Search

Three new flavonoids including two isoflavanones sophortones A and B (1 and 2), and one chalcone sophortone C (3) were isolated from the roots of Sophora tonkinensis. Their structures were established by UV, IR, HRESIMS, and NMR data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the effect of walking interventions on sleep quality of persons with dementia (PWD) and their caregivers (dyads), and how different companions affect results. Method: Forty-five dyads were divided into three groups: a control group and two experimental groups (one with a care attendant, one with a family caregiver). The two experimental groups engaged in 120 minutes of walking per week for 24 weeks. Results: A significant improvement in sleep quality was observed among PWD in the family caregiver group (Wald χ2 = 4.55, p = 0.033), whereas there was no improvement in the care attendant group. A slight improvement in sleep quality of family caregivers was also found. Conclusion: Findings suggest the importance of creating individualized walking activity plans for dyads, incorporating trust and rapport-building strategies to improve sleep quality. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(8), 46–56.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three‐dimensional (3D) echocardiography is an emerging technique for assessing right ventricular (RV) volume and function, but 3D‐RV normal values from a large Chinese population are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to establish normal values of 3D‐RV volume and function in healthy Chinese volunteers. A total of 1117 Han Chinese volunteers from 28 laboratories in 20 provinces of China were enrolled, and 3D‐RV images of 747 volunteers with optimal image quality were ultimately analyzed by a core laboratory. Both vendor‐dependent and vendor‐independent software platforms were used to analyze the 3D‐RV images. We found that men had larger RV volumes than women did in the whole population, even after indexing to body surface area, and older individuals had smaller RV volumes. The normal RV volume was significantly smaller than that recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging guidelines in both sexes. There were significant differences in 3D‐RV measurements between the two vendor ultrasound systems and the different software platforms. The echocardiographic measurements in normal Chinese adults II study revealed normal 3D‐RV volume and function in a large Chinese population, and there were significant differences between the sexes, ages, races, and vendor groups. Thus, normal 3D‐RV values should be stratified by sex, age, race, and vendor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six new iridoid glycosides were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the whole plants of Hedyotis diffusa Willd. They were identified as E-6-O-p-methoxycinnamoyl-10-O-acetyl scandoside acid methyl ester (1), Z-6-O-p-methoxycinnamoyl-10-O-acetyl scandoside acid methyl ester (2), E-6-O-caffeoyl scandoside methyl ester (3), E-6-O-p-coumaroyl-6′-O-acetyl scandoside methyl ester (4), Z-6-O-p-coumaroyl-6′-O-acetyl scandoside methyl ester (5), and E-6-O-p-coumaroyl-4′-O-acetyl scandoside methyl ester (6). The structures of them were elucidated based on unambiguous spectroscopic data (UV, IR, HRESIMS, and NMR). They were screened for anti-inflammatory effect, antioxidant effect, antitumor effect, and neuroprotective effect and did not show potent activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Based on the principal–agent and stakeholder theories, this study aims to put forward an intermediary model to verify the intermediary role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in executive equity incentives and corporate innovation performance to improve corporate innovation performance. Design/methodology/approach: The 2012–2018 A-share listed companies' disclosure of executive equity incentives data was used as the research sample. This study used CSR as an intermediary to explore the relationship between executive equity incentives and corporate innovation performance. A verification analysis was carried out. Findings: The research results show that: a positive correlation exists between executive equity incentives and corporate innovation performance, and executives' reasonable equity incentives can promote the growth of corporate innovation performance. A positive correlation exists between executive equity incentives and CSR. Implementing equity incentives for executives can stimulate their motivation to assume CSR. A positive correlation exists between CSR and corporate innovation performance. The more a company fulfills its social responsibility, the more it can promote the improvement of corporate innovation performance. CSR plays a mediating role between executive equity incentives and corporate innovation performance. CSR promotes executive equity incentives' impact on corporate innovation performance and exerts a "complete mediating effect" between the two. Research limitations/implications: The number of samples and the time span of samples can be expanded in the future. This research has tested the mediating effect of CSR, but other mediating variables may play a role in the process of executive equity incentives in promoting corporate innovation performance. Further research should be conducted to explore the mediating effect of financing constraints and media attention on corporate innovation performance. This study only verifies the influence of equity incentives on CSR and innovation performance of senior executives. In the future, other incentive methods should be explored, such as salary incentives. Practical implications: Foreign research on equity incentives has matured, but the experience of foreign countries cannot necessarily produce the expected effect in China. More than ten years have passed since the China A-share market began implementing equity incentives on December 31, 2005. As of December 31, 2017, about one-third of enterprises in the high-tech industry that had introduced equity incentives had stopped implementing the policy. Data from 2012 to 2018 were selected to analyze the relationship between executive equity incentives, CSR and corporate innovation performance to explore the influence mechanism of equity incentives. This study provides a comprehensive theoretical framework to examine the interaction among executive equity incentives, CSR and corporate innovation performance. Because most previous studies have focused on the relationship between executive equity incentives, CSR and corporate innovation performance, they are rarely been used as an intermediary variable to explore the impact of executive equity incentives on corporate innovation performance. This study explores the impact of executive equity incentives on corporate innovation performance under the influence of CSR. Moreover, this study explores the mediating role of CSR in corporate governance, which provides a new perspective for CSR research and verifies relevant literature on the mediating effect model. Social implications: Research countermeasures and suggestions: the research results are significant for enterprises implementing executive equity incentives, fulfilling CSR, enhancing corporate reputation, improving corporate innovation performance and ultimately obtaining market competitiveness. Therefore, the following suggestions are proposed: establish and improve the executive equity incentive mechanism and strengthen the promotion effect of executive equity incentives in CSR and corporate innovation performance. Strengthen the awareness of enterprises to actively fulfill CSR and give full play to the role of CSR in promoting corporate innovation performance. Improve the profitability of enterprises and focus on the promotion effect of enterprise profitability on corporate innovation performance. Originality/value: This study focuses on executive equity incentives and introduces CSR as an intermediary variable to explore the influence path of executive equity incentives on corporate innovation performance. Based on the research results, this study takes targeted measures to improve corporate innovation performance and maintain its healthy growth of corporate innovation performance. This is significant in enhancing enterprises' core competitiveness and promoting the enterprise economy's sustainable development. Meanwhile, the enterprise has significant reference value in actively fulfilling its CSR and realizing its stable and healthy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olivine compositions are widely used to constrain magmatic thermodynamic conditions such as magmatic temperature, oxygen fugacity, and H2O content. However, elemental diffusion may change the initial compositions and lead to large uncertainty on the estimation of these thermodynamic conditions. In this study, we conducted LA-ICP-MS elemental mapping and EPMA analysis of olivine phenocrysts and olivine-hosted spinel from the Jiagedaqi (JGD) alkaline basalts in northeast China to evaluate the influence of elemental difusion on olivine-composition-based geothermometry, oxybarometry, and hygrometry. The JGD olivines show normal Fo [Mg/(Mg + Fe) × 100 in moles] zoning, with cores having Fo of 77–87 and rims having Fo of 67–73. The constant P contents from core to rim indicate that these compositional zonings were caused mainly by difusion. Because Al is a slow-diffusing element and its content is relatively constant from core to rim, the temperature calculated by the Al-in-olivine thermometer is not influenced by elemental difusion and preserves the JGD olivine crystallization temperature up to 1150 °C. The temperatures calculated using the Sc/Y-in-olivine thermometer, the oxygen fugacity calculated using the olivine–spinel oxybarometer, and the H2O content calculated on the basis of Ca partitioning between olivine and melt are strongly influenced by the diffusion of Fo, Sc/Y, and Ca. However, the compositional plateaus in olivine cores, which were not influenced by elemental diffusion, preserve the magmatic temperature (1150 °C), oxygen fugacity (QFM+1.4), and H2O content (4 wt%) that applied during the formation of the JGD olivines. Together, these findings suggest that the mantle source of the JGD basalts was metasomatized by fluids