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The main objective of the study is to determine the effect influence of gamification teaching strategy to skills acquisition of students among selected vocational schools in China towards crafting a training intervention plan. The descriptive correlational research design will be utilized for the purpose of describing and determining the relationship between gamification elements (specifically autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and the acquisition of skills. The study will also make use of probability sampling, more specifically the purposive sampling technique, in addition to the fact that the selected vocational school teachers are known to incorporate gamification strategies into their teaching. The study will involve a sample of 130 students from the selected vocational schools in China who will serve as respondents. The respondents will be pre-selected based on certain criteria: fourth year level students; more than three (3) years' experience in gamification as part of learning process; and shows satisfactory skills acquisition. The majority of students agreed that the student's vocational school program has equipped them with practical skills, technical knowledge, safety procedures, and problem-solving abilities. However, they lack proficiency in using computer tools, planning, executing, and managing projects efficiently, and lack confidence in using computer tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The reconstruction of complex soft tissue defects with exposure of bones and tendons represents an increasing challenge in wound care, especially in large extremity wounds. The aim of this study was to detect the clinical efficacy of combined use of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), artificial dermis (ADM), platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) in the reconstruction of large traumatic extremity skin defects. Method: In this study, eight cases were treated with combined therapies for repairing complex extremity wounds and the results were reviewed retrospectively. After surgical debridement, all wounds received ADM, PRP and delayed STSG, which were all aided with NPWT. Results: The patients consisted of five males and three females, with a mean age of 44 years. A total of six lower extremity wounds were located at the foot/ankle, with exposed tendon in five, bone exposure in three and both in two. Of the group, two patients had exposed tendon on arm/hand wounds. The size of wounds and ADM averaged 126cm2 and 42.3cm2, respectively. ADM was used to cover the exposed bone or tendon, the granulation and muscular tissue were covered with vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) directly, for NPWT. The survival rate of ADM averaged 98.9%. The average time for survival of ADM was 12.8 days and the mean uptake of autologous skin graft was 93.5%. Only one patient received repeated skin grafts. All patients achieved successful healing and reported no complications. The mean length of hospital stay was 36.1 days. Conclusion: Our study revealed that ADM in conjunction with NPWT, PRP and STSG could be used for repairing large traumatic extremity wounds. Wound closure was achieved without flaps, the aesthetic and functional outcomes were acceptable, and only one patient developed a 35% loss of skin graft. Declaration of interest: This work was supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (grant no. 2020CFB464) and Youth Foundation of Wuhan Municipal Health Commission (grant no. WX20Q15). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past two decades, more and more rail-cum-road bridges have been built to meet the ever-increasing demand of highway and railway transportation in China. The rail-cum-road bridges are expected to withstand multiple types of loadings during normal operation, including wind, road vehicle, and train. Accurate quantifications of the coupling dynamics among bridge, road vehicle, and train are essential to ensure the safety and reliability of rail-cum-road bridges during their lifetime. The present study develops an analytical framework to simulate the complex wind–road vehicle–train–bridge (WRVTB) system. In addition, a scalable multiple-time-step (SMTS) algorithm is proposed to overcome the computational efficiency issue of traditional single-time-step (STS) algorithms for solving the WRVTB interaction. The SMTS algorithm utilizes domain decomposition techniques to enable a fine and a coarse time-step to be assigned for a road vehicle–train subsystem and bridge subsystem, which greatly improves the computational efficiency for solving the WRVTB interaction. A numerical simulation of coupled WRVTB analysis is conducted based on a prototype rail-cum-road bridge to demonstrate the computational efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method. The results indicate that both the MTS and the SMTS algorithms are able to achieve better accuracy and efficiency simultaneously in comparison with the STS algorithm. Although the SMTS algorithm does not exhibit obvious superiority over the MTS algorithm in terms of the overall accuracy and computational efficiency, the major advantage of the proposed SMTS algorithm over the MTS algorithm is the flexibility. When the SMTS algorithm is adopted, a refined time-step can be assigned to a subsystem of interest, while relatively coarse time-steps can be assigned to the remaining subsystems. As such, the desired accuracy of the subsystem of interest is guaranteed at a low computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlation among gut microbiota, biochemical features, and dietary patterns in recurrent stone formers has been inadequately investigated in the Chinese population. Forty-two patients with calcium oxalate stones (CaOxS group), including 34 recurrent stone formers (RS group), and 40 nonstone healthy subjects (NS group) from Changshu Hospital Affiliated with Soochow University, were prospectively recruited. Food frequency questionnaires were completed by participants, fasting vein blood was extracted, 24-h urine was collected for biochemical detection, and fecal samples were gathered for 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. BMI; serum levels of triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), magnesium, and creatinine; and urine levels of magnesium in stone formers were significantly different from those of controls, and RS patients showed significantly low serum phosphate and high urine phosphate levels. Celery, bamboo shoots, and pickled food were the favored foods of local stone formers. Patients with recurrent stones had altered microbiota composition, with Escherichia, Fusobacterium, and Epulopiscium being the predominant pathogenic genera. The gut microbiota in RS patients had stronger functions in fatty acid and amino acid degradation but weaker functions in their biosynthesis. The pathogenic genera were positively correlated with BMI; serum levels of TGs and creatinine; urine levels of calcium, phosphate, and uric acid (UA); and celery, bamboo shoots, and pickled food intake. The abundance of Escherichia and Fusobacterium and the levels of serum magnesium and creatinine were the most relevant factors associated with stone recurrence and could be validated as biomarkers of recurrence. Our research provides a novel prevention strategy for the recurrence of renal calcium oxalate stones in the Han Chinese population of southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined compound awareness in relation to Chinese children's vocabulary acquisition and character reading. Two aspects of compound awareness were investigated: the ability to identify the head of a compound noun and the ability to construct a new compound word from familiar morphemes. The compound awareness tasks, along with rapid automatized naming (RAN) and phonological awareness tasks, were administered to 29 first graders and 30 second graders in Mainland China. Results show that (1) compound awareness develops relatively early among Chinese children and improves with age, (2) compound awareness explains unique variance in vocabulary and character reading, after controlling for age, RAN, and phonological awareness, and (3) the contribution made by compound awareness to vocabulary is much larger than the contribution made by phonological awareness. These results demonstrate that compound awareness plays a central role in Chinese children's literacy development, particularly in vocabulary acquisition.

Developmental stages in reading English words were examined among 118 Chinese children in Grades 2, 4, and 6 from a working-class elementary school in Tianjin, China. Proficiency in Chinese and English, ability to make orthographic analogies in both languages, and strategies in reading English words were assessed. Results suggest that Chinese children follow stages in alphabetic reading development similar to those of native English-speaking children: the prealphabetic stage, the partial alphabetic stage, and the full alphabetic stage. The use of orthographic analogy does not form a separate stage independent of the alphabetic decoding stages; rather, it is a concurrent option available to Chinese children from an early age. Children more readily made onset-vowel analogies than vowel-coda analogies.

