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With increasing attention being paid to teacher education, various theoretical perspectives have been adopted to study on how pre-service teachers learn to teach. This study employed complexity theory as conceptual framework and examined two pre-service EFL teachers' practicum experiences by qualitative case study and identified three core characteristics of their learning-to-teach: complexity, dynamism and self-organization. It is found that pre-service EFL teacher learning, as a complex system, interacted between and among a network of socio-contextual factors and thus influenced and being influenced during the learning process in a non-linear and complex way. This study made empirical and theoretical contributions to the research field of teacher education and provided implications for university-school collaboration-based teacher education practice.

This study examined whether the five scales of the MUSIC Model of Academic Motivation Inventory produced valid scores when used in university English language courses across four different countries. We surveyed 1,147 students in English language courses in Iran, Mexico, China, and Egypt and analyzed their responses by performing measurement invariance testing using multiple group confirmatory factor analysis. The internal consistency reliability of the five MUSIC Inventory scales was acceptable. The configural, metric, and scalar invariance held across the four countries, providing evidence of construct validity for the five scales. Relationships between the MUSIC Inventory scales and measures of behavioral engagement, disaffection, and achievement provided some evidence of criterion validity, but some inconsistencies with expected relationships were noted. Overall, this study provides validity evidence for using the inventory in English language courses.

As a fundamental subject of medical education, human anatomy plays a critical role in the development of medical science. However, because of multiple factors including cultural conservativism and limited social understanding, China is facing a particularly severe shortage of bodies donated for anatomy education. Zhengzhou University (ZZU) has continued to uphold whole-body dissection as the preferred method for medical students to learn anatomy. For this study, records of registered individuals (who have signed a body donation agreement) and donors (whose bodies have been received) from 2001 to 2020 were collected and analyzed. The aim of this study was to explore the factors influencing the body donation program (BDP) at ZZU, and then reinforce the social understanding for the BDP. The results showed a significant increase in the numbers of both registered individuals and donors since 2015, which is the year the publicity and commemoration in honor of donors were increased. There were no significant differences between the biological male and female sexes in the registered individuals, but the number of male donors (12.85 ± 10.86, per year) was significantly higher than that of female donors (4.75 ± 4.53, per year). The current donor profile at ZZU is male in his 60/70s, while the profile of registered individuals is male or female in their 60s. Strengthening the publicity and commemoration in honor of donors may contribute to the implementation of BDPs.

Writing is a recording process involving complex dynamic behaviours, which is closely connected with authentic contexts. A free authentic context can form a link with students' life experience and their prior knowledge, so that students' deep writing skills can be stimulated. However, in traditional writing activities, the lack of authentic experience is an important reason for students' poor writing achievements and low behavioural engagement. To address this problem, the current study used a spherical video-based virtual reality (SVVR)-supported Chinese composition writing approach, which can provide authentic contexts to support students' deep writing. An SVVR experiential learning model was developed and a quasi-experiment was conducted in a primary school to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. A total of 59 fourth-grade students from China were recruited and were randomly divided into the experimental group, which adopted the SVVR-supported learning approach, and the control group, which adopted the non-SVVR-supported learning approach. The results show that the proposed approach can promote students' transition of learning behavioural engagement from medium to high, as well as the development of deep writing skills. It was found that students learning with the SVVR approach who acquired better deep writing skills tended to demonstrate better writing performance in relation to linguistic expressiveness and creative thinking than the students learning with the non-SVVR approach.

This study explores Tibetan students' L2 and L3 motivational systems and their interactions based on the framework of the L2 Motivational Self-System proposed by Dörnyei. Five hundred fifty-two participants were invited to respond to a questionnaire regarding their Chinese (L2) and English (L3) motivational selves, learning experiences and intended learning efforts. Multiple regression analyses revealed that L2 motivational selves and L2 learning experiences could explain 55% variance of L2 intended learning efforts (ILEs); L3 motivational selves and L3 learning experiences can explain 57% variance of L3 ILEs. Positive as well as negative interferences were also found between their L2 and L3 motivational systems. Positive interferences were found between L2 and L3 ILEs, while L3 ought-to self exerted a negative effect on L2 ILEs; L2 positive learning experiences exerted a negative impact on L3 ILEs. But the positive interferences outweighed the negative ones. The findings hold multiple implications for CSL and EFL education in Tibetan areas.

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which Chinese and Spanish translations of the College Student version of the MUSIC® Model of Academic Motivation Inventory (MUSIC Inventory; Jones, 2012) demonstrate acceptable psychometric properties. We surveyed 300 students at a university in China and 201 students at a university in Colombia using versions of the MUSIC Inventory that were translated into Chinese and Spanish, respectively. To assess the psychometric properties of the inventory, we examined: (a) the internal consistency reliabilities for all of the scales, (b) the fit indices and factor loadings produced from confirmatory factor analysis, and (c) correlations between the MUSIC Inventory scales and behavioral and cognitive engagement. The results provide evidence that the Chinese and Spanish translations of the MUSIC Inventory demonstrate acceptable psychometric properties for use with undergraduate students. Therefore, instructors and researchers can use the translated inventories to assess students' perceptions of the five MUSIC® Model of Motivation components.

Sentiment evolution is a key component of interactions in blended learning. Although interactions have attracted considerable attention in online learning contexts, there is scant research on examining sentiment evolution over different interactions in blended learning environments. Thus, in this study, sentiment evolution at different interaction levels was investigated from the longitudinal data of five learning stages of 38 postgraduate students in a blended learning course. Specifically, text mining techniques were employed to mine the sentiments in different interactions, and then epistemic network analysis (ENA) was used to uncover sentiment changes in the five learning stages of blended learning. The findings suggested that negative sentiments were moderately associated with several other sentiments such as joking, confused, and neutral sentiments in blended learning contexts. Particularly in relation to deep interactions, student sentiments might change from negative to insightful ones. In contrast, the sentiment network built from social-emotion interactions shows stronger connections in joking-positive and joking-negative sentiments than the other two interaction levels. Most notably, the changes of co-occurrence sentiment reveal the three periods in a blended learning process, namely initial, collision and sublimation, and stable periods. The results in this study revealed that students' sentiments evolved from positive to confused/negative to insightful.

Background: The repair of diabetic foot defects (DFD) is a major challenge in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in clinical efficacy of different flap techniques in repairing DFD wounds, and to compare the difference in clinical efficacy of anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTP) in repairing DFD and non-DFD. Methods: This study is a retrospective clinical study of different types of flap reconstruction in patients with DFD admitted to our hospital from January 2010 to December 2021. A total of 40 patients with DFD and 43 patients with non-DFD were included in this study. Detailed preoperative basic information, intraoperative details, postoperative complications and long-term follow-up results were collected. Result: The comorbidities, wound infection and wound duration of DFD group were more serious than those of non-DFD group. In addition, the incidence of complications was higher in DFD group, the wound healing time was longer, the aesthetic evaluation, the functional recovery rate of ankle joint and the sensory recovery effect of flaps were worse. Conclusion: In this study, it is concluded that different flap techniques can obtain better clinical efficacy in repairing DFD wounds. Compared with non-DFD wounds, the postoperative risk of DFD wounds using free ALTP flaps is higher, but the risk can be reduced by reasonable preoperative vascular examination. Free flap can deal with various irregular wounds and provide more options for clinical repair. Level of evidence: III, Case–control study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To cross-culturally adapt the Spinal Cord Injury Pain Instrument (SCIPI) into a simplified Chinese version (SC-SCIPI) and verify reliability and validity in screening for neuropathic pain in SCI patients. Methods: A preliminary validation study was conducted to screen for neuropathic pain after SCI using SCIPI. A total of 130 patients with SCI treated at Shanghai Changhai Hospital were enrolled. Results for internal consistency, reliability and construct validity were compared with those of the Douleur Neuropathique (DN4), Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (LANSS), Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire (NPQ), ID Pain scale and VAS pain scale. Results: The SCIPI was successfully translated into Chinese and expert consensus was reached on final adapted version of SC-SCIPI. For test-retest, SC-SCIPI total score was 2.35 ± 1.75 in first round and 2.35 ± 1.76 in second round. Cronbach α coefficient of SC-SCIPI was 0.909, indicating good internal consistency. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) showed that SC-SCIPI correlated well with LANSS, DN4, NPQ and ID pain; and correlated fairly well with VAS, indicating good construct validity. Conclusion: SC-SCIPI demonstrates excellent internal consistency, reliability and good construct validity in Chinese patients with neuropathic pain, suggesting that SC-SCIPI is applicable in clinical practice to screen patients for neuropathic pain. IMPLICATION FOR REHABILITATION: The Spinal Cord Injury pain Instrument has been cross-culturally adapted into a simplified Chinese version (SC-SCIPI). The SC-SCIPI showed excellent test-retest reliability and good construct validity. The 4-item SC-SCIPI is quite convenient to complete and it might be a useful instrument for routine application in patients with SCI for rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the similarities and differences between three distinct Chinese societies (Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China) regarding the contribution of gender and grade level to school violence, the ranking orders of perpetration and victimization behavior, and the correlates of school nonattendance due to violence. A cross-national random sample of 2,582 junior high school students was obtained. The results of Rasch analyzes revealed that verbal violence is most frequent. Male students are most likely to be aggressive and victimized. Grade-level differences in school violence were shown to be weak or insignificant. School nonattendance is generally associated with being kicked, punched, socially excluded, blackmailed, threatened, or sexually kissed without consent. The results were similar across societies. The findings imply that the contextual differences between Chinese societies may not account for different effects of gender and grade level on school violence, behavioral patterns of school violence, and correlates of school nonattendance.

