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AimsHeart failure (HF) remains a major public health problem with increasing prevalence in China. This study evaluated the clinical performance and quality measures for HF management to identify gaps in the standardization of care for patients hospitalized for HF in China.Methods and resultsFollowing the results of China-HF stage I (2012-2015), the second stage of the China-HF was launched in 2017. Among 113 hospitals with ≥100 cases, the China-HF Stage II assessed the quality of care measures for HF and compared results with previous data in China and the US-based Get with The Guidelines-Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) registries. In total, 34 938 patients hospitalized with HF were enrolled from January 2017 to October 2020. Echocardiographic left ventricular function and natriuretic peptide test were performed in 93.7% and 93.0% of the cases, respectively. Adherence to standardized guidelines in China-HF stage II was higher than that in the China-HF stage I, but generally lower than GWTG-HF registry with 78.2% of eligible patients was prescribed oral diuretics, 78.7% renin-angiotensin-system inhibitors, and 82.2% beta-blockers. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization devices were implanted in 3.9% and 14.6%, respectively. In contrast, the proportion of eligible patients discharged with spironolactone (87.8%) was higher than GWTG-HF. The median length of hospitalization was 9 (6, 12) days, and 938 (2.8%) patients died or withdrew from treatment during hospitalization.ConclusionsDespite significant improvements in the use of guideline-recommended testing and therapy, there remain major gaps in quality of care for patients hospitalized for HF in China that are generally larger than gaps observed in the United States.

Glass fiber reinforce polymer (GFRP) bars have better durability than traditional steel bars, but there are few studies on their long-term performance in actual service environments especially the marine environment. To investigate the durability of GFRP bars used in cross-sea bridges, this research delves into the performance of 132 such bars, spanning diameters of 10, 12, 16, and 25 mm, in an environment that closely mimics real-world condition. The GFRP bars, encapsulated in concrete, were submerged in seawater solution, maintained at either room temperature or 60°C, for periods spanning from 0 to 183 days. Then the tensile strength and elastic modulus degradation of GFRP bars were investigated by tensile tests. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was also used to analyze the micro-degradation mechanism of GFRP bars. In addition, this paper compares the four existing models for predicting long-term mechanical properties of GFRP bars with the experimental data, so as to determine the formulas and methods to be used in the design. The result shows that the elastic modulus of GFRP bars after 183 days of immersion in concrete pore solution was almost unchanged while the tensile strength decreased significantly. Among them, the tensile strength of 10 mm diameter GFRP bars decreased by 41.52 %, after 183 days of immersion at high temperature (60°C). The SEM method revealed that the main cause of such phenomena was the weakening of the bond between the fibers and matrix, which led to a decrease in the interface property. Finally, by fitting and comparing the relationship between the test data and the existing prediction models for the long-term mechanical properties of GFRP bars, the residual tensile strength of GFRP bars used in the actual project of Yanzhou Bridge for 100 years was predicted according to the optimal prediction model, i.e. the Serb model, and the results showed that the residual strength of GFRP bars is able to meet the current standard requirement.

[Purpose/Significance] A future learning center (FLC), a ground-breaking novel education model crafted in response to the burgeoning demands of a rapidly digitized and intelligent society, will undeniably spearhead the new wave of intelligent construction in contemporary university libraries. As this evolution unfolds, libraries urgently need to clarify and solidify their roles in the meticulous construction of future learning centers. Doing so will promote vibrant knowledge exchange, robustly stimulate cross-disciplinary cooperation, and also guide and embolden libraries to proactively seize unprecedented development opportunities and to collaboratively face the emerging challenges ahead. [Method/Process] To comprehend the genesis and potential of the FLC, this research undertakes a meticulous examination of its foundational concepts, overarching objectives, inherent tasks, and structural framework. It delves deep into the libraries' pivotal role in nurturing these centers, especially through the lens of role delineation and functional metamorphosis. Gleaning insights from real-world examples such as the Beijing Institute of Technology Library and the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics Library, this investigation seeks to capture a snapshot of the current operational landscape, along with its associated tribulations and challenges. Through this way, the research hopes to chart a roadmap, offering invaluable reference and actionable guidance for libraries poised to embark on their journey of creating FLCs. [Results/Conclusions] The future learning center encompasses an intelligent learning environment that melds information services with learning and teaching support. Such spaces are poised to emerge as novel grassroots learning organizations underpinning evolution in learning techniques and the genesis of knowledge. Crafting these future learning centers necessitates a systematic approach, calling for collaboration from various stakeholders. Within this context, libraries serve dual roles as both initiators and active contributors. While libraries' involvement in developing future learning centers remains in nascent stages of growth, the core challenge lies in pioneering a human-centric model that harmoniously fuses space, resources, and services to offer students an enriched, tailored, and novel learning journey. As educational paradigms shift, libraries must capitalize on this momentum, drawing from their foundational expertise in intelligent library development, to resonate with the evolving criteria of talent development. Confronted with myriad challenges-ranging from role definition, conceptual alignment, and overcoming educational reform resistance to enhancing professional acumen and navigating spatial constraints-libraries are suggested to strategically assimilate educational assets, reconfigure spatial methodologies, and proffer intelligent solutions. They should aim at fostering students' proficiency in autonomous, participatory, and investigative learning through diverse resources. In essence, libraries should evolve into hubs for information services, focal points for student learning, and pillars for teaching assistance.