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Teacher self-efficacy plays an important role in special education; yet, the literature on the measurement of teacher self-efficacy in this field is limited. This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale with a sample of Chinese special education teachers (N = 401, 24.19% male). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the Chinese special educational version of the Teacher's Sense of Efficacy Scale (CS-TSES), modified from the Asian model by Ruan, J., Nie, Y., Hong, J., Monobe, G., Zheng, G., Kambara, H., & You, S. (2015). Cross-cultural validation of teachers' sense of efficacy scale in three Asian countries. "Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment," 33(8), 769-779, showed an excellent fit. Additionally, correlations were observed between the results of the CS-TSES and both the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Satisfaction with Life Scale, providing criterion-related validity. In sum, the findings indicated that the TSES is applicable to special education teachers in the Chinese context.

Camellia oleifera is a woody oil crop with the highest oil yield and the largest cultivation area in China, and C. oleifera seed oil is a high-quality edible oil recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The objectives of this study were to investigate the variation in fruit yield traits and seed chemical compositions of wild C. oleifera in China and to identify the differences between wild C. oleifera and cultivated varieties. In this study, we collected wild C. oleifera samples from 13 sites covering the main distribution areas of wild C. oleifera to comprehensively evaluate 25 quantitative traits of wild C. oleifera fruit and seed chemical compositions and collected data of 10 quantitative traits from 434 cultivated varieties for a comparative analysis of the differences between wild and cultivars. The results showed that the coefficients of variation of the 25 quantitative traits of wild C. oleifera ranged from 2.605% to 156.641%, with an average of 38.569%. The phenotypic differentiation coefficients ranged from 25.003% to 99.911%, with an average of 77.894%. The Shannon–Wiener index (H') ranged from 0.195 to 1.681. Based on the results of principal component analysis (PCA) and phenotypic differentiation coefficients, 10 traits differed significantly between wild C. oleifera and cultivated varieties, while the differentiation coefficients (VST) for fresh fruit weight, oleic acid, unsaturated fatty acids, stearic acid, and saturated fatty acids were more than 95%, of which fresh fruit weight and oleic acid content were potential domestication traits of C. oleifera. The results of this study can contribute to the efficient excavation and utilization of wild C. oleifera genetic resources for C. oleifera breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of damage zones around a fault has long been regarded as a frontier and hot spot in the field of geoscience but is still not fully understood. In this study, we conducted field investigations and tests around the Xianshuihe fault zone (XSHF), a left-lateral strike-slip fault with a length of about 400 km located in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The results reveal that the fracture frequency and rock strength parameters present a spatially asymmetric distribution along the fault and have a negative power-law correlation with the distance from the fault. The widths of the damage zones are approximately 20.8 km and 17.1 km in the southwest and northeast directions, respectively. Combined with the previous studies, we presented a negative power-law function to depict the correlation between slip displacement and the width of the damage zone and found that the growth rate of damage zone in faults with low displacement is greater than that in those with large displacement. The study demonstrates that the asymmetric distribution of the damage zone surrounding the XSHF is mainly due to the stress redistribution in different damage zones stemming from the left echelon and different activity rates of the blocks on both sides of the XSHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces an innovative outdoor nephelometer system designed to monitor the dynamic hygroscopic behavior of aerosols in ambient air. Field measurements conducted in the Pearl River Delta region of China unveil significant roles of relative humidity (RH) swings on aerosol phase states. Highlighting the occurrence of aerosol crystallization in the afternoon followed by gradual deliquescence as RH increases, particularly when minimum afternoon RH drops below 35%, with no such behavior observed when it exceeds 40%. Emphasizing that aerosol phase states are shaped not only by RH and chemical composition but also by their RH history, illustrating that RH levels of 70% in the morning or evening may correspond to fully dissolved metastable or partially dissolved metastable states of ambient aerosols. These findings underscore the need to account for RH history when predicting aerosol phase states and have broader implications for comprehending aerosol behavior and its atmospheric impacts. Plain Language Summary: This research introduces a new device to study how tiny particles called atmospheric aerosols in the air behave when they encounter moisture. We tested it in a region of China and discovered that relative humidity fluctuations from morning to evening impact significantly on phase state of atmospheric aerosols. In the afternoon, some of the particles might become solid, like tiny crystals, and later turn into liquid gradually as humidity increases. This phenomenon occurs when the afternoon minimum relative humidity is low, below 35%, but does not take place when it exceeds 40%. Suggesting that relative humidity history matters for aerosol phase. For example, relative humidity of 70% in the morning or evening, particles may be in a liquid or semi‐liquid state. This study helps us understand phase changes of atmospheric particles and their effects on our environment. Key Points: Innovative outdoor nephelometer system was developed to monitor aerosol hygroscopic behavior in ambient airAerosol crystallization in the afternoon followed by gradual deliquescence observedRelative humidity history plays significant roles in determining aerosol phase state [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone (O3) pollution research and management in China have mainly focused on anthropogenic emissions, while the importance of natural processes is often overlooked. With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, the role of natural processes in exacerbating O3 pollution is gaining attention. In September 2022, the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in southern China experienced an extended period (25 d) of regional O3 exceedances and high temperatures (second highest over last 2 decades) due to extreme weather conditions influenced by the subtropical high and typhoon peripheries. Employing an integrated approach involving field measurements, machine learning and numerical model simulations, we investigated the impact of weather-induced natural processes on O3 pollution by considering meteorological factors, natural emissions, chemistry pathways and atmospheric transport. The hot weather intensified the emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) by ∼10 %. Isoprene and biogenic formaldehyde accounted for 47 % of the in situ O3 production, underscoring the predominant role of BVOC emissions in natural processes. The chemical pathway of isoprene contributing to O3 formation was further explored, with O3 production more attributable to the further degradation of early generation isoprene oxidation products (contributed 64.5 %) than the direct isoprene oxidation itself (contributed 35.5 %). Besides, it was found that the hot weather significantly promoted regional photochemical reactions, with meteorological factors contributing to an additional 10.8 ppb of O3 levels compared to normal conditions. Temperature was identified as the dominant meteorological factor. Furthermore, the typhoon nearing landfall significantly enhanced the cross-regional transport of O3 from northern to southern China through stratosphere–troposphere exchange (STE). The CAM-Chem model simulations revealed that the STE-induced O3 on the PRD surface could reach a maximum of ∼8 ppb, highlighting the non-negligible impact of STE. This study highlights the importance of natural processes exacerbated by extreme weather events in O3 pollution and provides valuable insights into O3 pollution control under global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to achieve a win-win situation between environment protection and economic development in the process of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) has always been a major issue of Chinese enterprises. In recent years, China has paid unprecedented attention to environmental protection, and issued relevant policies to encourage enterprises to abide by the host country's environmental regulations and fulfil their environmental protection-related responsibilities in the process of going global. However, the influence of the host country's environmental regulations on the enterprises' risk preference of multinational investment (MIRP) has not received the attention it deserves. This article makes an empirical analysis on how the host country's environmental regulations affect the MIRP by using the sample of China's A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2019, and emphatically tests the mediating roles of enterprises' green technology innovation, environmental information disclosure and corporate environmental responsibility, and the moderating role of shareholder protection policies. It is found that, on the whole, the host country's environmental regulations will inhibit the MIRP by accelerating enterprises' green technology innovation, increasing the level of environmental information disclosure and promoting environmental responsibility. Besides, the shareholder protection policies of the host countries can positively moderate the influence of the host country's environmental regulations on the MIRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone (O3) pollution research and management in China have mainly focused on anthropogenic emissions, while the importance of natural processes is often overlooked. With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, the role of natural processes in exacerbating O3 pollution is gaining attention. In September 2022, the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in South China experienced an extended period (25 days) of regional O3 exceedances and high temperatures (2nd highest