Search

The purpose of this study is to examine the current state of job crafting and career commitment of rural primary teachers and to analyze the relationship between the two variables as well as the influencing mechanisms through a questionnaire survey of 2,217 primary school teachers in Liaoning, Yunnan, Chongqing, Guangxi, and Guizhou. The research findings showed that rural primary teachers exhibited a moderate level of capacity for job crafting and career commitment; that job crafting positively predicted career commitment among rural primary teachers; and that teachers' self-efficacy and organizational support played mediating and moderating roles respectively in the relationship between the two variables

Based on the baseline data of the China Education Panel Survey, this paper explored the relationship between teacher training and academic performance in urban and rural samples respectively and the impact of teacher training on the urban-rural gap of students' academic performance. The results showed that: firstly, there was a significant urban-rural gap in academic performance, and the gap in high quantiles and language subjects were even larger. Secondly, the results of unconditional quantile regression showed that teacher training could improve the performance of urban students with different academic levels and rural students with intermediate or above academic levels, but it cannot improve the performance of rural students with lower academic levels. In addition, the overall effect of teacher training in urban areas is significantly higher than that in rural areas. Thirdly, different quantiles of Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition found that the endowment effect and the coefficient effect of teacher training were the important causes of the urban-rural performance gap, but the relative sizes of the two were different according to the different grades and different quantiles of performance distribution. Therefore, to increase the training opportunities and improve the training quality of rural teachers as well as enhance the resource conversion rate of rural students are of great practical significance for narrowing the urban-rural performance gap.

The present study aims to explore an embodied approach to students' deep learning; specifically, how deep learning is interactively achieved through teachers' languaging dynamics and multimodal representations in interactive lecturing in L2 higher education (HE) contexts. The purpose is to understand how an instructor's embodied and multimodal pedagogical practices of interactive teaching facilitate students' active classroom engagement in lecture sessions that are often considered a form of passive knowledge transmission. The case study focuses on the languaging dynamics mobilised by the target teacher participant, who has been recognised as a representative of teaching excellence due to an international background and rich localised teaching experience. Aligned with the theoretical underpinnings of an embodied approach to learning from a constructivist perspective, this study focuses on the multimodal repertoire employed by the teacher's use of gestures to stimulate students' responses to the pedagogically designed high-order questions. We argue that this complementarity encourages thinking and active learning in the knowledge transfer. Further, this embodied interactive teaching mode with the affordances of gestures not only supports learning potential for information transmission but also affords action potentials for cognitive thinking and projected interaction for knowledge transformation in the active learning process.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the associations among fear of childbirth, psychological distress, resilience, and sleep quality among Chinese pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out between January 2022 to March 2022 among pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria and sought healthcare services at The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine in Guangdong Province, Southern China. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that included sociodemographic characteristics, childbirth attitudes questionnaires (CAQ), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC), and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI). A generalized additive model and moderated mediation analysis were employed for data analysis. Results: A non-linear and negative association between fear of childbirth and sleep quality was found in the second trimester and antenatal period. Psychological distress significantly mediated the relationship between fear of childbirth and sleep quality (first trimester: β = 0.044, 95%CI:0.022–0.071; second trimester: β = 0.029, 95%CI:0.009–0.056; third trimester: β = 0.064, 95%CI:0.046–0.088; antenatal period: β = 0.050, 95%CI:0.037–0.063). The moderating role of resilience between fear of childbirth and sleep quality was significant (second trimester: β=-0.006, 95%CI:-0.012–0.001, P = 0.025; antenatal period: β=-0.004, 95%CI:-0.007–-0.001, P = 0.014), as well as between fear of childbirth and psychological distress (first trimester: β=-0.016, 95%CI:-0.026–-0.005, P = 0.004; antenatal period: β=-0.005, 95%CI:-0.009–-0.001, P = 0.014). Conclusions: Fear of childbirth, psychological distress, and resilience are three important factors affecting sleep quality in Chinese pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Mutations in the NLRP3gene have previously been linked to certain forms of cancer, but there have not been any specific studies examining the association between NLRP3 polymorphisms and cervical cancer (CC). This study was therefore designed to investigate the effect of NLRP3 gene polymorphisms on HPV infection and cervical cancer in southern Chinese population. Methods: Multiplex PCR and next-generation sequencing approaches were used to assess the NLRP3 rs10754558 and rs10733113 polymorphisms in 404 cervical lesion patients, including 227 diagnosed with CC and 177 diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN), with 419 healthy female controls being included for comparison. Correlations between the rs10754558 and rs10733113 genotypes and alleles in these patients and CC and CIN were then analyzed. Results: No correlations were found between NLRP3 rs10754558 and rs10733113 and human papillomavirus(HPV) infection status. Relative to the healthy control group, the NLRP3 rs10754558 GG genotype, CG + GG genotype, and G allele frequencies were significantly increased among patients with cervical lesions (CC and CIN) (OR = 1.815,P = 0.013;OR = 1.383, P = 0.026; OR = 1.284, P = 0.014,respectively), whereas no such differences were observed for rs10733113. A higher cervical lesion risk was detected for patients over the age of 45 exhibiting the rs10754558 GG genotype (OR = 1.848, P = 0.040). Additionally, the risk of CC was elevated in patients with the rs10754558 GG genotype or the G allele relative to patients with the CC genotype or the C allele(OR = 1.830, P = 0.029; OR = 1.281, P = 0.039). The rs10733113 genotypes or alleles were not significantly associated with CC risk (P > 0.05). No association between rs10754558 and rs10733113 genotypes and CC patient clinicopathological features were observed (P > 0.05). Serum NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 levels were significantly elevated in CC patients relative to healthy controls(P < 0.05). Relative to the CC genotype, CC patients harboring the rs10754558 GG genotype exhibited significantly elevated IL-1β and IL-18 levels(P < 0.05). Conclusion: The rs10754558 polymorphism in the NLRP3 gene may contribute to an elevated risk of CC, although it is not significantly correlated with HPV infection and CC progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates changes to academic work life under recent employment reform in the Chinese Mainland. It employs a mixed-methods research approach, first conducting a survey of 1,770 teachers at nine universities in Mainland China. These nine universities consist of first-tier, second-tier, and ordinary universities. Next, through a qualitative research approach, 60 teachers at three of the nine universities were interviewed. Teachers from the departments of management, information technology, education, and physics were interviewed, reflecting a variety of work conditions. Our study finds that the employment reform, with its stress on quantitative research output, has led to further restrictions on academic work and the standardization of academic development. The new measurements have led to a crisis of confidence and dignity for many senior teachers. Great pressure has also been placed on younger academics, who receive very limited promotion opportunities. This study offers a significant theoretical contribution to discussion on the changing academic work life and has policy implications for higher education personnel policy in China.

In order to raise the international reputation and quality of higher education in "China", the Ministry of Education initiated new university employment reform, which pressed academics to produce more research. Recent employment reform has aggravated the conflict between teaching and research. This study "uses" mixed methods to investigate how academics perceived the employment reform and how they employed various strategies to handle teaching and research. Our study indicates a trend of deprofessionalization in academic work and an increasing tension between teaching and research. Handling teaching and research required a strong and conscientious effort on the part of academics. Concerted efforts should be made to offer a more supportive environment for academics to balance teaching and research.

Research on work life and job satisfaction of university professors is becoming an important research issue in the field of higher education. This study used questionnaires administered to 1 770 teachers from different levels, types, and academic fields of Chinese universities to investigate job satisfaction among university professors and the relationship between job satisfaction of university professors and the organizational characteristics of the university. The job satisfaction of Chinese university professors includes six dimensions: career development and school management, teaching and research services, salary, benefits and logistical services, professional reputation, teaching and research facilities, and the work itself. The overall job satisfaction levels are close to average, with salary and benefits receiving the lowest level of satisfaction. The organizational characteristics of universities, such as school type, school level, academic field, organizational climate, evaluation orientation, and school management, all have significant effects on the overall job satisfaction of university professors. The organizational climate and school level affect all six dimensions of job satisfaction among university professors.

