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To develop the Chinese version of Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) and examine its psychometric properties, we investigated a sample of 689 non-clinical and 309 clinical participants and found this measurement had good acceptability, internal reliability, test-retest reliability and convergent validity; it had moderate correlations with the Schwartz Outcome Scale and Symptom Check List-90, which showed an acceptable concurrent validity. Specifically, we explored the cut-off line of clinical criterion and found a g factor plus three-factor solution better than original four-domain model in Chinese context. The CORE-OM is a valid tool with referenced cut-offs to measure clinical outcomes, which can bridge the gap in routine clinical evaluation in China.

Accurate cropland map serves as the cornerstone of effective agricultural monitoring. Despite the continuous enrichment of remotely sensed cropland maps, pervasive inconsistencies have impeded their further application. This issue is particularly evident in areas with limited valid observations, such as southwestern China, which is characterized by its complex topography and fragmented parcels. In this study, we constructed multi-sourced samples independent of the data producers, taking advantage of open-source validation datasets and sampling to rectify the accuracy of ten contemporary cropland maps in southwestern China, decoded their inconsistencies, and generated a refined cropland map (CroplandSyn) by leveraging ten state-of-the-art remotely sensed cropland maps released from 2021 onwards using the self-adaptive threshold method. Validations, conducted at both prefecture and county scales, underscored the superiority of the refined cropland map, aligning more closely with national land survey data. The refined cropland map and samples are publicly available to users. Our study offers valuable insights for improving agricultural practices and land management in under-monitored areas by providing high-quality cropland maps and validation datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the hydrological processes on the Loess Plateau have undergone significant changes due to the combined effects of climate change and human activities. This study investigates the Qin River basin, the core area of the Loess Plateau. Between 1971 and 2000, the hydrometeorology of the flood season in the Qin basin on the Loess Plateau in China changed abruptly in 1982 and 1992. This study uses distributed hydrologic modeling and statistical analysis to distinguish the spatial and temporal impacts of climate change and human activities. The fastest dynamic changes in land use occurred in grassland and construction land, accounting for 0.36% and −0.1%, respectively, from 1982 to 1991. From 1992 to 2000, it was 0.29% and 0.3%, respectively. The increase in basin area where the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index increased was 95%. However, except for significant changes in runoff from 1981 to 1992, there were no significant changes in precipitation, runoff, and temperature during other flood seasons. During the two studied variation periods, from 1982 to 1991 and from 1992 to 2000, the contribution rate of climate change to flood season runoff ( C C l i m a t e ) decreased from 83.26% to 74.47%, while the contribution rate of human activity disturbance to flood season runoff ( C h u m a n ) increased from 16.74% to 25.53%. In terms of spatial distribution, from 1982 to 1991, areas with a C h u m a n > 50% were primarily concentrated in the upper reaches of the basin, while from 1992–2000, these areas shifted to the lower reaches. This study offers valuable insights for water resource planning and soil conservation measures in the Loess Plateau and similar arid regions worldwide, aiming to ensure water resource safety and sustainability in response to climate change and human interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-impact developments (LIDs) have emerged as effective strategies for mitigating the adverse impacts of urbanization on river environments. This study aims to enhance river environment quality by examining the effects of LIDs and land use/cover change (LUCC) in the context of river environment and hydrological conditions. Using the Stormwater Management Model (SWMM) in an urban river setting, the study investigates the impact of LIDs on urban river water volume. An analysis of river runoff quality and quantity is conducted, followed by the development of an optimal river water regulation scheme through a multi-objective ecological scheduling model. The results reveal that the incorporation of LIDs can substantially decrease river runoff yield for varying recurrence periods of design rainstorms. Consequently, the flood peak reduction rate ranged from 10% to 18%, and the flood volume experienced a reduction of 10–29% in the study area. The combination of river water regulation, LIDs and LUCC leads to a decrease in river water volume within the lower river channel by up to 47% especially in a typical dry year and dry season, accompanied by a decline in river flow velocity and water self-purification capacity. A risk-based multi-objective stochastic optimization model is employed to ensure sustainable management of urban river runoff in terms of both quantity and quality. This research contributes to the advancement of knowledge in sustainable basin management practices and offers practical insights for policymakers involved in the management of water resources and environmental conservation in semi-arid basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Styphnolobium japonicum L. is a commonly consumed plant in China, known for its medicinal and nutritional benefits. This study focuses on the medicinal properties influenced by flavonoid metabolites, which vary during flower development. Utilizing full-length transcriptome sequencing on S. japonicum flowers, we observed changes in gene expression levels as the flowers progressed through growth stages. During stages S1 and S2, key genes related to flavonoid synthesis (PAL, 4CL, CHS, F3H, etc.) exhibited heightened expression. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified regulatory genes (MYB, bHLH, WRKY) potentially involved in the regulatory network with flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes. Our findings propose a regulatory mechanism for flavonoid synthesis in S. japonicum flowers, elucidating the genetic underpinnings of this process. The identified candidate genes present opportunities for genetic enhancements in S. japonicum, offering insights into potential applications for improving its medicinal attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radio occultation method, one of the methods used to provide planetary atmospheric profiles with high vertical resolution, was applied to China's first Mars mission, Tianwen-1. We carried out observations based on the Chinese Deep Space Network, and one-way, two-way, and three-way modes were used for Doppler observations from the Tianwen-1 spacecraft. We successfully obtained effective observations from Tianwen-1 on 22 and 25 March 2022. An inversion system developed for Tianwen-1 radio occultation observations enabled the derivation of neutral atmospheric density, pressure, temperature, and electron density profiles of Mars. Utilizing one-way tracking data, Martian ionospheric electron density profiles were retrieved at latitudes between 68.7 and 70.7 degrees (N). However, the presence of strong random walk noise in one-way tracking data led to poor inversion results. Meanwhile, Martian ionospheric electron density and neutral atmosphere profiles were extracted from two-way and three-way tracking data at latitudes between 55.1 and 57.0 degrees (S) on 22 March and at latitudes between 62.8 and 63.4 degrees (S) on 25 March. Importantly, our inversion results from Tianwen-1 maintained consistency with results from the Mars Express and the Chapman theory (mainly in the M2 layer). Through two days' observation experiments, we established and verified the occultation solution system and prepared for the follow-up occultation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because China produces the most crayfish in the world, safe solutions must be improved to mitigate the risks of ongoing heavy metal stressors accumulation. This study aimed to use Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a bioremediation agent to counteract the harmful effect of cadmium (Cd) on crayfish (Procambarus clarkia). Our study used three concentrations of S. cerevisiae on crayfish feed to assess their Cd toxicity remediation effect by measuring total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the biomarkers related to oxidative stress like malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl derivates (PCO), and DNA–protein crosslink (DPC). A graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy device was used to determine Cd contents in crayfish. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of lysozyme (LSZ), metallothionein (MT), and prophenoloxidase (proPO) were evaluated before and following the addition of S. cerevisiae. The results indicated that S. cerevisae at 5% supplemented in fundamental feed exhibited the best removal effect, and Cd removal rates at days 4th, 8th, 12th, and 21st were 12, 19, 29.7, and 66.45%, respectively, which were significantly higher than the basal diet of crayfish. The addition of S. cerevisiae increased TAC levels. On the other hand, it decreased MDA, PCO, and DPC, which had risen due to Cd exposure. Furthermore, it increased the expression of proPO, which was reduced by Cd exposure, and decreased the expression of LSZ and MT, acting in the opposite direction of Cd exposure alone. These findings demonstrated that feeding S. cerevisiae effectively reduces the Cd from crayfish and could be used to develop Cd-free crayfish-based foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the response characteristics of various hydrological factors to water conservancy projects area in basin and evaluating their impact on the ecological environment are crucial for ecological protection and restoration on the Loess Plateau, China, with a complex environment. In this study, we employed a geomorphology‐based hydrological model to simulate the hydrological elements of the Qinhe River Basin on the Loess Plateau. We explored the response characteristics of the water cycle and hydrological processes to the construction of reservoirs in the basin. Additionally, we also examined multiyear changes in peak flood volume and sediment discharge during flood seasons influenced by reservoirs. The sub‐basins hosting reservoirs initialled an increase in evaporation, followed by a decrease. During the change periods, both runoff and soil water decreased, but remained higher than the mean values for the basin during the same period. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index of sub‐basins associated with five reservoirs was obviously higher than the mean value for the basin during the same period. The peak flood volume and sediment discharge in the basin were characterized by decreasing trends, with the latter showing weak sustainability. The value of each index for a sub‐basin associated with a reservoir was higher than the average value for the basin. The construction and operation of reservoirs had a positive impact on the ecology of the basin. Water and soil conservation measures, including sediment regulation and storage using reservoirs, effectively decreased water hazard and soil erosion in the basin. This study provides a scientific basis for the construction of water conservancy projects and ecological governance in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elucidation of species diversity and distribution is critical within the fields of evolution, genetics, and conservation. The genus Sibynophis contains rare snakes that have historically received little attention. In this study, we conducted comprehensive sampling and use both mitochondrial and nuclear genetic markers to explore Sibynophis species diversity within China. Our findings revealed that S. c. miyiensis should be considered synonymous with S. c. grahami, and S. c. grahami should be gave a specific rank as S. grahami. In addition, we discovered S. triangularis was new to China and Myanmar. Based on the specimens and molecular phylogeny results, we redefined the species distribution boundaries of each Chinese species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats are reservoir hosts for many zoonotic viruses. Despite this, relatively little is known about the diversity and abundance of viruses within individual bats, and hence the frequency of virus co-infection and spillover among them. We characterize the mammal-associated viruses in 149 individual bats sampled from Yunnan province, China, using an unbiased meta-transcriptomics approach. This reveals a high frequency of virus co-infection (simultaneous infection of bat individuals by multiple viral species) and spillover among the animals studied, which may in turn facilitate virus recombination and reassortment. Of note, we identify five viral species that are likely to be pathogenic to humans or livestock, based on phylogenetic relatedness to known pathogens or in vitro receptor binding assays. This includes a novel recombinant SARS-like coronavirus that is closely related to both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. In vitro assays indicate that this recombinant virus can utilize the human ACE2 receptor such that it is likely to be of increased emergence risk. Our study highlights the common occurrence of co-infection and spillover of bat viruses and their implications for virus emergence. Viral diversity and abundance in bats are incompletely understood. Here, analyzing individual bat viromes, the authors observe a high frequency of co-infection and spillover among the animals and identify viruses with the potential to infect humans or livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ulmus mianzhuensis is an endemic tree species in China with high ornamental and economic value. Currently, little is known regarding its genomic architecture, phylogenetic position, or adaptive evolution. Here, we sequenced the complete chloroplast genome (cp genome) of U. mianzhuensis and further compared the variations in gene organization and structure within Ulmus species to define their genomic evolution, then reconstructed the phylogenomic relationship of 31 related Ulmus species to explore the systematic position of U. mianzhuensis and the utility of cp genome for resolving phylogenetics among Ulmus species. Results: Our results revealed that all the Ulmus species exhibited a typical quadripartite structure, with a large single copy (LSC) region of 87,170 − 88,408 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,650 − 19,038 bp and an inverted repeat (IR) region of 26,288 − 26,546 bp. Within Ulmus species, gene structure and content of cp genomes were highly conserved, although slight variations were found in the boundary of SC/IR regions. Moreover, genome-wide sliding window analysis uncovered the variability of ndhC-trnV-UAC, ndhF-rpl32, and psbI-trnS-GCU were higher among 31 Ulmus that may be useful for the population genetics and potential DNA barcodes. Two genes (rps15 and atpF) were further detected under a positive selection of Ulmus species. Comparative phylogenetic analysis based on the cp genome and protein-coding genes revealed consistent topology that U. mianzhuensis is a sister group to U. parvifolia (sect. Microptelea) with a relatively low-level nucleotide variation of the cp genome. Additionally, our analyses also found that the traditional taxonomic system of five sections in Ulmus is not supported by the current phylogenomic topology with a nested evolutionary relationship between sections. Conclusions: Features of the cp genome length, GC content, organization, and gene order were highly conserved within Ulmus. Furthermore, molecular evidence from the low variation of the cp genome suggested that U. mianzhuensis should be merged into U. parvifolia and regarded as a subspecies of U. parvifolia. Overall, we demonstrated that the cp genome provides valuable information for understanding the genetic variation and phylogenetic relationship in Ulmus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ecology 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.)

Airglow observation is a very effective method to investigate plasma bubbles, and can obtain their horizontal structure. In this study, the image processing method was used to process airglow data, including image enhancement, azimuth correction, and image projection, and the clear image products of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) were obtained. Based on the optical data of the airglow imager in Hainan, we investigated the main optical features of EPBs, and statistically analyzed the occurrence of EPBs from September 2014 to August 2015. The observation results show that EPB exhibits plume-shaped structures, usually tilting westward, and EPB extends to a long distance along the geomagnetic field lines. It is found that the west wall of EPB is relatively stable, while there are some bifurcations on the east wall of EPB, and the bifurcation of EPB becomes more pronounced with time. Moreover, the spatial scale of EPB gradually increases with time, which is about several hundred kilometers, and the drift velocity of EPB is in the range of 40–130 m/s (+/−20 m/s). The statistical results show that EPBs mainly occur in the months of September to November and February to April, with a higher occurrence rate. In terms of seasonal occurrence, EPBs tend to appear more frequently in spring and autumn, and the occurrence rate of EPBs is relatively low in winter and summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate extraction of cropland distribution information using remote sensing technology is a key step in the monitoring, protection, and sustainable development of black soil. To obtain precise spatial distribution of cropland, an information extraction method is developed based on a fractal algorithm integrating temporal and spatial features. The method extracts multi-seasonal fractal features from the Landsat 8 OLI remote sensing data. Its efficiency is demonstrated using black soil in Lishu County, Northeast China. First, each pixel's upper and lower fractal signals are calculated using a blanket covering method based on the Landsat 8 OLI remote sensing data in the spring, summer, and autumn seasons. The fractal characteristics of the cropland and other land-cover types are analyzed and compared. Second, the ninth lower fractal scale is selected as the feature scale to extract the spatial distribution of cropland in Lishu County. The cropland vector data, the European Space Agency (ESA) WorldCover data, and the statistical yearbook from the same period are used to assess accuracy. Finally, a comparative analysis of this study and existing products at different scales is carried out, and the point matching degree and area matching degree are evaluated. The results show that the point matching degree and the area matching degree of cropland extraction using the multi-seasonal fractal features are 90.66% and 96.21%, and 95.33% and 83.52%, respectively, which are highly consistent with the statistical data provided by the local government. The extracted accuracy of cropland is much better than that of existing products at different scales due to the contribution of the multi-seasonal fractal features. This method can be used to accurately extract cropland information to monitor changes in black soil, and it can be used to support the conservation and development of black soil in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Animal Ecology 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.)