over last 2 decades) due to extreme weather conditions influenced by the Subtropical High and typhoon peripheries. Employing an integrated approach involving field measurements, machine learning, and numerical model simulations, we investigated the impact of weather-induced natural processes on O3 pollution by considering meteorological factors, natural emissions, chemistry pathways, and atmospheric transport. It was found that the hot weather significantly promoted regional photochemical reactions, with meteorological factors contributing to an additional 10.8 ppb of O3 levels compared to normal conditions. Temperature was identified as the dominant factor influencing O3 pollution. The hot weather also intensified the emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds by ~10 %. Notably, isoprene and biogenic formaldehyde accounted for about half of the in-situ O3 production. The chemical mechanism of isoprene contributing to O3 formation was further explored, with O3 production more attributable to the further degradation of early generation isoprene oxidation products than the direct isoprene oxidation itself. Furthermore, the typhoon nearing landfall significantly enhanced the cross-regional transport of O3 from northern to southern China through stratosphere-to-troposphere exchange (STE). The CAM-Chem model simulations revealed that the STE-induced O3 on the PRD surface could reach a maximum of ~ 8 ppb, highlighting the non-negligible impact of STE. This study highlights the importance of natural processes exacerbated by extreme weather events in O3 pollution and provides valuable insights for O3 pollution control under global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the Health Code (Chinese: 健康码), a digital contact tracing application used in Mainland China during the COVID-19 pandemic, and examines the process and impact of its entry into users' lives and gradual infrastructuralisation within the field of internet infrastructure research. Results show that techno-nationalism was the basis for the inception, implementation, and development of the Health Code. Furthermore, the Health Code has gradually transformed from an early digital health credential into a type of 'access infrastructure' by linking physical, information, and communication infrastructure. As access infrastructure, the relationship between the Health Code and users was a tense one, with users actively engaging in 'micro-help' on social media platforms and performing 'soft-resistance' on psychological and operational levels. Concurrently, the Health Code was embedded into users' usage habits and social culture, becoming a shared memory and potential digital infrastructure for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emission controls have substantially brought down aerosol pollution in China; however, aerosol mass reductions have slowed down in recent years in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, where secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation poses a major challenge for air quality improvement. In this study, we characterized the roles of SOA in haze formation in urban Guangzhou in the PRD using year-long aerosol mass spectrometer measurements for the first time and discussed possible pathways of SOA formations. On average, organic aerosols (OA) contribute dominantly (50 %) to nonrefractory submicron aerosol mass (NR-PM 1). The average mass concentration of SOA (including by less- and more-oxidized OA, LOOA and MOOA) contributed most to NR-PM 1 , reaching about 1.7 times that of primary organic aerosols (POA, including hydrocarbon-like and cooking-related OA) and accounting for 32 % of NR-PM 1 , even more than sulfate (22 %) and nitrate (16 %). Seasonal variations of NR-PM 1 revealed that haze-formation mechanisms differed much among distinct seasons. Sulfate mattered more than nitrate in fall, while nitrate was more important than sulfate in spring and winter, with SOA contributing significantly to haze formations in all the seasons. Daytime SOA formation was weak in winter under low oxidant levels and air relative humidity, whereas prominent daytime SOA formation was observed in fall, spring and summer almost on a daily basis, suggesting important roles of photochemistry in SOA formations. Further analysis showed that the coordination of gas-phase photochemistry and subsequent aqueous-phase reactions likely played significant roles in quick daytime SOA formations. Obvious nighttime SOA formations were also frequently observed in spring, fall and winter, and it was found that daytime and nighttime SOA formations together had resulted in the highest SOA concentrations in these seasons and contributed substantially to severe haze formations. Simultaneous increases in nitrate with SOA after sunset suggested the important roles of NO 3 radical chemistry in nighttime SOA formations, and this was further confirmed by a continuous increase in the NO + / NO 2+ fragment ratio that related to measured particulate nitrate after sunset. The findings of this study have promoted our understanding of haze pollution characteristics of the PRD and laid down future directions for investigations of SOA-formation mechanisms in urban areas of southern China that share similar emission sources and meteorological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reservoirs in the dolomites of the Middle Permian Qixia Formation in the Sichuan Basin are currently important oil and gas exploration objects in China. However, the questions concerning the sources of the dolomitized fluids and the control factors of the Qixia hydrothermal dolomites remain unclear. In this study, the original hydrothermal dolomites (the replacement dolomites (RDs) and saddle dolomites (SDs)) from the Qixia Formation in the southwestern Sichuan Basin (the PR1 well and Baoxing section) were mainly examined using novel in situ carbonate U-Pb dating with clumped isotopes (∆47). Our results show that the U-Pb ages of the latest SDs from the PR1 well (located in the middle zone of the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP) and distanced from the Orogenic Belt of Longmenshan) are 257.9–251.0 Ma, coincident with the period of main activity of the ELIP. Combined with the previous U-Pb dating, we propose that the high-temperature T∆47 (82.2–108.4 °C and 127.5–205.9 °C) recorded for SDs from the PR1 well and Baoxing section may have responded to ELIP activity and Longmenshan orogeny activity, respectively. In addition, in the entire southwestern Sichuan Basin, the RDs and SDs yield similar δ13C and δ18O values, indicating that the dolomites were formed by hydrothermal fluids of similar sources, with marine hydrothermal fluids being a highly possible source. Finally, this study proposes a new hydrothermal dolomite genesis model for the Qixia Formation, emphasizing that the formation of hydrothermal dolomites mainly depends on the proximity to tectonic thermal events in space and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest Precambrian gasfield in China has been found from the Ediacaran (Sinian) carbonates in the central Sichuan Basin. The deep ancient reservoirs were generally attributed to the high-energy mound-shoal body in the carbonate platform. However, there is still little understanding on the distribution of the mound-shoal bodies that hampers further gas exploitation from the deep subsurface. Based on the seismic data, a large strike-slip fault system was identified by new 3D seismic data in the central Sichuan Basin. Further, it was found that the strike-slip fault had some effects on the mound-shoal bodies of the Ediacaran Dengying Formation. First, the platform margin was divided by strike-slip faults into three distinct segments to show two weak-rimmed margins and one interbedded rimmed margin. Second, the platform margin could be offset or migrated with the strike-slip faults. Third, there is varied margin thickness across the strike-slip fault zone. In the inner platform, more carbonate mound-shoal bodies developed behind the weak-rimmed margin that was divided by the strike-slip fault zones. In addition, the mound-shoal bodies may be separated by faulted sag. Further, the mound-shoal bodies may have developed along the faulted higher position in one side of the strike-slip fault zone. These patterns of the mound-shoal bodies suggest that the strike-slip fault had an important role in the sedimentary microfacies' diversity in the intracratonic carbonates. The low displacement of the strike-slip fault is chiefly responsible for a weaker controlling effect on the microfacies change in the intracratonic basin rather than other tectonic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to further reveal the tectonic activity of the central and northern North China Craton (NCC) since late Paleozoic, the Datong coal-bearing basin was selected as the research object. The tectono-thermal events and uplifting cooling events of the basin were retrieved through zircon and apatite fission tracks and vitrinite reflectance measurements. The research shows that the Datong coal-bearing basin experienced three tectono-thermal events with ages of 245–207 Ma (middle–late Triassic), 179 ± 9 Ma (early Jurassic), and 140 Ma to 78 ± 11 Ma (middle–late Cretaceous), respectively. That just coincides with the lamprophyre activity, Kouquan fault activity, and Zuoyun basaltic andesite magmatic activity which surround the Datong coalfield. The basin also experienced three uplift events with the peak ages of 202 ± 18 Ma (late Triassic), 157 ± 7 Ma (late Jurassic), and 45 ± 3 Ma or 36 ± 3 Ma (middle Eocene), respectively. The Datong Permo-Carboniferous and Jurassic coal vitrinite reflectance proved that the average metamorphism temperature is 104–108 °C, even reaching 163–367 °C. The fission track results showed that the paleotemperature was even higher than 170–250 °C from 117 to 282 Ma and 80–120 °C from 20 to 68 Ma, in the Datong coal-bearing basin. The results show that the deep tectonic activities of the NCC were still active in the Mesozoic and even Cenozoic Paleogene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the close cultural exchanges between China and Japan, the demand and quality of Japanese talents are gradually increasing. Traditional Japanese teaching modes and measures cannot meet the basic requirements. With the rapid development of network multimedia technology and virtual reality technology, in the process of Japanese teaching, virtual reality technology is used to reform the traditional teaching mode and to improve the quality of Japanese teaching. Based on virtual reality technology, this paper studies the online Japanese teaching mode, analyses the characteristics of Japanese teaching, combines modern information technology to assist teaching, comprehensively improves the quality of Japanese teaching, and improves the traditional Japanese teaching mode. By describing the concept, basic features, and components of the AR system in detail and by introducing the virtual construction method based on the geometric model, this paper improves the traditional Japanese teaching mode and establishes the online Japanese teaching mode. Finally, the online Japanese teaching mode for one semester is applied in colleges and universities to analyze whether this mode can improve students' interest in Japanese learning and the effect of Japanese learning. The results show that 59% of the students using this mode expressed an increased interest in Japanese learning, while only 25.8% of the students not using this mode showed an increased interest in Japanese learning. 