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Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) is one of the main vegetable crops grown under protected cultivation in northern China. Low-temperature (LT) stress severely inhibits the growth of zucchini seedlings, resulting in reductions in yield and quality. Here, using three kinds of different humic acids, including coal-based humic acid (CHA), fulvic acid (FA), and biochemical humic acid (BHA), we investigated the effects of humic acids against LT stress (5 °C) in zucchini seedlings. Treatment with all three kinds of humic acids improves LT stress tolerance by decreasing oxidative damage through increases in antioxidative enzyme activities and the contents of soluble sugar and proline in zucchini seedlings, especially after BHA application. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that a total of 17 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were commonly induced in the leaves of FA-, CHA-, and BHA-treated zucchini seedlings under LT stress, including calmodulin, ethylene-responsive transcription factors (TFs), peroxidases, and 10 TFs, including two NAC and seven WRKY genes. Altogether, these results indicated that supplementation with humic acids reprograms plant metabolism and modulates the expression of genes involved in ROS scavenging, phytohormone metabolism, or signaling pathways, finally improving LT stress tolerance in zucchini seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People with various skill sets and backgrounds are usually found working on projects and thus, group decision-making (GDM) is one of the most important functions within any project. However, when projects concern healthcare or other critical services for proletariat or general public (especially during COVID19), the importance of GDM can hardly be overstated. Measuring the performance of healthcare construction projects is a critical activity and should be gauged based on the input from a large number of stakeholders. Such problems are usually recognized as large-scale group decision-making (LSGDM). In the current study, we aim to propose a decision support system for measuring the performance of healthcare construction projects against a large number of experts using ordinal data. The study identifies several key indicators from literature and recorded the observations of a large number of experts about these indicators. After that, the acceptable range of complexity is specified, the Silhouette plot is provided to find the optimal number of clusters, and the ordinal K-means method is employed to cluster the experts' opinions. Later, the confidence level is measured using a novel Weighted Kendall's W for the optimal number of the clusters, and the threshold is checked. Finally, the conventional problem is solved using the Group Weighted Ordinal Priority Approach (GWOPA) model in multiple attributes decision making (MADM), and the performance of the projects is determined. The validity of the proposed approach is confirmed through a comparative analysis. Also, a real-world case is solved, and the performance of some healthcare construction projects in China is gauged with a comprehensive sensitivity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For design for safety (DFS), automated compliance checking methods have received extensive attention. Although many research efforts have indicated the potential of BIM and ontology for automated compliance checking, an efficient methodology is still required for the interoperability and semantic representation of data from different sources. Therefore, a natural language processing (NLP)-based semantic framework is proposed in this paper, which implements rules-based automated compliance checking for building information modeling (BIM) at the design stage. Semantic-rich information can be extracted from safety regulations by NLP methods, which were analyzed to generate conceptual classes and individuals of ontology and provide a corpus basis for rule classification. The data on BIM was extracted from Revit to a spreadsheet using the Dynamo tool and then mapped to the ontology using the Cellfie tool. The interoperability of different source data was well improved through the isomorphism of information in the framework of semantic integration, causing data processed by the semantic web rule language to be transformed from safety regulations to achieve the purpose that automated compliance checking is implemented in the design documents. The practicability and scientific feasibility of the proposed framework was verified through a 95.21% recall and a 90.63% precision in compliance checking of a case study in China. Compared with traditional compliance checking methods, the proposed framework had high efficiency, response speed, data interoperability, and interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CLA, IPCC inventory, and Input-Output Model account for CCEs from older population. • Dynamic trend of CCEs of the elderly per person in China is analyzed. • Random effects model is integrated to regression to explore influencing factors. • Mitigation strategies related to elderly CCEs are proposed for different actors. Climate change and population aging are inevitably the two most significant global challenges. Senior population growth in China is accompanied by an increase in consumption-induced carbon emissions (CCEs). The study's contribution of a deeper understanding of the intertemporal relationship between senior characteristics and multi-category CCEs provides the theoretical foundation for the formulation of mitigation strategies. This study utilizes panel data obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) surveys in 2013, 2015, and 2018 to compute the per capita