This study used sampling survey data from rural elementary schools in western China to analyze school adaptability, which is the representative noncognitive development of rural elementary students. It also investigated factors influencing the school adaptability of elementary school students at an individual and school level by using production function model and multilevel analysis. Research shows that (a) the overall development level of school adaptability of elementary school students in western China is relatively low, and gender and ethnicity differences exist; (b) school adaptability of elementary school students involves six factors: problem behavior, relationship with Chinese language teachers, relationship with math teachers, teachers' attitudes toward students, school satisfaction, and self-concept; and (c) students' families have an impact on the school adaptability of students. At the school level, teachers' conditions impact the school adaptability of rural elementary school students as well. (Contains 5 tables and 1 note.)

By probing into the relationship of senior students' demand for "internationalization", students' expected economic returns in future careers, and their individual concept of modernity, this study attempts to explore several factors that are influencing the demand for overseas higher education.

Cloud and fog droplets are essential in atmospheric chemistry since they affect the distribution and chemical transformation of pollutants. Collecting sufficient volumes using cloud/fog samplers is the premise of cloud fog chemical studies. Accurate identification of fog events and high collection efficiency are the basic principles of sampler design. Therefore, an automatic cloud/fog collector (ACFC) has been designed, fabricated, and extensively tested for collecting samples of cloud/fog water. The control box and standard sensors for air temperature, relative humidity, and instantaneous rainfall were used to ensure sampling automation. Airflow measurement was used to guarantee the stability of the airspeed on the inlet section, and the airspeed is 7.5 m s−1. Moreover, the median collection rate of ACFC was 160–220 mL h−1, which was tested via a simulation experiment. To evaluate the actual performance of the device in the field, we obtained eight samples of cloud fog water from Shanghuang Observatory in eastern China from the summer through the fall of 2022. Collection rates varied from 62 to 169 mL h−1. For a cloud/fog sampler equipped with multiple sensors, the ACFC has excellent sampling efficiency in thick fog, sufficient cloud fog water samples can be collected in weak fog, and it can precisely identify fog mingled with rain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the temporal trends in the epidemiology of colorectal cancer (CRC) and early-onset CRC (EOCRC) in China is essential for policymakers to develop appropriate strategies to reduce the CRC burden. Methods: The prevalence, incidence, mortality, years of life lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of CRC were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. The incidence and mortality of CRC over the next 25 years were predicted. Results: From 1990 to 2019, the prevalence, incidence, and mortality of total CRC and EOCRC significantly increased in males, with milder trends in females. In 2019, the number of people living with CRC (or EOCRC) in China was approximately 3.4 (0.59) million, which was over seven (five) times higher than that in 1990. The DALYs, YLDs, and YLLs moderately increased from 1990 to 2019 in both sexes. The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) for females has shown a stable trend in total CRC, and a downward trend in EOCRC since 2000. While the ASMR for males showed increasing trends in total CRC and EOCRC. In 2019, the highest incidence, prevalence, YLDs, YLLs, and DALYs were all observed in the 65 to 69 age group, while the highest mortality was in the 70 to 74. By 2044, the incidence and deaths of CRC are expected to reach 1310 thousand and 484 thousand, respectively. For EOCRC, the incidence will peak at about 101 thousand around 2034, and the mortality will continuously decrease to a nadir at about 18 thousand around 2044. Conclusion: Although the age-standardized incidence and mortality of total CRC and EOCRC in China will reach a plateau, the number of incident cases and deaths of CRC have been increasing in the last three decades and will continue to increase in the next 25 years. Graphical [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's rise has not only propelled China to be the second-largest economy in the world but also produced an increasing socio-economic inequality that undermines the legitimacy of the socialist political system. What do people think of social inequality and social justice? To understand the public attitudes towards the issue of social justice, this article develops a typology of public opinion and social justice to study how people look at social justice in China. A public survey was conducted and analyzed. Our research shows that people tend to use their subjective belief system to view social justice. We find that overall public opinion focuses more on distributional justice and less than procedure fairness. We also find an increasing number of young people who began to pay more attention to policy-making processes and procedural justice. This finding may have an important implication for policymaking as the Chinese government seeks to reduce social instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrated phenolic compounds in the atmosphere are receiving increasing attention due to their light absorption and biological toxicity. In this study, particulate, gaseous, and cloud water samples were simultaneously collected during cloud events at the summit of Mount Tai in northern China in spring, summer, and winter and the contents of 11 nitrated phenolic compounds were determined. The seasonal average concentrations of the total nitrated phenolic compounds in particles were in the range of 7.3–27.1 ng m−3, a little lower than those measured in the gas‐phase (18.3–70.6 ng m−3). Their concentrations in cloud water were at the levels of 168.4–438.5 μg L−1. 4‐Nitrophenol and nitrosalicylic acids were the dominant compounds in particles, while 4‐nitrophenol and 2,4‐dinitrophenol were the most abundant in the gas phase and cloud water samples. During cloud events, most nitrated phenolic compounds were mainly distributed in the particle phase, except dinitrophenols which were mainly distributed in the gas phase in winter. The field‐derived effective Henry's law coefficients were several orders of magnitude higher than their theoretical values in pure water. Moreover, the measured concentrations of particulate nitrated phenolic compounds were substantially greater than the theoretical predictions, especially in spring. The above results indicate that nitrated phenolic compounds were partly formed via aqueous‐phase reactions inside the cloud droplets or on the wet particle surfaces, which changed their distribution patterns. The much higher ratios of 2,4‐dinitrophenol to the sum of 4‐nitrophenol and 5‐nitrosalicylic acid in cloud water than those in particles further confirm the enhanced formation via aqueous processes. Plain Language Summary: Nitrated phenolic compounds, among the major components of brown carbon and hazardous substances, can affect air quality, regional climate, and human health. Here, simultaneous field observations of 11 nitrated phenolic compounds in gas, particle, and aqueous phases were conducted at a mountain site in northern China. The seasonal variations of them in the abundances and compositions are compared among different sample types. The distribution characteristics of nitrated phenolic compounds in particle, gaseous, and aqueous phases and the key influencing factors were analyzed. In addition, the aqueous‐phase chemistry of 4‐nitrophenol and 2,4‐dinitrophenol was also explored. The results highlight the importance of aqueous‐phase reactions on the formations of nitrated phenolic compounds and their atmospheric abundances and phase distributions during the cloud events. Key Points: Nitrated phenolic compounds in particle, gaseous, and aqueous phases were simultaneously investigatedMost nitrated phenolic compounds were distributed in the particle phase during cloud eventsAqueous reactions increased the contents in aerosols and cloud droplets and altered the distribution patterns [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are ubiquitous anaerobic microorganisms that play significant roles in the global biogeochemical cycle. Coastal wetlands, one of the major habitats of SRB, exhibit high sulfate-reducing activity and thus play significant roles in organic carbon remineralization, benthic geochemical action, and plant-microbe interactions. Recent studies have provided credible evidence that the functional rather than the taxonomic composition of microbes responds more closely to environmental factors. Therefore, in this study, functional gene prediction based on PacBio single molecular real-time sequencing of 16S rDNA was applied to determine the sulfate-reducing and organic substrate-decomposing activities of SRB in the rhizospheres of two typical coastal wetland plants in North and South China: Zostera japonica and Scirpus mariqueter. To this end, some physicochemical characteristics of the sediments as well as the phylogenetic structure, community composition, diversity, and proportions of several functional genes of the SRB in the two plant rhizospheres were analyzed. The Z. japonica meadow had a higher dissimilatory sulfate reduction capability than the S. mariqueter-comprising saltmarsh, owing to its larger proportion of SRB in the microbial community, larger proportions of functional genes involved in dissimilatory sulfate reduction, and the stronger ability of the SRB to degrade organic substrates completely. This study confirmed the feasibility of applying microbial community function prediction in research on the metabolic features of SRB, which will be helpful for gaining new knowledge of the biogeochemical and ecological roles of these bacteria in coastal wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the factors controlling variations in the biomass (B), abundance (A), and mean individual biomass (B/A) of mesozooplankton in a subtropical eutrophic bay, a random forest model was used to analyze the effects of physicochemical factors and phytoplankton biomass, size, and taxonomic composition on the variations in B, A, and B/A of mesozooplankton using 100 samples from all four seasons of 2015 in Xiangshan Bay, China. Variations in the B and A of mesozooplankton were related to both physicochemical and phytoplankton factors, while physicochemical factors were the best predictors of variation in the B/A of mesozooplankton. Phytoplankton biomass was too high to limit mesozooplankton growth, leading to a weak relationship between mesozooplankton and phytoplankton biomasses. The mesozooplankton were sensitive to temperature, and an increase in temperature increased mainly the number of small mesozooplankton. Temperature, suspended solids (SS), and nutrients indirectly affected the A and B/A of mesozooplankton by changing the abundance, size, and species composition of phytoplankton. Size mismatches between phytoplankton and mesozooplankton sometimes occur with changes in the physicochemical environment, which might reduce trophic transfer efficiency in planktonic ecosystems. This study implies that we should pay attention to the impact of warming on the planktonic ecosystem in the context of global warming, especially in subtropical bays with intensive human activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anlotinib is an oral small molecule inhibitor of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), which was approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China in 2018 for the third-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, for the first time, the longitudinal pharmacometabonomics was explored for predicting malignant tumor patient responses to anlotinib, including the metabolic phenotype variation, drug efficacy, and toxicity. A total of 393 plasma samples from 16 subjects collected from a phase I additional study of anlotinib (NCT02752516) were submitted to targeted metabolomics analysis. The orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) models were constructed for the predication of anlotinib efficacy and toxicity based on the longitudinal pharmacometabonomics data. Statistical results showed that 38 metabolites, mainly involved in aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis, were all significantly upregulated attributing to anlotinib treatment. The anti-tumor efficacy and occurrence of proteinuria after anlotinib administration can be predicted with 100% accuracy using the established OPLS-DA models. Glycodeoxycholic acid and glycocholic acid possessed the most excellent sensitivity and specificity in predicting the efficacy of anlotinib, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC of ROC curve) 0.847 and 0.828, respectively. NG, NG-dimethylarginine was the most promising biomarker for the prediction of proteinuria occurrence after anlotinib administration, with AUC of ROC curve 0.814. In conclusion, this work developed efficient and convenient discriminant models that can accurately predict the efficacy and toxicity of anlotinib based on longitudinal pharmacometabonomics study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A selective and robust UPLC-MS/MS method has been firstly developed for simultaneous determination of three anti-tumor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (anlotinib, ANL; ceritinib, CER; ibrutinib, IBR) in rat plasma using cost-effective protein precipitation extraction. LC separation was achieved on Waters XBrige C18 column (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 3.5 μm) under gradient conditions in a run time of 5 min. ESI+ was involved through mass spectrometry. Multiple reaction monitoring transitions were at m/z 408.2 → 339.2 for ANL, 558.2 → 433.2 for CER, 441.0 → 138.0 for IBR, 285.0 → 193.1 for diazepam (internal standard), respectively. The optimized method was validated based on US FDA guideline, EMEA guideline as well as Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. The assay was linear in the range of 0.1–20 ng mL−1 for ANL, 2–1000 ng mL−1 for CER, 1–500 ng mL−1 for IBR. Intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision for all analytes were ≤13.84% and ≤12.56%, respectively. ANL, CER and IBR were sufficiently stable under most investigated conditions. The optimized method was successfully applied for a pharmacokinetic study after single oral gavage administration of mixture (ANL, CER and IBR) at dose of 6 mg kg−1, 25 mg kg−1 and 10 mg kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the planktonic protistan community in Xiangshan Bay during spring 2015 using 18S rDNA sequencing. We found significant spatial heterogeneity in α-diversity, β-diversity (Bray–Curtis and Jaccard indices) and the relative abundance of dominant taxa. The spatial heterogeneity of the protistan community was due more to variation in species (operational taxonomic units) than abundance, and the spatial variation in species was dominated by variation in rare biota. Salinity was the most important driver of spatial heterogeneity in the total community and the abundant subcommunity, but environmental factors could not explain the variation in the rare subcommunity. For α-diversity, spatial heterogeneity was mainly associated with the rare biota; α-diversity was positively correlated with water mass complexity but negatively correlated with temperature and nutrients. Of the dominant protistan phyla, the more abundant Cryptophyta, Chlorophyta and Haptophyta were correlated with lower salinity and higher nutrient concentrations, while the more abundant mixotrophs (e.g. Dinoflagellata and Protalveolata) were associated with lower nutrient concentration. Our study suggests that rare taxa are important for preserving the spatial heterogeneity of the protistan community, whose structural variation might be influenced by biotic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of coastal eutrophication and warming on phytoplankton biomass and cell size, we analyzed current and historical data for size-fractionated chlorophyll a (chla) in Xiangshan Bay, China. Results showed that micro- and nanophytoplankton overwhelmingly dominated (>84%) in all seasons. The contribution of micro-chla was significantly lower in warm than in cold seasons, whereas contribution of pico-chla showed the opposite result. Overall, the micro-chla contribution increased with decreasing pico-chla contribution from the stable, clear, eutrophic upper bay to the turbulent, turbid lower bay, indicating that phytoplankton size structure on a spatial scale was largely shaped by water column stability and light rather