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The school-to-work transition (STWT) period is crucial for students, and a protean career orientation (PCO) is important for a successful transition. The present study aimed to examine the effects of PCO on proactive career behaviors, the underlying mechanisms, and the development of PCO using a coaching approach. Study 1 was conducted based on 250 Chinese undergraduate and postgraduate students during STWT using self-reported questionnaires. Statistical results showed that PCO positively predicted proactive career behaviors and mediated by vocational identity and career adaptability. In Study 2, a randomized controlled trial was used to implement a coaching program that aimed at improving PCO and associated positive career outcomes. Statistical analyses found that the intervention group showed significant improvements in PCO, and the increase in PCO positively predicted increases in career adaptability, vocational identity, and proactive career behaviors.

Owing to the differences in sedimentary environments in the mining areas of western China, the mechanical properties of rocks in this region are significantly different from those in the central and eastern regions. Therefore, uniaxial cyclic loading-unloading tests were conducted on fine sandstone found in many roof rocks to study the evolution laws of mechanical properties, deformation characteristics, acoustic emission (AE) parameters, and energy under cyclic loading and unloading conditions. The accumulated residual strain, dissipative energy, acoustic emission cumulative ringing counts, and cumulative energy were introduced to characterize the degree of rock damage. Based on this, a piecewise constitutive model was established for fine sandstone. The results indicate that (1) the cumulative ringing counts and cumulative energy of the AE increase in a stepwise manner with an increase in the cyclic loading and unloading times. Still, there is a sudden increase in the plastic failure and post-peak failure stages. (2) The fine sandstone specimens' input energy, elastic energy, and dissipative energy density increased nonlinearly during the cyclic loading tests. Owing to the closure of the primary pores in the microfracture compaction stage, dominant matrix deformation in the elastic deformation stage, and development and expansion of cracks in the plastic failure stage, with an increase in the cyclic loading and unloading times, the dissipative energy ratio first decreased and then increased. (3) Based on the tangential modulus, residual strain, and Felicity ratio, fine sandstone's cyclic loading and unloading stress-strain curves were divided into microfracture compaction, elastic deformation, and plastic failure stages. The piecewise constitutive model of fine sandstone constructed with accumulated AE energy was the closest to the real stress-strain curve of the rock, and the deviations of the peak stress and peak strain from the actual situation were 0.52% and 0.84%, respectively. The research results can provide theoretical support for identifying the degree of rock damage in western mining areas and ensure the safe and efficient development of coal resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine a pooled prevalence of depression and its influencing factors among nursing home residents. Method: PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for studies investigating the prevalence and risk factors of late-life depression among nursing home residents between January 2012 and November 2022. Two reviewers independently completed the literature screening, data extraction and quality assessment. A random-effects model was utilized to pool the prevalence of depression and summarize the influencing factors. Results: This meta-analysis included 48 studies involving 28,501 participants. The pooled prevalence of depressive mood and major depressive disorder was 53% and 27%, respectively. The rate of depressive mood is higher in lower-middle-income countries (60.0%), compared with high- (53.0%) and upper-middle-income countries (44.0%). The rate of depressive mood (35.0%) is higher among females than male (19.0%). Depression was influenced by factors, including male (OR = 0.28), insufficient income (OR = 3.53), comorbidities (OR = 2.66), pain (OR = 2.67; r = 0.31), functional disability (r = 0.33), loneliness (r = 0.43), number of chronic health problems (r = 0.18), social support (r = −0.28), activities of daily living (r = −0.43), subjective health (r = −0.28), autonomy (r = −0.41), environment (r = −0.50) and physical (r = −0.57) and psychological health (r = −0.65). Conclusion: The prevalence of depressive mood is high among nursing home residents, especially in lower-middle-income countries. It is influenced by factors including gender, income, social support, daily activities, environment, physical and psychological health and autonomy. Understanding those factors can provide evidence-based recommendations for improved awareness, prevention and better management of late-life depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the intergenerational effects of maternal education on adolescents' development in education and health by using data from the China Education Panel Survey. The ordinary least squares and two-stage least squares estimates indicate that maternal education increases both children's cognitive test scores and the probability of being nearsighted and overweight. The net effects of maternal education on the economic well-being of adolescents is inconclusive. We further find that family environment and parenting style are the most relevant mediating mechanisms through which maternal education affects the development of adolescents.

This article details the design, implementation, and evaluation of mindful agency coaching and motivational interviewing interventions to develop undergraduate students' positive learning dispositions. A quasi-experimental design was employed in the study involving three groups: one control group, one intervention group of mindful agency coaching only (MA group), and another intervention group of mindful agency coaching plus motivational interviewing (MA+MI group). The main findings show that compared with the control group, the two intervention groups achieved significant improvements in mindful agency, self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence. However, there was no significant difference between the two intervention groups in posttests. Moreover, participants' improvement in mindful agency fully mediated the postintervention increases in self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, and metacognition. It can be concluded that mindful agency coaching and motivational interviewing are promising coaching approaches for undergraduate students to become mindful, resilient, and self-determined learners.

We developed an interpretable model, BOUND (Bayesian netwOrk for large-scale lUng caNcer Digital prescreening), using a comprehensive EHR dataset from the China to improve lung cancer detection rates. BOUND employs Bayesian network uncertainty inference, allowing it to predict lung cancer risk even with missing data and identify high-risk factors. Developed using data from 905,194 individuals, BOUND achieved an AUC of 0.866 in internal validation, with time- and geography-based external validations yielding AUCs of 0.848 and 0.841, respectively. In datasets with 10%–70% missing data, AUC ranged from 0.827 – 0.746. The model demonstrates strong calibration, clinical utility, and robust performance in both balanced and imbalanced datasets. A risk scorecard was also created, improving detection rates up to 6.8 times, available free online (https://drzhang1.aiself.net/). BOUND enables non-radiative, cost-effective lung cancer prescreening, excels with missing data, and addresses treatment inequities in resource-limited primary healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on immersive participatory observation of the curatorial practice of the 2019 OCAT exhibition Rural Construction through Art in Shenzhen, we identified two modes of community-based artistic interventions: a cultural "governance/capital" intervention deeply embedded in the social structure and a collective experimental art production intervention dissociated from the social structure. However, both forms of "production art" are essentially "unities of opposites" integrating incorporation and resistance, consistent with the socialist art policy of promoting the flourishing of all types of arts. Though the aesthetic divide between "art for society's sake" and "art for art's sake" positions these artistic interventions in different places in society, we argue that the domain of Chinese contemporary art is shifting away from the studio and toward scenes, events, experience, and dialogue. The approach of "the era of mass art" also means that "art-as-resistance" is being legitimized as "art-as-incorporation" in a subtle but unremitting way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study is to introduce the Copenhagen Multi‐Centre Psychosocial Infertility (COMPI)‐Fertility Problem Stress Scales (COMPI‐FPSS) into China and test its applicability in Chinese infertile population. Background: Infertility‐related stress not only influences patients' psychological well‐being but is also strongly associated with reduced pregnancy rates and