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The current study examined a multiple mediator model based on the control-value theory. A sample of 433 Chinese junior middle school students participated in questionnaires assessing teacher-student relationships (TSRs), academic emotions, academic value (AV), and academic self-efficacy (ASE). English test scores were collected as an indicator of students' English academic performance. The results indicated the following: (a) for academic enjoyment, the TSR has an effect on academic achievement through the chain intermediary of AV and ASE; (b) for academic relaxation, the TSR has an effect on English academic achievement through the single intermediary of academic relaxation and the chain intermediary of AV, ASE, and academic relaxation; (c) for academic anxiety, the TSR has an effect on English academic achievement through the single intermediary of AV, the single intermediary of academic anxiety, and the chain intermediary of AV, ASE, and academic anxiety; (d) for academic boredom, the TSR has an effect on English academic achievement through the single intermediary of academic boredom. These findings enrich the relevant research on the control-value theory and provide important insights for improving students' English academic achievement.

Purpose: This mixed-methods study proposed a digital-storytelling-based (DST-based) online flipped learning approach during the pandemic, and investigated its impact on EFL learners' willingness to communicate (WTC) and their perceptions of the approach. Design/methodology/approach: A 16-week quasi-experiment was carried out in a college English course at a comprehensive university in Chinese mainland. A total of 69 EFL learners were recruited from two intact classes and assigned to either an experimental (the DST-based online flipped learning approach) or comparison (the online flipped learning approach) group, in order to explore the effects of the DST-based online flipped learning approach on learners' WTC. The quantitative data were obtained from the learners' WTC questionnaire. Then, semi-structured interviews were conducted in order to gauge the students' perceptions of the different learning approaches. Findings: The quantitative results demonstrated that the experimental group outperformed the comparison group in terms of WTC at the end of the experiment. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data also lent support to the contribution of this DST-based online flipped learning approach in terms of boosting their English speaking confidence and encouraging more meaningful interaction and collaboration with others. Originality/value: Findings from this study offer insights into integrating the DST-based online flipped learning approach as an instructional implementation of technology-enhanced task-based language learning (TETBLT) in COVID/post-COVID times. Pedagogical suggestions for EFL instructors and researchers are also provided, which would be significant for improving EFL learners' communication skills and would enable them to become more capable and globalized citizens in the twenty-first century.

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a highly significant infectious disease that poses a substantial threat to the global pig industry. In recent years, the NADC30-like strain has gradually emerged as prevalent in China, causing a profound impact on the country's pig farming industry. Therefore, it is important to conduct an in-depth study on the characteristics and gene functions of the NADC30-like strain. An infectious cDNA clone is an indispensable tool for investigating the functions of viral genes. In this current study, we successfully isolated a NADC30-like strain and constructed its full-length infectious cDNA clone. The utilization of this clone will facilitate our investigation into the viral replication, pathogenesis, and immune response associated with the PRRSV NADC30-like strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) critically threatens the pig industry in China. Lineage 1 PRRSV, which is divided into L1A–L1F and L1H–L1J, is widely recognized as the most extensively genetically diverse lineage globally. L1A (NADC34-like) and L1C (NADC30-like) PRRSVs have become the current major circulating strains in China. Notably, strains from other branches of L1 have not been reported in China. During our epidemiological investigation of PRRSV, we identified a new strain named HLJDZD55. Phylogenetic analysis of the ORF5 gene revealed that HLJDZD55 belongs to the L1B branch. Alignment of deduced amino acid sequences based on the Nsp2 gene indicated that HLJDZD55 has a discontinuous deletion of 131 amino acids (111 + 1 + 19). We further sequenced the whole genome of HLJDZD55, and phylogenetic analysis based on the whole-genome sequence revealed that HLJDZD55 belongs to the L1C branch. Recombination analysis of the whole genome demonstrated that HLJDZD55 is a recombinant strain of TJZH-1607 (L1C, identified in China) and Minnesota 14 (L1B, identified in the USA). These findings suggested that HLJDZD55 is a newly emerged lineage 1 PRRSV in China and is closely related to L1B PRRSV in the US, which may have been introduced from the U.S. strain and subsequently recombined with the local Chinese strain and underwent evolution. Taken together, these results demonstrated the emergence of L1B PRRSV in China for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) vaccines are widely used. These vaccines, which contain inactivated and live attenuated vaccines (LAVs), are produced by MARC-145 cells derived from the monkey kidney cell line. However, some PRRSV strains in MARC-145 cells have a low yield. Here, we used two type 2 PRRSV strains (CH-1R and HuN4) to identify the genes responsible for virus yield in MARC-145 cells. Our findings indicate that the two viruses have different spread patterns, which ultimately determine their yield. By replacing the viral envelope genes with a reverse genetics system, we discovered that the minor envelope proteins, from GP2a to GP4, play a crucial role in determining the spread pattern and yield of type 2 PRRSV in MARC-145 cells. The cell-free transmission pattern of type 2 PRRSV appears to be more efficient than the cell-to-cell transmission pattern. Overall, these findings suggest that GP2a to GP4 contributes to the spread pattern and yield of type 2 PRRSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterovirus C116 (EV‐C116) is a new member of the enterovirus C group which is closely associated with several infectious diseases. Although sporadic studies have detected EV‐C116 in clinical samples worldwide, there is currently limited information available. In this study, two EV‐C‐positive fecal specimens were detected in apparently healthy children, which harbored low abundance, through meta‐transcriptome sequencing. Based on the prototypes of several EV‐Cs, two lineages were observed. Lineage 1 included many types that could not cause EV‐like cytopathic effect in cell culture. Three genogroups of EV‐C116 were divided in the maximum likelihood tree, and the two strains in this study (XZ2 and XZ113) formed two different lineages, suggesting that EV‐C116 still diffuses worldwide. Obvious inter‐type recombination events were observed in the XZ2 strain, with CVA22 identified as a minor donor. However, another strain (XZ113) underwent different recombination situations, highlighting the importance of recombination in the formation of EV‐Cs biodiversity. The EV‐C116 strains could propagate in rhabdomyosarcoma cell cultures at low titer; however, EV‐like cytopathic effects were not observed. HEp‐2, L20B, VERO, and 293T cell lines did not provide an appropriate environment for EV‐C116 growth. These results challenge the traditional recognition of the uncultured nature of EV‐C116 strains and explain the difficulty of clinical detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the prevalence and evolution of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) at commercial fattening pig farms, a total of 1397 clinical samples were collected from a single fattening cycle at seven pig farms in five provinces of China from 2020 to 2021. Results: The RT‒PCR results revealed that PRRSV was present on all seven farms, and