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The following article deals with an analysis of the way in which the issue of food safety is being tackled in the People's Republic of China. The first part will examine the impact of food safety law in the Chinese system; the second part will analyse a case study, regarding some pilot projects held under the umbrella of the FAO. The concluding paragraph will offer some hints to reflect on the effective possibility for the legal provisions to come into force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current review aims to explore the evidence regarding the effectiveness of mandibular advancement orthodontic appliances with maxillary expansion device in treating pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Materials and methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus databases, Chinese Biomedical Database, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang. The research involved children and adolescents (under 16 years old) who received mandibular advancement and maxillary expansion functional orthopedic appliances for OSA treatment. We performed narrative reviews and subsequently amalgamated the findings from the studies. Results: Six articles were included for review. Although a small number of studies were included, the research suggested the potential advantages of mandibular advancement for children with OSA. Following treatment, there was a decrease in AHI/RDI, an improvement in sleep quality, and the increase in oxygen saturation. Conclusions: The limited quantity and quality of existing studies necessitate caution when drawing conclusions about the effectiveness of mandibular advancement and maxillary expansion for OSA. In the future, larger and well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to provide more robust evidence. Patients should be carefully selected, and their orthodontic indications should be thoroughly evaluated before inclusion in such trials.We encourage researchers to design studies that monitor patients over several years to provide a comprehensive understanding of the long-term effectiveness. Trial registration: This study was registered in PROSPERO(CRD42023480407) on November 20, 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient exploration of geothermal resources is the basis of exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources. In recent years, Geographic Information System (GIS) has been increasingly used for the exploration owing to its power ability to integrate and analyze multiple sources of data related to the formation of geothermal resources, such as geology, geophysics, and geochemistry. Correctly understanding the control effect of evidence factors on geothermal resources is the premise and basis of whether the prediction results of evidence weight model are accurate. Traditionally, the conventional weight of evidence model assume that each evidence factor exerts a uniform controlling effect on the formation and distribution of geothermal resources. However, recent research indicates significant variations in the controlling ability of factors such as faults and granites, influenced by factors like activity levels and crystalline ages. Yet, studies addressing this differential control are lacking. To address this gap, we propose a series of weight of evidence models using abundant geological, geophysical, and geothermal data from the western Sichuan plateau, a high-temperature geothermal hotspot in China. This study aims to investigate the impact of varying controlling abilities of evidence factors on the evaluation model, with faults and granites as a case. Performance metrics include prediction rate, success rate index, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and prediction rate of geothermal well. The findings of this research reveal that the weight of evidence model developed through the methodology outlined in this study exhibits superior performance compared to the conventional weight of evidence model. This superiority is evidenced by higher prediction rates, success indices, prediction rate of geothermal wells, and larger AUC values of ROC. Among these models, the weight of evidence model considering both fault and granite classification have the best performance in model evaluation indicators, with a prediction rate of 22.528 and a success index of 0.015408 in the very high potential area. The prediction rate and success index of the high potential area are 3.656 and 0.0025, respectively, and the prediction rate and success index of the middle potential area are 1.649 and 0.001128, respectively, and the AUC value is 0.808, indicating that the model has good accuracy. In terms of geothermal well prediction, the total prediction rate of geothermal favorable areas based on fault and granite classification evidence weight model is as high as 47.0526. Therefore, when constructing the weight of evidence model, the influence of the difference control of evidence factors on the formation of geothermal resources should be fully considered. These results underscore the effectiveness of the proposed methodology in enhancing the predictive accuracy and reliability of geothermal resource assessment in this study. Based on the prediction results of the weight of evidence model considering both fault and granite classification, four favorable geothermal areas with abundant surface heat display are identified in this paper, namely Kangding, Litang, Batang and Ganzi-Dege. In addition, the relatively weak surface heat display areas such as Jiulong, Daofu, Luhuo and Derong also show high geothermal potential. Some attention should be paid to geothermal exploration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root rot caused by Fusarium spp. is the most destructive disease on Atractylodes lancea, one of the large bulks and most common traditional herbal plants in China. In this study, we isolated a bacterial strain, CF3, from the rhizosphere soil of A. lancea and determined its inhibitory effects on F. oxysporum in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. To deeply explore the biocontrol potential of CF3, we sequenced the whole genome and investigated the key pathways for the biosynthesis of many antibiotic compounds. The results revealed that CF3 is a member of Burkholderia ambifaria, harboring two chromosomes and one plasmid as other strains in this species. Five antibiotic compounds were found that could be synthesized due to the existence of the bio-synthesis pathways in the genome. Furthermore, the synthesis of antibiotic compounds should be confirmed by in vitro experiments and novel compounds should be purified and characterized in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) infects many hosts, including humans and animals, in which it causes gastroenteritis and respiratory disease. In China, it has been found in domestic animals such as pigs, cattle, deer, and minks; however, MRV prevalence in small ruminants is still unknown, and a rapid, specific, quantification assay for clinical detection of animal samples is urgently needed. In this study, we established a TaqMan qRT-PCR method for MRV detection targeting the conserved L1 gene. The method was optimized, and the specificity, sensitivity, and repeatability were used to assess quality. We used this method for MRV detection in goat and sheep samples. The overall MRV prevalence was 8.2% (35/429), and the test showed a significantly higher sensitivity than RT-PCR and virus isolation. MRV clearly showed seasonal prevalence, with a high positive rate of infections in goats and sheep from September to April. Small ruminants under two months of age were susceptible to MRV infection. This study investigated the epidemiological characteristics of MRV infection and provides the first evidence of MRV infection in sheep and goats in China, broadening our knowledge of MRV hosts in this country. Mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) infections are ubiquitous in multiple mammalian species including humans, and mainly causes gastroenteritis and respiratory disease. In this study, we developed a rapid and sensitive TaqMan qRT-PCR method for MRV detection based on the primers and probe designed within the conserved L1 gene. The qRT-PCR assay was evaluated for its sensitivity, specificity, efficiency and reproducibility. It was found that the detection sensitivity was equivalent to 10 DNA copies/μL, and the standard curves had a linear correlation of R2 = 0.998 with an amplification efficiency of 99.6%. The inter- and intra-assay coefficients of variation (CV%) were in the range of 0.29% to 2.16% and 1.60% to 3.60%, respectively. The primer sets specifically amplified their respective MRV segments and had the highest detection sensitivities of 100.25 TCID50/mL with amplification efficiencies of 99.5% (R2 = 0.999). qRT-PCR was used for MRV detection from samples of sheep, goats, and calves from four regions in China, and the overall MRV prevalence was 8.2% (35/429), whereas 17/429 (4.0%) were detected by RT-PCR and 14/429 (3.3%) by virus isolation. The qRT-PCR assay showed significantly higher sensitivity than RT-PCR and virus isolation. Results from an epidemiological survey indicated that the positive rate of MRV in rectal swabs from sheep and goats tested in Shaanxi, Jiangsu, and Xinjiang were 9/80 (11.3%), 12/93 (12.9%) and 14/128 (10.9%), respectively. In goats and sheep, MRV prevalence was obviously associated with season and age, with a high positive rate of more than 8% during September to April and approximately 13% in small ruminant animals under two months of age. This is the first instance of MRV infection in sheep and goats in China, thus broadening our knowledge of MRV hosts. Consequently, primer optimization for qRT-PCR should not only prioritize amplification efficiency and specificity, but also sensitivity. This assay will contribute to more accurate and rapid MRV monitoring by epidemiological investigation, viral load, and vaccination efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare-earth elements are widely used in the study of source tracing and geochemical characteristics, which can reflect the degree of influence of human activities on water environment. In order to reveal the additive effects of various human activities on the geochemical characteristics of rare-earth elements in the surface water environment, the content of rare-earth elements in the river in the coal grain composite area of eastern China was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that all water samples were alkaline, ΣREE content ranged 