poorer assisted conception outcomes, thus warranting focussed attention. Design: The design used in this study is a cross‐sectional survey. Methods: A total of 418 participants were recruited by convenience sampling from March to July 2022. The data were randomly divided into two parts: one for item analysis and exploratory factor analysis and the other for confirmatory factor analysis and reliability test. The critical ratio and homogeneity test were used to verify the differentiation and homogeneity of the COMPI‐FPSS; the construct validity was determined by explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses; Cronbach's α coefficient and Spearman–Brown coefficient were used to assess the reliability; and criterion validity was expressed using correlation coefficients for the Perceived Stress Scale and the Negative Affect Scale as the validity criteria. Results: The revised Chinese version of COMPI‐FPSS has 11 items and 2 dimensions (i.e., personal stress domain and social stress domain). Exploratory factor analysis showed that the cumulative variance contribution rate of the two factors was 68.6%, and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the model fitted well. The score of the COMPI‐FPSS was significantly and positively associated with perceived stress and negative affect. The Cronbach's α coefficient of the total scale was 0.905, and the Spearman–Brown coefficient was 0.836, explaining excellent reliability. Conclusion: The revised Chinese version of COMPI‐FPSS shows good reliability and validity, and it can be used to evaluate the infertility‐related stress of infertile patients in China. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? With the number of infertile people on the rise globally, infertility‐related stress needs attention.Copenhagen Multi‐Centre Psychosocial Infertility (COMPI)‐Fertility Problem Stress Scales (COMPI‐FPSS) with its brief and accessible entries is extensively applied abroad.China currently lacks such a tool. What this paper adds? This study translated the COMPI‐FPSS into Chinese and the Chinese version of COMPI‐FPSS contains 11 items and 2 dimensions, including personal stress domain and social stress domain, which has good reliability and validity. The implications of this paper: The Chinese version of COMPI‐FPSS could provide a short and reliable tool for clinical practice and research, which will reduce the burden on researchers and patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infertility can be stressful for infertile couples. This study aims to examine the intra‐dyadic associations between stigma, communication patterns, and infertility‐related stress in couples undergoing artificial insemination by donor semen (AID). This cross‐sectional study was conducted from January to April 2021. Two hundred and three couples undergoing AID were recruited from a reproductive centre in China. All of the couples completed a two‐item stigma questionnaire, Communication Pattern Questionnaire, and Fertility Problem Inventory. The actor‐partner interdependence mediation analysis was performed using AMOS 23.0. The analysis demonstrated significant actor–actor effects for couples undergoing AID. More specifically, higher levels of stigma among wives and husbands were associated with more negative communication patterns, thereby increasing their own infertility‐related stress. Simultaneously, there was a significant partner–actor effect among infertile wives, demonstrating that the husband's stigma can affect his wife's infertility‐related stress by influencing her communication patterns. Couples undergoing AID experience increased infertility‐related stress when they have high levels of stigma and negative communication patterns, and husbands' stigma is correlated to wives' communication patterns. Therefore, dyadic interventions aiming to improving stigma and enhancing positive communication may be conducive to reducing infertility‐related stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Character strengths-based interventions (CSBI) take various forms and integrate different ingredients into interventions. This study investigated the role of mindfulness in strengths development, directly comparing the effects of mindfulness-based strengths practice (MBSP) and a form of CSBI without mindfulness. Ninety-five participants were randomly assigned to MBSP, CSBI, and blank control groups. Participants' mindfulness, character strengths, strengths knowledge, strengths use, psychological well-being (PWB), and subjective well-being (SWB) were assessed before and after the intervention, and one month later. The results showed that MBSP and CSBI were equally effective in enhancing character strengths, strengths knowledge, and strengths use. MBSP was more effective in promoting mindfulness, PWB, and overall character strengths, while CSBI was more effective in enhancing participants' SWB. The development of strengths knowledge and strengths use served as serial mediators of the increase in character strengths, and the development of mindfulness served as the mediator of the increase in PWB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy (TP) presents a significant challenge due to the low bacterial load in pleural effusion (PE) samples. Cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA (cf-TB) in PE samples is considered an optimal biomarker for diagnosing TP. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of cf-TB testing across diverse research sites with a relatively large sample size. Methods: Patients suspected of TP and presenting with clinical symptoms and radiological evidence of PE were consecutively enrolled by treating physicians from 11 research sites across 6 provinces in China between April 2020 and August 2022. Following centrifugation, sediments obtained from PE were used for Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and mycobacterial culture, while the supernatants were subjected to cf-TB testing. This study employed a composite reference standard to definite TP, which was characterized by any positive result for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) through either PE culture, PE Xpert, or pleural biopsy. Results: A total of 1412 participants underwent screening, and 1344 (95.2%) were subsequently enrolled in this study. Data from 1241 (92.3%) participants were included, comprising 284 with definite TP, 677 with clinically diagnosed TP, and 280 without TP. The sensitivity of cf-TB testing in definite TP was 73.6% (95% CI 68.2–78.4), significantly higher than both Xpert (40.8%, 95% CI 35.3–46.7, P < 0.001) and mycobacterial culture (54.2%, 95% CI 48.4–59.9, P < 0.001). When clinically diagnosed TP was incorporated into the composite reference standard for sensitivity analysis, cf-TB testing showed a sensitivity of 46.8% (450/961, 95% CI 43.7–50.0), significantly higher than both Xpert (116/961, 12.1%, 95% CI 10.2–14.3, P < 0.001) and mycobacterial culture (154/961, 16.0%, 95% CI 13.8–18.5, P < 0.001). The specificities of cf-TB testing, Xpert, and mycobacterial culture were all 100.0%. Conclusions: The performance of cf-TB testing is significantly superior to that of Xpert and mycobacterial culture methods, indicating that it can be considered as the primary diagnostic approach for improving TP detection. Trial registration The trial was registered on Chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2000031680, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=49316). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient safety (PS) is a core competency for registered nurses. However, there is a gap between the PS competence of nursing students and their clinical experience in PS. This study explored the effect of PS competence levels on the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) among nursing master's students in China. Methods: A sequential mixed methods design was used, with a purposive sample across seven colleges. A total of 327 graduate nursing students, aged 22 to 38, participated in the survey, and 15 participated in qualitative interviews. The Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey (H-PEPSS) assessed the students' competence levels in PS. The respondents also reported any AEs that they had been involved in over the past year. Results: A total of 78 AEs occurred in the past year, with 17.7% of the participants involved 1 to 3 AEs. The most common AEs were medication administration errors (30.77%) and improper use of medical equipment/supplies (28.20%). Students acquired more competencies from the clinical setting than from the classroom setting. Three competencies learned from classroom settings were associated with clinical AEs: low clinical safety skills [OR = 0.61], inappropriate identify, response to and disclosing AE and close calls [OR = 0.454], and low confidence in working in teams with other health professionals [OR = 2.168]. Qualitative data analysis revealed five themes: recognizing AEs, reducing harm by addressing immediate risks to patients and others involved, promoting safe medication and clinical practice, managing members' authority and team dynamics, and dealing with inter-professional conflict. Conclusions: The quantitative and qualitative data align, supporting the enhancement of students' PS competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited studies have explored the association between clinical symptoms and titers