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The PIESAT-01 constellation is the world's first multi-baseline distributed synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation with a "Cartwheel" formation. The "Cartwheel" formation is a unique formation in which four satellites fly in companion orbits, ensuring that at any given moment, the main satellite remains at the center, with three auxiliary satellites orbiting around it. Due to this unique configuration of the PIESAT-01 constellation, four images of the same region and six pairs of baselines can be obtained with each shot. So far, there has been no imaging and interference research based on four-satellite constellation measured data, and there is an urgent need to explore algorithms for the "Cartwheel" configuration imaging and digital surface model (DSM) production. This paper introduces an improved bistatic SAR imaging algorithm under the four-satellites interferometric mode, which solves the problem of multi-orbit nonparallelism in imaging while ensuring imaging coherence and focusing ability. Subsequently, it presents an interferometric processing method for the six pairs of baselines, weighted fusion based on elevation ambiguity from different baselines, to obtain a high-precision DSM. Finally, this paper selects the Dingxi region of China and other regions with diverse terrains for imaging and DSM production and compares the DSM results with ICESat-2 global geolocated photon data and TanDEM DSM data. The results indicate that the accuracy of PIESAT-01 DSM meets the standards of China's 1:50,000 scale and HRTI-3, demonstrating a high level of precision. Moreover, PIESAT-01 data alleviate the reliance on simulated data for research on multi-baseline imaging and multi-baseline phase unwrapping algorithms and can provide more effective and realistic measured data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By selecting typical seismic sections to carry out detailed structural interpretation, the structural style features of the Wunansha Uplift in the South Yellow Sea basin were systematically combined, and the compressional structures (imbricate, opposite/back thrust, and Y-shaped structures), strike-slip faults (positive flower-shaped faults), and extensional normal faults (listric-shaped normal faults) were identified. On this basis, combined with the characteristics of the regional stress field and the background of deep geodynamics, the genetic mechanism and structural evolution of the structural style in the Wunansha Uplift were defined. The stress mechanism of the compressional structures originated from the initial high-speed and low-angle NW subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate during the early Yanshanian movement in the Early Jurassic. The regional strike-slip fault was mainly a positive flower structure with compression and torsion characteristics, and its stress mechanism originated from sinistral shear caused by the Early Cretaceous low-angle NNW subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate. The Tan-Lu fault in eastern China also had sinistral shear characteristics in this period. The extensional normal fault was characterized by a listric shape, which developed along the northern boundary of the Wunansha Uplift, that is, the connection between the Wunansha Uplift and the Southern Depression of the South Yellow Sea basin. The stress mechanism was derived from the transition of the paleo-Pacific plate from low-angle to high-angle subduction during the late Yanshanian movement in the Late Cretaceous. Simultaneously, the tectonic stress system in eastern China also changed from compressional to tensional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obtaining accurate and real-time spatial distribution information regarding crops is critical for enabling effective smart agricultural management. In this study, innovative decision fusion strategies, including Enhanced Overall Accuracy Index (E-OAI) voting and the Overall Accuracy Index-based Majority Voting (OAI-MV), were introduced to optimize the use of diverse remote sensing data and various classifiers, thereby improving the accuracy of crop/vegetation identification. These strategies were utilized to integrate crop/vegetation classification outcomes from distinct feature sets (including Gaofen-6 reflectance, Sentinel-2 time series of vegetation indices, Sentinel-2 time series of biophysical variables, Sentinel-1 time series of backscatter coefficients, and their combinations) using distinct classifiers (Random Forests (RFs), Support Vector Machines (SVMs), Maximum Likelihood (ML), and U-Net), taking two grain-producing areas (Site #1 and Site #2) in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China, as the research area. The results indicate that employing U-Net on feature-combined sets yielded the highest overall accuracy (OA) of 81.23% and 91.49% for Site #1 and Site #2, respectively, in the single classifier experiments. The E-OAI strategy, compared to the original OAI strategy, boosted the OA by 0.17% to 6.28%. Furthermore, the OAI-MV strategy achieved the highest OA of 86.02% and 95.67% for the respective study sites. This study highlights the distinct strengths of various remote sensing features and classifiers in discerning different crop and vegetation types. Additionally, the proposed OAI-MV and E-OAI strategies effectively harness the benefits of diverse classifiers and multisource remote sensing features, significantly enhancing the accuracy of crop/vegetation classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper develops a 'light' total productive maintenance (TPM) model suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By design, the system is rudimentary, using a relatively small sum of capital investment and resources. The model recommends TPM implementation in three stages, namely plan, improve and sustain. Design/methodology/approach: Literature review provides the inputs to the model development. Action research is used to demonstrate and verify the effectiveness and practicability of the framework, in a SME manufacturing hydraulic parts in China. Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and awareness of employees were studied before and after the implementation. Findings: The case study shows a significantly improved production efficiency of equipment. The framework structuralizes TPM deployment and binding different levels of organization into the program, from planning, implementation to sustaining the practices. To break the barrier of shop floor resistance, leader must drive many activities unassisted, it therefore necessitates an open endorsement of authority by the steering committee composed of top management. Prudent pilot run of TPM helped to accelerate the implementation at critical equipment, in addition to cultivating experience and hence confidence among staff. Research limitations/implications: This study provides a pragmatic reference to other researches and practitioners to promote a light TPM model in SMEs, without losing the essences of TPM. Being an action research with the case study in a specific manufacturing industry, the resultant evidence therefore is anecdotal. Originality/value: The model adopts a phased method to implement TPM, without aggravating the financial and human resource burden of the enterprise. It promotes the cultivation of employees' TPM awareness and active involvement, which can lay a solid foundation for the wide implementation of TPM in SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solenopsis invicta is a main issue in southern China and is causing significant damage to the local ecological environment. The extensive use of insecticides has resulted in the development of tolerance in S. invicta. In our study, ten S. invicta colonies from Sichuan Province exhibited varying degrees of tolerance against flonicamid, with LC 50 values from 0.49 mg/L to 8.54 mg/L. The sensitivity of S. invicta to flonicamid significantly increased after treatment with the P450 enzyme inhibitor piperonyl butoxide (PBO). Additionally, the activity of P450 in S. invicta was significantly enhanced after being treated with flonicamid. Flonicamid induced the expression levels of CYP4aa1 , CYP9e2 , CYP4C1 , and CYP6A14. The expression levels of these P450 genes were significantly higher in the tolerant colonies compared to the sensitive colonies, and the relative copy numbers of CYP6A14 in the tolerant colonies were 2.01–2.15 fold. RNAi feeding treatment effectively inhibited the expression of P450 genes, thereby reducing the tolerance of S. invicta against flonicamid. In addition, the overexpression of CYP6A14 in D. melanogaster resulted in reduced sensitivity to flonicamid. Our investigations revealed hydrophobic interactions between flonicamid and seven amino acid residues of CYP6A14, along with the formation of a hydrogen bond between Glu306 and flonicamid. Our findings suggest that flonicamid can effectively control S. invicta and P450 plays a pivotal role in the tolerance of S. invicta against flonicamid. The overexpression of CYP6A14 also increased tolerance to flonicamid. [Display omitted] • Differences in tolerance among S.invicta colonies to flonicamid was demonstrated. • Higher expression levels of P450 genes were shown in the flonicamid tolerant colony. • RNAi treatment of P450 genes reduces the tolerance of S. invicta to flonicamid. • Overexpression of CYP6A14 in D. melanogaster boosts its tolerance to flonicamid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Vitamins and trace elements are essential nutrients for growth and intestinal adaptation in children with short bowel syndrome (SBS). This study aimed to assess micronutrients' status during and after weaning off PN in pediatric SBS. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the follow-up of 31 children with SBS between Jan 2010 and Sep 2019. Clinical data were reviewed from the patients' electric medical record. Serum electrolytes, trace elements, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and folate concentrations were collected before and after enteral autonomy. Results: Thirty-one SBS cases were reviewed (median onset age 11 days after birth, 51.6% boys, mean PN duration 4 months, and mean residual small intestine length 58.2 cm). Median duration of follow-up was 10 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 4, 19). The common micronutrient deficiencies were zinc (51.6%), copper (38.7%), vitamin D (32.3%), and phosphorus (25.8%) after the transition to EN. The proportion of patients deficient in vitamin D decreased dramatically from 93.5% to 32.3% (P < 0.001), and serum concentrations of vitamin D increased significantly (27.4 ± 12.3 vs. 60.3 ± 32.9 nmol/l, P = 0.03) after achieving full enteral feeding more than 1 month. Additionally, serum magnesium levels significantly increased (0.76 ± 0.17 vs. 0.88 ± 0.14 mmol/l, P = 0.03). Hemoglobin levels elevated significantly after weaning off PN (104.3 ± 10.7 vs. 117.8 ± 13.7 g/l, P = 0.03). Conclusions: Micronutrient deficiencies remain a common problem in pediatric SBS through intestinal rehabilitation. Therefore, we strongly recommend supplementation of more vitamin D and trace elements (zinc, copper, and phosphorus) under regular monitoring during long-term intestinal rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the situation of global low-carbon development, the contradiction among energy consumption, economic growth, and CO2 emissions is increasingly prominent. Considering the possible two-way feedback among the three, based on the panel data of 30 regions in China from 2000 to 2017, this paper establishes a spatial Durbin model including economic growth, energy consumption equation, and CO2 emissions and studies the dynamic relationship and spatial spillover among economic growth, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions effects. The results show that the economic growth can significantly improve carbon dioxide emissions, and China's economic growth level has become a positive driving force for carbon dioxide emissions. However, economic growth will not be significantly affected by the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. There is a two-way relationship between energy consumption (ENC) and carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). Energy consumption and carbon emissions are interrelated, which has a negative spatial spillover effect on the carbon dioxide emissions of the surrounding provinces and cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change has become the greatest threat to mankind, endangering the ecological security of the earth and the long-term development of human society. Therefore, how to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb the trend of global warming has become a common challenge facing all countries in the world. Fossil energy combustion is the fundamental cause of climate change. In this paper, the price return series of domestic energy and carbon markets are taken as the research objects. Firstly, the cross-correlation test is used to verify that there is an obvious cross-correlation between the return series of the energy and carbon markets. Based on this, the multifractal characteristics of energy market and carbon market cross-series are empirically studied. The empirical results show that there is an interactive correlation between energy and carbon markets and this relationship has multifractal characteristics; the interactive correlation between return series has multifractal characteristics. The long-range correlation between small fluctuations and large fluctuations and the fat tail distribution of return series are all reasons for the formation of multifractality. These conclusions will help to understand the non-linear dependence and potential dynamic mechanism between energy and carbon markets in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have been conducted to explore medication non-adherence in persons with schizophrenia (PWS) and its influencing factors in rural China. This study aimed to investigate the medication non-adherence and its influencing factors among PWS in rural China. A total of 269 PWS and their family caregivers in Xinjin district, Chengdu, China were investigated on medication adherence and related factors. Logistic regression was employed to identify the influencing factors. The results showed that 37.6% of PWS had medication non-adherence. PWS living with family caregivers had significantly lower rate of medication non-adherence (34.7%) than those not living with family caregivers (60.0%) (p < 0.01). Family caregivers' affiliate stigma of mental illness, knowledge of mental illness and self-esteem were significantly related to patients' medication non-adherence (p < 0.05). PWS' employment status, living with family caregiver, present mental status and social support were significantly related to medication adherence. This study shows medication non-adherence is severe among PWS in rural China. Both patient- and family-related factors affect patients' medication adherence seriously. Except improving patients' treatment and mental status, development of family caregiving, social support network and intervention on reducing stigma of mental illness should be crucial for enhancing PWS' medication adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pembrolizumab (Pembro) in combination with chemotherapy has been approved for the treatment of pretreated advanced NSCLC in the United States and China for its significant efficacy. However, the cost‐effectiveness is unknown considering Pembro's high price. The impact of programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) test on the cost‐effectiveness is also unknown. The current study assessed the cost‐effectiveness of combination therapy for nonsquamous NSCLC from the United States and China public payers' perspective. Materials and Methods: A literature‐based Markov model was conducted using KEYNOTE‐189 trial data to compare cost and quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) of three treatment strategies for nonsquamous NSCLC: Pembro‐chemotherapy combination and chemotherapy strategy without PD‐L1 test, and treatment strategy according to their PD‐L1 status. Results: In base case analysis, the combination strategy generated an additional 0.78 QALYs and 0.59 QALYs over chemotherapy in the United States and China respectively, resulting in an ICER of $132 392/QALY in the United States and $92 533/QALY in China. In the PD‐L1 ≥1% base case, the ICERs were $77 754/QALY and $56 768/QALY respectively in the United States and China for PD‐L1 test strategy. In the PD‐L1 ≥50% base case, the ICERs were $44 731/QALY and $34 388/QALY respectively in the United States and China for PD‐L1 test strategy. Lowering Pembro price can also partly decrease the ICERs. Conclusion: Compared with chemotherapy, the combination strategy is not cost‐effective for the treatment of NSCLC in the American and Chinese health care system at WTP threshold of $100 000/QALY for the United States and $27 351/QALY for China. Using PD‐L1 test for patient selection and price reduction could improve the cost‐effective probabilities of immunotherapy for nonsquamous NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving patients' perception of social support is significant not only for their re-adaptation to life but also for alleviating caregivers' burden. Aim: This study aims to examine an integrated model regarding social support, psychotic symptoms and caregiver burden. Methods: Persons with schizophrenia (N 1 = 300) and their family caregivers (N 2 = 300) in Xinjin County, Chengdu, China, completed the survey to report their demographics, patients' perception of social support (Duke Social Support Index), psychotic symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) and caregiver burden (Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, Short Version). Structural equation modelling was utilised to test the proposed model. Results: The degree of caregiver burden differed significantly within subgroups of patients' gender and education, as well as caregivers' gender, education and employment. Caregiver burden was negatively related to patients' age and household income. Social interaction partially mediated the relationship between instrumental and subjective social support (total effect = 0.451, p <.01). Subjective social support fully mediated the impact of social interaction on psychotic symptoms (total effect = −0.099, p <.05). In the final model, instrumental social support was positively associated with social interaction (p <.001) and increased subjective social support (p <.05). Increased subjective social support showed correlation with a lower degree of psychotic symptoms (p <.01), which was related to a lower level of caregiver burden (p <.001). Conclusion: This study shows the associations of patients' social support with psychotic symptoms and caregiver burden. Culture-specific psychosocial interventions should be provided for both patients and caregivers to enrich external support and reduce psychotic symptoms and caregivers' burden within the health care environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Internalized stigma, an adverse psychological process, severely impedes the lives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia and restricts them from social integration and recovery. The aim of this study was to empirically evaluate an integrative model of relationship between internalized stigma and patients' recovery-related outcomes among people diagnosed with schizophrenia in a rural Chinese community.Method: A total of 232 people diagnosed with schizophrenia in Xinjin, Chengdu, participated in this study and completed measures of internalized stigma, social interaction, perceived social support, social functioning, and symptoms. The internalized stigma of mental illness scale (ISMI) was used to measure the internalized stigma. Path analysis was used to test the association between internalized stigma and recovery-related outcomes.Results: There were no significant differences in mean scores of ISMI by gender, age (18-64 years and ≥ 65 years), education, marital status, or economic capacity. Internalized stigma was negatively