than by nutrients. Since the 1980s, phytoplankton biomass, primary productivity, and micro-chla contribution in Xiangshan Bay have increased sharply with increasing nutrient amounts and temperature. Additionally, it seems that algal bloom seasonality has shifted forward from spring to winter since the power plant operations in 2006. Unlabelled Image • Micro- and nano-sized fractions overwhelmingly dominated phytoplankton community. • Large-celled phytoplankton tended to predominate in well-mixed water column. • Microphytoplankton dominance has increased under eutrophication and warming. • Phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity have increased sharply since the 1980s. • Algal bloom seasonality has shifted forward because of thermal discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of fish cage culture and suspended oyster culture on macrobenthic communities were investigated in Xiangshan Bay, China, on a seasonal basis from January to October of 2015. Samples were collected from a fish cage farm, a suspended oyster farm, and two corresponding reference sites. Two-way ANOVA results showed that species richness, abundance, biomass, and Shannon–Wiener diversity differed significantly between the four different investigated areas, and different seasons as well. Cluster analysis showed that macrobenthic community composition in the fish and oyster culture areas significantly differed from that in the reference sites, respectively. Trophic structure of macrobenthos in the fish and oyster culture areas mostly clustered together owing to higher abundance and biomass of surface-deposit feeders and carnivores. The macrobenthic communities and feeding guilds correlated highly with environmental factors, such as bottom water chlorophyll a and nutrients, as well as sediment total organic carbon. Although integrated multi-trophic aquaculture is regarded as a suitable approach to coordinate desirable economic, social, and environmentally sustainable outcomes, coastal ecosystems may suffer from large-scale nutrient enrichment due to aquaculture and other human activities, which should not be considered in isolation. • Benthic impacts of fish cage culture and suspended oyster culture were compared. • Macrobenthic community in fish farm differed significantly from the other sites. • Surface deposit feeders and carnivores benefited from benthic organic enrichment. • Macrobenthic communities and feeding guilds correlated with environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates changes to academic work life under recent employment reform in the Chinese Mainland. It employs a mixed-methods research approach, first conducting a survey of 1,770 teachers at nine universities in Mainland China. These nine universities consist of first-tier, second-tier, and ordinary universities. Next, through a qualitative research approach, 60 teachers at three of the nine universities were interviewed. Teachers from the departments of management, information technology, education, and physics were interviewed, reflecting a variety of work conditions. Our study finds that the employment reform, with its stress on quantitative research output, has led to further restrictions on academic work and the standardization of academic development. The new measurements have led to a crisis of confidence and dignity for many senior teachers. Great pressure has also been placed on younger academics, who receive very limited promotion opportunities. This study offers a significant theoretical contribution to discussion on the changing academic work life and has policy implications for higher education personnel policy in China. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Over the past decade, recruitment in China's labor market has rapidly shifted from offline to online, generating a large number of online advertisements that allow people to study the expectations of employers. In this study, more than 130,000 online advertisements for K-12 teachers were collected to study the requirements and remuneration of China's teacher labor market in the private sector. The data were analyzed through estimations of multiple and quantile regressions. The results indicate that having a postsecondary diploma is a minimum prerequisite for being a teacher, social-emotional skills are highly demanded, and higher-order cognitive skills are highly rewarded in the private teacher labor market. The results also reveal the heterogeneity in the teacher labor market in terms of requirements and remuneration of skills and a pattern that skills complement higher degrees but are alternative to lower degrees in their remunerations. • This study is the first attempt to use online ads to identify effective skills of teachers required by the labor market. • The findings suggest the importance of academic degrees, social-emotional skills and higher-order cognitive skills. • The findings contribute to improving teacher recruitments and training in China from the perspective of the labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to raise the international reputation and quality of higher education in China, the Ministry of Education initiated new university employment reform, which pressed academics to produce more research. Recent employment reform has aggravated the conflict between teaching and research. This study uses mixed methods to investigate how academics perceived the employment reform and how they employed various strategies to handle teaching and research. Our study indicates a trend of deprofessionalization in academic work and an increasing tension between teaching and research. Handling teaching and research required a strong and conscientious effort on the part of academics. Concerted efforts should be made to offer a more supportive environment for academics to balance teaching and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in mining areas is the most important challenge for soil environment management in China. Assessing the actual Cd pollution risk in various mining areas and identifying the core areas requiring supervision can provide a basis for government departments and industries to carry out detailed further investigations in key areas. In this study, we collated published data on metal mine circumjacent soil contaminated by Cd in China from 2002 to 2020 to conduct a comprehensive study on soil cadmium pollution and ecological and health risks in mining areas. The temporal and spatial variations of Cd concentrations and the pollution source were investigated. Results indicated that the Cd concentration in soil was strongly associated with the types of mining area. The Cd pollution in the circumjacent soil of lead-zinc and tungsten mines with high heavy metal pollution discharging coefficient was more serious than the soil around other mines. Identification of temporal and spatial variations for soil Cd in China indicated that the high Cd concentrations were found in the central, southern, and southwestern regions of China, and the distribution of mining activities in these regions are relatively concentrated. Meanwhile, a temporal turning point in the mean soil Cd concentration occurred in these regions in 2012, which indicated that the heavy metal control management policy implemented by the government was effective. The ecological risk of soil Cd pollution around mining areas was moderate to high. Health risk assessment showed that some regions adjacent mining areas had a high non-carcinogenic risk, notably, lead-zinc and tungsten mining areas were more serious. Supervision should focus on reducing ecological risks and protecting the safety of agricultural products rather than concentrating on health risks. The research results provide a reference for the priority management of contaminated soil in mining areas. [Display omitted] • Total levels of Cd in metal mine-associated soils in China are reviewed. • Serious Cd contamination of soils occurs in the central, southern, and southwestern. • Heavy metal management policy led to a turning point in the mean soil Cd concentration. • Compared with other metallic ores, Pb–Zn and W mining areas have more Cd accumulation and serious health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centropages abdominalis Sato, a common cold-water copepod that is distributed widely in the coastal waters of the North Pacific, appears seasonally in winter and spring as the key zooplankton in the Xiangshan Bay, a typical subtropical semi-closed bay in China. Here, we hypothesised that C. abdominalis could produce diapause eggs as an over-summering strategy in late spring as a response to the increasing temperature and day length. We conducted 11 cruises and in situ reproduction experiments from April 2017 to June 2018 to reveal the variation in the reproductive strategies of C. abdominalis and the related environmental factors. The results showed that the revival of diapause eggs in the inner and middle part of the Xiangshan Bay should contribute to the initial population recruitment in early winter. Sustaining subitaneous egg production supported the instantaneous population recruitment in later winter and spring, and diapause eggs were mainly produced at the upper thermal distribution of C. abdominalis (16.12–21.32 °C) to over-summer in late spring. Temperature was the essential environmental factor that affected the shift in reproductive strategy for C. abdominalis , with an optimum temperature of 19.51 °C for diapause egg production and 11.63 °C for subitaneous one in the Xiangshan Bay. Furthermore, the long-day photoperiod possibly acted as a seasonal change signal for C. abdominalis to produce diapause eggs in late spring in the Xiangshan Bay. The timing of diapause egg production for C. abdominalis could be earlier in lower-latitude waters with shorter day length, as an acclimatisation to warmer habitats. Besides, salinity and Chl a concentration had less effects on diapause eggs production of C. abdominalis in this case. Confronted with ocean warming, the diapause egg period of cold-water copepod (like C. abdominalis) would be prolongated, leading to a reduced population appearance period, especially in lower-latitude waters. • Diapause and subitaneous eggs of C. abdominalis show small morphological difference. • C. abdominalis produce diapause eggs at its upper thermal distribution to over-summer. • Long day length might be a signal of summer for C. abdominalis to lay diapause eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying potential sources of soil potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and developing source-oriented health risk assessments in typical mining cities are key for pollution prevention and risk management. To this end, a case study was conducted to explore the pollution characteristics, potential sources, and human health risks of PTEs in Daye City, China. Indices, including the pollution factor (PF), pollution load index (PLI), and geo-accumulation index (I geo), were applied to assess PTE pollution. Cd had the highest value among the detected PTEs, and 82.93% of the sampling sites had moderate pollution levels, with the highest mean I geo value for Cd (2.30). Four potential sources were determined. Cr and Ni originated mainly from natural sources. Zn (91.5%) was exclusively and then Cd (33.1%) was moderately derived from industrial activities. The mixed source of various mineral exploitation smelting, and coal-fired traffic emissions leaded to the accumulation of As, Cd, and Pb. Cu was associated with Cu-related mining and smelting activities. The probabilistic health risk assessment indicated that the non-carcinogenic risks for populations were negligible. Overall, this work provides scientific information for environmental managers to manage soil PTE pollution through the effective management of anthropogenic sources with limited resources and costs. [Display omitted] • Source-oriented probabilistic health risk was assessed via PMF model and MCS. • Industrial activity contributed most to PTE accumulation but posed acceptable risks. • Mixed sources deserve more concern as it contributes substantially to health risks. • Risk management was conducted based on identified priority pollutants and sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cloud water chemistry at Mt. Tai was changing over the past decade. • Chemical speciation of Hg in clouds was found notably changed. • Significantly decreased acidity and increased bromide were the main driving factors. • Continental Br emissions were likely responsible for the high proportion of HgBr 2. • Reduced Hg(II) photoreduction by changed speciation will increase Hg wet deposition. Chemical speciation of mercury (Hg) in clouds largely determines the photochemistry of Hg in the atmosphere and consequently influences Hg deposition on the surface through precipitation. Cloud water chemistry has notably changed over the last decade in response to global changes, however, the effects on Hg speciation remain poorly understood. During summer 2021, we collected sixty cloud water samples at Mt. Tai in eastern China and compared the cloud chemistry and Hg speciation with our previous findings during summer 2015. The results showed that although there were no statistically significant differences in the concentrations of total Hg (THg), dissolved Hg (DHg), and particulate Hg (PHg), there was a distinct shift in DHg species from the predominated Hg-DOM (78.6% in 2015 campaign) to the more homogeneously distributed Hg(OH) 2 (28.4% in 2021 campaign), HgBr 2 (26.5%), Hg-DOM (17.3%) and HgBrOH (17.0%). Changes in cloud water chemistry, particularly the significant increase in pH values to 6.49 ± 0.27 and unexpectedly high levels of bromide ions (Br−, 0.19 ± 0.22 mg L−1), were found to drive the changing of Hg speciation by enhancing Hg(II) hydrolysis and binding by Br−. Elevated Br− originating primarily from the continent likely caused noticeable differences in the dominating DHg species between cloud water sourced from marine and continental regions. The changes in chemical speciation of DHg were estimated to result in a 2.6-fold decrease in Hg(II) photoreduction rate between 2015 and 2021 campaigns (0.178 ± 0.054 h−1 vs. 0.067 ± 0.027 h−1), implying a shortened lifetime of atmospheric Hg and increased ecological risks associated with Hg wet deposition. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Zooplankton biomass peak shifted from summer to spring. • The relative abundance of warm-temperate/warm-water species and small-sized zooplankton increased. • Annual biomass and abundance decreased related to low gelatinization, with low salinity as a potential cause. Warming and eutrophication are universal threats to bay ecosystems. However, the response of zooplankton varies due to diverse environmental settings and species composition. As a long and narrow semi-enclosed bay with low salinity (18–27) in the East China Sea, Xiangshan Bay (XSB) is jointly affected by global warming and the thermal drainage, which makes it an appropriate region for ascertaining the response of zooplankton to warming under low-salinity background. We examined the long-term changes in the abundance, biomass and dominant species of large mesozooplankton (LMZ; >505 μm) over four decades in XSB, and found downward trends in the annual abundance and biomass, and the biomass peak shifting from summer to spring since 2010. In addition, the relative abundance of cold-temperate species decreased, while that of warm-temperate/warm-water species and small-sized zooplankton increased. The decreased LMZ abundance and biomass in XSB were supposed to be related to low gelatinization compared with the other semi-enclosed bays in China, Jiaozhou Bay (JZB) in the Yellow Sea and Daya Bay (DYB) in the South China Sea, where the LMZ biomass and abundance increased or fluctuated mainly linked to the increase in gelatinous zooplankton. Salinity, temperature, and nutrient concentration are important factors affecting gelatinization. By comparing the background salinity and magnitudes of temperature and nutrient increases among the three bays, we speculated that the lower salinity (XSB: 18–27, JZB: 30–32, DYB: 30–34) influenced by freshwater input of the Changjiang River might be a potential factor causing the low gelatinization in XSB, as the similar upward trends in both nutrient concentration and temperature were observed in the three bays. This study suggests that miniaturization with low gelatinization and a decrease in cold-temperate species were the main responses of zooplankton to warming in the low-salinity bay in the East China Sea, which may lead to a specific pelagic ecosystem evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The levels, distribution, possible sources, and inventory of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the eutrophic freshwater Taihu Lake, East China were investigated in this study. Among the target 11 PFAAs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (2.15–73.9 ng L −1 ) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) (

