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Focuses on a study on the modes of gold-migration in the gossan-type gold deposits in the Yangtze River area in China. Methodology of the study; Results and discussion; Conclusion.

Background: Wide dynamic range compression (WDRC) has been widely used in hearing aid technology. However, several reports indicate that WDRC may improve audibility at the expense of speech intelligibility. As such, a modified amplification compression scheme, named adaptive compression, was developed. However, the effect of compression strategies on speech perception in pediatric hearing aid users has not been clearly reported. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of adaptive compression and fast-acting WDRC processing strategies on sentence recognition in noise with Mandarin, pediatric hearing aid users. Research Design: This study was set up using a double-blind, within-subject, repeated-measures design. Study Sample: Twenty-six children who spoke Mandarin Chinese as their primary language and had bilateral sensorineural hearing loss participated in the study. Data Collection and Analysis: Sentence recognition in noise was evaluated in behind-the-ear technology with both adaptive compression processing and fast-acting WDRC processing and was selected randomly for each child. Percent correct sentence recognition in noise with fast-acting WDRC and adaptive compression was collected from each participant. Correlation analysis was performed to examine the effect of gender, age at assessment, and hearing threshold of the better ear on signal-to-noise ratio, and a paired-samples t test was employed to compare the performance of the adaptive compression strategy and fast-acting WDRC processing. Results: The mean percentage correct of sentence recognition in noise with behind-the-ear technology with fast-acting WDRC and adaptive compression processing were 62.24% and 68.71%, respectively. The paired-samples t test showed that the performance of the adaptive compression strategy was significantly better than the fast-acting WDRC processing (t = 3.190, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Compared with the fast-acting WDRC, adaptive compression provided better sentence recognition in noise for Mandarin pediatric hearing aid users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because bank employees have been found to be especially susceptible to burnout and depression, we explored the relationship between these variables, and examined the moderating effect of perceived employability on the burnout-depression relationship in a sample of Chinese bank employees. As we expected, burnout and perceived employability were, respectively, positively and negatively associated with depression. The results of hierarchical regression and structural equation modeling indicated that perceived employability moderated the relationship between burnout and depression; higher perceived employability was associated with a weaker relationship between burnout and depression. Interventions aimed at developing the perceived employability of Chinese bank employees may help to improve mental health in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents research on the environmental risk factors for children with cerebral palsy in Jiamusi, China. A survey was conducted on 202 children with cerebral palsy in Jiamusi focusing on environmental factors during pregnancy such as indoor pollution, television viewing, and high-radiation mobile phones. Most studies on cerebral palsy tends to focus only on statistics of incidence, etiology, and rehabilitative treatment. The survey's result demonstrated that environmental risk factors play a role in the development of cerebral palsy.

