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This study aimed to investigate how international students enrolled on medical and surgical bachelor's degree programs (MBBS) in China perceived online medical education course, compared to native Chinese students during the Covid-19 pandemic. The perceptions of 38 MBBS and 31 Chinese sophomores were surveyed using the Chaoxing platform. The international student group's mean satisfaction with online teaching was 2.737 on a 5-point scale, much lower than the Chinese students' mean score of 4.355 (p < 0.05). Similarly, the international students expressed less satisfaction than the Chinese learners with other aspects of the course, including the teacher's level, at 3.964 ± 0.818 versus 4.445 ± 0.548 (p < 0.05); curriculum organization, at 3.651 ± 0.848 versus 4.333 ± 0.568 (p < 0.05); and self-learning level, at 3.634 ± 0.996 versus 3.686 ± 0.949 (p > 0.05), respectively. There were also noteworthy differences between the progress made by the international students in Chinese language learning, which was positively correlated with satisfaction with teaching on the online medical education (p < 0.05). The results suggest that, while online teaching was a necessary response to the COVID-19 pandemic, satisfaction with this mode of education is lower among international students than their Chinese counterparts.

The spatial distribution of soil moisture is a critical determinant for the success of vegetation restoration initiatives in semi-arid and arid regions. The Qilian Mountains, situated within a semi-arid zone in China, have been subject to significant water-induced soil erosion, which has led to extensive restoration activities, predominantly utilizing the species P. crassifolia. However, the interconnections between soil moisture and various land cover types within this region remain unclear, presenting challenges to effective woodland rehabilitation. This study examines the surface soil moisture dynamics in afforested areas with varying ages of plantation to determine the influence of tree planting on the moisture content of the upper soil layer. It investigates the characteristics and temporal patterns of surface soil moisture as the age of the plantation increases. The findings indicate that: (1) soil moisture levels follow a descending sequence from natural forest, through shrubland and grassland, to planted forest and mixed forest, with statistically significant differences observed between natural and mixed forests (p < 0.05); (2) young afforested areas (less than 50 years old) have lower soil moisture levels compared to natural forests, shrublands, or grasslands, and the ecohydrological impacts of afforestation become apparent with a temporal delay; and (3) the analysis using Generalized Additive Mixed Models (GAMM) and the application of Kriging interpolation to determine the spatial distribution of soil moisture reveals that in semi-arid and arid regions, several factors have a pronounced a non-linear relationship with the moisture content of the surface soil. These factors include the duration of afforestation, the position on the lower slope, the presence of shade on the slope, and the scale at which the study is conducted. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of soil water content is essential to prevent the potential failure of artificially established forests due to inadequate soil moisture in their later stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to verify the clinical predictive performance of methylated cysteine dioxygenase type 1 (CDO1m) and CUGBP Elav-like family member 4 (CELF4m) in endometrial cancer (EC) women with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB). Material and Methods: A single-center, prospective, and case–control study was conducted in the Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-care Hospital with 138 female postmenopausal patients enrolled in 2022. All patients underwent body mass index (BMI) detection, transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) detection, carbohydrate antigen 125 detection, and the cervical exfoliated cell CDO1/CELF4 gene methylation detection to analyze the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of different screening tests statistically with the biopsy and/or dilation and curettage (D&C) pathological diagnosis under hysteroscopy as the gold standard. Results: There was no significant difference in age between the EC group and the non-EC group, P = 0.492. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology, we validated the CDO1 and CELF4 methylation detection with 87.5% sensitivity and 95.9% specificity as a useful strategy for the triage of women with PMB for the detection of EC. In addition, 100% of type II EC (n = 6) were positively detected by the CDO1 or CELF4 methylation test. Conclusion: The CDO1 and CELF4 methylation test with high specificity as an auxiliary diagnostic tool or alternative method provides physicians with a reference to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors in women with postmenopausal bleeding, to justify the necessity of using invasive methods to confirm diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Long-term bladder instillation therapy will bring more infusion side effects and economic consumption to patients. This study aims to compare short-term gemcitabine vs. long-term epirubicin for intravesical chemotherapy in patients diagnosed with moderate- to high-risk NMIBC treated using transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Materials and methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled patients diagnosed with pT1 bladder cancer who underwent TURBT at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute from (01/2015- 07/2018), randomized 1:1 to gemcitabine vs. epirubicin. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were monitored by cystoscopy. Side-effects after intravesical instillation and QLQ-C30 questionnaire were collected. Results: Finally, 208 patients were enrolled. The median follow-up was 50.6 (6–69) months. The median RFS of the gemcitabine vs. epirubicin groups were 46.7 (6–69) vs. 47.2 (8–69) months, respectively (P > 0.05); the median PFS was 51.3 (9–69) vs. 50.9 (27–69) months, respectively (P > 0.05). The incidence rates of lower urinary tract symptoms, dysuria, hypo gastralgia, and gastrointestinal symptoms in the epirubicin group were 33.3%, 6.7%, 17.7%, and 18.3%, compared with 8.5%, 3.4%, 8.5% and, 1.2%, respectively, for gemcitabine. The gemcitabine group had a better quality of life than epirubicin in global health status (82.8 ± 8.5 vs. 79.6 ± 4.2, P = 0.01) and pain symptom domain (1.1 ± 2.8 vs. 2.4 ± 3.8, P = 0.04). Conclusions: There are no significant differences in efficacy between gemcitabine and epirubicin for intravesical chemotherapy in patients with moderate to high-risk NMIBC to prevent tumor recurrence or progression for patients intolerant to BCG or those for whom BCG is not accessible. Patients with gemcitabine suffer fewer adverse events and have a better health status than with epirubicin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Previous epidemiological investigations suggested that Candida krusei (C. krusei) is one of the main pathogens of mycotic mastitis in dairy cows in Yinchuan, Ningxia, China. In this study, we examined the apoptotic signaling pathways in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) induced by the C. krusei yeast and hypha phases using a pathogen/host cell co-culture model. The results showed that the C. krusei yeast phase induced the apoptosis of BMECs through a mitochondrial pathway, while the apoptosis of BMECs induced by the C. krusei hypha phase was reached through a death ligand/receptor pathway. In addition, both the TLR2/ERK and JNK/ERK signaling pathways were involved in the regulation of C. krusei-induced BMEC apoptosis. These results provide a scientific basis for developing a comprehensive prevention and treatment approach for C. krusei mastitis in dairy cows. Infection with Candida spp. is a significant cause of bovine mastitis globally. We previously found that C. krusei was the main pathogen causing mycotic mastitis in dairy cows in Yinchuan, Ningxia, China. However, whether the infection of this pathogen could induce apoptosis in BMECs remained unclear. In this report, we explored the apoptosis and underlying mechanism of BMECs induced by C. krusei yeast and hypha phases using a pathogen/host cell co-culture model. Our results revealed that both the yeast and hypha phases of C. krusei could induce BMEC apoptosis; however, the yeast phase induced more cell apoptosis than the hypha phase, as assessed via electronic microscopy and flow cytometry assays. This finding was further corroborated via the measurement of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the TUNEL test. Infection by both the yeast and hypha phases of C. krusei greatly induced the expression of proteins associated with cell death pathways and important components of toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling, including TLR2 and TLR4 receptors, as determined via a Western blotting assay. BMECs mainly underwent apoptosis after infection by the C. krusei yeast phase through a mitochondrial pathway. Meanwhile, BMEC apoptosis induced by the C. krusei hypha phase was regulated by a death ligand/receptor pathway. In addition, C. krusei-induced BMEC apoptosis was regulated by both the TLR2/ERK and JNK/ERK signaling pathways. These data suggest that the yeast phase and hypha phase of C. krusei induce BMEC apoptosis through distinct cell signaling pathways. This study represents a unique perspective on the molecular processes underlying BMEC apoptosis in response to C. krusei infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire is a crucial disturbance factor for the structure and function of forest ecosystems, as it directly or indirectly affects plant growth, animal life and soil biogeochemical properties. Here, the effects of different fire severities and key driving environmental factors on soil microbial diversity and biomass were investigated in taiga forests that had undergone light, moderate or heavy fires, more recently or in the past, with unburned taiga forest included as a control (CK). The sample sites were located in the Greater Khingan mountains in the northeast of China. Critical soil parameters were determined, and bacterial and fungal content was inferred from determined phospholipid fatty acids (TPLFAs). The results showed that (1) all three fire severities significantly increased the concentrations of soil microbial carbon (MBC), moisture content (MC) and total nitrogen content (TN), but they significantly decreased soil available potassium (AK) content compared with the CK. (2) Recent light and moderate fires significantly decreased the Simpson and Shannon indices of soil microbial communities compared to CK; moderate fire did not change the Menhinick and Margalef indices. (3) Following moderate fire disturbance, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in relative abundance of total soil bacteria (Ba), Gram-positive bacteria (G+), Gram-negative bacteria (G−) and content of TPLFAs compared to the control, either as a result of more recent fires or earlier fires. (4) Redundancy analysis revealed that soil MC, TN, soil organic carbon (SOC), available P (AP) and alkaline N (AN) all strongly significantly affected the composition of the microbial communities, with a total explanation of 85.16% of the data. The species diversity and biomass of Ba, G+, G− and TPLFAs were in accordance with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. The change pattern of soil fungi was in accordance with their own characteristics of reproduction and growth, which was in line with k-selection and ecological countermeasures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Economics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Forest fires are an important disturbance factor in forest ecosystems, and obviously change the soil environment. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, as a medium and bridge between vegetation and soil, play a crucial role in mediating plant nutrient uptake and regulating the productivity, stability, and succession of vegetation–soil systems. To investigate the effects of forest fires on the community structure and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in cold-temperate Larix gmelinii forests, we collected soils from light, moderate, and heavy fire disturbance forests and a natural forest as a control forest in Greater Khingan Larix gmelinii forests, in the northeast of China. The community structure and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq technology and we analyzed the correlation with the soil physicochemical characteristics. The results showed that the contents of microbial biomass content (MBC), moisture content (MC), total nitrogen (TN), and available phosphors (AP) increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing fire intensity (from Light to heavy fire), but available potassium (AK) decreased significantly (p < 0.05). These changes were not significant. A total of 14,554 valid sequences from all sequences were classified into 66 ASVs that belonged into one phylum, one order, four families, and four genera. The genera included Glomus, Ambispora, Paraglomus, and Acaulospora, and Glomus was the dominant genus (the genera with the five most relative abundances) in the control and heavy-fire forests. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis showed that forest fires significantly affected the community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (p < 0.01). Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that MBC, SOC, and AP contents significantly affected the composition structure and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities. This study indicated that forest fires affected the composition and diversity of soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi communities through changing the soil physicochemical parameters (MBC, SOC, and AP) in cold-temperate Larix gmelinii forests. The study of soil physicochemical properties and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity in cold-temperate Larix gmelinii forests in the Greater Khingan Mountains after forest fires provides a reference basis for the revegetation and reconstruction of fire sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) is one of the most dominant species in shrimp farming in China, which is a rich source of protein and contributes to a significant impact on the quality of human life. Thus, more complete and accurate annotation of gene models are important for the breeding research of oriental river prawn. Results: A full-length transcriptome of oriental river prawn muscle was obtained using the PacBio Sequel platform. Then, 37.99 Gb of subreads were sequenced, including 584,498 circular consensus sequences, among which 512,216 were full length non-chimeric sequences. After Illumina-based correction of long PacBio reads, 6,599 error-corrected isoforms were identified. Transcriptome structural analysis revealed 2,263 and 2,555 alternative splicing (AS) events and alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites, respectively. In total, 620 novel genes (NGs), 197 putative transcription factors (TFs), and 291 novel long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified. Conclusions: In summary, this study offers novel insights into the transcriptome complexity and diversity of this prawn species, and provides valuable information for understanding the genomic structure and improving the draft genome annotation of oriental river prawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low- and medium-resolution satellites have been a relatively mature platform for inland eutrophic water classification and chlorophyll a concentration (Chl-a) retrieval algorithms. However, for oligotrophic and mesotrophic waters in small- and medium-sized reservoirs, problems of low satellite resolution, insufficient water sampling, and higher uncertainty in retrieval accuracy exist. In this paper, a hybrid Chl-a estimation method based on spectral characteristics (i.e., remote sensing reflectance (Rrs)) classification was developed for oligotrophic and mesotrophic waters using high-resolution satellite Sentinel-2 (A and B) data. First, 99 samples and quasi-synchronous Sentinel-2 satellite data were collected from four small- and medium-sized reservoirs in central China, and the usability of the Sentinel-2 Rrs data in inland oligotrophic and mesotrophic waters was verified by accurate atmospheric correction. Second, a new optical classification method was constructed based on different water characteristics to classify waters into clear water, phytoplankton-dominated water, and water dominated by phytoplankton and suspended matter together using the thresholds of Rrs490/Rrs560 and Rrs665/Rrs560. The proposed method has a higher classification accuracy compared to other classification methods, and the band-ratio algorithm is simpler and more effective for satellite sensors without NIR bands. Third, given the sensitivity of the empirical method to water variability and the ease of development and implementation, a nonlinear least squares fitted one-dimensional nonlinear function was established based on the selection of the best-fitting spectral indices for different optical water types (OWTs) and compared with other Chl-a estimation algorithms. The validation results showed that the hybrid two-band method had the highest accuracy with squared correlation coefficient, root mean squared difference, mean absolute percentage error, and bias of 0.85, 2.93, 32.42%, and −0.75 mg/m3, respectively, and the results of the residual values further validated the applicability and reliability of the model. Finally, the performance of the classification and estimation algorithms on the four reservoirs was evaluated to obtain images mapping the Chl-a in the reservoirs. In conclusion, this study improves the accuracy of Chl-a estimation for oligotrophic and mesotrophic waters by combining a new classification algorithm with a two-band hybrid model, which is an important contribution to solving the problem of low resolution and high uncertainty in the retrieval of Chl-a in oligotrophic and mesotrophic waters in small- and medium-sized reservoirs and has the potential to be applied to other optically similar oligotrophic and mesotrophic lakes and reservoirs using similar spectrally satellite sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a 3-km regional ensemble prediction system (EPS), this study tested a three-dimensional (3D) rescaling mask for initial condition (IC) perturbation. Whether the 3D mask-based EPS improves ensemble forecasts over current two-dimensional (2D) mask-based EPS has been evaluated in three aspects: ensemble mean, spread, and probability. The forecasts of wind, temperature, geopotential height, sea level pressure, and precipitation were examined for a summer month (1–28 July 2018) and a winter month (1–27 February 2019) over a region in North China. The EPS was run twice per day (initiated at 0000 and 1200 UTC) to 36 h in forecast length, providing 56 warm-season forecast cases and 54 cold-season cases for verification. The warm and cold seasons are verified separately for comparison. The study found the following: 1) The vertical profile of IC perturbation becomes closer to that of analysis uncertainty with the 3D rescaling mask. 2) Ensemble performance is significantly improved in all three aspects. The biggest improvement is in the ensemble spread, followed by the probabilistic forecast, and the least improvement is in the ensemble mean forecast. Larger improvements are seen in the warm season than in the cold season. 3) More improvement is in the shorter time range (<24 h) than in the longer range. 