improved and water use structure optimized through the water resources tax incentives. This study might contribute toward making reasonable decisions in the water policy and governance fields not only in China but in other developing countries as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusive tourism is a key part of an increasingly sustainable tourism development and harmony society. However, the degree, characteristics, and shortcomings of regional inclusive tourism development remain understudied. To holistically understand and describe the development of inclusive tourism in China, we develop an assessment model for inclusive tourism development from three dimensions: tourism stakeholders, economic inclusion, and tourism resources and environments. The spatial pattern and characteristics of China's provincial inclusive tourism development is measured and classified. Furthermore, we conduct an in-depth discussion combined with specific indicators and propose the targeted suggestions. This study provides a basis for optimizing policies and practices of inclusive tourism in China. In addition, this study also contributes to the global body of knowledge surrounding inclusive tourism and provides the referee value for other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water-economy-innovation nexus is an integrated system that plays an important driving role in urban and regional sustainable development. To identify, evaluate, and measure the coupling-coordinated development of the regional water-economy-innovation nexus, this study selects China's Grand Canal area as a typical case and constructs an integrated evaluation system of the water-economy-innovation nexus. Then, the coupling coordination model is used to evaluate the regional water-economy-innovation nexus' development. Finally, grey correlation analysis is used to evaluate the influencing factors. The results find that the water-economy-innovation nexus' overall development level is not high and that there are significant spatial differences. The coupling coordination level keeps rising, and the coupling coordination level of the central city is obviously better than other cities. Water accounts for the largest contribution to the coupling coordination of the water-economy-innovation nexus, followed by economy and innovation. This study contributes to the knowledge body of sustainable development and provides a scientific basis for the decision of coupling the development of the water-economy-innovation nexus in China's Grand Canal area and other regions. Water, as a fundamental resource, plays an important role in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, water needs to interact with other factors to effectively achieve regional sustainable development. Innovation and the economy are both important drivers of sustainable development, and water is closely linked and interacted with them. Currently, the mechanism and extent of the coupled development of regional water-economy-innovation nexus remains unclear. To address this challenge, this study takes the Grand Canal area in China as a typical case and constructs an evaluation model with multiple methods to explore the coupling development of the regional water-economy-innovation nexus. This study verified the importance of multifactor coupling for regional sustainable development and demonstrated that water contributed the most, but the overall coupling development of the water-economy-innovation nexus was not high. Promoting the coupling development of the water-economy-innovation nexus through targeted policies is an important task for local governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although public–private partnerships (PPPs) for tourism have received extensive attention, there has been limited research on their application to tourist toilets. The purpose of this study was to systematically explore the applicability of PPPs with respect to the construction and operation of tourist toilets. The study conducted field investigations and semi-structured interviews in the Qingdao Laoshan Scenic Area (LSA), where purposive sampling techniques were used to manage participant selection and expand sample sizes. It finds that first, the use of PPPs to build tourist toilets is new and has shown both development potential and challenges. Second, the use of PPPs to provide tourist toilets is not yet mature owing to management and supply inefficiencies. Third, the DBTO model in the Laoshan case offers a significant methodological value for similar PPP projects, which could be replicated and promoted more widely when certain conditions are met. This study has filled a research gap in the global toilet revolution and shows a different path from the investment guarantee system in developed Western countries and the Guilin model in China. This application of a PPP in provision of tourist toilets also broadens the knowledge base of researchers studying PPPs in the field of tourism and could lead to the development of a policy approach with respect to PPPs' application in the toilet revolution and regional tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrastructure financialization is an important economic phenomenon in urbanization and urban financialization. The existing studies are mainly focused on qualitative and theoretical analysis around the world. To quantitatively evaluate the impact of infrastructure financialization on uneven regional development, this study firstly measures the characteristics of uneven regional development in China, then we use the Tobit model to analyze the impact of infrastructure financialization based on panel data from 2006 to 2019. The results find that infrastructure financialization plays a significant role in uneven regional development in China. Low infrastructure financialization constrains the economic growth and urbanization of underdeveloped regions. This study not only contributes to the knowledge body of global financialization theory, but also provides a scientific basis for the optimization of infrastructure development both in China and the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) is a significant and costly cross-basin mega water project in China, and one aim is to improve water use efficiency. To assess the effect of the SNWDP, this study conducts a quantitative evaluation of the middle route of the SNWDP's impact on water use efficiency through the event analysis method based on panel data from 2010 to 2019 of 14 cities along the middle route. The results show the construction of the SNWDP has had a positive impact on water use efficiency in the areas along the project, and the water use efficiency is constantly improving. Further empirical analysis shows that regional groundwater supply, industrial water consumption, and technical level have a significant positive impact on regional water use efficiency. Regional per-capita GDP