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Owing to global warming, continuously increasing the grain yield of rainfed maize is challenging on the Loess Plateau in China. Plastic film mulching has been extensively utilized in dryland agriculture on the Loess Plateau. However, higher topsoil temperatures under film mulch caused rainfed-maize premature senescence and yield loss. Here, we aimed to explore the influence of topsoil temperature driven by novel double mulching patterns on rainfed maize productivity based on the excellent moisture conservation function of plastic film. A maize field experiment was conducted in two different areas, namely Changwu, a typical semi-arid area, and Yangling, a dry semi-humid area. The experiment followed a randomized block design with three replications. Five flat-planting practices were examined in 2021 and 2022: (1) bare land (CK), (2) transparent film mulching (PFM), (3) black film mulching (BFM), (4) double mulching of PFM with a black polyethylene net (PFM + BN), and (5) double mulching of PFM with whole maize stalks (PFM + ST). Soil hydrothermal conditions, maize growth dynamics, grain yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and economic returns were quantified under different mulching practices. Under double mulching treatments, topsoil temperatures were lower than PFM by 1.7–2.0 °C at the two sites (p < 0.05), whereas BFM was slightly lower than that of PFM by 0.6–0.7 °C at Yangling (p > 0.05). The average growth period for maize under double mulching was longer than that under PFM by 8–11 days at the two sites. Double mulching treatments significantly improved the leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll relative content (SPAD), and aboveground biomass compared to CK and PFM during the late growth stage. Compared with PFM, average grain yield increased by 14.93%, 18.46%, and 16.45% in Changwu (p < 0.05) under BFM, PFM + BN, and PFM + ST, respectively, and by 2.71%, 24.55%, and 20.38% in Yangling. The corresponding WUEs also increased. Additionally, net income under BFM was higher than that under other treatments, and there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences between PFM + ST and BFM in Changwu. However, PFM + ST in net income averaged 10.72–52.22% higher than other treatments, and its output value was 19.51% higher in Yangling. In summary, smallholder farmers can adopt PFM + ST to improve rainfed-maize productivity in the Loess Plateau in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the dramatic increased use of agricultural film, the potential environmental risks associated with it have been receiving widespread attention. Biodegradable film (BF) is considered an alternative to conventional polyethylene film (PF), but its feasibility to replace PF needs to be verified. Thus, we conducted a two-year field experiment in the Loess Plateau region of China, exploring the effects of residual biodegradable film and polyethylene film (RBF and RPF) on soil moisture, maize root, and productivity at different residual levels (75 kg ha−1, 150 kg ha−1 and 300 kg ha−1). Regardless of the residual film type, soil water content (SWC), root length density (RLD), and root surface area density (RSD) all decreased with increasing residual level; this phenomenon observed significant differences when the residual level exceeded 150 kg ha−1. Different organs (root and shoot) of maize differed in their sensitivity and sensitivity period to residual film. The two-year degradation rate of RBF was 59.24%, which was higher than that of RPF. Compared to the RPF treatments, the SWC, RLD, RSD, biomass, and root–shoot ratio of the RBF treatments were closer to the no residual film treatment in the second maize growing season. After the two-year experiment, compared to the grain yield, water use efficiency, and precipitation use efficiency of the RPF treatments, that of the RBF treatments increased 0.41–6.24%, 0.12–4.44%, and 0.41–06.24%. The application of BF to replace PF is beneficial to sustainable maize production in dryland, but finding efficient methods to recycle the residual film remains a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interactive mechanism of root and soil for achieving high and stable yield of maize is still unclear. Synchronizing soil nutrient supply with crop requirements by optimizing fertilization is effective cultivation measures to improve maize yield. In this study, field trials were conducted to investigate the dynamic changes of optimized fertilization on chemical and bacterial properties in rhizosphere soil, root physiological properties, and yield of fresh waxy maize. Optimized fertilization practices (one-time application of new compound fertilizer at sowing, three-, and six-leaf stages, denoted as F1, F2, and F3), local traditional fertilization (F4), and no fertilization (F0) were set up in 2-year field experiments at two sites. F3 increased the fresh ear (10.2%) and grain (9.4%) yields relative to F4. Optimized fertilization practices increased the abundance and diversity of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities at R3. The enzymatic activities of oxidoreductase, hydrolase, transferase, and lyase in rhizosphere soil under F3 were higher than those in other treatments at R1 and R3. F3 increased the contents of organic matter and total N in rhizosphere soil, as well as the root activities. These findings provide physiological information from underground on optimized fertilization types and stages in enhancing the yield of fresh waxy maize. One-time application of new compound fertilizer at six-leaf stage increased the abundance and diversity of bacterial, organic matter and total N content in rhizosphere soil, enhanced root activity at post-silking stage, and eventually improved yield of fresh waxy maize in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trace elements (TEs) in coal result in substantial pollutant emissions and cause serious damage to the ecological environment and human health in China. The emission and control of TEs, especially mercury, during coal combustion are of significant concern, and extensive studies have been performed in China in recent years. This paper reviews the emission characteristics and control strategies of mercury and other TEs during coal combustion in China. The occurrence of TEs in Chinese coals, including the average content of TEs in Chinese coals, the distribution of TEs in Chinese coals from different coal-forming periods, coal ranks, and coal-bearing regions are summarized. The emission characteristics of five specific TEs (Hg, As, F, Se, and Cr) during coal combustion in China are reviewed in detail. Effects of the coal type, combustion temperature, and combustion mode on the partitioning behaviour and emission characteristics of TEs are discussed. The effects of existing air pollution control devices