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The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of educational choice on the intention to enter the examination, and the mediating role of career decision-making self-efficacy. A total of 1391 freshmen from six higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province of China were investigated with Education Choices Scale, Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale and Willingness to Apply Scale. The results showed that educational choice and career decision-making self-efficacy had significant effects on the willingness to apply. Career decision-making self-efficacy plays a mediating role in the significant positive impact of educational choice on the willingness to apply. Therefore, China's educational institutions and policy makers should focus on cultivating vocational students' career decision-making self-efficacy and improving their confidence and ability in career decision-making. To help students better understand their interests, values, and career goals, and to help students better understand the career fields they face professionally.

Introduction: Gut microbiota are closely related to the nutrition, immunity, and metabolism of the host and play important roles in maintaining the normal physiological activities of animals. Cranes are important protected avian species in China, and they are sensitive to changes in the ecological environment and are thus good environmental indicators. There have been no reports examining gut fungi or the correlation between bacteria and fungi in wild Demoiselle cranes (Grus virgo) and Common cranes (Grus grus). Related research can provide a foundation for the protection of rare wild animals. Methods: 16S rRNA and ITS high-throughput sequencing techniques were used to analyze the gut bacterial and fungal diversity of Common and Demoiselle cranes migrating to the Yellow River wetland in Inner Mongolia. Results: The results revealed that for gut bacteria a diversity, Chao1 index in Demoiselle cranes was remarkably higher than that in Common cranes (411.07± 79.54 vs. 294.92 ± 22.38), while other index had no remarkably differences. There was no remarkable difference in fungal diversity. There were marked differences in the gut microbial composition between the two crane species. At the phylum level, the highest abundance of bacteria in the Common crane and Demoiselle crane samples was Firmicutes, accounting for 87.84% and 74.29%, respectively. The highest abundance of fungi in the guts of the Common and Demoiselle cranes was Ascomycota, accounting for 69.42% and 57.63%, respectively. At the genus level, the most abundant bacterial genus in the Common crane sample was Turicibacter (38.60%), and the most abundant bacterial genus in the Demoiselle crane sample was Catelicoccus (39.18%). The most abundant fungi in the Common crane sample was Penicillium (6.97%), and the most abundant fungi in the Demoiselle crane sample was Saccharomyces (8.59%). Correlation analysis indicated that there was a significant correlation between gut bacteria and fungi. Discussion: This study provided a research basis for the protection of cranes. Indeed, a better understanding of the gut microbiota is very important for the conservation andmanagement of wild birds, as it not only helps us to understand their life history and related mechanisms, but also can hinder the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective Myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D) can participate in the process of tumor lesions by regulating the transcription of oncogenes. In a previous study, MEF2D was demonstrated to enhance the proliferation and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma cells A549 and H1299 by promoting the transcription of NUSAP1. The research aimed to explore the expression level and clinical significance of MEF2D in lung adenocarcinoma. Methods A total of 199 patients with lung adenocarcinoma were collected. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect MEF2D expression levels in cancer and adjacent tissues. After the clinical and follow-up data were collated, the correlation between MEF2D expression level and clinical characteristics and prognosis of the patients was analyzed. Results In the lung adenocarcinoma, the high expression rate of MEF2D in cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues (P<0.05). According to immunohistochemical score, MEF2D expression level in lung adenocarcinoma tissues was correlated with tumor differentiation, N stage, M stage and intrapulmonary metastasis (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with low MEF2D expression had significantly better prognosis than patients with high MEF2D expression (P<0.05). Cox multivariate analysis showed that MEF2D expression level, M stage, N stage and bone metastasis of lung cancer were independent risk factors for prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients. Conclussion MEF2D expression level is closely related to the metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma and other clinical characteristics, and can be used as an independent risk factor for the prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma, which has the potential to be developed as a clinical diagnosis and treatment target of lung adeno-carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota promotes host health by maintaining homeostasis and enhancing digestive efficiency. The gut microflora in wild birds affects host physiological characteristics, nutritional status, and stress response. The relict gull (Larus Relictus, a Chinese national first-class protected species) and the black-necked grebe (Podiceps Nigricollis, a secondary protected species) bred in the Ordos Relic Gull National Nature Reserve share similar feeding habits and living environments but are distantly related genetically. To explore the composition and differences in the gut microbiota of these two key protected avian species in Erdos Relic Gull National Nature Reserve and provide a basis for their protection, 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing was performed and the gut microbial diversity and composition of the relict gull (L. Relictus) and black-necked grebe (P. Nigricollis) was characterized. In total, 445 OTUs (operational taxonomic units) were identified and classified into 15 phyla, 22 classes, 64 orders, 126 families, and 249 genera. Alpha diversity analysis indicates that the gut microbial richness of the relict gull is significantly lower than that of the black-necked grebe. Gut microbe composition differs significantly between the two species. The most abundant bacterial phyla in these samples were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Fusobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The prominent phylum in the relict gull was Proteobacteria, whereas the prominent phylum in the black-necked grebe was Firmicutes. The average relative abundance of the 17 genera identified was greater than 1%. The dominant genus in the relict gull was Escherichia-Shigella, whereas Halomonas was dominant in the black-necked grebe. Microbial functional analyses indicate that environmental factors exert a greater impact on relict gulls than on black-necked grebes. Compared with the relict gull, the black-necked grebe was able to use food more efficiently to accumulate its nutrient requirements, and the gut of the relict gull harbored more pathogenic bacteria, which may be one reason for the decline in the relict gull population, rendering it an endangered species. This analysis of the gut microbial composition of these two wild avian species in the same breeding grounds is of great significance, offers important guidance for the protection of these two birds, especially relict gulls, and provides a basis for understanding the propagation of related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rape is the third largest oil crop in the world and the first one in China. The national average rapeseed yield is only 2 077. 