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This study aimed to investigate the association of religious belief on the postoperative psychological status and quality of life of parents of children with congenital heart disease (CHD). This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a provincial children's hospital in Fujian Province, China. Parents of postoperative children with CHD in the early postoperative period were included in this study between January 2020 and September 2020. The parents were divided into a religious belief group (n = 39) and a nonreligious belief group (n = 42) depending on whether they had religious beliefs. The Religious Coping Questionnaire, WHOQOL-BREF scale, Self-rating depression scale (SDS), and Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) were used to evaluate psychological status and quality of life. The results showed that the SDS and SAS scores in the religious belief group were significantly lower than those in the nonreligious belief group (P = 0.012 and P = 0.003, respectively). The WHOQOL-BREF scale results showed that the religious belief group's score was significantly higher than those in the nonreligious belief group on the subscale scores of physiology, psychology, social relations, and environment on the WHOQOL-BREF. The total score of quality of life in the religious belief group was significantly higher than that in the nonreligious belief group. Religious belief was associated with lower SDS score (β = − 0.324, P = 0.005) and SAS score (β = − 0.245, P = 0.026), while religious belief was positively correlated with the score of WHOQOL-BREF (β = 0.506, P < 0.001). In this study, we concluded that comparing to those with no religious beliefs, parents with religious belief experienced more positive emotions and higher quality of life when taking care of children in the early postoperative period after congenital heart surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface ozone is an important air pollutant detrimental to human health and vegetation productivity, particularly in China. However, high resolution surface ozone concentration data is still lacking, largely hindering accurate assessment of associated environmental impacts. Here, we collected hourly ground ozone observations (over 6 million records), remote sensing products, meteorological data, and social-economic information, and applied recurrent neural networks to map hourly surface ozone data (HrSOD) at a 0.1° × 0.1° resolution across China during 2015–2020. The coefficient of determination (R2) values in sample-based, site-based, and by-year cross-validations were 0.72, 0.65 and 0.71, respectively, with the root mean square error (RMSE) values being 11.71 ppb (mean = 30.89 ppb), 12.81 ppb (mean = 30.96 ppb) and 11.14 ppb (mean = 31.26 ppb). Moreover, it exhibits high spatiotemporal consistency with ground-level observations at different time scales (diurnal, seasonal, annual), and at various spatial levels (individual sites and regional scales). Meanwhile, the HrSOD provides critical information for fine-resolution assessment of surface ozone impacts on environmental and human benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trait-based approaches are of increasing concern in predicting vegetation changes and linking ecosystem structures to functions at large scales. However, a critical challenge for such approaches is acquiring spatially continuous plant functional trait maps. Here, six key plant functional traits were selected as they can reflect plant resource acquisition strategies and ecosystem functions, including specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf N concentration (LNC), leaf P concentration (LPC), leaf area (LA) and wood density (WD). A total of 34 589 in situ trait measurements of 3447 seed plant species were collected from 1430 sampling sites in China and were used to generate spatial plant functional trait maps (∼1 km), together with environmental variables and vegetation indices based on two machine learning models (random forest and boosted regression trees). To obtain the optimal estimates, a weighted average algorithm was further applied to merge the predictions of the two models to derive the final spatial plant functional trait maps. The models showed good accuracy in estimating WD, LPC and SLA, with average R2 values ranging from 0.48 to 0.68. In contrast, both the models had weak performance in estimating LDMC, with average R2 values less than 0.30. Meanwhile, LA showed considerable differences between the two models in some regions. Climatic effects were more important than those of edaphic factors in predicting the spatial distributions of plant functional traits. Estimates of plant functional traits in northeastern China and the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau had relatively high uncertainties due to sparse samplings, implying a need for more observations in these regions in the future. Our spatial trait maps could provide critical support for trait-based vegetation models and allow exploration of the relationships between vegetation characteristics and ecosystem functions at large scales. The six plant functional trait maps for China with 1 km spatial resolution are now available at 10.6084/m9.figshare.22351498 (An et al., 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii is an important economic tree widely cultivated in hilly subtropical areas in China and some parts of Japan and Korea. Crown and root rot was found on T. grandis in Zhejiang Province of China. Three isolates with similar morphology were isolated from diseased samples, and used for identification and pathogenicity tests. The pathogenicity of the isolates was confirmed by fulfilling Koch's postulates. The pathogen was identified as Fusarium commune based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic tree constructed by combining ITS and TEF‐1α gene sequences. This is the first report of F. commune causing crown and root rot on T. grandis in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Can emergency vitrification protect embryos and oocytes during natural disasters or other events that prevent normal practice to achieve satisfactory embryonic development and clinical outcomes at a later time? SUMMARY ANSWER Emergency vitrification of oocytes and Day 0–Day 5 (D0–D5) embryos during disasters is a safe and effective protective measure. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY When some destructive events such as floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other accidents occur, emergency vitrification in embryo laboratories to protect human embryos, oocytes, and sperm is one of the important measures of an IVF emergency plan. However, there are few detailed reports on emergency vitrification in a state of disaster, especially about oocytes and D0 zygotes. Therefore, the effectiveness and safety of emergency vitrification of oocytes and D0–D5 embryos in disaster states are still unclear. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A retrospective study was made in the Reproductive Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to November 2022. The record rainstorms in Zhengzhou, China, caused severe flooding, traffic disruptions, and power outages. From 17:30, 20 July 2021 to 17:30, 21 July 2021, 1246 oocytes and D0–D5 embryos of 155 patients were vitrified whilst the laboratory had only an emergency power supply. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS As of 21 December 2021, 1149 emergency vitrified oocytes and D0–D5 embryos of 124 patients underwent frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET). They were divided into the following four groups according to the days of embryo culture in vitro: oocyte group, Day 0–Day 1 (D0–D1) group, Day 2–Day 3 (D2–D3) group, and Day 4–Day 5 (D4–D5) group. Control groups for each were selected from fresh cycle patients who underwent IVF/ICSI from January 2018 to October 2021. Control and emergency vitrification patients were matched on criteria that included age, fertilization method, days of embryonic development, and number and grade of transferred embryos. A total of 493 control patients were randomly selected from the eligible patients and matched with the emergency vitrification groups in a ratio of 4:1. The results of assisted reproduction and follow-up of pregnancy were analyzed. The embryonic development, clinical outcomes, and birth outcomes in each group were statistically analyzed. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE A significant difference was observed in fertilization rate (81% versus 72%, P  = 0.022) between the oocyte group and the control group. Significant differences were also observed in the monozygotic twin pregnancy rate (10% versus 0%, P  =   0.038) and ectopic pregnancy rate (5% versus 0%, P  =   0.039) between the D0–D1 group and the control group. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between vitrified oocytes/D0–D1 embryos/D2–D3 embryos and the control group on the number of high-quality embryos (3.17 ± 3.00 versus 3.84 ± 3.01, P  =   0.346; 5.04 ± 3.66 versus 4.56 ± 2.87, P  =   0.346; 4.85 ± 5.36 versus 5.04 ± 4.64, P  =   0.839), the number of usable blastocysts (1.22 ± 1.78 versus 1.21 ± 2.03, P  =   0.981; 2.16 ± 2.26 versus 1.55 ± 2.08, P  =   0.090; 2.82 ± 3.23 versus 2.58 ± 3.32, P  =   0.706), clinical pregnancy rate (56% versus 57%, P  =   0.915; 55% versus 55%, P  =   1.000; 40% versus 50%, P  =   0.488), miscarriage rate (30% versus 15%, P  =   0.496; 5% versus 11%, P  =   0.678; 17% versus 20%, P  =   1.000), and live birth rate (39% versus 49%, P  =   0.460; 53% versus 50%, P  =   0.772; 33% versus 40%, P  =   0.635). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between the D4–D5 group and the control group on clinical pregnancy rate (40% versus 55%, P  =   0.645), miscarriage rate (0% versus 18%, P  =   1.000), and live birth rate (40% versus 45%, P  =   1.000) LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The retrospective study design is a limitation. The timing and extent of natural disasters are unpredictable, so the sample size of vitrified oocytes, zygotes, and embryos is beyond experimental control. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This study is the first study analyzing embryonic development, clinical outcomes, and birth outcomes of large samples of oocytes, D0 zygotes, and D1–D5 embryos after emergency vitrification under the disaster conditions. The results show that emergency vitrification is a safe and effective protective measure applicable to oocytes and D0–D5 embryos. The embryology laboratories need to be equipped with an emergency uninterrupted power supply capable of delivering for 6–8 h at full load. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant 81871206). The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. All authors have completed the ICMJE Disclosure form. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of DNA barcoding has been significantly limited by the scarcity of reliable specimens and inadequate coverage and replication across all species. The deficiency of DNA barcode reference coverage is particularly striking for highly biodiverse subtropical and tropical regions. In this study, we present a comprehensive barcode library for woody plants in tropical and subtropical China. Our dataset includes a standard barcode library comprising the four most widely used barcodes (rbcL, matK, ITS, and ITS2) for 2,520 species from 4,654 samples across 49 orders, 144 families, and 693 genera, along with 79 samples identified at the genus level. This dataset also provides a super-barcode library consisting of 1,239 samples from 1,139 species, 411 genera, 113 families, and 40 orders. This newly developed library will serve as a valuable resource for DNA barcoding research in tropical and subtropical China and bordering countries, enable more accurate species identification, and contribute to the conservation and management of tropical and subtropical forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human brucellosis continues to be a great threat to human health in China. The present study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of human brucellosis in China from 2004 to 2019, to analyze the socioeconomic factors, meteorological factors and seasonal effect affecting human brucellosis incidence in different geographical regions with the help of spatial panel model, and to provide a scientific basis for local health authorities to improve the prevention of human brucellosis. Methods: The monthly reported number and incidence of human brucellosis in China from January 2004 to December 2019 were obtained from the Data Center for China Public Health Science. Monthly average air temperature and monthly average relative humidity of 31 provincial-level administrative units (22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 4 municipalities directly under the central government) in China from October 2003 to December 2019 were obtained from the National Meteorological Science Data Centre. The inventory of cattle, the inventory of sheep, beef yield, mutton yield, wool yield, milk yield and gross pastoral product of 31 provincial-level administrative units in China from 2004 to 2019 were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The temporal and geographical distribution of human brucellosis was displayed with Microsoft Excel and ArcMap software. The spatial autocorrelation and hotspot analysis was used to describe the association among different areas. Spatial panel model was constructed to explore the combined effects on the incidence of human brucellosis in China. Results: A total of 569,016 cases of human brucellosis were reported in the 31 provincial-level administrative units in China from January 2004 to December 2019. Human brucellosis cases were concentrated between March and July, with a peak in May, showing a clear seasonal increase. The incidence of human brucellosis in China from 2004 to 2019 showed significant spatial correlations, and hotspot analysis indicated that the high incidence of human brucellosis was mainly in the northern China, particularly in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Heilongjiang. The results from spatial panel model suggested that the inventory of cattle, the inventory of sheep, beef yield, mutton yield, wool yield, milk yield, gross pastoral product, average air temperature (the same month, 2-month lagged and 3-month lagged), average relative humidity (the same month) and season variability were significantly associated with human brucellosis incidence in China. Conclusions: The epidemic area of human brucellosis in China has been expanding and the spatial clustering has been observed. Inner Mongolia and adjacent provinces or autonomous regions are the high-risk areas of human brucellosis. The inventory of cattle and sheep, beef yield, mutton yield, wool yield, milk yield, gross pastoral product, average air temperature, average relative humidity and season variability played a significant role in the progression of human brucellosis. The present study strengthens the understanding of the relationship between socioeconomic, meteorological factors and the spatial heterogeneity of human brucellosis in China, through which 'One Health'-based strategies and countermeasures can be provided for the government to tackle the brucellosis menace. Author summary: Human brucellosis continues to be a great threat to human health in China. It was reported that human brucellosis incidence in China was 4.95/100,000 in 2021, surging from 16th place in 2000 to 5th place in 2021. The present study was designed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of human brucellosis in China from 2004 to 2019, to analyze the socioeconomic factors, meteorological factors, and seasonal effect affecting human brucellosis incidence in different geographical regions. The clear seasonal increase of reported human brucellosis cases between March and July, the spatial clustering situation and the spread of epidemic area from northern to the southern coast and southwestern regions were identified. The inventory of cattle and sheep, beef yield, mutton yield, wool yield, milk yield, gross pastoral product, average air temperature (the same month, 2-month lagged and 3-month lagged), average relative humidity (the same month) and season variability played a significant role in the progression of human brucellosis. Spatial panel model was found to have good applicability and interpretability. As each factor plays a different role in different geographical regions, a comprehensive surveillance system for human brucellosis should be established in conjunction with the relevant risk factors to provide early warning of human and animal epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snowmelt erosion could cause serious damage to soil quality and agricultural production conditions of slope farmland in the black soil region of northeast China. Contour ridge tillage is a traditional and effective measure to mitigate soil loss on slope farmland. However, the characteristics and influence factors of snowmelt erosion of slope farmland with contour ridge culture and the effect of this measure on the snowmelt process have not been comprehensively investigated, especially at the field scale. To bridge the gap, in situ observation was conducted on the snowmelt erosion process of a typical farmland in Baiquan County, Heilongjiang Province, China. The results revealed that during the snowmelt erosion period, the average daily snowmelt runoff volume and sediment concentration exhibited a trend of first increase and then a subsequent decrease. In the early stage, although the sediment concentration was large, limited discharge and soil thaw depths led to minimal soil loss. In the following stage, due to increased runoff and thaw depths, 94% of the total soil loss amount was obtained with an obvious erosion path formed. For each event, when soil thaw depths were shallow, sediment concentration had a high and early peak, whereas a reverse trend was observed when thaw depths increased. The hysteresis relationship of discharge–sediment indicated that the location where snowmelt erosion primarily occurred would change, under the influence of variations in runoff, freeze and thaw action, thaw depths, and micro-topography. The results could provide a guide in the control of soil erosion in seasonal snowmelt-erosion-prone areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2), an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disorder caused by biallelic loss-of-function variants in adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2), has not been systemically investigated in Chinese population yet. We aim to further characterize DADA2 cases in China. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients with DADA2 identified through whole exome sequencing (WES) at seventeen rheumatology centers across China was conducted. Clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, genotype, and treatment response were analyzed. Results: Thirty patients with DADA2 were enrolled between January 2015 and December 2021. Adenosine deaminase 2 enzymatic activity was low in all tested cases to confirm pathogenicity. Median age of disease presentation was 4.3 years and the median age at diagnosis was 7.8 years. All but one patient presented during childhood and two subjects died from complications of their disease. The patients most commonly presented with systemic inflammation (92.9%), vasculitis (86.7%), and hypogammaglobinemia (73.3%) while one patient presented with bone marrow failure (BMF) with variable cytopenia. Twenty-three (76.7%) patients were treated with TNF inhibitors (TNFi), while two (6.7%) underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). They all achieved clinical remission. A total of thirty-nine ADA2 causative variants were identified, six of which were novel. Conclusion: To establish early diagnosis and improve clinical outcomes, genetic screening and/or testing of ADA2 enzymatic activity should be performed in patients with suspected clinical features. TNFi is considered as first line treatment for those with vascular phenotypes. HSCT may be beneficial for those with hematological disease or in those who are refractory to TNFi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is significant enterohepatic circulation (EHC) during the disposition of mycophenolic acid (MPA). The aim of this study was to elucidate factors influencing the EHC of MPA in Chinese adult renal allograft recipients. After 2 weeks of therapy with mycophenolate mofetil or enteric‐coated mycophenolate sodium, blood samples were collected from 125 patients at 0 to 12 hours post‐administration and MPA concentrations were determined. The influence of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) and genetic polymorphisms on MPA exposure and EHC was studied. The Shapley additive explanations method was used to estimate the impact of various factors on the area under the plasma drug concentration–time curve (AUC0–12h) for MPA. An extreme gradient boosting (XGboost) machine learning‐based model was established to predict AUC0–12h. Results showed that the dose‐normalized AUC6–12h (dn‐AUC6–12h) of MPA was significantly lower in patients co‐administered with cyclosporine (CsA) than in patients co‐administered with tacrolimus (TAC) (P <.05). For patients co‐administered with TAC, patients with ABCC2 C‐24T CC or SLCO1B1 T521C TT genotypes had significantly higher values of dn‐AUC6‐12h (P <.05). Patients with SLCO1B3 334T/699G alleles had significantly lower dn‐AUC6–12h values than homozygotes (P <.05). By introducing body weight, age, and EHC‐related factors, including co‐administered CNIs and genetic polymorphism of drug transporters, as covariates in the XGboost machine learning model, the prediction performance of AUC0–12h for MPA in Chinese adult renal allograft recipients can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Left-behind adolescents (LBAs) are adolescents aged 11–18 years who are separated from their parents and left behind in local cities by one or both parents for a period of more than 6 months. LBAs in rural areas are likely to engage in aggressive behavior, which can affect interpersonal relationships, reduce academic performance, and even lead to anxiety and depression. To our knowledge, no studies have examined the mediating effect of resilience and self-esteem on the relationship between negative life events and aggression among Chinese rural LBAs. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the relationship between negative life events and aggression among Chinese rural LBAs and how self-esteem and resilience mediate the association. Methods: Using a stratified random sampling method, 1344 LBAs in Hunan Province of China were investigated. Information was collected by a self-designed sociodemographic questionnaire, Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist, Resilience Scale Chinese Adolescent, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Aggression Scales to assess the psychology of LBAs. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis to estimate direct and indirect effects using bootstrap analysis. Results: Negative life events were significantly related to self-esteem (r = − 0.338), resilience (r = − 0.359), and aggression (r = 0.441). Aggression was directly affected by self-esteem (β = − 0.44) and resilience (β = − 0.34). Negative life events were not only directly related to aggression (β = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.275 ~ 0.398) but also showed an indirect effect on aggression through self-esteem and resilience. The direct effect, total effect and indirect effect of negative life events on aggression through self-esteem and resilience were 0.3364, 0.4344 and 0.0980, respectively. The mediating effect of self-esteem and resilience accounted for 22.56% of the relationship between negative life events and aggression. Conclusions: We found that self-esteem and resilience mediated most negative life events on aggression. It is imperative for educators and families to improve LBAs' self-esteem and resilience to reduce the occurrence of aggression. Future intervention studies should be designed to strengthen self-esteem and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that prone position could improve oxygenation and prevent lung injury. Whether prone position can improve post-extubation clinical outcomes in infants undergoing cardiac surgery is unknown. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of prone position in preventing extubation failure in noninvasively ventilated infants after cardiac surgery. METHODS: Ninety-six infants who were weaned to nasal CPAP after congenital cardiac surgery were randomly divided into 2 groups: the prone position group (n 5 48) and the supine position group (n 5 48). Primary outcomes measured were extubation failure rate within 48 h of extubation and arterial blood gas values within 6 h of a mandatory prone positioning session. Secondary outcomes included nasal trauma, pressure ulcers, pneumothorax, gastroesophageal reflux, abdominal distention, in-hospital mortality, postoperative nasal CPAP duration, and hospital length of stay. RESULTS: Compared with the supine position group, the prone position group had fewer extubation failure infants (2.0% vs 14.5%, P = .02). Arterial blood gas values after 6 h after a mandatory prone positioning session showed that the PaO2 and PaO2/FIO2 in the prone position group were significantly higher than those in the supine position group (PaO2 93.3 ± 8.5 vs 82.5 ± 9.1, P < .05; PaO2/FIO2 255.8 ± 23.6 vs 235.8 ± 20.7, P < .05). Moreover, nasal CPAP duration and total hospital length of stay in the prone position group were significantly shorter than those in the supine position group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In infants supported with nasal CPAP following cardiac surgery, prone positioning improved postextubation oxygenation, helped reduced extubation failure, and reduced the duration of nasal CPAP ventilation and total hospital length of stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective In this study, short-term prognosis of cerebral revascularization was evaluated by comparative analysis of patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) with different disease types and different bypass. Methods A total of 44 patients with MMD treated in Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2010 to October 2011 were enrolled. All patients underwent cerebral revascularization. The improvement of neurological function was evaluated by National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 3 months after surgery, and the improvement of clinical symptoms was observed. DSA or CTA were reviewed to determine whether the bridge vessels were unobstructed and surgical complications were recorded. Results DSA or CTA reexamination showed that the anastomosis was unobstructed, and no surgical complications occurred. Patients with MMD were divided into 3 groups according to the onset type: ischemic, hemorrhagic and mixed. Compared with hemorrhagic type and mixed type, neurological function improved 3 months after surgery in patients with ischemic type (χ² = 3.853, P = 0.001; χ² = 4.110, P = 0.001) and improvement of clinical symptoms (χ² = 3.934, P = 0.000; χ² = 4.138, P = 0.000) were better. According to the operation type, the patients were divided into 4 groups: anterior-frontal, anterior-temporal, posterior-frontal and posterior-temporal bypass. The improvement of neurological function in anterior-frontal bypass group was higher than that in anterior-temporal bypass group (χ² = 2.079, P = 0.038). The improvement of neurological function and clinical symptoms in posterior-frontal bypass group were higher than those in anterior-temporal bypass group (χ² = 2.909; P = 0.004; x= 2.812, P = 0.005), and those in posterior-frontal bypass group were also higher than those in posterior-temporal bypass group (χ² = 2.295, P = 0.022; χ² = 2.580, P = 0.010). Conclusions Compared with the other 2 groups, symptoms of ischemic MMD may improved better than before, and the intraoperative selection of posterior-frontal and anterior-frontal bypass may be better than anterior-temporal and posterior-temporal bypass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Extubation early in the postoperative period is beneficial to the recovery and rehabilitation of patients. This study compared the postoperative extubation failure rates among infants who received postextubation respiratory support by either bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) or nasal CPAP following cardiac surgery. METHODS: This was a single-center randomized controlled trial registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (number ChiCTR2000041453) and was conducted between January 2020 and March 2021. Ventilated infants who underwent cardiac surgery were randomized to either a BPAP or a nasal CPAP group for ventilatory support following extubation. The primary outcome measure was the extubation failure rate within 48 h. RESULTS: The analyses included 186 subjects. Treatment failure necessitating re-intubation was noted in 14 of the 93 infants (15%) in the BPAP group and in 11 of the 93 infants (12%) in the nasal CPAP group (P = .52). Moreover, there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups regarding the duration of noninvasive ventilation (P = .54), total enteral feeding time (P = .59), or complications (P = .85). We found that both the BPAP group and the nasal CPAP group showed significantly improved oxygenation and relief of respiratory distress after treatment. However, the ... level within 24 h was significantly lower in the BPAP group (P = .001) than in the CPAP group. Additionally, the ... in the BPAP group was significantly higher than in the nasal CPAP group at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h after treatment (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The introduction of BPAP for postextubation respiratory support was not inferior to nasal CPAP in infants after cardiac surgery. Moreover, BPAP was shown to be superior to nasal CPAP in improving oxygenation and carbon dioxide clearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cropland redistribution to marginal land has been reported worldwide; however, the resulting impacts on environmental sustainability have not been investigated sufficiently. Here we investigated the environmental impacts of cropland redistribution in China. As a result of urbanization-induced loss of high-quality croplands in south China (∼8.5 t ha–1), croplands expanded to marginal lands in northeast (∼4.5 t ha–1) and northwest China (∼2.9 t ha–1) during 1990–2015 to pursue food security. However, the reclamation in these low-yield and ecologically vulnerable zones considerably undermined local environmental sustainability, for example increasing wind erosion (+3.47%), irrigation water consumption (+34.42%), fertilizer use (+20.02%) and decreasing natural habitats (−3.11%). Forecasts show that further reclamation in marginal lands per current policies would exacerbate environmental costs by 2050. The future cropland security risk will be remarkably intensified because of the conflict between food production and environmental sustainability. Our research suggests that globally emerging reclamation of marginal lands should be restricted and crop yield boost should be encouraged for both food security and environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Are blastocyst culture and cryopreservation in ART associated with chromosomal abnormalities in miscarried products of conception (POC)?Summary Answer: Frozen blastocyst transfer in women aged 35 years or older and frozen embryo transfer (ET) (including both cleavage-stage embryo and blastocyst) in women aged <35 years are associated with decreased frequencies of embryonic chromosomal abnormalities in miscarried POC.What Is Known Already: Blastocyst culture and embryo cryopreservation have been previously associated with favorable ART treatment outcomes and widely applied in clinical practice. However, the association between these embryo manipulation procedures and embryonic chromosomal abnormalities has not been evaluated to the best of our knowledge.Study Design, Size, Duration: This retrospective study included a total of 720 patients who underwent IVF/ICSI, and the retained POC were obtained. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) of all miscarried conceptuses was performed.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: This study was based on the Clinical Reproductive Medicine Management System/Electronic Medical Record Cohort Database (CCRM/EMRCD) at our center. In total, 720 miscarried POCs were collected from patients undergoing ART (including fresh cleavage-stage ET, fresh blastocyst transfer, frozen cleavage-stage ET and frozen blastocyst transfer), and the incidences and profiles of cytogenetic abnormalities in the miscarried conceptuses were measured via SNP-based CMA.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: The chromosomal abnormality rate in POC varied from 33.7% to 66.7% among the different ET strategies. In the patients aged ≥35 years, frozen blastocyst transfer was significantly associated with a lower incidence of chromosomal aberrations in the POCs (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.171 (95% CI: 0.040-0.738); P = 0.018) than fresh blastocyst transfer. In the patients aged <35 years, frozen ET was significantly associated with a lower incidence of chromosomal aberrations than fresh ET in both cleavage-stage ET cycles and blastocyst transfers cycles (aOR: 0.545 (0.338-0.879), P = 0.013; and aOR: 0.357 (0.175-0.730), P = 0.005, respectively). Trisomy was the most frequent abnormal embryonic karyotype in the different ET strategies, and its frequency significantly differed among strategies (P < 0.05).Limitations, Reasons For Caution: This study was retrospectively designed, and we cannot draw any definite conclusions from our results regarding the adequate safety of embryo cryopreservation in ongoing pregnancy.Wider Implications Of the Findings: To our knowledge, this is the first study assessing the associations of ET strategies with the probability of miscarriage associated with embryonic chromosomal abnormalities. However, the underlying mechanism of these associations is unknown; this study may promote research concerning ET strategies and promote comprehensive consultations and recommendations for patients.