the percentage of PRRSV-positive individuals was 17.54–53.33%. A total of 344 partial NSP2 gene sequences and 334 complete ORF5 gene sequences were obtained from the positive samples. The statistical results showed that PRRSV-2 was present on all seven commercial fattening farms, and PRRSV-1 was present on only one commercial fattening farm. A total of six PRRSV-2 subtypes were detected, and five of the seven farms had two or more PRRSV-2 subtypes. L1.8 (L1C) PRRSV was the dominant epidemic strain on five of the seven pig farms. Sequence analysis of L1.8 (L1C) PRRSV from different commercial fattening pig farms revealed that its consistency across farms varied substantially. The amino acid alignment results demonstrated that there were 131 aa discontinuous deletions in NSP2 between different L1.8 (L1C) PRRSV strains and that the GP5 mutation in L1.8 (L1C) PRRSV was mainly concentrated in the peptide signal region and T-cell epitopes. Selection pressure analysis of GP5 revealed that the use of the PRRSV MLV vaccine had no significant episodic diversifying effect on L1.8 (L1C) PRRSV. Conclusion: PRRSV infection is common at commercial fattening pig farms in China, and the percentage of positive individuals is high. There are multiple PRRSV subtypes of infection at commercial fattening pig farms in China. L1.8 (L1C) is the main circulating PRRSV strain on commercial fattening pig farms. L1.8 (L1C) PRRSV detected at different commercial fattening pig farms exhibited substantial differences in consistency but similar molecular characteristics. The pressure on the GP5 of L1.8 (L1C) PRRSV may not be directly related to the use of the vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the standard treatment for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) can significantly prolong the survival of PMP patients, and some patients can even achieve long-term survival (LTS) or clinical cure. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinicopathological and treatment features of PMP patients with LTS and to explore the survival benefit factors of PMP patients. Methods: The clinicopathological and prognostic data of PMP patients who received CRS + HIPEC at our center from December 2004 to May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. PMP patients were divided into LTS group (≥ 10 years) and short-term survival (STS) group (< 5 years) according to the length of natural history. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to explore the beneficial factors of PMP patients with LTS. Results: A total of 609 patients with PMP received CRS + HIPEC treatment at our center. Two-hundred one patients with PMP were included in the study after screening, including 39 patients (19.4%) in the LTS group and 162 patients (80.6%) in the STS group. In STS group and LTS group, median overall survival based on natural history was 29.2 (2.4–59.9) vs. 138.9 (120.3–416.7) months. Univariate analysis revealed 8 factors (P < 0.05) with statistically significant differences between the two groups: gender, chemotherapy history, previous surgical score, Karnofsky Performance Status score, pathological diagnosis, lymphatic metastasis, peritoneal cancer index, and completeness of cytoreduction (CC). Multivariate analysis identified only two factors independently associated with LTS of PMP patients: CC and pathological diagnosis. Conclusion: Complete CRS and pathological features are two key factors affecting LTS in PMP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high‐precision earthquake catalog is made from continuous waveform data recorded at 360 portable seismographs deployed for one month in the Changbaishan‐Tianchi volcanic area based on an automatic earthquake detection and location workflow. Then we investigate detailed 3‐D structures of P and S wave velocities (Vp and Vs) and Vp/Vs ratio of the crust beneath the study region. Our results reveal a high‐Vp/Vs zone accompanied with active volcanic earthquakes beneath the Tianchi caldera at ∼5 km depth, which may reflect a magma chamber. The intense seismic activities within 2 km depth beneath the Tianchi caldera from 2002 to 2005 occurred directly above the magma chamber revealed by this study, which could be related to upward migration of high‐pressure volatiles originating from the magma chamber. A potential middle‐crustal magma chamber might provide continuous magmatic materials feeding the upper‐crust magma chamber and lead to ruptures of surrounding rocks, resulting in two swarms of volcanic seismicity during the observation period. We deem that the diverse eruption styles of the Changbaishan volcano are closely associated with the multilevel structure of magma chambers in the upper and middle crust. Plain Language Summary: It is difficult for the earthquake monitoring system to identify and locate microearthquakes by using traditional seismic detection methods due to their weak signals, leading to a relatively low quantity and quality of seismic data in a study region, which cannot meet the demands of high‐resolution seismic tomography. In this study, we detect and locate microseismic events beneath the Changbaishan‐Tianchi volcanic area using 1‐month waveform data recorded at our 360 portable seismographs deployed in the volcanic area. Then we investigate high‐resolution 3‐D crustal structures of P and S wave velocities (Vp, Vs) and Vp/Vs ratio beneath the study area. Our results reveal a possible crustal magma reservoir at ∼5 km depth beneath the Tianchi caldera, which is accompanied with volcanic earthquakes during our observation period. In addition, small earthquakes occurred actively at a depth of ∼2 km during 2002–2005, which are located right above the magma reservoir. We deem that the joint effect of magma reservoirs in the upper and middle crust could explain the active volcanic seismicity and distinctive eruption behaviors of the Changbaishan volcano. Key Points: A magma chamber at ∼5 km depth beneath the Tianchi caldera of the Changbaishan volcano (CBV) is revealedThe CBV unrest during 2002–2005 was related to reactivation of the crustal magma chamberDistinctive eruption behaviors of the volcano are related to multilevel magma chambers in the crust [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NADC34-like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) strains were first detected in China in 2017 and became major circulating strains in 2021. Our previous study showed that the live-attenuated vaccine candidate SD-R strain could provide broad cross-protection against different NADC30-like PRRSVs (sublineage 1.8). However, the protective effect of SD-R against NADC34-like PRRSV is unclear. Here, a novel NADC34-like PRRSV, LNTZJ1341-2012, was isolated from a pig farm experiencing disease in 2020. Sequence analysis revealed that LNTZJ1341-2012 belonged to PRRSV-2 sublineage 1.5, exhibited the same Nsp2 amino-acid deletion characteristics as IA/2014/NADC34, and had not recombined with other strains. Additionally, a good challenge model was established to evaluate the protection afforded by the candidate SD-R vaccine against infection with a representative NADC34-like strain (LNTZJ1341-2012). The control piglets in the challenge experiment displayed clinical signs typical of PRRSV infection, including transient fever, high viremia, mild clinical symptoms, and histopathological changes in the lungs and submaxillary lymph nodes. In contrast, SD-R vaccination significantly reduced serum and lung tissue viral loads, and vaccinated piglets did not show any clinical symptoms or histopathological changes. Our results demonstrated that LNTZJ1341-2012 is a mildly virulent NADC34-like PRRSV and that the live-attenuated vaccine SD-R can prevent the onset of clinical signs upon challenge with the NADC34-like PRRSV LNTZJ1341-2012 strain, indicating that SD-R is a promising vaccine candidate for the swine industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes current practices in educational technology training for higher education teachers in China, using information derived from questionnaires and statistics. It addresses problems identified in questionnaires, such as upgrading and improving training content and training modes, and makes some constructive suggestions for the future. (Contains 5 tables.)

