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Tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus L.) have been widely cultivated as a bioenergy crop in northern China. The value of tubers is receiving special attention, but the lack of information on how organs of tiger nuts coordinate resources to adapt to arid environments has limited the potential tuber production and diverse use. To address this knowledge gap, we experimented in the Ulan Buh Desert, Inner Mongolia (106° 33′ 28″ E, 40° 27′ 32″ N). Three fertilizer treatments were applied: zero fertilizer (N:P = 0:0), traditional fertilizer (N:P = 15:15), and additional nitrogen fertilizer (N:P = 60:15). Investigations were conducted at seedling, rhizome production, tuber formation, and tuber maturation stages. The results showed that under zero fertilizer, tiger nuts allocated biomass predominantly to propagative organs, namely rhizomes and tubers. However, an increase in leaf area or root surface area would necessitate more investment in leaf or root dry mass, resulting in diminishing returns. For biomass allocation, tiger nut responded the same way to traditional fertilizer treatment and zero fertilizer treatment, but the tuber number and yield increase under traditional fertilizer application. Additional nitrogen fertilizer stimulated shoot production through accelerated rhizome production aided by leaf area increasing. Fertilizer application can significantly increase both the number of tiger nuts and tuber yield. Nitrogen addition positively influenced aboveground biomass and enhanced rhizome tillering. Strong adaptability of tiger nuts makes the plant a suitable pioneer crop for developing marginal lands. The robust aboveground growth after nitrogen application enhances suitability for pasture utilization. Core Ideas: Tiger nuts have been promoted as a bioenergy crop in Inner Mongolia, with potential uses yet to be explored.Tiger nuts demonstrate strong adaptability in arid areas, enabling them to thrive in nutrient‐deficient conditions.Tiger nuts with strong adaptability can fully exploit their production potential in marginal lands of Inner Mongolia.Nitrogen fertilizer application plays a major role in biomass partitioning in tiger nuts in an arid ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: Developing the cultivation and utilization of tiger nuts on marginal land is an effective approach to tackle the shortage of arable land in northern China. However, key information on their growth is unclear. This study aims to reveal the adaption potential of tiger nuts to on marginal land to help improve and adjust management practices. Methods: Three treatments were arranged to plant tiger nut in marginal land: no fertilization (N:P = 0:0), traditional fertilization (N:P = 15:15), and additional nitrogen fertilizer (N:P = 60:15). Functional traits of tiger nut and soil nutrients over three growth periods were investigated. Results: Under no fertilization, tiger nuts extended roots and toughened leaves to maximize nutrient absorption, and then quickly transported those nutrients to tubers. However, the lack of available phosphorus in the soil prevented the expansion of tubers. With the addition of fertilizers, tiger nuts produced more individuals, and their abundant belowground tissues resulted in soil organic matter increase. Under traditional fertilization, the tuber remains the main reproductive organ for tiger nuts, and phosphorus has a significant effect on the expansion of tubers. But under additional nitrogen fertilizer, the main reproductive organ changed to the stolon, nitrogen and phosphorus acted on stolons to promote their extension. Conclusion: Tiger nuts outstandingly adapt to marginal land environments and adjust their adaptation strategies according to varying soil nutrient conditions, Best tuber production will be achieved in soils with higher phosphorus availability, and a significant nitrogen proportion increase in fertilizers is necessary for enhancing aboveground production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate role function and job satisfaction, determine their relationship, and explore the factors influencing job satisfaction among community nurses in China. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Methods: This study was conducted between March and June 2020 on a cluster random sampling of 302 community nurses from 24 community health centres and stations in Xi'an, China. Self‐reported data were collected using the Demographics Questionnaire, Role Function of Community Nurses Questionnaire, and Job Satisfaction of Community Nurses Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to analyse data. Results: Community nurses' main role function was organiser and manager (M = 2.56, SD = 0.987) and coordinator (M = 2.43, SD = 0.971). The lowest job satisfaction was for salary and benefits (M = 3.12, SD = 0.891) and personal development (M = 3.65, SD = 0.738). A positive correlation was found between the roles of caregiver, educator, navigator, and salary and benefits (p < 0.05) among community nurses. Multiple linear regression analyses indicated that monthly income and working experience in nursing explained 61.1% of the variance in job satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In China, individuals diagnosed with esophageal cancer are confronted with an elevated risk of nutritional inadequacy or malnutrition throughout the course of their disease, a condition that contributes to various adverse clinical outcomes. A vast corpus of data are burgeoning at an unprecedented rate, primarily due to the revolutionary growth of digitalization technologies and artificial intelligence, notably within the domains of health care and medicine. The purpose of this investigation is to initiate the development of a nutritional screening and assessment indicator framework for patients with esophageal cancer within the Chinese context. We seek to furnish an instrumental reference to facilitate preparations for the forthcoming era of advanced, "deep," evidence‐based medicine. Methods: An integrative methodology was employed to forge the preliminary draft of the nutritional screening and assessment indicator system for preoperative patients with esophageal cancer. This encompassed a rigorous literature survey, in‐depth clinical practice investigation, and the facilitation of expert panel discussions. Thereafter, two iterative consultation phases were conducted using the Delphi method in China. The analytic hierarchy process was deployed to ascertain the weighting of each index within the definitive evaluation indicator system. Results: The effective response rates for the dual rounds of expert consultation were 91.7% and 86.4%, with commensurate authority coefficients of 0.97 and 