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We investigated teachers' perceptions of an online inservice teacher course in China and its outcomes, as well as connections between these two types of perceptions. Data were collected from a sample of 251 teachers following a course on Information and Communication Technology in education using a questionnaire survey and interviews. Teachers were generally satisfied with the setup and content of the course, but considered that interaction during training and motivation were not optimal. A correlation analysis showed that teachers' perceptions of the course were significantly and positively related to their perceptions of training outcomes. Regression analyses revealed that the connection of training content with teachers' daily practice contributed most positively to teachers' perceptions of the training outcomes. Suggestions for optimizing online inservice teacher courses are provided.

The manufactured capital, usually denoted as material stocks from an industrial ecology perspective, has thus far received wide attention in sustainability and circularity science. Sustainable resource management should be rooted in detailed knowledge of manufactured capital accumulation in society at a high spatial resolution. Previous studies demonstrated that night‐time light (NTL) data provide a great opportunity for monitoring material stocks dynamics at a higher spatial resolution on the regional and global scale. However, the potential of historical–geographical refined material stocks has not been fully analyzed and explored because of the inconsistency of NTL images detected by the different satellites. In this study, based on a new set of material stocks data in China and harmonized NTL images (1992–2018), we map the national stocks of 13 bulk materials (including cement, gravel, wood, brick, sand, asphalt, glass, lime, plastic, rubber, copper, aluminum, and steel) at a 1 × 1 km resolution from 1992 to 2018. The results find that the total material stocks increased from 190,000 to 460,000 t/km2 between 1992 and 2018. Among the five end‐use sectors, buildings have the highest density of 430,000 t/km2, while domestic appliances have the lowest density of 140 t/km2. Four manufactured capital clusters, including the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, and Chengdu–Chongqing agglomerations, possess 38% of the national total stocks in 2018, revealing an unbalanced distributed pattern of manufactured capital across China. Our results provide valuable support for policymakers and business decision‐makers on efficient resource management and urban mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomy (or self-determination) is a crucial construct in understanding adolescents' development and well-being. This paper presents current knowledge about the features of autonomy in learning, parental autonomy support, and psychological control, and their relations with psychological well-being and academic functioning of Chinese adolescents. Cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence supports the generalizability of Self-Determination Theory to Chinese adolescents. Cross-cultural evidence not only highlights similarities regarding the beneficial effects of autonomy in learning and autonomy support, and the detrimental effects of psychological control on well-being, but also demonstrates differences regarding these associations across Western and Chinese cultures. We conclude with recommendations for future research by focusing on specific profiles of self-determined regulation, more longitudinal studies focusing on the psychological processes underlying the associations between autonomy and development in Chinese adolescents, and conducting culturally sensitive research on parental psychological control.

Background: Asthma exacerbation (AE) is a significant clinical problem during pregnancy. This study aimed to identify maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with AE during pregnancy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Peking University Third Hospital database from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2020. We compared the clinical characteristics and maternal, perinatal and offspring outcomes of asthma with and without exacerbations among women who delivered during this period. The primary outcome was hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the clinical characteristics of AE during pregnancy and the association between AE and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Results: The prevalence of asthma during pregnancy increased from 0.52% in 2013 to 0.98% in 2020. Of the 220 patients with asthma during pregnancy included in the study, 105 experienced AE during pregnancy: 62.9% (n = 66) had mild-to-moderate AE and 37.1% (n = 39) had severe AE. Pregnant women with allergic rhinitis have a higher risk of AE during pregnancy. Women who experienced AE were more at risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy than women who did not experience any exacerbation (12.4%vs3.5%, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of asthma among pregnant women in China is on the rise. There is a notable correlation between pregnant women who suffer from allergic rhinitis and an elevated risk of AE during pregnancy. Studies have shown that AE during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a globally increasing health epidemic. Lifestyle intervention is recommended as the main therapy for NAFLD. However, the optimal approach is still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive approach of intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) concerning enhanced control of calorie-restricted diet (CRD), exercise, and personalized nutrition counseling on liver steatosis and extrahepatic metabolic status in Chinese overweight and obese patients with NAFLD. Methods: This study was a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted across seven hospitals in China. It involved 226 participants with a body mass index (BMI) above 25. These participants were randomly assigned to two groups: the ILI group, which followed a low carbohydrate, high protein CRD combined with exercise and intensive counseling from a dietitian, and a control group, which adhered to a balanced CRD along with exercise and standard counseling. The main measure of the study was the change in the fat attenuation parameter (FAP) from the start of the study to week 12, analyzed within the per-protocol set. Secondary measures included changes in BMI, liver stiffness measurement (LSM), and the improvement of various metabolic indexes. Additionally, predetermined subgroup analyses of the FAP were conducted based on variables like gender, age, BMI, ethnicity, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Results: A total of 167 participants completed the whole study. Compared to the control group, ILI participants achieved a significant reduction in FAP (LS mean difference, 16.07 [95% CI: 8.90–23.25] dB/m) and BMI (LS mean difference, 1.46 [95% CI: 1.09–1.82] kg/m2) but not in LSM improvement (LS mean difference, 0.20 [95% CI: -0.19–0.59] kPa). The ILI also substantially improved other secondary outcomes (including ALT, AST, GGT, body fat mass, muscle mass and skeletal muscle mass, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, HOMA-β, blood pressure, and homocysteine). Further subgroup analyses showed that ILI, rather than control intervention, led to more significant FAP reduction, especially in patients with concurrent hypertension (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In this RCT, a 12-week intensive lifestyle intervention program led to significant improvements in liver steatosis and other metabolic indicators in overweight and obese Chinese patients suffering from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Further research is required to confirm the long-term advantages and practicality of this approach. Trial registration: This clinical trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number: NCT03972631) in June 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on panel data for 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2020, this paper uses entropy method to construct the integrated development indicators of energy Internet, and explores the impact of the development of the energy Internet on reducing carbon emissions in China and its internal transmission mechanism. The research results show that the development of energy Internet can significantly reduce regional carbon dioxide emissions, and increasing the use of renewable energy is an important mechanism for the comprehensive development of energy Internet to curb carbon emissions. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the emission reduction effect brought by the development of energy Internet is more remarkable in the regions with lower carbon emissions and western China. Furthermore, this paper finds that in the setting of the development of energy Internet, the development of renewable energy can promote natural gas consumption and advance energy conversion efficiency. The government's emphasis on regional technology development has an external strengthening effect on carbon emission reduction. The research in this paper expands and diversifies carbon reduction pathways and provides reference for more developing countries to utilize the development of energy internet to achieve carbon reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to advancements in information technology and growing eco-tourism demand, National Park Network Attention (NPNA) has emerged as a novel indicator of tourism appeal and ecological value recognition. Utilizing Baidu search index (accessed in 2023) data from 2013 to 2022, this study employs time series analysis, index analysis, and spatial statistics to measure and differentiate the spatial and temporal aspects of NPNA across 31 provinces, regions, and municipalities in mainland China, while systematically assessing the impact of various factors from both source and destination perspectives. Over the period of 2013 to 2022, NPNA has increased annually, peaking around holidays and during spring and autumn, demonstrating pronounced seasonality and precursor effects, while exhibiting volatility due to external events. Influenced by factors from both source and destination perspectives, the spatial