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This study aimed to examine the unique longitudinal role of theory of mind (ToM) on reading comprehension among primary school children, while controlling for other influencing factors. It also examined how this impact varies by grade, text genre, and processing level. A sample of 430 Chinese children in Grades 2, 4, and 6 was observed over a period of 6 months. For each grade, longitudinal hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine the unique contribution of ToM to reading comprehension across different text genres and processing levels. By controlling for variables such as reading frequency, decoding, vocabulary, nonverbal intelligence, listening comprehension, and executive function, ToM cannot predict the overall reading comprehension of children in Grade 2, but can predict it of children in Grades 4 and 6. For specific text genres, ToM predicted narrative comprehension in both Grades 4 and 6 and expository comprehension only in Grade 6. For specific processing levels, ToM predicted advanced comprehension in Grades 4 and 6 and basic comprehension only in Grade 6. Furthermore, ToM predicted advanced narrative and expository comprehension in Grades 4 and 6, and basic expository comprehension in Grade 6. These findings highlight the important role of ToM in reading comprehension development, particularly in the middle and upper stages of primary school. These results lay the foundation for further research on exploring the underlying mechanisms of the impact of ToM on reading comprehension and provide a social-cognitive perspective to enhance the development of reading comprehension.

Despite the popularity of video in ELT, video use in primary English classrooms remains under-scrutinized. Grounded in a social semiotic conceptualization of video as multimodal ensemble, this study explored 115 Chinese primary English teachers' use of videos and the influencing factors in the post-pandemic era. Data were collected through a narrative frame, semi-structured interviews, and classroom observations. The findings revealed a predominant use of video for motivational and linguistic purposes, with occasional use of video as multimodal ensemble for critical and creative viewing purposes. Factors that shaped video use were also identified, including limited understanding of viewing multimodal texts as part of language competence, absence of institutional policies and support, and constrained access to quality videos. These findings call for attention to the importance of multimodal awareness for primary English teachers to develop pedagogic competences to use videos for an expanded range of literacy purposes in contemporary ELT landscape.

To investigate the pending problem and improve the effectiveness of online classrooms in the post-COVID-19 era, researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with 41 teachers from China, the Philippines, and other countries who have experienced long-time online classrooms. The research indicated that (1) all problems the teachers face in the online classroom can be classified into two types, including internal problems (the problems in teachers' teaching, students' learning, classroom discipline, and students' psychology) and external problems (the problems in hardware and equipment, school management, education equity and privacy protection, and family interference). (2) To better improve online classroom effectiveness, teachers strongly call for a series of reforms, including the reform of school management, curriculum and teaching, after-class instruction, and psychological support, which require schools, teachers, and parents to work together to make fundamental improvements. (3) Educational equity issues caused by economic development level, long-term inefficient online interaction, and various internal contradictions are the fundamental reasons why the previous problems existing in the online classroom have not been solved. Teachers, schools, educational researchers, and government departments need to deeply study and analyze these reasons, which will help solve a series of past and present problems in the online classroom.

The benefits of integrating transformational leadership and artificial intelligence (AI) in education are to bring the educational leadership and teaching and learning process to a new level. Transformational leadership enables leaders to adapt to the constantly changing educational environment, while AI technology enhances intelligence and personalization in education. The purpose of this article is to explore the problems and new prospects for improvement in blending transformational leadership and AI and implementing them in Chinese K-12 education. First, the researchers introduce the concept of transformational leadership as applied in education and summarize well-known theories. Next, the researchers explore the application of AI in K-12 education. However, the researchers also look at the challenges that AI may face in education, such as privacy and data security, technical barriers, and other issues. Finally, from the perspective of transformational leadership, the researchers offer some recommendations based on the main dimensions of transformational leadership to address the challenges of AI integration in education. Through these discussions and suggestions, the researchers hope to provide ideas and insights to promote China's K-12 education toward a new prospect for a better quality and intelligent education system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Insulin resistance (IR) is a feature of metabolic syndrome and plays an important role in cognitive impairment (CI). The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a convenient and cost-effective surrogate for assessing