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The Covid-19 crisis brought with it significant changes to human lives including changes to behaviour. Particularly, the Coronavirus lockdowns and other restrictions contributed to the rise of online shopping for agricultural products in China's first and second-tier cities. The core aim of the investigation is to evaluate the factors that influence the satisfaction of users with online agricultural products in first and second-tier cities in China during the pandemic. The research methodology is qualitative and relies on interpretivism to examine the experiences regarding the satisfaction of users with online agricultural products in first and second-tier cities in China during the crisis. An inductive approach is applied and the specific data collection instrument in this research entails semi-structured interviews to facilitate a comprehensive inquiry and gain rich insights. Semi-structured interview sessions are conducted with 30 participants including Chinese shoppers who used online agricultural products between 2019 and 2022 just before the Covid-19 crisis or during the pandemic. The research findings indicate that optimism was found to be crucial to the increased consumption of online agricultural products and high quality emerged as the most influential factor behind users' satisfaction with online agricultural products. However, online agricultural product sellers in China need to ensure excellence in their operations to succeed in the competitive online marketplace. Conclusively, this investigation achieved its overarching aim of evaluating the factors that influence the satisfaction of users with online agricultural products in first and second-tier cities in China during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Extensive research focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of various positions throughout active second stage labour, but there is limited focus on midwives' practice. This study aimed to explore midwives' practice of maternal positions throughout the active phase of second stage labour. Methods: An integrative review of three databases was carried out for research papers published between 2015 and 2022. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis and synthesis. Results: Five eligible research papers were included. There were four key findings: maternal positions practised by midwives, midwives as the prime decision maker, midwives' personal convenience and comfort, and barriers to practising maternal positions. Conclusions: Midwives were seen as prime decision makers, who hindered informed decision making on maternal positions during active second stage labour. Inadequate knowledge, skills and confidence were barriers to practice and attributed to midwives adopting positions that were convenient and comfortable for themselves. Strategies are needed to enhance practice through review and evaluation of current clinical settings, regular updates to evidence-based practice and refreshing essential midwifery skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children under five are the vulnerable population most at risk of being infected with Plasmodium parasites, especially in the Sahel region. Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), has proven to be a highly effective intervention to prevent malaria. Given more deaths reported during the COVID-19 pandemic than in previous years due to the disruptions to essential medical services, it is, therefore, necessary to seek a more coordinated and integrated approach to increasing the pace, coverage and resilience of SMC. Towards this end, fully leverage the resources of major players in the global fight against malaria, such as China could accelerate the SMC process in Africa. Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Embase for research articles and the Institutional Repository for Information Sharing of WHO for reports on SMC. We used gap analysis to investigate the challenges and gaps of SMC since COVID-19. Through the above methods to explore China's prospective contribution to SMC. Results: A total of 68 research articles and reports were found. Through gap analysis, we found that despite the delays in the SMC campaign, 11.8 million children received SMC in 2020. However, there remained some challenges: (1) a shortage of fully covered monthly courses; (2) lack of adherence to the second and third doses of amodiaquine; (3) four courses of SMC are not sufficient to cover the entire malaria transmission season in areas where the peak transmission lasts longer; (4) additional interventions are needed to consolidate SMC efforts. China was certified malaria-free by WHO in 2021, and its experience and expertise in malaria elimination can be shared with high-burden countries. With the potential to join the multilateral cooperation in SMC, including the supply of quality-assured health commodities, know-how transfer and experience sharing, China is expected to contribute to the ongoing scale-up of SMC. Conclusions: A combination of necessary preventive and curative activities may prove beneficial both for targeted populations and for health system strengthening in the long run. More actions are entailed to promote the partnership and China can be one of the main contributors with various roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of Industry 4.0 digitization practices to improve sustainability and enhance overall project performance has garnered significant attention in the construction industry. Nonetheless, there is a necessity for empirical investigations that delve into the particular factors and constructs that contribute to this achievement. This research aims to address the existing gap in the literature by examining the favorable consequences of Industry 