We focused on the association between night shift and hypertension. Hypertension is a common chronic disease and a major contributor to the global disease burden. Shift work is becoming more and more popular in modern industrial society. Therefore, it is important to explore the impact of night shift on hypertension. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of night-shift work on the risk of hypertension for improving workers' health. Methods: A total of 10,038 Chinese participants were constituted in the cross-sectional study. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline were used to estimate the effect of night shift on hypertension. Results: There were higher odds of having hypertension in any night-shift workers (odds ratio [OR], 1.16 [95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.30]) when compared with day workers. Having 5 to 10 night shifts per month were significantly more likely to be hypertensive (OR, 1.19 [95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.38]). The OR for hypertension increased as the number of night shifts increased as the result of the restricted cubic spline. Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that night shift is associated with an elevated risk of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Three variations including a novel F11 gene variation were detected in two unrelated Chinese families with coagulation factor XI deficiency, and their possible pathogenesis was elucidated. Methods: The genomic DNA of the probands' pedigrees was extracted, and all exons and flanking sequences of F11 gene were subjected to PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. ClustalX-2.1-win, Mutation Taster, and Swiss-Pdb Viewer software were used to analyze the conservation and impact of the variations on protein function and structure. Results: DNA sequencing showed that the proband one had p.Gly350Glu and p.Trp501stop complex heterozygous variations, while the proband two took p.Pro338Leu and p.Trp501stop compound heterozygous variations. Conservation, structural, and functional analysis of variant amino acids indicated that these three variations were harmful and probably affected the structure and function of the variable protein. Conclusions: Three variations including p.Pro338Leu, p.Gly350Glu, and p.Trp501stop responsible for the reduction of the FXI activities were herein detected. Notably, the p.Pro338Leu variation was discovered for the first time in the world. Furthermore, the p.Gly350Glu was first reported in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green technology innovation under the innovation-driven strategy is an important means to alleviate economic-environmental contradictions, based on the three-dimensional framework of market-system -technology constructed by the theory of "asymmetric innovation", this paper deconstructs it into five subdivision indicators of marketization process, environmental regulation, government funding, R&D f unding investment and R&D personnel investment, using a combination of qualitative comparative an alysis (QCA) and necessary condition analysis (NCA), from the perspective of configuration, regional di fferences in China's green technology innovation. Key drivers and implementation paths are studied. T he results show that: (1) The distribution of China's green technology innovation level shows obvious r egional differences and agglomeration radiation effects, and the level of green technology innovation decreases from the eastern coast, the southern coast, the northern coast, the middle reaches of the Ya ngtze River, the southwest, the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the northeast and the great northw est comprehensive economic zone, and the agglomeration radiation effect in the eastern, southern an d northern coastal areas is more significant. (2) The NCA method shows that the marketization proces s, environmental regulation, government funding, R&D funding and R&D personnel investment are all necessary conditions (insufficient) for achieving 20% or more level of green technology innovation, of which R&D funding investment, marketization process and R&D personnel investment are more obvio us. The QCA necessity analysis shows that R&D funding is a necessary condition for achieving green t echnology innovation, and there is no necessary condition for non-green technology innovation. The QCA Essentials Analysis result set is a subset of NCA results, and the conclusions of the two methods c omplement each other. (3) QCA configuration analysis shows that there are two paths to achieve highlevel green technology innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dengue fever has been a significant public health challenge in China. This will be particularly important in the context of global warming, frequent international travels, and urbanization with increasing city size and population movement. In order to design relevant prevention and control strategies and allocate health resources reasonably, this study evaluated the economic burden of dengue fever in China in 2019. Methods: The economic burden of dengue fever patients was calculated from both family and the organisation perspectives. A survey was conducted among 1,027 dengue fever patients in Zhejiang, Chongqing, and Yunnan Provinces. Treatment expenses, lost working days, and insurance reimbursement expenses information were collected to estimate the total economic burden of dengue fever patients in 2019. The expenditures related to dengue fever prevention and control from government, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), communities and subdistrict offices of 30 counties (or districts) in Zhejiang Province and Chongqing City were also collected. Results: The direct, indirect and total economic burden for dengue fever patients in 2019 in the three Provinces were about 36,927,380.00 Chinese Yuan (CNY), 10,579,572.00 CNY and 46,805,064.00 CNY, respectively. The costs for prevention and control of dengue fever for the counties (or districts) without cases, counties (or districts) with imported cases, and counties (or districts) with local cases are 205,800.00 CNY, 731,180.00 CNY and 6,934,378.00 CNY, respectively. The total investment of dengue fever prevention and control in the 30 counties in China in 2019 was approximately 3,166,660,240.00 CNY. Conclusion: The economic burden of dengue fever patients is relatively high, and medical insurance coverage should be increased to lighten patients' direct medical economic burden. At the same time, the results suggests that China should increase funding for primary health service institutions to prevent dengue fever transmission. Author summary: Dengue fever is one of the most important arbovirus diseases in the world. The distribution of cases has also increased significantly with the number of affected areas the highest in history. Dengue fever mainly occurs in southern provinces in China and its epidemic showed a trend of high incidence in 2019. This study estimated the economic burden of dengue fever in China in 2019 from the perspectives of both family and organisation. We recruited 1,027 dengue fever patients from Zhejiang Province, Chongqing City and Yunnan Province. At the same time, the costs related to dengue fever prevention and control from governments, CDCs, communities and subdistrict offices of 30 counties located in Zhejiang Province and Chongqing City were also collected. The results showed that in family perspective, the total economic burden of dengue in 2019 is estimated to be 46,805,064.00 CNY. In terms of organization expenditures, the regions with a higher incidence had higher costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Chinese people are technically guaranteed a place to live through the hukou system, homelessness is still an issue in China. Our paper aims to explore the home-making strategies of homeless people in the context of China's homelessness policy transition from repatriation to assistance in the post-socialist era, using in-depth interviews with homeless people and others interacting with them in Shanghai's high-prestige downtown area. Drawing on Giddens' structuration theory, we find that homeless people work to create a sense of home through: 1) avoiding the government service centres where freedom, privacy and social contact are restricted; 2) adapting their routines to rigid place management in the daytime and benefitting from strict security at night; and 3) tactically utilising surrounding spaces and facilities to carry out daily activities and develop a sense of home and control. Government assistance through the service centres is inadequate and may even be diametrically opposed to home-making, highlighting room for improvement in government homelessness policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9 and 11 advocate industrial innovation and sustainable cities, respectively, although how sustainable urban development ensures the protection of innovative achievements remains understudied. Employing the Spatial Durbin Model, this study examines how the protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) has affected sustainable urbanization using the case of the Huaihai economic zone (HEZ), China. Adopting a theoretical and empirical approach, the study seeks to understand how sustainable urbanization affects the protection of IPRs, and explores the spatial spillover from the perspectives of economic growth structure, technological progress, economic agglomeration and social welfare enhancement, taking into account also the protection of IPRs at a sub‐national level. The results indicate that sustainable urbanization is positively related to the protection of IPRs (as can be understood from the four abovementioned aspects of sustainable urbanization), that the spatial spillover effects of sustainable urbanization on the protection of IPRs and distance from the central city are significant, and that foreign direct investment (FDI)—a significant driving force in China's urbanization—has a negative impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental temperature serves as a major driver of adaptive changes in wild organisms. To discover the mechanisms underpinning cold tolerance in domestic animals, we sequenced the genomes of 28 cattle from warm and cold areas across China. By characterizing the population structure and demographic history, we identified two genetic clusters, i.e., northern and southern groups, as well as a common historic population peak at 30 kilo years ago. Genomic scan of cold-tolerant breeds determined potential candidate genes in the thermogenesis-related pathways that were under selection. Specifically, functional analysis identified a substitution of PRDM16 (p.P779L) in northern cattle, which maintains brown adipocyte formation by boosting thermogenesis-related gene expression, indicating a vital role of this gene in cold tolerance. These findings provide a basis for genetic variation in domestic cattle shaped by environmental temperature and highlight the role of reverse mutation in livestock species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal settlements are often subject to government‐led demolitions and clearances. In contemporary China, the removal of such settlements often necessitates negotiations between governments and landlords who are hard to dislocate, as exemplified in 'Nail Households' literature, whereas migrant tenants, if any, can be easily evicted without appropriate compensation. Our case study, however, presents evidence contrary to this. Migrant tenants proactively defended their rights and demanded compensation from their landlords. Drawing upon the lens of rights consciousness, this paper examines how the presumably marginalised migrant tenants were able to successfully defend their rights and interests. We found that (i) social capital accumulation, stigmatisation, the exclusion of planning participation and the transfer of clearance responsibility through two rounds of 'state retreats' reinforced the rights consciousness of migrant tenants and served to consolidate their bargaining power, contributing to a reshuffling of the landlord–tenant power position. (ii) The landlords, incentivised by attractive compensation packages, were brought into a temporary and fragile alliance with government agencies to secure the dislocation of the migrant tenants. The landlords thus took responsibility for the clearance from government agencies, whereas the local state was able to tactfully avoid any government–tenant confrontations. Although the tenants were able to secure adequate compensation from their landlords, the overall situation brought an end to the social support that existed in migrant enclaves and thus hampered their upward social mobility. This study revisits the understanding of the reshuffling of the landlord–tenant power relationship, albeit contingent and transient, against the backdrop of changing state–society relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid cancer (TC) has inflicted huge threats to the health of mankind. Chlorophenols (CPs) were persistent organic pollutant and can lead to adverse effects in human health, especially in thyroid. However, epidemiological studies have revealed a rare and inconsistent relationship between internal exposure to CPs and TC risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between urinary CPs and TC risk in Chinese population. From June 2017 to September 2019, a total of 297 histologically confirmed TC cases were recruited. Age- and gender-matched controls were enrolled at the same time. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine the levels of three CPs in urine. Conditional logistic regression models were adopted to assess the potential association. Restricted cubic spline function was used to explore the non-liner association. After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariate analysis showed that, compared with the first quartile, the fourth quartile concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), and pentachlorophenol (PCP) were associated with TC risk (odds ratio (OR)2,4-DCP =2.28, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24–4.18; OR2,4,6-TCP =3.09, 95% CI: 1.66–5.77; ORPCP =3.30, 95% CI: 1.71–6.36, respectively), when CPs were included in the multivariate model and restricted cubic spline function as continuous variables, presenting significant dose-response relationships. Meanwhile, whether in the TC group with tumor diameter > 1 cm or metastatic TC, the changes of 2,4,6 TCP and PCP concentrations were positively correlated with the risk of TC. Our study suggests that higher concentrations of urinary CPs are associated with increased TC risks. Moreover, 2,4,6-TCP and PCP have certain effects on the invasiveness of thyroid cancer. Targeted public health policies should be formulated to reduce the CP pollution. These findings need further in-depth studies to confirm and relevant mechanism also needed to be clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To investigate practice patterns in exit‐site care and identify the risk factors for exit‐site infection. Design: A quantitative cross‐sectional design. Methods: Data were collected in 12 peritoneal dialysis (PD) centres in 2018. Daily exit‐site care practice patterns and exit‐site status of patients receiving PD were assessed through interviews and questionnaires. Results/findings: Most of the 1,204 patients adhered with the protocols about main aspects of exit‐site care, such as cleansing agents selection, frequency of cleansing, catheter fixation, and following the catheter protective measures. However, their adherence levels on hand hygiene, mask wearing, observing exit site, examining secretion, and communicating with PD staff were rather low. Eighty‐four patients' exit sites were evaluated as problematic exit site (PES). And 186 patients had catheter‐related infection (CRI) history. After multivariable logistic regression analysis, diabetes (OR = 1.631), traction bleeding history (OR = 2.697), antibiotic agents use (OR = 2.460), compliance on mask wearing (OR = 0.794), and observing exit site (OR = 0.806) were influencing factors of CRI history. Traction bleeding history (OR = 2.436), CRI history (OR = 10.280), and effective communication (OR = 0.808) with PD staff were influencing factors for PES. Conclusions: The adherence levels on different aspects of exit‐site care were varied in patients having PD. Their self‐care behaviours did correlate with the exit‐site status. Impact: The adherence level of patients' exit‐site care practice needs attention of medical staff. Further studies about the optimal procedure in exit‐site care were warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wuxi City is located in the Yangtze River Delta region, China and is underlain by a multi-layered aquifer system in porous Quaternary deposits. Groundwater extraction, mainly from the second confined aquifer, has led to severe regional land subsidence. The ground surface started to recover after the restriction and, ultimately, the banning of groundwater pumping. This paper reports the results of long-term surveys, groundwater piezometric head (GPH) measurements and the monitoring of ground surface deformation by levelling and borehole extensometers. The subsidence is attributed to the compression of both the aquifer and aquitards in the porous strata. The spatial characteristics of subsidence are related not only to the distribution of the GPH, but also to the thickness and compressibility of different strata, the distance from the pumped aquifer and the distribution of pumping. There was a temporal lag in subsidence relative to groundwater drawdown. The uplift is related to a period of recovery following the peak pumping period and groundwater recovery subsequent to the restriction and/or banning of groundwater pumping. The uplift was <10 mm under these two conditions, although the GPH recovered to >40% of the previous maximum at the Qianzhou borehole extensometer station. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, the power industry contributes significantly to carbon emissions, reducing carbon emissions in this industry is conducive to China's adaptation and mitigation of climate change. Researches on green and low-carbon power have attracted increasing attention. In this paper, we analyze and compare the carbon emissions from thermal power sector in 30 Chinese provinces, divided into three main regions. Based on the panel data over the period 2002–2016, we use a slacks-based measurement (SBM) model to measure the carbon emission efficiency of China's power sector. The results show that the carbon emission efficiency of the system is relatively low, with marked differences among regions. Based on the Moran's I, we further found spatial heterogeneity in carbon emission efficiency of provincial power sector. Policies for adaptation and mitigation of climate change should have regional differences. Interregional collaboration also plays a key role in adapting to and mitigating climate change. For China, it is an important issue to develop clean coal-fired power generation and vigorously develop renewable energy. From a global perspective, energy transformation needs to be continuously promoted. Promoting low-carbon transformation of global energy system requires deep technical cooperation and synergy. Global mitigation strategy should focus on the orientation of structural reform and constantly optimize the energy structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption and diffusion of e-commerce in developing countries exerts a fundamental influence on economic growth and on people's daily lives. The impacts of diffuse e-commerce platforms on rural China are exemplified by the sharp increase in the number of 'Taobao villages'. The Taobao village is regarded as an effective means of revitalising rural areas and narrowing the rural–urban gap by both academia and the government. However, our case study in Zeguo Town, Zhejiang Province demonstrates that such an attitude seems over-optimistic. Supported by document review and semi-structured interviews with local government officials, village cadres and entrepreneurs of leading enterprises and also small and medium-sized workshops, our study reveals that the rapid growth of the local footwear industry in Zeguo Town is an outcome of the lowered capital barriers for entry brought through Taobao. In response to this rapid growth, migrants have flooded into the local industry and started their own businesses. As a result, the cost of production elements such as industrial land and labour rose significantly, threatening the survival of cost-sensitive enterprises. As rational economic subjects, entrepreneurs' pursuit of low-cost spaces and local farmers' provision of vacant houses to entrepreneurs contributed to an e-commerce-induced informality. Many small and medium-sized shoemaking workshops and Taobao online shops penetrated surrounding rural villages. E-commerce-induced informality not only challenged rural governance but also undermined the operation of leading enterprises as new small enterprises disrupt the pricing of products, labour costs and even affect the reputation of local industry. The current unregulated development and seemingly rapid growth only store up troubles in the future. • The 'Taobao village' is regarded as an effective means of revitalising rural areas and narrowing the urban–rural gap. • E-commerce boom in China has led to the rapid growth of the local footwear industry but also contributes to rising costs of production elements. • Pursuit of low-cost spaces by entrepreneurs and provision of vacant houses by local farmers has encouraged an e-commence-induced informality. • Leading enterprises have been disadvantaged as the small ones disrupt product pricing, labour cost and even alter the reputation of local industry. • E-commerce-induced informality also brings about a series of challenges to rural governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: ABO blood group has been associated with cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, whether ABO blood group is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unknown. The present study aimed to clarify this issue. Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was performed in southwestern China. A total of 583 newly ultrasound-diagnosed NAFLD cases and 2068 controls were included. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of developing NAFLD were calculated by multivariate logistic regression. A propensity score was developed for adjustment and matching. Results: The proportions of blood groups A, B, AB and O were 31%, 26%, 8% and 35%, respectively. Non-O blood groups were found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of NAFLD (the fully adjusted OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.91); moreover, compared with blood group O, the fully adjusted ORs of developing NAFLD were 1.50 (95% CI: 1.13, 1.99) for blood group A, 1.59 (95% CI: 1.19, 2.14) for blood group B, and 1.37 (95% CI: 0.86, 2.18) for blood group AB. Similar results were obtained in both propensity-score-adjusted and propensity-score-matched analyses. No evidence of significant effect modification for the association of ABO blood group with the risk of NAFLD was found (all Pinteraction>0.05). Conclusions: Non-O blood groups are significantly associated with an increased risk of NAFLD. Our findings provide some epidemiological evidence for a possible role of ABO glycosyltransferase in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. However, these findings need to be validated by future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Huangguogan' (Citrus reticulata × C. sinensis) is a new cultivar of mandarin citrus in China, and the research on fertilization of 'Huangguogan' is very limited. In this study, the effect of N fertilization on 'Huangguogan' fruit quality was determined at ripening. Sugars (sucrose, fructose, and glucose), organic acids (pyruvic, oxalic, citric acid, etc.), and vitamin components were measured at six stages of fruit development, and eight enzymes related to the glycolytic and Krebs cycle were assessed. The 1.81 kg N y-1 treatment group showed the highest total soluble solids concentration and total soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio but the lowest titratable acidity (acid content) at ripening, while the N1 treatment (0 kg N y-1) showed the opposite trend. Sucrose and citric acid accumulated to the largest extent during fruit development. Sucrose and ascorbic acid content increased (8.46 to 50.97 mg g-1 and 8.16 to 27.39 mg g-1, respectively), while citric acid content decreased (90.81 to 0.02 mg g-1). Aconitase was the key enzyme responsible for the observed changes in citric acid. The N concentrations in ripening fruit ranged from 2.25% to 4.15%. Curve estimation and principal component analysis revealed that fruit N was positively correlated with the sugars and vitamin components and negatively correlated with the organic acids. The accumulation of these metabolites seemed closely related to the dynamic changes in fruit N concentration at the five N levels tested. In conclusion, we suggest that the 1.81 kg N y-1 treatment represents the most suitable N fertilizer treatment for 'Huangguogan' citrus fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wilms tumour is a renal malignancy that commonly occurs in children. LIN28A gene overexpression has been reported to be involved in various human malignancies, while its roles in Wilms tumour risk are still under investigation. Here, we genotyped four LIN28A polymorphisms in 355 Wilms tumour patients and 1070 healthy controls from four hospitals in China. The genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) include the following: rs3811464 G>A, rs3811463 T>C, rs34787247 G>A and rs11247957 G>A. Overall, we found that rs3811463 T>C and rs34787247 G>A were associated with increased risk of Wilms tumour. Combination analysis of risk genotypes showed that, compared to non‐carriers, subjects with 1 risk genotype and 1‐3 risk genotypes were more likely to develop Wilms tumour, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.58 and 1.56, respectively. Stratified analysis further demonstrated that the risk effect