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BackgroundDysregulated bile acid (BA) metabolism has been linked to steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).AimTo determine whether circulating BA levels accurately stage liver fibrosis in NAFLD.MethodsWe recruited 550 Chinese adults with biopsy-proven NAFLD and varying levels of fibrosis. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was performed to quantify 38 serum BAs.ResultsCompared to those without fibrosis, patients with mild fibrosis (stage F1) had significantly higher levels of secondary BAs, and increased diastolic blood pressure (DBP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), body mass index, and waist circumstance (WC). The combination of serum BAs with WC, DBP, ALT, or Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance performed well in identifying mild fibrosis, in men and women, and in those with/without obesity, with AUROCs 0.80, 0.88, 0.75 and 0.78 in the training set (n = 385), and 0.69, 0.80, 0.61 and 0.69 in the testing set (n = 165), respectively. In comparison, the combination of BAs and clinical/biochemical biomarkers performed less well in identifying significant fibrosis (F2-4). In women and in non-obese subjects, AUROCs were 0.75 and 0.71 in the training set, 0.65 and 0.66 in the validation set, respectively. However, these AUROCs were higher than those observed for the fibrosis-4 index, NAFLD fibrosis score, and Hepamet fibrosis score.ConclusionsSecondary BA levels were significantly increased in NAFLD, especially in those with mild fibrosis. The combination of serum BAs and clinical/biochemical biomarkers for identifying mild fibrosis merits further assessment.

As cultural carriers of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), practitioners are key stakeholders in its inheritance and tourism use. Master-apprentice transmission is a major mechanism of generational inheritance. This paper examines ICH masters and apprentices at the Arts & Crafts Museum of Hangzhou, China, and analyzes the cultural composition of handicraft ICH and its intergenerational evolutionary mechanisms. Semi-structured interviews with two generations of practitioners and participant observation were undertaken. Research results reveal that intergenerational evolution involves multifaceted stakeholder interactions centred on practitioners with the support of government, management of the museum and participation of visitors. With patterns of family and master-apprentice inheritance, two generations of practitioners facilitate the evolution of handicraft ICH though both co-creations and conflicts. Second, six cultural attributes for handicraft ICH as of material, pattern, shape, technique, image and system are identified to visualise the process of intergenerational evolution. Third, driven by internal and external factors, ICH evolves through tracks of inheritance, selection and variation as presented through the above six cultural attributes. Moreover, the interdependence of cultural elements highlights the heritage framework of handicraft ICH and reflects the fluidity of authenticity. Accordingly, theoretical contributions and future research directions are offered for the sustainable development of handicraft ICH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new financial instrument under the strategy of digital economic development, digital inclusive finance has become an effective way to fill the market gap that exists in traditional finance. Inclusive financial resources are needed for tourism development and recovery in less‐developed regions, especially in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Understanding the impact of DIF on tourism development is the key to promoting high‐quality economic growth in China. Although previous studies have explored the factors influencing tourism development, the effect of DIF on sustainable tourism development is still at its earlier stage and is not well researched. Therefore, this study aims to explore the direct impact of DIF on tourism development and examines whether there is threshold effect. Based on panel data from 63 counties in the Wuling Mountain Area, China, from 2014 to 2019, this research applied a series of panel regression models to explore whether the DIF can promote sustainable tourism development. The results indicate that the DIF plays a positive role in improving sustainable tourism development. Considering regions, types of counties, and different dimensions of the DIF, there are differences in positive effects of DIF on sustainable tourism development. The impact of DIF on tourism development is dynamic and non‐linear. Finally, practical implications for enhancing the promotion and development of DIF and achieving sustainable tourism development are discussed, particularly for less‐developed regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGender equality is an important UN sustainable development goal. With tourism often encouraging and favoring female participation, relationships between tourism and gender equality have attracted much research attention. However, being dynamic and highly contextual, the multi-faceted complex of gender and tourism interactions are relevant to both males and females. Therefore, nuanced and contextual case studies incorporating perspectives of both genders is critically needed for gender research in tourism. Drawing from previous research, dimensions of gender equality are deconstructed into gender roles, perspectives, and relationships. Yudong Village, Zhejiang Province, China, was selected as the study site. Field investigations were used, primarily involving semi-structured interviews with multiple actors. Females and males were interviewed to acquire and compare their involvements in and perspectives on tourism and its influences on gender issues. Positive tourism influences on three dimensions of gender equality were acknowledged by both genders. Relationships among changes in gender perceptions, roles and relationships were examined. Agreements and differences between genders and across generations are discussed. Such changes rippled from family circles to rural communities through tourism enhanced social networks and business relationships. This research contributes to a gender balanced understanding of tourism impacts on gender equality. Practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the transverse indentation test was applied to simulate the damage caused by impact to the carbon fiber‐reinforced plastics (CFRP)/Al hybrid tube, and composites patch repair technology was used to repair the hybrid tube with different damage degrees. The effects of width and ply‐number of the patch on failure behavior and crashworthiness under axial load were investigated. It was concluded that the technology can effectively reduce stress concentration around the indentation and then improve compressive strength. Increasing the ply‐number of the patch can mitigate the failure mode of med‐length collapse of the hybrid tube and can effectively improve the crashworthiness indicators. The optimal repair strategy increased energy absorption by 54.02% and mean crushing force by 53.66%. However, the improvement of failure behavior by the ply‐number is limited by patch width. Acoustic emission and infrared thermography technologies were used to further analyze the damage characteristics and damage evolution of the hybrid tubes in pre‐crushing stage. It was found that the crushing form of the middle collapse tended to produce a more intense acoustic emission response and higher temperature change than that of the end crushing. In engineering practice, it provides a valuable reference for the reasonable repair of composite tubular structures