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In China, the innovative development of education for older people is an important response to the aging population, and an important way to meet the spiritual, cultural, and social needs of older people. Current academic research mainly focuses on the social factors that affect the participation of older people in education and there are few empirical studies on the individual psychological characteristics of older adult learning behavior. This study takes a positive psychology approach to the exploration of the factors influencing the participation of older adults in education in a number of universities of the Third Age in Fujian Province, China. The study is based on curriculum preferences and frequency of participation in extracurricular activities. The results show that the personality traits of extraversion and neuroticism, as well as gender, age, level of educational attainment, and family economic status significantly affect frequency of participation in extracurricular activities and the curriculum preferences of older learners. The results of this study suggest that we can strengthen personality matching to promote the learning enthusiasm of older people in education, and adhere to the demand-oriented to promote the Third age education curriculum personalized. Furthermore, we should increase the scope for popularizing Third age education, improve the accessibility of education for the older people, accelerate the integration of older adult education with the Internet, innovate the form of older adult education, and then promote the development of customized curricula.

In China, the innovative development of education for older people is an important response to the aging population, and an important way to meet the spiritual, cultural, and social needs of older people. Current academic research mainly focuses on the social factors that affect the participation of older people in education and there are few empirical studies on the individual psychological characteristics of older adult learning behavior. This study takes a positive psychology approach to the exploration of the factors influencing the participation of older adults in education in a number of universities of the Third Age in Fujian Province, China. The study is based on curriculum preferences and frequency of participation in extracurricular activities. The results show that the personality traits of extraversion and neuroticism, as well as gender, age, level of educational attainment, and family economic status significantly affect frequency of participation in extracurricular activities and the curriculum preferences of older learners. The results of this study suggest that we can strengthen personality matching to promote the learning enthusiasm of older people in education, and adhere to the demand-oriented to promote the Third age education curriculum personalized. Furthermore, we should increase the scope for popularizing Third age education, improve the accessibility of education for the older people, accelerate the integration of older adult education with the Internet, innovate the form of older adult education, and then promote the development of customized curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient manganese (Mn) deposits are primarily characterized by the presence of Mn(II) carbonates that likely formed by the diagenetic reduction of precursor Mn(IV) oxides. As such, Precambrian sedimentary Mn deposits have been used as a line of evidence for the evolution of oxygen in Earth's surface environments. However, recent studies have shown that these Mn(II)-carbonates have the ability to directly accumulate within anoxic water columns, where free oxygen does not play a role in their formation. This alternative pathway casts uncertainty on the robustness of using ancient Mn deposits to constrain the redox fabric of the past marine water columns. Here, we investigate the Wafangzi Mn and Fe ore deposit from the 1.45 billion-year-old Tieling Formation, North China. The deposit contains Mn(II,III) mineral phases (hausmannite, braunite) as inclusions, or unreacted residues, trapped within Mn(II) carbonate (Ca-rhodochrosite). Some nodules and oolites of Mn(II) and Fe(II)-carbonate phases are also present and display a banded structure with concentric rings. Mn(III) oxide (manganite) is present in a paragenetic assemblage along with hematite and replacement textures with braunite. The negative carbon isotope composition (δ13C, –7‰ to –4‰) from Mn(II) carbonate samples in the Wafangzi Mn deposit which are distinct from that of contemporaneous seawater (~0‰), along with petrographic and speciation analyses, collectively suggest that the Mn(II,III)- and Fe(II)-bearing mineral phases formed through the diagenetic reduction of primary Mn(IV)/Fe(III) minerals coupled to the oxidation of organic matter. Therefore, the Wafangzi Mn deposit suggests the presence of sufficiently oxygenated marine waters, overlying anoxic ferruginous deeper waters with a transitional manganous water layer that could have driven the redox cycling of Mn, Fe, and C. Given the contemporaneous economic Mn deposits in the 1.45 Ga Ullawarra Formation in Western Australia, our findings imply the existence of a transient, and perhaps widespread, pulsed oxygenation event in the mid-Proterozoic oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of regorafenib monotherapy or in combination with immune-checkpoint inhibitor while treating Chinese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): a real-world study. Methods: The data of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who received regorafenib-containing regimen as the third or later line treatment at ten Chinese hospitals from Aug 2017 to Jun 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including dosing details, survival data as well as adverse events. Survival analysis was further performed for patients administrated with regorafenib monotherapy and combined with an immune-checkpoint inhibitor based on Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Results: A total of 537 patients were included with a median age of 61, among whom 376 received regorafenib monotherapy and 245 received regorafenib combined with immune-checkpoint inhibitors. The clinicopathological characteristics of the two groups at baseline were mainly balanced. No significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) was observed in patients receiving regorafenib monotherapy or combination therapy (3.8 vs. 5.5 months, p = 0.170). In contrast, patients receiving combination therapy had a more prolonged overall survival (OS) than those receiving regorafenib monotherapy (13.5 vs. 10.0 months, p = 0.001). The treatment regimen and regorafenib dosage were significant prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis. Significant benefits in PFS and OS were achieved in KRAS mutant and anti-angiogenesis treatment-naïve subgroups receiving combination therapy compared to monotherapy. No apparent increase was recorded in treatment-related adverse events in patients receiving combination therapy. Conclusion: Regorafenib plus an immune-checkpoint inhibitor has already been a widely adopted strategy in the later-line treatment for mCRC in the real world. The combination therapy yielded a significantly prolonged overall survival than regorafenib alone, with a manageable safety profile in Chinese patients, and warrants further investigation. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04835324. Registered 6th April 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pure marine chemical sediments are archives of geochemical proxies for the composition of seawater and may provide information about the ancient hydrosphere–atmosphere system. The early stage of the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP) was characterized by the subaqueous eruption of mafic igneous rocks around the J. altudaensis zone of the Capitanian Stage that has been proposed to have contributed to the Guadalupian mass extinction. However, detailed mechanisms and the impact of the eruption on the Guadalupian marine environment have yet to be assessed. Here, to examine the Guadalupian marine environment, we studied major and trace element concentrations, particularly rare earth element and yttrium data, along with high-precision Sr-Nd isotope ratios, of three types of Mn ores (i.e., clastic, massive, and oolitic) and siliceous limestones from the Zunyi Mn deposit in South China formed following the early-stage eruption of the ELIP. Our results indicate that the clastic Mn ores contain notable detrital mafic aluminosilicates. In contrast, the massive and oolitic Mn ores and siliceous limestones preserved the pristine geochemical signatures of the Middle–Late Permian seawater characterized by distinctly low (87Sr/86Sr)i and high εNd(t) values. These data indicate a strong impact of the early-stage submarine eruptions of the ELIP on the marine environment in South China and worldwide, likely through intensive seawater–rock interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the main cause of cancer death, lung cancer imposes seriously health and economic burdens on individuals, families, and the health system. In China, there is no national study analyzing the hospitalization expenditures of different payment methods by lung cancer inpatients. Based on the 2010–2016 database of insured urban resident lung cancer inpatients from the China Medical Insurance Research Association (CHIRA), this paper aims to investigate the characteristics and cost of hospitalized lung cancer patient, to examine the differences in hospital expenses and patient out-of-pocket (OOP) expenses under four medical insurance payment methods: fee-for-service (FFS), per-diem payments, capitation payments (CAP) and case-based payments, and to explore the medical insurance payment method that can be conducive to controlling the cost of lung cancer. Method: This is a 2010–2016, 7-year cross-sectional study. CHIRA data are not available to researchers after 2016. The Medical Insurance Database of CHIRA was screened using the international disease classification system to yield 28,200 inpatients diagnosed with lung cancer (ICD-10: C34, C34.0, C34.1, C34.2, C34.3, C34.8, C34.9). The study includes descriptive analysis and regression analysis based on generalized linear models (GLM). Results: The average patient age was 63.4 years and the average length of hospital stay (ALOS) was 14.2 day; 60.7% of patients were from tertiary hospitals; and 45% were insured by FFS. The per-diem payment had the lowest hospital expenses (RMB7496.00/US$1176.87), while CAP had the lowest OOP expenses (RMB1328.18/US$208.52). Compared with FFS hospital expenses, per-diem was 21.3% lower (95% CI = -0.265, -0.215) and case-based payment was 8.4% lower (95% CI = -0.151, -0.024). Compared with the FFS, OOP expenses, per-diem payments were 9.2% lower (95% CI = -0.130, -0.063) and CAP was 15.1% lower (95% CI = -0.151, -0.024). Conclusion: For lung cancer patients, per-diem payment generated the lowest hospital expenses, while CAP meant patients bore the lowest OOP costs. Policy makers are suggested to give priority to case-based payments to achieve a tripartite balance among medical insurers, hospitals, and insured members. We also recommend future studies comparing the disparities of various diseases for the cause of different medical insurance schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's total coal production in 2021 exceeded 4.13 billion tons, 52% of the world's total. Coal gangue, a solid waste of coal mining accounts for 15–20% of coal production, when directly discharged on the ground surface as waste heaps, it occupies large areas of land and cause environmental pollution. This paper summarizes the existing gangue backfilling methods, their working principles, efficiency, and application status. The methods that are meeting Middle and Western China's mining demands are discussed in detail. The state-of-the-art technologies that can realize high-efficiency, centralized, and large-scale underground backfilling of coal gangue are analyzed. This paper shows that the industrial implementation of these technologies can increase the current maximum disposal capacity of coal gangue by three times, reaching five million tons per year. The equipment innovation and automation are analyzed, and the environmental effect of coal gangue backfilling is discussed. This review offers inspirations and guidelines for coal gangue disposal and the environmental hazard reduction of coal mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous analyses of grey and white matter volumes have reported that schizophrenia is associated with structural changes. Deep learning is a data-driven approach that can capture highly compact hierarchical non-linear relationships among high-dimensional features, and therefore can facilitate the development of clinical tools for making a more accurate and earlier diagnosis of schizophrenia.Aims: To identify consistent grey matter abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia, 662 people with schizophrenia and 613 healthy controls were recruited from eight centres across China, and the data from these independent sites were used to validate deep-learning classifiers.Method: We used a prospective image-based meta-analysis of whole-brain voxel-based morphometry. We also automatically differentiated patients with schizophrenia from healthy controls using combined grey matter, white matter and cerebrospinal fluid volumetric features, incorporated a deep neural network approach on an individual basis, and tested the generalisability of the classification models using independent validation sites.Results: We found that statistically reliable schizophrenia-related grey matter abnormalities primarily occurred in regions that included the superior temporal gyrus extending to the temporal pole, insular cortex, orbital and middle frontal cortices, middle cingulum and thalamus. Evaluated using leave-one-site-out cross-validation, the performance of the classification of schizophrenia achieved by our findings from eight independent research sites were: accuracy, 77.19-85.74%; sensitivity, 75.31-89.29% and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.797-0.909.Conclusions: These results suggest that, by using deep-learning techniques, multidimensional neuroanatomical changes in schizophrenia are capable of robustly discriminating patients with schizophrenia from healthy controls, findings which could facilitate clinical diagnosis and treatment in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the easy damage of rubber sealing rings for pipe joints used in China's first rock pipe jacking project, the launch of research concerning the optimization design of rubber ring structure was decided. However, modification based on the existing production mold was required, to prevent the construction period and cost from exceeding limits. Utilizing the optimization experience, the stress and waterproof property variations of rubber ring before and after optimization during the pipe translation and deflection were initially analyzed via the ADINA software. Meanwhile, the correct orientation of the ring optimization criteria was confirmed through the field test. Next, the effects of key structural parameters on the contact length and maximum contact pressure of rubber ring were quantified, thereby obtaining the sensitivity correlations between five key parameters of ring optimization to further establish the criteria for rubber ring optimization. The findings of this study offer safe construction suggestions for pipe jacking projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Children Neuropsychological and Behavioral Scale-Revision 2016 (CNBS-R2016) is a widely used developmental assessment tool for children