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Fintech is important for China's 'new infrastructure' and for driving strategic innovation at the national level. Measurement systems are constructed considering cost income and company development. The DEA model is used to analyse the operating efficiency and slack variables of 55 listed fintech companies from 2014 to 2019. This paper distinguishes between the establishment years, enterprise attributes, and scale of companies. It concludes that companies with high establishment years are more efficient than those with low establishment years. The average comprehensive technical efficiency changes of non-state-owned enterprises are slightly higher than those with low establishment years. Non-SBM effective enterprises' investment redundancy indicators are total assets, payable employee compensation, and the number of employees, while insufficient output is reflected in net profit's indicator. Based on the research results, suggestions are made to promote the sustainable development of fintech in China, which is significant for the promotion of financial innovation in China.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance is crucial for companies to attain sustainable development, which is a key reference for assessing the value and growth potential of a company. Government subsidies can provide incentives for companies to prioritize environmental preservation, meet their social duties, and improve their governance performance. This paper empirically examines the effects and mechanisms of government subsidies on corporate ESG performance, using an Ologit multiple ordered regression model based on data from Chinese listed companies. We find that not only do total government subsidies significantly improve firms' ESG performance, but both environmental and non‐environmental subsidies also have the similar effect, albeit with different impact mechanisms. The analysis of the mechanism suggests that government subsidies can enhance corporate ESG performance by promoting green innovation, alleviating financing constraints, increasing charitable donations, and attracting social attention. This paper holds significant practical value as it presents empirical findings as a basis for reforming China's subsidy policies, showcasing the actual impact of diverse subsidy policies and the heterogeneity.

Accurate state of health estimation of lithium-ion batteries provides scientific basis for secure operation and stepwise utilization in on-board powertrain. However, the variable discharge depths inevitably reduce the elasticity and precision of the estimation method in prevalent partial discharge situations. In this work, multiple candidate health indicators are extracted from the peaks and valleys of the partial incremental capacity curves and screened first. Specifically, the fine-tuning process of deep belief network based on particle swarm optimization are elaborated and synthetic comparison in terms of error and time consumption with three classical deep networks is performed. To better accommodate practical scenarios, three datasets of the LiFePO$_{4}$ cells under different discharge depths are applied to verify the proposed framework. The experimental results indicated that the presented framework is feasible and the prediction error can be minimized to less 2%.

The increasing scale of electric vehicles (EVs) and their stochastic charging behavior have resulted in a growing coupling between the transportation network and the grid. Consequently, effective smart management in the EV-transportation network-grid integration system has become paramount. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the current state of the art in system modeling and optimization approaches for the smart management of this coupled system. We begin by introducing the types of EVs that impact the transportation and grid systems through their charging behavior, along with an exploration of charging levels. Subsequently, we delve into a detailed discussion of the system model, encompassing EV charging load forecasting models and transportation-grid coupling models. Furthermore, optimization technologies are analyzed from the perspectives of system planning and EV charging scheduling. By thoroughly reviewing these key scientific issues, the latest theoretical techniques and application results are presented. Additionally, we address the challenges and provide future outlooks for research in modeling and optimization, aiming to offer insights and inspiration for the development and design of the EV-transportation network-grid integration system.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a subtype of CCA and has a high mortality rate and a relatively poor prognosis. However, studies focusing on increased cell motility and loss of epithelial integrity during iCCA progression remain relatively scarce. We collected seven fresh tumor samples from four patients to perform RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) to determine the transcriptome profile and chromatin accessibility of iCCA. The increased expression of cell cycle regulators, including PLK1 and its substrate MISP, was identified. Ninety-one iCCA patients were used to validate the clinical significance of PLK1 and MISP. The upregulation of PLK1 and MISP was determined in iCCA tissues. Increased expression of PLK1 and MISP was significantly correlated with tumor number, N stage, and lymphatic invasion in an iCCA cohort. Knockdown of PLK1 or MISP reduced trans-lymphatic endothelial migration and wound healing and affected focal adhesions in vitro. In cell‒cell junctions, MISP localized to adherens junctions and suppressed E-cadherin dimerization. PLK1 disrupted adherens junctions in a myosin-dependent manner. Furthermore, PLK1 and MISP promoted cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. In iCCA, PLK1 and MISP promote aggressiveness by increasing lymphatic invasion, tumor growth, and motility through the repression of E-cadherin adherens junctions.

