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Precipitation δ18O has offered valuable insights into the evolution of the Asian monsoon. Recent researches focusing on precipitation Δ′17O has enhanced our understanding by offering new perspectives beyond those of δ18O, revealing insights into vapor sources and continental recycling. Nevertheless, there remains a lack of interannual triple oxygen isotope data, particularly in the Asian monsoon region. In this study, we analyzed the triple oxygen isotopes and hydrogen isotopes in monthly precipitation samples collected from Chongqing in Southwest China between 2019 and 2022 A.D. Seasonal variations in δD, δ18O, δ17O, and d‐excess values were observed, with lower values during the rainy season and higher values during the dry season, highlighting the impact of changes in moisture sources and local meteorological conditions on seasonal shifts in δD, δ18O, and δ17O. While, mean Δ′17O values were higher in rainy season and lower in dry season. Notably, during rainy season, there is a negative correlation between monthly Δ′17O values and the RH of the vapor source area, as well as a positive correlation with d‐excess. Recalculated Δ′17O values based on RH of oceanic moisture source, are higher than the measured values for this period, indicating the contribution of terrigenous moisture to precipitation in SW China. Precipitation Δ′17O values provide a more precise reflection of changes in moisture source, continental recycling, and evapotranspiration processes that drive water cycling compared Integrating modeling works in future will facilitate the use of precipitation Δ′17O values to quantify the impact of different moisture source on precipitation. Plain Language Summary: In the context of climatic warming, changes in water vapor source areas have substantial implications for the stability of regional water resources. Despite the importance of these changes, few studies have analyzed them using precipitation data from SW China. We conducted monthly measurements of isotopic compositions in precipitation samples collected in monsoonal SW China between 2019 and 2022 A.D. Seasonal variations in δD, δ18O, δ17O, and d‐excess revealed low values during the rainy season (May–October) and significantly higher values during the dry season (November–April). These variations are primarily attributed to different water vapor sources in distinct seasons. Moreover, we observed a negative correlation between precipitation Δ′17O and relative humidity in the source area of the water vapor during the rainy season, suggesting that Δ′17O contains valuable information about the water vapor's source area. Additionally, the relatively higher Δ′17O values observed in the rainy season imply the influence of continental recycling and evapotranspiration processes. Key Points: Characteristics of triple oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in precipitation were analyzed based on a 4‐year monitoring period in Southwest ChinaTriple oxygen isotopes in precipitation serve as indicators of the extent of isotopic fractionation in water vapor between different seasonsChanges in precipitation Δ′17O show a negative correlation with relative humidity from the moisture source area during the rainy season [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global and national education agendas are concerned with improving the quality and equality of learning outcomes. School systems involuntarily continue to produce new and perpetuate existing inequities and injustices, particularly for minority students. While previous research has highlighted the potential causes and effects of educational inequity, little is known about the perspectives of teachers with minoritised backgrounds regarding the persistence of and responses to educational disparities. This research draws on the literature on deficit thinking and culturally responsive teaching to explore the views of ethnic minority teachers on students' academic achievement disparities in an ethnically diverse region of China. Interviews with 12 ethnic minority teachers show ethnic, biological and cultural deficit thinking when discussing students' schooling. Participants attributed their deficient‐oriented thinking to their earlier teacher education experiences, where they acquired the discourse of zhiguo minzu concerning the different sociohistorical developments of minority groups in China. However, teacher participants stated that they also engaged in culturally responsive teaching to support the ethnic identities of their students. These findings draw attention to the multi‐layered perspectives of ethnic minority teachers, which comprise both the reproducing and the challenging of inequities about minorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southwest China was characterized by its ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity, but the genetic profile and dynamic history of past populations in this region are not well attested. Here, we present genome-wide ancient DNA data from seven Ming Dynasty (1368 CE–1644 CE) individuals from the heart of southwest China, Guizhou province. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first ancient genomic data from the region. We found that compared to other published historical genomes from southwest China, the Ming Dynasty Dasongshan individuals in Guizhou share more affinity with northern Chinese, and were genetically admixed by ancient populations from southern China and northern China agriculturalists from the Yellow River region. Analysis of short runs of homozygosity fragments suggests that the Dasongshan people constituted a small-sized population with probable exogamous customs. Furthermore, present-day Tibeto-Burman, Tai-Kadai, and Hmong-Mien groups in southwest China carry additional ancestry associated with ancient Yellow River agriculturists, indicating a genetic influx from northern China within recent centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a long-standing view of Chinese Palaeolithic that lithic industries with pebble-tools and simple core-and-flakes are prevalent, without innovations and technological changes until the advent of the Upper Palaeolithic. However, with new discoveries and reassessments of previous archaeological materials, many doubts have been raised on the tenableness of this view. Preceding reports of the Levallois concept at Guanyindong revealed the presence of an early prepared core technology in East Asia. To further contribute to this issue, here we present a comprehensive study of the whole Guanyindong assemblage. Our results found that Levallois stone-tool technology is not the only skill acquired by Guanyindong knappers. Instead, systematic Middle Palaeolithic techno-complexes, including multiple flaking strategies, diverse tool types, and formal tool manufacture, suggest that Guanyindong industry is indeed a Middle Palaeolithic technological complex that is comparable with West Eurasia and Africa, challenging the previous understanding of Palaeolithic industries pre-40 ka in China as static and conventional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the importance of trees in urban ecosystems, it is crucial to understand the distribution, prevalence, and intensity of parasitic mistletoe infection across urban landscapes. In this study, we aimed to understand how various tree-related factors (e.g., tree taxonomy, size, pruning history, nativity, foliage, density, and diversity) might influence mistletoe prevalence and infection intensity across a typical subtropical urban greenspace. We surveyed 6,012 trees representing 96 species, 76 genera, and 44 families across a large, urban university campus in a major Southwest Chinese city. In total, we found 353 mistletoe host trees (prevalence: 5.87%), largely concentrated on the eastern part of campus, partially due to the proximity of waterbodies and a large adjacent greenspace, as well as higher tree density. To understand how predictors affected the prevalence and intensity of mistletoe infection, we used a hurdle model fitting our zero-inflated count data. Four independent variables significantly affected the prevalence of mistletoe infestation, with three demonstrating positive correlations (crown width, tree density, and tree diversity). One variable (evergreen foliage) negatively correlated with mistletoe prevalence. However, only one factor was found to significantly affect mistletoe infection intensity (crown width, positively). Due to the variety of ecosystem services mistletoes provide, more studies are necessary to assess the impact of various mistletoe management strategies, especially on urban biodiversity. Highlights: Of 6,012 surveyed trees, 353 hosted mistletoes, but 50 of 96 species did not. Four tree-related factors affected mistletoe prevalence (3 positively/1 negatively). Only tree size (positively) affected infection intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although health literacy (HL) has emerged as a critical public health concern, research on HL in emergency management departments is limited. This study aimed to investigate the awareness of HL and associated factors among firefighters of emergency management departments in southwest China to provide a basis for carrying out targeted health education. Methods: A cross-sectional convenience sample of 1,742 firefighters from an emergency management department in southwestern China was surveyed from February to April 2023 using the Chinese Citizen’s Health Literacy Questionnaire (2019 version). The chi-square test, linear trend chi-square test, Fisher’s test, rank sum test, and multifactorial logistic regression model were used to identify influential factors associated with HL. Results: The HL level of the 1742 respondents was 34.3%. Age, ethnicity, education level, length of service, type of job, smoking status, types of parental jobs, annual household income, time of daily internet use, etc. (P < 0.05). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicate that type of job (OR = 0.648, 95%CI:0.426–0.985), length of service (OR = 0.496, 95%CI:0.251–0.981), household income (OR = 1.900, 95%CI:1.443–2.502), daily internet usage time (OR = 0.726, 95%Cl:0.588–0.896), health status (OR = 0.750, 95%Cl:0.585–0.962) and frequency of organizing HL sessions (OR = 1.603, 95%Cl:1.101–2.330) were influencing factors affecting the HL of the officers and soldiers. Conclusion: The health literacy level of firefighters in the Emergency Management Department in Southwest China was 34.3%. Lower levels were found in the health-related skills dimension (HRS, 30.1%) and in infectious disease control (ID, 30.7%). Health information literacy (HI, 34.3%) was lower than the national level. The type of urban and rural areas, literacy level, and household income level may be the factors affecting the level of health literacy among the respondents. Therefore, health education and promotion interventions should target high priority dimensions (HRS, HI, and ID) and should focus on strengthening health literacy levels of firefighters with rural types, low education levels, and low household income to improve their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Leptotrombidium imphalum (a chigger species) can serve as a transmitting vector of scrub typhus. Based on the field investigation in southwest China from 2001 to 2022, this article presents the first report on the distribution and infestation of L. imphalum on small mammals in the region. A total of 2161 L. imphalum were identified from 218 small mammal hosts that crossed three orders, and the majority of the mites were found on the order Rodentia (rodents). Different host species had different susceptibility to the infestation of L. imphalum, and the shrew gymnure (Neotetracus sinensis) was much more susceptible to the infestation than other host species. Leptotrombidium imphalum exhibited an aggregated distribution