aged 0-6 years in China. The communication warning behavior subscale of CNBS-R2016 is used to assess the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and its value of >30 points indicates ASD based on CNBSR2016. However, we observed that children with relatively lower values were also diagnosed with ASD later on in clinical practice. Thus, this study aimed to identify the suitable cutoff value for ASD screening recommended by the communication warning behavior of CNBS-R2016. Materials and methods: A total of 90 typically developing (TD) children and 316 children with developmental disorders such as ASD, developmental language disorder (DLD), and global developmental delay (GDD; 130 in the ASD group, 100 in the DLD group, and 86 in the GDD group) were enrolled in this study. All subjects were evaluated based on the CNBS-R2016. The newly recommended cutoff value of communication warning behavior for screening ASD was analyzed with receiver operating curves. Results: Children in the ASD group presented with lower developmental levels than TD, DLD, and GDD groups in overall developmental quotient assessed by CNBS-R2016. We compared the consistency between the scores of communication warning behavior subscale and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, second edition (ADOS-2), and clinical diagnosis for the classification of ASD at a value of 30 based on the previously and newly recommended cutoff value of 12 by the CNBS-R2016. The Kappa values between the communication warning behavior and ABC, CARS, ADOS-2, and clinical diagnosis were 0.494, 0.476, 0.137, and 0.529, respectively, with an agreement rate of 76.90%, 76.26%, 52.03%, and 82.27%, respectively, when the cutoff point was 30. The corresponding Kappa values were 0.891, 0.816, 0.613, and 0.844, respectively, and the corresponding agreement rate was 94.62%, 90.82%, 90.54%, and 93.10%, respectively, when the cutoff point was 12. Conclusion: The communication warning behavior subscale of CNBSR2016 is important for screening ASD. When the communication warning behavior score is 12 points or greater, considerable attention and further comprehensive diagnostic evaluation for ASD are required to achieve the early detection and diagnosis of ASD in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike modern Mn(IV)-dominated manganese nodules, ancient manganese deposits primarily contain Mn(II) (manganous) mineral phases. The general assumption is that these manganous minerals formed post-depositionally from a Mn(IV) precursor phase during diagenesis and metamorphism. However, recent studies have shown that aqueous Mn(II) may combine with either CO 3 2– (aq) or H 4 SiO 4(aq) to nucleate and precipitate as primary manganous phases within anoxic waters. These findings thus make it difficult to assess what comprised the primary mineral assemblage of ancient Mn deposits, which in turn, has implications for understanding the redox fabric of the past marine water column. Here, we investigate the paragenesis and oxidation state of various Mn minerals (oxides, carbonates, and silicates) from the late Devonian Xialei and middle to late Permian Zunyi manganese deposits in South China. Through characterization of the micro-scale distribution, composition, and speciation of different Mn-bearing mineral phases, we provide evidence to support an oxidative mechanism during Mn cycling at the time of deposition. We document the presence of a residual oxide phase (hausmannite; Mn 3 O 4) that represents a primary to early formed Mn(III)-bearing oxide preserved in Mn(II)-carbonate nodules. Additionally, we observe spherulitic textures comprised of mixed-valence Mn(II,III,IV)-silicates enclosed in diagenetic Mn(II)-carbonate laminations. Our results allow for the construction of a paragenetic model for these deposits beginning with the reduction of a primary Mn(IV) phase and the subsequent precipitation of intermediate Mn(III)-oxide or -silicate mineral phases. Following continued exposure to reducing conditions during early diagenesis, Mn(III)-oxides were then replaced by Mn(II)-carbonates. Similarly, Mn(III)-silicates were transformed into various Mn(II)-silicates during late-stage diagenesis and metamorphism. This model suggests that the accumulation of various divalent Mn mineral phases in ancient sediments may, therefore, be indicative of deposition under a water column with a sufficient oxidizing potential to induce Mn(II) oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contaminant status, spatial distribution, partitioning behavior, and ecological risks of 26 legacy and emerging perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Laizhou Bay, China were investigated. The concentrations of ∑PFASs in surface and bottom seawater ranged from 37.2 to 222 ng/L and from 34.2 to 305 ng/L with an average of 116 ± 62.7 and 138 ± 93.8 ng/L, respectively. There were no significant differences in the average concentrations between the surface and bottom seawater (P > 0.05). Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and short-chain PFASs dominated the composition of PFASs in seawater. The concentrations of ∑PFASs in sediments ranged from 0.997 to 7.21 ng/g dry weight (dw), dominated by perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), and long-chain PFASs. The emerging alternatives of perfluoro-1-butane-sulfonamide (FBSA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid (6:2 FTSA) were detected for the first time in Laizhou Bay. The ∑PFASs in seawater in the southwest of the bay were higher than those in the northeast of the bay. The ∑PFASs in sediments in the northeast sea area were higher than those in the inner area of the bay. Log K d and log K oc values increased with increasing carbon chain length for PFASs compounds. Ecological risk assessments indicated a low ecological risk associated with HFPO-DA but a moderate risk associated with PFOA contamination in Laizhou Bay. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis revealed that fluoropolymer manufacturing, metal plating plants, and textile treatments were identified as major sources contributing to PFASs contamination. [Display omitted] • Widespread contamination of PFASs occurred in Laizhou Bay. • PFOA was the major contaminant in the environmental samples of Laizhou Bay. • HFPO-DA and FBSA as emerging alternatives were detected in all water samples. • FBSA and 6:2 FTSA were detected for the first time in Laizhou Bay. • The carbon chain length affected the distribution of PFASs in water and sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The predictive scoring systems for early stent thrombosis (EST) remains blank in China. The study aims to evaluate the risk factors and conduct a prediction model of EST in the Chinese population. METHODS: EST was defined as thrombosis that occurs within the first 30 days after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Patients from ten Chinese hospitals diagnosed as stent thrombosis (ST) from January 2010 to December 2016 were retrospectively included as the study group. A control group (1 case:2 controls) was created by including patients without ST, major adverse cardiovascular events, or cerebrovascular events during follow-up. The present study evaluated 426 patients with single-vessel lesions and ultimately included 40 patients with EST and 80 control patients, who were included to identify factors that predicted EST and to develop a prediction scoring system. The other 171 patients without integrated 1:2 pair were used for external validation. RESULTS: EST was independently associated with a low hemoglobin concentration (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.946, 95% confi dence interval [95% CI] 0.901-0.993, P=0.026), a high pre-PCI Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (OR 1.166, 95% CI 1.049-1.297, P=0.004), and a DAPT (DAPT) duration of <30 days (OR 28.033, 95% CI 5.302-272.834, P<0.001). The simple EST prediction score provided