IR. This study aimed to assess the association between the TyG index and CI. Methods: This community population-based cross-sectional study used a cluster-sampling methodology. All participants underwent the education-based Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and those with CI were identified using standard thresholds. The fasting blood triglyceride and glucose levels were measured in the morning, and the TyG index was calculated as ln (½ fasting triglyceride level [mg/dL] × fasting blood glucose level [mg/dL]). Multivariable logistic regression and subgroup analysis were used to assess the relationship between the TyG index and CI. Results: This study included 1484 subjects, of which 93 (6.27%) met the CI criteria. Multivariable logistic regression showed that CI incidence increased by 64% per unit increase in the TyG index (odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-2.63, p = 0.042). CI risk was 2.64-fold higher in the highest TyG index quartile compared to the lowest TyG index quartile (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.19-5.85, p = 0.016). Finally, interaction analysis showed that sex, age, hypertension, and diabetes did not significantly affect the association between the TyG index and CI. Conclusion: The present study suggested that an elevated TyG index was associated with a higher CI risk. Subjects with a higher TyG index should manage and treat at an early stage to alleviate the cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aletris guangxiensis Y. Nong & Y. F. Huang (Nartheciaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. This new species is most similar to A. scopulorum, but it can be easily distinguished by its sparsely glandular, 5-18 cm long scape, glandular inflorescence axis, distinctly pedicellate flowers, sparsely glandular, 5-10 mm long pedicel, bract borne at base of pedicel, glabrous perianth divided to the base, strongly recurved or revolute perianth lobes and turbinate, obovoid to oblong-obovoid capsule. An identification key for 24 species and 1 hybrid of Aletris is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research aimed to improve the teaching quality of online classrooms and further enhance the performance of primary school teachers in online classrooms. Method: A survey was conducted on the teaching methods, teaching motivation, educational background, and teaching experience with a sample of 515 primary school teachers in online classrooms in China. Correlation analysis (Spearman's correlation coefficient) was used as the analysis process. Findings: (1) Teaching experience and educational background are positively correlated with most teaching methods. Some correlations are reflected in the use of teaching methods, while others are reflected in the mastery of teaching methods; (2) Teaching experience and educational background are positively correlated with most aspects of teaching motivation, focusing on competence and autonomy. But no positive correlation was found between educational background & teaching experience, respectively, and relatedness; (3) There is a strong positive correlation between teaching methods and teaching motivation, mainly focusing on competence and autonomy, while they don't have positive correlation in terms of relatedness. Implications for Research and practice: This study links educational psychology and teaching by studying teaching motivation and teaching methods, verifying the interrelationships among various dimensions of teachers in online classrooms, which has value and significance for subsequent research. The study recommends the improvement of teachers' educational background and teaching experience meaningfully, which will help them improve their teaching methods and teaching motivation in online classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Tourism management is a critical factor in developing quality human resources. Establishing a scientific and practical system to assess the quality of tourism management and identify and improve problems in tourism management is essential to ensure the quality of tourism management and realize human development goals. OBJECTIVES: In order to solve the current problems of China's tourism management, such as weak teachers, STEAM being too "soft," and leadership being too "hard," the concept of STEAM distance learning, literature analysis and other research methods are proposed, and the quality assessment system of tourism management for the bachelor's degree in tourism management is researched in the standard documents of education and management and related literature. METHODS: Established through interviews with qualified experts, tourism teachers, tourism professionals and others. Factor analysis was used to adjust the system of indicators for tourism students and define an evaluation system consisting of level 1 and corresponding level 2 indicators to determine the weights of the indicators. RESULTS: The results show that students are satisfied with "average" internships. The lowest level of satisfaction was with the "evaluation of the training process," but this indicator was the highest. Further analysis of the results suggests insufficient investment in professional practice in tourism management. CONCLUSION: This paper argues that the empirical research and analysis of the current tourism management students can be used to understand the accurate evaluation of tourism management activities based on the solution of the existing problems to improve students' innovative and practical abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leymus chinensis is a major forage resource for herbivores on typical steppe and meadow steppes in Northern China. This study aimed to reveal the fermentation quality, bacterial community, and aerobic