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This study aimed at examining the relationships among subjective family socioeconomic status (FSES), self-esteem (SE), social support (SS), and life satisfaction (LS) in two independent samples of Chinese adolescents. In Study 1, 510 adolescents were asked to complete a multi-section questionnaire. The mediation analyses indicated that subjective FSES predicted LS through three pathways. First, subjective FSES predicted LS through the mediating effect of SE. Second, subjective FSES predicted LS through the mediating effect of SS. Third, subjective FSES predicted LS through the serial mediating effect of SS and SE. Besides, the contrast tests revealed that the mediating effect of SE had no significant difference with that of SS. To test whether the above results are stable and replicable, we further conducted a validation study in Sample 2 (N = 405) and found all the results remained significant. Implications for future research and limitations are discussed.

Nurses are at increased risk for developing depressive symptoms. While previous research has suggested that strength use may be inversely related to these symptoms, the longitudinal impact of strength use on nurses' depressive symptoms remains under-explored. This study sought to examine the longitudinal relationship between strength use and depressive symptoms among Chinese nurses. Using a two-wave cross-lagged design from 2020 to 2023, 321 nurses participated in an online questionnaire survey. Using structural equation modeling, our results supported the hypothesized reciprocal model, indicating that strength use can significantly predict a reduction in depressive symptoms and vice versa. Given these findings, there's an urgent need for nurse leaders to emphasize the importance of using nurses' strengths as a strategy to alleviate depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the challenges posed by climate change and rural revitalization, high-quality construction in rural areas is facing significant obstacles from rainstorm flooding. This study adopts a regional disaster system analysis framework and examines the characteristics of rural rainstorm flooding disasters, including the instability of the breeding environment, the hazard characteristics, and the vulnerability of the exposure. Using this framework, we explore the various causes of rainstorm flooding in rural China, assess the effectiveness of responses to these disasters, and examine the differences between urban and rural responses. Our analysis reveals that the increase in rainstorm flooding in rural China is a complex result of multiple factors, including increased risk, instability, and vulnerability. While rural areas have made some progress in monitoring and responding to rainstorm flooding disasters, they remain weaker than cities in terms of governance and disaster management systems. To address these challenges, we recommend increased attention to rural flood control and disaster reduction, stronger preparation for disaster prevention and reduction plans, enhanced rural disaster infrastructure defense, increased financial support for water conservancy projects, and stronger professional emergency response teams, disaster relief equipment, and materials. Additionally, we recommend strengthening disaster prevention and reduction education and publicity among rural residents to promote the ability to self-rescue and mutual rescue. The disastrous impact of climate change and resulting extreme weather events on rural areas has become increasingly evident in recent years. China's vast rural areas have been particularly affected by frequent rainstorm flooding disasters. This paper identifies the increase in rainstorms, the instability of the disaster breeding environment in rural areas, and the increased vulnerability of exposures in these areas as the main reasons behind the intensification of rural rainstorm flooding. To mitigate the impact of these disasters, attention should be paid to natural disaster risk management, normalized flood control, and disaster reduction in rural areas. This requires overall coordination of rural disaster prevention and reduction planning, emphasis on improving the defense capacity of rural areas, increasing financial support for defensive water conservancy projects, promoting the construction of professional emergency rescue teams in rural areas, scientifically distributing flood prevention and disaster relief equipment and materials, strengthening publicity and education on disaster prevention and reduction, and enhancing rural disaster prevention awareness and self-rescue and mutual rescue capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to validate the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S), an instrument that measures perseverance and passion for long-term goals, among Chinese high school students. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the scale retains the two-factor structure of the original scale. The scale demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Evidence for construct validity was found in relation to the Big Five personality traits, self-control, and IQ. Evidence for criterion validity was found via the observation that grit explained unique variance in academic performance. Together, the Grit-S is a sound measure of grit among Chinese adolescents.

Preceding research has demonstrated the positive relation between gratitude and well-being at the trait level, but less is known about the day-to-day association between them. This study investigated the within-person associations of gratitude with hedonic and eudaimonic well-being using a daily diary design. A sample of 363 young adults (M = 19.77, SD = 1.84) finished an online questionnaire once a day for 14 consecutive days. The results indicated that gratitude was positively related to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being on the same day, and gratitude positively predicted next-day hedonic and eudaimonic well-being, but not vice versa. We also found the reciprocal relation between the cognitive component of daily hedonic well-being (i.e., life satisfaction) and daily gratitude measured by the Gratitude Questionnaire. Moreover, these cross-lagged relations were not moderated by trait gratitude. These results provide supportive and convincing evidence for the positive effect of gratitude at the state level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, "lying flat" has been enthusiastically pursued by young people in China, and it is worth studying its cause and social impact. However, there is still a lack of measurement tools that can scientifically evaluate an individual's tendency for "lying flat." In this study, a 6-item "Lying Flat" Tendency Scale was developed and cross-validated for reliability and validity in different samples from China. The findings demonstrated that the scale showed good internal consistency in three different samples; both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis supported the single dimension model of the scale, indicating good construct validity; the LFTS total score was negatively correlated with the satisfaction of basic psychological needs, happiness index, and positive emotions, and was positively correlated with negative emotions; simultaneously, the LFTS total score was also significantly positively correlated with the choice of "lying flat" behavior in the simulated situation. These results show that the scale has good validity and reliability, and can be used as a measuring tool for subsequent empirical research. It will help to promote the development of empirical research on the phenomenon of "lying flat", help to understand the causes and consequences of "lying flat" more deeply, and also help to find effective ways to help young people break out of the "lying flat" dilemma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the day-to-day within-person associations between employees' flow experience and organizational identification within the rarely studied context of construction engineering project organizations. Design/methodology/approach: In this daily diary design, the authors surveyed 204 (Mage = 28.3, SD = 5.69) employees of a state-owned construction engineering project organization in southwest China via the online questionnaires comprising flow and organizational identification scales once daily on each workday for three consecutive weeks, which yielded 3,060 data entries. The authors then tested the temporal directionality between flow and organizational identification with multilevel time-series cross-lagged path analysis using Mplus 8.3. Findings: Daily flow experience was linked positively with same-day organizational identification. Importantly, flow experience on the previous day predicted organizational identification on a subsequent day, but not vice versa. Practical implications: This study suggests that construction engineering project managers should implement interventions fostering the employees' flow experience to promote organizational identification, with important implications for organizations aiming at flourishing workforces by facilitating organizational identification through implementing flow strategies. Originality/value: There is a dearth of diary studies on flow and organizational identification specific to construction engineering project employees. The authors' findings provide concrete evidence of the fluctuant nature of daily flow experience and organizational identification as well as their dynamic predictive pathway relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined both the mediating and moderating effects of global self-esteem on the relationship between social support and subjective well-being among Chinese university students. Three hundred and ninety-one university students (260 males and 131 females) from two different Chinese universities completed the social support scale, the self-esteem scale and the subjective well-being scale. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that global self-esteem partially mediated the influence of social support on life satisfaction and positive affect, whereas it fully mediated the influence of social support on negative affect. Moreover, global self-esteem moderated the relationship between social support and life satisfaction, and positive affect, but not negative affect. When students reported a high level of global self-esteem, those with high social support reported higher scores in life satisfaction and positive affect than those with low social support. However, there were no differences in life satisfaction or positive affect between groups with high and low social support when global self-esteem was low. The significance and limitations of the results are discussed.