The Arxan volcanic group is one of the largest active volcanic fields in China. Its last eruption occurred ∼2,000 years ago, but it still has a potential of eruption in the future. The spatial distribution and migration channel of its magmatic reservoirs are still unclear. Here we precisely locate microearthquakes and study the detailed 3‐D velocity structure of the volcanic area using a large number of high‐quality P and S wave arrival‐time data recorded at 227 portable seismometers. A swarm of microearthquakes (M < 1.5) related to magmatic activity were recorded, which lasted about 4 days during 13–16 September 2020. Our tomographic results show that 12 Arxan volcanoes share the same magmatic system. The melt fraction of a magma chamber below the Tianchi volcano at ∼0–8 km depths is estimated to be ∼6.1%–8.6% from the seismic velocity reductions. Our results indicate that the Arxan magmatic system is still active at present. Plain Language Summary: The detailed crustal structure and magmatic system beneath the Arxan volcanic field in NE China are still unclear due to the lack of a dense seismic network in the area. Local earthquakes associated with the volcanic activity in this area are all very small, so precise location of the seismic events is a challenge. We deployed a dense portable seismic network in the volcanic area to precisely locate 712 microearthquakes. Then we determine a detailed 3‐D seismic velocity model of the crust beneath the volcanic area. As a result, the spatial distribution and migration channel of magmatic reservoirs in the Arxan volcanic area are revealed for the first time. Key Points: We precisely locate microearthquakes and study 3‐D Vp and Vs crustal structure beneath the Arxan volcanic areaA microearthquake swarm occurred during 13–16 September 2020, reflecting magmatic activity of the Arxan volcanic group12 Arxan volcanoes share the same magmatic system with a melt fraction of ∼6.1%–8.6% [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV)-1 and PRRSV-2 have long been cocirculating in China. To date, all PRRSV-1 strains in China have been classified as subtype 1. We investigated the prevalence of PRRSV-1 in several areas of China from 2016 to 2022 and found that BJEU06-1-like strains comprised the main epidemic branch of PRRSV-1. Pathogenicity data for this subgroup are currently lacking. In this study, the Chinese BJEU06-1-like PRRSV-1 strain ZD-1 was isolated from primary alveolar macrophages (PAMs). ZD-1 has undergone no recombination and has a 5-aa discontinuous deletion in the Nsp2 protein, similar to other BJEU06-1-like strains; additionally, ZD-1 has a 26 aa C-terminal truncation in the GP3 gene. Pathogenicity studies revealed that ZD-1 causes obvious clinical symptoms: prolonged fever; reduced body weight; alveolar epithelial proliferation and moderate alveolar diaphragm widening in the lungs; diffuse lymphocytic hyperplasia in the lymph nodes; high levels of viremia in the serum; and elevated viral loads in the lungs, lymph nodes, and tonsils. These results suggested that the BJEU06-1-like PRRSV-1 strain ZD-1 is moderately pathogenic to piglets. This is the first study to evaluate the pathogenicity of the BJEU06-1-like branch in China, enriching the understanding of PRRSV-1 in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the tumor burden of peritoneal metastases (PM) in China, and to guide the construction of professional PM treatment centers in China. Based on the cancer statistics by the National Cancer Center of China published in 2016, the prevalence of PM in 2020 was calculated according to the population statistics in China and the survival and mortality rates of various PM. The prevalence rates of PM in China were as follows: gastric cancer PM 371.0/million, absolute number 523,937; colorectal cancer PM 47.1/million, absolute number 66,482; ovarian cancer PM 97.1/million, absolute number 137,083; pseudomyxoma peritonei 25.1/million, absolute number 35,425; malignant peritoneal mesothelioma 2.6/million, absolute number 3737; the above total was 766,664. According to the annual high-quality treatment volume of 365 cases in each professional PM treatment center, China needs to establish 1194 specialized PM treatment centers. At present, there are 1580 tertiary first-class hospitals in China. Therefore, for every 3 first-class tertiary hospitals in China there should be at least 2 PM treatment centers in full operation. Considering the large number of PM patients in China and the relatively small number of professional PM treatment centers, more resources should be devoted to the promotion and construction of PM treatment centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the strategy of "sustainable development" is being implemented, it is widely acknowledged that environmental education is fundamental and important. In the current school system, environmental education has produced extraordinary results in elementary and middle schools, and even in universities. However, environmental education is rarely attempted at the high school level. In this article, the author examines whether high school environmental education is necessary or not. Facing with the dilemma that teaching environmental education in high school is very difficult on one hand, and is absolutely necessary on the other, the author suggests to search for a way to carry out high school environmental education in a sustainable manner based on the experience in practicing environmental education in high school. Sustainable development of environmental education means that the course should be designed with exploration and innovation in mind to get students interested in the subject. In his two years of practice, the author gradually realized that teachers must be innovative in teaching environmental education in high school. (Contains 2 tables.)

This study focuses on the trends and the causes of variation in actual evapotranspiration (AET) around the warming hiatus over China by a comprehensive analysis applying various temporal–spatial methods. It is observed that the annual AET showed a different trend around 2000 for China as a whole. By employing segmented regression analysis for detecting warming hiatus points, high temporal inconsistency can be found in eight climatic regions of China. The impacts of meteorological variables on AET were further identified by affecting the intensity and relative change of meteorological factors. AET was highly correlated (p <.01) with solar radiation in the southeast (R = 0.80) and air specific humidity in the northwest areas (R = 0.83). AET changes presented the highest sensitivity to specific humidity in Northwest before 2006 and in north central China after 2003, with sensitivity coefficients of 1.48 and 1.74, respectively. Three variables, including air specific humidity (with an average contribution rate of ~17% in the northwest), short‐wave radiation and air temperature, can be the main factors that lead to the changes in AET. The specific meteorological factors varied from region to region: the changes in AET can be ascribed to the increased wind and short‐wave radiation in north central China and east China, the decreased air temperature in Tibetan Plateau, the increased specific humidity in southeast China during warming hiatus, and so on. After the warming hiatus occurred, the dominant factor of AET trends changed from air specific humidity to short‐wave radiation and other factors. Generally, air specific humidity and air temperature have played leading roles in AET trends during the past 30 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has brought serious economic losses to pig industry. PRRSV-1 have existed in China for more than 25years. The prevalence and features of PRRSV-1 on Chinese farms are unclear. We continuously monitored PRRSV in a pig farm with strict biosafety measures in Henan Province, China, in 2020. The results showed that multiple types of PRRSV coexisted on this single pig farm. PRRSV-1 was one of the main circulating strains on the farm and was responsible for infections throughout nearly the entire epidemic cycle. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PRRSV-1 isolates from this pig farm formed an independent branch, with all isolates belonging to BJEU06-1-like PRRSV. The analysis of selection pressure on ORF5 on this branch identified 5 amino acids as positive selection sites, indicating that PRRSV-1 had undergone adaptive evolution on this farm. According to the analysis of ORF5 of PRRSV-1 on this farm, the evolutionary rate of the BJEU06-1-like branch was estimated to be 1.01x10-2 substitutions/ site/year. To further understand the genome-wide characteristics of PRRSV-1 on this pig farm, two full-length PRRSV-1 genomes representative of pig farms were obtained. The results of amino acid alignment revealed that although one NSP2 deletion was consistent with BJEU06-1, different new features were found in ORF3 and ORF4. According to the above results, PRRSV-1 has undergone considerable evolution in China. This study is the first to report the prevalence and characteristics of PRRSV-1 on a large farm in mainland China, which will provide a reference for the identification and further prevention and control of PRRSV-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A.Mey.) is the dry root and rhizome of the Araliaceae ginseng plant. It has always been used as a tonic in China for strengthening the body. Cardiovascular disease is still the main cause of death in the world. Some studies have shown that the functional components of ginseng can regulate the pathological process of various cardiovascular diseases through different mechanisms, and its formulation also plays an irreplaceable role in the clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, this paper elaborates the current pharmacological effects of ginseng functional components in treating cardiovascular diseases, summarizes the adverse reactions of ginseng, and sorts out the Chinese patent medicines containing ginseng formula which can treat cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To summarize the characteristics of delayed facial paralysis (DFP) after retrosigmoid approach surgery for vestibular schwannoma and screen its related influencing factors. Methods A total of 171 patients with vestibular schwannoma treated in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2019 to May 2021 were included in the study. All patients underwent retrosigmoid approach surgery under neuroelectrophysiological monitoring. Before and after the surgery, facial paralysis was classified according to House - Brackmann (H - B) grade of facial nerve function. Univariate and multivariate forward Logistic regression analysis was used to