distribution of NPNA displays a trend of being "high in the east and low in the west" and "high in the south and low in the north", though regional disparities are diminishing. The population size in the source areas remains the dominant factor influencing NPNA, while the concept of national parks is not yet widely recognized. The destination's tourism resource endowment, media publicity, accessibility, and level of informatization are significant influences. An effective integration of resources and marketing is essential for boosting NPNA. The findings provide valuable insights for optimizing the spatial layout of national parks, enhancing the tourism service system, innovating communication and promotional strategies, and improving national park governance effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Grazing exclusion is an efficient practice to restore degraded grassland ecosystems by eliminating external disturbances and improving ecosystems' self-healing capacities, which affects the ecological processes of soil-plant systems. Grassland degradation levels play a critical role in regulating these ecological processes. However, the effects of vegetation and soil states at different degradation stages on grassland ecosystem restoration are not fully understood. To better understand this, desert steppe at three levels of degradation (light, moderate, and heavy degradation) was fenced for 6 years in Inner Mongolia, China. Community characteristics were investigated, and nutrient concentrations of the soil (0–10 cm depth) and dominant plants were measured. Results: We found that grazing exclusion increased shoots' carbon (C) concentrations, C/N, and C/P, but significantly decreased shoots' nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations for Stipa breviflora and Cleistogenes songorica. Interestingly, there were no significant differences in nutrient concentrations of these two species among the three degraded desert steppes after grazing exclusion. After grazing exclusion, annual accumulation rates of aboveground C, N, and P pools in the heavily degraded area were the highest, but the aboveground nutrient pools were the lowest among the three degraded grasslands. Similarly, the annual recovery rates of community height, cover, and aboveground biomass in the heavily degraded desert steppe were the highest among the three degraded steppes after grazing exclusion. These results indicate that grazing exclusion is more effective for vegetation restoration in the heavily degraded desert steppe. The soil total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus concentrations in the moderately and heavily degraded desert steppes were significantly decreased after six years of grazing exclusion, whereas these were no changes in the lightly degraded desert steppe. Structural equation model analysis showed that the grassland degradation level mainly altered the community aboveground biomass and aboveground nutrient pool, driving the decrease in soil nutrient concentrations and accelerating nutrient transfer from soil to plant community, especially in the heavily degraded grassland. Conclusions: Our study emphasizes the importance of grassland degradation level in ecosystem restoration and provides theoretical guidance for scientific formulation of containment policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying the relative strength of isolating barriers is a major focus of research on plant speciation. Contrasting life histories and mating systems have the potential to limit gene exchange between closely related populations growing in sympatry. However, few studies have quantified reproductive isolating barriers between conspecific annual and perennial populations and their contributions to total reproductive isolation (RI). Incarvillea sinensis Lam. (Bignoniaceae) is an insect‐pollinated herb with largely allopatric annual and perennial populations that differ in mating systems. The perennial populations are primarily outcrossing whereas annual populations are predominantly selfing. At a rare sympatric site in northern China we estimated prezygotic and postzygotic barriers to gene exchange between annual and perennial plants and found complete RI between the two life histories. Annuals exhibited significantly higher ecogeographic isolation than perennials whereas perennials experienced more isolation through pollen–pistil interactions than annuals. Crosses between annuals and perennials demonstrated that postzygotic barriers influencing fruit and seed formation, F1 germination and survival were negligible for annuals but played a small role for perennials. However, F1 hybrids of crosses between annuals and perennials produced no pollen and their ovules were largely sterile. Our study provides insight into the relative importance of prezygotic and postzygotic isolating barriers between closely related annual and perennial populations of I. sinensis and some of these barriers could have been involved with speciation. Annuals and perennials of I. sinensis represent two biological species and thus deserve to be recognized as distinct taxonomic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the efficiency and structure of the social organization network involved in flood disaster management in China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Leveraging the global knowledge graph, we analyzed social media data and news reports to identify the pivotal roles and interactions of various social organization types in flood disaster governance. The empirical findings underscore the central role of national public social organizations, evidenced by their high frequency of news coverage and mentions. Meanwhile, International Social Organizations and Local Public Social Organizations exhibit growing influence and participation. As China shifts toward a comprehensive disaster reduction strategy, the study observes increased diversity and decentralization among these organizations, with nongovernmental organizations and volunteer groups playing vital roles in resource mobilization, information dissemination, and disaster coordination. Network analysis unveils evolving interaction patterns and co-occurrence frequencies among social organizations, reflecting the evolving roles of different organization types in disaster relief. This research aims to provide actionable insights to enhance the effectiveness of social organizations in disaster management, contributing to the establishment of a more resilient and efficient disaster management framework in the GBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clarify the species of uranium and its effect on the safety assessment in the disposal of high-level radioactive wastes (HLWs), we presented geochemical simulations of Beishan deep groundwater in Gansu Province, China. The Ca–UO2–CO3 complexes are the main species. They can decrease the blocking of granites on uranium, which is unfavorable for the long-term and safe disposal of HLWs. The Ca2+ may become the critical factor that determines the uranium species when the formation of Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq) increases with Ca2+ concentrations. Our study provides an important basis and reference for future safety assessment in the geological disposal of HLWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yellow River basin (YRB) holds immense ecological significance in China, but it is currently undergoing profound transformations in its ecosystem services (ESs). To formulate appropriate environmental policies, it is vital to gain a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and influential factors driving the ESs' transformation in the YRB. The spatiotemporal dynamics in ESs was evaluated using the InVEST model, and the modes of the ESs' transformation were summarized. The elements impacting ESs' transformation and their interactions were assessed using the optimal parameter-based geographical detector (OPGD). Over the period from 1980 to 2020, the water yield within the YRB exhibited an upward trajectory, with a distinctive spatial pattern characterized by higher values in the southern and eastern regions, in contrast to lower values observed in the northern and western regions. Similarly, soil conservation demonstrated a tendency to rise over the duration of the research, with southern and western regions consistently exhibiting higher values compared to the northern and eastern regions. In contrast, habitat quality decreased over time and was accompanied by a progressive spatial decline from the southeast regions to the northwest regions. The ESs' transformation in the YRB from 1980 to 2020 indicated three modes: (1) simultaneous increases, this mode was characterized by concurrent increases in water yield and soil conservation; (2) increase and decrease, in this mode, there was an increase in soil conservation accompanied by a decrease in habitat quality; and (3) increase and deterioration, the third mode entailed an increase in water yield but a simultaneous deterioration in habitat quality. The 45-km grid was the best spatial scale for the analysis in this study. Over the span of 2000 through 2020, the ESs' transformation in the YRB was subject to the influence of natural environmental, geographic location-related, socioeconomic, and policy factors. The determinants of the spatiotemporal heterogeneity in ESs' transformation in the YRB demonstrated double-factor and nonlinear enhancement effects. The counterchange with the most significant effects on ESs' transformation were those between economic density and annual mean precipitation, annual mean temperature and ecological restoration, and the per capita income of urban residents and vegetation index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have indicated depression was associated with environmental exposures, but evidence is limited for the association between outdoor light at night (LAN) and depression. This study aims to examine the association between long-term outdoor LAN exposure and depressive symptoms using data from the Chinese Veteran Clinical Research platform. A total of 6445 male veterans were selected from 277 veteran communities in 18 cities of China during 2009‒2011. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. Outdoor LAN was estimated using the Global Radiance Calibrated Nighttime Lights data. The odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals of depressive symptoms at the high level of outdoor LAN exposure against the low level during the 1 years before the investigation was 1.49 (1.15, 1.92) with p-value for trend < 0.01, and those associated with per interquartile range increase in LAN exposure was 1.22 (1.06, 1.40). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's natural gas supply has been challenged in the past few years by non-traditional risks such as trading conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the country's own emission policy. To ensure energy security and supply, conducting an up-to-date risk analysis of China's natural gas supply status is crucial. This research utilized the Fuzzy-AHP method to compose a risk index and assessed the key links within China's natural gas supply chain from the import side to the domestic side. The results indicate that (a) for China's gas import, the most influential risks are the correlated dependence risk, international relation risk, and supplier internal stability risk. (b) While the dependence risk and transport risk have decreased sharply in the past decade, the import risk is still China's major concern on natural gas supply. (c) Emissions-peaking and carbon neutrality targets are potential challenges, which the country would possibly face in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographic information system-based mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) aims to generate targets by combining multiple proxy layers containing geology, geochemistry, and geophysics information based on an available understanding of geological processes and translating it into critical targeting criteria. However, factors such as an imperfect geological understanding with numerous heuristic natures and intrinsic biases, the inaccuracy and sparsity of datasets, and multiple selections of predictive methods adversely affect the results of MPM and jeopardize the reliability of decision-making in exploration. Thus, a series of knowledge-driven and data-driven MPM approaches to counterbalance these disadvantages have been proposed. Uncertainty is defined as a metric of the various scales of the likelihood and consequences, which is helpful to quantitatively represent the above risks. In this paper, the uncertainty in the final three-dimensional prospectivity map is analyzed and interpreted in terms of quantification, visualization, and comparison of different predictive approaches, and a novel technology is proposed based on a (1 + ε) approximate global optimum strategy derived from the truth discovery society. It outputs the globally optimal truth (p*) as the overall mathematical expectation and a set of weights w i as the representation of reliability. Here, a previous study of the Haoyaoerhudong gold deposit, which is one of the largest black-rock-series-type gold mines in China, was reevaluated. The method demonstrated the following advantages: (i) sorted the reliability of potential models built by multiple predictive variables and different mathematical methods, (ii) provided a "best-guess-decision" prospectivity result by combining the best reliability model from w i and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the risk–return model, and (iii) provided a statistically final uncertainty model by combining p* and risk information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current cities are not concrete jungles and deserts with sparse vegetation. Urban green space (UGS) appears widely in human activity areas and plays an important role in improving the human living environment and accumulates carbon storage. However, given the scattered distribution of UGS, studies on both the refined spatial estimation of carbon storage and appropriate mapping scale are still lacking. Taking the downtown area of Kaifeng, China, as the study area, this study verified the i-Tree Eco model on the basis of a field survey and accurately estimated the spatial carbon storage of UGS by combining it with remote sensing data, and finally, we obtained the minimum spatial mapping scale of UGS carbon storage by scaling. The results showed that (1) the total area of UGS in study area was 26.41 km2, of which the proportion of total area of residential area and park green spaces was about 50%. The area of UGS per capita in the study area is 40.49 m2. (2) Within the 123 survey samples, the proportion of communities with tree–shrub–herbs structure was the highest, 51.22%. The average carbon density was 5.89 kg m−2, among which the park, protective and square green spaces had the highest carbon density in all land use types. (3) The total carbon storage of UGS in the study area was 114,389.17 t, and the carbon storage of UGS per capita was 175.39 kg. Furthermore, the scaling analysis showed that 0.25 km spatial resolution was the minimum spatial scale for UGS carbon storage mapping. This study improves our understanding of urban carbon storage, highlights the role and potential of UGS in carbon neutrality, and clarifies the importance of estimating urban carbon storage at appropriate scales. This study is also of great significance for rationally understanding the terrestrial carbon cycle in urban areas and improving regional climate simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of cellular products used in biological research can directly impact the ability to obtain accurate results. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is a latent virus that spreads extensively worldwide, and cell lines used in experiments may carry EBV and pose an infection risk. The presence of EBV in a single cell line can contaminate other cell lines used in the same laboratory, affecting experimental results. We developed three EBV detection systems: (1) a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection system, (2) a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)-based detection system, and (3) a combined RPA-lateral flow assay (LFA) detection system. The minimum EBV detection limits were 1 × 103 copy numbers for the RPA-based and RPA-LFA systems and 1 × 104 copy numbers for the PCR-based system. Both the PCR and RPA detection systems were applied to 192 cell lines, and the results were consistent with those obtained by the EBV assay methods specified in the pharmaceutical industry standards of the People's Republic of China. A total of 10 EBV-positive cell lines were identified. The combined RPA-LFA system is simple to operate, allowing for rapid result visualization. This system can be implemented in laboratories and cell banks as part of a daily quality control strategy to ensure cell quality and experimental safety and may represent a potential new technique for the rapid detection of EBV in clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy, which has significant adverse effects on both the mother and fetus. The incidence of GDM is increasing globally, and early diagnosis is critical for timely treatment and reducing the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. GDM is usually diagnosed and detected after 24 weeks of gestation, while complications due to GDM can occur much earlier. Copy number variations (CNVs) can be a possible biomarker for GDM diagnosis and screening in the early gestation stage. In this study, we proposed a machine-learning method to screen GDM in the early stage of gestation using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sequencing data from maternal plasma. Five thousand and eighty-five patients from north regions of Mainland China, including 1942 GDM, were recruited. A non-overlapping sliding window method was applied for CNV coverage screening on low-coverage (~0.2×) sequencing data. The CNV coverage was fed to a convolutional neural network with attention architecture for the binary classification. The model achieved a classification accuracy of 88.14%, precision of 84.07%, recall of 93.04%, F1-score of 88.33% and AUC of 96.49%. The model identified 2190 genes associated with GDM, including DEFA1, DEFA3 and DEFB1. The enriched gene ontology (GO) terms and KEGG pathways showed that many identified genes are associated with diabetes-related pathways. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using cfDNA sequencing data and machine-learning methods for early diagnosis of GDM, which may aid in early intervention and prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Norrie disease (ND) is a rare X‐linked recessive disorder characteristic of early childhood blindness. While several mutations in the NDP gene have been reported as causative for ND, the genetic etiology remains unknown for many patients. This study aims to describe a novel mutation and explore the clinical manifestations in a Chinese family with two affected males. Methods: Exome sequencing (ES) was employed to identify the causative gene in a four‐generation pedigree. Sanger sequencing was subsequently utilized to validate the mutation detected by ES in additional family members. Ophthalmologic examination and diagnostic imaging relevant to ND were conducted. Results: The proband (IV:2), an 8‐month‐old male infant, presented with binocular retinal detachment. DNA sequencing revealed a novel heterozygous missense mutation (c.174G>C) within the NDP gene in the proband. This mutation affected highly conserved residues and was predicted to disrupt the normal protein structure. Furthermore, the variant co‐segregated with the disease phenotypes within the family. Conclusions: Our findings identified a novel missense mutation in the NDP gene associated with Norrie disease in China, expanding the mutation spectrum associated with ND. This discovery holds diagnostic, prognostic, and genetic counseling implications for affected individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As of early December 2022, China eased the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restriction, affecting over 80% of the country's population and posing a severe threat to public health. Previous studies mostly focused factors on the severity/mortality rate of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, but limited studies explored factors associated with virus-negative conversion, particularly lifestyles. Therefore, the aim of our study was to analyze the correlation between lifestyle factors and the negative conversion time in COVID-19 patients. Methods: We recruited individuals aged 18 