This study examined both the mediation effects of loneliness and self-esteem for the relationship between social support and life satisfaction. Three hundred and eighty nine Chinese college students, ranging in age from 17 to 25 (M = 20.39), completed the emotional and social loneliness scale, the self-esteem scale, the satisfaction with life scale and measure of social support. Structural equation modeling showed full mediation effects of loneliness and self-esteem between social support and life satisfaction. The final model also revealed a significant path from social support through loneliness and self-esteem to life satisfaction. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis found that the paths did not differ across sexes. The findings provided the external validity for the full mediation effects of loneliness and self-esteem and valuable evidence for more complicated relations among the variables.

"The Geography of Contemporary China" is a comprehensive textbook that provides a panoramic view of China's geographic patterns and developmental features. It covers various aspects of China's geography, including its physical geographic features, land and natural resource characteristics, ecological and environmental restoration, human and economic geographic features, and sustainable development. While the textbook offers valuable insights, it does not adequately address the rural regional system in China, which is important for understanding the country's geographic patterns. Nonetheless, it serves as a valuable reference for students studying geography, climate change, and sustainable development. [Extracted from the article]

Climate catastrophe insurance is an important tool for advancing China's comprehensive disaster prevention and mitigation efforts and an important part of modernizing China's national emergency management capabilities. Based on the understanding of the definition of catastrophe and China's climate catastrophe, this paper systematically analyzes the main problems and challenges faced by China's climate catastrophe risk management and elaborates on the characteristics of the current opportunities for the development of China's climate catastrophe insurance. The paper then summarizes the development features of international catastrophe insurance systems, compares the features of the Shenzhen and Ningbo pilots of catastrophe insurance in China, and proposes key focus points for the meteorological department to participate in climate catastrophe insurance. Finally, this paper proposes measures to enhance climate catastrophe insurance in China in future from the development of international catastrophe insurance and China's climate catastrophe pilot work. Firstly, consider the whole process of comprehensive disaster prevention and mitigation concept and play the role of the government and the market and other multi-body, to explore the construction of the catastrophe insurance system. Secondly, establish a special or comprehensive catastrophe insurance fund. Thirdly, promote the formation of public–private partnership sharing mechanism. Fourthly, the government should provide appropriate legal and policy support. Fifthly, use the market mechanisms to reduce government pressure on public finances in catastrophe insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disaster crisis management is the last defensive line in the face of extreme rainstorm disasters. However, fragmentation undermines the effectiveness of disaster crisis management, and the "7-20" extreme rainfall flooding disaster in Zhengzhou, Henan province, China in 2021 revealed a series of fragmentation problems. The effectiveness of China's emergency storm flooding management must be seriously considered. We used the "7-20" extreme rainfall event in Zhengzhou, Henan province in China as a case study to perform an inductive, qualitative investigation to understand what fragmentation is and how fragmentation reduces efficacy. Most of the data used for this research were gathered from Chinese official records and online news articles. This study first highlights pertinent studies that have been performed and then presents a comprehensive theoretical framework of fragmentation in catastrophe crisis management, which consists of five aspects: fragmented emergency legislation, emergency organization, information, perception, and services. Second, we have deduced which human responses in the "7-20" event represent the fragmentation issues, and we have examined the detrimental effects of fragmentation in flood crisis management. Finally, suggestions are made for China to increase the effectiveness of disaster crisis management, including encouraging regulatory convergence, matching emergency responsibility and authority, establishing an information-sharing platform, bolstering emergency education and raising risk perception, and changing the dualistic system in disaster crisis management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedonia and eudaimonia have been proposed as pathways to well-being. However, the direction of the causal relationship between them remains unclear. This study examined if happiness motivations may be resources leading to a happy life, or vice versa. Cross-lagged associations between happiness motivations (i.e. hedonic motivation and eudaimonic motivation) and subjective well-being (i.e. positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction) were tested. Four hundred and ninety-four Chinese adolescents (233 males; mean age 13.26 ± 0.70 years) participated in a two-wave paper and pencil study. The cross-lagged analysis showed that eudaimonic motivation was a significant predictor of positive affect and life satisfaction over time. No cross-lagged effects between eudaimonic motivation and negative affect, or between hedonic motivation and subjective well-being components were established. The results highlight the predictive power of eudaimonic motivation on adolescents' subjective well-being later on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a nested approach for generating long-term, medium-term, and short-term reservoir scheduling models, which is based on the actual needs of the scheduling operation of the Three Gorges–Gezhouba (TG-GZB) cascade reservoirs. The approach has established a five-tier optimal scheduling model in which the time interval of the scheduling plan prepared by the model can be as short as 15 min, meeting the real-time scheduling requirements of the cascade hydropower station system. This study also presents a comparatively comprehensive introduction to all solving algorithms that have ever been adopted in the multi-time scale coordinated and optimized scheduling model. Based on that, some practical and efficient solving algorithms are developed for the characteristics of the scheduling model, including the coupled iterative method of alternating reservoirs (CIMAR)—the improved dynamic programming (IDP) algorithm and the improved genetic algorithm (IGA). In addition, optimized-scheduling solutions were generated by each of the three algorithms and were compared in terms of their convergence rate, calculation time, electric energy generated, and standard deviation of the algorithm. The results based on the Cascade Scheduling and Communication System (CSCS) of Three Gorges–Gezhouba, China, which includes two interlinked mega-scale reservoir projects, show that scheduling models have better efficiency and good convergence, and more importantly, the maximization of the power generation benefits of the hydropower plants has been achieved without violating any of the reservoir scheduling regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and in China. Screening for lung cancer by low dose computed tomography (LDCT) can reduce mortality but has resulted in a dramatic rise in the incidence of indeterminate pulmonary nodules, which presents a major diagnostic challenge for clinicians regarding their underlying pathology and can lead to overdiagnosis. To address the significant gap in evaluating pulmonary nodules, we conducted a prospective study to develop a prediction model for individuals at intermediate to high risk of developing lung cancer. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were applied to the training cohort (n = 560) to develop an early lung cancer prediction model. The results indicated that a model integrating clinical characteristics (age and smoking history), radiological characteristics of pulmonary nodules (nodule diameter, nodule count, upper lobe location, malignant sign at the nodule edge, subsolid status), artificial intelligence analysis of LDCT data, and liquid biopsy achieved the best diagnostic performance in the training cohort (sensitivity 89.53%, specificity 81.31%, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.880). In the independent validation cohort (n = 168), this model had an AUC of 0.895, which was greater than that of the Mayo Clinic Model (AUC = 0.772) and Veterans' Affairs Model (AUC = 0.740). These results were significantly better for predicting the presence of cancer than radiological features and artificial intelligence risk scores alone. Applying this classifier prospectively may lead to improved early lung cancer diagnosis and early treatment for patients with malignant nodules while sparing patients with benign entities from unnecessary and potentially harmful surgery. Clinical Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR1900026233, URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=43370. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An emergency management system is an important part of the current national governance system. Since the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, China's emergency management agencies have been reformed many times, and the emergency management system has been significantly improved in continuous development. China's emergency management can be divided into four stages from 1949 to now, forming three generations of the emergency management system. This paper introduces the organizational characteristics of China's emergency management in four stages, expounds on the main characteristics of the three generations of the emergency management system, and puts forward some key points of improving China's emergency management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to reveal the role of satisfying basic psychological needs in the relationship between strength use and depressive symptoms in nurses. Background: There is a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among nurses. Previous studies on different groups have reported that strength use is beneficial for alleviating individuals' depressive symptoms. Method: A total of 475 participating Chinese nurses completed questionnaires. Hypotheses were tested using the PROCESS macro. Results: Strength use was positively correlated with basic psychological needs satisfaction overall and negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, autonomy and relatedness satisfaction acted as mediating mechanisms through which strength use influenced depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Autonomy and relatedness satisfaction can mediate the influence of strength use on depressive symptoms in nurses. Implications for Nursing Management: Focus should be placed on improving nurses' strength use level to reduce their depressive symptoms. Hospital managers should create an organisational environment conducive to meeting nurses' basic psychological needs and thereby reduce their depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between storm surge and concurrent precipitation is poorly understood in many coastal regions. This paper investigates the potential compound effects from these two flooding drivers along the coast of China for the first time by using the most comprehensive records of storm surge and precipitation. Statistically significant dependence between flooding drivers exists at the majority of locations that are analysed, but the strength of the correlation varies spatially and temporally and depending on how extreme events are defined. In general, we find higher dependence at the south-eastern tide gauges (TGs) (latitude < 30 ∘ N) compared to the northern TGs. Seasonal variations in the dependence are also evident. Overall there are more sites with significant dependence in the tropical cyclone (TC) season, especially in the summer. Accounting for past sea level rise further increases the dependence between flooding drivers, and future sea level rise will hence likely lead to an increase in the frequency of compound events. We also find notable differences in the meteorological patterns associated with events where both drivers are extreme versus events where only one driver is extreme. Events with both extreme drivers at south-eastern TG sites are caused by low-pressure systems with similar characteristics across locations, including high precipitable water content (PWC) and strong winds that generate high storm surge. Based on historical disaster damages records of Hong Kong, events with both extreme drivers account for the vast majority of damages and casualties, compared to univariate flooding events, where only one flooding driver occurred. Given the large coastal population and low capacity of drainage systems in many Chinese urban coastal areas, these findings highlight the necessity to incorporate compound flooding and its potential changes in a warming climate into risk assessments, urban planning, and the design of coastal infrastructure and flood defences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the daily maximum temperature data and average temperature data prediction for the period ranging from 2020 to 2099 under the scenario of BNU-ESM climate engineering (G4 test) and non-climate engineering (RCP4.5), the regional differences in the extreme high-temperature intensities in China during the implementation of climate engineering programs (2020 to 2069) and after the implementation of those programs (2070 to 2099) were analyzed using the Weibull Distribution Theory. The results are as follows. (1) The comparison of the two scenarios shows that climate engineering has not fundamentally changed the spatial variation of the intensity of extreme hightemperature events in different recurring periods in China. It was found that in both scenarios, the extreme hightemperature intensities were characterized by the spatial differentiations of low-temperature intensities on the Qinghai- Tibet Plateau, and high-temperature intensities in the eastern and northwestern region. (2) The comparison of the two scenarios shows that climate engineering in the two study periods could help mitigate the extreme high-temperature intensities with different recurrence periods in China, and the mitigation effects during the implementation period would be significantly higher than those after the implementation. (3) The comparison between the periods ranging from 2020 to 2069 and 2070 to 2099 under the proposed climate engineering scenarios suggests that there would be no strong rebounding of extreme high-temperatures following the implementation of climate engineering programs. Moreover, the mitigation effect of extreme high-temperature intensity during the implementation of climate engineering is significantly higher than that after the completion of climate engineering. (4) According to the comparison between the average temperature changes in China before and after the implementation of the climate project, the average temperature in China has been reduced by at least 1.25 °C, which effectively alleviates global warming and is conducive to the realization of the 1.5 °C temperature control target of the Paris Agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing change in daily maximum wind speed and its likely causes is crucial for many applications such as wind power generation and wind disaster risk governance. Multidecadal variability of observed near-surface daily maximum wind speed (DMWS) from 778 stations over China is analyzed for 1975–2016. A robust homogenization protocol using the R package Climatol was applied to the DMWS observations. The homogenized dataset displayed a significant (p < 0.05) declining trend of −0.038 m s−1 decade−1 for all China annually, with decreases in winter (−0.355 m s−1 decade−1, p < 0.05) and autumn (−0.108 m s−1 decade−1; p < 0.05) and increases in summer (+0.272 m s−1 decade−1, p < 0.05) along with a weak recovery in spring (+0.032 m s−1 decade−1; p > 0.10); that is, DMWS declined during the cold semester (October–March) and increased during the warm semester (April–September). Correlation analysis of the Arctic Oscillation, the Southern Oscillation, and the west Pacific modes exhibited significant correlation with DMWS variability, unveiling their complementarity in modulating DMWS. Further, we explored potential physical processes relating to the atmospheric circulation changes and their impacts on DMWS and found that 1) overall weakened horizontal airflow [large-scale mean horizontal pressure gradient (from −0.24 to +0.02 hPa