4) Surface and lower-level variables are improved more than upper-level ones. 5) The underlying mechanism for the improvement has been investigated. Convective instability is found to be responsible for the spread increment and, thus, overall ensemble forecast improvement. Therefore, using a 3D rescaling mask is recommended for an EPS to increase its utility especially for shorter time range and surface weather elements. Significant Statement: A weather prediction model is a complex system that consists of nonlinear differential equations. Small errors in either its inputs or model itself will grow with time during model integration, which will contaminate a forecast. To quantify such contamination ("uncertainty") of a forecast, the ensemble forecasting technique is used. An ensemble of forecasts is a multiple of model runs at the same time but with slightly "perturbed" inputs or model versions. These small perturbations are supposed to represent true "uncertainty" in inputs or model representation. This study proposed a technique that makes a perturbation's vertical structure more resemble real uncertainty (intrinsic error) in input data and confirmed that it can significantly improve ensemble forecast quality especially for a shorter time range and lower-level weather elements. It is found that convective instability is responsible for the improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The transcription factor SOX11 is a member of the SRY box-containing family. Recently, SOX11 research has shifted from embryogenesis to cancer development. Nevertheless, the roles of SOX11 in different cancer types remain controversial. Here, we systematically explored the characteristics of SOX11 by multiple omics analyses. Aberrant SOX11 expression has been observed in many types of human malignant tumors. Moreover, SOX11 expression could serve as an indicator of survival outcomes, tumor progression and cellular immune infiltration. Our work highlights the diverse role of SOX11 in different types of tumors, which points out several directions for future prospective studies on SOX11 in cancer. SRY-box transcription factor 11 (SOX11), as a member of the SOX family, is a transcription factor involved in the regulation of specific biological processes and has recently been found to be a prognostic marker for certain cancers. However, the roles of SOX11 in cancer remain controversial. Our study aimed to explore the various aspects of SOX11 in pan-cancer. The expression of SOX11 was investigated by the Genotype Tissue-Expression (GTEX) dataset and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The protein level of SOX11 in tumor tissues and tumor-adjacent tissues was verified by human pan-cancer tissue microarray. Additionally, we used TCGA pan-cancer data to analyze the correlations among SOX11 expression and survival outcomes, clinical features, stemness, microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutation burden (TMB), mismatch repair (MMR) related genes and the tumor immune microenvironment. Furthermore, the cBioPortal database was applied to investigate the gene alterations of SOX11. The main biological processes of SOX11 in cancers were analyzed by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). As a result, aberrant expression of SOX11 has been implicated in 27 kinds of cancer types. Aberrant SOX11 expression was closely associated with survival outcomes, stage, tumor recurrence, MSI, TMB and MMR-related genes. In addition, the most frequent alteration of the SOX11 genome was mutation. Our study also showed the correlations of SOX11 with the level of immune infiltration in various cancers. In summary, our findings underline the multifaceted role and prognostic value of SOX11 in pan-cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical devices are used in almost all orthopedic surgical subspecialties, and the frequency of adverse events is increasing, which should not be ignored. To provide suggestions on how to avoid implant recalls from the perspective of manufacturers, medical institutions and supervisions, as well as how to respond promptly to adverse events. Methods: The research extracted recalls of osteosynthesis implants and joint replacement implants from January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2021, in the CNMPA, FDA, HC and ATGA websites and collected the information on device name, recall time, recall class, recall manufacturer, device classification and affected areas. Moreover, the McKinsey 7S model and fishbone diagram were used to analyze recall reasons. Results: A total of 315 cases of osteosynthesis implants and 286 cases of joint replacement implants were reported in China, the USA, Canada and Australia. The recalls number from 2016 to 2021 was more than that from 2011 to 2015 for osteosynthesis implant (p = 0.012) and joint replacement implant (p = 0.002), and both mainly focused on class II (76.19% and 78.32%). There were statistical differences in the four countries for both implants (p = 0.000), especially osteosynthesis implant between China and the USA (p = 0.000), China and Canada (p = 0.001), the USA and Australia (p = 0.002), and joint replacement implant between China and Australia (p = 0.000). Conclusions: To avoid the recalls of such implants, manufacturers should strictly select implant materials and components, develop detailed labels and instructions, severely control the packaging process and establish the integrity of medical device data. Medical institutions should standardize procurement procedures, use qualified equipment and train medical workers. It also requires supervisions to conduct premarket safety assessments. In addition, regulators should strengthen supervision and establish reporting systems to deal with the occurrence of adverse events promptly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frozen section (FS) diagnoses of pathology experts are used in China to determine whether sentinel lymph nodes of breast cancer have metastasis during operation. Direct implementation of a deep neural network (DNN) in clinical practice may be hindered by misdiagnosis of the algorithm, which affects a patient's treatment decision. In this study, we first obtained the prediction result of the commonly used patch-DNN, then we present a relative risk classification and regression tree (RRCART) to identify the misdiagnosed whole-slide images (WSIs) and recommend them to be reviewed by pathologists. Applying this framework to 2362 WSIs of breast cancer lymph node metastasis, test on frozen section results in the mean area under the curve (AUC) reached 0.9851. However, the mean misdiagnosis rate (0.0248), was significantly higher than the pathologists' misdiagnosis rate (p < 0.01). The RRCART distinguished more than 80% of the WSIs as a high-accuracy group with an average accuracy reached to 0.995, but the difference with the pathologists' performance was not significant (p > 0.01). However, the other low-accuracy group included most of the misdiagnoses of DNN models. Our research shows that the misdiagnosis from deep learning model can be further enriched by our method, and that the low-accuracy WSIs must be selected for pathologists to review and the high-accuracy ones may be ready for pathologists to give diagnostic reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater aquaculture has a long and vibrant tradition in China. The Chinese longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris) is a popular economic freshwater fish native to China. Understanding the genetic structure of L. longirostris populations is important for ensuring the efficacy of management practices and the sustainability of future increases in production. In this study, we used Illumina sequencing technology to isolate 20 novel polymorphic microsatellites from the genome of L. longirostris. These microsatellites were used to analyze the genetic diversity of 240 L. longrostris individuals from four populations. Genetic diversity parameters (NA, HO, HE, I, PIC, and FST) of the four farmed L. longirostris populations were analyzed. The level of genetic differentiation among the four farmed L. longirostris populations (inferred by pairwise comparisons of FST values) was low, but the genetic diversity of these populations was high, indicating that they still provide useful sources of genetic variation that could aid in breeding efforts. The STRUCTURE and ADMIXTURE analyses indicated that admixture might be occurring in the four L. longirostris populations, especially between the MS and YB populations. Understanding the genetic diversity of farmed L. longirostris populations and inbreeding prevention could greatly aid in breeding and production. These newly isolated microsatellite markers and the high genetic diversity of L. longirostris populations in the main breeding areas have important implications for the breeding and stock management of L. longirostris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's Chang'E‐5 mission has collected lunar samples from a young mare plain with elevated thorium contents in the northeastern Oceanus Procellarum of the Moon. In this study, we first established a local stratigraphic column of the landing region based on the radial variation of the titanium content in the ejecta of large penetrating craters, and we found that the landing region was flooded by at least four layers of mare basalts. By using the latest imagery, spectral, topographic, and gravity data, we then estimated the basalt thickness of each layer based on the excavation depth of penetrating craters, the morphology of partially buried craters, and the effective density spectrum technique, which can help to better understand the late‐stage volcanism on the Moon. Our results show that the four layers of basaltic lava flows in the landing region have accumulated thicknesses of 9–175, 11–167, 19–478, and 0–800 m. Combined with surface areas and ages of the basaltic units, we then calculated the eruption rate of mare basalts in the landing region, which shows an uptick at about 2 Ga. This result indicates a rejuvenated volcanic activity on the Moon, most likely due to the presence of heat‐producing elements in the KREEP layer. Alternatively, the long‐standing volcanism in this region could be also sustained by extra heating induced by the tidal force and/or a thin crust layer that favors the magma ascent. Plain Language Summary: For the first time in over four decades, lunar samples were brought back to the Earth by China's Chang'E‐5 space program. The region visited by this mission is one of the youngest volcanic plains on the lunar surface and was flooded by at least four layers of lava flows. By using the excavation depth of impact craters, the shape of impact craters whose ejecta were buried by lava flows, and gravity observations, we later estimated the thickness of each basaltic layer. Our results show that the four layers of mare basalts in the landing region have accumulated thicknesses of 9–175, 11–167, 19–478, and 0–800 m. We then calculated the amount of lavas that erupted per unit time in the landing region and found an increase in the volcanic flux at about 2 billion years ago. This increased eruption rate shows that reactivated volcanism has occurred on the Moon, which may result from the heat released by the radioactive materials in the lunar crust. Alternatively, the tidal force exerted by the Earth and/or the presence of a thin crust may also contribute to the generation and ascent of magmas. Key Points: Basalt thicknesses in the Chang'E‐5 landing region were estimated using penetrating craters, partially buried craters, and Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) dataThe four basaltic layers have accumulated thicknesses of 9–175, 11–167, 19–478, and 0–800 m with an uptick in eruption rates at ∼2 GaThe late‐stage volcanism on the Moon could be sustained by enriched