years or older who had a clear time record for both the diagnosis and negative conversion of COVID-19 and completed the electronic questionnaire with no missing data. Dietary data collected from the questionnaire was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis to establish dietary patterns. Age segmentation was performed using restricted cubic spline (RCS) plots. The association between lifestyle factors and the time to negative conversion in different age groups, was assessed using Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox regression analysis. Result: Out of 514 participants, all achieved viral negative conversion within a median time of 11 days. Based on nutrient intake, we identified four dietary patterns. The relationship between age and negative conversion rate, as depicted by RCS plots, exhibited an inverted "U" shape. We categorized age into three segments: <35 years, 35–45 years, and ≥ 45 years. For individuals under 35, our study indicated that a higher protein intake was linked to a faster recovery among COVID-19 patients, while medical staff or those receiving prescription treatments exhibited a slower recovery rate (P < 0.05). The 35 ~ 45 age group showed that adequate sleep and physical exercise were associated with a shorter time to negative conversion, whereas southern regions and a higher intake of carbohydrates were related with a longer conversion time (P < 0.05). Among individuals aged ≥ 45 years, the negative conversion time was primarily associated with physical exercise and being a medical staff member(P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our research suggests that adequate sleep, physical exercise and a higher protein intake can help alleviate COVID-19 symptoms, while a higher level of carbohydrates intake may hinder recovery from COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the present stage, China's ecological civilization construction has entered a strategic period focusing on carbon reduction, which is also a critical period for achieving the improvement of ecological environment quality. The prosperity of bamboo culture and the development of the bamboo industry are of great significance in promoting the construction of an ecological civilization in China. Festival activities often have lasting impacts on the development of the host city. They not only promote urban development but also spur the growth of local enterprises in related industries. However, these impacts have been rarely explored by researchers. This paper analyzes how festival activities influence the behavior of host city enterprises from the perspective of stakeholders with a theoretical model. Taking the China Bamboo Culture Festival as an example, micro-data on bamboo enterprises in 1999–2015 were collected from the Chinese Industrial Enterprise Database and analyzed with a theoretical model to empirically verify the influence of the festival over the production behavior of bamboo enterprises. The research shows that the China Bamboo Culture Festival has a significant positive impact on the total output value and total factor productivity of bamboo product enterprises, which in turn affects the production behavior of the enterprises. In the host province/city, the enterprises that engaged in the festival surpassed the other enterprises by 1.0764% in terms of gross output; export enterprises were less affected by the festival than domestic market enterprises. The China Bamboo Culture Festival makes bamboo enterprises more sustainable and competitive in the industry, and the holding of festival activities enhances the sustainable development capabilities of enterprises by improving their business environment. In addition, significant differences were observed between enterprises in different geographical locations, of different ownerships, and in different subdivided industries. Enterprises in the eastern region are least affected by the China Bamboo Culture Festival, while those in the western region are the most impacted; those in the central region fall in the middle by the degree of influence. Bamboo, rattan, palm, and grass products are influenced by the China Bamboo Culture Festival, while the production of other manufacturing industries is basically unaffected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays environmental issues have been of great concern to the world, among which the problem of global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions is particularly prominent. All countries in the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement have committed to control greenhouse gas emissions, and China, as the largest carbon emitter, has assumed a heavier burden. China has been striving to develop low-carbon technologies such as hydrogen, nuclear, wind, and solar energy, but the most attention should be paid to CCUS, which many scholars have high expectations that CCUS can help China reduce emissions to some extent. Therefore, this paper presents a prediction that CCUS can reduce 3.8% of carbon emissions for China in 2040 when CCUS emission reductions increase at a rate of 30%. The power and chemical industries could reduce carbon emissions by 2.3% and 17.3%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze and compare the concentrations and dietary intake of different fatty acids (FAs) in deep-fried dough sticks (Chinese fried bread) across various cities in China. Method: Sixty-one deep-fried dough stick samples were collected from five cities (Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Guangzhou, Chongqing, and Hangzhou), and the contents of FA monomers were determined using gas chromatography. Moreover, the dietary FA intake was estimated. Results: The mean FA concentration was 18.83 g/100 g (maximum, 41.59 g/100 g; minimum, 4.88 g/100 g). Polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) accounted for the highest proportion of the total FAs at 41.7% (7.86 g/100 g), followed by monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) at 30.77% (5.79 g/100 g), saturated FAs (SFAs) at 26.27% (4.95 g/100 g), and trans-FAs (TFAs) at 1.18% (0.22 g/100 g). The Guangzhou deep-fried dough stick samples had a significantly different FA composition than those from the other cities, presenting with the highest concentration of SFAs (8.64 ± 4.74 g/100 g) and lowest concentration of PUFAs (5.01 ± 3.41 g/100 g). Beijing had the highest intake of PUFAs and MUFAs, whereas Guangzhou had the highest intake of SFAs. Conclusion: The contents and intake of saturated and unsaturated FAs in deep-fried dough sticks varied across the five cities in China. These results are useful for comparing the nutritional characteristics of deep-fried dough sticks in the different cities of China, thereby promoting further research on the relationship between deep-fried dough stick consumption and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disputes are inevitable in construction. Tremendous losses caused by dispute are so amazing that professionals try to figure out how to manage it. It is a practical way to study the dispute problem from the perspective of governance theory. In this study, the paper intends to investigate the characteristics of contractual governance for disputes. Based on governance theory, the framework of contractual governance for dispute is constituted of governance structure (GS) and governance mechanism (GM). The flexibility of GS and GMs are all explored so as to better draft the contracts. By a multiple cases study, a new conceptual model instructing governance picture for construction disputes was proposed which was mainly inspired from literature. The cases study shows that the GS determination is rigidly drafted and executed while the mostly GMs are flexibly designed. The rigid GS has an advantage to a stable foundation and the flexible GMs are apt to coordinate the disputes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides are important in both medicine and veterinary medicine because their blood-feeding regime enable them to transmit a variety of pathogens. In this study, the morphological characteristics of the new species of Culicoides (Sinocoides) jiangchengensis Wang et Liu sp. nov are described and compared with the other species of female Culicoides in the subgenus Sinocoides. Three morphological characteristics of C. jiangchengensis, such as without sensory pit in 3rd palpus segment, sensilla coeloconica on flagellomeres 1,9–13, and m1 and m2 cell of the wings with pale spots, were different from the other nine species of culicoides in subgenus Sinocoides. Genetically, C. jiangchengensis are most closely related to C. malipoensis, but they were located in different branches and the minimum interspecific distance between them was 12.6%. In addition, a checklist of 10 species in the subgenus Sinocoides Chu, 1983 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) in China, including the new species C. jiangchengensis Wang et Liu sp. nov., is provided, and an updated key to species of the subgenus Sinocoides Chu, 1983 was presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the research of consumer nationalism by examining the meaning of corporate country-of-origin as a product of communication, rather than individual perception. The paper focuses in particular on the Japanese electronic and auto companies in China. Using frame analysis to analyze data from the Chinese social media platform of Weibo, it identifies four overall frames from the interaction among the Chinese government, the companies, and the public. The coexisting frames of Foe, Friend, Power, and Reason simultaneously shape the meaning of Japanese-ness, which affords practical implications to corporations' management of their perceived nationality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foundation for accurately understanding regional land-use structures and pursuing the coordination of human–land relations is the scientific identification and simulation of temporal and spatial evolution patterns of land-use spatial conflict (LUSC). Based on the production–living–ecological space (PLES) perspective, a land-use spatial conflict identification and intensity diagnosis model (LUCSII) was constructed using a landscape ecology index. The methods of geographic information system (GIS), spatial autocorrelation analysis, and mathematical statistics were used to achieve the spatial pattern of