stability of L. chinensis silage treated with lactic acid bacteria or/and water after long-term storage. Leymus chinensis was harvested at the heading stage and ensiled with lactic acid bacteria [LAB, 2.00 ml/kg fresh weight (FW) of LAB, L], water (100 ml/kg FW of distilled water, W), or a combination of both [2.00 ml/kg fresh weight (FW) of LAB and 100 ml/kg FW of distilled water, LW] in polyethylene laboratory-scale silos (diameter, 20 cm; height, 30 cm) at a density of 650 kg/m³. As a control silage (CK), untreated L. chinensis silage was also assessed. The samples were taken at 0 day of opening after 300 days of ensiling (CK_0d, L_0d, W_0d, and LW_0d) and at 10 days of opening (CK_10d, L_10d, W_10d, and LW_10d). The fermentation quality, microbial counts, bacterial community, and aerobic stability of the silage were assessed. The CK_0d contained higher pH and aerobic bacteria count, and lower LA and BC concentrations than L_0d, W_0d, and LW_0d (p < 0.05), and the LAB and yeasts were only detected in CK at 0 day of opening. Lactobacillus had the most abundance among bacterial genera in all silages at 0 day of opening. Just CK had 2◦C above the ambient temperature during aerobic exposure (at 224 h). During aerobic exposure, the pH and microbial counts in CK increased (p < 0.05), and Lactobacillus in L and LW had decreasing abundance (p < 0.05). The CK_10d had higher pH and microbial counts, and lower lactic acid and buffering capacity than L_10d, W_10d, and LW_10d (p < 0.05). At 10 days of opening, the coliforms and yeasts were just detected in CK, and Lactobacillus also had the most abundance among bacterial genera in all silages at 10 days of opening. Overall, inoculating LAB and adding water improved the fermentation quality and the aerobic exposure of L. chinensis silage after long-term storage. The activities of coliforms and yeasts during aerobic exposure contributed to the aerobic deterioration of L. chinensis silage without any treating. Lactobacillus dominated the bacterial communities of all silage at 0 and 10 days of opening. During aerobic exposure, the abundance of Lactobacillus reduced in L. chinensis silage treated with LAB or water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development and improvement of Internet media technologies in China, the influence of livestream e-commerce is becoming increasingly prominent, and an increasing number of people are engaging in consumption activities in this field. It is important to study consumer stickiness in livestream e-commerce to promote economic structure adjustment and innovation-driven development. Therefore, in this study, we adopted the expectation confirmation theory (ECT) as the theoretical framework and analyzed the ECT and stickiness. The study considered satisfaction as the previous influencing factor of user and consumer stickiness, replaced the continuance intention in the expectation confirmation model with consumer stickiness as the explanatory variable, introduced the variable of perceived playfulness as the value perception after user experience, and established a consumer stickiness factors model. A total of 262 valid questionnaires were collected in this study, and SmartPLS analysis along with interviews were used to justify the limitations of data analysis. The results of the study demonstrated a significant effect of perceived usefulness and confirmation on satisfaction, a significant effect of confirmation on perceived usefulness, a significant effect of satisfaction on stickiness, and a significant effect of confirmation on perceived playfulness. Based on findings from the data analysis and interviews, we further proposed rationalized recommendations, and aimed to provide some theoretical guidance for future research on live streaming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The javanicus-group of Glyphiulus is re-assessed and its Chinese component species are presently divided between the following two newly-circumscribed species groups, i.e. the formosus- and the sinensis-group. The two can be differentiated, based on the diagnostic characters of the first pair of legs in the male. In addition, metatergal crests being complete and the carinotaxy formula on the collum being I--III+P+M are only characteristic of the formosus-group. A molecular phylogeny of the genus, based on DNA sequencing of four gene fragments of four genes, allows for Glyphiulus to be recovered as a monophyletic group, the phylogenetic relationship being ((Clade A, Clade B), Clade C). Molecular evidence is fully congruent with the morphological one. In addition, based on barcoding data, interspecific p-distances between Glyphiulus species amount to 11.2-24.9%, vs. 0-8.2% for intraspecific p-distances. Five new species of Glyphiulus, all cavernicolous, are described from China: G. sinuatoprocessus Zhao & Liu, sp. nov., G. conuliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. (both from Guangdong Province), G. xiniudong Zhao & Liu, sp. nov., G. scutatus Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. and G. portaliformis Zhao & Liu, sp. nov. (all three from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region). The known Chinese species of the formosus-group appear to mainly be confined to the South China region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new species of salticids were collected from China: Synagelides emangou Liu, sp. nov. (♂, ♀) from Gansu province, and S. jinding Liu, sp. nov. (♂), S. serratus Liu, sp. nov. (♂, ♀), S. shuqiang Liu, sp. nov. (♂), and S. triangulatus Liu, sp. nov. (♀) from Jiangxi Province. All species are described and illustrated with photographs and SEM micrographs, and their distributions are also mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The settlement space along China's Grand Canal composes