heat‐producing elements or due to tidal heating or a thin crust layer [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high and steep stratified rock slope with steep top and gentle bottom is typical in western China. This study investigated this kind of slope's deformation patterns and failure mechanisms induced by step-by-step excavations. FLAC3D simulated the excavation process according to the actual situation (the first three phases) and planned excavation order (the last two phases). The reasonableness of the model was tested by comparing the simulation results of the first three stages with the actual slope form. The failure characteristics were analyzed by simulation results of the last two phases. During the entire excavation, deformation can be summarized as "slip-bend-shear", where the most dangerous slip surface of the composite style is developed gradually into the slope. The current mining plan probably fails to avoid landslides, and some treatments such as reinforcing the toe of the slope, bolt reinforcement, and drainage are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six dust storms that originated from Mongolia and moved to northern China in Spring 2021 are investigated by the anomaly variable‐based analysis method, which is compared to the traditional total‐variable based analysis method. Strong surface wind is a force to form dust storms as commonly known in current practice. However, dust area depicted by total‐wind model product analysis and operational forecast has a large bias to observation even for leading 24 hr. The analysis method of anomaly based variables showed that the domain of an airborne dust storm observed from satellite images is usually located between two neighboring convergence lines of 850 hPa anomalous winds. This connection of dust storm associated with the anomalous wind convergence extends southwestward from an anomalous cyclone and moves from Mongolia to northern China or Northeast China. It is thermodynamically associated with an anomalous thermal contrast, which has a spatial structure of wind, temperature, and geopotential height anomalies in the troposphere. We further found that numerical weather prediction products of the ECMWF model are able to indicate the anomalous wind pattern with lead times of 4–8 days by applying the anomaly based analysis approach. Therefore, this approach can not only depict dust area better but also reveal predictors much easier compared to the traditional total‐variable or full‐field‐based analysis method. Key Points: Dust storm can be well detected by the anomaly based analysis of atmospheric variablesA dust domain is located between two neighboring convergence lines of 850 hPa anomalous windsThe ECMWF model can predict the anomalous wind pattern for leading 4–8 days [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In montane systems, there are normally significant spatial differences in vegetation community structure and ecological processes due to the complex topography. The study of such topographic effect can provide scientific basis for the prediction of vegetation dynamics. In this work, the effects of altitude and slope aspect on species richness and flowering phenology of herbaceous communities were investigated in Qilian Mountains, a typical mountainous region in arid climate zones of China. Our monitoring of 102 plots in 34 sites revealed that there were significant topographic effects on species richness and flowering phenology. Specifically, the results showed a spatial pattern that the average number of species in plots was slightly higher at middle altitudes, and was higher on shady than sunny slopes. In flowering phenology, the flowering onsets of low-altitude and sunny-slope communities are generally earlier than that of high-altitude and shady-slope communities, respectively, while the ending dates of flowering between slope aspects and between altitudes are relatively small. This topographic effect revealed the influences of temperature and soil moisture on community structure and flowering phenology, which is reflected in the inverse responses of species richness to temperature and soil water content, and the high sensitivity of flowering phenology to temperature. It can be inferred that under the conditions of climate warming and wetting in the future, the species diversity of herbaceous community may increase at high altitudes, and the flowering duration is likely to be further prolonged in Qilian Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterns and elevational controls on the response of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition to temperature in alpine forest soils are critical to efforts to quantify the regional carbon cycle–climate feedback, but are not well known. Here, we report rates of SOM decomposition (RS) and temperature sensitivity (Q10) determined in a short‐term laboratory incubation with gradual warming from 5 to 29°C of soils from different elevations in the Qilian Mountains, China (2600, 2800, 3000, and 3200 m). The results showed the RS significantly increased with increasing elevation (p < 0.001), in which RS was significantly greater at 3200 m than that at the other elevations but had no significant difference in RS among elevations below 3200 m. Across all elevations, RS first showed an increasing trend at temperatures <20°C and then declined substantially (>20°C), most likely in response to the content of labile C (greater at the start of incubation and declining over time). Q10 of SOM decomposition increased significantly with increasing elevation and decreasing incubation temperature (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen, and 1‐ to 2‐mm aggregate‐associated organic carbon (OC) were the main control factors affecting RS and Q10 along an elevational gradient. These results indicate that high‐altitude soils in alpine forests of the Qilian Mountains are relatively more sensitive to warming and have greater potential to release CO2 due to higher SOC contents and 1‐ to 2‐mm aggregate‐associated OC than low‐altitude soils. The findings could serve as a reference for how regional C pools may respond to future warming in alpine forests of the Qilian Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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There is growing evidence that mountains are experiencing some of the highest rates of climate warming, but assessment of the ecological impacts of climate change is often limited due to a lack of long-term monitoring data for comparative study in many ecosystems. In this study, we present an empirical work for assessing ecological responses with botanical legacy data in the Qilian Mountains of China. Plot-scale and transect-wide survey was conducted for alpine shrub communities along an elevational gradient 20 years ago. Recently, we resampled the permanent plots to investigate how the community changes may be linked to climatic variability. We found no significant temporal shifts in species richness; but the community structure underwent substantial changes, as indicated by visible shifts in the relative density of dominant shrub species and the frequency of occurrence of understory herbaceous species. This reshuffling of plant community composition reflected a series of complex responses to climate change. Specifically, wet-demanding species have become more frequent due to the recently enhanced precipitation, while the replacement of some low-statured plants with different requirements for light was indirectly regulated by climate warming via reshaping the altitudinal patterns of dominant shrubs. Climate-mediated shifts in shrub species distribution altered the expected evolutional trajectory of alpine community, which increased the complexity and nonlinearity of the responses of the communities at different altitudes to climatic variability. Our results suggested that in-depth knowledge of indirect effects can facilitate to lessen the uncertainty in predicting future community dynamics in a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Procambarus clarkii is the dominant economic variety of crayfish in China, and paddy field shrimp cultivation is an organic mode of traditional rice-fish cultivation, with paddy field shrimp being the country's prevailing aquatic product. However, little has been reported on the differences in meat quality and digestive ability between paddy field and pond fish. In this study, the muscle composition and digestive function regulation of P. clarkii in ponds and paddies were studied to explore the influence of paddy field culture on P. clarkii quality. The results showed that the muscle composition of paddy field shrimp was significantly changed, with increased protein and decreased lipid levels. Through the study of the hepatopancreas and intestinal microbial diversity of P. clarkii, we hypothesized that rice farming may cause changes in its bacterial spectrum, stimulate the digestive functions of its intestines and hepatopancreas, cause differential expression of multi-substance metabolic pathways, and ultimately result in the substances' deposition in its muscles. This study revealed the impact of rice cultivation on P. clarkii from the perspective of meta-metabolism, and it demonstrated the advantages of paddy field shrimp cultivation. Key points • We explored the influence of paddy field culture on P. clarkii quality. • Muscle composition of paddy field shrimp was significantly changed, with increased protein and decreased lipid levels in paddy field. • Rice farming caused changes in its bacterial spectrum and stimulated the digestive functions of hepatopancreas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CD161, encoded by killer cell lectin-like receptor B1 gene, is a newly reported candidate inhibitor of tumour-infiltrating T cells. Antibody-mediated CD161 blockade enhances T cell-mediated killing of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo in several tumour types. We evaluated the role of CD161 using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Pan-Cancer Data. Methods: CD161 expression was analysed using RNAseq data from TCGA and the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database. HPA, GeneCards, and String database were used to explore the protein information of CD161. The prognostic value of CD161 was analysed using clinical survival data from the TCGA. Enrichment analysis of CD161 was conducted using the R package "clusterProfiler". We downloaded the immune cell infiltration score of TCGA samples from published articles and online databases and performed a correlation analysis between immune cell infiltration levels and CD161 expression. We further assessed the association between CD161 and immune checkpoints, immune activating genes, immunosuppressive genes, chemokines, and chemokine receptors. Findings: CD161 was differentially expressed and predicted better survival status in most tumour types in TCGA. In addition, CD161 expression was significantly associated with immunoregulatory interactions between lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells. CD161 expression was closely correlated with T cell infiltration, immune checkpoints, immune activating genes, immunosuppressive genes, chemokines, and chemokine receptors. Interpretation: Our results suggest that CD161 is a potential cancer biomarker. CD161 might synergize with other immune checkpoints to regulate the immune microenvironment, which could be applied in the development of new-targeted drugs for immunotherapy. Funding: This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 81773008, 81672756, 81872399, 81972897), the Guangdong Province Universities and Colleges Pearl River Scholar Funded Scheme (2015), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (grant number 2017A030311023), the Local Innovative and Research Teams Project of Guangdong Pearl River Talents Program: 2017BT01S131 and the Guangzhou Technology Project (grant number 201804010044), National Key R&D Program of China (Grant Nos. 2020YFC2006400), Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province (2019B020227004). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the competitiveness of air transport, this study proposed a method for devising a differentiated comfort enhancement strategy and compared the comfort of aircraft and high‐speed trains (HST). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the similarities and differences in the factors influencing comfort in aircraft cabins and HST compartments. The results showed that comfort in wide‐body aircraft cabins was mainly influenced by "food & beverage" and "personal in‐flight entertainment" (personal IFE), whereas comfort in narrow‐body aircraft and HSTs was mainly influenced by the "passenger interface." The results also showed no significant difference in the overall comfort evaluation of the passenger interface between narrow‐body aircraft and HSTs. Furthermore, aircraft passenger ratings were significantly lower than those of HST passengers with regard to "spaciousness," "seat comfort," and "seat and cabin and compartment aesthetics." The study results suggest that given competition from HSTs, airlines should use different comfort enhancement strategies for wide‐body and narrow‐body aircraft cabins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using representative loan-level data in China, this paper shows that bank loans for small businesses are more generous and flexible during the pandemic. In places more severely affected by the pandemic, loans for small businesses have lower costs, shorter maturities, larger amounts, are more likely to be unsecured loans. Small businesses are also more likely to extend the loan repayment, while the probability of defaulting shows no significant differences. Although the easy monetary policies implemented by central banks help small business financing, the government should pay attention to the potential NPL concerns in the post-pandemic periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to highlight the clinicopathological features of pulmonary primary angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (PPAFH) to assist with a differential diagnosis. Methods: There were 10 previous reports in the literature and four new PPAFH cases reviewed in this study. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and DNA and RNA‐based next‐generation sequencing (NGS) was performed in the four new cases reported here. Results: In the four new PPAFH cases, the ages of occurrence were in patients age from 33 to 55 years and tumor sizes were from 1.5 to 8 cm. Three of four (75.0%) tumors were located in the endobronchus. The most common morphological changes included delineated fibrous capsule (100%, 4/4), lymphoplasmacytic cuff (100%, 4/4), and dense or richly lymphoplasmatic infiltration (100%, 4/4). IHC analysis revealed that the tumor cells of four cases expressed vimentin and TLE1, ALK and CD163 or CD68 was positive in three cases, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), desmin was positive in two cases, and SMA focal positive expression was observed in two cases. EWSR1 gene rearrangement was positive in all PPAFH cases (100%, 4/4) by FISH detections and four cases were confirmed as EWSR1‐CREB1 fusion variant by DNA and RNA based NGS. No regional lymph nodes and distal metastasis, recurrences and death of disease after surgical excision were recorded in all four cases. Conclusions: PPAFH is a very unusual pulmonary primary mesenchymal tumor and the clinicopathological features are like other unusual sites counterparts, but with a smaller tumor size, related with large airway, with a tendency to exhibit benign biological behavior, with EWSR1 gene rearrangement and higher frequency of EWSR1‐CREB1 gene fusion. Key points: Significant findings in the study: In comparison with "classic somatic" and nonpulmonary visceral angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma, pulmonary primary angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma display distinct clinicopathological features and prognosis. What this study adds The study provided the pathological differential diagnostic criteria and clinico‐pathological features for pulmonary primary angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase of the prevalence of anxiety greatly impacts the quality of life in China and globally. As the most popular traditional Chinese medicinal ingredient for nourishing health and tranquilizing mind, Jujube seed (Ziziphus jujuba Mill., Rhamnaceae) (SZJ) has been proved to exert anxiolytic effects in previous reports. In this study, a system biology method assisted by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS and RT-qPCR was developed to systematically demonstrate the anxiolytic mechanisms of SZJ. A total of 35 phytochemicals were identified from SZJ extract (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa [Bunge] Hu ex H.F. Chow), which interact with 71 anxiolytic targets. Protein-protein interaction, genes cluster, Gene Ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways analysis were subsequently conducted, and results demonstrated that regulation of serotonergic and GABAergic synapse pathways were dominantly involved in the anxiolytic mechanisms of SZJ extract. The effects of SZJ extract on mRNA expressions of multiple GABAA (gamma-aminobutyric acid type A) and 5-HT (serotonin) receptors subtypes were further validated in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells using RT-qPCR. Results showed that SZJ extract (250 μg/mL) significantly up-regulated the mRNA level of GABRA1 and GABRA3 as well as HTR1A, HTR2A, and HTR2B in non-H2O2 treated SH-SY5Y cells. However, it exerted an inhibitive effect on the overexpressed mRNA of GABRA1, GABRA2, HTR1A, and HTR2A in H2O2 treated SH-SY5Y cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that anxiolytic mechanisms of SZJ mostly involve the regulation of GABAergic and serotonergic synapse pathways, especially a two-way modulation of GABRA1, HTR1A, and HTR2A. Our current results provide potential direction for future investigation of SZJ as an anxiolytic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the spatial–temporal variability of soil water content is critical for water management and restoration of vegetation in semi‐arid areas. Using the temporal stability method, we investigated soil water relations and spatial–temporal variability of volumetric soil water content (VSWC) in the grassland–shrubland–forest transect at a typical semi‐arid subalpine ecosystem in the Qilian Mountains, northwestern China. The VSWC was measured on 48 occasions to a depth of 70 cm at 50 locations along a 240‐m transect during the 2016–2017 growing seasons. Results revealed that temporal variability in VSWC in the same soil layer in the three vegetation types and averaged across vegetation types tended to exhibit similar patterns of a decrease with increasing soil depth. Temporal stability in each vegetation type was stronger with an increase in soil depth. However, the results of temporal stability determined with standard deviation of relative difference (SDRD) disagreed with those based on the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient; the forest site had the highest Spearman rank correlation coefficient while the shrubland—the smallest SDRD in the 0–20 cm soil layer. Correlation analyses of VSWCs between two vegetation types indicated that soil water was related among all three vegetation types at the 0–20, and 0–70 cm soil layer, but in the 20–40 and 40–70 cm soil layers, significant correlation (p <.01) occurred only between adjacent vegetation types. In the upper soil layer (0–20 cm), soil water relations were mainly affected by surface runoff. In the lower soil layer (20–40 and 40–70 cm), soil water relations among the three vegetation types were highly complex, and probably resulting from a combination of root distribution and activity, interflow, and the impact of deep soil freeze–thaw dynamics. These results suggest that the factors affecting soil water are complex, and further research should address the relative importance of and interactions among different determining factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate anomaly has caused substantial shifts in phenology of mountain ecosystems, but the underlying mechanism of phenological responses to climate change is still not well understood. In essence, the abundance of vegetation communities increases the complexity of phenology‐climate relationships, leading to a certain limitation in predictions of future dynamics among different vegetation types using a unified model. In this study, we focused on the climatic constraints on spring phenology in arid mountains (AMs) of China, and emphasis was laid on accurate representation of mechanisms that control phenology across different vegetation types. We Firstly explored spatio‐temporal variations in satellite‐derived estimates of starting date of vegetation growing season (SOS) over the period 2000–2015 using moderate‐resolution imaging spectro‐radiometer (MODIS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Phenological models in response to climate variability were then established by