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.81571409), Science and Technology Research Project of Henan (Grant No. 172102310009) and Medical Science and Technology Research Project of Henan (Grant No. 201701005). The authors declare no competing interests.Trial Registration Number: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw returning usually gives rise to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the soil, and thus negatively affects carbon footprint (CF) of crop production. Numerous studies reported the effects of straw returning on the CF from single crop production. However, little is known about the integrated effects of different levels of straw returning on the CF and net ecosystem economic benefits (NEEB) from rice-wheat rotation. Here, we investigated the effects of different amounts of straw returning on soil CH4 and N2O emissions, GHG emissions from agricultural inputs (AIGHG), CF, and NEEB from a 2-year cycle of rice-wheat rotation. The CF was determined based on the total GHG emissions associated with crop production inputs and services. Overall, straw returning significantly increased annual CH4 emissions by 5.4–72.2% and reduced annual N2O emissions by 3.3–31.4% compared with straw removal. Straw returning remarkably increased rice grain yields by 8.1–9.9% and wheat grain yields by 10.2–21.1% compared with straw removal. The average annual AIGHG from rice-wheat rotation ranged from 3579 to 4987 kg CO2-eq ha–1. Diesel consumption played a dominant role in the AIGHG. The annual CF ranged from 0.96 to 1.31 kg CO2-eq kg–1 and increased with increasing straw returning amounts. The NEEB, which ranged from 14161 to 17413 CNY ha–1, was significantly affected by the levels of straw returning. The treatment with returning of 1/3 of preceding crop straw to the field (2.19–2.47 kg ha−1 year−1 of rice straw in the wheat season and 1.38–1.68 kg ha−1 year−1 of wheat straw in the rice season) resulted in relatively higher grain yield, the lowest CF, and the highest NEEB among all treatments, and thus can reduce CF, and increase grain yields and NEEB, and thus can be recommended as a sustainable approach to mitigate GHG emissions and increase economic benefits from rice-wheat rotation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balancing crop production and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture soil requires a better understanding and quantification of crop GHG emissions intensity, a measure of GHG emissions per unit crop production. Here we conduct a state‐of‐the‐art estimate of the spatial‐temporal variability of GHG emissions intensities for wheat, maize, and rice in China from 1949 to 2012 using an improved agricultural ecosystem model (Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model‐Agriculture Version 2.0) and meta‐analysis covering 172 field‐GHG emissions experiments. The results show that the GHG emissions intensities of these croplands from 1949 to 2012, on average, were 0.10–1.31 kg CO2‐eq/kg, with a significant increase rate of 1.84–3.58 × 10–3 kg CO2‐eq kg−1 year−1. Nitrogen fertilizer was the dominant factor contributing to the increase in GHG emissions intensity in northern China and increased its impact in southern China in the 2000s. Increasing GHG emissions intensity implies that excessive fertilizer failed to markedly stimulate crop yield increase in China but still exacerbated soil GHG emissions. This study found that overfertilization of more than 60% was mainly located in the winter wheat–summer maize rotation systems in the North China Plain, the winter wheat–rice rotation systems in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and southwest China, and most of the double rice systems in the South. Our simulations suggest that roughly a one‐third reduction in the current N fertilizer application level over these "overfertilization" regions would not significantly influence crop yield but decrease soil GHG emissions by 29.60%–32.50% and GHG emissions intensity by 0.13–0.25 kg CO2‐eq/kg. This reduction is about 29% and 5% of total agricultural soil GHG emissions in China and the world, respectively. This study suggests that improving nitrogen use efficiency would be an effective strategy to mitigate GHG emissions and sustain China's food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that early-follicular phase long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist long protocol (EFLL), a popular controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocol widely used in China, leads to higher rates of implantation and clinical pregnancy, as well as lower rates of spontaneous abortion and ectopic pregnancy in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment. However, the impact of EFLL on euploid embryos and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To address these gaps of knowledge, we conducted a retrospective comparative study of 310 preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) cycles with a total of 1,541 embryos using the EFLL protocol or midluteal short-acting GnRH agonist long protocol (MLSL). Patients were matched by PGT subtype [aneuploidies (PGT-A) vs. PGT for chromosomal structural rearrangements (PGT-SR)], age (±2 years), and body mass index (±1 kg/m2). For PGT-A, there was no significant difference in the number of euploid embryos (1.80 ± 1.47 for EFLL vs. 1.84 ± 2.03 for MLSL, p > 0.05) or the rate of euploidy (44.6 vs. 36.9%, p > 0.05). For PGT-SR, the number of euploid embryos in the EFLL group was significantly higher than that in the MLSL group (1.76 ± 1.54 vs. 1.21 ± 1.24, p < 0.05). A higher euploidy rate was also observed with the EFLL protocol compared with that obtained in MLSL (31.9 vs. 25.7%), although the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Compared with the MLSL protocol, more euploid embryos were achieved when using the EFLL protocol in PGT-SR, demonstrating the value in PGT-SR. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first one to compare embryonic outcomes between EFLL and MLSL, providing key insights into the clinical application of EFLL in PGT cycles. In the light of the limited sample size of our study, we recommend that these questions be explored using a larger prospective study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel coronavirus pneumonia COVID-19 is caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which is highly contagious, has a long incubation period, and can be detected in patients' tears and conjunctival secretions. In this study, we describe our experience regarding the necessary protective measures that need to be taken during ophthalmic examination and treatment. The authors reviewed the clinical work arrangements during the epidemic situation at the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in China and analyzed the prevention and control measures that were applied during the laser corneal refractive surgery process. The comprehensive protection protocol, which was established throughout the entire process, included both horizontal (medical staff-patient, medical staff-medical staff, and patient-patient) and vertical (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative transmission assessment) approach and was mainly focused on strengthening the protection against potential aerosol transmission that may occur during intraocular pressure measurements and laser ablation. The described and proposed protocol, along with the further guidelines followed by the medical personnel, proved to be efficacious and contributed significantly to the control of the COVID-19 outbreak and the protection of both the patients and the medical staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is a huge technology gap between regions in Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, which is the reality that must be faced. However, most of the available researches on innovation efficiency are based on the logic of a given technology level, ignoring the regional technological gap. This paper will stand from the perspective of technology gap and re-examine the innovation efficiency of pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in different regions of China and its impact on regional industrial competitiveness. Methods: We use the DEA-BCC input-oriented model to measure innovation efficiency of 28 provinces from the data of China's pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. The threshold model is constructed, with technology level as the threshold variable, innovation efficiency as the main explanatory variable, and industrial competitiveness as the dependent variable. In the threshold model, 28 regions are divided into three technical groups, and further, the impact of innovation efficiency on industrial competitiveness in different groups is analyzed and compared. Results: According to the empirical research results, an U-shaped efficiency trap has been found in Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, and the areas with medium technical level are at the bottom of the trap. The improvement of innovation efficiency does not necessarily promote the improvement of regional industrial competitiveness. Only in high-level and low-level technology groups, innovation efficiency has effectively promoted the improvement of industrial competitiveness. In addition, the intensity of R&D investment has a similar impact on industrial competitiveness. Conclusions: The findings suggest that, regions in the efficiency trap should strive to seek opportunities for industrial transformation and focus on the industrial transformation of new technology, new industry and new opportunities, instead of blindly pursuing R&D investment intensity and superstitious innovation efficiency. So as to free up innovation resources for high-quality technological innovation in other regions. In addition, the Chinese government should make use of its public hospital system to normalize and expand the centralized drug procurement and eliminate the low-quality innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene flow is an important evolutionary force that enables adaptive responses of plant pathogens in response to changes in the environment and plant disease management strategies. In this study, we made a direct inference concerning gene flow in the Irish famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans between two of its hosts (potato and tomato) as well as between China and India. This was done by comparing sequence characteristics of the eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha (eEF‐1α) gene, generated from 245 P. infestans isolates sampled from two countries and hosts. Consistent with previous