Search

Previous research has looked into educational approaches to prevent plagiarism in academic writing, yielding insights into how plagiarism can be avoided. However, plagiarism remains a major problem in the education sector. We designed a training module that includes a customised Online Scaffolding Writing System (OSWS) to help faculty teach undergraduates how to avoid committing plagiarism in their academic writing. A quasi-experimental design was used to analyse the plagiarism-related perceptions and behavioural changes of 121 undergraduate students and to test the effects of the new module on students' academic writing. The experimental group performed significantly better than the control group in terms of decreasing the extent of plagiarism in their writing (with a mean decrease from a moderate to minor level of plagiarism), and improving their writing quality (with a mean increase of 18 percentage points in writing scores). Furthermore, more than 95% of the students in the experimental group and their instructor reported that they valued the benefits of adopting the training module in class, and almost 90% of them expressed high levels of satisfaction with the learning they had obtained from the OSWS. This study also provides insights into how the new training module can be implemented across disciplines.

Background: Although there is an increasing recognition of the importance of critical thinking in science education across the world, the relevant research literature is extremely thin. There is an urgent need to generate more empirical evidence. Purpose: We examined two essential issues concerning critical thinking (the relationship between students' and teachers' critical thinking as well as the relationship between critical thinking and science achievement) in the context of physics education. Sample: We utilized data from the 2017 (Chinese) Program for Regional Assessment of Basic Education Quality with 46,820 students under 547 teachers from 128 schools. Design and methods: We developed multiple membership multilevel models to account for students from different schools and under multiple teachers (in each school). Results: After control over student, teacher, and school characteristics, although Chinese eighth graders demonstrated statistically significant critical thinking, there was not any statistically significant relationship between students' and teachers' critical thinking. With the same control, there was a statistically significant relationship between students' critical thinking and students' physics achievement among Chinese eighth graders. Meanwhile, there was not any statistically significant relationship between teachers' critical thinking and students' physics achievement (over and above the relationship between students' critical thinking and students' physics achievement). Conclusion: We suggest that critical thinking may need to become an essential and explicit outcome of science education to help establish a relationship between students' and teachers' critical thinking and promote the correlation between critical thinking of students and teachers and students' science achievement.

In recent years, a number of models concerning problem solving systems have been put forward. However, many of them stress on technology and neglect the research of problem solving itself, especially the learning mechanism related to problem solving. In this paper, we analyze the learning mechanism of problem solving, and propose that when designing Web-based problem solving systems, more attention should be paid to the learning mechanism involved in the problem solving process than to the technology itself. On the basis of that, some new ideas on the design of the problem solving systems are put forward in order to promote the rapid development of the Web-based problem solving systems.

The natural hydrological cycle of basins has been significantly altered by climate change and human activities, leading to considerable uncertainties in attributing runoff. In this study, the impact of climate change and human activities on runoff of the Ganjiang River Basin was analyzed, and a variety of models with different spatio-temporal scales and complexities were used to evaluate the influence of model choice on runoff attribution and to reduce the uncertainties. The results show the following: (1) The potential evapotranspiration in the Ganjiang River Basin showed a significant downward trend, precipitation showed a significant upward trend, runoff showed a nonsignificant upward trend, and an abrupt change was detected in 1968; (2) The three hydrological models used with different temporal scales and complexity, GR1A, ABCD, DTVGM, can simulate the natural distribution of water resources in the Ganjiang River Basin; and (3) The impact of climate change on runoff change ranges from 60.07% to 82.88%, while human activities account for approximately 17.12% to 39.93%. The results show that climate change is the main driving factor leading to runoff variation in the Ganjiang River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of rural revitalization and urbanization in China, the sustainable transformation of traditional rural architecture has become increasingly important. This study takes the Thangka exhibition hall in rural Malkang, Sichuan Province, as the research object and proposes a Thangka exhibition hall architectural design centered around solar heating and aiming for near-zero energy consumption. The research method involves establishing a solar energy system model on the roof of the exhibition hall and utilizing solar angle and area calculation formulas along with simulation software to calculate the optimal installation angle and area of solar panels, with the aim of achieving indoor temperatures that meet Thangka protection requirements while achieving zero-energy heating. Preliminary results indicate that this solar-centric near-zero energy architectural design can effectively promote the increase in indoor temperature through solar thermal conversion. Additionally, through calculation and simulation, the optimal installation angle for the solar panels achieving zero-energy heating is determined to be 24.25 with an azimuth angle of −1.2. The optimum installation area for solar panels is 8.2 square meters in the showroom and 2.7 square meters in the storeroom. Among these, the solar panel area for the Thangka exhibition hall constitutes 4.12% of the total area and is required for maintaining Thangka protection temperature requirements throughout the year, while the solar panel area for the storage room constitutes 1.88% and is also needed for the same purpose. Studying the optimal installation angle and area of solar panels can transform the exhibition hall into a near-zero-energy building, meeting the temperature requirements for Thangka preservation and human thermal comfort, while also achieving optimal economic benefits. This provides guidance and a reference for promoting near-zero-energy buildings in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health has received increasing attention over the past few years as a common problem with serious consequences for the health and well-being of the people. But there is little attention paid to the problem for the special group of population, female teachers in China's colleges. Most of them are in a dilemma of how to perform and harmonize the social and family responsibilities well, which has been a heavy burden on them and has a bad effect on their health. Our aim is to assist people to understand and pay great attention to the female teacher's mental health in China's colleges. This article includes issues of situation and classifications of the mental health of the female teachers, i.e. psychology and behavior, body symptom, and professional burnout. The two aspects, objective factors (social factors, work pressure, traditional opinion, gender discrimination and bias) and subjective factors (high self-expectations, poor psychological well-being) of the influencing factors on the mental health of female teachers in China are discussed. With an eye to the future researches on mental health of female teachers in China, we suggest some countermeasures from social, college and individual levels to keep mental health of female teachers in colleges of China.