using mixed‐effect models based on satellite observations and an extensive dataset of climatic measurements. Our results showed that the climatic regulation on SOS varied greatly over vegetation types. More climatic factors that regulate phenological development were found in grassland than forest and shrubland. At ecosystem level, two critical climate factors, daily minimum temperature (Tmin) and precipitation, explained 74–95% of total variability in predicted SOS. The observed sensitivity to Tmin is expected to be closely linked with the risk of frost damage, while preseason precipitation determines water availability in spring. The varying ecosystem sensitivity revealed the different resilience and adaptability to changing climate among vegetation types, which have been linked to their eco‐physiological characteristics (e.g., water use efficiency) and environmental conditions (e.g., elevation). Overall, our results indicate a strong dependence of spring phenology on Tmin and precipitation, and create an opportunity for a more realistic representation of vegetation phenology and growth of AM plants in China in land surface models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike the retail‐like (for selected variables) statistical post‐processing methods, a wholesale‐like (for all variables) dynamical approach is proposed to correct forecast bias during model integration. Subtracting a bias tendency from the model total tendency is intended to de‐bias all variables at once to better (i.e. more dynamically consistent) couple with downstream applications. Three experiments were tested using an ensemble prediction system since the method is intended for an ensemble model. The verification was carried out over China for a period of 31 days (1–31 July 2015). The verification of 500 hPa temperature indicates that all three experiments have significantly improved the raw ensemble forecasts with reduced bias error, a more accurate ensemble mean, a better spread‐skill relationship, and more reliable and sharper probabilities. The performance is better than or comparable to the current operational statistical method. When the verification was expanded to include more variables, a summary scorecard shows that the three experiments also had a general positive or neutral impact on both upper‐air and surface variables, especially the height and temperature fields. Precipitation forecasts remained relatively unchanged. There were only a few categories that were degraded. The comparison between the three experiments yielded a mixed result: the most sophisticated approach often performed the best for 500 hPa temperature, while the simplest approach worked the best when verifying a mixture of variables. The degradation of the wind forecasts by the third experiment was discussed. These are the two challenges: how to accurately describe the bias tendency and how to add internally coherent bias tendencies to multiple variables. Given its advantages, this approach could be a promising approach for correcting biases in a numerical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 25 surface sediment samples collected from Laoshan Bay, China, during 2018, were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations, sources, and pollution status. The Cu, Zn, and Cr distributions were similar, whereas the distributions of other metals and the total organic carbon (TOC) content were irregular, and high concentrations appeared in one or two areas. Pearson's correlation coefficient, the geoaccumulation index, and principal component analysis were used to distinguish the sources and assess the pollution risk of heavy metals. The results showed that the surface sediments in Laoshan Bay were not polluted by Cu, Zn, Cr, or As, but were unpolluted to strongly polluted with Pb, Cd, and Hg. Cu, Zn, Cr, and As were mainly derived from natural sources; Pb and Cd were mainly derived from anthropogenic sources; and Hg may have had compound sources. • Spatial distributions and pollution status of seven heavy metals were assessed. • Multiple indices of Cu, Zn, Cr, and As suggested their natural sources. • High I geo values for Pb, Cd, and Hg indicated their anthropogenic sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Long-term records of vegetation phenology suggest that temperature sensitivity (S T) can vary in space and time. This change in temperature dependence was widely attributed to a lost chilling mechanism and potentially to photoperiod limitation. Our finding that variability in S T of arid mountain plants was closely associated with changes in preseason precipitation provided an additional possible explanation, that is, that the interacting effect of climate variables altered the sensitivity of phenology to temperature. Our findings highlight the importance of interacting effects of climatic variables in model projections of future spring phenology. Highlights • Temperature sensitivity (S T) of vegetation phenology can vary in space and time. • Variability in S T was closely associated with changes in preseason precipitation. • Findings highlight the importance of interacting effects of climatic variables. Abstract Vegetation spring phenology in arid mountain regions is undergoing profound changes as a result of recent climate anomalies. While shifts in the timing of growth onset have been widely attributed to temperature and precipitation, interacting effects of these two climate variables on phenology have not been explored. To better understand whether an interaction between temperature and precipitation may be present, and how it may affect phenology, we first determined the influence of preseason temperature and precipitation on the starting date of vegetation growing season (SOS), and then investigated the spatial pattern of climatic sensitivity of SOS and its relation to preseason temperature/precipitation. We used satellite-derived estimates of SOS for the Qilian Mountains (QLMs) in northwestern China. Our results revealed a significant interaction between temperature and precipitation, contributing up to 30% of total variability in predicted ecosystem-level SOS. This interacting effect was likely achieved through the influence on climatic sensitivity of SOS; we found a close relationship between temperature sensitivity and preseason cumulative precipitation, and a significant association between precipitation sensitivity and preseason temperatures. Spatially, SOS was more sensitive to variability in preseason temperature in wetter than in dryer areas; likewise, a spatial increase in thermal accumulation often corresponded to an enhancement in precipitation sensitivity of SOS. These findings highlight the importance of interacting effects of climatic variables in model projections of future spring phenology, and indicate that unexpected shifts in vegetation phenology in response to climatic extremes may occur under the influence of strong interactions of climatic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The mutation status and prognostic value of PIK3CA in breast cancer were widely investigated, which showed significant difference among the patients from vast areas around the world. In this study, the frequency, distribution, bias, and burden of PIK3CA mutations and their relationships with clinicopathologic variables and prognostic significances were investigated in the breast cancer patients from Central China. Materials and methods: Somatic mutations in exon 9 and exon 20 of PIK3CA gene were analyzed using Sanger sequencing combining with targeted next generation sequencing in 494 breast cancer patients from Central China. The correlations between PIK3CA mutations and clinicopathological characteristics and the prognostic values of multiple PIK3CA mutation statuses were evaluated. Results: PIK3CA mutations were found in 38% of the patients and associated with estrogen receptor-positive, progesterone receptor-positive, low Ki67 labeling index, and luminal/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-enriched subtypes. Meanwhile, the prognosis of the total patients and the patients in old diagnostic age, progesterone receptor-negative, low Ki67 labeling index, and luminal/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-enriched subgroups was significantly related to PIK3CA mutations. Most interestingly, the distribution, bias, and burden of PIK3CA mutations were correlated with different clinical, pathological, and molecular features as well as distinct prognostic implications in multiple breast cancer subgroups. Conclusion: The frequency, distribution, bias, and burden of PIK3CA mutations were associated with various clinical, pathological, and molecular characteristics in the breast cancer patients from Central China. These different mutation statuses can be used as potential indicators of prognosis in multiple breast cancer subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenological responses of terrestrial ecosystems to climate extremes are of growing concern due to the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events associated with climate change which will in turn affect vegetation seasonality more than gradual changes. However, studies are rare in arid mountain regions where plant development is commonly regulated by both temperature and precipitation. To better understand how arid mountain (AM) ecosystems may respond to climate anomalies, we identified recent extreme climatic events (including intense warming, severe drought, and excessive wetness), and analyzed spring onset of vegetation growth in the Qilian Mountains of northwestern China. Phenological sensitivity was assessed from satellite-based data as departures from maps displaying mean onsets of growth for years 1983–2013. Our results revealed remarkable shifts in the start date of the growing season (SOS) under climate extremes, with different responses depending on ecosystem and altitude. Recent warming induced a general advancement of SOS. Higher spring temperatures enhanced the accumulation of heat needed for budburst and leaf expansion; elevated winter temperatures reduced the chilling days before bud dormancy release, significantly decreasing the risk of freezing injury in AM plants. Changes in SOS observed in this study suggested that AM plants may have relatively low chilling requirement for dormancy release. Contrary to warming, a drought resulted in a widespread delay in spring phenology, with sensitivity peaking over a shrubland ecosystem at medium elevations. This result demonstrated that subalpine shrubs were most susceptible of the studied ecosystems to hydroclimatic