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Red Culture is one of the symbols of Chinese national spirit in China. With the enhancement of China's international status, the world gets to know the Red Culture stage by stage. And yet, in the process of Red Culture's foreign publicity, the depth and breadth of cultural diffusion have been affected by different factors. This paper objectively analyzes the current situation of foreign publicity translation about Red Culture and then focuses on the Red tourism industry to explore the characteristics and advantages of foreign-oriented publicity translation under the intercultural communicative perspective. In the end, we are trying to come up with some methods to increase the accuracy of Red Culture publicity translation.

The current study explored the role of teacher-child relationship plays on the relationship between preschooler's shyness level and externalizing problem. The sample consisted of 463 children from 6 preschools of Shandong province in northern China. Mothers reported the shyness level, aggressive behavior, and attention problem of their children, whereas teachers rated the teacher-child relationships. Among the results, the shyness level of girls were significantly higher than that of boys; children's age was significantly and negatively correlated with parents' rating of child shyness, aggressive behavior, and attention problem; shyness was associated with more aggressive behaviors, more attention problems, higher teacher-child dependence, higher teacher-child conflict, and lower teacher-child closeness. The aggressive behavior was associated with higher teacher-child dependence and higher teacher-child conflict. Teacher-child closeness moderated the relationship between shyness and externalizing problem (including aggressive behavior and attention problem). Teacher-child dependency moderated the relationship between shyness and aggressive behavior.

Anaplasma and Ehrlichia are tick-borne bacterial pathogens that cause anaplasmoses and ehrlichioses in humans and animals. In this study, we examined the prevalence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in ticks and domesticated animals in Suizhou County, Hubei Province in the central China. We used PCR amplification and DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA, groEL, and gltA genes to analyze. We collected 1900 ticks, including 1981 Haemaphysalis longicornis and 9 Rhipicephalus microplus, 159 blood samples of goats (n = 152), cattle (n = 4), and dogs (n = 3) from May to August of 2023. PCR products demonstrated that Anaplasma bovis, Anaplasma capra, and an Ehrlichia species were detected in the H. longicornis with the minimum infection rates (MIR) of 1.11%, 1.32%, and 0.05%, respectively; A. bovis, A. capra, and unnamed Anaplasma sp. were detected in goats with an infection rate of 26.31%, 1.31% and 1.97%, respectively. Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species were not detected from cattle, dogs and R. microplus ticks. The genetic differences in the groEL gene sequences of the Anaplasma in the current study were large, whereas the 16S rRNA and gltA gene sequences were less disparate. This study shows that ticks and goats in Suizhou County, Hubei Province carry multiple Anaplasma species and an Ehrlichia species, with relatively higher infection rate of A. bovis in goats. Our study indicates that multiple Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species exist in ticks and goats in the central China with potential to cause human infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete mitochondrial genome of Alboglossiphonia lata (basionym: Glossiphonia lata), sourced from a biodiversity hotspot of China, has been determined and reported in this study. It was 15,236 bp in length and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and three control regions. The mitogenome was deposited GenBank under the accession number PP165800. A. lata and other species within the Glossiphoniidae family were clustered together with high bootstrap values. The mitochondrial genome of A. lata provides valuable molecular data for further phylogenetic research on the Glossiphoniidae family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In China, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections traditionally occur during the spring and winter seasons. However, a shift in the seasonal trend was noted in 2020–2022, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This study investigated the seasonal characteristics of RSV infection in children hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs). The RSV epidemic season was defined as RSV positivity in > 10% of the hospitalized ALRTI cases each week. Nine RSV seasons were identified between 2013 and 2022, and nonlinear ordinary least squares regression models were used to assess the differences in year-to-year epidemic seasonality trends. Results: We enrolled 49,658 hospitalized children diagnosed with ALRTIs over a 9-year period, and the RSV antigen-positive rate was 15.2% (n = 7,566/49,658). Between 2013 and 2022, the average onset and end of the RSV season occurred in week 44 (late October) and week 17 of the following year, respectively, with a typical duration of 27 weeks. However, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the usual spring RSV peak did not occur. Instead, the 2020 epidemic started in week 32, and RSV seasonality persisted into 2021, lasting for an unprecedented 87 weeks before concluding in March 2022. Conclusions: RSV seasonality was disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the season exhibited an unusually prolonged duration. These findings may provide valuable insights for clinical practice and public health considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: UAVs for crop protection hold significant potential for application in mountainous orchard areas in China. However, certain issues pertaining to UAV spraying need to be addressed for further technological advancement, aimed at enhancing crop protection efficiency and reducing pesticide usage. These challenges include the potential for droplet drift, limited capacity for pesticide solution. Consequently, efforts are required to overcome these limitations and optimize UAV spraying technology. Methods: In order to balance high deposition and low drift in plant protection UAV spraying, this study proposes a plant protection UAV spraying method. In order to study the operational effects of this spraying method, this study conducted a UAV spray and grid impact test to investigate the effects of different operational parameters on droplet deposition and drift. Meanwhile, a spray model was constructed using machine learning techniques to predict the spraying effect of this method. Results and discussion: This study investigated the droplet deposition rate and downwind drift rate on three types of citrus trees: traditional densely planted trees, dwarf trees, and hedged trees, considering different particle sizes and UAV flight altitudes. Analyzing the effect of increasing the grid on droplet coverage and deposition density for different tree forms. The findings demonstrated a significantly improved droplet deposition rate on dwarf and hedged citrus trees compared to traditional densely planted trees and adopting a fixed-height grid increased droplet coverage and deposition density for both the densely planted and trellised citrus trees, but had the opposite effect on dwarfed citrus trees. When using the grid system. Among the factors examined, the height of the sampling point exhibited the greatest influence on the droplet deposition rate, whereas UAV flight height and droplet particle size had no significant impact. The distance in relation to wind direction had the most substantial effect on droplet drift rate. In terms of predicting droplet drift rate, the BP neural network performed inadequately with a coefficient of determination of 0.88. Conversely, REGRESS, ELM, and RBFNN yielded similar and notably superior results with a coefficient of determination greater than 0.95. Notably, ELM demonstrated the smallest root mean square error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since the future climate is predicted to be more extreme even in the case of semi-arid conditions, data on such conditions will be more important in the global context. Aims: The current work focuses on the effects of precipitation control on soil microorganisms in deciduous wild forest ecosystems in northeast China. Methods: To study the amount of rainwater reaching forest litter and determine the effect of rainfall on leaf mass loss, respiration rate, and microbial biomass, three regimes with six repetitions were applied: 1) full coverage (100% reduction in precipitation); 2) partially covered areas (50% reduction); and 3) completely open areas. Results: Rainwater did not reach entirely covered areas. Similarly, coverage did not always impact soil respiration and microbial biomass. Massive losses of fully open and partially covered litter were 20-35% larger than those of closed litter. Mass loss of the five litter types was in the following order: Ulmus japonica>Quercus mongolica>Fráxinus mandshurica>Juglans mandshurica>Tilia amurensis. Respiration intensity from closed litter decreased in all species six months after planting. For one year, a significant effect of the closed plot was observed only on U. japonica and Q. mongolica litter. An exception was noted for T. amurensis since three months after planting, microbial biomass values were comparable, irrespective of the extent of cover closure. According to the results of the experiment, precipitation on partially covered plots of the five litter types was reduced by approximately 45-50%. Conclusion: The absence of precipitation had an adverse effect on some biological processes in the litter but had a sporadic effect on soil processes. The lack of precipitation, although soil moisture was maintained, may have had an impact on the organic matter cycle in forest litter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The epidemiologic characteristics and attributable risk factors of ischemic stroke in China have changed over the past three decades. An upto- date analysis on deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), prevalence, incidence, and attributable risk factors of ischemic stroke for China is needed. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of burden and attributable risk factors of ischemic stroke at national level in China by sex from 1990 to 2019. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2019. All data used in this study was derived from the 2019 GBD study. Deaths, DALYs, prevalence, incidence, and attributable risk factors of ischemic stroke in China by sex from 1990 to 2019 were analyzed. Results: From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized deaths rate decreased by 3.3%, age-standardized DALYs rate decreased by 4%, age-standardized prevalence rate increased by 33.5%, and age-standardized incidence rate of ischemic stroke in China increased by 34.7%. In 2019, ambient particulate matter pollution became an important risk factor, whereas household air pollution from solid fuels was no longer a major risk factor for ischemic stroke in China. Burden of ischemic stroke was higher in China compared to other regions. Ambient particulate matter pollution among men, and diet high in sodium, smoking, household air pollution from solid fuels among women account for the increased deaths/DALYs due to ischemic stroke in China. Conclusion: Our study revealed that great changes have occurred in burden and attributable risk factors of ischemic stroke in China in the past three decades. Distinct sex-specific differences are observed in burden and attributable risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The worldwide incidence of primary small intestinal lymphoma (PSIL) is increasing. However, little is known about the clinical and endoscopic characteristics of this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and endoscopic data of patients with PSIL, with the goal of enhancing our understanding of the disease, improving diagnostic accuracy, and facilitating more accurate prognosis estimation. Methods: Ninety-four patients diagnosed with PSIL were retrospectively studied at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between 2012 and 2021. The clinical data, enteroscopy findings, treatment modalities, and survival times were collected and analyzed. Results: Ninety-four patients (52 males) with PSIL were included in this study. The median age of onset was 58.5 years (range: 19-80 years). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n=37) was the most common pathological type. Abdominal pain (n=59) was the most frequent clinical presentation. The ileocecal region (n=32) was the most commonly affected site, and 11.7% of patients had multiple lesions. At the time of diagnosis, the majority of patients (n=68) were in stages I-II. A new endoscopic classification of PSIL was developed, including hypertrophic type, exophytic type, follicular/polypoid type, ulcerative type, and diffusion type. Surgery did not show a significant increase in overall survival; chemotherapy was the most commonly administered treatment. T-cell lymphoma, stages III-IV, "B" symptoms, and ulcerative type were associated with poor prognosis. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the clinical and endoscopic features of PSIL in 94 patients. This highlights the importance of considering clinical and endoscopic characteristics for accurate diagnosis and prognosis estimation during small bowel enteroscopy. Early detection and treatment of PSIL is associated with a favorable prognosis. Our findings also suggest that certain risk factors, such as pathological type, "B" symptoms, and endoscopic type, may affect the survival of PSIL patients. These results underscore the need for careful consideration of these factors in the diagnosis and treatment of PSIL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Preoperative anxiety is associated with increased use of anesthetics and poorer postoperative outcomes. However, the prevalence of preoperative anxiety has not been characterized in Chinese patients. In this study, we aimed to estimate the overall prevalence of preoperative anxiety in Chinese adult patients and to explore the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with preoperative anxiety in China. Methods: This study was a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted at 32 tertiary referral centers in China from September 1 to October 31, 2020. Adult patients scheduled for elective surgery were evaluated by the 7-item Perioperative Anxiety Scale (PAS-7) for preoperative anxiety after entrance to the operating zone. Results: A total of 5191 patients were recruited, and 5018 of them were analyzed. The prevalence of preoperative anxiety measured by PAS-7 was 15.8% (95% CI 14.8 to 16.9%). Multivariable analyses showed female sex, younger age, non-retired, first in a lifetime surgery, surgery of higher risk, and poorer preoperative sleep were associated with higher prevalence of preoperative anxiety. Conclusions: Preoperative anxiety was relatively common (prevalence of 15.8%) among adult Chinese patients undergoing elective surgeries. Further studies are needed using suitable assessment tools to better characterize preoperative anxiety, and additional focus should be placed on perioperative education and intervention, especially in primary hospitals. Trial registration: This study was registered prospectively at www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR1900027639) on November 22, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) related gastric cancer screening (Hp-GCS) and cost-effectiveness of protocol candidates in a hospital-based cross-sectional study. A total of 163 gastric cancer patients in West China Hospital were retrospectively collected according to ICD-10 code and histologic proof between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014, and 15,599 cancer-free controls were simultaneously collected from the health checkup registry. Hp infection was examined by urea breath test (UBT). The prevalence of Hp infection was compared between patients and controls. The diagnostic performance of UBT-based predictive index was tested in both training and validation settings. Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted to assess candidates of Hp-GCS protocols. The prevalence of Hp infection was 55.8% and 41.2% in gastric cancers and controls, respectively (p < 0.001). UBT-based model showed moderate diagnostic strength in Hp-GCS (AUC = 0.78, 95% CI 0.74–0.82), better than UBT alone (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of UBT-based index were 80.2% and 61.9% at optimal cutoff in training setting, comparable in validation setting, which sensitivity and specificity were 76.9% and 59.6%. Number needed to screen was decreased along with older age, as well as stronger positivity of UBT. The optimal cost-effective Hp-GCS protocol with detection rate (DR = 77.9%) was endoscopic screening in age 40–59 years and positive UBT, or age ≥60 years without UBT. Incremental analysis suggested a preferable protocol as endoscopic screening in age ≥40 years without UBT (DR = 93.3%). UBT had moderate diagnostic strength in massive gastric cancer screening, and might be cost-effective in middle-aged population (40–59 years). More robust Hp-GCS protocol needs further investigate in test methods and individual biologic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical cyclones (TCs) cause devastating losses of lives and properties every year across the globe. This paper makes use of detailed geographic data on historical TCs and socio-economic conditions for both coastal and inland regions to assess the TC risk in China. Specifically, the mitigation capacity is integrated into the 'Hazard-Exposure-Vulnerability' (HEV) framework, and the TC risks are calculated by using the multiplicative/divisive and additive/subtractive formulae based on indicators of hazards, exposure, vulnerability and mitigation. The estimated TC risks are furthermore validated by using the data of direct economic losses and casualties. The results show that coastal areas in China are generally dominated by high TC risks and that inland areas also suffer considerably due to TC-induced secondary disasters. The TC risks calculated by the additive/subtractive formula can better capture the density of direct economic losses and casualties compared with those calculated by the multiplicative/divisive formula. TC hazard plays an important role in determining TC risks in South China, whereas exposure and mitigation play a critical part in determining TC risks in North China. Overall, the consideration of mitigation capacity makes the calculated TC risks more consistent with the magnitude of direct economic losses and casualties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardamine violifolia is the only selenium hyperaccumulation plant found in China. It has been developed as a source of medicinal and edible products that we can consume as selenium supplements. Many planting approaches have