of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies. Study Design and Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, whole‐blood donors who had experienced a confirmed or suspected COVID‐19 infection completed questionnaires at the time of blood donation. Plasma SARS‐CoV‐2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers were measured using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for high‐titer COVID‐19 convalescent plasma (CCP) for each variable. Results: Among the total 386 donors, 120 (31%) donors with IgG titers ≥1:160 were classified as high‐titer donors. The multivariable ORs (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for high titers were 2.33 (1.45–3.75), 2.11 (1.29–3.43), 1.10 (1.01–1.21), 1.19 (1.00–1.43), and 1.97 (1.05–3.71) for sore throat, cough, symptom count, fever duration, and low fever (compared with non‐fever), respectively. No significant association was observed between other symptoms and medical visits and the odds of high‐titer CCP. The association between high‐titer CCP and fever duration was restricted to confirmed COVID‐19‐infected donors, while associations with sore throat and cough remained significant in suspected infected donors. In addition, medical visit was positively associated with high‐titer CCP in suspected donors, but not in confirmed donors. In bootstrapped logistic regression models, the associations remained significant and reproducible for medical visit in suspected donors and for sore throat and cough in both suspected donors and total donors. Discussion: Experiencing a sore throat and cough were associated with high‐titer CCP in overall donors. We also identified sore throat, cough, and medical visits as potential predictors of high‐titer CCP for suspected donors during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The business environment is a critical element in promoting high-quality urban economic development. To evaluate the quality of the business environment in Chinese cities, we first build a business environment evaluation system in this paper. Then using the entropy weight, Dagum Gini coefficient, β-convergence model, and Markov chain method, we evaluate and analyze the development level, spatial differences, and dynamic development patterns of the business environments in 278 cities in China from 2003 to 2019. Our findings reveal that the overall business environment level in Chinese cities is not high. There are significant differences in business environment levels between megacities, large cities, and small–medium-sized cities, and within-group differences and between-group differences are the main reasons for the differences in business environment levels. However, the contribution rate of within-group differences shows a downward trend, while the contribution rate of between-group differences shows an upward trend. In addition, the business environment levels in Chinese cities have spatial correlation, and the national and three major city groups' business environment levels exhibit strong absolute and conditional β-convergence processes. Finally, the business environment levels in Chinese cities demonstrate path dependence, which is typified by low mobility and makes achieving upward mobility challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sources of the pollution in lakes might be quite complex and difficult to control. This study analyzed and evaluated the pollution control effects of a typical lake (Nansi Lake) located in northern China through judicial means. The water quality at 52 sampling sites was investigated to assess results from individual cases located in heavily polluted areas. The water quality of the entire lake and stream was further assessed using data from the National Automatic Water Quality Monitoring System. Finally, 70 kinds of pesticides from 21 sites in the lake were analyzed to assess the reduction of the agricultural diffused pollution. The results show that the water quality of the lake in 2021 has been significantly improved compared to 2020. From April 2021, China has initiated a series of procuratorial environmental public interest litigation to protect this lake, with 205 cases closed including 185 administrative cases and 20 civil cases. The results show that procuratorial environmental public interest litigation has made great contributions to solving the long-standing pollution problem in Nansi Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess the immunogenicity of the current primary polio vaccination schedule in China and compare it with alternative schedules using Sabin or Salk-strain IPV (sIPV, wIPV). Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was conducted at four sites in Chongqing, China, healthy infants aged 60–89 days were conveniently recruited and divided into four groups according to their received primary polio vaccination schedules (2sIPV + bOPV, 2wIPV + bOPV, 3sIPV, and 3wIPV). The sero-protection and neutralizing antibody titers against poliovirus serotypes (type 1, 2, and 3) were compared after the last dose. Results: There were 408 infants completed the protocol. The observed seropositivity was more than 96% against poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 in all groups. IPV-only groups induced higher antibody titers(GMT) against poliovirus type 2 (Median:192, QR: 96–384, P<0.05) than the "2IPV + bOPV" group. While the "2IPV + bOPV" group induced significantly higher antibody titers against poliovirus type 1 (Median:2048, QR: 768–2048, P<0.05)and type 3 (Median:2048, QR: 512–2048, P<0.05) than the IPV-only group. Conclusions: Our findings have proved that the two doses of IPV with one dose of bOPV is currently the best polio routine immunization schedule in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Maternal vitamin D deficiency is a prevalent public health issue worldwide. While isolated reports from certain cities in China have highlighted the existence of maternal vitamin D deficiency, no nationwide investigation has been conducted on this topic. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review to examine the prevalence and associated influencing factors of maternal vitamin D deficiency in mainland China. This study aims to provide a theoretical foundation for future prevention and supplementation strategies for maternal vitamin D. Methods: We retrieved relevant Chinese and English literature on the status of maternal vitamin D deficiency in mainland China from databases such as CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, CBM, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed. The literature search and database construction were conducted until September 8, 2023. Data were extracted and synthesized following PRISMA guidelines.After literature screening and quality assessment, we performed meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, and identified publication bias using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: A total of 26 articles were reviewed, involving 128,820 pregnant women. Among them, 108,768 had vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency, resulting in a prevalence of 84% (95% CI: 81%~88%). Subgroup analysis revealed the highest prevalence of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency among pregnant women in mainland China to be in the northwest region (94%, 95% CI: 94%~95%). Furthermore, the highest prevalence was observed during the winter and spring seasons (80%, 95% CI: 77%~83%) and in the early stages of pregnancy (93%, 95% CI: 90%~95%). Significant statistical differences (P<0.05) were found among these three subgroups. No publication bias was detected, and sensitivity analysis indicated the stability of the meta-analysis outcome. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency among pregnant women in mainland China. To improve the overall health and well-being of the population, relevant health authorities should develop policies aimed at alleviating this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) of China as the research area, this paper studies the influence of freight structure adjustment and energy intensity on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission from the transportation industry. Sample data from 1990 to 2019 are selected, and co-integration analysis is performed using three independent variables: energy intensity, turnover ratio of railway to highway (R/H), and turnover ratio of railway to waterway (R/W). Then, an autoregressive distribution lag-error correction model (ARDL-ECM) is established to estimate the long-run and short-run relationships among the variables through unit root test, autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) boundary test, and Granger test. The results show that in the long run, the growth of energy intensity leads to the long-term growth of CO2 emission in the transportation sector of the YRD, and R/W and R/H have a suppressive effect on CO2 emission. Granger causality indicates that there is a bidirectional causal relationship between energy intensity and CO2 emission. This work can be a reference for government departments to formulate policies related to carbon emissions in the transportation industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual typical endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including organophosphate triesters (OPEs), parabens, triclosan (TCS), bisphenols, benzophenones (BPs), phthalates (PAEs), and synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs), are associated with renal dysfunction. However, the combined effects and underlying mechanisms of mixed EDC exposure on renal function remain unclear. Two hundred ninety-nine adult participants were enrolled in the cross-sectional survey conducted in Guangzhou, China. Urinary levels of 7 OPEs, 6 parabens, TCS, 14 bisphenols, 8 BPs, 15 PAEs, 4 SPAs, and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were determined, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was served as the outcome index. We found elevated levels of diphenyl phosphate (DPP), bisphenol A (BPA), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-butyl phthalate (MBP) showed dose-responsive associations with eGFR decline, However, nonlinear associations were observed for bis(2-butoxyethyl) hydrogen phosphate (BBOEP), TCS, 4-hydroxybenzophenone (HBP), mono-n-pentyl phthalate (MnPP), and mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP). The quantile-based g-computation model demonstrated that a quartile increase in the EDC mixture corresponded to a 0.383-SD decrease (95% CI − 0.658 ~ − 0.108, P = 0.007) in eGFR. Notably, BPA was identified as the primary contributor to this effect. Moreover, 8-OHdG mediated the eGFR decline associated with EDC mixtures with a mediation proportion of 25.49%. A sex-modified effect was also observed (P = 0.004), indicating that exposure to the mixture of EDC was linked to more pronounced renal dysfunction in females. Our novel findings suggest that exposure to a typical mixture of EDCs is associated with renal dysfunction in the general adult population of Southern China. Furthermore, 8-OHdG may play a role in the pathogenesis of EDC mixture-related renal dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sandstone-type uranium deposit of the Kelulun Depression is the first industrially valuable uranium deposit discovered in the Hailar Basin. This study performed a systematic examination of 17 sandstone samples from the Yimin Formation in the Kelulun Depression based on various analytical techniques. The findings of the current study were synthesized with previous research to investigate the impact of the redox conditions and the tectonic background of the source area, as well as the paleoclimatic evolution of the Yimin Formation on uranium mineralization. The elemental Mo, U/Th, V/Cr, Ni/Co, and V/(V + Ni) ratios indicate that the paleowater was in an oxygen-rich environment during the deposition of the Yimin Formation. Additionally, the C-value, Sr/Cu, Al2O3/MgO, and Rb/Sr ratios indicate that the Yimin Formation was formed in a paleoclimate characterized by arid-to-semi-arid conditions. The geochemical characteristics of the observed elements indicated that the sediment source of the Yimin Formation was mainly felsic rocks from the upper continental crust, the weathering of the rock was weak, and the tectonic background was a passive continental margin. Coffinite is distributed in the form of cementation and stellates within or around pyrite crystals, and uranium-titanium oxide is mostly distributed in an irregular granular distribution in the biotite cleavage fractures of the study area. In summary, the findings of this study reveal that the tectonic settings, provenance, uranium source, paleoclimate, and oxygen-rich paleowater of the Yimin Formation have important geological significance for the large-scale uranium mineralization of the Kelulun Depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource partitioning is considered a key factor in alleviating competitive interactions, enabling coexistence among consumer species. However, most studies have focused on resource partitioning between species, ignoring the potentially critical role of intraspecific variation in resource use. We investigated floral resource partitioning across species, colonies, and individuals in a species‐rich bumblebee community in the diversification center of bumblebees. We used a total of 10,598 bumblebees belonging to 13 species across 5 years in the Hengduan Mountains of southwest China. First, we evaluated the influence of a comprehensive set of floral traits, including both those related to attractiveness (flower color and shape) and rewards (pollen, sugar ratio, nectar volume, sugar concentration, and amino acid content) on resource partitioning at the species level in bumblebee–plant networks. Then, we explored intraspecific resource partitioning on the colony and individual levels. Our results suggest that bumblebee species differ substantially in their use of the available floral resources, and that this mainly depends on flower attractiveness (floral color and shape). Interestingly, we also detected floral resource partitioning at the colony level within all commonest bumblebee species evaluated. In general, floral resource partitioning between bumblebee individuals decreased with species‐ and individual‐level variation in body size (intertegular span). These results suggest that bumblebee species may coexist via the flexibility in their preferences for specific floral traits, which filters up to support the co‐occurrence of high numbers of species and individuals in this global hotspot of species richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China experienced severe epidemics of multiple respiratory pathogens in 2023 after lifting "Zero‐COVID" policy. The present study aims to investigate the changing circulation and infection patterns of respiratory pathogens in 2023. The 160 436 laboratory results of influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from February 2020 to December 2023, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) from June 2020 to December 2023, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, adenovirus, and human rhinovirus from January 2023 to December 2023 were analyzed. We observed the alternating epidemics of SARS‐CoV‐2 and influenza A virus (IAV), as well as the out‐of‐season epidemic of RSV during the spring and summer of 2023. Cocirculation of multiple respiratory pathogens was observed during the autumn and winter of 2023. The susceptible age range of RSV in this winter epidemic (10.5, interquartile range [IQR]: 5–30) was significantly higher than previously (4, IQR: 3–34). The coinfection rate of IAV and RSV in this winter epidemic (0.695%) was significantly higher than that of the last cocirculation period (0.027%) (p < 0.001). Similar trend was also found in the coinfection of IAV and SARS‐CoV‐2. The present study observed the cocirculation of multiple respiratory pathogens, changing age range of susceptible population, and increasing coinfection rates during the autumn and winter of 2023, in Beijing, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study exploits the passage of the 2011 Social Insurance (SI) Law in China to investigate how a labour protection regulation affects corporate labour investment efficiency (LIE). We find that labour-intensive firms invest more efficiently in labour after the SI Law. Our findings are robust to alternative measures, selection bias and endogeneity concerns. Overall, our findings show that labour protection regulations have a profound impact on corporate employment decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aimin District, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, 157000, People's Republic of China, Tel +86-4536602008, Email [email protected] Background: The occurrence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common and severe disease of the digestive system in neonates. This study aims to assess the value of the intestinal tissue oxygen saturation (rintSO2) combined with the levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and mean platelet volume (MPV) in predicting the severity of NEC in preterm infants. Methods: This experiment was a retrospective cohort study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Hongqi Hospital Affiliated to Mudanjiang Medical University between January 2017 and July 2022. Premature neonates with NEC were enrolled and divided into mild-moderate NEC group and severe NEC group according to Bell's stage. The general information data, rintSO2 and blood parameters such as the white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet count (PLT), PCT, MPV, red blood cell distribution width (RDW), hemoglobin (Hb), C-reactive protein (CRP) were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 122 patients were enrolled, including 79 mild-moderate NEC and 43 severe NEC. The rintSO2 was lower in severe group than in mild-moderate group (P = 0.042), the PCT and MPV were both higher in severe group than in mild-moderate group (P = 0.048, P = 0.049). The results of logistic regression suggested that the rintSO2 (OR = 1.491, P = 0.003), PCT (OR = 3.071, P = 0.001) and MPV (OR = 4.027, P = 0.015) were independent predictive factors for severity of NEC. The area under the curve (AUC) of the rintSO2 combined with PCT and MPV showed good diagnostic ability in the severity of NEC. Conclusion: The rintSO2 combined with PCT and MPV may be considered as the early biomarkers in the severity of NEC and could help us to diagnose the case early with early treatment with better prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the combined effects of mindfulness and psychological capital on mental health of breast cancer patients and to examine the