0.91. The Kendall harmony coefficients were ascertained to be 0.19 and 0.14 (p < 0.01), respectively. The culminating nutritional screening and assessment indicator system for patients with esophageal cancer comprised 5 primary‐level indicators and 38 secondary‐level indicators. Conclusions: The nutritional screening and assessment indicator system contrived for patients with esophageal cancer is underpinned by cogent theoretical principles, leverages an astute research methodology, and manifests dependable outcomes. This system may be appositely utilized as a meaningful reference for the nutritional screening and assessment process in patients afflicted with esophageal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Purple soil has a fragile structure and is highly vulnerable to soil erosion and phosphorus (P) loss risks. Despite this, the region is endowed with abundant crop residue resources. To ensure sustainable agricultural development in this area, we conducted a study to investigate the impact of crop residue removal on soil aggregate structure, soil erosion, and the risk of P loss. Methods: We conducted a three-year on-farm experiment and analyzed various soil parameters. These parameters include mean weight diameter ( M W D ), geometric mean diameter ( G M D ), soil aggregates with a diameter greater than 0.25 mm ( R > 0.25 m m ), saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil erosion estimated by RUSLE 2, total soil phosphorus (TP) concentration, geometric mean concentration of TP ( G M C ), and geometric mean concentration of TP adjusted for aggregate size ( G M C d ). Results: Retaining all crop residue can significantly improve soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, which was 2.56 times higher than the complete removal treatment. After three years of experimentation, compared to four months, the 50% residue removal treatment increased the G M C d by 32.7%, while the 0% removal treatment increased the G M C d by 16.6%. Both improvements were higher than the complete removal treatment. Partial or complete removal of the crop residue can reduce the soil aggregate stability and increase the risk of soil erosion and P loss. Conclusions: The G M C and G M C d have the potential to serve as indicators for evaluating soil P loss risk. Removing crop residues can cause the degradation of the structure of purple soil aggregates, thus resulting in increased soil erosion and P loss. It is not recommended to remove crop residues in the purple soil region to ensure sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Tephritid fruit flies are widely distributed around the world and lay eggs in fruits and vegetables, resulting in rotting and economic losses. To limit economic loss caused by these flies, we reviewed and summarized three decades of literature on 10 important fly species occurring in China. We summarized the biology, ecology and integrated control methods to help researchers, quarantine officials and even hobbyists obtain more basic knowledge and a more innovative outlook. Tephritid fruit flies are notoriously known for causing immense economic losses due to their infestation of many types of commercial fruits and vegetables in China. These flies are expanding, causing serious damage, and we summarized references from the last three decades regarding biological parameters, ecological performance and integrated pest management. There are 10 species of tephritid fruit flies mentioned at a relatively high frequency in China, and a detailed description and discussion in this comprehensive review were provided through contrast and condensation, including economics, distribution, identification, hosts, damage, life history, oviposition preference, interspecific competition and integrated management, in anticipation of providing effective strategies or bases for the subsequent development of new research areas and improvement of integrated management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric cancer is a common cancer in China. This project investigated the disease burden of gastric cancer from 1990 to 2019 in China and globally. Methods: The global age‐standardized rates (ASRs) were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease. Moreover, the estimated annual percentage changes (eAPCs) in the ASRs of incidence (ASIR), mortality (ASMR), and disability‐adjusted life‐years (DALYs) were calculated to determine the trends by countries and regions. Results: In China, the ASIR declined from 37.56 to 30.64 per 100,000 and the ASMR declined from 37.73 to 21.72 per 100,000. The global ASIR decreased from 22.44 to 15.59 and the ASMR declined from 20.48 to 11.88 per 100,000 persons from 1990 to 2019. The ASIR was the lowest in Malawi (3.28 per 100,000) and the highest in Mongolia (43.7 per 100,000), whereas the ASMR was the lowest in the United States of America (3.40 per 100,000) and the highest in Mongolia (40.04 per 100,000) in 2019. The incidence of early‐onset gastric cancer increased in China. The DALYs attributed to gastric cancer presented a slight decrease during the period. China had a higher mortality/incidence ratio (0.845) and 5‐year prevalence (27.6/100,000) than most developed countries. Conclusion: China presented a steady decline in the incidence and mortality rates for gastric cancer. The global ASIR, ASMR, and DALYs showed a slight rise decrease. Different patterns of gastric cancer rates and temporal trends have been identified in different geographical regions, indicating that specific strategies are needed to prevent the increase in some countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilitated by rapid development of the data-intensive techniques together with communication and sensing technology, we can take advantage of smart card data collected through Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) systems to establish connections between public transit and urban spatial structure. In this paper, with a case study on Shenzhen metro system in China, we investigate the agglomeration pattern of passenger flow among subway stations. Specifically, leveraging inbound and outbound passenger flows at subway stations, we propose a clustering refinement approach based on cluster member stability among multiple clusterings produced by isomorphic or heterogeneous clusterers. Furthermore, we validate and elaborate five clusters of subway stations in terms of regional functionality and urban planning by comparing station clusters with reference to government planning policies and regulations of Shenzhen city. Additionally, outlier stations with ambiguous functionalities are detected using proposed clustering refinement framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, faece and sewage pollution from agricultural and