72% of students indicated that they could improve their oral Japanese performance after using this model, while 45% of students who did not use this model could improve their oral Japanese performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban wetlands are undergoing intensive conversion from natural wetlands to farmlands, woodlands, and even alkaline land. This study aimed to determine the effects of land conversion on soil microbial communities of urban wetlands in the hinterland of Songnen Plain, Northeastern China. Soil samples were collected from various sites of Longfeng wetland, including swamp wetland (SW), meadow wetland (MW), woodland (WL), farmland (FL), and alkaline land (AL). High-throughput sequencing followed by bioinformatic analysis was conducted to evaluate the structure, composition, and function of soil bacterial and fungal communities. The most dominant bacterial and fungal phylum among the land-use types were Proteobacteria and Ascomycota, respectively. In addition, the bacterial diversity and functions varied significantly across different land-use types. However, no remarkable differences in fungal communities were observed under various land-use types. Edaphic parameters, including exchange sodium percent (ESP) and total nitrogen (TN), remarkably influenced the abundance and diversity of soil microbial communities. These results show that land-use type shapes various aspects of soil microbial communities, including soil physicochemical properties, microbial taxa structure, potential functional genes, and correlation with environmental factors. This study provides reliable data to guide land use management and supervision by decision-makers in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A landslide always results from a progressive process of slope deformation. In recent years, an increasing number of slope instabilities have occurred with regard to human engineering activities such as hydropower or traffic construction in mountainous area, which cause even greater casualties and economic loss compared with the natural hazards. The development of such earth surface process may hold long period with mechanisms still not fully understood. Using monitoring technology is an effective and intuitive approach to assist analyzing the slope deformation process and their driving factors. This study presents an engineering slope excavated during the construction of Changheba Hydropower Station, which is located in the upper reaches of Dadu River, Sichuan Province, southwest China. The engineering slope experienced and featured a five-year continuous deformation which caused continuous high risks to the engineering activities. We conducted in-depth analysis for such a long-term deformation process based on ground and subsurface monitoring data, collected successive data with a series of monitoring equipment such as automated total station, borehole inclinometers and other auxiliary apparatus, and identified the deformation process based on the comprehensive analysis of monitoring data as well as field investigation. After analyzing the effects of engineering activities and natural factors on the continuous deformation, we found that the overburden strata provided deformable mass while the excavation-produced steep terrain initiated the slope deformation in limit equilibrium state over a long period of time; afterwards, the intense rainwater accelerated slope deformation in the rainy season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gathering-transferring Pipeline 1 of the Puguang Gas Field employs a procedure that mixes gas and liquid for transportation. The inner wall of the pipeline is coated with a 0.1-mm-thick corrosion inhibitor film. Implementation of the corrosion inhibitor film procedure requires pigging during operation of the pipeline to sweep effusion and impurities out and ensure that the inner wall is fully coated. In on-site operations, pigging and filming are performed alternately. During "pigging + filming," the range of gas transmission fluctuation is 120–530×104 m3/day. These fluctuations severely affect the purification effect of the acidic gas remover in the purification plant and even affect the quality of the sulfur content. Therefore, an optimal pigging approach is proposed to decrease pigging and filming time and minimize the influences of these two operations on subsequent purification. It requires completion of pigging within the shortest time possible and simultaneous deposition of the corrosion inhibitor film on upstream and downstream pipelines. These requirements reduce the time for these operations to 15.38 h and the time for gas transmission fluctuation to 6.16 h. With the proposed optimal pigging approach, the amount of effusion in the downstream pipeline rises, enabling throttling in some low-lying areas which induces ice blockage. For smooth optimal pigging, use of a portable device that can drain the effusion from low-lying areas to prevent ice blockage is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of the most seismically active aeras of China and rock mass structures or geological structure are also complex here. Earthquake-induced geological disasters are occurred frequently in this region. Among them, plane failure is often generated on bedding rock slope especially in destructive area of the Wenchuan earthquake which caused numerous casualties and serious economic loss. To reveal failure mechanism of bedding rock slope, this paper studied the seismic response and investigated progressive failure characteristics of the bedding rock slope through a large-scale shaking table test. A bedding rock slope of 45° contained an unfilled joint set with spacing of 0.1 m that dipped at an angle of 34° out of the surface, was conducted in a rigid model box, with a length of 3.47 m, width of 0.68 m, and height of 1.2 m, respectively. A series of tests results show that acceleration amplification factor in horizontal direction (AAF-X) increases with the increase of the slope elevation and acceleration amplification factor in vertical direction (AAF-Z) amplifies at lower part of the slope. When the shaking intensities are over 0.2 g, the slope crest and its vicinity start to show nonlinear dynamic response. Existence of bedding planes let the isoline morphology of AAF-X redistribute and dominate the seismic amplification at the crest. The progressive failure progress of the model under earthquake can be divided into four stages. This novel experiment offers some important insights to mechanism of bedding plane landslides triggered by earthquakes, evaluation stability of slopes under earthquake, and disaster prevention and mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moisture gathering line of the Puguang Gas Field in China renders it prone to accumulating liquid at certain points due to topographic differences. Under operational conditions of pigging, liquid slug volumes, end drainage rates, and production separator surge volumes increase. Multiphase flow transient simulation software is used to study the P102 gas gathering station pigging process. The purging gas volume was measured to be 650×104 m3/day and the purging duration to be 30 min. The pigging liquid slug has been effectively controlled. When the spherical pig pushing volume reaches 190×104 m3/day , the terminal liquid slug flow peak has been declined from 2,264 to 1,634 m3/day , and the separator surge volume has been decreased from 49 to 38 m3. When a proportion integration differentiation (PID) controller is used rather than applying manual control, the emergent drainage time is reduced from 12 to 7 min. The bypass pigging system has been designed and improved, and the peak of terminal liquid slug flow has been reduced from 1,375 to 637 m3/day. The optimal bypass rate ranges from 6% to 8% to guide onsite pigging operations of the moisture gathering line of the Puguang Gas Field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Tarim Craton experienced both active and passive rifting during the Cryogenian. • The rift system shows a two-tiered architecture with narrow-deep Cryogenian grabens overlain by a broad Ediacaran depression. • Both active and passive rifting are thought to have been triggered by retreating subduction in the late Neoproterozoic. The Cryogenian-early Paleozoic succession in the Tarim Craton is generally regarded as a continuous rift sequence that followed the prolonged superplume-related breakup of Rodinia. However, the rift architecture and origin of the late Neoproterozoic basin are poorly known, but these are important for the understanding of the tectonic evolution of the basin and for the evaluation of the hydrocarbon potential. This paper aims to elucidate the rift architecture, distribution, origin and evolution of the late Neoproterozoic Tarim Basin by integrating outcrop investigations with well and seismic data. The late Neoproterozoic magma-rich active rifting primarily occurred in the northeastern part of the basin, whereas other areas experienced slightly younger magma-poor passive rifting. The Ediacaran succession overlaps in the northern basement uplift to show a pre-Ediacaran unconformity occurs in the northern Tarim Craton, while a sub-Cambrian unconformity traverses the entire Tarim Craton and presents a distinct truncation in the southern basement uplift. A tiered architecture exists in which narrow, deep Cryogenian grabens are overlain by a broad Ediacaran depression. Two NE-striking rift systems developed in the northeastern and southwestern Tarim. It can be inferred from the compiled data that the late Neoproterozoic rift basin evolution in the Tarim Craton can be divided into four stages: early Cryogenian rifting, late Cryogenian fault-graben, Ediacaran intracratonic depression, and end-Ediacaran regional uplifting. These results suggest that documented Neoproterozoic retreating subduction-related slab failure/detachment processes led to both active and passive rifting, which