The present study aimed to develop a highly pure and crystalline beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) bone graft substitute using the propagated Scleractiniancoral. The solid-state reaction followed by heat-treatment (1050 °C–1100 °C for 1 h) between calcium carbonate from the propagated coral and dicalcium phosphate anhydrous was performed to fabricate the coral-derived β-TCP. The microstructural, in vitro, and in vivoproperties of the propagated coral and heat-treated specimens were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, cell viability assay, and rabbit model. Results confirmed that the pure coral-derived β-TCP with interconnected microporosity was successfully fabricated at a temperature of 1000 °C. The co-existence of β-TCP and hydroxyapatite (HAp) was formed at the higher temperatures of 1050 °C and 1100 °C. When the temperature increased from 1000 °C to 1100 °C, the morphologies and crystalline structures in the coral-derived specimens were changed from granule-like aragonite (orthorhombic) → spherical particle-like β-TCP (rhombohedral) → tetrahedron-like (β-TCP (rhombohedral) + HAp (hexagonal)) → hexagonal-like (β-TCP (rhombohedral) + HAp (hexagonal)). Cytotoxicity assay results indicated that the coral-derived β-TCP possessed favorable biocompatibility. Moreover, histological results also demonstrated that the coral-derived β-TCP exhibited proper resorbed properties and a significantly higher percentage in new formed bone tissue than the control β-TCP specimen at 26 weeks (∗p = 0.012). Thus, the coral-derived β-TCP with interconnected microporosity is a promising bone graft substitute that can be used for bone defect repair in dental and orthopedic fields.

•A holistic process distributed parameter model of ASHP is proposed.•A hybrid PID-bisection control algorithm for iterative computation is proposed.•Average deviation error of the proposed simulation approach is within 7 %.•Rapid convergence speed could been attained with the proposed control algorithm.

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The authors emphasize diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM education and artificial intelligence (AI) research, focusing on LGBTQ+ representation. They discuss the challenges faced by queer scientists, educational resources, the implementation of National AI Campus, and the notion of intersectionality. The authors hope to ensure supportive and respectful engagement across all communities.

The rhodium(III)-catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic nonactivated terminal alkene-tethered cyclohexadienones (1,6-dienes) has been developed with high to excellent selectivities (sup to 458) via asymmetric borylative cyclization, providing recovered cyclohexadienones and cis-hydrobenzofuranones with good to excellent yields and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). This reaction shows broad functional group tolerance and allows the further conversions of these two-type products to many optically active derivatives bearing multiple functionalities via Rh, Cu, Pd, and Ag catalysis.

The application of straw and biochar is widely practiced for the improvement of soil fertility. However, its impact on microbial functional profiles, particularly with regard to paddy soils, is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of microbial carbon use patterns in paddy soils amended with straw or straw-derived biochar in a 3-year field experiment in fallow soil and at various development stages of a rice crop (i.e., tillering and blooming). We applied the community level physiological profiling approach, with 15 substrates (sugars, carboxylic and amino acids, and phenolic acid). In general, straw application resulted in the greatest microbial functional diversity owing to the greater number of available C sources than in control or biochar plots. Biochar amendment promoted the use of α-ketoglutaric acid, the mineralization of which was higher than that of any other substrate. Principal component analyses indicated that microbial functional diversity in the biochar-amended soil was separated from those of the straw-amended and control soils. Redundancy analyses revealed that soil organic carbon content was the most important factor regulating the pattern of microbial carbon utilization. Rhizodeposition and nutrient uptake by rice plants modulated microbial functions in paddy soils and stimulated the microbial use of N-rich substances, such as amino acids. Thus, our results demonstrated that the functional diversity of microorganisms in organic amended paddy soils is affected by both physicochemical properties of amendment and plant growth stage.

