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Blastoid or pleomorphic mantle cell lymphoma (B/P-MCL) is characterized by high invasiveness and unfavorable outcomes, which is still a challenge for treating MCL. This retrospective study was performed to comprehensively analyze the clinical, genomic characteristics and treatment options of patients with B/PMCL from multicenter in China. Data were obtained from 693 patients with B/PMCL from three centers in China between April 1999 and December 2019. Seventy-four patients with BMCL (n = 43) or PMCL (n = 31) were included in the analysis. The median age of the cohort was 60.0 years with a male-to-female ratio of 2.89:1. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 44.1% and 46.0%, respectively. Mutations of TP53, ATM, NOTCH1, NOTCH2, NSD2, SMARCA4, CREBBP, KMT2D, FAT1, and TRAF2 genes were the most common genetic changes in B/P-MCL. Progression of disease within 12 months (POD12) could independently predict the poor prognosis of patients with blastoid and pleomorphic variants. Patients with POD12 carried a distinct mutation profile (TP53, SMARCA4, NSD2, NOTCH2, KMT2D, PTPRD, CREBBP, and CDKN2A mutations) compared to patients with non-POD12. First-line high-dose cytosine arabinoside exposure obtained survival benefits in these populations, and BTKi combination therapy as the front-line treatment had somewhat improvement in survival with no significant difference in the statistic. In conclusion, B/P-MCL had inferior outcomes and a distinct genomic profile. Patients with POD12 displayed a distinct mutation profile and a poor prognosis. New therapeutic drugs and clinical trials for B/P-MCL need to be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a phase I, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial including healthy adults in Sui County, Henan Province, China. Ninety-six adults were randomly assigned to one of three groups (high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose) at a 3:1 ratio to receive one vaccine dose or placebo. Adverse events up to 28 days after each dose and serious adverse events up to 6 months after all doses were reported. Geometric mean titers and seroconversion rates were measured for anti-rotavirus neutralizing antibodies using microneutralization tests. The rates of total adverse events in the placebo group, low-dose group, medium-dose group, and high-dose group were 29.17 % (12.62 %–51.09 %), 12.50 % (2.66 %–32.36 %), 50.00 % (29.12 %–70.88 %), and 41.67 % (22.11 %–63.36 %), respectively, with no significant difference in the experimental groups compared with the placebo group. The results of the neutralizing antibody assay showed that in the adult group, the neutralizing antibody geometric mean titer at 28 days after full immunization in the low-dose group was 583.01 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 447.12–760.20), that in the medium-dose group was 899.34 (95 % CI: 601.73–1344.14), and that in the high-dose group was 1055.24 (95 % CI: 876.28–1270.75). The GMT of serum-specific IgG at 28 days after full immunization in the low-dose group was 3444.26 (95 % CI: 2292.35–5175.02), that in the medium-dose group was 6888.55 (95 % CI: 4426.67–10719.6), and that in the high-dose group was 7511.99 (95 % CI: 3988.27–14149.0). The GMT of serum-specific IgA at 28 days after full immunization in the low-dose group was 2332.14 (95 % CI: 1538.82–3534.45), that in the medium-dose group was 4800.98 (95 % CI: 2986.64–7717.50), and that in the high-dose group was 3204.30 (95 % CI: 2175.66–4719.27). In terms of safety, adverse events were mainly Grades 1 and 2, indicating that the safety of the vaccine is within the acceptable range in the healthy adult population. Considering the GMT and positive transfer rate of neutralizing antibodies for the main immunogenicity endpoints in the experimental groups, it was initially observed that the high-dose group had higher levels of neutralizing antibodies than the medium- and low-dose groups in adults aged 18–49 years. This novel inactivated rotavirus vaccine was generally well-tolerated in adults, and the vaccine was immunogenic in adults (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04626856). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tongbai complex plays an important role in the understanding of the tectonic evolution of the Tongbai‐Dabie orogenic belt. By detailed structural analysis, new zircon U–Pb dating, zircon Lu–Hf analysis and whole‐rock elements for the rocks in the Tongbai complex and the wrapped shear zones, we suggested that the Tongbai complex was derived from the partial melting of the basement of Yangtze Block and experienced a uniform orogen‐parallel extension with a top‐to‐NW shearing at 142–133 Ma. The migmatites yield a migmatization age of 116 ± 2 Ma and are identical to the metamorphic age of 115–111 Ma from the L and LS tectonites in the Tongbai complex. The late Early Cretaceous migmatization may give rise to the severance of the uniform top‐to‐NW shear zone and lead to an antiform folding of the Tongbai complex. The similar deformation and migmatization of the complexes in both the Tongbai and Dabie orogenic belts suggest that the Tongbai‐Dabie orogenic belt is likely to have a similar tectonic transformation from orogen‐parallel to orogen‐perpendicular extension in the Early Cretaceous, namely a uniform orogen‐parallel extension of the ductile lithosphere during the early Early Cretaceous and a widespread migmatization during the late Early Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial policy, as one of the most potent weapons employed by governments, is recommended to adhere to the principles of high relatedness and high economic complexity, which can minimize risks and maximize returns. However, this approach may not be optimal in developing countries with poor industrial bases, limited innovative capabilities and weak institutional frameworks. Based on relatedness and economic complexity, this study illustrates the evolution paths of industrial policy in China and identifies underlying influencing factors deciding the patterns of policymaking. Different from developed countries, it takes several steps for developing countries to reach the final target, the smart specialization approach, instead of one‐step jumping. Moreover, industrial policy is not always the panacea, and the effects of industrial policy vary depending on local contexts. In sum, this study extends research towards the complex co‐evolution process of policy and industries in developing countries and provides more insights for policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With Primary Health Care (PHC) being a cornerstone of accessible, affordable, and effective healthcare worldwide, its efficiency, especially in developing countries like China, is crucial for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This study evaluates the efficiency of PHC systems in a southwest China municipality post-healthcare reform, identifying factors influencing efficiency and proposing strategies for improvement. Methods: Utilising a 10-year provincial panel dataset, this study employs an enhanced Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model integrating Slack-Based Measure (SBM) and Directional Distance Function (DDF) with the Global Malmquist-Luenberger (GML) index for efficiency evaluation. Tobit regression analysis identifies efficiency determinants within the context of China's healthcare reforms, focusing on horizontal integration, fiscal spending, urbanisation rates, and workforce optimisation. Results: The study reveals a slight decline in PHC system efficiency across the municipality from 2009 to 2018. However, the highest-performing county achieved a 2.36% increase in Total Factor Productivity (TFP), demonstrating the potential of horizontal integration reforms and strategic fiscal investments in enhancing PHC efficiency. However, an increase in nurse density per 1,000 population negatively correlated with efficiency, indicating the need for a balanced approach to workforce expansion. Conclusions: Horizontal integration reforms, along with targeted fiscal inputs and urbanisation, are key to improving PHC efficiency in underdeveloped regions. The study underscores the importance of optimising workforce allocation and skillsets over mere expansion, providing valuable insights for policymakers aiming to strengthen PHC systems toward achieving UHC in China and similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to investigate whether social media use (SMU) at work has a curvilinear effect on job performance and whether Cyberloafing (non-work-related use) and job complexity moderate this effect. Design/methodology/approach: Online surveys were conducted in China among WeChat users from multiple organizations working in the office environment, generating 350 valid responses. Findings: The results revealed that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between SMU at work and job performance through mediations of communication, information sharing and entertainment; such that the relationship is initially positive but becomes weaker as SMU increases and exceeds the optimal level. Notably, it is found that Cyberloafing negatively moderates the relationship between SMU and job performance, and there is a significant joint moderating effect of job complexity and Cyberloafing. Practical implications: This study improves the research of information system use. It also provides implications for organizations concerned about formulating policies related to individuals' SMU and suggests that SM users and managers should find strategies to arrive at without surpassing the optimal level to maximize productivity. Originality/value: This paper enriches the job demands-resources model to extend the literature on the advantages and disadvantages of SMU at work, which indirectly affect performance through two job conditions (job resources and demands). The study finds that employees benefit from a moderate amount of SMU at work, once it surpasses the optimal level, job demands surpass job resources and counterproductivity will appear. In addition, Cyberloafing and job complexity moderate the optimal level of SMU at work, which have not yet been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Uncovering the trade-offs and synergy relationship of multiple ecosystem services (ESs) is important for scientific ecosystem management and the improvement of ecological service functions. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal changes of four typical ES types (i.e., water yield (WY), carbon storage (CS), soil conservation (SC), and habitat quality (HQ)) from 2001 to 2020 in the Han River Basin (HRB). Meanwhile, the trade-offs and synergies between paired ESs and the socioecological drivers of these ESs were further explored. The results showed that grassland, cropland, and bare land decreased by 12,141.3 km2, 624.09 km2, and 22.1 km2 during the study period, respectively, which can be attributed to their conversion to forests in the HRB. Temporally, the WY, CS, and SC all showed a continuously increasing trend. Spatially, WY and HQ exhibited bipolar clustering characteristics, with WY exhibiting low-value clustering in the upstream and high-value clustering in the downstream, while CS showed the clustering characteristics of a scattered distribution of cold and hot spots from 2001 to 2020. The spatial patterns of aggregation locations in CS and HQ were relatively similar, with clusters of higher ES values mainly distributed in the western and central regions and clusters of lower ES values mainly located in the eastern and southeastern regions, while the aggregation of WY was spatially concentrated. Overall, the CS showed a significant positive correlation with HQ, but a significant negative correlation with WY. Spatially, WY and HQ, CS, and SC showed a substantial trade-off relationship in the northwest and southeast parts of the study area, while HQ, CS, and SC mainly exhibited a synergistic relationship in most parts of the study area. Slope and temperature had high influencing factor coefficients on multiple ESs; the mixed effect of terrain and natural factors was significantly greater than the impact of a single factor on ESs, and terrain factors played an essential role in the changes in ESs. The findings can provide technical and theoretical support for integrated scientific ecosystem management and sustainable development at the local scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study analyzes the relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, vaginal microecology, and cervical lesions to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer (CC) in the Xinjiang region. Methods: Real‐time quantitative PCR was used for HPV genotyping and viral load. The Gram staining and dry biochemical enzyme kit were utilized to diagnose vaginal secretions. The χ2 test and Logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results: The HPV infection rate among women in the Xinjiang region was 30.29%, of which the single HPV infection accounts for 77%. HPV16 and HPV52 were the main infection types. There was significant differences in the HPV infection rate and infection types among the Han, Uighur, Hui, and Kazakh ethnic groups. The viral load of HPV16 and HPV52 increases with the upgrade of cervical lesions. There were significant differences in vaginal microecology evaluation indicators H2O2, SNA, LE, GUS, trichomonas, clue cells, and lactobacilli among different ethnic groups. HPV negative patients with varying grades of cervical lesions exhibit a notable variance in H2O2 and LE, which is statistically significant. Single HPV infection and high viral load HPV significantly increase the risk of CC. Conclusions: This study indicates that HPV infection and vaginal microecology differ among ethnic groups, which have a strong correlation with the progression of CC, offering guidance on CC screening and interventions in the Xinjiang area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network approach is employed to evaluate the prediction performance of PM2.5 in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region (BTH). The proposed method is evaluated using the hourly air quality datasets from the China National Environmental Monitoring Center, European Center for Medium-range Weather Forecasts ERA5 (ECMWF-ERA5), and Multi-resolution Emission Inventory for China (MEIC) for the years 2016 and 2017. The predicted PM2.5 concentrations demonstrate a strong correlation with the observed values (R2 = 0.871–0.940) in the air quality dataset. Furthermore, the model exhibited the best performance in situations of heavy pollution (PM2.5 > 150 μg/m3) and during the winter season, with respective R2 values of 0.689 and 0.915. In addition, the influence of ECMWF-ERA5's hourly meteorological factors was assessed, and the results revealed regional heterogeneity on a large scale. Further evaluation was conducted by analyzing the chemical components of the MEIC inventory on the prediction performance. We concluded that the same temporal profile may not be suitable for addressing emission inventories in a large area with a deep learning method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐scale photovoltaic (PV) plants are growing rapidly in drylands because of the rich solar radiation and vast unutilized land. The transformation of landscapes in dryland has threatened local fragile vegetation. Existing studies have investigated the issue by field observations and satellite data, yet the spatial differences in vegetation changes due to dryland PV plants deployment and underlying driving mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, Landsat Normalized Difference Vegetation Index data were used to assess the vegetation changes disturbed by PV plants in China's drylands. We further identified environmental factors affecting vegetation changes based on random forest regression model. Our findings reveal the spatial heterogeneity in the impact of PV plants on vegetation dynamics—PV plant deployment promoted the growth of vegetation in the vast majority of arid and hyper‐arid drylands, while it tends to cause vegetation decline in the sub‐humid and semi‐arid drylands. The impact of PV plants on vegetation dynamics depends on local environmental conditions. We found that deploying PV plants in areas with sparse vegetation, low humidity, and long sunshine duration is more likely to promote vegetation restoration. The findings and data maps with highly detailed information can help guide solar energy operators in siting and ecological restoration to enhance techno–ecological synergies in the future. Plain Language Summary: In drylands, large‐scale photovoltaic (PV) plants are rapidly expanding. However, the spatial differences in vegetation changes caused by the PV plants deployment and underlying driving mechanisms remains understudied. Here, we used satellite remote sensing imagery to monitor the impact of PV plant deployment on vegetation dynamics in drylands. We employed machine learning models and multi‐source data sets to explore the environmental factors influencing the vegetation effects of PV plants. Our study findings indicate that the PV plants deployment has varying impacts on vegetation dynamics in different regions. In areas with sparse vegetation, low humidity, and long sunlight duration, PV plant deployment is more conducive to promoting vegetation restoration. These findings deepen our understanding of the ecological impacts of PV plants in drylands and emphasize the techno‐ecological synergistic benefits of PV plants in dryland ecosystems. Key Points: Existing PV plants exhibit spatially varied impacts on vegetation dynamicsThe impact of PV plants on vegetation dynamics depends on local environmental conditionsPV deployment helps enhance techno‐ecological synergies in most drylands of China [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring slow-moving landslides in densely vegetated areas using X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data posed challenges due to the dramatic loss of coherence during SAR interferometry and the relative lower precision of sub-pixel offset tracking (SPOT). The mountainous Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) in China is a landslide-prone region with unique hydrogeological conditions, where riparian slopes are mostly covered with dense vegetation. Here, we explore the potential of utilizing temporal stacking to improve SPOT (TS-SPOT) for mitigating background noise and enhancing the continuous deformation signal of natural scatterers on densely vegetated slopes. By leveraging redundant information in multiple offset maps, TS-SPOT demonstrates enhanced measurement capability, offering more precise velocity estimations and extended velocity field coverage than single pair-wise SPOT. The ability of the proposed method is illustrated for two large-scale, slow-moving reservoir landslides in the TGRA, the Outang and Xinpu landslides, for which TerraSAR-X High-resolution Spotlight (TSX-HS) images and GNSS measurements, and ground truth data are available. The monitoring results revealed a maximum of 40 and 10 cm/year average deformation rates along the azimuth and range direction, respectively. This study demonstrates a powerful and efficient method for monitoring slow-moving landslides in vegetated terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of an appropriate cropping pattern is crucial for the improvement of regional agricultural economic efficiency and sustainable development. Despite previous efforts, there remains a gap in optimizing cropping patterns that fully leverage climate resources to enhance production efficiency. This study addresses this gap by systematically comparing the differences in climate resource allocation, production efficiency and crop response among models by constructing four new triple-maturing cropping models at typical ecological sites in the hilly areas of