contributed to the diverse continental rift architecture and evolution of the late Neoproterozoic Tarim Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the watershed scale, soil erosion is a cascading system that includes detachment–transport–deposition processes while sediment yield is the net balance of detachment and deposition at the watershed outlet. Due to the temporal-spatial variations of rainfall and landscapes, the relationships between soil erosion and sediment yield are complex and non-linear. Soil erosion processes and sediment yield at the watershed scale have attracted widespread attention; however, few systematic studies have been performed. In this study, a bibliometric analysis and visualization are used to understand the global research status of soil erosion and sediment yield at the watershed scale and provide a reference for researchers to establish future research directions. The USA and China were the most active contributors and had the most publications and active institutions, while Jean Poesen, D.E. Walling, and Xingmin Mu were the top three lead authors in this field. A keyword evolution analysis showed that determining the relationship between soil erosion and the watershed landscape and identifying the sediment source and off-site environmental and ecological effects caused by soil erosion have attracted considerable research attention. Additionally, significant progress has been made in the study of "connectivity," and future research should integrate connectivity and soil erosion models to explain the soil erosion, sediment transport, and deposition processes at the watershed scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical methods are commonly employed to predict the PGA distribution of an earthquake and are widely used. However, current empirical methods assume the seismic source to be a point source, a line source, or a plane source, where the energy is concentrated and released uniformly. An empirical attenuation model of the near-field peak ground acceleration (PGA) was proposed that considers a nonuniform spatial distribution of seismic fault energy and its 3D scale. Then, this model was used to reconstruct the PGA distribution of the 2008 Wenchuan, China, Mw7.9 earthquake based on the data of a seismic fault model and ground acceleration records of the mainshock and aftershocks collected by seismic stations. The predicted PGA values show similar attenuation characteristics to the interpolated map of the PGA recorded by seismic stations. A comparison with the results of a finite-fault model developed by the USGS indicates that the proposed model can provide more details and give a more precise result in the near field. The analysis of landslides triggered by the Wenchuan earthquake demonstrates that the PGA distribution estimated by this model can be used to validate the findings of other researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time trends regarding the etiology of renal artery stenosis (RAS) are changing, but few investigations have focused on these issues. This study aimed to analyze the time trends regarding the etiology of RAS in a large patient sample from the China Center for Cardiovascular Disease. Consecutive inpatients with RAS from January 1999 to December 2016 were enrolled in this study. The etiologic diagnosis of RAS was based on established criteria. We retrospectively analyzed the time trends regarding the etiology of RAS during an 18-year period. A total of 2905 patients with RAS were enrolled. There were 2393 (82.4%) patients with atherosclerosis (AS), 345 (11.9%) with Takayasu arteritis (TA), 126 (4.3%) with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), and 41 (1.4%) with other causes. Among all patients (n = 2905), patients aged ≤ 40 years (n = 450), patients aged >40 years (n = 2455), female patients (n = 1097), male patients (n = 1808), female patients aged >40 years (n = 808), and male patients aged >40 years (n = 1647), there were a gradual increase in the proportion of atherosclerotic RAS (P < 0.05), a gradual decrease in the proportion of RAS caused by TA (P < 0.05), and almost no change in the proportion of RAS caused by FMD during the 18-year period (P > 0.05). The data show that the primary causes of RAS are AS, TA, and FMD. The proportion of RAS caused by AS and TA gradually increased and decreased, respectively, over time, and the proportion of RAS caused by FMD showed no significant change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triplophysa is an endemic fish genus of the Tibetan Plateau in China. Triplophysa tibetana, which lives at a recorded altitude of ~4,000 m and plays an important role in the highland aquatic ecosystem, serves as an excellent model for investigating high‐altitude environmental adaptation. However, evolutionary and conservation studies of T. tibetana have been limited by scarce genomic resources for the genus Triplophysa. In the present study, we applied PacBio sequencing and the Hi‐C technique to assemble the T. tibetana genome. A 652‐Mb genome with 1,325 contigs with an N50 length of 3.1 Mb was obtained. The 1,137 contigs were further assembled into 25 chromosomes, representing 98.7% and 80.47% of all contigs at the base and sequence number level, respectively. Approximately 260 Mb of sequence, accounting for ~39.8% of the genome, was identified as repetitive elements. DNA transposons (16.3%), long interspersed nuclear elements (12.4%) and long terminal repeats (11.0%) were the most repetitive types. In total, 24,372 protein‐coding genes were predicted in the genome, and ~95% of the genes were functionally annotated via a search in public databases. Using whole genome sequence information, we found that T. tibetana diverged from its common ancestor with Danio rerio ~121.4 million years ago. The high‐quality genome assembled in this work not only provides a valuable genomic resource for future population and conservation studies of T. tibetana, but it also lays a solid foundation for further investigation into the mechanisms of environmental adaptation of endemic fishes in the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports results from detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology, Hf isotopic geochemistry, sandstone modal analysis, and palaeocurrent analysis of the early Mesozoic strata within the Ningwu basin, China, with the aims of constraining the depositional ages and sedimentary provenances and shedding new light on the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the northcentral North China Craton (NCC). The zircons from early Mesozoic sandstones are characterized by three major populations: Phanerozoic (late Palaeozoic and early Mesozoic), late Palaeoproterozoic (with a peak at approximately 1.8 Ga), and Neoarchaean (with a peak at approximately 2.5 Ga). Notably, three Phanerozoic zircons in the Early Triassic Liujiagou Formation were found to have positive εHf(t) values and characteristics typical of zircons from the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Therefore, the CAOB began to represent the provenance of sediment in the sedimentary basins in the northern NCC no later than the Early Triassic (261 Ma), implying that the final amalgamation of the NCC and CAOB occurred before the Early Triassic. The U-Pb geochronologic and Hf isotopic results show that the Lower Middle Triassic sediments were mainly sourced from the Yinshan-Yanshan Orogenic Belt (YYOB), and that a sudden change in provenances occurred, shifting from a mixed YYOB and CAOB source in the Middle Jurassic to a primarily YYOB source in the Late Jurassic. The results of the sandstone modal analysis suggest that the majority of the samples from the Lower Middle Jurassic rocks were derived from either Continental Block or Recycled Orogen sources, whereas all the samples from the Upper Jurassic rocks were derived from Mixed sources. The change in source might be ascribed to the southward subduction and closure of the Okhotsk Ocean and the resulting intense uplift of the YYOB during the Late Jurassic. This uplift likely represents the start of the Yanshan Orogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The petrological, geochemical, and mineralogical composition of the Carboniferous-Permian coal deposit in the Jungar coalfield of inner Mongolia, Northwestern China, were investigated using optical microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX), as well as X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The Jungar coal is of high volatile C/B bituminous quality with 0.58% vitrinite reflectance and has a low sulfur content of 0.70% on average. Inertinite (mineral-free basis) generally dominates in coal from the lower part of the Shanxi formation, and vitrinite is the major maceral assemblage in the coal from the Taiyuan formation, which exhibits forms suggesting variation in the sedimentary environment. The Jungar coal is characterized by higher concentrations of copper (Cu) inNo. 6 coal, at 55 μg/g, and lead (Pb) inNo. 4 coal at 42 μg/g. Relative to the upper continental crust, the rare earth elements (REE) in the coal are characterized by light andmedium-heavy REE enrichment. Theminerals in the Jungar coal aremainly kaolinite, dickite, pyrite, calcite, siderite, quartz, and, to a lesser extent, gypsum and K-feldspar. The enrichment and occurrence of the trace elements, and of the minerals in the coal, are attributed to the fragmental parent rock during diagenesis and coalification. The main elements with high enrichment factors, Cu and Pb, overall exhibit a notably inorganic sulfide affinity and a weak organic affinity. Primary and epigenetic sedimentary environment and the lithology of the terrigenous parent rock are the key factors that influence the occurrence and formation of Cu and Pb in coal. The depositional environment is more influential in the formation of Cu than Pb in coal. Lead is more easily affected by the terrigenous factors than Cu when they are under a similar depositional environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liddle syndrome, an autosomal dominant form of monogenic hypertension, has been regarded as a rare disorder, which leads to many Liddle syndrome patients being misdiagnosed and experiencing severe complications at an early age. Little is known about the prevalence of Liddle syndrome. In this study, the authors investigated the prevalence of Liddle syndrome confirmed by genetic testing among young hypertension patients of undetermined causes in China. A total of 330 hypertensive patients aged 14 to 40 years after exclusion of common secondary causes of hypertension were enrolled and serum potassium concentrations were measured. Patients with hypokalemia underwent genetic testing of the 13th exon of genes encoding β and γ subunits