an important part of the Canal heritage, has a close bearing on the production and life of the residents there, nourishes rich culture and wisdom and boasts vital value of conservation and inheritance. Due to China's rapid urbanization and industrialization, the settlements along the canal have been destroyed to some extent and their in-site characteristics urgently need excavation and conservation. Through field investigation, space syntax and GIS analysis, this paper performs quantitative analysis of the in-site characteristics of 18 typical rural settlements there. The findings show that: (1) The settlement space of industry dominant type for commerce and trade is comparatively dynamic and the capacity of topology and integration and the attractive force of the settlement center are stronger. (2) The dynamic scope of the citizens' everyday traveling in the settlements has the closest correlation with the data of public-service facilities. (3) The settlements along the canal boast multiple, causal and blended in-site phenotype. The research findings provide new standards to categorize the settlements along China's Grand Canal, paths and methods to explore the characteristics of the settlements and new cognitive perspectives to conserve and renew the settlements along China's Grand Canal Tianjin Section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of Russula section Ingratae, found in Guizhou and Jiangsu Provinces, southern China, are proposed: R. straminella, R. subpectinatoides and R. succinea. Photographs, line drawings and detailed morphological descriptions for these species are provided with comparisons against closely-related taxa. Phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region supported the recognition of these specimens as new species. Additionally, R. indocatillus is reported for the first time from China and morphological and phylogenetic data are provided for the Chinese specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: There is increasing concern regarding cardiovascular risk in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients with liver fibrosis. This study aims: (1) to assess the association between NAFLD and liver fibrosis status and the development of carotid plaque (CP), and (2) to identify CP risk factors among general population with different baseline NAFLD and liver fibrosis status. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 14,288 adult participants who went for regular health check-ups between 2014 and 2019, in one hospital in Zhejiang, China. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound and the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) was calculated to reflect the extent of liver fibrosis. Cox proportional hazards analyses were applied to assess the risk of CP development across groups with different baseline NAFLD and NFS status. Results: NAFLD participants with high NFS had higher risk of CP compared to non-NAFLD participants (adjusted hazard ratio 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-1.96, p<.001). Progression from NAFLD free and NAFLD with low NFS to NAFLD with high NFS are associated with 1.56-fold (95% CI 1.21-2.01, p<.001) and 1.43-fold (95% CI 1.11-1.84, p<.006) increased risk of CP, respectively. Risk factors associated with CP vary based on baseline NAFLD and NFS status. Among NAFLD participants with high NFS, hypertension is the only significant risk factor after adjustment for other potential influencing factors. Conclusions: NAFLD and liver fibrosis status can be an independent predictor for CP development regardless of metabolic abnormalities. Hypertension is a major risk factor for CP development among NAFLD patients with high NFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a clinically important causative agent of acute respiratory diseases in postweaning calves and feedlot cattle and causes numerous economic losses to the cattle industry. In June 2018, an outbreak of an acute respiratory disease occurred among 4- to 10-month-old calves on three intensive beef cattle farms in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China, with a 27.42% morbidity rate (329/1200) and a > 25% mortality rate (85/329). Using next-generation sequencing, we comprehensively analyzed microbial diversity in the lung samples of the diseased cattle and found that the causative agent of this epidemic outbreak is mainly a bovine orthopneumovirus named BRSV strain DQ. We then isolated and confirmed the virus by RT-PCR and an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Phylogenetic analysis of genes G, F, N, NS1, NS2, and SH of BRSV strain DQ showed that this strain shares the highest genetic similarity with strains USII/S1, 15489, V41, and NY487834 belonging to subgroup III of BRSV. This is the first report of subgroup III strain of BRSV presence in China. Heilongjiang Province is a major cattle-breeding province in China; therefore, it is necessary to test for BRSV in the cattle trade and to conduct region-extended epidemiological surveillance for BRSV in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have shown that acupuncture is beneficial for the alleviation of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. However, there is a lack of clinical evidence concerning the effects of acupoint-matching on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.Methods/design: This is a parallel randomized controlled trial to evaluate the occurrence of nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy (the incidence of nausea and vomiting, frequency, VAS score, RINVR rating) as the main outcome for cancer. Quality of life, anxiety and depression scores are the secondary outcomes. Quality of life, anxiety and depression scores are the secondary phase. Use of remedy drugs, routine blood