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The present study examines the gender–state dynamics in the Chinese context through a bottom-up approach by adopting an online survey method. We find four indicators, which are male priority, child suffering, gender ideology, marriage and fertility, could reflect one common factor—gender egalitarianism, and we utilize this scale to measure gender role attitudes among China's youth, as well as explore their psycho-political antecedents including system justification theory, national identification, and life satisfaction. The survey findings suggest a close interconnection between the construction of family and nation. The study's outcomes offer valuable insights into the ongoing progress and challenges relating to gender equality as perceived by young people in China. Furthermore, these findings establish a refined measurement instrument for future empirical studies in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We aimed to develop an elaborative nomogram that predicts cancer-specific survival (CSS) in American and Chinese octogenarians treated with radical resection for CRC. Methods: The patient data of newly diagnosed patients aged 80 years or older who underwent radical resection for CRC from 2010 to 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and then randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort. The patients collected from our hospital were defined as the external validation cohort. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression was used to select independent predictive factors for the construction of a nomogram to predict 1-, 2- and 3-year CSS. Results: The multivariate Cox regression model identified age, T stage, N stage, perineural invasion, chemotherapy, tumour deposits, carcinoembryonic antigen level, number of lymph node metastases, and number of solid organ metastases as independent predictors of survival. The C-index of the nomogram for 1-, 2- and 3-year CSS was 0.758, 0.762, and 0.727, respectively, demonstrating significant clinical value and substantial reliability compared to the TNM stage. The calibration curve and area under the curve also indicated considerable predictive accuracy. In addition, decision curve analysis demonstrated desirable net benefits in clinical application. Conclusion: We constructed a nomogram for predicting the CSS of individual octogenarian patients with CRC who underwent radical resection. The nomogram performed better than the TNM staging system in this particular population and could guide clinicians in clinical follow-up and individual therapeutic plan formulation. Highlights: This study explored the exclusive characteristics of octogenarians treated with radical resection for colorectal cancer. This study is the first to develop a nomogram for predicting the cancer-specific survival of individual octogenarian patients after radical resection for colorectal cancer with the substantial reliability (C-index: 0.758 compared to the AJCC pathological staging system (C-index: 0.713). Internal validation of this nomogram in a cohort of American patients (N = 1644) and external validation in a cohort of Chinese patients (N = 368) confirmed its accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myopia is a major health issue around the world. Myopia in children has increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic in China, but reports are scarce on the prevalence of myopia following the pandemic. This study collected vision screening data of school children in China for five consecutive years to observe the changes in myopia after the pandemic and compare the observed prevalence of myopia before and after the pandemic. Methods: A school-based vision screening study used stratified samplings to collect the vision screening data in school children aged 6–13 from 45 primary schools in Hangzhou. Vision screening data including uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA) and spherical equivalent refraction(SER). Calculating the mean of SER and the prevalence of myopia and hyperopia from 2019 to 2023. Results: A total of 79,068 screening results (158,136 eyes) were included in the analysis. A substantial myopic shift (approximately -0.30 diopters [D] on average) was found in 2020 and 2021 compared with 2019 in all age groups and a substantial myopic shift (approximately 0.4 D on average) was found in 2022 compared with 2021. A slight myopic shift (approximately -0.14 D on average) was found in 2023 compared with 2022. The prevalence of myopia in all age groups was the highest for five years in 2020 or 2021, which was 31.3% for 6-year-olds, 43.0% for 7-year-olds, and 53.7% for 8-year-olds. A positive change in the prevalence rate of myopia was found at 6 years old (0.59%, 0.12%, 0.36%, 0.25%, p < 0.001). The change in prevalence rate in myopia was shifted slightly in children aged 10–13 years. Children aged 8 to 13 years had a slight increase in myopia prevalence from 2022 to 2023. The prevalence of hyperopia was low and stable in all grade groups, ranging from 0.7% to 2.2% over five years. Conclusion: Myopia in children has increased rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, the prevalence of myopia in children gradually decreased temporarily and then rebounded. Myopic shift was more apparent in younger children. Myopic shift in children may be related to the reduction of outdoor time, less light, and near work habits, and further research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practices of online censorship around boys' love (danmei) in mainland China have exhibited continuous change, with varying media targets and nominal justifications. This article explores dynamic transformations in the strategies employed by authorities, media platforms, and danmei creators throughout different time periods. Based on the authors' archival research, the censorship of danmei can be classified into three distinct stages: the years 2004 to 2015, 2016 to 2020, and 2021 to the present. These periods are distinguished by the primary danmei media form that authorities most often target for censorship. We argue that China's digital censorship apparatus has given rise to an unrelenting and intensifying suppression of danmei content, which is further bolstered by the sustained promotion of a media discourse that fosters a culture of disdain for danmei, and hence, has limited spaces for the expansion of danmei fandom and its practitioners' creativity. Moreover, we suggest that there is a continuous and combative interplay between danmei culture and censorship, wherein creative practices become highly responsive to government regulations and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tight glutenite reservoirs characterization and effective hydrocarbon-bearing formation identification faced great challenge due to ultra-low porosity, ultra-low permeability and complicated pore structure. Fracturing fracture-building technique always needed to obtain deliverability because of poor natural productive capacity. Pore structure characterization and friability prediction were essential in improving such type of reservoir evaluation. In this study, fractured tight glutenite reservoirs in Permian Jiamuhe Formation that located in northwest margin of Junggar Basin, northwest China, were chosen as an example, and 25 typical core samples were drilled and simultaneously applied for mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and whole-rock mineral X-ray diffraction experiments. A novel method of synthetizing pseudo-pore-throat radius (Rc) distribution from porosity frequency spectra was established to characterize fractured formation pore structure. Quartz and calcite were considered as the fragile mineral, and rock mineral component ratio method was used to predict brittleness index. Meanwhile, the statistical model raised by Jin et al. (SPE J 20:518–526, 2015) was used to predict two types of fracture toughness. And then, brittleness index and fracture toughness were combined to characterize tight glutenite reservoirs friability. Combining with maximal pore-throat radius (Rmax, reflected rock pore structure) and friability, our target formations were classified into four clusters. In addition, relationships among pore structure, friability and daily hydrocarbon production per meter (DI) were analyzed, and a model to predict DI from well-logging data was established. Comparison of predicted DI with the extracted results from drill stem test (DST) data illustrated the reliability of our raised models. This would be valuable in determining optimal hydrocarbon production intervals and formulating reasonable developed plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) continues to increase, and the phenomenon of women giving birth at an older age is becoming more common worldwide. Less is known abouts the impact of GDM combined with advanced maternal age (AMA) on pregnancy outcomes. To explore the impact of AMA complicated with GDM on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This study included 34,602 pregnancies between 2018 and 2020 in Hangzhou, China. The pregnant women were divided into four groups according to advanced age (≥35 years) and GDM as follows: AMA women without GDM (non‐AGDM) group (n = 2614), young pregnant women with GDM (YGDM) group (n = 4016), AMA women with GDM (AGDM) group (n = 850), and young pregnant women without GDM (non‐YGDM) group (n = 27,122). Univariate analysis was carried out by Mann–Whitney U test or Pearson's χ2 test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the effect of AMA and GDM on pregnancy outcomes. Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that in the comparison against non‐YGDM garoup, the ORs of fetal chromosome abnormality, parity, urgent cesarean section, gravidity, scheduled cesarean section, body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2, pre‐eclampsia, thrombocytopenia, hyperlipidemia, BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2, blood urea nitrogen, fasting blood glucose, and creatinine in AGDM group were 16.044, 4.284, 3.530, 3.284, 3.257, 2.049, 1.935, 1.898, 1.690, 1.471, 1.304, 1.216, and 1.026 (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of pregnant women with AGDM was 2.46% in Hang Zhou, China. The increasing gravidity of AMA women was related to a greater risk of GDM. The AGDM group associated with a greater risks of chromosomal abnormality in offspring and cesarean section, especially urgent cesarean section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to a robust emission control policy, significant reductions in major air pollutants, such as PM 2.5 , SO 2 , NO 2 , and CO, were observed in China between 2015 and 2020. On the other hand, during the same period, there was a notable increase in ozone (O 3) concentrations, making it a prominent air pollutant in eastern China. The annual mean concentration of maximum daily 8 h average (MDA8) O 3 exhibited alarming linear increases of 2.4, 1.1, and 2.0 ppb yr -1 (ppb is for parts per billion) in three megacity clusters: Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and the Pearl River Delta (PRD), respectively. Meanwhile, there was a significant 3-fold increase in the number of O 3 -exceeding days, defined as MDA8 O 3 > 75 ppb. Our analysis indicated that the upward increases in the annual mean concentration of MDA8 were primarily driven by the rise in consecutive O 3 -exceeding days. There were expansions of high O 3 in urban centers to rural areas accompanied by a saturation effect so that MDA8 O 3 concentrations at the high-O 3 stations in 2015 remained nearly constant at 100 ppb. Last, we found a close association between O 3 episodes with 4 or more consecutive O 3 -exceeding days and the position and strength of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the northwest Pacific and the West Pacific subtropical high (WPSH). The TC and WPSH contributed to meteorological conditions characterized by clear skies, subsiding air motion, high vertical stability in the lower troposphere, increased solar radiation, and a positive temperature anomaly at the surface. These favorable meteorological conditions greatly facilitated the formation of O 3. Thus, we propose that the worsening O 3 increases observed in the BTH, YRD, and PRD regions from 2015 to 2020 can be mostly attributed to enhanced photochemical O 3 production resulting from an increased occurrence of meteorological conditions with high solar radiation and positive temperature anomalies under the influence of the WPSH and TCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In public health emergencies, nurses are vulnerable to adverse reactions, especially job burnout. It is critical to identify nurses at risk of burnout early and implement interventions as early as possible. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of the hospitals in Xiangyang City was conducted in January, 2023 using stratified cluster sampling. Anonymized data were collected from 1584 working nurses. The Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Chinese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) were used to evaluate the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and burnout of nurses in public health emergencies. Logistic regression analysis was established to screen for risk factors of burnout, and a nomogram was developed to predict the risk of burnout. A calibration curve and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to validate the nomogram internally. Results: This study showed that only 3.7% of nurses were completely free of PTSD during a public health emergency. We found that PTSD varied by age, marital status, procreation status, length of service, employee status, and whether working in the ICU. The nurses aged 30 ~ 40 years old, single, married without children, non-regular employees, worked for less than three years or worked in the ICU had higher levels of PTSD. Regarding the prevalence of burnout, 27.4%, 48.5%, and 18.6% of nurses had a high level of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and diminished personal accomplishment (PA), respectively. There, 31.1% of nurses had more than two types of job burnout. The number of night shifts, the type of hospital, marital status, and the severity of PTSD were all associated with higher rates of exhaustion among nurses. As a graphical representation of the model, a nomogram was created and demonstrated excellent calibration and discrimination in both sets (AUC = 0.787). Conclusions: This study confirmed the PTSD and burnout are common problems for in-service nurses during public health emergencies and screened out the high-risk groups of job burnout. It is necessary to pay more attention nurses who are single and working in general hospitals with many night shifts, especially nurses with severe PTSD. Hospitals can set up nurses' personal health records to give timely warnings to nurses with health problems, and carry out support interventions to relieve occupational stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on the notions of transmedia storytelling and engagement, this study investigates how practitioners engage with the process of producing and consuming boys' love (BL) audio dramas, the trans-directional communication and interaction between producers and consumers in the transmedia BL subcultural space, and the implications of their engagement for counterculture. We contribute to the growing field of BL studies by providing insights into how practitioners can stimulate these cultural productions as a part of gender–sexuality-related counterculture in the new media space of audio dramas. We argue that the engagement of BL audio drama producers and consumers ('prosumers') features the sense of countering the predominant heteronormativity in China by producing explicit homosexual romance, actively expanding the story elements transmedially, and bringing queer members into the BL audio drama community. In this way, built by both producers and consumers together, the BL audio drama community is no longer a female-only area, but becomes a more inclusive 'third' space constituted by people with diverse sexual identities and orientations. Given its knowledge, perspectives, and experiences, the BL audio drama community, as a countercultural group, has a certain potential to bridge the divide between the female-led BL subculture and the larger queer community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale Solid Waste Thermal Treatment (SSWTT) is prevalent in remote Chinese locations. However, the ecological threats associated with heavy metals in resultant bottom ash remain undefined. This research study scrutinized such ash from eight differing sites, assessing heavy metal content, chemical form, and leaching toxicity. Most bottom ash samples met soil contamination standards for development land (GB36600-2018). However, levels of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in some samples exceeded agricultural land standards GB15618-2018) by 1591%, 64,478%, 1880%, 3886%, 963%, 1110%, and 2011% respectively. Additionally, the As and Cd contents surpassed the construction land control limit value by 383% and 13% respectively. The mean values of the combined oxidizable and residual fraction (F3 + F4) for each heavy metal in all samples exceeded 65%, with Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb reaching over 95%. All sample leaching concentrations, obtained via the HJ/T 299 procedure, were less than limits set by the identification standards for hazardous wastes (GB5085.3–2007). However, only the leaching concentrations of three samples via the leaching procedure HJ/T 300 met the "Solid Waste Landfill Pollution Control Standard" (GB 16889–2008). The results indicate that the location and type of SSWTT equipment play a crucial role in determining an appropriate solution for bottom ash management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines docudramatic representations of human‐pet relationships in China, applying the conversational storytelling research method. The study takes Modern Furry Tale (MFT, 2021), a controversial docudrama streamed on the Tencent Video platform as its targeted case. The article argues that contemporary Chinese docudramas do not so much "document reality" as continue a "cinematic tradition" of presenting "selected reality" by showing an idealized view of the pets" living conditions and their owners" family lives. Describing and constructing friendly and companionable pet‐human relationships, these docudramas reinforce the dominant "positive energy" state ideology, propagandistic mainstream family values, and repressive gender ideologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for the detection of chromosomal aneuploidies and copy number variations (CNVs) in twin pregnancies. Method: A cohort of 2010 women with twin pregnancies was recruited. 1331 patients opted for NIPT, and 679 patients opted for expanded NIPT (NIPT-plus). All high-risk patients were advised to undergo invasive prenatal diagnosis. All participants were followed up until 6 months after birth. Results: Twenty-two cases were predicted to have a high risk of chromosome abnormalities by NIPT, of which 14 pregnant women underwent invasive prenatal diagnosis. The 14 cases included 3 cases of trisomy 21, 1 case of trisomy 18, 1 case of trisomy 7, 2 cases of sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs), and 7 cases of CNVs, of which the confirmed cases numbered 2, 1, 0, 1, and 0, respectively. Twenty cases were predicted to have a high risk of chromosome abnormalities by NIPT-plus, of which 16 pregnant women underwent invasive prenatal diagnosis. The 16 cases included 1 case of trisomy 21, 1 case of trisomy 7, 7 cases of SCAs, and 7 cases of CNVs, of which were confirmed in 1, 0, 3, and 2, respectively. No false-negative result was reported during the follow-up period. Conclusion: The NIPT/NIPT-plus has excellent performance in the detection of chromosome aneuploidies in twin pregnancies. But for CNVs, the effectiveness of NIPT is poor, and the NIPT-plus have a certain detection efficiency. It is worth noting that pre- and post-genetic counseling is especially important, and the chorionicity, mode of conception, clinical indications, and fetal fraction should be considered as influencing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper comprehensively evaluates the dynamic effects on China's environment and economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results show that the COVID-19 lockdown resulted in a temporary improvement in air quality. Furthermore, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in