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Over the past decade, surface ozone has emerged as a significant air pollutant in China, especially in the North China Plain (NCP). For effective ozone management in the NCP, it is crucial to accurately estimate the surface ozone levels and identify the primary influencing factors for ozone pollution in this region. This study utilized ozone precursors such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), meteorological data, land cover, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), terrain, and population data to build an extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost)-based ozone estimation model in the NCP during 2019 to 2021. Four ozone estimation models were developed using different NO2 and formaldehyde (HCHO) datasets from the Sentinel-5 TROPOMI observations and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) reanalysis data. Site-based validation results of these four models showed high accuracy with R2 values above 0.86. Among these four models, two models with higher accuracy and higher spatial coverage ratio were selected, and their results were averaged to produce the final ozone estimation products. The results indicated that VOCs and NOX were the two main pollutants causing ozone pollution in the NCP, and their relative contributions accounted for more than 23.34% and 10.23%, respectively, while HCHO also played a significant role, contributing over 5.64%. Additionally, meteorological factors also had a notable impact, contributing 28.63% to ozone pollution, with each individual factor contributing more than 2.38%. The spatial distribution of ozone pollution identified the Hebei–Shandong–Henan junction as a pollution hotspot, with the peak occurring in summer, particularly in June. Therefore, for this hotspot region in the NCP, promoting the reduction in VOCs and NOx can play an important role in the mitigation of O3 pollution and the improvement in air quality in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Undersized space in kitchens remains a widespread and enduring problem in urban residences in China. However, no consensus exists on the area a satisfactory kitchen should take up and the causes of an undersized kitchen are still not sufficiently understood. This study examined reasonable spatial indices for kitchen design from the perspective of user satisfaction, based on 80 kitchens selected from multi-family residences in Beijing, People's Republic of China. Data were collected using on-site measurement and face-to-face questionnaires, including spatial features, household structure, cooking habits, possession of appliances and residents' binary judgement about the kitchen area. Factors associated with residents' kitchen area perception were explored using correlation analysis, while the reasonable design indices were proposed by scatter diagram analysis. This study confirmed the influence of floor space and width of the kitchen and recommends 5.11–6.10 m2 and 1.71–2.00 m as a reasonable scope for the respective dimensions. It also demonstrates that the area requirement increased in families with higher cooking frequency and decreased in youthful households and suggests that the accommodation of the refrigerator and large appliances should be considered in kitchen area allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc (Zn)-enriched pears, which are derived from genetically related cultivars or crops fortified using agronomic methods, have the potential to partly satisfy the human demand for Zn nutrition and diversify consumer choices. However, a standard for the Zn fortification level in pears is lacking, and the disparity in literature-reported fruit Zn concentrations can vary by substantial amounts. Before investigating the Zn concentrations in fruits of the main pear cultivars in China, common sample preparation methods were compared. Among the pre-treatment methods tested, the freeze-dry technique had a greater degree of discrete variation, whereas oven drying (fresh weight) was the optimal method for determining fruit Zn concentrations. Based on the optimal method, no significant distribution patterns of fruit Zn concentration were found among the regions and strains examined. The averaged pulp Zn concentration in all 26 cultivars was 0.72 mg kg−1, with the Hongxiangsu, Jinfeng, and 420 cultivars having the highest concentrations. Combined with the findings from our previous field experiments on Zn-fortified pears, a Zn concentration of ≥0.90 mg kg−1 is the suggested standard for pear enrichment. These results help us to better understand pear Zn nutrition levels and facilitate the marketisation of the fortified fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: S. miltiorrhiza root rot is a soil-borne disease mainly caused by Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum, which has spread rapidly in China in recent years. To reduce the amount of pesticides to control this plant fungal disease, biological control using endophytic bacteria is a promising method. Many endophytic bacteria show good biocontrol