and their hybrid structures. Highlights: Composite repair technology is used for the repair of CFRP/Al hybrid tubes.The effects of ply‐number and width of patch on repair quality are studied.The technology can effectively improve residual crashworthiness of structure.The improvement of failure behavior by ply‐number is limited by patch width.The damage behavior of various crushing forms can be revealed by AE and IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reflect the intricate relationships between heritage, tourism, and community pertinent to Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), the framework of community well-being is adapted to evaluate the status and changes to destination communities imposed by conservation and tourism initiatives. A multi-stakeholder, mixed-method approach is adopted using qualitative interviews and a quantitative questionnaire survey at two villages of the Hani Rice Terraces, Yunnan Province of Western China. Results show that positive impacts from tourism are mainly concentrated on the environmental, conservation, and development dimensions. However, the lack of improvements in the education and health dimensions negatively affected the well-being of the local community. In particular, the subjective well-being is reduced with the increasing need for education induced by tourism. The evolution of community well-being is explored and portrayed through well-being hexagons and measures to enhance the positive impacts of tourism are proposed for GIAHS and other heritage sites or protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal aging behavior of glass fiber reinforced composites has attracted much attention because of its application in elevated temperatures environments. In this study, to improve the thermal aging resistance performance of composites, multilayer graphene was embedded in glass fiber reinforced composites and the damage evolution behaviors of the composites after thermal aging treatments were investigated. The mapping relationship between damage modes and acoustic emission parameters is established by principal component analysis and k‐means clustering methods, then the acoustic emission data were trained by K‐Nearest Neighbor algorithms to obtain a damage modes identification model with positive predictive values above 90%. The results showed that more matrix cracking signals are captured (or matrix cracking accumulation acoustic emission (AE) energy is abruptly raised) at the early stage of loading after 32 days of thermal aging. With the addition of multilayer graphene, the fiber/matrix debonding accumulation AE energy is significantly less than the matrix cracking accumulation AE energy, which is more obvious after thermal aging. Damage initiation and extension obtained by the acoustic emission events help to find the correlation between aging time and interior interface damage mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engagement of vulnerable rural women in the demonstration and practices of cultural heritage for tourism is a strategy that can empower them. Five dimensions of women's empowerment (economic, social, psychological, educational and political) are examined at multiple scales (self, family, community and society) in a Hui ethnic community in Haiyuan County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, northwest of China. This county is nationally recognized for its poverty. Semistructured interviews were undertaken with government officials, management staff of embroidery cooperatives and rural women. It is shown that the involvement of rural Hui women in embroidery tourism has not only advanced them economically but also provided feasible paths for social, psychological, educational and political empowerment to varying degrees. Theoretical contributions and practical implications of the research are then discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research about Lu Gou Qiao examines two tourist attractions in close proximity on the southwestern periphery of Beijing: the landmark 'Marco Polo' Bridge and the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression in neighboring Wanping City. A survey conducted at both sites had the result that the large majority of the interviewed visitors tour both sites. The bridge and the museum are thematically connected as it was an incident at the bridge started the Second Sino-Japanese War 1937–1945 which is reconstructed in great detail at the museum, a 'red tourism' site where patriotic education according to the agenda and guidelines of the Communist Party of China (CPC) plays a major role. A main motivation for the visitors is to learn about the Chinese people's resistance against Japanese aggression. The survey results also confirmed a high interest in war related information including the grim and horrific crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial Army, an indication of an evolving 'dark tourism.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism can be an important strategy for conserving traditional agricultural systems and potentially enhancing livelihoods of hosting communities. The intricate and complex relations between agricultural heritage conservation, tourism and community livelihoods are examined at a GIAHS site in China. Through multi-stakeholder interviews, the study illustrates that the increased government support and public awareness after GIAHS designation do not ease the struggle between conservation and development at Guanhou Village. Particularly in the context of fast urbanization, multi-layer integration of tourism and the agricultural heritage system should be sought to sustain traditional agriculture and enhance community livelihoods. Practical implications are then discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceived destination image is rarely examined through the gaze of stakeholders other than visitors, in particular residents and tourism business operators. This hinders the comprehensive understanding of destination image and limits its practical implications for destination marketing and management. Therefore, this study proposes a multi-stakeholder approach to image evaluation to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the destination image and better inform destination planning and management. Taking Nanluoguxiang hutong tourism site in Beijing as an example, the image perceptions of residents, on-site business operators, and domestic and international tourists are compared. Questionnaire surveys with both types of tourists and semi-structured interviews with residents and business operators are the main research methods. Major between group differences are identified in the evaluation of the authenticity of this Beijing hutong area, its representation of traditional Beijing culture and whether or not it is a place in which to relax. Results demonstrate that visitors, residents and business operators share similar cognitive images of Nanluoguxiang as a traditional historical street and a special business street with Beijing character. However, the historical and cultural values of Nanluoguxiang are undervalued. Moreover, distinct differences exist between the actual motivations for visiting held by domestic and international tourists and their motivations as perceived by residents and business operators. Suggestions are made to better meet the expectations and desires of all stakeholder groups through the provision of participatory programmes and activities to enrich the visitor experience of hutongs and the hutong lifestyle while maintaining a boundary between tourists and residents' personal space to reduce unnecessary interruptions to residents' daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]