The occurrence of 15 antibiotics classified as sulphonamides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines and trimethoprim in sediment, overlying water, and pore water matrices in Taihu Lake, China was studied. The total concentrations were from 4.1 μg/kg to 731 μg/kg, from 127 ng/L to 1210 ng/L, and from 1.5 ng/L to 216 ng/L in sediment, overlying water and pore water, respectively. Antibiotics in different locations originated from various sources, depending on human, agricultural and aquacultural activities. Composition analysis indicated that human-derived and animal-derived drugs significantly contributed to the total contamination of antibiotics in the lake, indicating the high complexity of contamination sources in Taihu Lake Basin. The in situ sediment–pore water partitioning coefficients were generally greater than sediment–overlying water partitioning coefficients, suggesting continuous inputs into the lake water. This study shows that antibiotics are ubiquitous in all compartments in Taihu Lake, and their potential hazards to the aquatic ecosystem need further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Xinze® is a new capsule formulation of topotecan being made in China which is similar to Hycamtin®, the currently available oral formulation approved in 2007 for the treatment of relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC). As topotecan bioavailability and pharmacokinetic data for Chinese patients is limited, the aim of the study was to assess the absolute bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of Xinze® in Chinese patients with SCLC treated intravenously (i.v.) with 1.5mg/m2/d topotecan (Hycamtin®) on day 1 and treated orally with 1.5mg/m2/d topotecan on day 2. An ultra high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of total topotecan (lactone and carboxylate forms) and of topotecan in the lactone form in human plasma samples. The method was validated with respect to selectivity, extraction recovery, matrix effect, linearity, intra- and inter-day precision, accuracy, and stability. The quantification limits were 0.5ng/mL for total topotecan and 0.1ng/mL for topotecan in the lactone form. The mean absolute bioavailability of total topotecan and topotecan in the lactone form was 42.24±12.9% and 47.18±16.9%, respectively, values which illustrate good systemic exposure. The presented results demonstrated this method can be a sensitive and efficient tool for bioavailability studies of topotecan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It is predicted that oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) in the ocean will expand as a consequence of global warming and environmental pollution. This will affect the overall microbial ecology and microbial nitrogen cycle. As one of the world's largest alluvial estuaries, the Yangtze Estuary has exhibited a seasonal OMZ since the 1980s. In this study, we have uncovered the microbial composition, the patterns of community assembly and the potential for microbial nitrogen cycling within the water column of the Yangtze Estuary, with a particular focus on OMZ. Based on the 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, a specific spatial variation in the composition of prokaryotic communities was observed for each water layer, with the Proteobacteria (46.1%), Bacteroidetes (20.3%), and Cyanobacteria (10.3%) dominant. Stochastic and deterministic processes together shaped the community assembly in the water column. Further, pH was the most important environmental factor influencing prokaryotic composition in the surface water, followed by silicate, PO 4 3- , and distance offshore (p < 0.05). Water depth, NH 4 + , and PO 4 3- were the main factors in the bottom water (p < 0.05). At last, species analysis and marker gene annotation revealed candidate nitrogen cycling performers, and a rich array of nitrogen cycling potential in the bottom water of the Yangtze Estuary. The determined physiochemical parameters and potential for nitrogen respiration suggested that organic nitrogen and NO 3 - (or NO 2 - ) are the preferred nitrogen sources for microorganisms in the Yangtze Estuary OMZ. These findings are expected to advance research on the ecological responses of estuarine oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) to future global climate perturbations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Risk assessment is a critical part of risk management for contaminated sites. However， in the specific management practice of As-contaminated sites， it is difficult to obtain realistic health risks for contaminated sites based on the total amount of pollutants and determined values of the model， thus preventing the control requirements of later remediation to be met. An increasing number of studies have recently been conducting risk assessments by considering bioavailability， modification parameters， and combined probabilistic models. To improve the accuracy of risk assessment results， taking a large As-contaminated site as a case， 432 sampling sites were set up and collected at different depths to analyze the level and distribution characteristics of As pollution， and probabilistic risk assessment was conducted with the modification of model parameters through literature research and Monte Carlo simulation. Then， the impact of traditional methods and probabilistic methods on health risk assessment was explored in comparison. The results indicated that ω （As） in the top soil of the study area ranged from 2.70-97.0 mg·kg -1 ， with a spatial variation coefficient of 0.61 and weaker spatial continuity. The carcinogenic risk and hazard index obtained by the traditional risk assessment method were 2.12E-4 and 8.36， respectively， which obviously overestimated the actual risk level and were not conductive to the refined management of As-contaminated sites. Combined with modification of model parameters and probabilistic risk assessment， the non-carcinogenic risk for adults and children was found to be at an acceptable level， and the carcinogenic risk was reduced by nearly an order of magnitude compared to that in the conventional method. Considering the relative biological effectiveness （RBA） of As， the 95% quantile of the total carcinogenic risk was 1.24E-5， a reduction of up to 36.41% compared to the uncorrected corresponding risk value of 1.95E-5. The carcinogenic risk of soil As for adults and children in the study area exceeded acceptable risk levels 1E-6， with oral ingestion of soil being the primary route of exposure. In addition， the results of the sensitivity analysis of the parameters showed that As concentration， daily oral ingestion rate of soils， and exposure duration of children had relatively larger effects for health risks. This work will provide a methodological and theoretical basis for achieving accurate risk assessment of As-contaminated sites and provide concepts for refined risk management.