potential against various plant fungal diseases. The aims of this study were to isolate and identify endophytic bacteria with antifungal activity from Salvia miltiorrhiza plant tissue. In order to increase antifungal substances production, the culture conditions of the isolated DS-R5 strain were optimized through response surface methodology. Results: Thirteen endophytic bacteria with antifungal activity against the target pathogenic fungus were successfully screened. The DS-R5 strain that had the strongest antifungal activity was identified based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, 16S rRNA and gyrB sequence analysis.The results of response surface methodology experiments showed that the optimal values of the three significant factors were as follows: medium volume, 51.0 ml; initial pH, 6.7; fermentation temperature, 33.1 °C. Under these optimal culture conditions, the titer of antifungal substances produced by the DS-R5 strain was 77.6% higher than that under the initial culture conditions. Conclusions: The antifungal activity of endophytic bacteria from Salvia miltiorrhiza has been demonstrated for the first time, which may benefit future crop quality and production. In addition, response surface methodology can be well applied the optimization of culture conditions for antifungal substance, which lays the foundation for further research on strain DS-R5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored the effects of acupressure training on older adults’ sleep quality and cognitive function. Ninety older adults with impaired sleep quality were selected from screened volunteers and randomly divided into equal control and experimental groups; 82 completed the 1‐year follow‐up. Participants in the control group were given instructions on sleep health, while those in the experimental group received sleep health instructions plus individual and small group acupressure training sessions and support to practice the intervention on their own each day. All participants were assessed by trained assistants blind to study group allocation using Chinese versions of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Mini‐Mental State Examination, and four subscales from the revised Chinese version of the Wechsler Memory Scale, at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that acupressure training improved older adults’ sleep quality and cognitive function, but the mediating effect of sleep on the relationship between acupressure training and cognitive function was not supported. Given the ease, simplicity, and safety of acupressure training observed with community‐dwelling older adults in China, attempts should be made to replicate these preliminary positive findings with larger samples. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic substitution regimes (OSR) can improve soil microbial properties in crop production. However, the dynamic responses of soil microbial flora and its driving factors in crop growth periods under OSR are still unclear. Here, a 2-year fertilizer field trial was conducted to explore the response of soil chemistry and microbial properties to OSR in the life cycle of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) in North China. The fertilization treatment included only mineral fertilizer (ConN), substitution of 30% mineral N with organic N (M30), and substitution of 60% mineral N with organic N (M60); soil samples were collected and analyzed in the early flowering period (EP), flowering period (MP), and maturity period (LP) of potatoes. As the potato growth period progressed, M30 and M60 increased soil organic carbon (SOC) compared with ConN. Soil total nitrogen (pH) increased (decreased) under M60, while soil available potassium was similar across three treatments. Compared with ConN, soil bacterial Chao, Shannon, and PD indexes significantly increased under M30 and M60 in MP and LP, and the fungal Shannon index increased in LP. Soil bacterial and fungal community structures under M30 and M60 were only significantly separated from ConN in MP. The bacterial communities of dominant phyla or genera responded more sensitively to the fertilization regimes than the flora of fungi, and the changes in the flora mainly occur in EP and MP. Redundancy analysis revealed that SOC and available phosphorus were highly correlated with soil microbial community compositions. Compared with ConN, soil microbial network complexity and fungal network robustness were higher under M30 and M60, while bacterial network robustness showed the opposite trend. Partial least squares pathway modeling showed that the conversion in the fertilization system or growth period had a direct positive effect on the C/N-cycling function of soil bacteria, but not on the C-degradation function of fungi. Our research has important theoretical implications for the development of microbial fertilizers and fertilization management in different potato growth periods. [Display omitted] • OSR increased soil bacterial and fungal diversity and network complexity than ConN. • OSR strongly affected the composition of soil microbial flora in MP of