The platinum-based, two-drug, 3-week regimen is currently the main first-line chemotherapy program for the treatment of advanced squamous cell lung cancer. The aim of this phase II clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of the bi-weekly program of liposomal paclitaxel combined with nedaplatin as a first-line treatment for advanced squamous cell lung cancer. A total of 52 cases of advanced squamous cell lung cancer were included in this phase II clinical trial. Patients received intravenous infusion of liposomal paclitaxel (100 mg/m2) and nedaplatin (50 mg/m2) on days 1 and 15 of a 4-week cycle. Each patient received two to six cycles of chemotherapy, consistent with the regimen of combined liposomal paclitaxel and nedaplatin. The total effective rate of this chemotherapy program was 37.5%. The median progression-free survival time was 8.5 months (95% confidence interval: 7.8–9.2). The median survival time was 16 months (95% confidence interval: 14.1–17.9). The main adverse event was myelosuppression. Grade 3 leukopenia was noted in seven patients (13.5%), and no grade 4 leukopenia was observed. Grade 3 anemia was noted in four patients (7.7%), and no grade 4 anemia was observed. In addition, no grade 2 or higher thrombocytopenia and no grade 3 or 4 non-bone marrow toxicity was detected. The bi-weekly program of liposomal paclitaxel combined with nedaplatin is effective for the treatment of advanced squamous cell lung cancer, with high safety and few adverse events. However, additional studies are warranted to confirm these results. The trial was registered under the number ChiCTR-OIN-17011423.

The nanogap memory (NGM) device, emerging as a promising nonvolatile memory candidate, has attracted increasing attention for its simple structure, nano/atomic scale size, elevated operating speed, and robustness to high temperatures. In this study, nanogap memories based on Pd, Au, and Pt were fabricated by combining nanofabrication with electromigration technology. Subsequent evaluations of the electrical characteristics were conducted under ambient air or vacuum conditions at room temperature. The investigation unveiled persistent challenges associated with metal NGM devices, including (1) prolonged SET operation time in comparison to RESET, (2) the potential generation of error bits when enhancing switching speeds, and (3) susceptibility to degradation during program/erase cycles. While these issues have been encountered by predecessors in NGM device development, the underlying causes have remained elusive. Employing molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, we have, for the first time, unveiled the dynamic processes of NGM devices during both SET and RESET operations. The MD simulation highlights that the adjustment of the tunneling gap spacing in nanogap memory primarily occurs through atomic migration or field evaporation. This dynamic process enables the device to transition between the high-resistance state (HRS) and the low-resistance state (LRS). The identified mechanism provides insight into the origins of the aforementioned challenges. Furthermore, the study proposes an effective method to enhance the endurance of NGM devices based on the elucidated mechanism.

Protein S-sulfhydration involves the regulation of various protein functions, and resolving the S-sulfhydrated proteome (persulfidome) allows for a deeper exploration of various redox regulations. Therefore, we designed a reducible covalent capture method for isolating S-sulfhydrated proteins, which can analyze the persulfidome in biological samples and monitor specific S-sulfhydrated proteins. In this study, we applied this method to reveal the S-sulfhydration levels of proteins, including 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase, NFκB/p65, and nucleolin. Furthermore, this technique can be used to enrich S-sulfhydrated peptides, aiding in the determination of protein S-sulfhydration modification sites. Finally, we observed that the S-sulfhydration and oxidation of nucleolin on the C543 residue correlate with its nuclear translocation, downstream regulation of p53, Bcl-xL, and Bcl-2 RNA levels and protein expression, as well as the protective function against oxidative stress. Therefore, this method may facilitate the understanding of the regulation of protein function by redox perturbation.

EGFR-mutated NSCLC is characterized by an immunosuppressive microenvironment that confers limited clinical effectiveness to anti-PD1/PD-L1 antibodies. Despite the discouraging outcomes of immunotherapy, novel immune checkpoints are constantly emerging, among which the specific vulnerability for therapeutic intervention in the context of EGFR-mutated NSCLC remains unresolved.

Lime and Si fertilizer are effective amendments for alleviating Cd accumulation in crops. In this study, two Cd-polluted typical soils from different regions in China were sampled to conduct a pot experiment. The effects of two soil amendments [calcium oxide of quicklime (SH) and Si–Ca–Mg fertilizer (GF)] on the distribution of Cd fractions in soil with and without rice-planting treatment and on Cd uptake and accumulation in rice were investigated. The results showed that SH and GF application significantly reduced Cd accumulation in rice in YSS and GSS, and that the maximum Cd reduction in GSS reached 319 μg pot−1with SH treatment. SH and GF significantly decreased and increased, respectively, the proportions of Acid-Cd and Res-Cd in the soil. Rice-planting treatment activated Res-Cd compared with no rice-planting treatment, and SH and GF restrained the remobilization process. Significant positive correlations were found between Res-Cd remobilization rates in soil and Cd content in brown rice. Multiple regression revealed that applying GF at dosages of 1.296 g kg−1and 1.246 g kg−1in YCS and GSS, respectively, was an ideal method to control soil acidity. This study highlighted the view that Res-Cd remobilization provoked by rice plays a considerable role in influencing Cd bioavailability in the soil, that soil type should be considered as a factor when applying soil amendments to contaminated soils, and that soil amendment dosages should vary according to soil type.