0.18–0.88 μg·L−1, with an average value of 0.28 μg·L−1. All the water samples showed significant enrichment of light rare-earth elements due to a combination of natural processes and external inputs. The spatial distribution and fractionation characteristics of rare-earth elements show that rare-earth elements (especially Ce) are prone to adsorption/complexation reactions with colloidal particles, resulting in their removal from rivers, Eu anomaly is related to plagioclase crystallization and human activities (coal development, agricultural production, urbanization process), and Gd anomaly is only related to human activities. The research results can provide scientific reference for revealing the distribution of rare-earth elements and geochemical environmental behavior in rivers environment under the superimposed influence of various human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the optimal design of childcare subsidies and how subsidies are implemented. We combine the optimal subsidy model with the situation in China and construct the optimal childcare subsidy model using families as units. We discuss the selection patterns of direct and indirect subsidies and prove the applicable ranges and selection thresholds for different subsidy types. Based on the CFPS database in China, we simulate the amount of childcare subsidies for families with different levels of market productivity and calculate the optimal amount of subsidies for them. The results show that direct subsidies should be provided to families whose wages are lower than the market price of childcare. Indirect subsidies should be provided to families whose wages are above the market price for childcare. Finally, the optimal child-rearing subsidy curve is derived, and the easily identifiable macro optimal subsidy curve is designed for implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal (HM) pollution nowadays is a hot issue concerning global ecological and food safety. As one of the most important woody bamboos for edible shoots in Southeast Asia and southwest China, Dendrocalamus brandisii usually occurs in red soil with a high HM geological background. However, the bioaccumulation process and possible risks of HMs in their cultivation area remain unclear. In this study, a comprehensive risk assessment of HM pollution was conducted in the main cultivation area of D. brandisii under two cultivation patterns in Yunnan, China. The results revealed that moderate to heavy HM pollution existed in the soil of the study area, while bamboo shoots displayed either no pollution or weak contamination. The "large-area intensive afforestation" cultivation pattern can better control HM pollution in soil and shoots than the "small-scale farmer management" pattern. Strong and complex correlations among HMs were unveiled in both soil and shoot samples. The Cr content of 39% of the shoot samples exceeded China's national standards. Cu and Zn were the two most easily accumulated HMs in shoots, with BCF of 0.1235 and 0.1101, respectively. Bioaccumulations of As and Cd were positively correlated with their concentrations in soil. Furthermore, the positive matrix factorization model (PMF) identified three main sources of soil HMs, i.e., Pb and Zn from traffic emissions accounting for 30%; Ni, Mn, and Cr from pedogenic parent material making up 35.4%; and As from mining and metallurgical activities accounting for 34.6%. Monte Carlo simulations suggested the probability of total noncarcinogenic risk for children from bamboo shoots was 24.82% and that As in the soil was the primary element of health risk to children (HQc = 13.94%). These findings emphasize the urgent need to control and mitigate HM pollution from the identified sources and may contribute to the sustainable cultivation of D. brandisii and food safety in Yunnan and similar tropical areas with high HM contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organotin compounds (OTs) accumulate in fish easily, however, research on their influencing factors is still limited. This study collected 25 species of fish with different diets, habitats, and age from the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), the largest deep-water river channel-type reservoir in China, and analyzed the accumulation characteristics of OTs in these fish. The results showed that tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPhT) were the dominant OTs in fish from the TGR. The correlation between OTs concentration and age, body length, and body weight varied with fish species. The concentrations of TBT and TPhT in carnivorous fish (mean, 25.78 and 11.69 ng Sn/g dw, respectively) were higher than those in other diet fish (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in fish at different habitat water layers (P>0.05). In addition, the degradation rates of TBT and TPhT in different fish species were all below 50%. In summary, the accumulation of TBT and TPhT in fish is mainly influenced by diet, and both TBT and TPhT were difficult to degrade in fish. These results reveal the pollution characteristics of OTs in fish from the TGR, and can improve our understanding of the factors influencing TBT and TPhT accumulation in freshwater fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the important characteristics of river morphology, river sinuosity has a direct impact on the river water quality and self-purification capacity. In the present study, 4 physical river channel simulation models using circulating water with a sinuosity of 2.2, 1.8, 1.4, and 1.0, respectively, were established in our laboratory. Related hydraulic tests and detection were performed, including the detection of microbial communities in overlying water, monitoring of the river flow velocity and depth, and observation of the river flow line and bank scouring. The results show that the TN reduction rate at a sinuosity of 2.2 was 1.09, 1.20, and 1.75 times that at a sinuosity of 1.8, 1.4, and 1.0, respectively. And the total plate count for the set of tests with a sinuosity of 2.2 was 3.32 times that for the set of tests with a straight channel. The sinuous rivers have more complex flow regimes, more suitable hydraulic conditions, larger hyporheic zone areas, better microbial environments, and longer river flow paths, giving them a higher purification capacity against pollution. These findings can provide a theoretical basis for the optimization of water system layout and the restoration of river environments in the process of urbanization in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), as characteristic pollutants in chemical plant sites, are widely present in the environment and pose a serious threat to the health and safety of nearby residents. Studying the spatial distribution characteristics and transport fluxes of BTEX in soil and air at contaminated sites and the health risks they pose to humans is of great significance for fine pollution control and environmental management. This study took a typical decommissioned steel plant as a case study. A total of 23 soil and air samples were collected from different locations to investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of BTEX in soil and air. The transport and fate of BTEX in soil and air were evaluated using the fugacity model, and finally, a human health risk assessment was conducted. The results indicate a relatively severe level of benzene pollution in both soil and air. The maximum exceedance factor of benzene in soil samples is 31.5, with the concentration exceedance depth at 1.5 m. The maximum concentration of benzene in air samples is 4.98 μg·m−3. Benzene, at 5.9% of the site, shows a low flux with negative values, while other components at various locations all exhibit a trend of transport from the soil phase to the atmospheric phase. Benzene is the pollutant that contributes the most to the transport flux from soil to air within the site. The coking area and sewage treatment area are key areas within the steel mill where BTEX accumulate easily in the soil. The non-carcinogenic risk values of the individual components of BTEX in the soil are below the acceptable risk level. However, the carcinogenic risk value of benzene in the children's exposure scenario exceeds the carcinogenic risk level of 10−6. The carcinogenic risk range of various components of BTEX in the air is 2.63 × 10−6~3.88 × 10−5, with 28.6% of the locations exceeding the threshold of 10−6. The range of the total HI (hazard index) is 2.08 × 10−4~1.81 × 10−1, all of which is below the safety threshold of 1. The results of this study will provide scientific support for the fine pollution control and environmental management of industrial contaminated sites with BTEX as their typical pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the impacts of climatic factors and human activities on sedimentary records of heavy metal (HM) contamination in lakes is essential for decision-making in global environmental monitoring and assessment. Spatiotemporal distributions of grain size (GS) and HM (Al, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb) concentrations have been conducted in core sediments that are collected from two adjacent plateau fault-bound lakes in southwest China with contrasting environments, i.e., deep oligotrophic Lake Fuxian (FX) and shallow hypertrophic Lake Xingyun (XY). Results showed that the average value of d50 in FX (4.61 μm) was lower than that in XY (8.35 μm), but the average concentrations of HMs (except Cr and Mn) in XY were higher than those in FX. Heavy metal burial rates (HMBR) were mainly controlled by sediment accumulation rates (SARs) rather than HM concentrations. The correlation coefficients between GS and HM concentrations became strong as the increasing water depths were associated with a stable sedimentary environment. Time-integrated enrichment factors (EF) and source identification of HMs between FX and XY represented that Cr, Ni, and Cu originated from natural sources but Mn, Zn, As, and Pb from anthropogenic sources, respectively. Regardless of FX and XY, the transition times of HMs from natural to anthropogenic sources occurred in the mid-1960s. Comparison of qualification impacts of climatic factors and human-induced factors on increased anthropogenic HMBR by the partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) implied that socio-economic activities, such as population density (PD) and gross domestic product (GDP), provided higher contributors to increased anthropogenic HMBR in XY (0.23/0.71) than FX (0.11/0.18). The comparative results of this study provided new insights into environmental monitoring