CCEs for elderly adults across eight major consumption categories. It also exposes the dynamic influences of individual characteristics on CCEs by estimating the mixed effects model. Based on the findings, accommodation, transportation and communication, and food comprise the top three categories of CCEs. Furthermore, seniors' consumption preferences have gradually drifted from basic necessities to pleasurable experiences and healthcare services. Notably, seniors' characteristics (e.g., income, health, education, marital status, residential type, and the degree of urbanization) exert distinctively dynamic impacts on each type of CCEs over time. In pursuit of a greener aging society, this study proposes various implementation strategies for mitigating CCEs among different actors (the government, community, manufacturers, and older individuals) in light of the captured intricate mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid aging of the world population, great pressure has been placed on the provision of community-based care in China. This paper aimed to compare the demand and its determinants for various community-based care services among the elderly in the affordable housing community (AHC) and commercial housing community (CHC) of China. Two community-based surveys were conducted separately in the AHC and CHC of Nanjing City, China. In total, 408 valid questionnaires were returned from the Daishan AHC while 8422 valid questionnaires were received from the CHCs. The chi square test indicated that the respondents in the AHC had significantly higher demands for five types of services (the meal-aid service, the cleaning-aid service, the bath-aid service, the rehabilitation therapy service, and the first-aid service) than those in the CHCs of Nanjing. Further, the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test showed that factors influencing the elderly's demands for these services varied across communities. Several policy implications could be obtained to improve the efficiency of community-based care provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Community-based care services refers to the professional services provided at home to the elderly with formally assessed demands. The growth of the elderly population has increased the demand for these services, and this issue is even worse in the affordable housing community (AHC) of China. Understanding of elderly's demands for different types of community-based care services and its determinations would enable the implementation of appropriate incentive schemes to promote utilization of community-based care services in the AHCs of China.Methods: Guided by previous studies, a conceptual framework was developed. Then, a questionnaire was designed and a community based survey was conducted from May 10-20, 2018 in Daishan AHC of Nanjing City, China. Four hundred eight participants from 25,650 elderly people were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Binary logistic regression was applied to the data about the elderly' primary demands for community-based care services in the AHC, to quantify the elderly's demands and explore related individual-level factors.Results: The finding indicates that more than 50% of respondents had the demand for an elderly care hotline, building health archives, on-call nursing and doctor visits, medical lectures, regular medical examinations and sporting fitness. The binary logistic regression models revealed that the primary demands of the elderly for community-based care services were influenced by distinct factors.Conclusions: Our findings help clarify different types of community-based care services and provide fresh information about the demand for community-based care among the elderly in AHCs. Several policy implications are discussed to enhance the efficiency of community-based care service provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the Chinese government at all levels has increasingly embraced Public-Private Partnership (PPP) as their preferred approach to deliver large-scale infrastructure since 2014, residual value risk (RVR) has been ignored in PPP practice. To systematically explore the critical risk factors (CRFs) responsible for measuring RVR in highway PPP projects, this paper proposes and refines a conceptual model composed of two risk dimensions (four risk categories) and 29 indicators through process-based viewpoint. Through literature review and expert interview, a structured questionnaire was developed to collect responses with rich working experience in construction industry or highway PPP projects. The refined measurement model with 21 CRFs was validated through mean value analysis (MVA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) performed by SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0, respectively. The findings indicate that 21 CRFs are significant in influencing RVR of highway PPP projects. Moreover, RVR from system dimension is mainly concentrating on institutional environment, macroeconomy, and relationship aspects, whereas financing in preconstruction, quality in construction, and market demand in operation are the most significant CRFs in nonsystem dimension. Furthermore, there is an accumulative exposure of RVR during the project process, especially in preconstruction and operation. This paper sheds light on the significance of lifecycle management on RVR and provides a practical approach for measuring RVR and implementing sustainable practice in highway or other transportation PPP projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Along with increases in the aging population and the number of elderly facilities, the existing unsustainable patterns of building operations have caused a series of space-related problems