Background and Objective: Definity is an ultrasound contrast agent consisting of phospholipids-encapsulated perfluoropropane (PFP), also known as perflutren, microspheres, which is initially designed to enhance echocardiographic ultrasound images. With no pharmacologic action, Definity can increase the backscatter of ultrasound resulting enhanced ultrasound signals. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics (PKs), Pharmacodynamics (PDs) and safety of Definity in healthy male and female Chinese volunteers., Methods: A simple GC-MS method was developed and applied to simultaneously quantify PFP both in human whole blood and in expired air using Perfluorobutane (PFB) as internal standard. Meanwhile, the blood microbubble Doppler intensities were continuously monitored as companion PDs by a Doppler ultrasonography system using a non-imaging method., Results: After intravenous infusion of 10 µL/kg of PFP within 30 seconds, the mean AUC last of the pharmacokinetic analysis set was 0.000653 (uL/mL)*min, the average AUC ∞ was 0.001051 (uL/mL)*min. The main coefficient of variation of parameters were within 30%. In this trial, the blood drug concentration of female subjects was lower than that of males. Female C max , AUC last and AUC ∞ were lower than males', T max and t 1/2 was close to males', V ss and CL were slightly higher than males'. The concentration of PFP in the expired air of the subject reached the maximum value 1-2 min after administration and the PFP accumulation curve in the expired air began to become flat at 9.5-11 min after administration. The PFP in the expired air at the last sampling point of most subjects was still measurable. The results of the analysis showed that female subjects had slightly more and faster PFP excretion via the lungs than males. The change of blood drug concentration in this trial was related to the change process of Doppler signal intensity. The trend of the two was close, but the peak time of blood drug concentration was slightly delayed compared with the peak time of the Doppler signal intensity. The results showed that female t max-pd , t 10 was earlier than male, and women have lower AUC pd than men., Conclusion: The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Definity in blood and expired air were systematically evaluated for the first time in this study. The PK/PD analysis results of this trial showed that the change of blood concentration was related to the change process of Doppler signal intensity, the trend of the two was close and expired air are the main excretion pathways of Definity. Definity was well tolerated by all subjects in the trial., Trial Registration: This study was registered on 08 December 2017 at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (CTR20171087)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Wild resources of Auricularia cornea (A. polytricha) are abundant in China, and genetic diversity and genetic relationships analysis of A. cornea can provide basis for germplasm resource utilization and innovation and molecular marker-assisted breeding. In this study, 22 Auricularia strains collected were identified as A. cornea based on ITS sequence analysis, and its genetic diversity was examined by ISSR and SRAP markers. The results showed that a total of 415 bands were amplified by 11 selected ISSR primers, with an average amplification of 37.73 bands per primer, and the mean values of Ne, I, and H were 1.302, 0.368, and 0.219, respectively. A total of 450 bands were amplified by 10 SRAP primers, with an average of 45 bands per primer, and the average of Ne, I, and H were 1.263, 0.302, and 0.183, respectively. The unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means analysis based on ISSR-SRAP marker data revealed that the genetic similarity coefficient between the tested strains was 0.73-0.97, and the strains could be divided into five groups at 0.742, which had a certain correlation with regional distribution. The results of PCOA and population structure analysis based on ISSR-SRAP data also produced similar results. These results demonstrate the genetic diversity and distinctness among wild A. cornea and provide a theoretical reference for the classification, breeding, germplasm innovation, utilization, and variety protection of A. cornea resources.