results, we found that eEF‐1α gene was highly conserved and point mutation was the only mechanism generating any sequence variation. Higher genetic variation was found in the eEF‐1α sequences in the P. infestans populations sampled from tomato compared to those sampled from potato. We also found the P. infestans population from India displayed a higher genetic variation in the eEF‐1α sequences compared to China. No gene flow was detected between the pathogen populations from the two countries, which is possibly attributed to the geographic barrier caused by Himalaya Plateau and the minimum cross‐border trade of potato and tomato products. The implications of these results for a sustainable management of late blight diseases are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: When evaluating agricultural policy changes, much of the attention in the literature has been limited to agricultural productivity growth. This study demonstrates that, under a regionally decentralised authority system, the effect of China's abolition of the agricultural tax (AAT) in 2004–05 extended beyond the realm of agriculture. We find that, following the AAT reform, Chinese counties with higher reliance on agricultural taxation for budgetary revenue prior to the AAT reform experienced higher agricultural economic growth, as expected, but lower non‐agricultural economic growth in the short run. This growth‐inhibiting effect of the AAT reform on non‐agricultural production in the short run can be explained, to some extent, by the increased non‐agricultural taxation due to the insufficient funds that Chinese county governments received from the upper‐level governments following the AAT reform; the magnitude of this tax increase was associated with the degree to which each county relied on agricultural taxation for budgetary revenue prior to the reform. In addition, our results show that the AAT reform resulted in a high level of regional inequality in terms of non‐agricultural GDP per capita. In summary, our study shows that although the AAT reform succeeded in promoting agricultural production, such accomplishments were achieved at the cost of lower non‐agricultural output growth and higher regional inequality of non‐agricultural GDP per capita at the county level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the association of working hours and occupational physical activity (OPA) with the occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in a Chinese population. Methods: A total of 595 participants (354 and 241 patients with and without CHD, respectively) aged between 24 and 65 were enrolled in our study, which was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between December 2015 and October 2016. Participant characteristics were collected from face-to-face questionnaires, and logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association of working hours and OPA with the occurrence of CHD. Results: Compared with non-employed people, long working hours (especially ≥55 hours/week) contributed to the occurrence of CHD (adjusted odds ratio[OR] = 2.213, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.125, 4.355, P = 0.021) after multivariate adjustment in the Chinese population. With the extension of worktime, the CHD risk increased (P for the dose-response trend = 0.022). Meanwhile, even after adjusting for engagement in physical activity during leisure time, sedentary behavior at work had an adverse effect on CHD risk (adjusted OR = 2.794, 95%CI: 1.526, 5.115, P = 0.001), and a linear relationship was also found between OPA and CHD (P for the trend = 0.005). Conclusions: Long working hours and sedentary behavior at work are associated with a high risk of CHD. In addition, prolonged working hours in sedentary occupations increases the risk of CHD, independent of engagement in leisure time physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cai, L.; Wang, Y.; Li, X.; Shi, H.; Jiao, H.; Sun, Y., and Wang, Y., 2015. Temporal characteristics of community structure of zooplankton in Luanjiaoyang Seas, China. The Luanjiaoyang Seas are an important part of the East China Sea with rich fishery resources and a good ecological environment. In this study, spatial and temporal characteristics of the community structures of Zooplankton in the Luanjiaoyang Seas, Ningbo were described, including diversity index and environmental factors by using quantitative and qualitative methods. Sampling was carried out in December 2011 and in April, July, and October 2012. The results showed that of 104 species, Copepods, Protozoa and Planktonic larvaeas accounted for 53, 18 and 14 species respectively. The species number was at a maximum in summer and at a minimum in spring and this abundance applied to sites near the coast, the farther coast sites and the farthest coast sites. The results showed that the pattern of the community was significantly different, and the differences in the community were beyond 75%. The Margalef richness index ( d) ranged from 0.32 to 1.17 (average 0.83); the Shannon-Weiner diversity index ( H') range from 1.92 to 3.74 (average 2.74); the Pielou evenness index ( J) ranged from 1.21 to 1.39 (average 1.28); while the Simpson index ( D) averaged 0.80. The sea community was stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Twenty antibiotics were investigated in the study area. [•] Antibiotic levels varied with locations and seasons. [•] A positive correlation between quinolone concentration and TOC was found. [•] The concentration of quinolones at one site exceeded the VICH trigger value. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To better understand the origin, migration, and evolution of melts in the lithospheric mantle and their roles on the destruction of the North China Craton (NCC), we conducted a petrological and geochemical study on a quartz-bearing orthopyroxene-rich websterite xenolith from Hannuoba, the NCC, and its hosted melt and fluid inclusions. Both clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene in the xenolith contain lots of primary and secondary inclusions. High-temperature microthermometry of melt inclusions combined with Raman spectroscopy analyses of coexisting fluid inclusions shows that the entrapment temperature of the densest inclusions was ~1215°C and the pressure ~11.47 kbar, corresponding to a depth of ~38 km, i.e. within the stability of the spinel lherzolite. Intermediate pressure inclusions probably reflect progressive fluid entrapment over a range of depths during ascent, whereas the low-pressure inclusions (P < 2 kbar) may represent decrepitated primary inclusions.Insitulaser-ablation ICP-MS analyses of major and trace elements on individual melt inclusions show that the compositions of these silicate melt inclusions in clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene are rich in SiO2, Al2O3, and alkalis but poor in TiO2and strongly enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs) and large ion lithophile elements (LILEs), with negative anomalies of high-field strength elements (HFSEs). These characteristics suggest that the silica-rich melts could be derived from the partial melting of subducted oceanic slab. Therefore, this kind of quartz-bearing orthopyroxene-rich websterite may be produced by interaction between the slab-derived melts with the mantle peridotite. This study provides direct evidence for the origin, migration, and evolution of melts in the lithospheric mantle, which may play an important role in the destruction of the NCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is critical to study how different forest management practices affect forest carbon sequestration under global climate change regime. Previous researches focused on the stand-level forest carbon sequestration with rare investigation of forest carbon stocks influenced by forest management practices and climate change at regional scale. In this study, a general integrative approach was used to simulate spatial and temporal variations of woody biomass and harvested biomass of forest in China during the 21st century under different scenarios of climate and CO concentration changes and management tasks by coupling Integrated Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon budget (InTEC) model with Global Forest Model (G4M). The results showed that forest management practices have more predominant effects on forest stem stocking biomass than climate and CO concentration change. Meanwhile, the concurrent future changes in climate and CO concentration will enhance the amounts of stem stocking biomass in forests of China by 12%-23% during 2001-2100 relative to that with climate change only. The task for maximizing stem stocking biomass will dramatically enhance the stem stocking biomass from 2001-2100, while the task for maximum average increment will result in an increment of stem stocking biomass before 2050 then decline. The difference of woody biomass responding to forest management tasks was owing to the current age structure of forests in China. Meanwhile, the sensitivity of long-term woody biomass to management practices for different forest types (coniferous forest, mixed forest and deciduous forest) under changing climate and CO concentration was also analyzed. In addition, longer rotation length under future climate change and rising CO concentration scenario will dramatically increase the woody biomass of China during 2001-2100. Therefore, our estimation indicated that taking the role of forest management in the carbon cycle into the consideration at regional or national level is very important to project the forest carbon sequestration under future climate change and rising atmospheric CO concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the China Seas, the Yellow Sea has the highest occurrence frequency of sea fog that can be categorized into widespread sea fog and coastal sea fog. In this paper, we study a typical coastal sea fog along the Shandong Peninsula that is accompanied by sea-land breezes. Based on a series of numerical experiments conducted by the Weather Research and Forecasting model with high spatial resolution, the impacts of the sea–land breezes on the formation and development of sea fog are investigated in detail. The land breeze can act as an accelerator that enhances humidification and cooling near the coast which promotes sea fog formation during the nighttime, resulting from nearshore vapor convergence and offshore cool-air transportation jointly by the descending branch and low-level breeze of the land breeze circulation. During the daytime, the sea breeze acts as a reducer that inhibits sea fog development, including the contraction of fog area caused by onshore advection of the sea breeze on cloud liquid water, and the restraint of fog vertical growth due to warming and drying by the descending branch of the sea breeze circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afforestation projects were applied in the Poyang Lake Basin of China at the beginning of 1980s. The large-scale plantation may dramatically influence the changes in carbon storage of forests in this basin. Therefore, climate-induced variations in the carbon balance of the Poyang Lake Basin's forests may play an important role in the carbon cycle of China. However, we have little understanding of their long-term