industrial activities has induced severe eutrophication and ecosystem deterioration of Lake Erhai in southwestern China. Investigations on the anthropogenic faece and sewage input from both spatial and historical viewpoints are of great values for recovery strategies. In this study, we investigated fecal steroids in surface sediments from Lake Erhai collected in 2018, and found that the faece and sewage contamination is mainly from the southern region due to urban development, while the raw sewage contributes more in the northern region due to agriculture activities. We further applied fecal steroids to reconstruction of faece and sewage contamination to Lake Erhai over the past ∼200 years. The concentrations in fecal steroids remained low during ∼1820–1970, started to increase since the 1970s, and further increased after the 1990s, indicating a cumulative effect of contamination on the lake ecosystem by agricultural activities and urbanization practices. Diagnostic ratios of faece and sewage contamination over in-situ productivity remained stable or even decreased slightly during ∼1970–1980, and significantly increased during ∼1980–2008, suggesting that the contamination in Lake Erhai began at the 1980s. The fecal steroid records also demonstrated that even though anaerobic sewage treatment was in process, production of raw sewage still exceeded sewage treatment after the 1980s. Considerable faece and sewage contamination in the Lake Erhai catchment from anthropogenic industrialization and urbanization, which has also been observed from various environments throughout the world, asks for further efforts on regulations to protect water quality and human life. Fortunately, governmental regulations have significantly reduced the anthropogenic faece and sewage contamination to Lake Erhai over the past decades, highlighting a crucial role of sustainable management on lake ecosystem. • Faece and sewage contamination to Lake Erhai are mainly from urban practices. • Cumulative effect of faece and sewage contaminations since the 1970s. • More serious faece and sewage contaminations issue began at the 1980s. • Increased input of raw sewage exceeded anaerobic sewage treatment after the 1980s. • Governmental regulations effectively reduced contamination over the past decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the environmental history and its responses to palaeoclimatic changes since the start of the Holocene in the eastern portion of the desert belt (sand seas and sandy lands) in northern China by comparing the aeolian sandpalaeosol sequences and their palaeoclimatic proxies. The optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages of the aeolian sandpalaeosol sedimentary sequences and a series of palaeoenvironmental proxies show that: (1) The large-scale dune landscape currently in the Kubuqi Sand Sea was formed during the Holocene in general; and the palaeosol was generally developed during the period of 4–2 ka, indicating conditions favorable for vegetation growth, soil development, and organic carbon accumulation due to increased precipitation or effective moisture and weakened aeolian activities; the large-scale expansion of dunes in the recent 2 ka is closely linked to human activities. The variable discharge of the Yellow River with diversions for irrigation may have resulted in a more consistent supply of aeolian particles for dune field expansion. (2) The dune landscape of the Hunshandake Sandy Land was likely formed around 12 ka, and before this, the western part of the Hunshandake Sandy Land would have been covered by a single large lake; it was obviously wetter than today in the sandy land during the period of 9.6–3 ka and the palaeosols were developed at the same time. But the aeolian activities have not been completely dormant in this long-lasting wetter epoch; because the Holocene wetter period was likely time-transgressive across the region. (3) The palaeosol of the Hulunbuir Sandy Land began to develop as early as 14.5 ka, probably continuing until the last 2 ka. The palaeosol development of various dune fields in the eastern portion of the desert belt (sand seas and sandy lands) in northern China is spatially heterogeneous, and even the palaeosol development time in different locations within each sandy land is inconsistent. During the middle Holocene (especially the 7.5–3.5 ka), all the sandy lands were stabilized in general and the intensity of aeolian activities was significantly weakened. The number of palaeoenvironmental records in the eastern portion of the desert belt (sand seas and sandy lands) in northern China has increased rapidly in the past decade, but the amount of published data still does not match the vast extent of the dune fields. It does require much more in-depth palaeoenvironmental studies for a full understanding of the relationship between aeolian activities and climate change in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the Tibetan Plateau, applications of δD and δ 18 O values in paleoclimate studies tend to be complicated due to multiple processes influencing isotopic compositions in paleoclimatic archives. In this study, isotopic compositions of modern waters in the eastern Qaidam Basin on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, and δD values of n -fatty acids ( n -FA δD) from a sediment core at Hurleg Lake were systematically analyzed to infer hydroclimate controls during the Holocene. The modern water isotopic results show a major contribution of snowmelt water originating from high-elevation mountains to the north of the Qaidam Basin via river and groundwater discharge, and the importance of evaporation in affecting lake water budget in this region. n -C 26 FA δD values tend to be more negative at millennial-scale warm-dry periods during the Holocene, and vice versa, opposite to what is commonly expected. Assisted with modern water isotopic results, we infer amplified contribution of snowmelt water to the soil water around this open lake system at warm-dry periods. Meanwhile, changes in n -C 16 FA δD values at Hurleg Lake reflect the evolution of isotopic compositions of lake water, thus we use the isotopic difference between n -C 26 and n -C 16 FA (ΔD C16-C26 ) to infer hydroclimate and evaporation variations in this region. Based on our data, relatively low n -C 26 FA δD and n -C 16 FA δD values at 10–6 cal ka BP indicate large contribution of snowmelt water into the lake during the Holocene Climate Optimum. After 6 cal ka BP, changes in evaporation became the major control on lake hydrology and led to larger fluctuations of ΔD C16-C26 . Our study highlights the importance of systematic analysis on modern processes before using stable isotopes for paleoclimate reconstructions, and demonstrates that δD difference between long-chain and short-chain n -FA might be an effective way to better understand the controlling factor of hydrological variations in a climatic complex region like the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study investigated the value of gastric tube during surgery for advanced hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal cancer.Method: From November 2007 to December 2012, 42 patients underwent total pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy because of advanced hypopharyngeal or cervical esophageal cancer and were reconstructed with a gastric tube. Clinical swallowing function, morbidity, overall survival, and progression-free survival were evaluated postoperatively.Result: There were no severe complications, including no gastric necrosis, surgery-related postoperative morbidity, hemothorax, thoracostomach, or severe reflux esophagitis. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 2 cases, and these patients healed spontaneously with conservative management. Pulmonary infection developed in 5 patients. Anastomotic stenosis occurred in 2 cases and was managed with endoscopic dilatation. Regurgitation during the night was observed in 5 cases and was controlled by medication. All the patients regained their swallowing ability and thereby increased their quality of life. All patients were followed for 30-60 months; 2 of them were lost 6 months after surgery. The 3-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 58.1 and 56.2% respectively, and the 5-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 27.6 and 21.8%, respectively.Conclusion: Reconstruction by gastric tube is a dependable one-stage procedure that restores gastrointestinal continuity after total pharyngo-laryngo-esophagectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• des- A-triterpenoids from Lake Wuliangsu show a unique distribution pattern and source. • des- A-triterpenoids can track submerged macrophytes in Lake Wuliangsu. • des- A-triterpenoids are impacted by aerobic bacteria activities and photodegradation. des- A-triterpenoids have been widely recognized as indicators of terrestrial vascular angiosperms and microbial activities. However, recent studies also suggested complex sources for des- A-triterpenoids in lakes and peatlands, thus complicating their applications in paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Here we present the occurrences of aliphatic and aromatic des- A-triterpenoids from a ∼160-year sedimentary core in Lake Wuliangsu in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, China. In these sediments, des-A-triterpane was not detected, whereas di-unsaturated des -A-triterpenes are more abundant than mono-unsaturated des -A-triterpenes. The δ13C values of di-unsaturated des -A-triterpenes range from –23.0‰ to –17.6‰, with an average value of –21.0‰. Accordingly, aliphatic des- A-triterpenoids from Lake Wuliangsu show a unique distribution pattern and more positive δ13C signatures compared with those sourced from terrestrial vascular angiosperms. By comparing the concentrations and δ13C values of des- A-triterpenoids with n -alkanes and triterpenoids, we suggest that des- A-triterpenoids from Lake Wuliangsu sediments might be degraded from oleanenone, which was produced by submerged macrophytes. In this sense, aliphatic des -A-triterpenes in Lake Wuliangsu could represent a novel proxy for submerged macrophytes, which would be more precise than those of mid-chain n -alkanes, considering that mid-chain n -alkanes are usually from multiple sources. Our results also demonstrate the importance of strong aerobic bacteria activities and photodegradation for the formation of di-unsaturated des -A-triterpenes. The aromatization process of aliphatic des -A-triterpenes show contrasting variation characteristic with the formation of aliphatic des -A-triterpenes over the past ∼160 years, probably due to different rates (production vs consumption of di-unsaturated des -A-triterpenes) and prerequisites (aerobic vs anaerobic conditions) for these two synthesis pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central China has experienced stronger summer monsoon during warm periods such as Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 1 and 3, and weaker summer monsoon during cool periods such as MIS 2. The evolution history of Dajiuhu subalpine peatland in central China can help investigate how the expansion and shrinkage of peatland were associated with monsoonal strength over the last glacial–interglacial cycle. Here we apply bulk organic carbon and molecular biomarkers (hopane and n -alkane) to reconstruct the evolution history for the Dajiuhu peatland over the past 40,000 yr. The results indicate fluctuations between lacustrine and peat-like deposition during MIS 3, steady lacustrine deposition during MIS 2, and peatland initiation and expansion during MIS 1 in the Dajiuhu peatland. Therefore, at the glacial–interglacial scale, warmer summer and cooler winter conditions in interglacial periods are crucial to trigger peat deposition, whereas reduced evaporation in glacial period instead of decreased monsoonal-driven precipitation would have played a predominant role in the regional effective moisture balance. However, within the Holocene (MIS 1), monsoonal precipitation changes appear to be the main controller on millennial-scale variations of water-table level of the Dajiuhu peatland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lacustrine ecosystem history since the industrial revolution provides important evidence of natural versus anthropogenic effects on the environment. With high-resolution sedimentary core samples and organic–inorganic geochemical methods, we reconstruct the past ~150-year ecosystem evolution of Lake Wuliangsu in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, and probe factors controlling the ecological dynamics. In this study, ecological changes in Lake Wuliangsu over the past ~150 years were identified. After the lake formed in the 1850s, biological productivity of the lake was still under-developed until the 1950s. During the period of 1950s–1970s, submerged macrophytes became the dominant organisms in the lake because of lake area expansion and slight increases of nutrient input from agricultural development in the catchment. The domination of submerged macrophytes ceased after the 1970s, which was possibly induced by the shrinkage of the lake area. After the 1990s, the main contributor of sedimentary n-alkanes most likely shifted to reeds because of eutrophication caused by anthropogenic activities. The results clearly demonstrate that the ecosystem in Lake Wuliangsu before the 1950s strongly depended on the natural discharge, whereas at later stages, it was significantly influenced by human