screen related risk factors of DFP after vestibular schwannoma surgery. Results Patients were divided into DFP group (n = 19) and non- DFP (NDFP) group (n = 152) according to whether there was DFP after surgery. The tumor diameter in DFP group was smaller than that in NDFP group (t = 6.623, P = 0.001), the proportion of small tumors (χ² = 18.585, P = 0.000) and the proportion of slight adhesion between tumor and facial nerve (χ² = 21.442, P = 0.000) were higher than those in NDFP group. Logistic regression analysis showed small tumor (OR = 15.797, 95%CI: 3.324-75.081; P = 0.001) and slight adhesion between tumor and facial nerve (OR = 11.690, 95%CI: 3.413-40.042; P = 0.000) were risk factors for DFP after vestibular schwannoma surgery. Following up to one year after surgery, the recovery rate of facial nerve function (H-B grade I-II) in DFP group was 17/19. Conclusions The patients with small tumor volume and slight adhesion between tumor and facial nerve are prone to DFP, and the prognosis of facial nerve function in such patients is good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NADC34‐like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) strains were first detected in China in 2017, with epidemic potential. In this study, the phylogenetic, epidemic, and recombinant properties of NADC34‐like PRRSV in China were evaluated comprehensively. From 2020 to October 2021, 82 NADC34‐like PRRSV isolates were obtained from 433 PRRSV‐positive clinical samples. These strains accounted for 11.5% and 28.6% of positives in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and have spread to eight provinces. We selected 15 samples for whole‐genome sequencing, revealing genome lengths of 15,009–15,113 nt. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Chinese NADC34‐like strains cluster with American sublineage 1.5 strains and do not form an independent branch. Recombination analysis revealed that six of fifteen complete genome sequences were derived from recombination between NADC34‐like and NADC30‐like or HP‐PRRSV; all of the strains recombined with local strains in China, exhibiting a complex recombination pattern. Partial Nsp2 sequence alignment showed that nine of fifteen isolates had a 100 aa continuous deletion (similar to that in IA/2014/NADC34); other isolates had a 131 aa discontinuous deletion (similar to that in NADC30). Five of them also had additional amino acid deletions, all of which are reported for the first time here. In the last 2 years, NADC34‐like PRRSV has become one of the main epidemic strains in some areas of China; it has changed significantly, its homology has decreased significantly, and it has undergone complex recombination with local Chinese strains. These results are of great significance for understanding the current epidemic situation of PRRSV in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an important pathogen that endangers the swine industry worldwide. Recently, lineage 1 PRRSVs, especially NADC30-like PRRSVs, have become the major endemic strains in many pig-breeding countries. Since 2016, NADC30-like PRRSV has become the predominant strain in China. Unfortunately, current commercial vaccines cannot provide sufficient protection against this strain. Here, an attenuated lineage 1 PRRSV strain, named SD-R, was obtained by passaging an NADC30-like PRRSV strain SD in Marc-145 cells for 125 passages. Four-week-old PRRSV-free piglets were vaccinated intramuscularly with 105.0TCID50 SD-R and then challenged intramuscularly (2 mL) and intranasally (2 mL) with homologous NADC30-like PRRSV SD (1 × 105.0TCID50/mL) and heterologous NADC30-like PRRSV HLJWK108-1711 (1 × 105.0TCID50/mL). The results showed that antibodies against specific PRRSVs in 5 of 5 immunized piglets were positive after a 14-day post-vaccination and did not develop fever or clinical diseases after NADC30-like PRRSV challenges. Additionally, compared with challenge control piglets, vaccinated piglets gained significantly more weight and showed much milder pathological lesions. Furthermore, the viral replication levels of the immunized group were significantly lower than those of the challenge control group. These results demonstrate that lineage 1 PRRSV SD-R is a good candidate for an efficacious vaccine, providing complete clinical protection for piglets against NADC30-like PRRSVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes tremendous economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. In China, novel PRRSVs have frequently emerged in recent years, but the evolutionary relationship among these viruses has remained unclear. In the present study, a 4-year PRRSV genome-monitoring study was performed on samples from a pig farm. We observed that NADC30-like PRRSVs with higher mutation rates replaced HP-PRRSVs as the epidemic strains. We monitored the variation in the same PRRSV strain evolved in a pig herd over 2 years and observed that the low genomic similarity of NADC30-like PRRSVs results from rapid mutation. We also showed that recombination events between NADC30-like and QYYZ-like PRRSVs resulted in the complex recombination patterns of PRRSVs, which have formed gradually over time. Furthermore, recombination of the same strain can occur at different locations and increase the diversity of recombination events. Overall, these findings interpret the evolutionary patterns of novel and emerging PRRSVs, information that is crucial for PRRSV control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with hepatic cirrhosis are more susceptible to Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and colonization with Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile). Asymptomatic C. difficile colonization is thought to predispose to subsequent CDI. However, the dynamic gut microbiota changes remain unclear. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to longitudinally monitor alterations in the intestinal microbiota of 22 hepatic cirrhosis patients with toxigenic C. difficile colonization at admission (pre-CDI) and developed CDI during hospitalization, subdivided into pre-CDI and CDI. 21 hospitalized cirrhotic patients without C. difficile colonization served as controls (HC). Compared with HC, pre-CDI and CDI samples had significantly decreased microbial richness and diversity, a significantly higher relative abundance of opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus , and a lower relative abundance of beneficial symbionts, such as Faecalibacterium , Dorea , and Roseburia. Three biomarkers showed high accuracy for distinguishing pre-CDI samples from HC with an area under the curve (AUC) up to 0.81. In conclusion, our study explored the changes of the gut microbiome before and after CDI. The gut microbial richness as well as diversity in CDI patients were notably reduced, relative to controls. Imbalance of the intestinal flora may be related to the risk for development of CDI. Identifying key members of the gut microbiota and illustrating their roles and mechanisms of action in CDI development are important avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The name porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) NADC30-like was first coined in 2015. It originated from the NADC30 strain that was introduced into China by importing breeding pigs and has since undergone mutations or recombination, resulting in variant viruses. Following widespread outbreaks in China in recent years, these NADC30-like strains have presented major health challenges in swine production systems. Outcomes induced by PRRSV NADC30-like infection are highly variable, ranging from inapparent to severe, depending on the recombination between NADC30 and field PRRSV strains prevalent in swine farms. Vaccines and strict biosecurity measures have been explored to fight this disease; however, current PRRSV commercially modified-live virus vaccines (MLVs) have the potential to revert to virulence and only provide limited or no cross-protection efficacy against NADC30-like strains. PRRSVs will remain an ongoing challenge to the swine industry until safe and effective vaccines or antiviral reagents are developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HER2 amplification/overexpression is a common driver in a variety of cancers including gallbladder cancer (GBC). For patients with metastatic GBC, chemotherapy remains the standard of care with limited efficacy. The combination of HER2 antibody trastuzumab plus chemotherapy is the frontline treatment option for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and gastric cancer. Recently, this regime also showed antitumor activity in HER2-positive GBC. However, resistance to this regime represents a clinical challenge. Camrelizumab is a novel PD-1 antibody approved for Hodgkin lymphoma and hepatocellular carcinoma in China. In this study, we presented a HER2-positive metastatic GBC patient who was refractory to trastuzumab plus chemotherapy but experienced significant clinical benefit after the addition of camrelizumab. Our case highlights the potential of immunotherapy in combination with HER2-targeted therapy in HER2-positive GBC. We also demonstrated that two immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with camrelizumab can be managed with an anti-VEGF agent apatinib. This case not only highlights the importance of irAE management in patients treated with camrelizumab, but also demonstrates the potential of PD-1 antibody plus trastuzumab in HER2-positive GBC patients who have developed resistance to chemotherapy and trastuzumab-based targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate independent factors for the efficacy and safety of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for the treatment of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM). Methods: The clinical database of 110 DMPM patients treated with CRSþ HIPEC at our hospital was retrospectively analyzed. Independent prognostic factors were screened using univariate and multivariate analyses and the safety of the perioperative period was evaluated based on adverse events. Results: Among the 110 patients with DMPM, 34 (30.9%) had a peritoneal cancer index (PCI) < 20 and 76 (69.1%) had PCI 20; 59 (53.6%) patients achieved completeness of cytoreduction (CC) 0/1 and 51 (46.4%) cases achieved CC 2/3. At the median follow-up of 43.3 (95%CI: 37.3–49.4) months, 48 (43.6%) patients were still alive and 62 (56.4%) patients died. The median overall survival was 32.6 months. Serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred in 41 patients (37.3%) and the perioperative mortality rate was 2.7%. Univariate analysis identified nine prognostic factors: Karnofsky performance status score, perioperative tumor markers, PCI, red blood cell infusion, pathological type, vascular tumor emboli, lymphatic metastasis, Ki-67 index, and perioperative SAEs (all p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis identified four independent prognostic factors: pathological type (p = 0.007), vascular tumor emboli (p = 0.044), Ki-67 index (p = 0.044), and SAEs (p = 0.004). Conclusions: CRSþ HIPEC for DMPM treatment resulted in prolonged survival with acceptable safety. Tumor pathology and SAEs are key factors for successful CRSþ HIPEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, we report the indications for prenatal cytogenetic diagnosis of triploid cases, in an attempt to identify clues to early diagnosis.Study Design: This was a retrospective analysis of prenatal cases of triploidy during a 9-year period at mainland China. Clinical data were reviewed for these cases, including maternal demographics, indications for invasive testing, fetal ultrasound findings, and pregnancy outcomes.Results: A total of 22 singleton pregnancies affected with triploid fetuses were detected. The fetal karyotype included 69,XXX (72.7%) and 69,XXY (27.3%). Eighteen cases were identified by the first trimester screening program. One case was missed by maternal cell-free DNA testing, but detected by second trimester anatomy scan. Three cases escaped the first trimester screening and were detected by second trimester anatomy scan.Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that most triploid cases can be diagnosed prenatally during the first trimester. The early asymmetrical fetal growth restriction, structural anomalies, and extremely high risk serum screening result for trisomy 21 or 18 should alert the physicians to the investigation of triploidy.Key Message: Ultrasound-based first-trimester screening plays a major role in early diagnosis of fetal triploidy. Future replacement of routine first-trimester screening by cell-DNA testing might miss the chance of early diagnosis and management of triploid pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The benefits and tolerability of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with regorafenib as a second-line therapy has not been reported for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to explore the benefits and tolerability of TACE combined with second-line regorafenib in patients with unresectable advanced HCC and failure to first-line treatment.Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study of patients with progression after first-line sorafenib and/or lenvatinib between 01/2019 and 04/2020 at four tertiary hospitals in China. The patients were treated with TACE. Then, 5-7 days after the first TACE, the patients started taking regorafenib for 3 weeks every 4-week cycle. The overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse events (AEs) were observed.Results: The median follow-up was 5.6 (range 0.7, 17.0) months. The median age was 60 (range 35, 79) years. There were 32 (84.2%) males. The patients underwent a median of three TACE sessions (range 1-13). The initial doses of regorafenib were 20 mg/d (n = 1, 2.6%), 80 mg/d (n = 10, 26.3%), 120 mg/d (n = 15, 39.5%), and 160 mg/d (n = 11, 28.9%). The incidence of grade 3/4 AEs was 15.8%. Two patients stopped regorafenib due to AEs. The median OS was 14.3 months. The median PFS and TTP were 9.1 (95% CI 4.0, 14.2) and 9.1 (95% CI 5.5, 12.8) months, respectively.Conclusions: The present study provides real-world evidence indicating that regorafenib combined with TACE was beneficial and tolerable in patients with unresectable HCC. Additional prospective large-scale studies are required for confirmation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean paste (Doujiang) is one of the traditional fermented foods from China, fermented by various microorganisms. However, the microflora of Doujiang keeps little known. In this study, the microbial communities of seven kinds of representative Doujiang samples were investigated by both culture‐independent and culture‐dependent methods. We found that core OTUs among seven Doujiang samples were mainly from Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Candida, and Aspergillus according to Illumina sequencing. Every type of Doujiang sample harbored a different composition of microbial community. Doujiang LSJ and LBJ had the highest bacterial and fungal richness and diversity, respectively. The structure of microbial community was remarkably correlated with Doujiang properties—pH, and the content of total protein, soluble protein, amino acid, and total sugar (p <.05). Bacillus spp. were most frequently isolated bacterial species. Fungi of Monascus, Candida, and Aspergillus were also isolated. Eleven microbial strains showed high protease activities to degrade corn proteins, which can form obvious transparent hydrolytic circles in corn gluten meal medium plates. Therefore, microbial communities were supposed to tightly connect to Doujiang type and properties. It is possible to apply potential protein‐degrading microbial strains to corn byproducts for protein production in the future study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 21st century has carried the international trade governance system into a period of accelerated reshaping. The reform has been fueled by many factors including the requirement of the in-depth development of global value chains for cross-border institutional coordination, the requirement of the form of digital economy for new digital rules, and the requirement of the dominant countries under the traditional international trade governance system for the maintenance of their own interests. The reform of international trade governance system has driven China to adjust itself to external pressures while creating opportunities for the country to deepen the reform and join international trade governance. China as a beneficiary and firm supporter of economic globalization has rapidly grown from a marginal participator in economic globalization into a builder and contributor of the governance of the international trading system. It plays an active part in the reform of international trading system and the construction of a community of shared future for mankind by means of the making of rules, the reshaping of rules, the adjustment of rules, and the adaptation to rules. In addition, the critical measures for China to cope with the changes of globalization also consist in its deepened domestic reform, proactive opening-up, facilitated alignment with domestic and international rules, and an institutional environment suitable for the new situation of a "dual circulation" development pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) has been a widely used instrument measuring sleep quality among people living with HIV (PLWH) in China while its psychometric properties have yet to be examined in this population. We aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of PSQI in PLWH and identify factors associated with sleep quality. Methods: This study was based on a longitudinal study of newly diagnosed PLWH, among whom the PSQI was used to measure sleep quality 5 years after HIV diagnosis (n = 386). To evaluate internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha and corrected item-total correlation were calculated. To assess construct validity, Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated between PSQI scores and depression, anxiety, stress, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Known group validity was evaluated by comparing PSQI scores between participants with probable depression and those without. Binary logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with sleep disturbances. Results: The internal consistency Cronbach's alpha for the Chinese version of PSQI in PLWH was 0.713. Construct validity was established by significant relationships between PSQI and depression, anxiety, stress, and HRQoL. The PSQI scores in participants with probable depression were significantly higher than those without, indicating good known-group validity. Sleep disturbances were associated with less income, higher CD4 counts, antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation, exercise, depression, and higher stress levels. Conclusions: The Chinese version of PSQI is feasible for use among Chinese PLWH. Over a third of PLWH reported sleep disturbances. More attention should be given to individuals with less income and on ART. Intervention aimed at improving mental health or facilitating exercise may improve sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate assessment of soil erosion is an important prerequisite for controlling soil erosion. The engineering-control (E) and tillage (T) factors are the keys for Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) to accurately evaluate water erosion in China. Besides, the E and T factors can reflect the water and soil conservation effects of engineering-control and tillage practices. But in the current full coverage of soil erosion surveys in China (such as soil erosion dynamic monitoring), for the same practice, the E or T factors are assigned the same value across the country. We selected 469 E and T factors data based on runoff plots from 73 publications, and they came from six soil and water conservation regions. Correlation analysis, regression analysis, and nonparametric tests were used to determine the comparability of the data, and it was proved that the runoff plots dimensions are consistent with the local topography. The results of one-way ANOVA and nonparametric tests for E and T factors in different regions showed that the engineering-control practices have good soil and water conservation effects and weaken the regional differences of other environmental factors, so there were no significant differences in E factors between different regions. However, there were significant differences in T factors between different regions, and the geodetector was applied to explore the intrinsic driving force of the spatial distribution of T factors. The results of the geodetector showed that the dominant driving forces of the spatial distribution of different types of tillage practices were not completely the same. When using CSLE to calculate water erosion, the E factor of the same practice can be used uniformly throughout the country, and the T factor needs to be considered and selected according to regional differences. At the same time, when choosing tillage practices in each water and soil conservation region, practices with better sediment reduction benefits should also be selected according to the regional environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterizing soil particle-size distribution is a key measure towards soil property. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the multifractal characteristics of soil particle-size distribution among different land-use from a purple soil catchment and to generalize the spatial variation trend of multifractal parameters across the catchment. A total of 84 soil samples were collected from four kinds of land use patterns (dry land, orchard, paddy, and forest) in an agricultural catchment in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, China. The multifractal analysis method was applied to quantitatively characterize the soil particle size distribution. Six soil particle size distribution (PSD) multifractal parameters (D(0), D(1), D(2), Δα(q), Δf[α(q)], α(0)) were computed. Additionally, a geostatistical analysis was employed to reveal the spatial differentiation and map the spatial distribution of these parameters. Evident multifractal characteristics were found. The trend of generalized dimension spectrum of four land use patterns was basically consistent with the range of 0.8 to 2.0. However, orchard showed the largest monotonic decline, while the forest demonstrated the smallest decrease. D(0) of the four land use patterns were ranked as: dry land < orchard < forest < paddy, the order of D(1) was: dry land < paddy < orchard < forest, D(2) presented a rand-size relationship as dry land < forest < paddy < orchard. Furthermore, all land-use patterns presented as Δf[α(q)] < 0. The rand-size relationship of α(0) was same as D(0). The best-fitting model for D(0), D(1), D(2) and Δf[α(q)] was spherical model, for Δα(q) was gaussian model, and for α(0) was exponential model with structure variance ratio was 1.03%, 49.83%, 0.84%, 1.48%, 22.20% and 10.60%, respectively. The results showed that soil particles of each land use pattern were distributed unevenly. The multifractal parameters under different land use have significant differences, except for Δα(q). Differences in the composition of soil particles lead to differences in the multifractal properties even though they belong to the same soil texture. Farming behavior may refine particles and enhance the heterogeneity of soil particle distribution. Our results provide an effective reference for quantifying the impact of human activities on soil system in the Three Gorges Reservoir region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to decrypt the efforts made by Chinese people's courts nationwide to protect the rights of Chinese posted workers in the Belt & Road (B&R) countries by investigating labour litigation cases with an extraterritorial application of Chinese labour law (under the "doctrine of overriding mandatory labour rules"). Design/methodology/approach: This study collected all labour litigation from 2014 to 2018 brought forward by Chinese posted workers in Chinese courts against Chinese enterprises regarding the performance of employment contracts in the B&R countries where Chinese labour laws were mandatorily applied under the doctrine of overriding mandatory labour rules. The study adopted a qualitive research approach to analyse the compiled cases to explore their characteristics and effects. Findings: This study found that the volume of labour disputes in the B&R countries had a somewhat positive correlation to the amount of investment from China. However, this correlation was rather superficial when compared with the correlation to the type of industrial sector (e.g. the construction sector) and to the claim category (e.g. remuneration claims). Moreover, labour disputes in both the B&R countries and China shared a great deal of similarity with regard to their concentration in certain sectors and in certain types of claims. Therefore, mandatorily applying Chinese labour law could be convenient for Chinese workers returning from abroad who seek remedies and could allow Chinese judges to issue affirmative decisions regardless of the territory in which the worker was posted. Research limitations/implications: The cases collected by this study were limited to those filed in China by Chinese workers who were hired by Chinese enterprises and sent to work in the B&R countries and did not include those filed in the B&R countries by Chinese posted workers. Future research should therefore attempt to gather a broader range of labour disputes to further clarify the issues and need for labour protection for Chinese posted workers in the B&R countries. Practical implications: This study argues that the doctrine of overriding mandatory labour rules is not entirely unproblematic because it might arbitrarily rule out the standards set by foreign labour legislation that could be more favourable to workers or offer them greater protection. Therefore, giving judges a certain degree of discretion is imperative to allow them to apply foreign labour standards when they have been proven to benefit workers. Originality/value: Apart from a handful of reports on individual cases, there have been very few empirical studies regarding the general picture of labour protection for Chinese posted workers in the B&R countries. This study has adopted a novel approach to collect information on labour disputes in the B&R countries and to facilitate a qualitative analysis to test the practical implications of the doctrine of overriding mandatory labour rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda recently invaded China, ravaging crops in many provinces. Deciphering the possible genetic basics for its successful invasion is critical for innovative and specific control for this gluttonous pest. Here we generated comparative genomic analyses between S. frugiperda and its native relative, S. litura, which differs in host preference, locomotivity and production behavior. We demonstrated that S. frugiperda genes are enriched in taste sensory perception and nervous system, obviously different from those of S. litura. Potential host adaptation genes showed generally an elevated ratio of non‐synonymous substitution rate to synonymous substitution rate, suggesting a faster evolution during the divergence of the two species. Focusing on these sets of genes, we identified 23 genes being under positive selection in S. frugiperda. Among them are two notable genes involved in sensory perception, gustatory receptor (GR) and an acetaldehyde oxidase, which are important for host detection in invasion and expansion processes. Another two genes are mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase β subunit and ferritin heavy chain, which may be associated with the enhanced locomotivity and resistance, which fascinated long‐distance migration needed for invasion and rapid expansion. Another interesting gene is chorion protein, in which positive selection sites in S. frugiperda were found and a replacement in one site is predicted to affect the protein function, which might be associated with competent reproductivity in S. frugiperda to ensure genetic resources for expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need to understand the characteristics of both precipitation and drought in arid regions of China. Different indexes may provide differing results in terms of the detection and estimation of the temporal and spatial extent of droughts. In this study, the temporal and spatial characteristics of rainfall and drought at 53 meteorological stations from 1960 to 2016 across the Xinjiang region of China were analyzed. Four precipitation-related indexes (precipitation concentration degree (PCD), precipitation concentration period (PCP), standardized precipitation index (SPI), and long-cycle drought–flood abrupt alternation index (LDFAI)) were used to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns of drought and flood. In addition, the Bayesian method and Pettitt test were used as detection tools to identify changing points in precipitation time series. The study indicated the following: (1) a wetting tendency was evident in recent years and was supported by the upward trend in SPI and inter-decadal variation in summer precipitation; (2) the spatial patterns and tendencies of PCD, PCP, and SPI were markedly different in southern and northern Xinjiang; (3) compared with the Pettitt test, use of the Bayesian method provided data closer to the real drought events; (4) it is suggested that multiple indices be used for detecting precipitation and drought characteristics as use of the SPI may lead to other indexes related to flood and drought risks being ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: When Angiostrongylus cantonensis develops from the third and fourth stage, it needs to change its host from the middle host, snail to the final host, rat. However, the mechanism involved in this change remains unclear. Methods: The transcriptome differences of the third and fourth stages of A. cantonensis were explored by next-generation Illumina Hiseq/Miseq sequencing in China, in 2018. Results: Overall, 137 956 488 clean reads and 20 406 213 373 clean bases of the two stages larvae were produced. Based on the queries against the Gene Ontology (GO), NCBI non-redundant protein sequences (Nr), Swissprot, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases, 14 204 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were predicted. GO enrichment analysis revealed 5660 DEGs with the top s categories as followings: biological process (GO:0008150, related to 5345 DEGs), cellular component (GO:0005575, related to 5297 DEGs), molecular function (GO:0003674, related to 5290 DEGs). In KEGG enrichment analysis, 116 genes were related to oxidative phosphorylation and 49 genes involved in the glycolytic process. Conclusion: Metabolism changes, especially oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis, might play a key role in A. cantonensis infection of its final rat host. Many other pathways might also contribute to the transcriptome changes between these two life stages. Overall, additional studies are needed for further details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes an economically important disease affecting commercial pork production worldwide. NADC34‐like PRRSV has had a strong impact on the U.S. and Peruvian pig industries in recent years and also emerged in northeastern China in 2017. However, the endemic status of NADC34‐like PRRSV in China is unclear. In this study, we examined 650 tissue samples collected from 16 Provinces in China from 2018 to 2019. Six NADC34‐like PRRSV strains were detected in samples from three Provinces, and the complete genomes of four of these strains were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these novel PRRSV strains belong to sublineage 1.5 (or NADC34‐like PRRSV), forming two groups in China. Sequence alignment suggested that these novel strains share the same 100‐aa deletion