southwest China. To solve the above problems, we constructed eight cropping patterns and classified them to three as follows: the Traditional Double Cropping System, the Traditional Triple Cropping System, the Novel Triple Cropping System. The results showed that the new multi-maturing planting pattern was significantly better than the traditional two-maturing netting pattern and the traditional three-maturing planting pattern in terms of light, temperature and water productivity. Compared with the traditional two-maturity net cropping model and the traditional three-maturity cropping model, the new cropping model increased light energy productivity by 97.88% and 50.00%, respectively; light energy use by an average of 0.48% and 0.31%; cumulative temperature productivity by an average of 84.70% and 49.14%; and rainfall productivity by an average of 101.04% and 49.61%. An assessment of the light, temperature and water meteorological resource use efficiency of the different treatments showed that the resource use efficiency of the new multi-maturing planting pattern was on average 111.58% and 74.78% higher than that of the traditional two-maturing net planting pattern and the traditional three-maturing planting pattern, with the T6 pattern having the highest resource use efficiency. The new multi-ripening cropping pattern has demonstrated production stability in response to changes in light, temperature and water resources, better adapting to weekly climate changes, stabilizing yields and improving efficiency. In summary, the results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for optimizing cropping patterns and promoting the use of climate resources in agriculture and sustainable development. Future research should focus on further refining these models, exploring their adaptability to various climatic conditions, and evaluating their long-term economic and environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The associations between dietary patterns and liver cancer risk have received much attention, but evidence among the Chinese population is scarce. This study aims to update the results of two cohort studies and provide the sex-specific associations in the Chinese population. Methods: This study was based on two cohorts from the Shanghai Men's Health Study (SMHS) and the Shanghai Women's Health Study (SWHS). Diet information was collected by validated food frequency questionnaires. Dietary patterns were derived by factor analysis. Cox regression model was utilized to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for associations between dietary patterns and liver cancer risk. Results: During median follow-up years of 11.2 (male) and 17.1 (female) years, 427 males and 252 females were identified as incident primary liver cancer cases. In males, vegetable-based dietary pattern was inversely associated with liver cancer (HRQ4-Q1: 0.67, 95%CI 0.51–0.88, Ptrend < 0.001). Interaction analysis indicated that in males lower vegetable-based dietary pattern score and older age/medical history of chronic hepatitis combined increase the hazard of liver cancer more than the sum of them, with a 114% and 1061% higher risk, respectively. In females, the fruit-based dietary pattern was associated with a reduced risk of liver cancer (HRQ4-Q1: 0.63, 95%CI 0.42–0.95, Ptrend = 0.03). In both males and females, null associations were observed between the meat-based dietary pattern and the risk of liver cancer. Conclusion: A vegetable-based dietary pattern in males and a fruit-based dietary pattern in females tended to have a protective role on liver cancer risk. This study provided updated information that might be applied to guide public health action for the primary prevention of liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Most studies investigated the relationship between COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) by comparing the incidence of GBS before and during the pandemic of COVID-19. However, the findings were inconsistent, probably owing to varying degrees of the lockdown policy. The quarantine requirements and travel restrictions in China were lifted around December 7, 2022. This study aimed to explore whether the relative frequency of GBS increased during the major outbreak in the absence of COVID-19-mandated social restrictions in China. Methods: GBS patients admitted to the First Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, from December 7, 2022 to February 20, 2023, and from June, 2017 to August, 2019 were included. The relative frequencies of GBS in hospitalized patients during different periods were compared. The patients with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection within six weeks prior to GBS onset formed the COVID-GBS group and non-COVID-GBS group, respectively. Results: The relative frequency of GBS among hospitalized patients during the major outbreak of COVID-19 (13/14,408) was significantly higher than that before the COVID-19 epidemic (29/160,669, P < 0.001). More COVID-GBS patients (11/13) presented AIDP subtype than non-COVID-GBS cases (10/27, P = 0.003). The mean interval between onset of infective symptoms and GBS was longer in COVID-GBS (21.54 ± 11.56 days) than in non-COVID-GBS (5.76 ± 3.18 days, P < 0.001). Conclusions: COVID-19 significantly increased the incidence of GBS. Most COVID-GBS patients fell into the category of AIDP, responded well to IVIg, and had a favorable prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building energy consumption in China accounts for 45% of the total national energy consumption, with air conditioning energy consumption representing approximately two-thirds of that. Therefore, energy efficiency in buildings is of utmost importance. This study focuses on a chemical industrial park located along the Fujiang River and compares three heating and cooling supply schemes: the river water source heat pump system, which utilizes river water as the heat source and heat sink; the water cooling unit and boiler system, which uses water-cooled electric compression chillers for cooling and an oil-fired boiler system for heating; and the split air conditioning and gas water heater scheme, which relies on refrigerants such as fluorine-containing compounds for cooling and a gas water heater for heating. By calculating the energy consumption of the above three schemes and conducting a comparative analysis, it is found that the river water source heat pump system exhibits significantly higher energy efficiency throughout the year compared to the water cooling unit and boiler system and the split air conditioning and gas water heater scheme. This highlights the notable energy efficiency advantage of the river water source heat pump system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a widespread air pollutant in the indoor environment. Previous studies have shown that some bacteria have potential application to remove indoor HCHO. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Methylobacterium sp. strain R1 (S-R1) in removing formaldehyde (HCHO) from indoor air using biofilters. Three experiments confirmed S-R1's ability to degrade HCHO in the air, with 13C-NMR analysis revealing its involvement in the metabolic process. Optimal biofilter parameters, including 35 sponge layers, 30% humidity, and 9.50 m3/min air flow, resulted in a removal efficiency of up to 90% and an elimination capability of 24111-27000 μg/(m3 ∗ h) during a 60-minute test period. Long-term (31-day) operation of the biofilter with the optimal parameters effectively reduced HCHO levels from 1.60 mg/m3 to 0.02-0.03 mg/m3, below China's national standard, and maintained this level. Fluorescence microscope observation and downstream gas detection revealed stable S-R1 cell numbers and no bacterial leakage, respectively. Two conclusions can be drawn: (1) S-R1 is effective in removing HCHO in polluted air and (2) with optimum parameters, the S-R1 biofilter is engineering effective in purifying the indoor air environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification and quantification of the ecological risks, sources and distribution of heavy metals in purple soils are essential for regional pollution control and management. In this study, geo-accumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), pollution index (PI), potential ecological risk index (RI), principal component analysis (PCA) model and geographical detector (GD) were combined to evaluate the status, ecological risk, and sources of heavy metals (HMs) in soils from a typical purple soil areas of Sichuan province. The results showed that the average contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in purple soil were 7.77, 0.19, 69.5, 27.9, 0.077, 30.9, 26.5 mg/kg and 76.8 mg/kg, and the Igeo, EF and RI of topsoil Hg and Cd in designated area was the highest, and the average contents of Hg and Cd in topsoil were obviously greater than respective soil background value in Sichuan province and purple soil. The hot spots for the spatial distribution of 8 HMs were mainly focused in the southwest and northeast of the designated area, and there were also significant differences for 8 HMs distribution characteristics in the profile soil. Cu comes from both anthropogenic and natural sources, Zn, Ni and Cr mainly come from natural sources, but As, Pb, Hg and Cd mainly derived from human activities. GD results showed that soil texture (X18), altitude (X4), total nitrogen (TN), clay content (X3), sand content (X2) and silt content (X1) had the greatest explanatory power to 8 HMs spatial differentiation.This study provides a reference for understanding the status and influencing factors of HM pollution in typical purple soil, and lays a theoretical foundation for the environmental treatment of purple soil in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the tooth anatomy is crucial for ensuring effective endodontic treatment. This study investigated the root canal morphology of the second mesiobuccal (MB2) canal in maxillary first molars (MFMs) in a Chinese population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: This study evaluated 486 MFMs with MB2 canals from 285 participants undergoing CBCT examination and determined the Vertucci's classification and position of the MB2 canal orifice. The prevalence of the MB2 canal was correlated with the sex, age, and tooth side. The correlations between the prevalence of the MB2 canal and sex and tooth side were assessed using the Fisher's exact test. The chi-square test was used for evaluating the correlation between the prevalence of the MB2 canal and age. Results: The number of type II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and other root canals in the MFMs was 30.9%, 0.6%, 65.0%, 1.2%, 1.