remained prominent in some subgroups. We also found that presence of 1‐3 risk genotypes was associated with Wilms tumour risk in subgroups > 18 months of age, females, males and those with clinical stage I + II diseases. Furthermore, expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis indicated that rs3811463 C allele was significantly associated with increased transcripts of LIN28A gene. These findings suggest that LIN28A gene polymorphisms may be associated with increased predisposition to Wilms tumour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community gardens are very popular in developed countries, providing multiple benefits to inhabitants. In developing China, residents in many emerging urban communities of China have been appropriating and reclaiming public open spaces intentionally as a leisure opportunity and transforming their entertainment functions into vegetable plots, which has caused a series of conflicts and disputes. However, this issue of informal community gardening has rarely been discussed formally at community level. Therefore, this study aims to learn and better understand what factors motivate residents to reclaim existing public open spaces for gardening and cultivating plants. The approach was to select and study informal community gardens in three urbanizing communities in Hangzhou, China. These emerging communities consist, to a significant extent, of people with farming experience, who have relocated here from previously rural areas during the urban expansion from the year 2000 to the current day. The informal community gardening takes place in the context of lack of community management, neglected public infrastructure and a disregard for resident’s living needs such as their personal sentiment, social activity, food quality and saving expenses. While most people are willing to participate in community gardening and those who do not want to contribute are not substantially against the activity. In the conclusions, suggestions are made about how to fulfil resident’s requirements and are presented at both community and city levels so that they may inform to the growth of emerging communities in other cities and countries undergoing rapid urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic decentralization in China has intensified the tension between higher-level and local governments in policy implementation. It is a core development right for local governments in urbanizing China to have construction land quotas determined in local plans. Negotiation around this quota can reveal the hidden rules and operating mechanisms of organizational structures in the urban development field. This paper undertakes a long-term tracing of a planning process in a case study area to reveal the conflicts and bargaining processes that occur when top-down enforcement of relevant policies deviates from or even contradicts local appeals and development goals. This study found that the local governments initially adopted a passive response in order to encourage the opportunity for informal bargaining to maximize their own benefits. The outcome was that higher-level government created incentives and offered flexibility in policy implementation to compensate local government. The role of the planning group in effective information delivery and technical support accelerated consensus reaching with compromise from both higher-level and local governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In 2010, only 1 donor blood sample was found to be anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) negative and HCV RNA positive, as detected by nucleic acid testing. In occult HCV infection (OCI), HCV RNA is found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We investigated the prevalence of OCI among blood donors. Methods: We collected 513 samples from 334 eligible and 179 deferred donors, including 55 anti- HCV-positive, 113 alanine aminotransferase (ALT)-elevated, and 11 hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive blood donors. PBMCs were isolated, the 5'-untranslated region of HCV RNA was amplified by reverse transcription nested PCR, and the genotype of the core region was determined. Results: No HCV RNA was detected among the eligible samples. Among the deferred donors, 15 (27.2%) had detectable HCV RNA in 55 anti-HCV PBMC specimens. HCV RNA was detected in 1 (9.1%) HBsAg-positive and 9 (8%) ALTelevated samples. The prevalence of OCI in the blood donors was 2.2% (10/458). HCV genotypes were determined in 10 subjects, indicating that 2 (20.0%) were subtype 2a, 7 (70.0%) were 1b, and 1 (10%) was 6a. Conclusions: This study showed that OCI does exist among Chinese blood donors. However, to determine the epidemiology and outcome of this HCV infection, further follow-up with more participants and patients receiving blood components with OCI is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dramatic growth of long-term rental apartments (LRAs) in China's megacities since 2015, spurred by a series of state policies encouraging the development of the private rental sector (PRS), has culminated in many LRA firms encountering capital chain rupture and even going bankrupt within a short period. As a result, thousands of tenants were rendered homeless and many property owners were left unpaid. The present study analyses the boom and bust of LRA development in China under housing financialisation and explores the relationship between the transformative institutions – characterised by policy deregulation/re-regulation – and market performance stimulated by capital speculation. The findings of this study reveal the institutional changes in China's PRS to have been closely linked to the socio-economic changes emanated from endogenous opportunism and exogenous shocks. Specifically, the policy drift in the PRS was closely associated with deregulation and capital speculation, while policy layering was employed to institutionalise, regulate and legalise the PRS, thus mitigating the housing shortage crisis and ensuring the retention of social stability. Adapting to the volatile politico-economic circumstances as a form of punctuated equilibrium, policies governing the PRS require constant assessment and reflection to safeguard people's basic housing rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2021, China announced the elimination of extreme poverty nationally. One region of extreme poverty in China was the Tibetan Plateau, which provides crucial ecosystem services. It is important that measures intended to eradicate poverty on the Tibetan Plateau do not sacrifice ecological resource security and cause ecosystem degradation. In this study, the variations of the relationships between poverty eradication and ecological resource security were analyzed by defining the relationships into four patterns of poverty traps, economic development with ecological resource deficit, poverty with reserve ecological resources, and sustainable development. The variations of the four patterns during the previous three decades were analyzed and future variations were estimated under different scenarios of ecological resource consumption. Results showed that consumption of the ecological resources of the Tibetan Plateau increased during the previous three decades, with the average value changing from 119.0 to 180.8 g C m−2 a−1. Most counties in poverty with reserve ecological resources have become counties with sustainable development, and ecological restoration has benefitted ecological security substantially. However, it has been difficult for counties in poverty traps and with ecological deficit to become counties with sustainable development because the ecological deficit could not be reversed owing to the ever-increasing consumption of ecological resources associated with improved living standards. Scenario simulations revealed that many counties currently exhibiting sustainable development would slip back into ecological deficit in coming decades if consumption of ecological resources associated with production and personal living standards continued increasing, or even remained constant at the average level of the previous decade. Therefore, to support long-lasting sustainable development of the Tibetan Plateau, policies should be proposed that simultaneously enhance ecological restoration and break the link between ecological resource use and economic development. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information regarding herbaceous perennial Chloranthus serratus and the use of its root to make essential oils. The article also discusses the chemical composition of the oil including Verbenone, Santalen, and Nerolidol. The article also reports that the oil could be used to treat various problems including traumatic injury, rheumatism, and snake bite.