Objective: Studies have shown that chemokines can stimulate the migration and activation of microglia to cause chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP). However, the involvement of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) as a new chemotactic factor in regulating CPSP and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study is to investigate the role of CXCR2 in the development of CPSP and reveal the underlying mechanism. Material and Methods: A rat model of skin/muscle incision and retraction was established, and treated with or without SB225002 (a selective inhibitor of CXCR2). In addition, the primary microglia cells induced by lipopolysaccharide were applied as an in vitro model for CPSP and treated individually with si-negative control (NC), si-CXCR2, si-CXCR2+Interleukin (IL)-6 (an agonist of the janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)3 signaling pathway), si-CXCR2+IL-6+si-NC, or si-CXCR2+IL-6+si-exchange protein 1 directly activated by cAMP (EPAC1). Results: Results from the database analysis showed that CXCR2 and JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway-related genes, including JAK1, STAT3, and EPAC1, were mainly involved in the development of CPSP. Inhibition of CXCR2 expression not only inhibited the reduction of foot pain threshold in CPSP models but also led to a decreased expression of CXCR2 and the phosphorylation levels of JAK and STAT3 in both animal and cell models. Furthermore, inhibition of EPAC1 expression can hinder the regulatory function of CXCR2. Conclusion: This study indicated that the high expression of CXCR2 activates the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway, enhances EPAC1 activation in microglial cells, and exacerbates CPSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Our study aimed to develop and validate a homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) scoring algorithm in the Chinese breast cancer population. Methods and materials: Ninety-six in-house breast cancer (BC) samples and 6 HRD-positive standard cells were analyzed by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Besides, 122 BCs from the TCGA database were down-sampled to ~ 1X WGS. We constructed an algorithm named AcornHRD for HRD score calculated based on WGS at low coverage as input data to estimate large-scale copy number alteration (LCNA) events on the genome. A clinical cohort of 50 BCs (15 cases carrying BRCA mutation) was used to assess the association between HRD status and anthracyclines-based neoadjuvant treatment outcomes. Results: A 100-kb window was defined as the optimal size using 41 in-house cases and the TCGA dataset. HRD score high threshold was determined as HRD score ≥ 10 using 55 in-house BCs with BRCA mutation to achieve a 95% BRCA-positive agreement rate. Furthermore, the HRD status agreement rate of AcornHRD is 100%, while the ShallowHRD is 60% in standard cells. BRCA mutation was significantly associated with a high HRD score evaluated by AcornHRD and ShallowHRD (p = 0.008 and p = 0.003, respectively) in the TCGA dataset. However, AcornHRD showed a higher positive agreement rate than did the ShallowHRD algorithm (70% vs 60%). In addition, the BRCA-positive agreement rate of AcornHRD was superior to that of ShallowHRD (87% vs 13%) in the clinical cohort. Importantly, the high HRD score assessed by AcornHRD was significantly correlated with a residual cancer burden score of 0 or 1 (RCB0/1). Besides, the HRD-positive group was more likely to respond to anthracycline-based chemotherapy than the HRD-negative group (pCR [OR = 9.5, 95% CI 1.11–81.5, p = 0.040] and RCB0/1 [OR = 10.29, 95% CI 2.02–52.36, p = 0.005]). Conclusion: Using the AcornHRD algorithm evaluation, our analysis demonstrated the high performance of the LCNA genomic signature for HRD detection in breast cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease whose pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated, and vaccination is the only effective method for protecting against rabies virus infection. Most inactivated vaccines are produced using Vero cells, which are African green monkey kidney cells, to achieve large-scale production. However, there is a potential carcinogenic risk due to nonhuman DNA contamination. Thus, replacing Vero cells with human diploid cells may be a safer strategy. In this study, we developed a novel 2BS cell-adapted rabies virus strain and analysed its sequence, virulence and immunogenicity to determine its application potential as a human diploid cell inactivated vaccine. Methods and results: The 2BS cell-adapted rabies virus strain 2aG4-B40 was established by passage for 40 generations and selection of plaques in 2BS cells. RNA sequence analysis revealed that mutations in 2BS cell-adapted strains were not located at key sites that regulate the production of neutralizing antibodies or virulence in the aG strain (GQ412744.1). The gradual increase in virulence (remaining above 7.0 logLD50/ml from the 40th to 55th generation) and antigen further indicated that these mutations may increase the affinity of the adapted strains for human diploid cells. Identification tests revealed that the 2BS cell-adapted virus strain was neutralized by anti-rabies serum, with a neutralization index of 19,952. PrEP and PEP vaccination and the NIH test further indicated that the vaccine prepared with the 2aG4-B40 strain had high neutralizing antibody levels (2.24 to 46.67 IU/ml), immunogenicity (protection index 270) and potency (average 11.6 IU/ml). Conclusions: In this study, a 2BS cell-adapted strain of the 2aG4 rabies virus was obtained by passage for 40 generations. The results of sequencing analysis and titre determination of the adapted strain showed that the mutations in the adaptive process are not located at key sequence regions of the virus, and these mutations may enhance the affinity of the adapted strain for human diploid cells. Moreover, vaccines made from the adapted strain 2aG4-B40 had high potency and immunogenicity and could be an ideal candidate rabies virus strain for inactivated vaccine preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Can exposure to palmitic acid (PA), a common saturated fatty acid, modulate autophagy in both human and mouse trophoblast cells through the regulation of acyl-coenzyme A-binding protein (ACBP)? SUMMARY ANSWER PA exposure before and during pregnancy impairs placental development through mechanisms involving placental autophagy and ACBP expression. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY High-fat diets, including PA, have been implicated in adverse effects on human placental and fetal development. Despite this recognition, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully understood. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cell line HTR-8/SVneo and human trophoblast stem cell (hTSC)-derived EVT (hTSCs-EVT) were exposed to PA or vehicle control for 24 h. Female wild-type C57BL/6 mice were divided into PA and control groups (n = 10 per group) and subjected to a 12-week dietary intervention. Afterward, they were mated with male wild-type C57BL/6 mice and euthanized on Day 14 of gestation. Female ACBPflox/flox mice were also randomly assigned to control and PA-exposed groups (each with 10 mice), undergoing the same dietary intervention and mating with ACBPflox/floxELF5-Cre male mice, followed by euthanasia on Day 14 of gestation. The study assessed the effects of PA on mouse embryonic development and placental autophagy. Additionally, the role of ACBP in the pathogenesis of PA-induced placental toxicity was investigated. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The findings were validated using real-time PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and shRNA knockdown approaches. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Exposure to PA-upregulated ACBP expression in both human HTR-8/SVneo cells and hTSCs-EVT, as well as in mouse placenta. PA exposure also induced autophagic dysfunction in HTR-8/SVneo cells, hTSCs-EVT, and mouse placenta. Through studies on ACBP placental conditional knockout mice and ACBP knockdown human trophoblast cells, it was revealed that reduced ACBP expression led to trophoblast malfunction and affected the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3B-II and P62, thereby impacting embryonic development. Conversely, ACBP knockdown partially mitigated PA-induced impairment of placental trophoblast autophagy, observed both in vitro in human trophoblast cells and in vivo in mice. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Primary EVT cells from early pregnancy are fragile, limiting research use. Maintaining their viability is tough, affecting data reliability. The study lacks depth to explore PA diet cessation effects after 12 weeks. Without follow-up, understanding postdiet impacts on pregnancy stages is incomplete. Placental abnormalities linked to elevated PA diet in embryos lack confirmation due to absence of control groups. Clarifying if issues stem solely from PA exposure is difficult without proper controls. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Consuming a high-fat diet before and during pregnancy may result in complications or challenges in successfully carrying the pregnancy to term. It suggests that such dietary habits can have detrimental effects on the health of both the mother and the developing fetus. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82171664, 82301909) and the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Municipality of China (CSTB2022NS·CQ-LZX0062, cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0749, and cstc2021jcyj-msxmX0236). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: If species fail to track the pace of climate change, areas of suitable habitat and population size are likely to decline, threatening species survivorship. Here, we incorporated multiple measures of environmental change and species‐specific habitat requirements to assess the responses of two closely related primate species to future changes in climate and habitat conversion. Specifically, we tested whether the comparatively wider‐ranging and Endangered François' langur (Trachypithecus francoisi) is better suited to withstand future anthropogenic habitat conversion and climate change than is the more narrowly ranging and critically endangered white‐headed langurs (T. leucocephalus). Location: China. Methods: We used species distribution models (SDMs) models and population viability analyses, and calculated dispersal velocity and biotic velocity, to predict the impact of climate and anthropogenic activity on the distribution and survivorship of two closely related primate species. Results: We found that: (1) by the year 2050, the area of suitable habitat for both primate species is expected to decline by 45% to 47%; (2) the population size of François' langurs is expected to increase to 4000 individuals (129%) and the population size of white‐headed langurs is expected to increase to 1400 individuals (133%); (3) biotic velocity, defined as the minimum migration rate required by a species to track its preferred climatic conditions, was 2.84 and 1.48 km/year for François' langurs and white‐headed langurs, respectively; and (4) dispersal velocity, defined as the distance a species has spread over a given period, was 0.82 km/year for both langur species. Main Conclusions: We demonstrate that despite expected population growth, by the year 2050, habitat contraction and insufficient opportunities for dispersal will likely prevent both primate species from tracking and adjusting to changing climate conditions. Moreover, the more widely ranging species, T. francoisi, was not found to have a survival advantage over the more narrowly ranging species (T. leucocephalus) under future conditions of climate change and continued anthropogenic habitat conversion, resulting in a high risk of extinction for both langur species. The modelling approach used here is robust and can be successfully applied to other threatened animal taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a key role in agroecosystems' carbon cycling. However, the DOM evolutionary signatures and the timing of equilibrium being achieved in dryland inter-planting systems remain unclear. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of DOM dynamics using a three-dimensional fluorescence excitation-emission matrix combined with parallel factor analysis (EEMs-PARAFAC). Methods: DOM contents, different related components accumulation were assessed using clear tillage (CT) as the control, white clover (Trifolium repens L.) of three different ages (4, 8, 12 years), representing a chronosequence, in apple orchards on the Loess Plateau. Results: At a depth of 0–10 cm, DOM concentration decreased with depth and significantly increased with longer inter-planting, and the five fluorescence components contents of soil DOM showed a similar trend. Moreover, the relative abundances of humic-like (C2, C3) was higher than CT, but the protein-like was lower. The ultraviolet–visible spectral and optical indices indicated that DOM mainly originated from mixed sources, and gradually tended towards greater DOM molecular complexity with increasing time since sowing. Microbial biomass nitrogen and soil organic carbon (SOC) were the most important two factors affecting DOM over time, contributing to 87% and 77% of the total variation. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that inter-planting time and soil depth played important roles in determining DOM content and component accumulation. Overall, inter-planting with white clover in orchards can effectively improve the accumulation of macro-molecular humic-like DOM, which probably promotes SOC storage. Long-term experiments are required exploring DOM dynamics and the timing of equilibrium being reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Opalinida comprise ciliated protists that live as intestinal endoparasites in poikilothermic vertebrates. They are classified as one group of colourless Stramenopiles, the Opalinata, along with Proteromonadida (Proteromonas and Karotomorpha). The validity of certain opalinid genera is questionable, and their genetic relationships remain unclear. In this study, we conducted complete ribosomal DNA gene sequencing of nine opalinid species (belonging to Opalina , Protoopalina , Zelleriella , and Cepedea) from China. We compared the primary sequences, secondary structures, and characteristics of short tandem repeats within the expansion segments of the sequences. Additionally, a TimeTree analysis was performed to estimate divergence times. Our findings suggest that opalinids diverged from proteromonads ~250–220 Mya, with Protoopalina being the ancient genus. There is no genetic evidence supporting the differentiation of Cepedea and Bezzenbergeria as distinct genera, and they have been synonymized: Opalina (= Cepedea) and Protoopalina (= Bezzenbergeria); new combinations of species names are listed. Opalinid rDNA sequences exhibit greater length compared with other groups owing to A-T insertions within the expansion segments. These insertions consist of short tandem repeats and appear to be associated with speciation events that led to genus differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yangtze River Basin (YRB), China, experienced record-breaking multiple season droughts in 2022, but also other severe drought events in recent history. This study examined the spatiotemporal characteristics of the 2022 drought in the YRB and compared this event with other extreme drought events in 1951 to 2022 from multiple perspectives, including spatial distribution, temporal evolution, return period, and drought losses. Six other extreme drought events were selected by the severity of water deficiency. The results showed that the return period was more than 1000 years (considering both temperature and precipitation), severer than the six other drought years. And a "whole-basin" drought, which covered nearly the entire region, was evident in the summer and autumn of 2022 compared with other drought years. Although the 2022 drought was much more extreme than other drought years from a natural perspective, the actual crop impacted area ratio was less than those in other drought years. This indicates the importance of drought relief measures. As for the drought attribution in the YRB, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) played a key role in explaining its occurrence, significant at different lag times. These results may help policymakers to comprehensively understand the typical extreme droughts in the YRB and rationally allocate funds for drought relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa is a nutrient‐dense pseudocereal that has garnered global attention for its potential to bolster food security and nutrition. Despite its celebrated status, the detailed nutritional profiles of various quinoa varieties remain poorly understood, which poses a significant barrier to the strategic cultivation and utilization of quinoa's genetic diversity to combat malnutrition. The impetus for this research lies in the urgent need to identify superior quinoa strains that can be tailored to meet specific nutritional requirements and adapt to diverse agro‐ecological zones. Our findings reveal substantial variation in nutrient content across different quinoa varieties, highlighting the variety ZLZX‐8 as a particularly nutrient‐rich strain with the highest levels of protein, fat, essential fatty acids, amino acids, and key minerals such as Mg, K, and Zn. Moreover, ZLZX‐8's exceptional antioxidant capacity suggests it may have additional health benefits beyond its macronutrient profile. In contrast, ZLZX‐7 stands out for its dietary fiber and phenolic content, which are critical for digestive health and disease prevention, respectively. Meanwhile, ZLZX‐5, with its high starch content, could be better suited for energy production in dietary applications. Notably, the study also uncovers a correlation between grain color and nutrient profile, with colored quinoa varieties exhibiting superior fiber, inositol, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity compared to their white counterparts. This work lays the groundwork for an informed selection of quinoa varieties that can enhance dietary quality, support local and global food systems, and contribute to the fight against malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest productivity (FP) depends not only on tree species diversity but also on functional traits, stand structure, and environmental factors; however, causation and relative importance remain controversial. The effects of tree species diversity (species richness), trait community-weighted mean (CWM), forest structure (forest density and maximum DBH), and environmental factors (soil nutrients and elevation) on larch (Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr) forests' productivity were investigated, and the relative importance of each factor in determining productivity was quantified. Our results showed that stand structure and functional traits had significant positive effects on the basal area increment (BAI) of larch stands (p < 0.05) and were more important than tree diversity and environmental factors in explaining BAI variations. The contribution ratio of each influencing factor was as follows: stand structure (59%), functional composition (30%), environmental factors (9%), and species diversity (SD) (2%). The biomass ratio hypothesis was more important than the niche complementarity hypothesis in explaining the relationship between species diversity and productivity. The structural equation model showed that environmental factors did not directly affect the BAI in larch forests but indirectly affected the BAI through tree diversity and stand structure. Therefore, in larch forests with low species richness, it is more important to adjust stand structure to maintain overyielding while also considering the influence of environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learners' interaction with lecture materials has remained underexplored despite the growing body of studies on the use of materials. The current study explored the actions EFL learners employed during the use of lecture materials in tertiary classrooms in China through the lens of a transactional view. This empirical study involved forty-two students in two classes as well as two instructors enrolled in the Comprehensive English Course. Qualitative analysis revealed five levels of learner actions during interactions initiated by lectures: awareness, involvement, intervention, creation, and autonomy. The study further highlighted three factors that significantly influence