examination, and blood biochemical tests are the safety evaluation. We also compare the different effects of ST36 (single acupoint), CV12 (single acupoint), and ST36-CV12 matching groups.Discussion: The results of this trial are expected to explore the effects of matching different acupoints and to offer biologic plausibility for the use of acupuncture in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).Trial Registration: This trial is registered with clinicaltrials.gov NCT02195921 , The date of registration was 17 July 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface characteristics, including soil type, terrain slope, and antecedent soil moisture, have significant impacts on surface runoff during heavy precipitation in highly urbanized areas. In this study, a Linear Spectral Mixture Analysis (LSMA) method is modified to extract high-precision impervious surface, vegetation, and soil fractions. In the modified LSMA method, the representative endmembers are first selected by combining a high-resolution image from Google Earth; the unmixing results of the LSMA are then post-processed to reduce errors of misclassification with Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The modified LSMA is applied to the Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) image from 18 October 2015 of the main urban area of Guangzhou city. The experimental result indicates that the modified LSMA shows improved extraction performance compared with the conventional LSMA, as it can significantly reduce the bias and root-mean-square error (RMSE). The improved impervious surface, vegetation, and soil fractions are used to calculate the composite curve number (CN) for each pixel according to the Soil Conservation Service curve number (SCS-CN) model. The composite CN is then adjusted with regional data of the terrain slope and total 5-day antecedent precipitation. Finally, the surface runoff is simulated with the SCS-CN model by combining the adjusted CN and real precipitation data at 1 p.m., 4 May 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability in rural China. For stroke patients residing in resourcelimited rural areas, secondary prevention and rehabilitation are largely unavailable, and where present, are far below evidence-based standards. Aim: This study aims to develop and implement a simplified stroke rehabilitation program that utilizes nurses and family caregivers for service delivery, and evaluate its feasibility and effectiveness in rural China. Methods and design: This 2-year randomized controlled trial is being conducted in 2-3 county hospitals located in northwest, northeast, and southwest China. Eligible and consenting stroke inpatients (200 in total) have been recruited and randomized into either a control or intervention group. Nurses in the county hospital are trained by rehabilitation specialists and in turn train the family caregivers in the intervention group. They also provide telephone follow-up care three times post discharge. The recruitment, baseline, intervention, follow-up care, and evaluation are guided by the RECOVER mobile phone app specifically designed for this study. Study outcome: The primary outcome is patients' Barthel Index (activities of daily living: mobility, self-care, and toileting) at 6 months. Process and economic evaluation will also be conducted. Discussion: The results of our study will generate initial high-quality evidence to improve stroke care in resourcescarce settings. If proven effective, this innovative care delivery model has the potential to improve the health and function of stroke patients, relieve caregiver burden, guide policy-making, and advance translational research in the field of stroke care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge and technologies to achieve both high yield and high N-use efficiency in northern China already existed; however, there has been little progress in their implementation. We hypothesized that their adoption could be improved by offering farmers training programs (TPs, two trainings a year) and organizational and training programs (OTPs, besides training, which also provide in-field guidance and the cooperative purchase of seeds and fertilizers by groups of smallholder farmers.). In this study we evaluated maize (Zea mays L.) yield, N application rates, N-use efficiency (partial factor productivity), net economic gains (defined as the difference between economic return of maize and N fertilizer cost), and technology adoption rate by farmers in a county who were assigned to TP and OTP groups vs. those following conventional farming practices (FPs) during the years 2009 to 2013. For TP and OTP groups of 1668 farmers, maize yield increased significantly by 10 and 18%, respectively, compared with the FP group, as did N-use efficiency (22 and 37%, respectively). This led to significant increase in economic gains of 11 and 20%, in the TP and OTP groups, respectively. The adoption rate of formulated fertilizers, maize hybrid cultivars, and optimized planting density differed significantly between the FP (31, 52, and 43%, respectively), TP (57, 56, and 65%, respectively), and OTP (83, 90, and 78%, respectively) groups. These results demonstrate that innovation and agronomic participatory approaches are essential to improvement of both yield and N-use efficiency in smallholder agriculture in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preventive counselling is an effective approach to reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Studies have shown that there is a positive association between healthy behaviors of Colombian medical students and favorable attitudes towards preventive counselling. However, there is limited research that explores this relationship in different countries. The current study aimed to determine how the health behaviors of medical students from China, U.S., and Australia, are associated with attitudes towards preventive counseling.Methods: Students from five Chinese medical schools, Duke University in the U.S., and the University of Queensland in Australia, completed a 32-item, self-reported online survey. The survey was used to examine the prevalence of healthy behaviors and their association with attitudes towards preventive counseling. The target sample size was 150 students from each grade, or 450 students in total from different medical universities. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between health behaviors and attitudes towards preventive counseling, stratified by grade and adjusted by gender.Results: A positive association was found between healthy behaviors and attitudes towards preventive counseling for all medical students. There are significant differences among medical students' self-reported health behaviors and their attitudes towards preventive counselling from three different countries (P < 0.05). Chinese medical students were more positive in stress control (OR > 1) and more passive in limiting their smoking and alcohol behaviors compared to medical students in Duke University. However, compared to medical students in University of Queensland, five Chinese medical students were more passive in stress control (OR < 1).Conclusion: Based on the finding that healthy behaviors are positively related to favorable attitudes towards preventative counselling, medical students should adopt targeted courses and training in preventive counseling and develop healthy lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To ascertain pathological information on hyperplasia of mammary glands (HMG) of patients via the infrared radiation temperature of acupoints. Method. Patients with HMG and healthy controls were tested using an infrared thermal imager. Results. In controls, no significant difference in temperature was observed between points with the same name (P > 0.05). The temperature of all tested points was found to be higher in the group with HMG than in that of the healthy controls, except for the left and right Zusanli (ST36). The temperature of the right Rugen (ST18), Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6), and Hegu (LI4) reached a statistically significant heightened level (P = 0.046-P < 0.001). The temperature of the Zusanli (ST36) and Hegu (LI4) present on the right side was significantly higher than that of the left (P = 0.001 and P = 0.004, resp.), while the temperature of the left Youmen (KI21) was significantly higher than that of the right (P = 0.008). Conclusion. The temperature of the bilateral acupoints in healthy controls was symmetrical, and the raised temperatures observed of the Rügen (ST18), Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6), and Hegu (LI4) acupoints of HMG patients and the imbalance of the temperature of the bilateral acupoints Zusanli (ST36), Youmen (KI21), and Hegu (LI4) carried special pathological information about HMG disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past two years, the issuance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports has become an important nonprofit practice of enterprises in China. As of April 2008, over eighty enterprises in China in industries such as biochemical and energy, food and beverage, computers, finance and insurance, and automotive had released CSR (or equivalent) reports. Using SustainAbility's indicator system, the paper evaluates CSR reports issued by enterprises in China between May 2007 and April 2008. The paper finds reports' descriptions of management and performance to be quite good, but that reports failed to give enough information about governance and strategy, data availability, audits, and other aspects. Furthermore, we discovered that the current indicator system, while able to evaluate the quality of reports in form, falls short of truly evaluating their contents. Thus, a new indicator system must be devised to allow an overall assessment of the content of reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is highly endemic for viral hepatitis. In the present study, we investigated the clinical significance and molecular analysis of SEN virus (SEN-V) infection in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C in YanBian city, China. Serum samples were obtained from 71 patients with hepatitis B and C who visited YanBian hospital in the north-east of China. Detection of SEN-V DNA was performed by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primer pairs in the 5′-untranslated region. SEN-V DNA was present in 14/23 (63.9%), 12/15 (80.0%), 5/7 (71.4%), 13/18 (72.2%), 7/8 (87.5%), 1/1 (100%) of the patients with type B (B)-chronic hepatitis (CH), B-liver cirrhosis (LC), B-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), type C (C)-CH, C-LC, C-HCC, respectively. The highest prevalence of SEN-V DNA was seen in the various age groups over 40 years old. There was no significant correlation of clinical parameters between SEN-V DNA-positive and -negative patients with type B and C liver diseases. The YanBian isolates showed 71.4–95.0% homology to isolates reported previously. In conclusion, the prevalence of SEN-V infection in YanBian City was high but SEN-V coinfection did not seem to modify the serological features of chronic hepatitis B and C in China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents information on the changes of landscape pattern and its influence on the environment in Dongling District, Shenyang City, China, an ecotone between city and the countryside. Effect of human disturbance; Effect of changes of landscape pattern on ecological environment; Material and methods used in study; Equations; Details on the situation.

