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Frequent spontaneous combustion activities restrict ecological restoration of coal waste dumps after reclamation. Effective monitoring of vegetation restoration is important for ensuring land reclamation success and preserving the ecological environment in mining areas. Development of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has enabled fine-scale vegetation monitoring. In this study, we focused on Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa), a representative herbaceous vegetation type, in a coal waste dump after reclamation in Shanxi province, China. The alfalfa aboveground biomass (AGB) was used as an indicator for assessing vegetation restoration. The objective of this study was to evaluate the capacity of UAV-based fusion of RGB, multispectral, and thermal infrared information for estimating alfalfa AGB using various regression models, including random forest regression (RFR), gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector regression (SVR), and stacking models. The main results are as follows: (i) UAV multi-source data fusion improved alfalfa AGB estimation accuracy, although the enhancement diminished with the increasing number of sensor types. (ii) The stacking model consistently outperformed RFR, GBDT, KNN, and SVR regression models across all feature fusion combinations. It achieved high accuracy with R2 of 0.86–0.88, RMSE of 80.06–86.87 g/m2, and MAE of 60.24–62.69 g/m2. Notably, the stacking model based on only RGB imagery features mitigated the accuracy loss from limited types of features, potentially reducing equipment costs. This study demonstrated the potential of UAV in improving vegetation restoration management of coal waste dumps after reclamation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, private education plays an important role in China's education system, but there are a series of problems and challenges in the management of private education. The purpose of this study is to discuss and solve the problems existing in the management of private education through the method of fuzzy logic system. Firstly, the application of fuzzy logic systems in related fields is reviewed to understand the potential and advantages of fuzzy logic systems. Then, through the analysis of the main problems in the management of private education, the root of these problems and their impact on the education system are revealed. By establishing a private education management model based on fuzzy logic system, the application and function of this model in problem analysis and decision making are demonstrated. In the analysis of the results, the accuracy and effectiveness of the fuzzy logic system in the management of private education are evaluated, and the targeted management strategies and countermeasures are put forward to solve the problems in the management of private education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some previous studies have depicted the law in China as a weapon of resistance for the weak and recent apparently pro-labour national statutes are seen as empowering workers. The law governing the practices of labour relations has, however, become a tool for employers to counter rising labour activism. In this article, a detailed case study illustrates how factory managers used the law to control labour since the strike wave of 2010. The legal framework for labour relations and China's strong state made this new management strategy possible. The law is a combination of labour-related laws, including criminal regulations beyond the labour acts, redolent with inconsistent interpretations and applications. This mixture allows some employers to flexibly deploy the law to discipline workers and constrain collective labour. Consequently, when applied in workplaces, the law is not as labour-friendly as it may appear, but it is so malleable that it may be both the worker's weapon of resistance and the employer's tool of control. This study enriches the understanding of labour relations in China by including employers' strategies and behaviours, which are often neglected in labour studies, and also explores how the macro-level political-legal context shapes workplace dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile application‐assisted nurse‐led management model in childhood asthma. Background: Studies have shown that a nurse‐led asthma management model can improve asthma outcomes. However, the role of a mobile application‐assisted nurse‐led model in paediatric asthma management has not been studied well. Design: A multi‐centre randomized clinical trial. Methods: The trial was conducted between March 2017–March 2018. A total of 152 children (6 to 11.9 years old) were enrolled, with 77 children in the experimental group and 75 in the control group. All children received nurse‐led asthma management and other routine treatment measures, including inhaled corticosteroids. Meanwhile, a mobile application was used to manage asthma only for children in the experimental group. Primary outcome was frequency of asthma exacerbations. All outcomes were evaluated twice a month for 12 months. Results: Compared with the pre‐enrollment period, frequency of asthma exacerbations decreased in the post‐enrollment period in the two groups, with a greater decrease in the experimental group. Compared with children in the control group, children in the experimental group had better secondary outcomes, such as improved adherence, higher Childhood Asthma Control Test scores, decreased respiratory tract infections, days of antibiotic use, days of school absence, parental work loss, and medical expenses. Conclusion: A mobile application‐assisted nurse‐led management model decreased asthma exacerbations and improved secondary outcomes in children with asthma. Further research is needed to verify its validity in larger population samples. Impact: Children with asthma benefited from a nurse‐led asthma management model when combined with mobile application. This trial suggested that computer and Internet technologies should be incorporated into nurse‐led asthma strategy in paediatric asthma management. Trial registration: The current trial was registered online with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR1800016726). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw return can improve crop yield as well as soil organic carbon (SOC) but may raise the possibility of N 2 O and CH 4 emissions. However, few studies have compared the effects of straw return on the yield, SOC, and N 2 O emissions of various crops. Which management strategies are the best for balancing yield, SOC, and emission reduction for various crops needs to be clarified. A meta-analysis containing 2269 datasets collected from 369 studies was conducted to investigate the influence of agricultural management strategies on yield increase, soil carbon sequestration, and emission reduction in various crops after the straw return. Analytical results indicated that, on average, straw return increased the yield of rice, wheat, and maize by 5.04%, 8.09%, and 8.71%, respectively. Straw return increased maize N 2 O emissions by 14.69% but did not significantly affect wheat N 2 O emissions. Interestingly, straw return reduced the rice N 2 O emissions by 11.43% but increased the CH 4 emissions by 72.01%. The recommended nitrogen application amounts for balancing yield, SOC, and emission reduction varied among the three crops, while the recommended straw return amounts were more than 9000 kg/ha. The optimal tillage and straw return strategies for rice, wheat, and maize were plow tillage combined with incorporation, rotary tillage combined with incorporation, and no-tillage combined with mulching, respectively. A straw return duration of 5–10 years for rice and maize and ≤5 years for wheat was recommended. These findings provide optimal agricultural management strategies after straw return to balance the crop yield, SOC, and emission reduction for China's three major grain crops. [Display omitted] • The yield, SOC, and N 2 O of three crops (rice, wheat, and maize) respond differently to straw return. • Straw return amounts greater than 9000 kg/ha balance three-grain crops' yield, SOC, and emissions. • We recommend straw incorporation for rice and wheat, and mulching for maize. • The optimal nitrogen rate and tillage method are dependent on the crops. • We recommend a return duration of 5–10 years for rice and maize and ≤5 years for wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, excessive nutrient inputs caused by human activities have resulted in environmental problems such as agricultural non-point source pollution and water eutrophication. The Net Anthropogenic Nitrogen Inputs (NANI) model can be used to estimate the nitrogen (N) inputs to a region that are related to human activities. To explore the net nitrogen input of human activities in the main grain-producing areas of Northwestern China, the county-level statistical data for the Ningxia province and NANI model parameters were collected, the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of NANI were analyzed and the uncertainty and sensitivity of the parameters for each component of NANI were quantitatively studied. The results showed that: (1) The average value of NANI in Ningxia from 1991 to 2019 was 7752 kg N km−2 yr−1. Over the study period, the inputs first showed an overall increase, followed by a decrease, and then tended to stabilize. Fertilizer N application was the main contributing factor, accounting for 55.6%. The high value of NANI in Ningxia was mainly concentrated in the Yellow River Diversion Irrigation Area. (2) The 95% confidence interval of NANI obtained by the Monte Carlo approach was compared with the results from common parameters in existing literature. The simulation results varied from −6.4% to 27.4% under the influence of the changing parameters. Net food and animal feed imports were the most uncertain input components affected by parameters, the variation range was −20.7%–77%. (3) The parameters of inputs that accounted for higher proportions of the NANI were more sensitive than the inputs with lower contributions. The sensitivity indexes of the parameters contained in the fertilizer N applications were higher than those of net food and animal feed imports and agricultural N-fixation. This study quantified the uncertainty and sensitivity of parameters in the process of NANI simulation and provides a reference for global peers in the application and selection of parameters to obtain more accurate simulation results. MAX and MIN are the upper and lower limits of the confidence interval, respectively, AVE is the Monte Carlo simulation average value, OPT is the calculation result using common parameters from the existing literature. [Display omitted] • Spatio-temporal change NANI of Ningxia in China from 1991 to 2019 was analyzed. • Fertilizer N application was a primary source of NANI in the studied region. • The Monte Carlo method for uncertainty of the NANI model parameter was integrated. • The most sensitive parameter was in the chemical fertilizer application component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acacia mearnsii De Wilde is on the top 100 of the