activities. During the period of 1950s–1990s, the human-monitored lake area seems to be the main factor in the lake ecosystem evolution. However, when the nutrient supply went beyond the tipping point after the 1990s, eutrophication took over and played a key role in the lake ecosystem evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronology is a necessary component of paleoclimatology. Radiocarbon dating plays a central role in determining the ages of geological samples younger than ca. 50 ka BP. However, there are many limitations for its application, including radiocarbon reservoir effects, which may cause incorrect chronology in many lakes. Here we demonstrate temporal changes in the radiocarbon reservoir age of Lake Xingyun, Southwestern China, where radiocarbon ages based on bulk organic matter have been reported in previous studies. Our new radiocarbon ages, determined from terrestrial plant macrofossils suggest that the radiocarbon reservoir age changed from 960 to 2200 years during the last 8500 cal a BP years. These changes to the reservoir effect were associated with inputs from either pre-aged organic carbon or 14C-depleted hard water in Lake Xingyun caused by hydrological change in the lake system. The radiocarbon reservoir age may in return be a good indicator for the carbon source in lake ecosystems and depositional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting nationwide passenger flows at city-level is an important but challenging task for passenger flow management and effective allocation of national transportation resources, as it can be affected by multiple complex factors. This study develops a forecasting framework to simultaneously forecast inbound and outbound passenger flows in irregular-shaped region. First, region segmentation and approximation strategies are adopted to segment the irregular-shaped regions to a set of regular grids and generate the passenger flow heatmap, enabling convolution operation to capture spatial dependencies among irregular-shaped regions. We consider intra-city dependency between inflow and outflow by treating the input heatmap as the two-channel image. Then, three temporal features and external factors are trained via the residual network units and standard Fully-Connected layers, respectively. The developed framework is validated by the inter-city travel counts data in China. The results show that the approach can well capture the spatiotemporal dependencies between passenger flows, and outperforms eight competitive methods in terms of forecasting accuracy. • A deep learning-based framework for forecasting nationwide passenger flows at city-level is proposed. • The shape and area information are able to be incorporated during forecasts. • The developed approach can capture spatiotemporal dependencies among irregular-shaped regions. • The developed approach outperforms the competitive methods in terms of forecasting accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Unique n -alkane distribution pattern & δ13C signatures among OC sources in Lake Wuliangsu. • End-members mixing model based on the δ13C signatures of n -alkane could effectively quantity the OC sources. • Predominant contributions from autochthonous sources contribute to lake sediments. • Riverine sourced OC settled down within Lake Wuliangsu through the southward migration. Identification and quantification of allochthonous and autochthonous organic carbon (OC) in large and shallow lakes are crucial for knowledge of OC burial and recycling behaviors, as well as sustainable management practices. However, quantitative methods to estimate the contributions from various OC sources are still limited. In this study, we analyzed distribution patterns and δ13C signatures of mid- and long-chain n -alkanes from aquatic plants, riverine sediment, and surface sediments from a typically large and shallow Lake Wuliangsu in the Hetao Irrigation District, China. The results indicate that n -alkanes among submerged macrophytes, emergent plants, and riverine sediment show unique distribution patterns and δ13C signatures, supporting the practicability of identification and quantification of OC sources by end-member mixing models of n -alkanes' distribution patterns and 13C values. Our results also suggest that introducing δ13C values into the end-member mixing models could effectively reduce the uncertainty, as n -alkane distribution patterns might be modified by different species, habitat environments, and potential OC degradation. In the case of Lake Wuliangsu, the model results demonstrate that the riverine sourced OC from the main channel has decreased during southward transport, indicating that Lake Wuliangsu serves as an important trap and sink for OC transported from the upper reaches of the Yellow River. The model results also show a predominant contribution of the autochthonous OC to sediments in Lake Wuliangsu, with open-water areas dominated by submerged macrophyte-sourced OC and the other areas by emergent plant-sourced OC. Higher productivities of submerged macrophytes are mainly modulated by increases in water depth, water transparency, and nutrient concentrations, while higher productivities of emergent plants are mainly associated with increasing nutrient concentrations. To improve the ecological conditions and OC burial of Lake Wuliangsu, it is necessary to manage the quality of the inflowing water from the agricultural farmland, as well as the preservation of the water body from current paludification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 3β-Methylhopanes to C 45 were found in Upper Cretaceous terrigenous source rocks. • Extended homologues to C 45 may originate from long-chain alkyl bacteriohopanetetrols. • 13C-depleted 3β-methylhopanes indicate a methanogenic CH 4 cycle in the water column. 