and management of HM contamination for adjacent lakes with contrasting environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing PM2.5‐related premature mortality is essential for health‐related sustainable development. China, one of the most populated and PM2.5 polluted developing countries in the world, is striving to be in the vanguard for meeting this target. However, the global chemical transport methods for future PM2.5 projections are difficult to use and computationally expensive and may import measurement uncertainty into regional exposure assessments, thus bringing challenges to policy making. Here, we proposed an integrated PM2.5 projection model framework based on regional land use, emission, climate and population simulations. The ambient PM2.5 exposure and associated premature mortality to 2100 in China at a scale of 10 × 10 km were projected and compared under different development pathways. Ambient PM2.5 exposure is expected to peak in recent decades (2030–2060) with mean values ranging from 32.72 to 35.11 μg/m3 for different pathways, while associated premature mortality are projected to decrease (2273.9–778.59) (in thousands) over time (2030–2100). The change in the emission scenario with significant CH4 and NMVOC increases could lead to the greatest increase in average PM2.5 exposure (4.03 μg/m3), while the decrease (−0.90 μg/m3) was linked to BC, SO2, CH4, and NMVOC decreases. Meanwhile, premature deaths decrease (15–226,424) for most projection periods when land use, emissions, and population data were separately replaced with RCP2.6‐SSP1 data. Land use impacts in socioeconomic change scenarios could be moderate in certain regions. Therefore, the sustainable development pathway of the RCP2.6‐SSP1 scenario should be prioritized in China for future development considering both environmental protection and health sustainability. Plain Language Summary: Reducing PM2.5 exposure and the related health burden is one of the primary tasks for sustainable environmental and health development. China has made great efforts to meet this challenge, but the influence duration and future trend are not clear. We projected the future PM2.5 exposure and associated health burden to 2100 in China for four common development pathways and develop sensitivity analyses by replacing land use, emissions, and population data separately. We found that ambient PM2.5 exposure and associated premature mortality for the pathway with low radiative forcing levels and sustainable socioeconomic development were the lowest for most projection periods in common pathways and sensitivity analyses. This illustrates that the sustainable development pathway for both climate and socioeconomic factors should be a top priority for China. Key Points: An integrated PM2.5 exposure projection model framework based on regional climate and socioeconomic simulations was proposedPM2.5 exposures in China are expected to peak in 2030–2060 while premature deaths are expected to decrease over time for all scenariosPM2.5 exposure and associated premature deaths decreased for most projection periods when scenario data were replaced with RCP2.6‐SSP1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate whether the "one-child policy" has contributed to the rise in China's household saving rate and human capital in recent decades. In a life-cycle model with intergenerational transfers and human capital accumulation, fertility restrictions lower expected old-age support coming from children—inducing parents to raise saving and education investment in their offspring. Quantitatively, the policy can account for at least 30% of the rise in aggregate saving. Using the birth of twins under the policy as an empirical out-of-sample check to the theory, we find that quantitative estimates on saving and education decisions line up well with micro-data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives of this study were to investigate the concentrations, distributions, toxicities, and risk assessment of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface soils surrounding a coal chemical industrial zone in the southeast of Shanxi province, China. A total of 52 topsoil samples were collected from different land-use areas: cereal agriculture, roadsides, and parkland. Results show that the total PAHs (∑16PAHs) ranged from 3.87 × 103 to 116 × 103 µg kg−1 and that the total carcinogenicity PAHs (∑BPAHs) ranged from 3.11 × 103 to 94.2 × 103 µg kg−1, with the highest concentration of ∑16PAHs noted in the RS samples, followed by PS and AS. The entire risk quotient of all PAH maximum permissible concentrations (RQ∑PAHMPCi) was greater than 1.0, and the minimum concentration entire risk quotient (RQ∑PAHNCi) of 84.3% of all samples was higher than 800. The value of the total toxicity equivalent concentration of PAH (PAHBapeq) for areas surrounding the coal chemical industrial zone was higher than the value of the standard level, and the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) far exceeds the U.S. EPA's risk standard. The toxic properties of PAHs indicated that the soils in the survey areas have a high risk to human health and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the spillover nature of air pollution, the territorial separate governance mode is ineffective in combating pollution, making Joint Prevention and Control of Air Pollution (JPCAP) among multiple regions the only viable option. However, determining the appropriate scopes and priorities for JPCAP is known to be a challenging and significant issue. To address this, we propose a new two-stage hybrid model. In the first stage, making use of long-term, wide area monitoring data provided by the air pollution monitoring network, we propose a new method for subdividing large regions into sub-regions by using data mining techniques. In the second stage, we propose a comprehensive decision-making framework to evaluate the priorities of JPCAP sub-regions from three different perspectives, namely, the impact of a sub-region on the pollution level of the entire target region, as well as the urgency and elasticity of sub-regional air pollution control. A case study is conducted on 27 cities of the Yangtze River Delta region of China. The case study demonstrates the validity and practicality of the proposed two-stage hybrid model. This work provides a viable tool for the effective implementation of air pollution control in China and other regions of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Yangquan County, the sandfly-transmitted virus (Wuxiang virus) was first isolated from sandflies in 2018. However, relationships between the abundance and seasonal fluctuations of local sandflies and sandfly-transmitted viruses are unknown. Herein, we report that sandfly specimens were collected in three villages in Yangquan County, from June to August, 2019. A total of 8363 sandflies were collected (June, 7927; July, 428; August, 8). Eighteen virus strains (June, 18; July, 0; August, 0) were isolated in pools of Phlebotomus chinensis. The genome sequence of the newly isolated virus strain was highly similar to that of the Wuxiang virus (WUXV), isolated from sandflies in Yangquan County in 2018. Our results suggested that the sandfly-transmitted viruses, and the local sandfly population, are stable in Yangquan County, and that June is the peak period for the virus carried by sandflies in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critical medicine residency training in China started in 2020, but no investigation on the practice of tracheal intubation in ICUs in China has been conducted. A survey was sent to the adult ICUs in public hospitals in Shenzhen (SZ) city and Xinjiang (XJ) province using a WeChat miniprogram to be completed by intensive care physicians. It included questions on training on intubation, intubation procedures, and changes in the use of personal protective equipment due to COVID-19. We analyzed 301 valid questionnaires which were from 72 hospitals. A total of 37% of respondents had completed training in RSI (SZ, 40% vs. XJ, 30%; p = 0.066), and 50% had participated in a course on the emergency front of the neck airway (SZ, 47% vs. XJ, 54%; p = 0.256). Video laryngoscopy was preferred by 75% of respondents. Manual ventilation (56%) and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (34%) were the first-line options for preoxygenation. For patients with a high risk of aspiration, nasogastric decompression (47%) and cricoid pressure (37%) were administered. Propofol (82%) and midazolam (70%) were the most commonly used induction agents. Only 19% of respondents routinely used neuromuscular blocking agents. For patients with difficult airways, a flexible endoscope was the most commonly used device by 76% of respondents. Most participants (77%) believed that the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly increased their awareness of the need for personal protective equipment during tracheal intubation. Our survey demonstrated that the ICU doctors in these areas lack adequate training in airway management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol acidity plays a key role in regulating the chemistry and toxicity of atmospheric aerosol particles. The trend of aerosol pH and its drivers is crucial in understanding the multiphase formation pathways of aerosols. Here, we reported the first trend analysis of aerosol pH from 2011 to 2019 in eastern China, calculated with the ISORROPIA model based on observed gas and aerosol compositions. The implementation of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan led to -35.8 %, -37.6 %, -9.6 %, -81.0 % and 1.2 % changes of PM 2.5 , SO42- , NHx , non-volatile cations (NVCs) and NO3- in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region during this period. Different from the drastic changes of aerosol compositions due to the implementation of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan, aerosol pH showed a minor change of -0.24 over the 9 years. Besides the multiphase buffer effect, the opposite effects from the changes of SO42- and non-volatile cations played key roles in determining this minor pH trend, contributing to a change of +0.3 8 and -0.35 , respectively. Seasonal variations in aerosol pH were mainly driven by the temperature, while the diurnal variations were driven by both temperature and relative humidity. In the future, SO2 , NOx and NH3 emissions are expected to be further reduced by 86.9 %, 74.9 % and 41.7 % in 2050 according to the best health effect pollution control scenario (SSP1-26-BHE). The corresponding aerosol pH in eastern China