among different individuals of its hosts. The positive correlation between the infestation indices for L. imphalum on small mammals and the occurrence of scrub typhus, together with the low host specificity of the mite, indicates the potential risk of the mite. Leptotrombidium imphalum is a species of chigger mites, and it can serve as a transmitting vector of scrub typhus. Southwest China is an important focus of scrub typhus. Based on the field investigation in southwest China from 2001 to 2022, this article presents the first report on the distribution and infestation of L. imphalum on rodents and other sympatric small mammals in the region. A total of 2161 L. imphalum were identified from 218 small mammal hosts in 21 of 114 survey sites. The 17 host species of L. imphalum crossed 13 genera and 5 families in 3 orders (Rodentia, Eulipotyphla, and Scandentia), indicating the low host specificity of the mite. The Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi) was the dominant host species in the 21 sites where L. imphalum were collected, and 49.38% of mites were found on R. tanezumi. Different small mammals had different susceptibility to the infestation of L. imphalum. The prevalence (PM = 27.66%), infestation mean abundance (MA = 6 mites/per examined host), and mean intensity (MI = 21.69 mites/per infested host) for L. imphalum on the shrew gymnure (Neotetracus sinensis) were much higher than those on other host species (p < 0.05), indicating N. sinensis had a high susceptibility to the infestation of L. imphalum. The infestation indices for L. imphalum on small mammal hosts varied along different altitude and latitude gradients (p < 0.05), indicating the environmental heterogeneity of the mite infestation. Leptotrombidium imphalum exhibited an aggregated distribution among different individuals of its hosts. Besides the low host specificity of L. imphalum, the prevalence of the mite was positively correlated with the occurrence of scrub typhus, indicating the potential risk of the mite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, Southwest China (SWC) has suffered from frequent super droughts, leading to severe economic losses and ecological degradation. This study investigates the characteristics of super droughts in SWC during 1961–2022, reveals the compounding effect of multiscalar anomalies, and explores the plausible atmospheric circulation mechanisms responsible. The nature of super drought is a compound drought caused by the superposition of extreme drought events across multiple time scales. By contrasting the typical drought cases in 2006 and 2022, the decisive role of multiscalar drought compounding is confirmed. Based on the Comprehensive Multiscalar Index (CMI), multiple super drought events in SWC were identified to be temporally clustered during 2006–2014. Among them, the decadal background of enhanced evaporation and precipitation deficit at long time scales is a necessary condition for shaping the overall pattern of super droughts, while the precipitation and evaporation anomalies at short time scales trigger the outbreak of super droughts, determining the exact timing of occurrence. These events include August–September 2006, November 2009 to May 2010, July–October 2011, April–May 2012, January–April 2013, etc. Statistical results suggest that the contribution of superposed precipitation anomalies to super drought is 2.4 times that of evaporation. As regards the circulation mechanisms affecting multiscalar precipitation, the anomalous spatial patterns at short-term and long-term scales are similar, featuring the cyclonic circulation over the South China Sea and the northeasterly wind anomalies together with the subsidence center over SWC. During 2006–2014, the possible causes for the cross-seasonal persistent precipitation reduction in SWC are the extreme negative phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) in the North Pacific as well as the pronounced warming of the warm pool in the western Pacific. The key dynamic processes are outlined as follows. On the one hand, the negative PDO phase generates anomalous anticyclonic circulation in the North Pacific, with the northeasterly winds on its southwest flank extending to Southeast Asia, hindering moisture transport into SWC. On the other hand, the warming of the warm pool excites anomalous cyclonic circulation to its northwest, also giving rise to northeasterly wind anomalies over SWC. Meanwhile, the ascending motion over the warm pool region diverges at upper levels with outflows converging aloft over SWC, which further induces compensating downward motion there. The combined effect of the above two remote forcings establishes a climatic background state unfavorable for precipitation over SWC at long time scales, thus constituting a crucial prerequisite for the superimposition of short-term precipitation anomalies to develop into super droughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strong cooling event refers to a sharp change in the average temperature over a short period. The rapid change of temperature has important effect on human health and is highly concerned recent years. Based on the observed temperature data set from stations in Southwest China (SWC) from 1979 to 2017, this paper analyses the characteristics of the strong cooling event (SCE). The result shows that SCE occurs with the highest frequency during the time from February to May. Among them, the frequency of SCE in February exhibits an abrupt change before and after 2005 with a significant increase. Further study reveals that the change of SCE frequency in February is associated with the large‐scale background circulation patterns. After 2005, there is a cyclonic circulation anomaly in Northeast Asia and an anticyclonic circulation anomaly in the Tibet Plateau (TP). This pattern provides a favourable condition for the southward movement of cold air mass, thereby increasing the frequency of SCE in SWC. Furthermore, it is revealed that there is a strong correlation between the variation of SCE frequency in February and sea surface temperatures (SST) in the Northwest Pacific in January before 2005. The cold SST anomaly could favour the occurrence of extreme TD events in SWC through vertical circulation. After 2005, the correlation between SCE and Northwest Pacific SST is not significant. The sea ice in the northern Barents Sea and Kara Sea becomes the dominant impact factor. The abnormally low sea ice concentration is conducive to strengthen the meridional circulation over East Asia, leading to an increasing frequency of SCE in SWC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhengminghuaite, ideally Cu6Fe3As4S12, is a new Cu-Fe arsenosulfosalt found in the Zimudang Carlin-type gold deposit in southwestern Guizhou, China. It occurs as irregular, commonly fractured grains of several to a few tens of micrometers in the brecciated gold ores and is paragenetically associated with the late ore-stage mineral assemblage, including realgar, orpiment, pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, aktashite, christite, quartz, and calcite. Zhengminghuaite is opaque with a metallic luster and a conchoidal or uneven fracture. The Vickers microhardness (VHN10) is 219 kg/mm2 (range 192–247 kg/mm2), and the calculated density is 4.77(5) g/cm3. In reflected light, zhengminghuaite is whitish gray with weak bireflectance (whitish gray to pinkish tinted gray), very weak anisotropy, and no internal reflection. Electron microprobe analyses give the empirical formula (Cu5.92Hg0.08)Σ6.00 (Fe1.59Hg1.07Zn0.37)Σ3.03(As3.94Sb0.02)Σ3.96S11.93 on the basis of total cations = 13, with the simplified formula Cu6(Fe,Hg,Zn)3(As,Sb)4S12. Zhengminghuaite is trigonal, with space group R3. Unit-cell parameters determined from the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data are as follows: a = 13.5373(17) Å, c = 9.2354(13) Å, and V = 1465.7(4) Å3 (Z = 3). The eight strongest lines in the X-ray diffraction pattern are [d (Å) (I, %) (hkl)]: 3.0785 (67) (003), 3.0670 (100) (1 3 1), 2.6586 (89) (1 3 2), 1.8825 (97) (134), 1.8773 (82) (520), 1.6060 (89) (13 5), 1.6028 (81) (523), and 1.6012 (83) (26 1). The crystal structure of zhengminghuaite belongs to the nowackiite group and can be described as formed by (0001) layers composed of corner-sharing FeS4 and CuS4 tetrahedra that delimit two triangular cavities. Zhengminghuaite is the Fe-dominant analog at the divalent cations site of nowackiite (Cu6Zn3As4S12) and aktashite (Cu6Hg3As4S12). Paragenetic relationships indicate that zhengminghuaite and associated Hg- and Tl-sulfosalts precipitated in response to the increase in sulfidation state and decrease in temperature of the late-ore stage hydrothermal fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Stable isotopes in natural water bodies serve as hydrologic tracers, with a history of extensive application in karst groundwater research. The present paper is a systematic review of previous research results, with the objective of sorting out and summarizing the stable isotopic characteristics of karst groundwater in southwest China, which is the most typical karst region worldwide. Comprehensive analysis reveals that the deuterium and oxygen isotope values of most karst groundwater are characterized temporally as 'enriched in the rainy season and depleted in the dry season', which is the opposite of the pattern of precipitation. While the spatial distribution feature is basically consistent with the spatial variation pattern of precipitation, which is characterized as 'depleted from the coast to the interior'. Additionally, the main applications of stable isotopes to karst groundwater are discussed, including karst groundwater recharge source and recharge elevation identification, research on karst groundwater in the hydrological cycle, the hydrological process of karst groundwater, and karst groundwater contamination tracking. Finally, we looked forward to future research on karst groundwater based on deuterium and oxygen isotopes. It is our hope that this review may provide insight into the study of karst groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental factors are essential input variables for susceptibility assessment models of mountain geohazards. However, the existing literature provides a limited understanding of the relative contribution of these factors to the occurrence of geohazards with a warming climate, posing tremendous challenges for risk management in mountainous areas. Ya'an city is susceptible to hazards because of its steep terrain, abundant precipitation and active seismic activity. In this regard, we utilise the GeoDetector model to extract critical environmental factors affecting the spatial patterns of mountain geohazards (i.e., landslide, debris flow and rockfall) in Southwest China. The analysis indicates that the factors with the highest explanatory power for the spatial distribution of landslides, debris flows, and rockfalls are soil property, extreme precipitation and extreme temperature, respectively. Notably, we revealed the synergistic effects among factors given their larger q-value than individual ones. We further explored the responses of mountain geohazards to climate change, including the rising temperature and precipitation, because the frequent occurrence of mountain geohazards is closely related to a warming climate. The variation in snow water equivalent caused by antecedent snowfall and snowdrifts acts as a crucial indicator for geohazards, highlighting the significance of snow and wind observations in meteorological nowcasting and disaster prewarning. We disclose the phenomenon of the geohazard hysteresis to the precipitation peak resulting from the top–down (i.e., precipitation-runoff and surface-deep soil moisture) peak shifts. Our work is expected to enhance the precision of susceptibility assessment models and the reliability of short-term forecasts for mountain geohazards.