released from the subducted slab. This study highlights that elemental difusion in olivine phenocrysts can strongly afect the application of olivine-composition-based geothermometers, oxybarometers, and hygrometers. However, primitive olivine cores that have not been influenced by difusion preserve the initial magmatic thermodynamic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the developmentand introduction of an important new international health survey research program, HINTS‐China, which builds upon HINTS, the established national repeated‐measure US‐based survey that has been used over the past decade to inform national public health policies. The major goal of the first two administrations of the HINTS‐China surveys in 2012 and 2017 was to examine health communication patterns and trends related to the access and use of relevant health information in China. The HINTS surveys, both in the United States and in China, recognize that health is a social as well as a biological phenomenon, involving communication to inform the public about healthy behaviors and lifestyles. The preliminary results of the two HINTS‐China surveys have provided important insights into important health issues in China, including problems concerning food safety misinformation, the power of interpersonal communication as a major source of health information, the strong influences of television in shaping public knowledge about health issues, and about the perceived credibility and trust of different health information sources in China. The surveys found that socioeconomic status serves as a significant predictor of accurate public judgments about food safety misinformation, that the public tends to trust traditional media (print, radio, and television) for accessing health information more than they do digital media, and that self‐affirmation tends to moderate access to and use of relevant health information. Key points: The development and introduction of HINTS‐China, an important international health survey.Health communication patterns and trends related to the access and use of relevant health information in China.Insights into important health issues in China, including food safety misinformation, the power of interpersonal communication, and the strong influences of television in shaping public knowledge.Socioeconomic status significantly predicts accurate public judgments about food safety misinformation, and self‐affirmation tends to moderate access to and use of relevant health information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous improvement of exploration degree in Bohai Bay Basin, the red beds in Jiyang Sag has become a hot exploration spot in recent years, the red beds is buried deep, and the distribution of favorable reservoirs has become a key factor restricting oil and gas exploration. This paper combines logging, core and seismic data, mainly introduces the sandstone reservoir characteristics of red beds in the southeast of Jiyang depression, and analyzes the influence of sedimentary environment and diagenesis on its reservoir characteristics respectively. The results showed that the red bed sandstone is mainly composed of arkose, quartz-feldspar and feldspar-quartz graywackes, with good porosity and permeability. Under the control of the original sedimentary environment, three types of reservoir sand bodies are mainly developed in the study area: proluvial fan, fan delta and beach bar deposits, among them, fan delta deposits have better storage performance. The diagenetic environment was early alkaline and late acidic, compaction and cementation greatly reduced primary pores and a large number of secondary pores are produced due to minerals dissolution. Under the combined influence of sedimentary environment and diagenesis, the red-bed reservoirs have various types of reservoir spaces, with obvious differences in porosity and permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 99mTc bone scintigraphy (BS) is the mainstay and most widely used technique in evaluation of bone metastasis (BM) in China. This study aimed to investigate the value of 99mTc BS in preoperative workup for patients with potentially resectable (cT1−4aN0−3) esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods: This prospective cross‐section clinical trial (ChiCTR1800020304) enrolled a total of 385 patients with ESCC diagnosed at thoracic surgery clinic from October 2018 to September 2020. All patients were diagnosed with stage cT1−4aN0−3 and were potential candidates for surgical resection. BS was performed preoperatively and the treatment strategy was changed after confirmation of BM. The primary endpoint was the rate of change of the treatment regimen because of BM, while the secondary endpoint was the rate of positive BS findings. Results: Out of the 385 patients, only two (0.5%) changed their treatment regimen because of BM. The rate of positive BS findings was 1%, while two patients (0.5%) had false‐positive or false‐negative results. The BS diagnostic performance for BM was sensitivity 50%, specificity 99.5%, positive predictive value 50%, negative predictive value 99.5%, and accuracy 99.0%. There was no significant difference in BM in relation to age, sex, tumor location or clinical stage. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that 99mTc bone scintigraphy does not significantly affect the preoperative workup in patients with potentially resectable ESCC, especially in early clinical stage patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sanjiang Indosinian orogen, located in the eastern part of the Paleo-Tethys tectonic domain, is a critical region to study the Paleo-Tethyan Ocean evolution. Middle Permian–Late Triassic magmatic rocks are widespread in the Deqin–Weixi–Madeng area of southwestern (SW) Sanjiang Indosinian orogen, yet their petrogenesis and tectonic setting remain disputed. In this study, LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age and Hf isotopes, and whole-rock elemental and Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry of Madeng dacite were studied. The Madeng dacite was dated at ca. 241.7 and 243.4 Ma. The samples had high Al2O3 (12.91 to 14.39 wt.%) but low MgO (0.62 to 1.76 wt.%) contents, and were alkali-rich (Na2O + K2O = 6.97 to 8.66 wt.%) with A/CNK > 1.1, strongly resembling peraluminous S-type granites. The rocks were enriched in Rb, K, Th, U and LREE, but depleted in Ba, Sr, Nb, Ta, P and Ti, and showed obvious negative Eu anomalies, suggesting fractionation of Ti-bearing minerals (e.g., rutile and ilmenite) and plagioclase. The dacite had an initial 87Sr/86Sr value of 0.705698 to 0.710277, and negative εNd(t) (−11.28 to −10.64) and εHf(t) (−13.99 to −8.60), indicating a continental meta-sedimentary source. Their average Nb/Ta (12.24) and Th/U (4.65) were also consistent with continental crust. According to the lithological assemblage and geochemical features, we propose that the Deqin–Weixi–Madeng area intermediate-felsic magmatism was generated in a subduction-related tectonic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous evidence indicates that birth season is associated with type 2 diabetes in adults. However, information on the association of birth with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is lacking. The present study explores the association between birth seasonality and GDM in East China. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the International Peace Maternal and child health hospital between 2014 and 2019. A total of 79, 292 pregnant women were included in the study after excluding participants with previous GDM, stillbirth, polycystic ovary syndrome, and lack of GDM laboratory records. The multivariate logistic regression model was employed to estimate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. After log transformation of blood glucose level, the percentage change and 95% confidence interval were estimated by a multivariate linear model. Results: The risk of GDM among pregnant women born in spring, autumn, and winter was not significantly different compared to that among participants born in summer. Pregnant women born in autumn had significantly higher 1-hour postprandial blood glucose (PBG-1h) and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (PBG-2h) levels than pregnant women born in summer. Compared to pregnant women born in August, the PBG-1h level of pregnant women born in October, November, and December increased significantly, whereas the PBG-2h levels of pregnant women born in November and December increased significantly. Conclusion: Pregnant women born in autumn exhibit higher postprandial blood glucose levels during pregnancy than in those born in summer. The findings provide evidence that exposure to seasonal changes in early life may influence blood glucose metabolism during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Our objective was to determine the impact of maternal HIV-hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection on pregnancy outcomes.Methods: The current study was conducted in a county of Yi Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China. Data were abstracted from hospitalisation records, including maternal and infant information. The seroprevalences of HIV and HBV infections and HIV-HBV coinfection were determined and the impact of maternal HIV-HBV coinfection on adverse pregnancy outcomes was assessed using logistic regression analysis. A treatment effects linear regression model was also applied to examine the effect of HBV, HIV or coinfection to quantify the absolute difference in birth weight from a reference of HBV-HIV negative participants.Results: A total of 13 198 pregnant women were included in our study, and among them, 99.1% were Yi people and 90.8% lived in rural area. The seroprevalences of HIV and HBV infections and HIV-HBV coinfection were 3.6% (95% CI: 3.2% to 3.9%), 3.2% (95% CI: 2.9% to 3.5%) and 0.2% (95% CI: 0.1% to 0.2%) among the pregnant women, respectively. Maternal HIV-HBV coinfection was a risk factor for low birth weight (adjusted OR (aOR)=5.52, 95% CI: 1.97 to 15.40). Compared with the HIV mono-infection group, the risk of low birth weight was significantly higher in the HIV-HBV coinfection group (aOR=3.62, 95% CI: 1.24 to 10.56). Maternal HIV infection was associated with an increased risk