these actions: learners' intrinsic motivation to participate in classroom interactions, discourse space for participation, and the cultural model of learning. Pedagogical implications for enhancing learner autonomy and contributions during lecture materials use were discussed based on results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Two subspecies of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides, LMB) with different thermal tolerance, northern largemouth bass (NLMB) and Florida largemouth bass (FLMB), were subjected to acute and chronic thermal stress at 33 °C. Then, variations of 12 candidate biomarkers between NLMB and FLMB were analyzed. Compared to NLMB, FLMB exhibited a lower plasma cortisol level and a higher expression of hsp90 under acute thermal stress. Additionally, lower expression of hsp70 in FLMB was observed under chronic thermal stress. The differences in plasma cortisol levels and hsp expression represent variations in thermal tolerance between the two subspecies of LMB, providing valuable information for the identification and breeding of LMB varieties with better thermal tolerance in the future. Affected by the continuously rising temperature, thermal stress leads to a delinked growth rate and resistance to stress in cultured largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides, LMB) in China. Identification of LMB with better thermal resistance will benefit the breeding of new varieties. However, there has been limited reporting on the evaluation to identify LMB with better thermal resistance. LMB consists of the northern LMB (Micropterus salmoides salmoides, NLMB) and the Florida LMB (Micropterus salmoides floridanus, FLMB). Due to their different geographical distributions, it has been suggested that FLMB exhibit better thermal resistance compared to NLMB. In this study, NLMB and FLMB were subjected to thermal stress for 3 h (acute) and 60 d (chronic) at 33 °C, respectively. Subsequently, the variations of 12 candidate biomarkers between NLMB and FLMB were analyzed. Exposure to acute thermal stress significantly increased plasma cortisol, blood glucose, and lactate levels; activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), glucose kinase (GK), pyruvate kinase (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and glucose 6 phosphatase (G6Pase); and the expressions of hsp70 and hsp90 in both NLMB and FLMB (p < 0.05). Compared to NLMB, FLMB exhibited a lower plasma cortisol level and a higher expression of hsp90 under acute thermal stress (p < 0.05). Exposure to chronic thermal stress significantly increased plasma cortisol and blood glucose levels, as well as activities of GK, PK, LDH, and G6Pase, as well as expressions of hsp70 and hsp90 in both NLMB and FLMB (p < 0.05). Additionally, FLMB showed a lower expression of hsp70 compared to NLMB (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results showed that LMB with lower plasma cortisol level and higher expression of hsp90 under acute thermal stress, as well as lower expression of hsp70 under chronic thermal stress were suggested to have better thermal resistance. Our study provides valuable information for identifying and breeding LMB varieties with better thermal resistance in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is to understand and analyze the development history, research hotspots, and research trends in the study of microbial diseases of cultural heritage through bibliometric analyses in order to fill the current gap of no literature review in this research field and to make certain contributions to the research in this field and the protection of cultural heritage. Bibliometric and visual analyses of the literature on cultural heritage microbial diseases in the Web of Science (WoS) core collection were carried out using VOSviewer and R-bibliometrix, choosing the two main literature types of papers and reviews. The emphasis was placed on analyzing and summarizing core research strengths, hotspots, and trends. Six hundred sixty-seven documents (573 articles and 94 reviews) were retrieved. αIn the WoS core collection, the first literature on cultural heritage microbial disease research was published in January 2000, and the annual number of publications from 2000 to 2009 did not exceed one; the annual number of publications from 2010 onwards increased rapidly, and after 2018, the number of publications per year exceeded 60, reaching 94 in 2020, which indicates that cultural heritage microbial disease research is booming. Our research showed that Italy, the USA, and China were the leading research countries, and Univ Milan was the institution with the most publications. International Biodeterioration &Biodegradation was the most published and co-cited journal, and Gu JD was the most prolific author. The research hotspots in the study of microbial diseases of cultural heritage mainly include biological degradation of cultural heritage; identification of diseased microorganisms and disease mechanisms; cultural heritage microbial disease prevention and control methods; monitoring, prevention, and control of diseased microorganisms in indoor air; antibacterial agents, especially essential oils, nanoparticles, and other safe and efficient antibacterial products research and development; and exploration of the mechanisms of biofilm protection of cultural heritage on cultural heritage surfaces. Monitoring and identifying cultural heritage microbial communities, identifying disease mechanisms, and researching safe and efficient bacteriostatic products such as essential oils and nanoparticles will be the main research directions in the field of cultural heritage microbial disease prevention and control in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having a comprehensive understanding of genetic differentiation, responses to environmental change and demographic history is critical for genetic improvement and conservation efforts. Forest trees are an excellent resource for understanding population differentiation and adaptive genetic variation due to their ability to adapt to different climates and environments. Cephalotaxus oliveri is a relict conifer endemic to China. In this study, we generated transcriptome data and identified 17 728 high‐quality single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 18 populations. We found significant negative correlations between expression diversity and nucleotide diversity within and among populations, suggesting that gene expression and nucleotide diversity have a reciprocal relationship when the species adapts to the environment. The analyses of population structure showed that C. oliveri displayed a striking genetic structure with four groups. BayeScEnv and RDA methods detected the signatures of local adaptation, and identified that 738 outlier SNPs were associated with precipitation, temperature and soil conditions across heterogeneous environmental conditions. Approximate Bayesian computation analyses showed that the first and second divergence occurred in the late Miocene (c. 10.075 million years ago [Ma]) and the middle Pleistocene transition (c. 0.815 Ma), respectively. Ecological niche modeling of C. oliveri revealed signs of westward expansion after the last glacial maximum, while it was predicted to experience significant range contractions in future climate change scenarios. Geographical factors and environmental factors in southern China have played a critical role in establishing the current genetic diversity and population structure of C. oliveri. This study provides an important reference for forest resource management and conservation for C. oliveri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xiong'an New Area (XNA) in China is undergoing rapid urbanization due to economic development and population growth. However, the urbanization process can significantly impact the local environment. This study applied a combined method of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) and empirical calculations to quantitatively identify changes in precipitation and wet deposition over XNA and its internal lake, Baiyangdian (BYD), during the summer months of June to September. Five different urbanization scenarios were established by varying the WRF subsurface conditions. By comparing these scenarios with historical observations, it was found that WRF simulations could effectively reproduce the precipitation and temperature changes in the region. This study examined how different levels of urbanization affect precipitation and estimated changes in PM2.5 wet deposition. The study's results indicate that as urbanization increases, it leads to an increase in precipitation and wet deposition in the XNA region. Using the relatively low urbanization level in 1980 as a benchmark for comparison, it was observed that when XNA becomes fully urbanized, the increase in precipitation and wet deposition in the region exceeds 7%. The BYD Lake can have a moderating effect on the environment, absorbing more than 50% of the local precipitation and PM2.5 wet deposition with less than 25% of its area, compared to the XNA interval of the statistics, while the increase in wet deposition in the BYD Lake area is more than 4% after full urbanization in XNA. The findings also emphasize the importance of the need to balance economic growth and environmental protection in urban planning and development. Highlights: A method combining WRF model and wet deposition formula quantified urbanization's impact on precipitation and PM2.5 deposition.Urbanization in Xiong'an New Area (XNA) amplified precipitation, resulting in an elevation of PM2.5 deposition, shedding light on intricate urban‐environment dynamics.Baiyangdian (BYD) Lake, covering just 25% of the area under investigation, absorbs over 50% of the precipitation and PM2.5 deposition.XNA's ongoing urbanization is expected to increase PM2.5 deposition by more than 7% compared to 1980 levels.These findings are crucial for shaping sustainable policies in XNA and similar urbanizing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pricing is a crucial lever for promoting the rational allocation of water resources, which is related to the healthy development of the economy and society. Scientifically and reasonably determining water prices is the core of achieving healthy and orderly development. Currently, the formulation of water prices in