The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of lobaplatin as a single agent chemotherapy concurrent with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in Asian population with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. From June 2016 to December 2017, 17 patients diagnosed with stage III-IVb NPC from an Asian population were prospectively enrolled. Patients were administered lobaplatin with 25-50 mg/m2escalation of dosage on day 1. Every 21 days (days 1, 22, and 43) during radiotherapy, cycles were repeated. We administered radiotherapy as 2.12-2.27 Gy per fraction with five daily fractions each week for 6 to 7 weeks. The evaluation of lobaplatin-related toxic effects was based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. During the weekly treatment period, complete blood counts and biochemistry were performed. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were determined by the following events during any cycle in which lobaplatin was administered. Each dose group consisted of at least three cases. We proceeded to the subsequent dose group in the absence of DLT with a dose increment of 5 mg/m2until DLT occurred. Periods from 1 week prior to the chemotherapy initiation to 3 weeks after the last chemotherapy were defined as DLT observation periods. MTD was determined by the dose that was immediately below the dose that produced DLT. After analysis, DLT occurred in three patients, including a group with two of three patients in 45 mg/m2lobaplatin and another group with one of five patients in 40 mg/m2lobaplatin. No grade 3-4 toxicity was observed in patients treated with lobaplatin <40 mg/m2. The tumor response rate at 12 weeks after treatment was 100%. In summary, lobaplatin concurrent with IMRT was active in stage III-IVb NPC, and the MTD for the lobaplatin as single-agent chemotherapy was 40 mg/m2when combined with IMRT in an Asian population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT03188497.

Statistical optimization designs were used to optimize Cd(II) removal from aqueous solution with modified corn straw biochar in this study. Based on the results of a single-factor experiment under a Plackett– Burman design (PBD), we screened three main influencing factors for the Cd(II) adsorption process: pH, initial Cd(II) concentration, and biochar dosage. With the Cd(II) adsorption percentage as the response target, the Box–Behnken design optimization was performed for the three main factors of pH (3–7), the initial concentration (20–120 mg·L–1), and dosage (2–8 g·L–1). Then, with the obtained second-order model of the adsorption percentage, we determined the optimal conditions for Cd(II) adsorption experiments. The optimization results indicated that biochar dosage showed a significant interaction with initial Cd(II) concentration. With considering the cost, the optimal adsorption percentage was obtained under the following conditions: pH 5.52, the initial concentration of 20.00 mg L–1, and the dosage of 3.05 g·L–1according to the importance weight setting. The experimentally obtained maximum adsorption percentage was 90.05%, which was more economical and reasonable than the obtained conditions without taking the cost into consideration. The combined PBD and BBD method could be applied in the optimization of Cd2+adsorption conditions and provide more reasonable and effective results.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is widely used for graphene transfer and device fabrication. However, it inevitably leaves a thin layer of polymer residues after acetone rinsing and leads to dramatic degradation of device performance. How to eliminate contamination and restore clean surfaces of graphene is still highly demanded. In this paper, we present a reliable and position-controllable method to remove the polymer residues on graphene films by laser exposure. Under proper laser conditions, PMMA residues can be substantially reduced without introducing defects to the underlying graphene. Furthermore, by applying this laser cleaning technique to the channel and contacts of graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs), higher carrier mobility as well as lower contact resistance can be realized. This work opens a way for probing intrinsic properties of contaminant-free graphene and fabricating high-performance GFETs with both clean channel and intimate graphene/metal contact.

The graphene is easily grown on polycrystalline copper foils using metal-catalyzed chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Annealing twin readily occurred during this CVD process. However, there are only a few reports on the role of annealing twin on the graphene growth. In this paper, we present the investigations of the influence of copper twin crystal onthe nucleation of graphene. We found that there is no selective formation of graphene on these annealing twin crystal in general conditions of graphene growth.Interestingly, graphene preferentially nucleates at the front ends of twin crystals. We propose a micro-mechanism to explain the preferential graphene nucleation site based on spiral growth phenomena of copper twin crystals.This work may enable new possibilities for the controllable nucleation and wafer-scale growth of single-crystal graphene.