of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Diagnosis was established by identification of mutations that destroy the PY motif of ENaC. Five patients were diagnosed with Liddle syndrome (prevalence, 1.52%), as well as 12 of their relatives. These patients with Liddle syndrome presented with an earlier onset of hypertension, a stronger family history of hypertension, and higher blood pressure than those with essential hypertension. All patients had hypokalemia and suppressed plasma renin activity. The results demonstrated that Liddle syndrome is an important etiology of hypertension in this young population. Screening of Liddle syndrome should focus on young hypertension patients, particularly those with early penetrance, hypokalemia, and low renin levels after exclusion of common secondary causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isoniazide (INH) is an important first-line drug that is used to treat tuberculosis. However, the effect of INH on fetal growth has not yet been elucidated, and the mechanism of INH-induced developmental toxicity is still unknown. In the present study, we employed zebrafish embryos and larvae to investigate the developmental toxicity of INH. The survival rates of the embryos and larvae as well as the hatching rates of embryos were significantly reduced. Morphological abnormalities, including spinal curvature, yolk retention, swimming bladder absence, tail bending and shorter body lengths were induced by INH. Histopathological analysis showed loose cell-to-cell contacts and large vacuoles in the larval hepatocytes. Thin intestinal walls, frayed gut villi and widespread cell lysis were observed in the intestines of the larvae in the higher concentration (8, 16 m m) exposure groups. In addition, exposure to high doses (≥ 6 m m) of INH significantly reduced the locomotor capacity of the zebrafish larvae. INH significantly increased the levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde and decreased the superoxide dismutase activity in zebrafish larvae, which suggested that oxidative stress was induced and that the antioxidant capacity was inhibited. Superoxide dismutase 1 and liver fatty acid-binding protein mRNA levels were significantly downregulated, while the GSTP2 and cytochrome P450 3A mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in the INH-exposed zebrafish larvae. The overall results indicated that INH caused a dose- and time-dependent increase in developmental toxicity and that oxidative stress played an important role in the developmental toxicity induced by INH in zebrafish larvae. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two different meat-cutting methods were used to prepare kung-wans in an attempt to produce low-salt products while retaining the same, or improved, textural and physicochemical properties of the standard high-salt formulation. The level of salt and the processing method significantly affected color, cooking yield, texture and changes in the secondary structures of proteins. Improved salt levels resulted in firmer texture. At the same salt levels, compared with chopping, the beating method resulted in higher L⁎-values, improved cooking yields and changes in the β-sheet content of the proteins, which resulted in an improved product with better texture. Using the beating process, the kung-wans prepared with 1% and 2% salt had similar L⁎-values, cooking yield and texture, and were better than those prepared by chopping with 2% salt. Overall, the beating process enabled lowering of the salt content, making the kung-wans more hard, brittle and elastic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objective of this study is to describe the interstitial lung disease (ILD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of China, and to study clinical significance of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in evaluation and treatment. One hundred and ten Chinese patients (79 women and 31 man) diagnosed with RA between December 2008 to November 2009 were analyzed. According to the HRCT, 47 (42.73%) RA patients were diagnosed as ILD. Old age, smoking and pulmonary rales were closely related to ILD ( P < 0.05). The main appearances of ILD were ground-glass (39.09%), honeycombing (4.55%), reticular patterns and consolidation (1.82%). Patients with reticular patterns and honeycombing were more likely to show the respiratory symptoms. It was also common to find other abnormal changes, such as fiber cord shadow (22.73%), lung markings fuzzy disorder (30%), pulmonary nodules (11.82%), emphysema (9.09%), bronchiectasis (3.64%), subpleural nodules (11.82%) and pleural thickening (24.55%). In treatment, honeycombing and subpleural nodules were more common in patients with methotrexate (MTX) and/or leflunomide treatment than without ( P < 0.05). Other abnormal changes were no statistical significance ( P > 0.05). Pulmonary involvement is common in RA patients, and it is suggested that HRCT could be a sensitive and useful way in evaluating the lung of RA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the present Chinese body mass index (BMI) criteria with body fat percentage (BF%) in determining obesity in Chinese population. Methods: A total of 4 907 subjects (age: 20-90 yrs) were enrolled in the baseline survey of a longitudinal epidemiological study, and 2 638 of them were reevaluated in 5.5 years later. The Chinese BMI and WHO BF% were used to define obesity, respectively. Results: The diagnostic agreement between the Chinese BMI and WHO BF% definitions for obesity was poor for both men (kappa: 0.210, 95% CI: 0.179-0.241) and women (kappa: 0.327, 95% CI: 0.296-0.358). However, BMI had a good correlation with BF% both in men (r: 0.785, P<0.01) and women (r: 0.864, P<0.01). The age and sex-adjusted relative risks (RR) for incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) were significantly higher in subjects with intermediate BF% (BF%:20.1%-25% for men, 30.1%-35% for women) (RR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.23-4.48) and high BF%(BF%>25% for men and > 35% for women)(RR: 2.89, 95% CI: 1.43-5.81), or in subjects with high BMI (BMI≥28 kg/m2) (RR: 2.46, 95% CI: 1.31-4.63) when compared to those with low BF% (BF%≤20% for men and≤30% for women) or low BMI (BMI24 kg/m2) respectively. No difference in risk could be found in those with intermediate BMI (BMI: 24-27.9 kg/m2) (RR: 1.44, 95% CI: 0.86-2.40), as compared to those with low BMI (BMI<24 kg/m2), whose BF% ranged widely from 7.8 to 50.3%. Conclusion: BMI was correlated with BF%. Both BMI and BF% were associated with high risk for T2DM. However, BMI had its limitations in the interpretation of subjects with BMI between 24 and 27.9 kg/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatial distribution regularity of coseismic landslides is important for mitigation in future earthquakes. Unveiling the controlling factors of the distribution of coseismic landslides is a long-standing unsolved problem. On 3 August 2014, a Mw 6.1 earthquake occurred in Ludian County, Yunnan Province, China, and resulted in a great number of landslides and substantial losses. The coseismic landslide distribution in this earthquake, which was triggered by an unmapped fault, shows a different pattern. This paper conducted a spatial analysis to reveal the controlling factors in the Ludian earthquake. A spatial database of landslides has been built by interpreting the ZY-3 pre-earthquake, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), GeoEye-1 and GF-1 post-earthquake. A total of 1414 landslides were identified after a combination of image interpretation and field investigation in an area of 704.7 km2. The geological setting of the study area, including the tectonics and lithology, has been mapped in detail. The digital elevation model (DEM) of the study area with a resolution of 30 m × 30 m was presented to address the topographic characteristics. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to analyse the spatial characterization of the landslides. Correlations between the occurrences of landslides and factors, i.e., slope gradient, elevation, slope aspect, intensity, distance to coseismic fault, distance to the epicentre, lithology, distance to non-coseismic faults, distance to rivers and distance to road, were characterized with a spatial analysis in GIS. It can be concluded that the slope gradient and the distance to the coseismic fault are the two most important factors for determining the spatial distribution of coseismic disasters. Some other factors play a role by influencing the slope gradient to a certain extent, and the movement of the coseismic fault is the prone direction of coseismic landslides. Slope cutting fractures the rock mass, increases the slope gradient, and significantly increases the occurrence of coseismic landslides. A statistics analysis indicates that the landslide concentration (LC) generally has an obvious exponential decrease with an increasing distance to the coseismic fault, while it has a good Weibull cumulative distribution with the slope gradient. • A complete coseismic landslide inventory were documented in 2004 Mw 6.1 Ludian struck area of 704.7 km2. • Correlations between landslide occurrences and nine factors including geographical and geological setting were investigated. • The relationships among factors influencing the spatial distribution of coseismic landslides are disclosed. • Slope gradient and the distance to the coseismic fault or epicentre are the two determinants for LC of coseismic landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnolia fordiana var. hainanensis (Dandy) Noot. (Magnoliaceae) is an endemic and ornamental tree distributed in Hainan, China. In this study, we report and characterize the complete plastid genome sequence of M. fordiana var. hainanensis in order to provide genomic resources helpful for promoting its conservation and garden utilization. The complete plastome is 160,157 bp in length and contains the typical quadripartite structure of angiosperm, including two Inverted Repeat (IRs) regions of 26,573 bp, a Large Single-Copy (LSC) region of 88,255 bp and a Small Single-Copy (SSC) region of 18,756 bp. The plastome contains 114 genes, consisting of 80 unique protein-coding genes, 30 unique tRNA gene and 4 unique rRNA genes. The overall A/T content in the plastome of M. fordiana var. hainanensis is 60.70%. The complete plastome sequence of M. fordiana var. hainanensis will provide a useful resource for the conservation and garden utilization of this species as well as for the phylogenetic studies of Magnoliaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Returning corn cobs to the field during corn kernel harvesting is an effective way to improve soil properties and increase crop yield. However, seasonally frozen soil