Human-induced biodiversity loss negatively affects ecosystem function, but the interactive effects of biodiversity change across trophic levels remain insufficiently understood. We sampled arboreal spiders and lepidopteran larvae across seasons in 2 years in a subtropical tree diversity experiment, and then disentangled the links between tree diversity and arthropod predator diversity by deconstructing the pathways among multiple components of diversity (taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional) with structural equation models. We found that herbivores were major mediators of plant species richness effects on abundance, species richness, functional and phylogenetic diversity of predators, while phylogenetic, functional and structural diversity of trees were also important mediators of this process. However, the strength and direction differed between functional, structural and phylogenetic diversity effects, indicating different underlying mechanisms for predator community assembly. Abundance and multiple diversity components of predators were consistently affected by tree functional diversity, indicating that the variation in structure and environment caused by plant functional composition might play key roles in predator community assembly. Our study highlights the importance of an integrated approach based on multiple biodiversity components in understanding the consequences of biodiversity loss in multitrophic communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ammonium and nitrate are the main components of anthropogenic nitrogen (N) from atmosphere, while their ratio varies worldwide. However, it remains unclear whether forest soil ecosystem changes differ when various ratios of mixed N are added. Methods: Ammonium and nitrate were mixed in different ratios (3:7, 4:6, 5:5, 6:4, and 7:3) and forest soils were fertilized for four years. Then, the soil pH, microbial biomass, enzymatic activities, and organic carbon (SOC) were determined. The potential mechanism was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results: Ammonium addition induced a greater fungal biomass decrease than nitrate addition (-0.618 vs. -0.329). The fungal biomass decrease further led to a decline in degradation enzymes, which resulted in SOC accumulation. Phosphatase activity increased and correlated with C-degrading enzymatic activities after N addition, indicating that phosphorous may become the limiting factor that controls degradation. Both ammonium and nitrate addition caused soil acidification (P < 0.05), but the acidification did not affect the enzymatic activities (P > 0.05). Moreover, when the added mixed N component ratios were closer to the ambient N component ratios, fewer changes in soil microbial biomass, enzymatic activities, and SOC were observed. This can be explained by the home-field advantage, because soil microbes may have adapted more readily to the ambient N components of the sample site and display fewer responses when the added N is nearly similar to the ambient N types. Conclusion: When designing N addition field experiments, the type of N compounds should be considered, besides the amount and duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Functional Ecology 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.)

Background. Mainland China, the world's most populous region, experienced a large-scale coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Existing infodemiology studies have primarily concentrated on the prospective surveil-lance of confirmed cases or symptoms which met the criterion for investigators; nevertheless, the actual impact regarding COVID-19 on the public and subsequent attitudes of different groups towards the COVID-19 epidemic were neglected. Methods. This study aimed to examine the public web-based search trends and behavior patterns related to COVID-19 outbreaks in mainland China by using hot words and Baidu Index (BI). The initial hot words (the high-frequency words on the Internet) and the epidemic data (2019/12/01-2021/11/30) were mined from infodemiology platforms. The final hot words table was established by two-rounds of hot words screening and double-level hot words classification. Temporal distribution and demographic portraits of COVID-19 were queried by search trends service supplied from BI to perform the correlation analysis. Further, we used the parameter estimation to quantitatively forecast the geographical distribution of COVID-19 in the future. Results. The final English-Chinese bilingual table was established including six domains and 32 subordinate hot words. According to the temporal distribution of domains and subordinate hot words in 2020 and 2021, the peaks of searching subordinate hot words and COVID-19 outbreak periods had significant temporal correlation and the subordinate hot words in COVID-19 Related and Territory domains were reliable for COVID-19 surveillance. Gender distribution results showed that Territory domain (the male proportion: 67.69%; standard deviation (SD): 5.88%) and Symptoms/Symptom and Public Health (the female proportion: 57.95%, 56.61%; SD: 0, 9.06%) domains were searched more by male and female groups respectively. The results of age distribution of hot words showed that people aged 20-50 (middle-aged people) had a higher online search intensity, and the group of 20-29, 30-39 years old focused more on Media and Symptoms/Symptom (proportion: 45.43%, 51.66%; SD: 15.37%, 16.59%) domains respectively. Finally, based on frequency rankings of searching hot words and confirmed cases in Mainland China, the epidemic situation of provinces and Chinese administrative divisions were divided into 5 levels of early-warning regions. Central, East and South China regions would be impacted again by the COVID-19 in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-borne fungal diseases are always a threat to wheat production. Developing molecular markers is helpful in early diagnosis and precautionary treatment of these diseases. In this study, a total of 42 Rhizoctonia isolates and 11 Fusarium isolates were obtained from 84 samples of diseased wheat plants collected from 11 locations in China. Rhizoctonia cerealis (Rc) and Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fpg) were the most abundant species in the majority of the sampling regions, accounting for 77.4% and 11.3% of the total isolates, respectively. Eight internal transcribed spacer (ITS) types of Rc were defined based on ITS sequencing identification, among which the ITS type I was the most predominant types isolated in all test regions. Based on the ITS sequences of all isolates, two specific markers were developed to distinguish Rc, Rhizoctonia solani (Rs) and three species of Fusarium at the DNA level. These markers were used to successfully detect 53 isolates of Rc, Rs and Fusarium collected in the study. Identification results by markers developed in this work were further confirmed by ITS sequencing. These markers could be used to detect the specific infective pathogen in diseased wheat seedlings or soil residues in fields, which would then be useful for early prevention and treatment of diseases sharp eyespot (SE) and Fusarium crown rot (FCR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J. E. Smith) is a migratory pest that lacks diapause and has raised widespread concern in recent years due to its global dispersal and infestation. Seasonal environmental changes lead to its large-scale seasonal activities, and quantitative simulations of its dispersal patterns and spatiotemporal distribution facilitate integrated pest management. Based on remote sensing data and meteorological assimilation products, we constructed a mechanistic model of the dynamic distribution of FAW (FAW-DDM) by integrating weather-driven flight of FAW with host plant phenology and environmental suitability. The potential distribution of FAW in China from February to August 2020 was simulated. The results showed a significant linear relationship between the dates of the first simulated invasion and the first observed invasion of FAW in 125 cities (R2 = 0.623; p < 0.001). From February to April, FAW was distributed in the Southwestern and Southern Mountain maize regions mainly due to environmental influences. From May to June, FAW spread rapidly, and reached the Huanghuaihai and North China maize regions between June to August. Our results can help in developing pest prevention and control strategies with data on specific times and locations, reducing the impact of FAW on food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borehole cataloguing is an important task in geological drilling. Traditional manual cataloguing provides the stratification of underground boreholes based on changes in core lithology. This paper