PMMA is commonly used for graphene transfer and device processing. However, it leaves a thin layer of polymer residues after standard acetone cleaning and causes electrical and thermal performance degradation of graphene devices. In this paper, we present a research of the impact of polymer residues on surface morphologies and electronic properties of bilayer graphene using Raman spectroscopy in combination with atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electronic structure of bilayer graphene is well captured in its Raman spectrum, of which the 2D band reveals four double resonance Raman scattering processes. The Raman analyses show universal blueshifts of the G band and the four 2D sub-bands P11, P12, P21, P22, as well as reduced intensity ratios of the sub-bands to the G band I(Pij)/I(G) after surface contamination by polymer residues, implying an electronic structure modulation in bilayer graphene. The effects are mainly attributed to p-type doping and extrinsic scattering induced by residual impurities and defects.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated anti–programmed cell death (PD)-1 immunotherapy (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) for overall efficacy, safety, and effective dose relative to standard chemotherapy or other conventional drugs in the treatment of malignant tumors. We searched the following databases, PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane, Wangfang Data, Weipu, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the reference lists of the selected articles for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of anti–PD-1 therapies in humans. The outcome measures were overall survival, treatment response, and adverse events. Only four randomized controlled trials met our inclusion criteria. Three of these evaluated responses to nivolumab, whereas one tested pembrolizumab. The result of our analysis suggested that nivolumab may improve the overall response rate in treating melanoma relative to chemotherapy and has few associated adverse events. Similarly, in metastatic melanoma patients, nivolumab had a significant advantage over dacarbazine in terms of 1-year survival, progression-free survival, and objective response rate. Regarding dose levels of nivolumab for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, the outcomes in response to 2 and 10 mg/kg were similar, but both had significant advantages over 0.3 mg/kg. In addition, pembrolizumab showed similar outcomes in response to 2- and 10-mg/kg treatment. Anti–PD-1 immunotherapy appears to be safe and effective for patients with melanoma or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Our meta-analysis is limited, but additional clinical trials are warranted to verify this preliminary evidence of positive outcomes and before anti–PD-1 therapy can be recommended for routine clinical use.

The Chinese mole shrew, Anourosorex squamipesMilne-Edwards, 1872, is a common species of insectivorous mammal in Southwest China. Based on field investigations between 2001 and 2019, the present study reports the infestation of chiggers (larvae of chigger mites) on the shrew in Southwest China and certain ecology parameters for the first time. A total of 3169 chiggers were collected from 1694 A. squamipesand they were identified into 72 species and 10 genera in the family Trombiculidae. The overall infestation prevalence (Pm), mean abundance (MA) and mean intensity (MI) of A. squamipeswith chiggers reached 11.1%, 1.87 and 16.86, respectively. The species diversity, species composition and infestation of chiggers on A. squamipesfluctuated in different environments (latitudes, altitudes, habitats and landscapes) and on different sexes and ages of the shrew hosts with high heterogeneity and low species similarity. In the established linear regression equation (M*= 0.173 + 1.054 M) for dominant mite Leptotrombidium densipunctatum, both the αand βvalues (α= 0.173, β= 1.054) exceeded the boundary values (F= 4.67, p< 0.05), and therefore the spatial distribution pattern of this mite was determined as an aggregated distribution among different individuals of shrew hosts. The species abundance distribution of the chigger community on A. squamipesconformed to the lognormal distribution, and its curve showed a gradually descending tendency from the rare mite species to the dominant mite species. The curve tendency of species-sample relationship implies that more species of chiggers would be found if the host samples infinitely keep increasing.

Background: DNA N6-methyldeoxyadenosine (6mA) is rarely present in mammalian cells and its nuclear role remains elusive. Results: Here we show that hypoxia induces nuclear 6mA modification through a DNA methyltransferase, METTL4, in hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor metastasis. Co-expression of METTL4 and 6mA represents a prognosis marker for upper tract urothelial cancer patients. By RNA sequencing and 6mA chromatin immunoprecipitation-exonuclease digestion followed by sequencing, we identify lncRNA RP11-390F4.3 and one novel HIF-1α co-activator, ZMIZ1, that are co-regulated by hypoxia and METTL4. Other genes involved in hypoxia-mediated phenotypes are also regulated by 6mA modification. Quantitative chromatin isolation by RNA purification assay shows the occupancy of lncRNA RP11-390F4.3 on the promoters of multiple EMT regulators, indicating lncRNA-chromatin interaction. Knockdown of lncRNA RP11-390F4.3 abolishes METTL4-mediated tumor metastasis. We demonstrate that ZMIZ1 is an essential co-activator of HIF-1α. Conclusions: We show that hypoxia results in enriched 6mA levels in mammalian tumor cells through METTL4. This METTL4-mediated nuclear 6mA deposition induces tumor metastasis through activating multiple metastasis-inducing genes. METTL4 is characterized as a potential therapeutic target in hypoxic tumors.