Traditional science education in China weakened the teaching of practical knowledge and basic skills, and neglected the scientific educational objective which are suitable for the daily-life of students and the demands of society. So it led to a lower level of the pupils' technological literacy. Amid the basic education curriculum reform, it is necessary and feasible to implement foundation technology education. At present, measures should be taken as follows: enriching the contents of science curriculum, expanding the space of science teaching, developing students' ability for conducting science experiments and science inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level and its association with adiposity, inflammation, and oxidative stress in schoolchildren. Methods: A total of 1488 schoolchildren ages 7 to 11 y were recruited in Harbin, China (latitude: 44°04'N-46°40'N) in May. Serum 25(OH)D, which is an indicator of vitamin D status, was determined. Anthropometric data were collected following general physical examinations. Serum lipids, glucose metabolism indices, inflammatory molecules, and oxidative stress markers were determined. Dietary intake and physical activity also were assessed. Results: The median serum 25(OH)D concentration was 18.4 ng/mL. Of the 1488 schoolchildren included, 839 (56.4%) had vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL]. Children in the vitamin D deficiency group had significantly higher body weight (34.1 ± 3.8 versus 31.5 ± 3.3 kg; P < 0.001), body mass index (18.4 ± 2.2 versus 16.8 ± 1.7 kg/m²; P < 0.001), waist circumference (60.1 ± 8.5 versus 57.2 ± 7.7 cm; P < 0.001), percentage of body fat (20.2% ± 2.6% versus 19.1% ± 2.4%; P < 0.001), and significantly lower concentrations of serum superoxide dismutase (95.38 ± 12.22 versus 127.62 ± 15.98 U/mL; P < 0.001) compared with those in the vitamin D sufficiency group. After adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, and percentage of body fat, a positive association between serum 25(OH)D and superoxide dismutase was found (β = 0.230; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is common in Harbin schoolchildren. Serum 25(OH)D is closely associated with adiposity and superoxide dismutase in schoolchildren, suggesting that vitamin D deficiency potentially increases the risk for diseases caused by higher adiposity and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic diversity of four protected indigenous chicken breeds was evaluated with 25 microsatellite markers. Polymorphism information content (PIC), heterozygosity with the estimator of genetic differentiation FST and Nei's genetic distance were evaluated. The results showed that these four protected local chicken populations showed high levels of diversity. The proportion of inter-population subdivision among the four protected local chicken populations was 16.0%. The average heterozygosity was 0.514, 0.581, 0.567 and 0.589 in Dongan, Xuefeng black-bone, Xianghuang and Taoyuan chickens, respectively, while the average PIC estimates were 0.455, 0.581, 0.557 and 0.576. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using genetic distance and the neighbour-joining method. Its topology reflects the general pattern of genetic differentiation among the four chicken breeds. The results also showed high genetic diversity and genetic variation among all the breeds. The information about the four local breeds estimated by microsatellite analysis may be useful as an initial guide for the effective conservation of chicken genetic diversity and developing conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Experimental and observational research suggests that combined epidural-general anesthesia may improve long-term survival after cancer surgery by reducing anesthetic and opioid consumption and by blunting surgery-related inflammation. This study therefore tested the primary hypothesis that combined epidural-general anesthesia improves long-term survival in elderly patients.Methods: This article presents a long-term follow-up of patients enrolled in a previous trial conducted at five hospitals. Patients aged 60 to 90 yr and scheduled for major noncardiac thoracic and abdominal surgeries were randomly assigned to either combined epidural-general anesthesia with postoperative epidural analgesia or general anesthesia alone with postoperative intravenous analgesia. The primary outcome was overall postoperative survival. Secondary outcomes included cancer-specific, recurrence-free, and event-free survival.Results: Among 1,802 patients who were enrolled and randomized in the underlying trial, 1,712 were included in the long-term analysis; 92% had surgery for cancer. The median follow-up duration was 66 months (interquartile range, 61 to 80). Among patients assigned to combined epidural-general anesthesia, 355 of 853 (42%) died compared with 326 of 859 (38%) deaths in patients assigned to general anesthesia alone: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.24; P = 0.408. Cancer-specific survival was similar with combined epidural-general anesthesia (327 of 853 [38%]) and general anesthesia alone (292 of 859 [34%]): adjusted hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.93 to 1.28; P = 0.290. Recurrence-free survival was 401 of 853 [47%] for patients who had combined epidural-general anesthesia versus 389 of 859 [45%] with general anesthesia alone: adjusted hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.84 to 1.12; P = 0.692. Event-free survival was 466 of 853 [55%] in patients who had combined epidural-general anesthesia versus 450 of 859 [52%] for general anesthesia alone: adjusted hazard ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.12; P = 0.815.Conclusions: In elderly patients having major thoracic and abdominal surgery, combined epidural-general anesthesia with epidural analgesia did not improve overall or cancer-specific long-term mortality. Nor did epidural analgesia improve recurrence-free survival. Either approach can therefore reasonably be selected based on patient and clinician preference.Editor’s Perspective: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolated islands are vulnerable to shortages in water availability, necessitating the use of hybrid water sources. There is a knowledge gap of unknown microbial diversity in the hybrid sources. The present study collected water samples from different water sources and water treatment processes on an isolated island in the South China Sea to explore microbial diversity in a full-element hybrid water supply system and analyze the effects of environmental factors. The primary conclusions were as follows: (a) Currently, chemical indices generally pass the WHO standards, except for high pH levels. (b) The driving factors for microbial diversity followed the order of type of source water > temperature > UV 254 > turbidity > materials of containers > oxidation-reduction potential > pH > OD 600 > ion concentration. Microbial dissimilarity was primarily affected by temperature and organic matter, while distribution distance had a slight effect on the dissimilarity in the small-scale ecosystem. (c) Biological and chemical safety standards restrict the application of atmospheric water using metal-organic frameworks while the balance of water influences the exploitation of freshwater lenses on the isolated island. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Excessive salt intake is a major public health problem in several countries, especially in China. However, few people are aware of their salt intake. The purpose of this study is to carry out salt intake test in routine physical examination, and to explore the salt intake of different populations and their correlation with diet.Methods and Study Design: Spot urine sample was collected to test urinary sodium and creatinine excretions for each participant recruited from physical examinations at the Third Xiangya Hospital. The Tanaka formula was used to estimate 24-h urinary sodium excretion, which reflects salt intake. In addition to physical and laboratory examination, information including personal details, health-related habits, and selfreported disease histories was obtained from the National Physical Examination Questionnaire.Results: In total, 26,406 people completed the salt intake evaluation. After data cleansing, the average salt intake was 8.39±1.80 g/d. Male, middle-aged, overweight and obese, hypertensive, and dyslipidaemic populations, as well as those with non-cardiovascular diseases were more likely to have excessive salt intake. Dietary sources had an effect on salt intake. Salt intake was lower in those who consumed more milk and fruit (both p and p trend<0.01) but was higher in those who consumed more lean meat (both p and p trend<0.05), fatty meat (both p and p trend<0.01) and animal organs (both p and p trend<0.01).Conclusions: The salt intake in this population far surpasses the recommended amount. We strongly recommend salt intake assessment as routine test into physical examination center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxicity of arsenic (As) in different polluted areas and its effects on human and animal health is a big concern all over the world. Although a wetland ecosystem is a "green filter," this specific function would be impaired by high As content in wetland sediments. The distribution of As in wetland sediments and its linkages to environmental factors have not been fully explored. In this study, sediment samples (0-10 cm) and water samples were collected from different locations along the Yangzonghai lakeside, located in the city of Yuxi, Yunnan province of China, and were analyzed for As fractions. Results showed that As content in sediments ranged from 7.550 to 89.83 mg·kg-1 (with a mean value of 16.11 mg·kg-1). The As fractions were dominated by residual fraction (B4) (up to 62.67%), and the mean contents from high to low were: B4 (10.10) > oxidizable fraction (B3) (2.600) > acid extractable fraction (B1) (2.270) > reducible fraction (B2) (2.170). The distribution of As in sediments was mainly influenced by point-source pollution. In addition, the lack of significant correlation between As content and the different landscapes in the buffer zone of Yangzonghai lakeside indicated that the land use around the lakeside wetland (mainly non-point source pollution) may not have a significant impact on As fractions. Among environmental factors, As contents were positively (p<0.05) correlated to dicalcium phosphate (Ca2-P) and octacalcium phosphate (Ca8-P). However, phosphorus distribution revealed that phosphorus in sediments was mainly caused by non-point source pollution, and thus farmland fertilizer, domestic waste, and livestock manure should be controlled. As fractions such as B1, B2, and B3 in wetland sediments were positively correlated with dissolved oxygen (DO) and redox potential (Eh), but negatively correlated to organic matter (OM), pH, and lime-type phosphorus (Ca10-P) when the upstream area was dominated by agricultural lands, indicating that these parameters may affect the release of As into sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CCRI63, with the largest cultivated area among hybrids in China, is a successful promotion of elite upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) hybrid cultivar. We have constructed a detailed genomic variation map of CCRI63 by aligning whole-genome shotgun sequencing reads from CCRI63 to the TM-1 reference genome. Genomic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and insertion-deletion (Indel) mutational hotspots were identified, most of which were located on chromosome D02, and associated with disease resistance and lipid glycosylation and modification. The density of heterozygous SNP sites showed 73 quantitative trait loci overlapped with peak intervals of high-density heterozygous SNPs, suggesting that the heterozygous sites in the peak are important for improvement of CCRI63 yield and fibre quality. To avoid loss of genetic components, unmapped reads were used for de novo assembly of the missing regions in the reference genome, and 153 novel functional genes were obtained. The large-scale genetic variation and novel functional genes identified in the CCRI63 genome can facilitate future gene-phenotype studies and provide an additional resource for the improvement of cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: With prevalence of childhood obesity increasing rapidly, developing of effective and sustainable intervention strategies is becoming more and more important for the prevention of childhood obesity in China. A trial was developed to evaluate the effect of comprehensive school-based intervention on childhood obesity.Methods and Study Design: A multi-center cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among urban children (n=9,867) aged 6-13 years in 38 primary schools from six large cities. Comprehensive intervention, nutrition education and physical activity interventions were carried out among children. Nutrition education was also targeted towards teachers, parents and health workers in intervention schools. The program was implemented for 2 semesters from May 2009 to May 2010.Results: The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity increased by 1.5 percent (22.7% vs 24.2%, p<0.001) in control group while 0.2 percent in comprehensive intervention group (23.6% vs 23.8%, p=0.954) after intervention (p=0.067). The effect was significantly stronger among girls than boys (-1.4% vs -0.9%, p=0.028). A significant intervention effect was found on BMI for -0.3 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.4, -0.2; p<0.001), BMI z scores for -0.14 (95% CI: -0.18, -0.11; p<0.001)，body fat for -0.8 percent (95% CI: -0.9, -0.6; p<0.001), waist circumference for -0.5 cm (95% CI: -0.6, -0.3; p<0.001), blood serum glucose for -0.20 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.24, -0.16; p<0.001) and cholesterol for -0.32 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.34, -0.30; p<0.001).Conclusions: We observed moderately significant effects on combined prevalence of overweight and obesity, BMI, BMI z scores, waist circumference, percentage body fat, glucose and lipid for a comprehensive school-based intervention of childhood obesity in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive concerns significantly affect the mental health of people, causing more serious psychological stress than disease. The reproductive concerns faced by women with schizophrenia are issues that have been neglected in the areas of psychiatry and women's health. To explore the experience of reproductive concerns through the perspective of women with schizophrenia. Descriptive phenomenology interview study. Data collection was carried out in a psychiatric hospital in China. 15 women with schizophrenia were recruited with a prospective sampling. All participants were 26–40 years old. The interview recordings were transcribed by the research team, and transcripts were analyzed by two independent coders with Colaizzi's descriptive analysis framework. The process employed NVivo 12 software. Data analysis identified 9 subthemes falling into the 4 macrothemes: (a) Potential risks of reproduction; (b) The difficulties in raising children; (c) Significance of reproduction; (d) Multiparty cooperation is needed to relieve reproductive concerns. Women with schizophrenia have reproductive concerns under the conflict between the significance of reproduction and obstacles. Interventions to address the reproductive problems of women with schizophrenia should be developed in three areas: the women themselves, the women's spouses and the medical staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective is to examine the association between physical activity level (PAL) and incident type 2 diabetes among middle-age and older Chinese men and women in urban China. Methods: This prospective study included 6348 participants (age 35 to 74 yr) who were free of diabetes and cardiovascular disease at baseline. PAL was estimated on the basis of self-reported overall physical activity on a typical day. According to PAL, participants were classified into four groups: sedentary (PAL, 1.00-1.39), low active (PAL, 1.40-1.59), active (PAL, 1.60-1.89), and very active (PAL, 91.89). The association of PAL with incident diabetes was examined by Cox proportional hazards model. Results: During 7.9 yr of follow-up (50,293 person-years), 478 incident cases of type 2 diabetes were identified. After adjustment for age, sex, geographic region, educational level, smoking, alcohol use, and family history of diabetes, the HR (95% CI) values for type 2 diabetes across increasing categories of PAL were 1.00 (reference), 0.82 (0.62-1.09), 0.63 (0.47-0.83), and 0.47 (0.36-0.61), respectively (P for trend <0.0001). Additional adjustment for baseline body mass index or waist circumference attenuated the magnitude of risk reduction, but it remained significant. The inverse association between PAL and risk of incident diabetes was persistent in subgroup analyses according to age, sex, hypertension, smoking, body mass index, waist circumference, and fasting plasma glucose level. Conclusions: Higher PAL is associated with substantial reduction in risk of type 2 diabetes. Our findings suggest the importance of a physically active lifestyle in the prevention of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge (HZMB) link is currently one of the largest fixed links ever realised. The link comprises various bridges, causeways, artificial islands and tunnels and has a total length of more than 55 km with an investment of about RMB 120billion (approx. €15 billion). The Link accommodates a dual carriageway with three traffic lanes in each direction. The construction of the Link started at the end of 2010 and was opened to traffic in October 2018. The HZMB Link is internationally regarded as one of the most challenging sea crossing projects in China and a demonstration of China's comprehensive breakthrough in technology, scientific research and other related fields. The offshore part of the HZMB Link, crossing the Pearl River Estuary involves one of the world's longest and deepest immersed tunnels. The tunnel was designed and constructed to meet state-of-the-art requirements and challenging structural, geotechnical and marine/offshore conditions. The HZMB tunnel won the ITA Tunnelling Award Major Project of the Year 2018. This paper presents the project from the Client perspective. The paper will give a general introduction of the project, will provide information regarding the challenging environment in which the tunnel had to be realized and the high demanding design criteria that were applicable. Furthermore, the evaluation of the various technical options will be discussed, ultimately leading to the selection of the immersed tunnel option. The paper will also look into the background of selecting the Design & Build contract approach for this project and the experiences that were built up using this type of contract, new to China on this scale. Finally, the paper introduces how operation and maintenance of the tunnel is planned and executed so as to guarantee the 120-year design lifetime. In Ref. (The Islands and Tunnel Project of HZM Link et al., 2022) more details of the project are discussed from the D&B contractors' perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Clusterin gene (CLU), also known as apolipoprotein J (ApoJ), is a strong candidate gene for late-onset Alzheimer''s disease (LOAD) according to the Alzgene database. To further characterize this association and to isolate the variants contributing to the pathogenesis of LOAD in Han Chinese, we first sequenced a small sample (n = 100) to discover variants in the promoter, exons, the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions, and exon–intron boundaries of CLU. Follow-up genotyping of identified variants in a larger sample (n = 1592). Sequencing analysis identified 18 variants. Analysis in the larger population revealed that only the rs9331949 C allele was significantly associated with an increased risk of LOAD, even after adjusting for multiple testing (p = 0.026). Logistic analysis identified the rs9331949 polymorphism was still strongly associated with LOAD (additive model: p = 0.004, odds ratio = 1.274; dominant model: p = 0.039, odds ratio = 1.239; recessive model: p = 0.002, OR = 1.975) after adjusting for sex, age, and APOE ε4 status. Our findings implicate CLU as a susceptibility gene for LOAD in Han Chinese. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives: Chengdu, China, is facing challenges from the growth of the elderly population. There are nursing homes in Chengdu, but there is no study on the current status of these nursing homes and their residents. The present study was conducted to investigate the current situation of nursing homes in Chengdu. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study randomly selected 10 nursing agencies from the 110 agencies in Chengdu (5 main zones and districts) using a cluster random sampling method. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Ten agencies (10%) were surveyed: 5 government-run social welfare, 2 collective run, and 3 private institutions. The basic service in the nursing home includes personal care, basic medical care, room cleaning, meals, and laundry. Standard setting, assessment, rehabilitation therapy, and some equipment and volunteer service monitoring are inadequate. Most care staff receive little training in elder care. Some have no qualified certification and they have low income, heavy work, and insufficient knowledge. The whole team has a high mobility. Conclusions: Nursing homes in Chengdu are at a lower level than those in developed countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Amycolicicoccus subflavus DQS3-9A1T, isolated from crude oil-polluted soil in the Daqing Oilfield in China, is a type strain of a newly published novel species in the novel genus Amycolicicoccus. Here we report the complete genome of DQS3-9A1T and genes associated with oil-polluted environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To understand the prevalence rate of obstructive pulmonary dysfunction in workers exposed to silica dust and analyze its risk factors, so as to provide reference for the formulation of diagnostic criteria for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by occupational dust., Methods: Data collection and structured questionnaire were used to collect the data of 2064 workers exposed to silica dust who underwent health examination in Hunan Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Hospital and Yuanling Second People's Hospital from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. The prevalence rate of obstructive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction was analyzed and the risk factors were analyzed., Results: The prevalence rate of obstructive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction (FEV1/FVC < 70%) was 2.3% in 2064 silica dust exposed workers. The prevalence of restrictive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction (FVC/Pre < 80%) was 8.1%. The prevalence of obstructive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction in the high level exposure group was higher than that in the low level exposure group, 8.2 vs0.9% (P < 0.05). The rate of obstructive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction in female group was higher than that in male group (5.3% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.00). Workers with obstructive pulmonary dysfunction were older and worked longer than workers without obstructive pulmonary dysfunction, but there was no statistical difference. Multivariate regression analysis showed that high exposure level was a risk factor for obstructive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction in silica dust exposed workers (P < 0.05). Females were the risk factors for obstructive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Silica dust exposure can cause obstructive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction and lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. High level of exposure is a risk factor for obstructive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction. Women exposed to dust are more prone to obstructive pulmonary ventilation dysfunction than men. Early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease caused by silica dust and timely intervention measures are very important to delay the decline of lung function and protect the health of workers., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Unreasonable exploitation of artificial forest causes severe soil erosion in the mountainous areas of sou-thern China. The spatial-temporal variations of soil erosion in typical small watershed with artificial forest has signifi-cant implications for artificial forest exploitation and sustainable development of mountainous ecological environment. In this study, we used revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and geographic information system (GIS) to evaluate the spatial and temporal variations of soil erosion and its key drivers of Dadingshan watershed in mountainous area of western Guangdong. The results showed that the erosion modulus was 1948.1 t·km -2 ·a -1 (belonging to light erosion) in the Dadingshan watershed. However, the spatial variation of soil erosion was substantial, with variation coefficient of 5.12. The maximal soil erosion modulus was 191127 t·km -2 ·a -1 . Slight erosion (<500 t·km -2 ·a -1 ) accounted for 80.6% of the total watershed area. The moderate erosion and above (>2500 t·km -2 ·a -1 ) were mainly distributed in young Eucalyptus forest area with less than 30% of the vegetation coverage, which contributed nearly 75.7% of total soil erosion. During 2014-2019, the interannual variations of mean erosion of Dadingshan catchment was modest, but the spatial variation of soil erosion was large. Vegetation cover, slope, and rainfall were key drivers of such variation. The destruction of natural vegetation resulted by plantation exploitation was the primary cause of soil erosion in afforestation areas. Soil erosion significantly increased with the increases of slope gradient in the young forest area, which was aggravated by extreme rainfall. However, soil erosion gradually decreased with the increases of the age of Eucalypt plantation. Therefore, the hot spot of soil erosion was young forest areas of Eucalypt plantation with slope >25°, and the key period for soil erosion control was the first 2-3 years after Eucalyptus planting. We suggested that reasonable afforestation measures should be used in area with >25° slopes, and that the destruction of natural vegetation should be avoided on hillslope with >35° slope gradient. The road construction standards and forest management should be further improved to address the challenge of extreme rainfalls.

