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Based on a survey of and in-depth interviews with journalists working in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, a politically sensitive area with a strong Muslim presence, this study examines how socioeconomic attainments and subjective norms shape journalists' self-perceived status. Linking the study of journalists with social stratification theories, the data reveals that (1) The proportion of journalists who regard themselves as upper-middle and upper class is much higher than the proportion of the general public in this region and journalists in other regions in China. (2) Professional norms and the sense of achievement have more significant influence than income and education in shaping journalists' perceived social status. (3) The ethnic variation of self-perceived social status is manifested through different reference-grouping processes. As the first study on perceived social status of journalists in this region, these findings contribute to the general understanding of journalists, the government policies and the political and social landscape in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of ultrahigh voltage transmission line construction in northwest China, an increasing number of overhead transmission lines are crossing the loess regions. Ensuring the stability of electricity transmission towers and mitigating the risk of collapse are crucial prerequisites for the construction of transmission lines. Taking the 750 kV demonstration electricity transmission line in Guanting–Lanzhou East as an example, representative loess samples were selected for compression and collapsing sensitivity tests. Four foundation treatment schemes were designed, and the wetting deformation characteristics were investigated through numerical simulation of the rainfall infiltration process. Corresponding optimisation schemes were proposed. The collapsing process was divided into four stages through laboratory collapsing tests. The relationship function between saturation and the Duncan–Chang model parameters of loess was established, which was introduced into the finite element model to consider the rainfall infiltration process. The analysis of the displacement field, and loess saturation field with time after rainfall infiltration for the four schemes showed that adding a lime-stabilised soil cushion layer and waterproof layer to the inclined column foundation had the best effect. Given that the design scheme needs to consider safety and economy, the thickness of the cushion layer was optimised, thereby reducing the use of lime-stabilised soil by 20%. Research findings provide meaningful guidance for the design of transmission tower foundations in loess areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gynostemma pentaphyllum is an important perennial medicinal herb belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. Aerial stem-to-rhizome transition before entering the winter is an adaptive regenerative strategy in G. pentaphyllum that enables it to survive during winter. However, the molecular regulation of aerial stem-to-rhizome transition is unknown in plants. Here, integrated transcriptome and miRNA analysis was conducted to investigate the regulatory network of stem-to-rhizome transition., Results: Nine transcriptome libraries prepared from stem/rhizome samples collected at three stages of developmental stem-to-rhizome transition were sequenced and a total of 5428 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. DEGs associated with gravitropism, cell wall biosynthesis, photoperiod, hormone signaling, and carbohydrate metabolism were found to regulate stem-to-rhizome transition. Nine small RNA libraries were parallelly sequenced, and seven significantly differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified, including four known and three novel miRNAs. The seven DEMs targeted 123 mRNAs, and six pairs of miRNA-target showed significantly opposite expression trends. The GpmiR166b-GpECH2 module involved in stem-to-rhizome transition probably promotes cell expansion by IBA-to-IAA conversion, and the GpmiR166e-GpSGT-like module probably protects IAA from degradation, thereby promoting rhizome formation. GpmiR156a was found to be involved in stem-to-rhizome transition by inhibiting the expression of GpSPL13A/GpSPL6, which are believed to negatively regulate vegetative phase transition. GpmiR156a and a novel miRNA Co.47071 co-repressed the expression of growth inhibitor GpRAV-like during stem-to-rhizome transition. These miRNAs and their targets were first reported to be involved in the formation of rhizomes. In this study, the expression patterns of DEGs, DEMs and their targets were further validated by quantitative real-time PCR, supporting the reliability of sequencing data., Conclusions: Our study revealed a comprehensive molecular network regulating the transition of aerial stem to rhizome in G. pentaphyllum. These results broaden our understanding of developmental phase transitions in plants.

This study aimed to investigate the predictive values of central systolic blood pressure (cSBP) and peripheral systolic blood pressure (pSBP) for the progression of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). A total of 953 Chinese participants from an atherosclerosis cohort with complete information, including baseline cSBP, questionnaire information, biochemical examination, baseline, and follow-up carotid ultrasonography quantitative data, were included in this study. A multilinear regression model, adjusted for possible covariates, was used to investigate the predictive values of cSBP and pSBP for rate of cIMT change. The average age of all participants was (52.11 ± 4.74 years). The baseline levels of cSBP, pSBP, max cIMT, and mean cIMT were (132.55 ± 18.18)mmHg, (130.76 ± 15.40)mmHg, (813.52 ± 118.49)µm and (681.11 ± 99.90)µm, respectively Those with hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia accounted for 40.71% (388), 18.05% (172), and 70.41% (671), respectively. After 2.3 years of follow-up, the average rates of max and mean cIMT change were 8.70 (-0.49-19.43)% and 2.59 (-4.72-10.81)%, respectively. Per standard deviation increase of cSBP, but not pSBP, was associated with increases of max (for cSBP, β 1.07, 95%CI 0.18-1.96, p = 0.018; for pSBP, β 0.48, 95%CI -0.45-1.41, p = 0.315) and mean (for cSBP, β 0.84%, 95%CI 0.10-1.58, p = 0.027; for pSBP, β 0.59%, 95%CI -0.18-1.37, p = 0.135) cIMT change rate after adjusting for possible covariates. In conclusion, cSBP, but not pSBP, is independently associated with cIMT progression in our community-based Chinese population. cSBP should be considered for the purpose of CVD primary prevention.