Abstract Objective Although health literacy (HL) has emerged as a critical public health concern, research on HL in emergency management departments is limited. This study aimed to investigate the awareness of HL and associated factors among firefighters of emergency management departments in southwest China to provide a basis for carrying out targeted health education. Methods A cross-sectional convenience sample of 1,742 firefighters from an emergency management department in southwestern China was surveyed from February to April 2023 using the Chinese Citizen’s Health Literacy Questionnaire (2019 version). The chi-square test, linear trend chi-square test, Fisher’s test, rank sum test, and multifactorial logistic regression model were used to identify influential factors associated with HL. Results The HL level of the 1742 respondents was 34.3%. Age, ethnicity, education level, length of service, type of job, smoking status, types of parental jobs, annual household income, time of daily internet use, etc. (P

Abstract Human cultivation facilitates the naturalization and subsequent invasion of non-native plant species through, for example, protection from predators or reducing environmental stochasticity. With the development of tourism, non-native plant species have been increasingly introduced into rural home gardens for landscape greening and amenity planting. However, few studies have examined non-native flora in rural home gardens, and in particular the importance of tourism in determining changes of garden non-native flora has not been scrutinized. In this study, we investigated non-native plant species in 135 home gardens across five rural tourism villages in tropical China. Attributes related to garden or household characteristics were also collected through interviews and questionnaires. A distance-based redundancy analysis was then performed to reveal the relationships between the non-native species composition and garden attributes. A total of 338 non-native plant species were recorded in the surveyed gardens. Among them, the majority (63%) were ornamentals, whereas 19% were for nutritional uses and 12% were spontaneous weeds. Gardening preference and distance to tourist attractions governed the non-native compositions, with gardens preferring cultural (ornamental) cultivation or gardens close to tourist attractions having more non-native species. These results highlight an increasing role of tourism in promoting non-native cultivation in rural gardens. Recommendations for species risk assessment, trade and supply regulation, and proper garden management are provided to help harness plant invasion along tourism development in rural China and other regions around the world.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the correlation between socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of hypertension among adults aged 18 or above in southwest China. Methods A multistage proportional stratified cluster sampling method was employed to recruited 9280 adult residents from 12 counties in southwest China, with all participants in the cohort tracked from 2016 to 2020. The questionnaire survey gathered information on demographics, lifestyle habits, and household income. The physical exam recorded height, weight, and blood pressure. Biochemical tests measured cholesterol levels. The chi-square test was employed to assess the statistical differences among categorical variables, while the Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of hypertension. Results The finally effective sample size for the cohort study was 3546 participants, after excluding 5734 people who met the exclusion criteria. Adults in the highest household income group had a significantly lower risk of hypertension compared to those in the lowest income group (HR = 0.636, 95% CI: 0.478–0.845). Besides, when compared to individuals in the illiterate population, the risk of hypertension among adults with elementary school, junior high school, senior high school and associate degree educational level decreased respectively by 34.4% (HR = 0.656, 95%CI: 0.533–0.807), 44.9% (HR = 0.551, 95%CI: 0.436–0.697), 44.9% (HR = 0.551, 95%CI: 0.405–0.750), 46.1% (HR = 0.539, 95%CI: 0. 340–0.854). After conducting a thorough analysis of socioeconomic status, compared with individuals with a score of 6 or less, the risk of hypertension in participants with scores of 8, 10, 11, 12, and greater than 12 decreased respectively by 23.9% (HR = 0.761, 95%CI: 0.598–0.969), 29.7% (HR = 0.703, 95%CI: 0.538–0.919), 34.0% (HR = 0.660, 95%CI: 0.492–0.885), 34.3% (HR = 0.657, 95%CI: 0.447–0.967), 43.9% (HR = 0.561, 95%CI: 0.409–0.769). Conclusion The findings indicate a negative correlation between socioeconomic status and hypertension incidence among adults in southwest China, suggesting that individuals with higher socioeconomic status are less likely to develop hypertension.

Abstract Background Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) constitute significant zoonotic pathogens encompassing a broad spectrum of subtypes. Notably, the H4 subtype of AIVs has a pronounced ability to shift hosts. The escalating prevalence of the H4 subtype heightens the concern for its zoonotic potential, signaling an urgent need for vigilance. Methods During the period from December 2021 to November 2023, we collected AIV-related environmental samples and assessed them using a comprehensive protocol that included nucleic acid testing, gene sequencing, isolation culture, and resequencing. Results In this study, a total of 934 environmental samples were assessed, revealing a remarkably high detection rate (43.66%, 289/662) of AIV in the live poultry market. Notably, the H4N1 subtype AIV (cs2301) was isolated from the live poultry market and its complete genome sequence was successfully determined. Subsequent analysis revealed that cs2301, resulting from a reassortment event between wild and domesticated waterfowl, exhibits multiple mutations and demonstrates potential for host transfer. Conclusions Our research once again demonstrates the significant role of wild and domesticated waterfowl in the reassortment process of avian influenza virus, enriching the research on the H4 subtype of AIV, and emphasizing the importance of proactive monitoring the environment related to avian influenza virus.

Abstract Minority Cultural Heritage (MCH) plays a crucial role in preserving human cultural and historical diversity. In Southwest China, there is a disparity between the abundance of ethnic minority cultural heritage resources and their inadequate protection and development. However, limited by interdisciplinary barriers, research into the distribution patterns of varied MCH in this area remains unexplored, making an initial step towards comprehensive preservation. The study investigates the relationship between MCH distribution and its association with factors of geography, climate, transportation, economics, and demographics, utilizing spatial geographic analysis, Geodetector methods, and social network analysis. The results indicate the following: (1) The distribution of 483 national-level MCH in Southwest China exhibits clustering, with a higher concentration in the southern regions. Honghe Prefecture, Dali Prefecture, and Qiandongnan Prefecture serve as the core areas with high MCH density, accounting for 47.2% of the total concentration. (2) All three categories of MCH show cohesive distribution patterns. cultural heritage clusters in the northern to southeastern regions of Yunnan Province, intangible cultural heritage clusters in the southeastern to southern regions of Guizhou Province, and agricultural cultural heritage clusters in the northern region of Yunnan Province. (3) The distribution of MCH among different ethnic minorities demonstrates polarization. The Yi and Tibetan ethnic groups have a higher quantity and diversity of MCH, while the Qiang, Lisu, and Jingpo ethnic groups have relatively fewer resources. (4) Single-factor analysis reveals that natural factors like the proportion of mountainous areas, river density, and annual average sunshine, as well as human factors like the proportion of minority population, urbanization rate, and road mileage, have the strongest explanatory power for the distribution of MCH. Furthermore, the interaction between these factors and others enhances the explanatory power for the distribution of MCH in Southwest China. This study provides scientific evidence for the assessment, protection, and sustainable development of MCH.