LUSC over the last 20 years, and the GMOP–Markov–PLUS model was used to simulate the evolution of LUSC in the future under various scenarios. The results indicated that our established LUCSII could accurately identify potential land-use spatial conflict areas in geoparks. The GMOP–Markov–PLUS model constructed had also scientifically predicted the future land-use patterns under different scenarios, successfully demonstrating the changing process of spatial conflict pattern evolution. The research proposed three different plans for the long-term land use of YG, including ecological protection, economic development, and long-term development perspectives. Finally, the research further emphasized the importance for sustainable development of geoparks. More attention should be paid to the optimal allocation of land-use structure and the coordinated development of human–land relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are close dynamic relationships among the livelihood, well-being, and ecological environment of farmer households. It is of great significance to scientifically clarify the impact of the Grain for Green policy on the livelihoods and well-being of farmer households in mountainous areas. Based on data from a survey of 392 farmer households in Zhangbei County, the system of indicators for livelihood assets and well-being of farmer households were constructed using the sustainable livelihood framework (SLF). The livelihood assets and well-being levels of different types of farmer households were measured, and a multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the impact of the Grain for Green policy implementation on the well-being levels of farmer households. The results showed that (1) the Grain for Green project caused changes in the livelihood of farmer households. The average livelihood diversity of farmer households was 3.008, and the returned farmland households (3.022) were higher than the nonreturned farmland households (2.975) in Zhangbei County. The level of natural assets among the total average livelihood assets of farmer households was the highest at 0.374, while the level of physical assets was the lowest at 0.018. The level of livelihood assets of returned farmland households (0.948) was lower than that of nonreturned farmland households (1.117). (2) The Grain for Green policy had an improving effect on the level of well-being of farmer households, but the effect was not significant. The level of well-being of all farmer households in Zhangbei County was 0.517, with the level of wealth contributing the most to the well-being of farmer households at 40.20% and the quality of the ecological environment contributing the least at 11.99%. The level of well-being of returned farmland households (0.518) was slightly higher than that of nonreturned farmland households (0.514). (3) The influencing degree of each factor on the level of well-being varied significantly. There are three main paths through which the Grain for Green policy affects the well-being of farmer households: by reallocating human assets, optimizing natural assets, and enhancing financial assets. The factor of household size had the highest degree, at 0.366, while educational attainment of household members, household labor capacity, annual household expenditure, livelihood diversity, number of large production tools, and total value of livestock were also important drivers of household well-being, and area of arable land was negatively associated with household well-being. There were also differences in the factors influencing the level of well-being of different types of farmer households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eye movements of Chinese readers were monitored as they read sentences containing a critical character that was either a 1-character word or the initial character of a 2-character word. Due to manipulation of the verb prior to the target word, the 1-character target word (or the first character of the 2-character target word) was either plausible or implausible, as an independent word, at the point at which it appeared, whereas the 2-character word was always plausible. The eye movement data showed that the plausibility manipulation did not exert an influence on the reading of the 2-character word or its component characters. However, plausibility significantly influenced reading of the 1-character target word. These results suggest that processes of semantic integration in reading Chinese are performed at a word level, instead of a character level, and that word segmentation must take place very early in the course of processing. (Contains 2 tables and 5 footnotes.)

This empirical study investigates the dynamic interconnection between fossil fuel consumption, alternative energy consumption, economic growth and carbon emissions in China over the 1981 to 2020 time period within a multivariate framework. The long-term relationships between the sequences are determined through the application of the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds test and augmented by the Johansen maximum likelihood procedure. The causal relationships between the variables are tested with the Granger causality technique based on the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). Empirical results reveal the existence of a statistically significant negative relationship between alternative energy consumption and carbon emissions in the long-term equilibrium. Furthermore, the VECM results demonstrate that both carbon emissions and fossil fuel consumption have unidirectional effects on economic growth. Additionally, the study highlights a short-term unidirectional causal relationship from economic growth to alternative energy consumption. These findings suggest that a reduction in fossil fuel consumption in the short run may indirectly impede the development of alternative energy. The study proposes that China should expedite the development of alternative energy and control the expansion of fossil fuel consumption to attain its carbon reduction target without hindering economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dental interns are vulnerable to needlestick injuries (NSI). The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence and characteristics of NSI exposures among dental interns during their first-year clinical training, assess risk factors, and evaluate reporting behaviours. Methods: An online survey was conducted among dental interns of Class 2011–2017 at Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology (PKUSS), China. The self-administrated questionnaire consisted of information on demographic profiles, NSI characteristics, and reporting practices. The outcomes were presented by descriptive statistics. A multivariate regression analysis was performed to assess NSI sources using a forward step-wise approach. Results: A total of 407 dental interns completed the survey (response rate 91.9%, 407/443), and 23.8% sustained at least one NSI. The mean number of NSIs per intern was 0.28 during the first clinical year. More occupation exposures occurred from October to December, between 13:00–15:00. Syringe needles were the most frequent sources, followed by dental burs, suture needles, and ultrasonic chips. The risk of peer-inflicted NSIs in the department of Paediatric Dentistry was 12.1 times higher than that in Oral Surgery (OR 12.1, 95% CI: 1.4-101.4). Appropriately 64.9% NSIs occurred when chairside assistants were absent. Compared to working alone, the risk of peer-inflicted NSIs was 32.3 times higher when providing chairside assistance (OR 32.3, 95% CI: 7.2-145.4). The left-hand index finger was the most commonly injured site. About 71.4% of exposures were reported in paperwork. Conclusions: Dental interns are susceptible to NSIs during their first-year clinical training. Extra attention should be paid to syringe needles, dental burs, suture needles, and ultrasonic chips. The lack of chairside assistance is hazardous regarding NSIs. The training of chairside assistance of the first-year dental interns should be enhanced. First-year dental interns are required to increase their awareness of ignored behaviors related to NSI exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the goal of urban carbon dioxide emission reduction, how to increase carbon sequestration has become a top priority. The biological sink is mainly divided into green carbon sink and blue carbon sink. Coastal cities have two kinds of carbon sinks. There, the study of carbon sinks in coastal cities is the primary choice to cope with climate change. Therefore, this study chooses coastal cities with primary industries including agriculture, fishery, and forestry as the study subjects. The LMDI (Log-Mean Divisia Index) method and multiple regression prediction models were used to explore the low-carbon countermeasures which increase urban net carbon sink from the perspective of influencing factors and future potential. The study found that the average output value of employees in the primary industry is the main driving factor, and the change in the purchasing power of unit carbon sinks and the change in the proportion of employees in the primary industry have inhibited the increase in net carbon sinks. Projections based on the primary industry's output and afforestation area as independent variables show an overall upward trend in net carbon sinks, reaching 15.70 million tons of net carbon sinks in 2060, offsetting 10–20% of total carbon emissions in the same year. Based on the calculation results, this paper puts forward some corresponding countermeasures to increase carbon sinks. This paper provides a theoretical reference for the low-carbon development of coastal cities in China, and the strategies can be also expanded to other cities with similar resources around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicas (Selenka) is one of the important aquaculture species distributed in northern China. In recent years, global warming caused frequent high temperature weather in summer in northern China, resulting in dramatic losses of the sea cucumber aquaculture industry. In the present study, we focused on the effect of oxidative stress in Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) subjected to high temperature stress. Sea cumbers were exposed to the control (16 °C), and high temperature treatments (20 °C, 24 °C, and 28 °C) for 7 