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Some seriously weathered jades of Fubin culture were unearthed at the Moyishan site in Lingnan, South China. These long-buried jades have many secondary changes such as discoloration, microstructural change and chemical composition variation. To explore the formation mechanism of secondary changes, the microstructure, mineral components, and chemical content of the jade samples and their buried soil are analyzed separately. The jade with red-brown shell is preserved well and shows better structural stability, further research indicates that it's the result of surface complexation reactions. During the long-term burial in acidic soil environment, the jade wrapped in the negatively charged kaolinite which absorbed Fe3+ to complexed on the jade surface. Iron(ⅲ) precipitates causes the dense shell to appear red-brown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 5 central lymph nodes metastases (CLNM) or lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) indicates a higher risk of recurrence in low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and may lead to completion thyroidectomy (CTx) in patients initially undergoing lobectomy. To screen potentially high-risk patients from low-risk patients by using preoperative and intraoperative clinicopathological features to predict lymph node status. A retrospective analysis of 8301 PTC patients in Wuhan Union Hospital database (2009–2021) was performed according to the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) and 2021 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, respectively. Logistic regression and best subsets regression were used to identify risk factors. Nomograms were established and externally validated using the Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in China cohort. More than 5 CLNM or LLNM was detected in 1648 (19.9%) patients. Two predictive models containing age, gender, maximum tumor size, free thyroxine (FT4) and palpable node (all p < 0.05) were established. The nomogram based on NCCN criteria showed better discriminative power and consistency with a specificity of 0.706 and a sensitivity of 0.725, and external validation indicated that 76% of potentially high-risk patients could achieve preoperative conversion of surgical strategy. Models based on large cohorts with good predictive performance were constructed and validated. Preoperative low-risk (T1-2N0M0) patients with age younger than 40 years, male gender, large tumor size, low FT4 and palpable nodes may be at high risk of LLNM or more than 5 CLNM, and they should receive more aggressive initial therapy to reduce CTx. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The price of photovoltaics (PV) has been steadily decreasing over the last decade, and many reports suggest that PV has become considerably cheaper than conventional electricity sources. In this paper, we critically evaluate the PV grid parity and use China as a case study. China is an interesting case study due to the wealth of data combined with the recent decrease in financial subsidies. Electricity costs are commonly compared in the literature using levelized costs of electricity (LCOE). However traditional LCOE analyses neglect important cost factors that are specific to PV, in particular the cost of grid integration. Here, we demonstrate that system LCOE calculation more accurately estimates the grid parity of PV. We find that the integration costs account for 15% of the total system costs, which cannot be neglected with the higher penetration of PV in the electricity system. Further, provincial grid parity indexes are greater than 1, indicating that the grid parity from a system LCOE perspective has not yet been achieved. The learning rate of Chinese PV is still relatively small, and we estimate that grid parity for PV in China will be achieved between 2020 and 2032, depending on the region. These findings shed new light on assessing grid parity of PV systems by considering relevant local parameters and thereby offer an assessment method framework and prediction modeling for assessing grid parity of PV installations. • This paper assesses PV's commercial feasibility in the current electricity market. • Grid parity is estimated using a new approach of system LCOE and learning curve. • The impacts of system LCOE and electricity price on grid parity are investigated. • The additional grid integration costs amount for 15% of total PV system costs. • Grid parity from a system LCOE perspective will be achieved between 2020 and 2032. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extremal spatial dependence of significant wave height (H S) in the South China Sea (SCS) is discussed by combining altimeter observations of ocean satellites and ERA5 reanalysis dataset from the period 2011–2023. A spatial conditional extremes (SCE) model allowing different classes of extremal dependence is established, which uses a reliable Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) scheme to realize the parameter inference. In this work, four transects are selected in the northern South China Sea (NSCS) and the central South China Sea (CSCS) respectively, which are approximately southwest-northeast (SW-NE) and northwest-southeast (NW-SE), and the H S data is transformed to the standard Laplace scale. The model fitting results show that the extremal dependence characteristics of different regions and directions in the SCS are different. The mean dependence of H S in NSCS decays faster than in CSCS, and the mean dependence on NW-SE transects decays faster than SW-NE transects. In general, the SW-NE transect in CSCS is observed a longer-range extremal dependence, which is potentially related to the storm direction in the SCS. • Simultaneous events of extreme oceans at multiple locations often have greater risks. • Important to analyze the spatial dependence of extreme wave height. • Satellite altimeter (HY-2) and ERA5 reanalysis dataset incorporated. • Spatial conditional extremes model used to quantify extremal spatial dependence of the effective wave heights for four transects in the South China Sea. • Extreme wave height shows greater extremal dependence from southwest to northeast than from northwest to southeast in the central South China Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding social-ecological interactions is a major research priority for sustainable management. However, the scarcity in multi-decadal records represents a big gap in information that hinders the development of above research. In this paper, we propose a framework to explore the long-term dynamic mechanisms between social and ecological systems, and present a case study in the Erhai basin, southwest China. Using paleolimnological proxies to reconstruct the long-term trends of ecological changes, the social-ecological system (SES) framework links the variations of ecosystem services (ESs) and ecosystem functions with social policies. According to the results of the Erhai basin, there were increasing social demands and wanted provisioning ESs but degraded ecosystem functions over the last 70 years. Typically, the introduction of four major Chinese carps since the 1950s, the construction of hydropower stations on the Xi'er river since the 1970s, and the development of tourism since the 1990s, have been implemented to meet the social demands for wanted fish provisioning, hydroelectricity provisioning, and culture services respectively. Although there were temporary benefits in above desired services, improper strategies have gradually impaired the functions of native fish diversity, hydrodynamic forces, and nutrient cycling. Degraded ecosystem functions threatened the sustainable provision of wanted ESs, which motivated the implementation of subsequent social policies, such as the fishing ban after the 1950s, water level control after the 1970s and restoration projects after the 1990s. By rounds of renewed social drivers/policies, the social system and ecosystem in the Erhai basin are tightly connected in the form of a feedback loop in the SES, rendering dynamic changes in wanted ESs. The current social-ecological trap in the Erhai basin emphasizes the significance of SES framework and advantages of a paleolimnological approach in revealing the long-term SES dynamics, which can help tailor proper management measures in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We drilled a core in Tingming Lake (located at the tree line) to conduct pollen and diatom analyses. The pollen record shows that the vegetation ecosystem is very stable and has no obvious regime shift signals, although the vegetable belt has moved gradually upward or downward under the backdrop of climate change. There may be a positive relationship between the vegetation ecosystem stability and the turnover component (β sim). Diatoms, which record the lake ecosystem, show an obvious regime shift signal in 1929 AD, which was possibly was due to environmental changes or decreased nutrient inputs. However, there were fluctuations in species richness and species dissimilarity and there was a slightly increased β diversity (β sor), which was mainly interpreted by the increased turnover component (β sim). It is difficult to determine the relationship between the unstable stability and diversity fluctuations. Therefore, the relationships between diversity and