potatoes. • Soil microbial community composition was mainly affected by SOC and soil AP. • Soil bacterial flora was more sensitive than fungal flora to conversion in fertilization. • Growth period had a direct positive impact on soil microbial α-diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between chronotype and anxiety, depression, and insomnia was inconsistent. We aimed to assess the association between chronotype and mental health and the potential moderating effect of age and socioeconomic status (SES)., Methods: A multi-stage sampling cross-sectional study with 12,544 adults was conducted. Chronotype, anxiety, depression, and insomnia were investigated by 5-item Morning and Evening, 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 9-item Patient Health, and the 7-item Insomnia Severity Index Questionnaires. Logistic regression was conducted., Results: The predominant chronotype was morning chronotype (69.2 %), followed by 27.6 % intermediate and 3.2 % evening chronotype. The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and insomnia was 0.7 %, 1.9 %, and 9.6 %, respectively. Compared with intermediate chronotype, morning chronotype participants had a lower risk of anxiety (OR = 0.28,95%CI:0.18-0.44), depression (OR = 0.54,95%CI:0.41-0.72) and insomnia (OR = 0.67,95%CI:0.58-0.77), while evening chronotype participants had a higher risk of depression (OR = 1.98,95%CI:1.06-3.71) but not anxiety or insomnia. Interactions between chronotype with age and SES on insomnia (P interaction  < 0.05) were found. A more profound association between morning chronotype and insomnia was observed in <65 years participants (OR = 0.59,95%CI:0.50-0.71) and those with monthly household income ≥10,000yuan (OR = 0.21,95%CI:0.12-0.35), compared with their counterparts., Limitations: The cross-sectional design limited causal conclusions. Only adults were included; the findings could not be generalized to children., Conclusions: The morning chronotype might be protective for anxiety, depression, and insomnia, while the evening chronotype might be a risk factor for depression. Future studies are needed to assess the efficacy of chronotype-focused intervention for mental health. Insomnia prevention efforts should pay more attention to the elderly and those with lower incomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 include reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases by one-third. Although previous modeling studies have predicted premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases, the predictions for cancer and its subcategories are less well understood in China., Objective: The aim of this study was to project premature cancer mortality of 10 leading cancers in Hunan Province, China, based on various scenarios of risk factor control so as to establish the priority for future interventions., Methods: We used data collected between 2009 and 2017 from the Hunan cancer registry annual report as empirical data for projections. The population-attributable fraction was used to disaggregate cancer deaths into parts attributable and unattributable to 10 risk factors: smoking, alcohol use, high BMI, diabetes, physical inactivity, low vegetable and fruit intake, high red meat intake, high salt intake, and high ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels. The unattributable deaths and the risk factors in the baseline scenario were projected using the proportional change model, assuming constant annual change rates through 2030. The comparative risk assessment theory was used in simulated scenarios to reflect how premature mortality would be affected if the targets for risk factor control were achieved by 2030., Results: The cancer burden in Hunan significantly increased during 2009-2017. If current trends for each risk factor continued to 2030, the total premature deaths from cancers in 2030 would increase to 97,787 in Hunan Province, and the premature mortality (9.74%) would be 44.47% higher than that in 2013 (6.74%). In the combined scenario where all risk factor control targets were achieved, 14.41% of premature cancer mortality among those aged 30-70 years would be avoided compared with the business-as-usual scenario in 2030. Reductions in the prevalence of diabetes, high BMI, ambient PM2.5 levels, and insufficient fruit intake played relatively important roles in decreasing cancer premature mortality. However, the one-third reduction goal would not be achieved for most cancers except gastric cancer., Conclusions: Existing targets on cancer-related risk factors may have important roles in cancer prevention and control. However, they are not sufficient to achieve the one-third reduction goal in premature cancer mortality in Hunan Province. More aggressive risk control targets should be adopted based on local conditions., (©Wenqiong Wu, Jing Wang, Xian-zhen Liao, Kekui Xu, Yanhua Zou, Zhaohui Shi, Yingyun Hu, Haifan Xiao, Can Li, Shiyu Cao, Shiyu Wang, Jia Guo, Zhicheng Luo, Mengjiao Liu, Mengyao Xu, Donghui Jin, Mengshi Chen, Zhongxi Fu, Shipeng Yan. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 06.03.2023.)