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Revealing the biogeography and community assembly mechanisms of soil microorganisms is crucial in comprehending the diversity and maintenance of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica forests. Here, we used high-throughput sequencing techniques and null model analysis to explore the distribution patterns and assembly processes of abundant, rare, and total fungal communities in P. sylvestris var. mongolica forests based on a large-scale soil survey across northern China. Compared to the abundant and total taxa, the diversity and composition of rare taxa were found to be more strongly influenced by regional changes and environmental factors. At the level of class, abundant and total taxa were dominated by Agaricomycetes and Leotiomycetes, while Agaricomycetes and Sordariomycetes were dominant in the rare taxa. In the functional guilds, symbiotrophic fungi were advantaged in the abundant and total taxa, and saprotrophic fungi were advantaged in the rare taxa. The null model revealed that the abundant, rare, and total taxa were mainly governed by stochastic processes. However, rare taxa were more influenced by deterministic processes. Precipitation and temperature were the key drivers in regulating the balance between stochastic and deterministic processes. This study provides new insights into both the biogeographical patterns and assembly processes of soil fungi in P. sylvestris var. mongolica forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tremendous efforts have been made to construct large-scale estimates of aerosol components. However, Black Carbon (BC) estimates over large spatiotemporal scales are still limited. We proposed a novel approach utilizing machine-learning techniques to estimate BC on a large scale. We leveraged a comprehensive gridded BC emission database and auxiliary variables as inputs to train various machine learning (ML) models, specifically a Random Forest (RF) algorithm, to estimate high spatiotemporal BC concentration over China. Different ML algorithms have been applied to a large number of potential datasets and detailed variable importance and sensitivity analysis have also been carried out to explore the physical relevance of variables on the BC estimation model. RF algorithm showed the best performance compared with other ML models. Good predictive performance was observed for the training cases (R2 = 0.78, RMSE = 1.37 μgm−3) and test case databases (R2 = 0.77, RMSE = 1.35 μgm−3) on a daily time scale, illustrating a significant improvement compared to previous studies with remote sensing and chemical transport models. The seasonal variation of BC distributions was also evaluated, with the best performance observed in spring and summer (R2 ≈ 0.7–0.76, RMSE ≈ 0.98–1.26 μgm−3), followed by autumn and winter (R2 ≈ 0.7–0.72, RMSE ≈ 1.37–1.63 μgm−3). Variable importance and sensitivity analysis illustrated that the BC emission inventories and meteorology showed the highest importance in estimating BC concentration (R2 = 0.73, RMSE = 1.88 μgm−3). At the same time, albedo data and some land cover type variables were also helpful in improving the model performance. We demonstrated that the emission-based ML model with an appropriate auxiliary database (e.g., satellite and reanalysis datasets) could effectively estimate the spatiotemporal BC concentrations at a large scale. In addition, the promising results obtained through this approach highlight its potential to be utilized for the assessment of other primary pollutants in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities have released a large amount of nitric oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere, leading to elevated regional atmospheric NOx concentration and nitrogen (N) deposition. Several studies have observed a downward NOx or NOy (NOx and its oxidation products) flux to the forest canopy, but attributed it to the photochemical reactions and conversion from gaseous N to particulate N. Here, we focus on the possibility of NOx sink by forest canopy based on an observed downward NOx flux of 0.28 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in a temperate forest of northeastern China, using hourly monitoring of NOx fluxes. In combination with results from previous studies, we find that the downward NOx or NOy fluxes ranged from 0.2 to 1.4 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in temperate forests and from 5.3 to 8.5 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in subtropical forests and they were positively related to atmospheric NOx concentration, mean annual air temperature and annual precipitation across eight forest sites from around the world. If assuming 50% of downward NOx or NOy was directly taken up by the canopy, we estimate a NOx or NOy sink of 0.2 and 1.1 Tg N yr−1 by global respective temperate and subtropical forests, representing an effective scavenger of atmospheric NOx and a considerable N source to forests. We suggest that interception of NOx or NOy by forest canopy should be considered in global NOx budgets and their contribution to the global forest N pool in global Earth System's models. Plain Language Summary: Canopy interception of reactive N has gained wide attention in recent several years, however, its quantification is still unclear. In the present work, we demonstrate the NOx downward movement in a typical temperate forest in northeastern China was partially driven by canopy biological uptake, and then combined results of our in situ observation of canopy NOx flux with other existing 10 monitoring sites worldwide. We estimated an N input of 0.2 and 1.1 Tg N yr−1 in global respective temperate and subtropical forests via downward NOx movement, representing an effective scavenger of atmospheric NOx and a considerable N source to forests. Key Points: The potential importance of canopy NOx uptake by forests for atmospheric NOx concentration and forest N pools is unclearCombining present and previous study results, we estimated a canopy N input of 0.2–1.1 Tg yr−1 in global temperate and subtropical forestsWe suggest that interception of NOx by forest canopy should be considered in global NOx budgets and forest N pools [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Infrared camera technology was used to study the space occupancy, activity rhythm, and sexual segregation of white-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris) in the Yarlung Zangbo River basin of Tibet for two years. The results showed that, in Jiacha Gorge, the occupancy of white-lipped deer is high, belonging to crepuscular activity pattern mammals. White-lipped deer have two activity peaks in the forest (May, October), and most of their activities are in the form of mixed groups of male and female during breeding and wintering. This study provides important information for the habitat utilization of white-lipped deer, and offers a scientific basis and theoretical support for the protection of white-lipped deer in Jiacha Gorge in the Yarlung Zangbo River basin. The white-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris) is a rare and endangered species found in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. To understand the space occupancy, activity rhythm, and sexual segregation of the white-lipped deer, 24,096 effective photos and 827 effective videos were captured using infrared cameras from February 2020 to January 2022. The ecology and behavior of the white-lipped deer in Jiacha Gorge were studied in more detail using site occupancy models, relative abundance index, and other technologies and methods. The results show that The occupancy predicted by the model exceeds or approaches 0.5. The occupancy increases with greater altitude and with larger EVI values, while the detection rate increases with altitude only during spring and decreases with EVI values only in summer. The daily activity peaks for white-lipped deer were observed from 7:00 to 11:00 and 17:00 to 22:00, with annual activity peaks occurring from April to June and from September to November. From July to the following January, white-lipped deer mostly move in mixed-sex groups, while during the remainder of the year, they predominantly associate with individuals of the same sex. Climate, vegetation coverage, food resources, and human disturbance collectively influenced the behavior and habitat utilization of white-lipped deer. The foundational research conducted on white-lipped deer over the past two years is expected to enhance the basic understanding of white-lipped deer in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and contribute to future protection and management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed an increasing trend in Chinese arbitration reform that emulates international norms and practices. This article examines some of these key reform measures and major challenges to their implementation. It explores in both legal and practical terms why most of these reform techniques may remain largely ineffective, showing that engaging in international norms and standards in China can be highly challenging due to their potential illegality, the general lack of institutional capacity to sustain them, and the conflicts of local ideas about the purposes of arbitration. It is thus doubtful whether commitment to satisfying the formal requirements prescribed by the legal reforms would often prevail. When it does, it is questionable whether this form of commitment would become prevalent and how it could proceed in a sustainable and coherent manner from a practical perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important part of electric vehicles, lithium-ion battery packs will have a certain environmental impact in the use stage. To analyze the comprehensive environmental impact, 11 lithium-ion battery packs composed of different materials were selected as the research object. By introducing the life cycle assessment method and entropy weight method to quantify environmental load, a multilevel index evaluation system was established based on environmental battery characteristics. The results show that the Li–S battery is the cleanest battery in the use stage. In addition, in terms of power structure, when battery packs are used in China, the carbon footprint, ecological footprint, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, human toxicity cancer and human toxicity noncancer are much higher than those in the other four regions. Although the current power structure in China is not conducive to the sustainable development of electric vehicles, the optimization of the power structure is expected to make electric vehicles achieve clean driving in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision and utilization of grassland resources connect grassland ecosystems and pastoral society. Revealing the mechanism behind the forage supply–demand relationship and balancing forage supply and demand is essential in pastoral socio-ecological systems. Taking Altay Prefecture as the case study, this study quantified the dynamics of natural forage supply, artificial supplemental forage, and forage demand. The ratio of forage supply to demand was calculated in the traditional grazing scenario and the grazing prohibition and supplemental feeding scenario. The results showed that during 