behavior, especially the future trend of carbon sink/source patterns under climate change and rising atmospheric CO2. The annual carbon budget of the Poyang Lake Basin's forests during 1981-2050 was estimated by using the Integrated Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon-budget model (InTEC) coupled with projected climate change simulated by Regional Integrated Environmental Model System (RIEMS 2.0). During 1981-2000, the rapid increment of annual NPP in this basin was possible due to large plantation. Soil organic carbon storage (0-30cm) of forests generally decreased by 1.0% per year at the beginning of plantation. Moreover, forests in this basin converted from carbon source in 1980s to carbon sink in 1990s. By 2040-2050, total carbon stocks of forest ecosystems will increase by 0.78Pg C, compared to recent years (2001-2010). Under future climate and CO2 concentration in A1B scenario, NEP of forests in Poyang Lake Basin lean to keep relative stable (20-30Tg C y-1) because of old forests except for some years induced by extreme droughts. Our results also showed that prediction of NEP of forests in Poyang Lake Basin was controlled by water limitation; in contrast, temperature was the main factor on inter-annual variability of NPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Recent studies have identified chronic kidney disease (CKD) as an important risk factor for vasculopathies. While the link between CKD and cardiovascular events is well established, the link with cerebrovascular lesions (CVL) has been less well described.Methods. We studied the prevalence and prognostic importance of CKD in 1014 incident Chinese patients admitted with verified computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) CVL (within the last 7 days). Laboratory data included the urinary microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio, routine urinalysis, fasting plasma glucose, serum creatinine, uric acid and other measures. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated (using the modification of diet in renal disease formula) and CKD stages were classified according to kidney disease outcome quality initiative (K/DOQI) guidelines. Patients were followed for 30 days and any neurological sequelae were recorded.Results. A total of 1014 patients were enrolled (455 females, aged 68.56 ±12.17 years). Among these, 708 had ischemic stroke, 197 hemorrhagic stroke and 109 had transient cerebral ischemic attack. Microalbuminuria was detected in 11.2% of patients, while 24.8% had proteinuria. Of all patients, 6.90% had Stage 1, 14.69% Stage 2, 21.60% Stage 3, 2.56% Stage 4 and 1.97% had Stage 5, giving a total prevalence of CKD at 47.7%. In logistic regression, proteinuria (odds ratio = 1.69), hyperglycemia (odds ratio = 1.67) and anemia (odds ratio = 1.37) were independent predictors for risk of sequelae at 30 days for both ischemic and non-ischemic CVL.Conclusion. We report a high prevalence of CKD among Chinese patients with incident CVL. Proteinuria, hyperglycemia and anemia were prognostic factors in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Coal production in China accounts for 1/3 of total output in the world, and nearly half of China’s output is extracted in thick coal seams. Therefore, it is significant to study fully mechanized mining technology in thick coal seams. The development, current situation, and issue of slicing mining, top-coal caving, and coal seams cutting sufficient height with fully mechanized mining technology are systematically analyzed in this paper. According to result of analysis, the prospect of development of fully mechanized mining technology in thick coal seams is discussed. Especially, authors have represented the key problems which block the development of fully mechanized mining technology in thick coal seams. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses a study regarding the chemical constituents of Rabdosia nervosa , a perennial herb distributed in the south of China, and their cytotoxic activity. It says that the structures of the compounds were determined using spectral data, and the crude compound was purified through repeated chromatography on a silica gel. The study obtained information on diterpenoids cytotoxic activity for various cancer cells.

Currently, the effects of different tillage modes on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, carbon footprint (CF), energy budget and net ecosystem economic efficiency (NEEE) in rice fields remain unclear. In the present study, three tillage modes were tested, including rice conventional cultivation with intensive till (CT), conventional flat cultivation with no-till (FNT) and ridge cultivation with no-till (RNT) in Dafasi town, Wuxue city, Hubei province, China. This study for the first time evaluates the effects of RNT on agricultural GHG emissions, grain yield, CF, energy budget and NEEE. Compared with CT and FNT, RNT reduced the soil CH 4 emissions by 29.5% and 9.9%, respectively. CT resulted in 15.8% and 23.1% lower total GHG emissions than FNT and RNT, respectively, due to lower soil CH 4 emissions. Moreover, RNT significant decreased the CF by 35.7% and 18.2% relative to CT and FNT, respectively. The net energy, energy efficiency and energy productivity under RNT were 41.2%, 25.0% and 26.7% higher than those under CT, respectively, while the specific energy under RNT was 24.7% lower than that under CT. The NEEE under RNT was 1.66 and 1.20 folds of that under CT and FNT, respectively. In conclusion, this study recommends that RNT is an environmentally safe tillage mode for reducing GHG emissions and CF, and improving energy use efficiency and NEEE for rice production in China and similar agro-eco-regions elsewhere in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the association between ambient air pollutant exposure during the follicular phase and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. A single-center retrospective analysis. Henan Province, China. Patients (n = 6659) living in Zhengzhou, Henan Province in central China who underwent their first IVF cycle at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between 2013 and 2019 were included for analysis. None. The relationships between PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and AQI (Air Quality Index) with IVF outcomes during the follicular phase (period I, 85 days before oocyte retrieval; period II, gonadotrophin start to oocyte retrieval). Compared with the bottom tertile, exposure to the top PM 2.5 and PM 10 tertiles during period I was associated with decreased clinical pregnancy (PM 2.5 : adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.838%, and 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.723 and 0.971; PM 10 : adjusted OR, 0.818%, and 95% CI, 0.705 and 0.950), and decreased live birth rate (PM 2.5 : adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.852%, and 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.736 and 0.987; PM 10 : adjusted OR, 0.850%, and 95% CI, 0.733 and 0.986), and exposure to the top PM 2.5 tertile during period II adversely affected clinical pregnancy and the live birth rate (adjusted OR, 0.824%, and 95% CI, 0.711 and 0.955; adjusted OR, 0.817%, and 95% CI, 0.706 and 0.945). Compared with the bottom PM 10 tertile, exposure to the middle PM 10 tertile in period II showed decreased clinical pregnancies and live births (adjusted OR, 0.844; 95% CI, 0.729 and 0.978, adjusted OR, 0.846; 95% CI, 0.731 and 0.979). The PM 10 level during period II of the follicular phase tend to adversely affect live birth rate, but the tendency did not reach significance (P = 0.051). Exposure to PM 2.5 and PM 10 before oocyte retrieval has an adverse effect on IVF outcomes. Exposure to PM 2.5 and PM 10 before oocyte retrieval has an adverse effect on IVF outcomes. • During pre85, top PM 2.5 and PM 10 tertiles exposure was associated with decreased clinical pregnancy and live birth rate. • During COH, top PM 2.5 tertile exposure adversely affected clinical pregnancy and the live birth rate. • During COH, PM 10 level tend to adversely affect live birth rate, but the tendency did not reach significance(P=0.051). • No significant association was found between AQI levels and reproductive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryland montane forests conserve water for people living in the fluvial plains. The fate of these forests under climate warming is strongly affected by local environmental factors. The question remains of how internal factors contribute to climate change impacts on forest growth in these regions. Here, we investigated tree ring records for similar-aged stand-grown trees and their neighboring open-grown trees at elevation in a dryland montane forest (Picea crassifolia Kom.) in northwestern China. The growth rate of open-grown trees is much higher than their neighboring stand-grown trees across the entire elevation gradient, and the lower the altitude, the greater the difference. Open-grown trees at different elevations showed similar growth patterns, as tree growth at all sites was accelerated over time. In contrast, growth patterns of stand-grown trees were divergent at different altitudes, as growth at high elevations (3100–3300 m a.s.l.) was accelerated, whereas growth at low elevations (2700–2900 m a.s.l.) became stable after the year 1990. Analysis of growth–climate relationships indicated that warming promoted open-grown tree growth across the entire altitude gradient, and also stand-grown tree growth at high elevations, but negatively affected the growth of stand-grown trees at low elevations. Water scarcity can be exacerbated by competition within forests, inhibiting the warming-induced benefits on tree growth. Moving window correlation analysis suggested the negative effect of warming on tree growth at low elevations was diminished after the late 1990s, as the drought stress was alleviated. Our research shows the divergent growth responses to warming of stand-grown and open-grown trees along elevation. It reveals effects of internal factors in determining tree growth response to warming and holds the potential to aid forest management and ecosystem models in responding to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a common and severe complication for patients undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET. Melatonin widely participates in the regulation of female reproductive endocrine activity. However, whether melatonin participates in the progression of OHSS is largely unknown. This study aims to identify the predictive value of follicular fluid (FF) melatonin for OHSS establishment and the underlying mechanism. Methods: All participants of this case-control study were enrolled at the Reproductive Medicine Center located in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in China from January to October in 2017. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were used to examine the mRNA and protein levels. Primary granulosa cells were extracted and cultured for in vitro studies. Melatonin concentration was measured by ELISA. Logistic analysis and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the predicting value of melatonin on OHSS occurrence. Main outcome measures: The expression level of melatonin receptor 2 (MT2), P450 aromatase cytochrome (aromatase), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in human primary granulosa cells. The concentration of melatonin in FF. The predicting value of melatonin on OHSS and the cut-off value of the prediction. Results: FF melatonin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with OHSS compared to non-OHSS group (35.94 ± 10.18 ng/mL vs 23.93 ± 10.94 ng/mL, p<0.001). The expression of MT2 mRNA (p = 0.0459) and protein in granulosa cells was also significantly higher in the OHSS group. When using a cut-off level of 27.52 ng/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of FF melatonin to predict OHSS was 84.6 and 74.0%, respectively (p < 0.0001). We also found that melatonin could up-regulates aromatase mRNA, VEGF mRNA expression and down-regulates iNOS mRNA expression in the granulosa cells. Conclusion: OHSS patients have higher melatonin in the FF as well as higher MT2 expression in the granulosa cells. The melatonin in FF might be used as an effective predictor for the occurrence of OHSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal snowmelt water from mountainous areas is critical for water supply in arid regions. Snowmelt profoundly affects the parameterization of the Budyko framework, which describes the long-term relationship between precipitation and runoff. This is true in Xinjiang, a representative arid region in Northwest China. However, the effects of snowmelt water on the water balance in this region remain unclear. Based on observed runoff data in 64 catchments of Xinjiang during 2000–2010, we analyzed the effects of meltwater in the local water balance both spatially and temporally through the Budyko curve and redundancy analysis (RDA) methods, and then investigated the influences of changing meltwater on runoff. Inclusion of snowmelt water into the item of the water availability significantly improved the performance of the Budyko equation for predicting runoff. The results of RDA showed that snowmelt water, potential evaporation (PET), and rainfall combined explained 66% of the spatial variations in runoff, while the individual effects of snowmelt water, PET, and rainfall were 19%, 13%, and 1%, respectively, with the interactions among the three variables being 16%. These results suggest that the accelerating changes of meltwater due to climate warming will significantly alter the regimes of runoff in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the current situation of financial support and research achievement of medical education research units in China. Methods: A total of 46 individuals in 46 medical schools completed a questionnaire including information about affiliation of the unit, financial support, published articles and achievement awards of the units. Result: Of the 46 schools, 24 had independent medical education research units, 36 had financial support, and 30 had research funding. The mean number of published articles was 2.53 per staff. The mean number of achievement awards was 3.80 per unit. There was a significant difference in funding and published articles between independent medical education research units and other types of units; and in published articles and achievement awards between the units with funding and without funding. Conclusion: The financial support from the school was the main source of medical education research units in China. More attention should be paid to the development of medical education research units, to their ability to produce high quality research and support the improvement of medical care in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 1. Predicting renal prognosis accurately in ERT- naive FD patients poses a significant challenge. • 2. COX analysis identified sex, proteinuria, eGFR, and Lyso-Gb3 as independent factors for kidney progression. • 3. Combined model and clinical model both exhibited favorable predictive performance. • 4. Lyso-Gb3 improved the predictive ability of the combined model for renal outcomes in low-risk patients compared to the clinical model. • 5. Early intervention is warranted for the underestimated-risk subgroup with eGFR over 60 ml/min/1.73 m 2 or proteinuria levels less than 1. g / d. Kidney damage is common in patients with Fabry disease (FD), but more accurate information about the risk of progression to kidney failure is needed for clinical decision-making. In particular, FD patients with mild renal involvement often lack timely intervention and treatment. We aimed to utilize a model to predict the risk of renal progression in FD patients. Between November 2011 and November 2019, ERT-naive patients with FD were recruited from three medical centers in China. To assess the risk of a 50% decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), Cox proportional hazards models were utilized. The performance of these models was assessed using discrimination, calibration, and reclassification. A total of 117 individuals were enrolled. The mean follow-up time was 4.8 years, during which 35 patients (29.9 %) progressed to the composite renal outcomes. Male sex, baseline proteinuria, eGFR and globotriaosylsphingosine (Lyso-Gb3) were found to be independent risk factors for kidney progression by the Cox model, based on which a combined model containing those clinical variables and Lyso-Gb3 and clinical models including only clinical indicators were constructed. The two prediction models had relatively good performance, with similar model fit measured by R2 (59.8 % vs. 61.1 %) and AIC (51.54 vs. 50.08) and a slight increase in the C statistic (0.949 vs. 0.951). Calibration curves indicated closer alignment between predicted and actual renal outcomes in the combined model. Furthermore, subgroup analysis revealed that Lyso-Gb3 significantly improved the predictive performance of the combined model for kidney prognosis in low-risk patients with a baseline eGFR over 60 ml/min/1.73 m 2 or proteinuria levels less than 1 g / d when compared to the clinical model. Lyso-Gb3 improves the prediction of kidney outcomes in FD patients with a low risk of progression, suggesting that these patients may benefit from early intervention to assist in clinical management. These findings need to be externally validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, China has been a hotspot for reactive nitrogen (N) deposition due to intensive fossil fuel burning and increased agricultural activities. The Chinese government has implemented active measures to protect air quality and reduce N deposition. In this study, we combined monthly measurements of monitoring sites and satellite data to construct random forest (RF) models for the estimation of monthly N deposition in China during 2008–2020. This provides N deposition estimation in latest years and has a finer temporal resolution. The RF models can address more complicated relationships between variables and performed well in estimating N deposition compared to the measurements with average correlation coefficients of 0.79 and 0.77 for dry and wet N deposition, respectively. We found that mean annual total N deposition was 22.0 ± 0.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1 during 2008–2020, which accounted for 64% (±4%) of reactive N emissions in China. Although the total N deposition was high, it has stabilized and decreased slightly over the past decade, with dry and wet N deposition contributing equally to the total N deposition. NH x deposition (F NHx) still slowly increased (0.09 kg N ha−1 yr−2) during 2015–2020, when N fertilizer application and livestock started to decrease. This is due to the rapid decline in NO x and SO 2 emissions during the same period. Our results provide a new perspective on the spatiotemporal variations in the total N deposition in China. It is necessary to optimize other emission reduction strategies to mitigate air pollution and N deposition. • The reactive nitrogen (N) deposition in China from 2008 to 2020 was estimated using random forest models. • N deposition in China accounted for 64% (±4%) of the atmospheric N emissions, with equal contributions from dry and wet N deposition. • Reducing NO x and SO 2 emissions along was not enough to decrease total N deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing research has demonstrated that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) was associated with decreased pulmonary function and obvious inflammatory response. However, few pieces of research focus on the effects of PM 2.5 -bound metals on people with asthma. Here, we assessed whether PM 2.5 and PM 2.5 -bound metals exposure could worsen pulmonary function in asthmatic patients and further elucidate the possible mechanisms. Thirty-four asthmatic patients were recruited to follow up for one year with eight visits in 2019–2020 in Taiyuan City, China. The index of pulmonary function was detected and blood and nasal epithelial lining fluid (ELF) samples were acquired for biomarkers measurement at each follow-up. Linear mixed-effect (LME) models were used to evaluate the relations between PM 2.5 , PM 2.5 -bound metals, and blood metals with lung function and biomarkers of Th17/Treg balance. The individual PM 2.5 exposure concentration varied from 37 μg/m3 to 194 μg/m3 (mean: 59.63 μg/m3) in the present study. An interquartile range (IQR) increment of PM 2.5 total mass was associated with a faster decline in maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) and higher interleukin-23 (IL-23). PM 2.5 -bound metals [e.g. copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), titanium (Ti), and zinc (Zn)] were significantly associated with IL-23 (Cu: 5.1126%, 95% CI: 9.3708, 0.8544; Mn: 14.7212%, 95% CI: 27.926, 1.5164; Ni: 1.0269%, 95% CI: 2.0273, 0.0264; Ti: 16.7536%, 95% CI: 31.6203, 1.8869; Zn: 24.5806%, 95% CI: 46.609, 2.5522). Meanwhile, blood lead (Pb) and Cu were associated with significant declines of 0.382–3.895% in MMEF and maximum ventilatory volume (MVV). Blood Pb was associated with descending transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). In conclusion, exposure to PM 2.5 -bound metals and blood metals is a risk factor for decreased pulmonary function, especially in small airways. These alterations might be partially attributed to the imbalance of Th17/Treg. [Display omitted] • Short-term exposure to ambient PM 2.5 is associated with the decreased MMEF in asthmatic adults. • Exposure to PM 2.5 and PM 2.5 -bound metals (e.g. Cu, Mn and so on) is associated with a significant increase of IL-23. • Higher blood metals (e.g. Pb, As, and so on) were related to decrements in lung function and the imbalance of Th17/Treg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exocarpium Citri grandis (ECG, Huajuhong in Chinese), the epicarp of C. grandis 'Tomentosa', has been used for hundreds of years as an anti-inflammatory, expectorant, hypoglycemic, and lipid-lowering medication in China. Nevertheless, there have been few papers that have explored the mechanism behind ECG's hypolipidemic characteristics from the perspective of treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of our study was to confirm the therapeutic and preventative effects of ECG in NAFLD by regulating lipid accumulation and iron metabolism, and to explore the specific mechanism of ECG in enhancing hepatic iron transport and excretion capabilities. We constructed a NAFLD model by feeding male C57BL/6 J mice with