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The Compulsory Education Course Standards for Mathematics 2022 have highlighted the educational objectives of junior secondary mathematics by emphasizing the development of mathematical competence and practical learning. Model consciousness, as one of the fundamental mathematical competencies to be developed at the junior secondary level, can facilitate students' comprehension of the universal application of mathematics. Teachers of mathematics in junior high school should construct effective classroom activities based on the cognitive qualities of their students in order to enhance their mathematical model consciousness and comprehension of the substance of mathematics knowledge. This paper is a lesson study of the education of Congruent Triangles, and its purpose is to investigate strategies for fostering mathematical model consciousness among junior high school pupils.

Background: Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is an important window of opportunity for early intervention and rehabilitation in dementia. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and effect of delivering transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation (TEAS) intervention to elders with aMCI. Methods: A total of 61 aMCI patients were randomly allocated into the intervention group (receiving a 12-week TEAS) and control group (receiving health education). The feasibility outcomes included recruitment rate, retention rate, adherence rate, and an exploration of patients' views and suggestions on the research. The effective outcomes included cognitive function, sleep quality, and life quality, which were measured by the Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA), auditory verbal learning test—Huashan version (AVLT-H), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and quality of life short-term-12 (QoL SF-12). Results: The recruitment rate, retention rate, and adherence rate were 67.35%, 92.42%, and 85.29%, respectively. Most aspects of the research design and administration of the TEAS intervention were acceptable. The quantitative analysis suggests that compared with the control group, the scores of MoCA, AVLT-H, and SF-12 (mental component summary) were significantly better (p < 0.05); however, the differences were not statistically significant in PSQI and SF-12 (physical component summary) (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that the study was feasible. TEAS awas possible for enhancing cognitive function and mental health in people with aMCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the effects of environmental factors and plant physiological processes on plant nutrient stoichiometry is of great significance to understanding how wetland vegetation distributes and maintains function. However, we have a limited understanding of how the combination of plant communities and seasonality with soil physicochemical properties affects nutrient stoichiometry in wetland plants. In this study, we examined these factors in Carex thunbergii and soil across four types of plant communities dominant in the riparian zone of Shengjin Lake during the non−flooding periods of December 2020 and March 2021. In winter, the total foliar C, N, and P concentrations decreased along with an increase in plant coverage, which did not differ in spring. The C, N, C: P, and N: P of foliage significantly increased over the season, while soil C, N, C: P, and N: P significantly decreased over the season. Both in winter and spring, soil C and soil N decreased along with the increase of plant coverage. Our results suggest that both plant community and soil physicochemical properties have a significant influence on plant nutrient stoichiometry. This study improves our understanding of the seasonal dynamics of plant nutrients under different communities and soil physicochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Meeting healthy dietary needs while eating out can be a challenging experience for adults with inflammatory bowel disease. This study examined the barriers experienced by adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) when eating out. Objective: This study aimed to explore the perceptions of people with IBD on eating out barriers. Design: A qualitative study among individuals affected by IBD was conducted through semi-structured interviews. Results: Sixteen adults from China were diagnosed with IBD between 6 months and 20 years prior to the study. They were recruited from four tertiary care hospitals in Nanjing, China. The participants completed a semi-structured interview between April and September 2022. Self-perceived difficulties with eating and drinking when eating out were varied. After thematic analysis of the data, five main themes emerged: limited access to healthy and hygiene food; no pleasure of food enjoyment; financial strain; not feeling loved, supported or understood; and coping strategies for not meeting demand. Conclusions: This study highlights the various barriers encountered by patients with inflammatory bowel disease when eating out. These findings will help people with IBD to encourage the formation of targeted health and well-being-related interventions. Knowledge of nutrition and diet should be provided in education and training programs administered to IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the spatial variability in soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) and their possible relationships with other soil properties in the Hongqipao reservoir, which is dominated by different vegetation types. The results showed that there were high spatial variabilities in SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN, and that the SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN contents decreased with increasing soil depth in the Hongqipao reservoir. The SOC was significantly positively correlated with TN, SMBC, moisture content (MC) and negatively correlated with carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio) and bulk density (BD). Soil TN was significantly positively correlated with SMBC, SMBN, MC and negatively correlated with the C:N ratio, BD and pH. The SMBC was significantly positively correlated with SMBN, MC and negatively correlated with the C:N ratio, BD and pH. The SMBN was significantly negatively correlated with the C:N ratio and BD. All of the measures of soil properties in this study could explain the higher significant variability in the response variables (SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN contents). The generalized additive model (GAM) showed that SOC and TN had different influencing factors in different soil depths. The structural equation model (SEM) showed that vegetation types had a significantly positive effect on TN and SMBN, and the soil depths had a significantly positive effect on SOC and a significantly negative effect on TN and SMBC. This study further suggests that vegetation types play a major role in determining the spatial characteristics of soil carbon and nitrogen, and any changes in the vegetation types in the reservoir may influence the distributions of soil carbon