is estimated to increase by ∼0.19 , resulting in 0.04 less NO3- and 0.12 less NH4+ partitioning ratios, which suggests that NH3 and NOx emission controls are effective in mitigating haze pollution in eastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of factors may affect the planning and design of urban infrastructure but urban population usually is the primary consideration given scaling laws between population and infrastructure. Although urban physical spatial form and infrastructure are physically attached, their allometric scaling has not been systematically addressed. In this study, we examine how five types of infrastructure, including roads, water supply pipelines, drainage pipelines, buses, and schools, affect urban spatial form characterized with landscape metrics derived for 78 large cities in China. The results suggest that urban infrastructure has scaling relations with landscape shape index (LSI), area-weighted mean perimeter-area ratio (PARA_AM), and largest patch index. Specifically, at the mean value of PARA_AM, road area increases about 2.5 times when doubling LSI. Under the same population size, cities with more fragmented spatial form need more investments in infrastructure, particularly roads and other traffic components. It is concluded that urban infrastructure experiences a super-linear quantitative relationship with landscape metrics, and a city with a more complex urban form spatially requires more infrastructure. The coefficients of the regression models show a lot of variations but the allometric scaling is meaningful for the planning and design of urban infrastructure. It will be helpful to incorporate ecological landscape metrics into urban planning and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal (HM) contamination resulting from industrialization and urbanization during the Anthropocene along with plant invasion can severely threaten the growth and adaptation of local flora. Invasive alien plant species generally exhibit a growth pattern consistent with their functional traits in non-contaminated environments in the introduced range. However, it remains unclear whether invasive alien plants have an advantage over native plants in contaminated environments and whether this growth pattern is dependent on the adaptation of their leaf functional traits. Here, we selected two congeneric pairs of invasive alien and native grasses that naturally co-exist in China and are commonly found growing in contaminated soil. To evaluate the effect of cadmium (Cd) on the structural and physiological leaf traits, we grew all four species in soil contaminated without or with 80 mg/kg Cd. Invasive plants contained significantly higher concentrations of Cd in all three organs (leaf, stem, and root). They displayed a higher transfer factor and bioconcentration factor (BCF) of shoot and root than natives, indicating that invasive species are potential Cd hyperaccumulators. Invasive plants accumulated polyphenol oxidase (PPO) to higher levels than natives and showed similar patterns of leaf structural and physiological traits in response to changes in Cd bioconcentration. The quantifiable leaf structural traits of invasive plants were significantly greater (except for stomatal density and number of dead leaves) than native plants. Leaf physiological traits, chlorophyll content, and flavonoid content were also significantly higher in invasive plants than in natives under Cd stress conditions after 4 weeks, although nitrogen balance index (NBI) showed no significant difference between the two species. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters decreased, except for the quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) and the proportion of open photosystem II (qP), which increased under Cd stress conditions in both species. However, invasive plants exhibited higher fluorescence parameters than natives under Cd stress, and the decrement observed in invasive plants under Cd stress was greater than that in natives. High Cd adaptation of invasive grasses over natives suggests that invasive plants possess optimal leaf structural and physiological traits, which enable them to adapt to stressful conditions and capture resources more quickly than natives. This study further emphasizes the potential invasion of alien plants in contaminated soil environments within the introduced range. To a certain extent, some non-invasive alien plants might adapt to metalliferous environments and serve as hyperaccumulator candidates in phytoremediation projects in contaminated environments. Higher structural and physiological leaf traits in invasive than in native plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southeast Asia is one of the largest biomass burning (BB) regions in the world, and the air pollutants generated by this BB have an important impact on air pollution in southern China. However, the mechanism of the cross-border transport of BB pollutants to neighboring regions is yet to be understood. Based on the MODIS remote sensing products and conventional observation data of meteorology and the environment, the WRF-Chem and FLEXPART-WRF models were used to simulate a typical PM2.5 pollution episode that occurred during 24–26 March 2017 to analyze the mechanism of cross-border transport of BB pollutants over Yunnan Plateau (YP) in southwest China. During this air pollution episode, in conjunction with the flourishing BB activities over the neighboring Indo-China Peninsula (ICP) regions in Southeast Asia, and driven by the southwesterly winds prevailing from the ICP to YP, the cross-border transport of pollutants was observed along the transport pathway with the lifting plateau topography in YP. Based on the proximity to the BB sources in ICP, YP was divided into a source region (SR) and a receptor region (RR) for the cross-border transport, and the negative and positive correlation coefficients (R) between PM2.5 concentrations and wind speeds, respectively, were presented, indicating the different impacts of BB emissions on the two regions. XSBN and Kunming, the representative SR and RR sites in the border and hinterland of YP, respectively, have distinct mechanisms that enhance PM2.5 concentrations of air pollution. The SR site is mainly affected by the ICP BB emissions with local accumulation in the stagnant meteorological conditions, whereas the RR site is dominated by the regional transport of PM2.5 with strong winds and vertical mixing. It was revealed that the large PM2.5 contributions of ICP BB emissions lift from the lower altitudes in SR to the higher altitudes in RR for the regional transport of PM2.5. Moreover, the contributions of regional transport of PM2.5 decrease with the increase in transport distance, reflecting an important role of transport distance between the source–receptor areas in air pollution change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, complex network theory has been applied to reveal the transport patterns and cooperative regions of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) over China from 2015 to 2019. The results show that the degrees, weighted degrees, and edge lengths of PM 2.5 cities follow power law distributions. We find that the cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei–Henan–Shandong (BTHHS) region have a strong ability to export PM 2.5 pollution to other cities. By analyzing the transport routes, we show that a mass of links extends southward from the BTHHS to the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) regions with 1 or 2 d time lags. Hence, we conclude that earlier emission reduction in the BTHHS region and early warning measures in the YRD region will provide better air pollution mitigation in both regions. Moreover, significant links are concentrated in wintertime, suggesting the impact of the winter monsoon. In addition, all cities have been divided into nine clusters according to their spatial correlations. We suggest that the cities in the same clusters should be regarded as a whole to control the level of air pollution. This approach is able to characterize the transport and cluster for other air pollutants, such as ozone and NOx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An epiphytic gammarid species, Apohyale sp., was abundant in the floating Ulva prolifera (U. prolifera), which forms large-scale green tides in the Yellow Sea (YSGT). Field observation and laboratory experiments were subsequently conducted to study the species identity, abundance, and grazing effects on the floating algal biomass. The abundance of Apohyale sp. showed great spatial variation and varied from 0.03 to 1.47 inds g−1 in the YSGT. In average, each gram of Apohyale sp. body mass can consume 0.43 and 0.60 g algal mass of U. prolifera per day, and the grazing rates varied among the algae cultured with different nutritional seawaters. It was estimated that grazing of Apohyale sp. could efficiently reduce ~0.4 and 16.6% of the algal growth rates in Rudong and Qingdao, respectively. The U. prolifera fragments resulting from gnawing of Apohyale sp. had a higher growth rate and similar photosynthetic activities compared to the floating algae, indicating probably positive feedback on the floating algal biomass. This research corroborated the significant impact of Apohyale sp. on the floating algal mass of YSGT through the top-down control. However, further research is needed to understand the population dynamics of these primary predators and hence their correlation with the expansion or decline of YSGT, especially under the complex food webs in the southern Yellow Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thousands of individuals have perished as a result of Covid-19 and it has turned into a global problem. The novel coronavirus 2019 (nCoV-2019), also known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spread rapidly following its discovery in Wuhan patients with acute pneumonia in China. No medication or vaccine are available to treat human coronavirus infection successfully. The alternative therapies and cures are not are effective or authorised to treat Corona virus. Treatments are primarily supportive because no particular pandemic cure has been licenced. New interventions will most likely take months to years to mature. Using antiviral medicinal herbs as an auxiliary or supportive therapy seems to be a viable alternative. The essential oils of medicinal plants have antiviral and immunomodulatory effects. Being rich in antioxidants, essential oils can be used to develop new antiviral remedies. Such beneficial essential oils are being evaluated and exploited