of low birth weight (aOR=1.90, 95% CI: 1.38 to 2.60) and preterm delivery (aOR=2.84, 95% CI: 1.81 to 4.47). Perinatal death was more common when mothers were infected with HBV (aOR=2.85, 95% CI: 1.54 to 5.26).Conclusions: The prevalence of HIV infection was high among pregnant women of the Yi region. Both HIV and HBV infections might have adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes. Maternal HIV-HBV coinfection might be a risk factor for low birth weight in the Yi region, which needs to be confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomes infect more than 200 million people worldwide, and globally, over 700 million people are at risk of infection. The snail Biomphalaria straminea, as one of the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, consecutively invaded Hong Kong in 1973, raising great concern in China. In this study, a malacological survey was conducted over a period of four years, and investigations were performed on the mechanism of susceptibility of B. straminea to S. mansoni. B. straminea was investigated in China from 2014 to 2018. Out of 185 investigated sites, 61 were positive for stages of black B. straminea (BBS), which shows pigmented spots. Twenty of the 61 sites were positive for red B. straminea (RBS), which is partially albino and red colored. Phylogenetic analyses based on cox1 and 16S rRNA sequences demonstrated that both phenotypes were clustered with Brazilian strains. No S. mansoni infections were detected in field-collected snail. However, in laboratory experiments, 4.17% of RBS were susceptible to a Puerto Rican strain of S. mansoni, while BBS was not susceptible. The highest susceptibility rate (70.83%) was observed in the F2 generation of RBS in lab. The density of RBS has increased from south to north and from west to east in Guangdong since 2014. Five tyrosinase tyrosine metabolism genes were upregulated in BBS. Transcriptome comparisons of RBS and BBS showed that ficolin, C1q, MASP-like, and membrane attack complex (MAC)/perforin models of the complement system were significantly upregulated in BBS. Our study demonstrated that B. straminea is widely distributed in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, which is expanding northwards very rapidly as a consequence of its adaptation to local environments. Our results suggest that B. straminea from South China is susceptible to S. mansoni, implying the high potential for S. mansoni transmission and increased S. mansoni infection risk in China. Author summary: Biomphalaria straminea is an important intermediate host for the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni. B. straminea has spread in Hong Kong and in mainland China since 1973. However, whether resident snails can transmit intestinal schistosomiasis caused by S. mansoni remains unclear. Our results revealed that different types of B. straminea are widespread in cities such as Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou and Puning and that the distribution of the species has shifted northwards. The most important finding was that one of the phenotypes (red phenotype of B. straminea, RBS), which is highly susceptible to S. mansoni, has spread into the city of Shenzhen since 2016. The density of RBS in Guangdong Province has increased rapidly since 2014, especially since 2016. Transcriptome analysis showed that the high expression levels of ficolin, C1q, MASP-like, and membrane attack complex (MAC)/perforin models of the complement system might be associated with the mechanism of susceptibility. Our study suggested that B. straminea is susceptible to S. mansoni, implying a high potential risk of S. mansoni transmission in South China. More attention should be paid to the potential transmission of S. mansoni, and control measures should be established to prevent the spread of this snail in South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new isobenzofuranone derivatives, polyphthaliside A (1) and polyphthaliside B (2), and a new isocoumarin derivative, polyisocoumarin (3), were isolated from Polygonum cuspidatum. Their structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. The cytotoxicity activity and PTP1B inhibitory activity of compounds 1–3 were estimated and none of them exhibited activities at a concentration of 10 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient, sensitive, simple and fast method for the simultaneous determination of oxine-copper and pyraclostrobin in citrus fruit was developed and validated. The method uses ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid as a competitive ligand to convert oxine-copper to soluble 8-hydroxyquinoline for analysis by QuEChERS and LC-MS/MS. Linear relationships were determined with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9904 to 0.9998. The limits of detection for the analytes were 0.012–0.8 μg kg−1, and the limits of quantitation were 0.04–2.6 μg kg−1 in citrus. The average recoveries were 79.1–114.9% with relative standard deviations of less than 7.4%. The analyses of dissipation indicated that the half-lives of oxine-copper and pyraclostrobin were 1.94–3.67 and 1.79–2.48 days and the terminal residues were <0.08–8.99 and <0.02–1.90 mg kg−1, respectively. The risk quotients of oxine-copper and pyraclostrobin were 0.026–0.199 and 0.003–0.022, respectively. This risk assessment provides a reference for the safe and reasonable use of oxine-copper and pyraclostrobin and may help to establish maximum residue limits for these pesticides in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe a protocol that examines the feasibility and effectiveness of a face‐to‐face guided self‐disclosure intervention for facilitating benefit finding and other related psychological outcomes for breast cancer patients. Background: Benefit finding can promote a positive attitude among patients facing disease. However, limited studies have focused on improving benefit finding among breast cancer patients. Previous research has been based on group interventions, which may not suit all patients. Self‐disclosure was recognized as a strong predictor of benefit finding. This protocol is based on a brief face‐to‐face disclosure intervention to improve benefit finding for breast cancer patients. Design: A non‐blinded randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 154 patients with breast cancer who have undergone radical mastectomy will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which will participate in a six‐session face‐to‐face individual intervention, or the control group at a ratio of 1:1. Baseline assessments will take place after the breast cancer diagnosis, with follow‐up assessments at 3, 6 and 9 months after baseline. The primary outcome is benefit finding; other outcomes are self‐disclosure, cognitive reappraisal, social support, optimism and medical coping modes. Discussion: This study is to design a protocol for guided self‐disclosure interventions to promote benefit finding in Chinese breast cancer patients. If this intervention is feasible and effective, it could be implemented in clinical practice. Impact: This study will provide useful advice for health professionals to guide breast cancer patients in benefit finding during stressful events. If it is effective, it will be implemented broadly in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations and compositions of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) in various heat preservation materials from different brands and types in China were investigated, as well as their OPFR burdens and emission amounts. The average concentrations of ΣOPFRs were 41.4 ± 10.2, (7.1 ± 4.0) × 104, and 56.3 ± 19.3 μg/g in phenolic foams (PF), polyurethane foams (PUR), and extruded polystyrene boards (XPS), respectively. OPFRs in the PUR materials were ∼3 orders of magnitude higher than those in the other two materials, suggesting that organophosphate esters were added as flame retardants (FRs) in the PUR materials. Obvious variations in the concentrations and compositions of OPFRs were discovered in those heat preservation materials due to their material types, brands, and fire-ratings, as well as contaminations. TCIPP was the most dominant OPFR with a range from 22.3 (in PF) to 6.73 × 104 (in PUR) μg/g, which emphasized that TCIPP was the most commonly used flame retardant additives in China. Based on the OPFR concentrations, OPFR emission rates, and application amounts of heat preservation materials, we calculated the total burdens of OPFRs in those materials and their emission amounts in China. The potential total burden of OPFRs in the completed new buildings of China in 2017 was estimated to be ∼(2.37 ± 1.11) × 104 t, while the total emission of OPFRs from those new materials was ∼3.19 ± 1.65 t/y. As significant sources of OPFRs, the heat preservation materials used in exterior or interior walls may pose potential health risks to humans. Image 1 • Significantly high levels of TCIPP were found in polyurethane insulation materials. • OPFR burden in insulation materials of new buildings of China was ∼23.7 kt in 2017. • The OPFR emission amount from newly used insulation materials was ∼3.19 t in 2017. • The wall insulation materials are the significant sources of OPFRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methane (CH4) is an important greenhouse gas (GHG), and paddy fields are major sources of CH4 emissions. This pot experiment was conducted to investigate the integrated effects of Azolla inoculation combined with water management and N fertilization on CH4 emissions in a double-rice cropping system of Southern China. Results indicated that midseason aeration reduced total CH4 emissions by 46.9%, 38.6%, and 42.4%, followed by N fertilization with 32.5%, 17.0%, and 29.5% and Azolla inoculation with 32.5%, 17.0%, and 29.5%, on average, during the early, late, and annual rice growing seasons, respectively. The CH4 flux peaks and total CH4 emissions observed in the late rice growing season were significantly higher than those in the early rice growing season. Additionally, CH4 fluxes correlated negatively to soil redox potential (Eh) and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration. Azolla inoculation and N fertilization greatly increased the rice grain yields, whereas midseason aeration had distinct effects on grain yields