Search

Under the government-to-government cooperation framework, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on China–Singapore International Land–Sea Trade Corridor (C–S-ILSTC) between Singapore and Chongqing has been signed in 2018, with the objective to improve the connectivity between Southeast Asia and Western China region via the Beibu Gulf port. C–S-ILSTC provides a new and efficient intermodal freight transportation route choice, which is expected to reconstruct the regional intermodal container transportation network. In this study, we formulate a discrete route choice model based on stated preference survey to analyse the route choice behaviour between Southeast Asia and western China region under the intermodal container transport network with C–S-ILSTC. Based on the modelling results, we further discuss the impact of significant route choice influential factors, such as transit time, shipping fee, cargo type, historical experience of using the route, company size, annual throughput, and business area. In addition, descriptive statistics and word cloud analysis are provided to investigate respondents' underlying attitudes on the most important route choice influential factors. Scenario analysis is further conducted to demonstrate the impact of subsidy on respondents' willingness to switch to the newly introduced C–S-ILSTC for freight transportation. The results provide policy implications on improving the utilisation rate of C–S-ILSTC. • Analyse the route choice behaviour regarding C–S-ILSTC. • Formulate a discrete route choice model based on stated preference survey. • Investigate the impact of significant route choice influential factors. • Scenario analysis on the impact of subsidy. • Provide policy implications on improving the utilisation rate of C–S-ILSTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The China–Singapore International Land–Sea Trade Corridor (C-S-ILSTC) was officially proposed in 2018, under the government-to-government framework of the China–Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity. C-S-ILSTC is expected to play an important role in the international trade and connectivity between Western China and Southeast Asia, where Chongqing serves as the logistics hub in Western China, and Singapore is a transshipment hub for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. This paper aims to analyse the newly formed intermodal freight container transport network in the context of C-S-ILSTC and China–Singapore/ASEAN region quantitatively from both supply and demand sides, and investigate C-S-ILSTC's advantages and disadvantages. For the demand side analysis, the results show that the trade volume between China and ASEAN countries is forecasted to consistently increase in recent years, and the most commonly traded cargo types between China and ASEAN have also been identified. For the supply side analysis, we examine the infrastructure and development status of the essential nodes along C-S-ILSTC. In addition, we also compare C-S-ILSTC with the conventional intermodal container transport routes connecting Western China and Southeast Asia, and discuss the development prospect of C-S-ILSTC. The results of this study could provide policy implications for the development of C-S-ILSTC and the cooperation between China and ASEAN region. • Research on the newly formed intermodal freight container transport network • Quantitative analysis from both supply and demand sides • Investigate the advantages and disadvantages of C-S-ILSTC • Discuss the development prospect of C-S-ILSTC • Provide policy implications for C-S-ILSTC development and regional cooperation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crucial role that Xinjiang played in cultural communication across the Eurasian steppe in prehistory is evidenced by the large number of copper‐based objects that represent the early metallurgical technologies found across this region. Our research adds new chemical and isotopic analyses of 44 copper‐based objects dated to the early Iron Age of Ili in Xinjiang, western China. As noted in a number of publications, tin bronze and arsenic copper/bronze were the dominant alloying types across Xinjiang during the second and first millennium BC, whereas some specific types of objects such as cauldrons are often made from pure copper. The western Tianshan Mountain, including the well‐known mining site Nulasai, is the most likely copper source for the Ili metalworking. Meanwhile, a combination of lead isotopes, lead concentrations and trace elemental data reveals new evidence for the mixing and recycling of different sources of copper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Lawns as habitats for plants and pollinators in a Chinese megacity were studied. • Lower-input management and more green areas around urban lawns increase floristic diversity. • Lawns and perennial meadows are dominated by exotic and even invasive species. • Flowering plant species richness is determinant for pollinator species diversity. • The flowers of some native forbs are attractive to wild bees and hoverflies. Abstract Green spaces are important refuges for biodiversity in urban areas, and lawns are one of the most widespread elements of urban green spaces globally. Chinese cities have adopted the use of lawns relatively lately and are currently experiencing a rapid increase in lawn area. In order to obtain knowledge and develop recommendations related to planning, design, and management of lawns in public parks, this study compared lawns with other three types of herbaceous vegetation in terms of plant and pollinator diversity and composition, using Xi'an City as a case study. Plants and pollinators were inventoried in 72 lawns, 12 perennial meadows, 15 Ophiopogon japonicus groundcovers, and eight Oxalis corymbosa groundcovers. Plant species diversity in lawns was positively associated with proportion of green space around lawns and lawn age, and negatively associated with frequency of use of chemical fertilizers. Proportion of native plant species in lawns was negatively associated with use frequency of chemical fertilizers and mowing frequency, and positively associated with irrigation frequency and lawn size. Pollinator species diversity is positively related to flowering plant species richness in all vegetation types. In order to enhance plant and pollinator species diversity, less mowing and chemical use on lawns are recommended. Future urban planning should also consider preserving and increasing the green area coverage within the city. Based on abundance and attractiveness to pollinators, several native herbaceous plant species have potential when creating alternative green spaces to lawns, but more studies are required to test their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the level of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of lung cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and analyze its influencing factors., Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted. From April 2022 to March 2023, 560 lung cancer patients receiving ICIs at three medical bases in Guangzhou, China were recruited using a convenient sampling method. A general information questionnaire, the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire (MCMQ) were used for collecting data on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, HRQOL, social support and medical coping mode. A descriptive analysis was conducted to describe HRQOL. Multiple regression analysis was applied to determine the factors influencing HRQOL., Results: For lung cancer patients receiving ICIs, the mean score of HRQOL was 59.21 ± 19.86. Multivariate analysis indicated that acceptance-resignation coping mode (β = -0.37, P < 0.01), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score (β = -0.35, P < 0.01), combination of chemotherapy and/or bevacizumab (β = -0.14, P < 0.01), and subjective support (β = 0.07, P = 0.04) all contributed to 42.7% of the variance in HRQOL of the patients receiving ICIs., Conclusions: It is imperative to address and resolve the HRQOL issue for lung cancer patients receiving ICIs. The findings suggest nurse practitioners should be aware of a variety of factors that influence HRQOL and provide tailored inventions to patients as early as possible to help them achieve better HRQOL., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)