and nitrogen. This may affect the global carbon and nitrogen budgets and the atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Camponotus japonicus is a soil-dwelling ant species that is widespread in China and Southeast Asia. A mature nest consists of minor workers, major workers, gynes, males, and a queen. The original workers, which are raised by the queen during the early nest-building stage, are smaller than other castes. The Dufour's and venom glands are two important glands associated with the sting apparatus in female castes. Their secretions play significant roles in defense, reproduction, communication, and foraging in the social life of ants. However, the exact nature of their secretions and whether there are differences among castes remain unknown. In this study, we analyzed the secretions of these two glands using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with two sample processing methods (hexane solution and solid-phase microextraction). The main secretion of the Dufour's gland is n-undecane, whose proportion significantly varies among castes. The main secretions of the venom gland are formic acid and n-undecane, and their proportions show obvious differences among castes. This study provides basic information to further understand the function of these two glands in the social life of ants. The Dufour's and venom glands are the most developed glands connected to the female reproductive organs, playing important roles in defense, foraging, information exchange, and reproduction in ants. The main chemical secretions of these glands vary among species and even among castes of the same species. In this study, we analyzed the chemical components of the Dufour's and venom glands in different castes of Camponotus japonicus (original worker, minor worker, major worker, gyne, and queen) using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) with two sample processing methods (hexane solution and solid-phase microextraction). The secretion of the Dufour's gland is characterized by a high ratio of alkanes, with n-undecane being the dominant secretion in all castes except the original workers. The venom gland's secretion mainly includes alkanes, acids, ketones, and alcohols, with formic acid and n-undecane being the dominant components. Additionally, the chemical composition and proportion of the main components vary significantly among castes, which may be closely related to the division of labor in their social life. This study provides basic information to further understand the function of these two glands in the social life of ants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 181 citrus-based products, including dried fruits, canned fruits, and fruit juices, collected from China and from abroad in 2021 were analyzed for the four Alternaria toxins (ALTs): alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tentoxin (TEN), and tenuazonic acid (TeA) via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). Although the concentrations of the four ALTs varied by product and geographically, TeA was the predominant toxin followed by AOH, AME, and TEN. Products made in China showed higher levels of ALTs than those made abroad. Maximum levels of TeA, AOH, and AME in analyzed domestic samples were 4.9-fold, 1.3-fold, and 1.2-fold, respectively, higher than those in imported products. Furthermore, 83.4% (151/181) of the analyzed citrus-based products were contaminated with at least two or more ALTs. There were significant positive correlations between AOH and AME, AME and TeA, and TeA and TEN in all analyzed samples. More importantly, the solid and the condensed liquid products had higher concentrations of ALTs than the semi-solid product samples, as well as tangerines, pummelos, and grapefruits compared to the other kinds of citrus-based products. In conclusion, co-contamination with ALTs in commercially available Chinese citrus-based products was universal. Extensive and systematic surveillance of ALTs in citrus-based products, both domestic and imported, is required to obtain more scientific data for the determination of the maximum allowable concentrations of ALTs in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand mining, which has tripled in the last two decades, is an emerging concern for global biodiversity. However, the paucity of sand mining data worldwide prevents understanding the extent of sand mining impacts and how it affects wildlife populations and ecosystems, which is critical for timely mitigation and conservation actions. Integrating remote sensing and field surveys over 14 years, we investigated mining impacts on the critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) in Dongting Lake, China. We found that sand mining presented a consistent, widespread disturbance in Dongting Lake. Porpoises strongly avoided mining sites, especially those of higher mining intensity. The extensive sand mining significantly contracted the porpoise's range and restricted their habitat use in the lake. Water traffic for sand transportation further blocked the species's river–lake movements, affecting the population connectivity. In addition, mining-induced loss of near-shore habitats, a critical foraging and nursery ground for the porpoise, occurred in nearly 70% of the water channels of our study region. Our findings provide the first empirical evidence of the impacts of unregulated sand extractions on species distribution. Our spatio-temporally explicit approach and findings support regulation and conservation, yielding broader implications for sustainable sand mining worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fencing is a globally ubiquitous yet largely underestimated human infrastructure. To date, most fencing‐related research and management has focused on its biophysical outcomes. However, fencing is often part of coupled human and natural systems, and inevitably affects social and ecological dynamics and the links between them. Drawing from three key case studies in the US, China, and South Africa, we delineate five social pathways through which fencing shapes social–ecological dynamics in a landscape. We show that the social functions and physical appearance of fencing conjointly form a positive feedback loop that stimulates the proliferation of fences across entire landscapes, rendering fencing a more impactful feature than expected from its ecological impacts alone. The emerging field of fence ecology and management must embrace the social–ecological complexities of fenced landscapes to minimize unanticipated social consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: We detected a QTL qHSW-16 undergone strong selection associated with seed weight and identified a novel candidate gene controlling seed weight candidate gene for this major QTL by qRT-PCT. Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] provides more than half of the world's oilseed production. To expand its germplasm resources useful for breeding increased yield and oil quality cultivars, it is necessary to resolve the diversity and evolutionary history of this crop. In this work, we resequenced 283 soybean accessions from China and obtained a large number of high-quality SNPs for investigation of the population genetics that underpin variation in seed weight and other agronomic traits. Selective signature analysis detected 78 (~ 25.0 Mb) and 39 (~ 22.60 Mb) novel putative selective signals that were selected during soybean domestication and improvement, respectively. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified five loci associated with seed weight. Among these QTLs, qHSW-16, overlapped with the improvement-selective region on chromosome 16, suggesting that this QTL may be underwent strong selection during soybean improvement. Of the 18 candidate genes in qHSW-16, only SoyZH13_16G122400 showed higher expression levels in a large seed variety compared to a small seed variety during seed development. These results identify SoyZH13_16G122400 as a novel candidate gene controlling seed weight and provide foundational insights into the molecular targets for breeding improvement of seed weight and potential seed yield in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 174 tomato-based products collected in China in 2021 were analyzed for the natural occurrence of four Alternaria toxins: alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tenuazonic acid (TeA), and tentoxin (TEN) by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed that TeA was the predominant toxin (average: 37.6 μg/kg and maximum: 770.1 μg/kg). The positive samples showed a decreasing order of average, maximum, and median concentrations of the four Alternaria toxins: TeA > AOH > AME > TEN. There was a significant correlation between AOH and AME in all analyzed samples (r = 0.785, p < 0.05). Almost 95% of samples were with Alternaria toxins, specifically, 16.1% with one kind of toxin, 24.7% with two, 12.1% with three, and 41.4% with four toxins. Higher concentrations of toxins were in dried tomatoes compared to other types of tomato-based products. Moreover, there was no significant difference in Alternaria toxins concentrations of products made in China, Europe, America, Asia, and Australia. This survey revealed that the co-contamination of the four Alternaria toxins in commercially tomato-based products was very common. Ongoing surveillance of tomato-based products from China is necessary to gather more data, so specific regulations for Alternaria toxins in tomato-based products can be set in the future. • TeA is the predominant toxin in tomato-based products commercially available in China. • Co-occurrence of Alternaria toxins in tomato-based samples collected from China is widely detected. • There are positive correlations between Alternaria toxins, especially for alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether in all analyzed tomato-based samples. • Higher concentrations of toxins are found in dried tomatoes compared to other types of tomato-based products. • There is no significant difference in Alternaria toxins concentrations of products made in China and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific determination of ecological flow can rationalize and specify the needs of river health in light of the current orientation toward ecologically oriented water management. We established a response mechanism among fish lifecycles, habitat factors, and flow processes. The ecology-habitat-flow modular simulation model (EHF model) is proposed by considering fish ecological characteristics, environmental flow components, dynamic optimal habitat, suitable hydraulic and water quality conditions for the recommendation of river ecological flow combination. The EHF model was utilized on the main channel of the Huaihe River and compared to the outcomes of four hydrological methods. The ecological flow derived by EHF takes into account the basic and special requirements of river ecosystems and is more targeted and continuous. The results of the study provide a theoretical and methodological for the scientific determination of ecological flow in a spatial-temporal, which provides a scientific basis for the maintenance of Ecohydrological system. • A response mechanism among lifecycles, habitat factors and flow process is built. • An Ecology-habitat-flow modular simulation model is built. • Ecological flow combination and water quality objectives of river were considered. • Provides a scientific basis for river protection and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large granitoid complexes within the continental crust are believed to be closely linked to mantle-derived magmas based on field observations and isotopic studies. However, details on the contribution of mantle-derived magmas in the generation of felsic magmas deep in the lower to middle crust, especially the interaction between the mantle-derived mafic magmas and the generated felsic melts, are not well constrained by petrological and mineralogical studies. Here we present a detailed study of an early Paleozoic monzonorite-granite suite from the South China Block and comparison with the other coeval magmatic rocks (~22,000km) in the region, to provide more details on the underplating/intraplating of mantle-derived magmas and the generation of felsic magmas in intracontinental settings. It is shown that the monzonorite has signatures of both mantle-derived magmas (substantial contents of MgO, Cr, and Ni; presence of olivine and orthopyroxene) and crust-derived magmas (substantial contents of SiO, KO, Rb, Ba, and light rare-earth elements; presence of K-feldspar, quartz and low-calcium plagioclase). Interestingly, the monzonorite, granite and the mafic microgranular enclaves (MME) are remarkably uniform in Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions, with high initial Sr/Sr ratios (0.7081-0.7098), low ε (t) values (−6.8 to −6.3) and low zircon ε (t) values (−8.0 to −7.4). An integrated study of petrological, mineralogical, and geochemical data of the monzonorite-granite suite and coeval magmatic rocks from the same region makes it clear that the input of crustal components is essential to explain the unusual signatures of the monzonorite. Petrogenetic modelling and isotopic compositions suggest that the contribution of mantle-derived mafic magmas in the generation of crust-derived felsic magmas is represented by heat input and minor mass input, and in the meantime, we prefer to explain the unusual geochemical signatures of the monzonorite by selective contamination of crust-derived felsic melts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a scanning Lidar system in this work to detect urban air pollution changes in real time and locate the sources of urban air pollution. We first proposed an algorithm to retrieve atmospheric extinction coefficients, which we used to create Lidar maps. Using Lidar map of the average extinction coefficients, we identified the locations of the local maximum values, and hence, the positions of the urban air pollution sources. Experimental results indicate that this method is effective for urban air pollution monitoring. Image 1 • A new algorithm is proposed to retrieve atmospheric extinction coefficients. • Ours is the first study to date that produces high-quality Lidar maps of atmospheric extinction coefficients. • The