associated with perceived social support and social interaction. Furthermore, higher level of internalized stigma was associated with impaired social functioning, and a lower level of social functioning was significantly associated with more severe symptoms.Conclusion: Internalized stigma is associated with poor social interaction and weakened perceived social support in people diagnosed with schizophrenia, and is linked negatively to outcomes in their recovery. It is essential to tailor interventions related to reducing internalized stigma within a Chinese context and evaluate the effectiveness of anti-stigma intervention on recovery for people diagnosed with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Giardia duodenalis is a common zoonotic intestinal protozoan and causes significant economic losses and potential risks to public health. China is among the several major producers of donkeys worldwide, with approximately 2.6 million donkeys being reared in 2019, but studies on G. duodenalis infection in donkeys were limited. Thus, in order to better understand the molecular epidemiology of G. duodenalis in donkeys in China, 815 fecal samples were collected from donkeys in three representative geographical locations in Shanxi Province, North China, to determine the presence and genotypes of G. duodenalis based on three established loci (tpi, bg, and gdh). A total of 137 out of 815 fecal samples were detected as G. duodenalis-positive with an overall prevalence of 16.81%. Among the detected assemblages A, B, and E, the most predominant assemblage was B in the three study areas. Three MLGs (MLG-novel-1 to 3) were identified with multilocus genotypes (MLGs) analysis and validated by a phylogenetic tree. This is the first report of G. duodenalis infection in donkeys in Shanxi Province, which not only enhances our understanding of the genetic diversity of G. duodenalis in donkeys in China but also provides essential baseline data for the prevention and control of G. duodenalis infection donkeys in the study areas. Giardia duodenalis is a ubiquitous flagellated protozoan, causing significant economic losses to animal husbandry and posing threats to public health. China ranks the world's sixth largest major producer of donkeys, rearing approximately 2.6 million donkeys in 2019, but limited investigation of G. duodenalis prevalence has been conducted in the past, and it is yet to be known whether donkeys in Shanxi Province are infected with G. duodenalis. In the present study, a total of 815 fecal samples collected from donkeys in representative regions of Shanxi Province, North China, were examined for G. duodenalis using nested PCR. Then, the assemblages and multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were examined based on three established loci: namely, β-giardin (bg), triosephosphate isomerase (tpi), and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh). The overall prevalence of G. duodenalis in donkeys in Shanxi Province was 16.81% (137/815). The region was identified as the main risk factor for the observed difference in G. duodenalis prevalence in donkeys among the three study areas (χ2 = 21.611, p < 0.001). Assemblages A, E, and B were identified, with the latter as the predominant assemblage. Three MLGs (MLG-novel-1 to 3) were formed based on sequence variation among the three loci. The present study reveals the presence of G. duodenalis in donkeys in Shanxi Province, North China, for the first time, which not only enriches the data on the distribution of G. duodenalis in donkeys in China but also provides useful baseline data for planning control strategies against G. duodenalis infection in the sampled areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of carbon market, the complex dynamic relationship between electricity and carbon market has become the focus of energy research area. In this paper, we applied a new developed multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis method to investigate the cross-correlation and multifractality between electricity and carbon markets. We analyze the daily return of electricity and carbon prices over a period of 6 years to do the research. The results show that, firstly, we find that there is a strong negative correlation between domestic carbon price and electricity price and a significant cross-correlation between the return series of electricity and carbon markets. Secondly, through multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis, it is proven that there are obvious multifractal characteristics in the return series of electricity and carbon markets, and the results of traditional linear analysis are unreliable. We also find that, based on multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis, the law cross-correlation between electricity and carbon markets exists significantly. The long-range correlation of small fluctuations and large fluctuations and the fat tail distribution of return series are the reasons for the formation of multifractality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zircon U-Pb dating of two samples of metagabbro from the Riwanchaka ophiolite yielded early Carboniferous ages of 354.4 ± 2.3 Ma and 356.7 ± 1.9 Ma. Their positive zircon εHf(t) values (+7.9 to +9.9) indicate that these rocks were derived from a relatively depleted mantle. The metagabbros can be considered as two types: R1 and R2. Both types are tholeiitic, with depletion of highfield- strength elements (HFSE) and enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) similar to those of typical back-arc basin basalts (BABB), such as Mariana BABB and East Scotia Ridge BABB. Geochemical and isotopic characteristics indicate that the R1 metagabbro originated from a backarc basin spreading ridge with addition of slab-derived fluids, whereas the R2 metagabbro was derived from a back-arc basin mantle source, with involvement of melts and fluids from subducted ocean crust. The Riwanchaka ophiolite exhibits both mid-ocean ridge basalts- and arc-like geochemical affinities, consistent with coeval ophiolites from central Qiangtang. Observations indicate that the Qiangtang ophiolites developed during the Late Devonian-early Carboniferous (D3-C1) in a back-arc spreading ridge above an intra-oceanic subduction zone. Based on our data and previous studies, we propose that an oceanic back-arc basin system existed in the Longmuco-Shuanghu-Lancang Palaeo-Tethys Ocean during the D3-C1 period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is unknown whether there are differences in self-stigma among persons with different types of severe mental illness (SMI) in rural communities. Aim: This study was to examine the differences of self-stigma and its correlates in persons with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder in a rural community in China. Methods: A total of 453 persons with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder in a rural community participated in the study. The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) was used to measure self-stigma. The t-test and analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used to examine the differences in mean scores of ISMI and subscales among the three diagnoses. Logistic regression was used to explore the contributing factors to the level of self-stigma among the three groups. Results: Self-stigma was moderate and severe with 94.7% of the total sample. Persons with schizophrenia had significantly higher mean scores of total ISMI, alienation and discrimination experience than those with bipolar disorders. Lower family income was significantly associated with higher levels of self-stigma in persons with schizophrenia and major depressive disorder. Factors predicting the level of self-stigma among the three groups were various. Conclusion: Self-stigma is common and severe in persons with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, especially those with lower income status in rural community in China. Persons with schizophrenia may have higher levels of self-stigma than those with bipolar disorder. Individual-level interventions should be developed to reduce self-stigma among persons with SMI in Chinese rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon trading is an important market instrument and policy tool to promote China's practice of low-carbon energy conservation and strive to achieve carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. To improve market flow and respond to the national strategy to support the development of carbon trading in China, a smart carbon trading process optimization framework based on blockchain technology is developed in this article. First, the paper analyzes the current state of carbon trading in China's power sector and identifies the future development trend and barriers to carbon trading in China. Second, a framework for a smart carbon trading system based on the structure and traits of blockchain technology is created to optimize the carbon trading process. Third, the smart contract for the smart carbon trading system is built (including execution logic, transaction matching, contract fulfillment, and other elements). This mechanism measures the reputation of trading users. Finally, policy suggestions are provided to solve the current issues and challenges. According to the research conducted for this paper on "blockchain + carbon trading in China," carbon trading supported by blockchain technology can guarantee transaction security and efficiency, accurately preserve transaction records, and offer a high level of automated settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is unclear whether the enhancing contact model (ECM) intervention is effective in reducing family caregiving burden and improving hope and quality of life (QOL) among family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia (FCPWS). Methods: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial in FCPWS in eight rural townships in Xinjin, Chengdu, China. In total, 253 FCPWS were randomly allocated to the ECM, psychoeducational family intervention (PFI), or treatment as usual (TAU) group. FCPWS in three groups were assessed