decade−1) and geostrophic wind speed (from −0.6 to +0.6 m s−1 decade−1)], 2) widely decreased atmospheric vertical momentum transport [atmospheric stratification thermal instability (from −3 to +1.5 decade−1) and vertical wind shear (from −0.4 to +0.2 m s−1 decade−1)], and 3) decreased extratropical cyclones frequency (from −0.3 to 0 month decade−1) are likely causes of DMWS change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the mediating effect of social support on the relationship between parenting stress and life satisfaction in Chinese mothers of children with cerebral palsy (N = 369). The results showed that family support and friend support, but not significant-other support, had mediating effects on the relationship between parenting stress and life satisfaction. Moreover, the mediating effect of friend support was equal to family support. These results suggest that the focus should be on reducing parenting stress and increasing support from family and friends to help improve life satisfaction in mothers of children with cerebral palsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has become one of the key issues affecting global society and economic development, and it is related to the sustainable development of mankind and the earth's ecological system. Firstly, this research begins with the important international conferences and agreements on Global Climate Governance, and analyzes the recent progress of the Paris Agreement, the Marrakech climate conference and the major progress of China & US climate cooperation and China's contribution. Secondly, from the perspective of China's adaptation and response to climate change, the main progress of climate change in China is reviewed from a multi-level perspective. The main scientific and technological progress and achievements in China's response to climate change have been tracked. Finally, from the environmental risk areas, the future risks of climate change are predicted from six aspects, to contribute to the scientific and technological support program for climate change governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the daily precipitation data of 545 meteorological stations in China from 1961 to 2016, the spatial-temporal variation characteristics of rainstorm rainfall and rainy days in different months of China were diagnosed from three aspects: climatic characteristics, variation trend and interannual variation. The results showed that: (1) Rainstorm rainfall and rainy days in different months of China from 1961 to 2016 had similar spatial characteristics in corresponding months. From January to July, the high-value areas of rainstorm rainfall and rainy days gradually expanded from southeast coast to northwest inland, but mainly distributed in the east area of Hu Huanyong Line. From August to December, it shrank from northwest to southeast coastal areas. Rainstorm rainfall and rainy days were less distributed in different months in the west area of Hu Huanyong Line; (2) From 1961 to 2016, the spatial-temporal variation characteristics of rainstorm rainfall in different months in China were basically consistent with that of rainy days. May to August was the most significant month for the variation trend of rainstorm rainfall and rainy days in China. It mainly distributed in the southeast monsoon area, and was mainly increasing trend. The trend of rainstorm rainfall and rainy days in northwest China changed slightly in different months; (3) The interannual variability of rainstorm rainfall in different months in China from 1961 to 2016 was similar to that of rainy days. The fluctuation characteristics from April to October were larger in the northern region. The southern region fluctuated greatly from November to December in January to March. With the development of the month, the high-value areas with large daily fluctuations of rainstorm rainfall and rainy days gradually expanded from southeast to northwest, northeast and southwest, and the fluctuations in southeast tended to decrease, then shrank from northwest, northeast and southwest to southeast, with the increasing fluctuations in southeast. The study has certain reference significance for flood control and disaster reduction and water resources planning and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change in the past one hundred years has brought important influence to the natural ecosystem and social - economic system of the world and China, The impact of future climate change is also long-term and huge, and many effects are negative or adverse. Therefore, from now on we must take measures adapting to climate change to overcome the adverse effects of climate change on social - economic - ecological system, In this paper, starting from the urgency of integrated climate change risk governance, the risk of natural disasters intensifying caused by climate change is briefly described, and engineering and non engineering measures of the integrated climate change risk governance in China's high risk region are proposed, as well as recommendations on integrated risk governance in the eastern, middle and western China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global -warming, there are more frequent heavy rainstorms and extraordinary rainstorms, which leads to growingly severe rainstorm disasters. In previous studies, heavy rainstorms and extraordinary rainstorms were classified into rainstorms so that it was impossible to fully grasp the spatiotemporal pattern of heavy rainstorms and extraordinary rainstorms. Therefore, based on the daily precipitation data of 659 meteorological stations in China, this study calculated the rainfall amount, the rain day, and the rainfall intensity of rainstorms, heavy rainstorms, and extraordinary rainstorms in 1951-2010, and analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of rainstorms, heavy rainstorms, and extraordinary rainstorms in China. The results showed that: In terms of the proportion to the total rainstorms, rainstorms were the largest, followed by heavy rainstorms and extraordinary rainstorms; in terms of time, the rainfall amount, the rain day, and the rainfall intensity of interdecadal rainstorms and heavy rainstorms in China show a dynamic increase trend; in terms of space, only the rainfall amount and rainy days had an expansion trend, while the rainfall intensity did not change much. Temporally, the rainfall amount and the rain day of interdecadal extraordinary rainstorms were characterized by "increase--decline--increase", while their rain intensity was characterized by "decline-increase-decline". Spatially, there was no significant change in the rainfall amount, the rain day, and the rainfall intensity of extraordinary rainstorms. In short, rainstorms in China were developing towards extremes, which might be a result of combination of human factors and natural factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of social economy, the strategic position of civil aviation in the national economy is highlighted, and its development potential is enormous. Extreme weather events under the background of climate change have brought great challenges to aviation safety. Starting with the rapid development of civil aviation in China, based on the trend of increasing the risk of aviation security and the risk of economic loss under the warming background, the effect of climate change on aviation safety development was analyzed from seven aspects: extreme weather and climate events affecting aviation safety, the number of takeoff limit days, fog and haze (low visibility) affecting aviation safety, flight time increasing, takeoff condition of high plateau airport changing, aircraft corrosion and clear-air turbulence, and the possible impact of the development of aviation industry on climate change was analyzed. Finally, based on the mutual influence of climate change and aviation industry, five policy suggestions were proposed, including the scientific planning of the new airport layout, the construction of the aviation meteorological data sharing platform, the comprehensive assessment of the impact of climate change on the aviation, the development of the aeronautical weather index insurance and new risk response training for aviation staff under the background of climate change. This study has a reference value for a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between climate change and the development of aviation safety in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the background of global climate change and rapid urbanization, all kinds of catastrophic