has a significant negative impact on water use efficiency. The results can provide a scientific basis and decision-making reference for optimizing the SNWDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Anlotinib is a multi‐target tyrosine kinase inhibitor, approved in China for treating several cancer types. Dose individualization based on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a useful tool to reduce toxicity. However, it is not convenient for patients to go to hospital for routine TDM via venous blood sampling at a certain time. Methods: An ultra‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for determination of anlotinib in human plasma and dried blood spot (DBS), characterized by simple sample preparation, high sensitivity, and short analysis time. The assay was validated in the concentration range of 0.2–200 ng/mL in plasma and 5–1000 ng/mL in DBS. This method was applied to monitor anlotinib exposure levels in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) and non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results: The trough plasma concentration (Ctrough) of anlotinib was highly variable among BTC patients with coefficients of variation (CV) of 47.5%. DBS and venous blood samples were also collected from NSCLC patients to determine whether DBS sampling is a viable alternative sampling approach. Pearson correlation coefficient (R) between DBS and plasma concentration was 0.985. Bland–Altman plot demonstrated that the difference between estimated and measured plasma concentration was −2.9%. And 87% of sample pairs had a maximal deviation of ±20%. Conclusions: Anlotinib exhibits a high inter‐individual variability in plasma exposure, and DBS sampling could be a promising tool for TDM of anlotinib. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strictest water resources management (SWRM) policy is a critical policy to address China's severe water shortage and pollution problems, and aims to promote sustainable water development and water governance. Based on data mining from multiple sources, including policy text from the strictest water resource management policy from 2011 to 2021, the reports of major media websites, and the Baidu Index, this study used the ROST-CM6 text-analysis tool to analyze the policy content, public opinion, and public perception of the strictest water resources management policy quantitatively and visually. The results found that the policy text and public-opinion are given high attention to the water resources assessment, water control management, and water resources protection, but the policy text focuses on the macro level, and pays more attention to national development and long-term planning. The public opinion belongs to the micro level and is more economic, and there is a certain degree of media bias. With notable regional disparities, the general public's opinion of the harshest water resource management policy has been rising every year. This research adds to the global body of knowledge on water governance, and serves as a guide for Chinese and other governments looking to improve their water resource management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the continuous decline of marriage rate in Chinese cities has attracted significant attention. The study examined the impact of income inequality on marriage rates, and explored the mechanisms through which this relationship operates. Panel data of 35 large and medium-sized cities of mainland China from 2004 to 2019 were used to empirically test the theoretical hypothesis, finding the following results: Firstly, widening income inequality emerges as a crucial factor contributing to the decline in marriage rates within Chinese cities. Secondly, the impact of the income inequality on the marriage rate shows significant spatial and temporal differences in urban areas. Lastly, factors such as Internet penetration, urbanization and housing price are important channels for income inequality to affect the marriage rate. The objective of this study is to explain the decline of marriage rate in China's cities from the perspective of income distribution, and subsequently unveil the macro-level correlation between income inequality and marital behavior. • Widening income inequality emerges as a crucial factor contributing to the decline in marriage rates within Chinese cities. • The impact of the income inequality on the marriage rate shows significant spatial and temporal differences in urban areas. • Internet penetration, urbanization and housing price are the channels for income inequality to affect the marriage rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More and more recent studies have come to realize that the emerging industries not only occur within a city but also are impacted by the city network. This study uses a shift-share analysis (SSA) method to measure the evolutionary characteristics of the esports industry in 26 cities of the Yangtze River Delta region from 2004 to 2018. The study found that the esports industry showed a process of spreading from the central city to the surrounding small- and medium-sized cities. This phenomenon was also impacted by factors such as technological diffusion, knowledge sharing of enterprises in the city network, complementarity between industries, and common market. This study further explored the influencing factors of the esports industry's evolution in the city network through the econometric model, and the results showed that technology spillovers and market integration effects have a significant positive effect on the esports industry's growth. This study verifies that the evolution of emerging industries in small- and medium-sized cities can benefit from a city network. Industrial clusters within cities and city networks are complementary and jointly promote the development of emerging industries. This study expands industrial development from urban inside to city network, which provides a broader perspective for urban and regional industrial planning. Furthermore, this study provides technical support for regional development planning and reminds urban decision makers to need to establish horizontal industrial linkages in city networks to achieve integrated regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strictest water resources management policy plays a critical role in response to the challenge of water shortage, water security, and sustainable water development in China. Despite the varied analyses of the strictest water resources management policy, the relations between the strictest water resources management policy and water use efficiency remain under-researched. This study uses an interval event-analysis method to assess the strictest water resources management policy's impact on water use efficiency in China based on data from 2007 to 2020. In addition, the study breaks down water use efficiency into eight indicators and divides