the atmosphere in China were 36% lower than in the week after last year's Lunar New Year holiday, but this also led to an economic downturn. Moreover, the aerosol optical depth (AOD) decreased significantly. During the back-to-work period, the economy recovered and there was an increase in energy consumption, and CO2, NO2 emissions sharply increased to pre-lockdown levels. In the post-lockdown period, the AOD was lower than that of the same period last year. This study can provide reference for environmental policy making, as it demonstrates to what extent the control of pollution sources can improve air quality. Precise emission reduction and regional joint prevention and control are important and effective means for the prevention and control of O3 pollution. The health and economic benefits of COVID-19 pandemic control measures are incalculable. And this can provide an effective scientific basis and theoretical support for the prevention and control of air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Low muscle mass is a novel and effective predictive marker for incidence of cardiovascular events in a general population. • This relationship is independent of multiple well-established CVD risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. • Low muscle mass strengthens predicting future cardiovascular events over traditional risk score, especially among people with a moderate-to-high risk. We aimed to explore the association between skeletal muscle mass and cardiovascular events, and its additional value on the assessment of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) over traditional risk scores. The study included 1365 community-based participants aged over 50 years and free of CVDs at baseline. Participants completed detailed assessments at baseline and received a follow-up assessment in 2021–2022 via phone calls or electronic medical records. Skeletal muscle mass was measured using an automatic bioelectric analyzer. Predicted probabilities of 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk were estimated individually with the China-PAR equation. After a mean follow-up of 7.6 years, 144 cardiovascular events were identified. The fully-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of cardiovascular events were 0.93 (0.88–0.98) and 1.08 (1.04–1.12) for skeletal muscle mass and predicted 10-year risk, respectively. Among participants over 60 years and with two or more risk factors, cardiovascular events risk increased progressively with each decreasing skeletal muscle tertile. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the C-statistic of predicting cardiovascular events for a 10-year risk assessment was slightly increased after adding skeletal muscle mass. The categorical net reclassification improvement (NRI) showed a 56.7% increase in the reclassification. The continuous NRI and integrated discrimination improvement increased as well. Participants with low skeletal muscle mass were more likely to have cardiovascular events. Low muscle mass improved the predictive power of CVD incidence over the original risk score, indicating that muscle mass could be a valuable parameter and a declining value needed early detection in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to a robust emission control policy, significant reductions in major air pollutants, such as PM2.5, SO2, NO2, and CO, were observed in China between 2015 to 2020. On the other hand, during the same period, there was a notable increase in ozone (O3) concentrations, making it a prominent air pollutant in eastern China. The annual mean concentration of maximum daily 8-hour average (MDA8) O3 exhibited alarming linear trends of 2.4, 1.1, and 2.0 ppb yr–1 in three megacity clusters: three-fold increase in the number of O3-exceeding days, defined as MDA8 O3 >75 ppb during the same period. Our analysis indicated that the upward trends in the annual mean concentration of MDA8 were primarily driven by the rise in consecutive O3-exceeding days. Furthermore, from 2015 to 2017, there was a widespread expansion of high O3 concentrations from urban centers to surrounding rural regions, resulting in a more uniform spatial distribution of O3 after 2017. Lastly, we discovered a close association between O3 episodes featuring four or more consecutive O3-exceeding days and the position and strength of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD). Additionally, there was a significant the West Pacific subtropical high (WPSH). The WPSH contributed to meteorological conditions characterized by clear skies, subsiding air motion, high vertical stability in the lower troposphere, increased solar radiation, and positive temperature anomaly at the surface. These favorable meteorological conditions greatly facilitated the formation of O3. Thus, we propose that the worsening O3 trends observed in BTH, YRD and PRD from 2015 to 2020 can be attributed to enhanced photochemical O3 production resulting from an increased occurrence of meteorological conditions with high solar radiation and positive temperature anomalies under the influence of WPSH and tropical cyclones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the tension between public gender expressions and official regulations in mainland China. Utilizing a critical discourse analysis, we investigate a transition in state-initiated criticism and censorship against the danmei genre and male effeminacy. Focusing on the pandemic period, we use official regulations and state media feature articles as data, 'reticent / han-xu ' politics as a grounding theoretical basis, and statements from mainstream media platforms as secondary resources. We argue that han-xu politics functions as the Chinese party-state's strategic response to a perceived 'crisis of masculinity'. They first invisibilize and marginalize soft masculinities, and if this is not effective, then suppress and prohibit cultural forms that violate hegemonic masculinity, which works to perpetuate the hetero-patriarchal social-familial system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the largest megacity clusters in China, the Pearl River Delta (PRD) exhibited an obvious increase in the autumn mean maximum daily 8 hr average (MDA8) ozone (O3) concentration from 2014 to 2020, although O3 precursors were effectively controlled. To understand the cause of these elevated surface MDA8 O3 concentrations in the PRD, we explored potential meteorological causes. Based on the relationships between the MDA8 O3 concentrations and the meteorological conditions, the ozone weather index (OWI) was constructed from surface downward shortwave radiation flux (DSWRF), relative humidity (RH), and wind speed (WS) data to represent the variations in the autumn MDA8 O3 concentration in the PRD. Stronger DSWRF, lower RH, and lower WS were linked to larger OWI values and stronger O3 pollution. Discrepancies in DSWRF, RH, and WS were observed on days with OWI > 1 and OWI < −1. Atmospheric stagnation (AS) was also associated with O3 pollution. The average MDA8 O3 concentrations on AS days were 53% (51.0 μg m−3) higher than those on non‐AS days. The O3 exceedance rates on AS days were 36.5%, which is 4.8 times higher than those on non‐AS days (7.6%) in the PRD. In addition to lower WS and less precipitation, AS days were also accompanied by lower total cloud cover and stronger downdraft airflow, which accelerated O3 production. Since the occurrence of AS is projected to increase, efforts to mitigate AS would contribute to decreasing the risk of severe autumn O3 pollution events in the PRD. Key Points: The ozone weather index established for the Pearl River Delta (PRD) can represent the variations in O3 concentrations in autumnAtmospheric stagnation was associated with ozone pollution in the PRD, which was accompanied by lower cloud cover and stronger downdrafts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The phonological lexicon of Mandarin Chinese is graded. • Constituent edit yields highest dissimilarity, followed by phoneme, and then tone. • Graded neighborhood density and frequency affect lexical retrieval across tasks. • Distant neighbors facilitate and near neighbors inhibit lexical retrieval. How phonological neighborhood affects lexical retrieval can shed important light on lexical organization and processing. Yet these effects are unclear, particularly in Mandarin Chinese. This is likely because the working definition of phonological neighbors (i.e., the one-phoneme edit rule) used in Indo-European languages inadequately characterizes the phonological similarity among Mandarin words, which have simpler syllable structures and lexical tones. The current study proposes a graded Mandarin phonological neighborhood and investigates the impacts of near-to-distant Mandarin phonological neighbors on lexical retrieval. In Study 1, we investigated how Mandarin phonological similarity is influenced by the editing of lexical tone, constituent (onset/rime, initial/final) and phoneme. Native Mandarin speakers rated the similarity between the edited monosyllabic words. We found that constituent-edit neighbors were rated as the most dissimilar, followed by phoneme-edit neighbors, while tone-edit neighbors were the most similar. In Study 2, we calculated the constituent-, phoneme- and tone-edit phonological neighborhood densities and frequencies for 4,706 monosyllabic Mandarin words. We then utilized extant datasets to examine how the density and frequency of neighbors at varied distances, as well as of homophonic neighbors, impact response latencies in word naming, visual lexical decision, and picture naming tasks. The results showed that graded phonological neighbors had differential impacts on lexical retrieval efficiency: distant (constituent-edit) neighbors facilitated word retrieval, while near (phoneme-, tone-edit and homophonic) neighbors had inhibitory effects. We discuss these findings within an interactive activation and competition framework and suggest future directions to study the representation and processing of the Mandarin phonological lexicon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article interrogates the possibility that the digital game arena plays a role as a 'counterpublic sphere' where alternative voices that violate the hegemonic narratives in the mainstream media