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Xinghua Bay is one of the largest wintering sites of the black-faced spoonbill Platalea minor in mainland China. The ecosystem of Xinghua Bay has shown a deteriorating trend with the increasing pressure of economic development in recent decades. To understand the current conservation status of the wintering spoonbills in Xinghua Bay, we collected water samples along the coast of Xinghua Bay and important spoonbill habitats during the wintering period to analyze the pollution degree of 7 target heavy metals and organics. The Nemerow pollution index (NPI), heavy metal pollution index (HPI) and contamination degree (CD) were used to assess the heavy metal pollution levels. The ecological risk index of a target heavy metal (Efi) and potential ecological risk index of all target heavy metals (RI) were used to assess the ecological risk of heavy metals levels in Xinghua Bay. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was used to determine the sources of heavy metals in coastal waters with the EPA PMF5.0 model. The results showed that there was moderate to very heavy pollution by heavy metals and moderate associated ecological risks in Xinghua Bay, in which Hg and Cd were the major heavy metal pollution sources, and the level of organic pollution was of serious concern. The use of fertilizers for cultured shellfish and aquaculture in and around the bay were the major cause of the excessive nitrogen and phosphorus levels, and factories surrounding Xinghua Bay were the major sources of heavy metals and organic pollution. We propose conservation measures to increase black-faced spoonbill population and enhance its habitats.

Considering the growing interest in magnetic materials for unconventional computing, data storage, and sensor applications, there is active research not only on material synthesis but also characterisation of their properties. In addition to structural and integral magnetic characterisations, imaging of magnetisation patterns, current distributions and magnetic fields at nano- and microscale is of major importance to understand the material responses and qualify them for specific applications. In this roadmap, we aim to cover a broad portfolio of techniques to perform nano- and microscale magnetic imaging using superconducting quantum interference devices, spin centre and Hall effect magnetometries, scanning probe microscopies, x-ray- and electron-based methods as well as magnetooptics and nanoscale magnetic resonance imaging. The roadmap is aimed as a single access point of information for experts in the field as well as the young generation of students outlining prospects of the development of magnetic imaging technologies for the upcoming decade with a focus on physics, materials science, and chemistry of planar, three-dimensional and geometrically curved objects of different material classes including two-dimensional materials, complex oxides, semi-metals, multiferroics, skyrmions, antiferromagnets, frustrated magnets, magnetic molecules/nanoparticles, ionic conductors, superconductors, spintronic and spinorbitronic materials.

Background: This study assessed the effects of adding tislelizumab to first-line standard-of- care chemotherapy on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sq-NSCLC). Patients and methods: Patients in this open-label, multicenter, phase 3 RATIONALE 307 trial were randomized to one of the three arms: tislelizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel (Arm A), tislelizumab plus carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel (Arm B), or paclitaxel plus carboplatin (Arm C). HRQoL was measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Lung Cancer 13-item module (QLQ-LC13). Mean score change from baseline at Weeks 6 and 12 in the QLQ-C30’s global health status/quality of life (GHS/QoL), fatigue, and physical functioning scores and QLQ-LC13 lung cancer specific subscales were examined. Time to deterioration was estimated for the GHS/QoL score. Results: A total of 355 sq-NSCLC patients received at least one dose of study drug and completed at least one HRQoL assessment. The GHS/QoL scores improved in Arms A and B relative to Arm C at Weeks 6 and 12. Arms A and B also experienced a reduction in most lung cancer-specific symptoms relative to Arm C. Time to deterioration of GHS/QoL was not reached by any of the three arms. Conclusions: The addition of tislelizumab to platinum-based chemotherapy is associated with improvements in sq-NSCLC patients’ HRQoL, especially in GHS/QoL and most importantly in lung cancer-specific symptoms including coughing, dyspnea, and hemoptysis.

Atrophic non-unions are a major clinical problem. Mineral coated microparticles (MCM) are electrolyte-coated hydroxyapatite particles that have been shown in vitro to bind growth factors electrostatically and enable a tuneable sustained release. Herein, we studied whether MCM can be used in vivo to apply Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) to improve bone repair of atrophic non-unions. For this purpose, atrophic non-unions were induced in femurs of CD-1 mice (n = 48). Animals either received BMP-2-coated MCM (MCM + BMP; n = 16), uncoated MCM (MCM; n = 16) or no MCM (NONE; n = 16). Bone healing was evaluated 2 and 10 weeks postoperatively by micro-computed tomographic (µCT), biomechanical, histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses. µCT revealed more bone volume with more highly mineralised bone in MCM + BMP femurs. Femurs of MCM + BMP animals showed a significantly higher bending stiffness compared to other groups. Histomorphometry further demonstrated that the callus of MCM + BMP femurs was larger and contained more bone and less fibrous tissue. After 10 weeks, 7 of 8 MCM + BMP femurs presented with complete osseous bridging, whereas NONE femurs exhibited a non-union rate of 100 %. Of interest, immunohistochemistry could not detect macrophages within the callus, indicating a good biocompatibility of MCM. In conclusion, the local application of BMP-2-coated MCM improved bone healing in a challenging murine non-union model and, thus, should be of clinical interest in the treatment of non-unions.

The driver population is rapidly increasing in China and crash rates are expected to rise dramatically without effective preventative measures. The objective of this research was to develop a driver education and training program for China adapted from best practice. Based on review of the current system and stakeholder interviews, a program was developed to provide driving lessons in real-world traffic for newly-licensed drivers with a supporting educational manual. The present study aim was to evaluate whether the program could be successfully implemented with 64 pilot study participants. Post-training interviews and spot checks found the majority of participants received the program as intended, with early discrepancies readily overcome. Seventy-nine per cent completed additional recommended but not mandatory components and 100% reported benefiting from participation. It was concluded that the program was appropriate and acceptable. Further research will determine whether the program can help reduce novice driver road trauma in China.