seriously hinders the field decomposition process of corn cobs. To explore the decomposition characteristics and promote field decomposition, in this study, the nylon mesh bag method was used to perform field decomposition tests for 150 days. Fiber composition analysis and microstructure observation were carried out. The results showed that the field decomposition of corn cob was influenced by temperature, precipitation, and frozen soil environment. The 150-day cumulative decomposition rates of the pith, woody ring, and glume were 40.0%, 24.2%, and 36.3%, respectively. Caused by the difference in fiber compositions, the decomposition speeds of pith and glume were much higher than that of the woody ring. The complex microstructures of the pith, woody ring, and glume led to differences in the accessibility of cellulose, which indirectly influenced the field decomposition characteristics. The homogeneous sponge-like structure of the pith and glume increased the accessibility of cellulose and ultimately accelerated the field decomposition, while the compact lignocellulosic structure of the woody ring hindered the decomposition process. Compared with corn stalk, corn cob had similar or even better field decomposition characteristics and excellent application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Redox-sensitive element (RSE) compositions in marine sedimentary archives have been important in improving our understanding of redox history, especially in the Meso-Neoproterozoic ocean, where early biological innovations took place before the Cambrian Explosion. However, despite increasing availability of RSE data that represent this long time interval, temporal comparisons are difficult, and thus provide poor constraints on the dramatic changes in atmosphere-ocean chemical settings. Here we analyzed carbonate rocks and black shales from the North China and Yangtze platforms (eastern China) for trace elements and isotopic compositions (δ13C, δ34S and 87Sr/86Sr). These data were combined with previously published RSE data to allow establishment of successive elemental chemostratigraphies from sequences of both black shale and carbonate RSE archives, thus yielding direct insights into the role of marine RSE cycling. Generally low Th/RSE ratios in relatively pure carbonate rocks (Al < 0.35%, Th < 0.5 μg/g) and black shales likely indicate enriched RSEs in oxidized shallow conditions, consistent with a more oxidized Neoproterozoic ocean or confined water body. The chemostratigraphy of RSEs not only shows enrichment in Neoproterozoic marine sediments, but temporally variable trends in the Meso-Neoproterozoic. A mass balance model based on modern marine budgets demonstrates that even a small oxidation event within the dominantly anoxic setting could be an important factor for increasing dissolved RSE reservoirs, and that observed heterogeneous elemental records may represent the amplified results of a fluctuating palaeoredox (oxic-anoxic) structure with pulsed marine oxidation. Meso-Neoproterozoic marine redox heterogeneity in eastern China suggests that increases in free oxygen were potentially related to: 1) supercontinent cycles, 2) enhanced weathering inputs with high 87Sr/86Sr ratios (> 0.705 at ca. <1.4–1.1 Ga), and 3) previously reported biological processes as emphasized by biological C-S cycles. Thus, pulsed oxic conditions may have provided sequential opportunities for biological innovation. [Display omitted] • Meso-Neoproterozoic sediments record the marine redox heterogeneity. • A oxidation event within anoxic oceans account for the greatest RSE fluctuation. • Pulsed oxic conditions promote biological innovation in ancient oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to effectively evaluate shale gas reservoirs with low porosity, extra-low permeability, and no natural productivity, dipole array acoustic logging, which can provide various types of information including P-wave slowness (DTC) and S-wave slowness (DTS), is widely used. As the dipole array acoustic logging tool has a larger investigation depth and is suitable for complex borehole environments, such as those with a high wellbore temperature, high drilling fluid column pressure, or irregular borehole wall, it has been mainly applied to the evaluation of lithology, gas potential, fractures, and stimulation potential in shale gas reservoirs. The findings from a case study of the Sichuan Basin in China reveal that the acoustic slowness, S-P wave slowness ratio (RMSC), and S-wave anisotropy of the dipole array acoustic logging can be used to qualitatively identify reservoir lithology, gas potential, and fractures. Using the relationship between DTC and the total porosity of shale gas reservoirs, and combined with the compensated neutron (CNL) and shale content (Vsh) of the reservoir, a mathematical model for accurately calculating the total porosity of the shale gas reservoir can be established. By using the relationship between the RMSC and gas saturation in shale gas reservoirs and tied with density log (DEN), a mathematical model of gas saturation can be established, and the determination of gas saturation by the non-resistivity method can be achieved, delivering a solution to the issue that the electric model is not applicable under low resistivity conditions. The DTS, DTC, and DEN of shale can be used to calculate rock mechanic parameters such as the Poisson's ratio (POIS) and Young's modulus (YMOD), which can be used to evaluate the shale stimulation potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isoprene has a potentially large effect on ozone (O3) formation in the subtropical, highly polluted city of Guangzhou. Online measurements of isoprene in Guangzhou city are scarce; thus, isoprene levels were monitored for one year at the Guangzhou Panyu Atmospheric Composition Station (GPACS), a suburban site in Guangzhou, using an online gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC–FID) system to investigate the characterization and reactivity of isoprene and its effect on the O3 peak profile in different seasons. The results showed that the daily average mixing ratios of isoprene at GPACS were 0.40, 2.20, 1.40, and 0.13 mixing ratio by volume (ppbv) in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. These values were considerably higher than the mixing ratios of isoprene in the numerous other subtropical and temperate cities around the world. Furthermore, isoprene ranked first with regard to O3 formation potential (OFP) and propylene-equivalent mixing ratio among 56 measured non–methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs). The ratios of isoprene to cis-2-butene, an exhaust tracer, were determined to estimate the fractions of biogenic and anthropogenic emissions. The results revealed a much greater contribution from biogenic than anthropogenic factors during the daytime in all four seasons. In addition, night-time isoprene emissions were mostly associated with vehicles in winter, and the residual isoprene that remained after photochemical loss during the daytime also persisted into the night. The high levels of isoprene in summer and autumn may cause the strong and broad peaks of the O3 profile because of its association with the most favorable meteorological conditions (e.g., high temperature and intense solar radiation) and the highest OH mixing ratio, which could affect human health by exposing people to a high O3 mixing ratio for prolonged periods. The lower mixing ratios of isoprene resulted in a weak and sharp peak in the O3 profile in both spring and winter. The high level of isoprene in the subtropical zone could accentuate its large impact on atmospheric oxidant capacity and air quality in Guangzhou city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The safety of performing spinal anaesthesia for both patients and anaesthetists alike in the presence of active infection with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unclear. Here, we report the clinical characteristics and outcomes for both patients with COVID-19 and the anaesthetists who provided their spinal anaesthesia.Methods: Forty-nine patients with radiologically confirmed COVID-19 for Caesarean section or lower-limb surgery undergoing spinal anaesthesia in Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan, China participated in this retrospective study. Clinical characteristics and perioperative outcomes were recorded. For anaesthesiologists exposed to patients with COVID-19 by providing spinal anaesthesia, the level of personal protective equipment (PPE) used, clinical outcomes (pulmonary CT scans), and confirmed COVID-19 transmission rates (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) were reviewed.Results: Forty-nine patients with COVID-19 requiring supplementary oxygen before surgery had spinal anaesthesia (ropivacaine 0.75%), chiefly for Caesarean section (45/49 [91%]). Spinal anaesthesia was not associated with cardiorespiratory compromise intraoperatively. No patients subsequently developed severe pneumonia. Of 44 anaesthetists, 37 (84.1%) provided spinal anaesthesia using Level 3 PPE. Coronavirus disease 2019 infection was subsequently confirmed by PCR in 5/44 (11.4%) anaesthetists. One (2.7%) of 37 anaesthetists who wore Level 3 PPE developed PCR-confirmed COVID-19 compared with 4/7 (57.1%) anaesthetists who had Level 1 protection in the operating theatre (relative risk reduction: 95.3% [95% confidence intervals: 63.7-99.4]; P<0.01).Conclusions: Spinal anaesthesia was delivered safely in patients with active COVID-19 infection, the majority of whom had Caesarean sections. Level 3 PPE appears to reduce the risk of transmission to anaesthetists who are exposed to mildly symptomatic surgical patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hongge intrusion (SW China) hosts both Fe-Ti oxide and Ni-Co sulfide mineralization. • Concentric tube flow of hydrous melts formed gabbro-hosted oxide ore. • Hydrous melt recharge into fossilized mush formed massive oxide ore. • Previous sulfide segregation scavenged Cu and PGEs from the magma. • Coexisting oxide-sulfide ore formed due to the lack of S-rich wall rock assimilation. The Panxi (ultra-)mafic intrusions are relatively small compared with world-class ore-related (ultra-)mafic intrusions, but they host several super-large Fe-Ti oxide deposits and few small Cu-Ni (PGE) sulfide deposits. The mechanisms that concentrate huge amounts of oxide minerals into these small intrusions and form the distinct oxide and sulfide mineralization remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the magma dynamics that produced extensive Fe-Ti oxide and coexisting Ni-Co sulfide mineralization in the Hongge intrusion of Panxi region, based on detailed field cross-cutting relations and petrographic observations, bulk-ore/rock geochemistry, and in-situ LA-ICP-MS magnetite trace element analyses. The Fe-Ti oxide ores include magnetite-poor (<60 vol%) disseminated and magnetite-rich (>60 vol%) massive types, with the former further divided into the gabbro-hosted (GH) and (olivine-)pyroxenite-hosted (OPH) subtypes. The GH oxide ores have Cr-poor (median 86.9 ppm) magnetite and abundant apatite interstitial to silicate minerals. In contrast, the OPH and massive oxide ores have Cr-rich (median 13,956 ppm) magnetite that envelops resorbed silicate minerals. Principal component analyses of bulk-ore and magnetite elemental contents reveal genetic links between the OPH and massive oxide ores, but remarkable genetic distinction from the GH oxide ores. Considering the overall lopolith-shape orebody geometry of several branch intrusions, the GH oxide ore formation may have involved spontaneous development of concentric tube flow zones within the cooling crystal mush. However, the lower P but much higher Cr-Cu-Co-Ni contents than the GH oxide ores and the sharp intrusion of massive oxide ores into the OPH oxide ores suggests that the OPH and massive oxide ores were probably formed by upward percolation and later intrusion of hydrous Fe-rich melts from a deep-seated magma reservoir into semi-solidified and fossilized mush, respectively. In addition, sulfide ores occur mainly as irregular/lenticular aggregates in massive oxide ores and are depleted in Cu and platinum group elements (PGEs), indicating early, deep-level sulfide segregation that scavenged the Cu and PGEs from the magmas. Hence, we envisage that the assimilation of S-deficient wall-rocks into basaltic magmas may have induced the early sulfide saturation and retain the majority of Fe for later precipitation as principal oxide and minor PGE-Cu-depleted sulfide ores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karst bauxite resources are widespread in the Shanxi Province, accounting for the richest bauxite resources in China. The Shanxi bauxite deposits are hosted in the lower member of the Carboniferous Benxi Formation, which consists of karst bauxite-bearing sequences. In addition to being main economic source of aluminum, there are many critical metals in the karst bauxite-bearing sequences. The spidergram pattern, REE pattern, immobile element tracing, and Cr Ni bivariate plots, as well as the previous studies on detrital zircons of North China Craton (NCC) bauxite ores, show that iron-rich clays were mainly weathered from the underlying carbonates, whereas the bauxite ore and top clay have allochthonous protoliths. Based on field investigations and geochemical characteristics of five typical drillcore sections in the Xiabu area, as well as previous researches, we concluded four sedimentary successions and we perfected the geological model of the karst bauxite-bearing sequences in central NCC. The Ordovician carbonate bedrocks developed many paleokarst terrain on the NCC, which experienced 150 Myr of karstification and denudation from the Middle Ordovician. Paleokarst terrain determines the distribution and thickness of the iron-rich clay layer. And the iron-rich clay above or below the groundwater table are separated into red Shanxi-type iron or clay (Fe3+-bearing minerals) and grey clay (Fe2+-bearing minerals). Until the Late Carboniferous, the sedimentation suddenly occurred in the NCC. New sediments were predominantly source materials for bauxite deposits, which were primarily controlled by the landform of the discontinuous weathered iron-rich clay. Furthermore, the humid and warm climate conditions reinforce the intensity of chemical weathering and microorganism participation, which also contributes to the formation of bauxite ore layer and top clay layer. The bauxite-bearing sequences in the Xiabu area contain high contents of critical elements such as U, Th, REEs, and Sc. In this study, high-level natural radioactivity was detected in the bauxite ore layer through gamma-ray logging of vertical sections. The correlation analysis revealed that the highly elevated U and Th contents in the bauxite ore layer are positively correlated with the natural radioactivity. Therefore, utilizing the gamma-ray logging method is effective in prospecting concealed karstic bauxite deposits. The REEs are also highly enriched in the bauxite ore layer and are positively correlated with P and Sr, indicating that the REEs are mainly hosted by phosphate minerals. The Sc contents of red clay are extremely high (up to 206.7 μg/g; average 118 μg/g), reaching industry standards levels. The integrated utilization of critical metals of the bauxite-bearing sequences is an important strategy for facing the significant supply crisis. • The bottom iron-rich clay and upper bauxite and clay in the bauxite-bearing sequences have distinct source materials. • A geological model is established for the formation of the karst bauxite-bearing sequences. • Gamma-ray logging can be used to explore concealed bauxite deposits. • The Sc contents in the iron-rich clay layer meet the industry standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The middle Permian sedimentary rocks were sourced from the Yinshan–Yanshan Orogen. • The Yinshan–Yanshan Orogen was the main source for most areas of North China. • The closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean occurred between 267 and 261 Ma. • The tectonic evolution of North China results from closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. • Jurassic unconformity was recorded in response to the Late Triassic compression. The North China Craton (NCC) and its adjacent areas experienced a series of complex tectonic events during the late Paleozoic–early Mesozoic, the closure of the Paleo-Asian Ocean (PAO), the collision between the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and the NCC, and the subduction of the Yangtze Plate. This paper provides an overview of the provenances and tectonic implications of late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic sediments in the northern NCC based on a comprehensive analysis of the available geological and geochronological data together with our new clast compositions, paleocurrents, detrital zircon ages and Hf isotope data. Detrital zircons from the middle Permian Shihezi Formation in the Yungang basin have age distributions of 442–264 Ma, 2179–1606 Ma and 2665–2249 Ma and are characterized by negative ε Hf (t) values that match the age population and Hf isotope peculiarities of the Yinshan–Yanshan Orogenic Belt (YYOB). These observations suggest that these zircons were derived from the YYOB, which is consistent with most regions of the NCC. The CAOB became a minor source of sediments in the northern NCC no earlier than the late Permian, and the ultimate closure time of the PAO can be constrained to 267–261 Ma by the youngest detrital zircon ages. The tectonic evolution of the northern NCC in the late Paleozoic was closely related to the southward subduction of the PAO and the amalgamation of the CAOB and the NCC. The angular unconformity underlying the Early Jurassic strata and the absence of Triassic strata in the Yungang basin might be ascribed to the continuous collision of the CAOB and the NCC during the Late Triassic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression and anxiety are common psychological issues among international medical students in universities, which have serious negative impacts on their learning and life. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of positive emotional writing in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as enhancing subjective well-being among this population., Method: This study was conducted at an international college of a comprehensive university in central China. A total of ninety-two participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited to participate in a single-blind randomized controlled trial, in which participants were not aware that there was an experimental group and a control group. Participants in control received daily psychological care weekly for 8 weeks (n = 46). Correspondingly, participants in experimental group received the positive emotional writing intervention on the basis of daily psychological care. Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and General Well-being Scale (GWB) were used to evaluate the effect of the intervention. Data from 89 students who completed the entire study (experimental group, n = 44; control group, n = 45) were analyzed., Results: After the intervention, the scores of SDS and SAS in the experimental group significantly decreased, while the subjective well-being score significantly increased. Although the SAS score of the control group after intervention was significantly lower than before, the decrease in SDS and SAS scores, as well as the increase in GWB score, were significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group., Conclusion: The findings suggest that positive emotional writing can effectively reduce the depression and anxiety of international medical students, and significantly enhance their subjective well-being, providing ideas for management to solve the psychological problems of international medical students., Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2400087815. Registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Accurate epidemiological data are crucial for effective disease prevention and treatment. We conducted a large-scale survey to explore the thalassaemia prevalence and spectrum among the two major ethnic groups in Hainan Province., Methods: A total of 399,053 childbearing-age individuals of Li ( n  = 77,563) and Han( n  = 321,490) ethnic groups were recruited from 18 cities and counties in Hainan, and their thalassemia genotypes were systematically screened and statistically analysed., Results: This study revealed a significantly higher thalassaemia carrier rate in the Li (55.39%) than that in the Han (13.13%). Specifically, the carrier rate of α-thalassaemia was 46.39% in the Li and 10.02% in the Han. The predominant α-thalassaemia mutations were - α 3.7 and - α 42. in Li, whereas the main mutation were - SEA and - α 4.2 in Han. For β-thalassaemia, the carrier rates were 1.68% in Li and 2.38% in Han, with CD41-42(-CTTT) the most prevalent mutation in both groups. The carrier rates of β-/α-compound thalassaemia were 7.32% in Li and 0.73% in Han. Additionally, there were regional differences in the distribution of thalassemia among the Li and Han within Hainan Province., Conclusion: Epidemiological characteristics and molecular spectrum of thalassaemia among the Li and Han ethnic groups in Hainan were revealed in this study. These findings can provide a scientific basis to develop and implement prevention strategies for thalassaemia in Hainan.