stability in the adjacent vegetation and lake ecosystems are different. It is possible that β diversity partitioning may lead to an improved understanding of ecosystem stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Zinc hydrometallurgical residues are resource but hazardous. • Metal bioavailability of lead-silver and jarosite residues was examined for the first time. • Zinc hydrometallurgical residues show a significant leaching toxicity and metal mobility. About 80 % of zinc is produced by "roasting-leaching-purifying-electrodeposition". Lead-silver and jarosite residues are generated during this process, posing a serious threat to the ecosystem and environment since it contains a lot of heavy metals such as Pb. To better understand metal mobility and toxicity of these two zinc hydrothermal residues, it was analyzed by standard leaching toxicity procedures, bioavailability test and sequential extraction procedures. The results showed that the main phases of lead-silver and jarosite residues are KFe 3 (SO 4) 2 (OH) 6 , CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O, PbSO 4 , Fe 3 O 4 and ZnFe 2 O 4. These two residues contain a high content of Fe, Pb and Zn and also a significant amount of precious metals, such as Ag and In, showing a great resource potential. Meanwhile, lead-silver and jarosite residues are classified as hazardous waste both in China and the USA since their toxicity leaching concentration of Cd, Pb and Se exceeds the threshold of 1, 5 and 1 ppm. Metals contained in these two residues could easily be released to the environment, especially Cd, Pb and Zn, though metals are mainly in the form of residual, higher than 85 %. In addition, lead-silver and jarosite residues also show a significant biohazardous potential since EDTA and DTPA extractable Zn, Pb, Mn, Cd, Cu and As of these two residues are considerably high. All these results could help the zinc manufactories, governments and also the recycling companies better understand the risk of zinc hydrometallurgical residues and urge them to hind this harm to the ecosystem, and most importantly the human being itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driving factors are usually assumed temporally stationary in cellular automata (CA) based land use modeling, hence the persistence of their relationships. Therefore, major questions as to how much do the temporally stationary factors explain the past and future urban growth, and how long can these factors justify the projection of urban scenarios in the future, are worth further study. We selected seven explanatory driving factors to calibrate a DE-CA (differential evolution-based CA) model to simulate urban growth in Ningbo of China during 2000–2015 and project nine scenarios of urban growth from 2015 to 2060. We evaluated the effects of factors on urban growth using generalized additive models (GAM) based on fitting statistics such as accumulative deviance explained (ADE). Our results show remarkably temporal change in factor effects on the future urban growth – the ADE peaks with 34.7% in 2045 for the total projected urban growth since 2015 while that for every five years decreases continuously from 26.5% during 2000–2005 to 1.9% during 2050–2055, but slightly increase to 3.0% during 2055–2060. These indicate that the stationary factors have less strong explanatory power to the new urban areas that are farther away from the existing built-up areas. The results suggest that a 30-year period in the future is most suitable to project the urban growth scenarios, where the new urban area approximates the initial urban area. The specific best period for scenario projection elsewhere can then be identified using the method presented in this study. • We calibrated a DE-CA model using temporally stationary factors. • We simulated and projected the urban growth in Ningbo from 2000 to 2060. • We evaluated the effects of factors on urban growth using generalized additive models. • The dominant factors that drive the future urban growth differ over time. • A 30-year period in future is most suitable to project the urban growth scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We analyze Pb content and Pb isotope ratios in 29 surface sediments and one sediment core from the eastern Beibu Gulf, Southern China. The results indicate that obvious Pb enrichment was limited to the oil and gas exploration area in the central gulf and the mud deposit in the northern gulf. The enrichment of Pb in sediment core A97 started in the 1860s, but a notable drop of Pb content occurred in the 1970s, suggesting variations in human activity. The Pb isotope ratios in sediments were very similar to those in natural sources, except for the sediments near the oil platform, which may be polluted by anthropogenic input. Sediments with relatively high radiogenic Pb isotope compositions may be mainly sourced from northern coast of Beibu Gulf, sediment flux through Qiongzhou Strait, or the Red River, while the coastal zone of western Hainan Island and nearby bottom erosion area produce as minor provenances. Highlights • Higher Pb contents appeared near Qiongzhou Bay in the northern Beibu Gulf. • The Pb is mainly natural rock weathering products, not anthropogenic inputs. • The Pb from human activities play important roles in oil-gas exploration areas. • Core A97 Pb showed an enrichment since 1860s, but a notable drop in 1970s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterocytozoon bieneusi has been considered as the most frequently diagnosed microsporidian species in humans and various animal species, accounting for more than 90% of the cases of human microsporidiosis. Spores of this pathogen excreted from both symptomatic and asymptomatic hosts into environment also would be an important source of waterborne outbreak of microsporidiosis. Due to limited effective drugs available but with too much side effects to mammals (eg. toxic), accurate characterization of E. bieneusi in both humans and animals is essential to implement effective control strategies to this pathogen. In China, E. bieneusi infection was presented in humans and some animals with high prevalence. Analysis of genetic variations of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences found 361 genotypes in China, and some novel genotypes were identified in some specific hosts. Additionally, associations between infections and some risk factors were also observed. In the present article, we reviewed the current status of prevalence, genotypes, multilocus genotypes (MLGs) in humans, various animals and waters in China. These findings will provide basic information for developing effective control strategies against E. bieneusi infection in China as well as other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Heterogeneity index(H) is a structural parameter describing the distribution of species associations. • H is proposed to unveil the species turnover in community in this paper. • Eight lakes exhibit a eutrophication trend with different degrees from the 1950s. • H , species richness, evenness and Jaccard index respond differently to eutrophication. • H can serve as a complementary biodiversity metric to quantify functional diversity. Anthropogenic eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems has had significant negative effects on biodiversity and human wellbeing. Improving our understanding of the ways in which biological communities respond to eutrophication underlies biodiversity conservation, and diversity metrics like species richness and evenness are often used to assess environmental impacts on biodiversity. However, such studies mainly consider overall gain and loss, ignoring species replacement in community succession. This paper combines paleolimnology and network science to propose a heterogeneity index (H) to measure community successions by linking long-term changes in community structure with environmental stress. Eight lakes of different types in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin (MLYB) were selected, and we focused on diatom communities to reconstruct their ecological trajectories after significant anthropogenic impact. The combined results suggested that human impacts have caused eutrophication in each lake since the 1950s, but led to different degrees of impact on the diatom communities. In hypereutrophic lakes, diatom assemblages shifted to high-nutrient tolerance and the proportions of epiphytic-benthic species decreased, while in mildly eutrophic lakes, a switch to mild-nutrient tolerant assemblages occurred in planktonic and epiphytic-benthic species with no change in epiphytic-benthic proportions. The H of diatom communities declined in hypereutrophic lakes, but changed little in mildly eutrophic lakes after the 1950s. Meanwhile, no regular changes in diversity indicators such as richness, evenness and the Jaccard-index occurred with lake eutrophication. The ordered species turnover in nutrient-enriched diatom communities may account for the discrepancies in H and the above indices, such as ordered epiphytic-benthic species being replaced by higher nutrient-tolerant and planktonic species with no necessarily attendant reduction in species richness. By quantifying the alteration of species associations without being influenced by species diversity, the H index effectively reveals the succession of diatom communities, and can therefore