been developed to increase the selenium content of C. violifolia for nutrient biofortification. However, the contribution of rhizosphere microbes of C. violifolia to selenium enrichment has not been investigated. In this study, four types of selenium, i.e., selenate, selenite, nanoparticles selenium from Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis-Se), and organic selenium from yeast (yeast-Se), were added to the soil that C. violifolia was grown in, respectively. Selenate led to the greatest accumulation of selenium in C. violifolia, followed by selenite, B. subtilis-Se, and yeast-Se. Except for yeast-Se, the concentration of selenium in C. violifolia positively correlated with the amount of selenium added to the soil. Furthermore, the different types of exogenous selenium exhibited distinct effects on the rhizosphere microbiome of C. violifolia. Alpha and beta diversity analyses demonstrated that rhizosphere microbiome was more obviously affected by selenium from B. subtilis and yeast than from selenate and selenite. Different microbial species were enriched in the rhizosphere of C. violifolia under various exogenous selenium treatments. B. subtilis-Se application enhanced the abundance of Leucobacter, Sporosarcina, Patulibacter, and Denitrobacter, and yeast-Se application enriched the abundance of Singulishaera, Lactobacillus, Bdellovibrio, and Bosea. Bosea and the taxon belonging to the order Solirubrobacterales were enriched in the samples with selenate and selenite addition, respectively, and the abundances of these were linearly related to the concentrations of selenate and selenite applied in the rhizosphere of C. violifolia. In summary, this study revealed the response of the rhizosphere microbiome of C. violifolia to exogenous selenium. Our findings are useful for developing suitable selenium fertilizers to increase the selenium hyperaccumulation level of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To contribute to the debate on the importance of state vis-à-vis inter-firm competition in regional development, this paper examines a representative dataset of the relocation of manufacturing firms in Guangdong province of China with multinomial logistic regression models. To improve the competitiveness of manufacturing in the Pearl River Delta, the Guangdong government implemented pro-active policies to encourage the relocation of existing manufacturing firms to their designated industrial parks during the 2000s. Although the initial results appear to support the usefulness of relocation policy, further examination reveals its effectiveness depends on the industrial sector and profiles of the relocated firms. In fact, the relocation of large-scale labor-intensive firms is not driven by local government initiatives. The physical proximity of high-technology parks to airports/ports has a bigger impact on the relocation of small-scale locally-funded high-technology firms into designated parks. In the case of locally-funded firms in polluting sectors, they are expanding rather than relocating to designated industrial parks. The empirical evidence indicates the non-binary nature of the industrial relocation policy. The nuances of relocation policy and its multi-scalar effects on relocated firms rejects any simplistic generalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red Culture is one of the symbols of Chinese national spirit in China. With the enhancement of China’s international status, the world gets to know the Red Culture stage by stage. And yet, in the process of Red Culture’s foreign publicity, the depth and breadth of cultural diffusion have been affected by different factors. This paper objectively analyzes the current situation of foreign publicity translation about Red Culture and then focuses on the Red tourism industry to explore the characteristics and advantages of foreign-oriented publicity translation under the intercultural communicative perspective. In the end, we are trying to come up with some methods to increase the accuracy of Red Culture publicity translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the effects of 3-min light-intensity walking every 30 min (3-min) and 6-min light-intensity walking every 60 min (6-min) compared with prolonged sitting (SIT) on the postprandial metabolic responses in young, centrally obese, Chinese men. Twenty-one Chinese men with central obesity (age, 23 ± 4 years; body mass index, 29.8 ± 3.2 kg·m-2; waist circumference, 98.7 ± 7.1 cm; mean ± SD) underwent three 6-h experiments with a 7-day washout period, SIT, 3-min, and 6-min, in randomized order. Compared with SIT, neither walking condition showed differences in total and net incremental area under the curve (tAUC and iAUC, respectively) for glucose, insulin, nor non-esterified fatty acids. The tAUC and iAUC for triglycerides for the SIT condition (10.8 [9.3, 12.2] and 4.4 [3.7, 5.1] mmol·h·L-1, respectively; mean [95% confidence interval]) was higher than 3-min (10.4 [9.0, 11.8] and 3.8 [3.3, 4.3] mmol·h·L-1, respectively, both Ps <0.05) and 6-min (9.6 [8.1, 11.0] and 3.5 [2.9, 4.2] mmol·h·L-1, respectively, both Ps <0.01) conditions. Interrupting prolonged sitting regardless of frequency-reduced postprandial triglycerides. A higher volume of physical activity may be required to obtain greater glycaemic benefits in young Chinese men with central obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardamine violifolia, native to China, is one of the selenium (Se) hyperaccumulators. The mechanism of Se metabolism and tolerance remains unclear, and only limited genetic information is currently available. Therefore, we combined a PacBio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) transcriptome library and the Illumina RNA-seq data of sodium selenate (Na2SeO4)-treated C. violifolia to further reveal the molecular mechanism of Se metabolism. Results: The concentrations of the total, inorganic, and organic Se in C. violifolia seedlings significantly increased as the Na2SeO4 treatment concentration increased. From SMRT full-length transcriptome of C. violifolia, we obtained 26,745 annotated nonredundant transcripts, 14,269 simple sequence repeats, 283 alternative splices, and 3407 transcription factors. Fifty-one genes from 134 transcripts were identified to be involved in Se metabolism, including transporter, assimilatory enzyme, and several specific genes. Analysis of Illumina RNA-Seq data showed that a total of 948 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were filtered from the four groups with Na2SeO4 treatment, among which 11 DEGs were related to Se metabolism. The enrichment analysis of KEGG pathways of all the DEGs showed that they were significantly enriched in five pathways, such as hormone signal transduction and plant-pathogen interaction pathways. Four genes related to Se metabolism, adenosine triphosphate sulfurase 1, adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate reductase 3, cysteine (Cys) desulfurase 1, and serine acetyltransferase 2, were regulated by lncRNAs. Twenty potential hub genes (e.g., sulfate transporter 1;1, Cys synthase, methionine gamma-lyase, and Se-binding protein 1) were screened and identified to play important roles in Se accumulation and tolerance in C. violifolia as concluded by weighted gene correlation network analysis. Based on combinative analysis of expression profiling and annotation of genes as well as Se speciation and concentration in C. violifolia under the treatments with different Na2SeO4 concentrations, a putative Se metabolism and assimilation pathway in C. violifolia was proposed. Conclusion: Our data provide abundant information on putative gene transcriptions and pathway involved in Se metabolism of C. violifolia. The findings present a genetic resource and provide novel insights into the mechanism of Se hyperaccumulation in C. violifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anoplophora Hope, 1839 is a genus including more than 40 species occurring in Asia. Most species of this genus have beautiful colours on the elytra and are of great interest to insect collectors. Due to their developing in and consuming wood in the larval stage, species in this genus could be economically important, such as A. glabripennis, an introduced species to North America. New information: We described Anoplophora fanjingensis sp. n., based on specimens from Mount Fanjing (also Fanjingshan), Jiankou County, Guizhou, China. The new species is characterised by its elytra with metallic iridescent sheen and the non-annulated antennae. Habitus of two similar species, Anoplophora chiangi and Anoplophora leechi, are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Herpesviruses and bacteria and their interplay have long been believed to play important roles in the pathogenesis of periodontitis, but other microbial entities in the oral environment might also be involved. Anelloviruses are commonly detected in human, including in oral samples. The aim of the present study was to explore the occurrence and co-occurrence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), and human anelloviruses (HTTVs) in gingival tissue samples collected from participants recruited in Shanghai, China. Methods: Gingival tissues were collected from 159 participants (57 with aggressive periodontitis (AP), 59 with chronic periodontitis (CP) and 43 with healthy periodontal status). The presence of HCMV, EBV, torque teno virus (TTV), torque teno mini virus (TTMV) and torque teno midi virus (TTMDV) DNA was detected by nested-PCR. The virus loads were quantified by real-time PCR. Results: The detection rates of EBV, TTV, TTMV and TTMDV were