in both rice seasons. The highest annual rice grain yields of approximately 110 g pot−1 were obtained in the Azolla inoculation and N fertilization treatments. In terms of yield-scaled CH4 emission, Azolla inoculation combined with midseason aeration and N fertilization generated the lowest yield-scaled CH4 emissions both in the early and in the late rice growing seasons, as well as during the annual rice cycle. In contrast, the highest yield-scaled CH4 emission was obtained in the treatment employed continuous flooding, without Azolla and no N application. Our results demonstrated that Azolla inoculation, midseason aeration, and N fertilization practices mitigated total CH4 emissions by 18.5–42.4% during the annual rice cycle. We recommend that the combination of Azolla inoculation, midseason aeration, and appropriate N fertilization can achieve lower CH4 emissions and yield-scaled CH4 emissions in the double-rice growing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study investigated the relationship between work engagement and inclusive leadership in Chinese hospital head nurses. Besides, it explored the effect of the mediating role of inclusive leadership in the relationship between work engagement and innovative behaviour among Chinese hospital head nurses. Background: Head nurses are essential in the group of registered nurses who are to pass the Chinese licensure examination for nurses. Their work engagement and innovative behaviour are beneficial to improve the quality, efficiency and competitiveness of nursing services. However, little is known about the mediating role of inclusive leadership in the relationship between work engagement and innovative behaviour. Methods: In April 2018, a total of 374 Chinese head nurses were surveyed with a Work Engagement Scale, an Inclusive Leadership Scale and an Innovative Behavior Scale. Because the data were normally distributed in our study, Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used to conduct the correlation analysis of study variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the factors of innovative behaviour. Model 4 of Hayes's (2013) PROCESS macro and Bootstrap method was used to examine the mediating role of inclusive leadership. Result: Inclusive leadership was significantly and positively correlated to innovative behaviour and work engagement (p < 0.01). Moreover, work engagement was correlated with innovative behaviour (p < 0.01). In addition, hospital level, publishing papers, work engagement and inclusive leadership were the factors of head nurses' innovative behaviour (p < 0.01). Inclusive leadership partially mediated the relationship between work engagement and innovative behaviour, accordingly. Conclusion: Work engagement affects innovative behaviour among Chinese head nurses, and inclusive leadership is a mediator in the relationship. We should take measures to improve the leaders' level of inclusive leadership, in order to strengthen head nurses' innovative behaviour. Implications for nursing management: According to the results of the study, the leaders of head nurses should pay attention to improve head nurses' innovative behaviour, inclusive leadership, work engagement, and the quality and competitiveness of nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the association between infections with HIV and Schistosoma japonicum, and to determine the influences of the HIV-S. japonicum coinfections on the immune system of Yi people.Methods: A block design study was conducted in a Yi county in southwestern China, one of the endemic areas of both HIV/AIDS and S. japonicum in China. All participants were screened for HIV antibodies and S. japonicum antibodies (SjAb) and were classified into four groups: HIV(+)/S. japonicum(-), HIV(-)/S. japonicum (+), HIV(+)/S. japonicum(+), and HIV(-)/S. japonicum(-).Results: There were significant differences among the four groups in both CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes, but no significant difference in CD3+ T lymphocytes. Both the CD4+ T lymphocyte counts and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were lower in HIV-infected people compared with those uninfected. People infected with S. japonicum had increased CD4+ T lymphocyte counts but reduced CD8+ T lymphocyte counts. Similarly, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was higher in S. japonicum-infected people compared with those uninfected. People coinfected with HIV and S. japonicum had lower CD4+ T lymphocyte counts, lower ratio of CD4+/CD8+, and higher CD8+ T lymphocyte counts compared with those infected with HIV only or S. japonicum only. People infected with HIV only and those coinfected with HIV and S. japonicum had a higher level of IFN-γ compared with people with no infection. There were no significant differences between people infected with HIV only and with S. japonicum only in the levels of IFN-γ and IL-10.Conclusions: People coinfected with HIV and S. japonicum might have a suppressed immune function because of a decrease in CD4+ T lymphocyte counts, a lowered ratio of CD4+/CD8+, and an increase in CD8+ T lymphocyte counts. Coinfection with HIV and S. japonicum would alter the level of IFN-γ in plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ammonia oxidation, the first and rate-limiting step of nitrification, can be strongly influenced by agricultural practices, but little is known about the effects of fertilization and irrigation combination on ammonia oxidizers in agricultural soils. This study was designed to reveal how fertilizer type and irrigation frequency affect the ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) communities in a northern Chinese wheat-maize rotation soil.Materials and methods: Soil samples were collected from a long-term field experiment under different fertilization and irrigation regimes located in Wuqiao Experimental Station of China Agricultural University in June 2016. The abundance, diversity, and composition of AOA and AOB in the soils were investigated by using real-time PCR and Illumina Miseq sequencing approaches.Results and discussion: The abundance of AOA was higher in the irrigated treatments, but lower in the treatments without irrigation, than that of AOB. The AOA abundance was positively correlated with soil moisture, pH, and NO3−-N, while the AOB abundance was positively correlated with TN and NO3−-N. Soil potential nitrification activity (PNA) was significantly positively correlated with the AOB abundance. Both fertilizer type and irrigation frequency significantly affected Shannon, ACE, and Chao1 indices of the AOB community, while only irrigation frequency had a significant impact on Shannon index of the AOA community. PCoA analysis results indicated that irrigation frequency greatly affected the AOA community structure, while fertilizer type played a more important role in affecting the AOB community structure. Mantel test and correlation heatmap analysis results indicated that soil moisture, pH, and NH4+-N were significantly correlated to the AOA community structure, and TN and SOC were significantly correlated to the AOB community structure.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that irrigation frequency greatly influenced the AOA community, while fertilizer type had a stronger effect on the AOB community. It was AOB but not AOA played a more important role in soil nitrification. Moreover, soil moisture, pH, and TN were the main determinants in driving the AOA community and TN and SOC were the main factors in influencing the AOB community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Familial hypercholesterolemia ( FH) is the most common and serious monogenic disorder of lipid metabolism, causing premature coronary heart disease ( CHD) due to accelerated atherosclerosis from birth, and the study of left ventricular ( LV) function of this disease is seldom. The purpose of this study was to explore the value of layer-specific strain on assessing the early damage of LV function in asymptomatic and left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF) well-preserved patients with heterozygous FH (He FH). Methods A total of 49 patients aged 38.7±8.7 diagnosed with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and who had undergone transthoracic echocardiography from 2010 to 2016 were included in this study. A total 32 healthy volunteers aged 35.6±10.3 were included as control group. Longitudinal and circumferential strains of the endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium ( LSendo, LSmyo, and LSepi and CSendo, CSmyo, and CSepi) were obtained by a software enabling the analysis of strains in three myocardial layers. Results In longitudinal strain ( LS), the LS of endocardium ( LSendo) and the LS of myocardium ( LSmyo) are significantly reduced in patients with He FH ( P<.001 in both). In circumferential strain ( CS), only the CS of endocardium ( CSendo) is significantly reduced ( P<.001). The degree of reduction in strain is positively correlated with the TC and LDLC. Conclusions Layer-specific evaluation of the left ventricle has great value in evaluating early impairment of LV in patients with FH. And this relatively novel technique may made it possible to help us understand the process of LV impairment in patients with FH better, thus preventing further damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is imperative to use clean energy in order to achieve "carbon neutrality" and "carbon peaking". This research aims to explore the impact of the agricultural mechanization level, the rural infrastructure construction level, and the rural economic development level on the utilization of high-quality straw energy, and, resultingly, this study aims to help provide suggestions for promoting high-quality straw energy utilization, develop the potential of high-quality straw energy, and alleviate China's energy shortage problem. This paper develops a measurement model using the ridge regression model with panel fixed effects, which overcomes the multi-collinearity problem among the various factors influencing the utilization of high-quality energy from straw. Panel data from 24 provinces and cities, from 2009 to 2017, are used. The results show that the improvements of the agricultural mechanization level, the rural infrastructure construction level, and