an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.854 (95% CI 0.777- 0.932, P<0.001) with 70.0% sensitivity and 90.0% specifi city, and 0.742 (95% CI 0.649-0.835, P<0.001) with 54.5% sensitivity and 81.0% specificity for external validation dataset. CONCLUSIONS: EST may be independently associated with DAPT discontinuation within 30 days, a low hemoglobin concentration, and a high SYNTAX score. The scoring system also has a good ability to predict the risk of EST and may be useful in the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Calcites precipitated from the solutions with identical chemical and isotopic compositions have different δ 13 C values. • The DBL thickness affects the pH and the δ 13 C value of HCO − 3 at the mineral-solution interface. • Our finding offers a mechanistic interpretation on the variability of the ε calcite / DIC in riverine or cave environments. It is often assumed that the carbon isotope composition (δ 13 C) of carbonate minerals records that of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) species with insignificant disequilibrium effect. However, results from field observations and laboratory experiments have shown that the δ 13 C difference between calcite and solution can vary up to 3‰ even under a similar set of solution composition and temperature, raising uncertainties on the δ 13 C's paleoclimate and paleoecology implications. One likely cause is the variable calcite precipitation rates and pH values induced by different thicknesses of the stagnant liquid layer between solid and well mixed bulk solution (i.e., diffusion boundary layer, DBL). To test this hypothesis, we selected a well-studied natural travertine deposit (Baishuitai, SW China) which consists of meter-scale travertine terraces. Calcite crystals at both the pool bottom and the rim of the terraces are inorganically precipitated from solutions identical in chemical, isotopic composition and temperature, but different only in hydrodynamics. This difference results in thicker DBL for water at the pool-bottom than for water flowing across the rim. We found that the δ 13 C and Mg/Ca ratios are higher while Sr/Ca ratios are lower for the pool-bottom calcites than for the rim calcites. By applying a mass transfer model, we quantitatively link the differences in carbon isotope and elemental compositions of the abiogenic calcites to the different hydrodynamic conditions. The inverse variation in Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios in calcites arises from the different precipitation rates between at the pool-bottom and at the rim, while the consistently lower δ 13 C for calcites at the rim is due to their higher pH at the solid-solution interface than for calcites precipitated at the pool-bottom. In contrast, calcite precipitation rate has little influence on carbon isotope fractionation between calcite and HCO − 3 . Our results demonstrate the role of DBL thickness in governing the δ 13 C of HCO − 3 at mineral surface, which can assist to interpret the variable δ 13 C values of calcites in riverine or cave environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Five V-bearing minerals are identified in the Zhongcun deposit. • Mineralogy and trace element geochemistry studies indicate that the vanadium deposit in the Shuigoukou Formation precipitated under an anoxic environment. • Metal source for the vanadium deposits in southern Qinling was predominantly ambient seawater. • Vanadium mineralization processes underwent primarily sedimentary-diagenetic enrichment and, subsequently, hydrothermal overprinting. The formation of black shale-hosted vanadium deposits is controlled by several factors including metal supply, biological processes, and marine sedimentary environments. Vanadium-bearing minerals have a complex mineralogy in black shale-hosted vanadium deposits, and the implications for the mineralization processes are still poorly understood. This study investigated the mineralogy, rare earth, and trace element geochemistry of the early Cambrian black shale-hosted Zhongcun vanadium deposit in the southern Qinling area. Analytical results from the scanning electron microscope, laser Raman probe, and electron probe microanalysis reveal five V-bearing minerals in members I and II of the Zhongcun deposit, of which roscoelite is the dominant V-bearing mineral. Ore samples from members I and II of the Shuigoukou Formation have remarkably negative Ce anomalies, indicating that the surface water was oxic in the early Cambrian paleo-ocean in the southern Qingling area. Ni/Co, V/Cr, and Th/U ratios suggest that the vanadium ores formed in an anoxic environment, and Member II was more sulfidic than Member I. These features suggest a redox-stratified basin with a redox-variable sedimentary environment in the early Cambrian. The absence of Eu/Eu*-V correlation, and Y/Ho and Sm/Yb ratios indicate that vanadium was dominantly precipitated from ambient seawater and hydrothermal input was negligible. V-bearing minerals, including roscoelite, mannardite, and anatase, formed during late diagenesis. Subsequently, oxidized hydrothermal fluids overprinted previously formed V-bearing minerals and formed V-bearing goethite and sulvanite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedimentary provenance in multiphase rift basins exhibits rapid variations during distinct tectonic sub-stages, and a close association exists between alterations in sediment source, geomorphology, and tectono-depositional records. This study comprehensively integrates sandstone petrology, heavy mineral assemblages, detrital zircon characters, drill cores, well logs, and seismic reflections to investigate the evolution of provenance and sedimentary records within a complete rifting episode in a lacustrine basin. Three tectono-depositional models for different tectonic sub-stages have been established. During the early strengthened stage of Rifting Episode IV (Sqd3), sediments were primarily sourced from the Liaoxi Uplift, serving as an intrabasinal provenance. These sediments mainly consist of medium-to coarse-grained sandstones with short-distance transportation, forming a transversely-sourced fan-delta and gravity-flow depositional system. Additionally, wedge-shaped seismic configurations were observed along the flow direction. In the middle stage of Rifting Episode IV (Sqd2), the Liaoxi Uplift was submerged, and sediments originated from the Qinhuangdao, Suizhong, and Liaodong Uplift regions. Lake basin expanded during this period, resulting in axially and transversely-sourced river deltaic deposits in a multi-stage superimposed manner, associated with gravity-flow deposits. The sediments are predominantly composed of medium-to fine-grained sandstones that underwent long-distance transportation, accompanied by a significant increase in mudstone content. Simultaneously, sigmoid-oblique and sigmoidal geometries extensively developed. During the late weakened stage of Rifting Episode IV (Sqd1), sediments originated from the Qinhuangdao and Suizhong regions, forming a transversely-sourced shoal-water deltaic system enriched in medium-to fine-grained sandstone with limited mudstone. In comparison to Sqd3 and Sqd2, sediments within Sqd1 underwent intermediate-distance transport. Typically, a shingled seismic configuration developed, presenting a sharp contrast with the sigmoid-oblique and sigmoidal reflections within Sqd2. The detailed models of source-to-sink systems developed in this study are expected to enhance the comprehensive understanding of sedimentological responses to provenance evolution across various tectonic sub-stages in lacustrine rift basins. • Geomorphology, provenance, and depositional architecture are closely linked to tectonic stage in lacustrine rift basins. • Modern topography and drainage systems aid in reconstructing ancient drainage systems and sediment supply capabilities. • Sandstone petrology, seismic data, zircon morphology and geochronology play pivotal