China is difficult to unify due to the complex approval mechanism, different formation times of costs, and the lack of a scientific cost-benefit relationship between multiple water sources and multiple users. To promote quality-based supply of water and utilization of recycled water, to achieve high-quality and low-cost water, to play the role of water price mechanisms in the complex configuration of multiple water sources, it is imperative to establish a scientific and reasonable water price equilibrium system for multiple water sources and multiple users. This article starts from the perspective of water price marketization, fully considers the supply and demand conditions of the multi-water source market, the role mechanism of supply and demand subjects and their geographical factors in the multi-water source pricing process. Taking Yiwu City as an example, this article constructs a Stackelberg game model between local governments, water supply enterprises, and water users respectively in the leading position, and compares and analyzes the equilibrium prices and benefits of the three subjects under different conditions. The results show that under the condition that water users dominate, the price of multi-water sources is the lowest, and under the condition that water supply enterprises dominate, the overall benefits are the highest, and the price system obtained is as follows: the price of water from water storage--resident users is 5.63 CNY/m³; the price of water from water storage--non-resident users is 6.20 CNY /m³; the price of water from water storage--special users is 6.21 CNY /m³; the price of river water --non-resident users is 3.34 CNY /m³; the price of recycled water--resident users is 2.95 CNY /m³, and the price of recycled water--non-resident users is 3.06 CNY/m³. This pricing system can achieve the balance of reasonable profits for water supply enterprises, reasonable payments for water users, and rational allocation of water resources, providing theoretical support for the marketization of water pricing and providing reference for further research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, Dolichandrone spathacea is a rare and endangered semi-mangrove plant species with an extremely small population, naturally distributed only in Zhanjiang City and the east coast of Hainan Island. Despite conservation concerns, the population status of D. spathacea has received little scientific attention. In this study, we evaluated the current status of D. spathacea on Hainan Island, China, in order to propose sustainable conservation strategies for future ecological restoration of its natural population. D. spathacea on Hainan Island can be divided into four populations. All the D. spathacea populations present a state of overall dispersion, local concentration, and occasionally sporadic existence, and they exist in geographical isolation. The young, middle, and old D. spathacea plants account for 20.42%, 66.20%, and 13.38%, respectively, indicating that the D. spathacea population on Hainan Island is declining. Furthermore, instead of temporal structure, we used diameter at breast height (DBH) to establish a static life table, draw a population survival curve, and quantify the future development trend through population dynamic analysis and time-series prediction. These results suggest that the D. spathacea population in the Bamen Gulf (Wenchang) and Qingmei Harbor (Sanya) on Hainan Island is sensitive to external disturbances and possesses two main increases in mortality rate—namely, in its juvenile and mature stages—due to competition and anthropogenic interferences, which might be the most important reasons for its endangered status. Depending on the current conditions of the D. spathacea population, we should conserve and expand mature trees in situ, preserve their germplasm resources, rehabilitate their habitats to promote provenance restoration, and conduct artificial cultivation and spreading planting in order to realize the sustainable conservation and management of D. spathacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Debris flow hazards seriously threaten the safety and sustainable development of mountainous areas. Numerous debris flow mitigation measures have been implemented worldwide; however, a comprehensive assessment of the specific disaster reduction effects of these measures and their economic, social and ecological benefits is yet to be performed. The western region of Sichuan Province frequently suffers from geohazards such as debris flow, and the government has adopted many mitigation measures. This study assessed the benefits of debris flow mitigation measures and identified the key influencing factors via a field-based study conducted in 81 villages in western Sichuan province, China. A framework for the evaluation of the benefits of rural debris flow mitigation measures was constructed and quantitatively evaluated using a survey. Snowball sampling was performed to recruit 81 village leaders and 468 farmers. The results showed that management and engineering measures were the main methods used to mitigate debris flow; ecological measures were auxiliary. The average satisfaction scores of farmers for these three types of measures were 4.07, 3.90, and 3.56, respectively (as measured on a five-point Likert scale). In contrast, in terms of the benefits of these mitigation measures, only a small proportion of villages (11.11%) obtained a high level of comprehensive benefits from the debris flow mitigation measures, while the majority (88.89%) received medium to low-level benefits. To improve this situation, we further studied and found that the main factors that restricted villages from achieving high-level comprehensive benefits were the unpredictable nature of debris flows, labour force outflow and remoteness. Effective control measures, a good economic environment and strong government assistance were reported as crucial factors for improving these comprehensive benefits. This study provides socio-scientific references for decision-making on rural debris flow mitigation measures while keeping villages at the centre of economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing mixed‐species plantations has become the most promising planting method to provide various goods and improve multiple environmental services. Although mixed planting has the potential to increase tree biomass, the divergent findings make it challenging to understand the mixing effects on whole forest (trees, shrubs, herbs, and litter) biomass. Therefore, we conducted a meta‐analysis compiling 156 studies published from 1982 to 2021 across 128 sites in China. We aimed to quantify the mixing effects on forest biomass between mixed plantations and monocultures and disentangle the driving factors. Our results showed that mixed planting significantly increased the total biomass, biomass of tree, and shrub layer by 14.07%, 22.49%, and 34.84%, respectively, when compared with monocultures. The effects of mixed planting on biomass were more pronounced in plantations with both nitrogen‐fixing trees and non‐nitrogen‐fixing trees, plantations with both coniferous and broad‐leaved trees, as well as uneven‐aged plantations containing young‐ and middle‐aged species. Furthermore, our results demonstrated the effects of mixed planting were predominantly governed by climatic conditions and woodland characteristics. The effect size of total biomass exhibited a significant positive correlation with mean annual temperature and precipitation, while the shrub and herb layers showed a significant negative relationship with these climatic variables. Our findings highlighted the importance of complementarity effects in mixed plantations, especially establishing uneven‐aged plantations with different leaf morphology types and N acquisition strategies. Overall, our meta‐analysis could provide strategies for future sustainable ecosystem management and improving the terrestrial carbon sink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in structural and functional damage to the spinal cord, which may lead to loss of limb movement and sensation, loss of bowel and bladder control, and other complications. Previous studies have revealed the critical influence of trans-acting transcription factor 1 (SP1) in neurological pathologies, however, its role and mechanism in SCI have not been fully studied. Methods: The study was performed using mouse microglia BV2 stimulated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and male adult mice subjected to spinal hitting. Western blotting was performed to detect protein expression of SP1, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 2B (HTR2B), BCL2-associated x protein (Bax), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), clusters of differentiation 86 (CD86), Arginase 1 (Arg-1) and clusters of differentiation 206 (CD206). Cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed by MTT assay and TUNEL assay. mRNA levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-β (TNF-β) were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The association of SP1 and HTR2B was identified by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. HE staining assay was performed to analyze the pathological conditions of spinal cord tissues. Results: LPS treatment induced cell apoptosis and inhibited microglia polarization from M1 to M2 phenotype, accompanied by an increase of Bax protein expression and a decrease of Bcl-2 protein expression, however, these effects were relieved after SP1 silencing. Mechanism assays revealed that SP1 transcriptionally activated HTR2B in BV2 cells, and HTR2B knockdown rescued LPS-induced effects on BV2 cell apoptosis and microglial M1/M2 polarization. Moreover, SP1 absence inhibited BV2 cell apoptosis and promoted microglia polarization from M1 to M2 phenotype by decreasing HTR2B expression. SCI mouse model assay further showed that SP1 downregulation could attenuate spinal hitting-induced promoting effects on cell apoptosis of spinal cord tissues and microglial M1 polarization. Conclusion: SP1 transcriptionally activated HTR2B to aggravate traumatic SCI by shifting microglial M1/M2 polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The prognostic value of the variables were evaluated in 418 postoperative oral cancer patients with oral cancer in southwest China between January 2013 and