such as space waste, increasing operational costs and poor living environment. An effective method to resolve these problems is sustainable space management (SSM), which is a particularly good fit for nonprofit elderly facilities with limited capital budgets. However, one critical barrier to SSM is the lack of a sustainability measurement model in recent studies and practices. To overcome this barrier, this paper first develops a conceptual sustainability framework with five elements, or sustainability dimensions (SDs): facility characteristics, facility management organization, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability and social sustainability. Afterwards, an initial list of indicators evaluating the sustainability of space management is identified through a literature review and interviews with experts. Meanwhile, several hypothesized relationships among the five SDs are proposed based on experience and prior studies. A questionnaire survey to collect raw data regarding stakeholders' views of China's elderly facilities is conducted to identify the significance of these sustainability indicators (SIs). Furthermore, a structural equation modeling analysis comprising confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis is conducted to examine the measurement model as well as the proposed hypotheses. Based on a discussion of the key SIs (KSIs), significant paths for driving sustainability in space management within elderly facilities are proposed. The findings will fill the blind spot that facility managers experience when practicing daily space management to promote sustainability. Highlights • A conceptual model describing five sustainable dimensions (SDs) are developed for space management in elderly facilities. • Sustainability indicators (SIs) underlying SDs for space management in elderly facilities are identified. • Five key sustainable indicators (KSIs) are selected using two-dimension significance analysis. • Relationships among SDs are explored, and the social sustainability dimension occupied the core position. • Paths for influencing the sustainability of space management in elderly facilities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the direct impact of avian influenza outbreaks and the impact of the consequent non‐tariff measures (NTMs) on the international poultry trade. Using monthly export data from China and its 122 poultry importing countries, a random‐effect gravity model has been adopted. Emphasising the agri‐food trade in a global value chain context, the research analysis distinguishes between 'agri‐food goods' (mostly uncooked poultry products) and 'processed goods' (mostly cooked poultry products). The results show that domestic avian influenza outbreaks have a significant negative impact on a country's poultry imports compared with such outbreaks in exporting countries. Moreover, NTMs induced by avian influenza reduce the uncooked poultry trade but temporarily increase the cooked poultry trade. However, with a time‐lag, the cooked poultry trade may soon face increasing NTMs. The results also imply that developing countries that attempt to export agri‐food products to developed countries should increase and enhance processed food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the fragmented nature of the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AECO) industry, building lifecycle management (BLM) involves bringing together multidisciplinary teams and integrating lifecycle processes of buildings. Despite the increasing use of information technologies and software tools by property owners, several barriers in BLM implementations remain, such as information silos, low data interoperability, poor cross-party coordination, and the mismatch of existing commercial solutions and user requirements. To deal with these practical challenges, this study develops a BIM-enabled BLM system for property owners using a semi-custom approach. For this, a three-tier architecture of the BIM-enabled BLM system is designed. Next, the system is developed based on a real-life project in the Grid State of China. This case scenario verifies the system and further confirmed the proposed three-tier architecture. The developed architecture and system have theoretical and practical implications for property owners' BLM implementations. This proposed semi-custom approach provides guidelines for AECO industry digital transformation. • A semi-custom approach was proposed to develop the BIM-enabled BLM system. • A three-tier architecture of the BIM-enabled BLM system is designed and validated. • Resource dependence theory (RDT) and coordination theory (CT) provide theoretical foundations to facilitate information sharing and cross-party coordination in BLM implementations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the proportion of elderly residents living in large-scale affordable housing communities (LAHCs) increases in China, serious problems have become apparent related to the spatial allocation of elderly healthcare facilities (EHFs), e.g., insufficient provision and inaccessibility. To address these issues, this study developed a location allocation model for EHFs to ensure equitable and efficient access to healthcare services for the elderly in LAHCs. Methods: Based on discrete location theory, this paper develops a two-stage optimization model for the spatial allocation of EHFs in LAHCs. In the first stage, the candidate locations of EHFs are specified using geographic information system (GIS) techniques. In the second stage, the optimal location and size of each EHF are determined based on the greedy algorithm (GA). Finally, the proposed two-stage optimization model is tested using the Daishan LAHC in Nanjing, Eastern China. Results: The demand