days. Then, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, reduced glutathione (GSH) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) level in the respiratory tree and body wall were detected, respectively. Results showed that 24 °C and 28 °C acute exposure induced the elevation of ROS level, SOD, CAT, POD activities, GSH content, MDA content and 8-OHdG level in the respiratory tree of sea cucumber. In contrast, no significant changes were observed for ROS and 8-OHdG levels in the body wall of sea cucumber, while the antioxidants including SOD, CAT, POD, and GSH decreased to some extent. Moreover, MDA content exhibited a noticeable increase in the body wall, similarly to that in the respiratory tree, indicating that high temperature could induce severe lipid peroxidation in two tissues. Considering the differences in various biomarkers measured in two tissues, respiratory tree might be more susceptible to the high temperature changes compared to the body wall. Our findings may help understand the oxidative stress response to high temperature in the respiratory tree and the body wall in A. japonicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Information seeking, as an important part of the prevention and control of infectious diseases, can lead to positive outcomes by reducing uncertainty and alleviating panic. However, most previous studies have limited their analysis to individual-level psychosocial factors, and little is known about how social-level factors influence individuals' information-seeking intentions. Methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted from July 30, 2020 to August 15, 2020 in China. We used a convenience sampling strategy to recruit participants from among the Internet users. The structural equation model was used to identify the incentives associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk information-seeking intention. Results: In this study, the responses of 871 Internet users who reflected a response rate of 85% were analyzed. Information-seeking intention was found to be directed by informational subjective norms (ISNs), perceived information need, risk knowledge, the sense of community (SOC), and negative affective responses, and ISNs were found to be the strongest driving factor. Individuals with a stronger SOC, which was associated with greater pressure and expectations, show negative affective responses. COVID-19 risk knowledge can affect the information-seeking intention of Internet users not only directly but also indirectly through their perceived information need. In addition, more risk knowledge was associated with a lower perceived risk likelihood. Conclusion: When formulating risk communication strategies, governments and health institutions should take targeted measures to improve the public's SOC and knowledge. This will provide an opportunity to explore the role of individual cognition and environmental risk information in public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In August 2013, a virus strain (DH13M98) was isolated from Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles collected in Mangshi, the southwestern border area of Yunnan Province, China. The virus replicated and caused cytopathic effects (CPE) in Aedes albopictus (C6/36) cells, but not in baby hamster Syrian kidney (BHK-21) cells. Materials and Methods: Agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) analysis revealed that the DH13M98 virus was a 10-segment double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus, with a "1-1-1-2-1-1-2-1" pattern. The full genome of the DH13M98 virus was sequenced by full-length amplification of complementary DNAs (FLAC). Results: Phylogenetic analysis of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (Pol), major subcore-shell (T2), and major core-surface (T13) protein showed that DH13M98 clustered with Umatilla virus (UMAV), and the amino acid (aa) sequences of DH13M98 shared more than 89.5% (Pol), 95% (T2), and 91.1% (T13) identity with UMAV. However, the aa identity of outer capsid protein one (OC1) of DH13M98 with other UMAV was 57.1–79.2%, suggesting that DH13M98 was UMAV, but distinct from other strains of UMAV from the United States, Japan, and Germany at OC1, and it may be a high variant strain of UMAV, even a new serotype. Conclusion: This is the first isolation of UMAV in China, which enriches the resources of virus species in China and provides new insights into the genetic diversity and geographical distribution of the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Given the scarcity of data during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, the decision-making for non-pharmaceutical policies was mostly based on insufficient evidence. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of these policies, such as lockdown and government subsidies, on rural households and identify policy implications for China and other countries in dealing with pandemics. Design/methodology/approach: The authors survey 2,408 rural households by telephone from 101 counties across 17 provinces in China during the first stage of the pandemic (March 2020). The authors use the ordered probit model and linear regression model to study the overall impact of policies and then use the quantile regression model and sub-sample regression method to study the heterogeneity of the effects of government policies. Findings: The authors find that logistics disruption due to lockdown negatively affected rural households. Obstructed logistics is associated with a more significant loss for high-income households, while its impact on the loss expectation of low-income households is more severe. Breeding and other industries such as transport and sales suffer more from logistics than cultivation. The impact of logistics on intensive agricultural entities is more serious than that on professional farms. The government subsidy is more effective at reducing loss for low-income households. Lockdown and government subsidies have shown heterogeneous impacts on rural households. Practical implications: The overall economic losses experienced by rural households in the early stages of the pandemic are controllable. The government policies of logistics and subsidies should target specific groups. Originality/value: The authors evaluate the economic impacts of lockdown and government subsidies on rural households and show their heterogeneity among different groups. The authors further demonstrate the policy effectiveness in supporting rural households during the early stages of the pandemic and provide future policy guidance on major public health event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of stress hyperglycemia on the in-hospital prognosis in non-surgical patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes. Research design and methods: We identified non-surgical hospitalized patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes from a large electronic medical record-based database of diabetes in China (WECODe) from 2011 to 2019. We estimated stress hyperglycemia using the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) and its equation, say admission blood glucose/[(28.7 × HbA1c)− 46.7]. The primary outcomes included the composite cardiac events (combination of death during hospitalization, requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cardiogenic shock, and the new episode of acute heart failure during hospitalization), major acute kidney injury (AKI stage 2 or 3), and major systemic infection. Results: Of 2875 eligible Chinese adults, SHR showed U-shaped associations with composite cardiac events, major AKI, and major systemic infection. People with SHR in the third tertile (vs those with SHR in the second tertile) presented higher risks of composite cardiac events ([odds ratio, 95% confidence interval] 1.89, 1.26 to 2.87) and major AKI (1.86, 1.01 to 3.54). In patients with impaired kidney function at baseline, both SHR in the first and third tertiles anticipated higher risks of major AKI and major systemic infection. Conclusions: Both high and low SHR indicates poor prognosis during hospitalization in non-surgical patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes. Highlights: Why did we undertake this study? Stress hyperglycemia is classic but a long-overlooked pathophysiological process and a recently validated parameter, stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR), facilitates its estimation. What is the specific question(s) we wanted to answer? Is SHR associated with the in-hospital prognosis in non-surgical patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure? What did we find? Compared to the nadir range of SHR at 0.79 to 1.08, both high and low SHR at admission elicit elevated risks of cardiac, kidney, and infectious adverse events during hospitalization in non-surgical patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure. What are the implications of our findings? Clinicians should understand the inconsistency between the blood glucose at admission and HbA1c indicates poor prognosis during hospitalization and warrants additional monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huangjiu (Chinese rice wine) is a popular and traditional alcoholic beverage in China; however, the consumption of Huangjiu readily results in hangover symptoms. The aim of this study was to identify the main components associated with behavioral inhibition, headache, and the relevant mechanisms by using a mice hangover model. The results of an open‐field experiment revealed that the key biogenic amine associated with mice behavior was histamine, which inhibited the behavior activity of mice in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, histamine treatment decreased the levels of serotonin (5‐HT) and 5‐hydroxyindole acetic acid. In addition, the levels of dopamine and nitric oxide, which are associated with migraine, increased in the brain tissue of mice. In addition, the expression of receptor genes of 5‐HT, including Htr1a, Htr1f, and Htr2c, is essential in regulating various behaviors and mental activities. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that histamine is a key component in Huangjiu, and it is related to hangover symptoms by affecting the level of 5‐HT and its receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to investigate the association of glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) variability score (HVS) with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) slope in Chinese adults living with type 2 diabetes. This cohort study included adults with type 2 diabetes attending outpatient clinics between 2011 and 2019 from a large electronic medical record-based database of diabetes in China (WECODe). We estimated the individual-level visit-to-visit HbA1c variability using HVS, a proportion of changes in HbA1c of ≥0.5% (5.5 mmol/mol). We estimated the odds of people experiencing a rapid eGFR annual decline using a logistic regression and differences across HVS categories in the mean eGFR slope using a mixed-effect model. The analysis involved 2397 individuals and a median follow-up of 4.7 years. Compared with people with HVS ≤ 20%, those with HVS of 60% to 80% had 11% higher odds of experiencing rapid eGFR annual decline, with an extra eGFR decline of 0.93 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year on average; those with HVS > 80% showed 26% higher odds of experiencing a rapid eGFR annual decline, with an extra decline of 1.83 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year on average. Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes and HVS > 60% could experience a more rapid eGFR decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the long‐ and short‐run impacts of the railway zones associated with the China Eastern and South Manchuria Railways in Manchuria, which were administered by Russia and Japan, respectively, from the early 1900s to the 1920s. Despite the fact that 'railway imperialism' impaired China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and constituted a humiliating quasi‐colonial episode in Chinese history, railway zones nevertheless had a noticeable impact on Manchuria's local economies. Through a reconstruction of the historical dataset and cliometrics, we show that, among the railway zones in northeastern China, only those attached to the South Manchuria Railway exerted a significant and positive impact. Specifically, its railway zone had higher urbanisation and literacy rates and a higher percentage of professionals in its industrial and commercial sectors in the 1930s, and these effects persist to the present day as an unintended outcome. Apart from the agglomeration of direct manufacturing investment in these railway zones, an additional channel through which the impact took effect was the provision of public goods, such as schools and hospitals, which served as necessary conditions for long‐term development. This study sheds light on understanding the persistence of colonial history as a root of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major parameter in the energy balance of the ground surface, temperature represents the level of exchange of energy and moisture between the ground and air. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) has the permafrost region with the highest altitude and the largest area in low–middle latitude of the world. The variation in ground surface temperature has an impact on the existence and development of the permafrost. Therefore, the analysis of the ground surface temperature in the QTP is significant to reflect the energy exchange in permafrost regions. This paper collected solar radiation data and calculated the conversion coefficient from total solar radiation to long-wave radiation of the ground surface on different underlying surfaces. The ground surface temperature was inversely calculated and modified based on the reception of solar radiation on different underlying surfaces. A simplified calculation model of ground surface temperature was built to reflect the ground surface temperature on different underlying surfaces of the QTP. The calculation results were compared with MODIS and showed good fitness, providing a systematic and reliable method for calculating the ground surface temperature on the QTP. The above model plays a significant role in the estimation of soil moisture, ground surface energy and water balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periphyton in aquatic ecosystems play a crucial ecological role in element cycling and are susceptible to natural disturbances and anthropogenic activities. To understand the responses of periphytic communities to water quality factors and altitude gradients, DNA metabarcoding was employed to investigate the distribution characteristics of epilithic periphyton (comprising prokaryotes and eukaryotes).Epilithic periphyton and water were sampled at 26 sampling sites with an altitude ranging from 445 to 1,565 m in the Jue River and its three tributaries in Qinling Mountain, China. The altitudinal patterns of water quality variables were initially investigated, followed by redundancy analysis and distance‐based linear models to explore the responses of community structure to altitudes and water quality. Meanwhile, the relationship between these variables and fluorescence parameters to reflect the photosynthesis of epilithic periphyton along an altitudinal gradient was examined.The results indicated that with decreasing elevation, water quality variables including total dissolved solids (TDS), water temperature, conductivity, salinity, and concentrations of NO3−‐N, total nitrogen, and NO2−‐N increased. This pattern was closely associated with the intensification of anthropogenic disturbance downstream. Specifically, higher salinity and water temperature downstream may reduce the prokaryotic biodiversity but promote the diversity and evenness of eukaryotes; higher concentrations of total nitrogen may increase the diversity, richness, and evenness of the whole periphyton community. Furthermore, salinity, nutrients, and TDS were identified as crucial variables shaping periphyton community structure, especially salinity and TDS, which were linked to the growth of chlorophytes.The attenuated maximum photochemical efficiency of periphyton at high altitudes indicated that photosystem II was inhibited, while the enhancement of maximum photochemical efficiency at low altitudes may be attributed to the reduced abundance of synurophyceae and increased chlorophyte abundance with strong photosynthetic capacity.The spatial distribution of the structure and photosynthetic activity of the periphyton community along the altitudinal gradient of the Jue River and its tributaries showed that most water quality variables were negatively correlated with altitude. The photosynthetic efficiency of periphyton declined at high altitudes because the abundance of chlorophytes was lower at higher altitude reaches. This pattern of periphyton structural composition and function with altitude may also exist in other alpine rivers influenced by anthropogenic impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy savings and economic performance study of the air-source heat pump (ASHP) and wall-hanging gas boiler (WGB) heating systems in hot-summer and cold-winter (HSCW) zones of China is beneficial to the development and implementation of relevant policies under the carbon neutrality background. This research presented a comprehensive analysis of the heat load, primary energy consumption, carbon dioxide and other emissions, and running costs of both heating systems in HSCW zones. Theoretical mathematical models of the energy consumption, emission, and economic performance of the ASHP and WGB heating systems were developed. The calculation results showed that the ASHP system consumed 12.3 % less primary energy than the WGB system, emitted 36.9 % more carbon dioxide, and reduced running costs by 26.0 %, where the increase in carbon dioxide emissions was mainly due to the limited heat-to-electricity conversion efficiency of grid systems. The experimental results showed the excellent energy consumption saving and economic benefits of the ASHP system compared to the WGB system, which promoted the applications of ASHP on a larger scale in HSCW zones of China. The comprehensive research results on the energy-saving and carbon dioxide emission performance of ASHP and WGB can contribute to evaluating the necessity of replacing WGB with ASHP and provide references for relevant policy planning in HSCW zones in China. The replacement of WGB with ASHP for spacing heating systems is promising coupled with the power system reformation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and accomplish China's carbon neutrality target. • Primary energy consumption models of ASHP and WGB heating systems were developed. • Carbon dioxide emission and running costs models of both heating systems were proposed. • Experimental energy & economic comparisons of both heating systems were conducted. • Experimental analysis demonstrated the large application feasibility of ASHP in HSCW zones in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine bone marrow is traditionally regarded as a highly nutritious food that has been widely used as a medicinal and health food for several decades in China. A large number of adulterated and counterfeit bone marrows from pigs and donkeys have been used in place of bovine bone marrow in commercial products, which are almost identical morphologically between species. Therefore, we explored the feasibility of multiplex PCR technology to differentiate bovine bone marrows from different domestic animals. Three pairs of specific primers for bovine, pig, and donkey were designed according to the conserved sequence in mitochondrial cytochrome b. A modified method was used to extract the genomic DNA from common domestic animals' bone marrows. The optimal reaction conditions for triple PCR were optimized. A three-fold PCR detection assay was successfully established to identify three species of bovine, pig, and donkey. Three primers have good specificity and high sensitivity. Additionally, the assay sensitivity test confirmed that the extracted DNA concentration was the lowest in bovine bone marrow at 10°pg/μL. The assay also showed 100% specificity. Rapid authentication of bovine bone marrow and differentiation from nonbovine products can be achieved using an improved SDS alkali denaturation method and species-specific PCR assay. Both species-specific PCR methods described in this study can be potentially applied for the quality evaluation of functional food and drug resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective is to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of using calcipotriol–betamethasone compounding agent for psoriasis treatment through a systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and WanFang Data from inception till July 31, 2020. Efficacy was evaluated based on primary outcome indicators including skin lesion improvement and overall adverse reaction rate. Secondary outcome indicators included degree of life quality improvement, clinical effectiveness rate, and specific adverse reaction rates. RevMan5.3 was used to perform the meta-analysis. 