Background: Delirium is a common and serious postoperative complication, especially in the elderly. Epidural anesthesia may reduce delirium by improving analgesia, reducing opioid consumption, and blunting stress response to surgery. This trial therefore tested the hypothesis that combined epidural-general anesthesia reduces the incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients recovering from major noncardiac surgery.Methods: Patients aged 60 to 90 yr scheduled for major noncardiac thoracic or abdominal surgeries expected to last 2 h or more were enrolled. Participants were randomized 1:1 to either combined epidural-general anesthesia with postoperative epidural analgesia or general anesthesia with postoperative intravenous analgesia. The primary outcome was the incidence of delirium, which was assessed with the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit twice daily during the initial 7 postoperative days.Results: Between November 2011 and May 2015, 1,802 patients were randomized to combined epidural-general anesthesia (n = 901) or general anesthesia alone (n = 901). Among these, 1,720 patients (mean age, 70 yr; 35% women) completed the study and were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Delirium was significantly less common in the combined epidural-general anesthesia group (15 [1.8%] of 857 patients) than in the general anesthesia group (43 [5.0%] of 863 patients; relative risk, 0.351; 95% CI, 0.197 to 0.627; P < 0.001; number needed to treat 31). Intraoperative hypotension (systolic blood pressure less than 80 mmHg) was more common in patients assigned to epidural anesthesia (421 [49%] vs. 288 [33%]; relative risk, 1.47, 95% CI, 1.31 to 1.65; P < 0.001), and more epidural patients were given vasopressors (495 [58%] vs. 387 [45%]; relative risk, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.17 to 1.41; P < 0.001).Conclusions: Older patients randomized to combined epidural-general anesthesia for major thoracic and abdominal surgeries had one third as much delirium but 50% more hypotension. Clinicians should consider combining epidural and general anesthesia in patients at risk of postoperative delirium, and avoiding the combination in patients at risk of hypotension.Editor’s Perspective: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a common syndrome in the older population, with a prevalence ranging from 5% in subjects aged 50 years to almost 100% in those aged 90 years and older. It is regarded to be a major cause of vascular cognitive impairment. Existing prevention and treatment approaches have not yet shown ideal clinical outcomes. Dengyinnaotong Capsule has shown great potential for improving cognitive function. This trial (De-CSVD trial) is designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Dengyinnaotong Capsule on cognitive function in patients with CSVD ., Methods: This multicenter, randomized, open-label, controlled trial is planned to recruit at least 270 patients with mild cognitive impairment related to CSVD in 25 centers in China. Recruitment started on 10 May 2021 and is foreseen to end on 31 December 2022. The final follow-up of participants will be completed by the end of March 2023. Participants will be randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to the experimental group (routine basic treatment plus Dengyinnaotong Capsule) or the control group (routine basic treatment). The primary outcome is the change in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score from baseline to week 12. Secondary outcomes are changes in Shape Trail Test, Activities of Daily Living, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory score from baseline to week 12, new vascular events, and the changes in serum level of homocysteine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and D-dimer from baseline to week 4 and 12, respectively. The exploratory outcome is the changes in the Tinetti performance-oriented mobility assessment score from baseline to week 12. Safety assessment is performed by monitoring vital signs, general biochemical examinations, 12-lead electrocardiogram examinations, and incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ischemia or bleeding events. Visits will be performed at week 0 (baseline, pre-randomization), week 4, and week 12 in the treatment period (post-randomization)., Discussion: This trial is the first to investigate the efficacy and safety of Dengyinnaotong Capsule on cognitive impairment in patients with CSVD. The findings of this study might provide convincing evidence regarding the efficacy of Dengyinnaotong Capsule in patients with mild cognitive impairment related to CSVD., Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100045831. Registered on 25 April 2021., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Since the establishment of blown sand physics, surface roughness has been widely used in current research to indicate the ability of a surface to resist wind erosion and to evaluate the windproof effect of protective measures. However, since the calculation of surface roughness can result in different values and its applicability is poor, there are disadvantages to its use. Therefore, it is proposed that the boundary layer displacement thickness should be used rather than roughness as an indicator to solve such problems. To analyze the new indicator's accuracy and applicability when evaluating the effect of protective measures, a wind tunnel simulation experiment on a typical mechanical protection measure commonly used for sand control in China was conducted. Indicators of roughness and boundary layer displacement thickness were compared in evaluating the windproof performance of a Salix psammophila sand barrier of differing heights, side lengths, and porosities. The wind speed acceleration rate and effective protection area, which can directly reflect the protective effect of a sand barrier, were analyzed as evaluation criteria. The results show that roughness can only reflect the influence of height on the windbreak effect of sand barriers, whereas the boundary layer displacement thickness accurately showed the influence of height, side length, and porosity on the windproof effect of the sand barriers. Compared with roughness, the boundary layer displacement thickness was more strongly correlated with the effective protection area. Therefore, the boundary layer displacement thickness, rather than roughness, should be used as a new indicator when evaluating the windproof effect of protective measures.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to build an artificial neural network (ANN) model for predicting surgery-related pressure injury (SRPI) in cardiovascular surgical patients., Design: Prospective cohort study., Subjects and Setting: One hundred forty-nine patients who had cardiovascular surgery were included in the study. This study was conducted in a 1000-bed teaching hospital in Eastern China where 250 to 350 cardiac surgeries are performed each year., Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study among consecutive patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery between January and December 2015. The ANN model was built based on possible SRPI risk factors. The model performance was tested by a receiver operating characteristic curve and the C-index. A C-index from 0.5 to 0.7 is classified as having low accuracy, 0.7 to 0.9 as having moderate accuracy, and 0.9 to 1.0 as having high accuracy. We also compared the actual SRPI incidences based on the ANN stratification., Results: Thirty-seven of 147 patients developed SRPIs, yielding an incidence rate of 24.8% (95% CI, 18.1-32.6). The C-index was 0.815, which showed the ANN model had a moderate prediction value for SRPI. According to the ANN model, the SRPI predicting incidence ranged from 6.4% to 67.7%. Surgery-related pressure injury incidences were significantly different among 3 risk groups stratified by the ANN (P < .05)., Conclusion: We established an ANN model that provides moderate prediction of SRPI in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgical procedures. Identification and additional associated factors should be incorporated into the ANN model to increase its predictive ability.