significantly higher in the AP and CP groups compared to the healthy group (all P < 0.01). A statistically significant association was found between EBV, TTV and TTMV virus load and periodontitis (all P < 0.05). Participants infected with EBV showed significantly higher infection rates and higher virus loads of TTV and TTMV than the EBV-negative group (all P < 0.05). The coexistence rates of EBV and anelloviruses and the coexistence of three HTTVs were significantly higher in AP and CP groups (all P < 0.01). Conclusions: Collectively, results obtained in this study suggest that HTTVs and the coexistence of EBV and HTTVs in particular, may be associated with periodontitis. Possible mechanisms of the interaction between herpesviruses and anelloviruses in the context of periodontitis require further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the 74 circulation indexes provided by National Climate Center of China (NCC) and the 24 indexes compiled by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the US, the study used the C4.5 algorithm in data mining to establish a decision tree prediction model to predict whether the spring persistent rains (SPR) of 55 years (from 1961 to 2015) is more than the normal, and obtained 5 rules to determine whether the SPR is more than the normal. The accuracy rate of the test set, namely "whether the SPR is more than the normal", is 98.18%. After the evaluation of the model by conducting ten 10-fold cross validations to take the average value, the test accuracy rate gained is 84%. There are differences between the three types of years with a SPR more than the normal when it comes to intensity and distribution. In spring, they have respective anomalous 850hPa monthly mean wind fields and water-vapor flux distribution, and 700hPa forms the zone where tire vertical speed is anomalously negative. As indicated by the results, the SPR prediction model based on the C4.5 algorithm has a high prediction accuracy rate, the model is reasonably and effectively constructed, and the decision rules take comprehensive factors into consideration. The anomalous rainfall and circulation distribution characteristics obtained based on tire decision classification results provide new ideas and methods for the prediction of SPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spring 2021, several strong dust export processes crossed over East Asia, including the combined transport of Mongolia Gobi and Inner Mongolia dust. Based on CAMS forecast systems and satellite sensors, we analyzed the transport mechanisms and impact on China. Our case studies illustrate that in all 4 dust storms, the initial phase of transport was strongly confined by a low-level Mongolian cyclone facilitated by a deep cold-core upper trough. Using a methodology based on MODIS Deep Blue AOD data enables us to estimate the dust optical depth (DOD) and the impact of dust plumes on different areas in China. The result shows that North China was the most affected area in all cases, second only to the source region, with a mean observed DOD >0.8 and depolarization ratio > 0.2. The vertical distribution of the aerosol frequency of occurrence (FoO) was yielded using the CALIOP aerosol classification result. Dust storms were the dominant factor within 6 km (peaked at 2–3 km), while a significant amount of transported smoke aerosols dominated the upper troposphere. Even in dust storms, anthropogenic aerosols still occupied a high proportion of China's atmosphere, especially in South China, indicating the great contribution of human activities. As a subdominant aerosol type, polluted dust showed a profile similar to that of polluted continental aerosols, with peak heights generally lower than that of pure dust, at approximately 1–2 km. The development of cyclone/anticyclone activities was mostly modulated by the atmospheric dynamic background. By discussing the climatic index related to dust storm occurrence in East Asia, we found that the high-frequency years in the 21st century have a satisfactory correspondence with the negative phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the positive phase of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). These findings may have positive significance for dust forecasting in East Asia in the future. • All 4 dust storms in 2021 were initialized by Mongolian cyclones. • Pollutants occupied a high proportion of China's atmosphere even in strong storms. • PDO and SOI can be stable indicators of East Asia dust storms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ligustrazine in the treatment of cerebral infarction. Methods. A systematic literature search was conducted in 6 databases until 30 June 2016 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ligustrazine in the treatment of cerebral infarction. The quality of all the included studies was evaluated. All data were analyzed by Review Manager 5.1 Software. Results. 19 RCTs totally involving 1969 patients were included. The primary outcome measures were Neurological Deficit Score (NDS) and clinical effective rate. The secondary outcome measure was adverse events. Meta-analysis showed that ligustrazine could improve clinical efficacy and NDS of cerebral infarction with [OR = 3.60, 95% CI (2.72, 4.78), P<0.00001] and [WMD = −3.87, 95% CI (−4.78, −2.95), P<0.00001]. Moreover, ligustrazine in treatment group exerted better clinical effects in improving the Blood Rheology Index (BRI) in patients compared with control group. Ten trials contained safety assessments and stated that no obvious side effects were found. Conclusions. Ligustrazine demonstrated definite clinical efficacy for cerebral infarction, and it can also improve NDS in patients without obvious adverse events. However, due to the existing low-quality research, more large-scale and multicentric RCTs are required to provide clear evidence for its clinical efficacy in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the pattern of expression of circulating miRNAs in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Materials and methods: Microarray and qRT-PCR were used to investigate circulating miRNAs in PCOS during clinical diagnosis. The targets of dys-regulated miRNAs were predicted using bioinformatics, followed by function and pathway analysis using the databases of Gene Ontology and the KEGG pathway. Results: BMI, triglyceride, HOMA-IR, Testosterone and CRP levels were significantly higher, while estradiol was significantly lower in PCOS than in control groups. After SAM analysis, 5 circulating miRNAs were significantly up-regulated (let-7i-3pm, miR-5706, miR-4463, miR-3665, miR-638) and 4 (miR-124-3p, miR-128, miR-29a-3p, let-7c) were down-regulated in PCOS patients. Hierarchical clustering showed a general distinction between PCOS and control samples in a heat map. After joint prediction by different statistical methods, 34 and 41 genes targeted were up-and down-regulated miRNAs, in PCOS and controls, respectively. Further, GO and KEGG analyses revealed the involvement of the immune system, ATP binding, MAPK signaling, apoptosis, angiogenesis, response to reactive oxygen species and p53 signaling pathways in PCOS. Conclusions: We report a novel non-invasive miRNA profile which distinguishes PCOS patients from healthy controls. The miRNA-target database may provide a novel understanding of PCOS and potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and safety of a Chinese herbal formula Zi Shen Qing (ZSQ) in the treatment of systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Chinese patients. Methods. A randomized controlled trial was conducted over 12 weeks in 84 Chinese patients who reported total scores of SLE Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2000) was from 5 to 14. The primary outcome was the changes of the SLEDAI-2000. The secondary outcomes included score changes of Chinese Medicine Syndromes (CMS), the changes of steroid dosage, the incidence of disease flare-up and biologic markers. Results. ZSQ significantly reduced SLEDAI-2000, the total scores of CMS in the treatment group compared with the controlled group (P < 0.05). Superiority of ZSQ over controlled group was also observed with greater improvement in the withdrawal dosage of corticosteroids and the incidence of disease flare-up (P < 0.05). There were no serious adverse events, and safety indices of whole blood counts, renal and liver functions were normal, both before and after the treatment. Conclusion. ZSQ is safe and effective for decreasing SLE disease activity and withdrawal dosage of corticosteroids in the mild to moderate SLE patients with "Deficiency of Qi and Yin" Pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Based on customer value theory, this paper aims to propose and test a conceptual model of the relationship between third-party logistics (3PL) provider customer orientation and customer firm logistics improvement. Design/methodology/approach - The 3PL provider customer orientation is conceptualized as a higher, second-order construct made up of four key logistics-driven first-order indicators: service variety, information availability, timeliness, and continuous improvement. A survey-based approach is utilized to collect data from managers at 124 manufacturing customer firms in the People's Republic of China; structural equation modeling is performed to assess measures and test the hypothesized relationships. Findings - Chinese 3PL provider customer orientation significantly influences customer firm logistics improvement. Research limitations/implications - Findings are based on single source perceptual data from customer firm key respondents. Tests