the strictest water management policy into "pre-, middle, and post-" phases. The research results show the strictest water resources management policy has a significant positive effect on water use efficiency. Further research shows the total water consumption control system and water efficiency control system have the most significant effect. The strictest water resources management policy has a lasting impact on water use efficiency. This study contributes to the global knowledge body of water governance and provides a reference value for water policy decision-making and optimization in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development is a common challenge for all global economies, and the assessment of the spatial distribution and development process of ecological resources is the basis of sustainable development. Considering the heterogeneity of regional ecological resource endowment, it is necessary to conduct a targeted assessment for different regions. In this study, we selected Guizhou Province, which is rich in ecological resources, but has a fragile environment, as our study area, and cultivated land, woodland, grassland, and water resources were selected as critical evaluation indicators. Notably, we applied Kernel density analysis methods, based on the remote sensing data of 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, to explore the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and evolution pattern of regional ecological resources. The results indicated that the evolution of ecological resource development in Guizhou could be divided into three phases: degenerative (2000–2005), recovery (2005–2015), and development (2015–2020). The spatial distribution of Guizhou's ecological resource was shown to be heterogeneous in the north and south and more homogeneous in the middle regions. Guizhou has diverse land-use types, with obvious regional differences in land-use structure. Notably, even though the development of ecological resources in Guizhou has improved, the development and utilization degree of ecological resources is still low, and the ecological damage is serious. This study can be used as a scientific reference by policymakers and decisionmakers to develop new regulations for ecological resources protection and sustainable development in China. We suggest that different regions should adopt more detailed measures; particularly, it is important to establish a spatial governance system to promote ecological resources development in the context of local conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's special economic zones have been hailed as a flagship of her policy on 'opening up' to the outside world, as well as the China-led global Belt and Road Initiative. In this paper, we conceptualize the internationalization of Chinese SEZs, and frame the genealogy and underpinning dynamics of China's international SEZs, both domestically and overseas. The paper critically probes the underlying logics of three parallel international developments of Chinese SEZs: (1) capital-oriented land expansion in the form of international SEZs combining both 'bring in' and 'going out', especially since BRI; (2) different industrial landscapes at various timelines and sites; (3) variegated transnational SEZs governance, bilateral central governments governance, marketized state or entrepreneurship state, or private ventures. We contribute to the SEZ land literature by delivering a novel framework which encompasses variegated internationalization trends among China's vast domestic and overseas SEZs. These internationalization trajectories in turn contour and entrench global variegated capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy intervention is a critical measure to address water resources challenges and improve water governance capacity. The strictest water resources management (SWRM) policy is an important water policy system that aims to deal with water shortage, water pollution, and institutional dysfunction in China. This study conducts a quantitative analysis for policy text characteristics of the SWRM through the methods of text mining and content analysis. First, we construct an analytical framework with the combination of policy instruments and policy targets, and then code and classify policy instruments in policy text and conduct statistical analysis. Finally, the research conclusions and policy suggestions are put forward. The results show that major policy instruments are structurally imbalanced in China's SWRM policy. China's government prefers to issue a mandatory, standardized, and restrictive policies in water resources management. Most of the policy instruments are focused on institutional management, followed by resources allocation, technological progress, and the ecological environment. This study contributes to the knowledge body of water policy evaluation and water governance, provides decision-making references for optimizing and promoting China's water resources management policy, and offers a peer reference for water governance in other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Public private partnership (PPP) has gained increasing popularity around the globe. Whether the government needs to participate in the PPP special purpose vehicle (SPV) as an equity coinvestor is a critical issue in PPP development. This research aims to examine the influence of government equity investment on PPP performance by taking public-private communication as an intermediate variable. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire survey was adopted as the main research method. PPP practitioners with extensive experiences from both the public and private sectors were targeted respondents. The survey results were subsequently analyzed using statistical data analysis method. Findings: Based on the results from the questionnaire survey, this research indicates an inverted U-shaped relationship between the ratio of government equity and performance in PPP projects. In addition, communication plays a mediating role between government equity investment and PPP project performance. Originality/value: This research explicates the relationship between the equity structure in a PPP SPV and the project performance. It provides important guidance and reference for PPP practitioners to structure the SPV and associated financial and commercial arrangements. It also offers valuable insights into the development of PPP policy, especially regarding the structuring of PPP models in China and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2014, public–private partnerships (PPPs) in China have experienced an impulsive new boom with a new PPP policy that has drawn wide attention domestically and internationally. In particular, development characteristics and performance assessments of projects in the new PPP boom are a hot topic. By comparing China's PPP development in the last several years with that in the past thirty years, we explore its rationale and performance through a critical review using the following approach: first, we identify and analyze its seven new characteristics of investment scale, spatial distribution, investment sectors, operational model, concession period, payment mechanism, and tendering period; second, we diagnose the nature and performance of the new PPP boom; third, we systematically scrutinize the rationale behind the characteristics and the possible mechanism; and last, we conclude with the argument that the new PPP boom could be well managed by the Chinese government if some prerequisites are met. We also raise some key issues inviting more comprehensive comparative studies. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a project-data-analysis lens to better understand PPP development in China and worldwide. The implementation of this study will not only enrich global PPP knowledge, but will also be a good reference for PPP practice and trends in China and other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an innovative model for infrastructure and public service delivery, public–private partnership (PPP) has become increasingly more popular around the world. PPP is facing the dilemma of development direction and value orientation since current studies and practices are mostly performed from an economic perspective. PPP leads according to sustainable development goals. This study briefly reviews the development of China's PPP and summarizes the characteristics of PPP in China through the theory of evolutionary economic geography. Secondly, a conceptual framework of sustainability-oriented PPP is proposed with three phases named PPP1.0, PPP2.0, and PPP3.0. Thirdly, a case study named the Taizhou commuter-rail Line S1 PPP project has been adopted to verify the theoretical framework of the sustainability-oriented PPP. Lastly, the theoretical framework is analyzed and discussed based on the four dimensions: driving force, subject, process, and object. The results show that the sustainability-oriented PPP framework explains the development process and trend of PPP, not only meeting the PPP development needs in China, but also providing a reference value for other developing countries. This study has implications for decision making in China's PPP policy and makes an innovative contribution to the global PPP knowledge body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of deeply buried hydrocarbon is still a challenge for the petroleum geology. The Shunbei area is a newly discovered oil fields, located in the center of the Tarim Basin. The oil is mainly yielded from the Middle–Lower Ordovician carbonate reservoirs with depth > 7000 m in the Shunbei No. 1 and No. 5 fault zones. Calcite cements filled in vugs (v-calcite) and fractures (f-calcite) are identified in limestones and dolostones of the carbonate reservoirs. F-calcites in the Shunbei No. 1 fault zone trap secondary inclusions in trails, which comprise liquid-dominated biphase aqueous inclusions, liquid-dominated biphase oil inclusions, and/or oil-bearing triphase inclusions. F-calcite and v-calcite in the No. 5 fault zone trap secondary inclusions in trails, which consist of liquid-only monophase aqueous inclusions, liquid-dominated biphase aqueous inclusions, liquid-dominated biphase oil inclusions, liquid-only monophase oil inclusions, and/or oil-bearing triphase inclusions. The ranges of the homogenization temperature ( T h ) and ice-melting temperature ( T m − ice ) in the Shunbei No. 1 fault zone are, respectively, 130–150°C and -2.1–-1.5°C. The coexistence of liquid-only and liquid-dominated aqueous inclusions in the Shunbei No. 5 fault zone indicates that the aqueous inclusions are trapped at low temperatures. The aqueous inclusions in the Shunbei No. 5 fault zone show a range from -0.4 to -0.2°C in T m − ice which is very close to the meteoric fluid. In the context of the burial-thermal history and the Cambrian source rock evolution, the charging process of hydrocarbon in the Shunbei No. 1 and No. 5 fault zones corresponds to the Silurian and Middle Ordovician, respectively. Results of fluid inclusions indicate a tightly coupling relationship between the hydrocarbon charging process and fault system evolution in the Shunbei area. This study reveals the application of fluid inclusion under the systemically petrographic constraints to decipher the charging history of hydrocarbon, especially for the deeply buried reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fangcang shelter hospitals were established in China during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as a countermeasure to stop the spread of the disease. To our knowledge, no research has been conducted on mental health problems among patients in Fangcang shelter hospitals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and major influencing factors of anxiety and depressive symptoms among COVID-19 patients admitted to Fangcang shelter hospitals. From February 23, 2020, to February 26, 2020, we obtained sociodemographic and clinical characteristics information of COVID-19 patients in Jianghan Fangcang Shelter Hospital (Wuhan, China) and assessed their mental health status and sleep quality. Data were obtained with an online questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of a set of items on demographic characteristics, a set of items on clinical characteristics, the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Three hundred seven COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Jianghan Fangcang Shelter Hospital participated in this study. The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms were 18.6% and 13.4%, respectively. Poor sleep quality and having ≥ two current physical symptoms were independent risk factors for anxiety symptoms. Female sex, having a family member with confirmed COVID-19, and having ≥ two current physical symptoms were independent risk factors for depressive symptoms. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were found to be common among COVID-19 patients in Fangcang Shelter Hospital, with some patients being at high risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As an innovation model for infrastructure and public service delivery, public–private partnership (PPP) has been widely adopted around the world. The knowledge spillover effect and policy diffusion mechanism have played an important role in promoting the development of PPP in the context of globalization. A comparative evaluation of the policy and management of PPP in different countries will help to understand the development of PPP, provide decision-making reference for PPP policy embedded with specific national conditions of each country, and also contribute to the global PPP knowledge body. Design/methodology/approach: Based on the principle of comparability and representativeness, this study selected three countries, namely, China, India, and the United Kingdom for comparative analysis. This study first introduced the policy process and key institutions of PPP in three countries. Secondly, a comparative analysis of the development characteristics and application of PPP was conducted based on the official database of three countries. Finally, the differences, influencing factors and development trends of international PPP development were analyzed based on the comparative research results, and suggestions for PPP policy and management were put forward. Findings: The research results indicate the development fluctuation and unbalanced spatial distribution of PPPs are a common phenomenon in the three countries. The UK has a significant impact on the policy and development of PPP in other countries. However, under the combined influence of factors such as economic, urbanization, political regime and social culture, there are significant differences in the PPP institution, application, and project characteristics in various countries. Due to international exchanges and knowledge spillovers, as well as the promotion of intermediaries, the development of PPP worldwide tends to converge. Practical implications: Through conducting an international comparison of PPPs based on project data, this study provides a detailed and visualized overview of PPPs and a better understanding of PPP policy and management in different countries. The findings will be of interest to PPP investors, officers, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and analysts. It enriches the portrait of global PPP market research, helps governments to improve the design of PPP institutions and policies, and provides references for decision-making of international investors when stepping into a new market. Originality/value: This study is the first attempt to systematically compare and analyze the global PPP difference and development trend based on PPP project databases of different countries. Different from previous PPP comparative research based on perception data, the project data-based comparative analysis in this study is helpful to understand the characteristics, interrelations, and trends of global PPP development and enrich the existing PPP knowledge body. This study also proposes that it is possible to establish a global PPP knowledge community in the context of globalization and global production network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving water use efficiency is an essential strategy in the response to the global water crisis. The assessment of water use efficiency serves as the foundation for improving water use efficiency and water governance. Based on the mixed methods including Super-SBM model, GML index, spatial analysis, and Tobit model, this study assesses the water use efficiency from the scales of regional and provinces in China from 2011 to 2020, explores the evolution characteristics and spatial pattern of water use efficiency, and identifies the impact factors of water use efficiency. The results indicate that regional water use efficiency in China varies significantly by space, the highest in the eastern region with an average value of 0.8052, and the lowest in the central region with an average value of 0.5709. From 2011 to 2020, the average water use efficiency in China is 0.7042, which is in a low efficiency state, and roughly two thirds of the country's provinces use water inefficiently or ineffectively. In addition, regional differences of water use efficiency in China have a tendency of divergence and polarization. The technological progress change is the major factor for promoting water use efficiency. Economic development, water endowment, water use structure, scientific and technological development, and urban development have significant effects on water use efficiency in different regions respectively, while industrial structure and water governance have insignificant effects. This study supports researchers and practitioners in comprehending the characteristics and spatial patterns of water use in China, and also enriches the research system of water governance and integrated water resources management. [Display omitted] • Assessed water use efficiency in China for improving water use efficiency and strengthening water governance. • The mixed methods including the Super-SBM model, GML index, spatial analysis, and Tobit model have been applied. • The spatial characteristics and the impact factors of water use efficiency in China have been explored. • Nearly two-thirds of China's provinces exhibit inefficient or ineffective water use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Proposed a theoretical framework of water-economy-ecology nexus. • Constructed a comprehensive evaluation index for water-economy-ecology nexus. • Evaluated the coupling coordinated development of the regional water-economy-ecology nexus in Western China. • The Tobit regression model was used to evaluate the influencing factors of water-economy-ecology nexus. • Predicted the development trend of water-economy-ecology nexus by the gray prediction GM (1,1) model. The coupling development of water, economy, and ecology is an important driver of sustainable development. The assessment of the spatial distribution and development process of the regional water-economy-ecology (WEE) nexus is the basis of regional sustainable development. This study constructs a comprehensive evaluation model to explore the coupling coordination relationship of the WEE nexus in Western China, and then the grey prediction GM (1, 1) model is applied to analyze the development trend of the WEE nexus. In addition, the Tobit regression model is employed to explain the WEE nexus' influencing factors. The result indicates that the WEE nexus is generally developing in Western China, and the interaction between WEE is also increasing, but there is a lag in the WEE nexus' coordinated development. Especially, the economic system had the largest increase, with the development level rising from 0.2166 to 0.4966. Further empirical study shows that water resources development, science and technology innovation, economic development, industrial structure, and ecological governance are the major factors affecting the WEE nexus' coordinated development. The forecast shows a steady upward trend of coupling coordination in Western China in 2023–2025, and the majority of provinces will exceed 0.7 in 2025, reaching the intermediate coordination. This study offers a decision reference for policymakers and practitioners in addition to enriching the knowledge body of water governance and sustainable development on both global and regional scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shallow fresh groundwater is not common in the middle of basins in arid and semiarid areas with strong evaporation where shallow groundwater is often brackish water or saline water. In this