4.0 digitalization techniques in the context of sustainable construction management. The research utilized a mixed-methods methodology, integrating exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), to examine survey data obtained from the construction sector in China. The survey questionnaire comprised constructs that pertained to sustainability, technology, design, functional aspects, resource management, and managerial efficiency. The concept of sustainability has been identified as the most significant factor in shaping sustainable construction practices. The findings presented herein contribute to the theoretical comprehension of the determinants that impact the execution of Industry 4.0 digitalization methodologies within the construction sector. The interrelated constructs that have been identified provide valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers seeking to utilize Industry 4.0 practices to achieve sustainability, enhance technology adoption, optimize design processes, streamline functional aspects, improve resource utilization, and increase managerial efficiency. Implementing these strategies can enhance project success and ensure long-term sustainability in the construction industry. This research adds to the expanding pool of information regarding the factors that lead to success in Industry 4.0 digitization practices within sustainable construction management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: A new novel virus, Langya virus (LayV), was detected in China in August 2022, 3 years after the COVID-19 pandemic. LayV is similar to the previously discovered Mojiang henipavirus. Other zoonotic henipaviruses include the Hendra and Nipah viruses. The emergence of the zoonotic Langya virus is attributed to climate change and wildlife encroachment, as LayV is detected in shrews. Those who are infected in China showed various symptoms, but no deaths have been recorded yet. This review aims to shed light on the current state of Langya virus outbreak, its infection control efforts, and the remaining challenges that need to be addressed to curb the outbreak. Methods: We utilized online publication databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus in writing this review article. Results: A surveillance study on thirty-five febrile patients in Eastern China identified the Langya virus outbreak. The current efforts from the Chinese government and health authorities to reduce the transmission and spread of Langya virus such as isolation and characterization of LayV, challenges associated with the increase in cases of LayV, and trackable recommendations such as strengthening the healthcare system in China, sensitization of people about risks associated with Langya virus outbreaks, creating an intensive surveillance system network, etc. were discussed. Conclusion: It is germane and pertinent that the Chinese government and health authorities continue to intensify efforts against Langya virus and address the challenges to effectively reduce transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taxon delimitation and identification are important in many areas of biology, especially in taxonomy and conservation. Taxonomic treatment is required to establish and justify recommendations in conservation biology for the group being considered. Imperfect and controversial taxonomy can undermine conservation assessment. We studied 71 populations; 665 individuals corresponding to the morphology of the Rosa sericea complex (including six taxa, one of which has extremely narrow distributions) were collected from sympatric, parapatric, and allopatric populations distributed in China. This study aims to investigate whether the complex species are macromorphologically different species and evaluate the rare taxa of the complex for conservation priority. The morphological characters and principal component analysis (PCA) of the R. sericea complex showed that the complex species have overlapping characters but can distinguish morphologically. The species of R. sericea complex systematics status based on previous DNA sequencing is controversial. The ecological habitat's current morphological characters only delimit the R. morrisonensis (in Taiwan). To evade mistakes in species conservation, we recommend that taxonomical knowledge be needed to ensure success in protecting target species. Thus, the complementarity of systemic and conservation assurance makes conservation actions more necessary for the complex's rare taxa. The ecological niche modelling (ENM) results showed that habitats of these conspecific taxa would be shrunken. With the presence of snapshots in time, the geography of taxa might decrease rapidly in representative entirely of the Geographic space (G-space) and Environmental space (E-space) that such taxa are bright to inhabit. So far, the significant inferences meant for the niche occupy the most incredible comparative research, taking the impermanent nature of taxa distributions and undertaking that such species are at a state of stability. If the artificially identified species (rarely distributed) are based on morphological identification, they must be conserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (P–SOFCs) are promising energy conversion devices that convert chemical energy directly to electrical energy. P–SOFCs have attracted significant attention in the past few years because of their superiority over the oxygen-ion-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (O–SOFCs) in terms of better feasibility of efficient operation at lower temperatures, non-dilution of fuel at the anode, and higher theoretical efficiency. This review focuses on the scientometric analysis of 1008 quality articles retrieved from the Scopus database. The historical trends and progress in P–SOFCs are presented