in the Nsp2 protein that was identified in IA/2014/NADC34 isolated from the United States in 2014. Recombination analysis revealed that five of eight complete genome sequences are derived from recombination between IA/2014/NADC34 and ISU30 or NADC30. The number and distribution of NADC34‐like PRRSVs is increasing in China. Importantly, compared with the currently endemic strain NADC30‐like PRRSV, NADC34‐like PRRSV has the potential to be an endemic strain in China. This study will help us understand the epidemic status of NADC34‐like PRRSV in China and provide data for further monitoring this type of PRRSV in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil environment and water quality face large pressure due to the rapid expansion of greenhouse cultivation in China. However, studies rarely provide the linkage between farmers' practices and soil degradation in greenhouse cultivation field. In this study, a field survey and sampling of greenhouse cultivation soil were conducted in five regions of China to investigate the accumulation and variation characteristics of soil ion compositions in the field. First, the pH, ion compositions, and electrical conductivity (EC) of 132 composite soil samples were analyzed. Second, farmers' practices with regard to fertilizer, crop yield, and soil degradation processes were surveyed. Lastly, soil nutrient status was evaluated by different grades, and the principal component analysis method was used to analyze the main sources of soil ion compositions. Results of the study reveal the following: (1) Enrichment of greenhouse soil nutrient was mainly caused by excessive fertilization, which introduced the secondary salinization phenomenon for 3–5 years in plastic greenhouse and 1–3 years in multispan greenhouse. (2) Significant changes between the EC and salt ion composition of open soil and greenhouse cultivated soil were observed. The contents of nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen in the greenhouse soil were high. (3) After a certain period of cultivation in the greenhouse, salt accumulation, pH decline, and varying degrees of acidification were observed in the soil profile. The relationship between soil pH and EC values indicated that the balance of soil compositions was broken. The recommended methods for sustaining greenhouse cultivation include balanced fertilization, rotation practices, and reasonable water utilization in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the fact that its existence is abundant while maintaining the ability to generate freshwater while burning, methane hydrates have been classified as sources of sustainable energy. China currently maintains an international role in developing technology meant to explore offshore methane hydrates buried under the mud of the seabed, their primary laboratory being the South China Sea. However, such a process does not come without its hazards and fatal consequences, ranging from the destruction of the flora and fauna, the general environment, and—the greatest hazard of all—the cost of human life. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (hereinafter 'UNCLOS'), being an important international legal regime and instrument, has assigned damage control during the exploration of methane hydrates, as being the responsibilities and liability of individual sovereign states and corporations. China adopted the Deep Seabed Mining Law (hereinafter the DSM Law) on 26 February 2016, which came into force on the 1 of May 2016; a regulation providing the legal framework also for the Chinese government's role in methane hydrate exploratory activities. This article examines the role of the DSM Law and its provisions, as well as several international documents intended to prevent transboundary environmental harm from arising, as a result of offshore methane hydrate extraction. Despite the obvious risk of harm to the environment, the DSM Law has made great strides in regulating exploratory activities so as to meet the criteria of the UNCLOS. However, this article argues that neither the UNCLOS nor the DSM Law are adequately prepared to address transboundary harm triggered by the exploitation of offshore methane hydrates. In particular, the technology of such extraction is still at an experimental stage, and potential risks remain uncertain—and even untraceable—for cross-jurisdictional claims. The article intends to seek available legal instruments or models, to overhaul the incapacity within the current governing framework, and offers suggestions supporting national and international legislative efforts towards protecting the environment during methane hydrate extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the actual legal effect of collective agreements by focusing on the litigation regarding the implementation of collective agreements in China where current literature on the topic is scarce. Design/methodology/approach: This paper deploys both quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate the features of litigation regarding collective agreements. The judgments on collective agreement by people's courts nationwide from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018 provide the primary empirical data. The intrinsic features of collective agreement disputes are investigated to delineate different sorts of theoretically presumed legal effect, namely contractual, normative and other (if any). A number of collective agreement templates and texts have been gathered and analysed to further explore the factors leading to collective agreement disputes. A dozen of labour law professionals, workers, scholars and trade union officials, were interviewed to verify the findings. Findings: The number of collective agreement disputes is relatively small compared to the number of valid collective agreements or the volume of other labour disputes. This study found no litigation initiated by trade unions to claim a remedy against a violation of a collective agreement by an employer. However, a growing number of cases were filed by individual workers to complain about the terms and conditions of their individual employment agreements in contradiction to the existing collective agreement. These data do not mean that collective agreements lack problems or have no significance in action. A novel effect – a "substitution effect" – is evident in the existing labour litigations and relatively popular amongst employers, as they often refer to the collective agreement when a written individual agreement, as the mandatory document, is absent. The advent of substitution effect reflects a pragmatic view amongst Chinese labour law professionals, employers and workers. Research limitations/implications: Due to the recent establishment of the online judgments database, this study has focused on collective agreement litigation in people's courts from 2014 to 2018, which is representative of the national trend of such disputes and thus provides valuable insights. Future studies should cover a wider time span and extend to the collective agreement disputes subject to labour arbitration to provide a fuller picture of the challenges and potential solutions. Practical implications: By understanding the legal effect of collective agreements in reality, the legislature, workers and employers can act accordingly to enhance or empower it. The insignificant volume of both contractual and normative claims on collective agreements indicates the pressing need to inject something concrete into both substantive rights and the implementation mechanisms of collective agreements. The existence of substitution claims illustrates the room for further implementation of written individual agreements to reduce the need to borrow from collective agreements to fill the void left by the absence of individual agreements. Originality/value: This study uniquely evaluates collective agreement disputes in China to seek their true legal effect, finding the substitution effect of collective agreements that was absent from the prior literature. The features of collective agreements are reflected in this work, together with public policy and theoretical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lentinula edodes is a widely-produced mushroom in China that forms a brown film via pigment accumulation on mature mycelial surfaces to ensure high-quantity and high-quality fruiting body formation. Here, ultraviolet–visible, infrared spectra, and elemental analyses predicted that the pigment in the brown film was melanin. Electron microscopy revealed the size, morphological characteristics, accumulation, and morphogenesis of electron-dense material, which were similar to those of melanin, as well as subcellular structural changes during brown film formation. The electron-dense material appeared as granules, vesicles, and polymers. The accumulation of electron-dense materials on the cell wall was followed plasmolysis, plasma membrane disruption, electron-dense material accumulation in the interstitial space, and gradual accumulation on the outer cell wall. Dolipore septa degradation and morphogenetic cell death occurred during browning. In the final stage of browning, the dolipore septum disappeared and the cell was nearly empty. This study provides a cytological foundation for evaluating the regulation of brown film formation in L. edodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species and one subspecies of the genus Amynthas are described from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China: The new species are: Amynthas maximus Qiu & Dong, sp. nov. and Amynthas tortuosus Qiu & Dong, sp. nov., and Amynthas shengtangmontis Dong & Jiang, sp. nov., the subspecies is Amynthas shengtangmontis minusculus subsp. nov. All have four pairs of spermathecal pores in 5/6-8/9, which indicates that they should belong to the corticis-group. Their morphological characteristics are compared to other similar species in the corticis-group from China and other Asian countries, such as Amynthas pulvinus Sun & Jiang, 2013, Amynthas homosetus (Chen, 1938), Amynthas corticis (Kinberg, 1867), Amynthas dorsualis Sun & Qiu, 2013, and Amynthas carnosus (Goto & Hatai, 1899). In addition, the results presented are confirmed by the pairwise comparison of COI barcode sequences. The pairwise distances between each new species and the other eighteen corticis-group species are greater than 14.7% on average. Furthermore, the pairwise distance between A. shengtangmontis shengtangmontis and A. shengtangmontis minusculus is 10.7-11.