extremes, highlighting the great importance in this biome of concerns. Moreover, during the year when multiple extreme events (e.g. intense warming and heavy rainfall) coincided, their combined influence appeared to arise from synergistic mechanisms that are in urgent need of further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Close-to-nature forest management has been proposed as an effective method for improving the quality of plantation forests. Knowledge of spatial distribution patterns, structure, and succession trajectories in natural forests can provide guidelines for the establishment of close-to-nature forest plantations. Such knowledge is lacking in natural spruce (Picea crassifolia) forests in the Qilian Mountains of China, impeding the establishment of production forests. We conducted a case study in the Qilian Mountains to analyze the relationships between the naturally-formed forest patches and terrain factors, spatial heterogeneity of stand characteristics, and stand structure following harvesting disturbance. Our results suggested that spruce plantations will be effective on the N, NE, and NW slopes, at elevations between 2700 and 3300 m, and on slopes ranging from 15° to 45°. Further, planted forest patches should occupy 64% of the slope area on semi-shady slopes (NE, NW). Spatial patterns in the studied forest exhibited a strong scale-effect, and an area of 0.25 ha could be used as the most efficient plot scale for the management of spruce plantations. Partial logging is an effective method for the conversion of spruce planted forests into nearnatural forests, and the intensity of partial logging can be determined from the negative exponential function relationship between stand density and DBH. Our results provided critical information for the development of spruce plantations and conversion of existing plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon storage of mountain forests is vulnerable to climate change but the changes in carbon flux through time are poorly understood. Moreover, the relative contributions to carbon flux of drivers such as climate and atmospheric CO2 still have significant uncertainties. We used the dynamic model LPJ-GUESS with climate data from twelve meteorological stations in the Qilian Mountains, China to simulate changes in carbon mass of a montane boreal forest, and the influence of temperature, precipitation, and CO2 concentration from 1964 to 2013 on carbon flux. The results showed that the carbon mass has increased 1.202 kg/m2 from 1964 to 2013, and net primary productivity (NPP) ranged from 0.997 to 1.122 kg/m2/year. We concluded that the highest carbon mass proportion for this montane boreal forest was at altitudes 2700-3100 m (proportion of ecosystem carbon was between 93-97%), with maximum carbon density observed at 2700-2900 m. In the last 50 years, the increase in precipitation and in CO2 concentration is expected to increase carbon mass and NPP of Picea crassifolia Kom. (Pinaceae) (Qinghai spruce). The effect of temperature on NPP was positive but that on carbon mass was not clear. The increase in CO2 concentration over the past 50 years was a major contributor to the increase in carbon storage, and drought was the foremost limiting factor in carbon storage capacity of this montane boreal forest. Picea crassifolia forest was vulnerable to climate change. Further studies need to focus on the impact of extreme weather, especially drought, on carbon storage in Picea crassifolia forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acipenser dabryanus is listed as a Critical Endangered species in the IUCN Red List and the first class protected animals in China. Fortunately, A. dabryanus specimens are being successfully bred in captivity for conservation. However, for effective ex situ conservation, we should be aware of the genetic diversity and the degree of relatedness of the individuals selected for breeding. In this study, we aimed at the development of novel and reliable microsatellites used for the genetic study of A. dabryanus. A total of 14,321 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected by transcriptome sequencing and screening. We selected 20 novel and polymorphic microsatellites (non-dinucleotide) with good repeatability from the 100 tested loci for a subsequent genetic and paternity study. A set of captive broodstock (F1 stock, n = 43) and their offspring (F2 stock, n = 96) were used to examine the efficiency of the 20 SSRs for assigning parentage to offspring, with an allocation success of 91.7%. We also found that only a few families predominantly contributed to the progeny produced by the 43 breeders. In addition, mitochondrial DNA data showed that the captive broodstock (F1 individuals) had an excellent probability of the same lineage, implying that a high level of inbreeding may have occurred in these individuals. Our research provides useful information on genetic diversity and reproductive pattern of A. dabryanus, and the 20 SSRs developed in this study can be applied to the future breeding program to avoid inbreeding for this stock or other related species of Acipenseriformes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal variations of soil water content over 16 months at three typical sites of the Qilian Mountain were investigated to understand the controlling factors in regulating soil moisture content and dynamics. In this study, we quantified soil moisture response to cumulative rainfall events and freezing and thawing processes. The significant response depth of soil moisture after rainfall was 0-40 cm, and the forms of effective rainfall in this semiarid region: consecutive, with small dry intervals, and a few small rainfall events, with the cumulative amount of no less than 18.5 mm. Not only vegetation but also topography and soil texture were the primary controlling variables for soil moisture dynamics in this mountain ecosystem. The freezing temperature in 0-100-cm soil depth was in the range of −1.66 to 1.73 °C, and the thawing temperature was in the range of −0.54 to 0.84 °C; soil aspect and water content were the main controlling factors in the freezing and thawing points in this mountain region. The results of this study contributed to identifying the major controls on soil moisture content in mountain ecosystems and will provide basis for ecological restoration in arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subalpine shrubs are undergoing, or have experienced profound changes by force of recent climate anomalies, such as the alteration in temporal niche of phenophases and the dynamic interaction with ambient conditions. As cold biomes in high-altitude ecoregions, they have drawn a growing concern of the potential vulnerability to current and future climate change. In this study, we retrieved the time series (2000–2013) of satellite-based phenological transitions (the onset and offset of vegetative growth) for subalpine shrubs at five individual sites in the Qilian Mountains in northwestern China. Our goals were to identify the climatic constraints on the timing of leaf-out and leaf-fall, and to project these phenological patterns under the future climate conditions. To achieve these goals, the relationships between these regional phenological events and climate variables were investigated with univariate and multivariate time series models, and the future phenological dynamics were forecasted for two decades based on the best predictive models under the A2 and B2 of IPCCs Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES). Our results generally revealed site-dependent phenology–climate relationships, which involved an immediate phenological response to the mean or minimum temperature in the corresponding month of occurrence, and a lagged cumulative climate effect across preceding months and seasons. Average temperature during a certain period has been demonstrated as an important limiting factor for plant growth. However, our results also provided evidence for the minimum temperature controls of the development of phenological events in subalpine shrublands, possibly due to a close association with the frequency of frost risk in spring and autumn. Under future climate conditions, an overall lengthening of the active growing season is expected at each of the study sites depending on elevation. Consequently, net carbon uptake by shrubs will benefit from the increased temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, flash flood disasters have occurred frequently in southwest China due to the increased frequency of extreme climate events. To solve this problem, great efforts have been made in studying the process of flash flood. However, little attention was paid on bearing body of hazard, the clusters of buildings. Thus the real disaster mechanism of flash flood remains unclear. Accordingly, based on the experiments of artificial flash floods in a conceptual solid model, this paper focuses on the flood-impacted inundation characteristics of the building clusters at different locations of the gully model, in order to obtain a better understanding of the disaster process and the interaction between the flash floods and building clusters. The results showed that, in a typical smallscale flash flood gully with hot and dry climate, 1) clusters of buildings on an alluvial fan could reduce about 35% of the flooding area by blocking the diffusion of the flood to the depression areas, and could also promote the deposition in lower reaches of the river channel by blocking the overbank flow from going back into the channel, making the width-depth ratio of the channel larger. 2) The flash flood rates of disaster and hazard on the alluvial fan are generally higher than that of the inner gully. For the inner gully, buildings located on the beaches along the lower river and the transitional areas of the straight channel and channel bends can easily be affected because of their lower elevations. For the alluvial fan, buildings nearby the meanders suffer the greatest impacts because of bank collapsing and flooding. 