Sand prevention and control are the main tasks of desertification control. The MU Us Sandy Land (MUSL), one of China's four main deserts, frequently experiences droughts and has a very fragile biological environment. Climate change is the main factor leading to drought, and it may result in more serious drought situations in the future. The Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) was established using land surface temperature and normalized difference vegetation index data. In this paper, we investigate spatial and temporal change characteristics, future change trends, and the time-lag effect of TVDI on climate factors at different scales in MUSL from 2001 to 2020 using Sen + Mann–Kendall trend analysis, Hurstexponent, partial correlation analysis, and lag analysis methods. The results show that (1) the overall drought shows a spatial characteristic of gradually alleviating from west to east (TVDI = 0.6). A significant drying trend dominated 38.5% of the pixels in the fall (Z = 1.99), and a highly significant drying trend dominated the rest of the three seasons (Z average = 2.95) and the whole year (Z = 3.47). (2) In the future, dry autumn, winter, and the whole year will be dominated by continuous drying, and spring and summer will mainly change from dry to wet. The main relationships between winter TVDI and temperature (−0.06) and precipitation (−0.07) were negative, while evapotranspiration (0.18) showed a positive correlation. The six land use types in spring, summer, fall, and the whole year were primarily non-significantly positively correlated with temperature and evapotranspiration. (3) At the seasonal scale, the sensitive factors in spring and autumn were opposite, with spring TVDI responding quickly to precipitation (0.3 months) and being less sensitive to temperature (1.8 months) and evapotranspiration (2 months). At the interannual scale, desert land TVDI was most sensitive to precipitation (2.6 months) and least responsive to temperature (3 months). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aims of the study were to explore the experiences of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their partners and examine the factors influencing partner involvement in GDM management, seeking to inform a targeted couple‐based intervention. Design: A descriptive qualitative study. Methods: We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 14 women with GDM and their partners. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling from a tertiary hospital in Xi'an, China. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes and 12 subthemes were identified. Theme I: Women's expectations of their partner's involvement in GDM management—practical support and emotional support. Theme II: Partner involvement in GDM management—constructive involvement, unhelpful involvement with good intentions and insufficient involvement. Theme III: Factors that influence partner involvement in GDM—knowledge of GDM, GDM risk perception, health consciousness, attitudes towards the treatment plan, couple communication regarding GDM management, family roles and appraisal of GDM management responsibility. Conclusion: Women desired practical and emotional support from partners. The types of partner involvement in GDM management varied. Some partners provided constructive support, while some partners' involvement was limited, non‐existent or actively unhelpful. By combining these results with the factors influencing partner involvement, our findings may help healthcare professionals develop strategies to involve partners in GDM care and enhance women's ability to manage GDM. Implications for the Profession and Patient Care: Partner involvement in GDM care may help them understand and better attend to women's needs, thus improving their experience and potential outcomes. This study highlights novel factors that need to be considered in developing couple‐based interventions for this population. Reporting Method: The reporting follows the COREQ checklist. Patient or Public Contribution: Some patients were involved in data interpretation. There is no public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock farms are major reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that are discharged into the environment. However, the abundance, diversity, and transmission of ARGs in duck farms and its impact on surrounding environments remain to be further explored. Therefore, the characteristics of ARGs and their bacterial hosts from duck farms and surrounding environment were investigated by using metagenomic sequencing. Eighteen ARG types which consist of 823 subtypes were identified and the majority conferred resistance to multidrug, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicols, MLS, and sulfonamides. The floR gene was the most abundant subtype, followed by sul1, tetM, sul2, and tetL. ARG abundance in fecal sample was significantly higher than soil and water sample. Our results also lead to a hypothesis that Shandong province have been the most contaminated by ARGs from duck farm compared with other four provinces. PcoA results showed that the composition of ARG subtypes in water and soil samples was similar, but there were significant differences between water and feces samples. However, the composition of ARG subtypes were similar between samples from five provinces. Bacterial hosts of ARG subtypes were taxonomically assigned to eight phyla that were dominated by the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. In addition, some human bacterial pathogens could be enriched in duck feces, including Enterococcus faecium, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus, and even serve as the carrier of ARGs. The combined results indicate that a comprehensive overview of the diversity and abundance of ARGs, and strong association between ARGs and bacterial community shift proposed, and benefit effective measures to improve safety of antibiotics use in livestock and poultry farming. Key points: • ARG distribution was widespread in the duck farms and surroundings environment • ARG abundance on the duck farms was significantly higher than in soil and water • Human bacterial pathogens may serve as the vectors for ARGs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of the Internet, various network platforms have evolved into new hubs for information dissemination. Currently, China has established a platform-centered content regulation framework, wherein platforms proactively enforce content regulations in accordance with legal censorship obligations. Additionally, platform policies and user agreements augment their authority in content regulation. The platforms can achieve cost-effective and highly efficient content regulation by leveraging their strategic advantages enabled by their own technical capabilities and extensive coverage. The platform self-regulation model, however, still faces challenges. First, accurately evaluating content remains a formidable task; second, ensuring effective platform publicity through self-regulation poses difficulties; third, users may potentially face disadvantages due to the platform's right of self-regulation; and fourth, digital copyright owners face challenges when defending digital copyright disputes under the safe harbor rule. Therefore, it is imperative to establish, review, and revise the legal framework for content regulation of network platforms in order to enhance the efficiency of their governance systems. The formulation of the legal framework for content regulation of network platforms may encompass the following aspects: rationalizing obligations pertaining to platform content regulations, enhancing supervision over platform self-regulation, and establishing a dual-track responsibility system for digital copyright content regulation. This will ensure a harmonious balance among public interests, users' personal rights and interests, and commercial benefits through regulating the content on network platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the epidemiological characteristics of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) isolated from migratory birds and surroundings in Qinghai Lake, China. We identified 69 (15.7%) CRE isolates from a total of 439 samples including 29 (6.6%) blaNDM-5Escherichia coli and 40 (9.1%) blaKPC-2Klebsiella pneumoniae. WGS analysis indicated that ST746, ST48, ST1011, and ST167 were the primary sequence types (ST) for blaNDM-5E. coli, while all blaKPC-2 K. pneumoniae were ST11 and harbored numerous antibiotic resistance gene types including blaCTX-M, qnrS, and rmtB. A phylogenetic tree based on core genomes revealed that blaNDM-5E. coli was highly heterogeneous while the blaKPC-2 K. pneumoniae was highly genetically similar within the group and to human Chinese isolates. IncX3, IncHI2, and IncFIB-HI2 plasmid replicon types were associated with blaNDM-5 spread, while IncFII-R and IncFII plasmids mediated blaKPC-2 spread. We also identified IncFII-R hybrid plasmids most likely formed by IS26-mediated integration of IncFII into IncR plasmid backbones. This also facilitated the persistence of IncFII-R plasmids and antibiotic resistance genes including blaKPC-2. In addition, all of the blaKPC-2 K. pneumoniae isolates harbored a pLVKP-like virulence plasmid carrying a combination of two or more hypervirulence markers that included peg-344, iroB, iucA, rmpA, and rmpA2. This is the first description of ST11 K. pneumoniae that co-carried blaKPC-2- and pLVKP-like virulence plasmids from migratory birds. The blaKPC-2 K. pneumoniae carried by migratory birds displayed high genetic relatedness to human isolates highlighting a high risk of transmission of these K. pneumoniae. Key points: • Multidrug resistance plasmids (blaKPC-2, bla436NDM-5, bla CTX-M, qnrS, and rmtB). • Co-occurrence of plasmid-mediated resistance and virulence genes. • High similarity between migratory bird genomes and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the male nurses' engagement in nursing work and the influencing factors. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in 13 hospitals in China to collect data from 328 male nurses from August to October 2021. A structural equation model design was tested with validated measurement instruments. Results: The work engagement of male nurses in China was at a medium level. There was a high correlation of the male nurses' work engagement with career identity (r = 0.764, p < 0.01), career success (r = 0.735, p < 0.01) and social support (r = 0.477, p < 0.01). The linear multivariate regression analysis showed that career satisfaction (β = 0.393), career identity (β = 0.392) and subjective support (β = 0.116) entered regression equation of male nurses' work engagement (all p < 0.05). The structural equation model results showed that career identity and social support were the influencing factors of the male nurses' work engagement and the model explained variation of 66.4% variables. Conclusion: To know the male nurses' work engagement and influencing factors in China has certain enlightening significance for male nurses themselves and nursing manager. On the one hand, it is necessary to enhance the male nurses' career recognition to nursing work. On the other hand, the society should provide more aid and support to the male nurses. Therefore, the male nurses could devote more into nursing work and promote the nursing development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the effects of earthworm inoculation on cadmium-contaminated rice field remain unclear. In this study, four treatments were tested, including rice monoculture (CK), earthworm inoculation with low density (L, 30 g/m2), middle density (M, 60 g/m2), and high density (H, 90 g/m2). The pot and field experiment were conducted in Hunan Province, China. In the pot experiment, the H treatment significantly decreased the available cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 20 cm soil by 5.21% ~ 16.51%, and the M treatment significantly decreased in 0 ~ 10 cm soil by 7.29% ~ 8.96%. The H treatment significantly decreased the total cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 5 cm soil by 10.36%. Moreover, the earthworm inoculation treatments significantly reduced cadmium accumulation in rice organs. In the field experiment, the M and H treatment decreased the available cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 20 cm soil by 14.05% ~ 47.52% and the H treatment decreased the total cadmium concentration in 0 ~ 20 cm soil by 0.78% ~ 5.75% although there was no significant difference. Furthermore, the earthworm inoculation treatments significantly decreased cadmium accumulation in part of rice organs. In conclusion, this study recommends that earthworm inoculation is an effective method of controlling cadmium contamination for rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the rapid urbanization and climate change, one of the pressing problems confronting Chinese cities lies in air pollution. Especially during recent years, most cosmopolitan cities in China suffer from thick smog caused by PMs. It is reported that such air pollution has close relations with traffic-related pollutants, such as NO2. Meteorological condition contributes significantly to long-range transport sources and has remarkable influences on the distribution of the above pollutants. Thus, it is necessary to quantitatively analyze such influential patterns. In this paper, taking Chengdu as an illustrative example, the meteorological and pollutant statistics in 4947 h are collected and fitted with 8 meteorological parameters of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 through linear regression method. And data is analyzed and compared on the hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly basis, respectively. Results show that hourly and daily data focus on fluctuations that affected by multiple interferences other than meteorological influences. When hourly values of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 exceed 175 μg/m3, 250 μg/m3, and 125 μg/m3, respectively, discrete values that cannot be explained by meteorological influences increase notably, while weekly and monthly variations illustrate more tendencies, and communicable patterns that decisively influenced by meteorology can be extracted among 3 pollutants. By comparing the results in 4 timescales, respectively, similar principal meteorological factors are involved in fitting processes. Thirdly, visibility (V), wind speed (WS), precipitation (P), and cloud condition (CC) are the most influential factors and served as main parameters in linear regressions within 4 timescales. Air temperature (AT) and dew temperature (DT) are less influential factors by daily and weekly data but are served as main parameters when it goes to hourly and monthly data and function as variables that signify tendency variances in linear regressions, while relative humidity (RH) and barometric pressure (BP) are lest influential factors and have limited effect on fitting results. This work can provide guidance and reference for urban planning optimization and air environment protection in cities with air quality control considerations impacted by local climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of aerobic training, resistance training combined with external diaphragm pacing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: The Fourth Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, China. Participants: 82 (67.0 ± 6.5 years, 59.8% male) patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were randomized to intervention group 1 (n = 27), intervention group 2 (n = 28), and control group (n = 27). Intervention: Intervention group 1 received aerobic and resistance training, while intervention group 2 received additional external diaphragm pacing. Control group received aerobic training only. Main measures: 1-year follow-up of physical activity, body composition, respiratory function and diaphragm function. Results: Intervention groups 1 and 2 showed statistically improvements in the difference value compared with control group in terms of 6-min walk distance (−95.28 ± 20.09 and −101.92 ± 34.91 vs −63.58 ± 23.38), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (−0.042 ± 0.027 and −0.130 ± 0.050 vs −0.005 ± 0.068), fat-free mass (−2.11 ± 3.74 and −3.82 ± 3.74vs 0.28 ± 1.49) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test value (2.16 ± 0.85 and 2.38 ± 1.02 vs 1.50 ± 0.93). Intervention group 2 showed significant difference in arterial oxygen pressure (−4.46 ± 3.22 vs −1.92 ± 3.45), diaphragm excursion during deep breaths (−0.82 ± 0.74 vs −0.38 ± 0.29), and diaphragm thickness fraction (−8.77 ± 3.22 vs −4.88 ± 2.69) compared with control group. Conclusion: The combination of aerobic training, resistance training, and external diaphragm pacing obtained significant improvements in physical activity, respiratory function, body composition, arterial oxygen pressure, and diaphragm function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Trial registration: ChiCTR1800020257, www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is an essential approach of optimizing patient outcomes and driving progress in clinical practice. As an important reserve talent of medical staff and researchers, the clinical postgraduates are expected to become the backbones of supporting the implementation of EBP in clinical units after graduation. The assessment of their EBP learning outcomes is an important issue, yet few tools have been developed specifically in Mainland China. The purpose of this study is to adapt the Evidence-Based Practice Profile Questionnaire (EBP2Q) to Mainland China's cultural context and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese EBP2Q in clinical postgraduates. Methods: Cross-cultural modification, including translating the original EBP2Q into Chinese was implemented according to established guidelines. A pilot study was carried out in Mainland China among 30 clinical postgraduates. A subsequent validation study was conducted among 633 clinical postgraduates majoring in clinical medicine, stomatology and nursing from Mainland China. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (n = 313), together with confirmatory factor analysis (n = 320). Reliability was determined by internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Results: The Chinese EBP2Q consisted of 40 items. The content validity index of the Chinese EBP2Q achieved 0.938 at an acceptable level. Principal component analysis resulted in a four-factor structure explaining 61.586% of the total variance. All fitting indices satisfied the standard based upon confirmatory factor analyses, indicating that the four-factor structure contributed to an ideal model fit. The internal consistency appeared high for the Chinese EBP2Q, reaching a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.926. Test–retest reliability was 0.868 and the split-half coefficient was 0.925. Conclusion: Chinese version of EBP2Q possesses adequate validity, test-retest reliability and internal consistency. It is a promising questionnaire to be adopted by Chinese medical educators in designing their course and curriculum, or by clinical postgraduates for self-assessment of EBP learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In recent years, the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has dramatically increased, imposing a heavy financial burden on society and individuals. The most cost-effective way to control diabetes is diabetes self-management, which depends on patients' executive functions (EFs). However, the level of EFs among patients with T2DM varies greatly. In addition to diabetes-related factors contributing to a decline in EFs, trait impulsivity as a relatively stable personality trait may explicate individual differences in EFs. The objective of this study was to verify the mediating effect of negative emotions on the relationship between trait impulsivity and EFs among patients with T2DM in China. Methods. A total of 305 patients with T2DM were enrolled consecutively from the endocrinology departments of three tertiary hospitals in China using convenience sampling. The participants completed the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-Brief (BIS-Brief), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales with 21 items (DASS-21), and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult (BRIEF-A) version. A structural equation modeling was used to verify the mediating effect of negative emotions on the relationship between trait impulsivity and EFs. Results. A total of 32.46% of the participants experienced at least one aspect of daily EF decline. The mediating effect of trait impulsivity on the Behavioral Regulation Index (BRI) of EFs