indicate that common method bias is not a problem. Practical implications - At a time when market pressure is compelling Mainland Chinese 3PL providers to upgrade and expand service offerings, 3PLs with a strong customer orientation create significant value for customers through superior execution on key elements of logistics service. Originality/value - The paper responds to calls for additional theoretically driven assessment of market orientation in logistics service provider firms by identifying explicit behavioral manifestations of 3PL customer orientation that enhance customer firm logistics performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to empirically develop a valid measurement scale for process orientation - a critical supply chain management (SCM) concept that warrants greater study. Design/methodology/approach - This study follows the measurement development approach proposed by Churchill. Data are collected from China. Various statistical analysis techniques, including confirmatory factor analysis through structural equation modeling, are utilized to ensure the validity and reliability of the newly developed measurement scale. Findings - A six-item scale was developed for the construct of process orientation. Research limitations/implications - Because the research is conducted in one particular industry (electronics) and one country (China), future studies in different contexts are needed to validate or modify the resulted scale. The measurement scale developed in this paper can be used in future empirical SCM research to further investigate the mechanism and impacts of process orientation. Practical implications - The measurement can also be used by managers to evaluate their firms' process orientation and make necessary adjustments or improvements. Originality/value - The paper addresses a void covering measurement of an important SCM concept - process orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pearl River Delta (PRD), located in South China and adjacent to the South China Sea, is comprised of a complicated hydrological system; therefore, it was a great challenge to sample adequately to measure fluxes of organic and inorganic materials to the coastal ocean. In this study, several sampling designs, including five-point (the number of sampling points along the river cross-section and three samples collected at the upper, middle, and bottom parts at each vertical line), three-point (at the middle and two other profiles), one-point (at the middle profile), and single-point (upper, middle, or bottom sub-sampling point at the middle profile) methods, were assessed using total organic carbon (TOC) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) as the measurables. Statistical analysis showed that the three- and five-point designs were consistent with one another for TOC measurements ( p > 0.05). The three- and one-point sampling methods also yielded similar TOC results (95% of the differences within 10%). Single-point sampling yielded considerably larger errors than the three- and one-point designs, relative to the results from the five-point design, but sampling at the middle sub-point from the middle profile of a river achieved a relatively smaller error than sampling at the upper or bottom sub-point. Comparison of the sampling frequencies of 12 times a year, four times a year, and twice a year indicated that the frequency of twice a year was sufficient to acquire representative TOC data, but larger sample size and higher sampling frequency were deemed necessary to characterize SPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Using China's burgeoning logistics industry as a backdrop, the present study focused on how to build trust between logistics users and third-party logistics (3PL) providers, and the antecedents and consequences of trust. Design/methodology/approach - A questionnaire-based mail survey was conducted in mainland China. The conceptual model was tested using structural equation modeling. Findings - The findings indicate that logistics users' satisfaction with prior interactions with logistics providers, 3PL provider's relationship-specific investment, 3PL provider's information sharing, and 3PL provider's reputation are key determinants of logistics users' level of trust towards 3PL providers. Additionally, logistics users' trust may facilitate their loyalty behavior towards 3PL providers. Research limitations/implications - The findings were drawn from a Chinese setting in which logistics outsourcing is in a relatively early developmental stage. The uniqueness of Chinese culture may also limit the findings' generalizability. China's transitional economy was not considered in the study. Different company ownership may significantly influence relationship formulation, maintenance and consequences. Practical implications - The findings demonstrated how logistics providers can improve customers' trust in logistics outsourcing relationships. The study also revealed how logistics providers can improve customers' loyalty. Originality/value - This paper was a pioneering study that investigates the logistics outsourcing relationship in China, a rapidly growing economy. The results offered valuable managerial insights regarding how to cultivate trust and loyalty in logistics outsourcing relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the importance of coalbed methane (CBM) as a source of energy, it is necessary to predict its future production. However, the production process of CBM is the result of the interaction of many factors, making it difficult to perform accurate simulations through mathematical models. We must therefore rely on the historical data of CBM production to understand its inherent features and predict its future performance. The objective of this paper is to establish a deep learning prediction method for coalbed methane production without considering complex geological factors. In this paper, we propose a multivariate long short-term memory neural network (M-LSTM NN) model to predict CBM production. We tested the performance of this model using the production data of CBM wells in the Panhe Demonstration Area in the Qinshui Basin of China. The production of different CBM wells has similar characteristics in time. We can use the symmetric similarity of the data to transfer the model to the production forecasting of different CBM wells. Our results demonstrate that the M-LSTM NN model, utilizing the historical yield data of CBM as well as other auxiliary information such as casing pressures, water production levels, and bottom hole temperatures (including the highest and lowest temperatures), can predict CBM production successfully while obtaining a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.91%. This is an improvement when compared with the traditional LSTM NN model, which has an MAPE of 1.14%. In addition to this, we conducted multi-step predictions at a daily and monthly scale and obtained similar results. It should be noted that with an increase in time lag, the prediction performance became less accurate. At the daily level, the MAPE value increased from 0.24% to 2.09% over 10 successive days. The predictions on the monthly scale also saw an increase in the MAPE value from 2.68% to 5.95% over three months. This tendency suggests that long-term forecasts are more difficult than short-term ones, and more historical data are required to produce more accurate results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately forecasting the daily production of coalbed methane (CBM) is important forformulating associated drainage parameters and evaluating the economic benefit of CBM mining. Daily production of CBM depends on many factors, making it difficult to predict using conventional mathematical models. Because traditional methods do not reflect the long-term time series characteristics of CBM production, this study first used a long short-term memory neural network (LSTM) and transfer learning (TL) method for time series forecasting of CBM daily production. Based on the LSTM model, we introduced the idea of transfer learning and proposed a Transfer-LSTM (T-LSTM) CBM production forecasting model. This approach first uses a large amount of data similar to the target to pretrain the weights of the LSTM network, then uses transfer learning to fine-tune LSTM network parameters a second time, so as to obtain the final T-LSTM model. Experiments were carried out using daily CBM production data for the Panhe Demonstration Zone at southern Qinshui basin in China. Based on the results, the idea of transfer learning can solve the problem of insufficient samples during LSTM training. Prediction results for wells that entered the stable period earlier were more accurate, whereas results for types with unstable production in the early stage require further exploration. Because CBM wells daily production data have symmetrical similarities, which can provide a reference for the prediction of other wells, so our proposed T-LSTM network can achieve good results for the production forecast and can provide guidance for forecasting production of CBM wells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the analysis of volatiles in Patrinia scabiosifolia (P. scabiosifolia) flowers and their uses. It relates on several volatile organic compounds from the flowers including esters, cis-3-Hexenyl isovalerate, and Eugenol as studied through headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry HS-SPME-GC-MS) in Henan, China. It says that the volatiles can be used in various forms such as cis-3-Hexenyl isovalerate for flavoring and eugenol for essences.