of the elderly for accessibility to EHFs is in line with Nanjing's planning standards. Deep insights into spatial data are revealed by GIS techniques that enable candidate locations of EHFs to be obtained. In addition, the model helps EHF planners achieve equity and efficiency simultaneously. Two optimal locations for EHFs in the Daishan LAHC are identified, which in turn verifies the validity of the model. Conclusions: As a strategy for allocating EHFs, this two-stage model improves the equity and efficiency of access to healthcare services for the elderly by optimizing the potential sites for EHFs. It can also be used to assist policymakers in providing adequate healthcare services for the low-income elderly. Furthermore, the model can be extended to the allocation of other public-service facilities in different countries or regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aralia elata has long been used as a tonic, anticancer and antidiabetic agent in China and Japan, and is widely consumed as food. Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of A. elata has led to the isolation of four new compounds, 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→3)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] echinocystic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (congmuyenoside I, 1), 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] hederagenin 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (congmuyenoside II, 2), 3-O-{[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)]-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→3)-β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl} echinocystic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (congmuyenoside III, 3) and 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl caulophyllogenin 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (congmuyenoside IV, 4), and eight known triterpene saponins (5–12). The structural determination was accomplished with spectroscopic analysis, in particularly 13C NMR, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. In addition, compounds 5–10 were found for the first time in the genus Aralia. Compounds 1–12 were tested for their inhibition of the growth of HL60, A549 and DU145 cancer cells. In addition, compound 8 showed significant cytotoxic activities against HL60, A549 and DU145 cancer cells with IC50 values of 15.62, 11.25 and 7.59μM, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Aralia elata has led to the isolation of four new compounds, 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→3)-β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→3)-β-d-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid (1), 3-O-[β- d -glucopyranosyl (1→3)-β- d -glucopyranosyl (1→3)]-[β- d -glucopyranosyl (1→2)]-β- d -glucopyranosyl hederagenin 28-O-β- d -glucopyranoside (2), 3-O-{[β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→2)]-[β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→3)-β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→3)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl} oleanolic acid 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (3) and 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→2)]-[β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→3)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl caulophyllogenin (4) and two known compounds, 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→3)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl]-echinocystic acid (5) and 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl echinocystic acid (6). The structural determination was accomplished with spectroscopic analysis, in particular 13C-NMR, 2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. Compounds 1–6 were tested for their inhibition of the growth of HL60, A549 and DU145 cancer cells. Compound 1 showed significant cytotoxic activity against HL60 and A549 cancer cells with IC50 values of 6.99μM and 7.93μM respectively. In addition, compounds 5 and 6 showed significant cytotoxic activity against HL60 cancer cells with IC50 values of 5.75μM and 7.51μM, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by high uncertainty and difficulty in prevention and control, has caused significant disasters in human society. In this situation, emergency management of pandemic prevention and control is essential to reduce the pandemic's devastation and rapidly restore economic and social stability. Few studies have focused on a scenario analysis of the entire emergency response process. To fill this research gap, this paper applies a cross impact analysis (CIA) and interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach to analyze emergency scenarios and evaluate the effectiveness of emergency management during the COVID-19 crisis for outbreak prevention and control. First, the model extracts the critical events for COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, including source, process, and resultant events. Subsequently, we generated different emergency management scenarios according to different impact levels and conducted scenario deduction and analysis. A CIA-ISM based scenario modeling approach is applied to COVID-19 emergency management in Nanjing city, China, and the results of the scenario projection are compared with actual situations to prove the validity of the approach. The results show that CIA-ISM based scenario modeling can realize critical event identification, scenario generation, and evolutionary scenario deduction in epidemic prevention and control. This method effectively handles the complexity and uncertainty of epidemic prevention and control and provides insights that can be utilized by emergency managers to achieve effective epidemic prevention and control.

