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Because of human-induced habitat deterioration and climate change, a large number of species are threatened and even endangered. Batrachium pekinense Liang Liu, a perennial aquatic plant endemic to Beijing, was synonymized as a widely distributed species in Northern China, B. bungei Steudel, but it was later listed in the national key protected wild plants in China. Taxonomic uncertainty should be clarified especially when related species may be allocated with a limited conservation budget. In this study, we reappraised the identity of B. pekinense based on results from molecular phylogenetic analysis and 15-year field observations. Our result shows that 77% of the 65 individuals collected from various sites share identical sequences in both the nuclear ribosomal ITS and the plastid psbA-trnH markers, all samples of the two species consist of one monophyletic clade with strong support, and continuous morphological variations on the key distinguishing character, the leaf shape, are observed in the field. Integrative evidence from both our and the others' studies supports the same identity for B. pekinense and B. bungei. Hence, we suggest excluding B. pekinense from the list of national key protected wild plants of China in its next update and advocate the integrative evidence-based taxonomy and systematics for biodiversity conservation and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In China, individuals diagnosed with esophageal cancer are confronted with an elevated risk of nutritional inadequacy or malnutrition throughout the course of their disease, a condition that contributes to various adverse clinical outcomes. A vast corpus of data are burgeoning at an unprecedented rate, primarily due to the revolutionary growth of digitalization technologies and artificial intelligence, notably within the domains of health care and medicine. The purpose of this investigation is to initiate the development of a nutritional screening and assessment indicator framework for patients with esophageal cancer within the Chinese context. We seek to furnish an instrumental reference to facilitate preparations for the forthcoming era of advanced, "deep," evidence‐based medicine. Methods: An integrative methodology was employed to forge the preliminary draft of the nutritional screening and assessment indicator system for preoperative patients with esophageal cancer. This encompassed a rigorous literature survey, in‐depth clinical practice investigation, and the facilitation of expert panel discussions. Thereafter, two iterative consultation phases were conducted using the Delphi method in China. The analytic hierarchy process was deployed to ascertain the weighting of each index within the definitive evaluation indicator system. Results: The effective response rates for the dual rounds of expert consultation were 91.7% and 86.4%, with commensurate authority coefficients of 0.97 and 0.91. The Kendall harmony coefficients were ascertained to be 0.19 and 0.14 (p < 0.01), respectively. The culminating nutritional screening and assessment indicator system for patients with esophageal cancer comprised 5 primary‐level indicators and 38 secondary‐level indicators. Conclusions: The nutritional screening and assessment indicator system contrived for patients with esophageal cancer is underpinned by cogent theoretical principles, leverages an astute research methodology, and manifests dependable outcomes. This system may be appositely utilized as a meaningful reference for the nutritional screening and assessment process in patients afflicted with esophageal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the field investigation in five provincial regions of Southwest China between 2001 and 2019, the present paper reports the infestation and distribution of chigger mites on the Confucian white-bellied rat Niviventer confucianus in China for the first time. A total of 11,017 chigger mites were collected from the body surface of 911 N. confucianus rat hosts, and 10,161 of them were identified as 166 species and 16 genera in three subfamilies under two families with high species diversity (S = 166, H' = 3.19, E = 0.62). Of 911 N. confucianus rats, 341 individuals were infested with chiggers with high overall prevalence (PM = 37.43%), mean abundance (MA = 12.09 mites/rat) and mean intensity (MI = 32.31 mites/rat). On the body surface of N. confucianus, Ascoschoengastia sifanga was the most dominant chigger species followed by Walchia ewingi and Leptotrombidium rupestre. All the three dominant chigger species showed an aggregated distribution pattern among different individuals of N. confucianus. Chigger infestations on the same rat host (N. confucianus) showed some heterogeneity under different environmental conditions such as latitudes, longitudes, altitudes and landscapes. Based on Preston's lognormal model, the species abundance distribution of chiggers on N. confucianus conformed to a lognormal distribution pattern, and the predicted total species of chiggers on N. confucianus in Southwest China was estimated to be 228 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the characteristics of the traditional village distribution contributes to the formulation of relevant protection and development strategies. We adopted a series of spatial analysis methods to investigate the characteristics of the traditional village distribution in China by using the watershed as the research unit. Moreover, we conducted quantitative and qualitative analyses of the relevant influencing factors affecting the distribution pattern using Geodetector and mathematical statistics. The findings indicate that traditional villages are distributed unevenly across watershed units. High–High clusters tend to occur at the boundaries of first-level watersheds. Traditional villages have a clear agglomeration trend in space, with a concentrated and contiguous distribution pattern based on the "core density area–ring-core expansion group–belt area". The key factors affecting the traditional village distribution are annual precipitation, annual average temperature, and river density. The traditional village number has a clear inverted U-shaped relationship with the annual average temperature, river density, and road density. The study reveals the complex and various characteristics of the traditional village distribution and its influence mechanism and offers scientific advice for traditional villages' future protection and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo shoots and their products are an important part of the human diet. However, the accumulation and accurate human health risk of heavy metal(loid)s in bamboo shoots are largely unknown. In this study, we determined the total and bioaccessible concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, and Cr in natural and processed bamboo shoot products from markets in southwest China. The health risk assessment and enterotoxicity after consumption of heavy metal(loid)s contaminated samples were further studied using a human colonic epithelial cell (Caco-2 cell) model. The results showed that the average concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, and Cr in the collected samples were 0.036, 0.056, 0.008, and 0.049 mg/kg, while Pb contents in 21 collected fresh bamboo shoot samples exceeded the allowable limit value of 0.1 mg/kg by 1.00–4.60 folds. Besides, As in 2 % fresh bamboo shoots exceeded the limit value of 0.50 mg/kg. The average bioaccessibility of heavy metal(loid)s in fresh bamboo shoots was as follows: Cr (47.20 %) > Pb (39.56 %) > Cd (15.64 %)> As (13.29 %). Estimated daily intake (EDI) of heavy metal(loid)s after intake of fresh bamboo shoots was higher in children than that in adults, the THQ of As is > 1 based on the total heavy metal(loid)s, indicating a potential non-carcinogenic risk for children. However, health risks assessment based on bioaccessibility were significantly decreased. Furthermore, intestinal digesta of high-risk samples did not trigger detrimental effects on Caco-2 cells, suggesting existing health risk assessment model may overestimate their health risks and should be adjusted by bioaccessibility and cellular toxicity validation to accurately reflect their health risk. Our data may provide a novel and scientific insight into the health risk assessment of bamboo shoots as well as their products and propose a more scientific approach to accurate health risk assessment for heavy metals polluted foods. [Display omitted] • The As, Cd, Pb, and Cr in bamboo shoots and their products were analyzed. • The As, Pb, Cd, and Cr in most bamboo shoot products did not exceed the limit. • The bioaccessibility of As, Pb, Cd, and Cr in bamboo shoot was 13.29–47.20 %. • The intestinal digesta of risk samples did not trigger cytotoxicity in Caco-2 cells. • Both bioaccessibility and toxicity should be involved in accurate risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Body water measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) predicts the outcomes of many diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between body water and the prognosis of cancer patients with sarcopenia. Methods: This study employed 287 cancer patients with sarcopenia underwent BIA from a prospective multicenter study of patients with cancer in China from 2013 to 2020. The primary outcome of interest was all-cause mortality presented as the longest time to follow-up available. Eight indicators of body water [total body water, extracellular water, intracellular water, free fat mass, active cell mass, extracellular water/intracellular water, extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW), and intracellular water/total body water] were included in the research. Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) = neutrophil (× 109)/lymphocyte (× 109). The discriminatory ability and prediction accuracy of each factor were assessed using the C-index. The hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: The median age was 65 years old, and 138 (48%) patients were men. During a mean follow-up of 46 months, 140 deaths were recorded, resulting in a rate of 204.6 events per 1000 patient-years. ECW/TBW showed the best predictive accuracy (C-index = 0.619) compared to the other indicators [p = 0.004, adjusted HR (95% CI) 1.70 (1.18,2.44)]. In the middle tertile (0.385–0.405), ECW/TBW had a strong independent negative association with patient survival [adjusted HR (95% CI) 2.88 (1.39–5.97), p = 0.004]. Patients who had a high ECW/TBW (ECW/TBW ≥ 0.395) combined with a high NLR had 3.84-fold risk of mortality (p < 0.001, 95% CI 1.99,7.38). Conclusions: ECW/TBW was better than other indicators in predicting survival of cancer patients with sarcopenia. High ECW/TBW combined with high NLR would further increase the risk of mortality. Trial registration: The Investigation on Nutrition Status and Clinical Outcome of Common Cancers (INSCOC) (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1800020329, URL of registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=31813). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and reliable farmland crop mapping is an important foundation for relevant departments to carry out agricultural management, crop planting structure adjustment and ecological assessment. The current crop identification work mainly focuses on conventional crops, and there are few studies on parcel-level mapping of horticultural crops in complex mountainous areas. Using Miaohou Town, China, as the research area, we developed a parcel-level method for the precise mapping of horticultural crops in complex mountainous areas using very-high-resolution (VHR) optical images and Sentinel-2 optical time-series images. First, based on the VHR images with a spatial resolution of 0.55 m, the complex mountainous areas were divided into subregions with their own independent characteristics according to a zoning and hierarchical strategy. The parcels in the different study areas were then divided into plain, greenhouse, slope and terrace parcels according to their corresponding parcel characteristics. The edge-based model RCF and texture-based model DABNet were subsequently used to extract the parcels according to the characteristics of different regions. Then, Sentinel-2 images were used to construct the time-series characteristics of different crops, and an LSTM algorithm was used to classify crop types. We then designed a parcel filling strategy to determine the categories of parcels based on the classification results of the time-series data, and accurate parcel-level mapping of a horticultural crop orchard in a complex mountainous area was finally achieved. Based on visual inspection, this method appears to effectively extract farmland parcels from VHR images of complex mountainous areas. The classification accuracy reached 93.01%, and the Kappa coefficient was 0.9015. This method thus serves as a methodological reference for parcel-level horticultural crop mapping and can be applied to the development of local precision agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While the existing knowledge base on the impact of prostate cancer (PC) and its treatment on sexuality and intimacy has been generated from Western populations, there is a lack of such evidence in the Asian context. This study aimed to explore men's experiences of sex and intimacy after PC treatment in China.Methods: This study adopted an interpretive descriptive design. Using purposive sampling, 13 PC patients were selected from a urology outpatient unit of a hospital in South China and proceeded with individual semi-structured telephone interviews. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and analyzed using constant comparison analysis.Results: Four themes emerged from the interview data, including (a) encountering altered sexuality, (b) communication and sexual adjustments, (c) maintenance of quality intimate relationship, and (d) lack of sexual health support.Conclusions: The findings revealed that PC treatment significantly impaired patients' sexual functions, and their sexual health needs were mainly unmet by healthcare providers. There is a great need to design culturally relevant interventions to improve sexual health among this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crataegus bretschneideri has been considered a variety of Crataegus pinnatifida, but has also been proposed as a separate species. We used ITS and three cpDNA sequence fragments (psbA‐trnH, trnG‐trnS, trnH‐trnK) to perform maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference and neighbor‐joining molecular phylogenetic analysis on 108 individuals of 19 hawthorn (Crataegus) species and 4 outgroups (Malus). The ITS, cpDNA and cpDNA‐ITS molecular phylogenetic trees constructed using 4 methods had similar consistency. In the cpDNA‐ITS tree, C. bretschneideri was resolved as an independent clade separated from Crataegus maximowiczii and C. pinnatifida. In the ITS (biparental inheritance) tree, C. bretschneideri and C. pinnatifida were resolved as closely related and only distantly related to C. maximowiczii. In contrast, the cpDNA (maternal inheritance) tree indicated that C. bretschneideri is closely related to C. maximowiczii but distantly related to C. pinnatifida. In total, 15 chloroplast haplotypes were revealed in the 108 Crataegus individuals, as determined by DNASP analysis. Of these, C. bretschneideri and C. maximowiczii share the same chloroplast haplotype, H1, while C. pinnatifida contains three haplotypes, H13–H15. Taken together with previous results, we confirm that C. bretschneideri is not a variety of C. pinnatifida, but a separate species that gradually developed from natural hybrid offspring in mixed forest areas with C. maximowiczii as the female parent and C. pinnatifida as the male parent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential health risk caused by long-term exposure to heavy metals in household dust is not only depended on their total content, but also bioaccessibility. In this study, twenty-one dust samples were collected from residential buildings, schools, and laboratories in 14 provincial-capital/industrial cities of China, aiming to evaluate the total contents, fractionation, bioaccessibility and health risks of nine heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Mn, Zn, Fe, and Cu). Results showed that the highest levels of Cd, Cr, Ni and Zn were found in laboratory dust, As, Pb and Mn in school dust, and Fe and Cu in residential dust, indicating different source profiles of the heavy metals. The mean bioaccessibility of the heavy metals across all samples as evaluated using SBRC (Solubility Bioavailability Research Consortium), IVG (In Vitro Gastrointestinal), and PBET (Physiologically Based Extraction Test) assays was 58.4%, 32.4% and 17.2% in gastric phase (GP), and 24.9%, 21.9% and 9.39% in intestinal phase (IP), respectively. Cadmium had the highest content in the fractions of E1+C2 (43.7%), as determined by sequential extraction, and Pb, Mn, and Zn had a higher content in E1+C2+F3 (64.2%, 67.2%, 78.8%), resulting in a higher bioaccessibility of these heavy metals than others. Moreover, the bioaccessibility of most heavy metals was inversely related to dust pH (R = −0.18 in GP; −0.18 in IP; P < 0.01) and particle size, while a positive correlation was observed with total organic carbon (R = 0.40 in GP; 0.38 in IP; P < 0.01). The exposure risk calculated by the highest bioaccessibility was generally lower than that calculated by the total content. However, Pb in one school dust sample had an unacceptable carcinogenic risk (adult risk = 1.19 × 10−4; child risk = 1.08 × 10−4). This study suggests that bioaccessibility of heavy metals in household dust is likely related to geochemical fractions and physical/chemical properties. Further research is needed to explore the sources of bioaccessible heavy metals in household dust. [Display omitted] • Bioaccessibility of nine metals in 21 household dusts from 14 cities were studied. • Bioaccessibility showed a trend of SBRC > IVG > PBET. • Metal bioaccessibility was positively correlated with dust TOC and E1+C2 fractions. • Metal bioaccessibility was inversely related to dust pH and particle size. • Bioaccessibility-based health risks of heavy metal were assessed and more accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qinbaiqingfei concentrated pills (QB) are a commonly used medicine for the treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia in China, and the mechanism of action of QB needs to be studied further. Therefore, we use a combination of metabolomics and network pharmacology to clarify the mechanism of QB. Nontarget metabolomics studies were performed on rat serum, urine, and lung tissues, and 56 therapeutic biomarkers were found. Subsequently, the components of QB absorbed into the blood and lung tissues were clarified, and based on this finding, the core target of network pharmacology was predicted. The enrichment analysis of biomarkers–genes finally confirmed their close relationship with the NF-κB signaling pathway. By western blotting expression of the proteins in the lung tissue–related signaling pathways, it is finally confirmed that QB inhibits the NF-κB signaling pathway through SIRT1, IL-10 and MMP9, CTNNB1, EGFR, and other targets. It plays a role in regulating immunity, regulating metabolism, and treating diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The H7N9 virus epidemic was mainly concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta. • The epidemic had obvious seasonality: mostly in winter and spring. • The epidemic had a significant correlation with temperature and precipitation. • The agent-based model combined meteorological factors, time, and environmental factors. From 2013 to 2017, the avian influenza A (H7N9) virus frequently infected people in China, which seriously affected the public health of society. This study aimed to analyze the spatial characteristics of human infection with the H7N9 virus in China and assess the risk areas of the epidemic. Using kernel density estimation, standard deviation ellipse analysis, spatial and temporal scanning cluster analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis, the spatial characteristics and possible risk factors of the epidemic were studied. Meteorological factors, time (month), and environmental factors were combined to establish an epidemic risk assessment proxy model to assess the risk range of an epidemic. The epidemic situation was significantly correlated with atmospheric pressure, temperature, and daily precipitation (P < 0.05), and there were six temporal and