through negative emotions was significant, accounting for 29.57% of the total effect. The mediating effect of trait impulsivity on the Metacognitive Index (MI) of EFs through negative emotions was significant, accounting for 31.67% of the total effect. Conclusions. Trait impulsivity can positively predict EF decline, which can be alleviated by improving the negative emotions of patients with T2DM. Future research exploring interventions to improve the EFs of patients with T2DM should therefore consider their trait impulsivity and negative emotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a widespread and destructive natural hazard and is projected to occur more frequently and intensely, with more severe impacts in a changing environment. In this study, we used the standardized precipitation index (SPI) at various time scales (i.e., 3, 6, and 12 months) to provide an overall view of drought conditions across Sichuan Province, southwestern China, from 1961 to 2016. Then, the relationship between the SPI and the soil moisture anomalies was analyzed. Furthermore, the causes of SPI drought from the perspective of large-scale atmospheric circulation were assessed in the study area. The results showed that most stations with decreasing trends were located in the eastern part of Sichuan Province, while most stations with increasing trends were located in the northwestern part, indicating that the eastern region presented a drying trend, while the northwestern part exhibited a wetting trend. The specific analysis focused on extreme drought indicated an increasing occurrence the probability of extreme drought events, which could induce a high potential drought risk in the study area. The SPI values had a strong relationship with the soil moisture anomalies, and the linear correlation coefficients decreased as the time scale increased. This result indicated that SPI3 (3-month SPI) could be regarded as a good predictor of soil moisture drought. The cross wavelet analysis revealed that the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) had statistically significant correlations with the SPIs in Sichuan Province. The results of this study are useful for assessing the change in local drought events, which will help reduce the losses caused by drought disasters in Sichuan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed at providing a foundation for the acceptability of two traditional spices (Chinese 5‐spice blend "CS" and garam masala "GM") in addition to using chicken as a carrier food by Chinese and Pakistani consumers. It can promote ethnic food trading by providing the flavor preferences information of cross‐cultural consumers. Chicken marinated with CS and GM were boiled, and evaluated by consumer hedonic test and Check‐all‐that‐apply sensory and emotion measurements. Results showed the high acceptability of chicken‐spice blend samples, though the drivers of liking between Chinese and Pakistani consumers were varied. Interestingly, chicken‐spice blend samples were recognized for positive emotions, whereas negative emotions were ticked for the least favorite plain chicken sample. Therefore, via the observation and analysis of consumers' behavior in chicken‐spices consumption, our findings may help food researchers and traders understand the perceptions from both countries and thus guide the ethnic food product development in a cross‐cultural context. Practical Applications: This research provides a primary understanding of the flavor perception and acceptability of traditional spices from China and Pakistan by their consumers, which would lead a customer‐centered ethnic food innovation. The implicit needs explored between Chinese and Pakistani consumers for chicken and chicken product consumption would assist in probing the potential market opportunities for ethnic foods trading within and between each country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the general characteristics, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes and medication of patients with rectal cancer in China. Methods: The clinical data of inpatients with rectal cancer from the information system of 17 tertiary A-level traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in China were collected. After data standardization, descriptive analysis was performed on the general information, syndrome distribution and medication characteristics of the included patients, and association rule analysis was performed on the drug usage. Results: A total of 15 424 hospitalized patients with rectal cancer were included. The ratio of male to female patients was 1.6:1, the average age was 60.87 years old, and the age was mainly in the range of 50 to 79 years old. Among the 12 146 patients with rectal cancer, the top 5 TCM syndromes were Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome (25%), phlegm and blood stasis syndrome (19%), spleen deficiency syndrome (14%), Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome (7%) and Qi and blood deficiency syndrome (6%). After excluding the anti-tumor western medicine recommended by the guidelines, adrenal corticosteroids (43.55%), antibiotics (42.94%) and immunomodulatory drugs (42.66%) ranked the top three in the frequency of western medicine use. Dexamethasone (38.15%), metoclopramide tablets (20.51%) and furosemide injection (19.71%) were the three most commonly used western medicines. Among the three western medicines combined, cimetidine, granisetron hydrochloride dextrose injection + dexamethasone were the most common (support 8.23%, confidence 96.4%, and improvement 2.48%). Heat-clearing and detoxifying agents (53.72%), Yiqi-fuzheng agents (49.76%) and blood-activating and stasis-removing agents (15.68%) ranked the top 3 in the frequency of use of traditional Chinese medicine.Shenqi Fuzheng injection, Shenqi Fuzheng injection (21.59%), Compound Kushen injection (17.52%) and Aidi injection (11.96%) were the three most commonly used Chinese patent medicines. Conclusion: The main syndromes of patients with rectal cancer may be Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome, phlegm and blood stasis syndrome, and spleen deficiency syndrome, etc. The treatment needs to focus on the supplementation of vital essence, combination of dredging and tonifying method, and the integration of traditional Chinese and western medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of built environment features on tourists' walking behaviors has received growing attention. Although many researchers have observed the effects of micro-scale factors, the impact of culture-related factors on walking behaviors has been frequently overlooked. Therefore, it is vital to synthesize those micro-scale variables to develop a more holistic picture, and incorporating a cultural perspective is an imperative for the preservation and vitality enhancement of historic streets. In our study, a micro-scale built environment (MiBE) variable system was constructed to capture the features of historic streets, and 109 visitors were tracked in Wudaoying Hutong to record their walking-stopping behaviors. The results revealed four primary components affecting walking-stopping behaviors, among which transparency was the most influential factor, followed by the transitional space between streets and buildings, contributing to 49.8% and 21.6%, respectively. Notably, the non-negligible impact of two culture-related factors, including the contrast between Chinese and Western styles and traditional Chinese features, was also revealed, contributing to 28.6% of the total observed activities. We further compared four different types of micro-scale factors of the built environment and the corresponding walking-stopping behaviors, providing both scientific and theoretical reflections for preserving and renewing historic streets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tick-borne virus that produces severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). It is widespread in Japan, South Korea, and Central and Eastern China. The epidemic has developed rapidly through China in recent years. SFTS cases have been reported in 25 provinces in China, mainly distributed in rural areas in mountainous and hilly areas. The infection has a high case fatality rate and no specific treatments or vaccinations. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of SFTS infection is important to survival and disease control. In this article, we provide an overview on different aspects of SFTS with an emphasis on management, to explore the current treatment and prophylactic measures further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social equity is imperative both morally and instrumentally in the governance of protected areas, as neglecting this consideration can result in feelings of injustice and thus jeopardize conservation objectives. Despite the progressive attention paid to conservation equity, few have linked it with co-management arrangements, especially in the context of terrestrial protected areas. This study assesses the fairness perceptions in China's Giant Panda National Park from recognitional, procedural, and distributional dimensions, to further disclose their correlations with individuals' characteristics and participation in co-management activities. The regression analysis shows that all co-management types (instruction, consultation, agreement, and cooperation) are significantly linked with certain directions of perceived social equity. One novel finding here is that alternative types of co-management activities are influencing social equity in different ways. In addition, our research discloses the effects of education across all equity categories, and location is merely significantly related to recognitional equity. These findings suggest more inclusive and empowered co-management endeavors to strive for more equitably managed protected areas. Crucial steps to advance this include extending participative channels, co-producing better compensation plans, strengthening locals' conservation capabilities, etc. Herein, this study appeals to a greater focus on social equity issues in co-management regimes, and tailored actions should be taken to tackle specific local problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of the digital economy, the takeaway industry is expanding rapidly. To realize the high-quality development of the takeaway sector, it is necessary to