sources of urban air pollution can be located by searching for the maximum values of the average extinction coefficient. • The location of urban air pollution source is found for two cities in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at assessing the occurrence of twelve mycotoxins, including deoxynivalenol (DON) and its derivatives, 3- and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON and 15-ADON), nivalenol (NIV), zearalenone (ZEN), fumonisins (FB 1 , FB 2 and FB 3) and aflatoxins (AFB 1 , AFB 2 , AFG 1 and AFG 2) in 338 unprocessed wheat samples harvested in 2018 from China by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). DON was found to be the most predominant and abundant mycotoxins followed by 3-ADON, 15-ADON, NIV, FB 1 , ZEN, FB 3 , FB 2 , AFB 1 , AFB 2 , AFG 2 and AFG 1. Samples from Hubei and Anhui provinces that situated the Yangtze River recorded a higher positive rate for Fusarium mycotoxins. The positive rate and average concentration of fumonisins in wheat samples are relatively low while the co-occurrence of fumonisins as well as DONs and its derivatives 3-ADON and 15-ADON, ZEN and/or NIV was found to be 37.6%. Moreover, compared with wheat samples in 2017, the combined levels of DON and its derivatives, 3-ADON and 15-ADON in wheat samples harvested in the year of 2018 is higher with the incidence of co-occurrence of DON + 3-ADON + 15-ADON significantly raised which may due to the increased precipitation weather conditions. These findings suggest the necessity of monitoring contamination of Fusarium mycotoxins and further raise concerns as to DON + 3-ADON + 15-ADON co-occurrence in wheat in China in order to protect consumers' health from the toxins exposure risks. • Twelve mycotoxins are detected in 338 wheat samples harvested in 2018 from China. • Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most abundant toxin detected in wheat samples. • The incidence of co-occurrence of DON, 3-ADON and 15-ADON in 2018 is raised. • The incidence of co-occurrence of fumonisins with other Fusarium toxins is 37.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of mass mortality of M. salmoides occurred in an aquaculture farm in Jiangsu province of China, showing signs of skin ulceration and haemorrhages. The bacteria were isolated from diseased largemouth bass, and identified as Plesiomonas shigelloides based on morphological, physiological and biochemical features, as well as 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The pathogenicity of P. shigelloides was determined by challenge experiments, and the median lethal dosage (LD 50) of the isolate NJS1 for M. salmoides was calculated as 1.6 × 105 CFU/mL at 7 d post-infection. Histopathological analysis revealed that extensive necrosis, vacuolization and inflammation were presented in the kidney, liver and gill of the diseased fish. Detection of virulence-related genes showed that P. shigelloides NJS1 was positive for astA, astB, astD, astE, actP and 6 ahpA. Additionally, the host defensive response of M. salmoides infected by P. shigelloides was analyzed by quantitive real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and the results showed that the expression levels of Cas3 , Hep1 , HIF , IgM , IL15 and TGF were significantly up-regulated in head kidney, liver and spleen in different hours post-infection, which revealed varying expression profiles and clear transcriptional activation of immune related genes. The results suggested that P. shigelloides was an etiological element in the mass mortalities of M. salmoides and this study provided deeper insights for the pathogenesis and host defensive system in P. shigelloides invasion. • Mass mortalities of cultured Micropterus salmoides with symptoms of skin ulceration and hemorrhage were reported. • Pathogenesis and histopathological analysis related to M. salmoides with Plesiomonas shigelloides infection were studied. • P. shigelloides infection induced a wide defensive response of various immune related genes in M. salmoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lightning characteristics of 89 linear mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) occurred over the Beijing area from the year of 2007 to 2011 were analyzed by lightning data and S-band radar information. According to different morphology of radar echo, linear MCSs were classified into six categories: leading convective lines with a trailing stratiform region (TS for short), leading stratiform region with a trailing convective region (LS), leading convective lines with no stratiform region (NS), bow echo of leading lines (BE), leading convective lines with a parallel stratiform region (PS), and broken line stratiform (BL). The results showed that linear MCSs occurred frequently over the Beijing area at the summer time, in particular, TS, LS and PS modes totally accounted for 73% of linear MCSs. On the average, lightning mainly concentrated in the linear convective region, and small amount of lightning occurred in the stratiform region. At the mature stage, lightning mainly located in the linear convective region with strong radar echo of TS, LS, and PS MCSs. At the dissipating stage, the lightning gradually increased in the stratiform region of TS MCSs, whereas fewer lightning occurred in the mode of LS MCSs, and positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) lightning accounted for a large percentage in the mode of PS MCSs. From the distribution of +CG/CG in three archetypes of linear MCSs, it is found that PS MCSs with highest the proportion of +CG/CG, and then followed by LS MCSs while the lowest ratio appeared in TS MCSs. The relationship between lightning frequency and volume of 40 dBZ radar echo exhibited linear correlation in three distinct archetypes of linear MCS. Environmental factors of linear MCSs exhibited that high CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) value and the larger wind shear of 0–6 km played an important role to sustain the convective development of TS, LS and PS MCSs. • Five-year lightning activities of different archetypes of linear MCS over north China are investigated. • According to the radar morphology, the linear MCSs are classified into six modes. • Different archetypes of linear MCSs showed distinguish lightning behavior. • Lightning frequency and the 40 dBZ radar volume of linear MCSs exhibited a good positive linear correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Distribution of ecosystem services in the Three-River Headwaters region is obviously different. • Regulating services are the largest in all ecosystem services. • Synergies are the dominant correlation of ecosystem services in the Three-River Headwaters region. • The strength of a same pair-wise ecosystem services varies at different scales. We analyzed the spatial-temporal variation of ecosystem services in the Three-River Headwaters (TRH) region from 1990 to 2015 and their tradeoffs/synergies at the county-scale and grid-scale by using ecosystem service value model, correlation coefficient and bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis. The results showed that: (i) From 1990 to 2015, the ecosystem services