5 kg/hm², and the rapeseed oil yield is 894 kg/hm². This paper introduced the main types, germplasm resources, breeding bases and breeding progress of Chinese rape, and studied its high-quality varieties, breeding patents and new varieties of agricultural plants. We analyzed the main problems such as serious loss of germplasm resources in Brassica campestris L. and Brasica juncea (L.) Czern. et Cus and weak "agricultural chip" in rape field, and put forward strategies such as strengthening the protection of rape germplasm resources, encouraging the development of " agricultural chip" in rape industry clusters with national advantages and characteristics, and strengthening the protection of agricultural intellectual property rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the lack of monitoring systems and water purification facilities, residents in western China may face the risk of drinking water pollution. Therefore, 673 samples were collected from Lhasa's agricultural and pastoral areas to reveal the status quo of drinking water. We used inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to determine trace elements concentrations for water quality appraisal, source apportionment, and health risk assessment. The results indicate that concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, and Pb are below the guidelines, while As concentrations in a few samples exceed the standard. All samples were classified into "excellent water" for drinking purpose based on Entropy-weighted water quality index. Thereafter by principal component analysis, three potential sources of trace elements were extracted, including natural, anthropogenic, and mining activities. It is worth noting that geotherm and mining exploitation does not threaten drinking water safety. Finally, health risks were assessed using Monte Carlo technique. We found that the 95th percentiles of hazard index are 1.80, 0.80, and 0.79 for children, teenagers, and adults, indicating a non-carcinogenic risk for children, but no risks for the latter two age groups. In contrast, the probabilities of unacceptable cautionary risk are 7.15, 2.95 and 0.69% through exposure to Cr, Ni, As, and Cd for adults, children, and teenagers. Sensitivity analyses reveal As concentration and ingestion rate are most influential factors to health risk. Hence, local governments should pay more attention to monitoring and removal of As in the drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: Does argatroban improve neurologic function in patients with acute ischemic stroke who received intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (alteplase)? Findings: In this randomized clinical trial that included 808 patients with acute ischemic stroke, excellent neurologic function at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 1) in those randomized to receive argatroban plus intravenous alteplase compared with intravenous alteplase alone occurred in 63.8% vs 64.9% of participants, a difference that was not statistically significant. Meaning: Among patients with acute ischemic stroke who received intravenous alteplase, argatroban was not significantly associated with better neurologic function. Importance: Previous studies suggested a benefit of argatroban plus alteplase (recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, robust evidence in trials with large sample sizes is lacking. Objective: To assess the efficacy of argatroban plus alteplase for AIS. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter, open-label, blinded end point randomized clinical trial including 808 patients with AIS was conducted at 50 hospitals in China with enrollment from January 18, 2019, through October 30, 2021, and final follow-up on January 24, 2022. Interventions: Eligible patients were randomly assigned within 4.5 hours of symptom onset to the argatroban plus alteplase group (n = 402), which received intravenous argatroban (100 μg/kg bolus over 3-5 minutes followed by an infusion of 1.0 μg/kg per minute for 48 hours) within 1 hour after alteplase (0.9 mg/kg; maximum dose, 90 mg; 10% administered as 1-minute bolus, remaining infused over 1 hour), or alteplase alone group (n = 415), which received intravenous alteplase alone. Both groups received guideline-based treatments. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was excellent functional outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) of 0 to 1 at 90 days. All end points had blinded assessment and were analyzed on a full analysis set. Results: Among 817 eligible patients with AIS who were randomized (median [IQR] age, 65 [57-71] years; 238 [29.1%] women; median [IQR] National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, 9 [7-12]), 760 (93.0%) completed the trial. At 90 days, 210 of 329 participants (63.8%) in the argatroban plus alteplase group vs 238 of 367 (64.9%) in the alteplase alone group had an excellent functional outcome (risk difference, −1.0% [95% CI, −8.1% to 6.1%]; risk ratio, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.88-1.10]; P =.78). The percentages of participants with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, parenchymal hematoma type 2, and major systemic bleeding were 2.1% (8/383), 2.3% (9/383), and 0.3% (1/383), respectively, in the argatroban plus alteplase group and 1.8% (7/397), 2.5% (10/397), and 0.5% (2/397), respectively, in the alteplase alone group. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with acute ischemic stroke, treatment with argatroban plus intravenous alteplase compared with alteplase alone did not result in a significantly greater likelihood of excellent functional outcome at 90 days. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03740958 This randomized clinical trial examines the efficacy of argatroban plus altepase for acute ischemic stroke within 4.5 hours from onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a serious psychological disorder that causes substantial psychological and physical suffering in adolescents, contributes to over 50% of suicide attempts, and affects the health status and psychosocial functioning of 25% of the adult population. The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in adolescents is 5.6~11.04%, and the prevalence of depression in adolescents with PCOS is as high as 50-60%. Depression seriously affects the rehabilitation and quality of life of adolescents with PCOS. In this study, we present a protocol for a mixed-method study to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a psychological adjustment communication system for reducing the prevalence of depression among adolescents with PCOS who are at a high risk of depression in China. This study utilizes social support theory to develop a mobile phone-based intervention for adolescents with PCOS at a high risk of depression. Methods: This sequential exploratory mixed-method study consists of four consecutive phases. In the first phase, we will review the literature to understand the disease experience and needs of adolescents with PCOS to construct an initial psychological adjustment communication system. In the second phase, researchers will interview patients and their parents using purposeful sampling methods and semi-structured interviews to appropriately modify the psychological adjustment communication system. In the third phase, the Delphi method will be used to improve the psychological adjustment communication system. The fourth phase will employ a quantitative approach using a before-and-after design to measure the effectiveness of the system. Discussion: The results of this study will indicate the effectiveness of the psychological adjustment communication system in adolescents with PCOS who are at a high risk of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common childhood infectious disease caused by human enteroviruses (EV). This study aimed to describe the epidemiological features of HFMD and the genetic characteristics of Coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China, from 2010 to 2021. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the time and population distribution of HFMD and the genetic characteristics of CVA16. Except being affected by the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, HFMD epidemics were sporadic from January to March each year, and began to increase in April, with a major epidemic peak from May to August, which declined in September, followed by a secondary peak from October to December. The prevalence of EV infection was the highest in children aged one to five years (84.42%), whereas its incidence was very low in children under one year of age (5.48%). Enterovirus nucleic acid was detected by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 6641 clinical specimens collected from patients with HFMD from 2010 to 2021, and 4236 EV-positive specimens were detected, including 988 enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), 1488 CVA16, and 1760 other enteroviruses. CVA16 remains prevalent and has co-circulated with other EVs in Taiyuan from 2010 to 2021. A phylogenetic tree constructed based on the VP1 region showed that all CVA16 strains belonged to two different clades of the B1 genotype, B1a and B1b. They showed a nucleotide similarity of 86.5-100%, and an amino acid similarity of 96.9-100%. Overall, these findings add to the global genetic resources of CVA16, demonstrate the epidemiological characteristics of HFMD as well as the genetic features of CVA16 in Taiyuan City during 2010-2021, and provide supporting evidence for the prevention and control of HFMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abbreviations: RA, Rheumatoid arthritis; IM, Integrative medicine; CM, Chinese medicine; WM, Western medicine; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; ACR, American College of Rheumatology; EULAR, European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology; ITT, intention-to-treat; PP, per-protocol; BMI, body mass index; RI, rheumatic immunity; PSM, propensity score matching; DAS28, disease activity score 28; TJC, tender joint count; SJC, swollen joint count; MS, morning stiffness; VAS, visual analog scale; PGA, patient's global assessment of disease activity; PhGA, physician's global assessment of disease activity; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, c-reactive protein; RF, rheumatoid factor; Anti-CCP, anticyclic citrullinated peptide; SDAI, simplified disease activity index; CDAI, clinical disease activity index; HAQ, health assessment questionnaire; MI, multiple imputation. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of Integrative medicine (IM), compare with Western medicine (WM), in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a cohort study. Methods: This is a cohort study with recruitment of RA patients from 10 hospitals in China. The primary outcome was change in disease activity score 28 (DAS28) during 4 follow-up visits. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models that controlled for variables were used to investigate a time trend and assess group differences in the primary outcome and secondary outcomes after propensity score matching (PSM). Results: A total of 3195 patients with RA received IM (n = 1379, 43.2%) or WM (n = 1816, 56.8%). Following 1:1 propensity score matching, 1,331 eligible patients prescribed IM were compared to 1,331 matched patients prescribed WM. The GEE analysis with PSM showed that the IM was more beneficial to significantly decrease the levels of VAS, PGA and PhGA (VAS: odds ratio (OR), 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63-0.92; p = 0.004; PGA: OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.64-0.92; p = 0.007; and PhGA: OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.64, 0.93; p = 0.004), and reduce DAS28 (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73-0.98; p = 0.030) in the per-protocol population. Conclusion: This study suggests that compare to WM, IM has advantages in improving RA-related outcomes. However, the statistical significance might not reveal significant clinical difference. Further studies should be focused on specific treatment strategies and/or disease stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twelve novel cordycepin derivatives were designed and synthesized with modification at positions of 2′, 5′-hydroxyl and N6 amino groups of cordycepin. The results showed that the inhibitory activities of 3, 4b, 6c and 6d on A549 were comparable to the positive control gefitinib, and the inhibitory activity of 6a on A549 was better than that of gefitinib. Also, the inhibitory activities of twelve cordycepin derivatives against E. coli 1924, S. aureus 4220 and S. mutans 3289 were studied. Among them, 4b showed certain inhibitory on S. mutans 3289, while 6b showed certain inhibition on S. aureus 4220. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative evaluation of fracability is essential for hydraulic fracturing design, with the distribution of in situ stress being a key parameter. This study focused on evaluating fracability based on three-dimensional (3D) geological numerical simulation of in situ stress. First, a 3D geological model was established based on seismic data and the geological setting of a field of interest. Thereafter, the anisotropy of the mechanical parameters and boundary conditions was used to calculate the in situ stress on the 3D model. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was then used to calculate the fracability related to the horizontal stress difference coefficient, rock mechanical brittleness, silicon content, cohesion, and internal friction angle. The horizontal stress difference coefficient was obtained by 3D geological numerical simulation, and the remaining parameters were obtained from logging data. The results revealed that the mechanical parameters exhibited significant anisotropy within the field of interest. The in situ stress depended on the structural depth and anisotropy of the mechanical parameters. The fracability index along the well trajectory differed at different well depths. The calculation results were verified using the Meijer G-function. With the parameters used in the AHP method, the in situ stress was determined by a 3D geological numerical simulation, logging data, and laboratory experiments, from which the fracability index was obtained. The results verified by the Meijer G-function indicated that obtaining the fracability index based on the 3D geological numerical simulation of in situ stress was advantageous with respect to complex formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new stilbene glucosides, trans-3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxystilbene 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), cis-3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxystilbene 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), one new benzoic acid derivative, cis-4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-2-butenyl benzoate 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), and four known compounds (4 − 7) were isolated from Tournefortia sibirica L. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral data. Anti-inflammatory effects of compounds (1 − 7) were evaluated in terms of inhibition on production of NO, TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 1, 2 and 5 − 7 could inhibit the levels of NO, TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells with IC50 values ranging from 40.96 to 88.76 µM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease, and the pathogenesis of PD is closely related to mitochondrial dysfunction. Previous studies have indicated that traditional Chinese medicine composition of Huangqin Decoction (HQD), including Scutellariae Radix, licorice, and Paeoniae Radix Alba, has therapeutic effects on PD, but whether HQD has a therapeutic effect on PD has not been reported. In this study, the protective effects of HQD on rotenone-induced PD rats were evaluated by behavioral assays (open field, rotating rod, suspension, gait, inclined plate, and grid) and immunohistochemistry. The mechanisms of HQD on attenuation of mitochondrial dysfunction were detected by biochemical assays and mitochondrial metabolomics. The results showed that HQD (20 g/kg) can protect rats with PD by improving motor coordination and muscle strength, increasing the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)- positive neurons in rats with PD. Besides, HQD can improve mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing the content of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and mitochondrial complex I. Mitochondrial metabolomics analysis revealed that the ketone body of acetoacetic acid (AcAc) in the rotenone group was significantly higher than that of the control group. Ketone bodies have been known to be used as an alternative energy source to provide energy to the brain when glucose was deficient. Further studies demonstrated that HQD could increase the expression of glucose transporter GLUT1, the content of tricarboxylic acid cycle rate-limiting enzyme citrate synthase (CS), and the level of hexokinase (HK) in rats with PD but could decrease the content of ketone bodies [AcAc and b-hydroxybutyric acid (b-HB)] and the expression of their transporters (MCT1). Our study revealed that the decrease of glucose metabolism in the rotenone group was parallel to the increase of substitute substrates (ketone bodies) and related transporters, and HQD could improve PD symptoms by activating the aerobic glycolysis pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichomonascaceae is the largest family of ascomycetous yeast in the order Saccharomycetales. In spite of the extensive body of research on Trichomonascaceae in China, there remain new species to be discovered. Here, we describe four new species isolated from several rotting wood samples from Henan Province, Central China. Phylogenetic analysis of a combined ITS and nrLSU dataset with morphological studies revealed four new species in the Trichomonascaceae: Diddensiella luoyangensis, Sugiyamaella cylindrica, Su. robnettiae, and Zygoascus detingensis. Clustering in the Diddensiella clade, D. luoyangensis’ closest neighbour was D. transvaalensis. Meanwhile, Su. cylindrica clustered in the Sugiyamaella clade closest to Su. marilandica and Su. qingdaonensis. Also clustering in the Sugiyamaella clade, Su. robnettiae was most closely related to Su. chuxiongensis. Finally, Z. detingensis occupied a distinct and separated basal branch from the other species of the genus Zygoascus. These results indicate a high species diversity of Trichomonascaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zircon Hf-isotopic mapping can be regarded as a useful tool for evaluating the coupling relationship between lithospheric structure and metallic mineralization. Hence, this method shows important significance for mineral prediction. To explore this potential, the published granite zircon Hf isotope data from the Sanjiang Tethyan Orogen were systematically compiled. This study uses the Kriging weighted interpolation in the Mapgis software system to contour Hf isotopes, revealing a relation between the crustal structure and metallogenesis. The mapping results suggest that the Changning–Menglian suture zone is the boundary between ancient and juvenile crust, viz., the western terranes have ancient crust attributes, whereas the eastern terranes exhibit the properties of new juvenile crust. In addition, this study also found that the mineralization and element types in the Sanjiang Tethyan Orogen have a coupling relationship with the crustal structure. The distribution of porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits is mainly controlled by the new juvenile crust, whereas the magmatic-hydrothermal Sn-W and porphyry Mo-W(-Cu) deposits are closely related to the reworked ancient crust. The results of zircon Hf isotope mapping prove that the formation and spatial distribution of deposits are related to the composition and properties of the crust. Hf isotope mapping can reveal the regional metallogenic rules and explore metallogenic prediction and metallogenic potential evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kodamaea includes a growing number of interesting yeasts of the family Debaryomycetacae that are widely distributed in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of different continents. During recent yeast collections in Henan and Yunnan Province in China, several isolates of Kodamaea were obtained from rotting wood, all of which represent undescribed taxa. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses (ITS and LSU rDNA), three new species are proposed: K. hongheensis f.a., sp. nov., K. ovata f.a., sp. nov. and K. yamadae f.a., sp. nov. In addition, sixteen Candida species, which are members of the Kodamaea clade based on phylogenetic analysis, are transferred to Kodamaea as new combinations. Our results indicate high species diversity of Kodamaea waiting to be discovered in rotting wood from tropical and subtropical China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hospice care is a multidisciplinary approach that focused on patients' quality of life, and nurses allocate more of their time with patients and patients' families than those nurses working in other disciplines. Nurses' knowledge of and attitudes toward hospice care can affect the quality of hospice care. At present, China's hospice care institutions are suffering from an obvious shortage of nursing staff. Since clinical nurses are the main force behind the future provision of hospice care, their knowledge of, attitudes and willingness to practice can greatly promoted the growth of hospice care, however, available data on clinical nurses' willingness to practice hospice care are limited. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed to collect data from 1833 nurses working in tertiary or secondary general hospitals in Guangxi, China. We examined nurses' demographic characteristics and scores on the Chinese version of the hospice care knowledge scale, the Chinese version of the Bradley Attitude Assessment Questionnaire, and a brief quiz concerning their willingness to practice hospice care in the future. Descriptive, single factor, multiple regression analyses and logistic regression analyses were used for data analysis. Results: Nurses displayed moderate mean scores for both knowledge of and attitudes, and only 505 (27.5%) nurses expressed their willingness to practice hospice care, 1329 (72.5%) of nurses sampled expressed their unwillingness or uncertainty. Multivariate regression analyses showed that education, professional qualification, monthly income, whether they had been trained in hospice care, and willingness to practice hospice care were the main influencing factors of knowledge; education, whether they lived with someone aged >60 years, and whether they had been trained in hospice care were main factors influencing attitudes. Additionally, logistic regression analyses showed that hospice care knowledge, whether they had been trained in hospice care, and whether they had clinical experience affected the nurses' willingness to practice hospice care. Conclusion: This study highlighted a knowledge gap and moderate attitudes toward hospice care among nurses, and most nurses did not prefer to practice hospice care. Having been trained in hospice care was the main common factor of nurses' knowledge of, attitudes toward, and willingness to practice hospice care in the future, indicating the necessity to provide nurses with more targeted hospice care training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hepatitis B-related compensated liver cirrhosis is related to a higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, and antiviral therapy is the preferred method. As the pathological mechanisms of liver fibrosis are complex, drugs developed for a single target are difficult to be effective in clinical practice, so there are no chemical drugs or biological drugs with clear efficacy available for clinical application at present. Traditional Chinese medicine is a kind of medical science that has been gradually formed during thousands of years and continuously enriched by the people of all ethnic groups in China. Traditional Chinese medicine shows curative effects in the treatment of liver diseases, especially in the field of liver fibrosis prevention and treatment. This study aims to test the integrative medicine (Chinese medicine plus antiviral therapy) effective on lowing hepatocellular carcinoma risk among patients with hepatitis-related compensated liver cirrhosis.Methods and Analysis: This is a multi-center randomized controlled trial, and a total of 5 hospitals and 802 patients will be involved in. All the subjects are randomly allocated to the YinQiSanHuang Jiedu decoction (YQSHD) group (n = 401) or the placebo group (n = 401). The YQSHD group receives YQSHD granule with entecavir (ETV), and the placebo group receives YQSHD placebo with ETV. The treatment period will last for 52 weeks, and the follow-up period for 52 ± 2 weeks. The primary outcome measure is the annual incidence of HCC. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after treatment. The objective of this trial is "the integrative of YQSHD with ETV reduce the annual incidence of HCC to 1%."Ethics and Dissemination: The protocol has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Guang'anmen Hospital, China (No.2019-006-KY), and the other centers in the trial will not begin recruiting until the local ethical approval has been obtained. Trial final results will be disseminated via publication.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900021532 . Registered on February 26, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yamadazyma is one of the largest genera in the family Debaryomycetaceae (Saccharomycetales, Saccharomycetes) with species mainly found in rotting wood, insects and their resulting frass, but also recovered from flowers, leaves, fruits, tree bark, mushrooms, sea water, minerals, and the atmosphere. In the present study, several strains obtained from rotting wood in Henan and Yunnan Provinces of China were isolated. Based on morphology and a molecular phylogeny of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rDNA, these strains were identified as three new species: Yamadazyma luoyangensis, Y. ovata and Y. paraaseri; and three previously described species, Y. insectorum, Y. akitaensis, and Y. olivae. The three new species are illustrated and their morphology and phylogenetic relationships with other Yamadazyma species are discussed. Our results indicate a high undiscovered diversity of Yamadazyma spp. inhabiting rotting wood in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the status of oral health--related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Chinese adolescents aged 12 to 15 years based on the 4th National Oral Health Survey and to explore its associated factors. Methods: Students aged 12 to 15 years were recruited using to a multistage stratified random sampling method. All the subjects received oral examination and completed a questionnaire. Information relating to OHRQoL was collected through a Mandarin version of the child oral impacts on daily performances (Child-OIDP) questionnaire. The relationship between the Child-OIDP scores and independent variables was assessed using a Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test and a multivariate Poisson regression. Results: A total of 89,582 subjects were included in the analysis, of whom 76.6% reported oral impacts in the last 6 months. Eating was the most affected daily performance. The results of the regression analysis showed that factors associated with adolescents' OHRQoL included sex, location of residence, region, only child status, parents' level of education, frequency of sugar consumption, self-perception of general/oral health, dental appointments in the past 12 months, oral health knowledge status, age, decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index and number of teeth with gingival bleeding. Conclusion: Oral impacts were common among Chinese adolescents, although most were not so severe. Eating was the most commonly affected performance. Sex, location of residence, region, only child status, parents' level of education, frequency of sugar consumption, selfperception of general/oral health status, dental appointments in the previous 12 months, oral health knowledge status, age, DMFT index and number of teeth with gingival bleeding were found to be associated with OHRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, China has stepped up its support to the optimization and development of railways. Meanwhile, the development of modern information technology (IT) has enhanced the economic advantages of railway logistics. To intelligently manage the inventory of railway logistics park (RLP), this paper integrates artificial neural network (ANN) into RLP inventory management. Firstly, the functional demand of RLP inventory management was analyzed comprehensively, and the main factors affecting the inventory demand were divided into different categories. Then, the authors formulated the framework of intelligent inventory management for RLP, and put forward the strategy of continuous periodic inventory monitoring. Finally, a RLP inventory prediction model was constructed based on optimized genetic algorithm (GA) and backpropagation neutral network (BPNN), and proved effective through experiments. The research results provide reference for the application of ANN in inventory management and prediction in other logistics fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to