world's most invasive alien species and has successfully invaded many areas around the world. However, its distribution and expansion is seldom reported in China. This study for the first time conducted a survey on the new distribution of A. mearnsii at the Kunming Changshui Airport (Yunnan Province, China), through monitoring on population characteristics (number, density, height and ground diameter) and spatial distribution (spread distance). Our survey results show that A. mearnsii has spread rapidly across the airport. This study discusses three factors of environmental factors, human disturbance and weed characteristics behind this successful invasion. The species invasion has a strong potential to change the local vegetation structure, enhances the probability of bird strikes at the airport, and is vulnerable to invade new biogeographic regions if it is not controlled. Currently, eradication combined with mechanical control is considered to be the best option for control. Our study helps improve awareness about the potential risk of A. mearnsii invasion in other airports around China and the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the risk factors of pediatric off-label drug use, and propose management strategies for policy making of the pediatric off-label drug use in China. Methods (i) We applied stratified random sampling to select recipes of children aged 0 to 18 years in pediatric clinics and wards of the West China Second University Hospital in 2010. (ii) All included prescriptions were categorized as off-label use or on-label use, according to the latest package insert licensed by the State Food and Drug Administration. (iii) Risk factors and the weights were calculated using logistic regression. (iv) The correlation between risk factors and the different kinds of off-label prescriptions was presented using adjusted odds ratio, and the impact of the risk factors was measured using standardized partial regression coefficient. (v) SPSS 16.0 was used for statistic analysis. (vi) From the perspective of the medical institutions, pharmaceutical enterprises, professional institutions, and the public, we combined the results of the Evidence-based research on the policy of the off-label drug use in 15 countries and the results of risk factor analysis, in order to propose management strategies for the policy making of pediatric off-label drug use in China. Results (i) Using the method of sampling, we received 2640 recipes from outpatients and 14,374 prescriptions from 749 inpatients. (ii) The neonates (0 to 27 days) had higher risk in off-label drug use than the other three children age groups. (iii) The dermatological medicines (D), nervous system medicines (N), traditional Chinese medicines, and respiratory drugs (R) were high-risk off-label medicines whose labels should be updated more frequently. (iv) The great factors of off-label drug use are those influence health status and relate to health services (ICD-10:Z00-Z99) (mainly in the clinic of child care and growth development, and in the ward of chemotherapy). (v) Off-label drug use in the ward was 4.4 times than that in clinic service (P < 0.001), which suggested that off-label drug use in the ward may be a key point of the management of medical institutions. (vi) The risk of off-label essential drug use was 1.67 times than that of non-essential drug use. (vii) The risk of off-label Rx drug use was 3.2% higher than that of OTC (Over-The-Counter) drug use, without a significant difference. Conclusions (i) A management guideline for off-label drug use is urgently needed, with which we can guide medical institutions to establish the management regulations of off-label drug use. (ii) Pediatric clinical research should be promoted actively, and pharmaceutical enterprises should be encouraged to completely provide pediatric drug information. (iv) Academic organizations should be invited to join in for best professional drug use. (v) Pediatric patients and their families should receive the education on rational drug use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A case study of Dahu landslide from Linbao Henan in China was discussed in this paper. Based on various kinds of basic data, the 3D numerical model of a geological structure which possesses all kinds of information including the mechanical characteristics and the geometrical parameters of geological discontinuities were known from previous works. Thus, both the whole geological structure and all kinds of geological components involved in a slope can be visualized on computer, the complicated analysis and calculation can be then carried out easily and effectively. Firstly, the combination of 3D numerical model with the limit equilibrium analysis theory in slope stabilization can easily provide the present stability factor. Then according to monitoring data of the total station, the potential sliding trends are analyzed if landslides do not occur. Secondly, there are a number of uncertainties on the factors of multi-forms of disaster, such as, rainfall, earthquake, and mined-out area. The unascertained mathematics theory is applied to the stability comprehensive evaluation. It shows four landslide bodies get to be at unstable state if there are some inducements. Thirdly, sliding distance and movement scope were predicted if landslides occur. On the basis of the analysis above, the treatment of the landslide body called isolated method of culvert was proposed. It has solved the contradiction of landslide and mining radically, and provides important technical assurance for safety and sustainable development of mine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Saline