In routine surveillance for avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in the environments of live poultry markets (LPMs), certain samples were positive for AIVs type A while negative for subtypes (e.g., H5, H7, and H9). However, little attention has been paid to these unsubtyped AIVs samples. To reveal the dynamic distribution and molecular characteristics of AIVs, especially the unsubtyped AIVs, we reported and analyzed 1969 samples collected from the water environments of LPMs in Changsha, China, from January 2014 to November 2018. Our results revealed that 1504 (76.38%) samples were positive for AIV type A. Of these samples, the predominant hemagglutinin (HA) subtype was H9, followed by H5 and H7 (P < 0.05). The positive rate of H5 subtype in water environmental samples exhibited seasonality, which reached a peak in each winter-spring season from January 2014 to March 2017. The positive rates of AIVs (including type A, subtype H9, and mixed subtype H5/H7/H9) in non-central-city regions were higher than that in the central-city regions (P < 0.05). Notably, 161 unsubtyped AIVs samples were detected during the routine surveillance. However, subtyping with the commercial kit further identified eight different HA and seven different neuraminidase subtypes. Analyses unraveled that further subtyped AIVs H1, H6, and H11 had only one basic amino acid (R or K) at the cleavage site and residues Q 226 and G 228 at the receptor-binding associated sites. Overall, in addition to H5, H7, and H9 subtypes, we should also pay attention to unsubtyped AIVs samples during the routine surveillance for AIVs in the environments of LPMs., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is a clinical and pathological syndrome with heterogenous manifestation and progression. Complement activation is involved in the disease. However, the clinical significance of C4 deposition in IgAN is obscure., Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted in biopsy-proven IgAN patients. Based on mesangial C4 deposition, patients were divided into two groups. The baseline clinical data and immunopathological phenotypes were compared. The composite endpoint was defined as eGFR decline greater than 50%, doubling of baseline serum creatinine, the occurrence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD)., Results: A total of 642 IgAN patients were recruited, with 41 patients showing mesangial C4 deposition. The mesangial C4 positive group showed lower serum albumin, higher proteinuria, and a higher rate of IgG, IgM, and C1q mesangial deposition. After a median follow-up of 43.18 months, 81 (12.62%) patients achieved the composite endpoint. The multivariate Cox regression models identified glomerular C4 deposition (hazard ratios [HR] = 3.22, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.51-6.87, p  < 0.01), global sclerosis (G1 vs. G0, HR = 1.90, 95%CI = 1.02-3.52, p  = 0.04; G2 vs. G0, HR = 3.72, 95%CI = 1.98-7.00, p  < 0.01), male (HR = 1.80, 95%CI = 1.10-2.97, p  = 0.02), serum creatinine (HR = 1.01, 95%CI = 1.00-1.01, p  < 0.01), triglyceride (HR = 1.17, 95%CI = 1.01-1.35, p  = 0.04), proteinuria (HR = 1.07, 95%CI = 1.01-1.13, p  = 0.02), serum C3 level (HR = 0.05, 95%CI = 0.01-0.25, p  < 0.01), and serum C4 level (HR = 99.59, 95%CI = 8.69-1140.89, p  < 0.01) as independent risk factors for poor renal outcomes., Conclusions: Glomerular mesangial C4 deposition and global sclerosis are independent predictors for poor prognosis in IgAN patients.

BACKGROUND The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 threatens human health, and the mortality rate is higher in patients who develop myocardial damage. However, the possible risk factors for myocardial damage in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are not fully known. METHODS AND RESULTS Critical type patients were selected randomly from 204 confirmed COVID-19 cases occurring in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from February 1, 2020 to February 24, 2020. Univariate analyses were used to compare the 2 groups: the myocardial damage group and the non-myocardial damage group. A total of 82 critical patients with COVID-19 were recruited: 34 with myocardial damage and 48 without myocardial damage. A total of 30 patients died in the myocardial damage group, and 20 died in the non-myocardial damage group. In univariate analysis, the proportion of elderly patients (>70 years old, 70.59% versus 37.50%; P =0.003) and patients with cardiovascular disease (41.18% versus 12.50%; P =0.003) was higher among myocardial damage patients than among non-myocardial damage patients. Multivariate analysis showed that age >70 years old (hazard ratio [HR], 2.44; 95% CI, 1.01-5.40), CRP (C-reactive protein) >100 mg/L (HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 0.94-3.92), lactate dehydrogenase >300 U/L (HR, 2.67; 95% CI, 1.03-6.90), and lactic acid >3 mmol/L (HR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.57-6.75) were independent risk factors for myocardial damage in patients with COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS Old age (>70 years old), CRP >100 mg/L, lactate dehydrogenase >300 U/L, and lactic acid >3 mmol/L are high-risk factors related to myocardial damage in critical patients with COVID-19.