serve as a complementary indicator of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Global push, environmental benefits and economic benefits are key drivers. • Integrate national policies with GID, urban development and land use policies. • Green Infrastructure Strategy for Urban Areas is one of the most important solutions. Global efforts are underway to mitigate and adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change. Green infrastructure development (GID) has been a centre of attention for the policymakers, experts, and the governments as an indispensable development. Similarly, The Chinese government has also put forth serious policy initiatives to promote GID in the economy. However, there is immense potential to turn traditional infrastructure into green infrastructure. For this objective to achieve, the identification, analysis, and prioritization of driving factors and strategies for GID is imperious. The present study serves this purpose by identifying 10 driving factors, 38 sub-factors, and 5 alternative solution strategies to GID in China. The study uses a fuzzy-based multi-criteria decision support framework for the analysis. The Fuzzy AHP analysis revealed global drive to GID, environmental benefitting factors, and economic benefits as leading driving factors of GID.. The evaluation and prioritization of alternative solution strategies for GID through Fuzzy WASPAS concludes the strategy of green infrastructure (GI) in urban areas as the best strategy to develop GI. The study provides a comprehensive and more in-depth understanding of GID in China. The findings of the study would support the policymakers, managers, and governments to stimulate the GID process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To protect the limited forest resources, forestry soils for Panax ginseng cultivation is gradually replaced by farmland, but the extent to which soil type and cultivation age affects soil microbiome in the ginseng rhizosphere is not well known. By using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S and ITS2 rRNA genes, we tested the effects of two soil types (forest, and farmland) and three cultivation ages (four, five, and six years) on soil microbiome in the ginseng rhizosphere from nine locations in Jilin Province, China. Relative abundance and diversity of rhizosphere microbes differed among soil samples, and Ascomycota, Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi were the dominant phyla. Soil type positively influenced fungal community, while cultivation age had more positive effect on bacterial than on fungal community. Richness and diversity of fungal community was greater in forest than in farmland soils, while these parameters for bacterial communities were lower in forest than in farmland soils. A deterioration of soil fertility and continuous cultivation increased the proportion of pathogens such as Fusarium , Cylindrocarpon , but reduced the proportion of beneficial and neutral fungi and bacteria. The observed changes in soil properties (pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium) caused by soil type and cultivation age could be explained by the variations in the microbiome. A network analysis indicated that farmland and increasing cultivation age augmented the proportion of pathogens but diminished the proportion of beneficial and neutral fungi and bacteria. The present study showed that the rhizosphere microbiome differed between forest and farmland soils. Cultivation age had a stronger influence on bacterial than on fungal community. These findings suggested that soil microbiome dynamics may be a bioindicator of soil quality, and defining the microbial players involved in various cultivation ages will promote the selection and adoption of favorable ginseng cultivation lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botrytis cinerea , the fungal pathogen that causes grey mold in many crops, including the herbal medicinal plant ginseng (Panax ginseng), frequently exhibits multi-resistance. In this study, the sensitivity of 102 ginseng B. cinerea isolates collected from 11 ginseng growing regions in Jilin, Liaoning and Heilongjiang Provinces of China in 2018 and 2019 was examined. A total of 100%, 72.55% and 76.47% of the isolates were resistant to carbendazim (C), pyrimethanil (P) and iprodione (I), respectively. Four fungicide resistance patterns, including CRPRIR, CRPSIR, CRPRIS and CRPSIS, were identified, comprising 58.82%, 17.65%, 13.73% and 9.80%, respectively. The frequency and level of resistance of the isolates resistant to pyrimethanil and iprodione clearly varied among ginseng growing regions and lack significant cross-resistance. The geographic origins lacked any apparent correlation to pathogenicity, while the pathogenicity of isolates with the SC and M phenotypes was clearly higher than those with the SP phenotype. All the isolates resistant to carbendazim harbored a point mutation of E198A (Glu→Ala), E198V (Glu→Val), or E198K (Glu→Lys) at codon 198 in the β-tubulin gene, while isolates resistant to iprodione harbored a point mutation of I365S (Ile→Ser) or I365N (Ile→Asn) at codon 365, or point mutations of Q369P (Gln→Pro) + N373S (Asn→Ser) at codons 369 and 373 in the BcOS -1 gene. The patterns of point mutations in these genes closely correlated with the geographic origins, and the resistance of isolates that had the Q369P + N373S mutations was higher than those that had the I365S and I365N mutations. All these results provide a relatively clear understanding of the multi-resistance and molecular mechanism of B. cinerea isolates from ginseng growing regions in China. The variation in pathogenicity and the fungicide resistance of these isolates was revealed, which will help to establish a more effective strategy to control ginseng grey mold. • B. cinerea isolates from ginseng growing regions of China shown marked resistance to carbendazim, pyrimethanil and iprodione. • The pathogenicity of B. cinerea isolates was unrelated to their geographic origin but correlated with colonial phenotype. • E198A and E198V were predominated for carbendazim resistance, Q369P + N373S more resistant to iprodione than I365S and I365N. • The patterns of point mutations of B. cinerea isolates closely correlated with their geographic origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) exert great potential in reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality and reducing the dependence on petroleum products, and are also essential in realizing the social transformation toward a low-carbon society. Since public are the principal users and stakeholders of NEVs, it's vital to understand their acceptance of NEVs and discuss the influencing factors of public acceptance, so as to promote the development of NEVs. Based on the survey data of Gansu Province, this paper analyzes the public perception and acceptance of NEVs in underdeveloped regions, and explores main factors affecting their acceptance by adopting Structural Equation Model. The results show that the public acceptance of NEVs is relatively higher, with only 51.99% residents are willing to accept NEVs. And there are differences of public acceptance of NEVs among different groups. The acceptance of females, young and less educated public are relatively higher, decreases with aging and increases with education attainment. Perceived risk and perceived cost are significantly negative correlated with public acceptance of NEVs, while subjective norm and the quality of NEVs positively correlated with public acceptance. In addition, support policy is significantly positively correlated with perceived cost while perceived cost is positively corelated with perceived risk. Finally, this paper proposes countermeasures and suggestions on improving the public acceptance of NEVs in underdeveloped regions. • We conducted the NEVs acceptance of 1356 residents in Chinese underdeveloped regions. • 51.99% of the public in underdeveloped regions of China were willing to accept NEVs. • Perceived risk, perceived cost, and NEVs' quality are the key influencing factors. • Support policy, knowledge have significant indirect impact on acceptance of NEVs. • Enhancing subsidies and supporting facilities were effective ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thirty organic impurities in MA samples were detected by the DART-HRMS to infer the synthetic route. • The PLS-DA model was established from known MA samples and was used to infer the synthetic pathway of unknown MA samples. • The synthetic pathway of actual MA was determined to provide information for the detection of samples. A direct analysis in real time combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry (DART-HRMS) method was established to quickly detect organic impurities in methamphetamine (MA) samples. A partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model was established by using MA samples with known synthetic pathways, and the synthetic pathways of unknown MA were determined by the PLS-DA model. The PLS-DA model was used to analyze characteristic organic impurities, which were identified as chemical markers in different synthetic-pathway MA samples by VIP (Variable Importance for the Projection) values and p-values. Thirty organic impurities were determined by DART-HRMS. Among these compounds, 7 organic impurities had a VIP value greater than 1, which indicated