for its potent therapeutic use against many viruses. These natural compounds bestow antiviral actions by disrupting the viral life cycle during viral entry, assembly, replication, discharge and virus-specific host targets. This study highlights the essential oils derived from medicinal and aromatic plants with in vitro and in vivo antiviral effects. Essential oils having known pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties can be repurposed as a strategy against deadly SARS-CoV-2 infection. These essential oils of herbal plants can be an effective therapeutic strategy against SARS-CoV-2 when used along with conventional antiviral medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Urban Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.) is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Hot dry rock (HDR) is an important geothermal resource and clean energy source that may play an increasingly important role in future energy management. High‐temperature HDR resources were recently detected in deep regions of the Gonghe Basin on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, which led to a significant breakthrough in HDR resource exploration in China. This research analyzes the deep temperature distribution, radiogenic heat production, heat flow, and crustal thermal structure in the Qiaboqia Valley, Guide Plain, and Zhacanggou area of the Gonghe Basin based on geothermal exploration borehole logging data, rock thermophysical properties, and regional geophysical exploration data. The results are applied to discuss the heat accumulation mechanism of the HDR resources in the Gonghe Basin. The findings suggest that a low‐velocity layer in the thickened crust of the Tibetan Plateau provides the most important source of constant intracrustal heat for the formation of HDR resources in the Gonghe Basin, whereas crustal thickening redistributes the concentrated layer of radioactive elements, which compensates for the relatively low heat production of the basal granite and serves as an important supplement to the heat of the HDR resources. The negative effect is that the downward curvature of the lithospheric upper mantle caused by crustal thickening leads to a small mantle heat flow component. As a result, the heat flows in the Qiaboqia Valley and Guide Plain of the Gonghe Basin are 106.2 and 77.6 mW/m2, respectively, in which the crust‐mantle heat flow ratio of the former is 3.12:1, indicating a notably anomalous intracrustal thermal structure. In contrast, the crust‐mantle heat flow ratio in the Guide Plain is 1.84:1, which reflects a typical hot crust‐cold mantle thermal structure. The Guide Plain and Zhacanggou area show the same increasing temperature trend with depth, which reflects that their geothermal backgrounds and deep high‐temperature environments are similar. These results provide important insight on the heat source mechanism of HDR resource formation in the Tibetan Plateau and useful guidance for future HDR resource exploration projects and target sites selection in similar areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive floating macroalgal blooms in the ocean result in many ecological consequences. Tracking their drifting pattern and predicting their biomass are essential for effective marine management. In this study, a physical–ecological model, the Floating Macroalgal Growth and Drift Model (FMGDM), was developed. Based on the tracking, replication, and extinction of Lagrangian particles, FMGDM is capable of determining the dynamic growth and drift pattern of floating macroalgae, with the position, velocity, quantity, and represented biomass of particles being updated synchronously between the tracking and the ecological modules. The particle tracking is driven by ocean flows and sea surface wind, and the ecological process is controlled by the temperature, irradiation, and nutrients. The flow and turbulence fields were provided by the unstructured grid Finite-Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM), and biological parameters were specified based on a culture experiment of Ulva prolifera , a phytoplankton species causing the largest worldwide bloom of green tide in the Yellow Sea, China. The FMGDM was applied to simulate the green tide around the Yellow Sea in 2014 and 2015. The model results, e.g., the distribution, and biomass of the green tide, were validated using the remote-sensing observation data. Given the prescribed spatial initialization from remote-sensing observations, the model was robust enough to reproduce the spatial and temporal developments of the green tide bloom and its extinction from early spring to late summer, with an accurate prediction for 7–8 d. With the support of the hydrodynamic model and biological macroalgae data, FMGDM can serve as a model tool to forecast floating macroalgal blooms in other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowslides that override a liquefied substrate can vastly enhance a disaster after failure initiation. These effects may result from the rapid velocity and long runout distance from slides mobilized into flows. It is thus crucial to provide an improved understanding of the transformation mechanisms of catastrophic flowslides for hazard evaluation. This study examines the Saleshan landslide in Gansu, China, which occurred in 1983 and killed more than 200 people. The Saleshan landslide travelled for approximately 1 km due to pore water pressure generation resulting from overrunning and liquefication of the alluvial sands in the river valley below. We used geomorphologic and topographic maps to determine its dynamic features and mobilization behaviors on the landslide body, and placemarks and seismic signals to identify its approximate velocity at different sites. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys also revealed the hydrogeological conditions post‐landslide, showing a clear groundwater table along with the liquefied alluvial sand and gravel layers. Particle size distributions and triaxial shear behaviors confirmed more ready liquefaction of superficial loess and underlying alluvial sand in comparison with the red soil above and below them. Novel loading impact triaxial testing was also performed on the alluvial sand to elucidate its liquefaction potential in undrained and drained conditions. The alluvial sand was found to be markedly prone to liquefaction in undrained conditions due to impact‐induced increased pore water pressure. The results further demonstrated that the Saleshan landslide underwent a transformation from a slowing slide on a steep slope, where it originated, to flow on a nearly flat terrace with abundant groundwater that it overrode. The transformation mechanism involved the liquefied alluvium sand substrate, which greatly enhanced the landslide mobility. Along with recent, similar findings from landslides globally, substrate liquefaction may result in a widespread, significant increase in landslide mobility and thus hazard, and the present study identifies the requisite conditions for this phenomenon to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of anthropogenic emissions on the reduction of source‐specific equivalent black carbon (eBC) aerosols and their direct radiative effects (DREs) were investigated during the lockdown of the coronavirus outbreak in a megacity of China in 2020. Five eBC sources were identified using a hybrid environmental receptor model. Results showed that biomass burning, traffic‐related emissions, and coal combustion were the dominant contributors to eBC. The generalized additive model indicated that the reduction of traffic‐related eBC during the lockdown was entirely attributed to the decrease of emissions. Decreased biomass‐burning activities and favorable meteorological factors are both important drivers for the biomass‐burning eBC reduction during the lockdown. A radiative transfer model showed that the DRE efficiency of eBC from biomass burning was the strongest, followed by coal combustion and traffic‐related emissions. This study highlights that aggressive reduction in the consumption of residential solid fuels would be effective in achieving climate change mitigation. Plain Language Summary: Due to the lockdown of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19), anthropogenic activities were drastically reduced in China. A field campaign was conducted before and during the lockdown in a megacity of China. The results showed that equivalent black carbon (eBC) decreased by 51% during the lockdown compared with the normal days. The source apportionment of eBC indicated that traffic‐related emissions, biomass burning and coal combustion were the main eBC sources. The reduction of anthropogenic emissions brought a decrease of 1.4 ± 0.16 μg m−3 of traffic‐related eBC (eBCtraffic), 0.68 ± 0.23 μg m−3 of biomass‐burning eBC (eBCbiomass), and 0.3 ± 0.05 μg m−3 of coal combustion eBC (eBCcoal). In contrast, the meteorological factors barely contributed to eBCtraffic, but lowered 0.42 ± 0.48 μg m−3 of eBCbiomass, and raised eBCcoal by 0.1 ± 0.23 μg m−3. Although, eBCtraffic decreased most among all source‐specific BC in the lockdown, direct radiative effect (DRE) of eBCbiomass had the greatest decrease due to its high DRE efficiency. This study indicates that controlling traffic emissions is an effective approach for BC emission reduction, but aggressive reduction in the consumption of residential solid fuels would also make an effective contribution to climate change mitigation. Key Points: Equivalent black carbon (eBC) from traffic‐related emissions has decreased the mostthe most decrement in the COVID‐19 lockdownContribution of emission reduction to decreased BC concentration was greater than that of meteorological factors during COVID‐19 lockdownAggressive reduction in the consumption of residential solid fuels would be effective on climate change mitigation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal resources have great development potential and prospects, owing to their wide distribution and high thermal storage temperature. HDR resources are abundant in China, but their exploration and exploitation remain in the early stages. The Yishu fault zone in Shandong Province in eastern China is in a high-temperature geothermal zone of the Pacific Rim. Three craters and 15 hot springs are in this area, which possesses abundant geothermal resources and favourable conditions for the occurrence of HDR resources. Nevertheless, HDR resources in this area have not been studied in detail, and the index-evaluation system for HDR is still imperfect. In this paper, five index