culture can be expressed. Exemplified by The Invisible Guardian, a Chinese interactive role-playing game, we present the first study to bring political perspective into the Chinese digital game studies, combining narrative analysis and players' experience to provide a comprehensive understanding of political engagement in China's digital game arena. We argue that the digital game uses various strategies to portray figures from different political parties in a way that subverts mainstream main-melody dramas and sheds light on sensitive historical movements. This implies the potential of Chinese digital games to become a counterpublic sphere, delivering alternative voices that challenge the mainstream media discourse and stimulate gamers' political introspection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the cultural representations of Chinese military-action films which re-interpret China's non-intervention policy and give China's foreign engagements rationality and legitimation. It involves two narrative strategies: (1) framing the protection of nationals abroad as the key incentive behind China's military actions; and (2) emphasizing an unquestioning commitment to sovereignty, to UN authorization, and to the consent of host countries during the intervening process.Then, it points out the propagandistic features of China's military-action films: framing the outside world as a threatening place in which individuals' survival depends on the protection of a powerful nation; cultivating collective narcissism and nationalism; and reframing China's global economic expansion through a"friendship narrative". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This articles examines the representation of the blurred boundary between bromance and romance in the Chinese drama, S.C.I. Mystery (2018) and how it can be interpreted in Chinese gender discourse because it is the unique boys' love fanfiction being adapted for an online drama in mainland China. We use the term bromance-as-masquerade to denote a representational strategy of depicting male–male romance under the guise of homosocial bromance. Bromance-as-masquerade facilitates the promotion of male intimacy cultivated by the leading actors themselves and the production team in the marketing process. Their actions demonstrate a proactive engagement in the counterpublic discourse; however, this article argues that the self-censored modification of the plot-setting represents a refusal and exclusion of boys' love subculture, which places the notion of the counterpublic in question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nationalism is a prominent theme in China's cultural productions. While many studies research nationalistic representations of wars, revolutions and nation-building processes in Chinese socialist cinema and dramas, this article focuses on a marginal media form: political animations. It examines the patriotic discourses in popular Chinese animated series Year Hare Affair and presents three main findings. First, that the series characters represent personified/animalized nation states, reflecting the animator's perceptions of 'self' and 'other' (and 'friends' or 'enemies'), which are highly consistent with the Chinese authority's stance and policy in foreign affairs. Second, that the animation's key theme of 'dreams of being a powerful nation' explicitly demonstrates nationalist and developmental connotations, showing confirmation and resonation of Xi's China Dream initiative. Third, that the animation also moderately deviates from the mainstream representations and offers re-interpretations of the official patriotic narratives with regard to China's performance in international affairs. The analyses conclude a negotiation dynamic between the (half-) independent political animation and the state's hegemony in China's transformative political communication space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergent movement of reverse Sue (Nisu) in China refers to the practice of (especially female) fans imagining themselves as having a strong male role to their idols' weak female role. In this process, female fans take on a powerful, active role to protect and look after their male idols in female form. Examining how Nisu fans interact with other types of fans and negotiate a mainstream gender discourse dominated by traditional heterosexual norms reveals how, as a burgeoning subcultural group, female Nisu fans express their subversive potential by seeking the power of an imaginary phallus to defy male hegemony. However, their internal divergence and self-contradiction might weaken this defiance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of 15 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in water, sediments, and fish from Songhua River and Yalu River in Jilin Province, Northeast China, during their spring flood period were investigated for the first time. The short-chain perfluorobutanoic acid was the dominant PFAS in the water with the mean concentrations of 10 ng L−1 in Songhua River and 9.0 ng L−1 in Yalu River, and also dominant in sediments with the mean concentrations of 2.0 and 1.8 ng g−1 dry weight. Perfluorodecane sulfonate was the predominant compound in fish. The detected frequencies and concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid were very low in the water, sediments, and fish. Low detected frequencies and concentrations of long-chain PFASs led to relative low sediment-water partition coefficients and bioaccumulation factors. The concentration levels of PFASs in the two rivers were lower than those in other major rivers in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity in lake basins has caused severe environmental problems. Water footprint assessment at the basin level is becoming a popular issue in water sustainability research. This study establishes a comprehensive water footprint assessment framework on the scale of a lake basin by using the top-down method. The components of water footprint assessment include agricultural water footprint, industrial water footprint, domestic water footprint, ecological environment water footprint, and virtual water flow, including virtual water imports and exports. This study used Lake Dianchi Basin in China as the case study area, based on published data, quantifying the total water footprint and measuring the water sustainability of Lake Dianchi Basin from 2000 to 2011. The results show that the average annual total water footprint for Lake Dianchi Basin was 28.18 × 108 m3, 95.4% of which was the internal water footprint. Agricultural production used most of the water, accounting for 74.1% of the total water footprint. The per capita water footprint was 960.51 m3/year, which was higher than those in most other regions of China. Lake Dianchi Basin should improve its water sustainability in terms of its internal and external water footprints. Importing water from other regions in both real and virtual forms should be considered in terms of the external water footprint. This study provides new insights on water footprint assessment methodology at the basin level and for improving basin water resource management from the macroscopic angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: JAK2 V617F mutation is a molecular marker for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). As there are no China Food and Drug Administration-approved assays for the detection of JAK2 V617F mutation in China, validation of the analytic performance of this assay is important for the clinical laboratory before its clinical implementation. We have established a method for detecting JAK2 V617F using tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (tetra-primer ARMS-PCR) combined with melting-curve analysis. Methods: A total of 202 blood samples and 20 bone marrow aspirates were obtained from MPNs patients at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University. The accuracy, precision, reproducibility, analytical sensitivity, lower limit of detection, analytical specificity, interfering substances, ruggedness, robustness, reportable range and reporting of this assay were validated. Results: There was a close agreement between the reference method (sequencing) and melting-curve analysis ( κ = 0.89). The precision was 100 % and the results of the assay were unaffected by lipoprotein (<27 mmol/L) or bilirubin (<450 µmol/L). The analytical sensitivity of the JAK2 mutation was 1.25 %. Conclusions: Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (tetra-primer ARMS-PCR) combined with melting-curve analysis can be used in the clinical laboratory for detection of the JAK2 V617F mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Carboniferous igneous rocks in the western margin of Junggar Basin, western China developed large-scale oil reservoirs. Hongshan-Zhongguai Bulge, the location of Jinlong Oilfield where oil and gas exploration in igneous rocks has achieved efficient breakthroughs in recent years, was studied as an example, because a large number of igneous rocks and crude oil samples are available in this area. The Carboniferous igneous rock reservoirs are typical fault-controlled block reservoirs, and are distributed in a stepped-like manner. Based on analysis of biomarkers, inclusions and reservoir cores under microscope, the oil sources, filling history and major controls for the igneous rock reservoirs that associated with accumulation mechanisms were studied. The biomarker geochemistry reveals that the oil in the igneous rocks was derived from the Permian source rocks including formations of Jiamuhe, Fengcheng and Lower Wuerhe (P 2 w), and the P 2 w is the primary source rock. Three important periods of oil charging in the igneous rock reservoirs are suggested: Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, Early Cretaceous, and Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary. Volcanic breccia of eruptive facies is most favorable for igneous rock reservoir, followed by andesite of effusive facies. Strike-slip faults, overthrust faults and secondary normal faults formed into a fault network, interwoven with the unconformities in the top of the Carboniferous system and within the Permian strata, forming a vertical and horizontal three-dimensional petroleum migration pathway. Hydrocarbons migrated to igneous rock reservoirs