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an agent of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS), which causes substantial economic losses to the swine industry. PRRSV displays rapid variation, and five lineages coexist in mainland China. Lineage 3 PRRSVs emerged in mainland China in 2005 and prevailed in southern China after 2010. In the present study, two lineage 3 PRRSV strains, which are named SD110‐1608 and SDWH27‐1710, were isolated from northern China in 2017. To explore the characteristics and origins of the two strains, we divided lineage 3 into five sublineages (3.1–3.5) based on 146 open reading frame (ORF) 5 sequences. Both strains and the strains isolated from mainland China were classified into sublineage 3.5. Lineage 3 PRRSVs isolated from Taiwan and Hong Kong were classified into sublineages 3.1–3.3 and sublineage 3.4, respectively. Recombination analysis revealed that SD110‐1608 and SDWH27‐1710 were derived from recombination of QYYZ (major parent strain) and JXA1 (minor parent strain). Sequence alignment showed that SD110‐1608 and SDWH27‐1710 shared a 36‐aa insertion in Nsp2 with QYYZ isolated from Guangdong Province in 2010. Based on the evolutionary relationship among GP2a, GP3, GP4, GP5 and N proteins between sublineages 3.2 (FJ‐1) and 3.5 (FJFS), we speculated that sublineage 3.5 (mainland China) originated from sublineage 3.2 (Taiwan, China). This study provides important information regarding the classification and transmission of lineage 3 PRRSVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the post-enactment status of China's Labour Contract Law and Labour Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law, focusing on the dramatic rise in remuneration litigation amidst much criticism of weak or ineffective implementation of these laws. Design/methodology/approach: This paper deploys both quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to investigate the features of remuneration litigation. Remuneration judgments by Beijing People's Courts from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2017 provide the primary empirical data. The intrinsic features of remuneration disputes are investigated to delineate subcategories of claims. Several judges were also interviewed to further explore the nature of remuneration disputes. Findings: Four types of remuneration claims were identified: regular wage, minimum wage, overtime and others (including subsidies and welfare). Examination of these four types, especially how they are processed until concluded by court adjudication, provides a fuller picture of the post-enactment status of these laws and yields objective and rational findings. To explain the continuing steady rise in the volume of remuneration claims, as more workers have knowledge of their rights and access to the courts, this study identifies an increase in the number of factually complicated cases (e.g. overtime claims) and abmiguity in the relevant law, leaving some remuneration disputes difficult, if not impossible, to adjudicate. Conversely, the study also finds significant positive trends following these laws' enactment, particularly a reduction in straightforward cases, such as disputes concerning non-payment of wages/minimum wages, on which the law is clear. It is evidently imperative to improve the clarity of the current laws through further legislation, as the most appropriate next step in China's juridification process of developing its own rule of Labour Law. Research limitations/implications: This study is purposely limited to examining remuneration litigation in Beijing's courts from 2014 to 2017, which is representative of the national trend of dramatically rising remuneration disputes, and thus provides valuable insights. Future studies should cover a wider geographic territory and other categories of labour disputes to provide an even more comprehensive picture of the challenges and potential solutions. Practical implications: By understanding the driving factors of rising labour remuneration disputes, the legislature, workers and employers can act accordingly to curb labour conflicts. The growing complexity and technicality of remuneration litigation indicates that the pressing need of labour juridification is to deploy a subtle, comprehensive method to improve legal clarity and judicial professionalism. Originality/value: This study uniquely divides the types of remuneration litigation in Beijing, adopting methods and yielding findings absent from the prior literature. Both the progress and challenges in China's rule of Labour Law process are reflected in this work, together with public policy and theoretical implications for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planthoppers (Nilaparvata lugens, Sogatella furcifera, and Laodelphax striatellus) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) are the most important pests affecting rice production. Pesticide spraying for its control may cause harmful effects on human health and the environment, especially the loss of biodiversity. The consequences of these changes on biodiversity and ecological services are well studied in tropical irrigated paddy fields, but are largely unknown in subtropical areas. Organic regime provides an environment-friendly method for biodiversity conservation; however, it is unclear whether this regime can suppress planthopper populations effectively in paddy fields. Consequently, we compared species richness, abundance, community structure, and evenness of natural enemies and planthoppers between organic and conventional rice fields (n = 35) distributed across four sites in China. The results showed that species richness was higher in organic fields than in conventional fields. Shannon index and evenness of predators and parasitoids were higher in most of the organic fields than their conventional counterparts. Furthermore, planthopper density showed a significant negative relationship with increased richness and evenness for both predators and parasitoids. These results underscore the notion that management regimes influence biodiversity in rice field. Most importantly, this has direct implications on the efficacy of natural pest control services rendered by predators and parasitoids associated with planthoppers in China and potentially other rice production regions in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Hypertensive renal damage is a chronic and life-threatening kidney disease all over the world. The traditional Chinese medicine Jiang Ya Yi Shen (JYYS) granule has been a perfect drug for patients with hypertensive renal injury in clinic for 20 years in China. However, the molecular mechanism of JYYS granule remains unknown in treatment of this disease. Methods. The clinic data were from this study’s patients. The clinical symptoms of patients were indicated by (N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosaminidase) NAG, (albumin) Alb, and (β2-microglobin) β2-MG content in urinary of patients, and renal artery’s hemodynamic parameters including (pulse index) PI, mean velocity of the arterial blood (Vm), minimum velocity of the diastolic stage (Vdmin) and peak velocity of the systolic wave (Vsmax). To further observe the effect of JYYS granule on renal damage, the rats were included in six groups: normal rats (WKY), spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), positive drug-treated rats (Benazepril), low dose JYYS (L), middle dose JYYS (M), and high dose JYYS (H). Then, we observed the effect of JYYS on renal function, renal tubules, inflammatory cell infiltration, and small artery thickening, and we explored the potential mechanism of JYYS in treatment of renal injury. Results. JYYS significantly improved the clinic symptoms of patients with hypertensive nephropathy by downregulating NAG, Alb, and β2-MG content in urinary of patients and by decreasing renal artery’s hemodynamic parameters including PI, Vm, Vdmin, and Vsmax. In SHR, JYYS significantly improved renal function including creatinine clearance rate, urinary albumin/creatinine, β2-MG/creatinine and arteria caudalis pressure in SHR. Secondly, light and electron microscopic examinations told that after administration of JYYS and Benazepril, the mesangial region exhibited no hyperplasia and renal capsule did not expanded, and there no abnormalities were observed in renal tubules, inflammatory cell infiltration and small artery thickening in SHR. Thirdly, JYYS exhibited its protective role by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa beta signaling-mediated micro-inflammation cytokines including interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) in SHR. Conclusion. JYYS is a promising prescription of Chinese medicine for patients with hypertension and hypertensive renal damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six new species of Dolichopeza Curtis, 1825, subgenus Nesopeza Alexander, 1914, are described and illustrated: D. (N.) incisuraloides sp. nov., D. (N.) jiangjinensis sp. nov., D. (N.) lipingensis sp. nov., D. (N.) medionodosa sp. nov., D. (N.) multidentata sp. nov., and D. (N.) setilobatoides sp. nov. Dolichipeza (N.) incisuralis Alexander, 1940 is redescribed and illustrated based on additional morphological characters. The female internal reproductive systems of D. (N.) incisuraloides sp. nov. and D. (N.) multidentata sp. nov. are documented. A key is provided to separate all known species of Nesopeza from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruxi River is a tributary of the Three Gorges Reservoir. This study examined the temporal and spatial dynamics in particle size characteristics and the associated nutrients and contaminants of the fluvial suspended and deposited sediments along the Ruxi River. Temporal variations in the particle size distribution of the suspended sediment are controlled mainly by differences in sediment source during different seasons. Total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorous (TP) in the < 62 μm fraction of the suspended sediment exhibit considerably higher concentrations in spring, indicating high probability of algal blooms in the backwater areas. Downstream trends in the nutrient contents of < 62 μm deposited sediments imply the greatest potential for eutrophication in the backwater ends, where highest nutrient concentrations were detected. Assessment of metal contamination shows that the sediments deposited in the water-level fluctuation zone were moderately to strongly contaminated by Cadmium (Cd), with a considerably high potential ecological risk. The findings reported have emphasized the impacts of reservoir impoundment on aquatic and/or terrestrial environment in this region. More information on physical, chemical and biological processes of sediment and sediment-associated materials are needed for developing environmentally and ecologically sound policies of water and sediment management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]