proposes a novel borehole cataloguing method using a drilling process monitoring (DPM) system. This DPM cataloguing method stratifies a borehole according to the drilling speed through the rock. A 102 m borehole was drilled and cored in Baota district, Yan'an city, Shaanxi Province, China. The rock-breaking response parameters of the drill bit displacement, drill rod rotation speed and inlet pipe and outlet pipe oil pressures were monitored throughout the drilling process, and the drilling depth-penetration rate curve during the net drilling process was obtained. The changes in drilling speed show that the DPM cataloguing can identify the depths of the layer interfaces of the borehole and describe the stratification. The interface depth values obtained by DPM have little difference from the interface depth values obtained by manual cataloguing, and the errors are between −0.04% and 4.29%. From the DPM stratification results, the engineering quality evaluation of the rock mass can be realized without coring. DPM is fast, convenient, accurate, can greatly improve the efficiency of existing catalogues, and can be applied to scientific research in any underground space. DPM is a measurement-while-drilling technology. According to DPM data, the operating state of a drilling rig and the parameter changes while drilling can be obtained in situ and in real time throughout the drilling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles (EVs) are now widely acknowledged as ideal means of transportation in future, in terms of energy conservation and environmental protection for urban governance. EV lease service is an effective measure to promote the use of EVs and has gained the support of many countries. In this article, a comprehensive pricing scheme is developed to optimize the annual operations profit for EV lease service based on mileage-based pricing (MBP), where the profit is defined as the revenue subtracted by the maintenance cost. Different from the traditional MBP for vehicle lease service, our model characterizes how the grade level of EVs affects the maintenance cost after each failure. Moreover, the lease service is modeled as a queuing system where each consumer has the probability choosing the MBP by comparing the service value and his expense. An enumerative algorithm is developed to find the optimal pricing as well as analyze the influence of parameters on the optimal profit. The algorithm is implemented in the pricing of an EV lease company in China. The results show that the optimal pricing will increase with service rate, consumer arrival rate, and the service value from lessor, but decrease with waiting cost of consumers. Differential pricing strategies are also proposed to resolve the conflict goals of lessors and consumers, which can further boost lessors’ profit and raise consumers’ satisfaction level. The results show that MBP with differential pricing strategies will increase profit between 2.3% and 69.8%, comparing with cases without differential pricing strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gut and oral microbes form complex communities and play key roles in co-evolution with their hosts. However, little is understood about the bacterial community in lizards. Results: In this study, we investigated the gut and oral bacterial communities in Japalura sensu lato from Sichuan Province, China, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results showed that Bacteroidota (36.5%) and Firmicutes (32.8%) were the main phyla in the gut, while Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota were the dominant phyla in the oral cavity. 16 S rRNA sequencing analysis of fecal samples showed that: (1) Bacteroidota was the most abundant in Japalura sensu lato, which was different from the bacterial community of insectivorous animals; (2) Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, Fusobacteriota, and Cyanobacteria were the most abundant phylum in Japalura sensu lato. (3) Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in Japalura sensu lato and other domestic insectivorous lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus, Phrynocephalus vlangalii, and Takydromus septentrionalis); (4) Comparing with the bacterial community of Shinisaurus crocodilurus, Phrynocephalus vlangalii, Takydromus septentrionalis, Liolaemus parvus, L. ruibali, and Phymaturus williamsi, Desulfobacterota was uniquely present in the gut of Japalura sensu lato. 16 S rRNA sequencing of oral samples showed that Chloroflexi and Deinococcota phyla were enriched in the oral cavity, which may have a significant influence on living in extreme environments. Conclusions: Thus, based on 16 S rRNA sequencing analysis of the community composition of the gut and oral microbiomes, this study firstly represents a foundation for understanding the gut and oral microbial ecology of Japalura sensu lato, and constitutes a detail account of the diversity of the microbiota inhabiting the gut and oral cavity of Japalura sensu lato. Further researches will continue to reveal how gut and oral microbial communities may be impacting the ecology and evolution of lizards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the intricate interplay between terrestrial and marine realms, coastlines have emerged as crucial geographical entities, playing significant roles in theories of human-environment relations and the implementation of coordinated developmental technologies. Subjected to various forces, such as storm surges, hurricanes, and human activities like land development, sand mining, and fishpond farming, coastlines have undergone substantial morphological changes, resulting in a decline in natural preservation rates. This has drawn global attention to the need for coastline protection and restoration. China's rapid economic development along its coast in recent decades has induced significant alterations in coastline morphology and usage, causing detrimental effects on natural coastlines. In response, the Chinese government has instituted measures involving policy formulation, regulations for coastline preservation, and extensive research efforts to improve restoration methods. This article expounds on China's policies on coastline restoration through a comprehensive review of literature and empirical field investigations. It also presents an overview of prevalent restoration methodologies for four typical coastal configurations and explores research pertaining to coastal ecological restoration. Moving beyond retrospective analysis, this article provides profound insights into the prospective landscape of China's policies and technologies concerning coastline protection and restoration. Indeed, these suggestions can serve as valuable references and scientific foundations for the preservation and restoration of coastlines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powdery mildew induced by Blumeria graminis f. sp. Tritici (Bgt) has a devastating impact on global wheat yield and quality. Host resistance is the most effective and economical means to control this disease. In this study, Heng 4568, an elite wheat cultivar, shows high resistance to 12 Bgt isolates from different regions in China at the seedling stage. Genetic analysis demonstrates that the powdery mildew resistance in Heng 4568 is conferred by a single dominant locus, temporarily designated PmH4568. Furthermore, PmH4568 is mapped to the reported Pm2 interval on chromosome 5DS with five Pm2 linked markers and flanked by the markers Bwm20 and Bwm21 with a genetic distance of 0.3 and 0.6 cM, respectively. To further investigate the relationship between PmH4568 and Pm2 , the diagnostic marker Pm2b-map-3 of Pm2 is used to genotype the F2:3 population derived from the cross Heng 4568 × Daimai 2173. Notably, there is no recombination found, indicating that PmH4568 is also probably a Pm2 allele. In addition, five closely linked markers as well as one diagnostic marker are successfully developed and tested in 16 wheat cultivars from different agro-ecological areas in China, which have potential applications in molecular breeding by marker-assisted selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual dimorphism and geographic variation are common in snakes. The white-lipped pitviper (Trimeresurus albolabris) is a common and widely distributed venomous snake species throughout the Southeast Asia. We report on the sexual dimorphism and geographic variation of T. albolabris in China. Ninety-nine specimens (57 females and 42 males) were examined by using analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, principal component analysis, and other statistical methods for 68 morphological characters. The result showed that T. albolabris displays significant sexual dimorphism in several external characters. Females