2001–2018, the forage supplied by natural grasslands fluctuated, with the highest and lowest values in 2013 and 2008, respectively. The artificial supplemental forage increased at a higher rate in 2011–2018 than in 2001–2010. The overall trend of forage demand was upward, at approximately 2.98 × 104 t/a. The ratio of forage supply to demand decreased in the traditional scenario with an average value of 0.4717 and increased in the grazing prohibition and supplemental feeding scenario with an average value of 0.8289. The influencing factors were analyzed from the perspective of the interactions between the socio-ecological system elements, and the forage supply–demand relationships were conceptualized based on the social–ecological system framework. This study concludes that natural grasslands cannot entirely meet the increasing forage demand without artificial supplemental forage. The increasing artificial supplemental forage has promoted a balance between forage supply and demand, indicating an optimized grassland utilization pattern. The factors that affect forage supply–demand relationships are interrelated, and a holistic perspective should be adopted when implementing management measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping the landscape of Chinese dispute resolution. The aim of this article is to outline China's various approaches to such development in times of global pandemic. The article primarily examines the features of online arbitration in China with a special focus on the significance of party autonomy and the authority of the tribunal in handling virtual hearings. This trend prompts the question as to whether virtual hearings and the use of digital technology ensure the protection of data and privacy. Further, the article analyses the impacts of online dispute resolution on litigation and different sets of new rules adopted in China to handle online hearings. It concludes that China successfully addressed most of the raised questions in terms of data and privacy protection, and that the processes through which dispute resolution becomes increasingly digitalised seems to be an irreversible trend that warrants further research into its consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By presenting antigen peptides, HLA‐DRB1 plays an important role in the immune system. However, the allele frequency of HLA‐DRB1 exon 2 across China has not been comprehensively studied, especially in minority populations. We sampled 3757 individuals from 59 population. The HLA‐DRB1 region from 212 to 463 bp (NM_002124.4 exon 2) in each population was sequenced by Sanger sequencing and genotyped via SBTengine® software, and the allele frequency was calculated by GenAlEx 6.5. Eighty‐two DRB1 alleles were identified. The expected heterozygosity of DRB1 was lower in the south than in the north, which was inconsistent with the Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA results. The Mantel test and nonparametric correlation analysis showed that the correlations of the genetic distance with geographical distance and of DRB1 allele frequencies with latitude weakened after the southern and northern groups were considered separately. Principal coordinate analysis showed that populations speaking the same languages were not codistributed. Compared with other genetic markers, the distribution of DRB1 seems less affected by geographic distance and ethnic origin. Local factors such as gene flow with neighbouring populations, geographic isolation or natural selection are important forces shaping the DRB1 gene pool of local populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapidly advancing urbanization and agricultural modernisation in China, some of the rural labour force has transferred to urban non-agricultural sectors for employment, resulting in the transformation of rural land-use patterns. Based on data from the China Labour-Force Dynamics Surveys from 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018, IV-Probit and IV-Tobit models were constructed to determine the impact of labour migration (off-farm employment and part-time employment) on land transfer-in (whether farmers opt for land transfer-in and the scale of land transfer-in). The results were as follows. (1) Off-farm employment had a significant negative impact on the occurrence and area of farmers' land transfer-in; the inhibitory effect of off-farm employment on whether farmers had land transfer-in and the area of land transfer-in by farmers generally increased. The impact of part-time employment on the occurrence and area of farmers' land transfer-in was negative but this effect was not significant in 2012 and 2014. (2) Mediation analyses showed that off-farm employment could suppress land transfer-in either by increasing per capita income or by improving employment stability; both of these were partial mediating effects. Part-time employment reduced the probability of farmers opting for land transfer-in by increasing per capita income and improving the stability of off-farm jobs but only in 2016 and 2018. (3) Heterogeneity analysis showed that the impacts of off-farm and part-time employment on farmers' land transfer-in in suburbs were greater than for non-suburban farmers. Additionally, the inhibition effect of rural off-farm employment on land transfer-in in mountainous areas was greater than on the plains and in hilly areas. • Labor migration will restrain rural households from choosing land transfer-in. • Labor migration mainly affects the rural households' land transfer-in through two paths involving household income and stability of off-farm jobs. • The impact of labor migration on farmers' land transfer-in in suburbs were greater than for non-suburban farmers. Additionally, the inhibition effect of rural off-farm employment on land transfer-in in mountainous areas was greater than that on plains and in hilly areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is an independent risk factor for nosocomial infection which poses a serious threat to human health. How to prevent and suppress CRKP infection and explore its drug resistance mechanisms have become a huge challenge and possesses immediate significance. Methods: A total of 45 CRKP strains isolated from hospitalized patients in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University were collected from August 2018-December 2020. The strain's identification and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed using the VITEK 2 automated identification instrument. Single molecule DNA sequencing of 45 CRKP isolates was performed by the third generation high-throughput sequencing technology. Results: The results were analyzed by multi locus sequence typing (MLST) and phylogenetic analysis. Antimicrobial susceptibility showed that 45 CRKP isolates were multi-drug resistant strains, and the resistance rates to common antibiotics were as high as 68%. Whole genome sequencing results showed that the CRKP strains carried multiple drug resistance genes and virulence factors. MLST analysis found two different sequence types (ST), of which 44 were ST11 and 1 was ST1049. Conclusion: Through whole genome sequencing (WGS), we found multiple drug-resistant genes and virulence factors, and there was obvious dominant microbiota. The source was mainly related to nosocomial infection. The ST11-KPC Klebsiella pneumoniae was the main type, which was consistent with the most common type in China. We identified several dominant microbiotas which may serve as a target in the clinical prevention and treatment of severe bacterial infections. Our finding may have a role for guiding clinical antibiotic choosing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical compositions and deposition characteristics of atmospheric precipitation affect the structure and function of forest ecosystems and reflect regional air quality. Although northeastern China constitutes a vital forested area, few relevant studies reveal the chemical composition and the nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) deposition characteristics within precipitation. In this study, we monitor precipitation chemistry during 2018–2020 at a rural forested site in northeastern China (the Qingyuan site) and compare it with those from background sites (Mondy in Russia and Ochiishi in Japan) and highly anthropogenically influenced areas (Beijing). The precipitation pH range was 4.7–8.0 (volume-weighted average 6.2). The average concentration of total ions in precipitation was 459 μmol L−1, representing a moderate pollution level. Nitrate (NO3−, 73 μmol L−1) and ammonium (NH4+, 133 μmol L−1) were the major anions and cations in the precipitation. Total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) deposition was 12.3–15.9 kg N ha−1 year−1 (NH4+-N deposition accounted for 54–67%), lower than the average level in China (19.4 kg N ha−1 year−1). Annual precipitation sulphate (SO42−) deposition was 4.9–6.7 kg S ha−1 year−1. Seventy-two percent of the precipitation ions at our site originated from human activities. This work has revealed that N and S deposition is an important ion deposition component in atmospheric precipitation in the study of temperate forests in northeastern China. Nitrogen deposition, as a source of vital nutrients in the forest ecosystem, may promote forest growth and, thereby, forest carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the feasibility of applying artificial intelligence in nurse–patient interaction to assist nurses in grasping patient status and reducing their working hours. Background: Artificial intelligence has been reshaping the health care industry and has immense potential in nursing care, but there is still a lack of suitable artificial intelligence methods to improve the efficiency of the nurse–patient interaction that takes much time of nurses. Methods: An artificial intelligence‐based intelligent surveillance system was developed to reduce nurses' working hours in nurse–patient interaction, and a two‐wave follow‐up design was adopted in this study. The data were collected in a nursing home in Guangzhou, China. The first and second waves of data were recorded in the same format on the same patients by the same nurses. The only difference is the deployment of artificial intelligence technology between the two waves of data. Results: Artificial intelligence‐based intelligent surveillance can provide statistical health data for nurses to grasp the patients' status more intuitively, reducing the average nurse–patient interaction time per patient from 18 to 10 min. In addition, artificial intelligence's real‐time response to the abnormal health status of patients not only avoids more serious secondary injuries for patients but also prevents nurses from consuming energy in detecting emergencies. Conclusion: The application of artificial intelligence has great potential to reduce nurses' working hours in nurse–patient interaction. There are still many limitations in artificial intelligence technology at this stage, and it is not feasible to completely rely on artificial intelligence. However, as a tool to assist decision‐making, it can still have beneficial impacts on nursing management. Implications for Nursing Management: Artificial intelligence has great potential in daily nurse–patient interaction, and nursing facility managers and nurses need to be more open to this new technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle lightweight and carbon neutrality turn out to be the critical goals in developing new energy vehicles. As an important part of electric vehicles, power battery packs have an impact on the environment. In this study, multiple environmental assessment indicators were grouped into a comprehensive index, namely the green characteristic index, and the green characteristic index was used to comprehensively evaluate the environmental impact of 11 kinds of battery packs. This study calculates and analyzes the environmental impact values of battery packs in different regions for four types of small, medium, intermediate, and limousine cars. Finally, the uncertainty analysis was carried out. Research has found that micro battery packs have a lower potential environmental impact than advanced battery packs, so smaller, more energy‐efficient battery electric vehicles (BEVs) generally perform better than larger BEVs for vehicle models. During the operation stage of the battery pack, the environmental impact value of carbon footprint and ecological footprint is greatly affected by the regional power structure. Running the battery pack in China will generate higher carbon footprint and ecological footprint. In addition, the green characteristic index is more affected by the stage of use. When the scene is switched, the larger the model of the electric vehicle, the more obvious its environmental emission reduction capability. This highlights the benefits of high‐efficiency electrical structures in large electric vehicles, which can reduce environmental impact by increasing lifetime and charging efficiency, reducing the loss of transport power in the area, and improving the weight‐to‐energy relationship for BEVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: As a novel antiangiogenic multi-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor recently approved in China, anlotinib has exhibited promising anticancer efficacy and acceptable safety profile in the salvage treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in clinical trials. Here we retrospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of anlotinib as third- or further-line treatment in patients with refractory SCLC. Patients and methods: A total of 40 patients with refractory SCLC treated with anlotinib monotherapy were included in this study. The clinicopathological data, treatment information, survival data and safety data were retrospectively collected. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate analysis was performed by log-rank testing. Results: Altogether, 40 patients of extensive-stage SCLC or progressive limited-stage SCLC received anlotinib monotherapy as third- or further-line treatment from July 2018 to June 2020. Four patients achieved partial response (PR), 14 patients achieved stable disease (SD), no complete response (CR) was recorded, and 22 patients experienced progressive disease (PD). The disease control rate (DCR) was 45.0%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.0 months (95% CI 2.241–3.759), and the median overall survival (OS) was 7.8 months (95% CI 3.190–12.410). The common adverse effects (AEs) included hypertension, fatigue, anorexia, cough, rash and nausea. Grade 3 treatment-related AEs occurred in 3 (7.5%) patients. One patient interrupted anlotinib treatment due to repeated grade 1 epistaxis. Univariate analysis revealed that patients without liver metastases, previously treated with radiotherapy or with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores of 0 or 1 had longer OS with anlotinib treatment. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that patients without liver metastases and patients with ECOG score ≤ 1 had longer PFS, while patients without liver metastases had longer OS. Conclusion: Anlotinib is beneficial to refractory SCLC as third- or further-line treatment, especially in patients without liver metastasis and with better physical status. Related adverse effects are tolerable and manageable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its recent appearance in China, the NADC30-like strains of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 2 (PRRSV-2) have caused an expanding epidemic, and this has further expanded the genetic diversity of PRRSV. In this study, three NADC30-like strains—GXFCG20210401, GXQZ20210403 and GXNN20210506—were isolated from pig serum samples obtained in Guangxi, and their genomes were sequenced. A comparative analysis of the whole genomes showed that the three strains were most similar to NADC30 (88.3–88.7%). In particular, the non-structural protein coding regions (nsp1, nsp4-5, nsp7-8 and nsp9) showed the highest similarities to JXA1, and the ORF2a-ORF5 regions showed the highest similarities to NADC34. The three strains had same discontinuous deletions of 111+1+19 amino acids in the nsp2 region, which were similar to the NADC30-like strains. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on the ORF5 gene showed that the three PRRSV isolates were divided into lineage 1.5 along with the representative NADC34-like strains, but they were classified as NADC30-like strains with respect to the whole genome and nsp2 evolutionary trees. Recombinant analysis revealed complex recombination patterns in the genomes of the three strains, which likely originated from multiple recombination events among JXA1-like, NADC30-like and NADC34-like strains. The results from animal experiments showed that the GXQZ20210403 strain was 20% lethal to piglets and caused more severe clinical reactions than GXFCG20210401, and both recombinant strains were similar in terms of pathogenicity to the previously reported NADC34 strains. This study demonstrates that NADC34-like strains of PRRSV have been circulating in the southern provinces of China and have exchanged genomes with several other indigenous strains. In addition, differences in recombination patterns may cause different clinical pathogenicity and indicate the importance of the surveillance and preventive control of recombinant strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of biological studies suggest that exogenous sulfur dioxide (SO2) at a certain concentration may promote human resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the results of most relevant studies are inconsistent, and few studies have explored the relationship between SO2 exposure and tuberculosis risk at provincial level. In addition, occupational exposure has long been considered to have a certain impact on the human body, so for the first time, we discussed the differences between different occupations in the study on the relationship between air pollutant exposure and tuberculosis risk, and evaluated the impact of occupational exposure. This study aimed to explore the association between short-term SO2 exposure and the risk of outpatient visits to tuberculosis in Anhui province and 16 prefecture-level cities from 2015 to 2020. We used several models for multi-stage analysis, including distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM), Poisson generalized linear regression model, and random-effects model. The association was assessed using the 28-day cumulative lag effect RR and 95%CI for each 10-unit increase in SO2 concentration. We divided all patients into the following six occupations: Worker, Farmer, Retired people, Children and Students, Cadre and Office clerk, and Service staff (catering, business, etc.). Sex, age, and season were analyzed by subgroup. Finally, the robustness of the multi-pollutant model was tested. At provincial level, the overall effect value of SO2 was RR=0.8191 (95%CI: 07702~0.8712); after grouping all patients by occupation, the association found only among Farmers (RR = 0.7150, 95%CI: 0.6699–0.7632, lag 0–28 days) and Workers (RR = 0.8566, 95%CI: 0.7930–0.9930, lag 0–4 days) was still statistically significant. Estimates for individual cities and using random-effects models to estimate average associations showed that SO2 exposure was associated with a reduced risk of outpatient TB visits in 14 municipalities, which remained significant when aggregated (RR = 0.9030, 95%CI: 0.8730–0.9340). Analysis of patients grouped by occupation in each municipality showed that statistical significance was again observed only in the Farmer (RR = 0.8880, 95%CI: 0.8610–0.9160) and Worker (RR = 0.8250, 95%CI: 0.7290–0.9340) groups. Stratified analysis of age, sex, and season showed that the effect of SO2 exposure was greater for middle-aged people (18–64 years old) and males, and less for seasonal changes. In summary, we found that exposure to SO2 reduces the risk of outpatient visits to tuberculosis, with farmers and workers more susceptible to SO2. Gender and age had a greater impact on the risk of TB outpatient visits than seasonal variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional neural networks (NNs) have been extensively used to model the spatial heterogeneity of rock properties from seismic inversion. Nevertheless, these generic NNs have a single network structure, which leads to overfitting and convergence difficulties. Furthermore, for stable predictions, conventional NNs highly depend on the initial weights and bias values. This research focuses on resolving the key problems of the existing NNs. In this paper, we propose and apply a novel neural network based on a multilayer linear calculator (MLLC) to estimate seismic anisotropy and fracture porosity in structurally complex and deeply buried carbonate reservoirs. This method, unlike conventional NNs, develops a nonlinear projection relationship between seismic and well log parameters to predict the spatial variation of seismic anisotropy and fracture porosity. We evaluate inversion effectiveness further by optimizing the MLLC with the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. We evaluate this new kind of MLLC neural network using computer-based simulations of complex models. After verifying the model′s reliability, we used it to estimate anisotropy and fracture porosity in two case studies from separate regions of China. Focused on anisotropy and fracture porosity estimations, the MLLC neural network outperformed the conventional NNs using backpropagation (BP) neural networks in simulation and field studies. The results indicate that the proposed methodology is considered valid for the anisotropic and porosity prediction of fractured reservoirs in other basins in China with similar geological settings and analogous basins anywhere in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planetary boundaries have received considerable attention since they were first proposed, but applying various downscaling methods to the regional scale has certain limitations due to regional heterogeneity. The concept of ecological boundaries (EB) extends and complements planetary boundaries at a regional scale. However, previous studies have not considered the EB of multiple regions and the impact of interregional ecosystem service value (ESV) flows on EB. In this study, we optimized the EB accounting method and quantified the EB of 30 provinces in China from 2002 to 2017, then assessed the ecosystem unsustainability, and determined the impact of demand for goods and services on the consumption of local natural resources by each province in China using an ESV-extended multiregional input-output model. We found that EB increased in all provinces of China. The ecological unsustainability index of all 30 provinces was larger than 1, indicating a serious environmental unsustainability, but the magnitude of the index tends to decrease. Furthermore, the regions that have the greatest impact on exceeding EB in each province were concentrated in Guangdong and Henan. Guangdong had the highest total net imports in 2012 and 2015 (665.08 and 641.70 billion yuan, respectively), while Henan had the highest total net imports in 2017 (611.58 billion yuan). For the role of net exports, the rankings of the provinces differed in terms of the direct ESV and the boundary-exceeding ESV indicators. Our results reveal EB across provinces in China, underscoring the importance of considering the flow of ESV between regions in assessing the impact of exceeding EB. This study can assist policymakers in better allocating ecological resources within EB, which is critical for alleviating ecological pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analyze the spatiotemporal variation of shared autonomous vehicle demand. • Consider demand uncertainty in mode choice and departure time choice. • Establish a two-stage joint optimization with the travel price and allowance. Shared Autonomous Vehicle (SAV) is an emerging travel mode that can reduce parking spaces and accelerate urban sprawl. The time–space varying demand leads to the imbalance between travel demand and vehicle supply. Using pricing to affect clients' mode choice is a key method for addressing the imbalance problem, which includes long-term pricing and short-term allowance. Hence, in this paper, we propose an innovative method to enhance the SAV utilization rate while considering stochastic demand: fixed price on population mode choice and real-time allowance on personal departure time choice. A mixed integer nonlinear program is formulated to maximize the total profits of SAV operators. To solve this model, a customized gradient search algorithm is proposed. A case study is conducted in Suzhou Industrial Park, China. It reveals the impacts on travel demand and departure time choices and discusses the impacts and policy-making for SAV applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence that air pollution plays a role in TB, and most studies have been conducted in the core countries with inconsistent results. Few studies have comprehensively included the six common air pollutants, so they cannot consider whether various pollutants interact with each other. Our objectives were to investigate the association between short-term exposure to six common air pollutants and the risk of tuberculosis outpatient visits in Fuyang, China, 2015–2020. We combined the two models to explore the effects of exposure to six air pollutants on the risk of tuberculosis outpatient visits, including the Poisson generalized linear regression model and distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM). We performed stratified analyses for the season, type of cases, gender, and age. We used the lag-specific relative risks and cumulative relative risk obtained by increasing pollutant concentration by per 10 units to evaluate the connection between six air pollutants and TB; PM2.5 (RR = 1.0018, 95% CI: 1.0004–1.0032, delay of 12 days) and SO2 (RR = 1.0169, 95% CI: 1.0007–1.0333, lag 0–16 days) were 0.9549 (95% CI: 0.9389–0.9712, lag 0 day) and 0.8212 (95% CI: 0.7351–0.9173, 0–20-day lag). Stratified analyses showed that seasonal differences had a greater impact on TB, males were more likely to develop TB than females, older people were more likely to develop TB than younger people, and air pollution had a great impact on new cases. Exposure to O3, CO, PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 increases the risk of TB outpatient visits, except SO2 which reduces the risk. The incidence of TB has seasonal fluctuations. It is necessary for the government to establish a sound environmental monitoring and early warning system to strengthen the monitoring and emission management of pollutants in the atmosphere. Management, prevention, and treatment measures should be developed for high-risk groups (males and older people), reducing the risk of TB by reducing their specific behaviors and changing their lifestyle. We need to pay more attention to the impact of seasonal effects on TB to protect TB patients and avoid a shortage of medical resources, and it is necessary for the government to develop some seasonal preventive measures in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radial change (RC) of tree stem is the process of heartwood formation involved in complex molecular mechanism. Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.), an evergreen species, is an important fast-growing timber tree in southern China. In this study, the top four stable genes (IDH, UBC2, RCA and H2B) were selected in RC tissues of 15 years old Chinese fir stem (RC15) and the genes (H2B, 18S, TIP41 and GAPDH) were selected in RC tissues of 30 years old Chinese fir stem (RC30). The stability of the reference genes is higher in RC30 than in RC15. Sixty-one MYB transcripts were obtained on the PacBio Sequel platform from woody tissues of one 30 years old Chinese fir stem. Based on the number of MYB DNA-binding domain and phylogenetic relationships, the ClMYB transcripts contained 21 transcripts of MYB-related proteins (1R-MYB), 39 transcripts of R2R3-MYB proteins (2R-MYB), one transcript of R1R2R3-MYB protein (3R-MYB) belonged to 18 function-annotated clades and two function-unknown clades. In RC woody tissues of 30 years old Chinese fir stem, ClMYB22 was the transcript with the greatest fold change detected by both RNA-seq and qRT-PCR. Reference genes selected in this study will be helpful for further verification of transcript abundance patterns during the heartwood formation of Chinese fir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vaccination is an effective strategy to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This study aimed to compare predictors of vaccination intention between healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-healthcare workers (non-HCWs) in China. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among HCWs and non-HCWs. Several bivariate analysis techniques, eg, crosstab with Chi-square, independent t-test and single factor ANOVA, were performed to analyze the correlation. After that, a series of multivariate binary regressions were employed to determine predictors of vaccination intention. Results: Intention was closely and significantly related with gender, perceived vaccination knowledge, perceived importance and effectiveness of vaccine to prevent COVID-19. HCWs and non-HCWs were heterogeneous, since vaccination intention, perceived knowledge, and attitudes (eg, importance, severity, risk) toward COVID-19 or vaccine had statistically significant difference between the two groups. With comparison of predictors of vaccination intention, for HCWs, demographic factors were the major predictors of COVID-19 vaccination intention. Female HCWs and HCWs with a Master's or higher degree were more hesitant about vaccination (P = 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively), while HCWs had greater vaccination intention as their age increased (P = 0.02). For non-HCWs, perceived vaccination knowledge was the major predictor of COVID-19 vaccination intention (P < 0.001). Additionally, perceived importance and effectiveness of vaccine were predictors for both HCWs and non-HCWs. Conclusion: Vaccination intention of HCWs was greater than that of non-HCWs in China. Measures should be taken to improve the vaccination rate based on the predictors of vaccination intention identified in this study. For HCWs, especially those with a high level of education or who were females, the safety and effectiveness of vaccines in use may reinforce their vaccination intention. For non-HCWs, popularization of general medical knowledge, including of vaccine-preventable diseases, may increase their vaccination intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complicated geological conditions, including the Fault Sun, in East No. 2 mining sub-area of the Longdong coal mine will influence the stability of strata during mining, leading to serious geological hazards. To circumvent this issue, a similarity simulation experiment was designed and performed in this study, in which the failure characteristics and evolution of displacement and stress within the strata were investigated, and the optimum width of a waterproof coal pillar was determined. The results showed that, as the working face progressed, the coal seam roof gradually deformed, from initial caving of the immediate roof to complete movement and curved subsidence of the entire roof. Significant changes in displacement and stress within the coal seam roof were recorded, and these increased during continuous mining activity. Displacement and stress difference on either side of the fault gradually increased and reached remarkable values with increase in mining distance. On the basis of the experiment results, water inrush is believed to be caused by the interaction between mining and the fault, and, as calculated from parameters collected in field investigations, a waterproof coal pillar of 50 m width should be established to prevent Fault Sun activation, thereby reducing the risk of water inrush from neighbouring aquifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the structural evolution characteristics of the regenerated roof of the lower coal seam have become a research hotspot when the bifurcation coal seam is mined downward. In this paper, taking the bifurcation coal seam of Xutuan Coal Mine in China as an example, the structural evolution characteristics of regenerated roof under the influence of mining in bifurcation coal seam are comprehensively studied by theoretical analysis, field measurement, and indoor similar simulation experiment. The stress transfer law in the floor after mining in the upper coal seam is also analyzed. The results show the overburden structure and stress field change caused by upper coal seam mining. The caving and fracture zones are formed in the roof, the average height of the caving zone is 8.28 m, and the one of the fracture zone is 34.91 m. The results of the field test verify the accuracy of theoretical analysis and similar simulation test results. According to the relative size of the depth of the strong failure zone of the coal seam floor and the coal seam spacing, the rock mass structure of the regenerated roof of lower coal seam is divided into three types: fractured rock mass + scattered rock mass (I), fractured rock mass + scattered rock mass + fractured rock mass (II), and fractured rock mass + bulk rock mass + fractured rock mass + layered rock mass (III), and the stability of the three types of regenerated roof structure is evaluated: III > II > I. The research in this paper can provide a theoretical basis for determining the target area of broken roof control under the mining conditions of bifurcation coal seam and provide guidance for the selection of the location and parameters of the grouting borehole for roof reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the type and structure of substance abuse treatment have changed, the overall approaches of drug rehabilitation in China has remained largely unchanged. Evidence of effectiveness for compulsory drug rehabilitation centers (CRCs) and voluntary drug rehabilitation centers (VRCs) remains mixed. The main objective of our study is to reveal the outcomes of CRCs and VRCs and examine the factors associated with relapse in these two centers. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited a total of 1,299 drug abusers in Hunan Province, 709 from CRCs and 590 from VRC, respectively. We used Pearson chi-squared test and t -test to examine the differences in demographics and drug-related characteristics. Binary logic regression was used to examine the relationship between important factors and relapse in CRCs and VRC. Results: Patients from CRCs and VRC significantly differed in age, sex, types of drug used, medical illness, education, occupation, mental illness, and marital status. After drug rehabilitation, both groups both had improved in occupation, family support, and social function (p < 0.05). In addition, employment and family support were significantly associated with a decreased risk of relapse (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed that compulsory rehabilitation is as effective as voluntary rehabilitation in (1) getting jobs and increasing monthly income, (2) having a good relationship with family, and (3) becoming more satisfied with their spared time. The components of these two settings were very different and may imply the necessity of these two approaches in China. In addition, employment and family support may prevent relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compares official statements on democracy and ordinary people's understandings of the term to examine whether government propaganda works to shape the democratic conceptions of the masses. The findings show that official narratives centered on 'good governance' have gradually been picked up by ordinary people over time. While the finding could be interpreted as solely the outcome of top-down state propaganda, the authors argue that the mechanism involves two-way communication whereby Chinese leaders have incorporated elements of traditional culture as well as the concerns of ordinary people into their narratives of democracy, leading to a convergence between the elite and the masses. This two-way process has allowed 'democracy with Chinese characteristics' to become a viable counterpoise to liberal democracy in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate assessment of tritium breeding parameters within fusion blankets is crucial for future magnet-confined fusion machines to realize fuel self-sufficiency. Such an assessment can be conducted using the simulation approach with nuclear data of high-fidelity and, most importantly, validated against experimental data. In this paper, we report neutronics experiment studies carried out on a mock-up of the water-cooled ceramic breeder blanket of the China fusion engineering test reactor (CFETR), irradiated at a deuterium–tritium (D–T) neutron source. The mock-up's nuclear responses to 14 MeV neutrons, including tritium production rates (TPR) and neutron-induced reaction rates, are simulated and validated by experimental results. Redundant measurement techniques are used, including Li2TiO3 pellets for offline TPR measurements and the developed lithium glass detector with a significantly reduced size for online TPR measurements. The validation of the TPR value is complemented by the experimental evaluation of the neutron-induced reaction rates for Au and Zr foils. All experimental results are analyzed using the MCNP-4C code and FENDL-3.0 nuclear data library. The source term for the Monte Carlo simulation is built using a newly-developed method based upon the modeling of the depth profiling of tritium in the tritiated target. The experiments are in good agreement with the simulations; ratios of the calculation to experimental results (C/E) on TPR are found to be 0.97–1.08. The influence of the first wall tungsten armor on the mock-up nuclear responses is also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disclosure of global value chain (GVC) division and cooperation is essential for the rational allocation of water resources and the achievement of trade equality, particularly as the global division of labor becomes more pronounced. Currently, there are limited studies on the global value chain at the sub-national level, with most focusing on virtual water trade (VWT) characteristics between two trading partners, without integrating VWT into the global value chain and overlooking significant cooperation among participants. Here, we characterize the international division of GVC and VWT patterns covering 194 regions (31 regions in China and 163 countries) around the world in 2020, and then examine the inequality between virtual water (VW) and value-added (VA) transfer from both environmental and economic perspectives, focusing on the sub-national scale of China. Our results show that in terms of water consumption responsibilities, considerable heterogeneity can be seen in different regions across China. Furthermore, relying solely on the export of primary products for economic development will lead to inequality in trade between countries. In this study, we trace the characteristics of VWT, taking into account the participation and contribution of regions in numerous GVC linkages. In addition, to make our policy implications more targeted, we refine the study resolution to the sub-national scale. Our results suggest that countries should prioritize consumer responsibility in GVC, reduce the drawbacks of trade barriers, and dispassionately exploit the economic and environmental advantages of water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have been widely publicized. Their driving performances depend mainly on lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Research on this topic has been concerned with the battery pack's integrative environmental burden based on battery components, functional unit settings during the production phase, and different electricity grids during the use phase. We adopt a synthetic index to evaluate the sustainability of battery packs. Methods: A life cycle assessment (LCA) is used to reveal the aspects of global warming potential (GWP), water consumption, and ecological impact during the two phases. An integrative indicator, the footprint-friendly negative index (FFNI), is combined with footprint family indicators of battery packs and electricity sources. We investigate two cases of 1 kg battery production and 1 kWh battery production to assess nickel–cobalt–manganese (NMC) and lithium–iron phosphate (LFP) battery packs and compare their degrees of environmental friendliness. Then, we break down the battery pack to identify the key factors influencing the environmental burden and use sensitivity analysis to analyze the causes. Moreover, we evaluate the environmental impact of battery packs during the use phase among different regions. Results and discussion: Regardless of the functional unit (FU), the weights of the carbon footprint (CF), water footprint (WF), and ecological footprint (EF) are approximately the same. The results of the integrative environmental indicator, the FFNI, illustrate that the LFP is approximately 0.014, which is lower than that of the NMC battery pack in the mass production case. When using energy units as the FU, the FFNI of the NMC is 0.015, which reflects a lower environmental burden than that of other battery packs. In the use phase, 1kWh electricity consumption in China and Europe has the highest and lowest FFNI, respectively. When breaking down the battery-pack components, the simplified model advocates the cathode as the major contributor that determines the total environmental performance. In the following sensitivity analysis, the battery management system (BMS) is found to be the most intensive part of the footprint of most battery packs. Conclusion: FU can influence the evaluation results. Developing proper renewable energy sources can reduce the footprints of battery packs during the use phase. The positive electrode pastes in the battery cell, BMS, and packaging in the battery pack can influence the environmental burden. Adopting green materials in sections like the BMS may be a specific measure to enhance the environmental friendliness of a battery pack during the production phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of macrosomia and LGA (large for gestational age) in non-GDM (gestational diabetes mellitus) pregnant women in Fuyang, Anhui Province of China.Methods: A large population-based cohort study was conducted among non-GDM pregnant women aged 18-45 years. Maternal sociodemographic data prior to pregnancy were collected using interviewer-administered standardized questionnaire. Maternal obstetrical delivery records and newborn hospital records were extracted from antenatal care booklets and hospital discharge abstracts. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of macrosomia and LGA.Results: The incidence of macrosomia and LGA was 9.2 and 15.9%, respectively. Mothers ≥35 years of age (aOR 2.75, 95% CI 1.98, 3.80), male neonates (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.51, 1.89), overweight and obese (aOR 1.61, 95% CI 1.34, 1.92 and aOR 3.05, 95% CI 2.05, 4.56, respectively) were associated with increased risk of macrosomia. Compared with the less educated mothers, the educated mothers were more likely to have increased risk of macrosomia. IFA (iron and folic acid) supplements intake during pregnancy was more likely to deliver macrosomia or LGA (aOR1.32, 95% CI 1.08, 1.49 and aOR1.42, 95% CI 1.24, 1.61, respectively) as compared with no IFA supplements intake. SCr (serum creatinine concentration) >80 µmol/L was related to decreased risk of macrosomia (aOR 0.73, 95% CI 0.61, 0.86) and LGA (aOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.59, 0.77) as compared with normal range (44-80 µmol/L).Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of macrosomia and LGA in non-GDM pregnant women in China. Healthcare educations and reasonable body weight are necessary for pregnant women to prevent macrosomia and LGA. Pregnant women should be checked regularly and have the first prenatal visit as soon as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Catheter-related thrombosis may lead to catheter infections and failure, further deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism. Recognizing the risk factors for catheter-related thrombosis is extremely important to inform the development of catheter care guidelines. Methods: Data were collected from a total of 1,532 patients who had undergone venous catheterization, including indwelling catheterization from 19 March 2019 to 30 March 2019 in the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital. The factors for which data were to be collected included the patients' physical characteristics, catheter-related factors, and catheter care-related factors. Logistic regression analysis, the chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test, and the t -test were used to analyze the data. Results: Of the 1,532 patients studied, 28 developed intraductal thrombi, and of the factors analyzed, malignancy, a catheterization history, a history of thrombophilia, surgery during the week before catheterization, the catheterization duration, and anticoagulant therapy were significant risk factors associated with catheter-related thrombosis (all p < 0.05). There were no significant associations between the catheter brand, the number of lumens, the insertion direction, or the factors associated with catheter care and catheter-related thrombosis (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our study incorporated clear and systematic risk factors associated with catheter-related thrombosis. Malignancy, history of thrombophilia, history of catheterization, surgery during the week before catheterization, and catheterization duration were associated with increased risks of catheter-related thrombosis. Prophylactic anticoagulation was effective for preventing and treating catheter-related thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural water sustainability in a basin environment experiencing climate change has become a critical issue in the past few decades. This study used the DPSIR (Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response) framework as a conceptual basis to explore the relationship between water footprint (WF) trends and climate change and agricultural-economic variation. With the aim of mitigating water crisis and ensuring robust responses to the uncertainty of the future, an uncertainty-based multivariate statistical approach was proposed for WF prediction by using various scenarios combined with multiple linear regression and Monte Carlo simulation. Lake Dianchi in China was used as the case study area. The results indicate that (1) the total WF had an increasing trend of 394.39 m3 ton−1 year−1; the WFgreen (the precipitation used in the crop production process) had a decreasing trend, while the WFblue (the irrigation water withdrawn from the ground or surface water) and WFgrey (the water used to dilute the load of pollutants, based on existing ambient water quality standards) exhibited an increasing trend; (2) the total WF showed a distinct increasing trend under climate change and agricultural-economic variation due to the increase of the WFgrey during 1981–2011; and (3) the impact of agricultural-economic factors on WF trends, especially on the WFblue and WFgrey, far outweighed the impact of climatic factors under the alternative scenarios. Our results suggest that adaptive management of anthropogenic activities should be prioritized to mitigate water stress under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantation forests play a critical role in forest management due to their high productivity and large contribution to carbon sequestration (CSE). The purpose of this study was to assess the CSE of plantations containing four important conifer species distributed across Taiwan, namely, the China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides) and Taiwan red cypress (Chamaecyparis formosensis). Data regarding the plantations were obtained from a survey of permanent sample plots (PSPs). We used these data to calculate the CSE in each PSP and adopted CSEmean and CSEperiod as indicators to assess the CSE of the four conifers. According to the CSEmean obtained from analysis of variance and the least significant difference method, two groups were identified among these four conifers: the Japanese cedar (4.03 Mg ha−1 yr−1) and Taiwania (3.52 Mg ha−1 yr−1) yielded higher CSEmean values and the China fir (1.79 Mg ha−1 yr−1) and Taiwan red cypress (2.36 Mg ha−1 yr−1) yielded lower CSEmean values. The same patterns were observed in the CSEperiod values; however, no significant difference in CSEperiod was observed between Taiwan red cypress and either of the two groups. Therefore, Japanese cedar and Taiwania have high CSE potential among conifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In China, although microscope-assisted anterior cervical decompression has been performed by many spine surgeons in recent years, the application of microscope still needs to be further promoted in China. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically evaluate and analyze the clinical efficacy of cervical spondylopathy by comparing patients under microscope-assisted anterior cervical approach to traditional anterior cervical approach. As a result, it can provide the evidence for clinical decision in these cervical spondylopathy patients. OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the effect between microscope-assisted anterior cervical approach and traditional anterior cervical approach in cervical spondylopathy patients. METHODS: Databases such as Medline, Embase, PubMed, Web of science, CBM, Wangfang databases, VIP, and CNKI were searched from inception to July 2019 to find literature related to microscope-assisted anterior cervical approach and traditional anterior cervical approach in treatment of cervical spondylopathy. Two investigators evaluated the researches independently and compared the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, the preoperative and postoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association score, neurological success rate, the preoperative and the postoperative visual analogue scale score, and the complication rates between two groups. The quality of the included literature was evaluated by the modified Jadad scale, the modified Newcastle ottawa score and the methodological index for non-randomized-studies. The correlative clinical outcome in inclusive research was analyzed systematically by using Stata 12.0 Software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Twelve studies were accorded with the inclusion criteria, containing 892 cases (438 cases in the microscope-assisted group, while 454 cases in the traditional group). (2) There were no significant differences in the preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association score (WMD=-0.1 00, 95%CI(-0.459, 0.259), P=0.585), operative time (WMD=6.852, 95%Cl(-0.446, 14.149), P=0.066), the preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale score (WMD=0.293, 95%Cl(-0.023, 0.608), P=0.069; WMD=-0.718, 95%Cl(-1.495, 0.059), P=0.070) between two groups. (3) Postoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association score (WMD=1.310, 95%Cl(0.621, 1.998), P < 0.001}, the rate of neurological success (WMD=4.639, 95%Cl(0.294, 8.984}, P=0.036} in the microscope-assisted group were higher than those in the traditional group. The intraoperative blood loss (WMD=-18.068, 95%Cl(-24.504, -11.632}, P < 0.001} and the rate of complication (RR=1.068, 95%Cl(1.012, 1.126), P=0.002) in the microscope-assisted group were significantly lower than those in the traditional group. (4} Performing anterior cervical approach under microscope has a better clinical effect than using traditional anterior cervical approach in the treatment of cervical spondylopathy, but more high-quality clinical studies are needed to verify it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormal calcium homeostasis related to the development of hypertension. As the key regulator of intracellular calcium concentration, voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs), the variations in these genes may have important effects on the development of hypertension. Here we evaluate VDCCs variability with respect to hypertension in the Dai ethnic group of China. Methods: A total of 1034 samples from Dai individuals were collected, of which 495 were used as cases, and 539 were used as controls. Blood pressure was measured using a standard mercury measurement method, three times with a rest for 5 min, and the average was used for analyses. Seventeen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the four protein-coding genes (CACNA1A, CACNA1C, CACNA1S, CACNB2) of VDCCs were identified by multiplex PCR-SNP typing technique. Chi-square tests and regression models were used to analyse the associations of SNPs with hypertension. Results: The results of chi-square tests showed that the allele frequencies of 5 SNPs were significantly different between the case and the control groups (P < 0.05), but the statistical significance was lost after Bonferroni's correction. However, after adjusting for BMI, age, sex and other factors by logistic regression analyses, the results showed that 5 SNPs consistent with chi-square tests (rs2365293, rs17539088, rs16917217, rs61839222 and rs10425859) were still statistically positive. Conclusions: This finding suggested that the significant association of these SNPs with hypertension may be noteworthy in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Constructs an evaluation index system of high-quality development of logistics industry. • Improved entropy weight method is used to assess the level of high-quality development. • There are differences in the high-quality development of logistics industry between regions. • GTWR is used to examine the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of influencing factors. Promoting high-quality development of logistics industry (LHQD) becomes imperative to decrease logistics costs in real economy and intensify endogenous power of economic development. In this paper, we construct an evaluation system consisting of 21 indicators in four dimensions: output scale, operation quality, social contribution and green development. Thereafter, we apply improved entropy weight method, kernel density estimation and Dagum Gini coefficient to carve out spatial and temporal distribution, dynamic evolution and regional differences of LHQD. Finally, we adopt geographical and temporal weighted regression (GTWR) model to reveal heterogeneous effect of each selected factor on LHQD. Outcome indicates: (1) The level of LHQD rose at average annual growth rate of 2.776% between 2004 and 2018, however with significant regional and inter-provincial differences. (2) The LHQD in the whole nation and the three major regions were bipolar or multipolar, with distinctive gradient characteristics. (3) The overall difference of LHQD primarily came from deviation in growth among three major regions, and this difference kept expanding. (4) The impact of various factors on LHQD was characterized by spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Specifically, the positive impact of innovation capacity, digitalization level, foreign direct investment, transportation infrastructure and environmental regulation on development of logistics industry gradually increased with time. It was stronger for eastern region than western region. In contrast, industrial agglomeration's stimulus to LHQD had diminished, and the high-value region of its positive impact had shifted from east to center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water Footprint (WF) assessment provides a basis for quantitative description and evaluation of water consumption and degradation related to human activities. Several different WF methods have been developed, which can be broadly divided into volumetric and impact-oriented approaches. The former, coming from the discipline of water resources management, has mainly focused on water resource consumption. The latter, coming from the discipline of life cycle assessment, has generally considered a wider range of environmental impacts associated with water use, including water degradation. The purpose of this paper was to investigate water use in agricultural production in the environmentally sensitive Lake Dianchi Basin. It was found that WF results had different tendencies depending on the WF assessment method chosen. From 2001–2012, volumetric WF results (20570 ∼ 75838 L kg −1 ) showed an upward tendency, whereas impact-oriented WF results (1069 ∼ 1453 L H 2 O-eq kg −1 ) declined modestly over this period. In the Lake Dianchi Basin, the agricultural water degradation footprint (1047.2 ∼ 1410.9 L H 2 O-eq kg −1 ) far outweighed the water scarcity footprint (21.8 ∼ 45.6 L H 2 O-eq kg −1 ). There has been a history of agricultural production placing a heavy burden on the quality of catchment water resources. In particular, fertilizers applied to wheat crops contribute to aquatic eutrophication. Wheat cultivation contributed most to the agricultural WF in the Lake Dianchi Basin, followed by tobacco, pulses, and then other cereals. Reductions, over time, in the impact-oriented agricultural WF were explained by reductions in total fertilizer application in the basin, despite increased use of irrigation in some years. These results highlight the importance of considering both water consumption and degradation in a complete WF assessment. Further improvements in fertilizer use efficiency and waste water treatment are identified as priorities in the Lake Dianchi Basin to safeguard water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions are the foundation on which to realize the sustainable development of a green China. Recently in Beijing, the capital of China, serious environmental pollution-climate anomaly, severe haze and human sub-health have been accorded more importance. This study examines the energy-related CO 2 emissions generated by Beijing industries from 2000 to 2010 by using an input–output analysis method. The direct, indirect and total CO 2 emissions of sectors in Beijing were calculated. In addition, structural decomposition analysis (SDA) was conducted to evaluate the driving factors from the perspective of technology, sectoral connection, economic structure and economic scale. The results show that the growth rate of sectoral CO 2 emissions in Beijing has drastically increased during this time with a moderate decline during 2007–2010. The metal and non-metal mining industries, the electric power, gas and water supply sector and the construction industry caused the most CO 2 emissions. The economic structure change and the rapid economic growth led to the significant increase in CO 2 emissions growth in Beijing. Thus, optimizing the economic structure and improving the technology are important to alleviate CO 2 emissions. Although we can currently appropriately utilize fossil fuels, further research on new energy and clean development, as well as enhanced government management strength is required to reduce CO 2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the occupational health risk to employees of lithium-ion battery factories in Yangtze River Delta, China. Soil samples were collected from materials synthesis workshop and battery assembly line workshop, which are named site A, site N1, site N2, and site Z according to different battery products. We analyzed the heavy metals for Co, Cd, Mn, Cu, and Ni. The soil heavy metal exposure model and the health risk characterization model were built to assess occupational health risk. Besides, uncertainty analysis with the aid of Monte Carlo simulation was used to perform error propagation for model parameters. The health risk assessment with uncertainty results indicated that all the four sites have relative low risk of carcinogens for employees, and N1, A, and Z sites also have relative low risk of non-carcinogen for employees, but N2 site has value of 6.94, which is heavily higher than the threshold value (defined as 1.0). It means that the employees in N2 site are facing threat of the heavy metals. These results provide basic information of heavy metal pollution control and environment management in lithium-ion battery factory. It also answered the question of the occupational risk in the sites. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a severe complication associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. In this study, we evaluated the incidence, risk factors and in-hospital mortality of AKI in patients after the AAA repair surgery.Methods: A total of 314 Chinese AAA patients who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) or open aneurysm repair (OPEN) were enrolled in this study. AKI was diagnosed according to the 2012 KDIGO criteria. Logistic regression modeling was used to explore risk factors of AKI, while risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality in AKI patients were investigated using Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier analysis, respectively. Multicollinearity analysis was performed to identify the collinearity between the variables before logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards analysis.Results: Among 314 patients, 94 (29.9%) developed AKI after AAA repair surgery. Severity of AKI and ruptured AAA were independently associated with an increase in in-hospital mortality in AKI patients after AAA repair. Kaplan-Meier analysis identified severity of AKI as being negatively associated with hospital survival in AKI patients. Risk factors associated with AKI included cardiovascular disease (OR 3.169, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.538 to 6.527, P = 0.002), decreased eGFR (OR 0.965, 95%CI 0.954 to 0.977, P < 0.001), ruptured AAA (OR 2.717, 95%CI 1.320 to 5.592, P = 0.007), renal artery involvement (OR 2.903, 95%CI 1.219 to 6.912, P = 0.016) and OPEN (OR 2.094, 95%CI 1.048 to 4.183, P = 0.036). Further subgroup analysis identified OPEN as an important risk factor of AKI in ruptured AAA patients but not in ruptured AAA patients. The incidence of AKI was significantly lower in EVAR than in OPEN (27.1% vs. 42.8%) and, similarly lower in nonruptured AAA than in ruptured AAA (26.2% vs. 48.1%).Conclusion: One-third of AAA patients developed AKI after repair surgery. Severity of AKI was associated with reduced survival rate in AAA patients who developed postoperative AKI. Decreased preoperative creatinine clearance, cardiovascular disease, ruptured AAA and OPEN were independent risk factors for postoperative AKI in all 314 AAA patients. Although a lower rate of incident AKI was observed in EVAR compared with OPEN, subgroup analysis of ruptured AAA versus nonruptured AAA showed that EVAR was an independent protective factor for AKI only in ruptured AAA patients but not in nonruptured AAA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to determine the distribution and origin of hemoglobin E (HbE) in seven minority groups from various geographical regions of the malaria-endemic Yunnan province, southwestern China, which have similar ethnic origins and geographic relationships with HbE-prevalent populations of Southeast Asian countries. Methods By using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods, the prevalence of HbE was examined in 1488 individuals from seven native minority groups of Yunnan, and β-globin gene cluster haplotypes were determined on 1420 chromosomes. Results The prevalence of HbE in the study populations ranged from 1.5 to 39.1%. Higher HbE prevalence was correlated with the minority groups of Tibeto-Burman origin and groups from the Dehong district. The βE-globin genes in Yunnan were mostly associated with three haplotypes [−+++++−], [+−−−−+−], and [−+−+++−] on chromosomes with gene framework 2. Interestingly, the predominant βE associated haplotype in Yunnan minorities was remarkably different from that in other previously reported populations. This study, for the first time, reports population-based data on the heterogeneity of HbE gene frequencies and haplotype distribution in native minorities from southwestern China. Conclusions Natural selection based on the presence of malaria, ethnic origin, and epistatic interactions may be factors of varying importance for the remarkable variation in HbE frequency among these minority groups. In addition, there appears to be a common origin of the βE -globin gene in populations from Yunnan and Southeast Asia. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:927-931, 2016. © 2016Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy evolution in China has made great achievements in economic development, while its impact on water has also been significant. This study provides detailed insight into how diverse policy evolution affected the water footprint (WF) in China from 1997 to 2007 through input–output analysis and structural decomposition analysis. Input–output analysis was used to measure China's WF. The results indicate that the total WF in China decreased from 495.5 billion m 3 in 1997 to 447.6 billion m 3 in 2007. Structural decomposition analysis was applied to quantify the determinants of the changes in WF. The driving factors of the WF changes were decomposed into technology, sectoral connection, economic structure, gross economic scale and population. The results show that the sector with the most space to save water changed from agriculture to tertiary industry during the periods under study. Technology and economic structure effects always offset the WF increase, whereas gross economic scale effect always hindered water conservation. In 2002–2005, the sectoral connection effect abruptly changed from negative to positive, with the proportion of the total contribution rising to 60%. This phenomenon can be linked to market expansion, which led to a decrease in water utilization when China joined the WTO in 2001. To promote water conservation in China, macro-control policies should be formulated in coordination with self-readjustment policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity in lake basins has caused severe environmental problems. Water footprint assessment at the basin level is becoming a popular issue in water sustainability research. This study establishes a comprehensive water footprint assessment framework on the scale of a lake basin by using the top-down method. The components of water footprint assessment include agricultural water footprint, industrial water footprint, domestic water footprint, ecological environment water footprint, and virtual water flow, including virtual water imports and exports. This study used Lake Dianchi Basin in China as the case study area, based on published data, quantifying the total water footprint and measuring the water sustainability of Lake Dianchi Basin from 2000 to 2011. The results show that the average annual total water footprint for Lake Dianchi Basin was 28.18 × 108 m3, 95.4% of which was the internal water footprint. Agricultural production used most of the water, accounting for 74.1% of the total water footprint. The per capita water footprint was 960.51 m3/year, which was higher than those in most other regions of China. Lake Dianchi Basin should improve its water sustainability in terms of its internal and external water footprints. Importing water from other regions in both real and virtual forms should be considered in terms of the external water footprint. This study provides new insights on water footprint assessment methodology at the basin level and for improving basin water resource management from the macroscopic angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We determine the volumetric and impact-oriented virtual water flows in China. • A gap exists in the volumetric and impact-oriented virtual water flow patterns. • Net exported virtual water and the water endowments in regions were unbalanced. • Virtual water trade may not be able to alleviate water scarcity in China. The scarcity and spatial mismatch of water resources exert increasing pressure on global water sustainability. Interregional virtual water transfer through trade can alleviate or aggravate pressure on water resources because of the heterogeneity in regional water endowments. However, previous studies have mainly focused on volumetric virtual water transfers without considering actual impacts on local water resources. This study compares the volumetric and impact-oriented water footprints (WFs) in China in 2012 and 2015 using a multiregional input–output model (MRIO). Unlike the volumetric WF, which focuses on the volume of water used, the impact-oriented WF refers to the potential environmental impacts of water withdrawal in view of water availability. The results show a clear gap between the pattern of the volumetric virtual water flow and that of the impact-oriented virtual water flow. As a water-scarce region, North China imported 23824×106 m3 and 12338×106 m3 of volumetric virtual water from other regions in 2012 and 2015, respectively, but exported a large amount of impact-oriented virtual water to almost all other regions. Additionally, most water-rich regions transferred water scarcity risk as virtual water importers to water-scarce regions. For example, the largest net impact-oriented virtual water flows in 2012 (4421×106 m3 H 2 Oeq) and 2015 (4014×106 m3 H 2 Oeq) were from North China to East China. Our results highlight the importance of simultaneously considering both the volume and the impact of water use in virtual water trade analyses. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for helping to identify the actual receivers of water scarcity risk in virtual water trade network and develop sustainable virtual water strategies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogen-driven balancing selection determines the richness of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. Changes in the pathogen spectrum may cause corresponding changes in HLA loci. Approximately 700 years ago, a Mongolian population moved from the north of China to the Yunnan region in the south of China. The pathogen spectrum in the south of China differs from that in the north. In this study, changes in the HLA genes in the Yunnan Mongolian population, as well as the underlying mechanism, were investigated. A sequence-based typing method (SBT) was used to genotype HLA-DRB1 in 470 individuals from two Mongolian populations and another five ethnic groups. Meanwhile, 10 autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) were genotyped to assess the influence of genetic background on HLA-DRB1 frequencies. The frequencies of certain alleles changed significantly in the Mongolian population that migrated to Yunnan. For example, DRB1*12:02:01 increased from 6.1% to 35.4%. STR analysis excluded the possibility of a recent bottleneck and indicated that 50% of the genetic consistency between northern and southern Mongolians; Tajima's D value for HLA-DRB1 exon2 and dN/dS analysis showed that the HLA-DRB1 genes in both Mongolian populations were under balancing selection. However, the sites under natural selection changed. We proposed that the dramatically change of HLA frequencies in southern Mongolian was caused by a combination of inter-population gene flow and natural selection. Certain diseases specific to the south of China, such as malaria, may be the driving force behind the enhanced DRB1*12:02:01 frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First long-term daily soil NO flux measurement with an automated system from a temperate forest in Northeast China. • Soil temperature explained 90–92% of the seasonal variation in NO emission, with a Q 10 of 3.67. • The optimum soil moisture for NO emission was 37% WFPS during the growing season. • Annual soil NO emission was 0.42±0.04 kg N ha−1, being 31% of the global forest average. • Soil NO emission during the non-growing season was only 7.7% of the annual flux. Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive trace gas affecting atmospheric chemistry and air quality. Although forest soils have been recognized as an important source of atmospheric NO, there are large uncertainties in global forest soil NO emission inventories (ranged from 0.03 to 8.00 kg N ha−1, averaged 1.34 ± 0.28 kg N ha−1), partly due to the paucity of high-frequency monitoring from unmanaged forests. In this study, we used an automated sampling system to measure NO fluxes with a high temporal resolution over two years (daily measurements from January 2019 to December 2020) in a mixed forest in Northeast China. We found that the mean annual NO emission was 0.42 ± 0.04 kg N ha−1, being 31% of the global forest average. The contribution of NO emission during the growing season was 92% of the yearly NO flux. Soil temperature was the most important edaphic factor in regulating NO emission, explaining 90–92% of the seasonal variation. The apparent temperature sensitivity (Q 10) of NO flux was 3.67. In the growing season, NO emission was also influenced by soil moisture, with optimum soil moisture of 37% WFPS. By providing a detailed measurement of diurnal, seasonal, and annual dynamics of NO emissions and their environmental controls from forest soils, our data are useful to develop more accurate biogeochemical models that will improve upscaled global NO budgets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis (TB) causes about 10 million new cases and 1.5 million deaths every year, as the World Health Organization's Global Tuberculosis Report shows. We aimed to investigate the association between short-term exposure to particulate pollutants and the risk of tuberculosis outpatient visits in 16 cities of Anhui Province, China, during the period 2015–2020, and to provide more evidence for the relationship between tuberculosis and air pollution. In this study, we analyzed the data using a variety of models, including Poisson's generalized linear regression model, distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) and random effects model. We assessed the relationship between particulate matter exposure and tuberculosis using a 28-day cumulative lag effect for every 10 unit increases in pollutant concentration and 95% CI. We performed stratified analyses for gender and age. Age stratification included <18 years old group, 19–64 years old group and >64 years old group and gender stratification included male group and female group, and then we performed a sensitivity analysis to test the stability of the results. The overall effect values of PM2.5 and PM10 were RR = 1.031 (95%CI: 1.019–1.043) and RR = 1.023 (95%CI: 1.016–1.030), respectively. Estimation for individual cities showed that the strongest association between PM2.5 and the risk of TB outpatient visits was observed in Tongling, with an RR of 1.136 (95%CI: 1.0261–1.2583), also the PM10 in Suzhou, with an RR of 1.0629 (95%CI: 1.0421–1.0842). Stratified analysis showed that particulate matter exposure had a more significant impact on males and the elderly, and that there was little association between particulate matter exposure and TB risk in children and adolescents. Exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 increases the risk of TB outpatient visits. Males and the elderly are vulnerable groups, and different prevention and control strategies should be developed for different groups to reduce the burden of TB. • China's first province-wide study on the TB outpatient visits and particulate pollutants. • Exposure to particulate pollutants increases the risk of tuberculosis outpatient visits. • Exposure to particulate pollutants has a greater impact on male and the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moral judgment and ethical leadership are considered as two of the most important aspects in modern businesses in China. In this context the role of Confucianism and collectivism are highly significant in terms of increasing the path of development of Chinese society, culture, and economy. Confucianism and collectivism are together helping the country to a great extent to create a stronger society and culture by establishing a positive relationship with various issues related to moral judgment in the Chinese management system. The study explores the nature of Confucianism and describes the proposition that Confucianism leads to a strong perception in Chinese cultural context. The research also describes the role of collectivism in Chinese Management and develops the proposition that collectivism leads to a strong perception of Chinese management. By exploring the role of moral judgment, the paper develops the proposition that Confucianism and collectivism are positively related to Chinese management's moral judgment. Finally, the study develops the proposition that Confucianism and collectivism are positively related to ethical leadership in Chinese management by describing the role of ethical leadership in Chinese management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an inexact fractional programming method is employed for planning the regional-scale water-energy-food nexus (WEFN) system. The IFP cannot only deal with uncertainties expressed as interval parameters, but also handle conflicts among multiple decision stakeholders. The IFP approach is then applied to planning the WEFN system of Henan Province, China. An IFP-WEFN model has been established under consideration of various restrictions related to water and energy availability, as well as food demand. Solutions of the planting areas for different crops in different periods have been generated. The results suggested that there would be a significant increase for vegetable cultivation with an increasing rate of 24.4% and 30% respectively for the conservative and advantageous conditions, followed by the fruit cultivation. In comparison, the planting area of cotton would be decreased with a decreasing rate of 21.2%, and there would also be an explicit decrease for rice cultivation. These results can help generate a desired planting scheme in order to achieve a maximized unit benefit with respect to the water utilization. Comparison between the IFP-WEFN model and the ILP-WEFN model indicates that, even though a slightly lower benefit is obtained from IFP-WENF model, it can result in a higher unit benefit than the planting scheme from ILP-WEFN model. Consequently, the IFP-WEFN model can help decision-makers identify the sustainable agricultural water resources management schemes with a priority of water utilization efficiency. [Display omitted] • IFP method is used to tackle uncertainties and contradictory aims in WEFN systems. • IFP-WEFN model is developed for Henan considering water utilization efficiency. • The results can support sustainable WEFN management with limit water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]