the rural economic development level all promote the use of high-quality straw energy. Moreover, the level of rural economic development plays a mediating role in the agricultural mechanization level and the rural infrastructure construction level pertaining to straw-based high-quality energy. Policy implications can be easy to derive based on our findings, and these include strengthening governmental investment in agricultural machinery in rural areas, paying more attention to areas with backward rural energy infrastructure construction, ensuring the steady improvement of economic development in rural areas, providing the necessary economic foundation for agricultural supply, and promoting the use of high-quality energy from straw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical waste is a special category of waste with potential health and environment risks. The present study aimed to explore the current status of medical waste management in western China. Seventy-four healthcare facilities were selected to assess the general status of medical waste management based upon a designed questionnaire survey. The surveyed results showed that the quantities of average medical waste generation were 0.79, 0.59 and 0.61 kg bed−1 day−1 in tertiary, secondary and primary hospitals, respectively. The incomplete segregation of domestic and medical waste generated a higher quantity of medical waste in primary hospitals (0.61 kg bed−1 day−1) than that in secondary hospitals. Furthermore, the effective implementation of the medical waste management system depended on national regulations, occupational safety, internal policies and administration and the qualifications and competence of the directors of the waste management department in the healthcare facilities. Therefore, sufficient training programmes and protective measures should be provided by healthcare facilities to all relevant personnel and adequate financial support and effective administrative monitoring should be performed by local authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical studies on capital structure mostly focus on listed companies and also on countries other than China. In this paper, we employ a panel dataset for 4,716 large and medium-sized enterprises in the Chinese electronics industry during the period 2005–2007 in order to investigate the determinants of their capital structure choice. Using the debt ratio as the dependent variable, we find that firm size and potential growth have a positive effect on the debt ratio whereas profitability has a negative effect. We show that decisions on the debt ratio are based on mixed factors that the various theories suggest. The unlisted Chinese companies which are unable to access to the securities market are prone to acquire bank loans as sources for funds which provides room for the modification of pecking order theory based on listed companies. As to ownership structure, we find that those Chinese electronics enterprises with higher portions of foreign equity tend to have lower debt ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate diagnosis of crisscross heart and its associated anomalies is important but problematic for cardiologists. This study aimed at identifying unique transthoracic echocardiographic features and common associated lesions of this complex condition. Method: Clinical and echocardiographic features of 10 patients with crisscross anatomy were studied. Echocardiographic findings were verified by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or surgical inspection. Results: Crisscross anatomy (10 patients, age at diagnosis ranged from 1 month to 25 years, five female) was identified in 0.076% of patients with congenital heart diseases from 1985 to 2006. All patients had cyanosis and 80% of them were underweight. Superior-inferior ventricles (SIV) and crossed ventricular inflow streams were seen in 90% and 100% of patients, respectively. All patients had abnormal ventriculo-arterial (VA) connections: five with transposition of great artery (L-type: n = 2; D-type: n = 3) and five with double outlet right ventricle. Commonly associated anomalies included ventricular septal defects (100%), right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (60%), atrioventricular valves straddling or overriding (50%), atrial septal defect (40%), and right ventricular hypoplasia (30%). Seven patients received cardiac surgery for the relief of cyanosis. Conclusions: SIV and crossed inflow streams are important diagnostic features for crisscross heart by transthoracic echocardiogram. The hemodynamic consequences of abnormal VA connections and associated defects impact surgical management. (Echocardiography 2011;28:104-108) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Because of the inherent characteristics of the cities, such as high population density, complicated traffic, numerous pollution sources, etc., it has become very important to conduct environmental risk zoning in urban scale. Based on analyzing the current research situation of the regional environmental risk assessment and regional environmental risk zoning, this paper constructed the index system and the quantitative model of environmental risk zoning which are fit for urban scale, applies AHP to weight index and comprehensive evaluation method to calculate comprehensive risk index value. Then applying the method to Shanghai, and with the clustering function of SPSS and the visualization of GIS, the quantitative risk zoning map of Shanghai was obtained. The result can provide reference for environmental risk management of Shanghai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Paeoniflorin (PF) is the principal bioactive component of Radix Paeoniae alba, which is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson''s disease (PD). Aim of the study: To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of PF on MPP+- or acid- (pH 5.0) induced injury in cultured PC12 cells and to investigate the activity of autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP). Amiloride (Ami), a non-selective blocker of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), as a positive control drug, since it is neuroprotective in rodent models of PD. Materials and methods: The cell viability was analyzed with MTT assay. The cell injury was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Flow cytometry and Western blot analysis were used to study the apoptotic, calcium influx and autophagic mechanisms. Results: Ami (100μM) and PF (50μM) both protected PC12 cells against MPP+- or acid-induced injury as assessed by MTT assay, lactate dehydrogenase release, and apoptosis rate. The concentrations of cytosolic free Ca2+ were raised after exposure to MPP+ or acidosis, while Ami and PF both reduced the influx of Ca2+. More importantly, we found that the mechanisms of neuroprotective effects of Ami and PF were closely associated with the upregulation of LC3-II protein, which is specifically associated with autophagic vacuole membranes. Furthermore, application of MPP+ or acid induced the overexpression of LAMP2a, which is directly correlated with the activity of the chaperone-mediated autophagy pathway. However, Ami and PF inhibited the overexpression of LAMP2a. Conclusions: Our data provide the first experimental evidence that PF modulates autophagy in models of neuron injury, as well as providing the first indication of a relationship between ASICs and ALP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The natural radioactivity of soils at the Xiazhuang granite massif of Southern China has been studied. The radioactivities of 55 samples have been measured with a low-background HPGe detector. The radioactivity concentrations of 238U and 40K ranged from 40.2 to 442 and from 442 to 913Bq/kg, respectively, while the radioactivity concentration of 232Th varied only slightly. In order to evaluate the radiological hazard of the natural radioactivity, the radium equivalent activity , the absorbed dose rate , the annual effective dose rate and the external hazard index () have been calculated and compared with the internationally approved values. The study provides background radioactivity concentrations in a granite area, specifically, the area in the vicinity of a uranium mine in Southern China. The data can be used in exploring granite-type uranium deposits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Y-STR haplotype data were obtained in a population sample of 197 unrelated healthy male individuals of Chinese Tujia ethnic minority group residing in an autonomous county of Southern China using 17 Y-chromosome STR markers. A total of 197 haplotypes were identified in the set of Y-STR loci. The overall haplotype diversity for the Tujia population at 17 Y-STR loci was 1.0000±0.0005. Genetic distance was estimated between this population and other 14 Chinese populations including Paiwan and Atayal populations of Taiwan, and Southern Han, Dong, Jing, Miao, Yao, Zhuang, Yi, Maonan, She, Hui, Sala, and Tibetan ethnic groups. The results demonstrated that the 17 Y-STR loci analyzed were highly polymorphic in Tujia ethnic group examined and hence useful for forensic cases, paternity testing, and population genetic studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Oncomelania hupensis is the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum. In a marshland of Dongting Lake, the abundance of the snail plunged in 1999 and disappeared in 2000, for which the reasons remain unclear. Soil samples were collected from three locations: 1) Qianliang Lake where no snail was found, 2) Junshan Park where remained infested with O. hupensis and 3) Jianxin Farm in between. We compared the physicochemical characteristics and microbial compositions of soil samples from the three sites. All tested physicochemical characteristics of soil samples, except for pH, were similar for samples from Qianliang Lake and Junshan Park marshlands. Both bacterial and fungal community structures varied among the samples from three sites. Fungal diversity was significantly negatively correlated with moisture and total phosphorus and was positively correlated with fluoride and chloride. Soil microbial communities were different between sites with and without O. hupensis snails, but whether some identified abundant taxa are a reason