mediating effect of positive emotions in their relationship. A convenient sampling method was used in this study, and 522 breast cancer patients aged 18 to 59 who received chemotherapy in a tertiary cancer hospital were enrolled. Polynomial regression with response surface analysis was mainly employed to explore the relationship between mindfulness, psychological capital, and mental health. A block-variable approach was used to verify the mediating effect of positive emotions. In cases of congruence, mental health was better when mindfulness and psychological capital were both high instead of being both low (the slope of the congruence was 0.540, p < 0.001); In cases of incongruence, poorer mental health was found in breast cancer patients with low psychological capital and high mindfulness compared with those who had high psychological capital and low mindfulness (the slope of the incongruence was −0.338, p < 0.001), and the combined effects were a positive curve (positive U-shaped) related to mental health (β = 0.102, p = 0.040). In addition, positive emotions played a mediating role in the relationship between the block variable (mindfulness and psychological capital) and mental health, and the indirect effect was 0.131. This study expanded the research on the effects of mindfulness and psychological capital in improving mental health as well as the conflict between the two variables related to mental health by employing a new analytical technique among breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Together with rapid urbanization, ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure has become a growing health threat. However, little is known about the urban–rural disparities in the health implications of short-term NO2 exposure. This study aimed to compare the association between short-term NO2 exposure and hospitalization for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among urban and rural residents in Shandong Province, China. Then, this study further explored the urban–rural disparities in the economic burden attributed to NO2 and the explanation for the disparities. Methods: Daily hospitalization data were obtained from an electronic medical records dataset covering a population of 5 million. In total, 303,217 hospital admissions for CVD were analyzed. A three-stage time-series analytic approach was used to estimate the county-level association and the attributed economic burden. Results: For every 10-μg/m3 increase in NO2 concentrations, this study observed a significant percentage increase in hospital admissions on the day of exposure of 1.42% (95% CI 0.92 to 1.92%) for CVD. The effect size was slightly higher in urban areas, while the urban–rural difference was not significant. However, a more pronounced displacement phenomenon was found in rural areas, and the economic burden attributed to NO2 was significantly higher in urban areas. At an annual average NO2 concentration of 10 μg/m3, total hospital days and expenses in urban areas were reduced by 81,801 (44,831 to 118,191) days and 60,121 (33,002 to 86,729) thousand CNY, respectively, almost twice as much as in rural areas. Due to disadvantages in socioeconomic status and medical resources, despite similar air pollution levels in the urban and rural areas of our sample sites, the rural population tended to spend less on hospitalization services. Conclusions: Short-term exposure to ambient NO2 could lead to considerable health impacts in either urban or rural areas of Shandong Province, China. Moreover, urban–rural differences in socioeconomic status and medical resources contributed to the urban–rural disparities in the economic burden attributed to NO2 exposure. The health implications of NO2 exposure are a social problem in addition to an environmental problem. Thus, this study suggests a coordinated intervention system that targets environmental and social inequality factors simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under integrated ecological and green development in the Yangtze River Delta, the regional ecology is adversely affected by ineffective synergistic governance. Regional environmental governance is a collaborative process involving multiple stakeholders and mutual engagement, with each participant pursuing their interests and common goals simultaneously. This study employed stakeholder theory. A tripartite evolutionary game model of the public, enterprises, and local governments was constructed to analyze the behavioral strategies and influencing factors for the parties involved, and the impacts of key factors on the stability of the evolutionary game system were evaluated. The results indicate that ecological environmental governance in the Yangtze River Delta region is a complex and evolving system involving multiple stakeholders, within which system stability is influenced by stakeholders' behavioral strategies. The interests of each party are affected by the cost of public involvement in ecological environment governance and the benefits and subsidies that enterprises receive for active environmental governance. The costs and penalties paid by local governments for lax regulations impact their behavioral strategies. This study provides policy recommendations for ecological governance in the study region, including the government–enterprise co-construction of liquid regulatory funds, government–enterprise–public partnerships in low-cost regulatory models, and the sharing of high-quality regulatory outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence and intensity of grandparenting have continued to increase in the era of rapid aging. However, little is known about grandparents with different health statuses as primary caregivers and their implications for children's health. A nationally representative cohort of over 8990 Chinese children interviewed from 2010 to 2018 was used. Random effects logit models were constructed to assess the association of the primary caregiver type (grandparents vs. parents) and caregiver health with child health. Subsequently, additive interactions between the primary caregiver type and caregiver health were estimated to determine whether children cared for by grandparents with poor health were the most vulnerable children in terms of health. Deterioration of health status was found among children cared for mainly by grandparents, manifested as a higher likelihood of illness, depressive symptoms and unmet health care needs. However, children looked after by healthy grandparents tended to exhibit better health than their counterparts who were cared for by unhealthy parents. Grandparents as primary caregivers might not have a universally detrimental effect on child health. Thus, interventions to prompt child health could consider grandparents as caregivers, especially healthy grandparents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving energy efficiency is crucial for China's power industry to meet global energy conservation and emission reduction goals. The rapid development of photovoltaic (PV) and hydropower has greatly assisted in the construction of China's novel power system. The stochastic characteristics of PV power generation pose significant challenges to the reliable and economical scheduling of power systems. In fact, the cascade hydropower station can effectively address the issue. To fully utilize the advantages of hydropower, this paper proposes a bi-layer scheduling optimization model for the cascade hydro-PV complementary system considering power market. The upper-layer model simultaneously maximizes the benefit and minimizes the output volatility of the complementary system. The lower-layer model carries out market clearing with the objective of social cost. Besides, PV uncertainty and market price volatility are considered in the decision-making process for power market transactions. To solve the bi-layer model, a novel meta-heuristic algorithm (geometric mean optimizer) is applied, demonstrating excellent performance compared to similar methods. For the complementary system, the results show that its total power output can be improved, and its output volatility can be effectively alleviated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) and their downstream signaling pathways are promising targets in anti-angiogenic therapy. They constitute a crucial system to regulate physiological and pathological angiogenesis. In the last 20 years, many antiangiogenic drugs have been developed based on VEGF/VEGFR system to treat diverse cancers and retinopathies, and new drugs with improved properties continue to emerge at a fast rate. They consist of different molecular structures and characteristics, which enable them to inhibit the interaction of VEGF/VEGFR, to inhibit the activity of VEGFR tyrosine kinase (TK), or to inhibit VEGFR downstream signaling. In this paper, we reviewed the development of marketed anti-angiogenic drugs involved in the VEGF/VEGFR axis, as well as some important drug candidates in clinical trials. We discuss their mode of action, their clinical benefits, and the current challenges that will need to be addressed by the next-generation of anti-angiogenic drugs. We focus on the molecular structures and characteristics of each drug, including those approved only in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dried Mume Fructus (MF), called Wumei in China, is a unique food with medicinal and edible effects. But