The situations are complex and variant in the three stages of "carbon emission peak", "rapid reduction of carbon emission" and "deep decarbonization for carbon neutrality" in China's carbon neutralization roadmap. Forest carbon sequestration is an important means to achieve the goal of carbon neutralization in China. Its intertemporal allocation is a vital way to balance industrial emission reduction and forest carbon sequestration, reduce the cost of carbon neutrality, and gradually achieve the goal of carbon neutrality based on optimal cost. Based on the cost optimization allocation theory, we simulated the cost change process of three stages of carbon neutralization in China by quoting the theory of marginal carbon sequestration cost and combining with the existing domestic marginal abatement cost theory. The results showed that annual forest carbon sequestrations with the optimal cost in China was 20 million t, 775 million t and 1.982 billion t respectively in the three stages of "carbon emission peak", "rapid reduction of carbon emission" and "deep decarbonization for carbon neutrality", accounting for 1.8%, 17.5%, and 37.6% of the total emission reduction in each period. Compared with the way relying only on industrial emission reduction, forest carbon sequestration under the optimal cost design reduced the total cost by 48, 79136, and 909253 million US$ in the three stages of carbon neutralization, respectively. Due to the limited cost advantage of forest carbon sequestration, industrial emission reduction should be emphasized in the "carbon emission peak" stage. In the "rapid reduction of carbon emissions" stage, the cost advantage of forest carbon sequestration will be increasingly prominent. In the stage of "deep decarbonization for carbon neutrality", it is necessary to fully exploit the cost advantage of forest carbon sequestration to achieve the goal of "zero carbon" to avoid the risk of high costs, especially for industries with high decarbonization cost or that will never be completely decarbonized. The optimal cost design for forest carbon sequestration can save 988.437 billion US $ in carbon-neutral costs.