Human cultivation facilitates the naturalization and subsequent invasion of non-native plant species through, for example, protection from predators or reducing environmental stochasticity. With the development of tourism, non-native plant species have been increasingly introduced into rural home gardens for landscape greening and amenity planting. However, few studies have examined non-native flora in rural home gardens, and in particular the importance of tourism in determining changes of garden non-native flora has not been scrutinized. In this study, we investigated non-native plant species in 135 home gardens across five rural tourism villages in tropical China. Attributes related to garden or household characteristics were also collected through interviews and questionnaires. A distance-based redundancy analysis was then performed to reveal the relationships between the non-native species composition and garden attributes. A total of 338 non-native plant species were recorded in the surveyed gardens. Among them, the majority (63%) were ornamentals, whereas 19% were for nutritional uses and 12% were spontaneous weeds. Gardening preference and distance to tourist attractions governed the non-native compositions, with gardens preferring cultural (ornamental) cultivation or gardens close to tourist attractions having more non-native species. These results highlight an increasing role of tourism in promoting non-native cultivation in rural gardens. Recommendations for species risk assessment, trade and supply regulation, and proper garden management are provided to help harness plant invasion along tourism development in rural China and other regions around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological discoveries and historical documents show that the Chengdu Plain was the most important iron production center in the southwest region of China during the Qin and Han dynasties. However, due to the lack of archaeological evidence, the iron production technology of cities in the Chengdu Plain during the Qin and Han dynasties remains unclear. The Xindu city site is located in Qingbaijiang District, Chengdu Sichuan Province. It was an important city site in the Chengdu Plain during the Han and Jin dynasties. During excavation of the Xindu city site, archaeologists unearthed a large number of metallurgical remains such as slags and tuyeres, as well as two severely damaged hearth bases near the western city wall. Scientific analysis results suggest that the metallurgical remains are related to the steel fining process and could be dated back to the Western Han Dynasty. The metallurgical remains in the Xindu city are the earliest known artifacts associated with the steel fining process in southwest China. This discovery also marks the first identification of iron industry workshops in a Han Dynasty city in the Chengdu Plain. The findings reveal a different industrial layout pattern from previously discovered Han Dynasty metallurgical sites in the Chengdu Plain. Additionally, this discovery provides archaeometallurgical evidence for the central government's development in southwest China during the Han Dynasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Existing research has linked individuals' flow experience – a positive affective and cognitive state of deep immersion and engagement in daily activities – and their well‐being, particularly among university students. A growing number of longitudinal studies have further contributed to this understanding. However, limited attention has been given to exploring the dynamic interplay between these two variables and their underlying mechanisms (i.e., the mediator) of psychological resilience, specifically among university students in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Aims: To address this research gap, the present study draws on self‐determination, flow and broaden‐and‐build theories. It examines the temporal dynamics and relationships between flow experience and well‐being, and the mediating role of psychological resilience among Chinese university students. Sample: The study adopts a three‐wave longitudinal design with a sample of 474 university students in Southwest China. Methods: Participants' flow experience, well‐being and psychological resilience were measured across three time waves. Results: The findings of this study reveal that flow experience predicts well‐being across the three waves and that psychological resilience mediates this prediction. This empirical evidence emphasizes the significance of both flow experience and psychological resilience in contributing to the well‐being of university students over time amid COVID‐19. Conclusions: These findings enrich our understanding of the factors contributing to well‐being in educational settings and provide highly relevant and timely insights for developing strategies to foster well‐being among university students, especially in the transition into the post‐pandemic era; findings also offer valuable insights not only for researchers but also for educators and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between precipitation and cloud properties in Southwest China are investigated by using the CLARA‐A2 cloud parameters data and TRMM‐3B43 precipitation data from 1998 to 2015. Ice water path (IWP) and cloud top height (CTH) are significantly and positively correlated with precipitation in all regions, indicating that ice‐phase processes and cloud development processes are the critical processes influencing precipitation. Precipitation is also directly associated with cloud fractional coverage (CFC) due to the significant positive correlation between CFC and precipitation in all regions except the Sichuan Basin (SCB). A positive correlation between liquid water path (LWP) and precipitation is found in the Eastern Tibetan Plateau (ETP) and Yunnan‐Kweichow Plateau (YKP), but not in the Western Tibetan Plateau (WTP) and SCB. Notably, the response of precipitation to LWP is not as good as that to IWP in SCB. Precipitation is significantly negatively correlated with ice effective radius (IREF) in WTP and ETP and positively correlated with liquid effective radius (LREF) in ETP, YKP and SCB. IREF and LREF are closely related to cloud microphysical processes. Specifically, small IREF could accelerate the Bergeron process and thus increase precipitation, while large LREF is closely related to the cloud droplets coalescence process. Results indicate that the difference in precipitation between the cold and warm seasons is related to convective available potential energy (CAPE) and low troposphere relative humidity (RH). High CAPE and RH favour the precipitation occurrence in Southwest China. The influence of CAPE and RH on precipitation is more significant in the ETP than that in the WTP, owing to the orographic lifting and moisture transport from the Indian Ocean. Thermodynamic and humidity conditions have a greater impact on precipitation by influencing LREF, LWP and IWP in YKP. In SCB, precipitation shows a strong dependence on CAPE, IWP and LREF, but not on RH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] Global warming may increase the risk of expansion of karst rock desertification (KRD) in Southwest (SW) China, where karst landscapes are widespread, so it is important to reconstruct the evolution of KRD in this region. [Methods] In this study, the regional eco-evolution of the past 4 750 years was reconstructed based on 29 230Th ages and 954 δ13C records collected from stalagmite HD12 in Dark cave, Qianxi county, Guizhou province. [Results and Conclusions]Two significant positive δ13C offsets were found at 4 322-3 526 a B.P.and 803-82 a B.P., indicating deterioration of the ecological environment at those times. A significant positive δ13 C record of the HD12 stalagmite at about 803 a B.P. persisted for about 290 years with an amplitude of 4.2‰, indicating expansion of KRD in the area. The consistent positive δ13C in stalagmites from several caves in SW China during this period suggests that the large-scale population migration and climatic drought after the Jingkang event (823 a B.P.) promoted the expansion of KRD in this region. During 4 322-3 526 a B.P., the positive shift of HD12 stalagmite δ13C values had an amplitude of 4.9‰. The positive shift at 4 322-3 977 a B.P. corresponds to the 4.2 ka event, and for 3 777-3 526 a B.P. it corresponds to the 3.7 ka event. These two periods of drought are also reflected in several stalagmite and lake records in SW China, suggesting that the weakened Asian summer monsoon and reduced precipitation at those times may have caused a large reduction in vegetation cover and severe soil degradation in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cambrian in Sichuan basin developed thick black shale, varies carbonate and clastic rock, which deposited in different sedimentary environment. Sichuan basin in the upper Yangtze platform contained a record of environment during the Cambrian. Detail facies analyses of Cambrian enable us to discuss the sedimentary environment and palaeogeographic setting. Sedimentation commenced in the Early Cambrian with the deposition of shelf facies (Qiongzhusi Formation and Canglangpu Formation). At this stage, thick shale and clastic rock deposited in Sichuan basin. At the end of the Early Cambrian, a carbonate platform developed in upper Yangtze platform, and Sichuan basin was located in restricted platform (Longwangmiao Formation). In the Middle Cambrian, tidal flat and restricted platform developed in Sichuan basin (Douposi Formation), because of continuous regression. During the Late Cambrian, Sichuan basin was located in carbonate platform again (Xixiangchi Formation). There are three types of sedimentary system in the Cambrian of Sichuan basin: clastic sedimentary system, clastics-carbonate mixed sedimentary system and carbonate sedimentary system. Vertically, the basin shows the evolutionary character of clastic-carbonate sedimentary systems. The three sedimentary systems correspond to three "transgression-regression" cycles of the Cambrian. The transgression in the initial period of the Early Cambrian led to the formation of clastic sedimentary system in the Qiongzhusi Formation of Lower Cambrian. The transgression in the later period of the Early Cambrian led to the formation of clasticcarbonate mixed sedimentary system in the Middle-Lower Cambrian. The transgression in the initial period of the Late Cambrian led to the formation of carbonate sedimentary system in the Xixiangchi Formation of Upper Cambrian. With the end of Late Sinian continental rifting ended, Sichuan basin entered a stable evolutionary stage of the craton basin, while the paleo-land developed in the north and southwest. In Qiongzhusi-Canglangpu period, the basin developed onshore-shelf sedimentary facies from west to east; In Longwangmiao-Xixiangchi period, the basin developed tidal flat-platform-slope sedimentary facies from west to east. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of hypertension among adults aged 18 or above in southwest China. Methods: A multistage proportional stratified cluster sampling method was employed to recruited 9280 adult residents from 12 counties in southwest China, with all participants in the cohort tracked from 2016 to 2020. The questionnaire survey gathered information on demographics, lifestyle habits, and household income. The physical exam recorded height, weight, and blood pressure. Biochemical tests measured cholesterol levels. The chi-square test was employed to assess the statistical differences among categorical variables, while the Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and the incidence of hypertension. Results: The finally effective sample size for the cohort study was 3546 participants, after excluding 5734 people who met the exclusion criteria. Adults in the highest household income group had a significantly lower risk of hypertension compared to those in the lowest income group (HR = 0.636, 95% CI: 0.478–0.845). Besides, when compared to individuals in the illiterate population, the risk of hypertension among adults with elementary school, junior high school, senior high school and associate degree educational level decreased respectively by 34.4% (HR = 0.656, 95%CI: 0.533–0.807), 44.9% (HR = 0.551, 95%CI: 0.436–0.697), 44.9% (HR = 0.551, 95%CI: 0.405–0.750), 46.1% (HR = 0.539, 95%CI: 0. 