As a valid genus belonging to the family Gomphotheriidae, Sinomastodon is the unique brevirostrine trilophodont gomphotheriid known from the Old World and was primarily indigenous to China from the Early Pliocene to the Pleistocene. The new bunodont molars from the Sanhe karst Cave in Chongzuo, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (ZAR), South China have been described as Sinomastodon yanziensis of the middle Early Pleistocene, with associated reliable paleomagnetic dating of 1.2-1.6 Ma. This represents the southernmost distribution of Sinomastodon remains found in China. The diagnosis of S. yanziensis is revised here, the evolution of Pleistocene Sinomastodon in China is divided into three temporal stages, and the evolutionary trends on Early Pleistocene Sinomastodon molars are also summarized. Sinomastodon was once prevalent during the Early Pleistocene in South China and possibly became extinct at the end of the Early Pleistocene. Consequently, the Early Pleistocene fauna from South China is suggested to be named the Gigantopithecus - Sinomastodon fauna, to distinguish it from the typical Middle Pleistocene Ailuropoda - Stegodon fauna (s. s.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a leading cause of morbidity in developed countries and represent a substantial burden on health-care resources. Many countries spent 15 % to 20 % of their hospital budgets to treat drug complications. However, few studies have measured the pharmacoeconomic effects of ADRs on hospitalized patients in China. The study estimates the costs of ADRs as identified from the spontaneous voluntary reports completed from healthcare professionals. To do so, we calculate these costs, determine the sum of Medicare payments and their proportion of total healthcare spending, and evaluate the incidence of ADRs, characteristics of hospitalized ADR patients, and outcomes of ADRs in China. Methods This retrospective survey studied patients who experienced ADRs during their hospitalization at a Chinese tertiary-care teaching hospital. The patients were divided into group A and group B according to general ADRs and serious ADRs in Provisions for Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring and Reporting. The direct costs included treatment fees, inspection fees, laboratory fees, materials fees, bed charges, drug charges, nursing care, meals, and other expenses and the sunk-cost losses were calculated according to the hospital information system (HIS). Indirect costs of ADR treatment were calculated according to the human capital approach. The epidemiological characteristics of ADRs were evaluated. Results 2739 were diagnosed with ADR during the study period, which translates to an ADR rate of 0.81 %. The total socioeconomic loss from 2739 cases of ADR was estimated at ¥817401.69, consisting of direct costs of ¥603252.81 and indirect costs of ¥214148.88. On average, the costs per patient amounted to ¥196.10 in group A, ¥7032.29 in group B. The sum of medicare payment and proportion were ¥219061.13 (65.23 %) and ¥105422.02 (39.42 %) in group A and B. The ADR incidence in old-age patients was significantly higher than in other age groups (P < 0.0001). The most common drug class associated with ADRs represented antibiotics (957 patients, 34.94 %). Conclusions The costs of especially severe ADRs could not be ignored, and in this hospital 0.13 % of patients were diagnosed with ADRs associated with relatively higher direct costs than who suffered from mild ADRs, largely due to extended hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) derivatives with side‐chain‐attaching amine end groups, PCBDAN and PCBDANI, are synthesized. Both PCBDAN and PCBDANI show excellent photovoltaic performance as cathode buffer layers to replace Ca in polymer solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the correction "impact of self-efficacy on first onset and prognosis of major depressive disorder: Findings from a longitudinal study in a sample of Chinese first-year university students."

Abstract: Objective: To quantify the demographic characteristics, symptoms, and outcomes of women with abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) in order to identify the optimal treatment and prevention techniques for AWE in the Chinese population. Methods: In a retrospective study, women diagnosed with AWE at the Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China, between January 2003 and December 2011 were identified from the hospital''s medical records. Data on patient age, previous surgeries, symptoms, asymptomatic time interval, duration of complaints, mass location, size, tenderness, diagnosis, treatment, and recurrence were analyzed. Results: During the study period, 229 women were diagnosed with AWE, and histopathologic confirmation was obtained for 227 women (mean age, 31.7±3.8years). Each of these patients had undergone previous surgery, and 14 had undergone resection for AWE. The primary symptoms were pain, either cyclical (65.2%) or noncyclical (27.3%), and presence of a mass (84.1%; mean diameter, 2.9±1.3cm). The mean time interval between previous surgery and onset of symptoms was 2.3±2.2years. For all patients, the abdominal mass was surgically excised. The postoperative recurrence rate was 1.5%. Conclusion: Complete resection is the primary treatment for AWE. A combination of surgical re-excision and postoperative adjuvant medical therapy is recommended for patients with recurrent AWE. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sn is generally the dominant form of tin in magnetite-series granites as shown by the presence of cassiterite or its incorporation into Ti-bearing minerals such as biotite and titanite. Little is known about the behavior of tin in magnetite. The Huashan granite is an oxidized tin granite in the Nanling Range, southern China, where it contains magnetite as the dominant Fe oxide mineral. It is included in biotite as an early phase and also as interstitial grains spatially associated with ilmenite, cassiterite, Sn-rich titanite (SnO up to 5.9 wt.%), fluorite and apatite. This association indicates that tin enrichment occurred during the late stage of magma crystallization. Ilmenite lamellae display a trellis structure consistent with features of the 'oxy-exsolution' process of Sn-bearing titanomagnetite precursor. Micro-inclusions of cassiterite (<1 μm in size) are found only within ilmenite lamellae. This suggests that magnetite with cassiterite inclusions is likely an indicator mineral of oxidized tin granites. Although rare in nature, Sn-bearing magnetite from weathered granites where concentrated in stream sediments, may serve as a strategic tracer for tin exploration in granite districts and in placer deposits, in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Building manufacturing creates product value like building space, and induces severe environmental influence at the same time. The idea of eco-efficiency (EE) can link a product or service value and the corresponding environmental influence together, but there has been little research that implements such idea on building manufacturing, such as the green building rating system of the comprehensive assessment system for building environmental efficiency (CASBEE) in Japan and the EcoEffect in Sweden. This paper proposes an emergy (spelled with an “m”) analysis-based methodology for EE evaluation of building manufacturing, where the building space (in cubic size) and the emergy amount of building manufacturing are selected as the indicators of product value and the environmental influence, respectively. Six residential buildings that include multi-storeys, moderate high-rises and high rises are selected averagely from two Chinese famous cities, namely Beijing and Shanghai. The evaluation results can provide directions to assess environmental influence and thus to heighten the EE of building manufacturing. The EE evaluation result can even be used as the base of a new green building (or eco-building) rating system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The impact of orbital parameters on the climate of China in the Holocene is simulated from 11kaBP to 0kaBP with an interval of 1ka using National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Atmosphere Model version 2 (CAM2). The geographic distributions of summer precipitation around both 9kaBP and 4kaBP were realistically captured by CAM2, compared to the proxy data collected from 80 stations. Among all orbital parameters, the precession plays a major role in computing solar radiation, which dominates the variations of summer precipitation over China during the Holocene. The summers around 9kaBP were the wettest in China. Later on, the precipitation gradually reduced to the minimum around 0kaBP by about 10%. This tremendous change occurred from the Northeast China and the eastern Inner Mongolia extending southwestwards to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, especially over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in China, and hepatic fibrosis caused by schistosome infection is the principal cause of death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of NP11-4-derived immunotoxin scFv-artesunate on Schistosoma japonicum-induced hepatic fibrosis. A single-chain variable fragment (scFv) was generated from the murine anti-Schistosoma japonicum (S. japanicum) monoclonal antibody NP11-4. The scFv was expressed as a soluble protein and purified by Ni-affinity chromatography. After conjugation with artesunate, the binding ability with