December 2020. Nomogram was developed based on the study, and its predictive performance and clinical utility were evaluated. Results: The univariate analysis showed gender, preoperative fibrinogen, preoperative platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and preoperative neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, flap repair of defect, functional neck dissection (FND), tumor differentiation, tumor, node, metastasis stage, lymph node metastasis, the maximum tumor diameter, and postoperative radiotherapy had a significant influence on the survival of patients with oral cancer in southwest China (p < 0.05).The multivariate analysis showed preoperative PLR value, FND, and tumor differentiation had significant influence on the prediction of survival (p < 0.05). However, smoking and drinking are not prognostic risk factors for oral cancer. The discriminant analysis showed 66.3% of the patients could be correctly predicted for postoperative survival, while both the C‐index and decision curve analysis (DCA) showed this study may be taken as a reference for predicting the postoperative survival of patients with oral cancer. Conclusion: Preoperative PLR, FND, and tumor differentiation are independent prognostic factors for patients with oral cancer in southwest China. The results of this study have been visualized using a nomogram and a DCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jiangchuan Biota from the Jiucheng Member (Mb.) of the Dengying Formation (Fm.), discovered in Jiangchuan, eastern Yunnan, China, is marked by copious macrofossils at the apex of the Ediacaran strata. This fauna features benthic algae with varied holdfasts and other fossils of indeterminate taxonomic affinity and is compositionally unique compared to the Shibantan and Gaojiashan biotas of the Dengying Fm. and the Miaohe and Wenghui biotas of the Doushantuo Fm., elsewhere in China. One novel benthic saccular macroalgal fossil, named here Houjiashania yuxiensis gen. and sp. nov., from the Jiangchuan Biota is based on fossils that are sausage‐shaped, elongate, tubular, ranging from 0.3 to 4 cm in length, and up to 0.8 cm in diameter. One terminus is blunt and rounded to an obtuse angle, the other is bent with a spread‐out surface resembling a holdfast, suggesting a three‐dimensional thallus. Thin, stipe‐shaped outgrowths, likely vestiges of sessile saccular life forms, are prevalent in macroalgal fossils of analogous size and shape, as well as present brown algae Scytosiphonaceae, such as Colpomenia and Dactylosiphon. The new findings augment the diversity of benthic algae, such as those known from the Early Neoproterozoic Longfengshan Biota in North China. The benthic algal macrofossils in the Jiucheng Mb. add to knowledge of Late Ediacaran metaphyte diversification and offer more clues about the evolutionary positioning of primitive macroalgae. The co‐occurrence of numerous planktonic and benthic multicellular algae and planktonic microbes might have facilitated ecologically the more extensive later Cambrian explosion evidenced by the Chengjiang Biota in Yunnan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate microsatellite instability (MSI) testing is essential for identifying gastric cancer (GC) patients eligible for immunotherapy. We aimed to develop and validate a CT-based radiomics signature to predict MSI and immunotherapy outcomes in GC. Methods: This retrospective multicohort study included a total of 457 GC patients from two independent medical centers in China and The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) databases. The primary cohort (n = 201, center 1, 2017–2022), was used for signature development via Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and logistic regression analysis. Two independent immunotherapy cohorts, one from center 1 (n = 184, 2018–2021) and another from center 2 (n = 43, 2020–2021), were utilized to assess the signature's association with immunotherapy response and survival. Diagnostic efficiency was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and survival outcomes were analyzed via the Kaplan-Meier method. The TCIA cohort (n = 29) was included to evaluate the immune infiltration landscape of the radiomics signature subgroups using both CT images and mRNA sequencing data. Results: Nine radiomics features were identified for signature development, exhibiting excellent discriminative performance in both the training (AUC: 0.851, 95%CI: 0.782, 0.919) and validation cohorts (AUC: 0.816, 95%CI: 0.706, 0.926). The radscore, calculated using the signature, demonstrated strong predictive abilities for objective response in immunotherapy cohorts (AUC: 0.734, 95%CI: 0.662, 0.806; AUC: 0.724, 95%CI: 0.572, 0.877). Additionally, the radscore showed a significant association with PFS and OS, with GC patients with a low radscore experiencing a significant survival benefit from immunotherapy. Immune infiltration analysis revealed significantly higher levels of CD8 + T cells, activated CD4 + B cells, and TNFRSF18 expression in the low radscore group, while the high radscore group exhibited higher levels of T cells regulatory and HHLA2 expression. Conclusion: This study developed a robust radiomics signature with the potential to serve as a non-invasive biomarker for GC's MSI status and immunotherapy response, demonstrating notable links to post-immunotherapy PFS and OS. Additionally, distinct immune profiles were observed between low and high radscore groups, highlighting their potential clinical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: It is unclear whether intervention effects on school-aged children's physical activity differ across specific periods of the week or day. This study aimed to assess the time-specific intervention effects on accelerometer-measured physical activity in primary school children. Subject and methods: This was a nested study in a cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted from September 2018 to June 2019 in Beijing, China. The intervention group included four schools (119 children) and the control group included four schools (99 children). The obesity prevention intervention engaged schools and families to improve children's physical activity. Outcome measures included accelerometer-assessed intensity and amounts of physical activity within specific periods of a week (weekday/weekend day) or a day (in-school/out-of-school periods). Linear mixed models were used to estimate intervention effects. Results: The intervention led to an increase in time engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) within in-school periods of a day (adjusted mean difference 0.54 minutes/hour; 95% confidence interval 0.13, 0.94, P = 0.012) but it did not improve physical activity within out-of-school periods (P > 0.05) compared with the control group. There was no evidence of difference across sex, body mass index, physical activity, and accelerometer compliance. No intervention effects were observed in physical activity within the whole weekday or weekend day (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The intervention effectively increased MVPA within in-school periods but did not improve out-of-school physical activity. Findings support the tailoring of intervention components to specific periods of a day to improve school-aged children's whole pattern of physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the advantages of the steel fiber reinforced concrete pavement structure, which includes high strength, high stiffness, and high stability, a large number of steel fiber concrete pavements will be used for highway construction in China. As a result, numerous cracks develop, which significantly reduces the life of the road; therefore, the study of the jointing problem is vital. As concrete research on the influence of the load transfer capacity and service life of prefabricated steel fiber reinforced concrete joints on the structural design and use function of the whole and pavement panels, the paper proposes two joint forms, tongue-and-groove and overlap. Using experiments and software, the stress and reflection of prefabricated road panels of the two joint forms are analyzed for different axial loads. The analysis reveals that the maximum tensile stress, shear stress, and deflection of the precast panels of both joint forms increase linearly as the axle load of the vehicle increases, while the service life decreases relatively. The load transfer capacity is independent of the axle load magnitude, and the load transfer capacity difference between the two types of joints is minimal and excellent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperuricemia is a prevalent metabolic disorder that arises from abnormal purine metabolism and reduced excretion of uric acid (UA). The gut microbiota plays a significant role in the biosynthesis and excretion of UA. Probiotics capable of purine degradation possess the potential to prevent hyperuricemia. Our study aimed to screen probiotics in areas with abundant dairy products and longevity populations in China, which could attenuate the level of UA and explore the underlying mechanism. In this study, twenty-three lactic acid bacteria isolated from healthy Chinese infant feces and traditional fermented foods such as hurood and lump milk were evaluated for the ability to tolerance acid, bile, artificial gastric juice, and artificial intestinal juice to determine the potential of the candidate strains as probiotics. Eight strains were identified as possessing superior tolerance to simulated intestinal conditions and were further analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), revealing that Limosilactobacillus reuteri HCS02-001 (Lact-1) and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei HCS17-040 (Lact-2) possess the most potent ability to degrade purine nucleosides. The effect of Lact-1 and Lact-2 on hyperuricemia was evaluated by intervening with them in the potassium oxonate and adenine-induced hyperuricemia Balb/c mice model in vivo. Our results showed that the level of serum UA in hyperuricemic mice can be efficiently reduced via the oral administration of Lact-1 (p < 0.05). It significantly inhibited the levels of liver inflammatory cytokines and hepatic xanthine oxidase through a TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway across the gut–liver axis. Furthermore, UA transporters