special taste and medicinal properties, pickled sweat-sour garlic is one of the most popular garlic-based functional foods in China. The traditional pickling method of garlic is tedious, time consuming, laborious, low efficient, and easily influenced by environmental factors and microorganisms. In the present study, garlic cloves were subjected to two pickling methods: osmotic dehydration at atmospheric conditions (OD) and pulsed vacuum osmotic dehydration (PVOD). Pulsed vacuum impregnation was applied in order to evaluate the possibility of enhancement of pickling efficiency and quality of final product. The effect of OD and PVOD on mass transfer kinetics of sodium chloride, sucrose and acetic acid as well as quality attributes (color parameters such as L*, a*, b*, and thiosulfinates content) of pickled sweet and sour garlic cloves was investigated. Results indicate that PVOD promoted mass transfer of sodium chloride and acetic acid compared to the traditional OD method. However, there was no significant effect on mass transfer of sugar. PVOD significantly decreased thiosulfinates content (from 4.49 mg/mL to 1.91 mg/mL) and L* values (from 66.72 to 45.85) of garlic. During PVOD of garlic, samples gradually turned from white color to the desired amber color during the PVOD process. The findings of current work indicate that PVOD is a promising technique for garlic pickling as it enhances mass transfer and accelerates the degradation of thiosulfinates content in garlic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has forced all universities in China to shut campuses and moved to distance learning in response to epidemic prevention and control. This is the first time that college courses have been completely delivered online across the nation. Therefore, this study examines Chinese college students' sense of community and their perspectives of taking online courses in synchronous and asynchronous teaching formats. A total of 1189 students participated in the study from a northeastern university in China. Results indicate that students have a stronger sense of community towards interacting, discussing, and sharing ideas in asynchronous online courses. Findings additionally highlight the benefits of taking courses in these two distance learning formats. For instance, active interaction is often stimulated through synchronous distance learning, while students can learn on their own pace in asynchronous online learning environments. Challenges are also perceived in both formats, such as being distracted by classmates in synchronous online classes or feeling social isolated in asynchronous online classes. It is expected that this study would enlighten Chinese higher education professionals to develop a tight online community and establish a supportive distance learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species are a major and growing threat to China's native freshwater biodiversity. They have caused species extinctions, biodiversity loss, and environmental changes. Mrigal carp (Cirrhinus mrigala), one of the most widespread and invasive of freshwater fish species, now occurs in major rivers throughout southern China. We report the current (to 2017) distribution of mrigal carp throughout southern China, and experiments with temperature, water quality and food availability, that assess possible impacts of this species on populations of native mud carp (C. molitorella)". In the wild, the mud carp to mrigal carp weight ratio was 1:1.65. Mrigal carp were a dominant species in some rivers of southern China, such as Liuxi River, Zengjiang River and the Zhaoqing section of Xijiang River. Manipulative experiments reveal mrigal carp to be more tolerant of colder temperature, more eutrophic conditions, and lower dissolved oxygen levels than mud carp. In food-limited experiments, mrigal carp displayed no direct aggression towards mud carp, but they did snatch food from them, and excluded them from eating. Mud carp growth was curtailed in the presence of mrigal carp in food-limited treatments, with a growth rate 2.71%, only 17.02% of that in treatments where carp were fed to satiation. In satiation treatments, mrigal carp also grew up to 2.21 times faster than mud carp. Our results indicate that mrigal carp will outcompete mud carp for resources and habitat, and that both its distribution and population will increase in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidimensional critical regulation of water resources in a typical arid area, such as in the Manas River Watershed in China, is an important way to solve the contradiction between water supply and demand and realize sustainable development. Typically, water managers do not take into account the coordinated development of various water sources and water sectors. To solve this problem, we used a system dynamics model to analyze the supply and demand of water resources in the planning year, and establish a critical control model with four dimensions (water resources, economy, society and ecology) to optimally regulate water resources. The results show that (1) the water resources system entropy was reduced to 0.1506 after several iterations in the planning year; (2) the water resources subsystem, economic subsystem and social subsystem were negatively correlated with system entropy, while the ecosystem subsystem was positively correlated with it; and (3) the reduced water shortage will increase from 2.27×108 m³ in 2020 to 3.76×108 m³ in 2030, which indicates that the water resources system will develop in an orderly and coordinated way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal area of South China is a frequent seismic activity area. To improve the seismic performance of architectural structures in the coastal areas of South China, this paper proposed a Niche Bat Algorithm (NBA) Wavelet Neural Network (WNN) constitutive model of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA), and compared it with WNN model and BA-optimized WNN (BA-WNN). The paper applied SMA to the seismic control of truss structure, and the obtained SMA control system can more effectively reduce the interlayer displacement of the structure and alleviate the seismic response of the structure, it provided a new method for seismic resistance of coastal structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the use of oral health services, the economic burden of oral diseases and related influential factors in China. Method: Using the multistage, stratified, equal proportion, random sampling method in the 4th National Oral Health Survey of China conducted in 2015 to 2016, residents aged 3 to 5 years, 12 to 15 years, 35 to 44 years, 55 to 64 years, and 65 to 74 years respectively were recruited, clinically examined and answered a questionnaire. Utilisation of oral health services were assessed in all the age groups and the economic burden of oral diseases in the past 12 months were assessed in the 3 to 5 years and 35 to 74 year-old groups. Chi-squared tests, t tests, correlation analysis and a one-way ANOVA were used to determine the relationships of different factors with utilisation of oral health services and the economic burden of oral diseases. Results: In the subject groups - 3 to 5 years, 12 to 15 years and 35 to 74 years - the prevalence of the utilisation of oral health services in the past 12 months was 14.6% (5,876/40,353), 23.6% (27,936/118,592), and 20.1% (2,708/13,461), respectively. In all three groups, receiving dental treatment was the most common reason for subjects' recent dental visit. The average dental cost in the past 12 months was 403.43 CNY (median = 100) for 3 to 5-year-old children and 850.83 CNY (median = 300) for adults aged 35 to 74 years old. Area, education and annual household income per person were the socio-economic influential factors. Oral health status, oral hygiene and attitudes to and knowledge of oral health affected the utilisation of oral health services and the economic burden of oral diseases. Conclusion: The percentage of dental service utilisation was relatively low, and the economic burden was high. The related factors for both utilisation of oral health services and the economic burden of oral diseases included living in area, educational attainment, household income, perceived oral health status, and oral hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies have shown that acupuncture is beneficial for the alleviation of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. However, there is a lack of clinical evidence concerning the effects of acupoint-matching on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.Methods/design: This is a parallel randomized controlled trial to evaluate the occurrence of nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy (the incidence of nausea and vomiting, frequency, VAS score, RINVR rating) as the main outcome for cancer. Quality of life, anxiety and depression scores are the secondary outcomes. Quality of life, anxiety and depression scores are the secondary phase. Use of remedy drugs, routine blood examination, and blood biochemical tests are the safety evaluation. We also compare the different effects of ST36 (single acupoint), CV12 (single acupoint), and ST36-CV12 matching groups.Discussion: The results of this trial are expected to explore the effects of matching different acupoints and to offer biologic plausibility for the use of acupuncture in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).Trial