22 studies finally met our inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The results indicated that for short-term treatment, a sequential therapy that uses calcipotriol betamethasone compounding agent and calcipotriol improves PASI score (MD = −0.94, 95% CI − 1.38 ~ − 0.49, P < 0.0001, I2 = 49%), comparing with using only calcipotriol. From a drug safety perspective, the difference in overall adverse reaction rate is not significant between the calcipotriol group and the sequential treatment group (RR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.22 ~ 1.14, P = 0.10, I2 = 33%). Calcipotriol betamethasone compounding agent may be more effective in plaque psoriasis treatment compared to use only calcipotriol, with no significant difference in adverse reaction rate between the two groups. Although the data were collected from 13 comparison groups, each group may not have sufficient data for a thorough and comprehensive analysis. Further research may be necessary for a more detailed evaluation of effectiveness of using calcipotriol betamethasone compounding agent for plaque psoriasis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of China's national parks is still in the initial stage, and few scholars have studied the effects of soundscapes on human physiology and psychology from the perspective of the auditory senses in national parks. In this study, the Qianjiangyuan National Park System Pilot Area was taken as the research subject, physiological indicators of subjects were collected through a biopAC-MP150 multi-channel physiological instrument data platform, and the subjective psychological response of soundscapes was measured using a Likert scale. The results showed that the sound of water had the most significant effect on the heart rate and respiratory rate of the subjects. Agricultural sound had the greatest impact on the skin conduction levels, while conversation had the least overall impact on human physiology. There were significant differences in comfort, excitement, and significance among the different soundscapes (p < 0.001). The sounds of insects are more likely to elicit feelings of comfort and excitement, while the sounds of birds are more likely to arouse curiosity. No significant correlation was observed between the physiological indices and psychological indices. The study on the effects of different soundscapes on human physiology and psychology in China's national parks will provide a basis for the decision makers of national parks to formulate more effective planning, design, and management policies regarding soundscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecosystem of national parks bears some cultural features. How the cultural ecosystem service functions are perceived by the public and how the cultural ecosystem service functions shape the public's cognition have become urgent scientific questions. This paper performs a case analysis on the Qianjiangyuan National Park System Pilot Area, a representative national park in China, which clarifies the main types of cultural ecosystem service functions from the perspective of the landscape aesthetics benefits of community residents, and analyze the varied impacts of demographics on functional cognition. On this basis, the entropy weight method was adopted to evaluate the importance of each function. Fuzzy comprehensive evaluation was employed to assess the composite level of the cultural service functions. The results show that: (1) the community residents value the benefits brought by the national park the most in terms of the ecological improvement function, and the situation is consistent across the four towns/townships; by contrast, the community residents attach the least importance to the benefits in terms of system governance function. (2) Except for the years of local residence, the community residents' cognition of different cultural ecosystem service functions may vary significantly, owing to factors like gender, age, education level, occupation, and annual mean income. (3) Concerning the importance of functional indices, the importance scores of the natural experience functions, humanistic concern functions, and social service functions are 0.3286, 0.3503, and 0.3211, respectively. The community residents had a moderate to high level of cognition for the cultural ecosystem service functions (3.99). The different types of functions can be sorted by effectiveness as: the social service functions (4.11) > natural experience functions (4.03) > humanistic concern functions (3.86). The research results provide a reference for improving the management level of national parks, and ease the increasingly prominent contradiction between people and land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With China's carbon peak and target proposed and the power system as an important source of carbon emissions, its carbon reduction issues are of great concern. However, the mismatch between power demand, resources, and generation facilities in different regions of China creates enormous carbon reduction pressures, especially in the region covered by China's Northeast Power Grid (NE Grid). Therefore, in this study, a two-stage power optimization model considering Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) was established to optimize the national power generation and transmission in China from 2020 to 2060 first and then to optimize the regional road map of energy structure adjustment for China's NE grid and its CO2 storage strategy. The first stage optimization results show that the national power interaction in China can make full use of the energy resource advantages of the NE grid, especially Jilin and Mengdong, delivering clean electricity to the North China grid as it reaches its "dual carbon" goal. Additionally, the second-stage optimization results show that the NE grid can make good use of CCUS for its thermal power transition. Annual CO2 storage will peak at 204 Mt in 2050 as thermal power withdraws in the NE grid region, which provides a reference for other regions to realize carbon neutrality of their power system by using CCUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material utilisation has been playing a fundamental role in economic development, but meanwhile, it may have environmental and social consequences. Given China's rapid economic growth, understanding China's material utilisation patterns would inform decisions for researchers and policymakers. However, fragmented data from multiple statistical sources hinder us from comprehensively portraying China's material utilisation dynamics. This study harmonised China-specific official statistics and constructed a China economy-wide material flow accounts database. This database covers hundreds of materials and more than 30 years (1990–2020) from thousands of data sources, which is comprehensive, long-term, up-to-date, and publicly accessed. This database would provide insights into the historical metabolic dynamics of China's economy with elaboration on the production, consumption, and end-of-life disposal of materials. This database also allows for international analyses since it is developed based on an internationally standardised analytical framework. Furthermore, this study would benefit studies on policy impact evaluation, environmental pressure assessment, and sustainable development strategies. Measurement(s) domestic extraction • emission • international trade • imports • exports Technology Type(s) economy-wide material flow analysis Factor Type(s) economy • environment • material flow Sample Characteristic - Location China [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global surface temperature is increasing significantly under climate change with increasingly uneven distribution of precipitation, which has been making an important impact on the sustainable development of the dryland agriculture in semi-arid regions. The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR) has the largest area ratio of semi-arid regions in China, and spring wheat is one of its major grain crops, and the negative impacts of climate change pose a serious threat to its production. In order to reduce this threat, we assessed the impact thresholds and risks posed by the main climatic factors to spring-wheat production, and put forward quantitative adaptive countermeasures. The results showed that, from 1961 to 2012, the appropriate impact thresholds of average temperature, precipitation, fertilization level, and water supply level were 15.6 °C, 333 mm, 319.5 kg/ha, and 743.7 mm, respectively. Compared with the average values in 1996–2012, the maximum fertilization level and water supply level could be increased by 162.2 kg/ha and 406.5 mm, respectively, to improve the adaptive yield of spring wheat. The risks of adverse impacts of temperature rise, precipitation decrease, and their combined effect on spring-wheat production were found to be 11.1%, 9.3%, and 10.3%, respectively. The whole IMAR showed a high risk of adverse impacts of temperature rise and the combined action of temperature rise and precipitation decrease on spring-wheat production. In particular, the spring-wheat production in the northeastern, eastern, and central areas were found to be at the highest risk to the impacts of climate change. Based on the determined appropriate thresholds of fertilization level and water supply level, it was determined that in the northeastern area, the maximum fertilization level and water supply level could be increased by 229.9 kg/ha and 441.4 mm, respectively, to increase the adaptive yield of spring wheat. In the eastern area, the two factors could be increased by 142.2 kg/ha and 464.3 mm, respectively. In the central area, they could be increased by 242.2 kg/ha and 513.7 mm, respectively. In the southwestern area, they could be increased by 41.4 kg/ha and 201.7 mm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]