3β-Methylhopanes, methylated at the C-3 position of the A-ring, have been detected ubiquitously in sedimentary rocks with carbon numbers of C 28 and C 30 –C 36. These compounds have been attributed to aerobic methanotrophs due to their strongly 13C-depleted compositions. Here we report 3β-methylhopanes with carbon numbers up to C 45 in source rocks from the first member of the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation, Songliao Basin, northeast China. The extended homologues up to C 45 might be derived from long-chain alkyl bacteriohopanetetrols by consecutive enzymatic additions of a C 5 sugar. Extremely 13C-depleted compositions, combined with a high 3β-methylhopane index, suggest an intense CH 4 cycle induced by blooms of aerobic methanotrophs in the Songliao paleo-lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sowing date optimization is an effective measure for adapting to climatic change and has been widely used to optimize the use of solar radiation and temperature resources in rice production. To evaluate the influences of sowing date on radiation and temperature use efficiencies (RUE and TUE, respectively) and grain yield of rice in low-light regions, field experiments with three rice varieties and four sowing dates (S-0, S-10, S-30, and S-40) were conducted at Dayi, Anzhou, Nanbu, and Shehong, in Sichuan, China, in 2018 and 2019. The results showed that the yield, RUE, and TUE of rice were significantly and negatively correlated with delayed sowing dates across the study sites. Generally, delayed sowing dates increased the daily total solar radiation, daily mean temperature, and effective cumulative temperature before heading, but decreased the growth duration and cumulative total solar radiation before heading, which resulted in a reduction in the effective panicle number per unit area. Meanwhile, delayed sowing dates increased the growth duration after heading, but reduced the daily total solar radiation, daily mean temperature, cumulative total solar radiation, and effective cumulative temperature after heading, contributing to a decrease in both the seed setting rate and 1000-grain weight across study sites. Therefore, S-30 and S-40 markedly decreased the rice yield, RUE, and TUE at Anzhou, Nanbu, and Shehong in both years and at Dayi in 2019, compared to S-0 and S-10. Moreover, growth duration, solar radiation, and temperature parameters before and after heading could explain the 73.7 % variation in the relative grain yield, relative RUE, and relative RTUE across the study sites. Ensuring that the daily mean temperature after heading and growth duration before heading are greater than 25.8°C and 113 d, respectively, and the daily total solar radiation and mean temperature before heading and growth duration after heading are lower than 14.7 MJ m–2 d–1, 23.1°C, and 42 d, respectively, by earlier sowing, is required to improve the RGY, RRUE, and RTUE in the low-light regions of China. • Delayed sowing increased daily solar radiation and mean temperature before heading. • Delayed sowing decreased daily solar radiation and mean temperature after heading. • Delayed sowing reduced grain yield mainly by reducing the effective panicle number. • Radiation and temperature use efficiencies were decreased by a delayed sowing date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Insoluble humic acid (IHA) could promote P adsorption by sediments. • The equilibrium P concentration (EPC 0) was decreased with increasing of IHA. • Deprotonation of IHA could significantly facilitate P sorption by Fe/Al oxides. • IHA could adsorb P by metal bridge and H-bonding of surface functional groups. • P released from NH 4 Cl-P and BD-P could be re-adsorbed by Al oxides and IHA. Release of phosphorus (P) from the sediments plays a critical role in the eutrophication of aquatic environments. Humic acids (HA), as the main form of carbon storage in the sediments, has essential impacts on the biogeochemical cycle of phosphorus in aquatic systems. Nevertheless, previous studies mainly concentrated on the competitive adsorption of HA solution and P on metal oxides and soils, with little attention paid to the effects of insoluble humic acids (IHA) on P sorption by and release from the sediments. Herein, an investigation on the rivers and lakes in Sichuan Province, China, found that there was a significantly positive correlation between the maximum P adsorption capacity (Q max) of sediments and IHA contents (p < 0.01), but a significantly negative correlation between the zero equilibrium P concentration (EPC 0) and IHA concentrations (p < 0.01). This indicated that IHA might have an inhibitory effect on the release of P from the sediments, which was verified by batch adsorption experiments and static incubation experiments. Adsorption experiments indicated that IHA can promote P adsorption by sediments. With the increase of IHA addition (from 0 to 20 mg/g) in the sediments, Q max of sediments increased (from 0.516 to 0.911 mg/g), while EPC 0 decreased greatly (from 0.264 to 0.005 mg/L). Increases in Fe (Ⅲ) bound-P, Al bound-P and humic bound-P caused by IHA were responsible for this promoting effect. Incubation experiments illustrated that IHA addition can efficiently inhibit P release from the sediments. After 32 days incubation, P concentration in the overlying water of control group (without IHA addition) was 0.651 mg/L, which was 13.29–40.69 times higher than those (0.016–0.049 mg/L) in the test groups (with 5 %-20 % IHA addition). The analysis of P species in sediments showed that transformation from loosely adsorbed-P and Fe (Ⅲ) bound-P to Al bound-P and humic bound-P was responsible for this inhibition of P release by IHA. This study demonstrated that IHA, differing from readily degradable or dissolved organic matter, have great inhibitory effects on internal P release, which provided a novel insight into the association between carbon burial and internal P release and even the management of water eutrophication. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human society is facing growing flood risks due to the rapidly-changing global climate. Understanding how early human coped with flooding will shed light on the increase of contemporary social resilience to projected intensified extreme climate change. However, assessment of such ancient human response to hydrological changes remains difficult due to the paucity of records for flood risk coupled with ancient human activities. Here, we present a two-millennium continuous reconstruction of water level changes for Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater body, using microbial tetraethers extracted from a well-dated sedimentary core. The rising trend of lake water level over the past 2000 years indicates an increase in flood risks for this fertile region that has long been populated by ancient human settlements. A comparison with spatial-temporal distribution of ancient cities and towns in the lake basin reveals that, during the first millennium, human settlements passively retreated outwards and upwards away from the lake to minimize flood risk due to the rising lake water. However, a reversal pattern occurred at ∼1000 CE, witnessing human settlements to moving closer to lakeshore during the second millennium despite of the high water table. The strategic shift, accompanied by a booming economy in southern China during the Song Dynasty, was possibly facilitated by technology innovations, such as intensified water conservancy construction and enhanced shipbuilding, in and around the lake basin. Such an enhanced social resilience in responding to flood risks as early as 1000 years ago remains as a common practice today although the unprecedented scale of anthropogenic climate change