Registration: This trial is registered with clinicaltrials.gov NCT02195921 , The date of registration was 17 July 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative delirium is a significant complication in elderly patients. The occurrence of delirium may increase the related physical and psychological risks, delay the length of hospital stays, and even lead to death. According to the current evidence-based model, the application of interdisciplinary intervention may effectively prevent delirium, shorten the length of hospital stays, and save costs. Purpose: To establish a culturally appropriate interdisciplinary intervention model for preventing postoperative delirium in older Chinese patients. Methods: The authors adapted the original version of the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP©) from the Hebrew Senior Life Institute for Aging Research of Harvard University by localizing the content using additional medical resources and translating the modified instrument into Chinese. Furthermore, the final version of this interdisciplinary intervention model for postoperative delirium was developed in accordance with the "guideline of delirium: diagnosis, prevention and management produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in 2010" and the "clinical practice guideline for postoperative delirium in older adults" produced by American geriatrics society in 2014. Finally, the translated instrument was revised and improved using discussions, consultations, and pilot study. Results: The abovementioned procedure generated an interdisciplinary intervention model for preventing postoperative delirium that is applicable to the Chinese medical environment. The content addresses personnel structure and assignment of responsibility; details of interdisciplinary intervention protocols and implementation procedures; and required personnel training. Conclusions: The revised model is expected to decrease the occurrence of post-operative delirium and other complications in elderly patients, to help them maintain and improve their function, to shorten the length of their hospital stays, and to facilitate recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occurrence of MLL (Mixed Lineage Leukemia) gene rearrangements indicates poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. This is the first study to report the positive rate and distribution characteristics of MLL rearrangements in AML patients in north China. We used multiplex nested real time PCR (RT-PCR) to screen for incidence of 11 MLL rearrangements in 433 AML patients. Eleven MLL rearrangements included (MLL-PTD, MLL-AF9, MLL-ELL, MLL-AF10, MLL-AF17, MLL-AF6, MLL-ENL, MLL-AF1Q, MLL-CBP, MLL-AF1P, MLL-AFX1). There were 68 AML patients with MLL rearrangements, and the positive rate was 15.7%. MLL-PTD (4.84%) was detected in 21 patients, MLL-AF9 in 15, (3.46%), MLL-ELL in 10 (2.31%), MLL-AF10 in 8 (1.85%), MLL-AF1Q in 2 (0.46%), 3 cases each of MLL-AF17, MLL-AF6, MLL-ENL (0.69% each), a and single case each of MLL-CBP, MLL-AF1P, and MLL-AFX1 (0.23% each). The highest rate of MLL rearrangements was found in 24 patients with M5 subtype AML, occurring in 24 cases (35.3%). MLL rearrangements occurred in 21 patients with M2 subtype AML (30.9%), and in 10 patients with M4 subtype AML (14.7%). Screening fusion genes by multiplex nested RT-PCR is a convenient, fast, economical, and accurate method for diagnosis and predicting prognosis of AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth elements (REEs) that are key to new technologies and green innovations are critical to life in modern societies. China continues to dominate the global REEs market despite several international trade disputes and market fluctuations. Pressured by an increasingly difficult situation, the Chinese government has been carrying out industry restructuring and has introduced regulatory reforms in recent years to promote the healthy development of the rare earth industry. This paper reviews the literature on the development of the rare earth industry and analyzes the reform policies, combining this with an analysis of relevant macroeconomic data. It discusses the current status of China's rare earth industry, the progress of industrial restructuring and the main problems the rare earth industry faces. The paper discusses the evolution of rare earth policies from that of 'open production and open supply' to that of 'limiting low quality development but encouraging export of high quality rare earths' and then to 'integrating rare earth resources trade'. Six key policies, including those for export quotas, export duties, environmental laws, resource utilization technology, industry consolidation and stockpiling, are discussed in detail. Policy suggestions based on this discussion are put forward concerning the treatment of small rare earth mines in China: firstly, robust efforts to prevent illegal mining must always be maintained; secondly, it is certain that the formation of large-scale conglomerates should be accelerated in the near future; thirdly, the management of key sections should be reinforced; fourthly, support for technological innovation and the development of the applications industry should continue; fifthly, specific rare earths laws and regulations should be greatly improved. The paper also puts forward some suggestions on revisions to improve mineral resources law: firstly, China must increase the market access threshold and suppress low-end excess production capacity; secondly, the new environmental protection verification must be developed for all rare earth enterprises; thirdly, minimum required indicators for the development and utilization of rare earths resources must be implemented in China. These recommendations can serve as a reference for efforts to promote the sustainable development of China's rare earth industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tong Luo Hua Shi (TLHS) is a new formulation of the traditional Tibetan medicine Wu-wei-gan-lu that has been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for hundreds of years in China. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TLHS in patients with RA.Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study performed in patients with active RA from five medical centers. Patients received three doses (4.8, 3.6, or 2.4 g/day po) of TLHS or placebo (tid po) for 8 weeks. Blood sampling, physical examination, and assessment of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 % improvement (ACR20) criteria were performed before and every 2 weeks after starting treatment. The primary endpoint was the ACR20. The secondary endpoints included safety.Results: A total of 240 participants were screened and 236 patients were randomized (n = 59/group); 20 dropped out. After 8 weeks, ACR20 improvements in the TLHS 4.8 g and 3.6 g groups were significantly higher than in the placebo group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). ACR50 improvement in the TLHS 4.8 g group was significantly higher compared with the placebo group (P < 0.01). Symptoms of RA were significantly relieved in the TLHS groups. In the TLHS groups, insomnia (n = 1), gastroenteric reactions (n = 2), arrhythmia (n = 1), and minor hepatic lesion (n = 1) were reported; in the placebo group, hepatic dysfunction (n = 1) was reported (P = 0.878).Conclusions: TLHS improved the symptoms of patients with RA according to the ACR20. Moreover, TLHS was safe.Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-TRC-12003871 . Registered on 1 January 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penetration of mobile phones is nearly saturated in both developing and developed regions. In such a circumstance, how to prevent subscriber churn has become an important issue for today's telecom operators, as the cost to acquire a new subscriber is much higher than that to retain an existing subscriber. In this paper, we propose to leverage the power of big data to mitigate the problem of subscriber churn and enhance the service quality of telecom operators. As the information hub, telecom operators have accumulated a huge volume of valuable data on subscriber behaviors, service usage, and network operations. To enable efficient big data processing, we first build a dedicated distributed cloud infrastructure that integrates both online and offline processing capabilities. Second, we develop a complete churn analysis model based on deep data mining techniques, and utilize inter-subscriber influence to improve prediction accuracy. Finally, we use real datasets obtained from a large telecom operator in China to verify the accuracy of our churn analysis models. The dataset contains the information of over 3.5 million subscribers, which generate over 600 million call detail records (CDRs) per month. The empirical results demonstrate that our proposed method can achieve around 90% accuracy for T + 1 testing periods and identify subscribers with high negative influence successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of energy transition, reference standards are needed to guide the orderly withdrawal of coal-fired power enterprises. This study applies stochastic frontier analysis to measure the technical efficiency, as the reference standard, based on data from all coal-fired power enterprises of a large Chinese power generation group from 2010 to 2015. Meanwhile, in order to make more specific policy