Background: The association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels and all-cause mortality for the oldest-old (aged 80 years or older) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations between hsCRP concentrations and the risks of all-cause mortality, and further identify the potential modifying factors affecting these associations among the oldest-old., Methods: This prospective, community-based cohort study included 2,206 participants aged 80 years or older (median age 93.0 years) from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidential intervals (95% CIs) for all-cause mortality according to hsCRP quartiles and recommendation for relative risk categories of hsCRP levels (< 1.0, 1.0-3.0, and > 3.0 mg/L), with adjustment for sociodemographic information, lifestyle, physical examination, medical history, and other potential confounders., Results: During a median follow-up period of 3.1 years (IQR: 1.6-3.9 years), 1,106 deaths were verified. After full adjustment for potential confounders, a higher hsCRP concentration was positively associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality ( P for trend < 0.001). Compared with the lowest quartile, the fully adjusted HRs of the second, third, and fourth quartiles were 1.17 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.46), 1.28 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.61), and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.20, 1.87), respectively. The association of hsCRP with all-cause mortality was modified by smoking status ( P for interaction = 0.011), an increased risk of hsCRP with all-cause mortality showed among non-current smokers (HR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.28), but no significance was observed in current smokers (HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.66, 1.18)., Conclusions: Our study indicated that elevated hsCRP concentrations were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality among Chinese oldest-old. Future studies investigating additional factors of disease and aging processes are needed to obtain a better understanding of the mechanisms., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Chen, Li, Yang, Cao, Cheng, Zhao, Zhang, Lv, Li, Zhou, Li, Qu, Yin, Liu, Wu, Shi and Mao.)

Background: The CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score is a guideline-recommended stroke risk stratification scheme for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Accurately calculating the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score and recognizing the stroke risk in AF patients is the foundation of optimal anticoagulation therapy. This survey aims to obtain a comprehensive understanding of perceptions and knowledge gaps on CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores among Chinese medical professionals for future education programs., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among clinicians, including cardiologists, neurologists, emergency physicians (EPs), general practitioners (GPs) and clinical pharmacists (CPs) using a self-administered questionnaire on the Chinese mainland. The survey contained 21 questions in combination with single-choice questions, multiple-choice questions, and an open-ended question, which was distributed online via e-mail or social media., Results: A total of 562 participants (40.9% cardiologists, 19.2% neurologists, 8.5% EPs, 10.3% GPs, and 21.0% CPs) completed the survey. Most respondents across all specialties reported skills requiring improvements in the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. In general, cardiologists, neurologists, and CPs had a relatively better understanding than GPs and EPs about the application of CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. Considering 'H' and 'D' components, more than 90% of respondents chose the correct answer in single-choice questions, whereas the correctness rate declined concerning detailed scoring criteria. Regarding 'C,' 'A 2 ,' 'S 2 ,' and 'V' components, partly correct answers were commonly observed in most multiple-choice questions. The majority of cardiologists believed themselves to be very familiar or at least familiar with the score and its components, while around 70% of EPs and GPs felt relatively unfamiliar with the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. Mobile apps, AF guidelines and notebooks/handbooks were popular referencing scoring tools for respondents., Conclusions: Chinese medical professionals, especially EPs and GPs, revealed a lack of knowledge and insufficient skills for CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores and their components. Improvements in the awareness of the CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score and its detailed scoring criteria are urgently needed for Chinese medical professionals. Therefore, education programs concerning the introduction of stroke risk evaluation for AF patients and the development of referencing scoring tools are necessary.

Objective: To evaluate the associations of sarcopenia, handgrip strength and calf circumference with cognitive impairment among Chinese older adults., Methods: Totally 2,525 older adults were recruited from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study. Cognitive impairment was assessed by the Chinese Mini-Mental State Examination. Handgrip strength was calculated from the means of the right and left hand values. Calf circumference was measured at the site of maximum circumference of the non-dominant leg. The formula developed by Ishii was used to define sarcopenia. Multiple logistic regression was performed to evaluate the associations of sarcopenia, handgrip strength, and calf circumference with cognitive impairment., Results: The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 34.36%. The adjusted odds ratio ( OR ) for cognitive impairment in individuals with sarcopenia was 2.55 [95% confidence interval (95% CI ): 1.86-3.50]. Compared with individuals in the first quartile (Q 1 ) of calf circumference, the adjusted OR s in the second, third, and fourth quartiles (Q 2 , Q 3 , and Q 4 ) were 0.75 (95% CI : 0.58-0.96), 0.59 (95% CI : 0.44-0.79), and 0.62 (95% CI : 0.45-0.8), respectively. Compared with individuals in Q 1 of handgrip strength, the adjusted OR s for Q 2 , Q 3 , and Q 4 were 0.49 (95% CI : 0.38-0.62), 0.31 (95% CI : 0.23-0.41), and 0.30 (95% CI : 0.21-0.44), respectively., Conclusion: Sarcopenia, identified by low handgrip strength and low calf circumference, was positively associated with cognitive impairment., (Copyright © 2021 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by China CDC. All rights reserved.)