starting from the inception of the demonstration of the concept of proton conductivity in solid oxide fuel cells from 1986 to 2021. Furthermore, the notable achievements in the material development of various components of P–SOFC are expounded. The scientometric analysis reveals that only 28% of the countries in the world are involved in P–SOFC research and the National Natural Science Foundation of China is the top featured funding sponsor for many research studies related to P–SOFC development. This article can serve as an easy guide for P–SOFC research enthusiasts to navigate through the overview of this research area and identify potential collaborators, funding sponsors, most impactful researchers, countries, and articles. • Scientometric analysis of 1008 SCI P–SOFC articles was conducted. • Notable achievements in material development for P–SOFCs are summarized. • The research trends and knowledge gaps of P–SOFCs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new type of coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) reported to have originated in China in December 2019 has spread rapidly all over the world and has become a global problem. COVID-19 is more common and more severe in people with such comorbidities as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes. There is a lack of consensus on whether rheumatological diseases and drugs used in their treatment increase the risk of developing COVID-19. There is also lack of data in literature regarding the development of COVID-19, especially in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis. This case presentation relates to two patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis using antiTNF agents who were affected by COVID-19. The younger of the two, who had no comorbidities, healed quickly with antiviral and supportive therapy, while the older patient, who had cardiovascular and chronic kidney comorbidities, experienced an aggressive disease course and did not survive. The course of COVID-19 infection and mortality is strongly connected with underlying comorbidities. Our focus here is on rheumatological diseases, their immunosuppressive treatments and their impact on the course of the novel type Coronavirus infection, based on two cases of Ankylosing Spondylitis, in light of literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exemption clauses in China's Insurance Law delineate the scope of obligations, performance standards, and certification requirements pertaining to fishery mutual insurance and supplementary coverage. However, the legal validity of time-limited exemption clauses remains contentious in Chinese legal theory, with judicial practice evidencing inconsistent interpretation standards. This paper argues that the application of such clauses enables insurers to potentially restrict or deny liability to some extent, promoting moral hazard and violating public order and good customs. Through analysing current theories and judicial judgments, the paper examines threats and rationale underlying the incorporation of these clauses in fishery mutual insurance policies. It contends that time-limited exemption clauses essentially function as implicit coverage exemptions and should, therefore, be deemed invalid, precluding insurers from refusing claims based on time limits. The paper concludes by recommending insurers fully disclose the liability time restrictions imposed by this clause when formulating contracts to ensure policyholder awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast-growing world population places food production under enormous pressure to ensure food security. One of the most common methods to increase food production is the use of pesticides, but the continuous use thereof has numerous detrimental effects on the environment. The interest in biopesticides for a possible substitute has grown over the past two decades. To determine the research evolution of biopesticides (green pesticides), a bibliometric analysis from 1994 to 2019 was carried out. A total of 580 documents were found eligible in the Scopus database for this analysis. Parameters such as the number of articles, article citations, keywords, source impact, and countries of publication were used to analyse the documents and rank countries based on authors, productivity, article citations, and co-authorship. The analysis reveals production increased significantly from 2009 and has the most published documents in 2019 with a total of 74 articles. Asia's most populous countries, India and China, were ranked first and second, respectively, and the USA third in terms of the most productive countries in the field of plant biopesticides. Countries in Europe and Africa however have fewer publications than expected in this field, given the fact that they are high consumers of pesticides. India, China, and the USA have 4.08%, 2.94%, and 12.5% multiple country publications (MCPs), respectively, with the USA having a stronger collaboration. Finally, there is a clear indication in this study that India and China are taking the lead in substituting synthetic pesticides with the alternative natural plant biopesticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural earth environment has been facing various alterations due to anthropogenic activities even long before the industrial revolution. Economic development can no longer be achieved at the cost of the environment. Sustainable development takes and maintains appropriate environmental standards. This study sketches a thorough analysis of the current situations and likely impacts on the environment from the various infrastructural development projects under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (hereinafter CPEC). Most of the potential outcomes of this project are already known. However, there is