understand the spatial differentiation characteristics of takeaway consumption in Chinese cities and its influencing factors. To this end, we quantitatively studied the spatial distribution of takeaway consumption in 56 cities. We used the number of takeaway orders (copies/person) and the per capita takeaway consumption amount (RMB/person) in major Chinese cities in 2019 to characterize takeaway consumption in China. We investigated the driving mechanisms and factors affecting takeaway consumption amounts per capita and order per capita in China. The results show that takeaway consumption amounts per capita and order per capita is higher in East China than in North and Central China. The tertiary industry population ratio is crucial to takeaway consumption amounts per capita and order per capita in major Chinese cities. Amounts and orders increase as the tertiary industry population ratio rises. Factors affecting takeaway consumption amounts per capita and order per capita in Chinese cities of different population sizes vary. The working-age population ratio heavily influences the takeaway consumption amounts per capita and orders per capita in megacities. Additionally, internet penetration and average annual temperature play a significant role in takeaway consumption amounts per capita and orders per capita in megalopolis. In big cities Ⅰ, the road capacity per capita and GDP per capita are the main factors affecting takeaway consumption amounts per capita and orders per capita. The tertiary industry population ratio is the core factor that determines takeaway consumption amounts per capita and orders per capita in big cities Ⅱ. The interaction between natural and socio-economic factors dramatically increases the impact of takeaway consumption amounts per capita and order per capita in Chinese cities. In conclusion, this study provides a macro-level insight into the spatial characteristics and development factors of takeaway consumption in major Chinese cities. This knowledge is crucial for promoting the takeaway economy's sustainable development and realizing the takeaway industry's green transformation. • A spatial analysis of takeaway consumption in China was conducted. • The driving factors of takeaway food consumption in China were analyzed. • The tertiary industry population ratio is crucial to takeaway consumption in China. • Drivers of takeaway consumption in different population sizes were identified. • Natural factors combine to influence on takeaway consumption in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To characterize the quality of widely consumed pork in China, the chemical compositions and other indexes of five breeds of pork were compared. The results indicated that the moisture content, sensory flavor, and overall acceptability of Pipa pork (PPP) were superior to other breeds. The fat content and essential amino acids (EAA) of Yihao native pork (YNP) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than in other breeds. The protein content, the total amount of amino acids, and perceptible flavor of Tibetan black pork (TBP) were higher than in other breeds. The protein nutrition profiles of manor black pork (MBP) and TBP were better than in others. The equivalent umami concentration (EUC) value of white pork (WP) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than in others; however, the health risk of its fatty acid content was higher. There were unique protein and flavor chemicals in YNP, TBP, and PPP, which may be useful for distinguishing their authenticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica napus is the dominant oil crop cultivated in China for its high quality and high yield. The length of the main inflorescence and the number of siliques produced are important traits contributing to rapeseed yield. Therefore, studying genes related to main inflorescence and silique number is beneficial to increase rapeseed yield. Herein, we focused on the effects of BnKAT2 on the main inflorescence length and silique number in B. napus. We explored the mechanism of BnKAT2 increasing the effective length of main inflorescence and the number of siliques through bioinformatics analysis, transgenic technology, and transcriptome sequencing analysis. The full BnKAT2(BnaA01g09060D) sequence is 3674 bp, while its open reading frame is 2055 bp, and the encoded protein comprises 684 amino acids. BnKAT2 is predicted to possess two structural domains, namely KHA and CNMP-binding domains. The overexpression of BnKAT2 effectively increased the length of the main inflorescence and the number of siliques in B. napus, as well as in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. The type-A Arabidopsis response regulator (A-ARR), negative regulators of the cytokinin, are downregulated in the BnKAT2-overexpressing lines. The Aux/IAA, key genes in auxin signaling pathways, are downregulated in the BnKAT2-overexpressing lines. These results indicate that BnKAT2 might regulate the effective length of the main inflorescence and the number of siliques through the auxin and cytokinin signaling pathways. Our study provides a new potential function gene responsible for improvement of main inflorescence length and silique number, as well as a candidate gene for developing markers used in MAS (marker-assisted selection) breeding to improve rapeseed yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim is to improve the core competitiveness of China's manufacturing industry, promote the development of digital information technology, break through the difficulties brought by China's manufacturing industry to the high end, and enhance China's international influence and comprehensive competitiveness. Method. The construction of the statistical algorithm model of the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry is improved by using the statistical algorithm of the key points of the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry. Different comparisons are made between the two groups of algorithms, such as comparing the core competitiveness evaluation results of different types of manufacturing industry and the coupling degree of core competitiveness, statistical model, and economic growth trend of manufacturing industry. The research results show that, under the control of digital information technology, the overall coupling degree of the statistical model is rising and has an obvious increase on the manufacturing economy. We promote the deep integration of digital information, artificial intelligence, and the real economy; realize the industrialization of key technologies in the manufacturing industry; and enhance the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry. Driven by digital information, China's manufacturing industry will enter the high-speed development lane, so as to promote the high-quality development of China's manufacturing industry. It has provided a solid foundation for ensuring the steady and healthy development of people's economy and promoted the transformation of China from a large manufacturing country to a powerful manufacturing country and from "made in China" to "created in China." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To delineate the onset and recurrence characteristics of noncardiogenic ischemic stroke patients in China. Methods: A prospective, multicenter and registry study was carried out in 2,558 patients at 7 representative clinical sub-centers during November 3, 2016 to February 17, 2019. A questionnaire was used to collect information of patients regarding CM syndromes and constitutions and associated risk factors. Additionally, stroke recurrence was defined as a primary outcome indicator. Results: A total of 327 (12.78 %) patients endured recurrence events, 1,681 (65.72%) were men, and the average age was 63.33 ± 9.45 years. Totally 1,741 (68.06%) patients suffered first-ever ischemic stroke, 1,772 (69.27%) patients reported to have hypertension, and 1,640 (64.11%) of them reported dyslipidemia, 1,595 (62.35%) patients exhibited small-artery occlusion by The Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification. Specifically, 1,271 (49.69%) patients were considered as qi-deficient constitution, and 1,227 (47.97%) patients were determined as stagnant blood constitution. There were 1,303 (50.94%) patients diagnosed as blood stasis syndrome, 1,280 (50.04%) patients exhibited phlegm and dampness syndrome and 1,012 (39.56%) patients demonstrated qi deficiency syndrome. And 1,033 (40.38%) patients declared intracranial artery stenosis, and 478 (18.69%) patients reported carotid artery stenosis. The plaque in 1,508 (41.36%) patients were of mixed. Particularly, 41.09% of them demonstrated abnormal levels of glycated hemoglobin levels. Conclusions: Recurrence in minor and small-artery stroke cannot be ignored. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, abnormal HbA1c, intracranial artery stenosis and carotid plaque were more common in stroke patients. Particularly, phlegm-dampness and blood stasis syndromes, as well as qi deficiency and blood stasis constitutions, were still the main manifestations of stroke. (Trial registration at ClinicalTrials.gov No. NCT03174535) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) causes bloodstream infection (BSI), which is responsible for a high rate of morbidity and mortality among different populations. In mainland China, data on the correlation and features of the type VI secretion system (T6SS) gene cluster in K. pneumoniae is currently scarce. As a result, we conducted a prospective investigation to determine the involvement of the T6SS in K. pneumoniae pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance. Methods: In this prospective analysis, we enrolled 119 individuals who had been diagnosed with K. pneumoniae bloodstream infection between July 2019 and January 2021 and acquired demographic and clinical data from their medical records. The virulence genes rmpA, rmpA2, aerobactin, iroB, hcp, vgrG, and icmF were tested for K1 and K2, antimicrobial susceptibility. Five T6SS-positive and five T6SS-negative isolates were chosen for the competition, serum resistance, and biofilm formation experiments to further gain insights regarding the microbiological properties of T6SS-positive K. pneumoniae isolates. Results: Among 119 isolates obtained from patients with BSIs, 20 (16.8%) were T6SS positive K. pneumoniae. T6SS positive strains had four