specificity for the grouping, including amphetamine, 1-phenylpropan-2-one oxime, N-formylamphetamine, ephedrine/pseudoephedrine, bibenzyl, α-methyldiphenethylamine and 1,3-diphenylacetone, while 5 organic impurities played a important role in classifying three groups. Amphetamine and 1-phenylpropan-2-one oxime played an important role in the R group, which represented MA samples using 1-phenyl-2-propanone as a starting material in the reductive amination reaction. Bibenzyl was important in the N group, in which MA samples were produced by ephedrine or pseudoephedrine and the iodine /phosphorus (I/P) (Nagai, Moscow, or Hypo) method. Ephedrine/pseudoephedrine and α–methyldiphenethylamine were important in the E group, in which samples were produced by ephedrine or pseudoephedrine and the catalytic hydrogenation method. The established PLS-DA model was also used to analyse MA samples of unknown synthetic routes. This established method is simple and fast and can achieve high-throughput analysis of samples to save time and analyse more samples. The analysis results provide effective information for drug law enforcement agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cross-cultural differences in the facilitating effect of parental instructions on children's learning were explored. • Chinese caregivers tended to describe the puzzle task's content while teaching children. • Chinese and American parents displayed similar instructions regarding question, right/wrong feedbacks and commanding. • Culture moderated the commanding instructions–children's learning relationship. • Commanding instructions influenced children's learning only in the Chinese group. This study examines cultural differences in the amount and types of parental instructions and their effects on children's independent performance when working with a puzzle task. Thirty-six Chinese and 36 American children aged 3−4 years and their parents participated in this study. Between the two groups, both similarities and differences were found in the different types of parental instructions. Specifically, no significant difference was found between the two groups regarding the proportion of right/wrong feedback, commanding, and questioning instructions. However, compared to their American peers, Chinese caregivers used more content instructions to instruct their children. Furthermore, culture moderated the relationship between commanding instructions and the children's learning outcomes. The parents' commanding instructions were significantly effective in predicting the children's independent learning outcomes. Such a facilitating effect of commanding instruction was not found in the American group. This study suggests that contemporary American and Chinese caregivers show different preferences regarding the use of different types of parental instructions, leading to different facilitating effects on the children's learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave energy is one of renewable energy resources with great potential. Due to the mechanical and structural simplicity, Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Wave Energy Converter (WEC) is considered to be one of the most promising marine renewable energy devices. However, OWC remains not commercialized mainly due to its complex hydrodynamic performance and uncertainty in wave loads. In the present study, based on potential flow theory and time-domain higher-order boundary element method (HOBEM), a fully nonlinear numerical model is developed and used to investigate the wave-induced force and bending moment on a land-fixed dual-chamber OWC device. The Bernoulli equation is used to calculate the wave force and bending moment. The equation is modified by accounting for the pneumatic pressure in the air chamber and the viscosity effect and then solved using an acceleration-potential method. The numerical model was compared with the experiment carried out in a wave-current flume at the State Key Laboratory of Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, China, and good agreement between the simulation and experimental results was observed. The horizontal components of wave forces on the two curtain walls of the dual-chamber OWC WEC were found to be much larger than the corresponding vertical components. The seaside curtain wall suffered much larger wave loads in comparison with the inner curtain wall. Therefore, the wave force on the seaside curtain wall is the dominant force. The largest wave-induced bending moment occurs at the joint of device and seabed. The effects of the sub-chamber width ratio and curtain-wall draft on the wave-induced force and bending moment are investigated. The dominant wave force and moment increase with curtain wall draft. And the peak wave loads can be reduced by moving the internal curtain wall close to the seaside curtain wall. • A numerical model was developed to simulate the wave loads on the land-based dual-chamber OWC device. • The seaside curtain wall of the dual-chamber OWC suffered the dominant wave force. • Reducing curtain wall draft and sub-chamber width ratio could reduce the dominant wave loads. • The largest wave moment occurs at the joint of OWC device and seabed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive sampling techniques have been widely used to determine the dissolved concentration profiles of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in sediment porewater. However, the effects of having a protection for the passive sampler on profiling HOCs concentrations in sediment porewater, especially in deep sediment, have remained unclear. To address this issue, low density polyethylene passive samplers with and without protectors, which consisted of glass fiber filter and porous stainless steel shield, were simultaneously deployed in sediment of the Dongjiang River, South China. The results showed that the protectors retarded the dissipation of performance reference compounds (PRCs) from the sampler by a factor of 2–9. The protectors seemed to exert a negligible effect on the measured concentrations of PAHs, BDE-47, and BDE-99 in surficial sediment porewater (0–14 cm depth) from both samplers. However, the sediment porewater concentration profiles of PAHs and BDE-47 from the sampler with protectors were in agreement with those normalized by dry weight in deep sediment (16–34 cm depth), indicating that a diffusion layer established by the protectors may minimize the probability of local depletion of the target analytes in deep sediment. In addition, the log K oc values of PAHs, BDE-47, and BDE-99 exhibited a slight increasing trend with sediment depth. This finding suggested that in situ passive sampling techniques could be a feasible tool in determining the site-specific log K oc values of HOCs at different sediment depths. Image 1 • Protectors significantly retarded the dissipation of PRCs. • Protectors did not affect the measured concentrations of PAHs in surficial porewater. • PAHs profile from the sampler with protectors was similar to that in deep sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid industrialization and urbanization that have occurred in East China in recent decades pose a threat to the local aquatic ecosystem. Pollution by heavy metals is one of the factors that threaten the environment, and assessing the risk of heavy metals is essential for promoting proper freshwater management in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, 121 surface sediment samples were collected from 63 shallow freshwater lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze and Huai River Basins (MLYHB) to study the spatial distribution of common heavy metals, including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Multivariate statistical analysis, which based on the metals' distribution and geoaccumulation index (I geo), sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), potential ecological risk (PER) index, and risk index (RI), was conducted to elucidate the pollution source and evaluate the potential ecological risks. The average concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the surface sediments were 22.6, 1.1, 74.6, 47.6, 38.3, 37.3, and 141.9 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of these metals in the surface sediments from the middle reaches were generally higher than those in sediments from the lower reaches of MLYHB. The concentrations of Cr and Ni were similar to the background values, and they mostly originated from natural detritus. Cd pollution was predominant in MLYHB, and the Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb in the surface sediments mainly originated from industrial and agricultural activities, while As originated from pollution due to coal combustion. According to the SQGs and PER, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn likely pose a low ecological risk, while As and Cd were identified as the priority pollutants by the two methods, respectively, and may pose a high ecological risk to the aquatic ecosystem in MLYHB. Moreover, the PER of heavy metals in surface sediments is more severe in the middle reaches of MLYHB than that in the lower reaches. The middle reaches of MLYHB should be the priority regions for environmental monitoring and management. • Heavy metals in surface sediments from 63 lakes along the MLYHB are analyzed. • Arsenic and cadmium are identified as the priority pollutants. • Cd predominantly originates from industrial and agricultural activities. • As mainly originates from coal combustion. • Potential ecological risks in the middle reaches of MLYHB are more severe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-induced temperature changes influence coastal regions, both via thermal pollution and ocean warming, which exerts profound effects on the chemistry of metals and the physiology of organisms. However, it remains unknown whether the increased temperature of discharged water or ocean warming, as a result of climate change, lead to an increase of human health risks associated with the consumption of sea foods. In this study, the influence of temperature on metal accumulation by oysters was studied in individuals collected from a coastal area affected by the thermal water discharge of the Houshi Power Plant, China. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and oral bioavailability (OBA) of metals in oysters was determined. Elevated temperatures led to an increase in BAF for Cu, Zn, Hg, and Cd (p < 0.05), but no change was observed for As and Pb (p > 0.05). The OBA for Cd, As, and Pb correlated positively to elevated temperatures (p < 0.05). However, for Cu and Zn, OBA was negatively correlated with increasing temperature (p < 0.05). As, Pb, and Cd in the trophically available metal (defined as a sum of heat-stable proteins, heat-denaturable proteins, and organelles) was significantly elevated at the highest temperature seawater site (site A) compared to the lowest seawater site (site B). Thus, the irregular variation of OBA for each metal may be the result of variations in the subcellular distribution of metals and the protein quality influenced by the increased temperature. Moreover, the increased temperature and increased the hazard quotient values of As and Cd (p < 0.05 for As, n = 6, p < 0.05 for Cd, n = 6), which provided an indication of the potential risks of the consumption of oysters or other seafood to future warming under climate change scenarios. Image 1 • Elevated temperatures increased BAF for Cu, Zn, Hg, and Cd. • OBA for Cd, As and Pb was positively correlated to elevated temperatures. • OBA for Cu and Zn was negatively correlated with increasing temperature. • The increasing temperature increased the hazard quotient (HQ) values of As and Cd. • The results implied the potential risks of consuming oysters to future warming. The increasing oral bioavailability of metals due to the thermal discharge or ocean warming increases the potential risks of consumption of oysters or other seafood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the expedition 908 survey in 2007, 539 seafloor surface sediment samples and two cores were collected over a narrow sector of the northeastern Beibu Gulf, South China Sea. Currently, three dynamic sedimentological processes prevail in the study area: circulation-controlled sand deposition, mud deposition under weak sediment dynamics, and fluvial input. Core A233 from the circulation-controlled sand area, with a 60 cm mixed layer, provides evidence of dynamics disturbance since the mid-Holocene. To reconstruct the anthropogenic heavy metal pollution history, we selected core A146 from the stable mud sector influenced by fluvial input. The dating of core A146 was based on 210Pb activity analysis, showing an ~90-year historical record in the upper 40 cm. The heavy metal contamination results showed a generally low pollution level. Nonetheless, increased pollution has happened since the 1950s, especially after 1978 A.D., corresponding to the beginning of China's reform and opening up. • Three dynamic sedimentological processes prevail in the northeastern Beibu Gulf. • Core A146 from the mud sector influenced by fluvial input has good record. • Dynamic after the transgression disturbed core A233 from the sand sector. • The heavy metal contamination results showed a generally low pollution level. • Increased pollution has happened since the 1950s, especially after 1978 A.D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A direct analysis in real time (DART) coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) method was established to detect organic impurities in cocaine samples seized in China. This approach allowed discrimination between linked and unlinked seizures with quick sample preparation and high throughput. The responsivities of the mass spectra of 20 organic impurities found in 47 cocaine samples were explored as factors in multivariate analysis. Based on the data from 20 organic impurities in 47 linked/unlinked cocaine samples, 25 combinations of data pretreatment methods and distance/correlation measurements were compared to choose the combination with the best discriminating power for cocaine profiling. Data pre-treatment by calculating the logarithm (L) followed by Squared Euclidean distance (Squ D ij) was chosen as the best combination for the optimal discrimination of linked and unlinked samples. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was used to analyse another 46 cocaine samples, and 38 of the 46 cocaine samples were divided into 9 linked groups. Relevant information was provided for forensic science intelligence and case analysis. Image 1 • Twenty organic impurities were found in 47 cocaine samples seized in China by DART-HRMS. • Twenty-five combinations of measurements were tested to find the combination with the best discriminating power, and hierarchical cluster analysis was used. • DART-HRMS was used to analyse actual cocaine samples, and the correlation information of cocaine samples was provided to the police. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon markets are crucial to attaining sustainable development objectives given the pressing need to cut greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. China is a key player in the fight against climate change since the country emits the most greenhouse emissions globally. In light of China's carbon markets, this study evaluates the risks and mitigation strategies related to financing carbon credit projects. Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Fuzzy Viekriterijumsko Kompromisno Rangiranj (FVIKOR) methodologies are used to assess carbon finacing risks and strategies for the growth of China's carbon market. The FAHP method evaluated carbon credit financing risks and sub-risks, while the FVIKOR method prioritized mitigation strategies. The findings of the FAHP method show that regulatory and policy risks, financial risks, and operational risks are the major risks in the Chinese carbon markets. To mitigate these risks, prioritizing strategies based on FVIKOR suggests that developing stakeholder relationships, financial stability, and transparency would be a practical approach to achieving efficient, productive, and sustainable carbon markets in China. The study provides practical policy implications for stakeholders involved in carbon credit financing and contributes to global climate change efforts by offering insights into carbon credit market risks and opportunities. • Assessing carbon credit financing risks and mitigation strategies for carbon markets. • The Fuzzy AHP and Fuzzy VIKOR methodology proposed. • Prioritizing six risks, twenty-four sub-risk, and five risk mitigation strategies. • Regulatory and policy reported to be most crucial carbon credit financing risk. • The stakeholder relationships considered to be most significant risk mitigation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeal glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (isoGDGTs) and their hydroxylated derivatives (OH-GDGTs) have been increasingly applied to reconstruct past changes in lake temperature and lake-level using down-core sediments. However, a detailed examination of the distribution pattern of iso- and OH-GDGTs in lacustrine sediments is so far limited. To investigate the controls on the sedimentary GDGT distribution in lakes, we examined the archaeal GDGT distribution in surface sediments at different water depths from Lake Lugu, a deep alpine lake in southwest China. Our aim is to determine their distribution, sources and controlling factors. Based on the significant correlations between iso- and OH-GDGTs in deep-water sediments (> 20 m), we suggest that the main biological source of archaeal GDGTs in surface sediments is aquatic Group I.1a Thaumarchaeota (Nitrosoarchaeum). The depth-related variation of iso- and OH-GDGTs indicates that water depth is the main factor affecting the distribution of archaeal GDGTs in Lake Lugu, reflecting that Thaumarchaeota prefer to live in the deeper layer above the oxycline. This relationship leads to a positive correlation between %Cren, %OH-GDGTs, and Cren/Cren' with water depth, confirming their potential application for paleo-lake level reconstruction. Our study improves the understanding of the factors that control the archaeal GDGTs in a deep alpine lake and suggest that they might be used as lake-level indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the current situation regarding fertility intentions, parenting attitudes, and fear of childbirth among college students in mainland China and the factors related to these variables. A cross-sectional study Colleges across China Five hundred and eighty-three college students attending regular institutions of higher education Fertility