340–0.854). After conducting a thorough analysis of socioeconomic status, compared with individuals with a score of 6 or less, the risk of hypertension in participants with scores of 8, 10, 11, 12, and greater than 12 decreased respectively by 23.9% (HR = 0.761, 95%CI: 0.598–0.969), 29.7% (HR = 0.703, 95%CI: 0.538–0.919), 34.0% (HR = 0.660, 95%CI: 0.492–0.885), 34.3% (HR = 0.657, 95%CI: 0.447–0.967), 43.9% (HR = 0.561, 95%CI: 0.409–0.769). Conclusion: The findings indicate a negative correlation between socioeconomic status and hypertension incidence among adults in southwest China, suggesting that individuals with higher socioeconomic status are less likely to develop hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bergmann’s rule posits that an organism’s body size or mass increases with decreasing temperature. While generally established in homeotherms, Bergmann’s rule has been largely inconsistent in insects due to limited taxonomic and spatial coverage and variable sampling methods applied to the same taxonomic group. To rectify these shortfalls in tests of Bergmann’s rule in insects, we sampled ants, ichneumonid wasps, carabid beetles, and geometrid moths simultaneously from three locations (representing tropical, subtropical, and subalpine altitudinal gradients) across Yunnan, Southwest China, where temperature and productivity generally decline with latitude. We sought generalities in Bergmann’s rule in insects by investigating whether community-level altitudinal body size patterns within each location were dependent on geographic locations, microhabitats (forest canopy vs understory), focal taxa (insect families), and taxonomic scale (subfamilies within individual families). We found that altitudinal clines, when present, varied across geographic locations; carabids and geometrids showed positive clines in the tropical altitudinal gradient and negative clines in the subtropical and subalpine altitudinal gradients. Understory and canopy geometrids showed similar patterns while different subfamilies showed variable patterns. Carabid and geometrid body size patterns complied with the combined resource allocation model, which posits that the body size varies with resource availability along altitudinal and latitudinal ranges. Overall, our study revealed idiosyncratic altitudinal and latitudinal body size patterns for different insect taxa. Our study also illustrates the value of fully standardized, large-scale studies in revealing generalities (or the lack thereof) in Bergmann’s rule in insects and we suggest incorporating the natural history and biology of target groups to better explain patterns of body size variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthquake-induced landslides are destructive and hazardous geological disasters, and mountainous areas are prone to earthquakes. Therefore, it is essential to establish an earthquake-induced landslide susceptibility prediction model with good accuracy, robustness, and generalization capability for the southwestern mountainous areas of China. In this study, the 2008 Wenchuan Ms 8.0, 2010 Yushu Ms 7.1, 2013 Ya’an Ms 7.0, 2014 Ludian Ms 6.5, 2017 Jiuzhaigou Ms 7.0, and 81,513 landslide sites were analyzed. Thirteen influencing factors were selected: PGA, elevation, slope, aspect, curvature, fault type, distance to faults, distance to rivers, NDVI, TWI, lithology, land cover type, and distance to road. Weight and spatial distribution analyses were also performed. Based on a backpropagation (BP) neural network, a regional earthquake-induced landslide susceptibility prediction model was constructed for southwest China. Various methods have been used to evaluate the accuracy of the model. The results showed that the model had excellent prediction accuracy and applicability and that the AUC, accuracy, recall, F1-score, and precision of the model could be stabilized at approximately 0.9. The inclusion of more landslide events in the model can further improve its accuracy and robustness. The constructed model was applied to the fault intersection area, and it was found that most of the actual landslides fell in the predicted medium-high susceptibility area. The research results can enrich the theory of earthquake-induced landslide susceptibility assessment and provide valuable information regarding the location of landslide-prone areas for rapid post-earthquake emergency response in Southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-disaster recovery and reconstruction provide an effective way to reduce the disaster vulnerability of, and promote leapfrog development in, an affected area. To date, studies that have used administrative boundaries to investigate the reconstruction of settlement space have not been able to clearly define the real boundaries of land use changes or quantify the degree of response to the 'Build-Back-Better' initiative, and have lacked any consideration of the fourth reconstruction stage–development period (10 years). This study constructed a mountain settlement niche and analyzed the characteristics, spatial reconstruction, and drivers of rural settlements during 2009–2019 in the upper reaches of the Minjiang River, southwest China. The results showed the following: (1) Natural factors were the basis for the formation and development of mountain settlement niches. The scale of the settlement niche and its land use structure depended on the physical geography features and the ethnic farming and grazing traditions. The settlement niche provided a realistic boundary for the spatial reconstruction. (2) The layout of residential land around cropland was the common feature of the mountain settlement niche. Of all the land use types, the roads and rural residential lands showed the most change over the 10 years; 13,860 residential patches increased in size and 4,742 patches were abandoned. (3) The area of orchards, planted to reconstruct the economy in the mountains, increased by nearly 2.5 times. (4) Collapses, landslides, and debris flow disasters and the ecological red line influenced the spatial reconstruction. While the main focus of postdisaster recovery is spatial reconstruction, initiatives should include economic and spiritual recovery, and should also achieve sustainable development of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Dam construction can impact nitrogen accumulation in reservoir sediments and may potentially lead to internal release due to intricate nitrogen cycling at the sediment–water interface (SWI), exacerbating nitrogen loading in the water body. This study aims to clarify the transformation and transportation processes and key influencing factors of nitrogen species at the SWI in deep reservoirs. Methods: Two consecutive sediment cores were collected from Baihua Reservoir (BHR) and Hongjiadu Reservoir (HJD) in July 2019 and were stratified on-site. Pore water was extracted via centrifugation for water-soluble inorganic nitrogen measurement. Adsorbed inorganic nitrogen was extracted using 2 mol L−1 KCl. Inorganic nitrogen forms were measured by an analytical continuous flow analyzer (SEAL Analytical Limited, Germany). Particulate organic nitrogen (PON) samples were obtained after the removal of inorganic carbon and inorganic nitrogen with 2 mol L−1 KCl and 0.5 mol L−1 HCl. Stable isotopes (δ15N-PON) and the ratios of C/N were measured via a stable isotopic mass spectrometer (MAT-253) and an elemental analyzer (Elementar, Rhine main, Germany). Fick's First Law and Grey correlation analysis (GCA) were employed to estimate the diffusion fluxes and controlling factors. Results: The sediment nitrogen concentrations in BHR were influenced by higher-level anthropogenic activities, as indicated by the comparison of nitrogen concentrations and δ15N-PON values (averaging 9.13‰ and 5.39‰ in BHR and HJD, respectively). Dissolved oxygen (DO) was the key factor affecting nitrogen transformation processes at the SWI. Mineralization and nitrification were dominant in HJD, while BHR exhibited mineralization, denitrification, and potential anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox). Livestock waste and soil organic matter were common sources of PON in both reservoirs. Moreover, the contribution of phytoplankton in BHR was also significant due to high-level eutrophication. Evaluations of diffusion fluxes revealed that both sediments in BHR and HJD acted as sources of water-soluble ammoniacal nitrogen (NH4+-N) for internal release (0.97 and 0.27 mg m−2 day−1 in BHR and HJD, respectively). Additionally, adsorbed NH4+-N exhibited high-level diffusion fluxes in both BHR (15.81 m−2 day−1) and HJD (3.37 m−2 day−1). Furthermore, GCA revealed that pH, T, and DO trigger the desorption of adsorbed nitrogen, leading to an increase in the nitrogen load in the overlying water. Conclusion: Sediments in eutrophic reservoirs experience high-level nitrogen inputs. Complex nitrogen cycling processes at the SWI and environmental factors (pH, DO, and T) may lead to significant internal releases. Further studies on the fate of nitrogen at the SWI in different eutrophic-level reservoirs are still necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerosol–cloud–precipitation correlation has been a significant scientific topic, primarily due to its remarkable uncertainty. However, the possible modulation of aerosol on the precipitation capacity of clouds has received limited attention. In this study, we utilized multi-source data on aerosol, cloud properties, precipitation, and meteorological factors to investigate the impact of aerosols on precipitation efficiency (PE) in the Sichuan Basin (SCB) and Yun-nan-Guizhou Plateau (YGP), where the differences between terrain and meteorological environment conditions were prominent. In the two study regions, there were significant negative correlations between the aerosol index (AI) and PE in spring, especially in the YGP, while the correlations between the AI and PE in other seasons were not as prominent as in spring. In spring, aerosol significantly inhibited both the liquid water path (LWP) and the ice water path (IWP) in the YGP, but negatively correlated with the IWP and had no significant relationship with the LWP in the SCB. Aerosol inhibited precipitation in the two regions mainly by reducing cloud droplet effective radius, indicating that warm clouds contributed more to precipitation in spring. The suppressive impact of aerosols on precipitation serving as the numerator of PE is greater than that of the cloud water path as the denominator of PE, resulting in a negative correlation between aerosol and PE. The AI–PE relationship is significantly dependent on meteorological conditions in the YGP, but not in the SCB, which may be related to the perennial cloud cover and stable atmosphere in the SCB. In the future, as air quality continues to improve, precipitation efficiency may increase due to the decrease in aerosol concentration, and of course, the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of the aerosol–cloud–precipitation relationship may become more significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) constitute significant zoonotic pathogens encompassing a broad spectrum of subtypes. Notably, the H4 subtype of AIVs has a pronounced ability to shift hosts. The escalating prevalence of the H4 subtype heightens the concern for its zoonotic potential, signaling an urgent need for vigilance. Methods: During the period from December 2021 to November 2023, we collected AIV-related environmental samples and assessed them using a comprehensive protocol that included nucleic acid testing, gene sequencing, isolation culture, and resequencing. Results: In this study, a total of 934 environmental samples were assessed, revealing a remarkably high detection rate (43.66%, 289/662) of AIV in the live poultry