value (ESV) of the TRH region showed an upward trend, an increase of 60.681 billion yuan from 126.967 billion yuan in 1990 to 187.648 billion yuan in 2015. Moreover, the dynamic degree of ecosystem services was 6.59%. Regulating services accounting for 69.51% were the largest in all ecosystem services, followed by supporting, provisioning, and cultural services. Among the individual ecological services, only the values of gas regulation and environment depuration decreased, other services increased. Among various land use, the ecosystem services of grassland accounting for 47% were the largest, followed by watershed, wetland, forestland, desert, and farmlands. (ii) The spatial distribution of ecosystem services showed an increasing pattern from northwest to southeast. High-value areas of ecosystem services per unit area distributed in the lakes and basins of Zhidoi county, Madoi county, and Tanggulashan town. Low-value areas mainly distributed in the northwest of Zhidoi county. (iii) There was a significant positive correlation between climate regulation and soil conservation. Aesthetic landscape and all provisioning services were weak synergies, gas regulation and other services were weak tradeoffs. (iv) Analysis of multi-scale tradeoffs/synergies showed that synergies dominated ecosystem services, and tradeoffs transformed into synergies with the increase of scale. Quantifying the ESVs and clarifying the correlations among multiple ecosystem services at multi-scale can provide a basis for regional planning, and promote the sharing of ecological well-being among the people in the TRH region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Persons with physical disabilities are more likely to suffer from psychological symptoms and inferiority feelings, and social support plays an important role in improving those symptoms. However, the interaction between psychological symptoms, inferiority feelings and social support is yet to be understood., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate anxiety, depression, and inferiority feelings among individuals with physical disabilities in a Chinese sample. The questionnaire included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7, Patient Health Questionnaire 9, Self-designed Disability Questionnaire, and Social Support Rating Scale including three dimensions: subjective social support, objective social support and utilization of social support., Results: Out of the 1,453 respondents with physical disabilities, 49.7, 60.4, and 62.5% reported experiencing anxiety, depression, and inferiority feelings, respectively. Factors such as time since identification of physical disabilities, comorbidities, daily travel, social interaction, internet use, subjective social support, and inferiority feelings were found to be associated with anxiety or depression symptoms among physically disabled individuals. Subjective social support was found to be associated with inferiority feelings, which partly mediated the effect of subjective social support on anxiety symptoms by 37.4% and depression symptoms by 28.7%., Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of addressing the psychological well-being of physically disabled individuals in addition to their physical rehabilitation. Psychological intervention strategies should focus on improving subjective social support and reducing inferiority feelings, particularly among vulnerable groups., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Liu, Xu, Liu, Song, Li, Li and Chen.)

Purpose: The long-term fertility impact of cancer treatments is a significant concern for young breast cancer survivors. These reproductive concerns often become a persistent source of stress, negatively affecting their quality of life. This study aims to explore the reproductive concerns experienced by young breast cancer survivors post-treatment and the factors influencing their perceptions., Methods: This phenomenological study utilized semi-structured interviews to collect data. Eighteen participants were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Mainland China. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Colaizzi's method., Results: Data analysis revealed five themes and fourteen subthemes: (1) multiple emotional burdens interwoven with concerns about fertility; (2) concerns about risks associated with reproduction; (3) dilemma of childrearing; (4) the significance of reproduction; (5) support needs from family, peers, and professionals., Conclusion: Young breast cancer survivors in China face significant challenges related to reproductive issues. Reproductive health is a crucial aspect of breast cancer survivorship care. Healthcare providers must be attentive to the reproductive concerns of survivors, recognize the importance of multidimensional support for positive adaptation, and offer tailored and ongoing interventions to manage reproductive health in young breast cancer survivors., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

This study aimed to explore the association between genetic polymorphisms in the chromosome region 9q21 and the risk of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in Northwestern Chinese women. A case-control study was conducted with 241 POP patients and 268 healthy controls, analyzing ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across five genes using PCR amplification and Sequenom MassArray. The results revealed significant associations between three SNPs-rs2297002 in GOLM1, rs7450 in MAK10, and rs3814535 in TLE1-and POP. Specifically, the TC genotype of rs2297002, the GA genotype of rs7450, and the AA genotype of rs3814535 were linked to an increased or decreased risk of POP. The study suggests that these genetic variants might contribute to the pathogenesis of POP in this population, offering potential markers for early diagnosis and further investigation into the molecular mechanisms underlying POP., Competing Interests: The Authors declared no conflict of interest, (African Journal of Reproductive Health © 2024.)

A total of 769 wheat kernels collected from six provinces in China were analyzed for beauvericin (BEA) and four enniatins (ENNs), namely, ENA, ENA 1 , ENB and ENB 1 , using a solid phase extraction (SPE) technique with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The results show that the predominant toxin was BEA, which had a maximum of 387.67 μg/kg and an average of 37.69 μg/kg. With regard to ENNs, the prevalence and average concentrations of ENB and ENB 1 were higher than those of ENA and ENA 1 . The geographical distribution of BEA and ENNs varied. Hubei and Shandong exhibited the highest and lowest positive rates of BEA and ENNs (13.46% and 87.5%, respectively). However, no significant difference was observed among these six provinces. There was a co-occurrence of BEA and ENNs, and 42.26% of samples were simultaneously detected with two or more toxins. Moreover, a significant linear correlation in concentrations was observed between the four ENN analogs ( r range: 0.75~0.96, p < 0.05). This survey reveals that the contamination and co-contamination of BEA and ENNs in Chinese wheat kernels were very common.