have a longer snout-vent length, wider anal scales, and larger head size than males, whilst males exhibit a longer tail length and larger number of subcaudal scales. No significant geographic variation was detected, suggesting the absence of obvious morphological differentiation among local populations in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: According to the differences of antigen and genetic composition, canine coronavirus (CCoV) consists of two genotypes, CCoV-I and CCoV-II. Since 2004, CCoVs with point mutations or deletions of NSPs are contributing to the changes in tropism and virulence in dogs. Results: In this study, we isolated a CCoV, designated HLJ-071, from a dead 5-week-old female Welsh Corgi with severe diarrhea and vomit. Sequence analysis suggested that HLJ-071 bearing a complete ORF3abc compared with classic CCoV isolates (1-71, K378 and S378). In addition, a variable region was located between S gene and ORF 3a gene, in which a deletion with 104 nts for HLJ-071 when compared with classic CCoV strains 1-71, S378 and K378. Phylogenetic analysis based on the S gene and complete sequences showed that HLJ-071 was closely related to FCoV II. Recombination analysis suggested that HLJ-071 originated from the recombination of FCoV 79-1683, FCoV DF2 and CCoV A76. Finally, according to cell tropism experiments, it suggested that HLJ-071 could replicate in canine macrophages/monocytes cells. Conclusion: The present study involved the isolation and genetic characterization of a variant CCoV strain and spike protein and ORF3abc of CCoV might play a key role in viral tropism, which could affect the replication in monocyte/macrophage cells. It will provide essential information for further understanding the evolution in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From regional to global scales, anthropogenic environmental change is causing biodiversity loss and reducing ecosystem functionality. Previous studies have investigated the relationship between plant diversity and functional insect communities in temperate and also in tropical grasslands and forests. However, few studies have explored these dynamics in subtropical forests. Here, cavity-nesting Hymenoptera and associated parasitoids were collected across a controlled tree diversity experiment in subtropical China to test how predatory wasps, bees and parasitoids respond to tree species richness. Abundance and species richness of predatory wasps and parasitoids were positively correlated with tree species richness, while bee abundance and bee species richness were unrelated to tree species richness. Our results indicate that tree species richness increases the abundance and species richness of important communities such as predators and parasitoids. Moreover, the results highlight the importance of subtropical forests in maintaining abundance and species richness of key functional insect groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the quality of groundwater and its suitability for drinking and irrigation in the hilly area of the Taihang Mountains in Henan Province, China. Groundwater samples were collected from 43 unconfined and 20 confined wells and analyzed. The pollution index of groundwater (PIG) was estimated based on the physicochemical parameters, and seven indices, including the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (%Na), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), permeability index (PI), magnesium ratio (MR), Kelley's ratio (KR), and corrosivity ratio (CR), were calculated to qualify the groundwater within the research area for irrigation activities. Multivariate statistical techniques were performed to better understand the hydrochemical processes. Chemical analysis showed that the dominant cation and anion were Ca2+ and HCO3−, respectively, and the principal hydrochemical facies was Ca–Mg–HCO3. In terms of pH, total dissolved solids, Na+, Cl−, F−, and SO42−, most samples were well within the limits prescribed by Chinese standards for drinking water quality, but more than half of the unconfined samples exceeded the specified limits for total hardness and nitrate. The PIG values suggested the pollution level was insignificant for all confined water samples and 72.09% of unconfined water samples, but the PIG distribution map showed that the water in the south central part of the study area had low to moderate pollution. According to the computed values of SAR, %Na, RSC, PI, KR, and MR and the results of a salinity diagram, the results further indicated that most of the studied samples were appropriate for irrigation usage. Only the CR values rendered 41.86% of the unconfined samples and 20% of the confined samples unfit for irrigation. Hence, proper measures are needed to resolve the corrosivity problem. Factor analysis resulted in the extraction of 3 factors that explained 81% of the data variability, and the extracted factors pointed towards geogenic factors governing the groundwater quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between the microbial communities in aquatic animals and those in the ambient environment is important for both healthy aquatic animals and the ecological balance of aquatic environment. Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), with their high commercial value, have become the highest-yield freshwater shrimp in China. The traditional cultivation in ponds (i.e., monoculture, MC) and emerging cultivation in rice co-culture fields (i.e., rice–crayfish co-culture, RC) are the two main breeding modes for crayfish, and the integrated RC is considered to be a successful rice-livestock integration practice in eco-agricultural systems. This study explored the ecological interactions between the microbial communities in crayfish intestine and the ambient environment, which have not been fully described to date. The bacterial communities in crayfish intestine, the surrounding water, and sediment in the two main crayfish breeding modes were analyzed with MiSeq sequencing and genetic networks. In total, 53 phyla and 1,206 genera were identified, among which Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, RsaHF231, and Nitrospirae were the dominant phyla. The microbiota composition significantly differed between the water, sediment, and crayfish intestine, while it did not between the two breeding modes. We also generated a co-occurrence correlation network based on the high-confidence interactions with Spearman correlation ρ ≥ 0.75. In the genera co-correlation network, 95 nodes and 1,158 edges were identified, indicating significant genera interactions between crayfish intestine and the environment. Furthermore, the genera clustered into three modules, based on the different environments. Additionally, Candidatus_Bacilloplasma, g_norank_f_Steroidobacteraceae, Dinghuibacter, Hydrogenophaga, Methyloparacoccus , and Defluviicoccus had the highest betweenness centrality and might be important in the interaction between crayfish and the ambient environment. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the characteristics of the microbiota in crayfish and their surrounding environment. Moreover, our findings provide insights into the microecological balance in crayfish eco-agricultural systems and theoretical reference for the development of such systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From regional to global scales, anthropogenic environmental change is causing biodiversity loss and reducing ecosystem functionality. Previous studies have investigated the relationship between plant diversity and functional insect communities in temperate and also in tropical grasslands and forests. However, few studies have explored these dynamics in subtropical forests. Here, cavity-nesting Hymenoptera and associated parasitoids were collected across a controlled tree diversity experiment in subtropical China to test how predatory wasps, bees and parasitoids respond to tree species richness. Abundance and species richness of predatory wasps and parasitoids were positively correlated with tree species richness, while bee abundance and bee species richness were unrelated to tree species richness. Our results indicate that tree species richness increases the abundance and species richness of important communities such as predators and parasitoids. Moreover, the results highlight the importance of subtropical forests in maintaining abundance and species richness of key functional insect groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbivorous insects acquire microorganisms from host plants or soil, but it remains unclear how the diversity and functional composition of host plants contribute to structuring herbivore microbiomes. Within a controlled tree diversity setting, we used DNA metabarcoding of 