a limited academic discussion available concerning its environmental hazards coupled with the relevant laws and policies. The study adopts qualitative means of research to carefully investigate into the environmental challenges and current practices following by pertinent observations and recommendations to improve, implement and formulate bilateral or multilateral, environmental standards in the region. This study aims to explore why it is inevitable to revise the CPEC-related projects, such as shifting from coal-based energy projects to renewables and building climate-resilient infrastructure in order to avoid various environmental harms. The study concludes by suggesting that along with economic integration, it is also essential to promote legal cooperation between China and Pakistan concerning environmental laws as an integral part of the national geopolitical policies to make CPEC a long-lasting as well as a more safe, secure and sustainable project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emerging of psychological problems triggered by COVID-19 particularly in children have been extensively highlighted and emphasized, but original research in this respect is still lagging behind. Therefore, we designed this study to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and the effectiveness and attitudes towards online education among Chinese children aged 7-15 years.Methods: A detailed questionnaire, comprising of 62 questions was designed and parents or caretakers of 7 to 15 years old children were invited to participate via WeChat, a multi-purpose messaging, social media and mobile payment app, which is widely used by the Chinese population. A total of 668 parents across different regions of China were included.Results: During COVID-19 pandemic, 20.7 and 7.2% children report experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PTSD and SMFQ-P scores are significantly higher in middle school and boarding school students compared to primary and day school students. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that school system and province of origin are factors significantly associated with developing PSTD symptoms. 44.3% respondents feel online education is effective in gaining knowledge and improving practical and communications skills. 78.0% believe the online education system is efficient. Overall 79.8% respondents are satisfied and children can adapt to this new education system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we found 1 in five children have PTSD and 1 in 14 children have depressive symptoms.Conclusion: In summary, COVID-19 epidemic has caused PTSD and depression symptoms among Chinese children aged 7 to 15 years. In general, a large proportion of respondents are satisfied with online education, but still a substantial proportion of students are not comfortable with this new form of learning. Authorities should optimize online education systems and implement effective interventions to cope with the psychological effects of COVID-19 on children, as it is affecting the global population and remains uncertain when it will end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ample quantities of solar and local biomass energy are available in the rural regions of northwest China to satisfy the energy needs of farmers. In this work, low-temperature solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic solar power generators, and solar-powered thermostatic biogas digesters were combined to create a heat, electricity, and biogas cogeneration system and were experimentally studied through two buildings in a farming village in northwestern China. The results indicated that the floor heater had the best heating effect. And the fraction of the energy produced by the solar elements of the system was 60.3%. The photovoltaic power-generation system achieved photovoltaic (PV) conversion efficiencies of 8.3% and 8.1% during the first and second season, respectively. The intrinsic power consumption of the system was 143.4 kW·h, and 115.7 kW·h of electrical power was generated by the system in each season. The average volume of biogas produced daily was approximately 1.0 m3. Even though the ambient temperature reached −25°C, the temperature of the biogas digester was maintained at 27°C ± 2 for thermostatic fermentation. After optimization, the energy-saving rate improved from 66.2% to 85.5%. The installation reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 27.03 t, and the static payback period was 3.1 yr. Therefore, the system is highly economical, energy efficient, and beneficial for the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to utilize solar energy to meet the heating demands of a rural residential building during the winter in the northwestern region of China, a hybrid heating system combining solar energy and coal was built. Multiple experiments to monitor its performance were conducted during the winter in 2014 and 2015. In this paper, we analyze the efficiency of the energy utilization of the system and describe a prototype model to determine the thermal efficiency of the coal stove in use. Multiple linear regression was adopted to present the dual function of multiple factors on the daily heat-collecting capacity of the solar water heater; the heat-loss coefficient of the storage tank was detected as well. The prototype model shows that the average thermal efficiency of the stove is 38%, which means that the energy input for the building is divided between the coal and solar energy, 39.5% and 60.5% energy, respectively. Additionally, the allocation of the radiation of solar energy projecting into the collecting area of the solar water heater was obtained which showed 49% loss with optics and 23% with the dissipation of heat, with only 28% being utilized effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In April 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, through order no. 79, has revised its Maritime Traffic Laws (Maritime Traffic Laws Revision-2021), which was then enforced on September 1 2021. The revised law contains ten chapters and 122 articles that comprehensively deal with maritime traffic safety and strengthens China's maritime traffic management. It applies in the waters within the jurisdiction of China, which is not limited to the territorial sea, and regulates Chinese ships at sea. Some revised provisions put forward new requirements, such as pre-notice for foreign vessels in some sea areas, which brings significant legal influence. As a state practice, this new revision can be seen as an interpretation of certain ambiguous concepts of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is also important in improving the international maritime order based on the rule of law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the "one-country, two systems" policy, three definitions of terrorism exist in China, which makes the interregional assistance in preventing and combating terrorism more difficult in the absence of mutual legal assistance agreements. Therefore, a harmonised definition of terrorism is proposed. This article first introduces the background as to why a harmonised definition of terrorism is needed in China, and then compares the objective element (the prohibited conduct), the subjective element (the specific intent) and the exception to the three definitions of terrorism. This is followed by an analysis of the concrete proposal of a harmonised definition of terrorism in China, taking into account international definitions and national definitions. The proposed definition aims to strike a balance between the need to combat terrorism in the Chinese context and human rights protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that the U.S.-Southeast Asia relations under Obama have been driven and limited by a 'partially converged hedging' process between the two sides. On the one hand, the United States has sought to push back and hedge against the longer-term risks of a rising challenger by mobilizing its alignment and diplomatic assets in Asia. The structural imperative, however, has been conditioned by a calculation of not wanting to be rigidly locked in any regional problems. On the other hand, the ASEAN states have correspondingly hedged against the uncertainty surrounding China's rise by leveraging on the United States' enhanced engagement. This driver, nonetheless, has also been conditioned by a fundamental concern of not wanting to confront the rising power in an outright manner. Unless China's actions have posed an immediate threat that leaves the states no choice but balancing, such a partially converged hedging process is likely to endure in the years to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Energy Silk Road between China and Central Asia has established a kind of interdependence among the participants. Interdependence among the parties that has initialized with the use of energy trade has transcended to other areas as well. Each party has benefited from this engagement in different ways. Central Asian states have huge hydrocarbon potentials which are not explored completely. Central Asian states seek foreign participation in developing their hydrocarbons. In addition, Central Asian states are looking for foreign participants in order to transport their hydrocarbons to consumption markets. In this context, there are many actors that want to be active and influential in Central Asian energy calculations. China has appeared out to be a prominent figure among other actors. China finds an opportunity to access crude oil by participating in equity shares in different production areas of the region. Moreover, China finds an opportunity to buy crude oil from her border neighbors by the use of pipelines. China buys crude oil mainly from the Middle East. Transportation route between China and the Middle East is under the dominance of the navy of the United States. Therefore, China attaches great importance to Central Asian sources and routes. Central Asian states do not want to rely only to Russia and/ or the United States in formulating various alliances. These newly independent states want to establish economic, political and diplomatic relations with different partners. Energy cooperation between China and Central Asian states has proven to be beneficial for both sides in many aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected China's economic development, international exchanges and other aspects to varying degrees, among which the impact on China's fishery development should not be underestimated. The fishery is a traditional and vast industry in China. The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak has also exposed potential problems in China's fishery development, such as the lack of specialised aquatic product quality and safety supervision and testing institutions. New problems have also arisen, such as the decline in the market demand for fish and aquatic products, affecting fishers' income, livelihood and so on. These deficiencies require China to establish a matching legal system to correspondingly solve the current legal and political problems. This paper will systematically discuss the impact of the COVID-19 on China's fisheries sector from the perspectives of 'fishers' and 'aquatic products' after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and analyse how to deal with various problems by referring to relevant experience in light of China's national conditions and characteristics. • The COVID-19 pandemic has affected China's fisheries sector profoundly. • China has adopted policy and legal