caregiving burden, QOL and state of hope at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), 3-month (T2), and 9-month (T3) follow-up, respectively. Results: Compared with participants in the TAU group, participants in the ECM group had statistically significantly lower caregiving burden scores both at T1 and T2 (p = 0.0059 and 0.0257, respectively). Compared with participants in the TAU group, participants in the PFI group had statistically significantly higher QOL scores in T1 (p = 0.0406), while participants in the ECM group had statistically significantly higher QOL scores in T3 (p = 0.0240). Participants in both ECM and PFI groups had statistically significantly higher hope scores than those in the TAU group at T1 (p = 0.0160 and 0.0486, respectively). Conclusions: This is the first study to explore the effectiveness of ECM on reducing family caregiving burden and improving hope and QOL in rural China. The results indicate the ECM intervention, a comprehensive and multifaceted intervention, is more effective than the PFI in various aspects of mental wellbeing among FCPWS. Future research needs to confirm ECM's effectiveness in various population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate assessments of spatial–temporal variations in water use efficiency (WUE) are important for evaluation of carbon and water balances. In this study, the spatial and temporal patterns of WUE and associated climate controls in China's Loess Plateau are investigated over 2000–2010 by utilizing remote sensing data and multiple statistical methods; which provides a greater understanding about how WUE changed after the Grain to Green Program (GTGP) launched. Carbon sequestration (i.e., net primary productivity, NPP) is estimated with the CASA model and water consumption (i.e., evapotranspiration, ET) is obtained from the MODIS product (i.e., MOD16). Our results identify an increasing trend in the regional mean NPP that amounted to 7.593 g C/m 2 ·yr with an average value of 310.035 g C/m 2 ·yr. Changes in ET are segmented into three stages, the growth (2000 − 2003), decline (2004–2006) and stable (2007–2010) stages. Regional WUE is measured at 0.915 g C/mm·m 2 and shows an upward trend at a rate of 0.027 g C/mm·m 2 ·yr. Spatially, significant regional heterogeneity is found in both NPP and WUE with gradients decreasing from the southeast to the northwest, but sharp rises detected in northern Shaanxi. At the biome level, the annual average WUE of the four groups decrease in the order of grasslands > woodlands > shrublands > croplands. Moreover, all biomes in the grassland ecosystems exhibit a growth in WUE as does the arid desert zone in the northwestern region, suggesting that vegetation in moderately water-deficient areas may have a higher tolerance to drought. Among different meteorological factors, precipitation and drought severity index (DSI) in the Loess Plateau show a latitudinal zonality and influences the WUE, which indicated that the moisture rather than temperature would be the major control factor of the regional WUE. Finally, significant variation in vegetation WUE sensitivity in response to meteorological factors is noted. Temperature is found to be the dominant driving factor of shrublands WUE, whereas precipitation primarily influenced the WUE of grasslands, croplands, and woodlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although stigma and caregiving burden are important in relation to mental health recovery, few studies have been conducted on affiliate stigma and caregiving burden among family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia (FCPWS) in rural China. Aims: This study aimed to examine the severity level of affiliate stigma and caregiving burden, and identify the correlates among FCPWS in rural China. Methods: A mental health survey was conducted (N = 253 FCPWS) in Xinjin county, Sichuan province, China. Affiliate Self-Stigma Scale and Zarit Burden Interview Short Form were used. The regression analysis was performed to explore the correlates of stigma and burden. Results: Most FCPWS reported experiencing high and severe level of affiliate stigma (78.66%) and caregiving burden (95.26%). Family caregivers who were middle aged, unemployed, with high caregiving burden and low quality of life (QoL), showed more severe affiliate stigma. Family caregivers who were female, older, with low income, high affiliate stigma and low QoL, experienced greater caregiving burden. Conclusions: The large majority of FCPWS in rural China experienced severe affiliate stigma, caregiving burden and poor QoL. It is crucial to develop culture-specific anti-stigma interventions to reduce caregivers' stigma and caregiving burden, and improve QoL. Specific risk factors of family caregivers' affiliate stigma and caregiving burden should be considered for development of health policy and community-based mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic periodontitis (CP) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases and cytokines play a pivotal role in the regulation of immune response. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) are anti-inflammatory cytokines and several polymorphisms of them have been proved involved in periodontal disease. This study aimed to evaluate whether three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs2070874 and rs2243248 from IL4 and rs1800925 from IL13, are associated with CP in a Han Chinese population consisting of 440 moderate or severe CP patients and 324 healthy controls. Genomic DNA extracted from buccal epithelial cells of the included participants were genotyped using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry method. No significant association between rs2070874 or rs1800925 and CP was found, while the frequencies of rs2243248 and two haplotypes C-G-T and C-T-T showed significant differences between the two groups. The results suggest that the polymorphism rs2243248 and haplotypes C-G-T and C-T-T may be associated with CP susceptibility in the present Han Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cancer survivors are often embroiled in various physical and psycho-social issues as a consequence of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Psycho-social support activities in the phase of rehabilitation were provided to enhance their quality of life. This study seeks to explore and understand their experience of engagement in Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club (SCRC).Methods: Sixty-eight participants attended eight semi-structured focus group interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim, and thematic analysis framework was adopted for data analysis.Results: The participants reported benefits such as psychological support, informational provision and tangible support in the activities. Public services were reported to have restored their dignity and enabled them to rediscover their own meaning of life. Participants also pointed out challenges on functioning and opportunity for development of SCRC.Conclusions: The psycho-social support activities of SCRC had influenced cancer survivor's life. Public health resources and supportive policies should be in place to support local self-help cancer rehabilitation groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humic-like substances (HULIS) in particulate matter (PM) play critical roles in the atmospheric changes in our environment. In this study, high time resolution PM 2.5 samples were collected to insight the abundances, spectroscopic characters, chemical groups, and oxidative potential of HULIS in Xi'an, China. The average mass concentrations of HULIS in term of carbon (HULIS-C) was 11.55 ± 5.85 and 8.28 ± 2.23 μg C m−3 in winter and summer, respectively. The diurnal variations of HULIS displayed three peaks (03:00–07:00, 10:00–14:00, and 18:00–21:00 LT) in winter, but a single peak (08:00–12:00 LT) in summer. The optical parameters show obvious difference between winter and summer. Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra revealed that the HULIS mainly consisted of aliphatic chains, aromatic rings, and carboxylic groups. The FT-IR spectra proved that the aromatic compounds and carboxylic acids dominated the diurnal variation in winter, while carboxylic acids were responsible for that in summer. The normalized oxidative potential of HULIS exhibited an inverse trend with the HULIS-C concentration measured by the DCFH assay. The diurnal reactive oxygen species (ROS) productions from HULIS presents three valleys (03:00–07:00, 10:00–14:00, and 18:00–21:00 LT) in winter but only a single valley (08:00–12:00 LT) in summer. In addition, a positive correlation (R2 ≈ 0.6, p ＜0.01) between the oxidative potential and specific ultraviolet absorbance at a wavelength of 254 nm (SUVA 254) in winter suggested that the oxidative power of HULIS could be more related to the compounds with high light absorbance, high aromaticity, and molecular weight. The results of this study offer more solid knowledge on the spectral and chemical characteristics and oxidative potential of the HULIS in PM 2.5 of the typical city in northwest China. [Display omitted] • Oxidative potential of HULIS decreased with the increase of HULIS-C concentration. • Aromatic compounds and carboxylic acids dominated the diurnal variation in winter. • Carboxylic acids were responsible for the diurnal variation in summer. • The oxidative power of winter HULIS was related to high light-absorbance and high-aromaticity compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage, also referred to as Carbon Capture, Utilization and Sequestration (CCUS), is one of the novel climate mitigation technologies by which CO2 emissions are captured from sources, such as fossil power generation and industrial processes, and further either reused or stored with more attention being paid on the utilization of captured CO2. In the whole CCUS process, the dominant migration pathway of CO2 after being injected underground becomes very important information to judge the possible storage status as well as one of the essential references for evaluating possible environmental affects. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology, with its advantages of extensive coverage in surface deformation monitoring and all-weather traceability of the injection processes, has become one of the promising technologies frequently adopted in worldwide CCUS projects. In this study, taking the CCUS sequestration area in Shizhuang Town, Shanxi Province, China, as an example, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photography measurement technology with a 3D surface model at a resolution of 5.3 cm was applied to extract the high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) of the study site in coordination with InSAR technology to more clearly display the results of surface deformation monitoring of the CO2 injection area. A 2 km surface heaving dynamic processes before and after injection from June 2020 to July 2021 was obtained, and a CO2 migration pathway northeastward was observed, which was rather consistent with the monitoring results by logging and micro-seismic studies. Additionally, an integrated monitoring scheme, which will be the trend of monitoring in the future, is proposed in the discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lessons learnt from accidents are essential sources for updating state-of-the-art requirements in pollution accident prevention. To improve this input in the People''s Republic of China in a systematic way, a database for collecting and evaluating major pollution accidents is being established. This is being done in co-operation with Chinese Society for Environment Sciences and other national Institutions. At the time of writing over 80 major events from 2002–2006 have been collected. In this paper, a summary evaluation on the major polluting events in China from 2002 to 2006 is presented and some basic lessons drawn shown. There is no a systematic pollution accident notification system currently in China. The results from root cause analysis underline the importance of emergency measures, maintenance, human factor issues and the role of safety organization. Chronic pollution, especially water pollution and air pollution should be paid the same attention as the sudden pollution. It is important to keep in mind that collecting information from major accidents represents a small percentage of the actual number of events taking place. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In order to promote cleaner production in China, a package of policy options was presented based on the identification of the barriers encountered in the CP demonstration project and the effectiveness and feasibility of policy options for the CP implementation were analyzed. Furthermore, the policy mechanism framework was given, which composes of compulsory, economic incentive, social pressure and supportive function. Finally, the implementation strategy of the policy mechanism, in which the emphasis will be changed from compulsory policy options towards economic and social pressure policy options, was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer necessitate a variety of supportive care needs. To our knowledge, no studies have been conducted that target specifically the supportive care needs of patients with lung cancer in Mainland China. Cross-cultural studies indicate that supportive care needs vary by cultural background. Thus, it is necessary to investigate the supportive care needs of patients with lung cancer in the cultural context of China. Purpose: This study aimed to describe the level of supportive care required by patients with lung cancer in China and to examine the relationships between supportive care needs and demographic factors and between supportive care needs and treatment variables. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was adopted. Five hundred fifty-four patients with lung cancer were recruited using a convenience sampling method from inpatient departments in four tertiary teaching hospitals that are affiliated with a medical university in Anhui Province, China. The Nursing Professional Social Support Needs Scale and background information list were used as the data collection instruments. A Wilcoxon rank sum test and a Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test were conducted to examine the differences among the professional supportive care needs of patients of different demographic characteristics and under different treatment conditions. Results: Participants self-reported the highest scores in the domain of informational needs (M = 3.67, interquartile range = 1.25). The most common supportive care need was "to be cared for by nurses with skilled venipuncture techniques." There were significant differences in needs across different genders, age groups, educational levels, and income levels (p <.05). Patients with metastasis and other illnesses had greater supportive care needs in terms of total and subscale scores in Stages III and IV (p <.05). Conclusions: Patients with serious diseases and heavy socioeconomic burdens have greater supportive care needs. Therefore, healthcare providers should improve their awareness and expertise to identify the needs of their patients and to provide supportive care to patients with lung cancer. In addition, patients with high supportive care needs should be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lake eutrophication has increasingly become a major environmental issue in China. Although significant efforts have been made towards its resolution in the last decade, most of the implemented control strategies are fragmented, and the formation of policy lacks of sound scientific basis and long-term objectives. Taking the well-known Dianchi Lake as a case study, this paper presented a comprehensive assessment for the effectiveness of various eutrophication control strategies. It is expected that the concluding lessons would have a major implication to future eutrophication control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are one of the most critical components of an ecosystem, supporting many ecological niches and a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The ecological significance of these sites makes it imperative to study the changes in their inundation extent and propose necessary measures for their conservation. This study analyzes all 64 Ramsar sites in China based on their inundation patterns using Landsat imagery from 1991 to 2020. Annual composites were generated using the short-wave infrared thresholding technique from June to September to create inundation maps. The analysis was carried out on each Ramsar site individually to account for its typical behavior due to regional geographical and climatic conditions. The results of the inundation analysis for each site were subjected to the Mann–Kendall test to determine their trends. The analysis showed that 8 sites exhibited a significantly decreasing trend, while 14 sites displayed a significantly increasing trend. The accuracy of the analysis ranged from a minimum of 72.0% for Hubei Wang Lake to a maximum of 98.0% for Zhangye Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve. The average overall accuracy of the sites was found to be 90.0%. The findings emphasize the necessity for conservation strategies and policies for Ramsar sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are one of the most critical components of an ecosystem, supporting many ecological niches and a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The ecological significance of these sites makes it imperative to study the changes in their inundation extent and propose necessary measures for their conservation. This study analyzes all 64 Ramsar sites in China based on their inundation patterns using Landsat imagery from 1991 to 2020. Annual composites were generated using the short-wave infrared thresholding technique from June to September to create inundation maps. The analysis was carried out on each Ramsar site individually to account for its typical behavior due to regional geographical and climatic conditions. The results of the inundation analysis for each site were subjected to the Mann–Kendall test to determine their trends. The analysis showed that 8 sites exhibited a significantly decreasing trend, while 14 sites displayed a significantly increasing trend. The accuracy of the analysis ranged from a minimum of 72.0% for Hubei Wang Lake to a maximum of 98.0% for Zhangye Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve. The average overall accuracy of the sites was found to be 90.0%. The findings emphasize the necessity for conservation strategies and policies for Ramsar sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural drought seriously threatens the food and ecological security of most of the world's developing countries. Data-driven integrated agricultural drought index with remote sensing provides an effective tool to monitor, evaluate, and predict the agricultural drought. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive analytical work on taking the most effective machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) methods to construct such integrated drought index. In other words, it is still unclear whether the recent DL methods can improve integrated drought monitoring as compared with the currently widely used ML methods. Therefore, we critically evaluated the performances of four representative DL methods (represents the four currently popular DL network types) i.e., Entity Embedding Deep Neural Network (EEDNN), One-dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (1D-CNN), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and Self-Attention Mechanism (SAM) and three widely used tree-based ML methods i.e., Cubist, Random Forest (RF), and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM), through constructing a QuickDRI like integrated drought index (abbreviated as QuickDRI-China). About 30 years of meteorological data, 14 years of remote sensing data, and various biophysical variables in China such as land use/land cover, available water capacity, irrigated agriculture, elevation, and ecoregion were employed in this study. Results showed that the EEDNN performed best, followed by the RF and LGBM, and then the other methods including the currently wide used Cubist, according to the station accuracy evaluations, spatial description evaluations, and responses to specific drought event. The tree-based ML methods such as RF and LGBM are still competitive in constructing the integrated agricultural drought index at the current stage. However, the higher accuracy, the smoother spatial description, and the more responsive ability of the EEDNN demonstrate great potential of DL methods. The future integrated agricultural drought monitoring with remote sensing should develop a specialized DL network for heterogeneous agricultural drought features. • Various deep learning approaches were examined for integrated drought monitoring. • Tree-based ensemble learning methods were effective. • Deep learning has unique advantages for assessing spatial description of agricultural drought. • Deep learning has great potential to improve integrated drought monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: To investigate quality of life (QoL) of family caregivers of people with schizophrenia and examine the influencing factors of the QoL in a Chinese rural area. Methods: This study included people with schizophrenia (n = 269) and their family caregivers (n = 269) from Xinjin district, Chengdu, China. Family caregivers' QoL was measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Form and its influencing factors was analyzed by the multivariate regression. Results: Family caregivers of people with schizophrenia had very poor QoL across four domains. The regression analysis showed that physical domain of QoL was significantly associated with age, psychiatric symptoms of people with schizophrenia, and caregiving burden of family caregivers (p < 0.05). Psychological domain of QoL was significantly related to family caregivers' affiliate stigma, caregiving burden, and psychiatric symptoms of people with schizophrenia (p < 0.05). Social domain of QoL was significantly associated with age and psychiatric symptoms of people with schizophrenia, and affiliate stigma of family caregivers (p < 0.05). Environmental domain of QoL was significantly related to age and psychiatric symptoms of people with schizophrenia, and family caregivers' caregiving burden (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Family caregivers of people with schizophrenia had poor QoL in rural China. Family caregivers' QoL is significantly impacted by age and psychiatric symptoms of people with schizophrenia, caregivers' affiliate stigma and caregiving burden. Providing social support and psychosocial interventions for family caregivers of people with schizophrenia might be crucial to improve their QoL and caregiving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Yudongzi BIFs were formed at ca. 2.8 Ga, and suffered two-stage metamorphism. • Yudongzi BIFs were formed on the back–arc basin setting. • Yudongzi complex combined to Yangtze Block later than Paleoproterozoic. The Yudongzi banded iron formations (BIFs) are widely spread in the Neoarchean Yudongzi Group of the Bikou Terrane, Central China. Their sedimentary and metamorphic ages, however, remain controversial, either their forming or reworking processes. In this contribution, we conducted an integrated study of zircon U-Pb-Hf isotope geochemistry, as well as mineral and bulk-rock geochemistry on the Heishan'gou iron deposit, the largest iron deposit of the Yudongzi BIFs, to constrain their formation and metamorphism ages, source of ore-forming material and tectonic setting. Mineral chemistry analysis indicates that the amphibolite, host-rock of the Heishan'gou deposit suffered amphibolite facies metamorphism. LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircon grains from orthometamorphic host-rocks suggests that the Heishan'gou deposit was formed at the early Neoarchean (2781 ± 43 Ma for amphibolite and 2776 ± 43 Ma for plagioclase-hornblende schist), and metamorphosed at ca. 2480 ± 26 Ma and 1818 ± 44 Ma, respectively. The low contents of aluminum, titanium and high field strength elements in BIFs suggest that they are detritus-free marine chemical precipitates. The rare earth elements (REE) and Y patterns of BIFs display seawater-like signatures with light REE depletion, and positive La and Y anomalies. Meanwhile, their positive Eu anomalies suggest that submarine hydrothermal fluid might also be involved in the precipitation of BIFs. Combined with zircon Hf isotope data and geochemical compositions of amphibolites, it is proposed that the Yudongzi BIFs should be formed at back-arc basin setting. Compared with the representative Archean continent nucleus of the Yangtze Block (Kongling Complex), the Yudongzi Complex experienced distinct crustal evolutionary history. It indicates that the Yudongzi Complex might represent the accretionary block combined to the Yangtze continental nucleus later than the Paleoproterozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The increasing prevalence of mental illness and low treatment rate presents a pressing public health issue in China. Pervasive stigma is a significant barrier to mental health recovery and community inclusion. In particular, stigmatizing or supportive attitudes held by healthcare providers could either perpetuate or mitigate self-stigma of people with mental illness. Moreover, mental health resources are unevenly distributed in China, with most of them concentrated in urban centers and provincial capitals. This study explores healthcare providers' attitudes toward mental illness and the challenges they faced at work in a rural Chinese county. Method: Four focus groups were conducted with 36 healthcare providers from a three-tier mental healthcare system in a rural county in southwestern China. Focus group discussions were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The team employed a conventional content analysis approach for data analysis. All transcripts were double-coded by three bilingual team members who are native Chinese speakers. Coding discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Results: Healthcare providers recruited from the county, township, and village levels varied in educational background, professional qualification, and experience of working with people with mental illness. Five thematic categories identified across four groups include (1) barriers to mental healthcare delivery, (2) keys to mental health recovery, (3) providers' attitudes toward providing care, (4) providers' perception toward patients and family members, and (5) providers' perception of training needs. Conclusions: This is a unique study that included healthcare providers from a three-tier healthcare system. Findings signal the importance of understanding healthcare practitioners' experiences and views to inform the design of training initiatives in rural or low-resource communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) has become a leading cause of global blindness as a microvascular complication of diabetes. Regular screening of diabetic retinopathy is strongly recommended for people with diabetes so that timely treatment can be provided to reduce the incidence of visual impairment. However, DR screening is not well carried out due to lack of eye care facilities, especially in the rural areas of China. Artificial intelligence (AI) based DR screening has emerged as a novel strategy and show promising diagnostic performance in sensitivity and specificity, relieving the pressure of the shortage of facilities and ophthalmologists because of its quick and accurate diagnosis. In this study, we estimated the cost-effectiveness of AI screening for DR in rural China based on Markov model, providing evidence for extending use of AI screening for DR.Methods: We estimated the cost-effectiveness of AI screening and compared it with ophthalmologist screening in which fundus images are evaluated by ophthalmologists. We developed a Markov model-based hybrid decision tree to analyze the costs, effectiveness and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of AI screening strategies relative to no screening strategies and ophthalmologist screening strategies (dominated) over 35 years (mean life expectancy of diabetes patients in rural China). The analysis was conducted from the health system perspective (included direct medical costs) and societal perspective (included medical and nonmedical costs). Effectiveness was analyzed with quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The robustness of results was estimated by performing one-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic analysis.Results: From the health system perspective, AI screening and ophthalmologist screening had incremental costs of $180.19 and $215.05 but more quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) compared with no screening. AI screening had an ICER of $1,107.63. From the societal perspective which considers all direct and indirect costs, AI screening had an ICER of $10,347.12 compared with no screening, below the cost-effective threshold (1-3 times per capita GDP of Chinese in 2019).Conclusions: Our analysis demonstrates that AI-based screening is more cost-effective compared with conventional ophthalmologist screening and holds great promise to be an alternative approach for DR screening in the rural area of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nothotsuga is a monotypic genus of Pinaceae endemic to southern China today. Molecular data indicate that Nothotsuga split from Tsuga during the Palaeogene with the earliest fossils from the upper Eocene of North Europe. However, Nothotsuga fossil has not been reported from China. Here, we describe several well-preserved seed cones from the upper Miocene of Tiantai County, Zhejiang Province, China. The fossil cones are characterised by ovate to elliptic shapes, rhombic to suborbicular and auriculate scales, and exserted subspathulate bracts with dentate margin and acute or acuminate apical cusp. These cones are ascribed to a new species Nothotsuga sinogaia sp. nov. based on detailed comparisons with all extant genera of Pinaceae. The present