spatial clusters. The fitting accuracy of the epidemic risk assessment agent-based model for lower-risk, low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk was 0.795, 0.672, 0.853, 0.825, respectively. This H7N9 epidemic was found to have more outbreaks in winter and spring. It gradually spread to the inland areas of China. This model reflects the risk areas of human infection with the H7N9 virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFAs) play crucial roles in growth, development and reproduction of Litopenaeus vannamei, one of the most important shrimp species cultivated in China in recent years. To investigate the effect of dietary n‐3 PUFA composition on growth and the expression of LvFAD6 and LvELOV5 genes and fatty acid composition of this species, ten diets, which contain different levels of α‐linolenic acid (C18:3 n‐3, ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5 n‐3, EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n‐3, DHA), respectively, were prepared for the culture of this species lasting 42 days. The results showed that the identified cDNA sequence of fatty acyl desaturases 6 from L. vannamei (LvFAD6) was 739 bp, encoding a protein of 210 amino acids. The LvFAD6 peptide sequence possessed two histidine‐rich motifs (QHHA and QIEHH), shared 96.6% identity with Apostichopus japonicus FAD6 and strongly clustered with FAD6 from A. japonicus and Octopus bimaculoides. The expression of LvFAD6 and LvELOV5 in muscle decreased with increase in dietary EPA, but increased with increase in dietary DHA. Dietary ALA has the potential to further increase the production of these health‐beneficial LC‐PUFAs in L. vannamei fed a diet with low levels of EPA and DHA, implying L. vannamei had the capacity to convert dietary ALA into EPA and DHA. These results suggest that the supplementation of ALA, EPA and DHA in diets for better growth of L. vannamei in ranges of 2.5% to 3.89%, 1.7% to 3.19% and 2.7% to 5.84% of total fatty acids respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Spatio-temporal differences of the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in 337 prefecture-level cities in China, as well as the social influencing factors (Baidu migration index, government response severity index) and natural influencing factors (meteorological factors, air pollutants) were analyzed. • The global and local spatial correlation characteristics (Moran's I) of the epidemic distribution were positively correlated, that is, the clustering trend was dominant. • Temporal and spatial clustering of the epidemic's distribution (i.e., areas with a high incidence of the epidemic and their corresponding high incidence time and risk), detected a total of six clusters. • Population migration, air pollution concentration, and low temperature played a positive role in the spread of COVID-19 in China. • Government response strictness index, that is, the formulation of relevant government policies has an inhibitory effect on the transmission of COVID-19, and the greater the intensity of government intervention, the fewer cases will occur. The purpose of this study was to explore the temporal and spatial characteristics of COVID-19 transmission and its influencing factors in China, from January to October 2020. About 81,000 COVID-19 confirmed case data, Baidu migration index data, air pollutants, meteorological data, and government response strictness index data were collected from 31 provincial-level regions (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) and 337 prefecture-level cities. The spatio-temporal characteristics of COVID-19 were explored using spatial autocorrelation, hot spot, and spatio-temporal scanning statistics. At the same time, Spearman rank correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used to explore the relationship between influencing factors and confirmed COVID-19 cases. The distribution of COVID-19 in China tends to be stable over time, with spatial correlation and prominent clustering regions. Spatio-temporal scanning analysis showed that most COVID-19 high-incidence months were from January to March at the beginning of the epidemic, and the area with the highest aggregation risk was Hubei Province (RR = 491.57) which was 491.57 times the aggregation risk of other regions. Among the meteorological variables, the daily average temperature, wind speed, precipitation, and new COVID-19 cases were negatively correlated. The air pollution concentration and migration index were positively correlated with new confirmed cases, and the government response strict index was strongly negatively correlated with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Environmental temperature has a certain inhibitory effect on the transmission of COVID-19; the air pollution concentration and migration index have a certain promoting effect on the transmission of COVID-19. The strict government response index indicates that the greater the intensity of government intervention, the fewer COVID-19 cases will occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptotrombidium deliense (Walch) is believed to be the most important vector of scrub typhus in China. From 2001–2019, a long-term investigation was made in 82 counties of southwestern China, covering five provincial divisions: Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Tibet and Chongqing. The results showed that L. deliense was not the most dominant chigger species in southwestern China. A total of 8,385 L. deliense were collected from 13 counties, which accounted for only 5.42% of all the identified chiggers (299 species with 154,665 individuals). Leptotrombidium deliense was mainly distributed in the low latitude (21–22°N: 48.16%), low elevation (<1000 m: 81.75%), flat landscape (70.14%) and outdoor habitat (90.66%). Although 73.98% of L. deliense were collected from the Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi), the mite had low host specificity, being collected from 22 species of rodents and other small mammals across different species, genera, families and orders. Leptotrombidium deliense was of an aggregated distribution among its animal hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Dietary salt intake may vary depending on different lifestyles. We aimed to estimate the different salt intakes and evaluate the knowledge and self-awareness about salt among people speaking the Teochew, Teochew-Hakka and Hakka dialects in the Chaoshan region of southern China.Design: The study followed a cluster sampling of residents in Chaoshan region. General characteristics, lifestyles, health status as well as knowledge and self-awareness related to salt intake were investigated using a questionnaire. Anthropometric variables as well as Na and K excretion in a 24-h urine collection were measured.Setting: Chaoshan region of China.Participants: Four hundred fifteen adults who spoke only one of these three dialects.Results: The salt intake of adults who spoke the Teochew, Teochew-Hakka and Hakka dialects was 7·19 (interquartile range (IQR) 5·29-10·17), 9·03 (IQR 6·62-11·54) and 10·12 (IQR 7·61-12·82) g/d, respectively, with significant differences between Teochew and Teochew-Hakka speakers and between Teochew and Hakka speakers (both P < 0·05). The Na:K ratio for adults who spoke the three dialects was 3·00 (IQR 2·00-4·11), 3·50 (IQR 2·64-4·82) and 4·52 (IQR 3·35-5·97), respectively, and differed significantly among the groups (all P < 0·05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed increased Na:K ratio associated with hypertension (β = 0·71, P = 0·043) in Hakka speakers. Knowledge and self-awareness about salt intake were poor in this population.Conclusions: Salt intake was closely related to lifestyles and was higher than the upper limit (5 g/d) recommended by the WHO in adults of Chaoshan, especially those speaking the Hakka dialect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mushrooms are consumed worldwide as they constitute a part of traditional cuisine culture in many countries. However, chromium (Cr) accumulation in mushrooms may constitute a potential pathway for its chronical exposure to humans. In this work, the Cr contents, distribution and bioaccessibility in 140 cultivated mushrooms from 14 species in 10 top-producing provinces in China were examined. Total Cr contents were 0.09–4.71 mg·kg−1 dw (mean 0.74 mg kg−1), with 59% exceeding the 0.5 mg kg−1standard. Additionally, less Cr was accumulated in the caps than stipes, with Cr ratio in caps/stipes being 0.28–2.6, averaging 0.91. Based on the Solubility Bioaccessibility Research Consortium (SBRC) assay, the mean Cr bioaccessibility in the mushrooms was 24.8% and 50.1% in the gastric phase (GP) and intestinal phase (IP). However, samples from Guizhou show the lowest Cr bioaccessibility at 12.5% in GP and 24.8% in IP. Further, a negative correlation between total Cr contents and Cr bioaccessibility suggests that Cr bioaccessibility is critical for accurate assessment of Cr exposure. In addition, drying mushrooms increased their bioaccessibility in the gastric phase. This study shows a high Cr exceeding rate of cultivated mushrooms, which may indicate a potential exposure risk, with Cr contents and bioaccessibility showing species and regional variation. [Display omitted] • 140 mushrooms were from 14 species in 10 top-producing provinces in China. • Total Cr contents were 0.09–4.71 mg·kg−1, with 59% exceeding 0.5 mg kg−1 standard. • More Cr was concentrated in the stipes than caps (1.11 vs. 0.92 mg·kg−1). • Cr bioaccessibility negatively correlated with Cr contents via SBRC assay. • Greater Cr bioaccessibility in the gastric phase in dried mushrooms than in fresh samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Some Western reports have shown a proximal shift in colorectal cancer (CRC), but there are few studies in China. This study aimed to provide more information for the management and screening of CRC by investigating trends in the anatomic distribution of CRC among the Chinese population in recent years. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with CRC admitted to the Digestive Endoscopy Center of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital between January 2000 and December 2017. Patients were divided into a left‐sided colorectal cancer (LSCRC) group and a right‐sided colon cancer (RSCC) group. The detection rates of LSCRC and RSCC based on patients' age and sex, and on the time periods were analyzed. Results: A total of 2319 cases were diagnosed with CRC among 75 183 consecutive patients. The prevalence of CRC showed a significant reduction from 2000‐2008 to 2009‐2017 (3.8% vs 2.7%, P < .001). The proportion of RSCC presented a downtrend from 2000‐2008 to 2009‐2017 (40.6% vs 37.7%, P > .05). There were slightly more RSCCs in female patients than in male patients, with no significant difference (40.9% vs 36.5%, P > .05). The proportion of RSCC in patients aged ≥50 years was similar to that in younger patients. The alarming symptoms between LSCRC and RSCC showed a significant difference (P < .05). Conclusions: In the present study, the prevalence of CRC declined significantly with time. However, there did not appear to be a rightward shift in CRC among the patients in Tianjin over the past 18 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface emissivity is a significant variable in energy budgets, land cover assessments, and environment and climate studies. However, the assumption of an emissivity constant is being used in Gobi broadband emissivity (GbBE) parameterization scheme in numerical models because of limited knowledge surrounding the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of GbBE. To address this issue, we analyzed the variation characteristics of GbBE and possible impact factor-surface soil moisture based on long-term continuous and high temporal resolution field observational experiments over a typical Gobi underlying surface in arid and semiarid areas in northwestern China. The results indicate that GbBE has obvious daily and diurnal variation features, especially diurnal cycle characteristics. The multi-year average of the daily average of GbBE is in the range of 0.932 to 0.970 with an average of 0.951 ± 0.008, and the average diurnal GbBE is in the range of 0.880 to 0.940 with an average of 0.906 ± 0.018. GbBE varies with surface soil moisture content. We observed a slight decrease in GbBE with an increase in soil moisture, although this change was not very obvious because of the low soil moisture in this area. Nevertheless, we think that soil moisture must be one of the most significant impact factors on GbBE in arid and semiarid areas. Soil moisture must be taken into account into the parameterization schemes of bare soil broadband emissivity in land surface models. Additional field experiments and studies should be carried out in order to clarify this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A large number (n = 460) of A(H7N9) human infections have been reported in China from March 2013 through December 2014, and H7N9 outbreaks in humans became an emerging issue for China health, which have caused numerous disease outbreaks in domestic poultry and wild bird populations, and threatened human health severely. The aims of this study were to investigate the directional trend of the epidemic and to identify the significant presence of spatial-temporal clustering of influenza A(H7N9) human cases between March 2013 and December 2014.Methods: Three distinct epidemic phases of A(H7N9) human infections were identified in this study. In each phase, standard deviational ellipse analysis was conducted to examine the directional trend of disease spreading, and retrospective space-time permutation scan statistic was then used to identify the spatio-temporal cluster patterns of H7N9 outbreaks in humans.Results: The ever-changing location and the increasing size of the three identified standard deviational ellipses showed that the epidemic moved from east to southeast coast, and hence to some central regions, with a future epidemiological trend of continue dispersing to more central regions of China, and a few new human cases might also appear in parts of the western China. Furthermore, A(H7N9) human infections were clustering in space and time in the first two phases with five significant spatio-temporal clusters (p < 0.05), but there was no significant cluster identified in phase III.Conclusions: There was a new epidemiologic pattern that the decrease in significant spatio-temporal cluster of A(H7N9) human infections was accompanied with an obvious spatial expansion of the outbreaks during the study period, and identification of the spatio-temporal patterns of the epidemic can provide valuable insights for better understanding the spreading dynamics of the disease in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: On average, 570 million users, 93% in China's first-tier cities, log on to WeChat every day. WeChat has become the most widely and frequently used social media in China, and has been profoundly integrated into the daily life of many Chinese people. A variety of health-related information may be found on WeChat. The objective of this study is to understand how the general public views the impact of the rapidly emerging social media on health information acquisition.Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was designed, distributed, collected, and analyzed utilizing the online survey tool Sojump. WeChat was adopted to randomly release the questionnaires using convenience sampling and collect the results after a certain amount of time.Results: (1) A total of 1636 questionnaires (WeChat customers) were collected from 32 provinces. (2) The primary means by which respondents received health education was via the Internet (71.79%). Baidu and WeChat were the top 2 search tools utilized (90.71% and 28.30%, respectively). Only 12.41% of respondents were satisfied with their online health information search. (3) Almost all had seen (98.35%) or read (97.68%) health information; however, only 14.43% believed that WeChat health information could improve health. Nearly one-third frequently received and read health information through WeChat. WeChat was selected (63.26%) as the most expected means for obtaining health information. (4) The major concerns regarding health information through WeChat included the following: excessively homogeneous information, the lack of a guarantee of professionalism, and the presence of advertisements. (5) Finally, the general public was most interested in individualized and interactive health information by managing clinicians, they will highly benefit from using social media rather than Internet search tools.Conclusions: The current state of health acquisition proves worrisome. The public has a high chance to access health information via WeChat. The growing popularity of interactive social platforms (e.g. WeChat) presents a variety of challenges and opportunities with respect to public health acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the current situation, existing problems and possible causes of said problems with regards to physician-nurse communication under an environment of increasingly widespread usage of Hospital Information Systems and to seek out new potential strategies in information technology to improve physician-nurse communication.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 physicians and nurses in five leading tertiary grade A hospitals in Beijing, China (two physicians and two nurses in each hospital). The interviews primarily included three aspects comprising the current situation and problems of clinical physician-nurse communication, the application and problems of Hospital Information Systems, and assessments on the improvement of physician-nurse communication through the usage of information technology. The inductive conventional content analysis approach was employed.Results: (1) Physicians and nurses are generally quite satisfied with the current situation of communication. However, the information needs of nurses are prone to being overlooked, and the communication methods are primarily synchronous communication such as face-to-face and phone communication. (2) Hospital Information Systems are gradually being used for physician-nurse communication; in the meantime, physicians and nurses face challenges with regards to the improvement of physician-nurse communication through the usage of information technology. Challenges differ based on the different stages of using the system and the different levels of understanding of physicians and nurses towards information technology. Their dissatisfaction mainly deals with system errors and the level of convenience in using the system. (3) In-depth interviews found that in general, physicians and nurses have a strong interest and trust in improving physician-nurse communication through appropriate information technology, e.g., communication methods such as information reminders for physicians and nurses through mobile devices and instant voice-to-text conversion methods.Conclusions: There are objective risks in physician-nurse communication in Chinese hospitals, and clinical information systems lack solutions to the relevant problems. Developing a dedicated, mobile, quick and convenient module for physician-nurse communication within existing hospital information system with automatic reminders for important information that segregates between synchronous and asynchronous communication according to the different types of information could help improve physician-nurse communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate whether excised parenchymal mass (EPM) during partial nephrectomy (PN) correlates with functional decline and can serve as a surrogate for functional outcomes.Materials and Methods: All 215 patients managed with PN for unifocal renal mass with necessary studies to determine EPM and percent glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and parenchymal mass preserved (both global and specific to the operated kidney) were analyzed. EPM was estimated from the pathologic specimen by subtracting the tumor mass from the specimen mass, with both calculated using the elliptical formula. Vascularized parenchymal mass preserved was measured from computed tomography scans obtained <2 months prior and 3-12 months after surgery. All functional analyses were required to be within the same time frames, and patients with a contralateral kidney were also required to have nuclear renal scans.Results: The median tumor size was 3.5 cm and the median R.E.N.A.L. was 7. Warm and cold ischemia were utilized in 123 and 92 patients, respectively (median ischemia time = 23 minutes). The median global GFR preserved was 89%, the median total parenchymal mass preserved was 93%, and the median estimated EPM was 16 cm3. Whereas percent parenchymal mass preserved correlated strongly with global and ipsilateral GFR preserved (both P < .001), EPM failed to correlate with functional outcomes on both univariable and multivariable analyses.Conclusion: Our data suggest that parenchymal mass preserved with standard PN by experienced surgeons associates strongly with function preserved, whereas EPM fails to correlate with functional outcomes. Further study of the functional impact of EPM in other circumstances will be required, such as enucleation or PN performed by less-experienced surgeons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are diverse, with their formation and expansion having various driving forces. Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) cities represent an emerging category in China's urban system. They have evolved into a special organisation integrating 'party, government, military, and enterprises' and are located in Xinjiang, the frontier region of north-western China. Investigation of such urban characteristics is helpful to enrich our diverse cognitions on cities. The purpose of this paper is to trace the growth history of XPCC cities and explore their evolution-related characteristics, modes, and driving mechanisms in terms of spatial morphology and landscapes in the process of urban expansion by utilising remote sensing interpretation data. This study led to four main conclusions. (1) The role of the XPCC in maintaining the long-term stability and prosperity of the frontier is increasingly valued across the nation, thus leading to a major increase in the quantity and quality of XPCC cities. (2) These cities have a unique spatial layout around two deserts and the border characterised by 'two rings and one line'; however, their distribution is relatively scattered. (3) The expansion of XPCC cities has become prominent along with the restructuring of land use, with wasteland reclaiming being a salient attribute of their built-up land expansion, while also protecting cultivated land. Most cities reveal a more complex and less compact morphology. (4) The external government's promotion and regulation, the basic shaping of the natural geographical environment, the internal boosting of economic increase and industrial restructuring, and the special reshaping of the XPCC-local relationship are key driving factors behind the urban temporal-spatial evolution. Overall, this study supplements current knowledge on frontier cities within the Chinese context and thus helps to improve understanding of the urban theoretical research of government behaviours and the multi-dynamics of urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose. The vascular morphology in crowd with family history of stroke remains unclear. The present study clarified the characteristics of the intracranial vascular CoW and prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in subjects with family history of stroke. Methods. A stratified cluster, random sampling method was used for subjects with family history of stroke among rural residents in Jixian, Tianjin, China. All the subjects underwent a physical examination, head computed tomography (CT) scan, and cephalic and cervical computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan. Anatomic variations in the Circle of Willis and cerebrovascular disease in this population were analyzed. Results. In the crowd with similar living environment, stable genetic background, and family history of stroke and without obvious nerve function impairment (1) hypoplasia or absence of A1 segment was significantly different in gender (male versus female: 9.8% versus 18.8%, p=0.031), especially the right-side A1 (male versus female: 5.9% versus 16.4%, p=0.004). (2) Hypoplasia or absence of bilateral posterior communicating arteries was more common in men than women (58.2% versus 45.3%, p=0.032). Unilateral fetal posterior cerebral artery was observed more often in women than men (17.2% versus 8.5%, p=0.028). (3) The percentage of subjects with incomplete CoW did not increase significantly with age. Compared to healthy Chinese people, the crowd had a higher percentage of incomplete CoW (p<0.001). (4) No obvious correlation between risk factors and CoW was found. (5) The prevalence of aneurysm was 10.3% in the special crowd. Conclusions. The certain variations of CoW showed significant relation to gender, but not to age in people with family history of stroke. The incomplete circle may be a dangerous factor that is independent of common risk factors for stroke and tend to lead to cerebral ischemia in the crowd with family history of stroke. The prevalence of intracranial aneurysm is comparatively high in the present subjects compared to other people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to explore the coping strategy and the effects of self-efficacy of Chinese undergraduate nursing students when they face the stress in clinical practice. Convenience sampling was used to recruit undergraduate nursing students in Mainland China who have practiced 3 months in hospitals in their final college year. Self-report questionnaires including demographics, Perceived Stress Scale, coping behaviour inventory and Generalized Self- Efficacy Scale were collected. The results showed that during clinical practice, assignments and workload were the most common stress to students; transference was the most frequently used coping strategy by students. Self-efficacy not only had a positive main effect in predicting the frequency of use of staying optimistic and problem solving strategies but also moderated the effects of stress from taking care of patients on transference strategy, as well as stress from assignments and workload on problem solving strategy. It is essential to bolster the students' self-efficacy to reduce stress and adopt positively the coping strategies during clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the mechanisms of river runoff variation is important for the effective management of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions. This study uses long-term observational data as a basis for examining the effects of human activities and climate change on the runoff variation of Jinghe River Basin, a typical arid inland basin in northwest China. A distributed hydrological model called the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, combined with a sequential cluster method and a separation approach, was used to quantify and distinguish the effects of human activities and climate change on runoff. The hydrological sequence before 1981 can be considered natural. However, human activities have significantly affected runoff since 1981. The runoff reduction caused by human activities between 1981 and 2008 accounted for 85.7% of the total reduction in the downstream of Jinghe River, whereas that caused by climatic variation was only 14.3%. This observation suggests that human activities are the major driver of runoff variation in the basin. Although the role of climate change in driving runoff variation has been identified to be prevalent and dominant in arid regions, this study highlights the importance of human activities. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex interactions between the land surface and atmosphere and the exchange of water and energy have a significant impact on climate. The Tibetan Plateau is the highest plateau in the world and is known as 'Earth's third pole'. Because of its unique natural geographical and climatic characteristics, it directly affects China's climate, as well as the world's climate, through its thermal and dynamic roles. In this study, the BCCCSM1.1 model for the simulation results of CMIP5 is used to analyze the variation of the land surface processes of the Tibetan Plateau and the possible linkages with temperature change. The analysis showed that, from 1850 to 2005, as temperature increases, the model shows surface downward short-wave radiation, upward short-wave radiation, and net radiation to decrease, and long-wave radiation to increase. Meanwhile, latent heat flux increases, whereas sensible heat flux decreases. Except for sensible heat flux, the correlation coefficients of land surface fluxes with surface air temperature are all significant at the 99 % significance level. The model results indicate rising temperature to cause the ablation of ice (or snow) cover and increasing leaf area index, with reduced snowfall, together with a series of other changes, resulting in increasing upward and downward long-wave radiation and changes in soil moisture, evaporation, latent heat flux, and water vapor in the air. However, rising temperature also reduces the difference between the surface and air temperature and the surface albedo, which lead to further reductions of downward and upward short-wave radiation. The surface air temperature in winter increases by 0.93 °C/100 years, whereas the change is at a minimum (0.66 °C/100 years) during the summer. Downward short-wave and net radiation demonstrate the largest decline in the summer, whereas upward short-wave radiation demonstrates its largest decline during the spring. Downward short-wave radiation is predominantly affected by air humidity, followed by the impact of total cloud fraction. The average downward short-wave and net radiation attain their maxima in May, whereas for upward short-wave radiation the maximum is in March. The model predicts surface temperature to increase under all the different representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios, with the rise under RCP8.5 reaching 5.1 °C/100 years. Long-wave radiation increases under the different emission scenarios, while downward short-wave radiation increases under the low- and medium-emission concentration pathways, but decreases under RCP8.5. Upward short-wave radiation reduces under the various emission scenarios, and the marginal growth decreases as the emission concentration increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor in response to the article "Epidemiological characteristics and temporal-spatial clustering analysis of hand, foot and mouth disease in Nanchang city 2008-2012," by F. Cao and P. Huang in the 2015 issue is presented.