virulence genes and a greater K1 capsular serotypes rate than T6SS negative bacteria. Among hvKP isolates, the T6SS positive rate was substantially greater than the T6SS negative rate (P = 0.001). T6SS-positive K. pneumoniae strains had a lower rate of antimicrobial resistance in comparison to T6SS-negative bacteria. T6SS-positive isolates may be more competitive with Escherichia coli than T6SS-negative isolates. T6SS-positive isolates, on the other hand, did not show stronger biofilm-forming activity or a higher survival rate in the presence of normal human serum in comparison to T6SS-negative isolates. Conclusion: T6SS-positive K. pneumoniae was common in people who had BSIs. In T6SS‐containing K. pneumoniae, the system may play a major role in bacterial competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rising popularity of mindfulness practice, it is necessary and crucial to evaluate mindfulness using comprehensive and objective measures. The instruments to assess mindfulness in China mainly evaluate mindfulness as a state or trait mode. Few process measures have been developed to clarify effective therapy benefits of the alterations obtained using mindfulness practice. Therefore, this study aims to adapt the Applied Mindfulness Process Scale (AMPS) into Mandarin and explore in detail the reliability and validity of this novel-translated measure. Following cross-cultural modification for original AMPS into Mandarin as per established guidelines, psychometric evaluation was performed on a cohort of 234 Chinese adults. Construct validity was analyzed through exploratory factor analysis (n = 115), together with confirmatory factor analysis (n = 119). Reliability was assessed by internal consistency together with test-retest reliability. Findings indicated that the internal consistency was high, with Cronbach's alpha being 0.936. The principal component analysis led to a three-factor structure that explained 67.374% of all variations. The three-factor model was consistent with the original scale model. Based upon confirmatory factor analyses, all fitting indices satisfied the standard, which showed a close fit to the data. Therefore, the newly multi-culturally modified AMPS has sufficient validity, test-retest reliability, together with internal consistency. Chinese AMPS may offer researchers and clinicians a psychometrically optimized tool for evaluating the application of mindfulness and change process within mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in Mainland China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recently, the paraneoplastic neurologic syndrome (PNS) diagnostic criteria have received a major update with a new score system over the past 16 years. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance and clinical utility in China. Methods: An eligible cohort of 113 Chinese patients diagnosed with PNSs from the Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University and published data were enrolled retrospectively. Data including clinical phenotype, antibody type, the presence of cancer, and duration of follow-up were reviewed and re-evaluated to classify the diagnostic levels for the 2004 and 2021 PNS criteria. The performances of these 2 criteria were compared. The critical parameters of antibody and cancer for the updated criteria were further explored. Results: The cohort consisted of 69 males and 44 females with a median age of 60 years. Limbic encephalitis (23, 20.4%), anti-Hu antibody (32, 28.3%), and small-cell lung cancer (32, 28.3%) were the most common clinical phenotype, detected antibody, and concomitant cancer, respectively. A total of 97 (85.8%) patients were diagnosed with definite PNS according to the 2004 criteria: only 42.3% (41/97) fulfilled the 2021 criteria, while the remaining 40, 14, and 2 re-diagnosed with probable PNS, possible PNS, and non-PNS. The requirement of cancers consistent with antibody and phenotype increased the specificity and thus greatly enhanced the accuracy of the 2021 criteria. Conclusion: The updated criteria for PNS emphasized the consistency between cancer phenotype and antibody and showed a better diagnostic value. A better diagnostic yield could benefit disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A new scale, named the Clinical Assessment Scale for Autoimmune Encephalitis (CASE), has recently been developed for rating the severity of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) with a high level of clinimetric properties. In this study, our primary objective was to validate the performance of CASE through a multicenter study in China. Methods: Between July 2014 and December 2019, 143 consecutive patients with definite neuronal surface antibody-associated AE from three tertiary hospitals were enrolled in the study. We validated the reliability, internal consistency, and validity of CASE. We further compared CASE with the modified Rankin scale (mRS) among different subtypes of AE in terms of its sensitivity to disease dynamics. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism and R software. Results: Our analyses showed that CASE had good inter- and intraobserver reliability (intra-class correlation coefficient 0.96/0.98) and internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.847) at disease onset. The scores of CASE and mRS remained well correlated in patients at admission and at discharge (both r = 0.80, p < 0.001). From admission to discharge, the scores of CASE changed in 81 (56.6%) patients, in comparison to changes in mRS in 48 (33.6%) patients (p = 0.007 and p < 0.001, respectively). The largest changes in scores occurred for non-motor symptoms, including psychiatric, memory, and language dysfunctions (40.6, 26.6, and 23.1% of patients, respectively); in contrast, scores for motor symptoms, such as dyskinesia, weakness and ataxia, changed the least (7.0, 15.4, and 16.1% of patients, respectively). Conclusion: Based on these results, CASE performed well in assessing the severity of neuronal surface antibody-associated AE. In comparison to mRS, it performed better for non-motor symptoms and was more sensitive to changes in severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background Approximately 10% of patients with gastric cancer (GC) have a genetic predisposition toward the disease. However, there is scant knowledge regarding germline mutations in predisposing genes in the Chinese GC population. This study aimed to determine the spectrum and distribution of predisposing gene mutations among Chinese GC patients known to have hereditary high-risk factors for cancer. Methods A total of 40 GC patients from 40 families were recruited from seven medical institutions in China. Next-generation sequencing was performed on 171 genes associated with cancer predisposition. For probands carrying pathogenic/likely pathogenic germline variants, Sanger sequencing was applied to validate the variants in the probands as well as their relatives. Results According to sequencing results, 25.0% (10/40) of the patients carried a combined total of 10 pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variants involving nine different genes: CDH1 (n  =   1), MLH1 (n  =   1), MSH2 (n  =   1), CHEK2 (n  =   1), BLM (n  =   1), EXT2 (n  =   1), PALB2 (n  =   1), ERCC2 (n  =   1), and SPINK1 (n  =   2). In addition, 129 variants of uncertain significance were identified in 27 patients. Conclusions This study indicates that approximately one in every four Chinese GC patients with hereditary high risk factors may harbor pathogenic/likely pathogenic germline alterations in cancer-susceptibility genes. The results further indicate a unique genetic background for GC among Chinese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermented meat products have a long history in China. These products exhibit a characteristic unique flavor, compact meat quality, clear color, long shelf life and wide variety and are easy to transport. During the processing and storage of fermented meat products, microorganisms are present and exhibit diverse characteristics. Microorganisms can accelerate the degradation of proteins and fats to produce flavor compounds, inhibit the growth and reproduction of heterozygous bacteria, and reduce the content of chemical pollutants. This paper reviews the microbial diversity of Chinese ham, sausage, preserved meat, pressed salted duck, preserved fish and air-dried meat and provides analyses of the microbial compositions of various products. Due to the differences in raw materials, technology, auxiliary materials, and fermentation technology, the microbial species found in various fermented meat products in China are different. However, most fermented meat products in China are subjected to pickling and fermentation, so their microbial compositions also have similarities. Microorganisms in fermented meat products mainly include staphylococci, lactobacilli, micrococci, yeasts, and molds. The study of microbial diversity is of great significance for the formation of quality flavor and the safety control of fermented meat products, and it provides some theoretical reference for the study of fermented meat products in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with diabetes and triple-vessel disease (TVD) are associated with a high risk of events. The choice of treatment strategies remains a subject of discussion. In the real-world, we aim to compare the outcomes of medical therapy (MT), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment strategies in patients with diabetes and TVD. Methods: A total of 3117 consecutive patients with diabetes and TVD were enrolled. The primary endpoint was all-cause death and the secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE, composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, or stroke). Results: During the mean follow-up of 6.3 ± 2.6 years, 573 (18.4%) deaths and 1094 (35.1%) MACCE occurred. Multivariate analysis showed that PCI (hazard ratio [HR] 0.