from the Permian source rocks along strike-slip faults. The faults communicate the hydrocarbon source rocks with the upper weathering crust reservoirs and control the petroleum distribution. Due to weathering and leaching below the unconformity at the top of the igneous rock reservoirs, oil and gas are most abundant in the upper 150 m. In the fault belt the rocks are cemented by minerals of carbonate, clay, zeolite, quartz, and serpentine, and these types of cementation along faults were recognized as important factors for laterally sealing oil and gas in igneous rock reservoirs. • Types and the characteristics of igneous rock reservoirs were revealed. • Oil sources based on oil-source rock correlation were identified. • Hydrocarbon accumulation period and process was demonstrated. • Fault and unconformities controlling on igneous rock reservoir was demonstrated. • Diagenetic cements were recognized in igneous rocks along fault belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chepaizi Bulge of the Junggar Basin contains large-scale fault-controlled petroleum reservoirs in the Carboniferous igneous rock basement. Breccia, tuffaceous breccia, andesite, basalt, and tuff are the major lithology of the igneous rocks, and the major hydrocarbon accumulation was found in the volcanic breccia, andesite, and basalt reservoirs. The types of igneous rocks were predicted by their different logging responses, and were differentiated in the plot of acoustic versus gamma ray loggings when the core is not available. Secondary dissolution pores and fractures (primary tectonic fractures) were the major reservoir spaces. Fractures mainly occurred within 250 m below the top surface of the Carboniferous system. The fractures formed in the early, middle and late stages with different causes were identified. The reservoirs were dominated by mesopores with excessively low permeability, and the volcanic breccia reservoirs exhibited higher porosity (2.0%–16.31%, averages at 7.95%) and permeability (0.01 md–3.13 md, average at 0.11 md) than the basalt–andesite reservoirs (averages at 5.8% and 0.07md) on the whole. Volcanic breccia samples show larger average throat radius, average capillary radius and maximum connected throat radius compared with the basalt samples. The major oil accumulation is mainly distributed along faults, because there is more reservoir space and superior oil migration channels as a result of the induced fractures. Diagenetic cements including minerals of carbonate, clay, zeolite, serpentine, and quartz, were commonly observed in the fault zone, and these types of diagenetic cementation are crucial to the fault sealing, and are of great significance in the formation of large igneous rock reservoirs. • The methods for the identification of various types of igneous rocks were raised. • The significance of fractures with various types in the igneous rocks was revealed. • The controlling of fault on volcanic rock reservoir was reflected. • Volcanic breccia is favorable for oil accumulation relatively. • Diagenetic cements in igneous rocks and their significance was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface ozone (O 3) pollution in the warm season (June–November), especially persistent O 3 exceedance (O 3 exceedances events lasting for two days or more), has been the primary air pollution problem of Pearl River Delta (PRD), China since 2015. Most of persistent O 3 exceedances in PRD were related to the presence of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. However, the understanding of the relationship between persistent O 3 exceedances and TCs remains limited. In this study, we divided TCs in the northwestern Pacific Ocean in 2015–2020 into four categories according to their presence and distances from PRD. We found that TCs with midrange distances of 700 km–4500 km from PRD (MTCs) occurred in 50% of total days in the warm season but disproportionally accounted for 80.7% of persistent O 3 exceedances during the same period. In addition, analysis of the vertical velocity revealed that extensive downdrafts prevailed over PRD during both persistent O 3 exceedances and MTCs. Downdrafts were characterized by meteorological conditions of clear sky, low winds, high boundary layer and low relative humidity, which were highly conducive to the photochemical formation and accumulation of O 3 , and hence the genesis of persistent O 3 exceedances. Moreover, the presence of downdraft conditions on 1-day-before O 3 exceedance days was found to contribute to the genesis of all O 3 exceedance events. In contrast, during periods of other three TC categories, there were prevailing updrafts characterized by unstable atmosphere, overcast sky, high humidity and high winds which were unfavorable for O 3 formation. We therefore hypothesize that the downdraft and stable atmospheric conditions which frequently occurred during the MTCs were the primary process conducive to high O 3 formation of persistent O 3 exceedances and thus controlled the interannual variability of O 3 in PRD in 2006–2020. In addition, we propose that the downdraft brought forth by MTCs is highly likely the primary cause of the extreme high O 3 in 2019 and thus the rapid increasing trend of O 3 in 2015–2020. The implication to the formulation of O 3 control strategy in PRD is that more stringent emission controls should be implemented during the presence of MTCs. • Extensive downdrafts prevailed over PRD on persistent ozone exceedance days. • Downdrafts induced by TCs controlled the trend of O 3 in PRD in 2015–2020. • Enhanced downdrafts over PRD in 2019–2020 required more stringent emission control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions are the foundation on which to realize the sustainable development of a green China. Recently in Beijing, the capital of China, serious environmental pollution-climate anomaly, severe haze and human sub-health have been accorded more importance. This study examines the energy-related CO 2 emissions generated by Beijing industries from 2000 to 2010 by using an input–output analysis method. The direct, indirect and total CO 2 emissions of sectors in Beijing were calculated. In addition, structural decomposition analysis (SDA) was conducted to evaluate the driving factors from the perspective of technology, sectoral connection, economic structure and economic scale. The results show that the growth rate of sectoral CO 2 emissions in Beijing has drastically increased during this time with a moderate decline during 2007–2010. The metal and non-metal mining industries, the electric power, gas and water supply sector and the construction industry caused the most CO 2 emissions. The economic structure change and the rapid economic growth led to the significant increase in CO 2 emissions growth in Beijing. Thus, optimizing the economic structure and improving the technology are important to alleviate CO 2 emissions. Although we can currently appropriately utilize fossil fuels, further research on new energy and clean development, as well as enhanced government management strength is required to reduce CO 2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy evolution in China has made great achievements in economic development, while its impact on water has also been significant. This study provides detailed insight into how diverse policy evolution affected the water footprint (WF) in China from 1997 to 2007 through input–output analysis and structural decomposition analysis. Input–output analysis was used to measure China's WF. The results indicate that the total WF in China decreased from 495.5 billion m 3 in 1997 to 447.6 billion m 3 in 2007. Structural decomposition analysis was applied to quantify the determinants of the changes in WF. The driving factors of the WF changes were decomposed into technology, sectoral connection, economic structure, gross economic scale and population. The results show that the sector with the most space to save water changed from agriculture to tertiary industry during the periods under study. Technology and economic structure effects always offset the WF increase, whereas gross economic scale effect always hindered water conservation. In 2002–2005, the sectoral connection effect abruptly changed from negative to positive, with the proportion of the total contribution rising to 60%. This phenomenon can be linked to market expansion, which led to a decrease in water utilization when China joined the WTO in 2001. To promote water conservation in China, macro-control policies should be formulated in coordination with self-readjustment policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Igneous rocks in deep basins are important unconventional petroleum reservoirs. Storage space and pore–throat structure of igneous rocks are crucial to be considered as effective reservoirs. There developed large-scale petroleum reservoirs in the Carboniferous igneous rocks of Hongshan-Zhongguai Bulge in the Junggar Basin, western China. The storage space and pore–throat structures of various types of igneous rocks and their significance to petroleum accumulation were studied based on the analysis of core samples. The methods include macroscopic core observation, microscopic observation under microscopes, scanning electron microscopy, micro-resistivity imaging logging and mercury injection experiments. Results show that the storage space is made up of primary gas pores, secondary dissolution pores and various types of fractures. The fillings of fractures are mainly calcite, followed by asphalt, chlorite and gypsum. The igneous rocks have different pore-throat structures, which govern the reservoir properties. Four types of igneous rock reservoirs were recognized, and the most favorable type is volcanic breccia and part of andesite. Dissolution plays an important role in remodeling the pore-throat structure and storage space. Tuff is the most susceptible to dissolution and present greatest alteration in storage space among the studied igneous rocks. An igneous rock weathering crust with high porosity formed near the unconformity capping the Carboniferous rocks, and oil is most abundant within 150 m across the unconformity surface. Faults and the weathering crust jointly control the formation of igneous rock reservoirs. The fault-controlled reservoirs commonly form in structural high position, and