[Display omitted] • Pyrite textures reflects fluid chemical composition and structural condition. • The ore-forming physical–chemical conditions changed significantly through stages. • The oxidation and reduction conditions of the three mineralization styles are different. • Sulfidation and fluid phase separation are dominant mineralization mechanisms. The Wangu gold deposit, with dominant mineralized slate, sulfide- quartz veins and breccia-styles mineralization, is one of the most representative gold deposits in the Jiangnan Orogen, southern China. The gold mineralization in the deposit can be divided into five stages, the pre-gold barren quartz Stage I and barren quartz- sericite- scheelite Stage II, syn -gold smoke gray quartz- sericite- arsenopyrite (Apy-1)- pyrite (Py-1)- gold Stage III, smoky gray quartz- sericite- pyrite (Py-2)- arsenopyrite (Apy-2)- gold- polymetallic sulfide Stage IV, and post-gold quartz- calcite Stage V. Pyrite can be divided into two generations, Py-1 (Stage III) and Py-2 (Stage IV). According to the mineralization styles, pyrite in the deposit can be divided into pyrite in mineralized slate (Py-a), pyrite in sulfide- quartz veins (Py-b) and pyrite in breccia-style ores (Py-c). According to the microscopic and backscattering microstructure observation of the two generations pyrite, Py-1 shows uniform dark color, porous microstructure, with a small amount of polymetallic sulfide in pores. Py-2 shows uniform bright color, smooth crystal surface, and a few Py-2 wraps Py-1 showing a zoned texture. Based on Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) trace element spot analysis, mapping and Laser Ablation Multicollector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-MC-ICP-MS) sulfur isotope analysis, Py-1 is rich in Co, Ni, Pb and Zn, poor in As and Au, and has high sulfur isotope composition (avg: −8.43 ‰). Py-2 is rich in As and Au, but low in Co, Ni, Pb and Zn, and relatively low in sulfur isotope composition (avg: −9.96 ‰), indicating that the ore-forming physico-chemical condition changed from reducing to oxidizing from Stage III to Stage IV. Furthermore, pyrite formed in different mineralization styles show distinct textural and geochemical characters. Py-a is mostly euhedral to subhedral and disseminated, while Py-b is generally subhedral particle forming aggregate. Py-c is mostly anhedral fine grainy. Elements As, Au, Co, Ni and Pb of Py-a are higher than that of Py-b and Py-c, while Ag and Zn are lower. Meanwhile, the δ34S values of Py-a (−11.51 ∼ 4.98 ‰) is higher than Py-c (−18.26 ∼ −5.87 ‰) and Py-b (−29.57 ∼ −7.69 ‰), which reflects a more open and oxidizing condition of sulfide- quartz veins system. Trace element spot analysis and mapping of pyrite show that gold mainly exists in pyrite in the form of solid solution, accompanied by a small amount of natural gold and nano-sized gold particles. The coupled relationship between Au and As in pyrite, and the significant solid solution of gold in pyrite, indicates the destabilization of gold-sulfur complexes in the fluid and the which formed are of gold into the pyrite lattice. This demonstrates that sulfidation is the dominant precipitation mechanism of invisible gold in the deposit. Sulfide- quartz veins undergo repeated "crack-seal" processes during the cyclic fluctuation of fluid pressure, which have formed "laminated" texture, and pyrite with high Ag content and oscillatory zoning. Abrupt drop in fluid pressure induced the escape of a large amount of gas, and fluid phase separation, which further resulted in the precipitation of native gold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hydrothermal alteration changed the CL color of scheelite at Huangjindong. • Trace elements correlation reveals the approach of REE incorporating into scheelite. • Sr isotopes indicate a metamorphic fluid source for scheelite at Huangjindong. • Pressure reduction dominates the scheelite precipitation in orogenic gold deposits. Scheelite and wolframite are two primary tungsten minerals in nature. The occurrence of tungsten minerals varies in different types of deposits, with scheelite rather than wolframite typically forming in orogenic gold deposits. However, the explanation for this phenomenon remains unclear. Huangjindong deposit, located in the center of the Jiangnan Orogenic Belt in southern China, is a typical orogenic gold deposit with scheelite mineralization. Texture, in-situ trace elements and Sr isotope compositions of scheelite from this deposit were investigated to explore the formation process of scheelite and the source of tungsten of similar orogenic gold deposits. Three hydrothermal stages have been identified at this deposit: milky scheelite + quartz (pre-gold Stage I); gold + sericite + sulfide + quartz (syn -gold Stage II); and dolomite + quartz (post-gold Stage III). Scheelite primarily occurs during the initial pre-gold stage. Local color differences in CL image have developed along rims and in domains adjacent to fractures of scheelite due to slight late-stage hydrothermal alteration of scheelite along their fractures. The intense development of sericite and chlorite alteration in the host rocks indicates that the water–rock reaction consumed a large amount of H+. Within the scheelite-quartz veins, the presence of brecciated slate enclaves and localized quartz geodes, indicating that the fluid experienced significant pressure drop. This indicates that the water–rock reaction and the decrease in pressure resulted in the precipitation of scheelite. The dominance of tungsten mineral precipitation due to pressure reduction serves as the main factor driving the development of scheelite over wolframite within the deposit, which also elucidates the reason that tungsten mineralization associated with orogenic gold deposits predominantly features scheelite. The characteristics of scheelite without oscillatory zoning, high Sr (1180–8600 ppm) and low Mo (bdl-0.18 ppm) concentrations, and flat REE pattern are similar to those of scheelite in orogenic gold deposits worldwide. The high 87Sr/86Sr ratio (0.7539–0.7663) indicates that the tungsten-bearing ore-forming fluids derived from deep-seated metamorphic fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enshi City, in the Hubei Province of China, is known as the world capital of selenium with the most abundant selenium resource. An important selenium hyperaccumulator plant, Cardamine violifolia , was found to naturally grow in this high-selenium ecosystem. However, relatively little is known about the impact of the selenium levels on microbial community and functional shifts in C. violifolia rhizosphere. Here, we tested the hypothesis that underground microbial diversity and function vary along a selenium gradient, including antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Comprehensive metagenomic analyses, such as taxonomic investigation, functional detection, and ARG annotation, showed that selenium, mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic, and available phosphorus and potassium were correlated with microbial diversity and function. Thaumarchaeota was exclusively dominant in the highest selenium concentration of mine outcrop, and Rhodanobacter and Nitrospira were predominant in the high-selenium ecosystem. The plant C. violifolia enriched a high concentration of selenium in the rhizosphere compared to those in the bulk soil, and it recruited Variovorax and Polaromonas in its rhizosphere. Microbial abundance showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing from low to high selenium concentrations. Annotation of ARGs showed that the multidrug resistance genes ade F, mtr A, and poxt A, the aminoglycoside resistance gene rps L, and the sulfonamide resistant gene sul 2 were enriched in the high-selenium system. It was discovered that putative antibiotic resistant bacteria displayed obvious differences in the farmland and the soils with various selenium concentrations, indicating that a high-selenium ecosystem harbors the specific microbes with a higher capacity to enrich or resist selenium, toxic metals, or antibiotics. Taken together, these results reveal the effects of selenium concentration and the selenium hyperaccumulator plant C. violifolia on shaping the microbial functional community and ARGs. Metalloid selenium-inducible antibiotic resistance is worth paying attention to in future. [Display omitted] • Selenium is associated with a variety of toxic metals in the high-selenium system. • Low levels of selenium promote microbial growth, while high levels do the opposite. • Functional microbes such as Rhodanobacter and Variovorax were found in the high-selenium system. • Multidrug resistance genes were enriched in the high-selenium system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Elevated serum uric acid is closely associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the association of urine uric acid excretion (UUAE) with NAFLD has not been investigated. Our aims were to explore the associations between UUAE and NAFLD and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2042 Chinese inpatients with T2DM. UUAE was determined enzymatically using a single 24-h urine collection. The subjects were stratified into quartile based on UUAE levels. NAFLD was determined by ultrasonography. Elevated ALT level was defined with an ALT value >65U/L.Results: There was an obvious increase in both NAFLD prevalence (26.3%, 34.6%, 43.8%, and 56.2%, respectively, p<0.001 for trend) and ALT value [16 (12-24), 17 (13-27), 20 (14-30), and 24 (15-38) U/L, respectively, p<0.001 for trend] across the UUAE quartiles after controlling for confounders. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed independent associations between UUAE and NAFLD (p=0.002) and elevated ALT level (p<0.001). Compared with the patients in the first quartile of UUAE, those in the second, third and fourth quartiles had 1.528-, 1.869-, and 1.906-fold risk of NAFLD, and 3.620-, 6.223-, and 10.506-fold risk of elevated ALT level in T2DM, respectively.Conclusions: Increased UUAE levels were significantly associated with the presence of NAFLD and increase of ALT in T2DM. UUAE may be a clinically significant measure in assessing the risk of NAFLD in T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Encephalitis is a major cause of death and disability in adults and children; different members in the family Parvoviridae are known to be associated with encephalitis to some extent. Objectives: To determine the presence of human bocaviruses (HBoVs) and corresponding HBoV-specific immunoglobulins (Igs) in cerebrospinal fluid from children with suspected viral encephalitis. Study design: Employing real-time PCR and nested touchdown PCR, 67 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from children with suspected viral encephalitis were screened for HBoV and routine encephalitis-causing viruses. Using ELISA, Western blot and IFA, HBoV-specific Ig were determined in the samples. Results: Nine samples (134%) were HBoV1 DNA-positive, while one sample (15%) was HBoV2 DNA-positive. HBoV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in the CSF samples from three children; two samples were HBoV1 DNA-positive and one sample was negative. One death was recorded; CSF from this child was the only HBoV-IgM-positive CSF samples among the 67 CSF tested. Conclusion: We screened CSF samples obtained from children with encephalitis for the presence of HBoV1 and HBoV2 and specific IgM- or IgG-responses. Detection of viral DNA and/or immunological response to HBoV1/HBoV2 highlights the significance of these viruses as causes of encephalitis in children. Further studies are needed to examine the role of HBoV infection in children encephalitis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A set of six benzothiazoles was determined in riverine runoff samples of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) collected monthly from March 2005 to February 2006. The concentrations of total benzothiazoles ranged from 220 to 611 ng/L with benzothiazole (BT) being the most prominent (82%), followed by 2-methylth- iobenzothiazolë (MBT),thianaphth (TN), and triphenylene (TP). The annual fluxes ófTN, BT, MBT, dibenzothiophene (DBT), 2-(4- morpholinyl)benzothiazole (24MoBT), and TP from the PRD tothe coastal ocean were 1.94,65.1, 10.1,0.63,0.18, and 0.89tons/ yr, summing to yield an annual flux of 79 tons/yr for total benzothiazoles. In the PRO, approximately 1.1 x 10~ tons of rubber are estimated to be released into the environment each year. This corresponds to the annual fluxes of 13 tons/yr for BT and 0.4 tons/yr for 24MoBT from tire particles. The annual fluxes of BT from scrap tires from Japan, Korea, Brazil, the European Union, the United States, and China were 99, 21, 36, 270, 328, and 120 tons/yr, respectively. The fluxes of 24MoBT from the same countries were 3.0, 0.5, 1.1, 8.4, 10.3, and 3.8 tons! yr, respectively. These results indicated that tire-wear particles and scrap tires are the dominant sources of benzothia- zoles in the environment By comparison, Asia may be the major contributor to the global input of benzothiazoles from auto tires in the coming years. Overall, the six benzothiazoles under investigation appeared to be suitable tracers of pollutant inputs to surface runoff within the PRO aquatic system. In addition, 24MoBT seemed more appropriate than BT to trace tire rubber residues and therefore can be a good indicator of economic development and urbanization in a specific region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It proposes a hybrid multi-period network structure with feedback. • It provides an unbiased evaluation under the cooperation hypothesis. • A binary heuristic algorithm is proposed to obtain the optimal efficiency. • It is empirically supported by using the 5-year ecological data of China. Decision-making unit (DMU) internal structure simulation is the basis for network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to open "black box" and evaluate system efficiency with complex internal structure. Based upon summarizing and analyzing the existing model assumptions in network DEA, this paper proposes a hybrid multi-period DEA model with feedback to open the internal structure of the DMU system, as well as to provide horizontal comparison of the efficiency change of a same DMU at different time periods. In the model construction, the global production frontier is used for multi-period evaluation, Chebyshev distance is used to construct an unbiased two-stage model. Under the cooperation hypothesis, it is considered that the two stages are equally important, which solves the defect that the current two-stage method is not unique in its optimal solution and has two-stage contribution bias. A binary heuristic algorithm is proposed to reduce the time complexity of model solving while maintaining relatively high accuracy. The correctness and feasibility of the algorithm are demonstrated through the investigation of the relevant properties. Finally, the 5-year ecological data of China is used for illustrative application, providing suggestions for future environmental governance. Several comparative experiments are conducted to demonstrate the advantages of our proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to report the genotypes and phenotypes of hereditary transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (hATTR-CA) in a Western Chinese cohort and review the genetic profiles of this disorder in the Chinese population., Methods: Transthyretin ( TTR ) gene sequencing of probands diagnosed with TTR cardiac amyloidosis and their relatives was performed at West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2018 to December 2021. All patients underwent endomyocardial biopsy for light and electron microscopy examinations. Clinical and essential examination materials were retrospectively collected and analysed., Results: TTR gene alteration was demonstrated in five probands and their two relatives. Three TTR variants were identified, namely, Ser23Asn, Glu54Leu and Thr60Ala. This study is the first to report Glu54Leu as pathogenic mutations in Chinese hATTR-CA patients. The Ser23Asn mutation was the most common mutation in this cohort. Five probands, including two males and three females, were all ethnic Han-Chinese. The median age at diagnosis and delay in diagnosis (interval from onset to diagnosis) was 56 years (range, 54-69 years) and 8 years (range, from 1 to 30 years), respectively. Three cases showed a defined family history of amyloidosis. Endomyocardial biopsies and TTR immunohistochemistry showed positive results in all patients. Two probands died 17.0 months and 21.0 months after diagnosis., Conclusions: We identified one novel TTR variants causing hATTR-CA in the West Han Chinese population. To avoid misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of hATTR-CA, TTR genotypic screening and endomyocardial biopsy should be performed as soon as possible in cases with heightened clinical suspicion.