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32–0.51) and CABG (HR 0.33, 95% CI 0.26–0.44) were associated with a lower risk of death compared with MT, with no difference between the PCI and CABG groups. When MACCE was the endpoint, PCI (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.60–0.84) and CABG (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.39–0.57) had a lower risk than MT. CABG was associated with a significantly lower risk of MACCE compared with PCI (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.55–0.81), which was mainly attributed a lower risk in myocardial infarction, but a higher risk of stroke. Conclusions: In this big real-world data and intermediate-term follow-up study, for patients with diabetes and TVD, PCI and CABG were associated with a lower risk of death and MACCE more than MT. The results suggest the importance of appropriate revascularization for diabetic patients with TVD. However, CABG was not associated with a lower risk of death, but with a lower risk of MACCE, compared with PCI. In the future, we perhaps should strengthen comprehensive treatment in addition to PCI or CABG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human migration facilitate the spread of tuberculosis (TB). Migrants face an increased risk of TB infection. In this study, we aim to explore the spatial inequity of sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB (SS + PTB) in China; and the spatial heterogeneity between SS + PTB and internal migration. Methods: Notified SS + PTB cases in 31 provinces in mainland China were obtained from the national web-based PTB surveillance system database. Internal migrant data were extracted from the report on China's migrant population development. Spatial autocorrelations were explored using the global Moran's statistic and local indicators of spatial association. The spatial variation in temporal trends was performed using Kulldorff's scan statistic. Fixed effect and spatial autoregressive models were used to explore the spatial inequity between SS + PTB and internal migration. Results: A total of 2 380 233 SS + PTB cases were reported in China between 2011 and 2017, of which, 1 716 382 (72.11%) were male and 663 851 (27.89%) were female. Over 70% of internal migrants were from rural households and had lower income and less education. The spatial variation in temporal trend results showed that there was an 9.9% average annual decrease in the notification rate of SS + PTB from 2011 to 2017; and spatial clustering of SS + PTB cases was mainly located in western and southern China. The spatial autocorrelation results revealed spatial clustering of internal migration each year (2011–2017), and the clusters were stable within most provinces. Internal emigration, urban-to-rural migration and GDP per capita were significantly associated with SS + PTB, further, internal emigration could explain more variation in SS + PTB in the eastern region in mainland. However, internal immigration and rural-to-urban migration were not significantly associated with SS + PTB across China. Conclusions: Our study found the spatial inequity between SS + PTB and internal migration. Internal emigration, urban-to-rural migration and GDP per capita were statistically associated with SS + PTB; the negative association was identified between internal emigration, urban-to-rural migration and SS + PTB. Further, we found those migrants with lower income and less education, and most of them were from rural households. These findings can help stakeholders to implement effective PTB control strategies for areas at high risk of PTB and those with high rates of internal migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The full use of renewable energy sources such as solar energy to meet the various energy supply needs of buildings is now a research focus and an industry development trend, as energy consumption has been increasing and environmental pollution has become a serious problem. In the high-cold and high-altitude area in western China, due to the abundant solar energy and hydropower resources, the use of electric auxiliary cross-season solar heat storage heating system (CSHSHS) is an effective way to achieve clean heating. In this article, the authors applied a CSHSHS in a typical town in the Sichuan West Plateau and analysed and compared three operation strategies: heating storage priority control mode; electro-thermally assisted priority control mode and hybrid control mode. The results show that the heat storage priority control mode would require a large installed capacity of electrical auxiliary heat. The power consumption of the electro-thermally assisted priority control mode is high. The hybrid control mode can effectively reduce the installed capacity of the electrical auxiliary heat and the power consumption in the heating season. The solar fraction of the hybrid control mode was 38.29%, which has an obvious advantage. The results are of great engineering significance for optimizing the operation strategy of CSHSHS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Early and accurate diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains a clinical challenge. The main objective is to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of the routinely performed immunoglobulin G (IgG) index for MS patients in the Asian population. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among a cohort of clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients in China with known oligoclonal band (OCB) status and IgG index at baseline. We first evaluated the predictive value of IgG index for OCB status. Secondly, the diagnostic utility and prognostic value of IgG index alone were tested. Lastly, we incorporated IgG index into the 2017 McDonald criteria by replacing OCB with either "IgG index or OCB" (modified criteria 1), "IgG index and OCB" (modified criteria 2), or "IgG index" (modified criteria 3). The diagnostic utility of different criteria was calculated and compared. Results: In a CIS cohort in China (n = 105), IgG index > 0.7 forecasted OCB positivity (X 2 = 22.90, P < 0.001). An elevated IgG index was highly prognostic of more clinical relapses [1-year adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.32, P = 0.015; 2-years adjusted OR = 1.69, P = 0.013] and Expanded Disability Status Scale worsening (1-year adjusted OR = 1.76, P = 0.040; 2-years adjusted OR = 1.85, P = 0.032). Under the 2017 McDonald criteria (Positive Likelihood Ratio = 1.54, Negative Likelihood Ratio = 0.56), an IgG index > 0.7 in CIS patients increased the likelihood of developing MS within 2 years, either when OCB status was unknown (Positive Likelihood Ratio = 2.11) or with OCB positivity (Positive Likelihood Ratio = 2.11) at baseline; An IgG index ≤ 0.7, along with a negative OCB, helped rule out the MS diagnosis (Negative Likelihood Ratio = 0.53). Conclusions: IgG index > 0.7 predicts OCB positivity at the initial attack of MS and is prognostic of early disease activity. IgG index serves as an easily-obtainable and accurate OCB surrogate for MS diagnosis in the Asian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An old large-scale landslide with a volume of 4.6 × 106 m3 located on the right bank of the Lancang River, Southwest China, was formed by the deep-seated toppling failure of a rock mass. The rock mass located downstream of the landslide toppled intensely with a maximum toppling depth exceeding 200 m and a volume over 1.5 × 108 m3. We studied the formation mechanism of the landslide and determined the most likely future instability range of the toppled rock mass. The results show that the toppled rock mass located downstream of the landslide could be classified into four zones, namely, highly toppled, moderately toppled, weakly toppled and normal rock mass, from the surface to the deep-seated rock mass along the slope according to three factors: the unloading intensity, variation in the occurrence of the rock layer, and toppling fracture zone. The bottom boundary of the highly toppled rock mass was limited by the depth of strong unloading of the rock mass. The landslide deposits mainly originated from the highly toppled rock mass, and the slip zone was formed based on the toppling fracture zones. The highly toppled rock mass in the rock slope located downstream of the landslide will be the most likely area of instability in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aims to investigate the relationship between breast white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation and being overweight or obese, menopausal status, and metabolic syndrome-related indicators in breast cancer patients as well as the association between adipocyte size and the severity of WAT inflammation and body mass index (BMI).Methods: The crown-like structures (CLS-B) formed by macrophages surrounding dying or dead adipocytes can be used to identify breast WAT inflammation. In this study, breast WAT and fasting blood from 136 Chinese women with breast cancer were collected for analysis. Cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68) immunohistochemical staining was performed to identify CLS-B, and the adipocyte size was measured by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Results: The results showed that breast WAT inflammation usually occurs in overweight/obese breast cancer patients, and the severity of inflammation is positively correlated with adipocyte hypertrophy. We did not observe a direct association between WAT inflammation and menopausal status. In addition, the presence of WAT inflammation is associated with abnormalities in circulating factors associated with metabolic syndrome such as higher serum lipid, glucose, and C-reactive protein levels.Conclusion: Overweight/obese breast cancer patients may be more prone to breast WAT inflammation and may be associated with abnormalities in circulatory markers associated with metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of avian-origin mcr -1-harbouring Escherichia coli in Shandong Province, China. During 2017—2018, a total of 668 non-duplicate E. coli isolates were separately collected from 8eight large intensive poultry farms in Shandong Province. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for 10 antimicrobial agents commonly used in farms was performed on all E. coli isolates by the agar dilution method; the mobile colistin resistance gene (mcr -1) gene was screened by PCR, and mcr -1 positive isolates were PCR-screened for antimicrobial resistance genes and typed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Among the 668 E. coli , 102 (15.3%) harbored the mcr -1 gene; high antimicrobial resistance rates were observed for ampicillin (100/102, 98.0%), followed by amoxicillin (99/102, 97.1%) and florfenicol (97/102, 95.1%), and a low level of resistance was found for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (24/102, 23.5%). Five ESBL genes were detected, and all isolates carried bla TEM (102/102, 100%), followed by bla CTX–M (90/102, 88.2%). Four PMQR genes were detected; aac(6)-Ib-cr (40/102, 39.2%) was the most commonly isolated PMQR gene, followed by qnrA (10/102, 9.8%). Thirty-eight different kinds of STs were identified, and the dominant ST was ST93 (19/102, 18.6%), followed by ST48 (9/102, 8.8%). In summary, E. coli from poultry in Shandong could be a reservoir for the mcr -1 gene, which could pose serious risks to human public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhizomes of the medicinal plant Hemsleya amabilis (Cucurbitaceae) yielded three new cucurbitane-type triterpene saponins xuedanosides K-M (1–3) by silica gel column, ODS column, and pre-HPLC techniques. The structure was determined by spectroscopic analysis and examined alongside existing data from prior studies. Compounds 1–3 were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against HeLa and HCT-8 human cancer cell lines and showed significant cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 2.01–14.56 and 8.94–27.48 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response to icotinib in advanced non‐small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) with EGFR uncommon mutation (EGFRum) is unclear. Here we reported the efficacy and potential resistance mechanism of icotinib in Chinese EGFRum NSCLC patients. Between July 2013 and November 2016, 3117 NSCLC patients were screened for EGFRum in a multi‐center study in China. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was detected and analyzed using next‐generation sequencing (NGS) after progression from icotinib. The efficacy, safety and the potential resistance mechanism of icotinib were explored. After a median follow‐up of 6.2 months, 69 patients (70.41%) developed disease progression, the objective rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 13.27% and 29.59% respectively, and the median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 5.5 months (95% CI: 1.2‐13.0 months). Both complex‐pattern with EGFR classical mutations (EGFRcm) and single‐pattern have better PFS than complex‐pattern without EGFRcm (median PFS was 7.2 (95% CI: 4.65‐9.75), 5.2 (95% CI: 3.24‐7.16) and 3.2 (95% CI: 2.97‐3.44) months, respectively, P <.05); patients harboring S768I mutation had the worst PFS than others (2.0 months, P <.05). Diarrhea was the most frequent side effect (42.9%). Forty‐eight (69.6%) patients developed drug resistance after 3.0 months and 81.2% of them acquired T790M mutation. Better response was observed in complex‐pattern with the EGFRcm group. S768I mutation carriers may not benefit from icotinib. Acquired T790M mutation was common in icotinib‐resistant EGFRum NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is the precancerous stage of gastric carcinoma. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely used in treating CAG. This study aimed to reveal core pathogenesis of CAG by validating the TCM syndrome patterns and provide evidence for optimization of treatment strategies. Design: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in 4 hospitals in China. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and complex system entropy clustering analysis (CSECA) were performed, respectively, to achieve syndrome pattern validation. Results: Based on HCA, 15 common factors were assigned to 6 syndrome patterns: liver depression and spleen deficiency and blood stasis in the stomach collateral, internal harassment of phlegm-heat and blood stasis in the stomach collateral, phlegm-turbidity internal obstruction, spleen yang deficiency, internal harassment of phlegm-heat and spleen deficiency, and spleen qi deficiency. By CSECA, 22 common factors were assigned to 7 syndrome patterns: qi deficiency, qi stagnation, blood stasis, phlegm turbidity, heat, yang deficiency, and yin deficiency. Conclusions: Combination of qi deficiency, qi stagnation, blood stasis, phlegm turbidity, heat, yang deficiency, and yin deficiency may play a crucial role in CAG pathogenesis. In accord with this, treatment strategies by TCM herbal prescriptions should be targeted to regulating qi, activating blood, resolving turbidity, clearing heat, removing toxin, nourishing yin, and warming yang. Further explorations are needed to verify and expand the current conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) has constituted a heavy public health burden worldwide. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been widely used in treating PSCI. This study aimed at validating the TCM syndrome patterns of PSCI by using data mining methods. The findings will shed light on the TCM pathogenesis theory of PSCI, and thus provide translation for optimization of syndrome-targeted treatment strategies of PSCI. Design: This is a registry study-based participant survey conducted in 14 medical centers in eastern China. Mutual information and Markov clustering analysis (MCL) were carried out to achieve syndrome patterns validation of PSCI. Results: Based on MCL, six syndrome patterns were extracted: heart and spleen qi deficiency, liver and kidney yin deficiency, phlegm-turbidity internal obstruction and spleen deficiency, blood stagnation, kidney yang deficiency, and hyperactivity of heart-liver fire (heat). Conclusions: Combination of qi deficiency, yin deficiency, phlegm turbidity, blood stasis, yang deficiency, and fire (heat) may play a key role in PSCI pathogenesis. Treatment strategies by TCM herbal prescriptions should thus be targeted to regulating qi, nourishing yin, resolving turbidity, activating blood, warming yang, clearing fire (heat), regulating kidney, regulating spleen, regulating liver, and regulating heart. Further studies are needed to verify the current findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To verify the utility of brain lesion distribution criteria in distinguishing multiple sclerosis (MS) from aquaporin‐4 (AQP4)‐immunoglobulin G (IgG)‐positive/‐negative neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein IgG‐associated encephalomyelitis (MOG‐EM) in the Chinese population. Methods: A total of 253 patients with MS (80), NMOSD (129 AQP4‐IgG positive, 34 AQP4‐IgG negative), and MOG‐EM (10) were enrolled. Anonymized magnetic resonance imaging results were scored on the previous reported criteria of "at least one lesion adjacent to the body of the lateral ventricle and in the inferior temporal lobe; or the presence of a subcortical U‐fiber lesion; or a Dawson's finger‐type lesion." Chi‐squared test (or Fisher's exact test) was used to analyze the data. Results: The distribution criteria were able to distinguish MS with a same sensitivity of 93.8% from all type of NMOSD and MOG‐EM, with a specificity of 89.7% from the whole NMOSD cohort, 89.1% from AQP4‐IgG‐positive NMOSD 91.2% from AQP4‐IgG‐negative NMOSD, and 70.0% from MOG‐EM. Dawson's finger‐type lesion was the most sensitive and specific feature, whereas the U‐fiber lesion was the least. Conclusion: The brain lesion distribution criteria were helpful in distinguishing MS from NMOSD and MOG‐EM in the Chinese population. Dawson's finger‐type lesion was highly suggestive of MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. We investigated the main research topics of digital humanities in China from 2012 to 2021, as well as the journals, authors, and institutions that produced the most research in this field. Method. Based on a sample of relevant digital humanities literature from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, we applied bibliometric methods and visualisation tools for a longitudinal examination. Analysis. This study took CNKI as the data source and extracted keywords for an analysis of the research output, intellectual structures, and distribution features of authors and institutions. Results. Digital humanities research in China is strongly associated with library and information science, with eight major reoccurring topics and themes identified. The leading research contributors in China are authors and institutions that are also identified and highlighted. Conclusions. Digital humanities research in China rapidly grew between 2012 and 2021. This study depicts the overall situation and knowledge structure of the research and establishes a benchmark for further theoretical research and practical innovation of digital humanities in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale, aims, and objectives: The assessment of evaluating undergraduate nursing students' evidence‐based practice engagement is an important issue, yet few tools have been developed specifically in Mainland China. The purpose of this study was to adapt the Student Evidence‐based Practice Questionnaire (S‐EBPQ) to Mainland China's cultural context and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the newly adapted Chinese S‐EBPQ. Methods: Cross‐cultural adaptation, including translation of the original S‐EBPQ into Mandarin Chinese language, was performed according to published guidelines. A pilot study was conducted in Mainland China with 25 Chinese undergraduate nursing students. A subsequent validation study was conducted with 400 undergraduate nursing students from Mainland China. Construct validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (n = 190) and confirmatory factor analysis (n = 210). Reliability was determined using internal consistency and test‐retest reliability. Results: The split‐half coefficient for the overall Chinese S‐EBPQ was 0.858. A content validity index of 0.986 was achieved. Principal component analysis resulted in a 4‐factor structure explaining 68.285% of the total variance. The comparative fit index was 0.927, and the root mean squared error of approximation was 0.072 from the confirmatory factor analysis. Known‐group validity was supported by the significant differences according to various characteristics of participants. Internal consistency was high for the Chinese S‐EBPQ reaching a Cronbach α value of 0.934. Test‐retest reliability was 0.821. Conclusion: The newly cross‐culturally adapted S‐EBPQ possesses adequate validity, test‐retest reliability, and internal consistency and therefore may be utilized in nursing education to assess EBP of undergraduate nursing students in Mainland China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]