ABCG2 and SLC2A9 were substantially upregulated by the intervention of this probiotic. Fecal ATP levels were significantly induced, while fecal xanthine dehydrogenase and allantoinase levels were increased following probiotics. RNA sequencing of HT-29 cells line treated with Lact-1 and its metabolites demonstrated significant regulation of pathways related to hyperuricemia. In summary, these findings demonstrate that Limosilactobacillus reuteri HCS02-001 possesses a capacity to ameliorate hyperuricemia by inhibiting UA biosynthesis via enhancing gastrointestinal barrier functions and promoting UA removal through the upregulation of urate transporters, thereby providing a basis for the probiotic formulation by targeting the gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The data of the prognostic role of V‐Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) mutations in early‐stage lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the proportion, clinicopathological features, and prognostic significance of patients with stage I LUAD carrying BRAF mutations. Methods: We collected 431 patients with pathological stage I LUAD from cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics and 1604 LUAD patients tested for BRAF V600E and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations from Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. Survival curves were drawn by the Kaplan–Meier method and compared by log‐rank test. Cox proportional hazard models, propensity‐score matching (PSM), and overlap weighting (OW) were performed in this study. The primary endpoint was recurrence‐free survival (RFS). Results: The proportion of BRAF mutations was estimated at 5.6% in a Caucasian cohort. BRAF V600E mutations were detected in six (1.4%) patients in Caucasian populations and 16 (1.0%) patients in Chinese populations. Two BRAF V600E‐mutant patients were detected to have concurrent EGFR mutations, one for 19‐del and one for L858R. For pathological stage I LUAD patients, BRAF mutations were not significantly associated with worse RFS than wild‐type BRAF patients (HR = 1.111; p = 0.885). After PSM and OW, similar results were presented (HR = 1.352; p = 0.742 and HR = 1.246; p = 0.764, respectively). BRAF V600E mutation status also lacked predictive significance for RFS (HR, 1.844; p = 0.226; HR = 1.144; p = 0.831 and HR = 1.466; p = 0.450, respectively). Conclusions: In this study, we demonstrated that BRAF status may not be capable of predicting prognosis in stage I LUAD patients. There is a need for more data to validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an ongoing debate about the type or scale of agriculture that should be most encouraged. This study explores the differences in livelihood levels and outcomes between new agricultural business entities (NABEs) and traditional small households. We applied the analytical tools of a sustainable livelihood framework and a multiple linear regression model to describe the determinants of livelihood outcomes of 105 NABEs and 119 traditional small households in two typical areas around the Sichuan Basin in China. The results show that the overall livelihood level of NABEs is 1.40 times higher than traditional small households. NABEs with a mixed livelihood strategy of both planting and breeding have the highest livelihood level, followed by planting NABEs and breeding NABEs. About 3.13% of all agricultural entities are at risk of falling into poverty; the greater risk levels are associated with the subsidized households (30.00%), pure farmers (12.50%), and part-time farming households (1.69%). NABEs in the study area are verified to use 2.06 times more pesticide and herbicide inputs compared to traditional small households. Education level, technical training, financial accessibility, and the connection with professional cooperatives are common factors influencing the livelihood levels of the two groups of agricultural entities. Livelihood levels of NABEs are also significantly influenced by the age of NABE leaders, planting area per capita, and agricultural insurance. Based on these results, the study proposes policy interventions that are most appropriate for achieving higher livelihood levels among both NABEs and small households. Although the mixed type of NABEs and non-farming households are recognized as being better agricultural entity types for poverty alleviation, we recommend a balance between fostering NABEs and maintaining traditional small households; guidance related to green agriculture production for NABEs is also urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study establishes a comprehensive suite of sanction indices and employs the time-varying vector autoregressive dynamic spillover index (TVP-VAR-DY) model, to examine the spillover effects of EU economic sanctions against Russia on oil prices and share prices of third-country energy companies, as well as takes China and the USA as examples for analysis. The findings indicate that sanctions targeting the energy sector are the primary drivers of volatility in oil prices and energy company stock prices. The impact on Chinese energy firms' stock prices is more pronounced, while the effects on their American counterparts are more enduring. The indirect impact of EU sanctions on Russia on China is greater than that of the USA. Both direct and indirect sanctions exhibit comparable spillover effects on oil and stock prices. Direct sanctions have better explanatory power for stock price fluctuations, while indirect sanctions have better explanatory power for oil price fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Writing is a fundamental skill linked closely with academic achievement, day‐to‐day communication, formal negotiations, and more. However, due to their lack of contextual experience, learning to write has been a demanding and complex cognitive process for most learners. As a result, learners struggle to exhibit positive learning behaviours and cognitive engagement in writing, let alone embrace deep and autonomous learning. To solve these problems, in the present study, a spherical video‐based virtual reality (SVVR) learning environment is developed to provide students with a contextual learning experience. Moreover, a peer feedback strategy is used to guide students in deep learning in writing. A quasi‐experimental study was conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. A total of 79 students from one primary school in southeast China were recruited. The students were assigned to either the experimental group (EG) exposed to the peer‐feedback‐based SVVR (PF‐SVVR) approach or the control group (CG) exposed to the conventional SVVR (C‐SVVR) approach. The results show that PF‐SVVR had more positive effects than C‐SVVR in terms of students' writing performance, cognitive engagement and autonomous learning tendency. In addition, the PF‐SVVR approach was found to be more beneficial for triggering deep learning in writing than the C‐SVVR approach. This study further found that students in the PF‐SVVR group tended to exhibit less disorderly behaviours than those in the C‐SVVR group. Our study contributes to the prior literature by exploring the educational potential of the PF approach in the context of SVVR‐enabled writing learning. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Peer feedback approach provides opportunities for writing learners to regulate their longer‐term cognitive and behavioural competencies.Spherical video‐based virtual reality (SVVR) not only provides an authentic experiential learning context for learners, but it also significantly reduces the cost and the need for the high‐tech capabilities of traditional VR.What this paper adds A peer feedback‐based SVVR approach is proposed to promote students in learning to write.It was found that students' quality of learning to write can be improved by applying the PF‐SVVR approach in writing courses.Implications for practice and/or policy It is worth promoting the application of the peer feedback strategy and SVVR in school settings.The PF‐SVVR approach is useful for promoting young writing learners' cognitive engagement, autonomous learning tendency and deep learning.Further investigations on the effects of employing the PF‐SVVR approach in writing, with anonymous strategies in the process of giving or receiving peer feedback, are expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weeds interfere with agricultural production activities worldwide and have a very serious impact on agriculture and animal husbandry. Identifying a safe and reliable weed control strategy may increase the yield and production net income, and improve crop quality. Licorice is one of the most popular traditional Chinese herbal medicines and has been used for over 2000 years in China. Liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid are crucial active ingredients. A field experiment was carried out to explore the effects of weeding frequency on the yield and quality of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch in an arid and semi-arid area of northwest China. The experiment consisted of seven treatments: (1) no weeding, marked as WF0, and (2)–(7) artificial weeding using a hoe once every 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after emergence, marked as WF1, WF2, WF4, WF6, WF8 and WF10, respectively. We found that a higher weeding frequency resulted in greater plant height, photosynthesis, yield and quality. The highest yield was obtained when the WF1 treatment was applied, while the cost of weeding was high among all treatments. The concentrations of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid were increased by 53.24% and 36.57%, with the highest nitrogen metabolism enzymatic activities and quality observed when the WF4 treatment was applied. The WF4 treatment resulted in the largest increase in the net income among all treatments in both growing seasons, with respective increases of up to 71.39% and 78.81%. These findings suggest that weeding once every four weeks could be an effective and sustainable measure to control weeds in an arid and semi-arid area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts an empirical investigation into the decarbonization effects of urban polycentric structures, exploring their mechanisms and varied influences. Our findings reveal key insights. First, urban polycentric