During April 2013 in China, mild respiratory symptoms developed in 1/61 workers who had culled influenza A(H7N9) virus-infected poultry. Laboratory testing confirmed A(H7N9) infection in the worker and showed that the virus persisted longer in sputum than pharyngeal swab samples. Pharyngeal swab samples from the other workers were negative for A(H7N9) virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhang, X., Luo, J., Dong W. and Gao L., 2013. Exploring and visualizing three-dimensional ocean data in the China Digital Ocean Prototype System Exploring and visualizing three-dimensional ocean data on visual globes is a new research domain necessary for the construction of the Digital Ocean and Digital Earth projects. In this paper, we report an effort to visualize and explore the ocean three-dimensionally for the China Digital Ocean Prototype System (CDOPS). This three-dimensional ocean environment is composed of three parts: the three-dimensional coast, the ocean surface and the three-dimensional ocean floor. In the study that follows, the in situ observational data were visualized by a two-dimensional graph. The remote sensing information product was overlaid on the globe in a distributed web environment, and the model output data were visualized and explored in a web environment with vertical profile and a seriate change-representation function. The applications of the CDOPS are introduced at the paper's end. This paper is based on an ongoing research project on the development of the CDOPS, a system that can facilitate the integration, sharing, visualization and usage of and access to ocean observation data and model computing data from the Digital Earth system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding factors that shape host selection has been a classic issue in ecology, evolutionary biology, and epidemiological investigation. During the survey from 2000 to 2009, a total of 11,216 individuals of small mammals were captured from Yunnan Province in southwestern China. The captured small mammalian hosts belong to five orders, ten families, 35 genera, and 65 species and from their body surface, 38,885 individuals of ectoparasitic sucking lice were collected, which represent five families, seven genera, and 31 species. Based on niche overlap of dominant sucking lice on their primary hosts, we used hierarchical cluster analysis to sort different sucking louse species' resource utilizations of similar kind into respective categories. Given λ < 5, there are only two groups clustered, however, sucking louse species' resource utilization was sorted into eight respective categories at λ = 15. The results revealed that most species of sucking lice usually had high host specificity and a certain species of sucking louse usually restricted to one or few small mammalian species as their dominant hosts. Correspondence analysis was used to visualize associations between parasitic sucking lice and their small mammalian hosts, which suggested three different patterns of host resource utilization: species specialists, genera generalists, and multiple selections. For example, Sathrax durus (Johnson) only parasitized on species of Tupaia belangeri (Wagner), Hoplopleura edentula (Fahredholz) predominatly on genus of Eothenomys, and Polyplax reclinata (Nitzsch) on Family of Soricidae. Our results demonstrate that sucking lice have high host specificity and this might be due to coevolution between sucking lice and their hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The article summarizes the historical development of Urumqi, especially during the last 60years. Two thousand years ago it located just off the main Silk Routes, which contributed greatly in promoting Urumqi’s economic and cultural exchanges. Now its urban competitive strength has become at the leading position of the five capital cities of western China. While striving to become the new economic power house of western China, Urumqi is undergoing a profound restructuring of its economic and, more importantly, its physical form and appearance. To face the challenges, Urumqi has expanded its administrative boundary and taken a number of planning and infrastructure development initiatively to enhance the competitive strength in the future. This profile outlines the historical development, current conditions, the economic and physical structure of the city, and the main challenges that Urumqi faces in the future development. Field reconnaissance surveys, interviews and secondary sources are used in the presentation and discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the feasibility of reducing THM precursors and controlling bromate taste and odor in drinking water taken from the Yellow River by an ozonation combined system. Methods The appropriate ozone dosage was determined, and then the changes of TOC, UV254 and THM formation potential (THMFP) in the combined system were evaluated. Results One mgIL ozone could effectively remove taste and odor and meet the maximum allowable bromate level in drinking water. The pre-ozonation increased THMFP, but the conventional treatment system could effectively reduce the odor. The bio-ceramic filter could partly reduce CHCI3FP, but sometimes might increase CHCI2BrFP and CHCIBr2FP. The biological activated carbon (B AC) filter could effectively reduce CHC13FP and CHC12BrFP, but increase CHC1Br2FP. Compared with other filters, the fresh activated carbon (FAC) filter performed better in reducing THMFP and even reduced CHCIBr2FP. Conclusion The combined system can effectively reduce taste, odor, CHC13FP, and CHCI2BrFP and also bring bromate under control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise vegetation maps of mountainous areas are of great significance to grasp the situation of an ecological environment and forest resources. In this paper, while multi-source geospatial data can generally be quickly obtained at present, to realize effective vegetation mapping in mountainous areas when samples are difficult to collect due to their perilous terrain and inaccessible deep forest, we propose a novel and intelligent method of sample collection for machine-learning (ML)-based vegetation mapping. First, we employ geo-objects (i.e., polygons) from topographic partitioning and constrained segmentation as basic mapping units and formalize the problem as a supervised classification process using ML algorithms. Second, a previously available vegetation map with rough-scale label information is overlaid on the geo-object-level polygons, and candidate geo-object-based samples can be identified when all the grids' labels of vegetation types within the geo-objects are the same. Third, various kinds of geo-object-level features are extracted according to high-spatial-resolution remote sensing (HSR-RS) images and multi-source geospatial data. Some unreliable geo-object-based samples are rejected in the candidate set by comparing their features and the rules based on local expert knowledge. Finally, based on these automatically collected samples, we train the model using a random forest (RF)-based algorithm and classify all the geo-objects with labels of vegetation types. A case experiment of Taibai Mountain in China shows that the methodology has the ability to achieve good vegetation mapping results with the rapid and convenient sample collection scheme. The map with a finer geographic distribution pattern of vegetation could clearly promote the vegetation resources investigation and monitoring of the study area; thus, the methodological framework is worth popularizing in the mapping areas such as mountainous regions where the field survey sampling is difficult to implement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence and radiological patterns of eosinophilic granuloma (EG) in China is not clear. We described the incidence, presentation, and imaging characteristics of Chinese EG patients in a tertiary hospital. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed from January 2004 to October 2017 at a single tertiary general hospital. Seventy-six patients were pathologically identified as EG. Besides, 60 patients with preoperative imaging diagnosis of "EG" were analyzed to reveal the radiological patterns and their diagnostic power. Results: Fifty-three male and 23 female EG patients with a mean age of 18.1 ± 16.7 years (range 1–58 years) were retrospectively included. Significant differences were observed in gender (male to female = 2.3:1) and age (the highest incidence at the age of 0~5 years) for EG. EG predominantly involved the skeletal system: flat bones (31.43%) > irregular bones (24.76%) > long bones (22.86%) > other organs (20.95%). No obvious relationships between season, biochemical markers, and EG incidence were observed. The common presenting symptoms were pain followed with local mass, and most patients underwent surgical resection. Among 60 imagingly diagnosed "EG" patients from April 2009 to October 2017, only 22 were with histological confirmation. The correct diagnosis rates were 37.1% (13 out of 35), 16.7% (5 out of 30), and 22.2% (8 out of 36) for plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), respectively. Conclusions: Chinese EG has a varied presentation, age distribution, and gender difference. EG diagnosis is still based on biopsy or histopathology instead of imaging techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese wet markets with live poultry trade have been considered as major sources of pathogen dissemination, and sites for horizontal transfer of bacterial and viral pathogens. In this study, the pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) in air samples collected at a typical Chinese wet market had been analysis and quantified. Corynebacterium minutissimum and other pathogenic bacteria accounted for 0.81–8.02% of the whole microbial community in different air samples. The four ARGs quantified in this study showed a comparable relative concentration (copies/ng_DNA) with municipal wastewater. Poultry manures were demonstrated to be important microbial contamination source in wet market, which was supported by both microbial composition based source tracking and the quantification of airborne microbial density. A series of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes indicators of poultry area contamination were successfully screened, which will be useful for the more convenient monitoring of airborne poultry area contamination. Our results indicate bioaerosols acted as important route for the transmissions of pathogens and ARGs. Continued surveillance of airborne microbial contamination is required in poultry trade wet market. Practical implications Urban live poultry markets are important sources of pathogen dissemination, and sites for horizontal transfer of viral and bacterial pathogens. In the present field-study, pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes were focused to provide quantitative information on the levels of microbial contaminations at the indoor air of wet markets. Results demonstrated that poultry manures were important microbial contamination source in wet market, and in