This study aimed to establish a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to investigate the residues of patulin in apples, hawthorns, and their products. A total of 400 samples were collected from online shopping plats and supermarkets in China, including apples (n = 50), hawthorns (n = 50), and their products (apple juice, apple puree, apple jam, hawthorn juice, hawthorn chips, and hawthorn rolls, n = 300). In this experiment, this method had good linearity and a recovery of 82.3-94.4% for patulin. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.2 µg/kg for liquid samples, while it was 0.3 µg/kg for solid and semi-fluid samples. The frequencies of patulin were 79.8% in 400 samples, and the patulin concentration is from 0.6 to 126.0 µg/kg. Two samples (0.5%) for patulin exceeded the regulatory limit (50 µg/kg) in 400 samples. The frequencies of patulin in kinds of samples were 32.0-98.0% (p < 0.05), and the percentage of samples exceeding the limit was not more than 2.0%. The frequencies of patulin in domestic samples were 83.0%, while they were 57.7% in imported samples. Two domestic samples (0.6%) contained patulin above the regulatory limit, while none of the imported samples exceeded the limit. Among the online and offline samples, the frequencies of patulin were 76.4 and 82.1%. Two online samples (1.0%) for patulin exceeded the regulatory limit, whereas none of the offline samples exceeded the limit. These results showed it is important to monitor regularly the content of patulin in apples, hawthorns, and their products to ensure consumer food safety., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Mycotoxin (Research Gesellschaft für Mykotoxinforschung e.V.) and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This study proposes a set of water ecosystem services (WES) research system, including classification, benefit quantification and spatial radiation effect, with the goal of promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, as well as providing a theoretical foundation for optimizing water resources management. Hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to categorize WES taking in to account the four nature constraints of product nature, energy flow relationships, circularity, and human social utility. A multi-dimensional benefit quantification methodology system for WES was constructed by combining the emergy theory with multidisciplinary methods of ecology, economics, and sociology. Based on the theories of spatial autocorrelation and breaking point, we investigated the spatial radiation effects of typical services in the cyclic regulation category. The proposed methodology has been applied to Luoyang, China. The results show that the Resource Provisioning (RP) and Cultural Addition (CA) services change greatly over time, and drive the overall WES to increase and then decrease. The spatial and temporal distribution of water resources is uneven, with WES being slightly better in the southern region than the northern region. Additionally, spatial radiation effects of typical regulating services are most prominent in S County. This finding suggests the establishment of scientific and rational intra-basin or inter-basin water management systems to expand the beneficial impacts of water-rich areas on neighboring regions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To describe the prevalence, clinical features and potential risk factors of pneumoconiosis in combination with connective tissue disease (CTD) or positive autoantibodies., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: A retrospective study of adults recruited in China between December 2016 and November 2021., Participants: A total of 931 patients with pneumoconiosis at Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital were enrolled in this study; of these, 580 patients were included in the final analysis., Main Outcome Measures: Pneumoconiosis combined with CTD or positive autoantibodies was a major adverse outcome., Results: In total, 13.8% (80/580) of the patients had combined pneumoconiosis with CTD, among whom the prevalence of CTD was 18.3% (46/251) in asbestosis and 11.4% (34/298) in silicosis/coal mine workers' pneumoconiosis. In comparison to the general Chinese adult population, the relative risk of various CTD in pneumoconiosis, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, primary Sjögren's syndrome, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis, were 11.85, 12.12, 127.40, 4.23, 9.94 and 644.66, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that female sex (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.56 to 4.17) and a later stage of pneumoconiosis (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.24 to 3.34) were the independent risk factors for CTD in patients with pneumoconiosis (all p<0.050)., Conclusion: CTD is highly prevalent in patients with pneumoconiosis, especially in patients of asbestosis, and silicosis/coal mine workers' pneumoconiosis. Female sex and later stages of pneumoconiosis are associated with an increased risk of combined with CTD., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: The aim of the current study is to investigate the change in anxiety and depression amongst Chinese breast cancer patients and to identify causal associations between baseline variables and the trajectory of anxiety and depression within this identified group., Methods: This is a longitudinal prospective study. Three hundred women with breast cancer were recruited. Patient's depression and anxiety were repeatedly measured by PHQ-9 and GAD-7 at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months after discharge. The SAS 9.4 PROC Traj procedure was used to examine the group-based trajectory of these recruited patients. Linear mixed models (LMM) were utilized to examine anxiety/depression changes over time, accounting for relevant baseline demographic and clinical factors., Results: About 26.3% of the participants reported none or very mild anxiety over time, 60.7% reported stable low-level anxiety, and the remaining 13.0% showed significantly decreasing trend in GAD total scores. Meanwhile, 10.7% of the participants reported none or very mild depressive symptoms over time, 66.0% reported stable PHQ total scores throughout the research period, and 23.3% were classified as the "high level-decreasing group". Patients reported significantly higher anxiety and depression scores in the first three assessments. Participants with no or mild life stress along with a positive personality tended to report lower anxiety and depression scores over time., Conclusion: Most of the breast cancer patients reported stable low-level anxiety and depression 18 months after discharge. Early assessment of optimism and stress levels among cancer patients might help identify people at risk of experiencing long-term anxiety and depression., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Li, Zhang, Xu, Sun, Wen, Xu, Tong, Garg, Chen and Yang.)