Betel nut chewing (BNC) is prevalent in South Asia and Southeast Asia. BNC can affect host health by modulating the gut microbiota. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of BNC on the gut microbiota of the host. Feces samples were obtained from 34 BNC individuals from Ledong and Lingshui, Hainan, China. The microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. BNC decreased the microbial α-diversity. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria were the predominant phyla, accounting for 99.35% of the BNC group. The Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio was significantly increased in the BNC group compared to a control group. The abundances of the families Aerococcaceae, Neisseriaceae, Moraxellaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, and Planococcaceae were decreased in the BNC/BNC&#95;Male/BNC&#95;Female groups compared to the control group, whereas the abundances of Coriobacteriaceae, Streptococcaceae, Micrococcaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Coxiellaceae, Nocardioidaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, and Succinivibrionaceae were increased. In general, the gut microbiome profiles suggest that BNC may have positive effects, such as an increase in the abundance of beneficial microbes and a reduction in the abundance of disease-related microbes. However, BNC may also produce an increase in the abundance of disease-related microbes. Therefore, extraction of prebiotic components could increase the beneficial value of betel nut., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objective: Although relatively rare, adult immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV) can lead to severe complications and longer hospitalization, and result in poor prognosis, when compared to childhood IgAV. Hence, early identification and prevention for patients prone to develop systemic involvement are essential. The purpose of this study was to explore the correlations of common serological markers with the development of systemic involvement in adult IgAV., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for adult IgAV patients, who were hospitalized in Wuhan Union Hospital between January 2016 and December 2019. A total of 259 patients were enrolled, and the pre-treatment serological markers were comprehensively assessed., Results: In the present study, 49.0% and 33.2% of patients developed renal and gastrointestinal (GI) involvement, respectively. Furthermore, the elevated levels of white blood cells count, D-Dimer (D-D), C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil granulocyte ratio (NE%) >60% were significantly associated with GI involvement in the univariate analysis, while the decrease in high density lipoprotein level, and the elevated D-D and CRP levels were significantly associated with renal involvement (P<0.05). Moreover, a prediction model that combined multiple markers was established by performing a logistic regression analysis, and this presented a more favorable value of prediction than the individual serological markers., Conclusion: The present study suggests that common serological markers have close correlations with systemic involvement in adult IgAV, and that the establishment of a prediction model for systemic involvement may be helpful in facilitating personalized therapeutic strategies and clinical management for IgAV patients., (© 2021. Huazhong University of Science and Technology.)

This study aimed to explore the medication self-management experience of Chinese patients with schizophrenia who are prescribed antipsychotics. Grounded theory methodology was used to guide the research. Semistructured and in-depth interviews with 17 patients with schizophrenia were conducted and analysed. The six categories identified in this study portray an evolving journey for participants, from initially obeying the orders of psychiatrists or family members to actively engaging in medication management. Six main categories emerged from the data: (i) obeying the orders; (ii) perceiving the changes; (iii) appraising the changes; (iv) making some adjustments; (v) generating insight into medication-taking; and (vi) transcending themselves. The findings from the study indicate that the participants' experience antipsychotic management is complex and that the medication self-management behaviour trajectory is a continuous, dynamic, and progressive process. Health care professionals should identify the characteristics of medication self-management behaviour changes in patients with schizophrenia according to their actual situation and provide correct, timely and adequate guidance for patients., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This work describes the characterization and genome annotation of Salmonella phage vB&#95;SalM&#95;8-19 (referred to as 8-19) isolated from sewage samples collected in a pig farm in Jilin, China. This phage was capable of infecting 60% Salmonella strains in our lab stock. The genome of phage 8-19 is composed of linear double-stranded DNA that is 52,648 bp in length with a G + C content of 46.02%; containing 74 ORFs and no tRNA genes. In October 2019, phylogenetic analyses indicated that phage 8-19 might belong to a novel cluster among the other similar phages which have not been specifically classified within some new genus in family Myoviridae. Recently, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) defined phage 8-19 and its related phages as genus Rosemountvirus, family Myoviridae. This new genus, known as Rosemountvirus, is rarely reported in the literature.

Background: The diagnosis of hypertension should be based on the mean of two or more properly measured BP readings on each of two visits for clinical practice, but a one-visit strategy was applied in most epidemiological surveys. The impact of hypertension definition based on two visits on estimates of hypertension burden is unknown. This study aims to assess the impact of hypertension diagnosis based on a two-visit strategy for estimating hypertension burden in China., Methods: The one-visit and two-visit strategies were applied to investigate the incidence of hypertension in a cohort study based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) 1989-2011. Additionally the prevalence of hypertension was investigated in a cross-sectional study based on the CHNS 2006-2009/2011 and the hypertension burden in China was estimated with data from the 2012-2015 China hypertension survey., Results: Overall, the age-adjusted incidence of hypertension based on the two-visit strategy (1.82%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.74-1.90%) was 62.1% lower than estimation based on the one-visit strategy (4.80%; 95% CI, 4.68-4.93%). Similar results were found in the prevalence of hypertension (one-visit: 18.13% [95% CI, 17.34-18.92%]; two-visit: 9.47% [95% CI, 8.87-10.07%]). When the two-visit strategy was applied to the 2012-2015 China hypertension survey, the hypertension burden was predicted to be overestimated by 25.5-47.8% (based on JNC 7) and 23.5-48.2% (based on the 2017 ACC/AHA)., Conclusion: The hypertension burden would decrease from 244.5 million persons to 127.5-182.3 million persons in China if the two-visit strategy was applied.

Periphytic algae are often used as an indicator to evaluate water quality. Here, the community structure of periphytic algae and its relationship with environment factors were analyzed in the main stream of the Songhua River during the summers of 2014 to 2019. The status and trends in ecological water quality were also evaluated based on bioassessments. Phytoplankton species belonging to 4 phyla and 58 genera were recorded, including 28 Bacillariophyta genera, 17 Chlorophyta genera, 10 Cyanophyta genera, and 3 Euglenophyta genera; Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, and Cyanophyta accounted for 48.28%, 29.31%, and 17.24% of the community, respectively. Cell densities varied between 1.29×10 4 and 8.42×10 4 ind·cm -3 , with an average of 4.35×10 4 ind·cm -3 . The dominant genera were Cyclotella, Melosira, Asterionella, Cymbella, Synedra, Pinnularia, Navicula , and Scenedesmus . The physicochemical water quality showed notable changes during the past six-year monitoring period. Specifically, the dissolved oxygen content increased year on year; ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen first increased and then decreased; and, overall, water quality significantly improved in 2019. Relationship between periphytic algae and environmental factors was further examined using redundancy analysis (RDA), which showed that time was the main factor driving the succession of algal community structure. Dissolved oxygen (DO), ammonia nitrogen (NH 4 + -N), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were also important environmental variables affecting algal community structure.

Objectives: Older adults with frailty are vulnerable to cardiovascular event and subsequent mortality. Frailty and albuminuria share atherosclerotic risk factors. The present study investigated the association of frailty and albuminuria among elderly Chinese inpatients., Design: Cross-sectional study., Settings and Participants: A total of 202 patients aged over 60 years from the Center of Gerontology and Geriatric, West China Hospital., Measurements: Frailty was defined using the five-item FRAIL scale. This included measurements of fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illness, and loss of weight. We further determined the random urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) of all patients. Random UACR ≥30 mg/g was defined as albuminuria, and < 30mg/g as normoalbuminuria. The relationship between albuminuria and frailty was assessed through multiple regression analysis., Results: The 202 participants (156 men, 77.2%) had an average age of 78.99±7.60 years, which ranged from 60 to 95. Compared to those without albuminuria, elderly patients with albuminuria were of an older age, had a higher prevalence of diabetes and poorer renal function. The prevalence of frailty, pre-frailty and ambulation (one of the FRAIL components) were higher in the albuminuria group than the normoalbuminuria group (23.9% vs. 12.2%, 47.9% vs.37.4%, 33.8% vs. 16.0%, respectively, P<0.05). Following the adjustment for age, eGFR, hypertension, diabetes and using ACEI/ARB, being frail or pre-frail led to an enhanced risk of albuminuria (OR frail 2.60, 95% CI frail 1.01-6.72; OR pre-frail 2.14, 95% CI pre-frail 1.03-4.44)., Conclusions: Frailty is independently associated with albuminuria when adjusted for classic cardiovascular risk factors., Competing Interests: All authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose relevant to this paper.