structures effectively reduce carbon emission intensity, a conclusion supported by robust tests and endogeneity analysis. Second, our analysis shows that polycentric structures significantly alleviate downtown overcrowding, reducing carbon emission intensity. These structures also impact carbon emissions through factors like labor allocation across industries and the entry of high-productivity enterprises. Third, our analysis shows that the impact of the polycentric structure on carbon emission intensity follows a 'U-shaped' pattern. In this 'U-shaped' pattern, the growth of an urban population scale can offset the potential negative impacts of this structure. Finally, government support, urban transportation networks, and communication technologies are crucial in enhancing the effectiveness of polycentric decarbonization. Our research contributes to the literature on polycentric structures and carbon emissions and offers policy implications for addressing climate change, applicable not only to China but also to other economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a prospective, observational cohort study during the post–"dynamic COVID-zero" wave in China, we estimated short-term relative effectiveness against Omicron BA.5 infection of inhaled aerosolized adenovirus type 5–vectored ancestral strain coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine as a second booster dose approximately 1 year after homologous boosted primary series of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine compared with no second booster. Participants reported nucleic acid or antigen test results weekly until they tested positive or completed predesignated follow-up. After excluding participants infected <14 days after study entry, relative effectiveness among the 6576 participants was 61% in 18- to 59-year-olds and 38% in ≥60-year-olds and was sustained for 12 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The full design of a liquid neutron reflectometer for China spallation neutron source is reported. The horizontal sample geometry enables studies on both solid and liquid samples. A neutron beam with a wavelength range from 1 to 10 Å and neutron flux intensity of 4 × 107 n/cm2/s was optimized for the classical specular reflection. A multi-blade detector with high detection efficiency and a high neutron counting rate was used to ensure the performance of neutron detection. Data acquisition and reduction routines were demonstrated to confirm the reliability of the measurements. The design and algorithms developed in this study pave the way for the future construction of liquid reflectometry for high-performance neutron scattering measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gussasphalt mixture has excellent water tightness, coordinated deformation ability and durability, while the epoxy asphalt mixture has extremely outstanding strength and heavy load on high temperature resistance. In order to realize the integration of the advantages of the two mixtures, the epoxy gussas-phalt mixture is proposed. The mechanical properties and 170 °C viscosity tests of epoxy resin and hot mixed epoxy asphalt from three sources were carried out; based on the mix proportion design of hot mixed epoxy gussasphalt mixture, the fluidity, Marshall, penetration, rutting, bending and fatigue performance tests of the mixture with mixing time of 45 min and 135 min were carried out. The results show that the mechanical properties of the three epoxy resins and the hot mixed epoxy asphalt are basically the same, and the viscosity is up to 1 Pa ⋅ s at 170 °C for more than 3 h; the performance of mixture attenuates greatly with the increase of mixing time; the type of epoxy asphalt has no significant effect on the performance indexes except flow value and ultimate flexural strain. When mixing for 45 min, the performance of XB epoxy gussasphalt mixture is the best, the fluidity is less than 5 s, and the constructability fluidity maintenance time is more than 135 min. The Marshall stability exceeds 48 kN, the rutting dynamic stability reaches 18 945 times/mm, the penetration increment is only 0.1 mm, and the ultimate flexural strain at - 10 °C exceeds 3 000 µε. The impact toughness of fatigue performance index reached 3 517 N ⋅ mm, and its performance was far higher than that of conventional gussasphalt mixture, and many indexes were also higher than that of epoxy asphalt mixture, and the cost is also relatively low. The hot mixed epoxy gussasphalt mixture has the advantages of both the gussasphalt mixture and the hot mixed epoxy asphalt, which can effectively improve the high-temperature strength of the gussasphalt mixture, and is of great significance to improve the quality and durability of steel bridge pavement in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activity and climate change affect biodiversity and cause species range shifts, contractions, and expansions. Globally, human activities and climate change have emerged as persistent threats to biodiversity, leading to approximately 68% of the ~522 primate species being threatened with extinction. Here, we used habitat suitability models and integrated data on human population density, gross domestic product (GDP), road construction, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the location of protected areas (PAs), and climate change to predict potential changes in the distributional range and richness of 26 China's primate species. Our results indicate that both PAs and NDVI have a positive impact on primate distributions. With increasing anthropogenic pressure, species' ranges were restricted to areas of high vegetation cover and in PAs surrounded by buffer zones of 2.7–4.5 km and a core area of PAs at least 0.1–0.5 km from the closest edge of the PA. Areas with a GDP below the Chinese national average of 100,000 yuan were found to be ecologically vulnerable, and this had a negative impact on primate distributions. Changes in temperature and precipitation were also significant contributors to a reduction in the range of primate species. Under the expected influence of climate change over the next 30–50 years, we found that highly suitable habitat for primates will continue to decrease and species will be restricted to smaller and more peripheral parts of their current range. Areas of high primate diversity are expected to lose from 3 to 7 species. We recommend that immediate action be taken, including expanding China's National Park Program, the Ecological Conservation Redline Program, and the Natural Forest Protection Program, along with a stronger national policy promoting alternative/sustainable livelihoods for people in the local communities adjacent to primate ranges, to offset the detrimental effects of anthropogenic activities and climate change on primate survivorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The long-term prognosis after surgery of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and extrahepatic bile duct tumor thrombus (Ex-BDTT) remains unknown. We aimed to identify the surgical outcomes of patients with HCC and Ex-BDTT. Methods: A total of 138 patients with Ex-BDTT who underwent hepatectomy with preservation of the extrahepatic bile duct from five large hospitals in China between January 2009 and December 2017 were included. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results: With a median follow-up of 60 months (range, 1–127.8 months), the median OS and RFS of the patients were 28.6 and 8.9 months, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of HCC patients with Ex-BDTT were 71.7%, 41.2%, and 33.5%, respectively, and the corresponding RFS rates were 43.5%, 21.7%, and 20.0%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified that major hepatectomy, R0 resection, and major vascular invasion were independent prognostic factors for OS and RFS. In addition, preoperative serum total bilirubin ≥ 4.2 mg/dL was an independent prognostic factor for RFS. Conclusion: Major hepatectomy with preservation of the extrahepatic bile duct can provide favorable long-term survival for HCC patients with Ex-BDTT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Vigilance and executive functions are integral to nursing practice. Prolonged working hours are associated with heightened fatigue and increased nursing errors. However, the impact of work duration on the vigilance and executive function of ICU nurses remains unexplored. Objective. This study aims to elucidate the association between ICU nurses' working hours, vigilance, and executive function. Design. A cross-sectional study. Setting. Intensive care medicine department of a tertiary hospital in Zhengzhou, China. Participants. A total of 51 registered nurses who participated in 12 h shifts in the ICU completed the survey. Methods. E-prime software was employed to develop four test tasks to measure the vigilance and executive functioning of ICU nurses. The test was performed before the start of the shift and after 4, 8, and 12 h. Results. The analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in the response time of vigilance for ICU nurses across shifts (p = 0.503) or working hours (p = 0.078). However, a significant difference existed in lapses across working hours (p = 0.005), significantly increasing after 8 and 12 h. The analysis indicated a significant difference in Flanker effect size across different working hours (p = 0.035). The analysis revealed no significant differences in the switch cost (p = 0.200) or response accuracy (p = 0.479) of the task switching across working hours. The response accuracy for the 2-back task differed significantly (p = 0.003) across working hours. Conclusion. Limited evidence demonstrated that vigilance and specific aspects of executive functioning (inhibitory control and working memory) of ICU nurses were negatively correlated with the duration of their work in a real clinical setting. Furthermore, no vigilance and executive function differences were identified between day and night shifts. Implications for Nursing Management. Nursing administrators should reconsider scheduling 12 h shifts, shortening shifts, or implementing short rest periods to reduce fatigue and cognitive load. In addition, flexible scheduling and rationalizing the order of work may help reduce the possible risks associated with prolonged work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]