Four new sesquiterpenes (1-2, 6-7), a new pyranone glycoside (10) along with six known compounds, were isolated from the whole plant of Erigeron breviscapus. Their planar structures were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic analyses. Brevisterpene A (1) and brevisterpene B (2) were proved to be a pair of diastereomer followed by mixtures resolution using chiral HPLC. Their absolute configurations were determined by ECD calculation. The relative configuration of brevisnoside B (7) was elucidated by a combined analysis of NOESY spectrum and computation of 13 C NMR chemical shifts, and determination of the absolute configurations of 6 and 7 assisted by optical rotation calculations. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed moderate neuroprotective effects against H 2 O 2 -induced damage in SH-SY5Y cells., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: As the proportion of elderly residents living in large-scale affordable housing communities (LAHCs) increases in China, serious problems have become apparent related to the spatial allocation of elderly healthcare facilities (EHFs), e.g., insufficient provision and inaccessibility. To address these issues, this study developed a location allocation model for EHFs to ensure equitable and efficient access to healthcare services for the elderly in LAHCs., Methods: Based on discrete location theory, this paper develops a two-stage optimization model for the spatial allocation of EHFs in LAHCs. In the first stage, the candidate locations of EHFs are specified using geographic information system (GIS) techniques. In the second stage, the optimal location and size of each EHF are determined based on the greedy algorithm (GA). Finally, the proposed two-stage optimization model is tested using the Daishan LAHC in Nanjing, Eastern China., Results: The demand of the elderly for accessibility to EHFs is in line with Nanjing's planning standards. Deep insights into spatial data are revealed by GIS techniques that enable candidate locations of EHFs to be obtained. In addition, the model helps EHF planners achieve equity and efficiency simultaneously. Two optimal locations for EHFs in the Daishan LAHC are identified, which in turn verifies the validity of the model., Conclusions: As a strategy for allocating EHFs, this two-stage model improves the equity and efficiency of access to healthcare services for the elderly by optimizing the potential sites for EHFs. It can also be used to assist policymakers in providing adequate healthcare services for the low-income elderly. Furthermore, the model can be extended to the allocation of other public-service facilities in different countries or regions.

Space management has been widely examined in commercial facilities, educational facilities, and hospitals but not in China's institutional care facilities. Poor spatial arrangements, such as wasted space, dysfunctionality, and environment mismanagement, are increasing; in turn, the occupancy rate is decreasing due to residential dissatisfaction. To address these problems, this paper's objective is to explore the space management goals (SMGs) in institutional care facilities in China. Systematic literature analysis was adopted to set SMGs' principles, to identify nine theoretical SMGs, and to develop the conceptual model of SMGs for institutional care facilities. A total of 19 intensive interviews were conducted with stakeholders in seven institutional care facilities to collect data for qualitative analysis. The qualitative evidence was analyzed through open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. As a result, six major categories as well as their interrelationships were put forward to visualize the path diagram for exploring SMGs in China's institutional care facilities. Furthermore, seven expected SMGs that were explored from qualitative evidence were confirmed as China's SMGs in institutional care facilities by a validation test. Finally, a gap analysis among theoretical SMGs and China's SMGs provided recommendations for implementing space management in China's institutional care facilities.

Synaptic hypothesis of schizophrenia suggests that alterations of synaptic transmission and neuronal connectivity might be core feature of schizophrenia. STON2 participates in synaptic vesicle protein recognition and neural endocytosis. To explore the association of STON2 with schizophrenia, 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were examined in 768 Chinese Han schizophrenia cases and 1347 Chinese Han controls. The results showed that three SNPs had strong association with schizophrenia, two exonic SNPs (rs2241621: allelic P=0.0005; rs3813535: allelic P=0.0078) and one intronic SNP (rs9323698: allelic P=0.0019). When haplotype analysis performed, two linkage disequilibrium blocks showed significant differences in frequency between cases and controls. Notably, our data displays an over-transmitted functional haplotype C-C (Pro307-Ala851) in schizophrenia cases. Our results suggest STON2 may be a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia.

There have been few studies evaluating depressive symptoms in Chinese patients with schizophrenia. Thus, we planned to compare the diagnostic validity of 4 commonly used assessment scales for depression in schizophrenia in China. The association between different depression scales and between depression scales and negative symptoms were also studied. The study population consisted of 101 inpatients meeting the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia. Depression in the study subjects was defined by the DSM-IV criteria for a major depressive episode. The negative subscale of the PANSS was used to assess the negative symptoms in schizophrenia. The following 4 depression scales were assessed for their diagnostic validity as measures of depressive disorder in schizophrenia: the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), and the depression subscale of the PANSS (PANSS-D). The depression scales were found to be highly intercorrelated with each other. Of the 4 depression scales studied, only CDSS can discriminate between depression and a PANSS negative symptoms subscale score or negative item scores. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the CDSS, HAM-D, MARDS, and PANSS-D were 0.954, 0.881, 0.828, and 0.897, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the CDSS was significantly greater than those of the HAM-D, the MARDS, and the PANSS-D. Our study suggests that the CDSS may provide optimal assessment of depression in patients with schizophrenia.