Background: China has experienced rapid urbanization in the past 30 years. We aimed to report blood cadmium level (BCL) in the rapidly urbanized Yangtze Plain of China, and explore the association between BCL and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)., Methods: Our data source was the Survey on Prevalence in East China for Metabolic Diseases and Risk Factors (SPECT-China) cross-sectional study (ChiCTR-ECS-14005052, www.chictr.org). We enrolled 3234 subjects from 12 villages in the Yangtze Plain. BCLs were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. 25(OH)D was measured with a chemiluminescence assay., Results: A total of 2560 (79.2%) subjects were diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency. The median (interquartile range) BCL was 1.80 μg/L (0.60-3.42) for men and 1.40 μg/L (0.52-3.10) for women. In women, mean 25(OH)D concentrations were inversely associated with BCL (0.401, 95% confidence interval: -0.697 to -0.105 nmol/L lower with each doubling of the BCL) after adjustment for age, educational status, current smoking, body mass index, diabetes, and season. However, there was no significant difference in 25(OH)D across the BCL tertiles for men., Conclusions: BCL in Chinese residents in the Yangtze Plain were much higher than that in developed countries. An inverse association between BCL and 25(OH)D was found in general Chinese women after multivariable adjustment. Future prospective cohort and animal studies are warranted to resolve the direction and temporality of these relationships, and to elucidate the exact mechanisms involved., (Copyright © 2020 The Chinese Medical Association, produced by Wolters Kluwer, Inc. under the CC-BY-NC-ND license.)

The purpose of this study was to culture and characterise bacteria from an intact abscess on the skin of a dead Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) which stranded in the northern Beibu Gulf, China. To grow bacteria, samples from the abscess were added to blood agar. After incubation, yellowish mucous colonies were visualized. The bacterium was firstly recognised as Shewanella algae by the VITEK® 2 System. However, by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing the bacterium was finally identified as S. indica. To characterise the bacterium, antibiotic susceptibility and virulence factors, such as hemolysis and biofilm formation were investigated. The bacterium is capable of β-hemolysis and biofilm formation and it is also sensitive to several different classes of antibiotics, such as β-lactams, quinolones, and aminoglycosides. To date there have been no reports of this bacterium causing infections in humans or animals. However, in this study we described the first case of S. indica isolated from an intact abscess on the back of a Bryde's whale.

The purposes of this study were (a) to examine the proportions of adolescents in China who partially or fully meet three 24-h movement guidelines on physical activity, screen-time, and sleep duration and (b) to examine whether there were gender differences in the proportion of boys and girls meeting these guidelines. The sample was made up of high school adolescents from an eastern province of China ( N = 1338). The participants completed a self-reported survey on demographic variables and weekly health behaviors including physical activity, screen-time, and sleep duration. A frequency analysis was conducted to summarize the number of 24-h movement guidelines met of the total sample and by gender; chi-squared tests were used to examine the gender differences in the proportion of students meeting different guidelines, independently and jointly. A high proportion of adolescents did not meet physical activity (97.2%, 95% CI = 96.2-98.0%), or sleep (92.1%, 95% CI = 90.6-93.5%) guidelines, but met screen-time (93.6%, 95% CI = 92.4-94.7%) guidelines. Overall, only 0.3% (95%CI = 0.1-0.6%) of the sample met all three guidelines, 8.8% (95%CI = 7.5-10.2%) met two, 85.8%% (95%CI = 84.0-87.4%) met one, and 5.1% (95%CI = 4.0-6.4%) met none. There was no statistically significant percentage difference between female and male participants in meeting physical activity, screen-time viewing, or sleep duration guidelines, independently or jointly ( p values > 0.05). These figures of participants meeting all three guidelines or physical activity and sleep independently are much lower than many estimates in prior research internationally. Considerations to improve adherence to physical activity and sleep guidelines are critical in this population.

To investigate the characteristics of heavy metal pollution caused by traffic and its potential ecological risks, we measured the amount of metal elements in samples collected from a traffic trunk road in Lanzhou City with atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The single factor index method and potential ecological risk index method were used to evaluate the degree of pollution and potential ecological risks, and then the effects of heavy metal pollution on chlorophyll and calcium (Ca) contents in greening plants were analyzed. The results showed that the amount of heavy metals including chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) in the soils increased significantly, with Cr, Cu and Pb reaching moderate pollution level. The degree of potential ecological risk was Cu>Pb>Cr>Ni>Zn>Mn. Sophora japonica, Rosa chinesis, Prunus ceraifera, and Euonymus japonicas showed different accumulation effects on Pb, Mn, Zn, and Ni. The content of chlorophyll in the leaves of deciduous species S. japonica, R. chinesis and P. ceraifera was higher in the roadside sampling point than that in the control point, while the pattern was just the opposite in evergreen species E. japonicas and P. orientalis. Foliar Ca content of greening plants in the roadside sampling point was higher than that in the control point, suggesting that high chlorophyll and Ca contents might be beneficial to plant survival in the heavy metal contaminated area. Taken together, traffic operation led to the accumulation of heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Ni) in the soil of the study area. S. japonica, R. chinesis, P. ceraifera and E. japonicas could accumulate Pb, Mn, Zn and Ni, which could be used as greening plants in soils polluted by those heavy metals.

Background: The prevalence of overweight is increasing dramatically worldwide. The aim of our study was to investigate the association of plain water intake (PWI) with the risk of new-onset overweight risk among Chinese adults., Methods: A total of 3,200 adults aged 18-65 who were free of overweight at baseline were enrolled from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) cohort study in 2006-2011. The risk of new-onset overweight with different amounts of PWI per day was analyzed in this 5-year cohort. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the association of PWI and the risk of new-onset overweight and adjust for potential confounders. Moreover, dose-response models were developed to estimate the linear relationship., Results: During 5 years of follow-up, 1,018 incident cases were identified. Our analysis indicated an inverse association of more than 4 cups of PWI per day and the risk of new-onset overweight among normal weight individuals. Compared with participants who drank 2 to 3 cups PWI, the adjusted odds ratios (OR) of overweight were 0.741 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.599-0.916) in participants who drank 4 to 5 cups PWI, and 0.547 (95% CI, 0.435-0.687) in participants who drank more than 6 cups PWI. The dose-response analysis showed that every cup of PWI was associated with a 6.5% and 8.4% decrease in the risk of new-onset overweight among men and women, respectively. The interactions of PWI and covariates on the risk of overweight were not found., Conclusion: Drinking more than 4 cups (≈1 liter) per day of plain water is associated with decrease in the risk of new-onset overweight among normal-weight individuals.

Ecological capital is an important fulcrum for the construction of ecological civilization. Measuring the spatial and temporal changes and influencing factors of ecological capital efficiency can help understand the current status of ecological capital efficiency and improve the level of ecological civilization to achieve green development. We used the super-efficient DEA model and Malmquist index to measure the spatial and temporal changes of ecological capital efficiency in Northeast China and analyzed the influencing factors. The results showed that the ecological capital efficiency in Northeast China was generally good, showing a trend of rising first and then decreasing. The ecological capital efficiency of Heilongjiang was high, showing U-shaped development, while that in Jilin and Liaoning provinces was relatively low. Results from the Malmquist index analysis showed that technological progress was the main driving force for the improvement of ecological capital efficiency. The results of Tobit regression analysis showed that the environment scale effect and the demographic effect variables had a significant positive impact on the efficiency of ecological capital. The low efficiency of science and technology investment led to negative correlation between environmental technology effect variables and ecological capital efficiency. To improve the ecological capital efficiency in Northeast China, on the one hand, we should accelerate the adjustment of industrial structure and develop ecological economy, on the other hand, we should increase the input efficiency of science and technology funds and rely on technological progress to realize green development of economy in Northeast China.