16S rRNA to assess the contribution of Lepidoptera species and their local environment (particularly, tree diversity, host tree species, and leaf traits) to the composition of associated bacterial communities. In total, we obtained 7,909 bacterial OTUs from 634 caterpillar individuals comprising 146 species. Tree diversity was found to drive the diversity of caterpillar‐associated bacteria both directly and indirectly via effects on caterpillar communities, and tree diversity was a stronger predictor of bacterial diversity than diversity of caterpillars. Leaf toughness and dry matter content were important traits of the host plant determining bacterial species composition, while leaf calcium and potassium concentration influenced bacterial richness. Our study reveals previously unknown linkages between trees and their characteristics, herbivore insects, and their associated microbes, which contributes to developing a more nuanced understanding of functional dependencies between herbivores and their environment, and has implications for the consequences of plant diversity loss for trophic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate detection of void defects in ballastless track structures has become a core problem that needs urgent resolution for the maintenance and repair of high-speed railway (HSR) line structures in China. In this study, the root mean squaresynthetic aperture focusing technique (RMS-SAFT) ultrasound imaging method, which is suitable for the void defects of multi-layer structures, is proposed by combining the RMS velocity method and SAFT ultrasound imaging. First, a multi-layer sound velocity model (the relationship model between sound propagation time and sound propagation distance) of the HSR ballastless track is established. The sound propagation time is expressed as a function of the RMS of sound propagation speed as an independent variable. Second, the propagation time of the sound wave in the HSR ballastless track is calculated in accordance with the multi-layer sound velocity model and the obtained propagation time is substituted into the SAFT ultrasound imaging method for imaging. Lastly, the accuracy of the method is verified through a finite element simulation and an experiment. The results show that for the HSR ballastless track with minimal differences in the sound propagation speed at each layer, the sound propagation time calculated by the multi-layer sound wave model has high accuracy. The proposed RMS-SAFT ultrasound imaging method improves the accuracy of traditional SAFT imaging and realises accurate imaging of the void defects of HSR ballastless track. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Reform of Contract Rules in China's New Civil Code – Successes or Pitfalls: The Civil Code of the People's Republic of China (Civil Code) came into force on 1 January 2021. Book III on Contracts of the Civil Code has adopted significant changes compared to the old Chinese Contract Law (Contract Law). This article provides a comprehensive and systemic analysis of those changes from structure to content, from legislative technics to values underpinning the Civil Code. It evaluates all the factors in the context of the development of Chinese society, Chinese culture and Chinese legal system. This article first outlines the historical background of the development of the Contract Law and the Civil Code. It then moves on to compare the Civil Code and the Contract Law, highlighting the changes in structure, the incorporation of new provisions and the amendments to old provisions in light of contemporary Chinese society and culture. Finally, it argues that the Civil Code is a significant milestone in China's legislative history; that it reflects the legislative experience and judicial practice in China; that it adds provisions which are innovative and of Chinese characteristics to meet the needs of China's changing society and legal system; and that it keeps pace with the development of the global law reform and harmonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan and 2013 Mw 6.7 Lushan earthquakes ruptured the central and southern segments of the Longmenshan thrust belt on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, respectively. The ∼M 7 Tianquan earthquake in 1327 is also thought to have occurred on the southern segment with effects spatially overlapping those of the Lushan earthquake, but the deformation style and seismogenic mechanism of the segment remain poorly understood. Satellite image interpretation, field investigations, and trenching reveal that the Shuangshi-Dachuan fault (SDF) on the southern segment displaces landforms, dips southeast, and is dominated by thrust motion with a left-lateral strike-slip component. The latest and penultimate events along the fault occurred in 1085–1457 CE and 1215 BCE-104 CE, respectively. Some ancient landslides exits along the fault, and one of them formed close to 703 ± 17 yr BP. The ages of the latest event and of the landslide agree well with the occurrence of the Tianquan earthquake, indicating that the earthquake was most likely generated by the SDF. Magnetotelluric imaging and the aftershock belt of the Lushan earthquake show that the Longmen Shan forms a wedge-shaped high-resistivity body protruding eastward. The SDF corresponds well to the east-dipping upper electrical boundary of the wedge-shaped body and is interpreted as a shallow backthrust; the seismogenic fault of the Lushan earthquake corresponds to the west-dipping lower boundary and is interpreted as a blind thrust fault. The left-lateral slip component of the SDF may be a response to the lateral extension of the weak lower crust. • The Shuangshi-Dachuan fault is a shallow backthrust of the Longmenshan thrust belt. • The Shuangshi-Dachuan fault (SDF) hosted the 1327 Tianquan earthquake. • The 2013 Lushan earthquake occurred on a blind thrust fault located under the SDF. • The SDF and the blind thrust fault correspond to the electrical structure boundary. • The electrical structure boundary had a controlling effect on the earthquakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Species ranges in mountain areas may shift both horizontally and altitudinally, resulting from climate change and anthropogenic impact. Two hypotheses (the abundant centre hypothesis and the contagion hypothesis) have been proposed to account for patterns of horizontal range contraction. However, undulating topograph causes a mosaic of unsuitable habitats, which may complicate the spatial pattern of range contraction. We develop a framework incorporating horizontal and altitudinal range contraction patterns of a species living in mountain areas, to better understand the underlying mechanisms of species range contraction. Location: China, Northern Laos and Northern Vietnam Taxon: Western black crested gibbon, Nomascus concolor Methods: We collected occurrence data of the gibbons from various sources and modelled their potential distribution range in the 1950s, 1980s and 2010s, using ecological niche modelling. We compared distances from the centre point of the potential range in the 1950s to centre points of the largest 100 patches in the 1950s and the 2010s to understand the patterns of horizontal range contraction. We also calculated potential distributions within different altitudinal ranges for six populations in each period to understand the patterns of altitudinal range contraction. Results: Potential horizontal distribution of the gibbons decreased by 69% from the 1950s to the 2010s. The centre point of the 100 largest patches in the 2010s was further apart than in the 1950s, supporting the contagion hypothesis. No populations extended their range to higher altitude, suggesting climate change did not have a profound effect on altitudinal shifts in gibbon range. All populations lost a substantial proportion of their ranges at lower altitudes (500–1,500 m) but to different degrees, suggesting that populations experienced different anthropogenic pressures. Main conclusions: Anthropogenic threats including human population increase, agricultural expansion and hunting, were more likely than climate change to have caused range contraction in western black‐crested gibbons. This study highlights the importance of studying horizontal and altitudinal range contraction simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China (SPC) has handed down its decision on Sinochem International Pte Ltd v ThyssenKrupp Metallurgical Products GmbH1 (Sinochem Case), in which the SPC discussed the UNCITRAL Digest of Case Law on the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods for the first time. Topics include the Sinochem Case deals with issues arising from an international sale of goods contract a German seller and Singaporean buyer.