The contamination of soil by lead (Pb) is a serious and widespread problem in China, especially in mining areas. This paper summarized the available data regarding Pb-contaminated soils around various metal mines in China. Based on these data, the Pb concentration in the soil and its temporal and spatial changes were analyzed. Potential ecological hazards and adult lead models were also used to estimate ecological and health risks. The results indicated that the concentration of Pb was closely related with the type of mine. Compared with other types of mine, soil around lead-zinc (Pb-Zn) and tin (Sn) mines with high Pb contents in the metallic ores and high pollutant emission coefficient were more strongly polluted by Pb. The characteristic spatial and temporal variations of Pb pollution status in China were clarified, and the results showed that the concentration was high in the southern, southwestern, and central regions of China where many mining areas were located, and the mean value passed a turning point in 2012. Ecological risk assessments indicated that some areas around mines were at considerable to high risk, and the risk was relatively severe in Pb-Zn mining areas. According to the adult lead model, Pb-Zn mines had a greater impact on blood Pb concentration than the other types of mine.

Using diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) is a recently developed alternative method of rapidly evaluating the bioavailability of metals in soil. However, the method has found only limited application in systematic assessment of the bioavailability of cadmium (Cd) in red limestone paddy soils treated with different soil amendments. Of the four methods compared for estimating Cd content of rice grains from plants grown in such soils of central China treated with eleven different soil amendments in pot culture, Cd content of DGT-labile soil was significantly correlated to Cd concentrations in brown rice (R = 0.447, p < 0.01). The other three methods involved CaCl 2 , diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), or NH 4 NO 3 . Some other properties of soil, such as pH, redox potential, content of dissolved organic matter, and cation exchange capacity were also determined. A simple algorithm developed to evaluate the sensitivity of the four methods also confirmed DGT as the most efficient method to predict the bioavailability of Cd in red limestone paddy soils., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in the paper DGT methodology is more sensitive than conventional extraction strategies in assessing amendment-induced soil cadmium availability to rice., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