of coal-fired power plants in China on the speciation and emission of TEs are discussed comprehensively. Various sorbents, such as activated carbon, fly ash, calcium-based sorbents, metal oxides, and mineral sorbents, used for TE removal are also summarized. Moreover, the removal performance of different sorbents for capturing certain TEs is compared comprehensively. Finally, future work for TE emission control in China is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent plastic film mulching (PFM) with flat cropping cultivation has been widely applied to grow maize (Zea mays L.) in dryland agricultural production areas of the Loess Plateau in China. However, with global warming-induced gradual increase in soil temperature, film-mulched spring maize experiences premature senescence and yield loss. In this study, a new form of mulching strategy involving dual mulching of transparent plastic film with whole maize stalks in a flat plot was established to improve growth and increase water use efficiency (WUE), precipitation use efficiency (PUE), and spring maize yield. The field experiment was conducted in 20 182 019, and 2020 on a conventional flat plot without mulching (CK), a flat plot with single transparent PFM, and a flat plot of transparent film mulching with whole maize stalks (PFM+ST) in the dryland of the Loess Plateau in China, to quantify the effects of different treatments on soil hydrothermal conditions, maize phenology, plant growth dynamics, WUE, PUE, and maize yield. Results demonstrated that soil water storage (SWS) at 0–100 cm soil layer in PFM and PFM+ST were significantly superior to those in CK, but SWS did not significantly differ between PFM and PFM+ST. Soil temperature under PFM+ST at 0–25 cm soil layer decreased by 1.2 ℃ compared with that under PFM during growth, especially in early growing seasons (20–60 days after sowing [DAS]). PFM+ST extended vegetative and reproductive growth periods by 1–2 and 6–7 days compared with those in PFM, respectively. In later growth period (80–120 DAS), PFM+ST increased the root dry matter weight, SPAD, and LAI and significantly increased the aboveground dry matter accumulation. PFM+ST significantly increased the 100-kernel dry weight, grain yield, WUE, and PUE. PFM+ST had 3-year average grain yields of 10.82% and 36.48% greater than PFM and CK, respectively. The corresponding WUE and in 0–200 cm soil layer improved by 12.55% and 39.84%, and PUE improved by 10.82% and 36.48%, respectively. With global warming, applying PFM+ST cultivation practice effectively extended growth period and increased mulching spring maize yield and WUE in the study site. • Compared with transparent film, transparent film mulching with whole maize stalks decreases soil temperature by 0.9–1.8 ℃. • Transparent film mulching with whole maize stalks extends the vegetative and reproductive growth period of spring maize. • Transparent film mulching with whole maize stalks is a high-yield practice to improve water use efficiency of dryland maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban-rural integration is the critical process of urbanization, while during this process there are various corresponding problems generated, safety is the most important one, especially at urban-rural fringe areas due to mixed traffic flow and complicated land use. This study intended to investigate the injury severity interaction between urban area and urban-rural fringe area, and explore the correlation within injury severity levels and heterogeneity attributed to unobserved factors. To address the correlation and heterogeneity issues, a grouped random parameters seemingly unrelated bivariate (SUB) probit model was proposed, in which the SUB probit model addressed the correlation of residuals, while the random parameters model accommodated the heterogeneity due to unobserved factors. By comparing the pooled with random parameters models, the results showed that random parameters SUB probit model performed better than the pooled one, and the dataset collected from 2013 to 2017 in Chengdu, China was adopted to illustrate the proposed model. It is found that crash location, speed limit and age of person injured are significant for injury severity in urban and urban-rural fringe areas, but crash form plays a significant role in urban area while number of persons involved should be paid more attention due to injury severity in urban-rural fringe area. Some empirical suggestions are presented to improve the safety in urban and urban-rural fringe areas.

Objective: The aim of this study is to discern the challenges and coping experiences encountered by nursing staff in long-term care facilities in China. This will be achieved through the identification, evaluation, and qualitative synthesis of comprehensive data., Design: This is a qualitative meta-analysis., Methods: The research systematically examined relevant literature sourced from six databases, concluding the search in August 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed qualitative and mixed-methods studies in both Chinese and English, focusing on challenges faced by nursing staff in long-term care facilities and their corresponding coping strategies. The application of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework facilitated the qualitative meta-integration process. Three independent researchers meticulously screened and assessed the quality of the chosen studies. The synthesis process sought to amalgamate and structure analogous findings into novel categories through multiple readings of the original literature. These categories were subsequently distilled into comprehensive themes., Results: Analyzed 15 articles revealed 14 sub-themes and 4 overarching analytical themes. These encompassed Sources of Challenges such as multitasking, clinical emergencies, workplace conflict, demand exceeding resources, and occupational discrimination. Psychological impacts included suppressed emotion, compassion fatigue, and self-doubt. Practical consequences involved damaged health, imbalanced life, and occupational disappointment. Coping strategies identified were self-adjusting, feeling validation and belonging, and finding support., Conclusion: Our research identified the challenges faced by nursing staff in Chinese long-term care facilities and their coping experiences. We found that most challenges could be mitigated through appropriate adjustments in managerial strategies, such as reasonable human resources planning, and providing resource support, including material, emotional, and informational support. Similarly, institutions should have offered necessary emotional and psychological support to nursing staff to overcome the negative impacts of challenges and encourage them to adopt positive coping strategies., 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 Zhang, Xiao, Ai, Zhang, Zhou, Hu and Wang.)