recommendations, this paper provides a detailed analysis of the technical efficiency in three aspects: return to scale, operation hours, and regional characteristics. The empirical results show that the average technical efficiency of coal-fired power enterprises is 0.818, which still leaves room for improvement of about 20%; the industry shows slightly decreasing return to scale, which primarily results from enterprises with larger capacity but less operation hours; correlation between efficiency and operation hours varies widely among regions, with South and Northwest China in the greatest need of improving the generation assignment approach; finally, unit coal reduction and equity increase are important ways to improve technical efficiency, and older power enterprises and larger units have greater potential for high-quality power supply. The findings will serve as a reference for policy makers to promote a more effective planning of coal-fired power industry in China. • The average technical efficiency of China's coal-fired enterprises is 0.818. • The coal-fired industry shows decreasing return to scale. • South and Northwest China need to improve the generation allocation approach. • Unit coal, equity, age and unit capacity have significant impact on efficiency. • The results Provide reference for China's coal-fired orderly withdrawal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the analysis of mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experimental data for core plugs, which were drilled from two Chinese tight sandstone reservoirs, permeability prediction models, such as the classical SDR, Timur-Coates, the Swanson parameter, the Capillary Parachor, the R10 and R35 models, are calibrated to estimating permeabilities from field NMR logs, and the applicabilities of these permeability prediction models are compared. The processing results of several field examples show that the SDR model is unavailable in tight sandstone reservoirs. The Timur-Coates model is effective once the optimal T2cutoff can be acquired to accurately calculate FFI and BVI from field NMR logs. The Swanson parameter model and the Capillary Parachor model are not always available in tight sandstone reservoirs. The R35 based model cannot effectively work in tight sandstone reservoirs, while the R10 based model is optimal in permeability prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the distribution of lymphoid neoplasms in China, we conducted a comprehensive analysis, based on subtype, age, sex, and lesion, of primary and resected biopsy specimens of 4,638 lymphoid neoplasms diagnosed from 2004 to 2008 at 5 large hospitals. Of the 4,638 patients, mature B-cell neoplasms accounted for 64.3% of all lymphoid neoplasms, mature T/NK-cell neoplasms for 23.3%, and Hodgkin lymphoma for 8.6%. The most common subtype was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (36.2%), followed by extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (11.0%), classic Hodgkin lymphoma (8.4%), extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (7.7%), plasmacytic neoplasm (5.0%), and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (3.9%). For most lymphoid neoplasm subtypes, male subjects showed higher rates than female subjects. In summary, our study showed that the epidemiologic features of lymphoid neoplasms in China are distinct from those in Western countries and similar in many ways to those in other countries of the Far East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori infection remains common in East Asia, though its prevalence is decreasing in Western countries. H. pylori-related atrophic gastritis (AG) may reduce the likelihood of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We investigated the prevalence of H. pylori infection and AG and their association with endoscopic findings and symptom-defined GERD in Shanghai. A representative random sample of 3600 Shanghai residents aged 18-80 years was invited to complete a general information questionnaire and a Chinese version of the Reflux Disease Questionnaire, to provide blood samples for H. pylori serology and pepsinogen (PG) I/II assay (to detect AG, defined as PGI < 70 µg/L and/or PGI/PGII < 7), and to undergo endoscopy. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by multivariate logistic regression. A total of 1022 Shanghai residents underwent endoscopy and were valid for inclusion in the study. Of these, 71.7% tested positive for H. pylori, 63.8% had AG and 30.5% had moderate/severe AG (PGI < 50 µg/L and/or PGI/PGII < 5). Helicobacter pylori infection was equally common in all age groups. Severity of AG increased with age in women. Reflux esophagitis was inversely associated with AG (OR, 0.23 [CI, 0.09-0.55] for moderate/severe AG compared with no H. pylori or gastritis). However, symptom-defined GERD showed no clear association with AG. Helicobacter pylori infection and AG are very common in Shanghai, and the infection is acquired early in life. Atrophic gastritis is inversely associated with reflux esophagitis but is not significantly associated with symptom-defined GERD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES:Complications of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) are common in China. Population-based estimates of the prevalence of PUD are needed to quantify and characterize the population at risk of these complications.METHODS:As part of a large epidemiological study, 3,600 randomly selected residents of Shanghai (aged 18-80 years) were asked to undergo endoscopy and to provide blood samples for Helicobacter pylori serology. All participants also completed a general information questionnaire and Chinese versions of the reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ) and Rome II questionnaire. Associations between PUD and other factors were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model.RESULTS:In total, 3,153 individuals (87.6%) completed the survey. All underwent blood tests, and 1,030 patients (32.7%) agreed to undergo endoscopy. Results from 1,022 patients were suitable for analysis. In all, 176 participants (17.2%) had PUD (62 with gastric ulcer; 136 with duodenal ulcer). The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 73.3% in the total population and 92.6% among those with PUD. H. pylori infection was associated with the presence of PUD (odds ratio (OR), 6.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.85-16.10). The majority (72.2%) of individuals with PUD had none of the upper gastrointestinal symptoms assessed by the RDQ. PUD was not significantly associated with symptom-defined gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.32-2.03), reflux esophagitis (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 0.76-2.79) or dyspepsia (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 0.94-3.04).CONCLUSIONS:The prevalence of endoscopically confirmed PUD in this Shanghai population (17.2%) is substantially higher than in Western populations (4.1%). The majority of individuals with PUD were asymptomatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that evaluates the chemical components of the leaves of Juglans mandshurica collected from China. It offers details of the method of the study in which the leaf extracts were observed using column chromatography and spectroscopic analysis. The findings show the identification of several components such as ferulic and gallic acid, and hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester.

Although tight sandstone gas formations are abundant in China, their single-well productivities and exploitation efficiencies are restricted by water blocking from drilling and completion. At present, shut-in, chemical additive application, and hydraulic fracturing are the common approaches applied to handle this problem. However, these approaches are also characterized by low efficiencies or even cause secondary damage. In this study, the impact of high temperatures (of up to 800 °C) on the microstructure of a tight sandstone, including water blocking and gas permeability, are investigated through the electric heating of a simulated wellbore. The results show that the threshold temperature for fracturing of the tight sandstone is approximately 450 to 600 °C. Many secondary microcracks emerged near the wellbore beyond this temperature, improving the gas permeability, with some microcracks visible even after cooling. The gas permeability of the formation after heating to 800 °C increased by 456% and 3992% compared with the initial gas permeability and the water-blocking impacted gas permeability, respectively. This study demonstrates that electric heating is a potential method for improving the permeability of tight gas formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the occupational health risk of textile workers in Shanghai, China. A study was conducted to evaluate the correlation of occupational exposures and endometrial cancer of these workers. Researchers found that there were approximately 199,000 women diagnosed with corpus uteri cancer and there were approximately 50,000 deaths. These type of cancer is considered the tenth most common tumor among women in the country. They found that there is an increased risk of endometrial cancer among women who had worked for at least 10 years in silk production and had exposure to silk dust and concluded that their exposure to these chemicals play a vital role in endometrial carcinoma.