stratigraphic reservoirs generally developed in slope area. • Storage space is mainly composed of secondary dissolution pores and various types of fractures. • Four types of igneous rock reservoir rocks were recognized, and volcanic breccia and andesite are most favorable. • Tuff is most susceptible to dissolution and greatly altered in storage space. • Dissolution and fractures play important roles in remodeling the pore-throat structure and storage space. • Oil is mainly stored within 150 m across the top Carboniferous weathering crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper studied the influence of copper concentration, pH, temperature, and the ratio of solid to solution on desorption of Zn in the kaolin from Suzhou, China in a background solution of 0.01 M CaCl2 by batch extraction experiments. At 0, 5, 50, 100 mg/l Cu concentration, for each 0.5 increase in pH between about 1.80 and 3.04% desorption decreases 3.80, 13.87, 9.97, and 7.65%, respectively. The pH50 (pH at 50% Zn desorption) is found to follow the sequence: Cu (5 mg/l, pH50 =2.60) < Cu (50 mg/l, pH50 =2.70) < Cu (100 mg/l, pH50 =2.95) < Cu (0 mg/l, pH50 =10.65). The free energy change (ΔG) values, the values of enthalpy change (ΔH), and entropy change (ΔS) have been calculated. There were no large differences in the desorption of Zn from 25 to 50 °C. The concentration of Zn in solution after desorption equilibrium increases and percent desorption decreases when the solid to liquid ratio increases from 0.025 to 0.2. The kaolin possibly cannot be used for the landfill clay liner. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of acquired disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide. Its rate of incidence, disability, mortality, and recurrence is high, and the patients experience various symptoms of discomfort, which not only affect their rehabilitation function but also reduce their ability to perform daily activities and their quality of life. Nowadays, with the improvement of China's medical standards, patients are increasingly attentive to their quality of life and health status. However, diagnostic techniques and effective treatments for patients with stroke are still limited but urgently required., Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life during hospitalization using a stroke patient-reported outcomes (PROs) scale and additionally to recognize potential factors and risk indicators that may impact recurrent events, facilitating early intervention measures., Methods: This is a registry-based, retrospective observational cross-sectional study on patients with stroke. A convenient sampling method was used to select various indicators of patients. The Stroke-PRO scale was then used to assess patients' conditions across physical, psychological, social, and therapeutic domains. Multiple linear regression analysis was applied to identify factors influencing stroke PROs, while correlation analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between these outcomes and blood lipid levels., Results: The mean Stroke-PRO score in this study was 4.09 (SD 0.29) points. By multiple linear regression analysis, residence, occupation, physical exercise, Barthel index, Braden scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores at admission, and stroke type were the risk factors for reported outcomes of patients with stroke (P<.05). Correlation analysis showed that serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein were negatively correlated with Stroke-PRO scores in patients with stroke (P<.05), while high-density lipoprotein was positively correlated with patients with stroke (P<.05). The 95% CI was -0.31 to -0.03 for triglyceride, 0.17-0.44 for high-density lipoprotein, -0.29 to -0.01 for cholesterol, -0.30 to -0.02 for low-density lipoprotein, and -0.12 to 0.16 for blood glucose., Conclusions: Patients with stroke have a low level of health, and their reported outcomes need to be improved. Accordingly, nursing staff should pay attention to the quality of life and blood lipid indexes of patients with stroke, actively assess their actual health status, and take early intervention measures to promote their recovery., (©Jia Sun, Liang Ma, Xiao Miao, Hui Sun, SuSu Zhu, Ran Zhang, LeLe Fan, TingTing Hu. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 26.08.2024.)

Introduction and Aims: This study aimed to explore the perspectives and experiences of mothers of school-age children with asthma in care., Methods: A phenomenological study was conducted using qualitative research methods from August 2021 to November 2021. Mothers (from Sichuan, China) of school-aged children with asthma who sought outpatient care at the pediatric asthma clinic were purposively sampled based on their occupation, education level, and duration of their child's illness. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted in consultation room A07 of the pediatric asthma clinic. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically., Results: 23 mothers expressed interest, but data saturation was reached after recruiting 15 mothers.Four main themes encompassing ten sub-themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Negative psychological burden, with sub-themes including anxiety shock, fear of death, guilt, and stigma. (2) Family dysfunction, with sub-themes including impaired quality of life, family emotional crisis, and heavy economic burden. (3) Difficulty in seeking medical treatment. (4) Active response, with sub-themes including emotional adjustment, family empowerment, and social support., Conclusions: In this sample, the caregiving experience of mothers of school-age children with asthma is diverse and complex, reflected not only in personal psychological aspects but also in family functioning and social support. Taking into account various factors, such as addressing psychological well-being, emphasizing family and social support, and promoting the sharing of positive experiences, may result in more effective alleviation of caregiving stress for mothers of school-age children with asthma.

Objective: This research aimed to assess the levels of cognitive function and its contributing factors among individuals experiencing cancer pain (CP) in mainland China., Design: A descriptive, cross-sectional study., Setting: The investigation was undertaken within three tertiary oncology hospitals., Participants: We included 220 hospitalised individuals who reported experiencing cancer-related pain and consented to complete the research questionnaires., Outcome Measures: The collected data encompassed sociodemographic and clinical variables, augmented by results from validated questionnaires. Cognitive impairment (CI) was evaluated using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive (FACT-Cog) scale, with scores ranging from 0 to 148. Sleep quality, depression and anxiety were assessed through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7, respectively. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with CI in individuals with CP., Results: Of the 225 individuals approached, 220 (97.8%) participated in the study. The mean FACT-Cog score for those with CP was 101.29 (SD=25.24; range=25-148). The prevalence of CI among these individuals was 35.90%. Sleep quality was rated below medium in 45% of participants with CP. More than moderate pain was reported by 28.2%, with 64.6% experiencing depression and 38.6% experiencing anxiety. Increased odds of developing CI were observed in those with CP (OR 1.422, 95% CI 1.129 to 1.841), depression (OR 1.119, 95% CI 1.029 to 1.2117), anxiety (OR 1.107, 95% CI 1.005 to 1.220), advancing age (OR 1.042, 95% CI 1.013 to 1.073), poor sleep quality (OR 1.126, 95% CI 1.013 to 1.252) and a history of smoking (OR 3.811, 95% CI 1.668 to 8.707)., Conclusions: CI associated with CP is notably prevalent in China. Those older, with a smoking history, inadequate sleep, more severe pain, depression and anxiety, have a heightened risk of CI. Consequently, interventions need to be personalised, addressing these key determinants., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background & Aims: ESPEN/EASO advocates screening for sarcopenic obesity based on the concomitant presence of an elevated body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference. Neck circumference (NC) is another simple and reliable anthropometric measurement for estimating obesity; however, its ability to detect sarcopenic obesity has not yet been established. The aim of the present study was to explore the association between NC and sarcopenic obesity in a Shanghai community population., Methods: The study included 1542 participants (622 men and 920 women) with a mean age of 58 years who underwent an examination for the detection of obesity at baseline in 2013-2014 and received a re-examination in 2015-2016. An automatic bioelectric impedance analyzer was used to estimate body composition, and magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure abdominal fat distribution. The definition of pre-sarcopenic obesity combined low skeletal muscle mass adjusted by weight (SMM/W) with obesity which defined according to overall adiposity or fat distribution as BMI ≥25 kg/m 2 , fat percentage (fat%) ≥ 25% in men and 30% in women, or visceral fat area (VFA) ≥ 80 cm 2 , respectively., Results: In both men and women, subjects with low SMM/W had a higher level of NC than those without (both P < 0.01). In turn, participants with elevated NC had a higher proportion of pre-sarcopenic obesity in both men and women, regardless of adiposity status assessed by BMI, fat%, or VFA (all P < 0.01). During an average follow up of 2.1 years, for each 1 cm increase in NC, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of pre-sarcopenic obesity in which adiposity status assessed by high BMI were 1.40 (1.11-1.76) in men and 1.32 (1.13-1.56) in women; in addition, such association remained between NC and pre-sarcopenic obesity assessed by high fat% or high VFA., Conclusion: NC is closely associated with the incidence of sarcopenic obesity, suggesting that it could be helpful for screening sarcopenic obesity in a community-based population., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests in this section., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: This study aimed to investigate whether neck circumference (NC) could be used to predict future cardiovascular (CV) events in a community-based Chinese cohort., Methods and Results: We enrolled 1435 participants aged 50-80 years (men, 43.62%) from communities in Shanghai. High NC was defined as NC ≥ 38.5 cm in men and NC ≥ 34.5 cm in women. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression were performed to explore the association between NC and CV events. During a mean follow-up period of 7.6 years, 148 CV events (10.31%) occurred. The incidence of CV events was higher in men than in women (83 (13.26%) vs. 65 (8.03%), P = 0.002). Multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analysis showed that for every 1-SD increase in NC in the whole population, the hazard ratio (HR) of CV events was 1.45 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.83). The dose-response association between NC and CV events was significant in men (HR, 1.37, 95% CI, 1.10-1.71) but not in women (HR, 1.19, 95% CI, 0.94-1.52). In comparison with participants showing low baseline NC, those with high baseline NC showed a significantly higher risk of CV events (HR, 1.59, 95% CI, 1.14-2.22). Further stratified by sex, the positive association remained significant in men (HR, 1.90, 95% CI, 1.21-2.98) but not in women (HR, 1.25, 95% CI, 0.75-2.07)., Conclusion: NC was significantly associated with the risk of future CV events in middle-aged and elderly populations in the community and was a better predictor in men., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Quality can be a challenge for Investigator initiated trials (IITs) since these trials are scarcely overseen by a sponsor or monitoring team. Therefore, quality assessment for departments managing clinical research grants program is important and urgently needed. Our study aims at developing a handy quality assessment tool for IITs that can be applied by both departments and project teams., Methods: The framework of the quality assessment tool was developed based on the literature studies, accepted guidelines and the Delphi method. A total of 272 ongoing IITs funded by Shanghai non-profit organizations in 2015 and 2016 were used to extract quality indexes. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to further evaluate the validity and feasibility of the conceptual quality assessment tool., Results: The tool consisted of 4 critical quality attributes, including progress, quality, regulation, scientificity, and 13 observed quality indexes. A total of 257 IITs were included in the validity and feasibility assessment. The majority (60.29%) were Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), and 41.18% were multi-center studies. In order to test the validity and feasibility of IITs quality assessment tool, CFA showed that the model fit the data adequately. (CMIN/DF = 1.868, GFI = 0.916; CFI = 0.936; TLI = 0.919; RMSEA = 0.063; SRMR = 0.076). Different types of clinical studies fit well in the tool. However, RCT scored lower than prospective cohort and retrospective study in enrollment progress (7.02 vs. 7.43, 9.63, respectively)., Conclusion: This study established a panoramic quality assessment tool based on the Delphi method and CFA, and the feasibility and effectiveness of the tool were verified through clinical research examples. The use of this tool can help project management departments effectively and dynamically manage research projects, rationally allocate resources, and ensure the quality of IITs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Lv, Hu, Jiang, Qu, Shen, Duan, Miao, Zhang and Qian.)

Background/objectives: Neck circumference (NC) has been positively associated with visceral fat area (VFA) in cross-sectional studies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of NC changes on VFA in a Chinese community-based longitudinal cohort., Subjects/methods: Subjects recruited from Shanghai communities were followed up for 1.1-2.9 years. A total of 1421 subjects (men 578, women 843) were included, aged 24-80 years, with an average age of 57.8 ± 7.1 years., Interventions/methods: Biochemical and anthropometric measurements, including NC, were obtained from all subjects. VFA was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Abdominal obesity was defined as a VFA ≥ 80 cm 2 ., Results: After a mean follow-up of 2.1 years, the NCs for men and women were 38.1 ± 2.3 cm and 33.8 ± 2.0 cm, respectively, and the average value of VFA was 84.55 (59.83-113.50) cm 2 . After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, history of drinking, glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure and blood lipids, individuals who had gained a NC of more than 5% had 1.26 (95% CI: 1.05-1.49) times more visceral adipose tissue at follow-up than NC maintainers (NC change between -2.5% and 2.5%). In the non-abdominal obesity group at baseline (n = 683), after adjusting for confounding factors, changes in NC were associated with abdominal obesity (odd ratio 1.23, 95% CI: 1.09-1.39)., Conclusions: Changes in NC were positively associated with VFA in a Chinese community-based cohort, suggesting that NC measurement is practical for assessing abdominal obesity., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background and Aims: Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) is an important index for evaluating subclinical atherosclerosis. Neck circumference (NC), a new anthropometric index of the upper body fat, is closely related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors. This study investigated the relationship between NC, C-IMT, and carotid plaque in a community-based cohort., Methods and Results: Participants recruited from Shanghai communities were followed up for 1.1-2.9 years. All participants underwent anthropometric and biochemical measurements. Elevated NC was defined as NC ≥ 38.5 cm and NC ≥ 34.5 cm in men and women, respectively. Elevated C-IMT, determined by ultrasound, was defined as a level higher than the 75th percentile in the study population (>0.75 mm). In total, 1189 participants without carotid plaque at baseline were included, with an average age of 59.6 ± 7.3 years. After a mean follow-up of 2.1 ± 0.2 years, 203 participants developed carotid plaques. After adjusting for various atherosclerosis risk factors, the logistic regression showed that the higher NC group had a significantly greater risk of developing carotid plaque than the lower NC group (odds ratio [OR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-2.14; P = 0.008). Of those without carotid plaque at follow-up, 495 participants developed elevated C-IMT. Compared to the lower NC group, the higher NC group had a significantly increased risk of elevated C-IMT (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.14-1.95; P = 0.003)., Conclusion: Higher NC was significantly positively correlated with the risk of carotid plaque and elevated C-IMT., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dense vesicles (DVs) are Golgi-derived plant-specific carriers that mediate post-Golgi transport of seed storage proteins in angiosperms. How this process is regulated remains elusive. Here, we report a rice (Oryza sativa) mutant, named glutelin precursor accumulation8 (gpa8) that abnormally accumulates 57-kDa proglutelins in the mature endosperm. Cytological analyses of the gpa8 mutant revealed that proglutelin-containing DVs were mistargeted to the apoplast forming electron-dense aggregates and paramural bodies in developing endosperm cells. Differing from previously reported gpa mutants with post-Golgi trafficking defects, the gpa8 mutant showed bent Golgi bodies, defective trans-Golgi network (TGN), and enlarged DVs, suggesting a specific role of GPA8 in DV biogenesis. We demonstrated that GPA8 encodes a subunit E isoform 1 of vacuolar H+-ATPase (OsVHA-E1) that mainly localizes to TGN and the tonoplast. Further analysis revealed that the luminal pH of the TGN and vacuole is dramatically increased in the gpa8 mutant. Moreover, the colocalization of GPA1 and GPA3 with TGN marker protein in gpa8 protoplasts was obviously decreased. Our data indicated that OsVHA-E1 is involved in endomembrane luminal pH homeostasis, as well as maintenance of Golgi morphology and TGN required for DV biogenesis and subsequent protein trafficking in rice endosperm cells., (© American Society of Plant Biologists 2021. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and pulmonary carcinoids (PCs) account for almost 2% of all pulmonary malignancies. However, few published articles have reported prognosis and related factors of pulmonary carcinoid patients., Material and Method: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was used to collect data of patients diagnosed with metastatic PCs from 2010 to 2016. The prognosis and survival of these patients were compared by employing Cox proportional hazards and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis., Results: A total of 1763 patients were analyzed. The liver (668, 25.6%) was shown to be the most common metastatic site in the isolated organ metastasis cohort, followed by the lung (636, 24.4%), bone (562, 21.6%), and brain (460, 17.6%). Among the patients, the tumor metastasized to a single distant site included the liver, bone, lung, and brain. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) in metastatic PCs is determined by the site of metastasis and the total number of such sites. Pulmonary carcinoid patients with isolated liver metastasis manifested more favorable survival rates in comparison to patients having isolated metastasis in the lung, brain, or bone. The median CSS was 45, 7, 6, 5 months ( P = 0.011). The number of distant metastatic sites and the location of distant metastasis were found to be independent risk factors for CSS. For patients with distant isolated metastasis, liver metastasis ( P < 0.0001) had better CSS in comparison to those with bone metastasis. When compared to patients whose carcinoids had metastasized to the bones, patients with a brain ( P = 0.273) or lung ( P = 0.483) metastasis had the same CSS., Conclusion: Cancer-specific survival in metastatic PCs depends on the site of metastasis and the total number of such locations. PC patients with isolated liver metastasis manifested more favorable survival in comparison to patients with isolated metastasis in the lung, brain, or bone.