the meanwhile bioaerosols were identified as important route for the transmissions of microbial contaminants. A series of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes indicators of poultry area contamination were successfully screened, which will be useful for the more convenient monitoring of airborne poultry area contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel nor-lupane triterpenoid, 3-oxo-29 α -hydroxy-17 β ,20-epoxy-28-norlupane ( 1 ), and two new guaiane sesquiterpenoids, schvenols A–B ( 2 – 3 ), has been isolated from leaves of Schefflera venulosa . Structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques. And the structure of 1 was further confirmed by the X-ray diffraction analysis. None of the compounds showed inhibitory effects on NO release in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Caesalpinia sappan is a medicinal plant native to China popularly used to treat chronic pelvic inflammation, dysmenorrhea and hysteromyoma. Its main bioactive component is brazilin which had presented antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet aggregation activities. To establish a sensitive, selective, reproducible, and accurate high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the quantitative determination of brazilin in plasma, and study the pharmacokinetics of brazilin in rats after intravenous administration of brazilin. Materials and methods: Rats received intravenous injection of 25, 50 and 100mg/kg of brazilin. Concentrations of brazilin in plasma were determined by HPLC method at different time points and all pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by non-compartmental analysis with WinNonLin 6.2 software. Results: After single intravenous doses of 25, 50 and 100mg/kg brazilin in rats, the main PK parameters were as follows: C max were 18.1±4.1, 46.7±8.7 and 82.2±9.6µg/mL; AUC0–24 were 20.4±4.3, 48.7±6.8 and 90.4±10.3µgh/mL; and t 1/2 were 5.4±1.5, 5.8±0.9 and 6.2±1.2h, respectively. Conclusion: It showed that the brazilin was eliminated moderately in rat by intravenous injection route with t 1/2 of 6h and showed a dose-dependence profile of C max and AUC0–24 at the doses of 25~100mg/kg of brazilin for injection in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid that targets sucking pests, such as aphids and the green leaf bug and has been widely applied in wheat fields to control wheat aphids in China. To investigate the involvement of miRNAs in imidacloprid resistance, we sequenced small RNA libraries of Sitobion miscanthi Fabricius, across two different treatments using Illumina short-read sequencing technology. As a result, 265 microRNAs (miRNAs), of which 242 were known and 23 were novel, were identified. Quantitative analysis of miRNA levels showed that 23 miRNAs were significantly up-regulated, and 54 miRNAs were significantly down-regulated in the nymphs of S. miscanthi treated with imidacloprid in comparison with those of the control. Modulation of the abundances of differentially expressed miRNAs, smi-miR-316, smi-miR-1000, and smi-miR-iab-4 by the addition of the corresponding antagomir/inhibitor to the artificial diet significantly changed the susceptibility of S. miscanthi to imidacloprid. Subsequently, the post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism was conducted, smi-miR-278 and smi-miR-316 were confirmed to be participated in the post-transcriptional regulation of nAChRα1A and CYP4CJ6, respectively. The results suggested that miRNAs differentially expressed in response to imidacloprid could play a critical regulatory role in the metabolism of S. miscanthi to imidacloprid. [Display omitted] • 77 differentially expressed miRNAs identified under imidacloprid exposure using Illumina short-read sequencing technology. • Modulation abundances of smi-miR-316, smi-miR-1000 and smi-miR-iab-4 significantly changed the susceptibility to imidacloprid. • CYP4CJ6 and nAChRα1A could be regulated by smi-miR-316 and smi-miR-278, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As one of the leading causes of child mortality, deaths due to congenital anomalies (CAs) have been a prominent obstacle to meet Sustainable Development Goal 3.2., Objective: We conducted this study to understand the death burden and trend of under-5 CA mortality (CAMR) in Zhejiang, one of the provinces with the best medical services and public health foundations in Eastern China., Methods: We used data retrieved from the under-5 mortality surveillance system in Zhejiang from 2012 to 2021. CAMR by sex, residence, and age group for each year was calculated and standardized according to 2020 National Population Census sex- and residence-specific live birth data in China. Poisson regression models were used to estimate the annual average change rate (AACR) of CAMR and to obtain the rate ratio between subgroups after adjusting for sex, residence, and age group when appropriate., Results: From 2012 to 2021, a total of 1753 children died from CAs, and the standardized CAMR declined from 121.2 to 62.6 per 100,000 live births with an AACR of -9% (95% CI -10.7% to -7.2%; P<.001). The declining trend was also observed in female and male children, urban and rural children, and neonates and older infants, and the AACRs were -9.7%, -8.5%, -8.5%, -9.2%, -12%, and -6.3%, respectively (all P<.001). However, no significant reduction was observed in children aged 1-4 years (P=.22). Generally, the CAMR rate ratios for male versus female children, rural versus urban children, older infants versus neonates, and older children versus neonates were 1.18 (95% CI 1.08-1.30; P<.001), 1.20 (95% CI 1.08-1.32; P=.001), 0.66 (95% CI 0.59-0.73; P<.001), and 0.20 (95% CI 0.17-0.24; P<.001), respectively. Among all broad CA groups, circulatory system malformations, mainly deaths caused by congenital heart diseases, accounted for 49.4% (866/1753) of deaths and ranked first across all years, although it declined yearly with an AACR of -9.8% (P<.001). Deaths due to chromosomal abnormalities tended to grow in recent years, although the AACR was not significant (P=.90)., Conclusions: CAMR reduced annually, with cardiovascular malformations ranking first across all years in Zhejiang, China. Future research and practices should focus more on the prevention, early detection, long-term management of CAs and comprehensive support for families with children with CAs to improve their survival chances., (©Wen-Hong Dong, Jun-Xia Guo, Lei Wang, Shuang-Shuang Zheng, Bing-Quan Zhu, Jie Shao. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 03.06.2024.)

Background: Severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia could lead to kernicterus and neonatal death. This study aimed to analyze the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes involved in bilirubin metabolism and the incidence of severe hyperbilirubinemia., Methods: A total of 144 neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia and 50 neonates without or mild hyperbilirubinemia were enrolled in 3 institutions between 2019 and 2020. Twelve polymorphisms of 5 genes (UGT1A1, SLCO1B1, SLCO1B3, BLVRA, and HMOX1) were analyzed by PCR amplification of genomic DNA. Genotyping was performed using an improved multiplex ligation detection reaction technique based on ligase detection reaction., Results: The frequencies of the A allele in UGT1A1-rs4148323 and the C allele in SLCO1B3-rs2417940 in the severe hyperbilirubinemia group (30.2% and 90.6%, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the controls (30.2% vs.13.0%, 90.6% vs. 78.0%, respectively, both p < 0.05). Haplotype analysis showed the ACG haplotype of UGT1A1 were associated with an increased hyperbilirubinemia risk (OR 3.122, p = 0.001), whereas the GCG haplotype was related to a reduced risk (OR 0.523, p = 0.018)., Conclusion: The frequencies of the A allele in rs4148323 and the C allele in rs2417940 are highly associated with the incidence of severe hyperbilirubinemia in Chinese Han neonates., Trial Registration: Trial registration number:ChiCTR1800020424; Date of registration:2018-12-29., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Chigger mites are the vector of scrub typhus. This study estimates the infestation status and ecological characteristics of chiggers on the chestnut white-bellied rat Niviventer fulvescens in Southwest China between 2001 and 2019. Chiggers were identified under the microscope, and infestation indices were calculated. The Preston's log-normal model was used to fit the curve of species abundance distribution. A total of 6,557 chiggers were collected in 136 of 342 N. fulvescens rats, showing high overall infestation indices (prevalence=39.8%, mean abundance=19.2, mean intensity=48.2) and high species diversity (S=100, H'=3.0). Leptotrombidium cangjiangense, Neotrombicula japonica, and Ascoschoengastia sifanga were the three dominant chigger species (constituent ratio=42.9%; 2,736/6,384) and exhibited an aggregated distribution among different rat individuals. We identified 100 chigger species, with 3 of them (Leptotrombidium scutellare, Leptotrombidium wenense, and Leptotrombidium deliense) as the main vectors of scrub typhus in China and nine species as potential vectors of this disease. Disease vector occurrence on N. fulvescens may increase the risk of spreading scrub typhus from rats to humans. Chigger infestation on N. fulvescens varied significantly in different environments. The species abundance distribution showed a log-normal distribution pattern. The estimated number of chigger species on N. fulvescens was 126 species.

Much of the research on climate change has focused on carbon reduction in cities or countries. However, more attention needs to be paid to how to achieve carbon neutrality in the urban design and planning stage, and the lack of quantitative analysis of carbon related to urban space makes it difficult to locate urban space and provide direct guidance for urban planning and design. This study proposed three optimization paths to achieve carbon neutrality in multi-scale urban building clusters. Firstly, we reconstructed the quantitative calculation system of urban building communities with the goal of carbon neutrality; secondly, we screened the carbon source reduction and carbon sink interventions that are suitable for multi-scale urban building communities; finally, we constructed a carbon emission and carbon sink calculation system of planning and design schemes based on the layout of relevant elements of planning and design schemes with a grid cell of 100 × 100 m. In practice, there was a gap of about 115,000 tons of CO 2 from the carbon-neutral target and 26% of carbon emission was distributed in the Xiajiabian Station TOD. In this study, nine types of carbon reduction measures were adopted to achieve carbon neutrality in the region, among which the highest carbon reduction was achieved by biomass energy measures, accounting for 29% of the total carbon reduction of 33,745.27 T. The objective of this study is to accurately and quantitatively assess the carbon targets of urban spaces at different scales and adopt effective measures to achieve carbon neutrality.