The authors evaluated associations between occupational exposures in the textile industry and the risks of esophageal cancer and stomach cancer. The authors conducted a case-cohort study nested in a cohort of female textile workers in Shanghai, China. One hundred and two workers with incident esophageal cancer and 646 workers with incident stomach cancer diagnosed between 1989 and 1998 were compared with an age-stratified reference subcohort (n = 3,188). Work histories were ascertained for all study subjects from factory personnel records or interviews. Exposures were reconstructed for chemicals and dusts by linking work history data with a job-exposure matrix developed for the Shanghai textile industry. Hazard ratios and 95 percent confidence intervals were calculated with Cox proportional hazards modeling adapted for the case-cohort design. Risk of esophageal cancer was associated with long-term (≥10 years) exposure to silica dust (hazard ratio = 15.8, 95% confidence interval: 3.5, 70.6) and metals (hazard ratio = 3.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.9, 7.1). Cumulative exposure to endotoxin, a contaminant of cotton dust, was inversely related to risks of both esophageal cancer (p-trend = 0.01) and stomach cancer (p-trend < 0.001) when exposures were lagged 20 years. Endotoxin has not been previously reported to be a protective factor for either stomach cancer or esophageal cancer and therefore warrants further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dianchi Lake is a eutrophic lake in southwestern China. Sediment and the bottom water samples were taken from six sites in the east, west, south, north and center of the lake, respectively, in December 2002. Total phosphorus (TP) concentrations in sediments were high and reached a maximum value of 6.66 g/kg. There was a soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentration gradient at the sediment–water interface. In the present study, sediment P was divided into loosely adsorbed P (NH4Cl-P), redox-sensitive P (BD-P), metal oxides bound P (NaOH-P), calcium bound P (HCl-P), and organic P (Org-P). At three of the six sites selected, the concentrations of different P forms in sediments followed the order: NaOH-P, Org-P>HCl-P>BD-P>NH4Cl-P in the profile, and in the southern lake the order was HCl-P>NaOH-P, Org-P>BD-P>NH4Cl-P in the top 15 cm layers of the sediments. The sediment profiles showed that different forms of P had an increasing trend upward toward the sediment surface. There is a considerable potential for release from the sediment into the overlying water and sediment P could be the dominant factor determining the trophic status of the lake if the external load is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzes the randomized trial of breast self-examination in Shanghai, China. Estimated effect of breast self-examination on breast-cancer mortality; Impact of breast self-examination on a population-based registry; Role of breast self-examination in early detection of cancer.

Our research targets a subway foundation pit construction project in Nanning, a city in southwestern China. The foundation pit was excavated in the water-rich round gravel stratum. The theoretical calculation was combined with finite-element analysis, which is based on drag coefficient method, to derive the relevant seepage parameters of the stratum. The complex seepage surface was solved through the meshing of virtual grids with fixed nodes. The 3D seepage field around the ground-connecting wall in the pit (hereinafter referred to as the wall) was investigated through finite-element analysis on midas GTS NX. In this way, the author identified the features and law of soil seepage around the wall in the water-rich gravel stratum. The results show that the middle and lower part of the wall were within the sand layer and the gravel layer, both of which are strongly permeable; the seepage rate around the wall peaked in the middle of the wall (0.156 m/sec); there was an obvious seepage effect in the pit; the waterrich gravel stratum had greater seepage water inflow than any other stratum; the pore water migration features could be described accurately by the seepage control equation of the heterogeneous anisotropic porous medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici is the causal agent of wheat yellow rust with records of regular and severe epidemics in China. This study explored the population dynamics of the yellow rust pathogen in Gangu, northwestern China. In Gangu, the Weihe River runs from west to east and divides Gangu into three regions: North and South mountain, with the valley in between. To study the genetic structure of the pathogen in local populations, samples were collected over 3 years from the three regions at different altitudes both within and between the wheat cropping seasons. A total of 811 P. striiformis f. sp. tritici isolates were successfully genotyped using 16 simple sequence repeat markers. The results suggest that P. striiformis f. sp. tritici can survive year-round in Gangu. The P. striiformis f. sp. tritici populations migrated among the regions, and the migration pattern was not related to altitude. The oversummering populations in the North and South mountain regions were genetically different from each other; and the P. striiformis f. sp. tritici populations collected from the lower altitude in the valley had no relationship with any of the populations collected in the spring or fall, indicating that they too have a different origin. Signatures of random mating were found in the populations collected in both North and South mountain regions, but not in the valley populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2015, severe hydropericardium-hepatitis syndrome (HHS) associated with a novel fowl adenovirus 4 (FAdV-4) has emerged in China, representing a new challenge for the poultry industry. Although various highly pathogenic FAdV-4 strains have been isolated, the virulence factor and the pathogenesis of novel FAdV-4 are unclear. In our previous studies, we reported that a large genomic deletion (1,966 bp) is not related to increased virulence. Here, two recombinant chimeric viruses, rHN20 strain and rFB2 strain, were generated from a highly pathogenic FAdV-4 strain by replacing the hexon or fiber-2 gene of a nonpathogenic FAdV-4, respectively. Both chimeric strains showed similar titers to the wild-type strain in vitro. Notably, rFB2 and the wild-type strain induced 100% mortality, while no mortality or clinical signs appeared in chickens inoculated with rHN20, indicating that hexon, but not fiber-2, determines the novel FAdV-4 virulence. Furthermore, an R188I mutation in the hexon protein identified residue 188 as the key amino acid for the reduced pathogenicity. The rR188I mutant strain was significantly neutralized by chicken serum in vitro and in vivo, whereas the wild-type strain was able to replicate efficiently. Finally, the immunogenicity of the rescued rR188I was investigated. Nonpathogenic rR188I provided full protection against lethal FAdV-4 challenge. Collectively, these findings provide an in-depth understanding of the molecular basis of novel FAdV-4 pathogenicity and present rR188I as a potential live attenuated vaccine candidate or a novel vaccine vector for HHS vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Although it is widely believed that China is facing a major shortage of pediatricians, the real situation of the current national status of pediatric human resources and their working conditions has not been evaluated to date. METHODS:We administered a survey to 54 214 hospitals from all 31 provinces in mainland China from 2015 to 2016. Hospital directors of all secondary and tertiary hospitals with pediatric services and a random sample (10%) of primary hospitals provided information on number of pediatricians and their educational levels, specialties, workloads, dropout rates, and other hospital characteristics. A data set of medical resources and socioeconomic information regarding each region (1997-2016) was constructed from the Chinese National Statistics Bureau. The Gini coefficient was used to describe the geographical distributions of pediatricians and hospitals. RESULTS: There were 135 524 pediatricians in China or ~4 pediatricians per 10 000 children. Pediatricians' average educational level was low, with ~32% having only 3 years of junior college training after high school. The distribution of pediatricians was extremely skewed (Gini coefficient 0.61), and the imbalance of highly educated pediatricians was even more skewed (Gini coefficient 0.68). The dropout rate of pediatricians was 12.6%. Despite an increase in the Chinese government's financial investment in health over the last decade, physicians have been burdened with a greater workload. CONCLUSIONS: Uneven development of the pediatric care system, inadequately trained pediatricians, low job satisfaction, and unmet demand for pediatric care are the major challenges facing China's pediatric health care system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]