in the near future may post additional and unexpected challenges. • A 2000-year lake-level record for China's largest freshwater lake was established. • The reconstructed lake-level record was supported by historical documentation. • Fluctuations of its water level were affected by both climatic and tectonic factors. • We observed enhanced social resilience to flood risk around the lake since 1000 CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under shading stress, increasing canopy light utilization is the primary means of increasing photosynthesis, and in turn, rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity. Here, an artificial-shading field experiment was conducted to study the influence of planting and light conditions on canopy structure, light utilization by rice plants, and rice grain yield and quality at Wenjiang and Hanyuan, China. The results showed that both grain yield and quality were significantly reduced by shading stress, primarily because of a reduction in the photosynthetic capacity of rice plants. There was no significant difference in grain yield between the methods of increasing the number of seedlings per hill with a reduced number of hills (optimized planting pattern) and traditional high-density planting owing to the decrease in panicle/m2, but there was an increase in spikelet filling rate or grain weight under the optimized planting pattern. Using the optimized planting pattern increased the canopy width and leaf area per hill, and decreased the leaf inclination angle, resulting in a more open rice canopy than that under the traditional high-density planting. Furthermore, the optimized planting pattern enhanced light incidence into the mid and bottom layers of the canopy under shading stress. As a result, the net photosynthetic rates of flag and second leaves were significantly increased by the optimized planting pattern under shading stress. This, in turn, increased the head rice rate at Wenjiang and taste value at both sites, and decreased chalky grain rate and chalkiness degree under shading stress at both sites. Therefore, the optimized planting pattern is a viable planting pattern for the maintenance of rice grain yield while improving grain quality through the optimization of canopy structure and light distribution and utilization, under shading stress. • Rice grain quality was significantly reduced by shading stress. • Optimized planting pattern increased canopy width and leaf area per hill. • Optimized planting pattern increased light incidence into lower canopies. • Optimized planting pattern improved net photosynthetic rate of leaves under shading. • Optimized planting pattern increased grain quality without yield loss under shading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The distribution of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) can reflect continental environmental changes. Recently, the distribution of branched GDGTs (bGDGTs) has been proposed as a novel tool for paleoelevation reconstructions. Here we report the variation in TEX86 (tetraether index of 86 carbon atoms) of isoprenoidal GDGTs (iGDGTs) and MBT (methylation of branched tetraether index) of bGDGTs along an altitudinal transect on Mt. Xiangpi, NE Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Both TEX86 and MBT values of surface soils showed significant linear decreases with altitude (TEX86: R 2 =0.65; n =50; MBT: R 2 =0.69; n =24). We suggest that the apparent relationships between the two indices and altitude may be related to temperature. Our preliminary investigation suggests that the TEX86 index can potentially be applied as a paleoelevation indicator in addition to the MBT index on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Long-chain alkenones in lacustrine settings are potentially excellent biomarkers for the reconstruction of past terrestrial environmental conditions, and have been found in many different types of lakes around the globe. A wider range of factors influence the occurrence and distribution of alkenones in lake sediments and waters when compared to marine systems. Lake environmental conditions, such as temperature (in particular) and salinity, are among the key factors controlling alkenone distributions in lacustrine settings. Here we investigated alkenone distribution patterns in lakes of the northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China, and their possible relationship with environmental conditions, by analyzing paired samples of suspended particulate matter in surface waters and surface sediments. Salinity of investigated lake waters ranges from almost 0 to ∼100g/L, while temperature variation among the lakes is minimal, effectively eliminating temperature effects on the alkenone distribution patterns observed here. We show that (1) alkenone concentrations vary substantially between the lakes, yet controlling mechanisms remain elusive; (2) C37/C38 ratios are substantially lower in the lakes of the Qaidam Basin than in the Lake Qinghai region, probably indicating different alkenone producers in the two regions; and (3) large variations in %C37:4 (the percentage of the C37:4 alkenone), determined from both surface waters and sediments, are negatively correlated with salinity. We suggest that the %C37:4 index could be used as a salinity indicator at least on a regional scale, with careful considerations of other potentially complicating factors. However, potential reasons for why salinity could significantly affect %C37:4 values need further investigation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The high prevalence of sensory impairment and functional limitations in older adults is a significant concern, yet there is limited understanding of the relationship between these two conditions. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the pathways connecting sensory impairment and functional limitations by examining serial multiple mediating effects of social isolation and cognition in older adults., Methods: Using the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study dataset, a sample of 4871 older adults was selected. The study variables included sensory impairment, functional limitations, social isolation and cognition, and other covariates. A hierarchical multiple linear regression model was used to assess the association between sensory impairment and functional limitations. Mediation analysis was conducted to explore the sequential multiple mediating effects of social isolation and cognitive function in the relationship between sensory impairment and functional limitations., Results: Our findings revealed a significant and positive association between sensory impairment and functional limitations (B = 0.615, 95% CI: 0.397, 0.834). After adjusting for social isolation and cognitive function, the impact of sensory impairment on functional limitations accounted for 87.19% of the total effect. Additionally, approximately 12.81% of the significant relationship between dual sensory impairment and functional limitations was mediated by social isolation and cognitive function. A serial multiple mediating pathway (sensory impairment → social isolation → cognition → functional limitations) was identified, with a coefficient of 0.013 (95% CI: 0.006, 0.020)., Conclusions: Our study provides evidence for the mediating effects of social isolation and cognition in the relationship between sensory impairment and functional limitations. Given the prevalence of functional limitations among older adults with sensory impairment, it is crucial to consider social isolation and cognitive function in efforts to reduce the burden of disability care. Future validation of these findings through longitudinal studies is necessary., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: We aimed to validate a novel staging system for aortic stenosis (AS) in a Chinese patient cohort undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and to compare this classification system to the traditional Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score for TAVR risk stratification., Background: A novel staging system for AS based on the extent of cardiac damage upon echocardiography was recently proposed., Methods: Patients were prospectively enrolled into the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Single Center Registry in Chinese Population and analyzed retrospectively following additional exclusion criteria. On the basis of echocardiographic findings of cardiac damage, patients were classified into five stages (0-4)., Results: A total of 427 patients were included in the current analysis. Forty-eight deaths occurred during a median follow-up of 730 days following TAVR. The staging system showed a statistically significant association between cardiac damage and all-cause mortality; advanced stages were associated with higher mortality. In a multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model, stage and STS scores served as risk factors for 2-year mortality. Each increment in the staging class was associated with an increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 1.275; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.052-1.545). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for stage (area under the curve, 0.644; 95% CI, 0.562-0.725) and STS score (0.661; 0.573-0.749), and with no statistically significant differences between ROC curves (p = 0.920)., Conclusions: We validated a novel staging system as a key risk factor for 2-year mortality in a Chinese TAVR patient cohort. Efficacy for risk stratification was comparable to the STS score., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Liver cirrhosis is a major global health and economic challenge, placing a heavy economic burden on patients, families, and society. This study aimed to investigate medical expenditure trends in patients with liver cirrhosis and assess the drivers for such medical expenditure among patients with liver cirrhosis., Methods: Medical expenditure data concerning patients with liver cirrhosis was collected in six tertiary hospitals in Chongqing, China, from 2012 to 2020. Trends in medical expenses over time and trends according to subgroups were described, and medical expenditure compositions were analyzed. A multiple linear regression model was constructed to evaluate the factors influencing medical expenditure. All expenditure data were reported in Chinese Yuan (CNY), based on the 2020 value, and adjusted using the year-specific health care consumer price index for Chongqing., Results: Medical expenditure for 7,095 patients was assessed. The average medical expenditure per patient was 16,177 CNY. An upward trend in medical expenditure was observed in almost all patient subgroups. Drug expenses were the largest contributor to medical expenditure in 2020. A multiple linear regression model showed that insurance type, sex, age at diagnosis, marital status, length of stay, smoking status, drinking status, number of complications, autoimmune liver disease, and the age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index score were significantly related to medical expenditure., Conclusion: Conservative estimates suggest that the medical expenditure of patients with liver cirrhosis increased significantly from 2012 to 2020. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate targeted measures to reduce the personal burden on patients with liver cirrhosis., 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 Tan, Tang, He, Xu, Qiu, Chen, Zhang and Zhang.)

Background: Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) has long been the standard treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis in China, but the costs of SAVR from a hospital perspective in China have not been thoroughly researched. Currently, diagnosis-related groups in China are based on historical expenses that are closely related to the unit charges set by the official pricing department and are frequently inaccurate compared with actual resource consumption. Materials & methods: Through a retrospective empirical study on the costs and charges of SAVR cases in a tertiary hospital, this study aimed to compare the costs and charges of service items. We collected clinical information from patients undergoing SAVR (isolated or concomitant procedures) and financial information from the hospital in 2015 and 2016. Top-down full cost accounting and step-allocation were the main methods used in this study. Result: This research selected 203 SAVR cases in 2015 and 214 cases in 2016. The median length of hospital stay was 15.92 days (6.07 days pre surgery and 9.57 days post surgery). The average human resource cost of care per day per bed in the cardiovascular surgery department, including doctors and nurses, was US $62.22 in 2015 and $66.17 in 2016, but the corresponding charge was no more than $24. For operation, the cost of isolated SAVR was $665 in 2015 and $1015 in 2016, while the charge was $820. For anesthesiology, the cost of isolated SAVR was $400 in 2015 and $526 in 2016, while the average charge was $192. For examination service items, some costs did not exceed charges. The average total cost of a case was $19,299 ± 8954, while the average total charge was $18,923 ± 9194. Conclusion: SAVR is associated with significant resource utilization and hospital stay duration. The fees for human resources and services associated with SAVR do not reflect the true costs of SAVR in a Chinese hospital setting. This study may assist in future budget planning and price setting for policy makers in China.