a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. Mice were gavaged with ECG beginning in the seventh week of modeling, and three dosage gradients were established: low dose group (2.5 g/kg/d), medium dose group (5 g/kg/d) y, and high dose group (10 g/kg/d) until the end of model construction in week 12. We used network pharmacology to analyze the relationship between ECG and NAFLD. In addition, we constructed a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease model by feeding male C57BL/6 J mice a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. Finally, lipid accumulation, iron accumulation, inflammation and oxidative stress were evaluated by serological index detection, histological detection, immunofluorescent and immunohistochemical staining, and western blotting. Network pharmacology confirmed the treatment effect of ECG in NAFLD. Three active components of ECG, including Naringenin, Naringin and Neohesperidin, were detected by UHPLC-HRMS analysis. The results of serum TC, TG, LDL concentration, HE staining, Oil red staining and Nile red staining demonstrated that ECG could improve lipid metabolism disorders. The results of serum iron concentration, liver tissue iron concentration, iron metabolism-related proteins Ferritin light chain, Ferroportin1, Transferrin receptor, and Transferrin demonstrated that ECG improved the iron transport and storage capacities of hepatic cells. Our results demonstrated that ECG relieved liver injury by inhibiting lipid accumulation and iron accumulation in NAFLD. [Display omitted] • Exocarpium Citri Grandis reduces liver lipids accumulation and relieves liver damage in NAFLD. • Exocarpium Citri Grandis down-regulates hepatic iron intake by inhibiting TF/TfR pathway. • Exocarpium Citri Grandis is beneficial to the liver iron excretion and storage in NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The physico-mechanical properties vary in the loess-paleosol sequence. • Loess has stronger collapsibility and compressibility than paleosol. • The physico-mechanical properties are mainly affected by Quaternary climate. • The shear strength of paleosol is weak due to its prismatic structure. Research on Quaternary climate change has the potential to shed further light on the change patterns of the physico-mechanical properties of loess-paleosol sequences (LPS) in the context of engineering and construction activities. In this study, the physico-mechanical properties of a well-preserved and continuously deposited LPS in the sandy loess belt of China were investigated. Paleoclimate change was inferred using a series of climate proxies including grain size, geochemical elements, and magnetic susceptibility. The results showed that multiple alternating climate change events in the Middle to Late Quaternary were recorded as vertical variations in the physico-mechanical properties. The void ratio, plastic limit, compression coefficient, internal friction angle, and collapsibility coefficient of the loess layers were associated with weak pedogenic weathering under cold/dry paleoclimate conditions in glacial stages. On the contrary, paleosol layers developed with strong pedogenic weathering under warm/humid climates during interglacial stages, leading to higher natural moisture content, saturation, liquid and plastic index, compression modulus, and cohesion. The combined application of physico-mechanical properties and climate proxies can help in improving our understanding of the evolution of the physico-mechanical properties of LPS under climate change and promoting geological engineering design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dewfall is an important source of additional precipitation, but it is frequently ignored in water balance calculations. In this study, the dewfall of 523 weather stations in China was calculated. An improved drought index SPI-cor was proposed by substituting the precipitation with the summation of dewfall and precipitation by the SPI calculation method, where dewfall was calculated by the Penman-Monteith equation with the GLDAS-2 data. The temporal and spatial distributions characteristics of dewfall were discussed, and the spatial applicability of SPI and SPI-cor was determined. The results indicated that the dewfall formation is periodic, with more than 60% of the dewfall occurring between April and August. The amount of dewfall is lower than that of precipitation. The dewfall in China has a distribution pattern of high dewfall in the northeast and northwest but low dewfall in the center and south. The proportion of dewfall in precipitation increases from south to north with the exception of northwestern China. Comparing of SPI to SPI-cor, the influence of dewfall in arid, semi-arid, sub-humid and humid areas declines in turn in accordance with the proportion of dewfall in precipitation of the four regions and is opposite to the correlation coefficients of SPI and SPI-cor. Dewfall has an average impact of one drought grade on the assessment of drought as long as it works. With the performance of SPI and SPI-cor at different weather stations, historical drought events, and vegetation response to drought, SPI is better in northeastern China and eastern Inner Mongolia, while SPI-cor is more applicable in central and northwestern China; the difference between SPI and SPI-cor drought grades are not noticeable in southern China. Therefore, adopting SPI and SPI-cor to evaluate drought in different regions can help to make more accurate drought assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The occurrence and multi-phase distribution of six environmental estrogen compounds were investigated in a drinking water reservoir area by analyzing estrogens in suspended particulate matter (SPM), filtrate (conventional dissolved phase, <1μm), permeate (truly soluble phase, <1kDa) and retentate (colloidal phase, 1kDa to 1μm). The estrogen concentrations at different sites occurred in the following order: animal feed operation (AFO) wastewater-affected streams>tributaries>main stream channel. Correlation analysis showed that organic carbon (OC) contents had significantly positive correlations with environmental estrogens in filtrate, SPM and colloidal phases, respectively, indicating the important role played by OC. Aquatic colloids, often neglected, showed a much higher sorption capability of environmental estrogens compared to SPM. Similar Kcoc values in three types of sampling sites showed that colloids could be transported from AFO wastewater to tributaries and further into the main river channel. Mass balance calculations showed that 14.5–68.4% of OP, 4.5–32.1% of BPA, 2.0–58.4% of E1, 8.36–72.0% of E2, 0–20.6% of EE2, 3.4–62.7% of E3 and 8.3–36.1% of total estrogens were associated with colloidal fractions, suggesting that the colloids could act as a significant sink for environmental estrogens. Risk assessment demonstrated that the occurrence of environmental estrogens might pose a risk to aquatic organisms in the study area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Numerous studies have reported effects of straws with microbial decaying agents on greenhouse gas emissions from rice fields. However, studies regarding the effects of microbial decaying agents on carbon footprint and economic profit under diverse water regimes remained unclear. A two-factor field experiment was adopted to assess effects of different straw treatments (straw returning alone abbreviated as S, and straw returning with microbial decaying agent abbreviated as SMD) on CH 4 and N 2 O emissions, rice yield, carbon footprint, economic profit and net ecosystem economic profit (NEEP) from paddy field under different water regimes (continuous flooding abbreviated as F, and alternation of wetting and drying abbreviated as AWD) in central China. Compared with S treatment, SMD treatment significantly enhanced the crop water productivity by 7.9%−8.4% and the rice yield by 7.3%−7.7%. Though SMD treatment increased the economic profit by 9.9%−18.5%, and the NEEP by 9.6%−18.0% relative to S treatment, it also resulted in higher the CH 4 emissions by 12.7%−32.4% and global warming potential by 11.2%−21.5% regardless of water regimes. Water regimes had significant effects on the crop water productivity, rice yield, CH 4 and N 2 O emissions, global warming potential, economic profit, NEEP and carbon footprint. Compared with F treatment, AWD treatment improved the crop water productivity by 51.7%−79.4%, maintained rice yield, increased N 2 O emissions by 17.7%−40.0%, and mitigated CH 4 emissions by 33.2%−75.1%, which therefore resulted in lower global warming potential by 31.5%−69.8% and carbon footprint by 32.7%−66.0%. Moreover, AWD treatment significantly increased the economic profit by 25.4%−41.9% and the NEEP by 28.8%−46.6% relative to F treatment. Overall, the straw incorporated with microbial decaying agents is not an environmental friendly practice for the tradeoff of mitigation of CH 4 emissions and increase in economic profit. It is necessary to further optimize straw treatment for mitigating CH 4 emissions in order to develop rice sustainable production. • AWD irrigation reduced carbon footprint while increased economic profit. • Straws with microbial decaying agents increased rice yield and economic profit. • Straws with microbial decaying agents did not affect carbon footprint. • Straws with microbial decaying agents boosted CH 4 emissions and GWP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Significant efforts have been devoted to assess the effects of the poly-gamma-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) on crop growth, yield and quality, soil water retention and fertilizer use efficiency. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of γ-PGA on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and grain yield from paddy fields with different rice varieties., Methods: In the present study, a split-plot field experiment was performed to comprehensively evaluate the effects of γ-PGA concentrations (i.e., no application [P0] and 25.0 kg ha -1 of γ-PGA fermentation solution [P1]) and rice varieties (i.e., conventional rice [Huanghuazhan, H], red rice [Gangteyou 8024, R] and black rice [Black indica rice, B]) on the grain yield, GHG emissions, global warming potential (GWP), greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI), net ecosystem economic profit (NEEP) and carbon footprint (CF) during 2022 and 2023 rice-growing seasons in central China., Results: Application of γ-PGA significantly affected the GHGs emissions, NEEP and CF. Compared with P0 treatments, P1 treatments significantly increased the NEEP by 1.2-11.2 %, and decreased the GWP by 12.9-35.4 %, the GHGI by 16.5-35.9 % and the CF by 13.8-26.2 % in 2022-2023. Application of γ-PGA showed a tendency to increase the yield. Under γ-PGA application condition, R treatment exhibited the lowest GWP, GHGI and CF, and the highest yield and NEEP compared with B and H treatments., Conclusion: Our results suggest that γ-PGA application is an ecological agricultural management to increase rice yield, reduce greenhouse gas emission and increase economic benefit, and its advantage is more significant for red rice than for other rice varieties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors report no declarations of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)