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%, respectively. Among the 201 cases with bilateral inclusion, 87.6% showed consistent canal configuration. Results of the first clear apparent position (FCAP) of the MB2 canals showed that 434, 44, and 3 teeth had FCAP at the upper, middle, and bottom one-third of the root, respectively. The FCAPs of the MB2 canal in the MFMs with types II, IV, and VI, as well as types III and V canals showed significant differences (p<0.05). The horizontal distance between the MB1 and MB2 canal orifices in the type II canals of MFMs was significantly lesser than those in the type IV canals of MFMs (p < 0.01). The longitudinal distance between the pulp chamber floor plane and MB2 canal orifice significantly correlated with age (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The morphology of the mesiobuccal root canal in the MFMs is complex. Complete understanding of the anatomical morphology of the root canal combined with the CBCT and dental operating microscope is necessary for the accurate detection of the MB2 canal and consequently improved success rate of root canal treatment. Our study findings can help endodontists improve endodontic treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noise pollution is considered an important aspect of global environmental issues. The construction of urban rail transit is gradually increasing, leading to excessive noise pollution in rail transit projects. The noise during construction has negatively impacted both the construction workers and residents in the surrounding neighborhoods. Therefore, monitoring and managing the noise is very important. In this study, noise sensors and sound level meters were employed to monitor the noises produced in an urban rail transit project. Then, Cadna/A software was utilized to simulate the noise characteristics. Based on the results, it was found that daytime noise has a maximum of 89.5dB(A), which exceeds the standard. To alleviate the noise impacts, a noise reduction scheme was put forward. The implementation of the noise reduction scheme is predicted to have an effect, resulting in an approximate 10-20dB reduction in noise level. The implementation of the scheme will allow the construction noise of the case projects to meet the national standard. This study addresses the research gaps related to construction noise in urban rail transit projects and provides valuable references for the noise control of urban rail transit projects in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desmodium triflorum is an important gramineous forage grown in tropical regions of China. In August 2022, a new leaf spot disease was observed on D. triflorum during a field survey at the base of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Hainan, China. The pathogen was isolated and identified using morphological examination and phylogeny based on multi‐gene sequences analysis of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer, the second largest RNA polymerase subunit (RPB2), and beta‐tubulin genes. The isolates were identified as Epicoccum sorghinum. The pathogenicity of E. sorghinum on D. triflorum was validated fulfilling Koch's postulates, causing leaf spot disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot disease on D. triflorum caused by E. sorghinum in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To report and analyze the clinical features of the first documented case in China of anti-neurofilament heavy chain (NfH) antibody-associated encephalitis. Methods and Results A 63-year-old female presented with cognitive impairment, recurrent epileptic episodes, and aphasia. Head MRI showed multiple abnormal signals in bilateral frontal and parietal lobes, and slight swelling in some gyri, dilatation of the supratentorial ventricular system and brain atrophy, especially in bilateral temporal lobes and hippocampus. 18F-DPA714 PET/MRI showed abnormal uptake in multiple brain regions in the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes, suggesting neuroinflammation in the brain. EEG showed frequent epileptiform discharges. Cerebrospinal fluid white cell count and glucose were elevated. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid antibodies related to autoimmune encephalitis were negative. Serum tissue-based indirect immunofluorescence assay showed cerebellar neurofilament-like fluorescence surrounding Purkinje cells, further detection of neurofilament protein-related antibodies, it suggested high titer of serum NfH-IgG (1:1000). The patient was diagnosed with anti-NfH antibody-associated encephalitis. After treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone, the prognosis was improved. Conclusions Anti-NfH antibody-associated encephalitis is a rare and clinically complex condition. The myriad of symptoms complicates early diagnosis and differential identification. Early initiation of immunomodulatory therapy may offer prognostic advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the global economy, the investment boom in megaprojects worldwide has been on the rise in the past several decades. As large temporary contract organizations, megaprojects are generally confronted with performance dilemmas. The managerial advantage of building information modeling (BIM) has been recognized as one of the critical factors for the success of megaprojects. In particular, BIM-based integration management (BIM IM) signifies the logical and reasonable coordination and integration of the required processes during the whole life-cycle of projects, which facilitates the implementation and management of megaprojects. However, limited empirical research has explored effective pathways for BIM IM in improving megaproject performance (MP). Thus, this study establishes a novel conceptual framework to explore the impacts of BIM IM on MP through information sharing (IS) and cooperation behavior (CB), as well as considering the moderating effects of top management team (TMT) heterogeneity and task conflict (TC). The empirical data were collected in megaprojects in China using the questionnaire survey, and data from 206 middle-senior managers was analyzed by structural equation modeling partial least-squares method. The research findings reveal the effectiveness of BIM IM in promoting IS and CB in megaprojects for ultimate MP. More specifically, BIM IM has a larger effect on IS than CB, and CB has a more profound impact on MP than IS. Meanwhile, TMT heterogeneity plays a negative moderating effect on the relationship between IS and MP, while TC shows a positive moderating effect on the relationship between CB and MP. The findings of this study provide new perspectives and practical strategies for stakeholders to support the effective use of BIM IM to achieve strategic management in megaprojects worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the outcome for HIV-associated Hodgkin lymphoma (HIV-HL) as this is less common than HIV-negative lymphoma. Therefore, we performed a multi-center study to analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of HIV-HL patients in China. Nineteen cases of HIV-HL were diagnosed and treated at three center and including the sixth people's hospital of Zhengzhou, Peking union medical college hospital, and Chongqing university cancer hospital, between December 2013 and June 2022. Data on the clinical features, laboratory results, response, and prognosis were collected and analyzed. The median age at diagnosis was 43(22–74) years. All patients were infected with HIV through sexual transmission, with ten cases transmitted through man having sex with man (MSM) and nine cases transmitted through heterosexual transmission. Seven patients were diagnosed with lymphoma and found to be infected with HIV. Four cases were in stage III, and fifteen cases were in stage IV. After a median follow up of 46.8(4.0-112.9) months, 17 cases were alive after ABVD regimen chemotherapy combined with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rate were 83.9% and 89.5%,respectively. HIV-HL exhibits an invasive process in clinical practice, and cART combined with ABVD regimen chemotherapy can achieve long-term survival for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provides a new opportunity for the continued deepening of economic and trade cooperation between China and countries along the BRI route. However, different business environments among countries have led to the problem of a low and uneven distribution of China's overall trade and investment efficiency in the countries along the route. Using the stochastic frontier gravity model, this study evaluates the efficiency of China's outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) based on the data of 47 countries along the Belt and Road route from 2013 to 2019. The empirical results indicate that the efficiency level of China's OFDI in countries located along the Belt and Road route is 43.39%, which suggests a regional imbalance. In terms of business environment factors, regulatory governance, civic discourse, government accountability, and regulatory quality in host countries have a positive impact on China's OFDI. The positive effects of the BRI have enabled Chinese enterprises to better face factors such as political instability, corruption and imperfections