water has been included as an important substitutable resource for fresh water in agricultural irrigation in many fresh water scarce regions. In order to make good use of saline water for agricultural irrigation in North China, a semi-humid area, a 3-year field experiment was carried out to study the possibility of using saline water for supplement irrigation of cucumber. Saline water was applied via mulched drip irrigation. The average electrical conductivity of irrigation water (EC iw ) was 1.1, 2.2, 2.9, 3.5 and 4.2dS/m in 2003 and 2004, and 1.1, 2.2, 3.5, 4.2 and 4.9dS/m in 2005. Throughout cucumber-growing season, the soil matric potential at 0.2m depth immediately under drip emitter was kept higher than −20kPa and saline water was applied after cucumber seedling stage. The experimental results revealed that cucumber fruit number per plant and yield decreased by 5.7% per unit increase in EC iw . The maximum yield loss was around 25% for EC iw of 4.9dS/m, compared with 1.1dS/m. Cucumber seasonal accumulative water use decreased linearly over the range of 1.5–6.9% per unit increase in EC iw . As to the average root zone EC e (electrical conductivity of saturated paste extract), cucumber yield and water use decreased by 10.8 and 10.3% for each unit of EC e increase in the root zone (within 40cm away from emitter and 40cm depths), respectively. After 3 years irrigation with saline water, there was no obvious tendency for EC e to increase in the soil profile of 0–90cm depths. So in North China, or similar semi-humid area, when there is no enough fresh water for irrigation, saline water up to 4.9dS/m can be used to irrigate field culture cucumbers at the expense of some yield loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lake Taihu is the third largest freshwater lake in China and has provided local communities with valuable fisheries for centuries. However, we have only a limited knowledge of its ecosystem. In this study, a trophic model was constructed for the Lake Taihu ecosystem. This model was used to evaluate and analyze the food web structure and other properties of this ecosystem using data covering the period from 1991 to 1995. Using the model, we evaluated the impacts on local fisheries of various management scenarios comprising two basic management regimes: (1) setting fishing mortality for the top predator (large culters, Erythroculter mongolicus and Erythroculter ilishaeformis) to 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2, and (2) adjusting overall fishing effort to 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.25 times the current level. For both scenarios, fishery profit and cost were evaluated to provide an understanding of how components of the ecosystem interact. We identified possible causes of fishery overexploitation in the lake ecosystem and described the necessity of developing ecosystem-based management. The results showed that Lake Taihu had six theoretical trophic levels (TLs), with the trophic flows primarily occurring through the first five TLs. System properties such as transfer efficiency, Finn''s index, Finn''s mean length, connectance index, system omnivory index, primary production/respiration ratio, and net primary production all indicated that Lake Taihu was an immature, fairly simple ecosystem in which a relatively low fraction of total primary production was utilized. At the same time, the ecosystem was also experiencing high fishing pressure. Yet despite this, the low ascendency index (25.9%) and high system overhead ratio (74.1%) indicated that the system was highly developed and relatively stable, a condition that might result from the high degree of recycling in the system. Among the harvesting strategies considered, a strategy of either decreasing the fishing mortality of the top predator (large culters) to 0.3 or, alternatively, reducing the overall effort on the system by a factor of 0.75 appeared to be most effective at increasing the efficiency of the fisheries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recruiting native coastal vegetation and preventing the reinvasion of exotic Spartina alterniflora is a major challenge in China, due to harsh tidal environment for vegetation establishment and rapid Spartina colonization. This paper first reviewed the revegetation course of native Scirpus mariqueter in a coastal wetland in the Yangtze Estuary, where the adjacent Spartina was effectively eliminated. From 2014 to 2019, the area of planted Scirpus increased by 26.7 times, and the plant density and biomass growth amounted to the levels of mature sedge community. The establishment of Scirpus promoted the sedimentary accretion with an annual sedimentary rate of 9.2 cm yr−1, which was significantly higher than that in the mudflat. Six years of monitoring revealed that the revegetation approach with belowground propagules (corms) was effective for Scirpus establishment under strong hydrodynamic disturbances in the tidal mudflat because the morphology and germination rate of corms benefited the anchoring function of seedlings. Both recruited Scirpus and the original community expanded constantly due to positive feedback between plant progradation and sedimentary accretion. Then, we implemented a model simulation under the scenario of Spartina retention. The prediction showed that the high-speed invasion of Spartina would colonize and replace the whole Scirpus community in the study area during the period of 2014–2019. Hence, our results highlighted the importance of coupling Scirpus recruitment with Spartina eradication in guaranteeing recolonization of native