for the disappearance of O. hupensis needs to be confirmed. • Soil bacterial and fungal diversities varied among sites with and without snails. • Soil fungal diversity was negatively correlated with moisture and total phosphorus. • Soil fungal diversity was positively associated with fluoride and chloride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new air radon monitor is proposed based on the combination of an aluminum disk and an electric multilevel clearance system (EMCS). The positively charged, small aluminum disk has a high collection ability to radon with a collection efficiency of about 60%. The old radon progenies were eliminated by the EMCS in the air entrance of the monitor with an efficiency of about 99%. The monitor was calibrated in the national standard radon chamber in Hengyang, China. Compared to the radon double-filter equipment, the results, gained by both apparatus, coincide with each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaria is a major public health problem in the China–Myanmar border region. The genetic structure of malaria parasite may affect its transmission model and control strategies. The present study was to analyse genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum by merozoite surface proteins 1 and 2 (MSP1 and MSP2) and to determine the multiplicity of infection in clinical isolates in the China–Myanmar border region. Methods: Venous blood samples (172) and filter paper blood spots (70) of P. falciparum isolates were collected from the patients of the China–Myanmar border region from 2006 to 2011. The genomic DNA was extracted, and the msp1 and msp2 genes were genotyped by nested PCR using allele-specific primers for P. falciparum. Results: A total of 215 P. falciparum clinical isolates were genotyped at the msp1 (201) and msp2 (204), respectively. For the msp1 gene, MAD20 family was dominant (53.49%), followed by the K1 family (44.65%), and the RO33 family (12.56%). For the msp2 gene, the most frequent allele was the FC27 family (80.93%), followed by the 3D7 family (75.81%). The total multiplicity of infection (MOI) of msp1 and msp2 was 1.76 and 2.21, with a prevalence of 64.19% and 72.09%, respectively. A significant positive correlation between the MOI and parasite density was found in the msp1 gene of P. falciparum. Sequence analysis revealed 38 different alleles of msp1 (14 K1, 23 MAD20, and 1 RO33) and 52 different alleles of msp2 (37 3D7 and 15 FC27). Conclusion: The present study showed the genetic polymorphisms with diverse allele types of msp1 and msp2 as well as the high MOI of P. falciparum clinical isolates in the China–Myanmar border region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine is effective in reducing the burden of Hib related diseases, but little is known about factors influencing the uptake of Hib vaccine. This study aimed to assess the uptake of Hib vaccination and its associated factors in Shanghai City, China.Methods: We used data from a retrospective cohort of 183,246 children born in 2012-2016 obtained from the Shanghai Immunization Program Information System, which provided information on the uptake of Hib vaccination. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 451 children to collect information on demographic and other factors that might be associated with Hib vaccination.Results: In the retrospective cohort study, the proportions of Hib dose-1 coverage, vaccination completion and timeliness were 67.7, 52.2 and 29.4%, respectively. These measures were better among local children and increased with birth year, while there were regional differences. Hib vaccine uptake was significantly associated with maternal occupation (non-health vs health workers, OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.32-4.13, P = 0.004) and caregivers' awareness of Hib (yes vs no, OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.12-2.74, P = 0.013).Conclusions: We found low levels of coverage of dose-1 Hib vaccine, timeliness and completion, suggesting inadequate protection against Hib disease for children in Shanghai. Non-local children and those of health workers should be targeted for interventions. The inclusion of Hib vaccine into the national immunization program could help improve the uptake of Hib vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which investigates on the chemical constituents of the aerial parts of Vetiveria zizanioides specie which is commonly known as vetiver grass. The study was conducted to the specie collected in Zhejiang Province, China in August 2009, wherein the air-dried powdered plant material was extracted from the specie. The study used several analysis techniques such as gel column chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

Different from previous studies which mainly focused on conventional estimation techniques, this paper examines the CO 2 EKC hypothesis of China using a spatial panel data model to avoid the coefficient estimation error covering the period of 1997–2012. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the turning points between the non-spatial panel model and spatial panel model is conducted. The results show that the relationship between economic growth and CO 2 emissions shapes as an inverted-N trajectory. Spatial spillovers effects are confirmed to affect the shape of the CO 2 environmental Kuznets curve. There exists an apparent block distribution in spatial structure of China's provincial CO 2 emissions. Specifically, CO 2 emissions have a relatively sharp increase from the eastern regions to the central and the western regions of China. It has also been found that urbanization and coal combustion are main factors on increasing CO 2 emissions. While the trade openness contributes to slight decrease in CO 2 emissions. The government should make targeted carbon-reduction policies for CO 2 emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Four tectono-hydrothermal stages were identified at the Nibao gold deposit. • Anatase is the main accessory phase of TiO 2 polymorphs at Nibao. • Ore sulfur was derived from Permian basaltic rocks. • Gold accumulation was controlled by mineral dissolution and reprecipitation. Multistage mineralization overprinting is important for the formation of giant hydrothermal gold deposits. The Youjiang basin in SW China has undergone at least three major deformation phases in the Mesozoic, but their relationship with the large-scale gold accumulation in the region remains enigmatic. Here, we study the large Nibao gold deposit (reserve > 70 t Au) in the northern part of the basin, which has both fault-controlled and stratabound orebodies. We identified a pre-ore stage and syn -ore stage including four tectono-hydrothermal (T-H) substages (i.e., T-H stage 1, 2, 3 and 4) for the local mineralization at Nibao. The pre-ore stage is dominated by coarse-grained pyrite coexisting with TiO 2 polymorphs in the Middle-Late Permian basaltic rocks. The T-H substage 1 is characterized in that the sedimentary pyrites are brecciated in bedding-parallel faults. Fluorination and silicification occur in the T-H substage 2, which is re-brecciated at the T-H substage 3 forming the highest gold grade ore in high-angle thrust fault. The T-H substage 4 presents as fault reactivation within minor calcite and pyrite deposition. Mineralogy and in-situ trace element analyses reveal that mineral dissolution and reprecipitation (incl. dolomite, auriferous pyrite and TiO 2 polymorphs) is ubiquitous during the multistage tectono-hydrothermal process, and the continuous alteration overprinting may have promoted gold accumulation. This replacement process of different generations of auriferous pyrite is also recorded by their inherited sulfur isotopes, giving a narrow δ34S (−3.1 to + 2.1 ‰) range. Anatase is the main accessory phase of TiO 2 polymorphs, as identified with LA-ICP-MS trace element and laser Raman spectroscopic analyses. Moreover, the anatase can been divided into two types (type-I and II) based on their texture, alteration and chemistry. The type-I anatase commonly occurring in the stratabound ore is characterized by higher Zr (mean 1,730 ppm), V (mean 1,412 ppm), and Cr (mean 110 ppm) contents than type-II that coexists with zoned pyrite in the fault-controlled ore (mean 26 ppm, 187 ppm, and 38 ppm, respectively). Additionally, W (mean 636 ppm) and Mg (10,021 ppm) in type-II are much higher than type-I ones (mean 135 ppm W and 476 Mg). These features show that the sedimentary-stage Zr-V-Cr-rich type-I anatase was dissolved via fluid metasomatism, and reprecipitated as the hydrothermal-stage W-Mg-rich and Zr-poor anatase, with gold gradually enriched. Besides, the anatase phase of TiO 2 polymorphs also indicates that the Nibao gold deposit was formed under low pressure–temperature condition. Overall, we propose that the Nibao is a Carlin-type gold deposit, dominated by multistage tectono-hydrothermal events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme ambient temperature has an adverse effect on pregnancy outcomes, but the conclusions have been inconsistent. The influence of ambient temperature and diurnal temperature variation on the premature rupture of membranes (PROM) needs further study. The daily data of PROMs, daily meteorological and air pollutant were obtained. After controlling for potential confounding factors, the quasi-Poisson generalized additive model (GAM) combined with the distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to analyze the association between temperature or diurnal temperature variation and PROM, including preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and term premature rupture of membranes (term PROM). Compared with the median temperature(18.7 °C), the mean temperature of 5–7 days lagging beyond 31.5 °C and below −1.5 °C was positively correlated with PROM; the mean temperature had more sensitive effect on the term PROM. Exposure to extremely high temperatures (97.5th percentile, 32 °C) had a 6-day lagging relative risk (RR) (95% CI: 1.005–1.160) of 1.08 for PROM and a 6-day lagging RR of 1.079 (95% CI: 1.005–1.159) for term PROM; Exposure to a high diurnal temperature variation (diurnal temperature variation greater than 16 °C) was positively correlated with the term PROM. Compared with the 2.5th percentile diurnal temperature variation (2 °C), exposure to the 95th percentile diurnal temperature variation (17 °C) significantly increased the risk of term PROM (RR: 1.229, 95% CI: 1.029–1.467). Exposure to a high-temperature and a high diurnal temperature variation environment will increase the relative risks of PROM. For pregnant women in the 3rd trimester, it is important to reduce exposure to extremely high-temperatures and greater diurnal temperature changes. • Temperature was positively correlated with premature rupture of membranes (PROM). • The effect of extreme ambient temperature (>31.5 °C or <−1.5 °C) was significant on the 5th day after exposure. • The diurnal temperature variation (lag 0 days) had positive correlations with term PROM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the construction of ecological civilization, the development of under-forest economy has been paid more and more attention. This paper uses DEA model to measure the development of under-forest economy. The results show that the development of the under-forest contributes to the increase of the output value, and thus promotes the growth of the farmers’ income. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Individuals' perception of medication safety affects their medication adherence, and through adherence their health. A person may reject a doctor's recommendation to take antibiotics if they believe antibiotics are not safe. Media and personal experiences shape individual judgments. Misleading online information may damage people's trust in drugs, see Covid-19 vaccine. The experience of adverse events can harm people's confidence in healthcare. Will unfavorable experience of healthcare in general affect drug perception? Will one effect moderate the other? We barely know that. Data from HINTS-China 2017 contains 3090 adults. Drug safety perception was indicated by drug safety status quo (The current state of drug safety is good) and drug safety amelioration (Drug safety has gradually improved in recent years) with 5-category scales from strongly disagree to strongly disagree. Media exposure was divided into traditional media (4 items) and the Internet (8 items, frequency measure, averaged); healthcare experience asks respondents satisfaction with received healthcare. We applied a multiple linear regression. We found weight-loss pills, antibiotics and vaccines were perceived the most unsafe. Besides, traditional media exposure was positively associated with drug safety status quo (? =.256**) and amelioration (? =.136**). However, Internet exposure significantly damaged people's perception of drug safety status quo (? = -.165**) and showed potential negative impact on drug safety amelioration (? = -.073). Satisfaction of healthcare services was also correlated with drug safety status quo (? =.265**) and amelioration (? =.189**) positively. Our study draws attention to how Chinese people's medicine safety perceptions are shaped by media exposure and healthcare experience. Favorable healthcare experience contributes to better medicine perception. The contrary impacts between old and new media is consistent with previous studies. This indicates drug and vaccine communications should exploit traditional communication channel and address negative perceptions on online media to promote appropriate uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Previous studies have indicated that genetic variations in the factors of insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling pathway could influence human life-span by affecting IGF-1 levels. The promoter region of the IGF-1 gene is an obvious candidate and has not been studied clearly. To explore the potential role of the promoter region variation of IGF-1 gene in longevity, we investigated 485 longevity subjects and 392 younger individuals from Dujiangyan, China. By sequencing about 2.5kb (kilo base pairs) upstream the transcription start site of exon 1 of the IGF-1 gene in 30 individuals from both groups respectively, we acquired three previously described SNPs (−439T/A (rs2288377), −541T/C (rs5742612) and −1246C/T (rs35767)). We examined the association between these three SNPs and longevity by comparing the distribution of genotypes, alleles, and haplotypes in both the longevity and control groups. None of these variants were found to be associated with longevity. Our results suggest that there is no association between SNPs in the promoter region of IGF-1 gene and longevity in the Han Chinese population. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Short-term composting for preparing oyster mushroom cultivation was performed. • Variation of physicochemical properties led to succession of microbial communities. • Composting bacteria demonstrated much higher abundance than fungi. • Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria were the dominant bacterial phyla. • Carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism were the main metabolic pathways. Short-term composting of raw materials for preparing oyster mushroom cultivation media is widely used in China, and its microbial mechanism needs to be further studied. 11-days' peach sawdust-based composting was performed to evaluate material conversion and microbial succession using physicochemical analysis and 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing. Composting bacteria demonstrated much higher abundance than fungi. Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, and Proteobacteria were the dominant bacterial phyla, while most of fungal species belonged to Ascomycota. Moisture was the key factor at the beginning, while total nitrogen, temperature, and lignin became main influencing factors for composting maturity. Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria of bacterial phyla, Eurotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes of fungal classes involved in lignocellulosic degradation. Bacterial function prediction analysis showed that carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism were the main metabolic pathways. These results confer a better understanding of material and microbial succession during short-term composting and also provide valuable utilization in mushroom industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ten new compounds were isolated from the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong. • The structures of these compounds were unambiguously established by HR-ESI-MS, CD and NMR spectral data. • The anti-inflammation and hepatoprotective activities were evaluated. Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort is a famous health promoting plant cultivated in China, and widely consumed due to its various curative effects. To study the potential bioactive constituents from the rhizome of L. chuanxiong , a chemical investigation was thus performed. In present study, we report the isolation and identification of ten new compounds, including two coumarins (1 – 2), four lignans (3 – 6), and four phenols (7 – 10), along with five known compounds (11 – 15) from the rhizome of L. chuanxiong. The structures of these compounds were unambiguously established by HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, CD, NMR spectral data and comparison to reported data. Meanwhile, the anti-inflammation and hepatoprotective activities of all these compounds were evaluated. The results show that compounds 5 , 6 and 7 showed excellent inhibition of NO production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells stronger than curcumin, and compounds 5 , 7 and 9 exhibited greater hepatoprotective effect than that of bicyclol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely integrated into cancer care in China. Since a review done in 2011, large numbers of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have been published in the Chinese literature. We aimed to summarise the current evidence of relevant RCTs of TCM for cancer treatment to support further clinical practice and research. The update was done in four main Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific Journal Database, SinoMed, and Wanfang Database) from their inception until June 18, 2017, to identify any RCTs using TCM. We bibliometrically analysed the included RCTs and the research directions of TCM for cancer treatment. We included 5834 RCTs (involving 477 147 participants). Only 62 publications were indexed in MEDLINE. The main three cancers treated with TCM were lung cancer, stomach cancer, and breast cancer. 4752 RCTs (81·5%) used TCM combined with conventional treatment whereas 1082 RCTs (18·5%) used only TCM in treatment groups for symptoms and side-effects. Herbal medicine was the most frequently applied TCM therapy (5087 RCTs; 87·2%). The most frequently reported outcome was clinical symptom improvement (3712 RCTs; 63·6%) followed by quality of life (2725 RCTs; 46·7%) and biomarker indices (2384 RCTs; 40·9%). 1237 RCTs (21·2%) reported multiple indices to provide a composite outcome to measure cancer patients' general condition. 4051 RCTs (69·4%) concluded that in comparison with conventional treatment, TCM alone or combined with conventional treatment had a better effect in cancer care. Substantial data showed that many different TCM treatments are being applied either as monotherapy for palliative treatment or in combination with conventional medicine for treatment. We need further comprehensive evaluation of the beneficial effects and safety of these TCM modalities, and we should focus on quality of life and explore why patients with cancer are taking TCM. Key project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (81830115). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: To observe the incidence of delirium in elderly hip fracture patients and search for the potential risk factors. Methods: Patients over 60 years were included in this study. Gender, age, education level, fracture type, organic dysfunction, cognitive dysfunction, comorbidity, medication, time from admission to surgery, and pain intensity were collected and analyzed, together with laboratory assessments and surgery including surgery type, time in surgery and blood loss in surgery. Results: 16 in 123 patients developed delirium. The incidence rate of delirium was 13% in the period of 6 days after surgery. Pain intensity and cognitive dysfunction were the risk factors. Conclusion: Pain intensity and cognitive impairment after hip fracture were found as the risk factors for development of delirium in elder Chinese patients. Prevention and management of delirium needs pain management pre- and post-operatively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Infectious diseases are among the leading causes of death and disability and are recognized as a major cause of health loss globally. At the same time, frailty as a geriatric syndrome is a rapidly growing major public health problem. However, few studies have investigated the incidence and risk of infectious diseases in frail older people. Thus, research on frailty and infectious diseases is urgently needed., Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between frailty and infectious diseases among older adults aged 65 years and older., Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, we have analyzed the infectious disease prevalence outcomes of older adults aged 65 years and older who participated in frailty epidemiological surveys from March 1, 2018, to March 2023 in Dalang Town, Dongguan City, and from March 1, 2020, to March 2023 in Guancheng Street, Dongguan City. This study has an annual on-site follow-up. Incidence data for infectious diseases were collected through the Chinese Disease Control and Prevention Information System-Infectious Disease Monitoring and Public Health Emergency Monitoring System. A project-developed frailty assessment scale was used to assess the frailty status of study participants. We compared the incidence rate ratios (IRR) of each disease across frailty status, age, and gender to determine the associations among frailty, gender, age, and infectious diseases. Cox proportional hazards regression was conducted to identify the effect of frailty on the risk of demographic factors and frailty on the risk of infectious diseases, with estimations of the hazard ratio and 95% CI., Results: A total of 235 cases of 12 infectious diseases were reported during the study period, with an incidence of 906.21/100,000 person-years in the frailty group. In the same age group, the risk of infection was higher in men than women. Frail older adults had a hazard ratio for infectious diseases of 1.50 (95% CI 1.14-1.97) compared with healthy older adults. We obtained the same result after sensitivity analyses. For respiratory tract-transmitted diseases (IRR 1.97, 95% CI 1.44-2.71) and gastrointestinal tract-transmitted diseases (IRR 3.67, 95% CI 1.39-10.74), frail older adults are at risk. Whereas no significant association was found for blood-borne, sexually transmitted, and contact-transmitted diseases (IRR 0.76, 95% CI 0.37-1.45)., Conclusions: Our study provides additional evidence that frailty components are significantly associated with infectious diseases. Health care professionals must pay more attention to frailty in infectious disease prevention and control., (© Ya Yang, Kechun Che, Jiayan Deng, Xinming Tang, Wenyuan Jing, Xiuping He, Jiacheng Yang, Wenya Zhang, Mingjuan Yin, Congcong Pan, Xiaoling Huang, Zewu Zhang, Jindong Ni. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org).)

Background: No single risk factor is decisive in shaping an individual's healthy development. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between depressive symptoms and a cumulative risk index comprising individual, family, and social variables among nursing students., Methods: We enrolled 1716 Chinese nursing students from three universities in a paperless survey that assessed a range of individual, family, and social risk factors associated with depressive symptoms. Multiple risk analysis was conducted to create a composite risk score for each individual. A test for trend was employed to assess the relationship between the multiple risk classification and depressive symptoms individually. Additionally, a 2-step cluster analysis and χ 2 tests were used to examine the relationship between the different clusters and the level of depressive symptoms., Results: The mean scores of depressive symptoms increased significantly as the number of risk factors increased, regardless of their combination. As the number of risk factors increased, the proportion of nursing students in the normal group decreased, while the proportion in the group with depressive symptoms of varying severity tended to increase (P < 0.001). A high-risk cluster characterized by poor sleep quality combined with problematic smartphone use was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Based on these findings that cumulative exposure to multiple risk factors is more harmful than cumulative exposure to fewer risk factors, then interventions that isolate only one risk factor are less likely to be effective than those that are multifaceted., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

From July to September 2023, China reported over 1, 400 confirmed cases of mpox transmitted mainly through sexual contact between males. Meanwhile, the percentage of men who have sex with men at universities in southwestern China is increasing every year, which is likely to lead to a potential spread of mpox on campuses. Vaccination is an effective preventive measure against infectious diseases, this study examined the willingness of university students in Southwest China to receive the mpox vaccine and analyzed the factors influencing their decision. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 7311 university students from 10 universities in Southwest China between August 13 and September 1, 2023. The survey revealed a hesitancy rate of 56.13% toward the mpox vaccine, with the most common reason being concerns about vaccine safety (1407/4104, 34.29%). Univariate analysis identified 13 variables that significantly differed between the vaccine acceptance and vaccine hesitancy groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated protective factors for vaccine hesitancy, such as sexually transmitted diseases, previous knowledge about mpox, frequent information about mpox, people can get reinfection of mpox, and worries about mpox endemic in China. Additionally, the confidence and convenience dimensions in the 3Cs model were identified as risk factors for mpox vaccine hesitancy. This study found a high rate of vaccine hesitancy among university students in Southwest China regarding the mpox vaccine. Collaboration between university and healthcare departments is recommended to address mpox vaccine hesitancy among college students, thereby promoting their willingness to receive the mpox vaccine.

Current guidelines encourage large studies in a diverse population to establish normal reference ranges for three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography for different ethnic groups. This study was designed to establish the normal values of 3D-left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) volume and function in a nationwide, population-based cohort of healthy Han Chinese adults. A total of 1117 healthy volunteers aged 18-89 years were enrolled from 28 collaborating laboratories in China. Two sets of 3D echocardiographic instruments were used, and full-volume echocardiographic images were recorded and transmitted to a core laboratory for image analysis with a vendor-independent off-line workstation. Finally, 866 volunteers (mean age of 48.4 years, 402 men) were qualified for final analysis. Most parameters exhibited substantial differences between different sex and age groups, even after indexation by body surface area. The normal ranges of 3D-LV and 3D-LA volume and function differed from those recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging guidelines, presented by the World Alliance Societies of Echocardiography (WASE) study, and from the 2D values in the EMINCA study. The normal reference values of 3D echocardiography-derived LV and LA volume and function were established for the first time in healthy Han Chinese adults. Normal ranges of 3D-LV and 3D-LA echocardiographic measurements stratified with sex, age, and race should be recommended for clinical applications., (© 2024. Higher Education Press.)

Soil parent material is the second most influential factor in pedogenesis, influencing soil properties and microbial communities. Different assembly processes shape diverse functional microbial communities. The question remains unresolved regarding how these ecological assembly processes affect microbial communities and soil functionality within soils on different parent materials. We collected soil samples developed from typical parent materials, including basalt, granite, metamorphic rock, and marine sediments across soil profiles at depths of 0-20, 20-40, 40-80, and 80-100 cm, within rubber plantations on Hainan Island, China. We determined bacterial community characteristics, community assembly processes, and soil enzyme-related functions using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and enzyme activity analyses. We found homogeneous selection, dispersal limitation, and drift processes were the dominant drivers of bacterial community assembly across soils on different parent materials. In soils on basalt, lower pH and higher moisture triggered a homogeneous selection-dominated assembly process, leading to a less diverse community but otherwise higher carbon and nitrogen cycling enzyme activities. As deterministic process decreased, bacterial community diversity increased with stochastic process. In soils on marine sediments, lower water, carbon, and nutrient content limited the dispersal of bacterial communities, resulting in higher community diversity and an increased capacity to utilize relative recalcitrant substrates by releasing more oxidases. The r-strategy Bacteroidetes and genera Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Vibrionimonas, Ochrobactrum positively correlated with enzyme-related function, whereas k-strategy Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and genera Acidothermus, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, HSB OF53-F07 showed negative correlations. Our study suggests that parent material could influence bacterial community assembly processes, diversity, and soil enzyme-related functions via soil properties., 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 © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)