soluble egg antigens (SEA) was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The biological activity of purified scFv, scFv-artesunate (immunotoxin), and artesunate was detected in vivo. Image-Pro Plus software was used to analyze the size of egg granuloma and the extent of liver fibrosis. The recombinant scFv expession vector was constructed and expressed successfully. After purification by a His-trap Ni-affinity column, the scFv yield was approximately 0.8 mg/L of culture medium. ELISA results showed that chemical conjugation did not affect the binding activity of the immunotoxin. Our animal experiments indicated that the immunotoxin could significantly reduce the size of egg granuloma in the liver and inhibit hepatic fibrosis. The immunotoxin could be used as a promising candidate in the targeted therapy of S. japonicum-induced hepatic fibrosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The Chinese government lists advanced schistosomiasis as a leading healthcare priority due to its serious health and economic impacts, yet it has not been included in the estimates of schistosomiasis burden in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. Therefore, the quality of life and disability weight (DW) for the advanced cases of schistosomiasis japonica have to be taken into account in the re-estimation of burden of disease due to schistosomiasis. Methodology/Principal Findings: A patient-based quality-of-life evaluation was performed for advanced schistosomiasis japonica. Suspected or officially registered advanced cases in a Schistosoma japonicum-hyperendemic county of the People's Republic of China (P.R. China) were screened using a short questionnaire and physical examination. Disability and morbidity were assessed in confirmed cases, using the European quality of life questionnaire with an additional cognitive dimension (known as the "EQ-5D plus"), ultrasonography, and laboratory testing. The age-specific DW of advanced schistosomiasis japonica was estimated based on patients' self-rated health scores on the visual analogue scale of the questionnaire. The relationships between health status, morbidity and DW were explored using multivariate regression models. Of 506 candidates, 215 cases were confirmed as advanced schistosomiasis japonica and evaluated. Most of the patients reported impairments in at least one health dimension, such as pain or discomfort (90.7%), usual activities (87.9%), and anxiety or depression (80.9%). The overall DW was 0.447, and age-specific DWs ranged from 0.378 among individuals aged 30–44 years to 0.510 among the elderly aged ≥60 years. DWs are positively associated with loss of work capacity, psychological abnormality, ascites, and active hepatitis B virus, while splenectomy and high albumin were protective factors for quality of life. Conclusions/Significance: These patient-preference disability estimates could provide updated data for a revision of the GBD, as well as for evidence-based decision-making in P.R. China's national schistosomiasis control program. Author Summary: Advanced schistosomiasis japonica, an extreme form of chronic schistosomiasis that occurs in Asia, is more serious than the advanced hepatosplenic disease of schistosomiasis encountered in Africa and the Americas. The advanced schistosomiasis japonica is a chronic disabling condition associated with portal hypertension, splenomegaly, ascites, and gastro-oesophageal variceal bleeding, or with severe growth retardation or granulomatous disease of the large intestine. However, the actual disability caused by advanced schistosomiasis japonica is unknown. We carried out a patient-based quality-of-life evaluation employing a standardized and widely used questionnaire (known as "EQ-5D plus"), coupled with ultrasonography and laboratory tests on advanced schistosomiasis japonica cases in a hyperendemic area of China. Among 215 confirmed cases of advanced schistosomiasis japonica, we found an overall disability weight of 0.447 with age-specific weights ranging from 0.378 to 0.510. Importantly, advanced schistosomiasis japonica is not only associated with heavy disability weights, but also with high morbidity and poor self-reported quality of life. Our results provide valuable data for the current revision of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, as well as for evidence-based decision-making in China's national schistosomiasis control program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A MYCL1 single nucleotide polymorphism, rs3134613, has been reported to play an important role in many cancers. However, its involvement in gastric cancer is controversial. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of rs3134613 on the development and progression of gastric cancer in a southeast Chinese population. Genotypes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 317 gastric cancer patients and 200 cancer-free controls. Data show that the risk of diffuse-type gastric cancer in carriers with the T allele (T/T or G/T genotype) was higher than that in carriers with the G/G genotype (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.601, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.431-4.895, p = 0.003). The risk of diffuse-type gastric cancer in T allele carriers was higher than that in G allele carriers (adjusted OR = 1.594, 95% CI = 1.157-2.286, p = 0.009). The risk of poorly differentiated cancer in carriers with the T allele (T/T or G/T genotype) was higher than that in carriers with the G/G genotype (adjusted OR = 1.963, 95% CI = 1.156-3.325, p = 0.015). The results demonstrate that rs3134613 is associated with susceptibility to diffuse-type gastric cancer and with differentiation of gastric cancer. rs3134613 may be used as a potential marker to identify individuals who are at high risk of diffuse-type gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2007 discovery of fragmentary human remains (two molars and an anterior mandible) at Zhirendong (Zhiren Cave) in South China provides insight in the processes involved in the establishment of modern humans in eastern Eurasia. The human remains are securely dated by U-series on overlying flowstones and a rich associated faunal sample to the initial Late Pleistocene, >100 kya. As such, they are the oldest modern human fossils in East Asia and predate by >60,000 y the oldest previously known modern human remains in the region. The Zhiren 3 mandible in particular presents derived modern human anterior symphyseal morphology, with a projecting tuber symphyseos, distinct mental fossae, modest lateral tubercles. and a vertical symphysis; it is separate from any known late archaic human mandible. However, it also exhibits a lingual symphyseal morphology and corpus robustness that place it close to later Pleistocene archaic humans. The age and morphology of the Zhiren Cave human remains support a modern human emergence scenario for East Asia involving dispersal with assimilation or populational continuity with gene flow, It also places the Late Pleistocene Asian emergence of modern humans in a pre-Upper Paleolithic context and raises issues concerning the long-term Late Pleistocene coexistence of late archaic and early modern humans across Eurasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Rabies is invariably a fatal encephalomyelitis that is considered to be a serious public health problem. It is necessary to develop standard rabies virus diagnostic tools, especially for diagnosing the strains prevalent in China Methods: Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to rabies virus were produced and characterized by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), isotyping, affinity assay, immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and immunocytochemistry. The MAb, whose affinity was higher for antigen, was used to establish an antigen capture-ELISA (AC-ELISA) detection system and test the efficiency by using clinical samples. Results: The heavy chain subclasses of two MAbs were all determined to be IgG2a. The 3C7 MAb showed stronger reactivity with rabies virus protein than the 2C5 MAb in an ELISA analysis, whereas the 3C7 MAb showed the highest affinity for antigen. IFA and immunocytochemistry results also indicated that the two MAbs could recognize rabies virus protein in its native form in cell samples. Data obtained using clinical samples showed that rabies virus could be detected by AC-ELISA detection system using the 3C7 MAb. Conclusion: It was potentially useful for the further development of highly sensitive, easily handled, and relatively rapid detection kits/tools for rabies surveillance in those areas where rabies is endemic, especially in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to verify the rationality and security of anchorage zone arrangement between beam and cable for a cable-stayed bridge with steel box girder, the stress state and distribution in anchorage zone of Hangzhou Bay Bridge was studied. The finite element simulation was employed to model the anchorage zone, the stress distribution of some structural members was investigated, and the load-carrying performance of this structure was evaluated. The results of simulation were verified by the reduced scale model test of anchorage zone for Hangzhou Bay Bridge with the scale of 1:3. The theoretical and experimental analyses indicate that the stress distribution and transimission for structural members in anchorage zone are are reasonable and smoothly with, satisfying carrying capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined compound awareness in relation to Chinese children's vocabulary acquisition and character reading. Two aspects of compound awareness were investigated: the ability to identify the head of a compound noun and the ability to construct a new compound word from familiar morphemes. The compound awareness tasks, along with rapid automatized naming (RAN) and phonological awareness tasks, were administered to 29 first graders and 30 second graders in Mainland China. Results show that (1) compound awareness develops relatively early among Chinese children and improves with age, (2) compound awareness explains unique variance in vocabulary and character reading, after controlling for age, RAN, and phonological awareness, and (3) the contribution made by compound awareness to vocabulary is much larger than the contribution made by phonological awareness. These results demonstrate that compound awareness plays a central role in Chinese children's literacy development, particularly in vocabulary acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To compare two post-abortion family planning (FP) service packages on contraceptive use and repeat abortion rate among young women in three cities in China. Methods In this cluster-randomized trial, one FP service package included provision of limited information and referral to existing FP services, and the other, more comprehensive, package consisted - in addition to the above simple package - of individual counselling, free provision of contraceptive materials, and involvement of the male partner. Eight matched pairs of hospitals were certified by centralized randomization. Women undergoing abortion were followed up for six months, and data were collected in two rounds, before and after the intervention. Results We followed a total of 2336 women younger than 25 years (555 before and 555 after the simple intervention package; 634 before and 592 after the comprehensive intervention package). Both packages increased use of any contraceptive method, but the comprehensive approach also increased use of more effective methods. Odds ratios for consistent and correct use of condoms were 2.32 (95% confidence interval 1.55-3.46) and 2.78 (1.81-4.26), respectively, compared with the simple package. The rates of unwanted pregnancies and repeat abortions were somewhat reduced for both packages, with no significant statistical difference between them. Conclusion Couples who received the comprehensive post-abortion FP service appear to use more effective contraceptive methods and show better compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the incidence of, predisposing factors for, and the rates and relative risks of mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in pediatric patients. A prospective study in 12 consecutive months from 2004 to 2005 in 25 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). ARDS was diagnosed according to the 1994 American–European Consensus Conference definitions, applied to all severely ill admissions between 1 month and 14 years of age. The PICUs were in major municipalities and provincial cities, and half were university affiliated. From a total of 12,018 admissions, 7,269 were severely ill. One hundred and five (1.44%) patients developed ARDS and 64 (61.0%) died, which accounts for 13.2%, of the total ICU death ( n = 485, 6.7%) or a nine times relative risk of dying. The median age at onset of ARDS was 24 months and 40% were less than 12 month old. Median time from PICU admission to the onset of ARDS was 16 h, and in 63% <24 h. Pneumonia (55.2%) and sepsis (22.9%) were the major predisposing factors for ARDS. These were respectively 14 and 5 times as high a death rate as those of the severely ill patients without ARDS. ARDS has a high mortality in these Chinese PICUs, especially in those with pneumonia and sepsis, and adequate management including lung protective ventilation strategy is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Influencing factors of urban resilience are identified under 4R framework. • Interaction mechanisms of influencing factors are analyzed by DEMATEL-ISM method. • Influencing path among 4R dimensions of urban resilience are proposed. • Factors of resourcefulness are fundamental to influence urban resilience. • Factors of robustness and rapidity are direct to influence urban resilience. With an increase in disturbance in cities, improving urban resilience has become a global consensus in order to achieve sustainable urban development. As the largest developing country in the world, China must improve its urban resilience to withstand various threats during its rapid development. Therefore, it is critical to identify key influencing factors and their influencing mechanisms on urban resilience in China. To achieve this objective, this study identified 12 key influencing factors through literature review and Delphi method under a 4R (i.e., robustness, rapidity, redundancy, and resourcefulness) framework, and used the DEMATEL and ISM methods to investigate their influencing mechanisms. The results indicate that: 1) Policy system is the most important cause factor and resource allocation is the most important effect factor; 2) Factors of resourcefulness are fundamental factors influencing urban resilience. Factors of robustness and rapidity are direct factors influencing urban resilience; 3) There are five influencing paths of influencing factors among the 4R dimensions. Resourcefulness could directly influence robustness, redundancy and rapidity. Redundancy could directly influence robustness and rapidity. In the end, three implications are proposed, including improving the policy system, strengthening the assessment of urban resilience, and integrating resilience concept into the urban system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collaborative planning idea (CPI) received wide attention from Chinese academics and planners when it was introduced in the late 1990s. The ongoing socio-economic transition in China has provided a fertile ground to accept, accommodate and develop CPI, exemplifying a transnational flow of planning ideas from the Anglosphere towards the non-English-speaking world. While the reception of CPI in China initiated three decades ago, the diffusion, interpretation, reception, and impacts of it are as yet understudied. To fill this gap, this article adopts a three-part step analysis: diffusion, interpretation and reception (in practice). Though inspired by Western scholars such as Healey and Innes, Chinese scholars may also be influenced by the unique governance context of China, as well as their own research backgrounds and interests, as they seek to (re)conceptualise CPI within a Chinese context, and therefore, specific interpretations of CPI in China mark distinctions from original works (e.g. mixing up collaborative planning and communicative planning and over-emphasising public participation). In practice, CPI is more operational at the macro- and micro-level non-statutory planning rather than meso-level statutory planning. However, recent attempts have been made to institutionalise CPI and facilitate the potential of extending the collaborative approach into statutory planning or beyond the realm of traditional planning. • This article analyses the diffusion, interpretation and reception of the collaborative planning idea (CPI) in China. • Chinese scholars may (re)conceptualise CPI subject to the unique governance context and their research backgrounds and interests. • Interpretations of CPI by Chinese scholars show divergences from original works. • Currently, CPI is more operational within non-statutory planning at the macro- and micro-level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Association between long-term exposure to multiple metals and obesity remains inconclusive, and prospective evidence on the region along the Yangtze River was limited. Thus, our study aimed to examine the association of multiple metal exposure and obesity. We measured baseline urine levels of 22 metals of 982 adults living along the Yangtze River, incidence of obesity was calculated from body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) measured at follow-up survey. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between urinary metals and obesity, and the mixing effect of metals on obesity was estimated by using quantile g-computation. In multiple-metal models, arsenic was significantly associated with BMI/obesity, with the HR in the highest quartiles of 0.33 (95% CI: 0.16, 0.69; p -trend = 0.004). The HRs for WC/obesity of arsenic and molybdenum were 0.49 (95% CI: 0.32, 0.75 for the fourth vs. first quartile; p -trend = 0.002) and 1.83 (95% CI: 1.25, 2.70; p -trend = 0.001), respectively. Quantile g-computation mixtures approach showed a significantly negative joint effect of multiple metals on WC/obesity, with the HR of 0.26 (95% CI: 0.14, 0.47; p < 0.001) when increasing all seventeen metals by one quartile. Our study suggests that all seventeen metal mixed exposure may be negatively associated with obesity. Further cohort studies are needed to confirm these findings and clarify the underlying biological mechanisms. [Display omitted] • A prospective cohort study was conducted along the Yangtze River. • Arsenic and molybdenum were associated with obesity in multi-metal models. • Quantile g-computation was used to evaluate the joint effect of the metal mixtures. • Seventeen metals mixed exposure was negatively related to the risk of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]