its actual production method is outdated with low efficiency and inconsistent quality. This study systematically investigated the influence of moisture content (MC), temperature, and relative humidity (RH) on the browning reaction and quality characteristics of the MF and proposed a continuous processing strategy of the three-stage variable process for MF production based on the precise process control of the temperature and the RH. The production process of MF was divided into three stages: preliminary dehydration, browning, and drying. The results showed that the browning reaction rate and drying efficiency were optimal when the MC of the raw materials was reduced to 50%. In the browning stage, the degree of browning was better, and the antioxidant capacity reached the maximum of 64.38 mg/g DM under a processing temperature of 80 °C and an RH of more than 60%. As the RH increased, the drying rate decreased, and the ash content exhibited an increase. Therefore, the optimal processing parameters for the browning stage were determined to be a temperature of 80 °C and an RH of 60%. In the final drying stage, a temperature of 60 °C coupled with a dehumidification mode proved sufficient to ensure efficient drying without compromising the quality of the MF. This study revealed the reaction mechanism of the rapid browning processing of MF, which has important guiding significance for the rapid processing of browning foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofiltration concentrated leachate (NFCL) is a high-concentration organic wastewater produced from landfill leachate during the process of membrane advanced treatment, which is more difficult to treat than landfill leachate. In this study, the effect and cost of treating NFCL by flocculation combined with a multistage ozone/bioreactor process based on a field scale are discussed. The results show that the process has a good effect on the removal of organic matter and nitrogen pollutants in NFCL, with removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate, and total nitrogen being 96.6%, 90.1%, 38.2%, and 75.8%, respectively. The effluent can meet the discharge standard of China's standard with a direct operating cost of approximately USD 18.48–20.82/m3. This study proved the effectiveness, structural rationality, and economic benefit of the process in a practical engineering application, and provided a certain theoretical basis and engineering reference for the wide application of the process in the treatment of leachate membrane concentrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of horizontal transmission of the blaCTX-M-65 gene and the role of its associated mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the bovine-derived Escherichia coli. After PCR identification, two plasmids carrying blaCTX-M-65 were successfully transferred to the recipient E. coli J53 Azr through conjugation assays and subsequently selected for Whole-Genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. The resistance profiles of these two positive strains and their transconjugants were also determined through antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Whole genome data were acquired using both the PacBio sequencing platform and the Illumina data platform. The annotated results were then submitted to the Genbank database for accession number recording. For comparison, the genetic environment of plasmids carrying the resistance gene blaCTX-M-65 was mapped using the Easyfig software. WGS analysis revealed Tn3-like composite transposons bearing blaCTX-M-65, blaTEM-1, and blaOXA-10 in the IncHI2-type plasmids of these two E. coli ST1508 strains. A phylogenetic tree was generated from all 48 assembled E. coli isolates blaCTX-M-65, blaTEM-1, and blaOXA-10 from the NCBI Pathogen Detection database with our two isolates, showing the relationships and the contribution of SNPs to the diversity between genetic samples. This study suggests that the transmissibility of blaCTX-M-65 on Tn3-like composite transposons contributes to an increased risk of its transmission in E. coli derived from dairy cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2010, the Tembusu virus (TMUV) has been highly prevalent in China, causing significant economic losses to the poultry industry. In 2022, a suspected outbreak of TMUV occurred at a goose farm located in Anhui Province. A strain of TMUV, TMUV HQ-22, was isolated from the infected geese. Phylogenetic analysis using the E gene of the HQ-22 strain demonstrated its affiliation with cluster 3, a less commonly reported cluster in comparison to the main circulating cluster, cluster 2. Through a comparison of the envelope (E) protein of HQ-22 with other typical TMUV strains, a mutation at the 157th amino acid position was identified, wherein valine (V) in cluster 3 changed to alanine (A), a characteristic that is unique to cluster 2. These findings highlight the diversity and complexity of the TMUV strains circulating in China. In our experimental analysis, an injection of TMUV HQ-22 into the muscles of 3-day-old goslings resulted in severe neurological symptoms and a mortality rate of 60%. Similarly, the intracranial or intranasal infection of 3-week-old ICR mice with TMUV HQ-22 led to severe neurological symptoms and respective mortality rates of 100% or 10%. In summary, our study isolated a TMUV strain, TMUV HQ-22, from geese that belongs to cluster 3 and exhibits significant pathogenicity in both goslings and ICR mice. These results emphasize the genetic diversity of the TMUV circulating in China and expand the host range beyond mosquitoes to include ducks, chickens, geese, and even mice. It is crucial to not underestimate the risk of TMUV infection in mammals, warranting our utmost attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital literacy has become increasingly important for individuals to participate in regular economic activities, including employment, consumption, and investment. This paper quantitatively defines digital literacy with recently released household survey data in China and describes the digital divide across regions and ages. We further show that digital literacy increases risky asset ownership in the financial market among the middle-aged and elderly population. In this sense, this paper identifies a novel factor that affects financial investment. These findings imply that the digital divide may lead to the asset divide and wealth inequality. Family and social assistance to improve the digital literacy of disadvantaged population groups may increase financial inclusion as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Ultrasound tends to present very high sensitivity but relatively low specificity and positive predictive value (PPV), which would result in unnecessary breast biopsies. The purpose of this study is to analyze the diagnostic performance of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) (S-Detect) system in differentiating breast lesions and reducing unnecessary biopsies in non-university hospitals in less-developed regions of China. Methods: The study was a prospective multicenter study from 8 hospitals. The ultrasound images, and cine, CAD analysis, and BI-RADS were recorded. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the curve (AUC) were analyzed and compared between CAD and radiologists. The Youden Index (YI) was used to determine optimal cut-off for the number of planes to downgrade. Results: A total of 491 breast lesions were included in the study. Less-experienced radiologists combined CAD was superior to less-experienced radiologists alone in AUC (0.878 vs 0.712, p < 0.001), and specificity (81.3% vs 44.6%, p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference in AUC (0.891 vs 0.878, p = 0.346), and specificity (82.3% vs 81.3%, p = 0.791) between experienced radiologists and less-experienced radiologists combined CAD. With CAD assistance, the biopsy rate of less-experienced radiologists was significantly decreased (100.0% vs 25.6%, p < 0.001), and malignant rate of biopsy was significantly increased (15.0% vs 43.9%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: CAD system can be an effective auxiliary tool in differentiating breast lesions and reducing unnecessary biopsies for radiologists from non-university hospitals in less-developed regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an external review mechanism, accreditation has played a positive global role in quality assurance and promotion of educational reform. Accreditation systems for medical education have been developed in more than 100 countries including China. In the past decade, Chinese standards for basic medical education have been issued together with guidelines for accrediting medical schools, an accreditation committee system has been established, a cohort of assessors has been trained, and a first round of accreditation visits has commenced. Although the national accreditation system in China is now operating within a legal framework as a voluntary process, the system needs further improvements to ensure sustainability and recognition by the international community. To fulfill the objective of completing the first round of medical education accreditation nationwide by 2020, more qualified assessors have to be trained, present policies and processes must be refined, and incentives must be developed to encourage all schools to undergo accreditation.

Corydalis yanhusuo is a medicinal herb in China that has been widely used to treat various kinds of pain. The tuber is the main organ of C. yanhusuo used for medicinal purposes, but changes in related genes during the development of the tuber have rarely been reported. To identify the differentially expressed genes during tuber development, C. yanhusuo full-length transcriptomic sequencing was performed using single-molecule real-time technology, and tubers at three development stages were selected for comparative transcriptome analysis. A total of 90,496 full-length non-chimeric transcripts were obtained, and 19,341 transcripts were annotated in at least one public database. A total of 9221 differentially expressed genes were identified during the swelling process of C. yanhusuo tuber. A Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes associated with a "starch and sucrose metabolism pathway", "phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway", "isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis pathway", "zeatin biosynthesis pathway", and "brassinosteroid biosynthesis pathway" were predominantly enriched. In addition, the genes involved in cell wall metabolism were potentially associated with tuber swelling. These processes regulated and were involved in C. yanhusuo tuber development. The results provide a foundation for further research on tuber formation in medicinal plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As climate change intensifies, finding an ecological indicator to quickly and accurately reflect the impact on mountain ecosystems is necessary. The low treeline/timberline, highly sensitive to climate variability and changes significantly within 5–10 years, provides a new way to study the response to regional climate variability. This study explored the distribution and vertical displacement patterns of the low treeline in the Upper Minjiang River of China, using SPOT remote sensing images in 1999 and 2013 and long-term positional observations. Using the Geodetector model, the study investigated the dominant climatic factors influencing the low treeline displacement. The results showed that the low treeline was located at 1700–3200 m elevation on sunny slopes (southeast, south, southwest, and west slopes) with slopes over 25°. From 1999 to 2013, the low treeline moved downward by 6 m from 2561±264 m to 2555±265 m, along with a warm–humid climate tendency. The downward displacement was greater on slopes over 25° and shady slopes (−20 m and −10 m, respectively) than on slopes ≤ 25° and sunny slopes. Additionally, the downward was greater in the warm and humid Zagunao River Basin (−15 m) compared to the arid valley center (−7 m) and the cold Heishui River Basin (−3 m). Meanwhile, the low treeline displacement correlated negatively with precipitation and relative humidity variations at the significance level of 0.05, with correlation coefficients of −0.572 and −0.551, respectively. Variations in relative humidity and temperature significantly affected the spatial differentiation of low treeline displacement with influencing power of 0.246 (p =0.036 < 0.05) and 0.183 (p =0.032 < 0.05), respectively. Thus, the low treeline is a moisture-limited line, and its formation and variation are closely related to regional water–heat balance. The study clarifies the indicative value of the low treeline for climate variability in mountain areas and can provide references for ecological restoration in arid valleys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on large‐scale geographic patterns of aquatic plant diversity can promote research on the generality of macroecological patterns in different ecosystems. Here, we compiled a checklist of 889 aquatic angiosperms in China, including 738 helophytes (emergent and marshy plants) and 151 hydrophytes (submerged, free‐floating, and floating‐leaved plants). We explore the geographic patterns and environmental correlates of aquatic plant diversity based on six metrics including species richness (SR), weighted endemism (WE), phylogenetic diversity (PD), phylogenetic endemism (PE), the standardized effect size of phylogenetic diversity (PDses), and the standardized effect size of mean phylogenetic distance (MPDses). Our results show that the diversity of aquatic plants in China is extremely uneven, with high diversity in southeastern China and low diversity in northwestern China, and the geographic patterns of taxonomic and PD are generally consistent. The pattern of helophytes differs from that of hydrophytes. Notably, the wavy‐shaped pattern of aquatic plant diversity (especially SR and PD for hydrophytes) across the latitude observed in this study is not consistent with those previously observed for aquatic plants in other continents. Climatic variables and water environmental variables are the main drivers of aquatic plant diversity in China; however, the effects of individual variables differ between helophytes and hydrophytes. Water environmental variables have a greater impact on PDses and MPDses of hydrophytes than those of helophytes. Overall, our work provides insight into understanding the large‐scale patterns of aquatic plant diversity and is a critical addition to previous studies on the macroecological pattern of terrestrial organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although body mass index (BMI) and eye rubbing are linked to an increased risk of keratoconus (KC), the interactive effect of eye rubbing and BMI on KC is largely unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the independent and interactive effects of BMI and eye rubbing on KC and to further explore the role of environmental factors on the occurrence of KC. Methods: A total of 621 individuals (291 KC patients and 330 control individuals) were enrolled in this hospital‑based study on KC patients in Central China after individuals missing BMI data were excluded. BMI was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters. Data on eye rubbing was recorded through face-to-face interviews. Generalized linear regression models were used to analyze associations among BMI, eye rubbing and KC. Interaction plots were used to describe the interactive effects of BMI and eye rubbing on KC. Results: The β and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 0.923 (0.112, 1.733) (p = 0.026) and 3.356 (1.953, 4.759) (p < 0.001), respectively, for the effect of each 10 kg/m2 increase in BMI and each 1 min increase in eye rubbing on KC. The interaction of BMI and eye rubbing were positively correlated with KC (p < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings suggested that a high BMI aggravated the negative effect of eye rubbing on KC, implying that individuals with a high BMI may be more susceptible to exposure to eye rubbing, which is related to an increased risk of KC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To the best of our knowledge, no previous study has quantitatively estimated the dynamics and cumulative susceptibility to influenza infections after the widespread lifting of COVID‐19 public health measures. We constructed an imitated stochastic susceptible‐infected‐removed model using particle‐filtered Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling to estimate the time‐dependent reproduction number of influenza based on influenza surveillance data in southern China, northern China, and the United States during the 2022–2023 season. We compared these estimates to those from 2011 to 2019 seasons without strong social distancing interventions to determine cumulative susceptibility during COVID‐19 restrictions. Compared to the 2011–2019 seasons without a strong intervention with social measures, the 2022–2023 influenza season length was 45.0%, 47.1%, and 57.1% shorter in southern China, northern China, and the United States, respectively, corresponding to an 140.1%, 74.8%, and 50.9% increase in scale of influenza infections, and a 60.3%, 72.9%, and 45.1% increase in population susceptibility to influenza. Large and high‐intensity influenza epidemics occurred in China and the United States in 2022–2023. Population susceptibility increased in 2019–2022, especially in China. We recommend promoting influenza vaccination, taking personal prevention actions on at‐risk populations, and monitoring changes in the dynamic levels of influenza and other respiratory infections to prevent potential outbreaks in the coming influenza season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollinators mediate interspecific and intraspecific plant–plant indirect interactions (competition vs. facilitation) via density-dependent processes, potentially shaping the dynamics of plant communities. However, it is still unclear which ecological drivers regulate density-dependent patterns, including scale, pollination niches (i.e., the main pollinator functional group) and floral attractiveness to pollinators. In this study, we conducted three-year field observations in Hengduan Mountains of southwest China. By gathering data for more than 100 animal-pollinated plant species, we quantified the effect (positive vs. negative) of conspecific and heterospecific flower density on pollination at two scales: plot-level (4 m2) and site-level (100–5000 m2). Then, we investigated how pollination niches and floral attractiveness to pollinators (estimated here as average per-flower visitation rates) modulated density-dependent pollination interactions. Pollinator visitation depended on conspecific and heterospecific flower density, with rare plants subjected to interspecific competition at the plot-level and interspecific facilitation at the site-level. Such interspecific competition at the plot-level was stronger for plants pollinated by diverse insects, while interspecific facilitation at the site-level was stronger for bee-pollinated plants. Moreover, we also found stronger positive conspecific density-dependence for plants with lower floral attractiveness at the site-level, meaning that they become more frequently visited when abundant. Our study indicates that the role of pollination in maintaining rare plants and plant diversity depends on the balance of density-dependent processes in species-rich communities. We show here that such balance is modulated by scale, pollination niches and floral attractiveness to pollinators, indicating the context-dependency of diversity maintenance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) seriously affects environmental air quality and human health, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in PM2.5 posed a great challenge to clinical medicine. The year of 2013–2017 was an important 5-year period for the implementation of Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP) in China. Here, we took Handan, a PM2.5 polluted city in northern China, as the research object and analyzed ARGs in PM2.5 in winter (January) from 2013 to 2017. The results showed that the abundance of ARGs was the highest in 2013 (3.7 × 10−2 copies/16S rRNA), and ARGs were positively correlated with air quality index (AQI) (r = 0.328, P < 0.05) and PM2.5 concentration (r = 0.377, P = 0.020 < 0.05) in the 5-year period. The ARGs carried by PM2.5 in four functional regions of sewage treatment plant, steel works, university, and park showed that sul1 and qepA had higher abundance in each functional region, and the total ARG abundance in sewage treatment plant (1.3 × 10−1 copies/16S rRNA) was the highest, while lowest in park (2.0 × 10−3 copies/16S rRNA). Potential source contribution function (PSCF) and concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) model were used to trace the pollutants at the sampling points, which indicated that the surrounding cities contributed more than quarter to the sampling points. Therefore, regional transportation reduces the spatial distribution difference of ARGs in PM2.5. The exposure dose of ARGs in different functional regions illustrated that the total inhaled dose of ARGs in sewage treatment plant (1.7 × 105 copies/d) was the highest, while lowest in park (3.2 × 104 copies/d). This study is of great significance for assessing the distribution and sources of ARGs under the clean air initiative in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While high blood pressure has been linked to cognitive impairment, the relationship between low blood pressure, especially hypotension, and cognitive impairment has not been well studied. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of hypotension and cognitive impairment in the seniors of China, and the association between hypotension and cognitive function impairment. Methods: The data was derived from the 2018 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Systolic blood pressures (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP) were measured by objective examination. The Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (CMMSE) was used to evaluate the cognitive impairment of the elderly. Generalized linear models were conducted to evaluate the association of hypotension with cognitive impairment. Results: The prevalence of hypotension and cognitive impairment in the Chinese elderly were 0.76% and 22.06%, respectively. Participants with hypotension, lower SBP, and lower DBP, had odds ratios of 1.62, 1.38, and 1.48 for cognitive impairment, respectively. Besides, the CMMSE scores decreased by 2.08, 0.86, and 1.08 in the elderly with hypotension, lower SBP, and DBP, compared with those with non-hypotension, higher SBP, and DBP, respectively. Subgroup analyses showed that the association of cognitive impairment with hypotension was stronger in Chinese elderly who had decreased activity of daily living. Moreover, there was statistical evidence of a nonlinear dose-response relationship of SBP and DBP with cognitive impairment (Pnonlinear < 0.05). Conclusion: Hypotension was a potential risk factor for cognitive impairment of the Chinese elderly, especially for those having decreased activity of daily living. Blood pressure management should be conducted to prevent them from cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combination therapy offers a new option for treatment of unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (uICC). Aim: To compare the effect of different anti‐PD‐1 combination therapies as the first‐line treatments for uICC. Methods: This study included 318 patients who received chemotherapy alone (Chemo), anti‐PD‐1 plus chemotherapy (ICI‐chemo), anti‐PD‐1 plus targeted therapy (ICI‐target) or anti‐PD‐1 plus targeted therapy and chemotherapy (ICI‐target‐chemo) as first line for uICC from 22 centres in China. The primary endpoint was progression‐free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR) and safety. Results: Patients with ICI‐chemo (median PFS [mPFS], 6.3 months; HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42–0.88; p = 0.008; median OS [mOS], 10.7 months; HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.39–0.94; p = 0.026), ICI‐target (7.2 months; HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.36–0.80; p = 0.002; 15.8 months; HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.35–0.84; p = 0.006) or ICI‐target‐chemo (6.9 months; HR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.47–0.90; p = 0.009; 14.4 months; HR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.31–0.70; p < 0.001) achieved better clinical outcomes than those with Chemo (3.8 months; 9.3 months). ICI‐target was not inferior to ICI‐chemo in survival outcomes (HR for PFS: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.55–1.42; p = 0.614; HR for OS: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.51–1.55; p = 0.680). ICI‐target‐chemo yielded similar prognoses as ICI‐chemo (HR for PFS: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.70–1.62; p = 0.764; HR for OS: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.45–1.31; p = 0.328) and ICI‐target (HR for PFS: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.77–1.88; p = 0.413; HR for OS: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.51–1.47; p = 0.583) but resulted in more adverse events (p < 0.001; p = 0.010). Multivariable and propensity score analyses supported these findings. Conclusions: Among patients with uICC, ICI‐chemo or ICI‐target provided more survival benefits than Chemo while achieving comparable prognoses and fewer adverse events than ICI‐target‐chemo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients narratives are being recorded increasingly frequently and spontaneously in short user produced content (UGC) films, which may have an impact on the vlogger's health as well as the public's comprehension of the relevant health concerns. This paper addressed three research questions regarding the population characteristics of UGC video publishers, the narrative theme of the videos, and the emotional orientation of the commenters. This study aimed to deepen our understanding of COVID-19 patients' narrative intentions and emotional needs through the theoretical frameworks of theory of planned behavior (TPB) and negative dominance theory (NDT). We collected 335 videos from 28 COVID-19 patients and 572,052 comments as samples on Douyin platform, the largest short-video website in China. Using Latent Semantic Analysis, we analyzed the descriptive information of the video blogs, the narrative textual information of the videos, and the emotional orientation of the comments. Our findings revealled seven categories of narrative themes, with 52.1% of video comments exhibiting a positive emotional orientation. Within a framework integrating TPB and NDT theories, we analyzed the behavioral intentions of vloggers and viewers during COVID-19 epidemic, and interpreted the persistent posting of videos and the active posting of comments as positive actions that counteracted the multiple effects of negative messages. This study contributes to the understanding of individual narratives in macro-risk communication, both theoretically and empirically, and offers policy recommendations in relevant fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree architectural attributes demonstrate a significant association with fruit yield. Yellowhorn is the future bioenergy tree in China; however, the species suffers from high reproductive energy and exceedingly low reproductive output. To optimize yellowhorn management and pinpoint priority trees featuring optimal architecture, we employed machine learning modeling to develop high fruit yielding predictive models using five yield indicators (dependent variables: FrW, SeW, ShW, FrW, and SeN) and five tree characteristics (independent variables: CA, TH, DGL, HLC, and MBN) of yellowhorn. Results showed that trees characterized by a substantial canopy area (>1.70 m2) and a large diameter at ground level (>3.71 cm) have been found to yield a higher fruit production. However, increased tree height does not invariably correlate with an elevated yield. Effective selection of high‐yielding individuals can be accomplished by restricting tree height within the range of 192–232.4 cm. This approach emphasizes the importance of integrating considerations of tree architecture into forestry management practices. Such integration can bolster productivity, thereby contributing to both the sustainability and economic viability of yellowhorn forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study estimates the effects of the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure on rural employment and income. We use a triple‐difference framework and exploit the geographic variation of the recent universal telecommunication service in China. Empirical results reveal increased broadband adoption after the implementation of the program with governmental subsidy. The universal telecommunication service led to an increase in rural residents' income and their employment in the non‐agricultural sector, especially salaried work. The findings suggest that digital infrastructure promotes the transformation of the rural economy in emerging markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal areas have become the primary location for nuclear power plant sites due to the convenience of seawater cooling. In China, the diffusion range of thermal discharge water has always been a hot research topic as the basis for sea use areas. The main physical process of heat loss in the numerical simulation of thermal discharge from power plants is heat exchange between the water surface and air. Currently, the methods for calculating this heat loss include the heat flux method and the water surface heat exchange coefficient method. Taking a power plant in Zhejiang as the research object, the MIKE 3 temperature–salinity module (heat flux method) and MIKE ECO Model (water surface heat exchange coefficient method) were used for modeling, and the diffusion of thermal discharge water under different modules was compared and analyzed. The results show that the calculated area of the water temperature rise envelope between the two modules differed significantly under the same conditions. The surface 4 °C temperature rise area, as calculated using ECO Model, was 45.8% smaller than that of the temperature–salinity module. The MIKE 3 temperature–salinity module can simulate the heat accumulation of water under thermal buoyancy, producing a significant thermal stratification phenomenon; the ECO module does not accurately represent the heat exchange process between the water surface and the air, and it does not adequately capture the significant vertical stratification that occurs in real-world scenarios. On this basis, this study not only lays a foundation for further exploring the impact of thermal discharge water from this powerhouse on the structure of surrounding marine biological communities and dissolved oxygen content in water bodies but also provides scientific evidence for the selection of modules when simulating thermal discharge water with the MIKE model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]