Background: In China, adolescents are frequently left behind by their parents. A great deal of scientific evidence demonstrates considerable psychological and social impacts that negative life events may have on adolescents who are left behind. While a direct relationship between negative life events and psychological and social effects has been observed, indirect effects have yet to be examined. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the association between negative life events and positive social adjustment and how resilience and self-esteem mediate this association., Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the provinces of Shandong, Henan, and Sichuan in China. A questionnaire was distributed to 4716 left-behind adolescents in ten middle/high schools. We performed Bayesian estimations in structural equation modeling using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm to test our hypotheses., Results: Negative life events were significantly related to resilience (r s  = - 0.402), self-esteem (r s  = - 0.292), and positive social adjustment (r s  = - 0.239). Positive social adjustment was directly affected by resilience (β = 0.639) and self-esteem (β = 0.448). Negative life events were not only directly related to positive social adjustment (β = - 0.187, 95% credible interval: - 0.233 ~ - 0.139), but also showed an indirect effect on positive social adjustment (β = - 0.541, 95% credible interval: - 0.583 ~ - 0.501) through resilience (β = - 0.370) and self-esteem (β = - 0.171). The total effect of negative life events on positive social adjustment was - 0.728, where 74.31% was mediated by resilience and self-esteem. The indirect effect of negative life events on positive social adjustment through resilience and self-esteem was 2.893 times more than the direct effect., Conclusions: Resilience and self-esteem mediated most of the effect of negative life events on positive social adjustment. Interventions should be developed to improve the social adjustment of adolescents who are left behind, particularly the enhancement of resilience and self-esteem.

Objective: To understand the current situation of soil-transmitted nematode infections and influencing factors of pupils in rural areas of Yi Ethnicity in Butuo County, Sichuan Province, so as to provide the evidence for the prevention and control of soil-transmitted nematode infections., Methods: In 2016, the pupils of 2 villages in Butuo County were selected by the multi-stage random sampling method, and the relevant information was obtained by questionnaires, including social demographic information, diet and hygiene habits and acknowledge of parasitic disease prevention. The soil-transmitted nematode infections were examined by Kato-Katz technique. The results were statistically analyzed by the single factor analysis and multivariate logistic regression methods., Results: A total of 160 pupils were investigated in this survey. The soil-transmitted nematodes included Ascaris lumbricoides , Trichuris trichiura and hookworm. The overall infection rate was 89.38%, and the multi-infection rate was 54.55%. The infection rates of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura were higher. The infection densities were mild (75.68%) or moderate (22.97%). The logistic regression analysis showed that the protective factor of soil-transmitted nematode infections was the knowledge about correct diet and health habits notified by teachers ( OR = 0.67), but the risk factor was drinking unboiled water ( OR = 19.26)., Conclusions: The infection rate of nematodes is still high in the pupils in rural areas of Yi Ethnicity in Butuo County, Sichuan Province. Therefore, we should strengthen the prevention and control of soil-transmitted nematode infections, especially A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura infections, and mostly develop the teachers'function in health education.

Extensive evidence suggests that the genetic etiologies of breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) show a certain degree of similarity. This study aimed to find out whether the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes SNAI1 and TWIST1 may affect BC and OC susceptibility. A total of 7 tagging‑SNPs (tSNPs) were directly genotyped in 1,161 BC cases, 286 OC cases and 1,273 cancer‑free controls among Chinese Han women. Twenty‑eight variants in these 2 genes were genotyped by 'in silico' genotype imputation. Logistic regression (LR) revealed that tSNPs SNAI1 rs6125849, TWIST1 rs4721746 and TWIST1 rs4721745 were protective genetic variants for BC/OC. Allelic association tests of gene‑wide SNPs demonstrated that the minor alleles of SNAI1 rs6125849, TWIST1 rs4721745 and TWIST1 rs11973396 were strongly associated with BC/OC susceptibility. Multivariate LR presented that SNAI1 rs6125849, TWIST1 rs4721745, rs4721746 and rs11973396 affected BC/OC susceptibility independently, and women harboring all four protective genoytpes had the lowest risk. Multifactor dimensionality reduction analysis further showed that SNAI1 rs6125849 and TWIST1 rs4721745 had the strongest synergistic interaction. Functional annotation predicted that the minor alleles of SNAI1 rs6125849 and TWIST1 rs4721745 altered their binding affinities with transcription factors E2F6 and TCF11‑MafG respectively. These results indicate that genetic variants in SNAI1 and TWIST1, most probably SNAI1 rs6125849 and TWIST1 rs4721745, may modulate BC and OC susceptibility.

Introduction: This study evaluates an insulin dose titration model and factors that impact insulin dose adjustment in Chinese adults with type-2 diabetes, who receive basal insulin in real-world settings., Material and Methods: A total of 19,894 patients from the ORBIT study were included. These patients were divided into four groups, according to the type of insulin dose adjustment: no insulin titration (group A), self-titration (group B), physician-led insulin titration (group C), and combined physician and patient-led insulin titration (group D). Data were collected and compared at baseline and after six months of treatment., Results: A total of 12,865 patients completed the visits and were included in the analysis. Among these patients, 3187 (24.8%), 1971 (15.3%), 5165 (40.1%), and 2542 (19.8%) patients were included in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the duration of diabetes, body mass index, microvascular complications, inpatient days, HbA1C level, and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) were positively correlated with insulin titration in group B, C, and D, compared with group A. The number of inpatient days and outpatient visits were positively correlated with dose adjustment for physician-led titration, while this was negatively correlated for self-titration. Self-titration encouraged by physicians and home blood glucose monitoring were positively correlated with self-titration and the combined physician and patient-led titration., Conclusions: High HbA1C level, SMBG, long disease duration, microvascular complications, and the encouragement of physicians while initiating insulin use prompt patients to perform dose adjustments in real-world settings.

Background: Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a behavioral disorder of school-age population. It is well known that 5-HT dysfunction is correlated with impulsivity, which is one of the common characteristics of ODD. The enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH-2) synthesizes 5-HT in serotonergic neurons of the midbrain raphe. The purposes of this study were to investigate the potential association of TPH-2 polymorphisms with susceptibility to ODD in a Han Chinese school population., Methods: Four polymorphisms (rs4570625, rs11178997, rs1386494 and rs7305115) of the TPH-2 gene were analyzed by using polymerase chain reaction and DNA microarray hybridization in a case-control study of 276 Han Chinese individuals (124 ODD and 152 controls)., Results: In single marker analyses,there was a significant difference in the genotype (χ 2  = 4.163, P = 0.041) and allele frequency (χ 2  = 3.930, P = 0.047) of rs1386494 between ODD and control groups. Haplotype analyses revealed higher frequencies of haplotypes TA (rs4570625-rs11178997), TAG (rs4570625-rs11178997-rs1386494), TAA (rs4570625-rs11178997-rs7305115) and TAGA (rs4570625-rs11178997-rs1386494-rs7305115), but lower frequencies of haplotypes GA (rs4570625-rs11178997) and GAG (rs4570625-rs11178997-rs1386494) in ODD compared to control groups., Conclusions: These findings suggest the role of these TPH-2 gene variants in susceptibility to ODD. Some haplotypes might be the risk factors for Chinese Han children with ODD, while others might be preventable factors.

