Search

The security of natural gas supply and demand has always been an important topic, and as a result, analyzing and predicting the supply and demand of natural gas has received considerable attention from researchers. Numerous studies have extensively researched the supply and demand of natural gas. The main purpose of this study is to explore the supply‐demand balance mechanism for natural gas security. A system dynamics model is constructed to assess the supply and demand of natural gas in Sichuan Province, China. A new system dynamics model based on domestic gas, production gas, ecological environment and natural gas supply is proposed. The study considers four scenarios: natural development, economic priority development, environmental priority development and coordinated development. The results show that the rapid economic development has led to an excessive environmental carrying capacity, a larger gap between natural gas supply and demand, a decline in the quality of life of residents, and even affected the energy security of Sichuan Province and China. The findings also show that people's overprotection of the environment can lead to slow economic development, which prevents it from achieving its desired goals. The coordinated development scenario in this paper not only ensures the production of natural gas and the quality of life of residents, but also is an optimal scheme with low energy consumption and pollution. According to the research conclusions, considering the overall situation of China's energy security and the situation in Sichuan Province, the author proposes reforms from the supply and demand sides of natural gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current Chinese electricity market and carbon market are built relatively independently, without coupling and synergy, and the incoherence between the two markets is beginning to emerge. Carbon emissions costs in the carbon trading market will affect the marginal cost of renewable energy and thermal power in the electricity market, limiting market participants' profitability. In order to simulate and evaluate the changes of LCOE of renewable energy and thermal power in the "electricity-carbon" market environment, this paper presents the calculation method of carbon emission cost of thermal power and CCER benefit of renewable energy based on the relevant regulations in China, and calculates the carbon emission cost transmission rate of thermal power based on Cournot model. In addition, we proposed a method for calculating the LCOE based on the international common calculation method for LCOE, combined with China's taxation policy and the cost and benefit factors of renewable energy and thermal power in the carbon market, and proposed a method for calculating the LCOE applicable to the "electricity-carbon" market environment in China. The findings indicate that as a result of the influence of the carbon market, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) cost of thermal power will increase, and the profitability of thermal power in the electricity market will be further reduced. On the other hand, the LCOE cost of renewable energy will further decrease, and its profitability will improve due to the additional CCER benefits in the carbon market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although cellular and animal studies have reported that resolvin D1 (RvD1) and resolvin D2 (RvD2) are mechanisms involved in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the impact of RvD1 and RvD2 on the risk of T2DM at a population level remains unclear. Methods: We included 2755 non-diabetic adults from a community-based cohort in China and followed them for seven years. Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of RvD1 and RvD2 with T2DM probability. Time-dependent receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive performance of RvD1 and RvD2 for the risk of T2DM based on the Chinese CDC T2DM prediction model (CDRS). Results: A total of 172 incident T2DM cases were identified. Multivariate-adjusted HRs (95% CI) for T2DM across quartiles of RvD1 levels (Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4) were 1.00, 1.64 (1.03-2.63), 1.80 (1.13-2.86) and 1.61 (1.01-2.57), respectively. Additionally, body mass index (BMI) showed a significant effect modification in the association of RvD1 with incident T2DM (Pinteraction = 0.026). After multivariate adjustment, the HR (95% CI) for T2DM in the fourth compared with the first quartile of RvD2 was 1.94 (95% CI: 1.24-3.03). Time-dependent ROC analysis showed that the area under time-dependent ROC curves of the "CDRS +RvD1+RvD2" model for the 3-, 5- and 7-year risk of T2DM were 0.842, 0.835 and 0.828, respectively. Conclusions: Higher RvD1 