study, the shallow fresh groundwater in the north area of Yanchi county, China was investigated for the main influencing factors and mechanisms of its formation. The results showed that freshwater of HCO and SO types with mean salinity of 0.78 g/L formed in the north of the study area while brackish and saline water of SO·Cl-Na type with mean salinity of 2.28 g/L formed in the west and south of the study area. The fresh groundwater formed owing to the special physico-chemical properties of the aeolian sand which has the good permeation of atmospheric precipitation, the weak evaporation of the groundwater, the low salt contents in the vadose zone and aquifer medium, the weak water-rock interaction and the good hydrodynamic condition. The lateral recharge of low salinity groundwater also played a mixing and diluting role in the formation of the fresh groundwater. The findings should provide a scientific basis for the exploitation and utilization of local groundwater resources and be of significance in the exploration and exploitation of fresh groundwater in arid and semiarid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International collaboration is one of the effective ways to enhance the impact of scientific research papers. In this research, international research collaboration papers published by world-class universities in the field of humanities and social sciences from 2015 to 2019 were selected as the research object, and the effective enhancement of the impact of international research collaboration papers was found to not be dependent on expanding the scale of international research collaboration, but rather on selecting researchers with different international backgrounds and from high-level institutions for collaboration. It was also discovered that, in the field of humanities and social sciences, despite a relatively low proportion of international research collaboration papers being led by Chinese scholars, the Chinese research is characterized by a higher impact compared with the research led by non-Chinese scholars. In light of this, a series of proactive measures should be taken by China's world-class universities, such as actively participating in and initiating international collaboration, selecting high-level research collaborators, and attracting scholars from different countries to engage in research collaboration in the field of humanities and social sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to assess the incidence and impact of in-hospital medical complications (MCs) on clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients after endovascular therapy (EVT). AIS patients who underwent EVT were consecutively recruited from January 2019 to July 2022. The primary outcome was a poor 3-month functional outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) of 3–6. The safety variables were symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and mortality at 7 and 30 days. A total of 306 (50.1%) patients experienced at least one of the MCs. The most common MC was pneumonia (42.6%). Multivariate analysis revealed that the setting of MCs was an independent predictor of a poor 3-month functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.01–6.42; P < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, this trend was significant, especially in the patients aged 60–75 years (aOR 5.87, 95% CI 3.45–9.97; P < 0.001) or with baseline NIHSS (≤16) (aOR 5.05, 95% CI 2.84–9.01; P < 0.001). For individuals, cardiac events (aOR 8.56, 95% CI 4.05–18.09; P < 0.001), pneumonia (aOR 5.08, 95% CI 3.42–7.55; P < 0.001), and gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) (aOR 6.12, 95% CI 3.40–11.01; P < 0.001) were independently associated with the poor 3-month outcome. The setting of MCs was independently associated with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (aOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.22–3.64; P = 0.007) and mortality at 30 days (aOR 2.11, 95% CI 1.22–3.64; P = 0.007) after adjustment, but not with mortality at 7 days. MCs in AIS patients after EVT have a high incidence, despite successful reperfusion, adversely affecting clinical outcomes and increasing short-term mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important part of urban carbon emissions, the carbon emissions from household energy consumption are increasing with the continuous improvement of Chinese urbanization. This study divides family population into 4 groups: adolescents (aged 0–17), young people (aged 18–44), middle-aged people (aged 45–59), and elderly people (aged 60 and older) and develops a calculation model for carbon emissions of household energy consumption in accordance with the latest standards of the World Health Organization based on Chinese Family Panel Studies in 2016. Results showed that the marginal and intergenerational effects coexist in various types of household energy consumption: Families with 3–5 people have the most economical consumption scale and the largest marginal sharing effect; multigenerational families or families with a large proportion of middle-aged and older people are beneficial in reducing household energy consumption. This paper suggests it is important to fully consider the impact of the intergenerational effect, marginal effect, and cultural shock caused by the electronic information age on household energy consumption when formulating standards of household energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rust belt cities are a special but important phenomenon in the world's industrialization landscape and city development trajectory. This profile analyses the struggling process and revitalization initiatives of Harbin, which was the first city established after the liberation of China, featuring the largest land area and highest latitude among all Chinese cities. The remarkable history of urban and industrial development once made Harbin the cradle of manufacturing in China, strongly supported by national government with concentration of SOEs. The city however has been suffering during the transition to a market economy. Its transition is painfully challenged by the strong socialist legacies of SOEs. This paper emphasizes that the new initiatives of Harbin, based on local endowments, cold climate condition and geolocation, demonstrate great potential for successful revitalization. Such strategic choices provide experiences and alternatives for other rust belt cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public–private collaboration process reinvents itself during policy diffusion. To reveal the cooperative-reinvention process, this study integrates theories of policy reinvention and collaborative governance to develop a framework outlining the interplay between initial conditions, learning, the reinvention process, the governance structure, and outcomes of reinvention. This study uses the framework to conduct an exploratory