market. Notably, the H4N1 subtype AIV (cs2301) was isolated from the live poultry market and its complete genome sequence was successfully determined. Subsequent analysis revealed that cs2301, resulting from a reassortment event between wild and domesticated waterfowl, exhibits multiple mutations and demonstrates potential for host transfer. Conclusions: Our research once again demonstrates the significant role of wild and domesticated waterfowl in the reassortment process of avian influenza virus, enriching the research on the H4 subtype of AIV, and emphasizing the importance of proactive monitoring the environment related to avian influenza virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women have long shaped China’s tea trade while being, in turn, shaped by it. This can be seen especially clearly in Pu’er tea businesses in Southwest China. Cultivated by the Hani (Akha), Bulang, Lahu, Dai and many other ethnic groups, the marketing of Pu’er tea as an exotic and ethicized product has been inevitably entangled with the transformations of social practices amongst these ethnic groups. Women of these tea making ethnic groups do essential work at every step on the journey of the tea from field to cup. Simultaneously, they have been objectified and constructed as a cultural symbol of the tea in marketing and consumption practices around it. This article delves into the question of how ethnic minority women and the Pu’er tea business shape each other in contemporary Chinese society. By examining their contribution to the production of the tea and make opportunities for themselves in the tea business, this article shows that although ethnic minority women’s participation in this tea market doesn’t always lead to more equal gender relations, it empowers them to gain commercial success and respect. This process of empowerment, however, is rooted in the ethnic women’s awareness of performing femininity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Getang is a representative Carlin-type gold deposit in Southwest China. It has a proven reserve of about 30 tonnes at an average grade of 5.1 g/t Au. The orebodies occur as strat-abound lenses, and are structurally controlled by shallow NWW- and NE-trending fold-fault systems and the unconformity between the Upper and Middle Permian. In this study, the regional- and deposit-scale structural investigations, joints and finite strain measurements, and stress and dynamic analysis were conducted with an aim to reveal the structural process of the Getang gold deposit and clarify the relationship between the gold mineralization and structures. Three phases of deformation were identified in the deposit: (1) paleokarst was generated by a crustal uplift when the Youjiang Basin experienced extension at the end of the Middle Permian, laying the foundation for the unconformity; (2) the NW-trending structures were formed under a NNE-SSW compression during the Indochina-South China collision (Indosinian orogeny) in Triassic; (3) the NE-trending structures were generated or reactivated under a NW-SE-oriented compression during the Yanshanian intracontinental orogeny. The unconformity recorded two episodes of tectonic evolution in the NNE-SSW and NW-SE directions. Structural analyses and geochronology data suggest that the Getang gold deposit was formed as a result of tectonic transition from compression to extension during the Yanshanian intracontinental orogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rise of "Internet + Education," blended learning has become a new trend in higher education. This study aims to explore how behavioral willingness and self-efficacy affect the learning effect of college students in this new learning mode. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) was used to construct a theoretical model, and data on the blended learning effectiveness of 167 college students from a university in Southwest China were collected through questionnaires, and the theoretical assumptions and model were verified using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in Smart PLS software. It was found that in blended learning, performance expectation, effort expectation, hedonic motivation and facilitation all significantly and positively affect college students' behavioral intention of blended learning, which in turn positively affects the effect of blended learning, among which hedonic motivation is a more important influencing factor in the behavioral intention of blended learning. Self-efficacy also has a significant positive effect on blended learning effects. Finally, the study proposes countermeasures for teaching improvement from three aspects: teachers' teaching design, students' motivation and behavior, and optimization of e-learning platform content and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurial behavior has been substantially addressed in entrepreneurship literature, but the mechanisms by which social capital influences entrepreneurial behavior among college students remain unclear, especially the potential mediating and moderating interplay among them. Therefore, drawing on social capital theory and the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model, this study proposed a moderated mediation model of social capital on entrepreneurial behavior. Sample data were collected via questionnaires from entrepreneurial team members participating in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in Southwest China. Results showed that (1) social capital has a positive impact on entrepreneurial behavior; (2) entrepreneurial passion partially mediates the relationship between social capital and entrepreneurial behavior; and (3) entrepreneurial risk perception positively moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial passion and behavior and thus enhances the mediating effect of entrepreneurial passion. This study provides insights into the internal mechanism of social capital on entrepreneurial behavior and also offers practical guidance for individuals, universities, and governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, the Grain for Green Program (GGP) is an ambitious project to convert croplands into natural vegetation, but exactly how changes in vegetation translate into changes in soil organic carbon remains less clear. Here we conducted a meta‐analysis using 734 observations to explore the effects of land recovery on soil organic carbon and nutrients in four provinces in Southwest China. Following GGP, the soil organic carbon content (SOCc) and soil organic carbon stock (SOCs) increased by 33.73% and 22.39%, respectively, compared with the surrounding croplands. Similarly, soil nitrogen increased, while phosphorus decreased. Outcomes were heterogeneous, but depended on variations in soil and environmental characteristics. Both the regional land use and cover change indicated by the landscape type transfer matrix and net primary production from 2000 to 2020 further confirmed that the GGP promoted the forest area and regional mean net primary production. Our findings suggest that the GGP could enhance soil and vegetation carbon sequestration in Southwest China and help to develop a carbon‐neutral strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem carbon use efficiency (CUE), water use efficiency (WUE), and light use efficiency (LUE) are critical parameters for estimating CO2 uptake, water circulation, and ecosystem balance. Research on the change trends of individual use efficiency has matured; however, studies on the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and driving mechanisms of divergence patterns for multi-use efficiencies capability are limited. Therefore, taking southwest China as an example, this study constructed a compound use efficiency (COM) through CUE, WUE, and LUE. Based on the spatiotemporal patterns and divergence characteristics analysis of water–carbon–light use efficiencies, the scale effects and driving mechanism of its divergence characteristics for COM at the optimal scale were clarified. The results revealed that the average value of CUE, LUE, WUE, and COM were 0.49, 0.7 gC m−2 MJ−1, 2.31 gC kg−1 H2O, and 0.87, respectively. Apart from CUE, the LUE, WUE, and COM parameters exhibited a fluctuating upward trend. Statistically, there was a high COM in karst and ecological restoration regions, reflecting the strong adaptability of karst vegetation and the effectiveness of ecological restoration; as the elevation rose, COM increased and then decreased, with the highest value at the elevation of 3000 m; the lowest COM was found in grassland, refuting the inference that it can be used as an optimal vegetation type for China's Grain to Green program from the perspective of use efficiency. Sub-basin was the most optimal divergence scale, and although temperature and elevation were the dominant single force causing COM divergence, the couplings of precipitation and population density and elevation and population density had more controlling impacts than a single force. These findings enrich the understanding of ecosystem use efficiency and are beneficial for the improvement in ecological restoration strategies in karst landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freshwater discharge from melting ice sheets in the deglaciation or glaciation is prone to anomalies in ocean-atmosphere transport between different latitudes, which can lead to a series of abrupt millennial-scale climate events, either obvious or not, such as the Younger Dryas (YD) events and YD-like events. Marine Isotope Stage 11c (MIS 11c) serves as one of the best references for the current Holocene, and the studies of possible YD-like events and their triggering mechanisms during Holocene are conducive to the understanding of the occurrence pattern of extreme climate events. In this paper, the results of the study on the J33 δ18O sequence records of stalagmites in Jinfo Cave, Chongqing, are shown: (1) Stalagmites in the Asian monsoon climate zone reveal a millennial-scale weak monsoon event that occurred around 410 ka BP prior to the Glacial Maximum of MIS 11 interglacial period. (2) Both the 410 ka weak monsoon event and the YD event occurred during the gradual strengthening of the monsoon and ascending branch of summer insolation in the Northern Hemisphere prior to the Glacial Maximum of interglacial period. This was also a time when Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) disturbance occurred. The duration, internal structure, and pattern of the events were similar, with differences in the change magnitude and ice volume conditions. (3) The weak monsoon event that occurred in 410 ka BP was primarily influenced by the combined effects of insolation and AMOC. This event was characterized by a sustained warming process that accelerated the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, leading to the destabilization of this ice sheet. The continuous flowing of freshwater into the North Atlantic resulted in a short-lived AMOC oscillation. The weakening of the AMOC resulted in a cold anomaly over the North Atlantic. As a result of atmospheric telecorrelation, the weaker AMOC led to a weaker Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When genomic prediction is implemented in breeding maize (Zea mays L.), it can accelerate the breeding process and reduce cost to a large extent. In this study, 11 yield-related traits of maize were used to evaluate four genomic prediction methods including rrBLUP, HEBLP|A, RF, and LightGBM. In all the 11 traits, rrBLUP had similar predictive accuracy to HEBLP|A, and so did RF to LightGBM, but rrBLUP and HEBLP|A outperformed RF and LightGBM in 8 traits. Furthermore, genomic prediction-based heterotic pattern of yield was established based on 64620 crosses of maize in Southwest China, and the result showed that one of the parent lines of the top 5% crosses came from temp-tropic or tropic germplasm, which is highly consistent with the actual situation in breeding, and that heterotic pattern (Reid+ × Suwan+) will be a major heterotic pattern of Southwest China in the future.