roles in provenance assessment. • Detailed models of source-to-sink systems are built during various tectonic sub-stages in lacustrine rift basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological and environmental problems in the Yellow River Basin of northern China have attracted widespread research attention. This study focused on the soil heavy metals (HMs) in the middle Yellow River Basin; the spatial variations of soil HMs were analyzed using geostatistical techniques, the pollution status and health risks were comprehensively assessed through multiple methods, and the sources of soil HMs were apportioned using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. The results showed that the spatial patterns of soil HMs in the study area with a high coefficient of variation (>20 %) exhibited obvious regional zoning, at a low level in the north and a high level in the south. The soil with significantly high HM content was mainly located in the vicinity of industrial cities and usually featured large enrichment factor values (>1.5), especially with respect to Hg, Cd, and Pb, indicating some influence of anthropogenic activities on soil HMs. Based on the comprehensive assessment method, it was found that soil in the study area was clean and safe on the whole, but relatively severe pollution and relatively high risks were found in the strip area of urban agglomeration, including in Tongchuan and Weinan. Further, Hg, Cd, and Pb – with a cumulative contribution of >85 % – were the primary elements to cause soil pollution, while As and Pb were the primary objects leading to health risks, with a cumulative contribution of >95 %. After quantitative analysis using a PMF model, five sources of soil HMs were identified in the south and their contributions decreased in the following order: natural source (43.25 %), industrial source (21.09 %), mixed source (13.15 %), agricultural source (13.11 %) and traffic source (9.40 %). Moreover, some key areas were delineated both with the combined pollution of soil HMs and the relatively high health risk for children. These key areas should be paid more attention to and the Hg, Cd, Pb, and As should be the main objects of prevention and control in the middle Yellow River Basin. • Heavy metals pollution status in soil was evaluated in the middle Yellow River Basin. • Heavy metals showed the obvious spatial heterogeneity and regional zoning. • Human activity caused heavy metals enrichment/pollution near some industrial cities. • Five sources of soil heavy metals in the key area were identified by PMF model. • Hg, Cd, Pb, and As were diagnosed as the main objects of prevention and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass is an important foundational species in marine ecosystems that plays an important role in providing ecosystem services. However, seagrass distribution and suitable habitat have rapidly declined in recent decades because of climate change and human-mediated disturbances. To achieved better conservation and management of the seagrass Zostera marina , an important representative seagrass in northern China, studies must investigate how this species responds to climate change. Here, we used an ensemble species distribution model to forecast the potential distribution and future suitable habitat change for the eelgrass Z. marina in coastal areas of the Bohai Sea and Shandong Peninsula, China. Two future climate scenarios, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, were considered, which represent stable and high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, respectively. The ensemble model accurately predicted the current Z. marina distribution and performed better than the single-algorithm methods of random forest, generalized boosting model and maximum entropy according to performance matrices (AUC and TSS). The distance to land (78.50 ± 3.51%) and the maximum sea surface temperature (11.90 ± 0.25%) were the most important variables determining the distribution of Z. marina , while the contributions of other variables, maximum sea surface current velocity (3.80 ± 0.33%), minimum surface salinity (2.15 ± 0.22%) and water depth (1.74 ± 0.24%) were relatively low. Under future climate scenarios, the suitable habitat of Z. marina was predicted to decrease by more than half by the 2050s, whereas under the pessimistic greenhouse gas emission scenario (RCP 8.5), suitable Z. marina habitat was predicted to decrease by nearly 80% by the end of this century. The loss of Z. marina seagrass beds will have important ecological effects on the marine ecosystem. Our results not only provide valuable information to assist in identifying potential Z. marina meadows, but also have important implications for guiding conservation and management of Z. marina in the northern coastal region of China. • The distribution and suitable habitat of Zostera marina was predicted under current conditions and future climate scenarios. • Ensemble model could accurately predict the present distribution of Zostera marina compare with single-algorithm models. • Climate change may lead to over 50% loss of the suitable habitat for Zostera marina in northern coastal areas of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China is a common aspiration of all countries along their routes to achieve sustainable development of the environment, economy, society, and people's livelihood. Recently, prominently raised CO 2 concentration in the Belt and Road region is perceived to give rise to these serious greenhouse effects on severe and sustained global warming. It could lead to related climate instability, adverse natural disasters, glacier melting, and extreme weather patterns. CO 2 -enhanced oil recovery (CO 2 -EOR) is one of the essential CCU technologies. Due to lacking sustainable quantitative evaluation of CCU technology widely used in promising industries, it is imperative to conduct process simulation and optimization evaluation of CCU technology. Considering the lack of sustainable quantitative evaluation of CO 2 -EOR, we proposed a multi-objective optimization and sustainable quantitative assessment to provide insights and enhance the separation of produced gas and CO 2 capture for CO 2 -EOR. Their industrial applications before and after optimization were systematically simulated, discussed, and compared. With unremitting efforts, the optimized CO 2 capture process can stably separate oil field-produced gas into pure CO 2 and oilfield light hydrocarbons, with a mass content of CO 2 over 99.7 wt%. The optimized process demonstrated outstanding technical, economic, social, livelihood, and environmental properties. This study will undoubtedly benefit researchers in related fields of CCU process simulation, promote significant breakthroughs in basic research, superstructure, and commercial applications, and provide a perspective for the Belt and Road Initiative to establish better and optimize CCU devices and realize regional and global cooperation, future scientific and industrial progress. [Display omitted] • The first proposed simulation enhances the separation of produced gas and CO 2 capture for oil recovery. • Detailed process models, original simulation files, and detailed modeling steps are performed. • Life cycle optimization strategies using BAB methods are carried out from multi-dimension. • The optimized process has superior techno-economic-society-livelihood-environment property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial activity has been proposed to play an important role in the genesis of manganese (Mn) carbonate deposition in natural sediments, with microbial reduction of Mn(IV) oxides as a crucial factor that enhances the saturation state of Mn carbonates in pore waters. Recently, the nucleation of Mn carbonates on cellular templates has been suggested to represent a further microbial control. However, microstructural evidence for this model remains tentative and the Mn carbonate nucleation