From May to July of 2023, one pig farm in Heyuan city, Guangdong Province of China, suffered severe piglet death and sow reproductive disorders. The common pig viruses and bacteria tested negative. To uncover the possible cause of the disease, a metagenomic analysis was performed in the pooled small intestine samples from three 8-day-old diseased piglets. The results showed that Getah virus (GETV), an RNA virus, might be the potential pathogen that affects pig health. Subsequently, GETV nucleotide was detected in all of the 15 samples collected from three diseased piglets using quantitative reverse transcription PCR, suggesting GETV as the main pathogen of the disease. A GETV strain, designated as GDHYLC23, was successfully isolated using the swine testicle cell line. Sequence analysis showed that the epidemic strain had a unique 32-nucleotide repeat insertion in the 3' noncoding region. Phylogenetic analysis showed that GDHYLC23 belonged to the pandemic group III. The identification of GETV with new variations implies the continuous evolution of the virus, which poses potential threats to the swine industry.IMPORTANCEPig farms are faced with emerging and re-emerging viruses that may cause substantial economic loss. The identification of potentially pathogenic viruses helps to prevent and control the spread of diseases. In this study, by using metagenomic analysis, we found that a neglected virus, GETV with a unique insertion in the genome, was the main pathogen in one pig farm that suffered severe piglet death and sow reproductive disorders. Although the potential impact of such an insertion on viral pathogenicity is unknown, the surveillance of the continuing evolution of GETV in pig farms cannot be ignored., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) are important markers of health status in children and adolescents in different ethnicities. In this study, we aimed to compare the PA and PF indicators between Tibetan and Han children and adolescents., Methods: Children and adolescents of 4-9 grades were recruited in Shigatse ( n  = 963) and Shanghai ( n  = 2,525) respectively. The information related to demographic, PA, and PF was collected via a self-reported questionnaire. PA was assessed through the participation of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) and organized sport participation (OSP). PF was estimated using the International Fitness Scale containing components of overall fitness, cardiorespiratory fitness, speed and agility, muscular strength and flexibility., Results: Han (mean age = 13.45 ± 3.3 years; 49.7% girls) and Tibet (mean age = 13.8 ± 2.5 years; 48.3% girls) children and adolescents from Shanghai and Shigatse completed the questionnaire survey. It was revealed that Tibetan students had higher MVPA, MSE and OSP than children and adolescents of Han ethnicity ( p  < 0.01, small to medium effect size). A relatively higher percentage of student in Shanghai did not participate in any form of PA. On the other hand, less Tibetan students thought their PF indicators including overall fitness, cardiorespiratory fitness, speed and agility, muscular strength and flexibility were poor or very poor than their counterparts of Han ethnicity ( p  < 0.01, small to medium effect size)., Conclusion: Tibetan children and adolescents have higher levels of PA and PF in comparison to their Han counterparts. More children and adolescents of Han ethnicity engage in no PA and think their PF indicators were poor., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Liu, Tang, Long, Zou and Tan.)

Despite the well-established recognition of the health hazards posed by PM 2.5 -bound PAHs, a comprehensive understanding of their source-specific impact has been lacking. In this study, the health risks associated with PM 2.5 -bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and source-specific contributions were investigated in the urban region of Taipei during both cold and warm seasons. The levels of PM 2.5 -bound PAHs and their potential health risks across different age groups of humans were also characterized. Diagnostic ratios and positive matrix factorization analysis were utilized to identify the sources of PM 2.5 -bound PAHs. Moreover, potential source contribution function (PSCF), concentration-weighted trajectory (CWT) and source regional apportionment (SRA) analyses were employed to determine the potential source regions. Results showed that the total PAHs (TPAHs) concentrations ranged from 0.08 to 2.37 ng m -3 , with an average of 0.69 ± 0.53 ng m -3 . Vehicular emissions emerged as the primary contributor to PM 2.5 -bound PAHs, constituting 39.8 % of the TPAHs concentration, followed by industrial emissions (37.6 %), biomass burning (13.8 %), and petroleum/oil volatilization (8.8 %). PSCF and CWT analyses revealed that industrial activities and shipping processes in northeast China, South China Sea, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea, contributed to the occurrence of PM 2.5 -bound PAHs in Taipei. SRA identified central China as the primary regional contributor of ambient TPAHs in the cold season and Taiwan in the warm season, respectively. Evaluations of incremental lifetime cancer risk demonstrated the highest risk for adults, followed by children, seniors, and adolescents. The assessments of lifetime lung cancer risk showed that vehicular and industrial emissions were the main contributors to cancer risk induced by PM 2.5 -bound PAHs. This research emphasizes the essential role of precisely identifying the origins of PM 2.5 -bound PAHs to enhance our comprehension of the related human health hazards, thus providing valuable insights into the mitigation strategies., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

As one of the important blue carbon pools in tropical and subtropical intertidal zones, mangroves are widely distributed along the coast of Guangxi in China. To deeply explore the variations of potential suitable habitats for mangroves in China under the background of climate change, based on remote sensing interpretation data of coastal wetlands in Guangxi, global marine environment and bioclimatic environment data in 2021, we constructed a maximum entropy habitat distribution model to simulate the spatial distribution of potential suitable areas for mangroves and the invasive species, Spartina alterniflora, along the coast of Guangxi, and predicted the patterns under extreme climate change scenarios (SSP5-8.5). The results showed that the interpreted area of mangrove forests along the coastline of Guangxi was 9136.7 hm 2 in 2021, while the predicted area of potential suitable habitat area was 55955.9 hm 2 . Current distribution area of mangroves had basically covered its potential high suitability area and nearly 10% of the moderate suitability area. The current area of S. alterniflora was 1320.4 hm 2 , and the predicted area of potential high suitability area was twice of current area, indicating that there was still a large proportion of high suitability area that was not occupied by S. alterniflora . The most important environmental factors driving the distribution of potential habitats in mangroves were offshore Euclidean distance (62.2%), terrain deviation index (8.7%), average sea surface temperature in the hottest season (6.1%), and seabed terrain elevation (5.6%). The contribution of geographical conditions on mangrove distribution was predominant. Under the climate change scenario (SSP5-8.5), potential suitable area for mangroves would increase by 5.3%, while that for S. alterniflora would decrease by 3.1%. The overlapping proportion of the potential suitable area for mangroves and S. alterniflora was similar under current and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, being 15.2% and 14.5%, respectively. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen the protection and ecological restoration of mangroves along the coast of Guangxi and there is great challenge for preventing further invasion of S. alterniflora .

Vaccination plays a key role in preventing morbidity and mortality caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We aimed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a SARS-CoV-2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine SYS6006. In the two randomized, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled phase 1 trials, 40 adult participants aged 18-59 years and 40 elderly participants aged 60 years or more were randomized to receive two doses of SYS6006 or placebo (saline). Adverse events (AEs) were collected through 30 days post the second vaccination. Immunogenicity was assessed by live-virus neutralizing antibody (Nab), spike protein (S1) binding antibody (S1-IgG), and cellular immunity. The result showed that 7/15, 9/15 and 4/10 adult participants, and 9/15, 8/15 and 4/10 elderly participants reported at least one AE in the 20-µg, 30-µg and placebo groups, respectively. Most AEs were grade 1. Injection-site pain was the most common AE. Two adults and one elder reported fever. No vaccination-related serious AE was reported. SYS6006 elicited wild-type Nab response with a peak geometric mean titer of 232.1 and 130.6 (adults), and 48.7 and 66.7 (elders), in the 20-µg and 30-µg groups, respectively. SYS6006 induced moderate-to-robust Nab response against Delta, and slight Nab response against Omicron BA.2 and BA.5. Robust IgG response against wild type and BA.2 was observed. Cellular immune response was induced. In conclusion, two-dose primary vaccination with SYS6006 demonstrated good safety and immunogenicity during a follow-up period of 51 days in immunologically naive population aged 18 years or more. (Trial registry: Chictr.org.cn ChiCTR2200059103 and ChiCTR2200059104).

Purpose: Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a rare disease, which is frequently misdiagnosed or its diagnosis can be missed. This study aimed to analyse the characteristics of four-limb blood pressure (4LBP) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in patients with TA, which could be useful in disease detection. Materials and Methods: We consecutively enrolled 182 patients with TA at Fuwai Hospital between January 2013 and January 2016. Pulse pressure (PP), pulsatile index (PI), inter-arm systolic blood pressure (SBP) difference (IASBPD), inter-leg SBP difference (ILSBPD), ankle-brachial index (ABI), baPWV, and inter-side baPWV difference (ΔbaPWV) were analysed and compared with those of age-, sex-, and SBP-matched participants without cardiovascular diseases. Results: In the TA group, the diastolic blood pressure was lower (67.4 ± 23.7 vs 84.1 ± 15.0 mmHg), PP was larger (69.7 ± 23.6 vs 53.7 ± 10.6 mmHg), PI was higher (1.3 ± 2.1 vs. 0.6 ± 0.1 mmHg), IASBPD was larger (18.2 ± 24.1 vs 4.2 ± 3.3 mmHg), and ILSBPD was larger (10.7 ± 15.0 vs 5.3 ± 4.1 mmHg) than those of the controls (all p  < 0.01). Moreover, the proportions of PP >70 mmHg (36.8% vs 4.4%), PI > 1.0 (40.1% vs 2.2%), IASBPD >15 mmHg (34.6% vs. 0%), highest ABI >1.4 (17.6% vs. 0%), ILSBPD >15 mmHg (14.8% vs. 3.3%), lowest ABI < 0.9 (24.7% vs 2.2%), and ΔbaPWV > 185 cm/s (28.6% vs. 1.1%) were significantly greater in the TA group than in the control group (all p  < 0.01). Approximately 80.8% of patients with TA (vs. 10.4% of controls) presented with at least one of these seven parameters ( p  = 0.000). Conclusion: The characteristics of 4LBP and baPWV in most patients with TA were abnormal, which helped us perform non-invasive primary screening and comprehensive evaluation of vascular lesions in such patients.