layers are selected, including: the gravity and magnetic fields, geothermal field, tectonic activity, reservoir and cover characteristics, and remotely sensed features. Thirteen index elements were also selected as evaluation factors. In combination, these index layers and index elements have established a favourable evaluation index system for HDR resources in this region, and the analytic hierarchy process has been used to determine the weight of each factor. Then, the GIS spatial analysis function is used to carry out spatial superposition analyses for each index element, and finally the distribution characteristics of HDR resources east of the Yishu fault zone were determined, with four favourable selection areas being delineated. The occurrence conditions of HDR resources are analysed in detail with evaluation indexes. It is believed that HDR resources are closely related to neotectonic movement, volcanism and rocks with high heat-generation rates. Searching for areas with geothermal anomalies is indispensable for the evaluation of HDR resources. This study provides a basis for the exploration and development of HDR resources in the region, and it can also provide a reference for similar work in other parts of the country. A set of evaluation indexes to determine favourable areas for HDR resources, including gravity, geothermal field, geological structure and crustal stability, heat storage and heat cover and features on remotely sensed images, is established. East of Yishu fault zone, there is a great potential of HDR resources, with an area of 19 399 km2 of favourable and more favourable areas, accounting for approximately 38.8% of the total area. HDR resources are likely closely associated with neotectonics, igneous activity, geothermal anomalies and rocks with a high heat-generation rate such as granites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responding to claims in urban studies and epidemiology that modern urban living negatively affects the mental health of the poor and newcomers to the city, this paper offers a different account based on an ethnography of a neighbourhood in central Shanghai, where precarious rural migrant lives unfold. Drawing on the concept of "ecologies of experience" to recognise the making of everyday sensibilities and affective tensions in urban dwelling, it focuses on subjectivity formed in habits of negotiating the urban environment, in coping with troubled thoughts and feelings posed by precariousness. The paper considers ecologies of experience arising in distinct prosaic locations – a public library, a large bookstore, and a café – found to be important in the everyday spatial practices of migrants, grounding to different degrees of success hopes for their present and future in the city. In such dwelling, the stresses to mental health – consistently described by migrants as "pressure" (yali) – seem to be moderated through varied forms of respite, slowing‐down, and "moments of being," though always in ambivalent ways. In recognising the everyday materiality of urban living, the paper looks beyond the tendency in studies of China's internal migration to read off migrant mental health outcomes from structural disadvantages related to work, welfare, and living conditions. Conceptually, it opens new ground in thinking by acknowledging the role of the felt qualities of lived experience in managing mental states, building on work in geography, sociology, and anthropology attentive to the affective resonances of place and to practices of urban negotiation. Focusing on migrant lives in central Shanghai, this paper examines how situated practices of urban dwelling contribute to the management of mental stress. Dissenting with accounts that typify urban living as deleterious to mental health, the paper argues that it is in the relationship between bodies and their environment where subjectivity, including mental states, are formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of PAH sources in soil plays an important role in making the decision of pollution emission restriction, as well as toxic information. The present study developed a modified receptor model to apportion the contribution of various sources to PAHs and associated toxic. PMF model was selected as the basic source apportionment model to identify sources and apportion their contributions. Toxic assessment models, including carcinogenicity assessment model and mutagenicity assessment model, were then used with PMF to obtain toxic-oriented source contribution. To attain this objective, 16 priority PAHs in the soil around Miyun Reservoir were selected as a case study. The results showed that the dominant source of soil PAHs was wood/biomass combustion (31.02%), followed by vehicular source (27.17%), petroleum source (21.27%) and coal combustion (20.53%). While the highest contributor to carcinogenicity and mutagenicity was a vehicular source, with a proportion of 36.61% and 41.46%, respectively. This study highlights the combined utilization of the source apportionment model and toxic assessment model. The approach was valuable for providing comprehensive source-oriented risk information, and expanding the application of both PMF and toxic assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study offers the first evaluation of organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) of submicron (PM1) fraction in Changchun (Northeast China) during a year-long sampling period (October 24, 2016 to October 23, 2017). More than 288 PM1 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 1 μm) samples were collected. The PM1 concentrations ranged from 3.78 to 451.08 μg·m−3, with an average of 57.73 μg·m−3, which was 1.65 times higher than the Chinese National Standard II. Following the concept of the well-known IMPROVE algorithm, OC and EC values were obtained. The OC values ranged from 1.18 to 82.54 μg∙m−3, and the EC values were from 0.30 to 14.19 μg∙m−3. Total carbon (TC = EC + OC) constituted 9.11–40.35% of the total PM1 mass, and OC dominated over EC. The average OC/EC ratio was 4.78, which implied a low percentage for vehicles and a high contribution of coal and biomass consumption to PM1. Among OC, the annual primary organic carbon (POC) value was 7.69 μg∙m−3, accounting for 63% of the OC, while secondary organic carbon (SOC) contributed 37% with 4.12 μg∙m−3. Among EC, CHAR (EC1) dominated over SOOT (EC2 + EC3), and the CHAR/SOOR ratio ranged from 2.91 to 28.55. The results of the OC and EC values as well as the OC/EC and CHAR/SOOT ratios suggest that possible sources of PM1 include vehicles, coal burning, cooking, and biomass burning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Cryptococcosis following kidney transplantation (KT) is rare but is associated with considerably increased risk of mortality. At present, data on the association between cryptococcosis and KT in mainland China remain relatively limited. Objectives. This study aims to review our experience related to the management of cryptococcosis following KT at a Chinese tertiary hospital. Methods. All patients with cryptococcosis following KT admitted to our hospital from January 2010 to December 2018 were reviewed. Results. A total of 37 patients with cryptococcosis were enrolled (males: 62.2%). The mean age of the patients was 49.5 ± 9.38 (20–64) years. The average time to infection following KT was 7.0 ± 5.50 years (5 months to 21 years), and 30 patients (81.1%) had cryptococcosis onset >2 years following transplantation. The most common site of infection was the central nervous system, followed by the pulmonary system and skin. Most patients received fluconazole or voriconazole with or without flucytosine as their initial treatment regimen at our hospital. The 2-week mortality rate was 8.1% (3/37), and five patients (13.5%) died within 6 months of being diagnosed with cryptococcosis. Remarkably, all patients who received high-dose fluconazole (800 mg daily) or voriconazole ± flucytosine survived. Conclusions. Cryptococcosis in kidney transplant recipients is typically a late-occurring infection, with most patients having cryptococcosis onset >2 years following KT at our hospital. The central nervous system, pulmonary system, and skin are the main sites of infection. Voriconazole or high-dose fluconazole can be used as an alternative therapy for post-KT cryptococcosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northwest region of the Jiaodong Peninsula has a complex geological environment that experiences frequent microseismic activity. In situ stress magnitudes and orientations in three underground gold mines (i.e., Sanshandao, Xincheng, and Linglong gold mines) were obtained by an improved overcoring technique with a hollow inclusion strain gauge from 53 measuring points, and the distribution characteristics of the in situ stress field were analyzed. The results show that the stress field is characterized by σH > σh > σv and σH > σv > σh (where σH, σh, and σv are maximum horizontal, minimum horizontal, and vertical principal stresses, respectively). The regional stress field is dominated by the horizontal principal stress in the measurement depth ranges. The σH is dominantly oriented in the NWW–SEE or near E–W direction, which is, in general, in agreement with those interpreted by focal mechanism solutions, geodesic leveling analysis, and GPS data. The stress accumulation in the study area is at moderate and low levels under the present tectonic stress state, and the superficial crust is in a relatively stable state. The stress accumulation in the thrust stress state and the strike-slip stress state are mostly moderate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ambient fine particulate matter is a considerable hazard to human health and the surrounding environment of the majority of Chinese cities. This article reviews the status of air pollution, especially PM2.5, in 21 cities of China, on the basis of their status, chemical characteristics, and regulations data collected from the published literature. The observed results show Zhengzhou, Yulin, Jinan, Qingdao, and Changchun as significantly polluted cities where the annual mean concentration of PM2.5 was noted to be greater than 120 µg m−3. However, some cities such as Xiamen, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Jinchang reported average annual PM2.5 concentrations less than 40 µg m−3. In general, the results of spatial distribution reported that the cities of the east, north, and northeast China are highly polluted. According to the average mass of PM2.5 in maximum cities of China, the sum of sulfate, nitrate and