countermeasures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 on its fisheries sectors. • Further measures are in need to better promote China's fishery development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collecting information from previous investigations and expressing it in a scientometrics study can be a priceless guide to getting a complete overview of a specific research area. The aim of this study is to explore the interrelated connection between alginate, gelatine, and hydroxyapatite within the scope of bone tissue and scaffold. A review of traditional literature with data mining procedures using bibliometric analyses was considered to identify the evolution of the selected research area between 2009 and 2019. Bibliometric methods and knowledge visualization technologies were implemented to investigate diverse publications based on the following indicators: year of publication, document type, language, country, institution, author, journal, keyword, and number of citations. An analysis using a bibliometric study found that 7446 papers were located with the keywords "bone tissue" and "scaffold", and 1767 (alginate), 185 (gelatine), 5658 (hydroxyapatite) papers with those specific sub keywords. The number of publications that relate to "tissue engineering" and bone more than doubled between 2009 (1352) and 2019 (2839). China, the United States and India are the most productive countries, while Sichuan University and the Chinese Academy of Science from China are the most important institutions related to bone tissue scaffold. Materials Science and Engineering C is the most productive journal, followed by the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A. This paper is a starting point, providing the first bibliometric analysis study of bone tissue and scaffold considering alginate, gelatine and hydroxyapatite. A bibliometric analysis would greatly assist in giving a scientific insight to support desired future research work, not only associated with bone tissue engineering applications. It is expected that the analysis of alginate, gelatine and hydroxyapatite in terms of 3D bioprinting, clinical outcomes, scaffold architecture, and the regenerative medicine approach will enhance the research into bone tissue engineering in the near future. Continued studies into these research fields are highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two key drivers, ocean warming and ocean acidification, affect the oceans and adds to the climate change adversely. International legal and policy instruments contain certain measures to tackle these growing effects. China is also committed to addressing the effects of climate change on the oceans. The overlapping of different systems has, however, created some difficulties in practice and further coordination is urgently required. This paper uses qualitative methods to investigate China's legal practices in addressing the effects of climate change and their impact on the oceans. The study considers newly introduced policies and recent actions launched by the Chinese Government to chart a clearer picture of the current practices. To this end, it is concluded that the ultimate solution in avoiding the worsening effects of climate change on the oceans would be to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases worldwide, and China aims to take advantage of playing leading role in such efforts. • International legal and policy instruments contain certain measures to tackle the effects of climate change on the oceans. • China has also committed to addressing the effects of climate change on the oceans. • The overlapping of different systems has, however, created some difficulties in practice and further coordination is urgently required. • The ultimate solution in avoiding the worsening effects of climate change on the oceans would be to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases worldwide and China wishes to take a leading role in such efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Antibiotic consumption is associated with the development of antibiotic resistance. Our aim was to study the relationship between antibiotic consumption and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in three public general tertiary hospitals from 2011-2015 in the eastern, western and central regions of China. Methodology: Valid data were collected quarterly, and the antibiotic consumption data were expressed as the defined daily dose (DDD) per 100 inpatient days (ID). Bacterial resistance was reported as the percentage of resistant isolates among all tested isolates. Individual trends were calculated by linear regression, while possible correlations between antibiotic consumption and CRKP were evaluated by distributed lags time series analysis. Results: Over the 5-year period, an overall significant increasing trend (P < 0.1, R2 > 0.3) of carbapenems consumption and the prevalence of CRKP was observed in all three hospitals. This correlated with the use of ceftazidime, cefoperazone/sulbactam, cefminox and meropenem at a hospital in eastern China, with the increased use of meropenem at a hospital in eentral China and with the increased use of doxycycline, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, meropenem and biapenem at a hospital in western China. Conclusions: We report a high incidence of CRKP in all three hospitals and that an increase in carbapenem usage is associated with this. Further research is needed to elucidate which factors influence the increased consumption of carbapenems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prognostic implication of conversion from initially non-shockable to shockable rhythms in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains unclear. Our objective is to determine whether the conversion to shockable rhythms is a reliable predictor of short- and long-term outcomes both in patients who initially presented with pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and in those with asystole.Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on non-traumatic OHCA cases ≥18 years old with PEA or asystole as initial rhythms, who were treated in the field and enrolled in the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) PRIMED study (clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00394706). We reported the characteristics and outcomes for those patients with or without shocks delivered in the field. Logistic regression analysis assessed the association of shock delivery with pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), survival to hospital discharge and favorable neurological outcome as well.Results: Of the 9902 included cases, 3415 (34.5%) were initially in PEA and 6487 (65.5%) were in asystole. 744 (21.8%) PEA and 1134 (17.5%) asystolic patients underwent rhythm conversions and received subsequent shocks. For asystolic patients, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of shock delivery for pre-hospital ROSC, survival to discharge and favorable neurological outcome were 1.862 (95%CI 1.590-2.180), 3.778 (95%CI 2.374-6.014) and 4.154 (95%CI 2.192-7.871) respectively, while for PEA patients they were 0.951 (95%CI 0.796-1.137), 1.115 (95%CI 0.720-1.726) and 1.373 (95%CI 0.790-2.385) respectively.Conclusions: Conversion to shockable rhythms was associated with better outcomes in initially asystolic OHCA patients, whereas such associations were not observed in patients initially in PEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogenetic relationships for Bernisia tabaci were reconstructed by analysis of a ~780 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) gene with an emphasis on geographic range and distribution among eight eudicot plant families that are common hosts of B. tabaci worldwide to elucidate key phylogeographic linkages between populations extant in China (n = 31) and India (n = 34). Bootstrap values for the Maximum Parsimony tree were highly robust for all major nodes involving the major Asian clade, subgroups, and sister groups within, at 92%-100% . Between-clade distances for the Southeast Asia and three other major clades, e. g. from sub-Sahara Africa, North Africa-Mediterranean, and the Americas, were approximately >16% divergent. Two major Asian subgroups (I, II) were resolved, which represented populations indigenous to the region, comprising two (I a, I b) and five (II a-c) sister groups, respectively, which diverged by 11%. Two distinct populations from sunflower in Hyderabad grouped separately within the two Asian subgroups. All other populations grouped uniquely within Asian subgroup II or I. The "B" biotype was identified in 23 collections from China at 97. 3% -99. 5 % nucleotide identity with "B" biotype reference sequences; it was not identified in collections from India. The majority of haplotypes were associated with 3-4 plant families, with one exception that for sister group lid (sesame, India), it might be monophagous. Thus, B. tabaci from the southeastern and near eastern regions of the Asian continent comprise of a large number of ancestral, richly divergent, mostly polyphagous populations. This region is therefore hypothesized to constitute an important Old World center of diversification for the B. tabaci complex, together with sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Antibiotic consumption is associated with the development of antibiotic resistance. Our aim was to study the relationship between antibiotic consumption and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in three public general tertiary hospitals from 2011-2015 in the eastern, western and central regions of China., Methodology: Valid data were collected quarterly, and the antibiotic consumption data were expressed as the defined daily dose (DDD) per 100 inpatient days (ID). Bacterial resistance was reported as the percentage of resistant isolates among all tested isolates. Individual trends were calculated by linear regression, while possible correlations between antibiotic consumption and CRKP were evaluated by distributed lags time series analysis., Results: Over the 5-year period, an overall significant increasing trend (P < 0.1, R2 > 0.3) of carbapenems consumption and the prevalence of CRKP was observed in all three hospitals. This correlated with the use of ceftazidime, cefoperazone/sulbactam, cefminox and meropenem at a hospital in eastern China, with the increased use of meropenem at a hospital in eentral China and with the increased use of doxycycline, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, meropenem and biapenem at a hospital in western China., Conclusions: We report a high incidence of CRKP in all three hospitals and that an increase in carbapenem usage is associated with this. Further research is needed to elucidate which factors influence the increased consumption of carbapenems., Competing Interests: No Conflict of Interest is declared, (Copyright (c) 2019 Xiaoyuan Qu, Haipeng Wang, Chaoran Chen, Chang Yin, Aitian Yin, Chunyan Ma, Adi Idris.)

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is one of the most common soft-tissue neoplasms of infancy. Although clinical diagnosis for IH is well-established, the haematological parameters associated with IH are not well explored. In this short study, we observed significantly higher eosinophil (EO) numbers in IH patient blood compared to healthy controls. This contributed to the observed higher EO % in the peripheral blood of IH patients and was irrespective of age. This new haematological finding could carry a potential diagnostic/prognostic relevance for IH., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2019 Li X et al.)