3) The safe vertical distance from a building to the river channel is 13 m for the buildings in the inner gully under extreme floods. Below this threshold, the smaller the vertical distance is, the greater the risk exposure is. For the buildings on the alluvial fan, especially for the buildings near the concave bank of the top rush point, the horizontal distance is more important, and the safe value is 80 m under extreme floods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selection in privatization is the decision-making process of choosing stateowned enterprises (SOEs), prioritizing and sequencing privatization events, and determining the extent of private ownership in partial privatization. We investigate this process in the important but rarely studied case of China. Using the SOE population for 1998-2008, we track 49,456 wholly state-owned firms and identify 9,359 privatization cases. Our econometric analysis concludes that privatization selection is a complex decision-making process in which local governments balance various economic, financial, and political objectives. In the recent Chinese privatization, firm performance relates to the selection, staging, and sequencing in privatization in an inverted-U fashion. The worst- and the best-performing SOEs are more likely to remain state owned, more likely to maintain higher levels of state holding when privatized, and less likely to be privatized later. These patterns suggest a privatization reform slowdown and underlying changes in the privatization policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from 65,485 Chinese private small and medium-sized enterprises over the period 2000-2006, we examine the extent to which firms can improve access to debt by adopting strategies aimed at building social capital, namely entertaining and gift giving to others in their social network, and obtaining political affiliation. We find that although entertainment and gift-giving expenditure leads to higher levels of total and short-term debt, it does not enable firms to obtain greater long-term debt. In contrast, we demonstrate that obtaining political affiliation allows firms greater access to long-term debt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have received great attention from the public and scientific community due to their potential adverse impacts on the ecosystem and human health. We investigated the occurrence and distribution of 16 PFASs from 2 classes of PFASs-perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids and perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids-in the archived surface sediments of five major rivers (Yellow River, Hai River, Liao River, Zhujiang River, and Dongjiang River) in northern and southern China. The study was also performed during the wet and dry seasons. Perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid were the most frequently detected (detection frequency = 100 and 63 %, respectively) in the sediments of the five rivers; the concentrations ranged from 0.08 to 0.99 ng/g dry weight (dw) and were lower than the limit of detection (

Rotary tiller is a widely used tillage tool in China, and its burial and mixing ability determine its performance. Discrete element method (DEM) is a promising numerical method to study the soil-tool interaction, and a suitable contact model is required to obtain a reasonable accuracy. In order to investigate the burial and mixing performance of a rotary tiller consisted of rotary blade and spiral horizontal blade in silty clay loam, two cohesion contact models HM-B and HM-JKR were compared. The sensitivity analysis for HM-B and HM-JKR were conducted by Plackett-Burman test. The bonding stiffness of HM-B and the surface energy of HM-JKR were the most sensitive parameters for their contact model, respectively, and were calibrated to compare their simulation performance. HM-JKR obtained a relatively smaller error on torque compared with measurement results in a soil bin test. The tillage characteristics of rotary blade and spiral horizontal blade were studied, and the effect of working conditions and rotary tiller structures on these were investigated by simulation. The distribution ratio and the disturbance intensity were selected to evaluate the burial and mixing performance. Compared with rotary blade, the spiral horizontal blade obtained a larger disturbance area and intensity. Tillage depth had the most significant effect on the tillage characteristics. The average disturbance intensity of rotary blade and spiral horizontal blade increased nearly 25% and 30% with the increase of tillage depth from 150 mm to 180 mm. The L -bend structure of the rotary blade was important to the burial and mixing performance of rotary tiller. A reasonable number of rotary blade group in the rotary tiller and distance between each rotary blade group can obtain a satisfied burial and mixing performance with a relative low torque consumption. • The sensitivity analysis of two contact models were conducted. • The simulation of rotary tillage by two contact models were compared. • The tillage characteristics of the key components of a rotary tiller were investigated. • The effect of working conditions on the burial and mixing performance of a rotary tiller were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increased understanding of the responses of forest phenology to climate on regional scales is critical to the evaluation of biochemical cycles (i.e. carbon, water, heat, and nutrient) under environmental changes. In this study, we aimed to identify climatic constraints on phenological events in an evergreen coniferous forest in semi-arid mountain regions of northern China. We quantified the start of season (SOS), end of season (EOS), and growing season length (GSL) based on satellite-derived data sets (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)) and investigated the relationships between these phenological events and climate factors. The results revealed discontinuous trends in phenological events throughout the study period, with neither an obvious extension nor decrement in GSL. We demonstrated that minimum temperatures controlled the dynamics of SOS and EOS, thus providing strong evidence for the need to include minimum temperature as a control on phenology in simulation models. Additionally, precipitation was coupled to the shift in maximum NDVI, as rainfall is a major climatic limitation to vegetation growth in semi-arid regions. It appears that selecting appropriate timescales to analyse the relationships between phenology and climate is critical. We illustrated that NDVI was an effective tool in an effort to gain greater understanding of the effects of environmental change on ecosystem functioning in this forest. Our results may be used as reference to track local changes in the evergreen coniferous forest dynamics under different climate change scenarios for semi-arid mountain regions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this study, an ensemble analysis and sensitivity experiment of a mesovortex over southwest China (Southwest Vortex, SWV) are performed with a regional ensemble prediction system in order to demonstrate: (i) the usefulness of an ensemble prediction system for diagnosing the dynamical and thermodynamical characteristics leading to the SWV's eastward movement and growth; and (ii) the potential importance of adopting targeted observations in improving short-range weather forecasts by applying a simple technique. Results show significant variations in forecast performance, ranging from good to poor, among 11 ensemble members. By examining two distinct clusters ('moving' and 'staggering') of the ensemble members it is found that a strong upper-level trough with positive vorticity advection near the vortex centre, its westward vertical tilt and lower-level downstream wet and upstream dry moisture configuration favour the eastward movement and growth of the SWV. Ensemble sensitivity analysis shows that: (i) a simple correlation-based ensemble sensitivity method works well in identifying sensitive areas of mesoscale forecasts of the SWV; (ii) the forecast of the SWV movement and intensity is especially sensitive to initial conditions of horizontal wind and moisture fields; and (iii) unlike the medium-range forecast in which a sensitive region is often traced back to an area far upstream in association with a Rossby-wave packet, sensitive regions in short-range forecasts appear to be directly related to the meteorological system of interest located not far upstream. Based on the results, we suggest that field experiments of targeted observations potentially can be designed using this simple ensemble sensitivity approach to improve short-range weather forecasts associated with SWVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Net primary productivity (NPP) and evapotranspiration (ET) are two key variables in the carbon and water cycles of terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, to test a newly developed NPP algorithm designed for HJ-1 A/B data and to evaluate the usage of HJ-1 A/B data in the quantitative assessment of environments, NPP and ET in Jinggangshan city, Jiangxi province, are calculated using HJ-1 A/B data. The results illustrate the following: (1) The NPP and ET in Jinggangshan city in 2010 both show obvious seasonal variation, with the highest values in summer and the lowest values in winter, and relatively higher values were observed in autumn than in spring. (2) The spatial pattern indicates that the annual NPP is high in the southern area in Jinggangshan city and low in the northern area. Additionally, high NPP is distributed in forests located in areas with high elevation, and low NPP is found in croplands at low elevations. ET has no significant north-south difference, with high values in the southeast and northwest and low values in the southwest, and high ET is distributed in forests at low elevations in contrast to low ET in forests in high-elevation areas and in cropland and shrub grassland in low-elevation areas. (3) Compared to the MODIS product, the range of HJ-1 NPP is larger, and the spatial pattern is more coincident with the topography. The range of HJ-1 ET is smaller than that of the MODIS product, and ET is underestimated to some extent but can reflect the effect of topography. This study suggests that the algorithm can be used to estimate NPP and ET in a subtropical monsoon climate if remotely sensed images with high spatial resolution are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a comprehensive firm-level data set from China spanning the period 1998–2005, this study investigates the relationship between firm size, financing sources, and total factor productivity growth. Controlling for the endogeneity of financing sources, we find that firm size plays an important role in the way financial structure affects the growth process. Domestic bank loans are more effective for bigger firms, while self-raised finance is more beneficial to smaller firms’ growth. We also uncover evidence that ownership mediates the relationship between firm size, finance, and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]