in-depth case study of Mobike urban bicycle-sharing service in China to examine such interplay. Findings showed that the combinations of leadership, formalization of cooperation mechanisms, and centralization of governance structure led to reinvent outcomes of institution innovation and content innovation. • This study develop a framework outlining the interplay between starting conditions, learning, the reinvention process, governance structure, and outcomes of reinvention. • The combinations of leadership, formalization of cooperation mechanisms, and centralization of governance structure led to reinvent outcomes of institution innovation and content innovation. • Compared to the government-response type, the government-driven type spurs more policy reinnovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The performance of existing prognostic scores including the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) for short-term mortality of non-high-risk PE in Chinese population has not been widely validated., Methods: Non-high-risk patients were included from the prospective cohort of the China pUlmonary Thromboembolism REgistry Study (CURES). The sPESI, RIETE, Geneva, modified FAST, and Bova score were validated. The discriminatory performance was measured by the area under the curve (AUC). We also compared the sensitivity, odds ratio, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of these scores., Results: A total of 6,873 non-high-risk patients with acute PE were included and 241 (3.5 %) patients died within 30 days. Compared to the Geneva, modified FAST, and Bova score, the AUCs for predicting 30-day death of sPESI and RIETE score were higher at 0.712 (95 % CI, 0.680, 0.743) and 0.723 (95 % CI, 0.691, 0.755) respectively. The sPESI demonstrated the highest sensitivity at 0.809, while the RIETE score, Geneva, Modified FAST and BOVA score showed sensitivities of 0.622, 0.568, 0.477 and 0.502 respectively. A sPESI ⩾1 point was associated with a 4.7-fold increased risk of 30-day all-cause mortality (95 % CI, 3.427, 6.563, p < 0.001), while a RIETE score of ⩾1 point was associated with a 4.5-fold increased risk (95 % CI, 3.127, 6.341, p < 0.001). The Geneva score, modified FAST and Bova score showed inferior performance., Conclusions: The implementation of the fewer-parameter, easier-to-calculate sPESI in Chinese patients with PE can help to discriminate patients with extremely low risk of short-term mortality for home treatment or early discharge., (Copyright © 2024 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody vasculitis-associated interstitial lung disease (AAV-ILD) is a potentially life-threatening disease. However, very little research has been done on the condition's mortality risk. Hence, our objective is to find out the factors influencing the prognosis of AAV-ILD and employ these findings to create a nomogram model. Patients with AAV-ILD who received treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University during the period from March 1, 2011, to April 1, 2022 were selected for this research. The development of nomogram entailed a synergistic integration of univariate, Lasso, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Internal validation ensued through bootstrap techniques involving 1000 re-sampling iterations. Discrimination and calibration were assessed utilizing Harrell's C-index, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and calibration curve. Model performance was evaluated through integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and likelihood ratio test. The net benefit of the model was evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA). A cohort comprising 192 patients was enrolled for analysis. Throughout observation period, 32.29% of the population died. Key factors such as cardiac involvement, albumin, smoking history, and age displayed substantial prognostic relevance in AAV-ILD. These factors were incorporated to craft a predictive nomogram. Impressively, the model exhibited robust performance, boasting a Harrell's C index of 0.826 and an AUC of 0.940 (95% CI 0.904-0.976). The calibration curves depicted a high degree of harmony between predicted outcomes and actual observations. Significantly enhancing discriminative ability compared to the ILD-GAP model, the nomogram was validated through the IDI, NRI, and likelihood ratio test. DCA underscored the superior predictive value of the predictive model over the ILD-GAP model. The internal validation further affirmed this efficacy, with a mean Harrell's C-index of 0.815 for the predictive model. The nomogram model can be employed to predict the prognosis of patients with AAV-ILD. Moreover, the model performance is satisfactory. In the future, external datasets could be utilized for external validation., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is a novel clinical entity with a poor prognosis. This study aimed to develop a clinical nomogram model to predict the 1-, 2- and 3-year mortality of patients with CPFE by using the machine learning approach, and to validate the predictive ability of the interstitial lung disease-gender-age-lung physiology (ILD-GAP) model in CPFE., Methods: The data of CPFE patients from January 2015 to October 2021 who met the inclusion criteria were retrospectively collected. We utilized LASSO regression and multivariable Cox regression analysis to identify the variables associated with the prognosis of CPFE and generate a nomogram. The Harrell's C index, the calibration curve and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the performance of the nomogram. Then, we performed likelihood ratio test, net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and decision curve analysis (DCA) to compare the performance of the nomogram with that of the ILD-GAP model., Results: A total of 184 patients with CPFE were enrolled. During the follow-up, 90 patients died. After screening out, diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), right ventricular diameter (RVD), C-reactive protein (CRP), and globulin were found to be associated with the prognosis of CPFE. The nomogram was then developed by incorporating the above five variables, and it showed a good performance, with a Harrell's C index of 0.757 and an AUC of 0.800 (95% CI 0.736-0.863). Moreover, the calibration plot of the nomogram showed good concordance between the prediction probabilities and the actual observations. The nomogram also improved the discrimination ability of the ILD-GAP model compared to that of the ILD-GAP model alone, and this was substantiated by the likelihood ratio test, NRI and IDI. The significant clinical utility of the nomogram was demonstrated by DCA., Conclusion: Age, DLCO, RVD, CRP and globulin were identified as being significantly associated with the prognosis of CPFE in our cohort. The nomogram incorporating the 5 variables showed good performance in predicting the