coastal sedges. As a long-lasting management strategy, unremitting field monitoring and assistant decision-making tools (such as the forecasting models) on Spartina reinvasion risk are highly suggested for preserving the restoration of native marshes. • Rhizocorms of native Scirpus are ideal revegetation material in tidal environment. • Positive feedback between plant and sediment favors both Scirpus and Spartina. • Spartina reinvasion is a high risk for restoration of native Scirpus. • Management strategies are suggested for Scirpus recruitment and Spartina control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess inputs of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the main contributors of aquatic environmental deterioration. Due to the agricultural and industrial activities in the rapidly urbanized basin, the anthropogenic N and P cycle are significantly different from other regions. In this study, we took the Pearl River Delta as an example and introduced the budget list of N and P in the five survey years, including the net anthropogenic N inputs (NANI) and net anthropogenic P inputs (NAPI). The results revealed that the intensities of NANI and NAPI in this area increased from 2008 to 2010 and then decreased after 2010. The peak values were 21001 kg N km−2yr−1 and 4515 kg P km−2yr−1 for the intensities of NNAI and NAPI, respectively, while the lowest values decreased to 19186 kg N km−2yr−1 and 4103 kg P km−2yr−1 in 2016. The most important contribution of NANI and NAPI sources in this area were net N and P inputs for human food and animal feed with an average contribution of 61.41% and 76.83%, which indicated that large amounts of N and P were introduced into the environment through the food system. This study expanded the knowledge on regional environmental management from human dietary consumption, human life consumption, animal consumption and fertilizer consumption. Its reuse will be put into practice by understanding the driving factors of N and P inputs in each region of the basin, combining the urbanization characteristics. • The mean intensities of NANI and NAPI in the Pearl River Delta basin were higher than that of the mean level in China. • Human food and animal feed inputs comprised more than 60% for NANI, and 70% for NAPI in PRD. • Site-specific management strategies for N and P were needed in the PRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phyllostachys edulis (Moso bamboo) is of great significance to forestry in China. Increased attention has been paid to exploring the role of underground ecology, especially soil microorganisms, in the cultivation and ecology of Moso bamboo. Mulching-intensive management can benefit Moso bamboo forests with low yields. However, the response of soil bacteria to changes in soil biochemical properties after intensive mulching is still unclear. In this study, the responses of the soil bacterial composition to changes in soil biochemical properties under different management conditions were analysed by sampling a bamboo forest under four management conditions: control, mulching, alternation and long-term mulching. The results showed that mulching and alternation could improve the diversity of soil bacteria at the phyla and genera levels, while long-term mulching had the opposite result. The relative abundances of Proteobacteria, Actinomycetes, TM7 and Bacteroides were lower in the control plots than in the other plots, while those of AD3, Verruca and GAL15 were higher. The results also showed that C (carbon), N (nitrogen) and P (phosphorus) accumulated rapidly in the mulching, alternation and long-term mulching plots due to the extensive application of organic and compound fertilizer. Soil acidification became obvious with the extension of mulching time. An increase in the C/N led to a decrease in substrate soil quality. Large amounts of total phosphorus (TP) and NO 3 −-N accumulated under long-term mulching, while the amounts of available phosphorus (AP) and NH 4 +-N decreased. The change in the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content was consistent with that in the MBC/microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), which decreased significantly in both the mulching plots and the long-term mulching plots, and alternation ameliorated the trend. MBC/MBN and pH were positively correlated with the bacterial composition at the genus level, while TP, NO 3 −-N, soil organic carbon (SOC) and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) were negatively correlated. The results showed that the soil bacteria did not benefit from the availability of relatively low-quality (high C/N) substrates, which was reflected by an imbalance in the soil bacteria composition under long-term mulching. Therefore, mulching is beneficial to the improvement of soil biochemical properties and the development of bacterial communities in a short period, but long-term mulching results in a significant decline compared with the other three management conditions. The soil biochemical environment and bacterial composition of Moso bamboo forest can be properly elevated by alternation, which is a necessary supplement to mulching and long-term mulching. • Mulching helps to quickly increase the bacterial abundance and diversity. • LT mode inhibits bacteria because pH and NH 4 +-N decreased, while NO 3 −-N increased. • Elevating soil bacterial abundance and diversity by AL mode is obvious after MU mode. • MBC/MBN and pH were positively correlated with bacterial development. • TP, NO 3 −-N, SOC and WSOC were negatively correlated with bacterial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]