This study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PKs), safety, and immunogenicity of the biosimilar (RD12014) compared to reference liraglutide (Victoza) in healthy Chinese male subjects, so as to provide the basis for the similarity evaluation of the two drugs. Eligible subjects were randomized 1:1 to two sequences (RD12014-Victoza or Victoza-RD12014). Subjects received a single 0.6 mg dose of Victoza or RD12014 by abdominal subcutaneous injection during the first period. After a 7-day washout period, subjects received the alternative drug during the second period. Blood samples were collected at predefined timepoints for PKs and immunogenicity assessment. The primary PK end points were maximum plasma concentration (C max ) and area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to the time of the last quantifiable concentration (AUC 0-last ). PK bioequivalence was achieved, if the 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratio (GMR) of C max and AUC 0-last were within the range of 80.00-125.00%. Safety was assessed throughout the study. The 90% CIs of the GMR of RD12014 to Victoza for C max and AUC 0-last were completely within the range of 80.00-125.00%. Thirteen treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were reported in 11 subjects (22.4%) in the RD12014 group, compared to 12 TRAEs reported in 12 subjects (24.5%) in the Victoza group. The blood samples of 49 subjects were negative for anti-drug antibody and the neutralizing antibody was not further detected. This study demonstrated PK similarity of RD12014 to Victoza in healthy Chinese male subjects. Safety and immunogenicity profiles were comparable between the two groups., (© 2022 The Authors. Clinical and Translational Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

The bioequivalence and safety of levetiracetam granules (test formulation) and oral solution (reference formulation) were evaluated in Chinese healthy volunteers under a fasting condition. A total of 24 subjects randomly received the test or reference formulation at the rate of 1:1. The alternative formulation was administered after a 7-day washout period. The blood samples were collected at designated time points. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was applied to determine the plasma concentrations of levetiracetam. Adverse events were monitored and recorded. The 90% CIs for the geometric mean ratios of maximum plasma concentration, area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to the last quantifiable concentration, and area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity between test preparation and reference preparation were 95.5% to 110.7%, 100.2% to 105.3%, and 100.3% to 105.7%, respectively, all within an acceptable bioequivalence range of 80.00% 125.00%. Both test and reference preparations were well tolerated. The trial confirmed that a single dose of 500-mg levetiracetam granules was bioequivalent to oral solution under a fasting condition, and may serve as a new dosage form of levetiracetam for clinical practice., (© 2022, The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.)

Objectives: Occupational dust exposure may induce various lung diseases, including pneumoconiosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The features of combined COPD and pneumoconiosis have not been well described, and this may hamper the management. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and characteristics as well as the risk factors of the combined diseases., Design: A cross-sectional study., Setting and Participants: 758 patients with pneumoconiosis were recruited at a single-medical centre. Of these, 675 patients with pneumoconiosis, including asbestosis, silicosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis and other pneumoconiosis, was eligible for analysis., Primary Outcome Measures: COPD was diagnosed based on clinical features and/or history of exposure to risk factors and post bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 )/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio <0.7. Clinical data were collected from predesigned medical reports. The patients underwent both chest radiograph and high-resolution CT scans. Risk factors for combined COPD and pneumoconiosis were analysed using regression analysis., Results: COPD prevalence overall was 32.7% (221/675) and was the highest in silicosis (84/221) and coal workers' pneumoconiosis (100/221). COPD prevalence increased with smoking pack-years, dust exposure duration and pneumoconiosis stage. Patients with combined diseases had lower body mass index, higher smoking index and worse pulmonary function. Risk factors for combined diseases included heavy smoking, silica or coal exposure and advanced pneumoconiosis. The interaction between dust exposure and smoking in COPD was also identified. The risk of combined COPD significantly increased with heavy smoking and silica or coal exposure (OR 5.49, 95% CI 3.04 to 9.93, p<0.001)., Conclusions: COPD is highly prevalent in patients with pneumoconiosis, especially patients with silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Occupational dust exposure as well as heavy smoking is associated with an increased risk of combined COPD and pneumoconiosis, which demands an effective preventive intervention., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Heavy metal pollution in agricultural soil has negative impact on crop quality and eventually on human health. A total of 24 top soil samples were collected from paddy field near the Zhangji Coal Mine in Huainan City, Anhui Province. Seven heavy metals (Cu, Zn, As, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Ni) were selected to evaluate the pollution status through total content and chemical speciation, geo-accumulation index (I geo ), and risk assessment code (RAC) and investigate leaching behavior of heavy metals under simulated rainfall. The results of present study indicated that mining activities were responsible for elevated Cu and Cd in surrounding paddy soil. Based on the results of chemical speciation, most heavy metals were associated with the residual fraction, and the environmental risk of heavy metals in soil was sequenced as Pb > Cd > Ni > As > Zn > Cu > Cr. It revealed that Pb in soil would pose a higher environmental risk due to its higher reducible fraction, then followed by Cd, Ni, As, and Zn, which would pose a medium risk. The result of simulated rainfall leaching analysis showed that heavy metals could be categorized into two groups: concentrations of Cu, Ni, Cd, Zn, and Cr in the leachates displayed a continuous decrease tendency with the increase in accumulative simulated rain volume; whereas leachable tendency of As and Pb was enhanced with increasing leaching time and rain volume. Generally, the leaching percentage of heavy metals followed the sequence of As > Zn > Ni > Cd > Cr > Cu > Pb. More attention should be paid to the higher environmental risk of Pb and higher leaching percentage of As with regard to ecosystem safety and human health.