discovery indicate that Nothotsuga had a more northern distribution during the late Miocene and the increased annual range of monthly-mean temperature might have restricted its modern distribution to several scattered and fragmental areas in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The concentrations and depositional fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in a dated sediment core collected from a tidal flat in Haizhou Bay, China. The USEPA''s 16 priority PAH concentrations ranged from 72.51ngg−1 dw in 1969 to 805.21ngg−1 dw in 2010, while the deposition fluxes were in the range of 102.36–861.02ngcm−2 yr−1. The PAH concentrations and fluxes changed dramatically with depth, suggesting changes in energy usage and corresponding closely with the historical economic development of eastern China. The levels of PAHs slightly increased from the late 1970s, following China''s “Reform and Open” policy of 1978; however, a drastic increase in the concentration of PAHs observed in 1990 was indicative of the rapid growth in coal and petroleum incomplete combustion byproducts, which was associated with the increase in economic development in this area. Furthermore, isomer ratio analysis and principle component analysis revealed the main anthropogenic pyrolytic source that causes PAH contamination in the coastal sediment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Coleus forskohlii (Lamiaceae) cultivates imperishably over the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia; extracts from the roots and aerial parts of C. forskohlii are widely employed for the therapy of respiratory disorders, gastro-intestinal disturbance, heart diseases, and central nervous system disorders. The morphologies and structures of trichomes from C. forskohlii, as well as phytochemicals they secrete in China-origin plants are poorly unstated. Objectives: This study was intended to characterize the morphology and structure of trichomes and the profile of their secretory materials. Materials and Methods: To characterize the morphology and structure of trichomes, which happen on the vegetative and reproductive organs of C. forskohlii, it was employed light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The chemical qualities of volatile compounds from Glandular trichomes (GTs) of C. forskohlii were also studied using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and histochemical reactions. Results: Four morphologically distinct trichomes, i.e., non GTs, peltate GTs, Type 1 and 2 capitate GTs, were categorized. Histochemical study naked the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, lipids, and terpenes in the GTs. Essential oils, isolated from mature leaves by hydro-distillation, were investigated by GC-MS and 41 compounds were acknowledged with oxygen-containing sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes as the major compounds. Conclusion: Secretory materials of GTs attained by surface extraction also indicated the precise features in the China-origin samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six new triterpenes, uncarinic acids KP (1–6), along with 24 known analogues, were isolated as minor constituents of an aqueous decoction of the hook-bearing stems of Uncaria rhynchophylla (Gou-teng). By comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis, their structures were elucidated as derivatives of olean-12-en-28-oic acid and urs-12-en-28-oic acid with different oxidized forms at C-3, C-6, and/or C-23, respectively. Cell-based preliminary bioassay showed that the (E)-/(Z)-coumaroyloxy and (E)-/(Z)-feruloyloxy units at C-27 of olean-12-en-28-oic acid and urs-12-en-28-oic acid played roles in their bioactivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russula griseocarnosa is one of the uncultivable important mycorrhizal edible fungi. Currently, there is a limited insight into the dynamic composition of the microbial communities associated with Russula. Here, the microbiota in the root and mycorrhizosphere from Russula -Fagaceae nature areas of Fujian province were identified by Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing. First, we compared three types of fungal communities associated with Russula -Fagaceae root mycelia-running stage (stage-1), Russula sporocarping stage-2 (stage-2) and Russula -free Fagaceae root (stage-3). Fungal diversity negatively correlated with Russula. Russula , Tomentella and Lactarius were core EcM in Fagaceae roots. A total of eight genera, including Boletus , are likely a positive indicator of Russula sporocarp production in Russula -Fagaceae roots, while Tomentella and Elaphomyces for Russula symbiosis. Secondly, analysis of fungal and bacterial communities within rhizosphere soils from the three stages revealed six genera, including Dacryobolus and Acidocella , as possible indicator species associated with sporocarping in Russula. Elaphomyces , Tomentella, Sorangium , Acidicaldus , Acidobacterium and Haliangium occurred more frequently in the Russula rhizosphere. Furthermore, operational taxonomic unit (OTU) network analysis showed a positive correlation between Russula , Tomentella , Elaphomyces and Sorangium. Overall, our results revealed a relationship between micro-community and Russula , which may provide a new strategy for improving Russula symbiosis and sporocarp production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation coupled with chlor(am)ination process is ubiquitous in secondary water supply systems in many cities of China. However, the disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation in a UV-activated mixed chlorine/chloramine system (MCCS) still remains unclear. In this study, the DBPs formation in a UV-activated MCCS was systematically investigated, considering influencing factors including the mass ratios of free chlorine to NH 2 Cl, UV irradiation, pH values, NOM types, Br− concentration and toxicity of the DBPs. Results indicated that DBPs formation decreased remarkably as mass ratio of free chlorine to NH 2 Cl changed from 5:0 to 0:5. The DBPs formation in humic acid (HA)-containing water was the highest, followed by those in fulvic acid (FA) and algal organic matter (AOM). Besides, better control of the DBP-related calculated toxicity can be achieved in acidic conditions regardless of the UV irradiation. Furthermore, in the presence of Br−, a significant reduction of DBPs formation could be achieved in a UV-activated MCCS. The findings also demonstrated that DBPs formation in real water can be effectively reduced at high UV fluence in a MCCS. ga1 • Mass ratio of HOCl/NH 2 Cl and UV irradiation significantly affected DBPs formation. • UV-activated MCC process reduced DBPs formation in alkaline conditions. • UV irradiation could control DBPs formation in Br−-containing water during MCC process. • MCC process achieved DBPs control in real water at high UV fluence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The petroleum industry plays an essential role in driving China's economic development. In the past few decades, several reforms in the petroleum industry have been implemented; however, there are still some issues that have not been resolved. Moreover, with the new-normal economy, the transition to green energy and international trade disputes, the petroleum market is also facing emerging challenges. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to review the historical development of China's petroleum market, identify the current challenges and propose corresponding countermeasures for future prospects. As a conclusion, five main challenges are highlighted totally, namely lack of marketization, excess oil refining capacity, high external dependency, environment pollution and unstable international trading relationship. To address these challenges, it is encouraged to deepen petroleum market reform, accelerate the elimination of inefficient refining capacity, diversify oil supply sources, as well as improve domestic petroleum enterprises' ability to resist price risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Recently, increasing studies have revealed that leptin is involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study is aimed at exploring the association of leptin gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with susceptibility to RA in a Chinese population. Methods. We recruited 600 RA patients and 600 healthy controls from a Chinese population and analyzed their three leptin SNPs (rs10244329, rs2071045, and rs2167270) using the improved Multiplex Ligase Detection Reaction (iMLDR) assays. The associations of these SNPs with clinical manifestations of RA were also analyzed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed for plasma leptin determination. Results. No significant difference in either allele or genotype frequencies of these three SNPs between RA patients and healthy controls was observed (all P > 0.05). Association between the genotype effects of dominant, recessive models was also not found (all P > 0.05). No significant difference in plasma leptin levels was detected between RA patients and controls (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Leptin gene (rs10244329, rs2071045, and rs2167270) polymorphisms are not associated with RA genetic susceptibility and its clinical features in the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To date, the missed diagnosis rate of pulmonary hypertension (PH) was high, and there has been limited development of a rapid, simple, and effective way to screen the disease. The purpose of this study is to develop a deep learning approach to achieve rapid detection of possible abnormalities in chest radiographs suggesting PH for screening patients suspected of PH. Methods: We retrospectively collected frontal chest radiographs and the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) value measured by Doppler transthoracic echocardiography from 762 patients (357 healthy controls and 405 with PH) from three institutes in China from January 2013 to May 2019. The wohle sample comprised 762 images (641 for training, 80 for internal test, and 41 for external test). We firstly performed a 