Cyclin G-associated kinase (GAK) modifies α-synuclein expression levels and affects the susceptibility of Parkinson's disease (PD). The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1564282 of GAK gene has a significant association to the risk of PD among Caucasian populations. To date there is only one data with regards to ethnic Chinese from Mainland China. Here, we conducted a case-control study in two independent cohorts of Han Chinese populations from Taiwan and Singapore to validate this association. A total of 1,755 subjects (871 PD patients and 884 controls) were recruited. The results showed that neither the CT, TT genotypes nor the minor allele T of SNP rs1564282 were associated with PD among the subjects from Taiwan and Singapore as well as in the pooled analysis. Differences in our study population with regards to published literature may be due to epigenetic factors and gene-gene or gene-environmental interactions. Further studies in other Chinese populations will be of interest to validate these findings.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is combination of medical disorders that increase people's risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. Little data exists on the prevalence of MS of rural original adults in Ningxia of China., Methods: A cross-sectional survey method was used and the participants were interviewed by trained health workers under a structured questionnaire in rural of Ningxia in 2008. The number of research subjects was 1612. MS was defined by International Diabetes Federation IDF (2005)., Results: The age-adjusted prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 11.8%, whereas ethnic-specific prevalence was 10.3% in Han ethnic group and 13.7% in Hui ethnic group. Components of MS and MS were more common in Hui ethnic group than Han ethnic group. The mean levels and prevalence of abnormal value increased with increasing age in both ethnic groups (Cochran-Artimage test for trend, Hui ethnic group P < 0.05, Han ethnic group P < 0.01)., Conclusions: The prevalence of MS was high in rural residents' adults in Ningxia. Clustering of MS components and MS was increased with age. The components of MS have big differences among different ethnic groups.

China is an area of high endemicity for viral hepatitis, and the molecular epidemiological investigation of TT virus (TTV) infection is of interest. In the present study, we investigated the epidemiology, clinical significance and molecular characteristics of TTV infection in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C in Yanbian City, China. Serum samples obtained from 74 patients with hepatitis B and hepatitis C who visited Yanbian Hospital, located in northeast China, were analyzed in this study. The study group included 22 cases of chronic hepatitis B (B-CH), 17 cases of liver cirrhosis B (B-LC), 7 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (B-HCC), 16 cases of chronic hepatitis C (C-CH), 11 cases of liver cirrhosis C (C-LC) and 1 case of hepatocellular carcinoma (C-HCC). Detection of TTV DNA was performed as described by Nishizawa et al. The second-round PCR products from 7 subjects were sequenced, followed by investigation of nucleotide homology and phylogenetic analysis. TTV DNA was present in 18.2, 5.9, 28.6, 6.3, 9.1 and 0% of the patients with B-CH, B-LC, B-HCC, C-CH, C-LC and C-HCC, respectively. The highest prevalence of TTV infection was seen in the groups aged 40-50 and over 60 years. There was no significant correlation between the presence of TTV DNA and the clinical parameters in patients with hepatitis B and C. The various isolates showed 97.9-100% with isolates reported previously from Japan and 98.4-100% with isolates reported previously from China. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the Yanbian isolates could be classified in the same group as the Japan and China isolates. We concluded that chronic coinfection with TTV did not affect the serological features of chronic hepatitis B and C in China, as found in Tokyo, Japan., (Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel)