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Comprehensively understanding how the policy influences the sustainability transition of the automotive industry is a critical focus in recent years. This paper focuses on the dual-credit policy, an underexplored but critical policy in China, and examines how it would influence the transition of automotive industry. To achieve this goal, an SD model is developed to simulate the effect of policy parameters on the policy objectives by considering the interaction of production, technology and market. The findings reveal that this policy can in general promote the sustainable development of the automotive industry by greatly decreasing its overall energy consumption. However, its impact on the market share of new energy vehicles is limited. Based on the results, some policy suggestions are proposed so as to improve the effectiveness of the dual-credit policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deformation monitoring of sliding zones or surfaces is of great significance to investigate evolution stages and triggering factors of landslides. The fiber–optic strain sensing cables, similar to human nerves, are capable of capturing slight movements in a distributed sensing and nearly real–time manner. However, the interaction between fiber–optic strain sensing nerves and surrounding geomaterials under shearing remains unclear. In this study, a novel analytical methodology for interpreting the cable–soil interaction under shear deformation and a reliable solution to calculate the shear displacements of critical interfaces in landslides are presented. The feasibility of the proposed method is proven through laboratory shear tests and later applied to calculate the shear displacements of the Majiagou landslide located in the Three Gorges Reservoir region, China. Finally, the empirical relationships between the measured strains and factors of safety are established. It is proved that the reservoir water level drawdown and rainfall cause accelerated shear deformation of this landslide. • Shear displacements of sliding surface are captured via fiber optic strain sensing. • The proposed method is validated through a laboratory shear test on sand. • The deformation pattern of sliding zones can be interpreted by strain measurements. • Landslide shear deformation is triggered by water level drawdown and rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to examine the contribution of blood lipids to the association between BMI and blood pressure (BP) in children with overweight and obesity. Data were collected in elementary and high schools of Chaoyang District, Beijing, China in 2012. Participants' weight, height, BP and fasting plasma lipid profile were measured by standard protocols. Mediation analysis was used to examine the mediation role of blood lipids on the relation between BMI and BP, with age included as a covariate. We found that in boys 8.29% (mediation effect =0.106, P= 0.012) of the association between BMI and systolic BP was mediated through TAG. TAG mediated 12.53% (mediation effect= 0.093, P =0.018) and LDL-cholesterol mediated 7.75% (mediation effect=0.57, P=0.046) of the association between BMI and diastolic BP was mediated by TAG and LDL-cholesterol, respectively. However, blood lipids did not show the mediation effect in girls. Our findings suggested that there was a sex difference in the contribution of blood lipids to the association between BMI and BP. Controlling TAG or LDL-cholesterol may be beneficial for reducing the risk of the BMI-related high BP in overweight boys; however, this outcome is not the case when controlling TAG or LDL-cholesterol in girls. This study may provide clues to explore the underlying mechanism of the association between obesity and hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A fiber optic nervous sensing system captured strain distributions of tunnel linings. • Two kinematic models are used to interpret longitudinal movements of the tunnel. • The strain measurements are converted to radial displacements of the tunnel lining. • A tunnel risk assessment method is proposed to evaluate the tunnel health conditions. With the accelerated urbanization and population growth in the Yangtze River Delta of China, numerous metro tunnels are in operation or under construction, and adjacent deep excavation activities are frequently encountered. For curved shield tunnels, the impact of excavation-induced ground movements is more complicated due to their asymmetric shape. This paper presents the monitoring results of a curved shield tunnel in clayey soil in Suzhou, China, which were captured by a fiber optic nervous sensing system. This system utilized Brillouin optical frequency domain analysis technology to monitor the distribution of longitudinal and circumferential strains of tunnel linings induced by adjacent excavation. The results show that the tunnel linings were mainly subjected to bending deformations along the tunnel alignment. Maximum compressive strains were observed below the tunnel springline, and their absolute values were higher than those of maximum tensile strains measured at the tunnel crown, distorting the circular tunnel into a rotated oval/ellipsoid. Based on the monitoring results, two kinematic models reflecting the spatial relationship between movements of tunnel segments and measurements of strain sensing cables are proposed. Furthermore, a mechanical method is proposed to convert strain measurements into radial displacements of tunnel linings and the structural health condition of the tunnel is evaluated using longitudinal and circumferential risk indexes. The conclusions drawn in this study provide improved insight into the deformation pattern and health condition of curved shield tunnels subjected to adjacent excavations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which tries to compare gender differences in first-episode and chronic schizophrenia in Chinese patients. The study has discovered that there have been evident gender differences among chronic schizophrenia patients. However, it has found out few gender differences in those with first-episode schizophrenia.

Objective. To analyse the potential risk factors of nosocomial infections in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. A total of 2452 active RA patients at Hospitals in Shanghai between January 2009 and February 2011 were analyzed. Their demographic and clinical characteristics were compared with those without infection, and the potential risk factors were determined by logistic regression analysis. Results. Multivariate analysis indicated the gender (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.53-0.92), duration in hospital (OR = 1.03 , 95%CI 1.01-1.05), number of organs involved (OR = 0.82, 95%CI 0.72-0.92), number of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs ((DMARDs) (OR = 1.22, 95%CI 1.061-1.40)), corticosteroid therapy (OR = 1.02, 95%CI 1.01-1.03), peripheral white blood cell counts ((WBC) (OR = 1.04, 95%CI 1.00-1.08)), levels of serum albumin (OR = 0.98, 95%CI 0.97-0.99), and C-reactive protein ((CRP) (OR = 1.03 , 95%CI 1.01-1.04)) that were significantly associated with the risk of infections. Conclusion. The female patients, longer hospital stay, more organs involved, more DMARDs, corticosteroid usage, high counts of WBC, lower serum albumin, and higher serum CRP were independent risk factors of infections in active RA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the non-Archimedian infinite model C²R of the Data Envelopment Analysis, combined with characteristics of Chinese mainland banks' inputs and outputs, the paper sets up an index system of inputs and outputs as well as an overall technical efficiency evaluation model for Chinese banks, which considers not only the profit ability, but also the control capacity of banks risk. The overall technical efficiency values of Chinese banks are given respectively based on the samples of state owned banks and 14 integrated samples both state owned banks and shareholding banks. The input redundancy of labor, net value fixed assets, operating expenses, owner's equity, branch number and output deficiency of operating income, total increase in deposits, total increase in loans, ROE, decrease in bad debts ratio, are also calculated. The pertinence policy suggestions of efficiency improvement of banks are put forward. The results show that the efficiencies of new shareholding banks are far higher than non-shareholding bank and the all four state owned banks are commonly lower in overall technical efficiency. The overall technical efficiency of Agriculture Bank of China is the lowest one in all banks, and Bank of Communications is the efficiency lowest in all shareholding banks. The contributions and characteristics of the paper are: 1) the bad debit ratio is used to reflect the quality of the outputs, which is an improvement to the current literature of neglecting the difference in loans quality. 2) The inefficiency reasons of banks are list out by quantity analysis, and the pertinent macro strategies and concrete measures on improving banks efficiency are given, which is another improvement to current research that tend to give the efficiency value, but not ignore giving improving strategy from quantities analysis. 3) Banks overall technical efficiency values under several portfolios of inputs and outputs are given respectively, which not only overcomes the restraints that the sample size is at least the 2 times of the number of inputs and outputs indexes, but also measures banks overall technical efficiency from several directions. 4) It makes the efficiency values estimation more comparable by extracting four state owned banks for another efficiency evaluation. Combining both state owned banks and shareholding banks as a whole group of efficiency evaluation shows the real overall technical efficiency distance between two different kinds of bank and provide realistic basis for the bank reform of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many native insect species in China, has shifted host to exotic eucalyptus and caused significant damage to plantations. Two wood-boring insects, Batocera horsfieldi Hope, 1839 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Endoclita signifier Waller, 1856 (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), were the most severe on eucalyptus in southern China. Incidences of infestation of B. horsfieldi and En. signifer on eucalyptus and its relationships between canopy density, altitude, tree age and variety of eucalyptus were studied using the method of sampling survey in Hezhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. Results showed that B. horsfieldi preferred the habitat with higher canopy density of eucalyptus. Incidence of infestation of B. horsfieldi was positively correlated with the age of eucalyptus, and negatively correlated with the altitude. There was no significant correlation between the incidence of infestation of B. horsfieldi and the variety of eucalyptus. Endoclita signifer preferred the habitat with higher canopy density of eucalyptus. Incidence of infestation of En. signifer had no significant correlation with the age of eucalyptus and the altitude. There was significant correlation between the incidence of infestation of En. signifer and the variety of eucalyptus. These results are an important base for the control (e.g., resistance screening) of the two wood-boring insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a prodromal stage of dementia, significant emphasis has been placed on the identification of modifiable risks of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Research has indicated a correlation between exposure to air pollution and cognitive function in older adults. However, few studies have examined such an association among the MCI population inChina., Objective: We aimed to explore the association between air pollution exposure and MCI risk from the Hubei Memory and Aging Cohort Study., Methods: We measured four pollutants from 2015 to 2018, 3 years before the cognitive assessment of the participants. Logistic regression models were employed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) to assess the relationship between air pollutants and MCI risk., Results: Among 4,205 older participants, the adjusted ORs of MCI risk for the highest quartile of PM2.5, PM10, O3, and SO2 were 1.90 (1.39, 2.62), 1.77 (1.28, 2.47), 0.56 (0.42, 0.75), and 1.18 (0.87, 1.61) respectively, compared with the lowest quartile. Stratified analyses indicated that such associations were found in both males and females, but were more significant in older participants., Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with the growing evidence suggesting that air pollution increases the risk of mild cognitive decline, which has considerable guiding significance for early intervention of dementia in the older population. Further studies in other populations and broader geographical areas are warranted to validate these findings.

Introduction: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a major chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract. A large number of epidemiological investigations have shown that the prevalence of AR is increasing, resulting in a large social burden. Importantly, the impact of air pollution on health is a widespread concern. We aim to evaluate association of air pollution and AR risk., Methods and Analysis: This prospective study includes patients undergoing AR. The exclusion criteria will be as follows: Patients with nasal infection, nasal polyps, nasal tumors, mental disorders, and immunodeficiency will be excluded. Air pollution levels of ambient air pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon dioxide (CO), and O3, and patient data will be collected. The correlation analysis will be performed in air pollutants and AR risk., Discussion: This study will provide correlation of NO2, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5 for AR in several aspects, including symptom score, drug score, quality of life score, asthma control score, side effects, and laboratory examination such as nasal function test, serum total immunoglobulin E, and nasal secretion smear.

Understanding the habitat selection and population genetic structure of an endangered species can play important roles in its protection. The Wuchuan odorous frog ( Odorrana wuchuanensis ) is endemic to the karst regions of southwest China. This frog is currently listed as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN, but little is known about its habitat selection and population genetics. In this study, we conducted analyses of habitat selection with occurrence/absence sites and environmental data, and assessed the genetic structure between north and south populations in Guizhou provinces in China using three mitochondrial markers. The results revealed that the probability of this frog occupying cave habitats increased with higher average humidity in July and higher lowest temperature in January, but was negatively related to precipitation in January. Analyses of F statistics combined with analyses of median-joining haplotype networks and the phylogenetic tree showed low genetic differentiation between the two populations of O. wuchuanensis . Considering the small population size and geographic isolation because of the complex karst terrains, we suggest careful management practices are needed to protect this species.

Tralkoxydim is a cyclohexanedione herbicide primarily used for gramineous weed control in China. In this paper, we present results of a tralkoxydim laboratory environmental fate study characterizing its degradation, adsorption, and mobility behavior in three different soils and two water-sediment systems (river and lake) in China. Degradation half-life of tralkoxydim in soil under aerobic conditions was 5.1, 7.7, and 7.9 days in Jiangxi red soil, Taihu paddy soil, and Northeast China black soil, respectively. Under anaerobic and flooding conditions, half-life values were 6.2, 15.1, and 19.8 days for the same three soils, respectively. Soil pH was the major factor effecting tralkoxydim degradation. In the aerobic water-sediment experiments, tralkoxydim degraded faster in the river system (total system half-life 43.3 days) than the lake system (total system half-life 99.0 days). Correspondingly, its anaerobic degradation half-life values were 46.2 and 53.3 days for the river and lake systems, respectively. Tralkoxydim adsorption in the three soils was found to follow the empirical Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption coefficient (K d ) was 8.60, 1.00, and 1.57 for Jiangxi red soil, Taihu paddy soil, and Northeast China black soil, respectively. Soil pH was the major factor effecting tralkoxydim adsorption. Adsorption free energy change was less than 40 kJ mol -1 in all three soils, indicating a physical mechanism in the process. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) tests showed that relative to the solvent transport to 11.5 cm, the travel distance of tralkoxydim was 8-10 cm in the three soils, corresponding Rf values at 0.05, 0.35, and 0.75 for Jiangxi red soil, Taihu paddy soil, and Northeast China black soil, respectively. Results of this work suggest that under alkaline conditions, tralkoxydim adsorption becomes smaller; thus, assessments on its mobility and potential groundwater impact should focus on these soil types.