8-fold cross-validation on the 641 images selected for training (561 for pre-training, 80 for validation), then decided to tune learning rate to 0.0008 according to the best score on validation data. Finally, we used all the pre-training and validation data (561+80 = 641) to train our models (Resnet50, Xception, and Inception V3), evaluated them on internal and external test dataset to classify the images as having manifestations of PH or healthy according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC/ROC). After that, the three deep learning models were further used for prediction of PASP using regression algorithm. Moreover, we invited an experienced chest radiologist to classify the images in the test dataset as having PH or not, and compared the prediction accuracy performed by deep learing models with that of manual classification. Results: The AUC performed by the best model (Inception V3) achieved 0.970 in the internal test, and slightly declined in the external test (0.967) when using deep learning algorithms to classify PH from normal based on chest X-rays. The mean absolute error (MAE) of the best model for prediction of PASP value was smaller in the internal test (7.45) compared to 9.95 in the external test. Manual classification of PH based on chest X-rays showed much lower AUCs compared to that performed by deep learning models both in the internal and external test. Conclusions: The present study used deep learning algorithms to classify abnormalities suggesting PH in chest radiographs with high accuracy and good generalizability. Once tested prospectively in clinical settings, the technology could provide a non-invasive and easy-to-use method to screen patients suspected of having PH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. To identify and analyze factors that influence administration, recognition, and compliance of medicine among community residents in Jilin Province, China. Methods. A survey was carried out among 2417 community residents in Jilin Province, China, to study their administration (CRA), recognition (CRR), and compliance (CRC) of medicine. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and chi-squared tests were performed to assess factors influencing CRA, CRR, and CRC. Results. Logistic analyses showed that gender, educational level, and occupation were influencing factors on CRA; age, educational level, smoking status, and health condition were influencing factors on CRR; and gender, age, occupation, and health condition were influencing factors on CRC. Conclusions. CRA, CRR, and CRC are associated with specific lifestyles and social economic statuses of community residents. Attention should be paid to influencing factors in order to facilitate community pharmaceutical care, promote the rational use of drugs, and ensure the safe use of medications. This study explores the type and extent of professional services provided through community pharmacies in Jilin Province, China, and provides evidence for optimizing the quality of community pharmacy services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice-crab culture is the characteristic rice ecological breeding model used in the Panjin area of Liaohe River Basin, China, and it can improve the ecological environment and create increased economic benefits. From a food perspective, both rice yield and quality, which are closely related to the fertilization mode, should be considered. However, the effect of different fertilization modes on rice quality has not been comprehensively investigated in this co-culture system. This study investigated the effects of three fertilization modes(FP1, FP2, and OPT) divided according to different fertilization types and methods on rice yield and quality, and set up a non-fertilized control group. In the rice-crab culture system, FP2 used fewer fertilizers and had a lower economic cost, and the yield was only slightly less than that of OPT(highest yield) but there was no statistical difference. FP2 elicited the best appearance quality and better cooking and eating quality among all treatment modes. Compared with CK, three fertilization modes significantly increased the protein content in rice and decreased the amylose content, which would lead to the deterioration of rice eating quality. However FP2 had the least protein increase and the least amylose reduction. There was no significant change in crude fat and starch content. Therefore, the FP2 fertilization mode was the best choice for the rice-crab culture system, as it significantly improved rice yield and increased rice quality at a relatively low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to compare the treatment status between older (≥65 years) and younger adults (18-64 years) with severe mental illness (SMI) and explore factors associated with treatment status in rural China. Persons with SMI were identified in one mental health survey in 2015 in 6 townships of Xinjin County, Chengdu, China. Logistic regressions were conducted to explore factors associated with treatment status. Older adults with SMI, especially major depressive disorder, reported significantly lower rates of treatment than younger group. Older age, longer duration of illness, and poor mental status were risk factors for never-treated status in these patients. Never-treated status (46.3%) and poor treatment status in these older patients are serious issues. Different treatment statuses in these patients had various influencing factors. It is crucial to develop culture-specific, community-based mental health services to improve early identification, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of older adults with SMI in rural China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia nitrogen (AN) is evaluated with fixed water quality standards (WQSs) in aquatic environment management in China. Since the toxicity of AN can be influenced by water parameters, the current evaluation is not rigorous and may result in problematic conclusions. The present study collected the ecotoxicity and exposure data of AN in Chinese surface freshwaters in 2017. The species sensitivity distribution of AN was established, and the ecological risk posed by AN in Chinese surface waters was assessed with Chinese AN water quality criteria. The results showed that mollusk species are the most sensitive taxa to AN. Ecological risk assessments on AN suggested that, in summer and autumn, when the water temperature and pH are high, the risk of AN may occur at some sites with good water quality (Class II or III). This poses a threat to aquatic organisms at these sites, especially highly sensitive freshwater shellfish. It suggested that neglect of water parameters impact may lead to underestimation of ecological risk of AN in Chinese basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newborn ear deformity can be performed through Earwell infant ear correction system as a non-surgical treatment to avoid plastic surgery. In the newborn period, the auricle is soft and the cartilage is plastic, the deformed auricle shape can be treated by mechanical action. From April 2016 to December 2018, we selected the patients who underwent Earwell non-invasive correction system in Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University for newborn ear deformities, and analyze the treatment age, treatment time, efficiency and complication of these patients. There were 105 patients with 141 ears underwent Earwell non-invasive correction system for newborn ear deformities. The average age for treatment is 2.16 ± 2.28 months (0.23–12.0 months). The average treatment time is 1.14 ± 0.57 months (0.33–4.0 months). The treatment outcomes show 109 ears get excellent results, 27 ears good results and 5 ears poor results. For complications, there were 6 patients had localized skin rash and 5 had skin lesion which were cured after 3–5 days. Nine patients had different degree of recurrence. The treatment age less than 6 weeks had a better results than treatment age old than 6 weeks (χ2 = 4.48, p < 0.05). Except 5 poor results patients, the treatment efficiency is 96.4% (136/141) in this study. The Earwell infant ear correction system is proven to be a simple, non-invasive, high-efficiency, low-cost treatment method, which is more effective than traditional plastic surgery, and treatment efficiency of different types ear deformities can reach more than 95% in China. It is important to ensure the early treatment during the first 6 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Characteristics of four biorefinery methods were compared shoulder by shoulder. • Photo-fermentation biohydrogen production exhibited the greatest economy. • Biomethane presented a maximum yield of 196.0 mL and gross thermal of 6468.4 J/gDM. • Target product of biomethane had the highest CO 2 emissions of 196.01 mL/g DM. Biorefinery technology promotes the realization of the Paris Agreement, China's achievement of its carbon peak, and carbon neutralization. Photo-fermentation biohydrogen production, dark fermentation biohydrogen production, biomethane production, and bioethanol production are several promising biorefinery methods. In this study, corn stover was used as the raw material, and the gas, liquid, and kinetic characteristics of four biorefinery methods were investigated. The production yield, gross thermal energy, economy, and greenhouse gas emissions of the target product per gram of corn stover were studied. The maximum yields of photo-fermentation biohydrogen production, dark fermentation biohydrogen production, biomethane production, and bioethanol production were 68.4 mL/g dry matter (DM), 47.4 mL/g DM, 196.0 mL/g DM, and 2.7 g/L, respectively. The maximum gross thermal energy obtained from biomethane production was 7017.3 J/g DM. The maximum economy of 1.4 RMB/g DM was observed in photo-fermentation biohydrogen production. The highest greenhouse gas emission of the target product from biomethane production was 196.0 mL/g DM. The results provide a reference for the efficient utilization of biomass resources and a comprehensive evaluation of biorefinery technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]