events occur, which challenge regional socio‐economic and sustainable development. This Forum contribution introduces the tools and systems of catastrophe risk transfer and its characteristics in practice. The case is then made that the catastrophe risk transfer system needs to be innovated. It is found that the current catastrophe risk transfer system in China cannot on its own meet the needs of catastrophe risk transfer. This contribution argues that a lottery mechanism is one important means for catastrophe risk transfer. Its basic function is risk transfer and thereby raises funds for disaster recovery and reconstruction. Finally, this contribution suggests ways in which to normalize the independent issuance of catastrophe lottery, to strengthen the relevant research work for catastrophe lottery and to explore the catastrophe risk transfer mode of the combination of catastrophe lottery and disaster insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, based on the data on the frequency of waterlogging events and the number of waterlogging days of 1,638 stations from 1961 to 2016, a variety of mathematical statistics methods were used to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of waterlogging events in eastern China. The results showed that: ① In terms of time, the annual frequency of waterlogging events and the number of waterlogging days in eastern China in 1961–2016 showed an increasing trend despite of fluctuations. In the interdecadal changes, the highest frequency of waterlogging events and the greatest number of waterlogging days occurred in the 1990s, and from the 1960s to the 1980s, the frequency of waterlogging events and the number of waterlogging days in eastern China showed a decreasing trend. There were 6-year and 30-year periodic variations in the frequency of waterlogging events and the number of waterlogging days in eastern China, and mutations occurred in 1991. ② In terms of space, from 1961 to 2016, the areas with high frequency of waterlogging events in various years in eastern China were mainly South China, western and southern Yunnan, northern Jiangsu, southern Zhejiang, northern Fujian, junction areas between Hunan and Chongqing, northern Sichuan, and eastern Liaoning. ③ In the spatial distribution of change trends and fluctuation characteristics, the frequency of waterlogging events and the number of waterlogging days in eastern China increased significantly in the southeastern coastal areas from 1961 to 2016, and the fluctuations of the frequency of waterlogging events and the number of waterlogging days in eastern China from 1961 to 2016 presented a spatial variation pattern of low in the southwest and high in the northwest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many regions are pounded with heavy rainfall, causing flood, casualties, property damage and severe destruction to ecosystem in multiple urban areas. Frequent occurrence of extremely heavy precipitation event under the background of global climate change has caused terrible harm on economic and social development, life security, ecosystem, etc. ; brought profound impact on sustainable development of disaster area; become a key factor of global and regional disasters and environmental risk; and been widely concerned by academic circle and all sectors of the society. So severe disasters caused by extreme precipitation events have attracted more and more attention, while the relationship between heavy rainfall with different duration and total heavy rainfall has become the hottest scientific frontier issue. Contribution of heavy rainfall with different duration to the total heavy rainfall has significant spatial differences. Here we used daily rainfall data from 1961 to 2015 of 659 meteorological stations in China. When the rainfall is greater than 50 mm in 24 hours, that is a heavy rainfall event. Heavy rainfall only lasting one day is defined as short-duration heavy rainfall, while heavy rainfall lasting more than two days is defined as long-duration heavy rainfall. Results indicated that: on the basis of duration days defined long-duration heavy rainfall, on the spatial distribution, total rainfall, total heavy rainfall and short-duration heavy rainfall showed "increasing -decreasing -increasing" from the southeast coast to northwest inland in China from 1961 to 2015, and on the whole meteorological station with increasing trend predominant. In the meantime, long-duration heavy rainfall showed "increasing -decreasing" spatial pattern, and on the whole meteorological station with decreasing trend predominant. We detected that there was a belt of becoming drought from northeast to southwest. The contribution of total heavy rainfall to total rainfall as well as long-duration heavy rainfall to total heavy rainfall showed "high in southeast - low in northwest" spatial distribution pattern. On the contrary, the contribution of short-duration heavy rainfall to total heavy rainfall showed " low in southeast - high in northwest" spatial distribution pattern. The contribution trend of total heavy rainfall to total rainfall and short-duration heavy rainfall to total heavy rainfall showed " increasing -mosaic with increasing and decreasing -increasing" spatial distribution pattern from northeast to southwest, and on the whole meteorological station with increasing trend predominant. On the contrary, the contribution trend of long-duration heavy rainfall to total heavy rainfall showed mosaic with increasing and increasing in the northeast, slightly decreasing in the southwest, and on the whole meteorological station with decreasing trend predominant. There was a climate transition zone from northeast to southwest, which was essentially coincident with the arid zone. The results suggested that the precipitation in China was changing to extremely accompanied by short-duration storm increased significantly. Chinese heavy rainfall especially the increase of short-duration heavy rainfall suggests that human activity is likely to be triggered an increasing in extreme precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of global climate change and rapid urbanization, climate governance has become one of the unavoidable challenges of human society. Therefore, climate engineering is increasingly mentioned in the international climate negotiations. For solar radiation management with the most controversy in climate engineering method, based on two scenarios of climate engineering (G4) and non climate engineering ( RCP4.5) of BNU-ESM model. 95% and 99% percentiles of daily rainfall data during 2010-2099 were taken as thresholds of heavy rainfall and extreme rainfall events. The data of over threshold sampling (POT) were fitted by Weibull distribution to diagnose the heavy rainfall and extreme rainfall in 10, 20. 50 and 100 years of return period. The results showed that: in two scenarios, strength of heavy rainfall and extreme rainfall enhanced with return period increased, and they showed a southeast high-northwest low spatial characteristics. Climate engineering, in general, contributes to the increase in heavy rainfall and extreme rainfall in China, as well as spatial heterogeneity, which represents the suppression of heavy rainfall and extreme rainfall in parts of the country. This research is of great significance for the future global climate control and regional climate adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on data of hail days at 2 481 stations during 1961 -2016, the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics and periodic variation of gale days in China and seven geographical regions were analyzed by using a variety of statistical methods. The results showed that: in time, the gale days in China and the seven geographical areas all showed a decreasing trend from 1961 to 2016. In the Tibet (Southeast China and Southwest China) region, the annual number of single-station gale days was the most (least), but the decrease ratio was the least (most). In the significance oscillation period, it was 14 years in the whole country, 60 years in Northeastern China, Northern China and east part of Northwestern China, 7, 14 and 60 years in the west of Northwestern China, Southwestern China and Southeastern China, 7 and 60 years in the Tibet region. The mutation of gale days generally occurred in 1991, 1993, 1989, 1997, 1986, 1997, 1992 and 1984 in the whole country. Northeastern China, Northern China, east part of Northwestern China, west part of Northwestern China, Tibet, Southwestern China and Southeastern China, but only the east of Northwestern China and Tibet region passed 0.05 of significance test. In space, the annual average gale days showed the pattern of southeast low and northwest high in China from 1961 to 2016. The annual average gale days were more abundant in the central and western Tibet, the southern Qinghai, eastern Xinjiang, western Sichuan, northern Inner Mongolia and northern Gansu. These regions were dominated by positive anomaly in the 1970s and the 1980s, but negative in other decades. Annual gale days in most regions of China showed a decreasing trend during 1961-2016, and fluctuation presented high in east region and low in west region beside " Hu Huanyong line". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of disasters on the macroeconomy has moved to the centre of sustainable development in a country and regions, as disasters can affect all sectors of society. It is of great practical value for comprehensive disaster reduction and sustainable development to better determine these impacts, analyse different types of disasters and different impact types, and clarify both positive and negative implications for the macroeconomy from the short term to longer term. Disasters have played an especially important role on China's economic development with implications examined in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to validate the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S), an instrument that measures perseverance and passion for long-term goals, among Chinese high school students. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the scale retains the two-factor structure of the original scale. The scale demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Evidence for construct validity was found in relation to the Big Five personality traits, self-control, and IQ. Evidence for criterion validity was found via the observation that grit explained unique variance in academic performance. Together, the Grit-S is a sound measure of grit among Chinese adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Urban drainage pressure (UDP) would increase across China from the 2020s to 2090s. • Northern China would see 30% lager UDP since the 2020s under SSP5–8.5 scenario. • Climate mitigation would reduce UDP in more than half of the cities across China. • Low impact development would reduce UDP particularly in northern China. • Pipe enlargement would postpone the occurrence of dangerous UDP in eastern China. High pressure on urban drainage systems caused by extreme precipitation events would lead to an increase risk of urban floods. Across China, future changes in urban drainage pressure (UDP) and its response to global-scale climate mitigation and local adaptation, have seldom been studied. Here, based on climate projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), we assessed UDP changes from 2020 to 2099 under different scenarios in 285 cities across China. Under the shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) 5–8.5 scenario, 30% larger increase of UDP relative to the baseline level (1985–2014), would occur in 22.80% and 79.65% cities over 2020–2049 and 2050–2099, respectively. Under climate mitigation (SSP2–4.5 scenario), UDP in northern China would decrease by 10–30% over 2020–2049. On this basis, 10% enhancement of underlying surface retention capacity (LID 10% scenario) would reduce UDP by more than 10% particularly in northern and northeastern China (23.51% cities). Pipe enlargement adaptation (Pipe 10% scenario) would benefit UDP mainly in eastern China (46.31% cities), by postponing the first decade with 30% larger pressure relative to the baseline level by 1-3 decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-esteem is a widely studied construct in psychology that is typically measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). However, a series of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have suggested that a simple and widely used unidimensional factor model does not provide an adequate explanation of RSES responses due to method effects. To identify the neural correlates of the method effect, we sought to determine whether and how method effects were associated with the RSES and investigate the neural basis of these effects. Two hundred and eighty Chinese college students (130 males; mean age = 22.64 years) completed the RSES and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Behaviorally, method effects were linked to both positively and negatively worded items in the RSES. Neurally, the right amygdala volume negatively correlated with the negative method factor, while the hippocampal volume positively correlated with the general self-esteem factor in the RSES. The neural dissociation between the general self-esteem factor and negative method factor suggests that there are different neural mechanisms underlying them. The amygdala is involved in modulating negative affectivity; therefore, the current study sheds light on the nature of method effects that are related to self-report with a mix of positively and negatively worded items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of present study was to translate and validate the Social Well-being Scale (SWBS) with a Chinese sample, first developed by (Keyes in Social Psychology Quarterly 61(2):121-140, 1998). We examined the internal consistency, convergent validity and the measurement invariance across gender groups. A total of 630 Chinese individuals were recruited for the present study and they completed the SWBS, Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scales, and Satisfaction With Life Scale. Confirmation factor analysis demonstrated that the original five factor structure-(1) social integration, (2) social acceptance, (3) social actualization, (4) social contribution, and (5) social coherence-of social well-being previously found in Western populations were replicated in this sample. Internal consistency was high in all subscales but self-acceptance subscale and convergent validity with positive affect, negative affect and life satisfaction was found. Evidence of measurement invariance across gender groups was obtained. These findings suggested that the Chinese version of SWBS would be useful for assessing social well-being in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined both the moderator effects of loneliness and gender on the relationship between self-esteem and life satisfaction in Chinese university students. 615 college students completed the measures of loneliness, self-esteem and life satisfaction. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that loneliness moderated the association between self-esteem and life satisfaction. When students reported a low level of loneliness, those with high self-esteem reported higher scores in life satisfaction than those with low self-esteem. However, the high and low self-esteem group had low level of life satisfaction when loneliness was high. Moreover, gender also moderated the link between self-esteem and life satisfaction. Self-esteem tended to be a more significant determinant of life satisfaction in the females than the males. The significance and limitations of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine both the mediating and moderating effects of core self-evaluations on the relationship between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction among Chinese university students. Forth hundred and twenty-four (161 males and 263 females) from two different Chinese universities completed the measures of core self-evaluations, emotional intelligence and life satisfaction. Correlational analysis indicated that emotional intelligence was related to core self-evaluations and life satisfaction, and core self-evaluations were related to life satisfaction. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that core self-evaluations partially mediated the influence of emotional intelligence on life satisfaction. However, core self-evaluations did not act as a moderator of the relationship between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction. The significance and limitations of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined both the mediating and moderating effects of global self-esteem on the relationship between social support and subjective well-being among Chinese university students. Three hundred and ninety-one university students (260 males and 131 females) from two different Chinese universities completed the social support scale, the self-esteem scale and the subjective well-being scale. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that global self-esteem partially mediated the influence of social support on life satisfaction and positive affect, whereas it fully mediated the influence of social support on negative affect. Moreover, global self-esteem moderated the relationship between social support and life satisfaction, and positive affect, but not negative affect. When students reported a high level of global self-esteem, those with high social support reported higher scores in life satisfaction and positive affect than those with low social support. However, there were no differences in life satisfaction or positive affect between groups with high and low social support when global self-esteem was low. The significance and limitations of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined both the mediation effects of loneliness and self-esteem for the relationship between social support and life satisfaction. Three hundred and eighty nine Chinese college students, ranging in age from 17 to 25 (M = 20.39), completed the emotional and social loneliness scale, the self-esteem scale, the satisfaction with life scale and measure of social support. Structural equation modeling showed full mediation effects of loneliness and self-esteem between social support and life satisfaction. The final model also revealed a significant path from social support through loneliness and self-esteem to life satisfaction. Furthermore, a multi-group analysis found that the paths did not differ across sexes. The findings provided the external validity for the full mediation effects of loneliness and self-esteem and valuable evidence for more complicated relations among the variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cretaceous strata, spanning the Berriasian to Maastrichtian, crop out widely in southern Tibet. The sedimentary sequence can be divided into the Gyabula, Chuangde and Zhongzuo formations. The Gyabula Formation, which is Berriasian–Coniacian in age, is composed mainly of black shales characterized by relatively high total organic carbon (TOC) levels and a positive organic carbon isotope excursion near the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary, which can be correlated to oceanic anoxic events (OAE2) or with the so-called Bonarelli Horizon in the western Tethys. The oceanic sediments of the Chuangde Formation are represented by red beds of Santonian–Campanian age, and are characterized by low TOC values, a negative organic carbon isotope excursion, and low nC17/nC27 and nC17/hopane ratios, which indicate that the primary production and burial of organic matter during this period was low. We suggest that the climate at the time was cool and the oceanic water oxygen-rich. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Urban pluvial flooding in China has become one of the major challenges for sustainable development. This paper analyzes the impact of climate change, urbanization, and integrated disaster drivers on urban pluvial flooding hazards, starting from the disaster-causing mechanisms of urban pluvial flooding in China. This paper then analyzes the main features and progress of urban pluvial flooding governance in China. In particular, this paper describes the progress of sponge cities in China. On the basis of the above contents, this paper describes three manifestations of the fragmentation dilemma at the level of governance, namely, fragmentation in value integration due to conflicting management orders and service values, fragmentation in resource and power allocation due to the lack of vertical top-level design and blurred horizontal departmental management boundaries, and fragmentation in policy formulation and implementation due to outdated urban flood control standards and interdepartmental information compartmentalization. In response to the fragmentation dilemma in urban pluvial flooding management in China, this paper introduces the concept of holistic governance and clarifies the path of urban waterlogging management, i.e., forming a collaborative and diversified governance subjects, deeply optimizing the organizational structure of urban waterlogging management, creating a mature information-based governance platform, and improving the legal and rule of law construction model. This paper is informative for understanding the governance of urban pluvial flooding in China from a government-led management level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban rainstorm waterlogging is one of the most important problems in urban development and a comprehensive embodiment of urban diseases. China is facing a severe risk of rainstorm waterlogging disasters, which is affecting sustainable development. Urban rainstorm waterlogging in China is caused by many factors, including natural factors and human factors, such as climate warming, unreasonable urban construction, inadequate upgrading of urban fortification standards, etc. Based on the analysis of the current strategies to deal with urban waterlogging around the world, including an increase in surface infiltration, and a reduction in runoff (and its various impacts), this paper holds that the connotation and goal of these measures are highly consistent with the construction of a sponge city in China. Based on the analysis of the problems, including construction of an urban rainwater recovery system, construction of urban rainwater storage facilities, and construction of data platforms faced by China's sponge city, this paper puts forward the guiding principles of promoting the construction of a sponge city. The guiding principles are to cooperate to deal with climate change and ecological civilization construction, to study the foreign experience, and to unite multiple subjects, integrate multiple elements, design multiple processes, form a joint force, and create an all-round response system to deal with urban rainstorm waterlogging. Then, this paper gives policy recommendations on how to deal with the urban rainstorm waterlogging disasters, which include improving the defense standards, encouraging social participation, popularizing the construction of sponge cities, perfecting the monitoring and early warning system, strengthening the scientific planning of cities, strengthening the ability of dealing with catastrophes in metropolitan areas, the overall planning of cross-regional responses, and enhancing the awareness of decision makers. Finally, this paper expounds the reference significance of urban rainstorm waterlogging control in China to the global audience. This paper explores the significance of comprehensively and scientifically understanding urban rainstorm waterlogging disasters, and provides support for long-term planning and high-quality construction of future safe cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The area exposed to cold stress shrank significantly since 1980 in northeast China. • South China saw a large increase in the area exposed to cold stress over the 2010s. • The centroid of rice exposure to cold stress moved northward in northeast China. • The centroid moved westward in south China over the past decades. Abstract Extreme cold events have always been great threats to the major rice-cultivation areas across China. The spatial pattern of rice exposure to cold stress (ECS) is critical to develop countrywide adaptation strategies. Under climate change, whether and how ECS spatial pattern has changed? These answers are urgently required for adaptation optimization, but regrettably remain unclear. Here, we examined the changes in rice-planted area exposed to cold stress across mainland China, and historical movements of the geographical centroids of rice ECS over 1980–2015. The results showed that in the single rice cultivation of northeast China and the Yunan-Guizhou plateau, the area exposed to cold stress has shrunk significantly and the centroid moved northward since the 1980s. The southern parts of the mid-lower reaches of Yangtze River witnessed a continuous decrease in the area exposed to cold stress from the 1980s to 2000s, but a large expansion over the 2010s. In south China, the areas exposed to cold stress mainly gathered in the northern parts and showed large variations since the 1980s. These two regions dominant by double rice have witnessed westward movements of ECS centroids over the past decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• RWEQ model simulated a significant decrease in wind erosion from 1982 to 2016. • Wind stilling has a significant influence on the decline of soil wind erosion. • Wind stilling might minimize soil degradation