mortality of CPFE. In addition, although the nomogram was superior to the ILD-GAP model in the present cohort, further validation is needed to determine the clinical utility of the nomogram., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: The exact risk assessment is crucial for the management of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) patients. In the present study, we develop a nomogram to predict 3‑ and 5-year mortality by using machine learning approach and test the ILD-GAP model in Chinese CTD-ILD patients., Methods: CTD-ILD patients who were diagnosed and treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were enrolled based on a prior well-designed criterion between February 2011 and July 2018. Cox regression with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to screen out the predictors and generate a nomogram. Internal validation was performed using bootstrap resampling. Then, the nomogram and ILD-GAP model were assessed via likelihood ratio testing, Harrell's C index, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), the net reclassification improvement (NRI) and decision curve analysis., Results: A total of 675 consecutive CTD-ILD patients were enrolled in this study, during the median follow-up period of 50 (interquartile range, 38-65) months, 158 patients died (mortality rate 23.4%). After feature selection, 9 variables were identified: age, rheumatoid arthritis, lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, right ventricular diameter, right atrial area, honeycombing, immunosuppressive agents, aspartate transaminase and albumin. A predictive nomogram was generated by integrating these variables, which provided better mortality estimates than ILD-GAP model based on the likelihood ratio testing, Harrell's C index (0.767 and 0.652 respectively) and calibration plots. Application of the nomogram resulted in an improved IDI (3- and 5-year, 0.137 and 0.136 respectively) and NRI (3- and 5-year, 0.294 and 0.325 respectively) compared with ILD-GAP model. In addition, the nomogram was more clinically useful revealed by decision curve analysis., Conclusions: The results from our study prove that the ILD-GAP model may exhibit an inapplicable role in predicting mortality risk in Chinese CTD-ILD patients. The nomogram we developed performed well in predicting 3‑ and 5-year mortality risk of Chinese CTD-ILD patients, but further studies and external validation will be required to determine the clinical usefulness of the nomogram., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: To observe the effect of Qiang Jin exercises on the muscle strength and activity of lumbar spine in patients with lumbar disc herniation., Methods: From March 2016 to September 2017, at the Department of Orthopaedics, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a total of 110 subjects were enrolled, and 98 eligible subjects were screened. The subjects were randomized by stratified randomization and divided into experimental group and control group, 49 cases in each group, 25 males and 24 females in the experimental group, 25 males and 24 females in the control group. The experimental group exercised with Qiang Jin exercises, one time each morning and evening, each time10 sets were made;the control group used classic rehabilitation training, training twice a week, and three months was a course of treatment. After 12 weeks of training, the muscle strength and activity of the lumbar spine were evaluated and compared with the muscle strength and activity of the lumbar spine before training., Results: The experimental group and the control group had different muscle strength and activity of the lumbar spine before and after treatment ( P <0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups after treatment( P >0.05)., Conclusion: Qiang Jin exercises can effectively improve the muscle strength and activity of the lumbar spine and improve the daily living ability of patients.

Cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PH) has a high incidence in China. Laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LS + ED) was confirmed as an effective and safe surgical approach. But compared to open surgery (OS + ED), the rate of portal vein system thrombosis (PVST) was found to be higher after LS + ED. PVST is a common and potentially life-threatening complication after LS + ED in patients with cirrhosis and PH. Anti-coagulation therapy should be given early, but no standard plan for PSVT prophylaxis has been developed for all patients. In this study, the efficacy and safety of early use of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to prevent PVST were retrospectively evaluated compared with conventional anti-coagulant therapy. Of 219 patients with cirrhosis and PH undergoing LS + ED at our hospital from January 2008 to June 2013, 139 received early anti-coagulant therapy with LMWH, and 80 received conventional anti-coagulant therapy. The rates and types of PVST, perioperative coagulation function, intra-abdominal active bleeding, and esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) were compared in these two groups. Of the 139 patients in the early anti-coagulation group, 42 (30.2 %) experienced postoperative PVST, including two (1.4 %) with main trunk. Of the 80 patients in the conventional anti-coagulation group, 40 (50.0 %) experienced postoperative PVST, including 12 (15.0 %) with main trunk; three (3.8 %) experienced recurrent EGVB due to main trunk thrombosis, and one (1.3 %) underwent an immediate second laparotomy for uncontrollable active bleeding. The rates of postoperative PVST (P = 0.004), main trunk thrombosis (P = 0.000), and EGVB (P = 0.048) were significantly lower in the early than in the conventional anti-coagulant group, but all tested perioperative indices of coagulation function and rates of intraperitoneal active bleeding were similar. Early anti-coagulation with LMWH is safe and effective in patients with LS + ED for cirrhosis and PH.

The current study was performed to assess any association between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and risk of lung cancer in Henan province. This case-control study involved94 patients with newly histological confirmed lung cancer and 78 healthy controls. Genotyping was achieved with peripheral blood lymphocytes DNA and association of the polymorphism with risk of lung cancer was estimated by unconditional logistic regression analysis. The frequencies of the MTHFR 667TT genotype were 37.2% in cases compared with 23.1% in controls (χ2 = 4.008, P = 0.045). Individuals with the 667CC/CT genotype displayed a significantly reduced risk of lung cancer compared with those with the TT genotypes [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.506; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.258 - 0.991]. The C667T polymorphism might have a significant effect on the occurrence of lung cancer in Henan province.