This exploratory study investigated the circumstances of falls and fall-related injuries among frail elderly people under home care. A convenience sample of 500 frail elderly (60–99 years old) from the Wanshoulu and Yuyuantan communities in Beijing's Haidian District during February 2013 and March 2014. Fall circumstances and related injuries were characterized by detailed interviews and questionnaires. The article reports the results of a study that the overall fall incidence was 41.5%, and higher for females than males. Falls mainly occurred in individuals who were over 80 years old (50.0%) and indoors (67.9%). The percentage of subjects who experienced a combined injury after the fall was 56.3%, whereas 19.0% fell causes a fracture. Approximately 35% of the subjects were hospitalized, and 27.6% of the subjects recovered more than 30 days. Results indicate that, falls in the frail elderly caused serious damage, and fall-related circumstances should be a great concern in this population.

The Yunnan red-backed vole (Eothenomys miletus) is an endemic and specific wild rodent species in China. From 39 sites across southwest China, a total of 12,536 individuals of gamasid mites were collected from 2,463 voles between 2001 and 2013. The 12,536 mites were identified as comprising 106 species, 26 genera and 9 families. The overall mite prevalence and mean abundance from all the voles were 48.36% and 5.09 mites/per examined vole, respectively. Laelaps chini(Cr=81.24%) was the dominant mite species. The gamasid mite infestation of E. miletusis common with a very high species diversity (S= 106). The spatial distribution pattern of the dominant species (L. chini) was analyzed by using some indices, including the dispersion coefficient, aggregated indices, Cassie index, patchiness index, mean crowding and negative binomial distribution parameter. The established Iwao’s equation was M*= 5.516 + 2.312M(r= 0.942, P< 0.05) with higher αand βthan 0 and 1 (the border values for determining spatial pattern), respectively, and the Fvalue was 81.66 (P< 0.05) in the significance test of random deviation (F-test). The spatial distribution pattern of L. chiniamong the individuals of E. miletuswas then determined as an aggregated distribution, which means that L. chinihas a tendency to clump together and form different individual groups on the body surface of E. miletus.The distribution of species-abundance showed that with the increase of gamasid mite individuals, the number of the mite species gradually decreased, which indicates that most mite species are rare species. The curve tendency of species-sample relationship showed that the number of gamasid mite species increased with the increase of the host samples (number of individuals of E. miletus).The results suggest that a large host sample is recommended in the future field investigations for the species composition and species diversity of gamasid mites on rodents.

The Yunnan red-backed vole (Eothenomys miletus) is an endemic and specific wild rodent species in China. From 39 sites across southwest China, a total of 12,536 individuals of gamasid mites were collected from 2,463 voles between 2001 and 2013. The 12,536 mites were identified as comprising 106 species, 26 genera and 9 families. The overall mite prevalence and mean abundance from all the voles were 48.36% and 5.09 mites/per examined vole, respectively. Laelaps chini (Cr= 81.24%) was the dominant mite species. The gamasid mite infestation of E. miletus is common with a very high species diversity (S = 106). The spatial distribution pattern of the dominant species (L. chini) was analyzed by using some indices, including the dispersion coefficient, aggregated indices, Cassie index, patchiness index, mean crowding and negative binomial distribution parameter. The established Iwao’s equation was M* = 5.516 + 2.312M (r = 0.942, P < 0.05) with higher α and β than 0 and 1 (the border values for determining spatial pattern), respectively, and the F value was 81.66 (P < 0.05) in the significance test of random deviation (F-test). The spatial distribution pattern of L. chini among the individuals of E. miletus was then determined as an aggregated distribution, which means that L. chini has a tendency to clump together and form different individual groups on the body surface of E. miletus. The distribution of species-abundance showed that with the increase of gamasid mite individuals, the number of the mite species gradually decreased, which indicates that most mite species are rare species. The curve tendency of species-sample relationship showed that the number of gamasid mite species increased with the increase of the host samples (number of individuals of E. miletus). The results suggest that a large host sample is recommended in the future field investigations for the species composition and species diversity of gamasid mites on rodents.