Burned forests were detected using remote sensing techniques. Yet, identifying long-term burned forests in the mountains, especially at a large spatial extent, remains a great challenge due to a lack of long-term high-resolution remote sensing data or the unsatisfactory performance of the moderate-resolution remotely sensed data in complex mountain landscapes. Efficient, robust, and cost-effective methods are urgently called for. In this study, we developed a novel method combining remote sensing and ecological mechanisms (short for RSEM-M) with a paired-pixel approach to identify the long-term burned forests in Southwest China, where the terrain is rugged. In mapping burned forests in 2010, the overall accuracy, producer accuracy, user accuracy, Kappa coefficient, and field validation accuracy were 92.27 %, 95.86 %, 88.36 %, 0.85, and 81.16 %, respectively. Compared to the standard procedure and FireCCI51 and MCD64A1 fire products, the RSEM-M shows higher accuracy and consistency in identifying burned forests of different sizes, with fewer invalid pixels, better spatial continuity, and more accurate boundary delineation. Then, using the RSEM-M, we mapped burned forests in Southwest China from 2002 to 2017. The cumulative areas were 37.69 × 104 ha. The RSEM-M improved the efficiency and accuracy of long-term burned forest identifications in mountainous landscapes at a large spatial extent.

Forest fires are one of the most common natural disasters and public crisis events, presenting a serious threat to the ecosystem and human security. The traditional forest fire monitoring is time-consuming and inaccurate, but nighttime light remote sensing is enhancing the efficiency and speed of forest fire detection. Thus, this study focused on forest fire detection in Southwest China that was affected by fires in 2021 and 2022 using daily remote sensing nighttime light data from the black marble product VNP46A2 of the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership-Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite. Multiple features were developed based on the temporal features of day-level nighttime light radiances, which were divided into black pixels, stable light pixels, and forest fire pixels using the random forest classification model. To verify the accuracy, a confusion matrix was constructed to calculate the accuracy of the forest fire identification results by combining multisource data, and the results were compared with the results of different machine learning models and fire products. Moreover, the spatiotemporal distribution of forest fires was analyzed using trend analysis and nearest-neighbor analysis. Results show that the overall accuracy of pixel classification was over 92% in both years, with forest fire pixels classified with user's accuracy exceeding 99%. The forest fires were mainly dispersed and concentrated around the stable light pixels 400–700 m, and the distribution in different regions showed obvious spatial heterogeneity. Compared with 2021, the distribution of forest fires decreased significantly in 2022. This study can support the future management and protection of forest resources and the prediction of fire disasters. The dataset (2021 and 2022) of forest fires in Southwest China is available free of charge.1

Abstract Background Good food safety practices are essential to minimizing foodborne diseases. The present study explored the food safety-related practices of residents during the COVID-19 pandemic in Southwest China and identified the impacting factors. Methods Residents aged 18–75 years from Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Chongqing, China, were included in our study. The convenience sampling method was used to select participants, and face-to-face surveys were conducted in households and communities to collect data. Descriptive statistics including sociodemographic characteristics of respondents and weighted percentages were obtained and the log-binomial regression was used to evaluate the influencing factors associated with food safety-related practices. Results Overall, 7,848 respondents were involved, with 97.5% efficacy. Disparities in food safety-related practices were observed between males and females, with the former performing poorer practices than the latter (70.5% vs. 68.0%, respectively). Notably, paying attention to nutrition labels when shopping for prepackaged foods was the worst practice. Age, ethnicity, region, occupation, education level, and income were identified as significant determinants of food safety-related practices. Moreover, in comparison to males, females were more likely to acquire pertinent knowledge from diverse sources, including social media, family members/ friends, books/ newspapers/ magazines, experts, and food sales staff (p

Study region: Southwest China Study focus: Water use efficiency (WUE) is a key variable for understanding the carbon and water cycling processes in ecosystems. There exists the world's largest continuous karst topography in Southwest China, rendering it a quintessential ecologically vulnerable region. Therefore, determining the trends in WUE changes between karst and non-karst ecosystems is of great significance for understanding the carbon and water cycling processes in ecologically vulnerable areas. In this study, various analysis methods were utilized to explore the spatiotemporal variations, persistence characteristics, and the impact of complex climatic variability of WUE in Southwest China. New hydrological insights for the region: (i) The rate of increase and multi-year average of WUE in karst ecosystem is higher than that in non-karst ecosystem. (ii) In the future, the proportion of area with decreasing in WUE will be higher in karst ecosystem than in non-karst ecosystem. (iii) There are significant differences in the correlation between WUE and climatic factors in different ecosystems. (iv) The dominant climatic factor for WUE in karst ecosystem is vapor pressure, while in non-karst ecosystem, it is precipitation. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for studying the carbon and water cycling processes in karst ecosystem.