in other regions of the world. Wind erosion in arid and semi-arid areas is an important global environmental issue, and changes in wind speed trends over time play a key role in wind erosion dynamics. In a warming climate, scientists have recently observed a widespread decline in wind speed, termed "stilling". Here, we apply the Revised Wind Erosion Equation Model (RWEQ) to simulate the variability of wind erosion and quantify the impact of wind speed changes on soil degradation dynamics over the eastern agro-pastoral transitional zone of Northern China from 1982 to 2016. Our results show that a significant (i.e., p < 0.05) decrease (-0.007 m s−1 year−1) of near-surface wind speed was observed annually, with significant declining trends in spring (-0.010 m s−1 year−1)and autumn (-0.009 m s−1 year−1). At the same time, wind erosion simulations reveal a negative trend for the annual soil loss from wind erosion (-6.20 t hectare-2 year -1, p < 0.05; affecting 99.8% of the study region), with significant declining trends in all seasons, particularly in spring (-3.49 t hectare-2 year−1) and autumn (-1.26 ha-2 year−1). Further, we isolate the effects of wind variability on wind erosion from 1982 to 2016 by the model variable control method. This shows that wind speed variability strongly weakens wind erosion at -8.14 t hectare-2 year -1 (p < 0.05) annually, with the strongest stilling recorded in spring leading to major decreases of wind erosion in spring (-4.77 t hectare-2 year−1, p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the weakest stilling in summer had the opposite influence on wind erosion (+0.40 t hectare-2 year -1, p < 0.10). To summarize, our findings have shown a significant impact of wind stilling on the decline of soil erosion rates in Northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To test whether radiation-induced elevations of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) during radiation therapy (RT) correlate with radiation-induced lung toxicity (RILT) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to evaluate the ability of mean lung dose (MLD) to improve the predictive power. Methods and Materials: Eligible patients included those with Stage I–III NSCLC treated with RT with or without chemotherapy. Platelet-poor plasma was obtained pre-RT and at 4–5 weeks (40–50 Gy) during RT. TGF-β1 was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The primary endpoint was ≥ Grade 2 RILT. Mann-Whitney U test, logistic regression, and chi-square were used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 165 patients were enrolled in this study. The median radiation dose was 60 Gy, and the median MLD was 15.3 Gy. Twenty-nine patients (17.6%) experienced RILT. The incidence of RILT was 46.2% in patients with a TGF-β1 ratio > 1 vs. 7.9% in patients with a TGF-β1 ratio ≤ 1 (p < 0.001), and it was 42.9% if MLD > 20 Gy vs. 17.4% if MLD ≤ 20 Gy (p = 0.024). The incidence was 4.3% in patients with a TGF-β1 ratio ≤ 1 and MLD ≤ 20 Gy, 47.4% in those with a TGF-β1 ratio >1 or MLD > 20 Gy, and 66.7% in those with a TGF-β1 ratio >1 and MLD > 20 Gy (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Radiation-induced elevation of plasma TGF-β1 level during RT is predictive of RILT. The combination of TGF- β1 and MLD may help stratify the patients for their risk of RILT. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the growth of radiation oncology in mainland China during the last 10 years. Methods and Materials: Survey questionnaires were sent to board members of the Chinese Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology on Jan 1, 2006, and collected on Sept 30, 2006. Results were compared with those from 1997. Results: There were 952 registered radiation oncology centers, 5,247 radiation oncologists, 1,181 physicists, 6,864 nurses, 4,559 radiotherapists, and 1,141 engineers, corresponding to 210%, 153%, 279%, 222%, 203%, and 156% growth from 1997. There were 918 linear accelerators, 472 telecobalt units, 146 deep X-ray machines, 827 fluoroscopy simulators, 796 ionization-chamber dosimeters, 400 brachytherapy units, and 851 treatment planning systems, corresponding to 321%, 124%, 82%, 249%, 264%, 142%, and 481% changes from 1997, respectively. In 2006, there were 214 computed tomography simulators, 149 Gamma Knives, and 467 x-knife machines. Approximately 61%, 48%, and 12% of radiation oncology centers performed treatments using three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, Gamma Knife or x-knife, and intensity-modulated radiotherapy, respectively. Conclusion: Radiation oncology has grown remarkably, and advanced techniques have been implemented very quickly in mainland China during last 10 years, but resources are still far less than the recommendation of the World Health Organization for the population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Self-harm seriously endangers adolescents' physical and mental health. However, the longitudinal mechanism of self-harm is not yet clear., Objective: This study explored the inconsistent relationships between two types of emotional maltreatment and self-harm across three waves, regarding depression as a potential mediator and gender as a moderator of these associations., Participants and Setting: A sample of 588 Chinese adolescents (M age at T1 = 12.79 years) in a middle school completed the assessment of demographic information, emotional maltreatment, depression and self-harm within one year., Methods: Path analysis models were created to estimate the relationship of emotional maltreatment with self-harm and the mediating effect of depression. A multi-group analysis was applied to investigate the moderating effect of gender., Results: There existed positive associations between emotional abuse at T1 and self-harm at T2 and T3 (β = 0.12, SE = 0.05, p = 0.006; β = 0.09, SE = 0.05, p = 0.054), and the mediating effect of emotional abuse at T1 on self-harm at T3 via depression at T2 was significant (Indirect effect = 0.05, SE = 0.02, 95 % CI [0.02, 0.08]). Multi-group analysis of gender revealed no significant differences in the cross-lagged pathways, but there were stronger links for girls than boys among self-harm at T1, T2, and T3 (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Emotional abuse but not emotional neglect could significantly predict self-harm. Furthermore, depression played a mediating role in the longitudinal relationship between emotional abuse and self-harm. Girls who had high levels of self-harm at a previous time point were more inclined than boys to harm themselves at a subsequent time point. These findings provide a different perspective to develop effective prevention and intervention measures., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

At the end of 2022, the adjustment of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic control policy in China resulted in a large-scale increase in public infection. To compare the fertility parameters of male patients before and after the adjustments of the COVID-19 pandemic control policy in China, we collected data on patients' medical histories and laboratory examinations on their first visits between June 2022 and March 2023 in five different hospitals. Data were divided into five groups according to the timeline of the policy adjustment. The data we collected from male patients included semen quality and serum reproductive hormone levels, and intergroup comparisons were made using the Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests. In total, 16 784 cases underwent regular semen analysis, 11 180 had sperm morphology assessments, and 7200 had reproductive hormone analyses. The data showed declining trends in semen volume, sperm motility, and the progressive sperm motility rate after the policy adjustment. Subgroup comparison revealed an initial decrease and gradual recovery in progressive motility rate. Sperm morphology analysis showed increased neck and tail abnormalities after the policy adjustment. No significant change in hormone levels was observed. Following the adjustment of the COVID-19 prevention policy in China, a decline in sperm motility and morphology was observed. This trend may gradually recover over 2 months. After the policy adjustment, reproductive hormone levels were relatively stable throughout, except for an increase in luteinizing hormone (LH). These changes in semen parameters suggest that the policy adjustment had a short- to medium-term impact on male reproductive function., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © The Author(s)(2024).)