Introduction: The ideal treatment for idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) remains unclear. In a prospective, single-centre, pilot study, we reported that ductal lavage treatment for non-lactational mastitis patients had a 1-year clinical complete response (cCR) rate of >90%, without any significant adverse events. Thus, in this multicentre, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial, we will aim to compare the effectiveness and safety of ductal lavage vs oral corticosteroids as the first-line treatment for patients with IGM., Methods and Analysis: The trial will be conducted at the Breast Tumor Center of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital in China and at least at one participating regional centre. We plan to recruit 140 eligible IGM patients who will be randomised into the ductal lavage group or oral corticosteroid group with a 1:1 ratio. The patients in the oral corticosteroid group will receive meprednisone or prednisone for 6 months. The patients in the ductal lavage group will receive ductal lavage and breast massage, as previously reported. All the participants will be followed up at the clinic for 1 year post randomisation. The primary endpoint of this trial will be the 1-year cCR rate, and the secondary endpoints will include the time to cCR, treatment failure rate, relapse rate and protocol compliance rate. The trial was designed to determine whether ductal lavage is non-inferior to oral corticosteroids (1-year cCR rate assumed to be 90%), with a non-inferiority margin of 15%., Ethics and Dissemination: The ethics committee of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital at Sun Yat-sen University approved the study (2018-Lun-Shen-Yan-No. 30). The results of the trial will be communicated to the participating primary care practices, published in international journals and presented at international clinical and scientific conferences., Trial Registration Number: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT03724903); Pre-results., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common genetic heart disease with diversified clinical presentation and it is important to identify new predictors of clinical outcomes and survival in HCM patients. In our study, 206 HCM patients were compared with respect to major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. By multivariable logistic analysis, we determined that palpitation, together with chronic heart failure (CHF) > 1 year, was an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebral events (MACCE) in HCM patients (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.60-6.57, P = 0.001). Specially, palpitation was related to higher prevalence of rehospitalization (OR 3.86, 95% CI 2.08-7.08, P < 0.001), cardiac death (OR 2.96, 95% CI 1.05-8.32, P = 0.04) and heart failure exacerbation (OR 4.07, 95% CI 2.04-8.13, P < 0.001). However, patients presented with palpitation did not show a significantly different cardiac phenotype and function. Finally, palpitation predicted a poor prognosis in HCM patients without atrial fibrillation by utilizing Kaplan-Meier analysis (P = 0.041). In conclusion, palpitation could be a new predictor of clinical outcomes and overall survival in HCM patients.

Objective: The clinical and hematologic features of thalassemia are due to different factors, and patients with identical genotypes may regularly exhibit variable severity. In the present work, one homozygous Chinese G γ + ( A γδβ) 0 -thalassemia case with an asymptomatic phenotype, which is contrary to traditional views, was identified. Analysis of the underlying causes of this rare clinical phenotype involved accurate genetic diagnosis and detection of several genetic modifications., Methods: Six members of the proband's family were enrolled in the study. Hematological parameters and hemoglobin analysis results were recorded. A suspension-array system, multiplex gap-polymerase chain reaction (gap-PCR) and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) were used together to characterize genotypes. Sanger sequencing was utilized to examine the KLF1 gene and four primary fetal hemoglobin (Hb F)-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)., Results: Four family members carried the Chinese G γ + ( A γδβ) 0 -thalassemia mutation, and a homozygous state was ultimately diagnosed for the proband. All of the Chinese G γ + ( A γδβ) 0 mutation-positive cases were coinherited with the Southern Asian α-thalassemia deletion (- - SEA /αα). Two SNP variants, rs7776054 and rs9399137, in the HBS1L-MYB locus were detected in the proband., Conclusions: Thus far, this is the first study to describe the molecular characterization of a homozygous Chinese G γ + ( A γδβ) 0 -thalassemia patient who exhibits no clinical symptoms. Our findings suggest that coinheritance of α-thalassemia or HBS1L-MYB locus variants may affect the clinical severity of Chinese G γ + ( A γδβ) 0 -thalassemia. We conclude that the molecular examination of genetic determinants known to be associated with clinical outcomes in Chinese G γ + ( A γδβ) 0 -thalassemia should be emphasized., 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 © 2019 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Two commercial quantitative immunoassay platforms are currently available for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) within a wide range of concentrations: the Architect HBsAg assay and the Elecsys HBsAg II. However, there are limited data concerning their performance in patients who are positive for both HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies. In the present study, 127 serum samples from Chinese patients with hepatitis B carrying both HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies were analyzed. HBsAg levels measured in parallel using the Elecsys HBsAg II and Architect HBsAg assay were compared. There was a significant correlation between HBsAg levels measured by Elecsys HBsAg II and Architect HBsAg assay (correlation coefficient, r = 0.992, P < 0.05). Bland-Altman analysis indicated only minor discordance between the methods (mean difference between Elecsys HBsAg II and Architect HBsAg assay, -0.02 log10 IU/ml; 95 % confidence interval, -0.40-0.37 log10 IU/ml). In conclusion, the results of the quantitative Elecsys HBsAg II were highly correlated with those of the Architect HBsAg assay in patients carrying both HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies, but differences were observed between the platforms in samples with low HBsAg levels.

The presence of JAK2 V617F is associated with an inherited JAK2 46/1 haplotype, a risk factor for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) in Caucasian populations. Whether the JAK2 46/1 haplotype is also a risk factor in the Chinese population is unknown. We assessed for the JAK2 46/1 haplotype and JAK2 V617F mutation in 225 MPN patients and 226 controls using a tagged SNP rs12340895. The allele frequencies of the JAK2 46/1 haplotype were distinct among different subtypes of MPN patients. The allele frequency was significantly higher in polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) than that in controls, with PV patients having the highest allele frequency (0.58, P = 6.00E-15). The distribution of rs12340895 genotypes in the JAK2 V617F mutated MPN patients was significantly different from that in controls (P = 1.67E-15). The percentage of GG genotype in controls was 2.2 %, but 31.0 % in JAK2 V617F-positive MPN patients. All the PV, ET, and PMF patients with the GG genotype also exhibited the V617F mutation. Compared to that of controls, the difference in genotype distribution in PV patients was the most significant (P = 4.83E-21), followed by ET (P = 2.07E-05) and PMF (P = 1.99E-04). Our results suggest that the JAK2 46/1 haplotype is a risk factor for MPN in the Chinese population, and patients with GG genotype in rs12340895 locus are susceptible to JAK2 V617F mutation.

We aimed to determine the prevalence of the coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs and to analyze the clinical and virological features of infection, including amino acid (aa) patterns of the S gene and reverse transcriptase (RT) region in Chinese chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Fifty-four (2.90%) CHB patients who were positive for both HBsAg and anti-HBs were tested, and sequences were obtained from 52 of them as well as 48 patients from a control group. S gene and RT region sequences were amplified and sequenced using in-house protocols. There was no significant difference between patients with and without anti-HBs with regard to age, gender, alanine aminotransferase level, and the proportion positive for HBeAg and HBcAb. The occurrence of genotype C (P = 0.001) and anti-HBeAb positivity (P = 0.027) was significantly higher in HBsAg+/anti-HBs+ individuals. In the S gene, the number of mutated residues in the HBsAg+/anti-HBs+ group was markedly higher than in control patients (1.88 versus 1.02 substitutions per 100 amino acids, P = 0.022). The amino acid exchange occurred mostly within the N-terminal region (2.15 versus 0.87 substitutions per 100 amino acids, P = 0.023) and the "a" determinant (3.61 versus 1.56 substitutions per 100 amino acids, P = 0.049) in the two groups. In the RT region, the mean number of substitution per 100 aa showed a tendency to be significantly higher in HBsAg+/anti-HBs+ patients than in controls (2.34 versus 1.46, P = 0.040). This study showed a prevalence of coexistence of anti-HBs in HBsAg-positive patients and an increased frequency of genotype C and aa variability within both HBsAg and RT involving functionally important regions of those proteins.