An in-depth study on the characteristics of coke in the hearths of blast furnaces is of great significance for explaining the mechanism of coke deterioration in blast furnaces. In the present work, the changes in macromorphology, degree of graphitization, and microstructure of the coke taken from different hearth locations of a 5,800 m3 superlarge blast furnace during its intermediate repair period were systematically studied. Significant differences were found between cokes obtained from the edge ("edge coke") and from the center ("center coke") of the hearth in terms of properties and degradation mechanisms. Edge coke was severely eroded by liquid metal, and only a small amount of slag was detected in the coke porosity, whereas center coke was basically free from erosion by liquid metal, and a large amount of slag was detected in the coke porosity. The degree of graphitization of edge coke was higher than that of center coke. The carburizing effect of liquid metal was the main cause of the degradation of edge coke and made it smaller or even disappear. Center coke was degraded due to the combination of two factors: slag inserted into micropores on the surface of center coke loosened the surface structure; and graphite-like flakes that appeared on the center coke surface lowered the strength and caused cracks in the surface., Competing Interests: The authors have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: Authors YST and GHW are paid employees of The Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Coal Conversion and New Carbon Materials. PD and JLZ are paid employee of Iron and Steel Research Institute of Shasteel. QQL is an paid employee of Jiangsu Huade Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. At the same time, QQL is a doctoral student studying in Wuhan University of science and technology. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Coastal eutrophication and its associated harmful algal blooms have emerged as one of the most severe environmental problems worldwide. Seaweed cultivation has been widely encouraged to control eutrophication and algal blooms. Among them, cultivated kelp (Saccharina japonica) dominates primarily by production and area. However, the responses of water quality and phytoplankton community to kelp farming remain unclear. Here, thirteen cruises were conducted in the kelp farms and control areas in the turbid, highly eutrophic Xiangshan Bay of the East China Sea from 2008 to 2015. Results indicated that kelp cultivation slightly increased dissolved oxygen and pH, but reduced dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus. We estimated that kelp harvesting would remove 297 t of nitrogen and 42 t of phosphorus from this bay annually. Because of decreased flow velocity, turbulence, and sediment resuspension, kelp farming greatly reduced suspended solids and increased transparency, resulting in increases in phytoplankton chlorophyll a and abundance. Additionally, kelp farming appreciably increased phytoplankton species number, Marglef richness, and Shannon-Wiener diversity indices by 51.6%, 40.1%, and 13.1%, respectively. Analysis of similarity and similarity percentages demonstrated that phytoplankton community composition differed significantly between the farm and control area, which was mostly attributed to long-chained diatoms and single-celled dinoflagellates. However, after the kelp harvesting, all measurements of water quality and phytoplankton biomass, diversity, and community composition exhibited no significant difference. Our study highlights that kelp cultivation alleviates eutrophication and acidification and enhances phytoplankton diversity, thus providing guidance for macroalgal aquaculture and remediation in eutrophic waters., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Based on the total and available concentrations of heavy metal elements in agricultural soil, and the concentrations of heavy metals in rice collected from Daye city, Hubei province, and the thresholds of available concentrations of heavy metals were derived by species sensitivity distribution (SSD). The over-standard rates of Cd and Cu in the soil were 90.7% and 42.6%, respectively, which indicates that agricultural soil in Daye city exhibits signs of Cd and Cu pollution. The rates of Cd and Pb were 50.9% and 89.8% in brown rice samples, respectively, which exceeds the safety standards of agricultural products. The SSD curves for Cd and Pb were fitted with BurrⅢ distribution based on the ratio of the concentration in brown rice and the available concentration in the soil. The hazardous concentrations (HC 5 ) were derived inversely from the agriculture product safety standards. The thresholds of available Cd and Pb were 0.02 mg·kg -1 and 0.005 mg·kg -1 , respectively. Compared with those of available Cd in other countries and studies, the threshold of available Cd is scientifically shown to be reasonable. Soil is not necessarily the main source of Pb in rice; thus, the rice species does not represent the derivation of the threshold of available Pb. Moreover, a lack of the accumulation data of Pb at low accumulation levels and multiple soil pollution levels leads to unreliable derivation. The results indicate that the threshold of available Pb does not have practical significance in soil pollution control.

Commercial marine organisms were collected from the coast of Xiangshan Bay to investigate the concentrations of eight heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and evaluate the potential health risks. The results indicated considerable variations in the heavy metal concentrations among six species groups, of them mollusks (seasnail, benthic bivalve, and oyster) generally contained relative high levels of most metals, followed by crustaceans (crab and shrimp), by contrast, fish had low concentrations of all metals, except Hg. Three heavy metal groups were identified to interpret the accumulative characteristics in the marine organisms. Spatial distributions illustrated the geographical variations of heavy metal concentrations in the sampling areas. Moreover, maricultured organisms demonstrated lower heavy metal concentrations than did the wild. Health risks of most heavy metals exposed from marine organism consumption were safe, except for As which is associated with the high target cancer risk values., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Myeloid leukemia factor 1-interacting protein (MLF1IP) has been found to be involved in the progression of several malignancies. The potential correlation between MLF1IP and clinical outcome in patients with luminal breast cancer, however, remains unknown. In the present study, we demonstrated that MLF1IP was significantly upregulated in luminal breast cancer tissue compared with adjacent normal tissue both in validated cohort and TCGA cohort. Upregulated expression of MLF1IP was correlated with more often lymph node metastasis and negative progesterone receptor expression in TCGA cohorts. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that patients with high MLF1IP expression had significantly lower overall survival. Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed that high MLF1IP expression was independent high risk factor as well as old age (>60) and distant metastasis. This study provides new insights and evidences that MLF1IP over-expression plays important roles in progression of luminal breast cancer. However, the precise cellular mechanisms for MLF1IP in luminal breast cancer need to be further explored., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Oral topotecan (Hycamtin(®)) has been recently approved for the treatment of relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in 2007, however, the bioavailability and pharmacokinetic data of topotecan for Chinese patients is still limited. Xinze(®) is a new and the only capsule formulation of topotecan used in China that is similar to Hycamtin(®). The current study aimed to investigate the absolute bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of Xinze(®) in Chinese patients with advanced cancers. On day 1, an IV dose of 1.5 mg/m(2)/d as a 30 min continuous infusion was administered. Patients took the oral topotecan at one of two dose levels: 1.5 mg/m(2)/d (six patients) or 1.9 mg/m(2)/d (seven patients) on day 2. Plasma pharmacokinetics of total topotecan and topotecan in the lactone form were performed on both days using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified in exon 5 (421C>A) and in exon 2 (34G>A) in ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2 (ABCG2) were analyzed by direct sequencing. Safety assessments were performed throughout the study. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) reached at 1-2 h and the elimination half-life time (T1/2) was approximately 4.2 h after oral administration. The absolute bioavailability of total topotecan in the 1.5 mg/m(2)/d and 1.9 mg/m(2)/d groups averaged 41.23 ± 11.8% and 36.00 ± 14.8%, respectively. The patients with heterozygous SNPs had essentially the same bioavailability and pharmacokinetics. The bioavailability of topotecan after oral administration illustrates good systemic exposure at dosages of 1.5 mg/m(2)/d and 1.9 mg/m(2)/d over a five-day schedule in Chinese patients. On a dose-normalized basis, the values of Cmax and AUC0-t for total topotecan in Chinese patients were higher than in Caucasians following oral and intravenous administration, while the T1/2 was consistent., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Ecological niche has close relations with inter-species competition and resources utilization, and thus, can be used as an indicator to symbolize the resources utilization capability of certain groups of related species. In this paper, the niche breadth and overlap of the dominant zooplankton species in the Sanmen Bay of Zhejiang were determined by Shannon's formula and Petraitis index, respectively, and the differentiation of the niche was studied by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), aiming to approach the distribution features of coastal zooplankton and related affecting factors in the Bay. In the study area, some coastal species such as Zonosagitta bedoti, Centropages dorsispinatus, and brachyuran larvae had wider niche breadth than the pelagic species such as Flaccisagitta enflata and Pseudeuphausia sinica, and the species of different groups with prey-predator relation had a greater niche overlap than those of the same groups without this relation. The CCA analysis showed that the spatial distribution of the zooplankton was more affected by water temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll a content rather than nutrients. The spatial niche of the zooplankton species was correlated with their living habit, inter-species competition, and prey- predator relationship.