The topography plays an essential role in the initiation and development of precipitating clouds, therefore has a profound effect on the ultimate spatial distribution of precipitation. This study investigates the fine‐scale characteristics of a synoptic‐induced precipitation event in Southwest China, a region characterized by a sequence of steep mountains aligned roughly north‐south. The convection‐permitting simulation successfully reproduces the observed rainband induced by a synoptic‐scale shear line. The spatial distribution of accumulated precipitation over three small‐scale mountains (named M1, M2, and M3 from east to west) exhibits distinct inhomogeneity. The accumulated precipitation is significantly enhanced on the western slope of M1, the high‐altitude area of M2, and the eastern slope of M3. The low‐level vortex generated on the western slope of M1, as well as the convergence established over M2 and the eastern slope of M3, dynamically contributes to the enhanced precipitation over the various mountain locations. As the highest of the three mountains, M2 exhibits pronounced blocking effects on the mesoscale circulations. Additional sensitivity experiment demonstrates that the mesoscale circulations and corresponding precipitation are sensitive to the highest elevation in the continuous mountains. The rainfall accumulation over M2 (M3) could decrease (increase) by 54.3% (63.4%), when the terrain of M2 is reduced to the comparable height of surrounding mountains. With more upslope wind flowing over M2, the convergence over M3 is strengthened. The more intense upward motion and stronger potential instability both contribute to the notable increase of precipitation over M3. This study implies the possible mechanisms of the inhomogeneous precipitation over Southwest China and could deepen the current understanding of the topographic effects on precipitation over complex terrains. Plain Language Summary: Southwest China is characterized by high average elevation with a succession of quasi‐north‐south‐oriented mountains. Such topography with local variance tends to generate inhomogeneous distribution of precipitation. In this study, we explore the spatial characteristics of a typical synoptic‐induced rainfall case that occurs in Southwest China and examine the role of steep topography relief in this rainfall process by using a convection‐permitting model. The simulation reasonably reproduces the distribution and evolution features of the observed rainband. We find significant enhancement of precipitation in the different locations of the small‐scale mountains. The steep topographic relief modulates the distribution of precipitation by exerting dominant influences on local circulations. The results from the sensitivity experiment, in which the terrain of Cang Mountain reduced to the comparable height as the surrounding mountains, further reveal that the highest mountain peaks in this complex terrain region plays a key role in the near‐surface flow patterns and thermal conditions. Consequently, this leads to variations in the enhancement of precipitation over the mountains. Key Points: The precipitation under strong synoptic forcing is significantly enhanced by the steep topography relief of Southwest ChinaThe mesoscale circulations modulated by the steep mountains play an essential role in shaping the distribution of precipitationThe mesoscale circulations and corresponding precipitation are sensitive to the highest elevation in the continuous mountain ranges [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northwest Yunnan is nested in the border areas of Tibet, Myanmar, and Southwest China. The religiously and ethnically diverse region has astonishingly seen a lack of "conflict", as is often assumed in regions of ethnic and religious differences. This paper argues that there is an organic form of pluralism through frequent inter-ethnic and inter-religious marriages, multi-lingual daily interactions, and strategic ethnicity registrations. Ethnic and religious boundaries are made permanently or temporarily permeable through the celebration of boundary-crossing rituals such as weddings and funerals and other shared experiences such as collective labor and migrant work. Despite an increasingly strong push to be integrated into the state power through various top-down developmental projects, minority peoples here still use kinship, collective rituals, and other shared experiences to foster group formation that is fluid, porous, and malleable, instilling empathy and obligation as the basis of this pluralistic borderland society. This organic form of pluralism presents an alternative to the nation as the standard modern form of community. This paper ultimately argues that this specific type of plurality requires us to think beyond the normative liberal notions of religious tolerance and diversity that are still promoted within the frame of the exclusivist nation-state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lysiteles Simon, 1895 contains 64 nominal species distributed in East, South and South Asia. It possesses very high species diversity in China (with 46 and 32 endemics), Bhutan (with 9 and 1 endemic) and Nepal (with 8 and 4 endemics). In June 2023, a spider survey of Cibagou National Nature Reserve, Xizang, China was carried out. After examination and morphological comparison, two Lysiteles species were recognised as new to science. New information: Two new species of Lysiteles Simon, 1895 collected from Cibagou National Nature Reserve, Xizang, China are described: L. cibagou sp. nov. (♂♀) and L. tangi sp. nov. (♂♀). Diagnostic photos of habitus and copulatory organs and a distributional map are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species of the genus Anyphaena Sundevall, 1833 collected from Xizang, China, are described: A. cibagou Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♂♀), A. linzhi Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♂♀), A. shufui Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♀) and A. yejiei Wang & Mi, sp. nov. (♀). Diagnostic photos of the habitus and copulatory organs and a distributional map are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand how global and regional-scale climate has changed, high- resolution records for environmental changes are still needed in southwestern (SW) China during the Late Holocene epoch. This study presents a well-dated high-resolution diatom analysis from a 1.66-m-long sediment core taken from Lake Cuogeda (CGD) on the southeast (SE) edge of the Tibetan Plateau to document environmental changes over the past -4000 years. Diatom and other geochemical proxies show that, from 3850 to 3430 calyr BP (before present, 0 BP=1950 AD, 1900 to 1480 BC), the environment of Lake CGD is acidic, oligotrophic, and enriched with humic acids. And the lake ice cover duration is short during this period. During 3430-1550 cal yr BP (1480 BC-400 AD), Lake CGD has less humic acid and a relatively high pH environment. The ice cover duration is longer, and the temperature drops during this period. Our multi- indicator recorded two environment fluctuations at -2800 calyr BP (850 BC) and 2210-1950 cal yr BP (260 BC-0 AD). From 1550 to 3.6 cal yr BP (400-1946 AD), the lake ecosystem changed to a higher pH condition and had a prolonged freezing time. From 3.6 cal yr BP (1946 AD) to the present, Lake CGD's water was acidic, with an environment of shorter duration of ice cover and stronger lake water turbulence. Comparisons between the CGD records and other climate reconstructions underscore the relevance of the CGD record for regional and global environments. Comparisons indicate that the environment evolution pattern of SW China during the Late Holocene was greatly affected by solar radiation and North Atlantic sea surface temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to determine the distribution and prevalence of gastroenteritis caused by human adenovirus (HAdV) in children in Yunnan province, China, in 2015–2021 and to identify preventive measures that can be taken to reduce morbidity and mortality in children.HAdV is a significant agent of diarrhea in children, but limited data are available regarding the epidemiology and genetic diversity of HAdV in children with diarrhea in Yunnan province, China. A total of 1754 fecal samples were subjected to real-time RT-PCR to detect and quantify HAdV. Positive samples were further analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS), and epidemiological data were analyzed as well.1754 patients with diarrhea were enrolled, of which 1041 were male and 713 were female (M:F ratio: 1.46). Seventy-two stool samples out of 1754 (4.10%) were positive for HAdV. The detection rates of all age groups varied from 2.50–4.78%. The highest incidence of HAdV was observed in children under 2 years of age, especially in children 12–24 months-old. From 2015–2021, the annual detection rate ranged from 1.62–12.26%. HAdV was detected throughout the year, but with marked seasonality. Children were most likely to be positive for HAdV in June and November. We detected HAdV in 15.53% (16/103) of samples collected in June and in 8.19% (14/171) of those collected in November. The entire viral genome was successfully sequenced for 13 of the 72 HAdV-positive samples, and 76.92% (10/13) of these were classified as genotype F41 and 23.08% (3/13) were classified as genotype C2.ConclusionsIn Yunnan province, children of all ages are susceptible to HAdV infection, but there has been marked variation in the yearly prevalence. The highest rate of HAdV detection was in June, followed by November. Priority should be given to disease prevention over the development of targeted antiviral therapies, and effective vaccines for preventing HAdV diarrhea are needed. It is also important to establish a surveillance system to collect relevant clinical and epidemiological data quickly in order to assess the potential risk of HAdV infection in children and to identify epidemic strains for the development of effective vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southwest China is a tectonically and seismically active region, witnessing strong deformation due to the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. Constraining the subsurface velocity structure of this region is thus important in understanding the tectonics and geodynamic processes of continental collision and in mitigating seismic hazards. Numerous studies have provided various 3D seismic velocity models in southwest China. However, discrepancies exist among these models, and less effort has been made to quantify the reliability and accuracy of these existing velocity models. In this study, we use regional 3D waveform simulation to evaluate the performance of various regional crustal 3D velocity models in reproducing observed seismograms. We particularly focus on two recent earthquake sequence in the region, the 2021 Yunnan Yangbi MS6.4 earthquake sequence and the 2022 Sichuan Luding MS6.8 earthquake sequence. The tested 3D velocity models include the Southwest China Community Velocity model V1.0, the Unified Seismic Tomography Models for Continental China Lithosphere V2.0, the adjoint full waveform tomography model of the crustal and upper mantle beneath Eastern Tibetan Plateau, and the shallow seismic structure model beneath continental China. Our results show that the tested 3D velocity models generally capture well long-period (<0.2 Hz) waveforms, indicating that the 3D models adequately resolve overall large-scale subsurface structures. However, the 3D synthetics show discrepancies in higher frequencies (0.05–0.3 Hz) and the performance of the 3D velocity models varies from region to region, suggesting that smaller scale heterogeneities are not well constrained. Including shallow velocity structures (<10 km) can improve the waveform fitting, emphasizing the importance of incorporating shallow structures in waveform modeling. The full-waveform tomography model shows a slighter better performance than the other models, especially for the body-waves, highlighting the advantages of full-waveform method in achieving sub-wavelength resolution despite the usage of very long-period waveforms. In light of these comparison results of model performance, we identify the advantages and limitations of different seismic tomography models and methods, and we propose to incorporate different tomography methods and datasets to better constrain subsurface structures. While our target region in this study is southwest China, the analysis that we have conducted can be applied to other regions of various scales and tectonic settings for quantitative seismic model evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]