ammonium (SNA) and organic matter (OM) contributed over 40 and 35%, respectively. The higher amount of SNA and OM in PM2.5 results from heavy traffic or vehicle emission and burning solid fuel utilized in most part of China. A proposed systemic approach to address the PM2.5 in China can improve the quality of ambient atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to analyze four essential oils (EOs) from Rhododendron species in China and evaluate their repellent activity against Tribolium castaneum, Lasioderma serricorne, and Liposcelis bostrychophila adults. These four EOs from Rhododendron species, including R. capitatum, R. przewalskii, R. mucronulatum, and R. micranthum, were obtained by hydrodistillation. Major components of four EOs were identified as sesquiterpenoids by GC-MS. The relatively high components included cedrene (22.20%), borneol (36.64%), 4-(2,3,4,6-tetramethylphenyl)-3-buten-2-one (27.74%), and germacrene D (27.60%). Repellent activity of EOs from Rhododendron species was investigated against T. castaneum, L. serricorne, and L. bostrychophila adults for the first time. In this study, EOs had demonstrated their repellent activities against three stored-product insects in 2- and 4-h exposure. The above results can not only provide comprehensive utilization of plant resources of Rhododendron genus but also establish a very good perspective of novel application to control stored-product insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Modern Italian Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aquatic eutrophication is a major problem globally, leading to significant chemical-compositional changes in the first trophic levels of a food web. These will consequently affect the whole food web dynamics in eutrophic coastal ecosystems. In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variation in water chlorophyll-a, total organic carbon (TOC) and TOC/Chl-a ratio, and in the elemental/isotopic (Cat/Nat, δ13C, δ15N) composition of particulate organic matter (POM), phytoplankton, sedimentary organic matter, benthic microalgae, U. lactuca, and decaying leaves of mangrove plants in the eutrophic, urban lagoon of Yundang (Xiamen, China). Investigations were carried out in four different sectors of the lagoon in March (dominated by Ulva lactuca) and September (dominated by phytoplankton) 2009, and the feasible contribution of potential organic matter (OM) sources to POM was assessed in each period. The results showed significant spatiotemporal variation in δ13C and δ15N of POM, owing to changes in its carbon sources. The POM in the diversion canal (POMDC) of the lagoon originated mainly from terrestrial OM both in March and September, as evidenced by a Cat/Nat ratio of 12~17 and a TOC/Chl-a ratio exceeding 400, as well as depleted δ13C (− 27.3~− 23.7‰) and δ15N (− 2.8~0.1‰). The POM in the main canal (POMMC) and the inner (POMIL) and outer (POMOL) sectors of the lagoon were largely composed of lagoon-borne phytoplankton in September. This was revealed by TOC/Chl-a values below 100 and enriched δ13C values (− 22.7~− 17.9‰) which are close to the values typical for fresh phytoplankton. However, these were strongly regulated by exogenous OM in March. The combined contribution of POMMC and POMDC to POM in March reached 64–99% in the inner lagoon and 67–88% in the outer lagoon. Non-living POM, which originates from terrestrial organic detritus, was the main contributor to POM (60.7~85.7%) both in the inner and outer sections of the lagoon. Overall, the present study demonstrates that the temporal changes in the dominance of primary producers were reflected in significant variation in the environmental features and elemental/isotopic composition of OM sources and their contribution to POM in the Yundang Lagoon. To further our understanding of the effects of eutrophication due to different primary producers on the resource partitioning in the Yundang Lagoon, additional studies on the consumers and the whole food web of the lagoon are expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daily PM2.5 samples were collected in Nanjing, a megacity in southeastern China, for a period of one-half of a month during every season from 2014~2015. Mass concentrations of nine water soluble inorganic ions (F−, Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+) were determined using ion chromatography to identify the chemical characteristics and potential sources of PM2.5. The mass concentrations of daily PM2.5 ranged from 31.0 to 242.9 μg m−3, with an annual average and standard deviation of 94.4 ± 31.1 μg m−3. The highest seasonal average of PM2.5 concentrations was observed during winter (108.5 ± 31.8 μg m−3), and the lowest average was observed during summer (85.0 ± 22.6 μg m−3). The annual average concentration of total water soluble inorganic ions was 39.82 μg m−3, accounting for 44.4% of the PM2.5. The seasonal variation in water soluble inorganic ions in PM2.5 reached its maximum during autumn and reached its minimum during spring. Sulfate, nitrate and ammonium were the dominant water soluble inorganic species, with their combined proportion of 82.0% of the total water soluble inorganic ions and 36.8% of the fine particles. Seasonal variations in aerosol acidity and chemical forms of secondary inorganic ions were discussed. The average ratio of NO3−/SO42− was 0.95. According to the results of principal component analysis, secondary sources, burning processes, and airborne dust were the dominant potential sources of PM2.5 in Nanjing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most frequent multifactorial disease worldwide and is characterised by endothelial injury, lipid deposition and coronary artery calcification. The purpose of this study was to determine the allelic and genotypic frequencies of two loci (rs2026458 and rs9349379) of phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) to the risk of developing CAD in the Chinese Han population.Methods: A case-control study was conducted including 332 patients with CAD and 119 controls. Genotype analysis was performed by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Genetic model analysis was performed to evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms and CAD susceptibility using Pearson's χ2 test and logistic regression analysis.Results: The GG genotype of rs9349379 represented 50% and 29% of patients with CAD and controls, respectively (p<0.001). The CC genotype of rs2026458 was more prevalent in the controls than in patients with CAD compared with TT genotype (OR=0.548, 95% CI 0.351 to 0.856, p=0.008). Logistic regression analyses revealed that PHACTR1 rs9349379 GG genotype was significantly associated with increased risk of CAD in the recessive model (OR=2.359, 95% CI 1.442 to 3.862, p=0.001), even after adjusting for age gender, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and smoking habit. Heterogeneity test proved that rs9349379's risk effects on CAD were more significant among women.Conclusions: Our study indicate that the PHACTR1 rs9349379 polymorphism is associated with the increased risk for CAD in the female Chinese Han population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To gain insight into nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications (pressure ulcers, pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis and urinary tract infections) and explore the correlation of nurses’ knowledge and attitudes with the incidence of these complications. Background: Immobility complications have adverse consequences, and effective management requires appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills. Evidence about nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding immobility complications is lacking. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Methods: A total of 3,903 nurses and 21,333 bedridden patients from 25 hospitals in China were surveyed. Nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications were assessed using researcher‐developed questionnaires. The content validity, reliability and internal consistency of the questionnaires were validated through expert review and a pilot study. The incidence of major immobility complications among bedridden patients from selected wards was surveyed by trained investigators. Correlations between knowledge, attitudes and the incidence of major immobility complications were evaluated with multilevel regression models. Results: Mean knowledge scores were 64.07% for pressure ulcers, 72.92% for deep vein thrombosis, 76.54% for pneumonia and 83.30% for urinary tract infections. Mean attitude scores for these complications were 86.25%, 84.31%, 85.00% and 84.53%, respectively. Knowledge and attitude scores were significantly higher among nurses with older age, longer employment duration, higher education level, previous training experience and those working in tertiary hospitals or critical care units. Nurses’ knowledge about pressure ulcers was negatively related to the incidence of pressure ulcers, and attitude towards pneumonia was negatively correlated with the incidence of pneumonia. Conclusion: Clinical nurses have relatively positive attitudes but inadequate knowledge regarding major immobility complications. Improved knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications may contribute to reducing these complications. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Nursing managers should implement measures to improve nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding major immobility complications to reduce the incidence of these complications in bedridden patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the characteristics of PM2:5 and its major chemical components, formation mechanisms, and geographical origins in the two megacities, Chengdu (CD) and Chongqing (CQ), in Sichuan Basin of southwest China, daily PM2:5 samples were collected simultaneously at one urban site in each city for four consecutive seasons from autumn 2014 to summer 2015. Annual mean concentrations of PM2:5 were 67.0±43.4 and 70.9±41.4 μgm-3 at CD and CQ, respectively. Secondary inorganic aerosol (SNA) and organic matter (OM) accounted for 41.1 and 26.1% of PM2:5 mass at CD, and 37.4 and 29.6% at CQ, respectively. Seasonal variations of PM2:5 and major chemical components were significant, usually with the highest mass concentration in winter and the lowest in summer. Daily PM2:5 concentration exceeded the national air quality standard on 30% of the sampling days at both sites, and most of the pollution events were at the regional scale within the basin formed under stagnant meteorological conditions. The concentrations of carbonaceous components were higher at CQ than CD, likely partially caused by emissions from the large number of motorcycles and the spraying processes used during automobile production in CQ. Heterogeneous reactions probably played an important role in the formation of SO2-4, while both homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions contributed to the formation of NO-3 . Geographical origins of emissions sources contributing to high PM2:5 masses at both sites were identified to be mainly distributed within the basin based on potential source contribution function (PSCF) analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development and utilization of deep geothermal resources, especially a hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal resource, is beneficial for both economic and environmental consideration in oilfields. This study used data from multiple sources to assess the geothermal energy resource in the Daqing Oilfield. The temperature logs in boreholes (both shallow water wells and deep boreholes) and the drilling stem test temperature were used to create isothermal maps in depths. Upon the temperature field and thermophysical parameters of strata, the heat content was calculated by 1 km × 1 km× 0.1 km cells. The result shows that in the southeastern part of Daqing Oilfield, the temperature can reach 150 °C at a depth of 3 km. The heat content within 3-5 km is 24.28 × 1021 J, wherein 68.2% exceeded 150 °C. If the recovery factor was given by 2% and the lower limit of temperature was set to be 150 °C, the most conservative estimate for recoverable HDR geothermal resource was 0.33 × 1021 J. The uncertainties of the estimation are mainly contributed to by the temperature extrapolation and the physical parameter selections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunnel construction in watershed area of urban lakes would accelerate eutrophication by inputting nutrients into them, while mechanisms underlying the internal phosphorus cycling as affected by construction events are scarcely studied. Focusing on two main pathways of phosphorus releasing from sediment (enzymatic mineralization and anaerobic desorption), spatial and temporal variations in phosphorus fractionation, and activities of extracellular enzymes (alkaline phosphatase, β-1,4-glucosidase, leucine aminopeptidase, dehydrogenase, lipase) in sediment were examined, together with relevant parameters in interstitial and surface waters in a Chinese urban lake (Lake Donghu) where a subaqueous tunnel was constructed across it from October 2013 to July 2014. Higher alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) indicated phosphorus deficiency for phytoplankton, as illustrated by a significantly negative relationship between APA and concentration of dissolved total phosphorus (DTP). Noticeably, in the construction area, APAs in both sediment and surface water were significantly lower than those in other relevant basins, suggesting a phosphorus supply from some sources in this area. In parallel, its sediment gave the significantly lower iron-bound phosphorus (Fe(OOH)∼P) content, coupled with significantly higher ratio of iron (II) to total iron content (Fe/TFe) and dehydrogenase activities (DHA). Contrastingly, difference in the activities of sediment hydrolases was not significant between the construction area and other basins studied. Thus, in the construction area, subsidy of bioavailable phosphorus from sediment to surface water was attributable to the anaerobic desorption of Fe(OOH)∼P rather than enzymatic mineralization. Finally, there existed a significantly positive relationship between chlorophyll a concentration in surface water and Fe(OOH)∼P content in sediment. In short, construction activities within lakes may interrupt cycling patterns of phosphorus across sediment-water interface by enhancing release of redox-sensitive phosphate, and thereby facilitating phytoplankton growth in water column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dredging, which is the removal of polluted surface sediments from a water body, is an effective means of preventing the formation of algae-induced black blooms. However, an inappropriate dredging time may contribute to rather than inhibit the formation of black blooms. To determine the optimum dredging time, four treatments were simulated with sediment samples collected from Lake Taihu: dredging in January 2014 (DW), April 2014 (DA), July 2014 (DS), and no dredging (UD). Results showed that typical characteristics associated with black blooms, such as high levels of nutrients (NH-N and PO-P), Fe, ∑S ([HS] + [S]), and volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs), including dimethyl sulfide (DMS), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS), were more effectively suppressed in the water column by DW treatment than by UD treatment and the other two dredging treatments. The highest concentrations of NH-N and PO-P in the UD water column were 4.09 and 4.03 times, respectively, those in the DW water column. DMS levels in the UD and DS water columns were significantly higher ( p < 0.05) than those in the DW water column, but DMDS and DMTS levels were not significantly different between the treatments. After several months of dredging, surface sediments of the DW and DA treatments were well oxidized, and concentrations of Fe and ∑S were lower than those in UD and DS treatments because of material circulation between sediments and the water column. Water content, which is important for the transport of matter to the overlying water, was lower in the dredged sediments than in the undredged sediments. These factors can suppress the release of Fe and ∑S into the water column, thereby inhibiting the formation of black blooms. Black coloration occurred in the UD water column on the seventh day, 2 days later, and earlier, respectively, than the DW and DS water columns and almost on the same day as in the DA water column. This phenomenon is mainly attributed to the oxidation of the new sediment surface in the DW and DA water columns, suppressing the release of sulfur into the water column, because of a long incubation period. Thus, dredging in the winter can prevent the formation of black blooms, while dredging in summer may contribute to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has witnessed rapid economic growth in the past three decades, especially in coastal areas. Particulate matter (PM) pollution is becoming increasingly serious in China's cities along the western Pacific coast with the rapid development of China's society and economy. This study analyzed PM (PM and PM) in terms of their mass and chemical composition in four coastal Chinese cities. The goal was to study the spatial variation and characteristics of PM pollution in sites under different levels of economic development and in diverse natural environments. A distinct trend for concentrations of PM and related chemical species was observed and increased from south to north in Haikou, Ningbo, Qingdao, and Tianjin. Secondary inorganic aerosols, crustal materials, and organic matter dominated the composition of both PM and PM. Crustal materials were the most abundant species in the northern coastal areas because these areas have less vegetation cover and lower humidity than southern coastal areas. The presence of high SO/nitrate (NO) concentrations indicated that the burning of coals gives significant contributions to PM and PM. The differences observed in the characteristics of PM pollution in these coastal cities are probably caused by different levels of industrial and urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations and species of organotin compounds (OTCs) in 52 surface sediment samples from nine fishing ports along the Chinese coast were studied. Butyltins (BTs) and phenyltins (PhTs) were derivatized using sodium tetraethylborate (NaBEt) and determined by head-space solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) gas chromatography coupled with a flame photometric detector (GC-FPD). The concentrations of OTCs ranged from <3.6 to 194 ng (Sn) g dry weight (dw) for monobutyltin (MBT), <2.3 to 41.5 ng (Sn) g dw for dibutyltin (DBT), <0.7 to 86.0 ng (Sn) g dw for tributyltin (TBT) and <5.1 to 66.1 ng (Sn) g dw for monophenyltin (MPhT), respectively. The concentrations of diphenyltin (DPhT) and triphenyltin (TPhT) were below the limit of detection (LOD). BTs were the main species in the sediments except for the samples collected from Shazikou fishing port in Qingdao. The concentrations of MBT were higher than DBT and TBT. The concentrations of OTCs in the sediments varied widely among different sampling locations. The concentrations of BTs were much higher in the samples collected from fishing ports close to the South China Sea than those in coast of the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. MPhT was prevalent in most sampling stations except for those in coast of the East China Sea. The environmental and ecotoxicological risks of TBT in most sediment samples were low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current status of metal pollution of the sediments from urban-stream, estuary and Jinzhou Bay of the coastal industrial city, NE China. Forty surface sediment samples from river, estuary and bay and one sediment core from Jinzhou bay were collected and analyzed for heavy metal concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni and Mn. The data reveals that there was a remarkable change in the contents of heavy metals among the sampling sediments, and all the mean values of heavy metal concentration were higher than the national guideline values of marine sediment quality of China (GB 18668-2002). This is one of the most polluted of the world's impacted coastal systems. Both the correlation analyses and geostatistical analyses showed that Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd have a very similar spatial pattern and come from the industrial activities, and the concentration of Mn mainly caused by natural factors. The estuary is the most polluted area with extremely high potential ecological risk; however the contamination decreased with distance seaward of the river estuary. This study clearly highlights the urgent need to make great efforts to control the industrial emission and the exceptionally severe heavy metal pollution in the coastal area, and the immediate measures should be carried out to minimize the rate of contamination, and extent of future pollution problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]