pathway is still unconstrained. Here we report petrographic and in-situ chemistry that supports the direct role(s) of microbes in the formation of Mn carbonates in the giant Malkansu Mn metallogenic belt at West Kunlun, Northwest China. The Mn carbonate ores exhibit negative δ13C values (−10.2 to −12.7‰) that indicate the microbial reduction of Mn oxide. Microscopic data show that the Mn carbonates exhibit spheroidal rod and dumbbell-like shaped morphologies with a well-defined core-shell structure. These carbonates are intimately associated with net-like organic matter. An incubation experiment was also carried out showing that biogenic Mn carbonate minerals share a strikingly similar crystal form with the natural Mn ore samples. Together, these results provide further evidence for a dual role of microbes in Mn‑carbonate ore formation: Mn(II) and carbonate produced by the microbial reduction of Mn(IV) oxides, and the nucleation of Mn carbonate minerals on cellular surfaces and/or organic matrices. Potentially, these Mn carbonates may have self-assembled to form rod- and dumbbell-like shaped morphologies, analogous to other carbonate systems. The unique core-shell structure observed herein also indicates that the formation of Mn‑carbonates mediated by microbes follows a heterogeneous nucleation pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent advances in diagnosis and therapeutic strategies, treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unsatisfactory in terms of prognosis. Andrographolide (AD), a principal active component of Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees , exerts anti-cancer therapeutic properties. AD has been used for centuries in China for clinical treatment of viral infections. However, the pharmacological biology of AD in NSCLC remains unknown. In this study, AD regulated autophagy and PD-L1 expression in NSCLC. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that AD bound directly to signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) with high affinity. Proteomics analysis indicated that AD reduced the expression of tumour PD-L1 in NSCLC by suppressing JAK2/STAT3 signalling. AD modulated the P62-dependent selective autophagic degradation of PD-L1 by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation. In vivo study revealed that AD suppressed tumour growth in H1975 xenograft mice and Lewis lung carcinoma cell models, and better efficacy was obtained at higher concentrations. AD prolonged the survival time of the mice and enhanced the treatment efficacy of anti-PD-1 mAb immunotherapy by stimulating CD8+ T cell infiltration and function. This work elucidated the specific mechanism by which AD inhibited NSCLC. Treatment with the combination of AD and anti-PD-1 mAb immunotherapy could be a potential strategy for patients with NSCLC. [Display omitted] • Andrographolide regulates autophagy and PD-L1 expression in NSCLC. • Andrographolide reduces the expression of tumour PD-L1 in NSCLC by suppressing JAK2/STAT3 signaling. • Andrographolide modulates the p62-dependent selective autophagic degradation of PD-L1 by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation. • Andrographolide enhances the treatment efficacy of anti-PD-1 mAb immunotherapy by stimulating CD8+ T cell infiltration and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new indole alkaloid derivatives, fissindoalkas A-C (1-3) together with one known biogenetically related polysubstituted indole alkaloid (4) were isolated from the roots of Fissistigma oldhamii (Hemsl.) Merr. The structures of compounds 1-4 were elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic methods. The inhibitory activities of compounds 1-4 against nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were evaluated in vitro using mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Compounds 2 and 3 showed potent inhibitory activities on NO production with IC 50 values of 2.52 ± 0.18 and 2.33 ± 0.16 μM. These results indicate that the discovery of indole alkaloid derivatives, from the roots of F. oldhamii, which show significant anti-inflammatory properties, could be of great importance to the research and for the development of novel natural anti-inflammatory agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest to this work., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Continuing Medical Education (CME) is an important part of the training process for health workers worldwide. In China, training in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) not only improves the expertise of medical workers, but also supports the Chinese Government's policy of promoting TCM as an equal treatment to western medicine. CME, including learning Traditional Chinese Medicine Technologies (TCMTs), perform poorly and research into the motivation of health workers to engage in CME is urgently required. Using a discrete choice experiment, this study assessed the CME learning preferences of primary health workers, using TCMT as a case study of CME programs., Methods: We conducted a discrete choice experiment among health workers in Shandong Province, Guizhou Province, and Henan provinces from July 1, 2021 to October 1, 2022 on the TCMT learning preferences of primary health workers. The mixed logit model and latent class analysis model were used to analyze primary health workers' TCMT learning preferences., Results: A total of 1,063 respondents participated in this study, of which 1,001 (94.2%) passed the consistency test and formed the final sample. Our key finding was that there were three distinct classes of TCMT learners. Overall, the relative importance of the seven attributes impacting the learning of TCMTs were: learning expenses, expected TCMT efficacy, TCMT learning difficulty, TCMT mode of learning, TCMT type, time required to learn, and expected frequency of TCMT use. However, these attributes differed significantly across the three distinct classes of TCMT learners. Infrequent users (class 1) were concerned with learning expenses and learning difficulty; workaholics (class 2) focused on the mode of learning; and pragmatists (class 3) paid more attention to the expected TCMT efficacy and the expected frequency of TCMT use. We recommend targeted strategies to motivate TCMT learning suited to the requirements of each class of TCMT learners., Conclusion: Rather than a single TCMT medical education program for primary health workers, CME programs should be targeted at different classes of TCMT learners., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is widespread. In Zhejiang province, China, CHIKV infection is often associated with travelers from tropical and subtropical countries. In the present study, three CHIKV isolates from serum samples of travelers in Zhejiang province in 2019 were sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed to study their molecular characteristics. Sequence analysis showed that the non-structural protein and the structural protein had 37 and 28 amino acid mutations, respectively; no mutation site was found at the E1-A226 residue, which could increase the adaptability of CHIKV to Aedes albopictus. All three samples carried two mutations, namely, E1-K211E and E2-V264A, which were introduced to Bangladesh around late 2015 and Thailand in early 2017. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these three CHIKVs were Indian Ocean lineage of the East Africa/Central/South Africa genotype (ECSA) and that the MF773566 strain from Bangladesh (Australia/Bangladesh 2017) had the closest evolutionary relationship. The three CHICKs imported into Zhejiang province in 2019 belonged to the ECSA genotype and had multiple amino acid variation sites. The variation in the three samples provides a certain reference for the subsequent research on CHIKV evolution., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Coxsackievirus A10 (CA10) is one of the etiological agents associated with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD)., Objectives: We aimed to perform a retrospective analysis of the molecular epidemiological characteristics and genetic features of HFMD associated with CA10 infections in Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2022., Study Design: Epidemiologic features were summarized. Throat swab specimens were collected and tested. The VP1 regions were sequenced for genotyping. CA10 positive samples were isolated. Whole genomes of CA10 isolations were sequenced. Nucleotide and amino acid changes were characterized. Phylogenetic trees were constructed., Results: The number of HFMD cases fluctuated from 2017 to 2022. Children aged below 3 years accounted for the majority (66.29%) and boys were more frequently affected than girls. Cases peaked in June. The positivity rate of HEV was 62.69%. A total of 90 strains of CA10 were isolated and 53 genomes were obtained. All CA10 in this study could be assigned to two genogroups, C (C2) and F (F1 and F3)., Conclusion: The clinical manifestations of HFMD associated with HEV are complex and diverse. CA10 infection may be emerging as a new and major cause of HFMD because an upward trend was observed in the proportion of CA10 cases after the use of EV71 vaccines. Different genogroups of CA10 had different geographic distribution patterns. Surveillance should be strengthened and further comprehensive studies should be continued to provide a scientific basis for HFMD prevention and control., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None declared., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The site of lymph node metastasis (LNM) may affect the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). To investigate the prognoses of pararespiratory and paradigestive LNM and to propose a novel N (nN) staging system that integrates both the LNM site and count., Methods: This study was a multicenter, large-sample, retrospective cohort study that included ESCC patients with LNM between January 2014 and December 2019 from three Chinese institutes. Patients were set into training (two institutes) and external validation (one institute) cohorts. The primary outcomes were survival differences in LNM site and the development of novel nodal staging system. The overall survival (OS) of patients with pararespiratory LNM only (Group A), paradigestive LNM only (Group B), and both sites (Group C) was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify the independent prognostic factors. An nN staging system considering both the LNM site and count was developed and evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC)., Results: In total, 1313 patients were included and split into training (n = 1033) and external validation (n = 280) cohorts. There were 342 (26.0%), 568 (43.3%) and 403 (30.7%) patients in groups A, B and C, respectively. The OS of patients with pararespiratory and patients with paradigestive LNM presented significant differences in the training and validation cohorts (P < 0.050). In the training cohort, LNM site was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio: 1.58, 95% confidence intervals: 1.41-1.77, P < 0.001). The nN staging definition: nN1 (1-2 positive pararespiratory/paradigestive LNs), nN2 (3-6 pararespiratory LNs or 1 pararespiratory with 1paradigestive LN), nN3 (3-6 LNs with ≥ 1 paradigestive LN), nN4 (≥ 7 LNs). Subsets of patients with different nN stages showed significant differences in OS (P < 0.050). The prognostic model of the nN staging system presented higher performance in the training and validation cohorts at 3-year OS (AUC, 0.725 and 0.751, respectively) and 5-year OS (AUC, 0.740 and 0.793, respectively) than the current N staging systems., Conclusions: Compared to pararespiratory LNM, the presence of paradigestive LNM is associated with worse OS. The nN staging system revealed superior prognostic ability than current N staging systems., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Backgrounds: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a global threat since 2020. The emergence of the Omicron variant in 2021, which replaced Delta as the dominant variant of concern, has had a significant adverse impact on the global economy and public health. During this period, Zhejiang Province implemented dynamic zeroing and focused on preventing imported cases. This study aimed to gain clear insight into the characteristics of imported COVID-19 cases in Zhejiang Province., Methods: We conducted a systematic molecular epidemiological analysis of 146 imported cases between July 2021 and November 2022 in Zhejiang Province. Virus samples with cycle threshold (Ct) value less than 32 were performed next generation sequencing. Basing the whole genome sequence obtained after quality control and assembly of reads, the whole genome variation map and phylogenetic tree were constructed and further analyzed., Results: Our study identified critical months and populations for surveillance, profiled the variation of various lineages, determined the evolutionary relationships among various lineages of SARS-CoV-2, and compared the results in Zhejiang with those obtained worldwide during this period., Conclusion: The continuous molecular epidemiological surveillance of imported cases of COVID-19 in Zhejiang Province during 2021 to 2022 is consistent with the global epidemic trend., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Zhou, Sun, Mao, Su, Lou, Yan, Yao, Chen and Zhang.)

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the health system worldwide. This study aimed to assess how China's hierarchical medical system (HMS) coped with COVID-19 in the short-and medium-term. We mainly measured the number and distribution of hospital visits and healthcare expenditure between primary and high-level hospitals during Beijing's 2020-2021 pandemic relative to the 2017-2019 pre-COVID-19 benchmark period., Methods: Hospital operational data were extracted from Municipal Health Statistics Information Platform. The COVID-19 period in Beijing was divided into five phases, corresponding to different characteristics, from January 2020 to October 2021. The main outcome measures in this study include the percentage change in inpatient and outpatient emergency visits, and surgeries, and changing distribution of patients between different hospital levels across Beijing's HMS. In addition, the corresponding health expenditure in each of the 5 phases of COVID-19 was also included., Results: In the outbreak phase of the pandemic, the total visits of Beijing hospitals declined dramatically, where outpatient visits fell 44.6%, inpatients visits fell 47.9%; emergency visits fell 35.6%, and surgery inpatients fell 44.5%. Correspondingly, health expenditures declined 30.5% for outpatients and 43.0% for inpatients. The primary hospitals absorbed a 9.51% higher proportion of outpatients than the pre-COVID-19 level in phase 1. In phase 4, the number of patients, including non-local outpatients reached pre-pandemic 2017-2019 benchmark levels. The proportion of outpatients in primary hospitals was only 1.74% above pre-COVID-19 levels in phases 4 and 5. Health expenditure for both outpatients and inpatients reached the baseline level in phase 3 and increased nearly 10% above pre-COVID-19 levels in phases 4 and 5., Conclusion: The HMS in Beijing coped with the COVID-19 pandemic in a relatively short time, the early stage of the pandemic reflected an enhanced role for primary hospitals in the HMS, but did not permanently change patient preferences for high-level hospitals. Relative to the pre-COVID-19 benchmark, the elevated hospital expenditure in phase 4 and phase 5 pointed to hospital over-treatment or patient excess treatment demand. We suggest improving the service capacity of primary hospitals and changing the preferences of patients through health education in the post-COVID-19 world., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Yang, Huang, Yan, Nicholas, Maitland, Bai and Shi.)