in the legal system when investing abroad. The findings and suggestions could help the governments and enterprises of the countries along the route improve the business environment in a more targeted manner, enhance the space for economic and trade cooperation, and promote the common development of the countries along the route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The difference in the prognoses between treatment with surgical therapy and continuation of local-plus-systemic therapy following successful down-staging of intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Methods Data of 405 patients with intermediate-advanced HCC treated at 30 hospitals across China from January 2017 to July 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients received local-plus-systemic therapy and were divided into the surgical (n  = 100) and nonsurgical groups (n  = 305) according to whether they received surgical therapy. The differences between long-term prognoses of the 2 groups were compared. Subgroup analysis was performed in 173 HCC patients who met the criteria for surgical resection following down-staging. Results Multivariable analysis of all patients showed that surgical therapy, hazard ratio (HR): 0.289, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.136-0.613) was a protective factor for overall survival (OS), but not for event-free survival (EFS). Multivariable analysis of 173 intermediate-advanced HCC patients who met the criteria for surgical resection after conversion therapy showed that surgical therapy (HR: 0.282, 95% CI, 0.121-0.655) was a protective factor for OS, but not for EFS. Similar results were obtained after propensity score matching. For patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B (HR: 0.171, 95% CI, 0.039-0.751) and C (HR: 0.269, 95% CI, 0.085-0.854), surgical therapy was also a protective factor for OS. Conclusions Overall, for patients with intermediate-advanced HCC who underwent local-plus-systemic therapies, surgical therapy is a protective factor for long-term prognosis and can prolong OS, and for those who met the surgical resection criteria after conversion therapy, surgical therapy is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are few studies on the climate and glacial scale in the mountains east of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. So, we used glacial features to determine the range of the area's paleoglaciers and the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of theGlA modern and paleoglaciers in the Tianchi area of the Changbai Mountains. Then, the GlaRe toolbox 2015 () was used to reconstruct the surface of the paleoglaciers. The probable air temperature during the glacial advances of the LGM was calculated by applying the P-T and LR models. The results showed the following: (1) the change in ELA is 950 m in the Tianchi area of the Changbai Mountains; (2) glacial coverage in the Tianchi area of the Changbai Mountains during the LGM period was ~27.05 km2 and the glacial volume was ~9.94 km3; and (3) the mean temperature in the Tianchi area of the Changbai Mountains during the LGM was 6.6–9.0 °C lower than today's, and was the principal factor controlling the growth of glaciers. There is a difference in the climate change in monsoon-influenced mountains during the LGM, and this difference may be related to the precipitation in the mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China continues to escalate. Objective To investigate the impact of family support system on the self-management behaviour of patients with T2DM. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 1,042 participants were sampled using a multistage stratified probability-proportionate-to-size method. On-site interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire administered by 122 family doctors from 13 community health service centres in 8 administrative districts. A structural equation model was established to investigate the impact of individual factors and family support system on the self-management behaviour of T2DM patients. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0 software. Results The self-management behaviour pass rate among individuals with T2DM was 40.9%. In terms of individual factors, those with a high school education level or above demonstrated higher self-management behaviour scores than those with a junior high school education level or lower. The structural equation model revealed a path of interactions among individual factors, family support system-related factors, and the self-management behaviour of patients with T2DM: Family function → Family support → Patients' self-management behaviour → Quality of life. The coefficient of the direct path from family function to family support was 0.74 (P  < 0.001), while the coefficient of the direct path from family support to self-management behaviour was 0.68 (P  = 0.001). Conclusion There is significant room for improvement in the self-management behaviour of T2DM patients in China. Family function can enhance the self-management behaviour of T2DM patients by promoting family support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thismia Griff. (Thismiaceae) is a holo-mycoheterotrophic genus with more than 100 species. In this study, phylogenetic analyses supported that T. malipoensis from Yunnan is a new species in T. sect. Glaziocharis. Morphologically, this new species can be distinguished from its phylogenetic sister species T. abei by having the annulus of the flower expanded and modified into a cucullate (hood-like) structure with zygomorphic symmetry with one opening on one side. Biogeographical inference showed that SW China to Indo-Burma and the Sunda Shelf region was suggested as the ancestral distribution region of Thismia s.s., then eastward to SE China and Japan, and southward to New Guinea to Australia, respectively. The Chinese species should have originated from at least two different ancestral sources, and geographical isolation caused the divergence between T. malipoensis and T. abei at 17.47 Mya. Citation: Ya J.-D. Chen H.-Y. Zhang W. Zhu R.-B. Cai J. & Yu W.-B. 2024: Phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses of Thismia (Thismiaceae) support T. malipoensis as the eighth species in China. – Willdenowia 54: 47–63. Version of record first published online on 28 February 2024 ahead of inclusion in April 2024 issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the effect of analyst teams' gender diversity on the accuracy of their earnings forecasts. We find that, compared with single-gender analyst teams, mixed-gender analyst teams generate more accurate earnings forecasts and have less optimism bias. The desirable effect of mixed-gender analyst teams on the accuracy of earnings forecasts is more significant in the highly educated or experienced analyst teams, in smaller brokerages with fewer star analysts, and in firms audited by non-Big -Four accounting firms or with less analyst coverage. Further studies find that, female analysts who work in teams produce more accurate earnings forecasts than they work individually. In addition, when a single-gender analyst team transforms into a mixed-gender analyst team, its reports have more accuracy and less optimism bias than before, and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the complex relationship between population change and surface urban heat island (SUHI) effect has important practical significance for the ecological transformation development of shrinking cities in the context of the prevalence of urban shrinkage and the global climate change. This paper compares the population change and SUHI effect between population shrinking region (Northeast Region, NR) and population growing region (Yangtze River Delta, YRD) in China, and explores their differences in driving mechanisms, using GIS spatial analysis and Geodetector model. Our results indicated that there are significant differences in population changes and SUHI intensity between these two regions. About 72.22% of the cities in the NR were shrinking, while their SUHI intensities increased by an average of 1.69°C. On the contrary, the urban population in the YRD shows a linear growth trend, while their SUHI intensities decreased by 0.11°C on average. The results of bivariate Moran's I index also indicated that the spatial correlation between the urban population changes and the SUHI intensity changes are not significant in the above regions. Furthermore, there are significant differences in the primary drivers of SUHI variations between these two regions. In the NR, underlying surface changes, including the changes of green coverage and built-up areas, are the most important driving factors. However, atmospheric environment changes, such as carbon dioxide emission and sulfur dioxide emission, are the key drivers in the YRD. Northam's theory of three-stage urbanization and environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis are powerful to explain these differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flood disasters are destructive especially in prosperous and urbanized estuarine regions, where the flood regime is much more complex due to multiple fluvial–estuarine impacts. The Shenzhen River (SZR), located in one of the most prosperous regions of southern China, is vulnerable to increasing flood risk. Unravelling the influential factors is of particular significance to flood hazards prevention and urban safety for the SZR. Based on the field-measured floods on June 13, 2008 ("2008.06") and August 29, 2018 ("2018.08") with roughly equal magnitudes of rainfall and tide, the changing flood risk in the SZR basin was assessed. Considering the substantial development of tidal flat plants in the past two decades, a physical model of the SZR was built to quantify the impacts of changing river regime on the flood stage. The model covers the whole mainstream of tidal reach and half of the Shenzhen Bay (SZB), which was well calibrated and validated by in situ flow process. Several situations with different ranges of riverine vegetation and estuarine mangrove, including all vegetation (actual situation), half vegetation, no vegetation, mangrove in 2002 and 2018, were modelled to explore flood stage variations in 2-yr and 50-yr return period. The results found that the "2018.08" flood stage was about 1.4 m higher than "2008.06" flood. Moreover, the rainfall–runoff duration in "2018.08" was significantly decreased by 1 h less than that of "2008.06" flood, indicating increased flood risk in the SZR. The flood stage in the middle reach increases by more than 0.6 m driven by the riverine vegetation during the 50-yr return period flood, while the flood stage rises less than 0.1 m for the flood with 2-yr return period. Moreover, the extended estuarine mangrove forest resulted in about 0.2 m flood stage increment in the lower reach. The effects of sea level rise and sediment deposition after channel dredging on the flood risk in the SZR were further discussed. The effects of sea level rise and sediment deposition after channel dredging on flood risk were further discussed in the SZR. Channel infilling probably causes a flood stage increase of approximately 0.5 m for all reaches, while the influence of sea level is relatively slight but cumulative. Sufficient river management and planning, such as seasonal removal of riverine vegetation, mangrove management and regular topography surveys, should be taken into consideration in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing water demand due to human activities has aggravated water scarcity, and conflicts among stakeholders have increased the risk of unsustainable development. Ignoring the effects of trade-offs leads to misguided policy recommendations. This study highlights the concept of synergy among different aspects of the water allocation process. A process-based three-layer synergistic optimal-allocation (PTSOA) model is established to integrate the interests of stakeholders across sub-regions, decision levels, and time steps while simultaneously coupling reclaimed water to establish environmentally friendly solutions. A synergy degree index is constructed by applying network analysis for optimization. PTSOA is applied in Yiwu, southeast China, and is shown to be able to improve the contradictions among different dimensionalities in a complex system. Overall, 2.43×107 – 3.95×107 m 3 of conventional water is saved, and notable improvements in management are achieved. The application demonstrates the efficiency and excellent performance of the PTSOA model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study how Pneumoperitoneum under Trendelenburg position for robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery impact the perioperative respiratory parameters, diagrammatic function, etc. Methods: Patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery in the Trendelenburg position and patients undergoing general surgery in the supine position were selected. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the type of surgery: robot-assisted surgery group and general surgery group. ① Respiratory parameters such as lung compliance, oxygenation index, and airway pressure were recorded at 5 min after intubation, 1 and 2 h after pneumoperitoneum. ② Diaphragm excursion (DE) and diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) were recorded before entering the operating room (T1), immediately after extubation (T2), 10 min after extubation (T3), and upon leaving the postanesthesia care unit (T4). ③ Peripheral venous blood (5 ml) was collected before surgery and 30 min after extubation and was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the serum concentration of Clara cell secretory protein 16 (CC16) and surfactant protein D (SP-D). Result: ① Compared with the general surgery group (N = 42), the robot-assisted surgery group (N = 46) presented a significantly higher airway pressure and lower lung compliance during the surgery(P < 0.001). ② In the robot-assisted surgery group, the DE significantly decreased after surgery (P < 0.001), which persisted until patients were discharged from the PACU (P < 0.001), whereas the DTF only showed a transient decrease postoperatively (P < 0.001) and returned to its preoperative levels at discharge (P = 0.115). In the general surgery group, the DE showed a transient decrease after surgery(P = 0.011) which recovered to the preoperative levels at discharge (P = 1). No significant difference in the DTF was observed among T1, T2, T3, and T4. ③ Both the general and robot-assisted surgery reduced the postoperative serum levels of SP-D (P < 0.05), while the robot-assisted surgery increased the postoperative levels of CC16 (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery significantly impairs postoperative diaphragm function, which does not recover to preoperative levels at PACU discharge. Elevated levels of serum CC16 after surgery suggest potential lung injury. The adverse effects may be attributed to the prolonged Trendelenburg position and pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the relationship between the levels of serum 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine (8 - OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and cognitive dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods From February 2021 to February 2022, 126 patients with PD in The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were divided into normal cognitive function group (PDN group, n = 41), mild cognitive impairment group (PD-MCI group, n = 47) and Parkinson's disease dementia group (PDD group, n = 38), and 50 healthy subjects were selected as control group. Hoehn-Yahr staging was used to evaluate the severity of patients with PD during the "close" period of anti-PD drugs, and the motor function of patients with PD was evaluated by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS III). Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to evaluate the severity of cognitive dysfunction at rest and in the "on" period of anti-PD drugs, and the serum 8-OHdG and MDA of PD patients and controls were collected. Pearson and partial correlation analyses were used to analyze the correlation between the levels of serum 8-OHdG and MDA and MoCA score in PD patients. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the influencing factors of cognitive dysfunction in PD patients. The efficacy analysis of serum 8-OHdG and MDA levels in predicting the risk of cognitive dysfunction in PD patients was carried out by using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve). Results The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between the MoCA score and the duration (r = - 0.241, P = 0.007), Hoehn-Yahr staging (r = - 0.333, P = 0.007), 8-OHdG (r = - 0.310, P = 0.000) and MDA (r = - 0.291, P = 0.004) in PD patients. The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that the elevated levels of 8-OHdG (OR = 1.335, 95%CI: 1.137-1.568; P = 0.000) and MDA (OR = 2.928, 95%CI: 1.676-5.115; P = 0.000) were risk factors for cognitive dysfunction in PD patients. The results of ROC curve showed the areas under the curve of 8-OHdG, MDA and their combination in predicting cognitive dysfunction in PD patients were 0.831 (95%CI: 0.761-0.902, P = 0.000), 0.846 (95%CI: 0.775-0.916, P = 0.000) and 0.922 (95%CI: 0.878-0.966, P = 0.000), respectively. Conclusions The detection of 8-OHdG and MDA in peripheral blood is expected to be a serum marker to evaluate the severity of cognitive dysfunction in patients with PD, and to predict cognitive dysfunction in patients with PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal water is the product of deep circulation within the crust, and the understanding of its hydrogeochemical process can provide effective information for integrated research on its circulation pattern and formation mechanism. Based on the geothermal geological conditions of the Yanggao geothermal field, this study analyzed water samples from thermal springs and geothermal wells in the geothermal field, ascertaining their hydrochemical components, along with their hydrogen and oxygen isotopes. Using methods like piper diagrams, ionic component ratio characterization, Na–K–Mg equilibrium diagrams, and reverse path simulations, this study elucidated the recharge source of geothermal water in the study area, revealed the water–rock interactions the geothermal water experienced, and evaluated the geothermal reservoir temperatures. The results show that the geothermal water has hydrochemical types of Na–Cl–HCO3 and Na–HCO3–Cl, and is primarily recharged by the atmospheric precipitation in the northern mountainous area. The geothermal water has experienced extended water runoff and deep thermal circulation, and its hydrochemical composition primarily results from the weathering and dissolution of silicate rocks and evaporites. The major hydrogeochemical processes of the geothermal water involve the dissolution of calcite, dolomite, gypsum, and kaolinite. In addition, the canon-exchange also changes the chemical component of the geothermal water. The SiO2 Geothermometer, a multimineral equilibrium diagram, and the silica–enthalpy model reveal the presence of deep and shallow geothermal reservoirs in the study area, which exhibit temperatures of 73 °C and ranging from 125 to 150 °C, respectively. The open geothermal reservoir environment results in the mixing of geothermal water and cold water, with shallow and deep geothermal water mixing with cold water at ratios of 57% and 76%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women with substance use disorders (SUDs) are more inclined to use drugs and relapse for regulating emotions compared to men. This study aimed to explore the effects of group music and imagery in alleviating anxiety, depression, emotion regulation difficulties, and craving for women with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) in a compulsory rehabilitation context. A total of 90 women with MUD were randomly assigned to the music therapy treatment arm (n = 45) or control treatment arm (n = 45). Participants in the music therapy treatment arm received 12 biweekly sessions of group music and imagery (GrpMI) and those in the control treatment arm received 6 weeks of usual care. Anxiety, depression, emotion regulation difficulties, and craving were assessed at pre-test and post-test. After the intervention, participants in the GrpMI group reported significantly greater improvements than those in the control group for state anxiety (F = 6.27; p =.02; Partial η2 =.13), trait anxiety (F = 4.49; p =.04; Partial η2 =.09), depression (F = 5.48; p =.02; Partial η2 =.11), and craving (F = 4.53; p =.04; Partial η2 =.09). There was no significant difference between groups in emotion regulation difficulties (F =.95, p =.34, Partial η2 =.09). GrpMI significantly decreased depression, anxiety, and craving for women with MUD. Emotion regulation ability may need a longer period of treatment for significant improvement. Future studies could add long-term follow-up and compare the effects of group music therapy in women versus men with SUDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaics, a clean energy source, have received widespread attention worldwide recently. Many countries are carrying out photovoltaic construction, while also compiling and analyzing their photovoltaic development status. The same goes for China. In northwestern China, a considerable number of cities lack electricity. Meanwhile, its vast plains and abundant sunlight are conducive to the construction of photovoltaics. Therefore, the northwestern China has vigorously carried out photovoltaic construction nowadays. With the support of high-resolution and multi-temporal remote sensing images, we are able to analyze the development status of photovoltaics in these regions. We chose six provinces in northwestern China as our research areas and took three steps to complete our studies. Firstly, we extracted patterns of photovoltaics using deep learning methods. Secondly, based on the patterns and national land use survey data, we calculated the distribution and development status of photovoltaics in each province. Thirdly, we present the statistical results in figures and charts, showing the photovoltaic construction status and its development trend. We finally made conclusions and discussions about our insufficiency in work and future plans for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces (UGS), integral to modern urban life, play a pivotal role in shaping ecological, low-carbon, resilient, and livable cities. Understanding the microstructure and macro patterns of UGS is necessary but limited. In this context, we investigated the spatial patterns in the 36 major cities in China using Ziyuan-3 remote sensing images. We used a method for extracting UGS suitable for complex urban environments, and then selected 5 landscape pattern indices such as percent of landscape and patch density to analyse the spatial pattern of UGS in the 36 cities. The results show that: (1) The overall accuracy, recall, F1 value, and intersection over union of the extraction results of UGS were 94.62%, 94.11%, 94.36%, and 89.33% respectively; (2) Overall, the green space rate of the 36 cities exhibited a spatial distribution pattern of "high in the east and low in the west, low in the north and high in the south"; (3) Variations among cities were weak in terms of patch shape, but significant in patch density. The findings of this study cater to the escalating demands of urban planning and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As important green energy, wind power and photovoltaic power have great development prospects. The suitability evaluation of wind and solar power plants is a popular research field, which is related to the sustainable and healthy development of wind and solar power generation. In this paper, based on multiple dimensions such as land types, climatic conditions, topographic features and policy environment, we selected 10 indicators and combined (analytical hierarchy process) AHP method to build a suitability assessment model for evaluating the suitability of solar and wind power in Inner Mongolia, China. The findings revealed that, Inner Mongolia has a great potential to generate wind and solar electricity, for wind power, the category of 'excellent' regions covers 83855 km2 and represents 7.10% of the total surface area; for solar power, 7.66% (nearly 90420 km2) are classified as 'excellent'. The suitability of both solar and wind energy in the western region is considered to have the most suitable development region, parts of Alxa League and Bayannur City have great potential for combined wind and solar power generation. The research results could provide important technical and data support for capacity evaluation and power station location decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a major health condition among the aging population. Previous studies indicated that edentulism was a risk factor for depression. The link between edentulism and depression has not been fully clarified. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate whether chewing difficulties play a mediating role in the association between edentulism and depression among middle‐aged and older populations with national cross‐sectional data. Methods: Data were obtained from the latest fourth wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The outcome variable was set as depression, which was measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D‐10). Independent and mediated variables were separately set as self‐assessed edentulism and chewing difficulties. The nearest neighbour propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to construct a matching group to balance the basic characteristics of individuals with and without edentulism with minimised bias in the estimation. Causal mediation analysis was performed to estimate the degree of contribution of chewing difficulties to the association between edentulism and depression. Several sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the primary result. Results: A total of 15 853 individuals remained for analysis. After PSM, 809 individuals with edentulism and 2628 without edentulism remained for analysis. Among the matched individuals, the mean age was 66.3 ± 9.2 years, 58.5% were female, 78.8% lived in rural areas, 23.5% had edentulism, 51.1% had depressive symptoms, and 50.1% had chewing difficulties. Logistic regression results showed that a higher incidence of edentulism was associated with a higher rate of depression (OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.19–1.63) in the matching group. Causal mediation analysis results indicated that the average mediation effect of chewing difficulties on the association between edentulism and depression was 0.010 (95% CI: 0.005–0.015), and the average direct effect was 0.072 (95% CI: 0.036–0.11). The mediation proportion of chewing difficulties was 11.7% (95% CI: 0.079–0.21). Conclusion: A higher prevalence of edentulism was associated with a higher rate of depression among middle‐aged and elderly populations. Chewing difficulties moderately mediated the association between edentulism and depression. Fundamental oral function should not be neglected to improve mental health among the aging population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peach (Prunus persica L.) is one of the most important and oldest stone fruits grown in China. Even though P. persica is one of the most commonly grown stone fruits in China, little is known about the biodiversity of microfungi associated with peach branch diseases. In the present study, samples were collected from a wide range of peach growing areas in China, and fungal pathogens associated with peach branch diseases were isolated. In total, 85 isolates were obtained and further classified into nine genera and 10 species. Most of the isolates belonged to Botryosphaeriaceae (46), including Botryosphaeria, Diplodia, Neofusicoccum, Phaeobotryon, and Lasiodiplodia species; Ascochyta, Didymella, and Nothophoma species representing Didymellaceae were also identified. Herein, we introduce Ascochyta prunus and Lasiodiplodia pruni as novel species. In addition, we report the first records of Nothophoma pruni, Neofusicoccum occulatum, and Phaeobotryon rhois on peach worldwide, and Didymella glomerata, Nothophoma quercina, and Phaeoacremonium scolyti are the first records from China. This research is the first comprehensive investigation to explore the microfungi associated with peach branch disease in China. Future studies are necessary to understand the pathogenicity and disease epidemiology of these identified species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To propose a scoring system based on laryngoscopic characteristics for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant vocal fold leukoplakia. Methods: Laryngoscopic images from 200 vocal fold leukoplakia cases were retrospectively analysed. The laryngoscopic signs of benign and malignant vocal fold leukoplakia were compared, and statistically significant features were assigned and accumulated to establish the leukoplakia finding score. Results: A total of five indicators associated with malignant vocal fold leukoplakia were included to construct the leukoplakia finding score, with a possible range of 0–10 points. A score of 6 points or more was indicative of a diagnosis of malignant vocal fold leukoplakia. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy values of the leukoplakia finding score were 93.8 per cent, 83.6 per cent and 86.0 per cent, respectively. The consistency in the leukoplakia finding score obtained by different laryngologists was strong (kappa = 0.809). Conclusion: This scoring system based on laryngoscopic characteristics has high diagnostic value for distinguishing benign and malignant vocal fold leukoplakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major Gram-negative pathogen that can exacerbate lung infections in the patients with cystic fibrosis, which can ultimately lead to death. Methods: From 2016 to 2021, 103 strains of P. aeruginosa were isolated from hospitals and 20 antibiotics were used for antimicrobial susceptibility determination. Using next-generation genome sequencing technology, these strains were sequenced and analyzed in terms of serotypes, ST types, and resistance genes for epidemiological investigation. Results: The age distribution of patients ranged from 10 days to 94 years with a median age of 69 years old. The strains were mainly isolated from sputum (72 strains, 69.9%) and blood (14 strains, 13.6%). The size of these genomes ranged from 6.2 Mb to 7.4 Mb, with a mean value of 6.5 Mb. In addition to eight antibiotics that show inherent resistance to P. aeruginosa, the sensitivity rates for colistin, amikacin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, meropenem, aztreonam, imipenem, cefepime and levofloxacin were 100%, 95.15%, 86.41%, 72.82%, 71.84%, 69.90%, 55.34%, 52.43%, 50.49%, 50.49%, 49.51% and 47.57% respectively, and the carriage rate of MDR strains was 30.69% (31/101). Whole-genome analysis showed that a total of 50 ST types were identified, with ST244 (5/103) and ST1076 (4/103) having a more pronounced distribution advantage. Serotype predictions showed that O6 accounted for 29.13% (30/103), O11 for 23.30% (24/103), O2 for 18.45% (19/103), and O1 for 11.65% (12/103) of the highest proportions. Notably, we found a significantly higher proportion of ExoU in P. aeruginosa strains of serotype O11 than in other cytotoxic exoenzyme positive strains. In addition to this, a total of 47 crpP genes that mediate resistance to fluoroquinolones antibiotics were found distributed on 43 P. aeruginosa strains, and 10 new variants of CrpP were identified, named 1.33, 1.34, 1.35, 1.36, 1.37, 1.38, 1.39, 1.40, 1.41 and 7.1. Conclusions: We investigated the antibiotic susceptibility of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and genomically enriched the diversity of P. aeruginosa for its prophylactic and therapeutic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Little is known about whether early menopause in Chinese ethnicity is associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to determine whether self-reported early menopause (either surgical or natural menopause at an age <50 year) was associated with first AMI in Chinese women. Methods: The study population was from the INTERHEART China Study, part of the INTERHEART global study. INTERHEART global study was a standardized case–control study that was designed to evaluate the risk factors for first AMI among 52 countries. Data for demographic factors, education, income, and cardiovascular risk factors were obtained by structured questionnaires. A standard set of questions that inquired about menstrual history was included in the interview. Results: Of the 1,771 Chinese women, 1,563 (88.3%) reported either natural or surgical menopause. In univariate logistic regression model, women with early menopause had higher risk of AMI (odds ratio [OR]: 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23–1.87). After controlling for age, birth control measures, type of menopause, and other traditional risk factors (including waist/hip ratio, lifestyle factors, history of hypertension and diabetes, psychosocial factors, and apolipoprotein B [ApoB]/A1 [ApoA1]), the risk for AMI remained (OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.03–1.79). The population attributable risk for AMI in women with early menopause at <50 years was 10.1% (95% CI: 4.0–20.0) compared with women who had menopause at ≥50 years. Conclusion: Early menopause is associated with increased risk of AMI in Chinese women, independent of other traditional coronary heart disease risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The rising incidence and mortality associated with cutaneous malignant tumours highlight the importance of early diagnosis of these tumors. In clinical practice, these tumors are often misdiagnosed as benign skin lesions such as melanocytic nevi (MN) and seborrheic keratosis (SK) because of their similar morphologic features. The incidence and clinicopathological subtypes of cutaneous malignancies in East Asia populations significantly differ from those in fair-skinned groups. However, studies on misdiagnoses in Eastern countries are lacking. Therefore, this study focused on the clinical and pathological features of cutaneous malignant tumors misdiagnosed as MN or SK in a Chinese population. Patients and Methods: A total of 4592 samples clinically diagnosed as MN (n = 3503) or SK (n = 1089) from July 2014 to June 2022 were collected and evaluated retrospectively. The clinical and pathological data were analyzed to identify associated factors. Results: Pathological assessments showed that 2.5% (86/3503) of the specimens clinically diagnosed as MN were malignancies, predominantly basal cell carcinoma (BCC, 84.9%, 73/86), followed by malignant melanoma (MM, 8.1%, 7/86) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, 7.0%, 6/86). Similarly, 5.7% (62/1089) of the specimens clinically diagnosed as SK were malignant tumors, of which BCC (50.0%, 31/62) was the most common, followed by SCC (41.9%, 26/62) and MM (8.1%, 5/62). In both types of specimens, advanced age and facial lesions were risk factors for malignancy misdiagnosis. The malignancy rate, mean age, and proportion of SCC in the specimens clinically diagnosed as SK were higher than those in the specimens clinically diagnosed as MN. Dermoscopy significantly reduced the rate of misdiagnosis of these tumors as MN or SK. Conclusion: In China, cutaneous malignant tumors misdiagnosed as MN or SK are not uncommon in clinical practice, and active introduction of noninvasive diagnostic techniques is essential to distinguish them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Interannual relationship between the Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM) and landfalling tropical cyclone (TC) frequency in China (LTCFC) exhibits an interdecadal enhancement since the late-1980s, Epochs I (E1, 1951–1985) and II (E2, 1987–2019) are therefore defined to unravel possible mechanisms. Strengthened low-level vorticity and weakened vertical wind shear always favor TC genesis in the western North Pacific (WNP) main development region (MDR) in positive PMM (PPMM) years of two epochs. During PPMM years of E1, many TCs recurve northeastward due to anomalous westerly steering flow over the MDR while only handful TCs move northwestward and land over China due to climatological mean southeasterly steering flow. In PPMM years of E2, prevailing easterly steering flow anomalies on the MDR's northern edge cause more TCs to move westward/northwestward and make landfall over China. Therefore, LTCFC is insignificantly (significantly) correlated with PMM during E1 (E2) due to the interdecadal change of steering flow, which is linked to different sea surface temperature (SST) patterns of PMM during two epochs. An anomalous WNP cyclone can be induced during PPMM years of both epochs. A northwestward shift of PPMM-associated positive SST anomalies causes a large zonal SST gradient in the off-equatorial WNP which induces westerlies during E1 while the zonal SST gradient is weak during E2. Thus, westerlies on the southern edge of the anomalous cyclone extend northward, leading to a northward shift of the anomalous cyclone during E1. The distinct responses of two PMM patterns can be well reproduced by the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with an insidious onset. The widespread application of omics techniques in AD has attracted considerable attention. We aimed to make a comprehensive analysis of published omics articles on AD in order to determine the research profile and application trends of omics techniques in AD. Methods: This study utilizes bibliometric and visual methods including a map collaboration map, co-citations, and keywords to identify knowledge structures, hot topics, and research trends based on 6,828 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. Results: The results of this study showed that 5654 institutions from 91 countries published articles in this field. The USA, China, and the UK played a leading role in publishing numerous articles in relevant journals as well as prolific institutions and authors, respectively. This paper collects a large number of literatures on the application of AD omics technology from the WoSCC database and found the omics technology applied to AD is mainly based on genomics technology. The application of transcriptomics technology has shown an increasing trend in recent years, and the application of multi-omics technology will be the general trend in the future. Conclusion: The development status, frontier hotspots, and general trends of omics application technologies are reviewed. This article will provide intelligence support to researchers and institutions in the field of Alzheimer's omics research and applications from a practical perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of political connections in Chinese industrial enterprises receiving government fiscal subsidies. Using data on local officials and enterprises in China, we empirically examine how changes in political connections – due to turnover of key local government officials – impact enterprise subsidies. We find that enterprise subsidies decrease significantly in the year when local officials' turnover. However, subsidies change less significantly when the local party secretary is promoted locally or has greater incentives for promotion. The impact of changing political connections is greater for non-state-owned enterprises and large-scale enterprises. Our research helps understand the dynamics between local governments and markets in China. It also has important implications for regulating how subsidies are distributed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]