intentions and fear of childbirth were measured using the Swedish Fertility Awareness Questionnaire and the Childbirth Fear Prior to Pregnancy scale. Only 38.8% of participants expressed their willingness to have children, and there was a significant difference between male and female students (P <.02). Males regarded having children as more important (P <.01), and females were more concerned about the negative effects of becoming parents, including difficulties in the labor market, having less freedom, and having less money. When deciding whether to have children, factors such as work, economics, and childcare were more important to females. Students who did not want children had higher levels of fear of childbirth than those who wanted children or were unsure (P <.02). The fertility intentions of college students were not optimistic. In addition to the 2-child Chinese fertility policy, interventions aimed at reducing the cost of raising children, eliminating gender inequality in the workplace, and normalizing childcare institutions might help alleviate conflict between work and childrearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantities and composition of municipal solid waste (MSW) are important factors in the planning and management of MSW. Daily human activities were classified into three groups: maintenance activities (meeting the basic needs of food, housing and personal care, MA); subsistence activities (providing the financial support requirements, SA); and leisure activities (social and recreational pursuits, LA). A model, based on the interrelationships of expenditure on consumer goods, time distribution, daily activities, residents groups, and waste generation, was employed to estimate MSW generation by different activities and resident groups in five provinces (Zhejiang, Guangdong, Hebei, Henan and Sichuan) of China. These five provinces were chosen for this study and the distribution patterns of MSW generated by different activities and resident groups were revealed. The results show that waste generation in SA and LA fluctuated slightly from 2003 to 2008. For general waste generation in the five provinces, MA accounts for more than 70% of total MSW, SA approximately 10%, and LA between 10% and 16% by urban residents in 2008. Females produced more daily MSW than males in MA. Males produced more daily MSW than females in SA and LA. The wastes produced at weekends in MA and LA were far greater than on weekdays, but less than on weekdays for SA wastes. Furthermore, one of the model parameters (the waste generation per unit of consumer expenditure) is inversely proportional to per-capita disposable income of urban residents. A significant correlation between gross domestic product (GDP) and waste generation by SA was observed with a high coefficient of determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a world-class tin–tungsten province, South China is well known for its extensive Mesozoic granitic magmatism. The Dulong district, located in the western Cathaysia Block of the South China tin–tungsten province, is characterized by widespread Mesozoic granitoids and accompanying Sn-polymetallic ore deposit (~ 30 Mt of Sn). It is one of the most important polymetallic tin ore districts in China. In this study, three mineralization-related granite types were identified in the Dulong district, including the Dulong coarse-grained granite (DCG), the Dulong fine-grained granite (DFG), and the Dulong porphyritic granite (DPG). Detailed studies are presented on zircon U–Pb ages, major and trace elements, mineral chemical and Nd–Hf isotopic compositions of the tin-bearing granites from the Dulong district. LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating of zircon grains from these three granite bodies yields ages of 90.1 ± 0.7 Ma, 89.7 ± 0.8 Ma and 86.0 ± 0.5 Ma, respectively. Geochemically, the granites are strongly peraluminous, with high contents of alkalis, enrichment in P, Li, Rb, Cs, Ta, Sn, W and U, depletion in Ti, Mg, Co, Ni, Sr, Ba, Zr, Hf, Th and rare earth elements. Fractional crystallization of plagioclase and K-feldspar was the principal process of magmatic differentiation that controlled Rb, Sr, Ba and Eu concentrations, whereas rare earth elements were fractionated by accessory minerals, such as apatite and monazite. The geochemical data suggest that the rocks are highly fractionated S-type granites. The granites show bulk rock ε Nd (t) values in the range of − 12.2 to − 10.8 and zircon ε Hf (t) values from − 15.5 to − 2.5, with Meso-Paleoproterozoic T DM C ages for both Nd and Hf isotopes. Geochemical and isotopic data suggest that these highly fractionated S-type granites DCG, DFG and DPG were originated from the same episode of partial melting of the protolith, which have analogous components of metamorphosed pelitic rocks from the Meso-Paleoproterozoic continental crust. Extreme fractional crystallization resulted in enrichment of tin in the evolved granitic magma, and the reduced magmas (fO 2 below NNO) would efficiently remove Sn into a hydrothermal fluid, and lead to deposition of Sn-rich mineral phases. The association of Dulong and Gejiu magmatism in the western Cathaysia Block may be likely to mark the onset of back-arc extension or intra-arc rift in the region during Late Cretaceous. The upwelling of asthenospheric mantle may have triggered partial melting of metasedimentary rocks in the overlying crust to generate the S-type granitic magmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

n -Alkanes have been widely used to reconstruct palaeoenvironmental variations in lacustrine environments. However, for robust reconstructions, improving the understanding of the origin of n -alkanes and their distribution within the lake is essential. Therefore, we examined the distribution pattern of n -alkanes in the aquatic plants within Lake Lugu (a deep alpine lake on the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, southwest China), and terrestrial plants and topsoils in the catchment, to unravel the origin of sedimentary n -alkanes and further investigate the spatial distribution of n -alkanes from surface sediments in this lake. The aquatic plants are dominated by mid-chain C 23 and C 25 , terrestrial plants and soils by long-chain C 29 , and 76% of the surface sediment samples show C 29 predominance. The average chain length (ACL) and the aquatic plant proxy (P aq) values of surface sediments are between those of aquatic and terrestrial plants and soils. Thus, n -alkanes from autochthonous (aquatic plants) and allochthonous (terrestrial plants and soils) sources were apparent in the surface sediments. A substantial spatial distribution of n -alkanes exists within Lake Lugu: the n -alkane concentrations of total, aquatic, and terrigenous origins are concentrated in the northwestern portion of the lake's north basin, which may be attributed to the underwater topography and increased human-induced soil erosion in this area. Similarly, the clear spatial heterogeneity of ACL 21 – 33 and P aq may suggest that the sedimentary n -alkanes comprise a mixture contribution of autochthonous and allochthonous production, which might be the major source of n -alkanes in the lakeshore, and a higher proportion of autochthonous n -alkanes is present in deep water. However, there is no significant correlation between the P aq of sediments and water depth in Lake Lugu; thus, the application of P aq as a lake-level indicator should be used with caution in deep-water lakes similar to Lake Lugu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ECs mounted on WPCBs are profiled for materials and toxicity. • Higher contents of precious metals are found in ECs than PWBs. • New toxic threats from As and Se are found. Waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) contain valuable material resources and hazardous substances, thereby posing a challenge for sustainable resource recovery and environmental protection initiatives. Overcoming this challenge will require mapping the toxic footprint of WPCBs to specific materials and substances used in manufacturing electronic components (ECs). Therefore, this work collected 50 EC specimens from WPCBs in five ubiquitous consumer products, such as television, refrigerator, air conditioner, washing machine and computer. The work extracted and analyzed metal contents and used leachability assessments based on tests adopted by the regulatory policies from China and the United States. The work found that copper and iron are the most abundant constituents in ECs, with concentrations ranging 5.90–796.62 g/kg and 0–831.53 g/kg, respectively; whereas abundance of precious metal content is in the order of silver > gold > palladium > platinum, with silver concentration ranging 15–5290 mg/kg. The content of marginally-regulated toxic substance arsenic ranged 0–9700 mg/kg; whereas fully regulated toxic metals such as chromium, lead and mercury did not exceed the thresholds set by China and US standards. The work found new toxic threats from arsenic and selenium leached from 20 of 50 ECs exceeding regulatory standards. These results will aid manufacturers and recyclers in protecting workers' health and environmental quality from arsenic and selenium pollution, and should initiate discussion about regulating these toxic components as part of a comprehensive program to reduce the toxic footprint of electronic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding a low-protein diet can enhance urea reabsorption and transfer to the rumen, which might alter microbial protein (MCP) synthesis and redirect molecular hydrogen (H 2) flow away from methanogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of feeding goats a low-protein diet on urea nitrogen (N) salvage and metabolism, and consequence on H 2 metabolism for MCP synthesis and methanogenesis. Goats (Xiangdong Black goats, a local breed in southern China,) with body weight of 20.4 ± 2.15 kg (mean ± SD) were fed a control diet (consisted of 70% rice straw and 30% concentrates, with crude protein [CP] content by 108 g kg−1) or a low-protein diet (55.2 g CP/kg). 