Background: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an effective and successful renal replacement therapy. The baseline peritoneal solute transfer rate (PSTR) is related to local membrane inflammation and may be partially genetically determined. Herein, we focused on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor, kinase insert domain containing receptor (KDR)., Methods: This study recruited 200 PD patients from Renji Hospital in Shanghai, China. We analysed the association between the polymorphisms of VEGF and KDR and the 4-hour dialysate-to-plasma ratio for creatinine (4 h D/P Cr), which was measured between one and three months after initiating PD., Results: The CC genotype in VEGF rs3025039 and the AA genotype in KDR rs2071559 were both positively associated with a fast baseline PSTR (VEGF rs3025039 CC vs. TT + TC: 0.65 ± 0.12 vs. 0.61 ± 0.11; P = 0.029; KDR rs2071559 AA vs. GA + GG: 0.65 ± 0.12 vs. 0.62 ± 0.12; P = 0.039)., Conclusion: Baseline PSTR was partly determined by VEGF and KDR gene polymorphisms., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: Autochthonous transmission of the dengue virus (DENV) occurred each year from 2014 to 2018 in Zhejiang province, and became an emerging public health problem. We characterized the autochthonous transmission of the DENV and traced the source of infection for further control and prevention of dengue., Methods: Descriptive and spatiotemporal cluster analyses were conducted to characterize the epidemiology of autochthonous transmission of the DENV. Molecular epidemiology was used to identify the infection source., Results: In total, 1,654 indigenous cases and 12 outbreaks, with no deaths, were reported during 2004-2018. Before 2017, all outbreaks occurred in suburban areas. During 2017-2018, five out of eight outbreaks occurred in urban areas. The median duration of outbreaks (28 days) in 2017-2018 was shortened significantly ( P = 0.028) in comparison with that in 2004-2016 (71 days). The median onset-visiting time, visiting-confirmation time, and onset-confirmation time was 1, 3, and 4 days, respectively. The DENV serotypes responsible for autochthonous transmission in Zhejiang Province were DENV 1, DENV 2, and DENV 3, with DENV 1 being the most frequently reported. Southeast Asia was the predominant source of indigenous infection., Conclusions: Zhejiang Province witnessed an increase in the frequency, incidence, and geographic expansion of indigenous Dengue cases in recent years. The more developed coastal and central region of Zhejiang Province was impacted the most., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Ren, Chen, Ling, Huang, Gong, Liu, Mao, Lin, Yan, Shi, Zhang, Guo, Chen, Wang and Sun.)

Autochthonous organic carbon (AOC) formed by biological carbon pump (BCP) in surface waters may serve as a significant carbon sink. The locations, magnitudes, variations and mechanisms responsible for the terrestrial missing carbon sink by BCP are uncertain, especially in large river systems. In this study, hydrochemical characteristics, carbon isotope compositions of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and organic carbon (OC), n-alkane homologues and C/N ratios of organic matter along the Yangtze River and the Yellow River were investigated to constrain the OC source and the significance of BCP effect. It was found that (1) DIC concentrations in the Yellow River were much higher than those in the Yangtze River, which was controlled primarily by the temperature effect; (2) AOC in the both rivers was characterized by lower C/N ratios and δ 13 C POC values. Based on calculation of n-alkanes compounds, the AOC proportions ranged from 29 to 88% (49% on average, with a higher proportion (55%) in the rainy season than in the dry season (46%)) and 19-68% (41% on average; with a lower proportion in the rainy season (31%) than in the dry season (51%)) in the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, respectively, indicating intense aquatic production. Low dissolved CO 2 concentration (6.17 μmol/L on average) of the Yangtze River limited the aquatic production and decreased the BCP effect in the dry season, indicated by lower AOC proportion. However, the BCP effect increased in the Yellow River in the dry season mainly due to the increased light penetration; (3) even in high turbidity riverine systems such as the Yellow River, the aquatic photosynthetic uptake of DIC could produce considerable AOC. These findings clearly show the formation of AOC by BCP in both the clear and high turbidity riverine systems, suggesting a potential direction for finding the terrestrial missing carbon sink., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dengue fever (DF) is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV), which is considered one of the most important arboviruses in the world. This study aimed to determine the molecular, epidemiological, and phylogenetic characterization of 174 DENV-1 (132 indigenous cases and 42 imported cases) isolated from nine municipalities of Zhejiang province in 2019. The analyses of phylogenetics, haplotypes, and amino acid substitutions were conducted based on the full envelope (E) gene sequences. Sixty-four haplotypes were clustered into two main clades, with isolates from Wenzhou and Taizhou mainly clustered into clade I and Hangzhou and Ningbo cases clustered into clade II. Six sites of amino acid substitutions including A88T, F96L, M297V, T339S, I378L, and V436I were only observed in strains isolated from Ningbo and Hangzhou, while two sites of amino acid substitutions including V312L and V380I were observed in strains from Taizhou and Wenzhou. In our study, strains were in high homology with the strains from Southeast Asian countries, thus cases in Zhejiang were probably imported from Southeast Asian countries. The strains from different regions in Zhejiang were clustered in the same branch which may be caused by the continuous import of cases in the same country at different time periods. After the continuous outbreak in Zhejiang province, some sites of the dengue gene have mutated, and the effects need further study., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Yao, Yang, Lou, Mao, Yan and Zhang.)

Urbanicity has been suggested to affect cognition, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. We examined whether epigenetic modification (DNA methylation, DNAm), and brain white matter fiber integrity (fractional anisotropy, FA) or local spontaneous brain function activity (regional homogeneity, ReHo) play roles in the association between childhood urbanicity and cognition based on 497 healthy Chinese adults. We found significant correlation between childhood urbanicity and better cognitive performance. Multiset canonical correlation analysis (mCCA) identified an intercorrelated DNAm-FA-ReHo triplet, which showed significant pairwise correlations (DNAm-FA: Bonferroni-adjusted P, Pbon = 4.99E-03, rho = 0.216; DNAm-ReHo: Pbon = 4.08E-03, rho = 0.239; ReHo-FA: Pbon = 1.68E-06, rho = 0.328). Causal mediation analysis revealed that 1) ReHo mediated 10.86% childhood urbanicity effects on the speed of processing and 2) childhood urbanicity alters ReHo through DNA methylation in the cadherin and Wnt signaling pathways (mediated effect: 48.55%). The mediation effect of increased ReHo in the superior temporal gyrus underlying urbanicity impact on a better speed of processing was further validated in an independent cohort. Our work suggests a mediation role for ReHo, particularly increased brain activity in the superior temporal gyrus, in the urbanicity-associated speed of processing., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)