The main purposes of this study were to explore the spatial distribution characteristics of H7N9 human infections during 2013-2017, and to construct a neural network risk simulation model of H7N9 outbreaks in China and evaluate their effects. First, ArcGIS 10.6 was used for spatial autocorrelation analysis, and cluster patterns ofH7N9 outbreaks were analyzed in China during 2013-2017 to detect outbreaks' hotspots. During the study period, the incidence of H7N9 outbreaks in China was high in the eastern and southeastern coastal areas of China, with a tendency to spread to the central region. Moran's I values of global spatial autocorrelation of H7N9 outbreaks in China from 2013 to 2017 were 0.080128, 0.073792, 0.138015, 0.139221 and 0.050739, respectively ( p < 0.05) indicating a statistically significant positive correlation of the epidemic. Then, SPSS 20.0 was used to analyze the correlation between H7N9 outbreaks in China and population, livestock production, the distance between the case and rivers, poultry farming, poultry market, vegetation index, etc. Statistically significant influencing factors screened out by correlation analysis were population of the city, average vegetation of the city, and the distance between the case and rivers ( p < 0.05), which were included in the neural network risk simulation model of H7N9 outbreaks in China. The simulation accuracy of the neural network risk simulation model of H7N9 outbreaks in China from 2013 to 2017 were 85.71%, 91.25%, 91.54%, 90.49% and 92.74%, and the AUC were 0.903, 0.976, 0.967, 0.963 and 0.970, respectively, showing a good simulation effect of H7N9 epidemics in China. The innovation of this study lies in the epidemiological study of H7N9 outbreaks by using a variety of technical means, and the construction of a neural network risk simulation model of H7N9 outbreaks in China. This study could provide valuable references for the prevention and control of H7N9 outbreaks in China.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak was detected and reported at the end of 2019, the pandemic continues worldwide, with public health authorities and the general public in each country struggling to balance safety and normal travel activities. However, the complex public health environment and the complexity of human behaviors, as well as the constant mutation of the COVID-19 virus, requires the development of theoretical and simulation tools to accurately model all segments of society. In this paper, an agent-based model is proposed, the model constructs the real geographical environment of Shanghai Huangpu District based on the building statistics data of Shanghai Huangpu District, and the real population data of Shanghai Huangpu District based on the data of China's seventh Population census in 2020. After incorporating the detailed elements of COVID-19 transmission and the real data of WHO, the model forms various impact parameters. Finally, the model was validated according to the COVID-19 data reported by the official, and the model is applied to a hypothetical scenario. Shanghai is one of the places hardest hit by the current outbreak, Huangpu District is the "heart, window and name card" of Shanghai, and its importance to Shanghai is self-evident. so we used one-to-one population modeling to simulate the spread of COVID-19 in Huangpu District of Shanghai, In addition to the conventional functions of crowd movement, detection and treatment, the model also takes into account the burden of nucleic acid detection on the model caused by diseases similar to COVID-19, such as seasonal cold. The model validation results show that we have constructed a COVID-19 epidemic agent risk assessment system suitable for the individual epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in China, which can adjust and reflect on the existing COVID-19 epidemic intervention strategies and individual health behaviors. To provide scientific theoretical basis and information decision-making tools for effective prevention and control of COVID-19 and public health intervention in China.

Diabetes, which is a chronic disease with a high prevalence in people over 45 years old in China, is a public health issue of global concern. In order to explore the spatiotemporal patterns of diabetes among people over 45 years old in China, to find out diabetes risk factors, and to assess its risk, we used spatial autocorrelation, spatiotemporal cluster analysis, binary logistic regression, and a random forest model in this study. The results of the spatial autocorrelation analysis and the spatiotemporal clustering analysis showed that diabetes patients are mainly clustered near the Beijing−Tianjin−Hebei region, and that the prevalence of diabetes clusters is waning. Age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking history were all diabetes risk factors (p < 0.05), but the spatial heterogeneity of these factors was weak. Compared with the binary logistic regression model, the random forest model showed better accuracy in assessing diabetes risk. According to the assessment risk map generated by the random forest model, the northeast region and the Beijing−Tianjin−Hebei region are high-risk areas for diabetes.

The development of a refined fugitive dust emission inventory is vital for prevention and control of air pollution. In this study, a fugitive dust emission inventory of soil dust (SD), road dust (RD), and construction dust (CD) in Xiong'an New Area (XANA) for 2020 was developed by collecting activity data and combining remote sensing and field investigation data based on a popular compilation technology in China. The CALPUFF model was used to elucidate the contribution characteristics of dust sources to ambient particulate matter (PM), and the accuracy of the dust emission inventory compilation method was verified. The results show that the total emissions of PM 10 and PM 2.5 were 43,081.14 tons and 9701.69 tons, respectively. Meanwhile, RD and CD were the main emission sources, accounting for over 98.49% of the total emissions. The total contribution from the different types of dust sources to the ambient PM 10 was 42.59 μg/m 3 (29.38%), with the contribution of RD (32.63 μg/m 3 , 22.51%) being approximately three times that of CD (9.78 μg/m 3 , 6.74%). Roads were the main source of fugitive dust, but large-scale infrastructure construction was the main cause of the high emission and high contribution of RD. The results show that the emission inventory compilation method can be used to estimate the emissions of dust sources, while the method used to calculate the emission of SD may be more suitable for dry and semi-dry areas with less rainfall. It was also found that when the dust emissions stay stable, the contribution of dust sources to the ambient PM 10 in different seasons can vary by 3-4 times. Therefore, under adverse meteorological conditions, it is necessary to strengthen the control of various dust sources and reduce the influence of human factors on them., 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.)

Objectives: This research was conducted to ascertain the context and location of the antibiotic resistance determinants in a multiple antibiotic-resistant Trueperella pyogenes isolate TP1., Methods: The genome was sequenced using PacBio RS II, and the filtered data were assembled using Canu. Sequences were annotated on the basis of those in GenBank, and the genomic island (GI) of the TP1 was predicted by IslandPath-DIMOB., Results: TP1 as a multiple antibiotic-resistant isolate was recovered at Jilin Province (China) in 2017 from a dairy cow with pneumonia. TP1 exhibited resistance to aminoglycosides (gentamicin and amikacin), macrolides (erythromycin), lincosamides (clindamycin), sulfonamides (sulfamonomethoxine), tetracyclines (tetracycline and doxycycline) and chloramphenicols (chloramphenicol and florfenicol). An antibiotic resistance gene clustered together with the aadB, aadA1, cmlA5 and cmlA6 resistance genes located on a 7-kilobase (kb) multidrug-resistant (MDR) region, constituting a complex class 1 integron. The MDR region was located at one end of a 42-kb GI, and IS6100Δ1 mediated a genetic rearrangement with the complex class 1 integron-like SGI1 and formed a composite transposon. Furthermore, the tetW gene was located outside the four GIs consistent with tetracycline and doxycycline resistance. The ermD gene positioned in the front end of the 42-kb GI played an important role in mediating acquired erythromycin and clindamycin resistance., Conclusions: Multiple resistance genes are located in a complex class 1 integron within a 42-kb T. pyogenes genomic island (TGI1), leading to TP1 multiple drug resistance. In comparison with SG1 families, TGI1 possesses versatile gene distribution and specific gene context for it upstream and downstream, and it represents a new lineage of genomic resistance islands., (Copyright © 2019 International Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Gastric cancer is the fourth most common malignant disease worldwide, with lower one-third gastric cancer the most common type. Distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection was recommended as a standard surgery for distal gastric cancer patients. However, some controversy remains about the anastomosis of the residual stomach and the intestine. The objectives of this trial are to test the hypothesis that uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis can reduce postoperative complications and improve nutritional status more effectively than Billroth II anastomosis in gastric cancer patients after D2 gastrectomy., Methods/design: This multi-center, prospective, phase III, randomized controlled trial will compare the efficacy of uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis versus Billroth II anastomosis in phase I-III patients with initial treatment of radical distal gastrectomy. Patients will be randomized to undergo either the intervention (uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis) or the control (Billroth II anastomosis). We will recruit 832 patients who meet the trial eligibility criteria and will follow the patients after surgery to observe postoperative complications and nutrition status for 5 years. The primary assessment indices of the study are reflux gastritis, esophagitis, bile regurgitation, and anastomotic ulcer. The secondary assessment indices are nutritional status, quality of life, perioperative complications, overall survival rate, and others. When the number of cases reaches 400, an interim analysis will be performed to identify any evidence of definite superiority of the experimental intervention., Discussion: We aim to test the hypothesis that uncut Roux-en-Y anastomosis can reduce postoperative complications and improve nutritional status more than Billroth II anastomosis in gastric cancer patients after D2 gastrectomy. The results of the trial will contribute to the best evidence on which to base the reconstruction of distal gastrectomy., Trial Registration: Chinese Southern Gastric Cancer Conference CSGC002 Trial. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02763878 . Registered on 5 May 2016.