15NH 4 Cl and 2H 2 were employed to further confirm the incorporation of N and hydrogen for MCP synthesis through in vitro culture. Feeding a low-protein diet resulted in greater proportion of retained N (+156%, P < 0.05), plasma urea N (+81.9%, P < 0.05) or rumen ammonia-N (+125%, P < 0.001) relative to digested N and greater renal urea N reabsorption (+11.2%, P < 0.05), together with upregulated relative protein expression of urea transporter A (UTA) in the kidneys (P < 0.05) and mRNA expression of UTA in rumen epithelium (P < 0.05). Feeding low-protein diet resulted in greater concentration of rumen dissolved hydrogen (+55.6%, P < 0.05), ratio of MCP to ammonia-N (+17.6%, P < 0.05), and lower enteric methane emissions (g/kg digested DM, −18.5%, P < 0.05). Further, in vitro experiments verified that the addition of NH 4 Cl decreased methane and hydrogen production (P < 0.001), although only a minor quantity of headspace 2H 2 gas was incorporated for MCP synthesis. In conclusions, feeding a low-protein diet to goats enhances renal urea reabsorption capacity and facilitates the rumen microbial hydrogen incorporation for MCP synthesis, leading to enhanced N retention efficiency and reduced methane emissions. However, the effect of such an approach on livestock performance should be tested in the future studies. • Low-protein diet causes an increase in N retention efficiency and a decrease in methane emissions. • Low-protein diet enhances renal urea N reabsorption and increases plasma urea transfer to rumen. • Low-protein diet promotes incorporation of ammonia-N and metabolic hydrogen for ruminal microbial protein synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide decline of wetland ecosystems calls for an urgent reassessment of their current status from a resilience perspective. Understanding the trajectories of changes that have produced the current situation is fundamental for assessing system resilience. Here, we examine long-term dynamics of wetland ecosystem change by reviewing paleoecological records from 11 representative lakes in China. We identify unprecedented change in alga communities in the context of last two centuries. Striking ecological shifts have occurred in all lakes, yet with spatial and temporal differences. The long-term trajectories of change in diatom species composition and structure indicate gradually eroded system resilience. These ecological shifts were shaped by socio-economic activities as China transformed from a rural agricultural to an industrialized society within the last several decades, during which multiple drivers have accumulated and acted synergistically. The balance between ecosystem and society, which appeared to exist for thousands of years, was broken by increasing population, new technology, and urbanization since the 1980s. The consequences are the emergence of new positive feedbacks with the potential to drive the coupled systems into undesirable states. By linking long-term social and ecological change at a regional scale, our study provides a novel contribution to the understanding of lake ecosystems resilience in present-day China. We argue that sustaining wetland ecosystems requires integrated approaches that incorporate a deeper understanding of social-ecological dynamics over decadal-centennial timescales to address the complex underlying mechanisms leading to the current degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To elucidate the clinical features of patients with hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (MMD) in China. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 471 patients with hemorrhagic MMD at Beijing Tiantan Hospital. Clinical features and radiologic findings were analyzed. Results The mean age at diagnosis was 35.3 ± 11.5 years, with 1 peak distribution in patients from 35 to 39 years of age. The ratio of women to men was 1.2:1. Familial occurrence was 3.8%. The primary symptoms at initial presentation were intraventricular hemorrhage (42.0%), intracerebral hemorrhage (23.6%), intracerebral hemorrhage with intraventricular hemorrhage (18.3%), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (16.1%). Before the diagnosis, 68 patients experienced a second episode of bleeding. Rebleeding tends to be common within 6 years after the first bleeding (83.8%). The second bleeding episode was characterized by a change in which hemisphere bleeding occurred in 7 patients (10.3%) and by the type of bleeding in 23 patients (33.8%). Most patients presented with Suzuki stage 3 or 4 MMD (61.7%). Posterior cerebral artery involvement was observed in 28 (18.4%) patients. Forty-three intracranial aneurysms were identified in 39 patients (8.3%). Conclusions A 1-peak pattern in age distribution and mild female dominance in sex distribution were observed in patients with hemorrhagic MMD. Rebleeding tends to be common within 6 years after the first bleeding; however, some cases of rebleeding occur after a long period. Furthermore, the second bleeding episode was characterized frequently by a change in hemisphere and the type of bleeding. Early surgical treatment in both hemispheres is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SedaDNA metabarcoding revealed cyanobacterial community over past ∼100 years. • A steady increase in toxic cyanobacteria during past 30 years in Lake Taihu. • Climatic warming explains the increasing trend of toxic cyanobacteria. • Recent climate change is exacerbating the harmful effects of toxic cyanobacteria. Cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater systems are a global threat to human and aquatic ecosystem health, exhibiting particularly harmful effects when toxin-producing taxa are present. While climatic change and nutrient over-enrichment control the global expansion of total cyanobacterial blooms, it remains unknown to what extent this expansion reflected cyanobacterial assemblage due to the scarcity of long-term monitoring data. Here we use high-throughput sequencing of sedimentary DNA to track ∼100 years of changes in cyanobacterial community in hyper-eutrophic Lake Taihu, China's third largest freshwater lake and the key water source for ∼30 million people. A steady increase in the abundance of Microcystis (as potential toxin producers) during the past thirty years was correlated with increasing temperatures and declining wind speeds, but not with temporal trends in lakewater nutrient concentrations, highlighting recent climate effects on potentially increasing toxin-producing taxa. The socio-environmental repercussions of these findings are worrisome as continued anthropogenic climate change may counteract nutrient amelioration efforts in this critical freshwater resource. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climbazole is an antidandruff active ingredient commonly used in personal care products, but little is known about its environmental fate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fate of climbazole in water, sediment, soil and air compartments of the whole China by using a level III multimedia fugacity model. The usage of climbazole was calculated to be 345 t in the whole China according to the market research data, and after wastewater treatment a total emission of 245 t was discharged into the receiving environment with approximately 93% into the water compartment and 7% into the soil compartment. The developed fugacity model was successfully applied to estimate the contamination levels and mass inventories of climbazole in various environmental compartments of the river basins in China. The predicted environmental concentration ranges of climbazole were: 0.20–367 ng/L in water, and 0.009–25.2 ng/g dry weight in sediment. The highest concentration was mainly found in Haihe River basin and the lowest was in basins of Tibet and Xinjiang regions. The mass inventory of climbazole in the whole China was estimated to be 294 t, with 6.79% in water, 83.7% in sediment, 9.49% in soil, and 0.002% in air. Preliminary risk assessment showed high risks in sediment posed by climbazole in 2 out of 58 basins in China. The medium risks in water and sediment were mostly concentrated in north China. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report on the emissions and multimedia fate of climbazole in the river basins of the whole China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Biotic homogenization was observed toward high eutrophication for microbes. • Bray-Curtis distance increased with TSI changes, while fungal LCBD declined with TSI. • Eutrophication was a primary driver of microbial community compositions. • Generalists contributed more to β-diversity and were key for biotic homogenization. • LCBD can be considered as a new parameter to indicate homogenization. Eutrophication substantially influences the community structure of aquatic organisms and has become a major threat to biodiversity. However, whether eutrophication is linked to homogenization of microbial communities and the possible underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we studied bacterial and fungal communities from water and sediments of 40 shallow lakes in the Yangtze-Huaihe River basin, a representative area characterized by intensifying eutrophication in China, and further examined the beta diversity patterns and underlying mechanisms under eutrophication conditions. Our results indicate that eutrophication generally caused biotic homogenization of bacterial and fungal communities in both habitats showing decreased community variations for the sites with a higher trophic state index (TSI). In the two habitats, community dissimilarities were positively correlated with TSI changes for both taxonomic groups, while the local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD) remarkably declined with increasing TSI for the fungal community. These phenomena were consistent with the pivotal importance of the TSI in statistically accounting for beta diversity of bacterial and fungal communities in both habitats. In addition, we found that physicochemical factors such as water temperature and pH were also important for bacterial and fungal communities in water, while heavy metal elements were important for the communities in sediments. Interestingly, generalist species, rather than specialist species, were revealed to more dominantly affect the variations in beta diversity along the trophic gradient, which were quantified by Bray-Curtis dissimilarity and LCBD. Collectively, our findings reveal the importance of generalist species in contributing to the change of beta diversity of microbial communities along trophic gradients, which have profound implications for a comprehensive understanding of the effects of eutrophication on microbial community. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cross-cultural differences existed in the parents' way to use speech and gestures. • Parental instructions demonstrated different facilitating effects across cultures. • Chinese caregivers tended to provide their children with instructions. • Culture moderated the instructions–children's learning relationship. • Speech instructions exerted more facilitating effects in the Chinese group. Instructions via speech and gestures provided by caregivers can facilitate children's learning. However, caregivers with different cultural backgrounds demonstrate diverse parental behaviors, which exert influences on children's learning in different ways. The current study aimed to explore the cultural differences between Chinese and American caregivers in regard to the way they use speech and gestures to instruct their children. The potential cross-cultural differences in the facilitating effects of parental instructions on children's learning were also examined. Two groups of children aged 3–4 years and their caregivers from China and the U.S. were invited to participate in our study (34 from China and 35 from the U.S.). The caregivers assisted their children in working with a difficult puzzle task. The caregivers' speech and gestural instructions from both cultural groups, as well as the children's learning performance, were coded and analyzed. The results showed that relative to the caregivers in the U.S., those from China provided more instructions to their children. Cultural background was a significant moderator in the relationship between parental instructions and children's learning performance, namely, speech instructions provided by Chinese caregivers had a more effective facilitating influence on their children's learning than did those provided by American caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China pledges to reach a peak in CO 2 emissions by 2030 and to make its best efforts to reach this peak earlier. Previous studies have paid much attention to the total amount of China's CO 2 emissions, but usually only one dataset is used in each evaluation. The pledged national reduction target is administratively divided into provincial targets. Accurate interpretation of province-level carbon emissions is essential for making policies and achieving the reduction target. However, the spatiotemporal pattern of provincial emissions and the associated uncertainty are still poorly understood. Thus, an assessment of province-level CO 2 emissions considering local statistical data and emission factors is urgently needed. Here, we collected and analyzed 7 published emission datasets to comprehensively evaluate the spatiotemporal distribution of provincial CO 2 emissions. We found that the provincial emissions ranged from 20 to 649 Mt CO 2 and that the standard deviations (SDs) ranged from 8 to 159 Mt. Furthermore, the emissions estimated from provincial-data-based inventories were more consistent than those from the spatial disaggregation of national energy statistics, with mean SDs of 26 and 65 Mt CO 2 in 2012, respectively. Temporally, emissions in most provinces increased from 2000 to approximately 2012 and leveled off afterwards. The interannual variation in provincial CO 2 emissions was captured by provincial-data-based inventories but generally missed by national-data-based inventories. When compared with referenced inventories, the discrepancy for provincial estimates could reach −57%–162% for national-data-based inventories but were less than 45% for provincial-data-based inventories. Using comprehensive data sets, the range presented here incorporated more factors and showed potential systematic biases. Our results indicate that it is more suitable to use provincial inventories when making policies for subnational CO 2 reductions or when performing atmospheric CO 2 simulations. To reduce uncertainties in provincial emission estimates, we suggest the use of local optimized coal emission factors and validations of inventories by direct measurement data and remote sensing results. • Estimates from provincial statistics were more consistent than the national ones. • The interannual variations were well-captured by provincial-data-based datasets. • The provincial-based estimates help to allocate duties and set reduction targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bufo gargarizans (Cantor, 1842) (BGC), a traditional medicinal animal distributed in many provinces of China, is well known for the pharmaceutical value of Chansu and Chanpi. As traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), Chansu and Chanpi, with their broad-spectrum of therapeutic applications, have long been applied to detoxification, anti-inflammation, analgesia, etc. We critically analyzed the current evidence for the traditional uses, chemical profiles, pharmacological activity, toxicity and quality control of BGC (Bufonidae family) to provide a scientific basis for future in-depth studies and perspectives for the discovery of potential drug candidates. All of the available information on active constituents and TCMs derived from BGC was obtained using the keywords " Bufo gargarizans ", "Chansu", "Chanpi", "Huachansu", or "Cinobufacini" through different electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Wanfang Database, and Pharmacopoeia of China. In addition, Chinese medicine books from different times were used to elucidate the traditional uses of BGC. Electronic databases, including the "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species", "American Museum of Natural History" and "AmphibiaWeb Species Lists", were used to validate the scientific name of BGC. To date, about 118 bufadienolide monomers and 11 indole alkaloids have been identified from BGC in total. The extracts and isolated compounds exhibit a wide range of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological effects. The literature search demonstrated that the ethnomedicinal uses of BGC, such as detoxification, anti-inflammation and the ability to reduce swelling and pain associated with infections, are correlated with its modern pharmacological activities, including antitumor, immunomodulation and attenuation of cancer-derived pain. Bufadienolides and indole alkaloids have been regarded as the main active substances in BGC, among which bufadienolides have significant antitumor activity. Furthermore, the cardiotoxicity of bufadienolides was discussed, and the main molecular mechanism involves in the inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase. Besides, with the development of modern analytical techniques, the quality control methods of BGC-derived TCMs are being improved constantly. An increasing number of reports suggest that BGC can be regarded as an excellent source for exploring the potential antitumor constituents. However, the future antitumor research of BGC needs to follow the standard pharmacology guidelines, so as to provide comprehensive pharmacological information and aid the reproducibility of the data. Besides, to ensure the efficacy and safety of BGC-derived TCMs, it is vital to construct a comprehensive quality evaluation model on the basis of clarifying pharmacodynamic-related and toxicity-related compositions. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]