Background: We examined differences in pathogenicity in pigs from China that had been experimentally infected with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)., Methods: We compared pathogenic characteristics of a field isolate (GX-1/2008F), two PRRSV isolates (HN-1/2008, YN-1/2008) propagated in cells, and GX-1/2008F that had been propagated in cells (GX-1/2008). The clinical courses, along with humoral and cell-mediated responses, were monitored for 21 days post-infection (DPI). Animals were sacrificed and tissue samples used for gross pathological, histopathological and ultrastructure examination., Results: At 2-3 DPI, animals infected with cell-propagated viruses exhibited signs of coughing, anorexia and fever. However their rectal temperature did not exceed 40.5°C. Viremia was detectable as early as 3 DPI in animals infected with HN-1/2008 and YN-1/2008. Animals inoculated with GX-1/2008F displayed clinical signs at 6 DPI; the rectal temperature of two animals in this group exceeded 41.0°C, with viremia first detected at 7 DPI. Seroconversion for all challenged pigs, except those infected with GX-1/2008, was seen as early as 7 DPI. All of these pigs had fully seroconverted by 11 DPI. All animals challenged with GX-1/2008 remained seronegative until the end of the experiment. Innate immunity was inhibited, with levels of IFN-α and IL-1 not significantly different between control and infected animals. The cytokines IFN-γ and IL-6 transiently increased during acute infection. All virus strains caused gross lesions including multifocal interstitial pneumonia and hyperplasia of lymph nodes. Inflammation of the stomach and small intestine was also observed. Lesions in the group infected with GX-1/2008F were more serious than in other groups. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that alveolar macrophages, plasmacytes and lymphocytes had fractured cytomembranes, and hepatocytes had disrupted organelles and swollen mitochondria., Conclusions: The pathogenicity of the PRRSV field isolate became attenuated when propagated in MARC-145 cells. Tissue tropism of highly pathogenic strains prevailing in China was altered compared with classical PRRSV strains. The observed damage to immune cells and modulation of cytokine production could be mechanisms that PRRSV employs to evade host immune responses.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is an economically important swine disease affecting swine worldwide. Northwest China has a sparse pig population and there is no comprehensive information currently available on PRRSV infection. In this study, we analyzed the epidemiological features and genetic diversity of PRRSV from this region. 322 field-isolated tissues or serum samples were collected from aborted pig fetuses or pigs with respiratory disease from 15 herds, twice over a period of 2 years. PRRSV infection was determined and virus strains were classified by the sequencing of GP5. We found that 35.9 % of the animals were PRRSV-positive, and the average prevalence in 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 was 46.5 and 29.3 %, respectively. To further investigate the genetic divergence of PRRSV samples collected from 2007 to 2010, 32 strains were isolated for GP5 sequencing and analysis, and phylogenetic trees were created based on GP5 amino acid sequences. All PRRSVs were of the North American genotype and belonged to the highly pathogenic HP-PRRSV subgenotype. Isolates from the Xinjiang province formed a tightly clustered branch and were closely related to an evolutionary intermediate subgroup isolate. Virus sequences from 2007 to 2008 were compared with those from 2009 to 2010 from the same herd. New mutations were found in isolates after 2009 and focused on nucleotides in the GP5 antibody decoy epitope. PRRSV strains in Northwest China from 2007 to 2010 were similar to those from other regions of China, with some regional characteristics. These results contribute to the knowledge of PRRSV epidemiology in China.

Continuous chemical pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems in the Jiaojiang Estuary of the East Sea (China). This chemical pollution has significantly changed the estuarine environmental conditions and may have profoundly influenced the distribution of anammox bacterial communities in this estuary. Here, we investigated the influence of chemical pollution on the community composition, diversity and abundance of anammox bacteria in Jiaojiang estuarine sediments. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes showed that the majority of anammox bacterial sequences retrieved from the estuarine intertidal sediments were associated with Kuenenia. In contrast, different anammox communities composed of Brocadia, Kuenenia, Scalindua and Jettenia were found in the estuarine subtidal sediments. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that the sediment nitrobenzene and organic content had significant impacts on the distribution of anammox communities in the intertidal sediments. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the diversity of anammox bacteria in the intertidal sediments was positively correlated with the organic content. In contrast, RDA results showed that the nitrobenzene content, NO(3)(-) concentration and salinity significantly influenced the distribution of anammox communities in the subtidal sediments. The diversity and relative abundance of anammox bacteria in the subtidal sediments were positively correlated with NO(3)(-) concentration.

In August 15-28, 2009, a preliminary study was conducted on the spatial distribution characteristics of heterotrophic bacteria (HB), inorganic phosphate bacteria (IPB), organic phosphate bacteria (OPB), denitrifying bacteria (DB), and ammonifying bacteria (AB) in the hypoxic zone of Yangtze River Estuary. In the water surface, water bottom, and sediment surface of the zone, the average quantity of AB was the largest, being 307.52 x 10(4) cells x L(-1), 184.50 x 10(4) cells x L(-1), 199.97 x 10(2) cells x g(-1), followed by that of HB (87.35 x 10(4) cfu x L(-1), 86.85 x 10(4) cfu x L(-1), and 19.56 x 10(2) cfu x g(-1)), and of OPB (19.26 x 10(4) cfu x L(-1), 18.82 x 10(4) cfu x L(-1), and 19.56 x10(2) cfu x g(-1), respectively). IPB was only observed within the Yangtze Estuary, south passage of the Estuary, and Zhoushan inshore, and its average quantity in the water surface, water bottom, and sediment surface was 18.50 x 10(4) cfu x L(-1), 31.00 x 10(4) cfu x L(-1), and 7.17 x 10(2) cfu x g(-1) respectively. DB had a wide distribution, but its average quantity was low, being 3.94 x 10(4) cells x L(-1), 23.08 x 10(4) cells x L(-1), and 6.22 x 10(2) cells x g(-1) in the water surface, water bottom, and sediment surface, respectively. Salinity, NO3(-)-N, PO4(3-)-P, SiO3(2)-Si, and pH were the main factors affecting the distribution of HB, IPB, OPB, and DB in water body and sediment surface. The HB, IPB, and OPB in water bottom and sediment surface had significant positive correlation with water temperature; the HB and OPB in water bottom and the IPB in sediment surface were significantly positively correlated with dissolved oxygen (DO); while the AB in sediment surface was significantly negatively correlated with DO. Cluster analysis showed that hypoxia affected the bacterial community structure in sediment surface.

An investigation was made on the abundance distribution and its variation of virioplankton in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent East China Sea in summer 2006 and winter 2007. The virus direct count (VDC) was quantified by fluorescent microscopy. In summer 2006, the VDC was from 2.22 x 10(6) to 9.97 x 10(7) ind x m(-1), being higher in the surface sea water of B area (122.5 degrees-123.5 degrees E); in winter 2007, the VDC was from 1.99 x 10(6) to 2.66 x 10(7) ind x mh(-1), being higher in coastal A area (120.5 degrees-122.5 degrees E) and decreased from nearshore waters to offshore waters. In summer, the VDC had close relationships with bacteriaplankton biomass and chlorophylla concentration but less relationship with nutrients concentration (P > 0.05); in winter, the VDC was closely related to bacteriaplankton biomass and nutrients concentration but less related to chlorophyll-a concentration (P > 0.05). The abundance distribution pattern of virioplankton showed significant seasonal variability, with the VDC significantly larger in summer than in winter (P < 0.01), which was mainly decided by the distribution of the viral host, and partly by the nutrients concentration in wintertime.