and RvD2 levels are associated with a higher risk of T2DM at the population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: AMKL without DS is a rare but aggressive hematological malignant disease in children, and it is associated with inferior outcomes. Several researchers have regarded pediatric AMKL without DS as high-risk or at least intermediate-risk AML and proposed that upfront allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in first complete remission might improve long-term survival. Patients and method: We conducted a retrospective study with twenty-five pediatric (< 14 years old) AMKL patients without DS who underwent haploidentical HSCT in the Peking University Institute of Hematology, Peking University People's Hospital from July 2016 to July 2021. The diagnostic criteria of AMKL without DS were adapted from the FAB and WHO: = 20% blasts in the bone marrow, and those blasts expressed at least one or more of the platelet glycoproteins: CD41, CD61, or CD42. AMKL with DS and therapy related AML was excluded. Children without a suitable closely HLA-matched related or unrelated donor (donors with more than nine out of 10 matching HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DR, and HLA-DQ loci), were eligible to receive haploidentical HSCT. Definition was adapted from international cooperation group. All statistical tests were conducted with SPSS v.24 and R v.3.6.3. Results: The 2-year OS was 54.5 ± 10.3%, and the EFS was 50.9 ± 10.2% in pediatric AMKL without DS undergoing haplo-HSCT. Statistically significantly better EFS was observed in patients with trisomy 19 than in patients without trisomy 19 (80 ± 12.6% and 33.3 ± 12.2%, respectively, P = 0.045), and OS was better in patients with trisomy 19 but with no statistical significance (P = 0.114). MRD negative pre-HSCT patients showed a better OS and EFS than those who were positive (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). Eleven patients relapsed post HSCT. The median time to relapse post HSCT was 2.1 months (range: 1.0-14.4 months). The 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was 46.1 ± 11.6%. One patient developed bronchiolitis obliterans and respiratory failure and died at d + 98 post HSCT. Conclusion: AMKL without DS is a rare but aggressive hematological malignant disease in children, and it is associated with inferior outcomes. Trisomy 19 and MRD negative pre-HSCT might contribute to a better EFS and OS. Our TRM was low, haplo-HSCT might be an option for high-risk AMKL without DS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several cellular and animal studies have suggested that lipoxin A4 (LXA4) has a protective effect on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development. However, little is known about whether LXA4 influences T2DM development at the population level. Methods: We included 2755 non-diabetic participants from a cohort study in China who were followed for about seven years. Cox proportional hazards modelwas used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between LXA4 and incident T2DM. Mediation models were used to examine how serum lipids as mediators impact the association between LXA4 and T2DM. Results: In total, 172 newly diagnosed T2DM cases were identified. Multivariateadjusted HR for T2DM in the fourth compared with the first quartile of LXA4 was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.40-0.96). When used the optimal cutoff value determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve, the results showed participants with LXA4 > 2.84 ng/mL had a decreased T2DM risk compared to those with LXA4 ≤ 2.84 ng/mL (HR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.45-0.89). The effect of LXA4 on incident T2DM was significantly modified by gender (P-interaction = 0.024) and family history of diabetes (P-interaction = 0.025). Additionally, the association between LXA4 and incident T2DM was partially suppressed by the TyG and TG/HDL-c ratio, with a suppression proportion of 22.2% and 16.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Higher LXA4 levels are significantly associated with a lower risk of T2DM development. The present findings would be helpful in understanding the effect of LXA4 on T2DM development at the population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that acute myeloid leukaemia is a heterogeneous disease that has been explored in depth using cytogenetic and molecular techniques. Topics include examines allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a curative therapy for AML and considered relapse remains an important problem as extensive evidence has shown that Wilms' tumor gene 1 expression is a useful biomarker for measurable/minimal residual disease monitoring in AML.

Introduction: The urban-rural household registration system in China has been documented with profound social consequences in almost all areas of people's life. This study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism of the rural and urban discrepancies on mental health conditions among a large sample of college students in China. Methods: A survey was distributed among college students in China. A total of 96,218 college students from 63 colleges completed the survey, answering questions on their urban-rural household registration, disposable household income, subjective social status, feelings of loneliness, and anxiety and depression symptoms. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analyses were conducted, testing the effect of urban-rural registration on one's mental health, mediated by subjective social status, and loneliness. Results: Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) results revealed that the urban-rural household registration showed a direct effect on anxiety (B = -0.03, 95% CI [-0.038, -0.022], ß = -0.03, p < 0.001) and depression (B = -0.03, 95% CI [-0.035, -0.023], ß = -0.03, p < 0.001), indicating that rural household registration had a negative association with anxiety and depression symptoms, albeit the standardised estimate being very small. The indirect path from the urban-rural registration mediated through subjective social status and loneliness to anxiety and depression was both significant, with B = 0.01, 95% CI [0.010, 0.010], ß = 0.01, p < 0.001, and B = 0.01, 95% CI [0.0090, 0.0090], ß = 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively. The results of the indirect paths demonstrated that students of the rural household registration reported higher anxiety and depression symptoms through a lower subjective social status and higher level of loneliness. Conclusion: This study indicated that decreasing the disparity of social status and tackling loneliness is the key to improve the overall mental health of college students. The urban-rural household registration system may have a very small direct effect on the college students' mental health; but students of urban registration enjoyed higher subjective social status, which had a clear protective effect against anxiety and depression symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to analyze the polymorphism of APOE and SLCO1B1 genotype and correlation with blood lipid levels in patients with dyslipidemia in Hunan Province, China. Methods: Concentration of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were retrospectively analyzed from 396 patients with dyslipidemia from 2016 to 2020. The APOE and SLCO1B1 genotypes were detected by PCR-fluorescent probe. SPSS21.0 software was used to analyze the gene frequency and their correlation. Results: The frequency of E3/E3 genotype was the highest in the APOE gene, reaching 64.14%. The concentrations of LDL-C and TC in E4 phenotype group were the highest and were statistically different from those in E2 and E3 phenotype groups (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in E4 phenotype between the dyslipidemia group and the normolipidemia group (p < 0.05). The frequency of *1b/*1b genotype was the highest in the SLCO1B1 gene, reaching 41.41%. The concentrations of TC and LDL-C in the intermediate OA1P1B1 function group were higher than those in the normal OA1P1B1 function group and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The genotypes of APOE and SLCO1B1 gene are correlated with concentration of TC and LDL-C, and their genotypes frequency distribution have regional differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking cities at prefecture-level and above in China as the research object, we theoretically analyze the e􀀀ects of land finance on housing prices and economic growth as well as the e􀀀ects of housing prices on economic growth, consider themediating role of housing prices, and construct a random-e􀀀ects model of land finance a􀀀ecting economic growth. It is of great significance to make rational use of land finance to promote the economic development and formulate the "city specific policies" plan for the real estate market. The 278 resource-based cities with relatively well-developed land and real estate markets in China are selected to test the mediating e􀀀ect of housing prices on land finance a􀀀ecting economic growth in resource-based cities by type based on panel data from 2011-2019. The results show that (1) land finance significantly and positively a􀀀ects economic growth and housing prices in cities at the prefecture-level and above nationwide, but there is some variability in the degree of influence. The central region has the smallest impact on economic growth but the largest impact on housing prices; the eastern region has the deepest impact on economic growth; and the western region has the smallest impact on housing prices. (2) In the national sample cities and cities in the northeast region, housing prices have a significant partial mediating e􀀀ect at the 1% level on economic growth a􀀀ected by land finance, accounting for 22.03 and 2.84%, respectively. The mediating e􀀀ect of urban housing prices on land finance a􀀀ects economic growth in the eastern, central, and western regions is not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) respond differently to cytokine-induced killer cell (CIK) treatment. Therefore, potential prognostic markers to identify patients who would benefit from CIK treatment must be elucidated. The current research aimed at identifying predictive prognostic markers for efficient CIK treatment of patients with NSCLC. Methods: Patients histologically diagnosed with NSCLC were enrolled from the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on the tumor tissues and paired adjacent benign tissues collected from 50 patients with NSCLC, and RNA-seq on tumor tissues of 17 patients with NSCLC before CIK immunotherapy treatment. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to analyze the association between clinical parameters and prognostic relevance. WES and RNA-seq data between lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (Aden) were analyzed and compared. Results: The pathology subtype of lung cancer was the most significantly relevant clinical parameter associated with DFS, as analyzed by multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression (P = 0.031). The patients with lung SCC showed better CIK treatment efficacy and extended DFS after CIK treatment. Relatively low expression of HLA class II genes and checkpoint molecules, and less immunosuppressive immune cell infiltration were identified in the patients with lung SCC. Conclusions: Coordinated suppression of the expression of HLA class II genes and checkpoint molecules, as well as less immune suppressive cell infiltration together contributed to the better CIK treatment efficacy in lung SCC than lung Aden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Trained immunity of natural killer (NK) cells has shown great potential in the treatment of cancers by eliciting enhanced effector responses to restimulation by cytokines or cancer cells for long time periods after preactivation. However, the human NK cells responsible for the generation and maintenance of trained immunity are largely unknown. We hypothesized that heterogeneous human NK cells would respond differentially to stimulation with a combination of IL-12, IL-15, and IL-18, and that an NK cell subset might exist that is mainly responsible for the induction of trained immunity. On the basis of our hypothesis, we aimed to identify the subset from which cytokine-trained human NK cells originate and to explore possible regulatory targets for drug intervention. Methods: Flow cytometry assays were performed to analyze the functions of cytokine-trained NK cells and examine cell division and protein expression in NK cell subsets. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) plus TotalSeq™ technology was used to track the heterogeneity of NK cells during the induction of trained immunity. Results: Traditional developmental markers for peripheral NK cells were unable to identify the precursors of human NK cells with trained immunity. Therefore, we used scRNA-seq plus TotalSeq™ technology to track the heterogeneity of NK cells during the induction of trained immunity and identified a unique cluster of CD57-NKG2A+EZH2+IFNG+MKI67+IL12R+IL15R+IL18R+ NK cells. Enrichment and pseudotime trajectory analyses suggested that this cluster of NK cells contained the precursor of trained NK cells. We then used flow cytometry to further investigate the role of EZH2 in trained NK precursors and found that CD57-NKG2A+EZH2+ NK cells had faster cell cycles and an enhanced trained phenotype, and EZH2 inhibition significantly impaired the induction of trained immunity in NK cells. These results suggested that EZH2 is a unique epigenetic marker of precursors of human NK cells with trained immunity. Conclusions: Our work revealed human NK heterogeneity in the induction of trained immunity, identified the precursor subset for trained NK cells, and demonstrated the critical role of EZH2 in the induction of trained immunity in human NK cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (MT-InSAR) technique has proven to be a powerful tool for the monitoring of time-series ground deformations along the line-of-sight (LOS) direction. However, the one-dimensional (1-D) measurements cannot provide comprehensive information for interpreting the related geo-hazards. Recently, a novel method has been proposed to map the three-dimensional (3-D) deformation associated with underground fluid flows based on single-track InSAR LOS measurements and the deformation modeling associated with the Green's function. In this study, the method is extended in temporal domain by exploiting the MT-InSAR measurements, and applied for the first time to investigate the 3-D time series deformation over Sebei gas field in Qinghai, Northwest China with 37 Sentinel-1 images acquired during October 2014-July 2017. The estimated 3-D time series deformations provide a more complete view of ongoing deformation processes as compared to the 1-D time series deformations or the 3-D deformation velocities, which is of great importance for assessing the possible geohazards. In addition, the extended method allows for the retrieval of time series of fluid volume changes due to the gas extraction in the Sebei field, which agrees well with those from the PetroChina Qinghai Oilfield Company Yearbooks (PQOCYs). This provides a new way to study the variations of subsurface fluids at unprecedented resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine what determines a firm's decision to disclose a self-assessment report on its internal control (IC) system and to further attain an auditor's attestation on the report, using a sample of firms from the Shanghai Stock Exchange during the period 2006-2010. We hypothesize and find supporting evidence that the likelihood of having voluntary disclosure of IC self-assessment with an auditor's attestation is positively related to future equity refinancing, mutual-fund shareholding, and whether the firm is controlled by the government, especially the central government. Our study also takes the identification problem into consideration, as our sample includes firms with IC weaknesses/deficiencies. Our study not only makes an incremental contribution to the literature, but also has practical implications, especially for regulators and investors in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

中国正处于社会转型期, 社会矛盾和利益纠纷呈高发态势, 通过厉行法治, 保证 行政权正确行使, 是预防、减少和妥善应对社会风险的良策。由于行政诉讼在制度架 构方面的缺陷, 其制度功能发挥并不充分。设置行政公诉制度, 应当成为完善行政诉 讼制度的一个重要选择。它具有监督和促进依法行政、引导市民社会生成、化解社会 矛盾等多方面的价值, 也是完善中国特色检察制度的应有之义。建立行政公诉, 应当 从理念和制度建构等不同层面予以设计。 关键词: 行政公诉 依法行政 检察权 权力制衡 Since China is now in a stage of social transition that displays a high occurrence of social conflict and interest disputes, strict adherence to the rule of law and ensuring the correct exercise of administrative power is the best strategy for preventing, reducing and properly managing social risks. Structural defects have meant that the institutional function of public prosecution has not been given full rein. The establishment of administrative public prosecution should thus become an important option for the improvement of administrative legal proceedings. It would have value in a multitude of ways, including monitoring and promoting the exercise of administrative functions according to law, guiding the creation of civil society, and resolving social conflicts, and it is also a necessity for the improvement of China’s procuratorial system. The establishment of administrative public prosecution should be designed at the conceptual level, the institutional level, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Particles with aerodynamic diameters <10 $\upmu $m (PM) and particles with aerodynamic diameters <2.5 $\upmu $m (PM) were sampled during summer 2006 in Beijing and mass concentrations, water-soluble ionic compounds concentrations, and acidic buffer capacity were analyzed. Results show that the mass concentration ranges of PM and PM were from 56.4 to 226.6 $\upmu $g/m and from 31.3 to 200.7 $\upmu $g/m during sampling days, respectively. Concentrations of F, Cl, NO $_{3}^{\,\,-}$, NO $_{2}^{\,\,-}$, SO $_{4}^{\,\,2-}$, Ac, Ca, Na, K, Mg, and NH $_{4}^{\,\,+}$ in particles were analyzed by ion chromatography. Microtitration was adapted to determine the acidic-basic property and the change of the buffering systems in different pH of the aqueous solution in which the PM is suspended. The major alkalinity and buffer capacity of particles were analyzed and calculated. The average carbonate buffer capacity was 0.3 mmol/g in PM and 0.7 mmol/g in PM. The average acetic acid buffer capacity was 0.1 mmol/g in PM and 0.3 mmol/g in PM. Carbonate and acetic acid are the main species for the buffer capacity in the particle phase. The average mass of carbonate was 71.0 mg/g in PM and 46.7 mg/g in PM. The average mass of acetic acid was 11.2 mg/g in PM and 20.0 mg/g in PM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of morphological examination, field investigation, observation of cultivated accessions and statistical analysis, the genus Miscanthus s.l. (Poaceae) from China was taxonomically revised. Two subgenera ( Miscanthus subgenus Miscanthus and Miscanthus subgenus Diandranthus), two sections [ Miscanthus subgenus Miscanthus section Miscanthus and Miscanthus subgenus Miscanthus section Triarrhena (Maximowicz) Honda], six species, two subspecies and four varieties in this genus were recognized in this report. Miscanthus sacchariflorus ssp. lutarioriparius and Miscanthus nudipes var. yunnanensis were also recognized. A key to the taxa of Miscanthus from China is provided. A morphological description, distribution, and habit and phenology are summarized for each species. Distribution maps and morphological illustrations of each species are also provided. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 164, 178-220. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the partial privatization of 53 Chinese stale-owned enterprises (by their listings on the Hong Kong Exchange over the period July 1993 to December 2002. We find that listing has led to a median increase of 70% in real net profits, 80% in real sales, 50% in capital spending, and a mild but nonsignificant improvement in coverage ratios, but no improvement in return on sales and a significant underperformance of returns against several market index benchmarks. Further investigation shows that firm performance is negatively related to state ownership, but positively related to legal-personal ownership and foreign ownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a three-stage intervention to reduce caesarean deliveries in a Chinese tertiary hospital., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to assess whether educating staff, educating patients and auditing surgeon practices (introduced in 2005) had reduced caesarean delivery rates. Multiple logistic regression was used to check for a potential association between caesarean rates and rates of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)., Findings: The caesarean delivery rate ranged from 53.5% to 56.1% in 2001-2004 and from 43.9% to 36.1% in 2005-2011. When 2001-2004 and 2005-2011 were treated as "before" and "after" periods to evaluate the intervention's impact on the mean caesarean section rate, a significant reduction was noted: from 54.8% to 40.3% (odds ratio, OR: 0.56; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.52-0.59; χ(2) test: P < 0.001). The overall drop in the caesarean section rate was significant (χ(2) test: P < 0.001) and inversely correlated with the years (Spearman's ρ: -0.096; P < 0.001). Although complicated pregnancies increased after 2004, the primary caesarean section rate decreased annually by 20% on average in 2005-2011, after practice audits were implemented. Multiple logistic regression showed a positive association between the caesarean delivery rate and the rate of admission to the NICU (adjusted OR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.14-1.40)., Conclusion: Patient and staff education and practice audits reduced the Caesarean section rate in a tertiary referral hospital without an increase in admissions to the NICU.