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the sleep quality of healthcare professionals and the incidence of overweight and obesity, exploring the potential impact of sleep quality on the onset of overweight and obesity in order to provide a scientific basis for formulating effective health intervention measures., Methods: A convenience sampling method was used to conduct a survey on the sleep characteristics and obesity status among healthcare professionals at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Tianjin Dongli District Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. The survey was conducted via online questionnaires, which included demographic data, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), height, weight, and related sleep, exercise, and dietary habits. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to study the relationship between sleep quality and overweight/obesity among healthcare professionals., Results: A total of 402 questionnaires were distributed, with a 100% retrieval rate, yielding 402 valid questionnaires. The average body mass index of the 402 participants was 23.22 ± 3.87 kg/m^2. Among them, 144 cases were overweight or obese, accounting for 35.8% (144/402) of the total. The prevalence of poor sleep quality among healthcare professionals was 27.4% (110/402), with an average PSQI score of 8.37 ± 3.624. The rate of poor sleep quality was significantly higher in the overweight and obese group compared to the normal weight group (36.1% vs. 22.5%, p = 0.003). The multivariate analysis indicated that gender, marital status, lower education level, sleep duration (odds ratio [OR] =1.411, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.043-1.910, p = 0.026), and sleep disturbances (OR = 1.574, 95%CI 1.123-2.206, p = 0.008) were significant risk factors for overweight and obesity among healthcare professionals., Conclusion: Overweight or obese healthcare professionals had poorer sleep quality compared to those with a normal weight. Sleep duration and sleep disorders were identified as independent risk factors for overweight or obesity in healthcare professionals. Increasing sleep duration and improving sleep disorders may play a positive role in controlling overweight and obesity among healthcare professionals., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Huang, Yu, Liu, Yang and Yu.)

The long-term safety and effectiveness of once-daily tadalafil is crucial, but limited data are available in Chinese patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). In this post-marketing, multicenter, randomized, open-label trial with 2-year follow-up, 635 ED cases were randomized to receive daily oral tadalafil 2.5 mg or 5 mg for 3 months, of whom 580 continued once-daily tadalafil 5 mg for 21 months. Treatment-emergent adverse events in the 12-month and 24-month period were similar, with the most common being viral upper respiratory tract infection, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache. Significant improvement from baseline in the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) score was detected at month 12 (least squares mean [LSM] change: 7.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.5-8.4, P < 0.001) and was maintained to month 24 (LSM change: 8.6, 95% CI: 8.1-9.0, P < 0.001). The proportions of patients regaining normal erectile function (IIEF-EF score ≥26) were 43.7% and 48.0% at months 12 and 24, respectively. Global Assessment Questionnaire results showed improved erection function in 97.5% of patients and improved ability to engage in sexual activity in 95.9% of patients at month 12; these values were 96.1% and 95.0% at month 24, respectively. The quality of sexual life score based on the Sexual Life Quality Questionnaire (SLQQ) was increased by 52.2% at month 12 and by 55.3% at month 24 (both P < 0.001). The treatment satisfaction score determined by SLQQ (mean ± standard deviation) was 62.4 ± 21.0 at month 12 versus 65.9 ± 20.2 at month 24. Two-year daily application of tadalafil 5 mg in Chinese men with ED showed a favorable safety profile and durable improvement in sexual performance and satisfaction., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © The Author(s)(2024).)

Understanding and prediction of mercury (Hg) phytoavailability in vegetable-soil systems is essential for controlling food chain contamination and safe vegetable production as Hg-contaminated soils pose a serious threat to human health. In this study, four typical Chinese soils (Heilongjiang, Chongqing, Yunnan, and Jilin) with varied physicochemical properties were spiked with HgCl 2 to grow sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) in a pot experiment under greenhouse condition. The chemical fractionation revealed a significant decrease in exchangeable Hg, while an increase in organically bound Hg in the rhizosphere soil (RS) compared to bulk soil (BS). This observation strongly highlights the vital role of organic matter on the rhizospheric Hg transformation irrespective of contamination levels and soil properties. Stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) analysis between Hg concentration in plants, Hg fractions in RS and BS, and soil properties showed that Hg in plant parts was significantly influenced by soil total Hg (THg) (R 2  = 0.90), soil clay (R 2  = 0.99), amorphous manganese oxides (amorphous Mn) (R 2  = 0.97), amorphous iron oxides (amorphous Fe) (R 2  = 0.70), and available Hg (R 2  = 0.97) in BS. Nevertheless, in the case of RS, Hg accumulation in plants was affected by soil THg (R 2  = 0.99), amorphous Mn (R 2  = 0.97), amorphous Fe oxides (R 2  = 0.66), soil pH, and organically bound Hg fraction (R 2  = 0.96). Among all the evaluated soils (n = 04), metal (mercury) concentration in terms of plant uptake was reported highest in the Jilin soil. Based on SMLR analysis, the results suggested that the phytoavailability of Hg was mainly determined by THg and metal oxides regardless of the rhizospheric effect. These findings facilitate the estimation of Hg phytoavailability and ecological risk that may exist from Hg-contaminated areas where pepper is the dominant vegetable., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

In this study, five priority metals recommended by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China (MEEC) were investigated. In the Bijie region of Guizhou Province, three typical coal-fired power plants were chosen as the research locations. A combination of 24 soil samples was obtained at various distances and depths from the point source of contamination. The authors found that the average contents of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb were 14.15, 1.52, 16.80, 40.71, and 53.00 mg kg -1 , respectively, with Cd and Pb pollution prominent. In another, soil heavy metal (SHM) content tends to increase or decrease dependently with the increase of sampling distance and depth, with total concentrations ranging from 77.14 to 157.33 mg kg -1 . Combining PCA and PMF models, the number of source factors was determined more clearly and accurately using PCA, and the Q-value of PMF was used for validation. The PCA-PMF indicated that the primary anthropogenic sources were transportation-related activities and emissions from coal combustion. The health risks of SHMs under three different exposure routes were then assessed using the HHRA. The findings showed the five HMs in order of non-carcinogenic risk were As > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd. The comprehensive non-carcinogenic risk for children under the oral intake route around plant B and C was greater than 1, pointing to a potential health risk to children from the soils. The carcinogenic risk of HM was less than 1.00E-04 for both single-factor and multifactor under all three exposure routes, which is below the tolerable limit., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)