Aim: To investigate whether 7-d triple therapies are still valid in populations with low levels of resistance., Methods: A total of 1106 Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive patients were divided into three groups, each of which received one type of 7-d triple therapy. Therapeutic outcomes of the patients were assessed by the (13)C-urea breath test at 8 wk after treatment. The susceptibility of H. pylori to antibiotics was determined by an agar-dilution method. Data analysis was performed by χ(2) tests., Results: The eradication rates in groups A, B and C were 90.71% (332/366), 90.46% (313/346) and 90.87% (189/208), respectively (P = 0.986). The resistance rates were 8.91% for clarithromycin, 14.78% for levofloxacin and 0% for amoxicillin. The eradication rate was significantly different between clarithromycin- and levofloxacin-resistant patients (P < 0.05) in group A. Patients whose treatment failed in group A also had a higher clarithromycin resistance rate than did successive patients (P = 0.034). However, levofloxacin resistance had no obvious influence on the eradication rate. Furthermore, three main antibiotics (clarithromycin, levofloxacin and amoxicillin) had lower DID (defined daily dose per 1000 inhabitants per day) in this city., Conclusion: Clarithromycin resistance is the main reason for the failure of 7-d triple therapy. In populations with low levels of resistance, a 7-d triple therapy is a viable choice. The choice of therapy should not be influenced by conditions in high antibiotic resistance regions.

Six heavy metals, including As, Cu, Hg, Cd, Pb and Cr in Panax notoginseng were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) combined with wet digestion method. The samples of P. notoginseng were collected in 12 different regions, including Yunnan and Guangxi Province. Green Standards of Foreign Trading Medicinal Plants & Preparations was used as the standard to evaluate the pollution status of As, Cu, Hg, Cd, Pb and Cr in P. notoginseng. The results showed that content of As and Cd exceeded the limit of the standard and the percentage was 32.4% and 29.7%, respectively, while Cu, Hg and Pb were all bellow the limit. The SPSS 16.0 software was used to analyze the data. The occurrence of contained heavy metals has been discussed.

Background: Aberrant methylation of protocadherin 17 (PCDH17) has been reported in several human cancers. However, the methylation status of PCDH17 in prostate cancer and its clinical significance remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the methylation status of PCDH17 and its clinical significance in patients with prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy., Material/methods: The methylation status of PCDH17 in 152 prostate cancer tissues and 51 non-tumoral prostate tissues was examined by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Then the association between PCDH17 methylation and clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, log-rank test and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model analysis were used to analyze the correlation between PCDH17 methylation and prognosis of patients with prostate cancer., Results: Our data demonstrated that PCDH17 methylation occurred frequently in prostate cancer. PCDH17 methylation was significantly associated with higher pathological Gleason score (P=0.0315), advanced pathological stage (P=0.0260), higher level of preoperative PSA (P=0.0354), positive angiolymphatic invasion (P=0.0461), positive lymph node metastasis (P=0.0362), and biochemical recurrence (BCR) (P=0.0018). In addition, PCDH17 methylation was an independent predictor of poor biochemical recurrence-free (BCR-free) survival and overall survival for patients with prostate cancer., Conclusions: PCDH17 methylation is a frequent tumor-specific event in prostate cancer, and is significantly correlated with shorter BCR-free survival and overall survival of patients with prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. PCDH17 methylation in tumor samples after radical prostatectomy may be used as an independent prognostic biomarker.

Emerging evidence indicates that β-arrestin 2, an important regulator of G protein coupled receptors, is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between β-arrestin 2 gene (ARRB2) variation and the risk of late-onset AD (LOAD). A total of 1132 LOAD patients and 1158 healthy controls from the Han Chinese population were included in this study. Initially, four common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs3786047, rs16954146, rs1045280 and rs2271167) were selected by consulting the Han Chinese from Beijing genotype data in HapMap database. Considering the fact that these four SNPs were located in one haplotype block and any two of them were in almost complete linkage disequilibrium (D'=1, r2≥0.897), we chose rs1045280 (a coding- synonymous variant) that covered all the common genetic variations in ARRB2 with r2≥0.8 as the tag SNP (tSNP) for the subsequent genotyping. Our results showed that the minor allele of rs1045280 was associated with an increased LOAD risk after adjusting for age, gender, educational level, and the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 status under dominant (OR=1.291; 95% CI: 1.063-1.568; Bonferroni-corrected P=0.03) and additive (OR=1.269; 95% CI: 1.069-1.507; Bonferroni- corrected P=0.018) models. Meanwhile, when these data were stratified by APOE ε4 status, this association was evident only in APOE ε4 carriers (OR=1.617; 95% CI: 1.01-2.588; P=0.045). In summary, this study provide the first evidence that the tSNP of ARRB2 significantly increases LOAD risk in Han Chinese, suggesting ARRB2 may represent a susceptibility gene for LOAD.

Background: A prospective multicenter survey was conducted to assess the rational use of antibiotics in clean and clean-contaminated elective surgical procedures applied in 53 grade III first class hospitals in Shandong Province, China, from 2006 to 2011. The survey was designed to examine the prevalence of antibiotic prophylaxis, evaluate the quality of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) prescriptions, and investigate the risk factors associated with inappropriate indication for antibiotic prophylaxis., Methods: Medication charts and medical, anesthetic, and nursing records were reviewed. Antibiotic prescriptions were compared with the Chinese National Antibiotic Guideline on indication, antibiotic combination, antibiotic choice, dose, dosing interval, route of administration, timing of first administration, and duration of prophylaxis., Results: 14,261 of 14,525 procedures (98.2%) receiving antibiotic prophylaxis. The most frequently encountered noncompliance types were PAP indications (18.6%), duration of prophylaxis (26.7%), and timing of first administration (30.3%). The steps of PAP were justified and correct only in 9.4% of procedures. Risk factors independently associated with inappropriate indication for antibiotic prophylaxis were seen in age, hospital type, hospital size, surgical disciplines, and surgical duration., Conclusion: Results showed a significantly high rate of antibiotic prophylaxis in clean and clean-contaminated elective surgery and also a high prevalence of inappropriate indication prescriptions. These findings suggest important areas for intervention and implementation of antibiotic stewardship policies in Shandong Province hospitals., (Copyright © 2014 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To investigate seroepidemiology of cagA(+) and vacA(+) strains of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in an elderly population in Beijing and to determine risk factors for seropositivity., Methods: A total of 2006 elderly persons (> 60 years) were selected using a random cluster sampling method in different parts of the Beijing area (urban, suburban and mountainous districts). Structured questionnaires were completed during home visits, including history of H. pylori infection, history of gastrointestinal diseases, diet types, hygiene habits, occupation and economic status. Blood samples (2 mL) were collected from each participant, and serum IgG antibodies to cagA, vacA and H. pylori urease antigens were measured by immunodetection., Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection in elderly subjects was 83.4% and the type I H. pylori strain infection rate was 56%. The seroprevalence for type I H. pylori strain infection in urban and suburban districts was higher than that in the mountainous areas (P < 0.001). Elderly subjects who had previously performed manual labor or were in the young-old age group (age < 75 years) had a higher seroprevalence of H. pylori infection than those who had previously performed mental labor or were in the oldest-old age group (age ≥ 75 year) (P < 0.05). The type I H. pylori strain infection rate in the elderly with vegetarian diets was higher than in those eating high-protein foods (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of H. pylori strains between male and female elderly participants (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Type I H. pylori seroprevalence is higher in elderly people. The distribution of strains of H. pylori is significantly affected by age, area and dietary habits.