Allelopathy between algae is an ecological strategy that can facilitate or inhibit the occurrence of algal blooms. The role of allelopathic effects of marine microalgae Cylindrotheca closterium in other phytoplankton population dynamics are still limited. In the current study, the effects of cell-free filtrates of diatom Cylindrotheca closterium on two common dinoflagellates (Prorocentrum donghaiense and Prorocentrum cordatum), a chrysophyceae (Isochrysis galbana) and a diatom (Chaetoceros curvisetus) were investigated within controlled laboratory experiments. It was observed that the growth of P. donghaiense was significantly suppressed and approximately 80% cells disappeared after 8-d exposure, while the other three algae was less sensitive. P. donghaiense was very sensitive to the exudates of C. closterium from the stationary phase by comparing various percentage (10, 30, 50, 70 and 100%) of filtrates. In addition, the allelopathic effects of extracellular compounds of C. closterium extracted by three different organic solvents (ethyl acetate, chloroform and petroleum ether) on P. donghaiense were explored by determining cell density, chlorophyll content and maximum photosystem II (PSII) quantum yield (F v /F m ). It was found that the compounds extracted by ethyl acetate and chloroform appeared to exhibit less toxicity on P. donghaiense than that of petroleum ether. The present results indicated that the allelochemicals released by C. closterium might be concentrated effectively in the petroleum ether extraction phase, which provided a new perspective for controlling the red tides of P. donghaiense in the East China Sea by means of the ecological inhibitors extracted., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Totals of 158 corn and corn-based samples and 291 wheat and wheat-based samples from Shandong province, China in 2017 were analyzed for five mycotoxins including beauvericin (BEA), enniatin A (ENA), enniatin A₁ (ENA₁), enniatin B (ENB), and enniatin B₁ (ENB₁) by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). BEA was the predominant toxin detected, followed by ENB, ENA₁, ENA, and ENB₁. Corn and corn-based samples were more easily contaminated by BEA with an average concentration of 65.26 µg/kg, compared with that in wheat and wheat-based samples (average = 0.41 µg/kg). Concentrations of BEA, ENA, and ENB₁ in corn kernels, flours, and flakes were significantly different (Kruskal⁻Wallis Test, p < 0.05), as well as for BEA, ENA, ENB, and ENB₁ in wheat kernels, flours, and noodles (Kruskal⁻Wallis test, p < 0.05). Furthermore, 59.5% (94/158) and 59.8% (174/291) corn- and wheat-based samples were co-contaminated by at least two mycotoxins, respectively. Positive correlations in concentrations were observed in corn between levels of ENA and ENB₁, ENA and ENB, ENA₁ and ENB₁, as well as in wheat between BEA and ENA, BEA and ENA₁, BEA and ENB, BEA and ENB₁, ENA and ENA₁, ENA and ENB, ENA and ENB₁, ENA₁ and ENB, ENA₁ and ENB₁, and ENB and ENB₁. These results demonstrate that co-contamination of BEA and enniatins (ENNs) in corn- and wheat-based samples from Shandong, China is very common. More data on the contamination of five mycotoxins in cereal and cereal-based samples nationwide are needed.

Our results showed that, at the same BMI level, Uygurs have greater WHR values, abdominal visceral fat content, and diabetes risks than Kazaks. In addition, values of HDL-C in Uygur subjects were lower than those in Kazak subjects, and values of creatinine, uric acid, diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose, and fructosamine in Uygur male subjects were lower than those in Kazak male subjects. In contrast, systolic blood pressure values in Uygur subjects were greater than those in Kazak subjects, and blood glucose values were greater in Uygur female subjects than in Kazak female subjects. Additionally, in Uygurs, visceral adipose tissue expression levels of TBX1 and TCF21 were greater in obesity group than in normal and T2DM groups and lower in T2DM group than in normal group (P < 0.01). The visceral adipose tissue expression levels of APN in normal group was greater than those in obesity and T2DM groups, and visceral adipose tissue expression levels of TNF-α and MCP-1 in normal group were lower than those in obesity and T2DM groups (P < 0.01). In conclusion, T2DM in Uygurs was mainly associated with not only distribution of adipose tissue in body, but also change in metabolic activity and adipocytokines secretion of adipose tissue.

Although bacteria and fungi are well-known to be decomposers of leaf litter, few studies have examined their compositions and diversities during the decomposition process in tropical stream water. Xishuangbanna is a tropical region preserving one of the highest floristic diversity areas in China. In this study, leaf litter of four dominant plant species in Xishuangbanna was incubated in stream water for 42 days during which samples were taken regularly. Following DNA extraction, PCR-DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) and clone-sequencing analyses were performed using bacterial and fungal specific primers. Leaf species have slightly influences on bacterial community rather than fungal community. The richness and diversity of bacteria was higher than that of fungi, which increased towards the end of the 42-day-incubation. The bacterial community was initially more specific upon the type of leaves and gradually became similar at the later stage of decomposition with alpha-proteobacteria as major component. Sequences affiliated to methanotrophs were obtained that indicates potentially occurrence of methane oxidation and methanogenesis. For the fungal community, sequences affiliated to Aspergillus were predominant at the beginning and then shifted to Pleosporales. Our results suggest that the microorganisms colonizing leaf biofilm in tropical stream water were mostly generalists that could exploit the resources of leaves of various species equally well.