China's rapid industrialization and urbanization have led to poor air quality, and air pollution has caused great concern among the Chinese public. Most analyses of air pollution trends in China are based on model simulations or satellite data. Studies using field observation data and focusing on the latest data from environmental monitoring stations covering the whole country to assess the latest trends of different pollutants in different regions are relatively rare. The State Council of China promulgated the toughest-ever Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (Action Plan) in 2013. This led to a major improvement in air quality. We use the hourly Air Quality Index (AQI) and mass concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2, O3, and SO2 in 362 cities from 2015 to 2019, obtained from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, to study their temporal and spatial changes and assess the effectiveness of the policy on the atmospheric environment since its promulgation and implementation. We found that the national and regional air quality in China continues to improve, with PM2.5, PM10, AQI, CO, and SO2 exhibiting negative trends. However, O3 and NO2 pollution is an urgent problem that needs to be solved and the current control strategy for PM2.5 will only partially reduce the PM2.5 pollution in the western region. Although the implementation of "Action Plan" measures has effectively improved air quality, China's air pollution is still serious and far from the WHO standard. Implementing measures for continuous and effective emissions control is still a top priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declining plant diversity alters ecological networks, such as plant–herbivore interactions. However, our knowledge of the potential mechanisms underlying effects of plant species loss on plant–herbivore network structure is still limited. We used DNA barcoding to identify herbivore–host plant associations along declining levels of tree diversity in a large‐scale, subtropical biodiversity experiment. We tested for effects of tree species richness, host functional and phylogenetic diversity, and host functional (leaf trait) and phylogenetic composition on species, phylogenetic and network composition of herbivore communities. We found that phylogenetic host composition and related palatability/defence traits but not tree species richness significantly affected herbivore communities and interaction network complexity at both the species and community levels. Our study indicates that evolutionary dependencies and functional traits of host plants determine the composition of higher trophic levels and corresponding interaction networks in species‐rich ecosystems. Our findings highlight that characteristics of the species lost have effects on ecosystem structure and functioning across trophic levels that cannot be predicted from mere reductions in species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of environmental protective policies have been taken recently in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) to alleviate water pollution; however, their influence on the reduction of heavy metals in estuarine water has not been known. This study selected Guangzhou as a representative city in the PRE and collected estuarine water monthly from 2008 to 2017 to track the variation of As, Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Se. During the last decade, the high time-resolved record showed that the concentration of Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn in estuarine water reduced by 39.5%, 91.0%, 86.2%, 74.6%, and 97.3%, respectively. However, the concentration of As kept in a stable range (1.89–2.69 μg L−1) and Se (0.17–0.65 μg L−1) increased slightly. The principal component analysis (PCA) and absolute principal component scores-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) results suggested that the upstream industrial effluents were major sources for Hg (45.5–92.7%), Pb (47.3–100%), Cd (42.0–90.6%), Cu (85.5–100%), and Zn (100%) and the geogenic source was major origin for As (84.6–98.3%) and Se (0–67.5%). The risk quotient of Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn to aquatic organisms largely decreased from 0.03, 0.59, 0.03, 2.06, and 0.26 in 2008 to 0.02, 0.05, 0.006, 0.52, and 0.007 in 2017, respectively. The effective control of heavy metal pollution in the study area can be primarily due to the relocation of hundreds of polluting factories during the last decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water quality, size, connectivity and other physical properties of hydrological systems might have different functions in the formation and maintenance of biodiversity, but this remains mostly unclear due to the lack of undisturbed sites for experimental modelling. Alpine freshwater habitats such as micro-waterbodies (MWB) represent a kind of natural system suitable for biodiversity research. In order to assess potential linkages between environmental factors, connectivity of MWBs and aquatic species richness, we conducted a pilot study in two separated MWB systems located in Gaoligong Mountain, northwest Yunnan province, China. A total of 27 MWBs have been analyzed, including 22 connected and 5 isolated bodies. 13 conventional environmental factors were tested while all kinds of aquatic macro-organisms were collected and classified. Results showed a high environmental heterogeneity among MWBs and significant differences between the two systems but only a few environmental variables such as the depth of soil bottom, total Nitrogen and altitude were related to species richness and the formation of the community structure. As a benefit from the high environmental heterogeneity, the cascaded MWB systems provided divergent habitats able to support species richness at a higher level than the same number of randomly selected MWBs. This finding supports the idea that habitat connectivity matters also in extremely small aquatic ecosystems. Moreover, although still a preliminary result, a polarization effect within connected chains where edge MWBs host higher taxa and endemic taxa richness as well as larger populations, was detectable. This study gives interesting insights on the spatial processes driving community structure and a new prospective for biodiversity conservation. Since alpine MWBs have significant effects on the maintenance of watershed biodiversity, further research on such small and crucial ecosystems is encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop the Chinese version of Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) and examine its psychometric properties, we investigated a sample of 689 non-clinical and 309 clinical participants and found this measurement had good acceptability, internal reliability, test-retest reliability and convergent validity; it had moderate correlations with the Schwartz Outcome Scale and Symptom Check List-90, which showed an acceptable concurrent validity. Specifically, we explored the cut-off line of clinical criterion and found a g factor plus three-factor solution better than original four-domain model in Chinese context. The CORE-OM is a valid tool with referenced cut-offs to measure clinical outcomes, which can bridge the gap in routine clinical evaluation in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of chronic knee pain (CKP) in older adults. Medical practitioners often manage CKP using both pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies. However, no studies have specifically focused on extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for treatment of CKP.Objective: The research team intended to explore the effectiveness and safety of ESWT for treatment of CKP.Design: The study was a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.Setting: The study took place at the Affiliated Hongqi Hospital of Mudanjiang Medical University (Mudanjiang, China) and at the People's Hospital of Yan'an (Yan'an, China).Participants: Participants were 72 patients with CKP at the 2 hospitals.Intervention: Participants were randomly and equally divided into the intervention group, the ESWT group, and a control group. The intervention group received ESWT, whereas those in the control group received a placebo treatment. Participants in both groups were treated 3 times weekly for a total of 10 wk.Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was pain intensity measured using an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS). The secondary outcomes were measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and by tracking adverse events. All outcomes were evaluated at baseline and at the end of 5 wk and 10 wk of treatment (ie, postintervention).Results: At both measured points, the ESWT exhibited greater benefits for patients with CKP, as measured by the scores for pain intensity on the NRS (P < .01) and the WOMAC subscale for pain (P < .01), compared with the placebo treatment. In addition, the ESWT group showed significantly less stiffness and greater improvements in function compared with the control group at the end of week 5 (P < .01) and of week 10 (P < .01). Furthermore, the study found no adverse events for either group.Conclusion: ESWT demonstrated an effective and safe profile for patients with CKP. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents new zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope data, and whole‐rock major and trace element geochemical data of Permian igneous rocks from the eastern Songnen Massif (SM) and the western Jiamusi Massif (JM), NE China, to constrain their tectonic evolution. Zircon U–Pb dating indicates that Permian magmatism within the eastern SM can be subdivided into two stages: early Permian (ca. 293 Ma) and middle to late Permian (272–257 Ma). The early Permian igneous rocks comprise a bimodal association of rhyolites, basaltic andesites, and gabbros. The middle to late Permian igneous rocks are dominated by gabbro–diorites, monzodiorites, quartz diorites, monzonites, quartz monzonites, granodiorites, monzogranites, syenogranites, and alkali feldspar granites, along with minor bodies of A‐type quartz trachytes. The Permian felsic magmas originated mainly from partial melting of a relatively juvenile lower crust, whereas the coeval mafic rocks were probably derived from partial melting of a relatively depleted lithospheric mantle that was modified by fossil subduction‐related fluids. The igneous rock associations and their geochemical features, together with data from coeval sedimentary and volcanosedimentary successions, indicate that Permian magmatism within the eastern Songnen and western Jiamusi massifs formed in an extensional environment, similar to a back‐arc setting, related to westward subduction of a Palaeo‐oceanic plate beneath the eastern margin of the Jiamusi Massif. We find no evidence for double‐sided subduction of the Mudanjiang oceanic plate during the Permian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gibbons represent a highly successful radiation of four genera and 20 species of Asian apes that, in response to recent habitat fragmentation and deforestation, are threatened with extinction. China has six species of gibbons, each of which is critically endangered. We present new biogeographical information on the distribution of the black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor). Four subspecies of N. concolor have been described: three of them are present east of the Mekong River (Nomascus concolor jingdongensis, N. c. concolor and N. c. lu); and another is found west of the Mekong River (N. c. furvogaster). In addition, there has been speculation that gibbons exist in the Biluo Snow Mountains, between the Mekong and Salween basins. To clarify the biogeography of this species, from April 2011 to January 2012 and from January 2016 to September 2018, we conducted interviews with local villagers, completed line transect surveys, monitored gibbon calls, and placed 30 camera traps in the forest canopy. On October 30, 2016, we recorded gibbon's calls. On July 5, 2016, our camera traps obtained one image of a male gibbon, and on February 1 and 8, 2017, we captured two independent images of an adult female gibbon on Zhiben Mountains. Based on the black crest on the head, clearly visible in the photographs, the gibbons are N. c. furvogaster. Evidence from interviews and survey records indicate that N. c. furvogaster once was present in the Zhiben Mountains, at an altitude of between 2000 and 2700 m. Between 1990 and 2000, some 6–7 groups still existed in Caojian, Laowo and adjacent areas. Unfortunately, in the absence of an effective conservation strategy, the population was extirpated by hunters. The remaining forest in the Zhiben Mountains is highly fragmented, and most of the suitable habitat for gibbons has been lost. Therefore, we expect that this newly found gibbon population is under extreme anthropogenic pressure. It is imperative that further investigations of this gibbon population be conducted immediately, and that the local and national governments implement effective conservation plans, including educating the local communities to protect this critically endangered primate population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern part of Asia between the North China and Siberian cratons contains orogenic belts formed by the Paleo-Asian and Pacific subduction and older continental blocks. A fundamental question regarding these and all mobile belts is the fate of the continental lithospheric mantle (CLM) during their formation, i.e. whether, or to what extent the CLM may be formed, replaced or affected during orogeny. Insights into these processes can be obtained from mantle xenoliths hosted by Cenozoic basalts in the Proterozoic Khanka block in the far eastern Russia between NE China and the Pacific coast of Asia. We report petrographic, chemical, and Os-Sr-Nd isotope data for spinel peridotite xenoliths at two Khanka sites: Sviyagin and Podgelban. The modal abundances and chemical compositions suggest that the peridotites are residues of low to moderate degrees of melt extraction from fertile mantle. They show an 187Os/188Os vs. 187Re/188Os correlation with an apparent 1.9 Ga age; the 187Os/188Os ratios are positively correlated with Al 2 O 3 and other melt extraction indices. These results provide the first robust CLM age constraints for the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The ages suggest that the ancient CLM of the Khanka block may be roughly coeval with reworked CLM at Hannuoba (North China craton), and that it persisted through the Phanerozoic orogenies. Moreover, despite the proximity to Phanerozoic subduction zones, the Khanka CLM shows little post-melting enrichment, e.g. the clinopyroxenes are typically LREE-depleted and have Sr-Nd isotope ratios typical of the MORB mantle. We posit that the metasomatism of the CLM, earlier proposed for North China xenolith suites and ascribed to the effects of Pacific or older subduction and related mantle upwelling, may not be widespread in the CAOB. In general, Proterozoic blocks composed of residual peridotites may be more common in the CLM of the SE Siberia and northern China, and possibly other orogenic belts, than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic fracturing technology, which is emerging in low- or ultralow-permeability oil and gas and tight gas reservoirs, has become a key technology for improving the development efficiency and economic benefit of unconventional gas reservoirs. The success rate of hydraulic fracturing is closely related to the development and distribution of natural fractures. Data obtained from outcrops, cores, thin sections and image logging were used to determine the developmental characteristics of tectonic fractures in the study area to obtain a quantitative forecast of the distribution of gas reservoir fractures in the Tianhuan Depression. With the aid of burial history analysis, geologic interpretation, seismic inversion, logging evaluation, rock mechanics and acoustic emission tests, 3D geomechanical models were established using the finite element method in Tianhuan Depression to simulate the paleotectonic stress fields during Indosinian, Yanshanian and Himalayan periods. The effects of different rock mechanics parameters on the development and distribution of tectonic fractures were identified. A fracture density model was established to determine the quantitative development of tectonic fractures in the upper He8 Member during the production of multi-period tectonic stress fields. The validity of the fracture density model was verified by the fracture statistics of drill core density and gas well productivity tests. Favorable areas for hydraulic fracturing were also determined. Simulation results indicate that the maximum and minimum principal stresses and the maximum shear stress during the Indosinian, Yanshanian and Himalayan periods are controlled by the distribution of the sand body. Rock mechanics parameters play important roles in the development of tectonic fractures in the sedimentary basin with less faults and folds. The 3D models of the multi-period tectonic stress fields and density calculation modelling are not only significant for tight gas sandstone reservoirs but also for predicting of other reservoir fractures. Favorable area prediction of fractures distribution in the upper He8 member in Tianhuan depression. Image 1 • Geological model of basin reservoirs in Tianhuan Depression. • Numerical simulation of multi-period tectonic stress field in the depression. • Prediction of tectonic fractures distribution for basin reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lithospheric mantle beneath the Xing'an Massif (XM), northeast China, was formed at the Paleoproterozoic or even earlier, but its thermal state and structure remain poorly understood. To address this issue, we calculate pressure–temperature (P–T) arrays for mantle xenoliths entrained by Cenozoic basalts from the XM, using major‐element‐based and rare earth element (REE)‐based two‐pyroxene thermometry as well as single clinopyroxene barometry. Samples (include spinel or garnet lherzolites and harzburgites, dunite and pyroxenite) come from the Keluo, Nuomin, and Aershan regions, which are located on either side of the North–South Gravity Lineament (NSGL). To the west of the NSGL, in the Nuomin and Aershan regions, mantle xenoliths yield consistent REE‐based and major‐element‐based temperatures, suggesting that these samples were derived from stable thermal conditions. Garnet peridotites from these regions yield pressures of 2.37–3.01 GPa and temperatures of 1066–1303°C, revealing a high geothermal gradient (corresponding to a surface heat flow of 70–80 mW/m2) and a crustal thicknesses of ~37 km. The lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary determined from the intersection of this geotherm with the mantle adiabat occurs at a depth of ~100 km, which is much shallower than the lithospheric thickness calculated by geophysical analyses (140–160 km). This discrepancy may have resulted from locally upwelling hot asthenosphere. Low‐temperature (800–900°C) peridotites from the Nuomin and Aershan are chemically fertile with low olivine Mg# values and high modal clinopyroxene contents. By contrast, high‐temperature (1050–1350°C) peridotites consist mainly of refractory harzburgites or clinopyroxene‐poor lherzolites. These facts reveal that the lithospheric mantle beneath the Nuomin and Aershan regions is characterized by juvenile mantle dominating shallow levels and ancient mantle occurring at greater depths. To the east of the NSGL, some Keluo mantle xenoliths yield higher REE‐based temperatures (839–863°C) than major‐element‐based temperatures (<800°C), indicating cooling by thermal relaxation. This cooling process produced a low geothermal gradient (~45 mW/m2) in the lithosphere beneath the Keluo region. The mantle xenoliths comprise both fertile lherzolites and refractory harzburgites without correlation between mineral compositions and temperatures, suggesting that the lithospheric mantle beneath the Keluo region is characterized by juvenile mantle mixed with ancient mantle at all depths. The results show contrasting thermal state and structure of the lithospheric mantle on either side of the NSGL within the XM, which are attributed to a previous cooling process in the Keluo region and local upwelling of hot asthenosphere beneath the Aershan and Nuomin regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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